~Chapter 26~

Eugene

She wasn't one to be late. I could only imagine what could be keeping her. Ten minutes past our appointed time to meet up and then Pascal climbed up to the fountain's edge. I scooped him up in my hands.

"Pascal, where is she?"

I don't know why I was talking to him anticipating an answer.

"Is she coming?"

Pascal nodded simply as I looked toward the area of town he came from.

"I don't like this," I said.

I placed Pascal back on the ground as the chameleon looked up at me curiously.

"Show me where you left her,"

He immediately turned around and ran down the street away from the main square. There was no time to get backup as I didn't want to lose time in the search. What was she doing on this side of town? Though as I passed by several homes that were patched up from cannon fire, I put the pieces together. Pascal stopped near a trio of homes and circled in place once. I called her name, but no reply came. I picked up Pascal and put him on my shoulder as I tried to stay calm and eliminate any worst case scenario from my mind. I knocked on one of the nearby homes. It was dinnertime and growing late and hated to disturb anyone, but this was a unique circumstance. A man answered the door with three daughters popping their heads out curiously.

"Pardon the intrusion, sir. I'm looking for her highness. I have reason to believe she was last spotted here." I said.

The father nodded.

"Yes, she was here helping us earlier. Though I'm afraid she left a while ago."

"Did you happen to see where she went?" I asked.

"I did," A little girl with pigtails piped up beside her father.

I knelt down at her level never knowing I would ever be in a situation to use a lead from a little girl ever in my life. The girl seemed nervous and she clung to her father's leg while he patted her head.

"Go on, sweetie. Tell the Marshall what you saw." He urged.

She cleared her throat as she pointed to the nearby alleyway.

"The princess followed a woman who was even older than my grandma down that way. I hope you find her." The little girl said.

I thanked them as the father closed the door. She wasn't alone, that was good, but she was with an older woman? It couldn't have been Emelia Gothel, but I knew that woman to be duplicitous and manipulative. Shoving aside my fears, I went down the nearby alleyway finding a few tracks in the darkness, which led to an iron grate. I shook it loosening a bar, but before seeing where it led, I saw something at my feet below me in the mud. There was a nice boot print on the paper, whatever it was and thanks to the moonlight, I could make it out. It was some type of map with the Corona kingdom on it, surrounding lake, and the entire forest depicted. The mud concealed part of the map, but I did see a drawing of a flower with a line of arrows showing the way to that location. The flower was circled several times and it seemed important. It was a long shot, but I decided to follow this map. Rapunzel could have left it behind or whoever was with her dropped it. I silenced my worries and went into the tunnel beyond the grate. It was a straight shot through to the other side with torches that lit up the path. The beach was on the other side and there were more traces of tracks, but some several sources. I didn't have time to follow them all. Most people were away from the water for the evening as it was late, save for a lone fisherman who was casting from a small dock near the bridge. Running over to him, I inquired if he had seen the princess recently. He confirmed she had and got in a boat rowing out with an older woman confirming what the little girl had said. He directed me where they headed and offered me his boat to use. I thanked him as I quickly pushed the boat out onto the water.

I rowed as quickly as my arms could take me and I stopped taking another peek at the map on the paper I had found. The direction the fisherman had given was the same direction depicted on the map. Rowing across the river. It was narrow here, but a half-mile north of where we were the water widens dumping into a large lake. My search radius was still rather wide. The arrows on the map weren't exactly clear as I rowed the boat toward the land again. It seemed as if I was going to run aground against the side of the cliffs, but instead there was a small opening between two cliffs that the water flowed beyond. It was very much hidden at a distance, I didn't see the opening until I was right there. Rowing the boat, the water took me further as there was a slight current pulling me along. Thick vines kept dropping on my head as I pushed them out of my way. This river passage went on for maybe a quarter of a mile before I heard a thunderous sound. I pushed more vines aside as the rowboat stopped suddenly running aground on a short bit of land that lead to a waterfall. A second rowboat was floating nearby as I saw two pairs of footprints go up the ground toward the falls.

"Rapunzel!" I yelled, cupping my hands around my mouth. Still I got no answer. There had to be more here. A vacant boat with a secret waterfall. I've lived here in Corona my whole life and never knew these falls existed. I pulled Pascal off my shoulder and set him down in the boat.

"Stay here, I'll be right back."

Pascal turned a shade of blue as I climbed out of the boat. The ground was very wet from the moisture of the falls and even a bit unstable. The footprints went right up to the falls indicating the path went further. There was no avoiding getting soaked, I pushed my way through the water as I got drenched in seconds. I wiped my eyes suddenly in a cave behind the falls. A greenish glow came off the walls from some sort of moss that was iridescent. What was this place? Even with the glow, the light was limited though I could see an opening toward the back of the cave leading further inside. Though I did see a lump on the ground covered by a cloak. I knelt down pulling back the cloak seeing an unconscious Rapunzel.

"Rapunzel!" I exclaimed as relief swept over me, "Wake up."

I rubbed her cheek. She didn't stir, but I could see her breathing. We were alone and I couldn't hear anyone with the sound of the falls at the entrance. It was loud and echoing. I reached down to scoop up Rapunzel to take her from this place when something struck me on the back of my head. I fell to my knees though still conscious dazed as my vision blurred. Emelia Gothel stood before me looking a bit disheveled. I noticed a scar across her nose as she glared at me.

"You won't take her from me again, Flynn Rider, or whatever your name is now."

"I should say the same to you," I muttered.

"She came willingly, she knows where she belongs."

"With her family in Corona!" I snapped.

"Selfish fool. The Sol Lillitalus flower has been guarded by my family for generations. It belongs to me."

A flower? I thought Rapunzel was born with the healing ability. Now it was all making sense as to why she reacted so negatively to Lord Conwyn and within the presence of the moon flower. One brought death and the other life. The effects clearly catastrophic of being near explaining why Rapunzel lost her memories.

"You will die here and nobody will mourn you. You're an idiot for coming here."

Gothel pulled a blade from her belt as I reached for mine. She closed the gap between us throwing dirt at me disorienting me. She grabbed my hand wielding my sword twisting it in a way forcing it out of my hands. She was fighting dirty without honor. Not that this woman knew anything of honor. Now disarmed, she pulled back her own dagger as I prepared for pain to hit my gut. Though it never came, I saw a flash of blonde hair move between us as Rapunzel stepped in front of me. A gutteral sound left her lips as Gothel stepped back in shock leaving the dagger stuck in Rapunzel's gut.

"You stupid, girl. The dagger was dipped in poison. What have you done?" Gothel growled. My eyes widened in horror as Rapunzel began to tip over, but not before I caught her before hitting the ground. Gothel stepped back putting her hands to her head in a poor mental state muttering to herself.

"Rapunzel, what, why did you do that?" I choked out. I grabbed a piece of her hair going to wrap it around her wound. She pushed my hands away.

"Cut my hair, Eugene." She muttered, blinking erratically at me.

"What?"

"Gothel won't stop. The power of Sol Lillitalus must be eliminated."

"Fine, but heal yourself first."

Suddenly Gothel screamed in a high pitch as she pulled up the hood of her cloak speaking some sort of incantation.

"Dkava!" She screeched.

Soon, the woman transformed before our eyes. The creature that attacked us on Odonrora was back. A wolf-like creature though this time seemingly bigger. The beast snarled at me as I leapt toward my sword. I got my fingers around it, though not before the creature lunged at me from behind pouncing onto my back sinking its teeth into my shoulder. I shouted in pain as I swung my sword piercing its side. The creature howled and stumbled off me circling around looking for an opening.

"I won't let you have her!" I growled.

The beast glared at me leaping toward me again, which I rolled out of the way dodging its incoming claws. It circled around again quicker than I anticipated clamping down on my left arm.

"Oh no you don't, I just got this back!"

I stabbed the beast again as it released my arm from its jowls. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Rapunzel stagger to her feet and yank out the dagger from her gut, wincing as she did so. Blood dripped off the blade as she grabbed her blonde hair and cut it in one fluid motion just past her shoulders now in length. I froze as did the wolf and soon the wolf transformed back into Gothel. As the cut hair fell to the ground, the blonde color faded to brown. Blood soaked Rapunzel's dress as she collapsed and Gothel was pulling her hood over her head.

"What have you done, you foolish girl?" She cried.

Gothel began shaking as she began to step backward toward the falls. Her youth was fading I could see as her true elderly form shone through. Without the power of the flower, she was being stripped of all the power Rapunzel had poured into her over the years. As Gothel tripped into the falls, the woman disappeared completely leaving her black cloak behind. Aged to dust resulting in her death. I staggered to my feet running to Rapunzel. She was conscious, but bleeding out. I scooped her up in my arms as she clung onto me. I took her outside into the moonlit night to row her back to get help. She cried out in pain as we passed through the falls making our way to the boat.

"I'm sorry, hang on, stay with me," I muttered.

We both were soaked as I got us quickly back to the boat. She didn't have much time. I gently sat down placing her gently in my lap. Pascal ran toward her nudging her cheek.

"I'm an idiot for leaving you alone, I'm sorry. We should have cut your hair long ago."

Rapunzel reached out placing her hand on my cheek.

"Stop blaming yourself, this was my choice." She muttered.

She closed her eyes for longer than I liked as I placed my hand on top of hers.

"Hey, stay awake, you hear me? I'm going to row us back."

"I-I won't make it,"

Tears fell from her eyes as I shook my head.

"Don't talk like that, we're going now."

I began to row us out as Rapunzel could barely manage to keep her eyes open. How would I face her parents? I continued rowing returning to the main area of the river. The kingdom was in my sights, I just had to get her there.

"Why didn't you heal yourself, first?"

"Because I had to protect you, logic left me in that moment. Forgive me."

She winced gritting her teeth as she grabbed my closest arm with the oar in my hand.

"Please, stop. The rocking of the boat and the cool air is making my body tremble."

I dropped the oars holding her close trying to give her any body heat I could spare.

"Eugene," She muttered.

"What do you need? I'm right here!" I said, gazing into her half-shut green eyes.

"I love you," She choked out.

I pressed my lips to her forehead gently and before I could reply, her body went limp in my arms. Her color was gone as I stared at her before me. Pascal rolled into a tight ball turning blue. I placed my hand on her cheek lying to myself telling me that she was just sleeping. I didn't want to accept this, I couldn't accept this.

The healing incantation left my lips as I held her close rocking her against me. I repeated the words several times over praying her lifeless body to come back to me. Suddenly a familiar golden glow moved across her body starting at the wound on her stomach. It closed as the glow enveloped the rest of her. Moments later, her eyes fluttered open and I stared in shock. Her green eyes met mine and she smiled.

"Eugene," She whispered, "I'm sorry, did I pass out again?"

She sat up throwing her arms around my neck tightening her grip on me. My body relaxed as I held her close breathing in her scent. This was real. We pulled apart before I closed the gap meeting her lips pressing gently. She pulled away as I smiled tucking a shorter lock of hair behind her ear.

"Did I miss something?" She asked.

"I'll tell you later," I nodded, "I like the new look. I kinda have a thing for brunettes." I smirked.

"I'll have to get used to this." She replied. "Right, well, hand me an oar, we have dinner plans."

"Wait," I stopped her, "I need to say something before anything else happens," I said.

"Okay, you're being mysterious." She smirked.

I pulled my mother's ring from my pocket and Rapunzel stared at it in awe.

"Rapunzel, we met under unique circumstances and I hate the situation of why our paths crossed, but I'm thankful that they did. My life changed the moment we met and over time I came to admire you and how you handled yourself despite how you grew up and those terrible circumstances. I always thought I could only be happy with a roof over my head with money in my pocket, but then I met you and my dream changed. I don't want another day to go by without you. I lost you today and I don't want to ever experience that again!" I took a breath maintaining eye contact with her. Her green eyes were already glassy with emotion.

"Rapunzel, make me the happiest man alive and be my wife."

She cupped her hands around her mouth before throwing her arms around me meeting my lips. We caught our breath as I smiled at her.

"So, is that a yes?" I smirked.

She laughed.

"Of course, that's a yes." She nodded.

I took her left hand in mine sliding the diamond ring on her finger. We took our time rowing back since I already made these plans for this night. Hundreds of paper lanterns were lit up into the night sky overhead. I couldn't imagine anything better than having this woman by my side beneath the floating lights.

Epilogue

After a short engagement, Eugene took Rapunzel as his wife in a grand ceremony that the kingdom rejoiced in. King Frederic and Queen Arianna welcomed their new son-in-law into the family warmly. The town of Corona was decorated with flowers and banners of the sun crest of the kingdom. Rapunzel was free from the power of Sol Lillitalus and able to move forward toward a bright future with her husband, Eugene. The unlikely tale of a once notorious thief falling in love with a lost princess.

Author's Note: Thank you to my awesome readers for joining me on this journey in this reimagined Tangled story. It was a joy to write and explore the "what ifs" of various scenarios differing from the movie we all know and love. Thank you so much for the reviews, follows, and favorites! Support like that means the world for authors like myself. As of now, this story is a stand alone, but who knows, if I get inspired, a sequel could happen. :D

If you're a fan of Disney in general and would like to check out more of my work, be sure to check out other stories on my profile, most of which are from various Disney fandoms. If you feel so inclined of course. ;)

Again thank you to my awesome readers! Hope to hear from you in the next story, so until next time...

-Gkmader