A/N: Wow, I really can't believe this is done. Thank you so much for everyone who has read this trilogy over the last few years. If you like this universe, I do have plans for a couple of short stories, but I am not sure when they might be coming out.
Chapter 10 – The Final Push
Elsa stepped out from Patrician Observer's compound, taking a deep breath as she surveyed the smoke and chaos coming from the Campus Square. Very little of Elsa wanted to be away from Anna as Ariel was being born, but the small sliver of her rationality that remained knew that she had to be part of this battle to ensure the safety of them both. She let out her breath, and then set out on a dead run, willing her reluctant feet to take her into war.
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
Kristoff clutched the jump handle of the transport, his mind wavering between wanting the craft to land more quickly and wanting it to stay in the air forever. It was clear from their vantage point that the Rebellion was in desperate need of the Arendelle militia's help, but Kristoff did not want to be the one to lead them into battle. These were the Ice Queen's people, through and through, and she was the one they needed to lead them. As the transport hit the ground, however, he put all of these thoughts out of his mind, ready to be the best commander that he could possibly be. He tensed as the door opened, ready to call out his orders, only to have another authoritative voice ring out over his own. "Soldiers of Arendelle!" Elsa bellowed, "The Rebellion needs your help. Not only that, I need your help. My daughter is being born only meters away, and she and the Governor needs to be protected. Disembark immediately and engage!"
At the sound of their General's voice informing them that their treasured Peanut was arriving, and that their beloved Governor needed their defense, the militia of Arendelle sent up a resolute roar in their transport ships and continued to roar as they left them, cutting down any challengers in their path as they made their way towards the "Campus Square. Their roar caught the attention of the exhausted Rebellion and advancing Enforcers alike, and the whole of the Square turned in their direction. Their comrades cheered while the Enforcers attacked, and soon weapons clashed as snow, ice and blood swirled around them.
EEEEEEEEEEE
Anna watched her monitors listlessly, her mind elsewhere as she monitored Ariel's vital signs. Mal had been coming and going, but Leah or Laura, sometimes both, had remained steadfastly at her side. One of them, Anna surmised it was probably Laura, had even let Marshmallow in for additional comfort, and now the contented cat lay snuggled up to her side, not even flinching when she grabbed his fur during a contraction. She stroked his head, and as he purred, Anna let a small smile cross her face. She really couldn't wait until she, Elsa, Ariel and their cats were home and together, and Marshmallow's purring gave her a glimpse of that hoped-for future.
The monitor peeped again, and Anna sighed as her happy reverie was broken. She missed Elsa; oh how she missed Elsa, but she did not regret telling her Intended to join the battle. The Rebellion could win with Elsa and her powers out there helping them, and it would have been selfish of Anna to keep her. "Miss Elsa will be back," Laura said confidently, noting the sigh and the sad look to Anna's face.
Anna looked up and smiled at her young companion. "I know she will be," Anna assured her. "I just miss not having her with me right now."
"Well, she might be back sooner rather than later," Mal announced, coming into the room. "The reports are coming in that the Arendelle militia has landed and with the help of their General are making progress. The tide may be turning." She looked at the cat snuggled up next to Anna and frowned. "How in the Pillars' name did he get in here?" she demanded. "I've already thrown him out twice." When both her wife and her granddaughter refused to meet her gaze, she sighed. "When the contractions get closer together, he needs to leave. Is that understood?" Mal stated, looking pointedly at everyone.
"Yes, Grandma Mal," Laura promised.
"Of course, sweetie," Leah said, echoing Laura's sentiment.
Mal glared at them both a bit more before her face relaxed and she went to check Anna and Ariel's monitors. "I'll believe it when the time comes," she muttered, causing Anna to chuckle.
"Thank you for letting him be in here," Anna told Mal sincerely. "He's helping a lot."
"Yes, tremendously so," Mal quipped as Marshmallow glowered at her and growled under his breath as she got closer to Anna.
Anna blushed in embarrassment at her cat's actions. "Be good, sweet boy," she admonished, tapping his nose lightly. "She's a friend." Marshmallow huffed, but he did as she asked, his glower disappearing and his growl fading away into silence. Anna stroked his head in thanks before she turned back to Mal. "How are we doing?" Anna asked.
"Everything is progressing well," Mal answered, "but we still have some time. There is also one anomalous reading that I am getting that is concerning me. I would put it down to a faulty sensor, but I have changed the probe three times."
"What reading is that?" Anna asked, suddenly concerned herself.
"Fetal body temperature," Mal answered. "It is far too low. I know who her other mother is, but the readings are too abnormal for that to explain everything."
"Where did you put the probe?" Anna inquired, and Mal pointed it out. Much to her surprise, Anna relaxed and smiled. Seeing the puzzlement in Mal's eyes, Anna started talking. "That's where Peanut's hand is," Anna explained. "She's playing with her powers, seeing if she can find her Mama so they can play together. They traded shimmers and played together every night before Elsa went away to find my mother. Peanut, um Ariel, is trying to continue their game. She'll settle down after a while."
Mal considered that and moved her probe. Just as could be expected, the temperature went up immediately, and Mal smirked. "Extraordinary indeed," she murmured admiringly. "I hope you are prepared for what you are getting into," she told Anna wryly.
"We're not," Anna replied cheerfully. "But Elsa and I will do our best together."
"I'm sure you will," Mal replied warmly. After one more look at the monitors, she turned to leave again. "I have to check in," she said. "I will be back soon." Anna, Laura and Leah nodded, and Mal exited the room.
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
Franny was tired; that was the first and pretty much only thing that she could focus on as her body mechanically kept fighting Enforcers. Never in her life could she remember being this exhausted, not even back when she was in the Medical Academy and was pulling back-to-back shifts. Franny threw another punch at an Enforcer's head, and with that plasma-filled swing, the woman went down and stayed down. Franny dropped onto the ground with her, and her head drooped towards her knees. A loud cheer caused her to look up, and she sighed in relief as the Arendellian militia and a certain Ice Queen charged into the Campus Square. "Excellent timing, Frosty Pants," she exhaled gratefully, so tired she neglected to realize that Elsa shouldn't have been there.
Franny rested on the ground for a few minutes more, regaining her stamina as the fighting continued on around her. Finally feeling rested, she shifted to her knees to get up, only to have a hand stuck in her face as a teasing voice reached her ears. "Really, Kigo?" Lilly jibed. "We are fighting for the freedom of our People, and you are resting?"
"Oh, piss off, Shego," Franny grumbled as Lilly pulled her up. "I've been fighting for the last two hours. What took you assholes so long to get here?"
"Middleton is a considerable distance away, Kigo," Mim chimed in as she also helped Franny to her feet. "Science had progressed far, but not so far we can break the laws of physics."
"Excuses, excuses, Migo," Franny shot back.
She smiled at her sisters, and they smiled back until Mim suddenly wrapped Franny up in a bone-crushing bear hug. "Don't ever scare us like that again, Kigo," she warned, obviously fighting back tears. "We saw you on the ground, and we thought we were too late."
Franny hugged her sister back just as tightly. "I'll try," she promised, as Lilly came up and hugged her other side. They stayed like that until Franny's cantankerous side emerged and she began to squirm. "All right, all right, enough," she declared. "I was tired, not dead. It takes a lot more than some of these punk Enforcers to kill me. Speaking of which…" she trailed off, and Mim and Lilly looked at her. After recognizing the wicked look on her face, they smirked back, waiting for the rest of the information. "…there is an Enforcer that sucker punched me when I wouldn't tell him anything about where Freckles was hiding. Wanna help me find him and return the favor?" Franny asked her sisters.
Mim and Lilly grinned. "We would be delighted," Mim said, mimicking their many-greats Grandnana in one of her more formal moods. Lilly nodded her assent, and together the Goshen-Possible women rejoined he battle.
With the arrival of Arendelle and Middleton, the battle at last began to shift in the Rebellion's favor. The militias of both territories were large, but it wasn't just the manpower that was turning the tide. With their arrival came seven more Extraordinaries, including three more green plasma-wielders, a boy who could fly, two individuals who could talk to various species of animals, and a powerful ice manipulator who was desperate to get back to her Intended for the birth of their daughter. The limited number of Enforcers left had a formidable challenge against the onslaught, and once again, the Rebellion began to advance towards the Great Hall.
Franny, Lilly and Mim stalked through the Enforcers, looking for the one particular Enforcer that Franny had a score to settle with. His pompous, preening form wasn't very hard to find, and after the three sisters had dispatched the Enforcers they were dealing with at the present, they marched over to him. Franny tapped him on the shoulder, causing him to turn around, and she let the full force of her plasma-powered fist land right in his face. "That's for the sucker punch, you pompous dickhead," she growled as he fell to the ground.
"My face!" he cried, holding the nose that was spurting blood.
"You are lucky it was just your face," Franny informed him as she turned her back on him in disgust.
The Enforcer might have been vain and lacking in intellectualism, but he had become a Plebe, and subsequently an Enforcer officer, for a reason. He remembered Franny and her insults, and coupled with the indignity of the punch she had just landed on his beautiful face, his pride decided that something had to be done. He wiped his nose and got up, letting out a snarl before he jumped at Franny and took the legs out from under her. Franny gave a yelp of surprise, but as he started to kick and bite at her, her instincts kicked in, and she gave as good as she got, starting the fight in earnest.
Franny's right fist caused the burly Enforcer's head to snap back and a cut to open up above his eye, but his elbow caught her in the ribs, and she wheezed, giving him the upper hand for the moment. He took it and put her in a headlock, cutting off her oxygen. Not bothering to claw at his arm, she went straight for his scrotum, kneeing him so hard in his testicles that he nearly threw up. That caused the arm to loosen, and she flipped him over her head so that he landed with a thud on his back. When he landed, he lashed out with his leg, catching Franny in the kneecap and making her tumble onto the ground with him. Franny spat on the ground in disgust and vaulted herself over to him so that she could continue to pummel him.
"Should we help Kigo out?" Lilly whispered to Mim as they watched their sister viciously wrestle with the large Enforcer.
"She'd never forgive us if we got into the middle of one of her fights, Shego," Mim replied.
"But she's kind of getting her ass kicked," Lilly pointed out, seeing the blood spurt out from her sister's mouth.
"Nah, she holding her own," Mim disagreed as the Enforcer suddenly howled in pain.
"Mom and Mama will never forgive us if she comes back permanently hurt," Lilly argued. "I'd much rather have Kigo pissed off at us than either of our moms."
After a moment to ponder, Mim realized that Lilly's argument made a lot of sense. "You're right," Mim decided succinctly. Lilly nodded, and by common, unspoken consent, they both moved into the fight. With all three Extraordinaries fighting him, the Enforcer was completely outmatched in both strength and skill, and within just a few minutes, he was unconscious on the ground.
"I didn't ask for your two's help," Franny ground out from between her clenched teeth, feeling around with her tongue to see if she had any teeth missing.
"Well, maybe not, but you asked us to come along and help you find him," Lilly reminded her. "The helping you out in the fight was pretty much implied." When Franny started to protest, Lilly interrupted her. "Shut up, Kigo," she said bluntly. "You know Mom and Mama would kill us if you got hurt and we did nothing about it. We're your sisters, and we have to look out for you, you stubborn pain in our ass."
Franny raised a challenging eyebrow, and Lilly glared back at her. The standoff lasted until Franny cracked a wry, but tired, grin. "Yeah, Mom and Mama would have totally kicked your asses," she confirmed, chucking. "Help me up?" she asked nonchalantly. Lilly sighed but then smiled, offering her sister her hand. Mim did the same, and after they had hauled Franny to her feet, the three of them went off in search of more trouble.
EEEEEEEEEEEE
Elsa flicked her wrist, sending more incapacitating snowballs towards the heads of attacking Enforcers. With what she had accomplished in the Battle of Arendelle, she knew she could take out all of these Enforcers at will, and she had enough pent up emotion to generate that much power. But, her people and those from other territories were scattered among the Enforcers, and she couldn't risk sending out an indiscriminate ice wave, even if it would get her back to Anna and Ariel sooner. She sighed and flicked her wrist again, so caught up in her thoughts that she didn't notice someone sidling up to her.
Without warning, one of her own snowballs reversed course and smacked her square in the face, and Elsa sputtered as she wiped snow from her eyes and mouth. Snapping instantly back into the Ice Queen, she spun around and raised her hands, only to drop them when twinkling eyes and a dimple teased her from a few paces away. "You've really got to get your head in the game, El," Tiana admonished with a chiding look. "What if I had been someone dangerous?"
"None of these idiots can move things with the power of their minds, Tee," Elsa pointed out with a huff.
"Not the point, sugar," Tiana retorted.
"Then what is your point, Tee?" Elsa asked in exasperation, snapping her wrist and sending off a random snowball in her frustration.
"That you shouldn't be here, Elsa," Tiana replied sternly, and Elsa stopped short, knowing Tiana was serious if she had used Elsa's full name.
"I don't want to be, Tee," Elsa admitted, "but Anna sent me away, and she is right. Ariel's labor could take hours, and the Rebellion needs me out here."
"Ariel?" Tiana questioned, her stern look softening into one of questioning delight.
Elsa smiled and blushed just a little at her friend's teasing inquiry. "We didn't find Anna's mother, but we did find out about her. Her name was Ariel, so that's what we decided to call Peanut," she explained.
"I think it's lovely," Tiana replied sincerely.
"Thanks, Tee," Elsa said warmly.
"But," Tiana continued, "I reiterate my position that you shouldn't be out here, El. Arendelle and Middleton have finally arrived, and we are doing better. You need to go back to Anna now."
"I will," Elsa promised, "but not until I get the signal. See this?" she asked, raising her arm and showing her cuff. "The doctor in charge of Anna's care gave it to me. She is going to contact me to come back when Anna is close to giving birth. As soon as I get that call, regardless of where I am or what I am doing, I am going to leave immediately." Tiana didn't look convinced, so Elsa decided to offer her a deal. "What if you stayed with me, and we fought together?" Elsa offered with a sly grin. "We can be more successful together, you could make sure that I stay safe, and you can make me leave as soon as I get the call."
Tiana pretended to consider. "We do work well together," she allowed with an answering grin. "And someone needs to keep your stubborn self out of trouble. You have a deal, Ice Queen," Tiana concluded.
Elsa smiled, happy to have Tiana by her side if she had to be away from Anna. "Shall we then?" she asked. Tiana laughed and nodded as another squadron of Enforcers came their way.
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
Belle watched her monitors intently, her confidence growing as she saw the progress her People were making. Even with as large as the State invasion force had been, it was smaller than the combined forces of Arendelle and Middleton. Combined with the fact that most of the State's forces were exhausted and her troops were fresh, Belle could at last visualize the capture of the Great Hall and the Patricians. With that capture, she and the People would finally be free. "Open the COM," she requested of Cornelius, and he nodded with a small smile. When the link was open, Belle spoke. "Generals of the Rebellion!" she said. "The State is faltering, and we have the means to end this once and for all. Advance towards the Great Hall and capture it. Make sure none of the Patricians escape."
A chorus of affirmative responses answered her, and after her orders had been relayed to the troops, a loud cheer went up that Belle and Cornelius could hear through the COM link. They both smiled, and Belle settled back down in her chair behind her monitors, at long last feeling more hope than fear.
EEEEEEEEEEEEE
"They really do kick ass together, don't they?" Franny said to Lilly and Mim as they watched Elsa and Tiana expertly incapacitate a squadron of Enforcers in a very little amount of time with what seemed like a very little amount of effort.
"I wouldn't want to be fighting against them," Mim agreed.
"It looks like those guys don't want to be, either," Lilly observed wryly, watching the remaining Enforcers turn tail the other way. A direction which, much to the three sisters' delight, happened to turn the State goons right into their path.
"Hello, boys," Franny drawled, and the already-panicked soldiers came to a halt. Seeing the green-glowing fists in front of them and knowing there was ice, snow and telekinesis behind them, they gave up, dropping their weapons and kneeling on the ground. "Spoilsports," Franny grumbled, as Lilly and Mim went to cuff them.
"Annoyed that you can't beat someone up, Goshen?" Tiana teased as she and Elsa came up. Franny scowled, but Tiana cut her off before she could retort. "What happened to you, honey?" she asked, noting the cuts and bruises that decorated Franny's skin. "You look like you got into a bar brawl."
"She pretty much did," Lilly confirmed, and Elsa chuckled with just a hint of mockery.
"Stuff it, Frosty Pants," Franny ordered shortly. When Elsa just chuckled harder, Franny's scowl got deeper until she begrudgingly smirked back. "Yeah, yeah," she said, acknowledging the teasing. "But if you don't stop, I'll tell Freckles you were making fun of me," she warned.
That got Elsa to stop. "No need to play dirty, Franny," she said, a smirk on her face.
"I am still in awe that Kigo lets anyone but our moms call her 'Franny'," Mim whispered to Lilly.
"Well, she gets to call the Ice Queen 'Frosty Pants', apparently," Lilly answered. "Seems like a fair trade off." Mim, after a moment's consideration, nodded.
"Speaking of Freckles," Franny said abruptly, putting their side conversation to an end, "what the fuck are you doing here? Beast told us she's giving birth!"
"I don't want to be here, not really," Elsa said immediately, stilling some of Franny's outrage. "But the labor can take a while, and Anna kicked me out. She said I could do more good here."
"Well, yeah, maybe you can," Franny replied, still pissed but less so when she found out Freckles had a hand in this. "But the love of your life is giving birth to your daughter. You shouldn't be here, Frosty Pants," she growled.
"I've already tried to tell her," Tiana cut in with a sigh. "But she's supposed to be contacted on her cuff, and when she is, she has promised me she will leave immediately."
"Cuff?" Franny questioned. "She hasn't had a cuff in months."
"Anna's doctor gave it to me," Elsa supplied, lifting her arm so the others could see it.
Franny looked at the cuff critically. "That's a Patrician cuff," she announced after she had examined it. "What are you doing with a Patrician's cuff?"
"The doctor gave to me. That's all I know," Elsa lied. It wasn't the time to try to explain Patrician Observer's role in the Revolution.
Franny didn't look convinced of Elsa's answer, but she let it drop for now. They all stood in silence for a few moments until Lilly noticed something. "Are those things supposed to blink red like that?" she asked quizzically, her Proletariat status giving her little experience with the cuffs.
"Only when you are being contacted," Elsa stated, before her eyes grew wide in realization. Without even bothering to answer it, she turned around and took off, much to the satisfaction of the people she was with.
"About time," Tiana commented in relief. "I knew she was as good as her word."
"Of course she was," Franny answered unconcernedly. "She's the Ice Queen, and this was about Freckles. Now, ladies…" she began, changing the subject and getting everyone's attention. "…I heard from my General that we are supposed to be marching towards the Great Hall. Who wants to make sure Peanut is born into a free society?" she asked. Smirks and nods greeted her inquiry, so off they went, with Tiana making one small correction.
"Ariel," she said with a smile as they walked. "Peanut's name is going to be Ariel."
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
Elsa rushed breathlessly into Patrician Observer's compound, her mind frantically trying to remember where Anna was. Usually, her memory was infallible, but the stress of the battle, along with the stress of her separation from Anna, was making her memory shoddy for the first time in her life. It was also making her careless, and rather slipping in unnoticed like she always did, Elsa ended up triggering the silent alarm. Within seconds, an electronic cage trapped her in the hallway, but before Elsa could obliterate it, Patrician Observer appeared.
"Calm yourself, child," Mal soothed as she deactivated the lasers. "Anna is fine. Your daughter is fine. Your large feline is a bit disgruntled because I had to lock him in a room, but he will be fine."
The absurdity of the Patrician's last statement was enough to settle Elsa's panic and bring her back to herself. "And why did you have to lock Marshmallow in a room?" Elsa asked hesitantly as they started walking down the hall.
"He simply refused to leave Anna's side," Mal answered. "She's dilated now, and the pushing will begin shortly. He couldn't be there anymore."
"Well, thank you for letting him stay as long as he could," Elsa answered absentmindedly. "Is it really time?" she asked with apprehensive anticipation.
"It is," Mal confirmed. "Which you would have known had you actually answered your cuff."
Elsa blushed a bit as she looked down at the still-blinking device. "Yes, I probably would have," she allowed. She took it off and handed it back to Mal, who much to her surprise, threw it away.
"Now that you are here, I have no more need of it. And, in a very little amount of time, no one shall have any more need of them," she said confidently. She answered Elsa's smile with one of her own before she pushed a button on the panel before her. The door slid open, and Elsa nearly cried in relief when she saw Anna. "And here we are," she concluded.
"Elsa!" Anna said gratefully, and Elsa nearly tripped in her haste to get to the bed.
Leah took this as her cue to leave, and she gave her wife a small kiss on the cheek as she left. "Good luck, honey," she told Mal softly. "We'll be waiting for news." Mal gave her a kiss back and Leah smiled at her as she left.
As soon as her wife left, Mal snapped into Physician mode immediately. "Your baby is premature, and we need to keep contaminants to a minimum. Please scrub up well in the sink with hot water and soap. When you are done, gowns, gloves and masks are to your right," she ordered Elsa, and Elsa reluctantly left Anna to do as she was asked. When she was finished and dressed, she returned, and Mal had a new request. "Help Anna into a sitting position, then help her move forward on the bed. You will need to get behind her so you can cradle her as she leans against you," she said. Anna and Elsa once again did as they were told, and when they were in place, Mal carefully grasped Anna's feet and placed them in the stirrups. After a quick examination to ensure Anna's readiness, Mal gave one final set of instructions. "Anna, when you feel a contraction, don't try to fight it. Go with it, breathe and push. Elsa, hold on to her, but not too tightly. Cradle her, keep talking to her and comfort her, and if she starts crushing something with her grip or starts calling you names, smile and go with it, because this really is all your fault, regardless of your earlier protestations," she declared. Just as she had hoped, the last line got a laugh from her two agitated patients, and some of the nervous tension was broken.
Anna snuggled back into Elsa in contentment, even with the pain and the pressure that was currently wracking her lower body. Elsa tightened her grip, only slightly in consideration of Mal's orders, and kissed Anna on her temple. "You are so beautiful, Apprentice," she whispered, using her fingertips to cool Anna's sweaty forehead. "Thank you so much for being the mother of my child."
"Thank you for loving me," Anna replied, returning the kiss to Elsa's mask-covered cheek. "Thank you for giving me a family."
Another contraction tore through her before she could say more, and Elsa's own body ached at her love's obvious pain. "You need to breathe, my love," she reminded Anna, only to be met with a glare.
"And you need to be the one to carry next time," Anna retorted breathlessly, causing Mal to chuckle.
"That was good, Anna," she encouraged, her amusement coming through in her voice. "Keep pushing just like that. Your Intended is right, though; focus a little more on your breathing."
Anna glared at Mal too, briefly, but then her face softened. "I'll try," she promised. More contractions came and went, and Anna kept her promise, focusing on her breathing even as she pushed. Elsa did what she was asked as well, holding Anna and whispering words of encouragement, even as her usually-sweet partner left compression bruises on her arms and cursed like one of the Proletariat. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity of contractions, breathing and pushing, Mal's voice grew excited.
"She's crowning!" the Physician announced. "Anna, when you feel the next contraction, I need you to take a very deep breath and push as hard as you can."
Anna nodded weakly, and Elsa kissed her head once more. The next contraction hit, and Anna took a breath and pushed harder than she had ever done in her life, sustaining it even as the worst pain she had ever felt tore through her back and abdomen. Then, without warning, the unbearable pain and pressure were gone, and Mal was grasping a tiny blood and mucus covered human in her gloved hands.
"Your baby girl!" the Patrician said proudly. "I need you to breathe for me, little one. That's the most important thing now. Show me those tiny lungs of yours work," she encouraged the baby as she cut the cord and took Ariel over to the examination table.
Elsa's heart seized up in fear as memories of the tiny, unbreathing body from her nightmares swam into her vision. Anna felt the body behind her stiffen and grow cold, and in spite of her exhaustion, she turned to face Elsa. "She'll be all right, love," she whispered with fierce determination. "No child of ours will ever give up."
Just then, as if confirming her mother's proclamation, a very loud and indignant cry emanated from the examination table, and the two anxious mothers looked over in hope as Mal outright laughed in delight. "That's what I wanted to hear, little one," Mal congratulated the infant. "Not only do those tiny lungs work, they are strong. Well done, little miss." Knowing Anna wanted to hold her child, Mal worked fast, cleaning and bundling her up with efficient precision. Just as the Patrician had predicted, Ariel was small, but her loud cries and the preliminary results from the probes indicated she was very healthy for her age. She would have to be kept in the hospital for a few days as a precaution, but she would be going home with her mothers very soon. "And here she is," Mal declared, handing Ariel to Anna with an affectionate smile. "All 2.1 kilograms and 33 centimeters of her." When Ariel was placed in her mother's arms, both Anna and Elsa completely forgot the Physician was there, so Mal smiled at them all indulgently and continued her afterbirth medical procedures, stepping out of the room briefly to call for Leah.
"Oh, Elsa, look!" Anna exclaimed softly, and Elsa, in her happy daze, removed her mask and moved her head so she could peer over Anna's shoulder.
"She's perfect," Elsa decided, carefully tracing the baby-soft skin of a cheek as Anna reached down to give their daughter a kiss. When her larger fingertips brushed tiny ones, Elsa gasped softly, and Anna looked from her to their baby.
"What is it?" Anna asked.
"Shimmers," Elsa replied simply, tears forming in her eyes.
"She knows it's you, and she even as tired as she must be, she still wants to play," Anna said, gently brushing the tears away from Elsa's cheek. "She's your girl, love, and she missed you."
Too many emotions descended on Elsa then, and for the first time in her life, the only thing she could do was cry. Not tears of fear like she shed when she feared losing Anna, but tears of unfettered, unrestrainable joy. Ariel was here, in Anna's arms, and both she and her mother were healthy. Not only that, but Elsa herself was here to witness her birth, something that she had many times doubted would happen over the course of their Revolution. They were all here, they were all alive, and if everything outside had continued along its path, they were all free. "I love you so much," Elsa finally choked out, and Anna kissed her long and deeply in response.
When the kiss was over, Mal reluctantly decided to intervene. All three of them needed rest. She gently took Ariel from Anna's arms and placed her in the bedside bassinet that would monitor her newborn vitals. With help from Leah, she got both of her new mothers shifted to a new, clean bed so that they could sleep in peace. When all three of them were warm, dry and comfortable, she was unsurprised to see all three pairs of eyelids growing heavy. "Sleep now," she told all of them. "I will wake you if there is anything of import."
Elsa knew she wouldn't sleep; she was tired, yes, but she had her family to protect. Anna, on the other hand, was completely exhausted for obvious reasons, and she was nearly asleep even before Mal shut the door. As she drifted off, a sleepy smile came to her face as she heard Elsa's whisper. "Our girl, Apprentice. She is forever and always our girl," Elsa whispered affectionately, and with that declaration, Anna fell asleep.
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
Belle looked at her monitors as two notifications came in at the same time. One was from General Fa Zhu, telling her that California's arrival was imminent. She gave him the hopeful news that the Rebellion was making headway and told him to land and engage as quickly as possible. He answered in the affirmative, and Belle signed off, turning her attention to her other message. This one was from Patrician Observer, and Belle was suddenly worried for Anna and the baby. Her worry disappeared with a sappy grin when the message turned out to be a picture of Anna holding and kissing a tiny, red-faced bundle while Elsa peered over her shoulder. The look on Elsa's face was a priceless mixture of pride, wonder and love, and it warmed Belle's heart as it lifted her spirts even more. Knowing her troops would appreciate the sight as well, she uploaded the image to the COM link, letting her smile linger as she got back to work.
"Aww, would you look at that?" Aurora sighed as the frying pan she had received as a gift from Rapunzel clanged over the head of another Enforcer. The two large bears she was fighting beside finished with their opponents before lumbering up to see what was so interesting on the COM link.
"What a precious wee lassie," Elinor cooed with pride, turning human for the sole purpose of being able to coo at the picture. The other, more reddish bear rolled her eyes, but her look softened when she saw what her mother was looking at. Knowing she had given herself away by the sly look her mother was giving her, Merida gave a snort of mock disgust and went back to her Enforcer pummeling. Elinor chuckled and turned back into a bear.
"Aww…" came the chorus from just beside her, and Franny looked up in surprise as her sisters and Tiana stared fixedly at their wrists. She looked down at her own wrist, and she smirked. "Atta girl, Freckles," she murmured.
"Wreck-it!" Calhoun bellowed, and Ralph turned to look at her after his mammoth fist connected with the jaw of an Enforcer. "Can you contact that kid of yours?" she asked unexpectedly.
"Yeah," he said hesitantly. "Why?"
"I know she would love to see this picture," Calhoun said, pointing at her wrist.
Ralph looked and smiled. "Knowing Vannie, it will be on her wall before we get home," he said, carefully punching buttons on his wrist with his thick fingers.
General Fa Zhu heard the peep of an incoming communication, and he opened it at once, thinking that Leader might have some new orders for him before they landed. Instead it was a family portrait, and it was one that made him smile. "Congratulations, Bǎihé," he said warmly, and beside him, Mulan smiled. Their transport gently touched down, and with those smiles still present, the Fa family dragons appeared, leading the California troops towards the Great Hall.
EEEEEEEEEEE
The few Enforcers that remained standing and fighting positioned themselves on the steps of the Great Hall. Most of their numbers had fallen or surrendered, but these few brave souls remaining had sworn among themselves to protect their Patricians. Blessed with the high ground, their resolve lasted through wave after wave of Rebellion attacks, and it looked as though there could be a standoff that would last indefinitely. The possibility of this standoff evaporated, though, when the many throngs of soldiers belonging to the California militia marched into view, led by two massive, supposedly-mythological dragons who were expelling plumes of fire through their nostrils. Even the most brave and loyal of the Enforcers knew their cause was dead, and it was practical suicide to keep fighting. Thus, when the dragons reached the steps of the Great Hall, the Enforcer commander laid down his weapon and motioned for his soldiers to do the same.
Belle sat frozen in shock behind her monitors. Some part of her was rejoicing, but most parts of her were locked in utter disbelief. They had actually won. She sat staring for a few moments more until a voice called her out of her shock. "You need to get down there, Leader," Cornelius said softly, with unmistakable pride in his voice. "I've called General Fergus and Fa Zhu; an escort will be waiting for you." Slowly, she nodded, and straightening her uniform, she left her command center.
Within the Great Hall, seven people sat on their thrones, most of them still in denial about the end of their power. The ones who realized their situation were resigned, knowing that it had been a long time coming. With them stood the person they all thought was the last loyal Enforcer standing, the Major who had been at their side for years. As they waited, they heard the ruckus outside, and from their screens, they could see the victorious Leader of the Rebellion arrive like a goddess of legend, flanked on one side by a bear and on the other, a dragon.
Belle internally rolled her eyes as Mulan and Merida marched beside her up the steps. When she saw him again, she was going to have to chide Cornelius for this blatant show of posturing and pageantry. She didn't need a bear and a dragon, for the Pillars' sake. A few militia members with weapons could have protected her just fine. All of her Generals, with one notable exception, followed her, and as one, they walked towards the throne room. No Enforcers stood at the door to bar their entrance, so after Belle had entered the code for the door, a gift she had received from the father of her child and future husband, the door slid open, and all of them walked into the throne room unimpeded. Merida and Mulan stood off to the side, watching and guarding, while Belle and the commanding officers approached the thrones.
"We want your unconditional surrender," Belle said simply.
"Never," Patrician Scientist spat, unwilling or unable to see that the Patricians had lost. "Major! Arrest these Traitors!" she ordered.
Beast saluted and came over, stopping in front of Belle. Her eyebrow lifted in question, and for the first time in his career, his military façade cracked. He smiled widely, and without warning, he wrapped her up in his arms and kissed her thoroughly. The Generals cracked small smiles behind them, and ever the jolly one, Eli couldn't help but comment. "I think that's a no, sugarplum," he chortled.
The Patricians' mouths dropped open, and it took them some time before any of them could speak. Patrician Solver recovered first, and she rose from her throne to point an accusing finger at Beast. "Traitor!" she snarled.
Adam slowly pulled away from Belle and gave her one last kiss on her forehead as he withdrew. He turned to face the Patricians, his smile gone and his gaze cold. "You took my mother and sister away from me, you never let me marry the person I love, and you imprisoned my child for being who she was born to be. If you ever thought I had any sort of loyalty to any of you save Observer, you are the most delusional people who ever lived," he declared. He turned to Belle. "With your permission, Leader, I would like to be the one to cuff them," he requested.
"Permission granted," Belle replied. Adam saluted, and with the help of General Kim and General Kristoff, he had all of them off of their thrones and cuffed within a few minutes.
"Speaking of Observer, where is she?" General Kim asked. "We should send people to find and capture her."
"That won't be necessary, because I know where she is. She is at her compound, and she will remain there in perpetuity," Belle replied, much to the surprise of her People.
All of her Generals considered this, knowing instantly that there had to be a good reason. Only General Fergus decided to ask the obvious question, though. "You know we all respect your judgment and leadership, Leader, but she's a Patrician. Why does she get to go free when she's a criminal just like the rest of this lot?" he asked in an even-keeled, non-judgmental tone.
"Because she's not a criminal; she's one of us," Belle answered. "She was instrumental in helping us bring about this victory." The Generals stayed silent, digesting this new information, and Belle continued. "She is also Adam and Aurora's mother, making her Laura's grandmother. Besides all that, she is currently at her compound because a very important Peanut needed the very best Physician in the State to bring her into this world," she finished.
"Oh," Fergus said before his face broke out into a smile. "Well, then, I guess we better leave her where she is," he decided. "The Ice Queen probably wouldn't take too kindly to us arresting her if she's watching over the wee one."
"Probably not," Fa Zhu agreed with his own smile, and the other Generals nodded, putting the issue of Observer's arrest to rest.
With everyone's help, the captured Patricians were escorted out of the building and onto the steps of the Great Hall. The Rebel masses cheered, raising their weapons and their voices in victory. After a quick, quiet consultation with Cornelius about voice amplification, video feeds and interpersonal communications, Belle lifted her hands, and the crowd grew silent anticipating her speech. "People of the…Republic!" she began, and the cheers started again, growing deafening until Belle was able to invoke silence. "We are victorious, and no longer are you people of the State. Our hardest task is done, but much work still remains. First, we will try these criminals in a fair court of law, and together, as a people we will determine their punishment and fate. I know that most of you realize that one of the Patricians is missing, and that the Patricians' most trusted Enforcer stands before you unshackled. That is because they both have risked their lives for years to bring this Revolution to fruition. They are not the enemy; they are comrades, without whom today would never have been possible. Anything they have done, they have done for the Rebellion, so please treat them accordingly."
The People cheered wildly in response, and Belle sighed in gratitude as one of her biggest worries was put to rest. After another brief discussion with Cornelius, she addressed the People once more. "I know that you have also probably noted the absence of General Elsa, better known as the Ice Queen," she said. A very large cheer came from a particular section, and Belle was unsurprised to see most of Arendelle's militia. "To those who do not know, the General was called away for a very important reason, one that, with her and Governor Anna's permission, I share with you now," she announced, pointing to the overhead screen.
The screen flickered to life, and on it was a live feed from Anna's hospital room. Having been asked and notified by Cornelius in advance, Elsa and Anna were awake and alert with Anna facing the camera and Elsa curled around her. When Anna carefully turned Ariel and rested her against her chest so the crowd could really see her, the People cheered like never before. "Thank you," Anna said when she could be heard. "Thank you for making Ariel free." The screen flickered off, and the People cheered once more.
In the back of the crowd, surrounded by people he had just helped to free, one man didn't cheer. He wept. He wept for the life and love that he had lost; he wept for the grown daughter whose life he had missed. Most of all though, he wept in joy for the future; he wept at the sight of the Extraordinary granddaughter he already loved with all of his heart nestled in the arms of the daughter he would spend the rest of his life protecting and getting to know. A small, tentative hand clasped his hand, and he looked down to find one of the former prisoners he had rescued. "Are you okay, Sebastian?" the scruffy little boy asked concernedly.
"Yeah, Max, I'm good," he confirmed, smiling at the child. "In fact, I'm as happy as I've ever been. Let's go see if we can find someone to help us out, okay?" he asked. The boy nodded excitedly, and with the aid of the ice medallion Elsa had given him, Sebastian found Rapunzel, who welcomed them all to the celebration as Belle continued to speak of their new, hopeful future.
EEEEEEEEEEEEE
Many hours later, after many hours of celebration, the People at last grew weary and began to seek shelter for the night. With things settled down, Belle finally felt like she could make her escape, and she slipped out of the Great Hall undetected, trailed only by the protection detail assigned to safeguard her.
It was only a short walk to Mal's compound, and Belle enjoyed the fresh spring night as she walked. In no time, she was at its front door, and when she activated the panel, the door slid open for her. Once inside, she was looking around when a voice called out for her. "And whom might you be seeking?" Mal asked with a smirk. "Your daughter or your Pillars-daughter?"
"Both, actually," Belle admitted.
"Well, Laura is in the room just down that hallway," Mal explained, indicating the direction with her hand. "But, she is asleep. Your Pillars-daughter, on the other hand, is that way, and she is wide awake, as are her mothers."
Belle chuckled. "Then I'll see Laura briefly to kiss her goodnight, and then I'll find the other three," she decided. Mal nodded and left.
Following her plan, Belle went into Laura's room for just a few minutes, long enough to stroke her daughter's hair, kiss her and tell her that she was loved, but not long enough to wake her. With a last parting kiss, Belle left her and went in the other direction, following the sound of a sweet voice singing a lullaby. She paused at the door, listening, and she smiled when she realized she wasn't hearing Anna. She knew what Ginger sounded like when she sang; this was slightly deeper and slightly raspy, meaning it could only be one other person. When the door slid open, her hypothesis was proven correct when it was Elsa that trailed off.
"Good evening, Madame President," Anna said brightly from the bed, gently rocking the sleepy infant that Elsa had been singing to.
"Interim president," Belle corrected, reaching out automatically for the blanket-wrapped bundle.
Anna handed Ariel over and snuggled into Elsa, who was also seated on the bed. "As soon as we figure out our new form of government, you know that title will become official," Anna teased.
"Yes, it probably will be," Belle acknowledged with a conflicted sigh.
"What's wrong? Isn't that what this was all about?" Anna asked quizzically.
"Partly," Belle answered, chuckling distractedly when Ariel yawned. "It was mostly about freedom. Now that freedom is here, developing a system to maintain that freedom will be very, very difficult," Belle said resignedly.
"Of course it will be," Elsa said, joining the conversation. "But you can handle it. You're Leader; it's what you do," she concluded with smirk.
"True," Belle replied with a smirk of her own, heartened at the Ice Queen's faith in her. "But," Belle continued, her smirk turning sly, "it is always nice to have some help."
"And in what way would we be helping?" Elsa asked suspiciously, sensing that her long-shot dream to quietly fade from public view with Anna and Ariel was becoming even more improbable.
"By becoming Arendelle's delegates to the Constitutional Convention," Belle answered. "And, perhaps, joining the national government when we figure out what it will be."
Immediately, Anna looked excited, and Elsa knew she was stuck. Anna was born to be around people, and she would never be happy leading the quiet life in Arendelle. That, and with her time as Governor of Arendelle, it was obvious she was born ready to lead. Elsa had promised herself long ago that she would never be the one to take the light from Anna's eyes, so the former Architect did the only thing she could. "All right, we'll join," Elsa agreed unexpectedly, causing both Anna and Belle to look at her in shock.
"Wait, what?" Anna sputtered. "I thought I was going to have to convince you."
"So did I," Belle agreed.
"I know when something is inevitable," Elsa stated with wry resignation, and Anna smiled at her. "But, I do have one demand of our new government," she stated.
"And what would that be?" Belle asked curiously.
"I want the cabin in Dunbroch," Elsa declared. "It means a lot to me, to us, and I want some place away from all the madness I know is going to come."
Belle smiled widely. "If that's all I have to promise, consider it done," she said happily. "Even when we were there, it was always yours." Just then, the baby in her arms started to fuss, and Belle took that as her signal to leave. "Well, it's gotten late," she noticed. She gave her Pillars-daughter a small kiss on the forehead and handed her back to Anna.
Anna cuddled Ariel gently, soothing her. "Goodnight, Belle," she said when Belle turned to leave. "We look forward to seeing you tomorrow."
"Looking forward to tomorrow; how odd," Belle mused. "Goodnight," she said before she smiled at them all and left.
Elsa and Anna watched her go, and when the door had shut, Elsa rose from the bed. She gingerly took the now-asleep Ariel from Anna and carefully laid her in her bassinet so that she could be monitored. Neither mother had wanted to leave Ariel in the bassinet when there were cuddles to be had, but Mal had finally managed to convince them that the preemie needed to be monitored for her own safety. When she was satisfied her daughter was warm and comfortable, Elsa climbed back into bed and wrapped herself around Anna. "Goodnight, Apprentice," she murmured sleepily.
"Goodnight, love," Anna replied, snuggling back into her love's cool body and letting herself drift off.
THE END