Eugene's vision was blurring around the edges, and his breathing was coming out labored. His strength was dwindling. But he could still make out her voice. Even her computer voice was magical. What he wouldn't give to listen to it forever.
"Save your strength, Mr. Fitzherbert. You'll need it for the rejuvenation process."
Rejuvi-wait. No. Bad. "No, no, Rapunzel."
"Hey, hey, everything is going to be alright."
No it wasn't. She was going to die. For him. He didn't deserve that. "But, if you do this, then you will die."
"Can I tell you something, Eugene? Something no one else knows? Yesterday was my birthday. Yesterday…was the first day I actually lived. It wasn't just existing and waiting for purpose to find me. It was living, and being, and experiencing without a reason to except to just do it. And I have you to thank for that. I think it's only fair I return the favor."
He couldn't make out the details of her features, but he didn't really need to. He had them memorized. He was still clinging to the faint hope that they could both get out of this alive. Deep down inside, though, he knew better. "Rapunzel, please…don't…"
"You and I both know I'm not meant to be. I want to do this. For you. Live, Eugene. Please? For me?"
For an instant, and he knew oblivion was close, his gaze focused, and he could see her eyes, the pain, and joy, and despair. But what he couldn't say no to was the love. "Okay….okay….."
The computer's voice was thin and metallic. "Target rejuvenation in ten seconds."
"Hey, Eugene? What was that song? The one your grandmother sang. The one about your family and a lost princess?"
In the thickening dark, he recalled the stories his grandmother told him. A long time ago, back when there were kings and queens, there was a princess, his grandmother's grandmother's grandmother. It was vague, and he didn't really remember much except there was a thief, and he was named after him. And the song. She wanted to hear the song one more time. "Flower, g-gleam and glo-w…"
a/n: If it doesn't make sense, it's cool. Cyborg Rapunzel is gonna give Eugene her energy, killing her in the process.
I've got a couple of drawings of her in my devart. Its the homepage link on my profile.