A Pheasant Surprise

The doctor held up the little suspect brown bottle in his hand. "It's vanilla!" He announced. "Vanilla?" asked Lance.

"Yes," the doctor chuckled. "It's a flavoring often used in pastries. Our resident baker Monty uses it all the time for his cupcakes."

"Oh yeah!" Lance said. He had, had vanilla cupcakes but didn't know the flavoring looked like that.

"What did the peddler whom you got this from look like again?"

Lance described her. "Ah, that's Natalie." The doctor concluded. "She's an older woman who lives on the outer ridges of Corona, right before the border of Saporia, the neighboring kingdom. Sometimes she ventures this far over if she thinks she can make better sales inland. I use her every once in a while to obtain medicinal herbs for my practice. She was probably experimenting with a new spice. You might want to tell her that the enigmatic "fragrant flavoring" she's selling is called 'vanilla'."

"So then it's harmless?"

"Completely." He gave Lance back the bottle. "It probably tasted pretty good in your pancakes."

"Well then, what explains what happened to the princess?" Lance asked.

"Heat exhaustion." The doctor explained. "I think she was pretty near to suffering from a heat stroke."

"That and her," the doctor stopped himself, "something else happened to make her very tired."

"You can tell them doc." Eugene conceded, referring to Varian and Lance. "I don't think Rapunzel would mind. They are some of our best friends."

"Is she? Is she? Is she?" Lance asked excitedly. The doctor laughed good-naturedly. "Yes she's expecting. Her condition is making her more tired as well, is what I was going to say, yes."

"Yes! I knew it! I mean, I thought I knew it and then I thought she might be poisoned," He rambled a bit before saying. "Congratulations Eugene! Congratulations man!" He attempted to high five him and Eugene did high five him back softly, but he directed his attention to Rapunzel still sleeping in the other room, as a way of caution to keep the noise down a little. "Oh right." Lance said under his breath. "She still needs her rest."

Earlier when the doctor had first arrived he immediately went to tend to Rapunzel, while Lance and Varian went downstairs to the lab to figure out the contents of the bottle. He sat down beside the bed and was pleased to see that from what Eugene and Varian had described, her temperature had gone back down and her breathing had returned to normal. He checked her pulse, but as he felt her skin, he suddenly pinched it. Rapunzel had stirred a little. "Why'd you do that doc?" Eugene asked. "Look, son." He pinched her again and Rapunzel again stirred. "Doc would you stop doing that?!" Eugene pleaded irritated, but then he watched.

Her skin after being pinched did not seem to have the normal elasticity of skin. It did not snap back down right away, but stayed up for a moment before slowly returning back to its shape. He signalled for him to pay attention to something else. "And see here." He pointed her mouth. Her lips looked a little wrinkly and dry. He gave him a levelling look. "She's dehydrated son. Go get some water quick." Eugene quickly went out to fetch water at the well Varian had showed him earlier. When he came back, he explained to the doctor that he had already given Rapunzel some water, but he didn't think she'd take any while she was asleep.

"You don't have to worry about that son. When they're semi-conscious like this you can still get them to sit up and drink with help." He demonstrated. Stirring Rapunzel a little, he supported her back and head and gently poured the water down her mouth. She didn't seem to know quite what she was doing, but she drank the water greedily. "That's it. That a girl." The doctor encouraged. Rapunzel fell back asleep, it seemed to Eugene, more peacefully this time. "She's not really showing any tell-tale signs of poisoning son. I don't think that is what this is, but we will know for sure when Varian comes back in." The doctor checked her heartbeat to his satisfaction and the baby's heart. When he checked the baby's heart, something like surprise came over his features, but it looked like intrigue, and not fear. "What is it?" Eugene asked. "Is the baby ok?"

"Oh yes!" The doctor seemed to pulled out of thought. "Yes, yes everything's fine. There's just something...I can't confirm my suspicions yet until she's further along in the pregnancy, but it's nothing bad." He reassured. Changing the subject he scolded Eugene. "You really need to see that she gets more water in her condition. She needs it more. Did she have anything to drink before she took that long walk in the fields?"

"Well she was going to," Eugene muttered, feeling badly, "After she scarfed all those pancakes down at the Snuggly Duckling, but then she threw them all up." Suddenly Eugene realized why Rapunzel was so dehydrated. She hadn't had any water left in her system when she took the walk through the fields. The doctor stared at him as realization stole over his features. It was then that Varian stumbled out of his lab, exclaiming, "It's not poison! It's a spice from the orchid family!"

"It's what I thought." Doctor Kravitz smiled.

That's when the doctor took over and explained to Lance and Eugene what the puzzling substance was from there. Lance was so relieved he had not accidentally harmed the princess. Eugene had been a little unnerved at the troubling estimations of his friend before they found out it was nothing, and was equally relieved. " Yes she will be fine." The doctor assured cheerily. "Regardless she'll need some rest Captain." The doctor stated, back to calling him by his honorific now that others were around. Even when he was scolding him, Eugene preferred 'son'. "She has still been through a lot today. She will wake up on her own when she's ready. Just call on me if there are any further complications, but I don't expect there will be." He tipped his hat, getting ready to leave. Varian got up to help drive him back to town. To Eugene he said,

"You can stay here for the night if you need." He offered kindly. "It's no problem."

"Hey thanks Varian!" Eugene said in surprise. "We'll take you up on that." That reminded him of something else. "Oh hey doc when you go back to town, do you mind notifying the palace that everything's fine? They've probably gotten wind of something gone wrong. Could you tell them that it was just a false alarm and we might stay the night at Varian's to rest up?" A little glumly he added, "I'm just guessing Varian rushing into town with Maximus, probably caused quite the stir?"

He guessed correctly.

"Certainly Captain. I'll let them know." Doctor Kravitz complied. Eugene planned on taking up Varian's offer for two reasons. He didn't know how long Rapunzel would sleep, and after the stress of the day, he wasn't up yet to dealing with the scowl Rapunzel's father would inevitably wear. Especially warranting after their last conversation. First day they had found out they were expecting, and now this, he knew did not leave a good impression. He'd let her rest and face that tomorrow.

"Can I get a ride back too?" Lance asked.

"Sure we'll drop you off first and go back into town." Varian, Doctor Kravitz and Lance's voices faded away as they went out the door. Looking at his sleeping wife and knowing she was ok now gave Eugene a sense of comfort. He stretched out his legs and Pascal crawled on his shoulder resting in a circle with his head down. He thought a good nap might be just what the doctor ordered for him too.

Rebekah Humphert was busy. It was dusk now and the sun was just starting to set. She found a hooded cloak and discreetly met with their other palace spy at the borders of the town to see if she could confirm any news regarding Rapunzel's health. It turned out the palace had picked up on that something was wrong, and then almost just as fast, gotten word that Rapunzel's health scare was only a false alarm. Nothing serious. A little heat exhaustion was all. 'So it wasn't poisoning after all.' She thought. "Aw, did our little flower wilt?" She cooed meanly.

The spy was able to confirm that Rapunzel was pregnant. She continued to catch up on other news with the spy. After their meeting adjoined, she went further into the wood and took out a broad brimmed hat and leather jacket she had hid underneath her cloak. They were Antonio's. She put them on over the cloak to better hide her face. She fitted into them better than she expected. Antonio was a small man. Waiting nearby were her gardener's mule and old wagon she had borrowed. She drove the mule hitched to the wagon to the tailor's shop, careful that she was not watched. Most shop owners had closed down for the evening and were at home eating their suppers with their families. In his haste, Antonio had not locked the shop door before he left. "Idiot." breathed Rebekah.

She went inside the shop. There was just enough sunlight to see inside. She carried out a few of the finest bolts and pelts of clothing and placed into her wagon, as well as the tailor's box of measuring tape, pin cushions, needles and thread. She pulled out the piece of paper her father had written up during his rampage to Antonio. She shook her head. Her father was brilliant, but he had no control over his faculties sometimes. She knew she had the same acumen, but possessed something her father had not.

She knew that passion did not have to burn hot. Passion could be cold. Flames were bright and consuming, but quickly burned out or were stamped out. Ice could last for months, and completely changed the atmosphere in subtle, often undetectable ways, even after it had come and gone. She posted the note her father wrote on the tailor's door. She noticed a large Coronan stamp. That was right. The princess had cajoled most of the shop owners into some ridiculous scheme, in lieu of helping charities. Rebekah saw through it. Though it was extremely popular among other members of the court, who felt their guilt assuaged with the idea that they were helping charities by merely purchasing things to uptick their status. Rebekah would have to put an end to that.

If they were truly to undermine the royal family, they could not have symbols or reminders of them everywhere. After being satisfied that she was not seen, she began to ride back home. When she reached her house she went straight to the parlor room to find her brother lounging inside. There was a fire in the fireplace burning. Rebekah couldn't wait to take the tailor's filthy hat and leather jacket off and throw it in. It bothered her brother with the horrible smell it gave off as it burned, but it was worth it. He was about to leave the room, when he saw her pick up her favorite hat with the cream colored ribbon, and with only a little hesitation, throw it in the fire as well. "What are you doing? I thought you loved that hat?" He asked astonished. "I did." She responded not looking up at him but watching the flames. "But I think it is time for a new one." She turned to him. "I will have to pay a visit to Madam Estrada soon."

In downtown Corona, a page boy loitered in the plaza playing with jacks. All his friends had gone home, but he wasn't ready. If he could just learn to scoop up three jacks with one toss of the ball, he knew he could be the best. In the corner of his peripheral, he thought he saw the cantankerous tailor with a wagon outside his shop. He made sure he stayed outside of the tailor's vision. The man was not friendly.

He was sure if the tailor saw him, he'd find some excuse to yell at him. Old age was not worn well on him. The tailor seemed to more grace than the page boy was used to seeing. It made him a little curious. He also noticed that the old man seemed to be emptying out his shop. Well whatever the tailor was doing, it was none of his business. He went back to playing with his jacks out of sight until twilight. He'd better get home or his mother would kill him. On his way home, curiosity got the best of him. In the receding light, he saw that there was a note posted outside the tailor's shop door. Straining in, he could barely make out that it read, "Gone back home to Italy. Retired in old age. Will not be returning."

"Eugene? Eugene?" Rapunzel called. Eugene woke up with a start. He beheld his wife smiling at him. "Rapunzel? You're awake! You're ok!"

"Yes," Rapunzel answered frowning a little. "I'm ok. Just a little embarrassed is all."

When she first woke up, she felt so refreshed, but she did not know where she was. Then it all came back to her. She saw Pascal and Eugene stretched out, snoring in a chair, matching bits of drool hanging at the edges of their mouths.

"How long did I sleep exactly?" She asked.

"Oh probably around four or five hours?" Eugene answered hesitantly.

"Four or five hours?!"

"The doctor said you had heat stroke. Or almost did. He said it was worsened by your condition and to let you sleep. You and baby needed it."

A flash of panic hit Rapunzel. "The baby? Our baby?" she asked worried.

"The baby's fine." He moved closer to her and felt her belly. He did not tell her about the flash of intrigue he saw on the doctor's face earlier, when he himself didn't know what it meant. There was no need to worry her unnecessarily. "Hey princess! You're awake!" Varian poked his head in. It was dusk now and the sunlight was falling fast. "Varian!" Rapunzel greeted and then added, "I am so sorry."

"No I am sorry princess. We should have offered you water earlier. I had no idea you needed it like that."

At his implication, Rapunzel looked at Eugene in question. "He knows you're pregnant sunshine. I hope you don't mind. Lance does too."

"Lance?"

They told her the whole story. Including the part where Varian raced into town with Maximus inquiring after the doctor.

"Oh boy!" Rapunzel ran her hands through her hair. "My father is going to kill us! Right after he just told us what he was worried about!"

"I know." Eugene agreed, following her thought process like his own. "The good news is...we are welcome to spend the night here." Giving her what he hoped was his most winning smile.

"Varian is that true? Did you offer that to us?"

"You bet princess!" Was his automatic response.

"Oh that's great! Thank you so much! But what about my parents? They will be worried when we don't return."

"They've been told." said Eugene. "They've been told it was a false alarm and that we might spend the night here to rest up."

"Really?" Eugene and Varian nodded.

"Well then it's settled then! Thank you so much!" She hugged him for the second time that day. Then just as quickly she let him go, distracted by something. "What is that smell?"

"Oh that?" Varian thumbed toward the kitchen. "That's my father cooking. He's actually an excellent cook. Kind of surprising right? Him being a warrior and all."

"Oh Varian I'm famished! Do you mind if we join in?"

"Oh yes," Varian's tone told her she needn't have asked. "The dinner's for all of us!"

The went into the kitchen. It was a largish room, well lit by a fireplace. Rapunzel realized that she hadn't been inside Varian's house much except for his lab. The actual house itself, which they were not in currently, was more like a castle-like manor.

When Quirin moved to Corona he had bought it from a property barrister who had been entrusted to it by his late lord, an old incorrigible bachelor who had died without any children. At the time Quirin bought it, he imagined it full of children, including making it a suitable place to stay for the prince, his king's son. Then his wife died and Quirin felt all those dreams were for naught. It was just him and Varian, and while he was grateful for his baby son, the vast living space felt cold and lonely. He and Varian moved into the little cottage in front of the expansive manor. The cottage was meant to be the servant's quarters. It was close and intimate, but perfect for he and Varian. When Varian got older he constructed his own lab in the basement.

The little cottage was what Rapunzel, Eugene, Varian and Quirin were in now. The kitchen inside had a rough thick slab square table with benches instead of chairs. Rapunzel felt it was a kitchen where two males lived because there were no armoires or fine china cabinets here. The only shelves were hastily hewn utilitarian planks thrown on the walls without any cabinet doors.

Pots and pewter dishes and mugs sat flatly on them in clusters. Two seasoned partridges cooked on a spits in the fireplace. Quirin was bent over a stove with all sorts of pots and pans, some of which were bubbling over. It was slightly evocative of Varian cooking something up in his lab. except it all smelled great! And there were no eggs. Rapunzel thought, laughing inwardly. Steam rose up as Quirin dumped out some water that had been boiling vegetables. He had sliced and prepared some turnips, seasoning them with sugar. "Princess!" He turned once he saw her. "You're awake!" He bowed by crouching on one knee. "Quirin you don't have to bow." Rapunzel smiled. "Thank you for the use of your home. And for this food! It looks fantastic! What is all of this?"

There was roast pheasant spiced with sage, rosemary bread was baking in the oven, peach compote was bubbling on the stove, brie cheese was on the table, to be served along with the sweetened turnips, and fig pudding for dessert. Rapunzel was stunned. "How did you manage all this?" She asked rhetorically, impressed. It must have taken at least a couple of hours.

"Yeah and that reminds me, Quirin, when did you return? I looked for you, but didn't see you anywhere in the house earlier." Eugene wondered.

The old knight exchanged a look with Varian. "Varian and I take turns going back and forth between here and the Dark Kingdom to tend to the crops here and there. I just returned a few hours ago when Varian told me what happened and you both were sleeping."

"I can't thank you two enough for your service to Corona." Rapunzel exulted. "And to the Dark Kingdom, I guess too." She nudged Eugene playfully.

"It's our pleasure and duty princess." Quirin bowed his head. They set to eat. Everything was as delectable as it smelt. Everyone also made sure Rapunzel had enough water and milk with her meal, and though Rapunzel knew she was fine, she humored them. She shared some of her sweetened turnips with Pascal. The lizard happily snapped them up. The princess herself really was famished and ate everything far quicker than she meant. She blushed, as her second helping was already gone from her plate. No one paid any heed though, and Rapunzel thought that even Quirin must know now that she was pregnant. 'So much for keeping everything a secret until later.' She resigned to herself.

As they had consumed the last piece of rosemary bread, the crust snapping and flaking to reveal a steamy and soft porous middle, Quirin set bowls of fig pudding in front of them. Rapunzel felt pretty full, but out of courtesy she took one bite. Then another and another. It was a sweet complex taste that had just the right mixture of saccharine and spice. "Ok Quirin, you will have to tell me how you made this fig pudding! It's wonderful! I can never get mine to be that addicting. How did you get to be such a good cook? I should have had you cater to my wedding." She raved. Quirin shrugged embarrassed, "Oh no, I don't like cooking for more than a few people," he protested, but admitted, "I guess Varian's talents for mixing elements together comes from somewhere."

As Rapunzel and Quirin swapped cooking questions and tips, Eugene was grateful to have his wife back. The heat exhaustion hadn't slowed her at all. She was back to her joyful, irrepressible self. He was glad she held down everything too. He noticed she blushed after she finished her second helping, in what, for her, was record time. He almost blew his lips outward in humor and disbelief that she thought that was gluttonous. He had eaten so much, it was obvious that he was hungry enough to eat a horse!

'Horse! Oh that's right Maximus!' He came to his senses. The poor animal had probably been worked to a foam with all the running back and forth from near the palace to Old Corona. He wondered if the beast had anything to eat or drink since. He quietly snuck out to check. As he walked around outside in the twilight air, he began to panic a little when he couldn't find Maximus anywhere. It could be because it was dim, the barest amount of light still peeked above the horizon. He looked all around and was about to go inside to ask the hosts if they knew where he was, when he saw something like a newly constructed stable out of the corner of his eye, right next to the orchard. He went to check it out. It was a stable. Inside, he was surprised Varian was already there mucking it out. He had assumed the boy had went to his lab after dinner. "Hey Eugene! What a day huh?"

"Yeah, no kidding." He stepped further inside. Inside the first stall he saw Maximus fast asleep. He noticed an empty feed bucket next to the horse, fresh water and hay. He also saw a black horse and a brown horse in other separate stalls. They looked a little familiar. He never remembered Varian and his father having horses before. He'd get to that later.

"Varian did you feed Maximis?" He asked. Varian replied the affirmative, along with their other horses. Eugene was glad Maximus was getting rest, but chided himself a little as this was the second time today he was oblivious to need. He rubbed the horse's neck softly. Not even a father yet, and it seemed like he had a long way to go. He decided to ask the second question on his mind. "Varian since when did you and Quirin have horses?"

"C'mon Eugene," Varian said in disbelief. "You didn't think we could do this expansive farming without horses did you?"

Eugene shrugged. "Maybe oxen?"

"Well that too," Varian conceded. "Well anyway my father uses them too to travel to the Dark Kingdom. He is still is too afraid to travel by balloon." He smirked good naturedly. It was funny to him that his father, a strong warrior who had seen battle, amongst other things, was afraid of heights. "Oh! So that's why you had to use Maximus! Your dad was still travelling back with your horses." Eugene interrupted.

"Yup," Varian confirmed. "Anyway," he continued, "The king and queen gave us these to help with the efforts. That, the stable and few hired hands to help with the work load."

Eugene nodded. Was everyone this productive around him? Geez, he guessed he needed to step it up.

"Whelp I'm bushed." Varian said. "I'm headed off to bed. Good night!"

"Good night for team awesome huh?" Eugene called back, harkening to their old nick name from the past. Varian smiled as he walked off. Eugene wouldn't have blamed him if he argued with that sentiment. Varian had done the most today. All Eugene had done was tell Varian to get the doctor and well, slept. He was about to head back to the house when he heard a soft voice call out to him. "Eugene? Is that you?"

"Yes sunshine." He answered. "Just checking on Maximus."

It was dark now and difficult to see.

"How's he doing?"

"Fast asleep, but fed and watered."

The princess sighed. "Eugene I'm sorry."

"Sorry? Sorry for what princess?"

"I should have taken better care of myself. I was just so determined to get out here and make sure everything was alright."

"Well as far as checking on the crops goes, mission accomplished right?" Cheered Eugene. "Just had a side bar in there, that was all." She laughed. They held each other close and walked under the starry night sky. Night time birds and bugs made their chirping noises. Pascal tried to catch a few of the latter. The moon was on its waxing cycle and was starting to form a half circle. "Eugene?"

Eugene turned his head toward her by way of response. He could tell she was hesitant about something. "I'm not tired." He guessed it shouldn't have surprised him, after she slept four or five hours. Come to think of it, he had woke up just recently too and needed to key down before he could sleep again. "Could we take a walk?" She asked, curious to see if he was up for it. He thought of turning her down, not so much for his sake, but because of the type of day they had. Just then, a shooting star flitted across the expanse of sky before them. "Oh Eugene." Rapunzel breathed as she saw it. How could he say 'no' now? It seemed fate was against him.

"Alright Rapunzel where to?" He asked airily.

Dark Purposes and a Wedding of Starlight

All Phineas Humphert said when his daughter brought back the news of princess Rapunzel's confirmed pregnancy and recovery was, "Too bad it wasn't poisoning. We can not have the royal line continue." As he attempted to continue in his machinations, he was currently consumed with a different hatred. It was a hatred for that putrid smell! He took pride in that his daughter was thorough in everything, and did what she was asked, but did she have to make her point so demonstratively? There were plenty of compost piles she could have thrown the man's clothes into instead of the fire! She and he looked over the bolts and pelts she had brought from the tailor's shop. He was very pleased at what she chose to acquire. Additionally he thought that the note would do the trick, and stave off any suspicions. However there were still some loose ends. "What about what you left in the shop? What was there?"

"Some course materials, cheap fabric and scraps only. Not enough to bother with, though it may fetch a few farthings. It is not anything you or Wolfgang would bear to wear."

"No, I doubt it." said Phineas. The stink of the burning leather was really getting to him. They were in an upstairs room and it still wafted into there. He could hear his wife coughing from it down the hall. An idea came to him. Partially because he was a man quick to act once he put his mind to it, and partially because he needed to get away from the smell, he decided to pay their new houseguest a visit.

He hoped the air would clear by the time he retuned. He took a few of the finest bolts that Rebekah had brought back with her from the shop, to show Antonio they were already emptying it out and that everyone would believe he had retired. Taking a lantern he climbed down to his dark, clammy basement. The door to it was a trap door placed under a rug. The manor was old enough the basement was once part of a secret hiding place in case the manor found itself under enemy attack. It also had a pair of manacles that had been driven into the wall in case of a need to keep a prisoner.

Phineas wouldn't be using those on the tailor's partially arthritic hands. He had work for the tailor to do. Lord Phineas had the insight to keep this place a secret even from the servants. He knew that often servants were the first to betray great families. Besides the servants had their own storage basement underneath their own quarters. Walking down the mold covered steps, there in the shadows playing off of firelight from his lantern onto the wall, he found Antonio sitting on his haunches, wringing his hands.

"C'mon Antonio, it's not as bad as all that." He carelessly dumped the tailor's shop stuff out near Antonio. "We are clearing out your shop since you have decided to relocate here! It is really good to have the tailor so conveniently near us now."

"Let me go!" The man choked out, sobbing. He stopped wringing his hands for a moment, and rubbed his arms. He missed his leather jacket. It was why he was sitting this way to warm up.

"Oh you know why I can't. Good news though. We have decided to patron you."

"Patron me?"

"Yes that is correct. In fact we were patrons of yours this whole time. We supported you and your work so much, that we invested into your business ventures. In a stroke of gratitude, now that you are retiring, you decided to give the shop and all its contents to us."

"I did not!"

"Oh come now. A man of no imagination. Don't you ever think of designs, tailor, before they're even cut from the fabric? Well this is a design of our fabrication. Here it is- you have decided to give us all your possessions and you will prove it by putting it in writing." Phineas forcefully handed Antonio a pen and paper. "If you even think of refusing, know that I can send Wolfgang into to cheer you. I feel that you two have a burgeoning relationship? Or is the word bludgeoning? I can never remember."

"What are you going to do? How long are you going to keep me in here?" Antonio asked. If everyone believed he was retired, with his shop closed and stuff gone, no one would ever look for him.

"Oh, you are safe as long as you remain useful. This is the first step to remaining useful." Phineas knew he had to get Antonio to write up this sort of legal document. He couldn't take his chances on a notary noticing that this wasn't Antonio's handwriting. He pushed the paper at him more aggressively. "Write down your generosity to us here. You do know how to write don't you?" Antonio thought of lying and saying he didn't, but knew it was likely that they had found his customer journal in the shop. He did not want to he manhandled again by that man's horrible son. He grabbed the pen and paper with a sob. "What are you going to even do with all of it? What its use to you?"

"Well Antonio, a small portion of it we will keep, but we are a generous people. We will find a use for the rest of it somewhere and the people will love us for it. I think it's time we take a page from princess Rapunzel."

"Hmmm." Rapunzel tapped a finger on her chin. She was pondering on where they could go on their walk. She brightened as she thought of something. "This way. That shooting star gave me an idea."

"Uh oh." Eugene teased.

Undeterred Rapunzel carried on, "Plus, didn't that shooting star remind you of our wedding? The second one?" She laughed.

They had held it at night on the spot outside the Dark Kingdom's castle where Eugene had almost died.

Close to two years ago, Eugene drifted back into consciousness to a pain colored reality. Everything smarted. Everything was acutely sore. "Uh, that was thoroughly unpleasant." He rolled over grunting. King Edmund had attacked them on their introductory trip to the Dark Kingdom. Not understanding he was attacking his own son, he had been ruthless. Rapunzel and her friends had gotten safely to the other side of the cliff, over a tremendous gaping crater that could only be traversed over using tenuous gondolas, suspended on wires.

Eugene stayed behind on top of the gondola they had been on, as a distraction to see them safely off. The king had cornered Eugene, raising his ax to kill him, and then the wire to the gondola snapped. They fell. Eugene didn't know how many feet they had fallen when they crashed on what seemed a natural plateau stretching out from the sheer face of the cliff side. He would find out, it wasn't a natural plateau, and the man with the ax wasn't who he thought. The conspicuous land form was actually once part of a side entrance to the castle, carved out of the side of the cliff.

He had also just met his father. The man with the ax informed him, recognizing Eugene just in time. 'Not the best introduction to King Edmund' Eugene thought. But they had bonded since then and buried the past. The idea of having the wedding held on this plateau was part of that. The whole trip from the first wedding to the second, was about redeeming memories. Rapunzel couldn't think of a better way to build a better legacy in the Dark Kingdom then starting with a wedding! She had thought she might have lost Eugene in that fall. They decided the darkness of that moment would be overtaken by new memories. The memory of where he almost lost his life, would be supplanted by the memory of starting a new life together. It was where he had found his family after all. Now they would start a new family here as well.

His father's workman reconstructed the plateau, placing guardrails around, expanding bit by bit and making it safe. It turned out that it was already a safer place than most of the other outside areas, even parts of the castle, since it protruded from the side of a cliff, it wasn't as affected by black rocks or their sudden disappearance. They set up seating and a long runner of white lacy fabric for Rapunzel to walk down the isle on. It would be a more intimate wedding than the stately wedding in Corona. It was still a small kingdom, grasping at the beginning stages of its fledgling rebirth. Their wedding would be a symbol of renewed hope as they recovered in the ruined backdrop of bygone grandeur.

Since there were only a handful of guests, the guests all helped with wedding's set up and most were part of the wedding party. It was decided King Edmund would give Rapunzel away. Rapunzel's parents attended the first wedding, but had to stay in Corona for the second. They sent their regrets. Lance was Eugene's best man. Lance's girls, after many protests, played the part of flower girl and ring bearer. Red was the ring bearer and Angry, Rapunzel decided, was at once the cutest and most petulant flower girl she had ever seen. The Brotherhood were all there, putting down swords to set up wedding chairs and reception tables. Varian was set to light the candles. Cassandra, Rapunzel's best friend and former handmaiden was her maid of honor.

The Lundars were the only family Rapunzel hadn't met that were invited to attend, with the exception of Adira Lundar. Rapunzel still couldn't believe the warrior and Eugene were cousins once removed! The Lundar's large extended family, many more than the ten Eugene had met, made up the bulk of the wedding guests. She found their reactions to her and Eugene mixed. Some were kind and accommodating, while others were haughty and untoward. One of the Lundars more kindly and accommodating members was Elipta Lundar, a beautifully tall woman, in a gold dress, who towered over Rapunzel much like Adira did. Her white hair was spun in a single, huge braid that she threw over her shoulder. Her hair was so thick it looked like it would burst from the braid at any moment. It made Rapunzel miss her own hair a little. She had an idea for Rapunzel's walk down the isle. The idea was for the wedding to be candlelit at night, but Elipta asked Rapunzel, "What if we start it at dusk?"

"I suppose we could," Rapunzel said, "But why?"

"I'll show you why." Elipta said with a sparkle in her eye. She turned Rapunzel around to look at the gates of the side of the castle and then moved to show her to walk inside. Led by Elipta, Rapunzel went down a short corridor, lit by three round stain glass skylights Eugene had seen when he first walked in the castle. They were luminous enough with the sunlight casting a soft blue light through them into the shadowy hall.

However, Rapunzel had never seen the last of the cylindrical skylights, at the end of the hall, before several flights of stairway begun. She hadn't really gotten to explore the castle when they were here last. Depicted within it was a crescent moon and stars. Little blue crystals hung from it glinting with reflected light as they swung down. Rapunzel touched one of them with the utmost care. It was cold to the touch, but light prisms beamed from the crystals, radiating in her hand. She felt like she was holding light itself, and, she felt that she had a little experience with that. "It is amazing isn't it?" Elipta noted.

Rapunzel agreed.

Elipta explained, "This is a secluded spot. It was my secret spot. I would come through this entrance as a child and spend hours here reading, or painting, fascinated with the different transmissions of light. When it's dusk, the sun hits this skylight most directly, creating a spotlight you can see from outside, especially when the gates are open. This hallway's a short enough way in for it to be seen from out there." She smiled at Rapunzel with the same twinkle in her eye from earlier.

"If you want this wedding to be just as special as the first, I would stand under that spotlight at dusk and then walk the processional from there. It will make you glow, and Eugene won't be able to resist you!" She laughed. "I always imagined something like that for myself." She admitted. "With a different guy of course!" She finished chortling.

"Oh you will! Who knows? Maybe this will be the wedding spot of the Dark Kingdom when you all are fully established again."

Elipta shook her head. She confessed she had her doubts about it ever being fully restored. She brought her voice down to a whisper. "We are running out of money."

"What? The Lundars?" Rapunzel tried to exclaim quietly to match the woman's tone.

"No, everybody, including a few noble families you haven't met yet, who contribute to the cause, and King Edmund. Soon we will not have enough to pay the workmen, and then I do not know what will happen. We had our savings and stores. Edmund had a lot that he meant to give his wife and son over the years and had only used little of it after they were both lost to him. Now however even those savings are being depleted, what with building the bridge, and some of the housing, and now working on reconstructing this side entrance."

"Oh no!" Rapunzel cried, knowing they were doing that last project for her. "I didn't mean for our wedding to be part of the problem!"

"Oh no, it's not." Elipta reassured.

"We needed to reconstruct this side entrance anyway. It used to be the look-out over a moat that used to be here."

"A moat! That's what this canyon used to be?" She looked over the edge surprised.

"Yup. If we start getting more rain again, if the plants start growing, we have hopes that it will fill up again."

"I have hope for that too!" She encouraged. "I know everything will work out. I just know it!"

Elipta gave a sad smile, but seemed to allow herself to internalize the encouragement.

"Well I guess you know a thing or two about hope, when all looks hopeless huh?" She snorted. "There's this ridiculous rumor going around now that you once brought Eugene back from the dead!"

Rapunzel was about to say something when Cassandra her friend and former handmaiden, came into view. "Alright Rapunzel," she spoke in her famous clipped tones. "It is time for the rehearsal." Rapunzel loved the comfortable familiarity of Cassandra keeping her on task again. When Cassandra was her hand maiden she always helped Rapunzel to focus with an impressive efficiency. Rapunzel had the ideas and Cassandra knew more how to implement them. Her direct, no-nonsense attitude had always complimented Rapunzel's inexhaustible patience and warmth. Well almost always. They had a falling out a while back, but Rapunzel was willing to forget it all. She decided that a big part of it was that she really should have known that Cassandra was capable of being much more than a simple handmaiden. She was meant to be a warrior and adventurer. Cassandra left her service after defeating the demon together to do just that.

She was keeping the nature of her quest with Adira under wraps for some reason, but from her tone it sounded dangerous. She was not in her habitual green huntsman type outfit today, but in a simple blue dress for the rehearsal, that matched Rapunzel's simple white dress. Rapunzel would wear her real moon-wedding dress tomorrow. Cassandra's dark wavy hair was cut just above shoulder length for practicality. Her dark green eyes engaged Rapunzel with the acknowledgement of their friendship and with the expediency of their present task. "Ok Cassandra, I'm ready!" Rapunzel replied. "Although change of plans for the day of the wedding. We'll have it at dusk!"

Dusk the next day came. Candles were still lit all around in preparation for nightfall. The iron gates of the castle were closed. Red and Angry, or Kiera and Catalina, came from the back of the plateau to walk down the isle to fulfill their respective duties. Angry tried her best to have a good attitude, but wound up rigidly placing a single flower down, one at a time, distanced a good space apart. She would not toss them. After passively aggressively putting down four or five flowers, she rushed to the front in relief. Except for Cassandra, there weren't really any members of the wedding party to walk down the aisle before Rapunzel and King Edmund, so Cassandra decided to stand up at the front before the processional started, along with Lance and Eugene.

Dramatically the gothic iron wrought gates of the castle hinged open and revealed the bride. It echoed the first wedding, except the sunlight beaming down on Rapunzel through the filter of the blue stain glass, made her look absolutely ethereal, as if truly from a dream. Eugene didn't think he could be any more in love with his wife. The blue opaque crystals shimmered around her, seeming like magic.

The purplish opal stones embedded in the silver offshoots of his late mother's tiara, paired with the sheer silver starry veil, haloed around the softness of her earthy brunette hair. The long luminescent blue dress she wore, made her look as if she might be part of the blue haze that cascaded upon her. She had been the Sun Drop and now she looked like starlight reincarnated. Her mystery and beauty brightening the atmosphere in a glow. She stood against the backdrop of the immense castle stairway.

It was impossible not to be enchanted, the spell only breaking when King Edmund came into view to walk his daughter-in-law down the aisle. Eugene closed his mouth after he realized it was gaping open a little, but felt a little less embarrassed when he realized Lance's was doing the same. "You better treat her right Fitzherbert." Cassandra whispered across the aisle in the dry way she only could. He rolled his eyes and thought of saying they were already married, but swallowed his comeback for now. Cass and he would always have a brother and sister like relationship. He still wore his white tux that he had worn in first wedding. White was the color of the moon, he reasoned. It seemed fitting. He didn't think of ordering a new one. It really didn't matter.

As she stood beside him the guests oohed and awed over what a vision they were and how well they paired together. As he lifted her veil he was struck again by her eyes. In this setting her green orbs had the effect of two green islands of respite, in a sea of bluish hues. The sun was setting rapidly and its last vestiges of light crowned behind them. The kiss was no less passionate for it being the second wedding. It was only for a few seconds, but when they had ended, darkness had settled. Candlelight illuminated the cliff side in an exchange with the sunset. Breathless, they barely heard the cheers when they were announced man and wife. They walked down the aisle arm in arm and everyone sat down on tables set up for the reception. As guests went up to wish them well, they congratulated Rapunzel and the men heckled Eugene. "So she's got you so whipped that you had to marry her twice huh?" One said. "You know, Eugene most grooms have cakes, but you had to go all out and have a groom's wedding?" Lance gave him a hard time.

"Ha! These are her friends too," Eugene noted.

"Yeah but it's your kingdom!" Lance countered.

If they had looked they would have seen Egbert Lundar's back stiffen with that comment. If they had also looked they would have seen Eugene was not the only one spellbound by Rapunzel. After his second cousin's bride had appeared, Egbert realized that as much as he had come to loathe Eugene, he was increasingly enraptured by Rapunzel.

Eugene and Rapunzel ate precious little at the reception. Everyone wanted to talk to them. Everyone wanted to give them their blessings, remember old times and catch up on new ones. The meal was served in courses and in all the ruckus the main course was taken away from them before they had a chance to eat it. Inside the castle, beyond the short corridor where Rapunzel started her processional, several flights of stairs led to where extra wedding food was laid out. It was placed there because there simply was not enough room on the plateau for everything. Some of the Lundars and volunteer workman were kind enough to bring any extra plates of it down if any were needed, but every time the groom and bride tried to ask, they were given another well-intentioned congratulations. The request remained unspoken.

Finally Eugene whispered to Rapunzel, "I think I can sneak upstairs and bring back something. Would you like any?" She gratefully answered "Yes please!" wholeheartedly.

"Hang on Fitzherbert," Cass said, hearing the whole thing as she was also sitting at the wedding party table. "Let me go with you. I can ward off any well-meaning hangers on."

"Well thank you Cass." Eugene responded, pleasantly surprised. Lance was already up from the table chasing down Adira. He had an unrelenting crush on the woman, which Eugene didn't get at all, since she was decades older than him. Then again, if Lance married Adira, he guessed they would be officially family..."Fitzherbert stay on task!" Cass ordered when she saw him daydreaming. He sighed. "You really are the same old Cass aren't you?" After a moment he insisted, "That's a good thing! That's a good thing!" They went up the stairs, and he hadn't even finished going up the last step when Cass confessed she had other intentions in following him up here. This couldn't be good. "Alright Cass what is it?" He looked around the room, empty except for food platters. "We're alone, so you have me. I'm all ears. What is it? You want to chew me out for marrying Rapunzel? Did I feed her the cake the wrong way or something?"

"No Fitzherbert, I wanted to congratulate you too. Although not on the wedding, though I guess it's about time for you and Rapunzel." She shook her head. "No I wanted to congratulate you on being appointed Captain of the Royal Guard." Eugene was a little taken aback. He knew it was once a position she dreamed of for herself. "Ok Cass, I get it, where's the punchline? They put a 'cap' on how low they could go when they hired me? I must have stole the position? What?"

"No Fitzherbert, I really mean it. I think you will be a good Captain of the guard. You have the bravery for it." That stunned Eugene a little. She continued. "Just not the tactics."

"There it is." He resigned. He made it obvious he was still listening but started to walk towards the wedding platters.

"No Eugene I just want to give you some advice. Call it my duty as the daughter of the former captain of the guards."

"Ok I'll bite." He said, grabbing the wedding platters he wanted, then setting them back down temporarily.

"Look Eugene, Fitzherbert, I couldn't help noticing that when I was back in Corona, whenever you came across an...opposing force..." She stumbled on that part a little bit, for reasons they would not go into here. "You would go into all out attack full frontal."

"Yeah, and I lost twice."

"Exactly!" She caught herself in how it sounded and moved to backtrack. "What I mean is Fitzherbert, you were an elusive renowned thief for years. Whenever you were a thief did you ever try to escape by doing an about face and attacking?"

Eugene nearly spit out the drink he had just acquired. "Uh no! I would escape by doing the unexpected." He began to launch into an all out description of what that meant.

"Fitzherbert! Shut up for a minute." That quieted him momentarily.

"My point is, if you did not think all out attacking without any strategy would work when escaping, why do you think it would work when fighting?"

They were tough words, but Eugene took that in for a moment as she had a point.

"Look here, bravery can be smart! Just because you are facing the enemy instead of fleeing, doesn't mean you can't employ the same strategies you used when escaping. Alright?" She punctuated her meaning. "Now you said you did the unexpected. That's good. You don't have to explain it to me really, I got it! What else did you do?"

He thought back. "Exploited security weaknesses. Used distraction."

"See that's good too. That's partially what Rapunzel and I did to defeat Zhan Tiri. What else?"

He went back to an unpleasant memory of Mother Gothel. When Rapunzel still had the healing power of the flower in her hair, Eugene had tried to save her from captor. He had been ambushed and stabbed instead. As he lay dying, Rapunzel made a trade to give her freedom for his life. If she was allowed to heal him, she made a promise that she would be a willing captive to Gothel forever. Mother Gothel accepted. That's when Eugene understood the depth of Gothel's cruelty and self-absorbtion. He couldn't let Rapunzel make that type of trade. He knew if he cut off her hair, it would loose its healing power, and unable to heal him, the trade would be negated. He would die, but Rapunzel would be free. After witnessing the true extent of Mother Gothel's selfishness, he knew she would never see it coming. She would never believe or understand that he could choose to die to set Rapunzel free. He knew Gothel must see her cruelty as a strength that allowed her to move without conscience, but it also blinded her. He cut Rapunzel's hair. He shouldn't have been alive after that, but here he was.

"I used what someone considered as their strength against them." Eugene finally spoke.

Something in his tone made Cassandra search his eyes for a minute, but then she moved on.

"Right. Those are all good things. So do the unexpected, exploit weaknesses, use distraction, and use what are considered strengths against them." She held up a finger each time she reviewed a strategy, holding four fingers up in all. "You have the tactics Fitzherbert, just use them in fighting ok? If you have to defend Corona like that again…Hopefully you won't."

"Thanks Cass." He yielded.

Downstairs, Rapunzel wondered what was taking them so long. She supposed there were a lot of flights. She looked over her shoulder. She missed Pascal. He wasn't with them on this trip. She was so used to him being there, it felt a little like missing a limb, or seventy feet of hair. As she looked over her shoulder, a tall striking man came into her line of vision. As he caught her eye he moved toward her, probably to congratulate her and Eugene. She thought this might be the cousin Eugene had described, but she couldn't be sure! She had met so many cousins and they all looked faintly alike. To her surprise he bowed to her on one knee, took her hand and kissed it. "Princess Rapunzel, Egbert Lundar, Duke of Craterron at your service." He reintroduced himself. He rose to stand tall over her. "You are a heavenly bride."

"Thank you." She felt reticent when she didn't normally. She wasn't sure why, but she felt herself longing for Eugene to return. "If I may say the colors of the Dark Kingdom flatter you. Maybe instead of a sun queen, you were meant to be a moon princess."

"Well marrying Eugene sort of makes me a moon princess, as I understand he's still a prince, even if he's denying the throne."

"Yes an obligation he's easily giving up for you I see." It was meant to be a compliment but it didn't feel like one. Casually he added, "An obligation to the throne I will fulfill if need be." Rapunzel knew that it depended on if they decided to make one of their children heirs. "A decision will have to be reached I suppose." She replied.

"It will. You seem wise. I hope in your discernment you will come to know the true prince of the Dark Kingdom." He laid a hand on her bare shoulder, but he moved his thumb and fingers like a caress. A chill went down her spine and she recoiled. The man had caressed her shoulder on her wedding day! She guessed whether good or bad, brashness ran in Eugene's family. Something though she hadn't realized though at eighteen, was that even when they first met, and Eugene had still been the arrogant and manipulative thief, he had been a gentleman to her.

Yes, she had kind of held him hostage, withholding his stolen quarry from him until he took her to see Corona's lanterns. Yet he never touched her in harm, though she supposed he could have caught her off guard. He had surprised her when he cut her hair off after all. He never touched her in a flirtatious way until she asked him to dance. This man, Egbert, was cut from a different cloth. She tried to reach under the table for something she had hidden just in case, when she saw Eugene and Cassandra.

Rapunzel saw a rage in Eugene's eyes she had only seen in rare occasions. He had obviously seen what had happened. Egbert stood unflinchingly before him, his black eyes glinting in the candlelight. The two men stared at each other for a moment unmoving. Rapunzel wasn't sure what was going to happen. Just when Eugene took a step forward, Cassandra whispered something in his ear. With a quick turn, Eugene bent towards Rapunzel and stretched out his hand towards her. "Would you like to dance sunshine?"

"Yes please!" was her response.

They took each other's hands. Lance playing Master of Ceremonies, announced "Ladies and gentlemen, the first dance of the bride and groom." Other couples took to the dance floor. Rapunzel could only guess that Egbert was left smoldering behind.

"Eugene I didn't-" Her voice shaky with emotion.

"You needn't say anything Rapunzel. I know." He really had seen the whole thing.

"What were you trying to get under the table?"

He asked.

"A frying pan."

Eugene choked out a laugh. "You brought the frying pan here?"

"I always store it somewhere just in case. You never know when you're going to need it. We don't have the best track record with celebrations."

"Very true."

"What did Cass whisper to you?"

"Oh something about doing the unexpected."

"Unexpected?"

Eugene explained the whole conversation.

"You know Eugene, I don't think I want Egbert to have any part in tutoring our child, if we have a child who would like to lead the Dark Kingdom."

"And I completely agree with you princess. I am glad to hear you say that."

They danced into the night, underneath the stars and put the whole incident behind them.

The Cave

It was difficult to imagine that was only a couple of months ago. They sauntered under different starlight tonight through quiet fields. "Eugene?"

"Yeah?"

"There's been something else on your mind lately. I can tell. You're usually an open book, but you haven't said anything. I don't think it's about the baby or the wedding because we've already talked about that. What is going on?"

Eugene's body language seemed to buckle in resistance a bit, which set alarm bells off in Rapunzel. Clicking his tongue, he finally said, "Rapunzel I'm not ready to relive it." To say she was surprised at that reaction would be an understatement. It was more like astonished. He was always colloquial. He had hinted around, or made funny euphemisms about stuff that was uncomfortable to talk about, but he had never flat out refused to tell her something. She guessed it was about his past. From the word "relive", she knew that much. She decided not to press it. It was something he needed to face first. "Ok, Eugene, but I want you to make a promise."

"That sounds solemn! But of course, I will princess."

"You will tell me what it is by the time seven months is up."

Eugene acquiesced. "Seven months huh? What a precarious timeline! Where'd you come up with that?"

"The due date seemed like a natural deadline," She laughed, not able to avoid looking down at her stomach. She wasn't showing yet. She wondered what she'd look like in seven months.

"Oh we're here!" She looked up eagerly.

"Here? We were going somewhere?"

"Yup! Remember I told you that shooting star gave me an idea?"

"Yeah, but I thought it just reminded you of our wedding."

"Well it was that too, but it actually gave me the idea to show you this." She opened up her arms towards the subject of her speech. "Do you remember it?" Eugene looked up. It was a cliff. They had been around a lot of cliffs lately. "Rapunzel you're going to have to help me out of this one."

"Oh c'mon! You really don't recognize it?"

"It's a cliff?"

"It's Mt. Saison! Remember my mom and I went here to see the Empyrean showers?"

"Oh yeah!" She was referring to a time in Corona where shooting stars fell in a shower, called the Empyrean showers. Varian said they were actually falling flaming rocks or something. He thought back to the shooting star they caught sight of earlier. "Is it that time for the Empyrean showers right now?"

He hadn't really had a lot of down time to look at a calendar lately, if he had one.

"No, those only happen every nine years. Since, my mom and my first trip to see them was well, disrupted, we decided to make up for it by going out here, just the two of us, to stargaze. It was while you were on your trip."

"Oh, did you two have a better time of it this time?"

"Yes and we discovered something! Pascal and I went exploring and found it!"

"What is it?"

Instead of answering directly, she waved an arm at him to follow her. "C'mon Eugene I'll show you!" She started for the cliff, walking up its stony path. There he was climbing up a cliff, in the dark, with his pregnant wife. He thought of saying something but knew it would be to no effect. She really was irrepressible. They almost had gotten to the top, when Rapunzel signaled to a crevice that was barely visible. The moonlight shown on it, just making out that there was a narrow hallow space. It was illuminated in such a way that a keen observer could see the aberration was not simply a part of the cliff's natural rocky surface.

It was just wide enough for a person to walk through at an angle. Was she planning on leading them in there? "Rapunzel," he started to say. "Don't worry, I'll be careful! I promise." He guessed she did say she did this with her mother. He followed her in, hoping that no other life threatening scares were in store for them. He was all up for adventure, especially with Rapunzel, but he couldn't get past that she was carrying their child. This was going to be adjustment for him, reconciling the spirit of adventure in her that he adored, with the amplified wish to keep her safe. He couldn't imagine if anything happened to her or their unborn child.

After pushing past the narrow natural passage way, he felt cool open air that disoriented him. Did they wind up travelling back outside again? He couldn't see at all now. It was completely and entirely pitch black. No moon or starlight here. He heard a drip nearby him and then knew where they were. "You discovered a cave?" He asked Rapunzel, a little in awe of the place. His voice echoed across the walls, much louder than he expected. He ducked halfway expecting startled bats to fly at him from everywhere, but nothing came. He accidentally ducked into Rapunzel. In the blackness, he couldn't even see that she was that close to him. "Sorry Rapunzel," he apologized. "I thought there would be bats."

"I did too. I think most of them are out hunting at night. They likely sleep here during the day." Eugene didn't know how Rapunzel knew the sleep habits of bats, growing up in a tower for eighteen years. He didn't know how she knew a lot of things. He just knew she made connections quickly. She was brilliant, even though often, acquiring new knowledge during her childhood was forced to take a backseat, due to growing up as an unsuspecting captive. "So what do you think?" She kept her voice low, trying to not repeat the same ruckus Eugene made earlier. "I think I wished I knew about this hideout when I was Flynn Rider." Even in the dark he could feel her look bore into him. "Just kidding! Just kidding! How did you find this place?"

"Well let's just say that growing up in a secluded tower helped me key on details that others sometimes miss."

"Sounds about right. Hey, why don't I have that talent?"

"You do!" Rapunzel returned. "Remember? You found me after all." Even in the coldness of the cave, Eugene could feel her warmth.

"Hey," said Rapunzel. "I want to show you something in here."

"There's more to see? Or something to see?" He joked, alluding to the darkness. He could hear the sound of her rustling ahead. He moved to catch her hand to feel where she was.

"Oh sorry Eugene I meant for me to go and you to stay here. I have to walk some distance to show you what I mean."

"Rapunzel," he protested for the second time.

"It's ok Eugene. I can handle myself. And Pascal will be with me." The lizard croaked the affirmative.

"But what are you trying to show me? What's this all about?"

"If I tell you that, it will spoil it." She answered, playful smile in her voice. "I've done it before. It's safe."

"Rapunzel I know you can handle yourself, but we can't see anything! There could be wild animals in here. I know you've said you've done this before, but they could've made their den in here since you last explored it."

She sighed. They had been on far more dangerous outings together and he had always let her take the lead. She felt he was being a little overprotective again, but after today she was going to be more patient.

"Hey I'm a princess!" Rapunzel noted cheerfully. "Wild animals like me."

"That's a fair point!" He couldn't argue with that logic.

"Just trust me." She pleaded.

That was a big ask. The last time she had said something similar, things didn't go so well. He had refused for her benefit, and a different sort of blackness overtook him. But these were wildly different circumstances and he guessed, in reluctance, it might be his turn to comply. "Ok, but how far are going?" he managed, standing behind a bit antsy as she rustled off. "Well," His ears perked up a little. She didn't sound that far off yet. Was she finished moving away? "It will take about 10-15 minutes." She confessed. That was a negative. He frowned even though he knew she couldn't see him. "Rapunzel I can't let-"

"Hey I am going to be the queen someday. What will it say about me if I can't get my own husband to trust me?"

"Ok that was a bit unfairly manipulative!" He called out. "Did you pick that up from me?" He had tried not to be that way around her in a long time. "No." she said. The way her voice resonated it was hard to tell where it was coming from. He fidgeted and knew he couldn't stay behind, when he realized he had already waited too long. In the few minutes he wasted arguing, she could be anywhere, and it would be worse of they lost each other in this obscurity. "Rapunzel!" He called out. She was already far off from the sound of it. "It won't be long! I promise!" He loved that woman but her and her promises, he thought plaintively in frustration. A few more minutes stretched on and it took everything in him not try to follow anyway or call out to her.

He knew that calling would not bring her back when she was that insistent. He guessed if she was in trouble, he'd hear her voice, he reasoned. He hoped. Finally he made up his mind that he had to at least try to go after her, maybe he could place some sort of markers with rocks. "Eugene!" He jumped. She sounded like she was right next to him. Was she back already? He felt around but didn't see her anywhere near. "Rapunzel?"

"I'm not anywhere near there." She answered mischievously, as if anticipating his confusion. "Hold on Pascal's coming to get you." She still sounded like she was right next to him! He heard the scamper of little feet. Weirdly they sounded close, and then far and then close again. The lizard brushed up against him, and even though he was expecting it, he jumped a little. "Ok frog where are you taking me?"

The little lizard walked forward along his ankle directing him to go straight ahead. He followed what he felt of the lizard's movements as best as he could. Sometimes he would stray a little and the chameleon would nip at him like a sheep dog would do to a stray sheep. "Ow, ok I got it! I got it frog!" The pathway was relatively smooth and straightforward for a cave. Eugene guessed that any stalactites, stalagmites or any other cave formations were at his sides. He was starting to see the smallest amount of light, like there was an opening at the mouth of the cave. He finally saw Rapunzel's silhouette, outlined against the darkness, a small opening behind her. "Ok how are you way over here? Did my ears deceive me? You sounded like you were right next to me!"

"Ha, ha! That's what I wanted to show you! When I explored here in the daylight, before sunset I saw this crevice and curiosity got the better of me. Once I got inside could see that the cave was fairly narrow and the ceiling was kind of egg shaped. I had already told my mom I was going to explore the cliff and didn't plan to stay inside for long. Still when I kind of just disappeared for a few minutes, my mom went to look for me. She saw my bag right outside the entrance and called out to me. I couldn't hear her, but she stepped inside and heard me talking to Pascal. She thought I was nearby and travelled through the cave to find me. She didn't find me until she walked all the way over here and wouldn't believe me when I said I hadn't moved! In the daylight we could see that there weren't any animals except sleeping bats, but they were grouped together by the walls. We snuck around quietly because of that. We tried it again and again, one person on each end, whispering to each other. Even at a whisper, from a distance it sounded like the person on the other side of the cave was right next to you!

When we got home my mother thought she remembered something. In the royal archives, King Luther of Saporia had designed an elliptical room meant to trick his political opponents into spilling their secrets. Since the room's ceiling was rounded, the sound carried several feet, unbeknownst to visitors. Luther would sit concealed on the other side of the room listening to his guests' private conversations." She ruminated. " I guess come to think of it, he wasn't a very nice guy. But anyway, he called it his secret room. So I call this my secret cave. The roundish roof of the cave must make the sound carry like that! Neat isn't it?"

Eugene nodded.

"With everything going on, I had forgotten about it until now." She smiled brightly. He could see her clearly now. Once again the moonlight peered on her through the cave's other mouth. She must have seen the relief wash over him. "Ok I know you're right. It was a little risky at night like this, but wasn't the suspense worth the wait?"

"Let me get back to you on that sunshine."

He kissed her in the cave. "We better get back soon. Varian and Quirin might notice we're out this late and wonder where we went without Maximus." Just then they both jumped when they heard a loud whinny. They peered through the mouth of the cave. It was Maximus below, awake now and furious that they went on an adventure without him! Rapunzel looked at Eugene. "I guess his tracking skills haven't diminished."

"I guess not." Eugene moved to walk out the mouth of the cave. "Oh no! Don't go that way!" Rapunzel screamed, the echo of her voice giving the warning several times. He stopped and looked. It was a straight, sheer drop, the ground several feet below. In the dark, the lip of the cave had hidden the danger. He'd survived falls before, but there would be no surviving this one. This exit was not an option. "Woman what is it with you and high places?" He dead panned.

"Hold on Max, it will take us a while to climb down." He called to the horse. They walked out the opening on the other end of the cave together and climbed down. Rapunzel sat sideways on Eugene, her arms around his neck as they rode off. He barely could stay awake as they rode back to Varian's and she fell fast asleep in his arms. He carried her inside and Maximus trotted back to the stable. They slept peacefully the rest of the night.