The crew hadn't been happy about their intended route to Agrabah but since there was nothing else for it they kept their complaints to mutters and superstitious grumblings.
Merida was lucky her crew was so loyal – had they been lesser men there could well have been attempted mutiny, so great was the fear the Realm of Shadows inspired in those who knew of it.
There had still been no sign of Mordu attempting to follow them so the pirates had allowed themselves to relax in that regard, but there was still an unspoken tension in the air about what they might yet have to face.
Aware that they had no idea how long it might take to get through the Realm of Shadows to Agrabah on the other side (provided they made it through at all) Merida made sure the ship was sailing its swiftest and they eventually reached the edge of it in just under a week.
It was impossible to miss – a towering wall of black smog seemed to float on the ocean, stretching for miles and miles. The sunlight had no affect whatsoever on its murky depths and there was no hint of what lay beyond it; it was eerily unnatural and Rapunzel could see why sailors avoided it like the plague.
She was currently up in the crow's nest with Jack. Since her rescue of Toothless she had taken to joining him up there as it had become her favourite place to sit and see everything. From here her hair could be draped across the sails and rigging, allowing for easy swinging to and from each side of the ship, not to mention it kept it out of the way of the men below. Jack joked that she was like a golden spider spinning her web of hair over the ship and swinging from place to place.
At first she was worried she was intruding on his space, but he always seemed pleased to see her and they spent many a quiet moment there just sitting and watching the skies. Now and then she would bring out her sketch book and could often be found sketching the day-to-day business of the ship –or at least that's what she told Jack she was doing. She would never let him see her drawings because she was embarrassed about the number of times he featured in them and knew she would never hear the end of it if he found out. Hiccup was the only person she showed them to but they had a strict code between them that neither would tease the other about any specific people who may or may not be the subject of their sketching.
"I'm guessing that's the Realm of Shadows then." She said, leaning on the edge.
"Yep." Jack replied, making a popping sound as he pronounced the "p".
"Huh. Well it certainly looks...shadowy."
"Yep." He replied again. There wasn't really anything else to say.
The two of them gazed at it silently for a moment. It was their job to shout out when it was spotted but from the hush that had fallen over the deck below them, it was obvious their observation wasn't needed; it's not like you could miss it. Rapunzel supposed she should be feeling scared but instead there was just an odd sort of numb acceptance – there was nothing else they could do so they would just have to take what this place threw at them and deal with it. It was like the calm before the storm.
Jack stood next to Rapunzel and rested his hands on the edge too. His little finger brushed against hers and he flinched slightly, blood rushing to his cheeks.
"Dammit Frost, why are you blushing?!" he scolded himself silently. "You've been with numerous women all over the world and now you can't even brush fingers with Rapunzel without turning red – man up and grow a pair!"
He gave her a sideways glance but she seemed oblivious to his internal ramblings so he returned his gaze to the ocean.
"It's because she's the only available woman onboard and it's been a while – that's why you're acting this way. Merida will kill you if you try anything and it will cause more complications than it's worth. Just...stop thinking about her. And stop talking to yourself, you're acting like a crazy person."
He shook his head to try and clear his mind before turning to Rapunzel to suggest they should make their way down. He was alarmed to find her face very close to his, peering closely.
"Are you ok Jack? Your face is red and you look...odd. Are you coming down with something?"
He coughed, leaning back to put some space between them. "Me? No, no I'm fine. I was just...thinking. About...stuff. Er...shall we go down now? We should probably get ready."
"Hmmm." Rapunzel eyes narrowed at him and he could tell she wasn't buying it. Still, she let the subject drop and swung herself over the edge before lowering herself to the ground below and skipping off to do her tasks. He let out a sigh of relief and followed.
It wasn't that he didn't think she found him attractive – she had admitted to it after all and he knew she couldn't lie – it's just that Jack had never been a relationship person. He was more the one night stand, out-through-the-window-before-they-woke-up kind of person. Never wanting to stay in the same place for too long, it was pointless and only setting himself up to be hurt to even consider anything more meaningful. No, relationships weren't for him and he knew better than to expect Rapunzel to settle for anything less.
Reaching the ground his mind was soon distracted by a subject of a more familiar territory – preparation for imminent danger. Despite the risk this journey could hold to their lives, he could not suppress the rush of adrenaline he felt when thinking about the unknown challenges they might face.
Hiccup, coming to stand beside him, recognised the look on his face and couldn't help but roll his eyes. "You're such an adrenaline junkie."
"You can talk!" Jack jostled Hiccup's arm. "Remember when you invented that glider suit and jumped off the side of a mountain in Arandelle – without having tested it first?!"
"What else was I supposed to do? There were snow monsters after me! Besides, the logic was sound and I had tested it!" Hiccup protested.
"Throwing miniature model figures off the side of the ship doesn't count Hiccup."
"Well it worked didn't it?"
"Only because Toothless was next to you the whole way making sure you didn't slam into anything. I swear, without that dragon you would have died years ago through some stupid mishap of your own making."
"Well there's no arguing with that." Hiccup relented, scratching Toothless under the chin fondly.
"Toothless has more sense than the two of you put together." Merida grinned, appearing with Rapunzel not far behind. The blonde's hair was stretched out in all directions behind her, a slim piece of it tied to each of the men's belts. It looks a little ridiculous, but it was decided it would be the quickest way for Rapunzel to aid any of them should they be overcome by any poisons or hallucinations. Not to mention it was an easy way of keeping track of everyone in the thick smog.
The dragon bounded over to the girls, prancing around them briefly before ducking under Rapunzel's hair, creating a hilarious image as her golden strands draped over his head, giving the impression he had suddenly sprouted blonde locks.
The four of them laughed loudly, and it gave the crew courage to hear them. The fact that, no matter the danger, their leaders always found time to be at complete and utter ease with each other somehow gave the feeling that everything would be alright in the end.
The ship was much closer to the wall of fog now and the group took a moment to run over their plan before standing at their designated positions.
"Remember to wear your masks in case there is poison gas in there." Hiccup reminded them. They had all prepared strips of material to cover the mouths and noses in case of an emergency – it wasn't a permanent solution but it should hold off any effects until Rapunzel could heal them.
"And just tug on my hair twice – gently preferably – if you need help." Rapunzel added, wincing at the thought of her scalp being tugged sharply in multiple directions at once. She passed each of them a piece of her hair and tied a final piece carefully to Toothless' paw. "No flying you." She tapped him on the nose.
"We'll remember." Merida assured her, tying the silky strands to her belt. "We've slowed the ship right down to give us more time to react to any sudden route changes we need to make in there. Hiccup, Toothless and I will be at the front of the ship so they can keep an eye out for any rocks or incoming dangers and I shall give the orders from there. Rapunzel, you stay in the centre of the ship so the men can stand around you and guard the sides. Jack, you're in charge of the helm since your eyesight is best in the dark after Toothless and Hiccup. Listen out for my orders if we need to change course."
"Aye Captain." He saluted, unable to resist giving her a cheeky wink to lighten the mood.
As he turned to make his way to the wheel, he stopped at the feel of Rapunzel's hand on his arm.
"Jack...be careful." She said hesitantly.
He opened his mouth to respond with a witty yet carefree remark, but something in the serious way she was looking at him stopped him. He nodded instead. "Don't worry Punz, I will. Besides..." he tugged the hair he had tied to his belt gently "I can always find you if I need you." He smiled comfortingly.
Merida and Hiccup squeezed Rapunzel's hands and nodded goodbye to Jack before they too made their way to their designated position at the front of the ship.
Toothless clambered up as far as he could go, his green eyes gleaming and pupils wide to absorb as much light as possible as he gazed over the ocean in front of them. Hiccup and Merida stood side by side just behind him, watching as the wall of fog came closer and closer.
"You ready for this?" Hiccup asked.
"Sure. I'm not scared of a bit o' cloud." She huffed.
He smiled. "Just checking."
They could feel the chill of the air, radiating off the black smog. It was so close they could almost reach out and touch it.
"Captain..."
"Yes Hiccup?"
"I...I've been meaning to tell you something...for a long time now..."
"Hiccup if you're about to tell me something important that you wouldn't if we weren't facing a life or death situation, I swear to the gods I'll throw you overboard."
He paused and then clamped his mouth shut. The fog began to absorb the front of the ship.
Merida's mouth set in a firm line. "You can tell me when we get out the other side – alive and well. You understand? And for god's sake call me Merida."
He smiled. "Yes Captain Merida." His eye twinkled in amusement.
She huffed in annoyance, but slipped her hand into his and held it tight.
They vanished into the shadows.
Oh god it was dark. It was worse in a way than her tower had ever been, even with all the windows closed tight and the doors locked shut. Because this darkness was unfamiliar – and cold.
Rapunzel was beyond grateful for her hair attaching her to everyone, because at least it gave her a sense of not being alone. At this point she could barely see the rest of the crew standing only a few feet away from her at the edges of the ship – just vague shadowy figures shifting in and out of her vision. Everything sounded quiet, even the sound of the sea around them appeared muffled – like the mist was smothering everything. Her breathing sounded loud behind her mask.
A sudden shout from behind her made her jump.
"EVERYONE DOING OK?!"
"JACK! You scared the life out of me!" Merida's answering yell echoed from the front.
A collection of nervous chuckles rumbled from the men around the ship.
"Everything's fine Jack. No rocks or anything as of yet." Hiccup's voice drifted back over everyone.
"You alright back there Punz?"Merida's concerned voice crept through the mist to her.
"Yeah, I'm fine!" she yelled back. "Nothing unusual over here!"
The crew fell into watchful silence once more, feeling slightly more normal after the conversation broke the tension. They watched and waited. And waited. And waited.
It might have been hours later, or perhaps it was only a few minutes – it seemed difficult to tell the passing of time in there – but Merida suddenly realised that she was finding it difficult to breathe. Her heart had begun to race in her chest and she was feeling the inexplicable urge to run – run anywhere. Anywhere that wasn't here. She gripped Hiccup's hand tightly and gasped.
"Captain?" his concerned voice sounded like it was coming from underwater. "Captain, what's wrong?"
"Yes Captain.What's the matter? Surely you're not losing your nerve?"
She whirled round, her eyes wild and looking for where the voice had come from. It was clear cut, cold and sent a chill down her back.
"Perhaps it's because you realise you have led everyone here to their death...all these men who trusted you. Who believed in you. And you have betrayed them..."
She drew her sword with an angry scream. "Come out! Come out you spineless monster and show your face!"
"Captain...Captain...! Merida!" Hiccup shouted, reaching for her shoulder and tugging her to face him. He cupped her face and forced her to look at him, trying to maintain eye contact. "There's no one there. Just look at me and focus. Take deep breaths. In...out..."he ripped off his mask so she could watch his mouth.
Her frantic eyes fixed on his green ones, taking comfort in their steady gaze. She tried to mimic his breathing. As she did she slowly became aware of more cries of fear starting to echo around the ship.
"The men...!" she gasped, taking off her mask too – it was obviously useless anyway.
Hiccup nodded and raised his head to yell.
"Rapunzel! The masks aren't working - we could use some help!" He tugged at the hair on his belt, their agreed signal for her to begin singing.
He paused, hearing no answering cry. "Rapunzel?!"
No female voice rose above the sound of the men's ever-increasing screams. He swore.
He looked at Merida, taking note of her appearance. Her eyes were more focused now and at least she wasn't lashing out wildly at the air but her skin was pallid and sweating and her hands shaking with the effort of maintaining control. He couldn't leave her. But someone had to watch the front of the ship for rocks.
He placed a hand on Toothless' back, causing the dragon to turn and look at him. "Bud...I need to go find Rapunzel. She's our only hope of getting the men back under control before they start hurting themselves, but I need you to stay and keep watch so we don't end up shipwrecked."
Toothless crooned in concern, but Hiccup knew he understood. He hated leaving his side so soon after he had nearly lost him forever, but there was nothing else for it. "I won't be far bud I promise; just call if you need me."
Toothless gave a growl of assurance and licked him farewell before turning his sharp eyes back to the sea in front of them.
Holding Merida's hand tightly he brushed her cheek gently with his other hand. "Come on Captain, we need to go find Rapunzel."
She nodded tersely, trying to remind herself that the voices in her head were NOT real.
"See how he pities you? Can't leave you by yourself in case you end up doing something stupid...what a useless Captain you are. Everyone knows Hiccup would be far more suitable than you..."
Hiccup chose not to comment as Merida began humming loudly.
Slowly, they followed Rapunzel's hair back to her, knowing they should find her somewhere near the middle of the ship. Suddenly a figure burst out of the mist howling – it was Killer. He was fighting off imaginary monsters and swinging his needle-like sword around wildly. Pulling out his own sword to avoid being decapitated, Hiccup quickly disarmed his fellow crew member and hit him sharply over the head with the hilt in order to knock him out cold.
"Sorry about that." He added apologetically to the unconscious man.
"Hiccup..."Merida groaned, trying to reign in the fear that was making her want to throw up. "We need to get the men under control or they're going to start turning on each other. If Rapunzel can't help them..."
"She'll help them." He said firmly, taking Merida's hand once more. "We just need to find her..."
Rapunzel was currently curled up on the floor, hands clasped over her ears and whimpering. She was alone in an ocean of mist and finding it hard to remember what she was supposed to be doing.
"Such a useless child. What help do you think you are really? What use are you to anyone? You should leave."
"I can't. I'm not...I'm not supposed to move. Otherwise I can't help them...just stop...please stop..." she whispered, trying to hold back a cry of anguish as a dark voice clawed its way through her mind.
"They don't want you here anyway. You're eternally in the way; nothing but a burden. But you can't go home either, oh no...they would never take you back."
"Rapunzel where are you?!"
"Such a selfish child; you have broken your parents hearts – abandoned your people. What a despicable human being you are..."
"Rapunzel!"
She raised her head slightly. "Hiccup?" she asked softly.
"Rapunzel your hair! We need you to sing!"
"My hair...?" she repeated, her thought process feeling thick with fear.
Suddenly a shout of terror behind her cut through the mist and brought her focus crashing back.
"NO! GET AWAY!"
"Jack?!" she span round, her eyes straining to see him through the fog.
"Rapunzel? There you are!" Hiccup and Merida appeared out of the shadows, relief etched on their faces.
"Quick, we need you to – " Hiccup suddenly stopped short, his eyes flying wide with dread.
"Hiccup? Hiccup what is it?"
"Look out, they're behind you! Get away!" he moved forward to shove the women behind him.
"Who are?! Hiccup there's nothing there!"
"You won't take me again!" he continued to scream, drawing his sword.
"Who said they're here for you? I think those friends of yours would make wonderful slaves don't you?"
"No..." Hiccup gasped, his heart rate increasing. "I won't let you!"
"You won't let me?" the voice laughed cruelly. "You think you have a choice in the matter? They're already gone."
Hiccup whirled around to find Rapunzel and Merida, but they had vanished – all he could hear were their distant screams, calling for him to help them.
"MERIDA!" RAPUNZEL!" he yelled, starting to make his way towards their voices.
Suddenly a howl of pain came from the opposite direction and he froze in panic. "Toothless?!"
"What will you do little Viking? You can't save all of them, so who will it be? Your dragon or your friends?"
"No...No you can't DO this! It's not real, it's not real..."
Merida and Rapunzel watched as Hiccup collapsed to his knees, crying in agony.
They tried calling out to him and shaking his shoulder but he obviously couldn't hear or see them.
"What do we do?!" Rapunzel panicked.
"You hair...you need to sing..." Merida gasped, clutching her arms around her stomach in an effort not to lash out at the shadowy monsters she was seeing around her.
"Oh! Yes of course!"
She took a deep breath but before she could begin a body burst out of the shadows and collided straight into her, knocking them both to the ground.
Looking up to see who is was, she gasped. It was Jack – he was already scrambling to his feet, his eyes wild and terrified. They focused on her and he drew his sword.
"Jack..." she held up her hands to show that she was unarmed, praying that he would snap out of whatever hallucination he was seeing.
"You...you...get AWAY!" he shouted, pointing his sword threateningly at her.
"Jack...it's me...it's Rapunzel. Don't..."
"He won't hear you Princess. Why would you think he could? You don't mean anything to him..."
She flinched but continued to try and hold Jack's gaze, willing him to focus. Suddenly he was knocked to the floor by a punch to the side of the face - Merida jumped on top of him and pinned him to the deck as best as she could. "NOW Punz!"
Not bothering to get up off the ground, Rapunzel sucked in as much air as she could and began to hum, her voice quivering in fright but determined to maintain the tune. Her hair began to glow – dimly at first – but it slowly grew brighter and brighter, spreading out from her scalp down to the very ends, and it was soon as if glowing golden streams were weaving all over the ship.
Merida, Jack and Hiccup, being closest, felt the effects first. It was like feeling sunshine for the first time or sinking into a warm bath after a cold winter's day. They could breathe easily again and their heart rates began to return to normal.
Jack stopped struggling and as he began to be aware of his surroundings was surprised to find Merida on top of him. He raised an eyebrow.
"I know I'm irresistible Mer, but there is a time and a place."
"Oh shut yer gob. If it wasn't for me you would have skewered Punzie with your sword already." She grumbled, climbing off him.
"I WHAT?!" He sat up sharply.
A groan drew his attention to Hiccup.
"Wow mate – you look awful."
Hiccup wasn't at a stage where he could quite form words yet, so he conveyed his response through a finger gesture.
Looking around, it was still dark, but the light from Rapunzel's hair stood out and meant they could see exactly where each of the crew were. Their cries had slowly faded but you could still hear a faint whimper here and there from those who hadn't quite recovered yet.
The three pirates made their way over to Rapunzel and shakily helped her to her feet. Though they hadn't been in the grasp of fear for all that long, it had felt like hours and their bodies were still recovering from the effects of it. Each of them felt weak and slightly shaky, their chests ached from hyperventilating and their nerves were sore from being so tense. It was suddenly easy to see how people could die of fright – their bodies must just give out.
They smiled encouragingly at Rapunzel as she continued humming, singing anything she could think of as long as it kept her hair glowing.
"I've never felt anything like that before." Hiccup said grimly.
"It was like there was someone in my head...yet all around me at the same time. It kept taunting me with all my fears..." Merida recalled, shivering.
"And the shadows would turn into enemies – but when I struck out at the there was nothing there. I felt like I was going crazy." Jack said sombrely. He laid his hand on Rapunzel's shoulder. "Thank the moon for you Punz. Who knows what would have happened otherwise."
She shook her head, trying to convey that she hadn't done anything worthy of praise.
"Well at least it's over now." Hiccup smiled. "Now we know it's just some kind of gas infecting the air, we can make it through this with Rapunzel's help and we'll be out the other side before we know it!"
"Oh, I wouldn't count on that..."
They all froze.
Turning as one, they watched as a tall, dark figure appeared out of the shadows.
Author's Note – In case anyone thinks it sounds familiar, yes there was a line in here that was most definitely inspired by the Harry Potter films! I was originally going to end this chapter just as they went into the mist, but people on my tumblr said they would prefer to wait a bit longer for a longer chapter. So here you go! (and the next chapter is pretty much all ready to go too! )