We're Back Folks!
And I would like to apologize for taking so long in posting this. As you can tell, this chapter is the longest chapter I have ever posted, because it's going to be based on episode 1 of the Tangled Series. The entire episode.
Orion is fillung in the role of Varian for a different purpose of this story as I've stayed before. And there will be a parody of the famous song from Moana.
"Shiny?" Maverick guessed.
No. But it's based also on the beginning parody song of a famous YouTube video called 'Deadpool Musical 2'. You all know the one I'm talking about. 😉
Anyway. Let's answer some comments.
KingdomWarrior125: Thank you! I'm glad to as always!
olehbilenko93: Thank you! I appreciate your support.
superkoola: Thanks! Actually Zhan Tiri will only be mentioned in this story. But she's not in this story. But I'm open for interesting ideas on what kind of villain and threat Lash really is. I have one idea already, but there's room for open suggestions.
RustyPete12: Thank you! Actually Friday is an OC. And she's consider to be the alternate counterpart of Victoria from my main stories. But the race she's from is from Marvel. If you've seen Captain Marvel, you'll know in an instant.
SPYRO 101: Hey there Pal! Thanks again for helping me write across some gaps inthis story. I appreciate your help! And yeah you're catching on quickly about my future plans for Orion and Aiden. I plan for something interesting to happen in the future KH Guardians sequel based on Kingdom Hearts III when they land in Corona. It will have that Into The Spiderverse effect when we get there. Here's a hint, it will take place during Tangled Season 3.
Alright! Now that we're all here!
LET'S GET DANGEROUS!
What The Hair?!
Morning in Old Corona…..
It was almost a week after the Maverick made himself known in Corona. And the general public of the kingdom have split feelings about him. One side believes he could be a threat and has a prejudice fear for him by not knowing his intentions. While the other side sees him as a hero and someone to look up to. Maverick's great power and anonymity has made a huge impact. On top of that, the last of the prisoners that Lady Cain busted out of jail were hunted down and caught by the Maverick. Every other day since the coronation, Maverick would find gang hideouts or crooks causing trouble and would kick the crap out of them before he'd leave tips for the town guards and the Captain to lead them over to have those thugs arrested. In spite of his suspicions, even the Captain has to admit that the Maverick is making his job easy for law and order. But because of the king's order to have him brought in for questioning, the guards are on the lookout for him in case he is sighted.
Orion on the other hand was having some mixed feelings of his own about all of this. Up until this point, the Maverick had been just a ghost story and legend all across the seven kingdoms. But because of the Dark Mongers making a direct open attack on the royals of Corona, inside their own castle. Orion had no choice but to intervene and show off. The Dark Mongers had never made an open public assault. Not even the death of his family was seen by many.
Because Orion was the only one that survived on board his ship.
Besides Groot and Orion's girlfriend. The one person in all of Corona that knows about Orion Forge being the Maverick was a French psychiatrist named Genevieve Dubois. A woman who operates in Old Corona along with her Husband Arthur Dubois, who's a field worker and hunter.
Orion is one of her regular patients that comes over whenever there is an open schedule for him to share his thoughts and get advice. Or whenever he needs someone to talk to. Friday suggested this to him a few years back when they came to live in Old Corona. It was always good to at least have one person in this world know who he is. But Orion is starting to wonder if maybe he's been too cautious. But he didn't want to get attached to too many people.
Especially in this world.
One morning when it was time for Orion to visit the good doctor. He laid back on the bench while staring at the ceiling while he spoke to Doctor Dubois, who was seated while taking notes of everything she heard and observed. What keeps this out of the ear of whoever might be listening is the fact that Orion can speak every single language known on Earth. Including French.
"Et donc hier, je suis allé en ville juste pour acheter de la cire à plancher et du peroxyde pour la boutique de cadeaux, ou du moins ce que vous appelez de l'eau de Javel. Et j'ai vu un petit voleur voler la calèche d'une vieille dame." Orion told his therapist in French, translated: "And so yesterday I went into town just to buy some more floor wax and peroxide for the gift shop, or at least what you folks call bleach. And I saw some low life robber stealing an old lady's horse drawn carriage."
"Et que s'est-il passé après ça ?" Genevieve asked. Translated: "And what happened after that?"
"J'ai ramassé la voiture et l'ai ramenée à la vieille dame, les gardes ont ramassé le voleur. Mais ils avaient besoin d'épingles à linge étant donné qu'il avait été jeté dans un grand baril de fumier de vache." Orion stated with a casual tone. Translated: "I picked up the carriage and flew it back to the old lady, the guards picked up the robber. But they needed clothes pins considering he was dumped in a large barrel of cow manure."
Genevieve gave him a one eyebrow look as if to say 'really?'
Aiden snickered and shrugged. "Il y avait un fleuriste à côté en ce moment, elle le jetait de toute façon." Orion mused. Translated: "There was a florist next door at the moment, she was dumping it out anyway."
Genevieve shook her head with a smile and wrote down what she heard for her notes.
"Vous savez avec toutes vos bonnes intentions et votre théâtralité. Je peux dire la seule chose qui te tracasse." Genevieve remarked. Translated: "You know with all of your good intentions and theatrics. I can tell the one thing that's bothering you."
"Qu'est-ce que c'est?" Orion asked, looking at her. Translated: "What's that?"
"Vous êtes anxieux et prêt à sortir. Votre cœur vous dit de vous connecter et de recommencer. Et tu le bloques." Genevieve stated in wisdom. Translated: "You're anxious and ready to get out there. Your heart is telling you to connect and start over. And you're blocking it."
"Et tu as raison. Je veux recommencer. Mais pas ici." Orion dejected. Translated. "And you're right. I want to start over. But not here."
"Parce que votre esprit vous dit de ne pas le faire. Vous ne voulez vous attacher à personne dans ce monde, car vous avez peur de ce que vous ressentirez lorsque vous devrez partir." Genevieve said to him softly. Translated: "Because your mind is telling you not to. You don't want to get attached to anyone in this world, because you're afraid of what you will feel when you have to leave."
"Raison de plus pour laquelle je ne peux pas. Ce monde est l'endroit où ma famille est morte et ma vie a été foutue dans l'oubli. La dernière chose dont j'ai besoin est une raison de revenir." Orion stated with his mind set. Translate: "All the more reason why I can't. This world is where my family died and my life was ***ked into oblivion. The last thing I need is a reason to come back."
"Sauf que votre cœur guérirait-il si vous n'aviez que des pensées négatives à propos de ce monde? Vous pourriez aussi bien laisser une tonne d'ordures dans la cour avant pendant que vous essayez de vivre dans une nouvelle maison." Genevieve pointed out, which made Orion sigh and look off. Translated: "Except would your heart heal, if you only had negative thoughts about this world? You might as well leave a ton of garbage out in the front yard while you try to live in a new house."
"She's got a point, Sparky." Orion whispered to himself.
"Aucun homme n'est une île, Orion. Surtout les petits garçons qui peuvent avoir des étoiles filantes qui sortent de leurs doigts." Genevieve chuckled a little at that last statement. Translated: "No man is an island, Orion. Especially little boys who can have shooting stars coming out of their fingers."
"Je ne vais pas m'approcher de quelqu'un et lui dire "Hé frère, je suis un hybride mystique Ranger De Puissance et Shazam d'un autre monde". Vous auriez suffisamment de patients pour que même vos petits-enfants prennent leur retraite. Et pour que vos descendants partent à la chasse au trésor pour votre argent de retraite perdu." Orion quipped. Translated: "I'm not going to walk up to someone and say, "Hey Bro, I'm a mystical Power Ranger and Shazam hybrid from another world." You would have enough patients for even your grandchildren to retire. And for your descendants to go on a treasure hunt for your lost retirement money."
Genevieve laughed at this and understood what he meant. Despite Orion's humor. She knew he wasn't in a hurry to try. But he knew she was right.
"Étant donné que vous êtes une grande révélation lors du couronnement de la princesse. Il y a de fortes chances que vous n'ayez à vous adresser à personne. Que se passe-t-il si les bonnes personnes s'adressent à vous à la place? " Genevieve stated with a smirk. Translated: "Given your big reveal during the Princess's coronation. Chances are you won't have to go to anyone. What happens if the right people go to you instead?"
"Gen. Quiconque viendrait demander de l'aide à quelqu'un comme moi, devrait être dans un cornichon épicé d'enfer. Mais...Quelles sont les chances que cela se produise?" Orion shrugged. "Gen. Anyone who would come to someone like me for help, would have to be in one helluva spicy pickle. But...What are the chances of that happening?"
The young keyblader would be surprised on who would be in trouble around these parts. Especially the kind of help that needs a haircut.
Back over at the castle…..
Under the gazebo at the castle gardens. King Frederic and Queen Ariana were having breakfast together as everyone was slowly recovering from what happened at the coronation. But Frederic was still dealing with the guilt and uneasy feelings of what happened in his last conversation with his daughter Rapunzel.
"Fred?" Ariana spoke.
"Huh?" Frederic was pulled out of his thoughts.
"You haven't touched your food." Ariana pointed at his plate as it was still full while hers was almost done, all he had been doing was picking at his food instead of eating it.
"No no, I- I've touched it. I moved my eggs from here to here. You see?" Frederic responded by pointing at his own food. Trying to hide what he was feeling.
But he could never fool his wife.
"Oh Sweetheart, it's been nearly a week. Just talk to her." Ariana suggested.
The King sighed. "You do recall my last conversation with Rapunzel didn't go quite as I had hoped?" He recalled.
"Uh, Fred. You confined her to the walls of Corona under martial law. If that's a daddy/daughter conversation, I would hate to see what a talking to is." Ariana remarked.
"Just because it was a difficult choice doesn't mean it wasn't the right choice. Besides after seeing….Whoever this Maverick is, I can't take any chances." Frederic affirmed.
"He seems like an okay guy. He did play apart in saving you from being kidnapped and single handedly stopped those machines from making things worse." Ariana reminded him.
"And I'm grateful for his help. I truly am. But until I have better control of the situation and until we know of the Maverick's intentions. This is how it needs to be done." Frederic stated firmly.
Well at least the King has an open heart to know what kind of hero Maverick really is. He doesn't believe him to be a menace. Frederic's lack of trust is based on not knowing him.
"Is it because of the keyblades he was holding?" Ariana inquired.
"You noticed them too?" Frederic asked.
"You're not the only one who had some weird bedtime stories as a child." Ariana grinned.
Frederic shook his hands. "Then you know why I can't trust him yet. I've heard about the horrors of what a keyblade can do when someone is breaking the world order. Which is why I must take precautions." He stated.
Soon Frederic will realize he doesn't have to. Not with Orion. Because they're on the same side even if he or Corona doesn't know it yet.
Meanwhile in Rapunzel's bedroom…..
Cassandra was helping Rapunzel with braiding her hair while they were both seated on the bed. Rapunzel was telling her about the dreams she had been having. More like nightmare warnings about Gothel and how her influence seems to be affecting everything around her. And somehow the black rocks were connected.
But Cassandra told her to try her best not to think about it as the handmaiden was trying to lay low after what happened.
"Come on Cass. Those dreams are trying to tell me something." Rapunzel insisted while Cassandra fixed up her hair. "Ever since that night-"
"Shh!" Cassandra shushed her in case someone was listening in.
Ever since Rapunzel's hair had magically grown back, they hadn't mentioned the black rocks since. And Cassandra wanted to keep it that way.
"Um….I think the secret's pretty much out." Rapunzel chuckled slightly,
"Yeah yeah, everyone knows the hair's back, but if anyone knew I was the one who snuck you out when it happened, I would be sent to a convent! Literally a convent." Cassandra stressed to her.
"Well, I...have to tell Eugene." Rapunzel affirmed.
After everything Rapunzel and the ex thief had been through, it was wrong to keep something like that a secret from the man she loves.
"No no no no no!" The handmaiden stood up, waving her hands, "As far as he knows, you...just woke up that morning with long hair."
"But Eugene is my boyfriend! We tell each other everything," Rapunzel frowned at her.
"I know it's a lot to ask...but I can't risk it. Please," Cassandra took her hands pleadingly. "Don't tell Eugene."
"Tell Eugene what?" They heard a familiar voice say.
Rapunzel cringed as Eugene was standing right there in her doorway. "Oh come on, you guys keeping secrets?"
"It's not really a secret, Eugene," Rapunzel crossed her arms nervously as he approached her. "More like a...sensitive situation."
"Sensitive-" He started laughing, "Sensitive?! And you think Cassandra's gonna help? Blondie," Eugene placed a hand on Rapunzel's shoulder. "I've met glaciers with more warmth and compassion! And move faster, she's slow." Then he takes her hands gently. "Rapunzel, it's me, Eugene. Whatever is going on, you can tell me."
"I know I can, it's-" Rapunzel tried to say.
"I don't trust you," Cassandra interrupted to Eugene's annoyance. He'd prefer it if she wasn't in the room right now. "You have a big mouth."
He gasped in fake hurt tone
"I do not! Name one time I blew a secret." Eugene protested.
Cassandra glanced away as she remembered a few instances.
Flashback time!
There was that one time Rapunzel was in the throne room giving her mother a present.
"It's a scarf and hair comb!" Eugene exclaimed from behind, Shocking his girlfriend.
You would think someone as sporadic as Eugene would know the basic rules of why the present is wrapped in a colorful box!
Or that other time, two high-class nobles who came as guests in the castle, finally were leaving the gazebo as things didn't go wrong. Until Eugene opened his mouth.
"Thanks, this was fun. And to think we were dreading it, right?" He was so loud that they had heard him.
Or the time Cassandra had finished collecting a pile of clean dishes and was about to leave the dining hall when nothing was happening. Incoming spaz!
"Surprise!" Eugene jumped in front of Cass, who was holding the stack of plates. She yelped and dropped all of them onto the ground, and they broke. "Oh, your surprise party is next week." He realized, checking his pocket watch.
"Ugh!" Cassandra growled in annoyance, for making her drop those plates.
Flashback over...
"I said one time," Eugene deadpanned. "Rapunzel, you're really not gonna tell me?"
She glances up at him. As much as she wanted to, she didn't want to take the risk of getting Cass into trouble.
"I'm sorry." Rapunzel dragged her hands down her face.
"Fine," Eugene held his head up high. "But you should know that I have things I don't tell you. Lots of things."
"Name one," Cassandra challenged him,
Eugene face lit up as he remembered something he kept to himself and slipped it out to prove a point in the wrong way.
"Pete the Guard is terrified of mines." Eugene stated with a grin.
Pete the Guard just happened to be walking by the door when Eugene reveals this as he squeaked.
"Hey! They see things that aren't there!" Pete cringed in fear and backed away from the door. Then Ulf the Mime from the Snuggly Duckling Pub came by the door afterwards, pretending to drag a rope over to Pete, he stopped to wave at the others. and then he continued to do his mime trick while following Stan, Eugene realized his mistake and ran out of the room.
"Pete, wait! No, it was a different Pete the Guard! You don't even know him!" Eugene chased after the guard.
Cassandra gave Rapunzel a look and gesture that reads 'See what I mean?'
Later down at the Snuggly Duckling…..
Eugene was determined to prove he could be trusted with secrets. Even if it was the last thing he would do. Or until he gets tired and gets a new hobby. Whichever comes first. So he took Max and rode over the Snuggly Duckling, where everyone shares their thoughts and gets a beating depending on it. Also known as the same pub where Rapunzel won the hearts of petty thugs before she won the hearts of her kingdom in a dance. To this day everyone at the Snuggly Duckling loves Rapunzel, they would kill for her. Including Eugene...They would kill Eugene for her.
Once he arrived, Eugene walked up to the entrance of the Snuggly Duckling and bust open the door with enthusiasm. While everyone else in the bar was just annoyed that the former thief was ranting. except Shorty who was drunk and asleep.
"Ah, there they are! A veritable 'cornucopia of confidants' who trust me implicitly and would gladly divulge innermost secrets!" Eugene quipped as he walked by everyone and came up to a guy he didn't recognize. "Wait, who is this guy?!"
This guy was big and bald in the middle, with a standard thug attire like a brown shirt and green long pants. and a tooth gaping down from his upper lip. The kind of guy you don't want to mess with unless you're a wrestler.
"That's Hook Hand's brother," Attila explained while cleaning a cup.
"Oh yeah, what's your name? Hook Foot?" Eugene humorously asked. But he was surprised when the guy placed a hooked foot on the table while glaring at him. "I gotta admit, I did not see that coming. So where is Hook Hand, anyway?"
"There." Attila pointed to a poster on the wall of Hook Hand performing, which read 'Hook Hand on World Tour'.
"Hook Hand went on a world tour?! Does no one share anything with me? Feelings? No secrets? No news? Why won't anyone open up to me?!" Eugene complained about how he misses all the big news all around him.
Just then, Big Nose suddenly came through the door, sniffing a bouquet of yellow flowers. Eugene saw an opportunity. As he was desperate, he doesn't realizes he's got that wrong guy to ask about secrets.
"Big Nose! Now there's a guy who knows how to share what's on his nose- mind." Eugene greeted while correcting his last word.
"Here comes the lover boy with more of his romantic escapades..." Attila sighed under his breath in a scoffing tone with Vladimir agreeing.
Every single day, Big Nose will say or do something romantic and un manly that it drives them all insane. And yet they have to, because no one else will listen or be there for Big Nose. It's sort of a merciful act of pity.
"Are those flowers for Assunta? Am I pronouncing that correctly? How is your lady friend, anyway?" Eugene asked with his arm crossed looking interested.
"Oh, I'm glad you asked!" Big Nose smiled as he threw away the flowers to pull out a notepad. "Perhaps this latest poem I wrote will tell you."
Eugene raised his eyebrow while Hook Foot groaned and facepalmed and Attila looked up to the ceiling as if he was asking God 'WHY?!'.
"I call it 'Can You Keep a Secret?' I Love You. Our love is like a timeless truth, it knows no tick nor tock, our love is a big toe of honesty poking through your favorite sock." Big Nose went on reciting what he wrote.
Hook Foot placed his hook under Eugene's chin in anger of having to hear this. While everyone else balled their fists ready to kill him. They won't, but they're tempted to. Even Eugene looked scared they were going to.
He'll be fine, don't worry.
Meanwhile back at the Castle Gardens…
Rapunzel was sitting on the steps of the gazebo, writing in her journal while Pascal was resting on her shoulder. The Princess was also thinking about whether or not she should tell Eugene. She didn't like Cassandra's attitude towards her boyfriend, but she did understand. They always had a sibling-like rivalry and it's nothing that Rapunzel is not used to. But the Princess still doesn't feel right about keeping secrets from the man she loves.
Cassandra came up to Rapunzel and spoke with her.
"I was thinking about your hair. Maybe there's a way we can discreetly try to get some answers, just the two of us. And I might know of someone who can help." Cassandra said.
"I still think you're being unfair about Eugene." Rapunzel stated while closing her book and expressed some interest in who Cassandra had in mind. "But, um. Who is this friend of yours?"
"Remember that guy in the glowing suit of armor that destroyed those machines?" Cassandra reminded Rapunzel.
"Yeah. Who doesn't?" Rapunzel grinned.
"Well, I think I may have found a lead of where the Maverick might be." Cassandra said.
"The who?" Rapunzel tilted her head.
"Sorry. I mean the glow in the dark knight, that's what they call him. The Maverick. My Dad was ordered to search the city and bring him in for questioning." Cassandra informed the Princess.
"Why? He did nothing wrong." Rapunzel frowned.
"I know that Raps, but I can't blame them for having doubts because we don't know him. Someone with that much power usually can't be trusted. But given our circumstances. We'll have to take a risk and see if he can help." Cassandra explained which made the Princess understand.
"Okay. So how do we find him?" Rapunzel asked as she leaned in to listen.
"I heard about the recent sightings around small business areas and-" Before Cassandra could finish they heard a clanging noise that made Pascal jump and hid under Rapunzel's hair.
They both turned to see a blue bottle with a note on the ground next to them. Cassandra picked it up and took the note out.
"Where did that come from?" Rapunzel inquired.
"I think I have an idea." Cassandra figured seeing the M logo on the note seal.
She tore it off and opened the letter. It read specifically like this.
'If you're looking for me, like you've been talking about for the past two minutes. Don't be afraid, unless you're without a heart or a monster. I'm not your enemy. And I'm not here to hurt anybody. To Princess Rapunzel. Your hair has opened up Pandora's box like a crate of lit sticks of dynamite. And we all agree. It's time to meet. ;) Meet me in the small village of Old Corona, look for a gift shop. The only advice I'll give when you arrive is this. When it comes to magic and the universe you live in. Forget everything you think you know.'
'With regards: TM.'
They both knew 'TM' means The Maverick.
"Well, that was rather convenient." Rapunzel said with a raised eyebrow while Cassandra's eyes narrowed in suspicion when Rapunzel mentioned the convenience of the timing.
"A little too convenient if you ask me." Cassandra said sternly.
"What do you mean?" Rapunzel asked, confused.
"We discussed trying to find the Maverick who obviously tries to stay hidden, and now we have a near exact location of where to possibly find him?" Cassandra stated her thoughts. "As far as we know, this could be a trick set up by someone else to lure us into a trap."
"But if we want to find the Maverick, it's a risk we have to take, right?" Rapunzel asked, leaning forward to Cassandra, who after a moment of contemplation, nodded her head.
Rapunzel let out a sigh before standing up.
"Well, looks like we're off to find our mysterious knight in glowing armor." Rapunzel said with a smirk, determination in her eyes.
Back at the Snuggly Duckling...
Big Nose was still reciting what he wrote and Eugene was still alive, much to everyone's dismay as they were enduring a really long poem. Wishing the whole pub would start burning to put them out of their misery.
"We keep no secrets, me and you." Big Nose continued reading his poem while boring everyone to death. "Our love stays fresh like the morning...dew. You see, what I really tried to do is capture the oneness of our relationship."
Even Maximus exhaled and hung against an open window trying to drown out the dull poem, and suddenly noticed the horse something outside and quickly pulled Eugene over to the window.
"Yep, oneness, got it." Eugene responded before looking out to see Cassandra and Rapunzel riding on the brown female horse name Fidella riding past the pub. And heading to who know where.
"Cause if you can't share everything with that someone special, then maybe that someone isn't so. Special." Big Nose read.
Which made Eugene look at him as if he hit a nerve on that note. He knew exactly what he was talking about. Where were they going? He had to follow them before he lost sight of them.
"Ha-ha! I gotta go, this has been great." Eugene announced as he opened the door ready to leave. "You keep writing those words down, because one of these days...You'll have more of them! Bye everybody!"
Then Eugene shut the door and left in a hurry, which was loud enough to wake Shorty up.
"Good morning!" Shorty slurred to his friends. "Hey Big Nose. What's going on with that lady friend that you have?"
Big Nose flipped a page from his notebook back to the beginning and cleared his throat. The others groaned and sulked at this. They thought they had escaped from the torture. But apparently when it comes to Big Nose and his sappy poems, there's no rest for the reformed.
Down in Old Corona...
Cassandra and Rapunzel rode past some outdoor workers and field farmers that smiled and waved at them. Rapunzel would smile and wave every now and then while Cassandra would give a small smile and nod while staying on guard and ready for anything. Soon they came up to a gift shop in the middle of the Old Corona village.
Once they came off the horse, they observed the shop.
The gift shop was a two-story building with large window to the right side of the door. The left half of the building was made of tan rock while the right side was made of wood painted white. And the roof looked like was made of straw.
And the sign in front read 'Sunrise Gift Shop'
"Not a bad place." Rapunzel complemented and shrugged as they got off the horse. "To be honest I was expecting it to be...Cosy. In a 'I wish I had said goodbye to my love ones before I left' kinda way. So there's a plus."
"Maybe. Let's head inside." Cassandra said as they walked in.
Once they were inside they saw that it was a pretty decent gift shop with a nice inventory of knick knacks, gift cards and clothing items on display. Tea cups, pots, cooking utensils, frying pans which peaked Rapunzel's interest and other things. It was the kind of gift shop anyone would want to visit.
Inside they saw a 14 year old boy with short baggy brown hair, fair skinned and blue eyes. wearing black shoes, navy blue pants and a green t-shirt. The boy was cleaning the floor with a mop near the snow globe shelf while whistling to himself. He acted like he hadn't notice them come in until he looked up at them.
This boy was Orion.
"Can I help you?" Orion asked in a greeting tone.
Taken by surprise, Rapunzel took a moment to compose herself before speaking.
"Uh yes. Um... Are you the only one working here right now?" Rapunzel asked, trying to see if she could find the Maverick here, or at least a clue of his whereabouts.
"For now. The lady behind the desk is out for a jog and there's no manager, that's why our cash register is full. And I'm just getting ready to close." Orion shrugged as he finished mopping and made a friendly and slightly suggestive quip about Rapunzel being barefoot. "Still be glad I don't have a 'no shirt, no shoes, no service' sign hanging on the window. But I wouldn't mind the former."
Rapunzel, not noticing the suggestive part of what Orion said, smiled sweetly.
"Aw Thanks for understanding. I've just never been able to wear shoes comfortably. I think they're too restrictive." Rapunzel said while wiggling the toes of her left foot.
"Achem, Excuse me kid." Cassandra interrupted and stepped forward, trying to change the subject while trying to not be rude. "You said you work here. Would you happen to have any information about someone going by the name 'Maverick'?"
Orion looked at her and grinned.
"Right this way." Orion gestured to them to follow him in the back. "Don't worry, I won't tell you to leave the weapons. Kids are always allowed."
Orion always liked referring to weapons as children or ladies.
"Good to know." Cassandra muttered as she and Rapunzel followed Orion into the back.
Orion lead them over to the back of the store where an old wooden door was stationed. Much to their confusion as Orion started to surprise them. He flipped open a wooden board and revealed advanced looking secret panel hidden behind it as he typed in a code onto the keypad. Then the wooden doors began to shift into metallic elevator doors. The doors made a ding sound and opened. Then he stepped inside of a secret elevator.
"Come on in. Don't worry it won't eat you. Unless you're none-gluten." Orion invited them to come in the elevator. "Oh I almost forgot, Your pet Transformer is not claustrophobic, is he?"
He was gesturing to Pascal who was sitting on Rapunzel's shoulder, who looked confused by the nickname.
"Pascal? No. He's actually one of the bravest people I know." Rapunzel while holding her friend up in her hands. "Right Pascal?"
Pascal smiled and nodded, before standing on his two back legs and started shadow boxing.
"Excuse me, but what is with the small room you are asking us to enter?" Cassandra asked feeling suspicious about the elevator, having never seen one before. "It seems more like a closet than a room. What's the idea here?"
"Don't worry, Katie Holmes. If the Maverick wanted to brutalize you all in this box, he would've done it by now, outside the box. Please just step inside, we're burning daylight." Orion quipped and insisted.
"Come on Cassandra, what's the worst that can happen?" Rapunzel asked before eagerly stepping into the elevator, making Cassandra release a heavy sigh.
"As long as nobody drops a piece of jelly toast backwards, we should be fine." Orion quipped.
"I know I'm going to regret this." Cassandra muttered before stepping into the elevator too.
The doors closed as Orion leaned back with his arms crossed. As the elevator was starting to go down, it made them jolt and shake a little. The feeling everyone always gets when they get into an elevator for the first time.
"Woah! This is new." Rapunzel chuckled lightly feeling startled.
"Believe me it gets weirder from here on out." Orion remarked.
Then the elevator started playing music from the speakers.
(Pray For Me - The Weekend)
I'm always ready for a war again (a war again)
Go down that road again (that road again)
It's all the same (it's all the same)
I'm always ready to take a life again
You know I'll ride again
It's all the same (ooh, ooh, ooh)
"Wow! This music, I've never heard anything like this before." Rapunzel said swaying to the music while Pascal stood on her shoulder doing the Robot. "And the fact it's coming from nowhere... It's one of the most spectacular things I've ever experienced."
"I wouldn't go that far. But it is interesting." Cassandra mumbled out after Rapunzel's antics broke her concentration before going back to her thoughts.
"What you're hearing is an audio recording of a song that can play back a song on it's own, kinda like re-reading your little sister's diary but with real buttons to push." Orion quipped and stated. "Back in my home world. Making music like this was an extremely common necessity. More than taking morning stress pills."
The fact that he said 'home world' is what caught Cassandra's attention.
'Welcome back Maverick.' IRIS spoke from the intercom which surprised them.
"Who said that?!" Cassandra was alarmed as she drew her sword.
"Easy, Joan Of Arc. That's just my artificial assistant, IRIS. Think of her as a guardian angel if an angel was handcrafted into a maid." Orion eased Cassandra's tension with a little humor.
"So….She's a machine?" Cass inquired, understanding the best way she could.
"That's one way to look at it. Anyway thanks IRIS, have the terminal ready. And turn off the photon cannons around the lair. I've brought guests." Orion responded to the computer.
As this was happening quickly. What really got their attention is the fact that the computer or the voice in the ceiling called Orion 'Maverick'.
"Wait. You're the Maverick?" Rapunzel asked in awe and excitement.
"Raps, think for a moment." Cassandra said sternly, getting Rapunzel's attention. "We both saw the Maverick, he was a full grown man in a suit. This kid can't possibly be him."
"Yeah she's right Your Highness, how can you forget that? Oh wait. Unless….. That was the point. To keep everyone from ever guessing that Orion Forge 'That's me' was ever the insane to maximum high hell blown heaven, Maverick. I'm pretty sure if the authors of Shazam were born early, you would catch on quickly." Orion quipped in amusement.
"Yeah, sure. Sorry for being cynical, Kid. But you're going to need some hard evidence to prove that your-" Cassandra crossed her arms and almost stated in unbelief.
Then Orion shifted into the Maverick suit right before their eyes, which shocked both of them.
"Oh damn. I seemed to have left the lights on in the 'hard evidence'." Maverick quipped as he displayed himself and added. "Were you expecting? A guy with beatnik eyebrows, a curl in front of his hair with killer cheekbones and a cleft chin?"
Tell me who's gon' save me from myself
When this life is all I know
Tell me who's gon' save me from this hell
Without you, I'm all alone
Both girls stared at Maverick in shock.
"Wait, the Maverick... really is a kid?" Cassandra mustered out in her shock.
"Oh my God! This is amazing!" Rapunzel squealed before putting her hands on the glowing metal armor, much to Cassandra and Maverick's surprise. "You're so glowy! It's like a metal star! Where can I get something like this?!"
"Rapunzel!" Cassandra exclaimed in shock at her friend's spastic actions.
"I hate to kill the inner woman-child Goldie Locks, but it's illegal in most countries to touch me like this, and you have a boyfriend." Maverick quipped about how she was touching his suit. "Don't make me bring out my rape whistle."
At his words, Rapunzel's eyes widened in understanding at what she was doing before taking her hands off him and taking a step back, with a small blush on her face.
"Sorry about that." Rapunzel said meekly with a shy smile on her face and bting her bottom lip. "I guess I got carried away, again."
"It's okay Princess, I'll send you an action figure of me after we're done." Maverick said with a wink, before he shifted back into Orion. "I know none of this makes any sense. But once we're inside, all of this will start to add up."
'Now arriving at the Mav Club.' IRIS announced.
"Starting now." Orion smirked as he faced the doors and they opened to show a large lair. A secret lair that would make the Bat Cave look like a Dinosaur cave.
With the clean white metallic steel exterior and the neon lights that blended in. The many different advanced weapons and technology that were on display. The many Maverick suits that were displayed in different glass case pedestals all lined up in roles between the halls, like suits of armor displayed in a castle. The many large clear steel doors that lead to a different room and chamber. And the giant super computer screen that was stationed straight ahead.
Who gon' pray for me? (Who gon' pray for me?)
Take my pain for me? (Take my pain for me?)
Save my soul for me? (Save my soul for me?)
'Cause I'm alone, you see (I'm alone, you see)
If I'm gon' die for you (if I'm gon' die for you )
If I'm gon' kill for you (if I'm gon' kill for you)
Then I'll spill this blood for you, hey
"If you're transfixed or horrified, don't worry I have the right pills for those. What's the first question you want to ask?" Orion asked them as he walked inside and they followed. "Don't worry there's no wrong question, like asking what my blood type is."
"A few moments ago, you said 'your world' and 'my home world' back there." Cassandra now stated with a raised eyebrow as she composed herself again. "Are you trying to say you're from another world?"
"No. I'm from another universe, more specifically, another reality." Orion clarified.
"Uh...You've lost us?" Rapunzel looked confused along with Pascal and Cass.
Orion rolled his eyes and sighed. "If only Giordano Bruno was born in Corona instead." He muttered and called his computer. "IRIS, launch the augment orientation segments."
'Yes Maverick.' IRIS stated.
Then the lights dimmed a little as IRIS projected holograms of the Multiverse and multiple planets in the middle of the room.
Which fascinated Rapunzel and amazed Cassandra.
'Your reality is one of many. The different choices and small changes in history. Based upon n the choices a conduit of history makes, creates a possibility. And that possibility, creates another world. Sharing with others that are not like earth. These collected realities is called the Multiverse.' IRIS stated during the orientation. 'Even as we speak. The people of these worlds are living their lives, unaware of how much life is bigger then what they know.'
Then IRIS displayed many forms of human beings from every era and eras that never have never happened yet or ever. And different species like mermaids or aliens.
'The very few that know of this keep the cosmic peace and balance known as the world order. The the Guardians that protect the order are the ones known as the wielders of the Keyblade.' IRIS protected an armored keyblade wielder. Protectors that stand between light and darkness. ' They love by the rules and protect these worlds from darkness within the structures. But their is only one that is chosen. A warrior with a mantle that is past down from century to century. An independent keyblade wielder who fights the battles of light and darkness, one who makes his own rules to better serve the better Multiverse. The Maverick.'
Then IRIS displayed the Maverick.
'Any kind of a being, of a strong heart, can wield a keyblade. But only one is chosen as the Maverick. Trusted with the power that many desire and would abuse. The Maverick is on everyone's side. And chosen by Kingdom Hearts itself.' IRIS stated. 'Do you have any more questions?'
"uh... I do." Rapunzel said, raising a hand while still in awe of the holograms. "What's Kingdom Hearts?"
Then IRIS projected a hologram of a giant moon like world in the shape of a heart. and many other cosmic examples to show it's wonders.
'Kingdom Hearts. The cosmic recollected repository of all hearts. It is the heart of all worlds, and the source of ultimate power and wisdom. It can be considered an aggregate of hearts. There are other entities in the series known as Kingdom Hearts, although they are artificial replicas of the true Kingdom Hearts. But the true Kingdom hearts chooses it's Guardians and it watches over the destinies of all those with the strong hearts. And you. Are part of that great light. You and all those with a heart. It is up to you, to follow your heart to the great path of light. The Maverick and all keyblade warriors will assured that you will. Welcome. To the Multiverse...' IRIS finished.
Then the projections stopped as Orion turned and grinned at Rapunzel and Cassandra.
"Tell me. Do you usually get that from any other gift shop?" Orion mused.
"Nothing near as awesome as this!" Rapunzel said enthusiastically. Pascal was trying to get his jaw to stop hanging from all the shock.
"Yeah….. That was definitely really impressive, and informative." Cassandra said before collecting herself again and looking towards Orion with purpose. "Alright, you just might be the one who can help us."
"I do nothing but help. That and I can make one hell of a milkshake. But don't worry, I know why you're both here." Orion stated.
"You do?" Rapunzel asked, looking intrigued.
"As an independent keyblader, I keep a close list on anyone or anything that can threatened this world and many others across the multiverse. Those 'blacks rocks' that you touched, are one of those threats." Orion stated as he looked at both of them before shifting back into his Maverick form. "I'm going to help you in any non-lethal way that I can. But you have to promise that whatever happens here, stays here."
"Scouts Honor!" Rapunzel said with a raised hand.
"You were never-" Cassandra tried to say that she wasn't ever in the scouts, only for Rapunzel to put a hand over Cassandra's mouth.
"I SAID SCOUTS HONOR!" Rapunzel said loudly.
Maverick looked amused at the antics of the two ladies before Cassandra separated Rapunzel's hand from her mouth.
"Following Rapunzel's enthusiasm, I was actually going to suggest the same thing." Cassandra said before stepping forward with her hand out to shake, with a smile on her face. "You've got a deal, Maverick."
Maverick shook her hand back as they were all in agreement.
After that moment. Orion led Rapunzel and Cassandra into the observation room, where many different laboratory and advanced research equipment were stationed. The kind you would find in an episode of Star Trek, if the Enterprise crew were rich and their episodes were made in 2014.
"Alright as soon as we get you set up Princess, we can...see...if..." Orion dropped his jaw the moment he saw Groot drinking from the decorative water fountain of Stan Lee, while leaning over it.
Rapunzel and Cassandra froze in place as they were surprised to see the same living, giant talking tree that fought off those robots with the Maverick.
"GROOT!" Orion exclaimed getting the tree's attention. "What have I told you about slurping from Stan Lee's libations?! That's gross as hell!"
"Mmmm..." Groot shook his head while water dripped from his face.
"Yes you did. We all saw, why are you lying?" Orion corrected him and looked to Cass and Rapunzel. "I'm sorry you'll have to excuse him, he's not a house plant."
"Okay…." Rapunzel said awkwardly, with her and Cass turning to look at each other slowly.
"Anyway, I'll get the bench set up, you ladies can pass the time and gossip with Groot here." Orion said as he went over to a terminal to access some tools he needed.
Groot stood up and stood tall in front of both of them as the Princess was mouthing wow seeing the talking tree in front of them.
"I am Groot." He smiled.
"Hi there. I'm Rapunzel, you know the Princess. But you probably knew that." Rapunzel greeted with a smile and wave and she introduced herself and she'll introduce to Groot to
Cassandra nodded in greeting while staying on her guard in case the tree was dangerous.
"I am Groot?" Groot asked them in a friendly tone. Translated: ''What do you think of this place.''
But they obviously didn't understand him.
"Um….You already said that." Rapunzel looked confused.
After what felt like five minutes of trying to talk to Groot, Orion was almost done setting up the bench. And getting some research tech and equipment ready. While Cassandra and Rapunzel were busy trying to understand Groot.
"Just need a few more adjustments..." Orion muttered to himself as he was busy.
"I am Groot." Groot said that Orion is his best friend, he'll take care of your problem.
"Yeah great. That was interesting as the first 89 times you've you've us that. Kid, what's the deal with him?" Cassandra asked, looking annoyed at this point.
"Go easy on him, Secret Service. He doesn't do 'normal talk' like the rest of us. So his vocabulistics is limited to 'I' and 'am' and 'Groot'. Exclusively in that order." Orion voiced over from behind the bench as he was hooking some cables up.
"So…. that's all he can say?" Rapunzel figured.
"That's not gonna wear thin real fast." Cassandra muttered sarcastically.
"Well if we can get used to horses saying 'neigh' all the time, without tearing our eardrums out, we can get used to his animal call." Orion remarked about Groot's way of speaking as he stood up and typed in a few commands on the terminal.
"I am Groot?" Groot inquired, looking offended at Orion's joke.
"Relax Pal, no one's calling you a furry." Orion assured him.
"Wait. You can understand him?" Rapunzel asked, looking a little surprised.
"Triple A! In addition to being a badass independent nutcase for hire, a singer, actor, dancer, chef, comedian, licensed pediatrician, engineer, KH expert, founder of the Golden Girl/fake fan site." Orion humorously inhaled after losing his breath and added. "I'm also a Groot whisperer."
"Well. At least he won't be able to spill any secrets." Cassandra remarked with her arms crossed.
"I am Groot." Groot nodded and gave Cass a thumbs up.
"He said your secret's safe. Anyway Your Highness, sit up on the bench." Orion helped Rapunzel to be laid back on the bench.
"Oh. Thank you. And please, just Rapunzel is fine." Rapunzel smiled modestly as she came on the bench.
"Alright, as my girlfriend would say. Formalities are for pus-" Orion almost said.
"Wait, you've got a girlfriend?!" Rapunzel asked, looking a little excited.
"Raps." Cassandra hissed sternly. As she thought it was rude to get into Orion's private affairs.
"What? I'm a sucker for young love." Rapunzel said in her own defense.
"Don't worry Zel. Mind if I call you Zel? I'd call you Raps, but Joan of Arc has that copy written." Orion quipped as he was putting a scanner in place.
Which is a nickname based on the last three letters of the Princess's name. (This info is for those who are illiterate like my Dad. *Drum Beat*)
"Um sure. 'Zel' sounds good." Rapunzel said kindly.
"I don't mind you asking. My girlfriend is in the training center next door. But she is super serious so whatever you do, don't get on her bad side." Orion warned as he pulled up a round glass object that looked like a large microscope.
Rapunzel looked a little weirded out by that statement while Cassandra just shrugged and watched as Orion activated the scanners. Light beams projected around Rapunzel as her hair was laid up across the upper end of the bench. The lights took a while to scan her hair. Given how long it was.
Back outside the gift shop…...
Eugene was standing under a tree in the front lawn of the Sunrise Gift Shop, waiting for Rapunzel and Cassandra to walk out. While the horses were waiting behind him. Needless to say he had been waiting for quite a while. He even looked at his pocket watch to see that it's been too long for him to be standing out there to spy on them.
"Ugh! What is taking 'em so long?" Eugene groaned as he closed his watch. "I'm going in."
As Eugene marched his way into the gift shop. An apple fell from the tree and hits Max's on top of his head. The horse looked up to see that he and Fidella were standing under an apple tree. Delighted, Max snatches and apple from the tree with his jaws only to chew a few times and look disgusted. The horse spits out the apple to see it was fake and made of plastic. Max smacked his lips and gave the apple a weird look. Who plants apples made of plastic?
Fidella turned one of the fallen apples over, the back of the apple read 'Made in China. Not really, but you now know it's inedible. Dumbass!'
Max huffed and snorted in annoyance after reading that.
Back inside the Mave Club….
"Sweet baby Jesus. If I didn't know about the magic rocks and crap, I would've thought you were a suicide blonde, dyed by your own hand." Aiden muttered while he was still scanning Rapunzel's hair.
Rapunzel giggled at the pun while Cassandra wasn't amused by the childish humor.
"So your hair was enchanted to heal any injury just by singing. Right?" Orion recalled from the stories while he was still scanning her hair.
"Pretty much, back in the old days." Rapunzel answered while her eyes winced from the scanning lights. "But it had to be a particular song I was taught to sing."
"Have you actually tested this healing power out or used it by any chance?" Orion asked.
"Well….Not really. I mean I never had a reason to use it." Rapunzel admitted as the scanning stopped.
'Scan complete.' IRIS stated.
"Whelp. No time like the present." Orion said as he conjured up a knife made of neon. Which
"Wait, what are you doing with that…" Cassandra inquired about the knife until Orion used it to give his left palm a shift cut which made them both wince, but Orion didn't seem bothered by the fact that he just cut himself.
"Do you remember the lyrics?" Orion asked as he wrapped his hand around a strand of Rapunzel's hair.
"Yes but….Oh is this a test?" Rapunzel realized as she sat up.
"I am Groot." Groot nodded and gestured to the Princess to do her thing.
Rapunzel nodded and sat straight as she closed her eyes, everyone watched as she started singing.
"Flower gleam and glow~ Let your power shine~ Make the clock reverse~ Bring back what once was mine~ Heal what has been hurt~ Change the fates design~ Save what has been lost~ Bring back what once was mine~ What once was mine~" Rapunzel sang the whole song of healing and opened her eyes. "Better?"
Orion looked at his hand. "Let's see and find out- nope. Negatory. Miracle denied, nice singing voice though." Orion quipped seeing that his hand was still bleeding.
"Huh, they used to work..." Rapunzel stared at her hair in confusion.
"No worries, I got this." Orion used his other hand to summon his keyblade and he used it to casted a healing spell. Rapunzel and Cassandra were not only amazed seeing the boy summon his keyblade, but also his ability to heal himself giving out an aurora of green with a flower. And then the cut on his hand was gone.
"Wow. Is that the source of your powers?" Rapunzel pointed at his keyblade curiously.
"not really. It's just an addition to the suit and neon powers." Orion grinned.
"You're what powers?" Cassandra looked curious.
Orion projected three strings of neon to float around Pascal who was standing up on a work desk, smiling and chirping at the blue and green lights flowing around him while changing into those colors.
"In addition to having the ability to create and bend a light substance called neon to my will. I also have two keyblades and a magic ring that can shift me into my armored form." Orion explained as his keyblade faded from his hands.
"I am Groot." Groot reminded Orion about why they're here.
"Right, getting back to your hair. So silver lining, your hair no longer has it's magical medical certificate. Not exactly progress, but it's a start." Orion said as he made notes on a terminal.
"But we still don't know why it's back, and why she can't cut it." Cassandra pointed out.
"You both may not. But I on the other hand…...Have a theory." Orion mused as he finished typing and picked up a syringe and looked to Rapunzel. "I'm gonna need a DNA sample."
"Oooh, a DNA sample." Rapunzel beamed and inquired. "What's a DNA sample?"
"He needs a little bit of your blood." Cassandra translated.
"My what?!" Rapunzel looked horrified.
"Relax, it will be quick and painless." Orion assured as he held up the needle of the syringe, even Pascal looked scared.
"Uh uh! No way! Needles is where I draw the line! I will not-" Rapunzel's glare and refusal was paused when Orion used a stopga spell to freeze her in time. Then he quickly injected the needle in her arm and extracted a good sample of her blood. Then he used a healing spell to close where the injection went. Then the stopga spell wore off. "-let you poke me with that stinging demon!"
"Too late, already did." Orion mused as he held up and flicked his finger on the glass which shocked Rapunzel.
"Woaaah! Did you see that Cass?! He didn't even have to inject me!" Rapunzel squealed in delight.
"Right…." Cassandra grinned in amusement with her arms crossed. And gave Orion a look that says 'My lips are sealed' and he winked in response.
"Do you need some more? My blood is free." Rapunzel chirped.
"What do I look like, Blade? Don't worry, one is fine." Orion assured as he placed the test tube of Rapunzel's blood into the DNA analyzer. "Okay IRIS, what can you tell me, I mean us about the Blonde Ambition's hair?"
'Princess Rapunzel's hair is made of the basic textural DNA compounds. The overall chemical composition is 22.5% carbon, 28 % oxygen, 15 % nitrogen, 7 % hydrogen and. 5% sulphur.' IRIS stated.
Rapunzel and Cassandra didn't understand a word the computer was saying, but Orion understood it fine.
"Were you supposed to say 45% carbon?" Orion caught the one error at the start.
'Negative. There is an unknown element varied within the structure of the Princess's hair. The composites of the basic keratin of the human hair is not the same match for this particular.' IRIS stated.
"Okay, so do you know the element that's not supposed to be in her hair?" Orion pressed as they were listening.
'This particular element is not earth-based. It's origin is unknown. But it matches the same micro-quantum wave signature as the black rocks' IRIS specified.
"So my hair is basically the same as the rocks?" Rapunzel asked.
'In terms of correspondence. Affirmative. But I recommend running several tests for tensile structural integrity.' IRIS suggested.
"Well if we're going that route, we're going to need my blue seductress/assistant." Orion smirked as he popped his fingers.
"You're what?" Cassandra raised an eyebrow, even Pascal looked confused.
"IRIS, open up the doors for the training simulator." Orion walked out of the observation room and went over to another set of steel doors.
Rapunzel and Cassandra followed the young keyblader to see what he was he was going to retrieve next. But in this case, it's who he's going to retrieve next.
When the doors opened in the next room it revealed a large chrome designed room for training. Stacked up in a line right in the middle of the room were metal poles, and in between the top of the poles were a group of sharp hanging axes that were swinging back and forth.
What surprised Cassandra and Rapunzel was seeing a girl who appeared to be thirteen years old, wearing purple gym pants and matching gymnastics shoes. A black tank top and matching elbow bands. And a left forearm band. But what was shocking to see was that the girl appeared to be blue skinned with pointy ears, and smooth silver hair going down to her shoulders.
This girl was clearly not human.
Especially since she's stepping and leaping on top of the steel poles, landing from pole to pole while dodging the axes with grace and flexibility like no one had ever seen. The girl was twirling and dodging the incoming axes while her feet kept landing on different poles, using only one of her feet to land without stumbling or falling.
And best of all, the girl was doing all of this while blindfolded.
"You missed the spot." Orion quipped up at her.
The girl twirled and performed a somersault while aiming a middle finger at Orion in response.
"She's kidding, don't worry." Orion snickered.
"Huh? I didn't hear her say anything." Rapunzel looked confused.
"She didn't, she gave him the finger." Cassandra deadpanned.
"Oh okay. Yeah, the finger. Got it." Rapunzel nodded and leaned to whispered a question to Cass. "What's the finger?"
"I'll... tell you later." Cassandra answered as she looked uncomfortable to explain it.
Then the holographic scoreboard that displayed above the room hit a score of 1000. Which was the number of times she's dodged those axes. The girl flipped in the air and landed in front of them.
"Her race has a durability and endurance level that's twice above the human race. She translates that by being flexible and extremely athletic." Orion stated as the girl took off her blind folded, revealing a pair of very pretty red eyes.
"Hi. I'm Princess Rapunzel, but you might've already known that." Rapunzel nervously giggled nervously seeing the girl while being friendly. " And this is my best friends Pascal and Cassandra."
Pascal was sitting on Rapunzel's shoulder while staring at the blue girl in shock.
"Ladies, this is my girlfriend and partner, Friday." Orion introduced them.
"It's pronounced Fara'dei." Friday corrected. Her accent sounded almost Middle Eastern, but it's really the accent of the Kree.
"I nicknamed her after the best day of the week." Orion amusingly whispered.
"I don't mind." Friday shrugged and nodded to the Princess. "It's nice to meet you all. I trust Orion did the best of his 'mix bag' ego to explain how everything works."
"Mix bag?!" Orion gawked.
"Pretty much." Cassandra shrugged while trying to process who Friday is.
"I understand that my blue skin and features may not be unorthodox. But that is because I'm what many would call an alien hybrid." Friday explained.
"Alien? Like from another planet?" Cassandra asked curiously.
"Yes. I am half Kree and half Skrull, two advanced alien civilizations that have been at war with each other for decades. But that's a story for another time." Friday stated.
"And in case anyone asks later, because we never got around to making trading cards due to the notoriety. In addition to being a shapeshifter. Friday also has electrical abilities. Which is what we will need for our tests." Orion added as he opened up the doors to the testing chamber.
A room full of displays and shielded bunkers and equipment used for testing weapons, magic and chemicals for mass destruction. And powers of any kind at their potential.
In the middle of the room was a metal strap table. Around the table we're automatic claws that were stationed all around the room, moving like actual arms as if they were alive. They were considered to be Orion's robotic assistants while in his workshop and doing research.
"Don't mind the staff, they're so stupid that they stared at a cup of orange juice for 12 hours because it said 'concentrate.'" Orion remarked, making Rapunzel giggle.
Cassandra looked at the side labels on the claws while they're mechanical shifting noises were faint and amusing. It kind of made them look adorable as one of them was re-arranging some items on another table.
"You named them 'More-On'?" Cassandra inquired about the label.
All of the mechanical claws were labeled More-On.
"They earned their titles with dignity." remarked as he was attaching some tools to a testing table and four More-On claws on each end.
"They're kinda cute." Rapunzel mused as she was petting a More-On claw, while it rubbed against her palm like a kitten making wiring noises which made her giggle a bit.
"Everything we need to test the potential and credibility of your hair is in this room." Orion stated as he was done setting up
"Nice!" Rapunzel beamed as she was ready for results.
"If we're right. These tests will tell us all we need to know about your hair." Friday said as she helped Orion get the table ready.
"Raps, are you sure-" Cassandra turned to see that the princess was no longer next to her. "Rapunzel?!"
Rapunzel was already strapped to the table, her hair loose.
"Let's do this." Rapunzel said with eager determination.
"I am Groot." Groot chuckled. Translated: "Someone's excited."
"Fair warning, Zel. This might get a little…." Orion winced trying to come up with the right words while rubbing the back of his neck.
"Exciting?!" Rapunzel beamed in anticipation while not noticing the dangerous advanced tools hanging above her head.
Friday gave Orion a warning stare telling him to not over do it, and it was best to not freak the Princess out.
"Sure sure sure. Let's go with that." Orion grinned nervously as he got in front of a terminal and started the first test sequence.
Then a pair of metal clamps gripped a good amount of Rapunzel's hair and pulled real hard, making her wince. "Oh….Okay?"
"Don't worry. I'll kick his ass if he goes too far." Friday assured Rapunzel about Orion's test as she conducted a bit of electricity in her fingers.
Then Friday touched some strands of Rapunzel's hair that weren't near the Princess's head. Ironically, her electrical powers bounced up on the ceiling several times before it faded away. Friday tried this several times and Orion was using the scanning tools to analyze data while they were testing her. Friday even tried freezing her hair. And the ice seemed to have cracked and fell in pieces after the frost had solidified.
Then Orion used the claws to turn and spin Rapunzel's hair in different directions to the point that she was nearly wrapped as a mummy. Cassandra was watching while looking worried.
"Woooah!" Rapunzel yelped as she spun around on the table.
Then it stopped as her hair was scattered everywhere. Orion was fascinated by how her hair was unfazed by all of this.
"And….Done!" Orion announced as the bell rang.
"Alright. Whew...Not super duper fun….But it's over." Rapunzel sighed in relief like she got off a joy ride.
"Over? Why my dear. We only scratch the service, we've got ten more rounds to go." Orion mimicked Peter Lorre as the tests continued with new tools.
But little did they know as Friday used her electrical powers to zap Rapunzel's hair earlier, the bolts that bounced up on the ceiling accidentally hit the panel for the elevator...And short circuited the security.
Meanwhile Back up at the shop…..
Eugene looked everywhere in the shop without breaking anything or at least trying to, since he accidentally broke two snow globes and bumped into a rack of shirts to fall into the spills.
"Opps." Eugene winced and complained "Grrr! Where are they?! Nobody disappears in a small shop! THAT KIND OF CRAP HAPPENS IN SCARY BOOKS! It's not like a magic portal in a small room opened up to them!"
Just then the front shelves of the shop slides open which startled Eugene as he sees a secret elevator door opens up.
"Okay? I guess rhetorical predictions are now my magical ability." Eugene quipped as he walked into the elevator and declared with a sinister grin. "Show me your biggest secrets!"
*Ding!*
"WOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!" Eugene screams echoed as the elevator went going down fast.
Back down at the Mav Club…..
Rapunzel was still strapped to the table as it was vibrating. This was another durability and solidarity test. The Princess guessed it was the kind of test for what her hair would go through in an Earthquake.
"Two more tests to go!" Rapunzel reminded herself as her voice vibrated with the table. Then another ring was heard as the ninth test was done. She beamed while shivering. "Yaaaay!"
"Hang in there Zel, I know these tests have been an atomic pain in the..." Orion muttered that last part, making the Princess laugh.
"Ah I wouldn't say pain." Rapunzel waved it off, then a wave of electricity shocked Rapunzel for three seconds, lighting her body like Vegas weekend and leaving her hair a curly mesh for five more seconds. She moaned. "Now I would…."
Thankfully that charge tool wasn't set to a voltage that was lethal.
"Moron?! I told you to only aim for the hair." Orion scolded the More-On claw that shocked her with a charge tool. "If you shock her again, you're going to be my replacement ps4 controller."
The More-On claw made a sad mechanical noise as it looked down like as if it were ashamed.
After nine tests that were somewhat successful. IRIS was gathering more data as their tests were yielding results on how strong Rapunzel's hair really was. Of course a good number of the welding tools and claws were now scattered across the ground. While Cassandra and Pascal were taking cover behind a table from the flying sparks of a plasma laser failing to cut Rapunzel's hair. Thankfully he had Rapunzel's body covered in a neon barrier while her hair was exposed for the tools and weapons.
Even Groot was taking cover.
"I am Groot?!" Groot groaned in annoyance.
"Almost done pal. You can't rush perfection." Orion stated while operating on the terminal for the tools.
"We're not rushing perfection, we're rushing you!" Friday snapped.
"Cool burn!" Orion beamed humorously, making her roll her eyes.
Just then the elevator doors opened up from behind them as Eugene stumbled out without anyone noticing from the loud noise of Orion's tools. Eugene moaned in pain from falling as he stood up from the ground and saw Rapunzel strapped to a table with a laser saw blade and drill about to come down on her hair, but from his angle it looked like they were aiming for her head.
"Ah! Blondie!" Eugene yelped in fear for his beloved.
But as the tools came down. Sparks were flying as Orion was the only one that looked amazed the tools broke off from touching her hair and bounced across the room.
"HOLY SCHEISSE! WHOO!" Orion cheered seeing the results. "And I thought that the rock of Gibraltar or vibranium was unbreakable, but this totally stretches the definition!"
"But I'm betting you're not!" They heard Eugene say as they turned to see him standing at the entrance and pointing threateningly at Orion. "Let her go!"
Eugene! Hey!" Rapunzel smiled nervously as her table flipped up for her to face him.
Cassandra looked annoyed to see him here while Pascal looked nervous like the Princess and everyone else was confused.
"Blondie, you're okay!" Eugene chuckled in relief before his look turned stern and muttered. "You wanna tell me what's going on here?"
The Princess cringed as she glanced at Cassandra who gave her a look for Rapunzel to recall what they talked about, Rapunzel could only laugh nervously as she couldn't think of anything to say.
"What. In. The ass? Is this secret lair now listed on Tinder? Craigslist?" Orion inquired, staring at Eugene and how he was able to find this place. "IRIS? How did he get in here?"
'The elevator has experienced a malfunction due to circuit damage in the panel.' IRIS explained which made Eugene jump in fear at the sound of her voice.
"Oooooh….Damn." Orion muttered wincing at the blasted elevator controls.
"Wait wait wait! Where did that voice come from?! Who is he?! Who is she?! Why is she blue?! What is this place And IS THAT A TALKING TREE?!" Eugene demanded looking at all the new faces in the room.
"I am Groot?" Groot raised an eyebrow at him.
"I assume he's with you?" Friday asked the ladies.
"And did he forget to take some L-Theanine before coming here?" Orion humorously added.
"Uh yep!" Rapunzel chirped, answering Friday.
"Unfortunately yes." Cassandra rolled her eyes, answering Orion.
"You know what?! I don't care! I'm getting you out of there." Eugene rushed over to the table Rapunzel was strapped in.
"Wait…..Weren't you that guy on the wanted poster with the disfigured schnoz?" Friday guessed with a grin as she referenced Flynn Rider's wanted posters with the misdrawn noses.
"No, you don't know what you're talking about." Eugene denied with his arms crossed. "I've never seen you before in my life. You can't prove anything!"
"Chillax Bro, we've heard the story. That part of your life is history." Orion assured.
"Oh then, you probably have heard of me. I'm-" Eugene tried to say.
"I know. You're the guy that died." Orion quipped referenced the story of Rapunzel and Eugene's opening intro, while going over to inspect the damage. "Try not to decompose on the rugs."
"Wow. Didn't even let me finish." Eugene grumbled with his arms crossed.
"Hey Orion, if you want I can take his corpse out of here." Cassandra quipped with a smirk.
"As epic as that would be Ma'am. I don't want anyone to think I'm selling zombies at the gift shop, so let's keep him fresh for now, at least until Halloween." Orion smirked while he was fixing up the elevator panel with a futuristic multiple.
Cassandra could help but snicker. While Rapunzel was looking guilty about keeping this whole thing as a secret. Sooner or later Eugene will find out about everything to do with her hair and she doesn't want it to happen in the wrong way.
"This isn't right, Cassandra, I have to tell him what's going on," Rapunzel whispers to Cassandra.
"No!" Cassandra hissed to her. "Rapunzel, I want to trust you. And I trust that you trust Eugene, but I don't trust Eugene, and if I don't trust Eugene, I can't trust you and you're just going to have to trust me!" She glanced down for a second as she thought about what she just said. "Trust me, that logic tracks."
"I am Groot." Groot held his head as that statement confused him.
"I won't ask." Friday shrugged.
"Thanks." Cassandra sighed.
"Look kid, Orion is it? Can you at least throw me a bone?" Eugene approached Orion and asked.
"Who's bone? One of yours? I don't think your sanity can spare a rib, Pal." Orion quipped as he was almost done fixing the elevator panel.
"That's not what I- Ugh come on! I'm so confused I don't know whether to scratch my watch or wind my butt." Eugene persisted as he looked desperate.
"If you look confused, that's because you are thinking." Orion quipped while referencing Samuel Goldwyn.
"What?" Eugene raised an eyebrow.
"Alright I'll give you the meat of this plot. I'm Orion Forge, AKA the Maverick. The same metal knight that stopped those machines from wrecking the Princess's coronation. I'm from another world here to defend the innocent until my ride's ready and those ladies came here to my secret lair to help them understand why your girlfriend's hair is back. So me and my girlfriend, including my giant chia pet, are working our asses off to try and make sense of everything as well." Orion gave him a short summary as he finally fixed the panel and tested the buttons to see that it's working.
"Fine. Don't me." Eugene deadpanned then it clicked. "Wait. You're the Maverick? This is a joke right I mean you can't be, the guy was clearly old enough to-"
Then Orion shifted into his suit which made Eugene so shocked that he can only manage a tiny shriek.
"Okay. I stand corrected. At least something is starting to make sense. Sort of." Eugene managed to say looking nervous.
"Not everything has to make sense, Errol Flynn. Look whatever's going on with you and Goldie Locks over there is just between you both. But I can tell you everything I said about me while I let you in on a little secret about this place." Maverick offered as he pressed a button to summon the elevator. "Will that ease the haze in your shorts?"
The mention of a secret caused Eugene to brighten up.
"You want to tell me, no show me…. a secret? Do you hear that, everyone?!" Eugene bragged to Cassandra and Rapunzel. "Oracle- Uh….Oreos!"
"Orion." Maverick deadpanned.
"Orion! More specifically, the Maverick wants to tell me a secret!" Eugene beamed as he went into the elevator with the armored keyblader.
Cassandra and Rapunzel eyebrowed each other wondering if that wasn't a good idea
"Eh. A loud mutt deserves a treat every now and then. You're not getting any more after this." Maverick quipped, his way of assuring that he won't tell him too much.
"Well FYI. I think I deserve a whole bag of treats. I made more of a public impression around the world at your age, while you were still spitting up formulas." Eugene snorted back with his arms crossed.
"I was breastfed actually." Maverick stated as he went in the elevator and pressed a button down while Eugene followed him.
"Oh nice. Rub that in my orphan face." Eugene responded with sass before the elevator door closed.
"I am Groot." Groot told them not to worry.
"He said not to worry. Orion knows not to tell him too much." Friday translated the free as she unstrapped Rapunzel from the table. "If you'll follow me I can show you the test results."
"Thanks." Cassandra nodded with a smile as they both followed Friday and Groot while Pascal got back on Rapunzel's shoulder.
"Um, quick question. If it's okay to ask. Do you and Orion by any chance share each other's secrets?" Rapunzel asked timidly while they followed Friday.
"Rapunzel…" Cassandra warned sternly.
"For the most part, we never keep secrets from each other. At least nothing important or life threatening." Friday answered. "Granted I may have some personal issues or small matters that were dealt with and he probably doesn't know about. But as a couple, we never shut each other out, no matter what. We deal with our situations together."
That only made Rapunzel more guilty.
"Okay. But what if he or you keeps a certain situation as a need-to-know for the sake of making sure nothing goes wrong for others around you? Like a best friend?" Rapunzel was being vague with that question, but Friday was smart to connect the dots.
"My heart tells me that Orion can be trusted. He's more than earned the right to know everything and I've done the same with him. When you love someone, you have full confidence that person won't betray your trust, unless he's a relative or an in-law. Then you need to set boundaries." Friday stated as she went up to the lair's main computer terminal which was the giant computer up in the center.
That last statement was obviously a remark.
Rapunzel looked at Cassandra who just exhaled knowing the Princess won't let this go and gestured to go ahead.
"So should I share all of my secrets with Eugene because he's earned the right to know in the past?" Rapunzel asked, being a little more direct while rubbing the back of her neck.
"What does your heart tell you?" Friday gave her an easy answer as she typed on the computer. "If he's your significant other. Then he has to share in the weight you carry. And that works the other way around. Otherwise, you both have no right to be together."
Even Cassandra had to admit, the alien girl had a good point. Maybe her lack of trust to Eugene was based on paranoia and maybe Rapunzel should tell him. Rapunzel's heart is telling her to do so for sure. Eugene gave his life for her.
But will he be loyal to that trust?
Down in the sublevels of the Mav Club….
The elevator doors opened as Eugene followed Maverick into a hallway that followed the same pattern as the lair but with slight dim lights. While Maverick finished telling Eugene everything he told Rapunzel and Cass. About Kingdom Hearts, about his role as the Maverick. His powers, who Friday and Groot are, and what this place is.
"And so I named her after the day school always drops dead until Monday morning." Orion finished.
"Interesting. Okay all of that was fascinating and that stuff about other worlds is going to keep me up all night for sure." Eugene admitted and then stressed. "But listen Mav, I need you to tell me everything that the Princess told you."
"Nothing that I already knew." Maverick stated truthfully.
"Seriously?! Not even about why her hair was back?" Eugene inquired.
"Nope. But Don't worry. We'll both find out quickly. In the meantime I need to check on our mutual security and a little side project I'm working on to earn some extra cheddar." Maverick revealed.
"Wait, you're low on funds? Even for this place?" Eugene asked, looking a little surprised.
"This place came for free. Even with the keyblade and suit. Everything you see is a hand-me-down from the last Maverick. Whoever that was. But that's not the secret you need to hear." Maverick explained with a shrug. as he opened the doors up ahead with the press of a button.
Then the doors ahead opened as it revealed a chamber with a large orb in the middle containing energy of light. Stationed under protection of laser bars and mini turrets. This was the most important item in the entire Mav Club.
"Woah….I'm guessing this big round whatsit is the meaning of life maybe?" Eugene quipped while seeing the orb.
"No, Robin Hood. This is the Cornerstone of Light, the most important mystical element in the entire chamber." Maverick stated.
"Interesting. And what makes it so important if I may ask?" Eugene scratched his chin looking amused that he's the first one hearing this.
Maverick shifted back into Orion as he spoke to Eugene with a strict tone.
"Like I said in the elevator. There are forces of darkness that would stop at nothing until all worlds in the realm of light are consumed in darkness. That includes this world." Orion stated as he projected the Heartless in the form of neons. "Enemies like the Heartless, beings that are manifested hearts but lacking in feeling and understanding."
"Yikes." Eugene winced seeing the visuals.
"They're the main threat of every keyblader. Thankfully the last Maverick took every precaution to ensure that they never enter this world. This was the main reason why no one ever saw one." Orion gestured to the Cornerstone.
"So the Cornerstone keeps them out?" Eugene asked.
"The Cornerstone keeps everything of darkness out of this world. At least the kind of darkness this world doesn't already have. But it's basically the Great Wall of China, the cosmic barrier to every mystical threat that tries to get into this world." Orion clarified. "But it only works on everything magic related, in terms of darkness."
"What about those machines that were attacked?" Eugene recalled.
"They were the Dark Mongers. They're exceptional because science made them. They're all based on technology, but if they had anything magic related, they wouldn't be here." Orion answered.
"And the other worlds have a Cornerstone as well?" Eugene asked while wondering.
"Cornerstones? Guardians? Gods? Avengers? Heroes? Every other world has the measures and balance to protect them from Heartless. Not to mention other keyblade wielders like me. But given that this was the homeworld of the last Maverick. There are many enemies who would love to get their sausages in these parts." Orion stated looking at the Cornerstone. "Without it. Game over. There are worse assholes in the Darkness that would do some real damage. Because they don't dig the light. Or anything with a heart."
"Got it. So don't let anyone know this is here." Eugene understood.
"Well you can tell your Princess Sunny Delight about it. If you ask me. Her light is just as radiant as this bad boy." Orion remarked as he compared Rapunzel to the Cornerstone, which Eugene really appreciated.
"Thanks. I'll keep that in mind." Eugene smiled and saw Orion working on some pipes in the wall. "Uh...What's with the rusty tubes?"
"Pipes actually." Orion corrected. "It's part of a huge deal I've been working on. And by back I mean resuming. This was started by the previous Mavericks, and now I'm close to finishing what they started.
"I don't get it." Eugene deadpanned looking at the pipes, it wasn't clear to him yet.
"They're a part of a piece of modern tech called indoor pumping." Orion stated as he checked the pipes to be sure that they're aligned in the right position according to the blueprints he and IRIS mapped out.
"I still don't get it." Eugene deadpanned again.
"You don't have to get it. Accent folks like the Mesopotamians and the Roman Empire beat you to it. But once this is finished, it won't be just for the wealthy." Orion mused.
And once it's finished. Orion will gain the attention from the right kind of people with big names and big companies to pay him a fortune for this kind of breakthrough. Orion would become filthy stinking rich in this world. Just like his father.
"Wait wait wait wait! Do these pipes run under every house in Old Corona?" Eugene was figuring it out. "And no one knows about this? Okay I may not be an expert in your field or….Whatever this is. But this all seems like it's a huge risk."
"I assure you, with every fiber of my being that this is completely safe. I use technology that's even eons ahead of my home world to make sure this doesn't fail. And I've set up over fifty different safeguards and a failsafe in addition, just in case it does fail." Orion eased Eugene's tension while looking at him with honesty. "I've spent the last five years working on this gig, a gig that the Mavericks before me never got to finish. And I do this while protecting the planet from real threats."
Eugene was only a little concerned but since Orion hasn't done anything to show he is reckless or a threat. The former thief sighed while taking his world for it.
"Alright Kid." Eugene nodded.
"Good. Let's head back up and see those test results." Orion grinned as he walked out with Eugene following him, and as the doors closed and the Cornerstone chamber went back in lock down. Orion added. "Oh and I don't just have those pipes running under Old Corona. I have them running across the borders. Globally."
"WAIT WHAT?!" Eugene echoed.
Some people take longer to get the point.
Back up in the Mav Club….
The test results for Rapunzel's hair finally came up on the computer as IRIS compiled all of the data together from the tests they've done. Friday could tell however that these results wouldn't be entirely what the Princess was hoping for.
As the results displayed, Friday read them while muttering all of the technical words out. The kind of multi syllabic words that Cass and Rapunzel wouldn't understand.
"So. How are the results?" Rapunzel asked nervously.
"Not a failure. I can promise you that. But in the long run-" Friday almost stated before the elevator doors opened next to them.
Eugene and Orion stepped out as they stood with the others in front of the giant screen.
"How are we?" Orion asked.
"Do you want the good news or bad news?" Friday cautioned.
"Is there good news?" Eugene inquired.
"The tests were a success and the info on Rapunzel's hair will soon be complete." Friday stated as she saw the Princess bar display which made Orion exhaled and rubbed the back of his neck.
"And the bad news?" Cassandra asked carefully.
"Nothing horrible. Due to numerous possibilities, IRIS is compiling the information from the test results to find a match for the elements in her hair. Not just in the periodic table, but also all known elements of magic. It's going to take time for the data to process before we have the full results of the tests." Friday explained.
"How long will that take?" Rapunzel asked.
"A few months. A year at the most." Friday answered honestly.
Rapunzel and Cassandra looked at each other with anxiousness and mild disappointment.
"Is there any way to maybe…." Rapunzel tried the best technical word to guess, considering today is her first ever experience dealing with technology.
"Speed up the process?" Friday asked, wondering what she's guessing.
"Sure, let's go with that." Rapunzel nodded.
"Whatever new information you learn about your hair can be added as a boost. If ever did does something new like change colors, glows in the dark or anything that's new." Orion elaborated.
"Tell it's darkest secrets?" Eugene inquired about the hair which made Cassandra glare at him.
"Anything new and out of the ordinary it does, or at least it's definition of ordinary. Bring it back here so IRIS can annualize and add it to the data. any new magical features you discover about your golden weaves can help us narrow down exactly how your hair came back." Orion told Rapunzel.
"Alright. I may not have the answers today but they're coming soon so….Yay." Rapunzel beamed calmly.
""So, Eugene, Got yourself a secret, huh?" Cassandra smirked wondering if Eugene will slip out whatever he's learned. Even Pascal was watching.
"If you wanna call it that. The kid has a- uh, aha nice try, Cass!" Eugene wagged his finger at her for almost making him waste a good secret.
Just then an alert ping just came up on the screen. Which got their attention as Orion looked to the screen.
'Alert! Alert! The Dark Mongers are approaching from the open fields outside.' IRIS announced the trouble outside.
"The what?!" Rapunzel gawked as she didn't like the sound of that name.
"Dark Mongers. Those metal dick biscuits that invaded your coronation." Orion snarled as he displayed the cameras on screen.
"I have to ask, do you kiss your tree with that mouth?" Eugene quipped about Orion's language but was startled when Orion teleported. "Woah! What just happened? Where did the kid go?"
"I am Groot." Groot stated that he teleported.
"Right, thanks Barky. Read that loud and clear." Eugene responded sarcastically.
"You three head up top. Groot and I will stay here and keep this place safe in case they find a way in." Friday urged Rapunzel, Eugene and Cassandra to head up top.
"Right. In case they find the- On second thought she's right." Eugene stopped himself before he blew the secret.
"Wait, in case they find what?" Cassandra asked, giving Eugene a sceptical look.
"No time! Let's go!" Eugene stressed as he dragged her and Rapunzel into the elevator.
Once the doors closed, Friday and Groot looked at each other. "Thank God I didn't have to demonstrate all my abilities like a circus act." She mused.
"I am Groot." Groot grinned in agreement.
As the elevator was heading up to the top. Both Rapunzel and Cassandra were curious to know what Eugene knew. Why would those robots want to get into the Maverick's lair so badly? It's not like Maverick has something they want.
"Alright exactly what would the Mongers find down here?" Cassandra crossed her arms while grinning, expecting Eugene would spill the beans.
"If you think I'm going to tell you and ruin the one thing that proves I can be trusted with secrets. Then you got another thing coming, Dragon Lady!" Eugene glared at her.
"Eugene. What's wrong? Why else would those things come down here other than to get ahead of the Maverick?" Rapunzel asked, looking worried.
"Let's just say they can't find out he lives down here. Otherwise we're all screwed." Eugene said with his hand on her shoulders.
Rapunzel could see that Eugene was serious and even Cassandra could see he was serious as well.
"Alright. Then let's hope this gift shop has a backdoor." Cassandra winked as she took Eugene's word for it.
Eugene grinned in response. Every now and then despite their differences. Cass and Eugene are not enemies.
Back up on the service…
A small group of Dark Monger brutes were marching past the area outside the gift shop. Max and Fidella hid behind a corner of a barn as they watched how big those robots were. They were impossible to fight on their own being horses with very little advantage over something advanced and dangerous. But Max glared as he was going to step out much to Fidella's disapproval of putting himself in danger to be a hero.
Thankfully Maverick came just in time, up from the air flying so they wouldn't find out he came out from his secret lair. As he was flipping around and slicing at the Monger Brutes, Performing keyblade tricks like he was swinging katannas. More Dark Monger troops were approaching him. He threw hot balls of neon at them like fire balls when he did a spin twirl. and Dodged their laser fire.
But Then one of the Dark Monger Brutes got the upper hand and punched Maverick in the chest with a shock fist. "Ugh!" He yells as he was sent crashing through the gift shop front window.
Then he fell on top of a shelf of fine china tea cups that shattered to bits.
"Damn. It took two hours to stack those." Maverick moaned as he tried to get up, but then another Monger brute grabbed him with its large hand. "Agh!"
Then it tossed him back outside to crash into a hay wagon.
Then as another Dark Monger brute lifted it's giant fists and were about to smash Maverick with them.
"Reeeigh!" Maximus neighed as he came from behind and used all of his strength to rear kick the Monger Brute down before it could smash Maverick.
Maverick looked up in surprise for one second before he jumped up and roundhouse kicked another brute down and shot a neon beam at the other one. Then he looked at Maximus who was standing there smiling.
"Thanks. Now I know why Gramps had portraits of you hanging over the fireplace." Maverick quipped while thanking the horse.
Max looked a little confused by that statement but kept his smile. Maverick was referring to his Grandfather's white stallion painting. But that's another story.
Just then, several more Dark Mongers landed behind them in the fields aiming at the horse and Maverick. They stood together in a fighting pose while Fidella ran up to join them.
"I assume you and the lady ready have plenty of dark meat to burn?!" Maverick humorously inquired while he spun his keyblades.
"Hmph!" Max and Fidella snorted as if to say yes while they glared at the robots.
"Then let's kick their asses." Maverick snarled as he jumped in the air to smash a Dark Monger into the ground while Max rammed over one and Fidella knocked one down and stumped it like a metal pancake.
Meanwhile Rapunzel, Eugene and Cassandra snuck out through the back door of the gift shop. Hoping to not run into any of the robots. Thankfully they got out of the shop without anyone noticing and as they went around a store house. They looked over to see their horses beating the crap out of the Dark Mongers with raw aggression as they kept coming, while The Maverick was surrounded by several other Dark Mongers and being scraped and chopped by his skills and magic.
"Well if the horses can take them. I can too." Cassandra grinned as she unsheathed her sword.
"Me too." Rapunzel let her hair loose ready to back everyone up.
"Woah woah. Easy Blondie, I know you got raw talents for action but those things are a whole new level." Eugene warned Rapunzel.
Just then, two Dark Mongers landed behind them. Which startled them. Cassandra was the first to respond as she slashed her sword across the first one, cutting it's arms off and it's front power supply. Then Rapunzel wrapped her hair around the other one tightened her hair to crush the Robot almost instantly as it shattered.
Eugene looked shocked to see how strong Rapunzel's hair really is. "Apparently so are you."
Rapunzel smirked at him as she also held up her frying pan.
Then five more Dark Monger troops came running up to them as Cassandra tossed a second sword to Eugene who caught it and they stood back to back while they held their ground against those droids. Their swords were modified by a certain black smith who created them from the metal of the Monger scraps gathered from the Coronation fight.
And it was working well for this fight.
Eugene and Cassandra's upgraded swords and their fencing skills served well as they held their own against the Dark Mongers. They managed to take out six together. While Rapunzel used her frying pan to block their firsts and she used her hair like a whip to counter their attacks.
Pretty soon a Dark Monger brute landed in the group of Monger troops. Bigger than the others. This large robot grabbed and pulled at Rapunzel's hair.
"Woah!" The Princess yelled as she was tossed into the barn.
"Rapunzel!" Eugene yelled seeing her throne into the barn.
Pascal the chameleon was hiding behind a barrel the whole time until he saw his best friend tossed inside and shrieked in terror as he ran inside the barn.
Rapunzel thankfully landed into a pile of hay to break her fall. Eugene moved like lightning to run inside and shut the doors before the slow walking Monger brute could get in. And before the brute could smash the doors open. Cassandra tossed a dagger into the Monger brute's back.
"Hey Junkpile! Over here!" Cassandra shouted and waved to get the Large Dark Monger's attention.
The Monger turned and went after Cassandra as she ran to draw it away. Unfortunately another Dark Monger troop landed in front of the barn and equipped it's flame flower. Then it shoots fire at the barn to try and barn Eugene and Rapunzel inside.
"NO!" Cassandra shouted as she saw it happened while avoiding the big guy.
Maverick was busy dealing with a group along with Maximus and Fidella who were assisting as the armored keyblade wielder held his arms out and spun his keyblades like fan blades. He uses them to cut through so many of the Monger troops only for ten more to show up.
"GET DOWN! Maverick warned.
The horses ducked real low as Maverick charged up his neo-plasma wrist lasers and spun around to cut through the rest of the Dark Monger troops and some of the trees nearby. Which amazed Max and Fidella. They looked at the Maverick as they were impressed.
"Yeah sorry I can only use that once. It's a one-off." Maverick admitted.
"Orion!" Cassandra ran up to him.
"What's wrong?" Maverick asked.
"Rapunzel! She and Eugene are trapped and-" Cassandra couldn't finish as the sounds of loud stomping alerted them to the incoming large Dark Monger brute running up to them. "And that!"
Maverick glared seeing that it was bigger than the other Dark Monger Brutes. As he jumps in the air and clashes with the large robot.
Back inside the barn. Eugene tried searching for another way out of the barn. But the back entrance collapsed and was on fire as well. Rapunzel started coughing from all the smoke that filled up the barn. And the roof was about to come down. Pascal was inside as well huddling up to Rapunzel's hair as she collapsed from the smoke filling her lungs.
"*Cough! Cough! Cough!* E-Eugene…." Rapunzel wheezed as she fell, but Eugene caught her and held her close. "You gotta get out of here and-"
"No, I am not going anywhere without you." Eugene refused to leave as he gripped her hand. "I love you Rapunzel."
"I love you too...more than you will ever know." Rapunzel rasped in her weak voice as they were ready to die together if it came to that.
Pascal huddled up close to her as the little reptile felt the same way. Then the fire spread all over the ceiling and collapsed as the debris fell on top of them.
Maverick was too busy struggling with the giant Dark Monger as he was getting out of a grip in its fists. And Cassandra was too busy trying to kick down a weak wall to get inside the barn.
But then the barn ceiling collapsed.
But then when Maverick heard the ceiling collapsed. He felt an urge and a rush as he pushed hard out of the grip and landed down as her grabbed the left leg of the giant Monger and tore it off with his super strength. Then he used the leg to knock the giant Monger in the head as he lost balance and fell backwards into the dirt. Then Maverick ran up and elbow slammed into its chest, destroying its power core and taking it out.
Thus ending the fight.
But he didn't waste time to celebrate as he teleported over to the barn doors and ripped them off with his bare metal hands.
When he and Cassandra finally got inside. And Maximus came up to see with Fidella. All of their eyes widened to what they had just seen.
"Woah…." Cassandra muttered.
Rapunzel's hair was moving on its own while glowing a bright yellow, covering both her, Pascal and Eugene like a shield as it protected them both from the falling debris of the ceiling. They had survived the fire.
"What the...Hair?" Eugene wheezed in shock seeing that happen.
"Well. Thank God for deus ex machinas." Maverick remarked.
Rapunzel started coughing real hard from the smoke she inhaled and Maverick came up and took out an oxygen mask.
"Here, put this on." Maverick placed it over her mouth. "This'll clean out all of the smoke in your lungs, including any other tough stains from breakfast."
Rapunzel breathed hard into the mask and her throat cleared up. She was starting to breathe normally as she smiled at Maverick gratefully while the mask was over her mouth. "Thank you." She whispered.
Before Maverick could tell her she was welcome, IRIS alerted him on his ring 'Alert. Alert. Mongers have been spotted on the east side of Old Corona.'
"Those full metal fritz just don't quit do they." Maverick sighed as he stood. "Stay with her until she can stand. I got to torch the rest of the Junkies."
Then Maverick ran up and started flying towards where the action was taking place. With Rapunzel's and her friends safe and the Mav Club secure. All that was left now was to deal with the rest of the Dark Mongers.
Down in the east side of Old Corona…..
The field workers in the east side of Old Corona were running and screaming in terror as the Dark Mongers were marching and stepping across the fields. Ready to obliterate the harvest and those in their way.
"Get out of here!" Quirin the village leader yelled as he came running in with a sword and crossbow. He fired one of his arrows into the heads of one of the Mongers. Taking them out. But the dark machines retaliated as another one knocked the man down with a swat of its robotic arms. After another one was taken out by a second arrow.
"Ugh!" Quirin's arm was broken as he was one the ground wounded from the strike.
Then the Dark Mongers shifted their arms into flame flowers as they were ready to burn the fields and Quirin with it. Quirin looked up in horror and winced as he was prepared for his own demise. Then suddenly…..
**Whistle!**
The Dark Mongers turned at the sound of the Whistle as a wave of neon knocked them down. Then the Maverick came flying in as he used a neon lasso to tie up a robot and fling it ahead into the forest.
Then Maverick waved a healing spell over Quirin to quickly heal his broken arm before he helped Quirin up and touched him to teleport the town leader away to safety.
Then Maverick took off in the air and teased the Dark Mongers.
"Target practice Rusty Turds! Winner gets to have my head!" Maverick quipped as he waved his waist line at them while in the air.
The Mongers went after Maverick into the forest, as Maverick landed in the middle of the forest. Dozens of Dark Mongers came from around the trees and surrounded the Maverick in the open area. They aimed their weapons at them. But for some reason they didn't fire back. It's because they were silently ordered to wait for Maverick to make the first move. As the order was displayed on their visors.
"Uh I'm giving you all a freebie. Does anyone want to make the first move? Anyone?! Come on! Didn't you ass-snackers see what happened last week?!" Maverick humorously waved his hands down wondering what was holding them up. "I scraped like fifty-five of you decepticon knockouts!"
The Mongers made no response as the Maverick had not attacked yet. Then Maverick hung his head back and moaned.
"Fine. If the spotlights on me. Then let's Lin-Manuel this Miranda." Maverick rubbed his hands together in anticipation as the magic of Fantasia started playing music around the forest.
The Darks Mongers still made no response as Maverick made no attempts to attack or flee. Then he began singing.
"Oh I see what's happening here~ You're face to mask with Maverick and you're scared~ You feel your knees start to shake~" Maverick sang looking around and noticed a Dark Mongers was leaking oil down on its leg from one of Quirin's crossbow arrows. "Did you just piss?!"
Then Maverick shook his head and kept singing. "You faceless brutes are always unprepared~"
Then Maverick summoned his keyblades and stood in a pose making them flinch but not attack.
"Meet my two girls, let's begin~" Maverick sang while gesturing his keyblades. "Yes, it's really me, Ho-bots, it's happenin!~"
Maverick started moving to the music for them to not notice he stuck one of them with a surprise.
"I know it's a lot, the lights and dread~ But it's to hide the rust when you're all dead!~" Maverick sang as the Dark Mongers looked down to see a snow globe with TNT lit as it went off.
Then they began to fire bullets at Maverick who was dancing while dodging. And singing.
"So, what can I say except~ I'm Maverick!~ With my bling in these blades, you'll die!~" Maverick sang as he kept dance-dodging while he shot neon beams at the robots, taking some of them out. Then he teleported and tapped on another shoulder and sliced it's head off after it turned. "You'd better pray it's okay, I'm Maverick!~ I'm just your friendly neighborhood ***ked-up-knight!~"
Then he flipped in the air and tossed Neon daggers at several more making them exposed while dancing. "I'm Crazy~ Cause I'm Maverick~...And well come to think of it." He pondered before he continued with teleporting all over the place and flipping from tree to tree while slicing more Dark Mongers up.
"Man, honestly, I could go on and on~ Actually, I'm a cosmic phenomenon~" Maverick said in rhythm as he posed with each teleport and flexed his muscles. "The strength, the bod to boot~ Doesn't my gun look great in this suit?~"
Then he used a neon sling shot to blast a Dark Monger in between the legs. "I hit this guy, right in the nuts~ Why do the fans seem to like that so much?~"
Then he tossed a neon hammer that went through four of them. "Don't need a hammer, don't need a gamma ray~ I'll make you laugh as I'm taking your breath away!~"
Then he went through a frenzy as he chopped so many while flying backwards and showing off while singing.
"I damage these bozos to see what's within!~ Look at this leg coming off at the shin~" Maverick sang as he held a robot's leg up curiously before shoving it into the head of another and doing some flips like a ninja. "The Radiant Knight always knows what to say~ Hey, look at these dudes 'cause they're coming my way~ And it's hey! Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey!~" He sang while doing the Carlton on a rock, towards some more incoming Dark Mongers as Rapunzel's and everyone else arrived on their horses.
They came in at the last minute of the song as Maximus and Fidella were shocked, They finally got to see the Maverick in action. And it was both cool but weird.
"Well, anyway let me say, I'm Maverick!~ (He's crazy!)~" Maverick kept singing while he was fighting off the rest of the robots and his suit played a digital chorus for the 'he's crazy' lyrics to echo.
"For those of you peeps that didn't know!~ Hey, it's okay, It's okay, Maverick!~ (He's crazy!)~" Maverick sang as he he teleported and would perform 'Rising Sun' attacks on the remaining Dark Mongers which worked. "Cause all these cyberpunks have gotta go!~ (hey)"
"Hey, this is my way to say~ "I'm Maverick"~ (He's crazy)~" Maverick then took out ten more leaving five more Dark Mongers left. "Cause I can't express it any less!~"
Then Maverick teleported from spot to spot picking up some Mongers and making four of them fall from up high and scattering on impact against the rocks below.
"There's nothing else less to say, I'm Maverick!~ (He's crazy!)~ 'Cause Mav got to get this off his chest!~" Maverick sang as he ripped a shard metal from a destroyed Monger off his chest armor before he uppercuts the last Dark Mongers and rides on it down the hill. "I'm Maverick!~ (He's crazy!)~ I'm Maverick!~ (He's crazy!)~ I'm Maverick!~ (He's crazy!)~ I'm Maverick!~"
Then the music concluded as the Robot shattered as he touched down and landed before standing up doing an Elvis impression and a pose. "Thank you. Thank you very much."
"He's weird." Eugene deadpanned as the others stood looking impressed by the Maverick's crazy and suggestive heroics.
"Yeah I'll admit. The kid is enthusiastic and narcissistic, but in a good way." Cassandra shrugged as she was also impressed.
"Wait, I'm enthusiastic and narcissistic!" Eugene argued.
"You never do it the right way." Cassandra teased with a grin which made Rapunzel giggled.
"WHAT'S THE RIGHT WAY?!" Eugene echoed, which made the horses and Pascal laugh.
Down over in the harvest fields…...
All of the field workers and civilians in the area were checking up and Quirin who came up to them completely un-injured.
"Quirin, thank goodness you're alright." A civilian said in relief.
"Oh that whole attack was horrifying." A woman shuttered in fear among the group.
"Everything is alright everyone. No one was hurt." Quirin calmed the people down after that attack from the Dark Mongers had frightened them. "We had a close call. But….Thanks to the Maverick. Our crops were spared and we only have some minor amounts of severe damages to clean up."
Quirin was grateful that the Maverick had showed up when he did. He was part of the opinion that he was there to help. But he knew nothing about Orion's connection and had no suspicions about the boy. For everyone it was impossible for this kid to be the Maverick.
But if they really knew Orion lime how Rapunzel and her friends do. They would know, nothing is impossible with someone like the Maverick.
A red headed nurse came up to Quirin with a baby in her arms. Checking to see if he's alright.
"How is my son doing?" Quirin asked with concern.
"Varian is okay. They were nowhere close to the little one." The nurse smiled and passes baby Varian into Quirin's arms.
"Varian. What would I do without you?" Quirin smiled as he held him close.
Back over at the Gift Shop…..
Aa the sun was starting to set over Old Corona. Quirin was overseeing repairs and crowd control in the east side of Old Corona. Rapunzel and the others were standing outside the gift shop. Friday and Groot were still down inside the Mav Club setting up some new security while Maverick landed in front of the group. Then he shifted back into Orion. Much to Maximus' shock as the horse dropped his jaw.
"Yeah, he's a minor." Eugene mused quietly with a shrug as he was over the shock.
"Hey, sorry about the damage to your gift shop." Rapunzel said sympathetically about all the work Orion needs
"Ah don't worry about it. This dump in mcguffin is insured. I was thinking about redecorating anyway." Orion assured her there's no harm done.
Like what? Adding porcelain ballerinas?" Eugene teased.
"Bite me, Shakespeare." Orion muttered before he informed the Princess. "Also Whatever that was with her hair acting like a forcefield. I was able to add it to our data. And we're now six weeks ahead of completing the process.
"But we still have a lot of waiting to do though, right?" Rapunzel asked.
"Zel, I know you want this whole ordeal to be done and over it, anyone else in your shoes if you wore any would feel the same way. But I will do anything in my laundry list of abilities to make sure we find the answers about your glorified hairdo." Orion promised. "What we should be concerned about are the Dark Mongers."
"Is that what those things were called?" Cassandra asked as she was getting Fidella's saddle ready.
"Damn straight. They hadn't been seen for six years. And the last time they were here, they did a lot of damage." Orion said grimly.
Pascal was the only one that took note of Orion's tone as it sounded more like past scars then a stern point.
"What do they want?" Rapunzel asked in concern.
"Your guesses are as good as mine. "They're heavily armed automatic drones from who knows where, being controlled by only God knows what or who." Orion answered. "But with the amount of scrap and tech I just collected from the sorry tail corpses. I intend to find out."
"We'll count on it. Whatever you do, find out about them. Let us know, okay?" Cassandra smiled. "We'll do our part to help."
"You got it, and thanks. Now if you all will excuse me. It's getting late. I need to get down stairs to set up some new town security. Get a message and pass out." Orion remarked as he popped his neck in relief.
"Right." Rapunzel giggled and smiled. "Thank you Orion. For everything."
"Good luck Kid." Eugene smiled as well.
"Luck had nothing to do with it. We've got a long road ahead of us folks." Orion winked before he teleported back down to the Mav Club.
Once Orion was gone they got Maximus and Fidella ready to leave. Rapunzel couldn't hold it in any longer as she felt remorse for what Eugene almost went through.
"I'm so sorry Eugene. I should never have kept a secret from you," Rapunzel expressed while stroking her hair. "From now on, no more secrets! Ever."
"Oh yeah? What about Cassandra?" Eugene inquired mild sarcasm while glancing over at Cass who was setting her horse up.
"That's between her and me. Okay, the truth? You know how I said I just woke up with my hair long? Well, I didn't. The night before, Cass kinda helped me break out of Corona." Rapunzel revealed.
"Oh, I knew it!" Eugene beamed in excitement. "Oh ho ho ho, she's gonna get in so much trouble!"
Rapunzel looked worried while Max was glaring at Eugene from behind as if he was ready to trounce him. But Eugene quickly realized that would be wrong and would yield serious consequences for Cassandra. And nobody wants that for her
"That is, of course, if anyone were to find out." Eugene said while rubbing the back of his neck and he added while helping Rapunzel get on top of Max. "Which they won't, because this guy is a vault."
After making that Promise. Max grinned and slapped Eugene's face with his tail, letting him know the horse will hold him to that promise.
Rapunzel smiled as Eugene and got on top with Pascal sitting in front of the Princess. And Cassandra got on top of Fidella.
Rapunzel kissed Eugene's cheek as she continue telling her the whole story while they rode back to the palace.
"You should've seen it. It was a crazy night. She showed me these black rocks, and I know it sounds so weird, but I think they're what made my hair grow back." Rapunzel expressed.
"Hey, after today, nothing sounds weird," Eugene had to admit.
"And then when I touched the rocks, they started chasing us." Rapunzel continued as they kept riding back.
"Rocks chasing you? Now we're back to 'weird'." Eugene muttered humorously.
"Well, Max was there, and once we got far enough away from them, they stopped growing." Rapunzel stated.
But little did they know that outside the walls of Corona. At the moment Rapunzel finished that statement. A single black rock sprouted out from the fields. Showing that whatever those rocks are.
It's just the beginning.
THAT'S ALL FOR NOW FOLKS!
Yep this sure was a long one. The longest I have ever posted. I don't plan on making the next chapters too long. But I just might if I have more to say in my upcoming chapters.
"Let's burn that bridge when we get to it." Maverick assured.
Don't you mean 'cross?'
"Nope." Maverick mused.
Anyway. I bet you didn't expect seeing Varian as a baby on this story. That will play a small part later, I mean I couldn't leave Quirin fatherless so I thought it was fair.
Also that indoor plumbing project Orion is working on will play a part in the chapter based on the episode 'Great Expotations'. Which will also end a little differently then the original episode. To put it plainly they all will.
Also the Cornerstone of Light is in this story for a reason and let's say if anything happens to it. It will end badly for Rapunzel's world. But let's hope it will never come to that with the Maverick protecting it.
But as for what happens next, find out in my next chapter.
Thank you all for reading once again! Be sure to fave and follow this story if you like what you see and leave comments and reviews to let me know your thoughts.
And as always Disney/Square Enix fans!
FISTBUMP!
