"What the heck just happened?" Eliza asked after they all uncovered their eyes.

"You okay Hazel?" Carla asked as she saw Hazel still as a statue.

Hazel only pointed at the direction of the music box, not bothering to look around. Everyone stood paralyzed at what they saw; John and Rose Abernathy.

"W-what are you?" Gabriel asked staring transfixed at them.

"Memories." Rose Abernathy said simply.

"If you are my parents why aren't you dead?" Hazel asked gripping the handle of her dagger tightly.

"A week before the Corpsataur mission we made this box to record all our memories and gave it to Chancellor Nevermore to guard it for us." Rose Abernathy said.

"Girls you have to hurry." John Abernathy said looking at his two daughters.

"What?" Hazel asked looking alarmed.

"We're alive, along with your parents Gabriel." Rose Abernathy said looking at the boy.

"Where are you?" Eliza asked suddenly business like.

"We can't tell you exactly in case someone is listening but we will tell you a riddle." John Abernathy said smiling a little.

Hazel and Gabriel glanced at each other before exchanging competitive looks and smiles.

"Spill." Hazel said eyes narrowing.

It separates the clouds from the ground

It casts its shadow over the forest

And it stands tall over the glimmering lake

Mr. and Mrs. Abernathy smiled at each other as they finished.

"I have no idea." Gabriel said furrowing his brows, "Hazel?"

"Don't you have the book I gave you on your birthday?" Hazel asked.

"Oh yeah." Gabriel said before pulling out the leather-bound book that Hazel gave him as a birthday present from his bag.

"So how those it work?" Eliza asked as Gabriel opened the book.

"You just sort of blow on it." Gabriel said.

"Show me." Carla said looking at him as he laid the book down on the table.

Gabriel nodded before gently blowing on the pages.

Instantly the pages began to sprout mountains, hills, canyons, and bodies of water.

"Awesome!" The twins cried in excitement.

"Take care of each other, alright?" John Abernathy said before he and Rose Abernathy disappeared.

"Well, there's something you don't see every day." Eliza said staring at where her parents once stood, "Even in the monster hunting business."

"So, what should we be looking for?" Rachel asked as she and her brother joined their friends around the table.

"Mountains." Gabriel said simply.

"And it has to be near a forest and a lake." Hazel said.

"Let's narrow it down then." Ace said folding his arms, "We already know there are tons of mountains in the world, so let's see how many are near any forests."

"Alright then." Gabriel said turning to the book, "Do any of these mountains have forests near them?"

Then as if the book had ears, the names of the mountains and their locations appeared on its pages.

"Still too many." Rachel said scanning the list.

"Alright then." Gabriel said, "Do any of these mountains have lakes beside them too."

The names of the mountains began to blur as they began to get clearer there were only a few left.

"Five names left." Ace said running his finger through the names.

"There's got to be something we're missing." Carla said joining the four hunters around the table.

"Well at least it isn't a hundred." Eliza said.

"Guys I don't mean to be spoiled but I'm exhausted." Rachel said yawning.

"You’re not the only one." Hazel said rubbing her eyes as Phoenix leaped into her arms.

"Let's get some sleep then." Carla said stretching her arms.

One by one the Monster Hunters retreated in their rooms. The next day Hazel found her sister and their friends in the kitchen all buggy eyes and eating their breakfast with Phoenix beside her.

"Am I really the last one to wake up?" Hazel asked sitting down beside Gabriel after she gave Phoenix some mixed berries.

"Yep." Eliza said placing a cup of coffee in front of her sister.

"She talked us out of bed by saying you were being bullied." Gabriel groaned taking a bite of toast.

Hazel chuckled before an idea came to her mind, "Cloud Mountain."

"Gabriel can I borrow that book from last night?" Hazel asked before Gabriel gave her the leather-bound book.

"What are you doing?" Eliza asked as Hazel opened the book, "You know Mom's rule; No reading while eating."

"Show me Cloud Mountain." Hazel said politely before an enormous mountain appeared.

"Sis your brilliant." Eliza said.

"So, where's Cloud Mountain?" Carla asked.

"About two weeks walk from The Hideout." Hazel explained.

"Great." Eliza said smiling, "Hazel and I could go and get them in summer."

"I'm sorry what!?" Gabriel exclaimed angrily making Phoenix jump.

"Eliza's right." Hazel said looking at her friends, "They’re our parents, none of you need to come."

"Are you kidding me!?" Gabriel exclaimed angrily.

Every head suddenly turned to his direction, even the animals'.

"I get that the two you want to help your parents but don't forget that my parents are with them." Gabriel said looking at the two sisters.

"So, what are you asking for?" Eliza asked folding her arms, "That you come with us?"

Hazel's eyes widened when she heard this. She looked at Gabriel and could see the determination shining in his eyes, lowering her head, she sighed.

"There's no stopping him Eliza." Hazel sighed, "If he wants to come, he can."

"Why does he get to come!?" The twins exclaimed.

Everyone's attention was then turned to the Oliviero twins.

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

"We should've known." Hazel said before she and Gabriel burst out laughing.

"You made some interesting friends Hazel." Eliza said a smile appearing on her face as she and Carla watched the scene unfold.

"Agreed." Carla said smiling.

"Come on guy's, let's go to The Hideout." Hazel said as they finished their breakfast.

About twenty minutes later they cleared up and were all packed up.

"Hello world!" Rachel said opening the door and stepped outside.

"Everyone ready?" Eliza asked.

"Hold on for a sec." Hazel said locking the door.

"Why are you still bothering to close the door?" Rachel asked.

"Well how would you feel if your house-" Hazel began.

"This place isn't your house." Gabriel interrupted suddenly angry.

"I suppose." Hazel said standing up.

"Well then why do you still care if it gets robbed?" Ace asked as they started walking.

"I grew up in there." Hazel said looking at the house before it disappeared from the mass of the tree trunks, "I know that I should hate going back in there but I can't find anything to hate about it."

A few hours later the six Monster Hunters were standing in front of the final gate.

"Anybody else feel like we've done this before?" Ace asked as he and his sister inserted, they're swords in their locks.

"Probably because we have." Gabriel said inserting his bow into its lock.

Just after Hazel inserted her dagger in its lock all four weapons gave a faint white glow before the gate opened. Eliza and Carla stood in awe while Hazel and the others retrieved their weapons.

Hazel and the other three smiled as they walked the short hallway before opening the wall that led to Chancellor Nevermore's office.

"How did you do that?" Carla asked as they entered Chancellor Nevermore's office.

"We'll explain later." Hazel said as they exited the office.

"Woah." Rachel said in awe as they entered the Great Hall.

There was an enormous Christmas tree in the middle of The Great Hall, there was gold ribbons hung doorway to doorway and snowflakes were hung from the ceiling.

"Ace, Gabriel, Hazel, Rachel over here!" Matthew called waving at them.

"That old man's still alive!?" Eliza exclaimed as they walked towards him.

"Nice to see you too Eliza." Matthew said folding his arms.

"Nice work with the decorations." Hazel said looking around.

"Hey Matthew, you forgot something." Ace said smirking.

"And what would that be?" James asked appearing from the shadows.

"Greeting Hazel, a Happy Birthday of course." Rachel said smirking.

"Let me guess." Matthew said smiling, "Mission successful?"

"Yep, and the Grinch is back in his own dimension." Hazel said folding her arms.

"Nice work." Abbey said appearing from behind Hazel, "And Happy Birthday Hazel."

"Thanks." Hazel said before turning to Matthew, "Can we talk to you for a minute?"

"Alright then." Matthew said before they walked out of James and Abbey's earshot.

"This may come as a shock but-" Hazel began as they were far from earshot.

"Our parents are alive." Gabriel interrupted.

"Gabriel, I know you're still upset about me lying but saying that John, Rose, Dave, and Lila are alive is just going too far." Matthew said sternly.

"He's not lying." Rachel said quickly.

"Really?" Matthew said skeptically, "Cause last time I checked they were dead!"

"Just let them explain." Abbey said as she and James walked up to them.

"Fine, but the two-" Matthew began.

"They deserve to know." Eliza interrupted.

"If you don't believe us then we'll just show you." Hazel said taking the music box out of her bag and opening it.

"Name?" The dragon asked after it was fully visible and Hazel placed it on the ground.

"What in the-" Abbey began.

"Hazel Amore Abernathy." Hazel interrupted.

"Access granted." The dragon said before the holographic versions of her parents appeared accompanied by two others; a man and a woman both appeared to be in their late thirties.

"Matthew it’s good to see you again." The woman said smiling.

Hazel felt someone grabbed her hand and looked to see Gabriel holding it nervous.

"You alright dude?" Ace asked looking at his friend.

Rose Abernathy looked at them, gave a smile before tapping the woman's shoulder lightly.

"G-Gabriel?" The woman asked stuttering as she saw the young hunters.

"Lila are you al-" The man began before freezing in place.

It was then and there that Hazel finally realized that the man and woman were Gabriel's parents. Smiling slightly, she gently squeezed Gabriel's hand in reassurance.

"It'll be alright." Hazel whispered gently.

"Thanks Hazel." Gabriel replied returning the smile and letting go of her hand.

"It’s been a while, hasn't it?" Gabriel said turning to his parents.

"Gabriel." Lila Pasi said almost in disbelief, "You've grown so much."

"Then the three of you must be Hazel Abernathy and Ace and Rachel Oliviero." Dave Pasi said looking at the other three.

"Nice to meet the people who gave life-" Hazel began before pointing to Gabriel with her thumb, "to this airhead."

Dave Pasi laughed before saying, "I like this girl."

"Why thank you." Hazel said bowing a smile of amusement clear on her face.

"Zip it." Gabriel said laughing slightly.

"Anyway." Carla said facing the holographic people, "We know where the four of you are."

"Where!?" Matthew exclaimed.

"Cloud Mountain." The Abernathy sisters said smiling at their parents.

"What made you figure it out?" Rose Abernathy asked smiling.

"Coffee." Hazel said simply.

"Impressive." Dave Pasi said to her, "We'd love to stay but we have to go."

"Don't worry about me Mom, I'll be fine." Gabriel said before side hugging Hazel, "I have my Kumppani to do that."

"But-" Lila Pasi began.

"Don't worry Mrs. Pasi, I'll make sure he doesn't get hurt." Hazel reassured.

"Thank you dear." Dave Pasi said smiling at the younger Abernathy.

"I'm trusting you on keeping my daughter safe Gabriel." John Abernathy said smiling.

"They'll stop each other from getting hurt, that's for sure." Rachel said looking at Gabriel and Hazel.

"Well, the four of us have to go now." Rose Abernathy said.

"Bye Mom, bye Dad." The Abernathy sisters said smiling.

"I'll see the two of you later, promise." Gabriel said smiling at his parents.

"That's a promise kiddo." Dave Pasi replied with a smile.

"We'll see you around." Hazel said as her and Gabriel's parents disappeared.

"Well, what do we do now?" Abbey asked as Hazel retrieved the music box.

"We unpack our bags and get ready for Christmas." Eliza said before looking at her little sister, "Right Hazel?"

"Of course." Hazel said smiling.

The last nineteen days the remaining Monster Hunters spent in The Hideout was the best time of the two Abernathys' lives filled with snow ball fights, cookies, storytelling, and the occasional training.

Then on Christmas Eve....

"You guys excited?" Hazel asked her friends as they were all sitting in the library.

"Course we are." Gabriel said turning to the fireplace.

"You ready for our mission sis?" Ace asked whispering so only his sister could hear.

"Duh." Rachel whispered back smirking.

After Gabriel and Hazel stood up to retrieve their presents the twins swiftly pushed them towards each other resulting for the other pair's lips to crash into one another.

"Success!" The twins yelled in unison.

"What the heck guys!?" Hazel yelled as she and Gabriel separated.

'What just-' Gabriel thought in disbelief as he lightly touched his lips, 'Why do I feel like I enjoyed it?'

"You two seemed like you enjoyed it though." Eliza said as she and Carla entered the library.

"We did not!" Hazel and Gabriel protested.

"My ship!" Eve squealed in excitement as she, Chancellor Nevermore, James, Abbey, and Matthew entered the library.

"What is wrong with you people!?" Gabriel exclaimed angrily as Hazel covered her flushed face.

"Hazel." Eliza said as her parents along with Gabriel's appeared.

"My little girl's all grown up." John Abernathy said.

"Not funny!" Gabriel and Hazel yelled angrily.

The Oliviero twins looked at each other and burst out laughing. Hazel looked at Gabriel and smirked while giving a small wink.

Gabriel understanding his friend's sudden change of attitude, smirked before he snaked his arm around her waist.

"Looks like our secret's out." Hazel said pretending to be sad.

"What are you talking about?" Rachel asked as she and Ace stopped laughing.

"The two of us started dating last week." Gabriel said holding his laughter.

"Prove it." Dave Pasi said folding his arms.

"Sure." Gabriel and Hazel said smirking.

Everyone's eyes widened as they saw Gabriel Pasi kissing Hazel Abernathy on the lips.

"Got ya." Hazel said smirking as they separated.

"What is wrong with you two!?" The twins exclaimed angrily.

"It's something you call revenge my friends." Gabriel said smirking, 'Even if you might actually enjoy it.'

The End