"Normal" is Artemis or Eugene Singing, "Italics" is Varian singing "Bold" is Rapunzel "Bold underline" is Rapunzel and Artemis "Bold italic" is everyone
(i think I got all of that right...I've been working on these chapters ALL DAY! but the series is finally over, and at that. so is this story...after I publish the Ever after chapter, which I may try and work on this weekend.)
Yes, I know I did bad things, but I fixed them...Maybe. you'll never know unless you read and find out, I will tell you it's a VERY happy ending and that the Tangled ever after inspired chapter will take place two years after the events of the finale, Making Varian 18 and Artemis 17, you get nothing more than this though unless you read tot he end for the explanation.
ONWARDS!
Artemis kept herself away from the crowd. Once they had regrouped with everyone from the tavern, the teen found herself anxious, She watched her brother and Rapunzel stumble through one of their awkward conversations before letting her eyes fall to Varian and his father, she was happy the two were at least seeing something's eye to eye.
"Amaris?" she looked at her own father who had come to stand before her, a concerned look in his eyes, "Hey, Dad."
"Why the sad face, sweetheart?" since he'd come to Corona earlier that year, he had started to really get the hang of the parenting thing,
"I…What happens to me when this is all over? Am I going to have to leave?" the King sat on the log next to her,
"Eugene has Rapunzel, and the two of them are going to be married someday, and Being with Varian is great, he always finds ways to surprise me, and I love working in the lab with him…but, when we defeat Zhan Tiri…" her fathers eyes softened, "What happens to us then?"
"You know, I was so surprised when you brought me to Old Corona that day, I never imagined I'd run into an old friend of mine, or that you and his boy would have ever become friends." He winked at her, a knowing smile on his face,
"Artemis." She was surprised by the use of her chosen name, "I can't force you to leave Corona, and there is still such a long way until you'd be ready to rule, you're only 15, after all."
"The thing is…even though I've been taking lessons at the castle…I don't think I want to rule a kingdom, and even if I did, would the citizens want a queen that could control the rocks that terrorized them for so long and forced them from their homes?"
"You have a gift, Artemis. What you do with it is what defines you, not the judgement of others."
"Your father is right, Artemis. Don't let the words of the few overshadow the words of those who care about you." the blonde looked up to see Quirin and Varian,
"You're a brilliant young woman, you've proven that, time and again, alongside my son. I'm so proud." The teens shared a sheepish smile, "Of both of you."
'All right troops, suit up!" Everyone turned to look at Eugene, "All right everyone, you know the plan. Charge the castle, build that machine, open the portal and send Zhan Tiri back to the nether world. Now, let's move out!" Varian offered Artemis a hand as he climbed onto Rudiger's back,
"M'lady." She laughed and shook her head as everyone charged towards Corona.
"I never thought I'd ride into battle on the back of a monster Raccoon."
"You know, me either."
The hoard charged the castle, coming to a halt only after Eugene told everyone the door was locked. Rudiger reared back and smashed through the door, creating an opening,
"It's…unlocked." The group carried their charge down the corridors and into the throne room, "Huh?"
"Where are the bad guys?" something was off, the teens slid off rudiger's back, Artemis scratching him behind the ears, the raccoon let out a soft purr.
"I don't know, but let's just get that machine built before they get back."
"On it!" the blonde teen followed Varian to the center of the throne room,
"I'm going to find Cassandra."
"Sunshine, good luck." Rapunzel turned her head, giving them all a smile, "You too."
"Hand me that wrench there." Artemis sifted through the tool kit, passing him what he asked for, her head felt fuzzy again,
"Screwdriver." When she failed to hand him what he asked for Varian lifted his head to look at her, noticing the strange look in her eyes, almost like she was in a trance, her eyes flickering, almost like candles in the wind,
"What the—are you all right?" he narrowed his eyes in worry as she slumped forward, shaking the feeling off, "I'm fine." He gave her a look of uncertainty as she passed him when he needed, "I promise." As he got back to work he grabbed for the wrench again, screwing in the last bolt.
"And…there. Okay," Varian dusted off his gloves, "Just pull that lever and we've got ourselves a trans dimensional portal." Eugene admired the work, "You weren't kidding, that was fast."
"Okay, we just gotta make sure everyone is clear of the portal or else, you know, they'll end up in limbo right along with Zhan Tiri."
"Although, I gotta admit, this all feels a little…too easy"
"Quirin?" Artemis watched as he stalked towards the machines lever, "Varian, look!" everyone watched as the former brotherhood member reached for the lever, stopping as an electric current puled from his helmet,
"For Cassandra!"
"No!" thankfully he didn't get the lever all the way to on before he collapsed, "Dad, dad don't worry, you'll be okay. I promise."
"What happened?" Eugene came to stand behind him, "I thought about what you said, so…I took, precautions. I rigged his helmet with a temporary stun mechanism."
"Score one for Team Awesome!" Eugene gave the teen a playful punch in the arm, he didn't respond in earnest though, "Eh heh, yeah…team awesome."
"Let's say we get him someplace more comfortable?" Artemis looked over their shoulders, "He'll be fine." Varian gave her a smile, noticing the flickering in her eyes again,
"I know he will, but…" he pointed at her eyes, "Will you? your eyes are flashing again."
"Flashing?" Eugene turned around to see what the boy was talking about "Holy…that's not normal." He hugged himself, looking extremely uncomfortable.
"I'll be fine, we can't worry about what's wrong with me when we have much bigger things to deal with."
"Kid…"
"I don't want to hear it Eugene. This is more important." She shook her head to clear it, let's get Quirin moved so we can get this portal up and running.
"What was that?" the room shook and everyone shared a look with one another, "Eugene, go check on Rapunzel, I can handle things here." Eugene gave his sister a look of uncertainty, "Hamuel, stay with Artemis. Keep an eye on things." The bird squawked a few times before flying a circle and landing on the portal's lever.
"Oh no…"
"That's not good." The teens shared a look, as the portal created a reverse gravitational pull, sucking everyone towards it.
"What's going on?!" as everyone was pulled into the portal Shorty grabbed onto the lever for dear life
"Look at me, I'm a flaaag"
"Hey, is everyone o—" Eugene looked on in horror as the portal closed, trapping everyone inside.
Everyone drifted through the strange dimension, it didn't seem like there was an end to their new prison, until they hit a rather large green cloud,
"Okay, so I'm gonna come right out and say it. This is just…awful!" Angry threw some sort of strange rat-pig as far away from her as she could,
"I'm not sure if I should be…fascinated or terrified…" A rather large shadow loomed over them, revealing some huge, extremely disgusting, eyeball that split into hundred of tinier eyeballs once it blinked.
"And we have a winner." Artemis poked her head out of the strange cloud, disgusted by the eye ball, "Okay…I'd just like to say that that is going to give me nightmares…if we ever get out of here."
"Everybody, let's just relax. I'm sure Eugene will have us back in no time. Ah!" what she assumed was a giraffe listed Lance out of the cloud and up into the air as it feasted on something higher up,
"I hope…" Artemis blinked, rubbing her eyes, something had a gold tone to them and others had a blue, "Hey, your eyes are all glowy." She turned her head to look at Angry, "Cool! You're like a jack o' lantern!"
"Glowy? I shouldn't be reacting to the Sun Drop and Moonstone here." Her body felt tingly as Lance called down to them from atop the giraffe.
"Guys, I know we gotta get out of here, but is it weird these delicious looking things are…making me hungry?"
"Not to me."
"I, uh, I think we're safe…up here…for a while." All eyes were on Varian, "Uh…"
"What?"
"Uh, V. I don't wanna alarm you, but the stripe in your hair…it's alive."
"Ah!" the snake screamed In retaliation as it looked at Varian's face, Artemis laughed as she watched him run in terror, snakes had never been his favorite thing.
"Get it off! No! Why!"
"Oh man, I can't look." Lance covered his eyes as Varian sprinted around the cloud in fear, "What, why can I still see this? I shouldn't be able to see this!" Artemis winced as Lance become a covered in tons of eyes and Frederick started to look like the king on a playing card,
"Um, Frederick." Arianna had sprouted rabbit ears, Rudiger had started to grow flowers…through his fur, Big nose's nose…actually flew off his face, Stan and Pete were Siamese twins And…
"Hey, Artemis, you have a tail." She looked back to see Catalina playing with it, "It's so soft!"
All eyes were on the young alchemist,
"I think I know what's going on here. This place, it's changing us."
"Oh, really professor snake-head, how'd you figure that out?!'
"And if we don't get out soon, these changes could be…"
"Irreversible."
"That's creepy…the snake talks." Varian looked disturbed, but it quickly turned to intrigue, "Ears…and a tail?" his eyes lit up, "So cute~" he reached over, scratching behind her new appendage,
"Don't…that… actually feels really good…" She leaned into it, eliciting a small laugh from the other teen.
"Good kitty." She let out a playful growl as he continued,
"I hate you."
"No you don't"
After what felt like hours they had exhausted any ideas and just sat down, waiting for the inevitable, they were going to be stuck here.
"Well, I hate to say it but, it looks like we might be here for the long haul." Varian kept stroking Artemis' hair, she had fallen asleep some time ago, and who knew how long it would be, if at all, before anyone opened the portal again, he figured just let her sleep.
"You know, if I was trapped in this place for thousands of years like Zhan Tiri, I'd be pretty ticked off too. Wait, where'd everybody go?"
"You…kind of floated away…again." Catalina pulled Angry back to the circle.
A loud woosh drew their attention towards the direction they had rifted in, seeing the portal was open again and pulling them quickly back towards the throne room, Varian grabbed onto Artemis' dress she they were flung through the hole. Landing with a crash on the other side.
"Ow!" Glancing around, everyone noticed they had returned to normal, much to their relief.
"Dad, you're back!" she watched as Varian ran towards Quirin, smiling at the scene she used his distraction to sneak away.
"I helped you find your power within; it's only right I take it out." When Artemis found Cassandra and Rapunzel, she noticed the unfair playing field,
"Cassandra!" the Sun Drop floated towards the blue-haired woman, but the sudden shout had distracted her long enough for the teen to rush in and grab it,
"I can't let you have this!"
"Artemis!" her glare only intensified at the teens interference, "Give me the Sun Drop!"
"No, it belongs with Rapunzel!" she clenched the stone tightly in her hand, standing her ground. Rapunzel once golden hair faded to brown,
"Artemis, take the stone and run!"
"I won't leave you behind!" something jumped on her from above, knocking the teen to the floor,
"Get off of me!" Zhan Tiri pried the stone from the girls hand before ripping the Moonstone from Cassandra's armor,
"How did you—"
"Finally…they're mine." Rapunzel and Cass both looked at Artemis as she stood, both eyes glowing their respective hue,
"I'd like to thank both of you, for taking care of what rightfully belongs—"
"to me." The she-demon hissed as the teen stepped forward, "Who are you?" the demon's eyes narrowed as the teen's face spread into a warm smile,
"The rightful owner of those stones., now hand them over." Cassandra and Rapunzel stared at the girl before them, Zhan Tiri greedily held the stones to her chest, laughing.
"No. At long last, they. Are. Mine!" the women watched in absolute horror as the teen summoned her own blade of the black rocks as Zhan Tiri's transformation began.
"If you wish to fight, then, as the human's say, Bring it on." Zhan Tiri laughed, whipping the celestial being across the room.
"Let the age of Zhan Tiri begin!" Rapunzel and Cass helped the celestial being sit up, her sword discarded across the room, "At long last, the power is mine."
"You mustn't use them this way!" Zhan Tiri whipped around, "I've dreamt of wielding the Moonstone and Sun Drop for centuries!" she cackled,
"Artemis, you need to get out of here, we can handle this."
"Artemis is asleep. I know now's not the time for introductions, but I am Thalassa, keeper of the Sun drop and Moonstone." The two women looked at her like she was crazy,
"Very funny, but now's not the time for games."
"Who said this was a game?" Rapunzel stood, using her hair to trap one of Zhan Tiri's arms, "I am all about people living out their dreams, but today, not so much."
"You may have been a worthy adversary once, princess. But now you are nothing.: in the moment of distraction A black spike shot up from the ground, hitting Zhan Tiri in the side, the demon hissed in pain, turning her eyes on the young girl.
"How dare you!" she turned to Cassandra, "And you. you lost before you even began, girl. Just like your mother, felled by your own ego."
"Leave her alone."
"I'm sorry if I gave the impression we were having a conversation." Thalassa shot another black spike towards Zhan Tiri, but swerved it last minute as the she-demon threw Cassandra across the room.
"Now, watch as I finally deliver on a promise I made…Long ago!" Gold spikes shot through the floor, trapping the three in a cage of yellow rocks.
"Time to destroy Corona."
They could hear the cheers of rebellion from outside, it almost warmed the celestial's heart, "Your kingdom has very spirited citizen's, Rapunzel. Even though I'm in control, I don't think I'll be able to keep your friend at bay, she has the will and heart of a lion, brave and true."
"That's true, Artemis has always been strong willed, as long as I've known her. I think it's something she learned from Cass."
The brunette looked over, her expression was broken, "Cass, we need your help." Seeing the look in her friend's eyes she knelt in front of her, "Snap out of it, Cass. we've gotta stop Zhan Tiri before it's too—"
"Too late? Raps, look around. We failed, I've failed." Thalassa continued looking for weak spots in the cage, her look hardening at the woman's admission of defeat,
"No, you can do th—"
"I can't do anything! Why won't you just give up on me?" the celestial turned to view her hosts friends, "Friends do not give up on friends, not when they are hurting, and certainly not when they are in battle." Cassandra looked to the celestial,
"Can't you see what I've done? Look around you, this is all my fault." Rapunzel flinched as she watched Thalassa slap Cassandra, the woman looked startled as Rapunzel gaze softened,
"I've done terrible things."
"And you will own up to them, in your own time." The deity watched as Cassandra fell into her friends' arms, her own expression softening, she could feel her hold slipping on her hosts body.
"All the time I've tried so hard to prove that I was more than thought, but…they were right."
"No. Cassandra. No." blue and gold orbs turned to the hole in the Palace tower.
"Raps, I am so sorry." The brunette turned to the deity, "Artemis tried to warn me about Zhan Tiri at the good will festival, but I didn't listen. I let my anger get the better of me and it got her into trouble…and now this."
"She doesn't blame you, Cassandra."
"Have you come to watch my obliterate your kingdom?" Thalassa turned her head once more to the hole in the wall.
"Cass. I was thinking about when we first met. Do you know it was nearly three weeks before I heard you laugh for the first time?" Cass averted her eyes, "I guess there wasn't much to smile about, you know, after being put in charge of a free-spirited, flower child, who painted smiley faces all over your things." Cass let out a light chuckle before forcing it back down,
"but that first laugh was so remarkable, because I knew you meant it."
"What do you mean?"
"When you laughed. You had this look in your eyes, I don't know, it was like seeing you, the real you, for the first time. And that's the Cassandra I became best friends with."
"Why are you telling me this?"
"Because…even when I look at you now, after all that's happened, no matter what we've done to each other—" Rapunzel pulled Artemis into the conversation, "What any of us has done to each other, I still see that look in your eyes."
"You two are my best friends, and I will never give up, on either of you." Thalassa looked between the two women,
"Your friend is trying to take control again. She wants you to know that whatever happens, she loves you both, very much."
"I've grown tired of this, now, Corona dies!" Blue and gold orbs flickered, turning to Cassandra and Rapunzel, "My time is almost up it seems, I'm being absorbed by your friend."
"Absorbed?"
"Our souls are joining." Rapunzel and Cass looked confused, "The Sun Drop and Moonstone must be reunited, at any cost."
"Reunited, how?"
"Get the stones away from Zhan Tiri, they will do the rest." The glowing light faded from the teen's eyes as Thalassa disappeared.
"There's gotta be something we can use to get out of here." Rapunzel turned back to her friends, "You know, Cass, if it makes you feel any better, when you grabbed the Moonstone before I or Artemis could, there's a pretty good chance saved our lives."
"What do you mean?"
"If I had grabbed the Moonstone, who knows what could have happened. I'm already able to control the rocks, even without the stone's power."
"We also know that the Sun Drop and Moonstone have to be reunited, Thalassa made that clear, but we still don't know what will happen when they actually are. And if we believe Adira, it could be really bad. For whoever puts them together." Cass scoffed at the woman's name,
"And if we listen to Thalassa, it could be really good." Rapunzel looked back at the teen who was huddled against one of the stones, "I'm usually asleep when she takes over, but the memories sometimes linger, I was half out of it when she told Varian about Gunari, this warrior who tried to take the Sun Drop and Moonstone's powers for himself. He was so power hungry that he destroyed her, but not before she split the stones in two, sending them to earth."
"Well, I guess we'll never find out. Now that Zhan Tiri has them both." Artemis glared at the brunette, "What is your problem? The Cass I know would never be this quick to give up." Pascal pushed something towards Rapunzel,
"Plus es ten vous."
'What?" Cass and Artemis looked towards the dark-haired princess, "Plus es ten vous means, there is more in you, Cassandra." The woman places a hand over her heart as blue sparks started to fly from her clothes,
"Our first fight at my black rock tower."
"Artemis went haywire and blasted me as soon as you read that final incantation. She broke two shards off of the Moonstone that day." Rapunzel looked to Cass as she passed her a fragment of the blue stone, Artemis fished in her pocket, pulling out the other one, seeing the same glow emitting form the shard
"Our last hope."
"Thalassa said to reunite the stones, but…"
"But?"
"Do you two understand what these are? They're power, we can use it to fight back against Zhan Tiri." Artemis clutched her shard close to her chest,
"No. No, you can use it to fight Zhan Tiri. The both of you. this is your destiny." Rapunzel looked past Cassandra to Artemis,
"Are you sure you're ready for this?" Determination replaced her hesitation as the teen stepped forward,
"I'm not letting you do this alone." The two shared in a confident smile as Rapunzel reached out, touching Cass' fragment of the stone, Artemis stared at her for a second longer as the Rock cage exploded, before pressing the shard into her chest, Blue streaks faded into her hair as she stepped forward, her eyes flickering once again, much like Rapunzel's hair.
"This doesn't look like it's going to last very long."
"Rapunzel," Artemis hurried towards the tower wall, "things look pretty bad out there."
"Then you better get a move on." Artemis turned to Rapunzel, grinning ear to ear, "See you at the bottom, princess!"
As Rapunzel worked to distract Zhan Tiri Artemis took in the destruction the demon had caused
"What have you done?"
"I am fulfilling my promise to Demanitus, by destroying Corona." The teen knelt by Eugene as Rapunzel used her temporary power to slam the demon right into the ground, "Hey… Talk to me, Eugene."
"Kid…you're okay." She smiled, "We both are." She motioned to Rapunzel who skid to a halt at their side. "Eugene!"
"Sunshine."
"Do you honestly think you can stand up to my power?" Artemis took Rapunzel's hand, their powers flickering again,
"We are not backing down!" as Zhan Tiri brought a hand down to try and smash Rapunzel, Artemis used the rocks to knock her hand away,
"I don't think so!" she sent a barrage of the black rock spikes towards Zhan Tiri, giving Rapunzel a chance to attack from behind. The she-demon roared, bringing her hand back to distract the teen, using her other hand to send the girl flying, Rapunzel had her opening, taking off, she tried to lure Zhan Tiri away from the palace. The demon responded in kind by launching shard of yellow rocks to block her path.
"And now, the sun finally sets on Coron—" A metallic twang drew the girls' attention to whoever had snuck up on the demon.
"Frying pans, who knew? Artemis, free the others!" She looked at who was barking the order, "Cass?!"
"That's an order, soldier!" she grinned, "Yes ma'am!" the teen took of, pushing her hands towards the ground to lower the rock prisons.
"Quick, get the other hand!" Rapunzel didn't waste time, hurrying to her friends aid.
"Art…emis?" She skid to a halt, seeing Varian. "You look like hell."
"I feel like hell. What's up with your hair?" she tugged a strand of blue hair down, "I got a major power up." She lowered the rocks that trapped him, "I need you to take the other's and get as far away form here as you can."
"But…what about you?" she smiled, "Whatever happens, I love you." she gave him a quick peck and shoved him towards the others.
"Go!" he didn't waste time, urging the others to follow him. Artemis turned back to look at Cass and Rapunzel, lowering the last of the rock prisons before going to help.
"Remember what Adira said, about the Sun drop and Moonstone coming together?"
"Pull, Cass, pull!" Artemis hurried in to try and push the arms together, they were so close. However, Zhan tiri knocked them both away with ease,
"She's too strong."
"You're right. what did you say the number one rule of combat was?"
"Turn your enemies strength into a weakness." Rapunzel tossed a long strand of her hair to Cass, "Just like old time's, huh?"
"Sure, uh, I could do without the ancient demon monster though." Artemis looked to the tower balcony, she knew what she had to do.
"Cass, Rapunzel, brace yourselves!" raising her hands up, she launched them onto the balcony,
"is it your plan to keep my here, forever?"
"No, but that's kind of the point."
"Rapunzel." Cass kicked something to the blonde who grabbed it, and in a dramatic display, sliced off her hair, releasing the bond on Zhan Tiri's wrist, effectively slamming the Sun drop and Moonstone together, resulting in a huge surge of power.
"No, No, No!" As the light from the collision grew, Artemis failed to see the tentacle headed right for her, launching her into the air…and right onto one of the yellow spikes with a sickening squelch.
"No!" Zhan Tiri vanished in a ball of light as the rock spikes began to disappear, Artemis looked at the hold that formed in her abdomen, a small trickle of blood pooled at the corner of her mouth.
"we…did it." Rapunzel looked at the reunited stone, "It's beautiful. Cass…Artemis, we did it." When the princess got no response from her friends, worry set in. Cass was unconscious behind her but when she looked at the younger blonde, bile rose in her throat.
"No… Cassandra…Artemis…it can't end this way, I won't let it." She looked at the unified stone with determination, "I'm bringing you back."
The citizens filed back into the courtyard, taking in the devastation. Varian leading the last of the elderly citizen into the palace grounds. The Alchemists body shook in fear as he looked at Cass and Rapunzel, seeing no sign of the younger blonde.
Eugene scanned the courtyard, a Pale, blood stained hand caught his attention and he rushed over, Varian followed the Captain, feeling sick to his stomach at the sight of her, covered in her own blood
"Oh Kid…w-what did you do?" his voice cracked as he looked down at his kid sister, "I…couldn't…had to….help." her breaths were labored as he placed her head in his lap. "You and Rapunzel…can…finally…get your…happily ever—"
"Hey, Shhh. Don't push yourself." Varian skid to a halt, tears pouring down his cheeks, the blonde merely smiled up at him, "I broke…my promise. I'm s-sorry." Ignoring the his own fear of blood he grabbed her hand,
"It's okay…Just, please, don't leave me." he sniffled, trying to keep his composure "You saved Corona. You're a hero."
"I'm not…" he winced as she coughed, another trickle of blood running down her cheek, Eugene looked to Rapunzel, noticing the unmoving body of Cassandra.
Rapunzel reached towards the stone, but a voice stopped her 'the stone belongs with the keeper…you know what you have to do, Rapunzel.' Her eyes fell to her would-be sister as she snatched the floating stone, giving a quick glance to Cassandra,
"I hope you're right, Thalassa." The brunette knelt down next to the fading teen, the unified gem clutched in her hand.
"Rapunzel, what are you doing?" she smiled at Varian, "The stone belongs with its keeper."
"I don't understand." The princess wasted no time as she pressed the stone into Artemis' chest, alongside the shard from the Moonstone.
"I hope this works!" Varian and Eugene looked alarmed as the woman pressed the stone into Artemis' skin,
"What are you—" A bright light flashed through the courtyard as the teen's body lifted off the ground,
"What's…happening?" everyone shielded their eyes as the light only grew
"It's something Thalassa said before she disappeared. If she' was saying what I think she's saying, it means that when she revived artemis as a baby, she chose a new keeper."
Varian looked up at the girl he had grown so attached to, smiling as he saw her eyes open, and very much full of life.
"She…she's alive!" almost as if she was in a trance, Artemis rose her hands into the air, as the light stretched across the kingdom.
"A gift, to you and your kingdom." The teens voice echoed through the area
"Raps?" As the light died down, Varian stretched his hands out towards the blonde as she floated towards the ground, smiling, she took it and pulled him in for a hug.
"I was so scared."
"I know, but I'm okay." Varian tugged at a bright blue streak in her hair, "You know, I'm really loving the blue." She couldn't help but laugh, "We match." She teased, tugging at the streak in his bangs, her eyes fell to Cass who was headed right towards them
Eugene smiled at the teens before pulling Rapunzel in for a hug of his own, "You did it, Sunshine." Rapunzel smiled at her boyfriend, "No, we did it"
"Rapunzel." The brunette looked to see Cass, a look of worry etched into her features as she stopped a few feet away, hesitant to get closer, but Eugene offered her a hand and a brotherly smile. She slowly reached her hand out and he yanked her into the group hug.
Artemis and Varian sat with their legs hanging over the side of the bridge connecting Corona to the outer villages,
"I, um…I found this, you know, before everything went sideways." Varian passed her a notebook, "My old journal?"
"I nabbed it before they cleared the rubble from your old house."
"Varian…" she smiled, "Thank you." she ran her fingers over the leather surface, he placed a hand on hers, rubbing his thumb over her skin, "We should get back, they're probably looking for us…and we did kind of sneak away in all the chaos."
"Never a moments peace, such is the life of a Princess, right?" she shook her head at his jab, "I still haven't been coronated, Varian. Though I'm sure Rapunzel will fix that soon." Closing her fingers over his hand, she jumped onto the bridge, tugging him along with herm beginning the walk back to Corona.
"Is this life after happily ever after?"
"Is this who I have always been meant to be?"
"I can tell now, I'm different somehow, than what I was before,"
"And maybe at last…this is really me." Artemis placed a hand over the gem that now rested in the center of her chest,
"After all that I've seen and done and been through,"
"After all of the choices, both right and wrong." Varian flashed her a knowing smile as she pulled him into the city,
"Through the doubts, fears, the joys and tears,"
"All that and so much more."
"I've somehow come back to where I belong!"
"And now there's no boundaries—"
"No limit's—"
"No bars, now there's no tower—"
"No wall."
"Now life's wide open from here, to the stars!"
"and I'm happily ever after, after all."
Eugene grabbed her by the hand, leading her away from the young Alchemist as Rapunzel took Varian, leading him in a different direction. The two shrugged ash they were pulled apart.
"Eugene, where are you taking me?" he shook his head "I've been sworn to secrecy, but I was told to escort you to your room, Rapunzel's orders." He stopped outside her room,
"This is my room?"
"All she told me was to tell you to change and meet her in front of the Balcony, something about a surprise." Eugene gave her a smile, opening the door for her before departing.
There was something laid out on the bed, picking up the card she flipped it open,
'To one of Corona's bravest hero's, your sacrifice is not without reward.' The blonde looked at the dress and laughed, running her hand over the fabric before prying off her bloody clothes and sliding the new dress over her head, noticing an empty piece, right where the gem rested in her skin.
Hesitating, she plucked the stone from her skin, the gap in her skin healing almost instantaneously as she placed it into the empty metal piece on her gown, smiling as she finally took in her appearance in the mirror, she ran her fingers through her hair, weaving the familiar headband braid into it, taking one last look at her room before hurrying to meet Rapunzel.
Coming to a stop at the end of the Corridor, she saw Varian and Rapunzel.
"Is this some kind of set up?"
"No, I'm about to be named Queen, but…my parents want to not only honor one of our hero's, but I have a surprise for Varian as well." She motioned to the door, Artemis stepping forward to open it, hearing cheers from the Kingdom's citizens.
She looked at the people on the Balcony, seeing King Frederick, Queen Arianna and…her father
"Ladies and Gentlemen, it is my highest honor to present one of our kingdoms best and brightest," the teen looked back at Varian who only shrugged, she looked to her father who merely winked, knowingly,
"I know it's not an official coronation, but we are honored to bear witness to this momentous occasion."
"Dad…what's going on." She whispered through a forced smile, keeping her hands folded in front of her,
"King Edmund." The dark kingdom's ruler stepped forward, "Citizens of Corona, I have been graced with such wonderful fortune that my children have found a home, here in your hallowed kingdom's walls, and though I must depart to rebuild my own kingdom, I cannot do so without first…" he motioned for the blonde and blue haired teen to step forward, "Bestowing the title of Crown Princess to my only daughter." He placed the Diadem from the Spire upon her head, a new, Amethyst gemstone placed in the center slot,
Frederick and Arianna stepped forward,
"Ladies and gentlemen of Corona, we give you, Crown Princess, Artemisia de lune. Princess of the Dark kingdom." Stunned, the girl stood frozen in place, Rapunzel gave her a friendly nudge forward, she gave a hesitant wave to the people,
"And to Varian." The boy looked alarmed as they called him onto the balcony, "For all you've done, and at Princess Rapunzel's request, we are proud to grant you the title of 'Corona's Royal engineer.' Do you accept the title?" Quirin smiled up at his son from the grounds below, clapping his hands.
Artemis grabbed his hand, leaning in to whisper,
"Say yes." He gulped down the fear in his chest, "Y-Yes, I accept the position." He gave a bow to the king and queen as Rapunzel stepped onto the balcony, waving excitedly to her people as she was named the next queen.
Rapunzel led the four of them into the center of town,
"Somehow at last we were all truly home"
"Living Happily ever after" Varian took Artemis' hand in his own, smiling fondly at her,
"Living happily ever after." Eugene and Rapunzel stood in front of the crowd,
"Living happily ever after…" the four of them looked up to the sky,
"After all!"
The sun had begun to set on the Kingdom of Corona, and most of it's citizen ere surely tucked into bed by now, and yet here sat two teens, in the middle of the water and Varian had refused to tell her anything until he stopped rowing.
"Why did you bring me out here?" Artemis shifted in the Gondola, she had no idea what he was planning, but she inched closer to the side, taking in the glow of the moonlight over the kingdom as a sly smile found its way to the older teens face.
"You said you broke the promise we made. So, I guess we'll just have to make a new one." Varian reached into his pocket as he knelt next to her, admiring the way the moon reflected on the waters surface, he had to make sure the moment was perfect.
"I've had enough surprises for one day, Varian. So whatever it is, out with it already."
"We've come a long way since our days of slaying imaginary beasts in the forest, Artemis. Heck, we've beaten an actual demon, bent on destroying Corona."
"So much has changed." Varian chuckled, "I hadn't noticed." She nudged him playfully, noticing another boat some distance away,
"Looks like Rapunzel and Eugene stole your date idea." She grinned, waving in their direction.
"Actually, I borrowed it From Eugene, I had planned a hot air balloon ride but then I remembered, you hate those. So, I planned this instead."
"That's sweet, Varian. So, what was that about a promise?" He closed his hand on the small box in his pocket,
"I was so scared when I saw you laying in the dirt, covered in blood. Almost losing you made me realize that..." He paused, finally turning to look at her, "I-I don't want to live the rest of my life without you." he pulled the small box out, "You're my best friend, and you've stood by me through everything, even when I went completely off the rails and tried to over throw a kingdom."
Artemis quirked a brow, "I'd stand by you through whatever, Varian, you know that." He smiled sheepishly, looking down at the bottom of the boat, "I know, and that's why…Princess Artemisia De Lune." He swallowed the lump in his throat, kneeling down in front of her, "Would you promise to always stay by my side, and do me the honor of marrying me?" Blue and gold eyes shot open in shock as she looked at the ring he presented her,
"Varian…I-I don't know what to say." There was a hopeful expression on his face, "You could say yes." Artemis looked over her shoulder to see Rapunzel and Eugene. Turning her eyes back to the boy before her a huge smile found it's way to her face,
"Varian of Corona…" she knelt down, taking his hands in her own, "I would be honored to spend the rest of my life at your side."
"Is that a yes?" the teen laughed, "Yes!" Scooping her up, Varian spun her in a circle, accidentally tipping the boat and sending the two of them overboard. Pascal quickly snatched the ring before it could go underwater.
The teen resurfaced, laughing.
"Varian," the boy looked at her, brushing his bangs from his face, "Yeah?"
"You make me so happy."
"Artemis?" Pulling her in, his sly smile returned, "What is it?"
he pressed his lips to her's in a gentle kiss,
"Shut up."
