Here we are with chapter eleven. I'm going to make this my stopping point before moving on to another story.
Note: Before anyone gets on my case about Quirin and Arianna, the scene is staged. It's a tradition in Corona for the king and queen to make an appearance at the Day of Hearts festival. The two married purely to help each other. There is nothing romantic going on between them. This will be touched on more in-depth in the third season.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything related to the "Tangled" franchise. I only own the story idea and any minor OCs I create.
Now, let us begin.
"Centuries ago, Corona was engaged in a years-long war with its rival kingdom, Saporia. Corona's then-king, Herz Der Sonne, created a complex system of tunnels to move his knights and supplies wherever he needed. He then made a detailed map of these tunnels and their secrets in a secure journal. At the height of the war, Der Sonne's sworn enemy, General Champanier, launched a full-scale invasion on Corona. Champanier fought her way through the castle to face King Herz Der Sonne himself. Their battle waged for hours, with neither side relenting. That is until Champanier discovered that the book's final pages contained Herz's profession of love for her. It was then she realized she held similar feelings for him as well. And soon, the two were married. And a lasting peace was brought to the newly united nations forevermore."
Big Nose finished narrating the story while Attila sniffled into a handkerchief nearby, and Shorty was dressed in his cupid costume beside him. "Gets me every time."
"Oh! Isn't that the most romantic story you've ever heard?" Rapunzel asked Cass and her brother, but neither of them was swayed. Varian just looked distracted, thinking about Hugo.
The other alchemist hadn't been around in a couple of weeks, and the prince wasn't sure why. He was confident he hadn't left Corona. He could sense the rocks in his bracelet were still in the kingdom. Varian knew he could track someone's location, but he didn't want to come off as an obsessive stalker… Hugo meant a lot to him, and the prince realized this as he fretted about the situation. Hugo had become such a significant part of Varian's life in such a short time. He missed his wit, his teasing smirk… his eyes… his genuine smile.
"I guess," Cass said with a light shrug. "If you're into romance and that kind of thing."
Rapunzel stared at her with concern, then turned to look at the prince. She could tell something was wrong with both of them.
"And our kingdom commemorates this day… the Day of Hearts," Big Nose continued, gesturing to the pedestal where the journal he mentioned sat. "Each year, by displaying the book, so all those who have found true love may sign its pages." Arianna and Quirin approached the book, and the queen carried a basket filled with red paper hearts. After the king signed the book, he and his wife shared a quick kiss before Arianna tossed the paper hearts into the cheering crowd. One of the hearts landed on Shorty, who offered it to Cass, causing her to flinch back.
"Happy Day of Hearts, my lady."
She growled as she snatched it, ripping the paper to shreds. "Can't this kingdom go one day without celebrating something?!" she asked bitterly, storming off.
"I'm… a little worried about Cass," Rapunzel told Eugene. "She's been acting kind of weird lately."
"Probably just the Day of Hearts," he dismissed. "People either love it or loathe it. Cass obviously falls into the latter category because she hates everything. Nothing we can do."
"Huh… or maybe there is," she rubbed her chin, her boyfriend glancing at her sideways. "Hey, maybe you and Hugo can help me?" Rapunzel smiled at her brother. "Speaking of Hugo, where is he? I haven't seen him around in a while."
"I have no idea," Varian sighed, feeling discouraged. "I know he's still in Corona. I can sense the rocks I used for his bracelet, but I don't want to look like a stalker by tracking him down… Maybe he just got tired of me…" he murmured. Ruddiger looked at him solemnly from his spot on his shoulders.
"Vari…" Rapunzel placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. Eugene looked sad for him. As suspicious as he was of the other boy, he could see the two cared about each other, which made him suspect he knew what was happening. "That's not true. I've seen the way you look at each other. You're best friends."
"I know…" The prince looked away, aware that his feelings for the boy were deeper than that. "And I miss him not being around, but maybe this is for the best. I knew he wasn't going to stick around long… I guess he's just getting ready to move on."
He walked off, and the blonde stared after him sadly.
"Let me handle this one, Sunshine," Eugene assured her before heading after the prince.
"Okay…" Rapunzel agreed. As much as she wanted to help Varian, she knew Eugene could reach him better, so she decided to focus on Cassandra for now.
(Operation: Cheer Cass Up)
Cass walked through the garden, clearly preoccupied. "Ladies lunch!" She was jolted from her thoughts when she saw Rapunzel sitting in the middle of a picnic. "And I brought cupcakes! Each one is a single serving because there's nothing wrong with being single." She nudged Pascal with a wink. "Right, Friedborg?"
Friedborg responded by eating a cabbage whole. "This is great, Raps, but I don't have time right now, okay? You two have fun, though. And maybe bring Varian a cupcake. He could really use one."
She walked away, and Friedborg happily ate a cupcake. Rapunzel felt a bit disappointed that this didn't work out.
Later, when Cass was helping her brush her hair, she struggled with something tangled up in it. "Oh, wait, what is that?" Rapunzel asked innocently as Cass found a folded piece of paper. "Is something caught up in my hair?"
Cass opened it and discovered it was a card in Rapunzel's art style that read, 'You are special!' Rapunzel gasped in surprise.
"Now, how did that get in there?"
The lady-in-waiting gave her a skeptical look.
For her third attempt, Rapunzel knocked on her door, hiding a painting of Cass behind her back. When Cass opened the door, Rapunzel eagerly showed her the painting. Pascal whistled in approval.
"Would you just stop, Rapunzel?" Cass said, taking the painting and shutting the door.
"Drastic times call for drastic measures…" the woman said to Pascal.
Later, Cass was walking through the halls when she spotted Rapunzel peeking around the corner. She tried to make a getaway, but it was too late. "Cass~!" Rapunzel sang as she revealed herself. "Look what I got for you!"
Cass sighed to herself as Rapunzel approached with something behind her back. "I know you are gonna love this!" Rapunzel held out Cass's punching dummy with Eugene's face painted on it. "I painted Eugene's face on your sparring dummy like you always wanted! I mean, I kinda felt horrible doing it, but I'm sure he won't mind. You know, if we don't tell him obviously, please don't tell him." She placed her hands on the dummy's head as if covering its ears.
"Thanks. You're sweet," Cass muttered, turning away.
"Come on, Cassandra," Rapunzel mimicked her boyfriend, making Cass stop. "Look at my adorable, well-chiseled face. Don't you just wanna hit it?"
"Look, Raps, I get what you're doing, and I appreciate it, but I'm fine."
"Cass, no," Rapunzel protested, dropping the dummy. "Something is clearly wrong. You never wanna hang out. You keep disappearing… you don't even wanna beat up Eugene!"
Cass moved the dummy aside. "I'm dealing with… uh, some stuff. Stuff I'm not ready to share, but when I am ready, you'll be the first person I go to," she said, placing a comforting hand on her friend's shoulder and offering a small smile. "Trust me."
"Okay, I trust you," Rapunzel replied, placing her hand on Cass's, smiling back.
"And I'm sure Varian feels the same about his situation, too."
Rapunzel sighed sadly at the mention of her brother. "I'm worried about him, Cass. He thinks Hugo doesn't like him anymore."
"I'm sure that's not the case, Raps," Cass reassured her. "He probably just needed some space to sort through his feelings."
"What feelings?"
Her friend looked at her for a moment. "… Oh, right, the tower. Of course, you wouldn't know."
"Know what?"
"Let's talk about it in my room."
The two women went to Cassandra's room, and the handmaiden closed the door behind them. "Okay, you know what falling in love feels like, right?"
Rapunzel scoffed as she put the dummy away. "Obviously."
"Well, there are times when two girls or two boys feel the same way about each other."
"Really?" The princess blinked in surprise.
"Yup," she nodded.
"So… Varian and Hugo…?"
"At the very least, they feel a spark between them."
"That's wonderful!" Rapunzel exclaimed excitedly. "My little brother's in love!" She paused when she realized something. "Why haven't they said anything yet?"
"Well, for one thing, Varian is still getting used to connecting with people. Making friends is one thing, but falling in love is another. Plus, Hugo told me about his past; he has similar issues forming meaningful relationships. Then there's the whole matter of how people would react to their relationship if they pursued it."
"What do you mean?"
"It depends on where you go, but there are some places and people who think that relationships between two people of the same sex are inappropriate."
"Why? Love is love. It shouldn't matter who it's between."
"I and many other people agree with that, and the reasons people give for disapproving of it are often stupid and self-serving. Unfortunately, a lot of people believe them."
"… Is Corona one of those places?" Rapunzel asked softly, hoping the kingdom she loved wasn't like that.
Cassandra hummed as she thought about it. "Hard to say. Corona doesn't take a strong stance for or against it. It's not a definitive answer, but compared to places where they could be arrested or worse… Since Varian's the prince, I doubt many, if any, people will raise a stink about it."
"Why does part of me see Nigel doing that?" Rapunzel questioned, irritation creeping into her voice.
"If he does, it will probably be because Hugo's a nomadic street boy and Varian's a prince. He still complains about you and Eugene."
Rapunzel groaned and rolled her eyes before focusing back on the topic. "So, what do we do about the boys?"
"Not much we can do. Varian and Hugo need to figure this out for themselves," Cass said, placing a comforting hand on Rapunzel's shoulder. "They'll be fine, and if Varian needs anything, he'll come talk to us."
The princess sighed before nodding. "Okay, you're right."
(Meanwhile)
While the girls chatted, Eugene decided to help Varian. After a reassuring conversation, the older man discovered where Hugo was and felt he and the younger thief needed a heart-to-heart. He walked by the docks and noticed Hugo sitting on the edge, fiddling with his bracelet.
"Hugo?"
"Rider!" He jumped, turning toward Eugene. While he appeared fine, Eugene could sense something was off since he had startled him. "What are you doing here?"
"I was looking for you," he said as he sat beside him. "I wanted to talk about you and Varian."
Hugo clamped his mouth shut, turning away. "… I haven't seen him in days."
"I know, and so does Varian," Eugene replied, frowning in concern. "What's going on?"
The blonde boy sighed, holding his head. "I got attached… the thing Don always warned me about. Now, I'm so attached it terrifies me."
Eugene stared at him for a moment before putting his words together. "You like him…?" He nodded. "So, why so scared? Rapunzel and I made it work."
"It's not that simple, Eugene," Hugo groaned, surprising the older man when he used his real name. "You weren't working for someone when you met Rapunzel. I am, and despite what I said before, she will eventually come looking for me, and I'm terrified of how she'll react when she sees me not doing my job."
"You don't think she'll hurt you, do you?" Eugene asked, concern etched on his face.
"I may be her favorite employee, but I'm still her employee, and Don may not be as violent as the Baron, but I've seen what she's capable of."
The two were quiet for a minute as Hugo calmed down. "I know you're scared, and believe it or not, I was, too, when I realized I liked Rapunzel. I was in the middle of a heist where I'd double-crossed two dangerous partners. Blondie had an overprotective, man-hating mother who was more dangerous than the aforementioned partners, and don't get me started on the legacy of crime I had to face. Still, you have something that I didn't…"
"What's that?"
Eugene placed his hand on the younger man's back. "You have people willing to help you."
Hugo looked at him in surprise. "I know this is all new and strange, but it doesn't have to be scary. Pushing each other away isn't going to solve anything. While I doubted it at first, I see now that you two care about each other, and I know you don't want this for yourselves. It's okay to admit you're done with this life and want something better for yourself."
He fell silent, thinking about what he had said. Despite his fears and doubts, he couldn't let go of his feelings… maybe he was right. Perhaps he was ready for something new…
"… Could you tell Varian I'm still in town? I'm not ready to talk about my feelings, but I won't leave without telling him first."
"You got it, Glasses."
(That night)
The book was covered and taken away by guards to be locked in the castle. While Stan and Pete did this, Rapunzel sat nearby, talking with Pascal. "So, we've just gotta let Cass come to us when she's ready to share what's going on… and my brother, too. I hope Eugene managed to talk to him…"
Just then, Pascal jumped onto the railing and looked toward the courtyard. Rapunzel turned his way and spotted Cass herself, running through the shadows toward the archway.
Rapunzel gasped at this. "That's Cass!" They watched their friend slip away into the night when she was sure the coast was clear. "What is she up to? Maybe we should find out."
Pascal raised an eyebrow. "Not to be nosy! Just to make sure she's okay!" She followed after her friend, with the chameleon trailing after her reluctantly. They caught up with Cass as she approached the docks. They moved behind her and hid behind a stack of crates. Rapunzel peeked over her shoulder while Pascal sighed in relief that they weren't seen. He looked up when she began climbing some barrels, the princess crying out when they slipped. Pascal held them in place the best he could.
Cass turned around at the noise but saw nothing. Rapunzel cringed nervously while Pascal kept pushing on the barrels. Turning back to the docks, her friend saw a floating lantern with a heart printed on it approaching her. She smiled at the sight, reaching for it. Rapunzel watched her and ducked a little as a man approached the woman with a rose.
"Oh, there you are."
"I couldn't resist the invitation," he said with a smile, holding up the flower. He planted it in her hair, and she smiled back at him.
"So, that's what's going on!" Rapunzel whispered happily. "Cass is in love!"
At that moment, Pascal lost his grip on the barrels, sending the princess into the water and interrupting the couple's moment. She coughed as she clung to the platform's edge, looking up when the other two approached her. Cass and the man helped her up, though the lady-in-waiting seemed annoyed. "Cass… and friend of Cass," she said awkwardly, as Cass did not look pleased. "No introduction? Okay, that's fine."
"Oh, I'm sorry," the man said as he approached her. "I'm Andrew. You must be cold. Please, take my jacket." He draped his wool vest over her.
"Thank you. Ooh! Nice and warm."
"I made it myself," he explained. "It was shorn from the fleece of Poquito Juan Pablo, a blind orphan mountain sheep I rescued from a pack of ravenous wolves. I gave him a home. He gave me warmth. I often ask myself, who rescued whom?"
"Wow! This guy is smooth," Rapunzel commented to Cass, who held her shoulders tightly.
"Actually, Rapunzel was just leaving," she said, starting to guide her friend away.
"Oh, right! Yes, of course! It's getting late and… I have to rest my muscles after a swim like that; wouldn't wanna cramp up." She rambled as Andrew waved goodbye.
"Rapunzel!" Cass hissed at her.
"Right, right, sorry," she whispered before Cassandra returned her focus to Andrew. "Good night!" Rapunzel called as she left, yelping when she stumbled into the bay again. Andrew flinched as he and Cass looked in her direction. "Someone left crates all over the dock!" the princess called as they watched Pascal float by sheepishly on a box. "Sorry about that!"
"Well, she seemed nice," Andrew said with a light shrug.
"You should meet her stepbrother."
(The next morning)
Cass was doing laundry near the stables when someone aimed a telescope at her as she flattened a sheet on the clothesline. Andrew appeared behind it as she walked away, but she sensed his presence. Cass stepped back and removed the sheet, revealing her boyfriend. Andrew waved innocently before she threw the sheet over him and ran off, with the young man playfully chasing after her.
"Wow. Cassandra actually found a boyfriend," Eugene remarked in surprise as he stood between the two teenagers. Varian lightly crossed his arms over the balcony, looking slightly better than the day before after receiving Hugo's message. Rapunzel took the telescope from her boyfriend so she could take a look.
"He is so hands–" she began to say before remembering who was next to her. "Hands–His, um… They aren't proportional to the rest of his body, gross. Ugh! Not attractive."
"You think he's handsome?" Eugene raised an eyebrow. "His eyebrows are clearly asymmetrical, and you call that facial hair? Come on."
Rapunzel smiled excitedly as she turned to Eugene. "How great would it be if the six of us became best friends and did coupley things all the time together?" She clasped her hands together dreamily.
"Six of us?" Varian stared at her in confusion.
"Well, you and Hugo are a little young, but we can still do fun things that are enjoyable for you two!"
"Whoa! Who said anything about me and Hugo?!" He gasped. Yesterday, she thought they were just friends.
"Cass explained it to me yesterday, and I think you two would be so cute together!"
"Rapunzel, while I appreciate your support, that doesn't mean everyone else will. Besides, neither of us is ready for that. Hugo is always on the move, so he might not stick around much longer… and then there's me…" Varian glanced at his hands.
"Hey," Eugene placed a hand on his shoulder. "You're getting better with your powers, Hairstripe. Everyone saw that at the expo. Plus, didn't you ask Glasses to help you with it?"
"Yeah, but…" He glanced at Rapunzel and sighed. They couldn't discuss this in-depth with his sister around since she didn't know the whole story. He understood this would be a significant change for Hugo if they chose to pursue it, so the blonde needed space to think. Besides, Varian needed his own time to figure out if they were ready for this. "I'll be in my lab…" He turned away and walked off, Eugene giving a small sigh.
"Getting back on topic, 'great' isn't the first word that comes to mind. Honestly," the former thief shrugged in disinterest. "'Stomach-churning,' that does."
Rapunzel tapped her chin thoughtfully with the telescope. "The only problem is I think Cass is kinda shy when it comes to admirers, and Vari isn't willing to give dating a chance. Based on what Cass told me, I understand why, but I don't want him to miss a chance at happiness," he murmured.
"Cassandra may be a lot of things, and I mean, haha, a lot of things, but shy ain't one of 'em, and while Varian's better than he was when we first met, I don't think he's ready for romance yet—he's just starting to get over isolating himself because of his powers. Plus, Hugo had his own baggage and past to deal with. You're better off letting those three handle this however they see best."
"I agree with you… to a point," she smiled at him.
"And to which point would that be?"
(Later)
"A triple date?!" Cassandra gasped in horror.
"Yes!" Rapunzel grinned widely. "They're like six-person fun machines!"
Cass rolled her eyes and opened her wardrobe. "Rapunzel, I appreciate your enthusiasm; I really, really do." She grabbed a dagger from her weapon collection and moved to her stool. "But I-I'm not at a place where I wanna go public." Cass tucked the dagger into her boot and adjusted it to keep it hidden. "And since I know you're talking about Vari and Hugo as the last two people, I don't think it's a good idea. They're working through things, not to mention how some people would react to seeing them."
"Which is why I've come up with an itinerary of private activities for us." She pulled out a rolled-up scroll adorned with cute pictures of her, Eugene, Cass, Andrew, Varian, and Hugo. It was long enough to touch Cass's feet when she opened it. "And I used one of my sibling's birthday wishes with Varian."
She sighed and turned around. "But we really aren't that serious yet…"
"No problem. We'll keep it short and sweet then!" Rapunzel encouraged, tearing off a portion of the scroll. Cass crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow at her. Rapunzel ripped off another piece, but Cass maintained her expression, narrowing her eyes. The princess then ripped the scroll down to a single activity, revealing the words 'candle-lit dinner' alongside a picture of Pascal playing the mandolin.
(That night)
Wax dripped down the candle as Pascal played music for their date. Rapunzel wore her pink dress from the coronation, and Varian was in his blue suit while everyone else donned their usual outfits. Eugene appeared bored out of his mind, while Cassandra looked displeased with the entire situation. Varian felt awkward sitting there, petting Ruddiger on his lap as his animal friend comforted him. Rapunzel gave her chameleon two thumbs up for his playing, and the little lizard squeaked happily.
"So, Andrew, I couldn't help but notice you're going steady with our Cassandra," Eugene remarked.
"W-We're not going steady," Cass stammered, shooting him a glare.
"But you are interested, right? I-I just wanna be clear because you strike me as a guy who really has his game together." Andrew merely smiled at his comments while Cass beamed at her boyfriend. "I mean, you're smart, attractive, not the most attractive man in the room, clearly–" The handmaiden shot him a glare for that.
"Eugene!" Rapunzel warned him with a stern look.
"What? Cass knows I'm kidding, right?" He laughed before leaning in towards Andrew. "No, seriously, though, is she blackmailing you?" Cass rolled her eyes at him. "Blink three times if the answer is yes."
Rapunzel tugged him backward by his ear.
"Why did you ask me to come?" Varian whispered to his sister. "You said it was a triple date, and I feel like a fifth wheel."
"Any minute now…" Rapunzel murmured, staring patiently at the door.
"Rapunzel, what's going on?" Varian demanded.
"Just a little surprise for you~"
"Why don't I trust that…?"
When the door opened, Hugo stumbled through as if he had been shoved. He was dressed in a dark green suit and a white ascot, with no gloves or goggles in sight as he adjusted his glasses. Varian blinked at him in shock, both at his appearance and the fact that he was there at all.
"Hugo…?"
Noticing he wasn't alone, the blonde boy cleared his throat. "Hello, everyone. Sorry for being late." He sat next to Varian, who leaned toward him.
"Which one of them was it?"
"I'm 90% certain it was a team effort," he whispered, glancing briefly at the sister and her boyfriend.
"I'm sorry about this. Eugene said you needed time, and I was more than willing to give it."
"It's okay, Hairstripe. I know you would've."
"How'd they even find out where you lived?"
"I was actually coming over to... to talk about things. Strongbow jumped me when I walked in the front door," Hugo explained as plates of food were placed in front of them.
"That would explain the black eye," Varian noted, watching Lance walk by the door, holding a steak to his face.
"I don't know. I think it was a normal reaction to being grabbed suddenly," Hugo shrugged with a slight smirk, which made the prince chuckle a little.
Andrew smiled faintly at the boys. "I'm glad Corona's embracing something new," he said, glancing at his girlfriend. "No offense to your homeland, Cassie, but if I ever had one criticism, it was about how resistant it is to change."
"None taken," Cass replied with a smile.
"So, Andrew, tell us everything. How did you and Cass meet?" Rapunzel beamed at them.
"Well, see, I'm somewhat bibliophilic," He started.
"Bibliophilic? Oh, I am so sorry, but don't you worry, Andrew. Corona has the best medical professionals in the world," Eugene commented while cutting up his food.
"That's not what it means, Flynn," Hugo said, playing with his fork.
Andrew laughed a little, passing a bowl to Cass. "Actually, uh, a bibliophile is someone who loves books."
"Oh! Bibliophilic, of course! I read about that…"
"I told you this was a bad idea," Cass whispered, slamming the bowl. Pascal and Ruddiger squeaked in fear, and the other four looked on nervously.
"I just had to see King Herz Der Sonne's book. As an anthropologist, as a historian, and as a mere amateur chirographist, well, it's been my dream. Anyway, I sent the Captain of the Guards many letters, requesting an opportunity to study the book up close," he said, placing his hand on Cass's, smiling at her.
"But my dad asked me to send a letter rejecting his request for security reasons. So instead, I invited him to come see the book on the Day of Hearts when it's available to the public," she smiled back at him.
"And our letters continued, and, well…" He chuckled softly. "Cassie and I got to know each other… very well," They gazed at each other as Pascal tossed paper hearts, continuing to play. The two then embraced in a hug.
"That is so cute!" Rapunzel smiled at the two. "Yeah, our Cassie is quite the catch. You know, she is the most skilled fighter for miles around."
Cass kicked her under the table, causing it to shake. The boys snickered a little. The prince was glad Rapunzel got that. Andrew laughed nervously. "Oh, uh, r-really?" he asked in confusion.
Cassandra laughed dramatically. "And on that note, I think we should call it a night! Andrew has to fly home in the morning," she said, pushing him away from the table.
"Fly?!" the four exclaimed in unison.
(Outside)
By "fly," Cass meant in a hot air balloon. Rapunzel smiled joyfully when they took off, spreading her arms like a bird. "Ballooning is one of my passions. What better way to see nature's gifts than from a bird's perspective? Besides, I don't condone modes of transportation that exploit animals," Andrew explained as he controlled the balloon while Rapunzel, Eugene, and Varian looked at the ground below.
"Whoo-hoo!" Rapunzel shouted as she gazed around at the view, running to look from different spots. Cassandra and Hugo shook their heads fondly at her antics. "It's like being in a giant lantern! It's magic!"
"It's simple science, actually," Andrew tugged on a cord to steer the balloon. "But yes, Your Highness, it can be quite magical." He glanced at Cass suggestively, who just kept smiling.
Hugo rolled his eyes and shook his head. He then noticed Varian leaning on the other side of the basket, hugging himself as he looked up at the sky. He silently walked over and stood beside him. The prince glanced at him with a slight smile before turning back to the stars.
"You don't seem as excited about this as I am."
"Eh, there are balloons all over Ingvarr," Hugo shrugged. They were silent momentarily before the blonde boy asked, "You okay?"
"Yeah," Varian sighed. "I'm sorry about my sister being so pushy. We need to talk to her about boundaries."
"Good call… The reason I came over was that… I felt like we should at least… talk about this. I think it's safe to say that something's changed between us."
"Yeah… something has," Varian agreed. "I think it changed for me after the Lance incident when I told you about the accident. I had never talked to anyone about that, but I felt safe enough with you to revisit it... and given how we met, I should be more guarded with my secrets, but I feel like I don't need to be anymore."
"I feel the same way," Hugo admitted. "Before coming here, I spent my life following orders and stealing. It was the only life I had known. Staying here and getting to know you made me realize that didn't have to be my life." He then sighed tiredly. "But I don't have a life I can just walk away from…"
"And the Moonstone doesn't exactly offer a chance at normalcy. Seeing the rocks on the hill gave me a reality check. I can control my rocks, but not those, and what if they keep growing? I'm just not sure what else I can do… and the last thing I want is for someone to get hurt, especially you."
"I'm not afraid…" Hugo turned to face the prince, Varian meeting his gaze. "Look, there's a lot to figure out, and I have no idea what the future will hold no matter what we decide to do, but… the one thing I don't want is to face that future without you. I've changed too much to go back to the shadows and forget about this place. You gave me a reason to want something better… I want that place in the sun."
Varian chuckled slightly at his words. "The sun's more my sister's department, but I get what you mean."
Hugo smiled gently at him. "So, how do you want to approach this?"
"One day at a time," he replied simply. "And when our problems come up, we'll face them together."
"I can work with that." After a brief hesitation, the boys slowly took each other's hands. "Why does this still feel scary?"
"I don't know."
They leaned into each other while gazing up at the night sky. Rapunzel smiled happily at the view.
"You wanna make your life easier? Have Cass here pull those cords for ya," Eugene suggested to Andrew, grabbing her arm and lifting it playfully, catching her by surprise. "She's got some serious pythons in there!"
Cassandra pulled her arm away and joined Rapunzel, leaning against the basket wall. "Okay, this triple date needs to end now! Excluding the boys, you guys are totally embarrassing me!"
"We are? I'm sorry, we didn't mean to."
"It's fine, but can you two please stop talking about my muscles or my fighting skills? I want Andrew to know a different side of me," she pleaded with her friend.
"Oh, yeah! Of course!" The princess smiled.
"And as soon as the balloon touches down… I'd like to be alone with him." Cass glanced away.
"But we haven't even gotten to the tandem horseback ride yet–" She stopped speaking when Cass looked back at her with a pointed expression. "Okay, yeah, got it." She walked away just as her friend rolled her eyes. Rapunzel approached Eugene and whispered, "Cass wants some alone time."
"Oh, thank goodness. If I have to spend one more minute with this guy–"
"Eugene, you wanna take us down?" Andrew suddenly interrupted, earning an excited laugh from the former thief as he ran over to the controls. The newcomer pointed to a knob on the engine. "Gently twist the valve counterclockwise to vent the hot air."
"Thanks, ace, I'll take it from here."
Andrew shrugged and walked away, leaving Eugene to grab the valve eagerly. Moving over to where Rapunzel stood, Andrew picked up a sandbag to drop it overboard. A gold locket fell from his shirt as he worked, dangling in full view. "Wow. That necklace is so beautiful. May I see?"
She noticed Cass narrowing her eyes at her, but Andrew shrugged, took the necklace off, and handed it to the princess. "It's been in my family for decades," he said as she opened it to reveal a symbol inside. It means… love is true inner wealth."
"You said clockwise, right?" Eugene called out, turning the valve to the right. This caused everyone to slide to one side, and the necklace flew from Rapunzel's hands into a patch of thorns below. Birds flew away in surprise.
"Don't worry," Rapunzel quickly reassured everyone as they stared over the side in horror. "The boys and I will find it. You guys go finish your date."
"Ooh, it was counterclockwise, wasn't it?" Eugene joined them, rubbing his head. He earned glares from everyone in response. "Right."
(After that)
Once they dropped the three off, the couple took off again, with Rapunzel watching them leave. She then entered the thorn patch, getting stuck by thorns. "Ouch! I feel terrible about this. Ow! I know I might've come on a bit strong, but I'm really happy for Cass. Ow! I just wish she weren't so guarded. You know, like Varian used to be."
"You were like Cass?" Hugo turned to the prince as they stepped forward, Varian climbing over a thorny vine.
"Not exactly… Because I didn't have control of my powers back then, rocks would appear when certain emotions overwhelmed me, so I kept a level of distance between myself and others. As I grew more confident and decided to take control of my situation, I started to open up more… But all of that was because I had abilities that terrified me. Cass is this way because it's who she is."
"Ahh!" Eugene cringed as he stuck himself, being the last one to crawl in. "Look, it's not all your fault."
"I know it's not all my fault," Rapunzel rolled her eyes playfully before crawling through the brush. "You were the one who turned the valve the wrong way."
"Seriously, Flynn, he had just told you two seconds earlier," Hugo added.
"It's Eugene!" he corrected before focusing back on Rapunzel. "But it's mostly your fault."
"What?" Rapunzel looked up at him accusingly.
Eugene pushed a vine down out of his face. "Okay, I'm the last person to defend Cassandra–"
"More like the only person who wouldn't," Varian rolled his eyes before continuing forward, Hugo slowly following.
"But not everyone is as open with their feelings as you are, okay?" the former thief continued as he pushed more thorns aside. "Hairstripe might've changed that part of his life, but Cass plays things closer to her vest. And if you wanna be her friend, which is something I will never, ever, ever, ever understand… you'll have to accept that and back off a bit."
Her eyes widened at his words. He had a point… her brother may have grown more open with her around, but Cass was tougher than Varian. Before she could respond, squeaks and chirps caught her attention as she turned to Pascal and Ruddiger. They pointed to the necklace hanging from a thorn.
"The pendant!"
"Good job, guys!" Varian praised as Pascal climbed along a vine, skillfully avoiding the thorns until he was close enough to snag the necklace with his tongue. He crawled back and hopped into Rapunzel's hands, receiving a kiss on the cheek just as Ruddiger scampered over, holding another piece of metal.
"And the other half of the pendant…" Eugene said shakily upon realizing what it was. Pascal and Ruddiger held up the two parts to show they matched. "You got any gum?"
"Well, the two of us could fix it, but it's a family heirloom…" Hugo trailed off uncertainly.
"Yeah, we don't wanna risk damaging it," Varian agreed. "But I know someone who can."
"Xavier!" the older adults exclaimed in realization.
(Meanwhile)
The couple continued their date as the hot-air balloon drifted toward a magnificent waterfall, the full moon shining down on them. Andrew managed the controls before glancing over at Cassandra with a fond smile. The handmaiden leaned against the wall, enjoying the view below and the fact that they were finally alone. "Sorry my friends have been so intrusive," she said as Andrew approached her. "And I am really sorry about your pendant."
He draped his vest over her shoulders. "Don't worry about it, Cassie. I... I'm just glad we finally get to be alone." They turned to face each other as he took her hands, staring into each other's eyes.
"Me too..."
They drifted closer to the ground, fireflies emerging from the grass and flitting around them. Andrew smiled lovingly at her, and she returned the smile shyly, brushing a strand of hair from her face as she looked up at him. They leaned toward each other, closing their eyes for a kiss as the balloon floated across the river, fireflies trailing behind them as night birds took flight. Their lips were inches apart when... the couple jolted as the balloon landed.
Cass climbed out of the basket, adjusting her skirt. "You know how you've been saying it'd be great to get a private up-close look at the book?" He just smiled at her. "Well..." She sauntered over, trailing a finger along the basket's edge. "I thought we might sneak a peek and... I don't know." The lady-in-waiting then turned away bashfully, shrugging a bit. "I saw some other couples signing it together, so... if you wanted to..."
"Cassie..." He gasped, taking her hands eagerly. "I–I thought you'd never ask... but isn't it after visiting hours?"
She reached into her pocket and pulled out a key ring, spinning it on her finger. "Perks of being a guard's daughter." He looked at the key in surprise before smirking fondly at her.
(Back in town)
The group stood at the forge as Xavier, the local blacksmith, finished repairing the necklace. Once the pieces were welded back together, he dipped the necklace in water to cool it.
"Xavier, I can't thank you enough for getting out of bed to do this for us," Rapunzel said with relief.
"It's my pleasure," he smiled, drying the necklace off before glancing to the side. "I'm just surprised you would want to fix something like…" He cleared his throat, holding up the necklace. "This."
"But why? It's so sweet!" Rapunzel clasped her hands together as Varian examined the symbol more closely. "It means love is true inner wealth."
"No, it doesn't…" Varian said suddenly, his eyes widening in horror.
"Huh?" Hugo looked at the other alchemist in confusion.
"I'm afraid Varian is correct, Princess," Xavier twirled the necklace before showing them the symbol again. "This is the emblem of the Separatists of Saporia."
"The what now?" Eugene asked as the blacksmith handed him the necklace. Then, he walked to another part of his shop and explained the story.
"Centuries ago, after the war brought Saporia and Corona together," he said, moving aside some odds and ends to open a chest and retrieve a rolled-up scroll. "There was a small sect of Saproians who felt betrayed and swore revenge on our kingdom." Xavier unrolled it on the floor, revealing images of the union. "Some say their descendants are still around, waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike back at Corona…" The final image displayed Corona engulfed in flames.
As this unfolded, Cass opened the door with the book at the end of the room, Andrew staring in awe. "We don't have much time," Cass whispered as she stepped forward.
"Oh, don't worry. This won't take long," Andrew smiled wickedly, moving closer.
Having heard enough, the group ran as quickly as possible toward the castle. "Cass is gonna be devastated when she finds out the truth about Andrew!" Rapunzel exclaimed.
"Yeah, the only guy who can mess with Cass is me!" Eugene declared, getting looks from the boys. They reached the castle courtyard seconds later.
"Okay, we better split up. Vari and I will check the throne room, you two take the courtyard," Rapunzel instructed them.
"Got it!" Hugo nodded and followed Eugene. The siblings dashed oppositely, hoping to find their friend quickly.
Andrew stared at the book, lightly touching its pages. "It's exactly as I imagined… Find the perfect space for us." He handed Cass the feather pen beside it and stepped back, watching her flip through the pages. Andrew reached into his vest and pulled out an object that transformed into a sword. Looming over Cass, he held the blade high, preparing to strike. Cass noticed his shadow and narrowed her eyes. Reacting quickly, she drew the dagger from her boot and blocked his sword, disarming him. She kicked out and knocked Andrew to the ground, catching the sword in her hand before aiming it at his face.
"Sorry, sweetie, but the book stays here."
"But how did you––"
"I knew you were a fraud from day one. You misspelled 'bibliophile' in your letters, bonehead. I was only playing you long enough to see what your angle was, and from my angle, it looks like you've been shut down, Andrew. If that's even your real name," she glared at him.
"It's…" He sighed in embarrassment. "It's Hubert." She tossed a pair of handcuffs onto his stomach.
"Put these on, and don't say another word." He glared at her as he reached for them…
"Cassandra!" Rapunzel suddenly arrived, causing Cass to look up as Andrew smirked. "Watch out, Andrew is––"
Andrew kicked the sword out of her hand and got up, catching it before pointing it at the princess. "Not who he says he is." She finished, moving closer to Cass, who stood protectively in front of her. He held up the cuffs, dangling them in front of the girls.
"Cuff yourselves to the podium," he ordered, tossing them to the female guard.
"Drop your weapon."
He turned to see Varian in the doorway, armed with his bow and arrows. With a pink vial tied to the shaft, he was locked on and ready to fire. "You really think you can stop me?" he chuckled.
"Do you really want to cross the Moon Prince of Corona?" Varian countered, his eyes flashing briefly.
"Good point… But do you really want to take that gamble with your step-sister and friend?" Andrew asked, glancing at the girls.
Varian growled at him but hesitated nonetheless. After a moment, he dropped his weapon.
The young prince sat between his sister and his friend, handcuffed to the podium, the book missing from its place.
"I'd say see you later, but there's not gonna be a later for Corona," Andrew stated, backing toward the door.
"You're not getting away with this," Varian snarled.
"Oh... I already have," he smirked with a slight shrug, leaving them behind.
(Meanwhile)
Eugene and Hugo raced through the courtyard, approaching a specific pair of guards. "Stan! Pete! Have you seen Andrew anywhere?"
"Have I? Let me tell you something, that is one handsome fella," Pete remarked about Andrew's looks.
"He sounds like so worldly, which makes him handsome on the inside."
"He's not that handsome, okay?" Eugene laughed it off while Hugo tried to figure out where the man could be.
"Okay, Hugo, think… You're a thief. You know what's valuable to people. What would be valuable to a Separatist of Saporia…?" he murmured before realizing something.
"Did you not notice his wonk eyebrows with the–?"
"Follow me!" the blonde thief called, running back the way they came. Eugene looked at him in confusion but followed.
(Back in the journal room)
Cass sighed after a moment. "You know, after the exposition debacle, this was my big chance to prove to my dad I'm just as good as the other guards. But you messed that all up, Rapunzel!"
"Well," she scoffed slightly, "maybe if you'd told me what you were planning, I wouldn't have messed it up!"
"Didn't you also want her to be, you know, happy with a terrorist?" Varian raised an eyebrow at her.
"I didn't know he was a terrorist!"
"Because I couldn't count on you not letting anything slip!" Cass retorted, causing Varian to sigh.
"Hey! I can keep things to myself!" Rapunzel defended, frowning.
"Oh, yeah? Kinda like how you wanted to tell Eugene about the night we snuck out?"
"Hey, you agreed to–"
"Or when you told your dad about those rocks I showed you?" Cass continued, and Varian narrowed his eyes.
"Excuse me, that was a matter concerning me, okay?! He had a right to know, so that wasn't something for you to keep quiet about anyway!" he huffed.
"Fine, but how did your mom find out who ate her last chocolate truffle, hmm?" Cass raised a skeptical brow at the princess.
"I turned myself in. The guilt was just–"
"Look, guys, you're my best friends," she sighed a little. "But you're a sharer, Rapunzel, and so is Varian, to an extent, now that he's more open. It's in your nature, and I'm fine with that since I don't want to come between you two. But you'll have to be fine with respecting things I wanna keep to myself."
"Even if those things have life-threatening consequences?" Rapunzel asked concern in her voice, causing Cass to laugh a bit.
"Okay, in my defense, no one's life was really threatened until you two showed up."
"… Yeah, fair point," Varian said slowly. "But, on the other hand, if you had told me what was happening, I would've kept it a secret. I know enough about undercover operations to understand that the fewer people who know, the better."
Cass smiled slightly. "Thanks, kid."
"And, sis, I love you, but we need to talk about boundaries. I love you, but you should've let Hugo and I handle things on our own. Practically kidnapping him and forcing us on a triple date that Cass didn't want was crossing a line with all three of us, and judging by Eugene's passive-aggressive comments, I don't think he wanted to do that either. I'm not mad since we talked it out, but not everything has to be done on your terms."
Rapunzel was quiet for a moment before responding. "You're right. Tell you what. Let's make a deal. I'll understand keeping some things to yourself and that my brother can handle some things on his own if you understand that when something's bothering either of you, I'm gonna wanna help, especially when my little brother is clearly worried. I love you, Vari, and I want to see you happy. You've got my back, so let me have yours."
"I suppose I can live with that," Cass said with a little grin, Varian smiling softly.
"Ditto."
"Rapunzel! Varian!" Eugene yelled as the boys arrived, noticing them cuffed. "Well, I bet we don't think Andrew's so handsome anymore, now do we, ladies?"
"I wouldn't say he's un-handsome, right?" Rapunzel glanced toward the two.
"I mean… him being a rebel doesn't really take away from the fact–"
"Oh, you've gotta be kidding me!" Eugene muttered.
"Some people like bad boys, Flynn," Hugo smirked as he took out his lockpick. "Now, stop sulking and help me out."
"It's Eugene," he argued, pulling out his pick before the boys got to work.
"Oh, go after the book, both of you!" Cass urged, despite the boys' confident smirks. "Don't waste time trying to pick the cuffs. They're double-locking, black steel–"
"Got 'em," Eugene interrupted, putting his pick away as they stared at their hands in surprise.
"Should've known," Varian murmured as Hugo helped him stand up.
"Was there ever any doubt in your mind?" the blonde boy smirked, prompting Varian to smirk back.
"Huh. Alright, we may just have a chance to catch him if we hurry!" Cass stated as they all took off running.
"Just to be clear, do you think Andrew's handsome?" Hugo panted as he and Varian ran side by side.
"Eh, I outgrew that type after my old crush on Eugene," he shrugged.
"Your what?!" Hugo nearly fell to the floor in shock, causing Varian to laugh.
Meanwhile, Andrew was preparing to leave in his hot air balloon. The four arrived just in time to see it lift off the ground. "Ha ha! So long, Corona!"
"I just realized…" Cass jumped over the basket, landing behind him. "I never gave you your goodnight kiss," she grinned. He turned in confusion just in time to be punched in the face. He groaned as he staggered backward and glared up at her. "Now, hand over that book!"
The others tried to catch up with the balloon. "The pressure's already too high!"
"I don't think my gravity powers will work here!" Varian added.
"But we have to get up there and help Cass!" Rapunzel said as Eugene managed to jump on, gripping the edge. She stopped, eyeing the trees ahead of her as she got an idea. "I have an idea! Follow me!"
Andrew swung his sword at Cass, who ducked under each attack while armed with her own sword. Eugene then crawled into the basket, sighing in relief. "Oh, that was insanely hard." He noticed the sword fight happening and felt awkward. "Uhh… guys, who's driving this thing?" he asked, seeing the tall trees ahead.
Pascal, Ruddiger, Rapunzel, Varian, and Hugo climbed to the top of a tree as the hot air balloon drifted past them. "Okay, guys, hold onto me." They wrapped their arms around her waist as she let her hair down. She tossed it and managed to snag one of the ropes. Andrew was pushed back by Cass, who blocked her strike with his boot. "Hang on!"
She tried to pull the balloon in but ended up falling off the tree with the others, everyone screaming as they swung. The balloon wobbled, causing Cass to tumble onto Andrew.
"Sorry!" Varian called out to them.
Their group dangled in the air, staring at the ground below. Pascal was thrilled about flying while Ruddiger clung to Varian's neck in fright.
"I knew you cared after all," Andrew said smugly to Cass.
"Well, I don't!" Eugene popped up behind her and tried to punch him in the face, but he blocked it with the book. "Ahh, bibliophilic!" He held his fist in pain and hopped backward.
"Enough!" Cass grabbed the journal. "Give me the book!" She struggled to wrest it from his hands, sending it flying. It hit Eugene in the face, but he caught it with his hands.
"Hey…" He smiled slightly.
"Get us down from here!" Cass shouted at him while fending off her opponent.
"Now that I can do."
"Come on, guys!" Rapunzel urged as they began climbing up her hair. "We're almost there!"
"Now, was it clockwise or counterclockwise–?" He didn't get the chance to remember before the valve broke off. "Ooh…"
This released a rush of heat at the top, sending them higher into the air at a speed that knocked Eugene off his feet. "Whoa!" Rapunzel gasped as they ascended.
"Other way, Eugene!" Varian yelled up at him.
"Something tells me he did neither," Hugo remarked dryly.
Eugene rubbed the side of his head with a groan as he got up. That was when he realized the book was no longer in his hands. "The book!"
He looked to see it on the basket floor just as Andrew stepped near it. He eyed it just before dodging Cass's lunge, kicking her onto the ground. He then knocked her sword off the balloon, sending it toward the others.
"Whoa!" The boys gasped as they dodged it, watching it land in the thorn bush below them.
"Watch it, ya dingus!" Hugo shouted up at the basket.
"You wanna come up and switch places, kid?!" Eugene snapped back at him.
Cass glared as Andrew approached, glancing at the book beside her. "Eugene, grab the book and get us down," she said, sliding it to his foot as he struggled to get the balloon to work without the valve.
"Working on it!" Eugene grunted, banging his fist on the metal.
"Turn the valve and stop goofing around, Rider!" Hugo called out to him.
"I would if it wasn't broken!"
Just then, the engine cut off, causing the balloon to drop and the friends to lose their grip on the hair. They all yelped in shock before clinging tightly to the locks when they stopped falling, with Hugo holding Varian around the waist.
The balloon drifted toward the thorns, but fortunately, it passed through a less dense section of the thicket, avoiding the thorns. Rapunzel spotted Cass's sword nearby and swiftly grabbed it from its place. She began cutting through the thorns in their path, running and jumping along the vines while Varian rummaged in his pocket. Pulling out some chemical bombs that were a lighter green than his knockout gas, he tossed some onto the vines, causing them to shrivel up instantly.
"Nice shot, Hairstripe!" Hugo smirked.
"It's an organic weed killer I developed," he said proudly. "An alchemist is always prepared."
The balloon was soon approaching the edge of the thicket. "Ha! You know, I'm starting to enjoy this!" Rapunzel told them before Pascal and Ruddiger squeaked in horror. They looked ahead and yelped in fear as they neared something they couldn't avoid, bracing for impact.
Up above, the fight continued in the balloon. Cass dodged Andrew's strike, causing him to stab the balloon's engine. The damage caused an explosion that sent everyone high into the air again, just in time for the others to evade the thorns.
"Oh, thank goodness," Varian sighed in relief.
"What are they doing up there?" Hugo glared at the basket, unaware that Cass was on the ground, while Andrew turned his sword on Eugene, who now had the book.
"Give me the book, Eugene," he demanded of the former thief.
"And have Cassandra mad at me? I think not," he replied bluntly.
"Oh, believe me, you would much rather have Cassandra mad at you than me!"
Cass stood up, catching his attention. He swung at her, yet she avoided it, not realizing he had cut one of the ropes. He lunged at her again, slicing through another rope and causing the basket to tilt beneath them. Cassandra and Andrew clung to the ropes while Eugene held tight to the basket. The three below yelped as the shift knocked them around. They looked up, and the pets screamed just in time for various weapons and sandbags to fall around them, barely avoiding them.
"Geez, a bunch of butterfingers up there…" Rapunzel murmured as she looked up at them.
"You're telling us!" Hugo replied as Varian wiped the sweat from his brow.
"Eugene, the book!" Cass called to him.
"Yeah, got it!" Eugene raised the book in his hand. "And I'm fine, too, thank you for asking!" He slipped a little while holding onto the basket. Andrew climbed his rope toward the sheet, swinging inside as Cass climbed up after him. Eugene fell to the inner edge, and the book slipped. "No! No! No, no, no, no!" He caught it just before it dropped out of reach, sighing in relief.
As the remnants of the engine continued to heat the air, Andrew and Cass fought hand-to-hand while dodging the flames. "You know, it's too bad. I was almost… starting to like you." He leaped toward her.
"Pascal," Rapunzel glanced at her pet. He nodded, wrapping a piece of hair around the sword hilt. Giving the signal that it was ready, she swung it in her hand, looking at the boys above her. "Heads up, guys!"
"Don't have to tell us twice!" Varian squeezed his eyes shut, with Hugo doing the same.
She flung the sword upward, the blade piercing the basket right next to Eugene's shoulder, startling him. He looked up at the balloon while the duo continued to fight. They were evenly matched until Andrew struck Cass hard enough to send her across the balloon, where she hit the ground. She looked up weakly as he loomed over her.
"Oh, Cassandra… Saporia will rise again… and will have you to thank for it," he pulled out a dagger menacingly.
"Cassandra!" Eugene called out. He tossed up the sword, which she caught. "You're welcome!"
She cut through the balloon, disappearing from Andrew's view, leaving him confused. Her shadow appeared behind him just before she sliced another opening, catching him off guard. "I wouldn't count on a second date if I were you." She pulled back her fist and punched Andrew right in the face.
(The next morning)
The book was back in its proper place in the courtyard. As onlookers examined it closer, Varian and Hugo entered the area.
"Seriously, though, there's nothing there for Rider?" Hugo asked earnestly.
"No, Hugo, it was just a passing hero crush, nothing serious," Varian rolled his eyes but smiled. "Besides, I prefer blondes who can keep up with my alchemy."
Hugo blushed slightly before smirking to the side. "Eat your heart out, Eugene…"
Varian laughed as they approached the book, and people stepped aside for the prince. "I'm glad to see this back where it belongs."
"Yeah, good thing you guys only take it out once a year," Hugo remarked before noticing something. "What's this?" The boys stepped forward and saw a tiny blue mark sticking out of one of the pages. They exchanged glances, aware it hadn't been there when they put it back. Varian opened the book and spotted a section circled for them, marked by the owl symbol next to it.
"You think someone's trying to tell us something?" Hugo asked bluntly.
Varian laughed but then appeared slightly unsure. "Hugh…" he began, blushing.
"Yes?" The other teen fidgeted a bit.
"I was wondering if…" He paused and took a deep breath. "Would you like to…? I don't know what the future holds, and I may not understand what true love is supposed to feel like, but I would love it if you were there for me to figure it out, so… will you sign the diary with me?"
After a minute, Hugo quietly took his hand. "I don't know what true love is either, but if it means wanting to build a life with you, then… the answer is yes."
They smiled at each other before signing their names in the book. The boys turned to one another with warm looks, holding hands, surprised yet happy as the crowd around them began cheering for their prince. Chuckling sheepishly, Varian leaned into Hugo's embrace, grateful for the people's support.
Meanwhile, Cass posed proudly in the mirror in her room after being recognized for her actions. She took the medal off and admired it with calm joy. "There's Corona's hero!" Rapunzel suddenly appeared, startling her into clutching it tightly. "Everyone is talking about how you saved Herz Der Sonne's book!"
"Eh, I'm just glad my dad trusts me with big assignments now," Cass replied, and they walked toward her weapons cabinet. She opened it and pinned the medal to her quiver next to another flower that looked different from Andrew's. Rapunzel's eyes widened in excitement as she bounced. "What?" Cass asked, looking at her with a knowing smile.
"Nothing," She waved it off. "Nothing at all. I'm proud of you, too."
Cass chuckled at her. "I'm proud of you, too, and the same goes for Vari. I'm glad they decided to take the next step. They seem happy." She turned back to the flower, shrugging as she closed the doors. Maybe one day she'll try love again…
And that's the end of this chapter and this series of updates. My next story on the list is going to be Moonlight Phantom. Stay tuned for that and updates from A Tale of Two Realms.
