Please enjoy and review!
This story is pretty much a sequel to the first, so its very canon/it sticks to the storyline.
I even tried making it seem like it was a movie you were watching, instead or reading a story. I hope you guys like it!
"So where is this person you wish to take vengeance upon?" I asked between mouthfuls of bread. Mother Gothel was standing in front of her tower, staring, eying, measuring things in her head... She wouldn't tell me what she was up to.
"Patience," She called over her shoulder. Suddenly, she thrust her arms out in front of her.
"Seriously, what are you doing?" I stood, tossing the bread back into the pack.
"Hush." She hissed. "I'm wondering if this would work..."
She took a deep breath then began to sing. "Flower, gleam and glow... Let your power shine..."
I raised an eyebrow. This woman surely was crazy. She possessed my sister, and she turns out to be crazy. How awesome is that?
A gold light began to flicker from her arms. It was like fireflies, they encircled the tower in a thin case. My eyes widened as the tower straightened and the bricks relayed themselves in their rightful places. Once she was done, the tower looked brand new.
"I knew it." She stood up straight, smiling to me. "Many years of magic can affect someone in the weirdest of ways."
My mouth was open. "How did you...!"
She came over and patted my head, saying in a sing-song voice, "I told you! This generation would never understand!"
I pointed at the tower. "You just turned that crumbled mess into the best place a person could live in a forest!"
She chuckled then ghosted around the back. I followed her, slinging the pack around my shoulders. There was a doorway in the back that led to ladders climbing all the way up the tower. Gothel started climbing so I copied. After quite a few minutes we finally came to the top. My arms were sore from climbing so I just laid on the ground for a while.
"Oh, it's just as I remembered!" She cooed. Her footsteps echoed all through the room, I lifted my head and followed her with my eyes. "Even her paintings are still here!"
I climbed into a chair and looked at a fancily decorated brush. "Who's 'her'?"
She turned and glared at the object in my hands. "My... My daughter."
I looked up at Gothel and she gently took the brush from me and examined the long brown hairs on it, slowly picking them out one by one.
"What happened to her?" I whispered.
"Well," She put down the brush and looked around the room. "She wanted to follow her dreams, so she left with a man... He ruined our lives. Literally took away mine."
I stared at my hands. "So the man she left with... is the man who killed you?"
Gothel nodded. I tucked my hair behind my ear.
"Wow... That's scary." I whispered.
"I tried to warn her," She sat in a larger chair next to me. "That's why we lived here. So I could protect her from everything in the world that would harm her."
"Sounds like it didn't turn out as planned." I joked quietly.
"Please, don't mumbled, I hate mumbling." She sighed.
"I'm sorry." I sat up straight and looked around the walls. Beautiful portraits decorated the space. Flowers, Suns, Stars, Moons, People... The Lanterns. "She must've been very beautiful."
"Oh, she had such long golden hair... It glowed when she sang!" Mother Gothel laughed aloud. I joined in and the morning sun broke across the floor and up the walls.
"Do you miss her?"
"Oh... I become so aged without her. She was my fountain of youth, when she sang, I was young again." Mother Gothel leaned back in the chair and rubbed her forehead. "I just wish... I could change the course of history..."
I looked up at the painting of the floating lanterns. They started that when the Majesty was born and more when she went missing as a child and they continued it for their children. A sudden thought struck me. "Hey, you said you're the reason why this place is forbidden?"
"Yes." Mother Gothel opened her eyes.
"What connection do you have with the Queen and King that they had to block this place from anyone else?" My eyes narrowed.
"The Queen and I were practically family," She stood, walking over to the window. "I guess she just didn't want anyone to remember how painful the whole experience was."
I fiddled with my fingers before I stood and walked over to her, leaning against the wall next to the window.
"Then I guess we should help you, maybe even see the Queen to show her it shouldn't be so painful," I shrugged to her. "Maybe so you and her can both live in peace."
Mother Gothel smiled brightly. "I guess we should."
A gold mist ghosted up our bodies. I looked around, alarmed, for the mist was only around us. Many seconds later we were back outside, next to the vine entrance. I shook my head, trying to clear it as if it was filled with fog.
"I am never going to get used to that..." I rubbed my forehead, brushing my long black locks back.
Mother Gothel patted my shoulder before walking into the vines. "Are you coming?"
I readjusted the strap around my shoulders then ran to catch up with her. I dodged the vines, since she didn't help at all, and followed her over the boulders. I tripped many times, Gothel was nothing like my sister... She would've made this easier, knowing how clumsy I was. I was surprised we had even managed to successfully steal the gem from the castle in the first place. Soon we came upon a path and followed it. I recognized where we were going.
"Why are we going to the tavern?" I asked, jogging to walk beside Mother Gothel.
"I have some business there, maybe some people who could possibly help." She glared at the road ahead.
I drifted back and stared up at the trees. The morning sun was glittering through the leaves making a beautiful effect on them. A shadow moved in the corner of my eye and suddenly, I was on the ground. I lifted my head up and looked around to see what had happened.
"Meow." said a furry creature in front of me. I shrieked, scrambling back. It followed me, looking curiously. It meowed again.
"Oh, please!" Mother Gothel turned. "Are you really afraid of cats? Can you suck it up and not be so loud, dear?"
The cat was small and white with black and orange patches. It rubbed against my leg and jumped in my lap. I reached forward and pet its head.
"You startled me," I laughed. "What are you doing, tripping an unsuspecting girl out of no where?"
It meowed and licked my finger. I giggled, standing up and cradling the kitten in my arms.
"Don't you have someone taking care of you? Such an adorable kitten shouldn't be alone in the woods like this!" I nuzzled it and began walking with Gothel again. "Do you even have a name?"
It turned its head to the side then climbed onto my shoulder. It rubbed against my cheek, tickling me. I giggled then scratched its head.
"I guess not... How about you come with me and I be your caretaker?" I smiled at the ball of fur. It purred at me and I took it for confirmation. "Great! I'll protect you from the scary beasts! Or you'll protect me from the scary rats!"
I laughed and the kitten stared at me, unamused. I shook my head. "How about a name? What should we call you?"
Gothel looked back then rolled her eyes. "Are you seriously going to bring that flea bag along?"
"Why not?" I scratched the cats head again. "You possessed my sisters body, so I should be able to bring the kitty along."
"She made the promise, she solemnly swore. Not my fault your sister is easily persuaded." Mother Gothel slowed to a stop then smiled. "Ah, here it is!"
I looked ahead, blinked, then drew an eyebrow up. "The snuggly duckling?"
"Yes, the best place in the kingdom to recruit fighters, sure they are quite the softies deep down, but when it comes down to business... no one is better!"
She started walking and I looked to the cat. We had matching expressions.
"Garen! I'll call you Garen!" I cheered suddenly. The cat purred on my shoulder, obviously loving its new name.
"Druella, are you coming dear?" Gothel called. I ran to catch up. I seem to be doing a lot of that lately.
"So what do you have in mind for fighters? What would we even need fighters for?" We came to the door and Gothel reached for the knob.
"Oh you never know what should happen on a journey like this," She waved her hand as if to dismiss any unnecessary thoughts. "It is always good to just be prepared."
I shrugged. She had a point, between thieves like myself, thugs, and other nasty things, the world was a dangerous place. The door opened and the sound of a piano and accordion was playing. Laughter and cheers of men echoed through to us; there was stomping, dancing, and the all around bustle of a tavern. Mother Gothel walked up to the Innkeeper and began whispering to him. His face reflected shock and she chuckled. I looked all around the room and there were curious glances from the men. I was slightly repulsed by all of them, they weren't the most attractive of bunches but I recognized a few faces. Some of which I actually partook on adventures with. I sat down at a table that had one person in it, probably the only attractive person here.
"Hello, Druella." Said the man. He wore a dark cloak with the hood down and high class aristocratic clothing.
"Hello, Ehren , how is your sister Nocera?" I smiled. His beautiful green eyes sparkled as he smiled back at me. He had the most beautiful face I've ever seen and a full head of thick dark brown hair.
"She is good. Her husband treats her well, I admit he is quite an excellent man for her." He sipped at his drink. "But I'm afraid Hank's wife has passed."
"I'm sorry," I leaned across the table and took his hand. He squeezed mine then let go. "Send condolences? Don't tell who it is from, I'm afraid my words should be unacceptable to the crown."
"What have you done now, Druella?" He looked at my face skeptically. My face burned red then I focused on the cat, now perched on the seat next to me.
"Did I hear something about the crown?" Alarica walked up and shooed the cat off the seat before taking it. Garen perched himself in my lap and hissed at her. She hissed back.
"Grumpy as ever, Alarica?" Ehren laughed. He rubbed the stubble on his chin and sat up straight.
"I'm afraid I'm actually not at all like myself..." She chuckled. Gothel was quite the actress, I was surprised. "But, I think you can help with that."
"How so?" Ehren looked intrigued.
"I need a little help getting into the kingdom, my dear." She pointed to my bag and smiled. "There's something that needs to be returned, along with some other things."
"I'm afraid I won't be of much help," Ehren shook his head. "But since you've both helped me through a lot, I'll do what I can. But the guards are on high alert, someone stole the Gothel Gem, the purple one found in the forbidden meadow, so sneaking passed them will be very hard."
"Oh my, someone stole the gem? What a shame..." Gothel chuckled. "We'll find the culprit for you if you lead us in."
"Really?" Ehren's face lit up. He loved trying anything to help his parents out.
It's weird how my sister and I had become friends with the son of the royals, the prince himself! They'd recently named him head of the guards, to see how much responsibility he really has. Poor guy, it is a stressful job and being friends with the most wanted females in the thieving business makes it worse.
At least he isn't friends with Old Woman Juliana, she was psychotic. She murdered travelers in the forest.
"Really." Gothel smiled. She fluffed her now curly locks with her hands, so much different from Alarica's straight hair. How any one could recognize her as my sister was beyond me.
"I'll take you to the castle then, but you have to help me put the one who stole the gem to justice." He stood and stretched, holding out his hand to her. "Deal?"
"Deal." Gothel took his hand and shook it. A small shimmer of light floated out of Gothel's wrist and made a circle around the back of Ehren's hand. It sunk into his skin then turned into the golden flower from the royal insignia.
Ehren didn't notice what had happened but Garen and I had. He hissed at Gothel and she in turn just smiled at him. I wrapped my arms around Garen and my heart sank. I didn't mean to bring Ehren into this. He was the prince and my good friend, once he found the truth...
"Let's leave then," Gothel gestured towards the door. "The sooner the better."
Ehren gave her a deep nod then began for the door. I grabbed Gothel's arm and pulled her towards me.
"What are you doing?" I growled in her ear.
"Just making this an easier trip, darling." She said sweetly.
"He's the prince, once he finds out it was Alarica and I who had stolen the gem, he'll lock both of us up and you won't ever leave my sister because we won't be able to make the trip." I stood, cradling Garen in my arms.
"The prince, hum?" She looked over to Ehren who was waiting by the door. "I just thought he was a royal guard, but a royal himself, that's even better."
She began towards Ehren then turned back. "You coming, Druella, dear?"
I sighed. This woman was beginning to get on my nerves. Finally I nodded and followed them out the door and back into the forest. There was a sinking feeling growing in my stomach. Mother Gothel gave me the creeps and just having her around gave me a really bad feeling. Something was up with this woman, I had to figure out what before we get to the castle. I don't think she's telling me her whole story. And if she was hiding something, I was going to reveal it at all costs.
I looked to Garen who had jumped from my arms and was walking by my side. He meowed at me and I smiled. Garen will help me, so there's nothing to worry about. I just hope I can make sure to get my sister back unharmed. Mother Gothel seems to be making herself at home and that bugged me. That body belonged to Alarica, not her.
She was going to give it back, no matter what it takes.
That one was a bit harder to write in some ways but easier in others. I hope you guys are enjoying this so far, if it continues the way its going, it'll be good.
Review, please!
And if you have suggestions for extra things in the story, they are very much welcome!
Just message me or write it in a review!