The Rebellion

The four appeared at the edge of a wood with a bang, wind and rain immediately lashing into them from between the trees. They were standing on a small outcrop of land that jutted out into a large loch, surrounded by a bowl of closed in hills which left a small river the only exit that poked between two high hills in the far distance.

'Were the hell are we?' Rapunzel spluttered as the wind buffeted her around, waking Pascal who chirruped worriedly.

'Still somewhere in the Scottish Highlands by the looks of it,' Merida said almost to herself as she surveyed the surrounding land.

'There'll be no point calling in until tomorrow morning,' Jack shouted over the howling wind, 'We may as well set up camp and try to get some rest!'

'There's an open patch in the woods a little further inland,' Hiccup told the others as he cupped his hands over his eyes to keep out the worst of the rain, 'I can dry it out in a minute and we can set up the tent.'

'Alright, let's just get out of this storm!' Rapunzel said as she and Merida hurried into the gap Hiccup had pointed to, rushing past dripping trees to arrive at a rounded, treeless patch of ground that, although it was drier than outside, was still soaking wet.

'Incendio siccatio,' Hiccup intoned as he walked into the centre of the patch, waving his wand in a wide circle around him which left a trail of fiery embers in the air that grew into a sphere around him. The sphere quickly expanded to encompass the others and the rest of the open area, stopping just before it hit trees. Inside the sphere the air was slightly orange and felt as warm as sitting next to a fire, the four could feel their clothes drying as the ground beneath them began to steam lightly. Soon the entire area was dry and Hiccup gave his wand a final twitch before standing aside to let Rapunzel pull the tent from her bag.

'This place should stay dry now until tomorrow morning,' he said, his voice a little prideful, as Rapunzel took out the tent with a final tug. It started out as no bigger than a matchbox but with a flick of Rapunzel's wand it began to unfold itself and soon was the size of an ordinary tent.

'Oh, ye got the good one,' Merida said appreciatively as she opened the entrance flap and slipped inside where her voice became slightly muffled, she had told Rapunzel where to find a collection of small camping tents that Fergus had kept in his hunting days and Rapunzel had taken one of the more luxurious ones.

As the three followed her in they could see why. While on the outside the tent hardly seemed big enough to support all four of them, on the inside it was the size of a small apartment, complete with two bedrooms, a kitchen and a bathroom.

'Bunk beds?' Jack asked disappointedly as he looked into one of the bedrooms while Merida and Rapunzel began to rifle through her small bag.

'Damn right. These are thin walls ye know,' Merida said as she pulled out her toothbrush and pyjamas.

'You two grab what you need for tonight,' Rapunzel laughed as she handed the bag over to the two, 'I'm just going to add some secrecy charms to Hiccup's drying shield to keep us from being spotted by any unwanted people.'

'Cheers Rapunzel,' Jack said as he stuck his entire arm in the bag and began rifling through it, odd clanking and thudding noises sounding from within as he did.

They were redressed by the time Rapunzel returned five minutes later and were currently noisily brushing their teeth in the bathroom while Merida sat in the kitchen area. She held out a pair of neatly folded pyjamas to Rapunzel as she passed who smiled in response before slipping into the girls' bedroom and changing, laying a drowsy Pascal on the far side of the pillow where he curled up and fell asleep.

'Well, we're off to bed,' Jack said as he and Hiccup passed Rapunzel as she wound her way to the bathroom.

'Yeah, it'll be a busy day tomorrow convincing people to fight in a dangerous and deadly war,' Hiccup agreed as he and Jack stepped into their own room.

'I'm goin' too,' Merida yawned, 'Ye comin' Rapunzel?'

'Give me a minute,' the girl's voice answered from the bathroom.

Within fifteen minutes of setting up camp the four had all fallen into their beds and drifted off into dreamless sleep while the storm raged around their quiet bubble of solitude.

The next morning the four changed and packed quickly, not stopping for breakfast as Jack was sure the people they were visiting would give them a place at their table. The storm had subsided sometime during the night and the trees and ground dripped with the pearly droplets of rain that remained.

'Ye know, ye never actually told us who we're seein' first,' Merida noticed as they stepped out of the wood into the early morning sunlight.

'There should be a castle around here somewhere,' Jack said, seemingly ignoring her comment while Hiccup looked out into the distance.

'Over there,' He said, pointing to a grey blot on the other side of the loch that was too far for the four to get a clear idea of what it looked like, 'Hold hands again, we'll apparate over.'

A second later and they were gone again, a loud clap following their disappearance as air rushed in to fill the gap their bodies had left. They reappeared in front of large, grey stone walls that rose high into the air, surrounded by impressive battlements and spires that loomed over the four as they stepped into the small overhang in front of the large wooden doors. Above the doors was a green flag with an intricate Celtic knot sown into the fabric which made Merida start when she saw it.

'Oh no Jack. Please tell me we're not here ta see the Dingwalls,' she said almost desperately as Hiccup used a heavy bronze doorknocker to hit the wood three times.

'Yeah they're one of the three tribes that owe allegiance to your family right?' Jack beamed proudly, 'It didn't take us long to find where they were on the map in your family's library.'

'Oh boy,' Merida said as a small slot at eye level opened in the door so someone could peer out at the four, 'Here we go.'

'Who's scurryin' about at this time of the mornin'?' a woman's voice asked as two blue eyes peered out at them from the open slot. It was a plump sort of voice, one you would expect to always be near a cooking apple pie.

'It's Merida Dunbroch,' Merida sighed heavily as she stepped into view of the door, 'I've come ta visit my dad's old friend Lord Dingwall.'

'Oh, so it is!' The voice declared from behind the door, followed by the rasp of bolts being drawn along the door before it opened wide to welcome the four in.

'I'm sorry for all that,' the woman apologised courteously as she closed the door behind them, 'Ye can never tell who's goin' ta be at the doors these days.'

She was a plump woman with an amiable face that was scrunched like an old apple. On further questioning she revealed her name to be Sally Kinghorn, maid to the Dingwalls.

'Is Lord Dingwall up by any chance?' Merida asked hurriedly, embarrassed by the maid's courteous treatment of her and the mocking looks Jack was giving over the maid's shoulders.

'Aye, he's in the Dining Hall, I'll take ye to him shall I Miss Dunbroch?'

'That would be great thanks,' Merida smiled cheerily, following the maid as she guided the four further into the castle.

'Miss Dunbroch,' Jack smirked behind her while Hiccup and Rapunzel studiously tilted their faces away from Merida's view.

'Shut it Frost!' She hissed back, 'I am technically a queen ye know.'

'Sorry your majesty,' Jack said, feigning reverence which made Hiccup snort slightly before cupping his hand over his mouth while Rapunzel's shoulders shook.

Merida had no chance to retaliate as the next moment they were ushered into a large room similar to the Dining Hall in Dunbroch castle, the only big visible difference being the large banner set up on the wall over the fire place with the green and yellow Dingwall flag marked on it. Lord Dingwall himself, an unusual balding man whose body seemed to be growing in different proportions to itself, sat at the top end of a large wooden table laden with meats and other breakfast dishes.

'Well bless my eyes, if it isn't the little Dunbroch!' Dingwall shouted, standing from his seat and waving his arms, 'Sally, go fetch some plates for our guests.'

He bustled the four onto four seats around his own while Sally left to do as Dingwall asked and soon they were helping themselves to the large quantities of food available, Rapunzel even managed to find a sad bowl of fruit tucked away discreetly behind a pile of sausages and fed them to Pascal.

'Why, the last time I saw ye, ye were but a wee nip of a lass,' Dingwall was saying to an embarrassed Merida who forced herself to smile along, 'I took Young Dingwall along remember? I'd always had a hope ye two would get married someday, then again ye never know. I suppose ye must see him around school every now and again at Hogwarts.'

'Uh, yes,' Merida said awkwardly, ignoring the looks Hiccup and Jack were giving her, 'How is Young Dingwall doing by the way?'

'Oh, I've had ta ship him off back ta Hogwarts,' Dingwall sighed as he looked into his breakfast plate, 'Reluctantly I'll add, I've got no likin' with what that Dark Council are doin' with the place. He's a tough lad though; they won't try anythin' funny with him unless they want a serious Dingwall seein' too that's for sure.'

There was a moment's pause as the four considered the image, some vaguer than others, of skinny Young Dingwall fighting with the Dream Eaters. They struggled to grasp the idea until they remembered that one Quidditch match were a group of Slytherins had knocked him over after the match and it had taken twelve pupils and Professor North to prise his teeth off one of the Slytherin's shins.

'Speakin' of which,' Dingwall continued curiously, 'why aren't you lot at school? Ye've not left have ye?'

'No Lord Dingwall,' Rapunzel spoke up from the table, 'We've just got something more important to do right now and it's why we've come to you.'

'What's so important ye'd break the new Ministry's laws,' Dingwall asked shrewdly, weighing the four up as if he had never seen them before.

'Stopping the Council,' Jack said determinedly from his side of the table, 'We're gathering allies to fight them back and retake the Ministry and Hogwarts.'

'And ye believe ye can do this, the four of ye are barely of age by the look of things,' Dingwall protested.

'Someone has to do it and we've evaded the Council before,' Hiccup said, 'We've heard how you fought beside Merida's dad and the other two clans in the past and we know your aid could help turn the tide against the Council.'

Lord Dingwall sat, pondering for several minutes while the four watched him earnestly. Finally he sat up in his chair and declared, 'Aye, I've had half a mind ta take up my wand already against this bloody Council! Ye've got my help if ever ye'll need it. Err, exactly how will ye tell me if ye do?'

'I'll contact everyone when the time is right,' Rapunzel said.

'And when would that be?'

'We're not sure yet,' Merida said awkwardly as Sally walked back into the Hall.

'Uh, Lord Dingwall, there are some officials here ta see ye,' she said, her voice quavering slightly with nerves, 'they're Ministry officials sir. They say they're makin' checks on all the magical homes.'

The four got up sharply, the possibility of being caught by Dream Eaters only a day into their expedition was a terrible thought. Dingwall motioned for them to stay still before saying, 'Get behind the fireplace, there's a secret passage that runs down there that'll lead ye out the castle. Ye can apparate when ye get passed the castle walls, now go.'

With that the four scampered quickly towards the fireplace, dowsing the flames and pushing at the stone behind it which rumbled backwards to make way for a large tunnel. They clambered inside quickly and shut the wall behind them, leaving only the tiniest light to see by while a roar from the other side indicated that Dingwall had relit the flame after them. Merida pressed her ear against the rough stone and listened carefully, motioning the others to stay quiet.

'Merida, we can't stay here,' Rapunzel whispered as they crouched behind the redhead.

'Shh, I just want ta make sure he's alright is all,' Merida said, 'We can't just leave him if somethin' bad is goin' ta happen.'

There was no arguing with that so the others fought for space along the stone wall as well and soon all were listening in to the sounds coming from the other side. They could hear the thud of the double doors slamming open and the heavy steps of two people as they stepped into the room.

'And what do I owe a visit from the ministry for?' Dingwall's voice asked, somehow managing to pronounce the lower case 'm'.

'We've come to investigate the rumours that Dingwall castle houses a deadly weapon,' a male voice answered.

'Yes, the Council has decided that in order to ensure national security that all magical weapons in any household should be registered or, if they are clearly too dangerous for ordinary citizens to keep, taken to the Ministry,' a second voice said surprisingly close, as if he was walking right in front of the fireplace.

'Ah, I know what yer after,' Dingwall's voice rang out pleasantly, 'Sally, could ye fetch the old relic-box for these fine men.'

'So you admit to owning dangerous weaponry,' the first voice said with a hint of threat, 'and what does such an isolated magical family need with magical weapons?'

'Oh, it's saved me many a time,' Dingwall answered as a clatter indicated Sally's return with the relic-box, whatever that was. There was the hasty movement of steps that sounded as if they did not want to be in the room right now and a thank you from Dingwall, indicating Sally had handed him the box.

'Do not open the box!' The second voice said in alarm and the four had the faint sensation he'd drawn his wand.

'Oh, ye got no need ta worry. It won't go off unless I want it to,' Dingwall's voice returned soothingly, 'Now, feast yer eyes!'

There was a pause which the four had expected to be filled with the Dream Eater's screams and flashing lights but none came. 'Is that it?' The second voice asked in what was either dismay or disbelief.

'It's just an old, carved rock!' The first voice said with amusement, 'Are you telling me we were sent here to collect a rock? What damage could a rock possibly…ARRGH!'

There was the sound of a thud and a loud scream which suggested to the four that something very heavy, say, a rock, had just been thrown quickly downwards onto someone else's foot. The four had to stifle each other's laughter as the second voice advanced towards Dingwall.

'You just attacked a Ministry official!' he cried from the far side of the secret passage wall.

'Nonsense lad, I was only demonstratin' to yer friend the damage the rock could do. He did ask after all. Now I suggest ye put yer little stick away and go explain to yer boss that ye've just wasted Lord Dingwall's time!'

'I think he can handle it from here,' Jack whispered down to Merida.

'I think yer right,' Merida agreed as she stepped away from the wall, 'Alright, let's go.'

As one they hurried down into the darkness of the tunnel, if there had been any torches they'd gone out and the four resorted to using Lumos to light the way ahead of them. The tunnel continued going gently downward for some time, never splitting off or forking in the middle, giving the four a clear path to the exit which, as it turned out, was a round wooden door set into stone.

They paused at the door and Merida opened it slightly to peek through into the light of day and check the coast was clear. They were clearly at the back of the castle as a few feet away the ground fell into the loch, leaving a small tract of grass covered ground in between. Merida doubted the Council would have wasted more than two men on the Dingwalls and the area was devoid of any other person so she motioned the others to follow her out.

'That went well,' Hiccup said as he stretched out in the open, 'You know, up until the Dream Eaters interrupted.'

'We're going to have to be careful when we do this,' Rapunzel stated as she brushed dust and cobwebs from her shirt, 'The Council's going to have agents moving all over the country to keep the people supressed. I think the best times to visit people would be during the early mornings and late nights, when Council agents are least likely to spot us.'

'Good thinking,' Jack said, 'minor question though. What do we do between those two times?'

'I say we apparate somewhere isolated and camp out 'till night,' Merida suggested as she looked over the water as it washed about beneath them, 'Get some sleep, get some practice, listen out for Fred and Flynn and then go recruit some more.'

'Sounds like a plan,' Hiccup agreed as they all linked hands again, 'Anyone know a good place to go?'

'I've got an idea,' Jack said, smiling slightly. The next minute they vanished with a clap, leaving no trace they'd ever been there except for the faint traces of foot prints in the grass which gradually vanished as the wind blew them away.

It was three months later and the cold January winds whipped about the perimeter shield set up around the four's camp. Inside, the air was blissfully still and warm while the four sat around either inside the tent or out. Jack's choice of hiding place had been a good one, the woods outside his old home being too far away from any major town or city for the Council to bother having patrolled too much, allowing the four to make the area their primary headquarters for the last few months.

Since their first trip to the Dingwalls they had since visited every other group or person the four had thought off, including the other two Scottish clans aligned to the Dunbrochs and other magical communities around the country, or in one case, outside the country.

Merida and Jack were spending the time duelling, not as viciously as they might in order to maintain a low profile but enough to make Hiccup keep one eye on them as he read a stolen copy of The Daily Prophet in case they came to close.

'Berks still holding strong,' he said gratefully to himself. Since the takeover of the Ministry and the Council's spreading rule over the country Hiccup had kept a close eye on his home town, which he hadn't seen now in over two years. Thanks to their allegiance with the dragons the people of Berk had managed to keep the island separate from the Council's control but fought battles against their army of dragons and Dream Eaters on a daily basis.

He flicked over a page to see his own face staring back at him, this had come as a surprise several weeks ago when the four's faces had first appeared in the Prophet but now he just shrugged and moved on. It had been the first time in recorded history that more than one person had been named most wanted which naturally meant the Prophet had come up with a name for their group that seemed to have gone well with the public, The Big Four. Now the fun of being one of the most wanted criminals in the country had worn off it was just something to keep an eye on.

Rapunzel was in the tent speaking with the silvery patronus of Flynn who was giving her the latest report on what was going on that the Prophet didn't report.

'There've been fewer disappearances,' the magpie said in Flynn's voice as she held it in her hands, 'Fred and I think the Council's stopping them now they've got most of the powerful people on their side, or under their heel. Now we think they want to keep the people oppressed and scared to the point just before they're pushed into rebelling.'

'Except we've been tipping them over into it,' Rapunzel said, mainly to herself as the patronus was only a one way communication, she'd have to send her own phoenix patronus in reply when the report was finished.

'Lastly we hear there's something going on in Knockturn Alley. I think you might want to check this out, apparently a shop was bought out and has been closed off from the public since the summer and there are rumours that a giant black monster prowls the streets outside it at night, sound familiar? I don't want to put you guys into this situation, there are too many ways you might get seen or caught, but if Mordu's been doing something for that long I think we need to find out what it is and you guys are the only ones who can right now. Whatever you do, don't get caught, I don't care if you don't get the info, just as long as you're okay. Stay safe, I love you.'

'I love you too,' Rapunzel said sadly as the magpie vanished into silvery threads of smoke. She waved her wand and a silver phoenix sprang out of it immediately to her incantation. It hovered in the air in front of her as she relayed her message back; informing Flynn that they would try to find out what Mordu was planning and they'd send any findings through a patronus message once they were done.

From outside Merida managed to knock Jack flat on his back and began cheering in victory as he exhaustedly waved his hand in surrender. He picked himself up as Rapunzel sent the phoenix flying away and walked over to Hiccup.

'Want me to kiss it better?' Hiccup asked jokingly as Jack leaned down and pressed their lips together.

'Ooo, love on the battlefield,' Merida joked as she jumped over, landing neatly beside Rapunzel. 'So, what's the good news? How's Fred?' She asked the brunette energetically.

'He's fine from what I hear, still doing Revolution Radio on the wireless and apparently the next show will be broadcast in a few days, but I've got something else you'll find interesting,' Rapunzel said to the three who listened intently to Rapunzel's explanation.

'Mordu's working on something,' Jack summarised as he and Hiccup stood together, their arms wrapped around each other's waist.

'Yes, and it must be pretty big if it's taken him several months to do it. He was a master potion maker after all,' Rapunzel answered.

'Then I say we go in and find out what he's doin',' Merida said determinedly, 'I'm not havin' that heap of fur get one over us.'

'Then we need a plan,' Hiccup advised as they entered the tent, 'Rapunzel, do you have any kind of map of Knockturn Alley?'

'It might be in the atlas,' Rapunzel suggested as she dug into her small bag and pulled out a thick book which thumped heavily onto the kitchen table. They flicked it open and skimmed through its pages until they found a basic drawing of the Alley. No one had seemed to have been able to draw a full map of the Alley's twisting routes but the atlas had made a good try of it and managed to mark the main routes as well as several smaller ones.

'Okay, I suggest we apparate in here,' Hiccup said, pointing to a small bend in one of the branching streets that would nicely hide the four from view until they moved away, 'and then we move up to the roofs near wherever Mordu's workshop is and scout it from above.'

'Good idea,' Merida said, 'I think timin's important here too. We can't do this in the dead of night 'cause I bet that's when most of the dark wizards do their shoppin'. I say we go in just before dawn when there should be the least amount of people around, then we can go around unnoticed.'

'We could do more than just sneak in,' Jack suggested seriously, 'There's no point in just relaying what the Council's doing in there, what could the Guardians do about it when it's in Knockturn Alley? I say, we have a bit of fun too.'

It was nearly five in the morning when the four appeared in the hidden spot of the Alley streets and the seemed to only have just started to sink into the sky, giving them plenty of time before daylight and renewed activity in the street.

'So far, so good,' Merida said as she looked around the empty Alley, evidently even dark magic had to get its head down every now and then.

Jack twirled his staff and they rose together into the air, keeping to the shadows of the houses and staying out of the moon's light as best they could. They located Mordu's workshop pretty quickly, it was the only building that was fenced off from the street, and landed on top of the shop facing it.

'They've probably got security charms all around it,' Hiccup said as they looked over the front entrance.

'It's a pity for them we've got our own little loophole,' Rapunzel whispered back as she pulled out Pascal from her pocket who was looking extremely nervous. 'I know you're scared of doing this Pascal,' Rapunzel whispered to the chameleon as he chirruped back, 'but we need you for this, there's no one else who can do the job.'

Pascal seemed mollified by this and calmed down, although still with an apprehensive expression on his scaly face. Gently Jack lufted him on the cold winds and flew him over to the second floor window of the building, letting the reptile grab the vertical surface before letting go. There was a moment as Pascal explored the edges of the window around the wall before finally finding a crack and slipping in.

The four waited for several minutes while Pascal moved about inside. Rapunzel had imbued his body temporarily with charms that would help him to disable any sensory spell placed on the building and bringing down any barriers that would get in the four's way. Normally he wouldn't have been able to do such damage to the Council's guarding spells but he'd had practice already in his egg when he'd provided that small crack in Gothel's spell all those years ago that allowed for Rapunzel's discovery.

Soon enough he reappeared at the window and beckoned the four to fly over with his tail which they did immediately, trying to keep quiet as they floated near the window and prised it open before slipping in, Rapunzel tucking Pascal into her pocket.

As it turned out, the building had no second floor, instead it had been hollowed out by the Council to create one single, large room. Inside there were multiple bubbling cauldrons that were producing foul smelling smoke and bubbling groggily as well as other potions equipment designed for the measuring, cutting or crushing of ingredients. In the centre was the largest cauldron of all which was not sitting on a table like the others but instead on the stone floor, as it was as tall as a table anyway. It seemed to glow with a soft purple light that pulsed gently as the others looked down onto it from their perch in the rafters at the side of the large room.

'We better get to work then,' Jack said as Rapunzel took several packages from her bag and handed them out equally to the others. Slowly they went around the room, each taking a section, and dropped the packages one each into a cauldron while avoiding the fumes emanating from them and trying to avoid knocking anything over in the crowded spaces. Eventually they all ended up at the largest cauldron in the centre of the room and stared into it.

'I'm not really an expert but this looks like the main course,' Merida said as she nudged the empty space beneath the cauldron with her toe where a fire had recently been snuffed out.

'Which is why we'll be putting the rest in here,' Hiccup said certainly, holding up the remaining packages to drop them in. Before he could the four were startled to hear a noise, the turning of a doorknob, outside the door and immediately hid in the only place they could, the most crowded area in the corner of the room. From there they could look around or through the equipment to get a general view of the opening door and the two ominous figures that stepped inside.

'And you're sure it's quite ready?' Gothel's voice asked as she stepped into the building, followed by the bulky form of Mordu, the four hadn't realised how large the door must have been until he stepped through it easily, and a guard of several Dream Eaters.

'I have run every calculation and experimentation,' the bear explained as their guards took up station by the door and they headed towards the central cauldron, 'It is perfect in every way.'

The four watched as the two Council members took position by the large cauldron and Mordu, with what must have been supernatural delicacy for a creature his size and strength, picked up a pair of tongs from a desk by the side, his claws deftly moving along it like fingers. He deftly dipped the tongs into the glowing liquid and seemed to rummage about in it for quite some time before clasping around something and pulling it out, the glow from the water fading even as he did. Turning before the four could see what he held, Mordu bent over another side table and the air was filled with minute clicking and clasping sounds as he prepared whatever had been in that potion.

Finally he turned with both paws outstretched and a silver thread held between two claws with a black stone set in a gold clasp dangling at the bottom which Gothel grabbed at greedily before putting it on, the stone resting just above the neckline of her robe.

'I suppose I must thank you,' she said courteously, 'For a useless bag of fur you have outdone yourself.'

'Thank you. I am glad to see you will only now be an old hag on the inside,' Mordu replied with equally fake civility, 'I didn't design it with any other purpose like turning lead into gold, however. This philosopher's stone is purely dedicated to maintaining immortality.'

At the mention of the word philosopher's stone Rapunzel had gasped and inadvertently twitched, knocking a glass vial from its place and letting it smash on the ground before she or any of the others could catch it. Immediately Gothel and Mordu turned at the noise, like bloodhounds finding a scent.

'Someone's here,' Gothel said silkily to her guards as she drew her wand, 'Find them now!'

'Damn!' Rapunzel muttered as the four drew their wands.

'We're out of time, on my signal we have to do it,' Jack said, hefting what was left of the packages in his hand. 'Ready? Now!'

Together the four jumped from their hiding places, Merida firing a stunning spell at one of the Dream Eaters while Hiccup and Rapunzel focused theirs at the cauldrons in the far corners of the room and Jack threw the bundle towards the shocked Gothel and hit it with an icy blast. The fireworks in the packages erupted into life as Jack's spell hit it, knocking Gothel back with the force of the blast while the ones the four had hidden in the cauldrons went off one by one as Hiccup and Rapunzel's spells made their way around the room. Mordu roared in anger as his workshop exploded around him and made to charge the four.

'Reducto!' Merida cried, aiming her wand at the central cauldron which shattered into thousands of pieces, releasing a torrent of whatever potion had been inside at Mordu's feet which forced the bear to skid to a halt before touching it.

Now that the explosions had begun to settle down the Dream Eater guards were getting over the confusion and starting a counterattack, shooting streams of light at the four who blocked and dodged as best they could while avoiding the spilling potions and broken glass around them. Gothel got to her feet angrily as the spells shot between the four and the Dream Eaters and began to add her own to the mix, sending silver daggers towards the four which pierced and nearly went through their shields and forced them back into a corner.

Meanwhile Mordu had manoeuvred around the spilt potions and began to slowly make his way towards the four, avoiding the debris of his potions, his teeth bared and claws scratching along the stone floor.

'Damn, Damn! We need to get out of here now!' Merida yelled desperately as Jack fell back with a cut along his shoulder and Rapunzel staggered in front of her as a spell burnt her leg. No sooner had she spoken the words than great jets of flame erupted around them and grew in a wide circle, obscuring the Dream Eaters from sight. Merida felt a hand grab the back of her shirt and saw at the edges of her vision another, holding a wand with a glowing tip, grab Jack's arm. Instinctively she reached out and grabbed Rapunzel by the collar while Pascal clung on to the girl's back.

There was a brief moment where the fire settled down and spells soared around them again. In that moment Merida saw Gothel's enraged face and the angry snarl of Mordu as he leaped forward, hoping to close the gap between them before it was too late. In the next moment they vanished as Merida felt a pulling and twisting sensation where she and the four tumbled through space before landing onto a cold patch of grass on their backs with a dark, open sky above them.

Suddenly, a terrifying figure dropped out from the dark, its beard glowing in spots and baring misshapen teeth. 'RAAGGHH…Mornin'' the figure greeted welcomingly as fire erupted above him.

I've been getting a few questions about whether I'll be writing anything after this story is over. The answer is I will be but it is unlikely I'll come up with anymore big four type stuff; this is sort of my big idea for them.

Instead I'll be writing fanfics about Teen Wolf, Supernatural and maybe some pure Harry Potter stuff as well as possible cross-overs. Hope that sounds alright to you guys :)

Anyway, thanks for the reviews as ever and have a great weekend :D