Over n- ni- nine- ninety reviews? *faints* This is only the second fanfic I've ever written and it's this popular? I feel so loved! (Take that you stupid English teacher! I CAN write :D)
Wow, thank you so much! For the record, I DID sing opera (the ending of the song, The Phantom of the Opera, to be specific), but my parents weren't around at the time :( However I greatly entertained my dogs. One of them started howling XD
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"Eugene! Isn't this exciting?"
Eugene felt like his arm would be yanked off as Rapunzel ran all over the place enthusiastically, refusing to release his hand no matter what. "Yeah," he complied, more focused on trying to avoid people as he was pulled past them, "Would you slow down a little? They aren't going anywhere."
Rapunzel ignored his comment and continued to weave through the crowd of people. "There they are!" she cried in delight, pointing ahead.
Eugene looked in the direction she was pointing. He saw Prince Nathaniel's head first, but then he spotted the petite figure dressed in white by his side, the new princess of Faldonia.
"Nathaniel! Roseanne!" Rapunzel called out. The newly weds turned and saw Rapunzel dashing towards them, dragging Eugene behind her. They both smiled at the princess of Corona.
"We finally found you," Rapunzel grinned, finally stopping the tugging on Eugene's arm, though she didn't release his hand, "I had to see you as soon as I could!"
Eugene smirked. "Yeah. It took us like a whole ten seconds to get over here. Far too long for Rapunzel."
Rapunzel nudged him affectionately before speaking again. "I'm so happy for you two!" she exclaimed, "Weddings are so exciting!"
"As long as you're marrying the right person," Nathaniel said, putting an arm around Roseanne.
"Oh absolutely!" Rapunzel nodded.
"And how are you, Eugene?" Nathaniel suddenly addressed the man at Rapunzel's side.
Eugene was trying to figure out a way to separate himself from Rapunzel. His plan was not going to work if she did not let go of him for just one minute. Nathaniel's question snapped him out of it. "Oh just fine," he replied, "Um, Rapunzel. How about I go get us something to drink?"
Rapunzel's eyes brightened more, if that was even possible. "OK. I'll come with you!"
No, no, no! Excuse, excuse! "Erm... I'm sure you want to stay and talk to Nathaniel. I mean you haven't seen each other in like two weeks, right? I won't be gone long."
Rapunzel looked up at him with her big eyes and a slight pout. "Alright," she said, hesitantly releasing his hand, "You come right back though."
Eugene nodded and pretended to head for the refreshments table until Rapunzel turned back around and began to happily chat with the newly weds. He was so happy to see that Rapunzel's old enthusiasm and quirkiness had returned. The way her eyes lit up with everything she saw was one of the reasons he fell in love with her. She looked so beautiful as she gave her full undivided attention to whoever was talking, and how she would always respond with a wide smile. She was so cheerful, optimistic, over excited, kind, loving, compassionate... too wonderful for her own good. The plan! He reminded himself, shaking his head.
He searched the crowd of people, but before he found what he was looking for, a hand was placed on his shoulder. Eugene looked back into the smiling face of King Jonathan. "How's my daughter doing?" he asked.
Eugene cleared his throat. As open as the king was with him, he still intimidated the ex-thief. "Much better. She still won't ever let go of my hand, but at least she's not clinging to me all day. She seems to be enjoying herself though," he said, pointing at the princess, bouncing slightly in place as she listened to Nathaniel with a grin.
The king smiled as he watched his daughter. "I never would have known how very... bubbly she is if you hadn't returned," he said, "She hardly ever gave a genuine smile when she first returned."
Eugene nodded, he had seen it, but he and Rapunzel felt that they should not tell the king and queen about his Paranormal "life". As far as they knew, he just survived the stabbing and returned after he recovered. Maybe they would tell the truth later, but the king and queen had been through enough in the past month since Rapunzel returned.
Eugene spotted exactly who he was looking for. "Excuse me, your majesty," he said as politely as possible. He bowed his head slightly and left the king by the refreshments table.
Levi had become Rapunzel and Eugene's personal guard, so he was to accompany them wherever they went. Eugene saw him near a massive ice sculpture of Faldonia's kingdom symbol. As Eugene got closer, he saw that the young guard was talking to Rapunzel's maid, Amelia, who had also accompanied them to Faldonia for the wedding. Then Eugene noticed that Amelia was twirling her hair in her fingers while batting her eyes lashes, plus her cheeks were slightly pink as she spoke with Levi. Eugene stopped a few steps away from them. He had seen that look on a girl's face enough to know what it meant.
Levi noticed Eugene first. He turned his attention from the maid to the reformed thief. As he caught eyes with Eugene a message of understanding passed through them and he nodded. "I'm sorry, Miss Devencroft," he said to the maid, "But we'll have to continue this conversation later. I'm needed elsewhere for a moment."
"Oh. Of course," Amelia nodded in slight disappointment, "I'll see you later." She threw Levi a slight smile as she left him and Eugene alone.
As soon as she was gone, Eugene burst into laughter. "She was totally flirting with you!"
"She was not!" Levi protested, his cheeks coloring.
"She was, you debonair kid, you!" Eugene laughed, ruffling Levi's hair.
Levi scowled and smoothed out his hair before putting his helmet back on his head. "She was not flirting with me! I'm not the philandering type like you. We were just having a friendly conversation."
Eugene smirked. "Think what you will, but I know what I saw. There's no escaping it."
Levi folded his arms and deepened his scowl. "Just for that, I'm not going to help you."
"I think you will," Eugene replied casually, "Since I do control your job. One word to the king-"
"Alright, fine!" Levi threw up his arms in exasperation, "I'll help!"
"Good." Eugene smirked again, "Now, I'll be over by the stables. You get Rapunzel over there as soon as possible."
"How do I do that?"
"I don't know. You think of something."
Eugene left Levi to go find Rapunzel. He headed for the stables and sought out Maximus. "Hey Max," he greeted the horse.
Maximus only snorted. "Thank you for gracing me with your company," Eugene rolled his eyes, "Have you got the box?"
Maximus gestured to one of his saddlebags with his muzzle. Now all Eugene had to do was wait for-
"Oh my gosh! Eugene are you alright?"
Eugene turned just in time to see Rapunzel practically tackle him, throwing her arms around him and knocking the wind out of him, "Do you have a fever? Did you fall? Did you break something? Do you have a rash?"
Why was she so hysterical? Levi. Eugene would get him for this later. "Rapunzel," he said, prying her off of him, "I'm not hurt or sick or anything."
Rapunzel's face relaxed slightly and Eugene noticed Pascal perched on her shoulder, sporting a bright red color. He returned to his regular green color as Rapunzel relaxed. "Then why did you need me?" Rapunzel asked.
"I have something for you."
Eugene reached into Maximus's saddle bag and pulled out a small box. He opened it and revealed a simple silver band with one small diamond on it. Rapunzel's eyes widened at the sight of it.
"Eugene!" she gasped, staring at the ring a smile playing over her mouth.
"It's only a promise ring," he explained.
"Just like Nathaniel gave Roseanne!" Rapunzel beamed happily.
"Yeah, just like that," Eugene nodded, "I'll officially ask you in the future. Once your parents have warmed up to me."
"They like you just fine."
"I think they haven't sent me back to the gallows just because they've already pardoned me of my crimes and you would go back to your moping if I were to leave you again."
"You won't though will you?" Rapunzel's voice was so full of hope and she looked at him, begging him to say he would not.
"Nope. As long as I can help it, I'll never leave you again," he said, "Which is why I'm giving you this ring... which by the way, you still haven't given me an answer."
Rapunzel stood on her tiptoes and gripped the front of his vest, pulling him down into a long, sweet kiss. "Of course!" she whispered after they released.
Eugene grinned stupidly, still in a daze from the kiss, and slipped the ring on her finger. "I'll talk to you again in a couple years."
Two years to be exact. Eugene officially proposed to Rapunzel the night before her twentieth birthday. It almost never happened, but he eventually came around to it and a wedding soon followed.
As for Levi, after much interference from Eugene and Rapunzel, he and Amelia ended up getting engaged and soon marrying. In fact they ended up having more kids than Rapunzel and Eugene did, which Eugene found amusing since Levi claimed he was not the type to settle down and have a family.
Eugene was accepted as prince consort throughout the kingdom and he and Rapunzel eventually took the crown after eight years of marriage. The royal couple and the king and queen of Faldonia remained close friends throughout their years as rulers. Nathaniel became an even greater king than his father had been. Rapunzel and Eugene's eldest daughter ended up marrying Nathaniel and Roseanne's son, officially joining the two kingdoms.
And they all lived happily ever after.
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And scene! That's a wrap!
Hurray for a fairytale ending phrase. I swore I would never end a story with that phrase, but since this was technically a fairytale, I made an exception.
Thank you guys so much for reading! I actually really like this story now. I was so skeptical about it at first, but I warmed up to it. It has changed a lot from my original draft which was even darker and excluded the whole sub-plot of saving the kingdom from debt, but I like it so much better.
Special thanks to some of those who have been my most devoted followers: AIOFanNCRM, WickedSong, PampleMousse07, Funkywatermelon, KiraJenLove, and Queen of the Elementals 09.