Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

This is the story--

--Of how we died...

...

Wow! That was a bit of a depressing introduction.

You said it, blondie, but don't worry. This story has a lot more fun.

And a LOT more adventure! Because it's our story.

The story about a dashing rogue,

and a big-hearted princess.

The story that came before we tied the knot,

and escaped death more than once.

The story about becoming more than what we seemed,

and taking the reins of our own destiny.

About the hardships and battles we faced,

and about the friends we made along the way.

There were many mistakes we made,

and words we wished we could take back.

But this is our story.

Our journey to find ourselves,

And it all started the night I decided to leave Corona...

...For Good.

~Before Ever After~

The loud gallop of horses rumbled across the dirt. Laughter escaped Rapunzel as she rode her new horse, Fidella, through fields.

"Come on, girl, we can beat them," Rapunzel said, eyeing the rider a few yards ahead of her.

Maximus took the lead with Eugene on his back. The former thief hollered excitedly when he could see the outer walls of Corona in the distance.

"Oh, we've got this in the bag, buddy," he muttered to the white steed.

Rapunzel scanned the terrain around her before a smirk grew over her cheeks. She pointed to her left and Fidella followed along. The hazel-coated horse charged right for a large hill. The princess leaned forward, signaling Fidella to go faster. The stead kicked up dirt behind her as a steep ledge came into view. Once there was no longer anywhere else to go, Rapunzel exclaimed.

"NOW!"

Fidella leaped into the air. Down below, Eugene and Maximus were both left flabbergasted by the flying horse soaring directly over their heads. Right before the man and his steed could reach the outer wall, Fidella made a clear landing a mere 3 feet in front of them, allowing the hazel stead to make the last few yards to victory. Rapunzel placed a hand on the brick wall and smiled towards her still stunned boyfriend. Eugene dismounted and ran a hand through his hair.

"How did-- When did you learn-- That was awesome, sunshine!" he exclaimed once Rapunzel let her bare feet touch the ground. She giggled at his excitement before giving a shrug.

"Thanks, it was just something I picked up from Cass."

"Ah, well, just don't learn too much from your lady-in-waiting, or else you might catch her cold scowl too," Eugene said casually before wrapping his arms around Rapunzel's waist. The princess gave him a stern look as she placed her hands on his shoulders.

"Eugene..."

The former thief chuckled.

"Kidding, kidding... mostly..." Eugene mumbled while the two stared silently at each other for a good minute. Warm smiles filled their faces, enjoying their closeness. Before they could inch any closer, though, the mood was interrupted by more galloping horses.

"Wow, they found us fast," Eugene said with a grumble once the couple released each other.

"Stall them for me? I still have to check out the view," Rapunzel requested, already starting to grab a hold of the vines that grew along the wall.

"Can do, blondie," Eugene replied with a lazy salute. While Maximus helped push Rapunzel up the wall by her feet, Eugene walked forward to greet their guests.

Three royal guards arrived on scene with their captain at the head. He glared down at the former thief, who merely grinned in return.

"How you doing, fellas? Would you believe that we got lost during our morning stroll?"

"Save it, Rider. You know full well that the princess can't be without her guards while she's outside the castle," the captain said with a scowl.

"Uh, it's Fitzherbert now. Trust me, I don't care too much for the last name either, but it's been growing on me. And may I just say how lovely your armor looks this morning, gentlemen. I mean, wow! Did you get some kind of new wax to make them shine, cause they look--"

"I don't have time for this," the captain grumbled before him and his men led their steeds past Eugene and reached the wall. The captain dismounted and sent a glare towards Maximus, crossing his arms.

The white steed lowered his head sadly but kept his gaze on the scowling man.

The captain sighed. He dropped his harsh demeanor before he began to climb the vines of the wall. Eugene rushed over before the other guards stopped him, acting as a wall between him and their captain.

"Hey, whoa, I can go get her for you."

"No need, Rider."

"Come on, guys. The princess just wanted to see the view for herself. Can't you give her just a few more minutes?"

"The princess knows she is not allowed anywhere near the outer walls. Would you like to explain to the king why you suddenly wanted to take his daughter on a joy ride?" the captain grunted as he pulled himself up. Maximus aided by pushing him up by his boots.

"Oh, okay, shifting blame here. Look, you know as well as I do, that the princess can make her own decisions, and even if this was my idea, it's not my fault you all treat her like a prisoner."

"Not another word, Rider! You're on thin ice enough as it is," the captain called out once he reached the top. The former thief scoffed in annoyance before walking away a few feet to cool down.

When the captain pulled himself up to sit on the ledge, he spotted the princess. She seems to not have even noticed him.

She was too busy admiring the fields, wildlife, and the rising run from the horizon. The gentle breeze blew through her short brown locks. Rapunzel shut her eyes and opened her arms to feel the warm sunlight that embraced her.

A tiny chameleon, Pascal, emerged from behind the princess's neck. He rubbed his eyelids and yawned before spotting the sunlight. Pascal instantly perked up and leaned forward, taking in the scene as well.

The captain's stern expression melted away. After a few more seconds of silence, though, he cleared his throat.

"Your highness... It's time to go."

Rapunzel opened her eyes as if she had just been woken up from a wonderful dream. She turned towards the captain. Her once pleasant expression dissolved while her arms fell loosely to her sides.

Rapunzel gave a slow nod before standing up straight again. Pascal looked up at her. He grew concern when the princess carried a strained smile.

"Okay... let's go home."

...

With the captain leading the way, Rapunzel and Eugene followed him on horseback through the town of Corona. Several guards were bringing up the rear and were now keeping a sharper eye on the young couple.

Rapunzel's face was dipped towards her saddle. Her mind grew distant while she continued to picture the view she just witnessed, wishing she could have jumped over and rolled across the fields and picked all the new wildflowers she managed to spot.

"Hey, sunshine." Rapunzel snapped out of her thoughts and looked over at her boyfriend. A smile appeared over Eugene. "Look around."

Puzzled, Rapunzel lifted her head and was surprised to find several townspeople out and about. She hadn't even noticed.

What really brought her spirits back, though, were the dozens of people waving towards her and calling out her name. Rapunzel raised one hand slowly as her smile grew wide.

"Hi. Hello! Oh, I love that scarf. Is that new? Oh those braids look lovely, girls!"

As Rapunzel continued on, she spotted a baker with a tray of muffins. He waved at the princess and lifted his tray towards her. Rapunzel graciously accepted, but the tray was yanked from her grasp when a guard from behind cut between them.

"Sorry, your highness, can't be too careful."

"It's just a muffin--"

"It could be laced with poison."

Rapunzel frowned. She glanced back to see other townspeople plucking a muffin from the tray and devouring their treats happily until there was nothing left. The princess's eyes narrowed.

"Well, glad the townspeople are enjoying those poisonous muffins," she muttered.

While the princess sulked to herself, Eugene's gaze drifted to the townspeople too.

Several were going on with their morning routines: sweeping the front of their stores, wheeling in wagons of products, and more.

What the former thief couldn't shake off, though, were the looks he was getting.

Sure, some waved simply to be polite, but there were many others who side-eyed him and whispered among each other.

There might not have been many who knew the infamous tales of the thief--

--but that was until it became known that it was him who brought home the lost princess. To add fuel to the fire, Eugene was also pardoned for all his previous crimes and permitted to live within the castle walls for as long as he wished.

Many were overjoyed for their lost princess returning, but once the stories and rumors of who Eugene was for several years started reaching this kingdom, those praises soon became criticisms.

Eugene's gaze hardened the more he noticed the scowls of judgement and distrust.

He heard the rumors. Heck, the gossip within the castle wasn't exactly subtle.

Some say he merely brought the princess home, so he could collect a bigger reward. Others would joke that he was just using the princess to sit in the lap of luxury forever. A few would even dare say that he had something to do with the princess's kidnapping in the first place.

That last one baffled the thief more than anything due to the leap in logic. He would have been a small child when the princess was abducted all those years ago. It made no sense, yet that's where people's minds went when it came to an infamous rogue being gifted with so much good fortune lately. The rumors and judgement were nothing new to Eugene Fitzherbert anyway.

Maximus glanced back when he felt his rider gripping the reins tighter than usual, but all the steed found was Eugene sitting taller now with his signature grin. He waved to a few people before keeping his attention ahead.

...

Rapunzel collapsed into her bed, staring up at the ceiling. It has been over six months since she returned to her proper home in Corona. Most of that time was spent adjusting to her much larger home and the several people living inside it.

It was so strange to her. Yes, she was used to living with someone else, but conversations were often one-sided or brief at best.

Never in her wildest dreams could Rapunzel imagine being in such an enormous palace where so many people were willing to have long discussions about favorite foods, hobbies, or whatever else!

The conversation-starving princess was overjoyed for the longest time. Some, of course, would get annoyed with her rambling. Others would scold her whenever she messed with the armory or other decorations around the many hallways, but that never stopped her highness. Besides, it's not like the treatment was any worse than what she used to endure.

Lately, though, Rapunzel was actually starting to feel cooped up. After many months of spending time with her real parents, befriending every possible person she could find, and exploring every last inch of the castle, the princess was left with not much else to do.

She already painted large chunks of the walls in her room in her downtime and even took several princess lessons with a few teachers that her parents hired. Eugene tried a couple of the classes with her, since her mother thought it would be beneficial if he were to attend any future gatherings, but after a few too many wise-cracks toward the teachers, the former thief was banned from the lessons.

Still, her coronation was coming in just a few days, yet she couldn't get this tight feeling in her chest to go away. No matter what she did, the thought of officially becoming the princess of her kingdom frightened her.

As Rapunzel let her eyes flutter shut, an all too familiar voice crept through the darkness until it whispered right into her ear.

"It's okay, I'll help you, sweetie. Mother knows best~"

"No... No... No!"

"Rapunzel!"

The princess gasped. Rapunzel sat up with a jolt, heaving a few deep breaths. She looked up to find her lady-in-waiting standing over her with a knitted brow.

"You okay, Raps? You were mumbling in your sleep again," Cassandra said before taking a seat beside the princess. Rapunzel inhaled slowly. She raised one hand only to feel it shaking before she rubbed the back of her neck.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm okay... just nightmares about... about everything that happened before."

"You've been having nightmares for a while now. You sure you don't want to talk to someone about this? To me, or maybe a doctor, or heaven forbid Fitzherbert," Cassandra sighed as she smoothed the creases of her powder blue dress.

"It's fine. I've already told you and my parents pretty much all of what happened, and Eugene was there for some of the worst parts... I don't want to trudge up all that stuff with him, or anyone else, anymore than necessary," Rapunzel said, pulling her legs up and wrapping her arms around them. Cassandra frowned at the sight. She placed a gentle hand on the princess's shoulder.

"Raps, it's kind of you to care so much about everyone else's well-being, but take this advice that I always give to my dad: You can't keep burning the candle at both ends," Cassandra said with a stern gaze. Her advice, though, made the princess chuckle. She could imagine those words of wisdom being told to the Captain of the Royal Guard.

"Thanks, Cass. I'm not sure if that really fits with my situation, but I hear ya."

"Meh, words aren't much my thing, anyway," Cassandra replied before standing up. "Now, we better get you ready. You have a royal ball to attend this evening with a few guests from the neighboring kingdoms."

"Oh, we have guests coming already?" Rapunzel asked after she let her feet fall back onto the floor.

"Yup, all those royals and dignitaries are just enchanted with the news about a new princess entering the scene. You'll definitely have everyone kissing up to you at the ball tonight," Cass said mockingly. Rapunzel smirked at her friend's tone before tossing one of her pillows at her. Cassandra quickly caught the purple cushion before falling deep into laughter.

...

Commotion filled the streets of Corona. Today was the start of the celebration. While only a selected few people in the kingdom will actually be allowed to attend the ball with all the royal guests tonight, the townsfolk still threw together their own festival, which planned on lasting for the next three nights. Citizens decorated their homes and shops in honor of their princess. They tied strings of lanterns across lamp posts and hung up banners with the kingdom's colors.

Shops planned to stay open late for the duration of the festival, providing new treats and deals to the citizens. Musicians began setting up to start their performances in the central plaza. Several stands were parked near the sidewalks to offer flavorful foods and souvenirs to bystanders.

Joyous commotion filled the cobblestone streets of Corona. Children raced along, cheering for the start of the festival that night.

Not every citizen, though, was thrilled about the upcoming coronation.

Inside the underbelly of the kingdom, in the depths of the sewers, resided feared criminals. They hid in these shadows to provide sanctuary from the guards above.

The most threatening criminal out of all of them was none other than the Queen of Thieves, and her appearance was one you might not suspect.

She was a petite young lady. She had beautiful brown locks and fair skin, yet many crooks still cowered when she merely looked their way.

Her name was Lady Caine. Currently, she sat behind her make-shift desk in the underground tunnels of Corona, seething at a poster that declared the princess's nearing coronation.

A lanky and slightly hunched minion of her's dared to come closer, rubbing his hands together as if to warm them.

"The others are prepared to execute your plan, Lady Caine, when you give the word."

Soon, a smile spread across the woman's face at the mention of her plan.

"Those royals won't know what hit them. Their precious princess's special day will be ruined, I'll make sure they--" Lady Caine stopped. Both her and her minion shifted their gazes towards a dark tunnel, to their left, when they heard scuffling feet. Instinctively, the two criminals drew their weapons, carrying daggers as they neared the entrance. "Who's there?" Caine called out.

Silence carried on, aside from droplets from the walls. Caine squinted her gaze, gritting her teeth.

"Show yourself, now! If you know what's good for you, you will--"

Lady Caine's words were drowned out by deep growls. Without a second to lose, shadows burst from the tunnel and bared their fangs at the two criminals. Caine jumped by the sudden guests and slashed her dagger at the beasts.

Her weapon held the creatures at bay for merely a minute. They quickly outnumbered her, swiping their claws in the barely lit tunnel.

Then, there was a whistle. The call settled the beasts for the time being. Lady Caine panted softly to herself. She took a quick glance at her right to find her minion. There were a few scratches on his sleeves, but he was still intact. When things calmed down, Caine was able to finally identify what attacked her.

Wolves. Several of them. At least 10.

Lady Caine's brow creased at the sight before her.

"Wolves!? What is this?"

While her minion shrugged, more creatures emerged from the dark hallway. Two binturongs with red glowing eyes followed the wolves. They gave low growls at the duo before separating to let their master enter.

A man appeared. A dark cloak with fur around the neckline concealed his face, and he easily towered over the crooks with his form.

Lady Caine narrowed her eyes at the stranger. "Who are you? What do you want?"

The man didn't speak. He remained motionless, like an otherworldly spirit.

Then, out of nowhere, the man raised one hand. Clutched in his fist was a flyer announcing the princess's coronation. "You are planning to ruin the coronation?"

"Yeah... what's it to you, bub?" Lady Caine spat, yet any remaining defiance in her posture shriveled when the man raised his head ever so slightly.

That's when she saw it. Two glowing green eyes radiated through the darkness of the cloak and stared directly at Caine, freezing her in her place.

"I am here to rid the world of the Sun Drop. To secure the future for the Lunar Kingdom. You will be my distraction, so I can complete my mission."

Caine could feel her minion's eyes on her. He shifted focus between her and the stranger, wondering what his boss would do next. Caine hesitated, staring at what could only be a demon in front of her. Despite all the alarms ringing in her head, she forced her body to stop trembling and hardened her gaze.

"I don't take kindly to people ordering me around. You want revenge on the princess? Then, get in line."

There was an eerie silence. Lady Caine kept her focus on the hooded figure, but she still wasn't prepared when the stranger rushed forward.

Within a blink of an eye, Caine was holding back the giant's sword, which had extended from an attachment on his leather glove. Those green eyes burrowed into the Queen of Thieves as she barely managed to hold back the blow with her dagger.

"You will go through with your plans, but you will do it the day before the coronation. Too many guests. Too many guards will be there on coronation day."

Lady Caine gritted her teeth. The pressure from the sword pushed her back, scrapping her heels against gravel. Being this close to the figure, she could see his long, braided hair against his pale complexion. A grey mark was painted across the bridge of his nose, the marking of a warrior.

"Okay... then what about you? You expect us to just hand the royals over to you like we're your delivery service?" Lady Caine asked. The weight on her dagger tripled when the stranger leaned further. Cain grunted before crumbling against the pressure. That's when the hooded figure shoved her into her desk. Her back hit the hard wood, making her gasp.

"Lady Caine!" her minion called out, rushing to her side. His boss, though, shooed away the concern and glared at the tall man.

"Do what you will with the royal family and the castle, but I must be the one who will rip the life away from the Sun Drop. It has no right to exist on this earth any longer," the stranger said with his tone dripping with pure venom.

...

Eugene gave a sigh of relief. Despite the gripes he had with castle life, it was still the luxurious life he's always wanted.

He leaned back in the chair as the barber trimmed his slightly overgrown locks. He was thinking about getting a massage from the masseur later too. His shoulders eased at the thought.

This is what he would keep his mind on. Having three meals a day with hours of pampering and relaxation, these were things he longed to have for years.

Most importantly, though, he was here with Rapunzel. The girl of his new dream. The wonderful woman that melted his heart and made him change his ways for the better. He would give up the luxurious life in a heartbeat for her, but having both was really a dream come true.

So what if he didn't have anyone else to talk to?

Whenever Rapunzel was busy with princess duties, Eugene would sometimes strike up conversations with a few friendly guards before he'd get shooed away by their captain.

He'd also talk to Maximus on occasion, but one would start to feel very self-conscious for having only a horse as real company. The young man was starting to wonder how Rapunzel handled years with only a lizard as a companion.

And heaven forbid Eugene get bored enough that he dare be around Cassandra of all people, but he'd start arguments with her that gladly made him smile every now and then.

Eugene shook his head despite the grumbling from the barber.

Come on, Eugene, what's with the sour attitude? You're used to being on your own anyway. What's the problem?

Of course, when he was a thief, he at least had the open world and adventures to keep his mind occupied.

No, no, he was way better off here. He had someone who treated him as a person and not something lower. He had a castle with all the food and other necessities that he usually had to scrounge for. How could he possibly desire anything else?

And so what if his days also felt like they were on repeat?

He would have to be a selfish moron to have any complaints about his current situation.

Eugene gave a tired sigh. His relaxed mood had all but dissolved from his troubling thoughts, and he was now staring at the vanity before him, meeting the hollow look in his eyes.

With the sound of the wooden door creaking, Eugene looked to see a guard entering the room. He was a tall and skinny fella who gave an awkward smile towards the former thief.

"Hey, Eugene? Sorry to bother you, but the king wants to see you right away in the throne room. He, uh, seemed pretty urgent about it," the guard stated while rubbing the back of his neck. The barber stopped cutting before side-eyeing Eugene, who equally looked puzzled. The former thief then shrugged before standing to his feet.

"Well, that's never a good sign. Thanks for the heads up, Pete," Eugene said to the guard. He then dove into his pocket and tossed over a silver coin to the barber as a tip. The barber tipped his hat in response while Eugene walked off.

Once Eugene made his way down the hall, he passed by maids, guards, servants, and more. Yes, some gave their usual glares towards the criminal strutting down their halls, but there seemed to have been more whispers than usual.

They became so frequent enough that Eugene was able to overhear a few passing words.

"Did you hear about the royal ball tonight?"

"Poor guy..."

"I mean, was this really a surprise?"

"There was no way he was going to last."

Irritation gnawed inside Eugene the more whispers he heard. Finally, he sent a hard glare towards two very not so subtle maids and they scurried away.

When Eugene reached the doors to the throne room, he took a deep breath. He knew that it couldn't have been anything too serious, yet his mind was suddenly racing with so many things the king could accuse him of.

Something went missing in the castle.

People would point the finger at me.

Worse, the criminal probably planted evidence against me! It would be way too easy to do.

Worst case scenario, the king already made up his mind about me being at fault and now has the guards waiting on the other side of that door, preparing for my execution at this very moment.

Eugene shuddered at the thought before unconsciously rubbing the front of his neck. He then shut his eyes once he grabbed the door handles. He dipped his head and took another breath.

No. No, you're being ridiculous, Eugene! Don't let those fools scare you. It's just a conversation with the king...

After another few seconds, Eugene raised his head, returning back to his confident stare. He pushed the doors open to the throne room to, thankfully, find only the king present.

King Fredric turned and smiled at the young man, which was a rarity in itself.

"Eugene, thank you for seeing me."

The former thief gave a small chuckle to adjust his uneasy tone.

So far so good...

"I mean, who am I to refuse a request from the king of all people," Eugene laughed once again before finally clearing his throat. "Was there something you needed?"

The king's warm expression faltered. Casting his gaze to the floor for a brief second, Fredric straighted his posture even further, making Eugene's muscles tense.

"Yes... As you know, Rapunzel's coronation is in three days. We will be having many important guests from across the seven kingdoms to witness it. In fact, a few of the neighboring royals will be joining us tonight for a royal ball to celebrate."

The king drew closer towards the former thief. Despite the fatherly side Eugene had seen many times in the king whether the man was around his daughter, Fredric was still a pretty intimidating person.

Scratch that, Eugene would argue that the fatherly instincts were even worse than the royal persona. Eugene had nearly jumped out of his skin when the princess first kissed him in front of her parents months ago, receiving a glare so hard from the king that it could have cut the former thief in two. Granted, the news of them dating had only just reached the royal couple's ears the day prior, but the young man's uneasiness towards the king had only tripled since then.

Eugene was pulled out of his thoughts when Fredric stepped forward. The look he was giving him might not have been the most threatening expression he's had, but there was an intensity behind it that really grabbed the young man's attention.

"The queen and I arranged tonight's ball early so that Rapunzel will be able to interact with the other royals' children. Many of them are around Rapunzel's age, and we believe it would be a perfect opportunity for her to form new friendships," Fredric continued.

Eugene raised an eyebrow. Everything the king was saying so far sounded completely normal. He had been waiting for the king to bring up a recent crime and place blame on the only person in the castle with a criminal past, yet...

"I'm sorry, your majesty, this all sounds great, but uh... why are you telling me this?" Eugene asked. The king kept his gaze on him. His stern posture began to loosen until he was looking at Eugene with a strange hint of comradery that was very new for him. Finally, Fredric broke the stare off with a sigh.

"Eugene, I know your reputation as Flynn Rider has reached far and wide as a very notorious thief--"

"Haha, your majesty, I'm flattered, but I wouldn't say Flynn Rider had that bad of a reputation--" Eugene curled his lips when the king narrowed his gaze. The former thief then cleared his throat. "Continue..."

"My point is that word has not spread yet of Flynn Rider being the one who brought home our daughter. I'm afraid many of the royals still believe you to be a wanted criminal. That is why I am asking that you keep yourself scarce until after the coronation."

"Oh..." Eugene muttered. He rubbed his chin while he pondered the king's words.

"Of course, that would also mean staying away from Rapunzel until then too."

Eugene snapped his attention back to the king and frowned. Personally, he wasn't really surprised. Eugene suspected he wouldn't be invited to the royal ball tonight, but not even attend the coronation?

The event that was going to arguably be one of the biggest moments in Rapunzel's life?

"So I can't see her until the coronation is over, not even wish her luck or just be there to support her?" Eugene furthered. King Fredric's stone demeanor started crumbling away at his words.

"I'm sorry, Eugene, but no. The guests will be arriving soon. We can't risk you being seen." Fredric's tone was low as if he were delivering an order. His gaze, though, remained soft. "This is necessary to ensure the peace, I need you to keep out of sight for these next three days. I know it's a lot to ask, but can I count on you to do this? To make sure Rapunzel's important day runs smoothly?" the king asked while placing a hand on the young man's shoulder.

Eugene gave a weak smile in return. Yes, he wanted to argue. He wanted to point out the unfairness and the ridiculous request to basically hide himself away for three days. He especially wanted to complain about how last minute this request was. He would have given his girlfriend a kind word and maybe a hug to show how thrilled he was for her special day.

With all his effort, Eugene bit down on his tongue.

How could he say it was unfair when it was his own actions that created this scenario?

Flynn Rider's thievery is what caused the king and queen to fear their guests' reactions, and Eugene Fitzherbert would now have to pay for it.

"Of course, your majesty," Eugene said slowly, trying to convince himself. The king smiled as well before patting the former thief's shoulder.

"Thank you, Eugene..."

...

The Captain of the Guard stood beside a table while his hand hovered over an official diorama of Corona. Several of his men huddled around their captain. Debriefing came to an end within the castle's war room.

"As I said, I need guards patrolling the south wing of the castle at all times. We will be having many important guests arriving this evening, so I need you all to be more diligent than ever. Is that understood?" the captain asked, staring down at his soldiers. The guardsmen all nodded in agreement before their leader straightened his posture.

"Alright, you are dismissed. Back to your stations and notify the other guards covering your posts to meet here for debriefing as well."

Once the guards saluted, they exited the war room swiftly, aside from a few murmurs of conversation.

"Ooh, you think the chefs will be making apple pie for the dessert table? Maybe I can sneak a slice once we're done with our shift," one of the guards, Pete, whispered to a colleague.

His best friend, Stan, scoffed in response, "You kidding? They wouldn't make apple pie for royalty. They'll probably make something like scones or pudding."

"Pudding? Pfft, who eats pudding other than children?"

"I eat pudding, Pete."

"Oh, right... Hey, Cassandra," Pete said quickly when he spotted the lady-in-waiting entering the war room, sending an awkward wave in hopes to escape the conversation.

"Hey, Pete," Cassandra replied with a smirk before the last of the guards exited. She then lost her amused expression when she made eye contact with her father. The captain frowned. He went back to resetting his pieces on the diorama.

"Hey, Dad..."

"Cassandra, shouldn't you be prepping the princess for tonight?" the captain asked.

"Already have her dressed in semi-formal attire for greeting the guests, and I have the maids all ready to prep her in her evening gown afterwards," Cass replied while crossing her arms proudly.

"What about your chores around the castle? Is all the cleaning done?"

"A few of the other maids are finishing up the last bit of the decorations. There's nothing else for me to do... besides helping you watch over the guests tonight."

The captain sighed, knowing that statement was coming. He turned to look at his daughter. "Cassandra... We talked about this."

"Dad, come on, you know I am more than capable to be a guard."

"This isn't about you being capable, Cassandra. We will be having several important figureheads gathering in one place this evening. Tonight is not the night to take a chance and prove yourself."

"Take a chance? Dad, you've trained me in combat since I was young enough to remember. I've studied combat strategies and Corona law until it's been practically imprinted on my eyelids. I can do this."

The captain's frown deepened. "I'm sorry, Cassandra, but this night is just too important. You can have your chance another day."

Cassandra narrowed her gaze. "You say that every time I ask you. Admit it, Dad. You just don't want me to be a guard because I'm your daughter."

"And what's so wrong with not wanting my little girl to get hurt in the line of duty?" the captain snapped. He dropped pieces of his diorama, letting them clatter onto the table.

Cassandra's face softened when she heard the worry bleeding into her father's tone. The captain's usually stoic expression began to crack as he stared at Cassandra with a knitted brow. "A lot of powerful people gathering together also means a lot of dangerous criminals could be plotting to ruin the night. I won't take that chance with you, Cassandra..."

The young woman walked over to the captain and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"I know the risks, and I'm not a little girl anymore. You've trained me for this, Dad. Now it's time you let me actually put those skills to use," Cassandra said after pulling away. The captain stared at the determination enveloping his daughter's features before he let out another sigh.

"I will let you watch over the royals in the throne room. You can be back-up in case there's trouble in the ballroom, but you will still be on maid duty, attending to the guests." The captain regained his straight posture. His mouth formed a thin line while he pointed a finger towards Cassandra. "Your top priority tonight will be to keep the princess in line and ensure she is not away from her guards. If all goes well tonight, then maybe I will let you be on guard duty for the coronation. That's my final offer."

The lady-in-waiting grinned, yet she kept most of her excitment suppressed when she copied her father's perfect stance.

"I'll take it," Cassandra replied with a curt nod. 

Chapter Text

Shoes were never much of Rapunzel's thing, especially the pinching ones she was forced to wear for any esteemed guests that came to the castle. Simply standing in place was killing the princess's feet. Once all the guests arrived, Rapunzel was going to go straight to her room and desperately find less torturing footwear.

She stood in front of her parents at the castle's entrance. With shoulders back and posture straight, just like she was taught, the princess was prepared to make her parents proud... and to not make a fool of herself.

When the first carriage arrived by the setting sun, the tightness in Rapunzel's chest returned.

She was not ready. Not ready for this long evening. Not ready for all the rules to remember and all the boring steps that were required to just dance with someone! She wasn't ready. Not one bit--

"Announcing her highness, Queen Nova and her daughter, Princess Nuru, from the Kingdom of Estelle."

Rapunzel snapped out of her daze once a woman and her daughter emerged from their carriage and ascended the steps. Queen Nova was a very tall, stunning woman. She wore a dark violet gown with tiny crystals that resembled constellations. Her teenage daughter was equally beautiful with her blue dress complimenting her dark skin and gold pupils.

"Queen Nova, we welcome you to our kingdom," King Fredric said with his hands resting behind his back.

"Thank you for having us, your majesty," Queen Nova spoke with a warm smile. Rapunzel's gaze shifted from her to her daughter. It was Rapunzel's turn, but her mouth suddenly felt dry. Oh how she wished Cassandra or Eugene were here to do the talking for her because she was about five seconds away from collapsing. After swallowing hard, the princess straightened her posture once more and smiled towards the newcomers.

"Hello! Welcome to Corona. It's a pleasure to have you here. Love your gowns, by the way. Who designed them? I've been meaning to try some new techniques for dress-making, but I've been having some very serious artist block lately and--"

"Rapunzel."

Rapunzel glanced back to see her father with a stern gaze. Her mother carried a small smile but nodded in agreement with the king.

"Right, sorry... welcome," Rapunzel said with flushed cheeks, refocusing her attention to the guests. The much younger princess stifled a giggle until Queen Nova gave her daughter a stern look as well. The two continued inside the castle, leaving Rapunzel to fan her burning face.

"Remember, Rapunzel, keep the greetings brief," the king stated gently. Rapunzel nodded in response before focusing back on what was in front of her. She was then startled when the next guest had appeared only a few feet away from her. Another carriage had pulled up while she was busy talking to Queen Nova and her daughter. Corona's princess blinked a few times before realizing that she had not heard the guest's name announced.

"Hi, welcome! I'm so sorry, but I didn't manage to get your name--"

"I'll have you know how very rude it is not to give your guests their full attention, your majesty," the guest spat from behind her fan. The young woman was dressed in a rather lavish pink gown while wearing a very large wig with white powder on her face to match.

Rapunzel winced at the comment, not wanting to see the looks of her parents' disapproval from behind. Her palms became sweaty from holding them together for so long while she tucked a strand of her short, brown locks behind her ear.

"I'm really sorry. I mean no disrespect, ma'am."

"I am Duchess Penelope of the Saforia Kingdom. I will ask that you have the decency to refer to me by my title," the guest demanded with her chin high. Rapunzel's shoulders tensed before nodding vigorously this time.

"Yes, yes, of course, Duchess Penelope. It won't happen again."

The duchess huffed before continuing her ascent up the stairs. "I would hope so."

Rapunzel watched her go for a moment. She noticed her parents were not even looking her way anymore. They were preoccupied with a few noblemen that had arrived right after the duchess. Rapunzel's body began to shake, but she kept her head held high.

I can do this. I can do this. I can do this!

Before Rapunzel could have time to catch her breath, though, the next carriage had already arrived. The princess groaned internally, forcing another big smile. It was going to be a long night.

...

Eugene made his way through the castle, heading straight for the kitchen. He knew he'd better grab a quick bite before the kitchen became too crazy with the preparations for the ball.

He knew he was technically breaking his promise to the king by being out in the main halls, but he figured it was best to grab dinner early instead of later when he wouldn't be sure if the guests were in their rooms for the night.

On his path to the kitchen, though, Eugene ended up running into a nobleman. Luckily, it was someone from Corona. Unluckily, it was Sir Konrad III, who was also the king's uncle. He possessed a white beard but carried a scowl underneath to contrast his round and jolly exterior. Konrad lived in a rather lavish estate close to the castle, had remarried three times, and oh yeah, was a victim of Flynn Rider's thievery back in the day.

Eugene cursed under his breath. This guy was the last person he was wanting to see tonight, and that included all the important guests that he wasn't allowed to be around. The heavy-set elder narrowed his gaze against Eugene's strained smile.

"Sir Konrad, hey! What's up?" he asked with forced enthusiasm.

"Save your senseless babbling, Flynn Rider. Our interactions are limited only when I have an errand for you. I am merely here to ensure my great niece's coronation goes well, and for that to work, you need to be as far away from any royal gatherings these next few days," Konrad grunted with his haggard finger pointed right in the former thief's face.

To pay back all the priceless valuables he stole, Eugene agreed to be the nobleman's errand boy. He would buy food from the market, clean up his study, and more just to make it up to the cranky old man before him. Sure, Eugene was pardoned for this crime too, but to keep the nobleman from throwing a fit, him and the king agreed that Eugene would repay the old man in some way. Eugene went along with it just so the guy would get off his case, but a part of him also wanted to make up for his past deed. He had the princess of Corona to thank for that sudden change of heart...

... But that still didn't mean he had to like the guy.

"Trust me, the king made it very clear that I should stay far away from his daughter until after her coronation," Eugene stated, holding back the urge to roll his eyes.

"Hmph, well, let's hope you can follow a simple order like that," Konrad said as he strolled past the former thief.

"Yeah, let's hope..." Eugene did roll his eyes that time and was about to be on his way when--

"Best to let the princess pick a proper suitor while at the ball tonight."

Eugene stopped in his tracks. He whipped his head back around to face the cranky nobleman.

"What did you just say?"

Konrad turned around. He stared at Eugene as if his question was idiotic.

"I said that the princess will be able to find a proper suitor at the ball tonight. It's what the king and queen have been planning for this celebration, at least. I overheard my nephew speak of it himself." The old man scanned Eugene's shocked expression before raising an eyebrow. "Boy, are you really this clueless? Why else would they have the neighboring royals arrive early with their children? Many of them are around the princess's age, and--"

The rest of Konrad's rambles were drowned out by Eugene's thoughts. He stood there motionless at the sudden news.

"They wouldn't... That's not..." Eugene mumbled before he froze once again.

His mind suddenly recalled the whispers he was hearing this morning... about how he wasn't going to last. Eugene now thought back to his conversation with the king, requesting that Eugene specifically stay away from Rapunzel and not the gatherings or the guests themselves.

Frankly, he didn't want to believe a word from the cranky tombstone, but Konrad was known for being a no nonsense person. So, either the man was attempting his first ever joke, or... Konrad was telling the truth.

Anger began to boil over inside Eugene as he gripped his knuckles tight.

He had been fooled. Eugene gritted his teeth before he dry-washed his face with one hand, damning himself for being such an idiot.

Of course. Of course, the royal couple wouldn't want their daughter being with a crook. Pardoning him of all his crimes and letting him stay in the castle, that was just to show their appreciation for rescuing their daughter, but they would never allow him to truly belong here.

He would always be a criminal to them, unworthy of their daughter, which honestly shouldn't have stung as much as it did. Eugene knew this whole ordeal was a long shot, but still...

What stung worst of all was that they didn't see fit to even break the news to his face, and that had set the young man off.

Eugene stormed off down the hallway, despite the complaints from the lecturing nobleman. He was no longer hungry. He just needed to get out of here, out of this castle, and away from all these stuck-up snobs.

Eugene entered his room, which resided close to the guards' quarters, and snatched his satchel off the foot of his bed. He grabbed the few belongings he had and packed them away rather forcefully. He was so consumed by his raging thoughts that he didn't even notice someone standing by his open door.

"Going somewhere?"

Eugene looked up to find the lady-in-waiting herself. Cassandra had a hand on her hip with a judgmental stare as if the former thief was merely throwing a fit. Eugene narrowed his gaze before continuing with his packing.

"Not in the mood right now, Cassandra, and what are you doing here, anyway? Aren't you supposed to be watching over Rapunzel right now?" Eugene asked.

"Yeah, I just had to grab an extra dagger from my room," Cassandra said while patting one of her boots, which were hidden nicely under her blue dress. "That's when I saw you running in here like you had somewhere to be."

Eugene didn't respond. He threw the satchel over his shoulder and walked past the black-haired pain in his side.

"Well, I figured I'd head out for a bit. See you never!" Eugene spat in a much too happy tone.

Cassandra watched him go for a second before exhaling deeply.

"Where are you going, Fitzherbert?" Cassandra asked, against her better judgement, as she started walking beside him now.

"Frankly, it's none of your business, so would you mind leaving me alone and--"

"Are you upset that the king and queen didn't invite you to their ball?" she guessed. When the young man flinched at her words, Cassandra sighed even louder like she was preparing to scold a child. "Come on, Fitzherbert, you don't have to spend every waking moment with Rapunzel. I'm sure you can find something else to occupy your time in your sad, boring life--"

"Would you just shut it already!" Eugene shouted. He halted right in the middle of the hallway to face the woman, who was seriously starting to give him a headache.

Cassandra was taken aback by the outburst. Fury reaching her face, she was more than ready to retaliate tenfold, but the genuine hurt in the former thief's gaze made her hesitate.

Eugene ran a hand through his hair while he seemed to look through Cassandra as if he were arguing with himself. "Look, I know I'm not wanted here, alright? I know what everyone here thinks of me. I can overlook all that... what I can't overlook is the fact that the royal couple treats me like an idiot, having me live in their castle while they try to find a proper man for Rapunzel right under my nose."

"Wait... what?" Cassandra asked, completely puzzled now. Eugene's eye began to twitch before he pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Okay, that speech wasn't really for you."

"Yeah, I could tell... you know I don't believe any of those rumors going around, right? Your personality, on the other hand, is why I can't stand you," Cassandra said with a shrug.

"Thanks..." Eugene muttered before turning away. "I just need to get out of here. Clear my head."

"What about Rapunzel?" Cassandra asked. Her words carried a more serious tone now. "How long will you be gone?"

Eugene paused. The image of the vibrant princess with her kind smile and beautiful green eyes filled his mind. He tightened the grip on his satchel.

"I'm not sure... It's like you said, Cass. I don't have to spend every waking moment with her," Eugene replied slowly. Each sentence carried more weight than the last.

Cassandra noticed that the former thief's shoulders had dropped. His tone grew weak and distant. The young woman frowned the more she stared at the hurt emanating off of him.

"Take care of yourself, Eugene," she said with a hint of worry that surprised even herself. Eugene was silent for a second before he continued on down the hall.

"See yeah, Cassandra."

...

The ballroom was decorated with white and gold curtains and ribbon. The cream-clothed tables carrying small appetizers were pushed off to the side to allow the guests to mingle or waltz to the soft melody of a few musicians, who played in the corner. There were some areas in the room that even carried wild flowers in glass vases. Rapunzel personally picked them herself to brighten up many rooms in the castle.

While the king and queen were busy with the other royals and dignitaries, Rapunzel followed her parents' request and headed straight for their youthful guests. The young figureheads made it rather easy for Rapunzel since they were all gathered in a small circle and already talking among themselves.

There were six in the group: two princesses, two sons of noble families, the harsh duchess from before, and one prince.

Nuru, the youngest among them, smiled when she spotted Rapunzel entering the circle.

"Hello, Princess Rapunzel," Nuru said rather formally, yet she couldn't hide the glee in her eyes.

"Hi, everyone, and please, just call me Rapunzel," Rapunzel said while she smoothed the front of her ball gown self-consciously.

"Ridding the formalities, I like it," the prince spoke with a grin. His warm smile matched his pale blonde hair, which carried bangs that swooped to one side of his forehead, shaping his face handsomely. "The name is William, your majesty." The young man gave a small bow out of respect but kept his playful smirk.

"Really? Not only do you greet us with such tacky informality, but now you expect us to just drop our titles all together, your majesty?" Duchess Penelope spat. She adjusted her fan, so Rapunzel could see her scowl. One of the noblemen sons, the lankier of the two, nodded in approval.

"Indeed, I see it as highly offensive, dropping such formalities. It's as if we should not be proud of the titles we were rightfully given."

The more round-faced noble boy kept his gaze to the floor until the lankier one smacked his shoulder. Grabbing his attention, lanky glared his friend down until the boy spoke up. "Uh, yes, very offensive... your highness."

Rapunzel stared at the three with her mouth slightly open.

"That's not... I didn't mean to... I--"

"Oh, just shut it, Adrian." Rapunzel turned to find the second princess had spoken. Her raven hair and olive skin matched beautifully against her amber dress with red accents. Her tone carried little emotion yet, her narrowing gaze towards the lanky teen hinted exactly what she was feeling. She then dropped her glare and looked over at Rapunzel with a small smile.

"Don't mind him, your majesty. Adrian's known to be an annoying pain. Don't let him or any other morons lower your spirits." the princess then let her hands fall in front of her, placing one on top of the other like Rapunzel always had seen her mother do. "I'm Mei. Nice to meet you, Rapunzel."

Rapunzel soon carried a smile of her own while the lanky teen huffed in response. There was an awkward pause that filled the air before Prince William cleared his throat.

"So, Rapunzel... how are you adjusting to princess life?"

Rapunzel tucked a chunk of hair behind her ear. "It's been really nice, actually. Meeting so many new people, having so much to do, and spending time with my parents and loved ones. It's... all I could have ever hoped for." While her words were genuine, her grin faltered ever so slightly.

"That sounds wonderful, but I bet it can also be overwhelming at times," William replied. Rapunzel was pulled out of her thoughts and turned abruptly towards the prince.

"You feel that way too?"

"Of course! I mean, I'm only 22, and my mother is already planning my coronation to ascend the throne in a few months. Trust me, the royal life can be difficult, but you'll adjust to it. I already have a few changes in mind that I plan to enact. My mother was too stubborn to even consider the benefit they will have for our people, so I plan to give them a try," William replied with a wave of the hand. A few of the others nodded in agreement.

"Yeah, I mean, I still have a while before I become queen, but I already have a lot of plans for my kingdom and how to ensure it thrives." Nuru said with a proud grin. "I've been studying Estelle's history and law since I was six! I know it's a lot of responsibility to rule a kingdom, but I'm already excited to start."

"My parents are prepping me to rule within the year. A lot of studying and lectures. I honestly wish I could spend most days with my hobbies, like reinventing our fireworks, but I've thought of ways I can use it to help strengthen my kingdom," Mei added with a shrug.

Rapunzel looked over the royals in astonishment. With her shoulders back and eyes wide, she processed their words with an impressed grin.

"Wow, that's amazing..."

"Well, studying and preparing can only get you so far when it comes to ruling a kingdom. I believe getting right into the action and interacting with the people is the most effective way to rule," William added with excitement in his tone, receiving an eye roll from Adrian. One could easily miss, though, the quick flash of mischief in the prince's green eyes.

"Yes, yes! I agree! Being with the people, interacting and helping them is how I would want to rule too," Rapunzel said with even more enthusiasm. "I mean, how can someone rule over a kingdom when you keep yourself locked away from everyone? Leaders should be down in the dirt and help the villagers personally."

"Pfft, spoken like someone who has been down in the dirt with the riff-raff," Adrian spoke with a chuckle.

"I'm sorry?" Rapunzel asked. She snapped her attention onto the lanky teen. Her tone grew a tad harsh.

"Oh, forgive me, I was just referring to the supposed crooks and rats you were forced to interact with until you were brought back to Corona," Adrian explained. He spun his attention over the group, carrying a smug grin as if he were spilling an embarrassing secret. "Apparently, there was word that you danced around a pub full of criminals? And, one of them even brought you to the castle? My, that greedy low-life must have gotten a fortune for merely guiding you back home. At least now you don't have to associate with them anymore--"

"Hold it right there, mister!" Rapunzel spat. Adrian jumped when he found the princess a foot away from him now. She clenched her teeth, seething with pure rage. "How dare you insult my friends! Those 'crooks' have more compassion and love in their hearts than you have in your entire body, you no good--Mhmh!"

The princess's words were stopped when Cassandra rushed over and placed a hand over her friend's mouth.

"I'm so sorry, your grace. Her majesty hasn't had dinner yet. I better take her to the refreshment table. If you will excuse us," Cassandra said quickly before dragging Rapunzel away from the group.

Silence fell over the group once more, still baffled by the incident. Nuru then turned her focus to the lanky teen.

"Wow, rude much, Adrian?" she asked with a raised brow.

"What? I was insulting the ruffians! How was I supposed to know she would be friends with people like that?"

William pinched the bridge of his nose while Mei narrowed her gaze again. Duchess Penelope, looking bored, had already moved away from the group. Nuru then took this as her cue to head over to the quiet noblemen's son. Promptly stepping in between Adrian and the round-faced teen, she grabbed his hand with a smile.

"Come on, Charlie. Let's go dance. We gotta salvage this night somehow," Nuru said, making the rather short boy blush.

...

Once she was sure they were far enough away from any guests, Cassandra released Rapunzel. The princess gave a loud huff before turning around to face her friend.

"Can you believe that guy? Insulting the good people from the Snuggly Duckling and Eugene like that? Ugh! Who does he think he is?" Rapunzel asked with crossed arms. When her eyes finally landed on Cassandra, though, she could see a clear glare over her eyes. "What?"

"Rapunzel, you can't just go and start yelling at nobility like that. You do realize that all eyes are on you tonight?"

"I know, but--"

"But nothing! You're representing Corona, and you can very easily fracture alliances with the simplest offense. It doesn't matter what jerks like him say. You have to be the bigger person and keep your composure," Cassandra snapped while placing both her hands on the princess's shoulders. Rapunzel stared at the maiden. Her mouth parted before it fell to a frown. She cast her gaze to the side as she mulled over the situation.

Before the princess spoke, though, Cassandra released her shoulders rather quickly. Rapunzel looked to see the handmaiden taking a step back with her face turned towards the ground. A few of the esteemed guests walked past them, watching Cassandra with scrutiny. Rapunzel glanced between them and her best friend.

The usually blunt, fierce warrior was reduced to a submissive servant by a mere glare.

Rapunzel's stomach turned with disgust while her fists tightened.

"This isn't right, Cass." Her lady-in-waiting turned to see the rage seeping into her face.

"Raps... I know stuff like this sucks, but please, do it for your people. Do it for me?" Rapunzel could hear the plea in her friend's words. Eventually, she released the tension from her features and exhaled slowly.

"Okay... Okay, I won't cause trouble," Rapunzel said with a smile. Cassandra sighed with relief before returning the gesture.

"Excuse me?"

The two friends jumped from the sudden voice. They turned to find Prince William. The young man carried a grin as he dipped his head towards them.

"Pardon the interruption, but I was wondering if you would like to dance, Rapunzel?" William asked, holding out a hand.

Rapunzel's gaze shifted back and forth between Cassandra and the prince. Her friend made a quick nod towards the royal guest, pushing the princess along.

The princess finally spoke. "Oh, um, sure! But I should warn you, I'm not really graceful with these shoes."

William chuckled after Rapunzel accepted his hand. "That's fine. I'm not really fancy with my footwork either."

Her highness couldn't help but giggle at his statement. "Maybe I could teach you sometime? When I get out of these shoes, of course."

William grew a gentle smile. "I would like that."

When the two reached the dance floor, Rapunzel placed a hand on the prince's shoulder while he wrapped an arm around her waist. When the two locked their other hands together, they began a steady waltz.

There were a few others that filled the dance floor, one pair being Nuru and Charlie. Nuru giggled at the shorter teen's fumbling, but she kept close to him nevertheless.

Rapunzel's heart melted at the sight of the younger dancers until her foot fumbled, causing her to fall further into the prince's arms. She looked up at William, whose smile never faltered.

"Sorry... I told you. Shoes aren't really my thing, let alone heels," Rapunzel stated before regaining her proper position.

"I've never heard someone say they hate shoes all together. Heels, yes. But all shoes?" William asked.

"Well, I don't mind boots when it gets cold, of course, but I rather feel the earth beneath my feet whenever I can. I don't want to miss anything of the outside world, even if it means my feet will get a little dirty," Rapunzel admitted while glancing to the side. "I know it may seem improper, but that's how I feel."

"I think your reason is wonderful... I definitely don't have the bravery to try it for myself, but I can see it your way," William replied as he guided the princess in a gentle circle around the dance floor. All other voices and distractions faded away while the two focused intently on their conversation. William's smile then began to fade. "Actually, there's a lot of things I'm not brave enough to do... Royal life can truly be suffocating at times, especially with events like this."

Rapunzel gave a soft sigh. "I know what you mean..."

William took a quick look to his right before focusing back on the princess. "Would you like to take a breather?"

Rapunzel turned her focus back up to the young prince, gaining a puzzled expression. "What?"

The confidence in William's features chipped from her response. "Pardon me, I noticed there was a glass door over there that leads to a garden area. I wanted to ask you if you would like to take a stroll outside with me?"

The princess looked to where William motioned and noticed the glass doors that were decorated with white trim. Two guards stood by the entrance, simply to watch whoever desired to enter the small garden area.

The sight of the outside world brightened Rapunzel's entire demeanor, practically pulling herself to the doors already.

"Yes, that sounds amazing right now," she said breathlessly. William nodded, equally thrilled, before he guided her towards the doors. Rapunzel then glanced over to where her lady-in-waiting was last seen.

Cassandra was still by the refreshment table, handing out plates of finger foods to a few guests, when the two made eye contact. Rapunzel tipped her head towards the glass doors with a wide smile. The handmaiden, though, grew uneasy. She looked between her friend and the prince before giving a very forced thumbs-up.

If Rapunzel noticed her friend's hesitation, then she didn't show it. The stressed princess was just overjoyed with the thought of getting some fresh air.

When the duo reached the double doors, the two guards let them through before following right after them.

Cassandra then groaned at the sight. She handed out the last plate before heading for the gardens herself.

...

There was no way her friend had thought this through. Cassandra knew Rapunzel's intentions were pure, but she was responsible for the princess's behavior tonight.

If she was going to ensure her chance to become a guard, then Cassandra would have to watch the princess like a hawk the entire night.

Not only that, but Cassandra honestly didn't like the idea of Rapunzel going off alone with a guy, even if he was a prince. Sure, there were guards following them, but the handmaiden knew that her friend would most definitely try to shake them.

Cassandra pushed open the glass door to be greeted by the chilly night air. Late spring enveloped the gardens where lush green hedges arched over the entrance and filled the perimeter.

Bushes and tulips decorated the stone path, which curved through the grassy area until it reached a large fountain. That's where she spotted Rapunzel and Prince William sitting on a bench with the two guards literally only a few feet behind them.

Cassandra paused. She should just hang back and watch from afar. Rapunzel was sitting tight. Her guards had not left her side. Everything was perfect.

Except, the sight of the guards and Rapunzel's tired expression made the handmaiden frown. The princess seemed completely miserable. Any time she shut her eyes and attempted to let the breeze wash her away, there would be a cough from one of the men or the slight shift in their footing, causing their armor to clank. The sounds physically made the princess flinch, yanking her back into reality and ripping away any sense of peace she craved.

Suddenly, her own goals seemed to get pushed to the furthest part of her mind the more Cassandra watched how uncomfortable her friend looked.

Without a second thought, the handmaiden marched over to the guards with hands on her hips.

"Hey, more guards are needed in the ballroom. I can watch over things from here," Cassandra said quietly, glancing over at the princess.

The two guardsmen hesitated. They knew that they were required to keep watch over the party's guests, but they, frankly, didn't want to listen to a teenage conversation for who knows how long. Plus, the guards all knew Cassandra. She trained with them since a young age, and they knew what she was capable of, despite her father's hesitation.

With a quick nod, the two men left the youthful royals and headed back inside. Cassandra then turned to see Rapunzel. Newfound calmness settled into the princess's features as she mouthed a 'thank you'.

"I'll just be over there if you need anything, your majesty," Cassandra said while pointing to the terrace that resided on the other side of the gardens, yet still had a clear view of the two royals.

The princess nodded happily in agreement. Cassandra curtsied and then walked off.

...

The breeze enveloped Rapunzel once again. It's slight twinge of coldness tickled her skin and relieved her lungs. She sat back in her seat. She closed her eyes and just let the quiet night consume her. The rustling of leaves, the fresh air intoxicating her nostrils, and the soft grass underneath her now free toes brought the princess peace.

"You really adore nature, don't you?" William asked quietly.

Rapunzel opened her eyes to find the prince admiring her. She smiled. "I honestly wish I could spend most of my days out here. I've seen so little of the outside world. I want to experience as much as I can."

"That's truly admirable, Rapunzel..." William muttered with a warm grin. The two sat in silence, admiring the beautiful scenery before them. As the minutes ticked away, though, a thought formed in the prince's mind the more he witnessed the blissfully entranced princess.

While her highness listened to the water spouts splashing against the base of the fountain, she suddenly felt a hand on hers.

Rapunzel snapped out of her thoughts and turned to find William staring right at her.

"Rapunzel, forgive my forwardness, but... I find your beauty astounding tonight and admire your free thinking spirit." William spoke as he picked up her hand and held it gently in the space between them. The princess's eyes widened when she noticed the pink flushing over the prince's cheeks, never breaking eye contact with her. "I was wondering... if you would let me take you out for an evening? To dinner, perhaps?"

The chilly air around Rapunzel seemed to freeze. Her body tensed up once again, muscles practically jumping out of her skin.

"What?" is all the princess could muster since her mind went blank.

"Well, of course, if we were to go out, then it would be after your coronation. If your parents would allow it too. My mother would be hard to convince, but I'm sure--"

"Wait, wait!" Rapunzel spat before taking a breath. She moved her hand away from the prince's grasp and looked at him intently. "Are you... asking me out on a date?"

There was a pause. William cast his gaze to a ground for a second before looking back at the princess.

"Y-Yes... I'm sorry, was I not clear?"

Rapunzel processed his answer. Her gaze went to the scenery in front of them. The fountain, the greenery, the seclusion. Even the fireflies above seemed to dance around them as if to set a specific mood. The princess then looked down and noticed how close she was sitting next to William.

Alarm bells rang inside the princess before she jumped to her feet.

"Sorry, sorry! I just-- Oh! Okay, um I..." Rapunzel inhaled to ease her racing nerves. When her thoughts finally caught up with her, Rapunzel turned around to face the prince. "William, I-I-I'm sorry, I'm flattered, but I can't... I'm seeing someone."

William watched the princess for a moment. Confusion filled his features as he glanced at the ground again. "Oh. Oh, okay. My apologies, I had no idea."

Rapunzel then gave an awkward chuckle. Her shoulders relaxed when the prince stood up. "It's not your fault. You couldn't have known." She stood in place, waiting for the young man in front of her to respond. William then finally met her gaze.

"The... the thing is... I was told that you... did not have a current suitor."

Rapunzel paused. She knitted her brow while she watched William carefully. "What do you mean?"

William curled his lips, seeing the genuine concern filling her highness's features. "You see... My mother was informed, by your parents, that you currently did not have a suitor."

Color drained from Rapunzel's face. The beautiful scenery around her seemed to melt away while the comforting spring air now appeared to choke her.

"What? I-No, that's not..." Rapunzel muttered as she backed away from the prince. Her mind started spinning again. She couldn't breathe. The tightness in her chest gripped her lungs to the point it physically started to ache. William followed after her.

"I'm so sorry, I shouldn't have--I didn't consider that you might be secretly seeing someone or--" William started, but Rapunzel held her hands up to him.

"Please! Could you just... please, give me a minute alone?" Rapunzel gasped. Her eyes stung with tears. She turned away from him while she tried to control her breathing.

She could feel William's gaze on her back. He hesitated, but he eventually complied.

"I'm sorry," he said before he walked away.

Rapunzel's body trembled. She clutched her hands close to her chest while she gasped for air. She shut her eyes tightly. A few tears began rolling down her cheeks.

"Rapunzel?" The princess opened her eyes to find her best friend making her way to her. Concern filled the handmaiden's cool gaze. Rapunzel swiped away the stray tears, breathing as slow as she could manage. "What happened? Did he say something--"

"No, no, I just..." Rapunzel inhaled once more. She lowered her hands. Her fingernails dug into her palms the more she processed the news. The princess's face contorted as new emotions began to bubble up inside her. Rapunzel looked at Cassandra with a hard glare. "I need to talk to my parents."

...

While her friend stormed towards the ballroom, Cassandra rushed forward to grab her shoulder.

"Raps, wait! What's going on?"

Rapunzel whipped around, keeping her boiling expression. "My parents. They lied about me to the other royals. They--They--I just need to speak with them now."

Cassandra cut in front of the princess before she burst through the doors. "Raps, look, confront them as much as you want, but please, do not make a scene in the middle of the ball. You can't-"

"Cassandra!"

The two girls jumped. A harsh voice called out through the air. Cassandra recognized the voice instantly, making her insides twist into knots. When she turned, she found her dad making his way to them. His heavy armor clanked with every step he took until he stood directly in front of the handmaiden.

"Dad..." Cassandra started against the captain's harsh demeanor.

"Why is the princess outside, away from her ball, and away from her guards?" her father snapped.

Cassandra hesitated. She could feel her friend's concern eating away at the scene from behind. Before the princess could answer, Cassandra stood tall, holding her arms behind her back like a soldier. "The princess and Prince William wanted to visit the gardens. I told the two guards posted here to head back to the party, so they could keep the other guests safe and--"

"And leave two royals alone and unguarded?"

Cassandra narrowed her gaze, turning her father's glare back on him. "The princess wished for privacy, so I kept watch on her from a distance. I kept my eye on them the entire time, dad--"

"But you are not officially a part of the royal guard, Cassandra," the captain spat.

"No, but you know I am fully capable to--"

"What you're capable of does not matter here, Cassandra. You went against orders from the king, who ordered that the princess be guarded at all times when she is not in her chambers. You do not have the authority to watch over her highness on your own."

"I would be if you just gave me a chance," Cassandra said through gritted teeth.

"No, what I've seen tonight proves to me that you are not ready to be a part of the guard. You cannot just do whatever you feel like and expect to be awarded for it."

Anger flared up inside Cassandra. She stared at her father in disbelief. "You have got to be kidding me! I know you're worried about me, dad, but you can't just make up excuses now and not let me--"

"I'm not making any excuses! You put your own ego in front of the safety of the princess and a guest, and you defied orders from the king. A true guard needs to always follow orders."

"I didn't put my ego in front of--"

"Enough!" the captain shouted. Cassandra froze. Her father kept his unwavering glare on her. "I want both you and her highness inside, now. I will not repeat myself again."

Cassandra stiffened. She watched the man before her, searching for any hesitation or any emotion at all in his stony expression. Yet, as usual, there was not a crack. The handmaiden cast her gaze to the ground. Rapunzel moved to her side, placing a hand on her shoulder. She could tell the princess was about to open her mouth.

"Captain, don't blame Cass. I wanted to be left alone and--"

"Rapunzel, just drop it, please..." Cassandra said before she pulled away from her friend's touch. The captain eased his gaze on his daughter, seeing the defeated look she now carried. The handmaiden headed for the doors with her head hung low.

Rapunzel looked between the captain and her friend. All the anger from her own problems had vanished as she tried to think of what she could possibly say. When no words could form, the princess made her way back to the ballroom with heaviness weighing on her shoulders.

...

When the party came to a close, the guests were guided to their rooms for the night.

A guard showed Duchess Penelope to her room before shutting the door behind her. The young woman scanned the bedroom. A small fire from the hearth illuminated the dark chambers, revealing the queen size bed with decorative pillows and a fleece quilt.

The duchess scrunched up her face at the sight before walking over and setting her fan down on the nightstand. She then made her way to the wardrobe. Opening the doors, she removed her lavish wig, allowing her brown locks to skid just across her shoulders. She grabbed a towel and began to remove the multitude of powder from her face. She turned away from the wardrobe as she cleaned. Silence carried on through the darkened room beside the crackling of wood.

The sudden rush of chilly air, though, caused the woman to freeze. She knew someone was there, and she had a good guess of who it was.

"Lady Caine, was it?" The voice was deathly quiet.

When the supposed duchess removed the towel from her face she spotted the hooded stranger from earlier in the day. He leaned against the wall beside the open window. The tone of his voice suggested that his question was genuine rather than to portray any amusement.

The Queen of Thieves frowned. She tossed aside the towel and watched the man carefully. He was without any of his animal companions, except for a raven that perched on his shoulder. It fluffed up its feathers, giving a mild squawk before sending its beady eyes right at her.

"What do you want? Can't you see I'm busy?" Caine spat, continuing her defiant attitude despite the looming shadow before her.

"Your party of crooks were all just arrested earlier tonight for petty thievery," the hooded stranger spoke as if expecting an explanation.

Lady Caine let out a sigh. Pain inched to the front of her skull. "If you had waited around long enough to listen to my plan, you would know that they're doing what they're told. We'll be ready to take action tomorrow afternoon."

"You better be. I did not travel this far to deal with incompetent criminals," the stranger scolded like he was already fed up with the whole ordeal.

Lady Caine's insides boiled over. Her muscles tensed at the man's tone, jaw clenching to the point her teeth could crack. "That's it! I did not come this far to ruin these royal trash heaps only for some freak in a hood to treat me like his minion." She headed over to the stranger. Despite the man being nearly a foot taller, her stare carried a bone-cracking fury.

"I could care less what you want, child. My only concern is destroying the Sun Drop to secure the Lunar Kingdom's future."

"You keep saying that!" Caine spat, but she hushed her tone to ensure their conversation wouldn't be overheard. "The Lunar Kingdom has isolated themselves from everyone for nearly 2 decades now. What future could that kingdom possibly have other than fading from existen--"

Caine's words evaporated from her lips when a sword came up to her throat. The man's movements were so fast that she barely had time to reach for the dagger in her boot.

A flash of anger filled the hooded figure's features, a drastic change from his indifferent attitude minutes before. "A foolish low-life like you has no right to speak of the kingdom in such a manner. You have no idea what the king and his people have suffered, falling from the conquerors we once were."

The man retracted his sword despite the berserk flare still remaining in his eyes. He turned to head back towards the open window. His raven gave one last squawk before flying away. "The only way for the Lunar Kingdom to be restored to its former glory is for the Sun Drop to meet its end and for the Lost Prince to be brought back to the throne."

Lady Caine stared at the hooded figure. His back was to her as he rambled, appearing to be speaking to himself rather than to her.

Lost prince? I've never heard of any lost prince from the Lunar Kingdom... or any kingdom for that matter.

Corona has been the only one to ever have any royalty missing, in the recent decades at least.

Lady Caine then squinted her gaze. She was seriously beginning to question how sane this stranger was. The man then turned his head to look back at the thief.

"Just make sure your plans follow through," he said while his eyes seemed to glow once more. "Or it will be your head that I take instead."

...

Once the guests went off to bed, the king and queen retired to their chambers. Before they could get a moment of peace, though, Rapunzel pushed her way through the doors, despite the resistance from the guards.

"Rapunzel?" the queen asked from her spot on the bed, surprised to witness such an abrupt entrance from her daughter. The king was over by the fireplace while he stared, equally shocked.

"Rapunzel, what is the meaning of this?" he asked.

Two guards rushed in behind the princess, fumbling from as if they had just lost a fight. "I'm sorry, your majesty, she was pretty adamant about seeing you right--"

"You lied to me," Rapunzel's harsh tone cut through the air, silencing everyone. "This dinner wasn't about celebrating my coronation. This was about you two trying to find a boyfriend for me!" she snapped loudly.

The two guards looked between themselves. Their stances quickly grew awkward before they ushered themselves back out, shutting the doors behind them.

The royal couple stared at their daughter for a moment. Their alarm slowly melted away while they cast their attention to the floor.

Irritation gnawed inside the princess when there was a lack of response. "So it is true. How could you do this to me?"

"Rapunzel, our intention was not to deceive you, nor force any romance on you," the king stated slowly.

"You're father's right, Rapunzel..." the queen said, causing all eyes to fall on her.

"Then, what was it for?" the princess furthered. The queen let out a sigh before meeting her daughter's gaze.

"After hearing your story about being locked away all your life, we wanted to make sure you formed as many relationships as you could." Arianna stood up, so she could fully face her daughter. "Yes, you have a close bond with Cassandra and a few others in the castle, but we wanted to find more people, your own age, that you could get to know. More people you can connect with and relate to better since many of the royal children are close, if not already, ascending to the throne, like you will be soon enough too."

That last sentence struck the princess.

"Wait, wait, ascending to the throne? Like... becoming queen?"

"Why yes, Rapunzel, you are nearly 19 now. You are of age to become queen," the king answered.

The room began to spin, making Rapunzel dizzy. The tightness in her chest grew more and more till she could barely breathe.

"But, we are not placing that title on you just yet," the king finished with his hands raised in an attempt to ease his daughter.

Rapunzel snapped out of her spiraling thoughts and focused back on her parents.

"We couldn't ask you to become queen after barely a year of freedom. That's why we've been postponing it until you are officially ready," the queen added.

Rapunzel sighed, placing a hand over her chest. She took in a few deep breaths to ease her racing heartbeat. Once her mind became clear again, she tried to focus back on the main conversation.

"But what about Eugene? How could you tell the other royals I wasn't seeing anyone?" Rapunzel asked with a narrowed gaze. A deep frown fell over the king. Sadness flickered across his gaze for merely a second before he focused back on his daughter with his head held high.

"We have nothing against Eugene. We told the other kings and queens that for your benefit," Fredric stated.

"My benefit? To do what? To cheat on my boyfriend? Oh! Yeah, I'd love to go on a date with you, Prince William! Let me just tell my boyfriend that I am busy this Friday!" Rapunzel spat as she waved her hand around with a furious grin.

"Rapunzel, enough of this! You made your point-- Wait, Prince William..."

The princess scowled towards her father.

"Yes, dad, Prince William asked me out on a date. That's how I found out about your whole plan in the first place, and of course, I wasn't interested. Prince William is very kind, but I don't have any romantic feelings for him."

"You've only known him for a day, though. Feelings could change--"

"Dad!"

"Fredric..." The king looked over at his wife, who inhaled slowly. Rapunzel followed her father's gaze to see her mother was taking the floor again. "It was my idea, so I should be the one to explain."

The princess stared at her mother, mouth open agape. Hurt ate away at her expression.

"It was your idea to lie about me not dating anyone? I--What-- Mom... I thought you of all people would understand. You and dad married for love," Rapunzel spat as the queen's formal posture caved in, and her shoulders slumped.

"Yes, we did... And that's why I lied to the other royals." Rapunzel's expression twisted into more confusion before Queen Arianna made her way over to her daughter.

"What are you-- Okay, you're not making any sense. Eugene and I like each other very much! We've been dating for nearly six months now, and I want to be with him," Rapunzel said. She too stepped closer to her mother. King Fredric walked over to stand closer to his wife and watched the conversation continue a few feet away.

"We know you're telling the truth when you say that. And while you both are very sweet to each other, we still can't help but be concerned for you."

Rapunzel raised an eyebrow before crossing her arms.

"Concerned for me? What are you saying?" Arianna sighed again before placing a hand on Rapunzel's shoulder.

"Rapunzel... You were locked away in a tower for eighteen years. For goodness sakes, you told us yourself that the day Eugene took you out of that tower was the first day you ever even touched grass! Grass!"

"So!" the princess spat back.

"Rapunzel, Eugene was the first person to let you out of that tower, the first person to actually experience the world with you, and he even saved your life from that witch. What we're afraid of is that... you might be projecting your feelings of freedom onto Eugene and mistaking it for love," Arianna stated. Rapunzel's bewilderment grew until it burst into rage.

"That--That's ridiculous! You're basically saying that I am so naive and shallow that I would have fallen in love with whoever came up to the tower that day. Might I remind you, that I hit him on the head with a frying pan, three times, when I first met him."

"But that still was before you officially experienced the world with him..." Arianna trailed off. She then leaned foward towards her daughter. "Plus, you did admit to me that you thought he was cute when you first met him," she whispered under her breath. A ghost of a smile filled the queen's cheeks, but it quickly vanished.

Rapunzel's cheeks warmed from the secret before waving her hand to dismiss the thought. She then backed away from her mother's touch. "Yes, he was the first person for me to ever experience the world with... but back then, he was still Flynn Rider. He was still the overly egotistical and selfish thief that only helped me at first, so he could get my tiara back," Rapunzel huffed, running a hand through her hair. She stared at the floor for a moment, recalling the first adventure she ever had. "Sure... I was starting to like him during our time together, but it wasn't until he showed more sides to him. The funny, kind, brave, and caring person that is Eugene. That's what made me fall for him," Rapunzel said while tucking a strand of hair behind her ear and smiling to herself.

"But sweetheart... Those are just traits. What do you really know about Eugene? Has he told you anything about his past other than just his name?" Arianna furthered.

Rapunzel watched her mother. She could see concern filling her features as she stared at the princess with a slight intensity to it. Her father carried a similar look, like he wanted the same answer.

The princess frowned, urging herself not to roll her eyes.

So much for them saying that they don't have a problem with Eugene.

Eventually, Rapunzel answered. "Well, I know he was an orphan all his life. He told me that he loved the Flynnigan Rider books and would read them to the other orphans..." the princess trailed off, admiring the image of a young Eugene reading to other kids with such excitement that she's seen him carry from time to time.

She then tried to recall anything else. "He once told me that he had a childhood best friend that was like a brother to him," Rapunzel started. Her smile soon faded. She remembered asking more about this friend, but her boyfriend seemed to avoid the topic after that, as if he never intented to tell her that fact in the first place.

Rapunzel barely noticed that her parents were looking at eachother now. Concern filled their features.

The princess's pleasant demeanor soon melted completely the more she pulled up old memories. "He said that everything else was just thievery stuff and that he didn't want to get too deep into it..." Rapunzel's frown grew over her cheeks. She had been meaning to talk to him about that, but the conversation always seemed to get pushed back. The princess then cleared her throat. "I mean, we've only been dating for six months. I can't expect him to open up about everything." Her shoulders dipped low despite the casual tone she carried.

Saddness consumed the king and queen, but Rapunzel could tell that they weren't surprised. They stepped closer towards their daughter, ready to embrace her.

Rapunzel's fists then tightened before she backed away even further.

"No, no! We're not here to talk about my relationship with Eugene. The problem here tonight is that you lied and manipulated me because you don't trust my judgement."

Queen Arianna started, "Rapunzel, we were only trying to look out for you. We wanted you to meet other people your age for the chance to show you that there are other options out there--"

"If that were really true, then you would let me explore the kingdom on my own without a giant parade of guards following me everywhere."

"You know why we have the guards, Rapunzel. You are a princess, and you need to be protected. The world is a dangerous place," King Fredric stated with a stern gaze. His tone then grew in severity, "We will not lose you again."

His words stung Rapunzel deeply. Old wounds began crawling up her skin and jabbing needles against her brain.

Finally, Rapunzel grew a harsh glare. She turned away and reached for the door. "You know you are not the first person to tell me that the world is dangerous and that I need to be protected," Rapunzel muttered. Her tone was as cold as ice. Fredric and Arianna stared at their daughter as their expressions fell from the realization.

"Rapunzel..."

"You two think I can't handle myself? Or that I'm just too naive? Well, you're wrong. You don't know what's best for me," Rapunzel said before opening the door and slamming it behind her.

The princess ignored the guards she passed and walked carefully until she was around the corner. That's when she could feel the tears stinging her gaze. Rapunzel sniffed quietly to herself, rubbing her eyes with her sleeve. Every part of her just wanted to curl up under her blankets and hide away, but she refused.

That was something a naive child would do, and Rapunzel was not that.

The princess pushed away the tightness in her throat and kept marching down the hall. The conversation with her parents continued to whirl through her mind, causing her to tear up even more. The longer the thoughts lingered, though, it eventually caused her to think about Eugene once again.

She hadn't seen him since this morning.

Where was he?

Did he find out about what her parents were planning?

The thought made Rapunzel's body freeze once realization kicked in.

"Eugene..." she muttered before racing off.

...

When Rapunzel reached her boyfriend's room, she gave a soft knock.

"Eugene? Eugene, are you in there? It's Rapunzel. I hadn't seen you all day. I was alittle worried that..." Rapunzel trailed off. Her face winced. She hated how she phrased that. It made her sound so clingy. "What I mean is that... something... something pretty bad happened, and I... I just wanted to talk to you for a second and--"

The princess stopped. She had twisted the door handle and noticed that it was unlocked. She cracked it open slightly to see that it was dark in the room.

Was he asleep?

"Eugene?" She waited for a response, but she met once again with silence. "I'm coming in--" Rapunzel turned the lights on and froze.

The bed was completely stripped of any blankets or sheets, and aside from the wardrobe and table, there was nothing else inside the room.

No shoes, clothing, or any other items lied around to indicate someone was living there.

Rapunzel let out a small gasp as the tightness in her chest started squeezing at her lungs now.

This had to be a mistake. Had she just opened the wrong door?

There was the sound of squeaky wheels from down the hall. Rapunzel turned to see an old lady pushing a cart full of used blankets and sheets. The princess recognized the woman right away and rushed over to her.

"Lady Crowley!" Rapunzel called out to the castle's steward. The tiny handmaiden stopped pushing her over-sized cart and looked at the princess with a bitter scowl.

Rapunzel paused for a second, adjusting herself to the woman's harsh demeanor. "Hi, uh, I just wanted to ask if you recently cleaned out some of the rooms down this hall?" Rapunzel asked while pointing a finger.

"Where do you think I got all these sheets from? With the royal ball tonight, I'm behind on washing all the linens down here, so would you mind?" Lady Crowley spat. She then proceeded with her task. Rapunzel noticed the heavy cart was being difficult for the old woman to move, so the princess headed over to help push. The steward grunted in approval before Rapunzel continued.

"What I mean is... did you clean out Room 405? That's Eugene's room, and I noticed it was empty when I checked it just now--"

"You talking about that Flynn Rider? Saw him leave earlier with his stuff. I figured that meant he was outta here and the room needed to be cleaned."

Rapunzel stopped pushing the cart and stood still. As Lady Crowley struggled with the cart, the old lady's words echoed through the princess's head.

Tears started filling her gaze once again at the news that her boyfriend was gone.

Did he find out?

Did he think that I agreed with my parents' plan?

Is he never coming back?

"A little help over here?" Crowley asked, ignoring the sniffles behind her.

Not knowing what else to do and still wanting to help, Rapunzel continued to push the cart with Lady Crowley. The entire way down the hall, it was dead silent. Rapunzel kept her composure as best she could while stray tears rolled down her cheeks.

Chapter Text

Rapunzel raced across the meadow. The sun's rays bounced off her skin and made the scenery ever more beautiful. With her bare feet, she kicked up the dirt, watching bits of it fly in the air briefly. The summer breeze blew over her.

That's when she felt it. Rapunzel looked to her right to find her long golden locks blowing through the wind.

This did not surprise the princess. She gave a soft giggle at the sight before she wiped the loose strands of hair out of her face. Rapunzel continued her trek through the meadow, scanning for any new sights until she spotted a figure.

They were blurry at first, but after focusing for a minute, Rapunzel realized that it was Eugene. He had his back to her, and he seemed to be walking away.

"Eugene?" Rapunzel called out to her boyfriend with a smile still spread over her cheeks. Thinking it was a game, the princess laughed and chased after him. "Eugene! Where are you going?"

It didn't take long for the princess to reach him. She placed a hand on his shoulder, causing him to turn.

"Eugene--"

Rapunzel was cut off when she was shoved back by the former thief. The princess managed to keep her footing and stood still. She was about to complain--

--But her words soon evaporated and replaced with a horrified gasp.

Eugene's skin was deathly pale. His brown eyes dulled, and a red stain soaked through his shirt.

Despite his sickly demeanor, though, Eugene carried a vengeful glare towards his girlfriend.

"How could you do this, Rapunzel?"

"Eugene, what--"

"You told me I was your new dream. I thought we were happy--"

"W-We are! Eugene, please, I want to be with you." Tears began to fill Rapunzel's gaze. "My parents, they just thought--"

"Thought what, blondie? That I wasn't good enough? Admit it! You're ashamed to be with me. I'll always be a low-life to them... to you."

"No, no! That's not true. You know that's not true," Rapunzel cried. She desperately wondered how this argument went downhill so fast.

She rushed over to the former thief and placed a hand on his cheek, but he moved his face away. Her heart sank when she saw the disgust in his eyes.

The princess then looked down to see the red stain growing over Eugene's chest, drenching his vest now. Rapunzel grabbed chunks of her hair and stepped closer.

"Eugene, you're bleeding out. Please, I can't lose you again!" Rapunzel spat, her voice gaining volume from fear.

Eugene, though, refused to look at her. He turned away once again and started walking across the meadow.

"Goodbye, Rapunzel..."

"Eugene. Eugene!" Rapunzel shouted. She tried to follow him, but her legs couldn't catch up this time no matter how fast she ran.

The sky turned to night. The grassy field began to shrivel and die. The only source of light came from the moon above as it shined down on Eugene like a spotlight, causing the princess to do nothing but watch as he walked farther and farther away.

Rapunzel fell to her knees while tears spilled down her cheeks. As the wind kicked up around her, lifting up her long hair until it practically levitated, sickening laughter echoed all around her.

"Mother told you, deary. He will eventually leave you. You were always too naive to be here."

As Gothel's voice consumed the princess, Rapunzel belted out a scream. She clutched the sides of her head and continued to wail, praying that the witch's laughter would just cease.

Rapunzel then gasped. Her eyes shot open, and she was greeted by her heavily painted ceiling. She stared at the colorful birds above while she tried to calm her rapidly beating heart.

Eventually, the princess sat up from her bed. The room was dark except for the moonlight that trickled in from the window. It illuminated the bedroom enough for Rapunzel to notice the rest of her paintings on the walls.

The lavish bedroom was twice the size of her entire tower. Rapunzel was amazed by the beauty of her new room when she first arrived. The gold trim chairs, the humongous fireplace, the beautifully carved wardrobe, and more. For several weeks, Rapunzel was at a constant high, believing she had made it to her Happily Ever After like the maidens in her story books.

After a while, though, the castle began to feel cold and still. She soon couldn't stand how large and empty her bedroom felt. That's when she began to paint.

Her drawings that decorated the walls always made the princess feel secure, like she was truly expressing herself. Her wall art was always something Gothel allowed her to do from a young age, despite making her judgmental comments here and there about her skills.

Her new bedroom started to truly feel like her own with these paintings, telling her dreams and emotions whenever she decided to sketch.

Lately, though, she has been having trouble finding the energy to paint. No sense of inspiration struck her, and for all that was holy, she couldn't even lift up her paint brush right now to save her life. She just felt empty. Alone. Hollow inside.

Rapunzel rose from her bed. With red swollen eyes, she made her way across the cold marble floor. She drew closer towards a few paintings.

One was of her and her parents hugging, expressing the pure joy they felt when they first reunited.

Another one was of her and Cassandra. The two best friends carried bright smiles while they had an arm around the other's shoulders.

Rapunzel also drew a little Pascal, Maximus, and Fidella right above. A ghost of a smile crept over the princess's face when she traced her finger over the perky little chameleon on the wall.

There was so much good in her life. She had loving parents, a best friend, and animal companions that adored her. She was a princess. She had all the food, clothes, and possessions should could have ever wanted. Kingdoms all around the world would be coming to celebrate her the day after tomorrow. She had--

Rapunzel's eyes shifted to the last painting at the edge of the wall. Eugene and Rapunzel held each other closely in their arms. Eugene rested his cheek over Rapunzel's head while she stared up at him lovingly.

Rapunzel moved to place her hand on the painting until her fingers curled. She moved away from the wall and drew herself over to the window.

Her parents lied to her. They did not trust her. Eugene... left her. Once again, Rapunzel found herself heart-broken and betrayed by the people closest to her.

Rapunzel stepped through her window and onto the balcony. The night breeze ruffled her short brown locks as she stared up at the billions of stars above. She leaned against the railing and looked out at her kingdom below. There was not a soul in sight at this hour of night.

Once again, Rapunzel was inside a tower, away from people and the outside world.

Why was she always finding herself in situations like this?

Rapunzel was pulled from her thoughts when a soft knock came from her door. She turned to find Cassandra peeking her head inside.

"Rapunzel?" the handmaiden asked. This time, though, the young woman no longer wore her blue dress. She wore a brownish red shirt and trousers with black gloves and boots to match. Her raven hair was visible and free, and a sword, with its scabbard, was strapped to her back.

"Cass? What are you doing here? And... what are you wearing?" Rapunzel asked curiously after she stepped back inside. Her best friend smirked.

"What? Never seen me in my casual attire? Your little chameleon buddy sneaked into my room, I guess, to get me to come see you," Cassandra said before pointing a finger to the green creature on her shoulder. Pascal chirped his approval, making Rapunzel's heart melt.

"You guys," Rapunzel said with such warmth that tears filled her gaze once again. She held out her hands, and Pascal obediently jumped into them. She rubbed his tummy with her finger before lifting him up to her cheek for a hug. "Thank you, Pascal."

"So, I heard about what your parents tried to do. You... want to talk about it?" Cassandra asked.

Rapunzel's smile dropped. She let Pascal rest on her shoulder while the tiny chameleon patted her cheek. Rapunzel then cast her gaze to the ground and wrapped her arms around herself.

"There's not much to say anymore than what I already said to them..." the princess then lifted her gaze to meet Cassandra's. "You know what's crazy, though? I kinda see where they were coming from. I mean, I am pretty new to the world. I don't know a whole lot of people my own age... " Rapunzel moved away from Cassandra to scan the room around her, feeling extra small from the tall ceiling. Her gaze then landed back on the painting of her and Eugene. "And maybe Eugene and I did jump into a relationship too quickly..."

Cassandra didn't see it, but she could hear the sadness in the young princess's words. Her usual perky tone was now carrying so much weight to it. It almost made Cassandra's usual stoic demeanor melt away. The handmaiden walked over to her friend and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Look, you know what I think about Fitzherbert, and next time I see him, I'm going to sock him for just leaving you like this..." Cassandra paused. She inhaled slowly as dread covered her face, like she was regretting what was about to leave her mouth. "But if it makes you feel better, Raps, it seemed like to me that he wasn't upset with you when he left. It more had to do with what your parents did and, possibly, all those rumors that people keep spreading about him."

"Rumors?"

Cassandra stopped to see her friend's perplexed expression. The warrior's shoulders soon fell from the realization.

"You mean he never told you about them?" she asked, surprised. Rapunzel's gaze then hardened.

"No, Cass, he didn't tell me anything," Rapunzel said with a bitter frown. "He doesn't tell me a lot of things, apparently... What rumors are you talking about?"

Cassandra paused for a moment, watching the princess carefully. Finally, she sighed. "Just people making stuff up... like Eugene using you, so he can live in luxury."

Rapunzel flinched at her friend's words, but rage soon replaced it as she stepped away.

"That is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard! Eugene saved my life! He died, so I could be free from Gothel. How could people even think--" Rapunzel stopped herself. She clenched her fists while her face scrunched up from a deep injustice. "This isn't right, Cass. You and I have to watch what we do simply because of our status, and Eugene and others are treated like dirt. Is this why I haven't seen anyone from the Snuggly Duckling in Corona? They helped rescue me too! They deserve to be in this kingdom as much as anyone else!"

Cassandra stared at her friend, processing her words. She then grew a frown as well. "Trust me, Raps. This is just how things are around here. The people of this castle will never be thrilled about former criminals living inside their walls." The handmaiden then smirked when a thought crossed her mind. "Heck, I was the same way when I first heard about Fitzherbert, but I've gotten to know him better, and now I just hate his guts personally."

Rapunzel turned her gaze back onto her friend, listening intently. Cassandra could see the princess's knitted brow and genuine concern. The warrior then cleared her throat.

"My point is..." Cassandra's expression soon warmed towards her friend. "There's a lot of things wrong with royalty, but you... just seeing you act this way proves that you're better than those jerks. It proves that you will be a better leader."

"But what if I don't want to be a leader!"

The two stopped. Cassandra stepped back, surprised by the outburst.

Rapunzel heaved a few deep breaths while her eyes glistened. She then dropped her harsh stance before swiping away a few tears. "I'm sorry, I just... I know this is going to sound selfish, but I... I don't want to become queen, at least I don't think I do."

Rapunzel cast her face downward while she rubbed her arms. "I've been locked away my whole life, Cass, and now, I feel like I'm just in a bigger cage. Everyone is making decisions for me and planning my whole future." The princess then bit her tongue while her insides continued to twist into knots and burn from the pressure. "And now I'm even questioning one of the few decisions I've ever made because I let my parents' words get to me! Gah!" Rapunzel gripped the sides of her hair.

Cassandra grew closer. Worry now filled her features. "Raps..."

"I love him, Cass! I love Eugene!" Rapunzel gasped as tears spilled down her cheeks. Her hands rested over her chest. The tightness that consumed her for weeks was finally beginning to loosen. "And I don't want to live the rest of my life behind these walls! Not again!"

Rapunzel then crumbled to the floor, wrapping her arms around her stomach. Pascal rubbed his cheek against the princess. Cassandra's stony demeanor cracked completely at the sight of her broken friend. She rested on her knees and placed a careful hand on the younger girl's shoulder. Rapunzel instantly jumped forward and wrapped her arms around her. Cassandra then gradually fell into the embrace while stroking Rapunzel's hair to soothe her.

Silence grew between them, aside from the quiet sobs. When she sensed her friend had calmed down, Cassandra spoke up.

"What do you want to do, Raps?"

The princess sniffed from her stuffy nose and looked up. "What?"

Cassandra grew a warm smile. "What do you want to do right now? I'll help you, just say the word."

Rapunzel paused. She pondered her handmaiden's words before turning her gaze back to her darkened room. She scanned over her paintings until her eyes landed on the still open window. The chilly night air called out to her. She stared at the shining moon above with newfound determination.

"I want to go outside... beyond the kingdom's walls."

Cassandra then fell into a smirk before folding her arms. "I was hoping you would say that."

...

Eugene wasn't sure where he was going. It just had to be someplace outside of Corona. He couldn't stand seeing anything that reminded him of the castle or... Rapunzel at the moment, so he sneaked onto a caravan transporting goods over the kingdom's borders and settled into a small corner for the time being.

The bumpy roads and the strong smell of gin suddenly pulled Eugene back to old memories. It hadn't been that long ago since this type of transportation was the norm. Did he miss it?

The driver rode over, what was likely, a large dip in the road, causing everything in the caravan to shift. The back of Eugene's head hit the wall before he held back a stack of boxes that nearly fell on top of him. The man grunted in annoyance before blowing a chunk of hair out of his eyes.

He certainly did not miss roughing it. Honestly, he was more than happy to live the rest of his days in luxury within the castle walls. What lowly criminal wouldn't?

Despite all the pampering, just the thought of the castle right now made the former thief bitter, which felt strange to Eugene. All his life he was used to people judging him, hating him, and most definitely, wanting to kill him. Why was the castle any different?

He knew it wasn't going to be easy. Heck, it was the same place that wanted him hanged mere months prior. Was he seriously expecting a welcome basket and smiling faces?

Eugene sighed as he lifted his chin to the ceiling. While his tired brain tried to come up with a possible answer to his impulsive actions, a deep pain squeezed his gut. He knew his insides were boiling. At all the idiotic rumors, the harsh glares, and the lies told to his face. He just knew the pain brewing inside was because of that--

His stomach then rumbled.

"Of course," Eugene groaned, forgetting that he had skipped dinner. His attention then turned towards the boxes and crates in the cart. Instinctively, his hands moved towards the first lid he could reach, but he stopped himself.

No, he wasn't about to sink into old habits again. He was the idiot who forgot to pack food. Besides, there were times in his younger years when he had gone for days without food. He could survive a mere couple of hours.

His stomach gurgled once again. He groaned once more, glaring at himself as he kept his hands still. His time in the castle had really made him soft.

After shutting his eyes for what could have only been an hour or two, he woke up to find the caravan had made its way through a rather large town.

Lanterns that hung from many of the buildings lit up, matching the lively tone of the villagers walking around the market place with vendors shouting out deals. Eugene could tell that some type of festival must have been going on because colorful banners decorated the scenery. There was even a small band of stringed instruments playing close to the market place, causing a crowd to dance along the cobblestone path and practically block the caravan from continuing its journey. Eugene took this opportunity to take his leave, jumping off from the back door and wandering around the brightly lit town.

"Good on you, Eugene... You look for solitude and end up at a party," the former thief muttered to himself with a half-hearted chuckle. He couldn't help but smile, though, when two children ran past him with ribbon wands, excitedly giggling at each other.

While one part of him, the Flynn Rider side, pointed out how these distracted crowds would make it ever so easy for him to snag some free food from the stands, another part of him could only think about how much Rapunzel would love seeing this place.

As his mind tried to imagine the princess's star-struck reaction, Eugene remembered that he wanted to be alone to think. He scanned the many establishments, looking over each sign, until his eyes locked onto a tavern. Eugene made his way over to the tucked away building. The sign hanging outside read: The Watery Crown.

Strange name, yet he couldn't really judge. He knew the bizarre names of several taverns: The Snuggly Duckling, Glass Slipper, Beanstalk, and more.

Shaking his mind off the sudden rabbit hole he opened up, Eugene entered and was met with a rather calm atmosphere. Other than a few drunks obnoxiously laughing in the back, most of the patrons kept to themselves, like they too were trying to escape the celebration outside.

Eugene strolled over to the bar and took a seat at the counter. He ordered a small glass of whiskey and a piece of pound cake. Not the greatest dinner, but he didn't exactly have much money on him at the moment.

After eating the sweet bread in only a few bites, he downed the whiskey within seconds. Eugene ran a hand through his hair as he leaned forward on the counter.

"What am I doing here?" he asked himself quietly.

"Beats me, buddy," the bartender responded while wiping a glass with a towel. Eugene ignored the man and sank further into his thoughts.

Rapunzel's probably wondering where I am. I should have told Cassandra that I wouldn't be gone long. I was frustrated, sure, but it's not like I was leaving for good!

Eugene paused.

Was he leaving Corona for good?

Recent news told him that the king and queen clearly did not want him around their daughter, and did Rapunzel really need him?

The bartender poured him another glass, and Eugene gulped it down once again.

She has Pascal, her parents, an entire kingdom of loving subjects, and even Cass-an-dra to keep her company.

Am I just overstaying my welcome?

Eugene's face seemed to heat up from the sudden embarrassment.

How stupid could you possibly get, Eugene?

He ran his hands through his head while his face dipped low towards the dingy counter.

Why in all the seven kingdoms would he believe that such good fortune, such a Happily Ever After, could happen in his life? Why him of all people?

He was far from worthy of the princess's time and attention. It was a miracle the two even crossed paths when they did.

The Kingdom of Corona knew it. Every single person, but him, knew it.

He wasn't worthy to be with Rapunzel. He wasn't worthy of having such a ray of sunshine like her in his otherwise dingy life--

--and Eugene knew it all too well in that moment.

"Man, something must be messing you up pretty bad if it's got you sulking like this."

Eugene snapped out of his depressive state and turned to find a face that he thought he'd never see again.

"Lance?" he asked cautiously, wondering if he was seeing this right.

A tall, big build man stood over him. Despite his shiny head, his face was sculpted handsomely with a trimmed beard and mustache.

"Hey, Rider," Lance spoke with calm familiarity, yet there was obvious strain behind it.

Eugene stiffened slightly. If it were any other person from his past, he would have used one of his typical one-liners to break the tension, but he could only stare up at his childhood friend, his pratical brother, with weary shock.

"What are you doing here?" Eugene said casually, despite the air growing a tad too thick.

"Ah, you know, festival going on. It's a perfect spot to grab a few valuables. What about you?" Lance asked with even more ease while he took a seat next to Eugene.

The former thief nodded. Willingly playing along with the friendly charade, he took a quick glance down at his now refilled glass.

"Well, you know, wallowing in my own self-pity and hatred. It's a typical thing to do when you're in a place like this," Eugene stated, which caused the bartender to nod in agreement.

"Yeah, you were always good at putting yourself first," Lance added nonchalantly before he took Eugene's glass and gulped it down.

The former thief shot the man an obvious look of annoyance before sighing. He guessed his friend's response was cue to finally address the tension.
"How'd you manage to escape that prison?"

There was a heavy silence that swept over the two men before Lance finally answered, setting the glass back down on the counter.

"I was let out early for good behavior, believe it or not. The guards of Lock Crest might be ruthless, but they make great conversationalists when you're trapped in a tight space with them for years," Lance answered. He kept his usual peppy charm with a sarcastic tone that felt like a poisonous sting.

Eugene's frown deepened. He stared down at the counter, preparing himself for the long discussion ahead.

"Lance, I'm really sorry--"

"Save your apologies, Rider. Look, I just came in here to have a drink. You're the one who decided to waltz yourself into this town. I thought maybe I'd at least get some payback when I made my way over here, but I find you just moping around like some sad, lost puppy dog." Lance gestured to Eugene, pointing out his hunched over posture. "It's pathetic, honestly. I can't even pummel you when you're like this," Lance scoffed with a clear bitter look, yet a hint of gentleness found its way back into his voice. It made him sound like the two were merely bickering in that moment.

That tone of voice was always how Eugene knew Lance to talk. While his friend had the capability to be harsh, even dangerous, with his attitude, it rarely ever lasted.

Despite his line of work, Lance was always known to be a gentle giant, no matter how much he hated someone.

Eugene then scoffed from his friend's words. "Oh, ho, pathetic? Really? I'd call it miserable maybe, but pathetic? Come on!"

When Lance narrowed his gaze, the former thief merely rolled his eyes in defeat. "Well, then, can we reschedule? Cause this pathetic look is sticking around until I figure a few things out," Eugene said as he dropped his chin into his palm.

"Haha! Yeah, right, Rider," Lance spat. He then proceeded to grab the front of Eugene's vest and yank him around until the former thief was fully facing him. "You think I'm letting you outta my sight after what you did to me? You're dead meat, pal!"

"What I did to you? Lance, we were doing a job for the Baron. Lock Crest has the most dangerous security than any other kingdom. We both knew it was going to be a long shot," Eugene replied. His hands moved upward as if to shrug.

"Yes, but grabbing the jewel was your idea."

"No, it was Stalyan's."

"Same thing! You basically did whatever she told you anyway," Lance spat before shoving Eugene back, causing his chair to rock. The former thief suddenly gained a cold glare.

"I didn't do everything Stalyan said," Eugene snapped through clenched teeth.

"Yes. You did. All she'd have to do was bat her pretty eyelashes, take a few shots at your ego, and you'd crumble at her feet."

Eugene's shoulders tensed at his words. His fists shook the more he dwelt on old memories.

"You were her little lap dog to the point you would double-cross even me! You left me to take the fall while you and her ran off with the jewel!" Lance shouted.
He caused a few heads in the bar to turn, but they dully went back to their drinking a second later.

Eugene's response, though, was once again a scoff. "You know the thief's code, Lance: Every thief for themselves. You would have done the exact same thing to me," Eugene spat, sticking a finger in the taller man's face.

Lance suddenly lost all fury in his expression. While his gaze still burned, he tightened his lip with pitying disdain.

"I wouldn't have fed you to the wolves, Rider."

Those words struck the former thief. Eugene's eyes softened before he dipped his head forward. He stared at the scratched wooden floor with a hollow expression as if the years of guilt had already eaten away his sorrow.

"A part of me always thought that we'd treat each other differently than how the rest of the world always treated us," Lance muttered. He watched Eugene for a minute, waiting to see any sort of reaction, but the young man continued to keep his face down cast. "I heard you got yourself a nice thing going with a princess, yet here you are, running away and feeling sorry for yourself as usual. Nice to see that you haven't changed a bit." Lance stood up from his chair and kept his glare on his former friend. "Goodbye, Flynn."

Lance turned to leave while the silence grew deafening between them.

"23."

The thief stopped. Lance had only taken a few steps before he turned back abruptly to face the young man.

"What did you say?" Lance asked, wondering if the sulking figure was more drunk then he let on.

Eugene kept his attention on his empty glass. He mindlessly tapped it with his finger before he spoke again. "23 is how many times I attempted to break you out of that prison."

Lance stood still. He processed the words like it was a slap to the face, leaving his mouth agape at the sudden statement.

"What the heck are you talking about, Flynn?" Lance asked with a raised eyebrow. Eugene finally looked at him, carrying newfound heaviness in his gaze.

"After Stalyan and I escaped, a few days later, I went back to try to break you out."

Words piled onto Lance's head, yet none of them left his mouth. He remained speechless for a moment. It was soon after that he thought better and regained his bitter posture.

"Really? 23 times? You're gonna come up with something like that?"

"It's true."

"Then why didn't you tell me this before I lectured your ass?!"

"Beause I deserved it, Lance!" Eugene spat, whipping his head around to stare right at his friend, showing cracks in his indifferent demeanor from before. "It's my fault that you spent five years of your life behind bars."

The taller of the two paused for a moment, hearing the genuine pain in Eugene's voice.

"And... also..." Eugene glanced to the side for a second, rubbing the back of his head. "A lot of the attempts were pretty embarrassing."

Lance then hardened his gaze and marched back over to the counter.

"Okay, then name them off to me."

"Name them?"

"YES! Tell me every failed attempt right here. Right now!" Lance demanded, slamming his heavy fist against the counter.

"Lance, come on, that was so long ago! I'm not gonna remember every single--"

"Alright, fine, then I'm outta here," Lance finished before turning to leave.

The former thief gave a deep sigh. "Okay, okay! I'll tell you all of them."

Lance stopped. He slowly returned to his seat when Eugene lifted up his right hand.

"One attempt was when I used a grappling hook to enter through the top. I had no idea, though, that their entire roof was covered in pricks and nails. Nearly lost a finger when I grabbed the ledge," Eugene said while wiggling his index finger. There was the faintest sight of a puncture wound right in the center of it. "Another attempt was when I tried to sneak in through the sewer tunnels."

"Sewer tunnels?"

"Yes, Lance. I walked through nearly 3 miles of sewage water just to get underneath the prison. Ended up running into some kind of mutated piranhas by the time I reached it. I still get nightmares about those giant devils," Eugene muttered before he shivered at the thought.

Eugene then continued on, one after the other, with every failed attempt. They each flooded back to him when he pointed out the scars or scrapes along the way. Lance sat and listened for a while, taking in every humiliating detail. He laughed several times, yet all he could focus on was how descriptive his friend was, proving more and more that it actually happened.

"And finally, I even tried to sneak the jewel back when the Baron wasn't looking."

This caught the gentle giant off guard.

"You tried to steal... from the Baron? Pfft, Flynn, do you have a death wish?" Lance chuckled at the question, but he continued to stare down the young man for an actual answer.

"Like I said, it was not one of my brightest moments, okay? I was getting desperate, and I'd thought that if the jewel was returned, then maybe they'd let you off the hook or something," Eugene replied with a shrug, but there was genuine heaviness behind those words. "Of course, the Baron caught me, but surprisingly, he didn't kill me. I guess he realized that I was still more useful to him with all my limbs too. Honestly, a lot of it was probably Stalyan. She insisted that anything he did to me was not easily visible. She said that she didn't want a boyfriend all scratched up," Eugene added with resentment consuming his tone.

Lance's frown deepened when the Baron's daughter was brought up again.

"That's how I ended up with this little gift," Eugene said before pulling back his collar and vest. A small, but clearly visible, burn mark in the shape of a 'B' resided on Eugene's shoulder.

Lance couldn't help but wince at the old wound. The skin was a dulled red, yet it still bulged as if the skin underneath the letter didn't even belong to his body.

The thief cast his gaze to the counter. "Stalyan really treated you like her doll, didn't she?" His words carried sincerity. He looked back over at Eugene with anger now, but it wasn't towards him.

Eugene didn't respond. He turned his body forward and let his arms rest on the counter. When the silence grew for a rather long minute, Lance changed the subject.

"So... that princess of yours. You two get into a fight or something?"

This caused the former thief to let out a choked chuckle. He sat up slightly while rubbing the back of his neck.

"No, no... well, she may be angry with me now for suddenly disappearing like this. That's if she even noticed I left in the first place."

Lance leaned back in his chair, suddenly intrigued by this story. When Eugene noticed that his friend had his full attention on him, he sighed.

"Her parents are trying to find a suitor for Rapunzel behind my back."

"Ouch... but expected. Frankly, I'm surprised those uptight royals let you step foot into their castle in the first place. What did the princess have to say about it?"

"I... I don't even think she knows. In all honesty, I didn't get a chance to run by it with Rapunzel or her parents."

"So, why are you so upset? How do you know if it's even true?"

"Cause the king's irritating uncle brought it up like it was a known fact, and every person in that castle wouldn't shut up about it!" Lance's eyes widened at the sudden outburst before Eugene groaned and ran a hand through his hair, calming himself down. "Apparently, everyone knew about my replacement before even I did, which is a whole new level of embarrassment on its own." Eugene then pinched the bridge of his nose while a headache began to form. He exhaled slowly, letting his shoulders drop. "I just had to get out of there and clear my head."

Lance watched his friend, seeing new heaviness in his posture.

"What are you really upset about, Rider?"

"What do you mean?"

"Flynn, you've always had a fragile ego, yet you still take action. You do something about it to prove people wrong, and trust me, there's been plenty of people who don't think much of us," the thief said with a hand wave before focusing back on his friend. "This whole situation, though? You're letting a bunch of rich snobs get you so down in the dirt that you're wallowing in a lousy tavern like this!" Lance spat, receiving a look from the bartender. "So, why the heck are you letting them get to you this badly?"

Eugene didn't answer at first. He kept his attention on the empty glass before he moved to face Lance again.

"Beause I'm afraid they're right."

This made Lance's eyebrows shoot up.

"What?"

"You heard me, I-- Ugh, look, I've lived a pretty lousy life, Lance. And yeah, we had adventures, but we were crooks, thieves. We lied, cheated, stole, and ruined practically everything we touched." Eugene moved his harsh glare towards the glass to stare at the tiny reflection of himself. "Then, I met this girl. This very weird, quirky girl who also ended up being so compassionate, caring, and wonderful... And when she looked at me, she didn't see me as the neerdowell thief I was. She just saw me." Eugene then rested his elbow on the counter and gripped a chunk of his hair. "How can I ever be good enough for someone like her?"

Lance stayed silent. He didn't really have an answer. He could say that Eugene was putting this princess on too high of a pedestal, but he himself didn't have much room to judge. He's certainly struggled with accepting himself thanks to the world always finding ways to tell him otherwise, spitting on him at every turn.

When the question hung for too long, Eugene let his hands fall beside his empty glass. He stared at the scratched and discolored counter top. The longer he stared, the more his past memories started bleeding together. They carried several moments when he sat at a lousy bar counter just like this one.

His gaze then hardened. Despite the questions and concerns whirling through his brain, Eugene clenched his fists and stood up with his head held high. He paid the bartender and swung his satchel back over his shoulders.

"Where are you going?" Lance asked with genuine curiosity.

"I'm gonna find a place to turn in for the night. I'll head back to the castle in the morning."

Lance raised a brow towards the former thief.

"You're still gonna go back? Even after what you just told me?"

"I was never planning on leaving for good, Lance." Eugene's face brightened. He was pleasantly surprised to find himself sure of an answer for once that night. "I might never be good enough for Rapunzel, but I'm not about to just walk away without at least talking to her about the whole suitor thing."

Lance frowned at his old friend's surprising sense of optimism. "What if she finds out that she'd rather be with one of those suitors instead?"

Eugene paused, securing the satchel on his side. Lance's words copied the voices screaming in the back of his mind. Still, Eugene kept his determined gaze.

"Whether it works out with us or not, Rapunzel doesn't deserve this whole vanishing act from me. That's what the old me would have done, right?" the faintest smirk fell over Eugene's face before he patted his friend's shoulder. "Thanks for the talk, buddy... It's really good to see you again. See you around?" Eugene finished as he started walking backwards towards the door.

Uncertainty filled Lance's features, but he still watched him go. "Yeah... see you around, Flynn."

"Actually, it's Eugene now," the former thief smiled before turning around and disappearing out the door.

Lance remained where he was. He stared at the door with dejection growing in his features. His deepening frown, though, faltered when he processed his friend's words.

"Eugene? Pfft, that princess has definitely got him hooked," he said with a bitter chuckle.

...

Flames flickered on lanterns, lighting the roads around the town of Corona. Guards made their way through the cobblestone streets, scanning for any sign of trouble.

Through the narrow alleyways, though, there were two figures.

Rapunzel and Cassandra, with cloaks to conceal themselves, dashed behind barrels and crates. Cassandra took the lead, checking for any sign of guards before motioning Rapunzel forward. This continued until they reached the docks. Rapunzel was ready to grab the nearest boat until her friend yanked her back.

"Not yet," Cassandra whispered before she gave a soft whistle. Within seconds, an owl appeared from the starry night sky and perched itself on her outstretched arm.

"You have an owl!?" Rapunzel gasped but was shushed once again by her friend, who gave an irritated scowl. When the tension melted away, the princess leaned over to pet the rather gentle bird. "What's his name?"

"Owl."

Rapunzel stared at the handmaiden for a moment before giving a sheepish smile.

"That's a... nice name."

"Raps..." Cassandra warned.

"I'm just saying. Maybe you could try Owlbert? Or FeatherWing? Or Talons--" Rapunzel stopped when she saw the raised eyebrow she was receiving from the handmaiden. Rapunzel soon shrank away with a sheepish smile. "Right, right, sorry. He's your companion... But what about CloudBreaker?"

Cassandra rolled her eyes before she turned to her flying friend. Owl gave a quiet hoot in response and then soared off once again.

"Owl says the bridge is clear, so we won't have to worry about anyone seeing us from above. Come on, Max and Fidella are waiting for us on the other side."

Rapunzel grinned while the two hopped inside the nearest boat. The princess requested that she herself row, but Cassandra insisted, saying that she likely had more upper body strength. Rapunzel then argued that she pulled a full grown woman up a tower, using her hair, for nearly half her life, and the two girls soon dropped the discussion before they grew too loud.

The boat ride was silent to say the least. Aside from a few grunts from Cassandra and the slight splashing of water, the world around them remained still.

Rapunzel was on the tips of her bare toes. She lightly patted her knees in anticipation for the ever growing land on the other side of Corona. It's not like she has never been there before, yet it still felt like ages ago.

I wonder if the Snuggly Duckling has changed?

Ooo, what if everyone is still trying to follow their dreams?

Rapunzel's enthusiasm faltered.

Are they even able to do that when everyone else is looking down on them?

She knew the world could be cruel, but this?

Judging people who just want a second chance? Or even a chance at all?

Rapunzel hardened her gaze. She was going to do something about this. She was going to find Eugene, and she then she will go visit the Snuggly Duckling sometime soon to see how they were all doing.

Maybe she could help them in some way? She was a princess afterall. She had the money and resources to help make their dreams come true.

"Yeah, yeah, I'll do just that," the princess said to herself.

"Raps, shush," Cassandra said in a hush tone, making the younger girl snap out of her thoughts.

"Sorry," the princess whispered.

Rapunzel then refocused her attention ahead when the boat jerked to a stop at its destination. Cassandra pulled the oars back into the tiny boat and jumped onto the sandy shore. Rapunzel followed suit and helped pull their mode of transportation, onto the little beach area, until it was far enough away from the water.

Afterwards, Rapunzel took one look at the barely visible forest ahead and stared in awe.

The sand between her toes, the crisp air tickling her skin, and the rustling sound of leaves evaporated all worries from the princess's mind.

She took a running leap forward. She could care less that the forest was barely visible. Rapunzel was too starstruck at the new environment that she grabbed the closest tree and began to climb it.

"Rapunzel, be careful!" Cassandra warned quietly with a sharpness to her words. "If you fall and break something, then the king will have my head!"

Despite knowing that the handmaiden was exaggerating, the thought of her parents made the princess calm down. She steadied herself, climbing safely back down to the soft grass below to grin at her friend.

"This is amazing! Cass, thank you! Thank you so much for taking me outside," Rapunzel spat as she gave her friend a quick hug. Cassandra stiffened at the gesture, but she still gained a warm smile at the bouncing young woman.

"Hey, you don't have to thank me," Cassandra said once the two separated. She started walking down the edge of the forest. Rapunzel followed after her with her hands nicely tucked behind her back.

"Yeah, but this is still a big deal. Are you really sure this won't worsen your chances at becoming a guard? I don't want to get you into anymore trouble. I know the whole thing with Prince William caused the Captain to be really--"

"Trust me, Raps. Even if that didn't happen, my dad would have found some other reason to not let me join eventually. It was only a matter of when," Cassandra snapped, but the princess could tell the anger was not directed at her.

Rapunzel frowned from her best friend's bitter tone. "Cass... I'm so sorry."

The handmaiden then exhaled, releasing the tension that built up in her posture. "It's fine, Raps... really. I should have told you the real reason why I wanted you to behave so much at the ball."

"Still, I told you I wouldn't cause trouble, and I did it anyway. I'm really sorry, Cassandra."

The warrior glanced over at the princess before melting into a smile. "You were just trying to have some fun. The whole 'not having the guards' was my doing anyway, and frankly, you seemed like you needed some time to enjoy yourself," Cassandra said warmly.

Rapunzel grinned before elbowing her in the arm. "You could use some fun too."

Cassandra looked ahead again and now carried a straight face. "Meh, I don't really do fun."

Rapunzel snickered at the comment until she heard the quiet neigh of a horse. The two young women headed further down the shore until they spotted Maximus and Fidella by the edge of a cobblestone road, which was just past the bridge leading back into the kingdom. Maximus gave his best grin while holding the handle of a lantern between his teeth.

"Max! Fidella!" Rapunzel spat softly as she rushed over to the two steeds. She hugged them both happily as if reuniting with old friends. Once Cassandra joined the group, Rapunzel turned to her bestie with newfound glee.

"So, what was it that you wanted to show me out here?" she asked with fast pace, already set on exploring.

"Something pretty strange that I think you should see. Come on, we'll take the road to Old Corona."

"Old Corona? Oh, wait, that's the town just past this forest? Have you been there before?"

"Lots of times, actually. Not many of the guards are stationed out there, so I sometimes patrol the area in my downtime and see if any bandits or thieves try to make trouble."

"Wow, that's really amazing, Cass... The Captain doesn't know what he's missing out on," Rapunzel said with hands on her hips.

Cassandra smirked before mounting herself onto Maximus and grabbing the lantern. "We better head out now if we want to make it back to the castle before sunrise."

Rapunzel then hopped onto Fidella, grabbing the reins with a determined smile. "Lead the way!"

...

Since he had very little coin remaining, Eugene decided to settle in for the night somewhere that wasn't an inn. It didn't take long for him to find an old, abandoned mill at the edge of town. He ensured not a soul saw him as he crept through the broken window and blended into the darkness.

The torn up boards beneath his feet were covered with pieces of hay and dirt. He could hear the windmill outside creak against the breeze while water dripped from the ceiling. When his eyes adjusted to the dark room, Eugene found only a few barrels and many more bales of hay. The former thief sighed.

Should have skipped dinner and just paid for a room.

Shrugging his shoulders, Eugene settled on top of a haystack and tucked his satchel behind his back. He rested his head against another hay bale and stared up at the ceiling. The low hum of silence gradually filled his ears.

"Well... you'll smell like a farm animal when you reunite with Rapunzel, but maybe she won't mind?" he paused for a moment as if waiting for an answer. He then grew a dull gaze the longer he shifted in the hay. "Oh who am I kidding, I can't even stand the smell of this moldy straw!" he groaned before unrolling his sleeves, so the hay wouldn't itch his skin. He then quieted down and rested his hands over his stomach.

Eventually, fatigue fell over the young man. His eyes grew heavy before he let his mind drift off into slumber.

...

That's when he heard the first creak of the floorboards.

Eugene was a rather light sleeper, so even the slightest sound made him stir. Yet, he kept himself composed. If there was someone there, then he didn't want to give them the upper hand by acting first, so Eugene pretended to sleep. With the darkness covering him still, the former thief cracked one eye open.

There indeed was movement coming from the side. A lot of movement. Eugene made a slight shift in his form. He appeared to only be adjusting himself to a comfier position as he moved his hands behind his head.

When the shadows were nearly on top of him, Eugene shot up. With both hands, he threw the bale of hay that rested behind him. The heavy weight crashed into the nearest figures with a loud thud!

Eugene then jumped over the fallen shadows with his satchel now thrown over his shoulders, dodging the ones that remained standing. With a wide smirk, he slid through the broken window that he previously entered and dashed into the night.

Eugene sped through the open field and sought out the shelter of the woods in the distance. He dared to look back when he heard loud shouts and echoing calls. The figures who attempted to ambush him had scurried out of the mill and began to chase him. With the moonlight above shining down on the field, Eugene could make out the faces of the criminals.

A few of them seemed familiar, yet they all looked like your average crook. He honestly could have just seen them from some pub he frequented at if given the time to recall.

These thugs, though, were on a mission.

Eugene ducked when a dagger flew past his head and hit the trunk of a tree in front of him. He slowed down just as he reached the edge of the forest to grin at the weapon. He ripped it out of the tree and admired the blade.

"Man, thanks guys!" he called out with a salute before disappearing into the woods. The band of criminals ran in after him, hot on his trail.

...

Eugene's heart was pumping. It had been a while since he was in a chase like this. The wind pressing against his face and the adrenaline rushing through his veins. It was exhilarating.

Granted, he was happy, of course, that he seemed to be the good guy in this scenario than the usual vice versa.

He had told himself when he settled down in the castle that he was never going to miss being out in the world like this again. Yet, here he was, racing over hilly terrain and jumping across rivers with a stupid grin across his face. His life  on the line against a group of ruffians shooting their arrows and daggers at him wasn't great, but he still couldn't help loving the rush that came with both outsmarting and outrunning these goons.

A part of him wondered if it was dangerous to enjoy a thrill like this, like he possibly might be letting Flynn Rider run free, but he pushed the thought away.

"No time for complicated emotions, Eugene," he told himself before rounding a corner and scanning anywhere he possibly could take shelter.

"Eugene!" a voice called out.

Eugene looked to his right. In the distance, he spotted his friend, Lance, waving him over. The former thief's grin widened before running to him. When he reached the gentle giant, he placed his hand on a tree and hunched over to gasp for air.

"Lance? What are you doing here?" Eugene asked in between breaths.

"I was making my way to the next town when I spotted you running like a madman. Who did you manage to piss off this time?" the larger of the duo scolded with fists on his hips.

"Ha! Well, I honestly have no idea, but these guys are pretty adamant about slicing me open," Eugene said as he stood up straight and pulled the hair out of his face. He tossed his new dagger in the air before catching it back in his other hand. "But, hey, at least they were kind enough to arm me. I gotta give them that," he joked, but his friend didn't share in his amusement.

Commotion then grew from behind, making both men turn their focus on the approaching footsteps.

"This way," Lance said quickly and then raced off. Eugene took one last glance behind him before following the thief.

The two rushed deeper into the forest where the terrain became steeper and more jagged. Eugene began to pant the farther they ran. The adrenaline from earlier was wearing off, and he was starting to feel the weight of his legs.

Before he could ask the thief any questions, the two stopped in a random part of the woods. Silence carried on in the air, but Eugene knew it wouldn't last forever.

"Lance, where the hell are we going?" Eugene gasped, not seeing any form of road or civilization in sight. Both men had their hands on their knees, taking in deep breaths.

"You should have just went straight back to the castle," Lance muttered. Eugene looked up, seeing a bitter frown fill the man's face. Eugene raised a brow as he stood up straight.

"Look, I told you, I have no idea why these whack jobs are after me. I'd ask myself if they weren't hurling steel at me every chance they get."

"Yeah, yeah, cause you can't possibly think of reasons why someone would be furious with you," Lance continued before standing up straight as well. Eugene narrowed his gaze, sensing the underlying issue in his friend's words. He then let out a sigh.

"I didn't ask for your help, Lance. I'll find a way around these guys. You can go and--"

Eugene stopped. His body tensed when he saw Lance pulling out a knife. The former thief opened his mouth to speak, but his throat suddenly felt dry.

"Lance..." The name came out as a low warning. The gentle giant now stared at Eugene with new found intensity. He gripped his knife, lowering his stance with a tight lip. "Lance, what are you doing?" Eugene tightened his hold on his own dagger.

"You shouldn't have told me that story about trying to break me out of prison. You're making me hesitate!" Lance spat through clenched teeth.

"Lance!" Eugene shouted in anger. The two men began to circle each other.

"I'm sorry, Eugene. This was the only chance I had at finally paying off my debt to the Baron," Lance said with a knitted brow.

"The Baron? But those guys chasing me aren't his men." The former thief recalled the main group of crooks that always did the Baron's bidding, and none of them were in the small crowd that was currently after him.

His words made Lance's gaze turn grim. "They're not. They're his daughter's."

Eugene stopped pacing. The image of auburn hair and pink lips, which were always turned up into a crooked smile, made his skin crawl. "Stalyan..."

"I'm sorry, Eugene," Lance repeated before charging towards him. The initial shock made the former thief fumble. He held up his dagger, preparing for steel to make contact, but his friend shifted gears.

Instead of a head on collision, he went for a kick on Eugene's right shin. The former thief crumbled from the sudden pain shooting up his leg, so he stumbled back. This allowed Lance to give him one huge shove.

Eugene didn't just fall, he tipped over what was likely a ledge. He felt weightless as his eyes grew wide from the shock. He was too busy to notice that his friend had led him to a large dip in the forest's terrain. As his body fell backwards, Eugene attempted to catch the roots that stuck out from the side of the rocky wall, but they slipped from his grasp. His dagger fell from his hand when his back smacked against the grassy floor.

The fall wasn't far enough to cause any serious damage, but that didn't mean Eugene's body wasn't going to be screaming in the morning.

Eugene let out a deep groan while he attempted to pull himself up. He only managed to roll his body over when he was greeted by several swords a mere inch from his face. He looked up to find the group of thugs glaring at him.

"Oh, hey, gentlemen... Those are some pretty sharp weapons you got there. Are they brand new, or are you just that great at sword care?" Eugene asked with a weak grin. The back of his head throbbed, making him feel dizzy. It wasn't long before his eyelids grew heavy, and his head fell forward, causing everything to go dark.

...

When Rapunzel took her first steps on the other side of the kingdom's walls, she felt a whole new sense of freedom.

Yet, it felt different than the first day she left her tower. Here, she wasn't just experiencing a whole new world. Going beyond the kingdom's borders felt like a fresh start. Out here, she didn't have to be concerned about guards right on her back or people critiquing her every decision.

Out here, she was no longer the princess. She was just Rapunzel again.

After climbing over the wall with a rope and letting her bare feet touch grass, Rapunzel quickly picked up the first flower she saw and tucked it behind her ear. She took in the sight of the fields ahead, admiring how the moon above gave everything a blue hue.

"Ready to go?"

Rapunzel looked to her left to see Cassandra watching her. With Maximus and Fidella at her side, all three watched the brown-haired girl, waiting for her word. Rapunzel looked down at her shoulder towards Pascal, who chirped loudly with pure excitement. She giggled before turning back to her best friend. "Yeah, let's go."

The two girls hopped onto their horses and raced off. Their steeds galloped across the fields as the wind picked up and blew through the oaks and tickled Rapunzel's skin. The farther she saw the open terrain, the more she pushed Maximus to go faster, which he gladly did.

Speeding through the meadows, hopping over ponds, which made the fish scatter. Rapunzel belted out a cheer as loud as her lungs would let out before she reached another forest. The brunette slowed down when the thick pine trees came too close for comfort.

Cassandra then appeared soon after her on Fidella and raced ahead with much ease. "Race you!" she called out once she passed. Rapunzel then smirked.

"Oh, you're on!" Maximus neighed loudly in approval before stomping the dirt below and charging forward.

Maximus zoomed through the forest to catch up, yet Rapunzel wasn't as into the race as him. Her attention kept being pulled by the enormous oaks above and the smell of pine needles intoxicating the air.

She wanted so badly to hit the brakes and just stand there to admire the beautiful sight, but she had already made her friend stop nearly 16 times just on their way to the outskirts of Corona. Rapunzel figured that she should hurry up and see what Cassandra has been wanting to show her already before the night came to an end.

When Rapunzel turned her focus back on what was ahead, she spotted Cassandra already getting down from her steed. The brunette pulled on Max's reins, causing him to slow down and make a stop right beside the warrior. Cassandra turned to smirk at her friend.

"Oh, come on, Raps. You weren't even trying to beat me."

"Sorry, sorry, I got a bit distracted," Rapunzel admitted once her feet touched the grassy floor. Maximus huffed in frustration until the brunette petted his snout. "Okay, so what did you want to show me?"

Cassandra motioned her friend along towards a path that laid between two enormous boulders. Leaving their horses behind, the two women strolled down the rocky path, rounding the large boulder until they reached a clearing.

A few trees sprouted in a small grassy area, but the stone path ended at a ledge to what was most likely the ocean below. The strange thing about the scenery, though, were these sharp rocks that sprouted around the ledge like stalagmites in a cave.

"Whoa, what are these things?" Rapunzel asked once the duo were close enough to inspect.

"I'm not sure. These things have been here a long time. My father told me they first sprouted here practically right after the guards took the... Well, that's why I wanted to show you."

Rapunzel didn't understand what her friend was saying until her eyes landed on a stone plaque in the center of the rocks. It stood a good three feet off the ground with its own pillar. The brunette reached over and dusted off the top. Her eyes widened when she spotted the image of a flower on the bottom.

The plaque read: "Here resides where a miracle was gifted to Corona from heaven above, saving the queen and our beloved princess."

Rapunzel's mouth fell agape at the sight. "This is..."

"It's where they found the Sun Drop flower," Cassandra finished, walking over to stand beside her friend.

Rapunzel let her hand drag against the plaque, admiring the smooth texture as she took in the sight. She wasn't sure exactly how to feel about witnessing the area where her story seemingly began, but Rapunzel felt content with the fact that she was finally seeing it for herself instead of just being told about it. After a minute more of silence, the brunette pulled herself away from the plaque.

"So, these rocks have been here for over eighteen years?" Rapunzel asked, curious that a form of nature was exactly as old as her.

"Yeah, nobody has figured out why, but here's the weirdest part." Cassandra pulled out the sword that rested on her back and motioned her friend to keep away. The warrior headed over to the closest sharp rock and took a swing.

Rapunzel gasped when the blade struck against the rock and shattered like glass. Pieces of steel rained on the stony ground while Cassandra admired the now jagged stump that was her sword.

"They're unbreakable," Cassandra said while tucking her broken sword back into its sheath.

"Whoa... that's crazy." Rapunzel turned towards one of the rocks closest to her. It was jet black yet smooth, almost resembling a gemstone. She moved closer towards it. She could feel a coldness emanating off of the stone like it had been inside a freezer for too long. The brunette's reflection bounced off of it as if daring her to come closer. "Hey, is it okay to touch these things?"

Cassandra didn't look her way. She was too busy collecting the bits of her sword to toss into her pouch, possibly to ensure the sharp pieces of steel weren't left for wildlife. "Yeah, they don't do anything, anyway."

Rapunzel hesitated but trusted her friend's words. She drew closer to the rock, admiring its strange beauty. The black rock drew her in, creating a soft glow that almost made the princess jump.

Was she seeing things?

No, the closer her hand grew to the rock, the more the dark color gave off a pale blue glow, which grew brighter with every inch she took. Curiosity exploded inside Rapunzel. She finally dared to rush her slow pace and place her hand directly on the stone.

That's when it happened. An explosion. A rush of blue light burst through the night, knocking the princess and her handmaiden back.

Rapunzel's body skidded across the ground. She desperately tried to grab hold of something, but she was flung with such force that she slid over the rocky ledge and plummeted to the ocean below.

Chapter Text

"Rapunzel!" Cassandra cried as her friend let out a blood curdling scream. The warrior dived after her. The freezing air whipped her face while she desperately tried to fall faster to reach the princess. "Take my hand!"

Rapunzel stretched out her hand to her despite the wind rushing through their ears. Fear consumed the brunette so much that she hardly noticed the glow that emanated off her hair.

Faster and faster the two fell. Cassandra's hand was mere inches from Rapunzel's fingers now, but the crashing waves below drew closer with each second.

Just as the two friends locked hands, the glow over Rapunzel's hair grew so bright that it blinded them.

Rapunzel shut her eyes, waiting for the chilling smack of the ocean.

That's when she felt a weight over her head. Her free hand grasped a familiar texture, and her body was suddenly jolted to the right.

Both Cassandra and Rapunzel let out a yelp by the sudden stop. Rapunzel dared to open her eyes again. Cassandra had her arms wrapped around her torso while her own arm was tucked underneath her handmaiden's armpit.

The duo let out weary breaths, spotting the crashing waves only a few yards below them now.

"How did we--" Cassandra started before her gaze turned upward. "HOLY--"

Her friend's words were drowned out by Rapunzel's own scream when she saw the mountain of golden hair that cascaded down the rocky wall and rested in the princess's tight grip. She squinted her gaze to find that the end of her locks had tangled itself around a thick branch poking out from the wall.

"What-- I-- My hair!?" Rapunzel sputtered loudly, shifting her body from the shock. The movement, though, caused the branch to let out a cracking sound.

"Careful!" Cassandra pleaded. Pascal, who managed to still keep himself secure on the princess's shoulder yelped at the sight as well before falling onto his back, as if he fainted.

Before Rapunzel could say anything else, a neigh echoed from above. She looked up to find Maximus and Fidella staring at the duo from over the ledge.

"Max! Fidella!" Rapunzel spat. She searched around. The sudden appearance of her long hair would have to wait. The branch was not going to last long.

"There!" Cassandra announced. Rapunzel craned her neck to the left to find a beach only a few yards away from them. "We'll just drop into the water and swim over there."

"Uh, I can't swim, Cass!" Rapunzel spat with growing fright. The tree branch above made another snapping sound, causing the duo to fall slightly.

"It's okay, Raps. Try to swing as close to the beach as you can. I'll help you to shore. Trust me," Cassandra said looking right up at the princess. Rapunzel stared at her friend's determined gaze. Her assurance calmed her nerves, at least for a little bit.

"Okay... Okay, I trust you-- AH!" Rapunzel cried when the branch cracked again, jerking the duo.

"Now, Raps!" Cassandra spat. Rapunzel nodded and placed her feet up against the rocky wall.

"Hang on, everyone!" the princess called out before pushing off as hard as she could towards the beach.

The branch above snapped. The girls and Pascal screamed. The wind rushed through their bodies before they plunged into the freezing waves with a loud splash!

...

Deep blue ocean water crashed against the sandy beach in the dead of night.

The sight would be perfectly peaceful aside from the gasping from the two girls when their heads reached the surface.

Rapunzel panicked as the waves smashed against the back of her head, drenching her long and winding hair. She spotted the beach up head and attempted to move towards it, but she could feel herself sinking back under.

That's when she felt an arm hook itself over her back and latch onto her upper arm.

"I've got you, Raps," Cassandra said while spitting out water. The princess looked to find her handmaiden. Strands of her short black hair stuck to her cheeks as she kept her focus up ahead. "Follow my lead. Kick your legs and push your arm out like this."

While her vision was obstructed by the blonde locks over her face and the rushing water, Rapunzel obeyed and just started kicking.

It took much longer than either of them wanted to reach the shore. When they drew close enough, Maximus and Fidella arrived on the beach to help. The white steed spotted a chunk of the yellow hair. He and Fidella grabbed hold and started pulling.

Cassandra let go of her friend when the two reached the sand. The two panted as they slowly crawled across the shore before letting their drenched bodies collapse. Pascal fell from the princess's shoulder and face planted in the sand with a sigh. Maximus and Fidella stepped closer to nudge their riders, huffing with obvious concern.

After remaining still for a couple of minutes, Rapunzel found the strength to sit up. Her racing heart began to settle, and her muscles ached, but her mind still whirled when her eyes landed on the several feet of blonde hair that spread out across the sand. She grabbed a chunk of it to hold in her hands, just to make sure she was seeing this right.

Her hair was back. Her hair... was back.

"What the heck happened up there?" Cassandra asked after she sat up as well.

Rapunzel was at a loss for words. A part of her wondered if this was just some twisted joke or strange dream. She was half expecting Gothel to pop up out of nowhere and try to take her back to the tower.

Finally processing her friend's words, Rapunzel turned towards her. "I... I just put my hand on one of those black rocks, it was glowing, and then there was that explosion, or whatever it was."

Silence carried on between them. Neither of them knew what to possibly say next. Rapunzel just focused back on her long hair, staring at what felt like a piece of nostalgia that made her insides sink.

"Rapunzel... Raps, we gotta head back. It'll be morning soon."

Her friend's words felt distant, but the lighter sky above managed to pull the princess out of her thoughts. Her muscles tensed even more at the fact that they were a pretty far distance from the castle.

"Right, right! We gotta go," Rapunzel said quickly while she scooped up Pascal and pushed herself up off the ground. Her knees buckled, but Maximus moved closer to support her.

Once both women were mounted back onto their horses, their steeds sped off fast back to Corona.

What they failed to see after they disappeared, though, was movement from the ledge above. More black rocks sprouted out of the dirt, and every one of them rotated, all pointing in the same direction north of the rocky ledge.

...

After sneaking back over the wall, crossing the river by boat, and taking the underground tunnels to reenter the castle, the two friends separated to head back to their respective rooms to change.

It was difficult for Rapunzel to sneak around patrolling guards, especially with the large pile of hair clutched in her arms.

Luckily, Maximus was way ahead of her and planned accordingly. The horse marched through the halls with his head held high. He huffed towards any guards that drew too close to the hiding princess and moved them along in the opposite direction.

Rapunzel smiled, whispering her gratitude to the noble steed, and rushed quickly to her chambers, pulling open the large door and swiftly shutting it behind her. She had to be careful, though, for chunks of her hair that trailed behind was almost caught between the doors.

...

Once the princess got herself in some dry attire, she collapsed onto her bed. Rapunzel breathed heavily into her warm sheets, wishing she could ignore her hair and ignore all the consequences that came with it once her parents discovered its return.

Despite her exhaustion, her racing thoughts refused to let her eyes close. Rapunzel then shot back up when a knock came to her door. She scrambled across her blankets and attempted to tuck her pile of locks behind her bed in a weak attempt to hide her drastic change in hair.

"Raps, it's just me," Cassandra called out. With her nerves still shot, Rapunzel was thankful to hear the sound of her friend. She rushed over to the door and opened it slightly. Cassandra, now wearing her handmaiden uniform, rushed inside and shut the door behind her.

"What am I going to do? How am I going to explain this!?" Rapunzel spat once she had someone to dump her rambling thoughts to. She held up chunks of her golden locks for emphasis.

"It's okay. We can just cut it. Nobody will ever have to find out," Cassandra said in a hushed tone before walking over to the princess's desk and snatching a pair of scissors.

Rapunzel watched the tool in her friend's hand for a moment. Instead of being filled with relief, she hesitated.

Did she want to cut her hair?

Yes, a part of her wishes she wasn't given this painful reminder of the past, having back the entire reason of why she lost eighteen years of her life trapped inside a tiny tower.

But, this was her hair. The long beautiful locks that she was blessed with at birth. The very hair that had the power to heal anyone with a simple song.

What if someone she loved got injured or ill, and she carelessly threw away the chance to save them simply because she was afraid of getting in trouble with her parents?

This wasn't Gothel she was facing anymore. That witch was gone. Rapunzel had no reason to rid herself of this second chance when her main source of strife was out of the picture now.

"Wait!" Rapunzel called out when Cassandra drew closer. The handmaiden stopped, watching her friend with a puzzled look. "I... I don't want to cut it."

"What? Raps, you-- Your parents will be furious!"

"Cass, I can't just throw this hair away. What if it has the power to heal again? I can't give that up again just because my parents might be mad at me. They'll get over it."

"It's not just that. I could get into trouble. After a stunt like this? My dad will send me to a convent, Rapunzel. A convent! We'll never see each other again," the handmaiden emphasized loudly. Panic filled her features.

Rapunzel frowned at the thought. "Well, I'll just make sure to tell them that it was all me. I've been away for eighteen years, Cass, and my boyfriend used to be a notorious thief. I'm sure they'll believe that I could sneak out of the castle without anyone seeing me," Rapunzel replied with a wide smirk.

Cassandra sighed, massaging the space between her eyebrows. "This is a bad idea..."

Rapunzel, though, stepped forward. She placed a hand on the handmaiden's shoulder, pulling her focus back. "I'm not going to let that happen to you, Cass. I promise... And when I promise something, I--"

"You never break your promise," Cass replied with an eye roll. Rapunzel, though, placed both her hands on her friend's shoulder, so she couldn't look away.

A stern look fell over the princess. "Ever!"

"Raps, promise all you want, but you can't stop our parents from doing what they want," Cassandra stated before pulling away and walking over to set the scissors back down.

Rapunzel cast her gaze to the ground, dwelling on her friend's words.

Then a knock came from the door.

"Rapunzel? May I come in?" the voice of the queen asked.

The two girls froze. The turning of the door handle creaked, shooting the duo into action. Cassandra was faster. She pressed her body against the door and nearly smacked her highness in the face.

Queen Arianna let out a grunt before the door handle twisted up and down. "Rapunzel? I just wanted to talk to you for a moment."

"Sorry mom! I--Uh, I'm changing right now," Rapunzel stated quickly.

"Oh, well, I can wait, sweetie."

Panic pumped through Rapunzel's veins.

"Actually, it might be a while. I-I'm just... having a hard time deciding what to wear for the banquet today, you know?" Rapunzel admitted, letting out a weak chuckle.

Cassandra's gaze dulled, but Rapunzel shooed her judgement away with a dismissive hand.

Silence grew from behind the door long enough that Cassandra almost relaxed.

"Rapunzel... I know you don't want to see me," Arianna finally spoke.

The princess tensed. Before she could ask for clarity, her mother continued. "You have every right to be angry with me, but your father and I never intended to hurt or deceive you... We never wanted to make you feel trapped again. We just want to... I wanted to keep you from heartbreak."

Rapunzel drew closer towards the door. As Cassandra stepped away, Rapunzel moved her ear up to the door to ensure no words were muffled. "Heartbreak?" Rapunzel muttered.

"Sweetie, I've made so many mistakes when I was young. I left my family, my home, to explore the world because I had no idea what I even wanted to do with myself. I adored the adventures, and I even became close with this very charming duke. He too had no idea what he wanted in his life and tried to succeed at everything. I had thought what we had was love..." Arianna trailed off. A heavy sigh escaped from the other side. "But I learned too late that he just wanted another prize for his collection. I almost didn't escape until my sister found me and sneaked me back home."

Rapunzel's chest began to ache. She placed a hand against the wood, wishing she could thrust it open and meet her mother's gaze.

"You... You never told me about all this before," the princess muttered to herself, but it was still loud enough to hear.

"Because it's not something I'd rather talk about. It's part of the reason why I learned more about sword fighting and combat in my later years. If I was going to face the outside world again, then I would be sure to be ready for it," Arianna continued with a low tone.

Rapunzel's throat constricted. "Mom..."

"I'm not saying Eugene will treat you the same way, but hearing the stories about how sheltered you were, I just didn't want you to face the same disappointment I had when finding that first love."

Rapunzel opened her mouth to speak, but she didn't know quite what to say. Her mind was still dwelling on this new story. One thought, though, continued to shift through her mind:

But don't I still have a right to make my own mistakes?

Before Rapunzel could say another word, the queen spoke again, "You are strong, Rapunzel. You have already faced more hardship in your young life than some face in a lifetime. I forget that sometimes... I love you, sweetheart."

Rapunzel could hear the queen releasing her grip on the door handle. The young lady rested her head against the door with a deep breath. "I love you too, mom."

With a pause, Arianna returned with a warm tone, "I'll see you at the banquet. Rest up."

The queen's footsteps echoed down the empty hall, leaving a quiet Rapunzel to blink away the tears still welling up in her gaze.

Cassandra watched the princess for a moment, casting her gaze to the ground. She tried her best not to listen to the queen's words, but she found it nearly impossible with the fear of discovery still jabbing the inside of her head.

Finally, after a moment, Cassandra looked back up towards her friend. "You okay?"

A heavy sigh escaped Rapunzel's lips. "Yeah, yeah... I'm okay..." After another long pause, the princess turned to face her handmaiden. "But I really rather not deal with both my parents and all the guests finding out about my hair. You think there might be a way to hide it until after my coronation tomorrow?"

Cassandra pursed her lips, dwelling on the question. She scanned over the princess's long locks while her mind racked for any plausible solution. "Well, we definitely have time to braid it all. Pinning it up would be the difficult part." The handmaiden cringed at the thought of how much weight would be on the young lady's head. "With the right powdered wig, though, it should be doable. You just gotta practice balancing it all on your head."

Rapunzel then scoffed with a smile. "Easy peasy. Those princess lessons made me balance several books on top of my head just to make sure I kept my back straight."

"Yeah, but did the books weigh more than 70 feet worth of hair piled on top of your head?" Cassandra argued, raising a brow.

When the princess's confidence faltered, Cassandra couldn't help but smirk. "Alright, your majesty. We better get started. We're already burning daylight."

...

The clock was ticking. The sun moved across the sky as the palace staff prepared for the royal banquet. Tables were placed within the ball room. Each was long and rectangular, positioned into one giant square, so all the guests faced each other. While the kitchen steamed with hot dishes and silverware clanked against the table clothes, Lady Caine remained still in her room.

She adjusted the wig back over her short brown locks before she turned to gaze at herself in the mirror, checking that her makeup was right.

One of her goons, the one she had planted as a royal guard, was currently standing just down the hall, waiting for her signal to begin with the plan.

Her gaze cast down towards her hands. They were shaking, but it wasn't from fear. Adrenaline was inching itself throughout the young woman's body, making her jittery. She couldn't help but grin at how close her plans were finally coming into fruition.

She had been planning revenge on Corona's royals for as long as she could remember, and with their precious princess coming home, she found it right to finally take action.

They were going to pay. They were going to pay for what they did to her father.

Lady Caine inhaled slowly, calming her racing pulse. She couldn't slip up now. She had to keep her composure for just a little bit longer.

A loud caw broke the crook out of her thoughts. She shifted her focus towards the still open window to find  the beady-eyed raven from the previous night glaring right at her.

The Queen of Thieves scowled at the feathery rat, reminding her of the one unknown variable in her plan. She walked over to the creature and glared right back.

"Tell your master that he better be ready. We will be starting soon," Lady Caine said with full disdain.

The raven squawked at Lady Caine once again before flying away into the dusty pink skin above.

A knock then came from the door.

"Duchess Penelope? I've come to inform you that the banquet will begin in just a few minutes. Would you like me to escort you to the ball room?" a regular guard requested. Lady Caine turned. The corners of her mouth twitched with another smile.

"Yes, of course! You are more gracious," she said with her pitched voice. The Queen of Thieves headed over to the door. She gripped its handle before practically throwing it open due to the excitement clawing through every inch of her muscles.

...

Rapunzel stood in the hallway, taking in slow breaths. She and Cassandra had spent most of the day twisting and tying her enormous hair. They secured the large braid on top of her head before placing the eye sore of an even bigger powdered wig over it.

The princess sighed as she stared at herself in the mirror. Her face held a tint of powder to match the wig, making it look like she had gotten flour on her cheeks. Oh, how she wished she were baking right now instead of here. Cassandra stood behind her, folding up the collar of her dress, so any loose strands of the blonde hair would not be seen in the back. The handmaiden exhaled loudly before wiping her brow.

"Okay, well, that's as good as it's going to get."

"And you're sure no one can see it?" Rapunzel asked, biting the bottom of her lip.

"Positive. Just remember what we practiced. Back straight, and small steps. Don't take too many turns or else you'll go tipping," Cassandra said while moving around the many large layers of the dress. "I'm not liking that we're using your coronation gown for this banquet, but that wig would stick out twice as much if you wore anything else."

"I look ridiculous either way..." Rapunzel muttered. She was about ready to rub off the bright red lipstick that coated her mouth.

"Well, you won't be the only clown in there wearing all this, so you'll fit right in," Cassandra teased, making the princess roll her eyes. As the handmaiden straightened the folds of her friend's dress, Rapunzel smiled at her.

"Thank you again... for doing all this for me, Cass."

"It's not a problem, Raps. Besides, hiding the hair means there's less chance I'll get in trouble too, so really this is benefiting both of us," Cassandra said while returning the smile. Rapunzel watched as her lady-in-waiting stood straight again before glancing to her right at the closed doors.

"I would hug you right now if both this wig and dress weren't so constricting," Rapunzel admitted, refusing to move anything besides her mouth.

"Oh, well, good for me then. I can do without the bear hugs," Cassandra said casually while commotion grew behind the doors. She then turned back to look at the princess. "Alright, it's time. You've got this." She placed a hand on her friend's shoulder.

Rapunzel tensed before taking a quick breath of air. She took slow steps towards the door before Cassandra moved over to open it for her.

The ballroom was decorated similarly to the night before, yet the floor was covered by long tables with purple cloths draped over them. All of the other guests were already seated at their respective seats, watching the waiters strolling around the room with trays of food. Thankfully, Rapunzel used one of the side doors, so her walk towards her seat was rather short. Yet, when she came into view, all eyes fell to her.

Rapunzel's postured straightened even further, but the sudden jerk almost made her lose her balance. She panicked, nearly sliding to her right before repositioning the heavy tower on top of her head. She kept her focus ahead, but she couldn't help but notice the guests in the room. Some began to whisper to each other, likely about the rather lavish outfit she was wearing and how it didn't fit much with the setting. Rapunzel's shoulders sank before she corrected herself due to almost losing her balance once again.

When she made it to her seat in between the king and queen, the eyes began to drift back to the food, and conversations started up once again. Yet, she did manage to spot Prince William still looking her way. He carried a look of confusion as well from the princess's appearance, but when the two met each other's gazes, he quickly cast his focus to his plate as if he didn't want to be visible to her at the moment.

Rapunzel gained a tired look as she focused ahead. Too many things were busying her mind now to worry about the awkward moment the two shared the evening prior.

"Rapunzel?"

The princess snapped out of her thoughts and looked to her left to see her father. He raised a brow at her appearance.

"Isn't that your coronation gown?" he asked quietly while the waiters passed by to deliver the first course to him.

Rapunzel's throat felt dry. She was hoping he wouldn't ask. Despite the looks she was receiving, there were definitely others in the room with big wigs and even larger dresses. Couldn't people just not examine every little thing she did for five seconds!?

"Uh, yeah... Just thought I'd get used to it. The wig and gown are pretty heavy. I'd hate to slip during my coronation tomorrow, you know?" Rapunzel started with a weak smile.

The king watched his daughter's nervous features before his stony demeanor melted. He returned the smile and patted his daughter on the shoulder.

"You look lovely, sweetheart," he said, making Rapunzel's twisted insides ease ever so slightly. Her shoulders relaxed before she copied his expression.

Was she still mad at her parents? Yes, they lied to both her and supposedly Eugene, causing all this drama and hurt that could have been avoided if they had just trusted her more.

After hearing her mother's story, though, and seeing the kindness return in her father's eyes made the young princess relax. When the waiter delivered her meal, she looked down at the steaming broth and bread before her. Despite the tightness of her corset, she was rather famished. Rapunzel smiled before grabbing one of her many forks.

For right now, she'll choose to be at peace, praying that the difficult conversations yet to come will be easier than she thought.

...

That's when she heard it. The loud banging sound that shook the entire ball room, causing several yelps among the guests.

"Everyone, stay where you are!"

"We're taking over your little dinner party!"

Voices shouted among the screams as Rapunzel and her parents stood up. Her body tensed when she saw guards pointing their halberds at the guests.

No, wait, they weren't guards. Upon closer look, Rapunzel could see the greasy hair and crooked smiles over their faces. These weren't palace guards. None of them were.

Rapunzel's hands curled into fists when the impostors grabbed the royals and dignitaries, shoving them against the wall.

"What is the meaning of this!?" King Fredric's voice boomed. A rather large man then appeared behind her father, and Rapunzel gasped.

"Dad!" she screamed before her father's head was slammed against the table by the stranger's tattooed knuckles. Rapunzel could feel the hands of her mother, pulling her back from the scene.

"Fredric!" Arianna shouted in horror. The king grunted from the sudden blow before stomping on the larger man's foot. The thug cried as the king swung his body around and went for the ceremonious blade that was hooked at his belt.

That's when another loud bang shot through the air.

"Don't even think about it, your majesty," a voice said.

Rapunzel looked to her right. A woman stood only a few feet away from the king, pistol in hand. Her brown hair was tied messily into a bun. She held a sword in her other hand while she stood smugly in a pair of trousers and loose top. It was then that Rapunzel noticed the powdered wig and pink gown that had been tossed to the ground beneath the young lady. Upon proper inspection, Rapunzel spotted the familiarity in her features.

"Duchess Penelope?" Rapunzel guessed, baffled at the drastic change in appearance. The woman sneered at her question before a chuckle escaped from deep inside her.

"Oh, honey, I'm no duchess."

The large thug then grabbed a hold of Fredric's shoulder and shoved him forward. The king nearly stumbled from the force but caught himself in time.

"Dad!" Rapunzel spat again, stepping forward. She then heard a yelp from behind. The princess whipped around, nearly toppling the wig from her head. Another fake guard had grabbed a hold of her mother's arm. Arianna grabbed the bowl of soup from her plate and threw the hot broth right in the man's face. The thug shouted as his skin burned. His grip on the queen fell away in favor of tending to his eyes. Rapunzel searched the table for a weapon as well, but she stopped when the pistol's barrel now pointed at her.

"Enough! If you make any more trouble, then I'll make sure to stain this floor with your blood!" the woman spat before two more thugs came up from behind Rapunzel and the queen. Arianna was pulled to join the other guests while Rapunzel was yanked to the center with the king. The princess spotted Cassandra, who was on her knees as well, with the rest. Her gaze was hard. The handmaiden scanned the criminals around her with calculating coldness.

The former duchess waltzed over to Rapunzel's side, and that's when the princess spotted the wide grin over her face. The crook turned, so all three of them were facing the guests that were cramped together as if they were an audience for performance.

"Attention, attention, royals and dignitaries alike. You may be wondering what is going on here? Well, don't worry. You all are merely spectators, witnessing his majesty finally face the consequences of his actions."

"What do you want? Who are you people?" King Fredric spat with a clear scowl.

"Oh, of course you have no idea who we are. We are just petty thieves and crooks within your kingdom, your majesty," the woman explained, keeping her pistol pointed towards the king. "I am, who many would call, the Queen of Thieves. Lady Caine, if you want to shrug off the title."

"The Queen of Thieves?" Rapunzel dared to ask, making all eyes look at her. Lady Caine's eyelids fell slightly, staring at the princess as if she were a lost puppy.

"Yes, darling... Your father may have cracked down on crime ever since your disappearance, but I've found my way through the shadows, building an army of my own. All of us here have faced hardship and loss before we became criminals. We were given unfair chances while the rest of the people in this kingdom looked down on us," Lady Caine explained as she drew closer to Rapunzel. Her amusement then faded and replaced with a flash of hatred. "And because of your disappearance 18 years ago, the king made sure to throw anyone who made the slightest offense against the law in jail. That included my father, who had only stolen food to feed his starving daughter." The boiling fury in the young lady's tone deepened while her grip on the pistol shook. "He died in a cold cell while his little girl wandered the streets all alone."

Rapunzel's narrowed gaze broke from the woman's words. Her brow knitted when she noticed the slightest glisten of tears in Lady Caine's eyes. The crook blinked them away quickly before inhaling to calm her shaking body.

"And then... you came back... With your arm around a thief of all people. A thief who was supposed to be hanged for stealing your crown, and what did your father do?" Lady Caine asked before shifting her rage back onto the king. Fredric's gaze remained stern, glaring at the enraged criminal before him. "He let him live within his castle! All for merely being a delivery boy! While my father withered away in a jail cell, Flynn Rider got the royal treatment all because he was the arm candy of daddy's little girl!"

"Enough! You made your point!" Fredric shouted, but a blade was then pointed to his neck. Rapunzel flinched at how quickly Lady Caine had positioned her sword.

"You have no room to make demands, your majesty. Most of your guards are locked away in the dungeons, and the rest won't be able to get through those doors in time," Lady Caine muttered. Rapunzel cast her gaze towards the front entrance and spotted the halberd resting through the handles. The large thug from before then gripped Fredric's shoulders and shoved him to his knees. Rapunzel held out her hands to him, but Lady Caine pushed her back with her pistol.

The princess held up her hands. "I'm sorry about your father. What happened to him was beyond cruel and unjust..." Rapunzel said with sadness consuming her. "But please, don't hurt my dad. There has to be another way we can sort this out--"

"There is nothing to sort out! My father is gone! I'm never getting him back!" Lady Caine screamed, making Rapunzel crumble. The princess's heart broke from the young woman's words. Rapunzel lowered her hands and cast her gaze to the ground.

"You're right... There's nothing that could make up for that. You have every right to be furious. I can't imagine how I would feel if I was in your shoes," Rapunzel muttered as she pulled her arms up to hug herself. She then looked back up to meet Caine's eyes. "But I do know what it feels like to have your world ripped from you... to have someone you love die right before your eyes." Rapunzel stepped forward despite the weapon aimed at her. Confusion filtered through Lady Caine's features, searching for a hint of deception, but she was surprised to find genuine grief and pain fall over the little princess's eyes.

Lady Caine lowered the barrel of the gun ever so slightly as Rapunzel approached her. She tried to reach for the crook's shoulder--

--But there was a shift. Lady Caine's gaze hardened while a crazed grin flew over her cheeks. She tightened the grip on her pistol and positioned it back at the princess. Rapunzel's eyes widened when she saw the amusement bleeding through her burning fury.

"Sorry, princess, I can't be that easily swayed... Too bad, though... I would have killed you myself, but somebody has already claimed that honor."

Before Rapunzel could question her, she felt a presence behind her. She turned ever so slightly, and what she saw made her heart sink into her stomach.

A man towered over her, cloaked in a dark hood. What terrified the princess, though, was the glowing eyes that stared her down with such intensity. He stood still. Rapunzel almost thought he wasn't breathing until he spoke.

"Sun Drop..." he muttered. Rapunzel tensed at the words. She opened her mouth to speak, but her throat had closed up. Her body trembled at the dark force before her. He lifted his arm, and a blade suddenly shot out from his leather glove. His green gaze suddenly flashed with murderous intent. "Your time on this earth is over!" his voice boomed, chilling Rapunzel to her core.

"No! It's me you want! Don't touch her!" Fredric cried out, but the thug behind him kept his body still. Lady Caine waltzed over to the king with pure joy.

"Ah, sorry, your majesty. This guy only wants your daughter's head. Don't worry, I'll make sure you'll live long enough to witness her demise," Lady Caine said in a low tone, grinning from ear to ear.

Rapunzel began to back away from the approaching force. With so much fabric wrapped around her waist and the footwear, it wasn't long before the princess tumbled, landing on her back with a thud. Her wig fell to her side, pulling her pinned braid with it. Several strands of her blonde hair cascaded down her back and laid on the floor with her.

The sight of her hair seemed to infuriate the green-eyed man even more. He drew closer to the princess with his blade raised.

Rapunzel continued to back away while her heart beat flooded her ears.

She had to do something. She couldn't just sit here. Her family and friends were in danger.

Rapunzel swallowed hard as she stared at the bloodthirsty force towering over her, ready to deliver a final blow. Through her trembling form, Rapunzel's fists tightened until her knuckles turned white.

Move, Rapunzel. Move... MOVE!

The princess rolled when the blade came crashing down, missing her head by an inch. Rapunzel kicked off her heels and went for the clips on her skirt. She tossed off several of the dress's layers, allowing her to stand up once again.

The green-eyed man's blade slid across the ground before he twisted his head to where Rapunzel went. The princess searched for any sign of a weapon until her gaze landed on a cart in the back corner. It was abandoned by one of the staff members, displaying used dishes from the kitchen including... a frying pan.

Rapunzel took one last glance at the man. He had lowered his hood, so his black braids and pale skin became visible to her. With swift movement, the princess raced across the ballroom towards the cart. The green-eyed man gave chase, grabbing a chunk of her long locks that had nearly fallen completely from its braid.

Rapunzel let out a yelp when she felt a hard yank on her hair. She cried out, planting her bare feet against the floor and gripping her own hair to keep from being flung to the floor. She pulled against the green-eyed man's force and inched her fingers ever closer towards the frying pan, feeling the cold texture on the tips of her fingers.

When the man gave one forceful yank with both hands, Rapunzel screamed when she was pulled towards him in an instant. He then raised his blade once more before swinging back down on the princess's neck.

That's when steel struck against iron. The man's gaze widened when he saw the frying pan that Rapunzel held up to block his blow. He could see the smug smile fall over the princess, causing him to seethe with fury.

Before he could press his blade further against the pan, though, a loud crackling sound pulled his attention away. Several of the fake guards yelped when sparking flames and smoke filled the area around the guests.

...

These criminals weren't a problem for Cassandra. Honestly, she could easily take down most of the thugs guarding her and the guests. The idiots didn't even bother restraining her. She guessed that when they saw her in a servant's dress, they automatically assumed there was nothing to her.

Oh, they were going to regret that...

Cassandra had spent her time during Lady Caine's monologue forming a plan while carefully reaching for the dagger still tucked inside her boot. Pascal chirped on her shoulder. She could see the look of terror in the little reptilian's eyes for the princess. Cassandra nodded to him as she continued formulating a strategy.

Her plans were interrupted, though, when that hooded man came in. He appeared so suddenly behind Rapunzel that the handmaiden didn't even have time to warn her.

The way the guy carried himself, even possessing a well-crafted sword that just shot out from his glove like that. Cassandra knew this guy was going to be a problem.

She had to move fast. Although most of the guards were distracted from watching Rapunzel squirm, she couldn't promise she could get to every criminal without one of them harming the royals, especially Lady Caine with her pistol.

"We're doomed! So doomed!" A rather loud whisper came from her right. Cassandra was the closest to the back of the group with Queen Arianna and the youthful guests that Rapunzel had spoken with the night prior.  One of the duke's sons, Adrian, had been the one who spoke, and he was already hyperventilating.

"Suck it up! I know this is terrifying, but it's not like we're the ones with a crazed man ready to chop our heads off," Nuru shushed.

"Nuru's right... We have to do something," William muttered with intensity. He kept his attention towards Rapunzel, but Cassandra could see the trembling of his hands as he gripped his pant leg.

"Are you crazy!? They'll kill us if we interfere," Adrian spat through shaky breath.

Charles, who sat beside him, placed a hand on his shoulder, snapping the taller teen's attention onto him. "We can't just sit here and watch her die..."

Adrian wanted to argue, but his mouth just laid open. He soon dipped his head to the floor, biting back a soft whimper.

"We need a distraction," Cassandra finally said, pulling both the youths and Arianna's attention towards her. "I can take most of these guys out, but I'll need cover and a distraction, so I can get a hold of Lady Caine's pistol."

"You?! How are you--" Adrian closed his mouth tight when he spotted the dagger's hilt peaking out on the top of her boot.

"I'll cover you," Arianna whispered, and most of the youths nodded in agreement.

"And I can create the distraction," Mei said. Cassandra turned to the quiet young woman. She smirked before pulling out small packs from the folds of her gown. The handmaiden's eyes widened when she realized they were a type of explosive.

"You have explosives on you!?" Nuru whispered before the group shushed her. Adrian looked like he was about ready to faint.

"They're just firecrackers. I tend to keep them on me for emergencies like this," Mei explained with a casual shrug.

"Impressive," William mumbled. Cassandra smiled towards the princess, but she was alerted by a loud cry. The handmaiden looked up to find the cloaked man gripping Rapunzel's hair as she tried to reach for a frying pan on the cart.

"We have to act now. You have something to light them with?" Cassandra asked. With a swift nod, Mei pulled out a match. She struck it against the bottom of her heel before lighting each pack of firecrackers.

In one swift movement, Cassandra and the others readied themselves. As the cloaked man yanked Rapunzel towards him, Cassandra and Mei tossed the firecrackers on opposite ends of the crowd, aiming right for the criminals.

That's when a loud popping sound exploded through the air, causing screams to belt out mostly from the men in guard attire. At once, Cassandra jumped to her feet with Arianna right behind her.

The handmaiden's hair was loose and wild while she charged forward with a dagger in hand. Arianna grasped a candle holder and swung the long metal pole like its use was always meant to be a weapon. The two swiped the fake guards off their feet quickly, and very few clashed weapons with them for long, since they were so startled with the firecrackers. William and Mei got to their feet and grabbed the nearest object like Arianna. Nuru and Charles even grabbed a hold of one of the tables and tipped it over, causing it to crash into a few of the thugs.

With a nod between Arianna and Cassandra, the handmaiden raced off after her target while the youthful guests aided the queen in taking down the remaining criminals.

On her shoulder, Cassandra spotted her friend's chameleon, who looked ready for battle. "Pascal, go help Rapunzel!" She lifted her arm, so the little creature could get a running start. He saluted her before jumping forward and soaring right towards the tower of blonde hair.

...

Rapunzel was back on her feet as she gripped her frying pan with newfound determination. Her hair scattered all over the floor between her and the green-eyed man. The two held their gazes while they began to circle each other. Rapunzel watched the man carefully. The large tufts of white fur on his collar matched that of a lion's mane. Between that and the seething rage in his glowing gaze, it made him appear more animal than man.

"Who are you? Why did you call me Sun Drop?" Rapunzel asked. Her mind couldn't help but wonder if he might know something about her sudden return of magical hair. The stranger continued to glare at her like a piece of scum. After a minute of silence, she almost thought he didn't hear her at all.

The man then charged forward. Rapunzel attempted to block the blow with her pan, but his force was so strong that her body went flying. She tumbled across the ballroom floor. Her arm smacked against marble, making her muffle a scream.

"I am Hector. I am a member of the Brotherhood, sworn to protect the royal family of Lunar and slay any and all that pose a threat against the kingdom," the man spoke in a low tone. Rapunzel almost didn't hear him. She sat up slowly, wincing from the shooting pain. She held her arm before grasping the handle of her frying pan once again.

"The Lunar Kingdom? I've heard of it... but I don't know anything about that place. How could I pose a threat?" Rapunzel pleaded, desperately wanting an explanation for all this madness.

"Don't act innocent! You plan to rip the power from my homeland and destroy everything we've built! YOU are our Bringer of Doom, Sun Drop!" Hector roared. Each word scorched the air worse the last. He lowered his stance, preparing to charge once again.

A chirp from Pascal, though, distracted the man. Hector glanced to his right. The tiny chameleon resided on his shoulder, growling angrily at the man.

To Rapunzel's surprise, Hector stood up straight again and acknowledged the reptile fully.

"Step away, little chameleon. This battle will be dangerous," he spoke with complete seriousness in his tone.

Rapunzel stared at the sight, mouth agape. She would have giggled if her body wasn't still trembling with terror. She took this opportunity, though, to stand and grab hold of her long locks. She threw the end of it forward, wrapping it around the man's ankle.

Hector pulled his attention away from Pascal long enough to notice the princess's actions. He attempted to grab the hair to cut it, but the chameleon shot out his tongue right in the man's face before scurrying away. Hector jumped from the sudden attack. He lost his footing for merely a second, but it was long enough for Rapunzel to give one firm yank, pulling the green-eyed man off his feet. He smacked his head against the cold floor and was sent tumbling towards the center of all the chaos.

At the same time, Lady Caine was startled by the sudden revolution before her eyes. She aimed her pistol at the first rioting royal she saw before a sudden weight pushed her to the ground.

The king had jumped up and tackled Lady Caine. Her pistol went flying across the marble floor. She grunted in anger, shooting her elbow right into the king's nose before he could grasp onto her sword. The king held his bleeding nose. He tried to chase after the thief, but he was blocked by other criminals. Caine then raced for her other weapon until a new opponent stood in her way.

Cassandra came bursting in and immediately clashed with the Queen of Thieves. The two threw their blades, dealing swift blows to catch the other off balance. Any time Caine drew too close towards her pistol, the handmaiden would shove her back. Lady Caine cursed at the obstacle in front of her, slashing her blade with harder and harder strikes, but her opponent kept on strong.

"Why are you even doing this!? What have the royals ever done for you?" Caine spat.

"A lot, actually... Can't seem to shake off this annoyingly optimistic princess no matter what I do either," Cassandra laughed with a wide grin before kicking her opponent in the gut. Lady Caine crumbled to her knees as the handmaiden raced for the pistol. The Queen of Thieves, though, dove across the floor and latched onto the handle immediately following Cassandra. The two sprang to their feet and tussled for the weapon. Lady Caine reached for the trigger, but Cassandra forced the barrel upward before--

BANG!

Another shot fired through the ballroom. The bullet, though, had struck the chandelier above. The crystals jingled. The cords snapped. The enormous chandelier came crashing down.

Everyone raced for cover. Everyone except Hector, who had just managed to sit up when the chandelier plummeted right on top of him, shattering its crystals into billions of pieces.

Rapunzel gasped at the sight in horror. Her skin paled while her body froze. She attempted to take a few steps forward until a loud slam came from behind.

The princess turned towards the main entrance. The gigantic doors were flung open, breaking the halberd that held them in place. The Captain of the Guard, Maximus, and several other guards rushed in and stormed the scene.

"Nobody move! You criminals are under arrest by the authority of the Coronan Crown!" the Captain shouted with fury while Maximus neighed angrily in approval.

"Captain! Max!" Rapunzel spat with relief melting away some of her horror. The white steed rushed to her side, checking her over for any injuries. Rapunzel let out a shaky breath while petting his snout. "I'm okay... I'm okay."

While some criminals tried to run for it, the real guards quickly tackled them to the ground, cuffing them and all the crooks that had fallen during the fight. The Captain raced over to his daughter, who was aiming the pistol at the Queen of Thieves. Two guards came over and cuffed Lady Caine.

The young woman thrashed against the restraints, cursing in boiling rage. "No. No! This isn't over! I'm going to make you all pay! You will burn in depths of hell with me you--Ack!" Lady Caine jerked when the butt of her pistol was smacked against the back of her head, courtesy of Cassandra. The thief slumped over, unconscious in the guards' arms now.

"That's enough of that," Cassandra said with a shake of her head. The Captain eyed his daughter who shrugged. "What? I'm not a guard."

Silence fell between the two for a moment as the Captain scanned over the handmaiden. "You're not injured, are you?"

"No... I'm fine," Cassandra said, glancing to her right. She handed the pistol to her father a second later.

"Good..." the Captain said as he turned to head towards his men, who all still were trying to wrangle in the criminals as well as aid any of the injured guests. The Captain stopped, though, to glance back at his daughter. "You did a good job, Cassandra."

The handmaiden gave a small smile in return, but she quickly looked away once her father headed back over to his men.

"Rapunzel!"

The princess turned from petting Max and was quickly enveloped in a tight embrace by her parents. Rapunzel returned the gesture, squeezing them as if they could slip out of her grip at any moment. When the family finally released each other, Rapunzel winced at the sight of her father. "Oh, dad... you're nose."

The king's nose was indeed bruised and still had a bit of blood dripping from the nostrils. He shook his head as if to dismiss the concern. "I'm alright, sweetheart," he said before pulling out a handkerchief from his pocket and holding it up to his nose.

"I'm so relieved that you're safe... and your hair?" the queen asked once she acknowledged the several feet of hair that scattered across the floor.

Rapunzel gave a small chuckle in response. "Yeah... That's uh... long story."

Fredric's gaze hardened when he focused on the hair too before turning to face the chandelier in the center. His family slowly followed after him while guards began moving the giant crystal decor. The Captain went to stand next to his majesty as they all waited to grab the violent figure below.

"Get him out of there. I want answers for--" The king stopped. His eyes widened when there was no body among the shattered crystals. All that was left was a bit of torn fabric caught by one of the chandelier's broken handles. Fury burned inside the king. "Where is he!? How could he have escaped! How did none of you see him?" he shouted towards the dumbfounded guards.

"We'll find him, your majesty. Search the grounds! Lock down the palace!" the Captain called out to his men.

"Find him at once! He needs to pay for what he did to my daughter!" Fredric spat with shaking fists.

"This is unacceptable, King Fredric!"

The Corona family turned their heads towards their guests. One of the dukes drew closer. He and several others carried deep scowls. "This was a blatant attack on all of us from another kingdom! And you let the crazed man get away!? I hope you plan on doing something about this!" the short, skinny man spat with a waved finger.

"Please, Duke of Weselton, I assure you I do not take this attack lightly and will be taking care of it personally. I will be sure to send word to the Lunar Kingdom and see what their king has to say about all this," Fredric said with a narrowed gaze of his own.

Arianna then moved away from Rapunzel and headed to her husband's side. "On behalf of Corona, we are deeply sorry for what you and your children were put through today. Until this threat is taken care of, we will be postponing the coronation until further notice. Please, for your own safety, we ask that we take you back to your rooms before your carriages arrive to take you home."

Murmurs fell over the entire ballroom. Many turned to stare at the princess, clearly curious about both the hair and the possible threat behind it.

Rapunzel moved her attention to the floor. Her body trembled from the sudden millions of eyes on her. But, most of all, she was upset that, yet again, everyone seemed to be placing all the focus on her.

Yes, that strange man was frightening, but was everyone forgetting about Lady Caine and the rest of the criminals that were threatening them? Lady Caine had her own agenda, her own vendetta against her family, which clearly had nothing to do with her hair.

Why wasn't anyone focused on that? Why didn't anyone seem to care about the deranged, yet heartbroken young woman that just wanted justice for her father? Why did nobody seem to care about how horrible Lady Caine's story was and the implications it brought about her father's rule? Why couldn't these royals just focus on something other than their own selves!

"Rapunzel?" the princess snapped out of her thoughts. She turned to see Cassandra standing by her side now. She placed a hand on Rapunzel's shoulder, allowing the princess to finally exhale.

She then heard a chirp. Rapunzel looked down to see Pascal, safe and sound, on her other shoulder. She smiled at the chameleon and petted his head. "Glad to see you okay, buddy."

Rapunzel's attention then drifted to the others in the room. The other youthful royals were busy being checked over by their parents, and seemingly, now forced to stay by their sides. Yet still, Nuru, Mei, and the others all sneaked warm smiles towards the princess. Little Nuru even gave a reassuring wave at the now blonde young lady before pointing towards her head to emphasize how much she adored the new look. Rapunzel held in a giggle before her eyes landed on William. The prince sent a pure look of relief before nodding towards her. Rapunzel returned the gesture with a nod of her own, signalling the return of peace between them.

"Rapunzel."

The princess was pulled towards the sound of her father. While her mother and the rest of the guards were busy guiding the guests out of the room and towards their quarters, King Fredric marched back over to the princess. Cassandra released her shoulder and stepped back a few feet at the presence of his majesty.

"I need you to head to your room at once, and you will be staying there until further notice."

"What? Dad, you can't--"

"I can, and I will! A man just came in and tried to kill you! A man who also called you the Sun Drop. With the return of this magic hair, which I will come ask more about later, I see that I need to ensure your safety even more so now until this threat of the Lunar Kingdom is settled."

"Dad, please! Let's just talk about this. Let me help find out what's going on and--"

"Out of the question! Guards! Take my daughter to her room, now!" the king ordered.

Rapunzel gasped when gloved hands latched onto her arms. Cassandra reached out towards the frightened princess, but she was held back by the Captain. The princess thrashed against the hold as she was dragged away by her bare heels. "Dad! Please! Don't lock me up! Don't! Please!" she cried. Her breathing quickened as she gasped for air. Tears streamed down her cheeks the further the bulky guards yanked her down the echoing hall.

...

It had taken a while before the world formed around Eugene once again, but it was a rather quick rush. He hardly had time to process anything when both his nostrils and mouth were flooded with water.

Eugene's eyes shot open. He felt a hand gripping the back of his head, keeping his face submerged in the cold liquid. When he jerked for freedom, the hand released him, and he sat up with a jolt. Eugene fell away from the small tub of water. He leaned forward, hacking and spitting at the marble beneath him.

Eugene's head was pounding. Granted, he has faced worse head trauma in the past, but he was beginning to wonder if he would start facing serious brain damage with so many blows to the head.

"Hey, pretty boy woke up."

"I was beginning to think the guy was dead," someone said to his left. After a few deep inhales, Eugene looked up. His blurry vision spotted several figures around him in the dimly lit room. Many were tall and beefy. Yellow teeth, tattooed arms, and burning gazes. All of these men and women towered over Eugene, watching his haggard breaths in amusement.

"Sorry to disappoint you, fellas, but I received harder hits from a princess," Eugene rasped before coughing once again. Memories started flooding back to him. Eugene looked around for any sign of Lance, but he couldn't spot him among the crowd. The former thief then grunted when a hand gripped his shirt collar and yanked him upward.

A muscular man with a scar over his eye sneered at Eugene. "You trying to insult us?" Eugene gagged when the man's stench flooded his senses.

"Just making a statement... Now, could you back up a bit because your breath is seriously about to make me hurl," Eugene spat while turning his face away.

This set the man off. He threw Eugene to the floor. The former thief had tried to catch himself, but he soon realized that his wrists were bounded behind his back. His side hit the ground once again, making him groan.

"That's enough, Lil' Tim."

Eugene froze. The gentle voice among the harsh crowd made the entire room go silent.

A pair of heels clicked against the floor. With his cheek still resting against the marble, Eugene watched as dusty boots backed away to make room for a pair of designer ones. The stiletto heels made it undeniable who stood in front of him now.

Eugene finally craned his neck to find deep blue eyes staring back at him. A sly smile slipped over the woman's glossy pink lips as she relished in Eugene's state.

"You know, I had dreamt about this reunion... I imagined your decapitated head on a platter, but this, I guess, will do," Stalyan said.

Eugene stared at her for a moment. While his expression carried bits of disgust, he couldn't help but slip into an all too familiar grin and raised brow when he heard her words.

"I'm flattered you still dream about me," he mocked. Stalyan rolled her eyes before she stepped away. With a snap of her fingers, one of the minions pulled Eugene to his feet. The former thief's legs wobbled from the sudden movement, but he kept himself leveled when that same minion shoved him forward.

Now at his full height, Eugene could make out the details of the room. It resembled a throne room, but it was half the size of the one in Corona. The ceiling was even lower with stone pillars to his right and left. A long red carpet cascaded across the floor, from the doors to a make-shift throne. The jeweled chair was likely stolen since its silver and red coloring hardly matched the more earthy tones on the walls.

"So, you're going solo now? Made your own group of lackeys, or did your dad find them for you?" Eugene asked with genuine curiosity. He followed Stalyan until she sat on her chair. The minion behind Eugene shoved him back down to his knees when he reached the step that raised both the chair and the second half of the room up slightly.

"Well, after what you did to me, I told my father that I needed to go out and make my own living. That's when I stumbled upon Scarlet Point. These quiet towns needed a bit of flare, and I was more than happy to be the one to give that to them," Stalyan said casually. She crossed her legs, leaning her elbow against the armrest with her cheek resting up against her knuckles. "And what do one of my scouts find in the outskirts but you, wallowing in a tavern about that little princess you managed to catch."

The humor in Eugene's demeanor faded. He then hardened his gaze. Stalyan couldn't help but chuckle at the change. "Oh, don't give me that look. Word's already spread about the thief who found the Lost Princess of Corona and scored himself a ticket into the palace. Oh, how so many would have killed to have your luck."

Eugene refused to respond. He let out a tired sigh, easing his hunched shoulders, before he focused back on the smirking woman.

"What do you want, Stalyan?" Eugene asked in a bitter tone that he was not used to hearing from himself.

"You know what I want, Flynn. I want you to follow through with the promise you made to me six years ago."

There was a pause. Eugene cast his gaze to the ground for a second before shaking his head.

"I can't do that."

"Yes. You can. You will." Stalyan stood up and walked closer.

"No, Stalyan, I'm not going to marry you. Look, I'm sorry I left you at the altar, but I--"

Eugene stopped when he was struck across the face. Stalyan's hand was still raised as she glared down at the former thief with chilling hatred.

Eugene leaned to the right while blood rushed to his stinging cheek. "Okay, okay... I deserved that..." he groaned before straightening himself once again.

"You agreed to marry me, Rider. We had been together since we were practically kids, and you vanished that night without even a word." Stalyan bent her knees until she was eye-level with Eugene. She grabbed his chin and pulled him forward to make sure she had his full attention. The former thief's hatred faltered when he spotted the slightest bit of hurt in the woman's eyes. "You broke my heart, Flynn. Do you know how it feels when someone toys with your heart?"

Any sympathy Eugene felt prior to that statement instantly vanished. The former thief's face twisted against her hold as if her touch irritated his skin. "I could take a guess. A snake such as yourself is pretty good at sinking her teeth into everything around her."

Eugene flinched when Stalyan's nails dug into his skin before she shoved his face away. He shook off the pain, though, and focused back on the auburn-haired woman. "Look... Stalyan, do whatever you want to me, but I can't go through with the marriage. There's someone--"

"Who? That princess? Oh, you've got to be joking, Rider!" Stalyan shouted quickly, throwing her hands up into the air before letting them fall to her hips. "What? Don't want to give up your pretty little rich girl? Feeling like a big man with that naive hermit?"

"Don't talk about her that way," Eugene said in a low tone. Stalyan then copied his narrowed gaze.

"Or what? You honestly expect me to believe that you care about her? That you give a single damn about anyone else but yourself?" Stalyan then smirked before she leaned forward. She muttered under her breath, "Is she that fun to mess around with?"

Without warning, Eugene shot up to his feet. He charged straight for the woman. All he could see was red.

The minions behind him snatched Eugene by the arms and yanked him back down to his knees. One of the heavier set thugs placed his beefy hands on Eugene's shoulders to keep him still.

Genuine surprise flashed over Stalyan's face for a split second before she composed herself. "You... actually care about her?"

Eugene thrashed under the thug's hold. "Of course I do! I love her!"

After a few silent beats, Eugene stopped fighting. His breathing slowed down while he replayed his words over and over again in his mind. "I love her..." he muttered. The realization dawned on him like the sun breaking through a horrendous storm. A bright smile soon grew over Eugene's cheeks. "She's my new dream."

"What?" Stalyan asked. Irritation and confusion filling her face.

Eugene blinked a few times, glancing to his side when he realized that he was thinking out loud. "Sorry, uh... different conversations there." He then shook off the awkward feeling and refocused himself. "My point, Stalyan, is that I'm not going to marry you, alright?"

Stalyan stayed silent. She lifted her chin, so her gaze was looking down even further at the former thief. Her lips, though, slowly curled upward. She then began to laugh, dipping forward while her hand clutched her stomach. Her minions joined in on the laughter, booming throughout the room. Eugene stared blankly and began to wonder if he had just missed a joke.

Finally, the laughter died down. Stalyan looked at Eugene now with a confident smirk. "I probably should have explained myself before. I made it sound like you had a choice," she admitted. Stalyan then went for the pouch that was secured on her belt, which hung loosely around her black skirt. Unbuttoning the top, she dug her hand inside before pulling out a twig.

Wait, no, not a twig. Eugene squinted at the object. Yes, it was made of slender wood, but the former thief spotted a pink gem that was encased in the center. Its surface seemed to glow against the torchlight in the room.

"That's uh... That's a cool stick," Eugene said with a forced smile. Stalyan, though, didn't look at him. She kept her focus on the object in her hand. She soon grinned wide when she gripped the handle, and the gem's glow grew brighter.

"You're going to make things right, Rider. You are going to marry me because I wish you that you didn't leave on our wedding night. I wish that you were back to being my charming fiancé and that we were together once again," Stalyan said before bending her knees. She cupped Eugene's chin with her fingers, tilting his head upward. He recoiled at the touch, but the minion behind him kept the back of his head in place. The tip of the stick was aimed right between Eugene's eyes. Stalyan's eyelids dipped as she stared at him now with almost a dreamy look. It was then that the former thief could finally see the hint of insanity in her eyes. "And I wish that you forget everything about that pathetic kingdom and their little princess..."

With every statement she made, the gem glowed more and more until it burned white. A pink aura then leaked out of the object, dancing around Stalyan's hand and slowly wrapping itself around Eugene. The former thief began to panic while wishing that his life wasn't being overrun by magical incident after magical incident.

Before Eugene could think of anything to do, the pink glow turned into a cloud of dust that quickly overwhelmed his vision, making everything around him go dark.

...

It was late into the evening. Corona's guards reached dead end after dead end with their search for the Lunar criminal. The royal guests were escorted to their carriages earlier that day and returned to their kingdoms safely, but fear still edged into the core of Corona.

Between the potential threat of the Lunar Kingdom and the princess's coronation postponed until further notice, many citizens have grown weary of war around the corner. The king has not made any official announcement, despite the rumors of the Lunar soldier spreading like wildfire throughout the kingdom in less than a day. King Fredric is still attempting to reach a message to the Lunar king to demand answers, but the kingdom is so far North that it would take months for any messenger to even reach the land by horseback. Still, the king persisted, locking himself inside the war room with his Captain of the Guard to make preparations in case such a threat as war might come their way.

While the guards were on high alert, marching through the castle's hallways, Cassandra strolled down the hall while pushing a cart. A white cloth draped over it while a silver plate of food with a lid rested on the top. She nodded towards the guards she passed as she made her way towards the princess's quarters. Two guards stood in front of the closed doors, but the handmaiden smiled when she recognized the well known duo immediately.

"Stan. Pete. Can I get through?" Cassandra asked in a nonchalant manner.

"Sorry, you know the king's orders. No one is allowed in or out of her highness's room after hours," Pete stated with his head held high.

"I know, but Rapunzel has had a long day. Don't you think she deserves a midnight snack with her best friend?" Cassandra furthered while lifting up the lid to show a plate of crackers and cheese.

"I'm sorry, Cassandra. Look, we don't like seeing the princess locked up like this either, but it's for her safety. Besides, we don't want to get into trouble with the king," Stan replied with a defeated shrug.

Cassandra frowned before setting the lid back down. She then eyed the two guards, her glare growing cold. "And you think whatever the king would have in store for you would be worse than whatever I come up with?" she asked while cracking her knuckles.

The two guards paled at the handmaiden's shift in demeanor before silently stepping away from the doors. Cassandra smiled at her success. She headed inside quickly with her cart and its squeaky wheels. Once she closed the door behind her, she immediately spotted the princess standing on the side of her bed while packing items away in a blue handbag. Cassandra noticed a change in her friend's attire too.

This new dress was slimmer and possessed more muted colors to blend better in the shadows. A belt was fastened around her waist with pockets to secure items, and her trusty frying pan was even hooked on the right. Rapunzel's locks were also braided loosely with a long string of beads to keep it secure. The amount of rations she was placing into her handbag indicated that she would be traveling for a while.

Instead of being surprised by the sight, Cassandra pulled the handmaiden dress over her head to reveal her adventure attire from the night before. She tossed away the uniform and then lifted up the white cloth on the cart to reveal a knapsack and a sheathed sword underneath.

"Are you all ready?" she asked while throwing the knapsack over her shoulders and securing the sword against her belt.

"Yes, I think so... Just not sure what I should leave behind," Rapunzel mumbled. She scanned over her room, mentally checking if there was anything she was forgetting. Pascal chirped from her shoulder, and she sighed with relief knowing her chameleon was still present.

"We'll be traveling on the road, so you'll want to pack light," Cassandra said, heading closer towards the princess.

Rapunzel let out a sigh. She glanced to her right to spot the note she left on her pillow. Her shoulders sagged at the sight.

"You know you don't have to do this. We can just find Eugene and then come right back."

"I know..." Rapunzel muttered. Her heart ached as she glanced over the walls again, taking notice of all her artwork and all her memories over the past six months: good and bad. Her gaze then hardened. "But I have to find my own way. I need to find out what I want to do with my life. Not just what others have been telling me." The princess threw the handbag over her shoulders and turned to face her handmaiden. "But you don't have to come with me."

"Are you kidding? Like I'm gonna let you go out alone while there's this crazy Lunar guy running around trying to kill you," Cassandra scoffed with a smirk. She then mellowed out and stepped closer to meet her best friend right in the eye. "Besides, I'd rather be out there where I can be myself too. I'm not changing my father's mind any time soon, so I'll take my chances for adventure with you."

Rapunzel's expression warmed at her friend's words. She then held her arms out wide with a pleading look.

Cassandra eyed the princess while lifting up two fingers. "Two seconds. That's all you get."

Rapunzel beamed with glee before wrapping her best friend in a giant bear hug, squeezing all the air out of the warrior's lungs.

"O-Okay, you can let go now," Cassandra pleaded. Rapunzel released her handmaiden, who gasped for air. "Seriously... H-How are you that strong?"

Rapunzel giggled at the question until a knock came from the door, evaporating the entire pleasant atmosphere.

"Rapunzel?" Arianna asked when she opened the door. The two ladies didn't even have time to hide or conceal their obvious luggage. The queen made direct eye contact with Rapunzel, and the princess's heart stopped.

The queen paused. She was halfway inside with her mouth open agape. Rapunzel's heart started up again, pounding in her ears. She glanced behind her mother and took notice of the guards that could turn around and witness their obvious departure any second.

Thankfully, Arianna did not inform the guards. She did not shout. She didn't even say a word. The queen calmly shut the door behind her and stared at her daughter. The silent staring contest lasted for what felt like hours until her majesty finally spoke.

"You're not coming back. Are you?" Arianna asked, taking a glance at the obvious note on her daughter's pillow case when she stepped forward. Her expression was still calm. There was no anger or judgement. Yet, Rapunzel's insides still twisted into knots when she noticed the tears glistening in the older woman's eyes.

Within seconds, Rapunzel rushed over and embraced her mother. Arianna copied her and placed a shaky hand against the back of Rapunzel's head, refusing to let go. "Please tell me there's a way I can convince you to stay."

A few tears rolled down Rapunzel's cheeks as she tightened her hug even further. "I won't be gone forever... I'll come back to visit."

"You know your father will have guards coming after you the second he knows you're gone, and with that horrible man looking for you. What if he finds you and--"

"Mom." Rapunzel lifted her head, so she could meet her mother's gaze. The princess's eyes still watered, yet she kept her tone even. "I'm not going to be kept in a tower anymore. I can handle myself. We can handle ourselves." Rapunzel turned to look back at Cassandra, who awkwardly stood over by the balcony window.

Arianna sniffled. She wiped away her tears and pulled something that was hidden within the folds of her dress. "I know. I would never want to put you through that again, which is why I brought you this."

Rapunzel looked back at her mother, releasing her to witness a small leather book in her hands. The princess took it and noticed a strap over the cover to keep its pages secure. Rapunzel undid the strap and flipped through to find the whole book was blank. "What's this?"

"It's a journal for you to jot down your adventures."

Rapunzel shot her gaze back up, staring at the queen in shock.

Arianna gave a warm smile in return. "I had one of my own when I was your age. There were many things I regretted when I left home... but there were many more that I adored."

Rapunzel looked back down at the journal and finally took notice of a message engraved on the inside of its cover. "Plus es on vuss?" she asked with a knitted brow.

"Plus est en vous. It means: There is more in you. It's time you choose your own path, Rapunzel," Arianna said before reaching out and swiping a stray tear down her daughter's cheek. More tears, though, quickly replaced it as the princess's insides warmed at the words. "Just know that no matter what, you will always have a place here. Understand? We would never not want you back here with us, whether you choose to be queen or not."

With a nod from Rapunzel, the two embraced one last time before the princess pulled away. She placed the journal in her handbag and went to go stand next to her handmaiden. Arianna held her head up before giving a small wave. "Take care of yourself and stay safe. I love you."

"I love you too, mom, and tell dad that I love him too," Rapunzel said with a bitter smile.

"I will... Take care of my daughter, Cassandra, and you stay safe as well," Arianna stated to the quiet warrior. Cassandra straightened herself when she was finally acknowledged. She gave a curt nod in response. "And if you find Eugene, tell him that we are sorry for how we handled everything."

"I will. Thank you, mom... for everything," Rapunzel said quietly. She glanced over at Cassandra before the two headed over to the balcony.

"Fidella and Max will be waiting for us on the other side of the bridge again... Are you sure you want to go down this way?" Cassandra asked with a raised brow. Her friend, though, was already undoing the beads that held up her long hair.

Rapunzel grinned at the warrior. She tied the end of her hair against one of the balusters and threw the rest over the side. "You want to get out of a tower? This is the best way to do it."