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The last thing Eugene had expected was to be brought before the King and Queen of Corona. He had thought he would have been hung by now. In fact, when the Captain of the Guard had come for him, he had thought he was being led to his death. He had implied as much.
What surprised him was when they had bypassed the door leading to the execution area.
That had given Eugene pause for thought.
Despite his brief attempt to escape when he had seen the Stabbington Brother’s, he had known he wouldn’t have been able to do anything. The Guards had grabbed hold of him, forcibly leading him away from their cell and further towards, what he had assumed, was his death.
He was led into the throne room, the very place where he had stolen the Crown from. He didn’t regret taking the job to steal the Crown, not when it had led him to Rapunzel. He would do anything he could to make sure she was alright. He was relieved she wasn’t in the hands of the Stabbington Brother’s but if the old lady was her mother…
What mother would set up her own daughter to nearly be kidnapped by two of the most dangerous criminals in the Seven Kingdoms? Eugene had only worked with the Stabbington’s because they had both responded to the job of stealing the Crown, and it had made sense for them to work together. But now they were in prison too, and Rapunzel could still be in danger. If her own mother was willing to go to such lengths to keep her at home, what was the reason for it?
What could the old woman possibly gain from Rapunzel staying at home her whole life?
All these thoughts were running through his head as he desperately tried to keep his panic from rising. He could see the King and Queen sitting in their respective thrones as they watched the Guards drag him forward.
The Captain forced him to his knees, ordering him to bow before them. He didn’t rise from his knees, choosing to keep low. His hands were still chained together. Eugene already knew what the outcome of this meeting would be: his execution.
King Frederic of Corona was an intimidating man. He rose from his seat, his gaze staring down hard at the criminal in front of him. “Flynn Rider, the man who stole our daughter’s Crown. You’ve been a problem for us for many years now. Here you are, finally caught.”
Eugene didn’t feel he should respond.
“Why did you do it?” a soft feminine voice asked.
The Queen.
Directed at him, the question was one he had to answer. Cautiously, he raised his head so he was looking at the Queen. “It was a job that I do not regret taking.” Because he didn’t, but mainly due to the fact it had led him to Rapunzel. “But not because of the money. But because of who I met through it. She believed in me to keep her safe and… and… I failed her. I don’t care about the money. If I’m to die, I just want to make sure she is safe before I go.”
The Captain tutted from beside him. “You’ve never cared about anyone in your life, Rider. Why would you start now?”
Eugene gritted his teeth, trying to avoid showing the irritation he felt at the Captain. “Because Rapunzel made me want to be a better person, and I would do anything to make sure she was with the right people who could look after her and she could live the life she deserves. More than anything she deserves to be free.”
“You said Rapunzel…” the Queen murmured softly. “How do you know that name?”
“It was the name of the girl I was with…” Eugene answered softly, confused by the tender tone in the Queen’s voice. He could see even the King looked shocked at the name as he had sat back down on his throne.
The Queen leaned forward. “What did she look like?” There was a hopeful glint in her eyes. “How old was she?”
Eugene was taken back by the questions. He hadn’t been expecting this. As he gazed at the Queen, he realised he had seen her before, a younger version of her… And the bell dropped. “She… she looked… like you… But with blonde hair… very long blonde hair… Green eyes… She was eighteen… yesterday. She told me. She’d been seeing the Lanterns from her Tower for years, had always wanted to see them.”
“Eighteen?” the Queen breathed.
Eugene nodded.
The Captain of the Guard was looking confused. “Your Majesty’s, please do not allow the words of this thief to distract us from the very reason you summoned him here!”
But the Queen held up a hand. “No one knew what we named our daughter, Captain. Her name was embroidered on the blanket that was stolen with her. How else would he know it? Rapunzel isn’t a common name. It’s so rare that no one else would have ever thought to have named their child with that name.”
“Captain,” the King spoke up. “Was he with a girl with blonde hair?”
Oh, this wasn’t going to end well. The Captain could easily lie.
The Captain grunted in his reply. “As much as I hate to say it, he was with a girl with very long blonde hair.”
The Queen reached across to her husband. “Frederic…”
“Arianna… We can’t take his word. He stole our daughter’s crown.”
“But he knows her name. What if, Fred? We’ve waited so long for any news of her… We can’t ignore this…”
Eugene’s mind was racing. Was Rapunzel the Lost Princess? She must have not known the truth… But it made sense. If Rapunzel was the Lost Princess, then it would explain why her mother had never allowed her to leave the Tower. It was fear of discovery, of losing Rapunzel, of losing what she had taken. And suddenly Eugene realised that Rapunzel’s ‘mother’ must have wanted Rapunzel for the very reason she had warned her ‘daughter’ against ever leaving for. Her whole life Rapunzel had been manipulated into believing her Tower was her safe haven when really it had been her prison…
“I can take you to her,” he mumbled.
When the King and Queen paused their discussion, indicating for him to repeat what he had said, Eugene took his chance. “I can take you to her. If Rapunzel is really the Lost Princess, I can take you to the Tower.”
The Queen looked hopeful but the King would have the final say.
Eugene bit his lower lip. This was his chance to save her. Surely there was something he could add which might convince the King? “Your Majesty, when you daughter was taken, was anything left behind, like a bit of hair that had been cut that had turned brown?” He remembered Rapunzel telling him about that – the lock of hair which was the only reminder of the person who had tried to cut her hair as a baby as a way to steal her power.
The person who had probably tried to cut it must have been Rapunzel’s ‘mother’, he assumed. This ‘mother’ must have thought cutting a bit of hair would allow her to keep on using the power Rapunzel had… but when the hair had lost its power, she’d taken the baby instead… Eugene’s mind was racing, his heart beating fast as he realised without a doubt that the woman who had always been Rapunzel’s mother had never truly loved her… Only made her believe she did and had quietly manipulated her as she grew up to become completely dependent on her ‘mother’ to keep her safe.
“Please!”
The King stared at him, a hard expression on his face. “And if she is our daughter, what do you want in return?”
“Nothing. Only the knowledge she is safe.” His own life didn’t matter now. Rapunzel’s did. “I don’t care if I die, I just need to know she’s safe! Please!”
“Frederic…” Arianna tried again. “He knows about the lock of hair… No one could know that specific detail…” She looked hopeful, her eyes shimmering with tears.
“And what if it isn’t her?” the King asked quietly.
“Then we help this girl find her family, if she isn’t already with them,” stated Arianna. “Whoever this girl is, she’s in trouble. If we do not follow this lead, we will regret it.”
A little bit of hope was building in his chest as he remained kneeling in front of the King and Queen.
There was a heavy silence before the King finally spoke. “Captain… Ready the Guard.”
The Captain gaped, then quickly reverted into his authority mode, the surprise wearing off quickly. “And, what of Rider, your Majesty?”
The King stood once more, stepping towards Eugene and his Guard. “You will lead us to this Tower, Flynn Rider?”
Eugene swallowed. There was no question about it. “Yes.”
“We are taking a big risk in trusting you. I will not hesitate to have you executed if you attempt to escape or deceive us. Do you understand?” the King’s tone was harsh and heavy, the threat fully established that death would follow if he put even a toe out of line.
“I do,” confirmed Eugene.
The King continued to glower at him.
“Your Majesty,” added Eugene.
“Captain, uncuff Rider.”
“But-” the Captain began to protest but a look from the King silenced him. Grumbling, he took out the keys to the chains binding Eugene’s hands together and released them.
Eugene rubbed his wrists, relief spreading through him, surprised at the chance he had been given. Even if he was still executed after this, he didn’t care. Rapunzel would be safe. He’d die peacefully with the knowledge she was with people who loved her. He looked the King directly in the eyes. “I won’t let you down,” he vowed.
- - - - -
With the Captain keeping a close eye on him, Eugene led fifty Guards, and the King and Queen through the forest towards the hidden valley where he had stumbled across Rapunzel and her frying pan in her Tower. They were all on horseback making the journey a lot quicker than it would have been on foot.
In retrospect, the Tower was not very far from the Kingdom, meaning Rapunzel had been hidden very cleverly so close to her real family for years.
Eugene found the cliff-face which obscured the entrance to the cave which led out to the pit where her Tower was. A curtain of plants covered the entrance. Sitting atop the horse he had been given – the Captain had been against this, even when Eugene had offered to be chained to the Captain – Eugene looked over his shoulder at the royal couple.
“It’s here. I thought it was a wall. It wasn’t.”
The Captain slid off his own horse and inspected the area, opening the curtain of plants to reveal the passageway. “The passageway is big enough for horses to get through however only one at a time.”
“We will all demount, Captain,” ordered the King, sliding down from his horse and then helping his wife down from hers. “Leave a few men here to look after the horses, the rest of us will proceed.”
“Come on, Rider,” pushed the Captain urging Eugene forward after he had dismounted.
Eugene led them through the darkened passageway and out where the King’s Company found themselves looking upon a high-structured Tower, its foundations solidly built into the ground.
“I had to climb up the side of the Tower to get in,” explained Eugene. “I couldn’t find a way in.”
The Captain huffed and was about to speak further when they noticed movement around the base of the Tower.
Eugene’s heart constricted in his chest as two figures appeared from the other side of the Tower: an older woman with long black, curly hair, wearing a long cloak, pulling on a chain, dragging Rapunzel with her. “No…”
He vaguely heard gasps from behind him but he didn’t care about the other people he was with, only Rapunzel. She was struggling, pulling constantly at the chains, and she was gagged. Her ‘mother’ was snarling at her, the words indistinguishable at this distance.
Anger blurred his vision at how Rapunzel was being treated, and Eugene didn’t care that he broke into a run, yelling angrily as he saw how much Rapunzel did not want to be with the woman who had proclaimed herself her mother anymore. “RAPUNZEL! LET HER GO!”
The woman reacted quickly, grabbing Rapunzel by the arm and pulling her close, bringing up a dagger and placing it underneath Rapunzel’s chin.
“That is far enough, thief!” the woman spat.
Eugene skidded to a halt, glaring at Rapunzel’s captor. “You won’t hurt her,” he said.
The woman smirked. “I hold all the cards here, boy.” She pressed the dagger to Rapunzel’s throat, whose eyes were wide and terrified.
“Really?” Eugene smirked. “I didn’t come alone.”
The woman’s eyes widened in horror as the Captain of the Guard charged up, sword drawn with the Guards who had not been left behind to tend the horses; each Guard either holding a sword or a crossbow. The King and Queen followed behind them.
“No!” the woman hissed.
King Frederic brushed through the crowd, his eyes dark and furious. “Let my daughter go, now!”
“No. She belongs to me!” the woman spat.
Eugene was furious. He stepped forward again. “Rapunzel belongs to no one but herself!” He wished he had a weapon, something he could use against Rapunzel’s kidnapper. But they had not thought to give him any weapons, in case he had tried to escape. They’d only trusted him with a horse because it was the fastest way to reach the Tower.
The woman’s eyes hardened. “I am Gothel and this little flower is rightfully mine!”
Rapunzel struggled in her grasp, as much as she dared to with a dagger pressed to her throat, her eyes wide with concern as she took in the people who were now gathered behind Eugene.
The King’s reaction was one of anger as he drew forth his own sword which had remained in his scabbard. “SHE IS NOT YOURS!”
Rapunzel’s eyes were wide and fearful but she seemed to be looking at Eugene more than anyone else there. He was the only one there she really knew.
“Make a move on me and I shall kill your precious daughter,” spat Gothel.
Rapunzel tried to speak through the gag but Gothel pressed the dagger closer to her throat, leaving little marks on her skin.
“Hush, Rapunzel. The adults are talking.”
“Your Majesty, what shall we do?” the Captain called out. With the King there, he couldn’t act without his command, not when it was painfully obvious this Rapunzel really was the King and Queen’s long-lost daughter.
Eugene assessed the situation carefully. With Rapunzel’s life on the line, the King would do anything to keep his daughter alive, even if it meant allowing this Gothel to leave with her. But a plan was beginning to form in his mind. If this Gothel had kidnapped Rapunzel for her power, she had been using it for years. He looked down at his hand. Rapunzel’s hair had healed his wound… What if it reverses aging too?
Could the old woman have taken Rapunzel because she didn’t want to die?
“That flower belonged to no one,” the King answered.
Flower? Eugene felt confusion stir within him. What did a flower have to do with Rapunzel’s powers?
“It belonged to me!” shouted Gothel. “And you took it from me! I used it for years, years to keep myself alive! I am not a harmless woman that you believe I am!”
The King’s eyes flashed angrily. “I never believed you to be a harmless woman when you took our daughter from her crib!” He stepped forward.
“Ah…ah…ah…ah,” Gothel jeered, lifting Rapunzel’s chin and showed a small speck of blood which had formed on her throat. “One wrong move and she’s dead.”
But Eugene knew without a doubt now that Gothel would not kill Rapunzel. Unintentionally, Gothel had revealed she needed Rapunzel alive otherwise she would die without her. She would not risk killing Rapunzel. Harm her, for sure, but not enough to kill her and lose the one thing keeping herself alive.
The only way to free Rapunzel from her prison was to… Cut her hair. Eugene realised how risky that would be. It was Rapunzel’s hair that held the healing power that Gothel had hoarded for all these years. To cut it all off meant it would lose all of its power, freeing Rapunzel. But how could he get close to her to achieve it? Especially when he had no weapons himself?
His eyes focused upon the dagger Gothel held tightly against Rapunzel’s throat. He had to get to it somehow unless he could… No, there was no point. The Captain would not listen to him. He had to do this alone.
“You will release our daughter!” snarled the King, his voice rising in anger but also fear reflected in his eyes as he watched Gothel slowly beginning to move, dragging Rapunzel with her.
“You will let me pass and leave with your precious daughter. I will kill her if not,” Gothel stated.
Eugene slipped back, moving through the crowd of soldiers, none of them paying him any heed as he moved stealthily around the back of the group, slipping round, ducking down low so he could circle behind Rapunzel and Gothel. He had one shot at this, one chance to free Rapunzel.
Gothel was still pulling Rapunzel along, watching gleefully as the King ordered his men to step away. The Queen gripped her husband’s arm, eyes sad and tearful as she watched, poised, to lose the daughter they had only just found after years of searching.
It was then his moment came.
Gothel was close enough to him now that he could take his chance.
He moved quickly, reaching round Gothel to grab the hand holding the dagger to Rapunzel’s throat and he twisted her arm, pulling her arm away from her captive, allowing Rapunzel to duck and scramble away, her gag coming loose in the process.
“Eugene! No!” Rapunzel’s eyes were wide with fear.
He twisted Gothel’s arm again and her fingers loosened enough for him to reach up and grab the dagger from her. He pushed her away forcefully, adrenaline rushing through him as he ran towards Rapunzel.
He skidded to a stop beside her, getting to his knees. “Rapunzel. I’m sorry for what I’m about to do. But I have to do this. It’s the only way to free you.”
Her fearful green eyes looked into his brown ones. “Eugene?”
He took her long blonde hair in his hand, glanced at Gothel and snarled at her: “You won’t have any reason to keep Rapunzel if she no longer has what you took her for.”
Gothel recognised what he was about to do. Horror rushed across her face and she stepped forward. “No! Don’t you dare!”
But Eugene paid no heed.
With one swift movement, he cut Rapunzel’s long blonde hair leaving it shoulder length.
Rapunzel’s eyes widened as she realised what he had done, her head feeling lighter than it had ever felt before, but unable to move her hands as they were still chained behind her. “Eugene?”
He stared defiantly at Gothel as Rapunzel’s hair turned brown and the long locks of hair that he had cut away lay in the grass.
“No!” Gothel yelled. “What have you done?”
Eugene got to his feet. “I’ve freed her from you.”
Gothel’s face twisted in fury even as the King signalled his Guards to move in. She reached into her cloak and pulled forth another dagger, her eyes frantic and anger flushing across her cheeks. Her eyes sought Rapunzel’s and then turned to Eugene, murder in her eyes.
“You have taken everything from me, thief!” she screeched.
Ignoring the Guard’s coming towards her, Gothel ran forward, reaching towards Rapunzel only for Eugene to push her out the way.
“No!”
But Gothel’s angry look turned to one of victory as her dagger plunged right into Eugene’s stomach. She grabbed him by the lapels. “If I’m going to die, you’re coming with me, thief!” She hissed vehemently in his ear as she twisted her dagger inside his guts, pulling it all the way out before reinserting her dagger into a different area of his body.
Eugene cried out, his own grip on the dagger he had taken from her loosened in his grip and the weapon fell to the ground.
“NO! EUGENE!” Rapunzel shouted out.
Gothel finally dropped him to the ground, his blood pouring from his wounds onto the green matted grass and he curled up, trying to protect his body. He didn’t see what happened to Gothel as the pain increased and he cried out as someone helped roll him over.
It was Rapunzel. She’d been freed from her chains; the manacles were still around her wrists but the chains attaching them together had been cut allowing her full range of movement.
Soft, warm hands touched his cheeks, reaching for his hands.
“Eugene?” Rapunzel’s voice was desperate.
Struggling to breathe, Eugene slowly opened his eyes. He could feel himself fading. He was bleeding to death. His strength was leaving him.
“Rapunzel?” he whispered. He could barely see her through the haze gathering in his mind. He didn’t have long left.
She had hold of his hand, lifting it to her matted brown hair, her words broken as she sobbed out the lyrics to the song she had sung for most of her life.
Flower gleam and glow.
Let your powers shine.
Make the cloak reverse.
Bring back what once was mine.
Nothing happened, just as Eugene knew it would. He’d succeeded. He’d freed Rapunzel from her eighteen-year captivity. Breathing was difficult and a sensation of numbness was beginning to settle over him as he felt the darkness slowly close in on him.
He had just enough strength to say one last thing to Rapunzel.
“You… you were my new dream…”
As the darkness pulled him completely into its depths, Rapunzel’s reply followed him.
“And you were mine.”
- - - - -
Eugene stopped breathing moments later and his body stilled.
“No… Eugene…” Rapunzel sobbed. “No… please… come back… Please!” She ignored the other people in the clearing watching her. They didn’t matter, not right now, not when Eugene had just died. “No… please…”
His whole body was limp. She knew he was gone, there was no coming back from this. The magic of her hair was gone, taken in one swift cut by Eugene’s hand, a sacrifice he had taken to save her. He’d stepped in front of Gothel, knowing he’d had no chance.
She held his body in her lap, brushing his hair out of his eyes, running a hand down his cheek but there was no movement from him. He really was gone.
She sniffed, lowering her face down to his cheek, resting her nose against the side of his, holding his body close.
She didn’t notice someone approach her until they knelt down beside her. “Rapunzel?”
The voice was soft and gentle, and finally, Rapunzel looked up to find herself looking into very familiar features of herself. This… this had to be her mother… her real mother.
“You’re…. you’re…” Rapunzel could barely speak, the tears still had not fallen yet. “You’re my mother… My real one…”
The brown-haired woman nodded, reaching out to place a hand on top of her daughter’s. “I am.” She glanced down at the body Rapunzel held. “We’ll take him home with us. We’ll give him the highest honour our land can bestow. He’ll be buried with honour.”
Rapunzel shook her head. “I don’t want any of that. I just want him back!” She turned back to Eugene, gently stroking his face. “Why did you have to go?” she whispered.
As if on instinct she began to softly sing again marred with sobs, the final sentences of the song she had started mere moments before he had died.
Heal what has been hurt
Change the fates design
Save what has been lost
Bring back what once was mine
What once was mine
A tear trickled down from her eyes, falling onto Eugene’s cold and pale cheek. She buried her head in his shoulder, her sobs becoming more and more pronounced as she felt an unfamiliar body comfort her.
It was mere moments later a golden light caught her eye. “What?” The light was sparkling from the two stab wounds Eugene had taken.
“Rapunzel?” the woman who was her real mother gently pulled her back, not sure whether what was happening was dangerous or not.
Rapunzel only had eyes for Eugene as the light shot up high above them all, opening up to reveal a flower within the light itself as everyone looked on shocked as to what was happening. She paid no heed to them, only scrambling forward towards Eugene’s body as the light dispersed.
“Eugene?” She lifted his head from the ground, her eyes searching desperately. “Eugene?”
His eyes flickered behind his eyelids and his chest moved.
“Rapunzel…”
Rapunzel’s face broke out into a wide grin as he slowly opened his eyes. “Eugene!”
“Did I tell you I have a thing for brunettes?” he whispered quietly, a slight smile crossing his face as their eyes met.
Rapunzel laughed, squealing in delight. “EUGENE!” She threw herself at him, sobbing and laughing into his shoulder at the same time, whilst he wrapped one arm around her and leaned against her shoulder, relief coursing through them both that the other was alive. Rapunzel pulled away, a bright smile on her face.
Nothing could stop her, it didn’t matter there were so many others in front of her, she only had eyes for him.
She grabbed him by the lapels and pulled him in for a kiss, one which he returned as he melted into her embrace. He pulled back, their noses touching as they stared at one another in delight.
“You’re really here, aren’t you?” Rapunzel whispered quietly. “This… this isn’t a dream, is it?”
“Yeah, I am,” he smiled at her. “It’s real.”
And that was when reality came crashing back and Rapunzel realised they weren’t alone.
They were surrounded by Guards, flanking two people in Royal attire. The woman who had comforted Rapunzel just moments before had returned to her place beside her… “Oh… you’re…”
Eugene gently took her hand and guided her to her feet. “Rapunzel… they are the King and Queen of Corona. They’re…”
“My parents…” Rapunzel sniffed. “I know.”
Eugene stepped back as the King and Queen moved forward, tentatively, reaching out to the long-lost daughter they had wished to return for years.
It was an emotional reunion, and Rapunzel felt instantly safe in their arms as Eugene watched on.
- - - - -
Though the King and Queen were still emotional over having reunited with their daughter, Eugene knew there was only one thing left to do. He walked over to the Captain of the Guard and held both his hands out, expecting the man to chain him.
He was surprised when that did not happen.
It was the voice of the King which caused Eugene to turn away from the Captain and face the man that had chosen to put his trust in Flynn Rider.
“It would be remiss of me to jail the man who found and saved my daughter… even if he is a thief,” the King said.
Eugene’s eyes widened in surprise. He didn’t know what to say.
“My daughter calls you Eugene. Why?”
This was an awkward conversation to be having in front of everyone. “It’s my real name. Flynn Rider was just a name I chose to go by years ago… I… haven’t been Eugene for a long time… until I met Rapunzel.” And because he had started it, he may as well finish it. “My full name is Eugene Fitzherbert.”
The King contemplated him before speaking again. “Do you want to be Eugene Fitzherbert again?”
He wondered if the question was a trick. “If I was given a chance, yes.” He didn’t add as long as he got to be with Rapunzel. His eyes found hers as she watched the interactions between Eugene and her father, whilst staying in her mother’s arms. “To be able to make something of my life instead of what I’ve been.”
“Hmm.” The King turned away from him, moving over to the Captain. “Captain, you saw Flynn Rider die, didn’t you?”
Eugene wondered what this was all about.
The Captain, surprised by the question, took a while to respond. “I… err… yes, he did.”
“Good.” The King smiled turning back towards Eugene. “I see before me only Eugene Fitzherbert. Flynn Rider has died… Providing, of course, you want to remain on the right side of the law from now on…?”
Eugene gaped, surprise rushing through him. “I… I don’t understand.”
The King smiled warmly at him. “Flynn Rider died the moment he sacrificed himself in protecting my daughter. What remained was you, Mr. Fitzherbert.”
“I’m… getting a second chance?”
Even the Captain looked a bit put out by the news but didn’t make a comment.
“If you wish to take it, of course,” inclined the King.
Rapunzel stepped away from the embrace of her mother’s arms. “Eugene?”
Despite all the eyes upon him; all the Guards who had spent years chasing him watching this play out, Eugene already knew what his answer would be.
“You have been judged a free man,” intoned the King quietly.
He would have sagged, nearly fallen over if Rapunzel hadn’t run to him, wrapping her arms around him, holding him tight.
“Please say yes!”
He couldn’t say no to her. Not when she’d somehow given him a second chance of his own. He wasn’t going to throw this chance away. No, he was going to take this chance and run with it.
Holding Rapunzel close, Eugene met the King’s gaze and steeled himself for what he was about to say next.
“Yes. Yes, I do want a second chance.”
And he meant every word.
-The End-