Nightmare Come to Pass

"Holding out on us again, eh Rider?"

"What?"

"We heard you found something? Something…much more valuable than a crown. We want her instead." Clyde stepped aside and showed a chained up Rapunzel. Cleaver had a knife to her neck. "Consider her a down payment."

"No…no you can't have her!" Flynn roared, charging for Clyde. "I won't let you have her!"

Clyde grabbed him by the neck, "You don't have a choice. You held out on us," He brought Rider around and twisted his arm behind his back. Clyde wrapped his thick arm around Flynn's neck, "And now you're going to pay for it."

Cleaver drew the knife back. Flynn struggled against Clyde's hold. "No…please…no…" He begged. The Knife gleamed in the light. Cleaver brought it down.

"NOOOOO – OOF!" Flynn hit a hard wood floor, blanket falling onto him. "What?" He shot up, karate chopping the air. "Oh!" He looked around and saw he was in a room. His room. It had a walk in – er out - Balcony, Curtain covered windows, a wardrobe, dresser with a large mirror, and fine rugs. Flynn relaxed a bit and laughed at himself. "It was nothing but a dream." He wheezed, dabbing the sheets onto his face, removing the sweat. "A horribly nostalgic dream."

"Something wrong Eugene?" Rapunzel asked, entering the room. "Did your afternoon nap get interrupted?" She giggled.

"Something like that." He shrugged, throwing the blankets onto the bed. He gazed dreamily at his at his radiant, now brunette fiancé. The Rapunzel he saw in his dream was blond. Since he cut her hair, it's been brown. Good…it really was just a dream. He walked up and caressed her face, staring deep into her vivacious green eyes. "Have I ever told how lucky I am to have you?"

"I think you've mentioned it before." She put her hand on his.

Flynn wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her in. "Well I'm mentioning it again." Rapunzel lovingly to her thief. Flynn returned the smile, feeling good that he's actually holding his princess, instead of seeing her tied to a rock. He put his fingers to her chin and said, "I love you very much."

"I love you more."

"I love you most." The two kissed. Flynn knew that as long as they were in the kingdom, Rapunzel and he would always be safe. But that dream – that nightmare – it was so frighteningly real. If he could, he would have held onto Rapunzel until time stopped. But they had a festival to attend to. Until the festival ended, Flynn and Rapunzel said they would do something new each day. For the last three days they've danced, strolled around the kingdom trying to commit it to memory, and relaxed on the lake listening to the music in the distance. Today Flynn had something special planned for her. "I'm going to get ready for tonight," he told her, holding her by her shoulders, "Now even though you already are, go make yourself beautiful." He kissed her forehead. "I'll see you in a bit."

"Okay." She strutted for the door, making her dress swing from side to side. Flynn rolled his tongue and said Meow. Rapunzel wiggled her fingers in a goodbye and shut the door. Flynn went to the balcony and gazed out at the kingdom. He couldn't believe, after all his struggling and turmoil, he was soon going to rule that land with Rapunzel. But he still couldn't shake that dream. He then slapped himself. "Get ahold of yourself Eugene," he demanded to himself, "It was just a dream! A mere fear of your overly active imaginative mind! The Stabbington brothers have been ordered to leave the Kingdom. After that, they won't cause any trouble." He slapped his face and ruffled his hair. "ALRIGHT!" He shouted, stretching out his arms, "Time to give Rapunzel the best – SECOND BEST – day of her life." He cocked an eye and looked at the calendar. She saw the lanterns and became the princess all in one week. "Okay third best day," He corrected himself. "She's only been a princess for three days and she's already being spoiled." He blew hair out of his face, "I hope this doesn't go to her head."

/[=^.^=]\

Rapunzel went into her room and finished painting a portrait of Pascal. He was personified as a roman emperor. Pascal fell in love with his painting. It made him feel tough. Despite the fact he lost a battle with Gothel's boot. Rapunzel set down her brush and gazed out her window. She could hardly wait for hers and Flynn's date. Their first date was unintentional and she knew where she was going. This time Flynn was keeping it a secret and it was driving her insane. "OH! Where is he taking me?" she groaned, leaning onto the rail. "I hate it when he keeps secrets! Maybe I should have you lick his ear and force him to talk." Pascal narrowed his eyes and wagged a finger. "Come on," she begged, "I give you all the grapes you could eat." Pascal folded her arms and shook his head, hardening his resolve. Rapunzel stomped her foot on the ground and pouted, "Fine! I'll just wait!" Waiting…waiting…waiting… "WHAT'S TAKING HIM SO LONG?"

"Are you alright?" Rapunzel looked back. Flynn was staring at her strangely. He put a hand to her forehead. "You don't have a fever. But you're acting like a mad person. Could you have a bad case of the crazies?" Rapunzel puffed her cheeks angrily. "Maybe we should stay home today."

"No way," She exclaimed, "This whole secret rendezvous thing you've created has me curious." She curled up to him and circled a finger on his chest. Quivering her lower lip she pleaded, "Won't you pwease tell me Flynn." She batted her eyes at him, "I'll give you a full body rub down."

"Ooh," He purred, holding Rapunzel, "That's a tempting offer." He pushed her down onto the bed and pinned her there. "So tempting that I may not be able to wait." Rapunzel smiled brightly. "So here's the deal," he brought his head to her ear, "I take you to the place and you give me that rub down."

"GAH!" Rapunzel hissed. Flynn got up and laughed. "Oh come on!"

"No, no come on. I'm keeping this place a surprise." Rapunzel folded her arms angrily. Flynn exhaled placidly, "But I will tell you that we need to take Maximus part of the way."

"That far?"

"Yep," Flynn looked out. The sun was still pretty high in the sky. It's perfect. "And bring a change of clothes." He walked towards the door.

"Where are you going?"

"To go and get Max ready. Meet me down there once you're ready." The door closed, then shot open again, "Oh and leave your crazies here. I don't want to catch them."

Rapunzel threw a pillow at him. Flynn shut the door before the pillow reached him. She giggled and fell back onto her bed. She curled up with a pillow and stifled her laughter in it. "I hate how cute he is when he's secretive." Pascal made a gagging sound. "You're just jealous because I have found love." The little chameleon turned his back to her and sat down, protesting against her accusation. "Maybe you should go out yourself, Pascal. There may be a nice little chameleon out there just waiting for you." Pascal shook his head stubbornly. "Okay," Rapunzel shrugged, "Do whatever you want." She went to her wardrobe and pulled out the dress Gothel gave her. It was old and full of bad memories, but it was good for lounging around in. "I'm going out and having a great time. You can stay here and wallow in your own loneliness." Pascal, keeping his nose in the air, motioned with his paw for her to leave. "By loner." She exited the room.

Once the door shut completely, Pascal looked around suspiciously. He jumped down and searched under the door, making sure Rapunzel was gone. He moved to the Balcony – no one was out there. Under the bed – nothing but dust. Pascal nodded with triumph. He scampered over to the wardrobe. He knocked three times on the leg. A door opened. He zipped in and slammed it shut. The leg had a tunnel attached to hit. Pascal ran through the tunnel, passing spiders and cockroaches along the way. He came to another door. Knock-knock- KNOCK-KNOCK-knock. The door shot open. A bright light beamed out of it. Pascal jumped down and into a chair. He was at a circular table. With him were other chameleons. A pretty pink one sat next to him. Pascal winked at her. He put a visor cap on his head. Reaching under the table he pulled out a deck of cards. He glared at the other chameleons as he passed out the cards. They all took their cards. Pascal squeakily warned them, "There will be no cheating, no dirty tricks, no helping. Any violations of these rules," He stabbed a sharp tooth pick into the table, "And you're out."

{[(^)]}

Down at the stables, Flynn readied Maximus with a wide saddle. Maximus was busy eating apples and oats. He was preparing himself for the trip. "Don't eat too much max," Flynn warned, "I don't want you getting a cramp." NEEEIIIGGGHH! "I know you're the most fit horse in the kingdom." SPUUTTER! "And the toughest," he added groaningly. But even the toughest horses get cramps. And I don't want to have to carry you to the nearest vet." Neigh, sputter. Max pushed the trough away. "Thank you."

"Ready to go?" Rapunzel asked, walking in with a bag of clothes.

"Just waiting on you." He boosted her up. Flynn got ready to jump on when something caught his eye. Something was peering at him from around the corner. A familiar patch of red hair was seen. "No…"

"Eugene?" Rapunzel put a hand to his shoulder. "What is it?"

"No-nothing, Nothing at all," He stammered, backing up towards the stable exit, "I just uh…" he glanced back. The eye appeared again, and then vanished, "I need to…check…something," he slinked around the corner. Rapunzel was about to get off Max when Flynn popped back in, "You stay there." Then he vanished.

Rapunzel and Max exchanged confused glances. "What do you think's wrong?" Max moved a hoof in a circle on the side of his head. "He just might be."

Flynn moved about the outside slowly and quietly. There were foot prints where he saw the eye, and they were fresh. Rattle…Flynn flinched at the sound. Someone was there. He trailed to the source of the noise, keeping his back to the wall. He pulled out a knife he had stashed away. He was an inch away from the corner. He kept the knife close to his chest. You won't have her! He took a deep breath and sprang out. "YAAA!" REEEOOOW! A cat leaped from the trash can and ran off. Flynn started to calm down. Laughing at himself for being scared of a cat. "Maybe they aren't here." He breathed. Snap… "Huh? HYAAA!"

"AHHH!" Rapunzel and Maximus screamed. Flynn's mouth gaped. Max and Rapunzel gawked at him and his rather large knife. Flynn saw their curious stares and hid the knife, chuckling nervously. "Eugene…" Rapunzel hummed worriedly, "What are you doing?"

"I…thought I saw something," he looked passed Rapunzel and back to where he saw the cat. He let out a sigh of relief. "But it was nothing." He stretched. He jumped up on Maximus. "Shall we finally head off to your surprise?"

Rapunzel wrapped her arms around him and said, "I thought you'd never ask." Flynn snapped the reigns and Maximus took of down the path. Rapunzel was pleased to finally be leaving. But that pleasure only hid her concern. Eugene…why did you lie to me?

Coming out from behind a bush was Clyde. Cleaver rode up with another horse in tow. Clyde jumped up. "Let's make this an evening they'll never forget."

/ (M) \

Flynn had a blind fold wrapped around Rapunzel's eyes. He wanted to make sure that she didn't recognize where they were going and ruin the surprise. He took her down a tree cover path. Little patches of sunlight escaped through the trees, almost giving the impression they were heading towards a place only fairytales can describe. He came to a fork in the road. He took Max down the left path. It was squeezed between bushes and weeping willows. Rapunzel could feel the tree's brushing past her face. "Are we there yet?"

"Almost. About 100 yards left." He stopped Max. Tapping the horse for a job well done, he dismounted. He helped Rapunzel down. "Thanks Max. Come pick us up in a few hours, alright?" Max snapped to attention and saluted. Flynn took her past a curtain of hanging vines. Rapunzel could smell the vines and something else. It was fresh, sweet; the air was moist and smooth. Flynn gently set her down. She sat down on a plate of grass. "Okay." He breathed. He took off her blind fold.

Rapunzel opened her eyes and gasped. She was in a small pond area. A waterfall fell down into an average size pond that drifted into a stream along the way. The area was surrounded by trees, cutting them off from the outside world. The sun beamed down through the opening over the top. There were small patches of flowers and butterflies. "Eugene," she breathed, "It's beautiful."

"Good." He threw his shirt off. "Cause it only gets better."

"What are you doing?" Flynn held his arms open wide and moved towards her with a menacing smile.

Rapunzel moved away, "Eugene?" He got closer. "NO!" she warned. He ran up. "NO, NO!" He scooped her up and ran for the pond. "NO!" SPLASH. Rapunzel pushed away from him and came out at the top. "Oh…you jerk…" she panted. Flynn came up. "I bet you find this funny?"

"Sort of."

"Good!" she swan over and dunked him down. Flynn came around back of her and pulled her down. He brought her down to the bottom of the pond. The sun shined down deep enough, the glare bounced off some rocks, lighting up the floor. A rainbow of color shined under the water. When Flynn and Rapunzel moved around, the colors would dance about. Flynn and Rapunzel came together and started to dance in the water. With Flynn moving his hands behind and around his back, Rapunzel would swim around him. Flynn then brought her up and held her above the water and in the air. As he tilted back, Rapunzel dived down. Flynn watched as she swam underneath the water. She was as graceful as a mermaid and as beautiful as a goddess.

As the sun started to set beyond the mountains, Flynn and Rapunzel left the water and set up a picnic blanket. Rapunzel changed into her spare dress, feeling good after that evening swim. Flynn had packed them dinner for the evening. It wasn't anything special. It was just enough so that they wouldn't be hungry. He brought a canister of Almond Champagne, a couple chicken legs, bread, and cupcakes. They weren't ones to follow the old tradition of eating dinner before desert. So they took the cupcakes and fed them to one another. Rapunzel took some of the frosting and gaze Flynn a mustache and beard. "There. Something you will never grow."

"Oh really," He drew frosting horns over her eyebrows, "Now people will see what you truly are." Rapunzel tackled him down. The two rolled around in the grass. The rolling stopped when Rapunzel's head hit a bush. Flynn had her pinned. "Do you admit your defeat princess?"

"Never Flynn Rider. Do your worst, I'll never give in." She flirted.

"I'll take you up on that offer."

He brought his mouth to the base of her neck and started to suck. His tongue licking made Rapunzel shudder. He brought his hands up her back and began to undo her dress. Rapunzel wrapped her leg around his, and flipped him over, capturing his mouth in the process. She shook off the top half of her dress, revealing her white bra. She then took her hands and ran them up Flynn's smooth and hairless chest. Her fingers danced around his nipples, hardening them. Using her nails she trailed her fingers down slowly on his sides. Flynn let out a moan, begging for her to continue. As she began to unbuckle his pants, they heard a twig snap. Flynn glanced around. No one was there. Then another twig snapped. Flynn moved Rapunzel off of him and shot to his feet. "What is it?" She asked, pulling her dress up.

"I thought I heard something," He said fore warningly, "I'm sure we weren't followed."

"Why would we be followed?" Flynn didn't answer her. He just searched through his discarded clothes and pulled out his knife. Rapunzel became cross. First he seems to space out, then he checks for something that isn't there, and now he's drawing his knife. And all the more while, he's not telling her what's bothering him. Rapunzel got up and turned him towards her. "What is going on?" She demanded. "Ever since you woke up this morning, you've been acting like a complete nut! Were my crazies that strong that they rubbed off on you?"

"No they didn't," he groaned, "I'm just keeping watch."

"Keeping watch for what?" she pressed. Flynn opened his mouth and cringed, trying to find a way to explain it. Rapunzel's parents and Flynn never got around to telling her that the Stabbington's had been released from prison. The last time she saw them, they tried to stuff her in a sack and kidnap her for her hair. Now that she didn't have her hair, Flynn didn't see why they'd want her. But that didn't stop him from worrying. "EUGENE FITTSHERBERT!" She shrieked. Flynn flinched at his full name. "What – is – going – on?" She snarled through gritted teeth.

"Okay," he sighed with defeat, "Your parents and I didn't want to tell you this, but the Stabbington's were released from jail earlier this morning."

"What?" she gasped.

"We didn't think it'd matter since they have been ordered to leave."

"You didn't think it'd matter?" She screeched. "We're out in the middle of nowhere, and you didn't think it'd matter?"

"I didn't think it'd matter because you don't have you hair anymore!" He remarked swiftly. "They only wanted you for your hair! That's gone! What use are you to them now?" Rapunzel knew it made sense. Gothel, the Stabbington's – they only wanted Rapunzel for her hair. Ever since Eugene cut it, the power has been lost. The only thing the song is good for now is passing time and cheering her up. Flynn cupped his hand to her cheek and guided her head up to him. "I wasn't going to let their release ruin this day for you. I wanted to make sure that you experience all of the joys of life that you missed by living in that tower." He confessed elegiacally. "I love you Rapunzel," he kissed her forehead," And I would do anything for you."

"Good to know," Replied a gravelly voice. Flynn jumped and drew his knife. Clyde had sauntered into their private area, a large sword in his hand, "Because we need her for just that." Cleaver came up behind Rapunzel. She faced him, pressing her back against Flynn. "Now we can either take her in peace or pieces," Cleaver drew his sword, "Which will it be Rider?"

"Neither!" He drew a second knife and gave it to Rapunzel, "Now leave before we turn you both into Eunuchs."

"We welcome you to try!" Clyde attacked.

Flynn dodged to the side and threw the knife. It got stuck in Clyde's shoulder. Cleaver stabbed for Rapunzel. Flynn pushed her to the side. Cleaver immediately sliced his sword for Flynn, scratching his side. Cleaver then punched him in the stomach and kicked him in the face. Flynn fell hard onto his back, the wind knocked out of him. "EUGENE!" Rapunzel cried. She ran up and stabbed for Cleavers back. He effortlessly smacked the knife from her hand and then grabbed her by the neck, lifting her off the ground. "Eu…ack…gene…" she choked, prying at Cleavers large hand.

"GRAAAAH!" Clyde yanked the knife from his shoulder. "Not a bad throw Rider. And I must say your girl has a lot of spirit." He mocked. Flynn leaned up, feeling the punch Cleaver delivered to him. "But spirit won't stop us from getting what we came for." He stabbed the knife into Flynn's leg. The former thief shrieked in pain. The knife pierced through and came out the other side of his leg. "You've held out on us one too many times Rider," Clyde proclaimed contemptuously, "Now we're going to make you pay what you owe us." Cleaver restrained Rapunzel to his large torso, keeping his large arms wrapped around her. Clyde gripped her by the chin and held her face out to Flynn, making sure her got a good look at her face, "And we plan to make you pay with her."

"NO…" he grated. Unable to pull the knife from his leg, Flynn pulled himself along the ground to them. "I'm the one you want. Take me instead. I'm begging you."

"NO EUGENE!" Rapunzel screamed desperately. "RUN AWAY – UGH!" Cleaver punched her in the stomach. The force knocked Rapunzel unconscious.

"RAPUNZEL!" Flynn reached out to her.

Clyde drew his foot back and connected it with Flynn's ribs. Clyde could feel one crack. "That offer of yours is really tempting," Clyde chimed, "But if we take you, how will we ever get our pay?" He chortled. Flynn gripped his ribs and glanced up to the man. "That's right Rider, we are not completely without compassion. We plan to give you a chance to save you fiancé's life."

"What do you want?" Flynn asked abruptly, not caring what the request was. He took care not to get too excited. The exertion took its toll on his rib. "Tell me…" he pleaded, "What will it take for you to give Rapunzel back?" Flynn didn't care how pathetic he may have looked. He was shot at, hunted by a horse, nearly drown, and stabbed to get Rapunzel. He wasn't going to let two third rate thieves take her from him forever. He would kiss their feet if they asked.

"Well…" Clyde stroked his side burns thoughtfully, "As a start, why don't you bring us that crown? Return back to this place by tomorrow evening at 6:00. If you do what we ask, Rapunzel shall remain unharmed. However if you tell anyone of this little predicament, the princess will have more than just her hair cut off." Cleaver threw Rapunzel over his shoulder, and he and Clyde made their way for the glades exit.

"Wait!" Flynn called out, "What do I tell the king and queen?"

"You're Flynn Rider," Clyde remarked derisively, "Coming up with lame ass excuses and stories is your specialty." And with that said, Clyde and Cleaver vanished beyond the trees.

Flynn could only watch as they disappeared. He slammed his fist onto the grass, smashing his failure into the dirt. Once again, Rapunzel had been taken from him. But like before, he saved her once. And by the Kingdom and their sun, he will do it again…or die trying.

We'll end things for now. It'll take me a while to think on how I'll write the next chapter. So…see you guys soon.