A/N: Last chapter! Only the epilogue left ;( I'm kind of sad about it. But I do have a few ideas for a sequel, and maybe if I have time, I'll keep writing about Eugene and Rapunzel. Because i wuvs them :)

I hope you like this chapter.

Thank you to all of you who have been loyally following this story. You guys are amazing!

Disclaimer: I do not own Tangled.

Chapter 20-The Reunion

"The love of a family is life's greatest blessing."

-Unknown

As you can probably imagine, Eugene and I didn't dilly-dally the next morning. No, as soon as we were both awake, we broke camp and, because we wanted to save time, we both rode on Maximus. He was such a dear about it, too. I can't think that carrying both of us would be that pleasant, but he did it without one word of complaint. You know, he really is such a good horse and I think one of the most well-named horses that I've ever meet. Maximus means greatest, and it describes him perfectly- he is an outstandingly superior and skillful horse. What other horse do you know who would have tracked Eugene like that? None, of course.

Once we reached the capital of Corona (which actually does have a name-Caermor), I have to tell you that we were both quite silent as we drew closer to the castle. I grew increasingly nervous about meeting the king and queen, who were my….parents, and Eugene, of course, was hoping that he wouldn't finish the day at the end of a noose. I kept assuring him that as the Princess of Corona I should be able to something, but I think part of him didn't believe me. Which doesn't make any sense, when you think about it. I mean, if I'm the princess, I should be to convince my parents not to execute my beau. Right?

Anyway, as we rode to the castle, the silence ended. And Eugene, as usual, was the one to break it.

"So….are you ready for this?" he asked me.

Part of me wanted to joke back and say "are you?", but I knew that his question was serious and therefore deserved a serious answer. "Yes…." I said. He shot a surprised look in my direction. "And no," I finished.

"That was more of what I was expecting," he said knowingly.

A smile crept across my face. Although this was a somber occasion, I couldn't resist another urge to mock him. "Oh, really?" I quipped. "And how did you know that, oh wise Solomon?"

He smirked. "Now you have it right-I am the knower of all things that there are to know." I laughed. I loved it when we teased each other.

He chuckled too, but then his expression took on a more somber look. "But more seriously, Rapunzel, I knew that because I know you."

I felt my insides warm. "So you can tell me what I'm thinking right now?"

"Of course. Like you said, I'm Solomon."

I laughed again in delight. This witty banter was so fun! "And what am I thinking?"

He seemed to ponder my question for a moment and stroked his chin. I recognized it as an act though, because I knew him. "Hmmm," he said finally. "Well, part of you is thrilled to be reunited with your family at last."

He was right. "And the other part?"

"The other part is scared to death," he said.

He was right about that, too. I sighed heavily. I was scared, even though I knew I shouldn't be. Why should I be nervous about meeting my parents? Especially when I had heard nothing about how good and kind both of them were? But, I supposed, our feelings can't always be explained by logic. I wasn't just nervous about seeing them though. Since they were the king and queen, that meant I was a princess. And I didn't know anything about being one.

Eugene interrupted my thoughts. "But you know something, Rapunzel?"

I sighed again. "What?"

He smiled at me over his shoulder. "I know you're nervous about becoming a princess too. But you shouldn't be. You act like one already."

My heart warmed at his words. "Thank you."

Silence descended once more, and we finally reached the castle doors. With many guards in front of it who had clearly recognized Eugene as Flynn Rider. I sighed a third time. This will be very interesting….

The guards ran over to us, and, completely ignoring me and Maximus, began to arrest Eugene. Again. And as they did, Eugene threw, what I can only classify as a panicked look, in my direction. I have to tell you that I did think about hitting them with Hesty to make them stop, but that didn't seem like a princess-y thing to do. So I used something else instead.

I walked right up to the man I recognized as the Captain and tapped him on the shoulder. "Excuse me," I said.

He glared at me, clearly annoyed. "What do you want? Can't you see that I'm busy arresting the most wanted thief in all of Corona?"

I crossed my arms over my chest. "Yes, I see that. But I wouldn't do that if I were you."

His expression changed from annoyance to amusement. "Oh really? And who are you to tell me what I should do?"

I smiled. He had, unknowingly, given me the perfect way to announce myself. I nonchalantly stared at my fingernails. "Oh, no one special," I said. The Captain sneered at me again and I grinned even more broadly. "Just Rapunzel. Just the lost princess of Corona."

As soon as I said that, the Captain and his cronies looked as surprised as if I had actually hit them with Hesty. They were absolutely speechless. Eugene, on the other hand, beamed. I could tell that he liked how I had told them. We both exchanged happy looks with each other, until the Captain finally regained his voice. I watched patiently as he and his fellow guards began to consult quietly with one another. I didn't hear the whole conversation but I did hear snippets: How do we know she's….lost princess…she does look the right age….but the Princess had blonde hair…did you see her eyes and hair….image of the queen….she is the first one to ever claim the title….might as well show her to…Majesties…they'll….if she's really their daughter.

Finally, they stopped their consultation and the Captain turned to me. "So….you're the lost princess?" he said, and I would swear it almost sounded like a squeak.

One potential disaster averted. He seems like he believes me. "Yes," I affirmed.

He straightened his shoulders in a dignified manner. "Well, then let's show you to the King and Queen." He started to walk into the castle, but I didn't follow him. He hadn't freed Eugene yet, who now was definitely throwing panicked looks in my direction.

I inhaled deeply, knowing what I had to do. "Wait."

He turned back toward me, tapping his boot against the ground. "What?" he said impatiently. "Aren't you going to see them?"

I looked him firmly in the eye. "Yes," I said. "But only if you let him (I pointed at Eugene) come with me."

A confused glint appeared in his eyes, but he blinked it away. "But…he's a thief. He belongs in the dungeon," he sternly informed me.

Eugene flinched as if the Captain had slapped him. I sighed again, unsure as to what I should do. I didn't want to demand imperiously that he let Eugene come with me, but what else could I do? I was the lost princess, but that didn't mean that…..Another idea instantly flashed into my head. Hmmm. "You would put the man who found your lost princess in the dungeon?" I asked innocently. "Why would you do that?"

The Captain looked bewildered now. "The man who…what?"

I grinned more broadly, and winked at Eugene. "The man who found and brought me back to my parents. I would think he would deserve some…kind of award. Or something. Not prison." Eugene winked back at me encouragingly.

The Captain still remained unconvinced. "But, uh…Rapunzel"

I interrupted him. "Your Highness," I insisted imperially. I glanced at Eugene. He seemed on the verge of complete laughter. I winked again. Don't worry, my eyes said. I'll never pull this act on you. You better not, he told me with his own eyes.

The Captain blinked. "But..uh…Your Highness, he's supposed to be executed. I'm just following orders."

I scoffed. "Well," I said snobbishly. "I'm giving you new ones. You are to release him." Eugene was almost doubled over now, trying to fight back his laughter. The guards who held him seemed at a lost as to what to do with him.

"But Your Highness," The Captain protested. "I can't do that."

I shoved my finger furiously in his face. "You dare to defy your princess! I said, release him," I demanded angrily. Once I said that, Eugene began to laugh boisterously at my acting.

The Captain's eyes darted from me to Eugene. Then he sighed, defeated. "Fine," he said weakly. "Release him." The guards immediately unchained Eugene's hands, and he walked over to me with a grin. That..was brilliant, his eyes said.

I let out a satisfied sniff because I still needed to keep up my act. "That's better," I said primly. "Now please take us to my parents, the King and Queen."

XXXXXXXXXXXX

And so he did. He led us to a balcony in the castle that overlooked Caermor, and informed us that Their Majesties would be with me shortly. Once he was gone, Eugene began to roar with laughter.

"I (laugh) had (chuckle) no (snort) idea you…could act like that!" he sputtered. "That was amazing!"

I smiled back, but I couldn't laugh. Oh yes, I agreed that my behavior was…amusing, but nerves began to flutter in my stomach like butterflies. Anytime now I would meet my…parents. And who knew what was going to happen then! So I couldn't make myself chuckle. "Yes, I guess so," I said softly as I turned to the balcony and leaned my arms across it. I looked down at the city, deciding that it was quite beautiful.

Instantly, Eugene stopped laughing and walked over to me. He touched my shoulder gently. "Hey…what's the matter?" he asked.

I continued to stare at the city, not meeting his eyes. "I'm nervous," I whispered.

I felt his fingers brush my own. "Don't be," he said comfortingly. "They'll love you. Just like I do."

At his words, my lips turned up in a smile. Although his words were quite cliché, they did make me feel better. Suddenly, I heard a door open behind us and my stomach turned into knots. Eugene gave me one final reassuringly glance, and then we both turned to face the door. I took a deep breath, praying that they would like me. Soon, I saw a man and a woman walk toward me-the man dressed in his imperial robes, with a dark beard covering the lower half of his face, and the woman wore a long purple dress. Hesitantly, I walked toward them, hoping that my nerves didn't show. The woman gradually came toward me, and as she did, I felt my nerves vanish. Because she looked just like me-the same brown hair, the same eyes. My mother! This was my real mother, not that horrid woman who trapped me in a tower. And this mother actually loved me, I could tell by the look in her eyes. She gently reached a hand to my face, as if to see if it was really me, really the daughter she had lost all those years ago. Her eyes brightened, and tears pricked my own. I had finally found my real mother! And such a beautiful and loving mother she was! She threw her arms around me and I hugged her back, so completely overcome with joy. I raised my eyes from her shoulder, to see the man standing right by us. My father! His eyes shone with quiet kindness, and I could see the happiness in his eyes. He wrapped his arms around my….mother and I and we knelt to the ground. I revealed in their loving embrace, wishing that we hadn't ever been separated.

I must confess that I…briefly forgot about Eugene for a moment, but suddenly I felt his arms around me too, along with my real mother and father. I remember feeling that I had never been happier or more secure in my entire life. My life in the tower with that dreadful woman seemed only a faint memory now, and a happy life with Eugene and my parents stretched out in front of me. And in that instant, surrounded by the people I loved, I knew that I was indeed a princess after all. Because I was going to receive the ending that they always did:

I was going to live happily ever after.

Footnote: I gave Corona's capital a name because it seriously needed one. And I figured I should explain it. So, I said before that Corona, in my story, was kind of like Wales. And the capital of Wales is Cardiff, or in the Welsh, Caerydd. I took the first part, Caer-which means castle, fortress, or fortified city and added mor to the end, which means sea. Put together and you have Caermor-or Castle by the Sea. Or something like that. I don't actually speak Welsh. But i did do a little research on it and I found that Corona is the Latin for Crown and Corona has to do with the atmosphere of the sun. And the symbol of Corona in the movie seems to be a sun. Isn't that cool?