A/N: Hey everyone! So I want to preface this with some changes I'm making to canon so that this fic can work. I am making it so that Eugene is actually only one year older than Rapunzel, and the black rocks don't destroy the Dark Kingdom until he is six years old meaning he grows up as a prince. I don't want to give to much away, but I'm really excited for this fic and I hope you like it!
"Your majesties?" King Frederick and Queen Arianna, eyes filled with tears of joy both turned to see who had addressed them. The Head councilman stood before them, even his stoic face betraying happiness and relief. "Now that the baby, and you as well your Majesty," He gestured towards the Queen, "have recovered, we must discuss the future of the child. They will arrive any day now." Still overwhelmed with glee, the King replied,
"Yes, of course! What did you wish to discuss?"
"Well, as her Majesty has not been in the best of health, we have not spoken about the betrothal of the child"
"Ah yes," the King replied slightly more serious, but still elated. "Did you have something in mind?"
"If the child is a prince, the council was considering Princess Marie of Vallacia. She is the youngest of her 5 sisters, and thus has not been betrothed as of yet." The Queen nodded. While Corona did not have bad relations with Vallacia, such an arrangement would create a strong ally with one of the largest countries in the region. "And if the child is a Princess, we were thinking the young Prince Eugene of our ally the Dark Kingdom." The King furrowed his brows.
"Ah yes, the Dark Kingdom. They have been struggling recently with the mysterious force of black rocks coming closer to their Kingdom." He thought for a moment. "It would bring great joy to their nation to learn of a betrothal, and Lord knows my dear friend Edmund could use it. Let me converse with Arianna about this and we will get back to you."
"Of course your majesty." The councilman answered and turned to leave the room.
Hours later, the councilman was summoned and informed by the King and Queen that they found the suggestions satisfactory and that they would sign off on the betrothals.
4 years later, July 28 1822
The first time Prince Eugene met her was the night of his fifth birthday. Well, to say that he met her was maybe odd, as they met in their dreams. But he knew that she wasn't just a figment of his imagination, not just a dream. She was real. He couldn't explain how he knew, but he knew deep in his soul that these dreams were not dreams and that he was talking to a real person. Whenever he dreamt of the meadow, he knew she would be there. She was always sat under the single willow tree, her hair glowing a beautiful golden color. The first time he saw her he was thoroughly confused.
"Who are you?" he had asked.
"Who are you?" The small girl, similar in age to him had replied. Now, he knew how to answer that question, his etiquette teachers had taught him that extensively.
"I am Prince Eugene Fitzherbert of the Dark Kingdom." He said in his most professional-sounding voice, sticking out his chest a bit.
"A prince?" She gasped, a twinkle in her eye. "I'm Rapunzel!" He had thought that Rapunzel was an odd name, but his etiquette teachers had also taught him not to make comments like that (though he was particularly fond of doing so, for some reason he wanted this girl to like him).
"Nice to meet you Rapunzel." He replied, and then got to the important question: "Why is your hair glowing?" Rapunzel looked down as if just noticing that it was glowing herself.
"Oh," she said, biting her lip nervously and looking up at him. "If I tell you will you promise not to tell anyone else?" He thought for a moment and sat opposite her.
"Sure," He answered. He liked secrets. She looked around conspiratorily and then said in a soft voice.
"My hair is magic. Usually, it only glows when I sing, but if I put it on a booboo it makes it go away." She paused and sized him up again. "But people want to use my magic and steal me so you can't tell anyone!" She hurriedly added, running her hand through the ends of it. Eugene was looking at her in awe, eyes sparkling.
"Magic? Really?" He asked and reached for her hair, but she flinched away. He drew his hand back. "Sorry," He said, "I promise I won't steal it, I just think it's really cool that you're magic!"
"It's okay" Her shoulders relaxed. After all, this was just another kid- which on second thought was really exciting! She had never met another kid before, let alone a boy. "Are you a boy?" she asked in a similar tone to himself when he asked about her hair.
"Yes, I'm a boy!" Eugene shouted indignantly and stood up, crossing his arms. "Do I look like a girl to you?!" A bit surprised by his outburst she replied,
"No! I've just never met a boy before." At this his brow furrowed, sensing the honesty in her voice.
"You've never met a boy before?" He sputtered.
"No," she answered, a bit sad. "I have to hide from the people who want to steal my hair. I stay in my tower. Mother says it's not safe to go out."
"Oh," he answered, relaxing. After a pause, he said, "So you've never had any friends before?"
"No."
He could understand that at least a little bit. Being a prince meant he didn't often get to see people his own age. "Well, maybe I could be your friend? I don't have very many either," he said gently. Her eyes lit up at the suggestion.
"Okay! Do you want to play?" She asked. He nodded, taking her outstretched hand and pulling her up to stand with him. For the rest of their time that night, they ran through the field and giggled, him teaching her games like tag and her teaching him how to play house.
December 5, 1822
When Eugene had told his mother about her, she gave him an endearing look and explained imaginary friends. Eugene didn't believe her though. He knew Rapunzel was real, and if his mother didn't believe him he figured he'd just keep their adventures to himself. He didn't see her every night, but every morning when he woke up after playing with her he felt extra cheerful. When he went to sleep that night, he woke up in the meadow, as he often did.
"Hi!' He greeted her where she always sat under the tree.
"Eugene!" She replied, jumping to her feet and racing to him. "Do you want to play tag again today?" He laughed at her excitement, making him more excited in turn.
"Sure!" He answered, reaching out to poke her shoulder, "You're it!" he cried and sprinted away giggling. After a moment to recover from the shock, she sprinted after him, giggling as well.
April 13, 1823
Today they were exploring the creek on the edge of the meadow, using some sticks they had found as walking sticks.
"Look!" Rapunzel said, pointing her stick at a group of tiny fish swimming in the water. Eugene moved to come and see, but his foot slipped and he fell into the water. "Eugene!" She giggled at the funny way he had toppled over and she walked over to him. She stopped laughing when he looked up through his sopping wet hair though, and she saw the tears running down his face. He had scraped his leg and it was bleeding.
"Oh no!" She cried. "Are you okay?" Trying his best not to cry but failing miserably, he replied.
"I'm fine. I'm a big boy." But his leg really did hurt a lot, and the sight of his blood was kind of freaking him out. Rapunzel frowned.
"Are you sure?" He didn't answer. "Well, my hair fixes booboos remember? Do you want me to fix it for you?" She asked. After a moment, he just nodded not meeting her eyes. He was too stubborn to admit any weakness aloud. "Okay," she said softly, and slowly put her hair down on his cut and began to sing.
"Flower gleam and glow,
Let your power shine.
Make the clock reverse,
Bring back what once was mine.
Heal what has been hurt,
Changes the fates' design
Save what has been lost,
Bring back what once was mine."
She looked up at him, noticing his tears had slowed as she finished, "What once was mine." When she removed her hair, Eugene looked down at his leg. He stared at it for a moment before whispering,
"Whoa…" His scrape really was gone, there was no sign he'd even been hurt at all. A grin broke out on his face. "That was so cool! Thank you, Rapunzel!" Forgetting he was soaking wet, he wrapped her in a hug. She giggled, not really caring that he was getting her wet too. She was just happy to have a friend.
June 21, 1823
"Eugene, guess what?" She asked.
"What?"
"Today's my birthday! I'm five years old!" she exclaimed, eyes filled with joy. He giggled.
"Really? Happy Birthday!" He gave her a hug. "Sorry, but I didn't get you anything. I didn't know it was your birthday." Without a care in the world, she replied.
"That's okay! Mother got me some paint this year, just like she tells me about in her stories!" Rambling on she asked, "Hey, when's your birthday?"
"July 28th! It's coming soon. I'm gonna be six!" He answered. She gasped and grabbed his arm,
"Ooh, that's soon! When it's your birthday we should have a party!" she exclaimed jumping up and down. "I've never been to a party before!" Eugene would have been shocked by this statement if he hadn't gotten to know her so well by now. He knew that Rapunzel didn't know a lot of things and he liked to tell her about them.
"Ok!" he agreed, grabbing her arm and pulling her into the flowers so they could play once more.
July 28, 1823
Though he was worried he wouldn't, he did see her the night of his birthday. This day also happened to mark one year since they had met, but that didn't cross either of the best friends' minds.
"Eugene!" She greeted him, getting to her feet, a smile on her face. "Happy Birthday! When I woke up I realized I couldn't bring you the present I made, even though I really wanted to! So I made you this instead," she handed him a daisy chain, frowning slightly. "Sorry." He smiled and accepted it from her.
"That's okay Rapunzel! I didn't get you anything, remember?"
"Yeah, but my other present was way better! I painted us and everything!" She cried, looking more and more distraught. Eugene put the daisy chain on his head like it was a crown and grabbed her hand.
"I really like this!" He said, trying to comfort her. "I bet your painting was really good, but maybe you can give it to me someday else! When we meet when we're not asleep!" She frowned even further.
"But I can't leave my tower, people will steal me!"
"Then I'll climb the tower!" He said, eyes sparkling with determination. "I promise, someday I'll come to your tower and you can give me your present and I'll bring you a really cool one too!" She looked up at him, sniffling.
"Really?"
"Really." He smiled, and the corners of her lips began to turn upwards.
"Okay," She answered, giggling a little.
November 7, 1823
Eugene didn't enjoy his princely duties nearly as much as he did playing with Rapunzel in the meadow. He didn't have to be a prince there. He liked the Black Rocks even less. His parents didn't think he heard, but they talked about how they were invading the kingdom. He felt bad for the man they said had his shop destroyed by one. When one of them popped up in the garden, his parents wouldn't let him play there anymore. When he went on the balcony he could see them all over town, and it made him feel uneasy.
He was in his tutoring lesson when there was a loud bang and the walls began to shake. He yelled out as his tutor grabbed him, and a black rock shot up through the floor. The shaking lasted for what felt like a lifetime, and when it stopped he realized he was crying and clutching onto his tutor for dear life. Usually, his tutor would say something about that not being very princely behavior, but the man was just as shell-shocked as he was.
What happened next was like a blur. People were rushing all around, and his tutor was pulling him along so hard it was hurting his shoulder. When he caught a glimpse of his father, he cried "Dad!" King Edmund, hearing his beloved son, turned and upon seeing him raced over.
"Oh, Eugene! I'm so happy you're alright!" his father wrapped him in a tight hug. He looked like he had been crying.
"Where's Mom?" Eugene asked, but his father remained silent. "Dad?" he questioned.
"Son," he said solemnly. "I need to discuss some things with the advisors but I promise I will come to see you afterward." Looking up at the tutor, he finished, "Will you take care of him in the meantime?"
"Of course your majesty!" The tutor bowed.
Later that night, Eugene was pretty ticked off that no one would answer his question about where his mom was. Today had been really scary, and walking to his room and seeing even more black rocks had only made that worse. When his father walked in, he perked up a bit.
"Dad!" he exclaimed. The King still looked very sad, but there was a different kind of hardness in his eyes.
"Eugene…It's not safe here any longer." Eugene looked up at him. "Your mother she-" the king took a deep breath and swallowed. "She is no longer with us."
"What?" Eugene asked. "Where did she go?" Chuckling wetly, the King replied.
"No dear, she… went to heaven." Eugene's eyes widened.
"To heaven? But you can't come back from heaven!" He cried. A tear ran down his father's cheek.
"Yes, son." Before Eugene could even fully process that information, his father scooped him into his arms for a tight hug. "You know that I will always love you very much, right?"
"Yeah," He answered nervously. His mother was dead?
"Eugene, it's not safe to stay here. I've asked your nanny to take you somewhere safe." Eugene's grip tightened, his mind racing. He didn't want to leave home, but something about the finality in his father's voice told him not to put up a fight.
"What about you? Are you coming?" The King sighed sadly.
"I cannot go with you yet, I have to stay here and help the people leave and find somewhere safe to go. But I will be right behind you as soon as I can." Eugene was crying again, and the king was as well.
"Okay…" Eugene replied. "Dad, is everything going to be okay?" he asked, a bittersweet innocence in his voice. Choking back a sob, the King replied
"Yes, my son."
1 hour later
While Eugene was packing his things, being forced to say goodbye to the only home he'd ever known, the King stood in the doorway with an unreadable look in his eyes. Unheard by Eugene, he turned to the woman he was sending him with. He knew this woman would make sure that his son was safe. He also knew that he had an obligation to stay and protect the moon opal from anyone who wanted its power. He was losing his son and his wife in the same day, and it took everything in him not to break down. Pulling a small vial out of his pocket, he looked into the woman's eyes.
"When you get somewhere safe, have him drink this. He shouldn't have to live with the pain of losing everything, of hoping that I will return." He looked desperately at his son but knew he had to do this to protect him. "This will erase his memories. Bring him to an orphanage so he might find another family to love him. He need not know his past, but before he drinks it please tell him that I will always love him." The woman nodded solemnly and accepted the vial, slipping it into the satchel she was carrying. The next day, when the carriage Eugene was in had faded from view, the King broke down and sobbed.
