Fic: Six Impossible Things, 2/6 (Steve/Danny, PG-13)
Chapter Two: Psychics are real
Steven had made a place setting for him at the table and he ladled out some stew from the pot that had been hanging over the fire. Danny dug in with gusto, his last meal (PB&J with Grace) being nothing more than a vague but pleasant memory.
Danny didn’t know what was in the stew, but it was pretty much the most delicious thing he’d ever tasted. Still, he wolfed it down, eager to get his questions so he could get this rescue mission on the road.
“Thanks,” he said, putting his spoon down.
Steven nodded. He and Kono were watching Danny and waiting patiently.
“Okay. First things first. I know I’m in Oahu, but it’s not the same as the Oahu I just came from, so where exactly am I?”
“You’re just past the border of the White King’s realm, on the edge of the Mushroom Forest.”
The only part of that that made any actual sense was the bit that at least explained away the giant mushrooms. But, Danny decided to just roll with the punches.
“And the White King is…”
Kono chimed in with the answer to that one.
“His Royal Highness Chin Ho Kelly.”
“He’s Kono’s cousin,” Steven added.
“And he lets you do this whole ninja thing?”
Kono smiled proudly.
“Well, I’m pretty good at it.”
The lump on the back of Danny’s head agreed with her.
“Right. Okay. And Kamekona?”
“He is the land’s most prominent and well-respected Informant. He serves neither crown, but is an entity unto himself. And he makes great shave ice,” Kono said.
Steven added:
“He sees and tells us about everything that has ever been, all that is happening right now, and what is yet to come.”
Okay. So, informant to these people meant psychic.
“Well, you might want him to check his facts from now own, because he’s wrong about one big thing.”
“He’s never been wrong!” Steve protested.
“Technically, he is. He’s wrong because no way is Grace going to be slaying that dragon thing. It’s bad enough that I have to do it; I’m not risking my daughter like that!”
When he’d started, he hadn’t meant to yell. But really, all of this madness was a lot to take in at once, and he was bound to crack to some time.
“And I know you said she’s safe and everything, but the fact is, she’s still dealing with God knows what in that castle. And that thing is there, and he shouldn’t be anywhere near my baby. And I’m…and she’s…”
He couldn’t say anymore. His head sank to the table and he finally gave in to the tears that had been threatening him ever since Grace had tumbled from his arms.
There was the sound of chairs scraping and a smart rap at the window. A small hand came down on his shoulder, giving him a little squeeze. He raised his head and Kono was smiling gently at him. She ruffled his hair a bit and Danny nearly lost it again in the face of her kindness.
Steven was over at the window, where the biggest hawk Danny had ever seen was perched on the sill. Steven took a piece of paper that had been attached to its leg, opened and read it. He broke into a little relieved smile and turned back to face Danny.
“My friend, Cath, the one I told you about, she says Grace is just fine. She’s secured a place as Grace’s caretaker, and she’s going to be with her day and night. Danny, I promise you, Cath will keep her safe. I’m sending a note back now to give to Grace, and you should be getting word back from her in a couple of hours.”
“How can you promise she’ll be safe! That dragon thing is still there! That is the exact opposite of safe!”
Steven scrawled something on the piece of paper and sent the hawk back on its way. He went over to the table and perched on the edge, taking Danny’s hand in his.
“Danny, whatever she may have become, the Red Queen loves children and has never, not once, harmed one. And Cath will make sure Grace knows exactly what’s going on, every step of the way. She will be safe, and you will get her back.”
Steven’s face was so earnest as he looked down at Danny that he couldn’t help but believe him, even if he didn’t know the man.
“I…thank you. It’s…well, what you’re doing is really, um, good.”
“Family’s important,” Steven replied.
He had another look on his face now. It was fighting to be stoic, but Danny could tell that something had just made Steven deeply, privately sad.
Kono broke the silence.
“We have to take him to Kamekona. See what we have to do next.”
Whatever had been bugging him before, Steven snapped out of it.
“Right.”
. . .
Kono and Steven were way more armed than they needed to be for a simple stroll through the fields. Still, they’d given Danny a pistol, which made him feel a little better. Even if it did look like it had once belonged to Wyatt Earp.
“So, this Kamekona guy. He’s going to help us get Grace?” Danny asked Kono.
Steven was a little ways ahead, making sure the way was clear.
“No. He can’t get involved. He’ll tell us how we’re going to do it though,” she said, a determined look on her face.
Danny barely knew her, barely knew either of them, but he felt such a strong surge of gratitude he nearly teared up again. These were good people. Too bad he couldn’t actually slay their dragon for them.
They reached the edge of the field they were crossing and Danny was faced with the same giant grass he and Grace had been lost in before.
Great.
Stupid freakin’ Mushroom Forest.
. . .
Grace looked away from the window when “Step-Stan” came into the room he had stashed her in hours ago.
She’d been watching for Danno. She knew he was coming for her. He was just running a little late, because she had gotten a ride on the bandersnatch and it was a lot faster than Danno.
She hoped he hadn’t gotten too held up by the punk who tackled him.
“Step-Stan,” whose name actually was Stan, even if he really wasn’t her Step, cleared his throat.
“I’ve secured you a maid, Miss. She’ll see to your needs until you appear before the Queen on her birthday. She loves children. A sweet girl like you should be just what she needs.”
“She’s not going to cook me in an oven, is she?”
Stan looked disgusted.
“Of course not! The Queen loves children! No, you will be treated like a princess. The Queen has been…not herself. I’m hoping you and your Danno will be able to help her.”
Grace held up the book he’d given her earlier. She’d read the whole thing already (she could read at a tenth grade level, thanks very much). She didn’t understand some of what she’d read, but she’d gotten the gist and she knew the writer was telling the truth, because the book said Danno was going to save everyone.
But…
“I don’t think I could help beat a dragon.”
Stan knelt before her and looked her in the eye.
“If you help me cheer the Queen up, I promise I will help you and your father do what needs to be done.”
Grace looked at him very seriously for a moment.
“Okay.”
Stan returned to his feet and went to the door, opening it. A pretty lady came in and nodded politely to him.
“See that she has every comfort, Catherine.”
“Yes Captain.”
Stan bowed once more to Grace and left the room.
The lady turned to her with a smile. She walked over and sat next to Grace on the window ledge.
“Grace, daughter of Danno?”
“Yes ma’am.”
Catherine held out her hand.
“I’m Catherine, daughter of Diana. But you can call me Cath.”
Grace shook her hand.
“Nice to meet you Cath.”
“I bet you’re missing your daddy right about now, huh?”
“Yes ma’am,” Grace replied softly.
Cath held a piece of paper out to her.
“He’s doing just fine. This is from my friend Steve. Your dad is staying with him right now so they can figure out the best possible plan to come get you. Steven sent you a letter himself and he’d like you to read it so you and I can send one back to Danno, okay?”
Grace nodded, feeling so much happier and better than she had a minute ago.
Danno was going to come. And he had a plan. And friends.
She opened the letter.
Dear Grace,
This is my old friend Catherine. She’s going to take good care of you and keep you safe until your daddy and I can get to the castle.
Danno is just fine. He misses you and he loves you and he can’t wait to see you. It might be a little while though, so I’m going to be sending my bird Hermes so you can Danno can write each other letters.
I promise to take good care of him. Do your best to keep an eye on Catherine, okay?
From,
Steve
Grace nodded and folded the letter, tucking it into her pants pocket. She looked up at Cath and smiled.
“Do you have stuff to write with? I don’t want to keep Danno waiting.”
. . .
Stan was pacing in his chambers.
He hoped this worked. Rachel, her Majesty, he reminded himself, had been another woman since the JabberHesse came. For ten years, it had been poisoning her soul. Now he barely recognized the woman he had loved for so long.
He’d been searching the Red Kingdom high and low, looking for anything that might remind his Queen of the woman she used to be. And then the bandersnatch had picked up the scent of a child. Rachel had always loved children. Nothing gave her greater joy than to make them smile and to ensure that they were properly cared for and given every possible opportunity for betterment. Mayhap a child was just what she needed to break the insidious spell she’d fallen under.
Stan felt a pang of remorse for the pain that he’d caused the girl’s father by taking her away. But he could not seriously regret it, having soon learned that the man was the hero they’d been waiting so long for. And if he had a reason to come to the castle as quickly as he could, all the better.
The sooner they’d all be rid of the bloody beast.
And the sooner he’d have Rachel back.
. . .
Kamekona lived in a small house similar to Steven’s, not too far into the Mushroom Forest.
He was sitting in a chair outside with his eyes closed, his right hand scribbling on some parchment on the table beside him.
“So you’ve brought him, Steven.”
Danny nearly jumped out of his skin. He wasn’t one to go for all that psychic mumbo jumbo, but this dude was giving him the willies.
“You don’t have to worry, brah. I don’t bite,” he said, cracking a smile at Danny.
“I thought a psychic was different than a mind reader?”
Kamekona shrugged.
“I know everything that’s going to happen, from what you will think, right down to what you’ll be eating for dinner next Tuesday. I’d suggest some milk afterward; good for the heartburn.”
“That’s fucked up.”
“It really really is.”
He smiled up at Kono now.
“Howzit cuz?”
“Howzit Uncle?”
She walked up and hugged him.
“You get prettier every time I see you.”
Kono punched him on the arm, but she was smiling.
Steven was fidgeting and looking impatient.
“Okay, you all come inside and I’ll tell you what you need to know before Steve has an aneurism.”
Kamekona got up and Danny looked at Steven-no, Steve. Apparently he had a nickname. He almost laughed out loud, because Steve really did have an aneurism look going on. Maybe if he was stuck here long enough, Danny’d be able to compile a whole list of faces.
Kamekona led them into a small parlor and they took a seat on the old sofa by the window.
“I’m glad you’re here Danno-excuse me, Danny. That’s right. It’s Danny.”
“Yeah, well, no offence, but I’m not. Glad to be here that is. My kid was taken from me, I have the headache from hell, and I’m really sorry, because Steve and Kono have been very kind, minus the lump on my head and the bit with the tackling, but there is no way I am killing this dragon thing.”
“JabberHesse.”
“Thank you, Steven. JabberHesse. I’d like to be around to see Grace grow up, if it’s all the same to you.”
“But you will kill the JabberHesse.”
“Sorry Kamekona. I know you’ve never been wrong, but there’s a first time for everything my friend.”
Danny crossed his arms. End of discussion.
Kamekona leaned forward, regarding him calmly.
“Danny.”
“Kamekona.”
“I know this whole thing seems crazy brah. Believe me, I’ve seen crazy. I feel you. But the only way you and Grace are ever going to get home is if you slay the JabberHesse.”
“Hold up. I thought you thought Grace was… you know, grace?”
Kamekona shrugged.
“Good scribes are tough to find these days.”
Danny pinched the bridge of his nose.
“That’s really the only way out of here?”
“Yes. You see, you’re caught in it now. From the moment you got here, events were put into motion that none of us are going to be able to stop or to change. Some things in time are mutable, but some things are fixed. You killing the JabberHesse is fixed.”
Danny’s shoulders slumped in defeat because, how do you argue with a damn psychic? He sighed.
“But why me?”
“Because you’re pure of heart.”
Danny burst out laughing.
“Okay! Kamekona, my friend! This is not some fairy tale, and I’m not some knight in shining armor who has to slay the dragon and rescue the damsel. I’m a short cop from Jersey with a loud mouth, an anger management problem, an ex-wife, and a bum knee. The only thing I got going for me is Gracie.”
No one else was laughing.
“None of that besides Grace matters, Danny. You are pure of heart. You gave up everything you knew to be beside your little Grace.”
“But that’s… I mean, that wasn’t even a decision. It was the only thing to do!”
“And because you see it that way proves my point! Not everyone would think your sacrifice so simple!”
Kamekona actually seemed surprised by his own outburst.
“This place used to have more people like you. Our two kingdoms lived in peace, with a proper balance between the logic of the White King and the Red Queen’s generous heart. But then ten years ago the JabberHesse came. He pretended to be injured and sick, knowing that the Queen could not refuse any creature in need of care. When she got too close, he poisoned her with his barbed tongue and he has been infecting her soul with foulness ever since.”
“But… she’s a Queen! Wasn’t she taught how to deal with invaders and conspirators and things?”
“Yes, but she’s always been ruled by her heart. And sometimes it’s the greatest hearts who fall and break hardest. You should know that, Danny.”
There it was again. That pang in his chest. Yeah, he knew about heartache. He had a friggin’ Ph.D. in it.
“Since then, the land has fallen waste. The JabberHesse is greedy, and it slowly drains the heart out of everything it touches. He’s destroyed our crops, razed our villages, and wiped out family after family.”
Kamekona’s eyes shifted to Steve, whose hands had clenched into fists. Kono put a hand in the middle of his back and began rubbing soothing circles there.
Danny looked back at Kamekona.
“Steve is the only one left who was born in this land. The rest of the Queen’s subjects are either dead or fled over to the White King’s realm long ago.”
Danny let that sink in. He thought about his own family, and the house he’d grown up in back in Jersey. His whole family was loud and could be more than borderline obnoxious, but they were good people, and he had grown up feeling very loved. What would it be like to lose his mom, his dad, his sisters, his little brother, to some monster who’d decided that everything around was his for the taking. He thought of having the life he’d always known just taken from him. Not because he’d made a conscious decision to leave it behind for the sake of his little girl. No, just because some monster had decided that he couldn’t have it anymore.
He thought about a life without Grace…
No.
No way.
No how.
Not ever.
He’d rather be dead.
And then he thought about Steve, who had faced losses like that. Who didn’t have a Grace to come home to, his life reduced to his apprentice and a psychic acquaintance. Steve, who was alone in this world, but who had still been really kind to him.
And he multiplied Steve’s situation by however many families and lives that the JabberHesse had destroyed.
And he knew.
“Okay Kamekona. Tell me what I have to do.”