Hello everyone! Nice to see you all again. This chapter is going to start us off on a little journey where we meets some of Alice's old friends, see some new places and even see her old- OOps, now that's a spoiler! But if you've been following the hints I dropped in previous chapters, I think you can figure it out. I hope you enjoy. ; )
Chapter 44-Back to school:
The next day, everyone was inside of the Snuggly Duckling, Rapunzel, Eugene, and their friends trying to decide what course of action to take. They had been discussing plans for hours, but still no one could figure out the best way to take back Corona, or to defeat Cassandra.
"We can't just attack Cassandra. Zhan Tiri is there with her, and attacking the capital would mean not only getting close to her, but to the Moonstone. We can't risk Cass hurting anyone ,"Eugene said.
"Cass is not some monster, and I don't believe for a second she's willingly working with Zhan Tiri. We just need to come up with a plan ,"Rapunzel said.
"Princess, what can we do? All of us don't have the ability to use magic like you and Alice, and let's not forget how both Hector and Adira are under the influence of the mindtrap. We'd be fools to go back to the castle without a plan ,"Lance pointed out.
"Speaking of which, where is that sister of yours's Goggles ?"Eugene asked, looking towards the young alchemist and his father.
"I…. don't know actually, I haven't seen her since this morning ,"Varian told them.
"I thought I saw her heading outside just a few moments ago, perhaps she has some ideas ,"Quirin suggested.
"I'll go get her ,"Varian said, heading out of the pub.
"We'll go too, come on Eugene ,"Rapunzel said, and the princess and the Captain of the guards followed the alchemist outside.
As they exited the Snuggly Duckling, they saw a cloaked figure making their way through the forest. The three friends looked at each other before following the figure. They followed the figure through the trees and across streams until finally they came to a steady stroll next to a river. The cloaked figure was walking up the river, until they came to a beautiful waterfall. They finally removed their cloak, revealing themselves and Varian gasped at seeing his sister's long black hair, immediately causing his sister to turn around, her black eyes wide as she spotted her friends and brother.
"What are the three of you doing here ?"she asked.
"We could ask you the same thing ,"Eugene told her.
"Sis really, what are you doing all the way out here ?"Varian asked.
"Ummmm, what are any of us doing out here? Enjoying the scenery, yes, yes we are ,"Alice said, sarcastically.
"Well we were just wondering if you had any ideas about how to save Corona and defeat Zhan Tiri ?"Rapunzel asked.
"Do I have ideas? Yes, yes I do ,"Alice answered.
"Stop doing that !"Eugene exclaimed.
"Doing what ?"Alice asked, innocently.
"Answering our questions with your own question and then answering that question! Why are you avoiding the questions ?"Eugene asked.
"Do I know what you're talking about? No, no I do not ,"Alice said, smiling smugly.
"Alice, come on. If you have an idea we could use it, please tell us ,"Varian begged.
"Vary…..I….I….,"Alice stuttered.
"Charm power !"Varian exclaimed, ripping off his left glove and revealing his bracelet. Alice released a groan, and shook her head.
"Oh muffins ,"she muttered.
"Alice, please, if you know what can help us, we need to know ,"Rapunzel said.
"Alright, alright. I do have an idea about something that can help us. There are many old books and scrolls back at my old school. I don't have a doubt that at least some of them hold information about the Moonstone, the mindtrap, or Zhan Tiri, they might be able to help us. We know that the mindtrap and the Moonstone came from the Dark Kingdom. But when everyone left, the mindtrap was taken to the Spire for safekeeping, that was until Cass took it when you last visited, but that's besides the point. Anyway, the mindtrap might not be well known by the world, but there are literally thousands of books about legendary objects in my school's library, so I came all the way out here to borrow some of those books and scrolls ,"Alice told them.
"Why didn't you tell us this? We could have helped you go through everything and figure out what to bring ,"Varian asked.
"No! Non-magical people have never even stepped foot into the school, and well, this would be the first time I've seen my master or my old friends since I left for Arendelle, so I wanted to make a good impression after all this time ,"Alice told them.
"I get that, but just because we don't have magic doesn't mean we don't get magic ,"Eugene said.
"I know that, it's just…...my old school can be pretty…..intense ,"Alice told them.
"I'm sure we can handle it; after all, we handled you fused as Aurora, your wrath at Cassandra, the mess at the Spire with the mindtrap, having to fight your brainwashed aunt and uncle, the Moonstone in general, and a power hungry demon, I'm sure whatever happens we can handle it ,"Rapunzel assured her.
"Alright fine, you guys can come, but on one condition, Varian it's two for you ,"Alice told them.
"What's the conditions ?"Varian asked.
"For you, stay close to me and for all three of you, let me do the talking ,"Alice told them.
"Okay I guess that's fair ,"Varian said.
"Alright, we'll follow you ,"Rapunzel said and Eugene nodded in agreement.
"Good, now follow me and I'll lead you inside the school ,"Alice told them, heading towards the waterfall.
"So where exactly is this school of yours? Is it invisible, or is it deeper into the forest ?"Eugene asked, looking around as if magic was about to fly over his head.
"No, of course not. The school is behind the waterfall ,"Alice said, taking Varian's hand in her own.
"Sis, I can walk by myself ,"he told her.
"I know you can, but it's extremely slippery for the first few feet in and I don't want you tripping yourself with your own feet ,"Alice said, using her water-bending abilities to push the water aside, guiding the group behind the waterfall.
Behind the gushing water was a long cavern, stretching deeper into the earth. The cavern seemed to go down for miles, making it the most perfect hiding place for a secret school of magic. Safe for the students and safe from anyone who would try to find it.
"Shall we ?"Alice asked, grabbing a stick from the ground and using her magic to light it.
The three of them nodded and followed Alice the water falling back down behind them. Varian kept to his word and stayed close to his sister, his eyes wandering around the caverns in wonder at the secret passageway.
"So how far does this tunnel go ?"Rapunzel asked, attempting to make small talk.
"Not that far, I would say about one hundred, maybe two hundred feet away from the waterfall, then it goes deeper into the earth, and it's just past a few security measures and we're there ,"Alice told them.
"And when you say security measures ?"Eugene asked.
"Just guards, they should be able to recognize me from my keyblade so we don't have to worry about that ,"Alice said, as they saw a beam of light up ahead.
As they got closer the light revealed two young men, both had a keyblade in their hands and they were dressed in similar red armor.
"Ruby guards ,"Alice whispered back to the others before approaching the two guards with an award winning smile.
"HALT !"one of the guards demanded.
"It's alright boys, they're with me ,"Alice told them.
"None of you are permitted to journey farther without being inspected ,"the other guard told them.
"I'm sorry what, inspected ?"Alice asked, giving them a confused look.
"You are not to continue until you have been inspected, our masters have ordered these measures to insure the safety of those deeper into the caverns ," the first guards told them.
"Boys, it's alright, I have a keyblade, just let me show you ,"Alice said, holding out her hand to summon her weapon.
All was quiet for a few moments, but Alice's keyblade didn't form. She tried again and again, but the familiar key shaped blade didn't come. Varian looked from his sister's hand to her face, wondering what she was waiting for. It was then he realized that she didn't want to summon her keyblade, it was that she couldn't!
"What the- where's my keyblade ?!"Alice exclaimed, in both surprise and fear.
"Even if you have a keyblade, which I doubt, these tunnels are protected by enchantments that prevent anyone but our masters and their pupils from using magic inside of these stone walls ,"the second guard told them.
"But I'm one of your master's pupils. I'm Alice, Master Simon's pupil. Green Diamond, I'm sure you've heard of me, the youngest diamond in history and all that ,"Alice said, starting to become flustered.
"Can you prove that ?"the first guard asked.
Alice just stared at the two guards in shock for a second before her face went red. Varian saw the look in his sister's eyes and nervously took a few steps back. Eugene and Rapunzel saw the look as well and followed suit, making sure to place Varian behind them, just in case something happened.
"Can I prove that…...ARE YOU SERIOUS?! I was betrayed by my best friend because I didn't tell her the truth about why she could never wield a keyblade. Then I spent eight years hiding my powers in order to raise my little brother since our mother was gone and most likely dead by this point. Then I risked my life going to Arendelle to track down my former best friend leaving my eight year old brother all alone with my father after I spent the majority of the past eight years raising him. I remind you, without magic, and then I almost died while fighting against my friend. Then I spent these last six years fused with her in order to keep her wrath away from not only my brother but this school, and finally I was forced to torture my own brother just to get unfused, so I would very much like to go see my master and benefit from the vast amount of knowledge stored within these walls. Knowledge that I know can help us in Corona's time of peril, which I can't believe none of you are helping with! I know keyblade wielders and we don't hide when people are in trouble, so for the love of all that is sacred in this world, LET ME PASS AND GET THE INFORMATION I CAME FOR SINCE NONE OF YOU COWARDS ARE GOING TO HELP CORONA !"Alice exclaimed, her words echoing off the walls.
Suddenly an explosion happened with Alice at the center of it. When the dust settled, the walls of the cavern were cracked and the two guards were on the ground, looking at Alice's in shock. She was now standing in a foot deep ditch, cracks in the ground around her, and what was more, a strong green aura surrounded her whole body. Alice let out a grunt of frustration as she got out of the ditch, she then quickly reached for Varian's arm and practically dragged him around the ditch and past the guards, leading the way farther into the tunnel. Rapunzel and Eugene looked at each other before rushing after their friends. Rapunzel saw the way that Alice took hold of Varian; she had grabbed him with such force and she saw her hold him like he would struggle out of her grip at any moment. Eugene saw it as well and they both knew they had to calm the keyblade wielder down before anyone else got hurt.
As the four left, the two guards looked towards each other, before they exchanged looks of surprise. The first guard grabbed their keyblade and rubbed the pearl hanging from the chain. Suddenly a path opened from the wall beside them and out stepped a young woman.
"This is most irregular, I thought rubies weren't permitted to use pearls until they reached a higher status ?"the woman questioned.
"Except in emergencies and this situation requires it ,"the second guard told her.
"My Pearl…...Send word to Master Simon that Green Diamond has returned ,"The first guard said, happily.
Well that was fun, I hope you all enjoy it. Next chapter we'll begin to explore the school and see some of the school inhabitants, I hope you're looking forward to that. Either way I hope you have a good day, stay healthy, stay happy and I'll see you again next week.
Don't forget to like it you enjoy and follow to be kept up to date on when I upload a new chapter. Also leave a comment down below, I love hearing what you guys think. 3