Rose studied tirelessly, determination controlling her entire being.

She didn't sacrifice her health though. She made sure that she ate and slept when her body told her to.

"Have you figured anything out yet?" Quirin asked one day as he sat with Rose on the couch as she allowed her mind to rest.

Rose hummed softly as she nuzzled into his chest. "Some stuff. There's a way to get to the Ever Realm through the book, but I haven't figured it out yet."

"I'm positive that you'll find all the answers, love. You are the smartest woman I know," Quirin said encouragingly as he rubbed her back.

"I hope you're right," Rose murmured as her eyes fluttered closed.

Quirin smiled to himself as he held his wife close to him.

He knew that if anyone could get to the Ever Realm, it was Rosamund. He had no doubts in his mind. He was excited for her, having no idea what the book would do to his family.

🌟

Rosamund stood up with Lucia and Quirin watched from the wall.

"This is gonna work," Rose breathed out as she held up the paper that held the translated portal incantation.

"We all ready?" Rosie looked at her husband and best friend.

"Ready," Quirin confirmed with a nod.

"Yep! All set!" Lucia gave a thumbs up.

Rose took a deep breath before she started to recite the incantation.

The book began to glow on the desk, going unnoticed by the three in the room.

"Is it working?" Quirin asked as he watched, a bit of worry growing in his tone.

"I'm not sure. A portal is supposed to open," Lucia replied as Rose started the incantation for a second time.

Rose continued to chant for a third time, determined for this to work.

After five tries, Rose slumped her shoulders in defeat.

"Hey, it's alright. We'll figure it out," Quirin said as he walked over, pulling her into a hug.

"I just don't understand what I'm doing wrong," Rose mumbled as she hugged Quirin back.

"There's gotta be an explanation," Quirin said, kissing Rose's head gently.

"You're right," Rose replied with a nod.

"I love you, Rosamund," Quirin spoke softly before kissing her lips.

Rose couldn't help but smile as she kissed him back. She pulled back and looked up into his eyes. "I love you too, Quirin."

Lucia chuckled lightly as she let them have their moment. She then walked over to Rose's desk.

"Well, we better-" Rose started but Lucia cut her off.

"Ulla, look at this," Lucia piped up as she waved her over.

"What the... it's glowing..." Rose spoke quietly as she touched the Codex Semper.

As soon as she opened the book,a bright glow shot through the room.

Quirin and Lucia shielded their eyes from the blinding light.

Once gone, Quirin blinked the spots out of his vision.

"Rose?" He looked around but the ginger was no where to be found. "Rose?!"

"Where did she go?" Lucia asked quickly before noticing that the Codex Semper was missing as well. "The book is gone too!"

"No, no! This wasn't supposed to be dangerous!" Quirin panicked as his hands trembled.

"There wasn't a portal. I don't know what happened. Maybe the book had a defense of some kind," Lucia tried to figure out.

Quirin fell to the floor as tears came pouring from his eyes. "No! She can't be gone! She can't be!"

🌟

Quirin paced the living room, tears streaming down his cheeks.

What was he supposed to tell Varian? What was he supposed to do without Rose?

Varian ran into the house with a bright smile on his face. "Daddy! Daddy! Look what I found!"

Quirin looked at his son who was holding up a fossil.

"Daddy?" Varian dropped his arms when he saw his dad was crying.

"Varian, sweetie. Come here," Quirin said as he sat on the couch.

Varian crawled up into his father's lap, looking at him intently.

He didn't want to lie to his son, but he felt it was too dangerous for him to know the truth. Yet, at least.

"Your mother went to Corona today," Quirin started as he wiped his tears, trying to stay strong for his son. "And some really bad guys got mommy."

"W-what?" The fossil tumbled out of Varian's hands as his little eyes went wide.

"Mommy's not here anymore, Varian. She's gone, sweetheart," Quirin explained as he pulled his son close to him.

"No! Liar! Mommy's okay! Mommy would never leave!" Varian cried out as he shook his head.

"I'm so sorry, Varian," Quirin cried as he clutched Varian tight.

Varian sobbed into his father's chest as he took in the news that his mother was dead.

💧

"So that's pretty much everything that happened," Aqua finished and Rapunzel grinned brightly.

"I knew I had the coolest sister in the world," Rapunzel said to which Eugene chuckled.

Lance was super intrigued by the whole story. "I can't believe we almost lost Dixie and Lloyd."

Eugene nudged his friend. "Really?"

"What?! I'm excited for their babies!" Lance defended himself.

"Not ready for children yet!" Aqua piped up. "If my opinion counts for anything."

"I'm not ready to go that far yet either," Varian added with a flushed face.

"That's a good thing," Frederic replied sternly.

"I agree," Eret said as he looked at Varian and Aqua.

"But wouldn't grandbabies be so cute?" Livli looked at her husband.

"Right? That's what I said," Arianna said and Livli laughed.

"All in favor of Varian and Aqua having a baby, raise your hand," Lance announced as he flung his hand up.

Everyone put their hand up.

Excuse me, everyone but Eret and Frederic put their hands up.

Both fathers had a glare set at Varian who's hand was up.

"I mean, in the future," Varian replied as he gulped nervously.

"I guess in the future is okay," Frederic grumbled. "But not until you're thirty! Is that a good age?"

"Oh, I think that's perfectly fine," Eret agreed with a nod.

"You two don't get a say," Livli brushed off Fred and Eret's rules.

"You can have children whenever you feel you're ready. But not until you're at least eighteen. I draw the line there," Arianna said and Aqua hummed.

"I don't think that'll be a problem, mom," Aqua replied to which Varian nodded.

"And I mean both of you. Not just Varian. You both have to be over eighteen," Arianna clarified.

"I think that'll be plenty of time. I don't really want kids right now. In the future definitely. But I just turned eighteen a few months ago and I don't think I'll be ready even when Aqua turns eighteen," Varian admitted as he looked at the former queen.

"Plus, we don't know how long itsgonna take us to get to the Ever Realm. Not to mention how long it'll take to get home," Aqua added and Varian nodded.

"Are you sure you want to go to the Ever Realm after all of that?" Frederic asked with worry. "I'm not telling you not to go, but I feel like maybe you shouldn't put too much stress on yourselves."

Aqua smiled at her father and nodded. "We know. Right now we aren't ready to go to the Ever Realm for... other reasons."

Varian nodded as well, knowing that it was his training that was holding them back.

"We are still researching things too. We are trying to learn as much as possible about the Ever Realm because we are going into unknown territory," Aquaria added as she held Varian's hand with a smile.

"Alright. As long as you both know what you're doing," Quirin spoke up.

"For the most part. Carmen has been helping us a lot," Varian said, looking at his father.

"We trust you," Arianna said with a smile. "We all know that you can do this."

Everyone around the table nodded with smiles on their faces.

🧪

Varian trudged up to Aquaria's room wearily and pushed open her door.

"Oh, hey, Var," Aqua greeted as she turned to look at him. "Are you okay?"

Varian mumbled out an unintelligible answer as he waddled over to her bed, passing out as soon as he flopped onto the soft mattress.

"Varian?" Aqua got up and saw that he was out cold.

She laughed lightly at how cute he looked.

Ruddiger looked up from his little ball on one of Aquaria's pillows.

Aqua moved Varian so he was properly lying on her bed before she tucked him in, pressing a soft kiss to his temple.

"He looks exhausted," Ruddiger spoke up and Aquaria looked over to the fluff ball on her pillow.

"Yeah. He had training with Eugene today. He really needs to rest and stop straining himself," Aqua replied as she sat down beside Varian, trailing her fingers through his soft dark locks.

"He's always working on his powers whenever you're not around. He doesn't sleep most nights," Ruddiger ratted on Varian.

Aquaria frowned as she looked down at her boyfriend. "He said that he's been sleeping at night."

"Well he was, until he started training at night," Ruddiger explained and Aqua sighed.

"He's putting too much pressure on himself. I know he thinks it's his fault that we aren't to the Ever Realm yet but it's not. Even if he had full control over his powers, I still haven't found Atlantis," Aqua said, looking back at Ruddiger.

"Can't you just ask your mom? Isn't she a mermaid?" Ruddiger suggested and Aqua thought about it.

"You're right. Why didn't I think of that before?" Aquaria's face pulled up into a smile. "You're a genius, Ruddiger!"

Ruddiger smiled and stretched out a bit. "Does this genius get an apple?"

Aqua laughed as she nodded, slipping off her bed. "Of course. Come on."

Ruddiger bounded over to her and she picked him up.

They went to the kitchen first for an apple before going to find Livli.

As Ruddiger happily munched on his juicy treat, Aqua knocked on her biological parents' door.

"Come in," Livli called from the other side of the door.

Aqua opened the door and looked at her mom who was reading a book.

"Oh, hello, dear. Do you need something?" Livli asked as she set the book down with a bookmark saving her place.

"Actually, yes. I was wondering if you were from Atlantis. I know it's sudden and weird but we need to go there," Aqua quickly tried to explain herself.

Livli just laughed a little and smiled. "It's alright, darling, and yes. I'm from Atlantis. My mother is Queen Aquata."

"Wait, really?" Aqua looked at her mother in awe.

"Yes. You were named after her, but with a little spin," Livli explained. "I haven't seen my mother since the forest fell."

"Well, can you take us there. To get to the Ever Realm we need something called the Queen's Pearl," Aqua said as she let Ruddiger crawl up onto her shoulders. "And I would also like to meet my grandmother."

"Of course we can go. Will Varian be joining us?" Livli asked with a smile, excited to see her family again.

"Yes, but he's sleeping right now. He just got done with combat training," Aqua replied to which Livli nodded.

"We can go in the morning. But make sure that your parents are okay with it first," Livli advised. "Is it okay if your father comes as well?"

"Of course! I'll go ask right now! Thanks, mom!" Aqua hugged Livli happily before bounding out of the room.

Livli giggled lightly as she watched her daughter leave.

💧

Aqua got the okay from Frederic and Arianna as well as Quirin so she started getting a bag together.

When Varian woke up, he watched Aquaria curiously.

"What are you doing?" He asked with confusion once he was a bit more awake.

"Oh, you're up! I'm packing. We're going on a little adventure tomorrow!" Aqua explained with a smile.

"Where to?" Varian asked as he sat up.

"Atlantis," Aqua said simply.

"You found it?" Varian's eyes widened, a smile crossing his lips.

"Not exactly. Ruddiger suggested I ask my mom. Turns out, my mom is the daughter of Queen Aquata. So, she's taking us tomorrow to see Queen Aquata," Aqua explained as she walked over to him.

"Oh, wow! Great thinking, bud! You really are the best!" Varian reached over and scritched Ruddiger's little head. "And that means you're royal on all sides of your family."

"Yes I'm royal, but you're being a royal pain in the butt!" Aqua grimaced at him.

"What do you mean?" Varian gave her a lopsided frown.

"It has come to my attention that someone has not been sleeping at night," Aqua replied as she crossed her arms over her chest. "Ruddiger told me that you've been training at night instead of sleeping."

"I retract my previous statement. You're the worst," Varian grumbled as he shot a glare at Ruddiger.

"You can't get mad at him. You should be sleeping at night. You need proper rest or you're going to hurt yourself in the long run," Aqua said as she looked at him with concern.

Varian slumped as he turned his gaze to his lap. "I know, but I need to get better. If I can't control my powers then we'll never get to the Ever Realm."

"It's gonna take time, Varian. You've already accomplished so much these past months. You have better control over your powers than I did when I started training," Aqua encouraged as she put a hand on his cheek gently.

"You were a child when you started," Varian pointed out.

"Beside the point. You're improving. That's what matters. We will get to the Ever Realm. I promise," Aqua said and he looked into her eyes.

"Okay," Varian murmured with a slight nod.

Aqua smiled and leaned forward, pressing a soft kiss to his lips which he happily returned.

When Aqua pulled away, she rested her forehead on his gently. "We're in this together."

Varian nodded with a smile. "Together."