Over the next couple of days (as they waited for news about Ariel retrieving the See Weed) Hiccup began putting his plan into action. It involved a bit of manipulation and a lot of luck but he had faith they could pull it off.
After noting Jasmine's growing fondness of Rapunzel and her habit of taking a morning walk in the garden, it didn't take much to organise a 'chance' meeting between the two.
"Rapunzel! What are you doing out here?"
Rapunzel looked up at the Princess brightly, reciting her instructions from Hiccup in her head.
"It's such a nice day. I thought I could come out here and draw in my sketch book." She said, carefully dancing with the truth and drawing Jasmine's attention to the book in her hand.
"I didn't know you could draw! What are you sketching?" Jasmine asked curiously, leaning over to see.
"Oh, just some things from our time here." Rapunzel replied, attempting to sound offhand. "You and Aladdin, Raja, Ariel, the ring you were telling us about..."
"Wow those are good likenesses! You're really talented!" Jasmine enthused, her eyes roaming over Rapunzel's sketches approvingly.
"You think so? Even the ring?" Rapunzel asked slyly. "I could only go from your description so I don't know if I got it right."
"Well the ruby was a bit smaller I guess and the cut was more rounded..."
"Like this?" Rapunzel said, quickly making the adjustments.
"Yes! That's spot on, looks just like it! It's amazing you can do that just from a description." Jasmine smiled at her.
"Oh well, you know...your story really captured my imagination." Rapunzel said modestly. It was true, but she didn't add that she had had other motivations for paying particularly close attention to the ring's appearance.
Hiccup meanwhile was doing a bit of manipulative talking of his own...though his words were much more heavily laden with lies than his blonde counterpart.
"You need a forge?" Aladdin asked.
"Yes. It's tradition from where I come from that man in the royal family actually makes the engagement ring. Rapunzel lost hers in the storm so I'd like to make her a new one whilst we are here. You know – to remind her of our time here and the new friends we made." Hiccup gave his most charming smile.
"I suppose I could arrange for one of the blacksmiths in the city to let you use their equipment." Aladdin said, nodding thoughtfully to himself.
"I'd be really grateful. Do you know of any good places in the city I could purchase the silver and jewels I'd need?"
"Don't be foolish – I'm sure we can spare the small amount of metal needed to make a single ring. And you can consider the diamond a wedding present from Jasmine and I!" he smiled, clapping Hiccup heartily on the shoulder.
"That's incredibly generous of you...though a ruby would suffice, honestly." Hiccup added.
"Ruby? Isn't it normally a diamond for an engagement ring?" Aladdin asked in confusion.
"Tradition." Hiccup shrugged once more. "It's meant to symbolise the heart I think – colour of love and all that. The silver symbolises the bride's purity before the wedding." He improvised, recalling traditions from some of the lands he had visited.
"Oh, ok then. It will look beautiful either way and I'm sure she will love it." Aladdin beamed.
Hiccup smiled back. Provided Rapunzel created an accurate enough drawing, he should be able to make a perfect replica of the ring that contained the genie – he'd always been good at metal work. This in turn would enable them to swap it with the real one and buy them time before the theft was discovered. One item down, two to go.
"And speaking of your engagement – Jasmine and I had an idea." Aladdin continued.
"Oh?" Hiccup quirked an eyebrow.
"We have our own traditions here which we thought might be fun to celebrate with you both – sort of a farewell party for when you go if you like. Usually there is a party where all the women are disguised with veils and it is the job of the groom to find his bride-to-be by the end of the night, through dancing with his bride's family and friends. It's a bit of fun and is supposed to help him get to know the important people in her life."
"Riiight…." Hiccup gave him a bit of a sceptical look.
"Trust me, it's fun!" Aladdin chuckled. "Thing is, Princess Rapunzel's hair would be rather difficult to hide and you have to admit it's a bit of a giveaway. So we thought we could turn it round and disguise the groom instead!"
"You want me to dress up in veils?" Hiccup replied, startled.
"No, no." Aladdin laughed. "Though I bet our ladies would love to see that. We thought we could all just dress up in disguises – masks or something. It will be a wonderful night of fun, good food and great company. What do you say?"
Hiccup looked thoughtful for a few moments before a slow smile grew across his face, his eye twinkling with the start of an idea. "I will have to make a few preparations but yes….I think that sounds like a brilliant plan."
Whilst Rapunzel and Hiccup were both engaging their royal hosts in conversation, the other two members of their group were meanwhile employed in their own team-effort to acquire item number two.
"Oh my, I'm so sorry!" Merida apologised, kneeling down to pick up the laundry she had just spilled on the floor in front of the Guard Captain, effectively blocking his path.
"Hurry up girl; I have important places to be." He huffed.
"Sorry sir, right away, of course. I understand that a man as important as you must be very busy." She gushed, only years of practise preventing her voice from dripping in sarcasm.
He puffed up his chest proudly. "That's right, and don't you forget it. The Sultan entrusts me to keep order in his city and – hey!"
"Oh wow, I'm so sorry!" Jack exclaimed dramatically, having just bumped straight into the Captain from behind and spilling an entire jug of water down him. "Here let me help you."
He pulled out a cloth seemingly from nowhere and began rubbing the Captain down, despite the man's spluttered protests.
"I can't apologise enough, but it's such an honour – the Captain of the Guards, wow! I'm only a servant after all, not nearly as important as you. I'm working for Prince Hiccup, do you know him? Personal friend of the Prince and Princess, he saved her life you know..."
As Jack rambled on, the Captain never noticed his deft fingers darting into his pockets under the pretence of drying him and silently sliding out his set of keys. He let them fall onto the conveniently placed pile of clothes Merida had dropped, effectively muffling their sound.
Swift as an arrow, Merida grabbed the keys and began looking through them, relying on Jack to keep the Captain distracted and the laundry to act as a makeshift shield. Her sharp eyes scanned the keys, looking for one that fit the description Hiccup had given her. He had scouted out the outer entrance to the vaults the previous evening and surmised that the key they needed would be large and gold like the lock, and probably engraved with similar swirling patterns to the handle. Finding one that matched, her eyes gleamed in triumph and she quickly pressed it into the soft clay she had brought with her so they could create a mould from the impression.
"Get off me boy!" The Captain growled, finally having enough of Jack's hands pawing all over him. He shoved Jack away with disgust and began to hurry past them. Quick as a flash Merida stuck out her leg, causing him to trip, and threw the keys back to Jack whilst the Captain was face down on the floor.
"Oh wow, watch out sir, there are still clothes all over the place!" Jack said, faking concern as he leaned over to help the man up. He dusted him down once more before the Captain glared at them both and stomped off.
The two stood next to each other in silence for a moment, watching him go.
"You put the keys back?" Merida asked out the corner of her mouth.
"Yep. You get the mould?" Jack responded.
"Of course."
Without another word they high fived each other and went their separate ways.
"Hiccup! Glad to see you 'aint forgotten us!"
Hiccup smiled as he climbed the gangway onto the ship and was greeted by Hook Hand.
"As if I could forget you – that ugly mug of yours haunts my nightmares after all." He joked.
"Har har har." Hook Hand laughed sarcastically. "So to what do we owe the pleasure? Have you and the Captain found what we came here for yet?"
"Almost. I'm putting a plan into action and we should have it soon. We need a favour from Bruiser, Gunter and Killer though. And probably Ulf now I think about it."
"Sounds interesting. You can find them below deck in the store room." He gestured with his thumb over his shoulder.
"Thanks." He hesitated. "I don't suppose you know where-"
"Toothless is probably lurking around the kitchen, getting in the way and begging for more fish as usual." Hook Hand grinned, fully aware that the first mate was probably missing his scaly friend as much as the dragon had been missing him.
"Thanks." Hiccup repeated, smiling gratefully. He hurried below deck, knowing he should go and see the men first but unable to resist stopping in to see Toothless.
He had barely got down the stairs before he was bowled over by something black, scaly and rather slobbery. He should have known Toothless would have smelled him coming.
After a few minutes of playful wrestling, the two of them settled down and Hiccup rested his forehead on Toothless' nose. "I missed you too bud." He grinned, not caring about the dragon's over enthusiastic licks for once, despite the smell.
Toothless purred and nuzzled him before allowing him to sit up. "I'm sorry I was away for so long – there hasn't been much chance to get down here. Everyone been treating you ok?"
Toothless gave an approving growl, before looking thoughtful and dissolving into whickering rumbles.
"What do you mean they've not been feeding you enough?" Hiccup said, raising his eyebrow. "I know for a fact you're heavier than the last time you leapt all over me so don't try pulling that one. Hook Hand tells me you keep getting extra scraps from the kitchen so don't think you can wrangle more food out of me either." He fondly scolded that dragon, tapping him lightly on the nose.
"You alright there Hiccup? Leg give out on you again?" a cheeky voice caused him to look up. Killer stood above him, grinning down from behind his usual masked attire.
"Yeah I'm fine, just saying hi to Toothless." Hiccup grinned back.
"I'm glad you showed up – he was going stir crazy not being able to see you and only able to go out at night. Give it a few more days and you would have had a scaly visitor at one of the palace windows I bet."
Toothless gave them both a gummy smile, clearly not denying it.
"Actually, Toothless isn't the only reason I came down here. I needed to speak to you and some of the others actually."
"Oh?"
"I've got a plan...and I need you guys to make some outfits for me."
"One key – as required." Merida said triumphantly dropping a brass key on Hiccup's lap. "Spun a story to the locksmith about the visiting Prince and Princess needing a spare key for something on the ship – the guy was practically falling over himself to get in our favour and did it for free." She grinned. "I like this cover - makes a difference people actually giving us the stuff we want."
"I dunno, kind of takes the fun out of it don't ya think?" Jack yawned lazily, throwing a couple of grapes into his mouth.
"You're the only one who thinks "running for your life" counts as fun Jack." Merida rolled her eyes.
"That's a lie and you know it – you two get as big a thrill out of it as I do." Jack accused her with a grin. "As for Punz, well..." he looked over at the blonde and smirked as he caught her eye. "I'm slowly bringing her round to my way of thinking."
Punz mimicked Merida's eye roll but remained silent, tuning away to hide a small smile of her own.
"Well we've got the key to the first vault door and with Rapunzel's picture I should be able to make the duplicate ring in the next couple of days. Now all we need is to find out where Aladdin keeps the second key, get it off him and arrange some sort of distraction for while we're sneaking in there."
"Actually, I can help with the first two." Rapunzel piped up. She reached into her pocket and withdrew a mould of a second, smaller key.
"Wha – how did you get that?" Hiccup asked in surprise.
"You're not the only one with ideas you know." Rapunzel smirked, passing it to him. "I found out from Jasmine that Aladdin keeps it on a chain around his neck, so I followed him when he went to the bathing room..."
"Woah wait a minute!" Jack sat up straight. "You spied on the Prince when he was naked?!"
"I didn't look!" Rapunzel scoffed. "I just snuck in and took an impression from the key when he left it with his clothes. There was too much steam for me to be able to see him anyway."
"Disappointed were you eh Punz?" Merida winked.
"No!" Rapunzel replied, smacking her friend lightly on the arm in protest.
"I doubt there would have been anything to see anyway… the guy's all talk I bet…" Jack muttered to himself, his previous goodwill towards Aladdin forgotten in a surge of jealousy.
"What's that you're saying Jack?" Hiccup asked his friend, noting with glee how Jack was obviously resentful at the idea of Rapunzel possibly eyeing up other men.
"Nothing." Jack replied shortly before turning to Rapunzel, his features softening. "How did you get past the guards anyway? Doesn't he have people posted at the door?"
"At the door, sure." Rapunzel replied, a triumphant gleam in her eye. "But not the skylight. I've spent a most of my life dangling from ceilings remember? I didn't even have to touch the ground."
Hiccup whistled, obviously impressed. "Good use of initiative Punz." He threw the mould to Merida. "Think your locksmith friend could fix us up with another key Captain?"
She caught it deftly and grinned back. "I'm sure I can work something out. Great planning Hic, and well done you two." She nodded at Rapunzel and Jack. "We'll have the ring in our grasp before we know it."
"Then all we have to do is make our way past an underwater city of killer mermaids who can control the weather." Jack reminded her.
"You're the one who wanted things to be more exciting." She reminded him.
"Hmm. Guess I can't argue with that. Bring it on then, I say!" he grinned.
"So when do we try and get in the vaults? Do we wait until everyone's asleep?" Rapunzel asked.
"No – that's when thieves are expected to strike." Hiccup replied, shaking his head. "There will be more guards around with more time on their hands to focus solely on the vault, not to mention it will be quiet so the slightest noise will bring everyone running. The best chance we have of getting in and out unnoticed is to go during the day or the evening – when everyone is distracted."
"Distracted by what?"
Hiccup grinned and tapped the side of his nose. "I've not quite decided yet – I'll let you know when I've figured out the details."
Rapunzel realised from the look in his eye that Jack wasn't the only one who got a thrill out of impending chaos.
Author Notes:
The lovelypanda-studios/ginika left me a review making an extremely valid point about something in previous chapters – Rapunzel should have healed the crew of various scars and injuries when she sang to keep away the fear! This completely slipped my mind, so good catch! I've made the necessary adjustments to Chapter 24 to sort this out (when Merida is undressing Hiccup for those who want to go back and read it). Essentially her power was greatly diluted since she was using it on so many people at once (and was weakened by Pitch's presence) so though she has healed most people of various scars etc, she hasn't completely healed everything. In regards to missing limbs (Hiccup's leg, Hook Hand's hand etc) she can't heal that without the original limb there to attach to it. Hope that clears it up! :)
