"Ugh…there," Cassandra said, loading the last of her saddlebags, "that should do it."
She'd been planning this trip for what seemed like eternity. Ever since reforming from her Moonstone phase, things had been turning in this direction. That, and Corona's ever protective King Frederick had given her a choice: banishment or death. After all, she was technically a traitor to the kingdom, no matter how much she'd changed since then. He'd given her a week to decide. Though the decision might seem superficially simple, no matter what the choice, she would be leaving her beloved home. The true Cassandra loved Corona and would do anything to see it grow in safety and peaceful strength.
But even more than that, her choice would mean leaving Rapunzel behind. The formerly blonde, green eyed, self-described "flower child" that brought so much into her life. She loved Rapunzel with a depth and ferocity that shocked even her. After a year of being on the road together, then a year of attempted destiny robbery on her part, she figured it had actually made their relationship stronger. She would have done anything to remain in Corona with Rapunzel. Her many pleas with Frederick to allow her to stay with his daughter had fallen on deaf ears. She had to go, be it to another country or to the grave.
Now, she stood at her horse, Fidella, awaiting the moment when she would step outside the walls of Corona seemingly forever. There was a definite excitement building within her, juxtaposed against the deep sadness she was feeling. This was a time that she'd often dreamed of. The idea of chasing her own ambition and destiny was thrilling. However, without her best friend by her side, the whole endeavor seemed empty. A life without daily contact with Rapunzel was not one she wanted any part of.
Presently, she felt a hand on her shoulder and turned to see the subject of her thoughts staring back at her. For a few seconds, neither girl spoke for fear of bursting into tears. Intense memories flooded their minds. They'd laughed, cried, shared, journeyed, fought, and nearly died together. There were moments of love and moments of hate. Their relationship was nothing if not extremely complex. However, they both knew that they were with the one person in the world who understood them more than they understood themselves. Rapunzel was whisked away to when Cassandra was resurrected by the combined powers of the Sundrop and Moonstone. Cassandra, on the other hand, saw the time when she had to save Rapunzel from being a bird forever.
"Please…say something," Cassandra finally managed to sputter as the silence became unbearable.
Rapunzel's lip quivered. "I…I can't. How can you say something to someone who's been everything? No words could describe how much I love and care for you, Cass."
Cassandra couldn't hold it in. She felt her emotions break and she threw her arms around Rapunzel. "Raps…I can't do this."
"Yes, you can," Rapunzel said firmly, trying to instill confidence in her friend.
"No, I can't," Cassandra said, voice thickened with tears. "I can't live a life without you in it, without Corona in it, hell, even without Eugene in it!"
Rapunzel stifled a smile. "He's gonna miss you, too. We all are. But this is Dad's decision and…"
"I know," Cassandra said, wiping her eyes. "I know it's final."
"At least I can rest in the knowledge that you're alive," Rapunzel said. "I'm so happy Dad spared you."
"I'm thankful to be alive, too, Raps, but being away from everything I know and love? I might as well be in a box six feet deep."
Once more, Rapunzel pulled Cassandra into an embrace. "Now, don't you talk like that. You'll see me again."
"Somewhere, somehow," Cassandra said, "I know that to be true."
Rapunzel sniffed, then reached into her bag and pulled out a small bundle. Cassandra smiled as she recognized the same type of journal that Queen Arianna had given Rapunzel. It was a deep brown, bound together with gently knotted strings. Only this one had obviously been treated with Rapunzel's own personal touch. The cover had been painted with deep blues and greens, compartmentalized into things like leaves and trees. In the center of it all stood two exact likenesses of the girls, representing their friendship and the close bond they shared.
"Raps, it's beautiful," Cassandra said. "Thank you."
"Ah, ah, ah," Rapunzel said. "There's one more surprise."
"What?"
Once more, Rapunzel fished into her bag and pulled out a green bottle. Cassandra looked at it curiously. She'd never seen anything quite like it. It looked like your typical potion container, made of clear glass with an interesting design running up its side. However, Cassandra knew that Rapunzel had an ulterior motive. She wouldn't just hand her an empty potion bottle for kicks.
"This," Rapunzel said, "is a magic transporter. Anything you put in it will instantly arrive back here, which means…"
"I can write to you and you'll get it immediately!" Cass said with excitement.
"Yes!" Rapunzel exclaimed, giddy as a schoolgirl.
"But Raps, how did you ever get something like this?"
"Eh, Mom pulled a few strings with Calliope."
"Calliope?" Cassandra asked. "You mean that rude, inconsiderate, arrogant whelp from the Spire?"
Rapunzel smiled and rolled her eyes. "Yes, but remember…"
"IT'S PRONOUNCED 'SPIIIIIIIIIIIRRRE," both girls said before bursting into a fit of laughter.
"Oh, Raps," Cassandra said once everything subsided.
"Look, Dad said I could see you off, but he also doesn't want you here any longer than necessary."
"I hope to be able to rebuild my trust with Corona one day," Cassandra said.
"You already have mine," Rapunzel said.
"…and you have mine," Cassandra responded before looking sadly towards the island capital's bridge. "I guess…it's time."
Rapunzel watched as Cassandra placed the journal and its accompanying bottle into her forward saddlebag and mounted Fidella. The girls took one last longing look at each other. Their eyes burned with tears. This was the last thing any of them wanted, considering the recency of Cassandra's reformation.
"I love you, Raps," Cassandra said.
"I love you, Cass," Rapunzel replied with a smile.
"I will see you again…I promise."
"I know I will," Rapunzel said.
The moment seemed to last a lifetime, but it had to be broken. With a kick to Fidella's sides, Cassandra rode off into an unknown future. Behind her, she could hear Rapunzel desperately crying out her farewells. She could only shout one or two of her own before the castle, Rapunzel, and the island faded out of sight.