Disclaimer: I do not own The 10th Kingdom; this is merely a fanfiction.

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Lines of troops filled the landscape as far as the eye could see. The sun was setting, thick, black thunderclouds creeped across the curtainlike sky, darkening it. The Lord Protector's troops marched, staves and swords in their hands, the battle standard of the Nine Kingdoms Treaty and Lord Protector Wallace raised high. Their numbers blacked out the land.

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The same steadfastness filled the Resistance troops. Clayface stood in front of a mirror as he slid a battle helm down over his head. Next to him, Acorn licked his teeth and gave him a thumbs up.

The Green Knight splayed out the battle plan before Cinderella and her War Council. Virginia stood to the side, listening, arms folded. Tony looked worried.

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Blabberwort stood in her own tent, her face filled with fury. She sheathed her sword – she was determined it would be her blade that would end Wallace's reign of terror once and for all. Her blade that would find its mark and avenge her brother.

Bluebell fiddled with his own mail, the same determination on his face, but outmatched by the anger filling his sister's.

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Wallace sat in his own tent, leg crossed, the Tales and Poems of Edgar Allen Poe on his lap. He sipped his tea calmly, without a care in the world. Today would bring his ultimate victory. The Resistance would be crushed, Virginia Lewis and the Snow Queen would destroy each other … yes, all his enemies wiped out in a single, glorious day! None would dare to challenge his supremacy from this day forward. He smiled to himself as he turned a leaf of paper in the book to the next page.

He frowned at the poem now open before him. His lips curled into a sneer. One that he had not read in quite some time …

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From childhood's hour I have not been

As others were – I have not seen

As others saw – I could not bring

My passions from a common spring –

From the same source I have not taken

My sorrow – I could not awaken

My heart to joy at the same tone –

And all I lov'd – I lov'd alone –

Then – in my childhood – in the dawn

Of a most stormy life – was drawn

From ev'ry depth of good and ill

The mystery which binds me still –

From the torrent, or the fountain –

From the red cliff of the mountain –

From the sun that 'round me roll'd

In its autumn tint of gold –

From the lightning in the sky

As it pass'd me flying by –

From the thunder, and the storm –

And the cloud that took the form

(When the rest of Heaven was blue)

Of a demon in my view

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Images ran through Wallace's mind. Memories of a boy, taken from his home to the palace of the original Snow Queen … a girl's young, innocent love … an adult love not reciprocated … anger, pain … which in turn inspired murder …

The Lord Protector rose from his seat and tossed the book aside. More images of Gerda, her smiling face, then another image – her dying gasps as he she choked on poisoned wine in his arms –

STOP! His mind would not allow the images to vanish. LEAVE ME!

No.

The torment would not end.

It would never end.

Wallace screamed and smashed a wood table, throwing a chair across the room. He turned over another end-table, then turned – a mirror. He gazed at his reflection as he panted. He saw not himself now, but a small boy crying … a boy that looked like him.

Wallace gripped the edges of the mirror and spoke to the child in prose. "Prophet! Thing of evil! Prophet still if bird or devil! By that Heaven that bends above us – by that God we both adore – tell this soul with sorrow laden if, within the distant Aidenn, It shall clasp a sainted maiden whom the angels name … Gerda …"

Quoth Kay: "Nevermore."

And Wallace screamed as he punched the reflection of his younger self, smashing the mirror to bits, throwing the mirror across the room, his knuckles bleeding profusely as he tore the tent apart.

"Sir?" Old Retainer stood in the flap of his tent, his fingers fumbling. "Sir, we heard yelling and crashing … is all well ..?"

Wallace turned, his head over his shoulder, his eyes mad, his mouth slack with saliva. "I have never been better!"

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Wallace stood before a new mirror now. His armorbearers were at his side, attaching rust-colored breastplates and greaves. Wallace stretched his arms out as a bloodred cape was lowered onto his shoulders. Then, he lowered his head as a skull-mask with antlers was lowered over his face. He stood now in the skull-mask – no longer the Lord Protector.

The Horned King had arisen once again.

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Old Retainer fumbled behind the new Horned King. "Sir, our forces are already marching. We outnumber them ten to one. Shall we make one more offer of surrender to them?"

Wallace didn't respond. He sheathed his sword. An attendant handed him a battle-axe which he gripped tightly.

Old Retainer pled for the lives of the Resistance. "Lord Protector, please – it would be a shame to spill the blood of our fellow-country-men without one final offer of mercy. You … do intend to show mercy?"

Wallace held the battle-axe up. His eyes scanned the scarred edge. It had seen blood. Years of battle had caked the blade with dried blood. Wallace grinned from under his skull mask.

"Lord Protector … please …"

Wallace affixed the axe to his belt and whirled around. "There will be no surrender. No quarter given. Give the orders – we crush the Resistance without mercy. I will lead the charge. Prepare my horse." And with a whirl of his blood-red cape, Wallace was gone.

Old Retainer stood in the center of the tent, his head down. He collapsed into Wallace's chair, head in his hands, and began sobbing.

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~0~

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The Resistance forces were on the march now as well. Elves, dwarves, goblins, trolls – you name it! Each of the Nine Kingdoms were well represented. They marched for their freedom, for their lands, for their children – to restore justice to their realms.

Virginia watched as the soldiers marched out of the camp. She made sure she made eye contact with each and every one of them. Standing outside of a tent across from her, smoking her usual pipe, Mother Holle nodded at her. Virginia nodded back. She knew what had to be done now.

She turned on her heel and began walking in the opposite direction of the troops.

"Miss Lewis?!" Virginia spun around to see Clayface the Goblin standing there, fiddling with his fingers. "Miss Lewis, won't you be joining us?" he asked.

"I -."

"She's running away," a dwarf muttered as he sauntered past them. "She gives a rousing speech, inspires the troops – then turns tail and runs."

Clayface couldn't believe it. "You're coming with us, aren't you Miss Lewis? You've been such an inspiration and you've been so kind to me and Acorn and –"

"She is not running away." Mother Holle hobbled over, leaning on her walking stick and still smoking her pipe with the other. "She is leaving because she must … because she must face the root of this evil."

"The Snow Queen …" Clayface breathed.

"Aye," Mother Holle nodded. "For even if we win today and defeat Wallace, if the Snow Queen is not stopped, she will only raise up another Wallace. And another after. The realms will be covered in a millennium of cold and ice."

Clayface clasped Virginia's hand. "Then I wish you luck." He kissed her hand before he turned and followed after the marching crowd, leaving Virginia alone with the old woman.

"I wanted to thank you," Virginia began. "For everything –"

"Like I tell ya' time and again – don't be thanking me just yet! Now go – the Traveling Mirror is still by my grave, ain't it?"

"I'll be –"

"Go!" The old woman pointed with a gnarled finger at the cemetery.

Virginia nodded, turned, and ran to her destiny.

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Lightning flashed in the distance and thunder clapped. Night was nearing and the storm was growing. The Resistance formed ranks on the open battlefield. Before them were hills.

More lightning – closer this time. The thunder cracked louder.

Acorn stuck out his tongue next to Clayface. "A storm – how cliché," he muttered.

The Green Knight held out a hand. "Steady men – steady. Whatever comes over that hill, we will face it head on!"

They waited with bated breath.

Lightning illuminated the hill – lines upon lines of enemy troops appeared at the top. Soldiers from the Nine Kingdoms Army appeared. Their numbers appeared to black out the hill. And not just them – beasts. Bears and elephants in armor. They hadn't been prepared to face wild beasts …

The thunder echoed as a black horse appeared at the front of the enemy lines. The man who rode it wore a skull mask with antlers.

"The Horned King," Acorn muttered.

Wallace held his head aloft behind his mask. He raised his sword which glowed with hellish flames. Behind him, his men cheered. "I'm not interested in prisoners," he muttered to his lieutenant. "Kill them all!"

Clayface closed his eyes. "It's time." He opened his eyes again as he felt a hand reach up for his own. Acorn was reaching for his hand.

"You've been like a brother to me," the dwarf said. "All that time we spent in tha' cell – it meant more to me than all the gold in King Midas' tomb!"

The goblin smiled sadly as he clasped Acorn's hand.

"For the Nine Kingdoms, then?" Acorn asked.

"For the Nine Kingdoms," Clayface agreed.

On the hill, Wallace shouted a battle cry, twirling his sword, before riding down full force, followed by the full might of his army.

The Resistance called out their own battle cries and rushed forward – Blabberwort and the Green Knight taking the lead – to face their foe head on. The two armies met in the center of the plains. Rain poured down as there was the sound screaming, of snarling and steel meeting steel.

The final battle for the freedom of the Nine Kingdoms had begun …

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Virginia shuddered as the rain and wind lashed her. She passed several headstones through the old cemetery, her boots squeaking in the mud. She almost slipped as she reached the grave of Mourning Aggie. And there –

There stood the third and final traveling mirror. Virginia reached out and touched it, before grasping the handle and turning it. The mirror flashed to life – and there, there she saw a grand palace, a grand throne room of ice …

She took a moment to brace herself for what needed to be done. It was time. Time to save Fen, Wolf and King Wendell and confront her own inner demons once and for all. She took a step –

"Virginia wait!"

"Dad?"

She spun around to see Tony and Prince catching up to her. Tony doubled over, wheezing and Prince jumped up on her chest, licking her face.

"Dad – what are you doing?"

"You didn't think I was gonna let you face the Snow Queen alone, didya?"

"Dad – you need to go back. This is my battle -."

"Yup. Which is why I'm gonna help you fight it!"

"Dad – please, you need to go back to camp –"

Tony looked at her very seriously. "Virginia – all my life I've been a coward, a runaway, and a failure."

"That is not true! You've helped us countless times, faced horrific dangers! Dad, you were willing to throw your life away in that mountain when you were still cursed with bad luck!"

"Yes … but I was a coward when it came to your mother …"

"We've got past that -."

"No. I saw the warning signs. I saw she was becoming unhinged. I didn't do a thing to help her. But you I can help! And if I can save you from yourself – like I should have done with your mother – I will!"

"I don't have time for this!" She turned and prepared to walk through the mirror.

"We're family," Tony said softly.

Virginia lowered her head, her back to her father.

"All of us," he continued. "Me. Wolf. Fen. Prince. Heck, even King Wendell after all we've been through." He took a step forward. "That's what family does. We protect each other. Bear each other's burdens. Is that too hard to accept?" Prince barked in agreement.

Virginia turned, tears in her eyes. "But what if you get hurt?!"

"Then that's sacrifice," Tony answered. "One that I'm absolutely willing to pay for my loved ones. And in sacrifice, there may be pain. I'm willing to endure whatever pain – anything – if I can help you."

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Clayface blocked an attack, Acorn next to him defending himself with his dagger. The fighting was occurring on all sides and growing in intensity.

More lightning. More thunder.

Blabberwort sunk her blade into a monster, then ducked under a sword swipe. Behind her, Bluebell popped up and thrust his blade into the enemy's chest. The troll siblings nodded, then gasped as a war elephant bore down on them.

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"This is what we live for," Tony said. "This is why we fight …"

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Wallace trampled a Resistance fighter under the hooves of his horse. He laughed maniacally as he spun his sword, fighting off multiple enemies at once.

Blabberwort saw him across the battlefield. She sneered as her fingers tightened on her sword.

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"You changed me," Tony said. "I thought it was our experiences here in the Nine Kingdoms, but it wasn't. It was you."

Virginia let the tears fall.

"You gave me my courage – and my honor. You gave Wendell his throne and something to fight for. You gave Prince the love he needed. But you're not done giving. Now it's the time to give Wolf his mind back. And Fen the love of a mother. So let me give you something – myself. You've been quick to offer your help to everyone else in need. Let usgive you help now."

Virginia threw her arms around Tony's neck and sobbed into it. "I love you, Daddy!"

He cried into her hair. "I love you too, Virginia."

Next to them, Prince jumped up on his hind legs and they included him in their hug.

Wiping her eyes, Virginia strengthened herself, bracing herself for the final confrontation. "Well … here we go."

Together, the three of them passed through the mirror.

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"We're outnumbered!" Bluebell parried an attack, spinning, rolling under his enemies' guard, sinking his blade into their leg. The enemy cried out in pain as the troll rolled up to his feet and ran to his sister.

Blabberwort was single-minded in the war. She shoved an enemy out of her way, marching clearly towards Wallace who was in the thick of battle. One thought dominated her mind – avenging Burly.

Her fingers tightened around her sword's hilt as she vowed that she would be the one to end Wallace once and for all.

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"Ugh, back again!" Tony shivered in their surroundings. The grand throne room of the Snow Queen. The last time he had been here, he had barely escaped with his life. He stared at the frozen ice statues, shuddering at the thought that all of their souls were now trapped in the Devil's Mirror, feeding the Snow Queen's power.

He stopped at one statue – King Wendell's face was frozen, an expression of horror on it. Tony lamented. If only he had not tapped that bell, then maybe none of this would have ever happened. He placed his hand on the shoulder of the ice statue. "I'm sorry, Wendy." Next to him, Prince stared up at the statue of the body he had once inhabited and whined.

"We've got to find Fen," Virginia said. She weaved throughout the maze of ice statues dotting the throne room. Statues of men, women, beasts, trolls, goblins – all victims of the Snow Queen. Victims of me, she reminded herself.

"Fen! Wolf?!" she called out.

Tony peered around Wendell's statue. "Should we really be announcing our presence?"

"It doesn't matter. She already knows we're here. Fen! Wolf!"

Tony skidded along the icy floors to keep up with her, Prince bounding behind her. He almost slipped, skidding to a stop. Virginia held out a hand to keep him from falling. "Do you hear that?"

"Hear what?"

It was faint. But growing louder. A wail. It was a baby's cry.

"Fen!" Virginia took off running again, weaving in and out between the statues. It was a like a maze. There – at the far end – she could see two little hands and feet kicking and flailing in a cradle. Relief warmed her from head to toe. She picked up the pace. "Mommy's here – I'm here Fen!"

She reached the cradle, arms out to scoop up her son –

A mountain of ice shot up under the cradle, rising fifty feet in the air, taking the cradle and the baby along with it.

"FEN!"

Behind Tony, Hebro and Dynaman sprung up from the ground, grabbing him. He struggled. Prince lunged to bite at their legs – he found his paws encased in ice. He struggled, helplessly.

From around the column, spinning a dagger casually, appeared Fiona. Behind her, as though mesmerized, was –

"Wolf!"

Wolf stood at Fiona's side licking his lips. Virginia ran to him, grabbing his shirt. "Wolf, remember me! Please, remember!"

"I smell lunch!" Wolf howled.

Tears filled Virginia's eyes. "Wolf – please! You have a son. Our son! Fen!" She pointed at the cradle now fifty feet in the air. "Please – don't let them hurt him! Please Wolf! He's our son, your little cub!"

Wolf took Virginia's hand in his own. Virginia smiled at his warm touch. How she missed it, longed for it these past few weeks …

Wolf's grip on her hands tightened. He crushed her fingers and she cried out in pain as he shoved her to the floor.

"Hey!" Tony yelled as he struggled in the grip of the other two half-wolves. "Leave her alone!"

Virginia lay on the icy floor, nursing her fingers. "Wolf …"

Fiona smiled like the cat who got the cream. She circled Virginia. "As you can see, Wolf has a new life now. A new family. A new mate." She turned, running her fingers up Wolf's chest, her tongue flicking out, running along his neck. Wolf's eyes rolled backwards and he howled in ecstasy.

"Wolf … please …"

"Yes," Fiona gloated. "Beg! Plead! I want to hear you scream for him to remember!"

Virginia turned to glare up at the she-wolf. "I'll give you no such satisfaction! I am taking my fiancé and my son out of here!"

"Your 'fiancé' doesn't even remember who you are."

"No … but when love is real, when two souls are meant for each other, no power on earth can ever dissever them!" She looked pleadingly up at Wolf. Wolf returned her gaze, no hint of recognition in his eyes.

"Save your trite sayings," Fiona sneered. "Wolf is quite happy with his new life. All his old pain, his old memories – the guilt of his parents' death – gone."

Virginia rose to her knees, still nursing her fingers. "He told me about that," she growled, her fury building. "Youwere responsible for his parents' death! You and your father and you let him blame himself all these years!"

"But now there is no more blame. That is the gift of the Devil's Mirror. Now Wolf remembers nothing. Now he's right where he belongs – with his true mate." She intertwined her arm with his. "The mate he should have been with from the beginning!" She turned, touching Wolf's cheek, guiding his face to hers, kissing him. Wolf kissed back passionately – when their lips broke, he howled again.

Virginia felt as though a knife had penetrated her chest. "Wolf … oh Wolf, how could you …?"

Above, the baby was still crying. Virginia glanced up at the cradle perched on a tower of ice. She shakily rose to her feet. "I want my son! I will leave with him! And I will restore Wolf's memory!"

"Oh?" Fiona asked. "How?"

Virginia's fingers went unconsciously to her purple jacket's pocket. Inside, hidden, was the vial containing the last tear of Gerda. "I have my ways, trust me!"

Fiona moved faster than lightning. She kicked Virginia about the head. Virginia skidded back along the ice. The she-wolf was on her, her fingers inching towards her coat. The two struggled on the ice – Fiona gripped the back of her head and smashed it on the solid floor. Virginia saw stars and cried out. Then she saw Fiona standing, triumphant, holding up the vial to the light.

"Gerda's last tear," the she-wolf chuckled. She grinned wickedly down at Virginia. "Is this what you were hoping to use to restore Wolf's memories? The same way Gerda allegedly 'saved' Kay with her tears? And how did that turn out for everyone? Kay will slaughter all of your allies with no mercy – and then I have leave to slaughter him. What a fine wedding feast he'll make for me and Wolf. But for now – I think I'll hold onto this vial. Just for safe keeping." Fiona gently placed the vial into her overshirt.

Virginia allowed the tears to fall. "You think you've won … it isn't over till it's over!"

Fiona approached Virginia who was still on her knees. The she-wolf cocked her head – the kicked Virginia round the skull! Virginia skidded across the icy floor, striking a statue. She crumpled into a heap.

Prince was growling and Tony was screaming expletives.

And Wolf stood there, staring. No hint of recognition. No hint of remorse.

Virginia rolled on her back, seeing stars. Fiona circled her. "Tell me, Miss Lewis – how did you think this was going to go?" She bit her lip and unleashed a vicious kick into Virginia's ribs. Virginia cried out in pain. "You'd defeat me, bring Wolf back, rescue your son?" Another kick! Another cry! "Please. You were never the heroine of the story." Virginia rolled, holding her bruised ribs. Fiona stared down at her in contempt. "Look at you. Puffed up by long-dead Princesses who couldn't even keep themselves alive. You thought you found your freedom, but the truth is, you're still lost in the forest. The freedom was only an illusion planted in your mind by greater heroines than you." She raised her leg for another kick –

Wolf still stood there, silently, unmoving, no recognition.

Fiona prepared for the strongest, most brutal kick of all –

"Enough."

The word was said softly but rang through the cathedral-like throne room. Fiona lowered her leg and humbled her head in a bow as one of the ice statues nearby unfroze, snow whirling around it, taking the form of the Snow Queen.

Virginia forced her eyes open, breathing through the pain to see her future self appear before her. The Snow Queen glared at Fiona who simply shrugged and joined Wolf. Hebro and Dynaman grinned wickedly as they held Tony tight.

A white hand was proffered into Virginia's face. Virginia stared at it – stared into the cold face of the Snow Queen – her own face – and stared back in contempt. She knocked the queen's hand away and forced herself to her feet.

And the two Virginias stared at each other.

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"I want my Son," Virginia seethed. "And Wolf. And my Dad! And Prince! And Wendell!"

"Those are very steep demands," the Snow Queen remarked, staring down at her fingernails. "I would expect equal payment."

"I know what you would expect!" Virginia spat. "And my soul is not worth the price!"

"Not worth power beyond imagination?"

"No."

The Snow Queen smiled. She was circling Virginia now. "All your life – our life – we've felt so small, so insignificant as great things happened to those around us, outside of our control. Great things happened to others, but never us."

"Is that why you sold your soul? Because you felt helpless?"

The Snow Queen stared at her, still smiling pleasantly. "Perhaps. But perhaps you would like to see for yourself?"

"Don't listen to her!" Tony yelled, struggling in the grip of the two wolves. "She's trying to get in your head – and she can because she knows how it works! Don't listen to her!" Hebro covered his mouth.

Virginia stared at her nemesis with disgust. "Whatever your reasoning – whatever your justification – you did it to stop your pain at losing Fen! But look! Fen is still here! I haven't lost him! The past was changed! The future can be as well! You have lost!"

The smile never left the Snow Queen's face. "Oh no. No, because I am still here my dear, ignorant, former self. Which means – one way or another – you will still become me." She held out her hand. "Come. You want to know the real reason I became the new Snow Queen? I didn't do it for myself, no matter what lies Mother Holle hissed in your ears. No. I did it for all of us! For the whole world! Come. Let me show you. Let me show you why …"

Virginia stared at the outstretched hand. She looked at Tony and Prince, then at Wolf, then up at Fen's cradle. The baby was still crying. Gerda's final tear was now in the possession of Fiona. The Snow Queen held all the cards now, she knew. She had to buy time, to think of a plan.

Virginia reached out and took her future self's hand. Across the room, the Devil's Mirror rose from the icy depths, the glass pooling as though it were liquid. The Snow Queen led her to the Mirror and they stood before it. She gestured kindly to Virginia. "After you."

Virginia stared at her former self. She turned to look one final time at her family, before walking through the Mirror, the Snow Queen right behind her.