Author's Note: This chapter is Tyira's. Just to clarify, this is not a Hogwarts story. I hope you enjoy this chapter; it was tons of fun to write.

"All our dreams can come true, if we have to courage to pursue them."

Walt Disney

This is the story of how Flynn Rider died. But it really is a happily-ever-after story. This is really the story of a girl named Rapunzel.

It begins with a woman. She was pregnant. And very close to giving birth. One day before she was to have her baby, her husband was killed in a car crash. She barely had time to grieve before her child was born. The baby was born with heart problems, and died in two days. The woman snapped. Her whole world was gone. She needed a baby. She deserved a baby. So in the middle of the night, she went to the richest part of town and stole a brand new baby, just born to the Coronas. She fled in the middle of the night to a tiny town miles away, where her little flower would be safe from people that didn't deserve her. And there they stayed, for eighteen years.

Rapunzel woke up bright and early. Tomorrow would be her eighteenth birthday. A day that maybe she could leave town. Mother assured her that it was no fun outside of town, dangerous even. Rapunzel didn't care. She had to at least experience the world, dangerous or not. She made eggs and bacon before waking up Mother. She tried futilely to hint at it. "Uh, Mother," began Rapunzel, "as you know, tomorrow is a very big day-"

"Thank you for breakfast, dear," said Mother, ignorant of Rapunzel's statement.

They ate in silence for a while, Rapunzel feeling a bit snubbed. Mother finished her breakfast and stood to wash her plate.

"So, Mother, I was saying tomorrow's a pretty big day and you didn't really respond, so I'm just going to tell you: it's my birthday!"

Mother looked up. "No, no, no. Can't be. I distinctly remember. Your birthday was last year."

"That's the funny thing about birthdays-they're kind of an annual thing!" She sighed. "Mother, I'm turning eighteen, and I wanted to ask, uh, what I really want for this birthday... actually what I've wanted for quite a few birthdays-"

"Okay, Rapunzel, please stop with the mumbling. You know how I feel about the mumbling. It's very annoying! I'm just teasing, you're adorable, I love you so much."

Rapunzel felt snubbed again. She mustered up her courage, and- "I want to leave town!"

Mother looked up. "What?"

"I want to leave town," Rapunzel repeated, slower this time.

"Oh, Rapunzel, you're so fragile!" Mother exclaimed, her eyes widening. "And... and what about me? I'm getting old, and..."

Rapunzel put her hand and her mother's arm. "That's all I want for my birthday."

Mother exploded. "You are not leaving this town! Ever!" Rapunzel looked hurt. Mother sat down heavily in her favorite rocking chair, rubbing her temples. "Great. Now I'm the bad guy."

Rapunzel sat in a contemplative silence. "Mother, I... know what I actually want for my birthday."

"And what is that?"

"New paint?"

Rapunzel's mother knew enough about her daughter to know that she did not prefer the cheap paints in town. She would have to go outside town to get birthday-present-worthy paints. "You know it would take me hours to get them. Are you alright on your own?"

"I'll be fine," Rapunzel assured her mother.

"Oh, I love you very much, dear."

"I love you more."

"I love you most." And with a kiss on her daughter's head, Rapunzel's mother was off.

After a while, there was a knock on her door. Rapunzel opened it shyly, as she always did. It was a man. He had brown hair and a goatee. He was younger than anyone else in the tiny town, save Rapunzel.

"Hi," said the man in a bored tone. Then he looked up at the girl he was talking to. "Oh. Hi."

"Hi," said Rapunzel. She'd only read about young men. She'd never seen one as they didn't have a television.

"I... uh..." He cleared his throat. "I just wanted to go around and meet my new neighbors. I just moved in next door.

"Oh."

"My name is Flynn Rider." The man held out a hand.

Rapunzel took it. "Rapunzel Gothel. Nice to meet you."

"Rapunzel? You mean like the fairy tale?" At her nod, he chuckled. "So, uh... bye." Flynn turned to leave.

Something told Rapunzel not to let Flynn leave. "No, wait." Flynn turned around.

"What?"

"You've been outside town."

"Yes..." She could see the bemusement on his face.

"You have to take me out of here."

"Wait, wait, wait. What?"

"Just come inside!" Rapunzel yelled, ushering him in. He was still stammering in confusion. She began to talk quickly. "I've never been outside town. Mother says I'm a fragile girl and shouldn't leave the things I know. I have read lots of books and I know there are good things and people out there and I know it will be fun. Please, I know it's okay out there and it's my birthday tomorrow and I just-" Rapunzel took a deep breath. "I need to see the world. Or just the rest of England!"

Flynn looked dumbfounded. "Take you outside the town?"

"Never mind," Rapunzel said. "I'll see you later, Mr. Rider."

"No, I just need time to think." He fell into Mother's chair, ignoring Rapunzel's uncomfortable glance. "A road trip where? The city or the countryside?"

"Could we do both? And maybe we could walk? I've rarely been in cars."

"Walk? Miss Gothel-"

"You may call me Rapunzel."

"Rapunzel, I work out, sure, but I don't do that walking thing. I lift weights and such." He rubbed his temples the way Mother always did. "And we hardly know each other! But it's your birthday, you said?"

"Tomorrow," Rapunzel corrected.

He was silent for a while. "You know what? I guess I can."

Rapunzel jumped almost to the ceiling. "Really?"

"Yeah, but..."

"Come on, let's go!" Rapunzel pulled on Flynn's sleeve. So that's exactly what they did. Flynn ran in his house for some snacks and a survival kit and Rapunzel brought her frying pan. "For protection," she'd said.

They walked along the road through town which traveled along to a larger city. Flynn mapped out the route. They would not take the road all the way to the city, as it was a winding road. They would make a straight beeline through country and forest before reaching the city. Rapunzel for the first hour seemed very torn.

"I can't believe I did this. I can't believe I did this!"

Then, "Mother would be so furious."

"That's okay! I mean, what she doesn't know won't kill her, right?"

"Oh my gosh. This would kill her!"

"This is so fun!"

"I am a horrible daughter. I'm going back."

"I am never going back!"

"I am a despicable human being."

"Woo-hoo! Best! Day! Ever!"

"Are you okay?" Flynn finally asked as she sobbed beside a rock.

"Mother will be so crushed! I have to go back."

Flynn considered the situation. They could turn around and he'd be home free for the next few days. But then they'd have to actually turn around. And Rapunzel would be crushed.

"Are you really gonna give up now?" he asked.

"Yeah. No. I don't know." She sighed heavily.

"Come on, Rapunzel. If you don't do this, you'll regret it forever."

"I know," she said, her tone still a sad one. "I know!" This time, her voice was firm.

Flynn grinned. "Let's keep going. But I was thinking we could go by horse."

"You have horses?"

"Uh, no. Borrowing some." He ran a few yards to a fence. Three horses were inside grazing. He opened the gate and whistled lowly. Two of the horses trotted over. "Here. This one can be yours," he said, grabbing a white one's mane and pulling it toward Rapunzel. He took the brown one.

"What are their names?" Rapunzel asked, trying desperately to swing her leg over the gelding.

"Uh... that one's Maximus," said Flynn, cupping his hands under her feet to give her a boost. "And mine's, uh, Commodus." At his oh-so-clever naming he grinned.

They rode for a while, stopping only when Rapunzel wanted to look at something. Flynn noticed she was very good with Maximus. She patted the side of the gelding's head when he did as she asked and she'd whisper in his ear, causing whinnies or snuffles.

"Have you ever ridden a horse before?" Flynn asked.

"No. Mother would never let me. Horses are dangerous, she'd say. But they're really nice." Rapunzel grinned and rubbed her horse's neck. "Isn't that right, Maximus?" The horse bobbed his head. "Yes, you are. Yes you are!"

Flynn laughed and patted his own horse's neck. It shook its mane, the fast-moving hairs whipping his chin. "Ow! Hey!"

"Oh, he just doesn't think you're a great rider. Have you thought to maybe relax a little more? Not hold so tight to his side with your legs? Or grab his mane so hard?"

Flynn grumbled as he relaxed a little. "Stupid horse," he murmured. He was whipped by the horse's tail hairs this time. "Would you stop that?"

Rapunzel stifled a laugh. Flynn could see she had a thing for horses. Could communicate with them, even. And Flynn had a nagging suspicion that she wasn't just a horse whisperer.

They tied their horses to a tree and sat on a nearby log. Flynn used a flint in his survival kit to start a fire. He and Rapunzel sat beside the fire and Flynn told stories of some of the things he'd seen as be traveled the country. She was fascinated, but he had to stop because of his curiosity. "So, why haven't you ever left town?"

"Oh. I don't know. Mother's really protective and she thinks I'm fragile and the world is dangerous. But I'm not and it's not, so... I just hope she understands."

"Are you really going to go back? You might go back to the same old stuff."

"No! Yes?" She sighed, putting her face in her hands. "I don't know."

The only sound was the crackling fire for a while. The near-silence could almost be called awkward. Rapunzel broke the silence.

"So. What about your life? No, no, let me guess. Your parents were rich and traveled the country like they were dropping just pennies."

Flynn avoided her eyes. "No. Not really. But you don't really want to hear the sob story of little orphan Eu-Flynn Rider."

Rapunzel rested her head on her hands expectantly and scooted closer to Flynn.

"Alright," he said with a laugh. "I was an orphan. The oldest in the orphanage for most of my time there. Anyway, I was there and then I was fostered. Then the foster parents ditched me back at the orphanage and so on. No one wanted a kleptomaniac kid. I stole candy bars, video games, all that." Rapunzel pulled her frying pan closer to her. "No, I'm not really a kleptomaniac, don't worry. But there was this book, the Tales of Flynnigan Rider. He was rich and could have anything, go anywhere."

"Flynnigan Rider?" Rapunzel asked with a grin. "What a coincidence. Your name isn't really Flynn Rider, is it?"

"Uh, no." Flynn reddened and avoided Rapunzel's eyes. "It's Eugene Fitzherbert, actually." He ignored her giggle. "And, you know, for a kid with nothing... Being Flynn Rider was better than what I had. And if he could have anything I wanted, so could I. I left the orphanage un-adopted when I was eighteen."

"I'm so sorry." Rapunzel put a hand on Flynn's shoulder.

"You can't tell anyone about this, okay? I have a reputation to uphold."

"Of course. We wouldn't want that."

The two chatted amiably for a while then settled down to sleep. Flynn didn't sleep until he knew his friend was asleep. Then he hissed slowly, softly, until a giant snake, bigger around than an oak, slithered from the forest.

Hello, companion, Askook hissed. What is it you desire this time? His tone held the friendly sarcasm and snark that Eugene's often did.

I need a message sent, Eugene said. This girl here needs to be assessed as soon as possible. He dug a piece of a paper and a pen out of his backpack. He scrawled a note on the paper. Take it to the nearest assessor, he instructed, and if he can't come, threaten him.

A hissy laughter echoed throughout Eugene's head. Of course. Askook took the note and was gone.

In the middle of the night, a call was made to the policemen. "My daughter's been kidnapped."

"Kidnapped, ma'am?"

"Yes. You see, I left her at home for a few hours to get her a birthday present and when I returned, she was gone."

"Ma'am, you left your daughter at home alone?"

"She's eighteen! I expected her to handle herself!" The woman on the line was frantic.

"Okay, ma'am, okay. Do you have her birth certificate?"

"Yes. Hold on." There was a pause, and some rustling before the woman ran off all the information that was asked of her.

"And you have no leads?"

"No. Please. It's her birthday. She can't be kidnapped. You have to help me."

"I understand. We'll get back to you as soon as we can."

Rapunzel woke just as the sun hit the top of the trees. "Eugene!" she cried. "Up and at 'em!"

"Rapunzel, five more minutes!" Eugene moaned.

"No, no! Today's my birthday! We have to go to the city!" She tugged on Eugene's sleeve.

"Alright, alright!" Eugene sat straight up. They ate a quick breakfast, then jumped on their horses and made their way to the city.

As they left the forest, Rapunzel could finally see tall buildings. "Oh my-Eugene, look!"

"Yes, yes, I see them." He was still very tired, but managed to chuckle at Rapunzel's reaction. These buildings didn't really count as tall buildings compared to the ones he'd seen. But it was a nice enough place to grab a snack and do a little touring.

Rapunzel had her horse gallop all over the city. She almost got hit by a car twice. Needless to say, they stuck out like sore thumbs. They went to the top of the tallest building and looked out the window to observe everything. "Eugene, look at this!" she'd say, or, "Look at the cars, they're like ants!"

They left the tall building, and, after some touring, went to a small, almost-empty building. It had two rooms, each tiny. The man siting in a chair looked up as they entered. "Mr. Rider," he said, his voice too low and rough for the short, skinny man he was.

"Mr. Marks," Eugene replied, shaking hands with the man. Rapunzel examined the man curiously.

"This is our girl, hm? Rapunzel, was it?"

She nodded. "Yes, sir. But, what girl am I?"

"You are to be assessed. All you have to do is sign," Mr. Marks continued, offering her a sheet of paper, "and we'll begin your assessment."

She elegantly wrote her name on the line. She followed the man through the door he was holding open. Eugene sat in the chair Mr. Marks had left behind and waited. And waited. Without anyone to talk to or anything to read, he was awfully bored. He mused over what companion she'd end up with. That is, if she had a companion. Maybe it was just a special thing with horses, or maybe it was something more. Pegasus, perhaps, or centaur. But his thoughts blurred as he drifted off to sleep.

"Eugene," he heard, then louder, "Eugene!"

"Huh?" He stretched, yawned, rubbed his eyes. "Oh. How did it go?"

Rapunzel grinned. "It was great! First he-" then her voice was muffled. Mr. Marks was covering her mouth.

"Remember, Rapunzel, nothing that happened in there leaves this room. Except-"

Rapunzel pushed his hand off. "I'm a companion to unicorns!" She stopped. "What does that mean?"

Eugene laughed. He had a lot of explaining ahead of him.

They thanked Mr. Marks and left the tiny building. Eugene looked at his watch. "What do you say we grab some lunch?" Rapunzel seemed to consider this. Then she nodded. Eugene picked a sports bar. Rapunzel didn't mind. They ordered cheeseburgers and Eugene began to explain the history of the Society. Rapunzel listened very carefully. "Oh. I see," she'd say.

"So you're a companion to unicorns and I'm a companion to great snakes," Eugene finished.

Rapunzel nodded. "Yes, that's quite nice. When can I meet my unicorn?"

"A week or so."

It was then that their food came. The conversation switched to that of literature. It was mostly one-sided. Eugene's mind drifted to a basketball game behind her head. He didn't care for either of the teams, but it was better than hearing about Pride and Prejudice. His eyes suddenly flicked to another screen, which was news. It was an interview with a married couple who lost their daughter a long time ago. The woman was the spitting image of Rapunzel. "Hey, Rapunzel, doesn't-"

"Are you Rapunzel Gothel?" The two looked up to see a policeman standing by their table.

"Yes," Rapunzel said tentatively.

The man turned to Eugene. "You're under arrest, sir, for kidnapping Miss Gothel."

Dozens of exclamations against the policeman spewed from their lips. "He didn't kidnap me!" "She convinced me to take her!"

But despite their outcry, Eugene was cuffed and put in a police car. Rapunzel was put in a police car as well, but the cars were going different directions.

Rapunzel sat quietly in the police car, trying to take up as little space as possible. The police did not speak to her and she did not speak to them. The car ride was completely silent. When they reached the Gothel home, Rapunzel opened the door and was yanked out by her mother.

"Oh, dear, you're alright! Thank you, thank you!"

She was herded into the house by her mother, who sat her on the couch. "You must be absolutely exhausted, dear. Sit down, sit down."

Rapunzel sat heavily on the couch, completely silent. It seemed as if her whole world had crashed down around her. Her new best friend had been arrested and no one would listen to her. She was just a 'fragile girl', after all.

"Is something the matter, dear?"

"You were wrong," she said softly.

"Enough of the mumbling, dear, you know how I hate the mumbling." But Rapunzel knew her mother had heard. Her tone was cold and hard.

"You were wrong!" Rapunzel yelled, standing up. "About everything. I am not a fragile girl, and the world is a great place."

"No, Rapunzel. People are dark, and selfish, and cruel. If they find even the slightest ray of sunshine, they'll destroy it."

Rapunzel ignored her mother and dashed to her room and grabbed a backpack. She shoved books and clothes in. Her mother was there. "What are you doing? Stop!" Mother moved in towards her daughter.

He sat in a cell, handcuffed. The woman he had seen on the news at the sports bar. She'd lost her daughter, and was the spitting image of Rapunzel. He didn't have to be a genius to put the pieces together. So Rapunzel wasn't Gothel, she was Corona. And her 'mother' was the real kidnapper. He hissed lowly again, and before long, Askook's voice entered his mind.

What is it this time? came the joking voice.

Really? growled Eugene dryly. You're really asking what I need? I'm in a jail cell!

Askook chuckled. This is actually an improvement. But alright, if we must. Snakes crept up the walls of the cell, surrounding Eugene. "Now get me out," he said softly.

The smallest of snakes went to the lock on his handcuffs and picked it with their tails. Others were simultaneously picking the lock on the door. Eugene rubbed his wrists in relief and dashed out the door. A throng of snakes slithered behind him. They passed a guard whose mouth dropped. He rubbed his eyes and they were gone, so he shrugged and continued his job.

Eugene dashed past the front desk and out the door, where Askook waited. He jumped on the snake's back. Don't worry about being seen. This is important. Get me to a phone then get me to my house.

Askook hissed in acknowledgement. He slid through the grass alongside the road. They can to a bus stop, where there was a pay phone. Eugene put in his quarters and dialed the number of Mr. Marks.

"Hello?"

"This is Flynn Rider. I don't care what it takes. Get Rapunzel's companion to her house as soon as possible. She may be in trouble."

"May?"

"She's most likely in trouble." He knew Rapunzel would speak out against the idea that he kidnapped her. And if her mother was strict enough to keep her in one place for eighteen years, she might be strict enough to never let her see the world again. Ever.

"Mr. Rider-"

"I don't care what it takes!" Eugene yelled. "Do it!" He also supplied the address, then hung up.

Again he put in some quarters and asked for the operator. "I need the Corona family. The ones that lost their kid eighteen years ago." The operator directed him to the Coronas. A woman picked up.

"Hello?"

"I've found your daughter."

"What?"

"I've found your daughter," he repeated. Then he gave them her address. "Quick!"

Go, go, go! he hissed to Askook as he jumped on his back. Askook moved immediately. Eugene watched the surroundings zip past. He found himself thinking, for the umpteenth time, that great snakes sure moved fast. Just as his thoughts concluded, he found himself in his backyard. Thanks, Askook.

You owe me, the snake joked. Then he was gone. Eugene ran out of his backyard and threw open the front door of Rapunzel's house.

And was met with a glimmering knife.

He fell to the ground, his face reflecting pure shock. His stomach burned with the pain of the stab. And without the knife still in him, he was losing blood fast.

"There," Mother said, tossing the knife to the ground. "Now my Rapunzel will have no reason to leave."

Rapunzel struggled against the rope binding her to the wall. "You are no mother of mine!" she sobbed. "And I am not a Gothel!"

Gothel growled. "Poor dear," she laughed, "you've lost your sanity."

Rapunzel crumpled, sobbing. "I'm so sorry, Eugene."

"Aren't you sorry for leaving, dear?" Gothel laughed.

"Wait," Rapunzel murmured. "Let me try to fix him. Then I will be your daughter. Just like you want."

Gothel considered this. "You won't escape?"

"No. I will do whatever you stay. I'll stay here, never leave. Let me see what I can do. I can bandage him, and... he'll be okay." Rapunzel's green, tear-moistened eyes pleaded with her mother.

Gothel tied Eugene to the stair post before letting Rapunzel go. "Rapunzel, no," Eugene said softly.

"No. It's going to be okay. We're going to fix you and you're going to be alright." Rapunzel ran to the kitchen and grabbed a rag. She rushed back to press the rag on his wound.

"But you can't be free. That's what you need more-" he breathed in sharply "-than anything."

"But I can't let you die."

The door flew open again. It was Mr. Marks and Rapunzel's unicorn. Eugene's eyes opened wide upon seeing it, but then they drifted shut. "Eugene!" Her tears started up again, becoming frantic. "No. No, no, no," she sobbed. "Help me!" she cried.

Suddenly the police were there as well, along with the Coronas. Gothel shrieked. "No!" she cried. "No! She's my baby!"

"She's not my mother," hissed Rapunzel. "She stabbed him."

The policemen instantly got to work handcuffing Gothel. The Coronas examined their daughter carefully. Yes, they decided, she was theirs, but it didn't seem like a good time to point it out. Tears of joy fell from their chins to the ground as they observed their daughter for the first time in eighteen years. They dropped right onto Rapunzel's ankle-length, blood-stained hair.

But Rapunzel was too distracted to notice her real parents. The unicorn standing before her fascinated her. Pure white pelt and hair, eyes that matched her hair exactly in gold.

"Are you my companion?" she asked with a sniffle.

The unicorn nodded. But you do not seem so happy, companion, it said. I expected a much warmer welcome.

It took a moment before she realized the voice was in her head. "I'm sorry," she sobbed. "But Eugene..." All she needed to do was motion to her friend.

The unicorn examined the man, shook its mane, and touched its horn to the wound. A scab formed over the wound instantly and a shudder of breath entered his lungs. "Eugene?"

"Rapunzel?"

"Eugene!" She hugged him tightly around his neck, almost crushing the life from him again.

"Rapunzel, I-ouch-" But his words were cut off as she smushed her lips against his. She pulled away.

"Oh. Sorry."

Eugene grinned. Then he cringed and clutched at his wound again. "Well, your unicorn did a pretty good job, but I probably still need medical attention."

Rapunzel looked up at her companion. I can only do so much, it said. If it could have shrugged, it would have.

So Eugene was taken to the hospital. So was Rapunzel and her parents, for a DNA test. It was official. Rapunzel had found her real family, a "true love" as she called it, and a unicorn to top it off. She had a real home. She learned to drive so she could go wherever she wanted, but she preferred Maximus, which her family had purchased from the farmer. Maximus and Rapunzel's companion Acantha got along quite well.

Like I told you, this really is a happily-ever-after story.