“What do you mean that you lost Raskolnikov, Umi?!” Cinderella bellowed into the communication crystal.
“I’m sorry Cinder! Ras tricked me and went through that weird portal with Dhabbok!” The druid could just picture the ears pulling back on the Battle Junkie if he was in his original form.
“First we lost Clara, and now this!” She groaned to the sky.
“Wait. Drosselmeyer’s Niece went missing?” Umi’s confusion was palpable, “Since when?”
Cinderella took a deep breath before continuing. “Guess.”
“I actually can’t guess because I don’t know what you know!”
“Mouserinks.” There was a hiss in her words.
“Lolitha is dead though and Hansel went- Ooooohhhhh.” The unicorn’s tone came to a realization, “I forgot about Markos. Though didn’t realize he was into human women.”
“Can you stop thinking Fae?”
“I am fae! Unicorns are Fae damn it! Cinderella, you forget that we don’t think like you humans do! Do you know how hard it is for me to be not fae? It’s very hard!”
“I just don’t want to think what he wants to do with her.”
“Cinder…. He’s also Fae. Fae are going to not care what is the proper thing in human society. So yes I will remind you he’s going to be very fae! Pretty girls attract a lot of Fae. Anyways Back to Ras-”
“We are bringing Ras’ ass back through that portal and sending him after Clara.” Cinderella demanded, “I don’t care if he slipped back through to his hell world. We’re not leaving Clara alone with that hedonistic fop.”
“Don’t you dare correct me about fae politics. I’m going to skin that rat alive and that’s final!”
She heard rustle of cloth as if he was holding up his hands in surrender, “Okay. Okay, mama bear.”
“What Portal did he slip through?” Cinderella glowered at the crystal.
“It’s… one I never seen before? It was on the edge of the wylds and his empire.”
Before either of them could talk more about it, there was a ding on both sides. Cinderella was cautious as she answered so the third could connect to the crystal call.
“Hhhhhheeeeyyyy!~” Came thorough the coy voice the Emperor Raskolnikov. “Cin! Cindy! How ya doing?”
“I want to murder you.” Was her response.
“Kinda figured since, you know, The Unicorn tried to stop me slipping through and he would contact you after.”
“Where the bloody thirteen hells are ye?” Her northern Rafiermian started to cut through as she snarled. Though apparently this world called it “Scottish”.
“Your Scottish is coming through, Cin.”
“A will rin ye intae the bouch o the fairie trees an hang ye bi yer ankles, ye guid for nothin brittle dock!”
“Ooooh, I made you angy!”
“Dinnae test ma patience, Ras...”
Ras cleared his throat before speaking again, “All teasing aside, I actually need to be through here. This world is…. different. Not the Cursed World. In just as in a weird shape as the Cursed world. Ruled by Eldritch Horrors in one way or another as it’s just a fact of life. Also did you know that Ca’thul has a son?”
Both Cinderella and the Unicorn paused at the last part.
“Do… we even want to know how he got one?” Umi asked.
“Donno, but he’s very weird. Thinks fae but doesn’t at the same time. I’m used to Fae logic but his…. has a bit of a mixture of Eldritch Horror levels of thinking which is weird. Also don’t think he realized he’s more like his father in the ruthlessness? Like the kid kinda absolutely brutal to unruly subordinates like Ca’thul is and he’s only 300 and something years old. He’s half horse and half bird-lion… Isn’t that a Hippogriff?”
Cinderella covered her face, “And his father is a literal Kelpie…. So that tracks. Though how the hell he mated with a Griffin I have no idea.”
“Apparently there’s no mother…”
“You know what? I’m not even going to ask any more. This is getting too weird. Anyways I want you to come back because Clara got kidnapped by Markos.”
“Ooooo, that’s not good.” Cinderella could just picture him pursing his lips in thought at that, “But I can’t.”
“I need to help the victim of Ca’thul’s son to get him away from her. Which… I don’t think she realizes she’s also an Eldtrich being. Thinks she’s human. Terrifying part is that I think Baba Yaga was the one who turned her into human which isn’t typical for hags to pull off. Which means Baba Yaga is as powerful as the gods damn Hag of Wishes. A Primordial.”
“I mean there were times Baba Yaga was seen as ‘mother winter’ in some cultures on Hinsay.” Cinderella sighed, “But I digress. What do you expect me to do? I have children which I can’t leave alone. Christian can’t go through the portals anymore because his price for his wish years ago to go against a Gate Keeper’s power…”
“Hm… there is points where Markos likes his parties and if he was to learn that Cian exists and wants to build alliances….”
Cinderella already didn’t like where this was going, “Ras….. Ras please don’t say what I think you’re saying.”
“And we can trick Cian to go to said party if we have Elister be there…..”
“I think we can use Elister and Cian as a distraction and maybe I can work out something with Hansel to cause more chaos.”
“Oh for the love o the primal mother!”
“Sorry, gotta go and start everything.”
“WAIT!” but Ras was already gone. Cinderella groaned in defeat. “What am I going to do?”
“Isn’t he Emperor? Shouldn’t he be worried about how that is going to handle him gone?” Umi asked.
“Knowing this good arse, he found ways for it to work without him and be substantial.” Cinderella growled more to herself, “Damn it. Going to have to talk to Louise. If she watched over Marie and Fritz… I may be able to go over there and stop the madness.”
“I have no idea, but I’ll let you know if I’m able.” She hung up and started to get to work. “Louise? Can we talk?”
So this is a bit of a short story of things going on not in the pov of Clara and Elister. May or maynot be cannon but I kinda wanted to write something in Cinderella's POV trying to deal with the Chaos that is Ras. Which isn't much of dealing and more trying to get him to not be a chaos gremlin and failing.
I also wanted to flesh out the Battle Junkie Unicorn a bit more outside of his "I want to do battle." So it was fun to watch it devolve into chaos due to Ras.
