Oh yeah, another chapter! The next one will probably take a while, I am going to be quite the busy bee the next few days. But don't worry, I'll get back to you guys!
Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to Tangled. Which is just as good really, because if I did, I would only be giggling all day long. Every day. For the rest of my life.

A thousand possible stories to tell Rapunzel have passed through my head. I could tell her that I have to live my own life, conquering dragons and vanquishing all evil in general. Being your standard hero, really. That way, she would look up to me and maybe she could let go of me. I also thought of telling her that there is a woman in my past to whom I am betrothed. It´s a bit flimsy, but it´s doable. Hell, I even thought of telling her the actual truth. That I am going away to let her be who she is supposed to be. But that would never do. Because it wouldn´t make any sense to her and she would fight me over it. I would still leave of course, but she would spend the rest of her life looking for me. And that was exactly what was not supposed to happen. I had to tell her something that would leave her convinced that I would never come back and that there was no use for her coming after me. And there was only one story that could make that happen. I had to tell Rapunzel I didn´t love her. I have thought of just disappearing, leaving behind a letter to explain everything. But that would only make her really bent on coming after me. I had to tell her in person that there was nothing in her that could get me to come with her. So here I was now, just observing Rapunzel as she lay sleeping. Savouring every second before she woke up and I would crush her soul. Was that being melodramatic? I certainly hope so.

Oh gods, help me. She's shifting. Not the kind to get into a nice position, the kind where you want to cling on to sleep, while it's slipping away. Better get ready. Rolling over on her right side and facing me, she crunched her eyes shut. She was awake. She slowly opened her left eye, then blinked against the bright light of the sun. After that, she kept her eyes closed for a while and just lay there. Now she opened both her eyes.

"Hi Gorgeous."

"Hey Sexy."

"How far are we from the palace? Do you think we can make it today?" Really? That's her first question? Not 'how did you sleep' or even 'how's the weather'? It makes sense of course, but I don't like it. I didn't mean to tell her this fast. But I was not that cruel as to keep her hopes up now.

"Rapunzel, I have to tell you something."

"Because I would really like to finally meet my parents… What is it?"

"I… I have to tell you something."

"Yes, you said that. What is it that you have to tell me? Gods, Eugene, why are you looking so serious?" There really is no nice way of telling her this. There just isn't. The best I can do for her is just to ease her into it with the least worse part. Maybe it'll be enough.

"I can't come with you."

"What do you mean, you can't come with me? Of course you can! It's not that far anymore, now is it?"

"No. No, it isn't. But that's not it. It's just that… I… don't think you want the explanation."

"Oh, but you're wrong there! You really believe you could just bail on me without telling me why or where you're going? Honestly, men! Just spit it out and get it over with. It can't be all that bad!" Maybe I should've just left, leaving a note. No. There's a reason why I'm here now. And she's right. Just spit it out.

"All right. I don't love you." Gods, why? No. No thoughts. Now, of all times, I need to keep up my poker face. It is of the utmost importance that she doesn't get on to the fact that this is the biggest lie I have ever told. But look at her! It's obvious that she doesn't want to believe me, but she does. Maybe I should be thankful to the Stabbington Brothers for putting me on the boat. Evidentially, her trust is easier to break now. But how am I ever going to be able to keep up this charade, when I can see that she is in pain? Just keep it up. That's the only way. Her interest was of course kinda perked by now, so she got up on an elbow.

"You don't… love me?"

"No."

"I don't believe you." Wait, what? No! This isn't supposed to happen! She should just take it and let me go!

"What do you mean, you don't believe me? There is no choice to believe, it's the truth!"

"Eugene, just listen for a while, okay? I know you think that the moment we get to the city, you and possibly me too will be hauled away to prison. And that's why you thought of this pathetic little lie, it's just to keep you out of the city. Now, this bit is important: it's not gonna happen! I won't let them kill you!" Aha. So that's how she sees it.

"No, Rapunzel, you don't get it. I have been thinking over that while you were sleeping. And I believe that you would be able to keep me out of harm's way."

"So there's nothing to worry about. All settled?"

"No, not all settled. You see, you just took my last defence away. I have been arguing with you over whether I would be caught for only one reason. And it wasn't fear of the guards." How didn't I think of this earlier? It's brilliant. She of course hadn't seen this one coming. She got on her knees and tried to pull her hair behind her ears. Only there really wasn't long enough hair anymore. She just looked a bit miserable when she realised – again – that her hair was gone.

"Oh."

"Yeah. You see, I was just trying to get out of the deal without having to tell you the truth. I don't love you Rapunzel. Never have."

"But… but what about the lanterns?"

"Isn't it obvious? It was all about the crown. It always has been about the crown. And when you gave it back to me, I just did the nice thing by putting it away. You of course thought more of it and came in for the kiss. I knew I couldn't. Luckily I saw the Stabbington Brothers, which gave me the opportunity to stall. When we got on the shore, I gave them the crown. They would keep it safe while I got rid of you. Of course, they just had to double cross me." Genius, right? Just flip the whole thing around! I am almost glad that I found the perfect lie. It makes it harder for Rapunzel to waver my confidence about me doing the right thing here.

"No. I can't believe this. I just can't. You're not that good an actor! Oh gods. Eugene, how could you! No, no. Pull it together now. Okay. Then… then why did you ever come back to rescue me from Gothel?" Ouch. Good one. Oh, of course!

"Well, I didn't really have a choice in that one, now did I? Max arranged the whole breakout, and I most certainly wasn't gonna say no to that. Besides, I didn't figure out where he was taking me until we had reached the cave. Once we got there, I figured, why not? I spend three days with you, and here I had the chance to rescue you. It wasn't that much trouble, really." Nice. Totally in style, thus: very believable. And it showed. Rapunzel was looking a bit bewildered, which was to be expected.

"No. No, this can't be happening. But then, why would you ever die for me? Tell me that?" I just kept myself from biting my lip with this one.

"Well… I kinda figured that Gothel was a witch. I thought that was the reason why you wouldn't speak of her. And every witch has a potion to bring back the dead, or so I've heard. Besides, she also confirmed my suspicions just by the way she looked. So I figured, if I could set you free and not die permanently by doing so… Why not? Of course, it didn't really work out that way. But I didn't stay dead, and that's what really matters." A bit feeble, but it's the best I got. I just hope that her determination is weakened by my earlier revelations.

"Oh. Aha. Okay. I see." She was stalling, trying to come up with something she could throw at me which would bring me back to her. And she found something. "The kiss! We kissed!" But I had been prepared for that one. I was amazed that it had taken her this long to think of it. It had been on my mind almost constantly.

"Correction. You kissed me."

"Sure. But you kissed back." And here it came. The coup de grace. This had to do it.

"Rapunzel, seriously. Think for a moment. What man would not kiss a girl when she practically threw herself on him? I was just making use of the available opportunity. You're just another girl to me. Besides your hair, there was nothing special about you. And that's gone now too. I just kept up this charade in the hope that you would get me a pardon. Of course, you wanted an explanation. So there you have it. I do not love you." I was dying inside. She had to believe me. There was nothing more I could do.

"I am… just another girl?"

"Yes." And then it came, so quiet that I almost missed it. Her surrender.

"Go."

"Come again?"

"Go away. Take Max and go away as fast as you possibly can. I never want to see you again." And that was my cue. That's what I had been waiting for. But now I couldn't tear myself away.

"Will you get to the palace safely?"

"What do you care? You don't love me, remember! Just go away and never come back!"

So I turned my back on Her. I turned my back on the one girl I had ever loved. Which gave me my answer. I choose to be Flynn Rider, the Thief.

In a way, everything up to now was also sort of a prologue. Because now, we really get to discover what Eugene/Flynn is like with no Rapunzel around to lift his spirits and everything. One thing is sure, it's going to be quite interesting :)