The Return
A/N #1: Welcome to my first Frozen story.
A/N #2: This is perhaps my most challenging story as it will appear both within the Frozen fandom and the Tangled fandom, but with different points of view. Please look for it in both!
A/N #3: I do not own Frozen or Tangled, although I do own my OCs and this storyline…
A/N #4: This is a definite AU story…so please keep that in mind!
A/N #5: Finally, in this story, the queens of Arendelle and Corona are sisters.
A Princess Dreams, Part 3
"This is about her fraternal twin sister and her husband, the former monarchs of the Royal Kingdom of Arendelle-of-the-Fjords, isn't it?" Becky asked as she took in the sight of her grandfather silently nodding.
"Yes, Becky, it is."
"But I don't understand. Why has this vision come to me now? Why couldn't it have come to dad back then? Like with his realization of who mom was and the danger of the Black Death?"
The Present…
"Grandmother has a twin sister?" Astrid asked.
"Yes, my little one. They do not really look that much alike, though. The ruling family of the Royal Kingdom of Estrella-by-the-Bay had six children. The eldest, a son, remained and became king of the home kingdom. The second eldest, a daughter, was the Queen of the Royal Kingdom of Constella-of-the-Stars up to about a year ago when her daughter took the throne. The third eldest, a son, is the King Consort of the Royal Kingdom of Orion-the-Hunter. The fourth eldest, also a son, is the Prime Minister of the Republic of Olvastavia." This brings us to the…"
"…youngest two?" Astrid asked.
"Yes, my dear Astrid, the youngest two. The youngest by ten minutes of the two, Catherine, is the queen of the Royal Kingdom of Corona-by-the-Sea."
"This means that grandmother…"
"…is her twin sister." King Christian confirmed.
"So, what happened next?" Astrid asked.
"Well, Astrid; Becky and her grandfather had the most unusual breakfast conversation ever seen on Sonnen III; a conversation that prefaced the most wondrous event since the Great Thaw, at least as far as the Royal Kingdom of Arendelle-of-the-Fjords is concerned.
"Tell me more!" The boisterous Astrid pleaded.
Thirteen Years Previous…
King William, known as one who always carefully considered his words before speaking, sat there in quiet contemplation as he took his time to answer his granddaughter's question. It was a very legitimate question and one that he had expected to hear from his wonderful granddaughter. Becky, known for a level of patience and maturity far beyond her years, waited for her grandfather's reply. His answer was to begin a quest on the part of the young princess that would soon make her even more famous than her dad and in more ways than one.
"I believe, Becky, that the Wirkungen, besides being the force that ties all living things together also seeks outlets for its power as a means of maintaining balance throughout the universe."
"Outlets for its power? Maintaining balance throughout the universe?"
"Yes. It continually seeks out those individuals that it knows are worthy of such heady responsibility, just as the steam whistle on the Flynn Rider relieves excess steam pressure from its very special reactive boiler system."
"You mean like my dad?"
"Yes. Even though he was once filled with a self-loathing that knew no bounds and sees you as a source of his redemption as he nurtures and educates you to be the best princess for Corona that he can, the Wirkungen knew, even before he was born, that deep down inside he was the one trustworthy enough to be given this responsibility."
"How did it know in dad's case? Is it trying to state that I am worthy, too?"
"Those, perhaps, are the questions of the century." King William replied.
"And…?" An eager Becky asked.
"…and, while I am sure that it knew in your case also before you were born and ensured that your two paths crossed at the appropriate time, I do not have a satisfactory answer for you, unfortunately."
"Oh." An obviously disappointed Becky stated.
"So, instead of focusing on what we cannot know, let us instead focus on what we do know, ok." King William said as he sought to turn the conversation in a positive direction.
"Ok." Becky replied as she cheered up.
"Let's see if we have all the facts."
"I'm ready!"
"I know you are. First, you made a visit to the Royal Kingdom of Arendelle-of-the-Fjords."
"Agreed."
"Second, you made a visit to the memorial of Catherine's twin sister and her twin sister's husband, who you did not fully comprehend were related to your grandmother directly, and felt a presence.
"Agreed."
"What can you tell me of the presence?"
"Well, it feels as if there are two individual presences, not one, and they are…"
"…man and woman; or, King and Queen?" King William smoothly interjected.
"Yes!" An excited Becky said.
"I see. Did it feel like this presence followed you onto the ship when you returned?"
"No."
"No?" King William blurted out. He was surprised by this but knew that Becky would provide the answer.
"No. They were almost conspicuous in their absence. This said, it did feel as if they joined with our ship about two or three days out of Arendelle."
King William, realizing the immense impact of Becky's words, asked her to join him in his study after their breakfast. They ate in a comfortable silence as they both considered the course of their conversation, both completed and yet to come. King William realized that the presences knew the course of the ship would take on the way home and decided to provide Becky with a definitive sign as to where she would find them.
The meal complete, the two walked the short distance from the dining room to the King's Study. The King's Study, being about 2,500 feet square, or greater than the size of most houses within the capital city, served as the command center for all royal activities. As the pair walked in, King William guided them to a huge map of Sonnen III adorning the wall opposite his wonderfully crafted desk and picked up his heirloom mahogany pointer. He then directed the pair to the appropriate place on the map. This map, showing the Royal Kingdom of Corona-of-the-Sea at the center-point, ranged about 15 feet tall and 45 feet wide and was intricately detailed to show topographical information and displayed not only the principal kingdoms and nations of the planet, but also the primary and secondary trade routes that bound them all together. It showed both the sea lanes and the overland routes. The pair stood there a couple minutes before King William asked the first of his second set of questions.
"Becky, you stated that you felt the presence again two or three days out of the Arendelle."
"That is correct, Grandfather."
"Since I am sure that you helped navigate the ship and took regular sun, moon, and star sightings, can you show me the spot?" A confident King William requested.
"Right here." Becky confidently replied as she unhesitantly pointed to an unremarkable spot on the map. The spot was unremarkable except for the very tiny white cross that just so happened to mark that very spot.
"I see. Do you notice anything about the spot you so quickly pointed out?"
Becky, moving the finely made mahogany pointer to the side, quickly noted what her grandfather was looking at and asked the most obvious of questions.
"Is that…?"
"…a cross? Yes. Yes it is."
"Does it represent a shipwreck?" Becky very hesitantly asked.
"Yes. Each cross, and unfortunately there are quite a few spread throughout the map, represents a ship from the four primary kingdoms of Io, the nation of Nihon Koku on the far east coast of Europa, and…"
"…the Royal Kingdom of Arendelle-of-the-Fjords?" Becky asked as the revelation suddenly came to her.
"Yes. Even the Royal Kingdom of Arendelle-of-the-Fjords. The position you so unhesitantly and unerringly pointed out marks the estimated final resting place of the Spirit of the Aurora Borealis, the personal ship of King Christian and his wife, Queen Synnøve; your grandmother's twin sister."
Becky stood there, quiet and motionless, taking in the impact of all she had learned in the past two hours. As the information sunk in, and as she took in a huge cleansing breath, the Wirkungen began to channel towards her and through her as her future course of action gelled and solidified. The power of the flow, easily surpassing all others around Sonnen III, was duly noted at the royal shipyard by her parents, Eugene and Rapunzel, who could not help but comment on it with the harbor master.
"Harbor master?" Eugene calmly asked as they walked down the gangplank and back onto the main dock.
"Yes, your highness." He replied.
"How quickly can you have the ship ready for its maiden voyage?"
"Within three hours. Why?"
"Our daughter has a sacred quest that will require the use of her new flagship. I am quite sure that Vice Admiral Rebecca Fitzherbert will want use of the Flynn Rider." Crown Princess Rapunzel crisply answered in reply to his question using her 'crown princess' voice.
"Sacred quest…? We will have the ship ready in two!" The harbor master replied as he took in the look of Crown Princess Rapunzel and took his leave of the couple to commence final preparations.
Meanwhile back at the palace…
"Grandfather…" Becky began with the confidence of one who was at peace with themselves as their course of action fell into place.
"I take it is time for the RCNS Flynn Rider to make its shakedown cruise, and perhaps a port of call in the Royal Kingdom of Arendelle-of-the Fjords after a slight detour?" King William asked as he took in her look of absolute determination.
"Yes, grandfather."
"I will tell Catherine…"
"Thank you, grandfather. If you will excuse me, I have a mission to fulfil." Becky replied as she turned to take her leave of her grandfather and to change into her naval uniform.
"Of course, my dear. I know you will meet with success." King William replied.
Changed into and now looking quite imposing in her naval uniform, Vice Admiral Rebecca Catherine Rapunzel Fitzherbert the Fearless, after a final check of her appearance, quickly left the palace and made her way to the royal dock that had served and continued to serve the Royal Kingdom of Corona-by-the-Sea for centuries. As she approached her new flag ship, the Royal Coronian Navy Ship (RCNS) Flynn Rider, gently riding the small waves that entered the harbor, she paused a moment at the commemorative plaque that marked the very spot where Rapunzel had been revealed to the Royal Couple six years earlier.
"Please give me the strength to end the suffering of gran and the people of Arendelle, most especially Elsa and Anna, whom I love very dearly." Rebecca softly prayed as she knelt before what had become a shrine for all citizens of the Royal Kingdom of Corona-by-the-Sea.
"You shall succeed in your quest, and more, our young one." The now recognized voice of the Wirkungen replied in response to her prayer.
Rebecca, now buoyed by the positive response from the Wirkungen, stood back up, wiped the dust from her uniform pants and quickly made her way up to the bustling shipyard master.
"Your highness! The Flynn Rider is ready for its maiden voyage." He happily exclaimed as he bowed before her.
"Very good! We will set sail immediately." An exuberant Becky replied.
"Admiral! So good to see you!" Captain Wilhelm, newly promoted to the command of the Royal Coronian Navy Ship Flynn Rider exclaimed as he bowed before her.
"I too am glad to see you in command! I trust the vessel is ready?" Princess Rebecca said in response as she took a gander at the smartly dressed crew and immaculate ship.
"Aye, my lady."
"Let's set sail. Please increase steam pressure to 250 PSI." Rebecca requested.
"Aye, Admiral. Engine Room, increase pressure to maximum." Captain Wilhelm unhesitantly ordered.
"Increase pressure to maximum, aye." Lieutenant Commander Yeager repeated as he turned the valves that would increase the operating temperature of the very special boiler fitted into the Flynn Rider's engine room.
"Steam pressure at maximum. The engines are ready to be brought online when so ordered." Commander Callahan reported.
"Very good. Please continue." Captain Wilhelm replied.
Author's Note:
The "very special boiler" fitted into the Flynn Rider utilizes a power source as ancient as the universe. This said, you'll have to review and ask me to explain its theory of operation.
"Single up all mooring lines." Commander Callahan called out to the combined deck crew/dock crew.
The crew quickly and smartly removed and coiled up the first of the four sets of double mooring lines that held the Flynn Rider fast to the pier.
"All mooring lines singled up." Commander Callahan reported.
"Cast off the bow line, Mr Callahan." Captain Wilhelm requested.
"Cast off the bow line, aye. Cast off the bow line." Commander Callahan requested.
The crew smartly released the line from its anchorage on dock and, taking care to coil the excess rope, threw it onto the deck to the waiting deck hand crew. Rebecca's excitement grew as the Flynn Rider made its final preparatory steps to make to sea for its first, and most important, mission.
"Cast off the two amid ship lines, Mr. Callahan." Captain Wilhelm requested as he moved from the quarterdeck up towards the forward most mast.
"Cast off the two amid ship mooring lines, aye. Cast off the two amid ship mooring lines." Commander Callahan requested.
"Mr Yeager, please post the colors." Captain Wilhelm requested.
"Post the colors, aye." Lieutenant Commander Yeager requested.
The posting of the colors, both of the Royal Kingdom of Corona-by-the-Sea and of Vice Admiral Rebecca Fitzherbert, brought fully the attention of all within ear shot onto the graceful Flynn Rider.
Meanwhile, at the palace…
The posting of the colors also aroused the attention of the two Royal Couples, William and Catherine and Eugene and Rapunzel. They could not help but comment on the strange sequence of events.
"Our daughter is about to make a name for herself, isn't she?" The crown princess asked.
"I do believe so." The prince consort replied.
"Do you think everything will turn out alright?" A teary eyed Catherine asked the august group.
"I am sure of it. This is her destiny." A confident William replied.
"I guess we will know in about 10 to 14 days?" Catherine asked as she got her emotions back under control.
"No. I am pretty sure she will let me know way before that, mom." Rapunzel confidently replied as Eugene nodded his head in confirmation.
"She will…?" Catherine asked as she took in the looks from her daughter and son-in-law.
Back at the Flynn Rider…
The colors, having been posted, the purple banner hosting the golden sun sigil of the kingdom and the blue banner hosting three silver stars, Captain Wilhelm gave the next set of orders.
"Cast off the stern mooring line."
Cast off the stern mooring line, aye. Cast off the stern mooring line!"
All lines being removed, and the fenders brought on board and stored, it was now time to bring the Flynn Rider out of port.
"Mr Callahan, dead slow, astern on the port engine please."
"Dead slow, astern on the port engine, aye." Commander Callahan repeated as he took the engine room telegraph for just the port engine and moved it first to the 'call' position and then to the requested setting.
The sea began to boil up around the stern of the Flynn Rider as the port propeller began to bite into the sea and pull the bow around to port. The responsiveness of the ship amazed Becky as she watched the choreography of motion as the ship slowly moved away from the dock and towards the center of the harbor.
"Mr Callahan, dead slow, ahead on the starboard engine please."
"Dead slow, ahead on the starboard engine, aye." Commander Callahan repeated as he took the engine room telegraph for just the starboard engine and moved it first to the 'call' position and then to the requested setting.
The ship even more rapidly pivoted to port until its bow was directly facing the opening between the two sea wall protecting the harbor.
"Mr Callahan, dead slow, ahead on the port engine please."
"Dead slow, ahead on the port engine, aye." Commander Callahan repeated as he took the engine room telegraph for just the port engine and moved it first to the 'call' position and then to the requested setting.
Now that both engines were working in concert, the Flynn Rider slowly made its way directly up the exact center of the channel. Its speed rapidly increased to 5 knots, the maximum for the channel. Within just a few minutes, the Flynn Rider had cleared the harbor entrance.
"Now let's see what the ship can do." Rebecca said.
"Aye, my lady. Mr Callahan, please increase speed to half." Captain Wilhelm requested.
"Increase speed to half, aye." Mr Callahan repeated as he smartly moved the twin controls of the engine telegraph to 'call' and then to 'half.' Seeing the repeater move to the requested position and feeling the ship beginning to vibrate as it accelerated, he made his next call.
"Speed set as requested, captain."
"Very good."
"Can we get a speed reading, please?" Rebecca asked. Even with all that was going on, she still realized that she had a ship handling test report to complete.
The Flynn Rider, at half speed, was soon making 20 knots at 60 rpm shaft speed. Rebecca allowed the ship to stabilize at this speed for the six hour journey up the eastern coast of the continent of Io.
"My lady, we are currently at 20 knots. The propellers are rotating at 60 rpm which is exactly where it should be."
"Very good." Rebecca replied.
"Test report is filled out as appropriate. Once we reach the end of the continental shelf and make the course correction we can increase to flank. Agree?" Mr Callahan reported and then requested.
"I concur with your readings and your recommended course of action.
"Well, mom, we are truly on our way to destiny. Aren't we?" Rebecca whispered.
Back at the palace…
"Not us. You, my dear. You are such a wonderful young lady who your dad and I are so very proud of." Rapunzel whispered back as she replied to her daughter, even from 60 miles distance.
"How is she doing?" Eugene asked as he overheard his dream talking.
"Very good. I do believe that once the Flynn Rider is on course for the rendezvous with destiny she will use her connection to slightly alter the currently completed timeline."
"Completed timeline?" Eugene asked.
"Yes. See, she must go back in time to make some minor alterations to the current history of the tragedy of the Spirit of the Aurora Borealis."
"Minor alterations…?"
"Yes. While she will not be able to stop the original tragedy, what she can do is to ensure that all crewmembers and the royal family are protected from the ravages of both the sea and time itself."
"How?" Eugene asked. He had no idea that anyone could have that sort of power.
"I wish I knew. Fortunately, we do not need to know. The Wirkungen will show the way for Becky so that she is able to restore the happiness to Arendelle and, of course, my mother."
Back on board the Flynn Rider…
Rebecca past the time between the setting of the initial course and the projected course correction on the bow of her flag ship. She thought back to her dream at the palace…
The thrumming of the Flynn Rider as it made its way up the coast soon lulled Rebecca into a state of semi-consciousness. In this state, Rebecca soon found herself in Arendelle, circa six years previous.
A/N #6: Please read, enjoy and review…