Time for Halloween! Fits well that this is also the part of the story where things begin to grow a bit darker for one of our characters..

1. This is an edited version of this chapter. Check author's notes at the bottom of the page for what's changed.

1. As always, apologies for any grammar/spelling mistakes that fall through the final cut. I hope you enjoy!

Chapter 19 - Rapunzel's First Halloween: Part 1 of 5

Type: Five-shot short story

Description: It is the eve of Halloween, and Rapunzel is spending her first holiday outside the tower with her lovely boyfriend Eugene Fitzherbert. We catch up with them as they are carving pumpkins out in the town, but one sudden, dark thought, is all it takes for Rapunzel's entire day and mood to be ruined.

Their day had finally begun in the chilly outside on the island, and Corona's two favorite lovebirds have just returned from a quick stop by the pumpkin patch.

"Did you hear?" Eugene asked her in his charming voice. The two of them are at a small little picnic table by themselves, sitting in the main town-square. Each one of them currently posses a pumpkin they've been carving for the past fifteen or so minutes.

"Hm?" Rapunzel didn't look up from her art. Once she's in the zone, she's in the zone.

"Apparently ol' Hook is holding a concert tonight, spooky songs and all that. Performing alongside this lady named 'Ruthless Ruth'. Crazy name, right?" He wiggled his eyebrow at her.

"Yuuuup." Her voice reeked of disinterest as she made more etchings into her pumpkin, her eyes darting back and forth between it and Pascal as he stood in a Hero's pose. It's not often Pascal gets to be the main center of attraction, especially more so now with how busy Rapunzel is. He's enjoying every moment of it.

Eugene chuckled, "you're really getting into that, huh?"

She scratched under her chin, "well, it's art. And art's kinda my thing if you couldn't tell." She smiled but still refused to look up and meet his eyes. During this time, Eugene's knife got stuck in the side of his pumpkin; not the first time that's happened, either. He's not a big fan of all these little games and stuff they got going on throughout town and the short outskirts of the Kingdom, but he's gotta make Rapunzel's first real holiday memorable somehow. Shame it had to be one as lame as Halloween.

Rapunzel stuck her tongue out as she worked diligently, while Eugene continued his never ending struggle on his side.

Stan and Pete, two members of the guard, were patrolling that section of the island at the time, and the two of them walked up to both Eugene and Rapunzel.

"Afternoon, Eugene," they said in unison, bowing, "and good afternoon, your highness."

"Good afternoon, boys," Eugene greeted them back, "mind telling me how this looks?" He twisted the pumpkin their way, with his knife still stuck in the side and gave them a smug look. "Be honest. It's perfect, right?"

Stan tilted his head sideways because he thought it was upside down and Pete just scratched his chin. "Well, it's.."

"Awesome? Spectacular? Outrageously handsome like this lovely face of mine?" He pointed at his own face.

Pete slowly moved his way over to Rapunzel's side and Stan grabbed at his collar in an awkward manner. "Sure, bud. Looks great.."

"Hey Stan, come get a look at the Princesses' pumpkin!" Stan immediately rushed over and stood next to his friend as Rapunzel continued her work. She was currently in the middle of carving out Pascal's legs, already done with the whole upper half. It was quite the representation of the little chameleon and certainly a thousand times better than anything Eugene could come up with.

"Hey!" Eugene got up from his seat and moved over to see what was so special about Rapunzel's pumpkin in comparison to his beautiful boat design, and his jaw dropped when he saw how detailed it looks. "Wow, Punz," he chuckled, "that's... wow, that's really good."

Stan placed an arm on Pete's shoulder, "This is totally the one that's going to win the pumpkin carving contest!"

"Actually Stan, and I mean no offense in my statements, your highness, but I think mine's going to win." Pete retorted.

"How can you even say that when you haven't even started on yours? Have you even seen the Princess' pumpkin?" Stan pointed at Pascal's eyes which were the most detailed portion of it.

Pete placed his hands on his hips, "Yes-I-see-the-pumpkin-"

"Hold on." Eugene waved both the men off. "Did you say contest?"

Stan and Pete exchanged a glance, and Stan responded awkwardly. "Yeah…?"

Eugene shook his head and took a seat next to Rapunzel, leaning his elbow on his table and balancing his head in his palm. "Rapunzel, did you know about this?"

She laughed as she was just about to finish up the last of Pascal's paw. "Yes, Eugene. I even told you earlier when we went picking these."

"No.. if you did, I would distinctly remember-"

"I did." She gave him a menacing look, her eyebrows narrowed, and Eugene gulped. One lesson he has learned throughout all his time spending with Rapunzel: When she says something, it's 99% the truth.

Except for the 1% when she's playing a joke on you.

She lifted her knife up from the surface and burst out laughing, pointing at him. Pascal did the same too. "Hey, hey! What's so funny?"

"No-nothing," she breathed in for another laugh, "just the look on your face when you thought I was being serious!" She smirked.

"Wait, wait, wait." He looked at her confusedly. "So you didn't know about this contest?"

She rolled her eyes and Pascal walked over to admire her work. He walked up and felt the delicate carvings, before turning to Rapunzel and mumbling something to her that Eugene couldn't understand. She's taught him well so far in terms of understanding lizard mumbo jumbo, but he still has long ways to go.

"Yes! That's a great idea. Pete, Stan?" She looked up to the two guards.

"Yes, your highness?" Pete perked up.

"Can you fetch a mirror for me? Pascal wants to see how he looks standing next to his portrait."

The two men nodded in compliance and ran off in the direction of the castle. Rapunzel grabbed hold of her pumpkin and turned it slightly so it now faced Eugene. She placed a hand on top and posed, "So, you were saying?"

Eugene sat in the same position, getting lost in her eyes again, those gorgeous, emerald eyes.. oh, what a treasure it would be to wake up to those orbs of perfection each morning!

"Eugene?"

"Oh," he jumped, "Sorry. Yeah, the pumpkin is beautiful, but something else.. someone else in particular has caught my attention with their own beauty instead." He grinned a closed-mouthed smile and she blushed.

"You're just saying that-"

He scooted over to her, raising an eyebrow, whispering so quietly, "Am I? Or..maybe I said that.. because it's the truth.. because I've never seen someone so beautiful, so.. perfect.. until I first laid my eyes on you."

Rapunzel tried to hide her smile by tilting her head to the side, but Eugene brushed her hair back to reveal the side of her cheek that faced him. His touch sent shivers down her spine, a different kind than the one she got from being out here in this cold day of autumn.. his touch made her feel warm and hot.

Pascal, looking up to the two giant people, has seen enough of their shenanigans to have an idea of what's coming next. He ducked behind the pumpkin, turning a blush dark red as he peeked out from the side.

Eugene continued, whispering, now sitting really close to her, "perfect girl.. are you having a good day so far?"

"Mhhhm," she hummed, quite enjoying herself as he tended to her hair. Oh, how she's missed this! If it weren't for that stupid job, both their stupid classes and his….

no, she can't say that about the orphanage... But...everything, he's never around anymore! I never see him! Am I not important enough for him to make more time for me!?

"I'm such a bad person," she whispered, facing off to the side.

Eugene's brow furrowed in confusion, taken aback by her sudden comment, having heard it loud and clear. He leaned back, his hand still twirling and playing with a strand of her hair. "Wh-why do you say that?"

"Ah…", she sighed, "It's.. it's complicated."

A calming quiet came upon the both of them, one that quickly grew quite awkward. Eugene didn't know what she meant. Rapunzel almost never says something without having a specific reason not to.. maybe she's not feeling alright? Perhaps she's sick? He hasn't exactly spent much time with her recently….maybe there's something she's dealing with? Maybe if he were actually there for her like a good boyfriend should be, he'd know?

No, but...what I'm doing right now, it's for her! It's all for her! If only I could reveal why I've been so distant... if only she could know..

But she can't know.. not yet..

Both of them were broken out of their thoughts by the sounds of trumpets and horns coming from the castle courtyard.

"Oh," Eugene brushed the back of his neck, "That's probably the…"

"Costume contest." Rapunzel's shoulders sulked and she gazed at the pumpkin with saddened eyes, "I... I probably need to get going."

"Yeah…" Eugene pulled his leg over to stand up, but not before giving her a hand in support. "Parents expecting ya. We don't.. we shouldn't keep them waiting." He rubbed his neck anxiously.

Eugene carried both of their pumpkins under each of his arms as he walked Rapunzel back up to the courtyard. He can only wonder if he's the reason she seems to be so down all of a sudden. Is it because he didn't put enough planning into this day for them both? He doesn't like talking about it but.. Rapunzel is his first real relationship with someone he really cares about, and someone who really cares about him.

He didn't go into this with all that much experience, aside from one or two relationships he had that somehow lasted two or three weeks.

The costume contest seemed to lift her mood, much to his delight. Rapunzel was ecstatic, or appeared to be at the sight of all the civilians dressed up in these wonderful costumes! The few red-haired girls that braided her hair that day Eugene took her into the Kingdom for the first time were all dressed up as Princesses, each having a makeshift cardboard crown and wearing a different colored skirt. Even a few of the pub thugs showed up in costumes of their own, ironically dressing up as guards.

But as the event died down, so did Rapunzel's enthusiasm. The townsfolk had begun to move out from the main castle courtyard into the heart of the town as Frederic turned to his daughter.

"Wasn't that fun?" The older man smiled a titanic smile and wrapped his daughter with his one burly arm. "All those lovely costumes. Reminds me of when I was a-"

"I'm not feeling too well, Papa." Rapunzel looked up at him, her lip pouted.

"Rapunzel, is something wrong?" Arianna asked her, placing an arm on her free shoulder. All the while, Eugene was leaning against the doorway. He was present during the costume contest but wanted to give Rapunzel some alone time with her parents; because, you know, they haven't had much of this carefree bonding time to spend with one another. He didn't mind it either, because he isn't too fond of anything Halloween related in general.

Y'know, Halloween isn't his favorite holiday, if it hasn't been made clear. Don't forget, he loves the idea of a Thanksgiving or a Christmas, though, especially now that he actually has a… family to spend it with.

It's so crazy. For the first time in his life, not counting his orphanage years, he's going to spend Thanksgiving and Christmas with people he loves and who love him back. That is, assuming the King and Queen love him of course.

Back to Halloween, though; he grew up resenting it because Mrs. Osborn and the other lady caretaker, who has since retired, refused to let him go out with the other kids around the town to go trick or treating. Aka, something he's hell-bent on making sure Rapunzel experiences this year.

"I just have a slight headache, Mama.. and my stomach's been rumbling."

"Oh," Frederic checked his watch, "it is far past lunchtime. Perhaps it's time for us to get something to eat-"

"Not that kind of rumbling, Papa," Rapunzel sighed.

Frederic's brows narrowed and furrowed with sadness, "I see, my dearest."

The two monarchs held their daughter tight and Eugene caught Rapunzel's eyes as they led her into the depths of the castle, he assumed going back to her room.

He didn't hear much of their conversation, but something's telling him that Rapunzel's dealing with.. God knows what. The girl hasn't been her normal, cheery-eyed self ever since she made that comment to him on the bench out there in the town!

She said she's such a bad person…

What does that even mean? Why does she think she's a bad person? How can she be a bad person? If she's bad, then holy cow, I'm the devil!

Eugene walked out onto the balcony that the three of them had just been standing on minutes before, and stood still as he looked onwards into the depths of the Kingdom. It's still so surreal to him, this view he has, practically everything he has now.

But he just couldn't get her off his mind, and he desperately needed advice on how to handle this newfound tricky situation he's been pulled into. Only one person came to mind that he felt comfortable enough to talk to about his predicament.. and he'd be having to take a a long walk to go and greet them.

"Ma'am, can I ask you something?"

Mrs. Osborn, whom Eugene had been helping out for the past many hours, walked over and took the seat next to him. "If this is about more stolen loot of yours, I would've thought you learned your lesson from last time," she said jokingly.

"You know," Eugene slouched back and exhaled, "I kinda wish this was about some stupid loot."

"Hm?"

Eugene's head laid back and he stared up at the ceiling, groaning. "I'm in way over my head with this."

She placed both her hands on her legs, "What do you mean, dear?"

He sighed, "It's.. it's the Princess. She isn't acting like herself, and I'm afraid there's something wrong, something going on that I don't know about."

"Have you thought that maybe she's in a bad mood, or simply not feeling well?"

Eugene felt sick at hearing her say that.. But, maybe it's as simple as a mere common cold. Maybe Rapunzel is just sick, not feeling well..

But something in his gut is telling him it's more. He's known this girl long enough to get a good idea on what makes her tick. "I mean.. it could be.."

"What makes you feel as if she's not been herself?"

Eugene turned his head, which was sideways, and looked at the older woman. "Today we were carving pumpkins, you know, basking in the Halloween culture.. but all of a sudden out of nowhere, she whispers to me that she's a horrible person. What does she even mean by that? She's the best person I know!"

Mrs. Osborn leaned back and thought for a second before coming to her conclusion. "The best guess I can come up, based on my own experiences in life and watching over hundreds of young children, is that she did something she thought was bad, and is now feeling remorse for it."

That had to be it! It made perfect sense. But, what did she do? Did she hurt someone by accident? Hey, maybe if you were in her life more, you'd know..

"If that's the case, then what do I do?"

"Well…" she tsked her tongue to the top of her mouth, "you can be there for her as emotional support, to begin with. But you can't force yourself upon her. If she needs you, she will ask."

Eugene nodded, but he couldn't help but think the reason that Rapunzel's feeling down all of a sudden is because of his new job at the docks. Is it just that she misses him? He.. he misses her, so, so much, and he feels awful about not spending much time with her anymore. It's even been like this since the beginning, but the responsible part of him knows how much these Prince classes mean, how much Mrs. Osborn and Isabella and the kids appreciate his work down here at the orphanage.

This is what it feels like to be a responsible, not wanted, charming young adult I suppose.

"You should probably get going. You don't want to be here when a few of the dears walk down here distraught about their nightmares again."

Eugene stood up and looked down upon the older woman. She of course was referring back to the time the orphanage was robbed, and as of now, the culprit has not yet been caught. Many of the kids were traumatized that evening, rightfully so. "Yes.. I do suppose it's time I get going."

Mrs. Osborn stood up and enveloped Eugene in a hug. "Dear... remember, she knows how much you care for her, she knows how much you love her. And never forget that you are a wonderful young man for everything you do."

Eugene chuckled into her shoulder, blushing at her compliments. She always knows how to cheer him up; he can't even fathom that he once hated this woman. "Thank you, again." He saluted her and grabbed his coat before heading off into the darkness of the cold, autumn night.

On his way back to the castle, he walked by the little park area where Hook-Hand was holding his concert. The man truly has a talent for playing that piano, and he definitely spends his time well, tickling those ivories up until they gleam.

He sighed, though, because this was how he wanted to end his night with Rapunzel. Not walking home, saddened and alone by himself because she's not feeling well; he wanted to finally spend some quality time together and enjoy some great music, a great performance from one of their friends. Maybe he'd even remind her of the old times, because music was after all one of the key things that helped them fall in love.

He made it back to the castle and the first thing he made sure he'd do after he entered was walk up to Rapunzel's door, and he did just that. He knocked a few times, only receiving silence as an answer. He knocked again and heard the small sounds of the bares of her feet clapping against the cold floor. That's his girl, alright.

She opened it, a bit startled at his presence before dawning a soft smile on her face. "Hey."

"Hey. You feeling any better?"

She placed her right hand over her left elbow and looked up to him, nervousness exerting from her eyes but a smile dawned on her lips. "Yeah."

Eugene slowly moved his right hand to hold her left, his fingers intertwining with hers. He lifted it up to his lips, whispering, "I'm happy you're okay, love," before placing a gentle kiss on her knuckles. "I'm sorry about today, I know I should've done more-"

"No," she lifted her other hand and placed it on top of his, "It's fine, Eugene." She smiled up to him, but again - this didn't feel right. Something's off, something feels off.

"You sure? I know how much it meant to you, I mean; you don't have to hide your feelings from me, I'm not going to be mad about the way you feel," he chuckled.

She sighed, "It's alright, dear."

He stared intently into her green eyes for a few more moments before looking up past her, directing his gaze towards her bed. If her problem really is that she feels as if he's starting to lose interest in her, there's one specific thing he could do, there's one action he could take, that he ever so wants and needs to take, that can show her that his love for her has, if anything, only grown from these first few months he's known her.

But that's not an action he can take. Not yet. She's not ready, and it'll go against every custom and rule in the book… and God forbid.. what if he hurts her…

Eugene shook his head before returning his eyes back to her face. "You want me to read you some Flynnigan Rider tonight?"

"No, it's.. you don't have to,"

"No, Rapunzel," he frowned, "if you want me to read you something then please, just ask me. It's not a burden, I-I promise."

She dropped her hands down from his, staring down at his chest. "No.. it's fine for tonight... I'm feeling tired." She reached up on her tippy toes and pecked his cheek.

"Good night, Eugene," she whispered, and Eugene could swear her voice had a more somber tone to it. She took hold of the door, staring at him, hesitating for just one moment before turning her head away and slowly closing it.

Its sound echoed throughout the very large outside hallway. And all Eugene could do was stand there as the darkness of the castle slowly enveloped his very soul.

A/N: Just refined dialogue.

Edit History (MM/DD/YY):

1. 6/11/20