Phew! This chapter is longer than all three previous chapters combined! I was thinking of splitting this in two, but what the heck.
Finally, time to introduce this story's main protagonists; "The Heroic Seven" A quick recap on the children of the Frozen and Tangled characters, we have;
1) Flynn: Son of Rapunzel and Eugene (Wrenn's twin)
2) Wrenn: Daughter of Rapunzel and Eugene (Flynn's twin)
3) Amelia: Daughter of Anna and Kristoff (2nd child)
4) Aidan: Son of Anna and Kristoff (1st child)
5) Neoma: Daughter of Cassandra and Varian
6) Novak: Son of Hans and Lady Caine
7) Eri: Daughter of ?
•••
Battle for Northuldra
"13 Years Later." The screen read.
The screen showed Northuldra and the Enchanted Forest, well what's left of the Enchanted Forest.
Elsa gagged at its horrendous state. It isn't so much a forest anymore, rather a charred and crater riddled warzone!
"Whoa, now that's a Fixer Upper." Said Kristoff. Nobody argued with him.
Kristoff, Anna, Elsa, Rapunzel, Eugene, Frederic, Arianna and Willow watched with grim expressions.
A few stone structures remained but besides that nothing was recognisable, certainly not the mind boggling city sized ice fortress in the middle.
"Who on Earth even made that ice fortress?" Rapunzel asked.
"Surely not Elsa, she's supposed to be dead." Said Eugene. "Sorry." He quickly added.
Elsa huffed.
The fortress was under heavy siege, the Unquiets assailed its walls from all sides. Sounds of shouting, musket fires, screaming and cannon fire rang about. The forces defending the fortress can be identified as remnants of Arendellian and Coronan guards as well as Northuldran elemental shamans. Outside, a group of Earth Giants could be seen stomping through the Unquiets that swarmed the land.
The screen panned from one side to the other giving a quick overview of three key skirmishes. The West bridge, the Main gate and the North wall.
•••
A mighty barbarian warrior wearing ancient armour and a horned helmet lead the Unquiets across the West bridge, smashing at the defenders with monstrous strength.
"It's him. It's Kroza Kul!" An Arendellian guard yelled.
The defenders of the West bridge were forced back into the gate house, the Unquiets filled the length and width of the ice bridge. The situation appeared dire until.
"Everyone is back in the gate house. COLLAPSE THE BRIDGE!" The Lieutenant guard ordered.
As was instructed the ice bridge collapsed, dropping hundreds of Unquiet into the rocks and ice spikes below. Several dozens that still clung onto the edges and walls surged into the gate house and fought in melee.
Kroza held up an early design steal sword, he waved the heavy weapon menacingly at his foes. That's when one of the defenders stepped forward to meet him.
"I will be your opponent." The soldier announced.
The audience's mouths gaped. The soldier was just a boy, perhaps fourteen years of age. He was shorter than most of the other defenders and certainly much shorter than the towering barbarian king. And yet, his stern green eyes showed a high level of maturity beyond his years, such was the determination that it brought pause even to Kroza.
"The Sun Prince, Flynnigan Fitzherbert." Kroza acknowledged.
Rapunzel and Eugene gasped.
"Flynn?"
They had thought the boy looked familiar but never guessed it would be their son. Flynn has chocolate brown hair like Eugene, kept at a short length similar to Rapunzel's right after it was cut.
Arianna and Frederic stared in amazement at the soldier who would be their grandson, the boy looked like both Rapunzel and Eugene.
King Edmund sitting a few tables away was also astonished. His grandson is a warrior.
Anna, Elsa and Kristoff saw this and knew what this meant. Their friends had survived and reached Northuldra. Anna sighed in relief.
As the mixed feelings of surprise, delight and relief settled, the terrible feeling of dread quickly fell on everyone. Young Flynn was about to fight Kroza Kul the ancient barbarian king!
Kroza delivered a frightening battle cry and barrelled across the arena, several guards and Unquiets alike were battered aside in his haste to reach Flynn.
Most would have froze in the face of such a fearsome charge, but Flynn raised his two falchion swords and ran forward to meet Kroza. The barbarian swung first with both hands, the prince raised one of his falchions to intercept. It wasn't meant to stop the attack as it was impossible due to their size difference, but Flynn did redirect the large sword into the ground and countered with his free sword.
Kroza reached out with his left hand catching Flynn's attack hand by the wrist and pushed the boy away. The two regained their stance and circled one another before trading blows again.
Rapunzel watched with her hands covering her mouth and terror in her eyes. It felt strange for her at first to recognise the fourteen year old on the screen as her Flynn, who is at the moment still an infant. But the connection was there, this was her son, she loves him, and she is now deathly worried for his life.
Eventually Kroza backed Flynn into a corner.
"Nowhere for you to duck and dodge now." Kroza growled. Bringing the sword around in an arc at waist height.
Flynn nonetheless vaulted over the attack and slashed down on Kroza's exposed shoulder in mid-turn as he landed. Flynn then slipped around Kroza and kicked the barbarian into the corner. The tide turned and Flynn was raining blow after blow against Kroza in close proximity. With a long heavy sword Kroza could not bring the weapon up to attack.
"Yeah get him Flynn." Cheered Kristoff. Things were looking well for the good guys.
Until.
Kroza dropped his sword and seized Flynn by the wrists, pulling him close. The barbarian bashed his iron helmet against the boy's shocked face, then wrenched a falchion from his grip. Kroza swung the stolen sword carving a deep and massive gash along Flynn's chest, the barbarian raised his boot and kicked the wounded boy away.
"NOOO!" Rapunzel screamed. Her son landed hard in a bloody heap.
"Prince Flynn!" The Lieutenant cried. He and two other guardsmen rushed at Kroza, hungry for vengeance.
Flynn rolled onto his front, his right hand still tightly gripped his remaining sword while clutching his wound with his left hand. A pool of blood reddened the ice tiles beneath him.
Arianna quickly reached over to grab Rapunzel, pulling her daughter close. Rapunzel through teary eyes tried to turn back to the screen but Arianna kept Rapunzel's face towards her.
"Don't look sweet heart, just keep your eyes on me." Arianna was just as heartbroken as Rapunzel but this was all she could do for her daughter. She prayed it would be over soon, No mother should ever have to see this.
"HOLY COW! Rapunzel. You have so gotta see this!" Willow squealed.
Arianna's head shot up. She was about to give her sister a furious glare, but then she saw it too and found herself almost forcefully turning Rapunzel's head back towards the screen again.
Rapunzel's eyes bulged.
A bright golden light lit up the gatehouse.
Flynn was back on his feet standing upright, a halo of gold outlined his silhouette. There was also light coming out of his wound. The length of the fatal laceration magically knitted itself together, the only evidence of there ever being an injury was the bloodied tear on Flynn's shirt.
"HYAAAAH!" Flynn roared.
The halo of golden light brightened with blinding intensity, the few remaining Unquiets screeched, wailed and scampered away from the miniature sun.
At last the light receded and Flynn is seen again but this time with blonde hair.
Rapunzel still in Arianna's arms stared wide eyed with her mouth hanging open. Eugene turned to the adjacent table and passed Cassandra a knowing glance, Cassandra nodded back knowingly.
Flynn Fitzherbert has the Sundrop's powers.
The Unquiets raged and snarled at the Sun Prince, they threw themselves at him, teeth and claws bared. They did not get far.
With but a dismissive wave Flynn released a burst of cleansing light, banishing the shadowy horrors.
Kroza Kul swung his recovered blade in a backhand motion wounding two of the guards, the Lieutenant jumped back just in time to avoid the attack.
"Stand back Lieutenant, I'm not out of the fight yet." Flynn ordered.
The Lieutenant obeyed.
Kul glowered under his horned helm. "So you had to transform after all. How disappointing, I guess you are not the one to bring me eternal peace."
"Maybe not, but I cannot afford to die here." Flynn raised his falchion. "Let's hope the next guy will do the job."
Kroza brought his sword up. The two traded blows again, Kroza's attack ripped into Flynn's shoulder but Flynn opened up Kroza's stomach. The prince's wound simply knitted itself back up again.
"It's useless Kroza. You cannot beat me now!" Said Flynn. The winner was no longer in doubt.
"Oh? Let's see if you can grow another head!" The barbarian barked.
Kroza's wound remained, it hindered him greatly but he was defiant, with a frustrated yell he lunged at Flynn. Flynn nimbly evaded the barbarian's clumsy attack and ran his falchion across Kroza's neck. The barbarian collapsed and his body bubbled away.
The audience erupted in applause and cheering
"YES!. That's my boy!" Eugene cheered, raising his fist in the air and wrapping his other arm around his wife.
"I...don't believe it." Rapunzel breathed, crying in joy.
Arianna released Rapunzel and let herself be engulfed into Frederic's arms.
Anna hugged Kristoff.
"So this is the power of the Sundrop." Whispered Elsa. Awestruck.
Ignoring Kroza's disintegrating form Flynn turned to his fellow guards, with a raise of his hand all of their injuries suffered by Kroza or the Unquiets were heeled.
Rapunzel was becoming increasingly interested in her son's Sundrop abilities. Even when she had the powers she couldn't heal others at a distance with just a wave of her hand. She wondered what more she will learn about her son.
"The West bridge is collapsed and the gate house is secured for now. Lieutenant, take the bulk of the guards and reinforce the three princesses at the Main Gates. The rest of you, with me to the North Wall. Let's go!" Commanded Flynn.
"Three princesses?" The group muttered.
•••
It was pandamonium at the Main Gates, the defenders were pushed back into the compound and slowly being overwhelmed in the melee.
"We need to reorganise!" Shouted a blonde teenage girl with green eyes.
She swung her chain flail in an arc with both hands on the three foot long handle, the chain ended in a fist sized sphere of steel. It struck an Unquiet square in the chest shattering it's sternum...if it had a sternum. The Unquiet bubbled away nevertheless.
"Yeah no kidding!" Another girl shouted.
A slightly shorter teen with light auburn red hair and light brown eyes. She blocked a claw from an Unquiet with her shield and then stabbing back with her sword, slaying the monster.
Rapunzel, Eugene and Kristoff gasped.
Firstly the blonde girl with the chain flail. She was the spitting image of Flynn. Her hair, her eyes, her face they were the exact match as though she was his...Twin.
"Eugene. That's Wrennetta!" Rapunzel pointed.
Her husband gulped. Eugene didn't like watching his daughter fight so many foes at once. Or any foe at all for that matter. However this time he wasn't as worried, because Wrenn's usual brown hair like Flynn's has also changed to blonde. Clearly Wrenn has the Sundrop powers too and is thus able to recover from physical damage just as well.
Arianna noticed her husband's worry and placed a hand on Frederic. "Do not worry dear, if Wrenn is anything like her brother, she will get through this."
Kristoff's eyes grew as large as dinner plates at the sight of the familiar light auburn haired girl with furious brown eyes. "Amy?" He uttered. Anna and Elsa heard him.
"Amy?" Anna asked.
"Oh my gosh. Kristoff, you meant Amelia didn't you!?" Elsa exclaimed.
"What? Amel-." Kristoff stuttered. "No, this girl. I've seen-."
"Oh YES! I see it." Anna all but squeeled. "That girl is Amelia! Look Kristoff she has my hair and your eyes." Anna bounced on her seat.
Kristoff was at a complete lost for words. 'How could this be!? I saw her at the markets only a month ago.' So many questions ran through his mind, he didn't know what to think. He looked to the witch for succour. The short elderly woman gave him a knowing smile, she had expected this. "You'll see." She mouthed. And by magic or some intuition on Kristoff's part, he understood, and relaxed.
The witch cast her gaze further down the town square to look at the table of Queen Ariel and her family. As expected, Princess Melody was stirring a commotion with her mother and father. All will be answered shortly.
Anna turned to Rapunzel who was just as joyous at seeing her own daughter.
"Wrenn's pretty, just like I said." Anna chirped.
"Amelia's gorgeous too. You were right Anna, our daughters are going to grow 'beautifuller' than us." Rapunzel replied.
"I just wish we're not watching them in the middle of a battle." Elsa cringed.
"I reckon they'll be alright." Eugene answered. Though he was still worried, much of the anxiety from earlier have relaxed. "They know what they're doing and they have each other."
There was just one other thing now that's nagging the group. Who was the third princess?
The third teen girl summersaulted through the air, she landed in the midst of a dozen Unquiets, the girl slammed her fist onto the ground and a ring of ice peaks shot out spearing the surrounding Unquiets. The apparent ice sorceress stood up and shook her blonde ponytail away from her face. Revealing her features in full clarity for all the viewers.
Elsa?
Anna, Rapunzel, Kristoff, Eugene, Frederic, Arianna and Willow all turned to give Elsa questioning looks. Not only did they just witness this girl perform an ice magic attack. But her face, it's almost a replica of Elsa's, only younger.
The mysterious ice mage seized an Unquiet by the neck, freezing the neck then viciously breaking the ice and dislodging the head.
"I sense the ice bridge at the West gatehouse was collapsed. We should receive reinforcements shortly." She even sounded like Elsa.
"Uhm. Elsa, by any chance have you been hiding something from the rest of us?" Frederic asked.
Everyone at the table beamed at Elsa.
"Oh my gosh, Elsa. You have a child? How? When? With Whom?" Anna barraged her questions whilst taking Elsa by the shoulders and shaking her.
Elsa becoming slightly annoyed, retaliated by grabbing and shaking Anna roughly. "Anna, I visit you every Friday. If I was with a child at any point, you would've known."
"Oh, that kinda makes sense." Anna chuckled, slightly embarrassed.
Elsa herself wasn't embarrassed, well maybe a little embarrassed but really she was just confused. She was as clueless about the mysterious girl as the rest of her family. They continued to watch, hopefully they will get some answers.
"ALL SOLDIERS! Fall back and form a shield wall!" Amelia ordered. "Wrenn and Eri, with me!" The Arendelle descent princess had such authority in her voice that none of the soldiers questioned her.
The three girls ran foward into the midst of enemies while the soldiers fell back. Eri, apparently the name of the Elsa look alike, formed a series of ice walls behind her preventing the Unquiets from pursuing the soldiers en masse.
"Eri." Elsa repeated. "A good name."
The girls were separated from their main force and drawing the enemies towards themselves. But defying all odds, they held their own.
"Warrior princesses! Oh i approve whole heartedly." Queen Merida praised.
Her father Fergus laughed. Her mother, Eleanor shook her head and sighed in exasperation.
The trio fought back to back in well coordinated offences and defences, coordination honed through years of fighting beside one another. A stray Unquiet broke through the defence and raked it's claws along Amelia's back drawing a scream from the girl. The offender was quickly dispatched by Eri and Amelia's wound was instantly healed by Wrenn. They resumed as though the breach never happened. The three were a perfect team.
Anna released a breath she didn't realise she was holding. She knows she can trust Wrenn and 'Eri' to look out for her daughter.
"Princesses!" The Lieutenant shouted. "The shield wall is ready!"
"We gotta go!" Wrenn yelled.
Herself Amelia and Eri broke formation and ran for the shield wall, Eri left slippery ice and ice caltrops to cover their escape. The spearmen dipped their spears sightly allowing the princesses to hop on the shafts and spring over the shield wall. The three girls landed and sank to the ground in exhaustion.
"That... was tough." Amelia huffed.
"Nice to have you join us Lieutenant. I trust the West Bridge is down and the Gatehouse sealed?" Eri said. It wasn't a question, she already knew.
"Yes your highness. The bulk of our group is here to reinforce you." He replied.
"And Flynn? Where'd he run off to?" Wrenn asked.
"His highness has taken the rest of the group to reinforce the North Wall, princess."
The girls relaxed, gladdened to hear that Flynn is still among the living. And that a certain North Wall defender will receive help.
"That's good, I heard that Brad the Defacer is attacking the North Wall. Aidan will need help with that one." Said Amelia.
Anna and Kristoff glanced at one another. Their son is also fighting. The other members of their table also became concerned. They hoped he was fairing well.
•••
No such luck.
The blonde boy with blue eyes was down on one knee, in one hand he held a halberd, the other was clutching his chest. He was bleeding profusely.
"Ah crap!" Kristoff cursed. Anna looped her hands around Kristoff's arm. They leaned into each other for support.
"Not bad, Prince Aidan. You put up a good fight for a mortal boy. It is almost a shame I must kill you prematurely." A chilling voice spoke.
A figure slowly approached Aidan, his movements were mannered and graceful, exuding an air of elegance. The figure then made a grin revealing a overgrown canine tooth. A Vampire.
Aidan sneered at his foe.
"Oh don't give me that face, I want my trophy to be neutral expression when I skin it." Brad the Defacer laughed.
"You're sick in the head." Aidan growled.
Suddenly the prince's wound glowed gold and knitted itself together. Brad was puzzled until Flynn suddenly leapt over Aidan and made to sweep the vampire's head off his shoulders.
Anna and Kristoff relaxed, leaning back on their seats. Elsa also allowed herself to calm knowing her nephew now has help. Rapunzel and Eugene watch with determined faces.
Brad took a step back letting the decapitating swing of Flynn's sword miss him by a hair's width, he readied his sabre for a retaliatory strike but was instantly knocked back by a savage swing from Aidan's halberd. The vampire regained his stance and eyed the now two princes standing against him.
"Ah, Prince Flynn. So, if you are here, then that must mean you've killed old Kroza. I've killed him myself once." Brad's eyebrows furrowed. "Twice, now that I think about it."
Aidan adjusted his hold on the halberd opting for a more longer reach technique. "You aim high, I'll aim low." He whispered. Flynn nodded.
The two boys sprung into action interrupting Brad's rant.
Flynn made a few slashes then jinked left so Aidan could thrust his halberd at Brad's thigh. The attack was deflected but Flynn came back immediately and too quick for even the vampire to block, cutting Brad across the stomach. Brad roared in outrage and swung his sabre but Flynn jumped back and as he did, Aidan's halberd swept in an arc under Flynn's feet and the spear tip of the halberd slashed across Brad's shins.
Brad roared again and viciously wailed on Flynn.
"SWITCH!" Aidan yelled.
Flynn ducked low and the halberd came around high, imbedding itself in the vampire's jaw. The two boys kicked the vampire dislodging the weapon from Brad's jaw.
"Wooh! Yeah! Our boys sure have some jaw dropping skill!." Eugene cheered. He and Kristoff high fived one another.
Rapunzel chuckled and did the same with Anna. Aidan and Flynn fought with sync coordination every bit as proficiently as the girls did.
The vampire staggered back making a little distance between himself and his foes. The wounds on his chest, shins and jaw knitted.
"Hahahaha. I can do that too." Brad laughed.
Flynn grumbled. "This could take all night."
•••
Deep below the surface of the ice fortress the command bunker of the human resistance was abuzz with activity. Scouts and messengers ran back and forth relaying messages and reports of the battle's progress. Two women stood among a group around a large table, a layout of the battle was dotted with numerous markers being shifted and moved around as the reports keep coming in. The two women observed the battles overview with grim expressions.
"Oh dear lord." Anna cried.
She burried her face in her hands. Rapunzel tried to hide her face as well, all of a sudden wishing she still had her seventy feet of hair to hide under. The two women on screen were them and they have AGED!
Kristoff chuckled. "You look fine honey, really I barely noticed the difference." That didn't really help, as Anna took it as a sign that he thinks she's already starting to look old. She squirmed even more.
Eugene tried to gently remove Rapunzel's hands from her face but she resisted. "Oh come on Sunshine you still look great on screen, hell if it was me in you shoes...bare feet, leading a war for thirteen years I bet I'd look worse than old Edmund over there."
"I heard that!" Exclaimed Edmund.
"Report. Ma'ams, the forces at the Main Gates have regrouped and are now slowly pushing the Unquiets out." A messenger reported. "Also Prince Flynn has joined Prince Aidan at the North Wall and they are now engaging Brad the Defacer."
Anna and Rapunzel nodded. They were clearly stressed but definitely handling things well.
The markers on the layout were moved.
"Any news of our allies?" Anna asked.
"None yet ma'am." The observer replied. Anna sighed.
"Don't worry Anna, Varian is a man of his word. He will be here with help." Rapunzel assured her Co-queen.
Varian's eyebrows raised at the mention of his name. Cassandra and the other occupants of their table turned to him as well.
"My Queens!" another observer screamed. "Flying Unquiets and hulking Unquiets spotted. IT'S THEM!"
'Oh no.' The same thought ran through everybody's mind.
•••
Outside atop the cliffs, a good distance away from the fortress. Kroza Kul growled as he 'respawned.' It was more a growl of annoyance than anything, millennia of dying and respawning have taken the horror of death from him.
"So, the Sun Prince wasn't the one?" A wicked and childish laugh echoed from behind.
"Zhan Tiri!" Kroza snarled.
"It looks like you live to serve us a while longer. Isn't that great?" She mocked.
Kroza clenched his sword tight. He hated the Enchantress.
"It appears I must do things myself." Zhan Tiri shrugged. "Come, savage. The fall of Northuldra is nigh."
Rapunzel shivered. The situation was looking grim.
•••
Darkening the already perpetually dark skies, the flying Unquiets circled the Ice Fortress in droves. With an alpha screech the entire swarm swooped down like a wave pouring down onto the fortress defenders.
"INCOMING!" The Lieutenant shouted.
"ERI!" Wrenn shouted.
"I know. Just tell me when." The Ice mage placed her hand on the ground in ready position.
"EVERYBODY HOLD POSITION!" Amelia shouted.
The Unquiets flew down in neck break speed, their jaws gaping.
"NOW!"
A thick forest of ice peaks shot up in an instant all around the compound. They reached approximately twenty feet high just in time for countless Unquiets to plunge into their tips. Hundreds of winged monsters died in an instant. Those that managed to avoid impalement crashed into the hard ground and those that survived even that were set upon by the guards.
"HOLY CRAP!" Exclaimed Anna.
"Well... they handled that incredibly well." Kristoff stammered.
Elsa was left baffled by the power of the one called Eri. The girl used her ice magic in such a destructive manner without reservation, destroying hundreds of enemies yet saving hundreds of her comrades.
But will it be enough?
The black dragon descended. It reverted to its humanoid form, landing safely between the ice peaks.
Maleficent stabbed her staff at the direction of the guards, a stream of green fire poured out towards the defenders. One guard suffered a direct hit, his armour and flesh alike were completely desiccated by the unnatural fire, instantly reduced to charred bones where he stood.
The others dove for cover behind rubbles as Maleficent relentlessly barraged the defenders.
A Northuldran shaman harnessed purple fire and hurled the magic missile at Maleficent. The Dark Fey dispelled the magical projectile with a simple wave.
The shaman had no illusions of his chances against Maleficent so he closed in for an attempt to bash her with his staff instead. Maleficent shattered the weapon with but a word. Her eyes narrowed.
"How feeble. Humans are always so inept with magic."
Maleficent raised her staff and prepared to obliterate the shaman, when suddenly she spun around to block a burst of ice magic aimed at her back. Amelia quickly grabbed the shaman while the Dark Fey was distracted, they both ran for cover.
"Do you all think you can just hide!? Behold!" Maleficent snarled. She planted her staff on the ground and muttered some incantations. "Feel the affliction of a hundred plagues upon your flesh."
Across the compound the guards groaned and collapsed. Infections grew and spread in seconds, painful sores and boils bubbled out all over on the defender's skins. And worse.
Some in the audience fainted, others vomited. It was quite a horrific spell.
Amelia clutched her face and screamed as painful sores appeared on her cheeks.
"AMY!" Wrenn cried.
The Sun Princess pulled the younger girl down and immediately began to work her healing magic. She noted the groans and pains of her other comrades, so with a raised hand Wrenn willed her Sundrop magic on as many of the defenders as she could. It was taxing to save so many.
"Wrenn." Rapunzel whispered. "Don't let up."
Thankfully Wrenn didn't have to strain for long.
Maleficent was now solely focused on Eri, for some odd reason the plague spell has no affect on the ice mage.
"Well aren't you a strange one, let's see how you withstand this."
Maleficent shot a plume of milky green smoke which engulfed Eri. When it dissipated, the girl is revealed to be covered in botfly larvae and flesh burrowing beetles.
Any person in her position would panic and scramble to brush the flesh borers off their skin.
But Eri did neither, the girl barely even twitched she actually looked more annoyed than horrified. And in turn the flesh eating bugs showed no interest in her, they would not burrow into the girl's flesh any more than a man would willingly eat a rock. Eri continued to approach the Dark Fey unfazed.
"What the devil are you!?" Maleficent exclaimed, genuinely flabbergasted.
Elsa grew increasingly enthralled by the teenage ice mage.
The audience had begun furiously muttering amongst themselves. Who IS this girl who bares such a striking resemblance to the previous queen of Arendelle?
What is she?
Opting instead to simply blast the defiant interloper to charred ruins, Maleficent returned to casting streams of green bale fire.
Eri in turn kept dodging the attacks and retaliating with ice streams. Maleficent didn't need to dodge as she would just raise a barrier to deflect the ice magic.
At last fire collided with ice. The two opposing forces pushed against each other, Maleficent and Eri stood their grounds vying for dominance. Eventually the Dark Fey's superior aptitude with magic won the stand off. Eri made an attempt to dodge but the bale fire enveloped her right arm.
"OH NO!" Cried Elsa.
Anna clasped her hands over her mouth. Everyone on the table was mortified, they had seen what the slightest contact with the green fire could do to a person. And to have it engulf one's arm?
But then the most incredible thing.
Eri straightened herself and glared at Maleficent. And in plain sight for all to see, the remains of her right arm.
The audience gasped.
The arm that had been hit by the unnatural flame. True enough the sleeve was gone and so was the skin. But no further damage beyond that. And it wasn't muscle and sinew that was left. Instead, Eri's arm is revealed to be made of hundreds of thousands of tiny ice crystals.
Elsa leaned forward to better examine the shimmering ice crystals. She could not feel it's powers as she was only viewing from a screen, but she could definitely see it through close observation.
Then it hit Elsa.
"Ah, now I see." Maleficent snarled. "You are a conjuration. One of Elsa's ice constructs no doubt. That would explain why plagues and pestilence cannot touch you."
"You do not get to speak her name." Growled Eri.
"The strange orb Anna had carried from Arendelle on the night of its destruction." Elsa whispered.
The rest of the table turned to stare at Elsa.
"Wait! That big Snow Globe thing, was Eri!?" Asked Eugene.
Eri spurred into motion, racing head first towards Maleficent. The Dark Fey fired shot after shot, Eri dodged but by the time she was only ten feet away Maleficent scored a direct hit. The Dark Fey continued to launch her relentless barrage, creating a great fire pit on top of the ice mage.
"ERI!" Wrenn screamed.
Amelia, fully recovered from the plague spell, unlatched her shield. The Arendelle born princess spun a full circle and threw the object.
FDONK! The shield struck Maleficent right on the side of her head, actually breaking off one of her horns.
"Those horns were real? I always assumed she was wearing a hat." Willow blurted out.
Everyone gave Willow an odd look, except Kristoff.
"Hey I thought it was a hat too."
Maleficent turned to Amelia with murder in her eyes. She raised her staff. But then a figure burst out of the fire pit, driving a hard fist into Maleficent's jaw. The Dark Fey was thrown thirty feet across the compound.
The assailant strode forward. Her clothes were gone, as was her hair and skin.
Elsa continued to stare. As did Anna, Rapunzel and the rest of their families.
It wasn't just the arm, Eri's entire body was made of millions of magical ice crystals. The crystals themselves were alive, grainy movements rippled up along the length of Eri's body, up to her glowing blue eyes.
Slowly and purposefully Eri approached Maleficent.
The Dark Fey rose up, rubbing her frostbitten jaw and glaring at the ice construct.
"I will destroy you." Maleficent hissed.
•••
The scene switched again to the cliff sides, to Zhan Tiri and Kroza outside the fortress. The pair slowly made their way towards the battle.
"The defender's are committed. Maleficent and Brad appear to have great trouble in their efforts. Should we not make haste?" Kroza asked, clearly impatient.
"Let them kill each other, I care little for Maleficent just as I am sure you have no respect for Brad the Defacer." Zhan Tiri replied.
Casually Zhan Tiri maintained her slow pace whilst placing her dainty hands together in front of her dress to express her indifference. Kroza let out a gruff huff.
Anna's fingers twitched, she loathed to look away from her son and daughter as well as Flynn, Wrenn and Eri. But she knew they couldn't turn a blind eye to Zhan Tiri and Kroza, those two are too great a threat to ignore.
Suddenly the barbarian tore his sword from its scabbard and whirled into a fighting stance in one swift motion.
"Someone approaches!" Kroza warned.
"Hmm?" Zhan Tiri paused.
True to Kroza's words two hooded rangers stepped out of the tree lines.
"Huh? Who are those two?" Kristoff wondered aloud. The same question ran through everybody's minds.
"Hey, could they be with Varian, who is said to reinforce us?" Rapunzel asked.
A few turned their heads towards her and then at Varian.
"Gosh I sure hope it isn't just the two of them." Said Eugene.
The two rangers weren't notably tall or even appeared threatening at all. But Kroza seemed to sense danger, he did not lower his guard.
One of the rangers spoke.
"You will regret not joining your cronies when you could. Now they will die alone by the hands of the fortress defenders. And you two, by ours." The ranger removed his cloak to reveal himself as a young man with dark auburn hair.
"Why, he's just another boy. No older than Flynn or Aidan." Arianna balked.
"To be brought to a position when you are forced to recruit even children to fight." Frederic muttered remorsefully.
Anna said nothing, the Arendellian queen sat in silence staring at the screen, her eyes squinted and her brows furrowed. Her sister noticed this.
"Anna?" Elsa asked. "Is something troubling you?"
"Huh? Wha? Oh I'm fine Elsa." Anna broke from her trance. Kristoff also looked at her with concern.
Finally Anna caved.
"Ok, I don't know about you two but I can't help but notice something oddly familiar about that boy." Anna explained.
Elsa and Kristoff turned back to the screen. Elsa cupped her chin.
"Hmm, well now that you mention it. He does look an awful lot like-."
"SPLODING GINGER SCHNAPPS! THAT'S NOVAK!" Someone yelled.
Elsa and the rest of her group plus many of the audience turned to see Patchy Stabbington pointing and smiling. And just in time to catch Lady Caine spit said ginger schnapps all over herself.
Rapunzel squealed. "Oh my gosh. It's Novak!"
"Who's Novak?" Asked Anna.
"Novak. He's the son of Lady Caine over there." Rapunzel indicated.
Lady Caine in one swift motion pulled off her soiled dress, revealing her usual bandit clothes underneath.
"I see, I guess that explains it." Anna concluded. She had been acquainted with Lady Caine that night, which could explain why the boy looked so familiar.
Elsa however was not so convinced. Novak bore some striking resemblance to one other person
"Who is the boy's father?" Elsa asked.
"Ah. That would be Nash Stabbington, Lady Caine's husband. Nash is one of the crew members of the Mega Blimp, along with Lady Caine and his two older brothers Sideburns and Patchy." Explained Rapunzel.
"Who would have guessed the uncle with one eye recognised the boy before his own mother did." Eugene joked.
"Oh hush you. Don't be mean, she was drinking a stein when it happened." Rapunzel scolded.
The couple have gotten off topic but Elsa kept her suspicions.
•••
At the other table the Stabbington brothers were kicking up a fuss.
"That's our nephew." Sideburns chuckled, wrapping a large arm around Prince Mathew's neck.
"Our nephew?" Mathew asked. Struggling to release himself from the grip of his overexcited brother.
Patchy and Sideburns then passed their shocked father a wink.
King Marius quickly shook himself out of his shock and glared at his less mature sons.
"Has it not occurred to either of you that young Novak is about to take on Kroza Kul, or worse Zhan Tiri?" King Marius whispered.
Patchy and Sideburns froze. Slowly and cautiously The Stabbington Brothers, Prince Mathew and King Marius shifted their eyes towards the boy's mother. Lady Caine sat eerily still, she was leaning back with her arms across her chest, her expression was blank, unreadable.
Varian nudged Cassandra. "Hey Cass. Shouldn't we...you know, say something to her?" Varian asked.
Cassandra just shook her head. "Let her be Varian. Caine would not find comfort in baseless words nor would she want them."
Cassandra understood Lady Caine's pride. And so she opt to respect her friend's wishes and give her space.
Cassandra and Varian turned back to the screen.
The second hooded ranger stepped forward, this one's movements were lithe suggesting a girl was underneath.
"I'll handle the overgrown hideous brute. That leaves you with Kroza." She said.
"HA! I like these two." Kroza laughed.
Zhan Tiri growled, curtly rebuking the comment.
"Sounds good." Novak replied. The teen drew his sword, pointing the tip at the large barbarian.
The girl also drew her sword but kept her hooded cloak on. Zhan Tiri pulled out her rapier, she gave the weapon a few practice swings before facing her opponent.
"Very well child, I shall humour you. In turn I do expect you to strive to keep me entertained." Zhan Tiri said as she lowered into a rather lazy fighting stance.
"I've been waiting a long time for this." Whispered the female ranger.
"That girl is really going to fight Zhan Tiri. Does she even know what she's up against?" Varian asked. Cringing at the memory of the effort it took to defeat the demon back in Corona.
"I...think she actually does." Cassandra muttered.
It seemed absurd. Yet the girl was confident, though not to the point of arrogance. At the very least, the ranger was not fooled by Zhan Tiri's dainty appearance, she lowered herself to a serious fighting stance.
Zhan Tiri on the other hand had thrown all caution to the wind.
She'll be in for a shock. Everyone will be.
Kroza and Novak collided, the ringing of their swords blotting out the battle in the distance. Once more the barbarian fought a foe who aimed to out manoeuvre him.
"Hmm. Typical." Kroza growled.
Zhan Tiri and the female ranger also fought. The enchantress hummed and lulled with each block and parry. Then swung back. The ranger intercepted the blow but was sent flying backwards due to Zhan Tiri's unnatural strength. The ranger regained her footing and charged back in, sword to the side ready for an attack.
Zhan Tiri pulled out her boomerang, took aim and threw the sharp object at the Ranger. Her plan was obvious; the Ranger would bat the boomerang away leaving herself exposed and when she does, Zhan Tiri would lunge in with her rapier to stab at the ranger's heart.
Zhan Tiri was surprised when the ranger simply let the boomerang strike her in the chest. She was even more surprised when the boomerang broke in two and a piece came flying back towards her!
Zhan Tiri let out a yelp and instinctively brought her rapier up to her face to block the returning projectile, but left her abdomen wide opened. The ranger brought her sword diagonally down and tore a massive gash along Zhan Tiri's chest and belly sending the enchantress sprawling.
Zhan Tiri had fallen for her own trap.
"Hah! That'll sure wipe the smirk off her creepy face." Rapunzel laughed.
Her family looked at her with surprise. Rapunzel was never one to find humour in the hurt or injury of others. Though then again it is Zhan Tiri.
The enchantress rose up from the puddle of her own demon ichor, then with a ferrel growl grew and transformed into her monstrous horned demonic form. The towering demon loomed over the defiant ranger.
"You dare to make me exert myself, worm!? Fine. Look upon the bringer of your doom, and despair." Zhan Tiri said, her booming voice echoed throughout the valley.
But the ranger merely glared back at the demon.
"So you've finally decided to take this fight seriously." The ranger said. "Good, in that case I too shall reveal my true form."
And with that, the girl cast off her ruined cloak.
Zhan Tiri the much larger of the two, reared backwards in shock and terror.
"Black Rock armour!?"
The audience gave a sharp gasp, well those from Corona did anyway. The others just looked lost.
"Cassandra!?" Rapunzel cried.
The girl was a replica of her dearest friend. From the Black Rock armour to the flowing blue hair, it was Cassandra empowered by the Moonstone. Only things outstanding were the younger girl's longer hair, the obvious difference in height and finally the strange black rock contraption covering the length of the girl's left arm.
Said Cassandra just sat frozen with eyes glued to the screen, completely oblivious to all her friends staring at her with shocked expressions.
Varian kept glancing back and forth from the girl on the screen to his wife and back. With his keen eyes the engineer was able to identify the similarities and the differences of the two. He came to a decisive conclusion.
"It's Neoma." Cassandra said flatly, beating Varian to it.
"I was gonna say that." Varian muttered.
Zhan Tiri was every bit as surprised as the audience. "Cassandra's little spawnling, didn't I kill you?"
Neoma raised her mechanical left arm and tapped her blue hair in answer to Zhan Tiri's question.
"Ah, so then she made you the new wielder. Ooh but at what cost I wonder?" The demon laughed and Neoma's eyes twitched.
'Oh gosh, Neoma? Me and Cassie's daughter. Our New Moon...Moon? The blue hair and the Black Rock armour! Neoma has the Moonstone! Holy cow, how did this happen? And what's with that arm? Will she turn evil? No she won't, she's fighting against Zhan Tiri. Wait, MY BABY GIRL IS FIGHTING ZHAN TIRI!' A thousand and one thoughts screamed through Varian's mind.
The crushing squeeze of Cassandra's hand around his brought Varian out of his turbulent thoughts and he quit his panicked mutterings.
Zhan Tiri snarled. "Long ago I sought the power of the Moonstone and the Sundrop in my quest to attain ultimate power. But as you can see, I no longer require such lofty trinkets. For Chernabog has granted me that power." Zhan Tiri spread her monstrous arms. "Well in any case this makes things interesting, show me how well you can use the Moonstone!" The demon challenged.
Cassandra turned to meet Rapunzel's stare, now they both know their children will inherit their powers.
Frederic, Arianna and Eugene exchanged worried looks to one another. For obvious reasons the Moonstone has been remembered as a talisman of woe and it's destructive powers especially in the wrong hands cannot be overlooked.
"Who is that young lady? All of you seem to know her." Asked Willow.
Anna, Elsa and Kristoff also looked at them for answers.
"Her name is Neoma." It was Rapunzel who answered. "She is Cassandra and Varian's daughter. And just as her parents did before her, she is fighting bravely to save us." Rapunzel declared confidently without any doubt or worry in her heart.
Neoma lowered into a fighting stance then with a battle shout she pumped her fist out and sent dozens of black peaks at Zhan Tiri.
The bulky demon surged forward with unnatural agility for its size, managing to weave through the onslaught and close in on her foe. She was within claws reach when a peak skewered one of her tentacles, Zhan Tiri roared and lashed with her claws but the girl dove under the attack.
Neoma rolled into Zhan Tiri's flanks, the black rocks of her mechanical left arm morphed and reshaping into an arm blade. She brought the weapon up and severed two of the demon's tentacles. Zhan Tiri roared and swiped again but a black rock shot up and jarred the attack. Then another black rock sprouted from under Neoma's feet catapulting her into Zhan Tiri's face.
With a mighty swing Neoma brought the arm blade across the demon's head severing Zhan Tiri's left horn.
"Yeah that's our girl!" Varian cheered. Wrapping his arms around Cassandra. His wife blushed at the physical contact made in public but didn't complain.
Cassandra was considerably impressed with Neoma's abilities both with an arm-blade and with the Moonstone's powers.
Neoma raised her black rock arm-blade again and charged.
•••
Eri thrust her hand forward, her ice arm-blade bit deep into the dragon's side.
Back in the fortress the Snow Princess continued her duel with the Dark Fey. Wrenn and Amelia meanwhile fought with the guards against the Unquiets.
"Everyone stay in formation!" Wrenn ordered. The shield wall buckled but remained firm.
"Don't worry about Maleficent. Eri will handle her!" Amelia shouted.
The girls's parents were relieved to see them still fighting strong but remained worried.
Maleficent raised a gigantic claw and slammed it down on top of Eri. The girl instantly dispersed into a mist like state allowing the claw to harmlessly pass through her and smash only the icy floor tiles, the millions of magic ice crystals quickly gathered on-top of the claw and reassembled the girl in an instant.
"That's an impressive trick." Elsa praised.
Eri stabbed into the dragons claw drawing black goo from the wound. With a roar the dragon flapped it's great wings blowing many soldiers and Unquiets off their feet, taking to the skies with Eri hanging on.
They soared over the North Wall.
•••
"Are you two boys ready to give up?" Brad the Defacer asked.
A series of rips and bloodied tears marred the vampire's once pristine and expensive suit, but no actual wounds remained.
"Not...bloody...likely." Panted Aidan.
Flynn was beside him, also panting in exhaustion.
Anna and Rapunzel were aghast at the horrendous state of their sons. Like the vampire the boys's cloths were shredded and caked in blood.
"Pss. This is bad." Flynn whispered. "I'm going to run out of power at any moment. We have got to kill this guy now."
"He knows that we know his heart is his weak spot." Aidan replied. "And he's been damn good at defending it so far."
"Oh boy, I think I have an idea, It ain't fun." Groaned Flynn. His face full of dread.
Anna, Rapunzel, Kristoff, Eugene, Elsa, Arianna, Frederic, Willow and the rest of the audience waited in anticipation.
Then Flynn surged forward clashing blades with Brad. But the second they did, Flynn dropped both his falchions and seized the wrist of Brad's sword arm. With all his strength, Flynn pushed his right shoulder and back against Brad's chest and held the sabre out for Aidan.
With a yell Aidan swung his halberd severing two of Brad's fingers and sending the sabre over the wall.
The vampire roared in outrage, he wrapped his left arm around Flynn and held him by the throat. Brad had been disarmed but now he has Flynn as a human shield.
"Whoa, alright, alright we'll give up." Aidan conceded.
Feigning defeat, the older prince lowered his halberd. The spear tip dipped under one of Flynn's discarded swords, then in one quick jerk Aidan flicked the sword through the air towards Flynn and Brad. The vampire instinctively raised the hostage high to cover his own face. But Flynn snatched his falchion in mid air then without any hesitation, he plunged the sword into his own stomach.
The blade came out the other side, it continued through and drove straight into the vampire's heart.
Brad's eyes bulged in shock and horror upon realising he had been struck a mortal blow in his weak spot. He push both Flynn and the sword away, Flynn hit the ground once again in a bloody heap.
Aidan let out a mighty battle shout and swung his halberd in a wide arc, putting all his strength and weight into the finishing blow. The curved blade of the halberd cut clean through the vampire's neck and sent the severed head over the wall to join the two severed fingers. Slowly Brad's headless body sank to its knees then collapsed with an echoing thud.
Flynn laid on his side, the boy groaned as he slowly tried to pull the sword from his impaled stomach. Aidan rushed over to Flynn's side and dropped to his knees.
"Here buddy I got you." Aidan held onto the falchion's hilt. "Ready?"
In one quick motion Aidan pulled out the sword, drawing a shout of pain from Flynn. The Sun Prince turned onto his elbows and knees as his wound healed. When it was over, Flynn slumped down, his golden hair flickered then turned back to brown.
"Are you alright bud? Did you manage to heal it all?" Aidan asked.
"Yup." Flynn with his head on the ground groaned.
Seeing as his friend was fine, Aidan also slumped down against the walls.
"We got him. We managed to kill Brad the Defacer." Aidan laughed.
Flynn also chuckled and raised a finger.
"Do me a favour. Whatever you do, don't tell my mom I did that move." Flynn pleaded. "She'd freak out if she found out."
Every viewer in the town square turned to look at Rapunzel, everyone wondered what her reaction would be. Rapunzel sat perfectly still albeit with an odd look on her face.
"What's everyone staring at? I'm perfectly at ease." She claimed.
"She's gonna blow!" Eugene and Cassandra warned.
Rapunzel, the brave and outgoing, the unabashful, bubbly, talkative expressive queen. Who had been rendered frozen and speechless for five whole minutes suddenly...
"YOU'RE DAMN RIGHT I'D FREAK OUT! WHAT WERE YOU THINKING!" She exploded and shook her fists at the screen.
Anna quickly moved to sit next to Rapunzel, she pulled her distraught cousin into a comforting embrace. A whirlpool of different strong emotions whirled within Rapunzel; Worry, shock, anger, relief, pride, joy. Slowly she relaxed under Anna's arms.
"Our sons are incredible." Anna whispered. Leaning into Rapunzel and also letting her own pent up emotions settle.
Eugene and Kristoff sighed and nodded to one another.
"What do you think, Eugene? Reckon you and I could have taken Brad the Defacer?" Kristoff joked.
Eugene burst out laughing.
"Ha...eh...oooh, that doesn't paint a very pretty picture in my head." Eugene cringed.
Aidan helped Flynn to his feet.
"Come on, the fight's not over. We need to help the girls at the Main Gates."
•••
The ringing of battle still raged on. But another sound was heard. The sound of roaring engines in the distance grew louder and nearer. A powerful gust blew against the cliff side and the fortress walls.
High above, the Mega Blimp sailed over the valley mountains, several smaller dirigibles flanked its sides. Flags baring the insignia of a crescent moon with gear cogs flapped on all the air vessels.
"Alright time to bring the pain!" Varian cheered.
"Sound the horns!" An older Varian commanded. The deafening boom announced the arrival of the defender's reinforcements. "Time to bring the pain!"
"You didn't change a bit." Cassandra laughed.
Varian blushed. It didn't matter what age he was, Varian remained the same whether he was young, matured or old.
The hatches at the bottom of the Mega Blimp opened and twelve large objects dropped out. They each landed with a heavy crash, raising dirt and dust into the air. Mechanical noises and the hiss of pistons can be heard, then suddenly twelve hulking Automatons stomped out of the craters.
"GAH! Those things!?" Eugene gasped.
"What are they? Are they magical constructs too?" Asked Elsa, genuinely curious. She cast a look at Varian.
"Magic!? I do not work with magic." Scoffed Varian. "They are machines built with science and engineering, they act autonomously from human operators hence, Automaton."
The Automatons smashed into the rear lines of the Unquiets besieging the fortress, their gigantic steel fists pulverising Unquiets in their dozens.
"Woohoo, go Varian's Automatons!" Cheered Anna.
Eugene, Rapunzel, Frederic, Arianna and Cassandra all passed each other questioning looks and a few "uhs" and "ums"
"Well, I suppose it is quite gratifying to watch them in action." Arianna suggested. "When it's not us they're trying to crump."
Everyone agreed. Varian meekly did his best to minimise attention to himself.
The larger Unquiets turned around and began tearing through their smaller kin to get to the new interlopers. When they clashed, the grounds shook and any wayward smaller Unquiets caught in the melee were crushed.
As they fought, the Mega Blimp and the three dirigibles sailed over the melee and continued above the bulk of the Unquiet hoard gathered in front of the fortress.
"Release Quirineon payload!" Varian ordered.
Dozens of barrels were rolled out of the opened hatches and onto the Unquiets far below. The blinding explosions that followed obliterated thousands of Unquiets, it's echos could be heard tens of miles away.
The defenders witnessing the devastation of their enemies gave a mighty cheer and redoubled their efforts.
This surge of morale was not only on screen as they whole town square was also up in arms cheering.
"Wooh! Can you believe there's one of those parked on our fjord?" Kristoff laughed.
"Wow. The stuff Varian made. That the Sapporians tried to use to destroy our city is being put to good use." Rapunzel laughed.
"Definitely glad to see when they're not used on us." Eugene gulped.
Cassandra grabbed Varian by the head and gave him a huge kiss on the cheek. A wide toothy smile split the master engineer's face.
The shockwaves shook the cliff sides, breaking apart the four combatants.
Kroza Kul quickly straightened himself and lunged back at his foe. The happenings of the distance was no concern to the barbarian king, his only focus was the battle in front of him.
Novak dove under the decapitating swing and brought his own sword across Kroza's right thigh.
The barbarian shouted and brought the massive sword back to cleave his opponent in two. But Novak had already leapt onto a large rock, and as the huge sword whistled through the area he had occupied just a split second ago, the young warrior was already in the air again and soaring over Kroza.
Novak brought his sword down onto the horned iron helm of the barbarian. The blade bit deep, wedging vertically into the helmet's visor and actually rupturing Kroza's left eye.
Kroza roared in pain and shock, blindly swinging his massive sword and with his opponent's weapon still lodged in his helm.
Novak intercepted the larger man's sword arm and gave Kroza a hard knee to the stomach. With the barbarian folded, Novak took hold of his own sword and dislodged his weapon with a hard jerk.
Another roar of pain from Kroza, longer this time. One hand over the gash on his helm and the ruined eye underneath.
"Novak's winning!" Sideburns cheered, and Patchy joined him. Prince Mathew found himself also pumping his fist in support despite himself.
King Marius watched with ever increasing interest in the boy, the apparent son of his youngest son. He watched the barbarian stagger back trying to gain some distance from his foe. And Novak let him. A smile crept on Marius's face, his grandson fights with honour.
Lady Caine sat silently without conversing with anyone, her thoughts were only for herself. But none who glanced her way would miss the approving smile that graced her face. Lady Caine is thus far thoroughly impressed with her son's performance. She will soon see more.
For a brief moment Novak waited allowing for his opponent to regain himself. Kroza noticed this respite and slowly lowered his sword, then the strangest thing. Kroza's groans of pain became laughs of vindication.
"You fight well. Better than the other boy." Kroza breathed.
The barbarian raised his head to the skies. "Long ago I coveted immortality, for it was my greatest fear to grow old, to witness my body fail me, to lose my ability to fight. Then at last I found it." Kroza angrily drove his sword into the ground. "BUT IT IS A CURSE! IT IS HELL! Never to find peace until a worthy foe may defeat me."
"Since time immemorial I have travelled the world in search of such a foe, but they are all weak. And those who do kill me do it through means of foul play and trickery; be it magic or gang ups." Kroza returned his gaze to Novak. "Only you have come this far." Kroza removed his hand from his helmet visor then squared his stance against Novak, again raising his huge sword.
"If you are the one I have been searching for, if you are the one to finally give me peace. Then do it. KILL ME!" The barbarian spread his arms in invitation. "And I Kroza Kul, once king and last of my warrior tribe shall sing my praise for you from the world beyond." Kroza struck his cuirass with a clenched fist.
"Sounds good." Was Novak's simple reply.
The Barbarian let out a fierce battle cry and charged at Novak, the pair exchanged flurries of sword blows once again.
Eventually Kroza's paw wrapped around Novak's sword wrist, the larger man pulled the teen close and bashed his helmet against the boy's face. The barbarian ripped the sword from Novak's grip, the same move he had used against Flynn earlier.
"Another disappointment." Krozza muttered as he swung the stolen sword at the dazed teen.
"NO!" Lady Caine cried.
It was the first real display of emotion she had shown all night since the vision began. Lady Caine had done an amazing job keeping her emotions in check but at last the former pirate could contain her worry no more.
But the mortal blow never landed, by reflex Novak had ducked under the sweep and kicked Krozza square in the gut. Novak then drew a pair sticks from his belt, he got close, pushing Kroza's arms aside. Then to the surprise of all the audiences; with a flick the sticks unfolded into a pair of razor tipped steel fans.
Too fast and too close for Kroza to prevent, Novak severed the barbarian's tendons with three expertly executed strikes. Then he threw one of the fans, the weapon circled the air and struck Kroza's neck before coming back into Novak's waiting hand.
The barbarian slumped onto his knees, immobile and bleeding in torrents.
"Was that fair enough?" Asked Novak. He retrieved his sword.
Kroza could no longer move his head but managed to utter a gurgling "Yes." It was a simple word but it carried all the joy and relief in the world, relief from a torment endured for thousands of years. At last Kroza Kul collapsed finally for the last time, never to rise again.
With a nod to his fallen foe Novak folded his fans and promptly made his way to assist his companion.
"HE WON!" The Stabbingtons cheered, they stood and pumped their fists in the air. This time Lady Caine joined them.
"YES! That's my boy!" said Lady Caine.
She was genuinely surprised that Novak had used the steel fans to defeat Kroza. The royals at the next table were also cheering and congratulating her and the Stabbington brothers.
Marius and Mathew made sure to show as little interaction as possible towards the Stabbington family especially before the sights of Arendelle's queen and former queen. It was obvious that even the king and queen of Corona did not know who the boy's father was either and Marius thought it best to keep it that way.
Only when Queen Anna and the rest of her family turned back to face the screen did Marius move to place a hand on Lady Caine's shoulder... cautiously. "Your son is a most exemplary fighter. You should be very proud." He said and quickly returned to his seat. Lady Caine was pleasantly surprised by the show of support from the Southern Isle's king.
"You taught him well, I dare say he fights better than you." Cassandra complemented. Lady Caine sat back down smiling.
Cassandra also sat back down but with a slight worry on her face. "I just hope Neoma fights better than me." She whispered.
The scene changed to Neoma versus Zhan Tiri. A caged demon thrashed within the confines of her black rock prison. With a growl Zhan Tiri slipped through the gaps as a blizzard, then taking the form of a manticore.
The beast bowled over the much smaller girl, biting down on Neoma's leg and hurling her against a dead tree.
"Your armour may be impenetrable but your organs are only human. I could just throttle you to death, little girl." Zhan Tiri laughed.
The beast swung it's massive tail at the moonstone wielder.
Neoma caught the attack under her right arm, she held on tight as she was raised into the air, the poison barbs grating harmlessly against her impenetrable armour. With a stomp of her landing a sharp peak shot from the ground severing the beast's tail. Neoma then reverse the end of the manticore's tail and swung the poison end of the appendage back at the creature's face.
Zhan Tiri howled, transforming into her default demon form. The towering monster staggered and shook her head trying to clear her mind of the poison.
"It is time to finish this." Neoma announced.
With her left arm raised, four peaks formed about her, they connected with her back and shoulders, fusing with her armour and anchoring her to the ground. More black rocks grew extending the length of her left arm; it ran up forming the shape of a hexagonal tubed chimney.
"What is she building?" Asked Lady Caine.
"Nothing I've ever made." Cassandra shrugged, every bit as curious as the rest of the audience.
The ground opened up and a podium rose with a cylindrical canister sitting on top, the writing on the label reads Obliterane.
"WOAH WHAT is she doing with THAT!?" Varian gagged, eyes bulged, terror all over his face.
"What is it?" Asked Cassandra.
"A compound more combustible than Hydrogen and burns hotter than Thermite. I discovered it while trying to create the next generation Flynnolium but I determined it too dangerous for use. I called it Obliterane and trust me it does what it sounds like." Varian answered. "That little canister will make a bigger explosion than three Quirineon barrels combined!"
"And I saved it just for you."
She wore her goggles and earmuffs.
The Black Rocks moved to encase the Obliterane canister and connecting to the base of the chimney. Neoma angled the large hexagonal tube towards Zhan Tiri who had just recovered from the poison. It wasn't a chimney...it was a cannon!
Zhan Tiri roared and lumbered towards the immobile foe.
A blitz of azure energy surged from the Moonstone opal on Neoma's chest, it shot into the canister igniting the Obliterane. The Earth shattering explosion atomised the canister and hammered against its confinement, the only escape was down the barrel and right into Zhan Tiri's face!
The demon didn't even get a chance to scream. Fire of incomprehensible heat and force blasted into Zhan Tiri at point blank. Her eyes exploded in black fluids then instantly vaporised, her face, snout, teeth body and all came apart in a blink.
Neoma screamed despite being the weapon's user, no metal in the world could have contained such an explosion, the Black Rock Cannon shook like the end of the world. But the unworldly material held firm and kept the heat contained.
When it was over, all that was left within the cannon's firing arc was ash and glass.
"Magic and Alchemy." Neoma huffed, lowering her smoking Black Rock cannon.
Varian blinked once then twice then... "WOOH! DID YOU SEE THAT!? That was my little girl! SHE'S A GENIUS! reckless BUT GENIUS!"
Varian exitedly ranted to everyone. The Obliterane Cannon was fired on Zhan Tiri but it was Varian who has been blown away.
Cassandra could not help but laugh with a few tears of joy, an overwhelming relief wash over her upon witnessing Zhan Tiri's destruction. That it had come at the hands of Neoma made Cassandra's heart soar with pride for her daughter.
The crowd erupted in cheers, Zhan Tiri who had lead the attack on Arendelle was just obliterated. The citizens immediately recognised the mysterious girl with blue hair as their hero.
There were cheers at the table of the royals too.
"She's definitely Cass and Varian's kid." Eugene remarked.
Rapunzel was giving Cassandra and Varian a congratulatory applaud, the couple bashfully accepted.
Anna, Kristoff and Elsa were also overjoyed to see one of their Kingdom's and Sister Kingdom's great enemy defeated. Which now only leaves...
The black dragon roared and raged through the skies, it's ultimate destination; The Mega Blimp!
The crew of the Mega Blimp were fully engaged with the flying Unquiets. A fierce dark-auburn haired woman fired her musket, the bullet struck a flying monster dropping it into the thousands of ground Unquiets burning below. Another Unquiet boarded the platform and lunged at Future Lady Caine, she bashed the the stock of the weapon across the monster's snarling face then drew her sword and impaled it.
Lady Caine's eyes twitched. She too was not happy with her older appearance. Nobody dared say anything.
Future Varian likewise was busy fending off the flyers. "Keep the ships in formation! Do not let the Unquiets split the ships up!" He yelled whilst firing his custom musket. The helmsman obeyed.
"Master Varian, observation deck reports that Zhan Tiri and Kroza Kul have been defeated. Neoma and Novak are headed for the enemy rear lines." A crew member shouted.
Varian was about to reply, but then.
"INCOMING!" Someone shouted.
"Oh no." Varian whispered.
The black dragon flew straight towards the Mega Blimp, her maw stretched impossibly wide and bright green light lit her throat as a lungful of bale fire demanded release. Maleficent was about to destroy the flying vessel when-.
STAB! An ice sword plunged deep into the back of the dragon's neck. Maleficent jerked her head back, the bale fire shot harmlessly into the sky.
Eri twisted the arm-blade and pulled backwards causing the dragon to pull up, narrowly avoiding a collision with the Mega Blimp.
Maleficent soared to neck break speeds, jerking left and right, diving and performing barrel rolls, anything she could to throw off her annoying boarder. But Eri stuck on like a barnacle, her form freezing onto Maleficent and flattening like a frozen patch.
The dragon roared in outrage as the patch relentlessly continued to stab into the her, anchoring itself further as it shifts around her hide and over her soft underside. Black blood oozed and dripped onto the battlefield far below.
The thing positioned itself over her heart and Maleficent's eyes bulged in horror as an old memory suddenly haunted her thoughts.
"Someone more powerful will take my place. And she will destroy you." Elsa's voice echoed, the audience heard it too.
Maleficent panicked and desperately clawed at her own chest to try to get the thing off. But a sharp sting of an icy sword piercing her heart signalled the end. The dragon stopped mid ascent and fell backwards. As it plummeted, the dragon's body came apart piece by piece and liquefying in the process.
Maleficent had been defeated! There was joy and relief in the faces of the audience, but no celebration.
There was worry and confusion in Elsa's eyes. Eri was faling thousands of feet along with Maleficent. But should she be worried? Would a fall even kill Eri? The girl wasn't human after all.
Of all the new heroes from the future, Eri is by far the most mysterious, there is still so much they did not understand about this girl.
The blob of black goo that was once Maleficent splashed onto the roof deck of the Mega Blimp, while the large round snowball that is Eri splattered just a few feet away.
The broken snowball's ice particles congregated and Eri reformed into her more humanoid form. Like a glittering silver mannequin.
"Why fight for the humans?"
Eri turned to see the black goo; like a melting human, hunched over, shambling and dripping all over the deck. It's distorted and half form face glowered. The black goo regarded the glittering mannequin.
"Look at you. Do you think they put up with you because they care? I come from an era long before the Unquiets arrived, and let me tell you. The humans hate us!" The goo snarled.
"They hate and destroy everything that isn't their own, or things they do not understand. The Fey Folk, me, you, even your precious creator. They're only using you now to save themselves!" The Goo yelled.
"Why do you fight for them?" The Goo asked.
For a short moment The Mannequin had paused, then slowly she raised her hands and placed them over her heart. She closed her glowing blue eyes and smiled. Reliving an old memory.
In the training yard a group of kids at the benches huddled in distraught. They were recognisably Amelia, Wrenn, Aidan and Flynn. But they appear even younger, perhaps eight or nine years of age.
"Woah hang on a second." Kristoff interrupted. "What's going on? Wasn't there just a great battle and the kids were in their teens?" He asked.
"Its called a Flashback, lad. This is a memory of Eri's, we are looking into her past." The witch explained.
"Oh." Kristoff nodded.
•••
FLASHBACK
Anna and Rapunzel rushed into the training yard to check on the commotion.
"What's going on? Has someone been injured?" Asked Rapunzel.
Little Amelia, Wrenn, Aidan and Flynn hesitantly stepped back revealing little Eri clutching her forearm, a part of the arm had its skin peeled open. The ice crystals exposed. The girl looked confused and hurt.
"Oh." Rapunzel's eyes softened.
"I think it's finally time for the talk." Anna suggested.
Her Co-queen agreed. Rapunzel past Anna a red sachet and the cousins bade each other good luck.
"Come children. Aunt Anna will need to explain something to Eri." Said Rapunzel.
"But mom..." Wrenn tried to protest.
"Hush dear I'll explain everything to the rest of you." Rapunzel smiled. "You too Aidan and Amelia, your mother will take good care of your cousin."
The rest of the kids moved off with Rapunzel leaving Eri with Anna.
Anna knelt to Eri's level. "Hey sweety. How are you holding up? Does it hurt?" Anna asked kindly.
"No, Aunt Anna." Eri replied. "You know I don't feel pain."
Despite what Eri said, there was so much hurt and confusion in her voice. It was as though not feeling pain hurt the little girl more.
Anna took up Eri's arm to examine the injury. She smiled. "Just focus on this arm, picture the way it was and will the wound to repair." Anna encouraged.
Eri did as her auntie instructed. The dangling bit of skin merged with the rest of her arm again, the ice crystals changed colours to resemble human skin once more. Eri was as good as new... physically.
"Aunt Anna. Why am I so different?" Eri asked.
"Does it matter? Your second cousins, Flynn and Wrenn are different to all the other children too." Said Anna.
"But they are both human... I am not, am I?" It was a statement, not a question. The girl had known for some time.
"No." Anna replied with finality. "You were made with ice magic, weaved into life by my sister."
The young girl's head sank lower, defeated. She had played a human for so long.
"So then, I'm... I'm not really your niece. Am I?" Eri finally dared to ask.
Anna smiled softly, she sat on the bench beside the girl.
"Oh sweety. Of course you are. Human or not, you are always going to be my niece." Anna pulled Eri close letting the girl rest her head against her chest.
They both sat in silence for a while neither saying anything, but the cloud of doubt still hung over Eri. The girl was not convinced and Anna could feel this.
"Hey Eri. Do you want to see a trick?" Anna asked.
They separated. Anna placed a hand on her own stomach then pulled out a knife. Eri watched with curiousity but then cried in horror as her aunt stuck the knife in the gap between her fingers. Anna screamed as she ran the knife along the gap drawing blood.
"AUNT ANNA, NO!" Cried Eri.
To her surprise Anna laughed and revealed a sachet of red dye in her hand.
"Gotcha."
"Urgh. I can't believe you did that! I almost had a heart attack!" Eri huffed. "Not sure I physically have a heart."
Anna's face grew serious. She clasped both the girl's cheeks and bore into her eyes.
"You do have a heart, dear. Do you know how I know?" Asked Anna. "Because you were worried for me. You cared. If you are able to love others and you are loved by them in turn, then you do have a heart. Do you doubt that we love you?"
"No." Eri squeeked.
Anna kept her hands on Eri's cheeks, she continued to examine the girl that looked so much like her sister. Elsa had made Eri in her own image.
"Olaf, Marshmallow, the Snowgies they all vanished... when Elsa gave her life." Anna whispered, heart aching from the loss of her sister and friends.
"But here you are." Anna smiled. "Though you are not made of flesh, Elsa had poured all her heart and wisdom to make you and make sure you would survive even after her. She brought you into this world with so much love and devotion, by all reckoning that makes you her daughter. And my niece."
Eri stared wide eyed but Anna wasn't finished, there was one final proof. Anna moved her hand to the base of Eri's braided ponytail, so much like Elsa's own. Anna undid Eri's hairclip and held it in front of the girl. It was blue with silver snowflake patterns.
Rapunzel gasped, it was the same one she painted.
"Do you remember what I said about this clip?" Anna asked.
"Yes. It was painted by Aunt Rapunzel. And that it was meant for me."
A wry smile graced Anna's lips.
"It is. This clip was given to your mother so she could one day give it to her child. The fact that she wanted you to have it meant she truly did see you as her daughter." Anna concluded.
The Flashback ends with Amelia and Wrenn rushing back to engulf Eri in a hug, Flynn and Aidan followed behind them with Rapunzel. The two queens giving a nod to one another.
End of Flashback
Elsa had to wipe away her tears, it was rare of her to lose composure but this definitely warranted a few tears. She turned to face Anna, her sister was even less successful at composing herself.
Back to the Future
High above the battlefield of Northuldra, on the roof deck of the Mega Blimp. The glittering ice mannequin kept her hands on her chest. The millions of ice crystals shuffled and rearranged to form the shape of skin, hair and clothes, then they systematically changed colours.
Now Eri The Snow Princess stood on screen before the audience. Her blue battle gown and braided ponytail whipping in the air.
The black goo growled. At last the girl opened her bright blue eyes and the dark fey recoiled.
They were calm, confident, free of doubt and insecurity. Eri need not speak. Her conviction and love for those she fought for was clear for all to see.
"Huh, bested by love once again." The goo muttered. It strained and formed her face for the last time. "How fortunate you are." Maleficent breathed her last words. At last the Dark Fey collapsed and Maleficent the Mistress of Evil died.
Eri reached up to place her hand over her hairclip. Satisfied that her treasure remained undamaged, Eri smiled and let her body swallow the hairclip into safe keeping.
Anna met Elsa's gaze with tears running freely down her cheeks. Elsa leaned in to kiss the tears away, then both sisters let their foreheads rest against each other's.
"Thank you Anna. Thank you so much." Elsa whispered. And they hugged.
This was new for the Northuldran queen, Elsa had never known the joy and pride of a mother. To experience so much of it so suddenly was drawing a tempest of emotions.
Anna was likewise overwhelmed. She was so proud of her future self, through the years of war and hardship she never lost her sincerity. And it was her wise council and support that protected her niece from doubt and kept her heart true...her niece.
'Oh my gosh I have a niece!' Anna thought.
Elsa turned her attention to the box on the table which contained the painted clip. Whilst still holding Anna, she turned to face Rapunzel.
"And thank you as well, Rapunzel." said Elsa.
Rapunzel nodded back her reply. She too had a couple of stray tears rolling down. Never could she imagine such a small trinket would have such a huge and positive impact on someone. That it would help a frightened and confused girl find her way and stay true.
With Amelia, Wrenn, Aidan and Flynn leading the Fortress Defenders to attack the Unquiet's front. Neoma and Novak leading the Automatons attacking the Unquiet's rear. The Earth giants attacking from either sides. And the Mega Blimp, Assault Blimps and Eri dropping bombs and icebergs from above. The Unquiet army was slowly but ultimately destroyed.
They have won!
A round of cheers and applause thundered the town square.
As the rest of the town celebrated. Elsa, Anna, Rapunzel, their families and their friends all got up and started hugging and congratulating one another.
"Cass! I can't believe it. Our kids have the same powers we did!" Rapunzel cheered, squeezing Cassandra tight.
"Hah, whether it's for better or worse, I'm sure glad they do. Not quite the same as ours though, I've noticed some differences." Said Cassandra.
"The kids sure can fight." Kristoff laughed, he slapped Lady Caine and Eugene on the backs.
The jovial Stabbington brother's each gave Eugene and Kristoff a good natured head lock. Sideburns was about to give Lady Caine a head lock too, but quickly thought better of it.
"I had no idea the Mega Blimp could be used like that, you really save us all Master Varian." Anna praised.
"Oh no your majesty it is you and Rapunzel who should be praised. Able to weather an onslaught like that." Varian replied.
"I believe the praise should go to everyone who took part in that battle." Frederic offer. Everyone agreed.
Suddenly Kristoff's head shot up. "Amelia...Amy!?"
Everyone turned to look at him.
"This is gonna sound crazy, but I think I've already met Amelia. The teenage Amelia!" Kristoff said.
Anna was stunned.
"Uh Kristoff, that can't be possible." Said Varian. "These footages are from thirteen years in the future... Ok that's also technically impossible. But-."
"No no listen. About a month ago on the day baby Amelia was born. I was in town when I bumped into an early teen girl, who looked exactly like the Amelia we saw on screen!" Kristoff explained. "Her name was Amy... No, she said her friends call her Amy."
"Could she have been a lookalike? With a similar name?" Elsa suggested.
"No. I am certain that was her." Kristoff then held out the box with the painted clips.
"Amy wore a hair clip exactly like this one Rapunzel painted." Kristoff explained.
Now everyone was seriously curious. They all turned to question the witch for answers.
The DunBroch Witch smiled and gestured at the screen. The footage resumed.
Queen Anna and Queen Rapunzel stepped out into the compound to meet the victorious survivors.
An elderly wizard draped in blue robes and a pointy hat with star and moon patterns walked out to joined them.
•••
End of Chapter
••••
I know this probably wasn't what most readers expected when they click on a Frozen/Tangled fanfic. But I hope you enjoyed it still.
So, who was surprised when Flynn turned into a Super Saiya-... I mean used his Sundrop powers?
Did anyone expect the child of Elsa to be what she is.
I hope I gave Maleficent and Zhan Tiri dignified deaths, villains or not they are still iconic characters.
Anyway please share with me your thoughts, I'd like to know if you have a favourite moment or if there was any area I could have improved on.
Thanks again for reading.
AUTHOR'S NOTE
Creating Elsa's child was a tricky one, at first I didn't know how to come about it, as there weren't any canon suitors to pair Elsa with and DID NOT want to create any more OCs. But then after watching Alita Battle Angel I realised that Elsa could just build her own children the Powerpuff Girls way XD. So here's Eri. Plus I get a chance to try something new, I thought that if everyone just had kids the normal way, well that just gets boring.
I had scoured the net for Disney characters that match the characteristics of Kroza and Brad. Unfortunately there weren't any, so I regrettably had to make some OCs.