And this... this is where I'll be, reluctantly, leaving things off. This is the last chapter which I have fully written for this story. As I said at the beginning of this small arc, I had these initially written in August of 2020 with a plan of releasing them periodically when I had finally summed up the arc. There is an incomplete chapter after this one that will... sadly, probably remain uncompleted for an unknown period of time.
Thank you, to everyone who's read, followed, favorited, reviewed... I'm sorry for leaving as I did, but my IRL duties caught up to me, and I made the choice I thought was best for myself and my future interests. And in doing so, I've changed as a person... one day I may return to this with a new passion, a new drive, but that day will sadly not be today or anytime soon...
Goodbye, for now - and as a hopefully not final parting gift, I bring you part 8 of this arc. I know, it sucks being left on a cliffhanger... but this is all I've completed, and I felt it's better to at-least show you guys and gals what I had intended to post but never got the chance to.
Chapter 66 - The Weekend Of: Part 8 of ?
Inside the packed throne room were about a hundred or so guests standing on each side of the aisle. In the middle, leaning up to the two seats for the monarchs, was a purple colored walkway carpet. And at the front, of course, stood King Frederic on the left, and Queen Arianna on the right. In their middle stood Corona's official Royal Priest, a man by the name of Alan Dale, who was the very same man who had actually coronated the two current royal majesties all those years ago.
In the front of the crowd, on the right-handed side of the aisle, stood the close family and friends of the royal family and the Princess. Eugene was the closest one to the middle carpet, with all of Leonard, Isabella (who couldn't miss the special event), Mrs. Osborn (who was sitting in a wheelchair, sadly with her health not having been getting any better as of late) Kiera and Catalina, the Dresonian Monarchs, and last but not least, Rapunzel's Aunt Willow. Close by them stood a few of the important names Eugene particularly remembered welcoming just some time earlier. One of them he could recall being the duchess of Quintonia, a woman he still oddly found to be somewhat familiar, was occupied with fanning herself while looking towards the side-doors off to the side. She looked... irritated for some reason.
As the jousters blew an official tune, Leonard felt a soft and calming presence take hold of his hand. He turned to his side, where Isabella stood silently, staring forward. She looked at him after a few seconds, noticing his staring, and she started blushing immediately. "Is something wrong?"
Leonard blinked, and he looked down to where their hands dangled intertwined. Her eyes followed his, and she gasped, immediately drawing it back, her blush somehow deepening. "Oh, I'm sorry, I must've-" Her voice caught when Leonard re-grabbed her hand with his own, and impromptu fashion, squeezing it.
"It's alright, Bella," he said while smiling at her. "I... I actually enjoy this." He looked down at their now intertwined fingers, "I enjoy not being afraid of..."
"Showing affection publicly," she finished for him in a soft voice. "I understand... because I enjoy it, too."
Leonard's grin turned sheepish, more along the lines of what you'd see from a boy who was currently convening with a childhood crush. Just the sight of such love, of such affection towards her had Isabella scooting closer, and dropping the side of her head on his shoulder with a content sigh.
"I'm so happy I met you," he whispered. She squeezed his hand, showing her agreement by nodding her head slightly as it rested on his shoulder, her eyes still closed. "You and the girls have... quite literally turned my life around into a much more positive direction." Isabella opened her eyes, and lifted her head so she could meet his directly.
"Are you implying your life was..." she trailed off.
"Yes... and no. My life," he chuckled nervously, "my life before I met you, before I adopted the girls... was without meaningful purpose. I was just going through the daily rhythms, the daily grind... but I wasn't going anywhere with it, you know? It got to a point where I was a twenty-four year old non-heir living at home, who was too awkward to converse with other noblewomen his age." His voice lightened, "But when I met you, when I adopted Kiera and Cat, all that changed." He looked over her shoulder to where Kiera and Catalina stood next to Mrs. Osborn. The older woman was talking to them, and after a few seconds, they each lifted their eyes and met his head on, before dropping them back down. "I have a purpose, now. You three give me this purpose I've yearned for my entire life."
Leonard looked back to Isabella, whose eyes were now glistening. "Leonard... I-I don't know what to say."
"Don't say anything... just..." He leaned slightly forward, her eyes and his closing on instinct as their lips cracked ever slightly open while nearing one another, when he felt a little tap on his right pant-leg. He held back a whine as he looked down, where both Kiera and Catalina now stood. Isabella followed his eyes, and blushed immediately in embarrassment before taking to catching up with her wheel-chair ridden mother.
"Dad, Red and I have to go use the bathroom." Catalina stood next to her vocal sister, rubbing her arm as if she was ashamed of such fact, or it was that she disliked the nickname 'Red' being used in a serious manner. It could be both, honestly.
Leonard couldn't help it, and without thinking, he whined like a little kid, for the ceremony would be starting in a mere few minutes with Rapunzel's entrance. "I thought I told you both to go before?"
"You did," Kiera explained straight-forwardly, "but we saw the punch bowl... and..." Guilty smiles broke through both their faces.
Leonard lifted his hand up to his face and rubbed the bridge of his nose in slight irritation, shaking his head. "Alright... if you so insist, I'll take-"
"I can take them."
Leonard's attention was diverted by a lovely, melodic voice of the woman he loved dearly. Isabella was standing next to her mother, who was sitting in silence, smiling in the direction of the front. His father, King Thomas, and his mother, Queen Elizabeth, now seemed to be talking to Rapunzel's Aunt Willow. He asked Isabella sincerely, "Are you sure? I'm more than-"
"Dad, Ms. Bella can take us," Catalina assured, her voice barely audible over the small commotion throughout the room. She smiled at Isabella, who smiled back to her before raising her eyes to once again meet Leonard's.
After taking a second to think, Leonard smiled and nodded his head. "Very well." He took a step and leaned in close to Isabella's ear, "Keep a close watch, if you could, and try to get them back within the few minutes." He kissed her cheek, adding sincerely, "Also, thank you."
Isabella smiled back, "You are very welcome, your handsome highness." Leonard opened his mouth to retort before seeing the playful smile on her face, which was when he coughed out a laugh. He watched as Isabella took the hands of both the girls, leading them back towards the main entrance doors. He didn't take his eyes off them for one second, and such a sight seeing the woman he loved with the two children he's sworn to love and protect with his whole heart... made him think of what all their future(s) may hold.
In the back of his head, he could envision himself waking up next to that sensational woman for the rest of his life.
But that's a conversation for another time. When the three disappeared out of sight, Leonard turned back to the front, sighing in content. To him, there was truly nothing that could ruin this wonderful day, and he found himself hoping now that the after-party of the coronation could be spent in the company of the three most important girls in his life.
Kiera trailed behind both Catalina and Isabella as they walked in the halls towards the nearest restroom. They eventually passed by the small side-hall next to the side-entrance to the throne room, and she saw out of the corner of her eye as Rapunzel stood there with Cassandra helping fix and make last minute adjustments to her dress. And just before Kiera was about to pass the corner, she saw something rather odd. From the wig fell something... blonde?
"What the..." she mumbled.
"Is everything alright, Kiera?" Isabella asked, looking over her shoulder. Catalina looked at Kiera, too, with a slight frown.
"Uhh..." Kiera didn't know what she just saw, but she could've sworn it looked like... blonde hair... but that couldn't be possible, right? Rapunzel had brown hair! "Nothing! I just... really have to go to the bathroom." She gave Isabella one of those looks of urgency, causing the older woman to forcefully take hold of her hand and move faster through the halls.
And it was then that the Royal Priest placed Rapunzel's tiara onto the purple pillow sitting at the helm of a pedestal, signalling the ceremonies' soon beginning.
Cassandra was holding a large clump of Rapunzel's blonde hair, fiddling with it. "This would've been so much easier," she grunted, "with the other girls helping." She forced the hair back up into the wig, and helped Rapunzel straighten it. "But they're such gossips, half the Kingdom would know about your hair by now."
"Are you sure you can't see it?" Rapunzel asked, concerned.
Cassandra straightened her collar. "Positive," she said with confidence, "are you sure you can pull this off, though?"
Rapunzel walked towards the door of the side entrance, and she peeked inside, where her father, mother, and the priest stood just beside her tiara. Her face fell as she backed away, "I have to, Cassandra."
Cassandra nodded. "Just be careful you don't trip on this," she said in reference to the rather large and puffy skirt, which she had bent over to straighten.
"It's... not the dress I'm worried about," Rapunzel said halfheartedly, and Cassandra lifted it up to see her teeter-totting in the rather high heels. "How do people walk in these things?"
"Lots and lots of practice, apparently," Cassandra said, sighing. She stood back up, and in an effort to compose her friend, softened her voice. "Raps, just relax. This is going to turn out fine."
"I can't wait any longer!" an irritated skull-masked thug whined.
Inside one of Corona's prison cells, the few thugs previously seen earlier were sitting down, slowly going and growing impatient. The large one, the clear leader, spoke up next as he looked and pointed a finger at the pointy-nosed associate."This plan better work, Pocket. For your sake."
Pocket's back was to them, and he grinned evilly, staring out of the cell through the bars. "Don't you worry, boys. Lady Caine will not disappoint."
Right next to the closed doors of the main entrance to the throne room, Cassandra stood, giving Rapunzel a nod of support. The heir to Corona's throne breathed in deeply, and exhaled in a fashion to try to rid herself of all the anxiety she now felt about becoming an official Princess. But she knew deep down that starting her new, official life would never limit her from going out and doing what she's been yearning and dreaming about for the past few months: Exploring the world.
"Okay... I'm ready."
Cassandra backed away with a hand gesture to the doors, which two unfamiliar guards then proceeded to pull open. Rapunzel's eyes widened as she caught a better vision of the throne room, and the royal band began to play their official, royal tune with the trumpets. Both her parents eyes jumped to hers, as did Eugene's, who could only murmur a faint "Wow" being in awe at her beauty.
After a few seconds of basking in the new scenery, Rapunzel took another deep breath before beginning her slow trek forward. She almost immediately felt the large and heavy weight the hair was having on her head and neck, and along with the high-heels that were way too high to be considered even remotely safe, she found herself often struggling to keep her balance.
Frederic and Arianna looked at each other in slight embarrassment, and from the front row, King Thomas grumbled and shook his head. Rapunzel's Aunt Willow, being the supportive relative she was, waved a hand, "You're doing great, hun! Keep up the good work!"
It got to a point where some of the guests began speaking among themselves, citing embarrassment for the Princess. Eugene heard some of these loud and clear, and felt a slow burn of anger as his protective side grew slowly. He barely noticed as the supposed duchess of Quintonia mumbled to him, "How embarrassing of her? This is going to take forever."
He bit his lip, holding back a sharp retort in an attempt to stay civil, as per the King's orders. He hated seeing the love of his life like this, with all these official and important fools turning and looking away, talking to each other in disgust about his perfect princess.
Everyone was too focused on the odd sight that was the Princesses' posture that no one noticed the Duchess as she made her swift exit into the halls, before hustling her way down a staircase. She eventually found herself in the prison section of dungeon section of the castle, where the prisoners were held. More often than not, she looked back making sure that no one had followed her. Eventually, she took out her fan, inspecting a map she had drawn herself of the establishment.
It was a few seconds later she came upon the presence of the main doors, where two guards had been positioned. "Hello?" she asked, purposely sounding innocent. "Can either of you boys help me? Oh," she chuckled, "silly me, I must've taken a wrong turn somewhere!" She lifted a hand to her head in pretend angst.
The guard on the right looked to his fellow comrade, before smiling and walking forward. He lowered his halberd, "I'll be happy to help you, madam."
"Oh," Lady Caine said, waving her fan. "You're too kind." Her voice grew sharp at the end as she jumped up and kicked the guard to the floor. Before the other guard had the time to react, she had kicked him against the wall, knocking him out unconscious. Caine grinned wickedly as she closed her fan, and she walked forward to the limp body, reaching down to grab a pair of cell-keys.
Pocket was grinning devilishly as he and the other thugs sat inside their cell. It was then a make-up wearing official of some sort, who he knew to be Lady Caine, walked in and towards their cell.
"Hey, Madam-Poppycock," the large thug said, standing up. He walked towards the make-up wearing lady whom he towered over, scowling. "The party's upstairs." He held back a snort, as did the other thugs in the cell, before he was involuntarily flung against the bars of the cell through a sudden force.
"Gentlemen," Pocket said in a daunting voice. "I'd like to introduce you to... Lady Caine."
Caine growled at the large thug, as he stammered nervously, suddenly fearful. "You-you're a lot stronger than you look, Ms. Caine..." Caine pushed him back, frowning as she then pulled the wig off, revealing her brunette hair that bore one single red stripe.
"I'm a lot of things, pal," she chided. She reached for the keys before inserting the correct one into the cell, opening it. Pocket walked out to greet her, and she placed both hands on her hips, saying darkly, "Time to let the show begin, dear."
Just then, a different guard came rushing in, his eyes widening in realization. He lifted his halberd in defense, "I'll ask you once to get back in that cell of yours!"
The guard seemingly thought he had the upper hand, before six more thugs, including the outspoken largest one, exited in tow. He stood in silence as the same large one spoke in mention of his armor. "That right there... is a nice suit." The guard dropped the halberd in surprise, and the last thing he could remember feeling afterwards was a sharp pain up against the side of the temple of his head.
Rapunzel had finally made it to the front of the room, and she stood just right by where her crown rested on its purple pillow. She turned to the front of the room, waving a hand at Eugene, who gave her a supporting smile in support. She looked slightly to his side, where Leonard stood oddly alone. Her cousin gave her a smile, too.
It was then the royal Priest opened his mouth, beginning his sermon. "The wearer of this crown... is a shining example of the promise... that is Corona: an ambassador,-" Rapunzel lost her balance for a split second, and Frederic and Arianna looked at one another, sharing confused looks, "-of goodwill to those visiting from afar, and an inspiration to those fortunate enough to live within her borders." Cassandra was walking down the main aisle, and Pascal peeked out from his spot behind her head-dress. "But above all,-" Pascal looked back to the door, where an odd-looking man dressed in a guard uniform entered; his face fell in slight confusion, "-the chief responsibility of the crown is to keep the people of Corona safe,-" The odd-looking guard closed the door behind him, and he slid the handle of the halberd in between the two handles of the door, locking it, "-from dangers near and far." Pascal gasped, and he moved his tail to poke Cassandra in her neck as a larger thug-looking guard entered from one of the side entrances. "And there are many."
Cassandra followed Pascal's eyes, and she whispered slyly to him, "Go find Max." Pascal squeaked in response, before jumping off and away.
"This mandate is not to be taken lightly. There will come a day when the walls that,-" Cassandra stopped, standing off to the left side of the aisle. She looked over at Eugene, who caught her eyes, before then darting them to Leonard, who leaned forward as well. She then darted her eyes to the side door and main entrance, where some highly suspicious men dressed in guard outfits now stood. Both Eugene and Leonard's eyes widened, and the Dresonian Prince scooted closer to his friend, "-surround Corona are threatened by malfeasance."
"What's going on?" he whispered quickly.
The Priest continued, having lifted up the crown. Rapunzel was leaning forward, ready for him to place it on her head. Eugene, from the front of the crowd, didn't respond immediately as he stood in silence, his thoughts darting back to that familiar duchess... "A day-"
"Ah-tention, please!"
Gasps could be heard around the room, and Eugene whispered in realization, "Lady Caine..."
"Lady 'who'?" Leonard whispered sharply, shaking his head in disbelief.
From the side entrance, Lady Caine entered, now out of her dress, drawing her sword as a small group of her goons entered with sword and clubs at the ready. Havoc immediately ensued, as different noblemen and noblewomen alike ran amok, fearful for their lives. Eugene was staring at the woman he recognized and knew to be Lady Caine, before his mind darted back to the older woman he considered to be the closest motherly figure in his life. He turned to Mrs. Osborn, who sat wide-eyed and in shock in her wheelchair.
"Leonard, hold the fort," he said before rushing to the older woman's aid. He grabbed the handled of her wheelchair and before Mrs. Osborn or Leonard could even say something in retort, he began to wheel her out of the room.
"Eugene, what about-" Leonard yelped. He jerked his head towards the nearby noises and screams, and he watched in horror as the doors to two of the three entrances were boarded and guarded by these Vermont thugs. He looked all around and about, frightened his parents might've got caught in the cross fire, but he thankfully didn't see them nor Rapunzel's Aunt Willow anywhere inside the large room. They must have gotten out. He saw Cassandra, who was now standing off to the side looking as shocked as he was, before he turned to the front, where a few of the more prominent figures were being detained and pushed onto their knees by a few of the thugs.
"Release my guests, immediately!" Frederic barked. Arianna frowned darkly at the thugs from his side, and Rapunzel looked on the intruders with widened, frightened eyes of her own.
Caine smirked evilly, facing Pocket. "What's the matter, Fred?" She turned around, holding her sword up in an intimidating manner as she made her approach to the royal monarch. "Am I ruining your little girl's perfect day?" she asked sarcastically.
"Who..." Rapunzel murmured, "who are you,-" she looked around the room, as the thugs finished rounding up some of the guests, "-and why would you do this?"
Caine approached her, resting her arm on one knee. "Oh, honey, I'm shocked, hurt even," she said obviously sarcastic, "that you don't know who I am."
"I... I don't understand..." Rapunzel said honestly.
"Of course you wouldn't, Rapunzel," Caine chided. Leonard and Cassandra both scowled fiercely at Caine, as she leaned in close to Rapunzel's ear. "But try to follow along, because this is all... your... fault!"
"What?" Rapunzel asked in disbelief.
"You see, after your untimely disappearance nineteen years ago, your father,-" Caine walked towards the King, who was frowning down to her with a look of murderous intent, "-locked up every half-criminal in the Kingdom." She flicked his royal medallion, eliciting a low growl from the man. "And that list... that list of criminals he captured and rounded up, included a simple, petty food thief." She walked back to Rapunzel, saying quieter, "My father, who only stole so I could eat." Rapunzel's eyes widened and mouth dropped slightly, "Yeah, you heard that right. The food he was stealing wasn't for him, it was for me," Caine growled, her eyes growing slightly teary. She took a few steps away, "I remember watching your father's guards detain and throw him into a jail carriage as if his life meant nothing. And I haven't seen him since that day," her voice grew quieter, more pained in a sense, and she darted her head to the side, "so you can assume what happened to him after."
Rapunzel was at a loss for words. She recalled the conversation she had with her father earlier, how he mentioned he wasn't the man she thought he was. She knew he had done some bad things, some wrongful things in the years after her kidnapping, but hearing it come from one of the victims of such wrong-doing... had a different effect on her. A more impactful effect.
Lady Caine had since walked back next to her goons, and Rapunzel turned her head to her father, whose glare was still deathly. Her mother on the other hand, was now frowning, appearing more sad than angry, now. "Dad... is what she saying true? Did you... actually..."
Frederic's face softened, though the irritation in his voice was still ever so vibrant, "Rapunzel, we will speak about this at another time-"
"Enough!" Caine roared, waving her sword. "My father's gone, and it's all because of you!" She pointed her sword at Rapunzel, before wiping her now teary eyes. She chuckled darkly, approaching, "So, to get my revenge, I thought I'd come back and return the favor, making you suffer the way I've suffered." She snapped her fingers, and on command, a prison carriage rolled in from one of the side-entrances. How they got it in here stumped Rapunzel, but she was too focused on the fright she now felt at Caine's words. She watched as the banners on both sides dropped, revealing iron bars.
Caine gestured her sword in the air, commanding, "Load 'em up, boys!" Obeying her word, a few of the thugs pushed and shoved the remaining guests into the carriage. When every one of them was in and secured, Caine turned to the front, where the family stood. "Your turn, your majesty."
Frederic's look of anger quickly turned into one of complete and utter fear, and as such, he latched onto his nearby daughter. Arianna walked up, doing the same on Rapunzel's other side. "Oh," Caine chuckled, "you didn't think we'd leave the prized pig in the pen, did you?" she asked sarcastically. Two thugs walked up, seizing hold of Frederic.
"Dad!" Rapunzel pleaded, extending a hand. Arianna backed away, looking worse for wear.
"Rapunzel, stay back," Frederic commanded in a low voice.
"But-"
Frederic was loaded up into the carriage, and leaning down on one knee, he replied, "No, there's nothing you can do. As your father and your King,-" he said that word with an added bite, "-I command you to stay put." The carriage door was then slammed shut.
Kiera and her sister were just finishing washing their hands in the bathroom, with Isabella standing just off to the side, when they heard and felt the rumbling of frantic footsteps from outside. Isabella quirked an eyebrow, and she walked over to the door, opening it to see a small crowd of people running by, with a group of guards running in the opposite direction. As such, she gasped in surprise.
"What? What is it?" Kiera finished drying her hands off with a towel, and she ran up to Isabella's side. Catalina did the same, and the two girls both gasped in unison.
"What's happening!?" Catalina asked, panicked.
A guard who had been running by heard her question, and he stopped for a split second to answer. "Some criminals have intruded themselves into the ceremony, Madam, and are holding hostages." Isabella's heart dropped, "You're recommended to leave the nearby area and seek hiding." The guard wasted not a second more to join his comrades in running towards the door's of the throne room.
"Oh... oh my god..." Isabella whispered, stepping back. Her lip was trembling, and she looked down to the two girls, who stared up at her with frightened eyes.
"Ms. Bella, Dad got out in time, right?" Catalina asked.
"Yeah... Dad... Dad can't be..." Kiera whispered, looking on the verge of tears.
Isabella didn't know what to say. Her heart, now, felt as if it was on the verge of breaking and shattering into a million different pieces. The mere thought of Leonard being one of the unlucky souls, and of her...
Mother.
"Mother!" Isabella forcefully grabbed onto Kiera and Catalina's hands, and she pulled the girls into the direction of the room. "Mother! Are you here!?" she yelled, screaming over the ruckus of the faint crowd. Catalina and Kiera were along for the ride, before they eventually stopped in front of a small crowd of guards, led by the horse Maximus and the guard Captain Gainey Jones, who was now giving orders. Isabella could not see Leonard nor her dear old mother nearby, and she was left to fear for the worst as two guards she knew to be Stan and Pete approached the door with a battering ram.
Rapunzel silently gasped after watching the door be slammed shut, and off to the side, Leonard approached two of the uniformed thugs.
"Don't be a hero, pretty boy," the larger one said, raising his sword for intimidation. Leonard lifted his hands up in defense, stopping in his movements, as he then turned and looked to Rapunzel. Rapunzel looked back to him, slowly understanding what he was getting at, nodding her head in response. Leonard then looked back to Cassandra, who in turn, turned to Rapunzel with raised eyebrows.
Rapunzel looked up to her wig, closing her eyes, taking a deep breath before exhaling dramatically. She opened her eyes, lifting her hands up to the wig. "Sorry, Dad," she said, kicking off her heels. She lifted the wig up slightly, "But I can't stay put."
"Rapunzel, no!" Frederic gasped.
With one swift tug, Rapunzel had pulled the wig straight off, revealing to the world her long, luscious locks of blonde, golden hair that shimmered in the sunlight coming from the windows near the ceiling. She moved her head slowly, as if time had stood still right then and there, before clenching her fists and donning a look of determination as she stared intently at Lady Caine.
Arianna, taken aback in shock, stared on, before an eventually smile broke through.
"That's my cousin!" Leonard cheered, jumping up in the air and pumping his fists. "I'm re-lated to that girl! Woo-hoo!"
"I understand what you've been through, Ms. Caine," Rapunzel expressed sincerely. "I sympathize with you, and the King knows that what he did to your father and countless others was wrong." She looked at her father, whose mouth was agape, his eyes widened, as he was seemingly unable to comprehend all that was now going on. She then turned back to Caine, whom of which had since dropped her head. "But this is not the way of going about fixing what happened to you and your family. Think for a second: is this really what your father would've wanted-"
"How do you know what he'd want!?" Caine chided back, jerking her head up to reveal her now slightly teary face. She wiped away the sadness right away, composing herself in a cough. "You don't know anything, Rapunzel! You don't know what I've been through! I loved Corona at one point in my life, but it took that love and spit it out as if it was worth nothing!"
"I know what it feels like to be betrayed by something-" someone "-you loved," Rapunzel said quietly, dropping her head for a split second. She looked to each of her sides, seeing the blonde hair that still to this day reminded her of the witch she thought was once her Mother. "I know what it feels like to be kicked to the ground as if you are meant and worth nothing." Rapunzel lifted her head again, re-extending her hand, "But hurting others... hurting others won't alleviate your pain. If anything, it will only make things worse. Ms. Caine, I can-"
"Shut UP!" Caine roared, pulling on her hairs. She wiped away a few more fresh tears, chuckling darkly, "I don't have to listen to you! I won't listen to you!" She jumped onto the carriage and kicked its side with her boot. "Move out, boys! Mama's gotta get her payday!" She turned to the driver, who nodded his head.
Rapunzel took a second to take a deep breath. "Ms. Caine," she said, her voice composed yet still so serious, "I will give you one... last... chance... to accept my offer. I can help you move forward; I can promise you that you'll face no punishment for your actions today; I can work with you to fix and turn around your life! But I can... I can only do this if you let me..."
There was a short silence. "The time for help passed long after my father's detainment, Princess," Caine finally said, her voice cold. The carriage then began to roll out and away, and Rapunzel sighed.
"Then... then you leave me with no other choice." She grabbed a clump of her hair, and with a flick of her wrist, Rapunzel shot her hair forward, grabbing onto the handle of the carriage. With one swift pull, she threw it wide open.
The carriage stopped in response, and Caine jumped off, growling. "Now you're just making me angry."
"I gave you a chance to listen, but since you want to be uncooperative..." Rapunzel clenched the hair in her fist, as the few people made their exit from the carriage. Frederic in particular helped an older woman step down. She said in a fierce, low determined voice, "Now I'm... just getting started."
Caine pointed a finger to the ground, instructing the two men beside her. "Get those people back in this carriage... now!" The two men nodded, running off.
Rapunzel then ran up to her father, who gasped once more. "Rapunzel! Your... your hair..."
She directed the older woman her father had been helping to the side, "I know, we'll talk about it later. But, Dad, please get yourself and Mom somewhere safe." She took off into a run in a different direction.
"Rapunzel, wait!"
Leonard took the chance to grin rather smugly, mumbling, "Well, I suppose there won't be a better time to finally put my combat training to use." He grabbed both of the thug's heads, who were standing in front of him, and he smashed them together, jumping over their slightly limp bodies while grabbing one of their swords. He then ran forward.
Cassandra deadpanned. "Well,-" she threw off her head-dress, "-my last day on Princess duty, might as well go down fighting." She grabbed a nearby black candle-post and twirled it, before running forward as well.
On one side of the room, a few of the thugs began their approach on a small group of innocents. "Hello, hello, hello," the skull-faced one said, waving his axe. Before he had the chance to even think about using it, though, it was thrown out of his hand via a rope of hair.
"Leave them alone!" Rapunzel cried fiercely. The skull-faced thug ran at her, but she was able to duck out of the way while tripping and tangling him up in a length of her hair. She then ran forward, as both her parents watched on from the front of the room. Frederic was frowning darkly, still, and he took a step forward, only to be stopped by the comforting hand of his wife.
At another end of the room, Leonard and Cassandra stood practically back to back, facing off with another group of thugs. Leonard had his sword in hand, and Cassandra was still wielding the black post.
"So sure you can handle yourself, Cassandra?" Leonard asked lightheartedly, somewhat jokingly.
"Oh," Cassandra chuckled, "I think I'll manage, Princey." She ran forward, knocking an incoming thug to the ground, before spinning back and tripping one of the bigger ones in the process. Leonard was sword fighting two others off to the side; he ducked under one of the thug's swings, and he jumped over the other's as Lady Caine turned and slowly made her approach to Cassandra.
Isabella, Kiera, and Catalina all stood back, watching in fear and horror as Captain Jones barked orders to his men wielding the battering ram. Maximus was standing off to the side, watching intently as well.
"Get that door open, now!" he barked, as Stan and Pete led the ram, hitting it up against the door.
"Dad's going to be okay... he has to be..." Kiera whispered, frightened, perhaps trying to convince herself that such would be the case.
"Iz!" Isabella turned to the other end of the hall, where Eugene made his approach, running up to her.
"Eugene! Thank goodness you're okay!" She pulled him close for a quick hug. When she backed away, her life-long friend ducked on one knee to hug the girls. "Have you seen my Mother? Please, oh please tell me-"
"She's alright," Eugene said quickly, standing back up. He turned to face the door, which was still being rammed with ferocious hits, though they didn't appear to be working yet. "I got her out right before the lock-down; she's with Leonard's parents and Rapunzel's Aunt and a few others in a nearby room."
Isabella pulled Eugene close again. "Oh, thank you, thank you so much. I don't know what I'd do if something happened to her."
Eugene's face grew saddened, and he whispered back over the loud ruckus, "Me neither. Do you know if anyone got out? The monarchs, Cassandra, Leonard... Rapunzel." He said the name of his beloved in a moment of remembrance, and as such, his eyes widened. "Rapunzel!" He ran to the door, nearly getting hit by the battering ram in the process.
"Fitzherbert!" Jones cried in disbelief. Max neighed loudly in surprise, and the Captain immediately pulled Eugene off to the side. "What the hell are you-"
"Stop! Rapunzel's in there, I have to-" Eugene attempted to push past him, but he was stopped by a sympathetic looking Maximus. "Max, bud. I love ya, but you need to let me through."
"No can do, son," Jones said in a softer voice. He grabbed Eugene's arm, "You're not thinking straight; take some deep breaths, and let us, the professionals, do our job." Eugene opened his mouth for a sharp retort, but he heard a sad neigh come from Maximus. That was when he felt a comforting hand on his shoulder, and he turned to see Isabella having scooted up close. He then felt small hands wrap around his mid-section, and he looked down, where both the girls stood hugging him now.
After a few seconds of idle silence and contemplation, he sighed. "Okay... but please, Cap," he said in a desperate voice. His voice grew more quiet, more desperate, "Please get in there, I-I need to...-" his head dropped, "-I need to know she's safe..."
For one of the first times in their history, Captain placed a comforting hand on Eugene's shoulder, his eyebrows furrowed and lip pouted in sympathy. "I know what you're feeling right now, because there's others, like myself, who have their own loved ones trapped in there, too." He gestured his eyes to Isabella and the girls for a split second, before returning them back to Eugene. "I promise you, Eugene. We'll get in." He then turned to the door, where the few guards had stopped ramming for a split second-
"I know this isn't an appropriate time, Gainey... but I'm sorry."
Gainey Jones stared at his still guards, and he replied quietly over his shoulder, "I'm sorry, too, Eugene." He paused for a split second, adding, "For everything." Eugene knew right away what he was speaking of was about that week after the dance where Jones and his guards had whipped him in that cell. They hadn't talked about that week since, deciding to put it in the past, and Eugene hasn't really even thought about since. But hearing the man behind that agonizing week apologize directly to him, loud and clear in the open... put a faint smile of content on his face. He stepped back, with Isabella and the girls still clinging close, and he resumed his watch on the door as the Captain roared another order, and the battering ram hits resumed.
Leonard was standing on the edge of the flower bed, and he deflected a hit from the larger thug's club. The smaller one had jumped up behind, and he acknowledged their presence with a swift kick that sent them flying straight off. The larger thug then came back, swinging and missing at first, before Leonard blocked his second swing. Leonard then jumped right on the thug's back, knocking them to the ground, and he walked a few feet forward.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Cassandra fighting the two armored thugs, and it was a split-second after when they were then sent flying towards his way. "Heads up!" he cried, ducking.
Cassandra spun the black post, and Rapunzel smiled to her friend, before hearing the foul cry of another two thugs. She turned, seeing them approaching two innocents, when she contracted her plan. With one swift swing of her hair up towards the rafters of the room, Rapunzel pulled herself all the way up. She then took two lengthy strands of the blonde rope, and promptly swung them downwards. The two strands of hair wrapped around the bodies of the thugs, and using basic a basic pulley system, Rapunzel jumped down, thus pulling them up to where she just stood. The thugs were then left helpless with no other way down.
To the side, Lady Caine made her approach to Cassandra, who lifted up her post in self-defense.
"Oh, that's cute." Caine juggled her sword before shoving right in Cassadra's direction, and the lady in waiting backed up, dodging each of her attacks. After a few seconds of hitting nothing but air, Caine ducked and tripped Cassandra with her leg. Perhaps without thinking, she threw her sword to the side. Cassandra then jumped up, re-grabbed her post, and Caine swiftly pulled out two hand-fans. They then resumed their short scuffle
Rapunzel was running, when she stopped in the sight of two of the thugs approaching James Rutherford, who was backing away on the ground. She ran to one end of the room, whipping her hair up in the rafters, and she flung herself into the air. She ran off the wall before swinging back, and with one powerful kick, she knocked both of the thugs off to the side.
She stood up slowly, walking forward before feeling a sharp tug on her hair. Frederic gasped, "Rapunzel!"
It was the skull-faced thug pulling on her hair, and Rapunzel's eyes were clenched shut in agony. The split second she opened them, though, she was looking forward at the nearby carriage, and in her sight she saw a familiar looking kitchen utensil hanging from a hook. She grabbed a strand of her hair and whipped it, latching onto the pan's handle, and with a quick pull, she flung it backwards. The metal frying pan connected with the skull-wearing thug's head, knocking him straight unconscious.
Leonard was fighting the same larger thug from earlier, and quickly found himself to be rather outmatched. The thug knocked away his sword with a powerful hit, and it then registered to him that he was in a whole lot of trouble. He clenched his fists, ready to try fisticuffs, when a blur of blondness flew by him, and the sensation of something metal being placed in his hands. He looked down in awe, for he was now holding a slightly rusted frying pan.
"Frying pan?" He looked to Rapunzel, as she was landing. "Why a frying pan!?"
"Trust me, Leo!" Rapunzel called back. "Use the pan!"
Leonard shrugged his shoulders, mumbling, "Well, it's not like I have any other choice." The larger thug swung his sword at him, and with quick decisive maneuvers, Leonard was able to block and defend against all strikes. It got to a point where two other thugs began to surround him in a triangle formation. An idea came to Leonard's mind, and with a carefully calculated throw, he sent the frying pan all around, hitting each of the thugs in the head, knocking them out.
He kicked the useful tool up, admiring it. "How about that? Who knew frying pans could be so efficient!" he joked.
Lady Caine and Cassandra were exchanging blows with one another, before Cassandra was able to catch and knock one of Caine's fans off to the side. The pirate scowled, frowning as she growled loudly, going in for another attack. Cassandra blocked her, holding the post horizontally above her head. Cassandra then moved to strike, but Caine ducked and rolled away, and she blocked another hit. Caine jumped in the air looking to take advantage, but Cassandra knocked the fan out of her hand, before knocking her down to her knees with one swift hit.
Caine took a second to catch her breath, before pouncing at Cassandra. The hopeful guard was ready for it, though, and Caine felt herself be thrown backwards as Cassandra dodged her attack. She hit the ground with a large grunt, and extended her hand to her nearby lost sword, when the bottom of the post's stand was thrown down and encased around her hand.
Cassandra stood over Caine, breathing heavily. "Stay down," she commanded.
Rapunzel landed just to the side, her blonde hair following suit and falling gracefully behind her. The Princess was scowling as she and her lady in waiting looked down to the now seemingly beaten Lady Caine, but her face of fierceness quickly turned to one of sympathy. "Ms. Caine, it didn't... it didn't have to come to this..." She bent down on one knee, and she once again extended Lady Caine her hand.
Caine, who was rather shocked and surprised by the Princesses' still good faith towards her, furrowed her brows in confusion. As did Cassandra, whose breaths were slowing.
"I've learned through my own trials that it's not right to force myself on others who don't want my help..." Caine's breaths slowed, and she pouted her lip in anguish, "But, regardless, there's nothing saying I still can't, at the very least, offer that chance. I can help you, Ms. Caine." Caine darted her eyes downwards, contemplating the Princesses' words for the first time, "I can help you find the closure you need in regards to your father's... disappearance." Caine's face had softened up immeasurably by this point, but at the reminder of her father, her frown turned into something far more ferocious. Leonard walked up to Cassandra's side in the background, and Caine spit up at Rapunzel's face, stunning the princess, before pulling her hand back and jumping backwards.
She stood at the edge of the main door, holding onto the halberd that was being used as a lock. "You can offer me all the help in the world, Princess. But nothing you do can bring my father back from the grave." Without thinking, she pulled the halberd out, and held it up. "This isn't the last you'll see of me-OOF"
*THUMP*
The door was knocked down from the outside, revealing Maximus (with Pascal riding on-top his head) and a few guards flanking him, two of which being Stan and Pete. Rapunzel, Cassandra and Leonard all simultaneously cringed as the the guards immediately ran forward to detain the criminals. Max let out a triumphant neigh, apparently not getting word of the room.
Immediately after, Rapunzel bit her lip and dropped her head in anguish. Cassandra walked up and placed a hand on her shoulder. "You okay, Raps?"
Rapunzel lifted her weary face, "I... I don't know," she said, sighing. A few of the guards walked over to the door, lifting it up off the ground. Lady Caine looked worse for wear, bruised and battered, but the guards now detaining her and the others appeared to have not a care in the world for her injuries. "I can't help but feel... bad. Like... it's my fault that she turned out that way..."
"Rapunzel, you didn't force her into a life of crime and pirating. Taking that path was her decision."
"I know, I know... but... if I hadn't disappeared, then-" Her voice caught when Isabella, Kiera and Catalina appeared in the door's opening.
"Leonard!" Isabella cried. She ran up to her beloved.
"Dad!" Kiera and Catalina cheered, following suit. The two girls crashed into Leonard's midsection, immediately wrapping their arms around for a tight hug.
"Kiera, Cat," he sighed in relief. He nuzzled their hair affectionately, as Isabella came to a halt right in front of him with tears in her eyes. "Bella, oh Bella," he gasped. Isabella maneuvered herself close, and she wrapped her arms around his neck, dropping her head onto his shoulder silently crying tears of relief. Leonard took to rubbing her back, "It's alright, love... I'm okay. Everyone... everyone's okay."
Cassandra was staring on at the scene looking slightly saddened, before taking a deep breath in composure. She turned back to Rapunzel, and was surprised to see her friend no longer standing next to her. It was only when she heard the Queen's soft coos coming from behind did she turn around. Rapunzel was hugging her mother as a few more guards rushed in, helping to escort the remaining guests out safely.
"My sweet girl," Arianna cooed, holding her daughter close. "Oh, Rapunzel..."
"Mom, thank goodness you're okay." Rapunzel backed away, a look of uncertainty growing on her face, "You are okay... right?"
Arianna chuckled, "I'm perfectly fine, dear. But... what about you?" She darted her eyes to the long flowing locks of blonde hair. "How... how did this happen? Your hair..." Her voice wasn't laced with frustration or fear, instead, it was more concerned than anything.
Rapunzel stepped back. She grabbed a strand of the blonde stuff, and rubbed it, as she found herself doing more often than not since its return. "It's a long story... I was hoping to tell you, Dad, and..." Her voice quieted near the end, and Rapunzel felt an uneasy pit in her stomach grow as the room around her deafened into a plaguing silence. Her father, who was standing back away from the crowd with a disgruntled frown, lifted his eyes to the door. As did her Mother, and Cassandra, who did so while turning, and Leonard, Isabella, and the two girls.
Maximus was standing in the open space, and he tilted his head in slight confusion, thinking for a second all the humans were looking at him. It was then he felt a presence walk by him on the right, and he and Pascal both stood still, watching on as the figure came to a halt just a mere few feet away.
..