Chapter Text
"Raps, I h- have something I need to tell you. Can we talk in private?"
"Oh, okay" Rapunzel didn't know what to expect, but she saw urgency in Faith's eyes. She was willing to listen to her. Raps missed Cass so much; she was glad she was able to get closer to someone new.
As they were walking, suddenly Zhan Tiri took the opportunity and revealed Cass in front of everyone by taking her cloak away. The cape fell down and the true identity was uncovered.
“Cassandra?” Rapunzel asked with a surprised look on her face.
There was panic. Everyone was shocked. Cassandra's plan to be inconspicuous was ruined and everyone was scared of her. She was freaking out too. Rapunzel seemed so afraid of her for a moment, so she thought that Rapunzel wouldn't want her back anymore. That she won't accept the apology she wanted to say.
Guards immediately noticed the threat: "We have to protect the princess!" They ran towards Cass intending to stop her.
Cass quickly said to Raps: "Rapunzel listen, I-I can explain..." She didn’t want to hurt anyone.
Rapunzel saw terror in Cassandra's eyes, so she wanted to reach her and talk to her, but guards were coming from all sides. She shouted at the guards: “Stand down!” They didn’t listen.
Cass looked around, with fear in her eyes, finally realizing that guards were going after her. She wanted to avoid them, so she pushed blunt rocks towards them to keep the distance. But they weren’t stopping. They didn’t seem to give her another option than to fight, so she fought. Pushing more blunt rocks, trapping guards, so they wouldn’t be able to reach her. She was holding back. It wasn’t an attack, but protection from her perspective.
In the meantime, still not believing what's happening, Rapunzel went to reach Cass and managed to grab her hand. "Cass! Don't do this! It's not too late for us to make things right."
Cassandra stopped. She didn't want to do this; all she wanted to do was to apologize. Yet, with everything going on, it seemed impossible. She made herself vulnerable, thinking that this moment could be the last one to try it.
She struggled with it, but then with her shaky voice she started: "Rapunzel, I want to believe you, but..."
She was interrupted. Out of nowhere, something hit her, getting her off balance. She noticed Varian who most probably shot her from his bazooka. She started to feel the strong substance surrounding her. Robust as stone, maybe even more. The amber. It grew pretty quickly. Climbing up, not leaving any space for another movement. All she could do in that moment was to outstretch her hand towards Rapunzel. With terror in her eyes, she tried to reach her, but it was too late. Just within a few moments, her whole body was completely frozen in place. She couldn't move, not even breathe. Her vision was blurred by amber, but she could still see through.
Sh-she betrayed me! That's what went through her mind first. Maybe they were already prepared for her and just waited for the right moment when she was most vulnerable.
The panic was stronger than anger though. She was struggling to break free. Her body couldn't make any movement. She was trapped. Her only hope was the Moonstone laying on her chest. Trying to summon the power within, her calls for salvation were not heard. Something was wrong. The Moonstone wasn't reacting at all. It was horrifying. She felt completely helpless; her efforts were for nothing.
Being encased in the amber was painful and scary for Cassandra, the lack of air wasn't helping. Trying to breathe was useless, but something was preventing her from passing out.
All she could do was to be there, and watch the world outside. She saw Rapunzel. If anyone out there could break her free, it was her. As Rapunzel came closer, Cass saw terror in her eyes when she touched the external part of the amber. Even though she wasn't able to do anything, she saw that Rapunzel didn't mean for this to happen. Her expression confirmed it. Cassandra's anger disappeared. The important thing was to find a way out.
Then, Rapunzel turned and glared at Eugene, as if he was arguing with her. Cass couldn't hear the words properly, but she knew who was speaking. Rapunzel turned back toward Cass and let down her hair. Cassandra knew what was about to happen. This was bad.
No.
Hair was thrown around the amber.
Not this.
Cass knew exactly what had Rapunzel on her mind. She wanted to scream on her to not use that incantation, as it only caused pain so far. Yet, she couldn't. She was willing to stay there longer to find another solution, but it wasn't her call to make.
Rapunzel had already begun to sing the spell, her hair turning black. Before the incantation effect could be felt on the amber, something happened. Cass couldn't see exactly what changed, but there was panic outside. In a matter of seconds, everyone was running and her blurry vision noticed Rapunzel's hair making weird movements. Turning away from the amber. Not melting it. And then, Rapunzel turned away too...
What is happening? Did Rapunzel lose control just like that first time in the Great tree?
Seeing the ground becoming dark, people falling on their knees… It was all a sign of something really bad. And she couldn’t do anything to stop it. She saw that Eugene was nearest to Rapunzel. He was moving slowly closer to Raps, just like when she tried to stand or move in the effect of the decay incantation in the past. She remembered how horrible it felt, as if she was dying from the inside. Now, they all felt the same way. Eugene tried to snap her out of it.
Rapunzel outstretched her hand towards Eugene. Cass knew it was a bad sign, since as long as someone touched her in that state, it meant certain doom. She wanted to scream at Eugene to run away from her, but she couldn’t. All she could do was to watch. It was agonizing to see it right in front of her; what a simple touch could do to him.
In fact, Cass didn’t hate Eugene so much. She was just annoyed by him most of the time; but now, seeing him like this… she just couldn’t accept this. He deserved better. What was happening was a nightmare. Cass was filled with grief and terror, wanting to scream, fight, literally to do anything to stop this madness.
But something didn't make sense. Rapunzel hadn't moved in her trance like that in the Great Tree. She had just stood still, unlike now. She wouldn't move her hand and kill Eugene if she was still herself. Even under the spell, she's been able to snap out of it before. Not this time. This wasn't her anymore.
Soon, she saw others falling down. Everybody she ever knew, she ever cared for in this kingdom was affected by this deadly spell. Nobody was safe there. Everybody was dying. Her vision through the amber was blurry, so she was spared of the worst images at least.
Suddenly, Rapunzel turned to her again. Turning with an evil grin, she was headed towards her. Cass thought that this would be the end.
I’m completely helpless against her. If she won’t melt the amber, I won’t be able to do anything at all. This isn’t Rapunzel! What the hell happened to her?
She wanted to scream at the evil creature that was once her friend. In that moment, it dawned on her.
She’s possessed. It’s Zhan Tiri. The demon. She would be able to do that. That incantation probably made Rapunzel more vulnerable, so she used the opportunity. But what now? What can I do against her? I can’t move. I can’t protect anybody, not even myself. She’ll kill me.
Rapunzel stopped. She didn’t say anything and her expression remained blank, but her blackened hair continued to move as if the hair was still alive. Separate from her, but it did not try to touch the amber.
So, this is how it’ll end. She won’t get me out. Cass realized, and she had never felt so powerless in her life as she did right there.
Then, from behind the tent nearby, a small purple figure revealed herself and came closer to the amber. Nearby, so Cass would be able to see her, but still far enough from deadly Rapunzel’s hair. Her eyes began to glow purple and soon, the real demonic form of the sweet child Zhan Tiri showed up, changing and growing high enough to be sure everybody would see her true face before their deaths.
Cass immediately reacted. Oh my- damn, so this is who Zhan Tiri really is? Should have expected it from clues from the past, but it’s just… I was with that for the last few months? And took advice from? How could I have been so careless? She’ll destroy everyone because of me. Will she kill me once she’s done with them?
She didn't wait too long for the answer. Even though she couldn't hear properly through the amber, Zhan Tiri found a way to talk to her directly, through mind.
“Hello Cassandra, my dear, you’re finally seeing the real me. So, what is it like to fail completely? To see your world burn? To be denied by your own destiny? Your goal being refused? Being imprisoned unfairly, feeling completely helpless in fulfilling what had always been meant to be yours? I’ve been there. I know the feeling. It either destroys you or you’ll become stronger than ever before.”
Cass couldn’t answer, she didn’t even know how the demon was able to give her this speech. Her thoughts were all blurred with Zhan Tiri’s voice. She couldn’t focus on anything else. Feeling defeated with this hideous demon, she was filled with so much horror and guilt, but also rage. She didn’t know what she would do to her. With her whole world burning down as the demon spoke, she wanted nothing but to kill her. To take revenge for everyone she killed.
Suddenly, the enormous creature grabbed the whole amber with just one hand, which just intensified her terrific power. Taking amber closer to her, so Cass wouldn’t be able to focus on anything but her.
“Even though our paths may be different, we have something similar. We both wanted to achieve our goals but we both felt injustice as the world turned against us. In my life in imprisonment, I thought there was nothing I could do to be freed at first. But there is always a way. Before, of course, there is long suffering, but at least it’ll teach you to be stronger and unyielding. Or it’ll kill you. So, as my gift to you, for your help; I’ll teach you this lesson. I won’t kill you, but I won’t make this easy for you either.”
The demon moved with the amber from the castle courtyard, going further to the town of Corona and then leaving it completely. The whole Corona Island was covered in the dark shade of the decay spell. Cass realized that Zhan Tiri took her away so the decay incantation wouldn’t free her.
Then, on the near hill, the demon stopped and turned around. Showing Cassandra her destroyed kingdom for the last time. “See? I’ve accomplished my goal, succeeded, had my revenge and satisfaction.”
Cass, still not believing how this got so dark so quickly, was mourning internally. All was lost. Her kingdom, which was so remote to her, but yet so important; her friends who wanted to probably even help her and get her back from her dark path… She already missed everything, wanting to return back… and now this happened. The worst nightmare she didn’t even know that existed came true.
"You, on the other hand, are going the other direction. When I was firstly imprisoned, I thought I had no hope, so I want to show you what it’s really like to have nothing left to lose, what it’s like to have no hope of escaping," Zhan Tiri smiled. "Say goodbye to your vile kingdom."
Cassandra watched with horror as she was whisked away to the outskirts of Corona. She saw everything, from buildings collapsing to dust clouds spreading as the incantation destroyed the place she called home.
Cassandra was destroyed by everything; guilt, sadness, fear and anger. She wanted revenge, but it was impossible. She was thinking about what the demon said.
Would she throw me somewhere, so I won't be able to escape? That's her plan. She wants me to suffer. She's doing pretty great so far, but I can't stand the thought to be here any longer. With everything I've experienced today. I'd rather die than to live in the pain, without air, without a way of getting out or doing anything at all. I-I wanna die.
This horrific thought was the final decision she saw. With her limited options, this was the best one. To end this here and now. But how could she even say it when she couldn't speak? Zhan Tiri could talk to her, but she couldn't do the same thing. Then, she heard her again.
"You said your path was dark, but you saw where it ended. Is this what you saw, Cassandra?" she devilishly laughed.
Cass noticed the ground open up. The demon had it all planned out. She wanted to beg her to kill her, she wanted to scream, but all was in vain. There was nothing she could do.
As the demon held the amber closer to the hole, she spoke her last words: "I could never have done this without you."
That was the last thing she heard.
Then, she found herself falling in the amber. Falling several seconds, deep down to the darkness and soon, there was an impact. She was at the bottom of the cave. The only light from the top was soon covered in dirt. The demon erased all traces that she was down there.
It was over.
She lost. Lost her life, but she was still alive. That stupid amber didn't let her die, nor did the Moonstone. There was darkness everywhere, the only tiny light was from her stone. But why have a magical stone if it couldn’t get her out? What was the meaning of having any power if she was powerless with it?
The first few hours were pure torture. She remembered all those horrible things she's seen, Zhan Tiri's words echoed in her head. "I could never have done this without you." It was true, and the guilt grew much further.
All this darkness brought out the darkest memories, even from the past. Making the unbearable pain worse. She couldn't end it. She couldn't even cry. She was a wreck buried alive.
There were times when she tried to summon rocks again, just to try to do anything. The Moonstone failed her. Maybe that amber had an effect on its use. It was useless.
Days passed, maybe even weeks. She couldn't tell time as everything was constantly the same. There was only darkness and soon, her hope extinguished. She gave up.
This was worse than death, because she was still alive, but dead inside. Nothing mattered anymore. Cass could feel herself becoming a hollow shell of a once hopeful person, someone who struggled but at least had the will to live. Not anymore. Now, she truly had nothing left to lose.