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Elizabeth's POV:

"Ladies and Gentlemen, Lets show the Griffin just how we do things in Corona!" i heard Eugene announce in the throne room "It's time to get this party started!"

Which was filled with fog for some reason.

I hope they have a method of clearing it quicker than that.

"I'll hold it just that long" he said.

"No. now ay, Eugene!" Cass stepped up "Fog would make it impossible to see clearly enough to do my job"

"The fog machine does seem a bit unnecessary" Rapunzel said.

"And can be distracting when you don't have quick method of clearing it up" i said "Take it from someone who's worked with smoke bombs."

 "How long have you been standing there?" Eugene asked.

"Long enough" i said.

"Well, regardless" he turned back to Rapunzel "Blondie, i love you, and i don't want to point fingers, mostly because i just got mine manicured and i don't want to show anyone up, but if we're gonna talk about unnecessary, we should talk about the gift baskets you made"

We all looked to the table with several baskets lined up.

"Seriously, did you really have to paint a portrait for every guest?" Cass asked.

"Do you really need six guards at your checkpoint?" the princess responded.

Uh oh...

"Sorry.. uh, that was so rude.." she caught herself.

Well that could have ended badly.

"Ah, that's my girl, you can't even argue without being nice" Eugene told her.

"Yeah do you always have to be so... you?" 

"Well, it's better than always being callous."

And i think i jinxed it.

"I'm not callous, i am practical"

"Yeah, practically heartless!" Eugene chimed in.

I slowly backed out of the room.

later

I walked back towards the castle after picking up some extra arrows and alchemy gear from the market when i bumped into Rapunzel and the others again.

they were still fighting.

"Seems like our friends are going through a rough patch" i heard a voice behind me.

I jumped and turned to see Xavier, the local blacksmith.

Max and Pascal were also there.

"I've seen this many times" he said "They are the growing pains that all strong relationships must endure".

As he walked off, we followed behind him.

"Eventually they will learn to live with each other's flaws and appreciate their strengths, but that sort of thing takes time." he explained.

Where is this going?

"But, if you'd like to speed things along..." he bent down to grab something "This mood tonic may help to soften some of those flaws"

 "what?" 

"One drop for each of them is all it will take." he said.

"Xavier, this sort of thing is dangerous" i said.

"If used in the wrong hands, perhaps, just follow that rule, one drop, understand?"

Max and Pascal walked off with it.

Oh no...

later

"The Griffin had better appreciate the work we're putting into this banquet" Rapunzel said.

I shot a glare at the animals.

They did something...

"So in conclusion, Griffin" she practiced "Pittsford... is the pits"

The definitely did something....

"Wow that was super!" Cass cheered "Way to flip the script on the whole welcome thing! What do you think, Eugene?"

This is... unsettling...

"Me? Uh...oh...uh..." he hesitated "Uh, well, i mean this in the kindest way possible, but it seems the whole point of this banquet, is to, you know, impress the Griffin, and if that's the case then i might... um... consider saying something completely opposite of what you just said?" 

"Really?" Rapunzel scoffed "Grow a spine, Fitzherbert, i'm just calling it like it is..." 

"Uh oh! You sound upset!" Cass hugged her "Tickle fight!"

"Stop! Leave me alone!" 

Then two guards peaked in.

"Stan? Pete? Was there something you guys would like to contribute to this discussion?"

"Oh, sorry, your highness, you've been, all acting a little..."

I tried to signal for him to stop there but i don't think he caught it.

"Unusual lately..."

"Is that so? And just how are we acting unusual, Pinhead?"

"Well you, just called me 'Pinhead' for one.."

"So?!"

"Wait, wait a second, what is going on here? it's like.." she shook her head "We're the total opposite of who we are normally"

Oh good, they're catching on... this could either go really well, or horribly wrong....

"I have been feeling a little peppy"

"And i'm not my normal confident self...and i'm really sorry for that..."

"Can it! I gotta think!"

"Uh.. if it matters.. probably not... Max and Pascal were given a potion earlier" i said, causing them to stop backing out of the room.

They gave me a look of betrayal.

"Someone had to say it.." i whispered.

"Pascal! Maximus!" Rapunzel called to them "What did you two do? And don't try to cute squeak your way out of this cause this princess ain't buying it!"

Later

And we were back at Xavier's.

"What? I was trying to help them teach you a lesson" he explained to them "The tonic brings out the opposite of your defining characteristics"

"so that's why i'm less cheerful" Rapunzel said "Eugene's a wimp, and Cass-"

"Wee!"

We all looked to see her running around happily.

"Is acting like a hyper child?" i said.

"I don't understand it" Xavier said "The effect should have subsided by now"

Pascal held up the empty bottle.

Oh no...

"It was supposed to be one drop each! This much will take days to wear off!"

"So you two are saying you not only didn't listen to the warning that it would be dangerous, but you went against the instructions!?" i asked them.

They already seemed upset so i turned away.

"Oh! Than banquet is tonight!" Rapunzel yelled.

"You know what? I take responsibility for this" Eugene said "Wit, no, i'm sorry, i don't, responsibility terrifies me."

"Listen, i can concoct an elixir that will reverse your personalities back to normal" Xavier told them "but i'll need the oil from the tree leaf echo plant" 

"Isn't that all the way at the top of Mount Saison?" i asked "That's a two hour long trip".

Everyone looked over at me.

There was silence before i spoke.

"My boyfriend's an alchemist, you're surprised i know that?"

"Anyway, there's no time for us to go" Rapunzel said "Max! Pascal! You clowns got us into this mess, now you get us out of it."

Later

I watched from my window as the banquet was starting, no sign of Max and Pascal...

I noticed a carriage pulling up.

Oh no...

I ran downstairs.

If they aren't gonna get back soon, i may have to stall for time.

When i got downstairs, Eugene was just entering the banquet hall.

"Uh, ladies and gentlemen, let's get this piece- er, party started" he said, starting up the fog machine.

I don't want to cause a scene, i'll only step in if things get out of control.

The machine stopped "so um.. let me uh, start again... ladies and gent- ah!" 

And he flew across the room.

Oh boy...

"You know what!?" Rapunzel jumped over the table "I have had it with this phoney banquet!" 

And that's my que.

I tried to signal to her to calm down, preparing to run in if i had to.

"We're only doing this to be nice to you, Griffin" she completely ignored me "but you need us, we don't need you!"

"Rapunzel!" I tried to get her attention in a bit of a whisper yell.

"So why don't you suck up your pride and accept Corona's help?"

Well, so much for not making a scene...

The Griffin started getting red in the face so i had to finally step in.

"Uh, Princess, i know this is kinda an off day for you but you're causing a scene" i said with a nervous laugh, as i snuck up next to her.

"You stay out of this" she said.

Then the door flew open with Max and Pascal standing there proudly.

"Oh great, now you two decide to show up!" I yelled to them, my tone being somewhat sarcastic.

They ran over but Max tripped and the vial fell into the fog machine.

"No no no!" I ran to catch it but it had already emptied out.

I looked over at the animals, slightly panicked.

And all Max could think to do was give me a nervous smile.

I facepalmed.

Then... the machine decided to start working again.

And a purple fog filled the room.

"Do you two have any idea what you just did?!" I asked them.

The nervous smile just got wider.

I covered my nose and mouth as to not breath it in.

As the smoke cleared, Rapunzel spoke.

"I think i feel normal again." 

"And so do i" Eugene added.

"No one cares how you feel" Cass said.

"And so does she!" He laughed.

"Great! Yay! So um... we may still have a problem..." i said.

We all looked around and....

The room was.... uncomfortably quiet...

"Win 'em back, Blondie" 

"Yeah, do your thing, Raps"

"Thanks guys" Rapunzel sighed "ladies and gentlemen... have i got a funny story"

Then the queen started booing.

"What did i tell you guys!?" I said.

But...

That was just the beginning....

"The vapor reversed everyone's personalities"

"Corona's offer of partnership was a mistake" the king said "it's time to show the world the true power she weilds"

Rapunzel gasped.

"So it comes to this... war!"

I turned to look at Max and Pascal.

"Do you two see what you've started!?"

"Wait a minute, the counter elixir reversed everyone's personalities!?" Eugene asked.

They all glanced over at me.

"These two poured it into the fog machine and not everyone has the knowledge of this sort of thing or fast enough reflexes to cover their noses and mouths before breathing in strange purple fog"

Rapunzel ran to stop her father.

Which didn't work because withing minutes we were being dragged away.

In the dungeon

"This is all Max and Pascal's fault..." Cass said.

"No, this is our fault" Rapunzel corrected "We've been jerks to eachother and Max and Pascal were only trying to help"

"It doesn't really help though that they didn't listen to warnings" i said, under my breath, before speaking out loud "but they really were trying, which was really sweet of them"

"Look, guys we are not perfect, Cass, you could show a bit more compassion, and Eugene, a dose of humility now and then wouldn't hurt...and maybe i don't have to be so upbeat all the time and i should be more frank when i'm annoyed with things, my point is, you guys are my best friends, and even though there are things about us that annoy eachother I wouldn't trade them for anything."

They all started hugging, and i got pulled away from trying to collect moss and other stuff off the walls that i could maybe use in an experiment.

"Woah!" I laughed "okay but seriously guys, a warning would be nice, i almost dropped a test tube those things are made of glass"

"I think something Pigtails could work on is pulling herself away from worrying about experiments" Eugene joked.

"Yeah okay... maybe..." i said, putting the test tube back in my pocket.

"Well, one thing we all have in common is we don't quit, and last i checked, we had a war to stop" Rapunzel said.

"You heard her Eugene, pick that lock!" Cass said.

"On it" he opened the door.

He held up the guards key.

"Got it while getting arrested, sure that vapor may have turned upstairs into utter chaos but even in the darkest hour, a valient and skilled-"

Cass sighed and we both rolled our eyes as he continued.

"So, you're welcome, ladies" he finally finished.

To bad we were already out the door.

Back upstairs

We opened the door and...

The hall was still chaos.

"Eugene, charm the crowd to safety, Cass, handle the guards to clear a path, Ellie, see if you can maybe figure out a quick reversal to the vapor effects, i will go deal with my dad" 

As they all ran off, i searched my pockets for anything i could use.

Water which was melted snow from the blizzard.

Ashes from the tree that exploded into flames a few nights ago.

The stuff i just got from downstairs.

And a few things Varian gave me from his lab that i hold onto for emergencies.

I just don't know if they'd work for this kind of emergency.

Then i noticed the stuff still laying around.

Maybe something around here managed to absorb the vapor, i could then use it to make something similar enough to the elixir to reverse the effects.

I had to slip past a few people but i did eventually find something.

I then turned to the animals when i finished the solution.

"Look, i'm sorry for yelling at you guys but i can't test this on myself, i'm pretty sure it'll work but even if it does, there's no guarantee i'll be able to remember what to do with it if i test it on myself" i said.

Pascal stepped forward.

"Are you sure?"

He nodded.

I only gave him a drop and waited for the effects.

I really hope it works.

A small purple glow appeared for a second before he tried to run from me.

I grabbed him quick.

"Woah, easy little guy."

I walked up to Rapunzel who seemed to have fixed the king and handed Pascal to her.

"I'd suggest you cover your noses" i said, waiting for them to do so before pouring the solution into the fog machine.

The next morning

After the Griffin left, we stood on the docks.

"Well, that wasn't how i imagined things going" Eugene said. 

"I'm just glad i was able to find something to fix things, i wish i could have gotten to everyone though... i guess it's a good thing it wore off overnight for the people that had already left" i said "that would not have ended well otherwise...."

"You said it" Rapunzel said "it's terrifying to think something so small could have such an effect" 

"You never really know what to expect from this sort of thing" i said "it can be dangerous if it ends up in the wrong hands" 

"Think you might want to look into it further?" 

"I think i already know everything i need to know about this stuff" i said, dropping it into the sea "it's better if we don't leave it laying around where it could end up in the wrong hands"

"Good riddance" Cass scoffed.

Then we all went back to the castle.

Varian' POV(Meanwhile):

After i finished sending out the letter i started getting my stuff together. 

I'd prefer to get out of here before they get back.

As i was walking i noticed something wash up from the sea.

A small glass flacon with a few drops of purple liquid in it.

"Well" i went to pick it up "what do we have here?"