A/N: Thanks to my editors: Elsannity, SexyMist, and Halladelle.
Present Day
Rapunzel stares at the data pad in her hand. She reads the same information that she did yesterday, and the day before that: Due to Crossroad's untrained heaven powers, irreparable damage has been caused to Archangel's magic and Colonel Reeves' physical form.
A staggered breath wheezes past Rapunzel's lips and she buries her head in her spare hand. The muscles around her heart squeeze, as if trying to push the blood out so she bleeds dry. It would be something of a miracle if dying could be that easy.
She tried so hard. Against all the odds she tried and even without formal training she was becoming somebody. Now? She can't help but feel like this isn't a setback . . . it's a career ender.
Would that really be so bad, though? She sighs and puts the pad back on the wall where it locks into place and shuts off. Her hand falls until it lands on her helmet. Her brand new, custom-made, hunk of metal that'll see more use as a paperweight than it will in the spotlight. How many times has she used it in the field? Certainly less times than she can count on her fingers.
She lifts it off the bench and lays it in her lap. Not long ago she thought she was on the right path, that she was amounting to something. Now she knows she fucked up with her healing so badly there are two people in the world who can never be fully fixed, and it's all her fault.
Emma's magic is now more like a gas line with a leak, but at least she can use Rho as a gas station so she doesn't run out. Calhoun, though?
Rapunzel tightens her grip on her helmet and grits her teeth against the sickening sinking feeling in her heart.
She messed up Calhoun's biology repair to the point her cells are degrading. Rho's report stated that there should be no noticeable adverse effects for at least a year after the initial heal, but that the symptoms would get exponentially worse from there. Which gives Calhoun less than two years to live, and no healer in the universe can fix it.
Calhoun awkwardly rubs the back of her head. "Look, you gave me more time than I would have had otherwise. If not for you, I would be dead already."
"But that's not good enough," Rapunzel wheezes. She's been crying for what feels like ages, and she supposes Vikke told on her, considering how Calhoun came looking for her. "You needed me, and I failed."
Calhoun's only remaining eye softens and she takes a sit on the floor beside the healer. "I doomed myself."
Rapunzel bares her teeth in a snarl. She doesn't want to be coddled from the truth, especially not from the person she's screwed over the most.
"You were supposed to be trained by Athena, but she still had training programs kicking around even when she wasn't." Calhoun shrugs. "I knew you were my only chance, but I never made the training available to you. It made sense at the time because you had shown no sign of heaven healing until recently but . . . in the end, it was my job to give you the resources you needed. I gambled and I lost."
Rapunzel works her jaw, buying herself time to swallow the lump that's formed in her throat. "Hadn't you already lost enough?"
Silence strangles them in its clammy grip, and Rapunzel squeezes her eyes against the pressure of it. More tears join the ones trying to dry on her face.
"It's a myth, you know," Calhoun whispers. "Heroes fighting the good fight and winning? It's a pretty thought, but it's one the people manufactured. They benefit from heroes 'doing the right thing,' so they think we do too. But we don't. We lose every battle we've ever fought in some way. It's just a matter of how bad and if the good outweighs it."
Rapunzel puts on her helmet more forcefully than necessary, and waits for the comforting hiss of it pressurizing with the rest of her armour before heading for the door. Despite her own crisis, she has to hold it together just a little while longer. It wouldn't be fair on the people to see their idols broken at a time like this.
The door opens and she pauses when two people more broken than she is stand waiting for her. She glances to Ariel first, who appears content examining scratches in her armour, then to a red-eyed Kristoff. "What's wrong?"
Kristoff chews on his bottom lip and shuffles from foot to foot, aware of all the refugees wandering the hall behind him. "I can't find my parents and Vikke stopped responding to civilians. I asked Poseidon—"
"I don't care about your family," Ariel interrupts. Her tone isn't malicious, but there's a distinct coldness there that makes Rapunzel's chest clench.
Wait, she thinks once Kristoff's words register. Did . . . did Rho ever find them? It's possible Rho found the solution to deal with Scar then completely abandoned the search for her foster parents, and Rapunzel doubts Scar would've released them. "They didn't want to join the evacuation," she lies. It doesn't taste as bad as she thought it would. "They believe the League is overreacting and don't want their property ransacked in the fallout."
Kristoff pales. "Is there any way you can get me in touch with them? Regular phone services aren't—"
"Our resources are stretched thin as it is dealing with the people who actually want to evacuate. We can't waste our borrowed time on those who don't want our help." That, at least, is true. Even with Scar's fleet and his stockpiles they ransacked, they're struggling to accommodate everyone. Rapunzel's almost glad the Ambassadors are arriving soon, because it means they don't have to turn anyone away.
Ariel's lips curl into a mirthless smile. "Unless you'd like to leave the ship in search of them? Who knows. Maybe they're right, we are overreacting and you'll be safe here."
Kristoff glowers at the marine meta. He turns to Rapunzel, opens his mouth, then shakes his head and stomps away with tears shining in his eyes anew.
Ariel's forced smile slips away as if it were only a figment of Rapunzel's imagination, and she stares off into an unperceived distance with narrow eyes and a clenched jaw.
"Were you with him or did you need something?" Rapunzel asks when nothing else is forthcoming. She can't see why Ariel would seek her out to begin with, considering Mulan is in charge of all the Elites leaving in the evacuation and Ariel . . . isn't who she used to be.
Rapunzel's heart crashes into her stomach like a stone at the thought and she bows her head. Over half the League is fleeing with the civilians, and those who remain believe the most they can hope for is mutual destruction.
And she's going to be leaving Elsa to face those odds because Rapunzel thoroughly failed at—she just failed. She grits her teeth so hard her temples throb. How pathetic can someone be, how inept, that they can manage to do the exact opposite of what their powers are meant for?
"We were close once, weren't we?"
Rapunzel blinks out of her daze, even if it doesn't keep the self loathing at bay, and she turns to Ariel, searching. 'Close' is one way of putting it. They were the first two of the new leaguers who made Elite and they've been linked together through Anna for months. They've loved, fought, and squabbled, all limping towards the same goal.
She half smiles at the irony that none of them came out of that struggle even remotely alright.
But she has the decency to lean against the wall beside her teammate, mindful of the civilians ambling along the halls, staring at them. "Once," is all she can think to say.
"And yet, you are still here with me."
Rapunzel tilts her head, confused, and nods.
Ariel huffs out a soft, resolute sound, as if that simple action put her whole world into perspective. "Shadow, I need to report," she says. She must've activated her comm, because Rapunzel looks around and doesn't see the woman. "I shall be joining the ground Elites. You'll need another to look after the ship I was meant to man."
Rapunzel startles and clenches her hands into fists, but clamps her mouth shut until Ariel finishes her conversation. When she is, she points to Rapunzel's fists. "You're mad."
Mad? Sure, but it isn't directed at anyone but herself. Bile rises in the back of her throat as she chokes out, "Why? Why help them?" The woman in front of her is broken and, as far as Rapunzel can tell, couldn't give a shit whether any of her former friends lived or died. Why the hell would she choose to fight for them while Rapunzel is stuck praying?
Ariel stares at Rapunzel's helmet as if she were able to see right through it into her soul, into the insecurities that scream she isn't good enough. "Once, Anna and I saved each other. Now we are no longer the people we used to be and we're lost again. I think I have . . . hope, that we may be able to save each other again." She shrugs. "I'd rather fight than babysit, anyway."
"I suppose that makes sense," Rapunzel murmurs, but it's to Ariel's back. Her gut twists as she watches the marine meta just walk away without waiting for a response. She knows it isn't due to any grudge towards her, but she can't help but feel like it means she's worthless beyond a few simple words.
Shaking her head, she walks down the hall towards the pilot's chamber. The scattered few wandering about scramble out of her way and stare at her with wide eyes full of wonder. To them, she's a Hero. Whatever that means.
"Vikke," she calls with her helmet speaker, despite being able to cancel outgoing sound and use her earpiece instead. Perhaps part of her still wants to prove she's worth it to someone, even if it's just a few civilians who don't know her. "Where is Shadow?" It's the safest question she can think of that won't matter if people overhear.
"Shadow is attending to multiple loading docks in more rural areas," Vikke says, but she doesn't sound particularly happy about it. Rapunzel wonders if part of the reason Vikke stopped listening to anyone besides the Elites is because of how much she dislikes talking.
"Thank you." Her heart warms at the awe directed towards her, even though she tries her best to ignore it because she doesn't deserve it. She isn't strong, and she can't protect them if the Ambassadors beat the ground team.
Even with the most overpowered Elites left behind to fight the Ambassadors, their chances of success are frighteningly uncertain. And she has a difficult time trying to wrap her head around those odds.
Rapunzel blinks when she finds herself in the pilot area. She doesn't remember the path she took here or the people she passed, or the elevators she used.
Sighing and slumping in one of the small benches behind the driver and co-driver seats, she buries her helmed head in her hands. She doesn't need to be here. Vikke was put in charge of all the ships and was given Elite access to operate the high-level speeds they need to escape. With one word from Chel, Vikke will close all the doors, fire up all the engines, and get everyone the hell out of here.
Except, of course, those who choose to remain behind.
Tears burn in her eyes and she rips off her helmet, though she couldn't say why. It's not like she can wipe away liquid with her metal encased fingers.
"Elsa is with her parents, and yours."
Rapunzel whips her head up, hands halfway to her pistols before she registers who's in front of her. She leans against the wall and examines Rho's expression. There's no emotion there, so Anna isn't anywhere near the surface, which leaves the question, "Why are you here?"
Rho tilts her head, her gold-ringed eyes shining like she doesn't understand. She lifts Rapunzel's helmet with her metal manipulation and grabs it out of the air, then proceeds to stare at it as if it were made of gold. "You should talk to them."
Rapunzel sucks in a sharp breath through her nose and stares at the wall behind Rho. She's long since learned that Rho never feels the need to explain herself with any sort of clarity, but this doesn't feel like it has any motivation beyond kindness. Perhaps Anna is still struggling for control in that head of hers.
"How do you propose I get to that ship?" It was bad luck that Rapunzel wasn't assigned to the ship that landed in the area that picked up her family, and it must be halfway around the globe by now. Way too far to risk flying to when the Ambassadors are so close.
Rho shrugs and, within a blink, Rapunzel finds herself sitting at a table with Rho nowhere to be found. "What the fu—"
"Honey?"
Rapunzel blinks when every emotion she's ever known jumps into her throat and she turns her head to see five sets of eyes looking at her.
Elsa, wearing nothing to distinguish her as a meta, twitches a bemused smile and thumbs Rapunzel's helmet which lays on the table between them. "Rho?"
All Rapunzel can do is nod. She vaguely realizes that they're not the only people in the room, but she can't find it within her to care.
Elsa tsks as she runs her fingers along the helmet's patterns. "I can't say I'm upset that she let us have time together, but her method leaves something to be desired."
Rapunzel smiles because it feels so much like old times that she can't help but feel like everything is going to be okay. "She didn't exactly ask me for my preference." She doesn't need to explain for Elsa to understand. All the leaguers know how painful it is trying to talk to Rho.
"Is it true, about Rho?" Elsa's mother asks. She has more life in her voice since the last time Rapunzel talked to her.
Elsa rolls her shoulders and hums. "Rho is Rho."
And Rapunzel nods along, because she honestly can't think of a better response. Elsa continues talking before any more can be asked on the topic, turning the conversation mundane and manageable. Their parents must sense their need to have something normal, and they don't bring up any questions revolving their hero lives again.
That isn't to say there aren't plenty of onlookers who shout out their opinions, or demand answers to things they have no right to know. But one sharp look from Elsa and an abrupt drop in temperature is enough to clamp everyone's tongue.
Guess this is my new ship, Rapunzel thinks with a fond warmth in her chest. There's no way she can leave when everyone on board will know within the day who their parents are.
A few cameras flash, but no one flinches. It's like they've all already accepted that they can never regain the life they had, so what's the difference if they toss in a few more changes?
Then, far too soon, Elsa kisses her parents' foreheads and says her goodbyes. She leaves the room with Rapunzel in tow, parting all the civilians who've crowded the room since learning of their presence.
Everything they talked about at the table slips through Rapunzel's fingers like it never happened, making her insides go cold.
"Elsa . . ." she croaks when she can't bear the silence any longer, and Elsa slows.
Elsa looks around, then slips into one of the nearest rooms. She locks the door when Rapunzel is with her in what looks like a small closet, and they stare at each other.
It's only then that Rapunzel realizes how long it's been since her and Elsa have just talked. They've argued and plotted and tried to get on the same page, but ever since Rapunzel's been an Elite they haven't taken the time to just be there for each other.
"I'm sorry," she says, but she can't find the words for the rest. The list of everything that's left a rift between them burns like bile on the back of her tongue. Tears that have stayed just beneath the surface for—how long as it been?—spill down her cheeks without warning and she grits her teeth in a useless effort to suppress them. "I'm so sorry."
Elsa's expression softens like melting snow and she cups Rapunzel's cheeks in her hands. "Hey, what's all this fuss?"
Rapunzel loosely holds Elsa's wrists and continues to sob. "I-I don't want to l-lose you."
Silence answers, which hurts worse than any empty promises Elsa could have made, because it means that even she isn't confident she'll make it back. "We have Emma," she finally replies.
Rapunzel's shoulders slump. "You mean you'll have a heaven healer who actually knows what they're doing."
"Stop." Elsa tightens her fingers on Rapunzel's face. "What happened . . . yes, it's your fault"—she says, knowing better than to spew reassurances—"but that doesn't mean it has to define you. Look at Arson. She's hit rock bottom more times than I can count—"
"And now she's stuck behind Rho," Rapunzel interrupts. She swallows the lump in her throat. "What if that's me? Trying my best but never being good enough?"
"When you look at Rho, do you think she's not good enough?"
Rapunzel's gaze flickers aside. It's an interesting question because Rho is . . . she isn't just her powers. While Rho is more than capable in any situation she's thrusted into, she isn't whole anymore. It's as if Anna sacrificed the most critical parts of herself in order to gain power beyond her imagination.
"Rho is powerful," Rapunzel allows, because it's true. Magic ripples under Rho's skin like a storm barely held at bay, but the problem is that is stays there as if she doesn't see the need to utilize her abilities. But that likely won't stay the case for much longer. Then a thought strikes her, and she bursts into humourless laughter.
Elsa hums in question and wipes the tears from Rapunzel's cheeks with her thumbs.
"Remember the last Ambassador battle? We were just like them." Rapunzel nods her chin to the door. "We were in the dark, scared, and beyond that we couldn't comprehend what was happening right in front of us. All we knew was that everything we knew was changing. Now we're on the other side of that, forcing everyone to take us for our word."
A small smile curls Elsa's lips. "I recall running damage control with you for a full day when the wreckage fell through the atmosphere. We were there to help once the critical battle had already played out. Now we're the ones who are going to be fighting it."
"Well," Rapunzel mutters. "You are, at least."
"Fighting, sure, but that . . . that's the easy part, isn't it?" Elsa leans forward until her forehead rests against her friend's. "The people who have to keep going, to keep order when everything crumbles under their feet, those are the people who are going to struggle the most."
Rapunzel forces out a crooked smile. "So you're going to get a double whammy, huh? Both fighting and struggling to put everything together afterwards, huh?"
The humour on Elsa's face disappears with a wince. "I—yeah, I hope so."
Sirens and red alarm lights blare through the ship.
Elsa and Rapunzel shove their way into the hall, and at the same time they yell:
"Rho!"
"Vikke!"
Rho is at Elsa's side in an instant, grabbing her shoulder and—
Rapunzel blinks at the empty space the wintry meta used to occupy, then clenches her teeth and pulls on her helmet. "Vikke," she repeats. "Report."
"Enemies have entered Sol," Vikke says, putting the civilians in hearing range on edge. "Ships locking. Engines firing. Landing mechanisms lifting."
Rapunzel's heart hardens over and she sprints through the halls. "Shadow," she says, in the comfort of her own helmet. "Are you making an announcement or do you want me to make it?"
"Decryption is making one for the whole fleet."
Rapunzel nods to herself and ends the call without a word. The ship lurches beneath her feet and she shouts, "Everyone find a seat! Strap yourselves in!" To the people she passes.
"Citizens of Earth," comes Belle's voice over the speakers. "I am Decryption, an Elite in the Protector League. The threat we've warned you about has arrived and our entire fleet has been mobilized. Please find a seat and breathe, you will be safe. Heroes are accompanying this evacuation to ensure a safe journey, and even more heroes are staying behind to hit the invasion head on. Vikke shall provide fleet updates until we exit Sol. Thank you for your cooperation."
Rapunzel shoulders her way into the pilot's compartment and fastens herself into the driver's seat. She glances at all the sensors, checking the location of the hundred upon hundreds of ships under Vikke's control, then looks out the window. Her heart flutters with adrenaline as all the nearby ships fall into formation, still only a few thousand feet from the ground.
"Artificial gravity activated," Vikke says to the whole fleet. She doesn't sound as irritable as she usually does, but that may be because she has too many other things to focus on. "Speed barriers online. Planetary maximum flight limits active, heading towards space. All ships falling into formation."
Fire bursts around Rapunzel's ship as it exits the ozone, but she doesn't feel the pressure of it. She supposes those who are unlucky enough to be stationed on one of Scar's old ships might be having more difficulty because they had to be retrofitted, but she doubts they'll feel anything until the real speed jump.
"Ships in formation."
Rapunzel sees it, and it truly is an inspiring sight. Courage pounds through her bones and she grips her armrests as hard as she dares.
"Dampener barriers adapting. Speed increasing to FTL. Running fleet-wide diagnostic."
Rapunzel glances at her own screens as an alert pops up. She clicks on it and purses her lips. One of the ships doesn't have an engine that's handling the sharp speed increases very well. Underneath it Vikke has a note, 'needs to accelerate slower, will put on a timer for it to continue while out of range. If caught by Ambassadors, cued for self-destruct to protect main fleet integrity.'
If Rapunzel were younger, more naive, perhaps she may have kicked up a fuss about that. Now it just makes sense. What else can they do? With the League's heaviest hitters staying behind, the fleet itself is left in an incredibly vulnerable position.
We closed our doors in the face of refugees who were late by mere minutes to protect our flight, she thinks. What is one ship in the face of that?
"Scan complete. Speed jump from FTL to PPH in three, two, one."
A force Rapunzel hasn't experienced before grabs her shoulders and pushes her into her chair with unrelenting hands. And it increases even more with—
"Raising PPH speed. Changing—" Vikke pauses, as if getting contracting readings. "Exiting Sol solar system. Fleet-wide reports halting." Or that.
A few more alerts appear on Rapunzel's screens and she clicks on them. There are injuries, a lot of them, spread throughout the ships. She hums. Too bad all the League's teleportation metas remained on Earth.
"Shadow," she says into her comm. "You wouldn't happen to have learned how to transport other people through shadows in the last few minutes, have you?"
"Unfortunately not."
Rapunzel huffs out a breath through her nose and pushes from her seat. "Then I hope we managed to get a few doctors on every ship, or a lot of people are going to be fucked before I can get there."