OH MY GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOBER! D:
lol...I'm the most terrible person on the planet... :S
Not only did I not update IN FOREVER, but my last update was sent out just as a notice for AskRobert (which, by the way, is another thing I haven't updated in FOREVER D':) and I'm afraid I might have built up a bunch of people's hopes for nothing with the alert on that. I just want to apologize SO DEEPLY to you guys for that, and assure you that, yes, this is an update, at last. A real update. Chapter 25. A bit shorter than usual and also not as amazing as I'd have liked it to be, but it's just...Gah. I don't know. I've just been really out of it recently.
But that's no excuse. I know you guys are probably really upset with me for not updating for THE LONGEST TIME, but you guys have every right to be mad. There's nothing wrong with that. I just want to let you know that I apologize, even though that doesn't really change the uber long period of waiting for you guys. But if it means anything, I really AM sorry. Feel free to pulverize me with juggling clubs, harpoon guns, frying pans, or any other weapon of your choice.
But before I go into this chappie, I just want to thank you guys for being SO INCREDIBLE. I've had people PM me asking me how I've been doing, and even check up on me on DeviantArt. I was simply touched that you guys took the time to think of me... :') I'd wondered if you guys even remembered this story (and I) existed anymore, seeing as I've been M.I.A. for so long.
Alright, this author's note needs to end, like, now, but let me state just a few more facts that I NEED to let you know.
1. This story IS going to get finished. No doubt. Don't worry about that for a second.
2. There are about two more chapters left after this.
3. AskRobert is going to take a bit to respond (it's taken a bit to correspond the art with the questions) but I'm still accepting questions. Thank you all for the ones you've submitted! They've just made my day! (And whoever asked, "Are you possessed?" Um, you're amazing. Just sayin'.)
4. I'm still accepting fanart, though I certainly don't deserve any... :/ Thanks for all the ones that have been submitted-You guys are just incredible.
5. I'll still looking at all your reviews. Still loving them. Still loving you guys. From the bottom of my heart. Thank you.
OH! AND I ALMOST FORGOT! HYT! HYT! ATRM WAS FEATURED ON HYT! SO MANY ACRONYMS! CELEBRATION! WHOOOOOOO! *Flies around with derpy grin on her face, only to crash into a telephone pole.* Ow...
But yeah...Guess who cried legit tears when that happened? Thank you SO much, Lucy in the Sky with Dimonds (GO READ SOME OF HER STUFF! :D) for submitting that to them! GAH! You're just-you're just...Come here. *HUGS*
I'm gonna stop rambling now...
"Let's make this...TRANSPIRE!"
Me: WILL MAKING OF STEALING TANGLED NOW!
Disney Worker: Wait, what?
Me: *grabs Tangled rights* MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHHAHAHA IS STEALING OF DOCUMENT OF CURRENT! IS BYEING OF YOU! :D
Disney Worker: *PULLS OUT MAGICAL LIGHTSABER OF DESTINY AND SLICES MY ARM OFF, FREEING THE TANGLED DOCUMENT* Dude...you know in the like, bajillion years you've been gone, our security technology has advanced by like, a thousand percent, right?
Me: :'( Is sadly.
I DOES NOT OWNING OF TANGLED! :[ ]
P.S., The chapter song to chapter 25 is "Just a Kiss" by Lady Antebellum! Well, um, that's just the first half. The second half...eh...I have no clue. :P
Tomorrow…
Tomorrow, Rapunzel reflected, everything would make sense again. Tomorrow, everything would become, as her parents called it, "official," and everything would go back to exactly the way things should have been all along. Tomorrow, everything would be perfect.
The only problem was waiting that long.
Seated, comfortably perched upon the squishy layer of covers at the edge of her bed, the princess absentmindedly swung her dangling legs back and forth, like a pendulum to the clock that seemed to be refusing to move. At her side was Pascal, who seemed to be staring intently at the wall but in reality was probably thinking about nothing in particular. Rapunzel, however, had only one thing on her mind. Those near 24 hours of waiting…
Tomorrow, they would go before the council—Not just the King and Queen this time, but Rapunzel, Eugene…All of them, her parents made sure of that. They'd waited long enough to speak their cases, and now they'd finally get the chance. Now that Robert was gone, things would definitely change. Sure, during his post-injury ranting Robert had announced that he was planning on abolishing the marriage law in Crepacuore, but that ridiculous royal marriage law was still firm in Corona. And even though Rapunzel was overjoyed that Lord of the Marshmallows wouldn't end up being her prospective groom, there was still only one person she wished would fill that now-empty slot. And that couldn't happen as long as that stupid law was around.
But all that would change…tomorrow.
But why does tomorrow have to be so far away? Rapunzel asked herself, letting out an exasperated sigh. Sure, it was nighttime as she sat there, meditating, but still, their meeting with the council would occur not even the next morning, but next afternoon. She wondered why time always seemed slower when one was looking forward to something. If an hour was still an hour, why did it seem like a year…?
Still lost in thought, the princess found herself absentmindedly stroking at the golden locket at her neck. After all the chaos that had occurred, it was a wonder that she had still managed to keep hold of it. As she felt the chill of the gold under her fingertips, memories came flooding back to her brain, as if the mere touch of the locket opened a gateway to her mind. A river of images flowed through Rapunzel's psyche of him—Eugene—their moments in the courtyard, dancing in the square, even moments before this whole Robert fiasco had occurred. She prayed that tomorrow's appeal would only lead to more of those memories made, if everything was successful…
Gosh, couldn't time go any faster?
"You're just in your own little world over there, aren't you?"
The sudden voice gave Rapunzel a near heart attack, and she whirled around with a jolt to spot Eugene, back propped against the doorway of her room, arms crossed as he grinned slyly at her. Rapunzel smiled, relieved it was just him, as she attempted to catch her breath.
"Oh, my gosh, Eugene!" she gasped. "You scared me!"
"I'm sorry," he apologized playfully, looking jokingly as if he'd been offended. "Am I that scary? I had no idea!"
Rapunzel giggled, rolling her eyes. Eugene grinned back at her; however, he still remained in the doorway. After a wordless moment, he then cleared his throat and gestured to the room before him. "So…May I come in, your royal majesty?"
Rapunzel smirked at him, playing along. "I dunno…That 'royal majesty' line sounded an awful lot like something you-know-who would say…"
"Well, hodgepodge to that!" Eugene's voice immediately shot up in pitch as he strode into the room, and Rapunzel could barely keep herself from bursting into hysterical laughter at Eugene's imitation of Robert's accent. "How could you not allow me, Prince Robert, sovereign Lord of the Marshmallows, entrance into your room? Why, you treat that no-good petty little Fitzherbert man like a king compared to how you treat me! But I guess I can't blame you—He is, after all, undeniably far more amazing than I, and not to mention, about a million times more devilishly handsome…Oh, well—Tally-ho, pip-pip, malarkey, and snickerdoodles and all that jazz…"
By now, the princess was doubled over in laughter, tears beginning to spring to her eyes. Eugene was sitting at her side on the bed, abandoning his Robert demeanor as he smirked at her, gently rubbing her back.
"Easy, Blondie…Caaaaaaaaalllllm down," he chuckled in disbelief as the princess still continued, face red with laughter. "Oh, my gosh, Rapunzel, breathe!"
Finally, the princess recovered from her bout of uncontrollable laughter, and she took in a deep breath as she wiped away the remaining tears from her green eyes. In the back of her mind, she thought about how it had been so long since she had cried due to happiness…Gosh, it was one of the most amazing feelings ever, after everything they'd both had to endure…
"So, seriously," Eugene grinned. "What was going on in that pretty little head of yours before I scared the daylights out of you?"
"Oh," the princess let out a sigh. "I was just…thinking."
"I figured that much."
Rapunzel smiled ever so slightly and then stared down at her feet. "No, I was just…I'm just driving myself crazy thinking about tomorrow."
"The council?"
Rapunzel nodded. "The anticipation is killing me."
"Well," Eugene said, letting out a breath as he plopped casually backwards onto the bed, nearly landing on Pascal, whom he smiled at apologetically as the little reptile let out a squeak. He crossed his arms behind his head and crossed his legs, grinning casually at Rapunzel. "Worrying about it isn't gonna do much of anything, now is it? Blondie, what you need to do is be more laid-back…Like me."
"Oh, yes," Rapunzel rolled her eyes, jabbing a finger playfully into his stomach, "the world would be a much better place if everyone acted just like you."
"Precisely," Eugene's grin just grew wider as he closed his eyes, even kicking his boots off for a more casual effect. "You just need to think positive, Blondie—With Snobbert gone, what point does the council have to even keep that rule anymore?"
"And of course that makes sense," Rapunzel nodded, "to everyone but the council, it seems. I mean, think about it—Think about all the decisions they've made since this whole marriage situation came up! I don't mean to be rude or anything, but it seems like none of the choices they've gone through with were especially sensible…It seems like they wouldn't even take a second to put themselves in my shoes. All they could focus on was keeping me from you…" With a sigh of exasperation, she shut her eyes and plopped backwards on the bed, right next to Eugene. "I just don't know. I guess I can't help being anxious about it."
"Well, you just need to look on the bright side," Rapunzel could feel Eugene shift slightly beside her, though her eyes were still closed. "If all goes well tomorrow, which it will," another shift, and suddenly, his breath was tickling her ear. She gasped ever so slightly, not expecting it, but then smiled contentedly. She'd missed having him that close. "I'm going to end up marrying the bravest, smartest, sweetest, most beautiful girl in the world."
Rapunzel opened one eye and smirked mischievously at him. "Now, whoever said I was planning on marrying you?"
Eugene made a noise that was a cross between a gasp and a chuckle. "Ohhh, Blondie…Now that was cold."
Rapunzel closed her eye again with a satisfied giggle. It was always so much fun teasing him.
WHAM!
The princess's eyes flew open as a squashy but violently blunt force slammed unexpectedly against her face, and, still caught completely off-guard, she shot upward to spot Eugene sitting up beside her, a large purple bed-pillow gripped in his hands and a broad smile painted on his face.
"Couldn't resist," Eugene shrugged.
His comment was promptly replied by a pink pillow colliding with his jaw.
Within seconds the two of them were engaged in a semi-vicious duel to the death, a crescendo of shouts, squeals, laughter, and slams of pillows sounding from every which way. In fact, there was so much chaos going on that Rapunzel resorted to swinging blindly, trying her best to defend herself from the stuffed projectiles being flung at her everywhere she looked. So caught up in the battle, she was completely caught off guard as a pair of arms shot out and wrapped around her waist, and she let out yet another squeal as Eugene tumbled with her through the flurry of pillows, knocking half of them off the bed as she thrashed wildly.
"Eugene—Eugene, let me go!" she shouted, nearly kneeing him in the stomach.
"Not until you take back that last comment!" he half-chuckled, half-grunted, as it was difficult to keep a flailing eighteen-year old girl in one's arms for more than a brief period of time.
"And why—" Rapunzel grunted, still struggling with a huge grin on her face. "Should I do that—" Suddenly, her flailing fist slammed against Eugene's nose, and she let out a gasp as he quickly released her, his hand flying to his nose. "Oh, my gosh! Oh, my gosh…I'm so sorry—Are you ok?"
"You should do it," Eugene chuckled, grinning as he rubbed at his injury, "because you just assaulted my poor nose. You owe me."
"Well, you assaulted Robert's nose," Rapunzel pointed out. "Does that mean you owe him, too?"
The look on Eugene's face in response to that was priceless.
Rapunzel giggled and fell back on top of him, smiling. "Besides, you cheated. You deserved that bop in the nose."
"Oh, did I?" Eugene grinned roguishly at her from over her shoulder. "Princess, you should know by now—All's fair in love and war."
Rapunzel turned over so she was still lying on his chest, but now face to face with him. "I think I like love better."
"I agree, Blondie…I most definitely agree."
Rapunzel barely even heard what he said, as her eyes had already locked on his. She was lost in their glistening amber depths, being swept closer to him by the shimmering affection within them…
And before she knew it, her lips were right against his.
Eugene welcomed the kiss almost immediately, and Rapunzel's eyes closed with pleasure. Her hands subconsciously wrapped around his neck, pulling him closer, and she felt herself floating as his strong arms found their place around her waist. Second by second, the kiss intensified, and pretty soon, she felt his tongue brush her lips, pleading for entry. The princess allowed it, and her heart soared as she felt the passion surge through her like a lightning bolt. Oh, gosh, she had never had a kiss like this before…
She hardly even noticed as his hands began travelling along the curves of her hips, but heck, she didn't mind. Lost in this moment, just him, and her…Pure magic…
Suddenly, the hands around her waist abruptly went stiff, and for some reason, his lips didn't seem to be cooperating as much anymore. Rapunzel still continued, her heart and mind still submerged in all that was going on; so much, so, that the incoherent mumble from Eugene did nothing to stop her.
"Mmmft—" it came, quiet at first, and then again, just piercing ever so slightly through the princess's senses. "Rapumfptzel—"
She didn't quite understand what he was doing, but Rapunzel was too love-struck to notice…Oh, gosh…
"Ra—Rapunzel!"
Suddenly, he drew back as far as he could, and the princess stopped in surprise, jolting backwards herself. Her heart sank as she looked at him, as he did not look very happy, rather, concerned. The princess, however, was purely confused.
"W—What's wrong?" Rapunzel asked timidly, sure she had done something wrong. D—Did he not like kissing her, or something…?
Eugene immediately seemed to read her thoughts, because he quickly shook his head. "No, no Blondie, it's not you. It's just…" he let out a sigh. "We can't, ok? Not right now."
"Can't? Can't what?"
"We just…" Eugene looked away for a second, and then let out yet another sigh, looking back to gaze seriously into her eyes. "I don't want to be another Robert."
"What?" Rapunzel gasped in disbelief, shaking her head that Eugene would even compare himself to someone as lowly as Robert. "What on earth are you talking about? Eugene, you're nothing like Robert! Whatever makes you think—"
"Just, not right now, Blondie," Eugene stopped her with another shake of the head. "I'm sorry. I would have loved to continue, but…It just doesn't feel appropriate right now. And I know appropriateness isn't always at the top of my head, just…Ugh." He looked deep in thought for a second, as if mapping out his sentences in his mind. "Look, let's just wait until after tomorrow, ok? After we get an answer, after this all settles down…"
"But, why?" Rapunzel asked, Eugene's explanation giving her no clues.
"Well, I just don't want this to lead to something else…" Eugene mumbled, biting his lip.
"Something else? Like what?"
The young man looked away, as if his response to this had been completely yanked out from his train of thought. Finally, he looked back at her, tenderly brushing a lock of hair behind her ear.
"Just…trust me, ok?"
As much as the princess's curiosity was begging for her to press on, he had asked her to trust him, and she was going to respect that. "O—Ok."
"But, hey," Eugene directed her face towards his, his playful, familiar grin creeping right back on his face. "Don't think for a second it was you. To be honest, I quite enjoyed it."
Rapunzel smiled. "You weren't too bad yourself, Fitzherbert."
"Y'know," Eugene groaned as he lazily stretched, and Rapunzel scooted off of him so he could sit up next to her. "After tomorrow, I'm not going to be the only Fitzherbert around here."
"No, you're not, are you?" Rapunzel smiled, staring off into space, as she hadn't thought of that before. Rapunzel Fitzherbert. As much as everybody had teased Eugene for that name as a child, the princess couldn't think of a more wonderful one to accompany her own.
Shifting so he could be comfortable, Eugene put a tender arm around Rapunzel's shoulder, which she responded to by snuggling even closer to him. It was like that they sat, as they had those many dark nights in the jail cell, although this time they were surrounded by regal curtains and gorgeous castle walls. But to Rapunzel, it didn't really matter. Anywhere with him was perfect.
Suddenly, the young woman let out a small yawn, and Eugene rubbed her shoulder, smiling softly in return.
"But I think this Fitzherbert needs to get to sleep," he chuckled. "It's been a long day of recovering, and waiting, and pulverizing boyfriends with pillows…"
Rapunzel giggled as Eugene stood up from the bed, still continuing.
"…Not to mention, watching macho men bash snobby princes in the nose…"
"Just give me a hug, you goofball."
"With pleasure," Eugene smiled, and Rapunzel crawled over to him on the bed, propping herself up on her knees so she could hug him. He embraced her tenderly, kissing the top of her forehead gently. "I love you."
"I love you more."
"I love you most."
With one last affectionate brush of her hair, Eugene walked to the doorway, turning to face her with a smile one last time before he left.
"Oh, and by the way," he added with a grin, "love the locket."
Rapunzel giggled slightly as she closed the door, rearranging the crazy mess of pillows back on her bed and finally nestling herself under the covers. Pascal, who had scurried to the safety of her nightstand by her bed, teasingly raised his eyebrows at her.
"Oh, stop it," the princess chuckled, playfully brushing him off. The chameleon's gesture only sent her mind back racing to the intimate encounter only a few minutes before, and the sheer thought of it made her heart practically melt inside of her chest. Even though the whole improperness of the whole situation had cut their special moment short, Rapunzel hoped with all her heart and soul that after the appeal tomorrow, they could be lost in moments like that for the rest of their magical time together.
And as she closed her eyes, drifting off into slumber, only one thought crossed through her mind.
Rapunzel Fitzherbert…
Yes, that had a very nice ring to it.
O-O-O-O-O
"Now, settle down, everyone, let's let this meeting come to order…So we can get back to some of our more important business."
The look the curly-haired, mustached councilman gave Eugene at those words was enough to make Rapunzel's skin crawl.
The moment had finally arrived—The council meeting. And as much as she had been looking forward to it, Rapunzel was starting to have a few second thoughts about her appeal. After all, if she had known she was going to feel like a tiny bug surrounded by dozens of frogs of council-people…At least she had Eugene's hand to hold, as much as it seemed to upset the council members if she dared even looked at him, let alone held his hand.
"Now, your majesties," the same councilman that had spoken previously now directed his words to Rapunzel's parents. "Since the departure of the prince of Crepacuore, it's been in the council's best interests to discuss the punishment—"
"We're not here to discuss punishment," King Edward stated promptly. "We're here to discuss my daughter, if that's all right with you."
The curly-haired man looked baffled for a moment, and then hesitantly sat back down. Rapunzel looked at the King with gratitude, thankful that the father that she had only had for but a few months was standing up for her in this way.
"This law," Queen Amelia was the one that spoke now, holding up a huge law book open to a specific page—Rapunzel was certain it was the marriage law, "is what we've called this meeting to speak about. Prince Robert is gone. And with it, we believe the law should be, too."
"Just because the law was abolished in Crepacuore," a sturdily built councilman with short-cut grey hair stated, "does not mean that we should automatically discard it here. That was a Crepacuorian matter, Prince Robert's own doing, and has nothing to do with—"
"It has everything to do with us!" Queen Amelia broke in. "I'm not sure if you all have noticed, but all the tortures our daughter's had to endure for the past few weeks have been due to this rule. She's been abused, both verbally and nearly physically by your so-called 'suitor', suffered a massive bout of depressive behavior, and was even kidnapped and nearly killed because your 'fitting prince' was nothing but a pathetic coward!"
Rapunzel was stunned and amused at the same time. Her mother usually didn't throw around demeaning words like that, but for Robert, Rapunzel felt it was perfectly fitting.
"If I recall correctly," the grey-haired man continued, "your highness, you were the one who chose the suitor, and even so, despite all these transgressions by Prince Robert, you would rather have a criminal—"
"Don't call him a criminal!"
Rapunzel froze as all eyes in the room snapped to her, including those of the very perturbed council-people. The contempt in their gazes was enough to make her immediately fall silent, that is, until Eugene gave her hand a comforting squeeze.
"He—He didn't do anything wrong," Rapunzel continued, mustering up as much courage as she could. "Sure, before coming to the castle, he was a thief. We all know that. But can't you see he's changed? And besides, he has been punished! Did you guys hear about his—"
"Whipping? Yes, we've been informed," the curly-haired mustached man said disdainfully, apparently regaining his confidence seeing as he was simply speaking with an eighteen-year-old, albeit a princess. "But that was not our decision; therefore we cannot take the blame for—"
"I'm not blaming you," Rapunzel shook her head, "but that's all you ever seem to do to Eugene! Blame, blame, blame—You blame him for everything! You blamed him for the crown that he didn't even steal. You wouldn't even take my word for it that it was all a misunderstanding! Why can't you just put his past aside for a moment and please…Just, please look at him for who he really is? He—He saved my life, after all! Multiple times now. You can't just toss that all aside."
The council fell silent for a moment, a few members muttering amongst themselves.
"Listen to her," King Edward nodded. "She knows what she's talking about." The older man then smiled softly at his daughter, who returned the expression, newfound confidence surging through her.
The murmuring went on a little bit longer, and a shimmer of hope flashed through Rapunzel. Perhaps…perhaps this was a good sign? Suddenly, one of the council members rose to their feet.
"I…um, hate to point it out…" the one that stood, an older woman with an extremely tight grey bun, spoke up. "But, from what we've observed, it seems the King and Queen are showing a bias towards this situation."
Rapunzel's face immediately fell.
"Which, might I add, is mentioned in that very book," the curly haired, mustached man mentioned smugly, gesturing to the Queen's law book. "It plainly says, if a bias is evident, the council is free to overrule the monarchy in some cases…"
"Which reminds me," a bald man with beady eyes added, "we haven't decided on Fitzherbert's punishment for attacking the prince of Crepacuore."
"What?" Rapunzel immediately shrieked, and all the livid glares in the room snapped to her once again.
"We only work for justice, princess," a tall man with a nose like a crow's beak said.
"Justice? Justice is fair!" Rapunzel screamed. "This isn't fair at all!"
"This is an outrage!" King Edward joined in, his wife furiously drilling a hole through the council member with her eyes.
"What is wrong with you?" Queen Amelia cried out. "He saved my daughter! Why can't you get that through your heads?"
"I…I guess…" the tall, crow-nosed man shrugged. "We could take that into account…"
Oh, really? Rapunzel thought, but the council members were already debating amongst themselves, too engrossed to notice her furious eyes. Finally, after what seemed like forever, they ended muttering amongst themselves, and turned to face the royal figures, the princess, and Eugene.
"Fine," the curly-haired man said through gritted teeth, "We've decided Rider's been through punishment enough."
"Fitzherbert," Rapunzel spat, still disgusted with them.
"And the law?" Queen Amelia asked.
The whole room fell dead silent, and it seemed as if every individual in the room simultaneously held their breath. Suddenly, the mustached man's disdainful face morphed into one of superior satisfaction, and Rapunzel's heart dropped into her stomach at the sight of it.
"Let's not get too pushy, now, shall we?" he added. "Ri…Fitzherbert is free to go. I suggest you take advantage of that. And as for you, Princess," he turned, his grin sickening, to the gaping-mouth princess. "I suppose we can find you a new suitor by the end of the week…How does that sound?"
The councilman's only reply was the vicious slam of the throne-room doors, as the princess had already bolted furiously from the room.
The ending seems...Abrupt. Nyeh.
Oh, well. I hope you enjoyed it, nonetheless. No review replies, I'm sorry-I've gotten a BAJILLION for the last chapter. But I still want to say I appreciate you guys' reviews SO much. Thanks for sticking with me through all the waiting... :') You don't know how much that means to me!
More soon! Thanks again!
Luv ya!
-Sheep1215