Angel: I am not that far into the season finale, but one thing I do know is that Harmony and Rapunzel had their first bonding experience already in Before Ever After. Harmony came back before the event that Rapunzel and Cass did when they weren't friends yet, and she still had her old personality back then. So I wouldn't say that she'll have a significant moment with her sister in Beginnings since she was so closed off to everyone around her.
But I am giving her a partner! I just have to get to the season first…
Harmony's voice actor...ahh, I really have no choice that comes to mind. If anyone has suggestions, feel free to leave a potential voice actress for Harmony.
In Corona, the people are decorating with banners, streamers, and balloons. Gifts are being brought towards the castle. Today is a big event: Harmony's birthday. And everyone wants to make it perfect, to show her that they appreciate everything she's done. Rapunzel has a list of everything they need, like a big buffet, her sister's favorite cake, music, dancing, and lastly, her big surprise.
"I can't believe it's Harmi's birthday! ...My first one with her in...well, ever!" Rapunzel smiles happily.
"She's gonna love this, Blondie. I mean, what teenager wouldn't?" Eugene gestures to everything around him.
"I want everything to be perfect for her this year," Rapunzel grins, looking at the list. "Everything should be arriving soon. I've already prepared a sister day with her. And then I'll be taking her to the Snuggly Duckling so that she can have a nice lunch before the ball."
"Rapunzel!" Frederic bursts into her room, holding up two portraits of him and Harmony. "Rapunzel, which one of these should we mount in the main hall? This one says 'They're all business,' whereas this one I feel says 'Stern yet approachable.' What do you think?" His face is the same in both, and he even has the same expression right now.
He looks around the room, noticing that she's not there. He hugs the portraits, walking up to her open journal. He caresses the drawing of the whole family together, flipping a page...and then he notices events that have happened, such as being in Varian's lab, doing the Challenge of the Brave, and the hot balloon fight.
"You'd like to tighten security for the princesses, your majesty?" The Captain asks curiously, as the King has read Harmony's as well, and they're the exact same stories.
"Discreetly tighten, Captain. My daughter may be turning 15 today, and both my daughters are keeping their promises to stay within the walls of Corona...I fear they've been demonstrating a knack for getting into trouble."
He bows to the king.
Rapunzel has taken Harmony to the bookstore, gesturing to the shelf. "Pick whichever one you want, little sister. It's on me!"
She smiles, looking at a physics book and taking it. She examines the condition and some of the pages as Pete is sneaking past them. Pascal and Daisy jump to a shelf, looking for books that the birthday princess might like. They gesture to an alchemy book and Rapunzel beams at it.
"Oh! You and Varian can read this one," She takes it, but it's pretty heavy. "Look, it's got a list of various chemicals and some potions."
"Don't let Vari hear that one," Harmony smirks up at her. "Potions are magic-"
"And he doesn't work with magic," They recite in unison, giggling in unison. The two suddenly notice a pair of eyes between their friends, which quickly duck away. Rapunzel peeks into the shelf, Pete tiptoeing away.
"That was weird," Harmony murmurs, looking up at Rapunzel, who nods in agreement.
The sky is starting to darken and they notice the thunder. "Uh oh, guys. It looks like rain. Oh no, all the decorations could be ruined!"
Someone is staring at them from behind a building and their eyes widen once they notice him. He ducks behind the roof, tumbling down into a barrel of water. They glance to each other before silently deciding to leave.
"Oh, my back!" Stan cries out.
The two reach a fountain with ducks, one of the braiding girls staring at them. Pete emerges from the water, a duck on his head, and ducks back in.
"Is it me, or are the guards following us everywhere?" Rapunzel asks her sister in amusement. Pete stares at them as they walk away.
"Nope, not just you. I hope it's not because of my birthday..." Harmony narrows her eyes in annoyance.
"What do you say we don't make it so easy for them?" Rapunzel smirks and they run off, stopping short as the Captain is in the crowd. They cheer upon seeing Harmony, blowing party horns and confetti in the air. She smiles sheepishly with a wave before seeing Stan, and they disappear. Pete appears behind them and the older princess grabs Harmony's hand, running off.
"Captain, they went that way!" Pete points left and the two turn around sharply, disappearing. The Captain sighs at this, groaning. "Hey, there they go!"
"Bye!" The two wave from a pumpkin cart that's leaving, giggling.
"Oh...the king's not going to like this..." The Captain sags his shoulders.
The two princesses reach the Snuggly Duckling. "We showed them, huh? But now there's a slight chance we'll get stuck in the rain."
Thunder booms over their heads, rain sprinkling down on them. "Okay yeah, huge chance." She turns around and smiles at the pub. "Guess we'll have to do that lunch earlier than I thought. But I'm so sorry that it's raining on your birthday, Harmi."
"That's okay, Punzie," She smiles up at her sister as they walk down the path. "I just really wanted to spend it with you."
"Aww, that's what I wanted too!" Rapunzel gives her a big hug.
Big Nose lights a candle, standing on stage. "It was a dark...and stormy night. And as I stood there before this decrepit old mansion, the door slowly creaked open." The thugs are quivering in fear, even Ulf, who faints. "Out stepped a ghastly figure, an old woman with cold, dead eyes. Hair like tumbleweeds stapled to her head, and teeth that looked as if they could grind bone."
The door slams open, the lightning flashing behind two shadows. Attila, Hook Foot, and Big Nose all scream while Ulf faints again.
"Ooh!" Rapunzel steps in, followed by Harmony. "Are you telling ghost stories?"
"Hey!" All the thugs cheer at the younger princess, who smiles at them.
"Nah, Big Nose here was just telling us about his date last week," Hook Foot jerks a thumb to the thug, who sighs wistfully.
"Sweet, sweet Rhonda."
"Anyway, what are you doing here, Rapunzel? You two weren't supposed to come here for another hour."
"Good question," She and Harmony squeeze their wet hair. "We thought our dad was done being overprotective, but for some reason, it seems like guards were following us everywhere today. And since it started raining while we were escaping, we thought to come here early."
"I thought it might be because of my birthday, but he wasn't like this last year," Harmony glances up at her sister. "Not to mention I didn't go out last year."
"Come on, Raps, this is Corona! Guards are like cockroaches in this kingdom," Hook Foot crosses his arms.
"Hook Foot's right," Big Nose sits at the stage while Attila gives Harmony some food and she beams. "No one's following you. This storm has just put everyone ill at ease, and you're probably just imagining things."
"No we're not," Harmony narrows her eyes. "We're the princesses, remember? Guards don't just follow us for no reason."
The door opens again to reveal the Captain. "Hello fellas," He gives them a two finger salute.
"He did it!" Three of them shout as the four point to each other, thinking he's here to make arrests.
"I was just wandering by, and...Princesses?" He feigns shock as he sees the two. Harmony takes a bite out of her cupcake, unamused by his presence. "What a surprise to find you here."
"Uh huh...hi, Captain," Rapunzel chuckles a little. "Funny seeing you here."
"Funny? ...Why, there-there's nothing funny about it. I'm here all the time to...shoot the breeze with my chums. Hook Toes, Hornswoggle, and...that guy. Ha! Isn't that right, fellas?"
They offer no comment as they look away. "Yup, nothing I love more than wettin' my old whistle at the Cozy Quacker. Heh..."
"Specialty of the house slop," Attila gives him a brown-colored drink...which disappears as a rat has swallowed it. Harmony turns away from the sight, still eating.
"You followed us here, didn't you?" Harmony asks bluntly.
"W-What? Preposterous!" He waves it off, laughing as Rapunzel glances at her sister knowingly. "Well, this has been fun, Princesses. Uhh, let's say I escort you back to the castle."
"But we're in the middle of her birthday lunch," Rapunzel gestures to the young girl.
"Not that I have anything against you celebrating your special day, but you can finish that back at the castle, where it's safe."
"Mm," Harmony narrows her eyes at him and lightning flashes yet again as Vlad comes in.
"No one's goin' anywhere...the roads are all flooded." Another flash and the young girl looks around, wondering why that's always happening when someone enters the pub.
"Fantastic," The Captain deadpans at this. "We'll just have to wait out the storm...and by the way, it's absolutely freezing in here. Don't you people know how to get a fire goin'?" He reaches out towards a dusty old club.
"NO!" Hook Foot shouts at him.
"That's off limits!"
"Don't touch that!"
He grabs it anyway and suddenly the whole pub starts to creak. The Captain drops the club on the floor and Hook Foot runs up to it, placing it back where the object was...even putting the webs back on top of it.
"That club is never to be disturbed," Hook Foot warns the man.
"Why?" Rapunzel and Harmony walk up to him. "What's so special about it?"
"And why are you so spooked over it?" Harmony raises a brow.
"Not special," Vlad corrects Rapunzel, "And you're right, it is more like spooky..." He puts on a scary face. "It belonged to the Duckling's original owner...Ruthless Ruth."
Once the name is uttered, they can hear the laughter. Pascal and Daisy hide, the duckling preferably choosing her hiding spot to be Harmony's hair. "Ruth was the meanest Pub Thug to ever live. She used that club to intimidate her customers."
"They called it her Listen Up Club," Hook Foot continues, "And legend has it that whoever disturbs it will incur the wrath of Ruthless Ruth's wraith!" Thunder flashes inside the pub, scaring most of them.
"The wrath of Ruthless Ruth's wraith?" Rapunzel asks in confusion, the flash occurring again.
"The wrath of Ruthless Ruth's wraith!" Big Nose confirms, and it happens a third time.
"Can everyone just stop saying the wrath of Ruthless Ruth's wraith?" The Captain questions in frustration, and nothing happens this time. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I'd rather take my chances out in the rain than spend one more minute listening to you buffoons and your silly ghost story!" Thunder strikes yet again, this time the candles blowing out and the window shutters flapping shut. The fire ignites from the fireplace, the thugs running away from it.
"Let's get out of here!"
Big Nose pulls at the knob, but it won't budge. "It's stuck!"
"Ahh!" Hook Foot grips at his hair. "We're trapped in the pub! It's the wrath of Ruthless Ruth!"
"This is all your fault, Captain," Attila accuses him.
"Oh please!" He scoffs at him. "You don't honestly think Ruthless Ruth is behind all this?"
"Guys, he's right," Rapunzel defends the Captain. "Let's not overreact."
"There's no way that ghosts exist," Harmony shakes her head. "It's not possible."
"Just because the lights went out, the shutters slammed shut, and the doors got stuck all on their own doesn't necessarily mean there's a-"
Sinister laughing interrupts her, causing them to go silent. "Ghost...wait, where's Shorty?"
Attila points forward as Shorty starts floating up in the air. "You have disturbed my slumber!" He opens his eyes that have no pupils and are light blue. "If you don't listen up and note my words by dawn, you will all be trapped in here with me forever!"
"What was that about ghosts not existing?" Hook Foot retorts to Harmony, who looks up at him in slight annoyance.
"Shorty! Who-Whoever you are!" Rapunzel stammers at him, "What do you want?"
"I want..."
"Yes?" They all ask nervously.
"I want..."
"Yes?"
Shorty falls onto the ground, lifting up a finger. "A sardine Sammy and a jug of pickle brine."
"Enough of this nonsense!" The Captain shouts in aggravation.
"Captain, didn't you hear?" Rapunzel questions anxiously as they watch him walk away. "He says we have until dawn to figure out what Ruth wants, or else we're gonna be trapped in here forever. Harmony's ball starts in a few hours!"
"You're gonna listen to him? You realize he eats cheese off the floor?"
"One man's floor is another man's plate," Shorty recites, eating some with a rat.
"I don't know what just happened, but those eyes...it definitely wasn't Shorty speaking, and I think we need to find out what to do. It's the only way we'll get out of here," Harmony tells him, crossing her arms.
"The priority is to get the princesses out of this pub and back to the castle as quickly as possible."
"Captain, we wouldn't even be in this situation if you and your guards hadn't followed us! If you left us alone, we wouldn't have come here in the first place!" Harmony argues back, pointing to the floor.
"It's your birthday, Princess Harmony. Your father ordered extra protection for the day," He starts hitting the door with his arms and she pinches her nose. She should've known something caused him to order the guards to follow after them today...and yet she had a strange feeling that it wasn't because of her birthday. Something else was the reason for that...last year she stayed in her room, and all Frederic did was have two guards in front of her door.
"Is there anything we can use as a battering ram?" The Captain holds his arm after trying.
"A battering ram isn't the answer! We need to know more about Ruth and the Listen Up Club," Rapunzel frowns a little towards him. The fire suddenly goes out.
"Well," Big Nose lights a candle with a match. "They say that she lived to terrify those who found her. And legend has it that people's screams were music to her ears. And she would go on terrible rampages, storming through the streets of Corona." Pascal and Daisy both cringe. While the duckling isn't usually scared, a ghost is something entirely different...especially with that description.
"No one knew when she would strike," Hook Foot speaks up. "All they knew was she would disappear from the pub, and when she did, no man, beast, or building foundation was safe from the swing of her fearsome club."
"Afterwords, she'd come back to the pub, and etch a notch in her club, for every walking creature she destroyed in her path."
"Then she'd have dinner, a bowl of putrid, slimy slugs."
"I heard it was spiders."
"i heard it was both! And she ate them alive!"
"And she didn't chew!"
"She had horrible table manners."
"Yeah, a-and they say all of Corona lived in fear of the mighty barbarian until the day she died."
Rapunzel gasps slowly. "And the only way to appease her is to figure out how to listen up."
"Or we're gonna be stuck here forever," Big Nose lights the fire with the candle.
"I don't wanna be stuck here forever!" Hook Foot laments, "There's only one slice of pie left!"
Ulf starts mimicking a sad violin. "Cut it out! Pie's important to me, okay?"
However, they can still hear the instrument, looking up in confusion to see a ghost violin playing all by itself. Harmony opens her mouth in disbelief. Varian was never going to believe this when she gets out of here...and they will. She can't be stuck here, if she was, she'd never see him again...
"Uh, guys?" Rapunzel notices all the instruments moving by themselves, playing on their own. They can only stare as the Captain turns around in a panic.
"We've gotta get out of here, now!" They use Vlad as a battering ram, which doesn't work. "Again, on three!"
"Ruth, please!" Rapunzel begs as she watches them. "All we're trying to do is figure out what you want!"
"We won't disturb the club anymore, just please tell us!" Harmony chimes in pleadingly. The instruments fall down on the stage, where blue mist surrounds the two.
"Listen up, princesses," A female voice speaks up, freaking them out slightly.
"Who said that?!"
"Listen...up," The mist forms into a female face before disappearing. The club and whatever was holding it falls onto the ground behind them. Harmony tugs at her sister's sleeve.
"Look," She points to it and Rapunzel examines the notches that Big Nose mentioned in the story.
"Wow...look at this."
"What does it mean?" Harmony murmurs as she examines it.
"And the club's hook..." Rapunzel takes the hook into her hand, gasping. "It's a tuning fork!"
Thunder strikes, the moose mounted on the wall laughing. The dead fish on mounts move around as do the weapons stashed in a barrel.
"Princesses!" The Captain calls out, dropping Vlad and pulling out his sword. "Listen, and listen to me well, spirit!"
"Uh, Cap, not so sure you wanna take that tone with the undead," Hook Foot calls out as Ulf eats the slice of pie.
"No more games! Under the authority of King Frederic of Corona, I demand you release us or face the consequences!"
Thunder crashes as laughter is heard again...
Frederic puts down his fork while sitting next to his wife at the table, sighing and looking outside. "Your majesty." He turns to Nigel. "We've evacuated the East Bank. While the flooding caused some damage, there have been no reports of injuries."
"And still no word from..."
He sadly shakes his head no. "Your majesty..." He bows his head in sympathy, leaving them be. The king looks out to Corona in worry for his daughters.
"They'll be here," Arianna places a hand on his shoulder.
It's almost 9 o'clock as Rapunzel looks at the tuning fork. "We are running out of time. Okay, let's think. What do we have to go on? The Listen Up Club and...this tuning fork."
"Yeah, but how are those two connected?" Harmony rubs her chin. Rapunzel flicks the fork and a circle shows them two spots on the wall. They both eye the spot, glancing at the fork. "They're exactly the same size..."
Rapunzel inserts the fork and turns it around. A secret passage opens up, showing a dark cave with objects inside.
"Don't worry, princesses!" The Captain calls out, none of them seeing what happened. "We'll get you two out of here! One, two, three!" They manage to get the door open, but Shorty suddenly disappears through a portal.
"We're free!" Attila cheers, none of them having noticed. "I'm gonna travel the world!"
"I'm gonna exercise every day-" When they run through the door, the portal takes them back into the pub, and they continue running, the Captain and Shorty staring at them. They eventually tire themselves out.
"What in the world is goin' on?!" the Captain demands, reaching his hand to the door. It goes through the portal, leaving a dangling hand. Hook Foot does the same thing...but with his butt. And then he sees his pants.
"Oh come on! Why didn't anybody tell me my pants were split? I thought we were pals!" He grumbles at the rip.
"Let's try the trap door," Attila points to behind the counter. The Captain jump inside, followed by the others.
"I'm gonna exercise sometimes-"
Same thing with the door: they end up back inside the pub. "We're never getting out of here!" Hook Foot shouts, holding his head.
The two sisters carefully step inside. It feels so creepy, but they only have one goal, which is to get out of there for Harmony's birthday. "Um, Ruth? Are you in here?"
"Ruth?" Harmony scopes the area as Rapunzel touches a whole ceiling full of tuning forks. The same mist that guided them focuses on some notes. The tuning forks sound off again and they back away, passing through a ghost. They both scream, slowly turning around. The ghost turns to them, revealing herself as Ruth, who narrows her eyes at the sight of them.
"Ruth...we-we-we want to help-"
"Listen up!" She yells in a ghostly voice. Then she suddenly disappears, the pages from the book flipping. "The legend is wrong, Rapunzel and Harmony." The pages fly off, surrounding the two. "We all have dreams. All I wanted was for them to hear my song."
"So you weren't a barbarian?" Rapunzel asks her.
"That story isn't true?" Harmony raises a brow.
"Oh no, I was a barbarian," She elaborates, gesturing to herself. "But I never disappeared to go on rampages. I was just hiding away in here, practicing my music. My only dream was to write a rabble-rousing chantey, and hear it sung aloud at the pub!" She sings those last eight words. "But...but I was afraid no one would listen."
"Listen Up means listen to your song," Rapunzel says in realization.
"That's why you keep telling us that," Harmony smiles a little.
"It ain't just a club, princesses," She reveals, disappearing into thin air again. Screams are heard from outside and they come out of the hiding space to see the thugs being haunted by the various objects in the pub. The moose head lands on top of the Captain and he tries to knock it away with his sword. The two run up to the club.
"They're musical notes!" The two reply in unison.
"Listen Up is the song!" Harmony takes it into her hands.
"Guys! Ruth isn't as bad as we thought!" Rapunzel calls out, but they're too busy running. "Oh, and this isn't just a club! It's a secret song, but she was too afraid to share it! And now we all have to play it!"
"This is what she wants from us!" Harmony gestures to the club.
They stop hiding and/or running to stare at them. "What?"
"Here, here, hold this so I can read the music," Rapunzel hands the club to Shorty. She starts to play from the piano, cringing a bit. A dagger goes flying right across her head. Harmony yelps as her sister ducks, sighing in relief. The weapons slowly stop moving, going back into their place with the sound of the song. "Guys, I think she likes it! We're gonna be free!"
A guitar manifests in front of Hook Foot, who takes it and starts playing. The others get their own instruments while the Captain stumbles around to get the moose off his head. Pascal is given an accordion and Daisy a tambourine.
The Captain finally takes off the moose head, pushing past Big Nose and Hook Foot. He narrows his eyes at the club that's caused so much trouble and glares. He takes it away and snaps it in half, throwing it into the fire.
"NO!" The two princesses shout at him.
"Take that, Ruth!" He declares and Ruth gets angry.
"Now I'll never have a chance for my song to be heard! And none of you will ever see the light of day AGAIN!"
The thugs all look to the princesses. "What are you doing, Captain?"
"You just trapped us in here forever! We needed that club to get us out!" Harmony gestures to the fire.
"You don't stop a ghost with a song! You stop it with force!"
"Didn't you hear them? Ruth's not evil," Big Nose speaks up. "The club was just her song."
"Which had the notes we needed to play to escape the pub!" Harmony adds in angrily.
"Well, I-I did have a moose on my head," He points to his head.
"Captain, having someone play her song was Ruth's dream," Rapunzel explains to him.
"Ohh," He facepalms at what he's done. "Sorry."
Lightning strikes at his apology, meaning that he's not forgiven. "You've crushed my dreams, and now I'll crush you!"
Blue smoke turns into red as Ruth reveals herself. "None of you will ever see the light of day again!" Her eyes flash, scaring a rat to death. They all gasp as she floats around, starting to haunt the pub. The group run away, Hook Foot even saving the Captain from a flying barrel. He and Shorty run towards the front door, and end up in the pub again. She grabs Hook Foot, throwing hm onto the counter.
"Hide!" Attila shouts, hugging Big Nose. "Come in closer! Not that close."
Ruth phases through all the thugs, possessing them. They target the Captain.
"Ruth! It's not dawn yet! We can still finish your song!"
"It's not too late!" Harmony clasps her hands together.
"No, we can't," She flies back towards them. "That hothead with the misplaced eyebrow burned my music! The new day is nearly upon us, and I'll be relegated back to the depths of my chamber!"
"No, Ruth, no, that club was just a piece of wood. The song is your dream, and you can't burn a dream. The song must still be in your heart."
"You memorized it. And I know so because you were in here for years. You carved it onto the club...but you never forgot it," Harmony says softly.
Ruth recoils back, placing her hands on her heart. "But I can't do this alone."
"Ruth, only you are in charge of your own destiny," Rapunzel takes a seat in front of the instrument. "And we're here to help."
"You..." She turns blue again. "You really think I should sing it?"
"Face your fear, and let your true self shine."
"It's time that people got to know the real Ruth," Harmony smirks a little.
Rapunzel starts playing the piano again, this time with Harmony on the violin. Ruth smiles at the two as they grin at their skills. Ruth phases through the piano.
Since I was a lassie
Just a sweet young thing
She smiles, clasping her hands.
All I truly longed to do
Was make up songs to sing
The thugs are suddenly back to normal as they drop the Captain.
Sure my voice was rotten
And had a pitchy twang
She moves into the crowd by turning into mist
But I had dreams, and in my dreams
This is what I sang
She phases through the piano again, getting all of their attention. Rapunzel keeps playing, moving her hands to the right as Harmony slowly moves her arm.
Listen up, all you goons
She appears in front of Big Nose, Vlad, and Shorty, showing all of their skeletons as she's turned purple.
Listen up and hear my tunes
Every line, boys, is mine
So listen up
"Catchy," Rapunzel comments with a giggle.
"And this is kind of fun," Harmony grins a little.
How I yearned to sing it
Still I was afraid
Everything is turned to be vertical, some of the thugs falling.
Guess I feared they call me weird
And mocked the songs I made
Ruth swirls her fingers near her head, which removes itself and spins around.
So I shut my PIE HOLE
And hid my work away
Her mouth is sewed shut as her songs were hidden for no one else to see. Harmony and Rapunzel stand on the piano, spotlights on them.
B: But you had dreams
And in my dreams
This is what I played
She flies above them.
Listen up, if you please,
Listen to my melodies
The two princesses go back to their instruments.
B: Folks she wrote every note
R, H, and Ru: So listen up!
The two pets end up in Ruth's body as the two girls joined her in singing.
I kept my song a secret
But carved it on this club
She holds the club in her hand.
Waiting till the perfect moment came
A poster for Hook Hand's concert appears, but Daisy throws it up.
At last I worked the nerve up
And stood before the pub
She floats around, stopping in front of the stage again.
I let one note come through my throat
Ruth removes her head, a single note sitting on top of her neck.
And then I died of shame!
She lays down on top of the piano, holding a flower above herself. "Died?"
"Died?"
Dead!
A gravestone engraved with 'Dreams: RIP' appears.
And now I haunt this tavern
Ruth floats out of the dirt.
Suffering for my art
She goes through a harp, pieces of her flying off.
Years and years of doubts and fears
All that's left is her heart, which goes to the two princesses.
B: It's time to heed your heart
They place it back into the ghost.
I can end this curse now
If I can end the song
Ruth floats in front of a mug, which Vlad takes.
V: Like in your dreams
But in my dreams
You ALL must sing along
Her head hops back to the duo as Rapunzel plays a chord, Pascal hitting a high note with his tongue.
Listen up, all you thugs
Lift your voices and your mugs
Don't be shy
Let it fly!
PT: Listen up!
Ruth smiles at them.
That's it!
BN: Listen up
A: Listen here!
HF: Raise the roof
The trio start dancing to the music.
S: And rock the house!
Make it loud, sing it proud, listen-
WAIT!
Ruth stops everything, to the duo's confusion. They glance at each other. "What's wrong?"
"...HIM," She points to the Captain, who's attempting to leave again.
"Come on, everyone needs to sing," Rapunzel calls out to him.
"I...I haven't sung in quite some time," He rubs his neck. "What if I'm rusty?"
"Your name's not Rusty, it's Captain," Shorty chimes in. "And I'm Susan."
Harmony walks up the stairs to him. "Captain please, it's almost midnight, we have to free Ruth!" Rapunzel begs with him, staring at the ghost, who keeps her gaze on the man.
"You want us to get out of here, don't you?" Harmony frowns at him.
C: Listen up, listen close
You're disgusting, old, and gross!
Harmony opens her mouth, putting a hand to it at the insults.
But your song is quite strong
Listen up!
He dances down the stairs and Harmony smiles, sitting on the railing and sliding down it.
Listen up, listen up
The thugs clink their glasses together as the princess flies into the air, landing safely.
Everybody raise your cup
Here's to Ruth,
That's the truth!
Listen up!
Listen up!
Listen up!
Listen up!
Listen up!
"YEAH!" They all cheer, and with that, the doors are opened. Everyone cheers as Ruth looks on happily, bowing to them.
Morning comes, a bluebird singing on top of the sign. Ruth exits the pub, the princesses standing in the doorway. "Ruth, wait! You've been here for so many years. Why wait until now to free yourself, and why reach out to us?"
"Because I knew you'd understand, princesses." They smile softly at her. "And I'm sorry I made you miss your birthday, Harmony. I promise that I'll make this right...by the way, when it comes to making dreams happen, you might wanna take your own advice."
"Oh, you don't have to do that. My father will make sure that I don't miss a thing this year," Harmony waves to her and she giggles, disappearing. Suddenly the sun goes backwards, shocking all of them. "What just happened?"
Vlad looks at the clock. "Hey, it's 6 o'clock!"
"She must've brought time to the day before, so that you wouldn't miss your party," Rapunzel grins a little.
"Consider it my gift to you," Ruth's voice speaks up in the wind. Harmony smiles softly for the gesture.
"Bye Ruth," Attila says as everyone but the Captain wave.
"Say hi to my Uncle Murray for me!" Hook Foot calls out.
"Wait, wait, wait, wait," Shorty says while leaning at the window. "I thought Ruth was a goat."
"Princesses..." The Captain speaks up. "Are you ready to return to the castle? I know I am."
"We are so ready..."
They return back to the castle, where the people are waving to the birthday princess, sending her well wishes. "Ruth reminded me of something very important, guys," Rapunzel replies as the two sisters walk down the hall, preparing to confront their father. "No one is just gonna hand us our dreams. We have to go get them ourselves. And I know Dad's heart is in the right place with sending all the guards to protect us, but it's time we put him in..."
They open the doors, seeing the concerned look from their father. He looks up and sees them safe and sound.
"Girls!" He runs up to them and pulls them both into a group hug. "You have no idea how worried I was! I love you so much, darlings. You both mean everything to me," He places them onto the floor, holding one hand each.
"Dad..."
"Papa..."
They were going to say it, and they should've, but...he just looks so relieved to see them right now, and so they'll let it go...for now.
"We love you too."
He hugs them tighter and they look out the window. They knew that someday they'll have to talk to him about it...
Harmony lightly sighs as she sits at the purple-clothed royal table. The princess wears a floor length gown with dark blue rounded puffy sleeves, a white top, and a dark blue skirt with three layers. Over her hands are wrist length white gloves. Her hair is in a neat bun, with a white rose resting over her right ear. She takes a look around the area at everyone. Couples waltzing across the floor, children in loose little suits and dresses, foreign people from all around greeting the royal family.
Rapunzel stands up, tiptoeing over as she bends down to her sister. "I can't believe I'm actually at your annual birthday ball, Harmi! It's so beautiful!"
Harmony couldn't help but smile. Everyone had been asked to dress in either white or dark blue, to represent the moon or sky at the Over the Moon Birthday Ball for the princess' birthday. All of the tablecloths, centerpieces, and lights are white, while the chairs, dance floor, and table settings are dark blue. Everything looks so beautiful with the white balloons, blue streamers, and white banners...and her big sister is here. She couldn't ask for anything better.
"Swell party, Brownie!" Eugene exclaims, dressed in dark blue. "I can't imagine what Blondie's will be like."
"Hopefully without you," Cass retorts as she's dressed in white.
Eugene just gives her a glare. "Guys, not here," Harmony warns them, frowning a little. Her family notices it immediately.
"Something wrong, sweetheart?" Arianna places a hand on top of her daughter's.
"I'm fine, it's just...I feel like something is missing. Something that would make this party the best birthday ever," Harmony looks up hopefully to the full moon, snapping out of it. "But maybe it's just me."
Rapunzel grins knowingly to Eugene and Cass, who wink. "Trust me, little sis, you're gonna have the best birthday tonight! ...Besides the unexpected ghost at the pub. Let's just say we arranged a little surprise."
Cass and Eugene shake their heads rapidly for her to stop talking. The king and queen glance to each other with a tiny smirk. Harmony stares at them, not seeming to realize that they knew something she didn't.
"Well, I'm gonna take a look at the buffet," She stands up. Thankfully, the cooks made all of her favorite foods to distract her from thinking further on what she's missing. The party was going to end on midnight, where they'd release the fireworks in her honor, similar to how they'd release the lanterns on Rapunzel's birthday. She couldn't wait. Every year, the display improved greatly and now that her sister is with her for the first time in years, she was waiting to spend the rest of her birthdays with her whole family intact.
Soon it's time for presents and she still had the same feeling again. She didn't know why, but a little part of her felt empty...this was her birthday, and her sister is here to enjoy it, and yet she still felt sad...she just needed something to make this day perfect. No one should spend their birthday feeling this way.
"Here you go, little sis!" Rapunzel holds out something rectangular, wrapped up in purple wrapping paper. Harmony opens it up to see a painting of her and her sister enjoying a walk in the garden with their pets.
"Oh, Punzie!" Harmony couldn't help but cry a little, rubbing against the frame with her thumb. "I love it..."
"Aww," Rapunzel hugs her from behind. "Only the best for my little sister."
The crowd couldn't help but clap, shedding a few tears.
"I put in a lot of thought into this one, Brownie," Eugene places a sword into her hands. "Gotta defend yourself somehow, right?"
"Isn't that a little dangerous, Eugene?" Frederic frowns in concern as Harmony looks at it in awe.
"Oh, no one said she had to use it right away," Arianna pats his arm. "It's her birthday, Fred."
Gift after gift after gift, and while she was grateful for each and every single one of them, she still didn't feel like everything was perfect. She kept a small smile for the crowd, but other than that, she was a little bored.
After about 30 minutes of dinner, Nigel walks up to a pedestal, clearing his throat.
"Ladies and gentlemen, it is now time for the princess' formal birthday waltz. She will lead with anyone she chooses, soon followed by King Frederic and Queen Arianna, and then by the princess and the man of her choice. The rest are permitted to join with partners of their own."
Harmony's eyes widen slowly as she registers the words.
Oh.
My.
God.
She gulps, tugging at her skirt. With all of the birthday events, she totally forgot about the dance. Usually, it'd be a father daughter dance, but now that Rapunzel is here, she figured that they must've changed the rules...she had no clue who she was gonna pick...what was she gonna do?!
"Psst," She hears, glancing to the side to see her smiling big sister. "Go on! What are you waiting for?"
"Who am I supposed to dance with?!" She whispers back, that smile being too obvious for Rapunzel.
"Trust us! We've got this," Rapunzel gives her a thumbs up. Harmony looks towards everyone staring and fixes her dress, walking slowly towards the dance floor. Only her shoes clacking could be heard as it's dead silence everywhere. She scopes the yard for anyone in particular, but no one stands out.
Suddenly she stops as someone approaches her...the one thing she needed to make this night perfect.
Varian comes to a stop in front of the girl and holds out his hand to her. For once, he's not wearing his goggles or his gloves, and he's dressed in a nice dark blue suit, with his hair slicked back.
"Sorry I'm late, milady. May I have the honor of giving the birthday girl her dance?"
She stares at him in shock, giggling as she takes his hand.
"Nice suit," Harmony whispers as her heart is jumping in and out of her chest.
"It's my dad's," He holds one gloved hand, holding her waist with his other hand. "A friend of his tailored it."
Rapunzel is squealing quietly as her parents join the two teenagers on the floor. She tugs Eugene and he takes her hand.
Harmony and Varian instead focus on each other instead of the pattern they're making with their feet. Eventually, they ease into the dance, their moves in sync. They waltz across the dance floor. Varian holds her hand up, spinning her arm. Her dress spins around gracefully with her movements as the melody of music perfects their performance. It all feels so magical...just what she was looking for.
"How can people as clumsy as us dance?" Harmony giggles a little as she holds onto one part of her skirt.
Varian bashfully looks down, his bangs falling over his forehead. "I don't know, you were always pretty graceful to me."
She blushes as he spins her around again. She can recall every single time that she's bumped into Varian...but he didn't think of her as clumsy? "R-Really?"
"Well...yeah," He smiles softly at her, taking a deep breath. They sway to the music, the alchemist holding their interlocked hands between their chests. "Um...Mona...these past few months hanging out with you have been a dream, and...I wanted to tell you for so long that...I...really like you."
"You...you do?" She asks softly and he smiles again, pulling her in just a little bit closer.
"Ever since I first laid eyes on you."
She blushes and tries not to grin widely. He likes her...they continue to dance as the moonlight shines on them, showing only them in the dim darkness. The band plays soft music this time, her family smiling at the two.
Butterflies are flapping in her stomach as her knees feel weaker with each step of the dance. She only wanted him to know one thing.
"I like you too, Vari."
He hugs her waist with both arms, connecting their lips in a kiss. Harmony kisses back as he holds her up slightly. She clings onto his neck so as not to slip. She was beyond happy.
Rapunzel, Eugene, and her parents watch from afar, smiling as the teenagers continue to dance, Harmony's head rested into Varian's shoulder.
"I told her we had it covered," Rapunzel grins at the new couple. They watch Varian lift up Harmony from the ground and he spins, her skirt flying around from the twirl. They both laugh as they stare at each other happily, focused on nothing else. Harmony smiles, resting her head over his shoulder. He holds her gently as he closes his eyes.
"I think she can chalk this up to being the best birthday after all."