Chapter 40- horrifying discoveries part 4 and stymied warning attempts
While Betelgeuse had been watching the disturbing discs recording the series of cruel experiments using the cursed treats and potions, Rigel and Cilan had looked through the booklet. However, as the dark blue Wolf and the Cù-Sìth had been doing this, they, too, had uncovered some very disturbing information. They had examined one page and discovered some crude drawings of several items, nine of them. One was shaped like a set of mushrooms, another resembling a set of balls on a stick and still another, a crudely drawn apple. Rigel and Cilan soon recognised these crude drawings to be the nine ingredients for the Nine-Realms Potion, the exact same antidote to be made for High King Peter. Upon seeing these pictures, Rigel and Cilan exchanged worried looks before continuing to look through the booklet. There was little writing in the booklet but the Wolf and the Cù-Sìth did not need words to describe the pictures they were seeing. They turned the page and saw on the next page crude drawings of more food-like items, one resembling a simple tub with tentacle-like lines protruding out of it. Written under this drawing were the words 'Tasty Cream'. Cilan immediately identified this stuff as the 'Toxo-Cream' he had described and he shuddered. Then the pair turned to the next page and saw some crude drawings of four figures with triangles drawn behind them, those triangles extending from their necks down to their crudely drawn feet, and crude crowns above their heads. Rigel drew in a sharp gasp as recognition of these figures took hold.
"Those drawings must be our four Monarchs," she whispered to Cilan.
"That large figure must represent High King Peter," whispered Cilan with a paw point to the largest figure with the more elaborate triangle, a royal robe, and crown, that drawing clearly being more detailed and elaborate than the three 'lesser' crowns of the three smaller figures. The pair continued to examine more drawings and lines drawn around the drawings of the four Monarchs. The large figure intending to represent High King Peter had a large red tick under it and it and the drawings of the three smaller figures, intending to represent King Edmund and Queens Susan and Lucy each had a line extending from them, a V-shaped head pointing to them, indicating an arrow. Rigel and Cilan traced these arrows' lines and saw that they converged to a crude drawing of what appeared to be a cake. However, the three arrows pointing from the cake to the three smaller figures had been scribbled out while the fourth one pointing to High King Peter remained. Rigel immediately recognised the cake drawing. It had two squares, intending to represent the two tiers as seen side on, and a cluster of dots jabbed onto it. These dots were coloured aqua blue and intended to represent the glitter on a cake. The top tier had dark brown squiggles drawn in it. Rigel shot Cilan a look of dread.
"This looks like the drawing of the cake Voltasu unknowingly purchased as a gift for our Monarchs and what had poisoned High King Peter," the dark blue Wolf whispered. Cilan continued examining the pictures and noticed something else.
"A drawing of the Toxo-Cream is next to the drawings intending to represent our High King's siblings have three new arrows pointing to them," the Cù-Sìth whispered.
"Could it be that Alcina might be planning to give that 'Tasty Cream' stuff to King Edmund and Queens Susan and Lucy?" whispered Rigel in reply. Cilan didn't answer and turned the page. That next page contained drawings of another figure. This figure also had a robe but had spikes pointing upward from the head.
"That looks like a crude drawing of the White Witch," whispered Cilan as he recognised the figure. The spikes reminded him of the White Witch's crown which resembled a cluster of upward-pointing icicles. As the Cù-Sìth and the dark blue Wolf took in the information based on these drawings, they began to piece together these plans Alcina had apparently concocted. Then as soon as the final conclusion was drawn, the pair flinched violently. Could Alcina be a worker for Jadis the White Witch!? Then Cilan spoke.
"Those plans we have examined in this booklet are clearly assassination plans," the Cù-Sìth whispered, "Based on this info, it is clear that Alcina was behind the poisoning of our High King and she intended to poison his younger siblings with it as well, but it had been stymied as indicated by the scribbled-out arrows of this drawing," he pointed to said drawing as he said this, the three arrows pointing to the drawings of Queens Susan and Lucy and King Edmund from the drawing of the cake."
"And because the plan to poison High King Peter's siblings alongside him had failed thanks to Kushanku and Alestomeria's intervention, Alcina has developed a second backup plan to use that 'Tasty Cream' stuff on the other three Monarchs?" asked Rigel with a paw point to the Tasty Cream drawing and its arrows pointing to High King Peter's siblings. Cilan nodded.
"That Toxo-Cream I described earlier is a parasitic creature that is extremely sweet and HIGHLY addictive," said the Cù-Sìth, "And once a victim samples it, he or she always wants more and before long, they become hopelessly addicted and controlled to consume more and more of the 'cream' and eventually, they suffer an unpleasant death at the tentacles of the Toxo-Cream. It seems like Alcina is planning on using this creature's sinister properties on King Edmund and Queens Susan and Lucy... Rigel?"
Rigel had turned to one of the next pages of the booklet and stopped as her bright icy blue eyes gazed at another picture. Cilan followed the Wolf's gaze and when he saw the drawing, he flinched. Those drawings were of two Dog-like creatures, or rather Fox-like. Crudely drawn tails emanated like rays from the rears of these four-footed drawings and drawn near them was a picture of another tub of 'Tasty Cream'. Two arrows snaked from this drawing to the Fox-like drawings which were actually Kitsune. Cilan counted the tails drawn on the Fox figures and saw that they each had nine tails. Dread washed over him as he deduced what these drawings depicted.
"Hagrid and Alestomeria," the Cù-Sìth whispered. Rigel also gazed at the Kitsune drawings and the Tasty Cream drawing linked to them via the arrows. Kitsune and their relatives, especially the centuries-old ones and especially the Nine-Tailed individuals (aged 900 Narnian years and above) were known for their variety of powers and abilities such as vast amount of knowledge, telekinesis and their most powerful-but-Achilles-heel ability foxfire. One of their other traits was accelerated healing. However, Kitsune, especially Nine-Tailed ones, had their weaknesses. Aside from overuse of foxfire, certain parasitic organisms were deadly to Nine-Tailed Kitsune. Cilan shuddered.
"I read in a book that if a Nine-Tailed Fox EVER got addicted to the Toxo-Cream creature, it can be VERY dangerous for them, and it is not just the fact that it gets them addicted to its sweet cream-like substance," said the Cù-Sìth. Rigel gazed back at him with dread.
"Nine-Tailed Kitsune and Kumiho react differently to this 'Tasty Cream' creature if they consume it?" asked she.
"They can be easily controlled and death from consuming this stuff is slower in them than most other Narnian creatures and Humans," said Cilan, "I think it's because of their well-developed self-healing abilities to injury and damage that it slows the progression of the Toxo-Cream's fatal havoc on their bodies. However, once a Nine-Tailed Fox gets addicted to the Toxo-Cream, it is almost impossible to wean them off of it and the Toxo-Cream essentially starts slowly killing them from the inside. This slow death can allow a Kitsune's mind to degenerate faster than its physical body such that it becomes not only severely addicted to the stuff, but also rabid, and that can be dangerous for everyone around them especially as they lose control, and we all know that their foxfire is powerful enough to kill someone with one blast. If a Nine-Tailed Kitsune loses control and may use that weapon on someone without provocation..."
Shudders and worries for Hagrid and Alestomeria travelled down Rigel's spine and skin. Then Betelgeuse came by, her paws clutching the box of magical discs and its player and a severely shaken, nauseated and tearful look on her face.
"Betelgeuse, what have you found?" asked Rigel, Cilan looking on, his face asking the same question. Betelgeuse took some time to regain her composure before finally speaking, albeit tremulously.
"I-I-I've just been w-w-w-watching th-th-these d-d-d-disc and they-they..." she stammered, "are records of some cr-cr-cruel experiments on some p-p-poor... I'm sorry but what I have uncovered was just..." the dark red Wolf then entered a sobbing episode.
"Cruel experiments?" asked Cilan, "You mean the use of these food-like items and the Tasty Cream stuff on various unwilling victims like Flying Rods?"
Betelgeuse tearfully nodded before regaining her composure before continuing. "And with them was this strange woman called Dimitrescu Dokuringu. Now I don't know who this strange woman was, but I believe she could have been an assistant to Jadis and main leader in these experiments..."
"Betelgeuse, this is VERY serious," said Rigel.
"Well, we've been reading through this booklet and believe me, what we have uncovered appeared to be assassination plans," said Cilan.
"Really?" whispered Betelgeuse tearfully, the shock of seeing those horrible experiments on this discs still boiling within her.
"Alcina appears to be planning on using that Toxo-Cream stuff on King Edmund, Queen Susan, Queen Lucy and even Hagrid and Alestomeria and perhaps a number of other high officials to land them in her control," explained Rigel, "And she also seems to have plans for the Nine-Realms Potion, either the potion itself or its ingredients but whatever plans she has, it is NOT good."
"We MUST take these things to Hagrid, Alestomeria, King Edmund, Queen Susan and ESPECIALLY Martian," said Cilan seriously, "After all, that Little Green Man has been suspecting someone among us and I believe that suspect is Alcina..."
As the Cù-Sìth spoke, a noise echoed from across the secret room. Immediately, Cilan dropped the booklet while Betelgeuse replaced the player and the disc box and they and Rigel dived behind one of the opaque stands of the cuboid storage containers. Moments later, a creature, a red, magenta, gold and violet Fox with three tails appeared and began to scour the room with suspicious eyes. Betelgeuse, Rigel and Cilan peered out from their hiding place.
"Funny," the Fox spoke in a voice that was completely different tone to her 'usual' voice when she was around the three's allies including King Edmund and Queen Susan. Though it was laced with suspicion, it had something else that was far more disturbing. "I'm sure I heard something down here," her gaze then turned to the booklet and disc equipment. Immediately, she walked over to these objects and returned them to their spot.
"Anyway," the Fox continued in a voice tone that made Betelgeuse, Rigel and Cilan's skin prickle, "Time to contact Madame Dolores aboard the Pleasure Dome and give her updates on the Queen of the Highlands' backup operation in the event that she died and the Golden Age Prophecy comes to pass. Her Majesty's foes are nicely buttered up and soon, the Nine-Realms Potion ingredients will be brought back here to be made into said potion... and THAT will be an AMAZIN' tool that will aid in our Queen's resurrection..." she emitted a small titter and picked up a device, a commutation octahedron crystal, and set it down, "WHAT an event it will be to see our true Queen resurrected and her rightful lands taken back from those low-down flea-bitten Kitty Cat believin' Narnians... AN' those four Human worms dealt with," she topped these statements off with a sinister giggle as she set down the octahedral communicator crystal before her. Realisation crashed upon Betelgeuse, Rigel and Cilan when they heard this. ALCINA was definitely a worker for Jadis but that was not all. The three's investigations' conclusions had been confirmed, STRAIGHT from the Fox's own mouth. Not only that, Cilan soon deduced that Alcina was the one who cast that slashing spell on two of the Dome Head Dinosaurs, set the Hellhound and its comrades free resulting in trouble for Chrystós and company and also telekinetically flung a rock at Voltasu. After all, like most Kitsune, Alcina possessed telekinesis and she sometimes used it to handle objects out of her reach. Betelgeuse, Rigel and Cilan exchanged looks and began to listen in on Alcina's conversation, the communicator crystal morphing into a diamond-shaped communicator screen. The three had in mind to seize Alcina's stuff and take it as evidence to King Edmund, Queen Susan and the others, ESPECIALLY Hagrid, Alestomeria and Martian that Alcina was a spy and an assassinator in the making, but they could not do that until Alcina had vacated the room completely.
Meanwhile
King Edmund and Queen Susan continued their royal duties while their generals and their armies continued their search-and-destroy missions. Hagrid came by, his magnificent set of nine shining ivory and gold tails wavering behind him. The Kitsune Dog Fox gazed worriedly at the King and Queen brother and sister as they continued to keep the throne running when a male Oran Pandek came in. This Oran Pandek was one of the fathers who had lost his child to the kidnappers and had been hoping that his child would be found soon. His wife had had a difficult birth and had passed away shortly after the birth of their child so this Oran Pandek was a widower.
"I've been to check on Pteranodon, Tarzan and their group and their progress of finding where these kidnapped victims are being taken but they have told me that it is still unconfirmed," said the small red-furred ape that walked on two legs like how Sasquatch and Yeti, larger relatives of the Oran Pandek, did. "I've been deeply missing my daughter Roux since those Stinger-Rats had lured her out of our cave and captured her alongside some other Oran Pandek kids and Rattleback pups and I am seriously worried for her just like every other parent and relative..."
"I know, I know, Cinnamon," replied Hagrid, "So have the rest of us. We need to find out where they are being taken first..."
"A clan of Talking Macaws, among them a few Spix and Scarlet Macaws, are also missing their kidnapped chicks and teens, among them Tulio," added the Oran Pandek, Cinnamon. As the little Talking Ape spoke, a white aging Mare with feathered wings came by, a stressed look on her face. Milky Way gazed at Cinnamon and Hagrid as the former continued, "And according to Martian, there is apparently a mastermind behind all this..."
Milky Way opened her mouth to speak when suddenly, a squawk rang out. The white Pegasus flinched and snapped her gaze in the direction of the squawker, an Alicanto Bird, as it rushed towards her, Hagrid and Cinnamon.
"HAGRID," shouted the gold-feathered metal-eating Bird, the amount of metal consumed affecting the vibrancy of its plumage. He then stopped to a hover before the Kitsune and the Oran Pandek.
"What is it, Goldleaf?" asked Hagrid.
"We have just received a report from a Megatross (GIANT seabirds with toothed beaks and wingspans of up to 6 meters. They were essentially Palegornis) of where all the kidnapped victims are headed," explained the Alicanto named Goldleaf. Then what came out of the Alicanto's beak sent shockwaves coursing through the hearers, including two certain Monarchs... and a Little Green Man as he walked past. "The kidnapped victims are being shipped to some sort of metallic ocean vessel topped with some sort of chimney."
"Repeat that, Goldleaf," said Martian urgently. Goldleaf did so and when the brains of the listeners registered Goldleaf's description of this metallic sea dome, the Little Green Man sprung into action, as did two crowned Humans.
"That sounds like the Metalberg," said Queen Susan.
"We'd better establish a SEA RESCUE IMMEDIATELY!" King Edmund blurted out, all worries for his older brother High King Peter pushed aside for now.
"You don't need to do that, Your Majesty," said Goldleaf, "The Megatross has told us that the Sea and Sky assistants have that covered."
"How was the Megatross alerted to the destination of the kidnapped victims?" demanded Milky Way with surprise.
"A group of young flying creatures, among them a young Pegasus with metallic rainbow feathered wings, managed to find the Megatross and some other seabirds including a group of Gannetwhales and Talking Penguins, and also a Merfolk and Sea Fish People hunting party," explained Goldleaf, "And they have gone to alert a nearby sea city to establish an invasive rescue on the water vessel."
"A young Pegasus with metallic rainbow feathered wings?" repeated Milky Way as recognition of the Winged Horse based on this description took hold. There was only one Winged Horse that had rainbow feathers in her wings. "That sounds like RAINBOW QUARTZ, MY GRANDDAUGHTER and ONE OF THE KIDNAPPED VICTIMS!"
"How did Rainbow Quartz manage to escape that...?" began Hagrid incredulously.
"Well, it's a good thing that she and the others with her have managed to escape that water vessel," said Martian before he turned to Goldleaf with a serious look, "Return to Pteranodon and the others and keep in touch with our alerted Sea and Sky assistants and also keep us updated of their progress. Also command them that if they see any of those boatmen groups sail out into the Eastern Ocean to attack them, if possible, and rescue the victims."
"And we're gonna send an URGENT message to our search-and-destroy groups, of they find any minions of Jadis making off with any more victims, to rescue those victims and slay their kidnappers on the spot and WITHOUT hesitation," said King Edmund and with that, he and Queen Susan left to do just that while Goldleaf returned to Pteranodon and the others to relay Martian's orders.
"Are the quest-goers for the Nine-Realms Potion for High King Peter on their way back with the ingredients yet, Martian?" asked Hagrid.
"That was why I have come here, Hagrid," replied Martian, a serious look on his face, "Some of them are and they are on their way to Cair Paravel. I have just received word from their escorts that they are back from their trips to the other domains and are now back in the Land Domain. However," a SERIOUS look formed on the Little Green Man's face, "Gonggong, one of the lead Sleipnir and escorts for the Garden of Youth Apple group, has sent me a warning that Basophil and Eosdinophil have witnessed the Cartoon Cat creature in the Garden of Youth, illegally consuming some of the Lion King's apples, so I have sent a serious message to the returning quest-goers to be EXTREMELY careful of the Cartoon Cat creature as it will likely have enhanced powers..."
Horror tore through the listeners.
"That does NOT sound good at all," said Milky Way with dread. Assurance, however, remained on Hagrid's face as the Nine-Tailed Fox was well aware of the consequences of consuming the Garden of Youth's apples for one's selfish gain.
"True but remember, anyone who illegally eats of those apples for their own use will also reap horrific side-effects, usually psychological but also physical," said he, "For example, Jadis ate one apple and though she gained immortality, eternal youth and enhanced powers, she was COMPLETELY miserable and the apples were revolting to her. Just think what sort of consequences the Cartoon Shadow Cat would reap."
"Well, I hope the quest goers will find out that Cartoon Cat creature's reaped weaknesses and hopefully exploit them but they MUST be especially careful of its enhanced powers," said Martian, "Anyway, back to work, everyone. I still have to find out about that suspect who is among us."
Everyone nodded and dispersed. In the interrogation room, Chrystós, upon hearing the message that the destination of the kidnapped victims out in the Ocean had been found out, immediately put to death Pettigrew and his minions for they were of no use anymore and neither were they willing to surrender.
Meanwhile
Betelgeuse, Rigel and Cilan have been watching and listening on Alcina's entire conversation with someone and they had uncovered one of the most important links: Alcina was connected to the shipping of the victims out to the sea as well as their destination though the latter had already been found out by Pteranodon's group thanks to some brave flying escapees from that place. However, Martian's group and the others did not know that Alcina was tied to this system so the trio's top priority was spilling this information to Martian and company pronto alongside Alcina's other plans such as her assassination plans for the monarchs and feeding the Toxo-Cream creatures to some of them, especially the Nine-Tailed Kitsune Hagrid and Alestomeria. However, Betelgeuse, Rigel and Cilan have uncovered something else about Alcina herself, something else that was FAR more disturbing. Alcina was not just a surviving Nogitsune and minion of Jadis. Then as soon as Alcina had finished her through-the-communicator screen conversation with the person whom the trio had found out to be Madame Dolores and had left to continue her spying on the Monarchs and their group, they immediately left their hiding place, seized the booklet, the disc diary set and the player and had made a mad rush from the secret room and out of Alcina's den. Then the two Wolves and the Cù-Sìth hurried off to Cair Paravel castle with the evidence. Worries for everyone, but most especially the Nine-Tailed Kitsune couple and Queen Susan and King Edmund, boiled within them and they knew that their health was at stake based on Alcina's plans for them.
Betelgeuse, Cilan and Rigel rushed for the castle and towards the entrance. When they saw two familiar Humans dressed in their royal attire as they sent a familiar Gold-Fleeced Sheep and his team including some Talking Platypuses on their search-and-destroy mission, their job done with Pettigrew and company now that the final piece of where the kidnapped victims had been shipped off had been found, they accelerated their rush towards them. Moments after Chrystós and his group left, Cilan shouted the two Monarchs' names, attracting their attention to him and the Wolves. However, the remaining King and Queen siblings were not least pleased when they had arrived.
"Cilan, Betelgeuse, Rigel, where have you three been?" demanded King Edmund. Betelgeuse didn't reply and rushed forward with the box of magical discs while Rigel raised a booklet to his face. Because she was propelled with such anxiety dread for King Edmund and Queen Susan, she flicked through the pages rapidly.
"Hold it right THERE, Rigel," barked Queen Susan as Rigel unintentionally irritated her brother with the booklet. King Edmund slapped a hand on the booklet and shot the dark blue Wolf a glare.
"You three should be up to your duties," said he angrily.
"B-b-but Your Majesties," Cilan said, "We have something VERY important that you MUST see and that we MUST tell you."
"Alcina is..." began Rigel but she was cut off by the appearance of a three-tailed Fox with red, violet, magenta and gold fur. A curious and slightly irritated look was on her face.
"What's going on?" asked she. Betelgeuse and Rigel immediately hid the booklet, the disc box and the player behind them while Cilan rushed in to screen off Alcina's records and plans, an innocent gaze aimed at the Fox to disguise their intentions. Alcina came up to them.
"You three look anxious and panicky," she said with concern, "Something bothering you?"
"N-n-no, Alcina," replied Cilan, "We're just unnerved at what is happening to the kidnapped victims, that's all. Have you found out where they are been taken yet?"
"Yes," replied Queen Susan, "They are being taken to some sort of ocean vessel out in the Eastern Ocean."
"The Metalberg to be exact," added King Edmund, "Based on Goldleaf, one of the Alicanto's description..."
Alcina flinched but to King Edmund and Queen Susan, it was stun and disbelief but Betelgeuse, Rigel and Cilan who now knew everything and the REAL truth about this Fox's intentions, knew that it was horror.
"That sounds dreadful," said Alcina. She then walked towards Cilan, Betelgeuse and Rigel and 'accidentally' bumped hard into them, disguising it with utmost stun at the revelation. The Cù-Sìth and the two unusually coloured Wolves stumbled and as the latter two unintentionally raised the disc box, disc player and booklet, Alcina seized them in a telekinetic grasp indicated by a neon blue glow in her eyes and an aura enclosing these objects, and in a blink of an eye moved them out of the Wolves' paws and into one of her tails. Betelgeuse and Rigel regained their balance but they soon realised that the evidence had been snatched from their paws and they began to look around for them. Cilan yelled at Alcina.
"Hey, watch it, Ma'am," the Cù-Sìth yelled.
"I'm sorry, but I'm UTTERLY seized by stun at the revelation of where these poor victims are being taken," replied Alcina. Betelgeuse's face then flared and she boldly approached the Fox.
"Oh, you have good reason to be stunned alright, Fox," the dark red Wolf growled hostilely and she seized Alcina by the shoulder.
"Betelgeuse, release Alcina THIS MINUTE and cool your hostility," barked King Edmund.
"Yes, you three have work to do," put in Queen Susan. Betelgeuse reluctantly released Alcina and the three-tailed Fox shot the dark red Wolf an irritated glare.
"Can we see Martian and also Hagrid and Alestomeria?" asked Cilan.
"Martian and the Nine-Tailed couple are EXTREMELY busy at the moment," replied King Edmund, "especially with caring for our deteriorating older brother and High King and the waiting of the return of the quest goers with his ONLY antidote, the Nine-Realms Potion, and they will NOT have time for unnecessary talk about insignificant things..."
"But Your Majesties, this is important..." Rigel began but Queen Susan severely ordered the two Wolves and the Cù-Sìth to get back to work. Her voice tone was so severe that the three were propelled to obey without question, so they bolted. Alcina looked on as the three left.
"What has gotten into them lately?" she asked the two Monarchs. Queen Susan and King Edmund just shook their heads in irritation and walked on.
"I don't know but their absence has been unnecessary, that's what," said the latter, "They MUST be helping in the tasks like protecting the young from these kidnappers who are capturing them for the boatmen to ship out to the Metalberg out in the Ocean."
Alcina just breathed a sigh and walked after the two Monarchs. As the three left, Cilan, Betelgeuse and Rigel looked on, miffed at their attempt to alert them to the UTTER important discovery about Alcina and exposing her as one of Jadis' minions stymied as well as the evidence being taken.
"Have you any other ideas, Cilan?" asked Rigel. The Cù-Sìth gazed back at her and her dark red sister, the answer clearly present.