Alright guys, I'm back with the most awaited chapter. Last chapter had upset all of you, I know. I haven't heard from most of you. I missed you guys. Where are you? And new readers.. you're really welcome.

Actually it would be posted on Thursday, 8th March on my birthday but I've to post it earlier because on that day some of my friends invited me on a boat ride & see the floating lantern festival. Actually it's will be in Old Dhaka (I live in New Dhaka) & it's an aboriginal festival. This floating lantern festival is much alike to the lantern festival in Tangled & I wished to see it always. So my friends decided to give this trip as gift on my birthday. Wish me luck. :D

I don't know if you're still reading it or not. But I had to leave you in a mist that I created intentionally. Because I have more twist in reserve. Now it's time to reveal all the secrets.

NOTE: A few changes were made in the previous chapter to make the story more reasonable. It was rewritten. So a few part of the chapter 27 is added to its beginning.

Reviews are welcome as always. Review replies will come in the next chapter.

The chapter song is 'Perhaps love' by John Denver.

The Corona was burning outside. The Naldorian soldiers invaded the capital. And they were playing with the blood of innocent Corona citizens. Their cries made the cold night air heavy. Their blood painted the roads into bright red. And the fire had painted the dark sky into bright scarlet.

And his angel was lying dead in his arms. She was gone; his dreams were burnt into ashes.

Last time when he died her tears brought him back to life. But what could heal his flower? He had no magic tear or healing hair to heal her. The flower died with her hair. Then how he could bring her back to life? She was too young, to innocent to die. She never deserved this end.

His world was dark without her. He could never exist in her absence.

Or possibly there was a way. He could still remember the remnant of the healing flower brought him back to life from the hanging. Possibly the magic hadn't died yet. But where could the magic live? In his blood? Possibly.

So he needed to sacrifice himself for her.

He made his decision.

He pulled out the dagger from her body. Her blood had turned the silver blade into murderous red. But still the thirst was unsatisfied.

He didn't feel the pain as the dagger passed through his heart.

He collapsed beside his lovely angel.

The river of his blood flowed to join the sea of her blood creating a small pool around them.

The darkness of the night was fading outside. The sun was rising.

But none of the couple lived to see the glorious sunrise.

()()()

The eastern sky was painted with murderous red. The fire of that engulfed Corona had burnt out leaving only the ashes behind. And the morning sun was shining over the ruin of the once prosperous kingdom.

The soldiers from the opponent kingdom were clearly divided into two parts. One group joined Queen Rubina in establishing peace while the others took part in this deathly game following the order of their master Prince Eltor. When the palace fell, they came out from their hideouts like thousands of insects. They began their deathly game- killing innocent people, bathing with their blood, taking away the dignities of the helpless women. None of Corona was ready for this sudden attack. But only a few men walked forward. Hookhand's murdering axe was bathed in the blood of enemies. Bruiser was lying on the ground, injured among many other citizens' of Corona. Killer and Bruiser were trying their best to help the injured people around. Most of the enemy soldiers were lying dead on the ground while few others were roaming around like lost children with the news of death of their master. Big nose was carrying his girlfriend Maria gently. The poor girl was still unconscious. Her clothes were torn into millions of pieces. 'Poor dear!' Vladimir gently coved her with his clock.

'Everything changed so suddenly.' A big sigh escaped from Hookhand's mouth 'Our beautiful kingdom is nothing but a ruin.' The painful moaning of the people- men, women or children around had laden the morning air. 'Probably they killed our king & queen too.' Killer's eyes were blurred with tears.

()()()

'Rupert, I'm afraid!' Queen Anne's arms encircled her husband's body. 'Everything will be alright!' The king pulled his wife closer trying to console her. 'How are you feeling now, Anne?' He gently touched her lips. But instead he could taste the salty tears running along her cheeks. 'Anne!' he tried to touch the scratches all over her body. But he couldn't. Strange unbearable pains shoot from his broken arms to his brain. 'Anne!' he whispered. But he couldn't hear her voice again. He couldn't see her face. It was pitch black in this underground cell. A strange dump smell had laden the air. There was no window to see outside, only the coldness of the stone floor was pricing their bodies. Had he ever imagined rotting in a underground cell like that?

He could hear her silent sob. He didn't try to console her. The soldiers had taken away her dignity leaving her bleeding just before his eyes. The old king could do nothing for his wife except watching helplessly. He tried to stop them, they twisted his arms painfully. A cracking sound- he knew his bones were shuttered into pieces.

Now they were living out of this world, in a dark gloomy cell. No one would ever find them. 'What will they do with us?' At last Anne's voice broke this painful silence. "Probably they'll execute us in public.' King Rupert tried to smile 'But Anne its lot better than living like this.'

'But Rupert!' Anne's voice was harsh. There was a strange fear that was chocking her. 'What will happen to our daughter? Will they execute her too?'

Rupert couldn't answer. He didn't know or he didn't want to think about the possible fate of their daughter.

Then a strange metallic click at the door startled the grieving royalties. 'Your highnesses!' a voice spoke 'Are you here?'

Both the king & the queen's head shot up with the voice. It was very familiar. 'Captain!' both of them said together.

'Come on' King Rupert felt the captain's strong arms helping her to stand. Another soldier gently carried Queen Anne out of the dark underground cell. She was still bleeding heavily. Only a few traces of cloths were left on her body. She collapsed on the ground as they walked into the freedom of the garden outside. The cold morning air was soothing their bodies. 'My queen!' Lady Emlyn rushed near the fallen queen & covered her dignity with her own cloak. The captain settled the injured king on the softness of the garden grass. He took a deep breath in the fresh morning air which was still pungent with the smell of blood. He looked around him. The joint army of Corona & a part of Naldorian army surrounded them. But he couldn't see a familiar face among them. 'Captain, where's my daughter?' he threw a questioning glance at his subordinate.

Queen Anne's emerald eyes were scanning the crowd around her. She was still very weak & lady Emlyn's arms were still supporting her. The maids of the castle had gathered to nurse their queen. They were whispering comforting words in her ears. But her eyes were watching nothing. Her ears weren't hearing anything. But she was searching for one face- the face of her daughter. But she wasn't anywhere. A fear began consuming her mind. Her little hands clutched Emlyn's gown 'Where's my daughter?'

But neither Emlyn nor the captain said anything.

Another figure appeared behind her from inside the castle- Queen Rubina. Her brown eyes were full of tears. Queen Anne could read the mother's heart. And she could feel that the same fate was waiting for her.

She stopped asking. A painful silence wrapped them. Everyone now knew what happened.

'Let's go to them.' At last they whispered together. The crowd began their journey to the great hall. The sun was rising behind the grieving crowd.

()()()

The once crowded great hall of Corona castle was strangely silent. The once busy place was incredibly lifeless except some soldier roaming around & murmuring hysterically. The once white marble floor was now painted with bright red with blood of the guests & from the visiting prince.

At one corner a couple was lying together happily. The boy's arms encircled the girl. Their faces were glowing with the purity of true love. They seemed very happy together. Only a small green chameleon was sitting beside them, grieving. There was no life in their bodies. Their blood created a small pool around them.

The first ray of the morning sun peeped through the floor length windows of the great hall flooding the graveyard with his golden light. His warm glow kissed the faces of the lifeless corpse laying on the floor even the monster prince. And the golden glow had created a mysterious pattern over the pool of blood around the happy couple lying together in each other arms. Their crimson blood had turned bright golden into this glorious morning.

And something was growing from the sea of their blood. A flower with thousands of golden petals- the mythical healing flower. It born from the trace of magic left in the blood of the lost princess. It grew stronger as the essence of magic in the blood of the former thief that he gained on the day of his rebirth melted into her blood. Their true love made it alive again. It began to grow larger & larger shining brighter than the sun. The soldiers roaming around stopped at their pace. Its golden glow dazzled their eyes. The flower spread it's thousands of golden tentacles over the lifeless couple turning them into a pair of golden angel. It grew higher & higher spreading the warm glow all over the bodies lying still on the floor, wiping away the traces of blood from the floor. The stained glasses of the windows were stuttered into pieces as the golden flower spread its tentacles outside the small room. The golden glow kissed every single person of the Corona- lying dead & injured here & there replacing their painful moans into a shiny smile. The flower healed their bodies, mended their minds. Bignose watched his girlfriend's battered body turning as new as before. Killer watched his patients standing on their feet as the golden flower touched them.

The grieving crowd reached the foot of the door of the great hall. Suddenly the large wooden doors busted opened & the growing tentacles of the healing flower swirled around them- around King Rupert's broken arms, Queen Anne's battered pale body & around the silent Queen Rubina who was still sobbing silent on her sister's shoulders- healing their bodies, filling their hearts with new hope. The showers of light shoot to the morning sky shining brighter than the sun.

The golden light had faded & the deserted hall was once again turned into the place of living beings. The joint army surrounded the rebellious soldiers as the royalties of two kingdoms & their cohort walked into the great hall.

And the wedding guests watched their rulers walking again among them with their heads high up on the air. No one had any idea what actually happened. They exchanged puzzled look at each other. "How?' the only question they could ask to their companions.

'Your highnesses!' they bowed together as the King & the queen stepped among them. But they didn't say anything. Their eyes were following the last ray of light that surrounded two people at the corner of the room- a pair of happy couple lying in each other's arms. The golden light centered on them & al last it faded inside their bodies.

()()()

Something warm & real bright wrapped him for a long time. He felt the warmth inside him, healing him, filling his inside with a strange sensation of euphoria. He lost his sorrows, his all perception & was thrown into a complete darkness. But now something warm was encircling his neck. Something soft was pressing against his body. He opened his beautiful brown eyes. But it was not dark around him. There was a pair of jewel eyes as green as emerald were watching him. He tried to focus & a face came into his view- an angel face. He saw a smile laced her lips when their eyes met. He saw her lips as red as rose petals moved to shape a word 'Eugene!'

'Rapunzel!' he whispered back. His arms encircled her thin body automatically. He felt her soft body molding in his tight embrace. And they were close- too close. Eugene tried to take his surrounding- the large ornamented walls, the wooden doors. The great hall! So they were alive again, together in this world. 'Eugene!' she breathed his name again & again. 'Rapunzel! My Rapunzel!' he whispered her name. Their lips met in a warm passionate kiss. They didn't care where they were or who was watching them. The world disappeared around them. Time stopped for them, leaving two of them standing behind.

'But how?' Another question crossed their mind. Both of them died. Then how?...A small golden flower lying at the floor caught Rapunzel's eyes. She gently picked it up from the floor. 'Look!' she whispered. Carefully Eugene touched the flower. It was still warm like the sunlight. 'The healing flower!' he whispered back. 'But how it …' he cut off in the middle when Rapunzel pulled him again in another kiss. 'It was born from the magic left in our blood. Our love revived it again for a short while.' She whispered against his lips.

'Ahem!...' a familiar voice interrupted their exchange of emotions. 'May I interfere, children?' a familiar voice spoke from behind. It was Rapunzel who pulled away from the kiss first. 'Father!' she tilted her head to meet the person behind. Her face lit up with a bright smile as well as the rosy tint began appearing on her cheeks. 'Come here, child!' King Rupert's arms were wide open for his lost child. Rapunzel's eyes met Eugene for a moment. He gave her an affirmative nod. And she flew in her father's arms. 'Father!' her lean body was trembling with joy. King Rupert buried his aged face into the mess of the brown hair of his daughter 'I've done many wrongs with you, child. Can you ever forgive me?' those words made Rapunzel freeze in his embrace. She tilted her head to meet her father's blue eyes. Her eyes were full of tears. 'Yes father.' She whispered.

"Promise that you'll always be with us.' Queen Anne joined this happy reunion. Her tears were soaking her cloak. 'Yes mother.' Rapunzel spread another arm to hug her mother. The happy family collapsed together on the floor again.

The audience busted into applause.

()()()

Eugene watched the happy family, reunited together. A big sigh escaped from his mouth. Eighteen years ago- another pair of strong arms of his father hugged him tightly. The soft touch of his mother took away the pain of his scratches. The sweet lullaby of his childhood….

But everything was lost long eighteen years ago. He saw their bodies mutilating by his own uncle right before his eyes. His cousin Eltor whom he always respected as his big brother banished him from his own legacy. But when he found his true identity, he had no proof for his claim.

'Eugene!' a soft touch on his shoulder startled him. He turned to find Lady Emlyn, the headmistress of Corona orphanage. 'Lady Emlyn!' he whispered. The middle aged woman smiled a little. 'I know what you're thinking Eugene.' She patted his shoulder 'Go claim your own identity to the world.'

"You know!' Eugene was never as astonished as this time in his life. 'Yes & always.' Lady Emlyn shook her head.

He looked forward. Rapunzel was waving at him to join her in the celebration this happiness. The king & Queen of Corona were smiling at him too. He walked slowly to join the happy family.

'Eugene!' Rapunzel flew in his arms crushing his lips against his. 'Do you know what father said? I'm free to marry the man I chose.' 'Really!' Eugene's eyes danced with joy while he deepened the kiss. Her fragrance was driving him mad once again.

'Yes!' but the answer came from behind. The couple turned to find the king standing behind. His blue eyes were shining with tender love 'I'm cancelling the silly treaty I made eighteen years ago.' 'Yes.' Queen Anne pressed his hand gently. 'That Prince Eugene died eighteen years ago. Why Rapunzel needs to bear the burden of that engagement now?'

The council was shaking their heads in her support.

'No, Prince Eugene isn't dead.' Suddenly Eugene's voice silenced the people present in the great hall 'Because I'm Prince Eugene of Naldora.'

'Can you prove it before the joint council?' Lord Denvan the chief councilor spoke out from the crowd.

'Eugene!' Eugene felt Rapunzel's fingers pressing his palm 'Don't be crazy anymore.'

Another pause. Another painful silence wrapped the great hall.

'You can never prove it, Rider….' Suddenly Eltor's maniacal laughter broke the silence. The visiting prince stepped forward from the shadows. His gait was jerky, his eyes were red. Though the healing flower healed him too but the experience of death had taken away his sanity. 'It's dark. Real dark!' He continued murmuring. He walked near Eugene ignoring the guards & grabbed his collars. His red eyes were fixed upon his face 'Are you afraid of the dark?'

Eugene watched his lunatic cousin for a while & then gently brushed his hands away from his collar.

'I'm ready to face the joint council.' His voice sounded firm & determined like a real prince 'And I'm not afraid of the dark anymore.'

And I'm really sad that this story is almost near the end. I was so attached with it. Only one more to go.

I'm really sad that I've not heard from you in the last chapter. Are you still reading it?

If you're still reading this story, then keep a minute or two and leave a comment for it.

We're close to a triple century. Will you make it for me, please?

As my birthday gift!