Just to save some confusion, Rapunzel calls the Chitari Aliens or Creatures. But Merida calls them Trolls. Every group calls them something different so I'll try and tell you before I introduce a new one. And I'll stop calling them Chitari because no one calls them that. Also, Merida's lot calls the Cure the 'Genocide'.
Merida
Border patrol was, in a word, boring. Not that I was complaining. It was better than some of the other jobs, like cooking *shudder*.
But it was boring, all the same. Just standing there, for hours, waiting for something to happen, but hoping that it didn't.
I had about 30 minutes of my shift left when I saw something on the horizon, it was still too far off to see much, but it looked pink. Trolls weren't pink. I did the horn call of "I see something but it don't look dangerous so far" and within minutes a rider came to my position, I pointed to where the pink thing was slowly getting bigger and the rider went off to get a closer look. I watched, straining my eyes as the rider approached the pink, and stopped for a few moments then came galloping back. The pink thing was gone. I assumed it was a person and now he/she was on the back of the horse. When they came closer, I stepped aside to keep from being trampled, I knew they wouldn't stop to tell me anything, I'd just have to wait until my shift ended and I returned to the camp.
I fidgeted till a boy, Dingwall, finally came to take my place, then I all but ran to the main clearing.
What we called a 'camp' was a little more permanent than the definition of the word. Some people still slept in tents, but most had wooden cabins. We had started building here when I was just a lass, before that we had traveled place to place, looking for somewhere safe. Here was good because we had cover in the woods, but if the Trolls, or another clan, tried to attack, they would have none in the plains that surround the haven. Which gives us time to spot them and prepare for a fight, or run, depending.
I finally made it to the Hall. This was where the stranger would be taken to speak with the clan chief. I slipped through the slightly open door and, hid in the crowd of people listening to what the stranger and the chief said.
"You say you know of where the Genocide is?"
"Um, well, maybe," came a girls voice, she had long blonde hair and wore a slightly ragged pink dress. "In the book that I found, it said the Cure was in New York. But I don't know, I didn't even think anyone else knew it existed." She gave a nervous laugh.
"We have known about what you call the 'Cure' for a long time, my father told me of it, as his father told him, and so on. It was said that there was a way to kill all the Trolls, and we have searched ever since, to no avail."
"But it will kill all humans, too, aren't you worried about that?" She began nervously twisting her skirt with her hands.
"All but 10." The chief's wife, who sat next to her husband, said, "10 people who will save the human race. I assume that you came for the other 9 despite your doubts, am I wrong?"
"No, yes, maybe." The girl hung her head, "it's complicated."
"That it is, but I believe that the Genocide is the only way." The Chieftess walked over to the girl, "Can you be trusted to do what needs to be done, daughter of Gothel?"
The girl looked up at the older woman, and nodded.
"Then we shall ask our clan for volunteers to join you." She announced to the whole room, most of the clan was already in here.
On the spur of the moment, I stepped out of the throng of people, "I'll go." I said loudly.
The chief jumped, obviously shocked at my sudden appearance, but his wife remained quite calm. "No, Merida, you will not." She stated.
"But Mother!" Oh, yeah, did I forget to mention? They were my parents.
"I said no, Merida, and that is that."
"Why not? If it works, I'll continue the Dunbroch family, if it fails, well, I guess the boys can take that job. But it'll be an adventure! I'll finally do something on my own that's worth something!"
My mother sighed, "Rapunzel will stay the night here, we'll give everyone who might want to go time to think, that includes you." She walked out the room as if that was final, and my Father followed.
I went up to the girl, "I'm Merida! I'll help you find somewhere to sleep."
"I'm Rapunzel, were you really serious? About coming with me?"
"'Course I was! There ain't nothing better than a good ol' adventure!"
She smiled. "Thank you."
The next morning, I was summoned to my Mother's private chambers, probably to discuss my decision.
I knocked in her door. "Come in," she called. "Oh, Merida, good morning!" She said when I walked in, as if she were surprised to see me (¿she asked me here?).
"Good morning, mother." I said politely. If I wanted to get my way, I'd have to be on my best behaviour.
"Your father and I spoke of your desire to join on the quest to the Genocide." She paused, "and we decided that you are old enough to make your own decisions, and have proven yourself enough that if you truly wish, then you may go."
I grinned, "I truly do, mother, thank you!"
She came over to me and kissed my forehead, "Good luck to you, Merida."
"And to you, Mother." I answered, as custom said for this kind of occasion, we did not say goodbye, goodbye meant that you may not see each other again, and that was not a good thought in days like these.
I went to my room and got dressed into clothes better for fighting and travelling, I packed all my weapons, as well as food, drink, and things for making a fire, into my rucksack and went to see Rapunzel. She was already up and was sitting in front of her mirror with a pair of scissors in her hand. She hesitated, then cut off one golden lock, just below her shoulders.
As she reached for a second lock I said, louder than I had intended, "what are you doing?" She jumped, at the same moment as she closed the silver scissors, cutting this lock far shorter than she had intended, it barely went lower than her ear.
I gasped and started apologising, but she just shrugged. "I wanted to go that short anyway, but couldn't bring myself to, now I guess I don't have a choice."
"But why cut it at all?" I asked, I had never cut my own hair, after all.
"Its too long, it'll just get in my way when we travel." I nodded with understanding, unbraided her hair must leave a several foot trail when she walked.
"Well, my mother agreed to let me join you!"
She smiled, still chopping off locks of her hair, "really? That's so great! I was hoping she would!"
"Me too! Now we just need another 8 people to sign up."
That didn't end up being nearly as difficult as I had expected, as most had already signed up. And it didn't take long for the other places to be filled.
And soon we were off, the 9 Clan members, and Rapunzel, who looked very different from when she had arrived the day before. Her hair seemed almost brown now that it had been cut, with all the parts that had been bleached by the sun gone. And someone had found better travel gear than her pink dress. The gear was a wee bit too big, but it'll do.
I ignored the Clansmen around us, and just listened to my new friend talk, she was telling me the story of her favourite book, and you could see the enthusiasm in her eyes as spoke.
This was going to be a fun trip, if we survive, that is.
Whoop whoop! I finished this chapter! I ended up going ahead and writing a chapter before coming back and finishing this one.
I think I'm gonna like the Merida-Rapunzel friendship.
So, place your bets, how long are the unnamed clan members gonna survive?
Heehee.
~Quill.
