Chapter 24

Thunder claps overhead as Lance and Eugene spot Varian's lab.

The pointed rooftops and stone towers among the farmland is a comforting sight after all they had just endured, though it isn't over yet.

The windows of the castle-like structure in the distance are dark, the entire lab appearing as merely a shadow within the black sky. The torches are lit outside, their flames flickering brightly like a beacon. It's well into the night by now, but Eugene hopes that Varian is still inside.

He carries Rapunzel in his arms, with one arm cradling her shoulders and the other hooked beneath her knees. Her eyes are still closed, and she hasn't moved or spoken since she'd fallen unconscious on The Strongbow.

Eugene had confirmed she was still breathing, thankfully. Knowing she's at least alive is enough for him. Still, he holds her close to his chest with her head lolling against it. He constantly glances down at her with worry as they make their way over the stone bridge arching over the river.

He shouts out Varian's name desperately as Lance follows closely behind. Eugene ignores the sharp pain in his side that feels like it's stabbing him with every step. He's completely forgotten that Donovan had managed to nick him with Rapunzel's dagger. He isn't thinking about that now.

The front door to the lab swings open, the hinges creaking beneath the pattering of the rain.

Lance and Eugene can hardly see through the downpour, as well as the darkness of the night, but they notice Varian rushing out of the archway and onto the front porch.

Varian squints through the haze, his eyes widening with concern as he notices the two figures running up to the path that leads to where he's standing. "Flynn?" he calls out.

The two men run up the tall staircase, at last slowing to a stop once they reach the top. They're panting for breath as they stand just a few feet in front of Varian now, stepping into the light of the glowing torches. They'd rushed here as fast as they could.

"We need your help," Eugene pleads, soaked with rainwater. "Please."

Varian only stares at them blankly, mouth agape and eyebrows pressed together in confusion. The awning above him shelters him from the rain. Water droplets drip onto the ground between him and Eugene, forming puddles at their feet.

The last time Varian had seen Eugene, he'd been with Cassandra, who is now no where to be found. Instead, he is accompanied by two other people Varian doesn't recognize.

The boy peers down at the unresponsive girl cradled in Eugene's arms. Then he looks over at Lance who is hovering over Eugene's shoulder, wearing the same panicked and worrisome expression on his face.

Varian assumes the girl to be the one Eugene had told him about - the one who'd lost her memories. The reason him and Eugene ever met each other in the first place.

Though Varian hadn't expected any visitors at this time of night, clearly something bad had happened, and there's no use making them stand out here any longer in the cold. He figures he can ask questions later.

"In here," Varian steps aside and gestures into the doorway behind him.

Varian leads them through the halls and toward his own bedroom, the small space secluded from the rest of the lab.

Inside is a narrow bed against the middle of the wall, covered by a blanket and single pillow. There's a square table next to it with an illuminated wax candle on the surface, a dresser on the opposite side of the room, and a cluttered desk with a wooden chair. There's a single arched window along the stone wall, its wooden shutters pulled closed and sheltering them from the rain. A glass lantern hangs from the beamed ceiling, providing a dim glow within the dark room. The walls are covered in maps, drawings, and equations.

Eugene gently lays Rapunzel down onto the mattress as Varian and Lance rush in behind him.

"What happened?" Varian asks in a panic, peering at Eugene's backside.

But Eugene doesn't even seem to hear and is still leaning over the bed, carefully positioning Rapunzel in a way that seems comfortable for her.

Lance glances at Eugene, noticing the distressed expression on his face. Clearly, Eugene doesn't know how to answer that. So much happened, and all at once too. They aren't sure where to begin.

They haven't had the time to even comprehend it themselves. They'd escaped The Scarlett Storm only for Rapunzel to pass out soon afterward. Eugene said he knew somebody that could help, and they'd sailed straight here without anyone thinking twice. It all happened less than an hour ago.

"There was a battle. At sea," Lance answers. "She was below deck before the whole ship went down in flames. It might've been the smoke."

Eugene straightens again, running a hand through his hair stressfully. He keeps his chin down as he turns around to face them, deep in thought. "I don't know if that's it."

The smoke would make sense. She had been trapped in that burning room for a long time, but Eugene has never seen Rapunzel look so pale before. He can't help but think she looks sick, like there's something else to it. He just hopes that her being pregnant doesn't have anything to do with it. The possibility only makes him more anxious.

Varian peers eagerly at Eugene. "Did she take the potion?"

Eugene looks away shamefully, his voice deflating. "I… I lost it."

"You lost it?"

"Okay, okay," Lance steps in between them, holding his hands out.

Though Eugene and Varian both look very stressed right now, they need to remain level. Now is not the time to argue. Not when they have more important matters at hand.

Though Lance has never met Varian before tonight, Eugene and Cass had mentioned an alchemist to him while the three of them sailed their way toward The Scarlett Storm – along with the reverse potion the kid had managed to conjure.

Lance turns to Varian, asking in as calm a voice as he can muster, "Can you make another one?"

"I…" Varian glances between the two of them. As he stares back at their silent and expectant faces, he finds himself overwhelmed with uncertainty. This is all so unexpected. "I—I don't know! I don't know if I have the materials. It might take days, or—or weeks to be able to—"

Rapunzel coughs from her spot on the bed, her body jerking.

The three boys snap their heads around to face her, suddenly silenced.

Whatever they had been talking about is now far from their minds as Eugene rushes in next to her, forgetting all about the potion.

"Rapunzel?" He kneels down next to the bedframe, instinctively grabbing her hand in his.

She coughs again. A pained noise emits from her throat. Her head lolls to the side. Her eyelids are begging to fall closed again. She doesn't react to Eugene's voice, or the feeling of his hands wrapping around hers.

She's awake, but clearly disoriented. Like her mind is absent, and her body is just begging to let go. It doesn't even seem like she can hear Eugene, but he's right there. He's right next to her. He always has been, he always will be. The fact that she doesn't know it absolutely kills him to no end.

Having to watch her like this breaks Eugene's heart to pieces.

He thought he got her back. He thought they made it out of there together. Away from that ship, and away from Donovan. He thought everything would've been better by now. But even after all that has happened, Rapunzel still hasn't come back to him. It's like Eugene has her now, but he doesn't. It's the most frustrating, hopeless feeling in the entire world.

He remembers what Varian had told him all that time ago – that her memories could end up permanently lost if they don't fix it in time. Clearly, she is forgetting more and more. She hadn't recognized Eugene on that ship.

And now the antidote is gone, and it's all Eugene's fault. This entire thing is his fault. None of this would've happened if he hadn't lost her in the first place. If he hadn't let her fall into the hands of a madman. He should've found her faster. He should've done better. He failed her… again.

And if she were to die now, Eugene would not only lose Rapunzel, but their baby too. He wouldn't be able to live with himself. He'd be all alone. Lost. The guilt would torture him until it killed him.

They would've never had the chance to be together, one last time.

With his mind a mess, the tears well in Eugene's eyes before he can blink them back.

Suddenly, he's forgotten all about Lance and Varian standing in the room somewhere behind him as he remains kneeled next to the bed, lost in his own world.

He props his elbows up on the mattress between him and Rapunzel, clutching her limp hand between both of his own.

"Rapunzel… I'm gonna—I'm gonna fix this," he tells her, his voice breaking. He tries to swallow the lump in his throat, trying and failing to remain strong.

Rapunzel's eyes are barely open. Eugene's words are faded in her mind.

She has no idea who he is, or what is happening, or why she feels as weak as she does. Everything is hazy, like a dream, but she lets him hold her hand and press his forehead against it, feeling his tears wet against her fingers.

She only stares back at him as Eugene crumbles right in front of her, pouring his heart out so hopelessly to someone that doesn't even remember who he is.

"I—I don't know how but I promise, you—you're gonna be okay. Everything's gonna be fine," he says, desperately, convincing himself that everything he's telling her is true. "I know you don't remember me, but I just need you to know… I love you."

The last thing Rapunzel sees is Eugene's face going blurry before she drifts back into a deep sleep.

An hour later, when it's well into the night, everyone is tired. They're exhausted, but nobody wants to sleep.

Varian had disappeared soon after Rapunzel fell into unconsciousness, claiming he needed to be alone. He said he was going to do some work in his lab to see if he can figure out what's wrong with her, and how he might be able to fix it. He said this type of research can't be rushed, and that he needs to make sure he's doing the right thing in order to help her.

Nobody knows how much time she has left until her memories are gone forever, or until whatever sickness she is experiencing overtakes her body completely. This entire night feels like a ticking clock of endless waiting. But Varian said he should be back soon.

Lance and Eugene haven't spoken since then. Eugene hasn't left Rapunzel side. Lance left the bedroom for a while, hoping to clear his head. He'd come back soon after, realizing that leaving Eugene alone in here any longer probably isn't a good idea.

So, they just sit there in silence, fighting sleep. Fighting the situation and the reality of everything that led them up to this point, and their darkest thoughts surrounding it. The uncertainty of Rapunzel's condition is obvious, though neither of them want to acknowledge it.

Eugene settles on a stool next to the bed, facing Rapunzel and her sleeping figure lying in front of him. Lance sits on a chair near the foot of the mattress, facing Eugene.

Eugene doesn't know what to say. He doesn't want to say anything. Lance, on the other hand, he has so much he wants to say. So many questions that he's not sure Eugene will give him the answers to.

Ever since they arrived here, Lance can't help but notice how… different Eugene seems.

He looks exhausted. Weak. Broken.

Though, Lance can't blame him, considering the circumstances. Everything has fallen apart. It makes sense Eugene would shut himself down.

Still, it hurts Lance all the same just to see him like this. Eugene, his best friend - the guy who'd always managed to crack a joke whenever something would go wrong in their lives. The guy who got a kick out of an adventure like this one, and always enjoyed a good fight just for the fun of it.

Of course, this is different. Lance knows that. It just reminds him of how bleak everything has become, and how fast everything had changed.

Even after a lifetime of friendship, Lance doesn't believe he's ever seen Eugene cry. Not like he did tonight. But it isn't just what's going on with Rapunzel that worries Lance.

It's whatever happened on that ship that managed to break Eugene apart.

Eugene doesn't need to tell him for Lance to know that something happened. Lance can see it in his eyes. He sees it in the way that Eugene's hands are still shaking even hours after the wreck, and the fact that his knuckles are coated in dry blood when they hadn't been before.

Lance glances down at them from across the room, repeatedly.

Eugene hasn't mentioned anything about it, and Lance isn't even sure he should bring it up. Does it really matter what happened?

But with all this time on their hands, and his genuine concern for Eugene, Lance finally breaks the silence.

He's staring at the floor between them as he mumbles within the silent room, "What the hell happened back there?"

The storm has subsided now. The rain is still pattering against the window, though it's softer than before. The firelight flickers against their faces, somewhat warming the dire room.

Tonight clearly hadn't gone as planned. At some point, it all fell apart. At least, they got Rapunzel back. That's what they went on that ship for, isn't it? Though, they'd been separated from Cassandra in exchange.

But Eugene doesn't respond. He only sits there, leaning forward on the stool with his elbows resting overtop his knees, and staring down at Rapunzel laying in front of him. He's clenching his fists, absentmindedly, fiddling with them in his lap. Scratching at the dry blood and smearing the stains across his skin.

Lance uneasily glances down at Eugene's hands again.

After a while of silence, he realizes Eugene isn't going to answer that. Lance readjusts himself in his chair, inhaling deeply, "Judging by all that blood, I'm guessing I don't wanna know," he comments casually.

Eugene continues staring forward, blankly, hardly reacting to what is being said to him. Finally, he croaks with defeat, "He got away."

Lance assumes who Eugene is talking about – the prince of Ashford. The one who'd kidnapped Rapunzel. The one who'd started this entire mess in the first place. Lance realizes he was lucky he never ran into him during the fight.

Still, there's a sense of relief for him knowing that the prince is still alive. The only reason being that Lance had almost been afraid Eugene had killed him. Not that he'd ever believed Eugene would do something like that.

"Cassandra… She went after him," Eugene explains.

"You think they made it?" asks Lance.

He shrugs. "I don't doubt it. If there's one thing I know about Cass… it's that she can take care of herself. Donovan, on the other hand…" Eugene shakes his head, not even wanting to think about that right now, "I don't know."

As much as Eugene hopes that Donovan never made it off the ship, the guy has already proven to be much more capable than Eugene thought. He's cunning and unpredictable. He could be anywhere by now, which means he's still a threat to him and Rapunzel.

"Tell me about it," begins Lance. "That girl can handle a sword. She was fighting on deck after the battle broke out. Before she found you. Guess it's a good thing she did."

Eugene thinks back to the moment Cassandra had pulled him away from Donovan's beaten figure, laying weak on the ground.

He supposes Lance is right. Maybe it's best Cass stopped him from taking things any further. Though, a part of Eugene still wishes he'd just ended it then and there. It would've made things easier. And in another way, it wouldn't have.

"Why'd you do it?" Lance asks after a while.

Lance can only imagine what Eugene must have been feeling. Rapunzel's ex-fiancée hunted her down just to steal her away and erase her memories. That would spark a fire in anyone. Yet at the same time, he can't comprehend it.

"I've known you my whole life and I ain't ever seen so much hatred in your eyes before. Not like I do now," admits Lance. "It just isn't you."

He says it out of concern rather than judgement. Lance hadn't been there at the time, and even though Donovan may have deserved it, killing someone can't be the answer. The plan was to get Rapunzel out. Eliminating Donovan wasn't part of that. Then again, neither was the battle.

Eugene thinks about that question. He thinks about everything Donovan has done, and everything he said he would do. He thinks about how angry he himself had been, and the fact that he'd lost control.

Eugene has never felt that way before. Never been pushed so far, and driven to his own breaking point. At the same time, he's never been in a situation where his entire world was under threat of being taken away.

Eugene exhales softly. He lifts his chin, finally meeting eyes with Lance. "Rapunzel's pregnant."

Lance blinks at that, his heart sinking from across the room. "What?"

"He threatened our family. Our future," Eugene admits, emotionlessly. He feels numb to it now, despite how strongly he had felt at the time. "I couldn't let him get away with it. I had to make sure he was never going to come back."

That had been the last thing Lance expected to hear. As he listens to Eugene talk about it, his gaze focuses on Rapunzel laying motionless between them. He pieces it all together, assuming the details of what really went on below that ship.

But just like Eugene said, Cassandra is more than capable of taking care of herself. Lance trusts that she was able to stop Donovan from getting away.

After a while, Lance leans forward in his chair, locking eyes with Eugene. "Listen. Rapunzel is going to be fine," he assures, truly believing that. "You two have been through hell. Ain't no way this is the end for her. Not after everything."

Eugene looks down at her again. Despite everything, his lips briefly tug into a faint grin just from hearing that.

It's true. Rapunzel is tough. Probably the toughest person he knows. Well, aside from Cassandra. But at least he knows where Rapunzel gets it from. He has faith in both of them.

"Yeah," Eugene agrees softly, "I hope you're right."

A while passes where neither of them say anything. Suddenly, the room feels a lot less tense than it had been a few minutes ago.

"I'm, uh… I'm sorry about your ship," Eugene mentions.

The Strongbow was in good enough shape to sail here, thankfully. But it definitely took a few hits back there. It may not be at the bottom of the ocean like Donovan's, but Eugene can't help feeling guilty.

Lance didn't have to do any of this for them. He didn't have to come here. He didn't have to get himself swept up into this whole mess. Eugene may have asked him of it, but he could've just walked away instead. Though, they both know Lance would never do that.

"Eh, she's seen far worse days, believe it or not," Lance dismisses, unbothered. It's a usual thing for him, naval warfare. "Nothing that can't be repaired. Besides, it was all worth it. We got Rapunzel back. And she's gonna be okay."

Eugene wants to ask how the battle had broken out in the first place. He'd been below deck when it happened. Then he figures that it doesn't matter now.

Lance is right. They got Rapunzel back. Things could be a lot worse.

Lance rises to a stand, his chair scraping against the hardwood. He groans after sitting down for so long. "Now, I mean this is in the nicest way possible, but you look like absolute hell." He makes his way toward the door, clapping a hand on Eugene's shoulder as he brushes past.

Eugene doesn't look behind him, only continues staring down at Rapunzel absently.

"Get some rest. I mean it," advises Lance.

He walks out into the hallway and shuts the door after him, leaving Rapunzel and Eugene alone in silence.

A/N: Just bros being bros.