Showdown:
The screeches coming from the Baba Yaga were so incomprehensible that for a moment, everyone was frozen in place in terrified confusion. Fortunately, Toothless moved to knock those in immediate danger out of harm's way as the enraged Baba Yaga sent a wave of feathers down with the force of a wrecking ball.
"BRATS!" the wizened hag shrieked as the group scattered. Jack couldn't help but wonder if the witch seriously couldn't come up with a better insult than that. He wasn't even sure if he'd heard that one used in this kind of context since the late 1800s. Tendrils of feathers snaked furiously after each of the spirits and mortals involved, scattering them as they moved to avoid them.
"Hiccup! Now might be a good time to tell us that plan of yours!" Jack shouted over the chaos, taking every opportunity he could to freeze the feathers in place. There was a yelp as Hiccup and Toothless looped to avoid the Baba Yaga's magic.
"Uh… don't get hit for now…WHOA!" he cried, summoning Endeavour to defend himself while Toothless let off a panicked blast of blue fire.
"I'm not sure if you even HAVE a plan!" Merida shrieked as she teleported from one puddle to the next, hand clasped around her mother's wrist.
"I HAVE a plan!" Hiccup protested.
"THEN HURRY UP!" Eugene yelled, swinging the frying pan in any direction that seemed like it had a chance of working. A Nightmare collided with a column of feathers, sending them scattering as Pitch charged forward.
"Retreat and regroup!" the Nightmare King ordered. "Focus on the Baba Yaga — we'll take care of the rest."
Hiccup and the girls nodded and shot off, while Jack muttered something that sounded distinctly like "I can't believe I'm taking orders from the Boogeyman…" before following. As the group split from the fight and began grouping, Astrid rejoined them on Stormfly.
"She safe?" Hiccup asked.
"Dropped her off at the hospital," Astrid panted. "You would not believe their faces when they saw me taking her in."
"It's a good thing they couldn't see Stormfly, otherwise you'd have even more explaining to do," Hiccup grumbled.
"WATCH OUT!" Rapunzel shrieked in a manner very similar to a certain video game sidekick as she swung a rope of hair at the Baba Yaga. The team scattered once more as Hiccup and Astrid kept the witch at bay with their dragons.
"Hiccup! Plan! Now!" Jack yelled.
"Draw her away from town!" Hiccup shouted. "We're gonna need a lot of room for this one."
The team obliged, heading in the opposite direction of Burgess, through the forest and to an open field running alongside a highway. All the while, the Baba Yaga kept up her pursuit using her pestle and mortar of all things as a mode of transportation. Just like the fairytales, Rapunzel thought to herself as she streaked across the top of the trees on her starboard, Eugene clinging to her to make sure he didn't fall off (Rapunzel had been practising with him and the starboard seemed to have its own gravity, so she didn't know why he was still worried). Merida and Elinor followed below, hopping from snow puddle to snow puddle as Jack and Emma provided them; and Hiccup and Astrid flanked with the dragons, making sure that the fire didn't come into contact with the vegetation and cause an all-too-noticeable forest fire.
"Alright, we've got her attention," Merida muttered.
"What the heck was Step Two?" Emma shouted. All the while, the Baba Yaga kept shrieking incoherently in the background. Hiccup turned to face Merida and Elinor.
"We need a river," he said simply. "A big one."
"Reckon that'll stop 'er?" Merida yelled.
"It's worth a shot," Elinor decided, holding her daughter's hand as they skid to a halt, facing the Baba Yaga head on. "Do your thing, dear! I'm right behind you!"
Merida nodded and put all of her focus into the move. Water began bubbling from the ground under her feet until it began to surge from beneath her, torrenting along the ground in a contained path that Merida was forcing it to take. Its direction made it collide with Grandma Chickenlegs, sending her tumbling out of the sky.
"Alright!" Rapunzel shouted.
"Nice one, Firecracker!" Jack grinned. Merida looked incredibly pleased with herself and kept the water coming until the strain became too much for her to handle. The water kept running and eventually trickling to a stop. However, when the water vanished the sight that greeted the team wasn't exactly what they were hoping to see.
"Thank you for the lovely drink, dearies," the Baba Yaga sneered, licking her lips as water dripped from it. She bore her iron teeth, sharper than needles, in a menacing snarl. "I needed something to whet my appetite."
A dead silence fell over the group.
"Okay, now that was just awful," Emma groaned.
"Welp, tha' didnae work!" Merida snapped as she pulled her mother out of the way of a column of incoming feathers. "Anyone go' a Plan B?"
"I'm working on it!" Hiccup retorted, somersaulting away from an attack before letting Toothless fire back, sending the Baba Yaga momentarily tumbling away.
"Well, hurry it up!" Astrid yelled, her voice dripping with urgency as she checked her wristwatch. "Because you have less than an hour before hospital daylight hours start!"
"Rapunzel!" Hiccup shouted. "Forest! NOW!"
"WHAT'S A FOREST GONNA DO?!" Rapunzel screeched.
"Also, there's one right outside Burgess?" Jack pointed out. "Can't we use that?"
"This needs to be denser than the densest forest on Earth," Hiccup instructed.
"We already sent a river 'er way an' tha' did nothin'!" Merida snapped. "What good's a forest gonna be?"
Hiccup rolled his eyes. Goodness, weren't they all told at least one version of this story when they were younger? He knew that Rapunzel had definitely been told, how come she couldn't figure it out?
"Besides, there's not exactly much room out here," Rapunzel pointed out. "There're still cars on the highway — there's no way was can do this without attracting attention." Okay, now Hiccup's patience was wearing thin.
"Well, I have a plan and that plan requires a stupidly dense forest so FIGURE IT OUT!" he shouted.
There was a clang of metal on a skull as Eugene swung the frying pan at the Baba Yaga when she tried making a beeline for Rapunzel, as well as some profanities screamed in both English and German that shall remain unwritten.
"Hiccup, can you at least tell us what you need a forest for?" Astrid asked. Hiccup gave in. What was it with people becoming so dense during a fight?
"In the Grandma Chickenlegs fairytale, the girl threw down a comb that created a forest so thick not even a weasel could pass through it," he explained.
"Yeah, but that's a weasel!" Jack pointed out. "Not a witch with iron teeth!"
"She just drank a river," Hiccup deadpanned.
"I thought we jus' established tha' didnae deter her!" Merida snapped.
"When did we establish that?" Astrid frowned.
"LIKE THREE SECONDS AGO!"
"Guys!" Hiccup hissed, his palms flickering with fire that snaked around everyone's heads as he reminded them of something they should have all learned (bar Jack) back when they were young. "What happens to iron when it reacts with water?!"
Something clicked in Rapunzel's head.
"Oh!" she nodded slowly. Hiccup face-desked on Toothless' head. Dear gods, how was his team so slow? "Right. I'm on it."
Rapunzel and Eugene headed down for the largest area of open land they could see. Rapunzel knew that her powers wouldn't leave a permanent mark on the world, but it would still be enough to be slightly noticeable — she needed to make sure to keep things to a minimum. Finding a spot on the outskirts of the forest outside Burgess, Rapunzel and Eugene took their own stand against Grandma Chickenlegs as Rapunzel brought up her hands. As she did so, a collection of trees packed as tightly as a bundle of matchsticks sprung from the floor, once more knocking the witch out of her mortar.
"A starter?!" a cackle sounded as the team took a breath on one side of the dense forest, too tall to fly over and with roots too deep to dig under. "You certainly are considerate, my dears!"
The team could only freeze and hope for the best as they heard the chomps of enchanted, razor sharp teeth starting to chew through the trunks of the trees. Hiccup grasped Astrid's hand tightly, Jack shielded his sister, Rapunzel and Eugene held each other close, and Merida and Elinor held hands as tightly as they would dare. A tree fell on the other side of the forest, then another, and then…
SNAP!
A resounding shriek echoed through the night, as did the revolting sound of metal breaking. Rapunzel released the magic maintaining the forest to reveal the Baba Yaga crouching on the floor, hands clutching her mouth painfully. No one wanted to even imagine the sight that lay beneath those claws.
"You're coming with us, Grandma," Jack said firmly.
"You will return them to how they were," Pitch ordered once the Baba Yaga was brought before him. The other Guardians were looking a bit ruffled, and North was still picking black feathers out from his beard, but they were hardly looking worse for wear. The Baba Yaga glared at the ground.
"Moreover, you will not interfere with the affairs of the mortal world again," Mother Nature snarled. "Nor shall you even think about going near my aides, or so help me I will turn your own trees against you."
"You don't need much more than a ribbon to do that," Jack muttered. "Trust me."
"Fine…" Grandma Chickenlegs growled. "Congratulations…you win."
Hiccup, Merida and Rapunzel shared a glance. The clock was ticking — they'd defeated the one responsible for getting them into the mess they were in, and yet they were still half-spirits. Why hadn't things been reversed?
"Why's nothing happening?" Hiccup whispered, looking at his hands.
"Turn us back, Witch!" Merida ordered. They had less than half an hour left, if that. The Baba Yaga let out a cackle.
"Did you really think that it would just work like that?" she sneered. "Defeat the Big Bad and everything will go back to normal?" Her laugh rippled through her broken rusted teeth like nails being dragged down a blackboard. "This isn't one of your fairytales. I don't return things. I only take."
"PUT. THEM. BACK!" Mother Nature bellowed, flames starting to flicker from her hair and ribbons of lava beginning to stream down her dress. Every other Guardian, Spirit and human in the vicinity cringed and shrank back in fear, even Pitch, and backed off a few feet. The late winter sun was starting to rise…there was barely any time left.
The Baba Yaga stood crookedly on her feet and turned to face Merida, Hiccup and Rapunzel. She held up a hand towards them — they took defensive stances but still looked hopeful.
"We'll be there when you wake up," Astrid smiled at Hiccup as she began pulling Eugene and Elinor in the direction of the hospital. If things took too long, at least they could argue against the pulling of the plugs to by the teens a bit more time. The Baba Yaga was muttering a hushed incantation under her breath, but things were taking too long for Jack's liking as he stood nearby.
"Hurry up!" he barked, grasping his staff tightly. Grandma Chickenlegs shot him a dark smirk, her black iron teeth rusted and broken in several places.
"Fine."
Without warning, black feathers hammered straight into Hiccup, Merida and Rapunzel, sending them flying a good few feet before pinning them to the ground. The trio were crying out for help, but more feathers kept the dragons and other spirits at bay as the Baba Yaga began cackling.
"Like I said," the witch snarled as Jack shouted for his friends, trying and failing to battle his way through the black feathers that clawed at his skin. "This isn't one of your fairytales."
"Nor is it one of yours!"
The voice was a new one, powerful and commanding and so forceful that it stopped the Baba Yaga in her tracks, causing the feathers to dissipate. Jack raced over to his friends as they cleared — they were worse for wear after the unexpected attack, bruised, cut and severely weakened. His attention wasn't on them for long as he faced the new arrival.
"You're kidding me…" he mumbled.
A woman stood on the back of a dragon, one larger than both Stormfly and Toothless with an owl-like look to him and with four wings beating powerfully against his side. The woman stood proudly like a warrior queen on his back, flames swirling around her and a staff that she held at her side. Her eyes were a bright blue-green that danced with light, and her hair was long and a rich auburn-brown with a streak of white.
"You…!" Grandma Chickenlegs gasped in shock as the woman pointed her staff towards her.
"You messed with the wrong mother," she snarled as her dragon let loose a torrent of fire towards the witch. "Leave them alone!"
The Baba Yaga shrieked as the fire engulfed her. As they did, the remaining feathers were incinerated, stripping the witch of the last of her power. When the flames cleared, the Baba Yaga was little more than a cowering ball of terror. The woman on the back of the dragon faced Pitch who was in as much shock as everyone else.
"Take her back to the Shadows," she instructed. "Make sure she never leaves again." Pitch could only nod as he summoned some Nightmares which surrounded the cowering Baba Yaga. They circled her and wrapped tendrils of sand around her wrists and ankles, dragging her kicking and screaming towards the forest where Jack knew an entrance to the Boogeyman's lair would be. Only once the witch was gone did anyone turn to face the newcomer and address her.
"You're…" Tooth breathed in amazement. Hiccup croaked from the ground, badly injured and his leg torn away.
"Mom?" he whispered. Valeria 'Valka' Haddock dismounted the dragon and raced over to the injured teens and Jack. Her face was etched with sorrow.
"Oh, Hiccup…" she half sobbed. "I'm so sorry I didn't come sooner… This is all my fault…"
"Mrs Haddock?" Rapunzel mumbled, her hair shorn from the Baba Yaga's last attack. She looked so frail.
"This should never have happened to any of you…" Valka wept quietly. Jack, who was cradling Merida in his arms, frowned.
"What're you doing here?" he asked. "And how're you…?" A warm glow interrupted Jack before he could finish his question. When it cleared, everyone was astonished to see the physical manifestation of the Man in the Moon once more walking among them.
"Manny?" North exclaimed softly.
"What are you doing here?" Mother Nature asked.
"Because things need to be put to rights," Tsar Lunar replied. He looked sorrowfully at the four Season Spirits, three of which were too badly hurt to even stand. "I am so sorry that this happened…to all of you."
"Is there anything you can do?" Bunny asked.
"Unfortunately, no," Manny shook his head sadly. His gaze fell on Valka, who was holding both Hiccup and Rapunzel up the best that she could. "But there may be something you can do, my dear."
"Me?" Valka blinked.
"I'll ask again, what's she doing here?" Jack cut in.
"Valka hosts an ancient power," Manny explained. "Older than the Guardians, and older than Life itself. It is the reason she could sustain the Baba Yaga for so long." Valka bristled at the name. "And also a reason why she can transcend to our realm."
"She is a half spirit too?" Pitch remarked. Valka pressed, asking the reason why she was there, and why she had a dragon who seemed all too familiar to her (it had bowed its head to Toothless, who was looking humbly dignified for once).
"The dragon, you named Cloudjumper," Manny replied. "Your power is Compassion: a manifestation of Hlin, an ancient entity," he continued (the name was pronounced in a very similar way to heh-leen). "And it is that power that will return these three to where they belong."
Usually, Jack would have made a dry remark about how they could have been told this a lot sooner but for now he merely turned pleadingly towards Valka, begging her to help his friends. The woman seemed tranquil as she cradled her son on her arms, Rapunzel also at her side, barely conscious.
"Mom…" Hiccup whispered. Valka shushed him gently.
"I'll see you when you wake, Young Man," she promised, before a gentle lullaby began to escape her lips.
I'll swim and sail on savage seas No scorching sun nor freezing cold
With ne'er a fear of drowning
And gladly ride the waves of life,
If you will stay with me.
Will stop you on your journey,
When I have given you my heart
And love you for eternity.
A glimmering ribbon of silver light, flickering like a gentle flame, snaked its way around Hiccup, Rapunzel and Merida, enveloping them in a warm glow. The pain in their faces disappeared — they looked almost peaceful. As Valka continued to sing, Jack found himself comforted by the lyrics…by her voice. It was a reassuring song, one that promised safety after a long ordeal. A compassionate voice, offering an escape from trials and a helping hand. Jack wondered how many times Valka had sang this to Hiccup when he was a baby.
My dearest one, my darling dear, For I will bring you rings of gold, If you've no need for rings of gold,
The night has made you weary.
There is no need of mighty deeds
When you're safe and sound beside me.
I'll even sing you poetry,
And I will keep you from all harm,
As long as you're beside me.
And care not for my poetry,
Then I'll just be a hand to hold
For as long as you need me.
The silver fire brightened as Merida, Rapunzel and Hiccup began to glow with the same blue-white hue as Moonlight. It was gentler than their uncontrolled attack against the Baba Yaga the other night, but still gave off the impression of a powerful magic. Jack nearly panicked as his friends began to fade from sight — he was starting to see his own arms through Merida's neck.
To love, protect and sweetly hold, I'll swim and sail on savage seas
For the dancing and the dreaming.
Through all life's sorrows and delights
I'll keep your love inside me.
With ne'er a fear of drowning,
And gladly ride the waves of life,
If you will stay with me.
The ribbon of silver fire drifted on the wind as Merida, Hiccup and Rapunzel vanished in a cloud blue-white stars, slowly drifting towards the hospital. Jack didn't even have to know how the magic had worked, but he knew that his friends' spirits were being reunited with their physical bodies.
"Thank you," he whispered, smiling gratefully at Valka, who gazed longingly after the cloud of stars. "You saved them."
"I put them in this mess in the first place," Valka shook her head sadly.
"You could not have helped that," Mother Nature reassured. "And Jack is right — you have saved them."
"And you all saved me," Valka smiled gratefully, her sparkling blue eyes shining with joy as she faced the spirits before her. Her gaze fell on Jack in particular. "I could see some things through her eyes," she explained, still unwilling to say the Baba Yaga's name. "My son considers you one of his closest friends."
"And he's one of mine," Jack shrugged. "They all are." Valka nodded.
"And you helped them all through this," she noted. "You helped them all do what they had to do." She paused. "My son is going to live because you helped him in this fight," she said. "For that, you have my thanks, Jack Frost."
"Anytime," Jack smiled. Valka began shining pale silver — the others could tell that she, too, was returning to the mortal realm. "Looking forward to getting to know the real Valeria."
Valka laughed softly and bid a final goodbye to the Guardians, Mother Nature, Man in the Moon and Pitch Black before she vanished. Once she was gone, Manny spoke up.
"You all did a fine job, Jack," he congratulated. "I'm proud of you all."
"We did our best," Jack replied. "Can't say I wasn't scared that things wouldn't turn out the way we wanted it to."
"But it did," Manny smiled. "Those three are now safe." He pondered in thought for a moment. "And I dare say that Guardianship is long overdue for your fellow Spirits."
"Yeah, hold that thought for at least seven decades, please?" Jack frowned. No need to rush things, jeez.
"You should go see them, Jack," Tooth urged. "You've been missing too these past few weeks." Jack nearly facepalmed — of course. He was still a student at Moonstone like the others…
…wait…
"Are they going to be able to go back?" he asked worriedly. "To Moonstone, I mean?" After all, Hiccup's leg would have been discovered, Rapunzel would be lucky to have not been paralysed, and Merida was going to need some serious physiotherapy just to get walking again.
"I think I can arrange a thing or two," Manny chuckled knowingly. "Don't you worry, Jack." He nodded at Mother Nature and Emma. "Now hurry — I suspect your friends will be waking up any moment now."
Jack didn't need to be told twice.