Chapter Two

Rapunzel Fitzherbert

Rapunzel ran a hand through her hair, letting out a sigh. Being a princess was a definite step up from being locked in a tower with a surrogate mother, but the freedom she had imagined wasn't quite as...free...as she would have liked. She looked behind her as Eugene slipped into the room.

"Why the long face, blondie?" He asked with a grin.

"Oh, Eugene, is it wrong of me to want to go back?" She asked him, biting her lip.

He blinked. "To the tower?" He sputtered.

Rapunzel shook her head, sending her hair swinging around her. "No, no, back to the life we were leading before..." She sighed and indicated the palace with a sweep of her hand.

Eugene nodded. "You're feeling stressed and a little caged in?"

Rapunzel nodded. "Uh-huh."

Eugene smirked. "Well, good, that saves me the trouble of convincing you." He announced, grabbing her hand. "I've got somewhere I want to show you. Your parents have agreed." He added when she started to resist.

Rapunzel's eyes brightened immediately as she grabbed Pascal off a windowsill and placed the chameleon on her shoulder. "Then what are we waiting for?"

As she followed Eugene out of the town and into the woods, her brow furrowed as she saw a shadowed alcove. "Eugene?"

Eugene gave her shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "You're fine, blondie."

Rapunzel squeaked when there was a flash that resolved itself into what she immediately identified as some sort of portal. Looked like those books were useful after all. She looked at Eugene, and, at his smiling nod, she followed him into it.

When the glow faded, she gasped as she looked around the large building she was in. "Is this a palace?" She asked Eugene, wide-eyed.

"No, this is the North Pole." A cheerful female voice cut in.

Rapunzel gasped and whirled to see a...fairy? The fairy smiled, showing off her perfect teeth. The fairy zipped over to Rapunzel, looking at her from every angle so that Rapunzel got slightly dizzy from trying to track the rapid movements. "So, do you brush every night? Floss?" The fairy inquired, opening Rapunzel's mouth to inspect her dental hygiene.

"Wha? Ah!" Rapunzel protested, trying to break away.

"Enough, enough." Eugene stepped in, freeing Rapunzel.

"Oops!" The fairy exclaimed, feathers fluffing briefly in embarrassment. "I get a little carried away sometimes. But your teeth are beautiful!" She then turned pensive. "Though not as pretty as Jack's..." She mumbled to herself.

"Tacks?" Rapunzel asked in confusion.

"No, Jack's." Eugene clarified, in a voice letting her know he was well used to the fairy's ditzy ways.

"So, are you the one?" She asked, violet eyes boring into Rapunzel.

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I realize that this has probably been mislabeled, but since it's my first time, hopefully it'll work out.