Essence sat cross-legged on the couch with her eyes glued to the seams of the a heavy velvet blanket tossed over her shoulders. Vasilia had given her a mug of hot chocolate, but her throat was so tight with tears that she just held onto it and let the warmth seep through her fingers. Briefly, her eyes flickered up to the reunion taking place in front of her.

"Siobhan?" Merida asked incredulously. She smiled, wide and bright, and embraced her once faraway friend.

Dìleas - Siobhan - stumbled for a moment, almost certain that she was dreaming but she melted into Merida arms. "Its really you," she sniffled.

It didn't seem fair that those two had each other again when she'd just lost everyone she loved. Essence suppressed an ugly fit of jealousy and forced herself to take a sip of her lukewarm drink.

Libera sat down beside her, hands neatly folded in her lap. "What is your name?"

"Essence," she muttered roughly.

"Do you what might have happened to Mother Nature and Father Time?"

"I didn't even know they were gone." her voice cracked slightly at the word gone.

Libera looked at solemnly, "Whoever took them is interested in you. Do you know anyone who might want to hurt you or them?"

Essence drew her lips together. Surely no-one would be crazy enough to want to disrupt the balance of the world like that; beside, only her family and the Valentine Court even knew she existed. She shook her head, genuinely bewildered.

"I guess there's nothing we can do but take you back to the heart nymphs." Libera finally remarked.

Groaning, Essence shook her head more vigorously, "I've seen enough of them to last me a while."

Libera gave her a disapproving look and asked, "Is there anywhere else you can go?"

"Home." she requested, "I'm be safe there. In fact, no-one will even find me."

"I don't feel comfortable leaving you by yourself." Essence's shoulders sagged slightly; a stab of homesickness boiled her insides. Libera continued, "But if you really want to return home, at least bring someone with you."

"I'll take Essy home and watch out for her." Jack volunteered. "Any friend of Suki's is a friend of mine."

"Hold on," Hiccup began.

Jack interrupted, "Don't try to stop me."

"You're not going," Merida spoke up, "without us."

"You're coming?" Jack and Essence both asked in surprise.

"Of course," Rapunzel smiled, "We're a team, remember."

"If its alright with you, I would like to continue serv-err-working with Merida." Siobhan stated.

Essence blinked in surprise; a warm feeling spread in her throat and chest. "That would be great." she beamed. "Libera, would that be okay?"

"I can't make the decisions for you." her voice was distant, but there was a smile tugging at her lips, "Just make sure that if you see the aurora lights, you'll come straight here."

"Right," Jack agreed. "Let's go."

Half an hour later, the group arrived at Essence's home. Where that was, they weren't sure.

"My home is called the Novo Palatium. It moves," she'd explained, "So its I kind of live all over the place. My parents gave me this necklace so that I could always find my way home."

The home was a massive compound that drifted through the sky as lightly as a feather. It had an irregularly terrain that was divided evenly between the seasons and several buildings, all of which were made of a blend of various metals. Gold, silver, bronze, copper swirled together in elegant, elaborate designs. The largest of these was a huge dome that lay in its very heart. Several glass towers stood erect, scattered around the Novo like lost children.

"Nice place." Jack said lightly.

He flew to the compound on the wind while Siobhan glided on her wings. Merida and Essence could fly by their own power, but Rapunzel and Hiccup had to fly in on Toothless. They landed near the dome, on the summer side, where tall trees were in eternal bloom, and went inside. The room was large, cold, and empty.

Essence led her friends down a well-lit corridor to a beautifully carved silver door. "My dad's study. We might find something in here." When she opened the door she was shocked by what she saw.

There was a creature laying in the middle of the carpet. It reacted to the sudden burst of light by hissing and crawling back. It was actually a she, a small girl curled up in a white dress that nearly matched her sallow, bloodless skin. Thick waves of black hair that had never seen a comb somewhat obscured her face. Her big sea blue eyes bore into Essence's brown ones with such intensity that Essence couldn't help but step back.

With her blood running cold and a lump rising in her throat, she asked, "Who are you? How did you get here?"

The stranger answered in a harsh but quiet voice, "They call me Mortia. I heard about you; I heard that you could help me."

Essence swallowed back a bad feeling. Of course this girl needed help, but from her? Before she could respond, Jack voiced suspicion "Who exactly told you about her? What did they say exactly?"

"I can't say." Mortia whispered shyly.

Rapunzel moved down beside her and put Mortia into her arms. "Don't worry. We will help you, but you have to talk to us."

"I agree with Jack," Merida piped up, "How do we know we can trust her?"

"Look at her," Hiccup insisted, "She's weak and pathetic. N-no offense." he added quickly, "Just saying. You don't look like much of a threat."

Mortia let out a small bitter laugh, "Thanks."

Rapunzel knelt and put her hands on the girl's thin shoulder, ignoring Jack's dirty looks, "What happened to you?"

"That's private." Mortia answered, "I don't want to think about it; I just want to move on."

Siobhan spoke for the first time, "And how do you think Essence can help you?"

Mortia pressed her lips together, " I just want you to find your parents. They'll know what's going on."

"You know my parents?" Essence gasped, "Do you know where they are? Why aren't you helping them?"

"Its a long story and like I said, I don't want to talk about."

Jack threw his hands up in exasperation, "Well how do you expect us to help if you won't let us know what's going on?"

"I just want you to trust me."

"We don't." Jack narrowed his eyes.

"I do!" Rapunzel said, embracing the small, pale girl once more.

"So do I." Hiccup agreed.

Siobhan and Merida shared a look. "We're not buying it." the former declared.

All eyes turned to Essence. She didn't think the others were being fair to Mortia; after all, they'd accepted her with open arms. "I trust you Mortia." she said at last.

"A fifty-fifty split." Jack muttered, leaning against the doorway.

Mortia turned to him, "Even if you think I'm up to something, I think you should leave this place."

"She has a point," Hiccup agreed, "If she could get in, anyone could."

"Only my family and I have ever been able to find this place." Essence said weakly. A shudder passed through Mortia.

Siobhan shook her head, "But your parents aren't here anymore. That might have something to do with it."

"Maybe." Essence murmured.

"Let's get her back to the North Pole; the adults will know what to do." Hiccup suggested.

The floor of the study fell out beneath them.