The Time Capsule

Chapter 33: Daughter of Ice

AN: -----------------

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The scene was quite chilling, Angelica watched as her father trembled with anger and rage, looking up the gigantic hillside to see his wife standing with the most powerful and terrifying man in all the land. She knew the look crossing her father's face. It was a look of utter desperation, heartbreak and betrayal. How had her mother gained this new look? She should be in Shadowstream where they left her. She was sure they'd knocked her out in the forest, that was what Nightwing had told her anyway, but now she was nowhere to be seen, along with Jillian and Levi. The odds were not looking to be in their favor. 

The two armies crossed the hillside to each other, the rebels finally emerging from the mines with the smallest number of dwarfs Angelica had suspected. She had sent them back secretly in hopes of more results, what she hoped was a tactical battle move. 

"That's all you could get?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. 

"Sorry, Miss Sparrow," the leader replied. "We have been asked to report that such underlings as dwarfs, in their exact words, have not and will never join the side of those beings who cast them into slavery."

"Damn it," Angelica sighed. "Fair enough. Thank them for coming along. Tell them I'll make sure their choice is not in vain." 

The rebel nodded and turned back to the tiny creatures, the armies continuing ever closer until they stood at an invisible line, one directly between the hillside and the castle. Morgan had the advantage of the top of the hillside, Angelica's team had, well, very few advantages. She prayed they at least had hope. Mr. and Mrs. Sparrow slowly crossed between their forces and met halfway in the snow. 

"Mum?" Angelica dared to whisper. "What are you doing? What's going on?"

"Silence, darling," Mrs. Sparrow said, glaring down Mr. Sparrow with her sharp blue eyes. "Seems you've done well for yourself." 

"Seems you haven't," James replied, quick as ever. 

"I beg to differ," Mrs. Sparrow snapped. "I've listened to what Morgan has to say. He wants no different than we want. The deforestation and global warming is destroying our forests by the day. They are breaking the protective bubble around the Earth that keeps us safe from destruction. Surely you have noticed. The forest of Shadowstream itself is already half gone, burned to the ground." 

"Actually, that might have been us-" Angelica tried to say.

"I have NOT finished," Mrs. Sparrow shouted. 

She spread her arms and sent an icy blast of wind across the battlefield, knocking Angelica's army back and sending a few dwarfs bowling down the hill with sheer force. 

"What the hell's gone wrong inside your head?" James asked. "What made you like this?" 

"He wants what we want, darling," Mrs. Sparrow said, taking James' cheek. "He wants to protect the forests and save the world. There is a singular box that will help him do this. A box that you know quite well. A box that you had hidden for several years. Only you know what's inside it, I believe." 

"The Wordsmiths entrusted you, the most incompetent person, with this information," Morgan growled, Angelica trembling at how his voice shook the trees. 

"Not the time capsule?" James asked, shocked. 

"That's the one," Mrs. Sparrow replied. "Morgan believes that the Wordsmiths hid objects and secret knowledge inside the box that will help restore the world's forests. Quite recently, the box ended up in Morgan's kingdom, delivered by none other than Nightwing."