Chapter 12

Special thanks to Nyx-Arae and Pandora'sLegacy for their enthusiastic reviews. Please do leave reviews if you have the time because it motivates me and makes me want to write more so yeah. Thanks for reading and enjoy!

Rapunzel looked on horrified as the thugs grabbed Flynn and held him down, all of them arguing with each other in the process. As the hook handed man drew back his fist, ready to bring it down on Flynn's nose Rapunzel looked about desperately for something she could stop them with. Not that she was concerned about Flynn's nose! No she couldn't care less about Flynn's nose. Really, not at all. It was because she needed a guide. And if Flynn didn't have a perfect nose then he obviously couldn't take her to see the floating lights, duh. This wasn't anything to do with the fact that Flynn was kind of attractive and that with a flattened nose he would be less so. No, nothing to do with that. Nothing…

'Blondie a little help here please,' came Flynn's desperate cry.

Rapunzel, who responded to the name Blondie now as if it she had been called that all her life, immediately snapped into action. Looking desperately about the room she suddenly caught sight of one of the decorative branches hanging out of the ceiling just above the hook handed man's head. Taking her hair in her hands she slung it at the branch like it was a lasso. Pulling back on it with all her strength she then released it causing it to hit the hook handed man in the back of the head with a resounding thump.

Everyone stopped what they were doing and turned to look at the small girl carrying a frying pan.

'Okay I don't know where I am,' began Rapunzel pleadingly, 'and I need him to take me to go see the lanterns because I've been dreaming about them my entire life. Find your humanity people- haven't any of you ever had a dream?'

There was a pause. Then, slowly, the thugs hung the helpless Flynn on a coat peg as if he were a coat. The Hook handed man proceeded to draw his axe and advanced menacingly on Rapunzel. He hovered over her as the terrified girl retreated before him until she was backed up against a table. He looked her in the eye then said-

'I had a dream once.'

And with that he tossed away his axe.

'What was the point of the menacing approach then?' muttered Flynn under his breath but not loud enough for the thugs to hear and therefore give them an excuse to inflict any further damage upon his precious nose.

Suddenly Hook Hand started to sing:

I'm malicious, mean and scary
My sneer could curdle dairy
And violence-wise, my hands are not the cleanest
But despite my evil look
And my temper, and my hook
I've always yearned to be a concert pianist

And with that Hook hand bounded onto a small stage and began to play a piano there in time to his singing. Even with his hook he was still pretty good.

Can'tcha see me on the stage performin' Mozart?
Tickling the ivories 'til they gleam?
Yep, I'd rather be called deadly
For my killer show-tune medley
'Cause way down deep inside
I've got a dream

Then the rest of the pub thugs took up the song for the chorus:

He's got a dream!
He's got a dream!

Hook hand then continued his solo:

See, I ain't as cruel and vicious as I seem!
Though I do like breaking femurs
You can count me with the dreamers
Like everybody else
I've got a dream!

Rapunzel looked on wide eyed and utterly delighted. She loved music and dancing and singing and to meet people who actually had a similar passion was simply brilliant. Sure she'd sung to mother several times but that was only when mother had wanted to use her hair- it just wasn't the same.

Flynn, however, was less taken in. Not only was he pretty apathetic to music in general he was exasperated by blondie. All it took was one not particularly good song about how you played piano and bang you were her new best friend. This was especially stupid as not only had she no basis upon which to trust them but also these were the people who were only moments ago going to completely ruin her dream. Call me an old cynic, thought Flynn, but having a dream of being a great pianist doesn't actually mean you can't also be a violent murderer.

Suddenly a big nosed thug took centre stage and began to sing to Rapunzel:

I've got scars and lumps and bruises
Plus something here that oozes
And let's not even mention my complexion
But despite my extra toes
And my goiter, and my nose
I really want to make a love connection
Can't you see me with a special little lady
Rowin' in a rowboat down the stream?
Though I'm one disgusting blighter
I'm a lover, not a fighter -
'Cause way down deep inside
I've got a dream
I've got a dream!

Again the whole of the pub thugs took up the chorus and then Big nose continued with his solo:

He's got a dream!
He's got a dream!

And I know one day romance will reign supreme!
Though my face leaves people screaming
There's a child behind it, dreaming -
Like everybody else
I've got a dream

Then all the thugs started singing and showing off their various talents to Rapunzel. There was Tor who liked flowers which Rapunzel smelled, there was Gunther who did interior design which Rapunzel admired, Ulf who was a mime artist who Rapunzel applauded, Attila who made cupcakes which Rapunzel tasted, Bruiser who knits, Killer who sows and…oh God just trying to remember it all made Flynn's head hurt.

Rapunzel was thoroughly enjoying herself and, although she was a little nervous, finally plucked up the courage to sing a little herself. The thugs were still a little intimidating but Rapunzel realised that just because they could kill her as easily as they could eat one of Atilla's cupcakes didn't mean that they weren't perfectly nice people. Confident that they were all now the best of friends she began to sing-

I've got a dream, I've got a dream

I just want to see the floating lanterns gleam

And with every passing hour

I'm so glad I left my tower

Like all you lovely folks I've got a dream

Rapunzel guessed she must have done well because everyone applauded and continued with the song. Hook hand himself, who she thought might be the leader of the thugs, gave her a beaming smile which was very encouraging; despite the fact it exposed his rather frightening lack of teeth.

Flynn was still looking on, rather unimpressed. That said, he had enjoyed Rapunzel's song. She had a wonderful voice and it reminded him of the time he had heard her sing from inside her tower. But otherwise he was hating every second of it and wanted to get his satchel and leave and never come back never ever. I'll use this time to plan, thought Flynn. Whilst they're all distracted singing their stupid little song I'll come up with ways to get Blondie to give me my satchel back. Simple. He looked at her. She was very sweet dancing around with all the thugs like they were just normal people. It was very innocent of her.

'Wait, 'normal people'?' thought Eugene. 'They're thugs and I'm a thief- is there really too much difference?'

'Er duh, of course there is. You're Flynn Rider- the dashing, handsome and charming rogue whilst they're uneducated, ugly thugs,' responded Flynn.

'This is what the Stabbington Brother was talking about when the eye patched one- Jon- died,' countered Eugene. 'He said 'You've always hated us, because we're not pretty like you. Not well refined and eloquent. You were always an arrogant one.' What if he's right?'

'Oh he's not right- what does he know anyway?' came back Flynn.

Eugene paused a second and then said in a confused tone 'Wait- am I having a conversation with myself?'

'Yep,' said Flynn.

'Oh dear, I've finally cracked,' thought Eugene.

Eugene wasn't given any further time to contemplate his impending madness however as he was grabbed by Hook Hand and asked-

'What's your dream?'

Oh shit, thought Eugene- how do I play this? Flynn would know. What would Flynn do? Cocky, just go with cocky.

'Oh I'm sorry boys- I don't sing.'

Eugene was suddenly confronted with about 12 sharpened swords pointing right at his face. Fuck.

I have dreams, like you - no, really!
Just much less touchy-feely
They mainly happen somewhere
warm and sunny
On an island that I own
Tanned and rested and alone
Surrounded by enormous piles of money

The pub thugs then took up a verse themselves singing with all their might

We've got a dream!
So our diff 'rences ain't
really that extreme!
We're one big team...!
Call us brutal -
Sick -
Sadistic –

And grotesquely optimistic

'Cause way down deep inside
We've got a dream!
I've got a dream!
I've got a dream!

The song was coming to a conclusion, Rapunzel felt with the thugs all coming round her in a circle. Singing her heart out with them Rapunzel jumped up on the table and threw her head back-

I've got a dream!

Then all together the thugs and Rapunzel sang:

I've got a dream!
I've got a dream!
I've got a dream!
Yes way down deep
inside, I've got a dream!

Rapunzel collapsed laughing- this was the happiest she had ever been in her life. She felt elated like she could do anything. She felt like running or jumping up and down or just...something- she was so full of energy, so full of life. She sat down on a stool with a contented smile on her face.

Eugene looked across at the happy young girl who was sitting around and joking with the pub thugs. She was positively beaming, her hair was spread all across her face, her chest was heaving as she tried to catch her breath- in short she looked absolutely radiant. Eugene wasn't sure what it was but there was certainly something about pure happiness that made a girl more attractive. Rapunzel saw him looking at her and smiled at him. This in turn made him smile back. She got up and walked across the room.

'Well that was fun!'

'I'm glad you enjoyed yourself blondie.'

'Thanks'

'Your singing was great by the way.'

'You weren't so bad yourself.'

'Aw thanks blondie.'

'You're actually a good singer Flynn- why didn't you want to when they first asked?'

Eugene was taken a little by surprise. He didn't actually know why he didn't like singing. 'I don't know- I feel a little self-conscious I guess. Also, it's not very manly and hey- who's manlier than me?'

'Yeah whatever Flynn. Well you should sing more- maybe we could do a duet some time?'

'Er I don't think so blondie- you ain't anywhere near good enough to sing with me.'

Rapunzel laughed sweetly and simultaneously punched his arm lightly. 'You're a real funny guy Flynn.'

Suddenly, the door opened and Grenno burst through it.

'I've got the guards.'

Eugene, quick as a flash, grabbed Rapunzel and jumped over the counter. Seconds afterwards about 5 guards came in through the door.

'Where's Rider?' demanded the leader of the guards.

As this was all going on Mother Gothel and Walder had been sitting in his room waiting for all the noise to die down. However, as soon as Rapunzel started singing, Gothel recognised the voice and started up.

'Rapunzel!' Gothel cried.

'What is it?' asked Walder.

'My daughter! That's my daughter's voice!' replied Gothel frantically.

'Are you sure?'

'Certain.'

Exiting the room the two of them made their way down the stairs until they could see into the main tavern area. There, in the centre of it, stood Rapunzel accompanied by the man Gothel had seen in the woods earlier. Gothel's heart was pounding. Had he kidnapped her? Or was she leaving Gothel forever? Gothel reached into the folds of her cloak and drew out a dagger. She wasn't giving up her flower without a fight…

So thanks for reading. Yes I did change parts of the song around (e.g. Rapunzel singing before Flynn) but I thought it worked that way. Anyway, let me know what you think and any ideas for how you feel this should develop- leave a review please. Anyway thanks!