Chapter 9: Court of Miracles
"So the Stabbington brothers convinced you to help them steal the crown," Esmeralda stated as she, Quasi and Rapunzel sat at a table in the cave, near where a small bar had been set up, "And when you figured out they were going to betray you, you left them to get caught?"
"Yep," Quasi replied with a nod.
"And he stumbled upon your tower," Esmeralda continued, turning to look at Rapunzel, "where you've lived with your over-protective mother your entire life because she's afraid of people would try and…steal your hair."
"Mhm," Rapunzel answered cheerfully.
"And so you asked Quasi here to bring you into the city, so that you can see the floating lanterns and then bring you back, all while your mother is away."
"That's right," Quasi and Rapunzel said at the same time, before they turned to look at each other and laughed.
"You're right," Esmeralda said with a chuckle of her own, "That is a crazy story. If you two weren't sitting in front of me right now, I don't think I'd believe any of it."
"It's all true," Quasi replied with a shrug, chuckling as he did.
"I believe it," Esmeralda agreed. As she did, her goat wandered up, announcing its presence with a friendly bleat. As he did, Rapunzel's eyes widened as she gasped in joy before rushing over to the goat's side.
"Look at you!" she exclaimed, leaning down and smiling at the goat, who looked at her with a surprised look on his face, "Is he yours?"
"Yep," Esmeralda answered with a smile, as she patted the goat on its head.
"What's his name?" Rapunzel asked as she reached out and started to pet the goat as well, who quickly began to warm up to her as she showered him with affection.
"Djali" Esmeralda replied.
"Hi, Djali," Rapunzel said sweetly to the goat, scratching his chin affectionately.
"That reminds me," Rapunzel said as she reached into her hair and retrieved Pascal, who she held up for Esmeralda to see, "This is Pascal."
"Hi," Esmeralda smiled at the chameleon, who responded with a smile and a wave.
As they talked, Big Nose walked up and placed his hand on Quasi's shoulder.
"Hey Quasi," he said, "Come with me. Me and the guys wanted to show you something."
"Sure," Quasi said with a smile, turning back to the girls as he stood up, "I guess I'll see you guys later."
"We'll be here," Esmeralda replied.
"Have fun!" Rapunzel called with a wave as Big Nose led Quasi away.
"So," Esmeralda said, looking at Rapunzel as she continued to play with Djali, "You and Quasi are pretty close for just having met today."
"He's a really great guy," Rapunzel explained, standing up and retaking her seat, petting Djali as she did.
"That's nice of you to say," Esmeralda commented with a smile.
"Well it's true," Rapunzel replied, "He's kind, and funny, and sweet, and brave,"
"You think very highly of him," Esmeralda observed.
"Well he's the first friend I've ever really had," Rapunzel explained, before noticing Pascal glaring at her,
"Well, human friend," Rapunzel corrected, which seemed to mollify the chameleon.
"You two make a good team, at least in my opinion," Esmeralda stated.
"Thanks," Rapunzel said with a beaming smile, "I wouldn't be here without him."
Rapunzel continued to pet Djali as she looked around. Looking behind her, she saw Quasi a bit of a ways off, sitting at another table with the large thug named Vladimir, arm wrestling. They were surrounded by other men cheering them on. Both Quasi and Vladimir's faces were scrunched up in exertion as they pushed against one another. Eventually, after a prolonged struggle, Vladimir forced Quasi's hand to the table, causing the crowd of men to erupt into applause. Vladimir laughed and patted Quasi hard on the back, causing Quasi to smile. Rapunzel couldn't help but laugh as she clapped as well. As she did, a thought formed in her head.
"So what about you and that other guy?" Rapunzel asked.
"What other guy?" Esmeralda asked, confused.
"I think his name was Flynn?" Rapunzel said, unsure of herself.
"Oh, him," Esmeralda said with a sigh.
"Aren't you two friends?" Rapunzel asked.
"I'm not sure Flynn Rider can have friends," Esmeralda snorted.
"What do you mean?" Rapunzel asked, confused.
"Flynn's kind of self-centered," Esmeralda explained, "He doesn't really care about anyone but himself."
"Really?" Rapunzel asked, "He really seemed to want to help Quasi when it looked like the others were going to hurt him."
"He was probably more interested in getting the crown Quasi is apparently carrying around," Esmeralda replied, "Flynn's always been out for himself and his next big score. I wouldn't trust him as far as I could throw him."
"My ears are ringing," a voice said as Flynn walked up to the table, leaning against it and smiling at the girls, "You girls talking about me?"
"No," Esmeralda replied quickly, stopping Rapunzel before she could reply affirmatively, earning a confused look from her.
"Guess it's just me then," he said with a smile as he sat down in the empty chair, and turned to look at Rapunzel, "So I hear you are heading into the city for the festival."
"I am!" Rapunzel replied excitedly, "Quasi is taking me into the city to see the floating lights! It's something I've wanted to see my entire life!"
"Well, it just so happens that I'm going into the city myself," Flynn explained, "And I'd be quite willing to accompany a lovely creature like yourself there."
"Well thank you," Rapunzel replied, blushing slightly, "but my friend Quasi already said he would bring me, so I don't think I need any more help."
"Well, from what I understand, your friend has spent his whole life in that cathedral," Flynn argued, "He probably doesn't know the city as well as I do."
"Which is why I'll be accompanying them," Esmeralda spoke up, smirking at Flynn as he turned to look at her.
"You will!" Rapunzel asked excitedly, ignoring Flynn's look towards Esmeralda.
"Sure," Esmeralda replied with a smile, "If there's one person who knows Corona better than Flynn Rider, it's me."
"That's great!" Rapunzel exclaimed, running around the table and hugging Esmeralda, causing Flynn to grin as Esmeralda awkwardly returned the hug.
"And you can come too!" Rapunzel shouted, spinning around and pulling Flynn into a hug, "The more the merrier!"
"She's a hugger, huh?" Flynn asked Esmeralda.
"Oh yeah," she replied with a grin.
Suddenly, there was a great commotion from the entrance to the cave system, catching everyone's attention. All three of them looked, as did most of the other people in the cave, as a man ran out of the entrance tunnel.
"Guards!" the man shouted, "Guards are coming!"
"Guards?" Clopin asked as he stepped forward, "How do you know they're coming here?"
"The Stabbington brothers were leading them!" the man exclaimed, causing the other people to gasp and cry out in fear and alarm.
"Damn those brothers," Clopin cursed before he turned to the crowd, "Please my friends, calm yourself! Quickly gather your things and move to the tunnels as we had prepared. We will meet at the designated spot."
The people quickly began to move about, not quite panicked but with an obvious urgency. As they did, Clopin made his way through the crowd, meeting Rapunzel, Esmeralda and Flynn as they approached him.
"What's going on?" Rapunzel asked, worried.
"The guards are coming," Clopin explained, "Led by the Stabbington brothers."
"The Stabbington brothers?" Rapunzel asked as a look of surprise crossed her face, "Those are the guys that Quasi stole the crown with!"
"And it sounds like they've decided to sell everyone out to save their own hides," Esmeralda growled.
"Guys, what's going on?" Quasi asked as he ran up.
"The Stabbington brothers are coming!" Rapunzel exclaimed, "And they've brought the guards with them! They could arrest you!"
"What do we do?" Quasi asked in a panic, looking at the others.
"Esmeralda will lead you into one of the tunnels and to safety," Clopin quickly explained, before looking at Quasi and Rapunzel "Now go, follow your dreams."
"I will," Flynn replied with a faraway look in his eyes. The others looked at him with confused expressions on their faces.
"I wasn't talking to you," Clopin stated, "Your dream is stupid."
Flynn looked slightly hurt before Esmeralda grabbed his arm, and gestured for the others to follow as they made their way through the cave. As they left, the thugs walked up to join Clopin.
"What should we do, Clopin?" Hook asked.
"Make sure the people get to safety," Clopin replied.
"We're not going to fight?" Big Nose questioned.
"Not today, my friend," Clopin explained.
"Then how do we stop them from chasing us?" Vladimir asked.
"I will take care of that, now go!" he ordered.
The thugs nodded before turning and quickly rushing to the caves. As they did, Clopin turned to the entrance tunnel, just as the guards came down the tunnel, with Frollo, Gothel, Phoebus, Maximus and the Stabbington brothers in front.
"Well, well, if it isn't Clopin, the main man in charge," Drake said with a grin as he caught sight of Clopin, who merely glared back at him in response.
"I should have known you would betray us," Clopin growled.
"We do what we have to in order to survive," Drake replied simple, his grin widening.
"Indeed, and survive they shall, unlike you, fool," Frollo spoke up, sneering down at Clopin, "I had long suspected your involvement with this criminal organization, but now I see you are in fact the ring leader. And now here you stand, with no other hole left to crawl into, and no more tricks up your sleeves."
"You clearly don't know me well, Judge," Clopin replied, "I always have a trick up my sleeve."
Flicking his wrists, he caught two small spheres as they slipped out from his sleeves. Before the guards could react, he threw them down on the ground, causing a huge cloud of smoke to explode outward, obscuring him and the rest of the cave.
"They're escaping!" Frollo coughed, "Seize them!"
The guards immediately began rushing through the smoke, trying to chase down the escaping people.
"Phoebus!" Frollo shouted, turning to the captain, "I want the hunchback and I want him alive!"
"Yes, sir!" Phoebus replied before hopping up onto Maximus' back and pointing to a group of guards, "You men, with me!"
As Phoebus and the men rushed through the smoke cloud, it began to dissipate, revealing the cave again. As it did, Gothel stepped forward, looking around the cave, just in time to see a trail of blonde hair disappearing into a tunnel alongside Quasi.
"Rapunzel!" she cried, but her voice was lost over the din of the guards running around in the cave.
"Judge Frollo!" Gothel cried, turning around to look at Frollo, "That was my daughter with that hunchback you were talking about!"
"Don't worry, good lady," Frollo reassured her, "Captain Phoebus is the best man I have at my disposal. If any can catch the hunchback and save your daughter, it's him."
"Sir, what should we do with the belongings the criminals left behind?" a guard asked.
"Burn them," he replied, before turning to the Stabbington brothers, "You two will accompany me and my men back to the city, and we can see if we can't work out some sort of…arrangement for your help. You should accompany us as well, Ms. Gothel."
"Of course, Judge," Gothel replied, though she spared a worried glance towards the tunnel Rapunzel had disappeared into.
Meanwhile, Rapunzel, Quasi, and Flynn ran down the tunnel, Esmeralda leading the way and Djali hot on their heels. Hearing the sound of pounding feet and hoofs caused them to glance over their shoulder. Seeing the approaching torches, they panicked and began to run faster. Eventually, the tunnel began to end as a light appeared at the end of it.
"Come on!" Esmeralda shouted, running towards the tunnel exit, the others right behind her. As they exited, they found themselves running on to a small outcropping of rock, looking over a dry canyon. Behind them was a large wooden dam that looked like it had seen better days, holding back a river, the only water being a wooden aqueduct leading from a water wheel at the top of the dam to the canyon floor below, creating a small river that flowed down the canyon. A cave opening sat on the other side of the other side of the canyon,
"The way down is over here!" Esmeralda said as she moved to one of the ledges, where a wooden ladder led down to the bottom of the canyon. As she approached it, the sound of hoof beats thundered behind her.
"Look out!" Flynn shouted as he grabbed her shoulder and pulled her back, just as Phoebus rode up on Maximus, nearly running her down as he rode up in front of her, cutting her off from the exit.
Phoebus glared at the four of them as he slipped off of Maximus, drawing his sword and pointing it at them.
"You are all under arrest," he growled as half a dozen guards joined him and surrounded them, each wielding a sword of their own and looking eager to use it.
"Look, Captain, I'm sure we can talk about this," Flynn began as he moved towards the other man with his hands raised. He was cut off though as Phoebus pointed his sword directly at his neck.
"No more talking," he growled, causing Flynn to back up quickly, "I've let thoughts and feelings cloud my judgment before, and was betrayed for it. No more"
Quasi looked away in shame as Phoebus' eyes fell on him. Pointing his sword at Quasi, he turned to address him.
"Give it to me," Phoebus demanded.
"What?" Quasi asked, confused.
"The crown. Give it to me," Phoebus stated.
Quasi sighed before taking the bag off his shoulders, never breaking eye contact with Phoebus.
"I didn't mean to cause trouble," Quasi tried to explain, "I was going to return it, I swear."
"I've heard enough of your lies, hunchback," Phoebus growled in return, holding out his free hand to Quasi, "Just give me the crown, and stand down."
Quasi looked away from Phoebus as he ringed the strap of the bag in his hands. Glancing to his side, he saw Rapunzel staring at him, fear and worry in her eyes, clutching her frying pan against her chest. It was then Quasi realized that she would be arrested too, for no other reason than she was with him. He couldn't allow that. He just couldn't.
"You want it?" Quasi asked, glaring at Phoebus, "Then catch!"
Pulling his arm back, Quasi threw the bag over Phoebus' head. Phoebus looked at it in alarm, quickly turning to grab the bag as it flew over his head. As he turned, Quasi leapt forward and shoved him hard in the back, causing him to stumble forward into Maximus, nearly knocking the horse off the cliff. As Phoebus tried to recover, Quasi ran up and grabbed his sword arm with one hand while wrapping his other arm around Phoebus' chest, wrestling with him.
The guards looked on in shock, allowing Flynn and Esmeralda to act. Whirling around, Flynn punched one guard in the face, knocking him on his back. Pulling away, Flynn winced as he shook his hand in pain. The guard tried to right himself, reaching for his sword. Flynn quickly stepped on his hand before kicking the guard in the side of the head, knocking him out. Flynn reached down and picked up the man's sword, before spinning around just as two more guards ran at him, swords raised.
Meanwhile, Esmeralda had tackled one of the guards to the ground, and was in the process of trying to wrestle his sword away from him. Before she could, the guard smacked her across the face before rolling on top of her, one hand on her neck, the other with his sword raised.
"You got some fight in you, girl," he sneered, "I like that."
"Then you're going to love me," Rapunzel said, before her hair whipped out and snagged the man's arm. He looked at it in surprise before she yanked on it, forcing the man to his feet and he staggered uncontrollably towards her. As he reached her, she swung at his head with her frying pan, hitting his helmet with a resounding clang as he flipped onto his back, out cold.
"Not bad," Esmeralda said as she picked herself up, "Thanks."
"Don't mention it," Rapunzel said with a chuckle, before her eyes widened in surprise, "Watch out!"
Glancing behind her, Esmeralda saw another guard rushing at her, sword raised. She ducked, avoiding his first swing, before driving her elbow into his gut. As he doubled over, she grabbed onto his legs and set her shoulder against his stomach.
"Rapunzel!" Esmeralda cried, looking over her shoulder.
"Right!" Rapunzel shouted back, before whipping out a stand of her hair, wrapping it around the guard's midsection. She pulled on him just as Esmeralda lifted his legs, causing him to flip around in the air and fall hard on his back. He groaned as he tried to pick himself up but Rapunzel brought her frying pan down on his head, knocking him out.
Rapunzel smiled as she twirled her pan in her hand, looking at her handiwork. As she did, another guard ran at her. Before he could reach her though, Djali charged at him with him head lowered, smashing into the guards gut and knocking him onto his back, before kicking him on the side of his head, knocking him out.
Looking over, they saw Flynn fighting with two of the guards, barely managing to hold his own with his stolen sword. The two guards swung at him simultaneously, allowing Flynn to block both of their swords with his one. Grunting in effort, he pushed back on them, forcing the two guards to stumble backwards to catch their footing. As they corrected themselves, Esmeralda ran over and stood next to Flynn with a sword of her own.
"Need some help?" she asked with a smirk.
"Are you kidding?" Flynn laughed, "I have them on the ropes!"
"Of course, that's why you're breathing so heavily," she quipped.
"Hey, no one ever said sword fighting was easy," Flynn replied.
"We'll see," Esmeralda said as the guards charged at them again. Parrying his first blow, Flynn pushed one of the guards back, before swinging at him twice, which the guard hastily blocked, back-peddling as he did. Pressing his advantage, he took more swings at the guard, forcing him farther and farther back until the guard's back was pressed right against the stone wall. Grabbing onto the wall desperately, the guard grabbed a loose rock before throwing at Flynn. Flynn let out a yelp of surprise as he ducked out of the way of the projectile, before looking at the guard with an annoyed look on his face.
"Who throws a rock in a sword fight!" Flynn demanded. As he did, the guard reached up and grabbed a handful of sand before throwing it into Flynn's face. Flynn let out a cry of surprise as he tried to rub the sand out his eyes. Meanwhile, the guard ran up and punched him in the gut, before grabbing him by the shirt and throwing him to the ground. Flynn let out a grunt of pain as he blinked the sand out of his eyes, just in time to see the guard raising his sword to stab him.
Flynn quickly blocked the attack with his own sword, forcing the other man's blade away. While the guard was unbalanced, Flynn pulled back and punched him hard in the groin, causing him to double over in pain. As he did, Flynn reached up and flipped him onto his back while rolling across the ground so he lay on top of the guard. As the man tried to recover, Flynn pulled his arm back and smashed the pommel of his sword against the guard's face, knocking him out.
Meanwhile, Esmeralda and the last guard where exchanging sword blows, sparks flying as their weapons clanged against each other. As the guard swung at her midsection, Esmeralda flipped backwards, dodging the attack. Growling, the man thrust at her, but she parried the attack before spinning around him and kicking him in the back, sending him stumbling forward. She smirked as he turned to glare at her, pointing her sword at him. Roaring in anger, he swung at her, but she easily dodged it, hopping around each blow he threw at her, causing him to become more and more frustrated. Eventually, he made one large, unbalanced thrust which Esmeralda easily dodged, before she spun around and smacked his sword out of his hands. She pointed her sword at his throat, causing him to put up his hands in surrender. As he did, there was a loud clang as he shook and went cross-eyed, before collapsing to the ground, revealing Rapunzel standing behind him, her frying pan raised. She smiled at Esmeralda, who smiled back, giving her a thumbs up.
Meanwhile, Phoebus and Quasi were still wrestling with each other, Phoebus trying to get the much stronger Quasi off his back. Maximus stood over them, snorting in anger as he tried to bite Quasi and drag him off. He stopped though, as Esmeralda walked up and pointed a sword at his face. Flynn pointed his sword at Phoebus, causing him to stop struggling and allowing Quasi to get off him.
"We'll be taking this," Flynn said as he reached down and picked up the bag, "Thanks."
"You won't get far," Phoebus growled. As he did, the sound of approaching footsteps sounded in the cave.
"There are more guards coming!" Esmeralda shouted, "We have to go!"
As she was distracted, Maximus snapped his jaws out, grabbing the sword and yanking it from her hands. At the same time, Flynn reached up and yanked the sword from Flynn's grasp, causing Flynn to take a few steps backwards.
"Flynn!" Rapunzel shouted, catching his attention, "Hold this."
Pushing her frying pan into his hands, she turned around and flung her hair at one of the overhanging boards, before swinging across to another outcropping of rock.
"Quasi, come on!" she shouted to him.
Quasi looked at her before turning to the others, seeing more guards come pouring out of the tunnel as Maximus and Phoebus pointed their swords at Flynn and Esmeralda. Reacting quickly, Flynn swung the frying pan at the man and his horse, forcing Phoebus to deflect the blow as they both took a step back.
"Go! I'll keep them busy!" Flynn shouted. Quasi nodded before grabbing Esmeralda's hand and practically dragged her over to the edge, Djali racing behind them. Reaching the edge, he wrapped his arm around her waist while she picked up Djali, before he grabbed Rapunzel's hair with his other arm and swung over to her.
"Thanks," Esmeralda said as Quasi let her go.
"I think Flynn's going to need a little more help," Rapunzel stated as she reeled in her hair.
Turning to look at him, Quasi saw Flynn desperately trying to hold his own against Phoebus, Maximus and three other guards.
"Right," Quasi replied with a nod, before turning back to Rapunzel, "Rapunzel, give me some of your hair."
"Okay," Rapunzel replied, tossing a length of her hair over to Quasi, who began to wind it around an outcropping of rock. Meanwhile, Flynn dodged as one of the guards stabbed at him, before swinging the frying pan and hitting the man on the side of the head, knocking him to the ground, where he lay unconscious. As another guard slashed at him, Flynn blocked the blade with the pan, before kicking the man in the stomach and following up with a smack to the chin, knocking him on his back. As the third guard charged at him, Flynn knocked his sword away, before hitting him in the face with the frying pan, knocking him out.
"Man!" Flynn exclaimed as he examined the frying pan in his hand, "I have got to get me one of these!"
A snort caught his attention, causing him to look up and see Maximus advancing on him, a sword still clenched in his teeth. Maximus thrust his sword at Flynn, forcing the young man to parry. The horse followed up with a flurry of sword swings, forcing Flynn closer and closer to the edge of the cliff.
"I have to tell you," Flynn laughed as he dueled with the horse, "This is the strangest thing I have ever done!"
Flynn's laugh was cut off though as Maximus managed to knock the frying pan out of his hand and sending it flying over the edge before clattering to the ground below. Flynn gulped as he looked where the pan had fallen, before looking back at Maximus, who was pointing the sword at Flynn's throat, causing Flynn to raise his hands in surrender.
"It's over, Rider," Phoebus said as he walked forward, patting Maximus on the neck, before removing the sword from his teeth and pointing it, along with the other sword, at Flynn.
As he did, a large blond strand of hair was tossed out and wrapped around Flynn's arm. Glancing at it, Flynn grinned widely as he turned to look, seeing Quasi and Rapunzel holding onto her hair. Flynn turned and saluted to Phoebus before Rapunzel and Quasi yanked him off the edge, sending him swinging through the canyon.
"Haha!" Flynn laughed, pointing at the stunned Phoebus and Maximus as he swung, "You should see the looks on your-ugh!"
Flynn grunted as he slammed into the side of the wooden aqueduct, the breath knocked out of his lungs.
"Faces," he groaned before grabbing onto the aqueduct and trying to pull himself up.
"I'm going to go help him," Quasi told the girls before turning and leaping onto the cliff wall and making over to the aqueduct before sliding down it to where Flynn was and helping him up. Meanwhile, Rapunzel and Esmeralda unwrapped her hair.
Hearing a loud banging noise, they looked up to see Maximus trying to kick down a beam supporting the dam, creating a makeshift bridge between the two ledges and quickly began to cross, Phoebus behind him as the dam groaned from the removal of the support, stream of water beginning to spurt through. The two girls gasped in fright as they tried to figure out what to do.
"Blondie!" Flynn shouted catching their attention. Turning, they saw Flynn and Quasi standing on the aqueduct, holding on to her hair.
"We've got you!" Flynn called.
"Come on!" Rapunzel cried, holding her hand out to Esmeralda. Esmeralda took her hand while picking up Djali again and they both ran to the cliff, Maximus charging behind them. Taking a flying leap, Esmeralda wrapped her arms around Rapunzel's shoulders as Rapunzel grabbed hold of her hair and swung down into the canyon, just avoiding Maximus grabbing them. As Flynn and Quasi held onto the hair, Rapunzel and Esmeralda swung under the aqueduct, sliding on some water that had spilled onto the ground below. As they slid to a stop, Flynn and Quasi let go of her hair before sliding down the aqueduct on the water, before hopping off and landing on the ground.
"We did it!" Rapunzel laughed as she watched Phoebus and Maximus scramble to try and find a way down. As they did, the dam began to bulge as more and more water began to squirt out from the dam.
"Guys?" Rapunzel spoke up, "Is that supposed to happen?"
"No!" Esmeralda shouted as she turned around and raced towards the cave entrance, "Run!"
The five of them turned and raced towards the cave entrance, just as the dam burst and water came pouring out, crashing into the canyon. They ran into the entrance as the water hit around the cave, causing the entrance to collapse as water began to pour in.
"Guys," Quasi moaned as the water rose to his ankles, "I think we're in trouble."
A/N: This chapter ended up being longer than originally planned, plus school really slowed it down. Anyway, hope you guys liked it! Please review!