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Chapter Text

A woman's short black hair was draped over the white satin pillow. Her light-blue eyes opened, and she cast the bed sheet aside. Yawning, she stretched her arms and looked back at the bed. A pinkish orange-haired woman, whose hair was a mix of antique brass, old rose, and rose taupe, laid next to her. If illuminated, that woman's hair color slightly changed. She snored, with her messy hair covering the pillow. This woman slept different than our black-haired protagonist, who slept with two pillows, the first to lay one's head on, and another to cover her ear, while her head was turned to the side. Our protagonist draped their bed sheet above both pillows, creating a cocoon of sorts. She slept like a mummy, with her arms crossed in an X, and on her back, even though most people slept on their side. She could care less about what "most people" did. This way of sleeping was due to her training as a royal guard, or something else in her past. Only she knew why she slept that way.

Our protagonist opened a walking closet and smiled. Inside were two elaborate but ornate uniforms of sorts, one of which she wore every day. Unashamed to undress in front of the other woman, she quickly fit into her outfit, with knee-high black boots, a skirt, and white blouse, and smiled. She breathed deeply and began her daily affirmations:

"I am strong."

"I am smart."

"I am beautiful."

"I am confident."

She did these affirmations every morning. Some people would do pump-up music, but she did this instead. She then stepped over to the sleeping woman with pinkish orange hair and kissed her on the forehead. She whispered, "Marika, sweetie, I'm gonna head down to the bridge. See you later and get your sleep." Turning toward her, Marika opened her eyes a little. Pulling her arm out from under the bed sheet, she tussled the other woman’s hair. She told the woman, "Aw, Cassie, you look so cute this morning. I was just tired from what we did yesterday." She liked when Marika was kind, in this way. This had been why, in part, she had agreed to be part of the crew, in the first place. She grinned and softly replied. "You're the only one who can call me Cassie, remember, Marika. I don't like when anyone else says it."

Marika nodded. She threw aside the bed sheet and stood up. She said, in a loud booming voice, "I'll do whatever I can to be the best girlfriend for you!" Cass laughed. She recognized that Marika, yet again, made one of these bold declarations without wearing anything at all. This attitude was one of the many reasons she liked her. "Marika, sweetie, I love you but…you can't be the best girlfriend if you…don't put on your clothes."

Quickly, she wrapped the bed sheet around her and blushed. When other people were around and she wasn't wearing anything, she got embarrassed. In her mind, this made her vulnerable, an understandable and valid feeling. Cass recognized this. She hugged her back. She couldn’t be annoyed with Marika for being naked. She had seen another woman, a magical princess who was next in line to be queen of the kingdom, without clothes on, before, and they had sat in a hot tub together. As such, she didn’t mind naked women, not all. In fact, she kinda liked it.

"Sweetie there's no need to be ashamed. You don't need to hide any part of yourself from me. I care about you no matter if you are wearing clothes or not."

Marika hugged her back. Cass was the best person she could ever have met. She was so grateful that she knew her, even though Cass hadn’t said much about her past since she had joined the crew over a year ago. "Aw, thanks, Cassie. I'll always love you too, no matter what. See you on the bridge!" Cass smiled. She knew that she'd see her girlfriend later. As she stepped outside the captain's quarters, into the captain's room, the artificial light shone on her mahogany skin. She confidentially strode to the bridge, ready to start another day as a swashbuckler.

Coming to the bridge was always a magical experience. There was a cyborg tactical officer named Schnitzer, the electronic warfare specialist with glasses, Coorie, the ship's psychic navigator, Luca, the medic, Misa, and the engineer, San-Daime. Differences between those on the crew were irrelevant. Everyone respected each other for who they were, not judging anyone by their gender, species, skin color, or any characteristics like that. Before she could sit down, Hyakume approached her. "Lieutenant Cassandra, we picked up a faint distress call from the RRD." Cass knew what this meant. The instrument had never been used since it had been installed. She had held out hope that the Raps' Rapping Device would someday bring her back to the woman she once loved. She regretted that she hadn’t been as direct in her feelings as she could have been. Hyakume, the sensor and radar specialist on the ship, motioned to her and handed her a set of headphones. "Since this concerns you know who, I thought I'd let you would like to listen to it first." She agreed. The device has translated the message into a hip-hop/rap song. Cass believed that everyone else, but Hyakume, had forgotten the device existed. Sitting in Hyakume's chair, Cass began listening to the recording.

"Yo! I'm Raps and I’ve gotta say/

Corona's in a bad way!

Something bad had come to stay/

It has gotta go away!"

Following this were verses about a mysterious virus which infected people, making them either very sick, mildly sick, deathly ill, or having no effect at all. While the possible long-term effects were not known, Corona was in complete crisis. The city had been cordoned off from the rest of the kingdom. A stringent lockdown had been imposed. No one was allowed to leave and it had been mandated that all Corona citizens had to wear cloth face coverings on their faces. Otherwise, as this fast-spreading disease continued to be studied, it caused tensions among the populace.

Cass shook her head. She hoped all this time to hear from Raps, but she never knew it would happen this soon, or that the circumstances would be this dire. Could she face Raps again, after what she did to her? Could she really go back to Corona? She wanted to move past that part of her life because, in her view, she hadn't made amends for all the people she had hurt when she had used the moonstone. She believed that she had to atone her past misdeeds.

When Marika walked into the room, Hyakume told her, "Captain Marika, Lieutenant Cassandra is listening to a distress call on the RRD." She acknowledged this by nodding. She snuck up on Cass and tapped her on the shoulder. She was caught off guard and took off her headphones. With all that happened, she could be a little jumpy at times. "Hey…Cass, what did the RRD say?" She pulled Marika aside and whispered in her ear, "it's from the lady I told you about…I don't like to talk about that part of my past."

Marika understood. She didn't want to make Cass to feel uncomfortable. She tried to be as caring and respectful as she could. She took Cass off the ship bridge and to a private place where no one would find them. She wanted to honor her wishes. She would never hurt her. "Can you tell me a little about this? Then we can decide, together, if we should proceed."

This made sense to Cass. She breathed deeply. She explained how she had liked this woman and that she had been manipulated by an enchanted blue fairy, otherwise known as Zhan Tiri, who had caused her to hurt many people in Corona. Marika was intrigued. "A princess? I know a little about that," She explained what she meant. "I was tasked by Jenny, an heir of a huge conglomerate and a princess, to stop her from entering an arranged marriage with a bore that her dad wanted her to marry." She continued. "As pirates, we helped and she reunited with her lover, Lynn, one of my friends...kissing her right in front of me!" Cass hadn't heard this story before. On some level, it put her at ease.

She had a strategy of only revealing bits and pieces of her life before she met Marika. She did not want to burden anyone with the mistakes she made in the past. She wanted to start with a blank slate on the Bentenmaru. That's what Marika offered her, and she agreed to it. She wanted to start fresh after everything she'd done when Zhan Tiri manipulated her. The moonstone had channeled her anger and frustration at Raps. Her feelings were exploited and amplified. Even so, her sentiments of being underappreciated and pushed aside were justified. They were understandable considering how Raps had treated her before that point.

"Ok, Marika, we can do it. Don't make it a big deal…as I had a thing for her…and I think she had some feelings for me too.” Marika was completely accepting of this. She had no problem with it. Prior to Cass coming onto the scene, she had never been in a romantic relationship with anyone. But she had given friends, who were in relationships, advice. She even helped some of them come out as gay and admit their feelings to those they liked. Putting her hand on Cass's shoulder, she remarked, "Cassie, no matter what, I'll be there by your side." Smiling back, Cass whispered, "thanks, Marika." Both walked back onto the ship bridge, holding each other's hands tightly.

Marika stepped forward. She shouted. "Attention!" Everyone stopped what they were doing and saluted. They all respected her authority and that of Cass. "Helmsman McDougal, set out course for Corona." He nodded and acknowledged her, searching for the location in the available star charts and databases. In no time at all, he found the planet that Corona was located on: Enchancia. She then declared "Let's go pirating!" There were sounds of "rah!" from the crew members. The Bentenmaru’s engines powered up and the ship sped through space. No one knew what awaited them in Corona. Cass hoped for the best. This would be one eventful reunion with Raps.

Raps paced back and forth. She was unsure what to do. She turned to her loyal royal scientist, who was just as befuddled. "Varian, are you sure that this radio thing you made will work? Is anyone gonna help us?" She sighed. "If this sickness spreads more, then people will accuse me of having blood on my hands!" He shook his head. He didn’t know what to tell her. This was perhaps the worst crisis that had ever befallen Corona, even worse than Cass’s temporary overthrow of the kingdom, or his attempts to get back at Raps for "betraying" him. "I don't know, Rapunzel, I have never seen anything like this…but I hope someone will come to our aid…I really am at a loss for what to do."

Just then, the radio device Varian had constructed, connected to a crude radio tower he had installed, crackled. Raps and Varian looked at each other. Raps came close to the microphone and said, "Hello? Is anyone there? This is Queen Rapunzel Fitzherbert of Corona." The response she received surprised her.

"This is Marika Kato, captain of the space pirate vessel Bentenmaru. We are here to assist you.”

Raps was unsure what she should say in response. Should she trust these space pirates? Staring at Varian, he shrugged back at her. Pascal, who sat on her shoulder, like always, did the same. She grumbled. She decided to accept their offer. What other choices did they have? "Ms. Kato, as the Queen of Corona, you have my permission to proceed with your mission." The radio crackled after Raps put the receiver down on the table. She waited impatiently for a response. Marika cracked her knuckles and responded gleefully. "Thank you, Ms. Fitzherbert. We will be there shortly. Our ship just dropped out of hyperspace and entered your planet's orbit."

Raps was confused. What did "hyperspace" and "planet's orbit" mean? Even after her time in the science academy and hearing from well-regarded scientists, or those who claimed to be, she had never heard any of those words. She had no idea what they might mean. However, she believed that Marika was being sincere. "I look forward to meeting you and your crew, Ms. Kato." As soon as she stopped speaking, we received a response. It made her shake a little.

"Ms. Fitzherbert, we will be glad to become acquainted with you as well." A chorus of cheering crew members, while one person softly said something else, which made her happy. She put down the receiver, joyfully, glad that someone was coming to their aid. Varian then turned off the machine with the flip of a switch. 

He came close to Raps and whispered in her ear. "I'm pretty sure that someone in that last message said, 'I love you, Raps.'" She turned to him, her face as red as a tomato, bewildering. What had he just told her? Had he been joking? "Someone said…WHAT?!?...WHO would say that to a queen?" Varian shook his head. He half-expected that she'd act this way. He also guessed that she'd forget that voice, after everything that happened, even though the woman had been her close confidante after all. "It was…Cass…andra…I believe."

That was a name that Raps hadn't heard in a long time, at least since the day that Cass left Corona to go on her own personal journey. They told each other that they loved each other. But she believed this was a platonic declaration rather than romantic one. She thought that Cass might have seen it differently. In any case, she prepared herself for the inevitable reunion, assuming that Varian was right, and that he had heard her voice at all. If he really had, she would be overjoyed, because she had a lot to catch Cass up on in the year that they had been apart.

Meanwhile, the Bentenmaru's crew had made their way to the hangar bay. They climbed aboard medical dinghys, smaller ships outfitted with medical supplies. It would be too cumbersome to land the Bentenmaru on the planet surface, so a few tiny vessels would be better for the mission at hand. Misa, the helmsman Kane, San-Daime, and Hyakume, stayed on the ship. The latter wanted to spend his time assembling model ships instead of going down to the planet’s surface. San-Daime’s passion to collect teddy bears was a similar hobby, which is why both were good friends.

On the other hand, Marika, Cass, Schnitzer, Luca, and the very nerdy Coorie were on the ship. Coorie constantly dressed in pajamas, wore thick glasses, and often ate snacks, hoping to hide from everyone that she was very pretty and attractive. "Best of Luck, Marika!" Misa remarked. She saluted. Misa, along with Kane, San-Daime, and Hyakume, understood that they would keep the ship operational until she returned.

This wouldn't be like any other mission, as it wasn't just for show, but a real crisis with risks for the whole crew. Marika hoped it would further cement the reputation of the Bentenmaru. Cass was a bit nervous but prepared herself for seeing Raps again. Marika hugged her as their three-person dinghy moved away from the Bentenmaru. She whispered, "it will be okay, Cassie. I'll make sure of it."

Staring deeply into Marika's light blue eyes, she smiled. She came closer and asked if she could kiss her, to which Marika nodded enthusiastically. She smooched her on the mouth, with Marika happily reciprocating. They both looked out the ship’s cockpit at the atmosphere of the planet, Enchancia. No matter what, they would stay together, even after meeting Raps.

Chapter Text

Back in the castle, Raps was pacing once again. She had locked the castle building and prohibited anyone from entering. She made a snap decision she'd go out into the city, among the people. She couldn't be cooped up forever. Varian wanted to know if she really wanted to pursue this course of action or not. "Are you sure about this?" She nodded. She needed to hear what the people had to say. She was their sovereign... after all. This made Varian very afraid. He had heard people's anger toward her. He realized she had to experience it first-hand. Both put their handmade masks. Varian wore a black cloth mask, with black straps. Raps wore a purple and yellow mask, with intricate designs, that she had colored herself. She would not be content with a single color, as she liked vibrancy.

As she walked out of the castle, and locked the door behind her, she got a taste of this anger first-hand. One onlooker heckled her. "Boo!" he shouted. He then pointed. "YOU got be the virus!" Unfazed by this clear lie, she continued moving forward. Varian used his alchemist staff to trap the person in amber. No dissent to the royalty would be allowed. Most in the town followed the posted ordinances. Some did not.

Those who refused to abide by the regulations had started to come together, loosely, into a grouping they called the Anti-Rapunzel Alliance, or ARA for short. Those who led the organization did not believe in any governmental system, state, or anything like that. They didn't even think of themselves as leaders, claiming the group was "leaderless," another lie that anyone could see through very easily. They called themselves anarkhists. They would always be a thorn in the side of Raps, especially after the passing of her parents a year prior from old age. The ARA had been annoying Raps for years. She was aware of their violent activities. She did not worry about them. She did not see them as representative of the people. That sentiment was accurate, even though their support was growing every day.

She was jeered and booed as she walked through the city. People did not feel she had done enough to protect them from what was being dubbed the "Corona-Ailment," or ca for short. She shared their sentiments since she did not know if she had done enough or if more could be done. She wracked her brain with these questions every day. The ca crisis was always at the top of her agenda. She was exhausted, tired of running the city, and the kingdom, almost entirely by herself. She wished that Eugene had been there, as he had gone on a voyage to one of their allies across the sea, specifically to Avalor. Instead, she had to do this without him. She sighed.

The viciousness and nastiness toward her by those in Corona had deeply affected her. Varian expected this would happen. This is why he hoped she'd decide to stay inside the castle. This belief was misplaced. If he had known Raps as well as he thought he did, then he'd be aware that she liked to take risks, no matter the costs. Some people in her position would cry. Her emotional strength allowed her to weather heavy criticism, at least in this case. Sometimes Pascal would help her through this. She couldn't even rely on him this time. She had left him in her room, letting him sleep away without bringing him with her.

She turned to her trusty confidante, her royal science advisor, and royal scientist. "You can go back to the castle, Varian. I want to be alone." He didn't want to leave. He felt obligated to help her, especially since he had caused so much trouble for her in the past. Back then, he almost overthrew the government. Even still, she justified her response, at the time, noting that she only pushed away his pleas for help because of pressing demands on her as the royal queen of Corona. She couldn't spare anyone back then. "I…want to stay," he remarked. She shook her head. She wouldn't let him do that. "LEAVE!" she shouted and pointed back at the castle. She glared into his eyes. He cowered and turned around. He did not want to cross her. He realized that giving her some space was the right thing to do.

As he crossed the bridge and walked toward Corona, and the royal castle, Raps went the opposite way. She had to clear her head for a bit. She wanted to sit by the stream and watch the water cascading across the rocks. That always calmed her down, even when times were tough. It made her feel better about herself. She found a nice spot: a rock which overlooked a bubbling stream. She then pulled out her watercolor paints and sketchbook. Every day, week, and month, she believed that her art had improved.

In the past, she had disguised herself as "Robin Rap," putting on a mask, fake wig and beard, and a robe with a hood. She secretly set out art displays in the street during the night. This led to curiosity and excitement from those across Corona and the nearby lands. However, since ca had begun spreading, she hadn't taken on the persona, perhaps contributing to lower spirits among the populace. It made them more prone to feelings of utter despair, hopelessness, and anger toward her. Not everyone in Corona liked her as the monarch, in part due to her gender. Others saw it as a step forward to have a break from a line of male rulers which went back eons.

She yawned and stretched, leaving the sketchbook out to dry. If she put it away now, it would ruin not only the page she had sketched but also others inside the book as well. She walked into the stream bed and sensed the cold-water coursing through her toes. She wished she could stay here all day. This place of bliss would not last forever. Out of nowhere, tremors from something far away, shook the ground. It caused her to shake. The reverberations came ever closer, becoming so strong that she lost her balance and fell into the streambed.

She complained. "Fuck! My dress is all wet now…UGH!" she yelled. Trying to regain her balance, she slipped on a rock. She hit the stream with a thud. She began to cry. Even a queen could be taken down by something as small as a rock with moss on it. "Help! Won't someone please help me!" she shouted into the distance. She half-believed that no one would lift a finger for her. She resolved to give it five minutes, then she'd crawl out of the stream on her own. It was a time like this that she wished Eugene had been there, or anyone else who could be just as loving. The latter seemed very unlikely.

She sat as the water passed around her, through her soaked clothes. She grumbled and had given up. Suddenly, a woman dressed, in what looked to be a fancy lieutenant's uniform, with epaulets on the shoulders, and a sword attached to her belt, approached. She outstretched her hand, its mahogany pigment shining in the light. "Let me help you, Ma'am," the voice bellowed. Raps looked up. It was none other than Cass, whose mahogany skin almost sparkled. She blushed. She was surprised that Cass was there and even more embarrassed that she had to be helped out of this... unfortunate situation.

Perhaps they could start again, with a healthier relationship. After all, Cass was an independent woman now. Raps had no power over her, unlike in the past, when she has been employed as a lady-in-waiting, a servant, and handmaiden all-in-one. It was a master-servant relationship. Cass had obliterated that when she subsumed the Moonstone's power into her own body, wanting to determine her own destiny. Although her motives were justified, her actions could be extreme and destructive, thanks to Zhan Tiri's mental manipulation.

"Cass…is that you?," Raps asked inquisitively. She nodded. "Yes, and I'm here to save you…princess, I mean...queen." She pulled her out of the riverbed and onto the dry land.

Cass chuckled. "I didn't know you'd get so wet before you saw me…that must have been quite an experience." Shamefaced, Raps pounded against Cass. She was clearly annoyed. Her face was the color of a ripe tomato. "Come on, that’s not fair…," she said. They had a good laugh together. Cass helped Raps get up, pulling her out of the streambed and onto dry land. Looking at her clothes, she remarked, "That's quite a look for a member of the royalty…what would the people of Corona think if they saw their queen drenched to the bone?" This comment got to Raps too, who pouted in response.

She quickly regained her composure. She grabbed her now-dried sketchbook and smiled. Before she could say anything, Cass interjected. "I'll bring you to my ship…there's some dry clothes there." She nodded curiously. Her...friend now had…a vessel…under her command? She thought that Cass would be some lone wanderer, or something. At least that's what she expected. Even so, she did not know what was in store for her. Originally the plan had been to bring a fleet of medical ships to the surface. Marika had called them back to the starship, saying that she and Cass would survey the situation first, then report back.

They reached the dinghy, sitting in a nearby field, with the cockpit closed, so no miscreants got inside. She saw a pinkish orange-haired woman dressed in space pirate regalia. She was leaning against the ship. "Hey, Cassie," she began. Pointing at Raps, she asked, "who's that you have there?" Raps started to say something. Cass spoke first. "This is my friend…Rapunzel Fitzherbert, you know, from Corona, whose distress call we got on the Bentenmaru." Marika understood but was confused. Was this woman really a queen? She didn’t get the vibe from her at all. Perhaps it was the wet clothes. "Nice to meet you, Ms. Fitzherbert. I'm Marika Kato, the captain of the Bentenmaru…and I'm Cass's friend." Cass rolled her eyes. "Girlfriend. She's MY girlfriend." Raps was surprised. In a year's time she had gotten a girlfriend and...her own ship to command! Cass had been busy... in her estimation.

"Nice to meet you, Ms. Kato. You can call me…Rapunzel or Raps. I'm not really about all these formal titles." Marika chuckled. She shook Raps' hand. "Nice to make your acquaintance too. Cassie told me about you…in fact, she's the one who pushed us to come here." That was only half-true. Cass and Marika had jointly agreed to come there, not one of them deciding it on their own. Knowing that Raps probably had feelings for Cass, she thought it would be better this way, since it could allow them to reconnect better. Although Cass knew that Marika wasn't being entirely truthful, she let it slide, this time. "Yeah, that's what happened," she said sheepishly. After that, Cass opened up the cockpit of the dinghy, and showed her where the spare (and clean) clothes were. She even gave her a bag for her wet clothes, which she'd dry later. Since Cass had left, Raps had started doing more tasks by herself, without servants.

It's awkward to be with a girl you once loved and... their new girlfriend. So, she tread very carefully. She didn't want to cause any problems for Cass or for herself, for that matter. Even so, she couldn’t stop herself from blushing. And Marika noticed. She watched Raps like a hawk. Although she had only been with Cass for about a year, she could be somewhat jealous, especially since Cass was her first-ever girlfriend. At the academy, girls had fawned over her, like no one's business. Once she helped her friend get together with her lover, also a girl, on a mission that involved the entire Bentenmaru crew. It was a huge endeavor, to say the least. All of that colored what was happening at the present.

Raps quickly eased the tension. She decided to confide in them about what was going on. "I'd like to get away from here, away from it all...things are not going well in Corona." Cass was surprised. What could have gone wrong? She was unsure. "There's this contagious virus that’s spreading...and people are getting restless. No one is helping me combat it...at all."

Her latter statement was somewhat untrue. Varian had done his part to help her. This made Cass and Marika even more curious. Rather than Cass getting in a word, Marika asked a question first. "So…can we catch this virus?...I don't wanna make my crew sick." Raps moved her head from side-to-side. She had to tell the truth. "I guess so. The number of cases have been rising...it's not that many yet. I mandated a lockdown and that everyone wear cloth masks to protect themselves. It has made people very angry at me. Even Varian refused to leave."

She stamped her foot on the ground and gritted her teeth. This situation had brought back her fears about being a ruler. She didn't think there was anything else she could do. Perhaps it would be better if she wasn't there at all. She grabbed Marika's hand. "Can you please take me with you into space?" she pleaded. "I really don't want to be on this planet anymore. I have to get away." Marika wasn't sure this was a good idea. She looked toward Cass. She needed her approval before agreeing to Raps' request. Cass asked Raps directly, "Are you sure you want to do this? If we take you with us, we might not be back for a while." She nodded.

They all packed themselves into the dinghy's cockpit. Although most dinghies were single-person, this one had seats for up to three people. Marika closed the visor and told everyone to strap themselves in. Raps and Cass easily followed her instructions. Pressing some buttons, the engine began to roar, and the ship quickly took off. The landing wheels retracted and they went soaring through the sky. Raps was amazed. As they flew up through the air and above the trees, their ship passed by the island kingdom of Corona and over the Bay of Corona. A small schooner arrived in the island’s port. A young twenty-six year-old man, with light skin and short brown hair, was aboard.

Cass turned to Marika. She asked, "can I play THAT song?" She smiled. That was fine with her. Pressing a button, a tray came out of the console. She pulled out a transparent plastic case, adorned with a paper cover of a black-haired and pink-skinned woman wearing a black t-shirt, black-pants, and holding a guitar with a black strap around her body. A black heart was behind the woman and two words stood out on the cover: "Bad Reputation." This three-part case, made from a synthetic polymer, had liner-notes, and a back card. The two sides were hinged together. She carefully pulled out a reflective thick thermoplastic disk. It was adorned with images of the same woman in a circular fashion. The disc itself the following words: "Bad Reputation – Joan Jett – 2012 Re-Issue." Cass had picked it up when she and Marika went to a flea market, as some called it, during their travels.

Putting the disc in, she pressed another button. The tray retracted. She pressed a third button, looking like a small rightward facing arrow. It had one small word: "Play." Like magic, the music began playing out of speakers, although Raps wasn't sure from where, since the speakers seemed invisible. Cass and Marika began singing along. Raps started to get in the mood of it too.

"I don't give a damn 'bout my reputation /

You're living in the past, it's a new generation /

A girl can do what she wants to do /

And that's what I’m gonna do!"

As the song began playing, they all sang along. Their voices were so loud that people could hear them on the island below. One of those people was the brown-haired man whose boat had arrived on the island's docks: Eugene Fitzherbert. His light brown eyes spotted the dinghy flying through the sky. He saw a woman with brunette (formerly blond) hair inside. He was taken aback. "Blondie?" he asked confusedly. He wondered why the woman he loved was moving away from the planet at a high rate of speed. He didn't even recognize Cass, nor he did know who the other woman inside the ship (Marika) was. People across Corona, including Varian, looked up at the sky in amazement.

In no time at all, the dinghy made its way through the atmosphere and into outer space. It came close to a massive starship, painted with a mix of black and magenta colors. The vessel had a cylinder-shaped main body and a coned bow, a design often used with rockets. The ship's emblem and name were on the side: Bentenmaru. There were four fins on the rear. As they came closer, Marika spoke into a receiver. "We're coming back. Our mission has concluded. No need to bring any additional ships at this time. And we have one new passenger." A woman with little tone in her voice answered: "Affirmative."

This was Luca. She often did not interact with her fellow crewmates and only commented on her work. Her voice's tone usually remained the same unless when she was really stressed out. At times, she could irritate crewmates by saying she saw something, then when she was asked about it, she wouldn't reveal it. Other times, she claimed she saw something, then when asked, she said she told them nothing. Her attitude differed from the friendly and supportive medic (Misa), the laid-back and friendly helmsman (Kane), the fairly friendly and often amused radar/sensor specialist (Hyakume), and the fairly relaxed electronic warfare specialist (Coorie).

Soon after docking, Marika jumped out of the ship, followed soon by Cass and Raps. She brought them to the vessel's bridge, which had two levels. They entered through the upper level. The lower level had the steering wheel and consoles where crew members could steer the ship; examine radar, sensors, and engines, or conduct so-called "electronic warfare." During battles, the upper level lowered, and shutters blocked out the windows, with the view outside the ship shown on a visual display on the ceiling. That wouldn't be happening... this time. Marika spoke first. "I'd like to introduce our honored guest, Queen Rapunzel of Corona." Misa smiled. Kane remarked, "this might be nothing like your home, Miss...however, we'll treat you well, don't you worry." Hyakume laughed. He was just as friendly toward her as Misa and Kane. "This isn't the first time we've transported royalty. Hey, why not another royal?"

Coorie looked up from her screen. She turned toward Raps in a friendly manner. The other crew members were unsure about their new guest. Schnitzer remained stern and serious as always. San-Daime, often worrisome and pessimistic, was anxious. "Are you sure this is a good idea? Won't someone come to get her...and we'll be in trouble?" Cass put them at ease. They listened to her. After all, she was the lieutenant and she was close to Marika, who they deeply respected. "It's fine. Don't worry about it. This was her choice to come here and we should honor that." Everyone seemed to accept that reasoning. Raps interjected jubilantly. "Thanks everyone. I'm glad to be here." She had one more thing to say, something which would surprise them all.

"I have two more requests, if you'll indulge me." They were listening intently. This would be hard to explain. "I assume you have weapons on this vessel, right?" They nodded in agreement. "Well, I'd like you to destroy a stone bridge for me. It''s the last thing I'll do for Corona. Then, I'd like to send a message to Corona...through that radio thing." They agreed to both requests. They seemed easy enough to execute her requests. Walking down the stairs, she came close to Hyakume, skilled at radar and sensors. After guiding him to exact location of the target, he sent her over to Schnitzer, the ship's tactical officer. He was standing-in as the gunner. Usually they had other gunners. Not on this mission. He maneuvered the front-pulse weapon into position. He pressed a button and a powerful blue laser beam fired from the ship’s nose. It traveled at supersonic speed. It hit the bridge's middle with almost exact precision.

The weapon unintentionally ignited dynamite which some angry citizens had set as part of their plan to overthrow the government. The bridge exploded into a million pieces, with stone flying every which direction, including onto the island of Corona, Some people could barely escape the falling stone. Even the ARA, undoubtedly seen as the culprits, whether they were involved or not, was worried about the explosion.

A static crackle filled the air. To the surprise of the citizens, they heard a voice:

"Hello, this Queen Rapunzel. As you can see from the recent explosion, I am cutting off the kingdom of Corona from the mainland. I cannot let this virus spread any further. This is for your own good. As my last act as sovereign, I am appointing Varian as my successor. I believe in him and hope that you all put your trust in him. Thank you."

Everyone in Corona was surprised. Wasn't Eugene next in line? Had she abandoned them? Did she have any loyalty to her subjects? All these questions, and others, rattled in the minds of the citizens as a riot began to break out. People grabbed torches, pitchforks, and any weapon they could find, throwing them in royal buildings. They approached the castle in large numbers. This unorganized demonstration was not the work of the ARA. It stemmed from citizen's fury. The royal guards tried to hold people back. They could barely hold the line. Varian came out of the front doors. Although he knew the citizens were angry, he remained dumbstruck. He didn't know what to do.

Suddenly, Eugene stepped forward. He believed that this was the time for a strong-hand, decisive leadership. He wasn't sure Varian could do this. Coming close, he whispered into Varian's ear, "kid, let me take this." He responded in a low-pitch that only Eugene could hear. "I didn't want this responsibility anyway, so take it." He closed the door and walked back inside. Eugene addressed the hastily assembled crowd. "I talked with Varian. I'm the one in charge now. I’m sorry that Rapunzel left us behind. I will lead us back to glory." What he said next he came up with on the spot. It appeared to be totally spontaneous. "As my first act, the mask mandate and lockdown are hereby ended. Let us make Corona great again!" The crowd cheered wildly. Masks were pulled off. They burned them with their torches. People began chanting "Eugene! Eugene! Eugene!" He did not know what he was getting himself into.

Back on the Bentenmaru, Cass led Raps to a spare cabin. "You can sleep here, Raps. See you tomorrow morning." She smiled. Everything was going as she had hoped. While she would have liked Pascal there with her, she wanted to start fresh, at least this time. He would be better without her. In fact, he would have questioned her rash decision. Perhaps her view would change in the future. For now, she needed to get away from it all, and that included Pascal. She was ready and willing to become a space pirate, just like Cass had done years ago. However, there would be some awkwardness since it had been so long since she and Cass had been together.

It was hard to say what was next for Corona or for Cass, Raps, Marika, and other crew members on the Bentenmaru. But it would surely be written in the stars.

Chapter Text

Eugene was undecided about his next steps. He had ended the mask mandate and lockdown as his first act as reigning sovereign, leading to a euphoric celebration. People had burned their masks with torches. However, he had talked a big game. Could he actually lead the entire kingdom? He wasn't sure. He also had begun questioning his declarations to citizens on that day, especially when he was informed that the virus was rapidly spreading.

After his on-the-spot declaration, some people had flocked to his side, declaring he should cut down the government's functions, sell off the Kingdom's assets to private individuals, and make everyone else support themselves through "user fees." Those of this mentality believed that markets and so-called "economic freedom" would result in efficiency which wasn't possible under other economic policies. Whether that was actually true, was unclear. He didn't want to do anything too rash so as to cause even more instability within the Kingdom of Corona.

"Sire, we recommend you give businesses wide latitude. Now is the time for the government to step back and let the businesses handle everything. We know what we are doing."

That was Siniestro Malvado, head of the merchant's guild in Corona. They were one of the more powerful business groups. Eugene needed their counsel, but he wasn't convinced that letting the Kingdom step back and allowing private entities solve problems on their own, was a good idea. Could they even be trusted?

"I appreciate that suggestion, Mr. Malvado. Without a doubt, the Crown should value, protect, and uphold a person's individual liberty, so they can live the life they wish, while not affecting someone else's liberties adversely. At the same time, the crown should protect people and property."

He then added the clincher. "The government needs to be involved in the economy. To say that private businesses could control everything, to remove any public control, and leave everything in the hands of those businesses, would be utter chaos."

Malvado, an exile from Avalor, did not like where this was going. He had hoped that a new King would be more sympathetic, favoring free trade, a free market, and giving businesses "more latitude." That did not happen. He walked off in a huff. He shouted. "We don't need the Crown's subsidies anymore! We will go through this alone!" He then snarled. "Best of luck...King Eugene."

If he had delved deeper, he would have realized he had common ground with Eugene, who favored contracts with private firms, opposed military intervention (which would be unthinkable with the virus spreading), and supported a restrained foreign policy. He would love for Corona to engage with the world, trade freely, and work with other countries, but not through military means. Opening the Kingdom's borders would be a boon. With the virus's spread this wouldn't be possible.

The royal science advisor came forward. Varian wanted to do his own thing, and not work with Eugene. As such, Eugene had few other people to turn to. The man he now had to rely upon was a technocrat of the highest order, meaning he was somewhat allied with Mr. Malvado, although he wouldn't necessarily let business have complete free rein. While Eugene didn't want to rely upon him and was skeptical of individuals like him, he had little choice in the matter. How else was he supposed to run Corona? All by himself?

"Mr. Alberto, what do you suggest I do? I need to ensure that people are protected, but I also don't want infringements on people's liberty. I lifted the mask mandate and lockdown after all."

As he twirled his mustache, he considered possible paths ahead for Eugene, who was King de jure of Corona due to Raps' absence and the royal chain of succession. Since she had not officially abdicated, he was only the reigning monarch until her return, or when he was crowned as such. However, such a ceremony had not happened and he refused to have it, hoping that she would return.

"To keep this virus under control, we must close all borders. Immigration must be curtailed. We must keep this kingdom in complete lockdown until it is safe."

While Eugene could understand this approach, he had a sense it would not be sustainable. How long could a country close itself off from the world? Could everyone afford to work from their own homes? What about those who had no choice but to work in public? What about those who left terrible conditions elsewhere and wanted to come to Corona for a better life? He had to remain strong and decisive, even if it angered citizens who were overjoyed at the end of the mask mandate and lockdown, as he had declared not that long before.

All these questions swirled around in his head. He fully supported expanding and deregulating immigration. The last thing he wanted was to stigmatize those coming from elsewhere to Corona. Additionally, he wanted open, rather than closed, borders. With the destruction of the bridge between Corona and the mainland, by the Bentenmaru's laser canon, Corona was effectively cut off from the rest of the world. Access was only possible by boat. For now, he had decided to not rebuild the bridge.

"Mr. Alberto, I appreciate your suggestions. I am worried about the impact on the Coronan economy if we have a complete lockdown for too long. However, one month seems sufficient enough to get the virus under control. At the same time, face coverings must be distributed."

He smiled. Although he had been wary, after Eugene's declaration upon seizing power, he was glad that Eugene was taking his suggestions seriously. Although he felt that one month was too short, it was better than nothing.

"Thank you, sire. I suggest that Coronans make face masks, in lieu of their usual jobs, something they can do from their own homes. Meanwhile, others can develop a medicine to help people survive this terrible disease."

This idea was one of Mr. Alberto's better ones, Eugene thought. He did not want to sell off the Crown's assets and allow private business to buy them, as people like Mr. Malvado wanted. Such people claimed these asset sales would create a new pool of investment capital. He did not want to remove any public controls over the existing economy. Some people, who were completely bonkers, believed that everything should be left in the hands of private business. An additional group declared that the government should be replaced by private security firms.

Others went further, claiming that no one should be paid a minimum wage, because it "violated" their "freedom" to form contracts and private property rights. Such ideas would never be entertained by Eugene as anything serious. He wanted to imprison such people. Even so, he worried that doing so would destabilize the kingdom too much. Although he did not want a planned economy, in part because there was no one skilled enough he could trust to do such planning, he did believe the market economy, which some called capitalism in another world, was a positive.

He did not want the market to be completely unregulated. There had to be some government control. If he had fully known about the exploitation caused by this abhorrent economic system, he may have changed his tune. No one around him provided him advice which pushed him that direction. Instead, more individuals, especially prominent business people, and others like Mr. Malvado, wanted an emphasis on individual responsibility, competition, choice, and voluntarism in economic and social interactions. This would only be possible in a world free of government overreach, as they termed it, with limited government, private property rights, and rule of law.

Such ideas were, realistically, not sustainable, despite claims from these individuals that they wanted free inquiry, rational discourse, and scientific method as a way to seek "the truth." Similarly, although an economy without taxation could seen as a boon, when partnered with growing businesses and high morals, while removing the state's monopoly on protection and monetary control, it would only lead to collapse. Companies and wealthy individuals could never be trusted to care about the masses. They only cared about their own interest and their bottom line.

Eugene wanted liberty, in terms of having all people sovereign over each of their lives. He felt that people would have to sacrifice something, whether they liked it or not. The belief that people would engage in honest and peaceful activities without interference from government, or other entities, sounded nice, in a sense. It was not realistic. For one, fraud and force couldn't be removed from interrelationships between humans without help from the government. Excess government or business interference, especially in a way that promoted retrograde social values, was a negative. People could only be effectively helped with government assistance or organized community care.

He had heard the calls to get rid of worker guilds, entities that some would describe as labor unions in another world, and opposition to medical programs provided by the crown, along with any other assistance efforts. What disturbed him most were those who favored bringing back child labor. That would never be a solution for getting out of any economic crisis. It would only lead to child exploitation. He needed little excuse to arrest those individuals. He could do so thanks to the broad authority he enjoyed under royal law. Under the right circumstances, he might do so. In his view, now was not the time, he believed, to do something so bold.

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Back in space, Raps was still adjusting to her new surroundings. She was not used to being on a starship, especially with a woman she had once crushed on (Cass) and her girlfriend (Marika). Furthermore, the crew was still figuring out how to treat her. She wondered whether there was anything they could do to help the people of Corona. Did she have any duty to help them? She didn't know.

As she yawned, she was greeted by the smiling face of a pinkish-haired woman, who peaked around the slightly-open door. She was taken aback at first. She wasn’t used to this. Marika, who was wearing her usual casual attire, and not a space pirate uniform, began in her boisterous banter, without warning.

"Hey, princess, how was your sleep?" Her voice echoed across the room. Raps was unsure how to respond. Before Marika's exuberance faded, Raps realized she had to say something.

"Good…I guess...I'm not used to sleeping on a ship...floating in outer space!" For a person who lived in a plush room in the royal castle, it was no surprise she would say this.

Marika nodded. She somewhat understood how Raps felt, although she'd never been a princess or anything like that. Perhaps the fact that her family was composed of famous space pirates prepared her for living in space, made her more adaptable. She knew there was some awkwardness between them, considering that Raps was the girl that Cass had a crush on, and the likelihood that Raps realized Cass's feelings for her.

"Glad to hear that. Let me know if there's anything I can do." Her happy expression didn't fade away. It suddenly changed when Cass ran up to her. She grabbed Marika's arm and pulled herself closer, showing that Marika was hers and no one else's. Her face became beat red. She was a bit embarrassed to be embraced so lovingly this early in the morning.

Raps laughed. She could tell they were good for each other. "Good morning to you too, Cass. You both are such a cute couple...I don't want to intrude or anything…"

As her sentence trailed off, Cass wanted to reassure Raps that she was welcome on the Bentenmaru. Although they had parted on good terms about a year prior, there were still some unresolved feelings she had for Raps. At some point they had to talk about that. Perhaps, now wasn't the time.

"Raps, you aren't intruding. I'm glad you are here. If there's anything I, Marika, or the ship's crew can do to help Corona, tell us…I know you care about the people of Corona.”

Cass was certainly right about that. Raps had tried her best to help the people on her island kingdom. She didn't believe she could deal with it anymore. They had been so hostile to her. What was the point of going back? On the other hand, she wanted to properly say goodbye to Eugene. That was the least she could do. She couldn't just leave things like this. It wouldn't be right.

"Well, I would like to go back...just briefly...and give them necessary medicine…and say goodbye to everyone, properly...then we could go on our way."

That request seemed reasonable enough. The Bentenmaru had everything they needed. They had been planning a medical mission to the surface anyhow, so all the supplies were ready.

"I'll tell the crew that this is their next mission!" Marika shouted. She ran back to her room so she could change into her space pirate regalia. While Cass usually followed her, she wanted to talk to Raps. They had to talk, especially if Raps was going to stay on this ship permanently, as it seemed. It was better to clear the air now, rather than later.

She pulled Raps aside. "Can I talk to you for a minute, before we go up to the bridge?" Raps nodded. She didn't know what Cass wanted them to talk to her about, but she had time.

As they stepped inside the cabin, where Raps was staying, Cass closed the door behind her. She wanted their conversation to be private. They sat down on chairs around one of the tables in this lush room, which was half the size of her room back in Corona.

"There's so many things I wish I had done differently. The Moonstone powers plus the mental manipulation from Zhan Tiri made me do so many terrible things. She exploited my insecurities and I lashed out at you...and you almost died...if I could go back…"

Raps cut her off. She shook her head from side to side. The last thing she wanted was for Cass to wallow in the past. "I'm sorry too. I wish I had realized the struggles you were going through...I made you think that you were second-best...I was only thinking about...my own happiness."

Cass was a bit surprised that Raps was being so open with her. She hadn't expected that. She knew that Raps would be different than in the past. This caught her a bit off guard.

"Thanks for saying that, Raps. We were just seeing past one another and not communicating as we should have. Sometimes I wish I could do it all over again…" As she said these words, she began crying. Raps came in to hug her, as tears streamed down her cheeks. She whispered that it was ok.

As they ended their embrace, Cass pulled out a dusty book, from inside the drawer of a nearby bedside table. It was entitled The Dramas of Aeschylus. It had been translated by an Earth female author, Anna Swanwick, many years previously. She opened the book and blew off the dust. She turned to the first chapter, entitled Agamemnon.

"I read this book when I first got here on this ship...and I really related to the character, Cassandra, who is very different from me. She predicts a calamity in the future, but no one believes her...Typical men."

Cass rolled her eyes and continued. "I especially like this part...I felt it really related to me."

She pulled Raps closer and pointed to the following lines, buried deep in the chapter:

Woe! woe! alas! alas! ye miseries!
Of faithful augury the direful toil
Racks me once more, with bodeful preludings
Vexing my soul.

Raps didn't totally understand what these lines meant to Cass, other than guessing the "direful toil" was being interpreted, by Cass, as representing the burdens she carried. Although she might not be completely right. She was glad that Cass had something that got her through this tough time. Cass put the book away. They moved away from each other. Marika burst into the room, wearing her full space pirate uniform. She scared them both, more Raps than Cass.

"Hey, we are meeting on the bridge in fifteen minutes. See you there, cuties!"

Cass's face got as red as a tomato. She yelled back, "Don't call me cute!"

As she calmed down a bit, she pressed a button on the wall. A space pirate uniform was inside. She was grateful that it was still there and that Marika hadn't removed it. As she began taking off her clothes, Raps quickly turned around, embarrassed. Did she have to do this in front of her!

"Sorry, Raps, I'm just used to changing in front of Marika. I'll only be a second." And sure enough, in less than a minute, she had put on her uniform. It looked just as snazzy as Marika's. Its style meshed with Cass's former adventure outfit in some ways.

“There's a spare uniform in another closet...if you'd like to wear one."

Raps didn't know what to say in response. Was it even right for her to wear a uniform… of a space pirate? This question stuck in her head. At present, she wanted to become a space pirate. The repercussions of her rash decision were getting to her. She would feel more comfortable in other clothes.

"That's okay...I'll wear this instead." She pointed to a green-colored sleeveless dress which sat folded, on a nearby table. She was unsure where it had come from, or who put it there. She guessed that either Marika or Cass had placed it there sometime during the night. She put it on almost as quickly as Cass had dressed. Surprisingly, it fit, which made her suspicious.

"Cass...how is it that this dress fits me correctly? Did you measure me in my sleep or something?"

She had to put this accusation to rest. They couldn't be at each other's throats again.

"No, simply I remember your proportions from when I was your handmaiden...I had it custom-made some time ago...and stowed it away in the event that we'd...see each other again."

Raps smiled. She was glad to be reassured about the dress. She didn't even care now how the dress had got there. What mattered is that Cass had been thinking about her.

"Cass, I'm glad you were thinking of me...it makes me so happy to hear that...I'd like to know more about why you are with…"

Raps couldn't say anything else because she was interrupted. An authoritative voice spoke over intercom. "Meeting in the bridge in five minutes. Don't be late!" It was Marika. On some level, Raps could see why Cass liked her, especially when she was like this. How did they get together? It remained a mystery. She would have to ask her sometime… once this all ended.

Chapter Text

Five minutes went by quickly. The meeting had begun. Marika commanded the room in her usual manner. She grabbed her huge captain's hat and adjusted it on her head, as she always did. She was ready to tell them what they needed to do. That was what she had been trained to do.

"We will be going down to Corona with a few medical ships to provide supplies. We will all be wearing masks. Is that clear?" She didn't want to leave an opening for any one to ask questions. She wanted to move forward.

"Yes, ma'am!" the crew responded in unison. Raps was even surprised by how they listened to her, considering that some crew members were older and, certainly, had more experience.

Marika then made an unsurprising declaration. "Helmsman Kane, you are in command while we are gone."

"Affirmative, Captain Kato!" he replied. While he was usually laid-back and friendly, he also knew when a job needed to get done. Coorie, the specialist with electronic warfare, would stay in the ship, as would ship engineer San-Daime. Not everyone could go down to the surface. Only a select number. Some people had to stay on the Bentenmaru in the event that something happened.

The ship's medic, Misa, and specialist Hyakume, who was skilled in using radars and sensors, would come with them, as would the tactical officer, Schnitzer, for their protection to make sure nothing happened to them while they were on the planet surface. These three individuals, plus Marika, Cass, and Raps left the bridge and made their way to the hanger. The medical ships were waiting there, ready to be launched. Each ship could only take two passengers, however.

Raps was paired up with Misa in one craft. In another, there was Hyakume and Schnitzer. The final craft had Cass and Marika inside. The ships took off quickly, and began making their way to the surface. Marika spoke into the communication system which connected all the medical ships with the Bentanmaru. "Taking off and beginning the medical aid mission to Corona."

Kane replied. "Good luck Captain. Let us know if you need anything."

Now that they were alone, Cass snickered. She knew that the others could probably see her, but that was okay. She wanted to make Raps a little jealous, if she could even see what was going on.

"Hey Marika, you were so brave back there...I wish you could be like that in the bedroom."

Marika's face became even more red than it had earlier that morning. She pulled her hat over her face. The blushing spread from her face to her ears. Her mind went many places. Ultimately, she knew that Cass was just messing with her. She didn’t know why Cass was teasing her like this, but in some ways, she didn’t mind it. After all, Cass was her girlfriend. And she was always loving toward her.

"Cass...you don't have to say it like that…" She was surprised when she learned that her comm was still on. Everyone on the shared communication channel had heard them. She put her head in her hands. How could this be any more embarrassing for her? She wasn't sure.

"I know you both love each other a LOT...but can we please keep the flirting to a minimum," Misa remarked. "We have to stay on mission." Marika nodded. She knew that Misa was right.

"Sorry...It was just an impulse." In order to change the subject, she remarked, in the intership comm, "we will reach Corona in twenty minutes, so everyone prepare yourselves." She turned off the comm on her cockpit and Cass's cockpit. She didn't want Cass to try any silly shenanigans again. They had to stay on task.

Sitting behind Misa, Raps made sure her comm was off. She whispered to Misa at such a level that not even the comm could have picked it up, if it had been on. "Have Cass and Marika...always been like that?"

Misa laughed. She never expected that someone would be asking about the captain's love life. She didn't want to reveal too much. That was her story to tell. And she would share it if she wanted, or not. That was her decision to make.

"Cass had a lot going on with her when she joined the crew, but she gravitated toward Marika pretty quickly. They've really helped each other a lot... she is such an indispensable part of the crew now... Cass sometimes mentioned you, and said how she wanted to make it right... to fix the errors of the past."

Raps wasn't surprised. Cass had said as much to her earlier. She genuinely believed that Cass wanted to make up for what she had done in the past. Still she wondered about Marika.

"So, is the captain a space pirate all the time or…like what does she do in her spare time?"

Misa could definitely answer that question. It didn't have anything to do with her love life.

"She's just a normal, simple girl, who goes to school, wears makeup, has nice space pirate friends, and loves parfaits. She tells jokes, laughs, smiles, gets embarrassed, and is a great ballroom dancer."

Raps didn't expect to hear all of that. When she thought of the word "pirate" it conjured bad emotions for her. What kinda of pirates were they? Wasn't this life tough? Perhaps this realness was why Cass stick with her, even though she could see how Marika could be imposing, in one way or another.

She guessed Marika could even be arrogant and haughty at certain point. She didn't know that much of this business of space piracy was for show, even though the pirates themselves commanded respect among their crew and the citizenry. In any case, she knew that Marika was good for Cass.

As the ships began their landing approach, something was abundantly clear. The boats on the docks were locked up and inoperable. They soon saw a group of citizens walking through the streets, chanting and carrying torches. They shouted "Down with King Eugene!" Some held posters calling for the end to the lockdown and mask mandate. While this did not surprise Raps, she was curious to hear that Eugene was the King. Hadn't she appointed Varian in her place? That confused her. What had been going on in Corona?

Surely some would grumble that the lockdown had led to inflation, psychological and physical damage, and devastated public health, while calling for ill-defined idea of "herd immunity" (or what they claimed was this concept, which is hard, if not impossible to achieve). Those who advocated such a foolhardy approach, which included no one taking any precautions against the virus whatsoever, would claim this such an idea was more compassionate than other proposals, and that everything in-person should resume, with only "vulnerable" people kept at home. This would result in a determination about who is "vulnerable."

This view, while founded in some logic, ignored that many symptoms of the virus which continued spreading throughout Corona. It resembled the one being spread many galaxies away on a blue planet, which spread asymptomatically more times than not, with some younger people, especially, as carriers.

Unlike elsewhere, in Corona, the newest lockdown was short-lived, with the government giving subsidies for individuals to work from home, and other benefits, even without any medicine to treat the virus at the preset time. These policies were not aimed against workers, not in the slightest. In fact, they were pro-worker policies.

While some masked everywhere, hid, or scolded other citizens for not wearing masks, these views were limited. This was because masks were produced by the citizens and distributed to those who didn’t have one. The idea was that everyone would protect each other while wearing masks, an ethic of community care not present elsewhere.

Without a place to land, and not wanting to take the supplies across the water, Marika ordered them to land their ships in a castle courtyard. The guards were surprised. They didn't know how to react apart from running away. The citizens were too distracted to notice anything, too wrapped up in themselves.

As the steam off the ships spread everywhere, Cass and Marika were the first to emerge, and soon joined by Misa and Raps, then Hyakume and Schnitzer. The medicine remained in their ships for now, until they could fully assess the situation. They saw a man with short brown hair step forward.

"Hello, I am King Eugene of Corona...who are all of you?" He was genuinely curious, but also not afraid of them despite the weapons each of them had. His guards stood at his side, ready to defend him if the circumstances were right. He had to make sure this wasn't a trap.

Marika piped up. "I am Marika Kato, captain of the Bentenmaru." She then continued. "I come today with my specialist Hyakume, medical officer Misa, tactical officer Schnitzer, and two guests you are likely familiar with: Cassandra and former Queen Rapunzel Fitzherbert."

When she said those last words, Eugene was surprised. Since they were all wearing masks, he didn't recognize any of them at first. Then he spotted Raps' brunette hair, which was once blonde when she had the power of the sundrop, which is why Eugene still called her "Blondie." He asked inquisitively, "Blondie, is that you? Have you come back to rule Corona?"

While she could answer the first question, the second one was almost a leading question. She sighed. How could she explain all of this to him? She had left in such a hurry before. She wanted to make it right. How would she go about this? She wasn't completely sure, but she had to give it a try.

"Yes, this is me, Eugene. I only came here on a medical mission with the rest of these lovely people."

Although she didn't say it directly, Eugene got the message: she wasn't coming back to rule over Corona. He had expected as much, but he thought he'd at least try. After all, he was desperate for solutions, considering that despite his seemingly successful policies, citizens were erupting in protest and posed a threat to the entire monarchy. It put him in a very bad situation.

"I'll accept any help you can give. Any medical supplies would be greatly appreciated."

Marika whispered to Misa, Hyakume, and Schnitzer. Without a second thought, they went back to each of the three ships and unloaded the medical supplies. Making a vaccine would be near-impossible, considering they had no laboratory to do so, but some medicine could dull the effects of this invisible virus in way or another. That was at least their hope. However, it had never been tested, so that was a concern.

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As the medical supplies were unloaded, one shipment at a time, Eugene directed them to go to some of the nearby locations where people were sheltering. They were stopped by an angry crowd.

"Stop this lockdown, King Eugene! Let us go back to work!" one person shouted. He shook his head. He predicted it would get bad, but he did not know it would be this bad. If he didn't do something quickly, they could destabilize the entire social system and put everything in chaos. He had to negotiate with them and he wasn't going to give up easily.

"I hear what you are saying... this lockdown will only be one month long. It's to keep this virus under control before people die or get sick… I can't let any more people die."

Raps whispered in Eugene's ear. She suggested that he take some of the medicine, which was in an injector, as a test, to encourage others to follow. Misa brought up a case of the injectors and took one out. Prepping his arm, wiping it down with a swap, she told him to look the other way. He did so. She stuck the needle in his arm. It stung a little, but it wasn't as bad as he thought.

While some in the crowd grimaced, others were taken in and intrigued. This public ploy had helped increase at least some confidence in the medicines which could help alleviate the virus’s effect. The crowd began to split apart despite calls by some to stand strong. They were no longer a united front which could challenge the monarchy. Eugene had been victorious, while those who organized the protest were determined to keep fighting and, ultimately, win. They may have lost this day, but they would make sure it wouldn't happen again.

People began lining up to get injected with this medicine. The protests against Eugene had dissipated into nothing, even though public anger remained among Corona citizens. In no time at all, people departed, with Eugene retiring inside the castle, followed by Raps, Cass, Marika, and the rest of the crew.

He was exhausted. He really wanted her to stay. He wasn't sure he could manage it on his own. But, he would try, once again. "Blondie, I'd like you to come back… and stay here with me… can you do that?"

She shook her head. As much as she had been romantically tied to him, with everything that was going on, she wasn't sure it was a good idea to remain with him. It definitely wasn’t safe.

"I'm sorry. I can't, Eugene. I...would like to stay with Cass, Marika, and the rest of them. I can't stay in this castle forever...I need to expand my horizons."

Eugene solemnly understood. He knew exactly what she meant. While he still had feelings for her, he knew it was her decision whether she wanted to stay or go.

"I get it...go with them...I'll hold down the fort here as long as I can…"

Raps came in and hugged Eugene in a warm embrace. It may be the last time she saw him for a while. Pascal came out of nowhere and joined Raps, giving him comfort. She had missed him.

"Thanks for everything." Before she departed, Marika and the other crew members unloaded the rest of the medical supplies, which included instructions with how to make the medicine, so more of it could be produced. Eugene was appreciative. He hoped it would help the people of Corona.

The small dinghys, which had been fashioned into medical ships, began to leave. The steam they left behind, as they went upward, obscured them from view until they were far away. Raps had made her choice. Eugene would have to live with it. That's just how it was. That's how it would be. He begrudgingly accepted her decision even though he wished she would stay.

In no time at all, the medical ships had made their way back to the Bentenmaru. They were ready to leave the planet's orbit. As they prepared to make the jump through space, Raps looked out the window one last time. "Eugene...best of luck." She said this as as tears streamed down her face. Maybe one way she would return. But now wasn't the time. The ship blasted off into the great beyond, even though the adventures ahead for them were still to be written.

Back in Corona, things were heating up. Eugene was just about to go to sleep. One of the castle guards burst into his room. "Your majesty...the castle has been breached...by ruffians!"

Eugene half-expected this to happen, but he didn't know it was going to happen this soon. He drew his sword. He joined the small legion of royal guards who'd been tasked with protecting him.

Soon enough he met the ruffians. They had no leader, per say. To be specific, they were more of a disorganized rabble than anything else. He guessed that someone had told them to come there. They wouldn't have gotten this far on their own. In any case, he had to stop them. He couldn't let them win. He wouldn't let them win.

He lead the guards in a charge through the crowd, injuring people left and right. They fell to the ground, with blood spurting from their arms and their sides. He didn't want to hurt them, but he had no choice in the matter. People were horrified. The others ran in terror. Just then, their 'leader' of sorts emerged: Varian.

"People, do not lose faith! We will win! As the leader of this revolution, I will not let a tyrannical king rule over you for any longer. You deserve to be free and make Corona great again!"

Eugene didn't know what Varian was saying. He shuttered, as he had sounded exactly like that not long before. He wished that he could have done things differently. As Varian raised his staff, acting like he was going to strike Eugene, he slammed it down on the ground instead. This activated secret hyperjets underneath the entire island of Corona. The island seemed like it was flying through the air and moving through the sky.

Like some of Varian's inventions, he hadn't accounted for everything and had missed some variables. Sometimes only so much can be done in a laboratory and experiments fail. One of the jets failed. The island began to fall at a rapid pace. Varian desperately pushed buttons on his staff. Nothing was working. The island hit the water so quickly, it caused reverberations.

More than that, the impact caused a huge tidal wave. It enveloped many of the structures and houses, completely obliterating them. People ran for their lives. But, it was too late. They were pulled into the water and drowned right then and there. Eugene saw this all happening in utter horror. There was little he could do, because all the royal guards had been pulled back to the castle.

As the island continued to be ravaged, more of the hyperjets failed, one by one. Combined with the reverberations, this caused the island to split in half! People clung on for dear life to their houses, their businesses, and everything else, but it was no use. Eugene excoriated Varian for this ridiculous plan. He couldn't do anything more than apologize. Even so, he blamed Eugene on some level.

He knew that even if he couldn't save anyone else, he could at least save Varian, despite how much he hated him now, after everything. He agreed. He wanted to leave before anyone else could say anything. He vowed to try and get help from nearby areas, so that at least some people would be saved. That was the least he could do.

As he fashioned a boat from some of the debris, some citizens called out to him. "Why are you abandoning us...King Eugene? Haven't you done enough already?" He sighed. He had wanted to help, but maybe these people were too pathetic to even give any assistance to. How could they treat him that way, the person who tried to stop the damn virus for spreading? What was wrong with them?

Varian felt very differently. He could sympathize with them much more than Eugene. He had even attempted a coup of the kingdom some time ago. He decided to respond to them.

"We are going to get help. We won't leave you here to die. This was my fault this whole thing happened. And I will make sure to build up Corona better than ever before...I guarantee it."

This appeared to satisfy the annoyed citizens. They had some respect for Varian, considering he has stood up to King Eugene, even leading a revolution of sorts against him. However, if they knew completely what he had done over the years...they may have felt differently about him.

As their makeshift boat left behind the ruins of what used to be Corona, Eugene sighed. He was almost secretly glad that Corona was gone. He saw it as a sort of revenge for these people not following precautions meant to limit the virus's spread and to selfishly complain about not having work.

Years ago, he might have not had such a privileged and elitist perspective. As it stood now, he would have preferred a strong leader, even one that demeaned others or spread lies and unfounded conspiracies. Such people existed in a universe some light years away. But, if they had existed in this universe, the citizens might have up and killed them with a guillotine.

Varian, again, understood the anger from the citizens, and their perspective. They were right to be angry for their work to be closed off by a lockdown imposed by King Eugene, but it was the responsibility of the government to help people get through this virus, and even support citizens working somewhere else in the meantime.

They did not need to throw up their hands and declare that everyone needed to 'get back to work' as some had done. Decisive action was what was needed. Surely his hair-brained plan wasn’t the way to go about it, but it was something more forceful than any of the half-hearted measures Eugene had put in place, partially in a failed effort to compromise with angry business people.

In the end, what happened to the people of Corona was up to them, and them alone. The likelihood Eugene and Varian would get support from neighboring kingdoms was unlikely, nor would the Bentanmaru return from its space journey, as it was too far away at that point. They would be on their own.