Well, this one is looong overdue. My apologies for that. See, this chapter did not exist, until about an hour or two ago. My good friend T3l4m0n suggested I add to this pre-written story a bit. Honestly, I sometimes wonder why I keep him around in the first place... *sigh*

Anyhow, that's not really the reason this chapter is late. Nor is it his fault, really. See, writing has been hell as of late. Words just don't seem to come to me anymore the way they used to. And that's a considerably problem, seeing as I sort of need my words to write my fanfics, and uncooperative words make for very dodgy update schedules. If you can even still call it a schedule. *sigh*

Oh well, enjoy, now that it's finally here! :)

Even though it wasn't a formal visit, the preparations that were being made for Princess Rapunzel's arrival to Arendelle were a little hard to miss. Anna noticed the servants were more concerned with polishing armours in the hallway, dusting off the paintings in the gallery, mopping and sweeping the floors, and beating the carpets. She noticed the guards taking their patrols much more seriously, their training schedules having intensified considerably, and their posture even more rigid and proud than before.

The castle wasn't the only place where preparations were being made, though. Anna had made a habit of making trips into the city – which was so much larger than her village that it was a little daunting – enjoying the hustle and bustle of city-life in general.

And, over the past few days, the streets had been swept clean, the signs in front of the quaint little shops had been cleaned and polished, minor inconveniences like broken benches were repaired, and the flower beds were refreshed and watered on an almost daily basis.

And she still had no earthy idea when Princess Rapunzel would actually be arriving. Elsa refused to say anything about it, which was beyond aggravating. Olaf had merely smiled and told her she'd find out soon enough when it would have happened. Kristoff had, not so subtly, hinted that there would not be a lot of commotion when it happened.

This not being an official visit, Princess Rapunzel apparently forwent all the bombast of usual royal visits. The harbourmaster had told her that, on occasions like these, the Princess generally arrived with a single ship, taking only a handful of guards and servants along with her.

Had the Arendelle port not been such a busy place, Anna would have attempted to put some form of surveillance in place, spotting the ship ahead of time. Things being as they were, that was not going to work out, because a new ship arrived at least three times a day – and the same amount would generally also leave each day – so there was not really any way to monitor it.

So, she had just given up. By now, the redhead was resigned to the fact that she would find out if it happened. Elsa had promised to introduce them at some point, after all. And really, she didn't know why she was making such a big deal out of this, because it wasn't like she had not yet met enough royalty in her life. She'd certainly met more than she had expected half a year ago.

Having the entire morning to herself and only planning to meet Elsa in the late afternoon – after having barely seen her for the past two days – Anna had decided to visit the local orphanage. It had become something she did at least twice a week, watching the little children playing with the childhood toys she had donated. When the headmistress had found out who Anna was, she had been invited inside for tea, and given the opportunity to play with the children herself.

Now, on her way back from there, something most peculiar happened. While walking down one of the main avenues, there was something unpleasant nagging at the back of her mind. It wasn't something she was consciously aware of – not at first, at least – but it was enough to give her pause and make her stop dead in her tracks.

Paying more attention to her surroundings now, she immediately figured out what it was. And 'it' made her cringe outwardly. There were some things in life that you really didn't need, and Anna was of the firm conviction that those two voices were at the top of that list. Still, her step-sisters making such a commotion were probably something that might be interesting to watch. Especially now that they could not actually do anything to her.

She followed the shrill shrieks to a small bakery, where a small crowd – about fifteen men and women of varying ages – were gathered. Easily weaving through them and reaching the front, Anna found her non-siblings actually wearing aprons and working in the bakery.

If that could be called working.

The customer, a petite young woman that appeared to be Anna's age, dressed in a pink dress and walking on bare feet, who sported a stylish brown pixie-cut and whose face was covered in smudges, was standing in front of the counter, hands daintily folded in front of her with an uncertain smile on her face.

Inside the little shop, one of her step-sisters was waving a rolling pin around, looking like she was threatening the other, their aprons, faces, hands, hair, and everything else, covered in flour. Anna was no stranger to their arguing, but this one seemed particularly… severe.

"Good grief, woman, I told you to be careful with that! Look what you did!"

"It's not my fault that sack ripped! If you had just helped me like I asked, this wouldn't have happened!"

"You're blaming me now? How mature of you, you spoiled little-"

"Don't even dare! Just help me clean this up before Hendrick gets back, or we'll both be fired. Again!"

"You made the mess, you clean it up. I'm helping a customer over here, you blind oaf!"

The customer-woman raised two dainty eyebrows as Anna's step-sister, still covered in flour, turned towards her. "Yea, what is it?" she asked, her voice gruff and her entire demeanour unwelcoming.

"Pardon?" the customer asked, seemingly a little taken aback.

"You deaf, lass? I asked what you wanted."

"No, I heard you quite fine the first time, really, it's-"

"Then what's the problem, eh?" the step-sister interrupted acidly.

No longer able to see the travesty of social interaction going on, Anna stepped forward with her most polite smile in place, immediately catching the attention of her supposed relatives.

"What are you doing here?" they asked, almost in unison.

Anna shrugged, smile still in place. "Oh, you know. Saving this poor damsel from you two." In an afterthought, she continued: "How's the new house working out?"

In a show of complete disrespect – as well as a stunning reveal of how not to be a lady, merchant, or any other decent being, her stepsister actually spat at her feet, a large glob of spittle going astray and landing on her own chin.

"Okay," the customer with the bare feet – what was up with that, really? Was she so poor she didn't have shoes? She could have some of Anna's if that was the case… - said, as she took a step back. "I'm definitely not buying any bread here. She turned around swiftly, walking down the road in the direction of the castle, undoubtedly going to find another place where she could get a cheap loaf of bread.

Anna stuck around long enough for the owner of the bakery to return, watching her stepsisters getting scolded and forcefully being removed from the shop, with the very clear message that they were not to return ever, before turning tail and following the bright pink dress she could still see a little distance down the road.

If someone were so poor that she could not afford shoes, Anna would be damned if she did not try to help out. Especially since she knew how agonizing it was to deal with her stepsisters, even in passing.

Easily catching up, she started walking by the girl's side. "Hey there."

The woman looked up as if she'd been torn from her reveries, looking Anna up and down before flashing a small, almost-mischievous grin. "Hello."

Anna smiled in return. "I saw what happened back at the bakery. I feel like someone should apologize for that travesty. And since they certainly aren't going to do so – trust me, I'd know better than anyone – I figured it might as well be me," she said, smile still in place and shrugging casually.

"That's… very kind of you," the woman replied, not breaking her step. "It was a most unpleasant experience, although you did not in any way make it so. Therefore, I do not think I can – or should – accept your apology, as much as it is appreciated."

The redhead nodded. "Okay, sure, that makes sense." Taking a quick glance at the bare feet, Anna quickly made a decision. "Still, I imagine it was not really something that brightened your day. Perhaps I can help make it better?"

"Oh… I suppose…" the woman replied carefully, albeit with a smile. "What did you have in mind?"

Anna, now overtaken by enthusiasm about her idea, cheered for a moment. "You'll see, come on!" she exclaimed, hurrying the woman towards the castle. "It'll be worth it, trust me!"

She almost dragged the woman through the castle's gates, marvelling at the guards who seemed to be saluting her. It was a new addition to the many things she was not used to. She wondered why Elsa would have instructed them to do so.

Not that it really mattered right now. She was going to clean this poor girl up, give her some snazzy shoes, and feed her properly. Not necessarily in that order.

Her plans came to a screeching halt, though, when she encountered Elsa and Olaf in one of the upstairs corridors, both carrying heaps of scrolls and parchments, but stopping to greet them nonetheless. As Elsa opened her mouth to say something, Anna was already preparing a response as to why she was bringing this random stranger into the castle.

"Oh, I see you two already met," the blonde said with a smile.

"Yeah, I know, but I saw her in- Wait, what?"

Elsa raised a single eyebrow. "I had planned on introducing you this afternoon, but it appears that won't be necessary."

"Introducing?" Anna asked, face scrunched up in confusion.

The brunette behind her giggled, letting go of her hand and stepping forward. "I did not yet get a chance to introduce myself," she said, voice light with laughter. "Princess Rapunzel of Corona, a pleasure to meet you, Anna," she continued with a small curtsy.

And it would not be an exaggeration to say that Anna's brain short-circuited. This… This poor, little, dirty, bare-footed person was the princess of Corona? What the…

"But… But… your feet… and your face… and- and-"

Rapunzel's smile grew a little wider. "I prefer going bare feet when possible, although my parents aren't too happy about it. As for the dirt on my face, I was picking flowers with some of the children near the school, so they could give them to their parents."

Anna cocked her head to the side. "You're Princess Rapunzel of Corona, and here I was, thinking I'd get you cleaned up and fed, before gifting you a pair of shoes… I feel so stupid right now."

Olaf guffawed amusedly, with Elsa and Rapunzel simply beaming at Anna. "Don't feel stupid on my behalf," Rapunzel smiled. "I'm well aware that I look decidedly less royal than is expected of me."

"As for your intentions," Elsa cut in, "they're part of the reason I li- appreciate you so much. You always try to do something good to those around you. It's admirable, really."

"Wait," Anna suddenly gasped. "How did you know who I was?" she asked the foreign princess, quickly catching herself and adding 'Your Highness' to the end of her sentence.

"Oh, please, no formalities. I get enough of those at home," the doe-eyed brunette smiled widely. "As for recognizing you, there aren't that many redheads with freckles and blue eyes of your age running around town." She turned towards Elsa for a moment. "Your description was remarkably on-point, as usual, Elsa. Sunny disposition, childlike enthusiasm, adorable- ouch!"

Anna raised her eyebrows as Elsa nudged Rapunzel in her side with her elbow, dropping several pieces of parchment in the process. It sort of made her wonder what Elsa had told her best friend about Anna, but she realized it would be quite inappropriate to ask. Besides, there was another question nagging at her mind right now.

"How long have you been here?"

The petite brunette shrugged. "Almost two days, now."

Okay, so, Princess Rapunzel was in town, and she looked much more… princess-y after having cleared the smudges of dirt from her face. Even if she still refused to wear shoes. And she wanted to spend the rest of the morning with Anna, because she had heard 'so much' about her from Elsa. All good things, if she was to be believed.

Princess Rapunzel was also a lot like Elsa, in many ways, Anna discovered. She was, for instance, adamant about Anna just calling her 'Rapunzel' or 'Punz,' and foregoing the formalities entirely. She even went so far as to roll her eyes at every little slip-up the redhead made, albeit good-naturedly.

She also took remarkable interest in the art gallery – a place Anna had come to frequent as well, during the hours she couldn't spend outside or with Elsa. Rapunzel certainly knew a thing or two about art, regaling Anna with the stories behind some of the paintings – mostly those that had been brought over from Corona – and going into great detail about the events portrayed, or the artist behind the painting.

Eventually, they stopped near one of the smaller ones, hanging separately in the back. "Hm, I'm surprised to see Elsa had this one put up here. I gave it to her for her last birthday…"

Anna took a closer look at the painting – one she'd only glanced over previously. It featured a tower in the background, with a single window, from which a streak of gold reached down. In the foreground, placed on a hill and separated from the tower by woods and green fields – was the silhouette of a man sitting on a horse.

There was something oddly familiar about it, even though Anna was certain she'd never visited Corona. That she would have remembered.

Rapunzel smiled, looking as if her mind were quite somewhere else right now. "This painting," she started, voice trailing through the gallery softly, "actually depicts a story. It's about a princess, kidnapped from the royal castle as an infant, held in an impenetrable tower by her evil mother, and eventually being rescued by a handsome-"

"You mean 'The Missing Heart'?" Anna asked, suddenly recognizing the story.

"Oh, you know it?" Rapunzel asked with a slightly wider smile.

Anna nodded happily. "I saw the play not that long ago, actually. Elsa took me to the theatre."

Rapunzel's eyebrows shot upwards at that little bit of information, although Anna couldn't quite decipher what was so special about it. "Did you know the story truly happened?" she asked, robbing Anna of the chance to ask her own question.

"I did not," the redhead confessed.

Rapunzel nodded slowly and solemnly. "I was robbed from my cradle very shortly after my birth, and only returned to the castle a few years ago."

Anna's eyebrows shot up so far they almost disappeared into her hairline. "You are the princess from the story?"

Rapunzel nodded slowly. "The dashing rogue is my husband, Prince Eugene," she added with a small smile.

"Hardly a rogue if he's a prince," Anna laughed lightly.

"Oh, trust me," Rapunzel continued. "It took some convincing before my parents were on board with me marrying a former thief with only accusations and debts to his name. But love is love, and you can't do much about that… Speaking of, I'm a little surprised you and Elsa went to see The Missing Heart. Together."

"Why is that?" Anna asked, still inspecting the painting.

"Well… Never mind. Forget I said anything," Rapunzel suddenly chimed, waving her hand around carelessly, still smiling, as if she was keeping in some sort of important secret.

Anna, now having grown curious – and only more so by Rapunzel's deflecting – continued badgering the foreign princess for an answer, until she eventually gave in.

"Oh, fine. It's just that, in Corona, the play is usually… Well, traditionally, it's something Coronans do together on one of their early dates. It was written as a play about love, obviously, and its audience is, generally, a reflection of that. There are countless of couples who will tell you that The Missing Heart was their first date."

"Oh," Anna chuckled nervously. "That's nice. I think? I mean, it's not like Elsa and I are a couple. Or, you know, anything even remotely close to that. We're friends. Just friends."

Rapunzel cocked her head to the side, raising a single eyebrow with a mischievous grin. "Yes. I had noticed…" she replied cryptically.

This time, when Anna badgered her for an explanation, the brunette refused to provide one.

Anna was hurrying. She really did not enjoy hurrying, but some times actually called for it. Being late for a chess-match with the king – for which he specifically requested your presence two days in advance – was certainly one of those times.

When she slipped into the now-familiar room, she was not surprised to find Elsa, Olaf, and the king and queen seated at various spots throughout the room. And, although in hindsight she realised it was a little silly, she was way too surprised to see Rapunzel sitting in the corner, working on the landscape-painting that Anna had noticed upon her first visit.

"Ah, Miss Anderson, you're here. Good, good. I've already set up our game!" the king spoke loudly, waking Olaf from his slumber, who immediately reached for his nose – as if to confirm it was still there.

"Wouldn't miss it for the world, sir," Anna smiled bashfully, sitting down. Apparently, that garnered Rapunzel's attention.

"Someone has the courage to engage in a game of chess with him? Poor girl," she smiled crookedly.

"Actually," the queen spoke up, not tearing her eyes away from her embroidery, "Anna's remarkably skilful. She nearly bested my husband last time they played."

And yes, Anna thought proudly, she nearly had. It had taken several games, but she was slowly starting to form a strategy that might actually end the game in her victory sometime soon. Sometime soon being in a few weeks, hopefully. At best.

It had also become customary to actually have conversations during their chess-matches, either with each other, or with those who were doing their own thing. It was slightly distracting, but it was a price Anna happily paid if it meant being able to socialize with the others.

Halfway during their game – Anna was losing this one quite miserably, and she was well-aware of her new strategy not working out at all – the queen put her embroidery aside, heaved a deep sigh, and levelled her daughter with a stern glance.

"Elsa, sweetheart. We need to have a word."

Anna tried to focus on her strategy. She really did. But, since it was already sort of a lost cause, she figured she could listen in. After all, if it were a private conversation, they would have moved somewhere else.

"What is it, mother?" Elsa asked, putting her book down in her lap.

"Have you talked to your guest yet?"

Okay. Now Anna was definitely listening.

"What about?" Elsa inquired, sounding honestly confused.

"The reason for her stay here, of course," the queen replied gently, with an odd undertone.

"Mother!" the blonde princess said, her voice a disgraced hiss.

"I can confirm that she has not," Rapunzel chirped from her corner, sounding irritably amused.

"Rapunzel!" Elsa countered, this time in an undignified yelp.

"Um, what are we talking about, exactly?" Anna ventured to ask, hesitantly. "I'm sort of pretty sure we're talking about me. But that's all I got…"

"Nothing to worry over, child," the king replied gently. "That being said, Elsa, your mother is right, and you cannot put it off indefinitely."

Anna raised her eyebrows slightly. This sounded ominous. "Is this your way of telling me I'm overstaying my welcome? Because, if that's the case, I'll-"

"No, no, of course not, dear," the queen rushed to interrupt. "Nothing of the sort. Our beloved daughter is just being difficult for the sake of being difficult, making a big deal out of something that is really nothing but a formality."

"Mother!" Elsa hissed again.

"Daughter," the queen replied in a deadpan tone.

Elsa huffed, crossing her arms as she looked at the room around her. "Why can't you all just mind your own business?"

The king shrugged as he moved his knight across the board. "In a way, this is a matter of state. Being the king, this is my business," he replied easily, eyes shining happily as Anna made her move and threatened his king.

Elsa sunk down into her chair. "Just give me a bit of time. I promise we'll talk about that soon. Ish. Soon-ish."

"Very well, dear. But remember, the longer you wait, the harder it gets," the queen replied as she took up her embroidery again.

"Talk about what?" Anna asked, now entirely perplexed.

Unfortunately, the entire room seemed hell-bent on ignoring her question, and business went on as if the entire conversation had never even happened.