A.N. Without any ado, the final chapter.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Rapunzel felt the life burst within her, filling her soul, strengthening her fading body. It was miraculous and brought her such joy to know that she would live, that she would have a chance to experience life, that she would be with Eugene forever.

Her eyes flashed open when she heard Eugene cry out in pain. They fell on him, hunched over on the grass. His face was twisted by some agony she could not at first grasp. Then her gaze descended to the blood on his side, the side where Gothel had plunged the dagger into his flesh, and understood.

"Eugene!"

She crawled towards him, feeling spry and full of a pounding adrenaline. Her arms encircled him as he fell towards the ground. His breaths were ragged.

"It's…okay…" he gasped. "I…" He could not get the words out. He was fading fast, quicker than the time before.

"Please, no, Eugene." She begged without hope. Her head swivelled about, hoping for help, and her eyes fell into line with where the Guardian of the Fountain stood watching the scene with passive eyes. "Please," she pleaded, her voice firm, "save him."

"There is an order," the woman told her, a hint of tenderness in her tone. "One life for another."

"Then take mine back," Rapunzel commanded without qualm. "Let me die so he can live."

"No." Eugene's voice was too weak to restrain her. He was too close to death.

"Please," Rapunzel insisted. It was the right thing to do. If one of them had to die, it should be her.

"No," Eugene said again. He tried to rise, but could not. He sank back down, his eyes closed. He had a breath left, maybe two. He inhaled.

"Please!" Rapunzel screamed loudly, the tears burning in her eyes. They fell upon Eugene's skin and she knew then that the decision was hers.

Flower gleam and glow,

Let your power shine,

Make the clock reverse,

Bring back what once was mine.

Rapunzel hurried through the song, her voice clear and assured.

Eugene breathed again.

Heal what has been hurt,

Change the fate's design,

Save what has been lost,

Bring back what once was mine.

What once was mine.

A vibrant light radiated from Eugene's chest, blinding her just a little. A smile crossed Rapunzel's face. She had done. He would live. A sense of calm settled over her. She was prepared to die, prepared to be content with meeting her end, knowing that her life was given for another.

But Death did not come for her. Even as Eugene breathed again without pain, Rapunzel felt no weaker. She felt alive and well and blissful. And confused.

Assured that Eugene would be alright, Rapunzel looked to the woman for answers. A smile graced her features then, reassuring and pleased. "What about balance?"

"The fountain does not abide by the laws of this land. But it has its own. Only the purest heart can taste from the waters and benefit from the life it brings. It demands no sacrifice in turn of the worthy. In all my years here, you are the first to receive its blessing." The woman approached her then and knelt on the grass beside her. She took her hand. "I am pleased to have served you, princess. There is a light that shines bright within you. So long as it burns, you will be blessed." Her head leaned closer to Rapunzel's and her lips pressed a kiss upon her forehead.

Rapunzel felt warmth creep through from where the woman's lips had touched her skin. It filled her with serenity.

"Rapunzel?" Eugene was slowly sitting up behind her, alive but dazed. "What…?"

"We're alive," she told him, turning back towards him. "It was a test."

"Alive?" He spoke the word with trepidation, unable to believe. "Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"You were going to die for me."

"So were you."

Their eyes held, both wide with reprimand, and then there features softened and laughter burst from their lips, their giddiness a result of the relief of knowing that they were both alive, that they were together.

She threw herself into his arms then and kissed him deeply, surrendering to the joy blossoming within her. Days ago she had been dying, but now life lay before her, full of promise and possibility.

They broke apart and Rapunzel turned to express her gratitude to the Guardian of the Fountain, but found to her surprise that she had disappeared. She did not question where she had gone. It didn't matter. "Thank you," she whispered aloud, knowing that she would be heard.

Together, she and Eugene rose up from the ground and stood in the clearing, silently appreciating the magic that they had been called to witness. Their hands reached instinctively for the others and then, without needing to say word, walked away together.

D

They reached the shore without having spoken a word to each other, both still in awe of all that they had experienced in the past few hours, the past week. Eugene could hardly believe that it was done, that they had succeeded, that they were both alive, the future waiting like a series of paths to be trod, roads with no end in sight.

"I think I see Max waiting," Rapunzel spoke softly.

Eugene squinted. He could see the horse waiting across the water and, with him, four other figures. It struck him then that the possibilities for the future were not as endless as he would have liked. Across the waters waited reality and, as he reflected on what that meant, he felt the urge to turn and run in the opposite direction.

"I guess we should go." Rapunzel's voice sounded less than enthusiastic. It surprised him.

"Don't you want to?" he asked her gently.

She looked at him with thoughtful eyes. "I'm worried you don't."

Eugene smiled. "I want to go where you go. I decided that a long time ago. Your parents are waiting."

Rapunzel grinned too, her eyes suddenly aglow with excitement. "I want to go home."

He took her hand then, and led her towards the boat. He helped her and then cast them off, towards the opposite shore, towards Corona, towards an uncertain future. He didn't know what waited for them, what fate would throw at them. But he knew for sure, without a flicker of doubt, that he would meet anything head on for her sake. He was not running from anything anymore. From now, until he died, he would always be running towards her.

Finis

A.N. I hope this doesn't feel like a cop-out ending. I wondered if I should go on. But the plot is resolved and it feels right to bring it to an end. I'm sorry for the long journey that this story took. But finally it's done. Thank you for those who have stuck with me, who have put up with year-long silences. I don't deserve any recognition for this story. I hope one day, though, that my words can be worth something. Until then, FanFiction remains an outlet for narratives that I hope can amuse others.

I am, humbly yours,

Faith Rivens