This is a sequel to my Frozen fic, As the Ice Burns. Slight AU, Corona is a major power instead of a single city-state.

King Frederic looked over his burning city. The Mjolgir had finally arrived, but even with his preparations, it had still not been enough. Tears began to drip down his noble features, and the origin was not of the smoke permeating the air. No matter the tears, Corona still burned. No help was coming. Ituse was too far, and Arendelle had failed them. Now it was his turn to fight. He spun on his heel and without a backward glance, entered his throne chamber. Despite preparations made, it was still chaos, generals and aides and servants all trying to make sense of the sudden attack, ordering troops this way and that, and there, at the center of it all stood his wife. Queen Arianna stood tall, issuing orders and listening to reports. By the sun, she was lovely. The generals caught sight of him as he entered the chamber, and they rushed towards him, a mass of colorful materiel and medals with questions pouring from their mouths. He held up a hand, face grave. They quieted immediately, if reluctantly.

"Order a general retreat to the Palace ring. Bring the civilians into the castle proper, and prepare for the last effort." Their eyes widened but none of them dared object. He gestured to a nearby aide. "Bring me armor and weapons." He strode through the chaos, trying to appear as collected as possible. We walked up to an officer facing away from him. He was dressed much plainer than the others, not even wearing a helmet. He placed a hand on his shoulder "Captain Fitzherbert!" The man jumped and turned hastily, his blue eyes widening in surprise to see the king standing behind him. He bobbed several hasty bows, his normally confident demeanor slipping-as it usually did-in the presence of his father-in-law. Frederic grabbed the young man by the shoulders, staring into his eyes, determination the only emotion he wished to show.

"My family must be kept safe. As king of Corona, I officially order you take your special forces and escort my daughter and grandson out of the city, and evacuate with all haste." Eugene straightened slowly, anxious expression melting away to reveal the face of a determined father. Frederic, with some difficulty, summoned a smile. "And if my son-in-law can make it away safely as well… a welcome bonus."

Eugene nodded briskly. "I will, your Majesty. Don't you doubt it." He stated with conviction.

"I love you, son. Tell your children stories about their grampy and grandma for me, will you?" Eugene's eyebrows went up as he caught his meaning. Frederic did not plan on surviving this night.

Eugene nodded slowly, his narrowed eyes starting to glisten. "I will, your-" He paused, and looked up, eyebrows drawn together in emotion. He looked back solidly into Frederic's eyes. "I will, Dad." Frederic could not hold back his own tears. He gathered Eugene into his arms.

"Now go, my son! May the sunrise follow in your footsteps." Eugene nodded, embraced Arianna who murmured something in his ear, and strode through the great double doors, without a backwards glance. Frederic sighed. He turned to see his servants approaching with his gilded plate armor and jeweled sword. He had not worn that armor in decades.

"No. Give me the common soldiers' armor. Men die the same, whether king or peasant. This time I will fight beside them, not above them. Make haste!" He shouted, and the servants scurried off with confused expressions. Frederic narrowed his eyes, forcing tears away. Whether or not he survived, he would make sure the Mjolgir would never forget the strength of the People of the Sun. He would make them remember.

"Are you sure of this course of action?" He turned to see Arianna next to him, expression subdued.

"As sure as the sunrise." He stated softly. He turned to face her. "I want you to leave as well, but-"

She interrupted, speaking softly, but leaving no room for argument. "No. I will never leave you."

He smiled, and put an arm around her. "And that is why I did not ask. You have a promise to keep."

She looked up into his eyes, resolve and pain both residing there. "I only pray that Rapunzel makes it away safely."

"I trust Eugene. He will defend her with his life. The same as I for you." They shared another second of being in another's arms, looking into the dark night, pocked with stars and rising sparks. Then they separated, to prepare for the end.

…

Eugene fought back tears as he ran down the hallway. The only parents that he had ever had… He gritted his teeth and forced those emotions down. Rapunzel. Flynnagin. He had a job to do. He turned down a hallway, not even noticing the finery that he had so anxiously coveted years before. He had been a lesser man, then. He found the right door, composed himself with a deep breath, then walked in.

The room was dark, with one corner lit by candlelight. The lights from the burning city gave the windows an orange pallor. In that corner sat a little boy, absent-mindedly playing with wooden soldiers. He looked up at Eugene's entrance, brown curls retreating to show his green eyes. At least he has my nose, Eugene thought wryly.

Flynn's face split with a wide smile. "Daddy!" The three-year-old stood shakily and ran into his father's outstretched arms. Eugene held him for long seconds, drinking in that wonderful feeling. Flynn wiggled and Eugene released him, holding him at arm's length. "Daddy, what are all the lights outside?"

"That… is a good question! When I figure it out, I will tell you. All right?" Flynn nodded, satisfied. For now. "Flynn, do you want to go on a trip?" His large green eyes widened, and he nodded enthusiastically. Eugene saw Rapunzel stand from her chair near the candlelight, closing her sketchbook, a small smile on her face. It still took some getting used to, being married to the most beautiful girl in the Seven Nations.

"Good! Because we are going, right now, on a trip. And you have to be on your very best behavior, understood?" Surprise crossed Rapunzel's face, but she remained silent, content to listen. Flynn nodded again, eyes fastened eagerly on his father's face. Eugene smiled. "That's my boy! Now, go gather your things, we have to leave soon."

Flynn cocked his head, and Eugene instantly knew that the next words out of the boy's mouth would be a question. "Is Uncle Hook coming?" He asked with wide eyes.

Eugene chuckled, considering the circumstances. "Yes! In fact, all of your uncles are coming! Now get to cleanin'." Flynn gasped in joy and ran to gather his toys. Eugene stood, facing Rapunzel. She smiled up at him, her wavy brown hair gracing her shoulders. Her leaf-colored eyes shone with love. For him. That also took getting used to. He swept her into his arms and kissed her. They enjoyed each other for a moment, then she leaned back, not leaving his embrace.

"He listens to you so well. How do you do it?"

He shrugged. "If I knew, I would use it more often, you see. Little does he know that daddy has no idea what he is doing."

She laughed at that, a soft sound. She pulled away, her smiled fading. "We are leaving?" She whispered.

"Yes. They breached the second wall. We are almost surrounded. The Ki-, I mean, father ordered me to get you and Flynn out of here as fast as possible. We will go to the secret dock."

She sighed, eyes lowering. "We don't have time to say goodbye, do we?" He shook his head, and she gave another shuddering breath, her arms clutching her sides. He reached out and pulled her close. A tear dropped on his arm. After a minute, she shook her head and looked up at him. He could see the sadness leaving, replaced by the determination. He knew that look well. It had been on her face when he had first seen her, in that lonely tower. The look fit her better, now.

"I'm all right. We leave…?"

"As soon as those buffoons wake up. As much as I'd like to, I'm not leaving without those luggers."

"Wa' was that, laddie? Somethin' about you needin' help?" A deep voice spoke from the dark end of the room. It sounded drowsy. Eugene smiled at Rapunzel, let her go and shouted,

"OI! RISE AND SHINE, MY LITTLE DUCKIES!" His shout was met with mumbles and groans, and Eugen thought he heard a single "shove off, cap." in there somewhere. The floor shook slightly as one, probably Vladimir, rolled to his other side. Eugene rolled his eyes, and shouted again, cupping his hands in front of his mouth. "DUCKLING BRIGADE, FORM RANKS! The princess and prince require your protection! What are ya gonna do about it, ya fat lards!?"

Eugene's ears were immediately assaulted with a cacophony of sound, the crashing of steel armor, the thuds of massive boots, and the various sounds of weapons being drawn. The floor rumbled as two dozen of the largest human beings Eugene knew leapt to their feet in a matter of seconds. They lit torches and stood at attention in a veritable line of intimidation, a solid wall of flexing muscle, gleaming steel, and proudly polished leather. These men had been the lowest of the low, cutthroats and thugs, always waiting for the next payout. Dreamless. Rapunzel had given them a reason to live. Now they were warriors, true men. Good men.

Hook spoke first. "Cap, you know waking us up like that is just asking for trouble right?"

The others rumbled their agreement with some chuckles breaking out, and Vincent stated with a barely maintained deadpan, "That voice of yours is positively screechy sometimes."

"That's what I'm relying on. And like any of yall's are any better?" Eugene shot back, and Killer replied with a glorious tenor note that filled the entire room, and with such volume that Eugene was sure that even the Mjolgir could hear it. It ended in rapturous vibrato, leaving behind a vaguely smug silence, only interrupted by Rapunzel and Flynn's quiet applause. Eugene scowled at him, and gestured to Gunter, who handed him a cast iron frying pan.

"All right, enough duckin' around! The Mjolgir have overrun the second wall, and the King is preparing for a final stand! He has ordered us to escort Princess Rapunzel and Lord Flynnigan to the North docks, to find safety at any cost! Now who's with me!?"

Nose grunted a laugh, his namesake dominating his features, adjusting his winged helm. "If we weren't with you, we wouldn't be here, now would we?"

Hook replied by shouted at the top of his lungs, raising his gleaming steel hook into the air. His beady eyes filled with emotion. "A chance to protect our Dreamgiver!? What do say to that, men!? Do we fight!?" The sound of their voices filled the room and hurt Eugenes ears, but he didn't let the moment pass. He cried out, raising his pan into the air.

"For Corona!"

"FOR CORONA!" The roar returned.

"For Lord Flynn!"

"FOR LORD FLYNN!" Another cheer, accompanied with the banging of weapons on shields.

"For Princess Rapunzel!"

"FOR OUR DREAMGIVER!" The roar increased, the rough men putting all their heart into those words. Rapunzel placed a hand on her breast, and smiled through her tears.

"For your noble and handsome Captain!" Silence fell. He sighed and lowered his pan with resignation, turning to his giggling wife who hid her mouth behind a hand.

"It was worth a try."