A/N: So, this is the last chapter! It's short, I know, but I wanted to end the last chapter where I ended it. I feel bad about is shortness…. And it's lateness! Sorry y'all. :( I may add bonus chapters later, though (because I'm not quite ready to call it finished yet). Thanks to everyone for reading and reviewing! :)

Chapter 7- What has been lost

The king waited until Rapunzel, Eugene, and the guard (who was leading Maximus out) had left the room, then he turned to his wife, slightly cross. "That was a bit harsh. What if that really was our daughter?"

The queen shut her eyes, holding back tears. She spoke as calmly as she could. "I think I will know my own daughter when I see her."

"Sometimes you don't just know," the king agued.

"And sometimes…" the queen opened her eyes and looked at the king. "Sometimes you do."

"We have waited 18 years for our daughter to return… And maybe she finally has. How could you just turn that girl away without a second thought when she could have been our daughter after all?"

"That thief was probably just using her as a way into the castle."

"She looked like you."

"She did not."

"She had your hair."

"That proves nothing. Our daughter was blond."

"She had your eyes."

The queen stopped, and the king continued. "Maybe you're scared of things changing… Of finally finding our daughter… And you can't except that maybe she's finally found."

Everything was silent for a moment. The queen's expression softened. "Oh my gosh… I think…" she sighed. "What if that really was her?"

The king and queen shared a sad look, and then the queen shook her head. "I don't want to think about this," she said. "I'm going to read."

The guard escorted Eugene and Rapunzel (and Pascal) out of the castle roughly, leading Maximus out as well to bring him to the palace stables.

"I suggest you leave the kingdom," he said, harshly. "You've caused quite the commotion with your lie."

Rapunzel was still in tears, unable to say anything, which broke Eugene's heart. The guard took one last disapproving look, and then walked away. Max looked at Rapunzel sadly, and reluctantly followed the guard to the stables. There was nothing that he could do.

Rapunzel tried to hold in her tears, and wasn't doing a very good job, but managed to ask, "What do we do now?"

Eugene felt awful. This is what he thought would happen. It was all his fault. "Well…" he really didn't have an answer. He hadn't thought this far ahead. "I guess we have to leave."

Rapunzel looked at Pascal for advice. He looked at her sadly, and nodded.

Just then, Rapunzel felt a slight tug on her skirt. She looked down, only to see one of the little girls who had braided her hair the other day. Her hair was in a braid that looked a bit like Rapunzel's from yesterday.

"Excuse me," the girl said. "But, what happened to your hair?"

Rapunzel smiled. "It got cut, and turned brown. You remember me?"

"Of course I do, silly," the girl said, giggling. "The princess's birthday was only yesterday." She looked at Rapunzel, studying her face. "Are you…. You really look like…."

"I'm the lost princess," Rapunzel said. "At least, I think I am."

The girl gasped. "YOU TOTALLY ARE!" Her eyes widened. "I have to tell daddy!" She ran off, leaving Rapunzel, Eugene, and Pascal confused. Rapunzel couldn't help to think that something might come out of this chance meeting.

The girl ran straight to the stables. "DADDY DADDY DADDY! I FOUND THE LOST PRINCESS!"

Her father, the guard, rolled his eyes. "She's fooling you, Lily. She's just a commoner."

"NO!" The girl was slightly out of breath from all that running. "I saw her yesterday, when she still had her blond hair, and I knew she was the lost princess. If you look at the mural, and look at her, you'll know. You'll just know!"

The guard, not a father who was fond of making his daughter upset, bent down to meet her eyes. "If I go to the mural, and then look at this girl, will you leave me alone?"

Lily nodded quickly. "I promise."

She took him by the hand, and ran with him to where was Rapunzel was.

"Come with us," she told Rapunzel. Before Rapunzel could protest, or say anything, Lily took her by the hand and started to run toward the mural. Eugene followed out of curiosity. The guard looked at the mural, and then looked at Rapunzel. He thought about the queen, and how much Rapunzel looked like her. Then he looked at his daughter and simply said, "Thank you…" He turned to Rapunzel, and said "Go to the balcony. The king and queen will meet you there", before running to the castle.

Rapunzel smiled, and hugged Lily. "I think he believes me now! Thank you so much!"

Lily smiled. "Anything to help the princess."

Rapunzel turned to hug Eugene. "And thank you, for believing in me. I don't know what I'd do without you."

He leaned into her, and kissed her forehead sweetly. "C'mon," he said. "Let's not keep your parents waiting."

The guard burst into the king and queen's room. "She's the girl we've been looking for," he said. "We've found her."

The king and queen just looked at the guard, and he nodded, then said "Follow me."

The king and queen walked anxiously down the long hallway, then looked at each other. "Are you ready?", the king asked.

The queen sighed. "I think I am."

They burst through the double doors, and saw Rapunzel and Eugene waiting. It was suddenly so clear to the queen. This is my daughter, she thought. It really is. She walked down the stairs, and slowly, almost cautiously, walked over to her daughter. She reached out and touched Rapunzel's cheek, then held her tight. Rapunzel looked up at her father, who chuckled, and joined in on the hug. The family fell to the ground, overjoyed to have found each other. Eugene just stood there. She's happy. She's safe. She's with her family, he thought. It's time for me to go. The queen held out her hand, and as soon as Eugene took it, she dragged him into the hug. He had never felt more part of a family in his entire life.

"I'm so sorry for doubting you," the queen said, to break the silence. "Is there anything I can do to make it up to you?"

Rapunzel grinned from ear to ear. "First, you have to let Eugene- sorry, Flynn, stay here with me."

Eugene was happy she had said that, but was nervous about the other things she was bound to request.
"Second," she continued. "Maximus helped me reach the kingdom, twice. He deserves to be captain of the guards, or some other high title."

The queen laughed softly, but said "I think that's acceptable."

"I'm not done. One last thing," Rapunzel said, with a smile. "I have some friends who have amazing talents. I think this kingdom could use a pianist, an interior designer, a cupcake baker, and…. Other things! So you have to let them come here, and employ them."

The queen and king nodded. "I think we can make that happen."

Well, you can imagine what happened next.

THE END!

Thanks for reading, everybody!