Rapunzel's feet finally reached the rocky and unforgiving shoreline as she dragged the unconscious queen out of the sea, her arms exhausted and her burning lungs gasping for breath. Her extravagant ball gown rested at the bottom of the harbor; she had to take it off or else the weight would have pulled them both down.

At last she gently laid Elsa's head down on a flat rock, letting the tide nip at her heels. Rapunzel sat down next to her, panting and staring into the horizon where the Southern Isles ships had disappeared into the darkness. Her heavy head sunk to her arms wrapped around her knees.

Elsa began to stir. Her long eyelashes fluttered while she rotated her head to scan the night sky.

"How do you feel?" Rapunzel asked.

"Not… good." Elsa tried to raise herself with trembling arms. Her wound burned with the movement.

"Augh!"

She instinctively pulled it up to inspect the wound, cradling her bad arm in her good one. "What happened after I was shot down?"

"They got away," Rapunzel said flatly. She never took her eyes off the horizon. "You fell into the water and never came back up, so I dove in after you. I had to take my dress off, which is why I'm only in my underdress at the moment."

Elsa looked at her, warmth spreading across her face. "Thank you."

It was only then Rapunzel let her eyes wander to Elsa. "You saved me too. It was the least I could have done. But we're not done, Elsa. You need to nurse your arm. Then we have to go find them again. They have your sister and my husband. Hans took Merida and Kristoff too."

"I know. I have to go back to Arendelle first and see if there is anyone that can help us."

"But I heard Hans tell his guards to sail to DunBroch. That's where he's taking them."

"Arendelle is on the way. I just need to – "

"You don't understand, Elsa!" Rapunzel stood up and started to pace the shoreline, wringing her hands. "I made a promise! I always keep my promises!"

"I made a promise too, Rapunzel. I promised Anna I would get help for Kristoff. I promised Anna she would be safe."

Rapunzel didn't respond, instead retreading her sandy footsteps and mumbling to herself. She finally stopped with her feet at the shoreline. Hanging her head, she watched as the tide rolled over her feet, cut up from the jagged rocks of the beach, remaining in silence.

"What was your promise?" Elsa finally asked, realizing the weight it must have held in Rapunzel's heart.

"I promised…" Rapunzel started, closing her eyes tight and wrapping her arms around herself. She lifted her head up, catching the first light of day shining upon her face. It didn't comfort her anymore.

"I promised to tell Eugene he's going to be a father."


Elsa and Rapunzel returned within the walls of the kingdom, or what was left of it, anyways. They stood still and solemn, staring at the desolation and destruction that had swept through the once glowing town. Smoke rose from almost every building and rubble was blocking off half of the streets. Injured guards were carried to nurses, crying at the sight of their wounds. The kingdom really was lost.

"Mother! Father!" Rapunzel ran up to her parents, who had just appeared from the smoke walking through the main street. They outstretched their arms and gave her a tight embrace when she jumped into them.

"Thank goodness you're alright! We were so worried we lost you again!" said the Queen, with a quivering voice and welling tears.

"Elsa saved me. But she's hurt and she needs help." Rapunzel motioned for Elsa to come over. As she did, Rapunzel's mother ran up to hug the other queen.

"Thank you so much! How can we ever repay you?"

Elsa was caught off guard by the overwhelming affection, but quickly relaxed, wrapping her good arm around the Queen. "Rapunzel saved me too. There's no need for repayment. I just need to get patched up." Elsa extended her arm out to show them her injury. The Queen immediately called over for a nurse, who started to bandage it with clean rolls of linen.

The King turned to his daughter. "Rapunzel, I thought you might want to see someone."

A small green chameleon suddenly appeared on his shoulder. At the sight of Rapunzel, a wide smile grew on his face, and he shuffled down the King's shoulder and onto Rapunzel's arm. He nuzzled against Rapunzel's neck.

"Pascal! At least you're safe."

"Where's Eugene, dear?" Her mother asked. The grief that struck Rapunzel's face served enough of an answer.

"Rapunzel and I need to go as soon as possible," interrupted Elsa, arm now tended and wrapped, "Eugene, Merida, my sister, and her fiancé were captured. We need to get them back."

"You're not leaving us again, are you?" The Queen turned back to Rapunzel, voice trembling again.

"Eugene's in danger. He'd do the same if it were me. He's my dream, and I need to follow him." Her parents exchanged pained expressions. This was breaking Rapunzel's heart.

"Promise us you'll return safely to us. Please?"

Rapunzel took her mother's hands and held them close to her. "I promise."

The family embraced one last time before letting each other go.


"Fiancé? So you know if Kristoff already proposed?" Rapunzel asked.

"I don't know, but he asked for my blessing before he came here, and it sounded more important than 'boyfriend'."

"He talked to me and Eugene about it yesterday. He had asked us when we thought was the best time to propose. We told him whenever it felt right, but I think he wanted to do it at the ball. Of course that plan might have… not gone well."

Rapunzel was leading Elsa into long hallways within Corona's castle with a mission in mind, but Elsa seemed more focused on another matter.

"I made a mistake, you know. Well, I made quite a few, but there's one that I can't stop thinking about."

"What do you mean?" Rapunzel asked, remembering Elsa had mentioned that on the ship.

"I was trying to protect Anna, and I was pretty ruthless with the soldiers that came for her. I didn't see Kristoff in time."

Rapunzel eyes grew wide, becoming worried. "What did you do?"

"I sent an ice dagger into his leg. He could be dying right now because of me. He might already be dead. Anna will never forgive me for this... I'll never forgive myself for this."

Rapunzel softly placed a reassuring hand on Elsa's shoulder. "It's alright. Kristoff will make it through this. He's strong, I know he will. And Anna will forgive you, you were only trying to protect her. She'll understand."

Elsa gave a weak smile and placed her hand on top of hers. "Thank you, Rapunzel."

They continued walking down into the dark and damp dungeon of the castle. Pascal curled up on Rapunzel's shoulder, shivering with nerves. Elsa surveyed the cold and moldy walls, beginning to feel uncomfortable.

"Where are we going, anyways?" Elsa asked.

"I'm getting help. I already know that the ruffians at the Snuggly Duckling will help me, we're on good terms. Besides, they already helped Eugene get out of jail before. I just don't know what we're up against this time. I don't know if they can do the same thing with a war going on."

Rapunzel started to wring her hands again. A tick she evolved without long hair to nervously stroke.

"I need people who know how to sneak around for a living. I only have one option, and they're going to be harder to convince."

Rapunzel approached a cell door, nodding at a hesitant Elsa. She took a breath and knocked on one of the bars.

Two large men emerged from the shadows of the corner, towering over the both of them. Their mouths distorted into wicked sneers. One started to speak in a deep, mocking voice.

"Hey, would ya look who came to see us. If it isn't the girl with the magic hair."

"Are you sure about this?" Elsa whispered from the side of her mouth.

"We can hear you," dryly replied the Stabbington brother, cocking his head to the side and studying Elsa.

Rapunzel continued. "We need your help."

"Yeah? Did it have something to do with the cannon fire we heard?"

"Yes. This other kingdom, the… umm…"

"Southern Isles," interjected Elsa.

"Yes, the Southern Isles- oh, and Weselton. They attacked the kingdom last night and took Eugene and Queen Elsa's sister."

"Ah, a queen, are you? Where are our manners?" He and his brother bowed, smirking as they stared at the bust of Elsa's crystal bodice. Smiling politely, she pointed her finger at the ground, sending two dull spikes of ice shooting up to push their chins up ever so slightly.

"Thank you, but my eyes are up here."

The brothers jumped back, fixated on the ice in horrified amazement. "Holy sh– "

"Yeah, Elsa has ice powers, just so you know," Rapunzel explained, before returning to her impatient persistence. "So now that we're all acquainted, I need you to help us get Eugene back."

"Why would we help Rider?" he asked, keeping a cautious glance on Elsa.

"Oh, come on! We invited you to our wedding! I even saw you cry!"

"Just because you had a fabulous wedding does not mean we will help you. There has to be something in it for us."

Rapunzel huffed, blowing the hair out of her face in deep thought. She already had two promises to keep, now she will have to make a third. But she had no other option, unless she wanted to take her chances with the pub thugs.

At last she sighed, reluctantly nodding. "Your freedom. I'll guarantee your pardon if you help us save Eugene and everyone else."

"We'll need all of our supplies and weapons. Think you can handle that?"

"Yes. Anything you need."

"And we have your word? No skimping out on us now, like that old lady did."

Rapunzel shoved her hand in between the bars, her hand awaiting his. "I promise."

The two men looked at each other; devious smiles crawled onto their faces. The brother took her hand and firmly shook it.

"You've got yourself a deal, Princess."