Angel: I left an author's note in the previous chapter, not sure if anyone, specifically the user who keeps rushing me, saw it. If you didn't, please do. The user in question has already apologized, but I'm still sour over it. You shouldn't rush a writer just because you love a story. Writing this story takes a lot of time, especially when it's completely original. I understand you want to see more of it, glad you do. But respect is a two-way street, and so does being fair.

Not okay to tell a writer to write faster, especially when you spam it like three days in a row. I really don't want to have to block anyone else if it comes to that with this topic.

Also, just a reminder that I am moving away! So obviously that's going to take up time XD

Sorry it took me longer to get this one out, this is filler, I did not use the guide I had for this, so everything came from this mind right here. And a relative of mine ended up in the hospital, which did not help with the writer's block...

Also, Up is getting a spin-off show next year, and it just pisses me off even more now since this concept is still not being touched XD What's next, Toy Story or Snow White? 6 spinoff shows from Disney coming up all around the same time, that's a record.

It was a sunny day as it was the start of a new...alliance, though that word was shaky given Hugo's sudden integration into their group. As promised, Yong and Ruddiger were tasked with watching him, and he hadn't done anything to suggest to them that he wasn't really on their side unfortunately.

The group of nine were in an apple orchard only a few miles away from Bayangor. The two girls, Daisy, and Silver were at a tree to the right of the boys, both of them holding baskets of apples. Varian was next to his girlfriend, glancing up at her occasionally. Yong, Ruddiger, and Prometheus were gathering apples as well...actually, Ruddiger was eating some from Yong's basket, and he didn't notice it at all, not even when he put an apple in his own basket.

Meanwhile, Hugo was sneaking around right behind Varian, reaching out to the journals that belonged to the young alchemist and the young co-queen.

"I wouldn't if I were you," Harmony called out and he froze, turning around as her back was turned to him. Then he just scoffed.

"Are you gonna aim your arrows at me again?" He raised a skeptical brow.

"Just don't touch them," Varian told him, pulling out an apple and examining it.

"Where I come from, that's a common phrase for me," Hugo bragged, taking the books. Yong looked up at Varian and Harmony.

"Aren't you guys worried about him reading your books?" He asked in concern.

"Wait for it..." Varian simply replied, not even fazed at all. Harmony didn't seem so concerned either as she tossed an apple in her basket. Suddenly a small explosion occurred and Chang whipped around, giggling. Hugo's whole face was covered in soot, one of his sleeves aflame with green.

"W-what?!" He could only stammer in shock.

Harmony slid down the ladder, turning to him with a hand on her hip. "Our books are rigged with Quirineon," She started off as the books were still closed, and Hugo turned them to see vials of the stuff rigged to the back covers. "Our personal books and that journal are triggered to activate it if you even try to open them. And then I would aim something at you, Hugo. It just won't be my arrows. So, don't even try opening them again."

Varian smirked, jerking a thumb at her. He looked at her and she smiled shyly before turning around. Varian frowned a bit. Ever since the first trial, they hadn't had that much conversations. She made it clear that she didn't hate him, but she also didn't want to face the inevitable conversation. The one where they had to talk about how his actions affected her in the past...

"Why are we even picking apples anyway?" Hugo complained, dusting himself off. "Aren't we supposed to get to the next trial?"

"Because someone got into all of the apples that are supposed to be for everyone..." Varian gave a look at Ruddiger when he said that.

"Make that two," Yong glanced at Prometheus, who was literally eating apples from one of the trees.

"Anyway, I'm sure you don't want us to drop dead on this journey," Varian told Hugo, and the blonde had to reluctantly agree with that.

Harmony sighed to herself. "Just what we needed, another Shorty..." She muttered, turning back to the tree. Yong looked back to Varian, following his direction to look at Harmony.

"Varian?"

"Huh? What?" He blinked down at the boy.

"You keep staring at Harmony."

"Oh..." He rubbed his neck in embarrassment. "I know, it's just...it's been weird whenever we're together. The first trial brought back...things that neither of us want to talk about. But I don't want things to be weird with her..."

"You do love Harmony, right?" Yong questioned with a raised brow.

"Of course I do!" Varian answered with no hesitation.

"You wanna hold her?" The boy narrowed his eyes.

"Yes?"

"Please her?!"

"Where is this going?" Hugo covered his eyes with his hand.

"Yes, Yong!"

"Then you gotta try a little tenderness~!" Yong sung loudly, the two boys blinking at him. Harmony and Chang turned to him in confusion. But they decided to ignore it, going back to the apples. "Girls love that romantic stuff! Trust me, I know. I have 6 sisters."

There was a small pause from both of them and then they ended up bursting in laughter. Varian held his stomach as Hugo wiped away a tear from his eye. Yong just looked up at them in confusion, seeing nothing wrong with what he just said.

"What?"

"Just talk to her. I'm not spending the rest of this journey with you two avoiding each other like the plague," Hugo crossed his arms. Varian rolled his eyes and decided to go for it. He placed down the basket on the ground, walking up to the girl.

He cleared his throat, Harmony flinching. "Um...Mona, about the first trial-"

"Oh, what's that, Silver?" Harmony spoke up suddenly. "You smell more apples over there? Okay let's go!" She jumped onto her horse, snapping the reins as the two raced off to the right, shocking everyone.

"Mona!" Varian called out, getting on Prometheus and chasing after her.

"You guys!" Yong shouted as the others stared after them in disbelief. "You can't just leave!"

Neither of them listened as they disappeared further into another part of the forest.

"And yet they did. Huh, that's my thing," Hugo murmured, crossing his arms.

"Hopefully they realized that they left us without horses..." Chang sighed a bit.

The two horses ran past trees, the girl not even looking back at Varian. She didn't even know where she was going and she didn't care. She just did not want to face this now or never. And it scared her that someday she would...

"Come on, Prometheus!" Varian snapped his reins and he managed to catch up to the two. "Mona, stop!"

She panted a bit in fear. She didn't want to deal with this now, she just wanted it to go away. Silver neighed in alarm to get Harmony's attention, and she looked up to see a cliff.

"Oh no," She murmured as Silver slid to an abrupt stop. So abrupt that the girl actually fell off the horse. She grunted at the hard impact, Varian coming to a stop once they realized what happened. Harmony stood up, dusting herself off. But then a loose rock right underneath her feet fell off and she ended up falling down the cliff.

"Mona!" Varian jumped off his horse and then used his feet to slide down the rock. Harmony let out a scream before she started rolling down the cliff. Varian reached out when he was close enough, grabbing her waist gently. They ended up landing on a small ledge.

They both sighed in relief until the ledge broke apart and they both ended up sliding down. The two screamed, hugging each other before they reached grass, landing roughly.

"Ow..." She held her head as they sat up. Varian's eyes widened as he took in their surroundings. They were in a well-lit area, surrounded by glowing mushrooms, oak trees, and some fireflies flying around even though it was still daytime.

"You okay?" Varian helped the girl onto her feet.

"Dealing with inner demons and falling off a cliff. Not a good start to whatever is coming up!" She grunted a bit, looking towards the forest. "Where are we?"

"My guess is...somewhere far from the apple orchard," He commented and they heard a faint whinny. The two looked up and saw the 1,500-feet tall cliff that they fell down on.

"Silver! Prometheus!" Harmony called out to them. "Go and get help! Get anybody, okay?!"

"Hurry!" Varian urged them and they nodded to each other, running off to go get the others. Harmony scaled the rock with her eyes, hands on her hips. "Could your black rocks get us out?"

"Not at this height, it's too tall," Harmony muttered, glancing behind her. "It's gonna take hours for them to get back. Silver and Prometheus aren't as fast as Max."

"Yeah, you'd think he'd teach them how to improve their speed," Varian commented, finding it a bit ironic.

"Meanwhile, we're in another enchanted forest," Harmony shook off some stray mud from her hand. "I thought we were past those."

"Eh, as long as you're here, I can handle anything," Varian shrugged, earning a soft smile from the girl. They looked up ahead at the forest, stepping forward slowly. After they turned into birds, the two tended to be wary of enchanted forests, especially since they were in one they knew nothing about. The Forest of No Return they would have gotten through with no problem with Adira on their side, but they didn't have her guidance this time around...

Varian pushed past a bush as Harmony took the lead. She lifted up her skirt, stepping over a small rock. The two unknowingly stepped through a barrier that was invisible to them as it flickered once they got through.

"Mm?" Harmony started to feel a bit whoozy as she wobbled a bit.

"Are you alright?" Varian helped her stand.

"Yeah, I just...feel a bit tired of all a sudden. Come on, let's see if we can find a way out of here," She waved him forward. He suddenly walked around her and once she got close enough, he wrapped his arms around her legs, placing her on his back piggy-style. "V-Vari, what are you-"

"It's okay, Mona," He told her as he looked into her eyes. "I don't mind."

She blushed, smiling down at him softly. He adjusted the girl so that she was comfortable and walked forward.

"We can't just leave them!" Yong protested to Hugo as he was packing up to leave. "They're connected to this journey, and we promised we'd help them..."

"You did. I didn't remember making any promises," Hugo slung his backpack over his shoulder. "Besides, they'd want us to get to the second trial."

He turned around, only to be faced with Chang. "And why do you wanna get there so bad?"

The boy sweated a bit, since he obviously couldn't tell them. "S-So I don't have to look at Varian's stupid face."

"Suuure," Yong rolled his eyes. "But you're the one who wanted to join us, and one rule about us is that we don't leave others behind! So it's either all of us or none of us!"

Hugo raised a brow at him. True, he didn't like Varian, and Harmony could kill him at the drop of a hat, but...he still needed them to get to the other totems. They had more knowledge about them with the journal, which he didn't have access to...

"Fine," Hugo sighed in defeat, rolling his eyes. "But I would like to point out that we have no way to find them."

"Yeah, that's true..." Chang rubbed her chin. Suddenly, Silver and Prometheus arrived, and they turned to the duo in shock. Ruddiger and Daisy both gave sounds of worry.

"Prometheus! Silver!" Yong ran up to them, glancing at the empty saddles. "Wait...weren't Harmony and Varian with you?"

They neighed, gesturing behind them. "Something's wrong," Hugo frowned a bit, jumping onto Prometheus. "Come on!"

Chang and Yong jumped onto Silver, Ruddiger and Daisy getting behind Hugo. "Show us where they are."

The two turned around and ran as fast as they could.

They reached the cliff where Harmony and Varian fell off, and Hugo noticed something. Once Yong and Chang took one look at the cliff, both of them stiffened, as if they knew what was down there. "Oh no..." Chang murmured in worry as the two backed away.

"What?" Hugo jumped off Prometheus, looking over the edge. "What's down there?"

"It's the Changeling Forest," Yong looked up at him. "A forest that bans outside magic abilities and it changes you. Not mentally, but physically. It turns you into any animal, and the longer you stay in there..." He glanced at his sister nervously.

"It'll become permanent..." Chang closed her eyes. "And legend says that a woman stalks the forest for..." She couldn't even finish the sentence.

Hugo looked down at the forest, gripping his satchel. Which meant that Harmony and Varian were unknowingly in danger...

The two stayed silent as Varian continued walking. He glanced up at the brunette. Technically, they were alone and this could be a good opportunity to talk to her...

"Mona, why were you avoiding me?" He asked quietly and she looked at the back of his head. "You only did that when I found out about your black rocks...it felt...so weird to me. And sometimes things are awkward and...I don't want that with you."

She didn't say anything for a few seconds as she rested her chin on his right shoulder. "It's just...you brought up the first trial and...certain stuff came coming back to me," She whispered quietly enough for him to hear.

"Yeah...I felt that too even though at the same time, I feel really close with you," He looked away a bit sadly. "And...I think we both know why."

"Yeah..." Harmony murmured a bit in agreement as she felt uncomfortable just bringing it up. But she can't avoid it forever, especially since Varian had been there a lot during her rough times—well, before his times of villainy. He never judged her for her power and still spent time with her despite her trying to protect him.

"I wanted to ignore it too, but I don't think that's possible anymore," Varian spoke up as he glanced around at some fungi nearby. Some of it looked too weird for them to be normal mushrooms. "You know, there's something I don't get."

"What?" She wondered as she saw them too, deciding to not pay attention to them.

"Why did you forgive me so easily for...doing what I did to you?" He asked slowly and she stared at him. "I deserved to earn anger, even silence, but you fought to help me instead. So what changed?"

He looked towards the ground as he felt undeserving of her affection. She was a co-queen, and while everyone else might trust him now, this would follow him for the rest of his life. And yet here she was, still by his side for some reason. He didn't understand what kept drawing her back to him.

"...Because I never forgot about you during the storm, Vari," She spoke up and he looked back ahead to the path, feeling a little less self-conscious now. "And I didn't want you to feel like I did."

"That means a lot..." He told her, glancing over to look in her eyes with a soft smile. She smiled back and he took a deep breath. "I'm not going to make excuses anymore. I was angry, and I was upset that no matter what I did...it still didn't help my father. But that wasn't an excuse to take it out on you the way I did. I'm sorry, Mona. I'm so sorry," He squeezed his eyes shut as he could still remember hitting her when she did nothing wrong. She risked her own life to go help him during the storm, and that was how he repaid her...

"I know..." Harmony murmured softly, closing her eyes.

"I tried to hurt you, your family!" Varian exclaimed suddenly. "I kidnapped your mother, and I abused your sister's power! I don't deserve you..."

She didn't respond and his eyelids drooped a little. He snapped out of it, realizing that she hadn't said a word.

"Mona?"

He looked back at her, only to find her lying on the grass behind him. "Mona!" He bent down to her, feeling something stirring in his throat. He coughed a bit and something landed on his hand. He looked to see white feathers on his glove.

"Oh no..." He murmured softly, feeling a bit groggy. He then felt dizziness before falling right next to the girl. Both of them suddenly transformed. A rustle from the bushes occurred, and someone moved away the leaves, looking down at the two. She had been searching for something, but found things much better.

"Well, well, well...right on schedule! I'm starving!"

Hugo kneeled a bit, looking down the slope of the cliff. "The idiots must've fell off the cliff."

"Hey!" Yong narrowed his eyes in annoyance.

"There's no way to get down there without us being at risk?" Hugo ignored Yong as he stood up, looking at the two. Chang sadly shook her head no.

"No...and no one's ever gotten out of that forest alive. It's surrounded by a barrier and once you touch it, you already start to feel the effects. But if you possess magical abilities, it's felt much quicker." Chang looked down at the forest. "So by now, Harmony must already be affected, and neither of them probably don't even know what's happening to them."

"There's a barrier? What barrier?"

Yong took a rock and threw it at a tree. Then the barrier appeared, and the rock hit the top.

"Oh...that barrier."

"We'll have to risk it. They would've done the same for us," Yong stated, and Ruddiger handed him a grappling hook.

"Oh no. There's no way that I'm-"

Chang and Yong slid down the rope anyway and the animals followed, even the horses. Hugo sighed in defeat. If he didn't, they wouldn't get the totems faster...

He started to climb down and then he jumped to the bottom when he got close enough. Chang and Yong did not feel too excited to step into the forest. Hugo walked past everyone.

"Come on, let's get this over with."

He paused and turned back to them. Chang cleared her throat. "Y-Yeah, let's...let's go..."

"You don't have to go if you don't want to. I could just save them on my own. I'm a hero too."

Yong growled a bit, clenching his fists. "Fine! Let's do this, Chang," He grabbed her hand, stepping through the barrier. The others followed suit and Hugo just shook his head, taking the lead.

He had no idea how long he had been asleep, but apparently he was. The last thing he remembered was seeing Harmony passed out, and then he must've followed suit...he wasn't sure why. He flinched in surprise to see himself in a bird cage.

"W-What?" From the looks of it, he was small enough to fit inside. "Why am I in a..." He then looked at himself to see that he was looking at a white wing from his own body. He examined himself to find that he was now a chicken. "Ahh!"

His hair was still the same, and he was a medium-sized chicken with white feathers.

"Mm?"

He turned to Harmony to see that she was turned into a white duck. Her hair was still in a braid, and just like the time they were turned into birds, she had no moon symbol anywhere on her.

She sat up, rubbing her back of her neck. Her eyes widened as she was touching feathers and looked at her wing.

"We're...we're animals! Again!" She exclaimed in disbelief as she got onto her webbed feet.

"Who's behind this?" Varian narrowed his eyes, looking around for a person. They were in front of a boiling pot that was in front of a few stairs. They belonged to a very familiar caravan, as it was small and red with a sign.

"Wait a minute...we've seen that caravan before!" Harmony gasped as they stared at it. "That only belongs to-"

Madame Canardist burst the door open, with Vigor on her shoulder. "I'm just about finished preparing the pot for our dinner, Vigor!"

They hadn't seen her or the monkey ever since she cursed them, though Rapunzel and Harmony had both drawn pictures of them. And fairly recently, too. Their mouths opened at the sight of her, waving their hands.

"Wait, wait, stop!"

"We're not becoming dinner!"

Madame Canardist blinked at them, tilting her head. "Oh! They must be magical food if they speak!"

"No!" Harmony sighed a bit. "It's us! Harmony and Varian, remember?" She gestured to herself. The woman rubbed her chin as she examined them, even looking at their hair.

"Who?"

Varian facepalmed himself, as it was pretty obvious that it was them... "You cursed Mona? You stole her necklace, and we helped you find Vigor?"

"We also took him along with us once?" Harmony raised a brow. Vigor jumped and landed on her cage, overlooking the girl.

"Oh! The princess who stole my necklace!" Madame Canardist gestured to herself.

"It wasn't your—ugh! Just let us out, please. We somehow got turned into a chicken and a duck."

"That's because this place is the Changeling Forest," Madame Canardist gestured to everything around them. The two looked around at the clearing they were currently in. "It changes you into an animal, and the effects are permanent if you're here too long. For magic users, it takes much quicker."

"So that's why we felt off earlier...and why I passed out first," Harmony turned to Varian.

"Wait, so why aren't you an animal too?" Varian pointed up at Madame Canardist.

"Because I just happen to have a good luck charm that protects me from its magic," She held up a necklace with a green monkey charm on it. "And they're on sale!" She gestured to several more necklaces that she had. "But it'll cost you for me freeing you and for me to give you them."

They both groaned at this.

Meanwhile, Yong, Chang, Hugo, and the animals were starting to feel the effects from the forest as they continued walking. Ruddiger was sniffing the ground, trying to get their scent that way. He eventually found something and pointed behind the bushes.

"Oh...Ruddiger's got something," Yong held his head, feeling dizzy.

"Just a little further..." Chang murmured as they stepped forward.

"I feel sick," Hugo muttered as they stepped through the bush, transforming into the bush. The four animals blinked at them in shock at what they turned into.

Varian and Harmony sat in the caravan, back to normal as they wore the necklaces. Vigor jumped onto Harmony's shoulder, causing her to chuckle.

"Nice to see you too, Vigor."

"He remembers you well, my friends," Madame Canardist sat down across them, handing them some tea.

"So what are you doing here anyway?" Varian couldn't help but ask. "I thought you were out in the world, scamming people like you usually do."

Madame Canardist scrunched up her nose, but gestured to the necklaces. "I find people who were like you two, scare them into thinking they'll be eaten, and then sell the necklaces for a price."

"Of course," Harmony rolled her eyes at this.

"But it's also because Vigor told me to come here," She pointed up at the monkey, who was eating fleas from Harmony's hair. "He had a feeling we would run into you again. Still bad taste, if you ask me."

"Hm?" Harmony raised a brow. The last time they ran into them, Vigor turned out to be Lord Demanitus, and that was why they were being followed.

"Why?" Varian wondered, taking a sip of his tea.

"I don't know! Ask him!" She retorted back.

"But...but we can't. He can't talk," Harmony blinked in confusion. The spell wore off a long ago, a spell that could only be used once, and that was the only time Demanitus had shown himself for over a thousand years.

Vigor then jumped onto the table, taking out his crystal ball. They stared at him as he sat on top of it. The lights dimmed and Vigor waved his fingers.

"Oh! A prediction...for free," Madame Canardist looked a bit annoyed upon finding that out. They watched as he chattered, the table shaking. The windows reacted just like the first time they met him. The monkey opened his eyes and everything just stopped. The woman took out a slip of paper and started writing in it. Vigor took it once she was done, handing it to them. Harmony opened it up.

"Only the sun holds the key...?" Varian murmured in confusion.

"What...does it mean?" Harmony looked up at him.

Suddenly a noise was heard outside and Madame Canardist rubbed her hands together. "More customers, Vigor!"

The three stepped outside...to find that Hugo was a pig, Yong was a baby panda, and Chang was a rabbit, and all of them kept their hairstyles just like the other two. The four animals were trying to set them free, as they had stumbled upon a net trap.

"Guys!" Varian blinked at them in surprise. He then snickered at Hugo, who glared at him.

"Not. A. Word," He dared them. The two just laughed at him, finding this payback for stealing the totem from them.

After changing them back to normal and paying Canardist 5 silver coins each (which angered Varian a little bit since the two paid 6), they sat in her caravan, listening to the stories Harmony and Varian had of them. Well, except for the one where Demanitus ended up being Vigor, since that was a story for another day.

"So...you play the old woman act to scam people out of their money?" Hugo pointed at her. "With your supposed psychic monkey? Respect, I must say."

"Course you'd think so," Yong rolled his eyes.

"Oh, he's psychic," Harmony confirmed, sipping her tea. "But don't worry, Eugene was just like you when we met these guys."

"That's so cool!" Yong's eyes shined and Chang nodded in agreement.

"I can't believe we're meeting people you guys know!"

"Could've been worse," Harmony commented as she put her cup down. If it was Calliope, they would've left a lot sooner. "So long as you don't curse me or anyone else," She gave Madame Canardist a small glare.

"You didn't hurt them, did you?" Yong demanded them.

"Of course not," Madame Canardist waved it off.

"She found us when we turned into a duck and a chicken," Varian gestured to them. "Trust us, Yong, they're...mostly good guys."

"So then why are they here?" Chang asked the couple. Varian held up the piece of paper.

"To give us this. It's a clue, but I don't know for what."

Hugo snatched it from him and read it. "...Yeah, I don't know what that means," He tossed away the paper like it was nothing and Daisy caught it, chirping at him.

"All of his clues have had meaning behind them, so maybe the sun's got something to do with it?" Harmony rubbed her chin. "Ah, but that doesn't make sense, though..."

Vigor suddenly dug into Varian's satchel, pulling out Scarlett's journal. He then ran off with it. "Hey!" Varian protested and took off into a run. The other four stood up, running after the two. Vigor ran towards a rock some distance away from the caravan, coming to a stop. He landed on the rock, turning around and putting down a flower.

The four came to a stop, seeing the plant. "A flower?" Yong asked as Harmony picked it up. "Now I've seen everything."

"No, it must mean something," Varian shook his head as Harmony examined it.

"This monkey knows more than it's letting on," Chang examined him and Vigor jumped onto Harmony's right hand. She looked at her sun symbol and then the flower.

"Or maybe he's just gotten crazier the last time you saw him," Hugo crossed his arms. "Look, your stories of this thing might have happened, but that doesn't mean it's true."

"Half the stuff we've seen, and you don't believe in a psychic monkey?" Varian glared at him.

"No, I actually don't! It's just to scam people, it's nothing new to me, Freckles."

"Don't call me that," Varian looked at him in annoyance.

"No, I think I might stick with it, actually."

"Alright!" The brunette snapped at them and they clamped their mouths shut. Varian huffed at him and Hugo returned the favor. "I think he wants me to do something..." Harmony murmured to them. "Vigor, do I need to do something? Blink twice for yes, and once for no."

He blinked twice for yes and Chang gasped. "So then fate brought us all here! Just like real psychic stuff!"

"Only the sun holds the key...sun...flower...my right hand-I think he wants me to do the healing incantation?"

Vigor blinked twice again and Harmony stared down at him, baffled. "Um...not sure why, but okay."

"The healing incantation?" Hugo raised a brow at everyone.

"You've never heard of the sundrop or the moonstone?" Yong looked up at him, baffled.

"No. My home isn't as successful as Corona or Bayangor," He waved it off. "We don't use newspapers, we use these little orbs that tell us what's happening, and I hardly carry mine around because I don't keep up with what goes on."

"And yet you have those orbs that tell you the news?" Harmony looked at him skeptically.

"Not every kingdom has accessible money like you guys."

She held up her hands in defeat, turning back to the monkey. He had already taken his place back on the rock. Harmony kneeled in front of him.

Flower gleam and glow

Let your power shine

Both of Harmony's hands started to glow, shocking all of them. Harmony cleared her throat to continue.

Make the clock reverse

Yellow and blue swirls escaped from her hair, wrapping around Vigor. Instead of questioning it, they decided to wait and see what would happen.

Bring back what once was mine

What once was mine

Vigor was set down on the rock, his eyes closed. Harmony opened her eyes, gasping. "Oh no, please don't tell me I killed him!"

"He's still breathing, he's not dead," Varian assured her. "What'd you do, though?"

"I'm not sure..."

"I say somebody poke him," Yong pointed to the monkey.

"What?!"

"It's just to make sure," Yong stated to Harmony. Everyone stepped backwards a bit and she flinched as that left her.

"Of course, leave it to me to poke him," She grabbed a stray stick and poked the monkey's belly. He suddenly let out a scream, and the four screamed as well. He screamed again, and then they screamed, Harmony stumbling back.

"Oh...haven't been in this body for quite some time," Demanitus patted his monkey body as Harmony gasped in awe.

"What just happened?!" She stood up, staring at him.

"The...the monkey's talking, right?" Hugo asked everyone to make sure he wasn't crazy. Demanitus then looked up and saw her.

"Oh, Harmony! Good to see you."

"What is happening?" Chang whispered to them. "Doesn't he already know you two?"

"Guys..." Harmony gestured to the monkey. "Meet Lord Demanitus."

Varian's mouth opened at him as the three blinked in surprise. Then Hugo ended up laughing out loud, holding his stomach.

"You mean to tell me this monkey is Lord Demanitus?! It's not possible."

"I'll have you know young man, I built the very same device that banished Zhan Tiri into the Lost Realm!" Vigor crossed his arms, rubbing his stomach. "Now I need a banana."

"Lord Demanitus!" Varian kneeled in front of him. "When Mona and Rapunzel told me you were a monkey, I couldn't believe it, but now I'm seeing it with my own eyes!"

"Ah! You must be Varian. Harmony spoke highly of you last time we met."

Varian's eyes shined at him. "I'm such a huge fan! Thank you for writing me that letter!"

"You're very welcome."

"W-wait, so I thought the spell on you was only a one-time thing," Harmony waved a hand in confusion. "So how are you back in Vigor's body?"

"The Ultimate Power!" Vigor gestured to her. "You wield them both now. Its power is immense and strong that it can activate a spell to bring my mind back. For how long, I don't know."

"Cool!" Yong commented as he stood in front of the monkey. "I've heard so much about you."

"Me too! I look up to you," Chang gestured to herself and Vigor looked to the co-queen.

"Who are your friends?"

"Well, this is Hugo, Chang, and Yong, and you already know Varian," Harmony pointed to all of them as Varian was currently fanboying. She giggled at him. "So the spell brought you back for a reason, why is that?"

"This book," He held up Scarlett's journal.

"You know about the seven trials?" Hugo raised a brow at him.

"Of course I did, it's my device that composes of the seven totems! I came back to inform Harmony of her ties to this journey."

"Okay, so what?" Harmony questioned curiously. "What do I have to do with this?"

"As you all know, the moonstone and sundrop were divided and fell into the Earth many years ago," He started off. "And that the Ultimate Power is the embodiment of both of them. Well...throughout this journey, you'll need to learn how to perfect that skill. There are several obstacles during these trials that will require you to use it to progress. You'll endure various dangers and find answers to many questions."

"Did you know my mom?" Varian asked the monkey, surprising him. "That's the whole reason why we're even seeking out these totems."

"I had heard of Scarlett and Donella," Demanitus looked at the journal, Hugo flinching a bit. "But no, I didn't have the chance to meet them personally. I was already lost into this body by the time they attempted the trials. Just remember, you two," He pointed up to Harmony and Varian. "You are never alone in your journey."

"Thanks, Demanitus," Harmony smiled softly at him.

"No, thank you for defeating Zhan Tiri. I can now live peacefully with the relief that you have the Ultimate Power. May you prevail in your journey."

The group finally climbed up the cliff to reach the top. Harmony reached it first, dusting herself off. Varian followed, holding his journal.

"We should go back for the apples, we left them behind while looking for you," Chang spoke up, getting onto Prometheus.

"You guys go on ahead," Varian glanced at Harmony. "Personal stuff."

"Ohh," Yong nudged him knowingly, him and Hugo jumping onto Prometheus. "You guys won't run off again, will you?"

"No," Harmony rolled her eyes in amusement. "Don't worry, we'll catch up."

They watched their friends leave and Varian rubbed his neck. Harmony rubbed her arm awkwardly as she remembered their earlier conversation.

"Look, Vari...I know you still find yourself at fault for what happened with me after the storm," Harmony started off, Varian gripping a strap of his backpack as he closed his eyes. "But the best way to handle this isn't to blame yourself. I know I don't," She gestured to herself. "Changing the past by trying to do everything you can...it sometimes doesn't work out the way you want it to," She bit her lip knowingly, placing her hand on his shoulder. "What happens next is up to you. Trust me...it's not always going to be like this."

He had spent months believing that, but now that she was telling him...he had a little bit of hope that they'd get past this, and that he could establish her trust in him.

"I trust you..." He smiled at her.

"Good," She chuckled a bit and he pulled her close, giving her a brief kiss. She smiled up at him and they mounted Silver. He snapped the reins and she hugged his waist as they raced off back towards their friends.

Angel: Someone asked about if the mystery female I was referring to last chapter is Cassandra. No, she's not joining the group, but she will make an appearance! Sorry for getting your hopes up. I actually was referring to Nuru.