Angel: First chapter of the second season~ *does a little dance* I finally got to this point! I'm almost at the mid-season special, I've been working non-stop on this story since I'm not uploading two-part specials separately anymore. Also, I wanna ask you guys something: What do you think of me doing a one-shot story for the Tangled series after this story ends? Let me know what you guys think and I might just do it! But only after this story is over.
My Crimes and Defenses teacher gave ME a gold star for sections of a paper I have to do. That means I earned 10 extra homework points AND I get my lowest homework grade dropped. Ha ha! *does another dance*
Also, they're finally having new episodes out for Rise of the TMNT this month! Too bad we've gotta wait three weeks for them, though...
I also included an OC here too! If you think about it before you read the end, you just might find out who she is ;)
Previously on Tangled...
Rapunzel, with her brown hair, stopped on Fidella, seeing the Corona Wall. "Have you ever seen anything so beautiful? We'll get out there soon."
Eugene took a hold of her hand.
"I can't wait to meet my little sister!" Rapunzel bounced up and down. She ran up to the girl and gave her a tight hug.
"Yes, it is very pleasant to see you, dear sister," Harmony curtsied to her.
"I just wish our dad would let us go out and see the real world." Rapunzel opened up her arms to a baby, only to be moved away by a guard.
"This is where they found the miracle flower that saved your mom, and the Moonstone Opal that was left for you, Princess Harmony."
"What...?" Harmony stared at the symbol on her hand.
"What are they?" Rapunzel inspected them.
"Don't know. They're unbreakable," Cass broke her sword on the rocks as soon as the weapon touched them. The sisters touched one at the same time, and the blast knocked them back, resulting in strands of their hair glowing gold and blue.
Harmony's hand glowed, sprouting a black rock. She scooted back in shock.
"You touched a mysterious rock that somehow caused your hair and powers to return..."
The two sisters landed at the end of the hill, Rapunzel's hair now long and blonde, Harmony's hair a turquoise blue.
"We once tried to double cross this guy called The Baron," Eugene turned around in shock at Weasel and another guard at the open wall, when Lance returned to "see him." "He hasn't stopped hunting us since."
"Of course, it didn't help matters that Eugene stole his prized stallion," Lance brought up to Angry and Red, Eugene flinching, elbowing him.
"Those black rocks are actually some kind of—of ancient darkness...but the wielder doesn't necessarily have to be dangerous." Rapunzel and Harmony recovered the first piece of the scroll, letting Varian examine it once he saw them again.
"These rocks hold a secret, and somehow, I'm connected to it. And I don't know what will happen to Harmony once I uncover it..."
The sisters touched the rocks, breaking through the wall.
"I can see now that they're pointing in a direction. Pointing you both in a direction."
"It's like the rocks, your rocks, want us to follow them..." The sisters stepped onto the rocks, closing their eyes and stepping forward.
A mysterious woman went back to the scene, with the same symbol as Quirin's chest on her hand. She pulled out her sword and cut right through Harmony's black rock.
25 years ago...
In the dark kingdom, the king was pacing around, surrounded by black rocks. The woman and Quirin were standing nearby.
"I can't stand this anymore! This stone has destroyed too many lives!" He pointed to the Moonstone Opal, where it lied in a different room, away from them in a sort of prison. "It stops today!"
He ran towards the stone, trying to break through the prison, his sword splitting into pieces. He reached out to touch it, but Quirin held him back.
"Your majesty, please! You're not thinking clearly. You know the stone cannot be destroyed!"
The king pushed Quirin off him, trying to grab the opal. It reacted by blasting Edmund and the duo onto the floor. A large shockwave occurred, some pieces of the castle falling into the room from above. Quirin and the woman looked up, running over to his aid.
"Your majesty!" Together, they pushed the debris off him, the king coughing weakly.
"I was a fool...It cannot be stopped." The woman's eyes widened. "Our only hope is to keep its power from the world."
"But your majesty!" The woman protested behind Quirin.
"At any cost," He shook his head rapidly. "You must...leave this castle. Keep any from finding it."
She closed her eyes, looking away. Then she noticed a long blade glowing nearby. "Anyone who seeks out this opal...must. Be. Stopped!"
11 years later...
He paced around in solitude, all alone. He couldn't take it anymore. The opal hurting everything around it, his kingdom...his family and subjects all gone...
"What can I do? It must be hidden, but I can't stand to look at it!" He gritted his teeth at the opal across the room. He hated it. What it's done, what it represented...and what darkness it brought upon the world. It may be in that prison, but it had done more damage than good. But he can't touch it directly...
"Hm..." He stepped across the path, looking at the prison. He tried to reach inside it...but he had never tried touching the prison directly... He took a hold of it and plucked the giant thing off, to his surprise. But if he was going to finally get it away from him, where would he sent it? There were kingdoms from miles away...
He then remembered a certain kingdom that just had another princess, despite the oldest still being lost. And this time, there was no one to stop him from doing this...
The next day, a large crate was brought to the royal family. Frederic looked tired, but he looked to his newborn daughter with a small smile on his face. Arianna took a flower from nearby and gave it to Harmony to hold. The baby cooed at it, holding the flower in her hand curiously. She twirled it between her hands.
"Open it," The queen told the guards. Once they did, they stared at the opal in awe. They had never seen it before, and it was definitely new to them.
"It's from a King Edmund..." Pete read the card. "We found it at the same location of the sun drop flower."
Frederic glanced at his wife. Arianna stepped up to the opal, Harmony eyeing it curiously. Once she came into close proximity with it, the stone flashed.
"What's happening?" Arianna looked between the opal and her daughter in shock. The opal then floated out of the prison, shimmering as it floated over to the baby. She took it into her hands and her left hand glowed blue.
"Harmony!" Frederic snatched it away, holding it with a handkerchief. Everyone around them gasped at what happened. The king and queen inspected the baby's hand to see the crescent moon symbol on it. Frederic tried to wipe it off, but by the look of the symbol, it was now a part of her. Pete took away the Moonstone as he looked up at his wife. "I don't know what just transpired, but it won't happen again. Until we are sure of her being safe from the outside world, we shall lock her doors. We will reduce the staff coming in and out of her room. Contact must be limited to everyone inside the castle. No citizen or criminal shall ever lay witness to the princess again!"
"Frederic!" Arianna tried to warn him. "I'm sure it's fine..."
"After losing our daughter...we can't take any chances, Arianna," He told her regrettably and she frowned sadly.
Birds are chirping in the present day as the sun is shining on a yellow and purple caravan, followed by a brown caravan being driven by Silver. Max and Fidella are moving the caravan, a hummingbird going towards some sunflowers.
Cass is sitting up front as Rapunzel opens up a door.
I wanna break every rule
And cross every line
She runs out of the caravan with a big smile on her face. "Whoo-hoo!"
I wanna show all the stars
How stars oughta shine...
She looks out a telescope to all the stars in the sky.
I wanna do as I please
And knock the world to its knees
She unties her hair, wrapping it around a tree.
And go wherever the breeze is blowing
She climbs up the tree using her hair.
Next stop, anywhere
Rapunzel holds out Pascal as her hair flies past. She can see all the trees, lakes, and some mountains.
Got a whole wide world to see
She paints the nature around her.
Nothing's stopping me
She proudly holds up her journal once she's finished.
Next stop, anywhere
She does a cartwheel, running across a field and then stands in a lake with a crane.
Cause with so much waiting
I know it's waiting
I feel it waiting out there!
She runs up the top of a waterfall, the birds flying away into the skies.
Everywhere!
Eugene pants as he manages to catch up to her and Pascal. "Blondie, wait up!" He pants, laying down on a rock out of exhaustion. "Oh, man, do you have any idea how hard it is keeping up with you out here?"
Pascal just shakes his head with an amused smile. "Come on, Eugene!" Rapunzel encourages him. "It's my first trip outside of Corona! It's like a whole new chapter of our lives has just begun!"
"Yeah, that's...kinda what I was thinking, too," Eugene holds up a red box with an engagement ring inside...
"I mean, aren't you excited to see where Harmony's rocks are taking us?"
He stands up with a smile. "Well, uh, let's see. Excited? To follow a bunch of creepy rocks that your little sister has barely learned to control?" Eugene pokes one, recoiling his hand back in pain. "Ah! To who knows where?"
She sighs at him, shaking her head. "Of course, I'm excited. I'm with you! What else could I be?" He takes a hold of her hand. He takes a map out of his vest, throwing it behind his back.
We're gonna toss out the maps
And follow the sun
We're gonna blaze on our own path
And go on the run
Rapunzel pulls him forward and he screams as they jump off the waterfall.
We're gonna get out and do what nobody's done
There's so much out there to do
We've barely begun
They run up to a crater and she drops a rock inside.
We're gonna take every dare
And feel the wind in our hair
They both smile, closing their eyes as they feel all the butterflies flying past them.
With no one tellin' us where we're going
Next stop, anywhere
They play with the sheep and farmer, waving to them once they're done.
If you're there, I'm gonna be
Where I wanna be
Next stop, anywhere
The two roll down a cliff, Rapunzel landing in mud.
And the world is calling
It keeps on calling
Rapunzel grabs the flaps from Eugene's vest.
Just think of all that we'll share
Everywhere
They smile at each other lovingly, Cass arriving with the caravan. Harmony is walking next to the brown cart.
Harmony's hair is in a high ponytail that cascades down to her hips, a white lily resting over her left ear. She has two braids in her hair near her ears, which hang free past her shoulders and rest over her clothes. She wears hoop earrings with small blue beads threaded onto them. Her frilly white long-sleeved blouse is pirate-like that shows her shoulders with a frilly black bodice over her waist that has white buttons, her pants red and shin-length. There's also a black/red belt over her waist, with a sheath attached to her back for the sword she got on her birthday from Eugene, and her bow and quiver. Her feet are bare like her sister's, a golden bracelet on her right wrist and a red beaded anklet on her left. A dark green shawl is tied around her waist, stopping at her thighs. And of course, she's wearing the necklace Varian gave to her just before they left.
"Rapunzel!" Cass calls out. "Do me a favor, try not to run off like that. Not that I don't think you can handle yourself, but I promised your dad I'd keep you both safe, and I'd hate to lose you less than a week on the road."
"Has it been that long already?" Rapunzel turns around to look at her sister, who checks her log book.
"Technically only 3 days, if you wanna be specific," She smiles playfully. Daisy flies above her head, chirping at the sights around her.
"You've got to exercise at least some caution out here. Trust me, Raps. The real world isn't all fun and games," Cass keeps her eyes on the road.
"Next stop: Vardaros!" Hook Foot lifts himself up to the roof, followed by Lance.
"City of fun and games!" Lance laughs a little.
"I am so glad we decided to bring those three along," Cass murmurs in disdain. "And that the princess decided to bring a dangerous criminal with us!"
Harmony blinks, narrowing her eyes and closing the book. Ever since she announced that Varian was coming along, things have been pretty dicey between Harmony and Cassandra. She is very against bringing the boy along, because after what he's done, she doesn't believe that this trip will help him. Prison, however, would.
"Oh, come on, Cass!" Eugene steps in between the two men. "Vardaros is an amazing city! You're gonna have fun! Which I'm guessing is a new thing for you."
Cass glares at him and Rapunzel leans in. "Cass, I know that you and Harmi have had your differences ever since we left Corona, but she's kept her promise to not let him out unless it's absolutely necessary. And he hasn't shown that he'll hurt us. Can you at least try to get along?"
"Emphasis on trying with the princess who brought a criminal that tried to hurt me," Cass grits her teeth.
Rapunzel sighs at her. "Come on, Pascal! It's our first big city outside of Corona," Rapunzel lets him out of her bag and he crawls onto her shoulder. "You heard Eugene, Cass! This is gonna be fun!"
H: Next stop, anywhere
Harmony runs along a lake, seeing a cliff up ahead and smirking.
Got a destiny
And it's out there waitin' for me
She jumps off the cliff, soaring across the sky as she lands in the water below. Once she comes up for air, she shakes her wet hair with a big smile.
C: Next stop, anywhere
Got a feeling things'll be happening suddenly
R: Next stop, anywhere
Rapunzel holds out a torch to what looks like dinosuar bones in a cave.
Gonna chase my destiny
Find the best in me
Next stop, anywhere
Cause it's time we went to be where we're meant to be
H: Next stop, anywhere
Gonna find the answers
Cause I'm flying free!
Next stop, anywhere
C: And the world is waitin'
I feel it waitin'
Eugene jumps onto Max, smiling.
H: Cause it's waitin'
It's all just waitin' out there
Everywhere
Everywhere
Everywhere!
"Vardaros, here we come!" Rapunzel declares happily.
"Not that you shouldn't trust the endorsement of three lifetime criminals, and one that shouldn't have been let out, Raps, but maybe you two should trust me, too. I just wanna make sure we're not losing sight of what we're doing out here," Cass warns the sisters. "Listen...Harmi, I know it's hard seeing what happened to him, but...Varian is dangerous," Cass places a hand on her shoulder. "I honestly think that you shouldn't try to free Quirin. How can you? You don't even know what chemicals Varian used-"
Harmony slaps her hand off, glaring at the woman. "Cass...I promised him that I'd find a way, even if it takes the rest of my life. And I can't break another promise like you guys did to him...I have to try."
"I know! Believe me, Cass," Rapunzel changes the subject. "I want answers more than anyone..." She pulls out the scroll piece, opening it up. "I feel like whatever is waiting for us at the end of this road, is only part of why we're out here..."
Someone from the shadows is keeping a close eye on them. Harmony senses it and whips around, but sees no one.
"Hm..." She decides to let it go for now, taking the piece from Rapunzel. The blonde notices her expression and silence. The girl has been the only one to check up on him consistently, and with Cass trying to discourage her...she may not approve, but everyone else could understand Harmony's decision on the matter. And she wasn't going to make another mistake not trusting her sister like she did during the storm...
"You know...you can talk to him if you think it'll help," Rapunzel speaks up. "Don't worry about Dad. It'll be just between us."
"Thank you, Rapunzel," Harmony whispers gratefully, pulling the older princess into a gentle hug. She releases the woman and runs off.
"Raps. You just might've sent her to her doom," Cass stares on in disapproval.
"Come on, Cass, he could use the company. Besides...I don't want to discourage her. Look at Eugene, he was a thief and look at him. Varian needs someone to be there for him, even if he doesn't want it."
Harmony lightly knocks on the door, opening it. Varian is sitting right across from her, looking a bit tired. Ruddiger is sleeping on his lap as Harmony shuts it closed.
"Hey..." She murmurs as she turns around.
"...Hey," He replies in a quiet whisper. She glances away to the corner, seeing a bunch of empty beakers.
"What's all this?"
"Rapunzel brought it for me, left it in here before we took off. Said she got them from my lab to see if they could help with my father..." He says the last word in a broken voice.
"She came in here?" Harmony raises a brow.
"No: it was there before I came in. She left a note."
She looks to the crumpled paper nearby and deduces that must've been the aforementioned note.
"...Nothing so far has worked," He grits his teeth. "All because of them...!"
"We'll find a way," She murmurs, kneeling in front of him. "But Vari, eventually you need to think about the others and then we find the solution-"
"What if we don't?! What if he's trapped in there forever, Mona...?"
"I won't let that happen," She declares to him.
"Please...please help him," Varian looks up at her with soft, broken eyes. "Please...even if you don't...I want you to know that my feelings never...changed. You mean everything to me, and...I don't blame you for what you did...having to stop...me..."
He starts sobbing and she gives him a hug, squeezing her eyes shut.
Thank you, Varian, for trusting me...I promise that I'll find the solution to freeing him. I'll be there for you when no one else was...
She lets out a small sigh as she exits the prison caravan, closing the door behind her. She starts walking up to the other caravan.
"Still think it's a good idea to let him come?" Cass calls out as she freezes. The girl's shocked eyes turn into an annoyed look, and therefore, clamps her mouth shut. She walks backwards and opens up the door to the boys' part of the caravan, seeing Eugene holding the box with the ring inside.
"Alright, boys, we're gonna try this proposal thing one more time, and where better than Vardaros? One of the most beautiful cities in the world. It's perfect!"
"Didn't she say "no" the first time you proposed?" Lance asks knowingly. Eugene looks up at him questioningly. "I'm just sayin'. You probably thought that was gonna be perfect, too."
"Thank you, Lance," Eugene replies with a slight hiss, closing the box.
"Mm-mm. No, no," Harmony shakes her head. "Eugene...I know that you love my sister, but think about it. We're heading off to find our own answers, and I'm not sure another proposal attempt is what Rapunzel is looking for right now..."
"It makes perfect sense to me!" Hook Foot shrugs nonchalantly. "The crown princess is out in the free world for the first time in her life along with her little sister! I'm sure she's just itchin' to settle down with you!"
The caravan creaks and then stops as Eugene sits across from them, giving them looks.
"We're here," Cass' muffled voice announces.
"Woohoo!" Lance hollers as he and Hook Foot run out of the carriage. "I'm gonna find a picnic spot!"
"No way! You got to choose last time, and there were ants all over the place!" Hook Foot hollers as Rapunzel smiles at the duo.
"Men," Harmony shakes her head in amusement.
"Harmi, let Varian out and come on!" Rapunzel encourages the girl, throwing her the keys.
"What? Raps, what happened to letting him out unless it's absolutely necessary?" Cass demands to her as Harmony opens up the door.
"Well, we can't just leave Varian behind with the caravan, and we need to look after him. Besides, even someone who tried to take revenge against the kingdom needs fresh air, Cass. Harmi will be with him, I'm sure it'll be fine."
She glares as Varian steps out. He glares right back at Cass, walking past the boy cabin with Harmony. Rapunzel walks up to the door, where she can hear Eugene talking to himself inside. "Come on, Fitzherbert, forget Hook Foot! Forget Lance! This is Rapunzel we're talking about. Of course she wants to get married." He looks down at the ring in his hand. "Besides, I'm not asking her to settle down and throw her life away. "I'm just asking her to...settle down."
He then realizes what he's trying to do, but he loves Rapunzel. "Okay, enough already! You just have to ask her flat out!" He gets down on one knee just as the blonde princess is opening the door. "Rapunzel...will you-"
She falls in front of him, looking up to see his position. He stares at her, unsure of what to say. She then notices the ring and he glances at it, hiding the box behind his back. He smiles awkwardly as things now feel weird.
Cass pets Fidella, giving the teen couple a disapproving look. Harmony is picking flowers with Varian, and while he is smiling just a little, she still didn't trust it. After all, he did try to crush her...
Suddenly noises are heard, getting all of their attention. Harmony steps up to the food storage unit, but Cass lowers her sword between Varian and the compartment.
"Stay right there, you two. With you checking, who knows what you'll do?"
"Cass, it's been almost a week, and he's done nothing wrong," Harmony defends in annoyance.
"Yeah Cassie," He says in a sassy tone. "Relax. I'm not gonna do anything to your food. How can I? I'm cuffed and you took my gear. Even my bath bombs."
"It's Cassandra to you, Varian," She spits back. "We got that clear?"
"Crystal," Varian replies nonchalantly.
"Good," Cass points her sword towards the compartment, opening it up.
"Huh?!" They all ask in shock.
"Eugene...did you just ask me to marry you?" Rapunzel asks slowly, tucking a bang behind her ear.
"What?!" He laughs nervously. "Ha ha! No! That's...crazy. No, I just—I dropped something."
"Uh..." She stammers a little. She knows what she saw...
"And I got it! That—that something that I dropped, and I knelt down and I picked it up, which would explain why I was on one knee," He looks away awkwardly. "I can see how you would, uh..." He clears his throat. "You know."
"I thought I heard you say marry me..." She grips her arm, staring at him confused and baffled on how to act here.
"Oh, I see now! There's the confusion, because I didn't say 'marry me.' I said...Laramie. Uh, i was talking about my old dog, Laramie."
"You were talking about your old dog, Laramie?" She asks slowly. "To yourself?"
"Yep!" He replies quickly. "Good ole scruffy, totally real, and totally not made up, Laramie!"
A shriek is heard outside before they can continue the awkward conversation further. They burst out of the cabin, weapons and fists ready as the male duo return. "Okay, Cass! Cass! Harmi! Varian! Are you all okay? We heard a scream!"
"That wasn't me, her, or the criminal we have here," Cass gives Varian a look and he just clenches his fists at her. Cass holds up Shorty, who was imitating a screech, which is what they heard before. Everyone around covers their ears except for Varian, who cringes at the noise piercing his ears.
He chuckles and Cass drops him. "Shorty?!" Rapunzel looks at him in surprise.
"How did you get here?" Eugene asks him accusingly.
"How indeed! The circumstances which lead to my unexpected departure from Corona, make for a long, yet fascinating, tale." They glance to each other, wondering just what he had to say.
"Bottom line us, beardy," Cass orders with her arms crossed.
"I fell asleep in a food truck."
"He must've crawled inside and been asleep for the past few days," Harmony deadpans, looking towards the food compartment.
"Huh?!" Lance asks in alarm, running towards the storage. There is literally nothing left, and they had kept it stored for at least a week or two. "No, no, no, no, no! The food! He ate all the food! The bread! The cheese! Those little cocktail wienies in the peppercorn jelly. Gone! All gone! Why? Why?! You're a monster..." Lance starts crying, Eugene rolling his eyes. "This is the worst day..."
"Well, I guess someone should head into town and pick up more supplies," Eugene pinches his forehead. "Anyone up for a walk?"
"Um, I'll go with Harmi and Varian," Rapunzel offers, smiling at him. "If that's...okay."
Harmony glances to Varian, who gives a slight nod. "It's okay with us, sis."
"Sure! I mean, if you want to go for a walk, you don't...need to feel pressured," Eugene rubs the back of his neck, feeling uncomfortable around her. It's the first time they've spoken since the...
Earlier incident.
"No, no. I-I won't."
"But just to be clear, I didn't officially ask you to go for a walk," He elaborates, and Harmony got the sense that this whole walk thing means more than it should...meaning that something happened right before they discovered Shorty.
"O...kay," Rapunzel answers slowly. "But the question was still out there. Doesn't that count?"
"That depends. Are you officially asking me if it counts?" Eugene wonders, the others a bit annoyed as they watch. They didn't understand why the two had the need to act this way, since they've been together for a while now.
"Would that change your answer?"
"I don't know. Would it change yours?"
"This is pretty awkward to watch," Varian whispers to Harmony.
"Oh, so you feel it too? What is up with them...?" She stares at the couple.
"A question's a question. The answer should be the same either way..."
"Yeah, now, I'm confused, Rapunzel," Eugene scratches his cheek. "Do you wanna go for a walk or not?"
"...Do you want to go for a walk?"
Cass growls in frustration. "Guys, I can't take any more! Enough! No one's going for a walk! Let's just take the caravan into town! Together!"
The two glance at each other, unsure if this was how it's going to be from now on...
Cass sits between the silent couple, feeling the awkwardness in the air. She looks at the two as Rapunzel adjusts her bang. Pascal looks at them and sighs deeply. No one has spoken in what felt like an hour...
"Here we are," Cass stops the horses, Varian stepping out of his prison.
"Vardaros! Here we-" Lance gasps at the 'beautiful' city, which has become run down since their last visit. It's literally almost empty with broken buildings, ripped tarps, and of course black rocks. Some crows caw as they fly past. "Ew..."
"What happened here?" Harmony murmurs in confusion.
"Wow, guys! You were right! This is great!" Cass says joyously. "What do you wanna do first? Get matching face tattoos? I bet Varian would like one! Or see if we can get a deal on a rusty hatchet?" There only seems to be one person around, a girl with braided hair sharpening a knife. She gasps sharply. "Oh, I know! Let's see who can catch the plague first!"
"...You done?" Harmony asks after a few seconds.
"Yup."
"I don't understand! What happened?" Eugene holds his head. This is definitely not how he remembered the city.
"Come on, guys," Rapunzel tries to be optimistic. "Maybe it's not exactly how you remembered it, but that doesn't mean it's not a fun-loving city!"
"There's literally someone sharpening a knife," Varian gestures to the girl.
"Hello, there!" Rapunzel approaches the girl. "We're new in town. My name's-"
"Get lost," She interrupts without even looking up, not seeming to care.
"Uh, maybe you should hold off on the introductions," Cass places a hand on Rapunzel's shoulder. "Something tells me if word got out that actual royalty were in town, we could be in trouble."
"You know, I hate saying this, but she's right. Let's keep a lower profile, princess." Eugene whips around Harmony and Varian, pointing at them. "That goes for you too!"
"Kind of hard to do when he's cuffed," Harmony replies sarcastically, holding up his hands.
"You could just let me go," He smirks a little. "That is, if you want to be skewered alive."
Rapunzel seems to be considering it when Cass holds an arm in front of her. "No. The cuffs stay on. He can stay in his cabin."
"Cass," Harmony narrows her eyes. "That cabin is depressing to be in. Almost no sunlight, with only the bars to look out of, and yet he can't even get up to enjoy it! And besides, you wouldn't want to leave him all alone in there, would you?"
Cass clamps her mouth shut as she knows that the girl is right. "Didn't think so."
"Let's do this. We'll go get the supplies. You four take the caravan back up to the camp," Eugene suggests to them. "The last thing you need is for someone to recognize you."
Despite that, someone's looking right at him using a telescope. "I recognize that guy. Spread the word. Flynn Rider's in town."
"Flynn Rider's in town."
"Hey! Flynn Rider."
"Flynn Rider's in town."
"Flynn Rider."
"It's Flynn Rider."
"Flynn Rider."
"Flynn Rider's in town."
The news eventually reaches a blonde man, who Weasel is kneeling to. "Flynn Rider? Here in Vardaros?"
"Yes, Baron," Weasel smirks a little. "And he's with his friends from Corona, including that little boy who kidnapped the queen, beat up his little girlfriend, and tried to destroy the whole kingdom."
Gold coins are thrown into the fountain, which the goose feed on. "Let me dispose of him. Please!"
"No," The Baron denies, having a better idea. "That's not how this ends. Bring me the man who stole my precious stallion. I wanna settle things with Rider. Properly..."
The girls and Varian have made it back to the caravan, where Rapunzel has painted a picture of her awkward encounter with Eugene.
"He asked you to marry him again, huh?"
Rapunzel shuts the book quickly, cringing at the sudden voice. She turns around to Cass, looking back towards the other cabin. Harmony locks Varian inside regrettably, walking over to them. Cass scoffs at this.
"Come on! I know you guys well enough by now!"
"I told him not to..." Harmony shakes her head slowly. "That man never stops trying, huh?"
"I-I guess he maybe asked me..."
Varian is listening in with his ear pressed to the door, since Harmony forgot to lock him to the floor.
"Well?" Cass asks expectantly. "What did you maybe say?" She sits next to the woman. Harmony places her elbows on Rapunzel's knees, leaning in eagerly with shined eyes.
"I didn't say anything! And...I'm not sure why."
He leans back a bit, feeling...a bit sympathetic for her? He was unsure of his feelings for the princess, and she felt the same way...that whole 'date' definitely took the cake for them. And he could understand her wanting freedom...but he wants that for himself. Not just him, but for his father as well...he can't find the answer if he's stuck in here all the time with nothing to help him.
And he wants to do it the right way.
Harmony sighs a little at the answer. "Um...Raps...about Varian..." She rubs her arm nervously, not sure of how she'll take it.
"What about him?" Rapunzel raises a brow. "He's okay, isn't he?"
"That depends on how you define okay. Uh...I wanted to know how you'd feel...about maybe letting him out of the cuffs?"
"No," Cass says immediately. "Raps, Varian's dangerous. And your dad said that he's never to be let out. What happened to that?"
"I don't know..." Rapunzel answers skeptically, to Harmony's sadness. She notices the younger girl's look...it was the same look she had when she thought that Eugene was betraying her due to Mother Gothel's lies. She doesn't want Harmony to feel that way again...everyone deserves a second chance. She sighs a bit, giving the girl a gentle smile.
"But maybe we can think about it?"
"Oh, there's nothing to think about," Cass crosses her arms. "He attacked all of us, plain and simple. The only reason why he's here is because you managed to convince your father to bring him along. If it wasn't for you, he'd be getting what he deserved instead of being allowed to come."
"Cass," Rapunzel warns her. "I will ask the others, we'll hear you out, and then we can all vote on it," She places her hands on Harmony's shoulder. "I get why you wanna uncuff him, and I think it could help all of us. Just...just wait until the others get back, okay?"
"Thank you, Rapunzel," Harmony smiles gratefully. Hopefully it'll do some good for Varian...
Someone clears their throat, and it wasn't any of them.
"Oh, if I can on the unsure part for you..." They look around for the source of the voice, peeking around the corner to see the same mystery woman eating an apple. "You have bigger things lying ahead of you." She takes another bite of her apple. "Greetings."
"I told you she was gonna say no," Hook Foot says knowingly as the boys are walking through town with food. "She wasn't ready!"
"For the last time, she didn't say "no," Hook Foot," Eugene retorts back. "She didn't say anything."
All of them turn around to Eugene quizzically. "Which, in a way, is kind of worse than saying no, so I'd appreciate it, if you'd just change the subject!"
"You got it, pal. I'm not gonna say another word," Hook Foot smiles a little.
"Thank you!" Eugene continues walking silently...until Hook Foot decides to speak up.
"Hey, here's a fun fact! Rapunzel's agreed to marry me as many times as she's agreed to marry you!" Eugene's eyes widen. "And I didn't even have to ask-"
He's hit with a bag to the face, courtesy of Lance. "Now that's enough, Hook Foot! Eugene's in pain," He defends his best friend. "It's not his fault he couldn't see that asking a girl who is free for the first time in her life, to clip her wings and get hitched, would be a horrible idea, but Eugene is still our friend!" The man gives him a glare. "And we should stick by him, no matter how oblivious or-"
"Desperate," Hook Foot adds in.
"Yeah," Lance points to him with a smile. Eugene is not amused by this encouragement, at all.
"Downright pathetic he comes across," Shorty points up to Eugene.
"Isn't that right, buddy?" Lance puts an arm around the deep-frowned man. Hook Foot and Shorty join in with hugs, Eugene glancing at all of them.
"You are all just awful, awful people."
"Hey! You!" The girl from before is calling out to them. "You guys are friends with that annoying girl with the long hair, right?"
"Hey, hey! Easy! That happens to be the woman I love," Eugene defends to her.
"And she's not annoying!" Lance inputs sharply. "We like to use the term 'irrepressible.' "
"No! She's in trouble! That little luna girl too. You better come with me," She takes off running, the boys glancing at each other. This seemed a bit shady, but nevertheless, they follow after her, as they could be in trouble.
When they reach the girl, all they see is an empty alley. "Where are they?" Eugene demands to her.
"How should I know?" The girl smirks, throwing up a bag in her hands. "Some guy just gave me a sliver of gold to get you to come down here."
"Hello, Rider..." Weasel steps out of the shadows, holding a small sword.
"Hoo! Anthony, the Weasel," Eugene smirks in amusement. "See, I knew it was you before I even turned around! Must be standing downwind."
Suddenly, a few men surround them, and they look menacing... "Oof! And I thought I was a big, ugly goon!" Hook Foot comments at the one in front of him.
"An old friend would like to do some catching up with you," Weasel has a smug smile on his face as they get closer.
"I'm sorry, who are you, exactly?" Rapunzel asks curiously to the stranger. Harmony eyes the woman, tilting her head. She got this feeling all of a sudden...that this woman wasn't an enemy.
"Oh, right, sorry! Princess Rapunzel, Princess Harmony," The woman bows respectfully. "My name is Adira."
Varian peeks through the bars, seeing the woman. "Who is she...?"
"And what do you want, Adira?" Cass asks defensively, standing in front of the two.
"A word with the princesses is all...alone. If you don't mind."
The handmaiden scoffs at this. "Not gonna happen," She places a hand on Adira's shoulder, blocking her still.
"Just a second, Cass," Rapunzel calls out. "Let's hear her out."
"Not everything has to be taken with your way, you know," Harmony steps forward a bit.
Adira looks at Cass' hand on her shoulder instead of speaking directly to the two. "Okay, I gotta be honest. I know we just met, but, uh...I'm not a big fan of people touching me."
"And I'm not a fan of people who lurk in the shadows," Cass narrows her eyes.
"Okay...last chance to do this the nice way," Adira grabs Cass' arm, showing the same symbol on her palm. Cass eyes it for a second, but ignores it in favor of fighting this woman.
"And where's the fun in that?"
"Cass, no! Wait," Rapunzel tries to warn her.
"Please don't..." Harmony murmurs, but Adira spins Cass around, throwing her away. She slides across the grass, gritting her teeth as she stands up. Adira just stands there with her arms behind her back, smirking.
"Hey!"
She turns around to the girls, who are armed and ready. "I don't know who you are, but you do not get to do that to my best friend! Well, one of them," Rapunzel ruffles Harmony's hair affectionately. The girl adjusts herself as she points her bow and arrow towards Adira.
"And this is coming from someone who wanted to talk," She glares at the woman.
"Ruddiger, move, I can't see," Varian mutters as the raccoon is standing in front of the bars. Pascal and Daisy watch the display nearby. Adira looks between the three of them. She groans at fighting them.
"Alright then..." She prepares herself, encouraging them to make the first move. The two pets cover their eyes, not wanting to look. The two charge up at Adira, who dodges their attempts. This causes the two to knock into each other, tumbling onto the floor.
"Ow..." Harmony mutters in slight pain, Daisy and Pascal looking at them in shock.
"Let's try that again, weirdo," Cass pulls out her sword, charging towards Adira. Pascal cringes, Daisy chirping in slight alarm.
Adira moves out of the way from Cass' swipes. "I'm not a weirdo. Am I?" She ducks from the princesses' attacks. "Eccentric, maybe. Unconventional, sure, but weirdo?" While saying all of this, she dodges all of their attempts like it was nothing. Varian's mouth opens in shock. He's never seen anyone with that kind of fighting style before. It was definitely new to the three.
Cass looks behind her, only to be kicked onto the ground. Pascal cringes, Daisy covering her eyes with her feathers as she looks away. Cass rolls away from Adira, allowing the two princesses to try another attack.
"Oh, come on, guys. This is ridiculous," She ducks from the two, catching one of Harmony's arrows. "I don't wanna fight you," She steps away from Cass' sword. Cass continues attacking, but Adira doesn't get touched once.
"You could've fooled me," She glares up at Adira, running forward towards her. Adira just backflips, landing behind Cass.
"You guys aren't even trying." She catches Rapunzel's frying pan, looking at the princess. "Oh, wait. They are trying."
"Why don't you try this for size?!" Harmony throws up her hands, sending a few black rocks in Adira's path. She gasps, stepping back a bit in shock.
"You...how...how is this possible? How can she have...?"
"That's it!" Cass jumps into the air and Adira snaps out of it to literally disappear. Cass' sword touches the grass, confusing her. "Huh?" Adira slides behind her, and then with a few swift kicks, knocks the weapon out of the lady-in-waiting's hands. The sword flies into the air as Adira prepares to kick. But she doesn't actually hit Cass, who falls onto the grass. She looks up at Adira, who has a smug smirk on her face.
"Whoa..." Varian murmurs, blinking. Adira offers her hand to Cass, only for her wrist to be snatched by blonde hair.
"Enough!" She narrows her eyes as Harmony directs a black rock towards Adira's neck from the ground.
"Yeah, see, I thought we covered this." She pulls out her sword. "I don't like being touched!" She holds it up into the air, the teens' eyes widening.
"NO!"
Adira slams her sword towards the hair, but it has no effect. They all gasp at this. "Huh?" Rapunzel murmurs in shock.
"It didn't cut..."
"It didn't break..."
Cass and Harmony look between them as the woman stands up. "It must be made of..."
"Princesses! Cass!" Hook Foot calls out, interrupting Rapunzel before she could finish her sentence. He looks panicked as he's panting.
"Hook Foot!" Rapunzel runs up to him. "Are you okay?"
"I can see you have your hands full," Adira simply walks away. "I'll seek you out later. And believe me, Princess Harmony..." She looks over her shoulder. "We will speak again."
Rapunzel just glares as Harmony is confused. "What does she mean by that...?"
"I fought as hard as I could," Hook Foot states once he catches his breath. "And barely got away alive!"
"Wait, wait? Fought? Fought who?" Then she notices that he's all alone. "Where's Eugene?"
"Or Lance and Shorty for that matter?" Harmony asks in concern.
Hook Foot breathes heavily, not wanting to tell her...but he had to. "I'm so sorry. Eugene...Shorty...Lance...they took them all."
Rapunzel's eyes go wide in horror. Harmony's mouth opens as does Varian's.
Crows caw as on a private land, Weasel is escorting the trio to a certain person. All of them are tied up with rope and forced to kneel. Shorty snores, falling backwards onto the floor. Two feet step towards them slowly
"It's the...oh, it's...it's the..."
"Baron!" Eugene finishes for the terrified Lance. The same one that was after Angry and Red, and that Eugene and Lance stole from when Lance returned to Corona. "Ha ha! Long time, no see. I'm glad to see you've set up shop here in Vardaros now." The Baron just gives him a furious look. "In fact, we were just admiring what you've done with the place."
"If you'd like to keep your tongue, I suggest you stop moving it...now," Weasel threatens, pulling at Eugene's collar.
"Anthony, enough," Baron warns him and he lets go of Eugene. "Quit playing games, Rider. I've been waiting for this moment. It's time to make amends for what you did to my Stalyan and Morgan."
"Oh, right!" He chuckles nervously, looking away. "The Stalyan and Morgan incidents. You really should let this whole Stalyan and Morgan thing go. Come on! I mean, it's ancient history." Lance smiles widely as he nods in agreement. "Let's all just move on..."
"Let's not."
"Yeah, Rider."
Two people are standing right behind them, one of them a young woman. A younger girl next to her has the same fair skin with rosy cheeks, but her mole is on her right cheek. She looks to be the same age as Harmony and Varian. Her lipstick is red, her wavy brown hair going just below her shoulders. Part of it is tied back into a braid. She has violet eyes and silver horseshoe earrings for jewelry. She has a red neck collar, a belt with the silver horseshoe in the middle, a red corset top, black skirt, and shin-length black boots.
They both smirk at him.
"Hello, Stalyan. Morgan," Eugene narrows his eyes at her.
Stalyan takes the bag she has and puts it over her shoulder, walking past them. "Hello, Rider," She lightly smacks him across the face as Morgan blows a raspberry at the man.
"Yeah, real mature," He retorts to the girl.
"So was leaving me to get arrested during a heist," She follows Stalyan up the steps, who both kiss the Baron on his cheeks.
"I'm so confused," Shorty states, though he's like this almost all the time...
"Staylan and Morgan are the Baron's daughters," Lance explains to him. He clears his throat, "And Stalyan's Eugene's ex."
"I see! ...And who's this Eugene guy?"
"Are these really people you hang out with?" Morgan snorts at this.
"Hey! Stalyan! How are ya? Uh, look, before you two get too upset, I can explain."
"Oh, we're not upset, Rider. Besides, what's to explain?" Stalyan clenches a fist. "You left me at the altar!"
"And you basically turned me in to the guards!" Morgan grits her teeth. "I spent a year in jail because of you!"
"Did I? Did I...do those things? Is that how it went down? Because those aren't how I remember it! But hey, you know, it was—it was quite some time ago," Eugene tries to get out of this unscathed, both of them rolling their eyes. "Who's to say who did what that day? I mean-"
"Stop talking," Stalyan orders him and he clamps his mouth shut. She steps up towards him, Morgan crossing her arms. "After what you did to me and my dear little sister, I swore that if I ever saw you again, I would break a lot of bones."
"Fair, fair. We're talking about my bones, is that correct?"
"Yes, you two-bit hood," Morgan sneers at him and he whips around to her.
"You know, I never liked you! You remind me too much of another dragon-lady, who I hope you never meet!"
"But with time comes perspective," Staylan continues her point. "I realized that we were meant for each other, Flynn Rider. Partners in crime. Partners in life. We can't change what we are."
"Ugh, disgusting," Morgan looks away with a gag.
"You just don't understand it yet, Mo," Stalyan calls out.
"Ew. No. You don't see me ever having...those kind of feelings," She waves it off.
"Wait, what? What are you talking about?"
"I'm making you a proposition, Rider," Baron speaks up. "Keep good on the promise you made to my oldest daughter, and marry her."
"Waiting for the or," Eugene looks away, as he does not want to do that option whatsoever. Not on his life.
"Or...you, Strongbow, and your pet troll will perish." The Baron stands up, Morgan rubbing her hands together in glee.
"Painfully," Weasel adds in.
Eugene scoffs at this. "You can't make me marry her, Baron!"
"Oh, I'd like to give it a try," He taps his ring, opening it up.
"Oh, Daddy, can I do it this time? Please?" Morgan looks up at him with puppy eyes.
"Anything for my little girl," He pats the top of her head and she holds out her hands. A spider crawls up onto them, causing Lance to gasp in fear.
"It's a spider, Eugene! Eugene, it's a spider. You know I hate...spiders," He starts breathing heavily.
"Not just any spider," Baron grins at the insect. "It's a venomous Kai spider. Its bite causes fever and delirium," Morgan smiles evilly as the spider crawls around her hand. "Only when there's swelling of the tongue and throat, do you know the end is near..."
Morgan steps up to the duo, waving it between them. She then plants it on Lance, who shudders. He tries to blow it away, to no avail.
"Spiders bite. He's on me! He's on me! He's walking! He's walking! He's on my hand! He's-" The spider bites onto his hand. "Ow!"
Lance whimpers as he falls onto Eugene's shoulder. "No! Is he dead?"
"No," The Baron rolls his eyes. "The half-wit passed out from fear."
"The big baby," Morgan scoffs at him.
"They're right. That's exactly what happened," Lance opens his eyes, realizing what the girl said. "Wait, hey! I resent that, Morgan!"
"But he will be dead by nightfall," The Baron reveals, to their horror. "Unless, of course, you have this," He digs into his collar, pulling out a tiny vial with orange liquid inside. "The anti-venom. Marry Stalyan, and this will be your wedding present from me."
"Trust me, Rider," Stalyan places a hand on his shoulder, smiling. "It's meant to be." She joins her father and her sister.
Eugene narrows his eyes at the family. He didn't have a choice...it was the only way to save Lance.
"Congratulations, Mr. Groom," Shorty tells him, though it was not a happy occasion at all...