Author's Notes:

I know I said I wouldn't update this week, but due to unforeseen events, I won't be able to write next week. So…I decided to write this week. It turned out for the best, because while I was planning this chapter, I realized that it fit better at the end of Part I, instead of Part II.

Also, I'd like to express my appreciation to everyone who reads my story. I love your comments!

Tangled: The Series:

A Speculative Continuation

Part I: The Road to Redemption

Chapter 10: Course of Action

As they hurried towards Heilen, Cassandra groaned in discomfort. Rapunzel glanced at her friend nervously.

"Are you okay, Cass?"

Her lady-in-waiting winced. "I'll be fine. I just think I strained my back a bit." Cassandra gestured vaguely at Varian. "He's lucky that beam didn't land on him! He would have been dead!"

Rapunzel looked sideways as Varian. Eugene's arms were keeping him centered on Max's back, but his head lolled forward dangerously. Only Rudiger was keeping him from falling onto Max's neck. She couldn't hear his breathing over the sound of the horses' hooves, but it wasn't easy to forget his shallow breathing. He may not be dead, but if he didn't get medical attention soon, Rapunzel feared that they would be burying him instead.

The setting sun cast a somber shadow over the buildings as they approached the village. Despite the late hour, people were emerging from their homes to look for the source of the commotion. The moment Max and Fidella drew near, the villager swarmed around them.

"What happened?"

"Where did that noise come from?"

"Who are you?"

"Look at the boy! What did you do to him?"

Eugene struggled to make himself heard over the confusion. "The mine—Quiet! The mine col—Okay! Settle down now! I can't tell you what happened if you won't listen!" The crowd hushed and stared at Eugene expectantly. "That's better! Okay! The mine collapsed!"

A screamed pierced the air. Suddenly, the townsfolk's curiosity turned to fear and dread as they fled to their houses.

"Wait!" Rapunzel cried out. "Does anyone know a healer?" But it was useless; the once crowded street had emptied.

Rapunzel slipped off Fidella's back and watched as Cassandra followed suit. She turned and helped Eugene lower Varian from the saddle before dismounting himself.

"Max! Fidella! I need the two of you to find yourself somewhere safe to hide. We'll come find you once we find a place to stay."

Warily, the two horses snorted and snuck off. Rapunzel hated seeing them leave, but they didn't want to draw any more attention than they already had. Once they were out of sight, Rapunzel focused on their current situation. With Cassandra leaning on her for support and Varian being carried by Eugene, the four of them wandered through the barren streets looking for someone that would take them in.

They'd been wandering for hours before their exhaustion saw them collapse on the street side. The chilly air pierced them to their bones. None of the doors had opened; the people were too afraid to answer. Rapunzel found herself staring at the unconscious boy in her boyfriend's arms. Under the white light coming from the moon, Varian's pale clammy skin made him resemble a ghost. His labored breathing sounded eerily similar to when Eugene had been fading away in her arms after being stabbed by Gothel. Subconsciously, Rapunzel mouthed the words to the healing incantation.

"Flower gleam and glow.

"Let your power shine.

"Make the clock reverse.

"Bring back what once was mine."

Barely audible, Rapunzel's voice began singing the magical melody. Eugene and Cassandra glanced up at the princess in surprise.

"Heal was has been hurt.

"Change the Fates' design.

"Save what has been lost.

"Bring back what once was mine."

Nothing happened; her magical hair didn't glow. Heartbroken, tears welled up in Rapunzel's eyes and she wept. Cassandra wrapped a comforting arm around her.

"Hey, it'll be okay. We'll find something."

"I couldn't save his father and now I can't save him! What kind of princess am I?"

Eugene spoke, his voice gentle and reassuring. "Rapunzel, you're the sweetest most caring princess the world has ever seen! Believe me! I've seen how some royals turn out and you are leagues ahead of them! Most of them wouldn't give an iota of concern for their people! You give everything you have to them!"

Eugene's words touched Rapunzel and she wiped away her tears. She did care for her people and in that moment, Varian needed her to pull through. With determination, she stood up and faced her comrades.

"You're right! He needs me! You need me!" She said staring at Varian and Cassandra. "I can't sit here hoping something good will come! I have to go find it!" She unclasped her cloak and laid it carefully over Varian. "Stay here and take care of each other. Pascal and I are going to find help!" She looked down at the chameleon on her shoulder; he was fast asleep. "On the other hand, maybe I'll just go." She scooped Pascal gently off of her shoulder and handed him to Cassandra.

Cassandra and Eugene watched as Corona's princess marched off into the night. Cassandra leaned against the building behind her.

"You're right, Fitzherbert. She's going to make one magnificent queen."

Eugene arranged the cloak around Varian. Rudiger crawled down from Eugene shoulders and curled around Varian's head to provide extra warmth. "Of course, she will! If she's willing to go to such extreme lengths to save someone who hates her, I can only imagine how far she'll go to serve the people who love her." He smiled softly and muttered. "Actually, I already know what she was willing to do to save me."

Rapunzel wandered through the streets knocking on every door she could. Almost everyone had gone to sleep, but Rapunzel refused to give up. Varian needed medical attention and while Cassandra was doing her best not to complain, she knew her lady-in-waiting needed to be looked at as well.

Out of the corner of her eye, Rapunzel spotted a cottage a little way off. The windows were yellow with candlelight and she could faintly smell the pleasant aroma of fresh-baked bread. Excited, Rapunzel sprinted to the house and banged on the door. She heard shuffling feet approach. There was a sliding sound and Rapunzel found herself staring at a set of dark eyes from the other side of a peephole.

"Who are you? And what are you doing up this early in the morning?" His voice was gruff but not rude.

"Please, sir! My name is Rapunzel and I have two friends that are badly hurt! I've been looking for hours, but no one has helped us!"

Another more feminine voice emanated from behind the door. "Someone's in need of help? We have to help them, Carl!" The locks on the door were hastily undone and the door swung open to reveal an elderly couple. Both were covered in flour, but they looked kindly enough. The woman's eyes swept back and forth. "Where are they?"

"I left them with another one of my friends They sat down to rest! If you could wait, I'll go and get them!"

The woman started rolling up her sleeves. "First tell me what to expect so I can prepare."

"I think one threw out her back and the other is unconscious. He's bleeding and his breathing doesn't sound good."

She nodded grimly. "Alright then! You go bring your friends. We'll clean up around here."

The princess grasped the woman's hand hers and tearfully thanked her before darting off in search of her companions.

Ten minutes later they were stumbling through the Koch's home. Rapunzel looked around at the cottage. It was a quaint little home. The front rooms were dedicated solely to their bakery, but behind there was a living space with several doors leading into rooms.

Eugene followed Mrs. Koch into one of the rooms and carefully set Varian on the bed. Mr. Koch brought his wife a cloth and a bowl of heated water, which she placed beside the bed on the nightstand. Rapunzel watched as the woman dabbed the cloth in the water and carefully cleansed the boy's wounds. Varian looked pale as ever, but at least he had someone who could tend to him.

"You weren't lying about them being badly hurt. What happened to you four?"

Rapunzel and Eugene stood in awkward silence, unsure whether they should answer her.

Mrs. Koch's eyes narrowed. "You were at the mine, weren't you? That's why people weren't wanting to help you. No one wants anything to do with those swine. You're very fortunate that you got here in time. Once the morning breaks, this town will be crawling with them."

"Is he going to be okay?" Rapunzel whispered.

The old woman shrugged. "He's malnourished, seems to have lost a lot of blood, and based on his breathing, I wouldn't be surprised if he has a couple of broken ribs." She spotted Rapunzel's terrified face. "But don't worry, I know what I'm doing. I may be a baker's wife, but I've had plenty of experience healing injuries."

Eugene strode over to the princess. "Rapunzel, I'll watch over him. You should check on Cassandra." He lovingly brushed her hair to side. "He's in good hands. You saved him, sweetheart." He gave her a small peck on the forehead and waited till she had left, before resuming his post beside Mrs. Koch.

Rapunzel crossed the living room and walked into the room set aside for them. Mr. Koch, the baker, had put together a cot for Cassandra to lie on. Her lady-in-waiting was stretched out upon it, staring up at the ceiling.

"Hey Cass! How are you doing?"

Cassandra smiled wearily. "Well, I've been better, but I think a couple days of rest should get me back to normal."

Rapunzel knelt on one of the cushions that had been provided for them. "What you did back there was really brave. If it hadn't been for you, we wouldn't have saved Varian."

"Nonsense! Eugene would have done what I did." She sighed, rolling her eyes in mock irritation. "I should have let him hold the beam up so that he would be the one in this cot, not me!"

Giggling, Rapunzel picked up one of the pillows from the floor. "I don't think he would let himself sleep in a cot, if us ladies were to sleep on the floor!" The two friends laughed. When the laughter had died down, Rapunzel looked down and in a serious tone, continued. "I know seeing Varian must be difficult for you, but I want you to know that I appreciate you sticking by my side."

Cassandra shifted on the cot. "It's hard, but I understand what you feel. Eugene and I want him to be okay just as much as you do." She yawned deeply and closed her eyes. "I guess if my back is to get better, I better rest."

"Goodnight, Cass."

"Good morning, Raps." Chuckling softly, Rapunzel closed the door behind her, letting Cassandra sleep.

Rapunzel stirred. They were sitting around the kitchen table, waiting for a tearful Mrs. Koch to tell them what had happened. Realizing that his wife wasn't going to be able to speak, Mr. Koch broke the silence.

"Three days ago, we woke to find the boy had slipped out in the middle of the night. He took his raccoon and a bag full of day old pastries and other little bits of food." He glanced at his wife. "We tried to search for him, but without luck."

"He's going to get himself killed!" Everyone stared at Mrs. Koch. Although she was still weeping, Mrs. Koch had regained her voice. "He was only here for a month! His injuries are far from being fully healed and he hasn't regained all his strength. The boy's as thin as a twig! I should've kept a closer eye on him!"

Rapunzel rubbed the woman's back. "Mrs. Koch, it isn't your fault. Varian has a tendency to do what he wants. If he was ready to leave, you wouldn't have been able to keep him from leaving."

Wiping her eyes, Mrs. Koch stared forlornly at the family portrait on the wall. Whispering faintly, she said. "He's like the grandson I never had."

Mr. Koch pulled out a note and handed it to Rapunzel. "This was all that he left behind. We couldn't make sense of it, but maybe you can."

Rapunzel opened the note and recognized Varian's steady script. The note itself was short and lacking any formality.

I'm following the rocks. Leave me alone and I'll leave you alone.

"The kid has a way with words. You can really tell how he feels." Eugene sighed.

Rapunzel read the curt letter over and over again. It seemed Varian had added another condition to their agreement: she was to leave him alone or else. She couldn't help but feel slightly annoyed. Varian went out of his way to be disrespectful and cruel. He knew that she had a lot more responsibility than he did. Keeping Corona safe felt a lot more difficult than simply not attacking them. Now he felt at liberty to add whatever clause he felt appropriate, regardless of her feelings on the matter. Massaging her temple, Rapunzel leaned back in her chair.

Still, it wasn't that big a deal. He had told them where he went, even if the Koch's hadn't understood. Rapunzel and Varian were still on the same path. He just didn't want them interfering with him. She could respect that.

"Thank you both!" Rapunzel looked at the Koch's, hoping that they could see how truly grateful she was to them. "If it hadn't been for you two, I don't know what would have happened to us. You have my eternal gratitude."

"What does the note mean?" The old woman begged.

Glancing briefly at the letter, Rapunzel answered. "It means that we're heading in the same direction as he is. I'm sure will run into him again, even if he doesn't want us to."

Eugene smiled at Mrs. Koch. "Don't worry about Varian. He may not look it, but he is a lot more resilient than he appears."

Mrs. Koch exhaled deeply and leaned against her husband shoulder. "I hope so. I'm tired of worrying." Suddenly she noticed how weary her travelers were and jumped out of her seat. "Let's get some beds set up for you. How long do you plan to stay?"

The three companions smiled as the woman busied herself with her guests. Grabbing pillows, blankets and calling for her husband to bring the cot, Mrs. Koch ran around till they had settled down for the night. When she had finally closed the door to their room, Cassandra turned over to face Rapunzel.

"So, what's the plan, Rapunzel?"

Rapunzel stroked Eugene's fingers. "I think tomorrow we'll leave and follow the rocks."

"What about the kid?" Eugene muttered from below them on the floor.

"We'll have to leave him alone, until he comes to us. That's all we can do."

Exhausted, the three of them drifted off to sleep.

The next morning Rapunzel tried to pay the Koch's for their hospitality and for what Varian had stolen, but they refused, stating that no harm had been done and that they were happy to serve in any way they could. Giving the couple one of her massive bear hugs, Rapunzel took Eugene's hand and pulled herself onto Maximus.

"Goodbye!" The three of them called out as they rushed off to find the trail the rocks had led.

Unbeknownst to them, a hulking figure watched them as they left. When the elderly bakers had returned to their home, the man slipped away. He weaved his way through the still sleeping village and made his way towards the ruins of the mine. Tents and dugouts had been erected from the wreckage. The man wended his way through the rubble and makeshift lodgings until he arrived at the entrance to one of the dugouts. Picking up a stick he rapped on the stone three times.

"Come in."

He brushed past the curtain entryway and knelt in front of the man inside.

"Did you see them, Jerome?"

Eyes downcast, Jerome nodded in confirmation.

"And you're sure that they were the ones responsible for the boy's escape?"

Jerome lifted his eyes to look his leader in the eye. Alrick was lying on a salvaged mattress. Half his face and head were covered in bandages and his arm wrapped in a splint. Alrick noted Jerome's silent affirmation. He sat up and rummaged through a stack of papers beside him. Pulling out a fresh leaf, he began scribbling.

As he wrote he muttered. "So, the princess of Corona leaving the safety of her kingdom. I guess we ought to see what Frederic thinks is so important that it's worth the risk of letting his precious baby girl out of his sight." He finished writing and with one hand folded the paper. Pulling out a stick of wax, he heated it over the candle and let a sizeable drop fall. Alrick pushed his signet ring into the melted wax. Once the wax had cooled, he handed the folded paper to Jerome. "I believe it's time to rally the men." His eye narrowed. "All of them."

Additional Notes:

A shout out to BandedBright for giving me the idea to cover what Rapunzel and co. went through before they found the Koch's. I didn't know where to put it, but then this chapter just seized the idea and it became the majority of the chapter. Thanks for the excellent idea!

For some reason, I purposely go out of my way to keep Jerome silent. I don't know why, but I can't imagine him saying anything. Maybe I find his stoic silence to be funny.

Part II: The Path in the Shadows will begin with Chapter 11. Part II will return to the mystery of the rocks.

Like I said above, I won't be able to update next week, but hopefully the week after I will be. I finally made a rough map and outline for the rest of the story!

In case you're wondering, I'm really excited for the next chapter!