Chapter 16: One Day My Prince Will Come
Sunlight slowly filtered through the windows of the dungeon beneath the Palace of Justice, splashing against Quasi's eyes as he lay on his cot in his cell. Groaning, he slowly opened his eyes and sat up in his cot. Looking around, he saw Gothel and Rapunzel asleep in their cots as well.
Suddenly, the doors to the dungeon swung open, and Frollo stepped in, flanked by the Stabbington brothers and Phoebus entering behind them. Drake's damaged ear was bandaged while the scratch marks on his face were still red and raw. He gave Rapunzel a glare as he entered which she returned in turn, the bruise on her face an ugly purple. He smiled as he looked at the three of them individually, lingering on Gothel for a moment.
"Good morning, my dear," he greeted her with a sickening smile, "I hope you slept well."
Gothel merely glared at him in reply, earning a chuckle.
"I'm sorry for these accommodations but I had to make sure you wouldn't try anything rash," Frollo explained before turning so he could face the others as well, "Regardless, we have a busy day before us."
"The princess and her adoptive mother will come with me and my guards," he explained, before he turned to Quasi, a dark look on his face, "As for you, Quasimodo, it is time for you to face your punishment."
Quasi gulped as a wave of fear washed over him.
"Please," Rapunzel pleaded, tears streaming down her face, "Don't do this!"
"But I must, Princess, he has broken the law," he explained, "Besides, I can't have any dissenters in our new kingdom."
"You're a monster," Rapunzel growled, glaring at him.
"I'm the law," Frollo replied, "And you'd do well to remember it, Princess."
As Rapunzel continued to glare at Frollo, he turned and looked at Phoebus, before motioning for him to come over.
"Phoebus, take some men and escort Quasimodo to the gallows," Frollo instructed Phoebus. The captain nodded, before grabbing the cell keys from a peg on the wall and opening Quasi's cell. It swung open with a loud creak and Phoebus approached Quasi with a pair of shackles observing the bruises on Quasi's face. As he put the shackles on Quasi's wrists, Phoebus glanced up and caught Quasi's eye before giving him a knowing wink. Quasi looked at him in confusion, but Phoebus said nothing more as he finished locking up Quasi's wrists.
As Phoebus led Quasi out, Rapunzel looked at him with pleading eyes as Drake pulled her out.
"Please, don't hurt him!" she cried, trying to pull away from Drake, tears falling down cheeks "I'm begging you!"
Before Rapunzel could say anything further, Quasi pulled himself free of Phoebus's grasp, rushed over to Rapunzel, and kissed her. Phoebus quickly caught up to him and pulled Quasi away. As he did, Quasi gave Rapunzel a quick nod, causing her to nod back.
"Come on, you filthy creature!" Phoebus shouted, pulling Quasi out the door, "Time to stretch the rope."
Phoebus then dragged Quasi out of the room, slamming the door behind him. Frollo watched them go before turning to the others.
"Well, shall we watch from my private viewing area?" he asked with a sinister grin.
As Phoebus exited, he spotted the two guards charged with guarding the entry into the dungeon.
"You two, with me," Phoebus ordered, before handing Quasi off to one of the guards. He began leading them through the Palace. He led Quasi and the men up a flight of stairs and into a long corridor with rafters holding up the roof. They continued down the hall, before the door was slammed shut in front of them.
"What's going on!?" one of the guards asked.
Phoebus ignored him and began to pound on the heavy wooden door. After he did, a panel in the door slid open, and the intoxicated face of Shorty stared back at him through glassy eyes.
"What's the password?" he asked, his foul breathe causing Phoebus to cringe as it wafted over him.
"Password?" Phoebus asked in confusion.
"Nope, sorry," Shorty replied, before closing the panel again.
Phoebus and the guards looked on in confusion, creating the perfect distraction for Eugene to drop down from the rafters and bash the two guards' heads together, knocking them out with a clang.
"Actually, the password was signal," he said before a confused look crossed his face, "Or was the signal password?"
"Flynn!" Quasi exclaimed as he saw his friend, a smile spreading across his face.
"Hey, how's it going pal?" he asked, tussling Quasi's hair affectionately while Phoebus unlocked Quasi's manacles and the doors swung open, revealing the others.
"Quasi!" Esmeralda exclaimed, rushing over to him and pulling him into a hug, "I'm so glad you're alright!"
Pulling back, Esmeralda took a look at Quasi, concern showing as she looked at the bruises on his face.
"What happened to you?" she asked, carefully cupping his face.
"Drake Stabbington," Quasi replied curtly, "But that doesn't matter, what are you all doing here?"
"Busting you out, what does it look like?" Hook asked.
"What about Rapunzel?" Quasi asked as Esmeralda released him.
"We're going to get her next," Clopin explained, glancing around nervously.
"We don't have much time," Eugene explained, "Come on."
Nodding, Quasi went with the others as they began making their way through the Palace.
"Where are we going?" Quasi asked.
"To the courtyard," Phoebus explained, "Frollo's private viewing area will be too heavily guarded. We need to get to him another way."
Quasi nodded in understand as the group turned a corner. As they did, Clopin and Shorty split off, heading up a staircase while the others continued down the hallway.
"Where are they going?" Quasi asked.
"No time to explain!" Phoebus responded as they kept moving.
As they turned a corner, they came face to face with a group of half a dozen guards. The two groups looked at each other in surprise for a few moments before Phoebus stepped forward.
"Stand down men," Phoebus ordered.
"What's going on, sir?" one of the guards asked.
"Frollo has gone mad with power and is threatening to overthrow the king and queen," Phoebus explained, "We need to stop him."
"What did the king and queen ever do for us?" one of the guards demanded, glaring at Phoebus.
"We run this city thanks to Frollo!" another shouted.
"I think you should stand down, sir," the first guard stated, reaching for his sword as his comrades did the same.
"Damn," Phoebus swore, drawing his sword and charging the guards. The first guard met him head on, their swords clashing against each other as they tried to push one another back. Shifting his weight, Phoebus pushed the man's sword to the side, before driving his knee into the man's stomach, causing him to double over. As the man tried to recover, Phoebus brought the pommel down on the guard's head, causing him to fall to the ground unconscious.
Reaching to his belt, Eugene pulled out a sword before rushing at one of the guards. He easily parried the man's blow, shifting his weapon to the side, allowing Eugene to elbow him in the face, knocking him backwards. As the man recovered, Eugene kicked him in the chest, knocking him back. The guard recovered, and slashed at Eugene, who dodged out of the way, before slapping the man's weapon out of his hand with his own sword. As the man grimaced in pain, Eugene slashed at him, cutting his cheek before following up with a boot to the stomach, doubling his over. Grabbing the man by the back of his shirt, Eugene spun on his heel and dragged the man with him, before releasing him, causing the guard to stumble head long into a wall, knocking him out.
Esmeralda twirled the wooden stave she was carrying as a guard advanced on her with sword drawn. The guard slashed down at her, but she blocked it by holding her stave up, before deflecting it to the side. As the guard stumbled forward, Esmeralda kneed him in the stomach. The man stumbled backwards, allowing Esmeralda to spin her stave around and swing it upwards, smacking him in the face and knocking him on his back. As he tried to recover, Esmeralda spun her weapon around again and slammed him on the head, knocking him out.
Seeing a guard charge him, Hook pulled a hatchet from his belt and held it at the ready. When the man reached him, he swung his sword at Hook, who dodged out of the way. Lashing out with his hook, Hook grabbed the guard's hand before twisting it back. The guard let out a cry of pain as he was forced to let go of his sword. As it clattered to the ground, Hook drove the back of his hatchet into the man's shoulder, cracking it as the guard shouted in pain. Hook followed up by kneeing the man in the face, forcing him to stand, and following up by grabbing the guard with both his hand and his hook, lifting him off his feet and slamming him against floor, knocking him out.
As a guard armed with a spear charged at him, Big Nose brought his own spear to bear. Parrying the guard's first thrust with the shaft of his weapon, Big Nose slammed the butt of his spear against the other man's knee, causing the guard to cry out in pain and surprise as he tumbled to the ground. As the guard tried to pick himself up off the ground, Big Nose hooked his spear behind the man's leg. Giving his weapon a jerk, Big Nose caused the guard to involuntarily do a split. As the guard squeaked in pain, Big Nose pulled his spear back before spinning it around and slamming the butt of it right between the guard's eyes, knocking him out cold.
As the final guard charged at him, Vladimir drew his hammer off his back, and charged the other man full on. Seeing the lumbering behemoth charging at him, the guard's courage suddenly left him and he skidded to a stop before turning and running in the opposite direction. Vladimir however, was already upon him. Lowering his head, he brought the horns on his helmet to bear, catching the guard like a bull before tossing him into the air. Unfortunately for the guard, the ceiling for the hallway was rather low, and he slammed into it with enough force to send cracks running along the ceiling. After a moment, gravity took control and the guard fell through the air before slamming against the floor. The guard slowly tried to push himself back up but before he could, Vladimir slammed him with his hammer, knocking him down and cratering the floor.
"Someone's bound to have heard that," Phoebus stated, "We have to get moving."
The others nodded, sheathing their weapons as they continued on their way through the palace. Eventually, they came to a pair of large wooden doors, guarded by two men.
"Vladimir!" Phoebus shouted to the larger man, "Knock those doors down!"
"On it!" Vladimir replied as he pushed his way to the front of the group before lowering his head to bring his horned helmet to bear again. Seeing the charging monster of a man, the two guards dove out of the way, seconds before Vladimir ran full tilt into the doors, blasting them open with the force of his weight.
As the doors slammed open, Vladimir stumbled into an open courtyard beyond, pieces of wood and metal debris from the door scattering around him. The courtyard was completely incased by the rest of the Palace in a square shape, with doors at the center of the other walls as well. At the center of the courtyard there was a wooden gallows, on which stood a large man wearing an executioner's hood. Numerous windows looked onto the cobblestone courtyard, as well as a balcony, on which stood Frollo, Rapunzel, Gothel, the Stabbingtons and half a dozen guards.
Frollo and his guards looked down in shock as they saw the others pile into the courtyard. Frollo's eyes narrowed into a look of fury as he spotted Phoebus amongst them
"What is the meaning of this, Captain!?" Frollo demanded, as Rapunzel looked at them all with elation.
"Sorry, sir, but I was getting tired of the whole guard captain gig," Phoebus replied with a smirk, "So I decided to give the rebel thing a try. I think it suits me, wouldn't you say?"
"Seize them!" Frollo bellowed, pointing an accusatory finger at the group. Instantly, the guards around him ran from the balcony as more came in through the other doors. As the Stabbington brothers made to follow, Frollo stopped them.
"I need you two with me," Frollo explained, "To keep an eye on these two."
As he said that, the three of them looked at Rapunzel and Gothel, who both shied away fear.
Meanwhile, as the guards rushed into the courtyard, the other's unsheathed their weapons as they prepared to battle the guards.
"What do we do now?" Quasi asked, looking around at the approaching men.
"We can hold these guys off," Phoebus replied, "You need to get up there and save the princess."
"How am I going to get up there?" Quasi questioned, "Those guards will tear me to shreds!"
"Don't worry, I've got an idea," Phoebus replied, before turning to the others, "Eugene! Get him in position!"
"Right!" Eugene replied, before grabbing Quasi's arm and tugged on him to get him to follow, "Come on, pal."
Leading him through the melee, Eugene brought Quasi towards a cart that had been left in the courtyard along with some building supplies. As they approached it, two guards charged at them with weapons drawn. Eugene quickly charged one of them, sword at the ready. The two swords clashed with a clang as the two men pushed on each other, trying to gain an advantage.
Meanwhile, the other guard ran at Quasi with his sword at the ready. He stabbed forward, and Quasi clumsily dodged to the side. As the man swung at him, Quasi fell backwards, avoiding the attack. As the guard raised his sword to bring it down on Quasi, Quasi kicked out, hitting the man on his shin. The guard cried out in pain, and hopped away from Quasi, rubbing his shin in pain. Quasi quickly picked himself up and tackled into the off balance guard, lifting him up off his feet before tossing him to the side and into the cart, causing it to tip upwards.
"Flynn!" Quasi shouted to his friend, who was still dueling with the other guard, "Get him in the cart!"
Eugene nodded before shifting his weight and pulling back, pulling the man off balance. As the man stumbled, Eugene grabbed the guards shoulder and back of his shirt, before tossing him into the cart as well.
"Follow my lead!" Quasi said as he climbed up onto the cart. Eugene followed him, climbing onto his side of the cart as the soldiers inside began to stir. Walking to the edge of the cart, they stood over the shafts, which stuck up in the air like a tilted seesaw.
"On, three!" Quasi shouted, to which Eugene nodded.
"One!" Quasi shouted.
"Two!" Eugene shouted back.
"Three!" they exclaimed together, before leaping onto the shafts, the force of their weight causing the wagon to snap forward, sending the two guards flying through the air before they landed in a heap a few feet away.
"Nice one!" Eugene shouted, turning to Quasi and holding up his hand, to which Quasi gave a high five.
"Okay, now we need to get you into position," Eugene stated.
"Position for what?" Quasi questioned with a confused look.
"You'll see," Eugene replied enigmatically, before pulling Quasi in front of the cart.
"Okay, Head down!" Eugene shouted, bending his knees and lowering his head next to him.
"Head down!" Quasi shouted back, bending his knees as well.
"Arms in!" Eugene continued, pulling his arms close to his body.
"Arms in!" Quasi repeated, mimicking the motion.
"Knees apart!" Eugene said, doing a little hop and spreading his legs to shoulder width.
"Knees apart!" Quasi parroted, copying the motion before looking at Eugene in confusion when his feet ended up on the cart's shafts, "Knees apart?"
"Phoebus! Now!" Eugene shouted across the courtyard. Turning to where Eugene had yelled from, Phoebus quickly punched out a guard he was fighting with before bringing his hand up to his mouth and blowing a loud whistle.
A moment later, there came the noise of shouting voices, clashing steel and the distinctive sound of horse hooves on stone. A second later, Maximus came crashing through a window, Clopin and Shorty on his back as a few guards came tumbling through with them. Shorty stood on Maximus' shoulders, holding onto the horse's main, kicking a guard who had wrapped his arms around Maximus' neck in the face while laughing like a mad man. Clopin meanwhile was hanging onto the horse's saddle, while a guard clung to Maximus' tail. While the group fell through the air, Clopin turned and kicked the guard in the chest, forcing him to let go and go tumbling through the air. Quasi only had time to look over his shoulder as his eyes widened in surprise before the horse and his riders smashed onto the back of the cart, causing the shafts to spring upward and hurl Quasi into the air.
Quasi let out a surprised and bewildered scream as he flew through the air, his body locked in the position Eugene had told him to assume. A few seconds later, he fell back down and landed right on the banister for Frollo's private balcony, still in the same position. Rapunzel, Gothel, Frollo and the Stabbington brothers all stared at him in utter shock as Quasi caught his breath and looked around, regaining his senses.
"Well don't just stand there!" Frollo shouted, regaining his senses and glaring at the Stabbington's, "Seize him!"
Snapping to their senses, the Stabbington's drew their swords and rushed at Quasi. Seeing them coming, Quasi leapt into the air again and flipped over the brothers. Landing behind them, he quickly kicked Fletcher in the back of the leg forcing him to his knees as his brother turned around and swung his sword at Quasi. Quasi ducked under the attack, before springing up behind Drake and shoving him in the back, sending him tripping over his brother, who was still picking himself up, sending both men tumbling to the ground.
As the Stabbingtons began to pick themselves up, Rapunzel reached her hands up to her hair and began pulling out the flowers and ribbons holding it up.
"Rapunzel," Gothel whispered, looking at her as Rapunzel quickly ran her hands through her hair, shaking the remaining braids out, "What are you doing?"
"Just letting my hair down," Rapunzel replied not looking at her, observing the Stabbington brothers pick themselves up and approach Quasi with weapons at the ready. Grabbing her hair, Rapunzel swung it forward, causing it to swing around the bannister and wrap around Fletcher's arm. He looked at in surprise, but before he could react, Rapunzel pulled on her hair, jerking Fletcher to the side and slamming his arm against the bannister, causing him to let out a cry of pain as he dropped his sword, which went clattering to the ground. As Fletcher held his arm in pain, Rapunzel flicked her hair again, wrapping it around the bannister again before it wrapped around his neck. Pulling on her hair again, she jerked Fletcher's head down and bashed it against the bannister, knocking him out cold.
As Drake looked at his unconscious brother in surprise, Quasi tackled into him, lifting the larger man off his feet, allowing him to carry Drake a few paces before slamming him against the wall, forcing Drake to drop his sword. Drake let out a choked cough as the air was knocked out of him, before recovering and slamming Quasi on the back. The blow weakened Quasi's grip and Drake pushed him off. Stepping forward, Drake threw a punch at Quasi, but he ducked the blow. Drake followed up with a cross with his other fist, but Quasi grabbed Drake's arm, blocking the attack before he countered with a blow to Drake's stomach. Drake stumbled backwards, catching his breath as he threw another punch at Quasi. Reaching up, Quasi caught Drake's fist, not even flinching as the other man's fist slammed into his palm. Quasi gripped Drake's fist as the larger man tried to pull away, before he began squeezing it. Drake hissed in pain as Quasi's grip tightened, the agony forcing Drake to his knees. After a moment, Quasi released Drake's hand before punching him in the face, following up with a blow to his stomach, before finishing him with an uppercut to the chin, knocking Drake on his back, where he lay, groaning in pain.
"And stay down," Quasi told Drake, pointing at him with a smirk on his face. He looked over at Rapunzel, who was beaming at him. As some motion caught her eyes her look of happiness replaced with one of horror as she saw Frollo approaching Quasi from behind, Fletcher's dropped sword in his hand. She was grabbing her hair to try and stop him but he was already so close!
"QUASI!" she screamed at him. Quasi looked at her in confusion before turning around…just in time for Frollo to drive the sword into his stomach. Quasi and Frollo's gazes locked for a moment, Quasi's shocked eyes looking into Frollo's hateful glare. Then Quasi let out a strangled cough before Frollo pushed him away, pulling the cold steel from Quasi's stomach as the hunchback collapsed to the ground.
"NOOOO!" Rapunzel shrieked as she rushed over to Quasi's side as Frollo took a step back. Kneeling down, she grabbed Quasi's hands which were covering the wound as blood began to trickle past his fingers, staining his hands red.
"It's okay, Quasi," she said, tears running down her face, as she moved his hands putting her own over his wound, "I'm going to save you."
"I think not," Frollo snarled, grabbing Rapunzel by the base of her hair with his free hand and yanking her away, causing her to cry out in pain, "I think it has finally come time for me to send this monster back to the underworld."
"Please!" Rapunzel pleaded, scratching at Frollo's hands as she kicked around in a panic, watching as Quasi skin became paler while his palms turned ruby red from his own blood, "Please, don't do this!"
"I will do this," Frollo snapped, "And you will know the cost of defying me."
"Don't touch her!" Gothel shouted as she ran over them, and grabbed hold of Frollo, trying to wrestle Rapunzel away from him. In the struggle, Gothel reached up and raked her nails across Frollo's face. Frollo hissed in pain as blood began to leak from the angry red wounds on his face. Growling in anger, he pushed Gothel away before backhanding her across the face, sending her crumbling to the ground. Rapunzel looked at Gothel in shock before looking up at Frollo.
"Please, let me heal him!" Rapunzel pleaded with him, "I'll do anything you ask if you do! I promise!"
"Why should I trust you?" Frollo growled.
"Because I always keep my promises," she replied, looking right in his eyes with a sincere expression. Frollo hesitated for a moment, before releasing her.
"Don't make me regret this," he stated, glaring at her, "or I will make you regret betraying me."
"You won't hurt him again will you?" Rapunzel asked.
"I won't have to if you don't hurry," Frollo snapped. Rapunzel nodded before turning to look at Quasi, who was growing weaker by the second.
"I can't let you do this," he wheezed.
"Don't be ridiculous," she replied, pushing his hands away from the wound and covering it with strands of her hair, her expression focused as she looked down at the wound "I can't lose you. I can't watch you die."
Quasi tried to reach out and stop her, but she just took his hand and squeezed it tightly.
"Flower, gleam and glow," she whispered, her serene voice contrasting with the sound of fighting in the courtyard, "Let your power shine. Make the clock reverse. Bring back what once was mine."
"Heal what has been hurt. Change the Fates' design," she continued, her hair glowing brightly as warmth enter Quasi's belly, "Save what has been lost. Bring back what once was mine. What once was mine."
Quasi took a deep breath as the wound in his stomach completely healed, leaving only his dried blood around the wound and his hands. She smiled sadly at Quasi, who looked up at her with a worried expression.
"Come along, Princess," Frollo demanded, pointing a sword at her as the sounds of approaching soldiers could be heard down the hall.
"Alright," Rapunzel replied sadly, standing up and walking over to Frollo, "Just one thing."
Reaching out, she grabbed onto Frollo's arm, catching him off guard, before spinning towards him. Before he could react, Rapunzel grabbed the sword by the blade with her free hand, cutting herself in the process. Letting go of his arm, she pulled her hair away from her head before quickly bringing the blade up and cutting her hair off in one slice. Instantly, her hair turned dark brown. The long strands of her hair fell to the floor as she released them, the river of golden locks turning brown as well. Everyone stared at Rapunzel in shock as she let go of the sword, the blood from the wound on her hand dripping down her palm.
"Rapunzel," Gothel said, pushing herself up from her position on the ground, visibly shaking as she stared at her in shock, "What did you do?"
Frollo visibly seethed before lashing out, grabbing Rapunzel by the throat.
"What have you done!?" Frollo bellowed as guards poured onto the balcony, pointing their weapons at Quasi as he tried to stand.
"Made sure you can never abuse the blessing that was given to me," she growled, her eyes narrowing even as Frollo's grip tightened around her throat.
"You lied to me," he snarled at her.
"No," she replied, smirking at him "You never told me not to do that."
Letting out an inhuman shout of anger, Frollo backhanded her across the face, sending her sprawling across the ground.
"Rapunzel!" Quasi shouted as he tried to move towards her but was stopped when the guards pointed their weapons at him, touching the points of their spears against his skin as deterrence.
Leaning down and grabbing her now shorter hair, Frollo pulled Rapunzel to her feet before pulling her to him and holding the sword up to her throat. He faced the courtyard, where the others were still fighting with the guards.
"I believe that this has gone on long enough!" he shouted, catching the others' attention as some of them gasped at the turn of events pausing in their fighting along with the guards.
"Surrender or you will have the blood of the princess on your hands," he stated looking at the others. Slowly, Esmeralda placed her stave down and placed her hands up. Eugene followed suit, dropping his sword and raising his hands. Eventually, the others did as well, until only Phoebus remained. He glared up at Frollo, who brought the blade closer to Rapunzel's neck to show he was serious. Growling in frustration, Phoebus threw his sword on the ground with an audible clang.
"Seize them!" Frollo ordered. At his word, the guards quickly grabbed the others and began to lead them out.
"What are you going to do with them?" Rapunzel demanded.
"Punish them," he growled, turning her to face him, "And you. And all those who have dared oppose me."
"I gave you a chance to rule with me, Princess," Frollo continued, glaring at Rapuznel, "And you threw it back in my face!"
"I would rather die before helping you!" she spat back at him.
"Be careful what you wish for, Princess," he said threateningly, before turning to the gathered guards, "Take them all to the square in front of the cathedral. Have our men in the castle bring the king and queen as well. And prepare a pyre. We'll make sure that the criminals and the corrupt will know what the heat of hellfire feels like."
A/N: Big things in this chapter! Also as should be obvious, I decided to go with the idea that Gothel's life wasn't connected to Rapunzel's hair, because that never made a whole lot of sense to me nor did it give a satisfying ending. So I dropped it. Hope you guys don't mind! Please review!