Epilogue: One month later...
Jasmine set a vase of flowers on a small table below the window and took in their aroma one more time before looking outside at the yard. It was a decent-sized back yard that led straight to the forest behind the house. Jasmine smiled to herself.
After the night when Gothel tried to kill Meg everything happened so quickly. Gothel was arrested and beheaded for killing the prince. Esmeralda and Phoebus ran away together. Rapunzel moved into the palace and invited Meg to stay with her. Rapunzel and Flynn got married and became princess and prince of Maldonia. Jasmine was offered to stay in the palace as well, but she wanted to start a new life with Aladdin. After a lot of insisting from Rapunzel, the council deemed Jasmine to still be part of the royal family and she was given an obscene amount of money. She gave half of it to her brother and then bought a house for herself and Aladdin.
And then there was Jim. After being stabbed, Jim was immediately taken to see Nurse Sarah who, of course, was his mother. She did everything she could and was able to save him. He returned home with her, where he was now currently living. A romance formed between him and Meg. Meg plans on giving her baby to Rapunzel after it's born so it can stay in the royal family and then she and Jim are going to start their own lives together.
"I look ridiculous."
Aladdin's voice brought Jasmine back to the present and she turned away from the window. Aladdin was wearing a black tuxedo with a purple bow tie and purple cummerbund that matched Jasmine's purple gown. Jasmine thought he looked handsome but since he had undoubtedly never dressed up before, she could understand why he thought he looked ridiculous.
"You look great," Jasmine told him before kissing his cheek.
"Are you sure? Today's kind of a big deal and I don't want to look like a jester... or a magician," Aladdin said, eyeing his reflection in the mirror hanging in the hallway.
"You're going to be the most handsome man there."
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Esmeralda took Phoebus' hand as he helped her down from the carriage. They were escorted into the palace and then led to the vast throne room. Two red and gold velvet thrones were on a platform at the front of the room and marble benches were set up in neat rows in front of the platform. The room was already crowded and Esmeralda couldn't help feeling slightly overwhelmed since she had never been around so many royal people at one time. Phoebus, however, couldn't be more calm as they were led down the aisle to their reserved seats. Esmeralda sat down and adjusted her dress before looking around the room.
"Relax, Essie," Phoebus told her. "There's nothing for you to be anxious about. They're just people."
Esmeralda looked at him. "Rich, snobby people who look down their noses at poor people."
Phoebus took Esmeralda's hand in his. "You're not poor anymore, Esmeralda. And you never will be again; that life is behind you now."
Esmeralda smiled at her husband. She hadn't known she needed to be rescued, but in the end that's exactly what Phoebus had done. He took her off the streets, provided for her and took care of her. She no longer had anything to worry about.
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"You look absolutely beautiful," Meg told Rapunzel after she finished adjusting the train on Rapunzel's gown.
"I'm so nervous," Rapunzel admitted.
"I don't blame you," Meg said, stepping beside Rapunzel. "Today's your coronation; you're about to be officially crowned queen."
Rapunzel frowned. "That didn't help."
Meg smiled at her. "You're gonna be fine. All you have to do is sit there while they put a crown on your head." Meg bit her lip. "Hmmm. You'll also probably have to try and keep Flynn awake during the council's ridiculously long speech."
Rapunzel giggled. "He's really having a hard time adjusting to all of this."
"Well, just a few weeks ago Flynn was a Street Rat and now he's about to be a king. It's a big change."
Rapunzel nervously twirled a strand of her hair. "I know how he feels. This is strange for me, too. I don't know anything about ruling a kingdom."
"You'll do great. You'll have the council to help you, as well as Jasmine. And you'll always have the Street Rats; no matter what."
There was a light knock on the door.
"That must be Jim," Meg said. "We'll see you after the coronation."
Rapunzel hugged Meg. "Thank you, Meg."
"You're welcome." Meg gently pulled away. "And I was serious about keeping Flynn awake; he's definitely going to get bored and he will fall asleep."
Rapunzel giggled again and nodded. "I'll keep an eye on him."
Meg gave Rapunzel's arm a reassuring squeeze and then made her way out of the room. Jim was waiting for her in the hallway and he, of course, looked handsome in his all black tuxedo. Meg couldn't help feeling a little frumpy since she was starting to show and there was a slight bulge under her gown now.
"You look stunning," Jim told her, as if he had been reading her mind.
As they walked down to the throne room, all Meg could think about was the fact that she was holding Jim's hand. She never thought she would actually fall in love with Jim Hawkins, especially since she had been so sure she loved Hercules. She been wrong though; she confused her lustful feelings for Hercules as love and didn't truly understand how it felt to love someone until she thought Jim was dead. When she found out he was alive she vowed to never take him for granted again.
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The coronation was a beautiful ceremony. Esmeralda had cried, but all of the Street Rats knew she would. After all, she and Flynn had started this together and now they were both married and starting completely separate lives.
Meg had noticed Rapunzel keep Flynn from falling asleep twice, but she was subtle about it and Meg didn't think anyone else had noticed.
It was now time for the crowning. The Street Rats watched anxiously has Rapunzel and Flynn had fur and velvet robes draped over them and then were each handed scepters. Finally they both had a crown placed on their heads and they slowly stood up.
"I now give you Flynn and Rapunzel Rider; King and Queen of Maldonia."
THE END.
Thank you all so much for reading and reviewing this story! It took me a while to finish this, but I'm happy with the way it turned out. I'm going to be working primarily on my novel and "The Minister's Reign" for now. My updates may be slower than usual since I'm going to be focusing more on my novel, however writer's block does hit and I'll be working on my Disney stories when that happens.
Thanks again!
Meg Rider