Hi Everyone! It has certainly been a rough 10 months since my last update, hasn't it? I sincerely apologize for my long absence. I never intended on taking such a long hiatus but my work has been consuming my life and it got busier this year and it's about to get even more intense. I promised that I would never abandon this story and I will keep that promise. This story is constantly on my mind as I work through my busy schedule and I take every opportunity I get to write. I am truly thankful for all of you who have continued to stick with me and this story. You all have every right to be irritated by my inconsistent updates and I understand if you have lost interest. But to those of you that keep sending me those messages of encouragement, you are the best readers ever! Alright, enough chit-chat from me. You are here to read, so let's go! Happy Reading! :)

Chapter 14

*One Week Earlier*

The sound of chapel bells rang throughout the English countryside as quaint chapel doors opened up to reveal a newlywed couple joyfully skipping hand-in-hand into the cool morning air. Close friends and family cheered as the couple made their way towards the horse and carriage waiting from them at the end of the walkway. Before climbing into the carriage, they turned around to face the small crowd of guests once more as someone shouted, "Best wishes to the new couple! Cheers to Doctor and Missus Bello!" Juliette and Christopher lovingly smiled at each other before eagerly exchanging another kiss.

"Yay Mommy! Yay new-Daddy!" Diana happily clapped as Hannah hoisted the six-year old onto her hip.

Juliette ran over to her daughter and best friend, enveloping them in a warm hug, "I love you two so much."

Hannah wiped away a stray tear, "I am so happy for you, dear. After what you've been through, you and Diana deserve to be a complete and happy family again."

Juliette shook her head with a smile, "Absurdité. Nonsense. We have always been a complete and happy family. Diana, moi', and you, Hannah. You will always be a part of our family. And speaking of family…" Juliette scooped up her daughter and handed her off to her new husband, who was more than happy to cuddle with his new step-daughter while Juliette lowered her voice, "How did things go with Gregory? Have the charges against him been dropped?"

Hannah dropped her jaw in disbelief, "Juliette, I don't think now is a good time to be discussing this sort of thing."

She looked over Hannah's shoulder and noticed all of the wedding guests staring at them in intrigue. Juliette spoke through her teeth as she smiled at the crowd, "Perhaps you're right. I'll see you back at the house." She gave her best friend one last hug before joining her new husband and daughter by the carriage. Hannah watched them all gather into the carriage and joyfully waved at the crowd as they departed, making their way back into town.

About an hour later Hannah was reunited with the newlyweds at their new home that was just a five minute walk away from the town center. As Christopher was upstairs packing for their honeymoon with Diana's help, Juliette handed her best friend a fresh cup of tea as they sat on the back porch that overlooked large open fields and rolling green hills, "Thank you for watching Diana while Christopher and I are away."

Hannah gratefully accepted the beverage, "It is my pleasure. I love spending time with Diana."

"You are definitely gifted when it comes to children."

Hannah could not help but laugh, "I better be, I had thirteen sons after all."

Juliette giggled, "Yes, I do recall the abundant amount of princes from the Southern Isles." She stopped giggling as she sincerely looked over at her best friend, "So…speaking of family?"

Hannah lightheartedly rolled her eyes, "I still don't think this is a good time, Juliette. You just got married for goodness sake-"

"Okay, if you don't want to talk about Gregory, then let's talk about Hans."

Hannah jerked her head back in surprise, "What about Hans?"

"Other than Gregory, he is the only other family member that is aware of your existence." Juliette cautiously shrugged, "You know, other than your demented ex-husband-"

"Jules." Hannah crossed her arms with a disapproving head shake.

She apologetically bowed her head, "Pardon. But I am serious, Hannah. You should spend as much time as possible with your family." She reached for her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze, "You never know what fate may have in store and you know more than anyone that life can easily, how you say, 'pull the rug out from under you'."

Hannah reluctantly nodded her head with a sad smile, "I agree with you but Hans has his own life. He is busy helping Elsa run a kingdom amongst who knows what else. The last thing he needs is my presence in Arendelle distracting him."

"But you told him that you would visit often. Was that just a cop-out?"

"No…" She took a long sip of her tea, "I was thinking more on a holiday basis. Like Christmas."

"Hannah." Juliette paused as the laughter of Diana and Christopher goofing around inside could be heard through the open window, bringing a genuine smile to her face, "You have been given a gift. A second chance to spend time with your, dare I say, 'favorite' son and his incredible family. Please don't take it for granted."

"Alright. I'm a woman of reason so let's compromise." She placed her teacup and saucer on the table while leaning back in her seat, contemplating the situation, "I will consider visiting Arendelle but only after you and Christopher return from your honeymoon."

Juliette sighed, "I suppose that's better than nothing." She was about to say something else when they heard a loud commotion by the front door. Juliette and Hannah exchanged worried glances before Hannah reached for the revolver hidden in her boot and signaled for Juliette to go inside while she went to go investigate.

Hannah stealthily snuck over to the side of the house and slowly crept towards the front. She was about to peek around the corner when she heard someone pounding on the front door. Hannah swiftly turned the corner and placed the barrel of her gun to the middle-aged man's head, "Hands up. Identify yourself."

The man obediently lifted his hands in the air, "Sir John Harrington. I'm a senior officer on the royal guard, Miss."

Hannah observed his uniform and noticed the royal insignia on his coat, "What is your purpose here?"

"I've come to deliver urgent news to Miss Hannah and Miss Juliette." He slightly turned his head, "Are you Hannah or Juliette?"

Hannah continued to hold the man at gunpoint as she walked around him so that she could be face-to-face with him, noticing the concerned expression on his particularly handsome face, "What happened?"

The guard smirked at her straightforward behavior, "I take it that you're Hannah. There's a letter in my coat pocket that explains the situation."

Hannah skeptically regarded the man as she slowly reached forward with her free hand and grabbed the letter sticking out of his coat pocket. She glanced over his shoulder and noticed the carriage behind him, "What's with the carriage?"

"I've been told to escort you and Miss Juliette back to the palace. It is rather urgent."

"Yes, you've mentioned that already." Hannah gave him one last hard look before putting her revolver away and tearing open the letter. She quickly read through it before giving the guard a serious look, "When did this happen?"

"Earlier this morning."

Hannah's mind was reeling as she firmly nodded her head, "Alright. I'll come back to the palace with you. Let me grab a couple of things and I'll be right out."

"What about Miss Juliette? She was requested-"

"Miss Juliette is now a Missus and she is not here right now. She is on her honeymoon as we speak."

The guard apprehensively rubbed his face, "That is unfortunate but I suppose there is nothing to be done about that now. We just need someone with experience as soon as possible. Please hurry, Miss." He gave her a subtle smile, "You are a Miss, right? Or are you also a Missus?"

Hannah let out a small laugh, trying not notice the small green specks in his deep blue eyes, "No. Just a Miss." She smiled as she reached behind herself for the door handle, "I'll be right back."

She swiftly stepped inside and closed the door before hurrying into the study where a safe room was hidden behind an inconspicuous bookcase-door contraption. She stepped up to the bookcase, "I'm in the mood for a mystery novel. What do you recommend?"

Upon hearing the 'all clear' code phrase, the bookcase slowly opened up to reveal the hidden safe room with Juliette and the rest of her family hiding in the shadows. Juliette hurried over to her best friend, "Who was it? What happened?"

Hannah lowered her voice as she stepped into the safe room, "A senior officer on the royal guard who goes by Sir John Harrington delivered an urgent letter to us."

Juliette could sense her friend's apprehension as she took another step closer to her, "About what?"

Hannah hesitated, "VORTEX."

"Huh?" Juliette furrowed her brows together, "I don't understand. I thought all of that was behind us?"

"Apparently not." Hannah handed her the letter, "Thomas Sullivan has escaped."


Ten minutes later, Hannah and John Harrington were rushing through the St. James' palace courtyard, on their way to the prison. Although Juliette was adamant about helping, Hannah convinced her best friend to go on her honeymoon with Christopher with the addition of Diana. Hannah had already told John that Juliette was on her honeymoon which provided an excellent excuse for her friend's absence and she wanted Juliette and her family as far away from this situation as possible. Who knows what Thomas Sullivan could be planning?

Upon entering the prison, John led Hannah down numerous flights of stair until they reached the bottom level. Hannah tightly grasped the satchel she wore across her chest as they hurried towards a large group of guards hovering around a single isolated cell at the end of the hall. John authoritatively ordered his men to back away in order to allow Hannah a clear view of the scene. She did not know what to expect but what she saw was both peculiar and puzzling. There were no signs of escape beside the fact that Thomas was missing.

"Hmm…" Hannah slowly analyzed the outside of the cell, "There is no evidence that the lock was picked or broken." She firmly grasped and jiggled every bar, "Nothing loose." She bent down and examined the stones on the floor, "Nothing loose down here either." She stood up and entered the cell, systematically wandering around inside as she scrutinized every nook and cranny for any sort of evidence. Hannah pulled out a notebook and pen from her satchel and wrote down a couple more observations. She vigilantly looked around again before running a frustrated hand through her hair, "Sir Harrington." Immediately, John was by her side, "There is absolutely no evidence of a breakout which means one of two theories." She turned to face him, an expression of deep thought on her face, "Theory number one. Sullivan is a master escape artist."

John lightly scoffed, "I find that hard to believe."

She curiously tilted her head, "Why do you say that? VORTEX has evaded the authorities for years due to the lack of evidence they never seemed to leave behind until recently. He runs a tight ship."

"Perhaps." He nonchalantly shrugged, "But wasn't James Jagger in charge until recently? Perhaps the change in authority is what caused VORTEX to slip up? Sullivan may not be as good as you give him credit for." Hannah silently pondered his words and continued writing down notes as he continued thinking out loud, "And are we really supposed to believe that, for unknown reasons, Sullivan waited in this cell for almost a year before making his great escape?"

This time it was Hannah who casually shrugged, "Some criminals are very dedicated to their schemes. They'll wait many years in prison before putting their plan into action." She looked around the cell once more in frustration, "And by the looks of it, Thomas clearly had a reason for waiting so long before escaping. He had a plan."

"Alright, point taken. But I've read the report from last fall numerous times and Sullivan does not strike me as the patient type. If anything, he is quite the opposite. From what I read, he executed a mutiny on Jagger just so he can hurriedly push his own agenda. The man is brash and vengeful-"

"Sir Harrington." A younger guard rushed into the cell, "I think Sullivan had help."

Hannah smirked as she snapped her notebook shut, "Which leads into my second theory. He had someone on the inside help break him out." She glanced down as she slipped her notebook back into her satchel until she heard another set of footsteps enter the cell. She lifted her head to see who else had entered but she was surprised when she found herself face-to-face with her son, "Gregory? What are you doing here?"

"Hello, Hannah." Gregory calmly waved a handcuffed hand, "I received a visit from the royal guard this morning upon Thomas Sullivan's great escape." Although Hannah testified on Gregory's behalf that he had no intentional ties to VORTEX, his unfortunate connection with Thomas Sullivan continued to make him a go-to source for information. To make matters worse, Gregory and Hannah did not want anyone to know that they were related so they tended to avoid being seen together in public due to their mother-son similarities. Yet here they were, together in a cell surrounded by several investigative guards.

Hannah huffed out an annoyed breath, "John, I can assure you that Gregory did not have anything to do with Sullivan's escape. He's been under house arrest-"

"I am aware of Gregory's situation, Hannah. However, he did conspire with Sullivan at the coronation ball." John turned to the Southern Isles prince, "You were fairly close with the escapee, were you not?"

Gregory nonchalantly shrugged with a smirk, "Yes and no. I was close with Thomas Sullivan the royal adviser, not Thomas Sullivan the psychopath leader of VORTEX-"

"This isn't the time for jokes." John authoritatively crossed his arms, "Just answer the question."

"Preferably without the sass." Hannah gave her son one of her infamous motherly stares that immediately wiped the smirk off his face.

"Look, I honestly don't know anything about VORTEX's schemes but I can tell you that Sullivan was working for someone other than Jagger."

Hannah knitted her brows together, "How do you know this?"

"At the coronation ball, I was supposed to pick up a package from him and drop it off in a linens closet for someone else to deal with at a later time. After I dropped off the package, I was on my way back to meet him in the ballroom when I overheard him talking, more like arguing, with someone about changing the 'plan'. I don't know who it was but I do know it was a female's voice."

"A female voice?" Everyone looked over at the young guard who brought Gregory in, "You're sure it was a female's voice?"

Gregory rolled his eyes, "Is there an echo in here? Yes, I'm sure. Why?"

"Throughout his time here, Sullivan periodically had a visitor come talk to him. The visits were quite brief and it seemed like he did not get along with her very well."

Hannah reached back into her satchel and pulled out her notebook once more, "Who was it? Do you have a description?"

The guard thoughtfully rubbed the back of his neck, "The visitor was a female in her late twenties. Dark blonde hair always pulled back into a bun, large hazel-colored eyes, petite body frame, about five-foot four-inches in height. She claimed to be his sister."

Hannah intensely scribbled in her notebook, "Have you checked the records to confirm that he has a sister? If he was working in the palace then his records should be relatively updated."

"We did and he truly does have a sister that matches the women's appearance. That is why we allowed her to visit him. But in all the years Sullivan has worked in the castle, I have never seen her before and I don't think she lives in Great Britain."

Hannah stopped writing and curiously stared at him, "Why do you say that?"

"She had no British accent which was rather odd since Sullivan's accent was pretty thick."

"She could have moved away and lost her accent. That is a common occurrence." Hannah rhythmically tapped the pen against her chin, "What is more intriguing is that you said they did not seem to get along, perhaps she was the same woman that Gregory overheard?

"Hmm…" John turned his attention back to the young guard, "Did you hear what they were arguing about?"

"I overheard her say how his rage and his personal vendetta against the royals is what got him into this mess."

Hannah scoffed, "Well, she isn't wrong."

"Speaking about his vendetta…" Gregory cleared his throat, "On the night of the coronation ball, I also overheard him mention to the woman that he had orders from Jagger to use the package as a distraction to grab the Arendelle sisters during the ball but since Princess Anna was no longer attending the ball, they were ordered to stand down and wait for further instructions. However, she told him that they were to ignore that order and continue with their plan."

John inquisitively rubbed his chin, "Their plan?"

Gregory nodded, "I guess Jagger's plan was to kidnap Queen Elsa and Princess Anna, but Sullivan's plan was to grab a different target. He wanted Queen Elsa and Princess Rapunzel."

Hannah shook her head in confusion, "That's strange. Why Elsa and Rapunzel? I mean, I know that he wanted Elsa for her powers. I was there when he revealed his scheme. But why Rapunzel?"

"Haven't you heard the story of the Sun Drop?" A tall, pale-skinned young woman with hazel eyes and a black bob-cut stepped into the cell. She wore a green tunic with a small piece of silky light blue material wrapped around her right bicep and a black cape with an intricate and unique purple-stone necklace around her neck and a sword strapped to her back. "Or perhaps even more important, the secret of the Sun Drop?"

Hannah took a step back as she studied the seemingly tough-as-nails woman, "And you are?"

The woman swaggered over to her and outstretched her hand, "The name's Cassandra. Raised in Corona, daughter of the Captain of the Guards, Rapunzel's best friend."

Hannah firmly gasped her hand and gave it a strong shake, "I'm Hannah. Lead investigator to the crown."

"Yes, I know. I've done quite a bit of investigating of my own and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't impressed by your accomplishments." She glanced over at Gregory, then back at Hannah with a knowing smirk, "I know all about you, Miss Hannah."

Hannah's pulse quickened as she realized what Cassandra was getting at, "Why are you here?"

"I'm here to help you. I believe you're a little outside your comfort zone."

Hannah smirked, "VORTEX is my comfort zone."

"Perhaps, but it seems to me that we are far past the operations of VORTEX. We've crossed into the realm of the supernatural which just so happens to be my comfort zone." Cassandra casually signaled for the group to follow her as she headed out of the cell, "This Sullivan guy is just a pawn in a much bigger plot. A plot that requires him to find all the supernaturally gifted individuals in the world. Which leads me back to my first question."

Hannah followed closely behind her, "Have I heard about the story of the Sun Drop? Yes. But the secret of the Sun Drop? No."

Cassandra knowingly smirked as they stepped out of the prison and into the afternoon sunlight, "Let's just say that Queen Elsa isn't the only person in her family with supernatural abilities."


Ten minutes later, the group had gathered in John Harrington's office in order to give them privacy as Cassandra continued explaining the secret of the Sun Drop. John leaned forward on his desk with intrigue, "Okay, hold on. You're telling us that Princess Rapunzel has the ability to heal the sick and wounded as well as return those who have just died to life?"

Hannah leaned back in her chair with less enthusiasm, "That is all included with the story of the Sun Drop, back when she had her magical glowing golden hair. But last I heard, her hair was cut, turned brown, and lost its healing abilities. So why is she a target?"

Cassandra casually leaned back against the wall, "That is where the secret of the Sun Drop comes in. Many years ago, when Queen Arianna of Corona was deathly ill when pregnant with Rapunzel, King Fredric desperately searched for a miracle that would save both of them-"

Gregory scoffed, "This is starting to sound a lot like the story of the Sun Drop-"

"I'm not finished." Cassandra threw him an irritated look before continuing to address the rest of the group, "However, the king was warned that if he removed the flower from its resting place, he would unleash a terrible darkness that would endanger the kingdom. He was so desperate to save his family that he moved the flower anyways and soon afterwards, mysterious unbreakable black rocks started to sprout out of the ground where the flower was removed.

"After Rapunzel's eighteenth birthday and shortly after she was reunited with her parents, Rapunzel and I approached these rocks. When Rapunzel, unknowingly still possessing the power of the Sun Drop, touched one of the rocks, a powerful blast knocked us off our feet and Rapunzel's long golden hair grew back. However, Rapunzel's hair did not possess its original powers to heal, but it revealed a new power. It was indestructible and whenever Rapunzel was in danger, it protected her by creating a magical shield.

"Unfortunately, these sharp black rocks began spreading throughout Corona, bringing destruction to anything in its path. These rocks were somehow connected to Rapunzel and once we learned that the power of the Sun Drop resided in her, the black rocks began directing her to the Dark Kingdom."

"Dark Kingdom?" Both Hannah and John responded at the same time.

Cassandra crossed her arms as she let out a long sigh, "Long ago, a mystical event in the heavens sent both a drop of sunlight and moonlight to the earth. You already know about the drop of sunlight forming the magical golden flower but this drop of moonlight formed a single seductive opal stone, which could destroy any and all who would seek to possess it. Over many centuries, the opal formed defenses for itself and out of those structures a kingdom was born, the Dark Kingdom. This is where the black rocks originated from."

That caught Hannah's attention as she sat up with interest, "So you're saying that the Moonstone opal was the Sun Drop flower's counterpart?"

"Exactly." Cassandra nodded her head, "Rapunzel discovered the origins of the Sun Drop and Moonstone as two halves of an ancient power seeking to be rejoined while sought by a demon called Zhan Tiri, an infamous evil in Corona's legends. Unfortunately, Zhan Tiri managed to return to the physical world as a spirit who manipulated me into taking the Moonstone and betraying Rapunzel. With the Moonstone in my possession, I controlled an array of supremely powerful moon-based abilities that consisted of supreme strength, evil magic, and ultimately, control of the black rocks."

Gregory carefully eyed her, "Do you still possess these powers?"

"No." Cassandra defensively crossed her arms, "Zhan Tiri double crossed me and stripped me of my powers."

Hannah stopped writing in her notebook, "So you believe that this ancient demon 'Zhan Tiri' is behind the plot in finding all supernaturally gifted individuals?"

Cassandra smirked, "I seriously doubt it. Rapunzel and I destroyed Zhan Tiri a few years back. This all happened before Rapunzel and Eugene were even engaged."

Gregory rolled his eyes, "Then why are you telling us this?"

"Because after we destroyed that ancient demon monster, the Moonstone and the Sun Drop merged as one powerful orb and only the chosen one could wield its immense power. That person was Rapunzel." A nostalgic smile cracked her stoic expression, "After she saved my life, Rapunzel returned the powers of the Sun Drop and Moonstone back to the heavens so it will never fall into the wrong hands again."

Hannah rhythmically tapped her pen against her notebook, "So Princess Rapunzel does not currently have these powers?"

"No. But since the destruction of Zhan Tiri, I have adventured around the world, solving mysteries and discovering all sorts of mythological treasures." She pulled out a tattered scroll from her cloak, "And I found this." She handed the item to Hannah so she could observe it, "Through these ancient texts, I've found that there is a legendary book called 'Census actus supernaturalis' where all supernaturally gifted individuals throughout history are officially counted and recorded with various details of these individuals."

"Details such as?" Hannah asked as she continued to analyze the scroll.

"Well, their name for starters. Followed by their date of birth, the kingdom they reside in, their supernatural abilities, their current location, and date of death."

"Um, current location?" John curiously tilted his head, "What does that mean?"

"It means that the book is constantly being updated, by magically means of course. That's how it keeps adding new gifted individuals when they are born and how it records the date of death when one passes away. We're talking about the mystic realm remember? Anything is possible."

Gregory leaned back in his seat with a haughty smirk, "So how do you know so much about this legendary book?"

Cassandra matched his arrogant smirk, "Because I found it, well at least where it was supposed to be." She grabbed a chair to sit in as she told her story, "I ventured to the location of the Mystic Vaults hidden within the jungles in the Southern Hemisphere to see this book for myself, with the intention of discovering if Rapunzel and I were still considered 'gifted' individuals. But when I finally reached the inner chamber where the book was supposed to be, I was gravely disappointed to find that the book was gone. However, I did meet the protective spirit that roams the Mystic Vaults and once I explained my intentions for being there, he told me everything I wanted to know about the book."

Gregory sarcastically scoffed, "Did he happen to tell you where the book currently is?"

"Yes, as a matter of fact, he did." She threw him another irritated look, "He explained to me that many years ago there was an attack on the Mystic Vaults by a powerful being named 'Deam Perfide', which roughly translates to 'Rogue Goddess'. The guardian spirit told me that at the time of the attack, he was not a spirit but a supernaturally gifted mortal who dedicated his life to protecting the vaults. When Deam Perfide attacked, he was killed by her but his dedication to the vaults was so strong that the heavens allowed him to remain the guardian as a protective spirit bound to the Mystic Vaults. It was not until he returned as a spirit that he realized that Deam Perfide had not only taken the book but she had also stripped away his powers.

Fortunately for him, the fates had one more gift to bestow upon him and that was a supernatural connection to the book. Although the book was no longer under his protection, he had the ability to recall any and all information that was in the book, including any updates the book produced." Cassandra paused to allow them to ask any questions but their intrigued silence let her know she should continue, "Since the guardian had a connection to the book, he told me that shortly after Deam Perfide's attack and her possession of the book, he started sensing a strange disturbance within the supernatural world. Several gifted individuals were dying suddenly and even stranger was that the Rogue Goddess' powers were growing. He realized that Deam Perfide was murdering these gifted individuals and taking their powers for herself which leads to why Thomas Sullivan was so interested in seeking out Rapunzel and Elsa."

John tiredly rubbed his forehead, "I still do not understand why this supremely powerful 'Rogue Goddess' would enlist the help of Sullivan?"

"I am assuming that all of her previous kills were on gifted individuals that were not of the royal prestige. It would be a lot easier to simply kill them off without attracting too much attention." Cassandra rested her chin on her hand in deep thought, "So it seems to me that she is trying to keep a low profile for now and brashly attempting to kill royalty from Corona and Arendelle seems pretty noticeable. She's probably using Sullivan and Vortex as a cover up."

John inquisitively rubbed his chin, "So if this 'Rogue Goddess' is the one behind all of this, then what is she plotting?"

"I do not know." Cassandra cautiously shrugged, "But I intend to find out."

Hannah thoughtfully shook her head, "I still don't understand what this has to do with Rapunzel since you told us she no longer possesses the powers of the Sun Drop and Moonstone?"

"When I asked the guardian of the Mystic Vaults about Rapunzel and me, he said that even though I was no longer in the book, Rapunzel was. Turns out, Rapunzel still possesses the ability to call down the powers of the Sun Drop and Moonstone. She just does not know it."

Hannah sternly snapped her notebook shut with a concerned expression on her face, "Then it seems like we know who her next two targets are: Elsa and Rapunzel."

"Exactly." Cassandra stood up and began to pace, "Once I heard about the capture of Thomas Sullivan after what he did to Elsa and Rapunzel, I figured there was something strange brewing here and I traveled to Great Britain as fast as I could."

Gregory stood up and sauntered towards Cassandra, "What a coincidence that you showed up the same day that Sullivan escaped."

Cassandra stood her ground as Gregory approached her, "Sure, like it's a coincidence that you just now remembered Sullivan was working for someone else."

"Alright…" Hannah stepped in between them and gently nudged them away from each other, "we're not going to get anywhere if you two keep ripping into each other. Now…" Hannah turned toward Cassandra, "you clearly have a plan so why don't you enlighten us?"

Cassandra shifted her attention away from Gregory, "I need you, Hannah, to travel to Arendelle and tell the royal sisters what I have just told you. From what the guardian of the Mystic Vaults told me, Elsa is far more powerful than she realizes. If she is warned and properly prepared, she will put up a good fight. I will travel to Corona to talk to Rapunzel, which leaves you, Gregory."

"Me?" His eyebrows shot up in surprise, "What am I supposed to do?"

"I need you to go to the Southern Isles and tell your brother, Hans, what I just told you so I hope you were paying attention."

He rolled his eyes in annoyance, "Um there's a slight problem with your plan-"

"You are under house confinement, I know." She glanced over at John, "Sir Harrington, you see the dilemma we're in and we have no time to lose. We need to leave for our destinations no later than tonight. So what else do I need to say or do in order for you to release Gregory Westergard?"

John hesitated, "Well I do not hold the authority to release him, and you would need the permission from Parliament and His Royal Majesty." He glanced around the room, seeing the concerned looks on Hannah and Cassandra's faces, "But I may be able to allow him a break. Normally this is only allowed when the detainee needs to go to work or church but in this situation I think potentially saving the world is a valid reason." He turned to Gregory with an intense stare, "and if you were to accomplish your mission, then that would significantly help in your release."

Gregory gave him a small sincere smile as they shook in hands in agreement. Cassandra let out a sigh of relief, "Thank you, Sir Harrington. Now…" She turned to


The sun had begun to dip behind the rolling green hills of the English countryside as the group of four approached the docks. Cassandra strode ahead of them as she finished giving them their directives and advice upon dealing with gifted individuals, "Remember, this is ultimately their fight, not ours. We are merely messengers to help them defend themselves, their family, and their kingdoms. As much as we want to fight, it is out of our control. Deam Perfide is far more powerful than anyone we have ever faced. So I want you to be mindful of the situation. If they request our help, we shall give it. If they want us to stay out of their way, then let it be so. They are the ones calling the shots. Do you understand?"

Hannah and Gregory both nodded and answered simultaneously, "Yes."

"Good." She paused as she addressed John, "I believe you and your men have a good lead about the woman who was visiting Thomas Sullivan while in prison. Whether she truly is his sister or not, we need to find her and question her as soon as possible. See what you can find out. But be careful, for all we know that woman may have even been Deam Perfide herself."

"Yes ma'am. My men are already on it." He outstretched his hand, "Thank you for your help. I wish you the best of luck on your quest." He sincerely glanced at Hannah and Gregory, "All of you."

Cassandra firmly shook his hand before he turned and disappeared into the crowd. She instinctively glanced around as if analyzing the trio's surroundings before continuing their walk towards the first ship, "Gregory, this is your ship headed to the Southern Isles. I hope you are able to arrive and talk with your brother, Hans, before the Mid-Summer Festival. I am expecting there to be trouble at the event. Tell him to trust no one."

"Alright." Gregory tightened the pack slung over his shoulder as he anxiously looked around, "Thank you for helping me get out of here."

"Not quite." Cassandra gave him a stern stare, "Remember, you're not released from your sentence. You're only on a break."

"Unless I succeed, right?" He teasingly smirked at her serious expression.

"Perhaps…" She returned his playful smirk, "I guess you'll have to succeed in order for us to find out."

He let out a light chuckle as he nodded his head to the two of them, "Ladies. Stay safe." His eyes lingered slightly longer on Hannah before he turned, walked up the gangplank, and disappeared from sight.

"So how long have you been keeping up the charade?" Cassandra asked Hannah as they turned away from the ship and continued their walk through the docks, "About 15 years, right?"

Hannah furrowed her brows as she took one last look at Gregory's ship, "What charade? My waitress-by-day, private investigator-by-night double life?"

"You know what I mean…" Cassandra lowered her voice, glancing over at Hannah with a smirk, "Your Majesty."

"Hmm…" Hannah noticed a large stack of crates piled up along the upcoming pier. Once they were close enough, Hannah firmly grabbed Cassandra's arm and forcefully pulled her behind the tall stack of imported goods, "Alright. You like to talk, so talk." She pulled out her revolver and subtly aimed it at Cassandra, "Who sent you?"

"Excuse me?" Cassandra crossed her arms in defiance, "Nobody sent me. I don't work for anyone but myself."

"That is a bunch of rubbish. You are a handmaiden." She pointed her revolver at the small piece of silky light blue material wrapped around Cassandra's right bicep, "That material, the embroidery, and the stitching are of castle standard. So you do work for someone."

"I used to be a handmaiden in Corona. I was Princess Rapunzel's lady-in-waiting, but not anymore."

"Why did you leave? I thought you said you were Rapunzel's best friend?"

"I was. And I still am." For the first time since they met, Cassandra dropped her tough façade and let an expression of sincerity take its place, "The most difficult part about being best friends with a free-spirited dreamer like Rapunzel is that she makes you realize there is more to you than the life you are told to live." She fondly touched the light blue fabric, feeling a bit nostalgic after being away from her friends and family for so many years. "This is a piece of my handmaiden uniform back when I waited on Rapunzel." She dropped her hand and looked up at Hannah, "My entire life has consisted of doing laundry and making beds. I always wanted to do more, I knew I could be more but I always found myself waiting in the wings. Thanks to Rapunzel, I now follow my own destiny, my own path and right now, my path is leading me home to Corona. To protect the kingdom I love, inhabited by the friends and family that I love more than anything in the world."

A strong sense of homesickness washed over Hannah as she listened to Cassandra's story. She could feel a lump form in her throat as she quickly averted her gaze, "Must be nice to be able to freely return home."

A humorless laugh escaped from Cassandra's lips, "Trust me. That is a gift I will never take for granted ever again." She noticed Hannah's confused, yet intrigued expression which made her smirk, "There is so much you don't know and unfortunately, I don't have the time to tell you."

They both stepped out from behind the crates and continued their walk towards the next ship. As they approached another large ship, Hannah smirked at Cassandra, "Well, you've told me more about Corona's secrets in one afternoon than I could ever uncover in my entire lifetime. What else is Corona hiding?"

Cassandra laughed at her boldness, "Corona has many secrets, some more secretive than others. The key to their secret keeping success is that the Kingdom of Corona tends to be overlooked compared to its cousin kingdom Arendelle. A kingdom being ruled by the Queen of Ice and Snow is much more news worthy than a lost princess who supposedly lost her magic abilities. But if you want to hear a less guarded secret…" She stopped walking short of the ship's gangplank with an impish smirk on her face, "Did you know that before Eugene and Rapunzel got engaged, Eugene was the Captain of the Guards?"

"Wait, what?" Hannah's mouth dropped open, "How? When?"

"Ever since I was a little girl, my dad has always been the Captain of the Guards. However, during the unfortunate time that I betrayed Rapunzel, stole the moonstone, and was branded as a traitor to Corona, my dad stepped down with the recommendation that Eugene take his place. At first, Eugene was reluctant but he turned out to be the best man for the job, he ran the tightest ship Corona had ever seen. After we defeated Zhan Tiri, Eugene remained the Captain for a while longer, but a year or so after he married Rapunzel, his royal obligations became more and more consuming and he finally had to step down as Captain. Fortunately, my dad was more than willing to take his old position back and that's where they are now."

"Wow, I mean I have heard about the significant decrease in crime in Corona over the past few years but I had no idea that Prince Eugene was the man behind all that."

They finally approached the base of the gangplank and Cassandra kindly regarded her new friend, "It was nice talking with you. I don't remember the last time I was able to confide in someone since I left Corona. I wish you the best of luck on your task and I hope to see you again soon." She outstretched her hand with a small smile.

Hannah appreciatively shook her hand with a smile of her own, "Thank you for trusting me with this information. I will not let you down."

Cassandra gave her a firm nod before turning away and disappearing into the crowd as she made her way to her own ship headed for Corona. Hannah's mind was reeling as everything Cassandra told her replayed over in her head. She was a mysterious one, that Cassandra, but there was something intriguing about the knowledge she possessed and the adventurous spirit she exuded. With one final glance around the docks, Hannah climbed up the gangplank and prepared for what was to come.


*Present Day*

The sun rose early that fateful morning, despite everyone wishing that this day would be over before it even started. Hans stood in front of his bedroom window, hands tightly clasped behind his back as he watched the sun's reflection stretch across the ocean horizon. His mind reeled with thoughts about what Annaliese told him last night, as well as the safety of his family in Arendelle and Corona. However, he could not let himself dwell too much on the possible attacks on the other kingdoms because he had his own problems to be concerned about. His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of knocking, "Come in." He watched the door open through the reflection in the window as Viktor stepped into the room.

"Good morning, Hans." He closed the door behind him, "How are you doing this morning?"

"This morning reminds me of those mornings I experienced when I was an Admiral in the Southern Isles Naval Fleet preparing for battle."

"I remember those mornings." Viktor thoughtfully stroked his goatee, "The calm before the storm, the anxiety of standing on the edge of the unknown. This is the moment that can make or break you."

"Exactly." Hans turned away from the window to look at his older brother, "I've received intel that I may be targeted at the festival so I cannot afford to make any mistakes today. There's too much at stake."

"I completely understand and speaking of which…" He reached into his jacket and produced two revolvers, "I believe I promised you some of our finest weapons from the Southern Isles arsenal."

Hans' eyes widened as he stepped forward to take a closer look, "Are these the same ones we practiced with?"

"Yes." Viktor chuckled, "I noticed you were fond of the grip for these. Similar to your favorite throwing knives, if I recall correctly."

Hans gratefully accepted the firearms, "This is great, thank you."

"There is one more thing you will need." Viktor shrugged off his jacket, revealing a holster strapped over his shoulders, "This will help you conceal the revolvers. We don't want Vortex noticing that you are carrying these." He unclasped the holster and helped strap it onto his younger brother, "How does that feel?"

"Empowering." Hans looked at his reflection in the mirror with a confident smirk, "I'm already feeling more optimistic about today. Thank you-" He paused when there was another knock on the door, "Who is it?"

"It's Annaliese."

Hans hurriedly fastened the revolvers into his holster, "One second." As he reached for his jacket, he whispered to Viktor, "Let's not tell her about the guns, alright?"

"Sure, but why?" Viktor helped Hans adjust his jacket over the new holster.

"She seemed a little on edge last night and I don't want to worry her any more than she already is." He quickly buttoned up his jacket, "Promise?"

Viktor thoughtfully nodded, "I haven't broken a promise to you yet and I don't plan on starting now."

"Thank you." Hans hurried over to the door and smiled upon seeing his best friend all dressed up for the festival, "Good morning, Annaliese. You look lovely today."

Annaliese brightly smiled, "Thank you, Hans." As she stepped into the room, her smile faded upon seeing the Southern Isles' second eldest prince, "Good morning, Viktor."

Viktor properly bowed to her, "Good morning, Annaliese." He politely smiled as the door behind her closed, "Before we get started, I would like to thank you for everything you have done in helping Hans and the rest of us with the investigation up to this point. Your intel has been immensely useful."

"Glad to help." She kept a tight lipped smile on her face, "So, Hans, what's the plan for today?"


"The plan for today is stealth. We cannot make it obvious that we have increased security at the Great Thaw Celebration this year." Elsa authoritatively sat at her desk in her study, going over last minute details with Captain Stephen.

"I have instructed all of my men to be on their guard and to be carrying their weapons on them, even those who are not officially on duty today. Only the normal amount of guards will be present in full gear at the festival. Nothing should seem out of the ordinary."

"Good, thank you." Elsa reached for her cup of morning tea, signaling the end of their meeting.

Captain Stephen respectfully bowed and turned to leave but then he hesitated, "Permission to speak freely, Your Majesty?"

Elsa paused mid-sip, cautiously eyeing him, "Granted."

He turned back to face her and sat down in the seat across from her desk, "How are you honestly feeling this morning, Elsa? About today's festival, I mean?"

Elsa took her time placing the teacup back onto its saucer, thinking about how she should word her thoughts, "Honestly?" She paused again. She was not sure how much she should reveal to him because although they promised to be more honest and trusting of each other, they still had to keep their relationship professional. She snapped out of her thoughts when she noticed he was still intensely staring at her with curiosity, "I-um, feel a little anxious about what to expect. As you know, I am not a fan of surprises. However, I truly believe that we are equipped to the best of our abilities and that is all we can do for now."

He smirked at her response, "That sounded more like Queen Elsa of Arendelle instead of just Elsa."

Elsa nonchalantly shrugged as she stood up, "Yes, well, it just so happens that we are one and the same." She was hoping that once she stood up he would get the hint to leave, but unfortunately he continued to just sit there and stare at her as if waiting for more. "You asked for my opinion and there it is. What else do you want me to say?"

He slightly hesitated as he finally stood up with a concerned expression on his face, "What if something goes wrong? I cannot allow you to get hurt-"

"We have been over this before, Edward-"

"Yes, I know. You want us focused on keeping the citizens of Arendelle safe but I could not live with myself if something happened to you." He paused when he noticed Elsa's surprised expression. Realizing that what he said could have been interpreted the wrong way, he hastily added, "My entire job is centered on keeping you safe and I honestly do not feel comfortable about this nonchalant attitude about your safety."

Elsa's surprised expression morphed into one of resilience as she casually walked over to him, "Do not worry about me. I can protect myself, thank you."

Despite her confident disposition, he greatly wanted her to accept his help, "Yes, of course and although you may be able to protect yourself, you still need an extra set of eyes watching your back."

Elsa froze at those familiar words, "W-what?"

Noticing her strange behavior, he immediately regretted his words, "I apologize, was that too out of line?"

"N-no. It's just…" Her mind flashed back to when Hans spoke those words to her when he was trying to convince her to allow him to travel with her to Sperca. A wave of sadness washed over her as she wistfully wished that she could be having this discussion with her husband by her side, "never mind." She looked back up at him with sincerity, "If you really want to help, then do this one task for me. If I should end up in a life-threatening situation, I want you to make sure that Anna and Kristoff do not intervene. I want you to ensure that they are safe and kept far away from whatever is happening to me. Understand?"

Now it was his turn to stand frozen in shock, "Elsa…what exactly are you excepting to happen?"


"We are expecting something explosive, Vortex likes their bombs. It would also be safe to assume that they will strike during the releasing of the lanterns, Vortex likes to make a statement." Eugene stood at the head of the table in the conference room, addressing both King Frederic and the Captain of the Royal Guard.

"Your Highness…" The Captain furrowed his brow in concern, "if you are suggesting that we should be looking for small, assumingly well-hidden, explosives in the dark during the festival without raising suspicion then I will be the first to say, with all due respect, that is a tall order."

Eugene understandingly nodded, "I understand your concern, Captain. We have introduced the scent of the explosives to Maximus and he will take the lead in trying to find them, preferably before they are detonated."

King Fredric's eyebrows shot up in surprise, "Where did you get the scent?"

"Rapunzel and I still have the clothes we wore when we attended the ball in London. You know, when we got caught in the explosion." Talking about that night brought on a small wave of anxiety as he remembered the horror of the attack and the fear of losing his wife. Trying to shake off the apprehension building up inside of him, he took a deep breath as he recollected his thoughts, "Our main objective is obviously the safety of our citizens. We find the bomb, we clear the area, and we disarm and/or remove the bomb from the area. No one is allowed a half-mile radius from the explosives. Understand?"

"Yes, but what if we don't find the bomb and it should go off?" The Captain raised a concern eyebrow.

Eugene hesitated, feeling that anxiety pulse through him again, "Damage control. Put out the fires, get as many people away from the wreckage as possible, and attend to the wounded. You know the routine."

"Eugene…" The King apprehensively rubbed his beard, "are you sure that cancelling the festival isn't the right call?"

"The fact that our letters were not sent to the Southern Isles and Arendelle the first time around confirms that we have Vortex spies living amongst us. We need to find them. Cancelling is only going to tip them off that we are onto them. This ends tonight."

The Captain nodded his head in agreement, "Your Highness, if we insist on continuing with the festival then I strongly recommend that the royal family should either not attend or receive extra security. And I know that you and the Princess are adamant in attending but the twins-"

"The twins will not be attending the festival tonight for obvious reasons. My wife and I have already taken extra precautions to ensure their safety." Since he and Rapunzel agreed to keep the location of the twins a secret, Eugene quickly decided to change the subject, "As for our own safety, well, this is not our first encounter with them. We'll be careful, watchful, and most importantly, prepared. Any more questions?"

"No, sir." The Captain stood at attention, "If you'll excuse me, I have to debrief my men in regards to the situation at hand." Eugene and King Fredric both nodded their acknowledgement and with a swift bow, he exited the conference room.

As an awkward silence filled the room, Eugene watched his father-in-law casually pace along the conference table and he could sense his hesitation about the plan, "Sooo…I can't help but get the feeling that you have something else to say."

The King continued to paced around the room, "Very perceptive, Eugene. But yes, as a matter of fact, I do have a request." He stopped pacing and gave his son-in-law a stern look, "If something should go horribly wrong tonight, I would feel a whole lot better if you and Rapunzel would not run into the center of the chaos like usual and instead go somewhere safe."

Eugene nonchalantly leaned against the wall, "Father, I cannot speak for Rapunzel but knowing her, if people are in trouble, she will be among the first to respond in helping any way she can-"

"As her father, I need to be sure that she is kept safe and out of harm's way. Both of you, for that matter. You two are the future of Corona and, most importantly, you are parents with five-month old babies depending on you. So please, just this once, no heroics."

Eugene pinched the bridge of his nose and let out a tired, reluctant sigh, "Yes, sir."

King Fredric gave Eugene's shoulder a friendly pat before exiting the room, leaving Eugene alone with his thoughts. He was not alone for very long when a gentle tap on the door sounded and a friendly face popped her head inside, "Sooo I just passed by my father in the hall…" Rapunzel wandered into the conference room and firmly shut the door behind her, "how did the briefing go?"

"Weeelll…" He shrugged with a pained expression on his face.

"That good, huh?" She smirked with a humorless laugh, "Let me guess, my father asked you to keep me out of trouble tonight?"

"Sorta. He actually asked that both of us stay away from any chaos."

"Hmm…" Rapunzel understandingly nodded, "I know he's just trying his best to prepare for an enemy he has never met. It has to be hard on him. He is the king, everyone is looking to him for direction and, for once, he does not have all the answers."

Eugene smiled down at his beautiful and thoughtful wife, "Fortunately he has us."

Rapunzel returned his heartfelt smile, "And he wants to keep it that way."

They must have felt the other's unspoken uneasiness as they gently embraced each other, staring out of the large ornate windows in the room that held a breathtaking view of the surrounding ocean and watching the sun set along the horizon. The Festival of Lights would begin shortly after nightfall and now only time would reveal what destiny had in store for them and the rest of their family in Arendelle and the Southern Isles.


Dum...dum...DUM! Things are about to get more dramatic! And good news! I have already started writing the next chapter! Woo-hoo!

Now, I understand that there may be some confusion circling around Cassandra and the "Secret of the Sundrop" story so let me explain. There was a 3 season Rapunzel tv series on Disney Channel that just ended back in March 2020. That is where all of this background information (Cassandra, Moon Stone, Zhan Tiri, etc.) came from. I absolutely loved the show and it did an outstanding job developing Rapunzel and Eugene's character growth as well as introducing a bunch of amazing characters and songs. As a big Disney fan myself, I highly recommend watching it (all 3 seasons are available on Disney+ for those who have it).

I also have to acknowledge the elephant in the room which is the release of Frozen 2. It is no big secret that Frozen 2 practically blows this fan fiction trilogy out of the water haha. I still intend on continuing this story the way I planned it but I was also playing around with the idea of coming up with an alternate ending that would connect to Frozen 2. Let me know if you would be interested in a second ending that I would release once Warm Hugs 3 is finished.

Finally, I hope that all of you are doing well during these difficult times. I can't believe how challenging this year has been for the entire world and I am here if any of you would like to send me a PM and just chat about what's been going on in your life. I believe that no one should be going through these hard times alone.

Please leave a review and I will hopefully chat with you all real soon! :)