The Big Four

Chapter 3

Why did I agree to this again? Now I’m stuck with Hiccup, Blondie, and Spirit-Boy on an adventure to who-knows-where to defeat some weird spirits called “Haunteds,” of all things. Come on. What is wrong with me?
I sit up and rub my eyes. We’d slept all day and night. Apparently, riding a dragon’s tail for six hours was more tiring than expected.
Now, as the sun came up, we all had to get ready. Jack had said that there was something that he needed to do on this island, so he had gone off to search for it.
Rapunzel yawned and sat up. Her hair was everywhere. How was it not messy? She’d slept in the sand. Mine was matted and unruly, but hers was smooth and clean. Some kind of magic?
Hiccup had apparently decided that he also had something to do, because he was nowhere to be seen.
“You make a cute couple.”
I glance at Rapunzel, who was looking at me with sleep-filled eyes.
“What?”
“You and Hiccup. You make a cute couple.”
I nearly punched her right then and there. “We are not a couple. He took me captive and locked me in a ship’s hold for weeks, leaving my parents to be tortured and my brothers to die. We are not a couple.”
She hesitates. “Could he have done anything to help your parents and brothers?”
I open my mouth, then close it. I had sort of automatically blamed him for everything, but was that really right? He did save my life.
“That’s what I thought.”
I glare. “Still not a couple.”
She chuckles, then turns to work on her hair.
“How do you keep your hair so perfect?”
She smiles at me. “Magic.”
I want to ask if she could fix mine or at least lend me a hairbrush, but I decide against it. There are more important things than hair.
I quickly tie it back in a braid, then stand. I’m about to go looking for the boys when they emerge from the woods. Jack is laughing and Hiccup is smiling ruefully. At least they get along.

---

I’m relieved to finally be out of the woods. The thorns and brambles are taking their toll on my arms, and my leather boots are starting to show their wear.
Plus, I’m glad to have left that awkward conversation behind.
“So, what’s up with you and Merida?” Jack had asked.
“Nothing.”
“You sure?”
Apparently I hadn’t spoken fast enough.
“Knew it! Are you guys a couple?”
“No!”
“Haha. You obviously like her.”
I didn’t reply, and he had laughed.
Now, as I step out of the humid forest and onto the beach, I can’t help but notice Merida standing there. Her hair is tied back in a Viking-style braid, and her eyes gleam like the waters behind her. Her arms are crossed.
Jack gives me a look that says he knows exactly what I’m thinking and laughs. I can’t hold back a smile.
We approach the girls, and Rapunzel stands, too. She has a hairbrush in her hand, but I don’t see why. Her hair is so perfect it’s strange.
“We got some weapons,” Jack says. He’s holding a collection of swords, spears, and a bow. I have several quivers of arrows, some shields, and my own Viking sword that I kept from the ship.
Merida claps her hands and immediately grabs a sword and bow. I wonder if she knows that they’re also Viking.
Rapunzel hesitantly picks up a dagger. Its metal blade glints harshly in the sunlight.
“Have you ever used a sword or bow, Merida?” I find myself asking.
“Um… I used a sword a few times…”
“Here.”

---

Hiccup walks over to me. He shows me how to hold the bow and shoot the arrow.
I wonder if he’s feeling the electric shocks every time his hands touch mine. Probably not.
Blast it all, what is wrong with me? Focus.
I release the arrow, and it hits the target dead-center. Hiccup seems impressed. He steps back.
“Try it yourself now.”
I focus and shoot again. It hits the first arrow I struck and splits it.
“Whoa.” It seems like we all say this at the same time. I lower the bow. I had no idea I could shoot like that.
A dark, malicious voice whispers down my neck.
“Let’s see how well you fight with a sword.”
I spin to face it, heart beating faster than any heart should beat. Nothing’s there. The voice breathes into my ear again.
“Fight me, princess.”
“Show yourself!” I’m trembling now. A hand rests on my shoulder, and I pivot back to come face to face with Hiccup.
“What’s wrong?”
The voice whispers again. “Don’t say anything, or I’ll kill him.”
I’m vaguely aware of the whimper that escapes. I take a step back.

---

She starts to walk away, whimpering. Her eyes are wide.
“What’s wrong?”
I’m terrified for her. What’s going on?
She just shakes her head violently. Her every movement emanates fear.
She stops moving.
I feel a sword stab my gut.
She screams and runs.
I collapse.

---

“Run, princess, or he’ll die.”
My legs seem to go faster. I need to get away.
What is wrong with me? I’m imagining voices in my head, running like a maniac.
But the stab that hit Hiccup was very real.
Not that I care.
“You’ll lose everyone,” the voice whispers. “Everyone and everything you care about.”
I run harder.
I have no idea where I am when I collapse onto the dirt. My sword is hanging by my side, my quiver over my shoulder, and my bow in my hand.
“Fight me.”
Ten feet away, in a slightly cleared patch of forest, a black shadow materializes.
“Fight me, princess.”
I stand. My hands are shaking so hard, I’m afraid that I won’t be able to shoot.
“Who are you?”
“Must you ask? I am yours. I am fear. I am your worst nightmares come to life.”
Scenes flash before my eyes. My brothers, crying, as they slowly die on that cursed ship. My parents, being tortured. Hiccup, lying on the sand, blood everywhere.
“NO!!”
My scream echoes. I can’t think. I slowly sink to my knees, blinded by tears.
“Princess, princess. Hush now. Your worries will soon end.”
I see a flash of metal.
Then black.

---

Flower, gleam and glow;
Let your power shine;
Make the clock reverse,
Bring back what once was mine.
I sing over Hiccup. The wound slowly closes and heals, and his eyes crack open.
“Where... Where is she?”
“We don’t know. Jack is searching for her.”
He stands. “I’m going to find her.”
I don’t have time to protest before he runs into the forest, leaving me alone on the beach. I wrap my arms around myself and sit there, thinking about everything.

---

I fly over the forest, searching for Merida. I can’t find her anywhere; the trees are too thick.
I dejectedly head back to Rapunzel and Hiccup.
“Where did he go?”
“As soon as he woke up, he went searching for her.”
“He won’t find her. It’s nearly impossible.”
Rapunzel doesn’t answer. She just twists the brown streak of hair around her finger over and over again. It’s long – to her waist – but nowhere near as long as the rest of her hair.
We have nothing to do but wait.

---

“Merida!”
I can’t find her anywhere. Then, about thirty feet to my left, I hear a scream.
“NO!!”
It’s Merida.
I cut straight through everything in my path.
A black shadow hovers over her, holding a long, black blade. Merida is in a heap on the ground, crying uncontrollably.
I jump in and knock the weapon out of the shadow’s hand. I cut the shadow down to dust.
“Merida.” I lean over her. She’s unconscious, and tears and blood streak her face. “What happened?”
She doesn’t wake up. I sheathe my sword and carry her in my arms.