Giving Fantasia: The Taking Fantasia Sequel

Chapter 109: The Cold...Bothers Me

Chapter 109: The Cold...Bothers Me

"So..." Pitch flexed his fingers. He imagined them around the neck of every worthless villain. "They are gone? All of them? Lord Hawkins? Lady shadow worker? The Once and Future King?"

The villains shifted towards their weapons. The Vikings tensed. Each group prepared for a counter attack should Pitch decide to strike.

But Captain Hook was unintimidated. Lighthearted, even.

"Strong sentiment. Strong sentiment indeed. My apologize Pitch, I thought that you and your nightmares were indestructible. However..." 

Leisurely Captain Hook lit a cigar. Toxins seeped through his empty eye sockets as he blew. "It appears you can't contain a few scrawny brats. Well...aside from Peter Pan."

"And your mermaids," Pitch replied, as his nightmares surrounded Peter. "Lost both Jim Hawkins and Wendy Darling, the two guardians I require."

"Dare I suggest— " Captain Hook said as Lana muttered disdainfully. "—that Wendy Darling's escape lies with Drago? At least, his ragtag Viking rebels?"

Drago pummeled his bullhook. The company he addressed was not large, but Drago bellowed. "Hiccup is to blame! Hiccup helped the shadow worker escape! Your mermaids were tricked by Stoick's crippled son!"

"And I suppose Hiccup rescued Arthur as well?" Ruber demanded, face convulsing like bag of worms. "Along with Schmendrick the Magician, and Sir Lionel's brat?"

"King Arthur is running north, all of the Otherland is after him." Drago squared to his shipmate. "They say Arthur, along with Lionel's brat, is fleeing to Avalon."

Ruber stiffened. His temple throbbed, triggering a tremor that rippled across his eyebrows.

"Avalon?"

Drago nodded, deadlocks swaying. "Avalon."

"What's Avalon?" Lana joined Captain Hook. Huffily she bumped a hip into Ariel's trident. "Why is Avalon so important?"

"Avalon was created by King Arthur." Pitch replied. Summoning Peter with Jack's crooked staff, he  continued. "Avalon was a safe haven, an enchanted wood. Avalon was created to protect two immortal sisters -- Odette and Amalthea. Odette guarded Caliburn – Excalibur. Amalthea..."

Pitch clenched and unclenched Peter's hair.

"Amalthea." he finished. "Was Arthur's...intended. Arthur made Avalon to seal Amalthea from his enemies. Arthur made Avalon to repel the darkness. Actually,  Arthur made Avalon when he was nineteen. The precise age...that he is now."

Pitch considered his last statement. After a dark contemplation, he murmured.

"Past will be present again..."

Peter stirred as Pitch recited the prophetic line. The verse was a victorious one, and it roused Peter's memories of the Battle to Take Fantasia. The memories were triumphant. The memories were happy. Peter began to fight Pitch's influence. He spasmed and jerked, moving as if he were trying to climb out of his skin. Happy thoughts flickered against his shadow, but they were too frail to push free.

Pitch snapped. A nightmare whorled into Peter's brain. 

"Arthur Pendragon must not reach Avalon." Pitch stretched his fingers over Peter's brow. When the boy was quiet, he continued. "The last time he made Avalon, the darkness disappeared. Oh, Arthur's kingdom was destroyed and his throne overcome; but the darkness disappeared for 100 years."