Chapter Nineteen: Through the Looking Glass
Through the mirror, even though
Things may go from bad to worse
Close your eyes, let go, and learn to believe
So we can pass through the looking glass.
'Through the Looking Glass', Frank Wildhorn's 'Wonderland'
xxXxx
"Oh, and I suppose you could take them there any faster, you overfed feline?!"
"At least if I did it, it would not immediately alert any spies Thiris still has!"
"Too bad it would take you a year to get there! Maybe less if you can manage more than a waddle!"
"Waddle?!" Muta howled, running even faster in order to catch up with the mocking crow.
"Should we not separate them, Mother?" Haru asked worriedly.
Dona laughed lightly while squeezing her around the shoulders. "Such efforts have already been proven worthless, darling. They always pick up right where they leave off." She then adjusted the thick winter hat on her daughter's head. "Not too warm, are you?"
"For now, but I hope Baron will be out soon. I am not looking forward to my second flight." Her stomach churned uncomfortably, making her glad she had refused breakfast.
"... You do not have to do this, you know. Baron would understand."
Haru gave a warm smile to her. "Actually, Mother, I really think I do. It is only reasonable that I tell Thiris what I think of him killing me and trying to blame my rescuer for it." She let out the beginning guitar riffs to 'Bad to the Bone' for emphasis.
Dona jumped at the sound, but manage to laugh nervously. "At least for this flight you have better control of your magic. But... please do be careful, dear. Thiris can be ruthless when he deems it necessary."
"Then it is about time someone returned the favor. Not that I enjoy violence but... you understand?"
"Of course, dear. Greetings, Keeper," she suddenly added as Baron came up behind them, also dressed for winter.
"Greetings, Pelia. Haru," he responded, his eyes lingering longer on the younger feline. This was the first time he didn't look completely happy to see her, but he still managed a wan smile. "Your mind is unchanged?"
"That is correct. We might want to capture Toto's attention before he spends all his energy playing with Muta."
That got a chuckle out of him, making him look at the crow in question. "Toto?" he called sternly.
The giant bird cut himself off mid-insult in order to fly over and land in front of them. "I was merely stretching my wings before the long flight."
"As well as your beak," Haru muttered under her breath, making Dona giggle behind one hand.
"Your blood is showing in her again!" Toto called over his shoulder before giving her a cheeky grin. "Shall we be off then?"
"Indeed," Baron concurred, taking Haru by the waist in order to set her on the crow as before.
Her heart pounded fearfully, but she stiffened her jaw stubbornly as Baron climbed on behind her. 'This flight will be better than last time!'
"Oh, but before we leave, Haru?" Baron asked carefully, pulling out a small vial to offer it to her. "I think it might be wise to allow you to sleep until we reach the Winter Caves."
"I am fairly certain I can control my emotions this time. The last time I did not have any warning."
"Nonetheless, I would appreciate it if you would allow a sedation. We will not be able to travel out of sight of my castle if you are wrong, and the recovery time would slow our progress to a minimum."
"Not to mention that my left shoulder still aches from last time," Toto added, making the girl flinch guiltily.
"Well... all right."
Baron uncorked the vial before offering it to her, his expression worried.
Haru was able to down the contents in one swallow. "You know, that liquid tastes-"
ooOoo
Haru's mouth opened for a soft yawn as she gave a long body stretch. "Wow, that stuff packs a punch," she muttered in her native tongue, rubbing her eyes a bit before opening them.
To her room.
The brown feline blinked in surprise before looking down at herself. She was in the clothes she had picked out, but her winter accessories were folded neatly on the trunk at the end of her bed, right next to a basket of food and drink. The sun outside was beginning to set, when it had only just risen when they were about to leave.
Haru gaped in horror. "He didn't!" She leaped off the bed in order to run to the door and try the handle.
It was locked, and she could hear children stop a game just on the other side.
"Hello? Could someone please open the door?" she called in the new tongue.
"I am afraid not, girlie," Muta responded, not sounding too thrilled. "Baron's orders were clear; you are not coming out until he comes back."
"But if I do not go, he may not come back! Come now, Muta, open the stupid door!" his daughter demanded before kicking it angrily.
"Of course the door is stupid, it does not have a brain," her second father explained in exasperation. "No, children, go back to your game. All is well, I promise."
Her blood ran cold. "Why are there children out there?"
"Baron insisted. He knew you would not use your magic to break the door down if there was a chance a child would be hurt."
Haru could feel her blood boil with rage. "You traitor!" she screamed at the top of her lungs. "Both you and Baron!"
"We are trying to keep you safe!" Muta bellowed right back, making at least two children whimper in fear. "No, you are fine," he broke off to assure the scared children. "My daughter is the one being stubborn. Just stay right there and all will be well."
"So who is going to keep Baron safe?!" the young feline demanded, fighting back the thrill of hearing Muta call her his daughter.
"Baron can take care of himself! It is you we are worried about! Thiris will not show you mercy if you meet again!"
"Thiris should worry about receiving mercy instead of giving it!" she retorted, storming away from the door to pace angrily. "Is he there yet?"
"If not, he will arrive shortly. But do not try anything with the windows! There are guards outside to catch you if you try to escape, and even if you convinced me to help you, it would take me a month to take you there by foot. Not a year like that birdbrain said!"
"Muta, you do not understand!" she struggled not to cry. "Baron said my presence was needed to reverse the curse. He is not planning on coming back!"
The children audibly gasped in horror.
"There must be a way to get there fast! I need to be there, I cannot let him die for me!"
"S-Sweetheart," Muta struggled to say. "It is not possible. All connections Spring once had to Winter have been severed. That is why Baron needed Toto for the journey."
Haru opened her mouth to counter that, but then stopped herself. Very slowly, she turned her large brown eyes to the mirror she had thrown Thiris into. The one he had used to enter her room unnoticed.
It was as perfect as before, thanks to Baron.
"Haru? I know this is difficult for you, but you need to trust us. You may have more power than anyone I have heard of, but Baron has more experience, more control. You are still growing accustomed to our ways," he tried to persuade as the girl started hurriedly putting on the winter clothes and boots, just before going through her closet for a satchel.
"... brave of you to wish to be at his side, but a battle is no place for a lady! Well, I saw full well what you did to Churgoth, but I know you did not enjoy causing him pain. It is not in your nature to enjoy causing pain."
Haru finished loading the food and bottled drink into the satchel before slipping it over her head to hang comfortably on one hip. "That is your final word, then? You will not assist me?" she asked while tucking her mittens into the satchel for easy access.
"I will not. I am sorry, dearest."
"Then so am I. I love you," she informed him with all the sincerity she had. Then she walked to the mirror and placed her bare hands on the cold silver frame. Her mind conjured an energetic tune she had played more than once in her original form. At first it was only a piano, but then a guitar came in for backup.
She would have to change the words a little, but her song should react with Thiris' magic if any remained in the mirror.
"What are you doing in there?!" Muta asked in a panic, but it was too late.
"Through the looking glass I go,
"Risking everything for what might be
"All the things I used to know
"When my heart was young enough to see..." Haru held onto the last note, feeling her own heart speed up to keep time as the mirror began to pulsate with light.
"Through my own reflection
"Past my imperfection
"It's so intimidating
"But no hesitating!" she commanded herself as she experimentally put her hand against the glass.
It wavered under her touch like freezing cold Jell-O, but would not allow her to pass. She tried again as the door behind her shook with Muta's fury.
"Through the looking glass I go
"Where the world is in reverse,
"And the ending always starts a new beginning
"Through the mirror, even though
"Things may go from bad to worse
"Close my eyes, let go, and learn to believe
"So I can pass... through the looking glass!"
Her hand finally sank intothe mirror as the door broke. Haru had just enough time to see Muta storm into the room, but was sucked into the mirror before he could stop her.
Spoke too soon! Although her vision was filled with white sparks, she could feel her second father grab her desperately by the wrist that had been the last to go in. He gave it his all to try to pull her back... but was soon sucked into the mirror with a surprised shout.
They were only stuck in the flashing white light for a moment, but it was far too long for Haru. Just like when her soul was in the wormhole, she could feel herself being tossed to and fro while being sucked towards something she couldn't guess. The only constant thing she could feel was Muta's iron grip on her wrist.
'This was definitely a better way to travel without a stomach!' But it helped that she hadn't eaten anything all day.
They suddenly crashed against a stone floor, making Haru yelp with pain when Muta accidentally bent her wrist the wrong way under his weight.
The large cat grunted but sat up as soon as he realized his mistake, though making a hiss of dissatisfaction when the cold air seeped through his fur. He also opened his mouth to probably yell at her, but managed to stop himself when he got a good look at where they had ended up.
Haru took the time to look around the place with amazement.
They had come out in a dusty room, thankfully empty, but the entryway had a curtain instead of a door. The mirror they had come through was a solid sheet that completely covered one of the walls. There was no light given, but her cat eyes were still sharp enough to see everything.
"We need to get out of here," Muta whispered harshly, grabbing her by her upper arms to help her to her feet.
"I am not going back now," she hissed back at him, but he shook his head as he rescued the mitten and drink skin that had escaped her satchel.
"Your little trick makes too much noise and I do not know how much you made on this side. We need to get away from here now."
Haru slipped the offered drink into her satchel and put on her mittens as Muta all but dragged her to the curtain. Keeping a finger to his lips in a 'quiet' gesture, he moved the threadbare curtain just enough to peek out of the room.
"Stay close," he whispered, gripping her uninjured hand as he swiftly led her into the hallway and stepping as lightly as possible.
Haru followed his example, although she was a lot more successful at being quiet than he was. A smile broke through her defenses, but at least she was able to suppress the giggle this time. 'It really is strange how thinking about Muta is enough to make me laugh.' Then she noticed the clothes he was in, completely Spring appropriate. "Are you not cold?" she couldn't help asking with worry. Her injured hand automatically rose to take off her scarf.
He gave her a very flat look before pressing her hand away from the soft material. "I grew up in these caves, Haru. I promise I am completely comfortable after the initial change in temperature. Now hush." He then headed into another hallway, which looked identical to his daughter.
Haru quickly realized how lucky she was that Muta had followed her. She had never been good at mazes when they were on paper, and Baron's stone labyrinth always confused her within three turns.
But the large cat was handling all the twists like a pro, keeping one hand on hers as he kept staring ahead; his ears twitching for any sound other than the dripping of distant stalactites.
As he made one more turn, he suddenly stopped in his tracks, making Haru accidentally bump into his back.
"My apologies, Muta."
He didn't move, making her wonder if they had found Thiris by accident. Haru nervously took a step around him to see what had struck him motionless.
Thiris wasn't there, but there was the aftermath of a partially cleared out cave-in. Her instincts told her that it had happened a long time ago.
Her blood suddenly ran cold as Baron's words rang through her mind. "I-Is... this where...?"
Muta swiftly turned around in order to almost crush her in a hug, breathing heavily to keep from crying.
She squeezed him back the best she could, affectionately nuzzling his face while emitting a soft purr.
"Pelia was pregnant," Muta whispered, only loud enough for her to hear. "Her sister was with her. She didn't make it. Pelia barely made it. Our baby didn't. Thiris did not care! That was why we gave up on him."
Haru gaped in horror, but increased her hold on Muta. She tried several times to say something, but her throat was suddenly too swollen to speak.
Suddenly her eyes opened, making her look at her second father. "For what it is worth?" she asked softly, making him flick an ear at her direction. "When I first looked at my new body and Mother, I assumed that this was once your daughter's body. I assumed that you lost her in an accident, and Baron gripped my soul by mistake when he was trying for hers. But I still loved you on first sight, Mother almost as quickly. I know I was angry earlier, but I enjoyed it when you called me your daughter. Thank you for loving me."
Muta pulled back enough to cup her face in both of his large hands, just taking her appearance with a starving expression. "How could they do it?" he whispered hoarsely, caressing her cheeks with his thumbs as if to affirm that she was real.
Haru blinked in confusion. "Which 'they'?"
"Your first parents. How could they... brush off a daughter as loving as you? Pelia and I would have been more than satisfied if you had been but half as wonderful as Baron said, but... what could possibly be more important than being with you?" he demanded to know.
Haru looked down, feeling ashamed at the answer. "Both of them had work that required a lot of traveling and left them exhausted. They loved their tasks so much that each one tried to guilt the other into quitting so that I wouldn't be alone. After a while, I grew tired of hearing 'talk to the other one' and started taking care of myself. Looking back, I wish I had forced them to be parents instead of becoming my own when they switched from arguing to going out of their way to avoid each other and myself. But they did wake up and apologize before I died," she insisted for the third time since the language barrier had been broken.
Muta tilted her chin up to give her a deep look that had none of her forgiveness. "Thiris' spell certainly did not settle for anything less than a pure heart. I bet you would forgive even him."
Haru blushed at the compliment, but still told the truth. "Well, if he were to make a sincere apology and do everything possible to fix his mistakes-"
"The argument is dead," he sighed, giving her a warm hug while turning her down a different hallway. "But between the two of us, I fully expect Baron's feelings for you to be unchanged if the curse is broken."
Haru blushed beneath her fur at the thought, but couldn't keep from smiling. "If you are correct, I will not have much resistance to his advances after this."
He grinned and kissed one ear affectionately. "You are an infuriating young lady. Pelia's blood runs true in you."
"Oh? Toto was seeing a resemblance to you this morning," she teased before realizing something. "Muta? What happened to Baron's parents? Mother did not truly speak of them while she was explaining things to me."
He flinched, but didn't dodge the question. "... After the curse hit you, Guil traveled to Winter to exchange his life for ending the curse. Luiz begged him not to, but he felt it was the only way. We never heard what happened upon his arrival, and Baron never changed his attitude about you. Luiz drove herself sick waiting for him to come back and... we both know Baron would have been delighted to introduce you if he were able."
Haru's eyes became wide. 'So that's how he knew he didn't stand a chance.' "Muta? Where are the prison cells?"
He gave her a shocked look.
"Thiris seems to enjoy pain if it is not his own. Would it seem out of character for him to keep Guil alive long enough to see Baron's demise?"
Her second father stared at her, but then shook his head with a smile as he suddenly turned away from another corridor and began marching much quicker than before. "You are a genius. But he will be very weak if he is still alive."
"Well, then it is a good thing I have the strongest cat on the planet for a father," she responded with a loving grin, keeping pace with him.
The smile he gave back made it plain that she had melted his heart.
"Speaking of which, I could start calling you Father if you would pre-"
"I like Muta," he replied stubbornly, weaving through the cold stone corridors with ease. "I saw how much you loved that doll. Besides, Muta is different. Renaldo is a common name, but I am the only Muta in this world."
"Yes, you are," she agreed with relief, sneaking an extra hug out of him. "But we should be silent?"
He nodded, winking with encouragement.
'Come to think of it... this is the only family trip I've ever been on.' She sighed inwardly to keep from alerting Muta. 'I wish Mom and Dad had taken me on at least one before I died. I hate having to defend them every time someone from this world brings them up.'
'Even though they deserve it?' asked that pesky voice in her mind.
'They were getting better! Life was getting good when the curse killed us... me... why am I talking to myself again?'
'Old habits are hard to break?'
'Except this isn't an old... never mind.' That sarcastic side had always been present in her thoughts. Most of the time, she couldn't tell the difference between it and her own thoughts.
Never mind that they were all her thoughts.
'Drat, I was going to call you on that! By the way, you can thank your parents for me, too!'
Haru had to bite back another sigh. That voice had all but become dormant after Tsuge finally stepped up. Even talking to her stuffed Muta was a relief from the loneliness.
Her real Muta gave her a slightly worried glance, but gave her hand a gentle squeeze instead of saying anything as they continued deeper into the caves. Haru forced herself to take a deep cleansing breath from his encouragement.
After a while, they reached a corridor that only had incredibly small openings close to the floor and long rectangular holes spaced just right to give the same feeling as cell bars. But the rock they were cut into was thick enough that you could only see what was inside by looking straight in.
But Haru couldn't see how anyone could get inside one of the rooms. Maybe there were separate entrances?
"I will check this side if you will take the other one," Muta said softly, helping himself to the left side to start looking through the rectangular holes. "Not that I know how to open these doors. Guil? Guil?"
"Guil?" Haru also asked, although she had to stand on her tip toes in order to look into each cell. What was inside made her gag in horror.
Cat skeletons. Piled tightly into each and every one she checked, though it was hard to tell from the rags hanging from the bones whether they were prisoners of war or the remains of his own people that he caught trying to leave.
Was he really all alone here? How did he eat? Did he repair his own clothes? How did he keep from going insane from loneliness-
'You can just forget about that last one,' that voice warned.
'Agreed. Even we didn't escape from going a little crazy.' "Guil? If you can hear us, cough or do something so we can hear you," she dared to say a little louder than Muta cared for.
A sudden sound of rock hitting rock suddenly came from one of the cells much farther down the corridor, maybe even at the end.
She and Muta shared an excited look before rushing to the end to begin their search anew.
"Oh, Guil," her father suddenly choked, staring into the third cell on his side. "Do not worry, my friend, we will figure out how to get you out of there. Haru, let me see your satchel."
She pulled it to the front of her and opened the top for him to go through it.
Choosing one of the drink skins and what she knew was the two most delicious fruits, Muta looked between them in his hands and the bars. "Sweetheart, would you mind throwing these in for him? Do not tell Toto, but my arms are too big to fit."
"I will take it to my second grave," she promised, taking the drink skin and allowing him to pick her up by the waist so that she could have the best aim.
What was inside this cell broke her heart.
If Baron were to be twice his age, skinny from hardly eating anything and just as weak as a result, he would have looked exactly like his father. There were also several marks on him and his torn clothes to indicate that Thiris was not above torture.
About the only thing that seemed to say that Guil was alive was the way he stared at her with disbelieving eyes. It was clearly all he could do, just to kick the rock enough to get their attention.
Fighting back her emotions, she wiggled her thin arm through the crack and tossed the skin at him.
His trembling fingers reached out for where it had fallen, but it was still just beyond his reach.
Deciding that it was worth getting caught for, Haru squared her shoulders determinedly.
"Flower, gleam and glow
"Let your power shine."
"Haru, not now," Muta panicked.
"Make the clock reverse.
"Bring back what once was mine."
Well, if nothing else, he was able to raise his head as her warm voice seemed to wrap around him like a blanket.
"Heal what has been hurt
"Change the fate's design."
Haru desperately wanted to see his marks leave, but they didn't.
"Save what has been lost
"Bring back what once was mine
"What once was... mi-ine."
Her song didn't heal him, but it did lend enough strength to help him sit up and actually get at the drink skin. Some of the dark liquid splashed onto his face from the eagerness, but he was able to get most of it down.
"Here is the first fruit," she offered, tossing the pear-shaped fruit that she thought tasted like cinnamon bread.
Guil ate it hungrily, although he was short on breath by the time he was finished with it.
"Then the second," she promised, making ready to send the citrus clove she loved after the bread-pear, but his thin shaking hands stopped her.
His fingers wrapped around hers like the long legs of a spider before giving a desperate squeeze through the mitten as he took her offering.
She could tell through the cloth that he was freezing.
"Girl," he rasped in a dry voice that obviously hadn't been used in a while.
"Haru," she corrected, ripping off her mittens to toss them in before pulling off her scarf.
"No time for formalities, and please keep your things. I do not know what you are doing here, but you must leave without me. Thiris sealed this cell with his own blood."
"That filthy rat!" Muta snarled.
"Which must mean you need his blood to-" Haru tried to reason while tossing in her scarf and hat, but Guil wasn't feeling patient.
"It cannot be undone without the sealer's consent, so do not worry about me. Girl, you have to return to Baron immediately. Go, be with him, raise a family together, and tell him of my love for him. I cannot be rescued, and you will be lost to Baron forever if Thiris finds you here! The curse is not what you think!"
Haru's eyes widened. "You have my ears."
"The truth is that Thiris stole-"
A loud booming sound cut him off from above, making all three cats look up. It almost sounded liked a cave-in, but there were more booming sounds that followed like battle drums.
"That sounds like it came from the main cave," Muta whispered in horror.
Haru's heart froze in fear. "Baron."
xxXxx
A/N; Everyone recognizes the last song is from Tangled? Good.