AN: Pretty happy with this one! Excited to see if I get any reactions. Hope you're all well and safe! Hope you like the new chapter! :)
REVIEWERS!:
Acecove: Yep. I never actually meant to hide it, so the fact that this is such a big reveal for you guys is actually really weird and surprising to me... More explanation will come later, though, so don't worry. Anyways, you'll just have to wait and find out!
They Will Tell My Story: Yeah, it was an accidental surprise on my part. But happy to hear you're liking it! :)
Guest: Maybe, or Maybe not... I'm very happy to hear that you liked the Trollhunter's scene. There's plenty more to come. Especially because I found out that I really love writing them. And yeah, It's Troll!Jim, but with my own twist on it, so you were definitely right!
KorrieChan: Happy to hear it! :)
flamemeister23: Sorry and also really happy to hear that! Hopefully my updates won't be too far apart so you can continue enjoying this series to the fullest! ALSO I AM SO HAPPY ABOUT EVERYTHING YOU SAID! I don't think anyone else has actually recognized the reasonings behind not just plot matters but also character development arcs! AHHH! Your whole review just made me really happy, so thank you! :)
Eris: Glad you liked it! It's more like a projection of himself into Emma's world... Further explanations will come in future adventures.
EversoGreen: Yes. The nickname is more than just a nickname. Frollo isn't sharing much with the Guardians. I'm glad Jim and Emma have gotten so many positive reviews from everyone! And it wouldn't be interesting if there weren't some downs to go with the ups!
Music: "Rush" by Aly and AJ
NOTES: "Three Things cannot be long hidden: The Sun, The Moon, and The Truth."
Chapter 21: Rush
Rapunzel hugged her books to her chest, her book bag hanging heavily on her shoulder as it was laden with even more books. She'd only just gotten out of her lesson with Dr. Sweet nearly fifteen minutes late, but Merida was still patiently waiting for her just outside of the infirmary.
"I'm sorry you had to wait so long, Merida." Rapunzel said, trying to sort herself after hurrying out of class. "You wanted to talk to me?"
"What? Oh. Don't worry about it, Punzie." Merida started at Rapunzel's greeting and then smiled. "Let's go walk outside. I feel like I've been cooped up all week."
Rapunzel followed her red-headed friend out of the castle, talking lightly about how their classes were going as well as their training. Rapunzel asked Merida about what she and Jack knew from the Guardian meetings, and Merida questioned her about how she was fairing with the most recent clue for the tournament.
"I've figured out what the clue is, but I have no idea what it means." Rapunzel confided to her. "It said "The Key is Water", so I've been practicing a couple of water spells, but it's hard to know what technique to practice when I don't know it's purpose."
"That's true, but I'm sure by 'a couple' you mean that half of those books weighing you down are filled with hundreds of different spells having to do with water." Merida gave her a pointed look, and Rapunzel ducked her head slightly as her cheeks warmed a little bit.
"Actually, only two of them are for water spells. The rest are all for my healing lessons." Rapunzel told her with an honest shrug. They looked at each other and then both burst out giggling. "So what is it you wanted to talk about?" Rapunzel wanted to know as they both reigned in their chuckles.
"I don't know," Merida sighed, looking out at the courtyard where a couple of third-years were tossing around a spark-ball, laughing as they played. "I've been Dreaming, but half of it is only memories of us as kids. I think they're about you, but I don't know what they mean."
"What have you been Seeing, exactly?" Rapunzel inquired, her heart squeezing tight as her chest felt hollow. She wasn't sure how to feel about Dreams.
"Mostly memories. Like that time during second year when we sneaked out after curfew and were dancing in the kitchen," Merida gave a small, distant smile as her eyes glazed over a bit, no doubt seeing the memory in her minds eye. Rapunzel smiled, her heart giving a painful tug at the happy memory. "Or during third year when we first learned to read tea leaves from Professor Robinson. Remember? I Saw an acorn, which meant 'unexpected gold'. Or even last year! When you whipped Flynn in that duel."
"Well, none of those things seem too bad. They're all happy memories." Rapunzel noted hopefully, peering at her friends face to see if they shared the same enthusiasm.
"Yes," Merida agreed slowly, but Rapunzel could see there was something else on her mind.
"What is it?" She asked, hugging her books tighter to her chest at Merida's hesitance. The red-head sighed heavily, her face twisting into an expression burdened with guilt and uncertainty.
"During our fourth year, maybe it even started during third year but I can't be sure, I was having similar Dreams. I thought they were just memories and that they didn't mean anything." Merida swallowed thickly, taking a breath to steady herself. "The memories weren't necessarily good ones, and... They were about Hiccup." She admitted.
They both stopped walking and simply stared at each other. Merida looked distraught, and Rapunzel felt a familiar ache in her chest but at the same time there was also numbness as all of the air left her lungs on a shaky exhale.
"I remember Seeing when he got angry at Darren Fouls for dropping that bucket of goo on you, and our fight with Gothel when he stood between us and her. I remembered his first duel, the way he just seemed to freeze up..." Merida trailed off shaking her head as she squeezed her eyes shut. "I didn't pay attention, didn't think about what Lady Fate might have been trying to tell me, and I know that the memories are happier ones this time, so maybe that means something and things will be different, but I couldn't stop thinking about how maybe, if I had realize it earlier, or paid better attention, then maybe... I just can't help but wonder..."
Rapunzel dropped her books and grabbed Merida into a tight hug, feeling her own eyes swell up to overflowing as Merida trembled and sniffled into her shoulder.
"It is not your fault, Merida." Rapunzel said as firmly as she could, managing pretty well to keep the shakiness out of her voice, but it was still thick with emotion. She moved back and held her red-headed friend at arms length so she could look her in the eye. "You're a Seer, yes, but that doesn't make you responsible for protecting everyone from everything. It's not possible. I know it hurts, and I miss him too, but he wouldn't want you to blame yourself over something you didn't even know."
"I know that," Merida nodded in agreement, her cheeks a little splotchy from crying. "But I couldn't bare to make the same mistake again. I'm older and wiser, so even if this situation is a little different than last time, I needed to tell you. And if you're up for it, I'd like to do a Tea Leaf reading if you can ever find a spare moment." Merida gave her a determined look that had her looking much more like herself again, and Rapunzel smiled back.
"We can meet tonight after dinner." Rapunzel told her.
Eugene reached towards the teapot curiously, but Merida slapped his hand without even looking up from her Divination book. Eugene yelped and snatched his hand back to his chest, pouting at Merida as he rubbed the small red spot that was forming. Jack laughed, and Rapunzel chuckled too, but she quickly turned into a sympathetic pout when Eugene's eyes snapped over to her.
"Keep your hands to yourself until we're done, Fitzherbert." Merida said blandly, not taking any silliness when it came to her craft.
"What does it matter? Rapunzel's almost done with her tea anyways!" Eugene griped, and Merida responded with a glare that had Eugene pausing for a moment before amending his statement. "On second thought I totally respect your space and particularity in Divination as you are the resident expert among the dueling club. Have you done something different with your hair because it looks great!" Eugene chuckled nervously.
Merida rolled her eyes and went back to her notes.
"So, why exactly are we digging into this? If all the memories you've been Seeing are good ones, than that should be a good omen, right?" Jack changed the subject, peering over Merida's shoulder.
"Should be." Merida agreed, but there was a tenseness to her shoulders. "I just want to be careful. Every time I've ignored my Sight something bad has happened."
"Whatever you want to do, Merida. I trust your judgement." Rapunzel assured her, sharing a knowing look with her friend that the two boys either didn't catch or didn't pay much attention to. Rapunzel lifted her tea cup in a 'cheers' motion and drank the last bit of the tea. "All done." She said, setting the cup back onto it's saucer.
Merida reached over and took the delicate dishes, placing them in front of herself so she could peer into the cup. She moved her hands in the air a bit, and then turned to consult her notes over whatever she was Seeing in the cup.
"There's an acorn." She said after a long moment of silence, surprising Rapunzel and the two boys. "It's a sign for 'Unexpected Gold'."
"Well, that sounds promising." Jack gave a half-smile as he leaned on his staff.
"Maybe." Merida hummed, but continued looking into the cup and back to her notes. "There's a Club, which means An Attack... And a skull, which means there's Danger in your Path."
"Well, of course there's danger! Who knows what they'll throw at you next in this tournament." Flynn reasoned, but Rapunzel wasn't sure. It seemed those readings could either be neutral, or very bad.
"Mmm," Merida's brow furrowed as she stared down at the cup, displeased by whatever she was Seeing.
"What is it?" Jack asked as all three of them leaned forward slightly, waiting for her to finish the Reading.
"The last one is a Falcon," Merida said, looking up to lock gazes with Rapunzel. "It means you have a Deadly Enemy."
Despite wanting to stay positive and focus on things she could actually control, Rapunzel couldn't help feeling a little tense going into the third challenge. Merida's tea leaf reading had given her cause enough to feel the need for caution, but she supposed she'd thrown caution to the wind back when she decided to put her name in that goblet.
She wasn't given the time to dwell on it for long, though. The next day's afternoon came quickly, and Rapunzel found herself standing at the entrance to the dungeons with Elsa and Jim. Students and teachers from all three schools crowded the wide corridor, the din of the excitement sounding loud as it echoed off the stone walls and floor. Professor North, Professor Hera, and Professor Varvatos Vex were waiting for the audience to gather in the seating that had been set up some time before hand, and the Champions were instructed to use this time for warming up.
Rapunzel half-heartedly leaned into stretches as her eyes scanned the crowds and swept over her two fellow competitors. She wasn't sure what to expect with this next challenge, but at least she had the comfort of knowing that her opponents were in the same place. It also helped that there was an underlying friendliness between the three of them. With Elsa it hadn't been surprising, they were cousins after all, but Rapunzel was glad the same desire for peace and kindness resided in Jim. The boy was young, but Rapunzel was quite impressed with his character.
Varvatos Vex called, more like yelled, for the crowd to quiet down as the three teachers moved forward, announcing the start of the challenge drawing near. Rapunzel lined up with Elsa and Jim as North raised his arms to begin his speech.
"Welcome to the third Challenge!" North began and excited cheering roared up to greet him. "Now, now! This Challenge, as you may have gathered, will be taking place in the Dungeons! One room has been sectioned off for the purpose of this Task. Each Champion must find the clue with their name on it and return to the platform at the center of the room in order to be transported back here. As is tradition, they will have one hour to complete the Task."
"Is that all? Sounds simple enough." Elsa murmured, sharing a smile with Rapunzel.
"However, the room has been filled with protective measures that the Champions will have to overcome in order to retrieve their clues." North continued ominously.
"Of course it is," Jim huffed, glaring at the teachers who paid them no mind and focused on the crowds of students.
"Now, if the Champions are ready, step onto the platform and we will begin the Third Task!" North declared as more cheers rose from the crowd.
Rapunzel turned and stepped up onto the circular platform, followed first by Elsa and then Jim. The three Champions stood back to back, wands poised at their sides, and North raised one of his swords that doubled as his wand.
"Begin!" He shouted and with a flick of his sword there was a rush all around Rapunzel, and then suddenly everything was dark. She could hear her own heart thumping steadily against her chest and the breathing of her fellow Champions behind her, but she couldn't see anything.
"Lumos!" She hissed quietly, her voice echoing loudly in the silent space, but the tip of her wand lit up with a bright light that illuminated everything around her for a good five feet.
True to North's words, they were in what appeared to be a very large room somewhere in the Dungeons. The ceiling was low, making the space more claustrophobic than it should be, and the floor, walls, and ceiling were made of heavy stone. There were stone columns spaced in even rows throughout the entire room, supporting the weight of the castle above them. The sent of mold clouded the stuffy air, and a slow drip echoed from somewhere in the room. They stood in the very center on top of a small, circular platform that glowed with a faint light, not nearly strong enough to cut through the darkness.
"Find the clue, get back to the platform. Seems simple enough." Rapunzel thought. Perhaps the room was just guarded by booby-traps that they would need to be wary of during their search. The darkness would make it difficult, especially with only having one hour to search the whole room, but Rapunzel wasn't willing to let a few shadows keep her from winning.
Slowly, she stepped down off of the platform and started walking out into the room. Each footstep echoed loudly, bouncing off of the all-stone surroundings, and it heightened her self-awareness. Her back and shoulders were tense.
Something didn't Feel right.
She took a shaky breath and refocused on the task. She couldn't afford to waste time being paranoid. She wasn't some scared little girl in a tower anymore, and she had to find that clue.
Deciding the most efficient way to begin searching would be to canvas the walls and then spiral inwards towards the center, Rapunzel turned and walked briskly in one direction, hoping to find a wall relatively quickly, but also keeping her eyes scanning back and forth for anything that might be an indication of a clue. However, just a few moments after she started walking with more purpose to her steps, Elsa's scream cut through the darkness.
Rapunzel's head snapped around to look in the direction of her cousin's scream, and she could see flashes of blue and white and red as Elsa battled something with her ice magic.
A low growl, brought Rapunzel's attention back to in front of her where before there had been only the stretching darkness, but now there was a giant cat-like creature made entirely of fire stalking towards her. Rapunzel took a few steps backwards, raising her wand as the cat roared at her before crouching and then lunging at her.
"Stupefy!" Rapunzel reacted instinctively, her wand flicking through the movements automatically, and her attack landed a direct hit on the fire-cat, sending it sprawling into two different puddles of flame on the floor. Rapunzel, breathing heavy after the adrenaline rush from the surprise attack, eyed the creature in surprise. Was it really that easy?
As soon as the thought crossed her mind, the two fires flared and shifted before righting themselves into not just the initial fire-cat, but now there were two of them.
"What?!" Rapunzel exclaimed, stumbling back again as one of the cats roared. They jumped after her as Rapunzel whirled around and started running, the fire-cats right behind her. Perhaps trying to outrun two four-legged creatures wasn't the best idea, but Rapunzel needed time to regroup. She had no idea what these things were or what she was dealing with.
Racing toward one of the stone pillars, Rapunzel stuck out her arm and caught the column, using it to swing her momentum around and shoot off back the way she had come as the fire-cats skidded and tumbled across the stone, trying to right themselves so they could chase after her.
"Okay, so attacking them only feeds the fire." Rapunzel panted as she ran through the dark, only able to see a few feet in front of her thanks to her wand and the glow that had yet to dissipate despite her other spell and panic in the cats' ambush. "So how do I stop these things?" She asked herself, looking over her shoulder to see the two fiery beasts catching up to her.
She wondered if perhaps it was as simple as putting out the flame, but because she wasn't looking where she was going, Rapunzel's foot caught on a chunk of stone that had fallen from a decayed part of ceiling. She lost her balance and went sprawling forward onto the ground, cutting her foot on the rock and scraping her knees and arms on the floor. Her wand clattered away from her, sending her into darkness as the light went out.
Rapunzel's hands skimmed the floor around her frantically as she heard the fire-cats getting closer, growling and snarling as they slowed and closed in on her. The light from their fire-bodies allowed her to see a little better, but it cast long shadows and flickering light that was not too helpful.
Rapunzel spotted her wand a few feet from her, but just as she saw it, one of the cats roared and Rapunzel flipped onto her back just in time to see it leap at her. She rolled to the side with a yelp, and the cat landed on the floor right next to her. Rapunzel scrambled on her hands and knees, trying to get to her wand, but her progress was halted when the cat bit skirt of her travel dress, pulling her back to them.
Rapunzel struggled against the snarling creature, but she couldn't kick it away without burning her foot. Turning back toward her wand, Rapunzel reached out for it, just barely out of reach. She stretched as much as she possibly could, her eyes squeezing shut, but she was still a good two inches away from her only weapon against these beasts.
She opened her eyes just into slits and her wand shot into her hand. Rapunzel's hand closed around it instinctively and her eyes went wide, but she whirled around immediately and pointed her wand up as one of the cats leaped straight for her neck.
"Aguamenti!" Rapunzel shouted and water burst from the tip of her wand like a spout, spraying the cats with water. The fire-beings shrieked and fell away as their flames grew smaller and smaller.
When the fires were gone, Rapunzel finally lowered her wand, panting hard from the scare. Echoing sounds of battle came from other places in the room that Rapunzel couldn't see, but she was more concerned about whether or not there were more of those strange fire-cats lingering about.
"Lumos," She murmured, giving herself some light so she could inspect herself for any serious injuries. There was a minor burn on her leg from when the cat had been pulling on her skirt and there were a few scrapes and bruises that would be tender for a little while, but overall she didn't see anything that needed immediate attention.
She stood and brushed herself off and then looked around, casting her wand this way and that to find out what she could see and if any of it was actually useful. She found herself standing next to one of the support columns in the room and noticed a peculiar marking on it. She stepped closer and realized half of the marking that had been carved into the stone had been covered with fresh mud and mildew. She brushed it away and found an arrow pointing to one side, off into the darkness and the number three was carved into the stone below it.
Curious, Rapunzel followed the arrow's direction, walking into the dark. Her steps guarded with caution, Rapunzel quickly came to another pillar and found another arrow, only this one had the number five carved beneath it. She paused a moment just to inspect and then pressed forward again. And a third time she found a pillar with an arrow, this one with a number two as it's companion.
Rapunzel's brow furrowed as she continued onward into the dark, noticing that the sounds of battle had entirely faded, which meant the others were also probably searching for their clues as well.
The next thing she found was a wall. It was a typical ancient dungeon wall with cracks and moss growing from the moisture. Lines of wetness marked where water was seeping in as tiny, tiny rivers through the earth. In the center of the wall, though, were multiple groupings of dots. Similar to what Rapunzel had seen on some of Ruffnut and Tuffnut's trick dice. There were nine groupings each with a matching number of dots and spaced evenly across the wall as if spaced on a grid with no lines. Rapunzel pursed her lips as she gently ran her hand over some of the dots.
When her hand touched some of the dots, the whole group of dots lit up with a gentle, sparkly glow. Rapunzel quickly withdrew her hand and all of the dots in the seventh grouping faded back to normal stone. Rapunzel looked between her hand and the stone and then back. Hesitantly, she reached out again and touched the dots a second time.
Nothing happened.
Rapunzel huffed, blowing a lock of hair off her forehead as her arm dropped back to her side. She looked up at the symbols for a moment, and then a thought came to her. She lifted her wand and tapped the stone with three dots on it.
All three dots lit up with that gentle glow. So she tapped the stone with five dots on it, and those dots lit up too. Finally she tapped the stone with two dots on it and those dots lit up. With all three groups glowing they grew brighter, more intense, and there was a scraping noise as the three stones slid into the wall.
Rapunzel jumped when she heard a similar scraping sound behind her and turned to find a portion of the floor had pulled back to allow a pedestal to rise from the floor. On top of the small pillar was a scroll, tied with a ribbon. Rapunzel walked towards it and carefully lifted the scroll from the pedestal, which after a moments pause, moved back into the floor and disappeared as if it had never been there at all.
Rapunzel grinned down at the scroll, excited to have found the next clue, but the moment was short lived because a growl cut through her happy thoughts. Turning around, Rapunzel found three more of the fire-cats had poured out from the stones in the wall and were slowly stalking towards her as their bodies formed fully.
"Ooookay, time to go!" Rapunzel told herself as she stumbled back a few steps and then raced back the way she had come. The fire-cats roared and chased after her.
She ran mostly blind as her light couldn't cut through enough of the darkness to allow her to sprint fully and see where it was she was going, but having stumbled through the mostly-flat terrain enough, Rapunzel figured she had better chances risking a blind sprint than trying to be careful about her steps.
Out of the corner of her eye, Rapunzel saw one of the cats flying through the air, and ducked to the side just in time to avoid it's massive paws and keep running. The roars and snarls getting closer and closer with each thundering step. Rapunzel's lungs were burning and the darkness seemed to stretch on forever, but she forced herself to keep running as she fumbled for her wand, trying to think of a spell that could take all three of them at once or else she risk taking down one or two just to get blind-sided by the third.
Just when she was sure her lungs were going to burst, a flash of blue light came from just a little ways ahead of her and then settled into a faint glow. It was the platform that would transport her out of the room. Rapunzel felt of surge of hope, and with it a quick burst of extra energy as she raced for the platform.
Despite her renewed gusto, one of the cats, somehow circling around, leaped out in front of her and blocked her path. Rapunzel skidded to a halt, surrounded by the three beasts. They began circling her as Rapunzel looked back and forth, pointing her wand at any of them that threatened to get to close. They were smart enough to shy away from the wand, but also enough to know they had her trapped and if she attacked one, she would leave herself open to the other two.
Rapunzel twisted this way and that, but found no way of escape. To her surprise, though, she didn't feel fear. Instead she felt a surge of determination and her magic welled up like a tide rushing in unexpectedly.
"Atmos Pherium!" She cried, giving a couple big swirls with a wand and then pointing it straight at the ceiling. A ball of light shot from her wand with a loud crack of thunder and then disappeared into the darkness of the ceiling. Not a moment later, storm clouds formed over them and rain began pouring from the roof as the fiery cats shrieked and tried to flee from the torrential downpour that had taken over half of the room.
Rapunzel stood at the center, watching the creatures fade and disappeared with rushes of steam. Her clothes were completely soaked through, and the rain drops were so big and came so quickly it felt almost like sleet or hail. Seeing her path cleared before her, though, Rapunzel grinned and skipped into a sprint towards the platform, her feet slapping across the wet stone.
She reached the platform, leaping into the light and up the single step to stand on it. Out of the corner of her eye, Rapunzel spotted Elsa racing over with her clue in hand, but Rapunzel was already whisked back into the main hall.
She gasped and stumbled off of the platform with a wide grin as the Hogwarts students in the crowd exploded into loud cheers. Elsa came through right behind her, and Rapunzel was surprised to see that Jim was already there, resting and half-way to catching his breath.
"And that concludes the Third Task!" Professor North shouted over all the excitement. "With Jim taking first place, Rapunzel coming in Second, and Elsa coming in third the Champions are all evenly matched. The Fourth and Final Task will determine the Winner of this year's Tri-Wizard Tournament!"
"That was incredible!" Jack exclaimed, catching Rapunzel up in a tight hug as he, Merida, and Eugene rushed over to her. "When on earth did you learn the Atmospheric Charm?"
"I've never tried it before. I've only read about it." Rapunzel admitted sheepishly as she felt her cheeks heat up a bit even through the cold of being completely drenched. "I don't know how to explain it, it's just, in the moment I just knew that I could do it."
"Well, it was amazing!" Merida grinned as Eugene came up behind her a placed a towel over her shoulders, rubbing them a bit to help her warm up.
"You never cease to amaze." Eugene said, smiling down at her, and this time Rapunzel felt heat rushing up her whole face to her ears.
"Thanks, Eugene." She murmured, fiddling with the ends of the towel.
"Maybe now would be a good time to ask sense I have your attention," Eugene said, one side of his mouth quirking up into a smirk, and Rapunzel looked at him, feeling a little confused about what he was talking about. "Rapunzel, would you do me the honor of being my date to the Champion's Ball."
The crowd that had gathered around them gasped or cooed in surprise. Merida and Jack and gave smug, knowing grins. But Rapunzel wasn't paying much attention to any of that. Her heart fluttered inside of her chest and her cheeks ached from the bright smile she couldn't help.
"Yes!" She burst out finally, wrapping her arms around his neck in a tight hug. His hands came up to her waist to return it. "I thought you'd never ask! Merida kept saying I should just ask you!"
"Well, it wasn't from lack of trying, you know." Eugene informed her pointedly, and she pulled back from the hug with a chuckle, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear.
"I got distracted a couple times, didn't I?" She looked up at him, already knowing the answer, but his eyes only held fondness.
"I wouldn't say distracted, more just was always running off before I could get to the point." Eugene assured her and they shared a laugh. Then he took her hand and lifted it up so he could kiss the back of it.
The burning feeling quickly came back to her face as all of her friends called out or squealed in excitement and encouragement. Rapunzel met Eugene's gaze and the softness in his eyes made her chest warm from the inside-out.
