Author's Note: Surprise! If you're wondering why after all these years you're suddenly getting notifications for this, it's a re-write! After I few weeks I finished my big re-write. For the most part, the plot is the same, although some details have been changed. Mostly, I expanded a lot of sections and added some foreshadowing. When I originally wrote this, I had planned to make it into a movie version with my incredible masking and editing skills. Yeah...that never happened. So now it's more like a book instead of being all choppy. I am planning to do the same to Frozen Companions eventually, and combine some of my short-story sequels together. But for now, enjoy the newest edition of Companions United!
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from How to Train Your Dragon, Rise of the Guardians, Tangled, Brave, or any of the other minor characters that make cameos throughout the book. They belong to Dreamworks, Disney, and Pixar respectively.
Gothel very rarely used her wand, relying on her unpleasant scowl and dark, angular features to keep any unwanted persons at bay. But today, her mother had sent her to the darkest corner of the earth, where few witches or wizards dared to go. They called it "Tanglewood," and it was said that the blackest of dark magic could be found there, if any were brave enough to go after it. Gothel entered the cave with her wand held high, not in fear but in preparation. The labyrinth seemed mostly empty save for an old globe teetering slowly in the corner. Without warning, shadows began to fly around the world, and an evil laugh echoed through the tunnels. Gothel looked around skeptically.
"You dare enter my domain?" the voice boomed.
"Who are you to say this is yours?" Gothel fired back.
Black sand swirled up from the cracks in the floor and walls, forming a tall, dark man. "Pitch Black, otherwise known as the Nightmare King or fear itself. And who are you to boldly enter without invite?"
"Gothel, the name's Gothel. Not a common name, I'm sure you've never heard of it. But it makes us even, I've never heard of fear."
Pitch raised an eyebrow smoothly. "Now that I can tell. Even the best magicians who can still their quaking cannot hide their fear behind a brave face. I can see through all and you, my dear, are not even the slightest bit worried."
"Why should I be? I'm a witch, I can take whatever you throw at me."
In response, Pitch sent a wave of sand hurtling towards her. Gothel calmly flicked her wrist, sending wordless spells at the never-ending stream. The sand burned, melted, dissolved, or blew away before it ever reached her. Impressed, Pitch lowered his arm.
"What is it that you seek?" he asked. "A witch such as yourself deserves my help in spreading the chaos which feeds me."
"My mother and I are experimenting with immortality potions," Gothel said, sliding her wand into the sleeves of her gown. "We heard rumors that you held the secret."
Pitch laughed mercilessly. "I'm flattered, I'm sure. But I cannot give you what you seek."
"And why ever not? The longer I live the more chaos I can spread. From what I've seen I take it you feed on the fear you create?"
"Very observant," Pitch noted. He stood silent for a moment, thinking. Gothel stood by waiting. "I do not hold the secret to immortality. I cannot be killed because I am already dead, brought back to "life" as a spirit."
"So I just have to die?" Gothel scoffed.
"No, only the Moon holds the power to bring a person back from the dead in the form of a spirit. That is why I am not your answer."
"Fine, I'll go somewhere else, then," she said, turning carelessly.
"But I know of another way," Pitch called.
Gothel turned back, intrigued. "Yes?"
"You said you were partnering with your mother?" Pitch asked.
"Don't think it is out of sentiment," she spat. "Her magic is strong and I am still learning her ways."
"Bring her to me. I need to know if I can trust both of you with this power."
"And what makes you think that you can trust me?" she countered.
His eyes narrowed and he grinned evilly, melting back into the cracks of his lair. Gothel shivered in eager anticipation and snapped her fingers, disappearing in a cloud of smoke and reappearing in the enchanted wooden rocking chair in her mother's cottage. Maggie was stirring a potion and looked up at her sharply.
"Did you get it?" she asked eagerly, her beaked nose quivering with excitement.
"Did you get it?" the crow repeated. Maggie had tried to enchant him to speak once, but now he could only repeat whatever was said.
"No, but I met someone who can help. An immortal spirit named Pitch Black."
"Oh, no," Maggie said firmly. "We don't partner with anyone, remember? It's why we're called the two lonely witches by the townspeople!"
"Lonely witches!" the crow squawked.
"Emphasis on lonely," Gothel muttered. "He wants to meet you before he entrusts us with the secret."
"Bah! No one trusts a witch, that'll never happen. This is a trap, I'm sure of it."
"He trusts me," Gothel mused quietly. "Or at least, he needs something that I can give him."
"What can you give him, an all-powerful spirit who can never die?" Maggie sneered.
"I think he saw my potential, unlike you."
"Now what really matters is if I can see potential in him."
Silently, Maggie poured the rest of her potion into jars, magically labeling them as she went. Finally, she grabbed her cane and hobbled over to stand near her daughter, brushing the crow away so it didn't accidentally follow them. Gothel laid a hand on her shoulder and whisked them back to the lair. It was still and silent, no sign of Pitch anywhere.
"Humph," Maggie said. "I guess he's busy."
"Pitch Black!" Gothel yelled into the abyss. "We've come to interview you for a partnership."
Laughing, Pitch materialized in front of them. "I'm sorry, I thought I was the one seeking a partnership from you."
"Quite the contrary. You need something from us just as badly as we want the immortality from you, otherwise, you'd never have let me leave."
Pitch's eyes lit up. "Impressive. I can see it'll be difficult hiding my motives from you."
Gothel smiled smugly. "This is my mother, Maggie. What do you want from us?"
"The immortality you speak will not come from a potion," Pitch began. "But from a golden flower, imbued with magic from the sun. I know it's exact location, I just need you to protect it. You see, if I stay in one area for too long, the Guardians will inevitably find me and fight for the good in the world. They would destroy the flower for the good of the world, which mustn't happen."
"If it is light magic," Maggie put in, "why do you want to keep it?"
"Because," a subtle grin crept up Pitch's face. "I can see it being used for more sinister purposes. I've seen glimpses of the future before. This flower will cause nothing but chaos, which I live for."
"So, all we need to do is use the flower to keep ourselves alive," Gothel said. "And keep anyone else from using it? That's all you want from us?"
"Just do that and stay out of my way," Pitch said. "Although I may require a few additional favors along the way."
Gothel grinned eagerly in anticipation. She hadn't expected it to be this easy. "Deal."
To better protect the flower, she and Maggie moved from the isle of DunBroch to outside the little village of Arendelle. Gothel had already cast a protection spell so no one could find it, but she liked to have close access to keep an eye on it. But as Gothel's magic only grew stronger over the next few centuries, she began to grow more careless, leaving for longer amounts of time as she went on her rampages. Of course, every time she returned she would check on the flower, but every time it was still there. Except for once. Pitch was waiting there instead.
"Hello," Gothel said, startled. She hadn't seen him in a few years.
"What are you doing here?" Maggie croaked. She looked ancient, her hair grey and crinkly and her body seemed to be folding into itself.
"The question," Pitch said in a low tone. "Is why were you not here?"
"We don't stay with the flower all the time," Gothel scathed. "Surely you don't expect us to do that."
"How long were you away?" Pitch asked, glaring.
"Only two days," Gothel said. "My mother has an affinity for turning people into bears, and I had to rescue her from some angry knights in Gabilonia when her experiment went awry."
"I've been gone four days," Maggie said. "Now get out of the way so I can get to my flower!"
"I'm afraid you're out of luck," Pitch said smoothly. "It isn't here."
Gothel felt the blood rush out of her face. "What do you mean?" she demanded, raising her wand defensively. "Did you take it?"
"Of course not!" Pitch scoffed.
"Then. who. did?" Gothel asked dangerously.
"The current king of Arendelle," Pitch said, trying to remain calm. "Can see magic. Three days ago, the queen fell ill on the verge of giving birth to their firstborn. The townspeople went looking for a miracle, and felt something strange near this place but did not want to enter it. The king came and saw through your protective spell and saw the flower."
"So where is it? Can we get it back?" Gothel asked with growing horror.
"No. They crushed it into a powder and turned it into soup for the queen to drink. It's gone."
"Noooo!" Maggie howled in anguish.
"Shut up, mother," Gothel said, looking intently at Pitch. "There's more, I can tell."
"Indeed," Pitch said. "Two nights ago, the queen gave birth to a healthy baby girl with golden hair."
"So? The king has blonde hair."
"Not hair with magic," Pitch said, watching closely for her reaction.
Gothel's eyes widened. "Do you mean to say that the magic is now in the child's hair?"
"I believe that is the case," Pitch said. "And if the power was transferred once, it can surely be transferred again. So the solution to this problem is simple."
"You want us to kidnap the princess!" Gothel guessed, her eyes alight.
"Exactly," he grinned menacingly.
"Well I doubt he'll just give us a lock of his precious princess' hair," Maggie said sarcastically.
"It won't be easy," Gothel interrupted, already planning the attack. "She's sure to be heavily guarded. And if the king can see magic then he will see us coming."
"True," Pitch said. "But as fear itself, I can often persuade people to do the disastrous but what they think is right. All I need is a material crisis, which I think you can help facilitate."
"What do you need?" Gothel asked again, her eyes nearly glowing.
"I need you to start a war between Arendelle and their rival country, the Southern Isles. Do it however you please, just make sure it is brutal."
"It'll be our pleasure," Gothel crooned darkly. Pitch disappeared and left the two alone. "Interesting…" she muttered under her breath.
"Oh, no," Maggie said, shaking her finger. "I can read your mind without a potion easily. Don't tell me you're thinking of taking him as a husband."
"Oh, no! Oh, no!" the crow screamed.
"And why not?" Gothel looked up calmly. "We make a great team and now that I'm immortal the age difference won't matter. You can only take me so far, Mother."
"Because for marriage to work you need love. We're witches, we can't love. Why do you think I hexed your father?"
Gothel looked at the wooden carving an impressive young man in the darkest corner of the cottage. "True. But he's dangerous and exciting and evil, and I'm the one person who has never feared him. He intrigues me…and I think I intrigue him as well. Besides, with our powers, we could work very well together. I think that is love in our own twisted way."
Maggie sighed. "It could work for a time. And if it didn't you could always curse him like I did. Ah, well. The price of immortality is high, but I never expected this."
Starting the war was easy. Gothel created a ship that was an exact replica of Southern Isles royal regatta, which attacked the ships from Arendelle. Maggie did the same for the Southern Isles. Enraged, the two kingdoms attacked each other, and with the witches' help, it looked like the Southern Isles would win. Then Corona, Arendelle's sister city, sent an armada to lend their aid. That's when Pitch struck. His dark whispers and fears persuaded King Thomas and Queen Rue of Arendelle to send their baby girl to Corona, where the Queen's elder sister Primrose ruled. But now that Corona was involved in the war, the palace was too dangerous. The Southern Isles might attack there. The orphanage was the safest place for their princess, where she would blend in with the other forgotten children.
Before Rapunzel could be "safely" placed under the care of the current director, Miss Honey, Maggie made sure she retired without anyone knowing. She then saw to it that Miss Hattie, a nasty woman who hated children and couldn't care less what happened to them, was put in charge instead. Now, everything was in place.
"Remember, you have to try and look pleasant," Gothel whispered as she and Pitch quietly slipped into the orphanage. "If we look too evil they'll throw us out." Pitch nodded slightly and put on a false smile.
"Hello," Miss Hattie said drearily. "Have you come to take one of the little monsters off my hands?"
"Yes, we have," Gothel said with false sweetness. "We're looking for a little girl with golden hair."
Hattie raised an eyebrow. "I'm sorry, we don't have any of those here."
Pitch glided forward and towered above her. "I would be very careful what your next words are. Now answer me truthfully, where is the princess?"
"Actually, now that you mention it, I believe she was just transferred here yesterday. Let me go get her for you."
Moments later, Gothel was given a beautiful baby girl. Her hair was golden blonde, and she had huge green eyes. Gothel wrapped the baby in a dark blue cloth, concealing her bright hair. Even though she was only a few weeks old, she looked around with an innocent curiosity that worried Pitch. The magic inside her might have side effects that no one had foreseen. You never knew what good a child could have inside them. Some were not so easily corrupted, and he was worried that Rapunzel would be one of them. He turned and sneered at Hattie.
"I would suggest you leave this place immediately. Find the previous director and bring her back, but make no mention of this day ever again. Understand?"
Hattie nodded fearfully and let them walk away. Gothel's grip on the child grew tighter and tighter until they found a dark alley. Rapunzel started to cry, frightened by the darkness around her. Gothel raised her hand and they transported back to the lair, where she and Maggie had moved in recently.
"Did you get her, did you get her?" Maggie squealed, clapping her hands. The crow on her shoulder squawked and repeated the question.
Gothel set Rapunzel down in a crib, roughly removing the blanket so they could see her hair. Pitch handed Gothel an ancient scroll, and she sang as Maggie held on to the baby's hair.
"Flower gleam and glow, let your power shine. Make the clock reverse, bring back what once was mine…"
Maggie's wrinkles disappeared and her hair turned a dark grey, although she still remained hunched over. "Ooh!" she cackled happily, clapping her hands.
"Did it work?" Pitch asked, who had rarely seen Maggie over the centuries.
"She was born that way," Gothel assured him.
"You try," he said, unsatisfied.
He took out a knife and cut her hand. Gothel winced but grabbed a piece of hair and sang the song. It healed completely, and she even felt stronger. She leaned over the crib and smiled.
"You, my little flower, are going to be quite useful."