The Miracle
A/N#1: For those of you who have read "Favorite Things," by 9r7g5h you might recognize my plot bunny. I give full credit for the idea to her and recommend her stories!
A/N#2: This story "kind of" follows my other stories, so you might recognize a few of my OCs here that are still awaiting their full development there… I am also providing this spoiler alert. That said; I hope not to spoil things too much.
A/N#3: This is my own tear transference story. I hope you enjoy it; it has expanded quite a lot from my original idea. But, then again, as my Muse and friend (you know who you are) would state; most stories do sometimes grow legs, as this one currently has. And, oh yes, I do not own Tangled or its primary characters, though I do own mine and the idea…
Chapter 23: The Miracle's Aftermath
The group; having just heard the most amazing tale of heroism possible — a tale that would go down in the annals of not only Coronian history, but that of Constella, Estrella, Olvastavia, and Orion – one now that could be readily shared, eagerly looked to Lord Marcus to hear the real ending, which was yet to be written, the group would discover.
Lord Marcus began the epilogue of the tale with a description of the events beginning with the rendezvous in the Dark Forest, "So, Flynn and I met in the dark forest two days later as we had agreed upon at the Witch's Cauldron. As promised, he returned my horse, ever grateful that everything had gone so well and that he had actually freed an oppressed people. He was, however, at a loss for where he should go from there. He was quite melancholy and despondent. I therefore told him that he should stay in Olvastavia for the next four or so years as it would aid his lack of a sense of purpose, and that the magical ring I provided him and that had proved so useful in his mission, would serve two other functions in the future…"
"So, Eugene, you remained in Olvastavia the entire time? Up until a year ago?" Rapunzel asked.
"Not entirely; although for the most part, yes. You see, I was drawn back to Corona briefly...by circumstances that I now see were beyond my immediate control."
"Circumstances beyond your control? What happened? King William asked
"The events on a quiet evening soon led me to begin my journey to a strange tower in the middle of a small valley; a journey, with one segment, that while very painful to both of you, William and Catherine, in terms of the loss by theft of the one thing that remained to connect you to your missing daughter, ultimately led to the biggest prize possible.
"How so?" King William asked. He had not known when Eugene had first encountered Catherine and her sad, despondent aura.
"Well, if you remember the infamous burglary, about four years ago, at a certain masquerade party..."
"You were the one that had the run-in with Catherine?!"
"Yes; quite literally, it could be said. It was at that party, as I stared at Catherine's aura, that the vision of Rapunzel's aura was ingrained in my consciousness. You see, it was during our daring escape that I crossed paths with the despondent Catherine..."
Four Years Previous...
The heist went off without a hitch, naturally. Well, the heist almost went off without a hitch, there only being one small and seemingly insignificant complication. The one seemingly minor complication to what I thought would be the perfect heist and was to stay with me many years after the fact; my inadvertent collision with a certain quite stunning, yet sad and uncomfortable guest. In my haste to make what I thought was a clean get away, and as I rounded a corner of the outside patio area, I collided with a reluctant guest to the party; one I would remember for years to come.
The guest I ran into — her royal highness, Queen Catherine of Corona — was not hurt. I gently grasped her and twisted her so that I landed first with a massive thud on the cold granite tile patio. I lay there a moment with the sad queen of Corona; my prone body her only protection from the hard, cold and unforgiving granite tile patio floor below. I instinctively saw the emerald green aura surrounding her. An aura devoid of the normal energy I knew should be associated with one so young. The aura surrounding her fitfully wavered and pulsed; sadly lacking any vibrancy. I somehow knew that she was still deeply saddened by the loss of her daughter fifteen years earlier, if not even more so now, in this fifteenth year of her daughter's life. As I quickly rose, gracefully placing the incredibly melancholy Catherine back on her feet as gently as I could given the circumstances of my attempted quick escape, I remembered the vow I had made fifteen years earlier, when I was but eight years old; one that I made to Nan, the orphanage headmistress – that I would reunite the royal family if the opportunity arose and regardless of the fate that might await me. Somehow I knew that it would occur; the timing of her return and perhaps my eventual fate at the hands of the Royals the only variables that I did not know for sure.
The sight of her aura; that very sad aura, the melancholy sight of which that I would never forget. I found myself occasionally using my own strengthening connection with the Wirkungen to attempt to see it in others around me. The exact match; never seen in the previous four years, until…, until…
The Present...
"You see," Eugene remarked to the group at large, "after our collision where I turned us so that I took the brunt of the impact on the cold tile patio, I took in the sight of Catherine's emerald green aura. It was the sight of Catherine's sad aura, one that resonated with me, that would, in perhaps the most twisted way possible, lead me to her daughter. I am surprised that it took me almost two full days to allow myself to see Rapunzel's aura. Perhaps the ring had something to do with it. I also believe that, as Lord Marcus alluded to, the ring does have a subsidiary function."
"A subsidiary function...?" Rapunzel asked as she became intrigued with the unique destiny of Eugene.
"Yes. Eugene is right about the ring having more than one purpose. Actually, it has three." Lord Marcus confirmed.
"And...?"
"This is only a presumption on my part, but I believe that the ring led me through a series of events that placed me on the path to a certain palace room, containing a most special and sacred royal artefact. It is almost as if the ring guided me and somehow predisposed me to want to apparently, and with much malice it seemed, to take your crown, Rapunzel. It was the ring that also guided my escape and also distracted me so that you were able to conk me on the head with your famous, or infamous, frying pan."
The entire group burst into happy laughter as not all present were a party to Rapunzel's amazing tale.
"Awww, Eugene. Now do you see how wonderful you are?" Catherine asked.
"Yes, Catherine. I now see how everything that occurred were but steps in my entire life's events led me to a certain tower, and in time for a lonely girl's 18th birthday."
"Eugene...?"
"Yes, Marcus?"
"Do you have the ring with you? And may I see it?"
"Why, yes. I always carry it with me." Eugene replied as he removed a necklace that the ring was looped in.
It was Kimberly's turn to gasp in shock as she took in the sight of the unique ring.
"I can see that Kimberly realizes the importance of the ring, yes?" Mistress Cassiopeia remarked.
"Yes, Mistress. I just do not understand how I am seeing what I am seeing. That is, but is also not, the ring as I remember it."
"Mama...?" Eugene asked.
"You see, Eugene, that ring has been in my family for tens of generations. The earliest known reference to that particular ring was recorded over 300 years ago. The ring once belonged to your great, great, great, great, great, great grandmother. It disappeared about 30 years ago, and many searches came up empty. I can see how it went missing, as we were looking for the wrong ring. And, yes, the ring does have a tertiary purpose, actually, which will be disclosed now." Kimberly stated as she gestured for and took hold of the ring as if it was a sacred relic from a bygone age which, in a way, it was. She whispered a spell so that only the ring and she could hear it. None of the others saw her lips moving either so that they would be as equally shocked as a certain Avandell resident when the transformation occurred.
"And...?" Eugene asked as he became even more intrigued by the tale.
"It was usually passed down from mother to eldest daughter at the time of her marriage, although sometime the son was provided it as well. The ring has many unusual characteristics..."
"Mama, it seems like such an ordinary looking ring to be connected with something as special as a wedding..." Eugene began before being silenced by a blinding flash of light that left all shocked beyond belief when their vision returned.
The sight beholden to the august group was etched indelibly into each person's memory. The once ordinary looking ring in Kimberly's hand now appeared as a most eloquent looking engagement ring, one with a five carat yellow diamond flanked on either side by two exquisite looking emeralds. Rapunzel gasped as she made the belated realization of the new found purpose of this special ring and how it seemed to mimic the characteristics of its new owner.
"Yes, Rapunzel, this ring is indeed very special and now will pass to the soul mate of Eugene, newly restored to his place of honor and a key member of Avandell; you, the Crown Princess of Corona." Mistress Cassiopeia remarked as she gestured for Kimberly to hand the ring back to Eugene.
"Sooo, this for what I think it is?" Eugene asked; his humility gratifying for all to see.
"I would say so, Eugene. And, as I remarked earlier before Rapunzel's return from Constella, you have both my and Catherine's blessings. I cannot think of a better man to give my daughter's hand in marriage to..." William stated to the happy surprise of the entire group, little Becky most of all as she now realized her dream of being part of a real, loving family would be realized.
"EEEEEEEEEEEEE!" Stephanie and Chelsea squealed as they rushed to hug the Coronian Crown Princess prior to her movement towards her parents.
"Oh, daddy; oh mommy! I love you both so much!" Rapunzel shouted out as she ran over and gave her parents the biggest hug she could.
"And, we love you Rapunzel." The happy parents replied, before William beckoned for everyone to return to the castle for a late dinner, the village clock now tolling the seventh evening hour. Rapunzel and Eugene remained behind as they gestured for Becky and Pascal to go with Rupert junior and Amanda.
The happy couple, waiting for the others to get out of ear shot, made their way slowly to the centrally located gazebo. Yes, the very gazebo that had seen much in the way of Coronian history. This night, too, would be added to the list of remarkable events. The aquamarine glow from the still orbiting globe of benign energy cast a wonderful glow upon the young couple as they took their seats.
"Wow! What a day!" Eugene happily remarked as he took in the sight of his beloved Punzie and reached out and gently grasped her hand. He could not imagine his life turning out any other way. She truly was a princess worth waiting for.
"Yes. Yes it is." Sighed Rapunzel. She too overwhelmed at the feeling of completeness she now felt. Well almost complete. There was but one thing left to see her new dream become a reality just as her quest for the lanterns led to another dream as it was realized.
What can it be that Rapunzel is waiting for…?
A/N#4: Please read, enjoy, and review, review, review!