It was dark as the warm, humid air swirled around the palace. A figure ran on the roof under the cover of night. The cloaked individual snuck into the palace and ran to find the throne room.

A guard caught sight of the figure and gasped before shouting, "Stop! Intruder!"

King Frederic shot straight up in bed, Queen Arianna waking from her husband's sudden movement.

"Stay here," Frederic said to Arianna as he quickly ran out of the room, but she followed him anyways.

Soon the figure was cornered in the throne room and the king walked forward, sword at the ready.

"Reveal yourself! I order you, take off your hood!" Frederic demanded, but the figured merely set down a ball of cloth and then the cloak fell to the ground in a puddle of water.

Frederic was stunned, approaching the ball with caution.

"Sire, no! It could be dang-"

Frederic opened the ball of cloth and a baby girl looked up at him. She looked at him with wonder before she started to giggle.

"It's a baby..." Arianna went to his side and he looked at her.

"Arianna, I told you to-"

"Not now, darling," she brushed him off and picked up the infant.

"We shall take it to the orphanage in the morning," Frederic said and Arianna frowned.

"Why can we not take her in?" She asked her husband as she cradled the baby girl.

"We cannot replace Rapunzel," Frederic said as his heart ached at the mere thought of forgetting about their stolen daughter and replacing her.

"We will never replace Rapunzel, dear. However, I am sure when Rapunzel returns she'd love a sister," Arianna said, feeling that they were meant to keep the child. "Clearly whatever brought her here was enchanted. Maybe she's meant to be with us."

Frederic looked at the tiny girl and sighed softly, giving in. "Alright... we can take her in," he said and Arianna smiled brightly.

She pulled back the cloth a little more and saw a note.

'Dear who was chosen,
I am afraid we are stuck. The spirits have locked the enchanted forest and I'm not even sure the Nokk will save her. I wish for my daughter to be free. Her name is Aquaria. Her birthday is on the twelfth day of August. I have let the Nokk take her through the dark sea so she may not have to suffer the isolation we do. I do not know who you are, but the water spirit has chosen you. Never let her think she was abandoned. I love my daughter more than life and that is why I listened to the Nokk to set her free from the forest. Love her, care for her, and please keep her safe. If she has trouble sleeping, play the music box and sing her the lyrics. Thank you so much.
~Livli

"Aquaria," Arianna murmured and saw a familiar scarf and a music box with lyrics inside. "This is just like Iduna's scarf."

Frederic hummed and the little girl reached at him, giggling in delight.

"Well then, let's get her settled in and we can figure all of this out in the morning," he said as he carefully took the infant.

Arianna nodded with a smile before she walked with her husband and the child back to their room.

💧

Almost a year later, August twelfth, Aquaria was a year old. A festival was held and Arianna was out with the birthday girl when she ran into a familiar face.

"Ah, Quirin, Rosamund, nice to see you again and who is this?" Arianna saw a young boy, looking a little more than a year old, hiding behind Quirin's leg.

Quirin chuckled lightly and looked at the boy. "This is our son, Varian. We normally don't bring him with when we come to the kingdom, but we thought we'd bring him along today."

Aquaria looked at Varian and waved with a smile. He gave a small smile as he waved a little. Varian looked up at his mother and she smiled down at her son.

"Well, I'll see you at some other time, your majesty." Quirin smiled at the small princess.

"Oh, and happy birthday, princess," Rose said with a smile before she and Quirin bowed. They both left with Varian, leaving Aqua to watch them go.

"Come on, Aqua. Let's go find your father," Arianna smiled, but Aquaria pouted.

"Pway..." She reached after Quirin, Rosamund, and Varian which made Arianna giggle.

"I'll see if you can play with him later, sweetie," she said and kissed her head gently. Aquaria whimpered, but didn't cry.

Water from the fountain near them gathered and spilled out of the fountain, moving towards the two.

Suddenly, the water surrounded them and the guards tried to get to them.

"Your majesty! Are you okay!" The captain called with worry as they tried to get into the sphere of water.

"W-we're okay!" Arianna was trying not to panic. The crowds of people all started to come around, worried about their queen and the princess.

Frederic ran as soon as he heard the news and he tried desperately to get into the sphere. "Arianna! We are going to get you out!"

Arianna wasn't paying attention though as a horse of water materialized in the sphere and Aqua giggled. The horse nuzzled Aquaria and she cooed happily. "Siwit!"

"Spirit?" Arianna looked at Aquaria and then at the horse. "The Nokk... you brought her to us..."

The Nokk only huffed and then nuzzled Aquaria. The young girls eyes glowed blue and her body started glowing as well.

Arianna gasped and watched in awe as Aqua giggled, patting the Nokk's muzzle.

The Nokk melted into the sides of the sphere before the water sphere fell, but all the water absorbed into Aqua.

"Arianna! Aquaria!" Frederic immediately wrapped his arms around them, worried out of his mind.

"We're okay, my love. It was the Nokk from Aquaria's note," Arianna said softly. "I believe it is making sure she is okay."

"Well as long as you two are safe," Frederic said as he clutched them close.

"Howsie..."

"It's okay, Aqua. The horsie is alright," Arianna said with a smile and that seemed to comfort the young girl.

They went back to the palace for the party and Aquaria found Varian.

"Momma! Pway!" She pointed to the boy and Ariana giggled.

"Go play but make sure you stay in the palace."

Frederic frowned. "But-"

"She'll be fine, dear. The guards are doubled. Nothing will happen," Arianna assured him.

Aquaria waddled over to Varian, having just figured out how to walk a month prior.

"Hi!" She waved when she was next to Quirin, Rose, and Varian.

Quirin looked down before looking up at the king and queen, unsure if they knew the princess was away from them. Arianna looked at him with a smile and nodded, letting him know it was okay.

"Why don't you two go play," Rose said and Varian looked at Aqua shyly but nodded.

Quirin watched the two of them run off and he smiled. He knew that those two would be good friends.

💧

Aquaria only saw Varian once a year, her birthday. She played with him as much as she could on that single day, wishing they could play every day.

It wasn't until she was eight where she snuck out of the palace and ran to Old Corona.

"Varian!" She whisper called, not knowing where he lived. She was running around when she saw Quirin going inside a house.

Aquaria ran to that house and snuck around the back until she found a window. She looked through and saw Varian asleep in his bed. She opened the window and slipped into the room.

"Varian!" She hugged him and he was startled awake.

"Aquaria? What are you doing here? You shouldn't be in Old Corona!"

"I snuck out. I hate that we only see each other on my birthday and I really wanted to see you. You never come to the palace when your father comes and I miss you," Aqua said as she let go of him and sat on the bed.

"I miss you too, but the guards will be worried about you. What if something happens to you?" Varian looked at her with worry.

"The Nokk will protect me," Aqua said and Varian looked confused.

"Nokk?" Varian questioned curiously.

"A water spirit. I'm not from Corona. My parents believe I am from the old Northuldra tribe, but we don't know since they are trapped in the enchanted forest near Arendelle," she explained and Varian's eyes widened.

"So you're Northuldra? That's so cool!"

"Yeah, but that's not even the best part but you have to keep this a secret," Aqua said and he nodded. She closed her eyes and the water from the glass on his dresser flew out of the cup, circling her. She opened her eyes and smiled at Varian's face.

"Wow... this is amazing... you can control water?" Varian watched the water go back into his cup.

"Yes, though my parents want me to keep it a secret from the kingdom. I trust you though," Aqua smiled before she heard footsteps. She quickly hid under the covers and Varian laid over her and kept muttering stuff to make it look like he was talking in his sleep.

Quirin opened the door and smiled as he checked on his son. "Goodnight, son," he murmured before shutting the door.

Varian sat up and looked Aquaria with a smile.

"I should go. I'll try to sneak out again soon. Just keep your window unlocked," she said as she hugged him close.

He hugged her back with a smile before she left through the window, disappearing into the night.