Rapunzel's large green eyes shot open, her face flushed and her heart beating a lot quicker than normal. Eugene was stroking her dampened hair; humming to her like she was a child.
"Good morning, Love." He whispered, pushing a small lock of hair behind her ear.
Rapunzel sighed and sat up, placing a hand on her forehead.
"I had another night mare." She frowned looking out the window at her kingdom.
"I know, I stayed up all night." Eugene climbed onto bed with her, and wrapped his arms around her waist.
"It wasn't about her this time…" Rapunzel leaned her head into his chest and played with the buttons on his shirt.
"oh?"
"I was… walking. I was walking through the town and this thing…this wolf like thing came and tried to steal this little girl, and I screamed for it to stop, but it just scooped her up and…ran away." She looked up at Eugene with a sigh. "I could have saved her."
Eugene ran his hand across her face and kissed the top of her head. "It was just a dream Blondie. Just a dream."
"I know .." she whispered rolling out of his hug, and off the bed.
"I have a surprise for you." He yawned, stretching out on to the bed like a cat after a nap.
Rapunzel walked over to the large wardrobe in the corner of the room and gripped the handles. "really?" She opened the doors and scanned the dresses.
A few days after her arrival in the castle, her father ordered the royal tailor to make her custom dresses. Her favorite was a dark blue silk dress that went down to her ankles. On the chest were scattered white and gray flowers, and a small diamond in the middle.
"Yes." Eugene nodded and crawled off to the bed, walking over to Rapunzel. He wrapped an arm around her back and pulled her close, leaning his forehead against hers.
"So - get – dressed." He smirked and ruffled her hair.
Rapunzel laughed at him, and pushed him away, scooping Pascal off of his little bed on the counter and placing him on his shoulder.
"Then get out." She teased, pushing them out of the room.
Rapunzel peered her head out of the door, to see Eugene and the Queen, sitting out in the garden.
"Don't go anywhere too far." She begged him, patting his hand. "With how she's been lately, I don't want to take any chances."
Eugene nodded at her every word, a look of concern in his eyes.
"Just in town." He ensured her.
Rapunzel coughed in order to get their attention, and waved a little.
"You look gorgeous." Eugene said as he stood up and walked over to her.
"We're going to the town?" She asked, slightly curtseying to her mother.
"Just c'mon." He chuckled and pulled her through the garden and into the market.
They stopped every couple steps to shake hands, greet villagers, and hug children. Being the Prince and Princess of Corona, didn't allow them to get out easily. A little red headed girl, with 3 braids dangling off her head, leapt into Rapunzel's arms.
"Princess! Princess!" Her tiny voice chirped. "Do you remember me?"
It took her a moment, but she finally realized where the girl was from. On her 18th birthday, the little girl and her sisters braided her 70 ft of golden hair.
"Of course I do!" Rapunzel cooed, brushing her hand against the girls cheek. "what's your name sweetie?"
The girl blushed, and used her finger to play with the flowers on Rapunzel's dress.
"Alana." She giggled and looked up at the Princess with large brown eyes.
Eugene smiled, and placed a hand on Rapunzel's shoulder.
"Well Miss Alana.." He took a flower off of a bush next to them and placed it in one of her braids. "I have a surprise for our dear princess here, would you mind if I stole her away for a while?"
Alana nodded, and climbed out of Rapunzel's arms. Rapunzel waved goodbye, and watched as the tiny girl skipped back to her family, jumping in her mother's arms.
Eugene led Rapunzel into a small room in the back of the Library, where wind chimes decorated in different colored glass hung all over the walls and ceiling. The light from the window caused the whole room to glow different pinks blues and greens.
"Eugene!" Rapunzel gasped at the sight, smiling widely. In the room was a large brown table, covered in books, and a plate of fruits.
"Eugene this is wonderful!" She laughed, throwing her arms around his neck.
Eugene smiled, and placed his hand on the back of her head, nuzzling his face into her shoulder.
"all these books!" She chimed, scurrying over to the books and flipping through the pages. "Thank yo-"
Rapunzel's thank you was interrupted by the sound of clanking glass. The wind chimes above them were shaking, and it seemed as the whole room was rattling.
Eugene grabbed Rapunzel by the waist and held her close, looking out the window.
What he saw made his stomach plummet.
A series of large black horses, ridden by painfully familiar faces. People from the stabbingtons' guild knocked over stands, and pushed people to the ground. Rapunzel gasped as she heard the screams and crashes.
"Eugene what's going on?" She whispered, peering out the window with him.
He didn't answer her. He let go of her waist and ran out the door breathing heavily. Rapunzel followed quickly after him, screaming.
"Eugene Wait!" she cried, stumbling out the Library door. "Eugene!"
When she stepped outside, a man on one of the horses stepped in front of her. "Princess, don't move." He grinned, exposing rotten gray teeth.
Rapunzel's chest felt like it was going to explode. Eugene was nowhere to be found, and she knew they were going to take her. She could feel it.
A tiny voice broke through the crowd.
"Don't touch her!" Alana screamed, scurrying over to Rapunzel and clinging to her leg. "Leave!" She huffed, looking down at the ground.
"What's this?" The man cackled, and reached down, grabbing Alana by the back of her dress.
"Put her down!" Rapunzel shrieked, and reached up to steal Alana back.
The man used his free hand to hit Rapunzel in the shoulder, causing her to fall down.
"Feisty little thing.." He said, examining the now crying little girl. He turned to Rapunzel and gripped her by the arm, hoisting her up on to the horse. He threw Alana at Rapunzel and snarled.
"Now you two can be together! I'd hate for the Princess to have to die alone." The man kicked the side of the horse, and it galloped away.
"EUGENE!" Rapunzel screamed, trying to throw herself off the side of the horse.
"HELP!" She cried. She knew no matter how hard she screamed, he wouldn't hear her. She took a deep breath, and clung to Alana. She had no idea where they were going, and if they were going to die or not.