The palace of Disney was over-crowded, hot, and unusually bright. Maids and other staff rushed in and out of rooms, up and down the stairs—all carrying trays of food and boxes of what Flynn assumed were decorations for the Masquerade. Maleficent, the replacement chef manager for Ray, was shouting commands at everyone about when and where each meal was to be served.

Since everyone was so busy with their duties, no one took notice of Flynn and Merida as they strolled down the stone steps of the humongous main hall. Even the guards looked busy helping some of Fifi's maids carry their boxes.

They left Rapunzel back at Pabbie's, and to Flynn's delight, she seemed to be happier about it, claiming that she loved kids and was glad to get to spend time with them. At least she was safer their, Flynn thought. The only person who wasn't safe was Elsa, if Queen Gothel found out Elsa was alive, that Elsa was the proper age to take over the kingdom, she'd probably try to kill her—just like she tried to poison Rapunzel.

Flynn and Merida made a right when they reached the top of the grand staircase. They were on their way to Prince Jack's room to get Elsa and tell her who she really was. He wondered if he should start calling her Princess Elsa, it would take some time to getting used to.

"Here," Flynn said. He pushed open the painting of the first king of Disney—according to Elsa, his name was Walt Disney, and Flynn never forgot it. The secret hallway was quiet and much darker than the main, no one was here besides them. There steps echoing the cave-like space.

"It's so empty," Merida said.

"I'm guessing they're using the main corridors and not this one because tomorrow's the ball."

Flynn was looking around the corridor, concentrating on not getting lost. Elsa was the better one at keeping track of where all the passageways led.

When they first started working here, he was always late and always got lost and once almost got fired because he could never figure out how to get from the kitchen to the ballroom. When Elsa found out, she was determined to help him—once staying up with him for the whole night as they walked these halls until he memorized everything. The memory made him smile.

"What are you going to say to her?" Merida asked.

"She's my best friend, but I have no idea how I'm going to break it to her. I never thought anything like this would ever happen to either of us…" he stopped talking when he noticed he was rambling. He pushed open the steel door, and held it for her to exit first.

"Just say it really quickly," Merida glanced at him with her blue eyes. "It's like ripping off a Band-Aid."

"How old are you again?"

"Sixteen," He had to stop walking to stare at her. What was he doing with a sixteen-year old girl—she was a child.

"And you're the leader of the famous Rebels? A child?" he started moving again.

"Shut up," she smacked a hand onto his mouth and frantically looked around the halls, but Flynn already knew no one was listening. "Moon, I thought I was a loud person—for a thirty-year old, you're an idiot."

"I'm twenty-one…" he mumbled. "That's his door, the one with the flowers on it." He pointed.

"It looks like snowflakes to me…" Merida said when they reached the door.

"Same thing," he knocked. "Pfft, sixteen-year old."

"Thirty-year old," she said and hid behind the fern next to Jack's door. At least she was smart enough to know she should hide.

Elsa answered the door.

"Thank Pixie Dust, you're safe!" she whisper-yelled, jumping into his arms and giving him a strong hug, knocking the breath out of him. "What are you doing here?"

Merida came out from behind the fern when she noticed Prince Jack wasn't here.

Flynn hesitated, he couldn't help himself. He stared at Elsa, the girl he's known his whole life. The girl he once pushed on a swing until his hands turned numb, the girl who would take down an army to protect him. Elsa, his best friend, the princess.

"We came to make sure you were all right," Flynn said. "Merida and I." He put his arm around Merida's shoulder. "This is the leader of the Rebels."

Elsa looked confused and taken aback for a moment, then realization fell on her face. "The Rebels are real?" Flynn could have sworn her blue eyes shimmered slightly. "And they're different? From the nightmares? They want peace?"

"Yup," Flynn smirked.

Merida shrugged his arm off her shoulder, glaring at him with her icy cold eyes. He knew she was pissed because he wasn't telling Elsa the truth about her background, but he couldn't. He wanted her to have much time as she could have to be free, then he would tell her, rip the Band-Aid.

"Yes, we want peace." Merida said, her lips curling up at the sides. "Glad to see we have fans… even though we're supposed to be a secret group."

"There were rumors… theories… I heard… I never thought." Anyone else would have thought Elsa was nervous but Flynn knew she was excited, this is just the way she acted when she was bubbling with joy. "You guys are here to dethrone Gothel? Flynn must've told you about what she tried to do to Rapunzel."

"He did," Merida look at Flynn again, "We definitely have a plan to dethrone her… you know… as soon as we find someone to replace her—OUCH."

Flynn stepped on Merida's foot. Elsa looked at him like he was crazy.

"Sorry," he lied. "I saw a spider. Anyway, I know you love my company Else but we've got to go. See you tonight." He turned to leave, grabbing Merida's arm to half drag her away but Elsa stopped him.

"I'm not coming home tonight. Fifi is making us stay here all night to set up the ballroom, then tomorrow morning I'm going to be sleeping in the maid's lounge until the masquerade. I'm working and I have uhh… some stuff to do."

He was about to tell her not to stay here tonight, that it wasn't safe, but he saw Prince Jack enter the hall, escorted by two guards at his side.

Flynn wished to the stars he could stay and just tell her everything, because now it was too late for him to tell her, he'd have to wait until tomorrow night, after the ball. He yanked Merida's arm and pulled her into the secret passageway.

"What he fu—"

"Prince Jack was coming down the hall, I had no choice." Flynn said, "we have to leave. We've been here too long. Come on."

She followed him. "No, I'm talking about you not telling Elsa that she's a princess." Merida whispered the last part.

"I—" he ran his hands through his hair. "I couldn't. I don't want to put that burden on her. The responsibility that she has to dethrone Gothel. I will tell her, I promise."