The next day, the group follows the black rocks trail while chatting calmly with a few laughs. Cassandra's armor gleamed in the sunlight as they trekked onward, the rhythmic crunch of footsteps filling the air. Azule's vibrant blue hair swayed with each stride, and Varian's eyes scanned the surroundings curiously.

"So, Azule, any more hidden talents we should know about?" Varian quipped, his tone lighthearted.

Azule chuckled softly. "Aside from shapeshifting and my affinity for nature, I make a mean batch of herbal tea."

Cassandra smirked. "I'll keep that in mind if we need refreshments on this journey."

As they continued, Azule's gaze shifted to Cassandra's knightly attire. "You look quite impressive in that armor, Cassandra."

Cassandra grinned with a hint of mischief in her eyes. "I do, don't I? I'm still getting used to it, though. But I must say, it's practical."

Varian joined in with a chuckle. "And here I thought you couldn't get any more intimidating."

Cassandra nudged him playfully. "Don't worry, Var. I'll save the intimidation for when we encounter trouble."

Varian grinned back. "I'll hold you to that."

The group shared a few laughs, the camaraderie between them evident. As they walked, Azule pointed to a cluster of flowers. "Those are chamomiles. They have a soothing effect."

Varian raised an eyebrow. "So, if we're feeling stressed, we just... sniff the flowers?"

Azule laughed softly. "Not exactly. But their essence can be used in various ways to create calming potions or remedies."

Cassandra tilted her head, curiosity shining in her eyes. "Azule, I've never met someone quite like you."

Azule let out a hum of confusion.

"I'm curious. Other than your shapeshifting, what else can you do?"

Azule gave Cassandra a soft smile. "So glad you asked! Aside from my shapeshifting abilities, I can see the future in my dreams."

Cassandra raised an intrigued eyebrow. "Seeing the future in your dreams? That's quite the gift."

Varian's eyes widened with curiosity. "Really? Like, you have visions of what's going to happen?"

Cassandra glanced at him, a playful smirk tugging at her lips. "Easy, Varian. Don't start expecting her to predict your next invention's success."

Varian chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Right, right. But seriously, Azule, that's amazing. Have you had any predictions about us, maybe?"

Azule chuckled before giving him a mischievous grin. "Well, I see you being successful with your inventions." She gave his nose a playful boop, making him giggle.

"That's amazing!" Cassandra said. "How about me? What do you see me doing in the future?"

Azule's eyes shimmered with hidden meaning. "In the garden of time, you'll discover blossoms of power, petals of guardianship adorning your path."

Cassandra's brows furrowed as she tried to decipher Azule's cryptic words. "Blossoms of power and petals of guardianship... What does that even mean?"

Varian scratched his head, a perplexed expression on his face. "Yeah, I'm with Cass on this one. It sounds like something out of a riddle."

Azule's smile remained enigmatic. "Time tends to unveil its secrets when the moment is right. Just remember, the answers often lie within."

Cassandra exchanged a puzzled glance with Varian, her curiosity piqued but understanding eluding her. "Well, we'll find out when the time comes."

Varian nodded, a determined look in his eyes. "Until then, we'll be ready for whatever petals or blossoms start to show."

Hours later

As the sun began to dip below the horizon, casting a warm golden glow across the landscape, the trio found themselves seated around a makeshift campfire. The crackling of the flames provided a comforting backdrop to the evening's conversation. Cassandra, Varian, and Azule had been sharing stories of their past adventures, with Azule recounting a particularly captivating tale.

"Once, during my travels, I stumbled upon a hidden glade deep within the heart of a dense forest," Azule began, her voice soft yet filled with wonder. "The air was thick with an ancient magic, and the trees seemed to whisper secrets from ages long past."

Varian leaned forward, his eyes gleaming with interest. "Ancient magic? What kind of secrets were there?"

Azule smiled, her eyes distant as if she were reliving the memory. "Legends spoke of a mystical creature that guarded the clearing—a guardian spirit could reveal the truths hidden within one's heart. They said that if you were worthy, the guardian would allow you to gaze into its reflective waters, and at that moment, you would see your deepest desires, fears, and the path your heart truly desired."

Cassandra's lips curled into a half-smile. "Sounds like a place filled with enchantment and mystery."

"It was," Azule agreed. "And in that tranquil clearing, I saw things I had never seen before—visions of my past, my present, and what might lie ahead. The guardian's magic had a way of stripping away all pretense, revealing the core of who I truly was."

Varian leaned back, his expression contemplative. "To see your own heart laid bare... That sounds both incredible and frightening."

Azule nodded. "Indeed, Varian. It was a test of courage and honesty. To confront the parts of ourselves, which we often hide."

Just as the trio was in the spell of Azule's story, the crackling of leaves and twigs snapping disrupted their reverie. Their heads snapped toward the source of the noise, and their eyes landed on a young man with brown hair and blond tips who appeared out of the shadows. He looked frantic, his breaths coming in short gasps.

"Wait, please!" he called out urgently, his voice carrying a note of desperation.

Cassandra, Varian, and Azule exchanged wary glances before turning their attention to the stranger. Cassandra's hand instinctively moved closer to her non-existent weapon, and Varian shifted uneasily.

"What's going on?" Cassandra demanded, her voice steady but alert.

The young man's eyes darted between them, his gaze finally locking onto Cassandra's. "You have to follow me. It's important. There's something you need to see."

Azule tilted her head, her curiosity piqued. "And what might that be?"

The young man hesitated, his eyes a mix of determination and fear. "I can't explain here. It's better if I show you. Please, you must trust me."

Cassandra's brows furrowed, suspicion evident in her gaze. "Who are you?"

The young man's gaze shifted to the ground, his shoulders tense. "I can't tell you everything now, but my intentions are sincere. You'll understand when we get there."

Varian exchanged a glance with Azule, with his uncertainty mirrored in her expression. As one, the trio made a silent decision, their curiosity outweighing their caution.

Cassandra's hand dropped from her non-existent weapon, replaced by a firm nod. "Fine. We'll follow you. But make no mistake—if you're leading us to a trap, you won't like the consequences."

The young man's eyes met Cassandra's, determination flashing in his gaze. "I promise, this is no trap. Just... please, come with me."

As the young man turned to lead them away, Cassandra, Varian, and Azule shared a final glance before exchanging a nod of determination, following him into the depths of the unknown. Their steps echoed with uncertainty and anticipation, the weight of their shared destiny hanging in the air.

They were all running, following the frantic stranger whose energy seemed boundless, as if fueled by a relentless purpose.

"Sir, where are you taking us?!" Varian's voice carried between gasps, his breath coming in ragged bursts.

"You'll see!" The man's response was sharp, carrying the urgency of their situation. "Just keep going!"

Cassandra led the group at the front, her steps determined as she followed the man's lead. Azule was right behind her, her expression a mix of determination and frustration, while Varian trailed at the back, struggling to keep up.

"Jeez, does this man have some sort of device that keeps him going?!" Cassandra's voice was a mix of astonishment and exasperation as she shot a look over her shoulder at Varian.

"I don't know!" Azule shouted back, her voice mingling with the sound of their footsteps. "But it's certainly driving me crazy!"

As their run continued, Azule abruptly reached her limit. With a flash of blue light, she transformed into a horse, her form sleek and powerful. The sudden change caught Cassandra and Varian off guard, and before they knew it, they were on Azule's back.

"WOAH!" The two shouted in unison, the wind whipping past them as Azule galloped forward. Cassandra's arms tightened around Azule's neck, and Varian clung to Cassandra for dear life. The ground blurred beneath them, the journey becoming a wild ride they hadn't anticipated.

"Hey, Azule! Slow down a bit!" Cassandra called out, her voice a mix of exhilaration and concern.

Azule's equine ears flicked back toward Cassandra, and with a graceful slowing of her pace, she brought them to a steadier trot. The forest scenery around them became less blurry, allowing Cassandra and Varian to catch their breaths.

"Thanks," Varian managed to say between gasps, his grip on Cassandra loosening slightly.

Cassandra's heart was pounding, a mix of the intense sprint and the sudden transformation. "Okay, that was unexpected," she admitted with a breathless laugh.

Azule nickered softly, a sound that seemed a mix of both amusement and apology. She transformed back into her human form, stopping as they finally approached a cave entrance.

The stranger, who had been leading the way, stood at the mouth of the cave, a triumphant expression on his face. "We're here!"

Cassandra, Varian, and Azule exchanged a look of surprise and curiosity. They had followed this man through a frantic sprint and an unexpected ride, and now they stood at the entrance of a cave that held secrets.

As they stood at the entrance, their breaths gradually steadying, the young man—now known as Howard of Anne—gestured toward the depths within. "The crystal is just inside. It holds visions—of the past, the future, or the present. Touch it, and you'll witness what you seek."

Curiosity mingled with trepidation as Cassandra, Varian, and Azule exchanged glances before stepping forward, their feet echoing in the cavern's cool darkness. They followed Howard deeper into the cave until the faint glow of a massive crystal caught their attention.

Cassandra reached out hesitantly, her fingers brushing against the surface of the crystal. In an instant, a vivid scene unfolded before her, and her heart tightened with shock. She watched as Rapunzel, standing before the Moonstone, extended her hand toward the stone, her hair radiant with the promise of destiny.

But just as Rapunzel was about to grasp the stone, things took a turn. Cassandra—no, the fraud in Cassandra's form—suddenly thrust her arm forward, seizing the Moonstone for herself. A look of horror spread across both Rapunzel and Eugene's faces, Rapunzel's hair losing its glow.

"Cassandra?!" Rapunzel cried out, her voice laced with disbelief. "What are you doing?!"

As the Moonstone began to radiate with its raw power, the fraud's voice, a mimicry of Cassandra's, echoed in the chamber. "I'm fulfilling my destiny," she declared, her voice dripping with chilling confidence.

With a triumphant raise of the Moonstone, its energy unleashed an immense force that sent Rapunzel, Eugene, and Pascal flying backward across the bridge. The Moonstone's power proved overwhelming, cascading through the chamber as Cassandra struggled to control it. The walls trembled, the fabric of reality warping as the black rocks sprouted uncontrollably, engulfing the space.

The transformation of the Moonstone began to alter the fraud's appearance. Armor shattered and discarded, replaced by a dark blue and black outfit formed from the rocks that dominated her power. The energy engulfed her, lifting her into the air, her hair and eyes changing to a bright blue hue.

As the Moonstone's energy culminated in a final surge, Cassandra's scream of anguish echoed through the chamber, filling the space with her torment. The raw force carried her aloft, and as her transformation finished, the Moonstone came to a sudden halt. She descended gracefully to the ground, her laughter ringing—a mirthless echo of the young woman they had known.

"I tried to warn you, Rapunzel." Cassandra (or the fraud) took a step forward. "You need to be careful who you trust."

Cassandra's vision played out before them, the shocking scene unfurling with an eerie intensity. Once it finished, the trio stood in stunned silence. Cass's shock quickly twisted into seething anger. Her hands clenched at her sides as she struggled to find her voice.

"How could she?" Cassandra's voice cracked with raw emotion. "How could she manipulate them like that?! I swear, I'll kill her!!!" She slammed her fists on the crystal.

Howard stepped forward, his expression a mix of understanding and urgency. "I understand your feelings, Cassandra. But there's more you need to know."

Cassandra's gaze snapped to Howard as he continued, introducing himself and his purpose. As his words sank in, her anger transformed into a simmering determination. She turned to Varian and Azule, her voice unwavering.

"We need to get back to Corona—now," she declared, her resolve clear in her eyes. "We can't let that imposter succeed."

The four of them exchanged determined glances, nodding in agreement, before rushing out of the cave.

Their journey has just begun.