The Third Power: TTS AU

Chapter Seventeen

Rapunzel and co soon smelt the salt of the ocean.

"We're almost there!" the princess called happily and started to run the rest of the way until she felt the soft sand of the beach under her feet.

The others only took a minute to catch up with her then put down their bags and gazed at their surroundings.

"Where should we start?" Lance asked.

"Well, how many places are there to hide on the beach?" Keira asked back as she put a hand to her eyes to shield them from the sun.

"Hmm." Rapunzel tapped her chin and looked around.

"How about up there?" Catalina pointed to the caves that were visible in the surrounding cliffs.

Everyone turned their eyes to where the girl was pointing.

"Huh. Well, couldn't hurt to have a look right?" Eugene said with a smile.

—————

"Varian, are you ok?"

The alchemist blinked and looked up. Both Cassandra and Eclipse were looking at him worriedly. He offered an awkward laugh.

"I... yeah, I'm fine," he told them quietly.

"We can always turn back you know," Cass told him as she placed a comforting arm around his shoulders.

Varian glanced at her and then back at the text on the wall. He'd had less time to think about this than he'd expected or liked but here it was, right in front of him. He could read the incantation and continue or he could just turn back now and pretend this never happened.

He looked down and folded his arms as his mind whirled with reasons as to why both ideas were good and bad. Just reading a few lines of text could, potentially, alter everything for him and, if he continued after this step, everything could be altered even more and end up being either a disaster or amazing. He just-

"Varian!"

"Cassandra!"

"They're in here!"

Varian, Cassandra and Eclipse froze at the sounds of those all too familiar voices. They turned to see Rapunzel and Eugene stood in the cave entrance, and Lance, Kiera and Catalina running over to join them.

"You guys certainly got here fast," Cass said through her teeth as she pulled her sword from its sheath, preparing for a potential fight.

Rapunzel took a few steps towards the blue haired warrior, hands raised in defence.

"Cass," the princess started slowly. "We don't want any trouble ok? Just give us back Varian and we'll leave you be."

Cassandra laughed and took on a stance, sword raised and ready to swing.

"Not a chance, Princess!" she spat.

Rapunzel looked sadly at her as she let down her hair.

"Then, I'm sorry, but we're taking him."

Varian watched in horror as the girls started fighting, Cass swinging again and again with her sword and summoning black rocks when she could, Rapunzel blocking each attack with her hair and trying to trap Cassandra in it.

However, both were at a disadvantage. The cave, while larger than the others in the cliffs, was still too small for them to effectively use their gifts. Rapunzel didn't have enough space to swing her hair properly and Cass couldn't summon too many rocks without risking hitting herself or someone not involved in the fight.

"What should we do?" Varian whispered to Eclipse.

"I don't know," she admitted. "I could go through the walls but they're blocking the only exit for you."

Varian tugged at his hair anxiously as the fighting continued. Both seemed evenly matched but Varian was unaware of either's level of battle experience.

Then, to everyone's surprise, Keira and Catalina jumped Cassandra from the side, knocking her over and attempting to pin her to the floor.

"This is taking way too long," Keira explained to the rest of her startled party members. She then looked to Varian. "C'mon, V, let's go!"

"I-I..." Varian was pressed against the wall, unsure of what to do.

"Kid!" Eugene called to him as he helped the girls pin down Cass who was writhing in their combined hold. "We have to go!"

"He's not going anywhere with you!" Cassandra yelled as she managed to free one of her arms and tried to push up from the ground. But Lance came over and held down her arm.

"Varian," he said in a softer tone than the others. "We're gonna help you ok? I don't what mind control she's got you under but-"

"THERE'S NO MIND CONTROL!" both Varian and Cassandra shouted.

Cassandra continued her escape attempt as Varian sunk down against the wall of the cave and tried his hardest to think clearly. He had to make a choice. There. Now. He had to. What should he do?!

The sounds of the fighting started to fade as the alchemist's ears filled with the sounds of his rushed, confused, panicked thoughts. A choice. Right now. What, though? One choice. A few words. A sentence to confirm an idea of what to do. Just one! That was all he needed to-

"Varian, can you hear me?"

Varian gasped quietly at the sound of Eclipse's voice. It sounded different, though. It was kind of echoey.

"Varian, can you hear me?" she asked again.

Varian nodded slowly. His thoughts quietened in his mind, though still loud enough to just hear in the back of his head.

What do I do? he asked her, guessing she was talking telepathically.

Eclipse sighed softly before answering.

"It's entirely up to you, but I would consider reading the incantation."

Varian considered it for a moment. He looked to where Eclipse was sat next to him then over at the battle that was happening at the cave entrance.

He came to a decision.

The alchemist stood back up and looked at the text in front of him. He took a moment to read it then took a breath. Then...

"Ocean, deep and dark..."