The Miracle-Redux

A/N: In this chapter Eugene learns how to heal; and the true extent of his new found power; a power many times greater than he or Amanda first thought…

A/N #2: This story "kind of" follows my other stories, so you might recognize a few of my OCs here that are still awaiting their full development there… I am also providing this spoiler alert. That said; I hope not to spoil things too much.

A/N #3: This is my own tear transference story. I hope you enjoy it. And, oh yes, I do not own Tangled or its primary characters, though I do own mine and the idea…

Chapter Seven: The Tactic Learned, Part 2

The aquamarine tinted tear, falling from Eugene's jawline and making its way towards the injured bird seemed to slow as it fell. To those watching, it seemed like it would never reach its target. When it finally did, it was almost anti-climactic as at first nothing seemed to happen.

"Eugene…" Kimberly sighed, as she looked at her son in absolute awe.

"Mama…?" Eugene replied, perplexed at her tone. He did not follow the gaze of her mother's eyes as she watched the tear drop falling towards the injured young swallow.

"Oh, honey. Would you look at that?" Kimberly asked as she gestured for her son to look down at the injured bird.

At first Eugene could not believe what he was seeing, nor could anyone else for that matter. Nothing in any of the seven's previous experiences, to include that of Eugene as he had thrice seen the glow of Rapunzel's hair, prepared them for what they were to witness.

As they all watched, the injured bird began to glow from within with a surreal aquamarine glow. The glow began at the point where the tear drop had landed and quickly absorbed into the injured wing and slowly began to spread outward. As it spread, it gained in intensity; soon bathing the entire room in a heavenly glow. As the stunned onlookers watched, the once broken wing slowly straightened and reformed itself, the broken bones miraculously healed by the power of the sun. The blindingly bright glow of the tear drop spread and shaped itself in the form of a most miraculous flower with multi-hued tendrils fanning out to all the corners of the room as they spread and spiraled about, flitting here and there as they wound their way around the room before fading back into the bird's flank. The glow faded to nothingness, plunging the room into a momentary darkness as the onlooker's eyes re-adjusted themselves.

"Wow!" William and Catherine replied as they watched the now uninjured bird slowly stand in Eugene's hand and gaze up at him as if a savior, which he was, in a way. He gingerly exercised his wing a few times, playfully nipped at Eugene's thumb before flying gracefully out the open balcony doors.

The now quite stunned collection of Coronian citizens all sputtered out, "The power of the sun…?"

"Yes. The power of the sun…" The spectral visions of Katelyn and Kimberly stated.

"What else can it do?"

Katelyn and Kimberly, knowing what was to come later, decided to play it safe and simply say, "It can do whatever Eugene wishes it to."

"Wishes it to?" Eugene asked, quite perplexed by this newest revelation.

"Yes, within reason of course." Kimberly stated with a seriousness that was not missed by those present and was taken to mean that he did not have the power of life over death. Of course, as events were to play out, this could not be further from the truth.

"Eugene, please be careful and listen to the inner voice of the Wirkungen as it calls out to you and guides you as it is sure not to mislead you." Katelyn stated as she and Kimberly slowly faded from view.

"Oh, mama." The tearful Eugene and Amanda sighed as they were both embraced warmly by William and Catherine and, in Amanda's case, Rupert.

"So, Eugene, would you like to get something to eat so that you do not appear too scrawny when Rapunzel returns in three days' time?" Catherine asked, attempting and succeeding to lighten the mood.

"That would be most wonderful, Catherine."

"Dinner should be ready any time now, I should think." William added, as he heard the clock tolling six in the not so distant village square.

"Let's eat then!" Eugene happily shouted as he was the first to run out the door, quickly making his way towards the dining room.

"EUGENE!" The four shouted, happy to see the true self of Eugene roaring back.

"What took you so long?" Eugene happily asked as the others reached the ornately decorated dining room.

"EUGENE!"

Dinner was a quiet affair as both Amanda and Eugene seemed deep in reflective thought. In order to spare them any further heartache, the other's attempted to keep the conversation light and airy, instead concentrating on the coming Ioian Ball of Celebration. This gala affair, lasting four days and culminating in perhaps the biggest formal ball of the year, was set to celebrate the wonderful relationship enjoyed by the four Kingdoms' of Constella, Corona, Estrella, and Orion as they renewed almost one hundred years of unity.

The next morning as the sun began to rise, and after having the first nightmare free sleep in almost two weeks, Eugene awoke refreshed and ready to face the world. He quickly dressed in his favorite white shirt with blue vest and brown pants. He chose his favorite old boots as they were the most comfortable pair he owned as well as having a sentimental value as well.

"Good morning Eugene, out and about so early?" Catherine asked, quite surprised to see him up before noon, as she happened upon the young man as he reached the front foyer of the palace.

"Eugene, hear me … soon it will come…" The now recognized voice of the Wirkungen called to him.

"I…, I tho…, I thought I would go out for a walk and get some fresh air, Catherine." Eugene stutteringly replied as he suddenly felt something that he was sure was very near.

"Are you going out far?" She asked, ever curious to see what was to happen next and wanting to be there to witness it first-hand.

"Eugene, the time of sorrow and agony has come to Io; the weak shall suffer most horribly first…"

"I…, um. Yes. I thou…; I thought I might go to the orphanage to see the children. I haven't stopped by there in such a long time. They always seem to be most vulnerable despite the efforts we have recently made to improve their lot in life. If you will excuse me, I shall be on my way." Eugene abruptly replied as he turned and began to walk away, suddenly quite distracted by something or some…"

"Yes, Eugene. There is where you will find the pestilence's first victim. Be mindful of your surroundings…"

"Of course…" Eugene whispered to himself, almost silently.

Catherine, always observant of changes to the norm and knowing that it had been quite recently when he had last visited the orphans and sensing something more, decided that she would remain with Eugene, at least for the morning, as he suddenly seemed quite distracted by something.

"Eugene, wait! I wish to come too." Catherine replied as she jogged up to him.

"Of course, my ladyship," Eugene replied as he held his arm for her, "if I may?"

"Always the gentleman..." Catherine giggled, amazed at the politeness of the former Flynn Rider, as he gracefully took her arm and walked the pair towards the compound gate.

"Good morning, your highness; Sir Eugene." Sergeant Major Samuel stated as he bowed in respect to the pair as they walked up to the front gate.

"Yes, it is, Samuel." Catherine replied.

"Going for a little stroll around the village?"

"Um…, well. No, not really. I mean…, it has been so long since I visited the orphanage and all…" Eugene, his cheeks reddening, stammered out, his garbled speech surprising the veteran senior non-commissioned officer.

"Are you alright, Eugene?" The concerned Samuel asked, he being perfectly aware of the orphanage visit made by both him and Rapunzel the day prior to her departure.

"Eugene, you must hurry as the pestilence is far stronger than initially believed and will spread far more rapidly than first thought."

"Yes; of course." Eugene fibbed. He was not alright. He was downright terrified. How would he, by himself, stop the sickness and death?

"Take care, Eugene…" A concerned Samuel added as the pair walked off; he quickly and urgently heading towards the Royal Armory and the Office of the Commander, Royal Coronian Special Forces – Solaris, intent on finding Rupert and Amanda to report Eugene's unusual behaviors.

"Eugene, you seem very distracted this morning. Are you alright?" Catherine finally asked as the pair walked in silence.

"To be perfectly honest, Catherine, I am absolutely terrified."

"Why?"

"It is time…" Eugene mumbled, more to himself.

"It is time, Eugene?" Catherine asked, surprised that the time was already upon them and grateful that Rapunzel was not due back for another two and a half days.

"Yes, Catherine. I have voices in my head telling me that I must go to the orphanage right now to stop the pestilence. It is also telling me that the pestilence is far stronger than first thought."

"Oh, so it indeed is time." Catherine decisively stated, even though she did not feel all that confident at the moment.

"Yes. It is indeed the time for action…" Eugene replied before suddenly stopping as he heard yet again another important piece of information.

"…Eugene, the pestilence is arriving from the docks."

"Soldier!" Eugene suddenly called to a nearby guard, his epiphany and a previous vision suddenly ringing out to him.

"Sir!"

"Go to the commercial docks! Quickly! Tell them to kill all rodents they discover; with extreme prejudice! Set out all the traps that they can. Burn the carcasses and ensure nothing, I repeat nothing remains! Destroy all the cargoes and ships arriving from Cretania; by fire; ensure nothing remains, not even ash!"

"Yes sir. Of course, Sir Eugene. It will be as you command." The guard replied as he ran off as quickly as he and his horse could manage to carry out the order.

"Yes, very good Eugene, the vectors of the pestilence will be destroyed, you have all under control … except for one sick child; one will be all it takes …"

"Catherine! We must hurry!" Eugene cried as he suddenly took off running the couple of miles to the orphanage.

"GO! I will catch up!" Catherine stated, as she turned to borrow a nearby soldier's horse.

Running like the wind, Eugene quickly, after an astounding six minute run that covered the two miles between the palace and his destination, arrived at the orphanage, much to the surprise of Nan, still the able caretaker even after thirty plus years.

"NAN!" Eugene shouted, out of breath, his urgency plain for all to see.

"Eugene? What are you…?"

"There is no time. Are there any sick children?"

Nan, surprised by Eugene's question could only nod her head and gesture to a small room off the main hall.

"Little Becky must have been bitten by some sort of rodent during the night. I was quite shocked to see how rapidly she sickened. I fear she has the…" Nan sadly said as she gestured to the obviously quite ill little blond haired, blued-eyed girl.

"She is the one. You are just in time. You know what to do…"

"Nan, please excuse me for a moment." Eugene asked as he, entered the room and softly closed the door.

"Of course." Nan replied, knowing that Eugene would explain all when he had a chance.

"Rest easy little one. I am here to help you, ok?" Eugene kindly said; he not even noticing the ugly boils beginning to form on her arms and legs.

"Um, ok…" Little Becky sadly sighed, the pain of the illness wracking her little body. She was, nevertheless, quite mesmerized by the handsomeness of the one she once knew as Flynn Rider.

"Let's see. The tear is one way to heal. I wonder if my touch will work too; while I sing the song. I guess there is only one way to find out." Eugene softly spoke, more to himself, although Becky, Nan, and Catherine, who had just arrived, easily heard him. They all pondered the words spoken.

"Tear? Touch? Song? What song must he sing?" The three thought to themselves.

"Good, Eugene, good; you are listening to your heart and your feelings. The ultimate power of the entire universe will flow through you unimpeded now…"

Catherine was standing there with Nan and lightly conversing, after finally catching up with Eugene and was to be as amazed by what was to follow as was Nan, the other children, and, perhaps all the citizens of Io.

Eugene, taking a deep cleansing breath to both relax himself and to draw in the new found power, gently placed his hands on Becky's forehead, grimacing at the extremely feverish touch, and distended stomach and began to sing…

"Yes, Eugene; you have indeed become one with the Wirkungen…"

"Flower gleam and glow…,"

As he began to sing, the awesome power of the universe began to funnel through him; his normally hazel eyes began to glow with a surreal golden hue; as if his eyes were two miniature suns themselves. At first little Becky was frightened, but she soon relaxed as Eugene softly sang to her the song he had heard three times.

"…let your powers shine…,"

As he finished the second stanza, the glow of his eyes had spread to his entire head, lightly bathing the room in a golden light. Becky, completely amazed by the sight, was too awestruck to be frightened.

"…make the clock reverse…,"

The glow, spreading throughout his upper body, flowing down his arms, and growing ever brighter, began to shine out the single window of the room, reflecting as many wonderful designs on the ground as a kaleidoscope would, and coming to the attention of Catherine and Nan as they softly conversed outside.

"What the…?" The two women asked, their eyes wide as they looked first to the other and then to the building, stunned into silence and immobilized by shock as they took in the sight of the eerily glowing Eugene visible, as he was, through the single window.

"…bring back once was mine…,"

The glow, now surpassing the brightness of the cloud obscured sun, had now spread from his upper body down his arms and hands, and quite rapidly into the young girl's body, causing her to begin to faintly glow as well. Becky could almost hear and she could definitely feel the invasive bacteria's screams of agony and attempted flight as they were surely destroyed by the universe's ultimate creative power.

"…heal what has been hurt…,"

With this phrase, the girl's entire body suddenly glowed as bright as the sun as the ultimate power of the universe suddenly flowed into little Becky's body as if the waters of the mightiest river of Sonnen III, found the invasive bacteria, and quickly isolated and completely and totally destroyed each and every sickening cell; all the while returning her health to better than normal. She involuntarily shuddered as the 105 degree fever suddenly left her little body along with all the sickening bacteria and her temperature returned to a healthy normal. Her flushed and scarred skin soon returned to its normal light complexion as well as the sores instantly healed. She stared, wide-eyed, at her savior, feeling a new found connection to him and wishing for something…

"…change the fates design…,"

As Eugene continued singing, his and Becky's glow grew brighter and spread out even further, soon encompassing the very ground on which the orphanage was sited and actually destroying the one remaining disease carrying rodent.

"You have done it, Eugene! The final vector has been destroyed…"

Additionally, as the glow permeated every nook and cranny of the entire orphanage and killed every vermin within and without the orphanage grounds, the building itself began a transformation into a home worthy of princes and princesses, let alone the poor Ioian orphans. Not just the building, but also all the furnishings and other objects magically transformed themselves into something wonderful. Catherine and Nan, and the children outside playing, rendered even more speechless than before, could only stare, wide-eyed as the entire orphanage seemed to transform into a palatial villa and the grounds around it turned into quite the wonderful garden space with lush grass and wonderful hedges forming a small maze.

"Wh…! Wha…! What…! What is happening?!" The children asked in unison; their shock and awe completely indescribable.

"…save what has been lost…,"

The golden heavenly glow, now so bright as to make the light of the sun seem no brighter than the smallest candle, soon rapidly spread out even further afield into the many nearby villages. Citizens all over Io were soon stunned and terrified by its brightness and power; even those so far a field that the glow appeared as only a faint glow on the horizon although its effect brought forth bounty where only destitution had reigned.

Needless to say, the poor residents living closer to the capital of Corona were first absolutely scared and then wonderfully amazed as their drought wilted crops, victims of the poor rains that year, suddenly and almost instantaneously grew out into their full glory, ever ready for the harvest. The slack jawed villagers, happily realizing that all was not lost and that the upcoming celebration would go on as planned, dropped everything and quickly made their way in the direction of the glow, curious as to its origin. As they approached what they thought was the orphanage, they were amazed to see what could be described as the Royal Coronian Palatial Apartments, in miniature.

"…bring back what once was mine…,"

The glow, now so bright as to be seen even as far afield as Estrella, Constella, and Orion as well as coming to the attention of those citizens of Avandell, caused a surprised princess to state that she had to get back home, immediately, as she hurriedly packed, poor Pascal never more confused by his friend's actions than now.

"…what once was mine."

"You did it, Eugene! You saved all of Io! The pestilence has been obliterated; and far, far more! You will become the most famous resident of all Sonnen III, and people from all over the planet will soon know of your exploits and will come to meet you. We knew you were noble and wise enough to wield such power. You, and another, will soon be suitably rewarded…"

As the final phrase faded into silence the still glowing, yet slowly dimming, figure of Eugene looked down at the now quite healthy and brightly smiling eight year old Becky as her glow faded as well and looked up so very lovingly at her savior.

"Eugene!" Becky quite happily called out as she slowly sat up in what was once her deathbed, so very ecstatic that she was to live.

"Becky!" He quite happily replied in turn, although two unique and joyous tears had begun to slowly stream down his cheeks, as he happily picked her up as she eagerly reached up to and firmly hugged him about the neck and kissed his cheek, and walked outside where a large crowd had gathered. Each and every individual present was singularly intent on seeing the source of the miracle first hand. Eugene had barely emerged from the orphanage's front entrance and walked outside into the road fronting the orphanage when a round of thunderous applause quite easily startled him. Stunned by the applause and cheering of people who once, a long time previous, loathed him, the two uniquely gold tinted tears suddenly and quickly ran down his cheeks and dropped from his lower jaw onto the dirt road outside of the orphanage. What was to happen next was to stun all of Corona.

No; it was to stun all of Io!

That isn't right, either. It was to stun all of Sonnen III!

A/N #4: Please Review…