We're nearing the end! To all you readers out there, thank you for making this such a great experience! This project has been worthwhile because of your appreciation. Please keep up the R&R :-)

"You've got the scissors, right?"

"Yep, in the satchel with the crown."

"Let's do this."

Chuck climbed out the boat and pulled it onto the shore. Sarah jumped out, looking back at Pascal.

"You stay here. Eugene and I have something to take care of. I'll be back for you in a few minutes, okay?"

Pascal nodded.

Chuck and Sarah walked between two large boulders. On the other side sat one of the Stabbington brothers.

"Hey, ugly. Where's the brother that doesn't have both of his eyes, or any scripted lines?"

"You've got a lot of nerve, pretty boy. Oh, and I see that you brought along the girl. That should make things easier. We've got you, the crown, and the girl with the magic hair."

Chuck heard heavy boots behind him. He turned and saw the other Stabbington with his trademark eyepatch.

"Look, I'm gonna give you fair warning. Me, I'm not much of a threat. But blondie here is another story. So, what say you guys hand yourselves over to the authorities and we chalk this all up as one big misunderstanding."

"I'm really gonna enjoy breaking that jaw of yours, Rider. As for your friend—"

That was all he got out. Sarah had leapt up into the air, her right leg extending, and brought her foot around to the thug's temple. He crashed face first into the gravel-covered shore.

The other brother grabbed his sword. Barely had the blade left the sheath when Sarah threw her fist into his gut. The ruffian doubled over. As his body bent, Sarah dropped her elbow to the base of his neck. He thudded hard to the ground.

"Great job, honey. Feeling better?" asked Chuck.

"A little."

"Good, here's the scissors. Remember, when Gothel rounds the boulder, take a clean swipe all the way across at about medium length. Ready?"

"Yes."

"Okay. Give out a good cry. We've got to lure her over."

"Ahh! Oh, help me! Ruffians! Oh, help!" yelled Sarah.

They heard footsteps on the other side of the boulders.

"Rapunzel? I'm coming, hold on!"

Gothel shot around the corner. Chuck was surprised to see how formidable she looked. Drawn up to her full height, it seemed as if she could look Chuck in the eye. Hey eyes were a cold grey, now searching the area for danger. Her forearms were tense as she grasped a large branch. Chuck was glad that he wouldn't have to face her much longer.

"Hello, Gothel," said Chuck coolly.

"Who are you? Rapunzel? Are you safe? Has he hurt you?" Gothel took a step forward.

"Don't move another inch. We're ending this Gothel," said Sarah, pulling her hair tight and bringing the blades closer to her hair.

Gothels eyes widened. "NOOO! What are you doing? STOP!"

But just as Sarah opened the blades of the scissors to cut her hair, she heard a thump directly beside her. Chuck lay face down on the shore. Sarah spun around.

"Hello, Agent Walker," said the captain of the guard, the same whom they encountered in the dam. His sword was drawn. He had used the hilt to knock out Chuck. He had at least ten other men with him, all armed with crossbows. Gothel stood frozen, unable to grasp was going on.

"Wha—"

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. Why did you have to change the story, Sarah? Not that I didn't enjoy a few of your additions, but really, this is just distasteful. And my experiment! How could you just ignore the implications of such tampering? I'm very disappointed."

"Dr. Orlan? I thought you weren't going to enter the experiment."

"I wasn't, until you started meddling with the plot. Then I had no choice. But no problem. Once I set everything back on track and the story ends we will all wake up, with you and Chuck still tied snugly in your chairs. Of course, I don't imagine that you two will still be alive by that time…"

"How were you watching us? You weren't with us!"

"Well, that's where your government's "stolen research" comes in. The research I took was from a high priority R&D project that was also experimenting with reality simulation. However, unlike myself, they have not been able to place the mind in a story. What they did discover was how to retrieve audio and visual data from subjects' minds. Though I could place the mind in a narrative, I had no means of monitoring what was actually occurring. It was the final component I needed for my experiment."

"What are you going to do with us?" asked Sarah as the other guards chained her legs and hands.

"Well, I don't want to give too much away, but you will be placed in Gothel's care. Charles will be taken to the palace dungeons. But beyond that, who knows?" said Orlan as he cackled to himself.

"Orlan, I swear I will get out and—"

"Gag her!" commanded Orlan, turning to his men. "And make sure she is securely bound. Now, I want four of you to go retrieve Maximus. The horse has defected and needs to be brought in. As for the rest of you, take Flynn Rider to the dungeons. After that, gather reinforcements and make haste to the Ugly Duckling. Arrest every man in that sordid pub. They are accomplices of Rider."

Sarah tried to fight against the chains, but couldn't break free. Gothel now had her bonds in hand.

"Come on, Rapunzel! Time to go home," she said. Gothel still looked perplexed, as she tried to figure out why the guards had let her go.

As Sarah was dragged away, she saw several of the guards dump Chuck's body in a boat and set sail for the city's docks. She felt something crawl up her arm and saw that it was Pascal. Sarah began to cry silently as she was taken deeper into the woods.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Chuck's vision was blurry. He looked up and saw bars a few feet from his head. The floor he had been lying on was cold cobblestone. Slowly, he picked himself up, trying to put together what had happened the night before.

"Sarah!"

A few guards had come to his cell. One opened the door and cruelly called out, "It's you're big day, Rider. We've got big plans for you. Oh, but look at you. Didn't anyone tell you that it was formal dress? Well, don't worry about it. We'll provide the necktie!"

The others snickered.

"Please, listen to me. There's this girl—"

One of the guards suddenly looked at Chuck. "A girl? Is she beautiful?"

"Yes!"

"Does she make you want to sing?"

"Yes!"

"Does she inspire you to be greater than you ever could imagine?"

"Yes, yes!"

"Is she the love of your life?"

"Without a doubt!"

"Alright, boys. You heard him. Love conquers all, even the deeds of a thief. You're a free man, Rider. Go to your fair maiden."

"Really?" asked Chuck, his eyes wide.

"Nope!"

The guards began to laugh, almost uncontrollably, as they chained Chuck's hands. They escorted him out of his cell and into the corridor. Chuck looked around and saw many other cells lining the hall, but was surprised when he noticed a hook resting on the bars of a cell a few feet away.

"What? How did you guys get here?"

The next three cells were filled with the patrons of the Ugly Duckling. Even the short old man had been arrested.

"Not you guys, too. You were supposed to rescue me. This is really bad…"

But that's when Chuck remembered something. He wasn't Flynn Rider, nor was he Eugene Fitzhurbert. He was Chuck Bartowski, computer-brained super spy extraordinaire. He closed his eyes and focused on what he needed most at the moment: karate moves. Within seconds, the familiar images of fighting stances flew through his brain.

"That's what I'm talkin' 'bout!"

The guards at his sides looked at him in confusion. In one swift movement, Chuck jumped up in the air and grabbed onto a hanging candelabrum, swinging back to take out two of the guards. The remaining one reached for his sword, but was out cold before he even touched the hilt. Chuck bent down, took the keys off one of the guards, and released himself from his cuffs.

"Sorry that you all got mixed up in this," said Chuck, unlocking the cells of the Ugly Duckling Patrons.

"We're with you, Rider," said the hook-handed ruffian.

"Thanks, guys. Now, we'd better get out of here! C'mon!"

Chuck led them to the end of the passageway and up a flight of steps.

"Rider! We need weapons!" yelled Vladimir.

At the top of the steps, Chuck saw a kitchen to the right.

"This way!" cried Chuck, leading them in. "Everyone grab a frying pan!"

Arming themselves, they ran out the large doors at the opposite end of the kitchen and out into the courtyard. As they exited, Chuck noticed a white horse chained to a post.

"Max!"

The horse gave a weak whinny.

"Max, I'm coming buddy!" Chuck ran over and unlocked the stallion.

"C'mon, Max! Sarah—the princess is in danger!"

Just then, the sound of heavy footsteps filled the courtyard. A hoard of guards were pouring in from all sides.

"We've got this, Rider! Go save the girl! Live your dream!" yelled the thug with the hook.

Chuck hopped onto a revitalized Maximus who was now eager to pay back his captor. The Ugly Duckling patrons had started a fierce melee with the guards. A guard crept up behind Chuck and Maximus, but was quickly dealt a blow by one of the horse's hooves. Chuck saw that the main door out of the courtyard was shut, but was no longer guarded.

"Vladimir! Vladimir! Take out the door!"

Hearing Chuck, the horn-helmed giant took off towards the door. He crashed through, allowing Chuck and Maximus to flee. They were out on the open streets of Corona. Max bolted down the winding roads and onto the main path out of the city.

"Okay Max, let's see how fast you can run!"