#Regine Rosalie

[ends-of-the-wayward-storm]

The Big Four--Through Moonlight--Book 1

Chapter 11--Birds of a Feather

_______

Summary

Why something decided to bring so many different people together from so many different places was beyond them. But it had to be for good reason. And that reason just happens to be an elusive enemy who is searching for a powerful artifact, one with an unfathomable amount of knowledge.

There was definitely one thing in question, however—was this enemy the real deal, or something else?

(AO3 version) (First chapter)

[This is a little longer than my usual chapters since any other way I tried to divide this didn’t flow correctly.]

_______

Varian had been unusually quiet this morning. Then again, he hadn’t seen him at all. Of course, there was the chance he was sleeping in today.

He was probably using his inventions again last night.

“Afternoon, Quirin!” a villager greeted.

“Afternoon,” the man replied. Maybe Varian was up by now. “You wouldn’t happen to have seen my son around, have you?”

“Can’t say I have. Isn’t he usually running around by now?”

“Usually. . . .” Quirin rubbed his chin in thought. Varian was probably back at the house. Working on his inventions again. I hope he stays away from those rocks.

“I’m sure he’s fine, Quirin. He’s probably busy with those contraptions of his.”

“I suppose you’re right.”

“And if it makes you feel any better I’ll let you know if I see him around.”

“I appreciate that. Thank you.”

~ ~ ~

“. . . and even though she was kind of intimidating at first, she turned out to be a very sweet person,” Rapunzel explained. “Not to mention she has a pretty amazing voice.”

“And you’re telling me the Captain actually sang?” Eugene asked in disbelief. “Now that is something I would pay to hear!”

“Never thought of my dad as a guy who could sing,” Cassandra added. Fidella snorted as if to agree, and Maximus appeared to be in disbelief.

The group came to the entrance of Old Corona, and they were immediately greeted by the villagers. Rapunzel, of course, smiled and waved to everyone, and Pascal even stood proudly from atop her shoulder to wave to the passing people.

After a few minutes, the princess dismounted Maximus with her companions following suit. “I wonder if Varian’s up to anything exciting.”

“If by exciting you mean potentially explosive then yeah. Totally,” Eugene said.

“So he’s a little . . . accident-prone. That just means he gets . . . really caught up in his work?” Up ahead, Rapunzel spotted Quirin speaking with some villagers. “Quirin!”

He glanced in her direction and exchanged a few more words before walking over to them. “Ah Princess. What brings you to Old Corona?”

“Just wanted to see how the village was doing.”

“That’s very kind of you, Your Highness. Everything’s in order here so you don’t have to worry about a thing.”

“That’s great to hear. By the way, is Varian around?”

“I haven’t seen him all day. He might be working on those inventions of his again and lost track of time.”

Rapunzel frowned. Quirin didn’t seem very convinced of that. In fact he almost looked like he was trying to convince himself that that was the case. Or maybe she was just overthinking things. “All right. Well um, thank you.”

“Of course.”

Choosing not to think much of it, Rapunzel headed for Varian’s house. I guess he must be really focused on his work. She knocked politely on the door. “Varian? It’s me Rapunzel. Cass and Eugene are here, too.”

Nothing.

“We uh, just wanted to drop by to say hi!”

Absolute silence. Not even Ruddiger made a sound.

“Varian?” Still no response.

“. . . This isn’t like him,” Cassandra said.

Rapunzel shared a glance with her companions. “Uhh . . . we’re coming in!” She opened the door, and Cassandra and Eugene peeked in from behind her. Varian’s desk was tidy in a messy sense with beakers, papers, and a few devices on it. Some black rock spikes were coming up through the ground, and one spike in particular had some white on its tip. Other than that, nobody was inside.

“Guess he’s not home,” Eugene said.

“Or he could be in another part of the house,” Cassandra suggested. “But then again, if he were, he would’ve heard you knocking.”

Rapunzel stepped inside. “Well, he’s still trying to figure out the mystery behind these black rocks.” One rock glowed for a bit when she neared it, and she stepped away from it. And of course Cassandra’s sharp eyes caught the notion.

“I think we should head back outside.”

“I agree with Cass on this one, Blondie,” Eugene said. “There’s no telling what these rocks will do.”

“I know, I know,” Rapunzel said. “It’s just . . . something doesn’t feel right.” She glanced to the moon through a window before her eyes drifted down to Varian’s desk. “It looks like he was in the middle of something here. And I’m sure he wouldn’t leave something unfinished like this.”

“Maybe he was half asleep?” Eugene said.

“Maybe. . . .” Rapunzel held her chin. “Let’s try asking around.”

~ ~ ~

Varian was the last one to hop onto dry land, and he turned toward the ice bridge Elsa had made. Like the other one she had made earlier, it was strong and virtually perfect. And it was made with hardly any effort whatsoever. “Fascinating. . . .” Who knew there were others out there with magic like Rapunzel? Or, well, something that looks like magic.

“Tell me about it,” Kristoff said with smirk, chewing on one of the cooked tussock sedge roots Merida had prepared. “It’s completely flawless.”

“Okay, so, what’s our progress?” Hiccup asked.

Charles peered into the jar containing the moonbeam. So far its flickering had only increased a tad bit. “It’s not much, but we’re still on the right track.”

“All right. Let’s keep moving.” Not too far up ahead of them, the group spotted a long path of thorns that were roughly as tall as Kristoff.

“Quite a lot of thorns there,” Chane said. “I don’t think we’ll be able to cut our way through.”

“Then we burn our way through,” Régine said matter-of-factly. Elsa managed to catch the flower in the princess’s hair actually brightening a bit, and she wondered if it was just a trick of the mind.

“Wouldn’t we burn the whole place down?” Anna said.

“Not unless I’m careful.”

“Ah’d rather we cut our way through,” Merida said. “But we need to get to that book before that witch does.”

Chane sighed. “Do be mindful of everything else around the thorns, Régine.”

“W-wait. Isn’t the dragon supposed to do the burning?” Varian asked.

Régine simply smirked, and Chane took her cloak from her arm. She raised her arms halfway and bent them, and her hands became alight with flames. Toothless made an odd noise as she sent the flames toward the thorns little by little, slowly walking forward.

The group carefully followed her from a safe distance, nervously watching the flames occasionally nick the earthen walls and greenery on either side of them. But eventually they made it to the other side without Régine burning the whole swamp down.

“You have magic,” Elsa realized. “I thought I was the only one.”

“I as well,” Régine said. “Although I had been meaning to ask you about yours for a while now.”

Elsa smiled at her, and the group continued forward.

“Your dress is beautiful.”

“Thank you, and your flower is amazing.”

Régine smiled. “I did actually craft a dress myself once.”

"Really?"

"Of course, I did decide to retire it after some time."

“Elsa also made an entire palace of ice,” Anna added.

“Wait. You made an entire building?” Chane asked.

“That’s actually pretty impressive,” Hiccup said.

“Her Highness also crafted a castle as well,” Charles said.

“It wasn’t entirely made in good spirits. . . .” Régine admitted.

“I’d like to see it one day,” Elsa said. “If that’s all right with you.”

“I’m not sure if you’d fare very well since you wield ice and snow.”

Elsa frowned in thought. She honestly hadn’t thought about that. But she figured it was probably a case since they were opposites. “Then maybe just seeing the outside would be safer. Just in case.”

“Wouldn’t it be the same for Régine with Elsa’s ice palace?” Varian guessed. “Scientifically speaking, of course.”

“Hmm. I suppose that would make sense,” Régine said.

“There is the chance that you guys might not even be affected,” Hiccup suggested. “Maybe your powers might cancel each other out.” Probably like Toothless’s plasma and the Skrill’s lightning.

“Then we won’t know unless we try, will we?”

Merida stopped in her tracks, leading the others to come to a halt. Ahead of the group was what appeared to be the entrance of some ominous-looking ruins. A somewhat curving bridge of land led up to it, but below that was dark water that looked a bit too deep for anyone’s taste.

Charles glanced to the moonbeam, and the flickering became more frequent. “Well, the moonbeam says that’s the way to go. Even though it does seem like the perfect spot for more of those monsters to show up.” He turned to Varian. “Do you mind holding this?”

“Uh sure.” Varian carefully handled the jar, and the moonbeam seemed to briefly flash as if in greeting. “Light in a jar. I wonder if I’d be able to pull this off. . . .”

“I seriously doubt that,” Kristoff said.

“Besides,” Régine added, “it’s no ordinary moonbeam.”

Chane, Charles, and Kristoff took to the front with their respective weapons in hand, climbing an uphill path to the right. Elsa had Anna behind her while Régine stood beside the snow queen, and everyone else took to the rear.

“Y’know we might run into those other people here,” Hiccup said.

“Isn’t this enough people to find one book?” Varian asked.

“It-it is. But that girl Elsa, Anna, and Kristoff ran into isn’t alone. And whoever her ally is might be just as powerful as her. Maybe even more powerful.”

Varian exchanged a look with Ruddiger. “Well. Good thing we have an advantage in numbers amiright?”

A horrid screech suddenly filled the air, and the group covered their ears. Something dark and seemingly made of bark was rapidly coming toward them, and Toothless fired at the being. The creature tucked its wings in and spun out of the way before extending its talons toward them with a screech.

“Duck!” Hiccup warned.

Its talons breezed over the group, missing them by inches. Letting out an angry screech, it began to circle around.

“Run, before it comes back!” Chane said.

The group hurried along the green strip of a bridge, and Anna risked a look over her shoulder before gasping.

“It’s coming back!” she yelped.

Régine fired at the creature that dodged again, and it readied to swoop down upon them. The moonbeam flickered fearfully as Varian felt something wrap around him and abruptly hoist him up. He found himself and Ruddiger screaming, and everyone’s attention shot upwards.

“Varian!” they shouted.

“Ohhh it got Hiccup, too!” Anna exclaimed.

Varian frantically looked to the right to see Hiccup tightly within the grasp of the creature’s other foot and also screaming. With a roar, Toothless leapt over the group and tailed the creature.

“Hang on!” Kristoff exclaimed.

“And don’t let go of that jar!” Chane added.

Merida fired an arrow at one of its wings, and the creature howled in pain. It released its hold on the two boys as it began to spiral down toward the ruins, and Toothless leapt across the ditch as best as he could. Just as the thought of making a platform flashed into Elsa’s mind, Toothless caught the boys and crashed onto solid ground.

“Phew! Thanks bud.” Hiccup glanced over to Varian, who was gripping onto a shaking Ruddiger. “You all right?”

“Yeah. I think so,” Varian said, his voice shaking. In the jar, the moonbeam was flickering fearfully.

“Guys!” Anna called as the others caught up. “Oh my gosh, are you guys okay?”

“We’re all right,” Hiccup said. But the tiger lily in Régine’s hair flared.

“You could’ve gotten them killed!” she snapped.

“Would you rather ah let that beast take off with them?!” Merida fired back.

“I would rather you not almost get them killed!”

Merida opened her mouth to retort when Chane stepped in.

“Now’s not the time to argue,” he reprimanded. “And what matters is that they weren’t almost killed and that they weren’t taken by that thing.”

Both girls glared at each other, but another angry screech filled the air, jerking everyone’s attention to the giant vulture-like creature now on its feet. Its glowing bluish green eyes held a wild fierceness to them, and it still managed to look threatening despite its injured wing.

“That thing is still here!” Varian stressed. The creature screeched to the sky, and several more screeches forced the group to cover their ears. Reinforcements sounded again, and smaller versions of the creature darted toward the group.

“Incoming!” Anna said.

~ ~ ~

It was sunset by now, and there was still no sign of Varian. Quirin was beyond worried and had been constantly going over the events of last night for any sign of Varian having reason to sudden disappear. But nothing seemed to point in that direction.

“Where could he have gone?” Rapunzel asked as she was pacing.

“He might be in the main village,” Eugene said.

“Maybe, but someone would’ve at least seen him leaving,” Cassandra said. “And everyone in the village hasn’t seen him at all today.”

“Someone must’ve taken him,” Quirin said.

“But who would take Varian?” Eugene said. “He’s a good kid!”

“Maybe we’re still missing something,” Rapunzel suggested.

“Let's just head back and see if anyone’s seen him there. It's our best bet now.”

The princess thought for a few moments. “Eugene has a point. We should head back and see if Varian's there.”

“In the meantime I’ll gather a search party and keeping looking here,” Quirin said.

“And we’ll be back as soon as we can.”

Quirin’s smile held a hint of sadness to it. “Thank you, Princess.”

“We’ll find Varian. I promise.”

With a bit of a happier smile, Quirin left, and Rapunzel sighed before heading off to find Maximus and Fidella.

“Okay. Real quick. What do we know so far?”

“Varian’s seemingly up and vanished, and no one in the village has seen him today,” Eugene said.

“Aside from minor annoyances, there also doesn’t seem to be any big grudges against him that we know of,” Cassandra said. “Even though it hardly seems like Varian would have some enemies. Or rivals.”

“Which leads us to the theory that someone must’ve taken him for whatever reason,” Rapunzel concluded. “The question is, who would be a sus—hmm? What is it, Pascal?”

Pascal crawled down her arm and stopped on the palm of her hand, and he pointed to a stream of light. Rapunzel’s eyes trailed the light to its source, finding it to be the moon.

“That’s weird.”

“Isn’t it a little early to be seeing moonlight?” Cassandra said. “Assuming it’s not light reflecting off of something.”

Curious, Rapunzel walked toward it. It looked like regular moonlight. And it was a full moon tonight. Plus she doubted stars could shine that brightly. Then again she did think the lanterns were stars once. But this time she was sure the light wasn’t from a star.

She looked up at the moon. Last time she checked there weren’t any special moons coming up. Maybe the rocks have something to do with it. No, that can’t be it. There aren’t any rocks around. . . .

Settling on passing it off with a shrug, Rapunzel faced Cassandra and Eugene. “Anyway, let’s head back and see if we can find—”

Something cold bumped into her ankle, and she looked down at a jar with—

“Wow. . . .” Rapunzel picked up the jar, captivated by the silvery light inside of it. “This is beautiful. Where did this come from?”

“I don’t mean to sound crazy, but I think it came from that light,” Cassandra said. As if in reply, the light flickered almost excitedly.

“I’m sorry can that . . . giant firefly understand us?” Eugene said.

“I don’t think this is a firefly, Eugene,” Rapunzel said. “I think it’s. . . .” She glanced to the matching beam behind her, and realization slowly crept in. “Moonlight. Inside a jar.”

“Last time I checked light goes through glass.”

The moonbeam inside jerked Rapunzel toward the bigger beam, and she yelped as she tried to pull the jar back.

“And doesn’t move around like that.”

The moonbeam continued to try jerking Rapunzel toward the moonlight.

“Woah!” she grunted. “This is some seriously strong moonlight!”

Stubbornly the moonbeam fought against Rapunzel’s might, but with one final jerk she stumbled right into the moonlight and disappeared.

“Rapunzel!” Eugene and Cassandra exclaimed.

_______

(First chapter) (Next chapter) (Previous chapter)

[queenmeccasamiiyah-blog]

Dr. Ruth Westheimer will speak at Women to Women Conference

Fictional for class                                                                  

For more information

St Joseph’s Reginal Medical Center

Rosalie Bledsoe

(973)875-6682

For release after 9 a.m.

May 15

Dr. Ruth Westheimer will speak at Women to Women Conference  

Famous sex therapist, Dr. Ruth Westheimer, will be the keynote speaker for the St. Joseph’s Women to Women “Harmony in Your Life” Conference. The event will take place June 3 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Hilton Meadowlands Hotel, East Rutherford, NJ.  

The event will be 35 dollars per person and the proceeds of the event will benefit the Palmer Center for Children and Women and St. Josephs Regional Medical Center.

Dr. Ruth Westheimer is a famous sex therapist. Westheimer will be speaking at the conference and will discuss current sexual issues and how respect for self and for others fosters gratifying sexual relationships.

The conference will also include a day of exciting workshops presented by area pros including:

·         “Healthy Eating and a Healthier You”

·         “Hello Exercise, Goodbye Blues”

·         “Cosmetic Surgery- The Choice is Yours”

·         “Steps to a Healthier Heart”

·         Living a Fuller Life”

·         “The Woman’s Balance Beam”

The event is sponsored by Doctors Health Care Group of St. Joseph’s PruCare/PruCare Plus. For more information and tickets contact St. Joseph’s Reginal Medical Center and speak with Rosalie Bledsoe.

                                              -30-

[ends-of-the-wayward-storm]

Sneak Peek--Through Moonlight

[Yeah I don’t really wanna think about how long it’s been since the last chapter. But anyway, here’s a bit of an (hopefully) upcoming chapter.

If you’re curious about what this fic is about, here’s the Tumblr version to it and the AO3 version. It’s got some OCs of mine that I hope you guys enjoy as well as the story. :)]

________

Charles glanced to the moonbeam, and the flickering became more frequent.

“Well, the moonbeam says that’s the way to go,” he said. “Seems like the perfect spot for more of those monsters to show up.” He turned to Varian. “Do you mind holding this?”

“Uh sure.” Varian carefully handled the jar, and the moonbeam seemed to briefly flash as if in greeting. “Light in a jar. I wonder if I’d be able to pull this off. . . .”

“I seriously doubt that,” Kristoff said.

“Besides,” Régine added, “it’s no ordinary moonbeam.”

Chane, Charles, and Kristoff took to the front with their respective weapons in hand, climbing an uphill path to the right. Elsa had Anna behind her while Régine stood beside Elsa, and everyone else took to the rear.

“Y’know we might find those other people here,” Hiccup said.

“Isn’t this enough people to find one book?” Varian asked.

“It-it is. But that girl Elsa and others ran into isn’t alone. And whoever her ally is might be just as powerful as her. Maybe even more so.”

Varian exchanged a look with Ruddiger. “Well. Good thing we have an advantage with numbers.”

A horrid screech suddenly filled the air, and the group covered their ears. Something dark and oddly tree-like was rapidly coming toward them, and Toothless fired at the being. The creature tucked its wings in and spun out of the way before extending its talons toward them.

“Duck!” Hiccup warned.

The talons breezed across the group, grabbing air instead of a person. Letting out an angry screech, it began to circle around.

“Quick, before it comes back! Go!”

The group hurried along the green strip of a bridge, and Anna risked a look over her shoulder.

“It’s coming back!” she yelped.

Régine fired at the creature that dodged again, and it readied to swoop down upon them. The moonbeam flickered fearfully as Varian felt something wrap around him and abruptly hoist him up. Everyone in the group looked up as he found himself and Ruddiger screaming.

“Varian!”

________

(AO3 version of Through Moonlight; Tumblr version)

[ends-of-the-wayward-storm]

The Big Four--Through Moonlight--Book 1

Chapter 13--Of Moonbeams and Trees

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Summary

Why something decided to bring so many different people together from so many different places was beyond them. But it had to be for good reason. And that reason just happens to be an elusive enemy who is searching for a powerful artifact, one with an unfathomable amount of knowledge.

There was definitely one thing in question, however—was this enemy the real deal, or something else?

(AO3 version) (First chapter)

_______

She knew something was off here. She just couldn’t put her finger on it. Everything seemed too quiet, and that was with the snoring.

She really should get some sleep. They covered quite a bit of ground today, but they still hadn’t found Hiccup and Toothless. Someone must’ve taken them, but she couldn’t figure out who. Maybe it was because there wasn't anyone that could’ve taken them. Alvin was their ally now and Dagur was taken care of.

There has to be something I’m missing.

A twig cracked, and Astrid sat straight up. The dragons didn’t even budge, so either they were really tired or she was hearing things. Regardless, she skimmed the area for movement, but nothing seemed to be—

There! She heard something! Something close to a yak with a cold. Or . . . maybe it wasn’t a yak to begin with. Whatever it was, she definitely heard it. And yet the dragons didn’t.

Frowning, Astrid grabbed her axe and briskly snuck off toward the source of the sound. For all she knew it was probably nothing and she was overreacting. But she couldn’t sleep, so finding out the source of the noise was better than nothing.

She kept her head on a swivel as she made her way through the woods. Now she could hear voices, but most of them were faint and unfamiliar. There were accents that didn’t sound like the ones she knew, and judging by what she could hear of their tones, they seemed to be discussing something.

Then she heard it—a sound she knew.

“Toothless.” Astrid picked up the pace, and the conversation got louder.

“. . . really don’t know much about her, then.”

“Hiccup!” What in Thor’s name was he doing out here? And who was ‘her’?

She stopped near a small pond. No one seemed to be around, but she could still hear people. She could still hear him. “Hiccup?”

“We still have our advantage in numbers,” a girl’s accented voice pointed out.

Squinting, Astrid could see movement in the moonlight shining down onto the water, and she skeptically stepped closer to the pond.

“But her magic might be stronger than we think,” a girl in a blue dress said. “We can’t underestimate her.”

Magic? Astrid could see a group of people in what looked to be a cave with a waterfall. Most of them wore clothes like nothing she’d ever seen, and there was some black animal laying down next to . . . some horned animal. And yet none of them seemed to notice her.

“So what’s the plan?” a girl with short black hair said.

“If we do come across her, maybe we can get some information out of her,” Hiccup said.

“Hiccup!” Astrid said. “What are you doing?!” But he didn’t hear her. “Toothless!” The Night Fury didn’t hear her either, appearing to be oblivious to her.

Why couldn’t they see or hear her? She was right in front of them! Or . . . maybe she was hallucinating.

Astrid rubbed her eyes with her arm. The group was still there in the moonlight. Hiccup was still there. Why am I even seeing this? How am I even seeing this?

She shot a look over her shoulder. No one was coming, and she had been pretty loud. Upon facing forward however, she saw that Hiccup, Toothless, and the rest of the group were moving on. “Hey! Get back here!”

Something in a man’s hands—a jar—flashed, and the man looked at the jar. “Something’s wrong.”

The group turned to him, and the man turned toward Astrid’s direction. Everyone’s eyes followed his line of sight, and Hiccup and Toothless ended up looking right at her.

“We’ve been looking everywhere for you!” Astrid said. “Where have you been?!”

“Didn’t we just come from there?” a girl with extremely long hair asked.

“Yes, but it seems like the moonbeam senses something,” the man with the jar replied.

“Ugh!” Astrid racked her brain. What she was seeing was real. But Hiccup couldn’t see or hear her, and neither could anyone else. It was like she was invisible. What’s going on?

The beam moved toward her, making her take a step back. She looked up at the trees only to find no one in them, no one who could possibly be making that light move. It moved again, just stopping right before dry land. Astrid cautiously took a step forward, and she extended her hand to—

~ ~ ~

Astrid flinched as she found herself in broad daylight. A silvery light very similar to the one she saw darted away at the corner of her eye, and she sat straight up, spotting it right before it disappeared.

“Wow. You were completely out,” Tuffnut said. “Almost thought you had died in your sleep or something.”

“Totally possible, by the way,” Ruffnut added.

So it was a dream. . . . Astrid thought.

“Are you okay? You look a little . . . bewildered,” Fishlegs said.

“I’m fine.” But Fishlegs didn’t seem convinced.

“C’mon, Fishlegs, you should know a girl like her needs her beauty rest,” Snotlout pointed out.

“I don’t think we’re looking hard enough,” Astrid said, completely ignoring him.

“I think we’ve been pretty thorough, Astrid,” Fishlegs said.

“But we haven’t checked any caves.” From the corner of her eye, she could tell Meatlug didn’t seem to like that idea.

“Why would he be in a cave?” Snotlout asked.

A weird dream. “Just a hunch.” Astrid mounted Stormfly. “Let’s keep searching.”

As the Riders took off, Stormfly gave Astrid a concerned look.

“I’m fine, girl. Just . . . confused.”

~ ~ ~

She huffed as she briskly walked through the lush autumn woods. There was no way she was going back into that frozen wasteland. She swore she almost died out there. But if her bracelet said she had to go back, then she would have to go back. Speaking of. . . .

She held up her arm. Her bracelet was a teal color now. Finally. She thought it would never turn a different color besides blue. I can’t have any room for setbacks.

So far she hadn’t run into those people she had encountered. Which meant her snow monsters must’ve dealt with them. Or they survived by some miracle. Either way, there was no one stopping her, and she wanted it to stay that way.

But he did warn her about people who would try to stop her.

I’ll show them not to underestimate me.

Her foot caught on a root, and she fell face first. Biting back a curse, she sat herself up despite her body’s protests. She needed to keep going. She needed to get that book. She couldn’t stop.

Brushing her dark hair out of her eyes, she placed her hands on the ground. What if she came across that group again? She’d need her magic, and she was sure she still needed some more time before she was at full strength. And if it came to it, she might need to change forms.

Sighing, she leaned against a tree and looked up. Making more creatures would help her with numbers, but she’d been making them every chance she got. Surely there were enough to deal with any possible enemies.

And once she had that book, she wouldn’t be taken advantage of ever again. She wouldn’t be used anymore. But who’s to say the man she was working with wasn’t using her now?

She balled her hand into a fist. This time for sure, she knew this would different. Even if he never showed his face or said much about the book, other than it was her key to a new life. Or rather, a new strength against those who would oppose her or even think about casting her aside.

“Ahhh! Smell that fresh air! Doesn’t it just feel amazing?”

Immediately she looked in the direction of the chipper female’s voice.

“Yeah, not a big fan of the underground,” a boy said. A creature growled as if to agree.

Getting onto her stomach, she slowly crawled toward the voices. Below her and coming out of some sort of doorway in a rocky wall were several people and a few animals. Among them was the group from that snowy wasteland.

They’re still alive, she thought.

She analyzed each of them carefully. Every person was unique, each with their own look and mannerisms. The one beside the lizard was missing part of his leg. That would probably be difficult to replicate. More than difficult. In fact she had never done it before. She might not even be able to do it.

“What do you think that moonbeam sensed?” Rapunzel asked. The spell caster furrowed her eyebrows. Moonbeam. Moonbeams were just lights. They couldn’t do anything.

“Maybe it was the book?” Varian asked. The spell caster stifled a gasp. All of those people were looking for it. No. She couldn’t let them get it first.

“Wouldn’t it have gone crazy?” Anna asked.

“Maybe,” Eugene said. “But whatever it was, it left.”

She needed to move now. That book was too important.

She crawled away from the group and looked to her bracelet. Its color changed ever so slightly, so she moved to her right. It changed again, this time becoming a tad greener. She couldn’t be spotted. She couldn’t.

“So what do you suppose this book looks like?” Chane asked.

“Old,” Merida said.

“Might be pretty thick, too since it’s got information since . . . forever,” Kristoff said.

“I think we’ll know it if we see it,” Cassandra said. “Or at least, I’m assuming.”

Toothless abruptly looked right, and Sven and Angus’s ears rose. The group gradually came to a stop as the dragon sniffed the air, and the scent he caught wasn’t familiar.

“I swear if it’s more of those monsters,” Régine retorted under her breath. The animals’ gazes were set above everyone, and Toothless didn’t seem to like the new scent.

Upon noticing his friend’s hard expression, Hiccup mounted Toothless. “Lead the way, bud.”

Toothless raised his wings and flew off. Behind them, Merida mounted Angus to keep up with him, and Toothless scanned the area. It wasn’t long before he spotted someone with dark hair running on the hill above everyone.

“Hey!”

The girl ignored his call and ran faster. She tore through her knowledge of magic for anything that could help her get away. She needed to get that book, and she would do whatever it took to get to it.

Muttering a spell, she tossed her hand toward the trees and directed them at the boy. By her command the trees snapped to life and whipped their branches at Hiccup and Toothless. The duo pulled back, but the branches managed to wrap around Toothless’s legs.

“Guys she’s here!” Hiccup warned before Toothless fired at the restraints.

“Yah!” Merida urged, and she sped forward with most of the others following. Elsa froze the branches around Toothless, enabling him to easily yank free of them. More of the branches grappled onto Toothless, and a few even wrapped themselves around Elsa.

“Hey!” With her ice sword, Anna sliced Elsa free, and a shot from Toothless disintegrated another branch. Kristoff kept any branches from getting to Anna and Elsa, but one managed to latch onto his arm. Retaliating, Anna freed him as Elsa froze the trees, stopping them from moving.

“Thanks, guys,” Hiccup said. “Uh with all due respect, Your Highness. And Your Majesty.”

“Just Elsa and Anna is fine,” Elsa said. “Let’s catch up with everyone else.”

The spell caster glanced down to see the group being lead by Merida. The two of them made eye contact, and the spell caster raised boulders to hurl at the group. Long locks of golden blonde hair suddenly shielded her targets from view, and the boulders were surprisingly but safely caught without much of a problem.

Something thumped behind her, and she looked to see Hiccup and Toothless rapidly coming toward her. She muttered another spell as she raised her arm, bringing more branches to life to scoop her up. Hiccup watched her go up and behind him before Toothless swiftly turned around, but tree roots sprouted from the ground to tie them down.

“Hiccup!” Merida exclaimed. She loosed an ice arrow at a branch supporting the girl, making her slip. The next instant Rapunzel swung up with Cassandra, and immediately the latter went to free Hiccup and Toothless.

Rapunzel whipped her hair at the enemy only for the girl to roll out of the way. Angrily she muttered a spell, and the trees once again lashed out.

“Hang on!” Elsa quickly crafted a staircase as the spell caster used the trees to get herself to the other side. Merida fired an ice arrow at a branch, forcing the spell caster to cling to another branch. Another arrow sent her to the ground, and she abruptly sat up only to lock onto a nocked arrow pointed right at her.

“Don’t—move,” Merida threatened.

The girl glared at Merida, keeping her eyes trained on the redhead even as the rest of the group gingerly came toward them from atop the slope. Her hand curled into a fist, and she narrowed her eyes before spitting out a spell. The ground shook as the trees groaned, and the trees all began to fall onto the group.

“No!”

The spell caster scrambled away the instant Merida took her eyes off of her. Angus whinnied as Toothless tried to shield as many people as he could with his wings. A flash of golden light surrounded everyone as it spread out, and the group shielded their eyes. The ground trembled as the trees crashed down, and then all became still.

When everyone opened their eyes, they found themselves protected by not only Toothless, but Rapunzel’s glowing hair.

“Wot is. . . !”

“Your hair just. . . .” Régine started. The glow faded away as Rapunzel’s hair dropped to the ground, and the group was absolutely silent.

“Everyone okay?” Rapunzel asked. Everyone managed to murmur replies.

“Did your hair just . . . move on its own?” Hiccup asked.

“Yeah. . . . It . . . does that sometimes.”

“Wait. Where did she go?” Elsa asked.

Merida scanned the area and spotted the culprit attempting to climb up the other slope. But before she could even get an arrow out, a shot from Toothless was fired right above the spell caster. She fell back onto the ground, and before she knew it Rapunzel had wrapped her hair around her. Desperately the spell caster squirmed to free herself as the rest of the group went back down to Merida and Angus. But the spells from earlier had taken most of her energy.

“You are definitely not getting out of that hair,” Eugene said. “Trust me.”

“Well, we got her,” Kristoff said. “Now what?”

“Now, we get some answers,” Hiccup said.

_______

(First chapter) (Next chapter) (Previous chapter)

[ends-of-the-wayward-storm]

The Big Four--Through Moonlight--Book 1

Chapter 12--From the Air to Beneath the Ground

_______

Summary

Why something decided to bring so many different people together from so many different places was beyond them. But it had to be for good reason. And that reason just happens to be an elusive enemy who is searching for a powerful artifact, one with an unfathomable amount of knowledge.

There was definitely one thing in question, however—was this enemy the real deal, or something else?

(AO3 version) (First chapter)

[This chapter is also a bit longer than usual, but the next chapter’s just about my usual length.]

_______

Everything abruptly became darker, greener, and much more humid around Rapunzel. Screeching filled her ears as several people she didn’t know ran around and . . . looked to be fighting giant vultures made of tree bark.

“Rapunzel!” Eugene who was quickly followed by Cassandra hurried after her. “What in the name of—”

“Duck!” Cassandra yanked Rapunzel and Eugene down as a tree vulture failed to nab them. A much larger one locked onto them, and its hiss earned the attention of the trio.

“That is just about the biggest bird I have ever seen!”

Those voices. . . . Régine looked to where the outburst had come from and saw three very familiar people. “Rapunzel?!”

The blonde started. “Wait. Was that—?” Rapunzel quickly skimmed the area and found a black-haired princess rushing toward them. “Régine?!”

“What?!” Varian shouted just as Régine stole the big vulture’s attention. He looked to where she was and managed to spot one of his friends. “Rapunzel!”

“Varian?!” the newcomers said in disbelief.

“How did you even get here?! Wherever here is!” Eugene said.

“We’ll explain later!” Varian said. “Wait, where’s the jar?!”

Jar? Wait a minute. “I got it!” Rapunzel announced.

“Whatever you do, don’t lose it!” Hiccup said. A cry brought the Coronans’ attention to Régine slamming into a wall and falling limp onto the ground.

“Régine!” Charles and Chane shouted.

“Cass, get to Régine! Eugene and I’ll draw the vulture’s attention,” Rapunzel said.

“On it,” Cassandra said.

“Pascal, I need you keep an eye on the jar.”

The chameleon nodded, and Rapunzel set the jar down for him before untying her hair.

Anna attempted to swing at one of the tree vultures’ ankles with her new ice sword. “This is really frustrating!”

Hiccup and Toothless barrel rolled away from a rake. “Keep going! We got this!” The Viking then spotted Varian quickly working on something. “How’s it goin’ down there?”

“Almost done! I just need a few more minutes!” Varian replied from behind a partial dome of ice shielding him from most of the vultures.

Eugene rolled out of the way of a wing slap from the larger vulture. “Really wish I had a frying pan on me!”

Rapunzel pulled harder as the vulture viciously fought against her. “Come on come on!”

The vulture screeched lividly as it vainly tried to make its way toward Cassandra retreating with Régine, and Charles and Chane valiantly forced the vulture away from them. Rapunzel yanked even harder, and her hair managed to make a dent in the vulture’s chest.

Hiccup briefly skimmed over the area. Anna and Kristoff could only do so much from the ground, and Sven was doing his best in backing them up. Elsa was powerful but even she was beginning to tire. Poor Angus was cowering in a corner, and Merida would eventually run out of arrows which wouldn’t be good. Régine was out for the count and Chane and Charles were doing what they could. To top that off, the last people to be summoned (or so he assumed) had just been thrown into this mess. (And one of them apparently had just about the longest hair he’s ever seen.)

“Varian!” Hiccup urged.

“Just one more minute!” Varian said.

Merida loosed and arrow, landing a direct hit at the heart of a vulture. But when she reached for another arrow, she grabbed air. “Varian!”

He flinched as he hastily finished up his last concoction. “Got it! Ready when you are, Hiccup!”

In a heartbeat Toothless landed beside Varian, and Hiccup looked to the sizable collection of concoctions.

“Wow. That’s really impressive,” Hiccup complimented.

“Thank you,” Varian said with a smirk.

“All right. Slow burn, bud.”

Varian held two concoctions up to Toothless’s mouth, and the dragon's plasma instantly turned them from green to a sort of aqua. Slowly, the concoctions began to brighten, and Ruddiger took cover in a corner. “Heads up!” Varian chucked them at the closest vulture and ducked back behind his dome. A pained shriek filled the air, and the vulture was disintegrated instantly. “Yes! It worked!”

“Yes! Let’s keep ‘em comin’!”

Another pained screech, this time louder, erupted from the larger tree vulture. Charles yanked his sword out from its chest, and the creature dropped onto its side. Rapunzel’s hair slackened, and shock appeared on her face as rot began to cover the vulture like a disease. And within a minute, its form fell apart.

The vultures screeched and shrieked in agony, forcing everyone to cover their ears. But their cries quickly shifted to rage as they vehemently darted toward everyone.

“Quick! Toothless! Keep lighting them!” Varian urged.

The dragon did as told, and Varian threw one explosive after the other at the vultures. Elsa meanwhile kept firing at the vultures, but she could feel herself tiring out.

If only we still had Régine, she thought. Oh I hope she’s all right.

“Elsa look out!” Kristoff warned.

But it was too late. A vulture knocked Elsa back, sending her toward the dark water below. Above her Anna held an expression of horror as she watched her sister fall, but her view was abruptly blocked by Hiccup and Toothless swooping in just in the nick of time.

“Th-thank you,” Elsa stammered, trying to push her shock aside.

Cassandra managed to scrape the tail feathers of a vulture with her sword. The vultures seemed like they were multiplying, and the scales were tipping out of their favor. If they kept this up, they would be overrun. “We have to fall back!”

“Fall back where?!” Chane asked.

“The ruins!” Merida said, swinging her sword. “Hurry!”

Everyone fled for the ruins while attempting to keep the vultures at bay. Chane, Rapunzel, Cassandra, and Eugene began to push against the doors with all their might. Slowly but surely, the doors began to open. Toothless quickly pitched in, and in no time everyone was able to get through the doors. Elsa placed a wall of ice to keep the vultures at bay before hurrying after everyone else. Hastily the doors were closed, leaving the vultures to angrily protest in vain.

“Everyone accounted for?” Hiccup asked. The large group muttered replies, and they took a moment to breathe. Charles gently set Régine down, and the group glanced to them.

“Is she okay?” Varian asked.

“Nothing appears to be broken. . . .” Charles said. His eyebrows furrowed. “. . . I should’ve stayed closer to her. It’s my duty to protect her.”

“You protect her well enough,” Chane assured. If anything I feel just as responsible, maybe more than you. “. . . I’m sure she’ll be just fine.”

A couple moments went by before Régine furrowed her eyebrows with a groan. Immediately Chane dropped to his knees beside her. “What happened?”

“That vulture knocked you back,” Eugene said. “You all right?”

“I’ll be fine. Thank you.” She winced as she sat up. “I don’t know why that bird didn’t burn to a crisp when I used my magic. Those tree monsters burned easily.”

“It was probably tougher than it looked,” Kristoff guessed. “All of those things were.”

“I’m glad you’re safe, Princess,” Charles said. “. . . Forgive me for not keeping a more careful watch over you.”

“It’s fine, Charles,” Régine said. “I know you always try your best.”

“Those little explosive thingies were really great, by the way,” Anna said. “How did you make them so fast?”

“Well, I’m glad you asked,” Varian said. “First I used—”

“I hate to break this up but does someone mind explaining what’s going on and where we are?” Cassandra said.

“Oh. Right.” Varian explained to his friends the situation pretty well. But now that he was actually saying it out loud, it sounded insane. True, but insane.

After everything had been said, the trio of Coronans (and Pascal) was . . . at a loss for words, for one.

“Doesn’t that sound just a little far-fetched?” Eugene said after a few moments.

“A little?” Cassandra said.

“It’s the truth, I’m afraid,” Chane said.

Régine studied Rapunzel. “Your hair’s not brown anymore. Or short.”

“It’s a long story,” Rapunzel said, glancing to the side.

“Wait. You’ve met before?” Varian asked.

“They met when Princess Rapunzel came to our kingdom,” Charles explained.

“Oh.”

Our kingdom. . . . Suddenly something dawned on Rapunzel. “Ohmigosh! My dad’s going to freak when he finds out we’re gone.”

“My dad’s probably already freaking out,” Hiccup said.

“Is . . . my dad freaking out?” Varian asked.

“A little,” Rapunzel said. “He’s really worried.”

“Mine most likely thinks I’ve run off again,” Régine said. “And my mother. . . .”

“Mai dad’s probably searchin’ the entire kingdom now,” Merida said. Anna and Elsa glanced to each other.

“I guess everyone’s dads are worried,” Anna summed up with a trace of sadness.

“. . . Kai and Gerda are probably worried,��� Elsa said. “Oh, and Olaf. . . .”

“Well the faster we find that book the faster we can all get home,” Chane said.

“Back you beasts!” a man’s voice snapped. Unanimously the group looked to the doors.

“Is someone still out there?” Anna asked.

“Oh no. . . .” Merida groaned, pulling her face down with her hands.

“What?”

“Mai dad.”

“Wait your dad is out there?”

“More importantly how did he even find us?” Kristoff asked.

Instead of answering, Merida pulled at the doors. Toothless pitched in as well, but Hiccup pulled him back.

“Hold on a second, bud. I think you might need to stay in here,” the Viking said. “I don’t think her dad’s going to like you all that much.” Toothless uttered a sort of sympathetic noise before backing down.

The doors were open again, and Rapunzel peeked out only to see an icy wall.

“Dad!” Merida yelled.

“Merida! Are you all right, lass?” Fergus yelled back.

“Ahm fine!”

Shortly after that a vulture was taken down by him. “Where’s that boy?!”

Hiccup flinched. “Aaaand maybe I should stay in here, too.” Nothing like the king of your enemies angrily searching for you.

“I’ll explain later!” Merida was about to charge out when Elsa spoke up.

“Wait. You need arrows.” With a quick wave of her fingers Elsa filled Merida’s quiver with icy arrows.

“Uh thanks.” I think ah better make some more later.

A large explosion suddenly went off, making Varian wince. “Well. There go my explosives.”

Pascal left the jar with Hiccup, and everyone with the exception of Hiccup, Toothless, and Angus went back out. The instant Elsa removed the ice wall Régine hurled her fire at the vultures. Another wall was placed to keep the vultures from getting into the ruins, and Elsa went to catch up to Anna, Kristoff, and Sven.

“How are they doing that?” a man asked, looking in awe at Elsa and Régine.

“Ah don’t care as long as they get rid o’ these things!” another said.

Merida notched an arrow, and she could already feel a difference in it. “This better work.” The arrow flew nearly exactly like her wooden ones, and it struck just as true. “Huh. Not bad. . . .”

Rapunzel wrapped her hair around a vulture’s ankle and flung it into a nearby vulture, stunning them. A brief but angry growl told her Régine was close by, and she stole a quick glance at Régine incinerating both vultures.

“I never thought hair could be used as a weapon,” Régine said.

“You’d be surprised how much you can do with seventy feet of it.”

Soon the vultures were overwhelmed, forcing the surviving ones to retreat into the sky. Fergus’s men cheered, and they followed their king as he reunited with his daughter.

“Merida! Ma wee darlin’!” He picked her up in a massive hug. “Oh your mother an’ I have been worried sick!”

“Ahm fine, Dad. Really,” Merida said. “But . . . ah can’t come home yet.”

“What?”

She stepped back. “. . . Ah don’t know how ta explain without makin’ it seem like ah’ve gone mad.” And so to the best of her ability, she explained.

Her father and his men listened intently with growing disbelief. But Fergus had seen nonsense prove itself to be true. After all his wife and three sons turned into bears because of a spell.

Once Merida had finished, Fergus and his men were ultimately at a loss for words.

“An’. . . all o’ you are involved in this?” he managed to ask.

“We are,” Elsa answered.

“Does that mean you all can’t go home, either?” a man asked.

“Not until we find that book,” Varian replied.

“And that ‘boy’? He’s involved in this as well,” Merida said. “. . . He's someone ah can trust.” Hiccup and Toothless exchanged glances.

“Where is he, then?” Fergus asked.

Elsa looked to Merida, who nodded. The ice wall disappeared, and everyone’s attention went to the ruins. Again Hiccup and Toothless exchanged looks.

“Stay here, bud,” Hiccup said, and he walked out into the open. “I uh, I’d like to apologize for making you worry and ultimately think the worst. Things kind of . . . happened pretty quickly.”

“So ah’ve been told,” Fergus said. It was strange how much he reminded Hiccup of his own father. They both had that stern look, and they were both pretty big. And they both cared about their kids. “Merida says she trusts you, lad.”

“I uh, I heard.”

“And . . . if she trusts you . . . then ah suppose ah shouldn’t have reason to worry.” A knowing grin grew across his face. “Besides, you wouldn’t stand a chance against her in combat.”

Fergus’s men laughed in agreement, and Hiccup refrained from frowning. However the king’s grin vanished as he set his gaze back onto Merida.

“Do you know how long you’ll be gone for?”

“. . . No,” Merida replied. “But I’ll try not to be long. I swear it.”

Fergus enveloped her in another hug. “Be safe, lass.”

“Ah will, Dad.”

With one final but gentle squeeze, Fergus let go. “Wait ‘til your mother hears this. She won’t believe a single word.”

“Ahm sure she will.”

The king mounted his horse. “Oh! Ah think you might be needin’ these.” He handed her the arrows he had salvaged.

Merida smiled, and she returned her arrows to her quiver.

“Back to the castle, then!” Fergus spurred his horse on, and his men and deerhounds followed. “Ah look forward ta hearin’ the tales you’ll bring o’ this!”

His daughter laughed, and the group watched Fergus and his men depart.

“Well! That couldn’t have gone better,” Hiccup said, relieved.

“At least he’s not hunting us down anymore.”

Toothless nosed Hiccup, who rubbed his dragon’s head affectionately.

“Let’s try to get a move on, then,” Chane said. While the others headed back into the ruins, Merida, Hiccup, and Toothless drifted behind the group.

“I thought your dad was going to send me off to the dungeon,” Hiccup said.

“Ah wouldn’t have let him,” Merida said. “Ah trust you, even if you are a Viking.”

“Well you’re not too bad yourself.”

Toothless hummed contently, and he gave both of them a grin.

Back with the others, Rapunzel was running her hand across the wall in thought. Another adventure had begun, and it had taken her very far from home and to a whole new world. She was excited, of course, but she was also a little nervous. Well not really nervous. Just worried about her dad worrying about her being missing and the fact that there was probably no way to let him and her mom know that she was just fine.

Something caught her eye on the wall. It was subtle even with Régine’s fire giving them light, and it looked like some sort of writing. It was only a few symbols, but one of them seemed partially hidden. Upon brushing the dirt aside, she found more symbols.

“Hey guys? I think I found something,” Rapunzel said. Régine held her hand up and made her fire brighter as everyone tried to gather around.

“Looks like some sort of writing,” Anna said. Merida nudged her way through, and she squinted at the wall.

“Can you read it?” Cassandra asked.

Merida brushed off any extra dirt. “ ‘Earth be moved. . . . Earth be changed. . . . Grant us passage . . . through walls aged.’ ”

The group flinched as the ruins rumbled. The writing glowed grass green, and part of the wall descended into the ground, revealing a dimly lit passage of stone and rock.

“Well. That was eerily convenient,” Eugene said.

“How far do you think it goes?” Rapunzel asked.

“Could be pretty deep,” Kristoff said. “Might be home to a few things.”

“Hopefully those things are regular animals and not those monsters,” Hiccup commented.

“Is it even the right way?” Régine asked.

Charles, who had picked up the jar, held it toward the passage. The moonbeam flickered more, and if he didn’t know any better he’d suspect that it seemed nervous. “This is the way.”

Angus nickered uneasily, and Toothless skeptically peered into it.

“You’ll be fine, Angus,” Merida said.

The horse shook his head, and Sven nudged Angus. The reindeer made a sort of soft noise of encouragement, and Angus whinnied briefly. Sven smiled in reassurance, leading Kristoff to clap him on the back.

“He’s got your back. Trust me,” Kristoff said, and Angus cautiously peeked inside again.

“Well, here goes nothing,” Anna said, and she stepped inside.

Cassandra managed to make two torches for Régine to light before handing one to Eugene. Everyone carefully filed into the passage, and once the last person was through, it closed behind them.

“No turning back,” Elsa said, a little uneasy.

The group continued on in silence, their footsteps echoing throughout the passage. Stalagmites big and small stretched up toward the top, while smaller stalactites hung from above. And luckily the passage was tall enough for Angus.

“So,” Anna started, making a couple people jump, “I think we should probably introduce ourselves. I’m Anna, this is my sister Elsa, that’s Kristoff, the reindeer’s Sven, oh that big horse is um . . . uh. . . .”

“Angus,” Merida finished.

“Right. There we go. Oh that was Merida that just spoke. The dragon’s Toothless, aaand the guy next to him is Hiccup. Oh! And then there’s Varian. Oh and his raccoon.” Anna paused. “Am I missing some people?”

“Those people would be Régine, Charles, and um . . . whoever that other guy is,” Eugene said. “Don’t think we’ve met before.”

“It’s Chane. And I’m sure Régine and Charles are familiar with your friends.”

“Eugene Fitzherbert. The grumpy one is Cassandra and the amazing one is Rapunzel.” At the remark Cassandra rolled her eyes.

“And Pascal’s here, too,” Rapunzel said, and the chameleon saluted.

“Wow. This is a lot of people,” Anna commented.

“Well these enemies are supposed to be dangerous,” Régine said.

“I’m sure we’ll be able to handle it,” Elsa said. Something grabbed the animals’ attention, prompting the party to stop.

“Now what?” Chane sighed.

“Wait.” Régine took a couple steps forward. “Listen.”

The party fell silent as they strained their ears, and they could just barely hear something up ahead.

“There’s water down here,” Kristoff said.

“Might be a river,” Hiccup suggested.

The group followed the sound, keeping alert for any sign of that girl’s creatures. As they went, the passage became wider and taller, and everyone was able to spread out a bit. The water grew louder and louder with every step, until they eventually reached a waterfall feeding into a small lake.

Somehow the ruins looked to be in much better condition underground. The gray stone blended smoothly with the rock of the cave, as if the ruins were built in harmony with it. Cassandra and Rapunzel shared a look. Although it was a far cry from the hidden lagoon they had once come across, the clear water seemed to glitter in the sunlight like the gems they had found.

“I’ve never seen anything like it,” Régine said.

“Ah wonder who built these ruins,” Merida said. The group made their way over to the lake, and Angus sniffed the water before taking a few sips, Sven joining him a few moments later.

“We should probably get some rest before we keep going,” Elsa said.

“And maybe we should figure out a plan for when we run into the maker of those creatures,” Chane added.

_______

(First chapter) (Next chapter) (Previous chapter)

[ends-of-the-wayward-storm]

Man this took a lot of time. Loooots of work went into this one, and I'm pretty sure this is the biggest edit I've ever done. I'm quite proud of it despite me tweaking it every five minutes. So I might as well just leave it as it is before I mess it up.

As you can probably guess, this is the cover for my Big Four story Through Moonlight. It's got ten chapters so far, so I hope you drop in for a read. :) I have two other OCs that I didn't really feel like putting in mainly because I didn't want to edit them (plus it would've gotten crowded in there). I would've loved to have put in Cassandra and Varian buuuuut they're 2D. :(

[ends-of-the-wayward-storm]

The Big Four--Through Moonlight--Book 1

Chapter 10--So Close and So Far Away

Summary

Why something decided to bring so many different people together from so many different places was beyond them. But it had to be for good reason. And that reason just happens to be an elusive enemy who is searching for a powerful artifact, one with an unfathomable amount of knowledge.

There was definitely one thing in question, however—was this enemy the real deal, or something else?

(AO3 version) (First chapter)

“Lemme see if I have this right,” Varian started. “A celestial being told a witch to tell you and your friends to find what sounds like an artifact before some other people find it first. Or else doom will inflict upon everything and everyone.”

“More or less,” Charles said.

“And . . . you believe all of this?”

“Unfortunately,” Chane replied. “And you’re in for this carriage ride as well.”

Varian exchanged looks with Ruddiger.

“And if we find the book we’ll all be able to return home,” Régine added.

The alchemist frowned in thought. I’m really in for it this time, aren’t I?

Multiple footsteps brought the group’s attention to the path next to them. The metal leg on Hiccup was the first thing Varian noticed. Then the black mass that was Toothless stole his attention.

“G-giant lizard!” Varian cried, scrambling away.

“Well, looks like there’s the other one,” Hiccup replied. “And no, Toothless is not a lizard. He’s a dragon.” Never thought I’d have to repeat myself so many times.

“They exist?”

“Yer lookin’ at one,” Merida said pointedly.

Régine was quick to notice Sven being led by a warmly dressed man and two young women lying unconscious on the reindeer’s back. Not to mention they were all wet.

“What happened?” she asked.

“Long story,” Kristoff replied as Sven carefully laid down by the fire. The man gently positioned Anna and Elsa to sit up against Sven, keeping a wary eye on Toothless.

“But I’m assuming you took an unwanted swim,” Chane guessed.

“Very unwanted.”

A few moments later, the sisters began to stir. The first thing Anna noticed was the warm fire. Then it was the group of people watching her. And animals.

“What are . . . who are you guys?” she asked. “And where are we?”

“You’re somewhere safe,” the Viking assured. “I’m Hiccup. And that’s Merida, Chane, Charles, Régine, and uh . . .”

“Varian.” The said boy was still studying Toothless from a distance.

“Varian.”

“Oh. And uh, who’s . . . that?” Anna pointed to Toothless, whose attention was on Merida preparing the tussock sedge.

“That’s Toothless. Uh don’t worry, he’s friendly.”

Anna cleared her throat. “Oh-kay. Well, I’m Anna, and this is my sister Elsa. And that’s Kristoff and Sven.”

“How did you four end up here?” Charles asked.

“Heh. Funny story, actually. Well not really but you get what I mean. Anyway, we were kind of attacked by these snow monsters with glowing eyes as we were crossing a river but—”

“Snow monsters?” the rest of the group asked.

“Yeah, so then we kind of had to backtrack a bit from the bridge Elsa made to avoid the snow monsters and eventually they kind of shattered the bridge and forced us into the river. Then we . . . kind of . . . went over a waterfall and . . . here we are! Heh.”

“Do you remember who made those snow monsters?” Hiccup asked.

“It was a young woman with magic,” Elsa said. “Dark hair, uniquely colored eyes, and she wore some kind of glowing bracelet.” The others exchanged looks, and Varian was just beginning to take in more crazy information.

“Earlier most of us were up against rock and tree monsters, all of them with glowing eyes.”

“They must be from her, then.”

“When was the last time you saw her?” Chane asked.

“It’s probably been hours by now,” Kristoff answered before crossing his arms. “Judging by how quickly she wanted to get rid of us, I think she was after something else.”

“She’s already tracking down the book,” Charles realized.

“Book?” the sisters and Kristoff asked.

“We’ll explain on the way,” Hiccup said. “But we have to find it before she does.”

~ ~ ~

She leapt onto solid ground with a thud, her heavy breathing coming out in white puffs. Turning around, she stared at the icy waters she had levitated across. Her limbs were on the brink of exhaustion, and her head felt heavier than it was supposed to. A few more spells and she wouldn’t be able to shift if she wanted to, let alone walk. She needed that book. That man needed that book. It was the only way she would truly be able to make people suffer the way they made her suffer.

Raising her arm, she could see her bracelet glowing a light orange. If she kept moving she could lengthen the distance between that group with the reindeer. And she could keep warm.

Trudging on, she clawed her way onto another elevated patch of land. She tugged the coat around her tighter, and she squinted up at the stone archway. Inside the mountainous rock was a sort of small and long since abandoned fort. Her bracelet turned a dark orange, and she marched inside.

The fort was just as cold as the outside, its floor made entirely out of stone. There were multiple pillars that stood tall against the fog that curled around them, and the stone ceiling seemed to go on forever. A series of pulley systems were scattered throughout the area, as well as what seemed to be numerous pegs one could use a grappling hook for.

Upon looking to her left, she spotted it. A soft gold aura surrounded the book on the ground, and a covetous look flashed in her eyes. She bolted for it, and her bracelet changed to a red as she neared the book. This was it. This was the day she would finally get one step closer to everything she was promised.

Just as she was about to grab the book, its aura intensified. She was forced to stop and shield her eyes, falling back in the process. What was that thing doing?! Did it have a defense mechanism she wasn’t aware of?!

The light suddenly vanished, and she lowered her arms to see that the book had vanished. “No . . .” She was so close, so painstakingly close . . .

Already dreading it, she looked down at her bracelet—a solid blue.

Her nails dug into her palms, and she yelled in frustration.

(First chapter) (Next chapter) (Previous chapter)

[ends-of-the-wayward-storm]

The Big Four--Through Moonlight--Book 1

Chapter 8--Murky, Questionable, and Cold

Summary

Why something decided to bring so many different people together from so many different places was beyond them. But it had to be for good reason. And that reason just happens to be an elusive enemy who is searching for a powerful artifact, one with an unfathomable amount of knowledge.

There was definitely one thing in question, however—was this enemy the real deal, or something else?

(AO3 version) (First chapter)

“How haven’t we lost that thing yet?!” Chane scowled.

Every now and then Hiccup glanced over his shoulder at the others behind him. The rock monster was ever so persistent, but Angus was slowly dropping behind. His panting could be heard clearly over the pounding of his hooves, but still he powered through.

Merida scanned her blurry surroundings. Everything was noticeably darker here, and once in a while she would catch a whiff of something very unpleasant. The trees appeared to be withering away, and the water was disgustingly murky—

Water . . . she thought. Up ahead, water separated a patch of land broken off from the rest of the area. It was perfect! “There’s a jump up ahead!”

“I see it!” Hiccup acknowledged. “Get ready, bud!”

“It’s gaining!” Charles warned.

“Steady, Angus,” Merida said. “And . . .”

“Jump!” Hiccup finished.

In unison the animals jumped over the water and landed on the other side. Blinded by his tunnel vision, the rock giant doggedly followed them right into their trap with a splash. Vainly the heavy giant tried to keep afloat, but it soon slipped under the water.

“Rocks don’t float. Nicely done, Princess Merida,” Charles complimented.

“And now we’re all wet,” Chane stated grumpily.

“You are all wet,” Régine corrected. Miraculously neither Angus nor the girls had a drop of water on them.

“Hah. Good thing Angus is quick on his feet,” Merida joked.

The girls dismounted as the boys tried to squeeze out as much water as they could.

“Ya did good, boy.” Angus nickered as he leaned into Merida, who glanced to Régine. “And you’re not bad on a horse.”

“Thank you,” Régine replied, but her proud smile faded as her eyes fell onto the moonbeam. “It’s not flickering as much anymore.”

“We must be too far from the book,” Hiccup stated.

“At this rate we might not even reach it before the maker of those creatures does,” Chane said.

“And mind you we still haven’t run in to these other people the witch mentioned,” Charles added.

“Whoever they might be.”

Hiccup looked past Chane and at a large fallen tree leading to the rest of the swamp. He then glanced back to the others. “I think we need to set up camp here. Toothless and I will go up ahead and try to find some provisions.”

“Ahm goin’ with you,” Merida stated.

“You two be careful now,” Charles said.

“Och. We’ll be fine.”

                                                           ~ ~ ~

It was late in the afternoon and there was still no sign of Hiccup and Toothless. The Dragon Riders were getting anxious, and everyone in the village was starting to really worry.

“Well, Fawna says she hasn’t seen him, but she’ll keep us updated if she finds anything,” Astrid said as she paced in the Academy, a rolled up piece of paper in her hand.

“Where in Thor’s name could they have even gone?” Fishlegs asked.

“Knowing Hiccup he’s probably gotten himself kidnapped,” Tuffnut bluntly stated.

“Well according to this note Alvin swears he has nothing to do with it,” Astrid said. “And there’s no way Dagur would pull this off where he’s at now.”

“But how do we know he isn’t lying?”

“I think it’s time to consider a more interesting theory,” Ruffnut suggested mysteriously.

“Oh great,” Snotlout moaned.

“This, is the work of trolls.”

“Indubitably,” Tuffnut agreed, crossing his arms.

Astrid, Fishlegs, and Snotlout looked to the twins with unamused expressions.

“Uh huh. You heard me,” Ruffnut said.

“You think trolls kidnapped Hiccup and Toothless,” Astrid summed up.

“Definitely! I mean they only feed on human flesh.”

“Come to think of it, Hiccup would not make a decent meal for those guys,” Tuffnut said. “I mean, heh, have you guys seen ‘em?”

“Trolls did not take them, you two,” Fishlegs argued flatly.

“Anyway,” Snotlout intervened. “I say we blame it on Alvin.”

“I say we should keep looking,” Astrid said sternly as she mounted Stormfly. “And we may have to take this search further out.”

“How far out are we speaking of, exactly?” Fishlegs questioned.

“Far enough for us to need provisions.”

                                                          ~ ~ ~

The bitter cold didn’t seem to change as they walked under another stone archway. In a way, it was good, but in another way it was also bad.

“How are you feeling, Anna?” Elsa asked.

“Well I can’t say I’m not freezing cold, but the homemade torch is helping,” Anna replied, now wearing Kristoff’s hat and gloves. “Thanks to Kristoff.”

“Well with any luck, we might be able to find someone out here who isn’t trying to kill us,” he said, and Sven glanced to the ice harvester. “ ‘But we haven’t found anyone yet.’ I know, buddy. I know.”

“There has to be somebody out here.”

“No, but there is a river we have to cross.”

Moving at a noticeable pace was a river reflecting the snow and ice around it. One side was a dead end, but another seemed to go on for miles.

Without hesitation, Elsa jutted her hands forward to craft a pathway of ice. “That should take care of this.”

As the group prepared to cross, a powerful gust of wind surged forth. The wind began to stir up the river, and the combining forces actually started to peel the bridge apart. Kristoff, Anna, and Sven huddled close together as Elsa reinforced the bridge. But when she stopped, the bridge began to deteriorate.

She squinted through the biting wind as she kept her powers going. “You have to go first. I’m the only one that can keep this bridge together.”

“What?!” Kristoff yelled over the wind.

“We have to keep going!” Anna said.

Although hesitant, Kristoff began to cross alongside Anna and Sven, making sure to keep close to Anna. The wind repeatedly dropped and picked up, and the river occasionally rammed into the bridge. Of course, Kristoff got the brunt of the elements in place of Anna.

As Elsa continued to secure the bridge, she couldn’t help but wonder if not seeing the young lady from before was a good thing. It was clear she had some kind of magic, one that she intended to use for ill purposes. And from what she knew, the young lady merely saw them as an obstacle. If she wanted to get rid of them, she would’ve done so already. So then what—or who—exactly was she after?

“Again?!”

Elsa was snapped out of her thoughts, and her eyes shot to the others. More of the young lady’s snow monsters were on the other side of the river, and they were heading straight for them.

“Back back back, go back!” Anna panicked.

As the trio scrambled away, a snow monster picked up a boulder and threw it toward them. Instinctively Kristoff shoved Sven and Anna out of the way, and the boulder came crashing down. Icy water splashed onto the bridge, and the snow monsters began to move in.

“Kristoff!”

The man was soaking wet, shaken, and was now floating away on a piece of the bridge.

“Hold on!” Elsa cried. She formed an icy rope that attached itself to the ground and extended out to Kristoff’s piece of ice. Instantly it grappled onto it, and with all her might she began to use her powers to steadily pull him toward her.

Anna thrust her torch toward the snow monsters, and they recoiled away with a roar. “Hah! Don’t like fire, huh? Now you stay back!”

Elsa’s arms began to lower, but she steeled herself against her growing fatigue. A gust of wind barreled into everything, forcing her to duck her head. Anna’s torch was snuffed out in a heartbeat, and she lowered her arm as her confidence dwindled.

“Oh no.”

Glancing to the stick, Anna chucked it at the closest snow monster, and the stick landed right on top of the monster’s head. Seemingly unfazed, the snow monster swatted Anna toward the water.

“Anna!” Desperately Elsa formed a quick piece of ice just in the nick of time, and Anna landed safely onto it. But the queen had also put Sven in danger.

The raging wind and rushing water pounded at the bridge, and the reindeer let out a frantic noise.

“Jump, Sven!” Anna urged.

Just before the bridge collapsed, the reindeer leapt onto the new piece of ice, and the snow monsters on the bridge vanished under the pale river with thunderous roars.

Elsa formed another chain that latched onto Anna and Sven’s makeshift raft, and she willed for the rafts to move faster.

“Elsa look out!” Kristoff exclaimed.

The queen gasped as a boulder from even more snow monsters came hurtling toward her. With closed eyes she dove forward, and her world was muted for a terrifying couple of moments. Bubbles from all around her as well as muffled shouting caused her to look up, and she clawed her way to the glassy surface. Breaking through, she gulped in some air with a cough, but suddenly she found herself slipping under.

Panic began to ensue, and she could feel the water getting colder. She fought to keep calm as the current dragged her forward, and she could feel her lungs already begging for air. Above her panic, she could spot a dark figure swimming toward her. Before she could try to swim away, antlers came into view, and Sven gestured for her to hold on.

Elsa gripped onto his harness before they both swam for the surface, but black began to creep into her vision. Her hands threatened to let go, and Sven kicked as hard as he could while straining to keep her close. Just as her eyes were about to close, the duo finally reached the surface.

The reindeer called out to his friends as Elsa swallowed in some air, her vision clearing.

“Good job, Sven!” Anna cheered as the duo made their way to her.

Kristoff’s screaming pulled their attention forward, and the ice harvester was no longer visible.

“Oh no.” Hurriedly Anna reached out for Sven with a shaking hand as she constantly looked over her shoulder. “Come on come on . . .”

The reindeer floundered onto the chunk of ice, and Anna strained to get him and her sister on. Rumbling water soon became on top of them, and Sven let out a noise of panic. Both girls turned around at the sudden drop, and the three of them gripped one another as they prepared for the inevitable.

“Hang ooooonnn!”

[Yeahhh this and the next few chapters took a while to come out. At least they're out now. Also, if I have not specified before, I DO NOT own HTTYD, Brave, Tangled, Frozen, or ROTG. I DO NOT own them.]

(First chapter) (Next chapter) (Previous chapter)

[ends-of-the-wayward-storm]

The Big Four--Through Moonlight--Book 1

Chapter 7--Another New Piece on the Board

Summary

Why something decided to bring so many different people together from so many different places was beyond them. But it had to be for good reason. And that reason just happens to be an elusive enemy who is searching for a powerful artifact, one with an unfathomable amount of knowledge.

There was definitely one thing in question, however—was this enemy the real deal, or something else?

(AO3 version) (First chapter)

From his hiding place, Angus called out to her. Hiccup glanced in the direction the horse was looking at and to everyone around him. Neither the jar nor Merida were anywhere to be found.

He suddenly sprinted through the battle and toward the drop. “Merida? Merida!”

At the bottom of the hill, the redhead spat out grass as she looked at the jar in her grip. The moonbeam inside flashed a sort of thank you, but in Merida’s mind the flashing didn’t speak to her.

“Merida!”

She squinted up at the Viking searching for her from the top. “Ahm down here!”

Hiccup spotted her head of fiery red hair as she waved to get his attention. “Are you okay?!”

“Ahm fine! Ahm comin’ back up!”

“Just—” Looking over his shoulder, the battle was beginning to tilt out of their favor. With just the rock monsters remaining, the only people who could really make a dent in them were Toothless and Régine, and that was if they simultaneously fired at the same one.

“Just be careful!” he finished.

As Merida hiked up the hill, the moonbeam flashed in urgency. “What?”

The flashing seemed to slow down with every step she took.

“Ah don’t speak moonbeam.”

Acting frustrated, the moonbeam actually jerked around in the jar.

“Och, would you stop that?”

“Run!”

Merida glanced up at the rest of the gang now running down the hill.

And pounding after them was the largest rock creature she had ever seen.

Angus bolted toward her with Régine on his back, and she managed to pull Merida on.

“Where did that thing even come from?!” Merida asked.

“The rock monsters converged into one,” Hiccup explained from on Toothless. “And I don’t think using just fire is going to make a dent in that thing.”

“Does anyone have the jar?” Charles asked, also on Toothless.

“I’ve got it,” Merida replied.

“Then where to?” Régine called over her shoulder.

“We have to lose that thing first!” Chane reminded from behind Charles.

                                                          ~ ~ ~

The dark and nearly silent basement was lit with a handful of overhead lanterns and multiple colored liquids. Occasionally dotted throughout the room were mysterious black rocks, shattered swords and axes scattered around them. Moonlight streamed in from a small window, and any nearby rocks seemed to glint in it. And standing by a desk littered with beakers and papers was a boy with a raccoon on his shoulder.

Attentively the boy watched a colored liquid pass through various tubes and beakers. “All right, Ruddiger. Last one for the night.”

The raccoon cocked his head as his owner yawned for the thousandth time, but his fatigue was instantly replaced with eagerness as the bright orange liquid poured into the last beaker. Carefully, he used a dropper to suck up some of the liquid and walked to the rock in question. Letting a drop fall onto the rock, both of them waited for a reaction.

And waited.

And waited some more.

“Huh . . . Nothing. Well I guess we can mark that one off the list.”

As the boy turned around, Ruddiger’s ears picked up tiny cracking. He chittered in urgency, and the boy looked to the raccoon and to where he was pointed at. The orange liquid was actually crystallizing and growing. It crawled toward the tip at a snail’s pace, and the crystallization was beginning to spread.

“Okay. Okay that . . . may be a problem.”

The tiny cracking got louder, and the whitening crystals began to layer itself the closer it crept to the rock’s point.

“And now it’s a problem.” He instantly darted to his desk in search of a neutralizer. “No, no, not that one, definitely not that one—”

Crack!

He lunged for the right one and swiveled around toward the rock.

Only to find that the ice-like substance had stopped growing. It was now a solid white and gave off a mist, and upon closer inspection, the crystals had coated the tip and thankfully nothing else.

Rubbing his chin, he found a tiny piece of wood and inched it toward the white mass. The instant they touched, the crystals hungrily consumed it until it had become covered in it.

“Interesting. But, not entirely what I was hoping for.”

As the boy went to neutralize the substance, Ruddiger scurried to the ground and leisurely walked right into a very close patch of moonlight.

Suddenly it was day time, and he was surrounded by trees. None with which he was familiar with.

Squeaking in surprise he whirled around to run back, and he was abruptly taken back to his friend’s basement. He squeaked again in deeper surprise, and he instantly starting chittering frantically.

The boy looked down at him, and Ruddiger repeatedly pointed to the stream of light with a panicked look. “What? The moonlight?”

He nodded rapidly.

Setting the neutralizer down, he peered through it and studied it at different angles. “Don’t see anything unusual about it. Are you sure?”

Ruddiger held his arm out and drew it back in a few times.

Suspicious, the boy stuck his arm out toward the beam. “See? Nothing unusua-hohhh what?!”

His arm had completely disappeared in the light, and with a yelp he jerked it back. To his relief, he still had his arm. “That . . . did not just happen!”

Ruddiger nodded again.

He looked at the window letting the moonlight in. Every other beam was angled down in the usual manner except for the one rather close to him and Ruddiger. This single beam must have brought out some form of a response from the rocks. Why else would his raccoon be freaking out?

Ruddiger’s eyes remained on the boy expectantly as the boy’s eyes glanced between the rocks and the beam. The light was skimming the rocks, and yet nothing was happening. Maybe the moon needed to rise a bit more . . .

“They had to have made a physical response, right?” he convinced himself. “This has to be the answer!”

The raccoon shook his head.

“What? They didn’t?”

Ruddiger gestured for him to walk toward the beam.

“There could be anything on the other side. If there is anything in there.”

Sighing through his nose, Ruddiger vanished into the beam.

“Ruddiger!” He rushed after his friend without hesitation. “Wait!”

The abrupt increase in light made him squint, and he blocked the light with his hand. “Ruddiger?!”

Familiar chittering brought his attention to the ground, and the raccoon was smiling up at him. The boy breathed a sigh of relief as he picked him up.

“Don’t scare me like that, you little rascal.”

His eyes finally adjusted, he was able to clearly take in his surroundings. It was broad daylight, that was for sure. The trees, although obscuring some of the light, were aflame with the colors of fall. Further down the path, however, the sunlight seemed to decrease.

“We’re definitely not in Old Corona anymore.”

Suddenly two black blurs shot past him, knocking him back. Moments later. the ground started to shake, and a mass of rocks thundered past them. Rocks. Rocks don’t just run for no reason.

“Did I just see . . . ?”

Ruddiger nodded.

The boy glanced to the patch of moonlight miraculously still there. It seemed to stick out like a sore thumb against all of the warm colors. He could go back home if he chose to. But on the other hand, maybe the answer to the mystery of the black rocks could be here, wherever this place was.

“We’ll just find out where those guys are headed and we’ll be back before morning,” he said. But Ruddiger didn’t look convinced. “Don’t worry. Dad won’t even know we’re gone!”

The raccoon sighed as he took his position on his owner’s shoulder, and the boy took off running after the group. But just as he started running, the moonbeam faded away.

(First chapter) (Next chapter) (Previous chapter)

[ends-of-the-wayward-storm]

The Big Four--Through Moonlight--Book 1

Chapter 9--Pieces Coming Together

Summary

Why something decided to bring so many different people together from so many different places was beyond them. But it had to be for good reason. And that reason just happens to be an elusive enemy who is searching for a powerful artifact, one with an unfathomable amount of knowledge.

There was definitely one thing in question, however—was this enemy the real deal, or something else?

(AO3 version) (First chapter)

Gathered around a fire, both Régine and Chane stared into the dancing flames as Charles sat across from them. She missed home, and she knew the boys did as well. For all she knew, her parents were probably thinking she’s run away again, or worse. She wouldn’t blame them, really. She’s scared them once, and now she’s unintentionally scared them again. And of course she’s had her fair share of scares herself within the span of a few days. Speaking of scares . . .

“Chane,” Régine started.

“Yes?” he replied.

“I never really got the chance to thank you.”

Chane raised an eyebrow. “For what?”

She chuckled a bit. “You tried to save me from that dragon, even though you barely stood a chance against him.”

“Hmph. I didn’t know Her Royal Highness could be so humble.”

“Oh stop it!” Régine whacked his shoulder with the back of her hand. “It’s called being polite.”

“Ow! Exactly!”

She merely rolled her eyes, but she couldn’t help a smirk from forming.

“Nice to see you two are getting along again,” Charles commented with a smile.

Angus raised his head as he looked to the other side of the water. The horse neighed softly, and the trio followed his gaze. Studying the path, the men slowly got to their feet and drew their weapons while Régine simply stood at the ready.

“This better not be another one,” she muttered.

Charles stepped forward as running footsteps came within earshot, and soon the owner of those footsteps came into view. “Oh.” He lowered his sword. “It’s just a boy.”

“With . . . a raccoon.”

The boy in question slowed down before resting his hands on his knees. “I think . . . we . . . lost them.”

The raccoon poked his shoulder, and the boy looked to him before looking forward. A way’s down were three people by a fire, the men putting their weapons away as the girl’s shoulders relaxed. He had to blink a few times after seeing the fire actually ease its antsy flickering.

Pretty sure I have very little oxygen flow to the brain.

“Who are you?!” Chane called.

“I’m Varian! What are you doing out in a swamp?!”

“I could ask you the same question!”

“Wouldn’t it be more civilized if he came over here?” Régine pestered.

Chane grumbled a little before cupping his hands around his mouth. “Join us so we can speak properly!”

“On my way!” Varian called. He ran down the path and slid down a small hill, stopping at the water that separated him from the small group.

“Hold on. We’re sending the horse!” Charles said. He mounted Angus and turned the horse toward the other side.

“Um Charles,” Régine started.

“Yes Your High—” He stopped Angus in his tracks as he watched Varian walk across a fallen hollow trunk that was sturdy enough to hold him yet light enough for him to have pushed it onto the water. “Oh.”

“I’m uh, pretty resourceful, actually,” Varian replied simply. “And, I’ve kinda been looking for you.”

The trio exchanged looks.

“You guys were being chased by this mass of rocks, and for a guy that doesn’t believe in magic, I uh had to see if I was actually . . . y’know, seeing what I was seeing.”

“Finally! Someone who shares my belief!” Chane said.

“Really? What you’ve seen hasn’t changed your mind?” Régine snapped.

“Not one bit.”

“Anyway, my name is Charles, and this is Chane and Princess Régine Rosalie of Vig—”

“Just Régine, Charles,” the princess sighed.

“Princess?” Varian immediately dropped to one knee and bowed his head. “I am so sorry for intruding on anything, Your Highness.”

“Rise, Varian. You’re not intruding on anything.”

He looked up at her for a few moments before standing with a small smile. “If you don’t mind, I’d like you to meet Ruddiger.” The raccoon gave her a friendly smile and a wave.

“How did you get all the way out here?” Chane asked.

“Well, if I told you, you probably wouldn’t believe me.”

“Try us,” Régine challenged.

                                                         ~ ~ ~

“So, when do you think we’ll run into these ‘other contenders’ that witch mentioned?” Hiccup asked as he parted a bush.

“It could be longer before we find them,” Merida replied, yanking a tussock sedge free. “An’ we don’t even know wot they look like.”

“Well for starters, they probably won’t be from around here.” Finding another glass bottle, he tucked it under his arm. “You ever wonder why this ‘man on the moon’ picked us, of all people, to look for what’s arguably the most powerful book in the world?”

Merida’s head turned a bit.

“I mean, he sounds so powerful and mysterious. Why doesn’t he just come down and find it?”

“Maybe he’s not able to.”

“But there has to be more than that. What do we have that qualifies us to find it?”

Merida rested her hands on her lap, keeping quiet. “. . . We’re not like many others.”

Hiccup opened his mouth before closing it. “I guess I can agree with that. I mean, I was the first Viking to ever even think about riding a dragon, let alone training one. And well, eventually that lead to our feud with dragons to end.” Toothless nudged him. “Now we live with them.”

Merida smirked as she faced him. “Well, ah don’t know if you’ve noticed, but princesses are not supposed to have weapons. That’s wot mai mother used to say. Ahm the best archer in the kingdom and I can best any man with a sword. But my mother an’ I . . . we didn’t always see eye ta eye.”

Toothless’s ears rose, and a few minutes later a sopping wet reindeer skid to a stop right in front of them. He howled in fear at the sight of Toothless, and he floundered away from them.

“Woah woah woah easy! Easy . . .” Hiccup tried to soothe. The Viking calmly stood between the two animals, and this seemed to catch the reindeer’s attention. With the wet animal standing still, Hiccup was able to spot a harness. “Looks like he belongs to someone.”

Heatedly the reindeer gestured over his shoulder while snorting and stomping.

“Uhh,” Merida started. “It wants us teh . . . follow it?”

He snorted again, and Hiccup and Merida glanced to each other.

“All right, uh . . . show us, then,” Hiccup said, unsure.

Without a second thought the reindeer bounded off, and the trio had to run to catch up with him.

“I think we’re about to find those other contenders.”

“Or someone lost their pet,” Merida suggested.

It wasn’t much longer until Sven stopped near a waterfall. There on the ground were three unconscious and very wet people, and the group didn’t hesitate in rushing toward them.

“They’re freezing!” Merida yelped, snatching her hand away from the strawberry blonde girl.

“We need to get them back to camp,” Hiccup stated. “Toothless?”

While the dragon helped Hiccup get the older woman onto the saddle, the blonde-haired man began to stir. Sven’s ears swiveled around, and his tail began to wag as his best friend began to raise his head.

“Anna . . . ?” He groggily glanced to Merida, Hiccup, and— “Aaahhh!”

“And you’re awake!” Hiccup yelped, nearly dropping Elsa.

Before Kristoff could jerk his pick axe out, Sven slobbered all over him. “H-hey! Cut it out!”

The reindeer huffed and groaned for a few moments.

“Wait what?”

Sven sighed and repeated his motions at a slower pace, but a quizzical expression still remained on Kristoff’s face.

“And you’re not at all afraid of . . . whatever that thing is?”

“Dragon,” Hiccup flatly corrected.

“Dragon?”

“Yes. Dragon.”

Kristoff warily studied Toothless.

“If you come with us we have a small camp that most likely has a fire by now. You look like you need it.” A few seconds of silence went by.

“Fine, but Anna and Elsa are going on Sven.”

                                                           ~ ~ ~

Fergus tailed his two Deerhounds as a group of five men on horseback closely followed their king. He could feel the vibrations of his horse pounding at the ground, his dogs’ barking mixing with the footfalls of the other horses. If anything were to happen to his little girl, he would make doubly sure that boy was sorry.

The dogs slowed their pace, making the men bring their horses to a stop. Both canines sniffed the area as Fergus dismounted. Strewn all over the area were dozens of rocks of all shapes and sizes. Chunks of tree bark were scattered everywhere, and both bark and rock bore scorch marks. Even patches of grass were scarred black, and the smell of burnt earth was very faint.

“What monster did this?” one of the men asked, his horse sensing his concern.

Upon closer inspection, Fergus noticed a couple of arrows lodged into a piece of bark, specifically where two apparent eye sockets would be. Yanking an arrow free, he fingered it as he examined it.

“There’s no doubt these belong to my daughter,” he concluded.

“Then she must’ve fought back against whatever beast caused this,” a second man added.

“What if that boy sent the beast on her?” a third asked.

Before Fergus could breathe a word, his dogs announced a lead. Both of them were standing at the hill’s crest, and a long way’s from where they were was a darkened area with thin tendrils of fog.

The dogs darted forward, and Fergus quickly gathered a few more arrows before mounting his horse.

“Come on!” Fergus ordered, and he whipped the reins of his horse.

(First chapter) (Next chapter) (Previous chapter)

[ends-of-the-wayward-storm]

The Big Four--Through Moonlight--Book 1

Chapter 6--Her Minions

Summary

Why something decided to bring so many different people together from so many different places was beyond them. But it had to be for good reason. And that reason just happens to be an elusive enemy who is searching for a powerful artifact, one with an unfathomable amount of knowledge.

There was definitely one thing in question, however—was this enemy the real deal, or something else?

(AO3 version) (First chapter)

Instinctively the older woman’s hand shot toward the pit, and ice came out of her hands to form a platform that the group landed on safely.

The younger girl stood up with a huff. “Ohhh you just messed with the wrong sisters.”

“We’ll see about that,” the black-haired girl fired back. “But first I think you should deal with them."

The group faced the now angered snow monsters, and the man held his arm in front of the young women protectively. Slowly, the monsters forced them to inch back as far as they could.

The older woman’s heel slipped, and her sister grasped onto her arm to keep her steady. Glancing over her shoulder, her eyes landed on the empty spot of land behind them.

“Any ideas?” the man asked.

A snow monster set foot on the platform, and then another monster. The woman looked back to the front and down at the platform, and an idea popped into her head.

Turning around, she turned the platform into an icy pathway leading to the other side. “We have to keep moving.”

“Won’t they just follow us?” the man said.

“Trust me, Kristoff.”

He stole a glance over to her and then back at the snow monsters. A third one stepped toward them, and a paper thin crack appeared. “Okay. Everyone, just . . . ease back slowly.”

“Wait what?” the youngest one said.

“Slowly, Anna,” the older sister stressed.

Together the group of four backed away as slowly as possible, and the snow monsters were lead to follow them two at a time. The older sister kept her eyes on the horde in front of them and their progress on the pathway, making sure that her own nerves didn’t threaten the bridge any more than the increasing weight did.

More cracks jutted their way towards the group, and Kristoff nearly whirled around to hastily usher the girls to the other side.

“They’re comiiing,” Anna worried.

“Just a few more steps,” the older sister said. “And . . .”

Crack!

“Now!”

The group bolted to the other side, and the snow monsters instantly made chase. Thunderous cracks filled the air, and the bridge began to give way to the horde. One by one the monsters tumbled down into the pit and were destroyed upon impact, but no one dared to look back.

With a hairsbreadth of a close call, the group lunged onto the other side just as the bridge completely collapsed.

“Phew!” Anna breathed. “That was a close one. Nice work, El-SAAA!”

One snow monster reared its ugly head and roared at the group, latching onto the cliff and refusing to leave the job unfinished. Kristoff rushed to hack at the creature with his pick axe as Anna bolted to the closest rock she could find.

“Elsa! Over here!”

Hastily Elsa ran over to her sister and helped her push the rock toward the monster.

“Incoming!”

With wide eyes Kristoff lunged out of the way, and the sisters sent the rock crashing into the snow monster. The creature lost his grip and plummeted into the pit before smashing against the now snowy and ice-littered bottom.

“Now that was a close one,” Kristoff said before catching his breath. Tiredly, he glanced down the rocky archway leading to another path. “Whoever she was, she’s long gone. And we’re lost.”

Sven snorted and huffed before gesturing to the other side with his head.

“Yeahhh we could go back, but . . .”

“I think we can handle a witch,” Anna said, rubbing her arms. “But on the other hand we might be able to find someone over there. And I’m not exactly dressed for the occasion, heh.”

“Elsa? Any suggestions?”

The queen glimpsed down the path ahead of them. “She is dangerous, and we could go back easily . . .” She glanced to the others. Kristoff was dressed warmly enough, that was for sure, and as a queen of ice and snow she was perfectly fine. But Anna . . .

“Our first priority is shelter,” she continued. “I don’t know how long you’ll be able to stand the cold here . . .”

“It’s pretty late here to begin with,” Anna said. “Maybe we should camp out here before we get moving. But, y’know, away from the pit.”

“And maybe we can figure out how we got here in the first place,” Kristoff said. “Wherever we are.”

                                                          ~ ~ ~

The queen paced back and forth in her room with her hands pressed together, her fingers against her lips. Her daughter had run off once, and the queen had feared she would never return. Now she was gone again, and the queen couldn’t stand the thought of it. “Ohhh what if she’s hurt, dear? Or worse?”

“Calm down,” the king said. “Régine will come back to us.”

“The sun has nearly set. What if she’s unable to?”

“There’s a reason why we appointed Charles as her personal guard. He will take good care of her. I promise you that.”

A polite knock was heard against the door.

“Enter.”

The captain of the guard opened the door, and the king stood.

“Anything?”

“No sign of them, Your Majesty, but I’ve become aware that a young man named Chane had joined the princess and Charles on their ride.”

Both royals exchanged looks.

“You must keep searching,” the queen stressed.

“Of course, Your Majesty.” With a brief bow the guard closed the door.

“She’ll be fine, my love,” the king said. “We simply need to trust that they will bring her back safely.” His attention drifted to the window. “All we can do now is wait. And hope.”

“Rise and shine, Your Highnesses!”

Régine’s eyes snapped open as Merida jerked her hood over her head with a groan. “Must your voice be the first thing I hear in the morning, Chane?”

“Well if we’re going to find that book before they do, we need a head start,” Hiccup said. “With uh, all due respect.”

Sighing, Régine sat up to stretch.

“Today?” Chane pressured.

With the flick of her wrist his shoulder instantly caught on fire.

“Ahh! Hot hot hot!”

“Régine,” Charles gently chided as the princess laughed.

Hiccup just stared at her quizzically. “Did . . . you just—”

“Yes. Yes I did,” Régine interrupted.

“Oh. Well at least making a fire will be easier.”

Toothless shot him a look.

“Aside from you.”

The moonbeam in the jar flickered with anticipation, and Charles peered at it. Since their departure from the witch’s cottage, he had begun to determine which blinking patterns meant what in terms of directions.

“Well, shall we—”

Both Toothless and Angus suddenly went on the alert.

Hiccup stood. “What is it, bud?”

The Night Fury’s attention remained glued to the rest of the woods in front of him, causing his rider to habitually reach behind him only to grab air.

Right. It’s back home.

Charles was the first to draw his sword, and Chane and Merida were quick to draw their respective weapons. “Hold this.” He handed Hiccup the jar. “If we lose that we won’t be able to find the book.”

Heavy footsteps thundered toward them, and several tall shapes began to come into view.

“Those can’t be good,” Hiccup said.

The group found themselves gradually tilting their heads higher and higher at the creatures of tree bark and rocks. The creatures’ clear bluish green eyes blazed with fury as growls rumbled from them.

“More magic. This is wonderful,” Chane said sarcastically.

The leading rock monster bellowed, and Merida fired the first arrow that sparked the attack from both sides.

“Princess! Stay back!” Charles said.

Régine’s palm ignited, and she sent a fireball at a tree monster. “I am absolutely not staying back!”

Toothless fired at the leading rock monster as Hiccup ducked away from another one of Régine’s fireballs.

“You mind shooting a little higher, Your Highness? Preferably away from my head?” Hiccup requested from atop Toothless.

“Ahm not even close to you!” Merida retorted.

“Actually I was referring to Régine.”

“Sorry!” Régine called.

Chane rolled under a rock monster’s swinging arm before dealing a slice that only made a scratch against the creature’s leg. Countering back, it effortlessly kicked him away and sent him flying into a tree.

Rotating her arms, Régine directed a stream of fire at the rock monster. The creature roared in protest at the intensity of the flames, and it fought to power through it. “Where did these things come from?!”

“It has to be from one of those forces the witch mentioned!” Hiccup said.

The rock monster struggled to step closer and closer to her, but the fire only intensified. Toothless darted out of range of a ground pound before blasting at the rock monster, and instantly the creature lost its grip before crashing onto the ground.

“Hiccup! Behind you!” Régine shouted.

Toothless turned around a moment too soon, and the Dragon Rider was knocked clear off the saddle. The jar rolled out of his hands and into the middle of the chaos, and the moonbeam inside flashed almost in a panic.

“Ohh the jar!” Hiccup panicked. Toothless was about to dart after him when the leading rock monster blocked his way. “Get the jar!”

Everyone instantly located the jar, and they began to scramble after it while avoiding the attacks of the creatures.

“I’ve got it!” Charles declared. Mere seconds before he was about to grab it, a tree monster kicked it away and toward a drop.

Spotting it, Merida dove for it and seized it in her hand, but her momentum dragged her over the edge.

(First chapter) (Next chapter) (Previous chapter)

[ends-of-the-wayward-storm]

The Big Four--Through Moonlight--Book 1

Chapter 3--Lead Down the Right Path. Probably.

Summary

Why something decided to bring so many different people together from so many different places was beyond them. But it had to be for good reason. And that reason just happens to be an elusive enemy who is searching for a powerful artifact, one with an unfathomable amount of knowledge.

There was definitely one thing in question, however—was this enemy the real deal, or something else?

(AO3 version) (First chapter)

“Régine—”

Any other sounds from the forest were silenced as she continued walking. The light outside her eyelids became dimmer, prompting her to open her eyes. Unfamiliar vegetation stood before her. Far more leaves were on the trees around her with even more leaves littering the ground. The rays of a setting sun seemed to illuminate the trees, giving the illusion of a flaming forest. Even the air felt different, warmer, if she could call it that.

“Where . . . where am I?”

~ ~ ~

“Ah though ye said it was right here.”

“I . . . thought so, too.”

The duo had finally reached the spot Merida had found Hiccup and Toothless at, but the black creature was nowhere to be found.

“He must’ve gone deeper in.”

Merida scoffed. “Come on, Angus.”

With a snort, the Clydesdale continued trotting.

“That beast o’ yours better not be hungry.”

“Wha—ugh, he’s not going to eat anyone. Okay?" Hiccup clarified. "A-a-and even if he were hungry, I’m sure there are plenty of rivers here for him to fish in.”

As if to prove him wrong, a bloodcurdling scream rang out. Merida instantly gave him a look.

“Don’t—even start.”

Muttering heated insults, she shook the reins and took off.

~ ~ ~

“So you’re just going to stand there? I thought you were assigned to protect her.”

“And I am.”

“Then why aren’t you going after her?!”

“I don’t think you see the problem with this. There is a chance that once we set foot through there, we may never be able to turn back.”

“That should be a risk you're willing to take."

"And it is. I'm just not so keen on charging into the unknown."

Chane placed his hands on his hips as he looked to the sky. "Look. Just go in there and find her. If you’re not back by the time the sun sets then I'll go to the palace."

“Come on. Use your head!”

“You’re telling me to use my head?”

Charles’s expression deadpanned. “You think the king and queen will believe you when you say that their princess and her assigned protector are trapped within a beam of light?”

The blonde mentally kicked himself. And you call yourself a man of science. “I see your point.” He studied the beam as he rubbed his chin. What’s the worst that could happen? “Well if you won’t go in then I will.”

“Now wait just a second—”

Chane passed through the beam of light without a second thought, and the first thing his eyes sought out was the largest reptile he had ever seen.

“Stay away from me, you beast!”

With teeth bared and eyes narrowed, the beast’s wings were opened to make himself appear even larger than he already was. Under his gaze was Régine, who was backing up toward a tree.

“Hey!”

Upon Chane’s outburst, the creature whipped his head in his direction. His eyes darted to the knife now in Chane’s hand, and he abandoned Régine in favor of a bigger threat.

“Come get me, you demon!”

Tucking in his wings, the reptile sprinted for Chane, who braced for impact as he tightened his grip.

“Toothless stop!”

A blur of green and brown shot between the duo as a horse’s stride slowed down, and Toothless yanked himself to a halt.

“That thing is yours?!” Régine snapped.

“Toothless is a dragon?!” Merida exclaimed.

“Yes, and yes,” Hiccup answered.

Merida was about to argue their existence when she held her tongue. She knew better than to question the truths of legends and stories.

Toothless’s eyes darted from his rider to the armed man behind him, his pupils still rendered to slits.

“Uh you mind puttin’ that thing down?” Hiccup retorted.

“And what, let it attack us?” Chane fired. In reply Toothless hissed.

“No one—is attacking anyone.” Putting his complete focus on his friend, Hiccup gradually extended his hand out. “It’s all right, bud. I’m here. Just calm down.”

A hum escaped the dragon as Toothless’s eyes fell onto the hand in front of him. Régine frantically mouthed for Chane to drop the knife, and begrudgingly he obeyed. He even slid it as far from him as possible.

Satisfied, Toothless’s snout met Hiccup’s hand.

“How did you . . .” Merida said. Further sending everyone into deeper awe, Toothless gave Hiccup a very long lick.

“Ah hah . . . I missed you, too, bud,” Hiccup said, shaking off the dragon spit. “See? He’s harmless!”

“Princess? Are you out here?”

Everyone unanimously turned toward the new voice emerging from the same kind of light Hiccup and Toothless saw in the storm.

That's . . . strange, Hiccup thought. Interesting, but strange.

The eyes of the voice’s owner flew to Toothless.

“Not a word, Charles. Not a single—word,” Régine ordered. The man, instead of yelling, swallowed.

“So, I think we all got off on the wrong foot. My name’s Hiccup, and you all know Toothless here.” The dragon growled at Chane.

“Ahem.” Charles regained his composure. “May I present, Princess Régine Rosalie of the Kingdom Vigne Rose.”

“And lemme guess. You’re a prince.”

“No, I’m not. My name is Chane and I am—”

“A man of science,” Régine finished, annoyed. And Chane was equally annoyed at her.

“Merida of Dunbroch.”

“Great. Now that we’re all acquainted with each other I think it’s time for Toothless and I to head home,” Hiccup concluded. “Of course, that’s gonna be a long flight. I would uh, offer a ride back home buuuut I’m pretty sure four people would be pushing it.”

Toothless shot him a “no kidding” look.

“I would rather swim than get on the back of that thing,” Régine replied coldly. “We’ll take the—”

The beam of light Charles had come from was now gone.

“Moonlight . . .”

“Oh. Now is when everything goes back to scientific normality,” Chane retorted. “Do you have a ship, Miss?”

“Uhhh . . .” Merida’s attention was elsewhere. Specifically on a small ball of blue light behind him.

Following her line of sight, he turned to see more of those lights materializing, forming a path that led even deeper into the forest. “Light.”

Toothless’s eyes widened in awe, and the lights seemed to call to the odd bunch.

“Oh no.” She marched right up to the first one. “Ahm not followin’ you this time. I’m heading straight home!”

“What are they?” Régine asked.

“Will o’ the wisps. They’re supposed ta lead you to yer fate, but I’m not gettin’ caught in another witch curse.”

Hiccup knelt down to inspect one. Its whispers coaxed him to follow, and he began to reach out to one when his dragon pounced on top of it. He opened his paws expectantly, but there was nothing but air. He tilted his head in wonder, and another one appeared much further away.

“I bet your ‘science’ can’t explain that,” Régine mocked.

“Come back to me in an hour or so, Your Highness,” Chane replied distractedly.

“Think we should follow 'em, bud?” Hiccup asked. Toothless made an amused noise. “Well it can’t be too bad, can it?”

“I suggest we listen to Merida,” Charles said. “She seems to know these lands better than we do, and mind you the both of you need to head home, especially you, Your Highness.”

Régine took a step back. “My parents would begin to worry . . .”

Toothless began pouncing on every single wisp along the path, all of them disappearing and reappearing at the end. And Hiccup had no choice but to follow.

“You’re going off by yourself?”

“I’m not by myself,” Hiccup corrected. “I have Toothless.”

Régine rolled her eyes. “Of course. A demonic creature by your side is all the company you need.” The dragon countered with a brief hiss before continuing his game.

“You’re welcome to join any time you want.”

She glanced from the strange duo to Charles, and then to Merida, whose arms were crossed. After her first impressions with “Toothless,” she didn’t want to go anywhere near it—him. She was content with finding a way back home and forgetting this whole experience. But finding out what was at the end of the path . . .

With a sigh through the nose, Régine walked after Hiccup, making sure to keep him between herself and Toothless.

“Well, I’m certainly not leaving her alone with those two,” Chane commented.

“I can handle myself, Chane.”

“Then tell me why you didn’t make good use of those powers of yours.”

“You want me to burn the whole forest down?!”

Charles and Merida both watched the rest of the group venture deeper into the forest before exchanging side glances.

“Don’t say ah didn’t warn you!” Merida called. “Dinguses.”

“You’re really letting them go, aren’t you?” Charles asked.

“You are, too, since you’re here an’ not over there.”

“You’ve a point there.” Charles sighed. “But, I can’t just stand here. And neither can you.”

“Ahm not. I’m going home.”

“You know the lay of this land. It’s only fitting you warn them about its dangers. And you’ll be able to tell them you told them so if something goes wrong.”

She shot him an irritated look.

“You know I’m right.”

With an eye roll, she gently tugged at Angus’s reins to move him along, the guard right by her side.

“And besides, those wisps can’t be that much trouble, can they?”

(First chapter) (Next chapter) (Previous chapter)

[ends-of-the-wayward-storm]

"When it came to it you were willing to save Rapunzel, and you didn’t have to. Of course your temper obviously got the better of you, Princess.”

Sooo here's an edit of my OC Régine that I've been meaning to post for a while. I didn't feel like making a background so I just cropped out Olaf. I'm not that great with lighting but I'm slowly improving. I think I did pretty good, though.

Her main story has been taken down since it’s old-ish by like two years and I’ve gotten better since then (but I would like to revamp/rewrite it some time), but you can still find her in my Big Four story Through Moonlight. Hope you guys give it a read some time. :)