A/N: Ignores a small part of Tangled Ever After canon (leave a review if you know which part!)
Darkness surrounds Anna like a cloud of smoke. The fog drags her down into its depths and the falling sensation sends her retching into thin air. Morning light blossoms into her eyes like fireworks; she lurches upright in her bed and gasps wildly, clutching at everything she can get her hands on: the cotton dress on her bruised body, the silk sheets beneath her, the cashmere duvet over her knees.
"What the-" Anna gasps, staring at the mahogany bed frame, inlaid with ivory and gold. An ache spreads across her head, and she runs her fingers over the bandages swathed around her forehead. Besides the dressings, everything on her person had been done like it were another day at the palace; even her unruly red tresses had been braided into pigtails.
A scent stirs a growling in her stomach before she recognises its source: bacon, atop scrambled eggs and bread. The silver and china table service set atop an elaborate silk tablecloth takes her breath away. So much hunger had Anna endured during the week she spent on the run that the very thought of luxury had deserted her mind.
Without thinking, the girl leaps from the bed and skips the silverware, opting instead to shovel the food into her mouth with her bare hands. She pauses between mouthfuls of breakfast and stares at the mess she made on the table.
"Jesus, I don't even know who did this-" Anna thinks aloud, looking around at the marble floor and pink wallpaper adorned with daisies.
The thought of the food being poisoned crosses her mind, but her hunger wins out, and the Princess finishes the rest of her breakfast, wiping her hands and mouth on the tablecloth. With her stomach filled, the memories filter back into Anna's brain, before cascading into her thoughts like a torrent of rainfall.
"Oh no!" she gasps, the vivid memory of Anastasia's green eyes staring down at her flashes across her mind, "I lost the flower!"
Another memory snatches the air from her lungs: the hands dragging her away before darkness took her into its depths.
"But I should be in a jail cell…" Anna whispers, her voice echoing off the walls of her room. As the thoughts swirl around in her head, the room's walls close in on her, its luxury reeking more of a prison than a palace suite. At once, her eyes locate the door. The princess strides to the door and tries the handle. Adrenaline buzzes beneath her skin when she finds it locked, confirming her suspicions. She grits her teeth and rips the door off its hinges like a child snapping a twig.
Immediately, Anna freezes in place at the five crossbows pointed at her. A tall man stands behind the soldiers, his beard and posture emanating every bit of royalty her father once did.
"The broken door I can forgive, but not if you try anything here," he says, his deep voice booming across the room, "I hope we can talk like civilised people."
Their arrows glint beneath the daylight filtering through the velvet curtains. Anna's lips tremble as she stares him down with hatred glimmering in her eyes. Her bruised fists clench into tiny balls of white, before unclenching.
"Alright then," Anna says, "we'll talk."
The man waves off his soldiers, leaving him alone with Anna in the middle of a sprawling royal study. She takes a second to look at the expanse of maps and charts hung up across the room, and the enormous table set between hulking bookshelves.
"You must have many questions, Anna-" he starts.
"Why did you lock me up?" Anna asks, the words tumbling from her lips.
"I reckon anyone locked in a room would bang and scream for help instead of ripping open the door. I had to know if the rumors were true, if it was really you."
"Well then," Anna scowls, crossing her arms, "you have me now, but I'm not letting you hand me over to Prince Karl."
The man raises an eyebrow, "-and why would I want to do that?" he asks.
"Because…" Anna starts, before pausing and trying to remember how the Duke of Weselton looked like. Thin, wry, with those hideous glasses perched on his ballooned-nose - a far cry from the regal-looking being standing before her.
"Well, first of all, I-I demand to negotiate with the Duke of Weselton regarding my release!" Anna snarls.
The man stares at Anna for a second, before sighing and uttering a short chuckle.
"Look, Anna, would the Duke of Weselton be so kind as to tuck you in bed and prepare a nice breakfast for you?"
"But- but, w-why w-wouldn't-" Anna starts, before a purple flag hanging from the room's corner catches her eye. A purple sun emblazoned across the purple cloth shimmers beneath the room's light.
"O-oh. Oh!" Anna says, recognizing the flag, "I'm in Corona!"
"Our soldiers picked you up across the border from Weselton within the forest. Things have been tense recently, and we've increased our military presence in the woods."
"Oh, thank god she caught me on your side of the forest-" Anna sighs. Tension ebbs from Anna's shoulders; she pulls a chair and slumps into it.
"Wait, she? My men told me they picked you up unconscious beneath a tree," the King asks, pulling a chair beside Anna, "Is there something going on?"
"I came here alone, to find the flower that would cure Elsa of her sickness, but she followed me and beat the shit out of my-"
"Who?"
"Anastasia, she's from Russia. It's a long story, but she now has the flower and Elsa will probably think I'm dead."
The King's expression freezes at the woman's name, he jams his forehead into his hands and utters a groan.
"Oh god, not that woman-"
"You know her?"
"She's one of Eugene's friends. A real unsavory sort. We used her services a few times when we didn't want to get our hands dirty, but she was more trouble than what it was worth."
"What? So she isn't an diplomat from Russia?"
"No!" the King exclaims, "God no! Is that what she's been telling you?"
"I can't believe I bought into that bitch's lies."
"Well, she's from Russia alright, and if the rumors are right, she's grown to be one of the most powerful warlords operating in the Nordic regions."
"I-I j-just don't get it, what the hell does she want?"
"Well, what do people with power want? More power. Where Kings and nobles fight with swords and cannons, women obtain with lies and coercion."
Anna winces as the taste of Anastasia's cunt fills her mouth. She grips the edges of her chair and shakes her head, trying to rid herself of the memories, but the memory of being used crushes her.
"I have to stop her," Anna says, "she must be stopped at all costs, and I must get the flower back to Elsa."
"You'd have to find her first," the King suggests, "and I know exactly who to ask."
"You have a real nerve showing up in these parts," Eugene snarls at the blonde lady. He slumps into the chair beside her and clenches a pipe between his teeth. Anastasia notices the slightest tremble in his hands as he lights a match, and her lips curl into a smirk. He pretends to take a swig of ale, all the while casting glances at the people around the tavern. Noticing no one of note, Eugene tips a wide-brimmed hat over his eyes anyway.
"It's been a long time, Flynn," Anastasia drawls over the rowdy patrons, "Or would you rather be called Eugene?"
"Look, I don't understand why you're asking me here. It's not like how it used to be anymore, I have a life, I'm changed-"
"Are you?" Anastasia asks, straightening the hood over her head, "Or did you just happen to meet the right girl at the right time?"
"I loved her even before I knew she was a goddamned princess!"
"Oh it's just so easy for you, isn't it?"
"Enough with the bullshit; just what the hell do you want me here for?" Eugene scowls, "Aren't there enough handsome faces in Arendelle or wherever it is you're putting up?"
"Let's just say that I've found myself in a bit of a pickle, and I just heard you've been put in charge of the North gates. Real qualified for the job, you are."
Eugene's eyes widen when Anastasia brings up his military appointment. At the back of his mind, he assured himself that the King wanted him to gain some experience doing something honest for once, but he can't shake the thought that he just wanted to get rid of him.
"What does my appointment have to do with you?"
"I need to get out of Corona, and the gate's in my way. Command your guards to stand down and open the gate at a time of my choosing-"
"Jesus, do you know how obvious that'd be?" Eugene hisses, spewing puffs of tobacco smoke at her, "And besides, why the hell should I help you?"
"Because you owe me. Have you forgotten who took care of the Stabbingtons before your fucking fairytale wedding?"
"I...I paid you off for that one. Besides, that was a long time ago, you're history to me."
Anastasia's eyes betray none of the emotion flashing across Eugene's. She crosses her legs and reaches for a mug of ale, before staring straight into his eyes.
"I know something else that'll ruffle your feathers, dear Flynn," Anastasia's voice drops to a whisper. She leans close to him and drawls into his ear with deliberation dripping from her lips.
"I found another flower."
Blood drains from Eugene's face, he clutches at the bench and hisses, "Impossible!"
Anastasia's cold fingers raise goosebumps on his wrist as she directs his hand across her lap and onto a tiny wooden case jammed beside her thigh. At once, the goosebumps fade into a warmth that extends into his arm; a feeling he's all too familiar with.
"You found another one of those magic flowers, so what?" Eugene scowls, trying to put on a callous front, but the tremble in his voice gives him away.
"I think I know where to find Gothel's cloak. You know, the one she left behind after-"
"N-no, y-you can't-" Eugene stutters, "It's impossible! There's no way you can resurrect her from the dead!"
"It worked on you, how about we give it one more try on her just to be sure?"
"P-please," Eugene begs, "y-you can't. Gothel will kill me, she'll kidnap Rapunzel again a-and-"
Anastasia's lips curl into a smirk as Eugene's brown eyes plead with her, but she frowns at the brunette figure heading through the tavern door.
"Get your shit together," Anastasia commands, shoving her companion in the shoulder, "your wife is here looking for you."
Eugene slides into the chair across Anastasia's. He tips the hat over his eyes, but his heart lurches when he spots Rapunzel pushing through the boozy crowd in his direction.
"Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit!" Eugene stutters. His eyes dart towards the exit, and he tries to get up from his seat, but it's too late; Rapunzel grabs him by the collar and shoves him back into the chair, sending the hat sliding from his brow.
"Just what the hell is this?" Rapunzel scowls, putting her green eyes barely an inch from his, "You told me you were going to work today!"
Eugene tries to conjure an explanation, but apart from the croaking sounds reverberating from his throat, he fails to produce any meaningful argument.
"Do you know how much I had to nag my father about giving you some responsibility, only to have you waste your time in a god forbidden place like this?"
"Listen, I c-can explain-"
A chuckle breaks the tension between the two. Rapunzel whips around at the source of the sound; she notices a shadowy figure opposite them tucking a lock of blonde hair beneath its hood, and her skin buzzes with heat.
"No!" Eugene cries, too late to stop his wife from ripping off Anastasia's hood. The princess flinches at the cold hand snapping around her thin wrist, and she gasps at the pair of green eyes staring into hers.
"How dare you!" Rapunzel shrieks, struggling to free her wrist from Anastasia's grip, "I am the Princess!"
Anastasia takes her time to rise from her seat, keeping her fingers locked around the girl's wrist. Rapunzel's eyes widen as she looks up at Anastasia, standing nearly a head taller than her.
"I eat princesses, like you, for breakfast!" Anastasia growls, sending a chill into Rapunzel's skin.
"Look, hun, you don't want to mess with this woman, she's pretty gnarly-" Eugene suggests, before turning to Anastasia, "listen, why don't I just do as you asked and we can all call it a day, huh?"
Rapunzel utters a whimper as Anastasia bends her wrist backwards, forcing her down onto the chair. She grits her teeth as pain races up her arm, but remains silent beneath her bones creaking. Hurt flashes across her eyes, now brimming with tears. She looks up at Anastasia, and her lips silently beg the woman to release her.
"I wonder how easily I can make you cry," Anastasia snarls, running a free hand through the girl's brown hair, "I heard your tears are worth many times their weight in gold."
"P-please, l-let g-go of me," Rapunzel whimpers, trying and failing to pry Anastasia's hands from hers, "y-you're hurting me."
"Let her go!" Eugene hisses at his wife's captor. The Russian dismisses his pleas like a fly landing on her shoulder, evoking a grunt from him.
"I said let go of her!" he grunts, shoving Anastasia in the shoulder. She staggers backwards and stumbles headfirst into a burly tavern patron, upsetting his mug of ale.
"What the ell' is goin' on?" the man snarls. He pushes Anastasia back into Flynn, who trips over a chair and upsets a neighboring table. Waves of ale slosh onto its patrons, sending them into an uproar. They hurl their now-empty mugs at the man, who flings a barstool back at them.
"No-no-no-no!" the bartender yells, his voice drowned out by the ruckus erupting in the tavern, "Not again!"
Within seconds, tables and chairs fly across the room in a spontaneous uproar. Men, whom earlier had been singing and drinking together, now collide in a fury of drunken fists.
"Rapunzel!" Eugene yells over the din of shouting, before he's punched in the face, "Get the flower!"
"The what?" Rapunzel shouts back as she narrowly avoids being crushed by two fighting men.
Her eyes dart amidst the tangle of brawling patrons and makes out a blonde mop of hair crawling through the broken furniture towards her seat. She spots the case nuzzled against the wall; a picture of calm amidst the chaos. For some reason, Rapunzel feels drawn to it, as though it contained a magic that had been within her, her entire life.
"Oh, no you don't!" Rapunzel shrieks, diving after Anastasia. She catches hold of her boot a second before the blonde closes her fingers around the case.
"Get - the - fuck - off me!" Anastasia yells, pummeling her fist into Rapunzel's face. The assault fails to break her clutch, despite spilling a streak of blood from her fair skin. Anastasia tries to make a break for the now-smashed window barely a foot away from her, but the Princess's grip drags her down. Anastasia's patience frays; without thinking, she smashes the case into Rapunzel's skull.
The crunch of wood against her temple is followed quickly by a scream as shards of wood clatter against the floor. An arc of light flashes across the two women's eyes; instantly recognizable to both. Anastasia leaps forth in an attempt to snatch the flower as it sails through the air. Rapunzel watches the flower's petals unfurl in a radiant blossom for merely a fleeting second, until it slams into the ground and gets trampled by the crowd. Specks of light from the torn petals scatter across the floor before fading like the last rays of a sunset.
"Shit!" three voices shriek in unison. Grey fabric flutters across Rapunzel's face; she grabs at the cloth, but it slips through her fingers as the figure behind it hurls herself through the window, leaving Eugene to shield his wife from the riotous crowd.
Anastasia lands squarely on her feet before stepping off a beer barrel and leaping onto the roof. Her breath comes in sputtered fogs against the map she unfurls beneath her eyes. It takes barely a second for her to make up her mind before she starts running across the roof. She picks up a sprint and jumps onto another house's roof, lowering herself from the ledge with ease. Her boots fall onto the soil in silent thuds as she heads for the main road, but a sudden thump in her chest takes her breath away.
She tries to breathe, but only a hears sputtering noise and feels a fire ripping through her insides. Her hands break into a violent tremble when they close around the spear tip lodged in her chest. She looks up and gasps at a pair of blue eyes bearing down her, silhouetted against the sunlight.
The girl's lips graze against Anastasia's ear, robbing her knees of strength and sending her crumbling into Anna's arms.
"Don't blame yourself for this," Anna whispers, holding her up like she weighed nothing at all, "I should have killed you a long time ago."
"Fuck you," Anastasia sputters, each syllable sending flecks of blood upon Anna's hair.
"Tell me where the flower is, and I might let you die with some dignity," Anna says, shaking the woman to stop her eyes from closing.
Anastasia struggles to keep her head upright; the fuzziness in her vision clears momentarily, and she makes out a platoon of soldiers on horseback behind Anna's shoulders.
"Y-you sent her here," Anastasia sputters, before her lips curl into a blood-stained smile, "you cheap fuck."
The muscles in Anna's arms flex as she curls her fingers into Anastasia's wound, evoking a cry from the woman that sends the crows fluttering into the air.
"Tell me!" Anna growls.
Before Anna can react, Anastasia grabs the spear in her fingers and rips it from her grasp. At once, a plume of blood bursts from her chest, spilling in waves of red upon the grass and staining Anna's lavender dress a hideous shade of crimson.
"No!" Anna shrieks as she tries to stem the gush of blood, but Anastasia's head already hangs limp in her arms, her blonde hair glistening with streaks of red. Her trembling lips shift with the slightest of movements, before going still.
"Well, shit-" Anna scowls, dropping her body to the ground.
At the sight of Rapunzel and Eugene staggering around the corner with cuts and bruises, the soldiers dismount and rush to their aid.
"No, no!" Rapunzel grunts, holding a hand towards the soldiers, "I'm fine!"
Anna sprints towards the princess and grabs her by the shoulders.
"P-please," Anna stutters, "please tell me you found the flower-"
Eugene looks behind Anna at the dead body lying on the ground, and raises an eyebrow.
"So that was what you were looking for!"
"Idiot! I'm such an idiot!" Rapunzel shrieks, slapping her forehead.
"Listen, Anna," she continues, "we have some bad news…"