Eugene and Rapunzel pulled back from the kiss. The young woman started to laugh for a few minutes, until her happy emotions were swept away with sadness.
You were dead Eugene. Dead!" Rapunzel's last word was choked out while she held to his collar. Somehow new instincts took over for his old ones as he caught her in a tight hug. After a few minutes, Rapunzel seemed to be calming down, and only made a few sniffles every now and again. Eventually, Eugene felt her deep, even breathing. He looked down at Rapunzel and smiled. She was sleeping. Eugene stood up and carried the girl over to what he assumed was her bed. As he laid her on her bed, he stooped over and kissed her on the head. The girl smiled in her sleep. Plopping down on the girl's bed, Eugene exhaled in relief. He was safe. The witch was gone. Rapunzel was sleeping next to him. Also, he was on an extremely comfy bed. Nothing in that moment could get them. Eugene woke up to Rapunzel screaming in her sleep.
"No! Eugene. Eugene."
The sleepy man shook her awake./span/p
"Eu... What?" the girl stammered "You're still alive." she sobbed "Thank god!"
Eugene made an attempt of a smile, even though they both knew it was fake.
"Of course Blondie- Rapunzel. No one gets me that easy"
Rapunzel extended her hand out and stroked his cheek softly. Pascal, who had appeared a few hours earlier, scuttled to Rapunzel's window and signalled outside with his tail. Letting her hand drop down, the newly turned 18 year old walked over next to the chameleon and opened the window. A flood of sunlight met the couple's eyes as they squinted their eyes. A whinny broke the silence. A certain white horse waited outside, looking spooked.
"Max," Rapunzel shouted "Hey there boy."
The poor thing must've stayed there the whole night. Even when Gothel's ashes fell onto the grass in a heap. The horse looked up and neighed happily. He pranced around the small valley in pure joy. At seeing this, the girl laughed at his goofiness. He had changed so much in just a number of days. She felt two hands on her shoulder and froze, before she realised that they were not her 'mother's'. Smiling, she turned around to look at Eugene. Before anyone could say 'frying pan', her lips were met by another pair. Sighing in happiness, she melted into the kiss. Eugene wound his long arms round her short body, and pulled her flush against him. He tried to make it more passionate and probed his tongue against her mouth. She kept it shut tight. Rapunzel had only known him for three days. Everything was moving too fast for her liking, for once in her life. Exhaling with doubt, the man pulled back. Rapunzel looked directly into his eyes.
"I'm sorry Eugene." Rapunzel whispered " I know you wanted more than that, but I just didn't feel ready yet." the woman grabbed his hand and pulled him back. " Soon I will, but I want to take it slow. Not snail pace, but enough time to get to know you." Rapunzel laid her head on his chest "I've only known you for a few days." she mumbled. As Eugene stroked her hair, she looked around and felt a sudden rush of disgust. Rapunzel realised how much she hated the place. Once again, she gazed at her partner before speaking "I also know that you're tired, but it's morning, and I need to get away from here."
Punching Eugene in the chest softly, she half wept "I hate it here, and I can't stand being here a minute longer." the young lady gasped out. Her chin was lifted up to meet Eugene's sad eyes. As he nodded, the two walked out of the room, Pascal following them. Since he had only ever been in Rapunzel's room, Eugene didn't quite know where he was going. Highly amused by his disorientation, Rapunzel stifled a loud laugh. However, he heard it and sent her a hilarious glance that made her almost crack a rib, laughing. As they reached the bottom of the stairs, Rapunzel felt the same feeling as when she left the tower for the first time. Terror, excitement, joy, but not betrayal this time.
"Hey?" the man asked "Are you alright?"
Rapunzel broke out of her trance and smiled at the familiarity of the question.
"Yes Eugene." she answered "I'm fine. Just a bit overwhelmed again. I've only been outside once in my life." she grinned down at her boyfriend, who was a few steps below. He returned the gesture and walked back up towards the female.
"Actually. You may not remember, but I held you a few times before you were captured. So actually, you've been outside many times, just not in your memory. I saw you quite a lot when I was young. Not to mention your birth celebration." then the tall, young man smiled wolfishly at her. "The whole kingdom was a mess when you were kidnapped." Eugene winked at the end. Rapunzel's mouth was agape, and Pascal looked as shocked as any chameleon could.
"Sso... So you knew" the girl stuttered.
Eugene laughed, fully himself again.
" Yes. I knew. I knew since I was being led to the gallows. Everything had been adding up in my head. Long blonde hair, big green eyes, the mirror image of the queen. " Eugene rubbed circles on the back of Rapunzel's hand as he rambled on.
"When the Stabbington's told me about Gothel" Rapunzel shuddered and Eugene placed a kiss on her palm as he went further into the story. "My suspicions were proved right". he finished with a satisfied, sly smirk. Rapunzel raised her eyebrows at him.
"Wow. My Eugene is clever" the 18 year old concluded. Her partner roared with laughter. "Your Eugene? Really? Then does that you make you my princess?" he chortled. Eugene didn't wait for an answer, and leant down to kiss her again. Only to have her hand placed on his chest.
"Not now Eugene. " Rapunzel whispered "If we want to get out of here, we should go now. You can do that as much as you like once we're on the road." she reminded him.
The two were interrupted by a chattering sound. They looked down to see Pascal fussing at them. He was desperate to get away from the tower.
"We'd better get some stuff and leave." Eugene shrugged.
"I have some food that I made the other day." Rapunzel instructed. Eugene agreed since he didn't want to starve. The next 10 minutes were taken up by the group packing Eugene's small bag with food and a blanket. Rapunzel had gone to get into a new dress. If she was going back home, then she needed to look presentable. She came out, looking refreshed and eager to start the journey. Pascal was lifted onto her shoulder, and they walked to the trap door.
" I caught a glance of this while I was being dragged upstairs" Rapunzel remembered "She'd obviously panicked when I wouldn't answer."
p style="max-height: 999999px;"span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"Eugene scowled at the witch's vanity. The only reason why she cared for Rapunzel that long, was just for the hair.
The girl caught sight of Eugene's faraway expression and waved a hand at him. He landed back on earth and took her hand in his. Together, they jumped down to the grass. As soon as the earth made contact with her feet, Rapunzel felt free once again. When they were steady, a set of galloping hooves thundered towards the couple and chameleon. Of course it was Maximus. Rapunzel giggled and ran towards him. She embraced his nose as he nuzzled her. A pair of feet followed her.
"Hey buddy." Eugene greeted.
Rapunzel was confused. Buddy? They hated each other, right? Obviously something had changed while she was away.
" Max. Meet the lost princess Rapunzel."
Max just made a face of "I know stupid."
"Hey" Eugene playfully teased " Don't call me stupid, stupid."
Rapunzel broke them up. Only if it was play now, it would become a proper fight later.
"Okay, okay. That's enough for now" Rapunzel reasoned "We need to go."
Max and Eugene exchanged glances before shrugging (if horses could shrug). Max let Rapunzel get onto his back as he lowered slightly. Then Eugene sat behind her for extra stability. As they trotted away, Rapunzel couldn't help but look back. It was quickly disappearing. Just like magic.
"Goodbye tower. This time for good."
With that, Max reached the tunnel, and it vanished.
