Angel: Warning, there is a swear word in this chapter. But I think Cassandra was probably more blinded by what she's gone through to really realize who Zhan Tiri was until she learned the truth. I mean, she trusted Zhan Tiri, like Harmony did. Heck, even Harmi still doesn't know, and the two knew each other for years. She thought of Zhan Tiri as a friend, and not an evil sorceress. And I think it also has to do with the fact that Zhan Tiri was described as male, and not female. Zhan Tiri was meant to be unsuspecting of her true identity because of that fact. I don't even know why myself they called her a sorcerer when that's a male term...
As for why Rapunzel never said that the ghost girl was Zhan Tiri, it might've been the fact that Cassandra wouldn't really believe her. I feel like if she knew ahead of time who Zhan Tiri is, she wouldn't listen. And Zhan Tiri would manipulate it so that Cass wouldn't find out until it was time. I mean, we all know how the two are at this point. The sorceress is like...a puppet master in the show. Logically, Zhan Tiri set up the entire show.
Cass is already one half of the moonstone because of Harmony. Varian forgave everyone earlier than he did. He got a letter from Demanitus. He and Harmi are surrogate parents to Kiera and Catalina (though that's mostly because of knowledge I didn't know about until later XD). He went on the trip in season 2! Basically, I've already strayed away from canon multiple times whether Cass redeems herself earlier than the show depicts. The story's been done for months now, I can't just ignore the final fight between Cass and Rapunzel...
These 4 days need to go by faster...XD
I looked at my final grades today and thankfully, I did not fail any of them XD I actually did pretty good! Especially since I had to write my first book report this semester (up until this semester, I had never written a book report in my life).
At the bottom of the Spire is Calliope's home, where she's talking to the former Keeper. "Now, then, Calliope, show me what you have learned."
She clears her throat. "Well, here we have the Masks of Alastros. This is, of course, is a Snafarian Sarcophagus, and here-" She gasps as something seems to be missing. "Huh...that's strange...the Shapeshifting Cloak of Retudnus is missing..."
"Never mind that, child. Tell me, where is the Mind Trap?"
"You mean the talisman that can control the minds of any who've sworn loyalty to the moonstone? Like the Brotherhood?" She chuckles a bit.
"Yes...now where is it?" Something seems to be off.
"Why, locked away in an enchanted box that can only be opened with a key that I possess," She gestures to herself boastfully.
"Then I'll need that key..." The Keeper moves away the Shifting Cloak, revealing that he's actually Cass. "Now."
"Ah! There's the cloak!" She gestures to the cloak.
"The key," Cass glares at the woman. She runs away, the baby Kurlock running after her. She opens up the doors to a room, slamming them closed. She then grabs a sword from the adjourning wall and plants that between the doorknobs.
"Guard the door, buddy," Calliope tells her pet. He growls towards the door. She stands in front of a shelf. "Where is it, where is it?" She whispers to herself as she takes potions off the shelf. "Not that one. Oh, aha!" she holds up a green bottle. She rushes over to her desk, grabbing the quill and quickly writing.
The door slams from outside as a black rock goes through it. She struggles with the cap of the bottle. "Darn cork!"
She manages to get it open, but it goes flying onto the ground. "Uh oh." The door jiggles again and she looks towards the wood. She cringes, as she has to make this quick. She takes a key and puts it inside the bottle. She then rolls up the paper, hiding both objects behind her back. The door bursts into pieces by Cass as she steps forward.
"Stay," She traps the baby Kurlock with black rocks and he growls at her. She turns to Calliope threateningly. "Give me that key or I will tear your precious Spire apart!"
She narrows her eyes. "It is pronounced Spy-your," She puts the paper into the bottle. Black rocks knock away her desk and she chuckles nervously. "Why do you need the Mind Trap anyway? There's so much other great stuff here. There's the Pan Flute of Hawthrone!" She plays some music from it, tossing it away. "The Cask of Icarus. O-Or the hard candies of Ambrosia." She pulls some hard candy away from her ear. "Mm, these things are so good! Want one?"
She drops it onto the ground and Cass just gives her a 'really' look. Calliope puts the cap on the bottle, and it disappears into thin air. She coughs a bit, smiling sheepishly at Cass.
"That was a poor choice."
She creates a black rock to trap Calliope's sleeve to the wall. She creates more directed at her neck and she whimpers in fear.
"Where did you send it?" Cass demands to her.
At the Snuggly Duckling, Rapunzel and Harmony are playing music together. Eugene and Varian clap for them as they stand on tables. The older sister is playing guitar while Harmony is playing the fiddle. Ulf bumps into Big Nose and he moves away his hat. Shorty swings around from the chandelier up above, laughing. Eugene stands up, Shorty bumping into him. Vlad catches the man into his arms, and they both laugh. He drops the former thief onto the ground.
The two sisters laugh, beaming towards each other. Rapunzel is just so happy to have her sister recovered after losing her power and nearly dying. After a few days and some rest, she was back on her feet, but she's unable to do anything related to the moonstone. She can't sense anything evil, use moonlight, or create black rocks. She still wasn't really sure that was a good thing or a bad thing. She just knew that whatever she decided, she just wants to live her life with her sister again.
"Woo!" The two jump off the tables, going over to Attila. Harmony taps her foot to the beat, the others clapping along in tune. The girl laughs, Varian staring at her with a smile. Suddenly, a green light appears in the ceiling. Rapunzel holds up the guitar as a weapon, Harmony doing the same with her fiddle. The same bottle Calliope was holding appears. Attila slowly takes it into his hand.
"Whoa! I've read about these! Enchanted message bottles! I've always wanted to get one!" Rapunzel smiles in excitement.
"I don't think I've gotten one either," Harmony glances up at her. Attila opens it and green smoke comes out of along with the paper.
"Ooh! Your lucky day! It's for the both of you," He holds it out to Rapunzel, who pumps her fist.
"Yes!"
"Who would be sending us a message?" The teenage girl raises a brow in confusion.
"Rapunzel and Harmony, help!" Rapunzel starts to read it. "Cass attacking Spire. Keep this. And then it ends. Calliope must be in trouble."
"Calliope?" Eugene walks up to them, followed by Varian. "Oh right, the obnoxious know-it-all Keeper of the Spire. Guys, put the weapons down already! It's just a bottle, for crying in the night!"
"You can hit something later. Come on, nothing to see here," Harmony waves them off and they walk away in disappointment. Rapunzel shakes the bottle, hearing something inside. She lifts it upside down and a key falls out of it.
"A key...but for what?" Eugene asks curiously.
"I-I-I don't know. But one thing's for sure, we have to get to the Spire as fast as possible and help Calliope!" She looks up at him.
"Uh, Sunshine, this is the same Calliope who lied to us and almost got us eaten by a bear monster," Eugene tells her, a hand on her back.
"She also called my hair moppy," Varian pouts, crossing his arms.
"It's not," Harmony smiles at him, playing with his bang. "It's cute. And she made us sleep outside in the rain."
"Look, guys, I am not her biggest fan either, but she needs our help," Rapunzel frowns a bit.
"It's just my luck to fall in love with the most compassionate person in the world," Eugene comments, causing her to smile.
"Fire up the balloon, Varian!" She holds up the bottle, the pub thugs holding flaming torches eagerly.
"No, guys, she means fly the balloon, not...never mind."
Pascal facepalms as Daisy chirps in defeat.
Varian and Harmony are finishing up the final touches together. She's wearing the goggles that he gave her. "We chemically treated these thrusters so the flames will burn hotter and longer than any natural flame. We're gonna fly like the wind."
Harmony lifts up her goggles away from her face. "And it's all thanks to our upgrades! Giving the thrusters a boost was a great idea, which I suggested," She smiles a bit boastfully. "This baby's going onto my blueprints. I think I'll name it Speedy," She pats the thruster, the boy grinning at her slightly. Now he sees what she meant when she saw him with the hot cocoa in Demanitus' chamber.
Varian turns to Eugene and frowns slightly. "Don't touch that."
Eugene lets go of the bucket and reaches out to something else. "Or that," Varian adds in.
"Eugene, come on, we're almost done," Harmony looks up at him. "Focus on something else."
He gives an annoyed look and then he reaches towards the thrusters.
"OH MY, DON'T TOUCH THAT! IT'S GONNA BLOW!" They both shout at him and he screams like a little girl, falling into the basket. Both of them laugh, Harmony holding her stomach.
"Ha ha! Gotcha! Just messing with you," Varian smiles mischievously.
Eugene stands up, glaring at the couple. "I knew that."
Pascal and Daisy are laughing too. "And you're on my list, frog and goose."
The duckling chirps at him in anger. "Daisy! Language," Harmony warns her and she argues back at the girl. "Wow, okay." She shakes her head at her friend.
"Guys, focus," Rapunzel gets their attention. "Look at this. It took us weeks to get to the Spire on foot, but thanks to your speed balloon and this direct route, we'll make it in a day," She smiles at the couple, crossing her arms.
"Good job, guys," Eugene congratulates them and they smile. Then Varian notices something about the path.
"Oh wait, this takes us over Kresten Loch." She says nothing as she smiles. "Uh, Kresten Loch? The frozen sea? Miles and miles of deadly wintry expanse? Just like the storm that almost got Mona killed?"
Pascal and Daisy frown a little.
"Relax, it wouldn't be the first time I faced near death," Harmony waves it off.
"I know, I just...I want you to be safe," He frowns a little, holding her hand.
"With you and my sister, I will be," She kisses his cheek.
"That's the one, Varian," Rapunzel smiles, hands on her hips.
"Well, if it were anybody other than you two, I'd be worried-" He suddenly falls to the ground, his boots off his feet. "Who glued my boots to the ground?"
"That's for your little balloon prank earlier," Eugene speaks up from behind. "Eugene Fitzherbert never forgets!" He puts the paintbrush inside the glue bucket, only to find it stuck to his hand...
Harmony giggles, bending down to her boyfriend. "That's okay, I have a solvent for the glue in my bag."
"Really?" He blinks in surprise that she's prepared.
"Yeah! And I have a bunch of coats and gloves," She pulls out a large bag from the basket. "It doesn't hurt to be prepared..." She rubs the back of her neck.
"You're amazing," Varian chuckles as he hugs her and she giggles.
"Aw, thanks..."
"Hey Rapunzel?"
She looks at him, seeing a big smile from the boy. "Is Mona ticklish?"
"Vari, don't you-"
"Oh yeah," Rapunzel smirks playfully. "You should've seen her when we traveled back in time."
She gives her older sister an accusing look as if asking 'Why would you tell him that?'
Rapunzel just giggles softly as she sees Varian reaching out his hands. Harmony starts laughing as Varian tickles her sides. Some of his mischievous side is still in play. Rapunzel smiles at the two as the girl falls onto the ground. The boy smiles down at the girl, towering over her and watching her laugh.
"Varian! Stop it, I'm gonna pee!" She giggles, wiggling around slightly. She tries to push his hands away, but misses.
"Mm, nah," He continues and she bursts into laughter, her hair underneath her head.
"Rapunzel, you traitor!" She wheezes out a bit.
A black rock rises from the ground. A chest lifts up into the air as the black rock hits it. Cass is trying to get the chest open by force. She had forced Calliope to give it to her. She continues using the black rocks to try and open the chest. The Enchanted Girl just watches her struggle with it. Eventually, Cass gives it up and it falls in front of her.
"Ugh! It's no use! I can't get to the Mind Trap talisman..."
"Then it looks like we'll need to get that key after all," The Enchanted Girl steps up to her.
"Calliope sent it to Rapunzel and Harmony," Cass sighs in irritation. "And something tells me they won't just hand it over to us."
"To us? No. But we may have other methods at our disposal," The girl smiles to herself, back turned to Cass.
Harmony looks out to the birds as they're on their way to the Spire. Rapunzel is drawing in her journal. "You know, Sunshine, this all kind of reminds me, remember when we used that cauldron to launch the caravan off that rock thing?" Eugene asks casually.
"Ugh, that was when I got skunked..." Varian grumbles a bit at the memory. That was also when the sisters got cursed and they wouldn't let Madame Canardist have their precious items. That was definitely not fun...
"Sorry again for that," Harmony smiles sheepishly.
"Eh, I love you too much to let that ruin things," Varian waves it off. "If anything, that tickle fight made us even."
He playfully reaches out his hands again and she backs away. She grins softly, pointing at him. "Nope, not this time, I let Rapunzel do it to me three times when I was in the past."
Rapunzel flips her journal to the page and shows the moment drawn.
Eugene wasn't so sure that we would make it, but I knew that our plan would work! It was so amazing! We flew through the air! Woo hoo! I'll never forget that moment!
On one page is Eugene's screaming face and the other is the sisters holding the cauldron at the end of Varian's caravan. There's actually a little drawing of him peeking out the window too.
"Of course you painted a picture of that. Why do you keep drawing me so scared in these?"
"I paint it like I see it," She smiles at Eugene.
"Ditto," Harmony looks over her shoulder. "You should see my drawing of you when we dealt with all those crows."
"I do not look like that when I am scared," Eugene defends, crossing his arms. "I look much more handsome."
"You looked exactly the same when we scared you earlier," Harmony raises a brow at him.
"Let's see here..." Varian flips through Harmony's journal, stopping at a specific pages. "Yup, here we are," He holds up the journal for Eugene to see the exact same face that's in Rapunzel's journal. And this was just from today. She painted the teens laughing at him from Corona, fixing up the balloon. Rapunzel was in the basket smiling.
"I'm telling you, that's not how it looks!" He insists to them.
"Oh, really? Hang on, guys!"
"Oh finally, we get to test this out!" Varian smiles, holding the basket's edges. Harmony does the same as they speed up, Eugene screaming his head off. He hugs the opposite side and Rapunzel smiles.
"Ah! There it is."
He's making the face again and Pascal has his mouth and eyes wide open. Daisy has the same face as him.
"You making fun of me too, frog?"
"Actually, he's not," Rapunzel looks up ahead. She rubs her arms, the others doing the same. "Kresten Loch..." They're just approaching the area.
"Pascal, Daisy, I would like to sincerely apologize. Your previous expressions of terror were completely valid," Eugene says to them.
"Alright, let's bundle up, guys," Harmony holds out their coats to them. They start putting on their winter clothes over the clothes they have now, passing over the snow and underneath spikes. Pascal is actually frozen to Eugene's cheek. He cringes as he releases the chameleon, putting him underneath his hat. Pascal shakes himself off, squeaking from Eugene's hair. Harmony puts Daisy into her hoodie. "Okay, so we're pretty cold...but at least we're not that guy."
The teens both wince as they see something completely frozen in ice.
"I-If we keep up this pace, we can make it to the Spire by nightfall," Rapunzel reports to them. Something flies past them and Harmony looks up.
"What was that?"
"What?" Varian looks around, a boomerang hitting the balloon.
"We must have come too close to a wave!" Eugene calls out.
"Wha-But we weren't anywhere near a wave," Rapunzel shakes her head. "Brace yourselves!"
Eugene hugs her tightly as the balloon falls. They start flying out of control as the balloon shakes, running out of air. They slide all the way onto the ground, coming to an abrupt stop. The balloon floats to the ground, completely no air in it. Varian and Eugene stand up first.
"Everybody okay?" Rapunzel pants slightly.
"Yeah...yeah, we're okay," Varian looks at Harmony, who rubs her arms slightly.
"Just gonna have to make sure that I take it easy this time," She laughs nervously, getting flashbacks of when she passed out from the cold. If her boyfriend hadn't found her in time, she would've been dead sooner than later.
"All in one piece," Eugene smiles slightly and he steps out of the basket, followed by the others. "What do you think took us down?"
"I'm not sure," Rapunzel looks up at the sky. "But I am sure this place doesn't get any warmer at night."
"I could've sworn I saw something fly past the balloon before we went down...not sure what it was, though. It flew by so fast," Harmony turns her eyes to the balloon.
"Are the thrusters okay?" Eugene asks the teens as they inspect the damage.
"They're fine. Only the balloon seems to have been affected. Nothing a quick patch-up can't fix," Varian reports to them.
"Alright guys, let's get sewing," Rapunzel walks over to the deflated balloon. "Harmi, get your needle and thread."
The wind blows on them, giving off snow as the girls sew. Pascal and Daisy are holding the thread while the boys are holding up the balloon.
"HELLOOOO!" A voice calls out from seemingly nowhere, echoing.
"Uh, any guesses as to what that might be?" Rapunzel smiles nervously.
"Not what," Harmony tells her as they stand up, looking up ahead. "Who. That was a person's voice."
"HELLOOOO!" Calliope runs up to them. "I saw your balloon go down! Are you coming to help me?" She slips on the ice, sliding to a stop in front of them.
"Calliope!" Rapunzel helps her stay steady, looking over her. "Oh, thank goodness you're okay. We got your message. What are you doing here, a-and what happened with Cassandra?"
"I escaped, but your friend is still at the Spire! She's after the Mind Trap, an artifact that would give her control over the members of the Brotherhood!" She informs them and as soon as Varian hears the last sentence, his eyes widen.
"The Brotherhood?" Eugene asks slowly. "Like Adira and Hector."
"And my father..." Varian murmurs quietly. Harmony places a sympathetic hand on his shoulder.
"What would she want with them?" The former thief asks the Keeper.
"What do I look like, her biographer?!"
"Didn't work on that attitude, I see," Harmony deadpans at her.
"Whatever Cass plans to do with this Mind Trap, we cannot let her have it," Rapunzel states to everyone.
"Wait..." Eugene steps forward. "What was that?"
Something is moving underneath all the ice that they're standing on. "Is something moving under there?" Rapunzel asks while hugging herself. They may have winter gear on thanks to Harmony, but it's still cold. Eugene turns around.
"Sew, Pascal and Daisy. Sew like you've never sewn before!" Eugene urges the two animals. The two take the needles and continue sewing. Blue-colored Vodniks rise out of the ice, surrounding them. Calliope screams as she runs off.
"Get me outta here!" Calliope shouts, the fish creatures starting to attack the group.
"They're Vodniks!" Harmony exclaims as she recognizes them.
"Why are they attacking us?" Varian calls out to her. Rapunzel slides out of the way from an axe, Harmony doing the same. Eugene rolls out of the way as Varian slides onto the ice past a Vodnik.
"Pascal, Daisy! We'll keep you covered and Calliope is..." Rapunzel slides to the woman behind a rock. "Hiding."
Calliope shushes her and Rapunzel hears a roar. "Eugene, duck!"
He does so and an axe goes flying, chopping the rock in half. Calliope shouts in alarm as she runs off. Eugene takes a piece of ice in hand, throwing it at the Vodnik. He takes it into his mouth and bites it into pieces with his teeth. Eugene gulps in fear.
"Eugene, twirl attack!"
"Vari, load me up!" Harmony pulls out her bow and arrow.
"Do we have a move called twirl attack?" Eugene asks with a shrug. He steps back from a Vodnik.
"Uh, we're about to!" Rapunzel latches onto Eugene as he spins around. Varian throws some chem balls to Harmony, and they stick to her arrow. She fires it into the air so that it hits some snow up above. Rapunzel twirls into the air, snow falling onto the Vodniks thanks to Harmony. Eugene catches the blonde with a laugh.
"Twirl attack, first try, alright!"
"Nice thinking, you two," Rapunzel smiles at the teenagers.
"Yeah, but I have a feeling that they'll be back," Harmony glances to the army around them. "And not because I used to have that kind of sense."
Calliope stares at them as the two pets have fixed the balloon, and it's now flying over their heads. "Way to go, guys! You fixed it! Everyone's just getting all the credit today, huh?" Eugene smiles a bit. The Vodniks run up to the four and they make a break for it. They start running towards the balloon. The four reach a rock, running up it. They jump and land in the basket. The Vodniks jump after them. Rapunzel turns the crank so they can keep moving.
"Uh, where's Calliope?" Rapunzel asks them.
"HELLO!" Calliope hollers from below. "Are you just gonna leave me here?!"
Of course they wouldn't, no matter how annoying she is. Eugene holds Rapunzel's hand as she reaches her other hand out.
"Calliope, grab my hand!"
"Hurry!" Harmony looks behind them. She takes off into a run to catch up, but the Vodniks are right behind her. Callipe isn't fast enough as one of them is right behind her. Thankfully, Rapunzel lets out her hair and grabs her arm. They lift her into the basket and Calliope sighs in relief.
"Geez, they are fast!" Rapunzel comments at how the Vodniks are still behind the balloon. "The leg muscles on those things must-"
One of them throws an axe directed right at Rapunzel. Eugene deflects it with his sword.
"Can't she pay you a simple compliment?!"
"Why are they so hostile?" Varian couldn't help but ask.
"Uh, this could be close," Rapunzel states as she looks up ahead at a small glacier. They heighten the thrusters so that they fly away from the Vodniks. They jump towards the balloon, but end up missing it entirely.
"We made it!" Calliope cheers, "Calliope for the win!" She turns around to the annoyed four. "You're welcome."
Harmony rolls her eyes in disdain.
Rapunzel hears a roar, turning around. "Wait! They're in trouble." She sees the Vodniks hanging onto the edge. "We need to go back and help them!"
They're over a field of sharp rocks. The rock one of them is hanging onto to is about to break off. The other Vodniks cry out in concern.
"But they just tried to obliterate us!" Calliope frowns at them.
"That doesn't mean we should do the same to them," Harmony gestures to the creatures.
"Sorry, but that's not the way the princess works," Eugene smiles a bit for Rapunzel's words.
"The apple doesn't fall far from the tree," Varian smiles at his girlfriend, who blushes slightly. She was the one who was supposed to teach Rapunzel how to be ready to be a proper ruler, but it seems they've switched roles. Rapunzel has taught her compassion, and that she doesn't need that much help to become a great ruler...
Because she's already going to be one.
Rapunzel moves the crank so that the balloon turns around. The two Vodniks fall and Rapunzel saves them with her hair. She brings them back to the ground and they take off. "Think of it this way, you guys are gonna have so much fun sledding back down that thing." She waves to them. Surprised by her selfless act, they wave back to the two princesses.
"Have fun in the cold! I know I won't," Harmony murmurs that last part to herself.
"You got any more coats?" Calliope asks the girl.
"Um, I only packed four. I didn't think you would escape Cass," She rubs the back of her neck.
"So I escaped with my life and now I freeze," Calliope pouts, crossing her arms. "How's that for a reward for saving your lives in return?"
"You didn't-"
"Harmi," Rapunzel places a hand on her shoulder. "It'll be fine, I'll give her my coat. After what happened during the storm with you, I'm not taking any chances."
"Punzie. I won't get lost in the cold again like last time," Harmony hugs herself as her hair flies past.
"I know, it's just..."
She stares at her sister as she remembers it clearly.
"Princess Harmony is gone!"
"Little sister, no..."
"That's not what happened, at all!"
"Nevermind," She shakes her head rapidly, confusing them as she takes off her coat.
"There it is," Rapunzel announces as it's nighttime. They've finally reached the Spire. "The Spire. Let's just hope we're not too late and Cass hasn't gotten that box open."
"Speaking of the box, where's the key?" Calliope asks her.
"Oh, I have it right here in my bag, which has its very own security system. See?" She opens up the bag to reveal Pascal in it. The balloon touches the ground and Eugene puts down the sandbag. They step out of the basket as Rapunzel looks around. "Where's Cassandra?"
"Wouldn't she have left, I don't know, a few black rocks?" Harmony asks her sister.
"Right..." Rapunzel replies slowly. Calliope opens the door to the Spire and they step inside. She has a wide smile on her face for some reason. Varian and Harmony stare at her, giving each other a quick look. Something seems off...
She reaches the chest. "Here it is," She takes it into her hands. "Now give me the key so we can make sure the Mind Trap is still here," She holds out her hand to Rapunzel.
"Mm, I...am gonna pass on that. I think the box should stay closed," Rapunzel states to her, holding her bag in her hands.
"If it's as dangerous as you said it was, why bother unlocking it?" Harmony agrees with her sister.
"Now where's Cassandra?" Rapunzel asks again. If she is still here, and Calliope did escape like she said, she'd lead them right to her.
"She's right here."
They look up to see Cass walking down the steps. Varian frowns deeply, pulling Harmony close to protect her. The last time she saw them, she sucked out Harmony's power and left her for dead. Despite her showing some concern, it didn't excuse what she did.
"I don't wanna fight you again," Rapunzel narrows her eyes at the woman.
"Stay away from Mona," Varian warns her and she just laughs.
"That's on you both. Where's the key?"
"Hi, sorry, while we're asking questions, I've been sitting on one. The blue hair, what's going on there?" Eugene asks the woman. "I mean, it looks way better on Brownie, but really, Cassandra?"
She simply pulls out her sword. "Whoa, whoa, whoa, easy," He backs away from her.
"Something tells me that's personal," Harmony whispers to him.
"You're not getting the key. I've hidden it," Rapunzel smirks, crossing her arms.
"It's in her bag," Calliope speaks up to their shock, joining Cass' side. She pulls at her face to reveal that she's the Enchanted Girl. Harmony gasps at her appearance, stepping back a bit. "Ah. I love this cloak."
"It was a trap," Varian whispers in realization, narrowing his eyes.
"What have you done with the real Calliope?" Rapunzel demands them.
"She's fine. Or at least, she will be, provided you give Cassandra what she wants."
"And why should we trust your word?" Harmony hisses, pointing at her.
"Because whether you like it or not, her life is on the line. Now give Cassandra the key."
"I'm sorry, have we met?" Rapunzel asks her.
"She's the voice I heard at the Great Tree," Harmony reveals, glaring at them both. "She's also the one I spoke to at Cass' stronghold before she ordered Cass to almost kill me!"
"And she was the one who told me how to find the final incantation..." Varian gasps, facepalming himself. "And that...gave her the ability for her to be seen again...so dumb, Varian!"
"You did that?!" The blonde yells at the girl. "How could you? She did nothing to you!"
"She ruined everything for me!" She shouts back, pointing at Harmony. "So I did what I could. Not that there's any regret."
"You-!" Varian lunges forward and Eugene holds him back. He could only imagine what the boy must feel upon hearing that. He had almost lost the love of his life, and the person behind it didn't even care what it resulted in.
"Introductions later," Cass sheathes her sword. "Now hand over the key." She snatches the bag from Rapunzel, who glares at her. She shakes out the bag, kicking away its contents.
"Huh...it's not in there?" Rapunzel asks innocently. The Enchanted Girl looks angry towards them, Varian looking smug at her face. "Maybe I put it in my other bag."
"Now," Harmony clicks her teeth, tapping her chin. "Did we lose it?"
"Come on. We both knew this wasn't the real Calliope," Rapunzel gestures to the small girl. "We suspected something was up back in Kresten Loch. We knew a wave hadn't cut the balloon. But something had. After conferring with Harmony about the damages, we found out that the cut was similar to..."
The Enchanted Girl holds up the boomerang, slightly impressed. "Yeah. That was it. And when you coincidentally showed up moments later, and then didn't correct my pronunciation of Spire, I knew you weren't the real Calliope."
"Huh...you know, come to think of it, I thought you were somewhat less annoying. Not much, but somewhat," Eugene states, holding up a finger.
"Good effort, though, with the coat," Varian crosses his arms.
"I enjoyed our trip together, girls," The Enchanted Girl says, giving Cass the box. "It provided me with an invaluable lesson. Your weakness...compassion. After all, I already know of your sister's..." She gives Varian a knowing look and he narrows his eyes. "You went out of your way to help the Vodniks because you felt...sorry for them."
"Some people would say that's a strength," Rapunzel places her hands on her hips.
"I know I do," Harmony huffs at the girl, who laughs.
"Strength? No...useful, yes," She throws the boomerang, a candle falling onto the ground. It moves towards some black rocks...and right above them is Calliope tied up and gagged.
"Calliope!" The two sisters exclaim in unison. "Let her go."
"Right now," Harmony grits her teeth, pulling out her bow and arrow. Cass runs up to Calliope, threatening to cut the rope with a black rock.
"Give Cassandra the key, or Calliope becomes a permanent artifact here," The Enchanted Girl threatens them. "And drop your mundane weapons, now," She narrows her eyes at the teenager.
"Mundane, no. But useful to evil bitches like you, yes," Harmony quips, smirking as the girl growls at her.
"How do we know she's the real Keeper of the Spire?" Eugene questions, as it could be another trick. Calliope muffles something from her gag. She manages to remove it.
"Actually, it's Spy-your," She corrects him.
"That's her," Rapunzel gives a look of slight annoyance.
Calliope wiggles around from the rope. "Time's up, girls. Hand over the key now, or Calliope pays the price. Stand. Down, Princess," She glares at the two sisters.
"Oh really? You're the boss of me now? If you think I'm just gonna bend over and-"
"Pascal?" Rapunzel asks, the chameleon holding up the key. "Harmi...put them down."
"Do it or we'll do more than kidnap your precious little boyfriend!" The Enchanted Girl hisses at the girl. She was focused on Harmony, but now that the princess is a thorn in their sides, she doesn't need her anymore.
She looks between Calliope and the two women, growling in annoyance. She throws down her bow and arrow onto the floor.
"All of it," The Enchanted Girl is eating it up in how she's actually listening now...unlike in the past. Harmony keeps her glare as she takes off her quiver, dropping it onto the floor. "Over here," She points to the spot in front of her and Harmony kicks them all over.
Rapunzel takes the key from Pascal. "First, let Calliope go."
Cass smiles evilly upon seeing the key. "No chance." She walks up to them. "Listen girls, I don't wanna hurt her. Really, I don't, but I will. Just like I did with your precious little sister. Now give me the key."
The boomerang moves past the two and Rapunzel lifts up her arm. It goes flying back and hits the key. The Enchanted Girl catches it into her hands.
"Ugh, let's speed this up."
Cass walks over to her and opens up the chest. Rapunzel stares at her in disbelief for what she's done. She threatened someone's life just for this talisman...let the girl trick them just to get the key...
The inside glows blue once the chest is opened. "Yes! Cassandra, the Brotherhood of the Dark Kingdom is now yours to command!" She smiles wickedly as Cass takes it into her hands. Rapunzel lets down her hair and throws it at them. Cass just creates black rocks as the girl breaks Harmony's arrows with one snap.
"What do you want with the Brotherhood?" Rapunzel grits her teeth at Cass.
"Quirin is a member of that group! You know that!" Harmony shouts at her, pointing to Varian. "Adira told us so!"
"You can't have a war without soldiers, princesses. I don't care who it is as long as he's useful. I never liked Adira, anyway! But at the moment, you've got other things to worry about," Cass snaps the rope off Calliope.
"No!" The two shout and Rapunzel throws her hair at a black rock. The woman lands on it, and she throws her to Eugene. Calliope sighs in relief. The two start to leave when the two sisters stand in front of them.
"Not so fast."
"Do you really think you can stop me? Harmony has no power here. I have it now. There's nothing she can do to fight back."
"Oh, maybe not," Eugene speaks up behind them, both him and Varian on the steps. "But you're forgetting we're in a room full of magical artifacts. And I don't know what any of them do!" Eugene takes a sword.
"As much as I wanna say don't touch them, desperate times call for desperate measures," Varian smirks a bit. The floor glows and caves underneath them. They fall into a secret room below.
"Okay...so we know what the sword does."
"Uh, Eugene," Varian points up at Cass, who's crawling towards the Mind Trap.
"Oh ho ho, no you don't," He throws a bottle at her, which causes a tornado of purple smoke to appear. A badger falls onto the ground, crawling around.
"Huh. That could've been Ruddiger's cousin," Varian murmurs, more of them falling from the vortex.
"It's raining badgers?! Why is this even a thing?" Eugene tries to shake one off his foot.
"Oh, that was to end the Great Badgers Scarcity of 1312!" Calliope calls out from her spot, a badger landing on her head. Cass takes one off her head, throwing it away. The Enchanted Girl bumps into her as a badger is latched to her head. Cass pulls it off, but the Mind Trap flies out of her hands. Eugene takes one off with a laugh.
He notices the Mind Trap has fallen onto the ground, narrowing his eyes. He throws away the badger and dives for it, only for it to slide out of his reach. It goes over to the Enchanted Girl, who bends over to pick it up. A badger runs past, and it goes over to Calliope. She catches it with her, but it's quickly out of her mouth thanks to a badger.
"I can't believe you brought the key back! I told you to keep it away!" She shouts at the two sisters.
"No, your note said keep this," Rapunzel chases after the Mind Trap, Harmony and Varian ducking from badgers.
"I started to write 'keep this away', but I was under attack! What do you want from me?!"
"How were we supposed to know that?!" Harmony screeches at her in disbelief. Nothing in that note started with an a at the end of that sentence. She really expected them to figure that out on their own?
"Rapunzel!" Eugene takes it into his hand. "I got it!" He holds it up and the three smile. The Enchanted Girl throws her boomerang.
"Great! Let's go!" The Mind Trap flies out of his hands as the girl bends down to grab it, but the badgers again keep it away. She chases after it and they go after her. Badgers land on Eugene's head.
"Hey! Get off me!" He bumps into a shelf and a bag falls into the middle of the floor. It opens up and a hand floats from it. Eugene cringes in slight disgust as it slams down. He dives out of the way, the hand crawling up to him. He crawls backwards. "This is one angry hand!"
He runs away from it.
"Uh, technically, it's Raging. It's called the Raging Hand of Bombados." The Mind Trap ends up nearby and she scooches towards it. The Enchanted Girl takes it into her hands.
"I'll take that."
Calliope gets onto her knees, throwing some hard candy. The girl trips on them falling onto the ground and dropping the talisman. She growls at Calliope, seeing a lamp nearby.
"Hard candies of Ambrosia, baby!" Calliope hollers, the two sisters running past her. Harmony comes to a stop and sees the girl on the floor.
"Huh. For once, Calliope did something she can actually take credit for," She continues running after her sister. The blonde grabs Cass' arm, and she pulls back. Rapunzel grabs her arm and she pulls Rapunzel onto the ground. The Mind Trap is between them.
"Quit it. Stop it. Stop it," Eugene warns as the hand is poking him. Varian is running away from badgers, one of them jumping onto his head.
Eugene slaps the hand's finger and it shrinks, crawling away. "Where's all your rage now, hand?"
"Get me out of this hair," Cass demands to the temporary queen.
"Gladly," The two pull and she goes spinning. Rapunzel bends down and takes the talisman. "I got it! Let's go!"
The Enchanted Girl tackles her from behind.
"HEY!" Harmony pulls her off as Daisy flies Pascal over to it. He lands on top of it, pushing away a badger as he slides over to Eugene.
"Right on, frog!" Varian and Rapunzel run up to them. "Quick, let's get out of here before-"
"Oh Princess!" The girl calls out. She's holding the lamp, Calliope being pushed onto the ground by Cass.
"Please, not the Lamp of Terror too! I'd be trapped in limbo for 10,000 years!" Calliope shouts as she starts to get sucked in. Cass puts her arm around Harmony's neck, pulling her backwards and pointing her sword at her head.
"Give Cassandra what she wants," The Enchanted Girl threatens her.
"Do it or I'll end her," She starts touching Harmony's cheek with the tip of the sword.
"Ah, get off me! Rapunzel, don't!" The girl struggles slightly. The two frown slightly at them, as they didn't want to see them get hurt. Cass tugs at her hair tightly, the sword now directed at her neck. "OW! Stop it, oww!" She sobs slightly.
Rapunzel narrows her eyes at her cries of pain, holding out the Mind Trap. "Take it."
Cass walks up to her and takes it. The girl moves away the lamp as Cass lets Harmony go. She rushes up to the three, hugging Varian. He runs a hand through her hair, glaring at the two.
"Thanks for your compassion," The Enchanted Girl and Cass leave through the ceiling, Rapunzel looking away sadly. Eugene wraps an arm around her.
"They really should put labels on these things!" Eugene struggles to put the sword back in place. "Whew!" He looks towards Rapunzel, her eyes directed at the chest. Varian is checking Harmony for injuries, in which they were none.
"Are you okay?" He asks softly and she rubs the end of her hair.
"My head hurts, but I'll be okay. It's my sister I'm worried about," She glances at the blonde. Eugene walks down the steps, taking the chest from her and putting it back.
"Let's get out of here, huh?"
Rapunzel sighs a bit. "I'll be right there."
"You got it," He smiles softly. "I'll go prep the balloon."
He leaves the three and Pascal squeaks up at Rapunzel. "Aww, thanks, Pascal."
"Today...was a loss, but we'll figure this out, Punzie," Harmony places a hand on her shoulder. "We always do."
"Thanks, Harmi."
"Yeah..." Varian sighs a bit. "Guess Cass got what she wanted after all..."
"I believe Cassandra promised us a proper introduction," The Enchanted Girl comes out of hiding behind the steps. "But she failed to deliver, didn't she?"
They all glare at her, angry for what she's done. "Frankly, I'm surprised you all hadn't guessed as to who I am, seeing how we've already met, in a way. You see, over the centuries, I've taken the form of whatever suits my needs. A warlock, a demon...even a blizzard."
The two teens gasp sharply. "You're...Zhan Tiri."
"B-But that's impossible! You were imprisoned for years by Demanitus!" Varian stammers in disbelief.
"How the heck did you get free?" Harmony demands to her.
"Oh, I have you to thank for that one, Harmony. It was because of you touching the moonstone that I was able to be freed. You are right, the moonstone isn't entirely evil...for it granted a wish. A wish for you to have a friend...and that's where I came in."
"...No..." She murmurs in horror, backing away. She was the reason Zhan Tiri was free? Her 'imaginary friend' was the Zhan Tiri herself?
"Of course, you wasted its only wish for a friendship that ended in betrayal."
"Betrayal?" Varian asks her, confused.
"When did I betray you?!"
"You questioned your destiny!" Zhan Tiri fires back angrily. "Don't you remember when you were 10?"
Harmony tries to think as she glances around, her eyes widening. "That was when Papa told me that I had to grow up...I accepted it out of favor for my kingdom...that's why you never came back. You were spying on us?! You made me continue the decay incantation! YOU ALMOST KILLED ME!"
Usually, Harmony is a rational person, but those two can really push it sometimes...
"And you tricked me!" Varian grits his teeth, pointing at her.
"But none of it doesn't make any sense. Cass knows how evil Zhan Tiri is," Rapunzel changes the subject. "Why would she team up with someone-"
"Cassandra knows only what I want her to know. I'm playing her, Rapunzel. She has no idea. But she is under my complete control," She walks up the steps. "Prepare yourself, sundrop and moonstone. An eclipse is coming. And when it does, Corona will become nothing more than dust."
She takes a teleporting hula hoop and throws it over herself, disappearing. Harmony grunts in anger, calming herself down. Rapunzel clamps her mouth shut, taking in what she said...
"Goodbye Rapunzel, Eugene, Harmony, and Varian!" Calliope waves to them as they leave. "Sorry you blew it, but it wasn't my fault!"
"Ha ha ha, bye," Eugene smiles nervously as Rapunzel looks away. "I really can't stand her..."
Harmony has her arms crossed over the edge, looking down. Rapunzel looks out to the sun. "Hey, Blondie. Look, I know today didn't pan out like we'd hoped it would, but you did what we had to do. And we will get Cass back."
"Actually, Eugene, at the moment, I'm beginning to think Cass is the least of our worries," Rapunzel stares up ahead. Varian places a hand on Harmony's shoulder.
"I'm...sorry I let Zhan Tiri trick me. Maybe if she had...you'd still be the moonstone," He murmurs to her.
"She's tricked all of us in some way," Harmony sighs slowly. "And it's not hard to figure out why...I can't believe it. For 8 years, she waited just so I would be like Cass sooner than later. I wanted a friend, but...not like this."
"You were a newborn," He reminds her. "You didn't know what you were doing."
"I still don't," She hums a bit. "But we'll stop Zhan Tiri and bring back Cass," She turns to him and he holds her hand.
"And I'll be right there with you, Mona," He smiles sweetly and they share a brief kiss.
"Aww!" Rapunzel coos, causing them to laugh. The blonde hugs them both. "You're right, Harmi. She's played all of us. But together, we can do it! And...it's because of Zhan Tiri that I'm scared that you might not survive from all this, little sister. But I see now that you're a headstrong, determined princess who lost a friend...just like me."
Harmony smiles weakly at her sister. "True...but the last thing I need is people to watch over me 24/7. I can take care of myself."
The woman chuckles, pulling her into a hug. "I have no doubt about that. Okay, I'll ease up if you promise that you won't go out into the snow when we reach Kresten Loch again."
"Deal."
Cass' fortress has been remade. She smirks at the Mind Trap in her hands and activates it. The power spreads all the way to Hector. He stands up as the Brotherhood symbol shines on his hand. He reveals glowing blue eyes.
Then at the Forest of No Return, Adira is meditating there. That is, until the effects of the Mind Trap reach her too.
Then, Quirin is plucking pumpkins from the patch. Varian and Harmony walk up to the wagon as they were helping out.
"Oh, hey dad."
Once they're gone, the Mind Trap reaches the man. He looks straight at Harmony and suddenly, the effects go away...