Welcome to chapter 13!
This chapter will introduce 2 other Disney franchises to the crossover so keep your eyes peeled ;)
Also, just a heads up. No spoilers but... Brace yourselves.
With that, please enjoy.
•••
Chapter 13
The Second Portal
•••
"HYAA!" Flynn shouted.
The screen began playing and without warning the audience were treated to a spectacular aerial spin kick performed by the Sun Prince.
Flynn extended his leg and the base of his boot slammed flat into a muscular tattooed man's face.
"Oooh!" The audience cringed.
With a wet snap, the nose of Flynn's victim exploded in a spray of blood and broken cartilage. The large man fell backwards, raising billows of dust with his ground shaking collapse.
"AND THE WINNER IS FLYNN!" Roared the commentator.
"Wait, is this some kind of competition?" Asked Rapunzel.
Flynn raised his fists high and the crush of spectators thousands in number shook the stadium with their thunderous cheers.
"Ahh." Eugene smiled. "It's the Gladiatorum. The battle arena in Muscle City."
Turning to his corner, Flynn vacated the large fighting ring while the event staff and medical team rushed in to remove his unconscious opponent.
"What is this, the first century!?" Balked Frederic. "What kind of barbarous blood thirsty cabal did my grandson involve himself with?"
"Oh dad, that's nothing. It's just like The Challenge of the Brave contest we host annually." Rapunzel brushed off.
"Hmmm." Frederic grumbled. His views on such events always change whenever his family gets involved.
"Way to go Flynn. Now it's my turn." Aidan grinned.
The larger boy popped his knuckles as he stepped past Flynn and entered the arena himself, a similarly stocked opponent awaited him.
"That's another gold piece for the tally." Chirped Eri. Drawing another mark on her notepad.
The girls sat at the stands, acting as the coaches and managers while the boys enthusiastically did the fighting.
"This is a great way to make some extra money." Said Neoma. "With the way things are going, we'll be set for a month."
"Thank Novak, this was his idea." Flynn praised, he brushed the dirt off himself. "Where did you hear about this Gladiatorum, Novak?"
"Yeah. Where did you hear about this place?" Asked Wrenn.
Novak who had been diligently observing the fights suddenly tensed at the question from his friends. And it just so happens it had to be these two particular friends.
"Umm..."
••• Flashback •••
"Mom?" A younger Novak, perhaps twelve years of age sought his mother's attention.
"Hmm?" Lady Caine responded.
"What were you going to do to King Frederic if you had successfully kidnapped him?"
This raised a few eyebrows.
"Well. I had a few different ideas in mind." Lady Caine smiled. "I was going to lock him in a cave with only monkey chow to live off, or perhaps hold him for ransom, or maybe just kill him... Oh, there was also this idea to sell him to the Gladiatorum in Muscle City."
"That's just twisted." Groaned Frederic. "As King Father I am hereby banning the hosting of the Challenge of the Brave event from Corona."
"Who knows. He might make a good food vendor, every thug and their dog knows Frederic can't fight."
"What!? I can so!" Protested Frederic.
"Sure you can, dear." Laughed Arianna.
Frederic's eyes bulged at his wife, was Arianna being sarcastic?
••• End of Flashback •••
Novak continued to gape, blinking and looking unsure. He was especially troubled that it was Flynn and Wrenn that asked the question about the battle arena.
"K.O! The winner is AIDAN!"
"Oh look, Aidan just won! Looks like I'm up." Novak scrambled to the ring.
And so the tournament continued.
The audience to their fortune did not have to sit through the whole event as most of the fights and scenes that lacked importance were skipped over. Thanks to careful editing by the witch.
"And now, ladies and gentlemen we move onto the semi finals." The commentator announced, his voice echoing through the the large hand held trumpet.
"Two of our newest contestants who have shocked us all will finally be facing off against one another. Ladies and gents, I give you FLYNN VERSUS AIDAN!" Shouted the commentator.
Anna and Rapunzel sat straighter on their seats. Many mutters circulated the square like wild fire.
Both boys stepped into the ring from opposite sides.
"Are we really about to watch our boys fight each other?" Asked Anna
"I think we are." Murmured Rapunzel.
Aidan removed his coat whilst Flynn cast his vest and his scarf aside. They both brought their fists up in ready position.
"They're not fooling around. This is real. The boys are fully committed to let loose on one another." Breathed Elsa.
The inherently sensible behaving Snow Queen did not see the appeal in such an inane activity. Elsa certainly would never entertain herself in a tussle with Anna, and that is before considering the likely outcome that Anna would smash her in a fist fight.
All in all Elsa did not approve of her nephew getting into a senseless brawl, with his second cousin no less.
But others may have different thoughts about the matter.
"YEAH. Knock him dead Aidan!" Cheered Kristoff.
"Pfff. Don't let his greater height scare you, Flynn. Chop him down!" Eugene yelled.
Similar cheers of excitement erupted across town. The hype was real. The citizens of Arendelle naturally cheered for Aidan, but Flynn was not without fans as well.
"I will wager one silver piece on Flynn." Sideburns declared.
"Fine, then I will bet on Aidan." Patchy accepted.
"READY? FIGHT!"
WOOOSH
And they're off, running as fast as their feet could carry them Aidan and Flynn barrelled towards one another at impossible speed.
"This is incredible folks! The two combatants have become a blur of movement, they're trading dozens of punches and kicks in a flurry of violence which would see most men down and riddled with bruises!"
The crowd in the Gladiatorum was estatic.
The crowd in the streets of Arendelle was estatic.
"Go get him Flynn!" Cheered Rapunzel.
"You can do it Aidan!" Anna did the same. Both mothers were bouncing on their seats.
Arianna and Willow cheered also.
"Don't get a black eye!" Frederic cried, worriedly.
Both boys were familiar with one another's fighting style and neither could decisively land a hit. It was exactly twenty seconds into the fight when Aidan scored one on Flynn, then another.
Flynn fought back landing a few good hits himself but Aidan was still hammering him down.
"Flynn is in serious trouble folks! I think this match may be over."
That's when Flynn lit up.
"Urgh!" Groaned Amelia.
Eri rolled her eyes. She was clearly bored and annoyed.
"Better make yourself comfortable, Neoma." Wrenn suggested. "This could take a few hours if we're really lucky or half a day if we are mildly lucky."
"Can those two really fight for that long?" Asked Neoma.
"They can now." Said Eri.
"They do this all the time." Amelia explained. "Usually as you just saw, Aidan will start to win so Flynn will use his Sundrop powers and turn the fight around. But then Aidan will complain about Flynn using his super powers, so Flynn will end up using his powers on Aidan also."
"And from then onwards they'll both just keep punching and kicking one-another until the sun goes down." Groaned Eri. "Or until they get hungry."
"My goodness." Frederic frowned.
"I've never seen anything like this before ladies and gentlemen. Aidan and Flynn are fighting so fast and intense that they have both comically disappeared behind a cloud of dust, with only their fists or feet occasionally popping in and out!"
"This will be a long day." Groaned Wrenn.
And so the girls made themselves comfortable. Neoma set up her portable tool set and began tinkering, Eri pulled out a book to read and Wrenn began drawing on her Plus Est En Vous journal. But for the eccentric and physically active Amelia, sitting still was proving more difficult than not.
The audience watched as the screen focussed on the Arendellian princess agonising through the ordeal in sequences.
It began with fidgeting, then lying on her back, then invasively peeping over the shoulders of Wrenn, Neoma and Eri in turn.
There were a few laughs circulating. But then.
"Ah. That's a bit more comfortable." Amelia said with a smile and leaned back on her 'seat.'
The screen zoomed out from her face and to the shock of the audience Amelia was sitting on Novak's lap!
"BLARGHAYAARGA!" Cried Kristoff.
"Oh wow." Chuckled Anna.
"How bold." Said Elsa.
Lady Caine made a snort in the effort to contain her laugh.
Hans just stared at the screen unaware of the contorted expression of shock and horror on his face.
Eri, Wrenn and Neoma were likewise giving the girl odd looks.
Novak's face was concealed from the audience thanks to Amelia's head, but non could miss the bright redness forming on his cheeks and ears. He was trying very hard to ignore the girl and focus of the fight.
Even thought the said fight was a undiscernible cloud of dust shifting back and forth.
"Urgh, they are so repetitive. I can't watch another minute of this! Time for a power up!" Cried Amelia. Getting off to march at the stands. "Hey Aidan!"
As Aidan and Flynn broke apart for a quick breather Amelia took the chance to shout at her brother.
"AIDAN! IF YOU WIN, NEOMA WILL GIVE YOU A KISS!"
"SAY WHAT!?" Exclaimed Neoma. The strange device that she was tinkering burst into smoke in her hands.
"NO!" Cried Varian.
"OOH YEAH!" Cheered Aidan, eyes sparkling. He blitz towards Flynn.
"Eh?" Flynn didn't know what hit him. One moment he was watching Aidan sprinting towards him, the next he finds himself face down on the floor. Flynn climbed back onto his feet and was instantly caught right in the eye of a hurricane of punches.
And so Aidan wailed on his opponent. Quicker than the eye could see, he unleashed twenty punches in three seconds before finishing with an uppercut. Flynn flew, spun like a windmill before landing outside the ring in a heep.
"RING OUT! The winner is Aidan!"
The crowds cheered.
"Well that's one way to win a match." Laughed Kristoff.
"Hrrr." Grunted Eugene.
"Pay up." Said Patchy. His twin begrudgingly handed him a silver piece.
"WOOH!" Cheered Aidan. Ignoring the commentator and his defeated foe he rushed to the stands with only one directive in mind. "Time for that kiss!"
"Eep!" Neoma squeaked like a little girl and dove out of the way, letting Aidan face plant the bench instead.
A smiling Amelia attempted to return to her seat but her 'seat' had other plans.
"I'm up next. I gotta go!" Yelped Novak. The blushing boy ran to the ring as fast as he could.
•••
"Well ladies and gentlemen we finally come to our very final match!" The commentator bellowed. "After a titanic punch up between Aidan and Flynn followed by a not so epic match between Novak and Macho Moe, which only presented us with a three hit knock out. I give you AIDAN VERSES NOVAK!"
"Oh this is going to be great!" Kristoff whooped. "Krump him, Aidan! KRUMP HIM GOOD!"
"You've done a good job, boys." Congratulated Eri. "Whoever wins we get the prize money regardless."
"Glad to hear it." Grumbled Flynn. He was clearly disgruntled by his loss.
Wrenn just ignored her twin, adding the finishing touches on her latest drawing. It was a sweet artwork of herself and Flynn smiling with their grandfather Edmund.
Rapunzel smiled warmly as did Eugene, Frederic, Arianna and of course Edmund. The rest of the group thought it was sweet also.
But something in the mood changed, the expression on Wrenn's face darkened. She averted her eyes, seemingly unable to bear the sight of her own drawing. Wrenn took the page in her not so gentle fingers, her hands trembled and for a moment Rapunzel dreaded to think that Wrenn may intend to rip the page.
No. Wrenn merely turned the page over then turned several more pages over as if desperate to put some distance. Furiously Wrenn drew something new to occupy her thoughts.
With sad worried eyes Rapunzel watched with maternal concern. The girl had acted this way before whilst in The Dark Kingdom, it weighed heavily on the mother to see her daughter so troubled.
"What's wrong, Wrenn?" Whispered Rapunzel.
She got no answer.
Wrenn slammed the journal shut and decided to focus on the fight instead.
From the stands the girls and Flynn watched Aidan and Novak step into the ring. There was a giant goofy grin splitting the taller boy's face, Aidan seemed to be in high spirits. A quiet red faced Neoma caught Aidan winking and pucking his lips at her. Neoma buried her face in her hands.
"Oh no. She didn't actually kiss him did she!?" Cried Varian.
He will never know.
"GO NOVAK! WOOH!" Cheered Amelia. She was standing on the benches, gleefully waving Novak's fans in the air.
"She's cheering for him!?" Gasped Kristoff.
"My silver piece is on Novak!" Patchy declared.
"No. I want to bet on Novak!" Argued Sideburns.
And so it began. Aidan charged forward to throw a powerful punch at Novak.
But rather than rush in to meet Aidan as Flynn had, Novak opt to stand his ground and wait for his opponent to run in and-.
"OOH! Right in the diaphragm ladies and gentlemen." Roared the commentator. "Novak ducked under Aidan's punch at the last second and Aidan ran straight into Novak's awaiting elbow!"
Aidan's eyes bulged, the wind was knocked out of him. He did not expect that. Indeed the following ten seconds was full of unexpected unpleasantries.
"Holy cow." Croaked Flynn.
"Aidan is in serious trouble, folks! Every attack he makes is countered by Novak and every attack by Novak he is completely helpless to defend!" The commentator shouted as he watched Novak feign a kick only to jab Aidan in the face when the larger boy had his hands low.
"Wow. Novak has Aidan completely out skilled." Said Eri.
"Yeah, well Aidan is more used to his fights with Flynn. In which they both seem to like blocking attacks with their faces and trying to out brawn each other." Amelia sighed.
A furious Aidan grabbed Novak, deciding instead to grapple the shorter boy. But Novak managed to twist out of the hold and to Aidan's surprise throw the larger boy to the ground.
Lady Caine smiled. "So he knows Aikido. Excellent."
'I've been studying your fight patterns, Aidan. I know how you and Flynn move.' Novak's thoughts echoed on the screen.
The audience were treated to a quick replay of the match between Aidan and Flynn through the perspective of Novak. The Pirate Prince had been diligently in his observations.
But alas even Novak is not immune to distractive thoughts, and for a teenage boy this one was very hard to ignore.
Orange filled the screen as the Aidan vs Flynn flashback fight was suddenly obscured by what seems to be the back of Amelia's head.
"Hey, Novak. Mind if I sit here?" The girl turned and gave him a cute cheeky grin and a wink.
"AMY!" Yelled Kristoff.
"GAHH!" Yelped Novak. Blood ran down his nose, his mind reeling from the memory. It was a split second distraction that would cost him dearly.
KAPOW!
Aidan drove his fist into Novak's eye.
Lady Caine gave herself a facepalm.
"...Nine ten. K.O! The winner and new champion is AIDAN!"
"He lost. Pony up, you two." Said Varian. Holding out his hand and receiving his silver pieces from the two grumbling brothers.
Hans sat with a big frown on his face. Though it wasn't because his son lost the match. No, something else was bothering him.
Kristoff despite Aidan's victory was likewise feeling deeply troubled.
•••
And so the monthly event at the Gladiatorum came to a close. The teens left the battle arena with the spoils of their earnings. Aidan promised a massive feast 'in honour of his victory.'
Walking alone down the streets Novak snorted at the memory of his friend's announcement. He was still nursing his black eye and a bleeding nose, the latter was a curiously obtained injury considering he was hit in the eye.
It was around a corner when he noticed a commotion.
"You owe us a lot of money, Dale!"
"Dale?" The name echoed.
"Pay up now or we break your legs, all three of them!" A thug threatened with a hammer.
Hans, Lady Caine, Cassandra, Stalyan, Brock and the Stabbington Brothers turned towards their old travel companion.
Said Dale the Giovanni impersonator was sitting at a table a little further down the town square, his wife and two children were with him.
"What did you do?" Asked Brock.
"I might have betted more money than I actually had." Dale murmured meekly, provoking a huff from his wife.
Fortunately, Novak also knew who he was and was quick to offer financial assistance to Dale.
••• At the restaurant •••
"You gave all your winnings to this Dale guy?" Balked Flynn. Incredulous.
"Hey, he is a friend of my mom and dad and Neoma's mom. I had to help him." Novak explained.
"He's so sweet." Cooed Amelia.
"How very kind of you." Said Wrenn.
"Kind of reckless, but admirable." Said Eri.
"Wow, such a great kid." Praised Varian.
Hans smiled. Wholeheartedly approving his son's deed.
"Bleh. Should have just clobbered those guys and moved on." Lady Caine groaned. Not the giving type.
The Stabbington Brothers seemed to agree with Caine.
"You were really lucky young Novak came to help you when he did." Admonished Stalyan.
"I hope you've given up your gambling addiction. You may not be so lucky a second time." Warned Cassandra.
Upon hearing this Dale loosened his collar, he was hiding something.
"Hail to The Champion!" A large plump woman set a big tray with a large wood fire roasted pig on the table.
"WHOA!" The seven teens salivated.
"You young'uns enjoy!" The jolly innkeeeper chirped.
"A toast, everyone." Announced Aidan, raising a flagon. "May our current success carry well to the end of the mission. And may we always remain wholesome in character and in health."
"Hear hear!"
•••
The amply fuelled dirigible sailed high following the steep slope of the hazy mountain range.
"We need to increase altitude." Said Novak, steering the ship.
"More pressure! Three quarter turn." Ordered Neoma.
Flynn and Wrenn each operated a booster thruster, Flynn tightened the valve as instructed but Wrenn seemed to have forgotten resulting in the craft nearly tipping over.
"WRENN!" Everyone cried.
With a grunt of annoyance Wrenn sharply turned the valve, the craft rocked into position.
"Alright Wrenn, what's wrong?" Asked Aidan once everyone found their footing.
"She's angry because she left her hairclip at the inn." Flynn answered for his sister. It was clear that Wrenn was in no mood to talk.
"Oh dear." Gasped Rapunzel.
"It will be okay, Wrenn. We will be making a return trip anyway." Amelia comforted. "I'm sure the nice innkeeper lady will keep it safe for you."
But Wrenn didn't respond she just glared into the distance. "Where is this second Dark Portal?"
"Not far, Wrenn." Aidan answered. "If this map is right, it should be that peek over there."
The group looked to the ominous grey mountain before them, there was an eerie unseen aura surrounding that place.
"Let's just get it over with." Growled Wrenn, anxious to return to Muscle City.
"We must not rush in. According to my findings while exploring the Dark Kingdom's library the portal may well likely be hidden in a witch's treasure hoard." Eri brokered for calm and prudence.
"There's a small town on that mountain. Let us ask around first." Neoma suggested.
Wrenn continued to growl in frustration.
•••
"Well, the mountain looks worse up close!" Cringed Flynn.
"It's not worse. It's just different." Eri corrected.
The group trudged up the unfamiliar landscape. Due to the unusual nature of the setting the flora and fauna has developed in strange ways. And the people developed here are even more so.
"HELLO, STRANGERS!" Someone jumped in front of Neoma.
"YAH!" The alchemist yelped.
Catching the seven warriors by surprise was a tall spindly man in a black suit.
"Whoops. I'm sorry, I did not mean to scare you." The man apologized. "We don't often receive visitors, I guess I became overexcited."
"You shouldn't jump out on people like that. I almost impaled you!" Neoma berated, massaging her rapidly thumping chest.
"Yeah for a second I thought you were a certain tall slender demon from folklore, hiding in the trees." Said Eri. The Snow Princess regarded the man. Indeed he was tall almost twice as tall as Neoma, slender too, and he wore a black suit.
"Ah yes, I see how my entrance could have been done better." The man admitted, giving the group an apologetic look with his large eyes and kind smile. Features that likely halted the potential impalement.
"I am Jack Skellington." Jack did a low elaborate bow. "And I welcome you strangers to the town of All Hallows Eve."
"The name resembles the person." Said Varian. It was perhaps a bit rude but no-one could really disagree with him.
At the mention of the town of All Hallows Eve a few in the audience began to mutter. Dark topics began to spread.
Dark topics for indeed a dark place.
"Are those gibbet cages!?" Exclaimed Eri.
The audience recoiled from the sight of several such items hanging off the tree at the town's entrance. They were thankful the cages were at least empty.
The human shaped iron cages of the seventh century purposely designed to hold and contain the condemned until death from exposure, and often long after death for intimidation purposes. Quite horrendous, there was a good reason why gibbet cages are now banned in most countries.
Many townsfolk took notice of the teens and were almost all too quick to flee indoors.
"Please excuse them."Jack apologized. "The consequence for living up the mountain is that we rarely receive visitors to our town. Alas as a result most of us have become withdrawn and distrustful to outsiders."
And apparently paranoia too.
The group passed an old guillotine at the square, a cucking stool by the river and a bonfire pit with a post. It was obvious what the fire pit was for.
"Our society has been like this for generations." Jack explained. "Don't worry, it is actually quite rare that we ever use these devices. It is mainly for display, as a warning."
"A warning for what?" Asked Flynn.
"Witchcraft." Was Jack Skellington's answer.
"Urgh. Not another one." Groaned Anna.
"It's like Weselton all over again." Said Rapunzel, sounding deflated.
Whilst Anna and Rapunzel bemoaned the children's place of setting, an important couple at the next table silently quarreled with concern.
"I think we should tell them, Adam."
"Belle, we don't know how they will react."
"They are our friends, Adam. They have the right to know, and I think we should be the ones to tell them." Belle argued, and at last her husband Adam relented.
•••
"So because All Hallows Eve is situated near a witch's haunt, the people here are afraid and thus try their best to frighten others from performing witchcraft?" Neoma asked.
"That is correct." Answered Jack.
The group have settled themselves comfortably in Jack Skellington's living room. The man was kind and hospitable enough to open his home to the strangers.
The seven teens were gently received by Jack's mother and grandparents, all were so warm and welcoming to their guests that it was hard to believe they were from this morbid town.
"WOOF!" Zero, Jack's loving pet barked excitedly at Eri. The sausage dog knew the girl wasn't human yet it welcomed her whole heartedly.
"We are actually on our way to this witch haunt." Explained Aidan.
"We can't tell you much, but there is an incredibly dangerous object in their possession that we must destroy." Said Novak.
"It is why we are here." Growled Wrenn, she was clearly impatient.
"Please, any information you can offer us will help. Or if you could just point us at the right direction we would greatly appreciate it." Asked Flynn.
The family became concerned. There was hesitation in their eyes, for who could feel comfortable sending seven teenagers to a place so feared and for so many generations. But eventually, Jack and his family offered what knowledge they could and in return the teenagers promised to deliver the town from the witch.
•••
The sun rose on the very next morning. It was a red sun, an ill omen.
Nevertheless, the seven teens set off to venture up the mountain to the place where no towns folk dared to visit. Behind them, Jack Skellington and his family bade the seven heroes good luck.
The group waved back at the picturesque family.
With their path clear. Aidan, Amelia, Flynn, Wrenn, Eri, Neoma and Novak parted All Hallows Eve in good terms.
"Pardon me Anna, Rapunzel and Elsa." Belle approached the table of the three queens. "There is something you need to know."
•••
"All Hallows Eve was destroyed!?" Gasped Rapunzel.
The shock was widely shared among the table and many others guests within earshot.
"I fear that is indeed so." Adam imparted this dread news grimly.
"About two months ago we received refugees that fled from the ruins of the doomed town." Belle confirmed. "The accounts from the few survivors were outrageous at best, hysteria and terror made any concise retelling impossible."
"But they all shared a single commonality." The former Beast leaned close. "A monster destroyed All Hallows Eve. And killed all in its path."
•••
"Well if there is a witch or an Unquiet, this will definitely be the place to find them." Said Wrenn.
A large and tall opening in the side of the foggy mountain lead the way into the dark unknown. The wind blowing into the cave created a haunting whistle. It was dank, a musky air of death and ash choked the desolate labyrinth. It was unliveable but something had indeed lived there.
"Pots and pans." Novak voiced his observations.
"Trinkets, knicks and knacks. I'd say we found the witch's hoard." Said Amelia.
"The winds of magic blow strongly in here." Warned Eri. "These items are ensorcelled."
"Nobody touch nothing!" Ordered Aidan, halberd readied.
"Wow. Just like Calliope's spire." Said Anna.
"Another treasure trove of magical artefacts." Said Elsa.
Cassandra narrowed her eyes. "There is something evil in this cave." She warned. As a former demon conspirator, Cassandra could tell.
"Hey, you forgot something. Evil or not, at least this place doesn't have Calliope." Eugene joked. To which even Cassandra let out a snorted laugh.
"But how do we know this cave's owner won't be any worse?" Asked Lady Caine.
They will never know because-.
"I have a body over here!" Called out Eri.
The rest of the group converged on the ice mage. At Eri's feet was the lifeless husk of a woman.
"Something is not right. I've never seen a corpse like this before." Said Aidan
"There's another one over here!" Cried Amelia.
True enough there was another corpse, a female in the exact same condition.
"No rot, no decay. Just dried up like jerky." Said Flynn.
"This isn't natural it's impossible to tell how long they've both been dead for." Said Novak. "And no explanation as to why they are both blue."
"Well they weren't left out in the sun. There is no sun in this foggy mountain." Neoma narrowed her eyes. "Something drained them."
An unseen air of tension rose amongst the families of the seven.
Undaunted by the grizzly discovery, the battle hardened teens pressed deeper into the witch's haunt. At last they entered into a large hall, the place finally looked less like a naturally form cave and more like a human made infrastructure, it was a slight comfort.
"Comb the place, secure the area." Aidan ordered. The other six obeyed.
It was still easier said than done, the much larger room presented a much larger treasure trove. Hundreds of strange magical items from lands near and far, ancient and recent, fair and foul stewn the hall. Whatever their origins the teens knew not the nature of these scattered items or what they might do, so they did their best to avoid contact with them.
A faint echo caught Wrenn's attention, it sounded to her like a whisper, conscious and beckoning her towards it. The Sun Princess looked around to her companions and it appears that only she has heard it.
Then the whispers came again, more urgently. One of the magical artifacts was calling to her and Wrenn found herself drawing nearer, with each step she felt less and less of herself, almost entering into a trance like state. Wrenn reached out to something dark made of black iron, her fingers nearly touched its rough surface-.
But then.
"OVER HERE. WE HAVE A LIVE ONE!"
Rapunzel released a breath she didn't know she was holding. Unaffected by the trance Rapunzel heard the whisper in all clarity, whatever was calling to her daughter was indisputably malevolent. It sent shivers of fright down Rapunzel's spine.
The teens converged on Neoma. Before the alchemist was a woman as blue and almost as withered as the previous two, thick tree roots kept her bound and suspended, her back against some kind charred black tree. She was conscious but barely.
"You're going to be alright." Neoma encouraged.
"Please... Kill me." The woman rasped.
"Flynn, Wrenn. Get over here!" Ordered Aidan. Turning to the black tree roots constricting its victim Aidan raised his halberd over his head. "I got this."
With both hands on the shaft Aidan swung the polearm in a wide arc and brought the weapon down onto the offending root with skull splitting force. The blade bit deep, black ichor oozed onto the ground. The thick liquid gave off a repugnant odour, an odour the teens were all too familiar with.
"Ah crud." Aidan cursed.
A thunderous roar of pain and rage shattered the silence of the lifeless witch haunt.
The supposed black tree convulsed, spurred into life by the hostility acted against it. The seven teens backed away from the revealed monstrosity.
The thing straightened itself adopting a humanoid anatomy and almost reaching the ceiling with its towering height. It's branches moved like the limbs of a sentient creature, indeed the thing displayed consciousness.
The audience recoiled when at last the head unfurled and the snarling face of the Unquiet reared into the path of the screen.
The spectacle was about to get much worse.
The black roots that coiled around its victim constricted tighter, a throaty blood curdling scream squeezed its way out of the woman. What little life force she had was at last sucked dry.
The audience cried in horror as the woman shrivelled and drained out, all her vital fluids assimilated until she was but skeleton wrapped in folded skin and loose clothing.
Elsa's hand flew to her mouth.
Anna turned away, she glanced to her husband, Anna wishes more than anything to hold his hand but alas Kristoff was sitting with the men group.
Two gentle hands looped their fingers around Anna's, they were Elsa's and Rapunzel's. Anna smiled, thankfully her band of girlfriends were there to support her, support each other.
Hans gaped wide eyed at the freakishly tall, emaciated treeman, it was leagues more terrifying than Marshmallow.
"Yeah. Portal Guardian Unquiets are notably much bigger and meaner than the subtle infiltrators." Varian's warning came way too late. Hans looked slightly green.
Kristoff protectively put a hand over baby Amelia. The near death of teen Amelia during the previous Portal battle was not forgotten to him.
And so it was, suffering the same fate as her two sisters before her. Orgoch the third Blue Witch died.
Showing no regard for its heinous and grizzly deed the Unquiet Portal Guardian cast the cadaver aside like an emptied bag of cookies. It glared hangrily instead at the new comers.
"Form up!" Yelled Amelia.
The seven assumed fighting positions. So it begins again.
"SIEGE GIRAFFE FORMATION!" Yelled Aidan.
Well practiced in drills, the teens moved to counter the enemy rush. The enormous roaring treeman lumbered forward, smashing aside magical trinkets in its mad charge. A tower of Black Rock speared out of the ground, the huge monster was shocked when it rammed into the tower and found itself thrown backwards onto the ground.
Flynn and Wrenn took position in the middle floor of the three storey tower, they both shone the light of the sun onto their foe.
The creature of darkness shied away from the blinding light. Unable to look at the tower it was caught completely off guard when a fireball struck it in the chest.
"There you go, have another. Fire!" Yelled Amelia. Perched at the top floor of the tower with Keyblade in hand Amelia rained fiery magic missiles at the Unquiet.
After receiving another three consecutive hits the monster roared in rage, ignoring the blinding flashes of the Sun Twins the monster charged through the haze of icy mist towards the tower once again. Something tripped it over, the Unquiet fell flat on its face.
The titanic impact to the ground blew away the mist and a field of Black Rock peaks was revealed. The peaks have pierced it's feet and shins, and now it's torso with its landing.
Darting between the Black Rocks Novak surprised the creature hacking away at its forearm as it tried to free itself. Aidan also jumped into the fray bringing his halberd up and around and struck dead across the Unquiet's face, tearing off splinters of bark.
The treeman roared again in rage and pain.
The teens did not let up. With both hands in the air Eri conjured a massive collection of snow magic above her, she threw the ten foot wide snowball on top of the pinned Unquiet.
"NOW AMY!" Yelled Eri as she made the snow liquify.
"THUNDER!" Shouted Amelia. A mighty peal of thunder echoed high above, a great bolt of golden lightning struck down onto the mountain. Passing through the earth it collided with the soaked Unquiet.
The explosion came like the end of the world, blindingly bright, deafeningly loud and cripplingly concussive. Debris flew in all manner of directions away from the blast zone.
"Incredible." Whispered Hans.
"They sure are." Kristoff smiled.
"Ha. That thing didn't stand a chance." Laughed Eugene.
The whole town was in awe.
"It is over." Sighed Arianna.
The dust settled, the smoke cleared. The Unquiet Portal Guardian was gone, only a few broken branches remain among the field of blackened Black Rocks. All was silent. But this was not the scene of the Unquiet's grave.
The severed branches did not bubble away, the group certainly did not see a glowing pink heart levitate to the heavens.
"Come on out." Mumbled Amelia.
And so as if on answer the ground shook, exploding out from underneath came dozens of tree roots.
"I guess it wasn't that easy." Rapunzel frowned.
She had no idea.
As swift as tentacles these roots coiled the Black Rock tower, snaking into all its nook and cranny in mere seconds.
"EVERYBODY OUT!" Shouted Neoma.
Diving out; Eri, Flynn, Wrenn, Amelia and Neoma evacuated their breached fortress barely in time before the roots constricted them too.
"This one's got a few tricks up its sleeve." Grunted Flynn.
Indeed.
The roots flailed about, they convulsed, contorted then warped into humanoids. The Portal Guardian had switched from attacking as singular powerful foe to now swarming his enemies in numbers. Now over twenty human sized tree men surrounded the teens.
The parents watched in silence, worry in their eyes. The monsters assailed their children in unrelenting droves, each of the teens found themselves facing at least three tree warriors at once.
Anna bit into the fabric of her collar as she watched a tree warrior grab onto Aidan's halberd.
Aidan shot his boot up kicking the tree man square between the legs!... Nothing happened, unfortunately crotch kicks don't work quite as well on tree men. Growling in frustration Aidan relinquished his halberd.
Drawing his secondary weapons Aidan brandished a pair of wicked spiked knuckle dusters.
"Yikes. I wouldn't want to get hit by that." Eugene grimaced.
No he certainly wouldn't!
Aidan absolutely brutalized the tree man with them. Retrieving his halberd from a barely recognisable hole riddled snag with splinters and woodchips littering the floor. The demolished tree man's severed hands still stubbornly gripping the shaft of the weapon.
Ignoring the halberd's new accessories Aidan rallied his team.
"Everyone fall back to the entrance. Gain some distance!"
The others followed, escaping to the hall entrance. The tree men were slow but determined to pursue their quarry.
"MAN MOWER FORMATION!"
Another familiar battle formation, the giant lawnmower drove back into the centre of the hall. The horde of tree men in its path did not stand a chance.
Amelia raised her Keyblade, magical fire spewed out in streams, immolating the scattered bisected bodies left behind.
"Surely this would finish the Unquiet." Said Elsa. Finally releasing a breath.
The shredded tree pieces liquefied and converged at the centre of the hall. The initial singular giant tree man took form once again. The thing was wounded, it sunk on one knee, drawing laboured breaths.
"Yep. I'd say he's finally finished." Said Anna.
Amelia certainly thought that way too. Approaching the kneeling Unquiet alone, her features gentle and kind.
"You don't need to be angry anymore. I can set you free." Raising her Keyblade high.
Alas, the offer fell into deaf ears.
Planting its hands on the ground the tree man gave a roar of defiance. Dozens of roots sprung up again, but this time they did not reach for the teens. Coiling and snatching at the inactive trinkets of the hall instead.
"What is it doing?" Asked Anna.
"Oh no!" Elsa cried, pale with horror.
The monster assimilated the items it ensnared, absorbing their magic just as it had with the Blue Witches. The Unquiet opened its mouth and a red energy beam fired on the teenagers.
BOOM! The seven were scattered by the blast.
Separated, the Unquiet went for Aidan first, knocking him across the length of the hall with a swing of its gigantic fist. Aidan landed with a hard thud, he didn't move after that.
The audience let out a unanimous cry of dismay.
There was utter terror in Anna's eyes, her son laid motionless.
But the Unquiet wasn't finished with Aidan.
Somewhere within the piles of treasury was a magnificent, powerful, magical sword. Stealing it's powers the Unquiet warped it's hand to form it's own twisted version of the noble weapon. It raised the new sword high over the unconscious Aidan.
"Aidan!" Cried Kristoff.
"NO!" Screamed Neoma. A black peak sprung at the Unquiet's back, catching Aidan's would be killer unaware and stumbling it.
Amelia rushed to her brother with Wrenn close behind. Together they dragged the unconscious boy to safety.
The furious Neoma shot out another peak at the Unquiet as it regained its footing but the monster spun and sliced the rock in twain.
"Impossible!" Whispered Neoma.
Turning its attention fully on Neoma the Unquiet was relentless in its assault. Every Black Rock Neoma summoned was cut by its savage swings of its ensorcelled blade. The Unquiet was almost upon Neoma when Flynn dove in and tackled the girl away at the last second.
The creature tried to track the pair but suddenly jerked back and bellowed in pain, it's free hand reaching for its head.
Novak had managed to scale a pillar and leapt on the back of the Unquiet plunging his sword into the back of the creature's grotesque head. Novak barely noticed in time the strange leaves that made the tree man's hair warp into eyes.
The Unquiet unleashed the powers of the Beholders. The sword and the boy were dislodge from its skull.
Thrown to the floor Novak was, his sword landing a few feet away. Shaking off the dizziness Novak tried to rise and return to the fight but found that he was stuck. Looking down at the cause his eyes suddenly filled with horror when he caught sight of his right hand.
Lady Caine and Hans gasped. From the knuckles down, their son's fingers have turned to stone. They melded with the stone floor preventing him from moving, the petrification curse was slowly creeping up his hand.
Eri and Amelia fought the Unquiet. The Keyblade wielder landed devastating blows sending sparks of ruined immaterial flesh burning away with each hit. The monster roared and brought its ensorcelled sword down on the girl, Amelia swung her Keyblade up. The two magical weapons collided in an explosion of colours.
The Unquiet staggered back. Its sword broken asunder.
Amelia came in for the finishing blow, the creature opened its mouth again and unleashed another blast. Amelia was sent flying away.
Anna gasped.
All across town the earlier elation for victory they felt is all but forgotten. One by one their heroes are incapacitated, the battle was spiralling South and it looks as if the teens would lose.
Eri cried in vengeance for her cousins and friends, she lunged at the monster with ice blades raised. But the Unquiet snatched her up in it's vice, unbreakable grip.
As a manifestation conjured by Elsa, every molecular being of Eri is rich with magical energies. The Unquiet saw this and held the ice magic construct tighter with hunger in its eyes.
"AAAAAHH!" Screamed Eri.
Elsa's breathing froze, like a hand of ice had clutched her very heart. That scream, that blood curdling scream of her daughter, the world shattered around Elsa.
Anna was likewise shocked to deathly stillness by the scream of pain and fear that tore from her niece. Same with Kristoff.
For as long as the kingdom have watched the magical screen, Eri was shown to be nigh indestructible. No physical attack, poison or affliction could harm the Snow Princess.
Trapped in the Unquiet's cage like hand, the monster hungrily absorbed her magic. Eri was being eaten!
Eri continued to cry in pain, the first time in her life she felt physical pain. Her face warped, her ice particles unable to retain cohesion, Eri's form contorted, turning anamorphic and she screamed again.
"ERI!" Cried Elsa. Tears streaming freely down her cheeks, Arendelle plunged several degrees in temperature.
"No." Cried Arianna.
Rapunzel and Anna held onto Elsa's hands and shoulders, it was all they could do to support her.
The horrific assimilation could not be allowed to continue.
A flash of steel and a blur of crimson saw the hand that held Eri severed from the rest of the Unquiet's arm. The monster howled and flailed away into the darkness.
Eri collapsed to the floor. The girl's rescuer crouched nearby, sword imbedded in the ground, leaning on the pommel.
"Its Novak!" Exclaimed Anna.
Everyone let out a sigh of relief.
"It's going to be alright Elsa. Eri is going to be okay." Rapunzel encouraged.
Elsa was unresponsive, as though she had lost her voice. Thankfully the temperature around the town square did return slightly, a good sign.
Willow relaxed letting her shoulders sink. "Oh thank goodness for Novak, he-." But Willow could not finish her sentence. What she saw stopped her cold.
Splash.
The whole town square fell silent once again.
The colours drained from Hans and Lady Caine's faces.
The Stabbington Brothers fainted.
Red droplets fell like like rain.
Novak's skin glistened with sweat and he was white as a sheet, his breathing was erratic, he struggled to keep his eyes opened, fighting to stay conscious. Pooling beneath Novak a huge puddle of blood soaked the cobblestones at his feet, and held closely to his side was the stump of where which his right hand use to be.
"Novak!" Cried Cassandra.
Rapunzel's hands flew to her mouth, Anna gripped Elsa tighter, breaking the older sister out of her shock.
"Oh dear spirits." Elsa spun her head around, her deeply worried eyes turned towards Lady Caine.
"Caine!" exclaimed Cassandra. Putting her hands on her friend's shoulders.
The boy's mother could not speak, she couldn't even scream. It was all she could do to stare ahead in shock, it didn't matter that Cassandra had forcefully turned her head away from the screen, Caine was beyond seeing what was in front of her.
Consciousness finally left him, his hold on his sword loosened, Novak collapsed face first with a splash.
"NOVAK!" Neoma cried. She rushed to his side.
Amelia and Aidan quickly rushed to Eri's. They found their cousin lying in a fetal position, face buried in her hands and was crying...crying! This was the first time any of them had seen Eri in a weakened and vulnerable state.
"Oh Eri." Amelia pulled her cousin into a hug. While Aidan stood guard.
Meanwhile Novak...
"He's going into shock!" Exclaimed Neoma.
"I got him!" Cried Flynn. "Hang in there, buddy!"
As the Sun Prince aided his friend he scan the area and spotted Novak's severed hand. It was turned completely to stone, Unsalvageable.
"Damn it!" Cursed Flynn.
"Hang in there you two!" Varian exclaimed.
Patchy and Sideburns were slumped unconscious on their seats. Varian desperately trying to wake them up.
Marius and Matthew were less affected but clearly deeply distressed as they watched.
"It's going to be ok. Novak will pull through!" Eugene frantically encouraged.
But the words were muffled. Hans was neck deep in shock, completely oblivious to Eugene's words of comfort. Though that did not stop Eugene from roughly shaking him.
Eugene turned to shake his other 'patient'. Kristoff was likewise frozen in shock after having witnessed the horror wrought upon his niece. Eugene's shaking wasn't helping.
Eugene returned to coaxing Hans, he really has his hands full.
"Trust me. Flynn and Wrenn will stop the bleeding and then they-. Wait... where is Wrenn?"
Wrenn was not there with Flynn to save Novak, she wasn't helping Amelia to see if Eri was okay either. Instead the Sun Princess stood glued on the spot. Watching them.
From the shadows, the tree man re-emerged. With rage in its eyes it glared at the six huddling teens. They were vulnerable, now was the time to strike. But then the Unquiet's desolate gaze fell upon Wrenn, the girl stood alone, isolated. The tree man tapped into it's unworldly perception and found this girl to be fuelling with magical powers too. The monster has chosen its prey.
Alone Wrenn continued to watch, her friends, her family. They hurt, they suffer they mourn, and the perpetrator to all their misery was towering behind her!
"WRENN!" Flynn cried to his twin.
But Wrenn made no attempt to prevent her fate, she merely stood still while the gigantic hand of unnatural tree roots encircled her. A terrible scowl of unfettered fury marring her face was the last they saw of Wrenn before she was encased in a giant sphere of roots.
"NOOO!" Screamed Rapunzel.
There was no escape. The Unquiet cackled in triumph, it has its prize. In the presence of the remaining six teens the monster began to absorb Wrenn's powers.
It quickly wished it didn't.
The grand treasure room shook under the gut wrenching cry of agony from the Unquiet. The tree man quickly unhanded Wrenn as though she was made of hot iron, she was actually much worse than that. The smouldering roots retracted, those too slow simply crumbled to ash.
Before the wide eyes of the six teenagers and their unseen audience, stepping out of the smoking ruins was a black haired Wrennetta.
"Wrenn?" Gasped Rapunzel. She, Eugene, Cassandra and Varian all balked at the girl with the powers of the Hurt Incantation.
And oh will there be hurt aplenty.
With her pitched black eyes Wrenn spied a tree root slinking away. Her boot came down hard, catching it under her heel. "We've only just started dancing. Don't run from the ball so soon."
Taking the captured appendage in her hand Wrenn poured raw death magic into her victim.
The tree man dropped to one knee, it wailed again. All across its immense body vast chunks shrivelled away or crumbled to ash. It tried to crawl away, to gain some distance from Wrenn.
"So Unquiets can be made to feel fear." Wrenn chuckled... cruelly.
Stepping closer she clasped another much larger part of the Unquiet. The cries rang out again, hoarser this time, the tree man was being decomposed alive!
"Behold. I shall become a blight upon the land, and everything I touch will wither and decay."
Rapunzel clutched her chest. That was her daughter's voice, but the character who spoke the words was not her daughter's.
In its defiance the Unquiet brought down the broken sword to hack off its captured limb. The tree man raised up a dozen human sized tree warriors again to overwhelm the girl in numbers, it availed the monster not.
For with but a raise of her hand a ball of black cloud formed above Wrenn, swirling from within it's fathomless core green flames lashed out at the tree men.
The other teens watched as upon contact all twelve tree warriors disintegrated, their bodies crumbled around them. Neoma slammed her fist into the ground and raised a wall of black rocks to shield herself, Flynn, Novak, Amelia, Aidan and Eri from the undiscriminating flames of death.
Growing desperate the huge Unquiet opened its mouth impossibly wide, it charged up and unleashed the devastating red energy blast from its maw.
Wrenn in response threw her death ball and the two magic missiles met. It was no competition, the Sphere of Decay went through like it went through paper. It struck the Unquiet dead centre, the tree man regurgitated a torrent of inkish ichor.
It was no longer a battle, the Unquiet knew it was dying, it had no chance as it was. With a roar the tree man shot out what roots it had left at the numerous magical treasures once again, the tendrils latches onto forbidden trinkets here and there.
Indeed the creature regrew.
But for the second time it latched onto something it shouldn't have. And this second time will be its last.
A powerful force jerked the creature backwards, and it did not stop, it kept pulling and pulling.
A cauldron of blackest iron had the Unquiet's tendril in its cavernous depths. Fell magic of unholy powers dragged at the resisting victim. The Unquiet clawed at the ground but nothing it did could prevent its fate.
From foot to neck the Unquiet was pulled in, size was no defence, its vast body was crushed against the rims of the Black Cauldron as it was dragged in. Until at last the tree man's hideous head disappeared into the darkness, leaving a haunting cry that echoed throughout the otherwise silent witch haunt.
For a moment all eyes were on the mysterious Black Cauldron. But there was more work to be done.
With the Portal Guardian finally defeated the dark portal was revealed, a swirling vortex of purple and black in the centre of the ravaged treasure hall.
"It's the portal. Close it Amy!" Yelled Aidan.
Amelia gently handed her brother their cousin, Eri was still shackened but she had stopped crying at least. Aidan held her close.
Not wasting another second Amelia drew her Keyblade, a flash of light and the detestable vortex receded, replaced by a large glowing lock.
Amelia lowered her weapon. It was done. It was finally... finally done.
•••Skip ahead•••
The journey back was a sombre one, to say the least. Aboard the dirigible, the seven teens rode back with bleak expressions. There was no laughter, no boasts of glory, not even a conversation or two, all seven kept to themselves reflecting on the battle passed. And all did so with a frown on their face.
The mission on the mountain was a success; they defeated the Portal Guardian, the gateway was sealed, and the immediate lands and surrounding countries are safe from Unquiets. By all reckoning, this was a victory.
But it wasn't. They have lost.
Eri stayed below deck, she sat at a corner with her hands and knees to her face and ankle deep in snow.
It was a position Elsa herself was sadly very much familiar with, now watching her daughter do the same broke her heart. Elsa adjusted herself trying what she could to get a better look at Eri.
Eri did not wish to be seen and so even alone she made to hide in the dark. But some things cannot be completely concealed, and the dark actually worked against her goal.
Elsa spied a gap between Eri's fingers, and there illuminating in the darkness was a single light blue glow in place of where Eri's left eye was meant to be.
"Oh Eri." Whispered Elsa. A hand of comfort from Anna and Rapunzel never left her shoulders.
•••
In the adjacent cabin sat Novak in an equally dark environment, eyes sunken, his features grim, he was looking worse for wear. His right hand was gone, and so much more with it.
Hans felt his world shatter. His son was such an incredible fighter both in hand to hand and with weapons, all to be taken away, and that is before taking into account the impact of every aspect to his day to day life.
"Caine!" Cassandra shook her friend.
Nearby, Lady Caine was still in shock staring at what isn't seen to her.
Cassandra had been non-stop trying to reach out to her without success, at last with a heavy sigh Cassandra decided to take extreme measures.
Smack!
The reaction was near instant. Cassandra's only warning was the focus returning in Lady Caine's pupils, she brought her hand up just in time to catch Caine's retaliatory punch.
"Cassandra?"
Lady Caine gasped not realising who she nearly hit on reflex. For the next few seconds she was confused, but then the recollection of the events she saw came back down like a tidal wave. The dam broke and Caine felt her heart crushed by the waves.
"Oh gods. Novak!" Lady Caine cried. She bowed her head, keeping her face low just as she did when she witnessed Hans die in the alternate future. Only this time Cassandra was there to offer her comfort.
Squaring up, Cassandra took hold of Caine's hands then rested her forehead on Caine's. Cassandra had gone through the same shock when she saw Neoma lose an arm, Elsa had been there for her so she was going to be there for Caine. Caine's hand squeezed back.
•••
"Damn. How could I have let this happen?" Aidan cursed? As the leader, Aidan was at war with himself over how the battle unfolded.
The whole trip Wrenn said nothing. The brunette stared only at the town ahead.
"All Hallows Eve is right ahead, we should land here." Said Amelia nonchalantly. The mood up deck was a morbid one.
"Rodger that." Neoma steered the ship to a clearing where she raised a tower to dock.
After what happened, the seven could really use a hot meal and a warm bed.
•••
But they will receive neither.
No hero's welcome awaited them.
The teens entered town to find the outer streets emptied. Only after a short trek did they find the entire town's population gathered at the square.
"What is going on up ahead?" Asked Amelia.
Torches were lit, pitch forks were raised, calls for death and murder echoed in chants. Whatever was happening the townsfolk meant business.
"It is THEM!" A man shouted, a finger raised accusingly at the seven.
Immediately the hostile mob converged on the teens, weapons and tools of their trade held menacingly.
"Whoa, what is this!?" Demanded Aidan. A swing of his halberd halted the crowd.
"You seven are guilty of witchcraft. And for that, you are condemned to death!" The town leader declared.
"Hey, back the hell off!" Neoma warned.
"We are in a foul mood right now and you do not want to mess with us." Flynn added his warning, his fists clenched.
The crowd did not relent, they were fervent in their conduct.
"Jack Skellington has brought evil to our doors, now he hangs for his crimes." A zealot proclaimed.
And so it was. Aidan, Amelia, Flynn, Wrenn, Eri, Neoma and Novak looked over the heads of the mob to find the fate of their friend. Jack Skellington, his family, and even the lovable sausage dog Zero; hanged lifelessly on the branch of a dead oak tree.
The audience cried out in dismay. Jack and his family were so kind to the seven.
And now the mob moved in on the teens.
Resentment most horrid built up in Wrenn's heart, black smoke billowed about her feet, and her hair turned black.
"So you have chosen death." Said Wrenn Black.
•••
••• End of Chapter •••
I do hate leaving my readers with a cliffhanger. But if you've seen A Nightmare Before Christmas or played Kingdom Hearts 1 or 2 then you would probably have a good idea of what All Hallows Eve may look like afterwards.
Yes, that was the Black Cauldron, the Blue Witches and the magic sword from 'The Black Cauldron'; the 1985 flop that almost destroyed Disney, LOL. But I like to think "one man's garbage is another man's Salvageable goods."
I intend to use the Black Cauldron again in the next chapter. If you haven't seen the movie yet, that is fine. But I do suggest at least watching the Black Cauldron opening scene on Youtube.
Well, that was a dark turn for our heroes. Up until now the seven have had their mission pretty easy, plenty of fun and games, plus no foe they couldn't just whoop. But like many narratives, there must come an arch in the story where they stumble or suffer a loss. This was the start. But the night is darkest before the dawn, and I intend to give the teens a nice dawn.
Phew, I'm so glad I am finished with this chapter because I have been so excited to write the next two for so long.
Stay safe everyone. Please leave me your thoughts and thanks for reading.