Varian's feet were heavy as he followed the King of Lunaris into the throne room. A bead of sweat slid down his temple as they approached the great seat, and he finally found the courage to speak. "Your Majesty," he said in a weak voice. "What are we doing here?"

King Edmund climbed the steps to his throne, turning to face the boy. Slowly, his knees bent, and he extended his left hand to lower himself into the stone chair. He drummed his fingers once, then blinked. "I was your age, once," he said quietly. "I stood there, where you're standing now, when my father called me to this place and swore me into the Brotherhood."

Varian's knees felt wobbly, but he set his jaw. "I know of the Brotherhood," he swallowed. "I know that my father was conscripted."

The King raised an eyebrow, surprised. "I see. So, you know. I assume that you are also aware that you should never have been born."

"Well, I'm here," Varian said without thinking. "I won't apologize for that."

Instead of taking offense, the King let out a mild chuckle. "You sound like him. My old friend." He lifted a leg and rested across his knee. "My son has told me the sad reasons for my kin's absence. I won't address the matter further, save for this." He narrowed his dark eyes. "As a citizen of Corona, I hold no legislation over you…but the blood of a conscript runs through your veins, which means we are both sworn to the same allegiance." He reached his hand to his mouth and used his teeth to remove the leather glove from his fingertips, revealing the now all-too familiar mark on his skin. "You were a part of this long before some Moon spirit started talking to you in your head. You are tied to that infernal rock as much as I am. It calls to us, and we must obey."

"I don't have to do anything," Varian felt his arms grow tight. "I chose to change, I chose this path."

The old King shook his head. "And yet destiny led you to this place, retracing your father's footsteps."

Varian's fear was gone, his stance solid as he looked the King square in the eye. "You don't have to worry, your Majesty. The cage doors won't close on you again. This is my burden, now. And if that's what it takes to set my father free, then I gladly accept it. But no one is forcing me down this road. I didn't come here because of my lineage, or because some mystical voice called me here…even though those were both relevant factors in…well." His gaze softened, his shoulders slumping. "I came here because I want to do what's right. And I can't imagine…I'm sorry you've never had that freedom."

The King stood and trudged tiredly down the steps. He towered over Varian like a mountain, staring down into his face with a weary sigh. He placed a firm hand on Varian's shoulder. "Then I hope you set us both free, boy."

It didn't take long to repair the gondola – the rough landing hadn't caused too much damage, and the envelope was miraculously free of rips or holes. Everything looked ship-shape, and Rapunzel was ready to clap everyone on the back when the real dilemma set in.

"Oh," she said with a wince. "There's, uh…it's kind of a bit…"

"…Small?" Eugene supplied. "Well, I mean, it's plenty big for a giant racoon and three passengers, but since we're now…" He counted on his fingers, taking tally of their passengers. "…Eleven if you include the three horses, twelve if you include the rabbit."

"Hare," Rapunzel corrected.

Eugene clapped his hands to his sides. "The 'hare' is the straw to break the camel's back, here. There's nowhere near enough room, and that envelope is…well, there's something about it that has to proportionally not be enough, either."

Martin wiped the sweat from his brow with his forearm. "Anybody have any ideas?" He gave Shay a shifty glance. "Maybe some maaaaaagic?"

"No," Shay responded firmly.

"What? Why not?"

"Because even if I was confident enough to use an enlarging spell," Shay explained, "I don't even know enough about how this thing works to warp or expand it properly. Besides, you shouldn't rely on magic to solve everything."

Martin donned a sour frown. "You're no fun," he grumbled.

"Relax, everybody," Varian looked at the gondola. "Although, in this case, Shay is, in fact, wrong."

Shay blinked. "Excuse me?"

"Exhibit A!" Varian jumped into the gondola and pointed at the metal fixtures. "This bar, here. Do I not properly recall that we had only one of these before constructing our ticket to the Dark Kingdom?"

Martin snapped his fingers. "Oh, oh! I know where this is going!"

"Ha! See, Martin smells what I'm stepping in." Varian launched a wink at Shay's incensed face. "You, my dear childhood friend, are thinking too much like your favorite resident alchemist here."

"You…" It dawned on her, and she flushed with embarrassment. "You want to duplicate the entire gondola?"

"Nuts, bolts, and all," Varian confirmed. "Though, I didn't actually use any nuts for this, we were a little strapped for supplies, though I definitely would have preferred to use a plethora of different –"

"Can you actually do that?" Rapunzel interrupted with an excited grin.

"I, well…" Shay's face had progressed into a shade of purple. "Yes," she admitted. "But duplicating something of this size and intricacy would require –"

"A spell circle," Martin declared.

"And a little magic boost," Varian concluded, gesturing to both himself and Rapunzel in rapid succession. "You've got two magic batteries right here, girlfriend!"

"Ha! Called it," Lance nudged Shorty. "Told you they were a thing. Pay up, little man!"

"Okay," Shorty wiped his wrinkled hands on his pants. "But all I have is a mackerel."

Lance winced. "Ugh, never mind."

Varian's bravado instantly dissolved, and he cleared his throat with an agitated tap of his foot. "I mean, anyways, uh…that is, if the princess is willing to help. But only if she wants to." He forced himself to meet Rapunzel's eyes. "No one will force you to ever use your power again."

Rapunzel smiled warmly. "I know, Varian. I'm more than willing to, this time." She glanced shyly at Eugene. "But there's something I have to try, first." She took a deep breath. "Eugene, do you have a knife handy?"

"Yes?" Eugene answered with a concerned look. "Why?"

"Just trust me." She held out her hand. "It's okay."

Eugene hesitated before reaching for his belt and producing a simple dagger. "Just please don't cut yourself, okay? These things are sharp."

"That's the idea, silly." Rapunzel accepted the weapon and took another deep breath. She gave Varian a knowing look before reaching with shaking hands to the nape of her neck. With one more deep breath, she scrunched her green eyes closed, gripped the dagger tight…and swiped upwards.

Eugene gasped, Lance's jaw dropped, and Shorty farted.

"Whoo!" Rapunzel whooped with relief as seventy feet of hair fell to the ground, and she rubbed the back of her neck as the gold strands across her brow started to turn chestnut brown. "I had forgotten how much muscle tension I lose when that happens!"

"Blondie!" Eugene shouted. "What – why – how did – it's on the ground!"

"Sorry, honey," Rapunzel admitted with a sheepish smile. "I would have let you do it, but two things: one, I wanted it to be a surprise, and two…I didn't want to dig up any, well, unpleasant memories for you, if you know what I mean."

Eugene's hand subconsciously shot to his side, where he'd once been viciously stabbed. "Ha, ha," was all he managed to say.

"I don't get it," Martin said, though his eyes were wide. "I mean, that's a crazy haircut, but –"

"I couldn't cut it before," Rapunzel explained patiently. Her face was wider than Varian had ever seen; it looked like she'd just broken out of prison herself, like she was seeing the sun for the first time. "Not since I touched the black rocks for the first time. My hair has been indestructible ever since. It wasn't until the other day that we discovered why, and how we could fix it."

Varian reached into his pocket, producing the Moonstone fragment in its vial. "That tiny fragment you obtained that day is finally back where it belongs," he said with a warm smile. "But we all know the true test to see if your power is back to its normal frequency. At least, I assume magic has a frequency."

"To be honest," Rapunzel admitted, "I sincerely hope we won't need to test that anytime soon." She glanced at Shay. "What matters is that the Sundrop is still safe with me. I'll do my best to make sure it stays that way."

"But…it's not…" Eugene was still floored. "I think I need to sit down." He promptly sat on the ground, kneading his brow with a jittery hand. "I'm getting too old for this," he groaned.

Rapunzel knelt down next to him. "Thank you, Eugene," she placed the dagger carefully back in his hands. "I can never say it enough."

"Your hair, Rapunzel." Eugene looked up at her, sober and grave. "You need it."

But Rapunzel shook her head. "The only thing I need is you," she reached to stroke the hair out of his face. "We've proven that, don't you think? Besides, my hair doesn't define who I am." Her smile faded. "I still have what it takes to make this right…as long as you stay by my side."

Eugene slowly tucked the dagger away, his eyes watering. He reached to pull her into his arms, cradling her in his lap. "Always," he whispered.

While Rapunzel was true to her word and offered to assist, Shay told the princess it wouldn't be necessary for anyone to help her with the duplication spell. Her demeanor was nebulous, but her words were firm. "I want to try and do this on my own," she insisted to Varian.

"You're absolutely sure?" he pressed.

She nodded once. "Yes. Ever since Tarapai…" She began to wring her hands, then stopped herself, forcing composure. "I need to test something of my own, this time. Without help."

Varian inhaled, shoving down his uncertainty. "Okay," he exhaled.

With the spell circle marked in a wide diameter around the gondola, Shay held out her hands and spoke a sharp command. At first, nothing happened. Then, slowly, a large book began to materialize in the air before her outstretched hands. A familiar tome fell into her grasp, though it took Varian few moments to place where he'd seen the worn, aged leather cover.

"Lyra's spellbook," he realized. "I thought that was left at the –"

"Yes," Shay agreed, but her expression remained solemn. "This may be the only thing that survived, though. This was my mother's most prized book. In the end, everything else was expendable." She shook her head apologetically. "I'm sorry. I just…well, no more of that. Step back, now, please. I have a spell to perform."

The girl's handiwork was quick and effective; a far cry from her timid ward reinforcement the first time she and Varian had left the Haderon Forest together. While her skills had improved, she still swayed on the spot when the second gondola appeared, and the spellbook vanished from her hands as she threw her arms out to steady herself.

Varian was ready; he rushed to grab her elbow. "Nice work," he complimented with a smile.

Shay nodded lethargically, blinking slowly. "Yes," she nodded slowly. "I have to get stronger."

"I don't think it's about getting stronger," Varian speculated softly. "I think you've had this all along. You were just too afraid to use it."

"Maybe." Shay sighed shakily, raising her eyes towards the cloud-streaked sky. "I guess we'll find out if it's enough. Sooner or later." She looked down at her hands, sifting her thumbs across her fingertips. "Caius is still out there," she whispered. "I have to show him."

"Show him what?"

Shay stared at him, her red eye smoldering in her head. "That you were right. That I'm not like him. That I'm not weak." She glanced around; everyone else had gone into the castle, waiting for the good news. "I have to show them that I deserve to be here, standing in the midst of soldiers and royalty. My mother deserved it."

Varian's renewed memories flickered in his mind: images of Lyra smiling down at him from her porch in Old Corona, wiping fireplace ash from her fingertips on the corner of her cotton apron. "I don't remember as much as I'd like," he admitted with a somber smirk. "Too young, I think. But every memory I have of her, she was always happy."

Shay blinked. "Really?"

"Yeah."

"I…I can barely picture her face, anymore." She swallowed once, then smiled painfully. "But I'm glad that you remember her. Really, it's a…a relief. It feels like…"

"An absolution." Varian supplied the word.

"Yes. Very much, so." Her smile became more genuine. "You were always better at words than I was."

"I don't know about that." Varian extended his hand. "I get lost easily."

Shay hesitated before placing her fingers in his. "I can help with that."

"Good," Varian said as he tugged her towards the castle gates. "Because home is a long way, and Killy won't be able to lead us on foot."