Chapter 14
Eugene woke with a start; his chest, face and neck covered in sweat. He shook his head. It was a new dream, a different one than he had been having. Eugene was running from the guards in his old one, trying to get away from them capturing him. It was funny, each time the guards were about to catch up with him, he woke up.
This one was different and it scared him. He had gone back to his thieving days; had to for some reason, but this time Rapunzel was at his side. It was a temporary deal, only something that he would have to do once, but the guards weren't after him this time. No, something else was trailing them, something that they couldn't see or touch. It was getting closer, whatever was chasing them, but Eugene couldn't put a finger on it.
There was something screaming inside his head. Give it back; give it back. It had gotten so close that he could feel it breathing down his neck. Rapunzel urged him onward, but he was tired, tired of running. He couldn't keep up anymore and he stopped.
Rapunzel called his name again, but it was no use. She tried to get him to move, but he wouldn't budge. Eugene could feel it approach and he told himself not to freak out, but it was no use. He was too tired to move, despite Rapunzel's urging. He had no choice, but to wait, wait until it caught up to him.
And right before it came for him, he screamed.
"Eugene?" The voice was far away,
Eugene sat upright. Manny was poking him. "Let's go, Your Highness, the Royal family is waiting."
Eugene frowned at the new name. When did that start? He'd question Manny later.
"Everyone is going?"
Manny nodded. "His Majesty thought it would be better if the Queen goes as well."
"Rapunzel could be a great help as well," the King voice boomed as he entered Eugene's bed chamber.
Eugene smiled and nodded. He had to agree.
XXXXX
"Where are they, Tara? I need those journals."
Tara looked up. She wasn't doing well, her light was slowly disappearing. She couldn't signal the others anymore; her strength was leaving her.
"I don't know what you're talking about, Morgana."
"I know you gave them to her, Tara. Eugene and Rapunzel sat there pouring through those books."
Tara looked up and smiled at her. "You told them there was nothing in there, Morgana or should I call you Mother Gothel."
"That horrid name, I hated it. Who was I the mother of anyway? That was long ago."
"They needed someone, Gothel. You were there for them. We were there for them. We helped you, we appointed your family as Guardians and what did you do?"
"I tried cuttings, I stole the seeds. I tried any way I could to duplicate your "child," but nothing happened. Then the Queen got sick and they took my child away from me. I need a replacement, Tara and I took the princess as revenge."
Tara shook her head. "They didn't steal the Fairy Flower, Gothel. We gave it to them. We appointed them as Guardians and gave them the power. We preserved it in that little girl. She was supposed to be our salvation, Gothel, not our ruin."
"I raised her and protected her. I taught her to read and write, to solve problems and do sums. I loved her as if she were my own. And what did I do wrong anyway, Tara. I asked you to make her immortal, to preserve her forever and ever, so that she might live among you…"
Tara smiled and shook her head. "You really do know how to lie, don't you? You've had great practice. Well, Gothel, you might have thought she was yours after a while, but you always knew deep down inside that you couldn't keep her forever. This whole story you've got going isn't going to work; never did. Why do you think we took the power away from you? You can haunt Eugene all you want, but it's not him you have to worry about. There's someone else, Gothel, someone who knows as much as you do. It's too bad we couldn't take you down when we got rid of that old water tower you and your "daughter" called home."
"You know darn well that you can't take someone's spirit down with you, Tara. You don't really need her; do you, Your Highness?"
Tara looked at her. "We need a human, Gothel. We can't fight you. Look at what you've done to Morgana. Our numbers are dwindling and we don't have enough to fight you. You may think you've won, but your days are coming to an end, my dear. Remember, what goes around…"
She stopped and listened, then turned to Morgana. "They're coming, Gothel. I'm sure you can feel them. And you won't stop them, not this time."
Morgana laughed. "You and what army, Tara? You're light is fading and the fairy power is disappearing fast."
The sound of voices and horse's hooves were getting closer. Tara smiled weakly. Gothel's spirit was right. She was losing time and getting weaker. Her plan needed to be executed and soon.
And she knew that the Tara and her friends had selected the right people to fit this puzzle together.
And finish off Gothel's spirit once and for all.
XXXXX
The horses made their way quietly and slowly into Fairy Country. Hopefully, Eugene thought, they'd get there in time and hopefully, Gothel's spirit would be gone. If that didn't happen, then he and Rapunzel would have to take care of the rest. He was sure he did the right thing, despite the fact that he didn't get to see the old journal and burned the others. What he found out was not from books, but by overhearing Gothel's voice in his ear.
But there was someone else who was coaching him, someone else directing him.
But Eugene knew himself who would finally defeat Gothel's spirit and he was looking forward seeing it happen.