What if Eugene hadn't been rescued…
As the sun was starting its ascent over the kingdom, Eugene was pacing his dirt cell. The previous two days had been the most perfect, magical time the ex thief could remember having. Somehow after stealing the royal crown and being chased by a horse he stumbled upon a tower. When he entered the not so safe tower he had gotten knocked out with a frying pan, well one thing lead to another and the girl in the tower whose name was Rapunzel and him had gone on an interesting journey. She had wanted to see the floating lights for her birthday and he agreed to take her because she promised she'd give the crown back that she now kept as leverage. He originally thought it'd be a quick trip, he never planned on falling in love with her. He was impressed with how she handled herself at the Snuggly Duckling pub, which he had originally thought would scare her because it was a hangout for ruffians and thugs. Somehow though Rapunzel became friends with them, later in the square he actually bought a purple flag with a sun on it for her, his first purchase in who knows how long. She had not changed him but definitely influenced him and he wanted to be a better person because of her. Finally someone had seen him not as a thief but for who he was. That evening they had been on a gondola after watching the lanterns meant to celebrate the lost princesses birthday, it was like seeing all the kingdom lights on the water. When he noticed the Stabbington brothers on the shore. Every wrong mistake he had made up to that point in his life came flooding back, and he knew right then he either had to think on his feet or this moment would end horribly wrong and as he told Rapunzel he'd only be a moment, she was left alone on the shore. At one point in his life Flynn Rider would have accepted his fate as he had made a name for himself and became the most notorious thief the kingdom had ever known, not to mention the most handsome, he had nothing to lose. Eugene now had everything to lose.
The Stabbingtons had ended up pinning the stolen crown on him and he was imprisoned for his crimes. Currently as he walked back and forth in his cell all he could think about was what happened to Rapunzel. When he went to give the crown to the brothers they had said, they wanted her instead. Eugene didn't know how they found out about her at all let alone her magical gift. That was the last thing he remembered before everything went dark and next thing he knew he was here. The door opened, in came the captain of the guard's who Eugene despised to begin with. "Let's get this over with Rider". Where are we going, Eugene asked and suddenly everything dawned on him and he knew exactly what his fate was to be. He subconsciously put his hand to his neck realizing what was going to happen in a matter of moments. He had only one thought on his mind, he had to find a way to brilliantly escape like Flynn Rider would and get to Rapunzel. On the long and terrifying walk to the execution chamber, he noticed the dungeon itself, even through the darkness it was noticeably clean considering. It really showed the care the royals put into every inch of the kingdom, not that it mattered the dungeon was still a place of imprisonment and death no matter how you looked at it. To add to the cruelty of the place there were small increments of light that shown from the outside world as a brutal reminder of the hope that most would never have. Then there were also the few prisoners that he thought like him who unfortunately couldn't help the life they had, they were seen as orphans, outcasts, and had no choice sometimes but to turn down a dark path. Coming away from his thoughts Eugene noticed two familiar prisoners. The Stabbingtons, Eugene knew he needed answers, if these were to be his last moments he was at least still going to fight for her. In that moment rage replaced worry and in one swift motion he knocked aside the guard's restraining him, and brought his knees up and back through his hands handcuffed behind him so now they'd be in front of him. Rushing towards the cell that held the brothers he grabbed the one closest and wished the bars weren't there so he could take matters into his own hands. Instead he demanded answers, " how did you know about her tell me now". The man behind bars was shocked at the suddenness of the last few seconds but he answered. " It wasn't us it was the old lady". Everything immediately fell into place as he thought back to his first night with Rapunzel. She had mentioned her so called mother and she almost let it slip that her mother never let her leave the tower, and quickly covered it up saying she herself chose not to leave. Also stating that her mother told her that as a baby people tried to cut her hair for it's power. Early that evening Rapunzel had used its healing power to heal an injury to his hand. Eugene didn't believe the information about her mother, maybe it was the way he grew up in an orphanage and around children being over powered, but he definitely heard the brief conviction of what this woman had most likely done. He now had the suspicion that the woman claiming to be Rapunzel's mother was going to do something really bad to her and he had to stop it. As he came back from the memory, multiple guards restrained him again and this time he wasn't getting away. He was being pulled down the corridors and of course trying to fight, but then he realized the inevitable as he approached a window to another room he saw it. There in a separate room in the dungeon far beneath where anyone would hear what was going to happen, was a hanging noose.
As they entered the room Eugene struggled against the guards as much as he could but it did no good. He was being dragged down the steep stairs and into the awful room. All the pain from that day and being held roughly by the guards came to be felt. His whole body hurt and he realized he couldn't physically fight anymore. They led him up the wooden stairs of the platform and positioned him right before the rope. The captain looked at him and read the charges with a hint of satisfaction. "Flynn Rider, you are being sentenced to death by hanging, for multiple accounts of theft including from the royal family." Then he looked at Eugene and continued, " I must admit Rider I never thought I'd get the honor of finally convicting you, after all these years of our run-ins." Eugene tried one last time to plead, " you don't understand, there's this girl and she's in trouble, I need you to…". His words were cut off as the captain placed a burlap bag over his head, obviously not caring what the thief had to say. As the rope was brought down and tied around his neck. His last thoughts were of her and he realized that she would have been his New Dream had things been different. Now his only hope was that somehow, someway she would be safe even without him. Seconds seemed to stretch as he waited for the drop. In an instant he felt weightless, along with a sharp pain and the feeling of being suffocated, his body struggled for a bit then everything went numb and quiet. The Guards looked at the dead body hanging, they cut him down and laid him on the ground as they left the room to inform the king that the sentence had been carried out. They thought that was the last time the kingdom would hear of Flynn Rider.
Meanwhile deep within the forest in the hidden tower…. Rapunzel sits on her bed deep in thought, while Gothel carefully removes the flowers from her hair and unbraids it. She thinks back to the evening she had spent with Eugene:
It was a perfect night. She was able to explore the kingdom and for like the first time ever no one even paid attention to her hair. Though four lovely girls had braided it and decorated it for her, so she could walk around with ease. She had spent the day dancing, laughing, and enjoying it all with Eugene. He even bought her a small flag! Then, he surprised her with a boat so that they could watch the lanterns from the water. It was magical, and he was even about to kiss her! But then the night changed when he was distracted by something on the shore. He said he would be right back. Pascal had been skeptical, but she hoped it would be alright, after all Eugene and her had been through so much he wouldn't just leave her, right? But after what seemed like ages, she could see a figure in the fog. She was relieved to see that Eugene hadn't taken the crown and left her, but instead emerged two men. They told her that Eugene had indeed left her and he was now sailing away. She didn't want to believe them but it was true. They then started talking about her magical hair, which in fact proved that Eugene had encountered them before leaving her. She couldn't understand why he would do this, but that thought was soon gone as she started to think about what the two men would do with her and her magical hair. Scared she started to run, as she took off through the forest her braid got tangled on a branch, she couldn't free herself and started to panic."Rapunzel !" suddenly, she heard a familiar voice calling for her. It was her mother. Finally freeing herself, she was able to see that her mother had knocked out the two men. Gothel asked if she was alright, and that they should leave before the two woke up. Rapunzel turned back with tears welling up to look at Eugene, getting smaller by the minute. She couldn't believe that he had betrayed her like that, especially after all that time they had spent together. She truly thought that Eugene was starting to like her the same way she was starting to like him. Realizing that no matter how much she enjoyed her day, the world was truly scary, and full of ruffians and thugs, just as mother had said. She finally ran into the safety of her mothers arms, now thinking that her mother did truly know best. Together they walked back to the tower, with Gothel having a comforting arm around her. The entire walk back, Rapunzel thought about everything that had happened, but also questioned how quick her mother had been there to protect her, plus just showing up the night before when her and Eugene were sitting by a fire. She figured it was just Gothel being overprotective as usual. Finally they reached the tower. Rapunzel wondered out loud "how are we going to get up there if i'm not in there to pull you up?" Gothel reluctantly answered her question "This way" and led Rapunzel around to the back. "There is a hidden staircase used for emergencies, it's how I got us up there when you were a baby, for your protection". Rapunzel then quietly questioned why her mother would keep this from her, and have her use her hair to get down instead. Walking up the winding staircase that she just now found out about, she still didn't understand why this was kept from her for nearly eighteen years. Gothel then took Rapunzel to her room so she could have Rapunzel sing to help them calm down from the evening they had (and to get herself looking as a strong, beautiful, young lady again).
"There you go flower, all done. Like I said before, the world is dark, selfish, and cruel, if it finds even the slightest ray of sunshine it destroys it. Now wash up, and we'll have your favorite for dinner, hazelnut soup". Gothel then left Rapunzel alone in her room. Now that Rapunzel was alone, Pascal scurried over and snuggled up at her side. Rapunzel now took from her dress pocket, the small flag that Eugene had bought for her. She laid down on her bed and held the flag up, remembering the flags waving over the kingdom. She stared at the sun on the flag, the symbol for the kingdom of Corona. Saddened at all that had happened, she set the flag aside as it no longer brought her happiness. She stared at her colorful painted ceiling. She started to look around at all the things she had painted, and noticed a recurring theme. She held her flag back up. To her surprise, the kingdom's symbol was all throughout her paintings even though she had never seen the symbol before yesterday. She stood staring at the ceiling in shock. She stood so long that Pascal was starting to get worried. All of a sudden, Rapunzel had long forgotten memories flooding back to her. A mobile with the symbol, two oddly familiar figures standing near. Then her memories from the past two days resurfaced. She remembered the mosaic in the square, and her trying on the crown Eugene had brought with him into the tower. Suddenly it all clicked. The emotions were too much for Rapunzel to handle, she lost control of her surroundings and momentarily of her movements. She ended up crashing into her vanity. Breathless, she looked over to Pascal and whispered, "I'm the lost princess". Pascal's mouth dropped open in shock.
Gothel was making the soup when she heard a crash come from Rapunzel's room. "Rapunzel? Are you alright?" she yelled as she started up the stairs. Rapunzel emerged from her room in confusion and shock but answered " I'm the lost princess". "Please speak up Rapunzel you know how I hate the mumbling". Rapunzel clearly got more agitated "I AM THE LOST PRINCESS, did I mumble mother or should I even call you that". Now it was Gothel who was irritated and had to think "Rapunzel do you even hear yourself, why would you ask such a ridiculous question. This was Rapunzel's chance "It was all you, I've spent my entire life hiding from people who who used me for my powers when I should've been hiding from you". Trying for the only angle she had right now, Gothel informed her about Eugene's hanging and that he wouldn't be there for her. In a sign of affection Gothel reached out to pat her on the head. In one swift motion Rapunzel grabbed Gothel's wrist mid air and let her emotions go. " You were wrong about the world and you were wrong about me, and I will never let you use my hair again!". As Gothel broke free of her grasp she stumbled backwards and knocked over a standing mirror which shattered all over the tower floor. As Rapunzel walked away towards the trap door leading to the stairs to finally have her freedom, Gothel decided she was going to finally be the bad guy since Rapunzel wasn't going to make this easy. Gothel went after her, slamming her into the wall, she was terrified "Gothel what are you doing, let me go!". Finally the truth came out " Yes, indeed you are the princess, I stole you as a baby because you're mother drank a potion made of a flower that I so carefully kept for years to keep myself young, when she drank it, the magic went to you and I was not going to lose that magic again, nor will I now". Gothel then pushed her to the ground and dragged her to Gothel's room which Rapunzel was always told to stay out of. In the process Rapunzel's feet were cut up by the glass on the floor. In the room Gothel chained her up by the wrists along with gagging her, afterwards pulling her back down to the main room of the tower just in case the thief managed to escape and came looking for her. Being chained to a wooden post that supported the tower Rapunzel cried she couldn't believe that all this time she had been living with a witch, not to mention what her poor parents had gone through never knowing what had happened and now she'd never see them or Eugene again. She was in pain both physically and emotionally, the fact that the person she trusted her whole life had done this made it all that much worse. Yet there was a little voice inside that told her she was going to be free, she didn't know how but she could feel it.
A while later Gothel realized the thief was truly gone, so she went to get Rapunzel. She grabbed the chains and started pulling her down the stairs " we are going where no one will ever find you again". As she was dragged down the tower Rapunzel fought with everything she had, Eugene might be gone but she had a family out there. Blood smeared the floor and the steps due to Rapunzel's injuries. Being roughly taken down the stairs was brutally painful and she was grateful when they reached the bottom. Getting Rapunzel to her feet even though she could hardly stand Gothel started to walk outside but was met with shock as an unexpected group of men surrounded the base of the tower.
There outside was the entire Snuggly Duckling group, along with Maximus, the horse with no rider she had noticed yesterday. "Move aside boys, you have no business being here" Gothel announced. When no body moved, Gothel decided a little persuasion would help. She took out the same knife she grabbed when she first went searching for rapunzel, and aimed it at everyone."You boys better listen, because i'm very good at delivering some damage" Finally, the man with a Hook stepped forward. "We aren't afraid of you. We came to rescue our friend and we wont stop till we do". Hearing what Hook hand had to say, Rapunzel stepped out from the shadows of the doorway. The duckling gang was happy to see rapunzel was alive, albeit slightly hurt and chained up. They tried to move towards rapunzel but Gothel grabbed her and held the knife to her throat. "Step any closer and your friend here will die". Rapunzel knew that Gothel wouldn't kill her because of her hair, but the snuggly duckling crew didn't know that. Max lunged forward in an attempt to stop Gothel, in order to defend herself she pushed Rapunzel aside scraping her neck with the knife in the process, Rapunzel hit the ground and was unable to defend her friends. In rage, Gothel threw the knife at the group unexpectedly. Everyone gasped as they could tell the knife hit one of them. They turned around to see it had hit Shorty. "You got me!" Shorty exclaimed. Then everyone noticed he was wearing a barrel, strangely enough. "Aww this was my best armor". Gothel rolled her eyes, disappointed she didn't actually hit someone. Knowing she didn't have the upper hand anymore, Gothel tried to run figuring she'd find a way to get Rapunzel back. Attila and Pascal went to comfort Rapunzel as the rest of the group including Max went after Gothel. They had chased her through the valley all the way to a stream. She was out of options she either had to surrender or try to swim for it. Max had other ideas though, he was finally able to get Gothel alone. Cornering her, with the stream behind her, and some of the duckling crew to either side of her to make sure she didn't escape Max lept unexpectedly at Gothel, surprising her. Gothel stumbled backward, tripping on her cape. Flailing her arms, she fell down into the stream. Max rushed toward her, and ended up holding her under the water with his hoof. The duckling gang looked on in astonishment that Max would do such a thing, but to Max, this was no different from dealing with a nasty criminal that plagued the kingdom. Everyone watched in horror as Max held Gothel under the water, until at last no bubbles surfaced and Gothel became still.
Ulf the mime walked over to Gothel's lifeless body and dug around in her pockets for the key. He came over to the group so that they could unlock rapunzels chains. When they returned to the tower Rapunzel was still sitting on the ground with Atilla and Pascal but she was so thankful for the group coming to rescue her. Hook hand was first to say something "Rapunzel, are you ok". She clearly was still emotional after everything but knew she needed to move on. "I will be, I'm just so sorry I dragged you all into this mess, but thank you so much for coming". "Rapunzel it wasn't just us Max led us here". She should have known Max had, he had her back since they met. Atilla assisted her in getting up, Hook walked over and unlocked the chains, then they helped her up onto Max. Taking a minute she thought about what she wanted to do now, it's not like she had Eugene to go to anymore, that was something she would deal with another time. Right now she knew exactly what she wanted, and this was finally her chance. " I have recently figured out that I am the lost Princess of Corona, when I asked Gothel she confirmed it, lets go to the castle, so I can figure out if what she said true, and finally meet my real parents!" Before they left the secret valley, Rapunzel took one last look at the only home she had ever known, and at the body of the only mother she had known. Rapunzel felt a bit of sadness for Gothel. Even though she was a terrible person for kidnapping Rapunzel and manipulating her, she was still a mother to her and loved Rapunzel in her own way. Finally, Rapunzel gathered her emotions, and left everything behind for good.
Approaching the castle, Rapunzel was definitely having mixed emotions. On one hand this was her home, well the home she should have known. She was finally going to meet her birth parents who turned out to be the king and queen. Although for Rapunzel it was hard because even though she now knew Gothels true intentions, she would always in some way be a mom to her. No matter how messed up her situation had been now that she knew the truth, moving on was going to be difficult. As Rapunzel, along with the Snuggly Duckling crew, Max, and Pascal got to the gate. They were immediately stopped by two guards, Hook Hand took the lead. "We are here to meet with the king and queen, please inform them that Rapunzel here is the lost princess". Pete the guard immediately ran inside to tell them, King Frederick and Queen Ariana were currently relaxing in a large sitting room when the door opened. In this moment that had been years in the making not a word needed spoken, for Frederick and Ariana knew just from the simple nod and look on Pete's face. Their lost daughter had been found against all odds, eighteen years after she had been stolen. They only hoped it was truly her as they raced to the balcony. Rapunzel waited with trepidation as she stood with Hook Hand on the castle balcony. He had been the only Ducking allowed to accompany her. She sensed he was deep in thought but left it alone for the moment, there was to much on her own mind right now to worry about what he was thinking about. She was about to meet her parents, what would this moment be like, would she feel an immediate connection, would they accept her as a princess after all these years. Questions kept coming, questions she couldn't answer yet, her mind was reeling when suddenly the door opened. Out stepped Queen Ariana with King Frederick a few paces behind her, she approached Rapunzel slowly with a look of wonder. She took in the girl standing there and noticed a small gash on her chest and a few cuts on her feet, while concerned figured that was an explanation for another time. She reached her hand out to gently cup Rapunzel's face, all at once recognition set it. It wasn't just the obvious extra long blonde hair that told her that this was in fact the daughter she had missed so incredibly much. Rather it was her features and mannerisms, she was every bit their daughter and the lost princess, Ariana had spent eighteen years trying to remember everything about her daughter, from when she was a baby down to each freckle. Even though she stood there now as an adult version of the baby she had lost she just knew. Years of emotions came to surface and Ariana pulled Rapunzel into the warmest, most loving embrace she had ever known. Ignoring the pain of her injuries Rapunzel hugged her back. Soon Frederick joined in the now group hug, suddenly Rapunzel knew the difference between true love of a family and Gothels staged affection. As the royals had this tearful moment of joy, Hook Hand knew he had to tell Rapunzel the inevitable.
Remembering what Gothel had told her back at the tower Rapunzel looked up at Hook Hand and was dreading her next words. " What happened to Eugene, Gothel told me he had been hung, but we're talking about Eugene I'm sure he's ok right". Hook Was confused by the name "hmmm". Rapunzel realized they all knew him as Flynn Rider, he only ever told her his birth name. "Flynn Rider! Eugene Fitzherbert is his real name, where is he." In that instance realization hit and the King, Queen and Hook Hand looked at each other with a sickening thought that they all shared. Hook Hand decided he would tell her, "Rapunzel, Max came to us at the Duckling to inform us about what happened right after the lantern celebration, we went straight to the castle and broke in". He took a second to give the King an apologetic look. "When we got inside the dungeon we thought we'd stop the execution but we were too late, that's when we went to rescue you. Rapunzel I'm so sorry". Words sinking in Rapunzel let go and cried, no amount of comforting could help, the grief was overwhelming. She had fallen in love with Eugene over the past couple days and now he was gone and in such a gruesome way. She wasn't sure how she was going to go on without him in her life. His words echoing in her mind from the night before, she had asked him what she should do after he helped her live her dream. "That's the good part I guess, you get go find a new dream". She hadn't realized it til now but in this moment without him she knew that he had been her New Dream. Taking a minute to catch her breath she had a thought about something. Her hair, I mean it heals injuries and reverses aging what if. "You're majesties I'd like to be taken to the execution chamber." Using formalities because it was too soon for mom and dad to feel right. "You need to understand regardless of the crimes he's committed Eugene is the reason I got out of that tower. He helped bring me home". Frederick felt immense regret in his ordering of Flynn Riders death, he didn't know his daughters plan but knew he had to honor her request. Reluctantly they agreed and started the long walk down. Rapunzel walked in first and could just make out a body on the dirt ground, so she started walking towards it, suddenly she was met with horror. There was Eugene laying there, no one had touched him since the execution. When she investigated further she noticed the fatal injuries, he had a reddish purple ring around his neck along with abrasions and swelling, and to conclude the damage done she saw what looked like a spinal injury. It was horrible, she sat beside him and removed the burlap bag, his face was still his but you could tell there had been a struggle. She placed him on her lap and comforted him, more for her own peace of mind. As she wrapped her hair around him she looked up through the square hole in the platform to the rope, she prayed this would work. " Flower gleam and glow, let your power shine." As she started to sing the healing incantation, her hair started to have that familiar incandescent glow that she knew all too well. Slowly the magic followed the path of her hair around Eugene. She finished the incantation with a cry ," Make the clock reverse, bring back what once mine, what once was mine". Rapunzel waited, hoping, willing this to be the answer, she noticed her injuries were now healed so the magic had worked for her but not him. After some time the king and queen realized he wasn't going to be "healed '' so they walked over to comfort their daughter and tried to lead her away . "NO!" Rapunzel cried " I'm not leaving him." Looking at her hair in anger she grabbed the knife left by the guards and brought it right below her shoulders. " This hair has been nothing but a curse that has now destroyed everything that should have been, I don't want this power anymore". Then she cut it, her parents tried to stop her a little too late, the severed hair fell to the floor. For a brief moment as the hair went from blonde to brown she realized the burden of that power wasn't going to be hers anymore.
Now with shoulder length hair, Rapunzel looked at Eugene again, then started to get up to accept her parents' condolences when she heard her name so faint she almost missed it. " Rapunzel" she fell to her knees beside him, "Eugene?". She couldn't believe it the magic had worked, apparently the severity of his injuries just took longer to reverse. She excitedly waited for his next words but was both confused and relieved at what he said. "Have I ever told you that I've got a thing for brunettes". She was ecstatic that he was truly back even down to his unconventional humor. "Eugene!" As they both got up she had so much she wanted to tell him. Rapunzel started " We have a lot to talk about Eugene, a lot has happened since last night, I don't even know where to start". " First I thought you had left me, and I went back to the tower with Gothel, secrets got revealed and then…" Having to stop her there Eugene finally spoke " Blondie of course I want to hear all about what happened, but come on do we really have to have this conversation where I died, especially when there's a really nice castle to lounge in". As they all headed upstairs and out of the execution chamber to talk, he still couldn't understand why the king and queen were being so understanding. Entering the throne room of all places, they were all ready for some explanations. As Rapunzel looked at eugene she wondered about what happened last night and why he'd done that to her. Before she could question him Ariana spoke "Rapunzel, I want to know everything about you're life, I mean we've missed so much because of what happened". So Rapunzel went into what Gothel had told her about being kidnapped, and growing up in the tower, then Eugene finding her and the adventures they had. After she told her side it was Eugene's turn. He explained what had happened to him after he had stolen the crown. Finally Rapunzel turned to her mom, the queen and said something that had been on her mind for so long, the one thing Gothel could never understand and now she knew why. "Mom I spent 18 years of my life, looking out that tower window, seeing those lanterns, Gothel told me they were just stars but deep down I knew they weren't, I always felt that they were meant for me. Finally seeing them in person yesterday and learning they were for the princess, which I now realize is me, I just…." Rapunzel's words faltered and queen Ariana was filled with emotion because her lanterns brought her daughter home the way she always hoped they would. She pulled Rapunzel into a hug and King Frederick joined in too. Eugene looked on at this touching family hug with both relief and sadness because this was the one thing he had always wanted but would never have. After a while King Frederick looked at Eugene and said "what about you?" "Im sorry, me? Eugene asked. Frederick continued" I want to thank you for bringing our daughter home I truly do, but I can not simply look past your crimes Flynn". Eugene was not wanting to go into this conversation with the king but he loved Rapunzel and was gonna fight to be with her. "Listen I know we've been on rough terms, but I care for Rapunzel, you know what in fact sir I'm in love with her and what ever I have to do to earn your trust I will." Frederick was at a loss for words momentarily, then chose his words carefully. "Well I cant have my daughter be with a thief, no matter what he did to rescue her…" Eugene felt such defeat that his past was going to ruin their future. Then Frederick surprised everyone with his next statement " Flynn Rider has stolen from the royal family and most of the kingdom, crimes for which are severe, but Eugene Fitzhurbert has not, as long as you go by your birth name from now on, you are forgiven Eugene". In shock Eugene faced Rapunzel with excitement "Hey blondie see that my fake name did come in handy after all". Ariana takes the moment and walks over to Eugene, " I want you to know that I can't just get over the emotional trauma you put me through when you stole the only thing I had left of my daughter, that will take time, but you also brought me so much joy in finding her". Then she did something he didn't see coming she hugged him, showing forgiveness and compassion in her way, leaning into the embrace he knew it might not be an easy road gaining their trust but that at least they had all taken the first step. Interrupting the moment Rapunzel knew there were other introductions that were needed. "Ohh Dad I have to introduce you to the others who assisted in my return home, the Snuggly Duckling men". The entire pub crew came into the throne room, while Frederick just gazed in shock at the people who helped his daughter. Before anyone could say anything Shorty spoke "well hey you're majesties, we did help, isn't that right caspal" looking to Pascal who had been perched on his shoulder… going over Rapunzel picked up Pascal from Shorty. "mother, father, this is Pascal he's my best friend and was my companion when I was in that tower". As Frederick stood and went over to Rapunzel he knew she was most likely not going to like his opinion. "Rapunzel I graciously overlooked Eugene's past and honestly I don't think he would have left regardless of my opinion, but the Snuggly Duckling does not have a good reputation, they are not the kind of people a princess should be around". Then from behind the group the largest most intimidating one of them with a horned helmet Vladimir stepped forward holding something in his hands. He walked up to the King and Queen and presented two miniature ceramic unicorns. In confusion they looked at each other, Rapunzel informed them that the unicorns were his peace offering to them. Accepting the adorable gift albeit with a puzzled expression and knowing how much they had done for Rapunzel and the kingdom the Ducklings were seen in a different light. The king and queen finally had their family again, along with some new friends, it was truly a day of rejoicing and forgiveness. "Dreams came true for everyone in the kingdom it was such a grand celebration that lasted way to long, and honestly I don't remember most of it. Rapunzel finally had a real family who truly loved her, she was a princess worth waiting for. As for me, well, I started going by Eugene again and basically turned it all around, and that folks is the story of how I, Eugene Fitzherbert, died."