The Heroic Seven

by MaloKen 17

The Frozen and Tangled characters peer into the future and to their horror witnessed the world attacked and decimated by creatures of ultimate darkness. But there are those who would defy this fate. Join Anna, Elsa, Rapunzel and their families as they watch their children from the post apocalyptic future cross the boundaries of time to prevent the Storm of Unquiets.

7. Children of New Beginnings

Welcome back everyone!

And finally here is the 7th chapter;

Children of New beginnings.

•••

The screen showed the picturesque small city of what is now famously known as Old Corona. The audience became enthralled and rightfully so. Mind boggling steam powered contraptions and mechanical marvels lined the busy streets.

In the seven years that have passed since Varian became the kingdom's royal engineer, Old Corona has established itself on the map as the leading City of the Future.

The Coronan royal family turned and smiled at the man and mind behind it all, pride written all over their faces. Varian blushed, as many of the audience, many whom were leaders and royalties from around the world finally got to see his works.

A far cry from the once neglected and humble old farm town that was always overshadowed by the island city. Trade has grown like never before, bringing much wealth to the kingdom. Pilgrims and travellers arrive everyday, travellers from all over the world journey to witness and study Varian's brilliant ingenuities.

Two certain individuals have even traversed time and space to visit Old Corona.

"There we are, young travellers. This should keep yourselves and the rest of your group well fed." Quirin smiled.

The head of the town placed two large bags of groceries onto the counter of his fruit and vegetable stand. His two customers each picked up a bag, the girl had a little trouble with her bag as she appeared to only have one arm but the boy was quick to assist, helping fit the bag into her backpack.

"Thanks Novak." Neoma smiled at her companion, then she turned back to Quirin. "And thank you very much master Quirin."

Varian made an exited squeek, a huge smile split his face. The excitement of introducing the audience to Old Corona was already forgotten, for nothing brought him greater joy than to see Neoma and Quirin meet.

Elsa noticed the engineer bouncing in his seat and gave Cassandra a questioning smile. Cassandra simply laughed.

"That's Quirin, Varian's father and Neoma's paternal grandfather." She explained.

"I see." Elsa chuckled.

"By the way, are the rumours true? Earlier this morning did the King Father awake fully recovered and healthy?" Quirin asked.

"He sure did, smiling and laughing with his subjects." Neoma chirped.

"That's great!." Quirin sighed in relief. "Frederic is an old friend of mine, I am so glad to hear that he is well. Thank you for the wonderful news, here have a cabbage on the house."

Novak stepped forward to receive the cabbage. "These are the finest vegetables I've ever seen." Novak complimented.

"Why thank you, young man. Our kingdom is blessed with clean waters and an abundance of healthy sunlight." Quirin looked to his fields proudly.

"That's good to hear, we don't get much sunlight where we come from." Neoma said and Quirin could see the girl's shoulders sag.

"But luckily my dad made these cool Ultraviolet lights to keep our plants healthy." Neoma suddenly cheered up.

"Impressive. Your father sounds like a very smart man I bet my son would love to meet him." Said Quirin.

"Oh I'm sure my dad and your son have a lot in common." Neoma laughed.

Varian laughed too, he was enjoying every moment. His wife smiled at him, Cassandra was enjoying this as well.

Then a cart pulled along the fruit stand, the rider approached Quirin with an order form.

"Ah, well I better take care of this guy. Miss Amoen and Sir Kanov, a pleasure to meet you two. Please enjoy your visit in Old Corona."

"Pleasures are all ours, Master Quirin." The two teens bowed.

Neoma looked back up, taking a moment to absorb the image of her paternal grandfather and treasuring it into her memory. Exactly as she had done with her maternal grandfather, the captain from the previous day.

The two teens turned to leave. But one final call from Quirin brought them back.

"By the way you two. Varian and his crew will be testing a few new flying machines at the clearings today. You should go see!" Quirin suggested.

"Oh definitely!" Neoma replied.

The two teens climbed onto a tram and the metal cart carried its passengers through the streets towards the outskirts of town.

"Amoen and Kanov?" Asked Neoma, raising an eyebrow.

"Hey, I got the idea from my dad." Novak defended.

The smile suddenly disappeared from Varian's face. "Oh, right. Novak's dad."

Cassandra sighed.

The Stabbington Brothers, King Marius and Prince Mathew became apprehensive.

Lady Caine just looked annoyed. "Let's get this over with." She grumbled.

•••In the clearings•••

"Keep it steady, Nash. So far so good!" Varian's voice rang from the trumpet.

Up in the air floated a small dirigible, the pilot expertly maneuvered the craft around the many marker poles. Observing from the ground beside her husband was Cassandra, her hands holding the handles of a pram. Inside was a beautiful raven haired baby, Cassandra picked up her's and Varian's daughter and pointed up at the craft.

"Look up there little Neoma, your father built that craft." The mother cooed.

Cassandra cradled the baby girl lovingly. Little Neoma laughed and reached for the craft with tiny fingers.

Not far away from the family of three, another family was observing and cheering.

"Huzzah!" Sideburns Stabbington raised a little auburn haired baby up into the air. The little one giggled in his uncle's hands.

"You better not drop him. Or else!" Lady Caine warned, watching like a hawk.

"Look up there Novak, look." Patchy pointed up. The baby boy followed his other uncle's finger towards the craft. "That's your daddy up there." Patchy smiled.

The craft sailed from side to side, up and down before finally coming to a halt and slowly descended.

Anna leaned her head on Kristoff's shoulder. "We have so got to ask Varian for a ride on one of those." Anna declared.

Kristoff just laughed.

The audience were all mightily impressed with his work, but Elsa noticed that Varian and his wife were looking terribly on edge for some reason.

Eugene was about to poke fun at the Stabbington Brothers for being such softies when it comes to their nephew. But then he noticed how oddly anxious the pair were.

More and more of the Arendellian and Coronan royals at the table began to notice the odd behaviour from a large portion of the numbers.

It was when Elsa saw that even King Marius and Prince Mathew were also about to bite their fingers off and occasionally stealing nervous glances at her, that Elsa finally knew the truth. Her suspicions from the night before, from the moment she saw Novak, were true .

The pilot stepped out of the dirigible and removed his flight helmet.

"Hans!" Elsa hissed.

The change in the mood of the audience was instantaneous. Hans was well known throughout Arendelle, and as anyone might expect, he is not well liked here.

The Coronan royals were shocked. They had no idea. The table was suddenly divided into two; those who knew and those who didn't.

"Wait 'Hans' as in Hans Westergaard?" Rapunzel gaped. "The same Hans who tried to kill you and Anna so he could steal your throne, is Nash!?"

Elsa gave no reply, her icy glare was answer enough.

"Wow, Nash?" Eugene balked. He leaned back down on his seat and ran a hand through his hair. "But he seems like such a descent guy. He always speaks well and behaves well. I would have never taken him for a killer."

"Oh he's good at that." Elsa remarked

"Huh." Eugene laughed. "I always wondered how he could be related to the Stabbington Brothers. Guess it kinda makes more sense now."

Everyone then turned to the Stabbington Brothers and the King and Prince of the Southern Isles for answers.

"Umm King Marius? Prince Mathew?" Rapunzel questioned the two.

"Your Majesties. I assure you, before last night I knew nothing of the fate of my disgraced and banished son. Sons actually." King Marius defended.

"It's true, this is just as new to us as it is to you." Prince Mathew added. Both father and son denying any and all involvement.

"Whoa back up!" Eugene exclaimed. He stared at the Stabbingtons "You two are princes!? Then why would you steal and live off the streets!?"

"Coz it's fun." Patchy flatly answered. Eugene didn't object.

"And because we couldn't stand living with Old Man Grumpy Gutz and Brother Fancy Pantz." Sideburns added, pointing his thumb at his father and oldest brother. "Kinda surprised actually that Hans could still plot his murders instead of going on a full blown hacksaw slaughter spree!"

"That still doesn't excuse him for his actions." Elsa argued. She then turned towards the married couple seated next to her. "Cassandra, Varian. You two knew all along who Nash really was. Why would you still have that man work for you?"

Elsa was genuinely confused.

"Because he wanted to start over." Answered Varian, he was nervous but he kept a brave face.

Elsa's brows furrowed. Then Varian continued.

"I know he tried to kill you, tried to kill a queen, tried to kill a person. It is a heinous and terrible act and he will carry it for the rest of his life." Varian was being sincere, and it wasn't just Hans he was referring to.

Arianna saw Varian turn his head towards her. She gasped when she met his eyes, filled with the sorrow and regret still fresh after all these years. And in that moment, Arianna understood why Varian had to defend this man.

"I don't condone what he's done to you or Queen Anna but I do believe people can change, as long as there are people who still believe in them and they believe in themselves." Varian continued. His confidence growing. "My queen Rapunzel and her family taught me that."

"And me." Said Cassandra. She looped her fingers around Varian's and smiled at the Coronan royals, her eyes also full of sorrow and appreciation at the same time.

"And so. When Hans came to us looking for a chance to make a fresh start in life. We were only happy to help." Varian finished.

Elsa was taken aback. She didn't understand the hidden meaning behind the couple's words, but the conviction and resolve they exuded did give her pause.

"Umm, Anna?" Kristoff asked. "Are you okay, Honey?"

Everyone now turned to Anna and were all suddenly surprised with how quiet she had been with the shocking revelation. They stared at her in curiosity.

But Anna's thoughts were anything but quiet, a tempest of memories and emotions raged within her cranium. The world around her ceased to exist and time seemed to stretch as Anna relived the events preceding The Great Thaw. The deception, the betrayal against her heart, the attempt on her life and that of her sister's, the cold calculated plot to take their kingdom. All orchestrated by that man, the same man on the big screen.

A concerned Kristoff wrapped his right arm around Anna's shoulders and took her left hand in his.

"Anna? ACK!" Kristoff's question suddenly turned into a painful yelp.

Anna's hand closed around Kristoff's fingers in a crushing vice like grip. In her other hand she held a porcelain teacup. The cup shattered! Everyone noticed the entire table had begun shake, the numerous crockery and silverware rattled about. A feral growl rumbled within Anna's throat.

Willow, Rapunzel, Eugene, Frederic, Arianna, Elsa, Cassandra, Varian, Edmund, Marius, Mathew, Patchy and Sideburns all instinctively shuffled away from the enraged queen. Kristoff however was trapped with his fingers still in Anna's crushing grip and thus unable to escape the explosion!

The terrible ear splitting scream boiling behind Anna's gritting teeth...

Suddenly died at her lips with what came next.

The tiny baby boy laughed and reached for his father with tiny hands, Sideburns handed the boy to his youngest brother.

Anna gasped.

Hans received the boy and held him at eye level, a huge, sweet smile on his face.

"How did you like that show, Novak." Hans asked. "Isn't daddy a good pilot?"

Hans gently bobbed heads with his son. The adorable baby boy laughed and reached up to pulled at his father's hair.

Anna's eyes were as wide as saucers, her mouth hung limp. So Hans was Novak's father! But more surprisingly, Hans was being a father!

"Pfft, don't flatter yourself." Lady Caine scoffed. She walked over to the father and son with her hands on her hips. "Your turns were atrociously rigid."

Hans, still trying to disentangle his son from his hair managed to peek around the boy to smile at Lady Caine, his wife.

"Oh I know you fly better than me, dear." He made a wry smile. "But then we wouldn't know if it was Varian's craft or your amazing skills."

"Here, let me get him off you." She reached up to take hold of Novak.

With one arm holding her son securely, Lady Caine reached up with her free hand to give her husband a playful jab to the jaw.

"You're such a snake charmer." She laughed.

Everyone in the table and town now turned to shift their stare at Lady Caine. The woman who had also remained ominously silent throughout the shocking revelation only looked back in annoyance.

"Yeah." She rolled her eyes and raised her left hand, revealing a ring. "Nash... or Hans and I, are married."

Silence was met with with silence, no-one knew what to think, let alone speak. They just all returned their attention to the screen.

Varian and Cassandra joined the group with little Neoma. There was much congratulatory handshakes and back slappings. All in all, everyone was smiling and having a good time.

Anna continued to observe Hans, she watched the man wrap his arm around Lady Caine and playfully poking at Novak. They were all three of them smiling, it was like any ordinary happy family. Slowly Anna's breathing began to ease, her eyes eventually softened. Though she was still upset with Hans, Anna nevertheless was not someone who could wish an ill fate on anyone. Whatever happened between them in the past, Anna simply could not find it in herself to be unhappy with Hans's new life.

The faintest curve of a smile actually began to form on the Arendellian queen's face.

Up on the hilltops the crowd that had gathered to watch the test flight had begun to disperse. Only two individuals remained, their only real interest were on the two families.

The teenage Novak and Neoma observed their families from the past.

"It's beautiful." Neoma sighed.

"It is." Novak agreed. "I can't remember the last time I saw my whole family; my mom, my dad, my two uncles and me. All smiling together."

Baby Novak laughed and began poking back at his father. Hans and Lady Caine laughed.

"My son, you could be quite a fencer someday." Hans laughed.

A new image came on the screen and the audience recoiled as they suddenly found themselves rudely reacquainted with the horrible post-apocalyptic future.

••• Flashback•••

An eleven year old Novak stood with his father at the forest's edge, in front of them was the road that lead back up the mountains. But barring their way stood a familiar imposing Barbarian.

"I have found you at last, Hans Westergaard!" Bellowed Kroza Kul. His deep booming voice echoed around the mountains. He continued.

"It was said. The Southern Isles was home to the finest swordsmen of modern times, their martial prowess and skill are without equal." Said Kroza.

"And so, on the days before the Storm of the Unquiets I cut through their numbers. I even defeated Prince Franz, their finest warrior." Kroza swept his heavy sword in an arc as he said this.

King Marius and Prince Mathew's faces darkened.

But if the news of his brother's death or the sacking of his homeland had any impact on Hans, he did not show it. His only concern was the settlement that his current family had made their home. Thick plumes of smoke and the ringing of battle told the father and son that their home was under attack. But the barbarian still barred their way.

Kroza raised his heavy sword at Hans prompting Novak to step forward. A firm hand from his father halted the boy.

"Hans Westergaard, last prince of the Southern Isles. I Kroza Kul, last king of the Iron Heart Tribe demand that you face me in single combat!" Bellowed Kroza. "You will answer this challenge for it is only by defeating me shall the path to the mountains be opened to you."

Novak looked at his father with confusion, that was the second time the barbarian addressed his father as 'Hans' and not Nash. Then there was the reveal that his father was a prince!

Anna gasped. Novak never knew.

"Wait here, son." Hans instructed.

Novak made to protest. But his father would not have it.

"It'll soon be over." Hans assured.

As Novak hesitantly complied, Hans strode towards his opponent. Ceremoniously drawing his double edged straight sword from its scabbard, Hans then lowered into a traditional Southern Isles style fighting stance.

Kroza did the same, lowering into a cruder stance.

For a moment the two stood still.

The town square was deathly quiet, the audience watched with anticipation, still not sure which one to cheer for.

Elsa watched with mild concern. She knows Hans's skill with a sword is nothing short of prodigious, he did defeat Marshmallow after all. But against Kroza Kul?

A sudden gas explosion in the distance broke the standoff. Hans and Kroza crossed swords.

Hans however was not so foolish enough to attempt to out-muscle Kroza, he allowed the much larger man to shove him back just so he could bounce off his feet and make a quick counter.

Kroza blocked the attack at the last moment showing surprising speed for his size.

"The men of the Southern Isles were weak. Not one of them had what it took to defeat me!" Kroza spat.

The pair continued to trade blows.

"And Franz Westergaard was supposed to be the best of the best? His head wasn't even worth collecting!"

The two parted and began circling one another. Kroza smiled under his horned helmet.

"But then. I later found out, the greatest swordsman in the Southern Isles was not Franz. It was you!" Kroza smirked.

Kroza lashed out with a backhand swing, but Hans ducked low and slashed Kroza across the thigh.

The barbarian roared and charged in, pinning Hans against a rock.

"Your techniques are undoubtedly Southern Isles, yet your overall style is different." Kroza remarked.

"Had to evolve in order to survive. Even the best can still improve." Hans replied.

Hans suddenly brought his knee up into Kroza's groin. With the barbarian folded, Hans then grabbed Kroza by the shoulder and slammed him face first into the rock. Finally Hans swung his sword upwards in a vertical arc, slicing deep into Kroza's side and flipping the barbarian like a pancake.

Kroza landed hard on his back with a resounding thump.

"That one I learnt from my wife. It hurt."

Lady Caine chuckled.

"Yeah Brother, kill that guy!" the Stabbingtons cheered.

A few others in the crowd began to cheer.

"Wooh, way to go Nash!" Eugene cheered. Everyone turned to look at him.

"What? That other guy slashed my son across the chest. Remember?" Eugene pointed. "And besides. Better the devil you know."

"I don't think it's right to call him a devil." Rapunzel sighed.

Anna and Elsa made a quick glance at their cousin, then at each other.

Kroza, still on the ground made a swing for Hans's legs but the man jumped over the attack.

Hans landed and kicked Kroza's knee as the barbarian was getting up, dropping him back on one knee. Then with a fierce battle shout, Hans brought his sword down in the corner between Kroza's neck and shoulder and slice deep into the barbarian's torso.

"The name's Nash." Hans growled.

"HE GOT HIM!" The Stabbington Brothers cheered.

"YES!" King Marius cheered, surprising Prince Mathew.

It looked like the overall crowd were pleased that Hans had won.

But victory was short lived.

"DAD, LOOK OUT!" Yelled Novak. The boy rushed towards the two but it was too late.

Too quick and unexpected. A shadow fell upon the pair and before anyone could react, a sabre plunged into Hans's back.

Hans's back arched back and he let out a blood curdling cry.

"NO!" Screamed Lady Caine.

Anna's hands flew to her mouth.

The sabre burst out of Hans's stomach and continued to power forward, driving into Kroza's heart.

"DEFACER!" Kroza gasped. "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!?"

"Now now Kroza, we can't have you dying for real on us." Laughed Brad the Defacer. The vampire's mirth then became a menacing glare. "Your service to Chernabog is eternal. For it is by his will and my sword that your freedom forever lies beyond your reach."

An enraged Novak charged at the vampire, sword drawn and roaring for revenge. Brad pulled out the sabre, letting his two victims collapse on the ground. The vampire effortlessly parried the incoming strike then swatted Novak with a backhand to the cheek.

Though struck with enough force to knock down a horse, Novak rode the attack. He spun on the spot then kicked out, his heel digging square into the vampire's gut.

Brad folded with bulging eyes, he was gaping at the rocky ground when a blade flashed into his vision. Novak swung his sword upwards in a vertical sweep, drawing a long and bloody gash up Brad's formerly unblemished face. It was only by the grace of Brad's vampire reflex that his head wasn't bisected.

"YOU WRETCH!" The enraged vampire yelled. The eleven year old had defaced The Defacer!

All poise and grace abandoned, Brad rained a savage barrage of attacks on the boy, shattering Novak's sword. But before Brad could land the finishing blow, Kroza attacked from behind!

With a vengeful, bloody roar the barbarian brought down his heavy sword onto Brad, the blade tore deep into the vampire's torso. But Brad had managed to bring his sabre up just in time to stop the blade from reaching his heart.

"Gah! Nice try, Kroza. But you will not waste me this easily." Brad wheezed, a torrent of blood pouring from his mouth.

"NOVAK, catch!" Hans yelled. He threw his sword towards his son.

Novak caught the sword and in one swift spin, he decapitated the vampire.

Brad's headless body dispersed into a swarm of bats and flew away, letting the barbarian slump to his knees.

"You... you should have gone for the chest." Kroza grumbled before he too collapsed and fizzled away. The wound to the heart from Brad's sneak attack claiming him before Hans's mortal stroke did. A dishonourable death.

Both the barbarian and the vampire would fight again. But Hans however...

"DAD!" Cried Novak.

Hans sat slumped against a rock, his face was pale and he strained to maintain consciousness. His son was by his side in an instant, the boy dropped to his knees, a small splash on a growing puddle of blood.

Hans was dying.

The audience watched in silence, a tense air of dismay circulated through the town square.

"Dad! No! Damn it!" Novak cursed. "Hang in there, Dad. You're gonna be okay."

It obviously wasn't true.

But despite his immanent death, Hans forced it away from his mind. His only thoughts were of his son.

"Novak." Hans rasped. "Hey, Novak."

"Wha... What?" Novak sniffled.

"You have to stay strong Novak. It's all up to you now... You need to protect everyone." With a hand on Novak's shoulder,Hans looked his son in the eyes as he said this.

Novak took a deep breath to recompose himself, It took a herculean effort but he straightened himself up.

"Yes dad." Said Novak, his diaphragm burning.

Hans smiled. His vision grew blurry, it was time. "You have made me proud, son. Take good care of your mother." Hans breathed out his last words.

Novak felt the hand slip off his shoulder, it splashed in the puddle of red and moved no more. His father was gone.

But Hans's features were peaceful, as though fulfilled.

Novak rose to his feet. As agonising as it was, Novak could only afford himself one second to accept the loss. There was no time to grieve.

"Mom!" Novak spurred into motion, he ran up the hill as fast as he could.

Lady Caine slowly sank forward on her seat, her elbows on her thighs, she lowered her head letting her dark auburn hair obscure her face.

The Stabbington Brothers were visibly saddened to the point of tears.

A frown was on Marius's face, as was on Mathew's.

Anna's hand was still covering her mouth. Whatever happened in the past, she never wanted to see Hans die. Especially now that he has a family.

Anna turned to look at her sister and found Elsa to be turning towards her too. She saw that they were both greatly dismayed by the events on screen.

But more tragedies are yet to come.

There was fire and fighting all throughout the settlement.

Lady Caine ducked under the decapitating sweep of an Unquiet's taloned claw. She sheered the creature's legs from under it then plunged her sword down impaling the prone monster. The Unquiet bubbled away.

On the other side of the settlement, Cassandra also fought against the Unquiets. Her sword cleaving through the creatures whilst Varian and kid Neoma also fought off the creatures, with gun and crossbow.

"Hahahaha!"

A sinister and haunting laugh suddenly caught Cassandra's attention. The Unquiets parted way and in stepped the four foot tall enchantress, her signature malicious grin on her face.

"Why hello there, Cassandra. Long time no see." Zhan Tiri teased.

"ZHAN TIRI!" Cassandra yelled. The name was a curse on her lips.

"Now Cassandra, is that anyway to greet an old acquaintance?" Zhan Tiri feigned hurt.

Elsa, Kristoff and Anna turned to look at Cassandra. They did not know she had a history with Zhan Tiri.

The enchantress laughted and spread her arms, indicating at the carnage around them. "I have humbled you, Cassandra. But I offer you mercy. Join me and your life will be spared. Refuse me and you will still be spare, but I will leave you broken and wishing I had killed you." Zhan Tiri presented her ultimatum.

The enchantress did not have to wait long.

"Never! Never again!" Cassandra's reply was instant. She raised her sword and dashed towards the enchantress point first.

Zhan Tiri smirked and threw her boomerang at her attacker. Cassandra dodged it but then...

The sound of a girl's scream stopped Cassandra dead in her tracks. She didn't turn, she couldn't. Cassandra could only stand helplessly, watching the bloodied boomerang return to Zhan Tiri's grip. She watched the wicked enchantress give her a triumphant grin of purest malice.

"NEOMA!" Cassandra heard her husband cry.

Finally turning around. The bottom of her world fell when she took in the sight before her. Neoma was standing confused and lost, her eyes staring widely at her left arm, that was on the ground. The stump that remained bled profusely.

Rapunzel and Anna let out cries of horror. They cried for the poor girl and they cried for Cassandra.

Cassandra and Varian stared wide eyed at the screen.

Future Varian dropped his gun and caught his daughter just as she collapsed.

Cassandra likewise dropped her sword, heedless to her surroundings as she slowly trudged towards her daughter. She has lost sight of the enemies growling and braying at her, lost all sense for the world around her. Cassandra's only thoughts were of Neoma.

The Unquiets leered at the defenceless family but the evil enchantress stayed their claws.

"No. Let them be, living with the loss is a far worser fate." Zhan Tiri smirked.

The enchantress turned and left, her cruel laughter echoing behind her, leaving Varian and Cassandra to tend their mortally wounded daughter. The Unquiets left too.

Being mothers themselves Anna and Rapunzel could not imagine seeing that happen to their kids. They both turned to look at their friend with worry in their eyes.

Elsa quickly grabbed Cassandra's hand.

"Cassandra." She asked in concern.

But Cassandra was unresponsive, she could do nothing but stare at the screen.

Varian straight up fainted.

Lady Caine was shoved to the ground by an antlered Unquiet, the beast reared its head or a bite. But a sword tip burst out of the beast's mouth.

Novak removed his father's weapon from the back of the dead Unquiet's head and shoved the dissolving creature off of his mother. He helped her onto her feet.

Then strangely enough, the Unquiets retreated. Lead away by the enchantress satisfied with her heinous deeds.

Cassandra and Varian had managed to stem the bleeding and dress the terrible wound in what way they could. But the damage was still extensive, Neoma had fainted in shock and was slowly dying.

Elsa continued to rub Cassandra's hand.

"Cassandra?" She asked again, Elsa was really worried.

The Stabbington Brothers meanwhile have been frantically fanning and nursing Varian back to consciousness.

"Urgh. What... Cassandra? Neoma?"

Hearing her husband's voice brought Cassandra out of her shock. She started squeezing Elsa's hand, much to Elsa's relief.

"Neoma." Cassandra whispered.

Cassandra looked at her bereaved husband, then down at her unconscious daughter. But then to the confusion of the audience, Future Cassandra made a look of unyielding determination.

"I'm going to bring our daughter back." She declared.

How?

•••Somewhere on the other side•••

Neoma opened her eyes to find herself standing in a barren landscape of ashen grey. Desolate rocky plains stretched as far as the eye could see under a lifeless, windless grey sky.

"Whoa, this place seems eerily familiar." Eugene gulped. And Rapunzel stared at him.

"Oh yeah, I've definitely seen this place." Anna added. "But only for a second."

"The border realm between life and death." Elsa explained. "We recognise this place because we've all been there in our brief brush with death."

Cassandra recognised the Border Realm too. And now she is watching her daughter crossing it.

"HELLO!?" Neoma yelled. "ANYBODY!?"

For a while Neoma wandered the strange land, an unexplained force pulled her towards an unknowable location. After for what felt like hours she finally found someone, and it's someone she recognised.

It was Hans.

Lady Caine's head perked up.

"Mr Stabbington!" Neoma cheered. Hans spun around, his eyes darted at her.

As she ran, she noticed there were others too, people from her settlement. Neoma let out a sigh of relief.

Hans however looked anything but relieved. His first expression was shock, then doubt. By the time Neoma finally reached her family friend she was confused to find him distraught, his shoulders sagged and sadness in his eyes.

"Neoma. Oh no, not you too." Hans lamented.

Neoma was still oblivious about their current situation. "Yeah, I'm here too... But where is here?" She asked, genuinely.

For a short few seconds Hans shut his eyes, a look of pain on his face. For how does one explain to an eleven year old girl. She had died.

"I am very sorry, Neoma." Sighed Hans. "But-."

"NEOMA!" Came a distant cry.

Running at the pair was Cassandra!

A few gasps rang about, how did Cassandra get there?

"MOM!" Cheered Neoma. Her mother pulled her into a tight embrace.

"Neoma." Cassandra slowly and hesitantly pulled away to look her daughter in the eyes. "I'm here to take you home."

"Home?" Neoma asked.

"Yes. " Cassandra confirmed.

Cassandra turned to face Hans, her face fell, she was saddened to see him there. But Hans wasn't upset, in fact he appeared overjoyed. He gave Cassandra a nod, then he smiled at Neoma.

"You're going to be okay, kid." Hans encouraged. "When you get back, could you please keep an eye out on Novak for me?"

"Umm, sure." Neoma agreed, still unsure about the situation.

"Thank you, Neoma."

With his last wish granted, Hans gave Cassandra and Neoma a parting smile. Then he turned and left with the other spirits. One by one they slowly grew translucent before vanishing. Hans was the last to leave, crossing to the other side.

Lady Caine released a heavy sigh. She was still incredibly sad, but was content to know that her husband left peacefully and with a smile.

Cassandra saw her friend keeping her head low. The Stabbington Brothers and the King and Prince of the Southern Isles wanted to say something but the brother's quickly advised against it. Cassandra sighed, Lady Caine prefers to mourn alone.

Cassandra returned her gaze to the screen, she still held Varian's hand in her left and Elsa's in her right. Her new friend squeezed back.

But it wasn't over yet.

Neoma stood wide eyed at the empty space where moments ago a small crowd vanished from. Her shoulders slowly dropped.

"Come, Neoma. Let's get you home." Cassandra took her daughter's hand and lead her the opposite direction of the other spirits.

For a while both Cassandra and Neoma walked in silence, neither spoke, merely held the other's hand and enjoying each other's company. It was peaceful and even if it were in such a bleak place, they were fine as long as they had each other. But all good things must come to an end.

Cassandra noticed that Neoma had fallen behind. She heard a sniffle, then felt her daughter stop entirely.

"I can't go home with you, mom. I know now where we are, I know why it is I am here." Neoma said.

Cassandra slowly turned, her heart ached at what she saw. Neoma's form had become translucent, just as Hans and the other spirits had been. She would soon fade away.

"Back in the physical world, I am dying." Neoma whimpered.

"Yes." Admitted Cassandra. "But I have taken steps to ensure you won't."

Cassandra held out a magnificent radiant blue stone. Neoma's eyes widened with awe as her mother moved closer to press the beautiful stone against her chest. To Neoma's mouth dropping surprise, her own body absorbed it.

"The Moonstone brought me here long enough to aid you, but it is yours now. Be sure to use it correctly." Said Cassandra.

"You mean, I don't have to die today!?" Neoma dared to ask.

"The Moonstone may not work the same as the Sundrop, but they are still two parts of the same gem." Cassandra confirmed. "And it is not without its own powers to save a life."

"Then we can go home." Neoma chirped.

But Cassandra shook her head. "Not we, child. Only you will return."

"What? But I don't understand." Neoma suddenly froze. A terrible thought crossed her mind. "Are... are you... dead?"

"If not now, then soon." Cassandra sighed. "I do not fully understand it's workings myself, dear. But that is the Moonstone's way to save a life. For a new lunar cycle to begin, another must first end. One of us must still cross over to the other side."

Neoma's trembling hands slowly reached to her chest, her fingers brushed against the Moonstone. A gift at a terrible cost.

"You offered your life for me." Neoma whispered. The girl stared wide eyed at her mother, fresh tears began to form as she realised what had transpired.

"I did, and If given the choice, I would do it again a thousand times. For you, Neoma, my daughter, my New Moon." Cassandra smiled without regret.

"NO!" Cried Neoma.

She saw that it was now her mother's form growing faint, while her own slowly restored.

"I can't let you do this for me!"

"It is already done." Cassandra raised her hands up to Neoma's face, her semi transparent fingers brushed away her daughter's streaming tears.

"You must live on, Neoma. It must be this way." Cassandra smiled. "A great destiny awaits you. And words cannot express the pride I feel to know that your deeds will surpass even the greatest heroes from legends of old."

"You have seen the future?"

"Well, I wouldn't quite call it the future. But you will know when you get there." Said Cassandra.

Her daughter looked at her with confusion and Cassandra smiled.

"Do not ask me about it. For now it is time for you to return home and back to your father, who I can only guess is pulling his own hair out by now."

Cassandra moved in to engulf her daughter into her arms one final time, Neoma hugged back desperately.

"It will be hard for you, for you will know great struggles and hardship. But also strength, love and unyielding comradery." Cassandra said her last words.

And with that, Cassandra was gone. Neoma found only emptiness in her arms and in her heart, she was all alone.

With the exchange fulfilled, the Moonstone flared into life in Neoma's chest. The girl squeezed her eyes shut as azure light shone with unbearable brightness.

••• The Physical World •••

Neoma awoke with a jolt, her eyes flew open and her back arched as she drew in a huge lungful of air. She was lying on a single sized bed in a small messy room, likely hers.

The girl made an attempt to sit up but fell back down immediately, it was then that Neoma realised she was missing a left arm. She stared at her heavily bandaged stump, the shock threatened to rend her unconscious again. Neoma regained control and forced herself to look the other way, a few stray locks were flung into her vision, but these were not the raven black hair she had grown since birth, they were blue from the magical enchantments of the Moonstone.

Frantic thumps were heard and her father came rushing in.

"Neoma!" Cried Varian. He quickly but carefully scooped his daughter into his arms. "Thank goodness, you're finally awake."

"Dad!" Neoma cried back. She held onto her father with only her remaining arm.

Varian ran his hand through his daughter's blue hair.

"Neoma... listen." Varian struggled to speak. "Your mother. She... she..."

"I know." Neoma whimpered, sparing her father the pain. "I know."

The scene ended with both father and daughter tightly embracing, mourning their loss.

Rapunzel could contain herself no longer, as fast as she could, she surged to her feet and ran to her dearest friend.

Cassandra and her seat were almost tackled over when Rapunzel collapsed onto her. Her queen engulfed her in a tight embrace.

"I am so sorry, Cassandra." Sobbed Rapunzel. She also made a tearful look at Varian. "I'm so sorry for both of you."

"It's alright, Raps." Replied Cassandra. She smiled and returned the hug.

Cassandra had also been crying, but she did not shed her tears in grief. Never before in all her life had Cassandra felt more proud of herself than at this very moment. To know that when her daughter needed her most, she would willingly travel to the place between life and death to trade her own life for her. An act Cassandra knew her own mother would never do.

And now Neoma is alive and using the Moonstone's powers for the good of other's.

Cassandra looked to her side to see her husband bawling his eyes out. As embarrassing as this would normally be, Cassandra just chuckled lovingly. She wrapped her arms around Varian and Rapunzel.

All across the town square, the audience have become quite emotional. Melody buried herself in her mother's arms, Ariel in turn held her daughter protectively.

Elsa politely offered her seat to her cousin allowing Rapunzel to embrace the couple more comfortably. Then with a smile and a pat on Cassandra's shoulder, Elsa moved to Rapunzel's old seat right beside Anna.

Anna had been crying in Kristoff's arms for the past few minutes, and when Elsa sat down beside her... She flung her arms around her older sister. Anna stole a glance at Rapunzel also hugging her own older sister. The Arendellian queen swore she would give Cassandra and Varian the biggest hug ever, as soon as Rapunzel was done.

But wait! Anna paused. It wasn't just Cassandra and Varian who needed a hug, there was someone else, someone who had lost just as much.

Lady Caine.

Anna's eyes fell on Lady Caine, the woman for whom Hans had married. She sat alone unaided and without comfort, keeping her head low and making silent sobs every few moments. It was clear that Caine truly loves Hans, and from what has been shown, Hans truly loves Caine back. And their son.

The Arendellian queen then lifted her head up, facing Elsa. Their eyes met and in that short silent exchange they knew they shared the same thought. As unbelievable as it was, in under an hour their whole perception of Hans had changed.

This was not the same man Anna knew six years ago. But how did this happen? What brought about the change? So many questions remained unanswered, Anna really wanted to know how Hans Westergaard became Nash Stabbington, a good man.

•••

Night had fallen, though in this age night was perpetual. The survivors had spent the greater part of the afternoon burying the dead. Many tears and haunting cries of anguish can still be heard.

Novak stood with his shovel planted in the ground, his face and shirt smeared with dirt. Before him was a grave, his father's. Slotted neatly beside two other matching graves; Sideburns Stabbington and Patchy Stabbington.

Present day Sideburns and Patchy recoiled from the graves. Very disturbed looks on their faces.

Novak's mother was beside him, kneeling and whispering a few words to the grave. Novak surveyed the area and noticed the blue haired Neoma and her father not far away, attending to their own burial.

Neoma's injury was still fresh and she was very weak from the medication, but the girl refused to miss her mother's funeral. She of course had to sit out while her father did all the shoveling. When they were done Varian wasted no time half carrying Neoma back to their home.

Novak sighed, wishing his friend a swift recovery.

"Alright, Novak." Said Lady Caine. "We should head home too."

As the pair walked back, Novak examined his father's sword, it was his now. A brilliant weapon, expertly crafted, and suspiciously valuable to be owned by a commoner.

"Mom, was dad a... a prince?" Asked Novak.

His mother stopped and turned, her eyes wide with surprise. Novak continued. "The barbarian, Kroza. He kept calling dad 'Hans' and referred to him as prince of the... South Islands?"

"Southern Isles." Lady Caine corrected. She looked up at the clouded skies and sighed. "I guess it is time I finally told you."

And she began.

"Yes, your father was from the Southern Isles and so were your two uncles. They were princes. However..." Lady Caine paused.

Novak blinked at his mother.

"Your father wasn't always a good guy. And to tell you the truth, I wasn't such a good girl either." She chuckled.

Frederic gave a gruff "Hmph."

Anna, Elsa, Kristoff and Olaf turned their heads at Frederic, then towards Lady Caine. They knew nothing about her background.

Novak looked surprised and confused, Lady Caine chuckled some more. She continued as they walked.

"Why don't I start from how your father and I met?" Asked Lady Caine. Her son nodded.

"Okay, it was roughly five years before you were born." Lady Caine began. "Your father had just been banished from his kingdom and was wondering the world aimlessly. Myself, your uncles and a few others had our prison sentence reduced because we helped with the rebuilding of Corona.

This surprised a lot of people. Novak looked shocked, his mouth left gaping

"However, as the ship was taking us back to Prison Island we decided to reduce our sentence indefinitely." Lady Caine grinned and revelled in her son's reaction.

Talking about the past did help them both cope with the day's events.

"Then one day all of us received a proposition from an unknown sender. And so we all met at the Gunk Bucket Tavern."

••• Flashback Within a Flashback •••

"So tell us, Hans." Patchy Stabbington beckoned, banging his stein of ale on the table. "What oh so heinous a crime did you commit to warrant your predicament?"

"Must be pretty horrendous if the Old Man had bothered to get off his grimy hiney to banish you, personally." Laughed Sideburns Stabbington.

They were all seven of them seated around a large oak table in a seedy tavern with a piano playing. There was the Stabbington Brothers, Lady Caine, Stalyan, Brock Thunderstrike, Dale and of course Hans. Everyone looked at Hans expectantly.

"Ah, I remember this." Sideburns grinned.

"Well." Hans sighed. "I left a princess in a room to freeze to death then tried to kill her sister, a queen. All so I could take over their kingdom as King."

MASS GASPS! The whole tavern was aghast! The pianist stopped playing.

•••

"He did WHAT!?" Novak was horrified.

•••

"Well I never." Lady Caine poshly whipped out her fan and aired herself.

"I think I'm gonna be sick." Dale groaned in his heavy Italian accent.

Stalyan buried her face in Brock's chest, the Flynnposter held her protectively.

"We've always thought little of you Hans, but THIS!?" Sideburns yelled.

"You befoul the fouled. You disgust the disgusting." Patchy accused.

"WE HAVE NO THIRTEENTH BROTHER!" The Stabbingtons yelled in unison.

For a short agonising ten seconds the entire tavern was quiet, all eyes and glares were on Hans... But then.

"Ehehehe." The brother's began to giggle, then. "BWAHAHAHA!"

Everyone laughed merrily. The pianist resumed playing. Hans was left confused and annoyed.

"Oh cheer up, Prince Pouty." Lady Caine chuckled. "We are all laughing because most of us here have already tried to kill a king, princess, prince or whatever. Your crime doesn't shock us at all."

•••

"YOU did what!?" Novak's expression was palpable.

•••

"Did you get that on paper, Giovanni?" Stalyan asked.

Dale flipped his note pad to reveal a rough but no less hilarious doodle of Hans's shocked face.

The laughing continued.

Present day Lady Caine, the Stabbington Brothers, Stalyan, Brock and Dale all also laughed at the memory. Glad to finally watch something brighter.

They also laughed at Novak's reaction.

Dale flipped a note pad with a quick doodle of Novak's shocked face. They laughed more. The boy reminded them so much of Hans that they've decided to tease him in the same way.

A lot of the town's audience were staring at them. Frederic, Arianna, Edmund, Eugene and Rapunzel all grumbled in slight annoyance at the group. Elsa, Anna, Kristoff and Olaf gaped in shock.

"Wait, it was you guys they tried to kill!?" Elsa asked, horrified.

"Oh, Elsa. You have no idea." Eugene groaned. But then laughed. "We've made some good memories."

Now Eugene just received odd looks.

"Good times, Rider!" Patchy cheered.

"Good times." Sideburns also cheered.

King Marius buried his face in arms and groaned. Prince Mathew patted his father's back in a futile attempt to comfort.

"Gee, Varian. You sure have some dangerous crewmembers." Kristoff decided to crack a joke.

"Ah hehehe." Varian laughed nervously. "Well it would have been rather hypocritical of me to reject them for that."

Kristoff's eyes bulged into balloons. "Wait. You too!?"

"Told you it was nothing spectacular. Now pay up!" Sideburns held out his hand and Patchy gave him the coin.

"What did you think I did?" Asked Hans, not sure he wanted to hear the answer.

"Oh I thought you sacked a kingdom, burnt down all the houses, killed everyone, raised pyres and pyramids with the bodies then built a throne with their skulls." Patchy explained.

"You deserve to lose that silver piece." Hans admonished, none too pleased with his older brother's lack of maturity. Patchy just laughed.

"Who organised this meeting anyway!?" Asked Hans. Eager to change the subject. They were about to find out.

The tavern doors swung inwards and in stepped a slender figure.

"Cassandra!?" Rapunzel exclaimed.

Cassandra smiled at Rapunzel.

•••

"Neoma's mom?" Asked Novak.

Lady Caine nodded and continued.

•••

"Oh, it's you." Growled Lady Caine.

"Who is she?" Asked Hans.

"I'll tell you who this is." Lady Caine stood up. "This is Cassandra, the worst of us all. The betrayer of princess's, The dabbler of dark magic and the dealer of demons. Cassandra The destroyer of kingdoms." She listed.

•••

"That was a bit harsh!" Novak recoiled.

"Yeah, well we weren't friends yet." Lady Caine shrugged. "In fact I thought I was acting pretty civil, considering our previous two encounters. The confrontation could have gotten real ugly."

•••

"The girl who did all that and walked away scott free. Ooh you've got a lot of nerve showing your face to us." Snarled Lady Caine.

The two fierce women glared each other down, the confrontation looked like it could get real ugly.

"My silver piece is on Caine." Sideburns declared.

"Ooh I don't know about that. I hear Cassandra beat Caine once." Patchy rubbed his chin.

The audience were silent, they watched the tense stand off on the edge of their seats. Anna, Elsa, Kristoff and Olaf looked from away from the screen, their wide eyed gazes shift between Cassandra and Lady Caine and back.

"What she says. It can't be true, could it?" Anna asked.

This chapter of the magic screen was full of shocking revelations.

"Surely not." Said Elsa. "Cassandra is Rapunzel's dearest friend."

She saw that Cassandra still has Rapunzel's arms around her. But Cassandra's expression was blank, she did not show the shock or outrage of someone wrongfully accused.

And neither did movie Cassandra.

"What you say is true, Caine." Admitted Cassandra, her head lowered. "I won't deny any of it, I have perpetrated those acts and I can never erase them."

Then she raised her head.

"However. I refuse to let that be my lasting legacy. I cannot do nothing and let the world remember me for only my crimes, and neither should you!"

This brought pause and confusion into the group.

"As we speak, a marauding tribe of ogres lumber towards this very town, ravaging and destroying everything in their wake." Said Cassandra. "If they reach this place the carnage would be horrendous, kind of like the stuff Patchy here thought Hans might do."

"Eh ogres, am I right?" Patchy shrugged in agreement.

"I am going to try to stop them, but I can't do this alone." Cassandra stated. "I need your help."

This of course was met with scoffs and jests. Even Hans laughed.

"I think being temporarily dead has addled your brain." Said Lady Caine.

"Look around you umm... Cassandra." Brock stood up. "The people here don't like us. I mean the barber doesn't like us, the innkeeper doesn't like us, even old Joe the barman doesn't like us!"

Said Joe the barman spat in a cup at the mention of his name, then continued wiping the cup.

"In fact let's just assume everybody everywhere doesn't like us!" Brock finished.

"So in other words." Said Hans.

"Why should we care?" Lady Caine finished.

For a while Cassandra remained silent then she finally spoke.

"Yes, we are undesirables and people do look at us with contempt. Hell, in the past I would have looked at you all the same as they do. But now that I too have hit rock bottom, I look around and do you know what I see? Losers."

Everyone stood up! Chairs were knock over. Feral growls and death glares all aimed at Cassandra!

"Whoa! I mean folks who have lost something." Cassandra clarified. "And we have! All of us are where we are now because we've had things taken from us, been denied, repressed or cheated in life."

Everyone slowly sat down, the situation diffused.

"Sometimes life takes more than it gives, it makes us apathetic, even resentful towards the world. But I'm asking you, in light of all the wrongs you have suffered, to help these people." Cassandra pleaded.

Everyone remained silent. Cassandra continued.

"I understand why you all feel like it's pointless to do good after so many years of bad deeds." Cassandra sighed, she had expected heavy resistance from her recruits. "It is hard to climb back up once you've fallen, and the further you fall, the higher the climb."

Cassandra looked around the table, her audience remained sceptical.

"As difficult it is when everyone gives up on you, the most horrifying thing is knowing that you actually want them to. Because then it makes it easier for you to give up on yourselves." Cassandra explained. "It is easier to just keep falling rather than climb back up. I know this because it was infinitely harder when there is someone who absolutely refuses to give up on you. To keep calling you back, to keep pleading you to climb back up despite knowing how far you've fallen. I have decided to make that climb."

"So now I'm asking all of you, against all that has been said or done against you. Climb with me." Cassandra finished.

Rapunzel looked up with wide eyes at Cassandra, her older sister still in her arms. Cassandra smiled down at Rapunzel.

"Thanks for never giving up on me, Raps."

•••

Novak was enthralled by the story. They had just reached their humble and barely stable house.

"So then you, dad, uncles Patchy and Sideburns and the others all became good guys?" Asked Novak.

"Whoa slow down, kid. It certainly wasn't as easy as you made it sound." Lady Caine snorted. "We argued, we fought, we drank, in that order. Repeated it about three times and then finally came to an agreement to help. Perhaps heavily under the influence of alcohol or concussed, but yes. Agreed we did."

"Wouldn't think it could be possible otherwise." Snorted Eugene.

•••

The screen showed the ogres in full retreat, fleeing back up the mountains. Many prisoners were set free and now ran back to town hugging their relieved families.

The group. Cassandra, Lady Caine, Hans, Patchy, Sideburns, Stalyan, Brock and Dale. Everyone was covered in scrapes and bruises but all looked proud of themselves.

A little girl ran up to Lady Caine and gave her a warm hug, surprising the dark auburn haired woman.

"Thank you." The little girl said. "Thank you for bringing back my daddy."

A stunned Lady Caine watched the little girl run back to the arms of her rescued father. A sad smile slowly formed on her lips.

•••

"That was the turning point in our lives." Said Lady Caine. "And the job turned out to be quite lucrative too. So for the next few years that followed, the eight of us travelled together, slowly mending our reputations through good deeds and solving other people's problems... usually by knock out." She raised her fist to emphasize.

A few of the audience nodded in approval.

"It was also during that time that your father and I became close." She smiled.

Novak made an uneasy look, as most eleven year old boys would at such topics.

Anna's head perked up, she loved such topics.

As did Rapunzel.

"We had a rather rocky start. You see, we were posing as a high class couple attending a corrupt magistrate's ball... When your father decided to play the role a bit too realistically."

•••

"NO!" Lady Caine viciously brought her knee up to Hans's groin, folding the man, then she grabbed him by the shoulder and slammed his face against a balcony rails.

"Oooh!" The audience shuddered.

"Yikes, guess that's when he learnt that move." Willow commented.

"Ow! What the Hell!?" Hans cried, as Lady Caine twisted his arm around his back and forced him over the railing.

"I know who you are Hans Westergaard! And I am not some starry-eyed patsy who'd fall for your smokescreen... Cajoles!" Lady Caine yelled.

"I like her." Anna was impressed.

"She hit him right in the cajoles!" Kristoff winced.

•••

Novak also winced

"Yeah I get a bit uneasy when people try to get close to me." Lady Caine explained with a shrug. "Luckily no one saw that or else we would have botched the mission."

The two entered their half ruined home. The battle had left not a single house unmolested.

"Later that night your father came to me with a bouquet of flowers and a box of chocolates. So we decided to put that incident behind us." Lady Caine laughed. "But it turns out, that was just the beginning."

•••

"Hey. What's got you so glum all of a sudden?" Lady Caine poked a depressed Hans with a stick.

"Ah what? Oh no no I was just... had a bad memory resurface." Hans explained.

The group had set up camp in a forest and Lady Caine and Hans had taken up watch. The two sat in front of a camp fire whilst everyone else was asleep in their tents.

"That's good, I thought you were beginning to have second thoughts about traveling with us." Said Lady Caine.

"Aw. Were you afraid that I'd leave?" Asked Hans with a smirk. "I didn't know you cared."

Lady Caine brought the stick up and began waving it at him menacingly. After a brief and playful mock fencing match Lady Caine resumed stoking the fire with the stick.

Hans laughed.

"Well I won't lie. It can be labourious to have to do everything myself and not have my attendants waiting on me. But to tell you the truth, these last few months really have been the been the best I've had." Hans admitted. "I'm free as a bird now. No more social class rules no more high expectations, I don't have to try to impress anyone anymore, least of all my father-." Hans snorted and spat in the fire. He looked like he felt good being able to just spit on things. "And besides."

Hans turned to look Caine in the eyes. "I really like travelling with you." He smiled.

Lady Caine grimaced.

•••

"That was dad's pickup line?" Novak also grimaced.

"Yep, pretty lame. Despite what people say, your father was actually a really lousy sweet talker when he means it." Lady Caine paused. "Either that or the last girl was a complete sucker."

Elsa giggled.

Kristoff snorted.

"I think we all know the answer to that one." Olaf teased.

Anna lowered her head in embarrassment.

"Anyway, as the year went by we did become closer but there was always an unseen barrier that wedge us apart." Caine sighed.

She looked at her son.

"I had only ever kept everyone at arm's length ever since your grandfather was taken from me. For fear of losing anyone else close to me."

Lady Caine lowered her head and began to breathe heavy. The pain of the day's earlier events twisting the knife in her heart. Novak was quick to comfort his mother, sitting her down on at the table.

Frederic let out a long guilty sigh.

Caine regained her composure.

"And your father? Before then I doubt he ever truly knew how to love, given his childhood. He wanted to forget his past so much he actually adopted that silly name Nash Stabbington. Then again, I did marry into that name so silly me I guess. " Lady Caine chuckled.

"Urgh the marriage." She groaned.

"Basically your father and I did development a relationship overtime but we were both hesitant about taking said relationship any further." Lady Caine sighed.

Then her faced wrinked into very annoyed scowl.

"That was when Stalyan, Cassandra, Brock, Dale and your uncles all decided to pull that horrible prank on us!" Lady Caine growled.

The Stabbington Brothers faces lit up, as did Stalyan, Brock, Dale and Cassandra.

Lady Caine felt a terrible sinking feeling in her gut.

"Are they going show it!?" Patchy asked in excitement.

"Oh I think are." Sideburns chuckled gleefully.

Rapunzel looked to enquire Cassandra's grinning face.

"Just watch, Raps. You're going to love this." Cassandra laughed.

•••

The screen showed a town in a state of anarchy. There was laughing, fights, sounds of breaking glass, gunshots, drunks collapsing on the streets and even what looked like a man with his hair on fire running in circles.

Elsa made a deep frown, the inherently organised and orderly queen was appalled with the state of disorder.

"What kind of place is this!?" Asked Elsa.

"Welcome to New Tortuga ladies and gentlemen." A slender barman with a moustached and messy dreadlocks served up eight steins of alcoholic beverages. "Concocted this one myself, best drink on the island."

The Stabbington Brothers, Stalyan, Cassandra, Brock and Dale gave the barman a knowing wink and a thumbs up. Only Lady Caine and Hans appeared oblivious.

"Please enjoy yourselves here in The Grand Sparrow Casino. Founded by the legendary Captain Jack Sparrow himself. Drink up me hearties, Yo ho." The unnamed barman left the group with their drinks.

"You heard the man. Hear hear!" Brock raised his stein.

•••

"GRRR! It was a trap." Lady Caine growled. "Only your father and I had alcohol in our cups, and what a knock out that drink was! Oh, I'm glad you will never go to New Tortuga and drink that yak piss!"

"Uh mom, what happened next?" Novak reminded his mother to stay on topic.

"Well nothing bad happens. But suffice to say your father and I woke up screaming."

•••

"AAAAHHHHH!" Hans and Caine screamed.

"Goodness!" Arianna gasped. She quickly shielded Frederic's eyes, then tried to shield Willow's too. But Willow was too nosy to be stopped.

"Whoa!" Kristoff balked.

"Well done, Nash." Eugene laughed.

Elsa quickly stood up and maturely clasped her hands over their eyes.

Many viewers tried to avert their eyes but many just couldn't.

"REALLY!?" Rapunzel laughed.

Anna made a delightful SQUEE.

Hans and Caine were in a hotel suite sharing the same bed! The surprised pair jerked away from each other in shock, Hans had his bare chest exposed and Lady Caine was desperately covering herself with the sheets. Their clothes were littered about the floors and furniture, the suite itself was adorn with ribbons and flowers and a big unmissable banner that reads 'Husband and Wife.'

Hans and Caine stared at the banner, then at each other, then at their newly bejewelled ring fingers.

Another round of screaming!

The occupants downstairs heard the 'couple' screaming; among other screams, laughter and gunshots common and constant in New Tortuga.

"Hear's to the newly weds!" Patchy declared a toast.

"HEAR HEAR!" Stalyan, Cassandra, Brock, Dale, Sideburns and Patchy raised their mugs in unison. More gunshots rang about.

"HAHAHAHA!" The present day, Cassandra, Stalyan, Brock, Dale and Stabbington Brothers all laughed at the memory.

"It's even funnier than before." Brock laughed, He wiped a tear from his eye.

"It's great because we get to see their reaction this time." Stalyan laughed whilst leaning into Brock.

Lady Caine groaned and slammed her head on the table. "I'm gonna kill you guys." She mumbled.

•••

Novak's mouth was closed but his lips slowly curved and he began to snicker.

"Hey HEY! Don't you start laughing." Lady Caine warned with a raised finger. "Urgh, I never got the chance to kill those guys."

The entirety of the audience displayed mixed reactions; some laughed and cheered while few were left befuddled with the laws and condition of marriage on that island.

"Eh, New Tortuga." Patchy shrugged.

"The land where anyone can marry anyone, or anything." Sideburns winked.

King Marius eyed the visibly annoyed and dangerous looking Lady Caine then at the his two sons with outrage.

"What? Those two just needed a push and we gave it." Said Sideburns.

"Things worked out. I mean it has already lasted far longer than Mathew's first two marriages." Patchy chuckled. Making their oldest brother scowl.

•••

The screen showed Hans standing anxiously in a dark alleyway at night, still in New Tortuga. Up above, Lady Caine vaulted off a balcony and landed gracefully beside him.

"Did you find it?" Hans asked.

"Yeah. It wasn't easy, Cassandra is a light sleeper. They were right to get her to hold onto it. But I managed to lift our marriage certificate off her fingers nonetheless!" With a proud smile Lady Caine whipped out the parchment.

"Great." Replied Hans, though he seemed slightly dismayed.

With a sigh he picked a torch from the alley walls and held it out to Lady Caine.

Lady Caine's proud smile disappeared at the sight of the torch. She looked between it and their marriage certificate. With some hesitation Lady Caine slowly leveled the parchment toward the flame. They got closer and closer and clos-.

"WAIT!" Lady Caine suddenly pulled the parchment away. Hans also pulled the torch away, quicker than he intended.

After a moment to collect herself Lady Caine unfurled the parchment to take in the contents.

Elsa's brows furrowed at the sight of Hans and Caine's marriage certificate, it was hardly passable for a legal document. The layout was crude and the handwritings were atrocious. Hans and Caine's signatures were slurred and messy; likely due to being drunk. And all of it was approved by 'CPT J.S'

But as appalling as the document was, Lady Caine seemed to hold it in great value. She looked at their marriage certificate then back at Hans, the man in front also looked unsure. Finally Lady Caine made her decision.

"Nash... I know this might sound a bit crazy. But..."

Lady Caine paused, then let out a resigning chuckle and smiled at him.

"Do you wanna give this thing a try?" She tilt her head towards the marriage certificate in her hands.

Hans stood passively, and Lady Caine wondered if he was going to laugh or mock her. 'Oh I'm gonna make myself a widow if he laughs.' Lady Caine thought.

At last Hans released the biggest sigh, a huge weight was raised from his shoulders. And he smiled back.

"Wanna hear something crazier?" He grinned. "YES!"

There was no deception this time, no hidden agendas, they were both two lost souls without anything, there was nothing to gain in deceiving one another. This was real.

Hans and Caine both laughed and pulled each other close, their lips finally met for the first time. As a married couple.

"Yes!" Anna cheered.

"Hmm." Elsa smiled. She nodded approvingly.

Kristoff also nodded, he wrapped an arm around Anna and Anna leaned into him.

"That is sooo romantic!" Olaf chirped. "I can't wait to act it out for Marshmallow and the Snowgies."

Rapunzel smiled at Lady Caine. She was soo proud of her friend, her friend! And now that she knows who Nash really is and what he's done to reform himself, she felt immensely proud of him too.

The couple on screen continued to kiss until-.

FWOOSH!

The torch that was still in Hans's hand lit the certificate up! The pair broke apart and began frantically trying to put out the fire.

•••End of Flashback within Flashback•••

•••Normal Flashback•••

Novak turned to eye the framed certificate. The corner was singed and now he knows why. Beside it was a grainy black and white photo taken during his parent's wedding.

The audience had trouble containing their laughs. It was a hilarious group shot with an intoxicated Hans being propped up by Sideburns and Patchy and beside them was Lady Caine being propped up by Stalyan and Cassandra. Brock and Dale were at either corner popping champagne and party crackers.

"Yeah, not exactly a fairy tale wedding, but it was one for the books." Caine laughed.

"After a few years we finally decided we had done enough and our group disbanded." Said Caine. "Our reputations have improved throughout the lands and our previous infamy diminished. But we still needed to make peace."

"So your father, your uncles and I followed Cassandra back to Corona where we made an appeal to the queen." Said Caine. "Luckily we were granted probation and were allowed to settle in Old Corona where we built our new lives together."

"It was also where Cassandra and Varian married and later Neoma was born." Lady Caine smiled.

Lady Caine then looked at her son with loving maternal affection.

"On the day you were born, when your father almost kicked down the doors to check on me, and he saw you for the first time. I will never forget that look, never forget how he was reduced to tears. From that moment on you became his world." Caine smiled.

"Your father wanted you to grow up in family where you felt loved, that you knew you were appreciated, and you knew we were glad to have you. Your uncle and I were happy to oblige."

"That's why he tells you he's proud of you, everyday without fail. And he meant it every time."

Marius closed his eyes and released a resigning sigh.

Novak could only stare blankly at his mother then lowered his gaze at his given sword. 'You have made me proud.' Were even his father's last words. Novak began to shake, the grief finally setting in, he would never see his father again, would never hear those kind and encouraging words.

Lady Caine wrapped her arms around Novak, mother and son comforted each other.

••• Fast forward •••

The next scene show Lady Caine and Novak sparring with wooden swords.

"Well done, Novak. You've mastered your father's fighting style." Said Lady Caine as she stood disarmed and with Novak's wooden sword aimed at her neck. "However."

Lady Caine whipped out her steel fans and with a quick combo she disarmed Novak and knocked the surprised boy onto the ground.

"It's not enough to be good with one style, you need to be proficient with many!"

Lady Caine tossed him one of her fans and she began to teach him.

•

Across the field was Neoma, the blunette crouched on an open rocky clearing, a few black rock peaks surrounded her. With a gesture the girl levitated a piece of black rock then the rock came apart and the pieces connected to her stump, forming an arm.

It took a lot of effort and concentration and for a while Neoma was able to move it like a normal arm. But then the movement became over extended or flexed too far and the arm became an unsightly disfigurement.

Neoma let out an angry cry and slammed the misshapen fist into the ground, shattering the gravel earth. The girl huffed and growled in frustration. That was when her father approached.

"Neoma, I am surprised by you, I thought you had a better understanding of basic human anatomy." Varian sighed.

Neoma saw that her father was carrying something in both hands, the object in question was wrapped under a tarp cloth Her father smiled and began his lecture.

"I've noticed that you could move the black rock pieces with your mind, just like you would a muscle. But a limb cannot maintain its form with muscle alone, it needs a skeleton." Varian removed the cloth revealing a metal skeletal arm.

"I have studied long and hard into the Da Vinci's book of human anatomy. Use this as the supporting frame for your black rock arm." Varian offered.

Neoma was left speechless, her father had laboured long and hard to make this, she continued to stare at the amazing prosthetic. Like many of her father's inventions the chassis arm was far ahead of its time.

Neoma has a left arm again.

Cassandra pulled Varian in and gave him a huge kiss on the head. "Love that big brain of yours."

Varian made a huge grin.

•••End of Flashback•••

"Thanks, dad." The teenage Neoma whispered.

Neoma and Novak continued to observe their younger families from the top of the hill in the outskirts of Old Corona.

Neoma watched her parents dote her younger self, her heart melted at the display of love her parents showed for their child.

With her good hand the girl took her metal hand and placed them both over her heart where the inactive Moonstone resided. Neoma released a sigh, though she could not go down to meet and embrace her parents, this gesture always made her feel close to them both.

"And thank you as well, mom." Neoma sniffled. A single silent tear rolled down her cheek. "I understand what my destiny is now."

She cast her gaze across the field, to Old Corona, to the Island City, to the valleys and to the seas and other lands beyond.

"We will save this world."

Cassandra squeezed Varian's hand. The couple nodded at each other, humbled to know they could be parents to such an amazing girl.

Varian, Cassandra, Hans, Lady Caine, Patchy and Sideburns stood and exchanged laughs with one another. Little baby Novak and Neoma giggled in their mother's arms.

Anna, Elsa, Rapunzel, Kristoff, Eugene, Olaf, Arianna, Frederic, Edmund Willow and the rest of the audience in Arendelle's town square all watched with content smiles on their faces. This wasn't a band of criminals they were seeing, just two families having a laugh.

Teen Novak watched his reformed parents and uncles. They all crowded around baby Novak.

"Hey hey! I still want to hold him! You three keep your hands to yourselves!" Caine hogged the baby.

For the briefest moment Teen Novak thought he saw his younger self lock eyes with him, but couldn't be sure.

"Be good to them." Novak whispered.

"We should head back to the Island City." Neoma finally spoke. "The others will be waiting for us."

Novak nodded. The pair gave one last parting look at their families, treasuring the image into their memories. Then Neoma and Novak turned and left.

Anna felt a gentle hand placed on her shoulder, she turned to find her sister smiling at her with misty eyes. Anna blinked and found that hers were misty too.

"Anna, I think it is time we bury the hatchet." Elsa said with an encouraging nod.

"Yes!" Anna exclaimed, a squeek of excitement in her voice. She was only too glad to finally put the past behind her and begin mending.

The Stabbingtons saw the queen sisters rise from their seats and make their way towards them, to Lady Caine specifically.

The lady in question saw the Arendellian queen and her sister the Northuldran queen approach her. Pushing her seat back Lady Caine stood up to meet them.

The sisters stopped a few feet in front of Lady Caine, then Anna took another step and was within reach of the other woman, a deafening silence fell over the town square, all eyes were on the standoff.

"Well the jig is up." Sideburns huffed. Then he suddenly smiled. "My silver piece is on Caine."

"Ooh I don't know about that, I heard Queen Anna could throw a really mean punch." Patchy rubbed his chin.

Marius who had his hands running through his hair suddenly spun at his twin sons then threw his hands down. The king of the Southern Isle prepared himself to intervene. He may have never stood up for Hans or defended him in all the years they had spent together, but here and now Marius was determined to at least defend Hans's wife if a confrontation should occur.

Luckily there was no confrontation. Anna was looking up at Caine, smiling softly which Caine found confusing.

"Lady Caine?" Anna asked.

"Queen Anna?" Caine replied.

Then the most awe-inspiring thing happened. Anna reached forward and gently took Lady Caine's hands in hers.

"Will you still be my friend?" Anna asked.

Lady Caine looked surprised

"Umm. Sure, if you still want me to be." Answered Caine.

With that, Anna threw her arms around Lady Caine and pulled her into her famous/infamous crushing embrace. Lady Caine gasped, the strength of Anna's hug surprised and impressed the former pirate leader. Then to the amazement of herself and her closest friends, Lady Caine wrapped her arms around Anna and hugged back.

The crowd erupted in applause, Rapunzel clapped her hands together in joy, Cassandra and Varian sighed in relief, the reveal they've both been dreading had ended in hugs and the beginning of reconciliation.

Cassandra passed a glance at the witch whom responded with a nod and a wink. She knew things would end well.

Elsa placed her hands on Lady Caine's shoulders as soon as Anna had released her.

"Anna and I are beyond impressed with how you and Hans have turned your lives around. And you've raised such a beautiful family."

"I would never have done it, nor Hans or any one of us. If it wasn't for Cassandra." Lady Caine shifted her head towards her friend. Though in truth she just wanted to get the attention away from herself.

"Yes, Cassandra." Brock agreed. He, Stalyan and Dale also approached the table. "All of us here owe our better lives to Cassandra."

"So let's hear it for Cassandra!" Stalyan shouted.

Stalyan, Brock, Dale, The Stabbington Brothers and Lady Caine cheered.

"Oh shucks. I only did what I had to." Now it was Cassandra who felt embarrassed. "Besides, it was Rapunzel who was the real hero behind it all. No matter what I did or how much I hurt her, she refused to give up on me. That was what inspired me to help others."

"Don't sell yourself short Cassandra. What you did after you left was all you." Said Rapunzel.

Then Anna suddenly flung herself onto Cassandra, crushing the older girl in her signature squeeze attack, the big hug she swore to give Cassandra.

"GAH!" Cassandra struggled under the crushing squeeze.

Meanwhile Marius and Mathew had begun to converse with Frederic and Arianna, Edmund and Willow.

Frederic gave a shrug and a sigh.

"Rapunzel has always been a bit too forgiving for her own good. But I see how things have worked out for the best in the end." He said as he watched all the former criminals laughed merrily with Rapunzel, Kristoff, Eugene, Elsa and Olaf as Anna crushed Varian.

The movie continued and Lance was seen wrapping up his performance. The part-time stage performer has made a name for himself over the years bring much entertainment to the locals.

The atmosphere of Corona's Island City was a most jovial one, the cheer of Frederic's recovery energised the citizens. Celebration in the streets was inevitable.

"Thank you, Thank you folks." Lance cheered. "But the party is still early, so who else would like to sing!?"

The crowd looked around at each other urging family or friends to take the stage.

"Ah, how about you, little lady?" Lance pointed at Wrenn! "What's your name?"

Wrenn recoiled in surprise. "Me? I'm uh... my name? It's..." The girl stuttered.

"Uh oh." Rapunzel thought.

"I'm... Wr... Wre... RIN!" Wrenn yelped. "My name is Rin."

"Nice to meet you Rin, and is this your brother with you?" Lance asked, indicating at Flynn.

"Yeah that's my brother... Len." Wrenn laughed nervously.

Flynn just rolled his eyes at his sister.

"Well Rin and Len, how about the two of you hop on stage and sing us a song!" Lance chirped.

The twins blanched while the crowd cheered them on.

Flynn looked around, frantic to escape. "Oh no. We're not-."

"DO IT! SING FOR US!" Amelia cheerfully yelled.

"You two will do great." Eri encouraged.

"You can't take the names Rin and Len and not sing!" Aidan laughed.

"Drats!" Flynn and Wrenn cursed. Aidan was right.

"Let's just do this." Flynn grumbled. The two climbed up the stage.

Rapunzel began bouncing on her seat, she was visibly exited to watch her children sing. And they did.

The song was slow but impactful, it was a song of courage, perseverance and a light at the end of the tunnel. The hardy folks of the kingdom understood hardship well and so the song of the twins was especially moving. The enchanting voices of the twins lulled many to dance with the rhythm.

"Hey Amy and Eri, look who came just in time!" Aidan chirped.

Amelia and Eri turned and saw Neoma and Novak entering the streets and hailed at the pair.

"Hey guys." Neoma made a casual salute. "Provisions acquired and stored away."

The receiving trio laughed but noticed something was off.

"Are you two alright?" Eri asked. She placed a hand on Neoma's shoulder and looked at her friend with concern. "You look sad."

"We're fine." Novak assured. "We saw our families from a distance, it was beautiful. But."

"It also brought back some painful memories." Neoma finished.

Amelia and Eri wasted no time offering Neoma a hug, Aidan just gave Novak a slap in the back.

"Well this is where we are now and we're here to make positive changes." Aidan reminded them.

"The whole town is celebrating. LET'S PARTY!" Amelia squealed.

Before Novak could react, Amelia seized him by the wrists and pulled him into the crowd.

Anna had seated herself between Cassandra and Lady Caine, her two new found friends and idols. The Arendellian queen froze suddenly when she watched Amelia dragged Novak into the crowd. Anna had to blink a few times to process what she was seeing; her daughter was dancing with Hans's son!

Everyone turned to stare at Anna, curious to see her reaction.

Lady Caine let out a huffed, she had only just made friends with Anna.

For a tense few seconds the Arendellian Queen stared blankly at the scene. People began to worry Anna might really explode this time. And explode she did.

But not in a bad way.

Anna made a loud delightful SQUEE, a huge smile on her face. Surprising everyone!

"OH NO!" Exclaimed Kristoff. "No way!"

The Prince Consort was not so thrilled, his newly found protective father instincts were kicking in. "Do something, Aidan!"

"Well Neoma, shall we?" Aidan asked with a wink. He offered his right arm to Neoma.

Kristoff slapped himself in the forehead.

"Wooh! Yeah Aidan, ask her to dance!" Anna cheered .

Eri scoffed. "I'm going backstage, maybe I can make Flynn and Wrenn's performance even more spectacular." The snow princess left her cousin alone with Neoma.

Neoma looked at Aidan and his right arm awkwardly.

"Oh, right. Other arm." Aidan quickly switched to his left so Neoma can take hold with her good arm. Neoma chuckled and took the offered arm and Aidan lead her into the dancing crowd.

Now Varian and Cassandra were giving Anna and Kristoff odd looks again. But then the couple shrugged, Neoma could use a dance.

The screen shift back to show Amelia and Novak dancing. They were both engaged in deep conversation.

"Bet he won't tell her who he really is." Kristoff grumbled.

Then Novak pulled away, his face was serious as he appeared to be confessing something.

"I know about that." Said Amelia, shrugging.

Novak was shocked. "You do!? Then why are you so friendly around me? And why are you and I dancing?" He asked, looking around them.

Amelia just tilted her head and smiled, it confused Novak.

"Because we're on the same side now, we both want the same thing." Amelia explained. "The mission is far too important to jeopardize, we have to work together. And I really don't want there to be a rift between us."

Novak stared at Amelia as she looked up at him. Amelia resumed.

"What happened between our families is in the past, we can't change it-..." She blinked. "Or then again, maybe we could... But... ACK! No that's not what we're here for." The girl was arguing with herself, it made Novak chuckle.

The audience thought it was quite cute.

Amelia took a deep breath and recollected herself.

"What I'm trying to say is, my brother, my cousin, second cousins and I are glad to have you with us." Amelia clarified.

She suddenly became worried and uncertain. "Umm I hope you don't mind being with us." Amelia asked.

"I uh..." Novak stuttered. "Not at all. I really like travelling with you."

Suddenly Novak's eyes bulged in panic. "GUYS!" He frantically corrected. "I really like travelling with you guys!"

Lady Caine snorted. "Nice save."

Totally oblivious to Novak's blunder, Amelia smiled.

"How about you and I make a fresh start? My name is Amelia Bjorgman, but my friends call me Amy." Amelia offered a hand and the sweetest smile. "So please. Call me Amy!"

Novak looked stunned, he was overwhelmed by the offer of friendship from the kind and accepting girl. Slowly Novak smiled back and clasped Amelia's hand.

"Novak Stabbington. Pleasure to meet you, Amy."

They shook hands and laughed.

"Such a mature girl." Arianna praised. Everybody nodded in agreement, they smiled in frank admiration for Amelia.

Eugene slapped Kristoff on the back. "You got a smart one there, buddy." Eugene laughed.

"She is." Kristoff admitted. His teenage daughter is so grown up. "Hey, Eugene. Remember that fear you mentioned about our kids growing too quickly and us feeling old?" Kristoff chuckled. "Well I'm feeling it now."

The two men laughed.

The singing and dancing continued on into the night.

Eri had even snuck backstage, and with a wave of her hand she cast a flurry of crystals over the twins. The crystals sparkled and danced around the pair.

It took a few encouraging glances from one another but eventually Flynn and Wrenn decided to use their Sundrop powers, the bright golden light they emitted reflected off the ice flurry made a truly dazzling spectacle for the crowd.

Then to add to the finale, Eri waved her hands again and Wrenn was suddenly adorned in a beautiful yellow dress. And Flynn wore a elegant yellow suit.

The song ended and the crowd cheered and applauded in awestruck wonder. Lance stepped onto the stage to treat with the twins.

"I don't know how you two did all of that, glitter glow, changin hair and changin threads. But I loved it!" Lance cheered. "Lets hear it again for Rin and Len!"

Another round of applause.

"Alright, who's next to sing!?" Lance cheered.

"US!" Yelled a teenage Catalina. "Keira and I will sing next!"

Teen Keira groaned.

••• End of Chapter •••

Author notes

Phew I think we covered a lot here. So we know how Old Corona has progressed since the finale, everybody's reaction to Hans, how Neoma lost her arm, how she gained her powers etc.

It's been a popular subject of interest among TTS fans to explore Cassandra's adventure after the series finale. So I decided combine the meeting of Caine and Hans and the redemption of villains in Cassandra's adventure.

As a developer's note. Yes Flynn and Wrenn were heavily influenced by the Vocaloids Len and Rin. So I thought I'd put the reference in. And DBZ of course. I have taken inspiration from many medias for this chapter. I wonder how many you can identify.

Phew, I knew this chapter would be long but I didn't think it would top Battle for Northuldra.

Please share with me your thoughts and thank you for reading.