Chapter 12
Rapunzel Fitzherbert
Rapunzel sighed lightly as she stared at the globe, totally zoned out. She had never imagined anything like this happening in her wildest dreams, and so, for once, she was at an utter loss for an idea of what to do. She blinked out of her reverie when the fact that her name was being called finally registered.
She turned to see an irate Bunny looking down at her. "Do ya know where Frostbite got to?" He asked irritably.
Rapunzel shook her head. "No. Why?"
"Sandy's gone too." Tooth supplied. "They probably went to fix the lake, and with Sandy there he'll be fine."
Rapunzel sighed. "How long have you known about this?"
Tooth shrugged. "They left pretty much immediately after the meeting, so, ah, a few hours?" She mused, ruffling her feathers slightly against a cold breeze.
"Ancient history, Tooth." Jack told her as he landed, Sandy close behind. "Pond has been cleansed and frozen, and there are signs that Pitch has left this dimension of the nekis or whatever." He added.
"Nexus?" Rapunzel supplied. "Do you ever listen?"
"Is that really a question you need to ask?" Jack shot back. "But, anyways, we don't know for sure where he went, and Sandy's worried." He noticed Sandy giving him a look and he shrugged. "And I guess I'm a little curious."
Sandy rolled his eyes and floated off to go find North, along with the other two new Guardians. Once he had left, Bunny glared at Jack.
"And ya coudn't tell us ya were leavin'?" He demanded.
Jack shrugged. "Last time I checked I wasn't a prisoner here, I can leave for a while if I want." He defended himself, crossing his arms.
Rapunzel sighed. "Can we just wait for a minute? We need to figure out where this Pitch guy went, he's probably up to something."
"Yes, I can feel it! In my belly!" North agreed as he joined them. "Pitch is probably in one of two places, Berk or DunBroch."
Merida jerked her head up as she entered the room upon the mention of her kingdom. "What? Yu mean...my family!"
North shook his head. "Not likely, he may be searching for allies."
Jack tilted his head. "He seemed more the high-and-mighty guy that works alone."
"Cause it worked real well last time." Bunny pointed out.
Rapunzel nodded. "He's got Gothel from my kingdom, so why mess with there, and obviously he wouldn't be looking for backup here. Now, the only problem is to find out which of the two places would be better suited to him."
Merida tapped her foot in annoyance. "Knowing my kingdom, he may have gone there. We're firm believers in magic, and heavy on superstition too."
North nodded. "Very well, will be test. Send you four to DunBroch, see how you do!"
Jack stared. "North, tell me you're kidding. Please."
Rapunzel rolled her eyes. "Is working with us really that much of a disaster?" She asked.
Jack gave her a slight look before fixing his gaze on Merida. "Tell me it's winter there. At least give me that."
Merida sighed. "The seasons run the same there as here, Frost. We're slowly approachin' springtime, though it's still pretty cold due to the fact that we're right next to the sea." She told him.
Jack nodded. "I can handle that. So, when do we head out?"
North tossed him a snow globe, which Jack barely caught. "Now." He told Jack before muttering something to another snow globe and throwing it on the ground.
"Oh!" Rapunzel gasped. "The portal from earlier!"
Jack looked at her. "You actually went through the portal voluntarily?" He demanded.
Rapunzel nodded confusedly. "Why, is that not normal?"
Jack glared at North. "His great idea was stuffing me in a sack and tossing me through the portal. Not fun."
Hiccup snickered, then grew serious as a thought struck him. "But how will Toothle-" He started to ask, but was interrupted by the yelling of several Yetis accompanied by Toothless basically tackling the four youngest Guardians through the portal, accompanied by a large Clydesdale.
When they landed, Rapunzel immediately wished she was wearing something a bit warmer than the thin dress she had on at the moment. "I th-thought you said it was spring!" She accused Merida, who was blissfully stroking the muzzle of the Clydesdale.
"Aye, and so it is!" Merida defended. "I did say it would be cold!"
Jack ignored the two squabbling females as he lifted up into the air to scan the surrounding area. "I'm not seeing anything out of the ordinary like entire forests teeming with Nightmares." He reported when he came back down. "Not that I'm an expert."
Merida sighed and swung up into her saddle. "There's a place I want to check, follow me." She ordered before galloping off.
Rapunzel bit back a squeal as she felt herself lifted by the back of her collar by an ice cold hand. "Jack, stop!" She begged.
"You wanna get left behind?" Jack asked, deftly switching arms to get a better hold on her. "Don't worry, I'm stronger than I look. Try just looking at the scenery, this has gotta be new for you." Jack suggested.
Rapunzel sighed, looking down to see Hiccup and Toothless engaged in a fierce race with Merida and her horse. She then gasped as a ring of mystic looking stones came into view, one broken and laying across the field. "Amazing." She murmured.
Jack landed lightly beside the stone in time for Merida to swing out of the saddle just outside the stones, walking in alone. "Angus throws me every time I try to ride him in here." She explained as Hiccup also approached on foot.
"Maybe they're picking up on something that we're not?" Rapunzel offered. "Animals have better senses than we do."
Merida shrugged. "Or he's just a big baby. Either way, we've got a gaffy old witch to visit." She announced unenthusiastically. "The one that turned me mum into a bear. If Pitch wants an ally, he'd start with her."
Jack nodded. "Fair enough. Lead the way."
Merida nodded, and as soon as she took a step a trail of blue spirits appeared, beckoning the four.
"Will-o-the-wisps?" Rapunzel asked, startled. "The books I read said that the Will-o-the-wisp is an ancient creature that would lead men off the paths and to their dooms."
Merida shrugged. "These wisps are a bit different. I think. They lead yu to yur fate." She explained in a slightly hushed tone as they reached the first wisp, which promptly dissipated into glowing blue smoke before vanishing entirely.
"Why would they lead you to your feet, I would hope you already know where they are." Jack inquired, conjuring up small flurries of snowflakes as he walked.
"Honestly?" Merida groaned.
"And I thought Bunny's accent was bad!" Jack added before Merida could hush him.
Rapunzel sighed. "Is it a good idea to visit this witch?" She inquired, trying for a subject change. "Last time I checked, witches were dangerous."
Merida shrugged. "She won't do anything until yu pay her, perhaps she's already taken care of Pitch for being an annoying busybody."
"How?" Rapunzel wondered.
"Well, she can animate objects. Like, a broom and knives and things like that." Merida explained. "As well as cast spells."
"Wouldn't breathing life into inanimate objects count as a spell?" Hiccup pointed out.
Merida sighed. "Anyways." She nearly growled as the last wisp vanished. "We're here."
As the group approached the small cottage, Rapunzel noted with wonder that it seemed to have been quite old, dug into the side of a hill, but it looked relatively new. Merida opened the door, letting herself and the other three in.
"Well, if it isn't that red-haired girl!" A stooped old woman cackled as she neared the group. "Come for more carvings?"
Merida shook her head. "No, information."
The witch tapped her considerable nose. "Ah, about that rough-mannered, surly grey fellow with the strange eyes that was here." She guessed. "He was here right after a sharp-mannered young lady with black hair almost as bushy as yours, Princess."
Rapunzel gasped. "Gothel. She really is alive."
The witch sighed, then noticed that a broom was still sweeping the floor. She hurriedly clicked her fingers, causing the broom to drop as if shot.
"Yep, check animation of objects off the list." Jack muttered. "Very nice."
The witch peered suspiciously at Jack. "You're not wanting a spell, are you?"
Jack gave a snort of amusement. "Nah, I'm already nice and magicked, thank you." He replied. "Did the man you talked about earlier give any hint to his intentions?"
The witch hummed. "He did say I could be expecting a big customer soon."
Merida's face paled. "He's tryin' to make another demon bear." She mumbled.
Hiccup's face set into determined lines. "We won't let him." He vowed.
Merida looked at the witch. "Can we pa-"
The witch shook her head. "That's bribery, and a sale is a sale! You took care of Mor'du, you can take care of another one if someone is foolhardy enough to come here."
"Gaffy old witch, handing out gammy spells! That's a human life yu'd be ruinin'!" Merida practically screamed.
Rapunzel put a hand on Merida's shoulder. "Ultimately, it's still their decision." She pointed out. "Just like you made the decision with your mother, and then made another decision to save the kingdom."
Merida huffed angrily. "Well, let's find Pitch then, and send him to meet Mor'du!"
Jack raised his staff. "That's a decision I can support." He decided.
The witch waved cheerily as the foursome left her cottage. "Good luck!" She called merrily, pretending not to notice Merida's glare when the door slammed shut.
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Yep, pick on Merida time this chapter. As you may guess, there'll be a lovely confrontation next chapter, so it's finally time to get the ball rolling!
