Chapter 28

Once Gothel had left the small clearing through the tunnel Eugene had entered it, Rapunzel whipped her hair back inside the tower, grabbed her frying pan and cautiously approached her closet. She removed the chair and stepped back keeping the chair between her and the wardrobe. Using her hair, she grabbed the door handles and opened the doors.

No sooner had the doors opened, than Eugene fell out of the closet. He landed on his face. Although awake, he was still rattled and barely coherent enough to realize the doors had been opened. Eugene lapsed into unconsciousness once more. This caused Rapunzel to mutter to herself. She then wasted no time moving him to the chair and then tying him to the chair with her hair.

Rapunzel looked over to Pascal which caused him to climb up the chair to Eugene's shoulder. Pascal attempted to wake him up by growling, glaring, smacking with his front paws and even hitting and poking him with his tail all to no avail. Finally, he flicked his tongue out and stuck it in Eugene's ear, causing him to bolt upright and let out a small exclamation. Looking around, Eugene quickly assessed the situation.

"What? Huh? Where am I?" he rambled, while struggling to get out of the hair wrapped around him. Glancing around, he attempted to figure out where he was and who had tied him up. Following the golden hair he was wrapped in, he traced it back to the source but was unable to see anything in the shadows. It was now he realized what he was actually wrapped in. "What? Is this … hair?"

"Struggling, struggling is pointless."

"Huh?"

"I know why you're here, and I'm not afraid of you." Rapunzel stated as she crept slowly and cautiously towards him, brandishing her frying pan as a weapon.

"Wait, what? Who are you?"

Ignoring his question, Rapunzel stepped into the light. "Who are you? And how did you find me?"

"Uh-um," Eugene stuttered, staring at her, somewhat overcome by her beauty.

Holding the frying pan up like a baseball bat, Rapunzel asked again. "Who are you? And how did you find me?"

"Who am I? Who are you? I have no idea who you are. I was just taking a stroll in the forest. Saw a tower and climbed it. End of story."

Rapunzel glanced over at Pascal, who glared and mimed punching him.

"So, who exactly are you?" Rapunzel asked again.

Before Eugene could respond, another voice spoke up. "Hey, Eugene, are you ok?" Flynn had chosen that moment to show up.

"Who are you?" Rapunzel asked him. "And how did you find me?"

"My name's Flynn Rider. And that's my brother you have tied up in your hair. Speaking of which, why exactly did you tie him up in the first place?"

"Oh, um, HE broke into my tower. I don't trust him. So, I tied him up until I could figure out who he was and how he found me."

"If you care about the truth, I stumbled on the tower when I was trying to get away from the guards. I didn't think there was anyone up here. I just wanted to get away." Eugene answered quietly.

"So, there you have it. Let him go and we will leave you alone."

"I don't think so. I'm prepared to make you a deal," Rapunzel stated as she walked over to a set of drapes hanging over her fireplace. "Do you know what these are?" Rapunzel asked pointing to the lights she had painted on the wall.

"You mean the lantern thing they do for the princess?" Flynn asked.

"Lanterns? I knew they weren't stars," Rapunzel muttered. Then louder, "Well, tomorrow evening they will light the night sky with these lanterns. YOU will act as my guide. Take me to these lanterns and return me home safely. Then and only then will I return your satchel to you."

"Yeah, no can do. Unfortunately, the kingdom and I aren't exactly simpatico at the moment, so I won't be taking you anywhere." Flynn responded.

"Hmm." Rapunzel murmured. "Something brought you here, Flynn Rider. Call it what you will, fate…destiny…"

"A horse." Flynn responded drily.

"So, I have made the decision to trust you," said Rapunzel.

"A horrible decision, really." Flynn replied.

"But trust me when I tell you this. You can tear this tower apart, brick by brick, but you will never find your precious satchel."

"Wait, you have the satchel? Eugene?"

"Um, yeah she does. She kinda knocked me unconscious with that frying pan she's carrying." Eugene responded, slightly ashamed.

"Wait, you hit him with a frying pan? Just who are you? Why would you do that?"

"It was the closest thing I could find to knock him unconscious. I didn't know who he was or how he got here. So, I knocked him out. Well, what's it gonna be? Are you gonna take me to see these lanterns or not? I won't return that satchel to either of you until I get to see them."

"So, if we take you to see these lanterns and bring you back home, you will return the satchel to us? No questions asked?" Flynn asked.

"I promise, and when I promise something, I never, ever break that promise. Ever."

"Tell me your name. There's no reason to take you anywhere before we even know who you are." Flynn's response was cutting and direct.

"Oh, I'm so sorry. My name is Rapunzel. And you don't really have a choice. I won't return your satchel until you do."

"OK, fine, we'll take you to see the lanterns," Flynn responded. "Now will you untie my brother?"