Ch. 2 Arrival
The day was beautiful for the kingdom of Corona. The sun was high, not a cloud visible, it was perfect. Within one of the kingdom's courtyard the princess Rapunzel was playing a game of hide-and-seek with four young red-head girls. All were enjoying the moment.
Rapunzel wore her common pink dress, her beautiful green eyes bright with happiness and life, her hair was short and brown.
When she was a baby, she was born with healing abilities, her hair was golden and acted as the conduit for the power. If her blonde hair were to be cut, it would turn brown and loose its power. Shortly after her birth she was kidnapped by the wicked woman Gothel who used her power to remain eternally young. Gothel kept Rapunzel in a tower and hidden from the rest of the world. When she turned eighteen, the young woman met the thief Eugene Fitzherbert, under the alias Flynn Rider, who helped to show her the outside world. A deep bond had formed between the two; it wasn't until after Gothel came to retrieve her that she realized she was the lost princess of Corona. Eugene saved her and cut her hair, thus severing the healing connection to Gothel, causing her to age rapidly into a pile of dust.
Rapunzel is now living happily with her parents, the kind and queen, as well as with Eugene. The two were madly in love with each other, and neither of them can be any happier.
Rapunzel searched the garden for the four girls, with an eager smile on her face. "Now, where they could be?" She wondered out loud.
In the bush behind her, the four girls we're doing their best to remain silent, as they quietly giggled. Rapunzel quickly caught the sound, and a knowing grin formed on her face. "Oh well, guess they're not here." She said rather loudly. The girls then looked from behind the bush and saw the princess was nowhere in sight, they all breathed a sigh until…
"Gothca!" Rapunzel shouted from behind them, they all screamed as they ran; Rapunzel chased after them. "I'm gonna getcha. I'm gonna getcha." She said as they we're now evidently playing a game of tag.
Watching the whole thing, from the side of the garden on a bench, was Eugene Fitzherbert, reformed thief. He was given a pardon for all past transgressions after rescuing the princess, and was now happily living in Corona. He had a smile on his face, but his thoughts were briefly interrupted by a loud squeak. He turned to Pascal, Rapunzel's pet chameleon. The tiny reptile look at Eugene with a smug grin that said Your staring lovingly at her
"No I'm not." Eugene replied, blushing a bit. Pascal rolled his eyes sure you're not.
"Whatever." Eugene responded.
"Hey, Eugene!" Rapunzel shouted, getting both their attention. "Come on! Join in on the fun!"
Eugene smilled as he walked toward the scene.
From the furthest distance, there was someone else watching; someone who did not like the situation. It was the former Corona guard captain. He wore a golden helm and chest plate, with a sun etched on it. With a trim brown mustache. There was one thing he did not like about having the princess brought back, she brought back that villain as well. The former captain had been tasked with finding the master thief, arresting him, and seeing him hanged; he failed at all of this. He could not believe this worthless thief had been given a pardon, but what he found the most unbelievable, he lost his position as captain of the guard to a horse; a HORSE!
"I'll get you Rider." He muttered to himself, as he watched the playful events unfold. "I swear, one way or another, I will get you."
Meanwhile, far from Corona, in the skies; a large swirling vortex had opened up. The Ultra-dragon had emerged from the portal.
"Wahooo!" Kai shouted right as the portal closed
"Yeah baby! That was awesome!" Lloyd exclaimed
"Yes, who knew traversing space and time could be invigorating?" Zane inquired
"Speak for yourself." Jay grumbled as he held his stomach. "Felt like eating a double-bacon-burger, then riding the Dragster, five times in a row."
"Here's a bag" Cole said, handing Jay said bag.
"Thanks." Jay replied, before hurling into the bag; much to the ninjas' disgust. "Here you go." Jay said, handing the bag back to Cole
"Wha, I don't want your puke!" Cole exclaimed. "Just let it fall." Jay then let the bag fall
"Okay guys, we're setting down." Kai said, as he snapped the reins and the mighty, four-headed dragon descended into the forest below.
The dragon touched down, and all five ninja stepped off.
"Uh, I'm confused." Jay said "Isn't there supposed to be some kingdom here?"
"Oh there is." Kai answered. "I saw it about six miles north of here."
"Then why set down so far away?" Lloyd asked
"Well we don't know if this place has dragons, and the last thing we want to do is start a panic." Kai explained
"Hm, makes sense." Cole said
"Alright guys, before we head out, you might wanna hide your weapons" Kai instructed
"Why is that?" Zane asked
"Two reasons." Kai began. "First, we don't want people to get the wrong idea, seeing people with armed weapons, they may think we're hostile. Second, the sight of four golden weapons might give pick-pockets funny ideas."
"If someone tries to take our weapons, can't we just beat em up?" Lloyd questioned
"We're not here to pick fights; we're here to see if there's some great evil lurking." Kai responded
"Kai's right guys." Cole agreed "The last thing we wanna do is give off a bad impression."
"Then it would be best to indeed conceal our weapons." Zane said
"Okay, when that's done, we're out." Kai said "You stay here, boy." He instructed the Ultra-dragon; to which it growled in compliance
One hour later
It took the ninja one hour to make it to the large stone bridge that led to Corona. They all bore now casual clothes. Kai wore a red sweatshirt with dark red pants. Lloyd had a green, unzipped wind-breaker with a white t-shirt underneath, and dark green pants. Jay had a blue long sleeved shirt with two white, horizontal stripes and a pair of jeans. Cole wore a black sweater with black sweat pants. Zane was wearing a light silver zipped jacket, with gray pants. Kai thought it would be best to wear casual clothes, as their techno-robed ninja garb was warrior-like, and they did not want people to think they meant trouble.
"I'd say we found our kingdom." Lloyd observed.
"That's, one big monarchy." Jay observed as well
They walked across the bridge; right when they got to the half-way point, a Corona guard stepped in front of them.
"State your business." The guard stated
"Just travelers." Kai said
"We have heard tell of Corona." Zane began "We came to observe the beauty of this kingdom."
The guard took a look at all five of them; they didn't seem like trouble. He smiled "Very well; welcome to Corona, I hope you enjoy your stay." He let them pass.
The ninja then came to the main entrance of Corona and we're quite impressed with what they saw. The kingdom was full of life. People were all in the streets; children played, adults shopped, it was lively. The architect bared a strong resemblance to that of renisance, and the purple flags with golden sun emblems that decorated the streets we're half-bad either.
"Wow." Cole said
"Yeah." Lloyd agreed
"Okay then." Kai began "First thing's first; we need to know more about this place."
"Agreed." Zane said. "My falcon has been flying over the kingdom, from his visuals, it is quite large. Perhaps, if we split up we could cover more ground."
"Good plan." Kai congratulated "Zane, Jay, Cole; you guys take the west half, Lloyd and I got the east. Learn all that you can, and don't cause trouble."
"Where will we meet up?" Jay asked
"We'll meet up here at the gate by sunset and compare notes." Kai answered
"Judging from the sun's position." Zane began "It appears to be a little before noon. My estimate suggests we have at least six hours till sunset."
"Between the five of us, that's more than enough time." Cole stated
"Then let's move people." Kai said before the two groups broke off.
Jay, Cole and Zane had begun their search on the western side of the kingdom. They took notes of all the people, building architecture, pretty much everything. Well Zane did anyway. Considering the nindroid could process information ten-times faster than the average human; Cole and Jay we're simply looking in awe at the beautiful surroundings.
"This seems like a really nice place." Jay acknowledged
"Yeah, I'm thinking of retiring here." Cole added
"Be aware of our assignment my friends." Zane instructed "We are not here to sight see."
"You seem to have the 'observation' thing going for ya; what's the harm in just breathing the atmosphere around here?" Jay questioned
"Zane's got a point though." Cole said "So, what'd you find out?"
"Based on my observations." Zane began "It would appear this is the renaissance era, while the people's speech dialect appears to be that of modern day."
"That would make sense, parallel world and all." Cole stated
"So, anything that we can consider to be a 'great darkness'?" Jay questioned
"Nothing of yet. But when it comes to evil, it can never be predicted. I learn this from experience."
"You and me both." Cole agreed. "We still need to know more though, wonder who we can ask?"
Before any of them could continue, they hear the sounds of ruckus and piano playing coming from a building across the street. The turn to said building, it had a sign right above the door.
"'The Snuggly Duckling'?" Jay read aloud.
"Seems pleasant." Cole observed "Maybe someone hear might know something"
"Worth a shot." Zane said.
They entered the tavern and we're quite surprised, to say the least, at what they saw inside. In stark contrast to the environment outside; this tavern appeared to be something out of a barbarian movie; the people inside showed this as well. Many men appeared to have the bearings of Vikings, pirates, mercenaries, and many other ruffians.
"Okaaay" Jay said. "Talk about other side of the coin."
"It would appear that this place may be unfriendly." Zane observed
"You sure about that?" Cole asked, pointing to the back of the room. All three were even more surprised than before. It appeared to be an overweight, bald man with a hook, playing the piano; and was quite good. Someone had now just jumped in front of them, it was a mime. He was motioning as if he there were a wall in front of them, he then shimmied across the invisible wall.
"I'm not even gonna ask what this place is about." Jay said
The three then took a seat at the stools at the bar, they we're greeted by a rather large, muscular man. "What can I get you boys?"
"Uh, just water." Cole said
"Aaww, where's the fun in that?" a voice came from next to them; they turned to a short, old-man, with a bright red nose, who appeared to be wearing a diaper, quite drunk. "You know what. *hiccup* you boys need?" He said, waving his arms. "A big jug *hiccup* of this" he smiled as he slid a rather large mug of beer straight to Jay.
"Uh, I don't drink" Jay stated
"Come on kid." The old man said as he put his arm around Jay's shoulders "Loosen up. It won't *hiccup* kill you"
Jay shrugged "Aw what the heck." Jay then took a sip. "Hmm, this is pretty good." He then begun to drink, and both Zane and Cole got a bad idea of what's coming. Before the inevitable "jay-crisis" they might as well get what they needed
"If you don't mind, we need to ask a few questions." Zane asked to the large bar-tender
"What would you like to hear?" He asked
"This is our first time here, so, we'd just like to know more about this kingdom" Cole answered
"Oh, you boys are gonna get quite a story."
Meanwhile, on the eastern part of the kingdom; Kai and Lloyd have been looking for the past two hours.
"This is the nicest place I've ever seen." Lloyd stated "I don't see anything that could be considered evil."
"Don't let your guard down; anything can happen, and it usually does." Kai said. "But I have to admit, this place is pretty neat."
"Yeah, maybe we can take a vacation here." Lloyd suggested
"Maybe I…" Something caught Kai's attention. "Hey Lloyd, look at this."
They both looked at a large textile picture on a wall. It pictured a man and a woman, both wearing royalty attire, and they carried a baby with long blonde hair. Both ninja we're now a bit interested
"What do you think?" Kai asked
"Looks like, maybe a king and queen." Lloyd guessed
Kai looked down, and saw a plack at the base of the building. "Hey check this out. 'This painting is dedicated to the lost princess'" Kai read aloud
"'Lost princess'?" Lloyd questioned
Kai then begun to read it. "It says that right after she was born, princess Rapunzel was kidnapped by a wicked woman who hid her from the world for eighteen years."
"Wow, talk about a rough childhood" Lloyd stated "What kind of sicko kidnaps a baby?"
"It also says that the wicked woman died when the princess was rescued by a thief turned hero, and now lives in the kingdom happily, reunited with her family." Kai finished
"Sounds like something you hear in a fairy tale" Lloyd said "Anything that spells 'darkness rising' or something?"
"Not really." Kai answered "The villain of this is pretty much the only bad-guy we've heard here" They both then began to walk from the painting as they kept talking
"False alarm maybe?" Lloyd guessed
"Sensei Wu's visions are never wrong" Kai contradicted "He said something bad was here, so something is bound to happen."
"I guess. But it's not like we're gonna run into the Skeleton army or the Seprentine or anyting. I mean…" Lloyd then bumped into a young woman with short brown hair and a pink dress. The woman was knocked down. "Oh man, I'm sorry I didn't see you there."
"No it's my fault" Rapunzel appolgized "I wasn't wathing where I was going." The teen in red offered her a helping hand, which she took.
"You okay miss?" Kai asked
"I'm fine. thank you." Rapunzel replied, dusting herself off. She then took a look at the two "I have to say, I know almost everyone here, but I've never seen you two before."
"I'm Kai." The fire-warrior introduced "This is Lloyd."
"What's up?" Lloyd greeted
"It's our first time here in Corona" Kai continued
"Oh. Well welcome." Rapunzel greeted, excitedly shaking both of their hands. "Can I help you two find anything here?"
"Uh no thanks, we're fine. We're in a bit of a rush so…" Kai said
"Oh I'm sorry." Rapunzel apologized
"Don't worry." Lloyd reassured "I'm sure we'll see you again sometime soon. It was nice meeting you miss." The two disguised ninja then left. Rapunzel looked at the two mysterious teenagers as they walked away, something felt weird about them. Not the evil kind of weird; but something about the one in green caught her attention. She couldn't quite make it out, but she felt something inside him.
Lloyd's mind then seemed to fade; Kai caught notice. "You okay bro?"
"Huh?"
"You just, zoned out." Kai said "That's not like you."
"Sorry" Lloyd apologized "It's just, something about the girl. I can't quite put my finger on it; but I felt something"
"Getting a crush?" Kai teased "Your first one, and it's from a parallel dimension."
"No, not like that" Lloyd corrected "Something else. Like how my golden power felt, only a lesser-degree."
"A power?"
"I know, it doesn't make sense, but…"
"Something tells me, we need to keep an eye on that chick."
Kingdom gates
It was sunset, the sky was now a mix of red and purple; most people we're now leaving for their homes. Kai and Lloyd stood at the gate awaiting the other ninja.
"What's taking them so long?" Lloyd complained
"Relax they'll be hear." Kai assured
The two then heard what appeared to be lazy singing. They turned to see Jay with his head down, being supported by Zane and Cole.
"I got a dream" Jay lazily sung "I got a dream"
"What happened to him?" Lloyd asked
"During our search we came to a tavern." Zane explained "What we found was helpful, but Jay wasn't quite focused on it"
"He's drunk?" Kai questioned
"Yeah." Cole "That place was crazy; they started singing this song about their dreams, and that's when Jay started to laze out on us."
"Heh, did you guys see that guy?" Jay drunkenly asked "What was up with him? With all the, you know, *hiccup* stuff and all?*
"Yeah, sure, whatever you say buddy." Cole said, not even bothering to pay attention
"What are we gonna do about him?" Kai asked
"There's an inn nearby. We could spend the nigh there." Zane explained; the three non-drunk ninja nodded in agreement.
They came to a local inn and walked inside.
"A room for five please." Kai asked the man up front.
"How are you gonna pay for it son?" the man asked. As he asked that, Lloyd formed a small green energy ball, back turned to the clerk. Zane then froze the ball. Their elemental energies mixed and this make-shift diamond was formed
"Will this cover it?" Lloyd asked as he put the crystal on the counter, much to the clerk's wide-eyed shock.
"Stay here as long as you want!" the clerk exclaimed excitedly. "Here's a key. Down the hall, third door on the left, there's a room for five."
"Thank you very much." Zane thanked
They walked down through the hallway, Zane and Cole still supporting the drunk Jay. "Hey guys." Drunk Jay began "What was up with that *hiccup* giant snake. Hahahah. That thing was *hiccup* so huge, hahaha, crushed our whole ship in one bite, One Bite! Can you freaking *hiccup* believe it?" He continued as they entered their room
Jay was thrown onto one of the five beds. "You know? *hiccup* I freaking love you guys. And I don't *hiccup* throw that around." His head fell back "He had four arms. I still can't believe it. Heheheh." Jay then passed out
"He'll sleep well tonight." Kai said
"Yeah, but I do not wanna be him in the morning." Cole observed
"So what did you find out about this place?" Lloyd asked
The four ninja then told each other what they had learned. From what they heard, they could say that the kingdom of Corona's princess was kidnaped and then returned 18 years later by a reformed thief and is now living her dream happily.
"So what's the plan for tomorrow?" Lloyd asked
"Now that we know more about this place, we're gonna look around and see if there would be anything that could become a major threat." Kai said
"Alright then, we better get some sleep; for all we know, tomorrow might be a giant battle." Cole said.
"My falcon will continue to observe the kingdom as we sleep and will let us know if anything should arise." Zane said "I am powering down now" He said as he took out his Shurrikens of Ice and placed them on the table. He had now powered down.
"We'd better power down to." Kai said, as he put his Sword of Fire on the table too, Cole then put his Scythe of Quakes by his bead, while Jay cradled his Nunchucks of Lightning like a teddy bear.
The three ninja then went into their beds and drifted off into sleep.
The docks
It was the dead of night. The former guard captain was escorting two prisoners to the docks, to a row boat. These were the Stabbington brothers. One wore a green tunic with brown pants, the other with an eye patch and black suit.
"Alright then." The captain said as he unloacked their shakles
"Why are you doing this?" the brother in green asked
"Yeah, weren't you the one who locked us up?" the black-suited brother added
"Desperate times, desperate measures." The captain replied "Now head west and you'll meet my contact. He already knows the plan, you just follow him, and you'll both have your freedom, and your revenge."
Both brothers smiled evilly at this. They would soon have their revenge on their former associate, Flynn Rider.