The Knight Bride

Lady Elsa stared at herself in the floor length mirror, in awe of what she saw. She wore a magnificent violet gown, the massive skirt opened in the front, revealing legs encased in soft black leather trousers, freshly scrubbed knee-high black riding boots, and a string of diamonds burned around her throat with a matching tiara to boot. Her waist-length auburn hair was braided and pulled back into a soft bun. It was quite unconventional really, and not just because she was a knight in the Royal Guard of Escanor. The oddity came from the fact that she was getting married in her current ensemble.

"My Darling, you're a vision of loveliness." Prince Reynard, her fiancé gushed. His deep brown eyes twinkled with joy as he took in the sight of his beloved. He towered over her, his warm umber skin a contrast to her more olive complexion.

"Reynard! You're not supposed to see the bride before the wedding. It's bad luck remember?" Elsa gasped.

"Elsa, we're not exactly having a traditional wedding. I think we've already broken enough rules, my love. What's a few more?" Reynard teased.

Of course, he was referring to their courtship, which had been intriguing, to say the least. She remembered the first time she laid eyes on the prince. Her father, the decorated Sir Chauncey had introduced them during a visit to the castle. Hardly love at first sight. He'd teased her when Sir Chauncey was busy with his duties, but Elsa hadn't risen to the bait. She would never disappoint her father. After all, he'd raised her ever since he found her in the Forest of Echoes when she was naught but five years old. She'd been near death, but the esteemed Sir Chauncey had taken her home and tended her as if she were his own. He could've dumped her off at the local Monastery, but he didn't. From the moment they met Sir Chauncey and Elsa were bound as father and daughter. Today, he would be the one to give her away at the wedding.

Her relationship with Reynard developed at a much slower pace. He teased mercilessly for years to come and scoffed when he found out she was training to become a knight of the Royal Guard. His ridicule didn't stop until the day Elsa saved his life. She was only halfway through her training, and part of it was to guard the prince at special occasions. Prince Reynard and his father King William had gone into the Forest of Echoes to hunt. Elsa had been among those chosen to accompany father and son. The prince bit off a little more than he could chew trying to take down a wild boar on his own. In his arrogance the prince had charged in too soon, enraging the boar, and spooking his horse. Reynard had broken his arm in the fall, unable to draw his bow. Before the boar could skewer him with its sharp yellow tusks, Elsa's arrow pierced its skull. The beast dropped dead mere feet from the prince.

Reynard didn't have any snide remarks for her after that. In fact, he was downright contrite. While she set his arm, the once superior prince began to look at her in a different light. From that moment on he did his best to make amends, and get to know her. He'd steal away from his princely duties to observe her during training. Elsa didn't start paying attention until he presented her with a small bunch of blue Iris's on the day she was knighted. He followed her to the courtyard after the ceremony and offered up the flowers as congratulations. Elsa wouldn't have thought anything of it if they weren't her favorite flower or the fact that she saw dirt under his fingernails. The perfect Prince Reynard never had so much as a scuff on his boot. Elsa looked up unable to hide the shock on her face. He'd dug those flowers up himself. Reynard offered her a shy smile, still holding the flowers. With trembling hands she accepted the bouquet from the prince, her heart thundering in her chest.

Everything changed from that moment on. Their courtship began in secret due to their class differences. True she was the daughter of an esteemed knight of the Royal Guard, but he was the prince. Such a union would not be acceptable or so they thought. Their torrid affair began with nightly meetings where they would talk for hours. It was months before they shared their first kiss, a sweet and gentle mating of the lips with a hint of tongue. During these nightly excursions they would exchange gifts; a flower from him, a fresh apple from her, or sometimes nothing at all. This went on for a few years before Reynard's mother, Queen Victoria, caught them in a passionate embrace. The couple had gotten bolder, and began stealing kisses in empty corridors when able. Needless to say, the Queen of Escanor was outraged to find her son with his knight. Elsa had attempted to extract herself from Reynard's embrace, but he held her tight to him. Finding the courage in her heart, Elsa boldly confessed her love for the prince. It not only stunned him but his mother as well. He recovered quickly, telling her that he loved her too. She fully expected to lose her head for even putting her hands on the prince, but that wasn't the case. By some miracle, Queen Victoria and King William gave the couple their blessing.

What followed next was the engagement that shook the kingdom. While it wasn't the first time a royal married someone of a lower class it was still unusual. Continuing with the trend, Elsa and Reynard had thrown everything traditional out the window when planning their wedding. The ceremony would only include immediate family and a few members of the Royal Guard. The clothes they were to be married in represented who they were as a person. Elsa's gown was versatile as she was a knight. Reynard wore a bright red tunic, black trousers, sleek black riding boots, and a gold crown atop his head. The oddities continued from there, but it mattered not to the couple. As long as they were together that's all that mattered.

"I'm ready to be yours forever," Elsa said softly.

"Then what are we waiting for? Oh, I suppose I should allow your father to walk you down the aisle." Reynard chuckled.

"Yes, where is he?" Elsa asked.

"Waiting outside the door. He was a bit reluctant to let me in, but I think he's learned to just accept that we're not going to follow any sort of structure." Reynard grinned.

"And to think after all he's taught me, I tossed it out the window. Please, let me have a few moments with him then we will be out." Elsa pleaded.

"For you my love, anything," Reynard assured. He placed a tender kiss upon her hand before leaving her to her father. When Sir Chauncey entered he looked upon his daughter with the love of a father.

"You've grown up on me Ell. I loved you from the moment I held you in my arms. I'm proud to be your father. I know you'll thrive with Prince Reynard. Just promise you won't forget me." Sir Chauncey said. His voice was rough with unshed tears, causing Elsa to soften.

"Oh Papa, I could never forget you! I love you so! You gave me life. I hope that I can be as noble as you one day." Elsa proclaimed proudly.

"You already are, and I couldn't be more proud. Come Lady Elsa, it's time to marry your prince."

Elsa linked her arm through her father's, and together they proceeded to the chapel where the sound of organ music could be heard. When they stepped through the open doors, her eyes fell on Reynard. A bright smile lit her face; their life together was about to begin. Before she reached the dais where her beloved stood, all hell broke loose. There was a gigantic crash followed by shards of stained glass and chunks of stone raining from above. Elsa ran forward, fearing for her prince. Sir Chauncey tackled her from behind, covering her with his body.

"No! Let me go, Papa!" Elsa shrieked. She struggled beneath her father while a sapphire blue dragon dove into the chapel. The beast headed straight for Reynard much to her horror. Stuck beneath Sir Chauncey's dead weight, Elsa had to watch as the dragon snatched Reynard up in its claws, and flew up out of the chapel. When her father let her go she got to her feet and ran towards the spot where her fiancé had been standing moments before. She looked up only to see an empty blue sky above. The dragon was gone, along with it Reynard.

"Where did that thing come from?" Queen Victoria demanded.

"We must send out a patrol to retrieve Reynard!" King William commanded.

"No! I'll go!" Elsa exclaimed.

"Lady Elsa, you may be Reynard's fiancée but you will not be enough to get him back." King William said firmly.

"Yes, I am! I'm the only one who needs to go!" Elsa argued.

"Why is that?" Queen Victoria asked.

"Because I have hope," Elsa replied confidently.

An explosion of colors from above drew everyone's attention. A Phoenix made up of a multitude of colors burst out of thin air. It let out a cry before diving towards Elsa who was frozen in place. The massive bird flew over her instead of snapping her in half. Its wings barely brushed against her skin. She felt a slight tingling sensation that quickly turned to a burn. Elsa let out a cry of against the pain but kept her eyes on the Phoenix. It spun around, so it was facing her once more. Their gazes locked for a brief moment before the bird flew up through the hole in the roof. The Phoenix left a trail of colorful sparkles in its wake. As it vanished it let out one more cry before all went silent. Elsa finally let out a tiny whimper as the burning spread to her left wrist. She made a move to dig at her sleeve but found it smoking. The material on her sleeve had been burned away. What lay beneath was a colorful tattoo. It was a feather the color of the Phoenix. By this time the king, queen, and her father had rushed to her side.

"The Rainbow Phoenix! It marked you!" Queen Victoria exclaimed.

"Only a person with true hope can be marked." King William admitted.

"Then my daughter is the one who must rescue Reynard." Sir Chauncey determined.

"I need my sword and some rations," Elsa said firmly.

"What about your clothes? You can't possibly wear such a beautiful gown." Queen Victoria scolded.

"Obviously not. This bloody corset is tight enough." Elsa huffed. She began unlacing the dreadful thing as she walked back down the aisle. The horrified cries of her father and Reynard's parents were ignored as she hurried away.

"For God's sake Elsa! You'll be indecent!" Queen Victoria exclaimed outraged.

"I don't give a damn! I need my sword, rations, and a damned tunic! It's going to take forever to get out of this thing." Elsa growled.

"I'm going for the sword and tunic." Sir Chauncey assured. He ran out ahead of her, hollering at anyone in his way. King William was quick to vanish too, muttering about provisions.

Queen Victoria was unfortunately left to help the knight unlace her corsets out in the open. Elsa stopped for no one, so the queen had to jog to keep up with her, whilst struggling with the task at hand. They'd barely finished with the laces when Sir Chauncey and King William returned. Without so much as a shudder, Elsa pulled her arms out of the sleeves and shoved the dress down to her waist. She ignored the shouts of horror, stepping out of the dress before grabbing a blue tunic from her father.

"My Dear, please cover up!" Queen Victoria pleaded.

"I am covered. No one can see my breasts." Elsa huffed.

"Breast bindings are not suitable coverage for a lady!" Sir Chauncey exclaimed. Rolling her eyes, Elsa slipped into the long sleeved tunic, itching to get moving. Once assured of her coverage, Sir Chauncey handed over her sword. It was still attached to the thick brown leather belt she wore when on duty. The weight of her sword was comforting. Elsa took a worn leather satchel filled with provisions from King William.

"I'm taking Star Gazer." Elsa informed.

"I sent a stable hand to get her saddled." Sir Chauncey informed.

"Thank you, Father. I promise your Majesties. I will bring Prince Reynard back." Elsa said.

"Be careful." King William warned. The female knight nodded quietly before hurrying away towards the stables.

"Sir Chauncey, does she know the truth about the Rainbow Phoenix?" Queen Victoria asked hesitantly.

"No, she does not." He replied.

"Perhaps you should have." King William added.

"The truth will come out soon enough." Sir Chauncey sighed.

Elsa rode off at a gallop on a sleek black mare with a silver blaze on her forehead. Ironically, the name Star Gazer came from the fact that the horse tended to look up at the stars at night. She didn't listen to anyone other than Elsa. Perhaps it was because unlike the other knights or stable hands she never tried to force Star Gazer away from the stars. Instead, she stood with the mare to watch them too. Now they were inseparable. There was only one place where dragons were known to dwell, the Mountains of Ferromore. Dragons loved nesting in caves where they could store their treasure. The high altitudes kept most people from venturing near the dragon domains. The few who dared never returned. Despite this grim knowledge, Elsa wasn't afraid. What she feared was losing the love of her life. The mountains were more than a day's ride from the Kingdom of Escanor. They would stop to rest, but they couldn't afford to lose much more time. The dragon couldn't have eaten Reynard because of how the attack took place. The beast had crashed through the ceiling with a choice of several people to devour. Instead, it grabbed Reynard and took off. Something told Elsa that he'd been a target of some kind. The question was why?

No matter, she'd find out soon enough. The pair continued to ride through the Redwood Forest, known for thieves hiding amongst the trees, waiting to jump an unsuspecting victim. Elsa was not one of them. She kept her sword drawn while Star Gazer flew over the path cut by many years of wagons and feet that had crossed over it. If there were any thieves watching from the shadows, no one tried to stop Elsa. Whether it was the sword, the raging mare, or the look in her eye was left up to interpretation. They didn't make take their first break until they'd left the forest far behind. Star Gazer was beaded with sweat, panting heavily. Elsa led the mare to a nearby stream where she could drink her fill. In the meantime, she brushed Star Gazer's sleek coat. She allowed the horse graze amongst the grasses, even offering her an apple from her provisions. After all, she wouldn't be this far out without her loyal companion. When they finally resumed their journey the sun was blazing overhead. The wind whipping past helped to keep the pair cool despite the heat.

The sun reminded her of the burning that had been caused by the Rainbow Phoenix. Glancing down at her wrist, she saw the feather tattoo was glowing in the sunlight. She tried not to let her panic show because if Star Gazer sensed her unease she too might be spooked. What was even more unnerving was that the edges of the tattoo looked like they were wiggling. It was as if a bug was trying to crawl out of her skin. Stifling a shiver, Elsa looked back at the trail trying to ignore the unnatural emblem. She recalled what King William said about the Rainbow Phoenix marking a person with hope. The creature itself was rare as no one had ever claimed to see it. Elsa knew that she wasn't the only one in the world to have hope. Others must have as well, so why was she so special? Would the Phoenix help her save Reynard from a terrible fate? If that were so then why did it fly away after leaving her with a symbol of its existence? Some help.

Those thoughts plagued her long after the sun went down, and the air chilled. She made sure to keep Star Gazer at a steady pace to keep her from tiring so quickly. It reduced the number of stops they needed to make along the way. It was sheer determination and will that kept the pair going for as long as they did without tiring. As dawn peeked over the edges of the horizon, the mountains of Ferromore loomed in the distance. They were very near and would reach them before night fell again. A flash of light at the corner of her eye caught her attention. Turning her head in the direction she was caught off guard when the Rainbow Phoenix drew down upon her. Its talons muckled onto her shoulders and ripped her off Star Gazer. The sleek mare whinnied in terror and bolted, leaving Elsa at the mercy of the colorful bird. She was thrown to the ground, knocking the wind out of her. Gasping for breath she saw the Rainbow Phoenix hovering above her menacingly. What the hell!

First, the bird gives her a strange tattoo after her fiancé is abducted, and now it attacks her out of nowhere. Now she was beginning to wish that she knew more about the lore behind this beast. Fighting for air, she struggled to pull her sword from its scabbard. The Phoenix dove towards her, its sharp beak ready to pierce. The blade came loose just in time to stop the beast. The bird screeched in her ear before going in for another attack. With barely a second to spare, the knight rolled out of the way. Leaping to her feet, she fought to avoid another snap from the beak.

"Why didn't you just kill me back in Escanor instead of giving me this stupid tattoo? Prince Reynard needs me, now get out of my way!" Elsa exclaimed.

"You are bold to speak to me like that." A lilting voice informed. The phoenix's beak didn't move, but the words came from the bird. Elsa's mouth dropped open, and the sword dropped to her side.

"What the hell are you?" Elsa asked horrified.

"I am Chrysalis, the Rainbow Phoenix. You are Elsa, daughter of Sir Chauncey and fiancée of the dashing Prince Reynard. You're wasting your time you know?" the Phoenix replied.

"Why is that?"

"Prince Reynard is no longer among the living."

Those very words should've stopped her heart, but it only served to anger the knight. She glared angrily at the Rainbow Phoenix. Mythical or not, the beast was a pain in the ass.

"You're a liar!"

"You dare question the Rainbow Phoenix!" The glowing bird ignited, colorful flames surrounding its entire body but doing it no harm. It was furious for the blatant disrespect Elsa was showing.

"I don't care who you are! Prince Reynard is alive, and until I see otherwise I have hope!" Elsa shot back. The light emitting from the tattoo on Elsa's wrist suddenly overshadowed the light from the phoenix flames. There was an anguished cry from Chrysalis then there was nothing. The light vanished as quickly as it had come, leaving nothing in its wake. The Rainbow Phoenix was gone. Elsa looked down at her tattoo unnerved. She wasn't sure what had happened, but it looked like the tattoo had been the creature's own downfall.

Getting to her feet, Elsa stowed the sword in its scabbard before continuing on. There was nothing else she could do. Star Gazer had run off in a panic, but Elsa didn't dare look for her. Regardless of what she said she didn't think her time to save the prince was limitless. At least the mare had escaped the wrath of the Phoenix. It was going to take longer to get to the mountains without Star Gazer. She might not even get there before nightfall. Set in her ways, Elsa kept moving forward. Her journey was agonizingly slow, but she couldn't very well sprint to the mountains. There would be no strength left to fight the dragon. With unwitting determination, Elsa plodded across rough terrain. The grasslands she'd been following petered out into a barren wasteland with craggy rocks and scraps of yellow weeds. She nearly rolled an ankle in a hole covered by brush. It was ridiculous! If not for that awful Phoenix, she wouldn't have lost Star Gazer.

"The least you could've done was bring me back my horse!" Elsa shouted. She didn't expect a response, only wanted to voice her frustrations. The bird's shrieking startled her, drawing her attention to the sky. The Phoenix was back and heading straight for her.

"If you're coming back then you're giving me a ride to the mountains! This is your fault anyway!"

Elsa stood her ground, glaring at the rainbow-colored abomination. As a second thought, she lifted up her arm, showing her tattoo. Chrysalis slowed to a stop in front of her, almost wary of the marking.

"You are determined I see. I will take you to the mountains on one condition. You listen to what I have to say first." Chrysalis offered.

"Deal." Elsa agreed.

"You have no memories of your life before Sir Chauncey found you. Haven't you ever wondered why that is?" Chrysalis asked.

"No. My father found me, and that's all that matters. I don't care where I came from." Elsa replied.

"You don't care? What about me? Aren't you the least bit curious about why I marked you, and why I'm following you?" Chrysalis questioned. She tilted her head curiously, waiting for Elsa.

"That would be nice to know," Elsa said sarcastically.

"I'm going to ignore that. You were born to a noble family, a disappointment because you were female. The abuse you endured was wiped from your mind. Your birth parents paid to have to you kidnapped and killed. They wanted it to look like an accident so they could be rid of you without trouble. In a way, it worked because you never returned, but neither did your supposed killer. What happened to him you may ask? He paid with his life for trying to harm an innocent soul. You were five years old when this occurred. Your memories were wiped, but the hope you gained remained. It was I who rescued you from certain death." Chrysalis explained.

"What? You're telling me that I was a noble sentenced to die because I was born a girl? You saved me, but you wiped memories except for hope. Why would you do that? What makes me so special?" Elsa demanded.

"Even when you were facing death you had hope that you would survive. It was that hope that called me to you. We've met before Elsa even if you can't remember." Chrysalis answered.

"Why take my memories?" Elsa asked frustrated.

"I gave you the chance to start over without the pain of your past to haunt you. Haven't you lived a better life since Sir Chauncey found you? Knighted Lady Elsa, the first female in the Royal Guard. After a rough start, you fell in love with Prince Reynard. You had everything you wanted." Chrysalis informed.

"Once I save Reynard then I'll have it all again." Elsa hissed.

"I told you that he's dead. The only thing you'll accomplish is angering that dragon." Chrysalis huffed.

"Screw you! Wait a minute! You showed up after that dragon took Reynard, and gave me this feather. Why did a dragon want Reynard? What did you have to do with this?" Elsa asked coldly.

"Do you want to save your prince?" Chrysalis shot back. Elsa was suspicious of the Phoenix, but Chrysalis could get her to Reynard. Growling the knight leaped onto the bird's back, taking hold of the bright feathers.

"Let's go!" Elsa exclaimed.

"As you wish," Chrysalis replied.

The moment they were in the air Elsa noticed that her tattoo was beginning to glow again. She just hoped it wouldn't drive her new…ally away again. However, this time it appeared that Chrysalis wasn't bothered by the tattoo. Shaking away the thoughts Elsa refocused on the main objective. The Ferromore Mountains came up fast, but she was ready. Drawing her sword, the knight searched the rocky landscape below for any sign of her beloved.

"God, where are they? How can a dragon hide out here?"

"What does your heart say?"

"My heart?"

"Yes, if you truly have hope then you should be able to pinpoint his location."

Baffled but willing to comply Elsa closed her eyes to search her heart. She felt the fluttering pulse of hope, but with it came something stronger. It was love, pulling her towards Reynard. Gasping, Elsa pointed in a specific direction.

"He's in there!" She'd pointed to a large opening in the rock face. Chrysalis changed direction, so she was flying towards the cave. This was it! Elsa's heart thundered, the blood roared in her ears, and she itched to slay the dragon.

"We will need light. Do not panic. I will light up my wings with fire. It will not burn you I promise."

"Ok. Let's do it!" Even though she knew it was coming it was still a bit of a shock for Chrysalis to burst into flames beneath her. The walls of the cave lit up with rainbow lights. At the end of the cave was a treasure trove of gold. Sitting on top of it was the dragon that had taken Reynard. The only problem was she didn't seem her fiancé anywhere. The beast let out an angry roar, followed by a stream of fire. Chrysalis flew off to the side, avoiding the dragon's breath.

"Do you want to deal with the dragon or find your prince?" Chrysalis demanded. She took another sharp turn, nearly throwing Elsa from her back.

"Please find Reynard! I'll deal with the dragon." Without warning, the knight threw herself off the Phoenix onto the mountain of gold. She landed feet from the beast with her sword drawn. Charging towards the dragon, Elsa slipped across gold coins. Another blast of fire came at her, leaving her little time to throw herself down the hill of gold. Something sharp dug into her leg causing her to cry out, but she kept moving.

"Why did you take Reynard? What did he do to you?" Elsa shouted. The dragon roared in response. More than a little annoyed she bent down to grab a handful of gold. Out of sheer frustration, she threw it, only a few of the pieces striking the intended target. Lashing out, the dragon snapped at her. Elsa didn't budge, keeping her sword up. He rushed at her, razor-sharp teeth glistening in the firelight. Prepared to die Elsa snapped one last thing, "I'll never lose hope! No matter what you do I won't give up!" The dragon stopped inches from her. She could feel the heat of his rancid breath on her face.

"You passed the test." He said roughly.

"Two things! One, you can talk! Two, what test?" Elsa exclaimed.

"I was ordered not to talk until you passed. As for the test…"

"It was my doing," Chrysalis called out.

Of course! Elsa turned her head towards the voice, eyes blazing with fury. Lifting her sword up, she started towards the flaming rainbow menace.

"Elsa, my love!" Reynard's voice cut through her rage. Riding on the back of Chrysalis was her beloved Prince Reynard. Sword slipping through her fingers, Elsa let out a cry of relief. She rushed forward as the phoenix flew towards them. Before she even had time to touch down, Reynard was leaping off her back. Elsa ran headlong into him, sending them both crashing to the ground. She kissed him sloppily, her hands running over his body. She wanted to memorize him like this, alive and well.

"I love you so much, Reynard!" Elsa cried. Tears had begun to stream down her face, overwhelmed with joy.

"Why am I not surprised that I end up the damsel in distress while you're the white knight riding in to save me?" Reynard laughed.

"Of course! What else would it be?" Elsa asked cheekily. She kissed him over and over again, very aware of the fact that two mythical beasts were watching. They had every right to revel in this reunion. Reynard began to get a little frisky, his hands finding their way to her ass. Elsa gasped in shock but giggled in response.

Chrysalis cleared her throat drawing their attention away. Reynard seemed slightly annoyed, but Elsa was pissed. She glared at the rainbow phoenix as the couple got to their feet.

"It looks like your life turned out all right after all," Chrysalis said.

"No thanks to you! What the hell was the point of this?" Elsa exploded.

"To see if you were ready to fully accept what it means to be chosen by the Rainbow Phoenix," Chrysalis replied.

"What does that mean?" Reynard asked.

"Apparently I was born to a noble family who tried to have me killed because I was a female. Chrysalis here saved me, erased my memories, and allowed me to be found by my father. This also culminates with some ridiculous test, which I still don't have an answer to." Elsa explained.

"Once you've been touched you'll never lose your hope. That feather is a symbol of that. Lady Elsa, do you want your memories back?" Chrysalis asked.

"No, I'm happy with my life. Sir Chauncey is and always will be my father. I don't need to remember my life before that. It's as you said, my life began with my father. I have hope, love, and family. That's all I need." Elsa said confidently.

"Then so it shall be. You've chosen your path." Chrysalis replied. Elsa opened her mouth to say more, but she was interrupted when her wrist began to heat up. It didn't hurt this time, but it drew her attention nonetheless. The tattoo was glowing and rippling again. Without warning colored ribbons shot up from the feather on her wrist, coiling around her body. Elsa felt herself being lifted into the air as the ribbons hugged her. They glowed like her tattoo, the colors blending.

"Elsa, are you all right?" Reynard exclaimed fearfully.

"I don't know." Elsa murmured. Chrysalis was lit like a beacon in front of them, her light rivaling Elsa's. Closing her eyes, the knight allowed the warmth to engulf her. What she couldn't see was the explosion of color from both she and Chrysalis that burst out in a wave of rainbow streamers. She heard Reynard gasp as she lowered back to the floor. The first thing she saw was her beloved staring at her with his mouth hanging open. She hadn't seen that face since the day she rescued him from the boar.

"Lady Elsa, you're memories of the past are gone. Today you begin life as the woman you were meant to be, the Phoenix Knight." Chrysalis said softly. Looking down at herself, Elsa realized that her outfit had changed.

She wore a long sleeve black tunic with a silver chest plate over the top. Elegant feathers were engraved in the metal, giving the illusion of the Phoenix. All the colors of the rainbow were blended in the lines of the designs on the armor. On her feet were silver boots with the same feather engravings. At her waist was her sword, but the hilt was now rainbow colored.

"What is a Phoenix Knight?" Elsa sighed. After everything that had happened since Reynard had been kidnapped she was more than ready for this to end. Hell, she still had to find Star Gazer before they could head back home.

"Elsa, you will soon be wed to the man of your dreams. You will become royalty, a figure people will look up to. You can bring hope to others. When you go into battle the armor you are wearing will appear on your body. You have the power to resolve these battles, preventing excessive bloodshed." Chrysalis explained.

"How can I prevent battles with hope?" Elsa asked confused.

"With actions. When you first met Prince Reynard, did he not scorn you for being a female knight?" Chrysalis asked.

"I had my comeuppance! Elsa proved that she was more capable than I when she saved my life!" Reynard exclaimed.

"Exactly. You don't need to defend yourself to others, Elsa. It is what you do that convinces people of your capability." Chrysalis said pleased.

"You speak as if I'm going to retain my duties as a knight." Elsa pointed out.

"Don't play coy with me, Elsa. I know you remember? You enjoy being a knight, and becoming a princess will not stop that." Chrysalis informed.

"My love, being a knight is who you are. I would never ask you to give up what brings you so much joy. I love you Elsa, and I would never ask you to be less than you are. I'm proud that you chose me to be your husband. Your life isn't relegated to a crown, my love. Whatever you choose I will support you." Reynard explained lovingly.

"You think I can do this?" Elsa asked.

"I know you can." He replied.

"Well, it's hard to argue with that. The Phoenix Knight is here to stay." Elsa concluded.

Something deep inside Elsa clicked into place, and she knew that she was a different person now. She looked to Reynard to find him smiling proudly at her. It pleased and humbled her.

"Wonderful! Know that if you require assistance all you have to do is think of me, and I will arrive." Chrysalis informed.

"Since you're here now, can you help us find Star Gazer? I will not return home without her." Elsa said.

"I can do better than that. Close your eyes my friends, and you will soon find yourselves where you need to be." Chrysalis replied. The couple looked at each other than linked hands as they closed their eyes. Feathers grazed her skin creating a pleasant tingling sensation. Reynard pulled Elsa to his body without warning, covering her mouth with his. Gasping in shock, the knight melted into his kiss.

Perhaps it was an odd time to display such affection, but it felt right. Elsa moaned as his tongue did wicked things to her mouth. Lost in each other they continued their mating of lips until stunned shouts and a whinny broke the veil. Breaking the kiss, the two pulled apart to find themselves in the throne room of Escanor Castle. King William, Queen Victoria, Sir Chauncey, and several members of the Royal court were present. They stared at the pair in shock. A whinny behind them drew their attention. Turning around Elsa saw that it was Star Gazer. Tears spilled over her cheeks as she threw her arms around the horse's neck. The black mare nibbled affectionately on Elsa's shoulder, causing her to laugh.

After a reunion filled with tears of joy, Reynard demanded that something must be done immediately. Merely a few hours after Chrysalis had returned them, the couple stood in the chapel once again. The roof still had a very large hole in it, but repairs had begun. Sunlight streamed through the opening, bathing the two in a golden light. Elsa still wore her Phoenix Knight armor while Reynard wore the same clothes he had on when he was kidnapped. He was filthy with rips and tears in the fabric but he didn't care. Reynard had demanded that their wedding take place immediately, wearing the clothes they returned in. His mother had balked at the idea though she did eventually concede. Now they stood before the priest who performed the marriage ceremony. When asked if he took Elsa to be his wife he said without hesitation, "I do." Before the priest could ask Elsa her part she exclaimed, "I do!" There was a murmur of laughter from their small audience. Reynard grinned widely at her. As the priest began to announce them husband and wife Elsa launched herself into Reynard's arms. She kissed him fiercely. After everything they had been through, one thing was certain. Her life was now perfect.