Chapter 4
Flynn walked passed Rapunzel's room, and noticed the blonde princess painting pictures of chameleons and white horses all over a canvas. He sighed as he went inside.
"Those are really good drawings, Blonde." He complimented. "They really look exactly like Max and the frog,"
"Thanks." Rapunzel said, than frowned. "But even when I try to paint something else, I can't. It's like my brain is telling me no, you know? She sat down on her bed, looking gloomy. "Pascal and Max are the only animals on my mind." She sighed. "I don't feel like painting anymore." Flynn went up to her.
"Then don't. Try something else to take them off of your mind."
"I told you. I can't." Flynn took Rapunzel's hands in his,
"I know it's hard, but I really hate seeing you like this. You got to try. Please, for me. They are both smart and will come home. You have to have faith that they will come home safely." Rapunzel sighed. She knew Flynn was right, She smiled.
"You're right; I have to have faith."
"That's the spirit, princess!" He then noticed a picture of Pascal riding on a paper lantern. Maximus was down below. "What's that?" Rapunzel saw what he was looking at, and went over to it.
"It's Pascal and Maximus following paper lanterns home. I drew it because I was thinking about the lanterns from my birthdays." This gave the princess an idea. She beamed. "That's it!" Flynn was confused.
"What's it?" Rapunzel ran out of the room. "Blondie!"
"Dad!" Rapunzel said, running into his room.
"Rapunzel." Her father stated. "We haven't found them yet. But I'll have the guards keep looking. I assure you, they will be found. You just need to have patience."
"Dad, I have an idea that should work." Fredrick was now interested in what his daughter had to say.
"And that is?"
"Remember the paper lanterns you and Mom sent out on my birthday each year when I was in the tower?"
"Yeah."
"Well, maybe you can do it for Pascal and Maximus. Once Pascal sees them, he'll know what to do. I'm sure of it. They both will." The king scratched his beard.
"Well, I don't know."
"Please, Dad. It will work, I'm sure of it."
"Okay, Rapunzel. I'm sure it'll work too. We'll send them out tonight."
"Thanks, Dad." Flynn entered the room.
"Did I miss something? I heard something about paper lanterns."
Rudiger watched from the bushes as Maximus galloped past, waiting for the right moment. Then as the horse galloped in front of the raccoon's vision, he sprang into the air, and tackled Pascal off of the horse's back. Pascal squeaked. Max neighed loudly, and he trotted to a stop. Rudiger took the chameleon into his mouth, and ran off. Max snorted madly, and ran off, giving chase.
Maximus proved faster then Rudiger, and tackled him to the ground. Rudiger dropped Pascal. Maximus took Pascal, and flipped him back onto his back. He took off again. Rudiger got up, and saw this. He snapped his claws in frustration. But he had to try again to please his master. He scurried off.
He hid behind some bushes again, and again, waited for the right moment to attack. When it came, he jumped onto Max's back, and folded his hands around his eyes, blinding him. The horse neighed, but he still galloped on. Rudiger snickered. Pascal tried to get Rudiger off, but the raccoon hit him back with his tail. He then took his hands off as Max was headed for a tree. Rudiger grabbed Pascal and leapt off before the poor horse hit his head on the tree. Pascal called for him, but the horse was too dizzy to respond. He shook it off, but it was too late. Rudigar and Pascal were gone!
Rudiger raced up to Varian's cell, and tapped on the bars to get his attention. The 14-year old alchemist looked, and smiled as he saw the chameleon. Pascal gasped, and glared at him. Varian reached out, and grabbed him.
"Thanks, Rudiger. Wait a bit, I have something for you to bring to the princess." He looked at Pascal again, and grinned. "Oh don't worry, you will be with your princess real soon." He then wrote a little note on a piece of paper he got from the guard (he lied, and said he was writing to his mom). "In exchange for helping me to free my father. But if she doesn't help me right away, you'll stay with me. And as time goes by with my father not being freed, drastic measures will be made." Pascal gasped. "But don't worry, I'm sure the princess will never let that happen, for she won't betray you like she did me." He gave Rudiger the note, and Rudiger scurried off. He placed the chameleon on the floor. "In the meantime, you can call this your temporary home, but that shouldn't be too hard. You lived in a prison with Rapunzel." Pascal looked around at his surroundings. He didn't like this place one bit. He would prefer going back to the tower then being in here. He was also confused about the betrayal thing. Since when did Rapunzel betray Varian to make him evil like this? He was sure there was something behind this. Rapunzel wouldn't betray him or anybody. He was sure this was all a misunderstanding, and they'll patch things up before it was too late.
As soon as Maximus saw Rudiger scurry away with the note, he tackled the raccoon to the ground. The note fell to the ground. Rudiger panicked as the horse threatened to stomp on him unless he took him to wherever he took Pascal. He hoped Rudiger got the message.
Rudiger seemed to get it. He nodded, and crawled out. He was about to take the note, and scurry off again when Maximus whinnied loudly at him. The raccoon nodded, and took off for Varian's jail cell again. Maximus followed.
Rudiger and Maximus were on the hill. Below was where the prison where Varian was being held in. The raccoon did a thumbs-up at the horse, wishing him luck, and went off again. He didn't want Varian to see him, and let him figure out he betrayed him too. He had enough on his plate as it is. Maximus trotted down the hill.
He saw the cell Varian and Pascal were in, and was delighted. He went closer.
He didn't know what to do to get Pascal's attention without Varian hearing. So he just waited, and hoped for the best.
Fortunately it worked for Pascal looked his way. The chameleon beamed, and wanted to squeak in pride, but didn't. So he ran over instead. The two animals greeted each other silently. Pascal was glad that his buddy had found him, and he was about to escape when Varian grabbed him.
He heard the jail cell open, and looked. It was one of the guards.
"Time for your exercises." Varian sighed. He hated this about prison. They always made everyone exercise all too hard (in his opinion anyway).
"Okay, just a second." He went over to the animals. Maximus trotted off to not be seen. The guard was impatient.
"Any day now!"
"Okay, okay!" Varian grabbed Pascal before he could escape through the bars. and put him in his pocket. He went to the guard. "I'm ready; let's go."
"What did you get right now?
"What?"
"I saw you get something near the window. What was it?"
"Oh, nothing."
"No, I swear it was something. You wouldn't have gotten nothing."
"You sure?"
"Yeah, because…"
"Come on; you wouldn't want to get in trouble with your bosses now, would you?"
"No, I…"
"Then, come on!" The guard sighed as they went off, after closing the cell. "You're burning daylight."
"I'm sure it was something."
"You keep telling yourself that, big guy."
Maximus watched Varian go outside in a fenced- in area with other convicts. He was disappointed that he didn't see his scaly friend.
"Okay," the head guard said. "First up, 50 jumping jacks." Everyone groaned. "Oh, come on, it's only one more from yesterday. I make my grandma do these, and she doesn't complain." Varian and the others started doing them. Pascal violently bounced up and down. He felt nauseous, and couldn't hold it in any loner. He threw up outside of the pocket. Everyone saw this, and laughed as they thought Varian had peed his pants. Varian stopped, and smiled nervously.
"Sorry." But the boss wasn't amused.
"Varian!" He barked. "You're 14 years old, too old to pee in your pants. The only one that can do that in my house is my one- year old, and she's getting potty trained. Go inside and change your pants. Then come back out here, and start over."
"Yes, boss." The alchemist slowly walked off with people looking at him. Pascal took this opportunity, and jumped out, and onto the ground.
"Don't look at him!" The instructor shouted to the other criminals. "Keep exercising!" The convicts all did jumping jacks again.
Pascal crawled over when he saw Maximus, trying at the same time not to get stepped on.
When Pascal was with Maximus again, he jumped into the pack, and they were off again.
"Are you okay, little guy?" Varian asked when he was back in his cell, reaching into his pocket. However he didn't feel him. He tried his other pocket, and all around.
"Shoot!" He cursed. "I'm such an idiot."
"Are you changing?" A guard asked.
"Uh, yes!" Varian answered, taking off his old pants, and putting on pants that the guard had given him. "Yes, I am."
As Maximus was trying to find the right path that'll take him and Pascal home, the two heard a whinny. They looked, and saw another horse trotting beside them. But this horse was all too familier. He squinted to see if he could figure it out. Pascal figured it out right away. It was Rebel! He squeaked with joy. Max figured it out too. He did a happy neigh. Unfortunately, he was too focused that he didn't watch where he was going, and ran into a tree. Pascal jumped down before the collision. Rebel laughed out loud. Pascal glared at the laughing horse, then went to see if Max was okay as he shook it off. What is it with him and trees lately? Maximus stood on all fours again.
Maximus was ready to go again. Pascal jumped back into the pack. They were about to go when Rebel head butted into Maximus! Max whinnied in surprise. The two animals glared at Rebel. What was that for?! Max didn't have the time for this. He was about to go again when Rebel head-butted him again. Now Maximus was mad. What was this horse's problem?! Doesn't he see that they were going somewhere? Rebel neighed again, and pawed the ground. The two saw this, and Max got the massage. Rebel wanted to race him! Max shook his head, trying to make him understand. Rebel didn't buy this, shaking his head, Max snorted firmly. But Rebel snorted at him more firmly, which scared the two a bit. Max gulped, and nodded. Rebel trotted off. Max trotted after him. Pascal didn't get what was happening. He scurried to/on his buddy's back, and pulled on the reigns as hard as he could. Max snorted, not obeying. He continued. Pascal pulled and pulled, but Max didn't stop and turn back despite Pascal's best efforts.
They then stopped on a grassy field. Pascal stopped pulling, out of breath. Max saw that there was a sandy racetrack before them. Pascal saw this too. Then he knew what was going on, or had a good inclination. He tried to talk Max out of it. Maximus snorted, shaking his head. Pascal groaned in disappointment as Max cantered beside Rebel, ready for a race. Maximus then thought of something, and neighed at Rebel, telling him to wait. Rebel rolled his eyes, not happy for the delay. Max then took Pascal in his mouth, walked off the sandy field, and placed him on the grass. He didn't want his reptilian friend to fall out if he went too fast. He went beside Rebel again. Pascal wasn't happy that this was happening, but had no choice.
The two horses then looked determined, and then took off running as fast as they could.
Rebel and Max ran side by side. Max knew Pascal was unhappy about this, and wanted to end this as quickly as possible. So, he sped up. Rebel didn't like it as Max passed him, and grew more determined.
Maximus felt something hard ram into his side. He looked, and gaped. It was Rebel; he was cheating! Max grew angry. He could do the same, but he wasn't going to stoop to this horse's level. Rebel rammed into him again…and again…. and again! When he rammed into Max for the fifth time, he succeeded. Max collapsed onto the ground. Rebel laughed as he ran on. Max snorted madly. He got up to his feet, and ran to catch up with the cheater, murder in his eyes.
He had just caught up to Rebel when suddenly the ground shifted. The horses screamed, and tried to hold their footing as the ground split into two. It was too tough for Rebel as he slid into a pit the landslide had made. Rebel screamed. He then stopped. He sighed with relief, and then looked at Max from above. He tried over and over again, but he slid back down every time. How will he ever escape? He looked up at Max with pleading eyes. Max knew what to do, and ran off. Rebel neighed louder, thinking that he was ditching him. He hoped he was wrong.
Pascal waited…and waited…and waited! He was bored. How long is this race? He hoped it was soon. He wanted to be back to the castle before it gets dark. He knew this was a bad idea. He wished Max listened, and obeyed him. It was too late now. He had to wait. He hated this.
Suddenly, he felt the landslide. The little chameleon squeaked with fright and tried as hard as he could to keep his footing. He stumbled from left to right, and the shaking stopped a moment later. He got his footing, and sighed with relief.
He then remembered the horses. He hoped they made it like he did. To make sure, and the fact that he was worried, he ran off to see if he could find them.
He smiled when he saw Max running up to him. He ran to him, and they greeted each other. He saw that the horse was worried about something, and was confused. He jumped into the pack, and the horse ran back to where he came from.
They then stopped before the big pit. Pascal hopped out, and looked below. He gasped when he saw Rebel. Rebel looked up, and neighed at him. He saw Max looking at him, and neighed at him too with worry. Pascal got the picture. Rebel needed help. He hopped back into the pack, climbed onto Max's back, and pulled on the reins.
This gave Pascal an idea. He began to untie it; ignoring Max's confused whinnies.
A short time later, he completely untied the saddle and bridle, and they both fell to the ground. Maximus was still yelling at him, confused to what he was doing. Pascal hopped onto the ground too, and held out one strap of the bridle dangling before the pit. Maximus neighed more loudly. What was Pascal doing?! The reptile looked at his worried friend, and squeaked at him. Max stopped. He immediately got it, and beamed at his friend's brilliant idea. He grew determined, and nodded with a snort. Pascal smiled. He knew the horse would get it. He looked down below, and shrieked at Rebel to grab the strap.
Rebel tried and tried, but eventually grabbed the strap in his mouth. Pascal then pulled with all of his might. Maximus bit onto a piece, and aided the chameleon,
The two however pulled too strong, and it broke in half! Pascal panicked as he saw Rebel scream, and slid to the bottom once again. The horse whinnied for help. Pascal then flipped the bridle, and threw the other strap down. He squeaked again, urging Rebel. Rebel looked, and shook his head, afraid. Pascal kept squeaking at him.
Rebel didn't have any clue to what the little scaly reptile was trying to say, but knew that if he stayed down there, he would never get back up again.
With renewed strength, the now determined Rebel bit onto the strap, and once again, Pascal pulled and pulled with Maximus' help.
Finally, they managed to pull Rebel all the way up. All of the animals were relieved. Pascal sighed, and wiped his brow. He was glad to have all of that over. Maximus agreed.
As soon as Rebel caught his breath, he trotted over to thank his two saviors. Both Maximus and Pascal were gracious, and just happy to have helped.
Pascal then had a thought. Uh-oh! Now that this was over with, Rebel still doesn't want to race, does he? But to Pascal's surprise, Rebel turned to leave. Confused as Pascal was, Maximus neighed in question after Rebel.
Rebel turned around, neighed, and shook his head. He pawed the ground again. Maximus didn't get it until Rebel shook his head again. He was then off. Maximus neighed farewell as Pascal put what was left of the bridle in the bag with him, and held onto the saddle.
Pascal watched as Rebel trotted off in the distance. He was glad that Rebel finally understood. Maximus did too.
Suddenly, Pascal felt a drop of rain on him. Maximus did too. They both knew the same thing. They had to get back before it stated raining cats and dogs! And with that, the two were off once again.
But it did started raining cats and dogs! They can't stay here in the rain, they both had to find shelter…and fast!
Pascal then felt something hard hit him on the head. He looked up, and saw that it had started to hail. Pascal hid into the bag as Maximus sped up.
Pascal squeaked as soon as he saw a tree with a gap in its bark that was big enough for them to be under. Maximus trotted over to it, and went inside. He sighed in relief to be here, and not in the rain and hail.
The two looked out as they saw the storm outside. They both sighed. They had no choice. They didn't want to get soaked. They had to stay there and wait out the storm.
"Rapunzel," Her dad informed her as the princess looked out at the miserable weather, "It's pretty bad out there. I'm afraid we can't fly the paper lanterns until it clears up." Rapunzel looked at him.
"I understand, Dad. But as soon as it stops, we release them not a moment sooner, promise?" Fredrick smiled.
"Promise. Not a moment sooner."
Maximus woke up to see that it had stopped raining and hailing. He was happy. They could go now! He looked at the sleeping Pascal in the bag, who still held on to the saddle, and whinnied to wake him up. It worked! Pascal looked outside, and was happy for the storm stopping as well. He squeaked for Maximus to go again, which he did, but not before giving him the saddle to carry in his mouth.
It was getting dark. Maximus looked at Pascal again. Pascal sighed, and nodded. It was getting too dark to continue searching, and will have to resume in the morning. They should have stayed in that tree, now they'll have to find a new shelter.
But just at that moment, Pascal saw something in the distance. Was that…? He hopped onto Max's back, and onto his head to get a closer look, despite the horse's neighs of disapproval. Pascal didn't listen, and beamed at what he saw. It was! It was a floating lantern. Max then saw as more lanterns followed. Both animals beamed, knowing what they meant. They were close to the castle!
Pascal squeaked, and the horse galloped off, going towards the lanterns. Pascal went back into the bag.
The two were really close to the lanterns now, so close that Pascal could touch one. In fact he did, and it lifted him out of the bag, and into the air.
The reptile squeaked to get down, and was shocked when he was pulled to the ground instead. He knew Max wanted to get home, but he didn't have to pull him down that hard! He looked, and gasped. It was the snake! The same snake that killed his mom, and tried to kill him! He was still alive?!
He screamed when the snake hissed at him. He ran as the snake lunged at him. The two reptiles began running from each other between Max's hoofs.
The snake was about to strike at Pascal when Max kicked it. It flew off into the far distance.
Pascal was relieved. He squeaked a 'thank you'. The horse whinnied a 'you're welcome. (it was muffled, but Pascal got it just the same).' The tiny reptile jumped back into the bag, and the two were off again after the lanterns.
Cassandra sighed, It had been over an hour since they released the lanterns, and there was still no sign of the horse and chameleon.
"Are you still sure they will come?" She wanted to know.
"Sure, I'm sure." Rapunzel replied. "The lanterns were sent by my parents in hopes that they guide me home, and I'm home, aren't I?"
"Well, yeah. But don't forget you were lost for eighteen years."
"But I saw them, and that was because I was a prisoner in the tower all of those years, not allowed to go venturing into the outside world."
"You could've. I don't know why you stayed for that long. I mean if it was me, I would have left ages before." Rapunzel shrugged.
"I guess, but I didn't want to anger Mother Gothel."
"She needed me to force her out of her shell." Flynn said, coming up to them. "To get her out of her comfort zone, and into the unknown."
"And I wouldn't have been any happier." His girlfriend agreed.
"Whatever." Cassandra said. "I would have still left ages ago instead of being a damsel in distress waiting for her prince charming to save her, and putting complete faith in a wanted criminal."
"I didn't know he was a thief at the time." Cassandra put her hands up, defending herself.
"Fair enough, but it was still a risky move trusting someone you just met."
"You got me there, but I was desperate to get out to see the lanterns."
"Rapunzel, look!" Her father said, pointing. Rapunzel did and smiled. Galloping towards them was Maximus and in the bag was Pascal.
"PASCAL!" The blonde princess screamed. "MAX!" The two animals shouted their happy cries. Pascal jumped from out of the bag, and into Rapunzel's arms.
"I was so scared." She said, crying happy tears. "I wouldn't want anything bad happen to you. You mean so much to me." The parents walked up to them, smiles on their faces.
"Does this bring you back memories to when we were reunited with our daughter?" Fredrick asked his wife.
"I sure do." She answered. "That what love does. You grow attached to your love ones so much that it greatly hurts when you lose them." Rapunzel petted Maximus on the nose as he came close.
"Welcome back, Maximus, ol' buddy." Flynn said to the horse. He looked at Pascal. "You too, frog." He noticed the ruined reins. "I see we need new reins. We also need food and money. They couldn't have spent all of the money we gave them. They should have had some left over, so, where are they?" The animals couldn't believe it! They were so busy with their adventures that they forgot to go get more food at the market, the very reason why they went in the first place.
"We'll worry about that later." Rapunzel said.
"I think this calls for some cake." Fredrick declared. He looked at the castle chef.
"Chef Juan. Would you make the cakes?"
"At once, your Majesty." Juan said, and went off.
"May I state that I knew the lanterns would work." Flynn put in.
"It was Rap's idea." Cass told him.
"Yeah, but deep down I knew it'll work." She rolled her eyes.
"Sure, you did."
"I did. I'm not lying, maybe a little. I don't know, but they're back, and that's all that matters."
"I'm just glad that we are better to witness this." Pete said, teary-eyed.
"Me too, buddy." Stan agreed, also teary- eyed. "Me too." And so they all went inside for cake. Pascal and Maximus didn't have any. They were just glad to be back at the castle, safe and sound, and they hoped Pam, Mary-Beth, Rebel and the other horses and humans they met are happy, and see their dreams coming true.