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.
The Reunion, Part 1
"WOW! This tale is so amazing!" Astrid excitedly and energetically exclaimed as she jumped up and down as she could not help herself. This was the most exciting story she had ever heard or could hope to ever hear.
"That, my dear, sums it up nicely." Anna replied as she didn't have the heart to tell her daughter that such boisterous behaviour was unseemly or uncouth. Of course, the other reason that she remained very quiet in the face of Astrid's quite boisterous behavior is that Anna felt exactly the same way as her daughter!
"What happened next?" Astrid asked.
"The reunion, of course. And, my temporary abdication of the throne." Elsa replied.
Thirteen Years Previous…
Princess Rebecca Catherine Rapunzel Fitzherbert the Fearless waited patiently as the couple of Christian and the awakening Synnøve took in the sight of each other, passionately hugged and kissed each other and then came up for air. As they broke apart, they took in the sight of the almost 14 year old Coronian princess and asked the most obvious question possible.
"Excuse me, Princess Rebecca, but how are you so…?" Christian began.
"…much older looking then the 10 year old you probably remember from letters received from my grandmother?" The now 5 foot 8 inch tall Rebecca smoothly asked.
"Well, yes. What has happened? I mean there was a terrible storm; the ship being tossed as if a cork in the most violent rapids, the sails torn away and the rudder damaged or destroyed, and then…" Synnøve began.
"…you find yourself in the smoothest waters possible, a magnificent frigate appearing to come to the rescue in the nick of time?" Rebecca asked.
"Well, yes. I mean…" Christian began, before suddenly trailing off as his thought processes suddenly failed him.
"Things are not as they seem. Rather than explain now, as you would be in your right mind not to believe me, let's make our way back to Arendelle. You will find all your answers there." Rebecca stated as she recognized the faltering voice of one whose confidence suddenly failed them.
"But what about…?"
"…your niece's wedding?"
"Yes." The pair nodded.
"I am sorry to say that you were unavoidably detained and missed out on the celebration."
"Missed it? But…?"
"Since you will find out soon enough, let's just say you missed it by four years."
"FOUR YEARS!?" The pair shouted out before Synnøve fainted again into the arms of her husband.
"I am sorry for the shocks that your poor wife must be going through. But, yes, you missed out on the wedding and celebration by about four years. As I know this is a tale too unbelievable to be believed, I'll just say that the double blast of benign golden light that swept across the entire planet almost six years ago did far more than end the threat of a Black Death pandemic that had the potential to sweep across all Sonnen III, and to save my life."
"Six years ago? Saved your life? I really am at a loss." Christian stated before his growling stomach conveniently turned the topic in a totally different direction.
"You will learn all soon enough. I just ask that you be patient and wait." Rebecca said.
"As we are guests on your vessel and you have come to our aid, I am more than willing to be very patient and take things one small step at a time. I am sure we and our crew will also want to have a good meal and an opportunity to get cleaned up."
"Thank you. We will ensure everything possible is done to ensure your comfort as we make our way back to Arendelle which should take about six days as we wish to bring the Spirit of the Aurora Borealis with us," Rebecca gratefully said before stepping out of her cabin and calling to the captain. "Captain, please prepare meals for twenty-two individuals. We will eat up on the main deck. Also, please prepare the Spirit of the Aurora Borealis for towing."
"At once, my lady," Captain Wilhelm smartly replied as he prepared to carry out the orders of his navy's vice commander. Commander Callahan, please alert the galley staff to prepare hearty meals for 22."
"At once, sir." Commander Callahan confirmed before heading below deck to oversee all the preparations.
"Lieutenant Commander Yeager, please prepare the Spirit of the Aurora Borealis for towing." Captain Wilhelm requested of his Second Officer
"Prepare the ship for towing, aye." Lieutenant Commander Yeager confirmed as he too set off to carry out the new assignment. The lieutenant commander and a team of eight deck hands quickly made their way on board the Spirit to perform those steps required prior to beginning the towing operation.
Rebecca, seeing that all was proceeding as expected, went back into her cabin to further discuss the current course of events with her two guests. The conversation to follow was to leave the two royals shocked at the very unlikely turn of events. This initial conversation would leave them slightly wanting and as yet not fully comprehending the full series of events as she intentionally left out all mention of the events in Arendelle. She purposely focused just on the events in Corona.
"Your majesties, I trust that you are comfortable?" Rebecca softly asked as she re-entered the cabin.
"Yes, we are quite comfortable. We also want to thank you again for your hospitality. Can you please explain what has happened?" Christian asked.
"You are most welcome, and yes I can. I will preface myself by stating that what I am about to tell you is very unusual, yet completely truthful as I fully believe that you are deserving of the truth, no matter how unbelievable it might seem. My question, before I begin with my explanation of events, is this, though; without really knowing me, do you trust me?" Rebecca asked.
"As members of royalty, it is our sworn obligation to hold our counterparts in the same high esteem that we hold ourselves unless events prove otherwise. This said, I do believe that I speak for both of us when I say that, yes, we do trust you." Christian stated as he looked from Rebecca to the nodding Synnøve and back again.
"Thank you. While your trust is most welcoming in this situation, I do not ask for it in the absence of verification so I'll begin with the events of six years ago, when I was but eight years old."
"Eight years old?" The pair asked.
"Yes. You see, an event from six years ago ended the first phase of my life and began the second. To cut to the chase, I was left at the Royal Coronian Home for Orphaned Boys and Girls when I was but two or three days old."
"You poor thing." Synnøve sadly remarked as her eyes lightly reddened.
"Thank you, your highness. It was a very hard existence once I grew old enough, around seven and a half years old, to realize the lot in life that I had been thrown."
"We are always so hard on those that need our help the most, aren't we?" Synnøve said to her husband with a slightly twinge of guilt; a look shared by both.
"I never felt that I was mistreated. However, I did believe that more could have been done to help us. Needless to say, I was quite shocked when the destiny of the orphans turned 180 degrees from a life of want to a life of contentment." Rebecca stated with a warm smile as she thought back to the day that her mom was returned by the former Flynn Rider.
"What happened?" The pair asked simultaneously.
"The return of Rapunzel by the former public enemy number one." Rebecca said with a smirk.
"Public enemy number one?"
"Let's just say, the supposed public enemy number one."
"Now I am really confused. And really hungry!" Christian stated.
"I'll tell the rest of the story after we eat." Rebecca stated as she heard the call to the evening meal and rose to escort her guests to the main deck of the Flynn Rider.
The cheers from the two crews rose to a crescendo as they stood to honor Christian and Synnøve as they walked up and Christian took his place at the head of the table and Synnøve sat at his right hand. The crew of the Spirit of the Aurora Borealis waited patiently for the pair to take their seats. Once seated, the mess stewards quickly brought out portions for all 22 individuals and saw to their every need as they each had their first real meal in over four years.
The conversation was very minimal as they each made quick work of not just the main course and accompanying courses, but also the finest deserts; all rinsed down by the finest wines of the Royal Kingdom of Constella-of-the-Stars. The meal completed and all flatware and silverware returned to the galley for cleaning, the crew gave Christian and Synnøve first dibs on the use of the facilities to clean the accumulated grime and salt and to change into clean and dry clothing. Thus cleaned up and changed into new clothes, the three royals headed forward to the bow to continue their conversation while the two crews worked together at the stern and on board the Spirit of the Aurora Borealis to prepare the smaller caravel for towing.
"So, Rebecca, you were saying something about the supposed public enemy number one?" Christian stated as he looked for her to continue.
"So I was, wasn't I?" Rebecca replied with a toothy smile.
"I am very intrigued as I do not believe any of the official biographies make any mention of this." Synnøve stated without much fanfare.
"I guess they are mum on that point as we in Corona consider this to be common knowledge and as such there is no real reason to mention it."
"I guess we can move onto the point where you enter the picture? I mean it seems we owe our very lives to you, Rebecca." Christian stated.
"Yes, I guess that is a fair assessment. As I mentioned previously, my life began its remarkable turnaround at the time of Rapunzel's return six summers ago."
"What happened?" The two former Arendelle monarchs asked.
"In the first two weeks after her return, the pair remained hidden within the palace proper. During this time, Eugene and the King, along with my Uncle Rupert and Aunt Amanda devised the most intriguing plan to entice the kidnapper and two unlikely accomplices out into the open…"
"What did he do?"
"He openly visited the orphanage…"
"He openly visited the orphanage?" The pair asked, dumbfounded.
Six Years Previous…
"Are you sure about this, Eugene? What if you get hurt?" Rapunzel asked, the worry very prevalent in her large emerald green eyes.
"I must agree with Rapunzel, Eugene. What purpose can this serve?" Catherine asked.
"I appreciate your concern, but if I am correct, when word spreads of the visits of 'Flynn Rider' to the orphanage it will so surprise and shock Gothel and so enrage the brothers that they will not be able to help themselves in trying to get to me and the trap we will set with the help of the Pub Thugs."
Thus prepared, Eugene, in the guise of Flynn Rider, made the first of many, many visits to the less fortunate of Corona. As he expected the visits did entice the kidnapper out into the open and while it did not ultimately lead to their capture, it did set the stage for the adoption of the century.
Six Years Later…
"If the visits did not cause the capture of the kidnapper, what did? Adoption, what adoption?" Synnøve asked as she looked at the similar confused look gracing Christian's face.
"A very convoluted sequence of events ended up doing in the kidnapper and the brothers. This said, I would rather not go into great detail now as it will not add materially to this sequence of events, and my dad is better positioned to tell this part of the amazing tale."
"Fair enough, I guess. Am I right to assume that the adoption you speak of is yours?"
"Thank you, and yes the adoption I speak of was mine first by Eugene and then by Rapunzel. So about three weeks after the return, with the kidnapper and the accomplices taken care of in the most unusual of ways, both Rapunzel and Eugene continued to visit the orphanage, and me specifically it turned out. I grew to so love the visits by Eugene and how he would read to me."
"The Tales of Flynnigan Rider?" Christian asked.
"The very one. You see, as with most children of Io and I guess even all of Sonnen III, it soon became my favorite story; especially with Eugene reading it. So, about two months after her return, and after experiencing about ten days of visions of illness and death, Eugene accurately deduced the center-point of the disease and, using a power within him, ended the threat."
"What happened?" Synnøve asked.
"I happened to be bit by an infected rat as I attempted to pet it. The rapidity with which I became ill left our caretaker fearing for my life. Needless to say, she was quite shocked when Eugene arrived just in the nick of time." Rebecca said.
Six Years earlier…
"NAN!" Eugene shouted, out of breath.
"Eugene? What are you…?"
"There is no time. Are there any sick children?"
Nan, surprised by Eugene's question could only nod her head and gesture to a small room off the main hall.
"Little Becky must have been bitten by some sort of rodent during the night. I was quite shocked to see how rapidly she sickened." Nan sadly said as she gestured to the obviously quite ill little blond haired, blued-eyed girl.
"Nan, please excuse me for a moment." Eugene asked as he, entered the room and softly closed the door.
"Of course." Nan replied, knowing that Eugene would explain all when he had a chance.
"Rest easy little one. I am here to help you, ok?" Eugene kindly said; he not even noticing the ugly boils beginning to form on her arms and legs or that she was his favorite orphan, one he dreamt of being able to raise to adulthood.
"Um, ok…" Little Becky sadly sighed, the pain of the illness wracking her little body.
"Let's see. The tear is one way to heal. I wonder if my touch will work too; while I sing the song. I guess there is only one way to find out." Eugene softly spoke.
"Good, Eugene, good; you are listening to your heart and your feelings. The power will flow through you unimpeded now…"
Eugene, taking a deep cleansing breath to relax and to draw in a new found power, gently placed his hands on Becky's forehead, grimacing at the extremely feverish touch, and distended stomach and began to sing…
"Yes, Eugene; you are indeed one with the Wirkungen…"
"Flower gleam and glow…,"
As he began to sing, the awesome power of the universe began to funnel through him; his normally hazel eyes began to glow with a surreal golden hue; as if his eyes were two miniature suns themselves. At first little Becky was frightened, but she soon relaxed.
"…let your powers shine…,"
As he finished the second stanza, the glow of his eyes had spread to his entire head, lightly bathing the room in a golden light. Becky, completely amazed by the sight, was too awestruck to be frightened.
"…make the clock reverse…,"
The glow, spreading throughout his upper body and growing ever brighter, began to shine out the single window of the room and reflecting as many wonderful designs on the ground as a kaleidoscope would, and coming to the attention of Catherine and Nan as they softly conversed outside.
"…bring back once was mine…,"
The glow, now surpassing the brightness of the cloud obscured sun, had now spread from his upper body down his arms and hands, and into the young girl's body, causing her to begin to faintly glow as well. Becky could almost hear and feel the invasive bacteria's screams of agony and attempted flight as they were surely destroyed by the universe's ultimate creative power.
"…heal what has been hurt…,"
With this phrase, the girl's entire body suddenly glowed as bright as the sun as the ultimate power of the universe found the invasive bacteria and quickly isolated and completely and totally destroyed each and every sickening cell; all the while returning her health to better than normal. She involuntarily shuddered as the 105 degree fever suddenly left her little body along with all the sickening bacteria and her temperature returned to a healthy normal. Her flushed and scarred skin soon returned to its normal light complexion as well as the sores instantly healed. Most remarkably, a metamorphosis occurred at the deepest level that would leave Becky more in tune with the universe around her than even Eugene.
"…change the fates design…,"
As Eugene continued singing, his and Becky's glow grew brighter and spread out even further, soon encompassing the very ground on which the orphanage was sited and actually destroying the one remaining disease carrying rodent.
"You have done it Eugene! The final vector has been destroyed…"
"…save what has been lost…,"
The golden heavenly glow, now so bright as to make the light of the sun seem no brighter than the smallest candle, soon rapidly spread out even further afield into the many nearby villages. Citizens all over Io were soon stunned by its brightness and power; even those so far a field that the glow appeared as only a faint glow on the horizon although its effect brought forth bounty where only destitution had reigned.
"…bring back what once was mine…,"
The glow, now so bright as to be seen even as far afield as Estrella, Constella, and Orion as well as coming to the attention of those citizens of Avandell, caused a surprised princess to state that she had to get back home, immediately, as she hurriedly packed, poor Pascal never more confused by his friend's actions than now.
"…what once was mine."
"Eugene!" Becky called out, ecstatic that she was to live.
"Becky!" Eugene called out, ecstatic that his favorite orphan was healed and better than ever.
Six years later…
Christian and Synnøve sat there wide eyed and stunned into silence, a look of absolute shock and awe adorning their features.
"So, with the threat ended and my health restored, along with a new found confidence I might add, I asked if Eugene would do me the extreme honor of adopting me and raising me. The rest, as they say, is history." Rebecca happily said.
"Would we be correct to presume that Rapunzel, who knew that Eugene was her soul mate, also decided to become your adoptive mom?" Synnøve asked as she thought of the joy her sister Catherine must have felt when she learned the news.
"You would. And, to make a long story short, they married after a two year engagement that allowed Rapunzel to reintegrate with her parents and for Eugene to complete the training requisite to becoming the Prince Consort."
Christian and Synnøve were sitting there with happy smiles on their faces as they considered the amazing tale of their niece. Their smiles soon faded as they saw Rebecca's features turning darker as she considered how to move the conversation forward.
"I take it that you have more to say, things that will be uncomfortable for us to hear but that we must?" Christian asked as he easily read the features of the young Corona princess.
"Unfortunately, yes. You see, there is just the little matter of your shipwreck and loss at sea that lasted approximately four years." Rebecca hesitantly stated as she reached deep inside her for every last bit of her tact and diplomacy learned through five years of 'princess training.'
"Four years?" The pair softly asked as they both plopped back down into the chairs that had been placed at the bow of the Flynn Rider.
"Four years…" Becky repeated.
"But…?" The pair asked.
Fortunately, at this very time, Captain Wilhelm approached to make his report on the progress of preparing the Spirit of the Aurora Borealis for towing.
"My Lady…?"
"Yes, captain?"
"The Spirit is ready for towing."
"Very good, let's get underway so that we may return it and the crew and passengers to their home.
A/N #6: Please read, enjoy and review…