A.N. Here it is. The long awaited Chapter 2. Sorry it took so long, I've just had a lot of school work (a few midterms and essays) and I had the hardest time writing this chapter for some reason. I'm actually not very happy with it at all. I failed miserably on so many levels :( It's nothing special, just the way I imagined their return to Corona would go. I tried hard to capture it as I believed it would be, so please don't hate me if you don't like. I'm sorry if it's going slow at the moment, but I promise it will speed up soon.
Also, I have a little challenege for you. I've included, somewhere in this mumbo jumbo of words a quotation from a movie that I adore. If you can find it and tell me the name of the movie and the character(s) that said it, I will dedicate a character to you in a chapter to come, someone from Eugene/Flynn's past :)
And thanks again to everyone who's reviewed and added this story on alert. I've never had so many people respond to a story of mine before so thank you to NikkyPickles, KayMoon24, mommypenguinhd, ishidamon, oasis1314, D, Princess Shahrazad, xbecbebex and TheMonkeyFuzz. You are all so wonderful :D
And also a big thank you to Vee, Allie and Emily from ISL (this chapter is dedicated to you) 3
And without further ado: let us return to our story...
Chapter Two:
It took no time for them to reach Corona. The sun still hung in the sky, though it had begun its descent not long before. Coming to a halt, the four companions stared up at the city and the palace at its center, each mind racing with different thoughts about what lay ahead.
Pascal was probably the most excited of them all. For so long he had tried to convince Rapunzel to leave that dreadful woman and now look at her! She was finally going to get a second chance at life and in a way, so was he.
Maximus, on the other hand, was extremely happy to see familiar terrain, though he was also worried. He had disobeyed the Captain, his master, when he rescued Rider, and forgiveness was not something that easily came to the captain.
Eugene was also worried – no, terrified. As they had ever closer, his trepidation had risen to indescribable heights, toying with his emotions. What if they should shoot him on the spot and ask questions later? What if they exile him from the kingdom forever? What if? What if? What if? Each possibility stabbed at him like daggers through the heart.
And then there was Rapunzel who, at that moment, was a bundle of emotions, thank you very much. She was anxious to meet the king and queen, her…parents…The word sounded foreign in her mind – A mother AND a father. But she was also afraid, terrified that they would not believer her, that they might send her far away, taking Eugene from her as well.
She shivered uncontrollably despite the warm breeze as the sheer thought of having Eugene taken from her again so soon flitted across her brain. She hoped he would not notice, but no such luck. One of his hands grasped hers, holding it tenderly in his long fingers. "Everything will be fine."
"What if they don't believe me?" she enquired softly, her voice small and frightened.
"Hey. They will," Eugene promised her, turning her around in the saddle to face him.
She could not believe his words, did not want to allow herself to hope falsely, "How can you be sure?"
Eugene had to pause to consider an appropriate answer before bringing himself to reply. "Because…there's this, um, bond, between parents and their children. It's not something you can touch; it's something you feel inside: in your heart," he explained, hating the clichéd ring of it all. He didn't know if it was even remotely true, but it was what Rapunzel needed to hear.
Again, she took what he said as if it was some golden truth. "Thank you." She bestowed him with one of her glorious grins, "Can we walk the rest of the way?"
Eugene nodded. They would be far less conspicuous on foot in any case.
The two of them walked into town, Maximus plodding along behind them. Rapunzel recognized some people as she went, but none of them seemed to be able to link her to the golden-haired girl of the other day. It was a bit of disappointment for her, to be honest, to see the villagers smile politely as she waved at them, ignorant to who she really was. But she would redeem that later on.
As they drew closer to their destination, Eugene began to construct a variety of scenarios that could possibly present themselves. It was more than plausible that they would arrive at the palace doors only to find the guards unwilling to listen. He could just imagine the scene; it played out so clearly in his mind. The doors would open, the captain and his men appearing before them, shock flashing in their eyes. They would grab him roughly and drag him to the noose he had just managed to escape. And Rapunzel would scream after them, begging with them, pleading for his life, her words falling on deaf ears as the floor drops out beneath him.
Eugene trembled suddenly. Yeah. Not so great. Constructing the possibilities was not helping the situation. And as it turned out, the actual scene that played out was not something he would ever have imagined.
They were making their way slowly towards the palace when Pascal began to squeak incomprehensibly. Well, at least, it was unintelligible to Eugene's untrained ears. Rapunzel, on the other hand, was staring intently at the tiny green creature on her shoulder, her eyes widening with every high-pitched sound that fled his mouth.
"Are you sure?"
Another series of squeaks.
"Maybe it's someone from the other day?"
But Pascal was shaking his head furiously, squealing with an urgency Eugene had not yet heard from. He was gesturing frantically with his paws, his head swivelling from side to side. He glanced at Rapunzel again only to have trepidation rise like bile in his throat as he recognized the look of sharp panic in her eyes. "What is it6"
"Pascal thinks someone was staring at us."
"Someone?" Eugene glanced behind him, his senses on full alert. There were plenty of people flooding the square, milling through the streets, attending to their own business. "Who?"
Rapunzel couldn't say. Pascal began to chatter once more. "He says they took off, " she explained while Pascal pointed with his tail, "Down that way."
Eugene followed the agitated chameleon's direction. There was a small alleyway that led away from the main street, but it would be no good to follow now. They were no doubt long gone by now. And perhaps the little green lizard had it wrong; maybe, he was being paranoid, seeing things that weren't there. And yet Eugene could not shake the feeling of distress in his chest. They shouldn't linger…just to be safe.
"Come on. The faster we get there, the better." Grabbing Rapunzel's hand he quickened their pace to a slow sprint, racing through the crowd, Max following close behind. There were only three reasons Eugene could construe in his mind to explain someone's interest in them.
Reason # 1: They had been captivated irrevocably by Rapunzel's innocent beauty.
Reason # 2: Someone had recognized him from his wanted poster.
Reason #3: Someone from his past had recognized him, which could only be a bad thing.
Truthfully, none of them made him feel reassured, especially not the first one. Fortunately for him, it was not. Unfortunately for him, it was something worse.
As they rushed up the cobblestone pathway, a loud cry rose up suddenly from the crowd ahead. Coming to an abrupt halt, Eugene and Rapunzel watched as the palace guards emerged through the throng, brandishing swords.
"Rider!" The Captain, a man named Vince, stood at the front of the pack, a look of fiery triumph shining in his round, dark eyes.
Oh, this is bad. This is bad. This is very, very bad.
Eugene froze for a second as the guards charged towards them, intent on bringing him down. Beside him, Rapunzel let out a tiny shriek of panic and clutched tightly to his arm, relying on him to protect her. But she was not the one who required protection. Had it really been too much to ask that they get to the palace without any trouble? Apparently so.
Time seemed to slow as Eugene considered his options:
Option #1: Let them take him and try to reasons with a group that did not look even remotely willing to negotiate.
Option #2: Run old school, dragging Rapunzel behind him and hope that they manage to shake off their pursuers before once again attempting to reach the palace.
Option #3: Fight.
The latter was quick to die as Eugene realized that he lacked a necessary weapon. Where was a firm frying pan when you needed one? Option #1 also didn't seem very doable either, if only because of the wild, crazy look in Vince's eyes. Without another second's hesitation, Eugene allowed Flynn's need of flight to take over. Squeezing Rapunzel's tightly in his own, he turned on his heels and fled through the streets, or at least, he tried to.
They had hardly made it a few feet when Rapunzel unexpectedly came to a halt, causing Eugene to falter. "What are you doing?" he asked her anxiously, glancing back to see the guards hot on their tails.
"We can't run, Eugene. It make us look guilty."
"I am guilty," he argued, his voice harsher than he intended.
Hurt shock shone in Rapunzel's eyes as his sharp tone hit her like a slap across the face. She released his hand, retreating back a few steps, "Run if you want. I'm not going anywhere."
Damn. She wasn't giving him a choice at all. He couldn't run and let the guards believe that she was somehow implicated in his past deeds. "I can't just leave you."
Rapunzel smiled victoriously. "Good. Then don't." She took his hand again, prepared to lead him back towards the guards, but he held back. "Eugene?"
"I have a better idea," he told her quickly, "You go and I'll hold them off." It was hardly the sacrifice he had made in the tower, but at that moment he realized that she was right. He could not run, not if he wanted to make amends. His past sins were closing in around him and he had to let them catch him before he could truly work towards redemption.
But Rapunzel would not budge. "Why can't we face them together?"
"Because, at least if they decide to arrest me here, you can still make it to the palace and plead my case from there. If they think that you and I are connected, they might be less lenient to listen to you," he explained in a rushed tone, aware that guards were nearly upon them. It all made perfect sense in his mind. Besides he would probably be able to outrun them on his own. "Don't worry; I'll be fine."
This lie, unlike his others, did not sit well with Rapunzel. With narrowed eyes, she stood her ground, resigned to stay by Eugene's side, no matter what. "I'm not going to leave you."
"Rapunzel." Eugene was desperate to get her away, worried more at this point for her sake than his. And then, he knew what he had to do. "Max!"
Max perked up immediately. He had been watching them argue from the sidelines, uncertain of what to do. But as he met Rider's eyes, he understood perfectly. Reaching forward, eh clamped down with his teeth on the soft fabric of Rapunzel's dress.
"Max, what…" But before Rapunzel could comprehend what was happening, Eugene took off at a running pace, heading straight for the guards. "Eugene, no!" She struggled to follow him, but Max's grip was too strong for her to fight. Already exhausted, it did not take long for her to finally relinquish her futile attempts. Sighing deeply, she watched helplessly as he dashed away from her, turning down another alleyway. The guards hardly noticed her as they turned to follow the man they knew as Flynn Rider and Rapunzel could only stand still, hoping that Eugene would be okay.
As Eugene ran, be quickly discovered the downfalls of his master plan. For one thing, while it did help to alleviate the blame on Rapunzel, it did nothing to remove the appearance of his guilt. For another, he was about to hit a brick wall. Coming to a complete halt, he stumbled slightly as he turned to face his pursuers.
"There's nowhere for you to go, Rider," Vince called out as he and his men slowed their pace to a swaggering gait. They all looked so pompous in their shining, gold armour and feathered helmets – it made Eugene sick. Surprisingly enough, he wasn't too worried about his current predicament. "I'm amazed you even dared to come back here. Have a death wish, do we?"
"Not quite." Eugene bit his lip, as an afterthought swiftly followed his disagreement. He had managed to die that day already, quite willingly too. And, technically, he had to admit that coming back here was somewhat of a suicide mission. Oh well. "I thought we could talk."
Vince and the others burst into snide laughter. "You? Talk? Now, I've heard everything." He sheathed his sword as he reached for the handcuffs dangling from his belt. "You do realize we're taking you straight back to the gallows?"
Eugene swallowed hard. Take a deep breath, he though as his chest tightened with nerves. You're Eugene Fitzherbert, not Flynn Rider. You can do this. But the mental pep talk was not helping to soothe his racing heart. "Look, I know that we have our differences, and I've caused all of you more injury than necessary, but there's something you need to here."
"And what's that?" Vince seemed far more amused by his confession than intrigued.
He skipped a beat, his throat dry. "I found the lost princess." And immediately regret followed his words as Vince's face reflected unadulterated loathing.
"You fiend," he hissed, his voice riled with a passionate anger, "Do you think this is some kind of joke?" Before Eugene could react, the captain stormed forward and as he reached him punched him hard in the face.
Eugene reeled at the unexpected force from Vince's blow. He fell to the floor, feeling his nose to make sure it was still in one piece. Blood began to flow down and he wiped at it furiously. Not the nose! Not the nose! But Vince wasn't done with him and before Eugene could realize what was about to happen, the captain's boot connected with his gut.
Pain shot through him, it was not nearly as agonizing as that produced from the dagger embedded in his flesh, but still, it was enough to make his body curl once more into a foetal position. His eyes blurred as tears stung them. He groaned loudly, unable to help himself as he tried to lift his head up. The captain stood directly above hi, his eyes more savage than before.
"It's one thing for you to wheedle your way out of danger, but to even think about lying about her. You deserve death, Rider. You coward." And for the second time that day, Eugene found himself clapped in irons. "Come on."
The pain was subsiding slowly now and Eugene's mind was racing into panic mode. So, they were all really uptight about the princess thing, but come on! Hands roughly yanked him off the ground, forcing him on his feet only to find himself inches from Vince's face. "Give me one good reason why I shouldn't run you through right now."
"Because that would be a horrible mistake," Eugene replied unwaveringly, "I know you think I'm lying, but I'm not. I swear; I found her. You have to believe me."
"Enough!" Vince roared, shoving Eugene forward, "Get him out of my sight."
Two of the guards rushed forward to grab him with unkind hands. Flynn Rider seemed to take over in that moment, working to escape. He struggled against his bonds. "You don't understand!" He yelled, "I really did find her! Oh, come on!" He had never felt as frustrated as he did then, being dragged into the crowd of people, led towards death once more.
"Wait!"
The guards ignored the small voice that called out to them, perhaps because they did not realize it was directed at them, or perhaps because they could not be bothered to turn around. But it was impossible for Eugene to ignore. What is she thinking? These guys were not in the greatest of moods and he feared that a single utterance of the last princess from her might end up harming the situation even more.
"Let him go!" Rapunzel was persistent. For the past few minutes, she had waited, unsure if she should go to the palace or wait for some sign of Eugene's situation. This was not going at all as she had hoped, now; she had expected them to walk up to the palace together, hand in hand, only to have everyone realize with absolute certainty that she was indeed the lost princess and then immediately forgive Eugene for all his past crimes. And, like all her storybooks, they would live happily ever after. But to see Eugene being led away in chains…it was too much for her to take. Maximus had released her long ago following her admittance of defeat. He seemed to realize at that moment what she was thinking and lunged forward. But he was too late. Rapunzel easily evaded his grasp as she hurried towards Eugene. "Please stop!"
Within seconds, she reached them. Her hands immediately went for Eugene's, trying to yank him away from his captors. The guards were slow to react, taken aback by her attempts to free their prisoner. "What the…get away!" One of the guards grabbed Rapunzel as he took control of his senses, squeezing her arm painfully tight. In one firm motion, he wrenched her back.
Taken unawares, Rapunzel fell back, her bare feet stumbling against the gravel as she tried to find a firm spot without luck. With a loud shriek, she crashed to the floor.
"Rapunzel!" Eugene struggled harder than ever to break free, trying to get to her. She looked dazed and her face was pulled back in an expression of discomfort. "Rapunzel!"
"What's going on here?" Vince appeared suddenly through the throng of people slowly beginning to gather. "What's Rider done now?"
"Another escape attempt." The guard nodded towards Rapunzel who was still sprawled out on the floor. She did not seem overly hurt, Eugene began to realize, but he could still see that she was upset. He wanted to hold her in that moment with such deep longing that filled him with an indefinable rage.
Vince leaned down towards her and Rapunzel shrank away. "And who are you?"
"Leave her alone!" Eugene cried warningly, prompting Vince to turn and stare at him momentarily, an expression of incredulity plastered across his features. Eugene held his gaze, his own eyes shining determinedly.
"It's okay," he spoke soothingly as he returned his gaze to Rapunzel, offering her his hand, "I'm not going to hurt you."
Rapunzel glanced quickly at Eugene for reassurance. He shook his head vehemently. Don't do it. Don't do it, he thought, willing her to listen.
But then she slid her small hand into the captain's massive one and allowed him to lift her off the floor.
"Good girl. Now, who are you?"
Don't say it. Don't say it. Don't say it.
But Rapunzel was deaf to Eugene's mental pleas. "My name is Rapunzel," she replied, her voice confident as she stared unwaveringly into the captain's dark eyes, "I'm the lost princess."
Damn.
The crowd around them gasped as those who were close enough caught her words. Those who had not been as fortunate anxiously began questioning their neighbours and soon everyone was whispering around them, wondering who the girl was and whether or not she was yet another pretender.
Vince looked at the people, realizing the precarious position he was in. He did not believe the girl, was far more inclined to think that she was another one of Rider's conquests. She had no doubt been manipulated into believing a lie he had constructed, but he could not as much with all these people watching.
"Follow me." He told her and grabbing her hand, led her away from curious eyes. "Bring Rider."
Eugene stumbled slightly as the guards pushed him forward. He watched in bewilderment as they moved towards the palace. What was going on? He couldn't really tell if Vince believed her or not, but his gut instinct was to think that it was the latter.
Only a few of the townspeople tried to follow them, but slowly they drifted away, guessing that the girl was not what she claimed to be. After a few minutes, there was only one left to wander behind the group.
Max did not know what to do, so he followed them, keeping his distance, prepared to intervene if need be. Rapunzel was not in trouble, he knew that for sure: the look that had crossed his Captain's face following her announcement was one of pity. But Rider…well, considering the predicament he had last saved Flynn from, it didn't look good.
Rapunzel too, did not know what to do. As they walked, she kept glancing back at Eugene for some insight, but his expression did nothing to slow her racing heart. He was just as lost as she was. Looking back to the Captain of the Guards, she swallowed hard. "Could you possibly let him out of his handcuffs?" she asked softly.
He turned to her and in his eyes, Rapunzel could detect a faint glint of lamentation. "Sorry, I can't." He seemed genuinely apologetic and Rapunzel found herself respecting the man despite the fact that he had pursued her Eugene and was intent on killing her.
Finally, the group came to the front gates of the palace. Pausing in front of them, Vince pushed them open. Turning back around to make sure they were alone, he finally caught sight of a magnificent, white horse watching them. "Maximus?"
Eugene and Rapunzel whipped their heads around to see Max standing a few feet behind them. Caught, the horse pawed nervously against the cold ground, neighing in trepidation.
"What's going on here?" Vince demanded, his certainties crumbling down around him.
Max whinnied excitedly, trotting towards them until he was right behind Rapunzel. He nudged her forward and neighed again.
"The girl?" he questioned as Max nodded firmly. "You don't believe them?" More frantic nods. "You do?" As Maximus's strong belief sunk in, Vince turned his attention on Rapunzel, scrutinizing her carefully.
Rapunzel squirmed uneasily under his hard stare, but she could see in his eyes that he was slowly realizing the truth.
"It can't be," he breathed. He was recognizing the similarities now.
"I told you…" Eugene piped in suddenly, provoking him to turn on him angrily, "…so."
"Don't hurt him!" Rapunzel pleaded, afraid that his raised fist would connect with Eugene's face, "He found me and saved me."
Vince hurried to face her once more, his anger slipping away, though an expression of confusion and disbelief remained, "You look so much like Queen Adelaide, but I just don't know…"
"Let me you tell the story," Rapunzel suggested. And so she went on to tell him about Gothel and the tower, her healing hair, meeting Flynn Rider and their adventures. She stumbled for a brief second, almost revealing Eugene's real name, remembering only at the last moment their conversation by the campfire. And then she told him of the lanterns, her return to Gothel, the discovery of her true betrayal, Eu-Flynn's return and death and his unexpected revival. "And so we came back to find the truth."
Vince had listened intently throughout her narration until there was not a shred of doubt left in his mind. "It seems impossible and yet it has to be true. I can't believe it. 18 years and we have found you."
"Flynn found me," Rapunzel corrected him, "If it weren't for him, I would not be here right now." She glanced at Eugene and smiled. He believed her. He saw it too, the unremarkable similarities and he knew it was her. Everything was falling into place before her. And yet there was a tiny flicker of doubt in his eyes, and she could not understand why.
The reason had nothing to do with Rapunzel, which explained why its presence confused her. It was all Eugene…or rather, Flynn Rider. He knew they believed her, had always known they would, but standing there, in that moment, he saw with perfect clarity just how wrong he was for being there.
Who am I kidding? There is no Eugene Fitzherbert. I am, have been and always will be Flynn Rider. He could see the lingering confusion on Rapunzel's face as she focused on his uncertainty. She couldn't grasp it, could not see it, perhaps because she did not want to. But as Vince once more came to stare at him, his expression said it all – it didn't take a genius to read the signs. He severely distrusted, and with good reason too, that a man could go from most wanted thief to first-rate hero in just one day's time. And no amount of Rapunzel's insistence would change that.
"Unfortunately, one good deed is not enough to redeem a man of a lifetime of wickedness," Vince said finally, his voice heavy.
"But is it really enough to condemn him?" Rapunzel demanded. She was confused, bewildered by the captain's unwillingness to pardon Eugene. Didn't they understand that he had been willing to die for her? "He willing gave his life for me. You can't just kill him again."
Vince sighed deeply under Rapunzel's round-eyed gaze. This girl who looked so much like the queen down to her confidently stubborn demeanour was the princess they had been searching for all these eighteen years, he would almost bet his life on it. She was desperate to have Rider, a fact he could not quite comprehend. It was strange to consider, but if she was the princess, her authority would no doubt trump his. If that was the case, then this was not his problem anymore. "This is above me now," he paused, "Let me take you to the king and queen and we'll sort out this mess later."
"What about Flynn?" Rapunzel questioned cautiously.
"I'm just going to lock…"
"No," Rapunzel interjected quickly, "No, I need him with me." She was beginning to feel the nerves again, her heart pumping furiously as she realized her moment was rapidly approaching. There was no way she could go through with this without Eugene by her side. "Please."
"Rapunzel…"
"No!" she rounded on Eugene in a fury as his voice suddenly cut through, causing him to falter. "I need you." She did not want him to give in, not now. "I need him," she repeated firmly, this time directing her attention at the captain, "Or else, I'm gone."
It was a heavy-weighted threat Vince could not ignore. Hanging his head in resignation, he pulled a key from his pocket and released Eugene from his bonds. "Don't you dare think of running, Rider," he breathed as he pulled away.
Eugene frowned at him as he rubbed his chaffed wrists. Glancing at Rapunzel, he tried to smile, but was cut off as she launched herself unexpectedly into his arm, gripping him with all her might. Like second nature, his arms wound around her, pulling her closer. The past few minutes he had watched her struggle for his sake, feeling a helplessness akin to the one he had felt as he had lay dying in her tower. He just could not shake the feeling that he was no good for her. And as Vince finally conceded defeat, Eugene couldn't help but wonder what the higher powers would choose to do with him.
Not more than ten minutes later, Eugene and Rapunzel stood at the edge of the palace's main balcony, staring at the village of Corona while the summer air rustled past. They were waiting in silence, neither daring to speak for fear that their hearts would leap from their throats. Hands entwined, they stood stonily still as the stars began to sparkle in the velvety sky. Only a day ago they had sat together at sea, waiting for the lanterns to rise. At that moment in time, they had both been ignorant to the blatant truth, and yet here they were, on the brink of fully realizing Rapunzel's true origins.
"I can hardly breathe," Rapunzel admitted in a hushed whisper, unable to keep her silence any longer. She felt faint, weaker than she had before and she clung to the rail like a life support while one hand squeezed Eugene's.
"It's going to be fine. They're going to believe you," Eugene promised, "Just…try to relax."
Rapunzel nodded and, shutting her eyes, tried to draw a sense of peace, but it was not working. "I can't. I'm worried, Eugene."
"What happened to Flynn?"
Rapunzel stared at hum quizzically, her nerves temporarily forgotten.
"Before when you were telling Vince" – a blank stare – "the captain" – a vigorous nod – "your story, you called me Flynn again. Why?"
Comprehension dawned in her green orbs. "When you first told me the story of how you became Flynn Rider, you told me not to tell anyone because it would ruin your fake reputation."
"Right." Eugene would not have expected her to abide by his request, let own remember it.
"Did you want me to tell them your real name?"
Eugene shrugged. The name Flynn Rider fit him like a comfortable glove while Eugene Fitzherbert sounded ever more estranged with every utterance. "It really doesn't make a difference."
"What do you mean? They're going to pardon you once they hear my story."
But Eugene could not must even half of the certainty Rapunzel exuded. He wanted to tell her, to warn her about the harsh reality of life, but he couldn't. she did not need to be thinking about him at that moment, not with the reunion at hand. "And they're going to love you."
Rapunzel did not know how Eugene had known, but those words of reassurance were what she had been desperately searching for. Beneath all her anxieties lay that one huge fear: that even if the king and queen did believe her and claim her as their daughter, they would not be able to love her, to accept her. She was terrified that she would not be the girl they had dreamed of for eighteen years, that she would be a disappointment. A single tear dripped down the side of her face. She wiped it away before Eugene could notice and forced a smile. "I hope so."
"They will," Eugene repeated in a definite tone, just as the sound of doors opening echoed behind them.
Together, the two turned to see the king and queen of Corona suddenly emerged from the safety of their castle walls. Rapunzel felt the heat race in her body, exploding in her cheeks, turning them cherry red. Frozen to the spot, it was all Rapunzel could do to stop herself retreating in fear. And the queen – her…mother – looked exactly like her. She had her soft, green eyes, her now, chestnut brown hair, her freckled nose and cheeks.
A hand fell gently on her shoulder, Eugene was smiling, a soft, small smile. He nodded his head and gave her a tiny push forward.
Rapunzel inched steadily ahead, her heart beating rapidly, forgetting at times how to walk. Her lungs were malfunctioning, she was certain, as her breath caught in her throat and she stumbled to halt. She stared gapingly at the royals before her, not knowing what to do or what to say, as tears converged, prepared to spill over. What was she doing here? They were staring at her in disbelief and puzzlement, not saying a word. What had they been told? Did they even realize that she was claiming to be their daughter? Her lips fluttered open slightly and then closed again as words failed to come to her mouth.
And then the queen moved towards her, her long, violet dress skimming the ground as she approached Rapunzel. The pounding in her heart was reaching a fever pitch. What must she think of me? I must look insane. I am insane to be here. But as the queen came to a halt a few inches before her, Rapunzel noticed a spark in her eyes, one of recognition and – was it possible – belief. One hand rose slowly, almost hesitantly, and reached for her cheek. The feel of the queen's soft skin against her cheek made her tremble with the tenderness of her touch. And in that instant, all of Rapunzel's fears melted away.
A sincere smile crossed the queen's face as a single utterance of joy fled her lips. Rapunzel too allowed herself to broadly smile as the queen pulled her into her arms. And it was as if fireworks went off.
Wrapped in the queen's slender arms, Rapunzel had never felt so certain. A feeling of security that rivalled that which she felt when she was in Eugene's arms spread through her entire body. Gothel's embrace had never felt this right, this perfect. It was as if she and the queen had been intentionally moulded to fit into the curves of the other's bodies. And that smell, that cinnamon scent as so familiar, like a memory far away.
Removing her head from the queen's shoulder, Rapunzel looked up to see the king now standing behind them, beaming from ear to ear. Chuckling with insurmountable happiness, he too embraced them, so that Rapunzel was now caught between the two.
Overcome with emotion, the three fell to their knees, clutching to each other, afraid to be torn apart, each of them knowing that this was where they belonged. After years of searching, they had found each other again. And all was right in the world. What had Eugene said: Because there's this bond between parents and their children. It's not something you can touch; it's something you feel inside: in your heart. He had been right.
Eugene could not help but smile as he watched the family in their moment of reunion. He felt a sense of pride as he realized that he had brought them together. And to think it all started with the stealing of her crown. As he gazed at them, a small part of him began to long for something even remotely similar to what they were experiencing at that moment. For the past seven years, he had lived as Flynn Rider, ignoring the feeling of rejection he had struggled through for the eight years prior to that. So why was this coming up now? He didn't have time to lag into these emotions, not when the question of his life still hung in the balance.
He hated himself as he realized that the part of him still clinging to Flynn Rider was fuelling an urge in her to run. You got her here safe, like you promised you would, Flynn was arguing unconvincingly.
And what do I gain by running?
Freedom.
And what do I lose?
A pause and then finally, Her. But you lose her either way. Admit it. She was out of your league to begin with. Now, there's a huge barrier you can't destroy. And you still don't know if they'll even pass on your execution or not. Don't be stupid.
Flynn was laying in all on the line, but Eugene wasn't going to let that part of him win this one. At least if I say, I have a chance…we have a chance. And she's worth fighting for.
Oh please. But Flynn's disgusted voice was fading as Eugene realized the sincerity of his own words.
Focusing again on the group, he sighed happily. He wasn't going to go down without a fight. Flynn Rider had been a cavalier rogue with a misguided idea of invincibility. But Eugene no longer believed that he was untouchable, and he was prepared to revisit the years before Flynn Rider if it meant being with her.
He was taken aback when the queen suddenly extended her hand towards him, a gracious smile lighting her delicate features. It was unnerving, the way she so closely resembled her daughter. Reaching out he clasped her hand in his, prepared to say something inspirational when she unexpectedly pulled him forward, inviting him to join their family embrace.
For another minute, the four knelt, arms entwined, tangled in the weave of time and space, their hearts beating in unison. This, for Rapunzel, was the paradise she'd only read about in books, ensconced in the arms of people who – dare she say it – loved her. She manoeuvred herself slightly, trying to move her body closer to Eugene's, amazed that he had already been accepted. And for Eugene, this was a chance for him to pause and wonder. He could not let himself relish in the moment, no matter how light he felt. This was by no means a sign that he was safe, he recognized that even though Rapunzel did not seem to.
When their hug finally broke, Rapunzel grasped tight to Eugene's arm. She was flying high on this moment, he could tell. All her worries, trepidations, fears were gone, scattered on the four winds and she was truly ready to embrace the reality before her. "I don't know what to say," she admitted as her throat cleared.
The queen gently took the girl's hand in her own, "We're just glad to have found you." She looked past Rapunzel to Eugene. "And you are?"
"This is Eugene," Rapunzel replied immediately before he could reply. "He saved my life."
Eugene hung his head, surprisingly glad this time to hear his real name. He jumped slightly as a miniscule hand closed around his free arm. The queen bestowed him with a grateful smile as she held him tight. "Then, thank you, Eugene," she paused, scrutinizing him carefully, "I have the smallest inkling that we've met before or, at least, seen your face before."
"Yes. I have definitely seen his face before as well, Adelaide," the king quickly agreed. And as Eugene turned to face the king, his heart sank to the ground. In his hands, he held an all too familiar poster. It was only a very tiny part of him that fretted more over the pudgy nose than the fact that their family moment had fleeted so rapidly. "It seems as if Mr. Eugene is actually the notorious Flynn Rider."
A.N. So, what did you think? Too OOC, too unbelievable. I actually enjoyed writing Eugene's inner battle with his Flynn Rider. Don't worry though, he won't go crazy on us. I just imagine that he's completely uncertain what to do with himself. I hope you all enjoyed it and sorry about the little cliffie. I'll try and update asap. Your reviews are always helpful in inspiring me, so please leave a comment to let me know what you thought.
Love you all,
Faith
P.S. Vince aka Captain of the Guards was named after a concept name for a more modern Flynn/Eugene :P