Chapter: 7 Quest to Corona
Tomas awakened to the sounds of thunder booming overhead. He ran onto the deck to find the crew scrambling to stabilize the ship. "The mast!" hollered the captain. "The maaaaast!" Several crewmen tugged at it as Tomas dashed to help. He slid across the deck and grabbed hold of the rope. His pull helped straighten the mast, and he proceeded to make his way to the captain. "ROGUE WAVE!" he roared. Everyone watched and pointed in horror as a monstrous wave struck the ship, sending several men into the sea. Lightning flashed around them as they suddenly heard a maniacal woman laugh.
"What in the world?" Tomas asked himself. Lucky trembled in his satchel.
"There!" called a sailor. He pointed towards the starboard side as a slim figure emerged from the waves. A swarm of tentacles emerged from below it as lightning flashed once more, revealing her face.
"A sea witch!" shrieked another sailor. "Heaven help us!"
"FOOLISH HUMANS!" she laughed. "This is my sea! Your grave! Now meet your demise before I...MORGANA!" She laughed again while stirring up the seas and shifting the ship. One sailor threw a harpoon, which grazed one of her tentacles. "You DARE stand against me?" scoffed Morgana. She thrusted a tidal wave towards the boat, sending more sailors, including Tomas overboard. Lucky hopped onto the deck just in time.
Tomas crashed into the dark, cold depths. Seawater shot right up his nose and caused him to gag. He quickly bobbed up to the surface, just as two manta rays began to circle him. While his sword and shield were still onboard, Tomas still had a throwing axe strapped to his back. He unsheathed it and took a swing at the first ray. Morgan saw this and sneered, "Cloak...Dagger...finish him." The rays lunged forward just as Tomas sunk under. He then lunged up and grabbed each creature by the tail. He yanked them downwards and swam back for the ship. Suddenly, Morgana grabbed him in one of her tentacles, "And where do you think you're going?" Tomas wriggled in her grip as she mocked, "I admire your persistence. What do they call you?"
"The chef," grunted Tomas.
Morgana raised a brow, "The chef?"
"Yep...and I'm in the mood for calamari!" Tomas struck her tentacle with his axe, causing her to scream and repulse. She let him go, but Tomas grabbed hold and swung himself upwards. He launched himself off of her tentacle and straight at her face. He would have cut her down had she not swatted him with her other tentacle. The hit sent Tomas tumbling back onto the deck.
Morgana glared at her wound and cursed, "Filthy mortals! You haven't seen the last of me!" She sunk back under as a tiny, shrunken shark swam up to her.
"Yeah!" growled the shark. "You haven't seen the last of her!"
"Shut up, Undertow." groaned Morgana. "Keep searching for Ariel's little girl."
"Yes mistress," grumbled the shark.
Tomas awakened to the sounds of springtime songbirds. He rubbed his head and sat up. "HE LIVES!" cheered the captain as the rest of the survivors applauded.
"Wha...What happened?" asked Tomas.
"You saved us from a sea witch. No big deal." chuckled a burly sailor.
Lucky squeaked, prompting Tomas to pat him on the head. The captain helped Tomas to his feet. "We've made it. Tomas, welcome to Corona."
He peered passed the harbor to see a bright kingdom with hundreds of flags bearing the solar crest. "Wow," was all Tomas could whisper under his breath. The Coronan guards wore shining gold armor and helmets. They arrived to help repair the ship and tend to the wounded.
Tomas stepped off to be greeted by a lanky scribe. The man cleared his throat, "Presenting...The captain of the guard!"
Tomas watched as a white horse trotted in...without a rider. "Where is he?" he wondered.
"Where's who?" pondered the scribe.
"The captain of the guard."
"Maximus IS the captain of the guard."
"He's a horse,"
"Exactly."
Tomas remained puzzled as Maximus stared him down and snorted. "Is this some kid of joke?" Maximus snorted and neighed furiously. "I can't believe this...I'm negotiating with a horse." He sighed, "I must speak with Princess Rapunzel. It's urgent." Maximus nodded and turned, beckoning Tomas to follow him. He attempted to mount him, but the steed flung him off. "I can't believe this...I'm following a horse," groaned Tomas.
Tomas and Lucky followed Maximus through the bustling streets of Corona, and went up a long and winding path to the castle itself. On their way, Tomas handed his letter to Ada over to a courier, who immediately embarked on his trip to Arendelle. At the castle stood a young woman with short brown hair. She wore a pink dress and diamond tiara. Her green eyes met Tomas' gaze with intrigue. "Princess Rapunzel," bowed Tomas.
Next to her was her husband, who introduced himself as Eugene. The two greeted Tomas with a brief handshake and hug. "Thank you so much for coming," said Rapunzel. "My mother and father are waiting inside." As they walked to meet the king and queen, Eugene kept glancing over at Tomas. His gaze made his heart pound with anxiety. "So how are my cousins, Anna and Elsa?"
"They are well," assured Tomas. "Safe and sound."
"Excuse me..." interuppted Eugene. "But...have we met?"
Tomas analyzed his face, and his eyes began to widen, "Fl...Flynn? Flynn Rider?"
"Tomas?"
"It is you!" Tomas hugged Eugene tight. "How have you been? Finally staying out of trouble I see."
"Brunette's have that effect on me," he winked at Rapunzel.
"When have you two met?" wondered Rapunzel.
Eugene chuckled, "Well, back in my early thieving days, I pulled a couple of heists in Arendelle. That was when Maelstrom boy over here caught me redhanded...and boy did he give me what for."
"Just a right and a left in the kisser," joked Tomas. "Didn't break your smolder though!"
"Nope, just caused me to shift thieving operations to Corona...where I met this looker," he squeezed his wife's hand.
"So why Eugene?"
"Oh..." he gulped. "That's ummmmm my real name."
"Stick with Flynn," teased Tomas.
"You don't even wanna hear his last name," giggled Rapunzel.
Tomas soon met both the king and queen of Corona. As he did so, Lucky ran into Rapunzel's pet chameleon, Pascal. The two scurried and scampered across the throne room. The royals thanked Tomas for coming to help, and led him to the dungeon so that he could view the captured prisoners.
Rapunzel began, "We caught them during an assassination attempt on my parents. Thankfully Maximus was able to apprehend them."
They brought Tomas to a cell with the three men, all of which bore the raven tattoo on their arms. "Just like in Arendelle," he intoned.
"How far does this thing go?" worried Eugene.
"Let's find out, old friend." replied Tomas. "Open the cell. Let me in."
"But Tomas-"
"Ill be fine. Lock the door behind me."
Eugene turned to the prison guard and nodded, "Do as he says."
The prisoners watched as Tomas removed his weapons, stepped in, and locked the door. "Alright..." he cleared his throat. "Here's how this is going to work. You're going to tell me where the Raven-"
THWACK!
One of the prisoners punched Tomas across the face while the other two lunged forward. He shoved all three of them back with one mighty push.
They struck the wall and look up him in horror. He cracked his neck and growled, "Shouldn't have done that..."
The next few moments consisted of the prisoners screaming like infants. Rapunzel had to close her eyes as Eugene gulped. "I didn't know someone's arm could bend that far."
"I thought that was his leg," cringed Rapunzel.
Eugene's eyes widened, "Woah Tomas...don't use the-"
CRACKLE!
"Chair..." finished Eugene. "That's gotta hurt."
"That third guy is gonna need an eyepatch," winced Rapunzel.
"Think he'll ever walk again?"
"MERCYYYYY!" squealed a prisoner as he clawed for the exit.
"Come here, you." Tomas grabbed him by the leg, dragging him back in.
"SNUGGLY DUCKLING!" screamed a prisoner.
"What?!" barked Tomas.
"Snuggly Duckling," he coughed.
"You'd better start making sense or I'll-"
"Please please please...no more. The Raven recruited us from within the Snuggly Duckling. That's all I know...I swear! If you hurry, you might find the recruiter! He'll tell you everything."
Tomas turned, "Anyone have any idea what this Snuggly Duckling nonsense is about?"
"It's a tavern in the woodlands surrounding our kingdom," said Rapunzel.
"Great," huffed Tomas. "Another tavern. I'll need directions."
"I'll take you there," suggested Eugene.
"No. I work alone. Less casualties."
Eugene shrugged and handed him a map, "Alright, we trust you. But I have to ask...where'd you learn to do all...that?" he motioned towards the interrogated prisoners.
Tomas paused, "Bad people make me mad."
He walked out as Rapunzel and Eugene looked at each other. "Makes sense," she shrugged.
Upon receiving directions to the Snuggly Duckling, Tomas made his way towards the castle's exit. He turned down Rapunzel's offer for a palace horse, saying he'd travel less conspicuously. Instead, he bid them farewell and made his way through the forests on foot. Eugene's map was split into multiple pages, and Tomas found himself constantly shuffling through for directions. Lucky nervously tried to keep the pages in order, but was dizzied by Tomas' flustered shuffling. With each turn, Tomas found himself deeper into the forest, and further lost. He had covered all of the ground on the map, and was about to turn the page...
"Alright, so I make a left at the stream...And now I...Take four teaspoons of sugar and-...Wait what?" Tomas reread the last page, which was no part of the map at all.
Atilla's Sublime Cupcake Recipe
"Who the hell is Atilla?" snapped Tomas as he crumpled up the paper. "Just my luck." With no map nor lay of the land, Tomas pressed onward. He traveled alongside the stream for an hour without finding the Snuggly Duckling. An hour turned into three...and before he knew it, it was nightfall. He set up camp under a thick oak tree and fell fast asleep. Hopefully recharging his energy would improve his sense of direction.
That night, leaves rustled above Tomas. Several slender figures crawled in the trees. They watched him sleep, and slowly crept downwards. They closed in on Tomas, ready to pounce when they suddenly heard humming in the distance. It awakened Tomas and sent the silhouettes scurrying back into the tree. It was a pleasant humming. Tomas looked down the path to see a horse hauling a wagon full of supplies. Its driver was an obese man with a blue overcoat and dirty blonde hair. He had a thick mustache that curved upwards with his joyous smile. His circular glasses could be seen just under his long brimmed, blue hat.
Tomas stood up, startling the man. "Holy! Boy, you just about scared me to death!" He gasped again, "Wait a minute..." he pulled out a kerchief and cleaned his glasses to better view Tomas. "That armor...that cloak...it can't be!"
"What?" asked Tomas.
"So old-fashioned-"
"But classic," they said in unison.
"Jinx!" chuckled the man. "Well isn't this an amazing find. I say, dear boy. Do you realize what you're wearing? Why..this is Arendellian Maelstrom armor! Possibly the last in existence."
"It is," assured Tomas.
He gasped, "This...is...INCREDIBLE! You must tell me how you got it."
"I'd love to...but only if you'd grant me one request."
The man huffed, "Which is?"
"I need a ride to a...Snuggly Duckling tavern."
"You're in luck, my boy. I'm on my way there now! It's always such a charmingly rustic place...Filled with brigands and cutthroats. Always a good time. Hop onboard, weary traveler!"
"Thank you," said Tomas as he sat next to the man.
"Of course. We explorer's have to stick together." Lucky squeaked on his shoulder. "And who is this?" wondered the man. "A tiny snowman?" He attempted to pet him, but Lucky bit his finger. "YEOOOOW!"
"Careful, he's a biter!"
"So I see..."
"I'm Tomas. This is Lucky."
The man lifted his hat respectfully. "A pleasure to meet you, Tomas and Lucky. My name is Benjamin Thatch. Ben for short. Benny if I had a lover...only I don't. I'm an explorer with a taste for adventure, artifacts...and anything on the dinner table." he chuckled.
