Chapter 3

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The mist was thick and heavy as it dragged across the lands, sliding through the forest in contrast to the woods' tranquility. It drew all within it to a crawl as one could barely see the person next to them. Merida slowed Agnus to a stop and looked about the woods around her with caution. Coming up beside her was Taran, but before he could speak, Merida held her finger to her lips. Dismounting, Merida slowly drew an arrow from her quiver, and readied it on her bow.

She peered at Eilonwy who was frightened by her actions, her Bauble was circling above her as if searching for a danger no one could see. Taran saw and heard nothing, but Merida was spooked, she had been ever since they rode past the ruins of Canterbury. Merida slowly walked forward, each step calculated and with purpose. When she saw a shadow to her right, she turned and raised her bow quickly.

She remained sill and focused only on the sounds in that direction. Ya are toyin with me. Merida thought as she glanced back to the hazed figures of Taran and Eilonwy. She slowly walked back to her allies and took Angus's reins. "We are being tracked." she whispered softly.

"Is it the Snow Queen?" Taran asked, his voice as soft as a mouse.

Shrugging her shoulders, Merida looked out into the fog, "I don't know."

Riding up to be next to Merida, and Taran, Eilonwy whispered, "What is wrong?"

Staring up at the Bauble, Merida replied, "Surely ya know."

"Someone is following us." Eilonwy whispered.

Nodding her head, Merida mounted on to Angus and closed her eyes, to listen for a single sound that would've been out of place. She opened them and looked at Eilonwy, "How far are we from the coast?"

Pulling the mirror from the satchel on her side, she looked to it then back to Merida, "At least a day's ride."

Spurring Angus forward, Merida knew that the longer they stayed in these woods, the more dangerous the mysterious thing that was hunting them would grow. With her bow at the ready in her hand, she moved forward and remained focused on all that she heard. After a half mile or more, Merida raised her hand to stop everyone.

When the soft roll of thunder was heard over head, Taran whispered, "It's a storm?"

"Not that, I think I hear bells." Merida quickly muttered, so she could return to her focus. It was distant and faint, but it was drawing closer, and Merida quickly realized that there was another sound along with the bell. "Everyone dismount!" Merida yelled and quickly jumped down from Angus to look around for shelter.

Before the others could question what was about to happen they felt it in their stomach, Eilonwy and Taran looked to each other sharing a familiar sense of fear before they dismounted. Both followed Merida as she made her way to a massive oak tree that had fallen over. Upon reaching it, the ground began to shake and crack around them.

"Bloody Tempests!" Taran shouted as he worked about franticly to get his horse to lay down, something they simply do not like doing.

Angus was far more willing to follow his riders' command and lay down beside Merida and rested his head on her lap. As the thunderous roars of the earth's anguish increased, trees began to fall around them. When Eilonwy finally got her horse to hide up against the large tree, she watched as her Bauble began to flicker gold and green. "What's wrong?" She asked the Bauble ever so kindly despite the violent tremors.

As the Bauble flew off, Eilonwy was forced to cover her head as branches rained down upon them. Seeing the Golden Pelydryn reacting oddly, Merida called out over the chaos, "What's gotten into ya magic ball?"

"It hasn't been acting right," Eilonway said, "ever since Merlin placed those enchantments on it." Her eyes followed her Bauble constantly going away and then coming back as if it was trying to get someone to follow it. "I think it wants me to follow it." she said to the others.

Looking down at her bow, Merida wondered if the Bauble had picked up on who was tracking them, even in all this chaos. It seemed that she and the glowing ball were the only ones to pick up on what little evidence the hunter gave away. Looking to Taran, Merida kissed him quickly on the lips. "Wait here." she said sternly.

"Are you nuts?!" Taran called out after she went running out of their makeshift shelter to follow Bauble.

Merida paid Taran's protest no heed as she rushed out into the earth shattering quake in search of her prey. Bauble moved quickly and Merida easily stayed close behind it, until it suddenly came to a stop. It hovered over a small clearing where the snow seemed to have been disturbed by an impact in its center. With her bow ready to fire, Merida entered the clearing and looked down to the snow. She saw no threat or hunter, but lying within was a dim yellow glow of an aura of something beyond this realm.

Lowering her weapon, Merida kneeled and looked at the small delicate creature before her. She had heard stories of them from Taran, but never did she think she would ever encounter a fairy in her lifetime. She lowered her hand towards the young fairy that wore a short green leafy dress, and had bright blond hair. She touched it with the tip of her outstretched finger, making the limp body rolled over. Her heart broke when she saw that it was injured, blood ran from the side of its tiny head.

When she heard the loud splintering of a tree, Merida looked up to see one was slowly beginning to fall in her direction. Cupping the fairy with both hands, Merida leapt to her right and rolled across the ground. When she came to a stop, she curled into a fetal position with her body curled around and her hands to her chest to protect the tiny defenseless fairy.

When the ground finally stopped rumbling from the fallen tree, Merida found herself covered in broken branches, but otherwise unharmed. She cleared the branches off of herself while still holding the fairy in her one hand, and when she sat up, she saw Bauble floating next to her. Merida stared to the ball of light and held up the fairy. "Is she dead?" she asked nervously.

Bauble moved closer, and when it was just inches from the fairy, it shot out of spark of magic towards it causing it to twitch in Merida's hands. To the Highlanders relief, the tiny girl slowly opened her eyes wearily; they were glazed over with pain. Merida saw something out of the corner of her eye, she turned and saw the fog shift unnaturally, her eyes widened. Eilonwy's Buabble swooped down and drew the fairy into itself and it rested it safely within, as if trapped in a bubble. This gave Merida the chance she needed to pick up her bow, draw her arrow and fire.

Her arrow had to be perfect or she would be dead, and it was. She watched as her arrow struck the one coming at her, causing it to spin out of control and fall to the ground. Merida rolled evasively as a second arrow shot through the fog towards her. Drawing a second arrow, Merida fired towards the attacker as she ran out of the clearing. Reaching a tree, she stopped and watched as an arrow flew to where she was planning on stepping on the other side of the tree.

She turned and released an arrow that struck down an incoming arrow that was about to strike Bauble. Reloading quickly, Merida turned from the tree and fired, she spun on her feet to dodge an incoming arrow and by the time she was facing the direction it came from she fired again. Just when she had a clean shot at the figure she was forced once more to defend Bauble and knock an arrow heading for it, out of the air. When she turned to face the figure once more, it was gone but her ears warned of danger, and she swiveled to her left and opened fire, striking down an arrow coming towards her head.

Just as she nocked another arrow, a dark figure flew down from the trees. She fired her arrow, but it was struck down just before it made contact by a hatchet of some kind. Merida quickly held up her bow as it came crashing down on her. She was temporarily shocked to find that this deadly assassin was a dark skinned woman with long raven hair. She wore a tan leather hide that was completely foreign to the Scottish girl's eyes. The assassin's eyes were filled with intense emotion.

Using her bow expertly, she blocked the swing of a second hatchet, but she fell backwards from the momentum. Kicking the attacker in the stomach from the ground, she rolled to her feet and flipped over the assassin. When Merida was upright again she didn't hesitate to loose another arrow. She watched her arrow disappear into the mist, just as one came flying at her; it ripped her green dress and grazed across her right arm. Retreating behind a tree, Merida reached for another arrow, and saw her arm bleeding. It wasn't serious, so she nocked an arrow and turned to face the direction where she had last seen her attacker. She stopped.

The assassin was gone. No movement in the mist, no shadows or sounds of any kind, it was eerily quiet. Merida moved forward slowly with Bauble, and the fairy still safely inside, floating close to her back. She inched past the spot where she was clipped by the arrow and saw her blood on the snow. She moved forward and disappeared into the mist, about twenty stones from where she released her last arrow, she found it struck in a tree. Looking down at the base of the tree, she saw small drops of blood staining the immaculate white snow crimson.

Going to one knee, Merida touched the blood and rubbed it between her fingers. A draw then? she thought as she lowered her bow and returned her arrow to its quiver. She went back to where she had been hit, and followed the assassin arrow's path until she reached where its trajectory ended. Pulling it from the snow, Merida was shocked to find that it had a hand crafted stone head upon its shaft.

Feeling the warmth of Bauble next to her, Merida turned to it and looked at the young injured fairy within. "How are ya doing my wee little sprite?" she asked warmly.

The fairy still didn't have enough strength to sit up, so it simply looked at the girl with wild curly red hair. When she opened her mouth to speak, Merida only heard the twinkling many of small bells. Holding out her hands, Bauble gently landed on them, and when it floated back up into the air, the small fairy laid upon her hands. The crackle of thunder had Merida look up to the sight of countless shooting stars through gaps in the mist.

Merida carefully made her way back to her friends, with Bauble following behind her. When she reached them, Taran rushed towards her wanting to give her a relieved embrace, but paused when he saw what she had in her hands. "Fairfolk!" he cried in astonishment.

"Poor little thing is injured." Merida replied.

Eilonwy joined her friends and gasped at the sight of the beautiful fairy lying in Merida's hands.

"So are you!" Taran said seeing her bloodied arm.

"Had a run in with our devilish little tale." she said glancing at her injury, and with a shrug she added, "A wicked good archer she was, with long raven hair."

"It's a girl?" Taran asked amazed.

Merida nodded and took a seat, resting the fairy on her lap; the trio looked down at her. When she twinkled like tiny bells once more, Eilonwy smiled and Bauble flickered with each tone. "Her name is Tinker Bell." she said. Taran and Merida both looked perplexedly at Eilonwy who gave a small sigh and crossed her arms. "I might be a crummy enchantress," she said slowly, "but I can understand fey."

"Why can't she speak our language like the other fairfolk?" Taran asked.

Looking down at the fairy, Eilonwy giggled at what Taran asked. "She isn't fairfolk." she explained, "She is a Never fairy." A small chime came from the fairy. "I'm sorry; she is a Tinker Never Fairy, from a land far from here." Pausing, Eilonwy listened to a quick series of jingles. "Well of course we believe in fairies." she said smiling, but looked at Taran and Merida in concern. "Don't we?"

"Of course." Taran said with confidence, "I know many fey, though you are the first Never Fairy." The tiny fairy smiled and slowly rose to a sitting position.

Tinker Bell then looked at Merida "I have no doubt ya a fairy my wee little friend." she said smiling, "It's a pleasure to meet ya, this is Taran, Eilonwy and I am Merida."

The aura around Tinker Bell glowed brightly and flashed. She spun upwards renewed with life from the gift of belief and quickly flew around Merida as she giggled. Landing back on Merida's knee, she gave a small bow as she resonated with bells. Eilonwy listened to the pleasant sound and took the role of translator. "She thanks you for rescuing her from the…" She started but stopped and thought for a moment. She simply didn't understand what Tinker Bell said, because there simply was no word in her language for it. "I am sorry Tinker Bell, but I don't know if we have a word like that." she said, as another set of bells chimed. "No, I've never heard of a tiger…lily? Either."

It wasn't hard for the inquisitive fairy to realize what was wrong; she looked at the trio's clothing and weapons carefully and gave a small sigh. She peered up at the sky to the hundreds of flickering shooting stars and shed a small tear. Floating upwards, Tinker Bell looked at the three humans before her. As she jingled Eilonwy promptly translated the tones.

"She seems a bit confused." she said frowning slightly, "She said that she was trying to return to the realm from a place called…Wonderland." Her frown deepened as she listened intently to the tiny fairy as she anxiously related a horrific tale of nearly dying trying to retrieve three magical objects. "It seems she was on some kind of quest to save the world." Eilonway said when Tinker Bell stopped jingling.

"Who isn't these days?" Merida asked crossing her arms giving Taran, who sat next to her a slight nudge.

The fairy continued her tale as Eilonwy continued to translate "They are objects of great power," she said between jingles, "She was able to retrieve two of them, but she lost the third one…" Hearing the name of the only object missing, Eilonwy stepped back and looked at Merida seriously. "It's called the Genesis Cervosa."

Merida's eyes widened as she pointed a finger at Eilonwy. "That's what that dafty little wench Princess Ivy called ya!"

Taran and Merida stood up as the fairy turned in the air to face Eilonwy. Tinker Bell zipped around her leaving a sparkling trail from her head to her toes. When she was done, she flew to their height and tapped a small finger on her chin and frowned as she twinkled. "I am a what?" Eilonwy asked glowering at Tinker Bell, "Well I am sorry that I don't meet your precious standards!" The feisty fairy defiantly turned her back on Eilonwy and after a quick burst of twinkles, Eilonwy covered her mouth as she gasped and blushed.

Seeing how revolted Eilonwy became, Taran couldn't help but ask. "What did she say?"

"I could never repeat that." Eilonwy replied as she glared at Tinker Bell. "It would simply be too dreadful and un-unladylike to repeat it. Sh-she's just a mean, nasty little fairy!"

Drawing out a tiny sword, from who knows where, that even to Tinker Bell was no bigger than her forearm she pointed it at Eilonwy's nose. The jingles deepened, and Eilonwy's blood boiled with rage as she reached down to draw her own sword. Taran was quick to stop her though and Tinker Bell dashed to hide within Merida's wild hair. "That little mushroom needs to be taught some manners!" Eilonway shouted, struggling within Taran's grasp.

"Calm down Eilonwy!" Taran demanded, as he pulled her away from Merida and Tinker Bell.

"That little fiend started it!" she shouted with a hand on her hilt.

"Hey," Merida said sternly as she frowned, "Watch it."

Standing between the girl he once loved and the one he currently did, Taran held up a hand towards each of them. "Everyone calm down!" he shouted exasperated, "How about we all take a breather, and find out why Tinker Bell needs this Genesis Cervosa. OK?"

After a long and tense standoff, Eilonwy finally let go of the hilt of her sword. "Little Miss Tinker jerk claims that I am not the Genesis Cervosa." she grumbled crossing her arms, "That it's hard to sense hearts through the Everwinter. The Genesis Cervosa was a heart; well it was the first heart, created by a master wizard who would later create the Regni Prisca, the nine hearts forged in light."

Snapping her fingers, Merida pulled out the magic mirror. "Well there is only one way to find out who or where it is." she said holding it up, "Show me the Genesis Cervosa!"

The mirror sparkled and arcing green magic discharged around it. Tinker Bell spied upon it through the red curls in hope that this mirror would show her what she seeks. After a brilliant lightshow, however the mirror fizzled and returned to showing her reflection. Merida grimaced and tapped the mirror on its side, "This mirror is so finicky."

Frowning, Tinker Bell gave a small sigh as she looked at Eilonwy. "Okay, maybe I am not the Genesis Cervosa," she said rolling her eyes, "but maybe what we're looking for will help. Have you ever heard of the Amulet of Avalor?" she asked Tinker Bell, who replied with a set of bells. Eilonwy shook her head at the fairy. "We don't know any Princess Sofia. The wizard Merlin said that the necklace was meant to be of great magical power for the light, and would help us end the Everwinter…"

"But," Taran continued frowning, "his apprentice, Morgan Le Fey, betrayed him and stole the amulet, and somehow turned it to darkness…"

Crossing her arms, Merida continued the story with much less elegance, and with much more anger in her voice. "She used it to summon the Snow Queen, who imprisoned my Ma and brothers in ice, and killed my Da."

Taran placed an empathetic hand on Merida's shoulder. "She also brought about a dark enchantress who calls herself Princess Ivy." he said, "Together; they have defeated the Highlands, Prydain, and most of Britani. Merlin believed Morgan was going to try and use it to summon her mother, a dark fairy of pure evil."

Listening closely to the jingles Eilonwy gave a heavy sigh, and looked to her friends first. "She knew Merlin." she said softly.

"Merlin is dead." Merida said curtly.

The aura around Tinker Bell faded slightly as she placed her hand over her heart. Eilonwy had to strain her ears to hear what the sadden fairy said. "I don't understand? What do you mean 'darkness has united'?"

Pointing to the sky, Tinker Bell gave a heavy sigh and jingled softly. Eilonwy felt weak, she placed her hand over her heart as ice cold fear slowly consumed her. Taran could tell whatever Tinker Bell said, was draining all hope out of Eilonwy, he placed his hand on his sword nervously. "What is it? What did she say?"

Her heart was racing, she looked at Merida and Taran and tried to put in words the horror she was told. Instead Eilonwy simply repeated what the fairy said word for word. "Morgana…or who we know as Morgan Le Fey is the daughter of a much greater darkness, a darkness that had just melded upon this world." she said pointing to the falling stars, "Morgan was conceived from Darkness herself. Her mother was a fairy that was born where hell's fire blooms, where all hope is lost. Her very shadow is where even angels fear to tread, a darkness of pure and untamed evil. And…it has returned."

Merida reached out and took Taran's hand in hers, as their quest to stop the Snow Queen had just become a journey to face the ultimate evil. Tinker Bell stared up to the sky once more and Eilonwy translated her soft and fluttering twinkles. "The Mistress of All Evil has returned. That means the heart of the Nova Rampion wasn't enough to stop her from shattering the heart of the Purita Amor."

Eilowny paused and looked at Tinker Bell. "Are those like the Genesis Cervosa?" she asked and as the fairy responded, Eilowny tilted her head to the other humans. "They were hearts that were still within the forge. If the Mistress of All Evil destroyed one or both of them, we have no future." she said to Tinker Bell.

"She must find the Genesis Cervosa," she told her friends, "with it; new hearts of light can be forged, if she ever hopes to stop this darkness from spreading." Tinker Bell looked at each of the humans around her respectively. Eilonwy cleared her throat before she spoke for the voiceless fey. "If the Empress of Darkness gets her hands on the Amulet of Avalor, all hope will be lost. There will be no stopping her, or her minions."

"Where is this Nova…" Merida simply couldn't remember the name, "…those forged things, ya call them hearts. Does that mean they're inside people?"

Eilonwy responded for Tinker Bell, "Yes, though she does not know who they were, it was the mission of a friend and her sister to travel to their realms and assure their growth."

Looking down at the fairy Taran said, "If they are alive, they might make decent allies. Something we are in very short supply of."

"We have no time," Merida said quickly, "If this Nova-whatever and Pura-Purata…"

"Purita Amor."

Merida shot a quick withering glare at Eilonwy for correcting her. "Whatever. The point is, if they are alive, they are on their own."

A petite and slender, fair skinned girl stared upwards to the sky as thousands of shooting stars rocketed across it with blazing tales of fire and smoke. With a heavy sigh, her wide green eyes looked back down to the light pink and white dress she wore. It was dirty and worn, with stains of blood along her skirt's hem. It still had scorch marks from where she was struck with magic, but when she looked at who was approaching her, she didn't feel as out of place.

The tiny thin old man's armor was broken; his clothing was torn as well. The elder man walked with a heavy limp, and his arm was in a sling. He had two black eyes, and a broken nose and his mustache was matted with dry blood. Walking beside him was a much younger and taller man, yet he had a limp as well, and one of his arms was wrapped in bloody bandages. When they finally reached the top of the hill between the valley and the shore line of a river, both of them fell to their knees before her and bowed their heads.

This display had the girl look to her right; to the woman she had only met once before this day. She blushed slightly highlighting the light freckles on her face, but she did not care, for who she stared at was the very embodiment of elegance, power and beauty. The same age as her, but taller with a fuller figure, that curved perfectly under her shimmering blue dress. Her translucent cape fluttered outward and sparkled in the light. Her platinum blonde hair pulled into a French braid hung down her back, swaying in the breeze.

Both kneeling men slowly pulled out their swords and held them up in defeat. The eldest spoke with a broken and trembling voice, "I, Duke Asger of Weselton, humbly request that you accept my sword, and the unconditional surrender, of Glowerhaven to you, The Right Honorable Queen Elsa of Arendelle." The Queen simply stared down at the man who refused to look up at the woman out of shame. He however hesitantly looked over to the younger man. "I have no right to ask you for anything," he said softly, "but please, I beg of you show mercy upon my nephew, Prince Alwin. He is heir to Glowerhaven, and his wife is with child, please don't let his offspring never meet their father."

The girl beside Queen Elsa was about to raise her hand, but was stopped by her father, who whispered to her softly, "This is Queen Elsa's choice, and her choice alone Rapunzel."

Frowning, Rapunzel looked at Elsa who stared down at the two men. She peered around her at the thousands that lay dead, and to the sky that rained fire from the heavens. "Duke Asger of Weselton," Queen Elsa began coldly, "twice now, you have tried to kill me. For nearly a month, my people have suffered and died at the hands of Glowerhaven and the darkness you empowered in the servants of the Raven's Eye. Your actions are inexcusable, unforgiveable, and as a direct result, you returned upon our world an evil long dead." Gesturing upwards, Elsa anger grew, "Even now, the hell you unleashed has brought untold suffering and catastrophes upon not just the Kingdoms of Arendelle, Glowerhaven, Corona, and the Southern Isles but to the entire world!"

"Elsa…" A timid voice whispered from behind the Queen.

Rapunzel turned to the young and battle torn Princess of Arendelle, even after being graced with the Healing Incantation, she stared out in a pain no magic could heal. She had seen and done horrors beyond her wildest imaginations. She was broken, and her body reflected the deep and painful wounds her heart held.

Elsa looked back at Anna and simply wanted to envelop her in a long loving hug and tell her everything was going to be okay. But the sight of her sister only fueled her rage towards the men kneeling before her upon this blood soaked battlefield. "The one act," she said through gritted teeth turning to face the men once more, "that gives me every right to strike both of you down, is the harm you brought upon my sister. You forfeited your very souls for the appalling and heartless curse of black magic placed upon her. I am not just justified in putting you to death, but compelled to. The very idea of letting either of you two live would be an insult upon all of humanity." Reaching out, Elsa took the finely crafted sword from the Duke's hands, and gripped it tightly by its hilt. "Your pleas are worthless, and empty." she hissed. The Duke squeezed his eyes shut and prepared for the blow that would kill him. As his eyes filled with tears wishing he could hug his children for one last time, he heard the sword fall into the snow. Opening up one eye, he stared down at it in shock.

With immeasurable fear, he and his nephew peered upwards at the Queen who stood over them, her hands folded in front of her. "I bestow upon you the greatest punishment I can give to you," she said regally, "life. A life knowing that you killed thousands of innocent people. From this moment on, you will live with the fact, that every man, woman, and child killed by the darkness you unleashed will be blood on your hands. I sentence you both, to live in the misery and shame of that blood, and may it forever stain your names."

"Take your wounded" she said turning her back to them, "and what remains of your army and leave my Kingdom, never to return. Tell King Ramous that Arendelle shall and always will be open to those brave enough to believe in peace."

Standing slowly, the Duke looked about to the Lords and Ladies of the Allied Armies. He locked his eyes with Rapunzel's and said, "You have shown great mercy to my men Grand Princess Rapunzel, I know I do not deserve this, but may we be blessed by your healing grace before we depart?"

Rapunzel looked to Elsa first, who gave her a simple nod; an informal way of saying she could approach, she stepped forward and stood beside the Queen of Arendelle. "I am sorry," she said simply, "I do not see any injuries upon you, or the Crown Prince, only the repercussions of dark and horrible deeds. It would be inappropriate, no unconscionable of me to rob you of what theses scars will teach you over time. Mercy will come from those lessons learned my Lord."

The Duke simply gave one final bow, before he and the Crown Prince, walked down the hill that would lead them to the shore, where what remained of their army was held.

Elsa closed her eyes and breathed a sigh of relief knowing that the formalities of surrender had ended. Turning around and glancing down at the shorter Princess with brilliant blonde hair bundled into a thick and massive braid that rested over her shoulder, Elsa asked, "Will you walk with me?"

"Sure." Rapunzel replied giving a nervous chuckle and after a glance to her father who smiled brightly at her, they walked away from their companions slowly. Elsa eyes were lowered as she was deep in thought. Rapunzel, still not the best at being formal did everything but look towards the bodies in the valley as they walked on the crest. Just as Rapunzel's nerves were about to get the best of her, Elsa spoke with calming grace, "I am sure you still feel it as well, the darkness of Maleficent?"

"Well…" Rapunzel hesitated for a moment and finally replied, "It's not like I can pinpoint where exactly it's coming from."

The Princess was trying not to hurt her feelings, and though Elsa appreciated the gesture, with a sad smile she looked at her. "I know you feel it within my sister, Princess."

Gripping at her hair that rested over her shoulder, Rapunzel gave a nervous laugh, "You can just call me Rapunzel, your Majesty."

"And I am just Elsa." she countered, relaxing her shoulders, "Rapunzel, we must not let ourselves fall into a false sense of security. Until we learn the extent of the damage done to our world, and find and destroy Maleficent we will never be free of this darkness."

The sky still had not relented in its wondrous display of shooting stars, and it disturbed Rapunzel. After closing her eyes, she finally gave Elsa the answer she wanted, "I know what you are asking of my kingdom. You want to forge a Crusade. I have lived through one war; I do not wish to live through another."

"I understand," Elsa said as she slowed to a stop. "I have a feeling, that you reinstated your powers for a reason beyond the petty plights of my Kingdom. The sun might be out, but the sky burns, our work is simply not done."

Feeling insecure on how to answer, Rapunzel shied away slightly and stroked her golden hair. "The burden of this duty is on me Elsa. The day the Light Fairy Iridessa removed the final tear of the sun from me, I knew my freedom from magic was temporary. I never asked to be the Nova Rampion, to have my heart be some kind of walking beacon of Light for the entire world. I mean seriously the entire world?!"

Resting her hand on Rapunzel's slumped shoulder, Elsa felt her warmth long before she even touched her. "You are not alone Rapunzel. This burden is not just on you. I promise you, I will be at your side, no matter where it takes you, or how long it takes." she said encouragingly.

Staring back up at the sky, Rapunzel let out a long slow breath, "I think this is going to take a long time.

The words spoken were that of a truth, Elsa could never deny it.

/

/

Gaston LeGume stared up to the night sky to the sight of thousands of shooting stars overhead. It was an awesome display in the heaven, one that he had to add to the list of fantastical events he had witnessed in the past few days. His traveling companion didn't seem that impressed with the lightshow. In fact, the girl with the long wavy red hair with a blue bow appeared more disheartened by it.

What Gaston didn't know was that it wasn't that she was disheartened, she simply understood the implications. The final realm had merged and the convergence was complete, which meant the Mistress of All Evil had been unleashed upon the world. It brought a chill up her spine, on how close the world was to eternal darkness, but just how long it would last, was completely in her hands. The falling sky reminded her that this new world they stood in would live or die based on what she will do.

The tremors from the latest convergence seemed to have ended, and Ariel stood up from the stone wall she and Gaston took cover behind. She gently helped her recently required horse to its feet. She was thankful she brought a fair amount of coin with her from her wrecked ship, because her reluctant ally, even if he was under a spell, was stingier than a beggar. She gave a nervous smile to Gaston who offered to help her back onto her horse.

Once she was mounted, she watched as Gaston shouldered his heavy composite longbow and quiver, also paid for by Ariel, and mounted the horse, she bought him. Finally, she broke the silence as she glanced up to see that there were so many shooting stars some would collide into each other and produce brilliant flashes of light. "It's like the Dreadful Apparitions of Nuremberg." she said softly. When Gaston just gave her a blank and clueless look, Ariel rolled her eyes in frustration. "Don't you ever read?"

Flexing his muscles Gaston gave a wicked smirk and replied, "Who needs to read, when you simply look this good."

Rubbing her temples, Ariel bowed her head in frustration, "Never mind…" she muttered.

"You shouldn't bother yourself with such trifles." Gaston bellowed with a laugh, "You are married, the only worries you have should be your man's needs."

Puffing a breath of air to blow a strand of hair from her face, Ariel wished she had stumbled across anyone else except this blunt object of a man. "Well my husband, you say I should be worrying over, currently doesn't even remember who I am or who his daughter is." she said sarcastically, "An enchantress working with Morgana cursed him with a magic spell."

Eyeing Ariel, Gaston didn't think he would tolerate such sarcasm from a woman, but he felt so peaceful. "Well at least you were able to have at least one offspring before he was bewitched, even if it's just a girl." he said disgusted.

Ariel slowed her horse so that she would be riding behind him, and shook clenched fists behind his back in pure anger She then reaching out towards him as if to choke the ignorant pigheaded ass of a man. As she made murderous gestures she was completely unprepared to be yanked off her horse by an invisible force and sent sailing through the air by a cloaked woman.

When she was pushed against a tree, the woman's hand clamped down over Ariel's mouth. She could only stare at her attacker's brown eyes as she drew a knife and held it against her throat. "It would be in your best interest my dear Princess," she said menacingly, "to keep your mouth shut."

Standing against the tree trunk on a branch a fair way off from the ground, Ariel was able to fully take in the woman before her. She had to of been the most voluptuous and attractive young woman Ariel had ever seen in her life. She was only slightly taller than herself, but had brown exotic skin. The woman's viperous stare, had Ariel look back into the woman's eyes to see them filled with anger. "What have you done with my husband you half fish witch?" she hissed as she removed her hand over Ariel's mouth and pushed the dagger closer to her throat, "And don't even think about calling that brute to rescue you."

Sure the situation was confusing, but Ariel scowled at the insult. "The Everwinter affects the memories of all, so I don't even know who you are." she hissed back at the woman.

Pulling her hood back, the attacker revealed her thick black hair. "You and your people attacked the shores of our kingdom with magic and weapons that shot fire and struck us down with balls of metal."

"Curse you Morgana." Ariel growled.

"What was that?" The woman sneered as she pushed the blade just a little closer to Ariel's neck.

"Nothing," Ariel replied quickly, "Look, whoever you saw wasn't me, but an evil sorceress who used magic to look like me."

The woman arched an eyebrow at Ariel who stared at her with pure and honest sincerity. "If that was true, then why did the genie transport me to you?"

"Genie?" Ariel asked perplexed, "Just when and where are you from?"

Before the woman could answer, she was hit in the back with an arrow and fell out of the tree to the ground. Ariel looked down to see Gaston dismounting from his horse and drawing another arrow. "There you are!" he shouted, "Don't worry my dear, your hero Gaston is here."

Placing her palm on her face, Ariel shook her head in annoyance. She just wanted Gaston to go away, as if remembering what happened she looked to where the woman fell, but she couldn't find her. Looking down at Gaston from her perch, she could see that he too looked about in the darkness. He was unprepared when the woman came leaping out of the shadows with a roundhouse kick to his face. She dropped to the ground in front of him, hissing in pain as she clutched her foot. What the hell is he made of? Rocks?! she thought as he turned towards her.

Before he could turn his bow on to her, she pulled out her dagger and cut the bow string at the bottom of the bow, and as she spun jammed the dagger into the brute's thigh. He reared back and bellowed in pain creating the perfect opportunity for her strike him with a backflip kick in the groin. Gaston dropped to his knees as the cloaked girl's long black hair spilled out as she stood in a fighting stance. She charged forward and dodged a wild blind punch from Gaston by leaping into the air.

Landing on the man's arm she performed a final slip taking hold of the man's neck and pulled him down. An attack like that should've easily snapped a man's neck as she landed on his back. The raven haired beauty was unable to free her hands before Gaston head-butted her with the back of his head. Standing back into a fighting position slightly dazed, the woman watched in astonishment as Gaston yanked the dagger out of his leg and stood back up.

Rubbing his head, Gaston turned and saw the incredibly beautiful woman before him and smiled. "Why hello there." he cooed, "You know, a pretty thing such as yourself shouldn't be attacking men all by yourself. You might get hurt."

Drawing out a second dagger, the woman gave a smirk. "Who said I am all by myself?"

Pivoting quickly, Gaston was forced to dodge the sword swings of multiple men wearing odd and exotic armor. Just before the woman could strike at Gaston from behind, Ariel came down from the tree and landed on her back. The redhead's attack barely lasted a second as the woman threw her over her shoulders, but before she could do anything she was kicked to the ground by Gaston who had robbed one of the men of his sword and was using it to defend himself.

Gaining the weapon didn't come without a price as he had gashes on his arms and one on his chest. He grabbed hold of Ariel and placed her behind himself and the attackers, who numbered about twenty. Ariel called out their woman leader, "I didn't attack your kingdom, or take your husband! Please you have to believe me!"

"These savages no nothing of mercy Ariel." Gaston growled as he stared at the woman with hate. "Look at them, they are Mohammedans, their kind are nothing but pirates, and murderers."

"Not helping!" Ariel screamed at Gaston.

The Frenchman's comment, ended any chance of negotiations as the men came charging towards them. Just before they struck a massive creature of which the mere size and shape dwarfed even that of Gaston's, landed amongst the attackers. It broke swords with its massive paws and the spears like twigs in its mouth. In only a few seconds, this inhuman creature had maimed and wounded ten men, and this called for the woman to order a retreat. the men scramble to retrieve their wounded and ran away.

Turning with fury and rage, the creature stared at Gaston with narrowed eyes. A grin formed on Gaston's face, and he gripped his sword tightly. Just before he could charge and attack the brown fur covered monster, Ariel jumped in front of him and took his arms, "Stop!"

Gaston froze and he didn't know why. Why was he listening to this woman, why was he compelled not to attack? He stared down to Ariel and hissed, "What did you do to me?"

"Beast!"

The voice that resonated like a bell in Gaston's heart had him look up to see the woman he loved go running to the wild beast that just saved his life. He dropped his sword and fell to his knees, taking a hold of his leg. Ariel was also looking at the beautiful slender young maiden, until Gaston weight fell against her. "Gaston!" she cried staring at his injured leg.

The woman at the creature's side looked up and stared at the man the red haired woman was trying to lay down on the ground. "Gaston?" she asked softly, as she slowly walked over to see the pigheaded barbarian from her village in agony with blood pouring from a wound on his leg. "Gaston!" Ariel cried again when he fainted from the pain. Turning to the younger girl, she pleaded, "Please help him."

"Of course." the woman said, looking to the massive creature "Beast, can you please get my pack?" The creature vanished from their sight as the brown haired woman tore apart the white apron of her dress. "My name is Belle." she said as she began to pack the wound on Gaston's leg

Watching what Belle was doing, Ariel tore at her dress to put pressure on another deep on his chest. "Ariel." she said simply.

Returning with a rather large pack, the creature set it down next to Belle. He then stared cautiously at the redheaded girl with narrow eyes taking in a massive snort through his flared nostrils. "I don't like her," he said gruffly, "she smells like a fish."

"Beast!" Belle cried out in a reprimanding tone.

Grumbling under his breath, the Beast stalked around the two girls on all fours. "Forget about them," he said irritably, "we should be going after the thieves that stole the rose."

With the bleeding finally stopping on the stab wound in his leg, Belle went back to her pack and pulled out strips of cloth meant for bandaging.

"Gaston may be a pigheaded, arrogant, rude–"

"Ignorant, foolish, aggregating…hmmph" Ariel interrupted scowling at the man.

Belle nodded at Ariel, "I see you've had the pleasure." she said grinning, "Yes, he is all those things and more, but I am not going to let the man die." she said turning to the Beast, "Maybe I should've just forgotten about you after you defended me from those wolves?"

Pausing, the Beast finally sat down and crossed his arms in defeat. He was never good at putting up a good defense against Belle. Ariel appreciated being handed a bandage from Belle and after a second glance at the Beast she turned to the woman. "So, you must be the Belle, Gaston won't stop talking about."

"Unfortunately." Belle lamented as she moved on to another wound. "Don't tell me he is pining for you as well?"

"Thankfully no," Ariel said chuckling, "he is helping me retrieve something, so I can save my daughter."

Belle simply stared at Ariel in disbelief, she than looked down to Gaston in astonishment. "Didn't know you had it in you." she whispered to him.

Laughing nervously, Ariel wanted to change the topic quickly. "So, what brings you out into the woods on this–" she stopped and stared up for a moment to see the sky was still filled with shooting stars before she continued, "Very starry night?"

Looking to the fantastic light display above, Belle felt breathless and full of adventure every time she looked at it. "It's like the Dreadful Apparitions of Nuremberg."

Slapping the still unconscious Gaston in the gut, Ariel grinned at the girl. "I know right!"

Finishing off her final bandage, Belle leaned back and looked to the Beast and smiled, "Something very important and dear to my friend here was taken from his castle. We seek an Arab with a strong build and a magic carpet."

"Two very important things!" the Beast grumbled with a frown.

Using a part of her dress to rid her hands of blood, Ariel looking at the sword Gaston obtained. She picked it up and looked at its quality. "They are Arab," she said turning the sword in her hand, "but not from around here. I've seen swords like this in ship wrecks, but they were hundreds of years old."

"Ship wrecks?" Belle questioned curiously.

Caught mixing her mermaid life with her human life, Ariel flushed, "I mean…recovered from shipwrecks. I am a collector of, well, artifacts…of umm…of things one would…find in the ocean."

"Sounds fantastic." Belle replied as she daydreamed what that would be like.

Placing the sword on the ground, Ariel gave a small sigh, "I don't think they were the ones you seek. Their intentions were to kidnap me."

"What do you know?" the Beast roared as he glared at Ariel.

If the Beast was trying to scare or intimidate Ariel, he would have to try a lot harder, she has seen far scarier things, though not with such bad breath. "I know that they are not from our time," she said pinching her nose, "and that whatever was taken from you, were magical in nature, and that most likely it was stolen for the evil enchantress that kidnapped my daughter, Morgan Le Fey."

Chuckling, the Beast looked at Belle. "She thinks Morgan Le Fey is real." he said glaring at Ariel. "Belle read that book to me, I know it is just a legend." he said sneering.

"Legends are lessons from the past." Ariel countered. "Morgan Le Fey is as real as mermaids. Her true name is Morgana, and she has been tormenting me for my entire life."

Seeing that the Beast was getting upset, Bell rested a gentle hand upon his arm. "Ariel," she said looking at the red head, "although I've only seen a couple of magical things in my life, what you speak of are fairytales, adventures form…" Belle voice trailed off as Ariel touched a seashell locket around her neck and her dress skirt began to flutter and her legs began to glow.

Both the Beast and Belle stared in bewilderment as the woman's legs slowly merged together in a brilliant white flash and when the magical light disappeared they stared at the woman sitting on the ground with a shimmering green fish tale with fins. Ariel smirked at the two in front of her whose mouths hung open in disbelief.

"You were saying?"

/