So. I know I haven't updated in a few months - or a year, whichever way you wish to perceive it - despite promising it for just as long...so I'm not even going to try and explain what all happened that prevented me from doing as I promised (-cough-laziness-cough-), but I will say this: back in May, I fell and broke my left wrist while I was at work, and thus, for the duration of the summer until early July, I was in a bulky (hot) cast, and thus, writing became very hard. I had already written most of this chapter, but, well...I wasn't able to write much at all once the deed had been done and the bone had to grow back together - ouch! So I apologize, and I sincerely hope you'll stick with me. :)
Enjoy this chapter! It was fun. And the plot thickens, bwahahahaha! :D
Oh, and please note this: READ TO THE END OF THE CHAPTER FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION!
That is all. :D
Disclaimer: Still not mine, though I strive for it everyday...sadly, it has yet to happen.
Smoke & Mirrors
A "Tangled" fanfiction
by doodlegirll
...oOo...
Today was going exceptionally well.
Queen Anwen couldn't help but smile as she watched Rapunzel and Eugene speed off into the crowd as she watched from the balcony, her husband beside her. They had come so far, in such a short amount of time. Rapunzel had made leaps and bounds, blossoming into an elegant young woman that would make a wise ruler one day. And Eugene, bless his soul, had found himself in the middle of an emotional whirlpool, and yet somehow he had still managed to come out on top.
Her husband was right; he would make a good king one day, whether or not he thought himself to be worthy.
The Queen held out her hand for her husband to take, which he did, promptly. He squeezed it gently, and she smiled at him.
"I had hoped it would go well." She said softly, turning her gaze back towards the crowd below. She could see numerous people shaking Eugene's hand, and Rapunzel beamed as she bounced on the balls of her feet at his side. Eugene seemed almost at peace as he smiled, throwing his head back and laughing at something said.
"As had I." The King said back. "And it appears that it has done just that."
The monarchs soon lost sight of their daughter and Eugene as they mingled deeper into the throng of people. The Queen sighed contentedly.
Her husband squeezed her hand one last time before he placed his arm around her shoulders.
"Shall we join in the festivities?" He asked.
Queen Anwen nodded, and looped her arm through her husband's. "We shall."
...oOo...
Rapunzel could barely believe it.
Today was going so well!
Eugene smiled at her as they pushed their way through the large group of people that stood in their path on the way to the little paint shop on the corner. Everyone smiled at them as they walked by, and a few had words of congratulations for Eugene, who seemed much more at ease now than he had even twenty minutes ago. Eventually they found themselves at the storefront, and Eugene held open the door for her.
The smooth, polished wood of the floor felt warm against the soles of her bare feet, and Rapunzel took in a deep breath. The various scents of damp pain, starched canvas, and smoky wood in the fireplace assaulted her nose all at once, and she felt very much at home.
"Ah, Princess Rapunzel!" The store master, an elderly man by the name of Harold Caravarti, greeted her kindly. "And Mr. Fitzherbert! How nice to see you today!"
"Hello, Mr. Caravarti." Rapunzel said in return.
Mr. Caravarti left his place behind the counter and held out his hand to Eugene, who shook it.
"I believe congratulations are in order, Mr. Fitzherbert." He said.
"Thank you, sir." Eugene replied.
Mr. Caravarti nodded at the Prince Consort before turning back to Rapunzel.
"How may I help you today, Princess?" He asked.
"I was wondering if it would be possible for you to mix me up a batch of white paint made from the seashells on the coast?" Rapunzel asked timidly. "If it's not too much trouble."
"Of course not!" Mr. Caravarti said, beaming. "It will only take me a few minutes. I'll have it ready for you in a jiffy."
Rapunzel smiled. "Thank you so much!"
"Anything for my best customer." Mr. Caravarti winked at the Princess before he disappeared into the back room of the shop.
Rapunzel turned back to face her Prince Consort, and she smiled up at him as she did so.
"So, how do you feel?" She asked him.
He took in a deep breath, and let it out slowly as he looked over his shoulder out the store's front window at the festivities outside. He smiled as he turned back to face her.
"Honestly, better." He admitted. "I wasn't expecting that kind of reaction. The acceptance, the applause, I mean."
Rapunzel squeezed his hand. "I told you." She said gently. "I promised, and I – "
"—Never break a promise." Eugene finished for her. He smiled. "I know."
A few moments later, Mr. Caravarti returned, a large bowl in his hands. He stirred the white goop inside a few more times before he poured it into a small pot that he got down from one of the shelves behind the front desk to the brim. He carefully corked the top, and handed it to Rapunzel.
"There you go, Princess." He said, his eyes twinkling. "It's on me today. In honor of the celebration."
Rapunzel's eyes widened. "Thank you!" She said gleefully, giving Mr. Caravarti a quick hug. "Thank you so much!"
Mr. Caravarti laughed. "You're welcome." He said. "Now, I believe I'm going to close shop early and go join in on the party."
"It's quite the ball out there." Eugene said. "And believe me, I wasn't expecting it at all."
"Oh?" Mr. Caravarti raised an eyebrow. "And what were you expecting, Mr. Fitzherbert? On the day of your public debut? Riots?"
"Well…"
Mr. Caravarti shook his head. "My boy, I know exactly who you are, and who you used to be, and believe me, the welcome you have received is pure of heart and indeed well deserved. Don't waste your day worrying about what could have been, but instead find some way to cast your worry aside and enjoy what is." He bowed slightly. "It's an honor."
Eugene chewed his bottom lip. "Thank you, Mr. Caravarti."
The kind old shopkeeper nodded his head, and swept his hand towards the door. "Now, get out there and enjoy it!" He said. "This is your day, Mr. Fitzherbert."
"So I've been told." Eugene said.
"Thank you again, Mr. Caravarti!" Rapunzel said, grabbing Eugene's hand and tugging him towards the store's door. "Enjoy the party!"
"You as well, Princess!" He said. "Don't hesitate to return for more paint if you need it!"
Rapunzel clenched the little pot of paint tightly as she dragged her Prince Consort through the streets and bustling people towards the town square, where a few minstrels and other musicians had set up a small band, playing various tunes in which the people had begun to dance to at the center of the square. No one seemed to notice the princess and prince consort as they neared them, Rapunzel giving a small squee of delight when she heard a familiar song begin to play.
"Eugene, it's the song we danced to on my birthday!" She said. She set the pot of paint safely in a corner, covering it with a bit of garland that stretched upwards on the wall so it wouldn't be noticed. "Come on! Let's join them!"
Eugene, unwilling to allow his previous apprehensions damper his day any further, obliged, and the two of them quickly fell into step alongside the other Coronians.
Everyone cheered with glee at the sight of their newly announced Prince Consort and their beloved Princess, and many stepped aside to allow the two of them room as Eugene twirled Rapunzel in circles, watching the two of them move in rhythm together like a leaf caught in the ripples of a river.
Eventually the music came to an end, and Eugene caught Rapunzel in one final twirl. She grinned at him and kissed him, right there in front of everyone. Eventually they broke apart, and Rapunzel retrieved her pot of paint from its hiding place.
She held his hand tightly as they began to mingle in the crowd, most of them interested in congratulating Eugene. Men shook his hand, and a few older gentlemen gave him a good hearted slap on the back. Hook Hand, along with many of his fellow pub thugs, found the two of them and enveloped Eugene in a bone-crushing hug.
"Good to see ya again, Rider." Hook Hand said as he held Eugene in a choke hold. "It's been ages since you visited us at the pub!"
Eugene managed to get away from the burly thug, narrowly avoiding Hook Hand's hook in the process. He rubbed the back of his neck and grinned.
"Sorry, boys." He said. "Been busy."
"So we've noticed." Big Nose said as he joined the group. "What kinda classes did they make you take, anyway?"
"Etiquette, dancing, politics. The usual, you know." Eugene said.
"Dancing?" Hook Hand said. "What about voice lessons? Last time I heard, you didn't sing."
Eugene scowled. "Didn't is the word, Hook Hand, my man." He said casually. "I do every once in a while nowadays."
Vlad nudged him with his elbow in the side, nearly causing him to topple onto the ground from the unintended force.
"Guess that brush with the gallows made you open your eyes, eh?" He said. "Singing's not so bad."
Eugene winced. "I'd rather not talk about it." He said.
Rapunzel sensed his unease and quickly changed the subject.
"So, Big Nose, how's Martha?" She asked, turning to face the thug in question.
Big Nose's face seemed to brighten at the mention of his new girlfriend, Martha, whom he had met at Rapunzel's return party. "She's great! She's somewhere around here with her parents." He said warmly. "We're having dinner together tonight."
Rapunzel giggled at her friend's dreamy state. "Tell her I said hi, okay?" She said.
Big Nose nodded. "Sure thing, Princess." He said.
At that moment, a few guards pushed their way through the crowd, the King and Queen behind them, smiling gaily as they greeted their subjects. As they approached, the pub thugs bowed respectively, and Eugene had to stop himself from doing the same.
King Leander clasped a hand on Eugene's shoulder.
"Eugene!" He said. "Enjoying yourself, are we my boy?"
Eugene nodded. "Yes, thank you." He said graciously. "Today has been wonderful."
The King chuckled. "As everyone tried to assure you." He said.
Queen Anwen gestured to the Coronians around them as they made their way around the streets, smiling and laughing happily as they did so.
"I believe your debut has brought much joy to the people." She said. "I believe today has been quite a success."
No sooner had the words left her mouth when a few shouts erupted from the crowd a few feet away, and suddenly, people began to scatter in all directions. Women clutched their children close their sides as they ran, many screaming. More guards swarmed the area, surrounding the royal family and Eugene.
"Your Majesty, you must come with us." One said to the King. "Now."
King Leander nodded. "Alright."
The guards began to corral the royal family down the street towards the bakery, their crossbows loaded and ready to fire at any given moment. Many of them wielding their swords, thrusting them outwards, and the townspeople closest to them gave them plenty of room as they passed.
"What's going on?" Rapunzel said in the middle of the confusion. She looked at her father. "Daddy?"
King Leander shook his head. "I don't know, dearest." He said.
"Look out!"
Suddenly, one of the guards that had been nearest to them leapt forward and pushed Eugene to the ground. The crown on Eugene's head clanged as it fell onto the ground, the Prince Consort falling onto his back and colliding painfully with the cobblestones. The little pot of paint that Rapunzel had been holding shattered as it, too, fell to the ground as another guard grabbed her and her parents, pulling them away from the open area of the square.
"Eugene!" Rapunzel said as she knelt next to him on the ground. "Are you alright?"
Eugene sat up, rubbing his head. "Yeah, I think so." He said. He quickly scrambled to his feet, picking up his fallen crown as he did so, not bothering to return it to his throbbing head.
"Captain, I demand to know what's going on here!" King Leander said as a few of the guards took off in the direction from which they had just come, the Captain yelling orders as they did so.
The Captain stopped and turned to face his king.
"An assassination attempt, Your Majesty." He said.
"An assassination attempt?!" Queen Anwen said. "Against who?!"
The Captain didn't say anything, instead pointing behind her.
There, right where Eugene had been standing just moments before the guard had knocked him down, were four arrows lodged into the stone wall of the bakery's façade.
Rapunzel gasped as her face drained of color, and she grabbed Eugene's arm.
Eugene swallowed the large lump that had formed suddenly in his throat.
Maybe he was just new to this, but he was pretty sure an assassination attempt on his first day as Prince Consort could not be a good sign.
So, is anyone interested in another fanart commission? Because I have a few scenes I would love to see done! As it was last time, any fanart submitted will be featured on my profile, as well as my tumblr. :) I'd greatly appreciate it, as my drawing skills remain at a staggering zilch. :P
If you're interesting, drop me a line in a review, and I'll send you a PM about what I'm looking for!
Mucho thanks!