So I decided not to torture you any longer and am posting the second part of Chapter 17. Before you go all crazy on me about a certain detail in the story, I know that it may seem like I'm kinda grasping at straws, but I wanted to change it up from the original story and yes, I did do my research to make sure it's actually possible, though it's the Enchanted Forest, so anything is possible right? (You'll know what I'm talking about when you get to that part) Enjoy! And after reading, prepare yourself because the upcoming chapter is a tiny little whirlwind! At least in my opinion! And it's my favorite chapter of all of them!
The boat drifted to shore as Eugene hopped out, helped Rapunzel out, and ensured that it was secured on the sand without uttering a word.
"Is something wrong?" Rapunzel asked, concern obvious in her eyes. Eugene didn't answer…couldn't answer…as he pulled her towards the forest, away from the bay, picking up speed before Rumplestiltskin suddenly stepped into their path. Eugene pushed Rapunzel behind him, taking several steps backwards and serving as a shield between her and Rumplestiltskin.
"Papa?" Rapunzel asked, peeking over Eugene's shoulder, her green eyes filling with shock and fear.
"Yes, Dearie. Here to prove my point," he said as he turned his eyes on Eugene. "Go ahead and tell her. I'm not the only beast in this fairy tale."
Rapunzel looked at Eugene, confusion in her eyes now. He turned around to face her, taking her hand and drawing in a shaky, deep breath.
"I'm not who you think I am…" he trailed off before adding, darkly, "…but neither are you."
"What do you mean?" Rapunzel asked.
"From the moment that I got out of the orphanage, I was Flynn Rider. I was a thief because I thought it was my only option, and my dream was to be rich and live on an island surrounded by all the money in the world. And I came to work for someone who paid me to procure certain valuable items for him. Your father." Rapunzel's gaze snapped from Eugene to Rumplestiltskin and back. "Just yesterday, I was on my way to his castle to deliver a crown that I took from the kingdom, and he sent me on another mission…to find a treasure that he said was more valuable than gold but shined just the same. And when I saw your hair glow, I knew that treasure was you." He could see the tears beginning to form in her eyes as she realized his betrayal, and he could feel his heart breaking. "It took until now for me to realize why you were so valuable to him. You're the lost princess of Corona that went missing hundreds of years ago. Rapunzel, you're the reason that they raise the lanterns into the sky." Rapunzel's eyes widened, but not with shock as much as with realization…the realization of something that she'd known deep down for a lifetime but couldn't believe.
"You're smarter than you look, Dearie," Rumplestiltskin broke the silence. "Well, let's cut straight to the happy ending, shall we? Ah, but wait…" He pulled his dagger from his coat and drove it straight into Eugene's side. Eugene immediately fell to the ground, his hand pressed tightly over the wound and his face twisted with pain. Rapunzel started towards him but was suddenly unable to move any further as Rumplestiltskin barred her path with a barrier spell. "I told you that the world was dark and selfish and cruel. And now you see the truth, Darling."
"I see the truth just perfectly," she snapped, continuing to fight the invisible barrier with all of her strength. "How dare you?"
"Everything that I did was to protect you," he replied, baring his teeth in a sneer.
"I've spent my entire life hiding from the world because it would use me for my power…when I should have been hiding from you! I was just another treasure for your collection," she yelled.
"Where will you go now? To him? He's fading fast, Dearie. And he's living proof that you can't trust anyone. Besides…" he trailed off, conjuring a set of chains that wrapped around Rapunzel's hands and feet. "…these are the consequences of his actions."
Rapunzel turned her tear-filled eyes back to Eugene, who was growing weaker by the minute, his face contorted with pain. She stood up as straight as she could, speaking with as strong a voice as possible.
"Then I propose a new deal." Rumplestiltskin appeared surprised, yet intrigued.
"Your terms?"
"Let me save him, and I will go with you," she promised.
"No!" Eugene said feebly.
"You and I will be together, just like you want. Everything will be the way it was." Rumplestiltskin stepped closer to her, trying to read her expression for any sign that she was lying.
"You would save him, after he betrayed you?" he asked, obvious curiosity breaking through his voice. She didn't reply, her eyes locked on Eugene before she turned to look directly at Rumplestiltskin, her green eyes so dark that they appeared black. "Deal," Rumplestiltskin said.
He released Rapunzel's chains and instead conjured a set of chains that wrapped around Eugene's wrists and connected to a nearby tree. He sat Eugene up against the tree and released the barrier spell as Rapunzel ran to his side, falling to her knees next to him.
"Eugene!" she exclaimed, pulling back his hand to reveal a significant amount of blood staining his vest and shirt. "Everything is going to be okay—"
"No, Rapunzel," he stopped her, making a weak attempt at pushing her hand away.
"You have to trust me—"
"I can't let you do this," he said softly.
"And I can't let you die," she replied, voice breaking as tears began to stream down her cheeks
"But if you do this…then you will die. You're worth so much more than just your power."
Rapunzel placed a long strand of her hair over his wound and closed her eyes, but Eugene interrupted her focus.
"Rapunzel, wait…"
He reached his hand up weakly, leaning up as if to kiss her when suddenly he sliced through her hair with a rock he'd picked up off of the ground. Her excess hair immediately fell away, every strand turning to dark brown. Rapunzel grasped at the short hair in shock and fear, while Rumplestiltskin appeared as calm as ever, as if he'd seen this moment before it happened.
"You have no idea what you've done, Dearie," Rumplestiltskin said softly.
"No, no, no, stay with me Eugene," Rapunzel said as she turned to see Eugene's hand fall limply to the ground. Panicking, she placed his hand in what was left of her hair, closing her eyes and concentrating hard, but nothing happened.
"Rapunzel," Eugene said weakly.
"What?" she cried.
"You were my new dream."
"And you were mine," she replied with a soft sob, holding him in her arms as he let out his last breath. A single tear dropped onto his cheek before Rumplestiltskin pulled her up to stand.
"I let you try. His sacrifice changed the terms of my end of the deal…but not yours, Darling," Rumplestiltskin said. She looked up at him, her eyes red and still filled with tears, but empty of whatever fight she may have had left as she allowed him to lead her off into the darkness.