"Why must you annoy me at every single moment of the day!?" Gothel said through gritted teeth. It had been only two days since they left the coven and Gothel was beginning to wish she stayed with Rapunzel back the coven. It was absolute torture being in the presents of her sisters...alone. Taline of course, insisted she come along on the trip, and to be honest she was too afraid to deny the request. However, sitting in a small, cramped, smelly cave around a campfire let her victim to her sister's boredom.
" It's been my sisterly duty to annoy you since you came into this world, a duty I take such pride in," Mag said with a cheeky grin. "Besides you make it too easy" Poking Gothel with a stick in the side as she laughed at her sister's building anger once again.
" WILL YOU STOP IT!" Snapped Gothel as she nudged her sister with her elbow into Magnolia's side.
Sitting opposite to her childish sisters Taline only rolled her eyes at their immature behavior. It amazed her that even after so many years ( Centuries to be honest) they still acted the same. Like children. They always had been like that and Taline often had to play the role of mother to stop them driving her insane or turning them into frogs. Taline the responsible one they called her if memory served her correctly. Although sitting in a cave for the night with nothing to do but ponder about tomorrow's journey, Watching them bicker like old times was entertaining...for now.
The last 10 hours had been tedious but by tomorrow they would have finally reached their first stop on collecting the first ingredient.
" Ladies, I think it's time we get some rest. We have a busy day tomorrow and we need all our energy to focus." Taline said putting away her journals and scrolls.
"Oh? I was hoping we could enjoy the starry night together you know like old times." Magnolia said as she walked out of the cave to admire the bright stars. " Come on it will be fun. It's been years since we been together like this and I've missed my sisters' company."
" Speak for yourself," Gothel muttered under her breath as she pulled a light blanket from her satchel. " I would rather jump from a cliff than spend a whole night listening to you talk about the stars."
"Oh hush, you grumpy bitch. You need this more than Taline does." teased Magnolia.
"Quiet with the both of you. This isn't a vacation, we are out here to get what we need and return back to the coven. End of story. Now stop this childish bickering and head to sleep." Taline said sternly. Settling into her make-shift bed, Taline clicked her fingers and the warm Fire flames began to fade down.
Sighing in defeat Magnolia headed back into the cave. " Maybe next time then."
As the night slowly turned into day, Taline was the first one up to take in the beautiful morning sky. Taking a deep breath She pulled out her map of the area and began mapping out the route to the destination.
As late morning came around the corner the sisters were well on their way to the first location. Checking the sun's position Taline was glad they were on time and it wasn't long before they reached the destination. Emerging from the forest the sisters came face to face with a huge stone Ringfort. The trees of the forest circled the stone Ringfort creating a dome-like shape around it. Magic was evidently a part of this place as Taline noticed the luminous plants and flowers growing around the stone walls as well as the forest floor.
"A Ringfort?" Magnolia said with confusion in her voice as walked closer to the stone walls to inspect it. " This has Fairy markings on it."
" Not Fairies Magnolia, Pixies." Taline corrected. Taking out her journal from her satchel, Taline checked her notes on the pixies' markings as she too inspected the stone walls. "We are at the right place sisters. Now the next step wouldn't be easy but with the right patience the task can be achieved."
" Taline may I ask...what is the task here?" Magnolia said as she watched her sister pick up a stone from the floor.
"We are here to collect Pixie wings, six to be precise. Now grab a stone and start hitting the wall we need to bring out the pixies and be careful they have a nasty bite." Without another word, Taline began hitting the wall as hard as she could.
"Fucking Pixies wings? You want us to collect pixie wings!" Gothel said with disbelief. She had never encountered pixies before and to be honest she was quite happy with that. Pixies were known for their mischievous behavior but get on their bad side the little buggers were capable of pushing you off cliffs or stoning you to death. " Can't you just call them out or something. Attacking their home will only piss them off."
" Don't worry once there out I have a little spell in mind to make our job a little easier." Not really having faith in her sister's plan Gothel followed Taline's action, Hoping that most of the pixies weren't home.
It wasn't long before a swarm of pixies flew from their home and surrounded the sisters. It was clear the pixies were in rage as they attacked the Ringfort walls and with one swift movement, they came charging towards.
"TALINE NOW WHAT?!" Yelled Magnolia as she tried to swat the little creatures as they nibble her flesh.
Quickly reaching for her satchel Taline pulled out her potion but it didn't go unnoticed by a couple of the Pixies who spotted the sparkling liquid. Without hesitation, the Pixies ripped the potion from her grip, flying off with it higher in the sky out of her reach. " Shit they've got the potion." Taline hissed in frustration.
So now what?! Yelled Gothel as she swatted a couple of pixies from her hair and arms. However, it wasn't long before another Pixie spotted another glowing object in a jar. Swooping down into Gothel's satchel the pixie tried to pull the jar from her bag. Feeling a weird tugging force in her bag Gothel snatched the jar containing her golden flower from its grip but in doing so she was met with a nasty bite on her hand which caused her to drop the jar. "OW! You little bastard." Quickly reaching for the jar Gothel wasn't fast enough as a couple of Pixies got to it first and flew off with. Teasing her as flew above her, taunting her to reach for it. " Give it back you pests!
Among the chaos Mag watched the pixies taunt Gothel and Taline trying but failing to push the pixies away with her magic. It was clear they were losing this battle. Quickly thing on a plan b Mag looked toward the pixies who carried the potion. Calming her mind around the chaos, Magnolia swiftly transformed into a Crow. Now she was able to deftly dodge the pixies' attacks and snatch the potion from the pixies' grips. swooping down with the potion toward Taline, she grabbed it and open the potion bottle which released a purple mist-like cloud around them. Engulfing the pixies around them. Within seconds the pixies began dropping like flies as the purple mist-like cloud began to fade away.
As the Pixies above Gothel began to fall too, she managed to catch the jar just in time but tripped over a log in the process, landing on her back. Quickly running over to her sister Taline checked if she was okay.
" Are you alright Gothel?"
I-I'm...f-fine. Gothel Stuttered but quickly noticed she wasn't after all. Looking around she narrowed her eyes with confusion. " Why is the sky green?... Why am I green? Gothel began to freak out as she looked down at her hands.
"What?" Taline inspected her sister's hands but there was no sight of green on her. Helping her up she realized Gothel had landed on some mushrooms. known to release dust-like toxin particles that create illusions in the mind.
" You fell on Pixie dust Mushrooms. That's why your seeing strange things at the moment but don't worry it will fade in an hour or so."
"An hour?!" Gothel looked at her sister was shocked to see her sister look strange as turned from green to pink in a matter of minutes. Mag quickly joined them as transformed back into her human form. " I guess my plan b was a hit. What's wrong with her?"
" She landed on Pixie Dust Mushrooms...She'll be fine." Taline said as she got back to work on the pixies. Pulling the wings of the unconscious creatures.
Helping Gothel onto a rock to sit on Magnolia watched her sister study the creatures' wings." Don't you think this is a little cruel I mean they were only protecting their Ringfort?
" We came for the wings and lucky for them they will be able to grow them back unlike fairies this ability isn't possible." Pulling out her map Taline started to plan the next route to the next destination. " Next stop is the rivers of lost souls. We have a siren to meet."
Back the Coven...
Cassandra had spent the whole morning watching the clouds. Sitting in the gardens had helped clear her mind just a little bit but what rose said still hadn't left her alone: 'This place might be enchanting but it holds many secrets.' Her does words echo in Cassandra's head as she was tired of waiting for answers. She needs to know more about this place and if Rose wasn't going to give them to her then maybe she just has to sneak around to get them. She needed to know how she was connected to this place.
Hi!
Jumping at the loud noise beside her Cassandra drew her attention to the voice that surprised her. However, she was shocked at the girl's appearance. She had never seen someone with long hair like that before. This place is filled with peculiar people for sure Cass noted to herself. "Hi"
"You're new here aren't you? I'm Rapunzel, I'm kind of new here too." Rapunzel watched as the new girl looked her up and down with doubt.
"Really?"
" Yes, my mother isn't, her whole family rules this place which is pretty amazing," Rapunzel said with a polite smile. Cassandra on the other lit up about the newfound information. Maybe she has access to the forbidden places of the coven.
"The name is Cassandra. Your correct I'm not from this place."
Curious Rapunzel took a seat next to the mysterious girl. " Where are you from?"
Narrowing her eyes " None of your business, "Cass sharply replied. Taken aback Rapunzel quickly apologized.
"Sorry, I've never really been anywhere beyond my home or the coven."
Shocked at the girl's comment Cass looked back at the girl. "That sucks." To be honest Cassandra understood the feeling.
"Rapunzel come play with us!" A couple of children came running towards where they sat, Interrupting the conversation between them. Look at the children smiled with joy.
"Of course...Would you like to join us, Cassandra?" Cass looked back at the children then at Rapunzel again.
No Thanks. I'm going to head back inside I need to talk to Rose." Getting up from where she was sitting and made her way back to the manor.
"Well, it was nice to meet you, Cassandra!" Rapunzel waved as she watched the new visitor leave before joining the children for a game of hiding and seek. Ever since what happened with Penny Rapunzel couldn't shake the nagging feeling in her gut that maybe this newcomer was up to something too. Looking back at the mysterious girl enter the manor Rapunzel made a note to keep eye on her.
The River of lost souls,
"You've got to be kidding me?" Gothel said as she watched her sister get into a tiny wooden boat.
"What now?" Taline said looking back at her sister with annoyance.
"You want us to get into this tiny dirty boat which can just about fit all of us in, to meet a...siren?" Gothel said with disbelief. Taline had explained hours before that their next stop was to meet a creature that larked in the waters but she never mentioned that the creature was a mermaid. The siren of lost souls. A creature, known for drowning its victims just for fun.
"Yes, we need a lock of her golden hair, and the only way to get it is to make a little deal she cannot refuse" Taline explained. " Now get in the boat before the sunsets."
Reluctant to get into the boat Gothel only had bad feelings about this. Making a deal with a siren was just as bad as making a deal with an evil demon sorcerer. One wrong move and they all could be fish food. As the sisters began to sail off into the calm river it was long before they came face to face with the infamous siren of the river.
Feeling her body go cold in an instant Gothel tried to keep herself calm as the siren looked at the sisters with a playful smile. Almost like the siren was relishing in fear she had created among them. The only person who was truly calm was Taline as she cleared her throat gaining the siren's attention.
Long time no see Dione, I hope the years have been kind to you. Taline said with a gentle smile. The Siren at first only chortled at the statement but quickly turned her smile into an uneasy frown.
"What do you want Taline...I know you're not here to check up on me." The Siren's amber eyes poured into Taline's own but Taline remained calm.
"I want to make a deal. A piece of your golden hair for this." Opening the palm of her hand Taline magically conjured a white medium conch which sparked as the soft sun rays hit it. The Siren gasped at the sight of the conch and tried to snatch the conch from Taline's grip but Taline was quicker and pulled away just in time.
"Ah ah ah, do we have a deal? After all, I know you've been dying to be reunited with your family, and with this conch, you can make that wish come true of course" Taline watched as the Siren's frustration build.
"I am aware of what that conch can do," the Siren said through gritted teeth. Drawing her attention back to Gothel and Magnolia who sat behind Taline, The Siren circled the tiny wooden boat to get a better look at them. " However I am more interested in these two precious witches. They reek of... fear"
Gothel and Magnolia froze to their seat as the Siren looked at them once again but Taline brought the attention back to her again and the conch. Vanishing the conch with one swift movement of her hand the Siren frown again.
"Okay, I'll make the deal I was only just playing." Pulling a couple of pieces of hair from her head the siren handed it to Taline swiftly while Taline handed her conch but once the siren took hold of the conch she froze.
Taline's smile turned into a smirk. " Did you honestly think I would give the conch that would allow you to summon your army of sirens?! I guess being banished for over 200 years has made you thick as two blanks."
TALINE, what are you doing?! The sisters said in unions as they watched Taline pull the Siren closer to the boat.
I might have told a little fib. I don't just need her hair but I also need a couple of drops of blood. I knew she would agree to hair but the blood would have ended with her killing us both. Pulling a dagger from her satchel Taline gently cut the Siren's skin, collecting the right amount of blood needed for the spell. Once done she quickly healed the cut skin and with a swift hand movement, poof them out of the boat and back on land.
Turning back to her sisters Gothel and Magnolia still looked shocked at what had just happened.
So why did we have to go in the boat with you if you were just going trick the Siren in the first place? Magnolia questioned.
" I needed her distracted," Taline said plainly. heading back into the forest briefly leaving behind her two sisters who began to realize they were used as fish bate.
Back at the Coven...
Making sure she wasn't followed, Cassandra swiftly entering into the forbidden room once again. Everyone was still outside and She knew she would only have a couple of minutes before Rose would come looking for her again.
Making sure nobody saw her Cassandra Sneaked back into the room containing the tapestry of the ancient family tree, Cassandra took her looking at detailed information displayed on it. Using her finger to follow the recent branch of the tree, she couldn't find Rapunzel's name anywhere however found a dead end. The three sisters on the tree had lived for years but the only one to have children was a woman named Gothelreda but they were dead now. On the branch, two dead roses rested on the end of it with two names underneath them, "Wilhelm and Percival." Two sons but no daughter.
Reading the information on the tapestry made Cass confused but mostly curious. How was the girl she just met linked to this strange family? Maybe she was a long-lost daughter and hadn't been added to the tree just yet, Cass thought. Suddenly a strong urge to touch the fabric of tapestry took over Cassandra. The desire to touch the carefully woven fabric of the tree pulled her hand closer and Cass couldn't seem to stop it.
"WHAT'S HAPPENING TO ME?!" Cass shouted in her head as she didn't want to alarm anybody about her whereabouts. Her fingers were inches away from the tapestry until the urge to touch it stopped abruptly. Releasing her breath which she didn't know she was holding Cassandra tried to get a hold of herself. "Was that some sort of magic?" However, Cass didn't have much time to ponder on it as she heard the door to the forbidden swing open.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE!" Rapunzel yelled with an angry Pascal on her shoulder looking the startled stranger up and down.
WHAT!...I...I just was looking for the bathroom and got lost." Cass said but the lie was clearly a bad one.
Liar! Who are you and what are doing in my Aunt's forbidden room?!
Rapunzel please I just want answers
Answers? For Zhan Tiri?
Who?
The demon sorcerer, your one of his disciples aren't you!
Look I'm here because I want to find answers about who I am. I have no idea who you are talking about...Please I just need answers. Rose won't tell anything and I keep seeing a wolf that leads me to weird shit that might link me to my...parents.
Rapunzel could see the frustration building within the older girl's eyes. She had known that feeling of desperation for knowledge of the outside world and looking at the girl she could see she was telling the truth. " What happened to your parents?
Sighing Cassandra looked away from Rapunzel's sad gaze. " I don't know...all I know was I was abandoned on a soldier's doorstep with nothing but a name tag and a red blanket. I need to know why I have strange links to this place...I need to know if they were here. Cassandra said softly.
Why do you think you will find your answers here?
A wolf kind of told me. Cassandra rolled her eyes at how ridiculous she sounded. Although Rapunzel wasn't fazed by the odd information.
Well, everything in here is going to be locked maybe we can check the ancient families' book of witches and wizards in the library.
We? Cassandra said with confusion.
Yes, I sort of know this place a little better than you and you need all the help you can get. Rapunzel smiled.
Cass rolled her eyes at the girl's welcoming smile but it didn't stop the small smile creeping onto her face too. "Fine" Finally she might just find the answers she has been waiting for.
Back with the sisters-The cottage
Walking along with sisters had been an interesting experience, She thought by now she would have returned home with her flower rapunzel but surprisingly she hadn't. Spending time with her sisters reminded her of old-time when things were simpler. Listening to her older sisters bicker in front as she walked behind, Gothel wouldn't admit to them but she had missed them. Including the fighting.
Three days and Gothel was enjoying herself and her sisters' company. It felt like nothing had changed. Growing up in the coven wasn't easy but being with her sister did make it easier, especially with a strict grandma who thought of nothing but disappointment for her.
Gothel what are you thinking so hard about back there? Magnolia said with curiosity.
Yeah, you're not normally this quiet?
I was just thinking of old times. Gothel said honestly which piqued the interest of her sisters.
" Oh yeah, do you remember when we would stay up late at night singing old folksongs when we were children? Grandmother would scold us and complain how off-key we were." Mag said with fondness.
" I was never off-key," Gothel said looking offended.
" Oh please, Gothel you were five. Your gift for musical vocals came later in life." Mag teased which earned her a playful slap on the shoulder.
Taline chuckled at the memory too. " I remember when I cut your hair and for a whole month, you had to suffer a horrid haircut."
Oh please don't remind me." Gothel cringed at the memory.
Oh yeah, you looked like an old great aunt Effie." Mag laughed.
Sorry for that Taline said with a gentle smile.
As the sisters were brought back to memory lane they hadn't realized they had reached their destination. Calming down their laughter Gothel quickly noticed the place they had arrived at.
My Cottage?!
We need the scrolls you and Demantius created on the Zhan Tiri and the Sundrop.
Gothel's blood ran cold as she looked back at the cottage with sorrowful eyes. She hadn't been here since the birth of Rapunzel. Quickly hiding her true emotions from her sisters Gothel briskly walked ahead. " Well let get this over with shall we."
Nothing in the cottage had changed apart from the dust and cobwebs that now lingered around the cottage. Gothel couldn't bring herself to look at the place she once called home. The woman who lived here had long gone and changed but Gothel knew deep down that didn't change the horrid mistakes she had made.
The sisters didn't waste time and made it to Gothel's hidden study underground the cottage. Going through her desk she finally found what she was looking for. Lord Demantius' notebook contains everything about the dark wizard and scrolls of the Sundrop's powers beyond the healing abilities. Even notes on the moonstone's magical abilities.
Bloody hell you have a lot of paintings of yourself down here. Magnolia looked around the underground study with curiosity and nosiness. Picking up things and reading private notes Magnolia began to realize that before Rapunzel came into her sister's life, she must have been here, all by herself. For centuries hiding from them and the disciples dark magic. Magnolia could tell something was bothering her sister Gothel but didn't dare to bring it up. Not now.
We got what we came for let's get out of here Gothel said anxiously. She was desperate to leave this place and never return. This place was nothing but bad memories she wished to forget but the more she stayed here the more she remembered her past life.
"Are you sure you want to leave so soon," said Taline putting the scrolls into her satchel. "Sunset is around the corner. It would be nice to stay in a place that has a real roof."
No...Not here. Gothel said quietly. Before her sister could question her why Gothel left the underground study and made her back to the main part of the cottage. Gothel thought the cold breeze within the cottage would turn her into a frozen statue. The memories here were suffocating and she just needed to escape however before she reached the front door she noticed her old bedroom door slightly open.
Something within her drew her into the room. Looking around Gothel took in the old room with bittersweetness. old trinkets and clothes still in the place she had left them but what took the air from her lungs was the small wooden crib that rested by her old wooden bed. Walking slowly towards the small crib Gothel placed a gentle hand on the cold smooth crib. Taking a steady breath Gothel tried not to let the memories take over but suffocating emotion of regret only seemed to build more and more.
Noticing a tiny wooly toy of a grey wolf resting within the crib Gothel gently picked it up to exam it further, She remembered the long painstaking time it had taken her to make it. The poor thing had aged terribly which wasn't a surprise since the toy was over 20 years old. Bringing it closer to her face the small soft toy still smelt of her. Her baby girl. That was enough to bring her to her knees in defeat. Finally letting her rare emotions out. How could something so small still smell like her? She kept telling herself that she had no choice but to give up but deep down she knew there could have been a way to keep her last child. Zhan Triri would have found them much easier but at least they would have been together.
"What have I done," Gothel whispered to herself as she fear the pending future of Zhan Tiri's revenge. " He can't find her...He just can't."
Sorry this took too long it has been a busy year but I hope you enjoyed this chapter xxx