Chapter 8: Guardians Regroup
The funeral was a small affair. Only the seven of them had been invited, but since it was at North's Workshop, the Yetis and the Elves stopped in to pay their respects. They couldn't even do much; without a body or will or any of the traditional human funeral things, and all they could do was light candles and gather together. The only sounds came from the elves, who were playing a somber melody with the bells on their hats.
Jack had watched the whole affair from afar. Sure, he had been invited, but it would feel too weird for him. He wasn't a Guardian, and it was his fault that they had to fight Pitch, so what good would he be doing there? He poked the widow beside him, and scowled at it as the frost formed the figure of Sandy.
He saw North approach him through the window's reflection. "You alright?" He asked.
"I just…" Jack sighed. "I just wish I could have done something, or—"
"Done something? Jack, you stood up to Pitch. You saved us."
"But Sandy—"
"Would have been proud."
North leaned against the widow. Jack stood up. He didn't want to deal with this. All he wanted to do right now was get his staff, get his teeth, and forget everything that's happened in the last few days.
He didn't even realize he was walking away until North laid a large hand on his shoulder to stop him. "I don't know who you were before, but in this life, you are Guardian."
Jack glanced up at his. There weren't any signs that he was just saying that to make him feel better, but Jack was nearly positive of it. "How do I know who I am until I find out who I was?"
"You will. I feel it. In my belly!"
Oddly enough, that had been the most hopeful thing Jack had heard all day.
It was quiet between Rapunzel, Merida and Hiccup. Really, there wasn't much they could say. They hadn't really known Sandy, but that didn't mean it wasn't awful to see him gone. Especially because his death might spell out doom for the entire universe.
"Well, aren't we a happy bunch." Jack announced as he walked in. By his tone, it was still rather obvious he was trying to be stronger than he was.
As soon as he was in sight, Rapunzel rushed into him and let the tears flow freely. It took Jack a minute to figure out how best to comfort her, an awkward embrace that only partially resembled a hug. Hiccup decided not to judge too harshly; he would probably be even worse and Jack had the excuse of having very little contact for the last 300 years.
Once Rapunzel pulled herself back together, Jack spoke again. "So, what's the plan? You outta be leaving if you want to catch the lanterns in time."
"Wot, ye don' wan' ta go?" Merida asked.
Jack shrugged. "Well…I'm kind of rooted here now, you know? They need someone now that Sandy's…" He trailed off.
There was a pause. Hiccup decided to take this as a cue. "You said that you read about the Guardians…"
Rapunzel nodded.
"How do you think the author knew about something that happened in another dimension?"
Merida raised an eyebrow. "Wot are ye getting at?"
"Well, maybe the author knows something the others don't. Maybe he knows how we can defeat Pitch. Maybe he knows about…some weapon Sandy would have."
"Sandy wouldn't have a weapon…" Jack seemed to consider this. "But that's not a bad idea. How do you think we can track them down, though?"
"Well," Rapunzel said with a sniffle. "We can probably track them down by name and teleport there with the Snowglobes."
Jack still looked skeptical. "That might take a while…you could lose the lanterns."
Rapunzel shook her head. "There'd be plenty of time to see the lanterns if we save the world. You said it yourself. They need someone if Sandy's gone."
"Hey Blondie! Can I ask you something!?" Eugene shouted as he approached the camp again. "Is there any chance that I'd get super-strength in my hand or something? Because I'm not gonna lie, that would be stupendous."
He stopped dead in his tracks as he approached the campsite. Sure, the fire was still there, as well as the log, but that was about it that showed him he had gone to the right campsite. The fire was on its last embers, sign that the group probably hadn't been around for quite a while.
The sticks that he had collected clattered to the ground. "Well, that's just great." Eugene complained as he folded his arms. "Great to know who I can count on when I need it!"
As if on cue, the campsite flashed blue, and it was suddenly full again. Blondie, the Kid, Carrot Top, Frost, the Lizard, the Frog…
And a large rabbit, a larger white-haired man, and a bird-woman.
"Something tells me I'm missing a lot here, aren't I?" Eugene asked.
About a half-hour later, Eugene cleared his throat. "So what you're saying is…the stories we used to read as children are real, and happened in another dimension, and you've been in the other dimension all night trying to help the characters from it stop the villain from destroying the world's belief and bring about an eternal darkness."
There was silence. "Well, that about covers it." Hiccup said.
Eugene leaned back with a sigh. "And yet this isn't the strangest thing I've seen all day." That honor still belonged to the fencing horse. "So what's the plan now?"
"We're gonna go find the author." Rapunzel answered. "They might know something that might help us fight Pitch."
Eugene scanned his memory. "I think her name was Joyce…but don't get your hopes up, Blondie. She lives way out there…I think in a place called Dun'Broch."
Merida stood. "That's no problem. Dun'Broch's my home."
"And we're gonna go start up Easter." The large rabbit-man, who Eugene learned was named Bunnymund, added.
Eugene shot him a look. "You really think that a silly little holiday's going to do anything to save the universe."
Without thinking, without batting an eye, without any hint of irony or self-awareness, Bunny said "Yes."
Eugene decided to take his word for it. "Well, it it's all the same to you, I'm gonna work with them." He gestured to Rapunzel, Jack, Merida and Hiccup. "Hey, if anything, I could meet one of my idols."
"So it's decided then!" The large man, North, announced and stood. Once he did, the portal opened once again "Good luck with Sofia, Jack! Make sure to get autograph for me!"
Then the Guardians were gone.
Rapunzel was up for some time after that. Sure, she was just as exhausted as everyone, but too much had happened today for her to really easily fall asleep. She had stood up to mother, she had gone outside for the first time, she had met her idols...
She made friends. That part was stuck in her head more than anything.
"Ah. Now I thought I'd never find you."
Rapunzel nearly gasped. It was still mostly dark, but she could just make out Mother's figure and some facial features. "Mother…" she whispered.
"Good to see you again, Rapunzel" Mother continued. "I suppose you wanted to pour some lemon juice on this wound?"
Rapunzel started to wince…but she stopped herself. "Mother, you don't understand. I've been on this incredible journey and I've see so much. I…I even made friends."
"Yes, I've heard. The escaped convict and the two runaway royals. But you're going to go home now, Rapunzel."
"But Mother,"
"Now."
"Mother, they need me!"
This made Mother stop. Rapunzel could feel her eyes on her, judging her carefully. "'Need you?' Rapunzel, that's demented! You really think they'd need you!? And what exactly do you bring to the table?"
Rapunzel blinked back in surprise. Her mind raced with answers, but they didn't connect to her mouth.
"Now don't be a dummy. Mother—"
"NO!" Rapunzel answered and stepped back. It wasn't quite a shout, but it was still loud and firm.
Now Mother blinked. "Oh? So now Rapunzel knows best! Aren't you all grown up now! Well, if you really think you've found your own group of friends, go ahead and give them this!"
Mother raised the satchel.
"How did you-?"
"This is what they want! And as soon as you give them it, they'll drop you faster than I can say 'I told you so'!" The satchel was tossed her way, and Rapunzel just barely managed to catch it. "And when they do, don't come crying to me!"
Mother stormed off. Rapunzel considered running after her, but she stopped herself. Carefully, she reached into the satchel and fingered the not-quite hat. They wouldn't…maybe Eugene might, but not after everything they've been through, right?
Still, Rapunzel couldn't help but feel she was simply delaying the inevitable.
Author's Note: Just so it's clear, Rapunzel only has the tiara. It's a lot harder to hide a helmet and a staff bigger than she is, and Gothel knew this.
By the by, all of the chapter names are songs, either part of the score or actually sung (in the case of Tangled), on the soundtrack for the respective movies. I like having chapter names because it reminds me of what's going on in this chapter. It wouldn't have worked so well to call this one "Mother Knows Best (reprise)"
