A/N Thank you so so so much to my reviewers, Doctor-Rapunzel-Charming, Me-me Rotamundo, and James Birdsong. Your lovely reviews inspired me to put this up extra early! Disclaimer: Tangled is not mine, peoples.
Rapunzel
"Mummy, who's Flynn?" Rapunzel asked, combing her floor-length hair with her fingers.
"Huh?" Sylva didn't look up from the eggs she was cooking.
"Who's Flynn?" Sylva jerked suddenly, causing the eggs to fly out of the pan and hit Pascal, the horse, in the face.
"Flynn?! Who told you about Flynn, Zelly?"
"I heard Scrap whispering to Tom about someone called Flynn. They said he was dead. Who is he?" Pain flashed in Sylva's eyes.
"Mummy?"
"Flynn… Flynn is probably some character from some story your brothers made up. Don't mention Flynn again, honey. He's not real. He's make believe. A figment of the imagination."
"Oh, okay. And mummy?"
"Yes?"
"How long till I can go out thieving with Jake?"
"Not long now. Only a few years and you'll be ten. Then you can go out thieving with Jake, okay?"
"But-"
"No buts, Rapunzel Fitzherbert. You've just turned six today. You could get hurt. Now, why don't you go and play with your brothers?" Rapunzel trotted off obediently. Patch couldn't be far off. They could play leapfrog, or heroes, or make mud pies. Patch was full of fun. And full of sickness. Sometimes he had attacks, where he coughed and cried and kicked. Rapunzel would wrap her hair around his chest and sing her special song. That made him go back to normal, full of energy and laughter. It made her feel special. Everyone one looked at her like she was important, somebody worth noticing. Not just the weird titch with the all the hair.
"Zelly!" she turned towards the voice.
SPLAT!
A ball of mud hit her in the face.
"I'll get you for that, Patch!" and then she was laughing, running, chasing after her big brother.
Eugene
It was night. Mother Gothel was on one of her late expeditions. And Eugene was watching the floating lights. It was his birthday today. Mother Gothel had forgotten. She always did. But the floating lights hadn't forgotten. Every year, on his birthday, they were there, without fail. He was seven. Practically grown up. He should be allowed to go outside, and play with the gypsy boys he sometimes saw running and tumbling and galloping on horseback through the forest. But for now, he was content to watch the lights from the window of his tall stone tower, his prison, and pretend he was among them, floating up and up…
"EUGENE!"
A sharp voice, filled with loathing, jerked him back to reality. He quickly braced himself, built a wall to protect himself from his mother's insults.
"Throw down the ladder, you stupid, lazy…" he tied a very long rope ladder to the hooks on his window, and tossed it down to the ground, where it landed with a soft thump. Maximus, the chameleon, gave a frightened chirp as Gothel began to climb, and hid in a corner, blending in to the white stone of the wall. Gothel reached the window.
"Did you have a nice time, mother?" he spat the last word out, voice dripping with sarcasm and hatred. At only seven, Eugene knew nothing but cruelty. Gothel slapped him across the face. He forced himself not to flinch.
"I will NOT be given that cheek!" she tossed bread and a couple of berries at his feet.
"I give you food, a home, clothing! I look after you, and this is how you repay me? Nothing! You give me nothing! You are a filthy, vile, weak boy!"
"Why don't you set me free then mother? If you hate me so much?" she was breathing hard. Her eyes blazed. She spoke a simple word, almost under her breath.
"Teresa."
"Huh?"
"I said nothing!" she slapped him again, then turned on her heel and began to climb down the ladder at record speed. Eugene breathed out, lifting a hand to his face. He let the tears come. Maximus scaled his trousers and shirt and crawled into his hand.
"Why Max? Why does she hate me so much?"
A/N There. Done. That was sad wasn't it? Eugene/Flynn and Rapunzel share a birthday, but he's a year older. I'm sorry my chapters aren't very long. I love reviews. Hint hint.