The bed room door of the princess slammed open, and Merida was thrown inside.
She yelped as her mother released her iron grip from her arm. Merida staggered a good five feet away as her mother scowled in the doorway.
"I've had just about enough of yeh lass!" Eleanor yelled, all demeanor gone, her face contorted in rage.
Merida turned her head around wildly, her curls messier than usual. "Yer the one tha want's me teh—"
"YOU EMBARESSED THEM!" Eleanor interrupted. "YOU EMBARESSED ME!"
"Ah' followed tha rules!" Merida shouted angrily, gesturing to herself.
"You don' know what you've don!" Eleanor stated, slamming the door and behind her as she stepped into Merida's room. The Princess still had her prized bow slung over her shoulder.
"I just don wan—"
"There'll be fire and sword if it's not set right!" The Queen stated sternly.
Merida shook angrily. "JUS' LISTEN!" She pleaded, looking at her mother with tears in her eyes.
"I AM THA QUEEN!" Eleanor roared. "YOU. LISTEN. TEH. ME!"
"UURGH!" Merida cried, throwing her hands up in the air. "This is so unfair!" Merida said, grabbing her sword from her stand.
Eleanor scoffed, raising her eyebrows. "Unfair?"
"YOU WERE NEVER THERE FER ME!" Merida shouted, swinging her sword in the air. "This whole marriage is what you wan! Did yeh ever bother to ask wha I want?" Merida said. "NO! Yeh jus walk around, telling meh wha to do, wha not teh do, trying to make me be like you!" Merida said, swinging her sword and pacing.
She huffed her chest a little and said, "Well, A—Ah'm not goin' to be like you!"
Eleanor huffed this time, "Yer actin' like eh child!" She put her hands on her hips, lines appearing on her forehead.
Merida couldn't believe it. Her Mother wouldn't even bother to listen to her! Hear how she just….she just wasn't ready! Why couldn't she understand that?! She was her mother's puppet constantly, always dangling from strings! Well, it was time to cut those strings! IT WAS TIME FOR SOMETHING DIFFERENT!
Merida's eyebrows furrowed and she decided to no longer show compassion. "AN YOU!" She shouted, gripping her sword tighter. She walked over to a tapestry which had been hung in her room this past morning. It contained a knit picture of her and her parents.
"Yer a BEAST! THA'S WHAT YOU ARE!" Merida shouted, sticking the point of her sword in the tapestry right where the picture had her and her mother standing next to each other.
Eleanor gasped. "MERIDA!"
Merida jabbed her sword against the tapestry. "Ah'll never be like you," she said, twisting the point. Eleanor caught that and got scared. "STOP THA!"
Merida turned, looked her mother straight in the eye and yelled, "I'D RATHER DIE THAN BE LIKE YOU!" With that she sliced the tapestry with her sword, separating her tapestry mother and tapestries self.
Eleanor gasped again, this time in pure shock. Her work—which took sixteen years to make. Ruined. This whole day—ruined. Everything—ruined.
Merida saw what she did, bit her lip, and then straightened her back. She stood proudly, with little regret.
Eleanor cracked.
She charged forward to her daughter, turning red. Merida's eyebrows shot upward and a look of pure fear was etched across her face.
"Merida," Eleanor said angrily, done with shouting. She wrenched the bow from Merida, shaking it off her. "You are a princess! Merida's sword clattered to the ground, as she shook Merida.
Merida gasped. "MUM!"
The Queen got the bow off the princess and stated shortly, "So I expect yeh to start actin' like one!" With that, the Queen tossed the bow into the bedroom fireplace, satisfied with her work.
Merida gasped, her hands clapping to her mouth. Tears filled her eyes again, and her mother turned to look at her; an expression of disapproval on her face.
Merida backed away, gulping and trying to hold it in, but she couldn't. She let out a sob and raced out the door, leaving it open.
"MERIDA!" Eleanor called. She saw the light blue dress leave. "MERIDA!"
Suddenly, there was a twinge sound of a string being plucked - reality came back to Eleanor. She looked at the fireplace and felt herself go pale. "OH! Oh, dear!" She raced down and used metal prongs to take out the bow, and it clattered off the fireplace. Eleanor gaped at it, realization hitting her; her mouth parted and tears filled her brown eyes.
The bow was charred, almost black as coal. The string broken in the middle.
It was beyond repair.
"Oh, oh, no," Eleanor sobbed. She covered her hands over her face, ashamed.
What had she done?
XxX
Somewhere far, far, away lived the Kingdom Corona. It was relatively good kingdom, a King and Queen that were adored by all; and everyday music festivals were held.
The only sad thing was…well…the story of the Lost Princess. You see, almost eighteen years ago, the Queen was ill…and she was going to have a baby. There was rumor of a magic healing flower, which had come from the sun itself, could be the key to saving the Queen and the Royal heir.
The Kingdom searched far and wide for the flower—and they eventually found it. They called the flower, Rapunzel, due to its bright yellow petals matching a similar vegetable. What they didn't know is that someone had been using the flower's magic already.
Palace soldiers found the flower and took it. The Magic healed the Queen and she gave birth to a happy, beautiful, healthy baby girl. The King and Queen decided to name their Princess after the flower…they named her Rapunzel.
In celebration of her birth, the King and Queen let out lanterns into the sky. The Kingdom was overjoyed over their beautiful Princess.
Later that night, the person who had been using that flower, or Mother Gothel, crept into King and Queen's room. Snatched the baby, and was just simply….gone!
In hope that their lost princess would return, the King and Queen let out lanterns on her birthday…hoping she could make her way back.
But after eighteen years, the Princess still hadn't returned yet.
So, that is why today, three thieves crept on top of the palace roof, hoping to get their greedy hands on the crown of the Lost Princess. One of them was named Flynn Rider.
Flynn Rider gazed from the palace roof, gazing at the kingdom below. "Wow," he breathed. "I could get used to a view like this."
He was a rather handsome man of twenty-six. He was tall, burly, with brown hair and eyes. He was also tan with a small beard on his chin.
"Rider!" One of his goons hissed. He and his identical brother had opened a window that was at the roof. This window would let Flynn sneak into the palace and snatch the crown from the pedestal right below.
"Hold on," Flynn smirked, still gazing at the kingdom. He put his hands on his hips and grinned. "Yep. I'm used to it. Guys, I want a castle."
His goons scowled. They were bigger than Flynn, with ginger hair and beards; white scars were also noticeable among their faces.
"We do this," the goon hissed. "You can buy your own castle."
He then promptly yanked Flynn from the back of his vest.
Within a few minutes a rope was tied to Flynn's waist, and his goon friends lowered him slowly into the throne room. Guards were guarding the front of the throne room. The pedestal was behind them; and as Flynn was lowered they were totally oblivious.
By the time Flynn was down, he stuffed the crown into his satchel, still dangling from midair. One of the guards let out a nasty sneeze.
"Ugh, hay fever?" Flynn questioned behind him, smirking and resting his chin on the palm of his hand.
"Yeah," The guard replied, smiling, his eyes flicking back to Flynn. He then went back to staring ahead. Realization struck him like a frying pan on the head. "Huh?!" He turned back to the pedestal which was now empty. "Hey—HEY WAIT!" The Guard called, as others rushed over.
But it was no use. Flynn and his goon friends were already climbing down the castle walls. They ran with great speed through the kingdom and were heading to the forest within seven minutes.
"Can't you see me in a castle of my own?" Flynn grinned, running with his fellow thieves across the bridge which leads to the forest. "'Cause, I certainly can! All the things we've seen and it's only eight in the morning!" As they entered the forest, Flynn yelled, "Gentlemen, this is a very big day!" Flynn raised his satchel in proof.
XxX
Just a few minutes after twelve, four hours later, Rapunzel beamed at Pascal. "This is it Pascal! This is a very big day!" She closed her paint set, grinning ear-to-ear.
"Rapunzel?" A voice called, from the ground below. Rapunzel gasped happily. "Coming mother!" She raced to the picture she had recently painted today and put Pascal there. "Don't let her see you," she whispered. Pascal nodded, somehow understanding her, and blended in with the painting. Rapunzel closed curtains over the painting slightly.
"Rapunzel, I'm not getting any younger down here!" Gothel cried out in a sing-song voice.
"I'm coming, Mother!" Rapunzel called back. She opened the window of her tower, and threw her long seventy-five foot mane out.
There on the ground stood a tall woman, who couldn't be older than maybe her early forties or late thirties. She had a large curly black mane and grey eyes. She wore a fabulous red gown that traveled down her curves. When Rapunzel's hair came down, she wrapped the end of it around her foot and clung onto it. Rapunzel then pulled as hard as she could, using all her muscles.
Within a few seconds, Mother Gothel climbed through the window with Rapunzel panting in the corner. Picking herself up, almost effortlessly Rapunzel greeted her mother, "Hiii," she breathed. "Welcome home mother."
"Oh, Rapunzel! How you manage to do that every single day without a fail! It looks absolutely exhausting!" Gothel exclaimed, shedding her cloak to the side.
Rapunzel chuckled humorlessly. "Oh, it's nothing."
"Then I don't know why it takes so long!" Mother Gothel said in a sing-song voice. Rapunzel frowned and was then patted on the head. "Just teasing, my darling!"
"Uh, ha, ha," Rapunzel said. "Well, mother, there's something that I want to—"
"—Rapunzel, come here," Gothel said. She was in front of a mirror staring at herself. Rapunzel came next to her, and Gothel put her hands on her shoulders.
"You know what I see?" Gothel said. "I see a beautiful, strong confident young woman." Rapunzel smiled at his, and stood up a little taller.
"Oh, look," Gothel said a second later. "You're here too!" Rapunzel deflated and Gothel laughed. "I'm just kidding, I love you very much!"
Rapunzel chuckled nervously again. "Well, Mother, there's something I want too—"
Gothel looked at her hand in the reflection and frowned. A wrinkle spot lay at the back of her hand, sticking out startlingly against her ivory skin. "Rapunzel, do you mind singing for me? Mother's feeling a bit winded."
"Oh!" Rapunzel said. "Of course Mother!"
Rapunzel then raced off to with her incredible speed with Gothel following her idly. Rapunzel pushed a chair, and forced Gothel to sit down. Gothel's eyes opened in surprise; Rapunzel raced back, plopped a stool on the ground, forced a hairbrush into Mother Gothel's hands, put her hair on Gothel's lap and threw herself on the stool.
Rapunzel closed her eyes and started singing at top speed
, "Flowergleamandglowletyourpowershinemakethelockreve rsebringbackwhatoncewasmine—"
Something miraculous happened. The roots of Rapunzel's hair started glowing, and eventually her whole entire main was a bright yellow, glowing just one shade darker than the sun. Gothel's eyes widened, not at Rapunzel's hair, but at how fast she going.
"Rapunzel!"
"—healwhathasbenhurtchangethefatesdesignsavewhathasb eenlost—"
Gothel hurryingly brushed Rapunzel's hair. Suddenly, Gothel's hair turned a darker black and the wrinkle spot vanished. "Rapunzel!" Gothel said sternly.
Rapunzel, done with her song, stood up, and threw herself on the arm of her mother's chair. She was practically face-to-face with her mother when she said, "So, Mother, earlier I was saying tomorrow's a really big day, and you really didn't respond, so I'm just going to go ahead and tell you, IT'S MY BIRTHDAY!" Rapunzel yelled excitingly, clutching her mother's arm. "Ta-da!"
Gothel stared at her and then shook her head. "No, no, I distinctly remember. Your birthday was last year," she said.
Rapunzel twiddled her thumbs and laughed nervously. "Well, that's the funny thing about birthday's...there kinda an annual thing." She started fiddling with a strand of her hair, like she always did when she was nervous.
Rapunzel pursed her lips, green eyes wide. "Well, mother, the thing I really want for this birthday, actuallywhatI'vewantedforquitesometime—"
"Rapunzel!" Gothel scolded. "What have I told you about the mumbling? You know how I feel about the mumbling." She stated, narrowing her grey eyes slightly. "Blah-blah-blah, blah-blah! It's very annoying! I'm just teasing, you're adorable, I love you so much, darling!" Gothel said, pinching Rapunzel's cheeks. Rapunzel's eyes were wide her lips still pursed. Gothel then got up from her suit and admired a bowl of fruit, eyeing an apple.
Rapunzel's eyes flickered to the ground hesitantly before she burst out, "Ugh, I WANNA SEE THE FLOATING LIGHTS!"
Gothel wasn't expecting that. She frowned, apple in hand. Then, what she thought was realization she said, "Oh, you mean the stars," she stated, matter-of-factly.
Rapunzel got up from her stool, threw a long strand of hair at a handle of window, letting sunlight pour into the tower. The sunlight particularly focused on a painting of charted stars.
"The thing is," Rapunzel said. "I've charted stars—those stars however," Rapunzel stated, gesturing to her new painting, "only appear on my birthday. Only on my birthday. I…" Rapunzel paused, thinking. "I feel like their meant for…me."
Gothel watched her cautiously as she climbed down the stool. Her grey eyes calculating, she smirked, and idea forming. "Rapunzel, you want to go outside?" She scoffed, eyes widening in mock horror, as she walked to the window she came in from and closed it. "Why Rapunzel…"
"Look at you as fragile as a flower," Gothel sang, grabbing Rapunzel's arms in her hands and swinging her. "Still a little sapling—just a sprout!" She let go and patted her head, making Rapunzel pout. "You know why we stay up in this tower!"
"I know but-!"
"That's right!" Gothel exclaimed. "To keep you safe and sound dear," Gothel whispered lovingly, as she trailed her fingers down Rapunzel's hair and rubbed it against her cheek adoringly. She let go once she realized Rapunzel was looking at her strangely.
"I always knew this day was coming!" Gothel cried dramatically, closing curtains on a window. "That soon you'd want to leave the nest!" She sang, idly walking past Rapunzel and making bird hands. She went to the stairs and raised her finger, "Soon but not yet!"
"But-!" Rapunzel interrupted, raising her finger. Gothel shushed her, putting her finger on Rapunzel's lips. "Shhh! Trust me pet," she sang slowly, removing her finger. "Mother knows best!"
She slammed the wall with her hip which closed the last window of the tower. Rapunzel stared at her mother until she was shrouded in darkness, unable to see.
Rapunzel pretty much knew her way around the tower, even without lights. She lit a candle as she heard her mother say, "Mother knows best, listen to your mother, it's a scary world out there!"
Rapunzel shrieked as her Mother came out of nowhere; Gothel scaring her on purpose. Gothel jumped out of the candle light as soon as Rapunzel saw her, walked quite quickly around her, and started tugging her hair.
"Mother knows best, listen to your mother, something will go wrong" Gothel's voice echoed around the tower, still yanking Rapunzel's hair. She pushed Rapunzel, and the poor girl landed on her back. Despite the tower being dark, sunlight managed to leak in, putting Rapunzel under what looked like a spotlight.
Gothel began listing the dangers of the world, creating shadows and scaring Rapunzel.
"Ruffians—thugs!"
"Poison Ivy—quicksand!"
"Cannibals and snakes!"
"The Plague," Gothel sang, making a face in a green lantern she always had with her.
"No!" Rapunzel gasped in horror. Gothel grinned at her, "YES!" She said almost giddily as she extinguished the light from her lamp.
"Also large bugs," Gothel stated, grabbing a mop and tickling Rapunzel's head with it. Rapunzel shrieked and fell on her hands and knees, coming face-to-face with a painting on the ground. The painting was red and bore a man with rather sharp teeth that would give the Tooth Fairy a nightmare.
Rapunzel shrieked and ran away from the painting.
"Men with pointy teeth, and STOP NO MORE YOU'LL JUST UPSET ME!" Gothel cried dramatically, lying on the ground next to the picture; clutching a brush that suspiciously had red paint on it.
Gothel threw her cloak on and found Rapunzel wrapped in her hair, in front of the candle, looking at the dark like she was afraid.
She took Rapunzel's hand and pulled her up, singing, "Mother's right here, mother will protect you," Gothel said assuring, patting her hand. Rapunzel let out a huff and threw herself around her mother, wanting comfort.
"Darling here's what I suggest!"
Gothel got "out of Rapunzel's distance quickly, and Rapunzel found herself hugging a manican instead.
"SKIP THE DRAMA, STAY WITH MAMA," Gothel yelled, going the down the stairs of the tower, with candles leading her. "MooooothhHEEER! Knows best!" Gothel laughed, swished her cloak and extinguished the light.
"Mother knows best, listen to your mumsie, on your own you won't survive!"
Rapunzel was under that one ray of sunlight again, turned around, and found herself face-to-face with her reflection. She jumped, biting her lip as Gothel came behind it.
"Sloppy, underdressed," Gothel said, gesturing to her bare feet. Rapunzel bent down and used her dress to cover them, when Gothel ran and yanked her hair again. Rapunzel yelped and landed on her back, feeling a bruise form at her elbows.
"Please, you wouldn't make it out ALIIIIIVVVVEEE!" Gothel yelled, rolling Rapunzel so she became engulfed in her own hair. She helped Rapunzel up as she wrapped in her hair-cocoon, and twirled her out.
"Gullible, naive, positively guppy!"
Rapunzel was dizzy and struggled to keep standing from the twirling when, Gothel put her finger under her chin to stop her from falling.
"Ditzy, and bit well, vague!" Gothel said skeptically, removing her finger from Rapunzel's chin. Rapunzel hung again, trying to hold back tears.
"Plus I believe," Gothel smiled, "you're getting kinda chubby," patting Rapunzel under the chin. Rapunzel was a thin girl with curves and a slightly flat stomach, but she still believed every word Gothel was telling her.
Because she was her mother.
"I'm only saying," Gothel grinned, pinching Rapunzel's cheeks and bringing her closer to her. "'Cause I wuv you!"
Gothel let go of Rapunzel and pushed her away so Rapunzel was in the darkness again. Rapunzel actually screamed, goose bumps appearing on her arms.
"Mother understands mother's here to help you! All I have is one request!"
Rapunzel turned and saw Gothel standing in that one ray of sunlight, arms outstretched. Rapunzel just wanted something to hold on to, and ran to her mother. Gothel wrapped her arms around her daughter and Rapunzel hugged as hard she could.
"Rapunzel?"
The said teenager looked innocently at her mother. "Yes?"
"Don't ever ask to leave this tower, again." Gothel said seriously, looking rather menacing.
Rapunzel wanted to say something back, assure Gothel how she was ready. But the words just hung on her tongue and she bowed her head. "Yes, mother," she whispered.
Gothel breathed and said, "I love you very much, my dear."
Rapunzel looked up automatically and said, "I love you more."
"I love you most," Gothel whispered, kissing the top of her daughter's head. "Don't forget it!" Gothel sang, finishing her song. "You'll regret it…mother, knows best!"
Within a few minutes, Rapunzel helped Gothel get down the tower, as she lowered her with her long golden hair.
"Ta-ta, I'll see you in a bit, my flower!"
Rapunzel waved her hand. "And….I'll be here," she whispered, chocking back a sob.
XxX
You could say Hiccup had gone from zero to hero.
He surprised everyone with his improvement in dragon training. Who could have ever thought, that the scrawny fish-bone boy would actually be useful? Every day, he used new techniques that none of the Vikings would have thought of.
And when the news got out that Hiccup got the right to kill his very first dragon; the entire island of Berk was ecstatic! Wherever the young Viking went he was congratulated all over the place.
Except Hiccup didn't want to be congratulated.
He was panicking, like, right now!
Maybe if this had happened a couple weeks ago and wasn't training a very deadly dragon, and somehow developed large muscles he'd be okay.
But with Toothless now…he—he just couldn't do it.
He went home, stuffed whatever he could into a pack, and headed straight into the forest.
However, he wasn't aware of the Viking girl sneaking behind him. Astrid, a blond haired, blue eyed girl with a very heavy battle axe was following him. Her eyes were narrowed in concentration when—
Astrid heard a whisper and turned around. To her surprise, there was a flickering blue light was behind her. It spoke in a soft voice, welcoming her and gesturing her to follow it.
Astrid raised an eyebrow. She had remembered a story that her mother had told her when she was little. Back before the Scottish royalty and Vikings had fought. There was a legend that a creature called wisps would lead them to their destiny.
Astrid glanced ahead, hesitating. She then decided to stop following Hiccup. She got closer to the wisp, and the next thing she knew a whole trail of them were leading her somewhere back into the forest.
She gripped her battle axe.
Who knows?
It might just find her a dragon to kill?
XxX
"You sure this guy will help us?" Jack stated, climbing down from the sleigh. The rest of the guardians looked as though they didn't want to be here.
North nodded, also climbing down. "Yes. He vill help."
Bunnymund huffed. "Yeah? There ain't no way he'll be as helpful as Ombric was."
Jack raised an eyebrow. "Uh, Ombric?"
"The original Father Time," Tooth answered, fluttering beside Jack. "We used to be bigger, Jack. We had two other members. Nightlight left and became the guardian of the Man in the moon. When he's not doing that he's with a mortal girl named Katherine. Ombric…he," she trailed off. Jack put a hand on her shoulder and she gave him a grateful look.
"So, now we got a complete wanker for the post of Father Time," Bunnymund said.
Jack rolled his eyes. "Your very sensitive aren't you?"
Sandman looked as though he were trying not to laugh.
Jack took time to observe where they were, his blue eyes widening slightly. "It kinda makes sense this guy would choose this place to be his headquarters."
The Guardians were in fact at Big Ben. They gazed at the big hand inching closer to the twelve, before it let out a loud ding.
North, Tooth, Jack, and Sandy winced, covering their ears. Bunnymund let out a string of curses, folding his large ears over his head.
"Alright, we goin' in or not?" Aster grumbled, whiskers twitching.
Jack whispered to Tooth, "I cannot wait to meet this guy."
Tooth chocked back a laugh and just settled for a smirk and eye roll.
North led the way as usual. He marched over to the side of the giant clock, careful not to trip over the edge, and hit the wall three times.
"You aren't worried about falling, are ya Bunny?" Jack teased, allowing the wind to lift him a few feet in the air. He grinned as the wind tousled his white hair even more.
Bunny scowled. "If you make me want to kick you, I will kick you."
North knocked the wall twice and a door sprung up. Tooth and Sandy flew next to Jack so North and Bunny could get through the door without falling over the ledge.
The three flew right in once the other two were through and Jack did an intake of breath.
The whole entire place was decked out.
Neon lights were everywhere, with modern couches. A huge flat-screen T.V. lay in the middle of the room.
Jack had only seen stuff like this when he had been in Hollywood. Yes, Jenifer Lawrence may not have tripped over her dress…it was almost like someone froze a step so she slipped….
Jack smirked.
"What's so funny?" Tooth asked, staring at his face.
"Oh, nothing," Jack answered, fixing his face.
A loud snoring was coming from the couch. Jack saw what looked like a man in his early thirties, snoring loudly. He was pale and looked rather elfish, with a pointed nose and tinted ears. He had crazy red hair that stuck up in every direction under a pair of red goggles. He wore a white t-shirt and black skinny jeans. His red conversed feet were lazily propped up on a glass coffee table.
North muttered a curse in Russian before shouting, "TEMPUS!"
The man grunted asleep, looked to his right and yelped. He rolled off his couch when he pulled his feet away from the table. Landing on his behind quite hard, he glanced at the Guardians in annoyance.
"Geez, North," Tempus muttered in a British accent. "Call next time, will ya?"
"I'm sorry Tempus, but this is emergency."
Tempus scoffed, and got up rubbing his hands over his rear. "I don't have time for this, North! I am very busy!"
Bunnymund whispered under his breath, "Yeah, too busy watching the Bachelor."
"Oi!" Tempus shouted, marching up to Bunnymund. The height difference was rather hilarious. Tempus couldn't have been more than 5'5. Meanwhile, the 6'1 Pooka was glaring down at him. "I do much more than that, thank you very much!"
Tempus then noticed Jack and his face fell, his eyes swirling different colors at once. Jack really didn't know how to react, but rather tightened his grip around his staff, nervously.
"Say, your Jack Frost! Ain't ya?"
Um….
Jack nodded. "That's me. Been a Guardian for about four hours now."
Tempus whistled. "Wow. So it's this timeline, ain't it?"
Jack narrowed his eyes. "What?"
"Well this calls for a different setting!"
Sandman rolled his eyes, crossing his arms. He really wished he could use his whips. He saw Tempus clap his hands—
The Neon lights disappeared, being replaced with sterile white ones. The fancy couches and T.V. sank into the ground like a vortex. Bunnymund yelped and jumped a good mile away from it, making Jack snigger. The vortex vanished, leaving a clean white floor. A wall slid open to reveal a small bronze mirror.
Jack raised an eyebrow. The only thing in the room was the bronze mirror. "Uh, Tempus? What's with the mirror?"
Tempus smirked smugly. "My newest invention. It gives the viewer ability to peer into the past, which," he grasped Jack's wrist and yanked him forward. "Is exactly what I want you to see."
Jack cast a nervous look back at the Guardians. They nodded and followed. Tooth particularly didn't look happy.
Tempus shoved Jack forward. Jack scowled, wishing he could bury the Lord of Time in snow.
"Go ahead," Tempus grinned. "Look."
Jack rolled his eyes and idly faced the bronze mirror. Nothing happened for the first few seconds. Jack's mouth turned into a thin line and he questioned why North would want to waste his time like this.
Then a golden light appeared. Jack gaped at it, and looked into it closer. Finally, an image surfaced on the bronze mirror. A burning kingdom. Screams came from nowhere, and Jack wanted nothing more than to fly out. The screams got louder, and louder—Jack swore he saw children running alone throughout the kingdom. The image shifted and there was a dungeon. A girl wore nothing but rags and was chained to the walls. Her long golden hair trailed around the room—her head was bowed, and she seemed to be panting.
Jack raised his eyebrows curiously. She looked like the girl from the statue.
The image shifted and he saw a burnt land. Not on fire, or on the process of burning…it was just burnt. No anything. Debris was everywhere. Only the ghosts of ships were at the shore; broken with no passengers.
Nothing.
The image shifted and he saw large stones. Blood was splattered everywhere. Carcasses of human bodies thrown carelessly over the grounds. Three children with vibrant burly hair lying—
"That's enough!" Jack growled. He turned around and shoved Tempus into the wall next to the mirror. Tempus didn't act surprised but merely grunted when his back hit the wall. Jack had tears in his eyes. "WHY DID YOU SHOW ME THAT?!"
"JACK!" Tooth cried.
He felt large hands lift him from the ground, away from Tempus. Jack resisted, but North had a strong grip.
He settled for glaring at Tempus, pointing his staff menacingly.
Tempus brushed his own shoulder lazily. "Jeez, calm down kid. It hasn't happened. Yet, at least."
Jack raised his eyebrows. "You said that mirror shows the past!"
"Yeah. That is the future of the past."
"Tempus, please explain," North muttered, not looking happy either.
"Well, as I was about to explain before Snowball here acted so kindly to me, something is altering the past. And when you alter the past, it ain't good. Time…time is like a big ball of wibbly-wobbly,timey-wimey….stuff." Tempus grinned, looking pleased. "So someone in the future is also altering the past. How's that workshop of yours, eh, North?"
Jack winced as North's grip on his shoulders tightened.
"That didn't happen. Buuuuut in a different timeline it did—so now it did happen!"
Sandman glanced at Jack. A coo-coo clock appeared over his head and he gestured at Tempus.
"That's right, Sandy! TIME!" Tempus smiled. "Like, anything recent happen to you guys? How's Pitch?"
Jack frowned. "Why would you ask. You seem to know everything."
Tempus laughed a high pitched wheeze. "I do. So if Pitch is currently, I don't know, weak beyond on believes…do you think he may have time to…recover?"
Tooth stared at Tempus wide-eyed. "Are you saying….that it's Pitch from the future that is causing this?"
Father Time wheezed again. "A-oh! We got a winner!"
Jack interrupted, "Wait. Why the hell would Pitch care so much about the past? Especially those kids on the statue?"
"Oh, you mean Rapunzel, Merida, and Hiccup?"
Bunnymund spluttered. "Hiccup?! That's a name?!"
Tempus chuckled, his eyes turning magenta. "Yeah. Guardians of spring, summer, and fall. Jack—you were meant to be a Guardian…but you also were meant to lead these guys! Together you guys will create the second 'Big Four!'"
Jack looked at Tempus funny, before he laughed. "Very funny. Me? Leading a group? Ha, no way."
"But you're the only one who can stop what you saw from happening," Tempus said simply. "I can't simply blast him from the future!" He pointed at his eyes with both index fingers. "I can see every timeline. What may or may not happen. Jack if you don't…"
Jack frowned, and stuffed one hand into his hoodie pocket. "Look. I'm—I'm not the leading type. Why not let North do this. Those three other kids? I mean, there was a reason they were chosen too, right?"
"Jack," Tooth said softly. He faced her, his lip thin. Tooth put a hand on his shoulder and gave him a small smile. "I think you're underestimating yourself…you helped lead the Guardians against Pitch. Besides, we'll be able to help you."
Tempus winced. "About that. I'm only letting two go at a time."
"What?" Aster spluttered, green eyes ablaze. "Why can't we all go?"
Tempus sighed. "Listen, Cottontail. I can't have you guys messing with time too much. If that happens, too many paradoxes. Don't. Touch. The. Paradoxes. Listen, how about you Guardians go with Jack at different shifts? You need to follow the timeline of each kid. But you need to gather them first too. Make sense?"
Sandy pursed his lips, thinking, but shook his head.
"Yeah, ya said it, Sandy," Bunnymund muttered.
North pinched the bridge of his nose while Tooth and Jack exchanged glances. Tempus clapped his hand over his face. "Okay, okay…what is the season that starts after winter?"
"Spring," Bunnymund said automatically.
"Exactly! So, you'll follow the timeline of Rapunzel first. But, you need to get the other two: Hiccup and Merida. Once you get them you go to Rapunzel, and I don't know, become the season au for the Avenger's or something…."
"Quick question," Jack said, smirking mockingly. "How do we even get there?!"
Tempus grinned. "That'll be easy. I'll send you there…with these." He pulled out four snow globes out of nowhere. His eyes shifted to a neon green when he said, "Look familiar, North? You actually inspired me."
The snow globes looked exactly like North's—only the glass was bronze.
"These snow globes will let you travel in time. Into the past and back here."
"Can't you send us back in time," North asked, scrutinizing his big blue eyes at the snow globes.
Tempus shrugged. "Yeah, but where's the fun in that? Anywho, the three of them live in very similar time periods. So you can use your normal snow globes for that. Merida is the Princess of Dunbroch and Hiccup lives on the island of Berk. Rapunzel lives in the kingdom of Corona."
"One thing," Bunnymund interrupted, marching over to Tempus who didn't look scared at all. "Why should we trust you?" He breathed, glaring at Tempus.
"Ummm," Tempus thought mockingly, putting a hand to his chin. "Maybe because I'm your only link to the past? Anyways, I can help more."
He faced the mirror and waved his hand in front of it. An image shimmered—actually, two images shimmered. A small island with large wooden buildings and a large stone castle.
"When you get Hiccup and Merida I'll freeze their lands. They won't remember anything and won't be able to do anything until you get there. That okay?"
Jack bit his lip. "I…I don't—"
"Great!" Tempus said enthusiastically. "Jack, choose the Guardian that'll help you for Rapunzel's timeline."
Jack groaned and gave North a 'this is your fault look.' North's eyes widened but he laughed. "I guess that'll be this man."
Bunnymund rolled his eyes. Tooth just nodded and Sandman looked pretty excited.
"Jack," Tooth whispered, her purple eyes flickering to the ground. Her wings started fluttering and she unconsciously flew an inch off the ground. She looked at his face pleadingly. "Just…promise you'll be safe. Alright?"
Jack laughed, scratching the back of his head with one hand. Tooth saw those white teeth of his and tried not to panic.
"Don't worry. Once we're done with this Rapunzel girl, you'll be the next one to go with me. Tell Baby Tooth I said bye."
She smiled.
Tempus cracked his knuckles, ruining the moment. "Alright, we doing this? Doctor Who is going to be on in three hours. I need to get dinner."
Jack smiled softly at Toot, fist bumped Sandy and Bunny, before standing next to North.
"Just one more thing," Tempus said. "You will be able to be seen. It's a safety feature to prevent paradoxes."
Jack's mouth opened slightly and he actually grinned.
"Alright, here."
Tempus unceremoniously dumped the snow globes onto North's large palms. "Now's the part where you shout Allons-y!"
Jack rolled his eyes and North let out a deep chuckle.
"Allons-y, Jack?"
"Allons-y, big guy."
North stuffed the other three snow globes into his pockets. He took one and whispered, "I say…DunBroch."
He tossed the snow globe into midair before a portal opened. Jack and North both jumped right in, disappearing in an instant.
Tooth watched the place where North and Jack had been standing and frowned sadly. Sandman patted her leg, giving her a reassuring smile.
"So…." Tempus grinned, winking at Bunnymund. "Looks like you're gonna be here for a while...do you maybe want to-?"
"Piss off, Shrimp!"
XxX
"We're leaving!" Hiccup announced, carrying his heavy pack. Toothless watched him carefully, from far away, green eyes wide. "Let's pack. Looks like you and me are taking a little vacation. Forever."
Hiccup heaved, and lowered his pack. "Ah, man."
He looked up suddenly when—
Hiccup cried out in shock. Astrid had somehow managed to get ahead of him. She was sharpening her axe on a rock….only she wasn't moving.
"Uh, Astrid?" Hiccup said, cautiously, recovering from heart attack. She didn't move and stared at her axe unblinkingly.
"Astrid? You know if this is some kind of joke, this isn't funny!"
She still sat unmoving.
Hiccup raised his eyebrow. "Astrid? Astrid!"
He poked her experimentally. She fell off the rock as though she were just a paper wait. Hiccup screamed, and Toothless crawled out from the shadows.
"Oh no, oh no, oh no, don't be dead! I was supposed to kill a dragon, not a human!" Hiccup said frantically. He put his hand on her chest and felt a pounding. She was alive.
Hiccup frowned. "What the?" He glanced at Toothless who was sniffing Astrid. "You didn't eat me in my sleep or anything? Maybe I'm the one that's dead."
Toothless stuck his tongue at Hiccup.
"We gotta help her—"
Hiccup froze when he heard a whisper. Hoping he wasn't going to get mauled alive, he turned slowly to see a blue flickering light. It stood innocently, whispering something. It was actually kinda cute.
"Is…is that a wisp?" Hiccup said aloud. He had heard the legend that was famous among the Vikings…and Scotts.
"Uh…." Hiccup said, eyebrows furrowing. He glanced at Astrid and the wisp. "D—Don't move," Hiccup told Astrid. When he realized what he said he mentally facepalmed himself.
He crept closer to the wisp. When he did a whole trail of them led to the sky. Hiccup hesitated, but grabbed his pack and climbed on Toothless. "C'mon Toothless….we're going."
Once Hiccup attached the wire the two took off into the sky; following whatever the wisps wanted to show them.
XxX
Merida didn't care where she was going. All she knew was that she needed to run. She raced out on Angus, not caring whoever was in the way, only needing to breakaway. She sobbed hard into Magnus's mane, tears streaming down her face.
This wasn't supposed to happen and it wasn't fair.
She didn't steer in any particular direction, and Angus grew more worried; his animal instincts telling him not to go there. Angus neighed and rode off the road and into the trees. Merida cried out as branches snagged and caught at her; leaving scratches on her face. Her dress was torn some more and even had grass stains on it.
The next thing Merida knew she was flying; she slammed hard onto the cold, hard ground. She was dazed at first and yelled out, "ANGUS!" Her ankle hurt terribly.
She then looked up and realized where they were. She stopped crying as she looked at the fifteen giant stones surrounding her. Her heart nearly stopped beating.
She hadn't been here in ten years. She shakily got up, ignoring Angus's cries. She just looked, trying to catch every detail. Suddenly, she heard a twig snap.
She looked to her right and saw nothing. Angus reared up and took off back to the castle.
"No! Wait! ANGUS!" Merida screamed, grabbing the folds of her dress and trying to run after him. Her right ankle shook under her from running too soon and she fell forward, scraping her bare elbows. Her hair was messier than usual and she was at the cursed place where her father had lost his leg.
She heard another crack. She got up, a little faster this time, and saw brown hair duck. She raised her eyebrows and crept closer and saw…a boy?
Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the third gaped at the girl who was peering over him. "Uh….hi?"
She frowned. "Who're you?" She asked, her Scottish accent thick.
Hiccup's eyes widened. Every Viking instinct he had…well, he thought he had, told him to run. She was a Scott!
But she didn't….seem very dangerous.
"Um, Hiccup."
She arched an eyebrow. "'Iccop?"
"No, HIC-UP."
"Tha's wot I said!"
"Um, try it again?"
She scowled. "Fine. HIC—UP." She furrowed her eyebrows. "Hiccup?"
"And you are," Hiccup asked, getting up and keeping his distance from the girl with the crazy red hair. Honestly, she could blend in with the sheep back in Berk.
"Merida," she said. "Merida of DunBroch."
DunBroch! Da-Da-Da, he was dead! Good thing, Toothless was in the forest behind him. "Well Merida it was great meeting you! Bye!" Hiccup turned around, thinking the wisps only wanted him to get killed.
"Hiccup!"
"Don't bother to write, but, hey, it was a nice ten seconds of knowing each other," Hiccup called over his shoulder.
"Hiccup!"
"Go back and live your Scottish ways!"
"HICCUP!"
Hiccup jumped from the volume of the girl's voice. "What?" He asked.
She was wide-eyed, pointing a finger at him. "There's a wisp on yer back!"
"Huh?!" Hiccup looked down and saw that something was glowing behind him. He yelped and tried shaking it off, but it wouldn't budge. Merida ran forward grabbed his arm, trying to help. However, when she touched his arm the wisp vanished.
"Wot?" Merida said slowly.
"Am I crashing a party?" Hiccup and Merida looked up to see two white haired people in front of them. One was a teenage boy and the other was a large man with a white beard to match his hair.
The boy pointed his staff at them. "Take me to your leader!"
Toothless growled in the shadows, his teeth snapping outwards.
Oh my god, thank you guys for supporting this story! I'm very excited for this story, and I can't wait for your reviews! I forgot to do the disclaimer in the first chapter, so…
I do not on Tangled, Brave, HTTYD, or ROTG.
Bye!