#(the first and only wedding at ghost valley! their wedding is so special that nobody else who comes after dares to imitate them!)

[alice-angel12x]

Cherry Blossom wedding PT.2

"So Darx took over the school to force Y/n into marriage with him," Riddle summarized. 

"What?!" Everyone gasped.

"What so scary about Darx?" Jack asked.

"Darx is currently the most powerful wizard, and he didn't get that title though fair or clean means," Vil explained.

"And as of late he's been looking for a suitable bride," Lilia added suddenly, " I'm familiar with him cause at first he's been taking many fae brides, some I've known personally. Then they disappear suddenly, and Darx simply moves on to the next."

"S-so were dealing with a possible murder," Kalim stuttered in fear.

"Well nobody has ever shown up, and there is no evidence that he killed them. So all those sad souls are still considered missing," Azul clarified.

"We have to rescue her!" Inir and Ortho shouted.

"Ummm," Everyone backed away.

"What?" Inir gasped.

"Why? Please help us!" Ortho begged.

"Look we all like Y/n and we don't want anything bad to happen to her, but we also don't want to be the ones who die pissing off Darx,"  Ace said.

"while Idia always avoids me yet he only asks for me when he's troubled, that's too easy," Vil added.

" It's your "brother"'s problem. Solve it on your own," Leona sighed.

Inir began to tear up and cry out loud.



"Don't worry Inir, If they won't help then I'll do something," Ortho said to his crying friend.

"Hey, hey. You can't do anything just by yourself," Kalim gasped.

"Stimulating patterns to take back Idia Shroud and Y/n Ebonywood. Requirements: Least time of operation...the simulation has been completed successfully. We will now operate the plan. Charging magic energy. Aiming for Night Raven College's main school grounds," Ortho said as he readied his attack, "Magic beam firing in 5... 4... 3... 2..."

" PLEASE STOOOOOP!" Crowley shouted, "Do you want to make our legendary school turn into ruins!? Magic beams are prohibited!

"Since everybody won't help us, I had to do it," Ortho glared.

" ...everyone. Is it okay to decline that easily? If you abandon Shroud and Y/n just like this..," Crowley scolded.

"What should I say? It'll be pointless even if we fought back..," Ace sighed.

"Ah! There they are! Night Raven College's students!" Crowley said pretending to be a news reporter.

" Wh-what is it so suddenly," Ace gasped.

 "I'm a reporter from TBC News! You're a student from Night Raven College, right!?" Crowley continued.

" Eh? Y-Yeah, I am but... wait, close, too close! Headmaster, you're too close!" Ace stuttered

 "Is it true that it's possessed by ghosts? Please answer the question! It'll be featured by tomorrow morning, so let me take some pictures too. Click-click!" Crowley acted.

"Ugh, the flash is too bright!" Ace groaned.

 "I heard a student was abducted? And you abandoned her?"

"I-I have different dorms from the kidnapped person! I don't know anything!" Ace tried to argue.

  "You left him because you weren't close to him? I can't believe you! I need to compile a special feature... Shocking! The dark side of the prestigious school!"

" Whoa, I said stop it! Don't point the camera here!" Ace shouted.

 "Click click click! Click-click! Click!"

"STOP IT! Ace shouted again.

"And so if Y/n doesn't come back, you'll be pressed by the mass and be interviewed no matter morning or noon. I don't want to see my students getting tired like that, or Shroud getting even more stress on top of his possible trauma. Since I'm kind," Crowley warned.

" If you don't cooperate, I'll hack the news channel and put it on the news. I'll write in big marks "The Student Who Abandoned Their Friend" and air it!" Ortho threatened.

"I think the one who would be troubled the most if there's a scandal on the school is you, the school's responsible person, the headmaster," Riddle stated.

"But, it would trouble me. My mother would cry if she saw that news," Deuce sighed.

" Gossips will affect my image as an entertainer. I don't want it," Vil stated.

" It seems that we have to help then," Lilia smiled, " I can't have things like...Malleus, the next king of the Valley of Thorns couldn't save a human to be spread around, and he does hold Y/n in a special place in his heart."

" Yes. As you said, Lilia-sama!!" Sebek shouted.

"Then, everyone! Let's save Shroud and Y/n  from Darx together!" Crowley cheered, "Ah〜〜〜〜 I'm happy that I only have nice students〜〜〜."

" Let's think of a way to save my brother and Y/n together!" Ortho cheered.

"First of all, why don't we talk to Darx," Kalim suggested.

" What a magnificent thought, you are Golden. Though I don't think he would let go of a beautiful maiden like Y/n so easily. If I were in his shoes I certainly wouldn't," Rook smiled.

" In the end, we just have to get him back by force, don't you think?" Leona stated.

 "We all ended up here because we can't do that. Did you forget?" Vil said.

"Yes. We can't "defeat" the ghosts in a face to face battle. They're troublesome as an opponent. Let's avoid a battle with them." Crowley said.

"You know from what I've heard Darx is a narcissistic wizard and happily excepts challenges from anyone," Riddle stated.

"True, a Fae friend of mine challenged Darx to save his lover, but he disappeared along with her," Lilia added.

"Maybe Sam has something useful in his shop," Inir suggested.

So it was off to the school shop and Mr.Sam. Who surprisingly had had something that could maybe help with Darx. A pure white crystal that can undo any spell of a specific caster.

"That was something I did have, but those darn ghosts came by and raided my shop and getting away with lots of my stuff," Sam sighed.

"What they took the crystal too?!" Crowley gasped.

"Yep, but I'll give you advice instead. Darx specializes in summoning and capture Magic," Sam explained, " That is probably why Y/n and Shroud hasn't come back to us yet."

"So I guess the only option is to beat him at a match in hopes to win both student's freedom," Crowley sighed, " Alright those I call, step forward, you will be the first to challenge group to challenge Darx," 

" Trey Clover, Jack Howl, Jade Leech, Floyd Leech, Kingscholar, Schoenheit, and Zigvolt," Crowley called.

"I was so troubled getting chased by ghosts, so this is where you all evacuated," Trey smiled.

" I'm glad we could gather," Jade greeted.

"Headmaster. What are you going to do with we seven?" Vil asked.

"You are all strong with your unique magic, so maybe you can outfox Darx, or maybe you could all challenge him together," Crowley suggested.

"W-what why can't I go? I feel like I'm abandoning my duties as a dorm leader if I let Trey, the vice dorm leader to challenge this mission," Riddle asked.

"What sad you can't be Y/n's knight in shining warmer," Ace teased.

"N-No that not it at all," Riddle denied.

"We don't know what Darx is capable of, and Riddle you heavily rely on your unique magic and we cannot afford to lose you so soon," Crowley explained.

"I'll have the CCTV's footage be connected so we can watch you from the sidelines," Ortho smiled.

"Vil will surely win not only is he beautiful, but he is also strong too. Don't you think so, Epel-Kun?" Rook smiled.

"Eh! I-I guess," Epel stuttered.

-----------

(Cafetaria — Wedding Ceremony)

"*chuckle* What a beautiful day today, and not so powerful without this pendant protecting you," Darx smiled as he grabbed Y/n's chin.

"Keep this out of her reach," Drax ordered a troll servent.

Y/n simply glared at the man, he had placed a magic seal on to keep her in place and to prevent her from using her magic.  Y/n dressed to the nines in a beautiful wedding dress that Drax's troll servants put her in.



As Y/n stood in her frozen spot she noticed that all the short troll servants looked at her with sorrow and pity as they stood next to her. Drax had seven troll servants and an army of ghosts. Drax was still ordering his ghost and monster servants around trying to get the ceremony ready. Y/n sighed as she looked over at the front row seating area to see Idia struggling at his bindings that tied him to his seat. A similar seal was cast on him too.

"SOMEONE SAVE US—-!!!" Idia cried out.

" I suddenly got surrounded by ghosts, got roped and tied up... and now I have to watch a friend get forced into marrying some brute?" Idia said in fear, " A brute that might kill her soon."

"Not fish, how about beef served at the wedding?" Drax said as a troll servant stepped up with her tray of food.

Drax chuckled as he took a fork full of beef all the while the strolls stood nervously and uncomfortable in front of him. Drax growled in disappointment that the food tasted cheap and knocked the plated out of the hands of the troll and dropping food onto his servant.

"Soon I'll have a new wife, and hopefully you won't disappoint me," Drax said simply as he looked over to Y/n, who only glared at him.

Idia wanted to hurl at that sentence as side glared at his kidnapper. Suddenly a ghost rushed over to Darx with some urgent news. Apparently, some NRC students came to challenge him for "His bride's hand". Drax laughed as he ordered the ghosts to let them in.

"You hear that Y/n, Were going to be saved," Idia smiled in relief at his friend.

Soon the seven students quickly barged through the door demanding to challenge Darx in magical combat.

"So you all think you can take what is soon to be mine," Darx laughed.

"The marriage hasn't happened yet, so Y/n doesn't belong to anyone," Leona growled.

"And a rude brute like you doesn't deserve a lady like Y/n," Jack added.

"Plus forcing women into marriage is a disgusting trait," Vil glared.

"So you're her friends I'm assuming," Darx said simply in a bored tone, " Look dear all your friends have come to watch our marriage.

The boys looked up the alter to see a beautifully dressed Y/n staring at them with a relieved smile on her face at the sight of them. The boys could feel their hearts flutter in their chests at the sight of here. Oh, and there was Idia in the front row.

"Darx we challenge you to a Magic duel, If we win You will set our friends free," Trey said in a serious tone.

"hahaha, I can't wait to squeeze the lights out of him," Floyd laughed.

"Challenge excepted,"  Darx smirked.

_____

[hauntedhistorycolorado]

RedStone Castle and Red Mountain

RedStone Castle, courtesy of Southwestern Ghosts and Hauntings

Historical background

Like many stories from Manitou’s past, this one starts with a man named Isaac Davis. Dr. Isaac Davis was one of the original movers and shakers in Manitou Springs, first helping to found the town before acting in various points throughout the town’s earliest history as the first physician, druggist, undertaker, county coroner, town trustee, justice of the peace, president of the school board, and mayor. In between fathering 15 children. Issac is the star of several haunting stories in Manitou’s history, but he’s not the star of this one. This story is about the Crawford sisters, but if anyone is the true star – it’s a place, not a person. 

(Other mentions of Isaac here)

RedStone Castle was built on land formerly owned by Isaac Davis, near the summit of Iron Mountain, on the site of what was originally Manitou’s pioneer cemetery, off Pawnee avenue. Davis sold the land when his health began failing to the up-and-coming Davis brothers (no relation), with the phrase “BUYER BEWARE” printed across the bottom of the land purchase – a warning to the brothers that all graves that had been interred on the land would need to be move to the current Crystal Valley Cemetery. The Davis brothers planned on turning the land into an exclusive community of castle homes for Manitou’s wealthy elite. RedStone Castle was the first and only they built. It was constructed in 1890. 

Digging up and moving the gravesites by hand was exhausting work and collecting all the bodies was near impossible – many of the original graves were unmarked, or marked with wooden crosses that had since decayed. It is speculated that while the majority were moved, many were left behind. Locals began to tell stories of the land being haunted, and the Davis brothers eventually gave up on the project, leaving RedStone Castle to rot. It sat vacant until the Hawkins family moved in a few years later.

Almost immediately after moving in, the children began hearing voices in the house and seeing strange apparitions. The family dog was constantly nervous, and would occasionally bring home “strange bones.” Local legend says that one morning the children found a white dog lying dead on the property and buried it behind the the garden shed. The next day, the same white dog was seen again, this time attacking his wife before being shot by Mr. Hawkins. The Hawkins family moved out the very next morning. The castle sat vacant until 1905.

The Crawfords

In order to understand what happened next we need to go back in time, to the years just after Manitou’s founding. As many of you are probably aware, Colorado Springs and subsequently Manitou were popular destinations in the Victorian era for tuberculosis patients as it was believed the thin mountain air and “300 days of sunshine”, as well as the Manitou spring waters, had healing properties. It was for this reason that the Crawfords came to Manitou in the late 1880s – Emma, a tuberculosis patient, and her mother as a caretaker.

Emma Crawford, date unknown, photo on display at the Manitou Springs Heritage Center

Emma is, of course, probably the most famous figure from Manitou Springs history – she’s the reason we have the Coffin Races today. The Crawfords caused a stir in Manitou even then. Spiritualism and an interest in the occult was wildly popular during the Victorian era, and the Crawford women were professed psychics in addition to being talented musicians and performers. As Emma’s story goes, one day in 1890 (the same year that RedStone Castle was built, its original gravesites being moved), Emma famously climbed Red Mountain by herself, despite her illness. She claimed to have a spiritual experience at the top, saying she had been visited by the spirit of a Native American chief who was her spirit guide. She tied her scarf round a tree at the summit to prove her visit – legend says that the scarf was red, giving us the name of the mountain today. She died shortly after, just before her wedding. It was speculated that the exhaustion from her hike is what led to her death. Despite being an apparent spiritualist, she had a hatred of cemeteries and asked to be buried at the summit of Red Mountain. Two teams of men took turns carrying her casket to the top. It’s well known that a few years following the internment, a heavy rainfall caused Emma’s casket to rise to the surface before being washed down the side of the mountain and into town. She now rests in Crystal Valley Cemetery, though nobody knows exactly where – the placement of her monument is apparently arbitrary.

(Other mentions of Emma here)

Emma’s posthumous journey to the summit, 1891, photo currently on display at the Manitou Springs Heritage Center

Emma’s mother remained in Manitou following her death, to remain close to Emma’s spirit, which she claimed to make contact with several times. In 1905, she began renting out the dilapidated RedStone Castle in the summers to hold séances. A Colorado Springs Gazette headline from December 28, 1909 reads “DEAD DAUGHTER PLAYS THE PIANO, SAYS MADAME: ACCOMPLISHED MUSICIAN DECLARES GIRL BURIED YEARS AGO MAKES NIGHTLY VISITS TO FORMER HOME AT FOOT OF ROCKIES” She was eventually joined by Emma’s sister, Alice, in 1910.

Pamphlet credited to Rufus Porter, date unknown, courtesy of Jan MacKell Collins

Alice, an actress, came to Colorado to audition for the role of Lady MacBeth in Denver, and moved into RedStone Castle alone to practice the role ahead of time. She rarely left the castle, instead having essentials delivered every week. After a few weeks, it is said that she was so serious about the role that she began wearing only period costume, speaking in iambic pentameter and asking the delivery boys to call her Lady MacBeth. The locals were so unnerved by this, they stopped making deliveries. Shortly after, Alice herself became convinced that the castle was haunted. On Valentine’s day in 1910, frightened by apparitions, Alice took a revolver from her nightstand and took a shot at one, before attempting to light another on fire. Alice was unsuccessful at driving away the spirits – resulting only in shooting herself, in the kneecap, and setting her own bedclothes alight. The Castle was nearly destroyed. She was rescued that evening to much public disgrace and left Colorado after recovering.

Contemporary hauntings

Alternately throughout the years, RedStone Castle has sat empty, served as a bed & breakfast, and been privately owned and used as a residence, as it is now. People have continued to tell stories of strange goings-on. The white dog was seen as recently as the 1980s, and Alice’s voice reciting lines from MacBeth was often heard by those lodging when the castle was a B&B. Piano music was also said to be heard during the B&B years, and is sometimes heard at the summit of Red Mountain as well, where Emma’s spirit continues to be seen by hikers into the present day. It’s likely that we would still be hearing stories about hauntings at RedStone Castle today, were it not a private residence, as it has been for many years. The house is shut off from the public – the driveway gated and locked. Having dealt with trespassers and theft over the years, mostly teenagers on dares and paranormal enthusiasts, the current owners have made an effort to distance themselves from the castle’s haunted reputation. They ask that you respect their privacy by observing the “no trespassing” sign at the foot of their drive.

RedStone Castle, courtesy of Pintrest (photographer unknown)

Reflective commentary

I see RedStone Castle in the distance every time I drive back into Manitou from the city, on my way home, and pined for it even before I knew its haunted history. Though my connections at the Manitou Springs Historical Society, I was even able to discover the current owners - though they have yet to make a special exception for me, and allow me to visit their home. Because I have never been able to visit the estate, having only gotten as close as the gate at the end of the drive, my reflection on this site is incomplete. 

I have, however, hiked to the summit of Red Mountain at picnicked at Emma’s original gravesite. I didn’t experience any paranormal activity there, though retracing Emma’s steps is somewhat of a spiritual experience in itself, since her story is so widespread among locals. The hike to the summit of Red Mountain isn’t an easy one, especially for an invalid, but the view from the summit is, in fact, one worth seeing forever. 

This story is a unique one, in the way that it ties together so many well-known figures from Manitou Springs history - Dr. Davis, Emma and Alice, RedStone Castle itself, and two of our closest and most popular mountains. In this story, we see both the inner space and outer space as liminal areas, through the “haunted house” and “haunted wilderness,” as well as the tropes of “desecrated graves”/”haunted cemetery.” We see the trope, very common in Colorado hauntings, of Native American spirits. And, most exciting to me, we get the trope of psychic women. Many has been said about the relationship between spiritualism and feminism, and the woman’s body as a liminal space more prone to psychic connection than men’s. The house itself is, in horror theory, recognized in this context - as a domestic space, and as something that is cavernous and both shelters and consumes, the house is a feminine space. All of these combined in one tale can lead to interesting speculation as to what we in Manitou Springs fear, then and now. Even the efforts on the part of the current owners to distance themselves from their home’s haunted past can tell us something valuable - as it provides a commentary as to how current citizens of Manitou interact with the town’s history.

Iron Mountain and Red Mountain as pointed out by hiking guide Colorado Guy

CLICK HERE FOR ALL FIELD NOTES AND SOURCES FOR REDSTONE CASTLE

CLICK HERE FOR ALL FIELD NOTES AND SOURCES FOR EMMA CRAWFORD

[sirenofthegreenbanks]

《山河令》 WORD OF HONOR (2021) | Episode 34/35, congratulations to the happy couple! may you share all joys and sorrows as a family