A/N: Well, here it finally is. I am sorry about the long wait, but work and um, other stories, took a good deal of my time. I hope to have the updates come quicker in the future. As far as warnings, if the title didn't tip you off, there is some fighting and death. Please let me know what you think.
Chapter 2 – The Corona Massacre
Elsa woke up to the unfamiliar sensation of sunlight kissing her eyes as it streamed into the mansion's bedroom. Apparently her nightmare and her subsequent wanderings had left her more fatigued than she had thought, and Elsa had slept much later than she usually did. As counterpoint to the annoying sunlight, though, the very familiar sensation of Anna kissing the juncture between her neck and shoulder soothed her, and Elsa opened her eyes with a smile. "Good morning, Apprentice," Elsa said contentedly, and she felt Anna smile against her neck.
"Good morning, love," Anna answered. "I'm glad you're still with me. You needed the rest."
"Yes, I did," Elsa admitted freely, rolling her eyes at Anna's feigned look of shock before glancing at the bedside clock and sighing. "But the Generals' meeting is in an hour, and so now I have to get up," she said regretfully. She attempted to wiggle out from under Anna, but her Intended shifted so that Elsa was pressed even more firmly into the mattress. "Anna," Elsa said reproachfully.
"Yes, Elsa?" Anna asked innocently, even though her thigh had found its way between both of Elsa's and her hand had started to knead one of Elsa's perfect breasts.
"I need to go to work," Elsa stated, trying to ignore her body's responses to Anna's touches.
"No, you don't," Anna disagreed. "The Governor of Arendelle needs a private meeting with her General." Elsa started to protest, but a potent combination of two things stopped her. One was Anna's unrelenting touch. After all of their time together, Anna knew exactly how to get her to surrender. The other was Anna's eyes. They were darkened with lust, a special kind of lust that Elsa had begun to recognize as a symptom of Anna's pregnancy. It was an unrelenting lust, and when under its spell, Anna was insatiable. When Anna's hand left her breast and started to drift lower, Elsa gave into the inevitable.
"Oh no, you don't," Elsa chastised teasingly, catching Anna's hand and carefully turning them over in a single motion. Anna laughed playfully even as her eyes darkened further, and Elsa smiled at her before her cool mouth found a freckled breast and her cool hand found its way between freckled thighs. Anna gasped, and Elsa smirked before setting up a teasing rhythm that Anna both loved and hated simultaneously.
After enduring the delicious torture for as long as she could, Anna finally broke. She wound blond hair in her fingers and gently tugged, bringing Elsa up to face her. "Please stop teasing, Elsa," Anna begged, panting into Elsa's ear as her hips tried to deepen Elsa's strokes.
Elsa responded by pulling back her fingers and kissing Anna deeply when a frustrated whine emerged. The kiss caused Anna to relax her grip on Elsa's hair, which in turn allowed Elsa to kiss her way down Anna's body as her fingers returned to work. When her mouth found Anna's sweetness, Elsa increased her fingers' depth, strength, and interval, causing Anna to fall back to the bed with a moan as the sensations overcame her. It didn't take long for those sensations to reach a crescendo, and with the surest of licks and touches, Elsa brought Anna to the satiation she craved.
Anna cried out, her back arching. Her body slowly relaxed and she fell back on the bed, her chest heaving. Elsa kissed her way back up to lie at Anna's side, and Anna smiled at her gratefully. "Thank you," Anna said sincerely, still panting slightly.
Elsa smiled back. "You are always welcome, my love," she answered, kissing Anna's cheek. Elsa glanced at the clock and frowned, kissing Anna again before reluctantly rising from the bed. Anna watched her lover go into the bathroom, and even a few seconds' glimpse of those swaying hips were enough to reboot Anna's lust. She smiled mischievously and rolled out of bed, her mind already plotting her shower ambush.
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
Elsa strode into the conference room, crisp in the uniform of the Arendellian militia, and took her unpunctual place at the conference table amongst the already-seated Generals from the other regions. The Supreme Leader of the Allied Territories, better known as Belle, sat in her usual place in the center chair of the table. None of the generals save Elsa were actually present in Arendelle; each General and Belle had their own specially-designed table that projected their holographic image around her table. Likewise Elsa's image was projected to all of the others' tables. The end result was that every member could interact and speak with every other member as if they were all in the same place, even when they were thousands of miles apart. The only thing they couldn't do was shake hands or touch one another.
"Nice of you to join us, General Elsa," Belle said pointedly.
"The Governor of Arendelle had a pressing matter she needed assistance with," Elsa said unconcernedly.
"And which matter of hers were you pressing and assisting?" Kristoff joked somewhat inappropriately. The other Generals tried to look embarrassed, but their knowing smiles betrayed the fact that the question was similar to their own lines of thought.
Elsa regarded them all coolly. "May I remind the assembled that my Intended is pregnant and prone to moodiness? I will gladly suffer the taunts and pointed remarks of people thousands of miles away rather than have the woman I live for and love be angry with me," she stated.
The other Generals shifted around a bit, thinking they had offended the infamous Ice Queen, until Belle spoke and broke the awkwardness. "You are such an excellent deflector," Belle complimented her. "But you didn't exactly deny why you were late. Where did she catch you this time?"
"The shower," Elsa admitted with a resigned sigh, and the table broke out into knowing chuckles.
"Enjoy this part of the pregnancy, Bǎihé," Fa Zhu advised gently as the mildly-teasing laugher wound down. Elsa smiled. For a person who had never really liked nicknames, she now seemed to collect them. Fa Zhu's melodious voice addressing her as "lily" was one of her favorites, though. She looked around at all of the other generals, knowing that she should be embarrassed for her tardiness or at least at the reason for her tardiness, but there was no reproach in any of the faces, and all Elsa felt was warm affection. These people had really become a part of their extended family, and from the amused, indulgent looks on their faces, they felt the same way about her and Anna. Elsa only wished that she would be able to enjoy their company in person when all of the fighting was done.
"All right, all right," Belle interrupted, causing the laughter to snuff out completely as everyone turned their attention to her. "Now that we have all of our members here we can get started. General Zhu, how are things out in California?" she asked, getting the meeting started.
"We are doing well, Leader," Fa Zhu said. "Thanks to the recruitment efforts of Captain Mulan and Captain Shang, our numbers have tripled over the last month. The new troops are being trained and organized, and when they are ready, I feel we will be able to execute our plan to attack the State's Western administration buildings. When that is accomplished, we can make serious inroads into driving them out completely."
"Excellent," Belle said. "General Kristoff, what is your progress in Multnomah?"
"Recruitment numbers are picking up, but we still only have about two thousand troops," Kristoff answered. "But, because of General Zhu's success in California, the State seems to be focusing their attention there, and they are leaving us alone. If they decided to attack us in earnest, I don't think we would be able to offer much resistance."
"Hm," Belle commented. "Well, keep up your recruitment, and if it comes to that, we can send some of Fa Zhu's troops up your way if we have to." Kristoff nodded. "Now let's move east," Belle decided. "General Goshen-Possible, what is the situation in the Rockies?"
The Rebellion's only other female general looked at Belle. "Well, officially, we the Rebellion control the entire region. All of the Enforcers have been driven out and we have set up a new territorial government in Middleton," she replied. "But, our espionage has revealed that the State has a top-secret facility buried in the bedrock of the mountains. From our infiltration and other historical records, it appears to be a nuclear shelter facility from the 20th century that the State has converted into some sort of prison. Our best guess is that it is for Extraordinary confinement and research."
"You think you've found one of their labs," Belle clarified. "Why didn't you tell us before now?"
The redheaded General, properly named Lillian but better known to friends and family as Kim, sighed. "Yes, we think we've found one, but we aren't sure," she said. "That's why I didn't tell you. I wanted to get more proof. Ronni thought that was stupid, and she made me promise to tell you."
"Well, I'm glad she did," Belle said. "That could be very useful information whether it turns out to be true or not. I'll need to thank your wife when I see her at the next Governors' meeting."
"Please don't," General Kim muttered. "I'll never hear the end of it." Belle ignored her, but the rest of the Generals cracked smiles at her mumbled plea.
"General Elsa, you're next," Belle said, moving on. "What is Arendelle's status?"
"Same as the last time," Elsa answered. "Every person of fighting age that can serve has volunteered for the militia. Everyone adores my Apprentice who is an unexpectedly good Governor, and Arendelle is a free territory. I am still vastly underqualified for this position, but there have been no Enforcers spotted for miles around, and there are no rumblings about imminent State attacks, so there have been no ill consequences as of yet. Oh, and finally, the baby is moving around and playing with her powers. She and I have been trading shimmers."
Belle smiled. Elsa was one of the proudest mothers she had ever seen, and the Ice Queen never failed to give them an update on Peanut. Belle appreciated the happy news, because the child had become as much of a symbol to the People as her mothers, and Belle wanted her healthy and growing. That, and Belle had been fiercely protective of the little Ice Princess ever since Anna had adorkably asked her to be Peanut's Pillars-Mother. "Well, that's good news on all fronts, but stop trying to get out of this job," Belle ordered. "You've come up with more than a few of our better ideas." Elsa rolled her eyes. "General Fergus, what about Dunbroch?" Belle asked, continuing around the table.
"Eh, not so well," Fergus admitted. "They haven't found the cottage yet, as you well know, but the State is beginnin' to suspect that the Rebellion High Command is in the area. We have had a major influx of Enforcers and their ilk in the last coupla weeks. They know we are ready for them, though, and they have been keepin' to the outskirts of town."
"Yes, Hacker has been keeping me apprised of the sensor readings," Belle said with concern. "We may have to plan something to force their hand up here." Only one General remained, so Belle turned to him. "Any developments in the South, General LaBouff?" she asked.
"We finally convinced the fine people of the Florida territory to join our cause," Eli answered. "Their governor is working with Eudora to make sure that we eliminate the State influence as quickly as humanly possible."
"Excellent news," Belle commented. "How is Lottie?" Belle questioned after a pause, wanting to hear news of her other expecting Philosophy Club member.
"Miserable," Eli said succinctly with a sympathetic laugh. "But Tiana has been doing her best to distract her with baby clothes and furniture. A miserable Lottie can make a lot of folks miserable, so everyone down at the Compound can't wait for the baby to arrive."
Belle nodded, happy that Lottie and Lilly Belle were doing well and sympathetic to Lottie's plight. Her own pregnancy has been miserable in its last month, and Belle knew exactly what Lottie was going through. At least Lottie and Tiana would know their daughter, Belle thought wistfully before she banished the painful memories back to their hidden corner of her mind. "Does anyone have anything else to add?" she asked, as a precursor to starting the planning part of their meeting.
Everyone looked at everyone else, and everyone shook their heads. Belle switched on the projector, and a graphic of the State appeared. "All right," she began, until the screen went blank. Belle paused, but before she could speak, Cornelius' head popped up on the projection.
"I'm sorry to interrupt, Leader," he apologized, "But State communications are going wild. There is something significant going on in Corona."
"Can you be more specific?" Belle asked.
"The State is sending in more troops," Cornelius answered. "Details are sketchy, but it appears that something happened there that caused the people of Corona to attack the stationed Enforcers."
Belle took in a sharp breath as the Generals looked around worriedly. Corona didn't have the militia or the resources to withstand an all-out State assault. "Get us as much information as you can, Hacker," Belle ordered. "And see if you can contact Blondie. We have to figure this out and how to help before the State makes examples of them all."
EEEEEEEEEEEE
Corona – Two Hours Prior
"Vannie? Where are you, kid?" an exceedingly tall and broad man with a shock of brown hair called out. A small child, with candy and other odd bits of debris stuck in her hair, turned around from the window of the ice cream shop she was longingly gazing into.
"I'm right here, Ralph," Vanellope chirped, her face falling when she saw the small breakfast sandwich and the piece of fruit the giant of a man held out. "Aw, Ralph," she whined. "Why can't I have ice cream for breakfast? It's got milk in it."
"Because you eat too much sweet stuff as it is," Ralph told her, handing her the food. "They'll take you away from me if they think I'm not bringing you up properly."
"No, they won't," Vanellope muttered, reluctantly taking a bite of the egg, cheese, and toast. "Nobody wants me but you."
Ralph paused, his heart breaking slightly at the still-obvious pain in his adopted daughter's voice. "Well, no wants me but you, so we're stuck with each other, Van," Ralph said, swinging her up and making her giggle. "And I want you to grow up big and strong. So you eat egg, cheese and fruit now, a good lunch and dinner later, and I get us some ice cream tonight. Deal?"
"Deal," Vanellope agreed with a smile, before she grew quiet and her free hand started playing with the buttons on Ralph's broken, faded coveralls. "Thank you for wanting me, Ralph, even though I'm all broken and stuff," she said in a voice that was almost too quiet to be heard.
Ralph's massive arms cuddled the tiny child protectively, and she snuggled into his embrace, smushing egg and cheese sandwich into his shirt as she did so. Ralph smiled indulgently. "You aren't broken, kid," he said emphatically but sweetly. "We've talked about this. You just have a minor glitch." Vanellope smiled and pulled back a little, taking a bite of her now sad-looking sandwich. Ralph smiled back, trying to hide his rage at the State and the way they had treated an innocent little girl. For most of his life, Ralph had been as loyal to the State as any of its citizens. Of course it had its issues, but Ralph had always thought that he lived in the greatest civilization on Earth. That was, until he had met Vanellope.
Vanellope had been born Plebian, but about six months after her birth, she started having small epileptic seizures. They were minor, and they only very slightly affected her development, but they made her imperfect in the eyes of the State. After the State's finest Doctors failed to make the seizures stop, she was deemed "unfit" to be a Plebe. Rather than trying to find a loving Proletariat person or persons to care for her, the State had merely given her some meager supplies and a bit of money before dropping her off on the streets of Corona just before her sixth birthday. Luckily, in spite of her medical condition, Vanellope was highly intelligent, and she had learned how to survive. It had been these survival skills that had led her to Ralph.
Ralph was a Builder by trade, and he had worked many construction jobs both on and off Campus, including some of the Ice Queen's buildings. He was a large machine operator, meaning he typically demolished buildings as the job started, but then switched to setting support beams and the like as the job progressed. About two jobs ago, he had finally landed a site that was close to his shack in Corona. Vanellope, naturally outgoing and curious, approached him on the site one day as he was having lunch. He had noticed the tiny black-haired waif around town, but it was only after they had started talking that he realized she actually lived in the dilapidated building he was tearing down. A shared lunch and a lot of talking later, Ralph had learned how a seven-year old had come to live by herself. They continued to share lunches as the job went on, and when the job was nearing completion, Ralph knew he couldn't leave her there. He asked if she would do him the honor of being his kid, and after a few tears and neck-strangling bear hugs, she said yes. Ralph immediately went to the nearest State welfare office and applied to be her Guardian. Since she didn't officially exist anymore, it took some legal wrangling, but she became a Citizen once more, albeit Proletariat, and she became Ralph's adopted daughter.
Ralph set Vanellope on his shoulders, and they walked down the street together, enjoying one of Ralph's rare off days. Ralph knew Vanellope was probably getting crumbs in his hair, but he didn't care; he wasn't one of the cleanest guys around anyway. He heard a squeal from above him and he looked around, finally spotting the reason. A shop was running the State news feed, and on it was information about the traitorous Rebellion. The Ice Queen was being prominently featured, and Ralph knew that was the reason for the squeal. Vanellope loved the Ice Queen. The Ice Queen was different, just like Vanellope, and Vanellope loved her for it. The Ralph of old would have been ashamed to have his daughter love a Traitor, but the Ralph who hated the State for its treatment of that same daughter was proud. He had even saved up a little money and had bought her a snowflake necklace as an adoption present. "Yeah, I see it, Van," he told her. "We can go watch for a while."
"Maybe they will show the Apprentice!" Vanellope said excitedly. "They haven't showed new stuff of her since she told the Ice Queen about their baby and rescued her. I hope she's okay. I hope the baby's okay. I bet you can see the baby now!"
Ralph chuckled. "I'm sure you can, kid," he agreed, enjoying her enthusiasm.
Ralph and Vanellope were so engrossed with the news feed and chatting with each other that they didn't notice the small group of Enforcers that were heading up the street. Speaking about any Traitors positively, especially ones as notorious as the Ice Queen and her Apprentice, was equivalent to treason, and as soon as they overheard the conversation between father and daughter, the Enforcers pounced. "You, Citizen, turn around," the Captain of the group ordered Ralph.
Ralph's chest clenched; he, like all residents of the State, knew of the increased penalties for treasonous speech, and he knew they had been caught. A few responses ran through his mind, but he could feel Vanellope shaking in fear on his shoulders, and he knew the least fuss he could make would be best. He turned around. "Yes, sir?" he asked politely and calmly.
"It seemed like you and your daughter were speaking approvingly of the Ice Queen and the Rebellion," the Captain said. "Why would loyal Citizens such as yourselves being doing such a traitorous thing?" He stepped up closer and noticed the snowflake. "And why is the little one wearing a snowflake around her neck?" he inquired further.
Ralph felt Vanellope's arms tighten around his head. She was terrified, and any emotional distress usually triggered a seizure. "I'll answer your questions in a second, sir," Ralph said. "But please step away. My daughter has a medical condition, and you are very close to triggering it."
"And why should I do that when it appears I have Traitors in my presence?" the Captain asked sneeringly.
"Because the little girl does have a medical condition and he asked you nicely," a steely new voice cut in. The Enforcers turned to see a tall, short-haired blond woman standing next to a much shorter brown-haired man wearing a cap. Ralph took the opportunity of the distraction to lift Vanellope from his shoulders to put her back in his arms. Ralph inclined his head gratefully towards the tall woman and the short man; he was going to owe Forepersons Calhoun and Felix a drink if they got out of this without being arrested.
The Captain's jaw clenched. "This is none of your business, Citizen," he said angrily.
"Probably not, but I got you to back off, didn't I?" she challenged.
The Captain huffed, embarrassed that he had been played. "Are you trying to get arrested?" he asked the blonde warningly.
"No," Calhoun said promptly. "I'm trying to prevent one of my best Builders and his little girl from being harassed by State thugs like you."
"May I remind you that I am an Enforcer?" he said through gritted teeth. "What you are saying is treason."
"It would be if you were a real Enforcer, but you aren't," Calhoun contradicted. "I've known real Enforcers. Real Enforcers protect the Citizens of the State. They don't bully little girls about wearing snowflakes around their neck."
The Enforcer's temper snapped, and within seconds he had un-holstered his weapon, stepping up to Calhoun and aiming it at the center of her forehead. "One more word, Citizen, and you will be found guilty of treason and executed for it," he threatened.
The initial confrontation between Ralph and the Enforcer had drawn a small crowd, and among the spectators were a disguised Rapunzel and Eugene. The Calhoun escalation attracted even more people, and after the drawing of the weapon drew a small gasp, that gasp called even more people over. The crowd grew large, outnumbering the Enforcers by at least double. After a few seconds in a frozen tableau of fear, the unhappy, oppressed people of Corona decided that enough was enough, and they began to taunt the Enforcers, throwing whatever they could find at the hated group and yelling insults. The disorder got the Enforcer to lower his weapon, but all of the commotion finally got to Vanellope, and her small body convulsed as a seizure overtook her.
"Aw, kid," Ralph said sadly. He tried to sneak away to give Vanellope some space and some privacy, but even with all the noise and turmoil, the Enforcers noticed. "No one gave you permission to leave, Citizen," the Captain snarled.
"But, sir, my daughter is seizing," Ralph pleaded. "I need to get her away from all this so that she can calm down."
"You and that spastic daughter of yours caused all of this," the Enforcer spat. "You will stay here."
The rage was instantaneous. No one called Vanellope names, at least not in Ralph's presence. He carefully cradled Vanellope in his left arm and grabbed the Enforcer with his right, easily lifting the man with the combined strength of his bulging muscles and the epinephrine coursing through his system. "No one calls my daughter names," Ralph growled, bodily throwing the man through the window of the shop that had been showing the State news broadcast. When the crowd and the Enforcers turned to him in shock, his arms tightened protectively but gently around Vanellope. "He called my Vannie a name," he said simply.
The crowd murmured its approval of his actions, but the Enforcers drew their weapons. "You are guilty of treason, and the penalty is death," the ranking Enforcer, a Sergeant, said, keeping her weapon trained on Ralph. "Please give the child to someone else, and prepare for your execution." The crowd gasped but then fell silent.
Ralph bowed his head, and he swallowed thickly. With the quiet calm, Vanellope's seizure activity waned, and she started to come out of it. "Ralph?" she asked dazedly. "What happened? Did I glitch?"
"Yeah, Van, the noise kind of got to you, and you glitched for a bit," Ralph answered, ignoring the weapons pointing at him in favor of having these last few moments with his daughter.
Vanellope looked past Ralph's arm to see the Enforcer lying broken and battered in the shop. "What happened, Ralph?" she asked cautiously.
"You were glitching and he called you a name," Ralph replied. "I got really angry and threw him through the window."
Vanellope processed that and noticed the Enforcers and their weapons. "And now you're in trouble for it, huh?" she guessed.
"Big trouble," Ralph confirmed.
"Are they going to arrest you for it?" Vanellope asked.
"No," Ralph said simply, and even though she was only seven, Vanellope had lived long enough in the State to understand. Her eyes filled with tears and she buried her head in his massive chest.
"But we only just got our family," she sobbed. "I can't lose you so soon."
"I'm sorry, kid," Ralph said helplessly, and he cried with her.
"Oh fuck this; I'm not going to let them kill him," Rapunzel muttered under her breath. "Let them go!" she yelled more loudly, elbowing Eugene sharply in the ribs to indicate he should yell too.
Eugene wheezed, but he got the hint. "Let them go!" he echoed loudly.
The crowd picked up their yell, and soon the entire crowd was yelling it. The Sergeant Enforcer ignored them and grabbed Ralph's arm roughly. "Put the child down," she demanded again. "Or she dies with you." Ralph shook off her grip, gave Vanellope one last hug, and then put her on the ground. He took her hand and led her to Foreperson Calhoun, who without a word took Vanellope's other hand. Ralph let go and headed back to the Enforcers. He stood in front of the wall of the building and waited silently, watching the Enforcer as she drew her weapon. "By the power allowed me by the Patricians, I hereby sentence you to death," she said, taking careful aim.
From out of nowhere, a frying pan came flying through the crowd, and it hit the back of the Enforcer's head with a resounding clang. Her skull lost the battle with the heavy iron cookware, and she went down. The remaining Enforcers turned towards the crowd, but the assailant was not obvious in the mass of humanity. "Who threw that? Tell us who threw that!" one of the Enforcers demanded. The crowd ignored the demand and pressed closer, their anger starting to overwhelm their fear thanks to the frying pan's bold inspiration. Now fearful themselves, the Enforcers gripped their weapons more tightly. "Stay back!" one of them yelled. The crowd inched closer. "Stay back, I said!" he repeated, but again the crowd advanced, intent on freeing Ralph.
Angry crowds and frightened, armed soldiers make for a volatile combination, so it was not surprising when one of the younger Enforcers panicked and stumbled, dropping his weapon. A group of people lunged at him, and terrified, he quickly recovered his weapon and indiscriminately fired into the crowd to drive them away. The other Enforcers heard the shots, and although no order to fire had been given, they followed suit, firing their weapons into the practically defenseless crowd.
The people standing in front had absolutely no chance to avoid the shots, and at least eleven of them crumpled to the ground. Some of the injuries were relatively minor, but most were fatal shots to the head, heart, or lungs. Anguished cries of pain could be heard, more often than not followed by the unnerving sounds of the gurgling blood or the rattling breath of a dying person. Some of the crowd in the back fled in fear, but ironically, those in the second row, the ones that were closest to the danger, pressed forward, trying to help those that had been wounded. Rapunzel, Eugene and Ralph were a part of this group, with Eugene and Rapunzel surging forward while Ralph, forgotten against the wall, came in from the back.
Still feeling threatened, the Enforcers fired again, but those shots would be their last, because Ralph grabbed the frying pan lying beside the still-unconscious, perhaps dead, Sergeant Enforcer and used it to render the rest of the squadron unconscious. Whether they would wake or not, Ralph didn't know, and quite honestly, he didn't care.
Rapunzel and Eugene heard the shots and instinctively dropped to the ground. When they heard the clang of Rapunzel's favorite frying pan, they looked up to see all of the Enforcers collapsing and Ralph standing behind them. The panic subsided as the crowd realized the threat had been neutralized, and Rapunzel jumped up at once to help the wounded that were lying on the ground. Eugene moved to follow, only to collapse back on to the ground with a cry of pain. "Eugene!" Rapunzel cried, dropping back down to his side at once. Seeing the hand that was clasped tightly to his side, Rapunzel gently removed it, gasping softly in horror as blood poured out of the gaping wound that cut a jagged path across his lower ribs. "Eugene, no," Rapunzel said softly.
"I'm okay, Blondie," Eugene said, trying to keep the mood light. "Just get me to a medic, and they can sew me back up."
"You'll never make it," Rapunzel stated, seeing how fast his blood was flowing out of him. She bowed her head and let the tears come to her eyes.
"No, no, Rapunzel!" Eugene said, shifting as best he could to try to get her to stop.
"I can't let you die, Eugene," Rapunzel said.
"But if you do this, then you'll die," he protested, still trying to get up. "They'll catch you."
Rapunzel stilled him by gently kissing his forehead. "Hey, it's going to be all right. The Builder took care of them," she said soothingly. She let her tears fall, and as they fell, she sang an ancient song, a spell of sorts that allowed her Extraordinary powers to manifest. Her tears absorbed into Eugene's cheek, and they travelled downward just under the surface of his skin towards his wound. A bright, healing light in the shape of a flower burst forth from the gash, and as the flower collapsed back in on itself, the blood flow stopped and the wound healed itself. Eugene took a deep breath, and sitting up, he enveloped Rapunzel in his arms, burying his head in her neck as gratitude and other emotions overcame him. Rapunzel returned the embrace, and they simply sat there together for a few moments.
When they looked up, they saw what looked to be the whole of Corona looking back at them, including Calhoun and Felix, Ralph and Vanellope, and Rapunzel's grandmother. For the most part it was shock that Rapunzel saw on their faces, except for little Vanellope. She had a look of absolute joy on her face, and she was clapping her hands excitedly. "Ralph!" she squealed. "She's an Extraordinary, too! I wonder if she's a part of the Rebellion." A pause and an even more appealing thought occurred to her. "I wonder if she knows the Ice Queen!" Vanellope said even more excitedly. "Do you?" she asked, turning to Rapunzel.
Since everyone else seemed stunned into silence, Rapunzel decided to answer. "Well, we know the Apprentice much, much better," she admitted. "But yes, we know the Ice Queen. She's one of our friends." Vanellope's mouth dropped open in delight, and Rapunzel chuckled at the expression, heartened that at least one person appreciated her powers.
The gentle chuckle roused everyone from their stupor. Rapunzel's grandmother was the first to speak. "Well, a lot of things make a lot more sense now," she admitted. She sighed and looked around. "More Enforcers will come," she stated with certainty. "Corona is no longer safe for you, my granddaughter, not even in the small way that it was. It also isn't safe for the rest of you either. All of you, even the little one, are guilty of treason. You will have to take my craft and leave at once."
"We can't do that, ma'am," Calhoun said, causing Felix and Ralph to nod in agreement. "The State is going to come down on you hard. We can't leave you and the rest of the people here to suffer."
"You can and you will," the older woman insisted. "People of Corona," she said, projecting her voice and turning to the crowd. "Our people have been killed and wounded in front of us by the State that would take what little freedom we have. Who will stand with me against them?" As one, the people put their fingers to their foreheads and their fists over their hearts. "Then so say we all, we pledge our allegiance to the Allied Territories!" she declared, and a cheer rose up from the crowd.
"Corona doesn't have the resources to fight the State, Grandmother," Rapunzel said, her voice filled with worry.
"Then send some of our allies to help us," her grandmother requested. "Go and find the massive Army in the South that the State pretends doesn't exist. It has to be the closest one to our position."
Rapunzel looked at Eugene and the rest of their group. One by one, they realized that Rapunzel's grandmother had the best idea, and without a word, Ralph, Eugene and Calhoun went to gather supplies. Rapunzel went to heal the wounded, and Felix helped. There was nothing Rapunzel could do for the dead; her Extraordinary powers were limited to healing, and resurrection was out of her reach. Vanellope stayed with Rapunzel's grandmother and peppered her with questions, finding out in short order that her name was Ella Carter, and that she could talk with birds and mice.
When the wounded had been healed and sufficient supplies had been gathered, the group said goodbye to the people of Corona and headed for the hanger that housed Ella's craft. "It was wonderful having you back, darling," Ella said, hugging Rapunzel fiercely before she boarded. "Please make sure that you come back to me."
"You make sure that you're here for me to come back to," Rapunzel replied. Her grandmother nodded, and Rapunzel walked up the gangplank. Ella stepped back, and the craft taxied and took off towards the South. Ella sighed, glad that her granddaughter was safe, but knowing there were many more difficulties ahead. She walked back to the gathered crowd, finding that most were still there. The Enforcers that Rapunzel had healed were bound, and there was a stoic peace in the faces she saw. "More Enforcers will be coming," she said calmly. "Find whatever weapons you can and prepare to fight."
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
The Generals and Belle sat tensely around the table as Cornelius searched for information. Belle's communication device sounded an alert, and she answered it quickly. "Blondie," she said in relief, "what in the Pillars' name is going on down there?"
"Corona has rebelled against the State," Rapunzel answered simply. "It's a lot to go into over on the COM, but something happened and the people had just had enough. I'll debrief you when I get to Old New Orleans."
"Why is that your current destination?" Belle asked.
"It's closest," Rapunzel replied reasonably. "And Corona needs their help. I was hoping to borrow a few of General LaBouff's troops to take back."
Belle looked at Eli and he nodded. "They'll be ready when you get there, Blondie," Belle told her.
"Thanks, Leader. Blondie out," Rapunzel said, cutting off the communication.
Belle looked around the table. "Well, ladies and gentlemen, it looks like intensive combat may have started whether we wanted it to or not. General LaBouff, please make sure those troops are ready when Blondie arrives. The rest of you, go to high alert and notify your Governors. It's time to show the State what we are made of."
EEEEEEEEE
Elsa walked into the Governor's offices, acknowledging the greetings she received as she walked up the hallway. Two of her burliest men stood outside Anna's door, and they saluted as she stood before them. "Pacha, Kronk," she said curtly, now glad more than ever that they were Anna's personal bodyguards. Kuzco's two best friends from home had joined quickly after Belle's call for revolution, and after much discussion in the Philosophy Club, they were assigned to Arendelle. After seeing their impressive size, strength and fighting skills, Elsa had assigned them to protect the Governor, and they were honored to be guarding the Apprentice. Anna was Anna though, and she drew them out of their stoically reverent shells very quickly. As most people did, they became her friends and they fell in love with her completely, and Elsa knew there was no sacrifice they would not make for Anna. "Is she in?" Elsa asked.
"Yes, General," Pacha answered immediately, opening the door for her.
Anna looked up and smiled when she saw Elsa come through the door, but her face fell as she took in Elsa's subdued demeanor. "What is it?" she asked apprehensively.
"Corona has declared independence," Elsa said. "And we are sending troops to help. It looks like the serious fighting has begun."
Anna got up from her desk and came around to Elsa. She put her arms around her Intended, and Elsa returned the embrace, feeling Peanut snuggled between them. "Maybe it's for the best, Elsa," Anna said quietly. "I know you didn't want actual warfare, and I know why, but I promise you that your dream will not come true."
"You can't promise that, Anna," Elsa said, just as quietly.
"Of course I can," Anna said with characteristic optimism, smiling as she kissed Elsa gently. Elsa, her emotions swirling like a storm inside, returned the kiss possessively, deepening it and tightening her arms around Anna. They kissed for a few moments, until Elsa pulled back a little and sighed. "I have to go back to the conference room. Belle just gave us a few minutes to tell our Governors," she said.
"Then go, love. I'll always be here," Anna said, squeezing Elsa and letting her go. Elsa managed a smile and a departing kiss on her cheek before she turned and left the room.
As the door closed, she turned to the two men. "Things are changing again," she said, and she fixed them with one of her iciest glares. "Guard her with your lives, gentlemen," she ordered.
"Until our very last breath, General," Kronk responded instantly, and Elsa nodded an acknowledgement before turning to make her way back to the conference room.