Disclaimer: I do not own The 10th Kingdom. This is merely a fanfiction.
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"It's so … cold …"
Wolf shuddered in his long-sleeved overshirt. He walked carefully amidst the ice statues in the Snow Queen's palace. It was nighttime. Big day tomorrow. He shouldn't be up. But yet, he couldn't sleep. He paused as he passed an ice statue and stared at the face of a frozen wolf, his body encased in ice, his soul trapped in the Devil's Mirror. There was a moment's pause and Wolf let his breath out; it spun into a mist in the cold air. The frozen wolf stared back at him, his eyes sagging and sad.
There was a whimper from the corner. Then a wailing cry.
Wolf turned, licking his lips. A chubby little piglet! Oh, the Snow Queen wouldn't mind if I had a little snack! No sir – oh, but I'm not supposed to go over to the crib! The chubby little lamb inside is the tasty bait to draw in the girl. Oh, but it can't hurt to look, can it?
Wolf wiped his mouth and then skidded along the ice. He leered down at the icy cradle, at the screaming baby inside. The baby's cheeks were chubby and his little fists were flailing, his eyes squeezed shut. He's probably hungry – just like me!
He leaned in drooling. The baby's crying was annoying, but he couldn't help but notice how chubby and succulent those cheeks were – the baby's eyes opened! Wolf stared down into them – he felt a stirring in his gut, as though there were something familiar about the baby. He narrowed his eyes, his hunger uncharacteristically vanishing away.
And then something furry unfurled between the blankets. A tail! This child was like him – a half-wolf!
Curiosity getting the better of him, Wolf leaned back in. He reached a finger down – four tiny little fingers and a thumb wrapped around his index finger. The baby was still crying, but his wailing seemed to be more subdued. He stirred in his crib, his mouth making a sucking motion. The poor thing is hungry.
For the first time since he gazed into the Devil's Mirror, compassion filled Wolf's being. He looked left and right, before reaching down with both arms to scoop the child up –
Two ice spears crossed over the cradle. The two Frost Knights guarding the baby had morphed into being from the snowy floors. They glared at Wolf who backed away.
"Is everything well, my pet?"
Wolf looked up to see the Snow Queen entering the throne room. She passed the Devil's Mirror on the far side – her eyes narrowed in hostility to Wallace's two soldiers guarding it. She walked on and crossed the room to the baby. She waved her hand at the ice guards who stepped aside as she scooped the baby up in her icy arms. She bounced him.
"He looks much like his father," the Snow Queen said as the baby began wailing again.
"He must've been a handsome chap," Wolf replied.
The Snow Queen chortled. "Do you know why I became the Snow Queen in the first place?"
Wolf thought hard. "Power? Money?"
The Snow Queen rocked the baby and stared at the towering icy walls and columns surrounding her. "For control."
"What's that mean?"
The Snow Queen wasn't even looking at him – he wasn't sure she was even speaking to him anymore.
"In my old life – long ago, everything was out of my control. A lost mother. A struggling father. No idea who I was or what my own place in the world should be. All I wanted … was to be unseen. But then, I met someone, someone who made me alive, someone who brought the best out in me, who made me want to shine my light upon the world. A child was coming too. Oh, you can scarcely imagine the joy I felt …" The Snow Queen glanced down as she rocked Fen. "But then – it all vanished as smoke in my hands. The control I felt, the life I had built – it was all an illusion! Like sand in my hand … I had no control after all. Everything that happened to me was subject the whims of fate and chance, those two diabolical mockers of even the greatest of kings and queens! That – that is why I took up the mantle of the Snow Queen! Now I am in control. Now I have all the power – regardless of what my dear pawn Kay may believe." Her eyes fell on the two guards standing by the Devil's Mirror.
"This is all interesting – but I'm hungry!" Wolf whined.
The Snow Queen continued to ignore him. "Some may say I sold my soul … that I was a coward. But there is a greater good at work here! Look at all I have achieved without ever having to set foot outside my palace! I have done what no one has ever done before! I have united the Nine Kingdoms under one figurehead! I have brought power and control to the Nine Realms! Where once the forces of chaos and entropy ruled, now I rule in their stead! All the machinations, all the assassinations and plots and conspiracies done in the shadows – it was all for the greater good! Don't you understand?! The prices to be paid were heavy – but they were worth it." She glanced down at the baby.
"Prices?" Wolf still didn't understand.
The Snow Queen stared down at the now sleeping baby in her arms. "Yes. The ultimate price. You must think me a monster … but this is the only way to preserve my existence … and therefore to preserve peace and stability over the Nine Kingdoms."
Wolf stared at the bundle being rocked in the ice witch's arm. "What kind of price are walking about exactly?"
"Let me ask you this – if there was a virus that would kill one million children, but you found a cure – a cure that required you to kill one child to save the million, would you do it?"
Wolf stared at her silently.
"But of course you wouldn't!" the Snow Queen answered herself in exasperation. "No feeling person could bring themselves to harm that one child, even if it would save the million! That is the weakness – the flaw – of all rational creatures! They think with their emotions instead of their mind! They put their righteous senses of morality before the egalitarian needs of the many! They feel with their hearts rather than think with their minds! That – that – is the reason I sold my soul and gave my heart to the Devil! That is the reason I became the Snow Queen! Do you understand?"
Wolf remained silent, staring at the floor, trying to comprehend. "So … no place for love … for compassion?" He asked.
"None." The Snow Queen placed the sleeping baby back in the cradle and the two guards stood over him once again. She turned, placing her hand on Wolf's shoulder. "In time, you will see that I am right. Everything that would weaken us must be removed – no matter who or what they are. Everything. And there would come a time when soon even our dear Kay would become a liability. I knew that he would one day outlive his usefulness and it appears that time is now." She squeezed his shoulder. "I have a more malleable figurehead in mind. One of the Four Saviors of the Nine Kingdoms!"
"You mean me?" Wolf asked.
"You will be the new Lord Protector! Let Wallace declare war on the Resistance – let them all destroy each other! Let Virginia Lewis come here – she will see at last the beauties of my plan! She will at last submit and give herself to the Devil's Mirror! She will become the Snow Queen! She will go back into the past as I did, and the cycle will continue again as it has countless times. And you – we will tell the world Miss Lewis was killed in her confrontation with me. And that you defeated me in battle! I will call off my forces – you will be enthroned. And I … I will be the true, invisible power behind the throne, as I once planned for with Kay."
Wolf could barely take this in. "Me? Lord Protector?"
"Does that appease you? You could rule it all – bring true freedom and equality to the wolves of the world! End the wolf-hunts and burnings!"
Wolf whined – and howled. His eyes gleamed with greed. But then – "What of the baby?"
"As I said … sacrifices must be made. All for the greater good of course."
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Wolf stood that evening at a balcony at the top spire of the Snow Queen's palace. He stared at the moon. He felt as though he should remember something … remember this child, remember this Virginia Lewis. But then – oh, Huff-Puff – how could he turn down an opportunity like this?! A chance to truly bring freedom and equality to the wolves, to his people!
Fiona appeared in the dark doorway behind him. He grunted as she approached.
"Has the Snow Queen given you her pitch yet?"
He grunted again.
"And?" she asked.
"I'll take it!" he roared. "Only … is it right?"
"You sold your soul to the Devil's Mirror – there is no 'right' anymore."
"Then why do I feel so wrong?" He leaned forward on the balcony and whined. "I feel like I should remember something … like I had a past that was important with people I loved, but now I can't see their faces, it's all a blur …"
"Dreams. Nothing but trifles."
"I'm not so sure."
"I am sure!" Fiona snapped back. "You want family? I am here! And Hebro. And Dynaman. You and me … we could be together. Packmates. As we were meant to be."
"Meant to be …" he repeated.
She reached out, touching his lower jaw and turning his gaze down to hers. "You and me – we can truly bring freedom to our people with the help of the Snow Queen. You want to know why I joined with her? That's why! King Wendell promised pardons for us wolves – yet we're still hunted, still mistrusted, still smoked out of our dens, our children shot with arrows, our adults burned alive! There has been no change! We can bring that change! We can bring justice for our kin! No more will our people be hounded, persecuted, hunted and killed – we'll give the humans a little taste of their own medicine! We'll hunt them for sport! Shoot their children! Burn their parents!"
Wolf stared at the cloud-covered moon. "Wouldn't that just bring more hate? That's not justice, that's revenge."
"In today's world, is there a difference?"
Wolf didn't answer.
Fiona tapped his shoulder. "Think about what I said. Now come – we have a long day tomorrow. The final battle is upon us – the final battle that will bring a true and lasting peace to the world. And then you and I can be together … as we were meant to be." She kissed him on the cheek and vanished back through the doorway. He was alone again.
He stared up at the moon and howled.
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The Resistance Base – Morning
Virginia's eyes fluttered open. There was the sound of men hard at work, arguing, items being shifted. She rose from her sleeping bag in her tent, her hair sticking out on one side. Tony popped his head in. "Good – you're up. We're needed!"
Virginia rubbed her head. She had a pounding migraine. "I barely got any sleep … I dreamed about Fen …"
Tony nodded. "Cinderella was insistent –"
"Okay, I'm coming."
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Virginia emerged from her tent to find the Resistance base a flutter of activity. Men and women soldiers were sharpening their swords, running drills. Others were hurriedly carrying containers of equipment and blasting jelly.
Tony was motioning for her to keep pace. Prince trotted along at her side, his tongue lolling out. She passed Acorn and Clayface who nodded at her.
"What's this about Cinderella?" she asked, jogging to keep pace with her father.
"A messenger hawk arrived early this morning. He's come."
Virginia nodded. "Wallace."
"He's demanding an audience with the leaders of the Resistance. That includes you."
"Me?"
Tony stopped, spinning around to face her. His arm stretched out, indicating the entire camp. "Look at them," he said. "It wasn't Cinderella or Mother Holle that gathered them together – it was you! You're their hero, you're their hope!"
Virginia took in the sights around her. All of the Resistance had paused what they were doing – they were watching her, listening to her.
"I'm no leader," she whispered insistently to her Dad.
"You're wrong," he replied. He tapped her on the head. "Hello? Earth to Virginia? What do you think Snow White's been trying to get into your thick skull these last few times?!"
"Okay, okay … but I don't know what they expect of me."
"I don't know either, but if Wallace is willing to negotiate …"
"I doubt it," she replied. "He has us outnumbered and he wants the chance to rub it in and gloat." She ran a hand through her hair. Her migraine was getting worse. "Alright, lead on."
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On the far outskirts of the Resistance camp, several tents had been set up. Four men carried a throne aloft, bearing Cinderella. Her two stepsisters marched behind her, bumping into each other, swatting each other's shoulders. The Green Knight marched behind, his hand on his sword. Acorn and Mother Holle followed in step, both trading grass to smoke in their pipes. Virginia, Tony and Prince brought up the rear.
Under the largest, unwalled tent, sat Wallace and several generals. Old Retainer stood behind him, looking nervous and sickened, but fearful. His eyes did brighten as he saw Cinderella … then his eyes fell downcast with shame.
Wallace barely acknowledged them. He sat with a small table on his right hand with fine china. A servant poured tea into his cup and he took a delicate spoon and stirred in sugar and cream. He gently sipped it as his enemies approached, completely unconcerned. He placed the teacup aside and motioned with a gloved hand for his comrades to be silent.
Cinderella remained seated. She stared at the Lord Protector with defiance and pure venom.
"Lady Cinderella," he mocked. "I take it you received my messenger hawk?" He stirred more sugar into his teacup.
"You wanted an audience?" Her eyebrows were raised.
"A parlay. After all, you have some very capable men and women who you have deceived into following your … erm … was it a Resistance you called it?" Behind him, his men howled with laughter.
"Yes. You'll find we will resist -."
Wallace remained unconcerned. "Think reasonably, Cinderella. I am not without sense. Every drop of blood from capable warriors is a waste. I, being a merciful potentate -."
"I highly doubt that." Her eyes fell on Old Retainer who looked away. She fixed her gaze back on Wallace. "Your own men are terrified of you. We have heard of your doings. The Inquisition. The purges – even of your own loyal men!"
"Sacrifices must be made -."
"You've sacrificed too much!" Cinderella spat. "I will not see our world torn to pieces under your feet!"
"Then come – work with me. Help me. Join the Nine Kingdoms Treaty, forsake this fruitless 'Resistance' and join the side that will truly bring order to the realms."
"No. I've seen your 'order'. It's a monstrous thing. You'll remake this world over in your foul image -."
"Is your sense of 'justice' and 'fairness' really worth the lives of all your men?" Wallace retorted.
"We're hardier than you think," Cinderella replied.
"Even against an unstoppable horde? Come … look beyond the ridge." He stood up and motioned. Cinderella angrily stood up with assistance from the Green Knight. She hobbled over, following Wallace to the ridge. Behind her, Virginia and Tony followed as well. They reached the ridge which oversaw a massive plain – Wallace gestured over it. "Behold what you face!"
Virginia's mouth dropped. An army. From all Nine Kingdoms. The greatest ever formulated. Their numbers darkened the green fields, spanning as far as the eye can see.
Wallace folded his arms. "And I still have ten other forces in reserve. So you see how pointless it is to resist. You face annihilation – don't be a fool!"
Cinderella stared at the army spanning as far as the eye could see. She shifted her gaze to Mother Holle. The old woman nodded sadly. Cinderella turned back to Wallace. "Let me give you our proposal for peace. You will write a new treaty. There will be no more Lord Protector. Things will go back to the way they were before!"
"Back to the way things were?" Wallace scoffed. "Back to disunity among the kingdoms, high poverty levels, starvation, thieves and marauders roaming the roadways freely, brigands and whores and -."
Cinderella raised a hand. "That is enough."
"My forces will raze you down to the gravel until nothing of you remains!" Wallace's teeth were grit. "I will alter all the stories! Your names will be removed from all the history books! No one will remember the tale of Cinderella and the glass slipper, nor Snow White, nor Mother Holle, nor any of the other legendary figures! I will rewrite history! You will be the scum and enemy of every good and pure virtue in this realm! History is written by the winners – and your enemies will become the new heroes! When anyone speaks the name of 'Cinderella' it will be with contempt and disgust! I will make the world remember you as the villains of your tales! I will burn your strongholds to the ground! I will execute anyone and everyone who remembers the true tales! This is the history you will make should you continue to oppose me! I will show no mercy to your soldiers! I will take no prisoners! This is your one and only opportunity to surrender and spare the lives of your men! Do not spit in the face of my kind offer!"
Cinderella stared at him. Behind her, Virginia appeared. "Nothing is set in stone …" she replied.
"Ah, Miss Lewis …"
Virginia's fists curled. "You want me most of all, don't you Kay?"
"You dare -."
"You talk about changing stories – do your men know who you really are? That you are Kay –"
"Enough!"
"- and that even though Gerda saved you from the original Snow Queen, you murdered her in cold blood because she rejected you -.
"You will be silent!"
"No!" She took an angry step forward. "I will never be silent again! You want me - here's a deal. You can have me – take me to the Snow Queen, and I'll come quietly – if you let the Resistance go."
Wallace laughed. "Why on earth would I do that?"
"The Snow Queen wants -."
"In case you haven't noticed, the Snow Queen and I are not on speaking terms." He stepped forward, hissing at her under his breath. "You are my target … but not for imprisonment. I will see you dead!"
Virginia started. "But – if I die, the Snow Queen will vanish -."
"Yes, one more loose end to vanish off into the night. Did you really think I would share power with her? She thought I was the pawn – but look where I am and look at where she is. Tell me – who was the puppet here?" Wallace turned to address the rest of them. "I am willing to show mercy to you all – on two conditions! The immediate surrender and disbanding of the Resistance! And number two – Virginia Lewis is given into my custody for immediate execution!"
Tony charged up, standing between Wallace and his daughter. Prince joined him, his teeth bared, snarling. Acorn and Mother Holle also joined in her defense.
"I reject your terms utterly," Cinderella replied. "Here are my terms in turn. You will disband the Nine Kingdoms army and go back to the original treaty. You will surrender yourself into our custody – you think you have us outnumbered. That is true. But you merely have slaves, Kay. You do not have warriors that fight for what they believe in."
Wallace could no longer contain his rage. "Then let your deaths be on your own heads!" He raised his arms and stormed off.
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The Resistance appeared forlorn upon their return to the camp. The soldiers watched and saw the solemnity of Cinderella's face as she was carried into her tent. Even Mother Holle appeared unnerved.
Clayface approached Virginia and Tony. "Is it true?" he asked. "Are we hopelessly outnumbered?" Other soldiers appeared and approached Virginia, asking the same question. It seemed the entire camp had come out to hear her response.
Virginia lowered her head. "It's true," she answered honestly.
Murmurs ran through the camp. Clayface lowered his head. Others began to shout.
"It's hopeless!"
"We should have surrendered!"
"Can we still give up?!"
"He won't take prisoners – we're all doomed!"
The cries became a chorus as the men and women and other fairy tale creatures began yelling and arguing. They pressed in on Virginia who finally snapped. She grabbed a barrel, ignoring the yells and stood up on it. "Quiet! I said QUIET!"
The camp fell silent. A pin drop could be heard.
Virginia found herself filled with newfound conviction. She turned her head – Mother Holle was outside of a tent smoking a pipe. The old woman nodded. Virginia turned back to the Resistance soldiers and addressed them.
"Listen to me – and listen good! I'm only going to say this once! This has been a long journey! We've already lost many good men and women in uniform. Many brave souls from across all Nine Kingdoms. I too have suffered personally from this war! My own fiancé – my infant son – are both in danger! The people we're fighting – they used to be us! Brothers. Sisters. Mothers. Fathers. They've become deceived pawns of the Lord Protector!"
The Resistance members closed their eyes. Some nodded in agreement. Virginia's voice rose with each decibel. Finally – finally, she was speaking from the heart.
"I'm not going to lie to you – the odds are heavily stacked against us. Our chances are slim to none! But that doesn't mean we give up! We will not just roll over and die! We are going to stand up! Stand up for our freedom! Stand up for our way of life! For our friends! Our families! Our children!"
Acorn turned and winked at Clayface who jokingly punched him. Others in their army were nodding and turning to whisper to each other.
"This war has divided us! And many more divisions have widened the gaps between us! Divisions over culture! Land! Past infractions! But today, we put all that aside! Today, we stand united as one people! The Nine Kingdoms Army will show us no mercy! We will give them no quarter! They will advance until the last of the Resistance falls – but we will not fall! We will prevail!"
Cheers began to erupt.
"Each of us will be defined by the coming battle! Today, we end this war! On our terms! Today, Lord Protector Wallace finally learns the cost of tyranny! Today – we win! Or tomorrow, our widows and children will weep under his banner! Today, we decide the fate of the Nine Kingdoms! For our children!"
The soldiers were going nuts. Virginia leapt off the barrel, her face solemn. Tony walked alongside her as she marched on. "Nice speech," he muttered. "I hope you're right."
She continued to stare ahead. "I do too, Dad. I do too …"
