Chapter Text
“We’ll be back in a couple of weeks,” Merlin said, collecting his spells, “it’s our first mission in three years but we’ve had enough training prior.”
“Yeah, you’re welcome.” Arthur grabbed Excalibur. The Fearless Seven had finally broken their curse and they had to make up for the three years they were inactive as a group. Luckily a letter came to the White Palace requesting assistance from children in a far off village. They stated that someone wearing a dark coat on a horse has been snatching kids. Of course, they accepted and decided to leave the next day.
“So what happens if like, one of you defeats the bad guy on his own? Do they get the sole credit or the entire F7?” Peter asked.
“All of us.” “Just them.”
Merlin and Arthur said those at the same time. They looked at each other and started arguing.
Jack rolled his eyes, “If there’s anything I don’t miss about our missions it’s this.”
“I’m just thankful we can use our weapons again instead of lugging the machine around.” Pino said holding his crossbow.
“Hans, I don’t think you should bring that much food. That’s at least a month’s worth.” Gretel rested her head on her hand as she sat down on the kitchen table.
“I’m just excited, that’s all!” he happily said.
“Have you guys gotten used to your human bodies again?” Audrey asked Noki and Kio
“Honestly we didn’t really feel a difference,” Noki laughed.
“It doesn’t affect my work that much.” Kio got his cannon.
“Well I hope you guys will be safe!” Snow chirped.
They left just before the sun rose with their partners waving them goodbye. As soon as they were out of sight Snow immediately closed the door.
“Alright, they’re gone. Are all of your stuff packed?”
Goldie nodded, “I said I was packing stuff for him but really it was just mine and he didn’t notice, which is weird cause I was holding an expensive fur coat.”
The moment the partners had found out the F7 were leaving, they decided to use this to their advantage.
“Peter, Gretel, Audrey and Snow are calling you!” “Don’t run down the stairs!” Noki scolded from where he was working.
As the pair caught up with Goldie, they entered the large parlor where Audrey and Snow sat. Across them were Briar and Gwen.
Audrey, arms crossed and one leg over the other, spoke “Oh good, you’re here. Sit down.” she gestured to the chairs and couches. Goldie sat next to Snow and Gwen, whilst Gretel sat opposite to Audrey beside Briar, and Peter preferred to lie down mid-air as he listened
. “So we all know that the F7 are leaving tomorrow for that mission,” Audrey began, “and what does that mean for us when they’re not here?” she asked.
“Bored partners?” Goldie cocked her head.
“Wrong!” Audrey grinned and snapped her fingers, “Free partners.”
Curiosity peered in between the six of them,
“What do you mean?” Snow asked.
“Think about it. What’s the one place you’ve always wanted to go on Fairy Tale Island but never could since they said it was ‘too dangerous’” Audrey held up air quotes.
At this Peter gasped, “Kio’s bedroom.”
“No.” Gretel gave him a tired look.
Gwen was next as she figured it out, “The Snow Queen’s Castle!”
“Exactly! It’s abandoned, it’s isolated, it’s perfect!” Audrey clapped her hands.
“No way! I’ve been dying to go there for years!” Briar shook Gretel’s arm.
Gretel chuckled “I once asked Hans if we could go when we were little” she paused and frowned, “he didn’t give me dessert for a week.”
“And now is our chance,” Audrey pressed on, “It was always ‘too risky’ ‘too slippery’ ‘too dangerous’ ‘too cold’. Well, it’s not like we’re helpless without them, quite the opposite actually, so let’s go!” The others nodded in agreement.
“Wait,” Briar held a hand up and looked at the floating boy,
“Peter,”
“Hm?”
“You cannot tell anyone.”
Peter frowned, “What do you mean, I’m trustworthy!”
“You told Snow about her own surprise party as well as Gretel’s birthday gift.”
Peter groaned in frustration and fell to his back, “Fine.”
“Promise it!” Goldie exclaimed. Peter raised his pinky up, “Promise..”
“Mm, yeah not good enough.” Audrey stood up and took a safety pin off her cloak. “Blood pact,” she said as she pricked his pinky causing him to yelp.
Back to present day, they got their stuff ready and left around an hour later, venturing to the Northern Mountains of Fairy Tale Island.
North West from them was the Fearless Seven, who were almost at their destination.
“Are you sure we’re up for this mission?” Jack asked his friends.
Merlin raised an eyebrow, “What do you mean?”
“I mean, I’m not talking about strength, but rather, don’t you find it strange that the letter was sent by a child?”
“Well it could be that none of the adults take them seriously, that’s a common element that happen in a lot of situations on this Island. Usually the children are correct” Hans said.
“Right you are, Hans, we’ve got nothing to worry about.” Arthur said.
“Also,” Noki chimed in, “This is our first mission where we all have someone by our side now. We have to be more careful with ourselves.”
Merlin widened his eyes, “Oh, you’re right, Noki, I didn’t even think about that.” he thought.
The rest of the F7 thought about that and they were suddenly uptight. “C’mon don’t spring that on us!” Kio hit his brother on the back.
“I’m not- it’s just a fact-”
“We’ll be fine. We always are!” Pino did the same action.
“Well, it looks like we have nothing to face or fear…literally.” Hans looked on ahead.
The rest of the group followed his gaze to the village up ahead. Dark, gloomy, broken, and empty were the right words to describe it. Merlin sharpened his gaze, “Check for any survivors! Hurry!”
The group spread out looking inside the houses, but it looked as if no one had been here.
Kio looked inside the stables, “What..?” he called the rest of the group inside, “Did you guys find anything?”
“Non,” Jack shook his head, “everything is empty. It’s as if no one had been here in years.”
Kio nodded, “Well look at this,” he gestured to the feed, “there’s fresh horse feed in here. And it’s warm.”
“But we’ve bumped into no one on the way here, and this town is a dead end, we would’ve seen them!” Arthur said.
“Where are the children though, did they evacuate?” Hans asked.
Pino thought for a bit, “Merlin?”
“Yeah?”
“What did the letter say this town was called again?”
“Sleepy Hollow.”
Pino frowned when he heard the name again, “I feel like I’ve heard this town’s name a long time ago…I just don’t remember what it was.” Finding this town was difficult for them when the town name was mentioned in the letter, none of them seemed to know anything about it.
“And it’ll stay that way, Fearless Seven.”
Noki was the first one to turn around before a large wave of black and orange flames engulfed them.