"By the gods, I'm a dragon. I'm a dragon! I AM A DRAGON!"—Fall of the Guardians—Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III
The city of Atlantis was surrounded by a waterfall. Where the water came from even Hiccup couldn't guess. Maybe an underground spring of some sort but that didn't seem to quiet fit it. As they got closer he noticed what he had thought to be pillars at first. But as he got a closer look he realized they were stone giants. These giants bodies were covered in vegetation and strange birds nested on there heads. Huge black sockets stared at them as they walked passed, seemingly following there movements. There arms were outstretched as though they were about to embrace the air, but none of the moved. The carving was beautiful and ancient. It reminded him a little of his home.
The city it self was a masterpiece of a culture he had never even heard of. Homes were built into collapsed building, but even so they made the collapsed pieces look so much apart of them that none of them notice at first the disrepair. Stunningly embroidered cloth and ribbon hung around the building and flowers along with other strange things grew into the windows and doors. The air smelled of salt and fish. A familiar smell, that made him feel at home.
Children ran around dressed in blue and white and coral colors and ever man woman and child had a blue glowing stone necklace. Men and women alike had tattoos as elaborate and strange as the ruins. They walked through a marked where people waved at them grinning. White hair was tied to the back of there head or braided thickly with beads and ribbons strung through. They wore other jewelry other the necklaces, bracelets with stones that must have cost a fortune caught the light so perfectly.
And high above the city, floating in the air was a glowing blue orb with carved stone pillars surrounding it. These stone pillars had faces cared into them, faces of ancient people he was sure. But none he recognized. He might have stared at them forever but a reminder from Toothless that they may lose there guide made him look back at the direction he was supposed to go.
None of the people seemed at all surprised or worried about there group. Hiccup couldn't tell whether it was because they were being lead by there own people, of if they recognized some of them. At least Holly and Nightlight. But now that he thought about it, he realized that none of them should see him at all. And yet everywhere they turned people smiled, and waved and nodded. Hiccup could remember being told that Guardians couldn't be seen by people who didn't believe. So how could all of these people, who lived thousands of feet below the sea, see them?
He wanted to ask Holly but they come up to a place that had to be the palace. He admittedly was a little worried about meeting the king and queen of this land, but his worries were swept away as woman ran out. She was dressed in a long blue robe and wore and extravagant feathered and stone crown on head. Her skin was especially dark and her eyes were as blue as sapphires. Her white hair was so ornately done that even Hiccup had to shake his head confused. She didn't stop to think but wrapped her arms around Nightlight and Katherine with a huge hug. Out after her came a man very different from her. He was skinny and pale with blond brown hair, with a pair of crooked glasses on his nose, he wore blue and white like her, although not nearly as fancy, in his hand was a book and a pencil. From behind him a group of children stood, there eyes wide as they stared at the crew of Guardians.
The woman pulled away from Katherine and Nightlight, a huge smile on her tattooed face, "It had been so long." She said.
"Yes it has Kida, almost over a hundred years now." Katherine said; she placed a hand on her shoulder, "I'm sure you remember Holly." She waved to her.
"Yes indeed." She smiled, "But tell me, who are these other three. That have joined you?" she looked at them with a raised white eyebrow, "I do not recognize them from your visits."
"They are friends, it is a long story." Katherine answered.
"And I shall hear every word of it." She waved to the curtain that hung over the stone, "Come, I will some food brought to us and you can tell us your tale."
The man turned to the kids who were still staring at the Guardians even as they walked over to the purple curtain. He smiled and said, "I suppose class is dismissed for now."
That made them forget about the Guardians, they let out a cheer and ran away down the street leaving him to shake his head.
Baymax had scanned her 16 times in the last 8 hours. It was late, but Hiro had managed to keep his aunt from coming to his room. It was three in the morning and the last thing he could even think about was sleep. He checked Sophie but she hadn't moved and Baymax claimed she had a high fever. Baymax and he had sneaked Sophie in and put her in what had used to be Tadashi's side of the room. The bed that Tadashi had, had not been touched since his death other then the few times that Hiro would sleep walk. He would often find himself there, remembering how his big brother had helped scared away his bad dreams.
Now it was a hospital bed for a soaking wet girl that been chased down by…well…he didn't know what exactly.
Baymax had HD cameras and a terabyte of memory in his main frame. He always captured every single battle they were on. But no matter how many times Hiro replayed the footage of the beasts over and over again he just couldn't figure out what they were. He rubbed his arm where the small piece of ice had stuck in. It hadn't melted when he got back, which went against all the laws of nature. And now as he studied it under the microscope he was shocked to find that the snow flaked attached and the frozen H2O was in fact moving clinging and changing. It was almost as if it was alive. But snow didn't live, it was inanimate, it had no feelings or emotions so that couldn't be possible.
He turned to Baymax, "How is she doing Baymax."
"Patient Unconscious, with a high fever and a few abrasions on the lower arm, back and thigh."
"But is she going to be okay?" he asked, sliding over in his chair, "I mean, will she wake up?"
"Uncertain." He answered; he scanned her again for the 17th time.
He slid away, checking his cell, "Thanks Baymax, keep an eye on her, if she's not up and moving by the morning I'll have to tell my aunt. And you know how she can get." He checked to see if any message had been sent back by his friends but none had answered yet. He couldn't tell whether that was a good thing or a bad thing. He could really use there help. His worries were for nothing though because just then he heard a beep and he turned to his touch screens. He was getting a Video call from Gogo. Minutes later the entire crew was there.
"Hey Hiro!" Honey waved from the screen, "I'm sorry about before."
"Don't sweat it guys, it was one thing, I was just a little moody." He smiled to show them he meant it but she still look unconvinced. "Anyway." He said changing the subject, "I want you guys to check something out." He pressed a button and the video sent. He watched as there eyes widened watching the video, and then they turned to him.
"What the heck was that?!" Wasabi shouted.
"Headphones Wasabi." Hiro said wincing and placing a hand on his ear.
He flinched, "Oh, yah, sorry."
Gogo frowned, placing her chin in hand, "It could be magnetics." She said.
"I thought so too." Hiro said, "But I magnified it and take a look." A picture was sent that showed the picture magnified revealing the crystalized ice and the snow flakes.
"Snow?" Honey said, "That doesn't make sense, snow can't just for together like that, not on its own, that's scientifically impossible."
"Stop telling me what it shouldn't be doing and tell me why it is doing it." Hiro said leaning back in his chair.
"Micro chips?" Wasabi suggested, "Perhaps each snowflake contains a microscopic chip that freezes water droplets and then someone uses a machine to control there form."
"Now that's not a bad idea." Gogo said nodding.
"Your right." Hiro said, "And I thought about that, so I tested to see if there was anything besides water." He sent a picture he had seen under the microscope. But all it showed was the basic elements of H2O, Hydrogen and Oxygen. The blobs on the screen would have made anyone else just dismiss it as modern art, but Honey could tell there was no change in the components.
After staring at the screen for what must have been hours she turned to Hiro and said. "This is making no scientific sense."
"Did you know I use a hair drier on this." He lifted up the chunk of ice, it was still cold, in fact it was getting colder and he had to use gloves to hold it. "An hour under a hair dryer and an hour in boiling water, nothing. I'm almost set the smoke detectors off but this thing refuses to melt, in fact it's getting colder."
"That's insane!" Wasabi shouted again, and all of the hero's said, "headphones Wasabi, headphones!"
"Sorry." He whispered.
"So, you guys have anymore theories?" Hiro asked, he waited patiently but all of them seemed as stumped as he was.
He leaned back in his chair and waited, counting the seconds he reached 263 before Honey said, "Sorry Hiro, we're stumped, do you have any clues?"
Hiro remembered Sophie being taken care of by Baymax, "I may have one lead, but it is a big maybe." He said without looking at them.
"Are you going to tell us what it is?" Gogo asked crossing her arms.
"I'd rather not until I'm completely sure, anyone get in contact with Fred?" he asked.
"Fred was forced out of town by his father, something about a family photo shoot; he should be back this afternoon though. Why?" She asked.
"Maybe he's heard about one of these things from one of his comics." Hiro said.
"That desperate huh?" Wasabi joked.
"Do you guys have any better ideas?" Hiro asked. None of them could answer so Hiro just nodded. "Come over tomorrow afternoon, and if you see Fred, tell him to come to, and to bring whatever info he's got on ice dogs."
"Bye Hiro, try to get some sleep bud." Wasabi waved and his camera cut out.
Honey and Gogo both waved too, and soon there screens were dark. Hiro slid back over in his chair to Sophie; Baymax was using a cloth to pat down her head. Hiro leaned back in his chair again, crossing his arms and frowning. There was no way he was getting any sleep tonight. He would just have to work on this puzzle himself. Suddenly he wished he had told his friends about her. Maybe they could have suggested something to wake her up. However, he did realize she was safe in Baymax's hands, even if it was for hours. He might as well do research on the girl herself.
Sliding back to his computer he typed down Sophie into the search bar. The screen lit up with thousands of Sophie's from around the world including a Sophie from a book call Keepers of the Lost Cities…whatever that was. He was beginning to wonder if he was going to reach yet another dead end when he came across a missing children report of a Sophie Bennet. He was uncertain at first but although the picture showed a younger version of her there was no denying that the Sophie Bennet in the picture was the Sophie Bennet he had saved. The report said she was missing on November 18th, but it was the 21st, which meant she had been missing for more then three days. But that didn't explain how she got here, or why she was here in the first place or even why those beasts were chasing her. Another dead end. He was tempted to call the police to them he found her. They would send her back home and that would be the end of it. Or would it? Something told him that things were not as simple as he thought. Besides, he wanted answers and she was the only one who could give them to her. So whether or not she woke up in the morning she was staying here, at least until he found out what he wanted to know.
He yawned and stretched. Checking the clock. Four in the morning. He should probably get some sleep. "Baymax, wake me up if there's any change in her state."
"Will do." Baymax said, and Hiro lay down in bed. Falling into a deep dreamless sleep.
"Has it really been a hundred years?" Kida said. Servants had walked in carrying platters of strange food that actually smelled amazing. But whether they were animal or vegetable was still up for debate. Some there was no doubt, like a purple squid like creature stuffed with some sweet breading. Rapunzel refused to eat it, but she enjoyed some other food such as some fruit that had been fried in some strange nut oil. The nut was spicy, and the oil from it was turned into gravy that could be put on almost anything else. All the food was in colors that none of them had realized food could come in. There was green meet, sometimes purple, a red piece of bread and juice that changed colors depending on the lighting. In this lighting it changed between violet and green.
They didn't realize how hungry they were until they start eating. And Rapunzel realized that she hadn't eaten since they left Hiccups village, with felt like ages ago. She quickly ate her plate of food, hoping it would end her stomach pains, but the pain didn't cease, it became worse. She was hungrier now more then ever and she finally agreed to even eat the purple squid.
Kida smiled at her letting her know it was alright. Merida seemed the least starving of them all, pushing around her food thoughtfully and staring into space. Katherine smiled at Kida, "I see Milo has wasted no time in teaching the children."
"It's been great." Kida said. "They learn fast."
The man who must have been Milo leaned forward on the cushion he sat on, "Tell me, had the world changed much since the last time I was there."
"Very much Milo, it may surprise you how much." Holly said.
"I don't understand." Rapunzel said, finally putting down her plate and looking at them with raised eyebrows, "You've known each other for a hundred years, but you look no more then 21, you can all see us, but your all adults, and you've lived beneath the sea for how long?"
Holly laughed, "Yez, I suppose explanaitionz are in order." She turned to Katherine who nodded.
"Before the first War of the Guardians began—" Katherine said, "Atlantis was on the surface, it was the first base of the Guardians, where we had our council meetings and where we practiced our powers."
"In return for there kindness," Nightlight said, "I gave them a piece of my moon stone for there protection. With it they could see the Guardians no matter what, but they began to unlock other things about it. It had healing properties and was even a useable power source, better then any electricity, or solar panel. It produced its own power and the smart people of Atlantis even figured out a way to power flying machines."
"Productive." Hiccup said, before putting in a mouth full of a strange purple mush.
"Indeed." Nightlight nodded.
Holly looked at Rapunzel, "When the first War of the Guardians started they wanted to help, but the power we faced up against was more then we anticipated, and the power they had summoned was more then they could handle. A flood came, wiping out the city of Atlantis and sinking it to the bottom of the sea. Or, so we assumed."
"Indeed we sunk to the bottom of the sea." Kida said, "But we survived, if only barely. One day over a hundred years ago Milo discovered a way into Atlantis called the shepherds journal. He saved us, but that's a different story." She smiled at him, and he returned it.
"Man in Moon truly thought the kingdom was lost, one day years ago we stumbled across it again by accident." Katherine said, "At least Nightlight and I did, we were pleasantly surprised and the king who was alive at the time was too. He recognized us immediately. We told Tsar, and he was extremely please to find that the people of Atlantis were not killed. However he wished not to know the location and said that if there was any danger he wanted us to go someplace that was hidden from even is sight."
"We agreed." Nightlight said, "And this safe haven has been a welcoming home to all Guardians that know where to find it." He said; he placed his plate on the side. "Sometimes we visit if only to talk and update them on what is going on, on the surface, but it had been a long time."
"And we need this place now more then ever." Holly finished. She looked at her plate sadly and sighed. Kida placed a hand on her shoulder and gave her a weak smile.
"I'm sorry Holly, I do not know what had happened, but if you do not wish to tell me that is fine. You can stay here as long as you want." Kida seemed truly a kind queen and she said it with such a calm demeanor that they were all surprised.
Holly looked at her and smiled, "I know, you have also been a good friend."
But Hiccup wouldn't hear it; he scowled at her and said, "So that's it? We're just going to sit here, hiding like mice from a cat?"
"No one said anything about hiding Hiccup." Holly raised her hand. "You must be patient, we must wait for—"
"Wait!" Hiccup interrupted jumping to his feet, Rapunzel also stood, a look of complete fury on there faces. Rapunzel's eyes flashed red. Nightlight reached to his side, for a silver sword ready to pull it out if needed to protect Holly. But Holly sat calmly next to Kida, who looked at them with pity in her eyes. Hiccup ignored the look and shouted, "Wait for what! Wait for another Guardian to be killed, for all the children to stop believing, for Jack to come back from the dead!"
Rapunzel frowned deeply, she turned to Kida, "Thank you, but we can't stay here, we have to find Pitch and—"
"And what?" Katherine said jumping to her feet, "What do you think you could possible do to Pitch that we haven't already thought of." She crossed her arms, her eyes narrowed, "I understand you three are in pain, but you aren't the only ones who have suffered this. I was one of the Guardians in the council to choose Jack, and voted for him to go the mission to find you." Her eyes scanned them, "Revenge will lead you no where, at least not the way you wish go about it. If we rush things then everything could turn out for the worse, not the better."
For someone looking so young she spoke with a lot of authority and even Merida didn't need to be told twice. But Hiccup didn't sit back down. He crossed his arms and stared at her. "I can't just sit here and do nothing. People have been hurt, killed and tortured." He looked at Rapunzel who suddenly found her feet very interesting. "I was never good at sitting back and letting things happen."
"No one's telling you to." Katherine said, looking at him sympathetically, "That is one of reasons we came here. It is a safe place to recharge. And a safe place to make a plan." She looked at Holly who nodded in agreement. "We will stop the Dark Guardians if we can, I promise you that Haddock." She said turning back. "But if we're going to do this you're going to have to trust us, all of us." She waved her hand at Nightlight who still was protectively guarding Holly and giving Hiccup the evil eye. "Can you do that Guardian of Trust? Spirit of the Dragons." She looked back at him, right in the eyes. Her gaze was like steel. Hiccup held it for as long as he could but soon dropped his gaze to his feet.
Katherine wasn't sure she was satisfied with that answer, but she sat down any way and looked at Nightlight, nodding her head to show him it was okay. He didn't let go of his sword, nor did he lift his gaze from Hiccup but he did sit back down. When they were all seated again Kida looked at Holly. "Katherine is right." She said, "We'll need to be a team now more then ever, and there is much to do." She looked at Milo and Kida. "And I believe it is time to tell you what has happened."
