TEARS BRIMMED in her eyes, rage welling up as she took in the gravity of the situation. Sharing her sorrow and aggravation with her sister, agreeing with a glance, Elsa turned to the old man, anger stitching a frown on her face. Fighting the urge to cry and seizing the will to move on, she spoke.

"So, what's the Order after?"

"I don't know." Oliver lowered his head. "So far, it seems that they have a deep hatred for magical creatures, but I've never known why. At first, they attacked the dangerous ones, like dragons, but now they're attacking anyone magical regardless of what they're doing."

"Whatever it is, we can't let 'em get away with this." Anna clenched her fists. "We need to go back to Arendelle."

"We can't, Anna; they'd kill you the moment you get there." Kristoff's brows furrowed.

"Why'd they kill her?" Oliver raised his brow.

"The Order discovered Elsa and Anna's powers and they banished them from the kingdom." Balder turned to him.

"Yeah, don't go back there." Oliver shook his head.

"We're just gonna let 'em rule Arendelle? They stole it from us; we've done nothing!" Anna frowned.

"If we're gonna go back, we have to be smart about it." Kristoff folded his arms. "We can't just bust in there and try to force them out. Even if you can fight them and win, the people of Arendelle would get caught in the crossfire."

"Fighting the Order would be completely foolish." Balder sat back. "Like Kristoff said, the people of Arendelle would be set in harm's way and if the tales of their victories over dragons are true, then we would lose our lives in the process."

"We're gonna need to discredit the Order." Elsa tapped her chin. "Use the Table against them. If we can prove we're innocent and the Table agrees with us, we can use politics to free the people from the Order. They might've not attacked the people yet, but I don't trust that they are safe."

"Well, I don't know anything that could help you." Oliver fell back on the grass, staring at the sky. "I told you all I knew about 'em, so I don't know what to do next."

"Ooh, ooh, we could create a giant snowball and trap them all in it." Olaf jumped. "Just scoop 'em up and kick them outta the kingdom." Sven snorted, nodding his head in agreement.

"I may have ice powers, but making an ice ball that big would take too long and would be too heavy to plop over the kingdom." Elsa turned to him.

"Plus they'd see it coming a mile away." Anna shrugged.

"And, it's a freakin' stupid plan." Kristoff shook his head.

"As amusing as that would be, even if it were possible; the people of Arendelle would get stuck in the ice as well." Balder cocked his neck. "Unless you have a giant shovel to dig them out of it." He shrugged.

"Why are you humouring him?" Oliver shook his head.

"I just wanted to be silly." Balder smiled.

A warm smile adorned Elsa as she turned to Balder, a chuckle tugging at her as she returned her mind to focus on the situation at hand. Finishing his meal, Balder rose to his feet, moving around to pick up the small sacks that withheld the food they ate. Glancing at him, Elsa shifted her gaze to Oliver who took another sip of ale.

"Well, we'd better get going I guess." She stood up. "It was good to see you again." A smile stretched her face.

"Same here, Elsa." Oliver pocketed the bottle, "I should get on my way as well."

"It was nice meeting you, sir." Anna smiled.

"Whoa, it's you!" Disbelief dilated Olaf's eyes as he turned to him. "Oliver, when'd you get here?"

The old man raised his brow, shrugging off his utterance as he picked up the deer carcass and took his leave. Waving nonchalantly, he took off, taking a wholesome sip of his ale. Patting Olaf's head, Anna stood up, following Kristoff who headed off to Sven. Stretching her arms out, she wrapped her arms around him from behind, nestling her chin on his shoulder.

"What?" He raised his brow.

"Well, I'm just glad I've still got people I care about around me." She snuggled up to him.

"Yeah, me too." Elsa smiled at her then gave Balder a peck on the cheek.

"Hey, what about me?" Olaf pouted. Sven bit at him, nearly chomping his carrot nose. "Hey, that's not funny anymore!" He pointed at him angrily.

"So, what do we do next?" Elsa turned to Balder.

"I think we should part ways here." Balder fastened a bag attached to the saddle of his horse. "You and Anna follow the point in the map and Kristoff and I return to Arendelle to clear your names."

"No, you're not gonna risk your life for me again." Elsa frowned, folding her arms.

"It will not be the same as last time. I have a friend in the council who will ensure that we will not be discovered … assuming he has not fallen at the hands of the Order if they found that he is my friend, thereby making him a 'cohort' of yours." Balder shrugged.

"Why can't we just stick together as a team? I don't wanna see Kristoff hurt again." Anna held Kristoff's hand.

"We would do far more if we're separated than together." Balder turned to Elsa and smiled at her. "We will be fine."

"Okay." Elsa nodded.

"We cannot be sure that you will be safe and we do not want to risk proving the Order's legacy to be true." Balder fished out the map from his jacket, "So by all means, make sure that you do not fight them. You should simply investigate and return to the kingdom afterward."

"Gotcha." Elsa received the map.

Balder pulled out a pocket watch and checked the time, frowning slightly at how they had prolonged their break. Stuffing it back, he turned to his horse when something entered his peripheral. Turning to his right, he saw a sparrow flying near the trees and recognised its coat. He whistled and the creature flew toward him, landing on his forearm.

"What's that?" Olaf turned to Balder.

"It's a message from one of my spies." He unfastened a small paper tied to its leg.

"What's it say?" Kristoff walked up to him.

Balder spread the parchment, narrowing his eyes as he read the message. He frowned as he continued, a huff escaping him as he rolled up the paper. Ripping it slightly, he fastened it on the bird, sending it off in the direction it came from.

"The Order left Arendelle in the dead of night, leaving their banners and their council behind to rule in their steed." He turned to the others.

"Why would they do that?" Anna's brows stitched.

"I do not know, but our plans have to change. We will need to return to Arendelle." Balder turned to Elsa. "If the Order has left, we can simply send you off on a ship, so that you can start your journey. It would be far much quicker than finding another port far from here."

"See? That's what I said." Anna folded her arms.

"Actually I did." Elsa turned to her.

"Let's get going." Balder saddled his horse.

Mounting their animals, they took their leave, heading back to Arendelle. Fixing her gaze on her sister, worries welled within Elsa, fingers tightening around the reins of her horse in anxiety. If the legends of the Order were true and if they indeed had dragons under their helm, what hope would they have to defeat them? Even if they were able to manoeuvre them and make it to the spot on the map, what would they do after? They would have to face them head on at some point and her fears were beginning to overwhelm her.

THE RUFFLING of leaves met their ears, feet crunching against the sand as a man approached them. Stepping out from behind a tree, Balder walked up to him, Elsa, Kristoff, Anna and Olaf following quietly behind. Huffing angrily, the man pocketed his hands, his brows stitching in irritation.

"Never thought I'd want a woman back on the throne." Bjarke sighed. "Those treasonous lowlifes annoy the hell outta me."

"Seems you got the letter, good friend." Balder smirked.

"I'm not your friend."

"Sure, you're not." Balder patted his shoulder, gaining a growl from him.

"What do you have against women?" Elsa frowned.

"I don't think they should lead." Bjarke shrugged.

"I –,"

"Now, now." Balder interrupted her. "We cannot argue or someone might hear us."

"Hi, there." Olaf waved at Bjarke.

"We should move quickly." He ignored him. "Even if the Order's gone, they've still got soldiers patrolling the kingdom. You'll need these."

Bjarke gave each of them brown cloaks from a satchel strapped over his shoulder. Judging by the look Elsa shot at him, the old man huffed slightly, pocketing his hands as he shrugged off her expression. After they wore them, he looked back at the kingdom, the pier coming to view, as it was closest to them.

"You know, you're still kinda pissin' me off with the whole women can't lead kingdoms thing." Anna straightened her cloak.

"Just so we're clear, don't get the idea of kicking me off the council." Bjarke's eyes lowered. "I've got a family to take care of and it's all I got to make money."

"And what if we kick you off anyway?" Anna folded her arms, a smug smile growing on her face.

"Then you'll lose one of the two men who are actually on your side." Bjarke's expression remained impassive. "I'm not begging for anything, but you'll have hell of a hard time trying to run a kingdom without a council."

"Fine." Elsa sighed, making Anna pout.

"Keep your heads low." Bjarke began to leave.

Walking out of forest, they approached a large boat docked nearby. Boarding it along with their animals, they headed toward the pier. They came up to a small ship, its men dropping a ladder over to them as they got closer to it.

"This'll get you to Corona." Bjarke rose to his feet. "I've already sent a messenger sparrow to them, so they should be prepared for your arrival. Don't worry; the ship's crew are trustworthy men, so you will not have to hide amongst them."

"You know, I thought you were just a grumpy old man." Anna stood up.

"Just get on the boat." Bjarke's brows stitched as he pointed at the ship.

"Be sure to avoid any conflict with the Order if you come across them." Balder handed Elsa the map. "You should avoid them at all costs."

"Same to you." She kissed him and hugged him. "Be safe."

"I will." He smiled at her.

"Bye, Kristoff." Anna hugged him tightly. "Don't get hurt, okay?"

"Yeah, you too."

Kristoff and Anna walked up to the ship and he lifted her, helping her climb the rope ladder onto the ship. Scaling the ladder while piggybacking Olaf, Elsa boarded the vessel, glancing at Balder who waved at her. Moving to the opposite end of the boat, Kristoff and Balder got the Queen and Princess's horses aboard the ship.

THE SETTING sun's rays spread across the skies, glinting off Anna's hair as she waved at Rapunzel who awaited them eagerly beside her husband at a pier. Disembarking the ship, the sisters ran up to their cousin, embracing her happily. Wiping her tears of joy, Elsa pulled away from the Queen.

"Why are you crying?" Concern welled in Rapunzel's expression.

"I'm just so glad I was wrong," Elsa smiled. "I was afraid the Order would do something to you 'cuz you stood up for us."

"But, Anna's now crying as well." Eugene walked up to her.

"Elsa, what happened?" Rapunzel frowned slightly, her words drawing a tear from her.

"I'M SO sorry, Elsa." Rapunzel placed a hand on her lap.

"Yeah, well." Elsa's voice grew hoarse. "Now we know what happened to our parents."

The three women, Eugene and Olaf sat in a large office with beige walls that contrasted a large dark rug on the floor and peeked behind large bookshelves that lined them. Rising from where she sat beside her husband, Rapunzel moved up to Elsa, hugging her tightly. Eugene placed a hand on Anna's shoulder, empathy exuding in his expression.

"I'm sorry, Anna." He smiled wistfully, "I know how you feel. I never knew my true parents either."

"Thanks." Anna sighed.

"You'll be fine, Elsa." Rapunzel pulled away from her. "I'm really sorry for what happened."

"Well, we have to move on I guess." Elsa shrugged. "I just hope what we find with this map will help us get Arendelle back."

"… I wanna show you something, but you have to promise to tell no one about this." Rapunzel's voice stifled slightly with anxiety.

"Show us what?" Anna turned to her.

"…" Rapunzel frowned slightly. "Come with me."

Rapunzel headed out of the office, Eugene, Anna, Elsa and Olaf trailing her as she trod down the hall. Entering the main corridors of the palace, she took a left, leading them toward a stairwell that went downward into a dim underground hall. Following a source of light at the end, they continued on, the expanse stretching out endlessly before them. Raising her brow, Anna eyed the room, racking her brain as she tried to remember where they were going.

"Wait, we're going to the fire cellar? Haven't we been here before?" Anna walked up to Rapunzel.

"Just follow me." She fixed her eyes forward.

Shrugging it off, Anna followed her with eyes darting around the expanse, her curiosity peaking as they continued. They reached the end of the hall, finding two lamps hanging above a locked wooden door. Fishing a key out of Rapunzel's pocket, Pascal crawled up her back, resting his head on her shoulder.

"Oh, there you are, lil guy." She petted him. "Where've you been?"

The chameleon placed the key in her hand, rubbing his head against hers affectionately when he realized where they were. Shivering upon seeing the door, the creature scurried down her back, climbing into her pocket. Rubbing his head through the fabric of her jacket, she inserted the key in the door.

"Why'd he run away?" Anna pointed at her pocket.

"Yeah, he's been a lil quiet since he saw her," Rapunzel turned to her, "I guess it's some kinda territorial thing 'cuz he's been cooped up in my pocket a lot lately."

"Since he saw who?" Elsa's brows stitched.

"Olaf." Rapunzel squatted before the snowman, patting his head. "You'll have to stay out here for a bit, okay?"

"Why?" Olaf raised his brow.

"Well, the fire cellar's full of … well, fire." She chuckled. "And I don't want you to melt like last time, okay?"

"Aw, c'mon, I can handle it." Olaf whined.

"Yeah, she's right, Olaf," Anna patted his head, "You'll end up melting in there."

"It's not fair." Olaf crossed his arms.

"I'll keep watch on the lil guy." Eugene walked up to him.

"Thanks." Rapunzel turned to the door.

Turning the key, she unlocked the door, entering the next room with Anna and Elsa, the latter's eyes widening in awe. Cabinets filled the room, lining up in rows along the walls and reaching towards the ceiling. Glass bowls occupied the furniture; flames of varying colour in them creating a light pattern similar to an aurora. Breathlessly, the Ice Queen moved through the space, her eyes studying the different fires.

"Oh my God, this is the fire cellar you were talking about?" Elsa turned to Anna.

"Yeah, pretty cool, huh?" Anna smiled smugly. "You can't argue that they come from a dragon now, can you?"

"This is incredible." Elsa turned to a green flame, her eyes wide in glee.

"Speaking of which." Rapunzel placed her hand in her bodice, fumbling between her breasts.

"Uh, what're you doing?" Anna raised her brow, prompting Elsa to watch in confusion.

"Showing you the secret room." Rapunzel fished out a key, smiling smugly.

She moved toward the end of the room, leading the sisters up to a barred door. Removing the wood from the hinges of it with their assistance, Rapunzel unlocked it. They entered the next room, its emptiness and insipidity baffling Elsa and Anna as another door stood on the opposite wall. Rapunzel walked up to it, turning to her cousins with an anxious look on her face.

"Now, promise me you won't freak out, okay?"

"Sure." Elsa nodded.

"Uh, what's going on?" Shivers ran up Anna's spine. "What exactly are you showing us that needs so many secret rooms?"

"Just don't freak out." Rapunzel turned to the door.

She unlocked the door, opening it slowly as she walked in gingerly. Overwhelmed with premature fear, Anna's body seized up, her eyes wide in panic and her arms crossed over her breasts, clasping her shoulders. Helping her enter the room, Elsa pushed her, curiosity overriding the anxiety she withheld.

"Hi, Maggie." Rapunzel's voice quietened, a small smile crossing her face.

Anna's eyes bulged, barely contained in their sockets as her eyes fixed on the creature before her. Reaching the height of their shoulders, a red dragon stood before them, a streak of white spreading from its snout all the way up to its tail. Its beady grey eyes studied them, its wings curved over its body that swerved as it walked, the undercoat nearly matching the floor as its tail swept it. Looking at Rapunzel, its eyes narrowed with irritation.

"Rapunzel, you know I don't like visitors." A big, throaty feminine voice came from the creature.

Anna fainted, falling back like a rock beside her sister. Fighting for composure, Elsa frowned deeply, her mind trying to piece things together. If the dragons were indeed extinct, why was there one standing before her? Why could it talk? Studying the beast, she noticed something that put her thoughts at ease slightly. Taking a deep breath, she struggled to avoid fainting like her sister and spoke.

"T-t-t-that's not a dragon." Her voice shook slightly. "Dragons are extinct."

"I assure you, I am a dragon, but alas, I'm not like the others." Maggie's head lowered, her eyes trailing her body in dismay. "I'm a darf dragon, less than half the height I'm supposed to be."

"... H –," Elsa calmed herself. "How is it talking? Aren't dragons animals?"

"We are animals, but we're not mindless. Maggie snarled. "We are intelligent creatures … at least some of us are..."

"How is she here? I thought the Order killed them all?" Elsa turned to Rapunzel.

"It was around a year ago when I found her." Rapunzel walked up to the dragon. "My parents and I were taking a walk in the outskirts of the kingdom when we came across the Order fighting two dragons. We tried to escape, but we got separated and I wound up finding her egg." She petted the dragon. "I came back that day and heard that my parents were found dead in the forest. I've been keeping her a secret ever since 'cuz the Order would kill her."

"So, that's what happened to your parents." Elsa stroked her chin. "Is it possible your parents fell at their hands?"

"No," Rapunzel shook her head. "We were caught in the crossfire of the fight between them and the dragons, so my parents most likely died by accident."

"This means that there're other dragons out there." Elsa frowned slightly.

"How would there be? Even if there were others like Maggie under someone else's care, they'd be two at the most." Rapunzel walked up to her. "The Order wiped them out."

"No, they didn't. One of Balder's spies overheard Erhard talk to his men about their dragons and one of the council members sent a message stating that the Order's on the move, which means Arendelle has no leader, just a bunch of rebelling council members and a few of their soldiers."

"Well, if you wanna get there, you'd better get moving right now." Rapunzel turned to her. "Eugene and I'll give you some clothes, money and a ship, so you can follow the map. You need to go right now."

"Thanks." Elsa nodded. "We can never repay you."

"Heh, that's what family's for." Rapunzel smiled at her, shrugging.

HOOVES SPLATTERED the mud as black horses trod through the woods, the grey clouds massing above them as a storm slowly approached. Erhard tugged at the reins of his steed, urging it to stop as he gestured for a sparrow to land on his arm. Untying a piece of paper from the bird's leg, he spread it out and read it. He rolled the parchment back up, strapped it to the creature and sent it off.

"What does the message say, my lord?" His second-in-command rode up to him.

"Queen Elsa and Princess Anna are on their way to Corona." A frown crossed his face. "Send a team after them; we cannot waste such an opportunity."

"Yes, my lord."

Erhard's second-in-command relayed the message to the soldiers who accompanied him. Continuing the journey, Erhard directed his horse to keep walking, fixing his thoughts on the task at hand. As much of a threat the sisters would be, he had more important things on his mind.

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