Back in Corona, things had steadily gone downhill for Rapunzel after Cassandra's departure. At first, it seemed like everything would remain relatively familiar and peaceful. She was finally engaged and happily preparing for her upcoming nuptials. Corona was abuzz with joy when the news broke. Banners bearing the Coronan crest rapidly unfurled, street bands with horns and trumpets played the national anthem, and everyone was thoroughly excited for their princess and her beau. For her part, Rapunzel held a constant smile, striding through the streets as if floating on the very air itself. Her eyes shone like they'd never done before and her lively, carefree spirit seemed ten times greater, if that were possible.

Unfortunately, this caused her to overlook the truth of Cassandra's absence. Not that she'd forgotten, for how could someone forget a best friend so easily? Cassandra's daily letters with updates helped push Rapunzel along. It was almost as if her former lady-in-waiting had never left. But as the days, weeks, and months began to drag by, Rapunzel started feeling the tremendous hole that Cassandra had left. She tried ignoring it and even restarted her attempts at finding a new assistant. But as before, nobody was the right fit. She came to the realization that she needed Cassandra and that her father had made a terrible mistake in banishing her.

"But, Dad-" She said one day about six months after Cassandra's departure. It was yet another futile attempt at getting him to lift her friend's banishment.

"No buts, Rapunzel," Frederick responded firmly. "Until Cassandra gives me good faith that she can be trusted, I will not lift anything. Cassandra, much as I love her, is not welcome in Corona now."

Rapunzel stumbled back to her room, desperate for Cassandra's warm embrace. She felt the tears brimming at her eyes and she reached up to brush them away. Her emotions were such that her hand's journey from hip to eye felt long winded. Lip quivering, she managed to get through the door and shut it softly behind her. She was angry beyond belief, saddened to the point of exhaustion, and she knew that she was in for yet another miserable night. A part of her wished that she might touch the idol from Terapi Island, just to experience even an illusion of Cassandra's presence.

No! She sharply rebuked herself. I can't allow myself to think that way. It hurts…but I have to overcome it.

The days continued to drag on and, with each passing hour, she felt herself sink more and more. Passing by Cassandra's old room was an extra painful type of hell. She would often open the door and see the old armoire standing by the bed. It was as empty as the feeling in the pit of her stomach and she longed to fill it with Cassandra's old collection of weaponry. She remembered exactly where every sword, dagger, halberd, and shield used to be. Yes, it was unusual and dark, but it was also unique…just as Cassandra was.

—

Back out on the road, things weren't going much better for Cassandra. Rapunzel's constant stream of letters updated her on the situation back in Corona. Though she'd made her promise to return one day, she'd also accepted that the king wasn't going to lift anything just because he felt sorry for her. What was worrisome was that Rapunzel couldn't seem to accept it. Each new letter felt like a repeat of the previous one, with Rapunzel desperately trying to restore Cassandra to the kingdom. Cassandra begged her not to overdo things and get in trouble herself, but she seemed to ignore it.

"I appreciate her efforts, Owl," Cassandra said one night not long after leaving Pincosta. "But she's gonna push her father too far and that could have negative consequences for both of us. I just wish she'd leave the issue alone. I'll come back. I promised her I would…even if I have to sneak back in, I will return."

So Cassandra resumed her journey and she knew, all too well, the path that lay ahead. It would take her past the Great Tree, where the rift between her and Rapunzel had truly begun. Then she would see the spot where the House of Yesterday's Tomorrows had once stood. Finally, she would arrive at The Dark Kingdom itself. From there, the road was unknown, but thankfully, she had some kind of clue of what stood at the end of it: Neclectia and, apparently, her own destiny. It was a frightening prospect, but she would be lying if she said that she wasn't excited to discover whether Alfonse's predictions had been right or wrong.

But, alas, sometimes fate intervenes…or, in this case, the realm of dreams. Upon approaching The Great Tree, Cassandra found that her nights were beginning to be encased in fear. It started off small, manifesting whenever the words "I'm fine" repeated through her mind. If there was any phrase she'd ever spoken that she regretted, it was this one. Her heart thudded against her chest every time that haunting refrain torched its way inside her, embedding itself deep within her subconscious.

One night, the trio camped within view of The Great Tree's remnants. It was nothing but a pile of bones, a skeleton once mighty in power now left to rot. There was no Hector, no Zhan Tiri…nothing. Just the tree and its seemingly infinite footprint. Its branches were grey and hollow, its roots pulled from the earth violently when the collapse happened. Cassandra remembered everything so vividly. She remembered Rapunzel's Decay Spell, her own injured hand, and the tree coming down around them. But mostly, she remembered the words "I'm fine."

Was that all I ever said to her? She asked herself as she made camp.

Soon enough after dinner, she and her animal companions found sleep. But for Cassandra, the night was harder than any she'd ever had. On this night, the dream was, more or less, the same. However, it was louder, more violent, and more disturbing than previously. Those two wretched words continued screaming through her mind as she found herself standing within The Great Tree. She saw her mistake of calling Rapunzel "obliviously naïve," which the princess had responded to with a good deal of royal thunder.

"ENOUGH, CASSANDRA!"

The words made Cassandra wince. Never, in all the time that they'd been friends, had Rapunzel spoken so directly or so sharply. It had pained Cassandra to know that Rapunzel held that type of harshness within her. She'd taken for granted that Rapunzel would always listen to her and go down the paths that she suggested. In this way, she tried to compensate for the idea that she would never lead anything. Still, she knew she should never have tried to force herself on the princess like that. Once more, she'd found something to regret.

From here, the dream took a violent turn. Cassandra saw their final battle in The Great Tree and Rapunzel using the Decay Spell against Cassandra's advice. The former lady-in-waiting saw her hand become mangled. She felt the pain course through her body all over again, only this time, there was blood. Looking up, she saw her dream self grab the enchanted spear and stab through the tree's heart, instigating its collapse. Rapunzel was ripped from her spell and the party quickly hurried out of the doomed tree. Once on the outside, Cassandra watched as Rapunzel tried to check on her, but she pushed her away.

"I'm fine, Rapunzel! Let's just get back on the road!"

"But I'm not fine!" The true Cassandra shouted to a deaf audience. "Can't you see that something's wrong? Why would I be fine?! Why would you just take me at my word, Raps?! You're so good at feeling what other people are feeling, so why couldn't you do it with me?! Please, Raps! Please! I'm begging you! Don't let me shut myself away! Listen to me! LISTEN TO ME!"

Suddenly, she awoke in a cold sweat. She reached up and tenderly tapped at her cheek, surprised to find that tears were falling. Next to her, Owl shifted on his perch, then slowly opened his eyes. He turned to eye her, offering a look that was somewhere between annoyance and curiosity.

"Owl…I'm sorry. I didn't mean to wake you."

Owl hooted at her a bit, asking if she was okay.

"I'm fi…" She started to say, then stopped. "No, Owl…I'm not fine. I'm not fine at all. The truth is, I'm scared to death. I mean, I have a frame of what's waiting for me on the other end of this journey, but…I don't…really know. All I have are the words of a condescending Spire Keeper, an admittedly friendly Lorb, and a piece of torn cloth from Ambrosia. I don't have anything concrete and…that scares me."

Once more, Owl hooted.

"Yeah, you're right," Cass said. "The closer we get to The Dark Kingdom, the worse these dreams are gonna be. Owl, The Dark Kingdom terrifies me. It's where I made the biggest mistake of my life. Every time I picture it, I tremble. I see it…Rapunzel's look of horror when I betrayed her, her cries of love when I was running away…all of it."

At this point, she couldn't hold her emotions in. She felt the tears stinging her eyes and she knew she needed to speak with her best friend. So, she offered a small pet to Owl and gently told him to return to his slumber. Then, she pulled her journal out and began her next letter to Corona's princess.

My dearest Rapunzel…