A/N: Well, it is finally here. I really do want to apologize about how long it's taken. This story has suddenly been kicking my butt after two years of it coming pretty easily. I also wanted to give a special shout to Valathe. I was feeling under-motivated, and I stumbled across a recent Reddit thread about Dystopian Utopia. Those positive comments really helped, and I thank you for them. And, finally, there is a battle, so people will be dying.
Chapter 3 – The Rebellion Response
The craft carrying Rapunzel, Eugene, Felix, Calhoun, Vanellope and Ralph touched down on the Winfrey-La Bouff estate with a minimum of fanfare, and as soon as the door opened, Rapunzel was out like a shot. She spotted the couple that could only be Eli LaBouff and Eudora Winfrey, and she strode over to them. "Where are the troops for Corona?" she asked without preamble.
"Making last minute preparations in the hangar, Miss Blondie," Eudora answered genteelly. "They will be ready within the hour. In the meantime, may I suggest we get your party settled and fed? It seems to me you brought at least one person that won't be returning with you to Corona."
Rapunzel looked back at Vanellope and the rest of her group, all of whom looked like they could use a hot meal and some rest. "That sounds lovely, thank you," she said. "I'm sorry about being so curt, but the State is coming, and Corona doesn't have much to defend them."
"Understood, sugar, understood," Eudora assured Rapunzel. "But it does take a little time to get that many people organized and such, so we might as well take the opportunity to address some other needs."
Rapunzel nodded, and she glanced back at Vanellope, noting the girl seemed a little overwhelmed even from the safety of Ralph's formidable arms. "Do you have any Ice Queen stories?" she asked Eudora in a low tone. "The little girl has a seizure disorder, and it manifests if she's scared. I've told her all of mine, but Van loves the Ice Queen, and it might make her feel better."
Eudora smiled, and it lit up her eyes and face. "I have a doozy of an Ice Queen story, honey," she assured Rapunzel. "But who in your party might want to hear about the time the Ice Queen saved my life from a vicious Extraordinary who had betrayed us all?" she asked more loudly, and Vanellope perked up and sat forward in Ralph's arms. "Or how after she did that, she and my daughter bested a whole passel of Enforcers and made a game out it?"
Vanellope started wiggling, so Ralph put her down. She made a beeline for Eudora and tugged gently on her dress. "I would, ma'am," she said politely, even as her whole body trembled a little bit with the anticipation of hearing such an awesome story.
"You would?" Eudora asked, crouching down to get on Vanellope's level. Vanellope shyly nodded. "Well then, sugar, let me tell you all about it," Eudora decided, standing up and bringing Vanellope with her. When the child was comfortably settled on her hip, Eudora began the story, and the two of them turned towards the main house. The rest of the party followed, and soon all of them were seated around a huge dining room table with delicious-looking plates of food waiting for them.
After a few minutes, the door to the dining room opened, and Tiana and Lottie came in. Rapunzel jumped up from the table to greet them, and the three women hugged enthusiastically, happy to see each other in person after such a long time. Rapunzel, after asking Lottie's permission, placed her hand on Lilly Belle, and they talked for a few minutes, catching up on their lives after Campus.
After lunch, Eudora got Vanellope settled in a room near her own, and after a lengthy discussion, it was decided that Felix would be the one to stay behind to care for her. Of all their group, he was the smallest adult, and thus the least likely to be an effective fighter, so he could help out his wife and friends the most by taking care of Vanellope.
The hour passed quickly, and the troop transports were ready to go, just as Eli had promised. The group met back out at the hanger for the trip back to Corona, and they all took a few minutes to say their goodbyes. Ralph picked up Vanellope, and she wrapped her tiny arms around his massive chest. "I love you, Ralph," she said simply. "I just want to you come back."
"I love you, too, Vanellope. And I'll do my very best, kid," he promised.
Felix looked up at his very tall wife, and Calhoun looked down at her diminutive husband. "Kick some Enforcer butt, Tamora," Felix requested with pride in his eyes, still too polite to use even a mild curse word.
"Anything for you, Fix-it," she said warmly, and they smiled at one another before kissing each other deeply.
Rapunzel and Eugene watched all of the goodbyes, and turned to the couple that was standing by them. "It's been so nice to see you again," Rapunzel said sincerely to Tiana and Lottie. "Having everyone close by is probably the only thing that was good about being on Campus."
"Well, you are going to have me close by for a while," Tiana answered. "My squadron was assigned to Corona. I'm going with you."
"The hell you are," Rapunzel replied instantly. "Lilly Belle is almost here. You need to be here with Lottie."
Lottie and Tiana glanced at one another and then back at Rapunzel. "We've already talked about that, honey," Lottie said, putting her hand on her stomach. "With her powers being what they are, we figured that Tia would be of more use with you in Corona than she would be here. Lilly Belle will have a whole lifetime with her Mama."
"No," Rapunzel said firmly. "And I outrank you. I'll call Leader, your best friend the Ice Queen, whoever in the hell I need to in order to make sure you stay here." Rapunzel took a deep breath, calming herself. "I grew up without a family," she reminded them both. "I wanted one for so long, and I finally got it back when I escaped to Corona. Even though with Tiana's powers the risk is less, I am not going to risk Lilly Belle growing up without her Mama. I will not tear apart a family. Do you understand?"
"But I can help you!" Tiana protested.
"Yes, you probably could," Rapunzel allowed. "But you need to stay here to defend your wife, daughter and family."
Tiana looked at her wife. "What do you want me to do, sugar?" she asked Lottie softly.
Lottie brought both of her arms around to cradle Lilly Belle. It took her a minute, but at last she spoke. "I know this is selfish of me, but I want you here, Tia," she said, her eyes misting with the hint of tears. "I want you to be the first thing Lilly Belle sees when she opens her eyes for the first time. I want you to be able to hold her. I know I should be stronger and less selfish, but I don't want you to go."
Tiana's face softened, and she reached out to gather her wife in her arms. "Then I'll be right here, baby," she soothed as Lottie sank into her embrace.
"Good," Rapunzel said.
Lottie smiled and withdrew from Tiana's arms to give Rapunzel a hug. "Be safe, sug–" she started, before she gasped and her hand went to her stomach. Her knees buckled slightly, and Rapunzel tightened her grip to hold Lottie up. Another gasp, and fluid gushed down her legs as Lottie looked at Tiana. "Um, Tia honey, I think your daughter has decided to reward your decision," Lottie said with a small grimace. "It seems she wants to make her appearance in the world."
That statement and the obvious amniotic fluid puddle got everyone's attention. Tiana's eyes grew wide and she froze, but Eudora took over immediately. "Tiana, say your goodbyes and get your wife in the house," she ordered gently. Tiana snapped out of it at her mother's quiet words, and she quickly gave Eugene a hug before she took Lottie from Rapunzel's arms. Tiana then gave Rapunzel a hug before leading her laboring wife out of the hanger.
"Well, it looks like everyone here is needed elsewhere," Rapunzel decided. "We should let them get to it. Thank you for everything," she told Eli and Eudora.
"It was our pleasure," Eli said sincerely. Rapunzel nodded at him, Ralph and Calhoun gave Vanellope and Felix one more hug, and then the four of them boarded the nearest craft. The transports closed their doors and took off, heading in the direction of Corona as Eli and Eudora watched them go.
EEEEEEEEE
Ella Carter took a deep breath and sighed, surveying the organized chaos around her. With her family's long history of governorship, the people of Corona had automatically looked to her, and Ella had to call on every bit of herself that came from her authoritative Mother. Ella had never gotten the full story, but Mother had been some sort of Rebellion spy or agent or something, and that, coupled with being governor, had given her a military-like precision that was unmatched. She could organize and train people in what seem liked seconds, and they would follow her to the grave. "I wish you were here right now, Mother," Ella muttered wistfully.
"Don't we all, sweetie, but we don't always get what we want," a wry, very-familiar voice informed her.
Ella's head snapped up. "Bibbidi!" she chastised. "You shouldn't be out here. You could get hurt."
"I'm eighty-six, Ella," the older woman reminded her. "It's not like anyone is going to cut short my young life. And I want to face those bastards that took your Mothers and my son from us."
"But you need to be where you're safe!" Ella protested.
"Don't you presume to tell me where I need to be, Angela Margaret Carter," her Pillars-Mother warned. "I didn't take that type of crap off of Peggy and Angie, and I certainly won't take it from you."
"Yes, Bibbidi," Ella said penitently, feeling like a child even though she was in her mid-sixties.
"Good," the elderly woman answered. "Now let's get these people organized."
The two women spread themselves out amongst the crowd and got them organized, Ella using her aura of authority and Bibbidi using her aura of elderly sweetness. All of the weapons they had were distributed to the people that could use them best, and all of those not able to fight were sequestered away from the town square to keep them safe. Ella pleaded with her Pillars-Mother to stay with them, rightly pointing out that those unable to fight needed someone to guide and lead them. Bibbidi acquiesced at last, and Ella went back to the town square feeling at least a little bit better.
The silence was stifling in the square as the tiny fighting force of Corona waited for the State's response to their uprising. Nothing was heard for many long minutes, but at last the faint sound of Enforcers and their weapons marching toward the town was heard. It grew louder and louder until it was deafening, but the people of Corona stood firm and waited. Ella sent a silent prayer to her departed granddaughter. "Please hurry, Rapunzel," she whispered. "We need your help."
EEEEEEE
The transports travelled at their top speed towards Corona, but Rapunzel kept willing them to go faster. She knew the State would be arriving any minute, and if they got there too late, there wouldn't be anything that the reinforcements could do to help.
At last the fields and forests of Corona came into view, and Rapunzel plastered herself to the window to see anything that she could. As they came closer, she could see the encroaching State troops, and the size of their numbers was disheartening. She looked north to the town, and she saw the much smaller group in the town square. The group looked so small compared to the State, but looking around their transport, and knowing there were other transports, Rapunzel rallied herself. All wasn't lost. They had made it in time, and with the troops from the South, they would be able to drive the State back.
Ella heard a hum from above, and she looked up to see the transports looking for a place to land. She huffed a quick sigh of relief and went to meet them. As she waited, the transports landed and their doors opened. After the gangplanks extended, Rapunzel came out to meet her, and they shared a quick hug as the troops organized themselves. When everyone was ready, Rapunzel barked out an order, and they marched back towards the town square.
"All of the people willing and able to fight are in the square," Ella explained. "All of the others are in the governors' mansion on the outskirts of town. If things go bad, someone will need to get them out of there before the State retaliates."
"Understood," Rapunzel said. She used her communications device to signal her lieutenants, and all of her squadrons encircled the citizens of Corona. With the arrival of a trained fighting force, the Citizens felt more confident, and together they awaited the arrival of the State troops.
That arrival didn't take long, and it was heralded with the sound of cannon fire. A mortar shell dropped in the middle of the crowd, and without warning it exploded, ripping those standing nearest it to pieces. Now knowing for certain that there would be no mercy from the State, the Citizens of Corona charged, wanting to meet their fate head on rather than waiting for destruction to take them.
After the initial mortar blast, the Enforcers charged, and the Rebels were right there to meet them. Calhoun had managed to commandeer one of the largest guns, and she was strafing the Enforcer lines with a special type of maniacal glee, oblivious to the return fire that was coming her way. Ralph was holding his own, too, eschewing weapons in favor of his mammoth fists. One punch, and Enforcers were crumpling around him.
Others in Corona were not as skilled or lucky, and line-by-line they began to fall. Rapunzel did her best to heal the ones she could, but there was little she could do when Enforcer fire ripped through bodies so fast that death was nearly instantaneous. There was so much misery and torment that all Rapunzel wanted to curl into a ball and block it all out. All around her people were gasping and crying, and it took everything Rapunzel had to keep herself fighting and healing. She fired at an Enforcer, and he crumpled, allowing Rapunzel a small window of space. She took a deep breath, surveyed the battle around her and charged back into the fray.
Ella fired again, her aim as true as it had ever been, even with her aging eyesight. Mother had taught her well, and years of training were finally being put to use. She was doing a good job of thinning the Enforcer ranks around her, but she could see that it was doing little good against their overall numbers. Her people were vastly outnumbered by Enforcers, and even if they had a few Extraordinaries in their ranks, it was most likely not going to be enough. Ella, sensing an Enforcer creeping up behind her, brushed aside the pessimistic thought immediately, turned and fired. The young woman collapsed at her feet with a cry, and Ella ignored the pang in her chest as she stripped the dead soldier of her weapon.
Calhoun set her weapon down, finally out of ammunition. Rows and rows of Enforcer bodies lay before her, but Calhoun felt nothing but pride. So many people that she had known and loved had been killed or taken by the State, and it felt good to get a measure of revenge against them. Calhoun was also very much a realist, and she knew any Enforcer would kill her with no modicum of remorse. That knowledge made mowing them down even easier, because in a battle of her against them, she would play to win every time.
Calhoun popped out the clip, looking around her for any spare ammunition. A dead Enforcer not far from her had a weapon like hers, so she cautiously crept out amongst the dead, keeping her smaller weapon out and cocked in case any of these soldiers were not quite dead. When her survey only revealed Ralph standing a few feet away, she felt reasonably sure she was okay, so she knelt down and took the clip sash from the Enforcer. She clipped it around herself and stood, bringing out her smaller weapon once more. She scanned all around her for threats, but she heard a click of the weapon before she saw the shooter. Calhoun turned and fired, killing the Enforcer instantly, but it was too late. The shot was coming straight towards her face. Calhoun sighed and berated herself for being so stupid, but suddenly something heavy grabbed her and yanked her sharply, causing the shot meant for her skull to scrape just under her left eye socket. The pain was searing, and her eye went black instantly, but she was still alive. She looked around to see who had saved her, and she was unsurprised to see her former builder, Ralph. "You're bleeding pretty badly, Foreperson," he said apologetically. "I'm sorry my reaction time wasn't better."
"Shut up right now before I kick your massive ass," Calhoun ordered crossly, as she reached up to her cheek. Sighing when her hand came back covered in blood, she rummaged around in her supplies and came up with a roll of gauze. She packed the eye socket full of the absorbent material, and then wrapped a strip around her head to make a makeshift eyepatch. "You saved my life, you idiot; you never need to apologize for that," she told him firmly.
"Yes, ma'am," he answered.
Calhoun glowered. "My name is Tamora, Ralph," she said pointedly. "And any man who pulls me away from death should use it. Understand?"
Ralph smiled embarrassedly, but he nodded. "Got it," he replied.
Calhoun nodded, before wincing at the pain the nod caused. She gingerly adjusted her eyepatch and headed for cover, trying to overcome the lack of depth perception. Ralph followed behind her, and when they were safely shielded from the battle, Ralph called for help.
They waited a few minutes more, until a rustle from the bushes alerted them both. Calhoun drew her weapon, but lowered it a moment later when Eugene emerged from the foliage. "I like the new look," he said wryly. "What is it, 18th century buccaneer?"
"Fuck off, pretty boy," Calhoun shot back, irritated. "And since when did you become a medic?"
"Oh, I'm not a medic," he answered. "I'm just here to take you to the triage center."
"Ralph could have done that," Calhoun pointed out. "Why did they send you? Why didn't they just tell us where to go?"
"Listen, lady, they –and me, I might add– are just trying to help," Eugene said. "If you want to stay here and bleed to death, be my guest."
Calhoun scowled, but then relaxed her features. "Fine," she said shortly. "Please show us where the hospital tent is."
"Well, since you said the magic word," Eugene agreed. "Hey Big Guy, you might want to help her out," he said to Ralph. "She's looking pretty pale, but I know she won't take help from me." Ralph nodded and offered Calhoun his arm. She initially refused, but at Ralph's pleading look, Calhoun took his arm and they followed Eugene out of the clearing.
Ralph handed Calhoun over to the medic once they made it to the triage tent, and the young man went to work quickly. In spite of his and the other medics best efforts, though, the eye could not be saved. Calhoun was put under so the eye could be removed, and after the medic had cleaned up everything, the socket was packed with gauze, and her face was wrapped. They let Ralph into see her then, and he waited by her bedside until she started to come around.
Calhoun opened her one good eye, and the first thing she saw was Ralph looking despondent beside her. "What is it, Wreck-it?" she asked, her voice gruff from the induced sleep. "Do I look that bad?"
"They couldn't save your eye, ma'am, um, Tamora," Ralph said sadly. "I'm sorry; I should have been able to do more."
Calhoun would have slapped him if she had the strength. "I would much rather have one eye than no life, Ralph," she said crossly. "Anyway, I'll ask the youngest Carter to help me out when I, um, see her. She was healing people at the massacre. Maybe she can help me out." Ralph brightened at that statement, and Calhoun smiled briefly at him before she let herself drift back into drug-produced sleep.
EEEEEEE
Death and chaos swirled all around her, and still Ella Carter aimed and fired. She was exhausted; the few of her people that remained around her were exhausted, and when she heard the signal from the other side signaling that another squadron of Enforcers was joining the attack, Ella took a deep breath and did what she knew she had to do. "Please forgive me, Mother," she whispered, before she filled her lungs with air once more and activated her communicator. "People of Corona!" she yelled at her highest volume, calling to those around her as well as those listening on the frequency. "Retreat immediately! Those not fighting, evacuate and get yourselves to the transport ships!"
Her order carried and filtered throughout the Rebel ranks, and although it hurt all of their souls, they did as she asked. All were beginning to realize the battle was a lost cause, and they simply could not overcome the State forces. All of them also knew that to surrender to the State Enforcers was tantamount to suicide, so most fired their remaining shots to clear some space, and they ran. The destination didn't matter; everyone knew that they just had to get away from Corona and away from the State.
Rapunzel heard the order, and she cursed, but she knew that her grandmother was right. She ordered what was left of her squadron to retreat back to their transport ships, and when they were safely on their way, she sprinted for the governor's mansion. All of the children, elderly and disabled had been placed there for their own safekeeping, and she needed to help them evacuate. When she got there, she was surprised to see her grandmother's Pillars-mother had already gotten everyone organized and was beginning to lead the people to the ships from the South. "We're fine here, Boo," the sprightly older woman told Rapunzel. "I think that your fellow needs your help in the medic tent." Rapunzel nodded and ran for the tent.
When she got there, Ralph, Eugene and the medics were doing an admirable job of getting the wounded organized and evacuated. Rapunzel looked around in dismay. If they had more time, she could simply heal all of these people, and they would no longer need medical care. Eugene caught the look. "You can't heal them all, Blondie," he said. "And most of them aren't that bad."
"But Eugene!" she started to protest.
"We are ok," Eugene assured her. "Just help us get them to the ships." Rapunzel huffed impatiently, but she did as Eugene asked. With everyone's help, they got the injured people to the ships just as the other non-fighters got there, and the retreating soldiers helped everyone to get on board. So many of the Southern rebels had been killed that there was plenty of room for the evacuees, which was the only good thing about the losses they had taken. Within a few minutes, everybody was set and they were ready to take off, but as they looked around, they realized one person was missing.
"Where's Grandmother?" Rapunzel asked.
"Bobbidi is still on the battlefield, Boo," Bibbidi said with no hesitation. "She's too much like her mother. She will fight until her dying breath for what she believes in, especially if it gives the rest of us a chance to escape."
Rapunzel scowled. "To all transports, close your doors and take off immediately," she radioed the other waiting transports. To the pilot of her own, she gave a different order. "Wait ten minutes," she requested. "If I'm not back by then, take off without me." The pilot nodded.
Rapunzel looked around and saw a sea of disapproving faces. "Ella wouldn't want you to do this," Eugene said simply.
"I know," Rapunzel admitted. "But I'm going anyway." Eugene sighed and got up from his seat, followed by Ralph. "Oh, no," Rapunzel said, putting up her hand. "The two of you are staying here."
"Not on your life, Blondie," Eugene responded. "Now let's go."
They glared at each other for several seconds before Rapunzel gave up and left the transport. Ralph and Eugene followed her, and within minutes, they were back in town. The streets were teeming with Enforcers, but there were no citizens of Corona to be found, and the fighting appeared to be all but over. The three rebels looked around frantically for Ella, and they stopped in shock when they saw her, wounded and captured, but still proud, looking at the Enforcer Captain with utter contempt as she was held by another Enforcer.
"Grandmother! No!" Rapunzel cried, and before Eugene could grab her, she stupidly went racing off towards the group, firing her weapon. The Enforcers returned fire, and it was only her innate healing ability that kept her alive. The overwhelming number of Enforcers caught up to her eventually though, and she was easily captured.
Eugene gave a strangled cry and went to go after her, but he was prevented from doing so by Ralph. "Let me go!" he insisted as he struggled against the impossibly strong man.
"Getting yourself killed will not help anything," Ralph said calmly.
"But she's my wife!" Eugene countered, still struggling.
"I know," Ralph said sympathetically. "But we can't help her anymore." Eugene refused to listen and continued to struggle, so Ralph bodily picked him up and carried him back to the transport. When they were onboard, the transport took off for the South.
Ella really couldn't describe what she was feeling as she saw her foolish granddaughter racing towards the Enforcers. She was sad, horrified, proud and honored all at once, and her mind could not figure out which one of those things should take precedent. Ella was relieved when the Enforcer shots did nothing, but she was unsurprised when Rapunzel was captured and brought before the same Captain she was currently facing. "That was very, very stupid, my dear," she told her granddaughter calmly when Rapunzel stood beside her.
"I know," Rapunzel mumbled. "It seemed like a much better idea at the time."
"So you know each other," the Captain deduced after hearing their conversation.
"Yes," Ella replied evenly. "This is my granddaughter, Rapunzel. She used to be Plebeian like you, but now she is a high-ranking officer in the Rebellion. She has access to the Supreme Leader herself."
"And if she is your granddaughter and all that information is true, why would you tell us that? Wouldn't you be putting her in more danger?" the Captain asked curiously, and Rapunzel was asking herself much the same thing.
"Perhaps, but my reasoning is simple," Ella replied, looking at Rapunzel with undisguised love. "You can no longer kill her without taking her to the Patricians first. She will be safe, at least for the time being."
"Clever," the Captain commented, impressed because she was right. "I'm afraid the same can't be said for you, though." He signaled the Enforcer holding Ella, and without warning, the older woman was dragged from away from the group and unceremoniously shot in the head. Her body collapsed on the ground, and Rapunzel lunged for her, only to be stopped by the Enforcer holding her. "You had better hope she was telling the truth, Traitor," the Captain warned. The Captain started yelling orders to his people, but Rapunzel did not hear a word. All she could comprehend was the broken body of her grandmother lying in the dirt, her life's blood leaking out and soaking into the ground below. Even when the tears blurred her vision, she still continued to look, and it was only when she was roughly pulled away by the Enforcer for transport to Campus that her eyes left the body.
"What should we do about the body, Captain?" a Lieutenant Enforcer asked her superior officer after Rapunzel had been taken away.
"Drag it to the side so it doesn't get trampled on, but otherwise leave it alone," the Captain answered. "This whole town will cease to exist within the hour, anyway, so it doesn't really matter." The Lieutenant saluted and went to get a fellow Enforcer to help. When they came to get the body, though, it had disappeared. A quick glance around yielded nothing, so the Enforcer assumed that someone else had taken care of it and went about her business.
The Enforcers thoroughly checked every potential hiding place within Corona, and if they found some unlucky soul, they were dispatched much like Ella had been. After everyone had been executed, they went building by building and looted anything that might have any value to the State. When the commanding Captain was satisfied, the Enforcer troops abandoned Corona and were moved a safe distance away. The State Air Force was called, and they dropped a small but powerful bomb right in the middle of town. The bomb detonated, causing a white flash that could be seen for miles. When the light and smoke had disappeared, nothing remained of the town of Corona except smoking rubble.
EEEEEE
A few miles away from the eerily quiet desolation of the ruined Corona, a more natural quiet blanketed the Corona Municipal Memorial Cemetery. Wind rustled and birds chirped, but there was no fighting or bombs that had disturbed the sanctified ground's peace. Near the center of the property was the Carter family plot. It held a mausoleum, plus many burial plots, and it had been the resting place of the Carters of Corona for many, many years. Towards the upper left hand side, there was a simple marker, one that had "Carter" inscribed in the middle, with the names of Margaret and Angela inscribed to the left and right. It was a nice spot, right under a tree, and Ella had always planned to be buried there.
Luckily for Ella, her friends had known of her wishes, and after they had witnessed her heart-rending death, they called together their numbers to make sure that she had a proper burial. They had stolen her body right from under those abominable Enforcers' noses, and together, they had brought her body here. They gently laid her body on the grass, and some of them were tasked with guarding it. The rest began digging the grave, selecting a spot that laid Ella right by her mothers. Their paws were tiny, but they were legion, and they were working for the one they loved, making the burden of their labor inconsequential. When they were finished, the winged among them brought flowers to crown Ella's head and hide the awful wound, and after the last goodbye, she was lowered into her grave.
With reluctant hearts, Ella's friends returned the dirt to the grave, covering the body to let it begin the natural process of breaking down. When all of the dirt had been replaced, her friends said one last farewell and then scattered themselves to the wind. No one noticed their presence. No one but Ella ever did.
EEEEEE
All of the generals and governors save for Eli and Eudora sat around the conference table in stunned silence. The governors had been called in as soon as the deterioration and severity of the situation in Corona became apparent, and all of them had watched in muted horror as the Rebels had been systematically overwhelmed and slaughtered. Then, they had witnessed the capture of Rapunzel, the death of Ella Carter, and the deportation of Rapunzel to Campus before the entire town of Corona had been erased from the face of the State. The only good news had been that some of the people had escaped for the South, and everyone around the table assumed the incoming refugees had precluded Eli and Eudora from joining them.
"Now what do we do?" Elinor asked quietly, as the weight of the devastation weighed on all of their shoulders. No one answered for a long moment, but at last Fa Zhu spoke up.
"We show them that they have not truly defeated us," he offered. "Yes, we suffered a demoralizing defeat today, but that does not define who we are. We need to fight for the honor of our fallen. We are strong, and we need to show them that."
The other Generals and Governors nodded, and Fergus spoke up. "I say that we go for broke and attack Campus. If we fight these little wars all over the place, we aren't using our combined strength. We need to unite the militias, fight under the same banner and overrun the Campus."
"But that could leave our home territories vulnerable," Elsa pointed out.
"Then are you suggesting that we just sit back and wait for them to slaughter us like they did the people of Corona, Ice Queen?" Fergus challenged, his voice rising.
"No, I'm saying that there might be a better way of doing things than rushing in to our deaths," Elsa shot back, her voice dripping with ice as the air temperature dropped. "It didn't seem to work out so well for Rapunzel."
"The last thing we need is to be fighting amongst each other," a new voice announced, and the room turned to look at Eudora coming into the room with Eli. "We all know who the real enemy is, and we should be focusing on them," Eudora reminded everyone. "And, just in case y'all forgot who and what we are fighting for, I brought in a little something to cheer everyone up," she finished, stepping out from behind Eli to reveal a small cloth-covered bundle. Eudora peeled back the blanket to reveal a reddish-faced newborn with a tuft of dark curls on her forehead. "Meet Lilly Belle," she requested proudly.
The sweet baby's face did wonders for everyone's spirits, and even after Tiana had come to fetch her, the conversation was now much more civil. A few items were discussed further, but soon Belle could see the fatigue in everyone's faces. "Go home and get some rest, everyone," she ordered. "There is not much more we can do today, anyway. I will see all of the generals at 07:00 tomorrow." She ended her connection, and one-by-one, the other generals and governors followed suit.
After all of the holograms had disappeared, Elsa and Anna were left alone in their conference room in Arendelle. Elsa offered her hand to Anna to help her up. "Time for you and Peanut to get some rest," Elsa decided.
Anna took Elsa's hand and tried to stand, but as hard as she tried, she could not get up out of the seat. "I'm stuck," Anna said at last.
Elsa knelt down to see what the problem was, and her eyes widened. "It's ice," she realized. "You are frozen to the seat. It wasn't me, so it must have been Peanut. She must have felt all of the negative emotion, and her powers responded to it."
"Well, that's okay; you can just unfreeze it," Anna responded.
"No, I can't," Elsa disagreed. "I don't know how. If these were my powers, sure, it would be easy. But these are hers, and they are different from mine."
"Then I'm stuck here?" Anna asked in dismay.
Elsa thought for a second. "There might be a way," she replied. "Love makes the snow and ice go away. Maybe if Peanut feels loved, the ice will melt." Deciding this was the best idea she had, Elsa shifted slightly and brought her lips as close to Peanut as she could. To Anna's surprise, she started singing softly.
"Baby mine, don't you cry; Baby mine, dry your eyes; Rest your head close to my heart, never to part, baby of mine," she sang, as Anna sat enchanted. "From your head down to your toes, you're so sweet, all heaven knows. You are very precious to me, cute as can be, baby of mine…baby of mine." Elsa repeated the verses as she gently embraced Anna and Peanut, and she could see the water dripping down from the bottom of the chair. When Elsa had finished the second verse again, she kissed Peanut's bump. "I think you will be able to move now," she said, looking up at Anna.
"I don't think I want to," Anna answered, her fingers finding their way down to Elsa's hair to play with the soft strands. "I think I want to stay right here forever, listening to you sing beautifully to our baby as you lovingly snuggle us both."
Elsa smiled, a feat she didn't think she would be able to accomplish after a day like today. "Well, if you allow me to take you both home, feed you and put you to bed, then I promise I will cuddle and sing you both to sleep tonight," Elsa promised.
"You have a deal, love," Anna said, reaching down to kiss Elsa. After the kiss ended, Elsa got to her feet, helped Anna to hers, and the three of them gladly left the melancholy of the conference room for the warmth of their home.