The day after Heather's surprise return, the family was going about their normal day when several guards rushed in.
"You're to be kept in our protective care," the Captain said gruffly. "That woman alerted us to a larger plan including the decimation of the royal family. We couldn't get many details out of her, but we do know that something's going to take place within the next three weeks."
Rapunzel almost dropped a sleeping Jo, who was cuddled in her arms. "Why?"
"Our guess is that some not-so-nice people from Eugene's past have decided that they don't want him to be the ruler of the kingdom. It's too good of a life for him." the Captain said.
"Why?" Aisling asked.
"Some people are just like that, honey," Eugene told her quickly. "Do you know who? Are the Stabbingtons still around?"
"They were released two years ago. There were no reports that could back up their execution."
"And Heather?" he asked unblinkingly.
"She's one less threat to worry about. We've been looking for her for quite some time."
"Twenty-four-seven, like when we were at war with Al'vae?" Rapunzel asked.
The Captain nodded. She bit her lip.
"The kids, right?" was her next question.
"No. We feel that they will target you and Eugene more so than the children."
Rapunzel glanced uneasily down at the child in her arms, not quite a year old yet and still so little, but nodded. The majority of their guards would be searching for potential threats.
"Exactly what all did you get out of Heather?" the King asked.
"That she's part of a three-part plan. With her portion over, there will apparently be two more phases come in the next three weeks. The ultimate plot is to either force Eugene away or split the two of them so he cannot become the ruler of Corona. The list of people that would like a whack at Eugene is a long one - the Stabbingtons, for example, and after taking a look at some documents, we found three people on a ship from Al'Vae that recently came into the country. We also found out that Heather is working with a descendant of Gothel, the woman who took Rapunzel as a baby. Apparently, before she found the magic flower in approximately the year 1291, she had five children with her husband. When they all married off and her husband died, she likely found the magic flower, isolated herself from them all, and then kept it to herself for hundreds of years, until Rapunzel was born. Heather explained this all and said that when she told this woman's great-great-great granddaughter about knowing a girl that previously possessed the magic that estranged Gothel from her ancestors, she was filled with bloodlust and agreed to help with the plan. We are led to believe that this attack will focus on taking Rapunzel, instead of Eugene. Without Rapunzel, Eugene could not ascend to the throne, because she's the only thing tying him to the throne."
Eugene stared at his wife and put an arm around Aisling's shoulders. What was going to happen? Rapunzel was probably in more danger than he was - no, definitely, and what would they do if the kids got in the way of their grand plan? He shuddered at the thought.
"I can take care of myself," Rapunzel said. "I'm sure this woman has nothing on her ancestor Gothel." "I wouldn't be too sure of yourself, Princess. You're to be under careful watch regardless."
Rapunzel sighed, but her parents gave her a sharp look and she nodded. "Okay. But I'd rather the guards watch the kids instead of me. They're so vulnerable."
"Again, we're led to believe that they're after you and Eugene, not the children."
Five nights later, Aisling woke Rapunzel, Eugene, and a frazzled guard by beating on the bedroom door frantically, screaming.
"What, sweetheart?" Rapunzel had wrapped a robe around herself and rushed to let her in. Aisling flew into her arms, sobbing. "Sh-h-h-h, calm down, baby. What's wrong, did you have a bad dream?"
"I-I.." she took a deep breath and hiccuped. "I-I woke up when I heard some thumps and Zachary was crying. I went to invest'gate and-and...and...and Jo's gone! Just gone! The-the..the window's wide open and Zack's still there but Jo isn't!"
