Oh reviewers, how I love you. I shall count the ways... nevermind there's too many. Seriously though, you guys have no idea how much your reviews mean to me. My writing skills have been put to doubt and reading your reviews just make my day brighter than the sun! :D

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Eugene remained behind the door of the stables. He could have sworn he saw a glint of recognition in Rapunzel's eyes when she had looked in his direction, but then she blinked and looked away as if she didn't see anything. He knew she couldn't see him. Now he was listening to her wailing at Max inside the stable. It hurt him to hear her so upset... and it was all his fault.

"I sometimes think about going back to my tower," he heard Rapunzel's voice finally drift from the stall, "I just want to see him again."

That was it. He couldn't take it anymore! He left his place at the door and headed for the castle gardens. He thought seeing her again would help give him ideas of how to reunite himself with his body, but so far it had brought him nothing but sheer agony.

He had given in to the temptation to see Rapunzel again. He had hoped that just seeing her again would help him think of a way to get back in his body. Much to his disappointment and annoyance, he was still drawing a blank. It had almost been a week since he died and two days since he was brought back and he was not any further along than when he started.

Ugh, why did this have to happen to him? Why did that crazy old hag have to stab and kill him? He could have still been alive, at Rapunzel's side. She would be happy, he would be happy, everyone's lives would be so much better. What ever happened to happily ever after? Seemed his story didn't have one.

The arrangement wouldn't be so bad if it wasn't hurting Rapunzel too. Why did that old hag have to stab and kill him? It had not been his intention to leave Rapunzel in such a state when he cut her hair. Curses!

He swung his leg to kick a low stone wall, but his foot sank right into it. He pulled his foot from the wall and gingerly sat down on it. He didn't sink into it. Maybe he only went through objects if his actions with it would have normally brought physical harm to him.

He watched the stables in the distance from his perch on the wall. Rapunzel didn't exit for several minutes, but she eventually did. She strolled back towards the castle, her head drooping. Eugene leaned over on his knees and allowed his eyes to follow her.

She was just as beautiful as he remembered her, even with her cropped brown hair... his handiwork. Sure her eyes were a little hollowed and her face was worn with anxiety, but she was still stunning. Eugene couldn't take his eyes off her.

He wanted to stay and just watch her all day. And why not? It was just one day, he had already wasted two. What was one more day? Maybe watching her longer would give him extra motivation to find a solution to his predicament. Yep, one day and then he'd be off.

He hopped off the wall and began making his way towards the castle. He was still adjusting to not hearing his footsteps as he walked. He approached a gate leading to the main courtyard, where he had seen Rapunzel disappear. There were two guards standing in front of it, but Eugene easily walked right past them. They had no idea he was there. It was definite, no one could see him.

Still no footsteps as he walked into the courtyard. He focused himself on finding Rapunzel. He figured she was probably going to be attending some sort of "princess" lesson. He didn't know where she would be so he decided that he would just wander through the castle until he found her.

The plan seemed decent enough until he heard a voice shouting behind him, "Hey! Hey you!"

Eugene continued walking, ignoring the shouting. Probably some servant slacking off and getting in trouble for it. However, the voice continued. "You! Stop!"

Eugene finally turned around to see who was shouting and saw a young, dark haired guard running towards him. Eugene looked around, confused. Who was he yelling at?

The soldier stopped beside him. "You," he panted, "Are you deaf? I said stop!"

Now Eugene was really perplexed. "Wait... you can see me?" he asked hesitantly.

"Of course I can see you, ya looney!" the guard scoffed.

How was that possible? He had just walked right past those guards by the gate and they had not even acknowledged his existence in any way, muchless had a conversation with one. Eugene was beyond confused.

"Who are you and what are you doing?" the guard asked.

Still taken aback, Eugene forced himself to answer. "I'm uh, Fitzherbert. Eugene Fitzherbert." He doubted anyone would recognize his real name. Everyone had known him as Flynn Rider. "I'm... new here," he finished.

The young man eyed him suspiciously. "How did you get past the guards at the gate?"

I'm actually some sort of a ghost or something that is trying to find a way to get back inside my slowly decaying body, so they probably couldn't see me. Yeah, that would totally fly with this guy. Not. Eugene was spared having to come up with an answer when the guard simply continued with, "You have to go back and check in."

"Check in?" Eugene wondered.

"Of course! Ever since the princess has returned, the servants and soldiers all have to check in so as not to risk any more kidnappings or something."

"Oh. I didn't know. Sorry. I'll... go do that then." Eugene was still baffled by the fact that the guard could see him.

"Be sure that you do. Get on your way then!"

"Yes sir!" Eugene gave a salute that was heavy with sarcasm, but the guard didn't pick up on it. With an arrogant sniff, the guard turned and marched off.

Desperately confused, Eugene headed back towards the gate. The guards there didn't even notice him approach. He waved a hand in front of their faces, but they remained unfazed. What the heck?

He left the guards and headed back to the garden. "What's going on here?" he cried out to nothing in particular, "I need some answers!"

"For what?"

Eugene whipped around and saw the cloaked figure with the purple ball of light in its hand. Eugene pointed at him. "You!" he said in an accusatory tone, "What's going on? How come that guard could see me?"

"Which do you mean?" the figure asked.

"The young one with black hair, blue eyes-"

"Levi?"

"Sure, whatever his name is! Why could he see me and nobody else?"

"That is a question that requires a very complex answer," the cloaked figure stated.

"I'm listening," Eugene said, crossing his arms.

The cloaked figure glided closer to him, but didn't say anything. After a long moment of silence, Eugene raised his eyebrows, "Well?"

"I'll start from the beginning," the figure finally said, "I am your soul keeper. I watch after your soul before, during, and after your life on Earth."

"What does that have to do with-?"

"But I do not watch over just you. There are millions of souls and millions of Soul Keepers. Each Soul Keeper is in charge of a certain number of spirits. Each group is called a Spirit Clan. My Spirit Clan consists of several million souls, including you and Levi."

Never before had Eugene heard such mind-boggling information. "And?" he pressed.

"Since you and Levi come from the same Spirit Clan, your souls are 'connected' to some extent. During your earth life, your soul will often seek out other souls from your Spirit Clan. Special friendships are formed before you are born and sometimes if it involves a male and female, soul mates come into play."

"I don't believe in soul mates," Eugene said.

"Think what you will. Not every spirit has a mate. Anyways, because of this connection between your souls, Levi was able to see you when others could not... just like any other member of your Spirit Clan can."

"How do I know who is from my Spirit Clan?"

"You don't."

"Is Rapunzel?"

His Soul Keeper began to back away. "Do not do anything too rash," it warned, "I gave you a second chance so that you could find a way to redeem yourself. Not necessarily to get back in your body."

The purple orb began to glow brighter. "Wait!" Eugene called, "Is Rapunzel part of my Spirit Clan?"

There was no answer for a moment. Eugene waited with great anticipation.

"She is." With a flash of purple light, the Soul Keeper was gone.

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Oh wow. I'm surprising myself with how deep this story is getting. I'm rather pleased with my made-up Spirit World. It's amazing what you can come up with while daydreaming in math class.

Yes, the guard was named for Zachary Levi ;)

You guys have to tell me how much you want the next chapter, otherwise... it might take a while *hums in a taunting way* XP