A/N I've never finished writing a story before, not even my novels from when I was like ten. We're halfway there, probably more, and hopefully I can get back in the swing! Hope you like this chapter!

Fern sat wrapped in all her blankets, waiting for either news on Oak' state or for the sweet escape of sleep to finally take her.

Oak was found by a man named Starflower just after noon, he was passed out, but the nurses assured everyone he'd wake up soon.
The sky was blacker than ebony and everyone else had been asleep for a long time.
Oak still wasn't up.

It was Fern's fault. Letting him go into that forest alone really did prove she was just the heartless villain she so feared becoming.

The killer of royals. The princess of liars.

She looked straight forward and made eye contact with her reflection in the room's mirror.
How utterly pathetic.

Fern wanted to talk to Carnation. She made everything better but she wasn't there right now.
So Fern flipped over, staring out the window instead.

Part of her didn't want Oak to wake up because even though she'd rather marry him than anyone else, the wedding when she opened her eyes the next morning would be in full swing, and she'd only had one groom-less rehearsal. She just wasn't ready.

"Princess!" Carnation pounded on her door.
"You need to get up right now!"

Fern drowsily opened her eyes and plain as day it was just that- day.
She supposed those thoughts of her serious moral issues had put her to sleep. Less than soothing but alright.

She had never heard Carnation yell like that and it was so intimidating she got out of bed much faster than if Cliff or Rose had yelled.

Without knocking Carnation pushed open the door, a level of stress Fern hadn't known she could feel.
Her brown hair wasn't tied like it usually was and her clothes were plain and blended in to the crowd of servants Fern often noticed in the hallways.

Carnation made a beeline for her wardrobe, throwing it open.
"Goodness gracious Tsunami! I told you you could see the seamstress! Have you been wearing Thorn's clothes? How have you lived like this for all these weeks!? Why you hardly have enough clothes for one!"

"One dress a day..." Fern mumbled.

Carnation put a hand over the bridge of her nose and heaved an exhausted sigh.
"I could care less but the public! You're lucky you don't meet with them as often as Basil used to! You'll be swarmed once you're queen! I hope you know! Tsunami-"

Carnation stopped. The tension released from her broad shoulders as she realized how worried Fern was.
"I'm sorry, sweetheart. I just want things to go good for you and Oak."
She calmly handed Fern simple ivory clothes and hurried out of the room with the promise she'd return.

Mere seconds after Fern had changed Carnation rushed in again, now she wore the black dress Thorn bought her, but her scabbard and sword rested against her hip, and her boots and wrists were armoured.

Fern looked down at her own clothes. She had never been to a wedding before but yesterday at the rehearsal she was told they had made her a nice dress...this...was neither nice or a dress.

Then again it was possible she'd gotten that part wrong. After Sage -in the place of his brother- tripped up over every vow, Clover decided to verbally explain much of the ceremony instead.
Fern blocked out a lot of what he said. It was hard to listen to Clover without doing that.

Carnation put an arm around Fern and guided her through the halls.
"Dress adjustments." She said, as she led her down one of the extravagant and enormous staircases. They ended up in a room on the first floor Fern hadn't noticed any of the days before.

Carnation took her hand back to herself. She leaned down to Fern's level.
"These lovely men and women are going to help you into your dress. If you need anything changed by all means tell them but..." Carnation sighed as she remembered Elm, Snow, and Basil's past fittings. What a family.
"If you just don't like it please don't say anything."

Fern gave a nod and as soon as the door was open Fern was pulled into a mass of excited looking elves.

So many dress makers spoke in varied tones and accents that Fern couldn't understand a single one as they dawned over her, yanking her in ever direction for measurements. That is, until the loudest man snapped
"We have to alter everything!"

Fern didn't cry often and she certainly wasn't crying over the dress. It was how annoyed all these people were with her. Like it was somehow her fault she wasn't built the exact same as some dumb water princess. Thorn must be blind.

As it turned out Fern's proportions were actually very close, maybe Thorn was only a little bit idiotic. There was a lot of tension in the air as the dressmakers yanked and sewed but the dress was well fitting soon, albeit a little tight.

"Well! That sure was hectic!" Carnation laughed as they walked out of the room near an hour later.
"How are you feeling, dear?"

Fern was exhausted, and she had to waddle in the incredibly uncomfortable dress. She had honestly expected herself to feel worse. She had expected to cry.
"I'm just fine." She said.

"Ah, that's the spirit. You look beautiful."

Fern smiled warmly.
"Thank you." She looked at the dress. It was too fancy for her. Too big and adorned with too many details. Yet still...she did like it.

In the courtyard Carnation held open the carriage door for the supposed princess.
Fern climbed in and Carnation took the seat across from her.
"I hardly know you." Carnation watched as the dainty white horses that pulled the carriage began to stride (dragons aren't great in such public events, they can be snappish).
"But I am proud of you, Princess."

Fern smiled wide. At least here she had Carnation. She loved her.

"Where's Oak?" Fern asked as garden bushes and shrubs seemed to fly by.

Carnation hesitated for a brief moment.
"He's coming on his own accord. In fact I believe he's already at the church."

"So he wasn't hurt?"

"Only a few scratches." Carnation said.

The conversation died out as the carriage reached town and dozens of voices overwhelmed Fern's ears.
Some were cheers of excitement and anticipation, while others were jabs and insults targeting the mixing of elements.

They spectators spanned on and on for as far as Fern could see. Carnation spoke up again
"You made the right choice in coming home yesterday. Oak was...he was an idiot to stay longer in that wretched forest. But he's fine, everything is going to be fine."

Something about Carnation saying it made Fern believe everything was going to be okay.
"You should be a princess. Not me." She mumbled.

"Tsunami you're lovely, and I think...I know Oak agrees." Carnation got up, brushing off her skirt. She couldn't stand in the low roofed carriage considering her impressive height.
She opened the door for Fern.
"M'lady..." she bowed deeply, giving a soft smile.

Fern tried her best to fit the poofy dress through the door, eventually making it through with only a slight stumble.

The fact that the ceremony was so close to castle yet they still had to take a carriage said a lot about the royals and their standards.

Fern looked up and immediately felt absolutely tiny.

This church was huge. It looked like a mini castle, white and gold and surrounded by statues. Fern thought she had seen these statues before...wait...Fern quickly realized only one of them was fully in tact. These were the first empresses of the elements. Water, fire and air were crumbling, covered in vines and thorns. More or less it was a hate crime, but Earth was untouched.

War is an awful thing. Turning the world against itself.

The earth element isn't bad, nor the others. There are bad people in each.
Fern was a bad earth person, at least they way she saw it.

She looked down at her (impossible to walk in) heels to avoid making eye contact to the hundreds- no thousands- of elves with eyes were glued to the young bride.

Fern and Carnation rushed inside as fast as they could without looking paranoid.
Once they arrived in the preparation room Fern dramatically dropped onto a couch and Carnation into plush chair.
"Now...we wait." Fern sighed, relaxing.

Wait was just what the two did. Near half an hour later Carnation beckoned Fern to stand.
It felt like minutes.

Carnation lifted a silver tiara attached to a veil. She draped it over Fern, pulling her long brown hair behind her shoulders.

Fern had forgotten how it felt to wear one of these, it had been a while. She liked that she could hide but something about that dishonesty made her feel sick.

"Congratulations." Came a voice Fern didn't recognize. It was airy, slow and distant sounding. But it wasn't comforting -it was cold.

Fern turned around as did Carnation, who took a defensive step forward.

Fern watched Carnation realize, and she bowed apologetically.
"Your royal highness, I beg your mercy."

Queen Snow didn't speak to her.

And Snow didn't sound like her voice did. They spoke in a similar tone but their voices were not the same.

Snow walked past Carnation and glared down at Fern, her light eyes as blank as they always seemed to be.
"Go. Get out of here this instant." She said, firmly.

Fern's hands trembled at the very thought she may have been caught in her act.
"Y-your magesty I-"

Snow grabbed Fern by the shoulder and slammed her into the wall so hard Fern swore it dented the slightest bit.
"You fraud...you actually thought you could fool me with your little act, why you hardly even tried!"

Carnation leapt forward, attempting to tackle a Snow to the ground, Fern was surprised she'd even try. But Carnation did and was immediately struck across the face so hard she stumbled back.

Carnation lifted her hand to her face, no blood, but it would certainly bruise. Unable to control herself she threw herself onto the queen, forcefully tearing her away from the false princess, who now quivered against the wall.

"I may serve you and your family but I'll serve justice before anyone." Carnation pushed Snow hard enough to knock her into a desk a few feet over. Snow clutched the edge of the table for stability as the guard moved closer.

"I wish no ill befall you." Carnation started.
"But if I need to..." Carnation hesitated, Snow was so important to Sage and Oak and Basil...
"I'll tell Elm. You know you're sabotaging the kingdom, you're killing everyone if this marriage doesn't happen! My liege, it's important!"

Snow laughed, exposing her sharp teeth.
"I'm impressed Snow is so great you nearly cry at the idea of sending her to her death. But, I've used this vessel enough. Want to take her out yourself?"

Carnation glances to the grandfather clock, consistently ticking in the small room's corner. She grabbed Fern's arm and led her into the hallway
"Alright, kid, you should get a move on, now."

Fern shook her head.
"No! Carnation! Carnation, are you going to kill her!?!"

"Never. But I do need to get her under control. I know a man who's here right now who has helped her bef-"

"Shut up." Snow snapped.
She walked up to Carnation and Fern.

Carnation looked down her nose at her.
"What?" She asked, folding her arms.

Snow grabbed Fern and thew her backwards, yelling insults Fern didn't quite hear. Carnation closed the door and her shadow moved towards the queen.

Fern stumbled, crashing into the isle doors, and falling to the ground in front of the entire wedding reception with a loud slam.
The wooden benches of the church creaked as everyone turned to look at the bride. This was pathetic.

Fern stood up awkwardly and the wedding band immediately began to play.
"Should I start moving up the isle?" She quietly asked.

Elm stared at her and beckoned her to come closer.
The look in his eyes heavily suggested he would punch her as soon as she was at the altar.

Fern walked fast up the isle, praying Snow wasn't at her heels like a rabid dog, Fern grabbed onto Oak's hand as soon as she could reach it.

The church buzzed with the chatter of thousands of elves.

"Are you alright?!" Oak shrieked, looking mortified at her scratches.
"What in the world happened to-"
His breath caught in his throat as he noticed his mother, she was laying in the doorway now, limp and clearly exhausted. She didn't look like she could lift a hand, her white hair falling in her face as she heaved breaths.

Fern could hardly believe Carnation would do that do the queen. It was shocking she was so loyal to some stupid fake princess.
But it wasn't all Carnation, Fern couldn't understand that.

"Amalgam..." Oak put a hand on Fern's shoulder protectively as he stared at Snow.

The armed guards that surrounded the gargantuan room came towards Snow. Harshly grabbing her arms and pulling her up.
Snow muttered senselessly all the while.
"Hey...it's not me...it's not me it's her! You don't...comprehend...I'll..." She quieted, turning her glare to the bystanders.

Oak looked disturbed, his grip on Fern's hand tightening.
"Oh, please not her..."
Was it just Fern or was he shaking?

Fern didn't blame him. Even if she didn't know her real mother if she was...anything like that she'd be absolutely mortified. Never mind at her wedding. Never mind at the biggest wedding of...well probably the century.

Two especially concerned citizens stepped up from the very back row, moving towards Snow. This city was full of over patriotic citizens who would put their lives on the line all just for the royals. Even for Snow, renowned for her beauty but shamed for that scintilla of hatred ever present behind her smile.

It was hard to believe anyone would be so concerned after she had attacked Fern, still those two leapt up, looking very upset.
An aging woman with caramel colored skin and silvery hair and a middle aged man with jade hair tied back at his shoulder.

Oak paused to watch the scenario unfold but he turned back to Fern once the duo was ushered down again.
"I...whatever...this kind of stuff is expected. Nobody will care. Let's tie the knot now, everything will be about that."

Fern did agree but that urgency he spoke with was a mirror unto such anxiety and worry...she felt there must have been another underlying purpose for Oak's adamant rush.

The priest watched Snow be dragged away, he hesitated, and even spared a glance at Elm next to him.

Elm looked livid. His chest rose and fell as he took aggravated breaths in. He looked at the priest.
"Get going right now."

The man nodded nervously and cleared his throat, raising his voice so that the gossiping crowd quieted.
"The union of the Earth and Water empires has caused great controversy- we've seen it just now. But this will be historical! A turning point in history!"

Elm reached for the priest's wrist, his bright eyes dead serious.
He didn't have to threaten him for his threat to be understood.

The priest got into the vows fast. He spoke to Oak and Fern too, but in all her anxiousness she hardly heard anything. He talked for a very, very long time. Fern's legs were beginning to tire and she had become focused on that when the room went quiet.
"...As long as you both shall live?"

Just like rehearsals.
Oak looked at her for a second before looking away again, unable to say it while maintaining eye contact. What a flustered idiot.
"I do..."

Fern clenched his hand tighter. This was it. No more stressing over this moment. It had come and it was about to be gone.
"I..."

But as she tried to finish, to seal the deal and say what she had to, she no longer could.

It wasn't her nerves.

"I do." Came a woman's voice.  A cold breeze swept over the room as dainty white fingers not unlike porcelain danced across Fern's shoulder.

She froze, trying not to move, not wanting to look behind her for fear of whoever she would see.
The room was dead silent.

This strange young woman had a black veil obscuring her face, and for a moment Oak's fear took hold of him and he allowed his thoughts to escape in a gasp-like tone.
"Amalgam!"

She laughed heartily.
"Surprised you recognized me, why I do suppose I look different."

Oak hesitated a second before snapping
"What do you want!?"

Amalgam's newest form stepped out in front of the couple so that both could bask in the ghastly sight.

Why isn't anyone crying out? Oak wondered desperately.
Why won't the guards move or the citizens scream or my princess say her vows, it's like the world is frozen it's like everything is stopped! Why?! Why?!

Please! He begged, he prayed, he desperately wished.
Someone please take her away before she takes me!

"Right now, I'm controlling all the air in this room, so- oh don't look so worried, love- they can all breathe but I don't think anyone will be objecting." The woman explained.

Fern didn't know why she tried again to speak, to yell, because it didn't work, in fact it caused a suffocating sensation that terrified her so much she had to stop.

Alongside her fiancé Fern could only stare at this woman. Her skin was so pale that she swore she could see veins, her long blue hair curved around her own wedding dress, and her face was obscured by this veil. Who on earth!?! Who is this creep and why is nobody talking and what is she doing here?! Oh... oh no...

The woman turned her gaze upon Fern and her lips pulled into a smile as she watched her realize.

"Do what you must to survive. Steal, cheat, kill and lie. But take heed..." Fern couldn't tear her eyes away from the woman's arm. It was covered in a layer of crystal-like ice, and scarlet blood had made its way through that glassy seal, painting her arm red. Fern could see the centre of this blood, where it poured from. The centre of her bicep, where an arrowhead was lodged.
"Your deeds will always come back to you."

It was a gut wrenching realization. Fern wanted to wake up. Oh, more than anything she wanted to be released from this nightmare of royals and knights and murder.

Princess Tsunami stared her down, and she looked truly merciless.

"Is it good to see me again, Fern? It's lovely to see you." Tsunami drawled, stroking Fern's face with the back of her hand.

Even if she could talk Fern couldn't tell off the princess with the cold hands and phantom eyes. Because...she did nothing wrong. Fern was the villain.

"...Fern?" Came Oak's meek voice.

Fern looked away as tears began to flow.
She was surprised to find when she sobbed she did make a sound. It was a horrible, agonizing, dry sob that tore through the room as more of a scream.

"Oh, yes. This is Fern, I'm your bride. You see, Fern here thought..."
Tsunami couldn't finish, she chuckled and cackled as she gestured to Fern, a wide, dead smile on her face
"You really thought you...killed me? Ah, an assassin of the highest accord! Murderer of divine royals! Slaughterer of those she can't understand!"

It wasn't like that! That's not me! I didn't mean for any of this to happen! It's not like that! Stop! Make it stop!

Fern kept trying to breathe and to yell out, but was choked by this still air.

"Pray tell, dearest. What was it like? Living my life?"
Tsunami threw Fern to the ground and she hit it hard, she didn't try to stand.

"Oak." Tsunami turned her commanding presence to the young man who stared at his bride, quaking and whispering 'why?'.

"Are you happy with the truth? Or do you see the world as she does?" Tsunami kicked Fern's side and she tried to scream.

Tsunami raised her voice to nearly shout.
"Really you can do anything! You can lie, you can kill, and you can die a bloody death! That is the fate of this girl. An orphan, unloved and immoral. A criminal, hiding behind her veil of lies!"

Oak's eyes were wide and teary in disbelief.
"Take one look at her." Tsunami slammed her fists together and there was a flash of white light.
"She's never shown you anything like that, has she? Because she can't."

Oak shook his head.
"No...you're lying..."

Tsunami grabbed his arm and yelled
"Don't you see!?! You were playing right into her hands! You believed her and..."

Tsunami moved over to a frozen guard, grabbing their bow and arrow straight out of their hands.
"You loved her."

Tsunami placed the arrow and stretched the drawstring as far as it could possibly go.
"Some people really should be removed from this world." She said

Tsunami stared straight into Fern's eyes as she lifted the bow and let the arrow fly.