Lux In Tenebris Book III Embers of the Fallen

by Ari Lanning

The tragic Winter War, where the Allied Kingdoms of Arendelle, Corona, and the Southern Isles, defeated the Kingdom of Glowerhaven came at to great a cost. The Empress of All Evil, has returned, and with it the world has been shattered, and plunged into the chaos of the Everwinter. New heroes emerge to the epic battle between the fading Light, against the overwhelming Darkness.

8. Chapter 8

Chapter 8

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Princess Merida woke up with jolt and shot up into a sitting position. The air was warm; she felt disoriented, out of place, and vulnerable. Her vision blurred as she felt around for her weapons, only to find soft silk beneath her fingertips. Where am I? she wondered. She rubbed her eyes to clear the sleep therefrom and studied her surroundings. She was in a small room sitting on a soft bed; she could not for the life of her remember how she got there. Furniture made of the finest oak, like a wardrobe that stood against the wall to her right, created a homey atmosphere. Ornate art decorated the walls and a small fire crackled in the fireplace to her left. The Princess had grown far to accustomed to sleeping under a tree or in a trench dug out in the snow so luxuries like the bed she currently occupied, felt unnatural.

She realized that she was in no immediate danger and calmed somewhat.

She frowned when she moved and felt no pain lace her battered body. Looking down she saw that she was wearing a short sleeve blue silk night gown fit for royalty. Crisp white cotton bandages covered her most recent injuries, but otherwise she felt fine. She studied the bandages and realized that many of her old scares that adorned her arms had vanished. Pulling the covers off her body, Merida slowly brought her legs off the bed and let out a heavy sigh before standing. Hanging up upon the wardrobe was her familiar dark green dress with green trim lined with Celtic art, and gold embroidering. To her surprise it looked cleaner than it had ever been before, even more so than the day her mother had first given it to her.

An odd smell assaulted her; it wasn't foul but dizzyingly strong. Raising her arm to her nose hesitantly, she sniffed. I smell like… Eilonwy? Did that manky girl wash me usin' her soap? She chuckled when she realized that Eilonwy would've done exactly that, if she had been given the chance. It felt like a life time had passed since she had been first introduced to the blonde haired Crown Princess for Llyr, but Merida could never forget how clean she had smelled, how clean Merida herself now smelled.

The haze lifted off her and she began remembering what had happened. She remembered discovering that Merlin was alive, but not much after that. Merida shivered as she stood and left the warmth of the bed, not being used to having so much skin exposed. Without a second thought she changed into her green dress and found relief in its familiarity.

A knock at the door made Merida instinctively reach for her sword, but she grasped air and frowned. She took a moment to calm herself. She was safe after all, right?

"Enter." she said coolly.

The door opened and to her surprise, a boy no more than ten entered. He was wearing a fur cloak that covered most of his slim but athletic body. His hair was black and almost as messy as her own, except without her curls. He bashfully stared up at the princess.

"She said 'enter', not 'stand in the doorway'." a voice called from the hall.

The boy stepped aside, allowing the voice's owner to enter. Merida took a startled step backwards and once more reached for her weapon that was not there. A gray wolf with dark yellow eyes stood next to the boy. It kneeled, bowing gracefully as did the boy beside it, while a flustered Merida stood before them.

"Umm…" She began, staring at the two still bowed before her, unsure of what to do. She nodded her head and cleared her throat, "Umm…rise?"

"Your grace," the wolf began as it rose and looked at her, "my name is Raksha. And this is my son, Mowgli." It had a soft and elegant tone of voice that sounded female. "I would like to personally apologize for ambushing you in the woods. If we had known who you where, we wouldn't have hunted you like prey."

Merida blinked, unsure how she should react to a wolf talking in perfect plain English. She looked at the boy, who stood at the wolf's shoulder and glanced at her shyly. Merida tilted her head and wondered if this was in her top ten strangest things that she had ever seen.

"That's alright, I guess." she said hesitantly.

The boy giggled and whispered something to Raksha, who nudged him with her snout before looking back at Merida.

"I am sure you are wondering how you can understand a wolf." she mused, "Trust me, it's just as strange for us to be able to understand you. You'll get used to it over time. Your friends seemed to have adjusted quite nicely."

"My friends…" Merida blushed realizing she had totally forgotten about them. "How are they?"

"They are with the blue one they call Merlin." Raksha answered, stepping aside to clear the doorway, "If you are feeling up to it, we can take you too them."

Merida nodded and gave the wolf and the wild looking child a wide berth as stepped out of her room and waited to allow her two escorts to exit. She let them take the lead while she followed three steps behind them.

"How did that blasted weasel of a wizard come back to life anyway?" Merida asked curiously.

Raksha gave a small laugh as she looked back at Merida. "The blue cloaked one is very strange, but he saved many from our jungle before it was destroyed by the Darkness."

They're just like me, she thought. The reminder of having her home taken away from her made her heart clench in sympathy for this odd family before her. "I'm sorry."

When Mowgli whispered again, Merida stepped closer, keen to listen in.

"She's handling talking animals fairly well…"

"My mum was a bear once." she stated casually, "So, talking animals isn't that strange."

Mowgli gaped and covered his face with his hands shyly. Raksha rolled her eyes at her overly bashful son. "The boy also thinks you're pretty."

"Mother!" Mowgli shouted with embracement.

"You will never obtain a mate cowering like a starved rabbit, Mowgli." Raksha stated with gentle firmness. "You must take your mate by force, and show them you are the Alpha."

Merida gulped nervously. "Uh, I'm already spoken for lass… so no 'taking yer mate by force' or anything like that here."

The three lapsed into an awkward silence as they continued to walk down the hall. When they reached a set of large oak doors, Mowgli impressed Merida with how easy it was for him to open them. He was very strong for his size and it made her smile at the boy and pat him on the head. "Thank ya, lad."

She entered the room beyond and stared in awe. The room was humongous, the wall she was facing at the end of the room housed a majestic glass window that dominated the room and displayed the soft colors of the setting sun beyond it. The strangest assortment of people she had ever seen in one place, were conversing around a large wooden table that had fruit and a whole feast displayed on top of it. Some people weren't even people and all of them chatted in small groups, unaware of her entrance. Sitting at the very end of the table was Merlin, who noticed her entry immediately. When he rose to his feet, everyone fell into a collective silence and turned their heads towards the red head at the door.

Merida was suddenly the shy one as she fidgeted nervously, but Raksha was already prepared. "I present to you, Princess Merida, of the clan DunBroch." the wolf announced elegantly.

"Hi." Merida squeaked and waved awkwardly, glancing at everyone before she looked at the blue robed wizard at the end of the table.

Merlin gestured to an empty chair between Taran and Eilonwy, making Merida sigh in relief at seeing the familiar faces of her friends. Their clothes also looked brand new and they looked squeaky clean. Taran wore a simple red tunic and brown trousers and Eilonwy wore a short dress with a blue bodice and a pink skirt.

Everyone stood before their seats while Merida found hers and greeted her friends warmly. She stood and looked at the people before her, Raksha and Mowgli had stayed by the door, and pointed at the wild man in a loincloth who stood at the other side of the table opposite her. She remembered that he was the one who had captured and imprisoned them.

"May I introduce, Tarzan, King of the Jungle." Merlin announced, gesturing towards the man.

She mumbled a greeting at the tall muscular man and couldn't help but notice his perfect body. Resting directly on the table to Tarzan's right side, was a mysterious large black cat.

"This is Bagheera," Merlin stated, "one of my oldest and most trusted friends. I would be lost without his council." The great black panther, simply nodded his head at Merida who waved sheepishly.

Her gaze fell upon the next person, someone who resembled a humanoid cat with a bod of ginger hair, wearing a tight fitting dark blue formal suite with tan trousers and black boots that came up to her thighs . A witch perhaps? She simply couldn't tell. She looked at her in confusion, while Merlin smiled and winked at the odd humanoid. "This is Captain Amelia, leader of the alien refugees."

"Your majesty." she said inclining her head towards her respectfully.

"How ya doing, Captain?" she said with an uncomfortable smile.

"And finally." Merlin said gesturing to a small table, on top of the table where they all stood, with a group of tiny mice on tiny chairs. "The elite team from the Rescue Aid Society."

"Aww! They're so cute!" Merida blurted out, finding the white mouse in the pink coat simply adorable.

"Welcome to the Resistance, Princess Merida." greeted the only male mouse at the small table.

"The rest you'll meet in due time. For now these are the most important people you need to know of." he said as everyone took a seat, Merida did the same. Tinker Bell landed on the table with a large helping of pumpkin muffin and a thimble of tea. Swiping an apple of the table hungrily, Merida glanced at Merlin.

"So," she said, rubbing the apple on her arm, "let's talk about how ya wizarding arse isn't dead!"

Appetite suddenly lost, she crossed her arms and stared at the wizard angrily. It didn't matter to her that it probably was Merlin who reduced her wounds to small cuts using his magic. Nor did she care that her favorite green dress had been mended by magic. She was absolutely livid.

Sitting at her right hand side was Sir Taran, happily feasting on the rack of lamb, wild boar, various breads, cheeses and mead before him. Princess Eilonwy sat at Merida's left, sipping from a cup of tea as her Bauble hovered beside her. Tinker Bell was sitting crossed leg on the table with the thimble filled with tea and a chunk of cheese on a tiny plate, the muffin long since being devoured, chiming happily.

The elder wizard Merlin lit a long stem pipe as he stood and walked to the massive glass windows of the palace to the waning sunlit sky. After a few puffs of smoke and an extremely long and agonizing pause for Merida, Merlin said, "The world is far more complex and amazing than you could ever hope to imagine Princess Merida. I am integrally connected to all of these worlds. If you want to learn more about it, we can discuss it after this meeting."

"Don't you dare treat me like a child!" Merida snarled.

"Merida please." Taran begged nudging her in her side, "We can deal with this later."

She rolled her eyes and took a bite from her apple. After another long pause and a puff from his pipe, Merlin walked back to the table and leaned forward towards Tinker Bell.

"So the Red Queen didn't let you get out of Wonderland without a fight, eh? I knew she had to at least try, so that she wouldn't look completely incompetent in the eyes of the Throne."

"She tried to cut off my head Merlin!" Tink exclaimed, making Merida choke on her apple piece.

"That place was pure insanity."

"Wait a minute!" Merida shouted, "How can I understand what yer sayin Tink?"

Eilonwy smiled, for her days of being a translator were finally over, while Taran looked at Tink with curiosity. Somehow he had imagined her voice deeper…

"Merlin is a very powerful wizard Merida," Tink explained, looking at Merida smiling. Her smile fell off her face when she looked at Merlin again. "I wouldn't have made it out alive, if it wasn't for Alice. Hard to believe she is a guardian." Tink paused sipping her tea and frowned. "She saved my life and got me back to the portal. Somehow, during all the chaos and traveling through the portal back to Iredessa and Periwinkle, I lost one of the future hearts… I've lost the Genesis Cervosa."

Merlin hummed as he looked at Tinker Bell with his kind old eyes. "Why would you say that?"

"Without the Genesis Cervosa," she explained "all is lost and the Darkness will consume us all. I do not deserve this wand." drawing out her wand, she held it up to him.

"What of the other Regni Prisca? The Nova Rampion and the Purita Amor?" Merlin asked ignoring the wand offered because of Tinker Bell's own perceived failure.

"I gave them to Iredessa and Periwinkle, per your instructions. They would seed them in the Forge. I tried to return back to Wonderland for the Genesis Cervosa, but I failed.

I somehow landed in Prydain. Hunted by an Indian Warrior female, I almost died again. If it wasn't for Princess Merida, I wouldn't be here right now." Looking at Merida, the tiny fairy smiled. "I owe her my life."

Eilonwy smiled at Tink, placing her finger on the fairy's arm to lower the wand, she then looked at Merlin expectantly.

"She should not be punished for the loss of the Genesis Cervosa. Upon finding Tinker Bell we've have been pursued by a noble savage named Pocahontas. Also we have been desperately trying to make our way to the Amulet of Avalor. To complete the mission you tasked us with."

Captain Amelia sipped from her tea in impeccable elegance and looked about the group. "Can we restore the Aurora Regna whilst missing one of these Regni Prisca?" she paused frowning, "What did you call them? The so called Hearts Forged of Light?"

Bagheera looked at the catlike woman and screwed up his face in confusion at her sent, he tried to ignore it for he had learned to respect her uncanny intelligence.

"No, we cannot." he said with a gentle sway of his tail.

"With this, Genesis Cervosa missing." Amelia mused tapping her chin, "Then the darkness will not be able to assemble the Regni Prisca, to use it against us."

"Under normal circumstances this would be true," Bagheera stated, "However, things have changed since the First Era of Darkness."

With a squeak from his chair as he stood, the small brown mouse in a red turtle neck declared, "Bagheera can speak from experience and so can I. Many people have forgotten about us mice."

"You are also guardians of all the realms," Merlin commented, "I will always be humbled by the honor and nobility of the mice, Mister Bernard."

"Thank you, Merlin sir." Bernard said blushing. After clearing his throat, he continued. "With this Amulet of Avalor they could, in theory, use it to summon these forged hearts, yes?"

Merlin nodded his head. "If they're corrupted, which Morgana is powerful enough to do, it could not only result in their summoning, but they could use it to summon their own hearts forged from darkness with the skills that they possess."

Everyone at the table looked at Merlin in shock.

"I will find Genesis Cervosa," Tink declared frowning, "I swear it."

"No," Tarzan said curtly, "we focus on Amulet."

"Tarzan is right," Bagheera agreed and looked at Tinker Bell, "The loss of the Genesis Cervosa is a setback, but we must focus on the greater threat."

"If I am not mistaken," Captain Amelia said, folding her hands on her lap, "we need the Amulet to stop the Everwinter, yes?" With a nod from Merlin, the captain leaned back in her chair a thought a moment.

"We need more of your kind Tinker Bell." She paused slightly, "Neither Morgana nor Maleficent know of our forces or our need of the Amulet. It's currently very vulnerable. We must act soon."

Tinker Bell lowered her head and frowned, feeling as if she had failed them. Merlin looked at the despondent fairy and took a long drag from his pipe.

"Oh my dear Tink." he said smiling in realization, causing the fairy to look at him. "You did not fail me. I can't be more proud of you. I would not worry about the Genesis Cervosa. These Hearts of Lights have a tendency of popping up when you least expect them."

Tink smiled gratefully while Captain Amelia covered a snort. She looked at Merida and smirked. "If you keep that scowl on your face, you might pull a muscle."

"We watched you die." Merida hissed, glaring at Merlin. "Thousands died at the hands of the Snow Queen. My father died! And the one person, who was powerful enough to keep her at bay, was hiding?! How do you expect me to forgive you for this?"

Merlin frowned as he cleaned his pipe, wondering how he could explain himself properly. "You did see me die." he began, "Struck down by my apprentice Morgan Le Fey. I can assure you it was quite painful, but when a wizard dies, the body does die, but the soul simply departs the realm. I rematerialized in the next. With the realms shattered, I couldn't return. I had to wait until the realms merged again.

I am sorry for your loss but I wouldn't have been able to do anything. While each new world linked with mine, I have been busy gathering allies, to help you." Merlin looked out at everyone seated at the table. "I did not come back empty handed."

Merida huffed at the valid excuse. She wished that she could simply dismiss it, maybe if she was a few years younger she would have, but the horrors of war and the loss she experienced has given her wisdom and maturity. She examined the group around the table who stared back at her. Taran placed his hand on Merida's shoulder in comfort and looked at Merlin.

"Before you died," he said, "you just wanted us to go on this quest. Now we need an Army?"

Merlin heaved a sigh and took off his hat, rubbing his brow. "Things have changed. The Mistress of All Evil has returned. She is the most powerful sorceress of all the realms, far more powerful than I am."

"Princess Merida," the panther said firmly, seeing the hate for Merlin shine in her eyes when she looked at him "A lot has changed. Countless have died and countless more are lost in the Everwinter. Everyone at this table has lost their world. Everyone at this table wants revenge, but fighting between ourselves will not help. We need to work together to defeat the Dark fairy Maleficent."

Merida snorted, glaring at the black cat. "Ya want us to face an evil so powerful, not even Merlin can stop it? He told us that the Amulet could stop the Everwinter and kill the Blue Skinned Harpy." Merida scowled at Merlin. "Ya lied to me every step of the way. We are just pawns in a game. I am sick of ya lies and ya quests. I want to kill Queen Elsa and free my Ma and brothers."

Taran squeezed Merida's shoulder comfortingly. "How much more must we suffer?" he asked looking directly at the wizard, "Why us?"

Merlin raised an eyebrow at Taran's affection towards the feisty red head. He glanced at Eilonwy and saw no jealousy or discomfort in her posture, just resigned acceptance.

A lot has changed, he thought. Merlin stroked his beard as he regarded Taran.

"I wish I could stop your suffering," He began and looked at the entire group, "I wish I could stop all of your suffering. I wish I could, I do truly, but even if I had all the power in the world to turn back time. I would still have chosen to fight this war."

Eilonwy looked at the couple grimly, before she fixed her eyes on Merlin.

"There is something we haven't mentioned yet. We encountered something…creatures void of everything. Void of hope, of life, and of light… It was nothing, it shouldn't have existed yet it stood before us with a body as black as oil."

Tarzan's eyes narrowed as he leaned forward. "Creature of nothing?"

Merida and Taran shifted uneasily in their seats as they thought about the creatures. Eilonwy realized the encounter with that creature affected her friends far more than she thought.

"Twice now, they've tried to attack Merida and only Merida. Impish black figures with no features except…"

"Yellow eyes." Tarzan interrupted in a whisper.

Merlin frowned, feeling uncomfortable himself, as he lowered his pipe and glanced at the four adventures who found their way back to him. "Merida," he said when he looked at her again, "have you had any dreams of these creatures?"

The red head flinched and placed her half eaten apple on the table with trembling fingers.

"I don't– No. No I haven't. Does it matter?"

"Merida?" Taran whispered, having never before seen her so visibly shaken. Feeling all eyes upon her, Merida slammed her hands on the table and cried out in anger, "Those creatures have nothing to do with what ya want us to do! Maybe they're minions of Morgana. More problems caused by yer stupid war, that ya dragged us into! My family is in ruin because of ya!"

"So was mine." Eilonwy whispered as she played with a fork in front of her. "But I won't let my family's death cloud my moral conviction in stopping the darkness on the world."

Silence fell among those at the table as they looked at Merida who blushed with embracement at her outburst as she sat back in her seat. Eilonwy had suffered just as much if not more, than both of them put together. "My father is dead at the hands of the Snow Queen," she continued holding her cup of tea in her hands, "just like yours Merida, so please don't think your pain is greater. I am just beginning to understand what we are fighting for and it is more important than vengeance or my own life."

Shame and rage warred within the red head as she recalled the blonde's suffering. Guilt built in the pit of her stomach when she realized that she hadn't supported Eilonwy the way that she had supported her. Merida looked away and huffed.

"What good is it, if we're all dead?"

Eilonwy stood and frowned slightly, "What good are we if we simply give up? The light of good is more important than our own selfish needs!" She looked at everyone at the table and felt hot tears form in her eyes. She did not want to cry in front of all of them so she bowed her head, mumbled "Excuse me." under her breath and ran to the door.

"Eilonwy!" Taran called at her retreating from, "you know that wasn't what she meant! Eilowny come back!" Taran stood and ran after her.

Merida stood forcibly and stared down at Merlin. "I am going to kill Queen Elsa," she declared vehemently, "and there is nothing any of you can do about it."

Tinker Bell stood and watched the red head leave the room. She looked at Merlin and saw that he stood by the window again staring out at the night sky.

"Merida is different." Bagheera concluded. "She isn't like any princess I remember from the time before the Darkness. She is missing the grace and elegance that was characteristic of the Princesses of the Old Kingdoms."

"She is direct." Tarzan said smiling "I like this new friend."

"Uncivilized." One of the mice said with a shiver.

"Passionate." Bagheera corrected. "We could use passion."

"I will admit," Merlin added, refilling his pipe, "That I wasn't expecting so much feistiness and violence form a Heart forged of Light. That's why I dismissed her at first."

Tinker Bell started and looked at the seat the red head had occupied only moments ago.

"You mean she was here the whole time? The Genesis Cervosa?"

Merlin smiled as he puffed from his pipe, but did not look at the Never Fairy.

"Bagheera is right. She is different in more ways than one. Her heart is of light, but it is not the Genesis Cervosa. It is something very similar, yet very different at the same time." A thought struck Merlin like lightning. "Could there possibly be another forge?"

Bagheera shrugged his shoulders. "A forge capable of creating a heart of light? Impossible…." he scoffed and then hesitated, unsure. "Isn't it?"

The question had Tinker Bell rub her chin as her curious tinker mind worked. "Say there is a forge. I mean it was obvious, because when I found them in Wonderland, they were just crystal-like objects, not people."

Merlin quickly turned with the speed of a man in his youth and walked towards the table.
"There are other known forges," he said looking at those seated at the table, "but none of them are capable of making a heart of light. If there is a second light forge then there is hope!"

He looked at Tink and slammed his hands on the table, making his pipe fly into the air and land on the floor behind him. "When did you lose the Genesis Cervosa?!"

Tinker Bell jumped back at the force of the slam, losing her footing she fell back and spilled her tea.

"I told you," she said glaring at him as she rubbed her backside "on my way back from Wonderland."

"Where you still in Wonderland? Or in the portal? Or when you had just returned?" Merlin questioned quickly.

"I am not sure…" she hesitated, frightened by his intensity, "I was too busy trying not to get killed by the playing cards armed with halberds… I'm sure I was in Wonderland?"

Pushing off the table, Merlin walked to the grand windows again and stared out at the night scenery.

"Damn that Alice… Could it be possible? That was over twenty years ago…"

"Wait! I was gone for over twenties years!" Tinker Bell shouted as she fluttered up into the air. "That's something you should lead with, damn it!"

Merlin smiled as he ignored Tinker Bell's distress. He adjusted his hat on his head and looked back at Bagheera. "She is one of the oldest Guardians."

"The Alice-cub has always been the most unpredictable." Bagheera purred as he thought of the sweetly odd girl.

Drawing out his wand, Merlin rubbed his cheek with it as he spoke, "Alice is unpredictable. And to take such an action would require the Red Queen's approval."

"Who is this… Alice?" Captain Amelia asked with a bit of impatience. "If there are other players on the board we all need to know about them."

Turning to the catlike humanoid, Bagheera replied, "Alice is a man-cub trapped in the realm of Wonderland."

"Wonderland?" Amelia repeated with a raised eyebrow.

Bernard sat back in his seat and rubbed his brow. "It is the realm between the untempered schism of creation and destruction. But it is the fulcrum that all of reality rests on as well."

Tarzan knitted his brow in confusion as he looked at the mouse. "We sit on Alice?"

"No." Merlin assured chuckling, "She is a guardian of the forge, much like I once was."

"So, she has access to the forge?" Amelia asked, and when neither Merlin nor Bagheera corrected her she continued. "Then she can get us even more of these Hearts, right? Replace this Genesis Cervosa?"

"It was my job to smuggle the last three out of the forge." Tinker Bell stated with a defeated frown as she hovered above the table. "There are no more hearts forged of light."

"That isn't true." the pink mouse called Bianca countered with a kindhearted smile as she looked up at Tinker Bell. "Merida. She is proof that there are more than three."

"But where does she come from?" Amelia asked after a sip from a cup of tea.

"That's what I need to find out." Merlin declared holding his wand above his head, "Bagheera you're in charge!" With a flash of light and a burst of purple smoke Merlin vanished.

Bagheera yawned and looked at everyone who remained in the room. "I guess that means this meeting is over."

Princess Eilonwy was annoyed as she heard Taran following behind her after she fled the room. She wiped her eyes, flicked her blonde hair over her shoulders and tucked a stubborn hair behind her ear as she continued down the hallway. She glanced back at Taran who had caught up to her and rolled her eyes. "Seriously Taran, I am fine."

"Merida was just upset," he said grabbing her arm to stop her once they entered the Keep "she isn't really quitting. I'm certainly not quitting."

"Stop it okay. Just stop trying to apologize to me." Eilonwy countered, ripping her arm from his grasp.

"What do you mean?" he asked confused as she sighed and placed her hands on her hips.

"Stop apologizing for falling out of love with me."

Hearing the truth hurt them both and it had them revisit painful memories. "I am happy for you Taran, really. Merida is great. J-just stop trying to think you need to make it up to me."

"I'm sorry."

Eilonwy narrowed her eyes at Bauble who appeared next to him and briskly turned her back on them and strode away.

Catching the secret exchange between the two, Taran glared at Bauble.

"Don't. You. Dare."

With a brilliant flash of light, Bauble blinded Taran. Eilonwy smirked as she heard him groan in pain and continued walking straight out of the Keep. She breathed in the fresh cool air when she reached the courtyard and continued on along the streets of the grand city, thoroughly enjoying the sights and sounds that she found in the different world. She stopped by an oil lamp lit town square, and stared at the dozens of people from the different realms mingling together. A party-like atmosphere dominated the square, with a merry tune being played by fiddlers and a drink in everyone's hand.

"Some sight huh?"

Eilonwy nodded casually at the stranger's voice from beside her. "It's good to see happiness again."

Eilowny turned her head at the gentle chuckle coming from the stranger, what she saw had her catch her breath. He was an older teenage boy, wearing a thick black jacket over a gold shirt and brown pants. He was slender in his built and completely handsome. His short brown fringe parted at his forehead while the rest of his hair was tied back into a brief rattail. Blue eyes under thick brown eyebrows observed the crowd before them with mild curiosity. She blushed and looked down at her feet when she saw the golden earing in his left ear. He stood confident and tall beside her.

"This isn't happiness." The teen declared. "This is fear."

Eilonwy looked up at the crowd and frowned. "How can you say that? Look at them."

"It's hard when you're standing next to a beautiful girl." The boy replied coolly.

The complement boosted her own confidence and she turned to the teen once more,

"Really?" she asked with a smirk. "A bit blunt, I see."

Shrugging his shoulders, the teen smiled, "I guess I can do this all formallike. The name's Cadet James Hawkins, Spacer," he declared standing taller than she had thought possible, "but you can call me Jim."

"Well if we are going to be formal." she said with a curtsy, "I am Princes Eilonwy. Daughter of Angharad, daughter of Regat, daughter of– oh, it's such a bother going through all that. My ancestors," she stated proudly, "are the Sea People. I am of the blood of Llyr Half-Speech, the King along the Sea. You can just call me Eilowny."

Eilonwy was half expecting a bow, but Jim simply glanced at her and nodded his head.

"Cool."

"Cool?" Eilonwy repeated with a raised eyebrow.

Pursing his lips Jim looked at the crowd again. "It means I'm impressed." He turned towards Eilonwy and stared at her eyes. "So where does Eilonwy, Princess from?" Jim asked.

Eilonwy kept her gaze on the crowds of people and placed her hands behind her back. "Yes, the title is a bit long. I can see how you missed the end." Jim realized that Eilonwy had already answered his question he blushed. "I am from Llyr," she said not minding repeating herself, "a kingdom along the sea within Prydain, if it isn't buried in snow by now… A long story, very sad I assure you." she added sarcastically not wishing to get into any more details. She smiled at him and said, "So where does Jim, Spacer from?"

"Ha." Jim shook his head and crossed his arms impressed with Eilonwy yet again.

"Clever. First person from this realm that can do a decent job with sarcasm." Eilonwy mimicked how he shrugged his shoulders earlier. "I am from up there." Jim said pointing to the stars. "From a planet named Montressor that is about one hundred and nineteen, lightyears from here."

Eilonwy wasn't a fool, Jim was purposely using words and phrases that she didn't know just to impress and intimidate her. She wasn't going to let him act so arrogant, so she simply nodded thoughtfully, as if she completely understood everything he had just said.

"So," she began casually, "I guess in Montressor, songs and cheers are signs of fear? I'll make sure not to ask you what happens at festivals."

Eilonwy was the first person on this primitive rock that truly impressed him. "Depends," he declared with a smirk, "on who shows up at the festival. How about I buy you a drink instead? Then we can talk about it."

Giving a slight curtsy, Eilonwy replied, "You may."

Jim smiled and escorted Eilonwy over to a table outside. After they sat down, he raised his hand and called out to a bar maiden, "Two pints of your house brew."

"So, is this how courting works on your world?" Eilonwy asked boldly. "I'll try not to cheer."

Jim laughed at her comment and saw the expectant glint in her eyes. He remembered that he had to explain what he meant earlier.

"All of these people," he began, gesturing to the square, "come from worlds, realms if you will, that were destroyed or forever changed when the multiverse began to collapse in on itself. They have come here to try and stop something that is so evil and so powerful, it can destroy entire universes. How can a handful of lost souls possibly do anything against something infinitely more powerful than they are? The answer is simple. You can't, you simply ignore the pending doom and live what life you have left, to the fullest."

When the maiden came back with the drinks, Jim flicked a gold coin at her and leaned back, sipping from his pint. Eilonwy traced her finger around the edge of the mug, and pondered Jim's jaded and cynical look on the world.

"You come from a world of absolutes don't you?" she asked. Jim nodded, drinking from his mug. "You can explain everything away, from why the sun burns so brightly–"

"Nuclear fusion." Jim quipped.

Smiling, Eilowny continued, "to why the stars twinkle in the sky."

"Turbulence in the atmosphere refracts the light in different directions."

"But…" she countered not missing a beat as she picked up her pint with a smirk, "what if you are confronted with the unexplainable?" A she took a sip, Bauble appeared beside her and floated towards Jim. It proceeded to float around his head in circles. Watching the man from the future study the magical orb in absolute wonder, Eilonwy continued, "These people are scared, but they believe in something far greater than their fear."

Jim stretched out his hand and touched the thing hovering above his head. He found it soft to the touch with its surface dynamic like rubber, it absolutely bewildered him. Just when he found it solid, it became translucent and disappeared. It reappeared and pulsed with a bright light. He looked at a devise on his wrist and held it up to Bauble. It beeped and he lowered it and stared down at the device in complete astonishment.

"This is simply not possible…" he decided, "is it some kind of particle wave matter? I-I mean, what powers it?" Without warning it transformed into a solid gold orb and fell. Jim held his hands out to catch it. He examined the orb by bringing it closer to his face; he saw some scribbles that he assumed were ancient runes inscribed into it. "What is it?"

The orb instantly turned back into its glowing form of energy and swiftly settled next to Eilonwy. "It's called the Golden Pelydry." She said matter-of-factly, seeing the astonishment on Jim's face she took a long drink from her mug. She leered at the man before her. "That's right. They can believe in the impossible."

Leaning forward, Jim leered back and cocked a grin, "Impossible or not, I think living your life like it's your last day in this universe, assures you that you'd have no regrets when your time does come."

"Do you have any regrets?" Eilonwy asked leaning in herself allowing her leg to brush his under the table.

"Just one." Jim replied coolly as he moved in closer. "Not meeting you sooner."

Taran sat atop the walkway of the old Swedish fortress that lined the center of the city, rubbing his eyes vigorously. Merida sat next to him with an amused smile on her face as she took a bite from a new apple and looked out at the City of Stade.

"Serves ya right, ya bloody fool."

"I am still seeing white spots." he groaned as he looked at the city.

For a moment Merida felt normal, she forgot about all that has happened to her so far. Normalcy… it was becoming more of the fantasy than a reality.

"I am just so tired" she said suddenly, "I just want this all to end. If that means we have to stop not just the Snow Queen but a dark fairy and her daughter, then so be it."
Even if his vision wasn't at its best, he could always look at Merida and be blinded by her beauty. He reached out, taking her hand, he nodded. "We will take this to the end, together."

As Taran leaned in to kiss Merida, she paused and smiled as she looked just past him along the stone walkway of the wall.

"We're bein' watched."

Taran pulled away and glanced in the direction Merida had looked and saw nothing. She stood and brushed off her dress. "Come on out the two of ya," she said in a somewhat friendly voice, "no need to be shy."

After a while, the man with the wild eyes who ambushed them outside the city limits and a small slender, ten year old boy, with blonde hair, green eyes, wearing a red shirt, brown shorts, brown belt, and boots walked out of the shadows

Placing a protective hand on the boy's shoulder, the Wildman said, "Boy wish to meet knight. Tarzan promise to keep him safe."

"You wanted to meet me?" Taran asked standing up and rubbing his neck sheepishly.

"So you're a real life knight?" the boy asked in awe.

Taran suddenly found himself bashful, but Merida nudged him with her shoulder and said, "That he is lad, Sir Taran of the Caer Dallben, Knight of the Kingdom of Llyr."

She continued to eat her apple as the boy's jaw dropped, he stepped forward still staring in admiration. "My name is Cody." he said softly, "And I've always wanted to meet a real knight. Do you have a suit of armor?"

Chuckling, Taran relaxed slightly and smiled at the boy. "Yes, I have a suit of armor, but it's pretty heavy and uncomfortable, so I don't where it all the time. Do you not have knights in your realm?"

Shaking his head, Cody became somewhat bashful, "Not like you," he pointed at the sword that was sheaved on Taran's belt, "with a sword and armor. Bravely protecting the land from evil. Being a hero."

Tarzan looked down at Cody. "Cody protect his land, save animal friends from danger."

Shrugging his shoulders, Cody looked back at Tarzan and countered, "That's not the same."

Kneeling down to be at the same eye level as Cody, Taran gave a small sigh. "A knight is just a title, it doesn't make the one a hero or good," Taran reached out and placed his finger against Cody's heart, "it's what is inside here that makes you a hero."

The boy smiled at the wisdom. "I guess…"

"Cody need not be knight to be brave." Tarzan added.

"So where about ya from?" Merida asked as she finished her apple.

"I-I am from," he stuttered, being as start struck as he was, he had trouble remembering where he came from, "From Crocodile Falls. Australia."

Tossing the apple core over the wall, Merida rubbed her hands on her dress and held out her hand towards Taran. "Well Cody," she said with a smile, "if ya want, ya can be my knight."

The boy's face lit up, but Taran pouted.

"But I'm your knight." he mumbled under his breath.

Merida elbowed him swiftly and hissed, "Ag, shush now and give me yar sword."

Rolling his eyes fondly as he drew his sword, he held it out to Merida, who took it with a flourish and held it up over Cody. She saw a concerned glance from Tarzan and winked at him.

"Kneel, Cody of Crocodile Falls, Australia."

Cody was bursting with excitement and it took a moment for him to calm down before he kneeled before Merida "Cody of Crocodile Falls, Australia," she announced dramatically, "do ya swear to honor my hand by all that is just and true? That ya will honor and protect the Highlands and the clan from the darkness of evil?"

Cody just stared up at Merida in awe, she giggled, leaned forward and whispered, "Now ya say: 'I will.'"

"I will!" He shouted excitedly.

Merida winced and rubbed her ear. "The lad has some voice." she muttered and continued, "That ya will honor the good, protect the weak, and stand up against evil?"

"I will."

She smiled as she gently lowed the flat side of the sword upon Cody's right shoulder. "Then taken thy oath, ya now stand as Knight of my clan." Merida rose the sword gently over Cody's head and placed it on his left shoulder. "I, Princess Merida, First Born of the clan DunBroch, ruler of the Highlands, declare you, Sir Cody of Crocodile Falls, Australia. Knight of the clan DunBroch."

"Awesome." Cody uttered as he slowly came to his feet. "Do I get a sword?"

"I sword must be earned," she explained, handing his back to Taran "through acts of bravery and selflessness."

"Cody stay with rescue animal friends." Tarzan decided.

"Our worlds will be destroyed if we don't stop Maleficent." Cody countered, turning to the wild man.

"Cody will help," Tarzan said kneeling in front of the too eager child, "but not with sword or gun. With spirit and heart."

"That's all we need from ya lad." Merida said as she took Taran's hand.

"That is all we could ever ask of you." Taran added as he stared off to the north, eyeing the black clouds that blocked out the starlight.

/

---

/

Beast awoke slowly and felt completely disorientated and confused. His head was pounding with a splitting headache. He slowly raised his paw to put it against his head and found that it was chained down. He tried to move the other, but it too was bound in chains. The air smelled of incense and old paper, much like his library, it was calming, and reminded him of the one thing he has ever loved.

"Belle?" He looked about the dimly lit room, his vision blurrily. His memories returned slowly and the horrifying realization that the last time he saw Belle, she being held by the blue flamed god of the underworld, Hades. It shook him to his core.

"Belle!"

He pulled and thrashed against the chains in a panic as fear and sorrow overcame him. He looked about in the darkness and saw an odd misshapen figure approach him. Its hands were out stretched as he said, "Calm yourself my friend. We mean you no harm. You are safe."

As the man stepped into the light, and the Beast reeled back from his ugly misshaped form. It was then that it struck him. Who was he to feel revolted by ugliness? He was cursed with an even greater disfigurement. He looked up to the man and stared into his eyes and found them as peaceful as those of his beloved Belle.

"Where is Belle?" Beast's eyes darted about and he turned and demanded, "Where am I? Why are you holding me here?"

Coming to the side of Beast, the disfigured man with reddish hair knelt before him. "I am Quasimodo," he said softly "and you were brought here by Princess Jasmine and her friends. You were badly injured, but I have patched you up as best I could."

With fists clenched, Beast tried to lash out at Quasimodo but found he sat just out of reach. He roared and then hissed because his sudden movement only caused him great pain. Fearing more that Beast would open up his bandaged wounds, Quasimodo reached out and tried to calm him. "Please Beast, your wounds were deep. You need to rest."

"Bring me Belle!" The Beast roared.

"He can't." A feminine voice said from behind Quasimodo. The Beast and Quasimodo turned to see Princess Jasmine standing in a brown robe with its hood over her head. "Your mermaid and your female friend have been captured by Hades."

Pulling against his chains, the Beast roared again, not just in anger but in tremendous pain. Quasimodo took hold of the beasts arm and forced it back down. "You will only hurt yourself, please friend!"

"Any friend of an Arab, is no friend to me, creature!" The Beast shouted.

Crossing her arms, Jasmine eyes narrowed, "For the last time, I did not take your precious items!"

In too much pain to continue to resist his restraints, Beast fell back down to the ground. "You know who did though."

Stepping closer, Jasmine wanted to make sure the Beast saw her eyes when she said, "All I know is that we have a common enemy. You want to know who has your artifacts. I want that mermaid friend of yours. The only way we can get these things, is if we work together."

She was speaking the truth; he saw it in her eyes. Looking away the Beast couldn't shout anymore. "How can I trust you?"

"You can't, I guess." Jasmine admitted, she sat down next to Quasimodo and sighed, "But, I am willing to trust you. You are the last one to see my husband. You are also with the mermaid Ariel, who is working for whoever captured my husband. If he stole something from you, he did it not on his own freewill. I am sorry for the harm he caused you. I swear to you, that once my husband is found and freed from whatever controls him, we will help you find what was taken from you."

All the Beast did to reply was grunt. Jasmine sighed and looked at Quasimodo then back at Beast. "You should listen to Quasimodo and rest. We will come back in a bit with food, okay? So calm down and rest. You need to heal."

Quasimodo stood as well and followed the Princess out glancing back to Beast as he did. Jasmine closed the door behind him and heaved a great sigh of relief mixed with desperation.

"I just hope he is willing to help."

As the Princess walked down the narrow hall, Quasimodo followed. "Princess, his wounds are great, both of mind and body. It will be a miracle if he will recover at all."

Entering a spiral staircase, Jasmine placed her hand against the stone wall to guide her. "We better hope that a miracle is all it takes," exiting out onto a balcony, Jasmine looked down to the vast beauty of the Cathédrale Notre Dame de Paris. Below were hundreds of people, many of them were injured, who came to this holy ground for shelter against the bedlam that had swept the city.

"From what you say, this holy place is filled with miracles."

Leaning against the railing, Quasimodo gave a small sigh. He then turned to the young Princess, a girl who hadn't questioned the goodness within him once, since he took her and her band in. She had treated him as an equal and he was grateful. "Thank you again for rescuing Esmerelda."

Learning on the railing beside Quasimodo, Jasmine thought long and hard about how to answer. "I am sorry too, that she betrayed you."

"It was a horrible mistake, but she was desperate. I can only pray that God will forgive her, for unleashing the devil upon the world."

"The devil."

Jasmine knew Hades well enough to know that he was acting out of character. Was he even the architect of these Tempests? she thought.

"That's what makes no sense." Jasmine said in frustration. "If he put some kind of curse on Aladdin that would have been the first thing he would have gloated about. He was far more interested in Princess Ariel and that girl Belle." Pushing off the railing, Jasmine cursed under her breath. "Why does it feel like I should know them. Looking at those two is like looking at long lost friends."

"It is the blessing of Notre Dame." Quasimodo explained, longing to ease the Princess's frustration. "The torment and confusion of the tempest is stilled here. It is the gift God has given us in these dark times."

Jasmine admired Quasimodo's devotion to his ever-loving God, it was a beacon of light she hoped was true.

"Come my friend, we have one more guest to attend too."

"Of course."

Walking across the balcony, they went up another spiraling staircase and down a hall entering a chamber. It was well lit, with stained glass windows and candlelight. She closed the door behind them and searched the room.

"Iago? How is our tiny guest?" Jasmine saw a red blur rocketing towards her and she side stepped just in time. She and Quasimodo watched as the small, pudgy, red parrot, slammed up against the closed door because of a jet of water.

"I hate fairies." Iago muttered, dazed as he slid down to the ground.

"Well, have you figured out her name at least?" Jasmine asked with slight frustration.

Rolling to his feet, and flicking his drenched wings, Iago replied, "Silvermist and she is a Water Fairy. And she thinks I'm going to eat her!" Pointing up to the table were the young fairy stood next to a jug of water, Iago shouted, "You probably taste like garbage, you–" Another jet of water slammed Iago against the door again.

"Please Silvermist," Jasmine pleaded, lowering her hood from her head, "I am Princess Jasmine of Agra bah. I know of your kind and we mean you no harm. You are from a place called Neverland, are you not?"

Peering out from behind the jug of water, the slender water fairy with long black hair stared up at Jasmine cautiously. When she jingled, Jasmine quickly looked down at Iago.

Ringing out his feathers, Iago scowled at Jasmine. "Any animal can understand fairies! Why didn't you bring Abu? I hate this!" When she gave him her own scowl in return, one he had seen many, many times before, he knew that she was in no mood. He sighed in defeat. "She wants to know how you know of Neverland."

Taking a seat at the table, Jasmine smiled brightly at the little fairy. "I am friends with a Genie. He told me that the world I would be traveling too would be dangerous and chaotic because of an everlasting winter. He told me of the Never Fairies and how your kind is important to stopping the darkness. That you could help me find my husband, Aladdin."

Looking deep into Jasmines eyes, Silvermist inched closer as she felt the warmth within Jasmine's heart. She jingled and Jasmine looked at Iago. He rolled his eyes, and flew up landing on Jasmine's shoulder and began to translate. "She doesn't know how helpful she can be. She is alone and the other fairies do not know where she is. She tried to get–" Iago's eyes widened and a smile grew on his beak. "Oh, that sounds valuable!"

"Iago!" Jasmine snapped glaring at the bird on her shoulder.

"Fine." Iago lamented and as he put his wings on his hips. "The fairy said she is protecting a magical object called the Cor Regnorum. It will help unite the Heart's forged of Light, so they can once again be used to seal the evil of the world within the Aurora Regna. But she is all alone, so it's been hard."

A feeling of sympathy had Quasimodo sit down at the table next to Silvermist. "You've been separated from your kind?" The fairy nodded and Jasmine heart sank just a little bit more. "And you've been doing this all on your own? You must be exhausted."

Nodding her head, Silvermist held back tears as she spoke. Iago frowned and after a moment of being glared at by Jasmine, he begins to translate.

"Yes she is exhausted and lonely."

As Iago listened to the fairy's tale, he fell silent. With each chime of her twinkling jingle, Iago grew crestfallen and depressed.

"What is she saying?"

Rubbing a tear from his eye, Iago looked at Jasmine then at the now crying Silvermist.

"S-she knows when the Old Kingdoms fell and that whoever shattered the worlds would want the Cor Regnorum. She didn't want it to fall into the darkness's hands, so she hid it." Iago took a long breath, before he flew down next to the fairy and placed a comforting wing on her shoulder. "Hades captured her and tortured her to give up the location of the Cor Regnorum. The gypsy girl helped her escape. She thought she could trust the gypsy, but she only pretended to be the fairy's friend."

Quasimodo stood up suddenly, he backed away from the table and pulled at his hair, "You mean she was returning you to Hades? She tricked those other girls into following her?"

With lowered eyes, Jasmine wasn't sure if she had a right to calm him. "She might not have had a choice Quasi. She is most likely soul-bound to him, not all her actions are truly her own."

Going to the door, Quasimodo wanted to escape from the deep feeling of betrayal. When he yanked it opened, there standing just outside the door was Esmerelda. The curious gypsy had been ease dropping on her friend, in hopes that she would be better armed to defend her mounting guilt. She wasn't expecting Quasimodo to exit so swiftly. She stood dumbfounded and flustered.

"Q-quais– " She stuttered finding her thoughts fleeting. "Quasimodo, please give me a chance to explain."

Glaring at her, Quasimodo shook his head in disbelief. "I don't even know who you are anymore. I thought you were a good person, but you would sacrifice the life of that creature for yourself!"

"Quasi…" Esmerelda called out, as she reached for him, but he simply pushed her to the side and marched away from her. "Quasimodo! Please!"

"I wouldn't push it Romi." Jasmine warned, as she stared at her.

Crossing her arms, Esmerelda hissed, "You have no idea…the torture I've gone through!"

"You have no idea what tortures I've endured." Jasmine countered. The two head strong women stared sharply into each other's eyes. First to look away was Jasmine, who looked down at the young fairy with a soft smile. "It was obvious that Hades let you release Silvermist so she would take you to the Cor Regnorum. When the Beast freed you, you had your chance. It takes either stupidity or incredible bravery to defy a god you are bound too. So, which one is it?"

Leaning against the wall Esmerelda fought her guilt and loneliness. Even Jasmine's tenuous olive branch felt distant and undeserving.

"The tempest didn't bring Hades to our world, but people we thought were dead, did. One of them was a man called Judge Claude Frollo. He is running around claiming that God had resurrected him to save Paris. Even some of my own kind believe him."

Esmeralda shivered as a chill ran up her spine. "He is obsessed with me…and when his men found Silvermist and myself in the catacombs, they captured us."

Recognizing the conflicted and troubled look on Esmeralda face, Jasmine relaxed her posture slightly. "Why did you lead Ariel, Beast and Belle to Hades? With their help, you could have gotten everything you wanted."

Esmerelda looked down and fought the building guilt yet again, before she could answer. When she looked up, she looked directly at Silvermist. "Because of her. The Cor Regnorum is far more important than my life or the life of man that I love, who Hades trapped in the underworld."

Crossing his wings, Iago gave a sigh of frustration. "Will someone please clue me in on what the hell this Cor Regnorum thing is?

There was a beat of silence. Jasmine leaned back in her chair and said simply, "It's a crown."

Iago's eyes lit up. "Is a valuable crown?"

"From what I could gather from Hades' insufferable monologuing;" Esmerelda explained ignoring Iago's greed, "is that there are three crowns altogether."

Jasmine was all too familiar with Hades' monologuing. "He does love a good monologue." she agreed rolling her eyes.

Esmerelda merely smirked at the comment, and continued. "It is one of the three most valuable crowns in the world."

Stepping from behind the jar of water, Silvermist said in a soft voice to Iago, "The Crown of Princess Aurora, the last crown of the Old Kingdoms." he translated.

Jasmine gave a heavy sigh in disbelief. "The crown of one of the Core Hearts." Looking up at the ceiling, Jasmine smiled to herself. "Of course you knew…" She whispered to herself as she thought of the person who brought her to this cursed lands. "You knew damn well this was more than just Aladdin. Damn you Genie." Rubbing the side of her head, Jasmine looked at Silvermist. "Did Hades shatter the worlds?"

Shaking her head, Silvermist jingled. "It was Morgana." Iago translated, "The daughter of the Mistress of All Evil."

"Hades seemed to be acting alone," Esmerelda added. "So who is this Morgana?"

Jasmine was unsure as well and looked down at Silvermist who wasn't used to be the source of knowledge.

Far away from the sanctuary of Cathédrale Notre Dame de Paris, Belle awoke slowly. Her head was pounding and her body felt weak. When she sat up, she heard the dreaded sound of iron scraping against stone and looked down to her wrists and saw that she was shackled. She looked about in the dark room and almost gaged at the stench that assaulted her nostrils. It stunk of urine, mold, and other unidentifiable odors. The air was stale, with no proper windows for a fresh breeze to liberate her senses, she was surrounded by death.

When she heard another clank of iron on stone, she focused on the corner of the cell and saw a figure sitting against the wall. The only source of light came from a narrow slit high up in the wall; starlight glinted off the figures red hair.

"Ariel?" Belle whispered cautiously.

Silence greeted Belle at first, but then soft sniffs and whimpers reached her ears. She crawled over to Ariel slowly, dragging the shackles with her. What she saw nearly broke her heart. Before her was a woman who was completely broken. She had finally given up and was horrified by it.

"Princess–?"

"I am no Princess." Ariel interrupted. "I'm never going to see my daughter again, am I? She is going to think I gave up on her. Melody is going to think that I don't love her anymore."

Belle sat beside the sobbing woman and held her tightly. She realized that she could relate more to Melody than to Ariel at that moment. Her mother died when she was young and sometimes she wondered if her mother had simply given up on her. She wondered, if I had loved her just a little bit more, she wouldn't have died. They were absurd thoughts, she knew this of course, thoughts of an immature child, but sometimes they would creep up and fester in her mind during the darker times of her life.

Ariel rested her head on Belle's shoulder as she cried. The brunette sat still as she lamented about how this adventure wasn't so fun anymore.

"I lost my mother when I was a little girl." she said suddenly, bowing her head and wiping a tear she couldn't stop forming, "I know what it is like to think that your mother doesn't love you anymore. So, I promise you Ariel, I will get you back to Melody. I don't know how, but I will."

They lapsed into a silence that seemed to stretch on forever, until heavy footfalls broke it. Keys jingled as the person walked towards them. There was a noise at the door, followed by a loud click of the iron lock. The door swung open and the room filled with a dreadful blue light. Hades ducked his head as he entered the cell, once he was inside he stood over the two of them with his hands in front of him.

Fear and dread washed over Belle with such intensity that she was paralyzed by it. Ariel simply stared up at the god of the underworld. The door slammed shut and locked behind him. After tapping his fingers against themselves, Hades gave a sinister smile. "Soooo. How's everything? I know the accommodations are a bit out of date, but what can I say? I am a sucker for the classics."

The two remained silent, making Hades frown for wasting such good jokes on them. "You two should cheer up. Especially you, Cuz," Hades scolded as he looked into Ariel's eyes. "Come on, you two can trust me! I am totally not working with team Maleficent." Leaning forward, Hades winked at the girls. "I've always seen myself as an independent contractor. Sticking up for the underdog. So what do you say, we team up and beat Maleficent? All I need from you is the location of the Cor Regnorum."

Belle closed her eyes and did everything she could to swallow her fear and the bile forming in her throat. She opened her eyes and rose gently, letting Ariel lean against the wall once more. Her knees were weak and she trembled before the terribly awesome presence of the god.

"No."

"Oh?" Hades rubbed his chin and frowned at the foolish girl. "I don't think you understand your predicament, Gloria Sapiena." Confusion flashed in Belle's eyes. Hades grinned sadistically. "Oh, my bad. Spoiler alert! You just so happen to be a Heart Forged of Light just like my silly little cousin next to you."

Hades looked past the brunette to the redhead sitting on the floor. "Still using forks to comb your hair?" Hades giggled and gave a small sigh before he looked back at Belle. "Point is. Don't mess with me kid. I may need you alive but that is all that is required. The state, in which you are alive, is entirely optional."

Belle cleared her throat and clenched her fists "Don't you understand? We don't know where it is."

Anger tinted Hades' voice as he said, "You are Hearts Forged of Light. You are drawn to those damn crowns like moths to a flame."

Belle glanced at Ariel and saw that she was in too much pain to speak, so she continued to speak instead. "We haven't felt it since we entered the city. Something is blocking it."

Hades sighed, calming himself as he looked at Belle. "Tell you what. I will give you two a moment to think about how you want to live. Maybe then you'll try a little harder."

With a snap of his fingers, Hades vanished in a burst of blue flames. Belle fell to her knees, no longer able to keep up her bravado and released a long breath in relief. She crawled to Ariel's side and stuck her hand into her apron pocket, pulling out her silver compass.

"Norbert?"

Opening its face, the enchanted object looked up at Belle. "I am here Belle."

The woman sighed and rested her back against the cold hard wall. "Where are we?"

"The Hall of Justice." Norbert replied immediately. "If we can get out of this room, I can easily lead you out of here."

Ariel shifted beside her and rested her head on her lap; Belle stroked the broken woman's hair absently,

"I don't think we're in any condition to move. But if the opportunity arises we should take it."

"Witch!"

The sudden harsh voice made Belle flinch and drop Norbert. She snatched him from the floor just as the door flung open. A man stood in the door wearing chainmail and a chest plate, pointing an accusing finger at her.

"She enchanted that locket of hers!"

More men entered and Belle subtly slipped Norbert back into her pocket, shaking her head. "I did no such thing."

"You didn't, did you?" Another man asked stepping into the room, as a feeling of unholy darkness consumed them. Ariel sat up and Belle placed her arm around her protectively. She stared up at the older man with weathered skin and fine gray hair. He was dressed in black from his head to his toes and had a large silver crucifix hanging around his neck. He folded his hands in front of him calmly and stared down at Belle.

"Search her."

Two guards pulled Ariel away from Belle and shoved the mermaid into another corner. They forced Belle to her feet and began ripping at her dress as they searched. They finally found the compass in her apron and pushed Belle harshly to the ground and handed it to the man in black. He opened it and examined it closely.

"She was talking to it," The guard who accused her said with fearful confidence. "and it talked back Judge Frollo. You have my word."

"Witchcraft." Frollo whispered, he glared at the young girl straightening her torn dress over her shoulder. "How long have you been practicing the dark arts?"

"I am not a witch!" Belle yelled defiantly. Another man tried to enter the room, but was stopped by two guards. A great sense of relief washed over Belle for the first time in her life at who she saw.

"Gaston!"

Gaston forcedly pushed the two men away and pointed at Belle. "She is not a witch!"

The Judge turned to him with narrowed eyes. "Did you not claim that the other one bewitched you?"

Ariel looked at Gaston in desperation from the corner and whispered, "Please help me."

The words struck him through the heart. He tried to resist, but simply couldn't, he shook his head and said, "No. They are both innocent. The only unholy thing I saw was that hideous beast!"

"No!" Belle shot up to her feet and lunged at Gaston, she was however, stopped by a guard. "He is not unholy! He is my friend!"

"Friend…" Frollo repeated, walking over to Belle as she was restrained by the guard. He learned in and forcefully took hold of Belle by the chin. "So you work with demons?" he accused staring into her eyes.

White hot indignation flooded Belle. She had never felt such hatred towards someone before, so she spat in the Judges' face. He reared back in disgust, releasing her as his guard slapped Belle across the face. The force of the blow made her loose her balance, she fell to the ground and the guard kicked her twice.

"Enough!" Frollo called as he wiped his face with a small cloth from his pocket. "She will face a trial for her crimes: the summoning of a demon."

"She," he continued looking at the red head with contempt, "will also face trial, for witchcraft."

"But…" Gaston uttered weakly.

Turning to the massive man, Frollo glared at him. "I would not question my decision Gaston. For questioning me, is the same as questioning the very word of God. Do not let these harpies tempt you. If they are innocent, then God will prove them so."

Belle slowly pushed herself up into a sitting position as she spit out a mouthful of blood. "Gaston, please tell them. I am not a witch. I didn't summon a demon. Tell them the Beast is friendly."

Gaston pushed past Frollo and knelt before Belle. "Just tell them that he was controlling you." he whispered cupping her bloodied face, "Beg for forgiveness and they will let you go into my care. We can leave this insanity and be married."

Belle scowled in disbelief. "Go to hell Gaston."

"She is not in control of her words." he stated standing. He looked at the man in black. "She must be under a spell. For no one would choose a beast over me."

With a simple motion of his head, the guards and Gaston left. Frollo left last, but before he closed the door he turned and stared at the two girls.

"Confess your sins," he said simply, "or be burned at the stake."

The door slammed shut and Belle fell to the ground, groaning in pain. Ariel wiped her eyes and walked towards Belle. She sat down and lifted her head onto her lap, stroking her hair she looked into Belles eyes.

"I'm sorry Belle. I'm so sorry I brought you into this nightmare."

A chill ran down Ariel's spine as she felt eyes boring into her. She looked up and her entire body went ridged at the sight of two glowing yellow eyes in the shadows. An oily imp stepped out of the shadows by the wall and into the third dimension as if it was casually walking through a door. Its yellow eyes looked curious as in inched closer towards the two women. Ariel dragged Belle backwards until she had no more room to go. The small creature tilled it head slightly and just as it was about to take another step forward it was consumed by blue flames.

With a flash, Hades appeared with his back towards Ariel and Belle. He turned with slight confusion to the girls.

"Well that was unexpected."

"What was that?" Ariel whispered.

"Embers of the fallen." Hades said absently. He cracked his knuckles and gave a small sigh. "I wouldn't worry about it. So what ya think of Judge Frollo? One heck of a guy, eh?" Pausing he looked towards the cell's door, "When he isn't ruining my perfect plan to trick a Never Fairy, because he thinks below the belt waaaay too much." Giggling at his own joke, Hades smiled turning towards them again. "Anyhoot, what do you say? Be burned at the stake, which I will let you live through for the most part. Ooooor work with me."

Belle lifted her head weakly and glared with all her might at the god who stood over them. "Burn at the stake." she declared with full conviction.

/

---

/

The twinkling of the morning bells from the church echoed merrily through the peaceful kingdom of Arendelle. Princess Rapunzel groaned as she was ripped from her dreams into reality. She glanced over to the other side of the bed and saw that Eugene had already left. In his place rested a beautiful white rose. She smiled and tried to sit up, but winced in pain as she held her stomach, lying back down on her back.

A strange feeling overcame her as she stared at the ceiling. She rose up again, this time more slowly and looked out the windows facing the northwest side. Rapunzel stood and stretched, her golden hair cascaded down her back and pooled by her feet. She held her slightly extended belly fondly as she walked towards the vanity. She examined herself in its mirror and frowned. After a while she turned away, unhappy with how the pregnancy was affecting her body. She walked towards the large window providing a stunning view of the fjord and the town of Arendelle nestled therein.

She couldn't explain what she was feeling, but something was approaching. It was something that she felt drawn to, almost as if it was a part of her. When the door to the room swung open to the familiar humming of Rapunzel's most trusted friend and handmaiden, the feelings she felt slipped away. Cassandra looked at her Princess and gave a slight bow.

"Good morning sleepy head."

"Good morning." Rapunzel murmured as she stepped over her trail of hair and sat on the bed. She watched as Cassandra hung a clean dress onto the dresser. It was a pale green dress with yellow embroidering. It was one of her looser fitting dresses, one without a corset.

"Let's get this over with." she declared, turning towards Rapunzel with two large hair brushes in each hand.

With Cassandra's help, something that would normally take an hour or more to do was done in thirty minutes. With her hair brushed and braided, Cassandra helped Rapunzel dress and placed her crown onto her head to finish it off. They left together and found the Arendelle Scout, Karina, Daughter of Oaken Tennfjord, standing guard outside the door. She volunteered to be a Steward of Arendelle in the Queens absence. Karina was Rapunzel's appointed guard, liaison, and council.

Even though the Scout and her husband had a platonic friendship; Karina never treated Rapunzel as anything less than her title deserved. So when she saw Rapunzel, she bowed with the greatest of respect.

"Good morning Karina." the blonde mumbled stifling a yawn.

"Good morning, Your Majesty." Karina replied before she rose from her bow. She followed behind Rapunzel and Cassandra as she walked down the hall. After a moment of silence, Rapunzel glanced back at the scout.

"Any news to report Karina?"

"Three scout ships have returned and have found more glaciers that have reached the northern shores of the Cimbrian Peninsula. That means we've –"

"Lost all access to the Atlantic Ocean." Rapunzel interrupted, not needing the geography lesson.

"Yes, Your Majesty." Karina affirmed, forgetting Rapunzel had a far better handling of her geopolitics than the other Princess in the palace. "A ship has also come in from Corona with relief supplies, and a letter from your father."

Karina pulled the letter sealed with red wax out and handed it to Cassandra. Looking at the seal, Cassandra gave out a sarcastic whistle. "Oh, very official. Sealed by his ring and everything, Raps."

The handmaiden handed the letter to Rapunzel, who looked at the seal. Guards opened up doors in front of her to the royal dining hall as she continued to walk.

"Rapunzel."

The blonde smiled as she looked up from the letter at Princess Anna's own bright smile of greeting. She sat at the long table with breakfast displayed before her, wearing a tan and green dress with her kingdoms' crocus embroidered along the hem and bodice.

"Good Morning," Rapunzel greeted happily.

As she approached, Anna shot up and pulled out a chair next to her own, beckoning her to sit. Rapunzel blushed, knowing that Anna was acting like this because of her pregnancy. She thanked her and graciously took the seat. She was relieved to see that there was more than just pickled fish on the table this morning.

"So, how'd you sleep?" Anna asked with a grin as she sat down.

"Good." Rapunzel answered. "And you?"

Anna shrugged and sipped from a cup of tea. "I think I slept pretty good. It might be going away."

Rapunzel glanced at Karina who shook her head in disappointment. Anna had just lied to her, but that wasn't uncommon anymore, the curse upon her had radically changed her. Eugene was far better at handling the broken Princess than she was, but he has been spending his mornings working on the reconstitution of the Arendelle Army, so it was up to her.

"I have a good feeling about today." Anna commented loading her plate with food. "I think someone I know is going to come home."

She forgot again, Rapunzel thought as she looked at Anna with kind eyes. "Your sister." That same strange feeling returned in Rapunzel's gut. She paused from opening her father's letter and looked at Anna.

"You know," she said casually, "when I woke up, I felt something funny. As if something was approaching, I bet it is your sister Elsa."

Anna frowned momentarily before she remembered that she actually had a sister. She tried to hide her worry by stuffing a large bite of her food in her mouth.

"Of course it's Elsa," she said when she swallowed, "don't be silly." Smiling at Rapunzel who has shown nothing but kindness to her, Anna said, "I think we are becoming best friends."

Rapunzel blushed and nodded in agreement. She opened the letter from her father, unfolded it and began to read, as Cassandra poured her a cup of tea. Anna peered cautiously at Rapunzel, knowing full well that she hadn't been fooled by her lie earlier.

"Any good news?"

Lowering the letter, Rapunzel smiled at the younger Anna. "If you consider no news, good news, then yes. No ships or traders from the old kingdoms have come to Corona since the end of the war. None of our scouts have returned. The Southern Isles are faring no better either." Rapunzel continued to read. "Here's some good news: the King's Council has approved the continued alliance, even after Maleficent's defeat, as well as the free trade agreement with Arendelle."

That was good news. Anna looked at paperwork on her side of the table and smiled, "We will be forever in your debt, Raps."

"Don't worry about it." Rapunzel replied as he closed the letter. Picking up her tea, she sipped from it slowly to saver the warmth and taste. Putting it down she snacked on some of the food laid out before her.

Sitting back in her seat, Anna pulled her lips into a thin line and stared up at the gold and silver chandelier.

"D'you hear about the scout ships?"

"Yes."

"The winter may be over here, but it seems that the rest of the world is suffering under one." Anna stated softly.

Rapunzel lowered her cup of tea and looked at the young woman next to her. She had never known Anna before this curse was placed upon her, but Elsa, Eugene and Karina all said that she is a charming, happy, and bubbly girl who could face any adversity head on.

That girl is definitely not the same as the broken princess before me now. Rapunzel winced slightly, as she felt bad for using the new nickname Anna's subjects have given her. Broken. She never asked for this curse.

The blonde looked at Karina. "Do we have anything important scheduled for today?"

"After breakfast, there's nothing scheduled until midday where the Guild Master of the Docks has requested an audience with Princess Anna. After that, the mason guild will be presenting plans for the rebuilding of the bridges destroyed by Queen Elsa during the war."

"We have until midday then." Rapunzel said with a hint of glee. "I think we are overdue for some fun."

Smiling at the proposal, Anna's spirits lifted. "What do you have in mind?"

With a snap of her fingers, Rapunzel stood and peered over to her handmaiden. "Cas can you get me my art bag?"

"Art?" Anna said nervously, "Oh I don't know if I am any good with art."

Nodding her head, Cassandra replied, "You got it Raps."

As the handmaiden left, Rapunzel came over to Anna and pulled her up to her feet. She pulled her away from the table and twirled her about. "We can't have you sulking about without any fun."

"I don't sulk," Anna defended when she stopped twirling her.

"Mope then." the blonde countered with her hands on her hips, raising her brow in question.

It's hard for Anna to say no to Rapunzel. When she was asked to act as Steward, she didn't hesitate. Since Elsa and Kristoff's departure, Rapunzel has not only become Anna's advisor, but her best friend, doctor, and counselor. During the night when Anna's night terrors nearly consume her, Rapunzel was at her side. She used her magic to heal her memory, at least temporarily, or she simply stayed in the room with her. She was doing everything to fill the hole Anna felt in her heart. Although the voices in her head had stopped the moment she tried to strike her own sister down, her memory was fractured and fleeting. Especially with names, but never with Rapunzel's name, she simply couldn't be forgotten.

"Okay starting now, no more rules till noon." Anna decreed with playful exaggeration.

"Time for you to throw off your worries

I'm breaking you free so skip the toil.

No stopping me, as we go to be free."

Rapunzel sang with a smile and took her hand. Anna allowed her to pull her out of the dining hall. And she responded to the blonde with her own lyrical words.

"Even if I lose my way

You'll make it all okay

Healing wounds from the path fate has sown.

Maybe we'll change the threads of fate and turn'em into our own."

Outside of the hall, the two ran into Olaf who looked as if he was about to enter. Rapunzel side stepped the snowman and gave a bright smile to him. "Hi Olaf!" Giggling she turned to Anna and continued the lyrical conversation.

"Shining brightly, you're the spirit I seek

Just like a star

You have guided me this far.

Olaf watched the blond pull Anna past him. "Hi Anna." Olaf said waving.

Giggling, Anna looked back at Olaf and waved for him to follow. Rapunzel giggled slightly before she continued the next verse.

"Cause life's too short to let you sit there sulking

So lets get busy drawing!"

Placing both hands on his cheeks Olaf leapt into the air. "Oh, oh! I love it when she draws!" With that said, he quickly rushed off after the two.

Stepping out from the dining hall, Karina rested one hand on the hilt of her sword and rubbed her temples with her other hand, "Good God, both of them sing."

Once in the courtyard, the two Princesses waited for Cassandra and when she arrived with Rapunzel's art bag, she pulled out her chalk set and stared at the stone, already forming an image in her mind. With Rapunzel guidance, Olaf, Anna, and Cassandra began to draw. They did so under the faithful protection of Karina, the few guards stationed within the courtyard and those along the palace walls. As the image of a blended Arendelle crocus with the sun emblem of Corona took shape, it brought the attention of some of the palace staff.

Anna didn't notice the crowd forming and cheerfully colored and drew alongside Rapunzel, both of them were getting covered in the colorful chalk dyes. As they worked around the one of the many spirals from the crocus, they were broken from their bliss when horns began to trumpet throughout the to her feet and brushing sweat from her forehead, Rapunzel smiled and looked out to the main entrance.

"Open the gates! Raise the Colors!" the guards called out cheerfully.

The flag of the coat of arms of Arendelle rose up on the Palace roof as the main gates opened up.

"Attention!" another guard announced, "Her Majesty, the Right Honorable Queen Elsa of Arendelle, has returned!"

Rapunzel and Anna watched silently while those in the courtyard cheered as the Queen entered the courtyard riding her magical ice mount. Behind her, riding on his trusted reindeer Sven was the love of Anna's life, Kristoff. Anna dropped her chalk as she stared at Kristoff. She knew that she knew him; she just couldn't remember his name.

"Kristoff." Rapunzel whispered with a gentle nudge.

Her memories came flooding back to her, Anna ran towards him. Kristoff barely had enough time to get off of Sven before he was tackled to the ground by Anna. Elsa giggled at the sight as she dismounted from her steed. She gave Anna and Kristoff a moment as they passionately shared a kiss.

When Rapunzel approached her, Elsa gave a nod before she was forced to catch Olaf who jumped up to hug her. Spinning Olaf in a warm embrace, she placed him back on the ground "Oh I missed you all so much." she said smiling.

Giving a slight bow, with Cassandra who bowed even lower, Rapunzel said, "Queen Elsa, Your Majesty."

Elsa was in no mood for such formalities, so she stepped forward and pulled Rapunzel into a hug. "We need to talk privately later." she whispered in the blonde's ear. She then pulled back from the hug.

"So, how did my sister do? I see that the palace is still standing." she said chuckling.

"Hey!" Anna shouted as she stood up from tackling Kristoff.

"She did just fine." Rapunzel said giggling, before she snorted. She covered her mouth and looked at Anna. At first Anna was unsure as to why Rapunzel was holding back her laughter, but then she noticed the front of Elsa's dress and then the front of Kristoff's clothes as he stood up. She covered her mouth and giggled.

"What?" Kristoff wondered out loud, as he looked at Elsa.

The two stared at each other and realized that they were stained with the chalk that the two Princesses were covered in. As the two Princesses lost control and began to laugh, Elsa smirked and generated two snow balls in her hands, tossing one over to Kristoff.

"Now," Elsa said over the laughter looking at Kristoff, "I can't ask you to strike my sister, so how about you get blondie?"

"Wha –?" Rapunzel was interrupted by a snowball in her face.

Anna stared at Kristoff, completely surprised by what he just did, but before she could say anything, she was hit in the face with a snow ball as well. The two Princesses sputtered and cleaned their faces of the slushy and wet snow. Kristoff walked towards Elsa and they exchanged high fives.

"Is there something I should know?" Anna asked Kristoff once he walked back to her. Pulling her into his arms, Kristoff smiled.

"Elsa and I just reached a new level in our friendship on our little tour of the kingdom."

Elsa helped Rapunzel to her feet and with a snap of her fingers, the slushy snow rushed around the two Princesses, cleaning off their clothes and then swirled around Kristoff and herself before it vanished. All the chalk had been removed from everyone's clothes and skin.

"Look at what we did Elsa!" Olaf exclaimed jumping up and down in excitement.

"I've heard of the artistic talents of Princess Rapunzel, but this is incredible." Elsa replied awestruck.

"I had help." The blonde noted, looking at Anna, who smiled at her. Elsa smiled as well and walked towards her, giving her sister a long hug. She then went to her mount and removing a blue cape form it.

"How does your Kingdom fair, Elsa?" Rapunzel asked when she returned to her side with Kristoff and Anna.

Folding the cloak over her arm, Elsa gave a small sigh, "She is hurting my friend. She is hurt badly, but recovering. How is the home front?"

Anna and Rapunzel glanced at each other. "We better just show you." Anna said stepping past her sister.

Anna and Rapunzel led Elsa and Kristoff inside towards the main study. Once inside, Elsa started and had to take a moment to assure herself that this was indeed her study. Her Nordic Oak desk had never been so free of paper and parchment before, ever. She followed the Princesses over the large map of the realm pinned on the wall, with various markings peppered on it.

Rapunzel allowed Elsa to examine the map. As the worry grew on the Queens' face, Rapunzel finally spoke. "Glaciers have been appearing along the North Sea. And the last report states that we're completely cut off from Prydain and much of the western kingdoms because of them. The Baltic Sea is still open and Scouts have reported back all the way from Tallinn. There are earthquakes and colder than usual temperatures rampant there."

"Glacier's don't just appear." Elsa stated, tapping her chin with a slender finger as she stared at the map. "That ice is hundreds of thousands, sometimes millions of years old."

"Really?" Anna asked as she stared at the map. "How do you know?"

"Seriously?" Elsa replied with a smirk as she flicked her wrist and a burst of snowflakes appeared. Putting her hands behind her back, Rapunzel stared up to the map with concern.

"We are completely cut off. None of our scouts sent into the Old Kingdoms have returned."

"What should we do?" Anna asked her sister.

Giving a heavy sigh, Elsa turned to her desk, where she placed the light blue cloak down upon it.

"For now, we do nothing." she said calmly, before looking at her sister. "Anna, can you please go cancel whatever you have planned for today? I want to spend time with you."

"Not a problem." Anna announced as she took Kristoff by the arm and gleefully skipped out of the room, with him chuckling as he trailed behind her.

Elsa fell into her seat and let out a weary sigh, Rapunzel took a seat in one of the small chairs next to the desk.

"How did the other thing go?"

Elsa looked at the blue cloak on her desk and pulled in close to her. She breathed in the odd mixture of scents and sighed again.

"That is all a matter of perspective." Elsa said cryptically and pushed the cloak away from her. "I left this world and saw the impossible. I saw our past as the present, our present as the future, and the world ripped asunder. In this insanity I was told how to end the curse on my sister."

Rapunzel's eyes lit up and she leaned forward. "Really? How?"

"It is simple." Elsa whispered, "I should just kill her."

"You should what now?" Rapunzel asked cleaning out her ear, unsure that what she heard had been right. Seething, Elsa shot up, grabbed Alice's cloak and reached into its inner pocket. All the tension in the room evaporated as Elsa struggled to pull something out. When her entire arm disappeared into the small cloak pocket, Rapunzel leaned forward with intrigue. "Everything okay?"

Pulling her arm out, Elsa stared down at the pocket in frustration, "No. Stupid thing. I discovered it on our way back home…" She reached back in and grinned when she took hold of something. As she pulled it out she said, "They gave me this to kill Anna!"

"A tiara?" Rapunzel questioned with a raised eye brow, as that strange feeling overcame her again. Looking at what she had in her hand, Elsa snarled at the golden tiara with artistic runes embedded in silver. Cursing under her breath, Elsa put the tiara down and delved her arm back into the pocket. Rapunzel stared at the tiara and could make out the runes. She tilted her head nearly upside down finding them inverted.

"I think this is Prussian."

Just as Rapunzel touched the crown to pick it up, the tiara glowed in a brilliant white light before it discharged a blinding flash of energy that struck Elsa with so much force it knocked her to the ground. The energy slammed into Rapunzel and took hold of her. It then lifted her out of her chair, straight into the air. The light focused into a fine beam directly over Rapunzel's heart.

Barely able to get back to her feet, Elsa had to cover her head from the flying debris that swirled around the tiara and Rapunzel. She watched in absolute awe as Rapunzel's hair began to glow and a sphere of purple energy appeared to be pulling out of her heart. It glowed with such intensity that it sent shockwaves outwards. Finally getting to her feet, Elsa generated a shield of ice on her arm, and used it to block the books and scrolls that slammed into her. As she reached the table, she stared in awe and saw that within the orb of light, that hovered a few inches in front of Rapunzel's chest, was a dazzling crystal of unbelievable beauty and design.

It was then she realized that Rapunzel was fully conscious and was staring at her in absolute horror. So, without further delay, Elsa took hold of the tiara and shoved it back into the cloak pocket. Just as quickly as the energy and light appeared, the crystal shot back into Rapunzel's heart and she fell back down into her chair and then to the floor. All the debris that was swirling around immediately dropped to the ground and a rather large book struck Elsa in the head taking her to the floor as well.

Trying to catch her breath, Elsa held Alice's cloak tightly and found her mouth dry with the room as hot as an oven. Rapunzel gasped and rubbed her eyes as she rose, she pulled herself up to her knees as she leaned on the desk. "Hey Elsa? Rapunzel said between gasps of breaths. "Can you- can you like please do something for me?"

"Sure?" Elsa replied as she stood and winced.

Sitting back up in her chair, Rapunzel needed another moment to catch her breath, before he could speak. "Never let me touch that tiara again."

"You got it." Elsa said with her thumbs up, taking a deep breath into her burning lungs.

As she placed the cloak back onto the table, it did so with a muffled clank. Both women flinched at the unexpected sound. Rapunzel peered hesitantly at the cloak to see the hilt of a sword sticking out of the pocket. Elsa noticed this as well and touched it hesitantly. When nothing happened she drew out the small short sword and gave a sigh. Peering back into the pocket she could still see the tiara.

Elsa placed the sword on the table while Rapunzel leaned back.

"I'll stick to my frying pan thank you very much." She leaned forward when she noticed scribbles on the blade. "It's Old English."

"Wait, what?" Elsa paused for a moment. "You speak, German," she counted on her fingers as she spoke, "Norwegian, Prussian, which is a dead language by the way, and Old English which might I add, is also dead?"

Nodding her head, Rapunzel was used to people's surprise. "I also know a little French and Latin too." She said casually and leaned in slightly, making sure not to touch the weapon. "One, two. One, two. And through and through. The vorpal blade went snicker-snack." she frowned and sat back. "So, who said you had to kill Anna? Was it the Vittors?"

Realizing the question could not be easily answered, Elsa paused for a moment to think. "No… I think I was in some kind of dreamlike world. Where– this girl named Alice…guided me to another place somewhere else." Elsa paused again for she was just confusing herself.

"This is Alice's cloak?" she guessed when she saw the size of it.

"Yes." Elsa replied quickly, "But she wasn't the one who…" Taking a seat in her chair, Elsa rubbed her head, her time in Wonderland was so confusing, she simply didn't know how to make sense of it. "That whole place was just weird."

/