Tangled: Stardust and the 12 Zodiacs (Varian Fanfiction)

Chapter 25: What happens after lights out

(The animals would be talking in human speech. However, if someone were to hear them communicating, it would sound how the animal actually sounds.)

It was currently midnight, and everyone was sound asleep. Ruddiger shifted in his sleep, his tail landing on Varian's nose, to which the boy groggily removed the raccoon's tail before turning to his left side. In the dark, bright yellow eyes seemed to glow on top of a shelf. Flapping its wings, it flew over to the couch that Soul was sleeping on, using its wings to poke a certain fox.

"Wake up." Hoots hooted as he poked Flick. The fox lowly growled as he swatted the owl's wing with his tail. Hoots glared at his friend, resuming to poke the fox.

Flick finally had enough as he pounced on the owl. He was about to bark at Hoots when the owl made a gesture with his wing, "Shhhh. Be quiet!" Hoots whispered as he pointed at their owner, who was peacefully sleeping. Flick gritted his teeth as he got off the owl, scratching behind his ear. 

Hoots then flew over to the bedside table between the girls and Rapunzel's bed, where Pascal was.

"Pascal." He hooted, waking the chameleon up.

Pascal rubbed his eyes as he groggily stared at the owl. "What?" The chameleon asked, sleep still clouding over him.

"It's time." The chameleon instantly perked up as he determinedly stared at the owl. "Quick, hop on before the sun rises." 

"Right!" Pascal jumped on the owl's back as they flew to where Flick was.

"Hey, buddy! Wake up!" Flick softly barked as he poked the raccoon. "He's always like this!" He complained. Pascal and Hoots looked at each other, rolling their eyes at the fox before Pascal positioned himself next to the raccoon.s ear. "Is he going to do what I think he's gonna do?" Flick asked with a disturbed tone.

"On your mark, Pascal. Ready, Set, Go!" At the owl's signal, Pascal stuck his tongue in the raccoon.s ear, startling Ruddiger.

"Eww! Pascal, what was that for?" He chittered angrily.

"Uggghhh.." Lance groaned. The four animals froze in their spot as they watched Lance sit up and look at them. "Awww, how cute." The man simply said before falling back asleep.

The four sighed in relief as Flick, Hoots, and Pascal glared at the raccoon.

"You're always the last to wake up. Can't you like, try not to sleep too deeply?" Flick said, raising a paw.

"I can't help it!" Ruddiger replied, scratching his head.

"Enough chittering and yapping. Let's go." Hoots declared as he flew to the ceiling where the trapdoor to the roof was. Pascal opened the trapdoor, and the four animals exited the caravan.

Once outside, Flick and Ruddiger raced each other as they ran through the open field with Pascal riding on Hoots' back. The four explored the land before them, careful not to stray too far from where the caravan was parked. It was a good thing Pascal and Hoots were good at memorizing landmarks. If not, they would probably, be lost by now. 

The four arrived at a creek in a small forest they entered. Staring at the water, Flick smirked as he splashed some water on the raccoon, making Ruddiger jump back when the water hit his fur. Flick laughed loudly as he clapped his paws together. Ruddiger glared at the fox, devising a plan on how to get back at his mischievous friend. The raccoon's eyes landed on a muddy puddle beside the creek, smirking.

"You're gonna' regret doing that. You know that, right, Flick?" Pascal asked from beside Hoots, who was perched on top of a tree branch.

"I will regret nothing. What can Ruddiger do that's much worse?" As the fox said those words, a pile of mud was thrown at him, his orange fur now painted brown.