Chapter Text
“Go faster!” Cassandra demanded.
“I’m going as fast as I can!” Eugene nudged Maximus along.
Cassandra sat behind him in the saddle “We have to catch up with Lady Caine before something terrible happens to Rapunzel! Hi, Rapunzel. I can only imagine what horrible things she’s doing to her—“
Cassandra cut herself off and Eugene brought Maximus to a screeching halt. They turned around one by one to see Rapunzel, safe and sound, nervously waving at them.
“RAPUNZEL!” They both shouted, jumping off the horse and running for her.
“Uh, hi guys, I—“ Eugene and Cassandra wrapped her up in a tight hug.
“We were so worried about you—“
“We thought something had happened—“
“And we could never forgive ourselves—“
“We tried to rescue you—“
“Guys, guys, I’m okay,” Rapunzel said, chuckling as Cassandra and Eugene held her tightly. “Really, I’m alright. She let me go.”
Cassandra and Eugene exchanged suspicious looks. “Why?” Eugene said.
Rapunzel opened and closed her mouth, “It’s…complicated, I think. She’s a complicated person.”
Eugene and Cassandra rolled their eyes. Rapunzel hung her head, her long blonde hair flowing into her face. “Guys…I…I’m so sorry. Everything I’ve said, everything I’ve done…I’ve been so selfish and I hurt you both.”
“Oh, no, Rapunzel,” Eugene said, lifting her head, “Rapunzel you haven’t done anything wrong.”
“It was…I think we all had some miscommunication,” Cassandra said, “But the important thing is that we talk this all out. So, Rapunzel, I have to ask…Do you love Eugene?”
Rapunzel looked up at Eugene, into his kind, hopeful eyes. “Yes…yes I do.”
Eugene practically glowed, squeezing Rapunzel’s hand. “And…do you love Cassandra?”
Rapunzel turned her gaze to Cassandra, her strong fiery passion showing through her eyes. “Yes…yes I…I love her too.” She swallowed, looking at her feet, “And I don’t…I don’t know who I love more.”
“That’s okay, Raps.” Cassandra said, “It really is. Listen, I told you about how I’m a lesbian, and that’s…more uncommon in Corona, right?” Rapunzel nodded, “Well, there are other…other terms that are similar, maybe even more uncommon. Like, bi or pansexual. Bi and Pan people can love more than just one gender, guys and girls.”
“And then there’s another term,” Eugene said, “One that I never really thought of much before now, and it’s polyamorous. It means you can love and be in love with more than one person at a time. And it doesn’t mean you love others any less, it’s just…more.”
Rapunzel twisted her hair, nervously. “And you guys think…I’m those things? Bi or Pan and poly?”
“Honestly, Raps, it’s up to you to determine how you define yourself,” Cassandra said, “But…But as far as it concerns us, if you want us both…” She exchanged a look with Eugene, “That’s fine with us.”
Rapunzel blinked at them. They smiled at her, identical looks of affection on their faces. “B-both?” she said, “Like, at the same time?”
“Well,” Eugene said, “We’d probably have to work some things out, and it’d mean…pretty constant communication from everyone. Also, any proposals that may or may not have been issued would have to be postponed…”
Rapunzel swallowed, “And…you’d be okay with that?” She looked between them.
Eugene smiled, pushing Rapunzel’s hair back behind her ear, “How many times do I have to tell you, my dear. You are my dream. This…may not be exactly what I imagined, but…but the important thing is that we’re together, and happy. And if you being happy means sometimes you smooch Cassandra, well…it won’t make it any less sweet when you smooch me.”
Rapunzel turned to Cassandra, who smiled. “I never dreamed in a hundred years that you’d love me back. And despite the fact I think your taste in men is still questionable,”
“Hey!”
“I love you far more than I dislike him. And I’d be willing to share.”
Rapunzel’s small smile turned into a beam. She couldn’t contain herself as she wrapped an arm around both their necks pulling them into a tight hug. She lifted her feet off the ground, depending on them for support, which they gladly gave. “How did I ever get so lucky as to find the both of you?” She said, tears swelling up in her eyes.
“I think you mean, how did WE get so lucky to find YOU,” Eugene said, wrapping an arm around her.
“Guys, as much as I’d love to play ‘who’s the luckiest,’” Cassandra said, “Maybe we can move the conversation somewhere not a dirt road. Besides, the royal guard still thinks your missing, Rapunzel.”
“Oh!” Rapunzel dropped down to her own feet, “Right, right,” she said, wiping her eyes, “I just love you both so much…”
Pasqual, who’d been hiding in Cassandra’s sleeves, popped out, scampering over to sit on Rapunzel’s shoulder and nuzzle her chin. “Yes, yes, I love you too, Pasqual.”
Behind them, Maximus whinnied, nuzzling the back of Rapunzel’s head. “I love you too, Maximus!” She said, “I love everyone!”
Cassandra and Eugene couldn’t help but laugh. They each offered a hand, and Rapunzel took them both, walking back down the path, her loves on either side.
“I’m nervous,” Rapunzel said, twisting her braid Cassandra had helped her with this morning.
“You got this,” Eugene said, kissing her cheek, “You can stare down a pit of mercenaries without fear, you can handle anything.”
“And besides,” Cassandra said, kissing her other cheek, “We’re going to be right by your side.”
Rapunzel nodded, steeling herself, “Alright, lets do this.”
With no more warning, she strode into the King’s meeting room. “Ah, Rapunzel,” the King said, going over his maps, “This isn’t a good time—“
“I’ll be quick, Father,” She said, her head raised high, “I’m starting my crime prevention task force, helping those who are at risk of turning to a life of crime find better things for their life.”
The King bristled, “Rapunzel, we talked about—“
“Furthermore,” She said, “I’m expanding it into a criminal rehabilitation program, to help former criminals instead of just locking them up in a dungeon for ages. I’m beginning to write things up and consult with experts.”
“Rapunzel,” The King said, “It’s too dangerous, I refuse to fund—“
“The fund will be coming out of my personal allowance as a Princess,” Rapunzel said, “It will be more than enough to cover the costs, and eventually, hopefully, it will actually end up saving the kingdom more money than it costs.”
The King kept shaking his head. “After you were just kidnapped, you can’t expect me to—“
“Don’t worry, Father,” Rapunzel said, “Eugene and Cassandra have already volunteered to help me, they’ll be with me every step of the way. And,” She said, “I’ll be sure to protect them.”
“Rapunzel!” the King shouted. Rapunzel flinched, but Eugene and Cassandra put comforting hands on her back, grounding her. “You are a Princess, and one day you will be Queen, and I cannot allow you to pursue these flights of fancy!”
“It’s not about allowing, Father,” Rapunzel said, “Like I said, the money is coming from my own fund, I don’t need your permission, I’m keeping you informed. And it is exactly because I’ll be Queen I’m implanting this program. It’s the cornerstone of what I want to do when I’m the ruler, but many people will suffer just waiting for me to take charge, so I’m starting it now.” She swallowed, the King seemingly struck silent, “I know you care about me, and that’s why you’re so protective. But I can’t just sit around this castle all day being safe. That’s what Mother Gothel wanted from me.” She could see his face fall at the realization of what he’d been doing. “I know that’s not what you meant to do. You…you love me. And I love you, father. But I need to go out there, meet new people and…and finally do some good in the world. And…And no one can stop me. Not even you.”
The King sat down, processing everything Rapunzel said. He took a deep sigh. “Take a pair of guards with you,” He said.
She bit her lip, “One guard.”
“Fine.”
“And he has to follow MY orders and back off when I need him to.”
“Yes, yes, fine,” The King said, “As long as he goes with you.”
Rapunzel nodded, “Agreed.”
Rapunzel managed to hold in her giddy excitement until they got out of the room. She jumped in the air, giggling to herself. “We did it! It worked, we did it!”
“You did it,” Cassandra said, kissing Rapunzel on the lips. “All on your own.”
The kiss only made Rapunzel giggle more. “C’mon, lets go out and celebrate!”
“Wait,” Eugene said, “You’ve got a hair out of place.” He slipped her sun hair clip into her braid, “There, perfect.” He kissed her lips too.
“You were just jealous of my kiss,” Cassandra said, as Eugene slipped his hand together with Rapunzel’s.
“What?” Eugene said, fake appalled as Cassandra took Rapunzel’s other hand, “That’s absurd. Me? Jealous? Never.”
Rapunzel giggled, “Come on you guys, I want to get ice cream.”
They laughed and followed her as they always did, and always would.
~~~The End~~~