Eugene strides into the throne room, intent to discuss with the King the happenings of yesterday on the road to Corona. What had the King been hiding from him?

"Your Majesty, if I could have a private word with you."

The King nods his silent agreement and dismisses everyone in the room with just a glance. He stretches as he stands up from his perch on the enormous throne. "Eugene, let's sit by the fireplace."

Eugene follows him over to the edge of the room and settles across from him in a high-backed, yet strangely comfortable chair. "Sir, without trying to disrespect your decisions, I would really appreciate knowing what happened yesterday. I would have been more than happy to take care of whatever the situation was so that you could have been spared."

"Eugene, I had every intention of telling you about that incident. I just haven't had the chance yet. But before I do I just have to ask you one question" the King hesitates, trying to come up with the most diplomatic way of saying this – something that wouldn't offend. "Have you been involved with illegal activity of any kind since you married my daughter?"

The question hangs in the air – the King almost afraid to hear the answer, Eugene a bit offended that the King would think ill of him in that way. But something must have occurred to make him ask that. And the King deserved to know the truth. "Sir, I assure you that I have not been involved with illegal activity. My wife and I do go to the Snuggly Duckling from time to time and enjoy spending time with our friends there. But I made a promise not to go back to my Flynn Rider days and I intend to keep that promise."

The King lets the information sink in a bit. They still go to that ruffian bar? Not information I really wanted to hear, but at least Eugene seemed to be telling the truth about illegal activity. "Thank you for telling me. Yesterday, there were three men demanding to see you. They looked like thieves and were quite overbearing. I convinced them to wait a few days and then come as our guests to the castle to have a meeting with you. They will be here Saturday at three. That is, if they stay out of trouble long enough to make it to Saturday."

Eugene can't hide the shock at this information. "How did they know I was in the caravan that day? Who were they? Do you have soldiers tracking them?" The questions pour out fast, not giving time for proper answers.

"Son, don't worry. We won't let them harm Rapunzel. I have several of my best trackers taking care of it. The intelligence I have received back so far has shown that they are shady characters indeed. In fact, they have tracked them to be hiding out in Rapunzel's tower."

"The tower? They're in the tower?" Eugene is surprised. That tower had been rather difficult to find. He always thought someday he and Rapunzel might go back there, but if it had been taken over by thugs there was no way. "So Saturday you say? I appreciate you letting me know"

The King stood to leave but Eugene stopped him with one more question. "Sir, how are we going to make Rapunzel better?"

Deeper in the heart of the castle, someone else was asking themselves the same question. The Queen sits at her desk writing letters of thanks to those who had attended her last gathering before she had to rush off to the cabin. Oh yes, her guests would have understood not receiving a letter, but this gave her something to do. Ever since they arrived home, Rapunzel had finally been sleeping. The Queen could only sit at her bedside staring at her resting daughter for so long before going crazy.

How will I heal my daughter? Where is the magic now? The Queen herself had felt that miracle when she drank the special tea made from the flower. She had gone from the brink of death back to fully healthy and able to deliver her beautiful baby girl. The special powers had transferred to Rapunzel's hair and then somehow to her tears? But now? Her tears no longer worked. If they did Pascal would still be alive and in fact Rapunzel herself would never have been sick.

So where is the magic now?

Rapunzel runs through the forest, deeper and deeper, the darkness covering the sky quicker than she can move. She must make it to the bridge in time. She wants to jump right as the lanterns begin to ascend in celebration of yet another amazing event. What the lanterns are for this time don't matter so much as the fact that she must die as they ascend. It's the only way. She reaches the bridge but has to hide as there are people everywhere. She sees the first lantern and knows it's now or never. She runs as fast as she can towards the edge. Quickly she climbs onto the marbled ledge. She leaps.

A sharp intake of her breath wakes her up from yet another dream. That the lanterns were involved this time was greatly disconcerting. Those lanterns are a special symbol of how she and Eugene came together. She didn't want to die! She couldn't die! What could she do to stop her death or even at this point to get back her sight? She hates this feeling of isolation. Plenty of people surround her whenever she needs or wants them, but yet she's so lonely in this dark world.

Without her sight she can't paint, can't bake, can't read to herself. Candle making is out as is chess and puzzles and darts. What was left? Ventriloquy, she supposed, but since Pascal was gone it was difficult to get excited about it like she used to.

A simple "Yowah" – her childhood word for any kind of hurt – couldn't fix this or even lessen the pain. Such simpler times being a child even if she was stuck in an abusive relationship. She never realized it, never knew that Mother Gothel manipulated and used her. Not until the end.

"Rapunzel, you up for company?" A familiar voice sounds from the doorway. Her husband has come to check on her and now she must smile and put her brave face on.

"Sure, sweetheart. Come on in. Can you help me sit up better? This isn't very comfortable." She faces towards him. "Not trying to complain."

"Of course you aren't. You haven't complained nearly enough in my opinion. If it were me, I'd be complaining all the time. Constantly. You'd never get me to shut up for all the complaining I'd be doing." Eugene's attempts to cheer her up don't bring the desired reaction. Instead, she bursts into tears.

"Fix this, Eugene. Please fix me."