Harmony is holding the goggles in her hands, tears falling onto the lenses from her eyes. "We have to figure out what Cassandra is planning to do with Varian and the scroll," Rapunzel paces around in front of them. "We're not just gonna sit by and let her ruin Eugene's birthday, or..." She lifts up her bag, looking at the ring inside. "Or let her have Varian or anything else. Right?"
Most of them are silent and nervous. "Yeah."
"Sure."
"I don't know."
"Just...give me a minute," Eugene looks away.
"Seriously, guys. Cass has Varian. Not to mention an incantation that can control the rocks. And if she continues to use that power, I don't know what will happen to Harmi," Rapunzel walks up to her sister, placing a hand on her shoulder. "We have to stop her!"
"Uh, princess? Were you in the same fight as us? We don't stand a chance against Cass in that unbreakable armor!"
"Come on, Lance, she wasn't that bad," Eugene waves it off.
"Oh, I'm sorry, what were you doing during that fight? There was a large boulder and you were..."
Pascal, who's sitting on top of the globe, runs away and Lance laughs. "Yeah, yeah, like that. Okay, okay, he's getting offended," He stops the globe and the chameleon goes flying.
"What are you laughing about? You were right there with me," Eugene crosses his arms.
"No, no, no, no, no. You're remembering it all wrong. You know, they say memory is one of the first things to go with age..."
"Are we finished?" Eugene asks him in annoyance.
"We have to save him!" Harmony sniffles, getting their attention.
"We will, Brownie," Eugene places a hand on her back. "I promise."
"Listen, I know Cassandra's dangerous, but we cannot forget...she's also our friend," Rapunzel places her hands to her heart.
"Fine, there's only one big problem. We don't know where she is!" Eugene states and Max whinnies from the window. Harmony's eyes widen as she slowly stands up, walking to the window. Rapunzel joins her side to see something.
"I think we know where to look..." Rapunzel tells them as they look up ahead at the lair...
Harmony recognizes that location. "The tower..." She narrows her eyes, putting on the goggles.
"Let's go. Kiera, Catalina, you two stay here."
"No way," Kiera frowns at her. "We wanna help too."
"Yeah, we want Dad back as much as you do," Catalina pouts a little.
"But it's dangerous," Harmony looks over her shoulder. "We don't know what Cass will do to you."
"Please?" They beg her, holding her hand. She sighs in defeat.
"Alright, but be careful."
Cass leads Varian up the steps of the building. She's holding onto his arm as he's cuffed by black rocks. "You've done well, Cassandra," The Enchanted Girl says from behind. "Soon, Rapunzel and Harmony will come for the boy."
"And then what?" She asks, Varian looking up at her.
"Then you will face them with the full power of the moonstone...but remember, you must take Harmony's power for your own."
"Who is she talking to?" Varian whispers to himself. Come to think of it, Harmony seemed to be talking to herself too earlier.
She sighs at him. "Look, I know none of this is your fault, and I don't want to hurt you," She releases the restraints. "So when Rapunzel and your girlfriend come for you, don't try anything foolish."
"Cassandra, you're angry, I get it," He tells her, as he's been down that road. He watches her take out her sword. "Believe me, I know what it's like, but you are making a mistake!"
The path of hate is a dangerous track
He steps up to the woman.
You take one step and it's hard to turn back
She creates a seat for herself and sits down, sharpening her sword with a rock.
It pulls you along
And though it seems wrong, it feels right
He puts his hands to his heart, those were his feelings when he attacked the villagers.
Don't you see this path you're on leaves a permanent mark?
She looks at her reflection from her sword and he stands in front of her, gesturing to herself.
It feels good at first
She moves her sword so that his reflection is given off on it.
Then it slowly turns dark
With each passing day
You're further astray from the light
Cass stands up and walks off, ignoring him.
Suddenly
He follows after her, hoping he can get her to rethink this.
You lose your way and lose the thread
Varian stands in front of her. She turns away from him.
Lose your cool
Then lose your head
His reflection is given off by the black rocks in front of her.
Every loss is harder to excuse
She walks past the black rocks, every one of them giving off his reflection. Then she sees her own.
Then you'll see you'll lose your faith and lose your soul
Til you lose complete control
She ignores him again and he looks at his hands, remembering when he hit Harmony. That was the biggest action he regrets still to this day.
And realize there's nothing left to lose
Nothing left to lose
He runs up to her and grabs her wrist. "Cass, trust me, becoming the villain isn't the answer!" He pleads with her.
"Is that what you think I am?" She whips around to him, grabbing her wrist back.
The path I'm on is a path paved in black
I'm taking that road and I'm not looking back
She starts controlling the black rocks again and Varian looks on in horror. This could be hurting Harmony right now, but she doesn't seem to care.
Each twist and each turn
She spins the black rocks around and stands on a podium she created.
Leads straight where I'm yearning to go
The rocks stop glowing and she touches the moonstone.
Yes, it's true, my path is dark but I see where it ends
She looks away for a second, glaring at the boy and creating another podium.
My rivals will fall as my power ascends
She jumps off and creates another one, lifting her up in the air.
Despise me, that's fine
I'm taking what's mine even so
She's reached the ceiling, creating rocks for her to walk on.
Not like you, you lost your nerve, you lost the game
But you and I
We're not the same
She jumps off, creating rocks for her to get around.
I'm not lost, this fate was mine to choose
She flies around him, jumping towards the ground.
So I chose to lose my doubts and lose my chains
Lose each weakness that remains
She's created a stand for the painting of Rapunzel that was from her mural in the tower. Then she creates another one for the picture of Harmony that she had with her, painted by Rapunzel.
Now that I have nothing left to lose
Nothing left to lose
She punches her fists, pointing a black rock at the Rapunzel and Harmony in the paintings. Varian grabs her, stopping her from destroying it.
You have so much to hold onto
She pushes him away and he steps back from her.
I only want my rightful dues
She hurls some black rocks at him, sending him across the room.
Listen please, you've lost your grip and lost your mind
Lose? I'm not gonna lose
All's not lost, don't be so blind
I refuse
As they're arguing, he's trying to appeal to her, but she refuses to listen.
Cut your losses, drop the IOUs
I refuse
She steps away from him, holding her hair.
Oooh, choose
I lose no tears and lose no sleep
She turns around, creating more black rocks.
What I want I'll take and keep
It's time for you to choose
She starts creating a prison for him.
You can't stop the turning of the screws
He holds out a pleading hand as he's now stuck inside there. She bends down to him as a frown is on his face.
"You'll stay in that cage until this is done. And just in case you think of escaping..."
She thrusts the cage out the window, leaving him in mid-air. She snaps her fingers and the paintings are destroyed, falling to pieces.
Now I have...nothing...left to lose
She sits on her throne, waiting for them to show...
Rapunzel reaches the wall of leaves, pushing them away to reveal the bottom of the stronghold. The field in front of them is covered in black rocks, but the tower is longer than Rapunzel's hair.
"Whoa..." Kiera murmurs at it.
"It's taller than the castle," Catalina points out and Rapunzel picks up a piece from her mural.
"Cass is sending a message. She wants us to know that everything that once was ours...will belong to her."
"Well, she's not gonna get it," Harmony glares up at the tower.
"The only message it's sending me is good luck climbing this," Lance places a hand on his head. Max runs up to them, whinnying.
"No entrances at the bottom, Max?"
He whinnies again, looking up. "That's the closest entrance, huh?"
"She wants to see us struggle to get to her and Varian," Harmony huffs at this. "Just for her own amusement."
"How are we supposed to get all the way up there?" Lance asks at the high door.
"We get up there by...a lot of climbing," Rapunzel looks to Eugene and Lance. The man slowly backs away, but Eugene pulls him forward. "That's the spirit!"
They link arms and press their feet against the walls. "You want to climb like this the whole way?" Lance asks him while moving.
"Back in my day, towers were much more...shorter," Eugene replies and the two fall off because the walls are so far apart.
"I got a better idea."
Lance stabs a tree, getting the sap from it. He laughs as it's on his hand. "We'll use this sap to climb the tower."
He doesn't seem to realize until later is that sap is sticky. "See? No slipping."
Both Eugene and Rapunzel are stuck next to him. "Uh, Lance? I can't move."
"Look! No hands!" Kiera and Catalina are stuck to Max's sides. Harmony sighs and digs into her backpack, getting out a solution that she made on her own.
After she's gotten them all free, they sit on the leaves of a tree.
"Eh, once you've been catapulted a few times, it's not so bad," Eugene tries to assure the scared Lance. Max is pulling them back.
"Don't worry, Lance. It'll all be over soon. Uhh, the catapulting, I mean. Heh Not your life," Rapunzel chuckles sheepishly and Harmony stares up at them.
"I keep telling you, this isn't going to work..." She sighs up at them. Pascal looks up at the tower, Daisy shaking her head. He moves Max's ear for him to let go and they do.
"Too high!"
"Look at you go, Lance! You're a natural!" Eugene laughs at him, finding this payback for the jabs at him earlier.
"We're gonna make it!" Rapunzel shouts, but they land on another tree and go flying in the other direction. They land in the net that Harmony had prepared, because she knew that this idea wasn't going to work. "Anybody else got an idea?"
Kiera looks up at her sister, giggling. "We do."
"This is quite literally the exact same plan," Eugene deadpans as the three are on top of the tree again. They're launched into the air, flying past the tower. Cass just laughs at all their efforts, the Enchanted Girl appearing in front of her.
"Ah, I could watch them do this all day..."
"Let them in," The ghost turns to her.
"What?"
"Defeating her isn't enough. You must take away who they are, force them to fight you. Break their spirits. You've held back long enough. Let them in and finish this now," She smiles evilly.
"...Fine," Cass relents, about to turn away.
"And when Princess Harmony arrives…use the boy as her weakness. I want to see her enraged with my own eyes."
Cass smirks, remembering that Rapunzel and Harmony once told her that the girl thought Varian had a crush on her.
"I think I know just the thing…" She smirks, glancing towards outside. She walks back inside, the moonstone glowing.
Harmony sighs sadly, looking towards her friends being sent back to the net. She looks up towards the tower.
In a perfect world
Varian patted a sick Harmony in bed as she slept peacefully.
One we've never known
Varian, as Ruddiger, stumbled onto the stage in front of Harmony, having volunteered to be her partner.
We would never need to face the world alone
She stood side-by-side with Varian in front of the wolf Catalina.
They can have the world
Harmony and Varian sat together at the Challenge of the Brave, Rapunzel shoving food into their hands.
We'll create our own
Harmony sat next to Varian at the fountain after he was disqualified from the science expo.
I may not be brave or strong or smart
She watched him walk off the stage from the expo with a deep frown.
But somewhere in my secret heart
Varian pulled Harmony up from the well, both of them falling onto the ground. They stared at each other's eyes as they held each other.
I know
They bumped into each other and she dropped the papers she had for the expo.
Love will find a way
He helped her down from the machine Rapunzel was in.
Anywhere I go I'm home
He started acting out what Rapunzel said outside his home, causing Harmony to laugh.
If you are there beside me
He gave her a butternut from Attila, smiling.
Like dark turning into day
He begged with her to stop the decay incantation at the Great Tree.
Somehow we'll come through
She saw his face once the dream world was gone from her mind, running towards him with arms outstretched. Tears were in her eyes.
Now that I've found you
Varian hugged her tightly in front of the red rocks after seeing that she didn't hate him.
Love will find a way
She held his hand, dragging him along after Rapunzel in Herz Der Sonne's tunnels. A small smile was on his face after hearing her assure him that he wasn't ordinary.
Varian looks outside his cage forlornly. Harmony must be really upset by now...he wants to see her again more than anything.
I was so afraid
Varian rubbed his neck after he revealed to Harmony he was her partner for the Contest of the Crowns.
Now I realize
He picked her up and spun her around after they realized the solution to the amber that trapped Quirin.
Love is never wrong
Flowers landed in his hands thanks to Rapunzel and Harmony took them with a smile.
And so it never dies
Harmony's eyes widened in embarrassment as she called Varian her boyfriend. She ducked behind Rapunzel to hide herself.
There's a perfect world shining in your eyes
He wrapped his coat around her in the garden and they stared into each other's eyes.
And if only they could feel it too
Harmony, as a bird, flew down to him and nuzzled him, both of them chirping.
The happiness I feel with you
The two danced gracefully at her birthday party.
They'd know
Harmony uncovered his eyes, showing the newly painted caravan for himself.
Love will find a way
The two of them shared an accidental kiss thanks to the spaghetti dinner.
Anywhere we go
The two laid down together in the grass after they got out of the Great Tree.
We're home
They hugged each other at Tirapi Island as their boat was out on the water, looking up at the stars together.
If we are there together
She listened to him in the rain, her umbrella protecting them both outside his house.
Like dark turning into day
He picked her up in the snow, going back towards his house as she was freezing.
Somehow we'll come through
They flew together on top of Little Big Guy, Harmony's arms stretched out like wings.
Now that I've found you
Varian caught her as she fell when she first met him at his lab, and she slowly looked up at him. They recognized each other immediately.
Love will find a way
Harmony looks up at the tower, gripping at the goggles she's holding in her hands.
I know love will find a way
Varian stares at the letter she gave to him from Demanitus, placing his chin on his knees.
"I am telling you, the sap thing will work," Lance tells the group as they finally decide to approach the tower. "We just need to try a different tree."
"Lance," Harmony speaks up. "Sap won't work in this situation. Varian is in there, we can't waste any more time!"
He winces and Eugene pats his back. He knew that she didn't mean it since she's worried about the boy.
"Come on, Cassandra," Rapunzel whispers to herself. "Just...let us in." She touches the wall and it opens up, concerning them. Rapunzel steps in first and the others follow. However, there are multiple paths nearby.
"Which way do we go?" Lance wonders, Rapunzel looking between them.
"It's your birthday, Eugene, so you get to decide which path to take!" She smiles widely at him. "We're celebrating and adventuring. It's a...celebventure!"
"Alright, here we go. Onesie, twosie, redsie, bluesie, this one! Blondie and Brownie, you two and I are gonna go this way."
"And the cool kids will take this tunnel," Lance gestures behind him. "Come on, girls. You too, Max."
Varian slowly opens his eyes, sitting up in alarm. "What?! Where? Where am I? Mona? Mona, are you here?"
The sky around him is purple as he stands up, and he sees to be in a broken environment of Janis Point because of the tree up ahead.
"What the...?"
The Enchanted Girl's head appears in front of him, smiling widely. She floats towards him and he steps back in alarm.
"Where am I? Who are you? Do you know where my girlfriend is?"
"A friend...or at least, I'd like to be," She smiles widely as she lowers herself. Then her full body appears as she's floating upside down. "There is a way to save Cassandra and to see your precious little girlfriend again. The final incantation. The sundrop must use it against the moonstone's power."
She floats in front of him, splitting in half.
"What? No—no, b-but there's no other incantation," He pulls out the scroll from his bag. "It's not on the scroll! And what's gonna happen to Mona if it's used against Cass' power? They share one half of the moonstone."
"Isn't there? You just need to know how to look," She turns her head around, but not her body, silently creeping him out. "Don't worry about Harmony. You see...she can't use the final incantation."
"She can't?" He asks as she disappears. The scroll flies out of his hand and lands in front of him, having increased in size.
"What she doesn't know is that the moonstone is capable of that incantation. You need to use the sun to see the sun."
The sun and moon symbol fly off the paper. "Use the sun to see the sun? What? I don't understand," He states as the symbols fly around him.
Green flames appear in front of him and her head floats in front of him. "Use the sun to see the sun." The flames get bigger and he steps back, falling off the platform.
Varian sits up in his cage, awake, panting heavily. "...That was a dream. Oh, why couldn't this be a dream?"
He takes the scroll from his backpack, opening it up. "Use the sun to see the sun..."
The Enchanted Girl looks down at the cage, a sinister smile on her face.
Pascal and Daisy lead the way down some steps. They crawl the window that was salvaged from the tower, the same one Gothel fell out of. Rapunzel glances at it and they step forward.
"Getting in here was too easy," She says as they look up ahead to the stairs in front of them. "We could be walking into a trap. Harmi, is she in there?"
"Yeah...yeah, she is," Harmony whispers to her. Pascal turns black, giving a thumbs up. "Good idea. Think you can get in without being seen?"
Pascal nods at them and Daisy gestures that she'll go with him. "Be careful, buddy," Rapunzel kisses him on the forehead.
"You too," Harmony kisses Daisy's cheek. "Help Pascal if he needs it."
They release their pets, Pascal running up the stairs. Daisy flies after him.
"So you see, young ladies, the seasoned thief inherently knows his way around unfamiliar places. It's a keen sense one develops after years of studying one's craft, and-"
"And we're back at the entrance," Kiera interrupts him as they're back where they started.
"Now that we've refamiliarized ourselves with the correct entrance, we can proceed with the correct route!" Lance points a different way, the other three looking at him in annoyance. Since when did he nominate himself as navigator in this team?
"We can proceed to the correct route," He moves in the opposite direction.
Pascal peeks behind some black rocks, sneaking to another one and acting like he's a ninja. Daisy rolls her eyes at him, flying above quietly. He leaps forward and rolls into a ball. He skids to a stop, hiding behind another rock. Nearby is the spot that leads to Varian, which gets blocked by black rocks. Cass appears from the floor and Pascal turns invisible. Daisy hides behind a spot in the ceiling. She walks right past Pascal and he opens his eyes, peeking from behind. She doesn't seem to notice either of them as she's walking to her throne.
She glances behind her as he sticks out his tongue, sliding to another rock. He tiptoes to another one, but she stands right in front of him, dropping the black rock and noticing him. She looks up at the ceiling, seeing a spot of yellow and making the spot go away. Daisy falls a bit, flying in the air as she looks at the woman. They both wave sheepishly and she reaches out her hand...
"This is taking too long. We're going up there," Rapunzel looks up the steps.
"Girls, wait," Eugene stops them. "What if you can't convince her to come back? What if the only way is...to..."
"This is Cassandra," Rapunzel tells him. "Not some monster. She'll come around." She steps down from the window. "I have to believe that."
"I don't know what will happen once we see her, but I know that I have to make sure Vari is safe. He'd do the same for me..." Harmony looks up ahead.
"And if you believe it...then so do I," Eugene holds his girlfriend's hands.
Varian looks at the scroll again through his goggles, groaning in frustration. "Needs the sun to see the sun. What does that even mean?!" He throws the two objects away, crossing his arms and leaning against the wall with a pout. A glint comes off from his goggles, hitting the scroll...to reveal writing.
"Sunlight!" He smiles towards outside, where the sun is setting. He crawls up to the scroll. "The words are hidden, and it needs a beam of sunlight to reveal the incantation! Demanitus, you genius!"
"Pascal? Daisy?" Rapunzel asks as the three step inside.
"Pascal? Daisy?" Harmony calls out as neither them or Cass seem to be inside the room.
"Come out, guys," The blonde whispers encouragingly.
"Guys..." Eugene is looking out a crack from the wall. "I found Varian." He points outside and they join him to see the cage all the way over there.
"Don't worry, Varian! We're gonna get you out of there!" Rapunzel calls out to him. Harmony tries to peek past them, but she's too short.
"Not now, I-I found the last incantation. It was hidden with a photo-reactive ink! Obvious, right?" He snorts at them.
"Of course," Harmony gasps at this.
"Yeah, super obvious," Eugene rolls his eyes.
"I-Is Mona with you? Is she okay?" Varian calls out.
"She's right here!" Rapunzel pulls Harmony forward and she squints, barely able to see him. "She's fine!"
"The problem is, I need a concentrated beam of sunlight to see it! I mean, I tried using my goggles, but they're too scratched up," He holds his goggles in his hands. "I need...something else, like a-a prism or a glass!"
Rapunzel, Harmony, and Eugene turn to each other. "Or..." The blonde digs into her bag, pulling out the ring. "A crystal?"
"Is that a...?"
She smiles softly as Harmony tries not to squeal. "Yeah."
"For me?" He gestures to himself and he takes her hands. "You were going to ask me? I mean, I was going to ask you! All this time, and you still find ways to surprise me."
The tower shakes and it falls out of Rapunzel's hand. Luckily, Eugene catches it.
"Uhh, she must know we're here. Okay, g-get the ring to Varian. We're gonna go find Pascal and Daisy."
Before Rapunzel could leave, Eugene turns her around, holding her cheek. "Be careful."
She smiles a bit and leaves with Harmony, who looks over her shoulder. "Please, make sure he's okay."
"I will," He promises her. Eugene slowly walks onto the path, the tower shaking again.
"Pascal?"
"Daisy?" Harmony calls out as they look around.
"Are you two here?"
The tower shakes again and they step back once they see black rocks sprouting from the ground in front of them. Cass emerges from them, holding the two animals in black rock cages.
"Yeah, they're here."
She releases them and they run up to their owners, who hug them. They turn to Cass as she steps forward onto the ground.
"You made a mistake coming here."
"Your mistake was kidnapping my boyfriend!" As the girl says this, the Enchanted Girl reappears. "What did you do to Varian?!" Harmony shouts at the both of them. "I swear, if you hurt him-"
"It wouldn't be any different than you keeping him prisoner during our trip, now would it?" Cass spits back at her. "No wonder why he turned against you, because you're using him to get away from the moonstone."
"That is such a lie," Harmony narrows her eyes in anger. The Enchanted Girl smiles evilly.
"Oh? Then why didn't you tell him you were searching into the moonstone before?"
"How did you know—"
"Because he told me so," Cass interrupts Rapunzel. "He tells me everything. If he loved you, he wouldn't have loved me first and go for second best."
"You stupid lying-" Harmony lunges forward, only to be held back by Rapunzel.
"Calm down. She's only trying to get you angry for the thrill of it," Rapunzel narrows her eyes at the woman as the girl struggles to get a punch to Cass. Harmony drops her arms, taking a deep breath. All she wants right now is Varian safe and sound.
"I'm not stupid, you stole his truth serum from his bag," Harmony seethes, pointing to Cass. She knows what the woman is doing; she's trying to bait her. Just so her former friend can see her with the rage she was trying to bring out of her for years.
But now, she has Cass for that. She just wanted to see Harmony angry just once, and now she has.
"Cass, we're not leaving this tower until this is resolved," Rapunzel gets onto her feet. Cass simply waves her hands so that every single spot is covered by a wall, including the one that leads to Varian. Eugene is on his knees as he hears the commotion.
"Then I guess you're not leaving," Cass smirks sinisterly at the sisters. Rapunzel lets down her hair as Harmony creates moonlight in her hands. They stand together as they're about to face their former friend...
"You do realize that I have complete control over the rocks now. And you know what this tower is made of," Some black rocks appear nearby and the two glare at her. "And I also know that sometimes this happens."
Cass creates another black rock and Harmony gasps in slight pain, holding her stomach. She glares up at the woman.
"That's the thing about having to share this power," Cass hisses at the girl. "You can hurt the other person with it."
Rapunzel blows a bang away from her face. "You okay?" She asks her sister as she slowly stands up.
"I'm fine."
Pascal and Daisy gesture for Cass to make a move. "Show them how powerful you've become," The Enchanted Girl smirks between the three. Harmony clenches her fists.
"We're not going to fight you," Rapunzel says bravely.
"Then this will be very easy. Crescent high above, evolving as you go." The moonstone glows as the tower shakes again and she raises her arms.
"Cassandra, don't!"
The two are sent in the air by a black rock, apparently getting squished when the pillar meets another. When the platform lowers, they're nowhere to be seen. A golden beam of sunlight appears, causing Cass to grit her teeth. The two sisters emerge from the ball that was Rapunzel's hair.
"Maybe it won't be as easy as you think."
"Now, that's more like it," Cass says in amusement. "But there some things your hair and your powers can't block."
The pillar caves in underneath them.
"Rapunzel!" Harmony shouts as they fall, and the woman snags something with her hair, Harmony hugging her waist. Their bags fall from the tower.
Eugene is about halfway to Varian, falling onto the path. "Man, I really hate birthdays."
"Hurry, the sun is setting!" Varian urges him. "Eugene, come on!"
"I'm going as fast as I can, kid, without dying!" He calls out to the boy. He gets onto his feet and manages to advance further.
"Come on!" Varian holds out his hand as the ring falls. It slips out of his grasp.
"First memory and now balance?" Eugene asks in lament. "Age...why do we have to age?"
Varian holds up the ring, meaning he caught it. "Nice snag!" He smiles at the boy, moving forward. Varian takes out the scroll, holding up the ring to the light. The writing from the last incantation is finally revealed as the ink appears.
"It's working."
"Way to go, kid," Eugene smiles at him. However, the paper starts to burn.
"Ah! No, no, no, no, no, no!" He digs into his bag as Eugene tries to blow it out. Varian writes it down on paper before the entire scroll burns, the flame touching his hand. He drops it and the ashes fall out of the cage.
"I got it!" Varian smiles and they both sigh in relief.
"I certainly hope so, because that thing was not easy to come by," Eugene tells him. "Now, can you figure out a way to get through these bars and then how do you get back into the building? Because I've got nothing. Should've asked Brownie to remove 'em herself!" He facepalms himself.
"Is she gonna be okay?" Varian asks softly. "Cass' black rocks...they can hurt her?"
"...Yeah. Yeah, they can," Eugene closes his eyes. "But she can find a way to get past that."
"I'm telling you, we have to go down to go up!" Lance is pulling at Max's tail, trying to get everyone to listen to him. "Going up to go up is too simple!"
Max whinnies in protest, snorting angrily at him. He points his nose upwards, letting his tail go.
"I don't care what you smell. What's more trustworthy? His nose or my intuition?" He asks the girls, Kiera groaning in annoyance.
"We're missing all the action!"
The two sisters are still outside the tower before Rapunzel starts climbing. They make it back inside the tower.
"Sorry Cass, but you're not gonna get rid of us that easily."
"Give up the moonstone now," Harmony lands next to Rapunzel. Cass simply hits them with a black rock, sending them into the air. Rapunzel snags a black rock with her hair, Harmony doing the same with a rope made of moonlight. They catch themselves before they could hit a flurry of black rocks.
They swing safely onto the ground. "Cass, please! This is not who you are!" Rapunzel pleads with her.
"Wrong! I finally know who I am!" Cass shouts, creating more black rocks towards them. The older sister grabs Harmony's hand, running off with her. The black rocks continue to follow as Cass finally hits Rapunzel's hair with it, trapping her to the wall.
"Rapunzel!" Harmony screams before the woman knocks her into the wall with a black rock. Black rocks trap the area around her arms and legs, causing her to drop her quiver. She then traps Rapunzel completely.
The Enchanted Girl simply looks on with a small evil smile.
"I will never stop trying to get through to you," Rapunzel declares to her former friend. "I won't fight you, I won't justify your hatred, and there's nothing you can to change that! Nothing!"
"Oh ho ho ho, there isn't? Cuz I kinda think there is."
Suddenly, the platform and the cage start moving. "Bad. This is bad."
"Uh oh," Varian murmurs, his eyes staring at the man. "Eugene?"
He simply reaches out his hand. "Stay close, kid."
Varian takes his hand as Eugene stands in front of him. The wall closes and the cage slides to Cass. "Welcome back, boys. Let me help you out."
Cass directs black rocks at Eugene, trapping him in a rock prison. Harmony looks towards the cage.
"Vari!" She murmurs softly.
"Mona," He looks up at her, relieved to finally see her face-to-face.
"You won't fight me, but will you fight..." Cass grips Eugene's chin. "For him?"
"Cass, leave him alone!" Rapunzel demands her.
"Let them go," Harmony narrows her eyes.
"Break their spirit!" The Enchanted Girl is enjoying this.
"I just realized I forgot to give you my birthday present, Eugene," Cass clenches a fist, making the prison tighter.
"Don't give in to her. Don't do anything she says!" He squeezes his eyes shut.
"Rapunzel!" Varian looks to her. "I have the final incantation, you have to use it!" He holds out the paper to her. Pascal snatches it with his tongue, bringing it over to her and opening up the paper.
"Final incantation? What is he talking about?" Cass looks at the boy.
"Never mind that! With the third incantation, you can take what she possesses...the power of the final incantation. Now finish her!" The Enchanted Girl instructs Cass, pointing to Harmony. She turns to the trapped girl and smiles evilly.
"You have something I want, Princess. Now hold still."
"And what makes you think I'll just give it to you?" Harmony spits at her, trying to move.
"Because you don't have a choice," The Enchanted Girl speaks up, floating in front of her. "It's her destiny now...not yours."
"Listen, I am sorry about what happened, but this won't fix anything," Harmony glares at the ghost.
"Of course it will!" She exclaims in defense. "I get my revenge for you forgetting about me and what you were supposed to do for me, and she...gets your power. All of this was supposed to be yours!"
"Well maybe it was a mistake being your friend!" Harmony spits at her, the Enchanted Girl clenching her fists for her defiance.
"You still haven't figured out who I really am, have you? And here I thought you were smarter than this." Harmony gives a look of confusion by that statement. "Do it," She turns to Cass, who closes her eyes.
"Wither and decay..."
"No!" Rapunzel shouts at her.
"Cassandra, don't!" Eugene yells, but she doesn't listen.
"End this destiny."
A blue beam of light suddenly arrives in front of Harmony, circling her.
"Break these earthly chains."
The light reaches into Harmony's mouth and she lifts her head up, her head spinning.
"And set the spirit free."
The light comes out of her mouth as it holds all of her powers, which go to Cass. Harmony's restraints go away as her eyes close. She slowly falls onto the ground near Varian, unconscious. They can't tell if she's actually breathing or not from their positions.
"Mona..." Varian whispers in horror. "NO!" He reaches out to her. He manages to grip her wrist, shaking it as she doesn't move. It's like her arms are limp. "No, please!"
"Little sister..." Rapunzel murmurs in fear.
"Harmony, no," Eugene whispers in horror, looking at her body.
"W-What?" Cass, for once, is actually shocked. "No, that wasn't supposed to happen, she's supposed to be standing up!"
She may have wanted her powers, but not like this. She just wants her own destiny...
"Cassandra," Rapunzel speaks angrily, her eyes burning furiously. Judging by what her friend did, she has every right to have this reaction. "You hurt my little sister. She could be dead!"
Cass pants heavily, watching as the boy turns her wrist over. He sees the moon symbol from Harmony's hand fading away. "You...you sucked the power out of her," Varian takes a shaky breath. "Why? Why would you do this to her?!"
She shakes her head slowly as she stares at the unmoving girl. "No...I didn't mean to, she was supposed to be fine! I didn't know it would harm her!"
"Cassandra, why?" Rapunzel asks quietly.
"I just wanted the power to use the final incantation that she had!"
"And her life was the price? You took too much from her!"
"I didn't know that it would take everything, I-I…" She stammers, unsure of what to say for the first time ever since she's had the moonstone.
Varian tears up as he tries again to get her up. Harmony's heart is...so pure. And she was the first person who accepted him for who he was at first meeting. He knew they were soul mates the moment they met. They've obviously had their slips...he thought he could take her pain away. But she's never free of it. She feels more deeply than anyone he's ever known. And he'd follow her anywhere, and they would always be together...even in death...
"Who cares?! Do what needs to be done!" The Enchanted Girl points at Rapunzel and Harmony.
The blue-haired woman snaps out of it. "Crescent high above, evolving as you go," Cass takes one step forward and black rocks form in front of her. They go all the way to Varian, who holds Harmony as best as he can so that she doesn't get hurt.
"Rapunzel! Use it."
"Varian, look after my sister!" Rapunzel tells him in response and he nods. "Power of the sun. Gift me with your light. Shine into the dark," She puts her head down. Her hair starts to glow golden. "Restore our fading sight."
She opens her eyes as they're gold as well with no pupils. "Rise into the dawn."
Her body lifts up into the air, her hair in all directions. "Blazing star so bright." A golden light releases in shock waves. The Enchanted Girl's body flickers, but she doesn't look concerned at all.
"Impossible!" Cass grits her teeth at this. The light stops to reveal Rapunzel.
"Burn away the strife. Let my hope ignite. Let hope ignite."
She floats over to Cass, Varian staring in awe as he holds his girlfriend. "Mona...?" He tries and fails to wake her up.
"Let him go, Cassandra!"
Cass snaps out of her shock. "I don't follow your orders, anymore!" She flings black rocks at Rapunzel.
"I said, let him GO!" She moves her arms, destroying all of the black rocks in her path. Cass prepares more, but they're destroyed again. The Enchanted Girl giggles, a wormhole appearing. She smiles wickedly as she's lifted up into the air. This is what she really needed from Harmony…Rapunzel glares at Cass.
"Let him go!"
Cass just smiles, throwing more black rocks as the moonstone glows. Her eyes are now white with no pupils as the moonstone sparks. Rapunzel sends a flash of light, the two forces clashing. This causes the moonstone to lose a shard. A blast occurs, breaking Eugene's prison.
"Ah, Eugene!" Varian shouts from the cage.
"Varian!"
His cage also breaks and he's sent flying off the tower, letting go of Harmony before he fell. "No! Mona!"
Cass falls as well, screaming. She creates a black rock for herself to land on.
Rapunzel faints into her hair from exhaustion.
"Just because we're not there yet doesn't mean we're not getting there eventually!" Lance exclaims to Max, Varian landing in his arms. His hair and clothes are slightly messed up, but other than that, he's okay.
"Lance?" He sighs in relief, hugging him.
"Varian! See? Here he is. And I led us right to him."
Kiera facepalms, but they run up to the boy. "Dad!" The two shout and he smiles at them.
"Where's Mom?"
"I-I don't know," He stammers, looking up in concern.
Rapunzel slowly wakes up. "Eugene! Pascal!"
"Rapunzel!" They appear in front of her with happy smiles and she hugs them. "I know this is an emotional moment for you, but I just gotta say that. Was. Awesome!" They hug each other and he suddenly lifts his head.
"Where's Harmony?" Eugene looks around for her. Rapunzel notices a pile of rocks covering her body and she gasps.
"Oh my gosh! Harmi!" They rush over to her, moving the rocks away. It was a miracle her body didn't fly away like Cass and Varian... "I'm so sorry I let this happen to you..."
The girl still hasn't moved at all as they turn her over. Her hair surrounds her body as Daisy chirps in concern.
Eugene feels her neck and looks up at the worried blonde. "She's still breathing. If we hurry, we can get her back to the castle medic to get her looked at."
Harmony is laying down in her bed, hair rested over her pillow. Having all of the power she had in her taken away had taken a toll on her. She hadn't woken up ever since they left Cass' stronghold, and she hadn't touched Varian since then...it feels like forever since she felt his warm arms.
Lance had told Varian to wait outside until she woke up, but it was becoming impossible to keep him away. None of this would've ever happened if she wasn't given the Moonstone...she knew that a lot of people say that it isn't true, but it is.
Growing up with it was hard, since having the dark and evil powers of the Moonstone, or at least just a taste of it, wasn't very normal. She caused a lot of problems back then and now. She hated being alone in the castle all the time. Just being able to create black rocks alone was a mess...
Most people hadn't seen it as a gift, which she learned the hard way. The horrified looks from her own people was something she'd never be able to forget. They'd call her a witch, run away, or (a rare thing) would just ignore it altogether.
There was no way she would want anything to do with that kind of power again after this. It's not like she had control over it in the first place. It's not a choice. She could ignore it, but that was impossible. Almost everything happened because of her black rocks...
Avoiding it wasn't just something she could do. Which is why she hates having it.
However...
She has learned to endure it, thanks to all of her friends...and surprisingly Cass. She'll never resort to being like her...not on her watch. Especially since now she doesn't have any power…
"I can't believe I let this happen," Varian paces around, the others staring at him in concern. He's whispering as they're standing outside the girl's door. He's tried and failed to get inside her room. "If I hadn't kept pushing for Cass to listen, then she wouldn't have sucked the power out of her!"
"Cass wanted that power whether or not she listened to you," Eugene tells him solemnly. "But she's a tough kid. Brownie will pull through."
"The medic told me that she was near death!" Varian turns to him, his lip quivering as he tries not to cry. "Why didn't I just keep my mouth shut when she wanted the scroll?! I can't take this anymore, I need to go in there."
He tries to run up to the door, Lance stopping him.
"I know you're worried. We are too. But she's been through a lot today," Lance tells him regrettably.
"I understand your concern, and I want to go in there too. But you can't see her right now," Rapunzel says in a hushed voice. "She needs time to recover, Varian."
"Rapunzel, Mona needs me, and I have to see her," Varian points to her door. "I-I can't just sit here and wait."
"We know, but right now, she's resting, kid," Eugene places a hand on his back. Harmony blinks slowly as she hears the quiet voices, sitting up slowly.
"Listen, Cass said some...stuff to Harmony which she didn't take well," Rapunzel bites her lip. "So whenever she wakes up, she might not want to talk about it."
"Why?"
Rapunzel glances to Eugene, already knowing that he won't take it well. This makes him nervous, nevertheless.
"W-What did she say?"
"She got her angry by saying...that Harmi is using you to get rid of the moonstone and that was why you turned against her, which we all know is not true, but...that's not all. She also said that you told her everything, you loved her before you loved Harmi, and that...you settled for second best," Rapunzel takes a deep breath.
Varian narrows his eyes after hearing that. It was obviously a way to get Harmony mad, but that was low, even for Cass. How could she tell the princess such lies? He has to go in there and make sure that she's okay. He whips around to the door.
"Please, you have to let me in!"
"The medic said she has to rest. You can't go in—Varian, wait!"
The door opens and Varian stumbles inside, staring at the girl. She gasps at the sight of him, relieved to see the boy. He closes the door behind him.
"Vari!" She murmurs, quickly running up to him.
"Mona," He says softly and they share a big hug once they meet. The boy spins them around a little, happy to finally see her. He grips her waist and hair, running his hand through it. She couldn't control her tears as she sobs into his shoulder. He almost felt like crying himself. The whole ordeal, both of them wanted to embrace each other, but couldn't since other things kept getting in the way...
It was worth the wait.
"Are you...are you really okay?" She whispers so quietly he almost didn't hear. He pulls back a bit, holding her cheeks gently.
"I am now," He wipes away one of her tears and she smiles weakly. "But you shouldn't be asking me that, I wasn't the one who passed out! She literally drained your powers of you. You really had me worried, Mona, I almost had a heart attack!"
"I'm sorry..." She murmurs softly, but he just kisses her all over her face, causing her to laugh.
"Don't. I'm just glad you're okay...and that you're alive in front of me. Just don't scare me like that."
"No guarantees," She chuckles weakly and he hugs her, running his gloved hand through her hair again.
"Rapunzel told me what Cassandra said to you," Varian looks just as angry as Harmony did when she heard it. "Mona, you know it's not true, right? I always had feelings for you. I never felt anything for Cass, and you're not second best. It's always been you."
"I know..." She smiles sheepishly, pushing a bang away from her ear. "But she just made me so mad..."
"I get it," He closes his eyes. "She did that to me too when she stole your power," He suddenly smiles at the reminder. "I almost forgot. I've memorized the incantations! Now you can use the Moonstone properly."
She seems hesitant as she bites her lip, slowly looking up at him. "I...I'm not sure I want that kind of power again, Vari. I know that Cass stole what I had left, but is it even worth it...?"
Cass could've hurt him trying to steal it away...she didn't want to risk the lives of people she loves just to get it back.
"It's not about the power you have," He shakes his head rapidly. "It's about how you use it. You still have the embodiment of the Moonstone inside of you, now you just have to control it."
"How do we even know I still have any power?" She looks up at him skeptically.
"Eugene's Dad said so himself: When it was given to you, you gained half its power. That's why you could still use the rocks and why you were able to survive. It might be cracked...but you are half of it," He holds her shoulders.
"...I guess we can try one step at a time."
"And we'll do it together," He grips her shoulders.
She looks away and he notices her look.
"Mona, you can't blame yourself for this."
"You should be blaming me," She mutters, refusing to look at him. "Do you know how it feels to have this evil power? And the fact that you disappeared without a trace..." She takes a deep breath. "I should've looked back. I should have known that Cassandra would use that opportunity to take you. Listen…if being with me is too much for you… I understand if you want to..."
She couldn't even finish her sentence as she closes her eyes. He needs to be safe, away from her…she couldn't bear to lose him again like she did today.
"Mona." He presses her forehead to hers. "Look at me. Please, just...just look at me."
She doesn't want to, but she does anyway. She sees the kindness in his eyes as he cups her cheek, caressing it softly.
"What happened back there...I...I don't blame you for it. You had to rescue the others. Because you're not the type to leave someone in need."
"But...I did..." She closes her eyes. "I couldn't stop her in time...You could've gotten hurt. What happened to you, that's on me! I..."
He kisses the top of her head. "All I ask is that you be yourself...and that you never forget who you are, Mona. You're brave, intelligent, and strong...and of course beautiful."
She chuckles, holding back a sob. "I mean it. I see a kind, gorgeous girl, and I think...what does she see in me? A princess and a poor boy. But then you're always there to show me that no matter what..." He looks at the hand still on her cheek, pulling it back to stare at it. He suddenly gets flashbacks of what he did to her face...but then quickly washes them away. "You believe in me and that I can be a better person. Not just for me, but for you."
She sniffles and he kisses a tear away. "You're truly amazing, Princess Harmony...I'll never forget that. And I promise that you'll never lose me. We're in this together for better or worse."
Harmony looks up at him slowly, seeing his gentle smile. She couldn't help but return the gesture. He presses his forehead against hers again.
"You give me hope," He whispers quietly. "Forgave me before anyone else did...comforted me about my father...I don't know how I ended up the luckiest guy in all of Corona."
"You can stop now," She blushes a bit. "I'll be okay..."
He laughs at her face, staring at her in the eyes. He moves away a bang from her face and they say nothing. But they didn't really need to...
He leans in slowly to kiss her lips softly. Her hands move to his arms as he peppers her lips with soft kisses. This sends butterflies to her stomach. No matter what, he still does that to her despite it being over a year. She doesn't mind it, though. Not at all.
A knock suddenly interrupts the two and Varian slowly pulls away, looking over his shoulder.
"Varian. Sorry to interrupt, but we need you here for Eugene's birthday!" Rapunzel calls out from the other side.
Both of them chuckle as he turns back to her, moving his arms to her waist. "Mona...about me giving Cass the third incantation, I..."
"It's okay..." She murmurs, holding his cheeks. "I know you wouldn't give it to her willingly, so I figured she used your truth serum…do us all a favor and let that be the only thing you don't keep in your bag. Oh, and work on your snoring."
The boy is so glad to have her back that he doesn't even mind the slight lecture. He smiles softly, pecking her lips. "I love you."
"I love you too."
Rapunzel is in her room, holding up the ring to the ceiling. She shines it with her elbow, smiling as it glistens.
Someone clears their throat and she looks to see Harmony standing in the doorway.
"Harmi!"
Rapunzel stumbles onto the ground, hugging her sister tightly. The girl returns it, relieved to see her. "You're awake! I am so sorry I let this happen! I should've protected you more. W-What kind of sister am I to have Cass-"
"Rapunzel," Harmony stops her. "You did what you could, and that was saving Varian and Eugene. There was nothing you could've done to stop Cass. And I'm not angry with you."
"But you should be..." Rapunzel frowns in guilt. "You were close to dying back there."
"Yeah. I was. But I didn't," She smiles softly. "It's because of you that I'm still standing. This isn't something you should blame yourself for. You're the best big sister in the world, and nothing will ever change that."
Rapunzel smiles as she squeezes her into another hug. Harmony returns it.
"And you're the best little sister."
"But...something she said is still bugging me," Harmony furrows her eyebrows and Rapunzel looks down at her.
"Your imaginary friend, right?"
"Yeah...she asked if I knew who she really was, but I don't know her outside of who she used to be..." She glances away. "And with the way my former friend is ordering Cass around...I doubt Cass knows the truth either. But I know that we'll find out what she's hiding soon enough."
"Well, Blondie," Eugene suddenly enters the room, sitting next to her. Harmony steps back from her sister. "One of these days we'll get this whole proposal thing right, huh?"
"I just...I thought I could have everything," Rapunzel looks down at the ring. "But...after today...I'm not sure it's gonna be that easy."
Eugene takes her hand, kissing her forehead. She places her head on his shoulder. Harmony smiles as she opens the door.
"Oh, there you are," Lance is peeking in. "Looks like someone forgot to eat their birthday cake~!" He wheels in what was left of the cake from earlier. The two adults stand up.
"You know, I've been thinking...getting old won't be so bad. So long as I get to do it with you," Eugene smiles, pressing his forehead to Rapunzel's.
"Happy 1st birthday, Eugene...Make a wish."
Varian smiles, holding his girlfriend's hand. "Growing old with you is all I need."
"Ditto," She smiles softly at him and he kisses her cheek. Eugene blows out the candles.
Cass' stronghold is completely destroyed as she emerges, panting heavily. She looks at the cracked moonstone. Suddenly, something purple sparks, and she covers her eyes. A human body lands in front of her. The Enchanted Girl is now a human, her color scheme grey and black.
"Finally...the clash of the sun and the moon has released me from my prison," She says to the shocked Cass, looking at her body.
"It's good to be back..."
Harmony sits on her bed, staring at the bare left hand. That symbol has plagued her for years...and yet, just like that, her powers were gone. She wasn't sure whether to be relieved or to be upset. But...she knew that someday, she'll have to use it to her full extent. Which is...scary to think about. She had no idea what she was going to do, or even if she can do it. She couldn't even create black rocks anymore. Cass took it all away...
She's a unique case deviated from the Moonstone: she isn't evil, but she's still connected to it in a way. It gives her hope that someday, that anyone from evil could be looked in a positive way.
Rapunzel lightly knocks on her door, causing her to look up.
"Hey..."
"Hi..." Harmony smiles weakly as her sister steps forward, sitting next to her.
"How are you feeling? I mean, not physically, since you're still alive, thank goodness and-"
"Punzie," She interrupts with a small smile. "I know you were worried about me. It's okay to ask. To answer the physically part, I'm fine."
"And...emotionally?"
"It...it feels weird not having my powers anymore," Harmony states slowly. "I mean...I wasn't sure that this would ever happen to me. The Moonstone is the reason why I was stuck in the castle for so long, and why I grew up isolated from everyone. And now that I don't have it anymore...I don't know. Should I feel happy? Should I feel sad? If it weren't for that opal, I feel like we wouldn't get along so well, and I definitely wouldn't have met Varian."
"That's not true," Rapunzel places a hand on her shoulder. "You may be the embodiment of the Moonstone, but you're unique, Harmi. I couldn't imagine myself not being close with you, and you definitely would have met Varian. He loves you for who you are, and you don't need the Moonstone to be yourself."
Harmony smiles up at her. "Thank you, Punzie." She hugs her sister, who returns it happily. "I can't believe that she tried to BAIT me and I fell for it. But I just wanted Vari to be okay…thanks to you, he is."
Her older sister smiles.
"I actually came to ask you something," The blonde pulls back, the girl looking up in confusion. "Eugene and I may not be engaged...but I do know that I want you to be a part of our wedding, whenever that is. So...will you be my maid of honor when the time comes?"
Harmony gasps sharply, squealing happily at the question. "Oh my gosh! Punzie! I'd be honored to be your maid of honor when you two tie the knot! As long as you're mine if I get married."
"You mean when," Rapunzel winks at her, causing the girl to blush. "Don't get married too young, though! You're still my little sister."
"I'm not thinking about it!" Harmony laughs, grabbing a pillow and smacking her sister with it.
"You totally were!" Rapunzel giggles, hitting her back with a pillow of her own. "Harmony and Varian, sitting in a tree, k-i-s-s-i-n-g!"
"Stop it, you're embarrassing me, and people will hear you!" The younger princess shushes her as they continue their pillow fight.
"Oh come on! You know that I'm right!"
Eugene smiles as he watches the two sisters.
Angel: I loved writing this special, especially the love duet between Harmony and Varian. I contemplated various moments between them that showed her memories of him, and vice versa, and then moments they've shared together. I wasn't gonna put it in the special at first, but I changed my mind. I've put in 4 songs in a special before *waves it off* And this should confirm that Harmony still doesn't know that her 'imaginary friend' was Zhan Tiri.
Love Will Find a Way belongs to the second Lion King movie.