What is this?! An update already?!
Currently I'm sitting in a nice little cocoon of blankets and fuzzy socks. We're being hit by Winter Storm Rocky, so everything is pretty much shut down, and the roads are nearly impossible to navigate at the moment, so I'm stuck at home with nothing to do but write. ;) Not only that, but inspiration has struck, and I can't wait to get to what happens next here in the story!" :D So voila! An update! :D
AND, not only that, but I pushed two smaller chapters together to give you this! A larger one! This chapter really helps get us to the climax (next chappie) quicker. I'm actually really excited! (Please note that this chapter is rated T for the use of a somewhat-explicit insult.)
Special thanks to all who suggested names for Burks' companion. I decided on "Teegan." All the names that I was offered started with T, and I decided a T name was befitting somehow.
CHAPTER SONG: "Without You" by Breaking Benjamin
Disclaimer: I do not own Tangled. I do own a frying pan though!
Smoke & Mirrors
A "Tangled" fanfiction
by doodlegirll
...oOo...
A cool hand pressed against her cheek, and Rapunzel stirred. She groaned as she blinked open her eyes and tried to sit up, only to have someone press her back down gently.
"Sh, darling, take it slow." She heard a female voice whisper.
"Mama?" Rapunzel whispered as she opened her eyes again. Her mother swam into focus as the world around her began to become clearer, and she realized with a start that she was back in her room in the castle. The Queen smiled at her daughter, very gently smoothing back her spiky hair.
"Shhhh, I'm right here." She soothed. "It's all going to be alright."
"What happened?" Rapunzel asked, weakly. "How did I—"
It all came back to her at once, and she sat up, despite her mother's previous warning to take it slow. Her head throbbed, but she ignored it.
"Mama, where's Eugene?!" Rapunzel asked. "There were these men! They took him, Mama! And the guards, they—"
"Rapunzel, slow down." Queen Anwen said. "You've have a rough day."
"But…"
"I don't know where Eugene is, sweetie. The guards said that you were ambushed, and whoever it was took Eugene and left, and the rain washed away their footprints." She enveloped her daughter in a hug. "I'm just glad that they didn't take you as well."
Rapunzel returned her mother's embrace, but shook her head against her shoulder.
"Mama, we have to try and find Eugene!" She insisted. "They said they were after him! I think they're the ones who are trying to kill him, Mama!"
The Queen nodded. "Your father and I had the same suspicion, and the Captain of the Guards has taken a troop of men to scour the area. They'll find Eugene."
"Did they take Max?" Rapunzel asked, knowing that if there were any creature alive that could find her Eugene, it was Maximus. The Queen shook her head.
"He was extremely upset when the guards brought you back and they thought it best if he remained in the stalls until he calmed down." She said. "He seemed worried about you."
Rapunzel chewed her bottom lip, but remained in warm safety of her mother's arms for a few moments more until a knock on the door caused them both to pull apart. Her father stepped into the room, and his kind blue eyes filled with relief when he saw his daughter awake.
"Rapunzel!" He said, crossing to stand at his daughter's bedside. "We were worried about you, dear! Are you all right?"
Rapunzel shook her head.
"No. They took him, Daddy! They took Eugene!" Her eyes filled with tears. "They just took him!"
King Leander reached out and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "I know." He said. "The guards that were with you told me the story until they were knocked unconscious. They said that they didn't recognize the men, but that they got a good idea of what they looked like, and I have one of our artists drawing a sketch of them."
"I can do that!" Rapunzel said. "Easily."
"I don't want you overexerting yourself, dear." The Queen said, firmly. "You're to rest. Let us handle this."
"But I was there! I saw them!" Rapunzel was growing desperate. "I can help find him! I know I can!"
"We know you want to help, Rapunzel, but you've had a traumatic experience. The royal physician says that you're fine with no major damage done, but he wants to rest, and I agree." King Leander's mustache twitched as he tried to hide a smile. "I know you're strong and independent, but for now, it's best you stay and rest. We'll find Eugene."
Rapunzel knew there was no use in protesting, so instead she nodded her head, and laid back down. Her mother pulled the duvet up to her chin, and pressed a kiss to her daughter's forehead.
"Sleep now. We'll be back in a little while and let you know if we have any information."
Rapunzel nodded. "Thank you, Mama."
Her mother rose to her feet, and her parents made their way towards the door. Rapunzel closed her eyes and rolled over, her back to the door, and waited until her parents were gone. After she was absolutely positive they weren't within earshot, she pulled back her covers and set her feet on the floor, crossing to her closet. She had been changed into her nightgown, the muddy blue gown from earlier gone, and she quickly selected a simple dark green gown from her collection, slipping it over her head and lacing the bodice. She shoved her feet into a pair of warm stockings, but she decided against shoes, knowing that they would only make noise on the marble floors of the castle. She grabbed her riding cloak as well, draping it over her shoulders.
Time was running out for Eugene. She could feel it. And she knew that no one was about to listen to her.
She had to find him.
Rapunzel ran a brush through her short hair and dared a glance in the mirror. There were two bruises on each side of the base of her neck where the blond man had grabbed her, and she shuddered. She didn't know what, exactly, he had done to make her pass out as she had, but she hoped she never had to experience it again.
Satisfied, she grabbed her sketchbook from the bag on the floor that still contained everything she had planned on taking to Lunaria with her, and flipped it open to two open pages. She quickly began to sketch the two men that had taken Eugene, making sure to include the defined features of the dark haired one's cheekbones, and the scruffiness of the blond one's short beard. Underneath each picture she made sure to list their eye colors.
She left the book open on her bed. Her parents would understand when they found it.
She looked around the room for Pascal, and when she didn't see him at first, she felt her heart do a flip in her chest. Had he been left behind when the guards had regained consciousness and brought her back? Surely not…
She heard a squeaking noise, and she glanced up to find the little reptile smiling down at her from the ceiling, obviously overjoyed to see that she was awake and alright.
"Pascal!" Rapunzel whispered. "We have to go!"
Pascal made his way down the wall, and she hurriedly picked him up and held her in her open palms. He gave her an inquisitive look.
"They won't listen to me, Pascal! They won't let me help, and I know I can help find Eugene! Those men are going to kill him if we don't find him in time!" She explained to her friend. Pascal's expression grew more worried and he squeaked a few times.
"Pascal, I can't just sit by and do nothing!" Rapunzel said exasperatedly. "I know I shouldn't just leave without telling them where I'm going again, but…"
Pascal shook his head, and Rapunzel sighed. She knew her little friend was worried for her safety and about the repercussions of her sneaking out, but she didn't feel that she had a choice.
"You don't have to come, Pascal." She said finally. "You can stay here. I won't be gone long. I'll have Max with me."
Pascal scowled and crossed his little arms, shaking his head again. He wrapped his tail around one of her fingers, as if holding fast to it. No way was she going anywhere without him!
"Alright." Rapunzel relented, and gently placed him on her shoulder. "But we have to be quiet!"
She tiptoed to her door and opened it quietly, poking her head out into the hallway. Finding it deserted, she slipped outside and made her way down the corridor silently. She ran towards the end of the hallway to the staircase that would take her to the lower corridors, and skipped two steps at a time. As she passed the throne room, she heard voices, and quickly ducked behind a large potted tree.
Three guards passed her and walked into the throne room, leaving a small crack as they closed it partway. Rapunzel left her spot behind the pot and carefully made her way to the doors, where she listened intently.
"Your Majesties," She heard one of the guards address her parents. "We had gotten word from the troop near the Corona border where Prince Consort Eugene went missing some hours before."
"Yes?" Her mother's concerned voice asked. "And?"
It was silent for a moment.
"We believe there is a possibility that the Prince Consort could be dead, or gravely injured, Your Majesties." A guard finally spoke. "They found blood on some of the grass further in the woods that lined the road where the rain hadn't washed it away. There was a lot of it."
Rapunzel gasped, and pressed her hand to her mouth.
No.
Eugene couldn't be dead!
"Are you certain?" King Leander asked.
"We believe so, Your Majesty, but we haven't stopped searching."
"See that every man available is sent out to search!" King Leander ordered. "Until a body is recovered, we're to assume that Eugene is still alive. You're not to tell a soul otherwise, are we clear? I don't want to alarm the Princess. She's distraught as it is."
"Yes, Your Majesties."
Rapunzel reeled away from the doors like they had stung her. Without looking back, she sprinted down the hall towards the gardens.
It was still raining, but Rapunzel paid it no mind as she made her way to the stables and rushed inside.
She found Maximus furiously pacing up and down the path between the stalls, his brow furrowed. There were muddy hoofprints on the back of the door and on a few of the walls, indicating that Max had tried quite ferociously to get out. His ears pricked up when he noticed Rapunzel, and he whinnied happily as he trotted to where she stood.
"Hey, boy!" Rapunzel greeted him, giving him a hug around the neck. She scratched his muzzle. "Max, we've got to find Eugene. Can you take me to where they took him?"
Maximus nodded.
"Do you think you can pick up a scent in the rain?"
He nodded again, holding his head up proudly. Max had a nose better than any hound dog.
"Okay, but we have to stop and get some help, okay, boy? We can't do this alone. We need to stop by the Snuggly Duckling on the way there and get some of our friends to help us."
Max nodded, and Rapunzel kissed his nose.
"Thank you, Max!" She said and hoisted herself into his saddle. "Let's go!"
Max whinnied triumphantly and bolted through the open doors of the stables and through the gates of the castle. There wasn't a soul to be found in the streets of Corona as he bolted through them, headed for the bridge that would take them towards the forest paths.
Hold on, Eugene! Rapunzel thought as she leant into Max's neck to protect herself from the pelting rain. I'm coming!
...oOo...
About twenty minutes later, Max skidded to a stop outside the Snuggly Duckling pub, and Rapunzel leapt from the saddle, rushing into the pub as fast as she could. She yanked open the door and stepped inside the dimly lit but warm room, and all eyes turned to face her.
"Princess!" Hood Hand greeted her, standing and crossing over to her to give her a big hug. "Good to see you!" He set her down and looked over her shoulder, frowning at the weather outside. "What are you doing coming all the way out here in this weather? Where's Eugenie-Boy?"
"He's gone, Hook Hand!" Rapunzel said as she tried to catch her breath. The ride here had taken a lot out of her. "We were on our way to Lunaria until they caught whoever it was that tried to assassinate him and we were mugged and—"
"Mugged?!" Vlad stood to his feet. "By who?!"
"I don't know! I had never seen them before! But they took him and knocked me out and…I don't know!" She was close to hysterics now, and tears began to course down her cheeks. "I need your help. I can't help him by myself!"
"Now just calm down." Hood Hand said, putting his good arm around her shoulders and leading her further into the warm pub. "We'll help ya. But first you've gotta calm down." He glanced down at Rapunzel's shoeless feet. "You outta be wearing some rain boots out there, Princess. Your feet are gonna be soaked!"
Rapunzel nodded. "I know, but boots would have made too much noise, and I'm not used to them yet. I'll be alright if I avoid puddles."
Hood Hand didn't say anything more as he sat her down at the bar, and Big Nose handed her a steaming cup of hot cocoa.
"Thank you, Big Nose." She said, smiling gratefully as she sipped the hot liquid.
"So where exactly are we headed?" Vlad asked.
"Max will take us there." Rapunzel answered. "I couldn't see through the windows of the carriage. They were up high and small, and when I got out I had no idea where I was, so…"
"Do you remember what these guys looked like?" Atilla asked as he reached into the oven to retrieve his pan of cupcakes.
Rapunzel nodded. "They were both tall, but one had blond hair, a beard, and green eyes while the other one had dark brown hair and dark eyes. Like I said, I'd never seen them before! But they knew who Eugene and I were. They said they were only after him and they didn't need me, so they knocked me out and left me…" She faltered off. "They're going to kill him if we don't find him soon! Please, we have to hurry!"
Hook Hand and the others didn't waste any time getting their various weapons – most of which were frying pans – together and saddling their horses (and donkey, in Hook Hand's case). Rapunzel pulled her hood over her head and walked back outside, finding Max sniffing at the air, and then at the ground. His ears pricked and he looked down the road.
Rapunzel followed Max's line of vision, and saw that coming up fast were about five or six Coronian guards on brown horses.
"Hook Hand!" She yelled as she climbed into Max's saddle. "There are guards coming! They know I'm gone! We have to hurry!"
Without another word, Rapunzel and the pub thugs bolted into the line of trees, leaving the guards behind. She glanced over her shoulder, making sure they weren't following, and she saw them dismount and enter the pub, where she knew the remaining thugs would keep them distracted.
They rode for a few minutes, the men following Max's lead, until Max suddenly reared back, and came to a complete stop. Rapunzel was nearly thrown to the ground, but grabbed a hold of Max's mane and managed to steady herself, and Pascal dangled from the hem of her hood.
Max's eyes were wide, his ears alert, and he sniffed the air.
"What's he doing?" Vlad asked.
"I think he smells something!" Rapunzel said. "Do you smell Eugene, boy?"
Max whinnied in reply, and then took off suddenly towards the east.
Wherever it was he was taking them, Rapunzel knew it would lead her to Eugene.
...oOo...
Eugene was awakened quite rudely with a harsh kick to the side, and he gasped as he opened his eyes blearily.
"Wake up!" An abrasive voice demanded as another kick was delivered. "Wakey wakey, Rider."
Eugene's surroundings became much more defined as his focus returned, and he groaned in pain. The two men that had attacked the carriage stood in front of him, and it seemed that the dark haired one – Burks, he recalled – was the one that had kicked him. His ribs, which had been broken during his prison stay three months before, were aching violently, and he wondered vaguely if they had been rebroken. He hoped not. That had been a long and painful recovery.
"Wha…where am I?" He asked. "Where am I?"
His head throbbed, and he went to bring a hand to his forehead, but found that his wrists had been chained behind his back to a tall support beam to what appeared to be a small storage room, completely devoid of furniture or equipment, but hay had been scattered around, and a large pile stood in the corner. He pulled at the chains futilely, testing their strength, and found that they didn't budge even a bit.
"So the infamous Flynn Rider has finally met a predicament he can't get himself out of." An oddly familiar voice taunted from somewhere behind him. "Funny. I had expected it to be at the end of a rope."
Eugene tried to turn himself around to get a good look at the owner of the voice, but the chains on his wrists didn't provide much room for movement. He didn't have to wait long, however, before a small figure moved into his line of vision, a smug and proud look on his round face.
"You?!" Eugene was flabbergasted. "Shorty? From the trial?"
Virgil Johansson smiled, viciously.
"That's right." He said. "So you recognize me."
Eugene smirked. "Kind of hard to forget a face like yours when you were petitioning for my hanging." He spat.
Johansson glared. "And if I had had it my way, we wouldn't be here now, believe me." He said.
"What do you want, Shorty?"
A sharp punch landed on Eugene's jaw, and he tasted blood.
Damn, that hurt!
"What I want, Rider," Johansson said, slowly. "Is for you to pay."
Several images came to mind, but the only one that Eugene was concerned about was what they had done with Rapunzel back at the carriage. Were they going to use her against him?
"Where's Rapunzel?" He demanded. "What have you done with her?"
Johansson threw his head back and laughed.
"The Princess? Yes, I heard she was traveling with you to Lunaria." He flicked his wrist, flippantly. "I have no use of her. Burks and Teegan left her behind unharmed, I assure you."
Relief flooded through him, but Eugene refused to allow his guard to falter, even for a moment. Whatever it was that Johansson wanted from him, he was going to have to find some way out of this. And fast.
"Why are you doing this?" Eugene asked, swallowing some of the blood that had pooled at the back of his throat.
Johansson laughed again.
"Simple. I'm seeking revenge."
"For what? Getting you fired?" Eugene said. "You did that yourself! You accused Rapunzel of lying about her story and my scar. I had nothing to do with it."
Another punch was sent his way, and Eugene bit back a cry of pain as Johansson's foot connected with his ribcage as well.
"You think that is what this is all about?! Ha!" Johansson grabbed a handful of Eugene's hair and yanked his head up to meet his eyes. "This goes far beyond that."
"Watch the hair, would you?" Eugene said, trying to downplay how downright terrified he was growing.
Johansson released his grip on Eugene's brown hair, straightening himself up. He clasped his hands behind his back as he strolled in front of Eugene casually.
"Do you remember, Rider, some of the examples given as to the many exploits you have taken part in over the years? You may recall that the story of a merchant from whom you stole a lifetime's worth of savings, and as a result, his wife died due to his inability to pay for physician."
Eugene swallowed. Yes, he remembered. His past wrongdoings haunted him on a daily basis, each and every one of them.
"Your point?" He spat.
"My point is that I knew that merchant, his wife, and children. In fact, I was quite close to them." Johansson's face was growing red, and Eugene could tell that he was reaching a boiling point in his anger, despite the calm way he paced back and forth. "I'd even go so far as to say they were family…"
"Look, I get that the wife died, and I'm sorry, but— "
The look on Johansson's face turned murderous, and he pounced at Eugene, grabbing the man's neck and pinning it to the pole his back rested against with stunning strength.
"Her name was Diane!" Johansson yelled. "And that merchant? That merchant was me!"
Eugene, struggling for breath, was astounded.
"You stole my entire life's savings, and my precious wife died because of you, you greedy good-for-nothing! I was left with nothing! And with two children to care for! I had to work my way up from dirt. It took six years, but I finally made it to the royal council! And then you show up at the castle doorstep with the Princess, and I think my wife's death is finally avenged when you're sentenced to hang, and what happens?! You somehow manage to get away with a pardon! A full pardon! And then they give you the title of Prince Consort and declare you the future king?! You, the bastard child of a lord and a chambermaid?! An orphan and a thief that no one wanted, with no lineage, or anything worth saving?!" Johansson laughed cruelly. "Pathetic!"
He released Eugene's throat, and the ex-thief gasped as he choked, coughing up some of the blood from his mouth as he did so.
"Johansson," he said. "I…I didn't know. I—"
Johansson cut him off by grabbing his hair once more.
"There is nothing you can do or say that will ever bring her back, that will ever cause me to grant you forgiveness!" He growled, his voice dripping with venom. "You're finally going to pay for what you did to me all those years ago! And this time, you won't be able to escape it."
He kicked Eugene once more in the stomach and turned to walk out the doorway, passing Teegan and Burks as he did so. In their hands they held torches.
"Light it up, boys." He commanded.
And with that, Burks tossed his torch on the ground, and the straw ignited to life.
Yikes! Don't kill me! -runs and hides-
EDIT: Yet again, typos. I need a beta. Anyone interested?