A/N: Keep the reviews coming and, if possible, some suggestions would be nice.
It's been only a few weeks, since Prince Stephan told the King and Queen that Rapunzel allegedly invited him and his sister, Alexandra, to stay with them. Rapunzel spent a lot of time with Alexandra, since she knew the best ways of avoiding her brother, but he wouldn't give up on her, and, to top things off Eugene still hadn't given Rapunzel the necklace.
Alexandra and Rapunzel spent most of their time talking, and oddly enough when says she can talk to chameleons Alexandra doesn't find her crazy at all. Alexandra believed that every creature had its own language and she was very different from your average princess- even more different than Rapunzel. Alexandra was helping Rapunzel with her princess lessons and duties, while Rapunzel was trying to teach her new friend how to speak chameleon. Rapunzel made a lot of progress on her lessons with Alexandra's help, but Alexandra had a bit of trouble understanding Pascal- even though she was able to get a few of his squeaks.
"Well, you can't be good at everything," said Alexandra with a sigh. "At least you're learning something new."
"But you're learning too," Rapunzel protested, "you understood Pascal faster than I ever did."
The chameleon nodded and squeaked in agreement. Alexandra seemed to have as many talents as his mistress and they shared a bit of a personality, which made Pascal even more excited. It was the first time he met someone so similar to Rapunzel and hoped that she could help boost Rapunzel's self-esteem and realize that not all princesses have to be so formal because Rapunzel was going through many changes. Her tutors went on and on about her faults and errors and even with Eugene's help she still felt a bit out of place.
"Even so you're a natural princess," Alexandra noticed.
"You think?"
"Of course." She took both of Rapunzel's hands. "You need to believe in yourself better. By the way I want to meet some of your friends." Alexandra released her hands and placed one on her chin in a thinking way. "What was that place called again? The Snugly Duckling, I believe."
"You," she started pointing her finger at Alexandra, "want to meet ruffians and thugs?"
It was really shocking that someone who grew up as a princess would be interested in things like that. Every other princess she met found them scary or threatening. Hard to imagine why Alexandra would be interested, but Rapunzel hadn't seen them in a while so she agreed to her request.
"But I don't know my way around the woods," Rapunzel admitted looking disappointed to that realization. "And besides I can't leave without someone else and Eugene's riding Maximus."
"You'll be with someone else," said Alexandra. "You'll be with me. And don't worry about the horse me and my little sister can take care of that."
Rapunzel's expression looked confused. "You have a little sister?" she asked. Rapunzel didn't remember ever seeing her.
"Come on," she said taking her hand. "She's in the stables."
At the stables, there was plenty of hoses, but no people. Alexandra made her way to a beautiful golden filly; she patted her nose and began to whisper something in her ear. Alexandra opened her stable gate and quickly attached her saddle to the horse. Rapunzel was intrigued, but she didn't see any little sister and asked that question to her friend.
"This is my little sister," she replied pointing to the horse, who dropped on one knee and bowed before Rapunzel. "Rapunzel meet Aphrodite."
Rapunzel and Pascal looked at each other for a moment, in confusion; this was really unexpected. A princess talking to horses, but as Alexandra explained their story, things became clearer.
"… She's been my only friend ever since," she finally finished, when they reached the pub. "We do almost everything together and I don't care who thinks I'm crazy."
Aphrodite seemed to agree as she held her head up high, with pride. Rapunzel was shocked at the story hard to believe someone else had an animal-human relationship like hers.
When the got inside, Alexandra wasn't phased by the scary looking men at all, in fact she was just standing at the door. All the thugs quickly noticed Rapunzel and rushed towards her asking all kinds of questions.
"What have you been doing?"
"How's princess life treatin' ya?"
"Where's your thief charming?"
"All right, all right." Hook-Hand broke through the crowd. "Can't you see we are in the presence of princesses?" He stared at Alexandra who in return giggled a bit.
"I'm pleased to see you all have manners." She curtsied in front of the thugs. "I am Alexandra, princess of Cassiopeia. And you must me Hook-Hand?"
"Guilty as charged m'lady." He took her hand in his and kissed it.
"Alexandra please," she corrected. "Now Mr. Hook-Hand I've been told of your world famous piano talents. Would you be so kind as to demonstrate?"
Hook-Hand looked very surprised, but he politely agreed. After all, who could refuse a princess?
Eugene was riding Maximus, on his way to the pub full of lovable thugs that helped him save the lost princess of the Kingdom. He stared at the necklace he still hadn't given Rapunzel. Stephan kept interrupting all of his attempts. It all seemed hopeless. No matter how many times he tried to talk to Rapunzel Stephan was always one step ahead and nothing could change that. But the necklace wasn't his only concern: he was afraid of the competition despite Alexandra's consolation; he thought Rapunzel was much more deserving to a prince or a king than anyone.
Maximus broke Eugene out of his reverie by neighing as loud as he possibly could to get his attention. He had never seen him like this, and, although their relationship was a bit strained, Maximus wanted nothing else than to console him. Besides, he wasn't too fond of the visiting prince either. During his stay, the horse heard nothing but complaints from Stephan: complaints about the servants, complaints about the castle and, worst of all, complaints about the guards' awkward fighting style. It took Maximus months to perfect their frying pan manoeuvres, and Stephan thinks that a horse training guards is a little more than ridiculous. Never in his life would he allow the spoiled prince rule their Kingdom at Rapunzel's side. The ex-thief made a much better choice.
Eugene must've read his thoughts because he looked at the horse and replied to the neighing. "You might not think, he's good enough for Rapunzel, but I think he may be better."
Maximus shook his head in disbelief. Before Rapunzel, Flynn Rider was an overconfident thief, even with these changes there was still a hint of his over-confidence.
"I know you hate him Max. But I'm not cut out for this kind of stuff and…"
Eugene stopped when he realized that the horse wasn't listening. Maximus was staring at a beautiful golden female horse standing in front of the pub. Her mane was so sleek that it seemed to sparkle at the very touch of sunlight and she had the most beautiful eyes he had ever seen.
Realizing what was going on, Eugene slid off the horse and nudged him. "Why don't you go talk to her?"
Taking an overconfident step, Maximus tripped on his hooves and fell on the floor. The filly looked like she was giggling and Maximus simply sighed, she was the most beautiful horse he had ever seen and this is the first time he ever got caught by such a sight.
Eugene was enjoying Maximus' love-struck attitude. Usually he would give him a hard time with Rapunzel, and now it was his turn. But, joking aside, Eugene walked in to the pub, only to notice that Alexandra and Rapunzel were both watching all of the thugs many talents.