Reunion at Sea

Return

To say that things were tense in the war room was an understatement, but they couldn't deny that Gothel was able to provide them with valuable surveillance reports they hadn't been able to get on their own.

"Do you know where the House of Yesterday's Tomorrow is?" Elsa asked calmly, after Gothel had told them all she knew, with Varian giving her encouraging smiles the whole time. No one else seemed to feel comfortable talking to her.

"Unfortunately, I 'picked a side' too soon. They have it cloaked from me." Gothel said bitterly. "Otherwise, I would have gone to it myself and tried to learn what I could before turning on them."

"Well, we'll interrogate the mirror people and—"

The door burst open and interrupted their conversation. "Elsa!" Kristoff cried. "You are in here!"

"What is it?" Elsa asked, standing up.

"Anna just ran out of the city, saying she saw you leaving it all alone!" Kristoff explained.

Ruddiger stood up. "It's an illusion, the Disciples are making another move."

"Frederic?" Varian frowned.

"We should fight them!" Rapunzel cried. "Elsa, are you ready?"

"No!" Ruddiger looked at her. "This is most likely a plot to capture Elsa, why else would they lure away her sister?" He sighed and ran to the door. "I'm going to take the Royal Guard horses and locate the building, then Maximus and I will go in and save her while the rest return here and you guys can come after us with the demon hunters to join the fight!"

"Be careful." Varian said anxiously, and Ruddiger nodded before he ran off to get the transformed Guard Horses.

"Right. Gothel, let's keep discussing our plan of action." Rapunzel said, and the meeting went on.

–

It was clear it was meant to be a trap, because Princess Anna was still in view when they left the city and wasn't hard to follow. Ruddiger saw a bird flying overhead and suspected that was Selina, making sure that the trap was going well. But, Queen Elsa wasn't with them, so why didn't she call it off?

Maybe he was just being paranoid. Maybe it was just a regular bird. But, even regular birds could be dangerous, controlled by Melina. Either way, they needed to catch up to Princess Anna before she got into trouble.

Kristoff and Sven had come along, but Ruddiger had the feeling that they would be more trouble than help. They chased Anna until she approached a large, colorful building that...was not made of seashells, but instead looked like a doll's house.

"...That's different." Maximus frowned. "Is this the right place, Ruddiger?"

They watched as the door opened and Princess Anna ran inside. "Elsa, wait! Don't go in without me!"

"Anna!" Kristoff ran forward.

Ruddiger ran to intercept him. "Can you fight?! If not, please, stay out of the way! Go back with the others to report where the House is. Maximus? Let's go in."

"Right!" Maximus nodded and turned to Fidella. "I'll see you again soon."

"Be careful." She nodded firmly.

Ruddiger opened the door and turned to Maximus. "Max, now!" He ran inside.

"Wait for me!" Maximus ran in after him.

–

"Well, this is unsettling." Maximus said nervously. "There's...dolls everywhere..."

"That just means that Melina was allowed to choose the form." Ruddiger shrugged.