Don't panic, don't panic! Rapunzel repeated over and over in her mind as she was dragged quite roughly down the alley, narrowly avoiding hitting piles of debris and bins along the way.

The two darkly clad people hadn't uttered a single word since they had begun their mostly one-sided tug-of-war with the princess. She had been dazed by her impact with the cobblestone street, but she had been able to clear her mind by the time they reached a fork in the alley. First, she tried hooking her feet on a heavy iron bin that was set against one wall, but with the amount of force that the two attackers were pulling her along with, she couldn't keep a hold on the bin. After a few seconds of impeding them, they had been able to pull her loose and continue their journey down the alley. She only managed to skin the tops of her feet and painfully smack the tops of her big toenails on the heavy metal.

Next, Rapunzel tried to work her hands around to where the bolas were twisted around her back, but found it to be a useless endeavor. She craned her head around to see if there was anything passing by that she could use to cut at the ropes, but found her head movement was impeded by the rope securing her thick braid to her back.

My braid! She thought desperately.

Her thick, multilayered, blonde braid was taking up a lot of space between the rope and her back.

If I only could undo my braid, I could slip out of this rope! She thought, twisting her right hand to grab a strand of her silky hair.

One of her hair bindings was right above the portion of hair she was able to grab on to. Knowing she had to work faster than she currently was, she yanked hard on the strong hair band. She pulled so hard her fingers ached, but she was rewarded with the snap of the binding and a slight loosening of her hair. Rapunzel was able to pull up the hair below where the removed binding was and pull out the two bands that were below the one she had removed. She quickly began smoothing out the plaits. As she had hoped, the rope slackened around her and she was able to wriggle free of the ropes. She sprang to her feet and with a flick of her now sore hands, she removed the remaining hair ties from her hair and swung her exceedingly long hair loose. Taking a fighting stance, with locks of hair in both hands, she resolutely faced her two attackers.

"If any of my friends are hurt," she said, darkly. "You will regret it. No one messes with the people I care about."

The pair, which turned out to be a man and a woman, dropped the rope. The woman pulled a pair of twin daggers from her belt. The man pulled out a ball on a chain and began swinging it menacingly in front of his body. Both were wearing masks.

"Mira Sandra, la puta cree que puede vencernos!" the man laughed, speaking to the woman.

The woman laughed wickedly.

"Vamos a ensenarle una leccion!" she said.

Rapunzel had no idea what they were saying, Spanish was not a language she knew, but it mattered little to her. She was taking the pair down. The princess didn't wait for them to say another word, she just attacked with her hair. She sent locks at both of them at the same time. The woman slashed down at Rapunzel's hair in an attempt to defend herself. She cried out a word that Rapunzel judged to be an expletive as her twin blades shattered into a dozen pieces. Rapunzel's hair wrapped tightly around the woman. The princess pulled the woman to the ground. Unable to catch herself, the woman smacked her face hard on the pavement and lay still. Rapunzel couldn't help but grin slightly at that.

What goes around, comes around, she thought.

Alternatively, the man fared much better against the princess' attack, catching her hair in the chain of his weapon. He pulled Rapunzel forward. He was very strong, Rapunzel couldn't stop herself from taking a few steps toward the man as he reeled her in. He switched tactics. Twisting her hair in his hands, the attacker began dragging Rapunzel down the alleyway once again. The larger man was much stronger than her and Rapunzel was unable to pull her hair free from his grasp or stop him from pulling her along to wherever they were heading. First, she tried grabbing onto a wood support beam, but this only succeeded in causing her pain as the man pulled and heaved on her hair. Her scalp ached and burned as the man jerked on it sharply.

"Suelta lo!" the man shouted, hurrying towards the princess.

As he approached, she got any idea. The ball and chain was hopelessly tangled in her hair. It would take some time to remove it. If she could get him to let go of it, it would no longer be of any use to him. Rapunzel swung out a lock of her hair faster than the eye could track. It wrapped around the man's shins tightly. Rapunzel quickly pulled the man to the ground. He let go of his weapon to catch himself as he fell. Rapunzel grabbed ahold of a rusty and dented frying pan sitting at the top of a garbage bin and hit the man over the head with it as he attempted to stand. He was knocked out cold.

There was a slight sound behind her. Rapunzel turned to find the female attacker running at her with a metal pipe. Rapunzel prepared her hair for an attack, but before the woman could reach her, a large shape swung down from a second floor window and crashed into the woman. She was sent flying into the building's wall and slumped against it, lying still. The shape turned to face Rapunzel.

"Lance!" Rapunzel said, shocked.

She rushed over to him and hugged him. The tall, broad-shouldered and goateed Lance Strongbow gave the princess a light hug around the waist and stepped back. A look of puzzlement and concern creased his brows.

"Rapunzel, who are these people?" he asked.

"I don't know, I have an enemy that is sending people to try and capture me. Thanks for helping me."

"It was no problem," he said, grinning. "I enjoyed being able to spring into action. Now, you are alone and there are people trying to capture…"

"She's not alone, we're here!"

Max with Cass, the Captain and Pascal all on his back came barreling down the alley, skidding to a stop in front of Rapunzel and Lance.

Cass and her father jumped from the horse's back. Cass grabbed Rapunzel by the shoulders.

"Are you alright?" she asked.

"Yes, with the help of Lance here, I was able to thwart these two attacker's efforts," Rapunzel said, motioning towards Lance as she spoke his name. "They are just knocked out. Please secure them, Captain."

The Captain was already in the process of doing so. Once both man and woman were tied up with their own rope, the captain pulled off their masks. They were both young and similar looking, probably siblings. The woman had blood running from a cut on her right eyebrow streaking down her cheek and dripping from her chin. The Captain ordered the guards that had followed him, Cass and Max down the alley to take the two prisoners to the castle dungeon. At that moment a small coach with a single horse and royal guard as a driver rolled carefully up to the small group and stopped next to Rapunzel. The Captain opened the door.

"Princess, this coach will take you back to the palace," he said, motioning with his injured hand for to step inside. "Cass, you go with her. I will secure this area."

Rapunzel took hold of the man's deeply cut hand.

"You're hurt, Captain," she said, solicitously. "You need to get this treated."

"I'm fine…"

"Father, she's right," Cass said, interrupting him. "I can secure the scene. I know the procedure. You need to take care of your hand."

The Captain looked at the cut. He knew his daughter and the princess were right. This injury, if not properly treated, could affect his grip and lead to the premature end to his illustrious career. He also knew that his daughter was well trained and could handle the current situation. He gave a nod and after Rapunzel stepped into the covered carriage, he stepped aboard, ordering Maximus to stay with Cass.

"Lance, come with us," Rapunzel said, extending her hand to help him aboard.

The former thief accepted her hand and climbed inside the cabin, now cramped with his large frame inside. He closed the door and the coach began to move. Lance sat on the seat across from Rapunzel and the Captain. Rapunzel was wrapping one of her handkerchiefs around the wound on the Captain's hand.

"So, princess, what the hell is going on?" Lance asked.

"I'd think you'd know," the Captain said, huffily. "It's been in all the papers."

"I just got back to Corona early this morning," Lance said. "I was scouting for some new food vendors for the Snuggly Ducking in the neighboring country for the past two weeks."

Rapunzel gasped.

"So…so you don't know about Eugene?"

"Eugene?" Lance asked, raising an eyebrow. "I was wondering where he was just now. I know he wouldn't let anyone just attack you, Rapunzel…ever."

"We-Cass, Eugene and I-were attacked by three bandits two days ago," Rapunzel said, quickly. "Eugene was hurt, bad…he saved me from the bandits…but they hurt him…"

Rapunzel felt her eyes well up with tears and world begin to spin. She took a deep breath and focused on the Captain's hand which he had placed on her shoulder.

Lance was completely taken aback by this.

"What! Is Eugene going to be alright! Rapunzel, were you hurt? You're hurt right now!"

Rapunzel gently touched her bruised and swollen cheek and her bruised hip. She looked down at her scrapped feet. All her injuries were minor.

"I'll be healed in a couple days, just some scrapes and bruises. But, not Eugene…he was hurt quite badly…"

Rapunzel scrubbed at the tears that were building up in her eyes. Lance put a large hand on her shoulder.

"Hey, it's OK. Just breathe."

She took several slow and deep breaths as the Captain spoke for her.

"Mr. Fitzerbert was thrown from a speeding coach after saving the princess from the bandits and a wheel went over his leg. He will recover, but it will take some time. He is currently confined to his bed in the castle."

Lance's face paled and he squeezed Rapunzel's shoulder gently.

"That's horrible, but I'm glad that he will recover. Can I see him?"

The princess nodded.

"He'd like that I'm sure."

"You are not leaving the palace again!"

Eugene jolted awake to the sound of a very upset King Frederic. Looking in the direction of the door, he saw Rapunzel sitting on his bed, her back was to him. Pete and Stan stood on either side of his door as usual. King Frederic was standing about halfway between the door and Eugene's bed. His face was flushed.

"Also, I can't believe that you wouldn't come to me immediately after your return from the city," the king continued to storm. "You were almost taken by our enemies. Instead of hearing this from you, I learned this from a palace guard!"

"Dad, I'm fine, Lance was there to help me and…"

"And what if he wasn't? You'd be in the hands of the Serpent, whoever that is!"

"Sorry to interrupt, sire," came a deep voice to Eugene's right.

He knew that voice and didn't need to look to see who it was, but he did any way. Lance Strongbow was standing on the right side of his bed with his arms lightly crossed. Lance continued speaking.

"Princess Rapunzel was doing just fine when I got there. I just wanted to help her out and get in on the action."

"I can take care of myself dad. Keeping me locked up in the castle isn't going to help! They were able to get in the other night, even with the enhanced security!"

King Frederic scowled at his daughter and opened his mouth to speak, but Rapunzel cut him off.

"You know I'm right," she said. "I'm in danger no matter where I am at and it will only get better once the Serpent is captured. I can help, I can speed up her capture."

The King opened his mouth to speak again, but this time Eugene interrupted him.

"Rapunzel, I agree with your father on this."

The blonde woman whirled around to face Eugene. Eugene felt his blood run cold in his veins when he saw her face. Her cheek was swollen and darkly bruised. In her hand he noticed a cool compress.

"Blondie," he gasped, his mind clouding with rage. "They hurt you? Where are they? Are they dead?"

"They are in the dungeon, they are alive," Rapunzel answered him. "It's just a bruise, Eugene. It'll heal in a few days, so will my feet. They barely hurt at all."

"Your feet?"

"Oh, right you wouldn't know about what happened."

Rapunzel showed Eugene the tops of her feet. They had been treated with antiseptic cream and bandages were taped over the scrapes. The princess quickly explained what had happened after they spoke to their witnesses on Struthers Street. She was about to tell him about what they had learned, when her father interrupted her.

"Rapunzel, you don't seem to be grasping the seriousness of this situation. You, Cass, Max and my Captain of the Guard were attacked. It took ten stitches to sew up the Captain's hand. Cass could have been killed. Maximilian could have been killed. The Captain could have been killed. You could have been killed. And all that for what? So you could avenge the deaths of palace staff? That's not your responsibility, Rapunzel. They work in the palace, they know the risks that can come with working with world leaders. Bringing their killers to justice is the responsibility of the royal guards. Your responsibilities lie in learning to lead a country, and to survive long enough to do so!"

The King's voice had been rising in volume as he spoke and he began to shake his finger in the air.

"I've said this what seems like a thousand times to you already! You will not leave the confines of the palace! Not for any reason! Do you understand?"

Rapunzel had stood up from the bed. She stood with her arms at her sides, her hands were balled up and shaking. Eugene couldn't see her face, but he could imagine the look of anger she had plastered on it.

"But, dad…"

"There are no buts! The only thing that I want to hear out of your mouth is your acknowledgement of your understanding and your agreement to follow my word."

"No, I won't!"

King Frederic looked like his head was about to pop off and shoot around the room like a cork. Eugene leaned forward and clasped Rapunzel's nearest fist. He ignored his complaining ribs as he stretched out to reach her.

"Rapunzel," he said, softly. "Please do as your father says. I know it seems harsh, but he's just worried about you. We all are. I agree with him. You need to stay in the palace. It may not be completely safe, but it's far safer than out on the streets. Please Rapunzel, calm down."

Rapunzel looked back at Eugene. Tears were brimming in her eyes. She held her lover's gaze for a moment before finally turning back to face her father.

"Fine, I agree to stay in the palace."

Her shoulders slumped as she spoke. King Frederic calmed somewhat, but it was apparent that he didn't fully trust Rapunzel.

"I'm glad you are being more cooperative. Cass and Stan will be watching you twenty-four seven. If you try anything, I'll lock you in your room."

With that, the King left the room, shutting the door quietly behind him. Rapunzel sat down on the side of Eugene's bed and cradled her face in her hands. Eugene gently rubbed her back.

"Hey, Rapunzel, it'll be OK. You know that right?"

"Do you think he'd really lock me in my room?" her voice slightly muffled by her hands.

"I think he'd do anything he had to, to keep you safe," Eugene said, grunting as he leaned back against the pillows. "He cares deeply about you. He suffered for the eighteen years you were missing. He just doesn't want to lose you again, this time it could be permanently…you know, if you are killed by these people."

Rapunzel didn't respond. She just looked at the floor. Eugene changed the subject.

"So, what did you find out at Struthers Street?"

Rapunzel told him about speaking to Salty Sally Martin and how she pointed her towards Bobbie Curry. Then she told him about what she learned from Bobbie.

"We found some papers in his things, I gave them to Cass," Rapunzel said. "Where is she?"

"She went to take the Captain home," Stan told her. "He's on medical leave due to his hand."

"How long was I asleep?" Eugene asked.

"Over two hours total," Stan said. "Rapunzel got here about an hour and half ago."

"I messed up big time by not immediately telling my parents about what happened, didn't I?" she asked Eugene, but Stan responded.

"If you are asking me, I say, yes you did," he said, gruffly. "It was very irresponsible for you to delay telling them. Plus, you put two members of the palace staff in harm's way. I didn't think you going out to Struthers Street was a good idea to begin with. I apologize if I am overstepping my boundaries by saying this, but I like you very much, princess and I wouldn't want to see anything happen to you."

Rapunzel smiled at him.

"Thank you, Stan. It's OK, I know I should have told them what happened. I just didn't want to be yelled at and again confined to the palace, which happened anyway."

Eugene turned to Lance.

"Man, I can't thank you enough for helping Rapunzel," he said. "I'm in your debt, as always."

"It was nothing," Lance grinned. "The princess can handle herself, but I've been so bored. I just wanted a piece of the action. I'd do it again in a heartbeat."

"Still, I can't fully express my gratitude," Eugene said.

"Just get better quick," Lance said, stepping to the door. "I'm eager to start up more training for the guards soon and I really don't like seeing you like this, really I don't. I'll be at the Snuggly Duckling if you all need anything."

With that, Lance bowed to Rapunzel and took his leave. Rapunzel turned back to Eugene and took his hand.

"I'm sorry if I am worrying you," she said.

"I always worry about you," he told her. "I love you."

Rapunzel beamed at him and squeezed his hand.

"So tell me what you have found out? I heard that a cook was found murdered and the guard who found her was sent to her home on your orders."

Eugene told her how they ended up finding Sadie Manning murdered in her home and how they were convinced that the woman identified as the Sadie Manning in the dungeon the day Pascal was found in a cell was in fact an imposter. He then told the princess about his conversation with Melody Rose.

"She's a patient of Dr. Mal?" Rapunzel asked, surprised.

"You sound surprised," Eugene said. "Dr. Mal has lots of patients, it could just be a coincidence."

"Also," Stan piped up, "I was able to confirm with her office that Rose is a patient of theirs and did in fact have an appointment at 8 a.m. that morning. She said her records indicated that she checked in and stayed nearly two hours."

"So, it really could be a coincidence," Eugene mused.

"I still don't understand why they took Pascal in the first place," Rapunzel said. "What harm could he ever do?"

"Maybe he knows something," Eugene said. "Something about the mole or maybe he overheard something about the attack in the woods before it happened."

"Then why didn't he warn me?" Rapunzel asked. "If he knew something was going to happen, he would have told me."

"Maybe they only thought he knew something," Eugene said. "Or maybe I'm wrong, there is a different reason he was drugged and put in the dungeon."

At this moment, Cass entered the room, pushing the door closed behind her. She moved to stand next to Rapunzel.

"How's your father?" Rapunzel asked.

"He's fine. I took him to his apartment and instructed him to rest. I doubt he will though. He was really annoyed to be put on medical leave for three days. Could be longer if the doc doesn't clear him. I'm assuming Raps told you about what happened today, what did you find out?"

Eugene quickly filled Cass in on what he had learned.

"Any news on Mel Rose's movements so far?" Cass asked. "Who do you have watching her?"

"Cpl. Glosser," Stan responded. "He felt it best to not assign it to the rank and file. She has lots of friends and admirers in the ranks and he's her immediate supervisor. He felt it more appropriate to do it himself."

"My next step is to head out to the hideout Bjorn and his gang have in the mountains," Rapunzel said.

"What?" Eugene shouted. "After all that you have been through and after what your father said, what I've said, you still plan on leaving the castle to look for these people?"

Rapunzel frowned at Eugene.

"Of course I do. My father can't just lock me up."

"He's the king," Eugene said. "He can do whatever he wants. Rapunzel, I won't let you leave the castle, it's not safe! I will alert the guards if you try to leave."

"Eugene, I can't believe you!" Rapunzel said loudly. "You know I can defend myself. I've done just fine each time I've been attacked."

"You've been lucky," Eugene said. "I'm not trying to say that you can't defend yourself, no one is saying that, but you can't just recklessly waltz around the city and countryside with violent enemies on the loose. Drop the investigation, Rapunzel. The guards, your father and I are fully capable of handling it. It's not safe for you to be involved. You need to let this go."

Rapunzel stepped back from the bed and glared at Eugene.

"You just don't understand. None of you understand!"

With that Rapunzel charged out of the room. Stan and Cassandra followed her to her room. She slammed the door in their faces and locked the door. Cassandra ordered Stan and another guard to stand at the door. She instructed three more to stand outside her windows. She needed a word with Eugene. She figured that he should be updated on the papers they had found in Johannes' room at Bobbie's Teapot.

"She locked herself in her room," Cass said as she stepped into Eugene's room. "I posted guards at the door and at the windows. I wanted to give these to you. I haven't had much chance to look through them."

The young lady-in-waiting pulled out Johannes' papers and began spreading them over Eugene's bed. There were eight sheets of paper total. Two sheets were lists of items with monetary amounts written next to them. One was handwritten directions of an unknown building referred to as the 'country manor.' The fourth appeared to be a contract for a thieving job. The fifth was a wanted poster for Flynn Rider. The sixth had 'Cassandra, Bodyguard' handwritten at the top, with her physical description written out beneath. It went on to describe her typical weapons and fighting style. The note described her as 'fairly dangerous' and 'fiercely loyal.' At the bottom was written that she would need to be subdued immediately in a fight.

The wanted poster and note about Cassandra were pretty interesting, but the last two notes were by far the most interesting of the pile. The first of the two Cassandra handed to Eugene to read was the note she and Rapunzel had read in Johannes' room.

Will pay your group 15000 for the capture of Princess Rapunzel.

Required that she be alive and in decent health. No exceptions.

I will keep you updated on her movements.

Current mental status is unstable. I will make her as pliable as possible.

S

"S?" Eugene asked. "That's for the 'Serpent' I'm assuming."

"That's what Raps and I thought."

"I'm alarmed at the line about making her pliable and that her mental status is unstable. Who would know that?"

"Don't know."

"Mel Rose is going to the same mind doc Rapunzel is, Dr. Mal," Eugene said. "She'd know about her mental status. She could possibly make Rapunzel more mentally pliable."

"But, she's the queen's mind doctor, too," Cass said. "The queen would never put her daughter in the hands of a dangerous person, not ever."

"You're right I'm sure. Let me see the last paper."

Cass read it before handing it to him. She gasped.

"What is it?" Eugene asked.

Cass lowered the paper so he could see it too. The note read:

All is ready in the dungeon. The bait is placed.

Target is very attached to bait.

In last cell in south wing. Leave exit to me.

AJ meet me by S gate at 8. JS meet me at kit. exit at 9.

Wear disguise as instructed.

DO NOT MESS THIS UP

"That's the cell they found Pascal in!" Cass said. "He was bait! We must have foiled their original plan and they had to ambush us in the woods."

"The writing on the note from 'S' and the note about the trap are very different," Eugene commented. "Even I can tell them apart."

"The note about setting a trap must be from the mole," Cass said, putting the note on Eugene's bed tray. "We need to search the dungeon where he was found."

"So, who are AJ and JS?" Eugene asked.

"I think it's Anthony Johannes and Jen Sax," Cass said. "Sax was posing as Sadie. She probably went in as the cook too late to back out once they found out we were in the woods. With lunch going on, the wardens would be too busy to notice Rapunzel being taken and the fake Sadie slipping away."

"Rose has to be the mole," Eugene said. "She knows the dungeons and the warden schedule well. Johannes was an idiot to keep these notes."

"Is Rose in the dungeon now?" Cass asked.

As she finished her sentence there was a knock at the door. Pete looked out into the hallway and then admitted Cpl. Glosser.

"Sir Fitzerbert, I came to tell you that Officer Rose went home sick for the day. I assigned a palace guard to tail her, but I was unable to leave the castle. I just came to inform you, I need to get back to my post."

"Thank you Corporal," Cass said. "Who did you send? I will take over for him or her."

"Officer Sullivan," Glosser said. "They left only a minute or two ago. They left via the main gate. He's a ginger, has freckles and a short mustache."

"I'll hurry then."

Cassandra ran from the room. Cpl. Glosser took his leave immediately after her.

"I hope she can catch up to Rose," Eugene said, then he turned to Pete. "Could you help me into my chair? I'm going to try and talk to Rapunzel."

Spanish Translations:

Mira Sandra, la puta cree que puede vencernos!: Look Sandra, the whore thinks that she can fight us!

Vamos a ensenarle una leccion!: Let's teach her a lesson!

Suelta lo!: Let go!