(I apologize. Writer's block. Another difficult chapter. You know the drill.)
"Alright, this has been fun, but I think its time we head back to the castle." Cassandra announced as she walked towards Eugene and Rapunzel. "I think the sun is going to rise soon."
"Huh, already?" Rapunzel asked, looking at the window of the pub, she noticed that while the sun wasn't up yet, she noticed that the sky lacked stars, which usually indicated that it would be morning soon.
Rapunzel was surprised. "Wow, I didn't realize we were here for so long."
She heard Eugene chuckle. "Times flies when you're having fun. At least that's my experience."
Rapunzel smiled. "I agree."
"That's nice, but let's hurry back to the Castle before the guards wake up and think we kidnapped their princess." Cassandra declared. Then Eugene and Rapunzel got up from their seats and prepared to leave.
"Didn't you want to find out about the Sundrop?" Hook Hand asked the three.
Rapunzel froze.
"What did you just say?" Eugene asked.
Before Rapunzel could say anything, Hook Hand spoke again. "The Sundrop? Rapunzel wanted to know if we knew anything about it."
"Did she now?" Cassandra asked, Rapunzel flinched at her tone. As she suspected, she was not happy.
"Do you know something?" Eugene asked, sitting back down. "Do you know where it is?"
"The King might." Hook Hand asked. "He was looking for it years ago."
"The King? You mean my father?" Rapunzel asked, sitting back down as well. "What are you talking about?
Hook Hand continued. "Well, it happened years ago, and its something of a rumor, but years ago, the king sent a lot of guards to go searching for the Sundrop."
"Why was he looking for it?" Prince Eugene asked.
The thug shrugged. "I think the Queen was sick or something, but like I said, its mainly a rumor. If you want to know more, talk to Xavier."
"Who?" Cassandra asked.
"He's the local blacksmith." Rapunzel replied.
"When it comes to history and supernatural legends, Xavier is an expert." Hook Hand said again. "If anyone knows anything about the Sundrop, its him."
"Where can we find him?" Eugene asked.
Rapunzel then rose from her seat again. "He's most likely asleep still. But I know where he works, we can visit him later today."
Cassandra nodded. "Great. For now, we better get back to the castle before anyone realizes we were gone."
"You're right." Eugene agreed as he got up from his seat and the three left the Snuggly Duckling.
Fortunately, it wasn't too hard to sneak back into the castle undetected. Rapunzel was able to lead the siblings past guards that were on shift at the time.
"Either you are just that good at sneaking around." Eugene whispered as the three snuck towards the door to the guest room Eugene and Cassandra were staying in. "Or these guards are so bad at their jobs."
Rapunzel gave him a confident smile. "I like to think I'm just that good."
Eugene smiled back. "I can believe that." The pair chuckled to themselves as Cassandra rolled her eyes.
"Well, I should head back to my room and get what little sleep I can before breakfast." the blonde princess stated as she quickly walked back to her room. "See you at breakfast."
"See you at Breakfast." Eugene responded back. Then the Brother and Sister entered their room, took off their shoes and went to their beds.
Although Cassandra was able to get some rest, Eugene couldn't. After everything he learned tonight, how could he?
He had just heard that the King of Corona had been looking for the Sundrop years ago. The Thug from the pub may have claimed that it was just a rumor, but the Prince had a feeling that was closer to the truth than he could imagine. That would explain why the King had started acting so strange at dinner when Eugene had first brought it up with him.
For Eugene, that confirmed that the Sundrop was real, and after breakfast, Rapunzel would take him, his sister, and his friends to someone who could tell them where the Sundrop could be!
And, on a lighter note, tonight was a fun night, a welcoming distraction from the chaos. The thugs, if you could still call them that, were fun to be around, in a lot of ways, they reminded Eugene of the people back home.
And Rapunzel, she had been full of surprising in these past hours. Not just being practically adored by those thugs, but being able to sneak past the guards around the castle and travel a great distance to that pub, barefoot! He doesn't think he could even do that.
Then he remembered their conversation. How they admitted how the felt trapped in their lives, to feel like prisoner in their own castles, so much so that they both feel they have to sneak behind their father's backs just to feel free, for even a moment. "She really knows how I feel…" He thought.
Eugene then felt his face warm up as he remembered what happened next. He hadn't even realized he had been leaning closer to her until their foreheads touched. And if he was right, she had been doing the same. What had gotten into him? What was he going to do? What was she planning to do?
Eventually, exhaustion from his time at the Snuggly Duckling finally coursed through him and he finally was able to go to sleep.
"The King and Queen have requested your presence in the dining hall for breakfast." A servant announces as she enters the guest room.
Eugene groaned and put a pillow over his head. "Five more minutes." He mumbled. Why so early? Surely the King and Queen wouldn't mind if he wasn't there.
Cassandra, while tired, she rose from her bed and walked to her brother's bed. "C'mon Eugene, time to get up." She stated as she took the pillow from his head. "We have work to do."
Eugene let out a whine, but he got out of his bed. "Is it just me or does it feel earlier than the breakfast back home?"
'How would you know?" Cass asked. "You hardly ever join."
"Touché." The Prince said as he stretched. Then the Prince and Princess of the Dark Kingdom walked out of their rooms. The moment they were out, they were greet by energetic looking Lance and Varian.
"Man, I think that was the best sleep I had in a while!" Lance exclaimed. "Corona really knows how to make their guests happy!"
"Not so loud." Eugene mumbled as he rubbed his eyes. "Its too early for that."
"Are you okay?" Varian asked, concerned. "You both still look tired."
"Its a long story." Cassandra yawned. "We'll explain after breakfast."
Then the four walked quietly to the dining hall, where they found the King, Queen, and of course, Rapunzel already there. Eugene was impressed that Rapunzel managed to look more awake them he or his sister. She still looked bit tired, but it still looked better than either than them.
"How does she do that?" Eugene thought as he sat down.
The breakfast went on peacefully and quietly. Thankfully, the King didn't ask why Eugene, Cassandra, or Rapunzel looked tired, nor did the Queen. Probably because it didn't look the King had a good night either. Probably thinking about the Sundrop, Eugene assumed.
"About what I said last night at dinner," King Frederic started. "I apologize if I was rude, but sadly, we still cannot help."
Eugene noticed Rapunzel and Cass frown at what King Frederic said, he just prayed that they didn't bring up anything they heard last night from the Snuggly Duckling.
"Dad, are you sure there is nothing we can do?" Rapunzel asked, carefully.
"I know you wish to help, Rapunzel, but I'm afraid this is out of our hands." The king insisted. "We don't really have a way to help the Dark Kingdom in their search."
The Prince noticed Cass' frown turned into a scowl. Before she could say anything, Eugene spoke up. "I understand. I know I was asking for a lot."
"We are truly sorry." Queen Arianna stated. And unlike her husband, she actually seemed remorseful at not doing anything to help them. "I hope you and your kingdom are able to find a way."
"Thank you." Eugene said. "We'll figure something out."
The Rapunzel spoke. "But before you go, I was wondering if you all wanted to join me on a little trip into town. You know, get some fresh air and get some more supplies for when you return home."
Cassandra nodded at her. "That sounds like a good idea." The she faced King Frederic and Queen Arianna. "If you will allow."
"I don't see the harm." The King said. "I will have some guards escort you-"
"That shouldn't be necessary." Eugene stated. "Lance, Cassandra, and I are trained to defend ourselves and others. And Cass is one of the best swordswomen I know."
The King didn't seem convinced. "I'm not sure-"
"I trust them, Dad." Rapunzel quickly said.
"I agree, dear." Queen Arianna added. "After all, Princess Cassandra did bring our daughter back to us after what happened the Dark Kingdom. If Rapunzel trusts them, then so do I."
The King still seemed unsure, but eventually nodded. "Very well. You all may go whenever you are ready. I will tell my guards to leave you alone."
Rapunzel jumped out of her seat and hugged her father. "Thank you! I'm about to get ready right now!" Then she ran off.
Eugene wanted to be pleased, but he wasn't sure if the King was being truthful. From what Rapunzel had told him, he didn't seem like the kind of man to leave his daughter without guards all around her, no matter who she was with.
He would have to tell the others to keep their eyes and ears open when they leave.
Meanwhile, back at the Snuggly Duckling, most of its patrons have gone home, but some have remained, cleaning up or just enjoying a quiet breakfast.
Sideburns and Patchy burst into the pub loudly. When they were inside, they looked around, seemly unimpressed with the place. The both shoved two thugs out of their ways and sat at the bar
"We're closed." Hook Hand asks them. "So get going."
Sideburns spoke. "Not until you tell us what we want to know."
Hook Hand scoffed. "We don't need to tell you anything. So you and your brother, get out."
The two thugs came up to the brothers. But they were prepared. The two men easily pushed the thugs against the walls and held their blades at their throats.
"I suggest if you don't want things to get really ugly really fast, start talking." Sideburns suggested.
"What do you want to know?" Hook Hand demands.
"The Sundrop." He declared "Where is it?"