Here we are finally seeing what's been happening...or, better yet, what happened to the Stabbingtons. This is the first chapter that dives out of the chronological order of the story. I actually finished writing the rough draft back when the 'Halloween' chapters were first being posted, but have held it off until now because I didn't want anything interrupting that part of the story.

1. Explanation for why I had things go this way at the bottom of the chapter.

2. This chapter describes an execution by hanging. This is a warning if you're not comfortable with such scenario (nothing insanely graphic is depicted so don't worry)

2. Apologies for any spelling/grammar mistakes that fall through the final cut. I hope you enjoy!

Chapter 36 - Final goodbyes

Type: Stand alone one-shot

Description: Takes place between the events of Chapters 4 (Scolding and Competition) and Chapter 5 (Ballroom Dance Tragedy: Part 1). Eugene attends the Stabbington Brothers' execution.

There was a faint and cool summer breeze in the air as Eugene stood out in the courtyard. In the sky rested dark clouds, and there was an ominous feeling to the former thief that a rainstorm might occur at any moment in time. To his side stood King Frederic, and the two men stared forward onto the scene that was taking shape in front of them.

Ron Stabbington, the one who speaks and who has those obnoxiously long sideburns, and his brother Brian Stabbington, the mute one with the eyepatch covering his one dead eye, were both cuffed behind their backs as two guards led them up onto a small wooden deck platform. In front of the two men dangled two individual pieces of rope, each with a little hole that would soon be wrapped around their necks.

The King sat Eugene down recently, specifically two weeks before this execution, finally deciding he had waited long enough to learn of the more finer details about him and his daughter's journey they went through, because it was obvious to him that they had gone been through a lot during the short period of time they've known one another. The young man humbly and graciously accepted, telling his majesty all that he knew, including how two of his former accomplices almost managed to kidnap his estranged daughter.

"They did what?" Frederic asked as he sat behind his desk in disbelief.

Eugene fiddled with his thumbs and looked up to meet the King's eyes. He knew this wasn't going to go over pretty with him, and hoped he himself would be given the chance to explain that in no way shape or form did he intend for that to happen.

"I... er, I went to give them the crown. I had made up my mind by then that... Rapunzel meant more to me than a meager crown-" Frederic raised an eyebrow at this comment, Eugene immediately noticing. "-not that your guys crowns are of no value, of course," he chuckled awkwardly and tugged at his collar. "Anywho, I hope you get what I mean. I took the crown, docked our little boat on the shoreline and approached the two brothers alone. I threw the stupid thing to them-" Frederic again raised an eyebrow but Eugene failed to notice, "-and told them that it was theirs, but to my complete unknowing and disbelief, they responded to me by saying they... they wanted her instead."

"What did you do then?" Frederic asked quickly.

"I did all I could," Eugene told him honestly. It was the truth. "Look, your majesty, I was a thief for many years, eleven to be exact, but I hardly ever got into confrontation. And if you don't believe me, then go back and look at every one of my cases and you'll see that I never laid a hand on anyone. And I know, a man with this," he gestured to his chest which has been taking up a small, barely noticeable gut with how much he's been eating as of late, "type of body having little to no official fighting experience? Crazy to me as well. So, having to face those two hunks of junk when they beat me in size, height, weight - all that mumbo jumbo, I lost." His face fell to the ground, and his voice quieted into a raspy whisper. "I did all I could, and dammit, your majesty, I wish I could've done more."

There was a minute's long silence as Frederic watched the younger man sit in front of him, fighting an inner battle to keep his cool. It's clear to him that re-telling his story obviously is something that's very hard for him to do. It's quite obvious with all that sniffling and how he's now wiping the faint wetness away from his eyes. Finally he broke the silence after having seen enough. "The witch saved her, then?"

"...That's what Rapunzel told me." Eugene looked up and met the King's gaze once more, the wetness in his eyes now all but gone. "I wasn't there when it happened, y'know. They tied me to the boat, knocked me out and the next thing I knew-"

"You were on the mainland being restrained by some of our guards," Frederic said n realization.

"Bingo."

Learning of such a fact shook Frederic to his core, and without a moment's hesitation, after thanking Eugene and dismissing him promptly, he immediately opened up one of the drawers to his desk, pulled out a stack of papers, and began to sign the necessary documents that would be used to order the Stabbingtons' executions. There was already far more than enough evidence to put them on trial and lock them up for life, Frederic knew, but that one little detail he had not been aware of... how they were this close to kidnapping his daughter, had now sent him over the edge. He hates the witch whose name he now knows to be Gothel with all his heart,but he recognizes that at-least she gave Rapunzel shelter, a roof above her head, food every day and night. In the sick way, Gothel took care of her.

But the fact remains clear. No one shall ever lay a hand on his baby girl and live to see another day. Not after all she has been through. Never again will King Frederic Helmsworth of Corona let his daughter be hurt by another soul.

It was a tricky situation explaining this decision to his royal council, but none of them managed to work up the strength to oppose his royal stature. Each of the few council members could tell that no matter what they said, this man... this father, more specifically, had already made up his mind.

Ron and Bran Stabbington are to be executed by method of hanging.

Two days after signing the papers for their executions, Frederic pulled Eugene off to the side. He had been hanging out with his daughter in her art studio, and he knew how much this time they spent with each other meant because of how busy the both of them have been with their classes and duties. But he felt the young man at-least had the right to know of what would be occurring in one week's time.

"Your majesty," Eugene bowed. Frederic immediately shook him off.

"There's no need for that."

"I take it this is good news then?" Eugene's voice was hopeful.

"You... you can say that." There was a small hesitation in Frederic's voice, but he continued. "I have news regarding your former accomplices."

At the mention of the two brothers, Eugene's stomach dropped. There was a point in their lives, a time where he knew them and considered them to be friends, great friends; heck, even family at one point. But they've been growing apart over their years of thieving together, and the crown heist was ultimately the last straw before he even learned they wanted to kidnap his girl.

"What happened?"

"...Nothing. Nothing yet."

"Yet? As in something's supposed to happen?"

Frederic's brows furrowed in thought. "I'm not sure there's a good or a right way to tell you this, but they are scheduled to be executed."

Eugene could only stand there in silence for a few moments as he let the King's words sink in. Finally, he spoke up. "It's because of what I told you, isn't it?"

"..Yes."

Eugene stepped back and let himself fall against the wall, crossing his arms as he looked down. There's no doubt about it: He hates the Stabbingtons, and would be happier than a baby after having experienced their first bath to not have to worry about them anymore. But, for some reason, for whatever reason...a part of him felt sad. Guilty, even.

But, why should he feel guilty? He isn't the one who wanted to kidnap an innocent girl with intentions to rent her off to some dopes and drunkards around the lands! They never told him directly that this was their intention, of course, but having known the two brothers for all that time, it's definitely something they would've planned on doing. For God's sake, they knew of her hair, the powers it possessed. They may look the part, but they are absolutely not dumb, and the thoughts of what they would've done to Rapunzel had the witch not stepped in and saved her still shakes him to his very core to this day.

Plus, it absolutely wouldn't be the first time the two of them took advantage of a woman. Or the second. Or the third. Or the fourth-

"When?" Eugene didn't look up to meet the King's gaze as he asked.

"I've scheduled it for one week from today. I will be in attendance, and I'm giving you permission to accompany me," he said a tad solemnly. "It's ultimately your choice. I understand it may be hard for you to watch two men you've known for a good portion of your life take the noose, and normally, citizens are not permitted to be present during such affairs. But I feel the obligation to give you this opportunity considering all you have done in your efforts to save my daughter; plus, a part of me is thinking it may help you get some... closure. If you think it may help of course." Oh, to Frederic, it'd certainly help him to see these two scoundrels hang there lifelessly after finding out what they almost did to Rapunzel

Eugene finally lifted his head up and met the King's gaze directly. This would be a great opportunity to help provide closure to this part of his life, he now thought, something he's been yearning for ever since he and Rapunzel initially made the trip to the castle after the events inside that tower. Hey, maybe the nightmares might end too? There have been quite a few dreams that involve the two brothers.. .and what they might've done to…

He cringed at the thought once again, now finally making his decision. Seeing their lifeless, hanging bodies is something he's willing to see if it means he knows for a fact those two bastards won't ever be given the chance to lay their hands on Rapunzel again.

"I'll be there."

Frederic nodded his head. "Very well. That's all I needed. I know you have important business to get back to in there, so you better get a move on." He chuckled and pointed to the door before turning around and walking away with both hands behind his back.

Eugene exhaled a deep breath he had been holding in, re-gaining his composure before cracking open the door to Rapunzel's studio. He walked in and the first thing he saw was that she was still standing behind her easel, but now was babbling on to Pascal about who knows what. The sound of the door closing grabbed her attention. She looked up to him with widened, worried eyes.

She got straight to the point. "Are you in trouble?"

Eugene walked back over to where he had been posing for Rapunzel, immediately throwing on the facade that everything was fine, that everything was nice and dandy. Because there's no way in hell he's ever letting her in the know about what he's going to soon witness and watch take place. She doesn't deserve to see such cruelty take place, she does not deserve to have her innocence tainted as quickly as one could snap their fingers.

"No, I'm not."

"What did my father need with you, then?" She sounded skeptical, not at all mad. Just curious.

"He.." Eugene stopped mid-motion and thought about what he should say. The last thing he ever wants to do is lie to Rapunzel, but this case is just too special... hopefully she'll understand. "He was confused about one part of... our story, and just wanted some clarification."

She raised an eyebrow and wagged her brush, "What part was he confused about?"

A sly, smug smirk grew on his face. "The part where his guards couldn't catch the thief who spent the entire day out in town with the girl who had seventy feet of blonde hair."

She silently laughed, "You know, it wasn't actually 70 feet that day."

"Oh, I know. And I still remember how beautiful you looked when those girls first did your braid. I was like, 'Gosh, girl, how can someone be so beautiful? I just don't get it!'"

"You're such a goofball," she laughed.

"Your goofball." He winked at her. Her cheeks blushed a faint tint of red, and Pascal looked as if he was on the verge of exploding out of embarrassment. Without further waiting, Eugene moved back into his pose and watched as Rapunzel dipped her brush back into the brown paint, for she was now focusing on painting his hair.

The Sunday the next week, Eugene met the King right outside the courtyard in the middle of the main Prison. He walked out by his side as members of the guard stood tall at the base of the wooden structure that the two brothers would soon be hung from. He hasn't talked to, or seen them quite frankly, ever since he made his own escape from this very prison with help from the pub thugs. Speaking of those thugs, he should probably pay them a visit sometime, see how they're doing with pursuing their new dreams.

Five minutes passed before a jouster blew a horn to announce the arrival of the two convicts. Eugene watched with a stern jaw as Ron and Brian were pushed into the courtyard from the corner entrance on the other side of the small plot of outside land, both cuffed behind their backs as they were being led up to the platform. He sneaked a glance over to the King and noticed his cool, calm and collected face with both hands behind his back.

He turned back to look at the brothers. Both of them looked drained, mentally and physically he could tell. They appeared to have lost some weight, probably from malnutrition. Neither of them lifted their head up to meet his gaze, and he wondered right then if they even knew he was here to witness their final moments in life.

"Ah-ten-tion!" Captain Jones yelled. Many of the other guard members who stood in formation straightened and stiffened their backs at the sound of their Captain calling them. Maximus was here, too, all the way at the end of the line. "We are gathered here today to witness the execution of Ron and Brian Stabbington. These two criminals have posed as a menace and a threat to society as we know it for many years, and this day will be remembered in the history books as the day we said good riddance to two of the most evil and malignant souls I have personally ever laid eyes upon." Captain Jones walked in front of his men as he went on with his little speech before stopping right in front of the wooden platform.

He looked up to the two brothers. "Do the two of you have any final words before his majesty, King Frederic, gives the order?"

The two brothers exchanged glances as they stood there hunched over. Ron was the one who eventually looked up, ever so barely meeting the Captain's eyes. He stared at the armored man before turning his glance to where the King stood, and he recognized the man immediately to his left.

"Why's he here?" Ron mumbled.

Captain Jones brought a hand to his ear, leaning forward. "You're going to have to speak up."

Ron stood up and stared the man he knew as Flynn Rider up and down. "I asked... why is he here." Brian, noticing his brother's change in posture, stood up straight as well and his eyes widened when he saw Rider.

Eugene gulped and clenched both his fists at his side as every person in the courtyard turned their gaze to him and him only. He locked eyes with Maximus for a split second, who looked as fearful as he was. Without even asking the King for permission, he took a few steps forward, walking slowly until he stood right next to the Captain in front of the two brothers. He stared up to them with a hard frown on his face.

Ron growled. "How'd you survive, Rider? Last we saw of you, they were pulling you off to the gallows."

Eugene turned to meet the ferocious gaze of Brian Stabbington, the mute one, before turning back to face Ron. He spoke in a whisper. "I escaped and changed my ways, that's how." It was an intentional ploy on his part to not mention the very girl who was the whole reason why he now stood here, alive and well.

Ron snorted. "Really? You're a changed man?" He received a nod in response. "..Pathetic. The Flynn Rider we knew would never change." He paused, before mumbling off to the side. "Unless…"

"That's not my name anymore, Burnsy." The burly man growled at that nickname Eugene had given him, a nickname he despised with his whole heart and soul. "It never was, actually. Whether you believe it or not, I'm a different man now. I've given up thieving in exchange for a new life." Once again, Eugene intentionally refused to tell the brother the specific reason, or specific person to be more specific, who had sparked this change inside.

Ron exchanged a look with his brother before turning his head back to Eugene, staring at him with a sly grin. "We get it."

Eugene's brows furrowed in a straight line, confused mightily. "You do?"

"Yeah." The two brothers snickered to themselves and Captain Jones tapped Eugene's shoulder.

"What's their problem?" he growled. It was almost as if he thought Eugene knew a thing or two about why these boys are the way they are. He didn't, though. Just like him, the two brothers never really shared their own backstory. In response, Eugene could only shrug his shoulders. Though, something about this situation was starting to make him feel a tad uneasy.

Ron's raspy voice re-caught his attention. "You're smart, Flynn. Real smart. Smarter than what we originally took you for, actually."

"It took you this long to notice," he said with a smug grin.

"Screw off."

"Can't and won't, sorry."

Ron motioned with his eyes to the King before lowering his head and speaking in a whisper, "I didn't take ol' Freddy for being naive, and never thought a scoundrel like yourself had what it took to sneak and seduce his way into the royal family." He chuckled, "Heh, funny how things worked out. We're minutes away from death, standing here while you were the one who got the happy ending. Kinda ironic considering the way our story started, don't you think. Bry?" He looked at his brother, who could only nod in response, before turning back to Eugene. He finished in a lower voice, "How'd you get in good with him, anyway?"

Eugene clenched his jaw and did not respond. He was not going to let them get to him, especially not now when it's painfully obvious who holds the power in their conversation. By all the power he holds, they will not know about her, they will not know who that girl they almost kidnapped truly is. They will go to the grave not knowing that the reason he has changed his ways, that the reason he has become something better; no, someone better is one specific, awesome and amazing girl who had broken through the chains of darkness inside his heart, who had shown him what it feels like to be loved for the first time in his life-

"Rapunzel!?"

Eugene's eyes widened, and he jerked his head back to where the King stood, for he recognized that voice to be his. As he now so fearfully suspected, next to his majesty stood his beloved, Rapunzel, donning a look of fear on her face with widened eyes. Immediately, his more protective instincts kicked in. How did she get here? How did she know what was going on; she couldn't have followed him, right? He would've noticed.

Before he could even make a move to go and comfort her, to try to somehow explain what in the world was now going on, Frederic grabbed hold of her arm and led her back into the hallway of the inside prison. Eugene continued to stare at the scene, eyes wide, mouth agape. His heart had begun to go into overdrive, and when he heard the snickering coming from behind, he knew now that the two brothers had put it all together.

"Can you believe it, Bry?" Ron said in a raspy voice, "Rider's actually hittin' up that puny bitch you and I almost took out-"

Eugene reared back, anger coursing through his thick, red blood, and with one movement of his now coiled up fist, Ron's face was knocked off to the side in a disgusting mess.

Captain Jones pulled Eugene back, though not without a struggle. He held both of Eugene's arms, pinning his back to his chest as he whistled two more guards to come over and restrain him. Eugene fought furiously, and was willing to make this the day he finally took his first life!

Scrap that. Take his first two lives. More the merrier as they say, right?

"Let me at 'em!" He yelled!

"I would if I could!" Jones yelled back as he and the two other guards pulled him backwards. Eventually, they had him restrained as Frederic walked back in, clearly confused and taken aback by the current situation. He opened his mouth and turned to the younger man but was not given the chance to even ask a simple 'What in God's name is going on?'

"Hang them!" Eugene roared.

Frederic's eyes widened. "..What?"

"Give the order!" Eugene turned back and growled at the two brothers, hissing, "I want them dead! Pull that lever! They don't deserve to live, the ruthless, disgusting bastards! Send them to hell! To HELL!"

Frederic looked upon the Captain with pleading eyes. They had waited long enough already, and it was truly a splendid sight to see Eugene with such passion, such anger towards the men who threatened to hurt his daughter. Very good indeed; he'd always expected during those ruthless and depressing eighteen years that should his daughter live and one day return home to their kingdom, that whomever may court her hand in marriage is expected to care for her in the same way that he's come to care for her in these first couple of months together.

And it's quite obvious to him that Rapunzel has quickly become the most important thing in Eugene's life. Very, very obvious. And good, too. She should be the most important thing in his life.

"You may proceed, Captain." He spoke low, and his eyes were practically daggers as they crushed their way into the Stabbington Brothers' very souls. King Frederic is not a man to mess with, especially when it concerns his daughter.

Captain Jones nodded with closed eyes, turning around to give orders to the two guards on top of the wooden platform to pull the ropes around the brothers' necks. They did as asked and now the brothers each stood there, cuffs around their hands, ropes around their necks.

Eugene's jaw began to clench in anger and he felt the sudden burn of tears welling up in his eyes, though he wasn't going to let them see in their last moments that they had gotten to him, finally gotten to him after all this time, after all these heists they've pulled together throughout the years.

A guard took hold of the lever, and the two brothers held their breath and clenched their eyes shut. Both of them had come to accept this death, finally seeing that they no longer had an out, that they had finally gone too far when they just seconds ago learned of the official reason behind it.

They almost kidnapped and trafficked the Lost Princess of Corona.

The two arms holding Eugene in place loosened ever so faintly, providing him an avenue for slipping through. He barreled his way forward just as the guard pulled the lever, yelling out the final words the two brothers would ever hear.

"I hope you rot in hell!"

There was one loud crack as both of the brothers' necks broke simultaneously. It didn't take long for their bodies to go limp. Eugene stood there, fifteen feet away from their dangling bodies, and lost all the strength he had left in his legs as he fell to his knees. Again, he felt the hot burn of tears welling up in his eyes, cringing as they finally fell after he couldn't hold back a blink any longer. He hated himself for crying here, for not being able to hold up the mental wall inside his head, for reluctantly showing his weakness. They had gotten to him. The Stabbingtons had finally gotten to him.

It all felt like a dream, but there was no pinching himself awake this time around. Whether he chooses to believe it or not, the fact remains evident.

Ron and Brian, the two men commonly known as the Stabbington Brothers, famous criminals known for their ruthless tactics and self-preservation methods, are finally dead. Never to be heard from again.

A/N: I wrote it this way because I feel this makes more sense considering the universe I'm writing in. Frederic is over-protective and loving of his daughter, understandably so. I see him learning of what these two brothers most likely intended to do with his daughter, and how this little fact finally sends him off the edge. I don't see him to be as forgiving here as he appears to be in the show; though I get why he is the way he is there, considering the audience RTA's is intended for. My story here, though, is obviously not meant for kids. Lol.

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