Ready for more siblings fluff, I know I am. Either way I hope you enjoy this week's chapter.
Chapter 39: Comfort and shock:
"Wait, wait, wait, so Zhan Tiri is helping Cass ?"Eugene asked, once the hot air balloon landed in Old Corona.
After his and Rapunzel's adventure at the Spire, Rapunzel told Eugene what she had learned about the little girl that Cassandra was with, and, more importantly, who she truly was.
"I don't think she's helping Cass, at least, that's not her intention ,"Rapunzel told him.
"So, you think she's manipulating her ?"Eugene questioned with a raise of hi brow.
"That's my theory so far, but there's someone I think we should check with before we can confirm anything ,"Rapunzel explained, hopping out of the basket and tying it to a nearby tree.
Eugene got out of the balloon as well, helping his girlfriend to tie it down. Then, taking Rapunzel's arm, they walked over to Varian's home. Eugene had a pretty good idea who they were visiting, but he still didn't know why. As if sensing his confusion, Rapunzel started to explain.
"Alice use to go to a school for magic. I don't doubt that she learned at least something about Zhan Tiri, she might even know if she's really using Cass or not ,"she explained, raising a fist to knock on the door.
"Rapunzel, Eugene, you're back !"A slightly squeaky voice exclaimed.
The couple turned to see Varian rushing up to them, his father behind him pushing a wheelbarrow filled with pumpkins. Rapunzel gave Varian a hug as he reached them, while Eugene ruffled the boy's hair, all three of the friends were smiling.
"What are you guys doing here, I thought that you would want to rest after your trip ?"Varian asked.
"Actually, we were wondering if Alice was here? We really need to talk to her ,"Rapunzel explained.
"I would assume she's still in her room cleaning ,"Quirin told them, placing the wheelbarrow off to the side before opening the door to let his guests inside.
"That girl must be a real neat freak then ,"Eugene said, stifling a laugh.
"Har, har, actually you do bring up a good point; she should have been finished by now ,"Varian said, leading his friends towards his sister's room.
"Why's that ?"Rapunzel asked in curiosity.
"Well, she said that she'd have dinner ready when me and Dad got back home. So either, she lost track of time, or she really wants her room to be clean ,"Varian said shaking his head at his sister's nonstop determination.
"How do you know she's not in the kitchen then ?"Eugene questioned.
"You can smell my daughter's cooking from hundreds of feet away. There was this one time when Varian knew her pancakes were finished before she did, and he wasn't even anywhere near the kitchen at the time; or even awake ,"Quirin said, laughing lightly and causing Varian to laugh as well.
"Well, we don't mean to intrude either way. We can always come back later ,"Rapunzel said, grabbing Eugene's arm and turning to leave the family to their quiet evening.
"Don't worry Rapunzel, I'm sure Al won't mind talking with you guys for a bit. We're all friends after all and I'm sure dinner can wait a little longer ,"Varian told her.
Rapunzel opened her mouth to offer a reply, only to stop when she heard the sound of sobbing coming from down the hallway. She recognized the sobs instantly. They were the ones from her dream, so long ago. They were Alice's sobs. Rapunzel shared a glance with her friends and Quirin, before said man rushed down the hall with Varian following right behind him. Rapunzel and Eugene joining only seconds later. All four of them stopped at the open doorway to Alice's room and the sight easily broke their hearts. Alice was there, sitting on the floor, holding something tightly to her chest, her eyes filled with tears as she weeped.
"Alice, Sweetheart, what's wrong ?"Quirin asked, approaching his daughter and kneeling down next to her.
Varian approached her as well. He placed a gentle hand on her shoulder, rubbing small circles, just like she would when he was upset. Alice didn't respond for a minutes, but then she gently wiped away her tears, before turning to face her father.
"Oh Dad... I've made a horrible mistake and I don't know how to fix it ,"Alice said, tears escaping her eyes again.
"Sweetheart, I don't understand. What's- ?"Quirin started, stopping when he saw what was in his daughter's hands.
He took the object out of Alice's grasp and looked it over. Revealing it to the group as a homemade picture frame with a painting inside of it. Quirin looked back at his daughter, who was hugging herself know, with the lack of the painting, and he knew exactly what was going through his daughter's head.
"I see, curses, of course you had to find this painting ,"Quirin mumbled, looking at the painting then back at his daughter sadly.
"I... don't understand, what's the painting about ?"Varian asked, using his words cautiously as he, Rapunzel and Eugene looked at the painting.
"That was the painting I made when me and Ballora first became friends. We promised each other to always follow those words, and I... I broke that promise... Sisters by chance, friends no more ,"Alice said, sobbing into her hands.
Rapunzel and Eugene looked down at the words on the picture frame, before looking back at Alice sympathetically. Neither of them had any idea of how to help their friend, but Varian seemed to be a couple of steps ahead of them. He knelt down next to his sister and pulled her into a hug.
"Al, you guys can be like that again. You can be friends again, it's what you both want after all ,"He told her.
"But that's just it Vary, you told me how she was afraid of what I would do to her. That I would turn her in to my former master. The thing is... I would have no choice, if she still used the darkness. I want us to be friends again, but no one will let us as long as we're on different sides. Light and dark ,"Alice explained, looking away from her friends and family, and down to the floor.
"Who cares what others think? Do you think you want to be her friend, despite the darkness she wields ?"Rapunzel asked.
"Yes, more than anything. I don't care if she wields a keyblade or not, I don't care if she uses the darkness, I just want my best friend back ,"Alice explained.
"And you can, you just have to tell her that, sis ,"Varian told her.
Alice looked at her brother for a moment, before shaking her head and looking down at her hands. She summoned her keyblade and looked it over, a keyblade of light, made to fight against the darkness. A darkness that her best friend wielded. Her face turned cold after looking at her blade for a period of five seconds.
"Why did I ever make that stupid vow !"Alice yelled, as she tossed, almost throwing, her keyblade away from her.
"Alice, Alice, sweetie it's alright, just calm down ,"Quirin told her, placing his hands on her shoulders.
"Things would have been better if I never got that keyblade, if I never made a vow to fight against the darkness, if I... if I ,"Alice stuttered.
"Alice, just stop. None of this if your fault. Did you betray your best friend? Yes. Did you force her to fuse with you? Yes. Did you lie to me for my entire life? Yes !"Varian exclaimed, looking his sister in the eye as he told her all of this.
"Varian, what are you doing ?"Eugene asked, nervous about how this was going to end.
"However, you also protected me, my entire life. You have always strived to protect the ones you love, and to keep them happy. No matter what happened you never lost faith that you and Ballora could be friends again. You are both right and wrong about this. You do deserve your keyblade Alice, but you also deserved your best friend, no matter if she's apart of the light or the darkness ,"Varian told her.
Everyone remained silent for a few moments, then Alice leaned forward and planted a gentle kiss on the top of Varian's head as she pulled him into another hug.
"When did you get to be so smart and, more importantly, when did you get so good at giving advice ?"Alice asked.
"Probably around the same time you kidnapped me three times ,"Varian said, causing Alice to let out a snort, followed by full on laughter as she pushed Varian away.
"Be serious Vary !"Alice exclaimed, still laughing.
"There's our laughy Ally ,"Varian said, pulling Alice into another hug.
"Stop, you're embarrassing me in front of the prince and princess ,"Alice said, giggling.
"You mean like how you embarrass me all time ?"Varian asked, causing them both to burst out giggling.
"Thanks Vary ,"Alice said, giving his forehead another kiss.
"Anytime sis. Thunder ,"he said, holding out his left hand for his sister.
"Lightning ,"Alice finished, taking his hand in her own, before looking up at the princess.
"By the way Rapunzel, not that I'm not happy to see you guys, but what are you doing here? Varian said you went on an adventure to see Calliope ,"Alice said, turning her attention to her friend as she and Varian got up off the floor.
"Alice, long story short, we need to know some things and you might be one of the only people who can help us ,"Rapunzel told her.
"Sure, no problem. I'm surprised though, the Spire probably has more knowledge than I do, especially since Calliope runs her mouth so much about all the artifacts in that place. Speaking from experience ,"Alice said, rolling her eyes and causing everyone in the room to laugh.
"Speaking of which, we saw you returned the shape-shifting cloak that Varian told us about ,"Eugene said.
"You mean the Shapeshifting Cloak of Retundus? Yeah, I returned that while I was fused as Aurora, me and Ballora would never steal an artifact like that. Barrow yes, steal no. Even though, I gotta admit I love that cloak ,"Alice said, laughing slightly.
"Who wouldn't? We've seen what it can do and I have to say, it really has the ability to trick people ,"Rapunzel said.
"Wait, Cassandra was using the cloak ?"Alice asked, worry filling her voice.
"Not Cass, per say ,"Rapunzel told her.
"Then who? Is this what you wanted to talk about ?"Alice asked, and Rapunzel nodded.
"Alright then, boys, dinner might be a little late ,"Alice said, turning her attention towards her father and brother.
"Don't worry about it Alice, I'll take care of dinner tonight. You can take your time here ,"Quirin told her.
"Thanks Dad, and I promise that I'll make dinner tomorrow ,"Alice promised, her father merely nodded and left the room.
"So, Cass has an accomplice now ?"Alice asked, as Varian turned to leave as well.
"Sort of. She's this little girl with a gothic dress, grey skin, grey hair held in two buns and purplish eyes. She also had this creepy grin ,"Eugene explained, causing Varian to stop in his tracks and for Alice's eyes to widen.
"Did she wear a diadem ?"Varian asked, turning back to Eugene.
"Ummmmm, yes she did. Why ?"Eugene asked.
Alice and Varian looked at each other for a few moments before Alice tilted her head towards her bed, inviting the three of them to sit down. Rapunzel and Eugene shared a skeptical look, but they sat down and were joined by Varian a few moments later.
"How did you know she wore a diadem ?"Rapunzel asked.
"Because when I was held captive by Cass, I had this weird dream. There was a little girl in it and she gave me the clue to find the final incantation, and she looked exactly how you described her, except in my dream she was all blue ,"Varian explained as Alice rushed towards her bedroom door.
Alice was quick to pull the key to her room out of her apron pocket. She closed the door before sliding the key in the lock, and locking the door. Once she was finished, he placed the key safely back in her pocket.
"Okay, twice was a coincidence, but three times one of us sees her and I know I'm not crazy ,"Alice said, shaking her head.
"Wait, you know her ?"Rapunzel asked.
"Well, I know of her. I heard about her back in school. When I saw that portal appearing back at the tower, I though I was crazy, and then I though Varian's dream was just a coincidence, but now you guys see her with Cass and I know things are bad ,"Alice said, pacing the room.
"Alice, who is she ?"Varian asked.
"She' Zhan Tiri ,"Rapunzel said.
This caused Varian and Alice to turn towards the princess. Seeing the looks of surprise on their faces, she merely shrugged as she explained.
"She told me so herself ,"she explained.
"Does Cass know ?"Alice asked, and Rapunzel shook her head.
"So, basically what we wanted to know is how much you knew about her ,"Eugene explained.
"Well, I learned about Zhan Tiri while I was still in school, but of course, I heard of her and Lord Demanitius' stories when I was very young. Xaiver told me all he knew about her ,"Alice explained, sitting down at her desk.
"Xaiver told us about her stories too, but luckily for us, two out of her three followers are gone. Sugaracha was sent into another realm, and Tromus was destroyed back in the House of Yesterday's Tomorrow ,"Rapunzel explained.
"The that means all three disciples of Zhan Tiri are finally gone, so that's one less thing to worry about ,"Alice said, sighing in relief.
"Wait, who was the third disciple ?"Eugene asked.
"I'm surprised you haven't figured it out yourselves. After all, Mother always had extensive knowledge about the Sundrop flower, didn't she ?"Alice asked, turning towards Rapunzel with an apologetic look.
"Wait, Gothel was...?"Rapunzel stated and Alice nodded.
"Sorry for bring her up, but yeah, she used to be a disciple of Zhan Tiri. Although, she wouldn't be honored by Zhan Tiri if she was still alive, she wanted to use you for herself, not her master ,"Alice said, sadly shaking her head.
"Okay, so her disciples are gone, but what is she planning now ?"Varian asked.
"I think it's clear that she's manipulating Cassandra for some type of battle, but of what type ?"Alice asked herself, holding her chin in thought.
"When we were at the Spire, she told me that once the eclipse arrives Corona will be nothing more than dust ,"Rapunzel offered, hoping to help her friend any way she could.
"AN ECLIPSE? WHEN !?"Alice demanded.
"I don't know, she just said an eclipse was coming ,"Rapunzel told her.
"This is bad, this is really bad !"Alice exclaimed.
"What's wrong, it's just the moon crossing in front of the sun ,"Eugene said.
"But that weakens the sun's power !"Alice exclaimed.
"What's so bad about that ?"Varian asked, not understanding why his sister was so upset about such a scientific occurrence.
"It's bad, because by that extension it also weakens-,"Alice started, motioning for everyone to finish.
"The Sundrop !"Everyone realized, before turning to look at Rapunzel.
"So, when the Sundrop is weakened, that means-?"Eugene started.
"It means that the Sundrop will be free to take from Rapunzel, I think Zhan Tiri plans to steal it with Cassandra's help. Once she has the Sundrop she can easily get the Moonstone, it's not as well hidden as the Sundrop after all ,"Alice explained.
"Okay, so not good. But I won't let her take it without a fight ,"Rapunzel assured her, voice determined.
"That's our princess, although can you promise me something, Rapunzel ?"Alice asked.
"Sure, what do you need ?"Rapunzel asked.
"Just tell me when you see Zhan Tiri again, because if she steps another foot near my family or my friends, then so help me I will...,"Alice started, punching her left palm with her right fist for emphasis.
"Ummm sis, it's not a good idea to go picking battles with a demon ,"Varian pointed out.
Alice took a deep breath at her brother's words, calming down enough to smile at him.
"You're right Varian, but just tell me if she shows up in your dreams again, okay. Oh, also if you see her, I want to know about it ,"Alice told them.
"You got it Angel ,"Eugene assured her and everyone else nodded in agreement.
"Now, I'm sure you both are exhausted from your trip, so why don't you stay for dinner ?"Alice offered.
"Oh, no. We couldn't, we don't want to intrude anymore than we already have ,"Rapunzel said.
"Nonsense, it's the least we can do for the princess of Corona and her boyfriend. Plus, both of you are our friends and are always welcomed in our home ,"Alice told them, and Varian nodded in agreement.
"Alright, we'll stay, but only because you're offering ,"Eugene told her.
"Alright, I'll go and help Dad with dinner. In the meantime Varian, go and wash up, I'm sure with two cooks in the kitchen dinner will be ready shortly ,"Alice said, unlocking the door.
"Yes Mom ,"Varian said in a mocking tone.
"Rapunzel, do you mind tossing me one of those pillows on the bed ?"Alice asked, and Rapunzel tossed her the flower shaped pillow.
"Thanks ,"Alice said, proceeding to toss it into her brother's face.
"Hey !"Varian exclaimed, laughing lightly.
"Go and wash up before I attack you with soap ,"Alice threatened, laughing as well.
"Alright, alright. You know I was only joking ,"Varian said, placing the pillow back on the bed before walking out of the room.
"I know, and I was teasing right back ,"Alice said, smiling as she mead her way towards the kitchen, Rapunzel and Eugene right behind her.
Well, that was fun. I hope you enjoyed it as well. I'll see you all next week.
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