Chapter 12

Rapunzel hurried through the rooms and out the castle gates. She was sure that Megan would be fine alone with Rider and the twins, but she couldn't stop that nagging feeling that something was going to go wrong. It was a feeling that she couldn't shake. She just couldn't put her finger on it.

She stopped in the middle of the cobblestone street wondering if she should return to the castle. The further she ran up the road, the more she wanted to turn around and run back there. She wasn't sure why either.

She decided to continue up the road but her conscious wouldn't let her be. It was as if she was talking to herself. That was bad enough, but then there were the voices in her head.

Where was she going anyway? The woman actually told her that she'd see Eugene tomorrow night before the ball. There was something calling to her she was sure of it; calling her away from the castle.

The voice in her head told her to keep running, Megan would be alright, but she wasn't so sure. She turned around to head back when she heard the sound of thunder and saw a flash of lightning. Beside her a tree branch fell, narrowly missing her, but scraping her cheek and knocking her to the ground in the process.

Rapunzel wasn't going anywhere outside the castle gates; not for a while anyway.

But there were two sets of eyes who had known exactly what happened and had vowed to protect her against all odds.

XXXXX

"Megan?" Rider said, "it's good to see you again."

The real Megan stared at Flynn Rider. She had offered to do this; it was all part of the plan between Rapunzel and her parents. She had been prepared and prepped, but something told her to be wary.

Very wary.

"It's good to see you too, Fitz," she smiled her widest and bussed his cheek as she was told to do.

"Where's the Princess? Didn't you explain that I was here? I thought that's the way we planned it."

Megan smiled and shook her head. "I'd forgotten that Princess Rapunzel wouldn't be around, but she will be tomorrow night, Fitz. She'll be at the ball tomorrow night and she mentioned that she'd see you alone, about an hour before it." Megan held up a ticket. "She asked me to give you this, if you don't already have one. "

Flynnagan Rider snatched the ticket out of her hand. "I'll be there, Megan, you can count on that, but I need to know what time she'll meet me."

Megan shook her head and shrugged her shoulders. "Just show up, Fitz; she be there waiting for you."

With that, she turned away and left the audience chamber, never even looking back.

Flynn's smile disappeared as soon as Megan did. Where were the Stabbington Brothers, he wondered as he stared after her. Something was going on, he was sure of it, but didn't know what. And he wasn't going to ruin his chances meeting the Princess, after all she had set up the meeting herself.

So he decided to bide his time tomorrow night. He'd find out who the imposter was.

Right now he had to find the twins.

XXXXXX

Gabe, still dressed as the guardsman, brought a still unconscious Rapunzel to the physician's quarters. The King and Queen had been by her side throughout the entire night and straight on until morning, waiting to discover her fate.

The doctor wasn't sure what it was, only that their daughter was a very lucky young lady. She had a few scratches to her neck and her arms, but the doctor assured them that she was fine. He told the King that he was sure that he wouldn't have to postpone the ball. All the invites had been given out and all the eligible bachelors were supposed to show up the same time, an hour before the ball was to officially begin.

Meanwhile, Elvira watched as Eugene slept. She smiled and relaxed as his breathing became more and more stable. Soon it would be morning and a brand new day would begin. She'd dress him up in her son's uniform and he'd go to meet the Princess before the rest of the pack showed up. They'd have time alone before the ball; while all the eligible bachelors would gather, waiting for the Princess to pick her suitor.

And she was going to make sure that the choice would be her grandson.

Things would go as planned, Elvira was sure of that. She was going to keep him safe and out of trouble.

Elvira was happy as she watched him sleep. Everything would be fine.