Rise of the Guardians 2

Chapter 45

The dungeon was the bottom floor on Pitch's dark castle. It was everything one would imagine a dungeon to be, complete with barred windows and doors, a dank smell and the occasional drip, drip, drip of water in the far corner. My staff and all of the other's weapons were taken from them. Toothless was lead somewhere else much to Hiccups dismay.

We were all shoved in the cell and the door was slammed shut.

"What do you think he's going to do to us" Rapunzel whispered

"I don't know" Merida whispered back.

"Punz, can you create more light." I said " I know it's not going to illuminate anything, but at least it something other to look at besides the darkness." She obliged and we sat there in a circle around the hovering ball of light. To our surprise the ball on light spread its light. Very dimly, but we could see each other.

After a very long while, we heard footsteps and our cell door opened. 3 people came in and I recognised them as the thugs who had captured us the first time we were here.

"You!" One of them barked at Hiccup "Come with us"

"He's not goin' anywhere" Merida said fiercely "You'll have to get through me!"

They laughed at her. "You ain't in any position to be giving threats, little Miss Redhead."

"Merida, don't" Hiccup said quietly "I appreciate it, but it won't do any good" The thugs led Hiccup away and their footsteps faded.

"What are they doing" Punz asked, her voice quavering slightly.

"I don't know" I said "Nirrhiti turned the Guardians when they lost all their believers, and Jack and Once were corrupted because we had just gotten back and hadn't been able to spread our centers. We just did a whole day of spreading light and joy, though so if I were Pitch I would just leave us down here until he's able to counteract that belief. He can't corrupt us now"

"So say I" A raspy voice said from the gloom. "So say I" We jumped and scurried back as a figured draped in rags came into view.

"Wha...Who are you" Merida gasped

It was an old wizened man, with tangled matted grey hair and beard, and a crazed look in his eyes.

"Father Time?" I asked tentatively. I was almost positive it was him, but he looked much older. He usually looks about 20. Many crazy mortals imagine him to look as old as he did now. This is weird because he has the powers of time at his command, so why would he be 80 when he could be 20. People can have very strange ideas

He turned and stared at me for a second before stumbling toward me. "Breeze, you are here!"

"Yeah" I said

"You must now give in!" He rasped urgently "Do not give in! Promise me!"

"Give into what" I said alarmed

"He will try to kill belief " He cried

"We know that" I told him

"No, belief in yourself! Corruption cannot turn you unless you have no believers including yourself. He will tried to make you doubt yourself, by showing you horrible things and memories." He shook my shoulders "You must promise me not to give in! Promise me!"

"I will! I do promise!" I said unnerved.

He looked relieved "Good" He moved back to whatever part of the cell he had been in before, muttering to himself as he went.

A while later Hiccup was returned to the cell, white and shaking.

"Hiccup what's wrong" Punz asked "What did he do"

Hiccup was silent for a minute before speaking "It was my father" He finally croaked out. "I saw my father. He...he was angry. Disowned me as his son. Said I wasn't a true Viking."

"Hic, that wasn't real" Merida said "It wasn't real"

"It felt real" He whispered and then said no more, as he stared off into space. We all sat there in the semi-darkness, listening to the water drip and we waited for our turn.