The hanging occurs at dusk and Flynn can just see the sun setting behind the buildings as the trap door is dropped. The hangman jerks the rope at the last second of the drop, ensuring that Flynn's neck breaks and he falls unconscious within seconds. They leave his body hanging, the life leaving him slowly, death not taking him until nearly 20 minutes after the initial break of his neck.
He's looking in the direction of Rapunzel's tower as he falls, dreading what's going to happen now that she's left with Gothel again. All he wants is to find a way to save her. He needs to save her because he loves her. And that's his last thought, his last realization, as he falls unconscious. He loves her.
Love is what calls Fate to him and he opens his eyes slowly, standing a few feet away from his body.
"What the-?" he murmurs, turning around in a circle and looking around him. Everything is still, the crowds frozen as if the world has stopped. His body is still suspended but motionless and the hangman doesn't blink. Is this what death is? Flynn knows he hasn't been the best person but he doesn't feel like he deserves to simply stare at his dead body forever.
"I am Fate. I stopped the time. Your love for the princess called me here," Fate says.
Flynn jumps, turning as the being appears where nothing was before. He has to shade his eyes when he looks at it and he can't make out an outline of a body. Fate just appears as the sun, yellow light beaming in every direction, making Fate appear infinite. After a moment, Flynn realizes he's dead so this being might not even have a body. He doesn't know what the afterlife is like.
As Flynn blinks at the being, he wonders which part is weirder. This weird white sun thing or seeing his dead body hanging steady in the air. He's had a weird few days. "Wait," Flynn says as he comprehends the words. "My love for who?"
The being seems to smile, or at least, that's what it looks like to Flynn although he can't see a mouth. He seems to be able to sense the amusement coming from it, making the situation even more weird. "The princess. Rapunzel. A love as strong as that which is between the two of you calls to me. She is in grave danger, Eugene Fitzherbert."
"Flynn Rider," he corrects softly, automatically.
Ignoring him, the being goes on. "She needs to be rescued. You will be given 24 hours to save her and say your final goodbyes. If, of course, you do not wish to rescue her, you can be taken immediately to the afterlife instead."
Flynn looks at Fate, trying to wrap his mind around this. Just last night he had been looking at the lanterns with the most amazing girl he had ever met. All he'd wanted to do was find a way to be with her in the future before they'd been interrupted before they could kiss. And now he's…
"Either way, I'm dead, though, right?" Fate nods and Flynn looks over at his body. There's nothing to think about, nothing to consider. Rapunzel is in danger and he can save her. He turns back to the being. "Where is she?"
There's a bright flash of light and Flynn finds himself at the bottom of the tower, dizziness making him unsteady on his feet.
"Whoa," Flynn mumbles, tilting his head back and forth, blinking a few times. His body feels strange, as if he's gone too long without eating. He feels empty and he has a dreadful feeling he knows why. No reason to think about that, not while anything could be happening to Rapunzel above him. He looks up at the window, sighing softly. When he'd climbed it before, he'd had arrows to jam into the rocks and more strength on his side. He has no idea how he's going to get up there. Until- "Whoa!"
Flynn floats upwards quickly, his arms and legs flailing. He has never felt anything so odd and his hand was healed by magical hair just hours ago. His head feels jumbled as he floats upside down and then right side up again, the journey taking too long and he's thankful it doesn't appear he can get sick anymore. Before he's fully ready or prepared, he's at the window and he clambers inside, doing a double take as he realizes that his foot had gone through a pot full of flowers. As he hears a whimper, all thoughts leave his mind as he sees Rapunzel tied up, a gag in her mouth.
"Rapunzel!" Flynn yells, falling to his knees next to her as he unties her. She's trembling and he thinks that he might be as well because in the back of his mind, he realizes that he has only 24 hours left with this beautiful girl. He only has 24 hours left to hug her and hold her and touch her. He thinks a lifetime wouldn't be enough. "Rapunzel! You're the princess. You're the princess! Where's Gothel? You need to be reunited with your parents."
The second Rapunzel is out of her bonds, she flies at him, her arms looping around his neck. He catches her, closing his eyes as he lets himself be overwhelmed with her presence. Everything is worth being memorized, the way her body presses against him, the way she smells, the curve of her lips. "I know! I just figured it out. Oh, Eugene, I knew you would come back. She said you were dead."
With those words, she pulls back to look at him, as if to reassure herself he's not. He can't break it to her yet. Instead, he leans forward, pressing his lips to hers in a kiss that makes him feel like a lightning bolt has struck him. It's too much and not enough at the same time. Her lips are soft against his, her curves molding against his as if they're meant to be together.
Flynn knows they can't stay here forever, no matter how much he wants to, so he's pulling back regretfully, cupping a gentle hand on her cheek. "We have to get you out of here."
"I don't think so." Mother Gothel sounds out of breath, as if she had run a great distance when she had heard movement. He doesn't doubt it and he smirks at her, remembering what Rapunzel had said. Gothel looks as if she's seen a ghost and he plans to use that to their advantage.
Flynn stands up, extending a hand to pull Rapunzel along with him but she's scrambling to her feet before he can. He feels a surge of pride and wonder at her and he thinks she'll be okay without him. Rapunzel can take care of herself. Still, he will get her back to her family.
"I do think so," Flynn responds. It comes instinctively as he lifts a hand, a burst of light coming from him. It has a yellowish tinge, reminding him of Fate and when Rapunzel healed his hand. He doesn't know where it came from and he doesn't think he ever will even if he has his suspicions. Gothel flies back, her body crumpling as she slides to the floor.
Rapunzel looks at him with wide eyes, one of her hands pressing to her lips but he shakes his head. There's no time.
"I'm taking her back to her parents," Flynn tells Gothel, looking down his nose at her. It feels like a fate too good for her but he doesn't think she has long. Not while white is rapidly threading through the dark strands of her hair, displaying her rapid aging. "If you know what's good for her, you'll leave her alone."
Gothel can do nothing but watch them angrily. Flynn turns away, watching as Pascal runs towards Rapunzel climbing up onto her shoulder and sticking his tongue out at Gothel. Even the chameleon coaxes a smile from him as he holds out his hand to Rapunzel so they can descend, letting her go first.
It isn't until they've walked a decent distance away from the tower that Rapunzel finally stops and turns to him. "What… was that?"
Flynn purses his lips, looking into her eyes. He has so many things he wants to say and do. He wants to tell her he loves her. He wants to kiss her again, wants to hold her, wants to tell her how special and wonderful and important she is. He wants to do more, to cherish her. But he knows he can't. It's not fair to take something special from her when he'll be gone within 24 hours.
"Rapunzel…" Her eyes are so open, wide, accepting, that he knows he can't lie to her. He can't let her think they can have forever, if she even wants that. "Gothel didn't lie to you. I was dead. I was hung from the neck. But you're special and a being called Fate told me I could come and have 24 hours to rescue you."
"If you didn't want to tell me the truth, you only had to say so," Rapunzel mumbles, hurt visible in her light green eyes as she turns away from him.
He doesn't want to spend even a moment arguing with her, so he slides his arm around her waist. He plans to only hug her, comfort her but she's moving closer, her hands resting on her chest. And he doesn't know who leans forward first but their lips meet again.
It's impossible for him to resist her, to not tilt his head, coaxing her lips open with his tongue. She smiles against his lips, delighted as she surges up on her toes.
They begin walking again as soon as they pull away to breathe, Flynn knowing he has to get here there sooner rather than later. Rapunzel keeps stopping to kiss him and Flynn halfheartedly tries to insist they can't keep taking breaks but it's so hard to resist her. When Rapunzel is finally too tried, the stars shining in the sky above, they stop. Flynn makes a fire and wraps his arms around Rapunzel as she cuddles close and they talk.
Flynn listens to her talk about her childhood, anger over leaving Gothel alive filling him as he listens to the more gruesome tales. And then he tells her about his childhood, reaching up to wipe away her tears and kissing her sweetly. Less than 20 hours left. He hides nothing from her, smiling every time she makes a sound of distress, every time she kisses his throat, every time she insists on stopping the story so she can kiss him.
Eventually Rapunzel falls asleep but Flynn doesn't, realizing he isn't even tired. He just lays, Rapunzel curled close to him, and listens to the sound of her breathing. She clenches her fingers in his shirt and he thinks about how nice it would be to fall asleep to her every night and wake up to her every day. But the way they're different now is highlighted as Flynn can only pretend to have had a peaceful night when Rapunzel wakes up.
They set off again, reaching the palace after only an hour or so of walking. Flynn hesitates but Rapunzel has no such qualms. She walks straight up to one of the guards, as if she belongs there, and Flynn reminds herself she does.
"Hello. I'm the lost princess," she says.
Flynn wants to reach out, to protect her, tell her she can't just tell the guards she's the lost princess and expect something. But obviously the guard sees something in her, doing a double take before leading the pair through the castle to a balcony and tells them to wait.
"Rapunzel," Flynn says as Rapunzel looks around, her eyes squinting as if she's trying to think of something she was too young to remember. "You're meeting your parents. I shouldn't be with you for this. I can wait inside."
Rapunzel turns to him, her head tilting to the side and her lips curving into a precious smile that fills him with warmth. She's looking at him with hope that it makes him feel sick. "I want you with me."
"I… I love you," he says, knowing how unfair it is to say to her. Her breath catches, her love on her face as she reaches out to take his hand. He knows that he couldn't have left her in that evil woman's hands but he knows this is going to hurt her in the end.
Happiness seems to radiate from her as she squeezes his hand gently, letting him tangle their fingers. "I love you too," she says, conviction in her words, and for a moment, he thinks he sees a yellow light glowing from her like Fate.
They both turn as the doors fly open and Flynn draws in a breath. As soon as he sees the king and queen, it's obvious why the guard had immediately escorted Rapunzel back. Rapunzel is the spitting image of her mother, although he wonders where she'd gotten her light hair color from. It's a sight to behold as they hold her and while he's surprised, he wouldn't think of not allowing himself to be pulled into the hug.
Flynn pulls back after a moment, though, kissing Rapunzel's cheek and making her promise to seek him out after she's bonded with her parents. A guard shows him to a side room where he paces, watching the clock and feeling every second pass. It's too fast, his death coming soon, but too slow when he wants to be reunited with Rapunzel.
When he sees Rapunzel is going to be a while, he talks to the guards, telling them about Gothel and the threats Rapunzel is likely to still face. He has faith Rapunzel will be okay, though. She's more than competent and he knows her parents will likely not let her out of their sight anytime soon. Besides, after seeing him, he doubts Gothel will come back.
It feels as if it's been days when Rapunzel finally comes in, her smile wide as she wraps her arms around his neck to press her body close to his. "Thank you for reuniting us," she says, her voice gleeful as she looks up at him.
"Rapunzel, it's getting late," Flynn murmurs, looking out at the sky. It has to be nearly noon and so he has maybe 7 hours left. It doesn't seem like long enough. He wants to marry her, something he's never wanted before. But Flynn would marry her, have children with her, spend forever with her. He'll spend the rest of his life with her. But his time is coming and he can't hide. He's dead and his body will be gone in 24 hours.
"It's alright. Mother and Father have said you can stay. I've told them about you. They're going to give you a pardon. If you want to stay then-"
He shakes his head as she speaks, watching the smile slowly fade away. His heart breaks because he can see she wants the same things he does. He chooses his words carefully, grabbing both of her hands and holding on, as if for his life.
"My 24 hours are almost up, Rapunzel."
Rapunzel tilts her head to the side, frowning and narrowing her eyes. "Why do you believe that you have only 24 hours? Or is this just an excuse to leave me?"
"I didn't sleep last night, Rapunzel. And… yesterday, I saw my body. It's probably still hanging where they left me. I don't want to leave you but I have to. I was a criminal. It was my time," he whispers because it isn't fair. He knows he might have deserved it but he would've done everything if he could just have more time with her. "I came back because my love for you was so strong. But now I have to go. I mean, you have freaky magic hair. This is kind of the same thing."
Setting her jaw, Rapunzel looks at him with stubbornness that makes him smile. "We'll see when your 24 hours are up."
He supposes that's the most he's going to get from her. "Alright. Can we go out, though? Humor me. For my final hours."
Rapunzel looks up at him and for a moment, he thinks he sees a sadness in her eyes that means she understands they really do only have a few hours left. Then she nods, the movement almost impersonal as she finally pulls away. "I can humor you. Where should we go?"
Flynn knows he should feel guilty about taking her away from her parents but she has the rest of her life to spend with him. He avoids most of the guards, not knowing if any have seen his dead body and he has no desire to cause a scene. They have no plan but they walk. In the square where they had first danced, he pulls her close and she sings softly to give them a tune to dance to.
At the water, they take off their shoes, wading in to wet their toes and talking more. Flynn knows he could listen to her talk forever, not becoming bored of her stories. Even when she apologizes, saying her life before she met him was rather boring, he finds her fascinating. Perhaps it has to do with her lips and the kisses they share every few moments.
It's not fair, he thinks, feeling his heart beating inside of the body that doesn't feel like his. As their shadows lengthen, he looks up at the sky, knowing that his time is coming. He falters in the middle of a story as he looks, seeing the setting sun.
Rapunzel looks up as well and then back over at him, shaking her head desperately. "Don't leave me."
"I don't want to," Flynn says quickly, unable to breathe as he wonders if this time will be as painless as his neck breaking. "I love you. Rapunzel, please believe me that I don't want to leave you. The last 24 hours have been… the best day of my life. I've never been so honest with anybody before, never bene so in love."
And Flynn means that with his entire heart, aching as Rapunzel's eyes fill with tears. He wonders if she had believed him in the very beginning, if she had just chosen not to believe, and he doesn't blame her. Who would want to believe it? He still doesn't want to.
"I love you, Eugene," Rapunzel says, the tears falling, leaving trails on her cheeks. "What am I going to do? You freed me. You're my new dream. My new dream is to be with you."
For a moment, Flynn can't answer because he's too choked up. She was his new dream. He would've done anything for her. He came back from the dead for her. "You'll have a new new dream. You'll meet new people. There are so many experiences out there for you to have, Rapunzel. Your parents will show you a whole new world."
Darkness continues to fall as Rapunzel presses herself as close as she can. She looks into his eyes, her quiet sobs the only sound. Flynn wonders if his life would've been different if somebody had looked at him with the amount of love she's looking at him with now. A minute passes and Rapunzel falls forward as Flynn disappears. She presses her hands to her face to hide her sobs, pressing hard on her eyes.
Flynn is only allowed to watch for a moment before Fate appears before him again.
"Come. She will be alright. The guards know she's here," Fate says, reaching out a hand to Flynn.
Looking down at the hand glowing brightly, he wonders what would happen if he simply refused to take it. But he'd known the deal when he'd chosen to come back and save Rapunzel. He won't jeopardize that. He sets his hand in Fate's, aware of being weightless and then of being in a very bright place.
"You've done well, Eugene Fitzherbert. You've been selfless and you will be rewarded."
"What?" Flynn asks, looking around and wondering whether this is finally the afterlife. He's rapidly getting a headache from the brightness of it all and he hopes he's not destined to be here forever. Should his head be aching this much? He believes after the last 24 hours that he deserves something more from the afterlife.
Fate turns a page.
Flynn remembers nothing as he hangs onto stone, looking out and thinking about what he wants out of life. A castle. "Wow. I could get used to a view like this.