Adventures of John: The Stolen Queen
Chapter 3: The Forbidden Mountains
"Flora, Fauna, Merryweather!" Aurora exclaimed. "What are you doing here?"
"We came as soon as we learned," Flora, the one in red, answered. "And we are so sorry," she said, turning to me. "This is a horrifying turn of events. We are all in grave danger."
"Why do these things want my sister's baby?" Anna asked. "What are they?"
"They are faeries," Merryweather, the blue faerie answered. "Dark faeries of the worst kind." She shook herself, her face squishing in anger. "Ooh, what I'm going to do when I get my hands on them…"
"Merryweather!" Flora gasped. "Calm yourself!" She turned to Anna. "The infant is the child of two impossibly powerful mortal sorcerers. There is no telling how powerful it could become. There is a great number of beings that would desire that power."
"The poor baby," Fauna, the green faerie, muttered. "We can't let them hurt it!"
"I have no intention of letting anything of the sort happen," I told them firmly. "This is my wife and my child we are talking about." I stomped my foot on the ground and my clothing shifted into my familiar outfit of golden armor and crimson cloak. "I will not let them be harmed. So where are these creatures? What place am I going to turn into a smoldering ruin?"
"They are in the Faerie Lands," Fauna answered. "In the magical realms."
"Magical realms?" I inquired. "Isn't this universe magical enough without magical realms as well?"
"I don't see how a world being magical would eliminate the existence of magical realms," Merryweather countered with a harrumph. "In fact, that makes them all the more likely."
"It doesn't matter," I told her. "Show me the way. I'm going to get my wife back, even if I have to burn down everything in my path."
"Calm down there bro," Kristoff told me. "There will be plenty of time for that later."
"Now we need to focus on finding her," Philip agreed. "So, Flora, Fauna. Merryweather, can you take us to her?"
"We can take you to what we believe to be the correct realm," Fauna answered. "But we can't know for sure where exactly she is. There will still be quite some searching."
"Then let's go," Aurora commanded, standing up. "There is no time to lose."
. . . . .
"What sort of place is this?" Aurora asked as we appeared in a fog-filled forest of twisted, blackened, and thorny trees. In the distance green lightning crackled over dark mountains.
"The Forbidden Mountains," Flora answered in a quiet, fearful voice. "The former realm of the dreaded dark faerie Maleficent."
"Nasty place," Philip muttered. "I didn't particularly enjoy my last stay here."
"So that would mean that," I pointed to a structure at the top of the highest peak, "is Maleficent's castle?"
"Was Maleficent's castle," Merryweather corrected. "It's been abandoned ever since her death."
"Or so you think," I chuckled. "Places like that have power, and that power attracts all sorts of nasty creatures. Plus there are a whole lot of movies that take place in this universe, and if this were a movie then that would definitely be where the evil monsters are."
"I don't I quite understood that last part," Philip stated.
"It doesn't matter," I told him. "My logic is sound. Come on then. Let's make our way to the castle. I'm sure our hosts have all sorts of nasty surprises waiting for us." We walked, the faeries not wanting to risk using any other method of travel other than flying, which neither Philip nor Aurora were capable of. As we hiked I felt a foreboding presence, as if some ancient evil was watching us, and it most likely was. The shadows seemed to grow longer, the illuminating flashes of lightning becoming less frequent.
Suddenly there was a sound like thunder and hundreds of green-skinned warty goblins and trolls burst from our surroundings, brandishing cruel-looking swords, spears and axes. "Goblins!" Philip exclaimed, pulling out his sword.
"This is what they send to stop me?" I laughed. "I would understand if it was just our favorite dragon slayer and his wife, but this is me." My eyes shined brightly as twin flames leapt from my palms. "I am John the Adventurer, and you think a few GOBLINS can keep me from my wife?" I hovered off the ground, the flames blazing out of my palms and into the sky. "You are sorely mistaken!" I directed my palms outward, the flames blasting into the encroaching horde, turning those they hit instantly to ash. Philip charged into the fray, slashing and stabbing with his sword, while the trio of faeries transformed the creatures into flowers and their weapons into mist. Soon there was nothing left of the army other than slaughtered corpses, piles of ash, and bouquets of lovely flowers, some of which were heavily burnt.
"You are a frightening man when angered," Philip told me. "Remind me not to get on your bad side."
"Don't get on my bad side," I responded with a chuckle. I then marched off, the group of Disney characters hurrying after me.
. . . . .
Little did we know that there were others watching us. The creatures that had taken Elsa were watching, but I had already guessed that. Beyond them, there was something else watching as well. Something powerful, something dark. There was a strange, powerful force. Darkness filled the air, and an ominous presence watched silently, like the specter of an ancient evil, enraged by our presence in this land. Whatever it was, it would not let us leave here alive.
Author's Note: Sorry for the late-night update, readers. I've had a busy day, and actually didn't expect to finish today's chapter before I went to sleep. Luckily for you I did, so you can enjoy my wondrous writing. This story is only the latest in my newest series, but I think you will enjoy how it ends. And no, I don't know what my next story will be about because whatever it is hasn't happened yet. However, from what I saw in my vision, there is quite a lot more to come. See you tomorrow readers.
