Taran, Eilonwy, Gurgi, and Fflewdurr entered the castle quietly as they came through the large door in front of them, The inside of the castle was found to be dark and foreboding, Dark statues lined against the walls like foreboding Predators glaring at their Prey, Taran came in first, His sword drawn and pointed in front of him defensively, Eilonwy's Bauble hovered closely to give off some light for them.
"Hello…?" Called Taran quietly.
No one seemed to reply.
The Bauble seemed to resonate a smaller light but still bright enough for them all to see, Eilonwy quietly beckoned it back to her, It levitated to her open hand's and she held it close to her.
"Eilonwy." Muttered Taran. "Give the light back, Will you?"
"This is the best we're getting." She said irritably. "Beside we can see just fine from here."
"Gurgi already getting nervous of the Dark." Shuddered Gurgi as he clung to Fflewdurr's legs.
Taran suddenly felt like he and the others were being watched, He turned around and pointed his sword at something he thought was there, But it was just an old Pendulum Clock and a lit Candelabra, feeling relieved, Taran quietly lowered his sword as he and the others moved up a flight of stairs and to a landing, Shadows crept in from all around, Eilonwy's bauble glowed a bit brighter to shed some light, And Gurgi shivered as he felt a cold chill rush through, They also thought they could hear voices, Bickering among themselves.
"... Oh for heaven's sake, More intruders?! ..."
"... Oh come now they're clearly just trying to get out of the storm …"
"... Don't you remember the last time…?"
"...Well what're a few more guests eh…?"
"...And what if they're with him…"
"...Well… they don't look like they'd be with him…"
Taran and the Group stopped and listened to the voices, They quickly died out as they did, Before they could do anything more, Fflewdurr suddenly thought he could hear a low grow somewhere around them he looked behind him But he found nothing there.
"D-Did any of you hear any of that?" Fflewdurr asked.
"Those voices… ?" Asked Eilonwy, glancing around.
"Well yes, but… I think there's something else." Said Fflewdurr.
"I don't think we're alone in this castle…" Said Taran as he peered into the Darkness and held up his sword in front of him defensively.
Eilonwy backed up instinctively, As she did she felt a snarl coming from the shadows, She and the others quickly looked and saw something rush from one side to another.
"Maybe we'd better get out of here now…" She whispered to Taran.
But before he could respond, Fflewdurr let out a yelp of horror, They turned around and saw a large shape jump out of the Shadows with a roar!
It was a massive creature, Baring large sharp teeth, Massive Claws, And was covered in brown fur, He had two horns jutting out of his head, almost making him look like a buffalo, The only clothes he wore were a Purple cloak and Ragged Dark grey breeches.
"Strangers…" It growled, Circling around them.
"Great Belin…" Gasped Fflewdurr, Gurgi quickly scampered up to him and hid in his cloak, Taran held his sword out defensively as they inched away from the Beast.
"Stay… back, I'm warning you!" Said Taran shakily as he almost made a swipe at him. "Don't come any closer!"
"Then you should not be here!" Growled the Beast dangerously. "Are you in league with him?"
"With who?" Asked Taran.
The Beast just growled more, Making Taran and his friends take a few steps back.
"N-Now Now, Be reasonable good chap." Said Fflewdurr nervously. "W-we only wanted shelter from the Rain and uh…"
There was a sudden pause, The beast looked at the Sword in Taran's hands, For a moment he seemed to forget his rage and suddenly looked stupefied with curiosity.
"What… Is that?"
Before he could get a better look, Taran and Eilonwy grabbed Fflewddur and ran away from the beast and down another corridor.
"Hey! your trekking mud!" Yelled the Beast. "... I just had that cleaned… " He muttered and chased after them.
Taran and the others raced down the hall as fast as they could, They could hear the beast roar as he chased after them, Fear gripped their very heartstrings as they continued down the hall and swooped to the left, Gurgi suddenly jumped out off of Fflewddur and raced towards a door ducked behind it.
"In here!" He called.
Taran, Eilonwy, and Fflewdurr quickly ran into the room after Gurgi and shut the door behind them, The beast stopped just outside for a moment then ran off, Fflewdurr peaked out of the Room.
"Is he gone?" Asked Eilonwy.
"I-I believe so." Said Fflewdurr, Shakily looking back.
He took a few steps back from the door and closed it.
"Uh hello, who are you?" Asked a quiet voice from behind.
The four all whipped their heads behind them to the source of the voice, It was a woman, standing beside a large bed, She had brown hair tied into a low ponytail with a blue ribbon, She was dressed in a medium-length blue sleeveless dress with a long-sleeved buttoned-up shirt underneath, A white apron over it, A white petticoat and Black ballet flats, She looked between the four of them curiously, Not showing fear but surprise, interest and a little hesitance.
They all stared for a moment before Fflewdurr spoke up. "Er… Hello, Uh H-how do you do?"
The woman looked hesitant for a moment, Before she spoke up. "Um, Fine I guess…" Said the Young woman. "I heard the beast roar and the next thing I know you show up."
"You live here?" Asked Taran. "Is this your home?"
The woman looked a bit peeved by that question. "N-no… No, not really."
"Then what are you doing here?" Asked Eilonwy.
The woman didn't respond for a moment. "Well, you could say I'm a… guest here of sorts."
"A guest…?" Asked Eilonwy, Her expression becoming suspicious.
"Well actually I'm a… Wait, was he chasing you was he chasing you just now?" Asked the Woman.
They all looked at each other before nodding blankly at once, Unsure who she meant.
The woman seemed to become weary and backed up a step.. "Are you… with him?"
The four were confused.
"With who?" Asked Eilonwy.
Before the woman could answer, The door burst open, Everyone whipped their heads around in fright thinking it was the beast, But it wasn't.
Coming through the doorway was a Clock and a Candelabra, The same ones from earlier but this time, They had faces and artificial limbs for makeshift arms.
"Ah, There you are." Said the Candelabra in a thick French accent, He quickly sized them up. "You fellows certainly look like you've had a long journey."
Taran, Fflewdurr, Eilonwy, and Gurgi looked completely dumbstruck at what they saw. "Are you… Alive?" Asked Taran.
"Alive?" Asked the Clock. "Of course we're alive! You've never seen talking objects before?!"
Everyone gave him a deadpanned look.
"Hm, I suppose not." The Clock said. "Gah! I say!" He was suddenly picked up by Gurgi, Who stared wide-eyed and Curious as he toyed with the Arms on his Face. "Gah Stop that!"
"Gurgi! Let him down." Said Taran, Gurgi put down the Clock, As the latter fiddled himself back together.
"Ugh… Most undignified." He shuddered.
"So… what exactly are you?" Asked Eilonwy curiously.
"Only humble servants of this fine castle, Cerie," Said the Candelabra with a bow and a few kisses to Eilonwy's hand.
"Uh okay, That vaguely answers the question." She said awkwardly.
"I am Cogsworth, Head of the household." Said the Clock. "And the "charming one" is Lumiere."
"A pleasure mademoiselle." Said Lumiere, As he continued to flirt with Eilonwy's hand.
"Oh Stop that you." Said Cogworth Pulling him away.
"Oh of course, Of course, Just making good manors." Said Lumiere sheepishly, He then turned to the four visitors. "And you four are?"
"Oh us?" Asked Taran. "We're just looking for shelter from the storm, We were looking for my Pig and-"
"We were asking for your names." Cogsworth interrupted. "If you please."
"I'm Taran, Of Caer Dalbun and these are my Friends, Gurgi, Eilonwy and Fflewdurr." Said, Taran. "We've been looking for my pig, but we were caught up in the storm outside and well, Ended up here."
"What were you doing out there in the storm?" Asked the Woman.
"Ah well, That's a bit of a long story Miss… Eh." Said Fflewdurr, As he trailed off.
"Uh, Belle." Said the Woman. "My name is Belle."
Eilonwy couldn't help but feel a little more uncomfortable, She felt her Bauble come closer to her as if in a protective state around her.
"So… What are you doing here?" She asked, Hesitantly.
"That's… A bit of a story." Said Belle. "Ish."
"Well, I don't suppose you could…" Said Fflewdurr. "Tell us if a Pig has passed by here or not?"
"A pig?" Asked Lumiere.
"Yes, A pig." Said, Taran. "Any particular pigs passing by, Pretty and Pink, Female, Long eyelashes… You know what A pig is right?"
"Of course we do." Said Cogsworth Indignantly. "And truth be told, We have been seeing a lot of Other passing by lately."
"But, I believe we may have noticed a… Peculiar Pig came this way…" Said Lumiere thoughtfully.
Taran's face lit up. "Y-You have? Where? When? Did you see where she went?!"
"And that… Beast didn't eat her, I hope." Said Fflewdurr.
Cogsworth scoffed. "Eat her? Preposterous, You take the Master for some sort of Savage?"
"Master? You mean, That… guy?" Asked Taran Incredulously.
"Ah yes, That would be him." Said Lumiere. "My sincere apologies for him, We've been having… How do you say? Security issues lately…"
"Some ghastly Braggard has been about lately trying to…" Cogsworth explained, then stopped mid sentence. "Well… You know, Things that Happened before."
"What Happened before?" Asked Eilonwy.
But before any more could be said, A bolt of lightning flashed outside, Than just as Gurgi scurried off in fright, He found himself bumping into something, He looked up and saw… The Beast snarling.
Meanwhile.
A lone Figure stood on a Mountain top, Overlooking the Castle, His long Brown Ragged Robe flapped against the wind and Rain along with his Black Ponytail, A glass Reliquary, With Gargoyle engravings hung from his belt, The Figure gave a fresh stroke of his long black beard as it bellowed with the storm, Than he retreated to a small cave in the side of the Mountain, Where he made his home.
"Bah, Damn weather." Spat the Man. "It does no wonders from my complexion."
A tiny white bat lazed about on a cone above him as he rant. "You could just spare yourself the trouble and just call it quits." He reasoned.
"No!" Snapped the Man, Causing the Bat to lose his Balance and drop from the cone! He managed to get back up in a sitting position, rubbing his head. "That Castle has great power inside it Bartok! And I'll be damned if That beast keeps the Mirror for himself!"
"What do you want that Castle for anyway?" Asked Bartok. "Free real estate?"
"Something like that." Said The Man. "That castle has long been forgotten by outside Memory, But that Enchantress never thought that others of Magical abilities could see past this… And the Treasures of that Castle will be mine."
"And uh… If the Host of that Castle… Refuses?" Asked Bartok sheepishly.
The Sorcerer Smiled a Rotten toothy smile as he clutched his Reliquary. "Than he may have to experience a few things… And Relive something… Cruel."
Rasputin gave a low Mirthless chuckle.
To Be Continued.
Well hope you like this Chapter, It wasn't easy to write, Lot of Writers block on this one, In fact I have a lot of Writer's block, Life you know, And Other things, So sorry for the Lack of Activity, But Don't worry I will find the time and Motivation for my Stories, Just as soon as I work out some… Things.
And about this story, It is a part of the Crossover legends universe, Basically it follows Taran's group after the Events of their time in Crossover Legends Season 1, If you want, Take a read at it along with the Other Installments.
Tales from Animal Farm.
Crossover Legends Season 1.
The Conquest of Egypt.
Viva La New Queen.
Quest for the Black Cauldron.
Crossover legends Season 2.
These Stories are part of the Crossover Legend universe, A series of Crossovers based on the Villain wars tournaments by Various users on Youtube, Such as ManWhoooo, 73windman, GAVillain and Others, I highly recommend you check out their series they are wonderful, And if the Following creators happen to come across this, I want you to know, I am a fan of your works and this is Dedicated to your works.
I also plan to make much more of this Franchise as it goes on, And also Finish the Stories outside of this universe, South Park the Dark Time comes, South Park Exiles, and Go God Go. (Retelling.) Watership Down (Combined Edition.) Will be worked on in it's own Sweet time. I am an Avid fanfic writer and will expect to write a lot more Stories and Characters in the Future.
Stay tuned for now, And as I've said before, Tee Afen Ta Ta for now.