A/N: a.k.a. The Cameo Chapter

Have fun & live it up while you can! This chapter was originally more than twice as long, but has been cut in half. So, the end of the next one, ends our calm before the storm. But this & that next chapter is all the same day.

First part: 6 for 6, me, my husband, my siblings, & my siblings' spouses, all concurred that we did all have the same experience during the actual vows part of our weddings, &, well, this Coronation Ball is close enough.

On another issue, I do deeply disclaim this as having any bearing on these actual Princes. If you love them, then great! This is obviously not Genuine Disney. Just one of my own personal takes on them. And, let's face it, Golden Age Disney left these guys a complete void of personality, so… I'm filling in that empty space using Into the Woods, and however I see most fun.


Chapter 11: Tangled vs The Tango

playlist on YouTube Ch11: Tangled vs The Tango (Broken Dreams)


The eve of the Coronation, there was a rehearsal, followed by a feast in preemptive celebration, for the much smaller crowd of only those from Corona, before the rest of the World joined them for the day-long party that was coming.

That evening, Rapunzel and Eugene took their nerves out on studying names and trivia first, at her insistence. He did see her reasoning and obliged, until he was able to convince her that sleep would also help them retain that info. Then, they continued working out those anxieties on each other, before finally getting some actual rest.


After an extremely early and exhausting whirlwind morning, of getting kicked out of bed and getting ready, the actual Coronation Ceremony was a blur.


Mercifully left in a side room while the guests moved on to the ballroom, Rapunzel and Eugene collapsed against each other. Back to back, both stared out into space.

"Blondie?" he gasped, terrified anxiety shaking his voice.

"Yeah?" She was on the verge of hyperventilating.

"I think I blacked out," he laughed.

"Oh my gosh," she stood up straighter and turned to face him, grabbing his shoulder so he would not fall, "Me too!"

He straightened up and instinctively took her hands in his white-gloved ones. "I have NO idea what was said!"

"Me neither!" She giggled hysterically on those high bubbly jitters that remained.

They stood there, laughing, looking each other over.

Eugene had seen her in her crown plenty of times, but today, there was something different about her. She looked more mature, confident, and settled, both into this whole place and her role in it. He smiled so brightly at her.

Rapunzel, however, when she looked up at him, lost her breath. Oh my gosh! You-... For the first time ever, she saw that shining golden halo of power atop his head. Dotted with gems and a single teardrop crystal, amongst swirls around a thicker, wider rim, it complemented hers perfectly. And she could not help how it affected her.

She wound herself all up and squealed to him, still in disbelief. "Yyeeee! Eugene! You-! You look so good in that!" Likewise, it made him look even more mature, triumphant, but still cockeyed enough to be mischievous. Still a rogue. Still sat on him just a little awkwardly.

His face immediately lit up red, as his eyes shyly glanced up, though he could not see it himself. "Y-you think so?

"Uh, Yaaah?! You look amazing!"

He took it off to look more closely, but simply holding it in his hands overwhelmed him. "Oh-hooo boy…" I'm really- part of history now. In the line of succ- No, not just IN the line. I'm NEXT in line… Someday I'LL be– He felt a little faint and had to shake his head. "Wow…" Then he put it back on his head where he would not have to stare at this new possible existential crisis trigger. Feeling it on his head again, though, it seemed heavier than even a moment before.

She chuckled at his sudden nervousness. "You okay?"

"Ah-hah," he squeaked, frozen eyes still staring into space, as he pulled a flask out of his doublet.

"What?" she asked in shock.

He took one swig and put it back. "Gonna need it. 'Cause of course, I got a bad feeling about tonight."

"You're just nervous."

"Probably! I certainly hope that's all it is. But still," he took a deep breath, took her hands, and with a pinched brow, looked her right in the eyes. "Scared."

"Hey, hey," she moved her hands to his cheeks, "Everything is going to be fine. You're Crown Prince now, because the Crown Princess wants you. And I don't see that changing anytime soon."

"Well, the Crown Princess is still subject to her father, and-"

"And he loves you!"

"I know, I know," he grinned. "I'm not worried about anything that big. I just, am really wishing for tonight to be amazing, and I'm scared of anything - or anyone - else, ruining it."

"Well, okay."

After a few deep breaths, they both finally realized there was a buffet laid out with all sorts of finger foods along a wall.

"Oh!" Rapunzel observed the notecards next to each platter. "These are the dishes everyone had made from their own kingdoms!"

"Oh, sweet!" Eugene exclaimed and headed over to dig in.

She turned to follow him, but stumbled to a halt. Cool to see the things from other kingdoms, but– oh no… "I… don't think I'm hungry though." In spite of herself, though, her stomach rumbled.

Eugene glanced over and chuckled. "I think, you are."

She pressed her hands over her stomach. Stupid stomach! With a tight chuckle, she compromised. "Well, heheh, I guess I'll have a little."

He narrowed his eyes at her. Why do you keep doing this? I'm even the only other one here? "Alright, well, why don'tchya try 'a little' of everything?" He busied himself with filling up his own small plate, while keeping a careful side-eye watch on her. "Bound to be something new here you like!"

Her stomach twinged again and she sighed, conceding but not without annoyance. "Okay, okay!" It IS a special occasion, afterall. My stomach and head hurt. I'll feel better afterwards, and at least it's only him here. She picked up a plate for herself, and soon realized her curiosity for all the cute little foods was indeed the most powerful force here. Her eyes lit up as she surveyed the feast-scape.

"Y'okay, Blondie?"

"Yeah, yeah, I just…" She dipped to a mumble. "My corsets haven't been closing as much as they should be…"

"Whoht-" Eugene tried to ask while taking a noisy bite – and dropped a bit of the creamy off-white sauce, that landed near the bottom of his starch-white gold-hemmed doublet.

They both looked to it, eyes all going wide.

Rapunzel sucked in a deep breath.

Eugene immediately fell into a panic, voice going squeaky. "You see? You see?! I've been a prince all of five seconds, and I already have sauce on my shirt!"

"Caaalm down," Rapunzel reassured him, smirking. She fell to her knees, to more closely examine it. Carefully with her fingernail, she scraped the bulk of it off, and licked it off her finger, popping her lips off when she was done. "Mmm, that's good!"

He settled down and chuckled. "Oh, yeah? Ya like it? Thought it might be too much for you-"

But it sat directly on her throat, and suddenly she coughed a bit, her voice winded. "Lil… spicy!"

He laughed. "Louisiana may have been settled by the French, but the food down there's completely different." But the personal distraction only lasted so long before he worried again. "How's it look down there?"

Worried about it setting in, and few other options around, she licked her thumb and began rubbing at it.

A door opened abruptly; one Eugene had his back to.

"Don't rub it too hard!" Eugene giggled, pushing her away.

"I'm just trying to get it out!" Rapunzel giggled back, wiping at the spot with her hand. "Spit usually helps."

"Thanks, but just- Ughlc. I dunno, get a napkin to wipe it dry now."

A distressed and gagging cough came from the doorway, unsure which name to yell first.

Rapunzel stood up to fetch a napkin, and Eugene turned around.

The Queen, standing in the doorway, expecting to be murdered by a different sight, finally deflated and took a fresh deep breath.

"Mom?!" Eugene gasped, still worried about the stain, now exponentially more horrified by the look on her face. "No no no no no no, it's not-!"

"Hi, Mom," Rapunzel preemptively brushed off. "It should be fine- you can hardly see it, and once it dries, it'll be fine. I've been doing laundry all my life with a muuuch harsher critic, buh-lieve me!" She giggled as she took to blotting a wet part of the napkin around the spot, then again with a dry part.

The Queen was still sighing, still catching her breath. "Oh my stars," she muttered in relief, but was surely trying to get the assumed image out of her head.

Eugene stood frozen in a panic, paranoid he had screwed up already.

"Nothing, nothing, Darling," the Queen gasped. She shook her head and cleared her throat, before regaining her composure.

When she saw he was still only a whimper away from breaking down, she sighed. She took his hands and looked him right in the eye. "Eugene," she grinned, "Sir, you look absolutely wonderful. Somehow even sharper than usual!" She chuckled, as she held his hands out to look him over, all the way up to that new crown. She grabbed for his cheeks. "Ohhh, just look at how that all shines on you!" She pulled down on him, to reach for a kiss on his forehead.

He smiled shyly as his eyes sparkled. "Thanks. Thank you so much, for everything. Always."

Rapunzel snuck up beside her. "And, uh, some soap on that by the end of the night, should make sure to get any other oil out before it sets in."

The Queen nodded her head around to concur, as she turned to Rapunzel. "And oh," she broke a little herself. "My baby girl, look at you glowing!" She likewise took Rapunzel's hands, but spun her around as if in a dance, and had her twirl out a bit, showing how the light seemed to just radiate out from the brilliant white gatherings and gold accents of her own gown.

Rapunzel giggled, barely aware of the shadow in the back of her mind. The tangible moment in front of her currently took precedent.

As they came back together, the Queen cupped her cheek, and kissed the other. Then they simply fell into a hug. "Oh, I love you, my Baby."

She turned back to grab Eugene and add him in. "I love both of you, so much. You've really made us a family again, and brought such life and light back to this place!"

They all snuggled in together.

"Love you, too, Mom."

"I love you," Rapunzel squeezed her extra endearingly. "And thank you, for helping us… make this dream come true."

"Ohhh, of course, of course, Dears," the Queen stood back, carefully poking tears away from her eyes, "Well I don't know about you two, but I am starving."

"Heh-heh, yeah, let's eat!" Eugene chuckled to shake off his own blubbering emotions getting stuck in his throat.

A little more subdued and less enthused, Rapunzel politely nodded, as she continued blinking tears back. "Y-yeah…"

Eugene eventually took two plates, while Rapunzel continued working on hers: only about a quarter the amount of his.


At dusk, the ball was set to begin. This near to the Winter solstice, that was only four o'clock in the evening.

"Dad," Eugene called, "Are they ready for us?"

The King was at a cracked-open door, chatting with an assistant. He nodded and thanked him, then looked back to Eugene. Brow raised and happily at ease, he calmly sighed out as he proudly looked over his whole beloved family, including his hand-picked heir. "Almost."

Rapunzel pulled Eugene back from pacing to sit beside her. How are you the nervous one? She smirked over at him as she secured his hand in hers. "Euuugene?" she whispered.

"Hm?"

"What are you so worried about?" she chuckled.

"What- Who? Me? Worried?" He pffted the accusation away.

She grinned. "Your hand is shaking."

"Ya know," he informed her nonchalantly, "It seems to do that when I'm freaking out."

She smirked at him, and ran her thumbs across his palm, where she had first healed him.

Almost instantly, he closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and calmed.


Coming from the ballroom, they could hear the announcer droning on, listing the foreign royalty and dignitaries as each entered.

"King Florian Charming and Queen Snow White, of The Enchanted Kingdom."

"King Ferdinand Charming and Queen Cinderella, of The Magic Kingdom."

"Prince Phillip, Son of Hubert, and Princess Aurora, Daughter of Stefan, of The Kingdom of Neuschwanstein."

"King Arthur, of the Britons."

"King Taran and Queen Eilonwy, of The Kingdom of Llyr."

"King Eric and Queen Ariel, Princess of Atlantica, with Crown Princess Melody, of The Kingdom of Chillon."

"King Adam and Queen Belle, of The Kingdom of Chambord."

"Prince Aladdin and Princess Jasmine, of The Kingdom of Agrabah."

"His Excellency Ambassador Hercules and Megara, of Greece."

"Tsar Nicholas Pavlovich, Emperor and Autocrat of All the Russias, King of Poland, and Grand Duke of Finland, and Tsarina Alexandra Feodorovna, Empress of All the Russias, Queen of Poland, Grand Duchess of Finland, and Princess of the Kingdom of Prussia."

"Her Excellency, Ambassador Hua Mulan, and General Li Shang, from The Empire of China."

"King Edward and Queen Nancy, of The Kingdom of Andalasia."

"King Naveen and Queen Ralphina, with Prince Naveen II and Princess Tiana, and Prince Ralph, of The Kingdom of Maldonia."

"Chief Stoick the Vast, with Lord Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III, of the Isle of Berk."

"King Fergus and Queen Elinor, with Princess Merida, of Clan DunBroch."

"Our most gracious hosts, King Walter, and Queen Lillian, of Corona."

"And presenting, His Royal Highness, Eugene Fitzherbert, and Her Royal Highness, Rapunzel – Crown Prince and Crown Princess of Corona."

In another daze, gripping each other's arms for dear life, they walked in to the ballroom of erupting applause and cheers. And so they entered that world of Kings and Queens, Kingdoms and Alliances, Princes and Princesses…


After an initial bombardment of greetings died down, Eugene spotted the Captain of the Guard nearby.

"Oh-!" He looked down to Rapunzel on his arm and patted her hand. "Sweetie, I wanna go talk to the Captain a sec, alright?"

"Oh, sure!" With a pecking kiss good-bye, they parted.

"Cap!" Eugene flagged him down. Optics. Remember our optics! He strode over with a big smile. Now you HAVE TO be nice and fully respectful to me, hah! Perhaps his smile was a bit too smug about it.

In a formal dress version of his Captain of the Guard's uniform, he stood off to the side, chatting with other high-ranking staff from the castle. He regarded the call with true disdain but for a moment. But he instantly plastered on his own smile, and excused himself from the others. "Yes, Sirrr?" he still drew out sarcastically, nose flared.

"Lovely," Eugene returned the sarcasm, but then cheered up, "So, you got a date?"

The Captain quirked at him. "Really?"

Eugene dropped back to deadpan. "No, not 'really.' Just curious who you got casing who around here."

He perked up at his favorite topic, and at Eugene's seriousness. "Each of the three Westergaards and their ambassador, as well as anyone else who may seem to be hanging around them too much."

Eugene nodded, brow furrowed, but happy with the answer so far. "And who's watching them? Not just you…?"

"No," he shook his head once. "Instead of simply adding more guards, which may look overly suspicious on our part, we've actually enlisted the rest of the staff. Especially," he nodded towards the crowd he just parted from, "The higher ups, and servers."

"Sooo, if say, we were to get any more info on that old investigation – are you still in charge of that?"

"Sure," the Captain shrugged and took a drink. "But Bryn seems to have been the most active about it besides you and the princess. You still lookin' to clear that kid we locked up?"

"I just want a definitive answer. And there are at least four other people here tonight who are connected to it – Who, should all want me dead."

"Eeeasy there," the Captain chided Eugene's excessive concern, "What's that thing on your head? And you still got that shiny ring on?"

"My crown? And yeah, got both my rings, so?"

"Then relax. Nothing's gonna happen. We didn't invite the foxes into your hen house." The Captain laughed, then finished his drink off.

Eugene pouted at him with a glare. "Yeah, well, they're still in the yard."

"Well, if anyone is stupid enough to try anything, we'll be ready for them. The guard reserves have almost doubled in the past year alone."

"I know."

"But if you're so curious, why don't you go see if talking to you shakes anything loose from them?"

Now his brow flew up. "What am I supposed to talk to them about, that would do any good there?"

"Sounds like it's right up your alley."

Eugene's neutral seriousness was slowly turning to offended frustration. "The King wants me to stay away from them, and frankly, I'm happy to. Me, 'shaking something loose,' may lead to the whole situation blowing up in our faces."

"Then what more do you expect me to do about it?" he nearly snapped, then certainly sneered quietly, "Go enjoy your party, Rider."

Eugene sighed as he watched the Captain force himself to reluctantly bow out and walk away.


Alone, Rapunzel did fall back on first speaking with someone she already knew.

"Oh, Bryn! Hi," she sweet-talked as she nearly scurried over to him. And a cute someone, too!

"Ah," he stopped his retreat from the Captain, letting the other department heads from his crowd go on without him.

She grinned and blushed. Something about his sharp features and always-serious arch of his eyebrows, still rounded off just enough to be alluringly intriguing. His intense gaze and subtle smile welcomed her in with a direct friendliness, warmed still by that tight beard and short haircut.

"Your Royal Highness, it is always a pleasure to see you," he likewise sweet-talked back with a curt bow and big smile. "And congratulations, on such a momentous occasion. What can I do for you?"

"Oh, hah," she fidgeted a bit at his formality. "Thank you! I was just, ya know, wondering, uh… How have you been working with Eugene? I mean I know he always says everything's fine and you get along, but I haven't had much opportunity to talk to you about it all."

He was following, clearly preparing a pleasant answer, but then hesitated. "What exactly do you mean, 'about it all?'"

"Well…" Oh yeah, greeeat thing to start off with! She cringed as she continued on anyway. "I mean, you had to repair the hole in the roof because of him."

"Ohhh, no no no, Princess," he chuckled, right on the edge of being sardonic. "I don't have the privilege of doing such sunny repairs or maintenance myself. We have many other workers for doing the heavy labor." His smile almost disappeared, before bouncing up bigger than before. "BUT! All is forgiven. My loyalty is to the crown, and, while he was the scamp who was responsible for a bit more work back then, now, you two are the next crown. And besides, Princess, since then he has been a great deal of help to me and my department in finding out our weaknesses and shoring up our stationary defenses."

Rapunzel breathed much easier after all of that. Besides being all good news, it also got her head back in the game of such business. "That's all so wonderful to hear!"

"Yes, yes. All good things."

"Well then," she drew out, "Shall we dance?"

A grin slightly grew on him, and he chuckled once. "No, no, my Dear. I'm afraid that would not be appropriate. I am not in a position to dance with you tonight. Tonight! You'll dance with not only your own, but all of the visiting princes and kings and foreign dignitaries, et cetera, et cetera."

She sighed and nodded.

Just then, Bryn grinned as he noticed Eugene heading back towards them. "Excuse me, Your Highness." He bowed again and left.

The two men nodded to each other as they switched out.

"Sorry, Blondie," Eugene immediately apologized for his momentary dipping out, but made up for it with the delivery of a champagne for her, in addition to his own. "D'you want me to stay by you all night? Or split up?"

She hummed, sipping, thinking, and looking out over the crowd. "I dunno. I think I'll be okay going off on my own a bit, don't you think?"

"Of course," he nodded. "And besides, these are all friendly allies. Except for the you-know-whos."

"Right," she smiled, "But actually– I don't know which ones are the you-know-whos?"

"Orangish hair, steel blue suits." He pointed them out. "Those are twins, actually-"

"They don't look like twins." She scrunched her nose up at them.

"Heh, yeah, right? I don't even know which one's supposed to be 'the ugly one,'" he snickered. "And then Mr. Mopey Muttonchops over there is the youngest."

"Doesn't look that mopey?"

He shrugged. "Maybe he finally grew up. Not like I've ever met him, but the youngest of all those thirteen brothers you were marvelling over? Yeah, I've heard he was basically the kicking post." And hopefully all that ball-busting means there's not much left to have dropped. He eyed him more critically over the rim of his champagne glass.

Rapunzel looked around the whole room some more, and spotted Bryn again.

He was talking quite seriously with a maid, then they both nodded and parted. He moved on to speak with a guard, in the same fashion.

Eugene followed her line of sight. "The Captain was just telling me that the way they've beefed up security around here is to enlist the help of the department heads and staff, so it doesn't look like we have so many guards around."

"Oh, that's good." She took a deep, steadying breath again.

"Aaand, their ambassador." He pointed out one more.

"Gotchya."

With some initial greetings out of the way, the band leader announced the first dance of the evening.

"Mmm, but first!" Eugene quickly finished his champagne glass and set it down on a passing tray. Then he slid aside and turned back to bow to her. When he looked back up, he was smirking, deliciously adorable. "Blondie?" He held his hand out.

She lit up red, both at him, and at the thought of leading this off, being in the spotlight amidst all these strangers. But that was not so different from how she had started the dancing in the square. Mostly, it was him. She giggled, likewise threw back her drink, and grabbed for that hand.


The rest of the evening would pass back and forth between dancing and chatting, both with each other or their guests, or waiting in between, and drinking the whole while.

"Ah, congratulations! Yooour Majesty!"

Eugene turned his head, confused that it seemed directed at him. He nodded with a smirk as the short bearded man bowed grandly before him with all the showiness he could muster. He was dressed in a sharp green with gold accents, but not from anywhere he recognized.

"Thanks," he chuckled. "But 'His Majesty' is still the King, Walter over there. For me, I'm told it's 'Royal Highness.'"

"Oh!" the man grabbed Eugene's forearm. "Duh, of course, man, I gotchya." He tapped it with a knuckle as he let go.

Eugene smiled crookedly and watched him, partly suspicious, but mostly intrigued. "Pfft, don't worry about it. And you are?"

"Ah, Captain Morgan of Buymoria!"

Eugene lit up. "Captain? A ship captain?"

"Aye-ye! Captain of our flagship, my pride and joy! The Awesome Ellie."

"Really?" His grin grew. "Rapunzel would lov-" He caught himself, unsure how casual he should be. "Uh… The Princess, she would love to go sailing someday, or to even just meet a ship captain!"


The red-headed young girl next to Arthur twirled her dress back and forth, before sweeping up her train in the crux of her arm, and petting it.

"Oh, she doesn't talk much," Arthur informed Rapunzel, trying to brush off and distract from the strange girl.

Her smile was eager and bright, though, as she snuggled up against him.

"Knock it off," he giggled, and tried to sidestep and duck her. Although, his flushed cheeks betrayed him.

She merely turned and looked at him seductively, coyly, over her shoulder, from under the swoop of her bangs.

Rapunzel chuckled at both of them. "Um, Your Majesty, I think she likes you."

He sighed exasperatedly. "Don't I know it. Well, she did save me from a wolf once."

"Really?!" Rapunzel gasped, looked back to the girl to confirm. "A wolf?!"

She covered her mouth with both hands, giggling bashfully, but then nodded proudly.

"Oh my gosh! That's so brave! Oh," Rapunzel cooed for them, her hands over her heart. "I hope you'll be very happy together."

The girl had become distracted playing with the fringed caps on Arthur's slightly ill-fitting jacket. But she darted her attention back to Rapunzel, nodding ecstatically.

Arthur blushed, and could not contain his doofy smile.


"Ahh, the Charming brothers!" Eugene sauntered up, cutting into the pair's conversation.

They both turned to the new prince, but they seemed confused at his perceived familiarity with them already.

Florian put it together first.

But Ferdinand answered first. "Your Royal Highness, ah- wait, do I... know you?"

Eugene could no longer hold his laugh back from escaping all in one blast. "You really are terrible with faces! You did. When I still went by my old dashing rogue title."

Florian piped up with the answer. "'Corona's Most Wanted! Dead or Alive!' Pteh, didn't even matter. A dastardly fiend. He's the nefarious Flynn Rider."

Eugene's old ego suddenly ate up those 'compliments,' after having been starved of them for so long. But his latest ego demanded even more, and in the specific terms of respect; for him, and for all of whom and what he represented now. "Hmph," he smirked at Florian. "And you. How's the wife. You are still married to the same Snow White, aren't you?"

He smugly stuck his nose up at the old offense ripped open. But then he leveled narrowed eyes at him. His smooth voice was unable to growl in anger, but instead smarmed out with an overly saccharine stickiness. "Happily."

Eugene's smirk held tight, though his nostrils also flared, remembering his disgust. "I'm sure."

Florian smiled viciously. "And yours?"

THAT'S the best you got for an insult? He almost laughed, but merely cooed facetiously, even touching his chest flirtatiously. "Aw, ouch. You wound me! Still workin' on that part." He held up his right hand, though, showing off his freshly polished and shiny as ever, engagement ring, as he clicked his tongue. "Almost there."

"Hmph." Ferdinand smirked with amusement. "'Working.'"

"Yeah-hah!" Eugene burst in another reckless laugh as he turned to that brother. "Maybe if you had actually tried it, instead of just sending your lackeys out, you would have found your own that much faster."

As both brothers opened their mouths to protest, another man pushed through a crowd to join them.

"Ah, Prince Eugene!"

Eugene continued smugly glaring the pair down as he greeted the newcomer. "...Yes. Thank you." Then he finally turned to him. "Ah, Phillip, right?"

"That's me," he chuckled warmly. "I'm so glad to meet you! I've heard s-"

Ferdinand interrupted, never taking his eyes off Eugene. "If you are to marry the Lost Princess, perhaps you should take a lesson from us on being charming, instead of preaching about that of which you know nothing."

"Thanks, but being sincere has been workin' just fine for me so far." Fuck it. None of this is good. Bail before Dad gets mad for not playing nice. He cracked his neck. "Sorry, still have the training wheels on my silver spoon. Pardon me; it leaves a bad taste in my mouth. You'll excuse me." He shouldered his way between Phillip and Ferdinand.

But he turned on his heel, unable to resist gloating as he made his escape. "Oh! Phillip, you know Prince Charming here- oh, sorry, King. King FERD-in-aaand," he said with a disdain to match his stink-face, "Charming- what is it? 50th of his name, right?"

Phillip simply looked confused.

Glances darted around between everyone.

"No?" Eugene teased. "Your wife does."

"What?" Phillip asked in a daze.

Ferdinand blanched.

Eugene grinned, wide and cheeky. "Have fun!"

He spun around, leaving them to sort themselves out and exiting the conversation with a delicious smirk.

But just a few steps away, he found himself face to face with - Queen Snow White. Although, he froze and paled so hard he feared he might have her beat on her namesake.

Snow White had likewise not been expecting to stop so abruptly - and to a face she knew, let alone this face. Her brilliant white, gathered multi-layered ballgown, with flying high collar in the back, and short poof shoulder caps, practically lit her up to stand out amongst the crowded room.

"Snow!" Eugene reflexively exclaimed in a shocked panic of dread.

"Flynn?!" Snow squealed in the same shock. She looked him up and down quickly. "You really are-?!"

His posture sank and he cringed a cute defensive smile. "Uh, Eugene. Ya know, with the whole," he pointed up and around the room, trailing off in a nervous chuckle.

"R-right," she flustered back cutely. "I'm sorry, I-"

"Naw, naw, it's alright. Eugene is, uh, my real name." He tried to stand up straight again, though he truly wanted to curl up into a ball right there.

They stood silent, nodding and not knowing what to do or say or even where to look for a few moments too long.

"So, ah- it's actually, Prince Eugene, now- then…" he awkwardly continued. "Not that- I mean-"

"Oh, of course!" she politely giggled. "Congratulations!"

"Thank you," he chuckled with the deepest grin, as he blushed far too hard too fast, but tried to cough it off. "Ah, so, uhhh… How've ya been?"

Her smile was beginning to look pained. "Good, ah, great, actually! You've met-?" She motioned back to her husband.

"I have, yeah," he laughed, then resumed nodding with pursed lips.

Snow nodded back. "Ah, ha… Oh, so, and- you?"

He burst into a laugh. "Uh, yeah, I mean!" He threw his hands up again in demonstration. "I'd say it's goin' pretty good!"

"Of course, of course!" she laughed back, throwing a hand out, dismissing her silly question.

Hands shoved back in his pockets, he nervously laughed with her. "Ha-... Have you heard the whole story?"

"Oh!" she exclaimed, "Rapunzel told me!"

"Oh." His brow jumped, in a different kind of panic now. "Oh, you-" He gulped. "You already met her?"

"Yes, yes, oh she was so kind!" she giggled away.

Eugene rocked there on his heels, eyes begging her to either smooth this over, or release them.

Snow White likewise idly swished her skirt back and forth, apparently for once agreeing with him.

"Well it was nice-" Eugene rushed out of his mouth, to meet her own words crashing between them.

"Yes, have a good ni-"

"I should go."

"Bye!"

They hurried off past each other, retreating to finally take deep breaths.


Compared to where he comfortably sat now, on a tufted bench along the wall, and how life with Rapunzel had been these past six months, he could not say he missed a single thing from before her. There were a few nice memories, but nothing to build on. He genuinely chuckled at the comparison. "Blondie, you got nothing to worry about."

"Well…" she still frowned, still unsettled, but no more than her general unease with the entire event. "You didn't tell me there was gonna be someone here you'd… That you've, been with."

He blushed and side-eyed her. "You jealous?"

"I… don't know…" she pouted, then whined, "She was really nice and I really liked her when I talked to her!"

"There ya go. As for, that- feels like it was like, a hundred years ago," he continued. "Or somethin', heh. I don't even remember the last time I was there. She's married, we're engaged." He shrugged.

"Yeah, but now, their husbands?" she interrogated as if scolding him.

"Yeah," he chuckled. "Let's just say neither of them like me."

"Exactly," she concluded. "I don't wanna see you get in trouble! See, these are the kinds of things I think I should know!"

"Oh, come on," he smirked, dismissing the excessiveness of her concern. "My concern, was that it would've just been one more thing for you to worry and stress over leading up to the most stressful planned event of your life- of our lives. Even the wedding's not gonna be this bad. But yeah, I knew it would definitely come up at some point today, so I was planning on telling you today. And now I have."

She eyed him carefully, both of them contemplating it all, and that unease dissipated. "Well, alright," she sighed as a serene smile came over her instead. "Just another piece of your past?"

He set his smirk to sultry, eyeing her up.

She prompted him, hopeful she was correct. "A, nice piece?"

"Yeh-hess," he chuckled. "She's… She's very nice. What, you think it was her fault?"

"That- you two didn't end up together?"

"Well," he shrugged, "Another princess, but yeah… I just…" Yet another shrug, as his eyes drifted to the floor. "I was… Younger, dumber, very selfish. N' that, was just wanting something mainly because I knew it was out of reach. But still. Just didn't care."

She watched him, studying him. Back when he was 'Flynn Rider…' She finally smirked, and reached out to hold his arm.

He looked back to her, feeling guilty, and looking regretful of things that were said and done long ago, and to someone else at that. Suddenly what mattered most was only what she would think of such things. "It was everything you changed in me, ya know?"

She grinned sweetly. "Yeah, I do know. I know that now, you're older, wiser; you care so much about the people around you, and I don't think anyone can ever accuse you of being selfish ever again." She purposely slid her arm around the right side of his waist.

He sucked in a deep breath, but finally grinned back with her.

Rapunzel thought for a moment, then decided to tackle this here and now. "Eugene, I don't want you to feel ashamed of your past."

He fell back to a frown, brow furrowed deep. "My criminal, cad past? Where I know I hurt and terrified people?"

She shook her head. Maybe I'm selfish, too, but I don't care about that right now. Nothing is more important than him. "That's all done now. You can't change the past. And, to be honest, it's not those people I'm most concerned about. It's you. Their hurt is in the past; you are here in front of me now. And you can't let it eat you up."

He smirked again. "Look at you, Lil Miss Philosopher."

She giggled. "I've just been thinking about stuff like that a lot. She-..."

He dropped back to solemn, prepared to listen carefully.

She second guessed bringing her up, but merely sighed and cleared her throat. "She said that to me a lot. 'It'd be a shame if,' I did anything, basically, but like especially, 'a shame if I cut my hair,' of course. A shame I wasn't grateful to her. A shame if someone hurt me, if the world got me, a shame I couldn't take a joke, or be a better daughter…" Her eyes were back on the ground by the end.

Suddenly Eugene's voice brought her back. "It'd only be a true shame if you believed her."

She picked her head back up to him, then grinned so bittersweetly. "Yeah, see?"

He cupped her cheek. "And you don't want me beating myself up like that, either. Got it."

"Thank you," she squeaked out to him, "For everything, really. And you know, I love every version of you."

He nodded, smirking and falling into a giggle. "You diiid fall for me as a dirty rotten thief still, even helping me in the middle of my greatest heist." His elbow jostled her teasingly.

She rolled her eyes and nudged him back. "Oh come on, you weren't a bad person."

"Yes?" He laughed. "I was!"

"Uh-huh, sure. A bad person who checked on me crying and then protected me the whole time."

He merely shrugged and blushed cutely as her smirk stared him down.


Eugene had excused himself to a restroom; a perfect time to also take another hard hit from his flask.

On his way back to the ballroom, he came back upon three men and a woman standing in the doorway, looking into the room, chatting.

They all were dressed in blue, all ornately decorated, but each very differently, depending on wherever they were respectfully from. Yet somehow, they all wore the same small, round, dark, fashionable spectacles.

"You need your lil doohickey thing, though, don't you?" The bubbly man in harem pants and vest crossed his arms cockily, as he elbowed the frail old man with a long white beard.

"Oh, yes," the old man brumbled, patting a tightly closed umbrella at his side, "But I see it, too. Seems like everybody's here tonight! And ab-so-lutely glowing! Ho ho…"

The smallest man, in a tunic and cape turned over only one shoulder, paused, studying the room more carefully. "Hah, this room is lit up brighter than SpectroMagic!"

The pudgy, elderly woman tittered with the others at him.

"Even the princess!" long-white-beard added.

Eugene slowed to a halt, as he could not help eavesdropping as he approached. His face was distraughtly worried again already. –MAGIC?! 'the' princess? MY princess?! "Spectro-what?" he finally squeaked out loud.

"Oh!" The woman turned around, shocked at his presence. "Goodness my dear, we didn't see you here!" She smiled so sweetly. "Your, em, Royal Highness," she cooed as if personally proud of him.

Eugene blushed. Ah geeze, it's not just the Queen herself - it's ME. "Uh," he rubbed his neck, "Thank you…"

"Of course, of course."

"Heh, check it out, Herm. It's a djinn and tonic!" He was suddenly holding a drink Eugene had not noticed before.

"What?" Eugene asked again.

"Come along," the woman ushered him back into the ballroom, and right up to Rapunzel, who was standing with three other petite old ladies. "There you are! Now, you two have fun, and," she pointed to Eugene, "Be good!"

"Um," he quirked a look back at her. That's not a 'you're a lowlife - be good,' that's like, 'I'm your grandma - be good.' He giggled at Rapunzel, who was likewise puzzled.

"You have a wonderful young lady here."

Eugene took the opportunity to swoon over said young lady again. "Oh, I know."

"And you, child," she grabbed Rapunzel to push entirely into his arms, "Should have nothing to fear."

"Um," she giggled, "I know that, too. He's…" She sighed out, infatuated all over again in an instant, merely looking up at him there, and how he looked at her. "My dream come true."

"Aw, welllll," Eugene said shyly, "You, and all this? It's all more than I had ever hoped."

"Hmm, yes," the old lady cooed, "Congratulations to you both, and may this dream last a lifetime."

"Thank you," they both said as they held each other tightly.

She nodded graciously, and headed over to join the other three ladies Rapunzel had just left.

She whispered up to him. "Who was that?"

"I have no idea," he shook his head, laughing. "But apparently she likes me!" They began to head off again.

"HELLLL-OOOOO!" Suddenly, another old lady doddered up to join them, with glasses, clutching a handbag.

Eugene stopped short; Rapunzel bumped into him.

"Ah-!" he jolted, but looked the new lady over. "Hi?"

This stout old lady had a darling Scottish accent. "Aw, now don'tchya just look lovely together tonight."

"Thank you!" Rapunzel chirped.

Looking deep into Eugene's eyes, the Scottish lady saddened, "Ohhh, I see you…" then touched Rapunzel's shoulder, "And you. Take care of him, Dearie."

Defensive, Eugene leaned away, faking a bigger smile the more she frowned. "See what?"

"Well! You stop worrying neow, and jest bee yourself," with a head dipped toward him and eyes locked. "But you'll be alright."

Eugene blinked, confused, but touched nonetheless. He softened completely, and all his worries slipped out onto his face. "I… don't know what else to say, but… Thank you."

Once Rapunzel and Eugene left, though, that sweet old lady Scottish voice dropped out entirely and back to deep and a little gruff, with a hand on a hip. "Alrrright, takin' bets. Who ya think's got the bigger fanclub? Al or Herc?"

"Aw, Geeene, Geney, Baby! Come onnn! My brother from another mother there, Mr. Wonderboy himself, has got his own merch line."

"Ho, whoah, but what about entourage?"

The old woman in blue again bristled, rolling her sleeves up and crossing her arms. "Oooh, well at least you don't need to worry about yours being faithful."

The three petite women beside her all shook their heads, commiserating.

The shortest one in blue bunched her arms up against her bosom. "No, but your two meatheads can't seem to talk about anything but training!"

The slightly taller hefty one, in pink, tapped at her arm to scold her. "Now, that's not entirely true! The General from China is with them, too."

The thinner one, green, joined in. "Yes! And it's not all justtraining and fighting. They also talk about their ladies." She clasped her hands together as she sighed. "Aren't they just so romantic?"


Rapunzel and Eugene took to the dance floor, moreso to take a breather from all the introductions and small talk, to take a moment for themselves, and to gossip with each other.

"Prince Phillip," Eugene repeated, trying to discreetly direct Rapunzel's attention, both without being too obvious, and as they spun around in the midst of the waltz. "Over there dancing with the blonde in pink."

"Um," Rapunzel thought she had the right couple. She followed them with her head as they spun around again. "I'm pretty sure that's him, but 'the blonde with him' is in blue?"

"What?" Eugene quirked. "Practically everyone else here is in white and gold, but her, I know I saw in pink." As they spun again, and they came back into Eugene's view, he indeed saw Princess Aurora, in pink. "Yeah, Hun, Aurora's the one in pink. With Phillip."

Another spin.

"Mm," she cringed, "Nooo, that's definitely them, and she's definitely in blue."

Another spin.

Definitely pink. Eugene smirked with concern down at Rapunzel. "Sweetheart, how much have you had to drink?" he chuckled, trying to keep it lighthearted, but ready to turn serious if need be.

She burst out laughing. "How much have you had?!" Definitely blue.

They left it at chuckling and shaking heads at each other.

"Uh, Blondie, not to alarm you, but, I think I saw a small strange-looking lizard around here somewhere."

She followed his eyes, darting around the floor through people's feet, and scanning the far edges of walls. "What, like- You don't suppose it was one of those-!" She gasped, and whispered the rest through cupped hands between her mouth and his ear. "Those things from Berk?"

"That's just it, I don't know. I swear it looked like one, but, like, miniature?" He chuckled. "Do they make dragons travel-sized?"

She laughed back. "Well, if it's so small, then I suppose that is definitely too small to ride."

He shrugged. "Yeah."

Rapunzel shrugged back, too. "And who knows? Pascal is a lizard. Maybe someone else here has a lizard, too."

"Well," he smirked brightly at her, "Guess you're not so strange afterall."

She blushed and shoved his arm.

He grabbed her closer and smooched her cheek. "Aw, but I liked having the strangest of them all," he snickered.

She giggled, but held his face to turn him into a proper kiss. "Well, after the princesses I've spoken with even so far – No, I don't think I'm all that much stranger than anyone else here."

Eugene suddenly looked thoughtfully perplexed. "Those 'three wise men' in the corner over there said that everyone around here was glowing, though."

"Well, that was awfully nice of them to say!"

"I mean… I think they meant literally."

"What?"

"I dunno." He shrugged it off with a chuckle. "They're old."


Eugene was getting a plate of fruit when felt a familiar tugging on his shoulder snap. "Oh, hey, Pasc-AAAHHH!"

The monkey stopped reaching for the golden sun broach on his sash, and instead covered its ears and cringed against how high-pitched the scream was. "Ohhh-frrrgt-dis," he squeaked and groaned.

Eugene found himself staring nose-to-nose with a tiny monkey, in a little white and gold vest and fez. He likewise cringed back in his own terrified way, gritting his teeth and straining his neck.

The monkey stared back blankly for a moment, then darted its attention to another commotion. At that, he jumped down and scurried away.

Eugene was left standing breathless and confused. His plate was empty; the fruit having been flung all about when he was startled.

"Your Highness!" the Captain's harsh demand broke through the crowd. But as he looked the new prince up and down, he saw nothing amiss. "What's the matter?!"

"Ah-..." Eugene froze worse than at the monkey. "Nothing…" he said in a daze, but then got an idea, "Nothing! Just wanted to see how fast you'd respond. Heh, ya know." He put on a cool, unbothered look.

The Captain grunted. "With such a pre-pubescent lil girl scream, I thought it was the Princess." He smirked, but stalked back off.

"Sorry about that," a very sincere and friendly voice came up to offer instead.

Eugene turned around.

The Arabian man wore all white and gold, including turban. Underneath from which, could be seen jet black hair, fading to grey at his sideburns. Likewise, his full but short-trimmed beard was all black, surrounding a warm almond complexion, and mischievous but kind face.

"Hi there!" he held his hand out to shake. "Heh, I'm Aladdin."

"Oh, wow," Eugene immediately grabbed his hand. "Yes, you! The King said I should see you! Hiii, hiii!"

"Oh, really?" Aladdin asked, a little worried. "Why?"

Still grinning, Eugene turned a bit embarrassed. "Uh, something about, uh," he cleared his throat, "Former careers."

Aladdin looked caught. "Umm, what?"

"Well, I've heard a lot about you," Eugene gently tried to goad out, "And, I presume, you've heard our story?"

"Oh, heh, yeahhh." He rubbed his neck as he put it all together and became more comfortable.

Abu finally scampered back and climbed up to Aladdin's shoulder.

"Hey, Abu! There you are."

Eugene pointed. "That's yours?!"

"Yep," Aladdin chuckled. "I'm sorry he was bothering you before. He's still got itchy fingers for shiny objects that don't belong to him," he finished off with an angry scolding tone and look aimed at Abu.

"Whah!" Abu squawked, as if giving an excuse. "Ha-buh-buh-buh-buh!"

"Your Royal Highness," Aladdin bowed slightly, "This is my friend Abu."

"Yehh, yehh…" Abu grumped as he curled up in a pout.

Eugene smirked with a worried brow, but nodded back. "Right." Well, monkeys are better than dragons.

A few other men came up who had followed Aladdin.

"Ah," he turned to them, "And, allow me to introduce, King Adam, King Eric, and King Edward."

Eugene's eyes widened a bit. Ah- kings! "Your Majesties," he bowed.

Adam hung back, a little awkward and shy. He was a large man, very pale with long light brown hair, sharp jawline and chiseled cheekbones. "Hello," he almost grumbled, but nodded and looked like he hoped he would be well-received.

Eric was just as confident and forthcoming as Aladdin, even with jet black hair as well, but his slight tan was simply from having spent too much time at sea. "Hi!" He strode right up and shook Eugene's hand.

"Hi, hi," he greeted them all, more happily than he expected.

"Your Royal Highness," Edward rather announced, "You have such a beautiful kingdom here!"

*I* have… Eugene gulped, but smiled politely. "Thank you!"

"And from such a high vantage point up here!" he continued gesturing grandly, "Where your castle practically molds itself up out of a mountain!"

*My* castle…

"So that you may look down upon all of your adoring subjects!"

'Adoring…' His smile stayed plastered on, but his heart raced.

They all joked around and chatted and laughed, comparing past frustrations and feats, wives and in-laws. And Eugene did eventually calm back down to feeling right at home with them.

Adam though, unsure what to say or how to jump in where, suddenly blurted, "I died once."

The other men all froze.

"What!?" Eugene squeaked.


Off on her own, Rapunzel was surrounded by two other princesses.

"Princess Rapunzel!" Ariel exclaimed as she took her hands to hold. "Congratulations! And welcome!"

"Oh, hah," Rapunzel brightened up at the enthusiastic and kind reception. "Thank you!"

"I'm Queen Ariel, and this is Queen Belle!"

"Your Royal Highness." The brunette beside her smiled sweetly curtsied. "Everything has been wonderful today, and you look so lovely."

"Thank you," Rapunzel blushed at the immediate inclusivity she felt, and hoped it was not mistaken.

"So," Ariel leaned in, excitedly ready to gossip with her, "Missing for eighteen years?! In a tower we heard?"

"Oh, um, yeah?" She faltered.

"What was that like?" Belle asked, sympathetically at least.

But Rapunzel erred on defensive. "It… was actually pretty nice itself. Ya know, except for, not being allowed outside," she tried to laugh off.

The other princesses laughed with her.

"Oh, I know how that can be," Ariel commiserated, taking her arm in hers, "Though, I at least had a lot more space than that, granted, and it was nice, but, up here's just so much more interesting to me!"

"'Up here?'" Rapunzel questioned.

Belle jumped in to cover. "Oh, we're just so far north," she giggled, "But suddenly living in a castle then! Isn't it strange at first?"

Rapunzel was back to cheery giggling. "Very!" Perhaps, on my way to belonging? She noted she still felt comfortable even as others joined them.

Ariel introduced, "Princess Jasmine, Ambassador Mulan, Princess Tiana, and Queen Nancy."

Everyone took another round of congratulations, and Rapunzel felt ever more settled in with them.

"Although," Rapunzel dipped her head to her shoulders, "I suppose I'm the fish out of water with my fiancé's past."

The girls all laughed, and were quick to dismiss her worries.

"You are so not the fish out of water."

"Well, at least not the only one!"

"Your fiancé being an ex-thief? Not that strange."

While the positive comments reassured her, Rapunzel tested these lines again. "And, not being raised a princess? Training with a crossbow?"

"Girl, I was a fashion designer in New York!"

"And I've been through army training."

"N'Orlens waitress. I certainly never saw myself being here!"

"You know," Nancy thought a moment, "You remind me of someone else I know. Maybe you'll get to meet her one day, if we could ever get her to visit."

"Really?" Rapunzel sighed, suddenly realizing a yearning in her heart she never even knew of. "Could, any of you come visit sometime?"

Chuckles of acceptances came all at once. "Of course!" "Certainly!" "Why not?"


"So," Aladdin continued, still flustered, "What we're trying to say, is- Who really is the same after going through such trials and tribulations of a personal journey like that? Ya know?"

Eugene kept his lips bitten closed, nodding along, teetering between feeling even more, or less, alike. "So, a metaphor."

"Yeees, yes!" Aladdin finally sighed. But then was instantly distracted - he grabbed his turban off and swatted a fly away from his ear.

Eric tried to help take some pressure off. "A lot of people around here started off somewhere else, even if they were already royalty."

"And they're a lot more forgiving around here than you might think," Aladdin sympathized again, "Certainly more than they are with their own subjects otherwise."

Eugene took a deep breath and nodded.

Eric nodded toward the Charmings across the way, but kept his eyes on Eugene. "You may have already seen how some act around here, though. And we may have been born into it, but never cared that much. My parents had trouble keeping my feet ashore!"

The air for adventure he still shared with Rapunzel - though he suspected hers was much stronger currently - finally felt free to breathe tonight. These guys… These are the ones I can fit alongside comfortably. …couple unsettling things, but I suppose I'd freak them out if I told them ALL about Rapunzel's magic.


Rapunzel found Eugene while he was still caught up talking with the guys, whom he actually seemed happy with. She looked around for something else to interest her. Perhaps, someone else.

Suddenly, she realized someone had just averted their eyes from where they had been staring at her. Someone, with orange hair and a steel blue suit.

And Rapunzel had a horribly puckish idea, though her face remained calm and collected.

With just a touch of Eugene's elbow, it hardly disturbed him for them to peck a kiss good-bye. Then she was off across the sea of people to do some of her own fooling around.

As she approached, the man did slowly realize her arrival to him was inevitable, and nervously glanced back more and more, til their eyes settled.

"Excuse me," Rapunzel laid on her own charm, "I don't believe we've been introduced yet."

"Haa," he choked, but bowed. "Princess Rapunzel– Ah– I mean, Your-r R-royal Highness-"

"Take your time," she chuckled.

He forced an embarrassed chuckle back. "Um, I'm Hans."

Hah! That's the youngest- right? "Well, Hans," she took the tone of guiding a child, "Where-"

"I'm a prince," he rushed to add in that little detail he had forgotten.

Rapunzel paused, then slowly nodded. "Uh-huuuh… I know." She let him stew a few moments more, then surprised him: "Would you like to dance?"

"W-w-would I-?" he stuttered, and looked all around, scanning the crowd again. "Ahhh, sure. I mean," he finally mustered some cheeriness, "Why not?"

Rapunzel smiled slyly as they headed out to the dance floor.

It took quite a while before Hans would keep eye contact, and even longer before he spoke. Finally he seemed to have collected himself. "It's, a shame your cousin couldn't make it."

"Oh, yeah," she agreed, "But I already have so many new people to meet, I've hardly thought of it. I'm sure I'll meet them soon."

"Maybe."

"Why do you say that? Why wouldn't I?"

"Well, Elsa is notoriously secretive and isolating."

"Oh… why?"

"No one knows. But, I'll admit, it was a mystery I had hoped we might shine some light on here. But, she eludes the public still."

"Hmm, nope, sorry," she chirped.

"Oh, no, I'm sorry. This is your party. We're here to celebrate you!"

"Well," Rapunzel smirked, mischievously, "Me and Eugene."

"Ah," he gave up on his purposeful omittance. "Of course."

"You don't approve of him?" her brow raised.

His did as well. "I never said that."

"But, it's true?" she pressed.

"Well," he tried to soothe over, "Let's just say, in retrospect, I wish I had gone out in search of The Legendary Lost Princess myself."

She chuckled but sighed.

"What? No harm in simply wishing the past was different, is there?"

"No, no, but," she sighed again. "It's just that, I've heard that one a thousand times."

"Oh, well then…" He glanced around, looking for another avenue.

"By the way," Rapunzel eyed him down her nose, "How is it living with thirteen brothers?"

He completely deflated, refusing to look at her again. "Hell."

"How so?"

His eyes lit up a bit, though another exaggerated frown came over him, and he turned sad eyes on her. "Oh, they were always picking on me. I wanted to run away, but… On a small island, there's nowhere else to go. It's like, I was trapped-"

Nice. Yawn. "Well, you're here now. How have you been enjoying Corona so far?"

"Oh, it's absolutely lovely here! Another small island, yes, but connected to the mainland and it's sooo much more beautiful here! And friendly."

"So," Rapunzel looked up and away, as if calculating in her head, "If you're the youngest, of thirteen brothers, and you've always felt trapped at home, then you must beee…"

"Must be what?' He watched her closely.

"Must be looking to leave…"

"Yeah," he sighed wistfully, "That would be nice."

"But to do that, you would have to…" She locked eyes with him, hard, deep, and confident.

He stared back, trying to fight the intrusion.

She smirked and tilted her head at him. Could you BE any more obvious?

Before the song even came to a complete end, he stopped their dance. He bowed out to her, "Good evening, Your Highness," spun on a heel, and left.


"Always getting up to some kind of trouble."

They all chuckled, very knowingly.

"Yeah, heh," Eugene said, blushing, "She's…" He looked out over the dance floor, and spotted her. Blondie?! His face immediately fell to shock and dread. "Oh no…"


After Hans disappeared, Rapunzel smirked as she strolled back up to Eugene.

He was awaiting her with his own confused smirk and arms crossed, since he had noticed her out there. "What're you doing?" he teased quietly, trusting her regardless.

"Just checking out your competition," she laughed.

He dropped his arms, looking at her ridiculously. "'Competition?'" he snarked back with a scoff. "Who? Muttonchops?"

"How old is he again?" she giggled.

"Twenty?"

She burst into another laugh. "Wow, and I thought I was going to be awkward around people. What's his excuse?"

Eugene crossed his arms again and whined, "Yeah, but why'd you have to go poke the bear?"

"You said he was the youngest," she teased as she latched onto one of his arms.

"Yeah, and the wimpiest, dorkiest-"

"Eugene," she guffawed to cut him off. "I think, after eighteen years with Gothel, I can tell when someone is trying to weasel their way in, to manipulate my feelings."

He shrugged and dipped his head, conceding.

"I dunno, I was just curious, about what you and my dad were saying about him. Curious what he would do. But he does seem much more ambitious than my dad made him originally sound."

"Yeah, and?" he grumped.

"And he doesn't like you," she giggled.

"Yeah, well, I'd assume any single man within the known world doesn't like me right now," he giggled back, holding up his hand to show off his engagement ring yet again.

"Well at least here, that's only, what, four! –three, minus Lil Ralphie."

"Thaaank God." He looked out over the crowd. "With all the rest of them, they would nearly outnumber us."

"Oh, don't worry about them."

"Oh, but I'm not too worried about them," Eugene assured her. "Plus that bubbly princess Dottie has pretty much been hogging all the Westergaards all evening."

"Who?"

Eugene pointed with his chin.

"Hmm," Rapunzel tried not to sound mean in correcting him. "That's Lottie, and, she's not a princess."

"She's not? Certainly looks and acts like one. Albeit more obnoxious than any other princess I've seen around here."

"Ohhh, be nice," she chastised. "She's been keeping them occupied, and won't the looks on their faces be just priceless when they realize she's not a princess!"


A very thick, but smooth vibrato accent came up behind Rapunzel. "Paɾdon me, Youɾ Royal Highness."

Immediately taken, Rapunzel turned around to face who ever could sound so beautiful.

"What a great pleasure to finally be making your acquaintance." Despite the normal content of his words, and perfect pronunciation, his voice poured out over her with a completely sanguine eroticism. He swooped her hand up for a surprisingly titillating kiss, with bedroom eyes, though both their hands wore personal rings.

Her mind blanked and heart thudded. "Ah-..." was all she could squeak, as a crooked smile crept up.

"Prince Naveen," he directed, "Of Maldonia. Though as of late I find myself hailing fɾom the lovely city of N-ew Orleans in Ameɾica." He eyed her up and down, somehow retaining a respectful sweetness that merely told her how wonderfully desirable she was. "Would you like to dänce?"

Rapunzel blankly stared, but slowly nodded.

Eugene was left there alone with half a distant frown, stance cocked, arms crossed, and bemused eyes rolling. He chuckled and shook his head.

Then, he looked around himself. Well, fair is fair, right?


He strode up Queen Belle, and, when he saw he instantly had her attention, bowed. "Your Majesty. Would you like to dance?"

Belle's eyes lit up. "Of course!"

"I, uh, have to admit," Belle blushed, "I've read, um, that whole book series myself, so I was eager to meet you today."

"Really?" Eugene chuckled, totally flattered. But then he pulled himself back down. "Although, you know, not that I really have anything to do with the books themselves."

"No," she cooed, "But clearly another fan. And now I hear you have your own stories to tell."

He in turn regained his own proud air. "That I certainly do. And I hope at least half as interesting?"

"Oh, much more! Yours really happened, and here you are in the flesh!"

Eugene chuckled, a little pink at her own ogling.

They continued exchanging stories and memories of the fictional stories they adored.


Rapunzel and Naveen returned to Eugene after the dance, quite a few shades redder.

"Ma chère," Naveen nodded curtly as he kissed her hand again and bowed out.

Rapunzel merely giggled before she could even try to think of anything to say. "Uh, thank you!"

Naveen turned to Eugene. "And Youɾ Royal Highness, Prince Eu-gene! As zhe former newest member," he shrugged his hands out and elbowed his arm, "Welcome to zhe club!"

Eugene brow flew high with his smirk as he tucked his chin down. What club would that be? Guys whose wives you've seduced? Still bemused, but in disbelief at the boldness. Still trying to stay as polite as he was being. "Honored, I'm sure." He stayed smiling. He would be damned if he broke form first. "Thank you."

Naveen bowed out, directed towards Rapunzel again though, and took his leave, on to the next young lady.

Rapunzel watched him, still entranced.

Eugene leaned close and cleared his throat.

She jumped and double-blinked, not realizing how close he was suddenly.

"Ya know, I'm right here," he said teasingly. "Ohhh, a little flushed, Dear?"

Oh! Her hands flew up to her cheeks, hoping her palms would be cool enough to tame that blush. And they thankfully were still clammy.

Eugene just continued laughing at her.

"What?" she whined.

"Nothing," he shook his head once, grinning widely, but still retreated back into a drink.

Well if it's 'nothing' and so fine- Ohhh so fiiine… On tiptoes, she poked her head up, trying to see over the crowd where Naveen had headed off to. "Ohhh," she lamented, "Why can't they all be like that?"

Eugene finished off his drink with a lip-smacking, "Ahhh… Stilllll RIGHT here."

Rapunzel finally turned back to him with her personal impish smirk for him, and shoved his arm.

They headed off through the crowd together, giggling.


Three little children, two girls and a boy, ran by, chasing each other and a tiny marble-colored glass ball. They nearly crashed into everyone standing near a long refreshment table.

"I've got it!"

"No I've got it!"

"Get it! It's gonna-!"

The ball rolled under the table.

"Awww…"

Princess Anastasia, Princess Melody, and Prince Ralphie all came to a stop. All were equally disappointed, but they tried not to look suspicious, especially as they glanced around, looking for a chance for any of them to drop and crawl under the long, heavy table cloth.

Just as Melody tried to do so, a large tanned hand grabbed her arm and pulled her back up.

"Whoa, there. Hang on, kids," the man in the loose white suit cooed to them.

"Uncle…" Melody whined.

"Here, allow me." He lightly held one end of the large, solid-wood banquet table, full of food, and lifted the entire thing up a couple feet.

"Oh! Hee hee, thanks!"

The kids all made a mad dash to grab the marble, but another three identical tiny red-headed boys in plaid swooped in to grab it instead. They passed it around while running around each other, like shuffling turtle shells. The other kids groaned, and they all ran off after each other.

In the midst of another crowd, Eugene spit back into his champagne glass. He frantically looked around himself. No one else seemed to be seeing what he could swear he was. No one else even happened to be looking in the same direction.

One woman, however, was indeed watching the display, with just as much concern, but for a different reason. She wore an all white and shimmery, skinny, column-silhouetted dress, that still hung in drapes on her thin frame. She slinked up beside the hunk holding the table. "Psst! Wonderboy!" she hissed as she elbowed him.

"Huh?" he looked back at her.

"Ixnay on the odgay uffstay!"

"Oh! Ri-i-ight," he chuckled, "Sorry!" The kids scurried away laughing again, and he put the table down.

Eugene tried blinking his eyes out, hoping to clear his head. Another look around, wondering if he should stop with the drink already, he instead downed the rest of it at once.


"Ohhh, Yooour Roooyal HIGHness," Eugene cooed inquiringly in sing-song, as he slid up beside Rapunzel, rather terrified and disturbed, like a scared child running back to the comfort of her skirts. His eyes darted to Ariel's crown, denoting her status. He bowed slightly. "Your, uh-"

"Oh, Eugene!" Rapunzel grabbed his arm and pulled him closer to both of them. "This is Queen Ariel."

Ariel smiled with understanding.

"Your Majesty." Eugene twitched a smile at her. Another onceover had him both surprisingly ogling her himself and guessing she might be old enough to have adult children of her own. He had to tear his eyes away and get back on her face, or at least crown. Why's it look like… are those… clam shells under her dress? - Actually, that sounds kinda– Now's not the time for that!

Ariel paused a moment, then stuttered as she raised her champagne glass a little in his direction. "Ah, Prince Eugene," she settled back into a sweet and gracious smile. "Congratulations, Your Royal Highness, on behalf of my husband and I. And congratulations on your engagement!"

Eugene lit up at that, and genuinely smiled, even unconsciously showing teeth. "Well thank you, thank you very much!" His attention naturally drifted back to said fiancé.

"I'm sure you two will be very happy, and we wish you all the best!" Ariel continued, beaming, "Rapunzel's been telling me so much about you."

Eugene's smile faltered at that. "Really. Has she now." He looked back to Rapunzel with a forced smile, then back to Ariel. "Would you excuse us?" And back to Rapunzel. "Princess Rapunzel? May I speak with you for a moment?"

"Eugene? What-"

"Thanks." He nodded saccharinely-sweet to Ariel as he pulled Rapunzel's arm away, though she was not walking yet. He leaned down and pecked a kiss on Rapunzel's cheek. As he was so close to her ear, though, he grumbled, "PLEEEASE follow me." He grabbed her hand.

"Uh…" Okay? Must be serious! Rapunzel glanced back and chuckled a parting. "So nice to meet you! We should really meet up again sometime!"

Ariel smiled, a bit worriedly now. "Of course!" she giggled herself as she nodded to them.

Rapunzel then finally turned to fully give in to Eugene's petulant tugging.

He turned around to lead them through the crowd, quickly forging their way through.

Watching their backs, they slipped behind a great curtain, which blocked off a few doors from view, that lead to the kitchens. He pulled her through one of them.

Rapunzel enjoyed the naughty adventure of sneaking off, and had begun giggling as soon as they were behind the curtain. "Eugene, what are you doing?"

When at last he stopped, it was abruptly.

She sputtered in confusion as she walked right into his back.

But in an instant, he whirled on his heel, grabbed her upperarms, coming nose-to-nose. "What is going on around here!" he whined with gritted teeth.

"What?" she chuckled. "What're you talking about?"

"Blondie? Please tell me YOU saw Muskles McGillacuddy over there."

Rapunzel was naturally also alarmed at his demeanor. "What? Why?" She turned to look where he was staring. McAgillah-what?

She had seen that there was indeed an extremely muscular man, moreso than anyone else, but he had looked shy and embarrassed. The woman on his arm looked like she was truly the confident one.

Rapunzel quirked a smile. "I might have? But him and his wife looked cute together."

"Blondie," Eugene whined, "I swear I just saw him lift up a table."

She grew more and more confused at him. "Okay? I mean, they're not bolted to the floor!"

"No, I mean, like, straight!" he motioned.

"What?"

"One hand - He just-! Not tilted, the whole banquet table raised up- evenly! From one end! Straight up!"

She giggled. "Eugene, I'm sure you just thought it looked like that. Like, an optical illusion or something!"

He winced and shook his head. "Buh-"

"That, or you're teasing me."

"I'm not teasing!"

She rolled her eyes. "I'm sure it's nothing to worry about."

"Alright," he sassed, "Then what about that whole crowd in blue- Are they like in a cult or something? And, like right now, I see Aurora's wearing blue, too."

Rapunzel nodded. "Iiit's, been blue all night, yes…"

"But it was pink when we were dancing – unless I'm seeing things – like pink dresses instead of elephants!"

She giggled, "'Elephants?' Why would you-?"

"Nobody knows anything about a tiny lizard slithering around. I haven't seen that old Scottish lady since that one moment. And then Adam said he died once, too! HIM, too! That's two! That's not a lot, but don'tchya think that's weird?!"

Rapunzel leaned away from his ranting, smiling, but looking concerned.

"They tried explaining it away, but it's Aladdin, so take that with a pound of salt– Like, like I'm stupid? And not gonna figure out there's something weird there?" Eugene sighed greatly, then threw his hand out at a loss. "The monkey trying to pickpocket me was honestly the least strange thing."

"A monkey tried to pickpocket you?" she giggled.

"Well my sun thing here," he pointed to, but had more to complain about. "And, not that this is fantastmically weird, but, by the way, why is there no seafood being served tonight? Hm? Everyone's got dishes from wherever they're from, and– we're an island kingdom. Fishing's one of our biggest industries and we can't show that off? I mean who's idea was that!?"

"Oh!" Rapunzel piped up. "Hahaaa, actually, Ariel just told me it makes her sick."

"Ugh…" He pulled his flask out again.

"Yeah, she seemed really upset about it, too."

Eugene groaned and rolled his head around. "Her husband's obsessed with sailing and she doesn't like fish? I just wanted lobster."

She giggled at him and pet his cheek.

"But anyway- Haven't you seen anything weird?"

"Nooot that I can really think of?" She took his hands and tugged on them. "Look. There's people from all over the world out there! From, New York, Nawlens, all over Europe, and China, Russia! Of course some things may seem weird or strange to us. But I'm sure it's all perfectly normal for them."

His brow furrowed hard and cocked, as he half-frowned, cringing with worry. "Iii dunno, Blondie. This doesn't seem like just 'foreign culture' stuff…"

"Ohhh, come on! You're so well-traveled. Haven't you ever seen foreign things you couldn't explain."

"The last time I saw something like that, I was suddenly breathing again in your lap. So, sure, yeah, that's exactly why I'm kinda freakin' out now."

"Just caaalm down." She ran her hands down from his shoulders over his chest. "Out there?" She jerked her head back toward the ballroom. "It's just like another adventure!"

"I'd rather go back to adventures in our bedrooms," he grouched, "Where things make sense."

She giggled with him, but lightly slapped his arm to reprimand his seedy humor. "Later."

"Ah!" He laughed, lightening up. "Wha- hahah, you can't strike the Prince!" He flicked the little poof of her sleeve in retaliation.

She set her face for combat and grabbed the edge of his doublet.

His face instantly dropped the bit as he snatched her wrist. "Ah- Rapunzel! Watch it - Careful!"

She stopped, but was hardly discouraged.

"Hun, this isn't leather like my others. It's some kind of special satin, and I'm told I've got to keep it nice, 'cause it's like my official Prince thing now."

"Oh, sorry." But she eyed his worry as he brushed it smooth and strained to check it.

"Bad enough I dropped sauce on it before."

"Well, that was a close one, but it looks like you were lucky." She brushed over the spot. "No, uh…" She got distracted caressing his torso there, suddenly a million miles away. "No sign of it…" Her voice drifted off.

His turn to calm her down back to the present, he ran his hand up along hers and her arm, successfully getting her attention back on his smirking face. "Well, good. 'Cause it's also supposed to be my wedding outfit."

She perked back up, beaming at their combined vision for that bright future. "You just like that somebody actually gave you something nice."

His shocked face locked eyes with hers. "Uh… I guess." He turned red. Yeah, that tracks. "Yeah, and that's everything."

She giggled. "Well! That just goes to show that you appreciate it all." She looked around, still a little shy about being so bold when not exactly in private, but the passing servants paid them no mind. "Like I, appreciate being given you." Her eyes slowly rose to see his stunned ones. With a giggle, she pressed herself against his chest and leaned her face close to his without touching. "Hmmm? What about you, Prince Eugene?"

"Yes..." he breathed, finally calming down, lulled by thoughts of her.

And deep breaths.

He looked down at his stark white doublet. "I do wish there was more gold around this than just the trim. Don't you think that'd look nice? Like, swirls like your crown has?" He ran his finger around his chest.

"Hm, yeah, but, that's not something we could just add on."

"Alright, well…" He shrugged. "Whadaya say," he cocked a smirk, "Head back into the fray?"

"Ooh," she bounced up a bit, "I could go for some more snacks!"

"Alright, let's go then." He took her arm in arm for a proper escort this time. "But how many cupcakes have you had already?"

"Only two."

He laughed and sighed at the same time. "Don't you think you should eat some real food?" He smiled to her. "I just don't want you to make yourself sick."

"Or chubby?" Rapunzel kept her eyes to the ground as her cheeks burned. Pleeease stop prying into - whatever 'this' is!

Eugene grew greatly concerned as he watched her turn away slightly. "Hey, no, it's not that. I mean, I guess, that too, maybe a little? But no need to get upset! You're not gonna blow up from enjoying yourself at one party, but just like, I mean… I just worry about you."

He smirked sweetly at her; she saw and blushed.

"So, we've put on weight? It's called 'living better.' 'Cause now I'm running with the guards for like, a mile, instead of running from them, for ten."

He smiled when he got a giggle for that.

"You're fiiine."

They passed back through the curtains, back to the main floor of the ballroom.

She looked up to him and tried to smile before sighing again, and speaking low for only him to hear. "But the maids tell me a lady should never be seen eating nearly at all."

"Huh, sure you're a 'lady,' then?" He smirked, but she frowned and promptly turned her head away. "Aw, Sweetheart, no, I was joking. I'm sorry." He steered them toward the refreshments table. "That's bull crap anyway, what any of them were telling you. Now what would you like?"

"I'm not hungry."

"You just said you were, now come on."

A servant, ready on the other side of the table, picked up a plate for him.

"Oh, uh, thank you. Rapunzel, which cupcake do you want?"

She shook her head vigorously, bouncing her hair back and forth.

"You want some other fingerfood?"

"No…" she quietly mumbled.

"Then, come on, one more cupcake even?"

"I shouldn't."

His frustration was also still at a loss for how to tackle this. "And you 'shouldn't' have snuck out of home while your 'mother' was gone. Now, which cupcake?" he deadpanned.

She just stared at him as she see-sawed between disbelief and wanting to mimic his giddiness. How dare you? I know I must be being annoying right now, but-! Hmph…

He cleared his throat pointedly at her, but gave up and turned back to the man as he held up two fingers. "Two cupcakes, and a bunch of strawberries. One double chocolate, and one vanilla with chocolate frosting."

Rapunzel waited patiently beside him, struggling with all her might to keep her composure and attempt to look poised. Was this the dreaded, awful thing he had feared going wrong at the party? A fight? Well, maybe that's at least why he psyched himself out about everyone else being too 'weird.'

"Thank you." Eugene took the plate and picked up a new glass of white wine. With no free hands anymore, he looked down to Rapunzel, worried. "Sweetie?" his voice whined.

"Hm?" She snapped her head up to look at him, though her eyes did not follow.

And he caught the false air of contentment. "Let's go sit, okay?" he whined again.

"Sure." She put on a lying smile.

He let go a long, uneasy breath, trying not to seem like a sigh. They found an available loveseat near the band and sat close. "Wine?" he offered her the glass. Do I seriously need to get you loopy to trick you into eating?

She nearly snatched it, and drank almost half of it immediately, before he gingerly touched her shoulder. She stopped, and he took the glass back.

"Easy there, tiger." He set it on an end table behind him. Again, don't make yourself sick!

Rapunzel focused in on herself yet again. Should be sitting up straight still, probably, right? Hands not fidgeting- oh but not sitting on them either! She bit her lip. Oh no my makeup!

"Blondie." His voice was well concealed by the nearby instruments, but just loud and close enough, and serious enough, for only her to hear.

It snapped her back to being herself, though she resented that immediately. That's the last thing I need! "The other girls have been very nice, but I'm just… still so anxious. I reeeally want everyone to like me."

"Blondie, please, just calm down. This is our party- this is your place- you can do whatever you want." He carefully balanced the plate on his lap as he removed his white gloves and tucked them in his pocket "You don't have to be the perfect little princess. Just be yourself, okay? I like Princess Blondie, and I'm sure everyone else would prefer you, too."

She looked away, but took a deep breath and nodded. Indeed, hearing that from him helped her relax.

"Plus," he continued, "I doubt your father would take kindly to giving me all this if I turned around and let you starve." He picked out the best looking strawberry, dipped it in the chocolate frosting of his own cupcake, and presented it to her. "I'm sorry I set you off before about the food."

The now-chocolate-covered strawberry looked so tempting, so scintillating pinched between his bared, manly fingers she had come to relish as well.

He whined, "I am just worried about you."

She nodded sadly. I know he does actually care. And that offering, she could just see herself taking his wrist in both her hands, and then the whole rest with her mouth, but keeping her eyes on him- if there were not so many eyes on her. She blushed at her very thoughts, and turned away coyly one last time for just a moment as she grinned.

Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed there actually were the eyes of another man directly on her, and he was making his way towards them. Orange hair, steel blue jacket- another one. It did not even matter which.

She did not react to her observation, but instead reached out to carefully take the strawberry from Eugene. She grinned to him, extra sweetly now. I wonder if he sees that one...

He grinned back, happy she was eating something, but otherwise blissfully unaware. He popped a strawberry in his own mouth, and just watched her.

"Eugene," she did at least swallow before continuing with her impish smile. "Thank you, and… Remember, when we first got engaged, out in the grass? You know I'd always pick you."

He feigned surprise. "Oh really? Over those hoity toity extremely legible douchebags? Hm, douchebag-bachelors... Ah, douchelors?" He settled on the word, smiling, and picked up another strawberry.

She giggled, "But 'legible?' Eligible."

"Easy to read," Eugene sneered, still smiling, as he began to unwrap his cupcake.

"Oh," she laughed at his word play. She scooted closer, moved the plate from his lap to hers, and before he could take a bite, pecked his cheek. The orange haired man was still watching them.

He returned a shocked smile. Wasn't expecting that, but if she's happy again, guess that's another breakdown averted.

Rapunzel bumped his arm with a little snuggle, beaming. Then she finally turned her attention to her own cupcake. She glanced up at the man; he was gone. She sighed in relief.

"What's the matter?"

"Nothing." She diverted her attention to watching other party guests.

There was Princess Belle, with brown hair like her own, but a decent length. It fell just past her shoulders, enough to showcase luscious loose curls and its soft shine.

Princess Jasmine tied her hair back, but even with bunching in some areas, hers was just past her bottom. She seemed to have the longest hair here.

Rapunzel could not help, and did not notice, the wistful pout coming over her.

Eugene did. "Sweetie," he ran the back of his fingers alongside her hair over her ear, "You're gorgeous."

"Huh?" she snapped out of it, worried he could read her mind.

"I said-"

"Oh, no, I mean, hah..." she chuckled and blushed once more at the way he was looking at her.

He smiled sadly. "I..." His heart sank. It IS all my fault... "I was just worried about getting it all, I wasn't thinking about if you'd like how-"

Rapunzel returned his expression. "And YOU, Sweetie, have told me that a million times. And I've told you a million times, don't apologize. I just, miss it sometimes..." She looked back over the crowd, particularly just how many couples there were, despite the few, lone obnoxious princes lurking about. Then she came back to Eugene's steadfast and tender face. Instantly, the most natural grand smile came over her. "But, so long as I have you? I wouldn't actually change a thing."

His own smile grew from hers.

And suddenly, the whole glittering gold party, with the best food and wine, celebrating and welcoming their new status – Suddenly none of it was enough.

It left them both feeling empty. Unsatisfied, discontent, restless.

He smirked over at her. "Let's get outta here."

She giggled, a fresh spark of infatuation hitting her all over again. That was his natural smolder, that she had fallen so hard and so completely for, around that campfire, now half a year ago. So simple and genuine, so vulnerable but charming. He was the first to look at her like a real person, and in these moments, she could tell that smolder was convinced she was the only person in the world, nevermind the ballroom full of other beauties.

She could only grin and blush and shy away with a coy head dip. Against the full force of this love, all she could do was shake her head. "Where?"


A/N: Whew! Hope you caught everyone. & my husband has officially become my co-storyteller for this fic.

Please comment & review!

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