A/N: I hope this next chapter sparks your interest. Sorry, if it's been a while. I've been a bit busy on my little mountain vacation.
The couple's long embrace didn't last long for it was quickly interrupted by a rather arrogant prince.
"Princess," Stephan cried, which everyone seemed to notice.
Stephan was dressed in a long dark cloak surrounded by gold thread lining around the sleeves.
"Stephan! What are you doing here?" Alexandra asked suspiciously.
"I just so happened to hear about my dear fiancée's tragic disappearance and went rushing off to find her."
Rapunzel rolled her eyes at the word 'fiancée'. It was bad enough he announced his engagement in front of everyone who attended, but know he had to brag about it to the whole wide world, making it sound completely official. Eugene reflected Rapunzel's sentiment perfectly; after all he was the one dating the princess. And, even if she didn't have feelings for him, he would gladly accept her feelings, and approve of only her happiness- with or without him.
"Now, if you'll excuse me," the prince said pettily, "I have some rather pressing matters to deal with." As he turned around a couple of black suited men on tall black stallions rode by. "My guards will escort you back to the castle." And at that he just walked away and disappeared into the thick forest.
Alexandra eyed her brother suspiciously; their meeting was almost too coincidental…
Nonetheless, she instructed Talon to return to his master, Adrian, and mounted her well trusted mare, Aphrodite, as Eugene, Pascal and Rapunzel mounted Maximus together. And the guards were ready to cuff the Stabbington brothers and drag them away. Something didn't seem right to the raven haired princess and her dear brother obviously knew something about it.
With the tick forest foliage serving as cover, the prince rushed off into the neck of the woods, unseen. He found his way to a tiny cabin, just small enough for one person. Inside the prince kept an immense pile of gold, in fact it could have been enough gold to an island or maybe even two, locked away never to be found. Stephan grabbed a handful and headed back for his home, the castle by the black steed that awaited him out front.
The ride was long and bumpy, but nonetheless, comfortable. The two princesses, the ex-thief, the chameleon and the two half-love-struck horses hadn't made a single sound during the whole trip back. Maybe they were all still in shock from their adventure or maybe it was something else, but something managed to spark Alexandra's intuitive interest.
"You don't think it's strange?" asked Alexandra, once they got their moment of privacy.
"What do you mean?" the couple responded in unison.
"The fact that my brother just happened to show up right when the terror twins got knocked out."
"Maybe it's a coincidence," Rapunzel deduced shyly.
"At the very same second. I don't think so. Something's definitely up, and we're going to find out what."
"How?" asked Eugene
"By paying someone a little visit."
The Stabbingtons were assigned one of the darkest coldest cells available. Wasn't exactly a homey kind of place, but at least it was acceptably clean, for the moment. The stone walls were rather close and only a single tiny barred window provided any source of light whatsoever. The accommodations were considerate given their treacherous past; of course the twins kept their eyes open for any possible escape. There was no chance on getting the money from their mystery employer now, but they still managed to get some gold already given to them. If they managed to escape, they could begin their new lives.
A couple of guards arrived at their cell with more than just a stern look on their faces as they coldly announced the twins' unlikely visitors. Princess Rapunzel, Princess Alexandra and the one formerly known as Flynn Rider.
The gang asked the guards for some privacy, and though there was much suspicion they couldn't deny the orders of their own princess. As the guards left, the twins stood up, eyeing the group with great suspicion and focus, after all Flynn Rider was renowned for his treachery.
"What do you want?" asked the one with the scar sceptically and ferociously.
"Oh… nothing," Alexandra said almost sweetly and melodiously, "just thought we'd ask you a few questions."
The twins both furrowed an eyebrow," And why should we?"
Alexandra smiled, practically expecting that question. "If you agree to help us for this tiny favour, I'll see to it personally that you shall be so rewarded. At least up until you decide to perform another crime spree." At her last sentence her smile changed a bit, more confident and stern. "Of course, if you decide to deceive us… well you better not have forgotten how I handled the both of you before."
The brothers practically flinched at the very memory. For a dainty little princess she fought with a man's strength. So they agreed to the princess' terms- for the moment.
A/N: Well I'm looking forward to your thoughts, if you even have any. I do sincerely hope that you like this chapter though. And here's a little something that might interest you: I mentioned in one of my other stories that I was planning to send a sequel out for Tangled- no joke. Well, would you believe me, if I said my sequel is similar to this story?
Thanks for the reviews.