Note: Short, again. But short and sweet is good, right? :) I'm working on the next chapters now. So many ideas!
Chapter 2: Saying Goodbye
Maximus was still waiting beneath the tower, waiting for Eugene. Or Rapunzel. Or both. He wasn't sure who was going to come back alive, if anyone. He had seen Gothel fall from the tower, though he didn't who it was, or what to do- so he decided to keep waiting. He had a reputation as being loyal, after all. Suddenly, brown hair descended from the tower. Max was confused, until he saw Eugene climb down from it.
"Don't worry, Rapunzel will be down soon," Eugene said, landing on the ground with a slight thud. "Long story short, her hair got cut, and turned brown. All of it." He shook his head, finding what he had to say next hard to believe. "Oh, and she's the lost princess. So we're going back to the castle."
Unlike Eugene, Max didn't find this news hard to believe at all. He had always seen it as a possibility, which was part of the reason why he was willing to help Rapunzel and Eugene. The fact that Rapunzel shared the birthday with the lost princess was enough of a potential clue to make him put up with Eugene.
Meanwhile, Rapunzel was having a hard time saying goodbye to her tower. She had, after all, spent her whole life in this tower (except for the last 2 days). She had experienced most of her firsts up here- first few steps, first lost tooth… first kiss. It was hard enough to leave her tower for a day or two; it was exceedingly difficult to leave it forever. She stared lovingly at her walls, proud of her artwork. Her eyes fixed on one painting in particular, of her and the woman she once called mother. Even though she was a terrible woman who stole her from birth and used her for her hair, she was the only human she had interacted with for almost 18 years, and the woman who raised her, and taught her. How could she not be sad that she was dead? Disintegrated into dust? A few tears fell from her eyes. Pascal climbed up unto her shoulder to try and comfort her, and she smiled at his efforts. She had to leave. Despite all the good memories she had here, there were too many bad ones replacing them. She thought about bringing some of her old things with her, but decided against it. Anything from this tower (other than Pascal, of course) would probably make her too homesick. "I suppose I could just… come back here, if I ever needed anything", she thought. "No one knows were this tower is, except for me, and Eugene." She sighed. All she ever used to want, and need, and love was here. But now, all she currently wanted, needed and loved was just below that tower. "Goodbye, old friend", she whispered, full of sadness, but also hope. Then she grabbed her long, once golden hair, attached it to the hook in the window, and swung down without any hesitation.