First of all, sorry that I couldn't have update this earlier (I was going to update this on Halloween), I caught the flu this entire week. No fun at all. But anyway... Finally, to one of my top three favorite characters! I will tell you, to the Snow White fan club, don't expect too much for the "saving scene". The reason why is if you've read AquaStormXIV's Rise of the Snow Queen, her scene is flawless, that not even I can write like her. Such exquisite writing that I don't think I'll be able to top that (at least, I don't think so). I'm not saying that I want to write like her, I'm saying that my version is probably not as good as hers. However, I will make it enjoyable. I'll also be adding a little scene that didn't happen in the parables, but could have happened since Snow and Ross' childhood was little explained (then again, neither any of the other characters with the bits and pieces). It will also set up for my own Dark Parables later on once I finished this story.
Also, haha, I love Snow White's story so much, she'll probably get an extra chapter. Unlike all the other wives having a three chapter arc, Snow's will be a four chapter arc since her story is going to be so long. And its to prevent a lot of time jump and all that stuff (that will be in this chapter). Without further ado, enjoy.
Chapter 13: The Royal Twins
In the year of 1500, there was a royal kingdom in the Bernese Alps of Switzerland, the proud Mountain Kingdom. The rulers of the Mountain Kingdom is no other than the honorable King Edric and his lovely wife, Empress Brunhilda. The Mountain Kingdom couldn't get even more blissful of their rulers when the announcement of their newborn twins! Both were born in the summer season, the first was a boy and the second was a girl.
The boy has fiery red hair, eyes, and fair skin, hence why the King named him "Ross Red". The girl, on the other hand, has brown hair and icy-blue eyes, but what stood out the most is her very pale complexion. Pale as the winter's snow. She was given the name "Snow White" by her mother.
It was strange, the twins that is. When talking about appearances, the King never quite understood how his son has his red hair or his red eyes. Brunhilda has beautiful golden hair and his daughter has his brown hair, so why was his son different? Well, Edric never ponder on the thoughts too much. After all, it's usually the first-born that are special. Usually.
Of course, despite the children are twins, that doesn't make them exactly alike, at least, when we're talking about personality. While Ross Red inherit his father's temper, Snow White has her mother's quietness. Temper like the raging flames and quietness like the silent snow. Those were the reasons why the Goddess Flora blessed the two children upon birth, making them her Guardians. Prince Ross Red was given the powers over fire and ashes, his flower is the Fiery Rosa. Princess Snow White was given the power over ice and snow, her flower is the Frost Edelweiss.
However, despite the Mountain Kingdom Royal Family has their sweet moments, they also have their tragic times too. It wasn't until both Ross and Snow turned at the age of five that Brunhilda died from an unknown illness. However, the question that remains: Was it really an illness?
Unfortunately, the death of Brunhilda wasn't enough when dark clouds covered the summer skies. It was so ominous and death-like that the King knew, this was no ordinary storm. Knowing something was out-of-place, Edric summoned the Moon Priest, Hansel, to help fight his elder brother, Rasputin. Turns out that his brother never made peace with their father's decision and Edric fears of what those dark clouds meant. The battle lasted for three days and night. Nothing can be heard, but the clashing force between good and evil, magic against dark magic, life against death. Fortunately, on that last third night, the Moon Priest proved victorious. A trial was held for the powerless Rasputin and instead of asking for mercy, he instead lashed out at Edric and his children. And I tell you, it wasn't pretty.
"You're putting ME on trial? Me?! I'm your rightful King!" he yelled.
"Rasputin, you're not the rightful heir to this kingdom." the judge reminded him in a rather calm manner. "Your claim to the throne was over ever since your father saw the darkness in your heart."
"PREPOSTEROUS! You expect me to believe that my WEAK, PATHETIC brother and his... SPOILED little BRATS are capable to RULE?!" the elder brother pointed a long bony finger at the family.
That insult really ticked Ross off as the young Fire Prince would have practically lunge at the man if it wasn't for Snow White holding him back. The trial continued and it went on for a long time since Rasputin had decided not to cooperate with any members of the court. Therefore, the sentence was made and it shall be death... And it was up to the Mountain King to decide.
Despite knowing of his conspiracy against him, Edric cannot allow the sentence to pass. He already lost Brunhilda, he cannot lose his brother also. Therefore, the Mountain King spared the man's life, banishing him from the kingdom. He would live a life of a common soldier.
"Rasputin, for your betrayal I banish you from these lands forever and ever. You were my brother, and that bought you a second life, but know this: there will not be a third."
Perhaps, by giving him a second chance, maybe Rasputin will see the errors of his ways. That was what Edric hoped. However, if this second chance doesn't change him, then perhaps nothing can changed him mind OR save him.
Soon, a year later, the King took himself as new wife, believing that his children should have a motherly figure to help guide them in life. Unfortunately, despite those intentions came from the thoughts of a loving father, what he believed in was all wrong.
On the day that the new Queen was to arrive, the young Snow Princess, dressed in white, was in the royal gardens. She was joined in by her brother as she picked a bunch of Frost Edelweiss from her side of the garden.
Ross was oblivious of his sister's behavior as he asked, "What are you doing, Snow?"
"What does it look like, Ross?" Snow questioned her brother cheerfully. "I'm picking flowers for our new mother."
"Stepmother?" Ross muttered quietly. "Why?"
"Because she is our family now, I want her to feel welcome." Snow answered.
After having at least six Frost Edelweiss in her hands, the Snow Princess then asked for some Fiery Rosa from her brother's side of the garden to complete her bouquet. He complies.
Later in the evening, Ross Red and Snow White went to the Throne Room to find their father with their stepmother. The woman was dressed entirely in dark blue with long blue hair and dark brown eyes. While Ross lack the interest, Snow was very eager to meet her.
"Children, this is Galiena, your stepmother. Galiena, these are my children, Ross Red and Snow White." Edric introduced them.
After introductions, Snow White happily walked up to Galiena to give her the bouquet.
"Here, Stepmother. I picked it for you, even Ross helped. Welcome to our family." her smiled was warm and endearing.
"Oh, how very sweet of you." Galiena smiled back as she took the flowers from Snow's hands.
Ross couldn't help, but felt something a bit off with that woman. She seemed distracted and her words seemed forced.
"Children, let's leave her be. Your stepmother must be awfully tired from her travels."
As if on cue, the woman cried out, "Oh yes, dear. I'm greatly exhausted. I wished to be alone for now."
"We'll leave you be then." Edric agreed. "Come along now, children."
The King and Snow Princess left, but only the Fire Prince remained behind. What he saw was absolutely despicable! The Queen had shredded the flowers in disgust. Her acts was just a facade!
"Ugh! What disgusting horrid plants." she muttered under her breath.
"How dare you?!" Ross was so enraged that he walked out of his hiding place to confront the woman.
"Oh, you're still here?" she no longer talked sweetly like before.
She revealed her true nature and the tone of her voice sounded much like a witch, arrogant and evil.
"Snow worked very hard to welcome you to the family and this is how you repay her kindness?!" the Fire Prince demanded angrily.
"By picking mere insignificant flowers? Nothing in the world can impress me other than jewels." his stepmother replied. "Now, run along with your sister."
"Why you-"
"Or would you prefer that I inform your father on your rude behavior against the new royal member of the family?" she asked threateningly.
Ross Red left the room with a growl as Galiena laughed in a haughty way. One thing was clear in his mind, from that day forward, that will be the spark of his hatred towards the new Queen. He went to his sister's room that night to informed Snow on the incident, yet the Princess brushed it off, declaring that perhaps the Queen doesn't like flowers... But that didn't stop the Fire Prince from noticing that hurt look in her eyes...
A few months later, the royal twins were outside playing tag. After that time with the Queen, Ross stopped talking to her and simply pretended that she didn't existed. To also help his sister get in a better mood, he suggested the game of tag. It was when he suggested the game that Snow was the first to tagged him before running away from him.
"Hey! No fair!" Ross laughed as he began the chase. Despite that little stunt, he was happy that Snow was feeling better already.
"You can't catch me, Ross!" Snow teased as she began to used her powers to teleport, creating distance between Ross and her.
"Now that's not fair!" Ross yelled.
The game of tag would have gone forever until Snow accidentally bumped into someone, knocking both of them to the ground.
"Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow." a girl muttered quietly as she clutch to her head with her hands.
"Oh, I'm so sorry." Snow apologized just as Ross finally caught up.
The Prince studied the girl who Snow has bumped into. She was dressed in blue and white, wearing a blue cloak with the hood on her head. She has black hair, but it looked like there are a tinge of frost all over her short strands. She was clearly older than the two of them, yet she seemed like she should be more older...
'Strange that she got knocked over by Snow...' he thought as the girl got up, her hood fell onto her shoulders.
"No, it's my fault. I wasn't looking where I was going." the girl opened her eyelids to reveal that she has crystal blue eyes. "I'm the one who's sorry, um..."
"I'm Snow White and this is my brother, Ross Red." Snow introduce.
The girl frowned a bit, "As in Prince Ross Red and Princess Snow White?"
"Yes." Ross answered.
"Oh my goodness! I'm so sorry, Your Highnesses!" the girl was about to bow until Snow stopped her.
"Oh no, no. You don't have to call us that." she assured the girl.
"Okay, Princess."
"You don't have to call me 'Princess' either. Just call me 'Snow'." the Snow Princess replied.
"Same thing with me." Ross added.
"Okay, Snow." the girl slowly said. "It's a pleasure to meet you too, Ross. My name is Holle."
From that day, the royal twins became best friends with Holle. They knew little of the girl, yet they treated her as is she was like another sister. Everyday, Holle would visit the twins to play, yet she would get shivers whenever the new Queen stares at her with those unfriendly eyes.
"She's scary, who is that woman?" Holle asked once Galiena left.
"She's our-"
"Lame excuse of a stepmother!"
"Ross!" Snow gave him a face of disapproval.
"Hey, I'm only telling the truth." Ross defended his reasoning.
"Stepmother? What happened to your mother?" Holle asked.
Immediately, Snow and Ross were quiet, looking at each other uncomfortably before looking at their friend.
"She... Died." Ross answered.
"Oh, I'm sorry that I asked." Holle looked down in shame.
"No, no, it's okay." Snow White comfort the girl.
"What about you, Holle?" Ross questioned.
"I..." the paled girl paused. "I don't have a mother... Or a father. Fay creatures don't really have any."
Snow blinked, "You're a fairy?"
"Yes, a Snow Fay in fact. I'm in charge of making it snow during winter." Holle explained.
"Then... Why are you here?" Ross asked in curiosity.
"I wanted to see and experience your world. Despite my world is nice and all, it doesn't feel free." Holle trailed off from the sad memories.
"Holle, I'm not trying to sound rude or anything, but how old are you?" Ross had to asked.
"Sixteen, at least, back at home. In this world, I looked younger than usual. So... Perhaps fourteen?"
"Oh."
'Well, that explains some of the questions.' he thought.
"Well, you can stay here anytime you want!" Snow told the Snow Fay with a smile.
"That's very nice of you, Snow, but I can't. I was given this form by the Moon Goddess for only a year. Tomorrow, I'll have to return home, when the moon becomes full at the end of this month." Holle explained.
"Oh..." the Snow Princess sadly remark.
Seeing the sadden Princess, the Snow Fay hold her hands, "But... Let's spend this day to the fullest!"
That brought a smile back on her face. The three played for the rest of the day until nightfall.
Soon, dawn singled a new day and Holle has to part with her friends.
She shook hands with Ross and gave Snow a hug, "I'm going to miss the two of you."
Reaching into the pockets, Holle showed the twins a seed.
"What's that?" Snow asked.
"It's a magical apple seed for your garden. Plant it and the ripest of apples will grow. My present for the both of you."
"Thank you, Holle." Snow White beamed with excitement.
"You're welcome. Take care of yourselves and farewell!"
After the Snow Fay left, Snow and Ross immediately planted the seed in the center of the garden, where it will soon grow. Just like what Holle had said, the tree was indeed magical. In less than seven months, the seed grew into a healthy apple tree, filled with the biggest, juiciest, reddest apples that no one has ever seen!
And it was from this apple tree that gave Snow an idea to get closer to her stepmother. One day, she climbed the tree to reach out for a lonely apple on one of the far off branches.
"Almost got it... Ah!" however, losing her footing, the Princess fell from the tree to the hard ground. "Ow, ow, ow..."
"Snow, are you alright?!" Ross rushed to his sister's side.
"Yeah... Look Ross!" she showed him the shiny red apple in her hands. "I'm going to give this apple to Stepmother!"
"But why? She obviously doesn't like us. She rarely even SPEAK to us!" the Fire Prince argued.
It was true, the Queen disliked the Princess and hardly ever spend time with the twins, but Snow was very optimistic.
"Oh Ross, you can be so narrow-minded sometimes..." she comments.
He let out a sigh in defeat, "And you can be very stubborn."
He helped the Snow Princess onto her feet.
"What am I going to do with you, Ross?" Snow questioned.
"What do you think this will come out of? Do you really think that she'll like us when all she's done is deny your presents? It'll be impossible to form any family relationship with that woman." he explained.
"W-Well, I-I think you judge too much." Snow remarked before she left.
However, like Ross warned, all the Queen did was ignored Snow and all her attempts to become close to her like a real mother and daughter should. Eventually, the Princess stopped, thinking that all she's done was "bothering" her stepmother.
The following month, as winter arrives, while the twins played in the snow, Ross could have sworn that he heard something. Sorta like purring. Turning to the sound of the cries, he saw a little furry figure against the white blanket.
Bingo
It was a loin cub, freezing in the cold.
Feeling sorry for the thing, the Prince took the cub in while Snow would nurse it back to health. The cub grew fond of the twins, but showed more affection to Ross for sheltering it from the cold in the first place. Therefore, King Edric allowed Ross to keep the cub as his companion.
After the start of a new year and the arrival of summer, it was on Snow White's seventh birthday that her beauty started to spread around the kingdom. For her birthday, she received a pet eagle from the King, her very own companion. Unfortunately, the Queen didn't attend the party under the excuse that she was in a really bad mood. The family never knew why, but the real reason why she didn't attend... Was because she heard that the girl was starting to become the "fairest of them all".
It was until the next day that the Queen wished to talk to the Snow Princess. Snow White, of course, was shocked since she never thought that her stepmother would want to speak with her. So when the Princess walked to the empty Throne Room, she watched her stepmother timidly as the woman simply sat on her throne, staring at her.
It was a very awkward moment until the Queen spoke, "Snow White, do you know what winter means?"
"I'm... Sorry? the Princess nervously questioned.
"The season winter. What is it's meaning?"
"It's when everything stays still and everyone remains indoors?" Snow White answered, though it sounded more like a questioning way.
"Snow, dear child, winter is the time of sleep. When the earth sleeps under that snow." the Queen answered. "However, winter is not meant to be all beautiful and serene."
"W-What do you mean?" the child asked quietly.
"Winter is the meaning of death. When everything dies under that snow, when people are lost and perish in snowstorms. That, my dear Snow White, is the true meaning of winter. The coldest and deadliest of all seasons. A season that is destructive and brings nothing, but pain and suffering." the Queen got off her throne to walk near a flower pot. She looked at an Frost Edelweiss flower and touch it. "It may be beautiful, but cold to the touch. Beautiful, yet deadly. Something that your name and powers can relate."
The Queen was happy to see the Princess looking distraught. She just enjoys seeing her upset.
'Ha, beautiful like the snow? That's why she's the fairest? Well, unfortunately for her, snow will have to fall.'
"Off you go now." she smiled as the girl gave a curtsey before leaving.
After Snow left the room, she was surprised to see Ross standing at the corner, apparently waiting for her.
"What did she want?" he asked.
When the Princess explained what had happened, the Fire Prince didn't react very well. As a matter of fact, he reacted explosively.
"I HATE that woman!" Ross spat with disgust.
"But what if she's right?" Snow questioned.
"All the seasons have their purpose in the world, that is why the seasons were created in the first place." he offered comfort to his younger twin.
"I guess..."
On that day, the Fire Prince's hatred for the Queen only worsened and he would often get in trouble with her.
However, there was more than just the Queen that the twins have to worry. When the royal twins turned fourteen of age, the Princess had noticed her father not acting like his usual self. So she went into the King's room one night to understand why. She saw the Mountain King staring at something on his desk, looking very stressed over something.
Concerned, she made her presence noticed, "Father?"
Edric snapped out of his thoughts to turned around, "Snow, what are you doing? You should be in bed."
"I couldn't sleep." Snow White answered without giving any of her reasons. Knowing her father, he would claimed that he's fine if she had given him the real reason why she's here. Taking notice of a strange object on the desk, she asked, "What's that?"
"It's nothing." the King lied, but for good intention.
"Father, I'm not a little girl, you can tell me." the Princess assured him through a whisper.
Sighing in defeat, the King told her, "Go get your brother."
She gave a nod and exit the room to come back with a tired Fire Prince a few minutes later. The Snow Princess closed the door behind him, feeling that her father wants this to be private. Before the King can explain, he motioned his children to come closer.
"This is the Tinderbox." he showed them the small round container with a lid on top. "It's capable of granting wishes, however, it must be hidden."
"Why, Father?" the Fire Prince questioned.
"Do you remember..." Edric paused. "Your uncle?" he looked to see them both nodded. "They say that he's in here, inside this Tinderbox... However, it isn't him we have to worry, but the Tinderbox itself. It's powers are unpredictable and in the wrong hands, if their wishes are not wise, consequences are likely to come."
"How did he ended up in there, Father?" Ross asked.
"I don't know. Apparently, Rasputin gained the daughter of a King from a faraway kingdom. After she saw Rasputin got sucked inside, she gave it to me."
"Why is that, Father?" Snow questioned.
"I think he used the Tinderbox to wed the Princess, but he never loved her. She sent me this."
Edric gave the letter to the twins as they read the writing on the folded paper.
To King Edric of the Mountain Kingdom,
I know this maybe hard to believe, but I am the wife of your brother, Rasputin. I write to you in this dark
time to tell you that Rasputin has been imprisoned inside this magical Tinderbox. It's the same cursed box
that he used to force my hand in marriage to him. As the only family, he has ties to, I asked of you to keep
the Tinderbox safe. It's powers poses as a threat to the world if it's in the wrong hands. Even though we
maybe complete strangers to each other, I entrust this dangerous item into your hands as my brother
through marriage and trust that you see fit that it will be well hidden from those seeking its devastating powers.
From,
Queen Ekaterina
"Keep this a secret from your stepmother, okay?" King requested after the twins finished reading.
"Yes, Father." both Ross and Snow replied in unison.
"No one must obtain this Tinderbox, no matter what. No one, not even good or bad... For even a good hearted person can make unwise decision if using powers that they don't truly understand."
When he ended the discussion there, the twins left the room with nothing, but complete silence.
The next day, the Queen consulted with a magic mirror, also known as the Truth Mirror, a gift to her from the King on the day she first came to the Mountain Kingdom. Galiena was absolutely furious after what had happened in the morning. She recalled seeing how Snow White grew into a lovely maiden and that alone made her envious, but the other person who is a prick to her other than Snow White is her older twin brother, Ross Red.
"Why is it that you find me displeasing, Ross?"
"Because you are so focus on your looks."
After she turned her gaze onto Snow White, she couldn't help, but called the young maiden an "ungrateful, ugly, horrid, little wench".
The Fire Prince didn't took that insult very well, especially when it was towards his sister.
"How you dare badmouth my sister!"
How you dare raise your tone at me, young man! I am your queen, therefore, you obey me."
"Such arrogance for a Queen. My sister would have been a better Queen if she was the oldest. After all, her beauty surpasses you by a thousand times!"
Such remark left the Queen in a fit of rage. As consequence for that insult, she locked the twins in their room for the rest of the day before retiring to her own space of comfort.
'How dare that insolent brat! He's much of a bother like his sister... Well, we'll just have to see who is true.'
Looking up to the Truth Mirror, she asked, "Mirror, Mirror, on the wall... Who is the fairest of them all?"
An image of a woman's face appeared in the mirror to answer the Queen's summoning,
My Queen, though you are fair, it is Snow White who is fairer than you...
"What!" she screeched. "How can that be?! Tell me why!"
My Queen, though you are fair, your beauty only reached skin deep.
True beauty is something you cannot obtained or seek.
The girl has blossomed into a lovely young maiden.
She has always been fairest from the very beginning,
It was just a matter of time for her beauty to manifest from her kind soul after her seventh year.
Such a strong heart since birth that I've seen from her aura...
Thus, the reason why she and her brother were blessed by the Goddess Flora.
"Stop that!" she snapped. "I don't want to hear anymore about the wretched girl and her bratty brother! I won't forgive them, especially Snow White! She is a biggest threat of all to my beauty!"
Forgiveness is a virtue, Your Majesty
Something those two are capable of,
Even during times of conflicts.
Perhaps if you can learn to forgive,
You may spare yourself from that dark path you're taking.
"Quiet!" she yelled as the face disappears.
'I will be rid of Snow White, no matter the cost!'
Once the Queen left, the Truth Mirror muttered something once more...
This, I'll give you a warning
Something you should heed or else you'll be left mourning,
What you carved, will do you no good...
This warning which you chose to ignore...
Know that it shall be on the third year,
If you take the path of revenge, you'll lose what you most hold dear...
I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I know the Truth Mirror doesn't speak in rhymes, but I can't help it, but give a small touch to the old classics. I pick Galiena to be the Evil Queen's name because it means haughty in German. To me, names are important whenever I write stories. Anyway, leave a review on what you think.
To AgentChan: I AM DYING to know what is your review!
See you all next week...