Rapunzel Versus Celeste
"What could possibly be taking him so long?" Celeste muttered to herself. She was pacing back and forth, passing the knocked-out guards. Blood was all over the grass though, so she wouldn't be surprised if they were dead. Her knuckles hurt, her feet were killing her in the black boots she wore, and she just wanted to lie down in her piles of gold. After this ordeal, she was starting to be exhausted.
Celeste was actually surprised that she got Flynn to do all the work for her. It wasn't like she was going to keep her end of the deal, and he knew it. Plus, he led her right to the girl with the healing tears. He didn't think she could only want gold when there was a fountain of youth inside. Why else would she have told him to climb the tower where Rapunzel slept? The princess was bound to come out and see what's wrong. Then Celeste would make her move.
...
"Oh Eugene Fitzherbert, you are in so much trouble," Rapunzel said, almost like a threat.
He froze but countered, "Why would you say that?"
She walked towards him as she spoke. "Isn't it obvious? You're in all black, there are twigs in your hair, and you look like a zombie from no sleep. Either you're going to take some palace treasures for your own, decided to peek in the windows for whatever reason, or you're going to kidnap me. Whatever it is, I've got a crown on my head, so someone of enormous power will find out."
Why does kidnapping her seem so appealing right now?
"Well," Rapunzel piped up when he didn't respond, "What are you doing here?"
I'm not Flynn; I'm Eugene..."I want you back. I'll return everything, I'll do whatever time, and I'll take whatever punishment. I just don't want to lose you again."
Somehow, Rapunzel had made her way to where she was inches away from Eugene's face. Rapunzel opened her mouth to say something, but she couldn't because his lips and tongue had somehow met hers. She went into a haze, it seemed like Eugene had become more passionate in the week they'd been apart. Weird, because Eugene was thinking the same thing about Rapunzel. Everything that he missed about her, loved about her, and the way she showed her love to him was brought out in the heat of the moment. He wasn't even sure why he was here anymore. Then Rapunzel pulled away after...a long time.
"Did you hear that, Eugene?" She had concern in her voice.
"No."
She shook her head. "I could've sworn I heard Gothel's voice..." Oh, what a horrible time to say that!
"Gothel's dead, Rapunzel," he reassured her.
"I'd hardly call her dead," a voice said. Rapunzel and Eugene turned to look at the figure in the doorway.
"Celeste?" Eugene said, confused.
Rapunzel looked at him and raised an eyebrow. "Who?"
He bit his tongue and prayed someone would somehow change the subject.
"His partner, dear," Celeste clarified.
Rapunzel expression read both angry and confused. "Partner?"
"Not like that! Partner in crime!" Eugene told her. Now her face only conveyed anger and outrage.
"So you weren't coming back for me? You lied!"
"Flower, why would he come back for you? You know his type; he's a thief, not some in-a-haze lover," Celeste said.
She did a double-take. "Did you just call me flower?"
"Funny thing, isn't it?"
Rapunzel looked down at the floor then looked up again at Celeste. "You're Gothel! You sound like her and look like her!" She turned to Eugene. "You're partner in crime is Gothel?"
Eugene looked absolutely confused. "I'm working with Celeste. This isn't Gothel."
Celeste smirked. "Actually, you're both right."
Rapunzel and Eugene exchanged bewildered looks. "Explain that please," Eugene told her.
"You see, when I fell out of that window, I turned to dust. My spirit was left where I fell; I couldn't go anywhere. But this lovely young lady's body came along, and I overtook it. Then I had two options: go to Rapunzel and take back my fountain of youth personally, or trick the one she loved to lead me right to her, no questions asked."
"But you said all you wanted was the palace gold," Eugene recalled, ignoring Rapunzel's shocked look.
"You see, that's the trick part. You may think you're so clever, Mr. Fitzherbert, but in reality, you are very dim."
Rapunzel said, "So you are Gothel, and this woman named Celeste?"
"Yes." Rapunzel and Eugene were wide-eyed at this new information. They realized they were in trouble when a silver dagger was being pointed at them.
