A/N: Only one more chapter to go. Wow…that's kind of amazing. Thank you so much for reading. Anyway, just a warning, there is death in this chapter.
Chapter 9 – The Fight for Freedom
Eli stepped off of his transport, looking around as all of his ships landed around him in the clearing outside Campus. Once, this property had been home to a Master Architect's burgeoning triumph, which had then caused it to be the home of her beautiful ice sculptures and first kiss. Now, though, it was just a patch of bare ground, perfect for landing ships to finish the Revolution that would set her, everyone one like her, and everyone else in the State free.
"All forces!" Eli bellowed through the communicators, "Our goal is the capture of the Great Hall and the Patricians. Focus all of your attention there. Engage the Enforcers only when necessary, and limit any activity that would put civilians in danger!" He received affirmative responses from his colonels, Tiana included, and with a final order, everyone marched towards Campus.
The emergency klaxons started as soon as the first troops breached the line separating Campus from its surrounding territory. With those alarms came well-trained Enforcers, and they didn't hesitate to open fire. The Southern Army returned fire, and soon a full-on battle had started. By common consent, Ralph and Calhoun stuck close together, taking Enforcers out as a pair. The loss of her eye had made Calhoun vulnerable from her blind side, so Ralph covered her, while at the same time, her quickness and viciousness protected the sometimes-lumbering Ralph. It was an effective partnership, and they were pushing the Enforcers back while keeping each other safe.
As a colonel, Tiana was supposed to stay back and assess the situation so that she could order the most effective attacks for her unit. Being who she was, though, that wasn't ever going to be her style, so she was right in the middle of everything, using her telekinesis to good effect as she protected herself and her troops. Lottie and Lilly Belle were never far from her mind, and the thought of disappointing either of them made her work that much harder to win. Off to her left, her mind registered the sound of a weapon discharging, and almost without thinking, her powers responded and whatever was being fired at her never found its mark. She grinned to herself and waded back into the fray. Her people followed her lead, and as one, they continued their march towards the Great Hall.
EEEEEEEEEE
"What is our status, Hacker?" Belle asked as she sat in the commander's chair.
"Computers are indicating that we have successfully evaded them, Leader," Hpacker answered, much to everyone in the craft's relief. "It appears that formation was not the returning invasion force, but merely a group out on patrol. Based on their trajectory, it seems like they were called back to Campus."
"Meaning the South has probably already gotten there," Belle hypothesized before she scowled. "Damn," she swore. "I hate being out of communications with everyone else."
"It'll be okay, Belle. We aren't that far from Campus," Anna said optimistically.
"But I still need a place to hide you both," Belle pointed out, "and until you are safe, I can't get to the Library where I belong."
"Then take us to the Library with you," Anna offered, and Belle looked at her like the redhead had made the most ridiculous statement known to man. "What?" Anna asked quizzically with a slight edge of offended attitude. "The Library is huge, there are plenty of places for Laura and me to hide, and if you are planning to be there, then I am sure it is well fortified and protected. Why is taking us with you such an idiotic idea?"
"Because the State knows that is exactly where I will go and where I will be," Belle answered. "They will send everyone there as soon as they know I am on Campus."
"Well, not everyone," Anna protested peevishly. "They know that we are heading towards the Great Hall. I'm sure they will leave some Enforcers to protect that building."
"Yes, they probably will, but that is beside the point, Ginger," Belle snapped, reverting to Anna's familiar codename in her pique. "There is no way that I will let my daughter, my Pillars-daughter and one of the other people I love most in this world take refuge in a building that I know will come under attack, even if that building is well protected. It is stupid, plain and simple, and I will not do it."
"Never stupid. Only ill-advised," Anna retorted automatically, and Belle's frown deepened.
"And that's the other side to this equation, Ginger," Belle continued. "She'd never do anything to you, but you have to realize what the Ice Queen would do to me if I took you to the Library with me. Even if absolutely nothing happened to you or Peanut, she would chastise me for years about putting you two in danger. And if something did happen, well, I'm sure my ice statue self would look lovely in the Campus square."
The last statement caught Anna off-guard, and after thinking it over, she had to admit it was absolutely true. But the way Belle had phrased it was funny to Anna, and a giggle escaped before she could stop it. Belle glowered at her even more darkly, and Anna ducked her head in embarrassment. "I'm sorry, Belle," she apologized sincerely, even if the smile was still on her face. "You are right; Elsa definitely wouldn't be pleased if you put me and Peanut in danger, and taking us to the Library would be putting us in danger. But I'm not sorry for laughing, because that was some of the best sarcasm I have heard from you in a while," Anna concluded impishly.
Belle sighed and then cracked a wry grin of her own. "It is a very good thing I love you, Anna," she said simply, and Anna grinned at her. Belle smiled back, and now confident that the tiff was over, Cornelius decided it was time to speak up. "We are landing on Campus in two minutes, Leader," he announced. "Where should I land?"
Belle thought briefly before realizing there was a good solution to her conundrum. There weren't many, but there were still some Resistance members on Campus who hadn't left or whom the State hadn't discovered. One of them would be as far away from the fighting as she could, and she had the perfect location for Anna, Laura and Peanut to hide. She was also one of the oldest members of the Rebellion, and one of the people that Belle trusted most in the world. "Land in the northwest quadrant," she decided, sending a quick message to her contact. "I know exactly where to take them." Cornelius nodded his assent, and the craft began to turn.
Within the promised two minutes, they had landed, and Belle wasted no time escorting Anna, Laura, Marshmallow and Peanut to their hiding place. "Where are we, Mama?" Laura asked Belle, looking at the surprisingly lush surroundings.
Looking around in shock, Anna answered for her Leader. "Patrician Observer's garden," she stated in apprehension, remembering the time she had been caught trespassing here. Marshmallow noticed her distress, and his hackles rose instantly.
"Yes, it is, and I see that you remember it," a new voice replied. All three of the ladies turned, and Anna gasped to see Patrician Observer behind them.
Anna started to shrink back, to get away as quickly as she could from the loathsome Patrician, but Belle put out a hand to stop her. "She's a friend, Anna," Belle said softly, soothingly. "I don't have time to explain now, but she is a friend. Please go with her, and she will protect you both." Anna nodded hesitantly, trusting Belle completely but still wary of the Patrician. Belle smiled at her and gave her a quick hug before kneeling down and enveloping Laura in a much tighter hug. "I love you more than life, my beautiful girl," she whispered in her ear. "Stay safe, and I promise to do my best to come back to you."
Tears started to roll down Laura's cheeks, and she hugged Belle back just as fiercely. "I love you, too, Mama," she said simply. Belle smiled and gave Laura one last squeeze before drawing away. She gave a quick kiss to Laura's forehead as she stood, and after standing, she gave another quick hug to Anna. She smiled at them both with hope and just a tinge of sadness before she turned back into Leader and briskly walked back to Cornelius and the waiting craft.
After they watched Belle go, Anna turned to the Patrician. "Can we trust you? Why are you helping us?" she asked bluntly.
"Yes, you can trust me, Anna," Patrician Observer stated, surprising Anna by using her preferred name. "And I am helping you because you have fascinated me from the moment you became lost in my gardens. Even with as young as you were, I knew there was something there that could change everything. You, on the other hand," she said, turning her attention to and smiling at Laura, "well, you I am helping because you are my granddaughter," she explained nonchalantly. Both Anna and Laura's mouths dropped open, and Patrician Observer chuckled. "Come," she offered, glancing at the Canadian lynx that was baring his teeth and growling softly at her. "There are snacks in the garden, and I can see there is much to explain."
EEEEEEEEEEEEEE
Fergus spied the fleet of Southern ships in the clearing, and he directed his pilots to land alongside them. After they had landed and disembarked, Fergus gave the order to attack, and with a proud cry, his men and women raised their weapons and ran toward the sound of the battle. Merida joined their cry, but that cry quickly turned into a growl as she changed into her more-powerful bear form. Bear Merida rumbled into the Campus Square, joining the fighting with obvious glee, and the rest of the Dunbroch fighters joined her. With the arrival of the first Dunbroch wave, the Rebellion had the Enforcers outnumbered, and slowly but surely, the Rebellion began to drive them back towards the Great Hall.
EEEEEEEEEEEEEE
Once the small group got further into the garden, the lush plant life gave way to a small clearing that contained a table and four chairs. Some platters of food and a few pitchers of beverages sat on the table, and after Anna and Laura had taken a seat, Patrician Observer handed each of them a plate with some cookies. Marshmallow still eyed her warily, but he took laid down by Anna's chair as his mistress asked him to do. Anna nibbled on one of her cookies to be polite, but being very hungry and finding it very delicious, the nibbles quickly turned into bites that practically swallowed the cookie whole. Patrician Observer noticed and swiftly supplemented the cookie with several of the finger sandwiches from one of the other trays. "Thank you," Anna said, and the Patrician smiled at her. Still puzzled by the un-Patrician-like behavior, Anna looked at her curiously, as she picked up one of the sandwiches. "You didn't really answer my question before," Anna stated. "Why are you doing this?"
"For the same reason as you," Patrician Observer replied. "To be free. To make sure my children and grandchildren are free," she added, glancing at Laura.
"But you are a Patrician," Anna pointed out. "Out of anyone in the State, you are the freest."
"I haven't always been a Patrician," the older woman countered. "I wasn't a Patrician when they took Adam and Aurora from me." Patrician Observer looked down to Anna's large, Peanut-filled abdomen. "You feel her every day, don't you?" she asked wistfully, and Anna nodded. "I felt both of them, every day for months, and then they were just gone. I tried to tell myself that was just the way things were, and I tried to forget them. I became the model Plebe and Physician, working harder and being better than anyone else, and eventually I became Patrician. But even that didn't make me forget, so when I became Patrician, I used my access to find my children. I found them, and I watched over them as best I could. When they were old enough to enter the breeding program, I made sure they were matched with the best that the Campus had to offer, and I awaited the birth of my grandchildren. Being Patrician Observer, I pulled rank and delivered them both. I was the first person to hold you, Laura," she admitted with a proud smile, looking over at the girl sitting quietly in her chair.
"Is that when you decided you needed to help?" Anna asked gently.
Patrician Observer shook her head ashamedly. "No," she said simply. "After their birth, I thought I was content. But then, when Laura was five, she suddenly disappeared, and I didn't know why. It wasn't very hard to figure out though, and that is what finally turned me against the State: the knowledge that my granddaughter, one of my four reasons for living, was an Extraordinary, and the system I was a part of wanted her dead. I couldn't be a loyal part of it anymore."
"Is that when you met Mama?" Laura asked interestedly.
"Yes, little one," Patrician Observer confirmed. "She had started planning as soon as you had been born, and though she was nearly impossible to trace, I knew what I was looking for, and eventually I found her. She was initially very distrustful of me, but I explained why I was meeting her, and she welcomed me into the group. From that point on, I've done whatever I could to help."
"Like what?" Laura prompted, fascinated by her grandmother's story.
"Well, like making sure your Mama went from being nearly impossible to impossible to trace," Patrician Observer offered. "Like making your Dad the Patrician's chosen Enforcer so that he would always be able to help out. And, like making sure a curious pupil and her teacher were not punished for being curious," she finished, looking at Anna.
Anna looked at her angrily at that. "But she was punished!" Anna protested. "She was removed, and we never saw her again."
"She was removed from teaching, yes, but she was not disciplined," Patrician Observer contradicted. "She remained here on Campus and was switched to a different thread."
"I'm sorry, but I don't believe you," Anna said honestly after she took a moment to consider the possibility.
"What if there was something to change your mind?" a new voice asked, and everyone turned to look.
Anna squinted, and then her eyes widened. "Miss?" she asked incredulously.
"Yes, 6561," the blond woman confirmed, and Anna remembered that slightly-exasperated, yet affectionate tone. It really was her old teacher. "But, I remember that you prefer 'Anna', and I much prefer to be called 'Leah'," Leah said with a gentle smile.
"But how?" Anna asked as the blonde came over and joined them, sitting in the chair between Anna and Patrician Observer.
"I got reassigned as a personal Assistant to a certain Patrician," Leah explained, giving the Observer a warm smile. "And, well, I kind of ended up falling in love with her and joining the Rebellion. You know how it is."
Anna grinned. "Yes, I know exactly how that is," Anna chuckled, putting her hand on Peanut.
"Which is why I was very disappointed in you when I thought you had betrayed your Ice Queen," Patrician Observer admitted, bringing the conversation back around. "But you were so adamant that you hadn't that I found myself believing in you, and the Physician restored my faith soon after."
"But if you were on our side, why did you suggest that Elsa would hurt me when she found out?" Anna demanded, remembering that day and that it had been Observer who had come up with that ridiculous plan.
"Because I knew it would fail in spectacular fashion, and it was the only way to allow your Ice Queen to find you safely," Observer replied reasonably.
Anna thought about that and realized the Patrician had a point. "Well, I never thought I would be saying this, but thank you," Anna said.
"You're welcome," Observer replied.
"Did you do anything else we should be thanking you for?" Anna asked.
"Hm," Observer pondered. "Well, I sent your Healer friend away before the others could torture her," she answered. "But I had no idea they would send her to where my granddaughter was being kept. I had no idea where Laura was being kept, period."
"I thought that Patricians knew everything about everyone?" Anna asked, puzzled.
"No," Patrician Observer stated. "We are only obligated to know everything about our own Pillars and Threads. We often collaborate, but Patricians are even more competitive and ruthless than regular Plebes, so we often work alone, too. Whomever did this was not working with me, but I have a very good idea about who thought up this plan and used it against my granddaughter. If I ever see her again, I will not be held responsible for my actions," she concluded darkly. Anna's face grew thoughtful at that statement, and Patrician Observer knew that she had offended the well-known compassionate sensibilities of the famously-kind Apprentice. "But, forgive me, I know that saying such things makes it seem as though I am not a good ally for your cause," she apologized.
Anna knew that last statement had been directed towards her. "Actually, I think you saying such things finally convinced me that you are on our side, that the Rebellion is far better for having you on our side, and I would like to be your friend if you would let me," Anna continued, smiling openly at the now-startled Patrician. She ignored her aching back and hoisted herself out of her chair and went over to Patrician Observer. "My name is Anna," she said, offering her hand, "and I am very pleased to meet you…"
"…Mal," Patrician Observer finished for her, taking her hand with a bemused smile.
"Mal," Anna concluded, shaking the hand she held as she smiled one of her widest smiles.
Laura came over then, too. "May I call you Grandma Mal?" she asked tentatively, coming to Mal's other side.
"Nothing would make me happier," Mal answered with a watery smile, and Laura smiled back. Eventually, Leah came over as well, embracing her wife, and the sweet moment lasted until Anna's grip on Mal's hand suddenly became painful. "Anna?" Mal questioned, her Physician's instincts kicking in immediately.
"It's nothing," Anna said hurriedly, trying to catch her breath. "It's just a cramp." She tried to stand up, but another cramp seized her, and she doubled over.
"Leah, please get my medical bag," Mal requested, rising instantly and guiding Anna to the chair she had just vacated. Leah nodded and disappeared.
"What's happening?" Laura asked fearfully.
"I think Miss Peanut might be trying to come into the world," Mal explained, and Anna's eyes widened.
"But she's too early!" Anna said in a slight panic.
"I know," Mal said gently. "I know." Leah came striding back into the room, medical bag in tow, and she quickly handed it off to Mal. Mal rummaged around for her tricorder, and after finding it and turning it on, made a quick pass over Anna's body. When the results came back an instant later, Mal swore softly under her breath. These were not cramps or Braxton-Hicks contractions. Anna had actually gone into labor. "It's not false labor, Anna," she told the apprehensive Apprentice. "She's coming. From my readings, she is little, but she is strong, and I have the equipment I need here. You will both be fine," Mal said reassuringly.
Anna said nothing for a few moments, but then a simple, plaintive statement emerged. "I want my Elsa," she whimpered softly.
"And we will do everything we can to get her here," Mal promised, placing a caring hand on Anna's shoulder. She turned to her wife. "Stay with her, Leah," Mal requested. "I have a message to send." Leah nodded, and Mal rose, waiting until Leah was by Anna's side before she walked quickly away from the others.
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
As the small craft descended, it was very easy to spot the myriad Rebellion ships parked in the clearing. It was also very easy to see the smoke and weapon fire from the battle in the Campus Square. "It looks like we are a little late to the party," Franny jokingly remarked, and Elsa growled.
"Stop talking and just put this fucking ship down, Goshen," the agitated Ice Queen demanded, jumping out of her seat as the ground approached.
"Easy there, Frosty Pants," Franny chastised. "We are almost down." True to her statement, the ship met the ground with a gentle thump, and it was only the door opening immediately that saved it from a cold, icy death. Elsa ran down the gangplank and looked around in frustration. She really had no idea where to go, but she had to find Anna. Deciding that the Library was the most likely place to find Belle, Elsa took off, sending an ice chute in front of her so that she could use the wind to move herself more quickly. "Show off," Franny muttered as she and Rapunzel tried to keep up.
They had to go through the Campus Square to get to the Library, but Elsa didn't let the presence of men and women fighting to the death deter from her goal. She sent out ice and snow to disarm and incapacitate any Enforcer that came her way and continued on her path. It was only a massive body stepping out in front of that her that halted her progress, and after they picked themselves off the ground, it was only the presence of a familiar, trusted face that prevented an ice and snow attack that would most likely have been lethal.
"Get out my way, Major," Elsa spat, using his State title. She had no way of knowing if Beast had revealed his true allegiances yet, and she did not want to reveal him as a traitor if he hadn't.
"No, Ice Queen," he said, and Elsa's eyes narrowed as Franny and Rapunzel came to a panting halt behind her. "I am under strict orders by my Patrician to apprehend you. You must surrender yourself and go to Patrician Observer's garden."
"And why in the Pillars' name would I do that?" Elsa mocked, "Get out of my way, or we will both regret what I will have to do," she warned.
"You will be the one to regret if you don't go, Ice Queen," Beast said earnestly. He looked around, but in spite of the Ice Queen's presence, everyone else was too busy with their own battles to be paying them much attention. He stepped up and lowered the volume of his voice. "Peanuts are being shelled early in that garden, and you have to be there," he explained, using the code phrase his mother had given him.
Elsa looked at him in disbelief for a moment before her eyes widened at the realization of what he might mean. Her baby girl, her too-little baby girl, was being born in the middle of a battle, just like in her nightmare. "You mean…?" she asked, and Beast nodded. That was all the confirmation Elsa needed, and in a second, she was gone, heading at her fastest speed towards the garden.
Franny and Rapunzel, standing behind her, overheard the brief conversation, and they were shocked when Elsa took off. "I know you people love your codes, but what in the actual fuck did that mean, Major?" Franny asked perplexedly before she thought about it. The odd, yet careful phrasing clicked for Franny about the same time it did for Rapunzel, and they both drew in a sharp breath in at the same time. "Oh, shit," Franny swore.
"Yes, shit," Beast confirmed. "I've informed Leader, but tell everyone else you see as well. We have to keep the fighting away from that garden." Rapunzel nodded her agreement, but Franny balked.
"I need to be with Freckles," she stated. "I'm her Physician. If Peanut is this early, they both need my help."
"Help is already there," Beast assured her. "She is being tended to by one of the best Physicians on Campus who fights for our cause. You can help her more by keeping her safe."
Franny didn't look pleased, but she reluctantly nodded yes. "All right," she muttered, "Let's spread the word and kick some ass, Blondie," she said, turning to Rapunzel.
"Right behind you," Rapunzel agreed with a smile, and after a quick wave goodbye, the three of them waded into the battle.
EEEEEEEEEEEEE
At about the same time that Elsa had bolted for the garden, and Franny and Rapunzel had joined the battle, the invasion force that had been sent to Dunbroch returned to Campus. All of the combatants looked up as the transports hummed overhead, and the Enforcers collectively cheered as the Rebellion collectively grimaced. It didn't take very long for the Enforcers to leave their transports, and they quickly joined the other Enforcers in the Campus Square. With their arrival, the Rebellion became outnumbered, and even with the Extraordinaries in their midst, their people began to fall as the battle exploded into almost-savage violence.
Tiana winced and coughed as the unmistakable cacophony and stench of battle filled her ears and nose. Because of her powers, she was more than holding her own, but others around her were not so lucky. Tiana had already seen the crumpled form of Big Daddy's capo Travis crumpled on the ground, and she noted the irony that he had survived the Battle of New Orleans only to perish on Campus. Another attack came, and Tiana fought the Enforcers off, smiling just a little when Naveen came up to fight at her side. In spite of his trying to become between her and Lottie, they had always been friends, and in a battle like this, it was nice to have a friend. They fought smoothly together until another battalion of Enforcers came into their space, crowding and pushing them back until they were essentially trapped. Multiple Enforcers stepped up and fired, and Tiana's powers could not respond to all of the stimuli, resulting in some of the shots getting through. Tiana collapsed on to the ground to shield herself and covered her head as her powers formed a bubble-like shield around her.
The weapons discharge finally stopped, and Tiana looked up to see that the Enforcers had moved on to other targets. She glanced at the ground to her left, and her heart broke as a broken and bloody Naveen looked up at her with unfocused eyes. She crawled over to him, cradling his head in her lap as she sobbed softly. "I'm so sorry, Playboy," she said tearfully, stroking his thick hair comfortingly. "I'm so sorry I couldn't save you."
"Not your fault, Waitress," he said, using the affectionate nickname he'd given her long ago. "There were just too many of them." Using his last bit of strength, Naveen carefully grasped Tiana's neck so she would look at him. "Promise me you won't blame yourself for this, Miss Tiana," he insisted, using her name so she would realize his seriousness.
"I can't promise that, Naveen," Tiana said truthfully.
Naveen sighed. "Then promise me you'll make it home to that beautiful lady and daughter of yours, and that they will be free when you do," he requested. "That will make this worth it."
Tiana smiled sadly. "You have yourself a deal, Playboy," she agreed, kissing his head. He smiled at her before his eyes went completely blank, and she cried just a little more when his head went limp in her lap. She carefully slid his head out of her lap and stood. Her grief and anger needed an outlet, and she found it when she spotted a wounded Calhoun and Ralph only a few meters away. The Enforcers attacking them never knew what hit them, and within seconds, they were all dead or fleeing in terror.
"Thank you, ma'am," Ralph said as he tiredly sat on the ground and pressed a massive hand to his bleeding skull. He automatically looked around for Calhoun, and without a word, she collapsed at his side, leaning her exhausted body up against his for support. He did the same against hers, and it was only by leaning on each other that they kept themselves upright.
Tiana took one look at them and realized they needed help. "Are there any medics in the vicinity?" she asked though the universal Rebellion COM link.
"Affirmative, Colonel," an unexpected, but familiar voice responded through the link.
"Blondie?" Tiana asked hesitantly. "Are you here?"
"We just got back, and I was looking for Eugene," Rapunzel explained. "I had just found him when your call came through his COM. We'll see you in a couple of minutes."
Rapunzel was as good as her word, and she and Eugene came into the clearing not long after she had ended the transmission. She took one look at the two people leaning against one another on the ground and went straight to them, singing and letting her tears fall. After the bright light had dissipated from around them, she stepped back, and a couple of seconds later, Calhoun opened her eyes.
Her hand went immediately to her eyepatch, and Calhoun sat up as she gingerly took it off. She blinked a few times before looking at Ralph. "Are we dead, Wreck-it?" Tamora asked dryly. "I can see out of an eye I don't have anymore."
"I don't know. But my head isn't bleeding anymore," Ralph offered.
Calhoun glanced up at Rapunzel. "Thank you, youngest Carter," she said sincerely. "And I'm glad you're back."
"Well, I wouldn't be if it wasn't for the Ice Queen and a lot of others," Rapunzel admitted. "And speaking of the Ice Queen, we have to help her and the Apprentice. The Apprentice has gone into labor, and we need to keep the fighting away from northwest quadrant."
That piece of news got everyone's attention. "Does El know? Someone has to tell her, right now," Tiana said urgently, until she calmed down and realized something. "Wait, if you are here, then El is too. Someone has told her, right?" she asked.
"Yes," Rapunzel confirmed. "And she is on her way."
"Good," Tiana stated, relieved.
With that issue resolved and the battle blazing around them, the assembled Rebellion members looked at one another. A determined look passed from face to face, and with a collective nod and resolute stride, they all marched back into battle.
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
The trailing transport from Dunbroch landed not long after the invasion force did, and with a roar, Elinor changed into a bear and charged out into the fray. She was soon joined by a smaller, redder bear, and together mother and daughter used the Extraordinary powers they had been genetically blessed with to thin out the Enforcer ranks and edge their people closer to freedom. Though everything about their ursine forms would indicate they were "normal" bears, apparently, they were not, because the Enforcers' weapons, whether mechanical or energy-based, had no effect on their steel-like hides. Merida, for one, lost count of the number of knives she swiped out of her backside with a massive paw.
The people they were fighting closest to were their own people, the people that had come with them from Dunbroch. Pinocchio was among their numbers, and he was doing well for a young man who had never seen battle. As the Enforcer numbers grew though, his task became increasingly more difficult, and it wasn't long before he was felled by an Enforcer's shot. Elinor growled in rage and lumbered over to him, taking out his killer with a single blow from her paw. She turned back into a human to tend to him, but much to her surprise, after just a few moments, he opened his eyes and stood up, completely healed and whole. Seeing her surprise, he smiled crookedly at her, focusing on her face to avoid looking at her naked body. "I'm my mother's son," he explained.
"I can see that," she said happily before she winked at him and went to resume her ursine form. Before her transformation was complete, though, an Enforcer aimed and fired, and her human skin was no match for the deadly projectile. She collapsed on to the ground, and with a gasp, Pinocchio caught her. The gasp caught the attention of Merida who fought her way over to them and neutralized the immediate Enforcer threat.
With the danger passed for now, Merida turned human, pushing Pinocchio away roughly and cradling her mother. "Don't go, Mum," she pleaded. "Please don't leave us."
Elinor didn't respond to Merida's pleadings, and both she and Pinocchio knew that the worst had happened. Pinocchio looked at his hands, thought about his mother, and without even really thinking about it, he placed his hands on the open wound on Elinor's bare back. He tried to imagine the body under his hands as just an extension of himself, that her wound was his wound. Miraculously, his cellular regeneration powers responded to his thoughts, and the wound began to heal itself. Pinocchio paused briefly as his joy came over him, but just as quickly, the wound started to reopen. Settling down and focusing once more, he concentrated on the wound, and this time it closed completely.
Even with the wound closed and healed, Elinor remained motionless, and both Merida and Pinocchio grew worried that Pinocchio had been too late. "Mum?" Merida asked tentatively, shaking Elinor gently.
Suddenly, Elinor took a deep breath and her eyes opened. "Merida?" she questioned. "What happened? I remember getting shot?"
"You did, Mum," Merida confirmed, "but this one here took after his own Mum and healed you. You are okay now."
Elinor looked up at Pinocchio. "Thank you, Pinocchio lad," she said emotionally. "I owe you my life."
"With all you have done for my family over the years, I would say that we are even, Lady Dunbroch," Pinocchio answered just as emotionally.
Elinor smiled at him and then sat up. "Well, then," she said crisply. "I think there is still a battle on. We still need to help." She rose and turned back into her bear form, and Merida followed suit. When they were ready, the three of them waded back into the fight.
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
Mal had come back briefly after she had transmitted her message, but after Anna's water had broken and another series of contractions had made themselves known, she had disappeared again, this time to get Anna's room ready for Peanut's imminent arrival. Leah and Laura stayed by Anna's side, and both were doing such a great job of distracting her that no one noticed the pale blonde who had slipped into the gardens.
Anna winced as another strong contraction seized her, and she took deep breaths until it had passed. When it was over, she sighed and put her hand on Peanut. "I love you more than life, my sweet girl, but you have terrible timing," Anna told her daughter. "You must take after your Mama. She's the one that managed to get me pregnant in the middle of a Revolution."
"Don't believe her, little one," Elsa protested, surprising everyone as she stepped into the clearing. "Your Mommy became pregnant at the beginning of the Revolution, and it wasn't my fault," she stated, slipping easily into her and Anna's familiar banter even with the urgency of the situation.
"How wasn't it your fault?" Anna bantered back, relief and happiness flooding through her at the sight of Elsa.
"Well, if you recall that night, your hair had no stripe after I made love to you," Elsa pointed out, slipping into the chair that Leah had silently vacated while Elsa touched the hair in question. "It was only after you made love to me that the stripe appeared. Hence, your fault, not mine," Elsa concluded.
Anna looked at her with a raised eyebrow, but Elsa just smiled cheekily. Anna's look softened, and she reached over to kiss Elsa. "I love you so much," she whispered. "And I am so glad that you are here."
"I love you too, and you know nothing could keep me away," Elsa promised, kissing her back.
Mal strode back into the clearing just as the kiss was finishing up, and seeing the Patrician, Elsa was on her feet in seconds, her hands rising automatically. An ice cage surrounded the Patrician immediately, and just a few moments later, the bars sprouted deadly ice spikes that moved closer to the Patrician as they started to contract. Seeing this, Anna awkwardly jumped up as well, tugging on Elsa's arm. "She's a friend, love," Anna insisted. "Please let her go."
"She's a Patrician!" Elsa countered, but the ice spikes stopped moving towards Mal.
"Well, yes, but she is also one of the oldest members of the Resistance, and she is Laura's grandmother," Anna explained. "Let her go."
Elsa frowned at Anna, her mind warring with itself about what she should do. A soft look from Anna made her come to her senses, though, and with a disgruntled growl, she waved the cage away. She didn't trust the Patrician, but she trusted Anna with everything that she was, and that trust made Elsa do as Anna asked.
Hoping that the danger had passed, Mal cautiously came over. "That's the second time you've saved me from her ice spikes," she said to Anna. "I'll have to find some way to properly thank you when this is all over."
Elsa bristled, but Anna stroked her arm to calm her down. "Just help us make sure that Peanut comes into this world and that she's healthy, and we'll call it even," Anna offered, and Mal smiled.
"That seems more than fair," she answered. "Speaking of Peanut, we need to get you in your room." Anna nodded, so Mal turned and went back into her residence, leaving the others to follow. Anna and Elsa went next, followed by Leah, Laura, and Marshmallow. Mal showed Anna her room and allowed Elsa to follow after, but she put her foot down when Marshmallow started to follow them both. "No cats in the delivery room," she said flatly.
"Stay out here and keep watch, sweet boy," Anna told him, and with a feline pout, he positioned himself outside the door and laid down with a sigh.
The next minutes were a flurry of activity as Anna changed into a hospital gown, and Mal hooked her and Peanut up to the monitors. As soon as she connected the fetal heart monitor, the beats came through fast and strong, and Mal smiled at her soon-to-be-mothers. "She is doing well," Mal stated. "She is small, yes, but healthy and strong. If her lungs are good, then she might not need all that much intervention when she is born."
Both Anna and Elsa were relieved, and Anna smiled at Mal. "Thank you, Mal," she said.
"You are welcome, Anna," Mal replied. "Do either of you have any questions?" Elsa frowned, having a question but not wanting to ask. Mal noticed and smirked. "You used to be much better at hiding your emotions, Ice Queen," she observed, still smirking. "What is the question that you obviously want to ask me?"
Elsa scowled at the jibe, but she answered anyway. "How long can this labor last?" she asked. "I am concerned about the battle outside."
"Hours to days," Mal replied honestly. When both Anna and Elsa winced, she offered a little more guidance. "Anna is progressing well, so I think that Peanut will be born sooner rather than later. But she is still a first baby, so it will still take several hours," she hypothesized.
Taking that in, Elsa looked at Anna and then at Mal. "Thank you for the information…Mal," she said politely, inclining her head towards the Patrician respectfully.
"You are welcome…Elsa," Mal replied, her smirk becoming an affectionate smile at Elsa's surprise before her wrist beeped and she sighed. "The other Patricians are inquiring about my whereabouts, and I will have to placate them," she explained. "I will not leave my compound, but I must attend to them. Push the call button by the bed if you need anything. I can be here in less than a minute," she instructed the women in the room. At their nods of confirmation, Mal left the room, and Anna and Elsa were left alone.
A contraction came and went, and Anna squeezed Elsa's hand tightly and breathed deeply until it passed. When it was over, Elsa looked away, and an uncharacteristic silence hung between them, causing Anna to look at Elsa in concern. "What are you thinking about, love?" she asked apprehensively. "Mal said that Peanut was going to be okay."
"I know," Elsa admitted. "But she is still here."
"Where?" Anna questioned.
"Here," Elsa repeated, her voice growing choked as the room grew cold. "Here in the middle of Campus during a battle. I left, and I didn't protect either of you, and now you both are here."
Seeing her Intended's distress, Anna reached out for Elsa instinctively, and the redhead gathered the distraught Extraordinary in her arms. "You didn't leave us, love," Anna soothed. "I stupidly sent you away to chase an impossible dream. And you are back now, protecting us both."
"But you both are still here, in the worst possible place you could be," Elsa insisted.
"So, your mission to find my mother is the only reason you are here? You would still be in Arendelle even if this battle were going on?" Anna asked pointedly.
Elsa looked up at that. "Well, no," she admitted. "I would be here leading the militia. But you would be safe in Arendelle."
"And do you really think I would have been okay being left behind?" Anna persisted. "Do you really think I wouldn't be here anyway?"
Anna's logic finally seeped into the cracks of Elsa's guilt, and her melancholy started to wane. "No, I would have asked you to stay, you might have even said yes, but then you would have still managed to find your way on one of the transports," Elsa decided, lifting her head from Anna's chest and looking at her wife-to-be with adoration and affection.
Anna smiled at Elsa and brushed a little bit of her blond hair back. "That sounds exactly like what I would have done," Anna agreed, kissing the pale forehead. "So please just let me be grateful that you are here, and that my foolish impulse didn't get you killed, okay?" she asked beseechingly. "I don't care where we are."
Elsa nodded, and Anna tightened her arms again, bringing Elsa back into her embrace. They sat in silence again, but this time it was the comfortable silence of two friends and partners. Elsa, in spite of everything, was content, and her contentment was lulling her to sleep until Anna spoke again. "You didn't find my mother, did you?" she asked in a quiet voice.
"No," Elsa admitted just as quietly. "She had been housed at that location, but she had passed many years before."
Anna sighed, and Elsa looked up to find the tears forming. "Then it was a trap," Anna said.
"Yes, it was," Elsa confirmed. "But, the mission wasn't a failure." Anna looked at her sharply, but Elsa continued. "We found an Enforcer there, an Enforcer named Sebastian. He had been your mother's best friend since childhood, he came to Campus with her, and he was with her when you were in her womb. He would have been your father if the State had let him be."
Anna considered that, and she smiled as her eyes filled with happy tears. "You found my dad," she concluded.
"Maybe not your biological one, but most definitely your real one," Elsa answered with an answering smile. "He didn't think that you would want to meet him, but I showed him a picture of Peanut. When he gets through helping us out, he wants to meet the both of you."
"And I can't wait to meet him," Anna replied happily before her face grew a little sad again. "You said his name was Sebastian. Did he know my mother's name?" she asked hesitantly.
"Ariel," Elsa replied. "And his nickname for her was Ari."
"Ariel," Anna repeated, looking down at Peanut.
Elsa caught the look, and she gently reached out to lift Anna's chin so Anna would look at her. "I can see what you're thinking, Apprentice, and I agree. Ariel is a lovely name," Elsa said tenderly. "I know she has been Peanut for so long that we haven't really discussed her name much, but I think that's because we were waiting on the right one. This is the right one."
Anna's tears started to fall then, and this time it was Elsa who reached out to comfort Anna. Anna cried for the mother she never knew, and for the daughter that would never know her grandmother. Elsa held her and soothed her, and after Anna had released her anguish, her tears stopped and she sat up again. "I would like to name her after your mother, too," Anna decided. "How does Ariel Synni Schrader sound?"
Elsa looked at her, surprised. "We haven't used our family name since the State came to power," she stated. "How did you learn it?"
"You do know that I can get Daddy Al to tell me anything, right?" Anna asked wryly. "Mama Synni, too."
"Yes, that trait does seem to run in the family," Elsa replied resignedly. She thought about Anna's choice of name and decided that it was perfect. "I think that name is wonderful," Elsa said.
"Especially since the State will no longer exist soon, I think that it is high time we took your family name back," Anna added determinedly.
"We have to win this battle first," Elsa reminded her.
"True," Anna allowed, and her face grew pensive as she studied Elsa critically.
"What?" Elsa asked uneasily.
"You shouldn't be here," Anna declared unexpectedly. "You should be out there, commanding Arendelle's troops and using your power to help them."
"I won't leave you when Peanut, um, Ariel, is coming," Elsa retorted indignantly, stumbling slightly over the new name. "You said my place is at your side, and it is, especially now."
"Under normal circumstances, yes, it would be," Anna replied. "But these aren't normal circumstances, and you heard Mal. It could be hours before she comes. Those are hours that may turn the tide of this battle. You need to be there."
"Yes, maybe I do, but you two are the most important things in my life, and I am not going to leave you," Elsa said pugnaciously. "I need to protect you both."
"We are in a well-secured compound, love," Anna argued. "It's why Belle brought us here. We will be safe here. You can do more to protect us by fighting for our future."
"But what if I don't come back?" Elsa countered.
"You will," Anna said confidently. "Your powers will keep you safe and bring you back to both of us."
"What if she comes and I am not here?" Elsa persisted, still fighting for a reason to stay. She knew Anna was right, and that she needed to join her troops, but reason and logic had no place here. Her family would always come before everything.
"I have been doing this for a long time, Ice Queen; I know how long things take when the labor accelerates, and I would be able to tell you when you should rejoin us," Mal offered from her place in the doorway.
Elsa glared at Mal for interfering and making her decision harder, but the long-time, unyielding Patrician did not cower from the frosty gaze. "Leader has informed me that the Rebellion is rapidly losing ground," Mal explained matter-of-factly. "Under the circumstances, no one would blame you if you stayed, but Anna is right; they need you more out there."
That news caused Elsa's resolve to falter, and now torn, she looked at Anna. Anna didn't say anything, instead just offering a sympathetic look in return. Elsa sighed, her indecisiveness apparent, until one more look at Anna's encouraging face pushed her towards her decision. Elsa turned away from Anna to look Mal in the eye. "Do you promise me you will do everything in your power to keep Anna and Peanut safe?" she asked, her voice as cold as her famous ice.
"Everything I possibly can," Mal promised, and Elsa could tell that she meant it.
Elsa took a deep breath and let it out slowly before she kissed Anna on the forehead. Anna responded by kissing Elsa on the lips. "We will be right here. Set us free, love," she whispered. Elsa kissed her again and then rose from the bed.
When she passed Mal on the way to the door, the Patrician took off the cuff she was wearing and handed it to Elsa. "Take this," she requested. "It will give me a way to get in contact with you very quickly. It will also get you into anywhere you need to go and won't reveal anything to the State. Patrician cuffs aren't tracked."
Elsa took the cuff and put it on. "Thank you," she said simply, and Mal nodded.
Elsa paused at the doorway and took one last look at Anna. "I love you, Apprentice," she said lovingly before she disappeared out the door.
"And I you, love," Anna replied, watching with conflicting emotions as Elsa disappeared.