Chapter 20

"It didn't work," Eugene said to no one in particular. He stared dumbfounded at Rapunzel. There was a mixture of fear and confusion in her eyes. He was in a complete state of shock. What could he do now, he just willingly handed his dream girl over to the enemy.

"It wasn't supposed to happen this way," Eugene said, speaking to the polished tile balcony floor. He shook his head and, suddenly remembering something, jerked it back up. He looked around for Elvira, but she had gone, disappeared again. He shrugged. Where was a fairy grandmother when you needed her?

XXXXXX

"It didn't work," Elvira said, looking over at Honor.

"I'm just as stumped as you are," Honor answered, as she shrugged her shoulders. "We might have to convince Mike and Gabe to…"

"Too late," Michael answered, "we're already here."

Gabe nodded. "We've still got the uniforms, I don't know how or why."

"Well, then let's make the most of them." Michael said, as they headed back into the empty ballroom.

Honor stared at Elvira and watched and waited.

XXXXX

"What the heck happened?" the King whispered to his wife. "Rider was supposed to…"

The Queen shook her head. "I haven't got the slightest idea. We all assumed…"

"And that's the word right there," the King answered, frowning. "We all expected Rider to up and turn to dust." He shook his head. "Well," he said, narrowing his eyes, "we won't be fooled again. This time I'm taking matters into my own hands."

XXXXXX

Flynn Rider couldn't believe it. "I'm alive," he whispered, shaking his head.

"I'M ALIVE," he said, giggling, staring around the balcony at all the shocked faces. He was still tingling and shivering all over, part of the excitement he guessed.

Rider was still in total shock. He raised their entwined hands higher in the air until another tingle ripped through his body, this time a bit stronger than last. It was so strong that Rapunzel ripped her hand away from his.

That was a signal for Eugene to reach out for Rapunzel. He pulled her back into her arms.

Rider stared at him, then tilted his head back and laughed hysterically.

"You gave her up, Fitzherbert. She's mine now."

He reached for her, but Eugene pulled her back. He shook his head.

"Not a chance, Rider," he answered, "not again."

XXXXXX

Elvira and Honor were watching the fight between Rider and Eugene. They were both fearful and surprised the way that Rapunzel was being bandied about like a leather ball.

"Where are they?" Elvira whispered, as she watched the two men arguing with one another. "This has to stop."

Honor shook her head and turned to look at her. "I really don't know."

"Well, I don't know about you," Elvira said, frowning. "But I'm going to help take the pressure off this situation."

She closed her eyes and began preparations when Honor stopped her and pointed to the double doors of the ballroom, which led out to the balcony.

"Look," she said, "it's Mike and Gabe."

Elvira turned and followed the direction that Honor's finger was pointing. She had to squint a bit, but she made out the faces under their helmets.

Smiling, she relaxed. It would all be over soon.

XXXXXX

It was the Queen who first heard the argument. She thought that it was loud and leaned over to see who it was. Well, at least Fitzherbert was doing something or trying anyway. That was more than she could say for any of the Guards and by the way, where the heck were they?

"You'd better do something, my love, before this gets out of hand."

The King nodded his head when he saw two guards with very familiar faces standing by the door.

"GUARDS," he shouted to the few he could see. "Arrest that man," he ordered, pointing to Flynn Rider. "Get him into the same cell as the Stabbington boys. We'll deal with the changes later."

XXXXXX

Rider couldn't stand much more of this. He reached out for her, but she was too far away.

No, this wasn't happening. This was his night, his ball.

And the Princess belonged to him.

He heard the King screaming about something, guards was the word, wasn't it? Rider saw him pointing at the open double doors leading from the ballroom to the outdoor balcony and his eyes opened wide.

They were coming to arrest him.

Flynn Rider shook his head. "No," he said, aloud. He wasn't just going to have his 15 minutes of fame. He was going for the big prize, the whole enchilada.

Flynn Rider panicked, all he was thinking about were the guards as they closed in. Suddenly he remembered that he was carrying a weapon, a knife as a matter of fact, hidden in his boot. He tried to reach for it, but it clattered to the floor.

Eugene tried to reach for it, but he had to let go of Rapunzel to do so. Rider saw his chance and grabbed Rapunzel by her hair. He pulled her toward him, as far away from Eugene as possible.

The tingling began again, stronger this time. It was so strong, he started to shake. Rapunzel tried to pull away, but Rider was holding on too tightly. It felt as though something was burning up inside of her, as if she had been struck by lightning. Rider started to shake more violently and so did Rapunzel

"Eugene," she screamed, "Do something."

Eugene couldn't do anything but watch. Rider was shaking so hard that his grasp on Rapunzel's hair loosened and he sank to his knees. He covered his face with his hands and screamed in pain.

Rapunzel, now away from Flynn Rider, watched as Rider fell on the tiles, his body still shaking. His skin and his hair turning white. That's when the shaking finally stopped.

All was still as Eugene bent down to make sure that Rider was gone. He placed his hand on Rider's heart and grabbed his arm to take Rider's pulse.

But as soon as he reached out to grab it, the body started to dry and shrivel up and Rider became nothing more than a mound of dust. The uniform was lying in a heap on the tiles.

The crowd gasped behind him.

Eugene had forgotten that he was on a balcony full of people. He looked up and scanned his surroundings. Rapunzel was looking down at him, tears in her eyes, but she was smiling. Her arm was outstretched to help him up.

Eugene reached out and grabbed it, pulling himself up; bringing him face to face with those large green pools.

"Rapunzel?" he asked as he cupped his hands around her cheeks. "Are you alright?"

She nodded. "Eugene," she breathed as she pulled him close. The two kissed one another, long and hard, as if they hadn't seen each other in years.

And the crowd cheered behind them, although the two of them couldn't hear a thing.