Now or Never TC1 (Big Four/RotBTD)

Chapter 23

Merida's POV:

I signal for the attack to begin.

One legion of nightmares heads for the castle by way of the Western Paths. Another by way of the Eastern Paths. I am personally leading a small group of nightmares through the heart of the forest. All remaining nightmares are flying straight to the castle.

I don't know where Pitch is, but it doesn't matter. The plan is perfect.

I begin to climb carefully through the forest, and then I notice something. A large canvas with three people on it. I angrily spit on the ground when I realize that it is the mended tapestry of me and my parents. How did that even get here? Who cares. It isn't bothering anything.

As we continue to slink along in the shadows, I can't help but think about when I turned my mum into a bear. At the time, I'd... I'd missed her. Despite her trying to force me into marriage, I'd wanted her home.

Another 150 feet or so later, I find my favorite necklace. It's the only one I'd ever wear. This continues, me finding my possessions randomly placed about, until I suddenly see it.

The gem I found in the Fire Falls.

I reach to grab it, but it jerks up. I look up and see.... Hair. Lots of golden hair. I groan in frustration. I want my gem back!

I see her begin to swing through the trees away from me- and the castle- and I follow, ordering the nightmares to go through with the attack as planned. I need my gem back!

After running after the swinging figure for several minutes, she finally stops in a clearing. As I run up, she tosses the jewel to me. Now, I don't know what to do. I touch it, and remember all of the happy times I climbed the Fire Falls.

A tear slips down my cheek, and I barely hear Rapunzel recounting some of my adventures. Finding the gem, turning my mum into a bear and back again, when I first got my bow... The list goes on.

I can feel all of the anger and hate flow off of me.

Then she brings up the other two. The boys. And instead of wanting to kill them, I... I... I... I feel bad.

I fall to my knees still clasping the jewel, as my hair returnes to its normal red. Punz comes up and hugs me, and I hug back.

"Well well, what do we have here. My fun was so short lived. I was looking forward to watching you kill them. Oh well."

We both turn and ready our weapons- my bow and her frying pan- as we glare at Pitch. Goodness, I wish I have my old stuff back. I hate black.

"Give me that jewel and I'll leave," he adds.

We stare at each other in disbelief. That easy? Just give him a gem? But we both realize that this must be special for him to want it.

"No way," I tell him bravely. He shrugs.

"Then I'll just have to take it."

Black sand comes out in tendrils and grabs my bow. Punz smashes the ones coming for her and her frying pan, but I'm not so lucky.

Without thinking, I stick out my hand just like I'd practiced to shoot at them, forgetting that I lost that magic.

But to my and Punz's astonishment- Pitch just looks mad- fire curls out of my hand and licks up all of the sand.

We stare at each other in disbelief, and then I smirk. I've spent hours training to use powers like these! I'll be just as good as Jack!

But with that thought, I realize that the castle is under siege.