Chapter 4
"Rapunzel.." Nebulus said. "Yes master?" She asked, her voice in a monotone. "Do me favor, use your sunlight to create a pack of beasts for your little friends to fight, won't you? They're actually making quicker progress than I expected, slow them down for me." He ordered. She nodded reluctantly and obeyed what she was told. Rapunzel raised her hands, which had glowing light forming and she sent them to Team Awesome's way.. "This is so exciting! I've never gone through an enchanted forest before!!" Varian squealed. Cass rolled her eyes, smirking. Suddenly, the sound of a twig snapping was heard. "What was that??" Eugene asked. Cass gripped her sword, warning the other two, "Stay close.." The three of them turned to find a young boy, who seemed at least a year or so older than Varian. "Who are you?" The Prince demanded. "Oh, sorry.. I got lost, I'm not from around here.. The name's Hugo." He told them. They all just glared. "Also, FYI, there's a bunch of evil Griffins on their way to this exact spot, which was why I was running away." Hugo informed. "I'm sorry, what.. What are griffins, exactly?" Eugene asked. With that, the beasts came out all at once. "Those!" Cassandra shouted, her sword now drawn at them. They growled fiercely at them, Varian now trembling with fear. "C-Cassie.." He whispered inaudibly. "Hey kid!" Eugene shouted, "You good?!" Varian was frozen, timeless as a ghost, these griffins were golden, burning creatures of light, fire, pain and destruction, with the ability to burn anything they touched. Eugene moved on to fight back along side Cass and Hugo, who turned out to be an alchemist as well. But then, one of them clawed at Cassandra's arm, leaving a scar of burnt flesh. "Cassie!" Varian cried out, running to her side. She seethed in pain, but tried assuring, "I'm okay, relax, it's just a bad burn, Vari.." He just stared back at the vicious griffins, enunciating as his furious eyes began glowing, "How dare they, how could they??" "Vari.." Cass said, stumbling back. Prince Varian raised his hands and shouted at the monsters, "DO NOT TOUCH HER!!!" Countless black rocks shot from the ground, impaling the rest of the griffins one by one. "Stop it, now! Please stop! Varian!" Cass shouted. Varian stopped and realized what he did, but it was becoming impossible to control. "Hey, dude! It's okay!!" Hugo exclaimed, placing a shaky hand on his shoulder. He looked up, gazing into the new friends's emerald eyes. Varian looked around to see the crimson tipped rocks surrounding them all. "I.. I didn't mean to.. I just got so mad and.." He stammered. "Listen, you did good, and I don't even know who you are, you just.. seem amazing." Hugo told him. Prince Varian shyly grinned at him, but Hugo's eyes of kindness became ones of arrogance as he suddenly teased, "Also, ha, you look weird!" Varian just became annoyed as Eugene snickered. "Hey, Hugo, right?" Cass asked. He skeptically nodded. "Well, we saw what you can do in battle, would you like to tag along on our quest to the kingdom of Evashar?" She offered. His eyes lit up, but then said in a snarky tone, "Pff, yeah, sure, whatever." But Hugo was actually quite excited, because despite the urge to mock him, he had instantly felt a spark with Varian.. a genuine feeling of something unusual to him. Varian didn't want to admit it, but he thought he might've felt it too.. TO BE CONTINUED..