Chapter 3
Eugene thought that he was staring at Rapunzel's twin sister. The same green eyes and, he hated to admit it, the same brown hair.
Except that Rapunzel's hair was much shorter, thanks to his handiwork.
The Queen descended the staircase and headed for Rapunzel, who met her halfway. They both stared at each other, the Queen reaching out to touch her face and hair. She smiled and then Rapunzel smiled.
Eugene just kept staring with a smile on his face. It was as if the two were staring at one another in a mirror.
That is until the Queen pulled Rapunzel into an embrace.
That's when the King walked over to meet them. He didn't believe it at first until Rapunzel opened her big green eyes, he smiled and then melted. He enveloped Rapunzel and the Queen in the biggest hug Eugene ever saw and the three of them dropped to the ground.
Eugene didn't know what to do next. He wasn't even sure if he should leave or just stick around a little longer. He was starting to feel a bit uncomfortable and unwanted.
It was then the Queen looked up and extended her hand. He was shocked when she pulled him into the King's big group hug.
All his life, he wanted a family; all his life he wanted acceptance. This was the first time he received both and he was grateful.
He decided then and there that he would change his ways. He would never go back to being Flynn Rider. How could he?
They pulled apart after that, the King shaking Eugene's hand and the Queen pulling her daughter close. They all linked arm in arm and headed toward the castle doors, which was shut behind them.
They all headed for the King's study, which was done entirely in red velvet. There was a couch on the right side and a love seat on the right. Eugene and the King took the couch; Rapunzel and her mother on the love seat.
"We've been waiting for you a long time, Rapunzel," the King said. "We had no idea where you'd gone."
"We searched and searched, but we had no idea where that witch had taken you." The Queen said. "Is she dead? Did you escape?"
"Most importantly," her father cut in, "were you able to see the lanterns? We send them up every year on your birthday as a signal for you to follow them home to us."
Rapunzel smiled and nodded. "Yes, I have, Your Majesties. I've always been fascinated with them ever since I was a little girl. I always wanted to see them and I've always thought that somehow those lanterns had something to do with me. Mother would never let me out of the tower, so I used to sneak peeks out the window every year."
The King looked over at the Queen and smiled. "So it worked and apparently you were close enough to the castle to see them." He turned back to Rapunzel. "But if Gothel didn't let you leave the tower, how were you able…"
Rapunzel smiled. "That's where Eugene comes in, Sire. He rescued me from the tower after Mother fell from the window. You see, she…"
The King and Queen gave Eugene a once over, but they quickly turned their attention back to Rapunzel.
"Gothel kept you in a tower for 18 years of your life?" the Queen asked sympathetically.
Rapunzel smiled. "It wasn't all that bad. She gave everything I ever wanted. She raised me and taught me how to read and write. It was only towards the end when I realized who I was and how she used me for my hair."
"We were going to ask what happened to your hair?" the King said, frowning. "It's short and brown. When you were born…"
"It was blonde and 70 feet long, Your Majesty," Eugene cut in. "You know that it had magical powers, don't you? Gothel remained young because of it. She never cut it. I did."
For the first time the King and Queen turned their attention back to Eugene.
"Why?" they both asked.
"I was the one who found the tower," Eugene said. "I came upon it by accident. I knew she was in trouble because the Stabbington Brothers had made a deal with her. They wanted her for her hair. They knocked me unconscious and then they set me adrift in a small boat that had been washed ashore."
"Just answer the question, Rider," the King said, a little annoyed now.
"It's Eugene," Rapunzel corrected.
The King turned in her direction, but the Queen paid no attention. "Go on, Eugene," she said simply.
"I asked how they found out about her hair and they told me it was the old lady. So I guess I just put two and two together. I didn't realize that the Pub Thugs and Maximus would help."
He stared at the two of them, then at Rapunzel who silently urged him to continue.
"Anyway, she was bound and gagged when Max and I got to the tower and Gothel stabbed me. She threatened to take Rapunzel somewhere where they'd never find her. She promised to go with Gothel only if she'd let her heal me. Gothel let her, but she chained me up so that I wouldn't follow them. I cut her hair so that Gothel wouldn't be dependent on her for the rest of her life."
He looked around, but no one moved, no one said anything. Eugene continued.
"Besides, I fell in love with her. Her tears saved my life."
"And you saved hers," the King said, smiling. He stared at him. "We will talk about that later, Rider. You will find that I'm a fair man. You took a big risk bringing her here and the Queen and I will never forget that."
"It's Eugene," Rapunzel and the Queen corrected this time.
The King smiled. "We will talk later, in private, Eugene. Is this acceptable?"
Eugene smiled widely. "Yes, Your Majesty."
"By the way, how did you find that tower? We looked high and low and never found a thing."
"You know that cliff where the Corona River ends? The one with the waterfall?"
The King nodded. "You mean Tower Falls? As a kid, I was never allowed to play up there."
Eugene nodded. "I know, they never allowed us kids over there either. Personally, I never knew why they called it that, because you could never find a tower. It's hidden by a curtain of vines. I went through them to hide from Maximus, the Captain's horse. That's how I discovered the tower."
The King looked at the Queen, then back to Eugene. "Will you take us there? I would very much like to see this tower where my daughter was kept."
Eugene nodded. "Anytime you want, Your Majesty, all you have to do is say the word."
