We're coming into the home stretch here! Thanks, as always, for your interest! :D :D
Pascal feels Eugene's booming footsteps vibrate up through the grimy dungeon floor before he actually sees him. He scampers up Rapunzel's oddly smelling clothes and stands on her shoulder as the familiar man in an unfamiliar uniform comes bounding down the hall.
"Did you get it?" she whispers hopefully.
"You have to ask?" He flashes a confident smile at her and dangles the key between his fingers. "I think I'm offended."
Pascal lets out a sigh of relief. They really are going to save the king and queen!
"You're going to have to teach me how to do that next," Rapunzel forgets.
"What? Pretend to be a soldier? Sorry to disappoint you, Blondie, but I'm pretty sure the uniform won't fit," he teases. Pascal rolls his eyes at the thief's lighthearted mood.
Eugene strides over to the locked door and slides the key inside. Seconds later, the lock snaps open with a resounding clang!
"Your Majesties," Eugene murmurs, bowing as he opens the door.
The king and queen rush to Rapunzel and Pascal quickly moves out of the way. Hugs are all well and good, but this one looks to be a mite too enthusiastic for the reptile to handle. He dodged and weaves thinking longingly of the relative safety of Eugene's borrowed jacket.
"I've got you, frog." Eugene plucks him from Rapunzel's shoulder and sets him on his own. "You know how they are about hugging," he whispers with a sardonic smile.
Pascal watches the family reunion for a second before frowning. They need to leave soon before the prince discovers his key is missing! He clears his throat.
Rapunzel is the first to pull away. "Pascal is right. We need to get going." She looks at him. "You know the plan, right?"
Pascal gives her a confident nod.
"Plan? What plan?" asks Eugene.
"I'll explain on the way." She grabs his hand and Pascal pitter-patters down to the stone floor. He follows them to the junction in the hall where Witzig is still keeping watch. Once he can no longer see his friends, he turns to his brother.
"Come along. We won't have much time until the prince realizes that someone has taken the key," urges Witzig.
Pascal grabs onto his brother's scaly neck tightly. It felt so different than Rapunzel's! He had almost forgotten the feel of the leathery-like skin of his brethren underneath his fingers.
In keeping with the Plan, Witzig takes a different route than the way they had come, stomping down the hall and up a second set of gloomy stairs. "Your princess friend seems to care about you deeply."
The chameleon chirps in the affirmative.
"And you care for her just as much. Is that why you never returned to Berk?"
Pascal shrugs. There are lots of reasons for why he chose – and continues to choose – to stay with Rapunzel: he knows it's silly, but he always feels a little small in his homeland. Besides, he enjoys listening to Rapunzel sing to the flowers in the garden, and, of course, he loves having the chance to startle Eugene when he is practicing his proposal in the mirror. But, most of all, he simply feels at home when he is with Rapunzel.
His brother doesn't comment on his non-answer. The time for small talk is over. It's up to them now to do their part now that Eugene has managed his. Witzig turns the corner and slouches out into the main hall of the castle. It's not nearly as large or as elegant as the one Pascal is used to. He turns up his reptilian nose at a threadbare tapestry of a roaring lion.
The moment of silence doesn't last long though. At the sound of approaching footsteps, Pascal closes his eyes and camouflages perfectly into his brother's body.
Several guards greet Witzig politely, but none of them seem to think it odd to see a dragon walking through the castle. Pascal had been afraid to put too much stock in his brother's assurances on this point.
After the guards pass, Witzig whispers, "Everyone knows how much I like the Royal Library. Lots of cook books." Witzig winks.
They walk past a large window and Pascal takes the opportunity to evaluate the layout of courtyard below and the kingdom beyond the castle's outer wall. He narrowed his eyes as he scans for his four-legged friend…
Ah! There!
He tugs on his brother's ear and nods in Maximus' direction.
"They are making faster progress than I thought," replies Witzig as he takes in the sight of a contingent of armed troops being led by a white horse over the wasteland of Trist. "We must hurry before the guards see them."
Witzig's steps are more hurried now as he trudges through the castle. He turns the corner and nearly knocks into a startled-looking young man.
"Your majesty," Witzig says, bowing slightly. Pascal slams his eyes shut, hoping the distracted human hadn't noticed an extra pair of eyes on the back of his brother's neck. "I apologize for the—"
"Never mind that!" the young man shouts. "Have you seen a man dressed up in a guard's uniform?"
"There were several guards in the main foyer," Witzig supplies unhelpfully.
"No! Not them!" He takes a deep breath and gathers his composure. "There is a man named Flynn Rider here in the castle! We believe he is attempting to kidnap the King and Queen of Corona. If you see anyone who is unfamiliar, stop him at all costs. He is to be considered very dangerous."
Pascal feels his brother's silent rumble of laughter run through him, but thankfully, the sound does not escape his lizard lips.
"If I see such a dangerous man , I will report it to you immediately," assures Witzig, craftily.
Pascal listens as the prince hurries away, in the direction of the dungeon. He worries for Rapunzel. Hopefully, things are going as planned for her and the others…
Witzig turns towards Pascal. "I thought you told me his name was Eugene Fitzherbert."
Pascal waves off his brother's question. There will be time for stories about Eugene and his Flynn Rider days later.
He opens his eyes a smidgeon, checking to see if there are any more unexpected people barreling down the hallway. Fortunately for the brothers, the passage is empty. Witzig heads down to the end where there is a large window.
He turns back to Pascal. "Are you ready?"
Pascal wishes he had something to tie around his waist, but the best he can do is wedge himself carefully between the ridges in Witzig's back. He nods and holds on to the closest scale tightly.
The dragon opens the window and jumps out without hesitation. He swoops over the courtyard where the prince's guards are clearly searching for someone.
Pascal opens his eyes as Witzig rushes through a patch of fog. He had forgotten how fast his brother can fly! It almost makes him wish he'd inherited their mother's wings instead of their father's lengthy tongue! They coast over the castle wall just as the soldiers on the parapet notice movement in the distance. A shout goes out. Now it's a race against time. If Pascal can get to Max before the troops can organize themselves, they might still have a chance! He nudges his brother towards Maximus and his company of soldiers.
"I see them, brother!" the dragon shouts back. With a flap of his wings, he glides toward their quarry.
Witzig lands in the middle of the stony path that winds through the murky and undernourished forest, blocking the Coronese Army from going any further.
Pascal hears Maximus' startled horsey growl, laden with a clear command to attack. The chameleon scrambles up his brother's shoulder before the impatient horse attempts to ram the unexpected road block. Pascal perches on Witzig's brows, and standing tall, waves frantically to Maximus.
At the sight of the chameleon, the horse relaxes marginally. The questioning nicker immediately follows.
Witzig explains quickly, "I am here to escort you to the castle gates. But we must hurry. The prince is already aware of escape plan and the guards have noticed your approach. Hurry!"
Before Maximus can command the troops into action, two unfamiliar people suddenly emerge from the midst of the royal guards of Corona. "Witzig," an older man with a grey beard asks with authority, "what is going on?"
The dragon bows deeply and abruptly, causing Pascal to fly through the air. Fortunately, Maximus is there and able to catch him before he hits the ground. Pascal scowls and rounds on his brother, ready to give him an earful he won't soon be forgetting!
However, Witzig speaks first. "Your Majesties," he greets the strangers. "You have returned from the Crusades! You have been greatly missed these last five years."
Pascal's scolding goes unsqueaked. He turns toward the newcomers, astonished.
The older man –the king, Pascal assumes—appraises his brother. "What has become of the kingdom in our absence? Why is our ally marching against Lord Rein, the steward of the lands?"
The dragon hurriedly informs the King and Queen of Trist, "It would seem that in your absence, the prince has acted... rashly." Witzig quickly gives them an account of everything that had happened, including the kidnapping of the monarchs of Corona.
As his brother is explaining everything, Maximus gives him a questioning look –Are the others safe?The chameleon shrugs. He hopes so.
The king's booming response to Witzig abruptly ends Pascal's conversation with the horse. "Come," he says, marching towards the gate of the castle. "It is clear that we have been gone far too long."
Before they could reach the entrance, hundreds of booming footsteps shake the ground. Pascal scurries up and hides in Maximus' mane. He peaks through the mess of hair and guards swarming from the gate, looking an awful lot like those angry bees that had chased him after he accidently knocked over their hive a few months back. Suddenly, Pascal wishes he had stayed with Rapunzel. At least she had her frying pan!
"Witzig!" one of the men shouts, flabbergasted. "What is the meaning of this betrayal?"
With one large step, his brother moves out of the way and reveals the king and queen. The man stumbles slightly. "Your Majesties," he stutters.
The older man steps in front of Witzig. "Stand down, Aldwyn. It is high past time us to return to our throne."
There is no anger on the guard's face. In fact, Pascal notices as he morphs into his usual green hue, the man seems happy at the king's declaration.
He bows lowly. The other guards follow his lead. "It is a grand day to see the two of you back in Trist, your Grace." He straightens before allowing the king to lead the men towards the gates. "We must hurry before the other battalion finds the others and carry out the Prince's plan."