19 years ago
Edmund, Adira, Quirin and Hector were waiting worried out of the Castle infirmary, waiting for the doctor to give them news on the six-year-old prince's condition. After Edmund failed in trying to destroy the Moonstone, he lost his right arm, but Horace had suffered a tremendous blow to his head and took him to the infirmary. Shortly thereafter, the doctor left the room, but had a very sad expression on his face.
"Your Majesty, I have to give you a sad news. The Prince has lost his memory."
After hearing those words, Edmund felt as if 1000 pounds had fallen on his shoulders. His son had begged him not to try to destroy the Moonstone, but he didn't listen and had to pay a heavy price. Hector leaned against the wall and started banging his head against it as tears fell from his eyes, Adira covered her mouth with her hand as she stifled her crying and she leaned on Quirin who wrapped his arm around her as he cried.
"But don't worry. I've already prepared a vial to restore his memory." The doctor took out a small bottle of antidote and handed it to the King. "Make the right choice for the Prince." Said the doctor and left.
Edmund stared at the bottle that could get his son back, but all he thought about was Horace begging him not to destroy the Moonstone. He didn't listen to him, and he hurt his son. So he decided to make the only right choice there was: leave Horace.
Edmund put the bottle in the bag and addressed his knights. "Guys, you must take Horace as far away from this kingdom as possible."
Quirin, Adira, and Hector looked at him in shock. "But Edmund-" Quirin began to object, but Edmund cut him off. "I don't want to leave him either, but if the Moonstone and the black rocks begin to destroy, this place isn't suitable for a child. There is no other choice. My son must never remember about the Dark Kingdom and the Moonstone." Tears were falling from his eyes. "And not even me and you three." Even if the choice was the right one, it was painful. "Very well, Edmund. You're right." Quirin said, also speaking on behalf of Adira and Hector.
A few hours later, everyone in the kingdom left except Edmund. He entered the throne room and stood in the doorway of the room where the Moonstone is. "May this place and the cursed power that lies within it be forever wiped from existence!" He said and closed the room's door.
Present day
In the present, Rapunzel and the group finally made it to the Dark Kingdom. Although initially unsure, Cassandra and Eugene reassured her that the two of them are on her side and will be with her every step of the journey.
Meanwhile, Eugene spoke to Maximus about the prophecy given earlier by Demanitus about someone in the group who will betray Rapunzel. Eugene made Max swear to keep it between the two of them, but Pascal tore up the note and gave it to Rapunzel.
"No one is gonna turn against me. Demanitus has to be wrong. Everyone's had my back this far. They're not gonna stop now." Said Rapunzel.
"Unless they think they're protecting you. After all, that's how Cass injured her hand." He told her.
"You don't think that Cass-" Rapunzel became worried.
"Look, look, look, I love Cass. She's become like a sister to me." Said Eugene. "Granted, you know, an annoying sister you only put up with because you have to. But maybe we should, you know, keep an eye on her- Ahh!" Eugene stopped when a crow flew out of nowhere and collided with his face. "What is that bird doing?"
"Uh, maybe you should try asking his friends." Cassandra pointed her finger towards the sky and a flock of crows appeared, swooping down towards them.
"They are the King's crows!" Adira exclaimed and pulled out her Shadow Blade to prepare to attack.
Hector and his binturongs began chasing the crows away. "Watch out! They are very fast!"
Rapunzel followed his gaze and stared at the crow's head. Pascal jumped from his shoulder and threw himself on the crow as it flew past them. "Pascal, lead them back this way!" Rapunzel told him as she melted her hair. Pascal wrapped his long tongue around the crow's neck and led him to the tree on which Rapunzel had climbed. She spread her hair to use as a net and the whole flock flew right into it. Then she came down from the tree, wrapped them with her hair and released the crows in the opposite direction.
"Wonderful. Even the birds in this kingdom are hostile." Eugene complained, throwing out of his boot the crow he had collided with before and flew away.
"It's gonna take a lot more than a bunch of birds to stop us!" Rapunzel said as she tied her hair in a braid. Everyone went on, but they stopped again when they found themselves facing a chasm.
"Eh... Hector, Adira. Do either of you two have any idea how we get across this thing?" Eugene asked pointing to the chasm. "Well, there would be a path leading to the castle, but it would take too long." Adira remembered. "Another way would be to use the gondola that connects this side to the other, but I believe the King has destroyed all of them all."
"Oh really? So what is that?"
Everyone turned and saw Hector near what looked just like a gondola.
"Well done, Hector!" Rapunzel said eagerly. "Now we can get cross!"
Everyone stared at the dangerous vehicle.
"Come on! Who is afraid of a little old gondola?" Said Rapunzel, still optimistic.
Everyone immediately raised their hands (including Adira and Hector), in a sign of negativity.
"Yeah, high-fives! I love these attitudes!" Said Rapunzel, clapping each of their hands and ignoring their negativity.
"Blondie, that thing's a good 50 yards out there." Eugene pointed out to her.
"I can get it." Cassandra volunteered.
"Uh, are you sure, Cassandra? Your hand…" Rapunzel worriedly pointed to Cassandra's right hand, remembering the wound she inflicted on the Great Tree.
"Even with my hand in these conditions, I'm still the most agile of all of us." Cassandra said.
The party watched nervously as Cassandra was crossing the cable that lay over the chasm. Suddenly, she lost her balance and fell to the side, but recovered by attaching her legs to the cable. Grasping the cable with her hands, still with her legs wrapped around her, she began to slide down the cable. Finally, she reached the gondola and entered.
The gondola began to move, but in the wrong direction and approached the other side of the chasm. However, a few moments later, the gondola began to move towards them. Everyone got on the gondola, except the Hector's binturongs and rhino which took the path.
The party began to cross the chasm. Then, suddenly, they were attacked by a large man on the roof of the gondola, wearing a bear mask and wielding an axe. Rapunzel and Eugene climbed up and began to confront him, while Cassandra and Lance attempted to keep the gondola running. The man managed to knock out Rapunzel and Eugene and almost cut the rope and Rapunzel ordered Cassandra and Lance to go faster. The man was about to reattach Rapunzel and Eugene, but Adira and Hector climbed onto the roof and began to fight. At first, the two of them seemed to have the upper hand, but in the end, the man threw them into the chasm and took Adira's Shadow Blade.
Shortly afterwards, the masked man hit the frame that connects the gondola to the cable with the axe which overturned on its side. Luckily, the gondola finally arrived on the other side. Rapunzel grabbed Eugene, threw herself onto the side of the gondola, and helped the others out, as the cable was wearing out.
"Rapunzel, you and the others go." Said Eugene. "I'll hold off Mr. Personality."
"But-" Rapunzel began, while the others looked at him worriedly.
"I said go! Now!" Eugene shouted, as the stranger came up behind him.
Everyone got off the gondola, except Rapunzel who stood there, but Cassandra grabbed her hand to take her away. "Cassandra, wait!" Rapunzel protested, but she pulled her off the gondola and placed her safely on the side.
"All right, what do you say we call this one a draw?" Eugene said, raising his hands defensively and walking backwards as the man continued to approach him. Eugene tripped and fell to the ground, just as the man prepared to attack Eugene, he noticed his eyes and stopped. But at that moment, the cable broke and the gondola fell, taking Eugene and the masked stranger with it. Rapunzel fell to her knees, shocked.
The gondola, fortunately, fell on a rocky ledge. When Eugene began to regain consciousness, the man hit him so hard with a fist that he stunned Eugene. Then the man took him and carried him on his shoulders. Adira and Hector saw everything and went back up.
The rest of the party was still shocked by what had just happened.
"I'm… I'm so sorry, Raps." Cassandra said, putting her hand on her shoulder.
"This is not how our story ends." Rapunzel got up and turned to the others. "We're going back to get him."
"No need." Hector said as he walked through the group with Adira. The rhino and the two binturongs also arrived. "He is fine. We saw it." "Come. Fish Skin didn't risk his life so that we could waste time looking for him." Adira added and the two began to continue towards the castle.
But Rapunzel tied her hair around the two knights, stopping them. "Just a minute, Adira and Hector." The princess said angrily. "You two knew that knight back there. In fact, I bet you know a lot of things you're not telling us. We're not going another step until you start giving us answers!"
Adira and Hector now understand that they have to tell the truth. "You're right, princess. It's time you heard the whole story." Adira said. So, the two knights began to tell the story.
"The story starts with the Moon. Once upon a time, a single drop of moonlight fell from the heavens. And from this small drop of moonlight formed a single, seductive opal stone. It had the ability to destroy any and all who would seek to possess it. Centuries passed. This opal's defenses spread, and from that grew a kingdom. Generation after generation of kings and queens have stood guard over the opal, helping to protect the world from its limitless power." Hector told.
"But it was Edmund, the last of the Dark Kings, who tried to end this legacy and destroy the stone. It didn't go so well." Adira continued.
"In the fallout, he commanded his subjects to leave and never return. He then sent his most trusted soldiers into the world to insure this power be kept a secret. These knights consisted of Quirin, me and Adira. The Brotherhood. Then, I went to the Great Tree to prevent anyone from crossing the mountains to get here, while Adira..." Hector continued.
"I refused to believe that such darkness could exist without a light of equal power somewhere in this world. As usual, I was right. After years of research, I found the Sundrop. Only you, Rapunzel, can restore balance to all things." Adira ended the story.
"If you knew, why didn't you say anything?" Rapunzel asked.
"Although bringing the Sundrop to the Moonstone will neutralize its threat... we're not sure what will happen to you." Adira replied.
"You mean if Rapunzel touches the Moonstone, she could…?" Cassandra couldn't finish her sentence.
"I did not come this far to stop now." Said Rapunzel.
"Good." Adira said. "Are we all friends again?"
"Sure." Said Rapunzel.
"You two and I were never." Said Cassandra. Adira and Hector led them to a narrow crevice, lined with black rocks jutting from every direction.
"This is the only safe way up. Follow us." Hector said. Everyone followed them, except Max, Fidella, Hector's animals, and Shorty.
Meanwhile, the masked stranger took Eugene (still unconscious) to the castle's dining room. He placed Eugene in a chair, took out a small bottle from his bag and took off the cap revealing himself: he was King Edmund. Just before Eugene woke up, he poured the liquid from the bottle into a glass.
Eugene started moaning. "What happened?" He woke up and found himself in a huge room. It was all dark colors, except there was a little bit of light blue. Even though it's weird, Eugene know he'd been here before.
As soon as he stood up, Edmund was in front of him. "*gasp* Stay back!" Eugene raised his fists defensively.
"Don't worry, it's all right. I don't want to hurt you." Edmund reassured him. Then he took the glass. "Drink this and you'll understand." He handed him the glass.
Though hesitant, Eugene took it and drank from the glass.
"It's time you remember who you are, my son." Edmund said after Eugene finished drinking.
Eugene seemed confused. "What are you talk-?" Suddenly, a severe headache hit Eugene who threw the glass on the ground. Quick memories crossed his mind and, suddenly, he began to remember everything: the training sessions with the Brotherhood, the balls at the castle, his father reading him the books of Flynn Rider and his mother singing him the lullaby to make him fall asleep. After the vial took effect, Eugene fell to the ground panting in shock.
Edmund slowly approached Eugene and put his hand on his shoulder.
Eugene looked up at Edmund. "D-dad?" His voice was broken and his eyes were full of tears.
Edmund smiled happily. "Horace?" A tear of joy fell from his eye.
"Oh, dad!" Eugene hugged him, tears falling from his eyes. "I missed you."
"I missed you too, son. It's all right." Edmund pulled away from the embrace and examined the face of his newly found son.
Eugene looked at him happy as he dried his tears, but then his mind remembered something else. "Rapunzel! I have to get her in." He ran to the door, but Edmund stopped him.
"No! The Moonstone must be protected. No one must take it. Including your friend."
"But she is the Sundrop. The black rocks brought her here for her to take it." Eugene said.
"Son, now that you remember everything, you know well that the Moonstone is very dangerous. It created the black rocks: the same rocks that killed your mother." Edmund retorted.
Eugene's eyes widened. He hadn't thought about it. When he imagined the scene where Rapunzel will take the stone, she would face a worse fate than his mother.
After walking along the narrow path, the party arrived at the entrance to the castle.
"We're here." Rapunzel announced. Suddenly, her hair began to shine brightly and float above her head, moving back and forth.
"Uh... what was that?" Cassandra asked.
"It's the Moonstone." Adira said.
"I think you're right." Hector said. "It must know that the Sundrop is near."
"Then we'd better get on with this." Rapunzel moved forward with determination and the others followed her until they arrived at the castle gates. Lance, Cassandra, Hector, and Adira turned the crank that opened the door. As the doors opened, Rapunzel approached. But when the doors opened, everyone saw Eugene standing in the doorway, looking dejected.
Rapunzel gasped. "Eugene! Oh, thank goodness you're okay! I was so…" The end of her sentence trailed off as she stepped closer to him, and he took a step back instead.
"Eugene? What is it?" Rapunzel asked worriedly.
"I'm sorry Rapunzel, but I won't see you suffer a worse fate than my mother." Said Eugene, refusing to look her into her eyes.
Edmund, inside the castle, cut the chains... the same ones that were opening the door. With the chains broken, the door closed before any of them could enter. Rapunzel turned to the others shocked, but also confused.
"Princess, listen to me. I've known Eugene my entire life, and he has never, and I mean never, loved anyone as much as he loves you." Lance reassured her.
"Yes, Raps. Whatever he's thinking, he's doing it for you." Cassandra added. Pascal squeaked in agreement. However, Rapunzel hadn't listened to them.
"Rapunzel?" Cassandra tried to get the princess's attention.
"Huh? Oh, yeah. I know that, but before the door closed, he said something very strange." Said Rapunzel. "He said he won't see me suffer a fate worse than his mother."
Cassandra and Lance seemed confused too, but someone else didn't...
"Wait a minute. Did he really say that?" Adira asked, opening her eyes wide.
"Yes, why?" Rapunzel asked.
"If he said that, then that means…" Hector surmised, moving closer to Adira. "Yes exactly. He did it." Adira said.
An ahem attracted the attention of the knights who turned towards the others. "Could you give us some explanations?" Asked Cassandra.
The two knights glanced at each other and understood that they had to tell the last part of the story. The saddest part.
"All right. So you see, the Dark Kingdom despite its name was not a harsh place to live and populated by bad people. But it was a prosperous kingdom and the people were kind." Hector began.
"King Edmund was a wise and kind ruler, who took care of his people, as well as his wife, Queen Selena. She was beautiful, smart, caring. They were unique, never before had a King and Queen loved each other so much. And their happiness grew. A few time later, a baby was born. A little prince. And from that moment, Edmund had everything. However, that happiness vanished." Adira continued.
"6 years later, the kingdom was hit by an earthquake, but it wasn't an earthquake like all the others: black rocks emerged from that earthquake. They headed at breakneck speed towards the kingdom. Everyone ran for their lives, but unfortunately one person lost her life: the Queen who had been pierced by one of the rocks." Hector continued.
"That same night, when King Edmund attempted to destroy the stone, his son, Prince Horace begged him not to do so, but Edmund did not listen to him and when he failed to destroy the stone, he paid a heavy price: Horace lost his memory. And so, reluctantly, Edmund ordered me, Hector and Quirin to take his son away from the Kingdom." Adira concluded.
"But what does this have to do with Eugene?" Rapunzel asked.
"Did he happen to tell you why he doesn't know where he comes from?" Hector asked.
"Yes, because he has no memory of the first years of his life. But I still don't understand what Eugene has to do with it." Rapunzel said.
"Princess, Fish Skin is the boy of the story." Adira told her.
Rapunzel opened her eyes in shock: Eugene was just trying to protect her.
"In my opinion, you two bumped your head too many times. I mean, there's no evidence that…" Cassandra began, but Adira interrupted her. "Yes, there are. It didn't take long for us to recognize him." Hector nodded in agreement.
Even though it was absurd, Cassandra and Lance put two and two together and began to realize that it was all true.
"We'll talk about this later. Now we have to hurry. The King has the Shadow Blade which has the power to cut these rocks." Adira said.
"I think we know exactly what Edmund's going to do with it." Hector guessed.
Adira nodded. "Destroy the Moonstone."
"Pascal, find a way inside, get to Eugene, and don't let him anywhere near that stone. The rest of us need to look for a back entrance or something." Rapunzel ordered her chameleon. Pascal nodded, jumped from Rapunzel's shoulder to the castle wall where he began to climb.
Meanwhile, inside the castle, Edmund took Eugene to a room where there are huge statues of Kings and Queens of the past, all of them gave their lives to protect the world from the Moonstone. When Edmund opened the door of the vault where the stone is, the bridge that connected the two banks crumbled. While Edmund went to get a rope to allow them to cross, Eugene returned to the hall of statues, took out some of his wanted posters and began to ask who he is (singing Everything I Ever Thought I Knew).
Meanwhile, Rapunzel and the others found an entrance to the castle through a sewer filled with lava and black rocks. They began to jump from rock to rock, until Rapunzel's hair began to shine again and create a path of black rocks that allowed them to get inside the castle.
Pascal, who had managed to enter the castle, found Eugene in the hall of the statues.
"Pascal?" Eugene was surprised to see him. The chameleon, angry, approached him. "What are you doing here?" He asked. Pascal stopped in front of him, crossed his arms, turning red and glaring at him. "Are you okay, frog?" Eugene asked him and Pascal squeaked angrily. "Yes, I know you're mad at me, but I didn't have a choice." Pascal stuck out his tongue. Eugene lowered his hand and Pascal stepped onto it. "Maybe Hector and Adira told you or maybe not, but this place is where I come from." Eugene showed him the statues of his ancestors. The chameleon returned to its natural green color, looking at Eugene worriedly. "I know we brought Rapunzel here to grab the stone and that way the black rocks will vanish but everything is different now." Eugene's eyes became sad. "Listen, when the black rocks began to destroy and someone tried to destroy the Moonstone, I lost both my memory and my mother." Pascal squeaked sympathizing with Eugene because Pascal also lost his mother when he was a baby. "I can't lose Rapunzel too, Pascal." Pascal squeaked angrily at him again, crawled up his arm and down to the bag on his hip. He went into it and brought out the prophecy of Demanitus. Then he gave it to Eugene.
At the end of Rapunzel's journey, one of her party will turn against her.
"It's me!" Eugene realized. Pascal nodded agreeing. "I'm the one who turned against Rapunzel." Pascal climbed up and stood on his shoulder. "I should've known better." He looked sadly at the paper and the determination crossed his face. He shattered the prophecy and smiled triumphantly at Pascal. "All right, Pascal. Let's go find Rapunzel." Eugene left the room and went to find Rapunzel.
Under the castle, the path of black rocks that led Rapunzel and her group to the Moonstone had begun to point upwards, creating a tower on which they began to climb.
"What's going on? What do you see? Is it Eugene?" Rapunzel asked.
"I think creepy guy's talking to himself." Lance answers her.
"That's good." Adira joined the conversation. "That means he doesn't suspect we're here."
Rapunzel and her group climbed through the opening, hiding behind armor and black rocks while the king was talking alone in the other room.
"The Moonstone chamber is just through those doors." Adira told her.
She took her breath and stared at the large double doors in front of her. "Distract him so I can get in and grab the Moonstone."
Cassandra shook her shoulder. "No way. You're not going in alone. Who knows what's in there!"
"Rapunzel should go alone." Hector said. "Only the Sundrop can access the Moonstone, right Adira?"
Adira nodded and Rapunzel thought back to when they were at the Great Tree and Cassandra asked her: "Since when did you stop trusting my judgement?" She looked at Cassandra and took her hand. "Cass and I will go." She said. "Adira, Hector, Lance, you three distract the King, so we can pass."
The three nodded. Rapunzel quietly walked away from the wall. She lifted three fingers as she reached the double arched door. She began the countdown by three with her fingers, only to be pushed away by Cassandra when an axe missed her head by an inch and stuck in one of the armor behind them.
They turned to the King who stared at them. "My next throw will find its target. You were warned to stay away."
"Edmund…"
"I have nothing to say to you, Adira!"
Edmund easily fought off Lance, Cassandra, Adira, and Hector. Then he approached Rapunzel.
"Your Majesty, please." Suddenly, Rapunzel's hair began to shine again and the King looked at them in surprise. "The Moonstone knows I'm close. I have to go." Rapunzel walked towards the vault, passing Edmund but he blocked her.
"No! No one may enter that room." He told her.
"I'm going in, and you don't want to get in my way!"
"You're not getting past me." Edmund growled.
"Yes, she is." Rapunzel and Edmund turned to the entrance, the princess's face lit up when she saw Eugene running into the room. "Let her in! She's the Sundrop."
"Eugene!" Rapunzel said excitedly as he hugged her.
"Rapunzel, I'm so sorry." Eugene said sincerely. "I thought-"
"There's no time for that." Rapunzel interrupted, fondling his cheek. "We have to get to that stone! This place is going down!"
"But the Moonstone must be destroyed, son!" Edmund shouted.
"Ah, right. Rapunzel, he's-" Eugene was about to tell her the truth, but she cut him off. "We already know that." She motioned to Adira and Hector.
"Okay, then you come with me." Eugene pushed Edmund away somewhere else so that Rapunzel could pass through to enter the Moonstone chamber.
But before she could open the door, the castle rumbled again and a strange, eerie glow emanated from the chamber.
"What's going on?" Lance asked, frightened.
"It can't be..." Edmund said.
"What is it?" Rapunzel asked.
"For centuries, my ancestors have sworn to protect this threshold." Edmund explained. "And now, their spirits have awakened to uphold that oath!"
The eyes of the statues began to light up and ghosts emerged from each of them, equipped with luminous weapons.
"Not necessarily how I imagined meeting your family." Rapunzel said to Eugene as the ghosts surrounded them.
As the ghosts of the Dark Kingdom's rulers of the past began to attack the gang, the party did their best to dodge them. A ghost picked up Lance, carrying him away. But Pascal leapt at the ghost who grabbed him and the chameleon stuck his tongue in his eyes and dropped Lance and Pascal. Adira caught both Lance and Pascal.
"So you're a prince, Eugene?" Rapunzel asked him.
"Yeah, turns out you weren't the only one who had a destiny waiting here." Eugene answered her as a pair of ghosts appeared behind them. Rapunzel and Eugene smiled at each other and began to fight together to eliminate the ghosts.
Edmund still trying to stop anyone from entering the Moonstone chamber, he defeated Adira and Hector by throwing them against the wall. Rapunzel headed for the door, but before Edmund could push her away, Eugene rushed at him and knocked him down.
"She mustn't be let in!" Edmund shouted.
"Listen to me, Edmund, you must stop these spirits!" Said Eugene.
"Even if I could, she must never enter that room!" Edmund said. He grabbed Eugene and threw him to the ground.
Nearby, one of the ghosts was chasing Pascal with a light axe. Adira ran to the chameleon and raised him in a protective manner, but just before the ghost could hit her with his axe Lance pushed her away.
"Are you okay?" He asked her worriedly.
"Yes, I'm fine." Adira replied harshly, then her face softened. "Lance... thank you." She smiled at him. But before Lance could answer, the ghost reappeared behind them and chased them.
But even if the ghosts were defeated, they returned.
"They keep coming back!" Lance said.
"Then we got here just in time!" They heard Shorty announce. Everyone turned to see him enter through the double doors, riding Maximus, with the other animals beside him.
Ignoring the new additions, Edmund grabbed Eugene and supported him against a black rock. "You know, maybe you're right." Eugene said to him. "Maybe coming back here is fulfilling my destiny. But what if my destiny is not to join you in this place, but rather is to save you from it!" Edmund's grip began to loosen as he listened to his son. "You don't have to fight anymore. She's come to end this. Trust me."
"How?" Edmund asked. "How can you be sure?"
"You said you can understand a lot by looking into someone's eyes, right?" Eugene said. "Well, look into mine. Because I have faith in Rapunzel."
"And you should too." Eugene added, as Edmund carefully studies his eyes. Deeply.
Eventually, Edmund released Eugene, who immediately rushed alongside Rapunzel.
The ghosts continued to prevent them from passing. The ghost surrounded them from above, throwing themselves at them one by one. They clawed them and swung their weapons, and one of them grabbed Shorty by the arms and threw him at Rapunzel and Eugene.
They caught him, but the force of the launch made them both fall to the ground and left them bewildered. One of the ghosts attacked them with his axe and Lance rushed forward and took it from him.
Pointing his own weapon at him, Lance cut the ghost easily. She looked around the room; Cassandra, Hector and Adira had their shoulders pressed together as three of the four ghosts surrounded them, and Rapunzel, Eugene and Shorty were still in a stunned pile on the floor.
Lance raised the illuminated axe, preparing for the upcoming attack. "Okay, Lance, buddy. I think we learned something today." He said to himself. "Everyone has a destiny. We have no idea what that fate is, but we do know one thing: we are not gonna meet it today!" He is about to attack the ghosts with the axe, when he sees something in the corner of the room: the Shadow Blade!
Using the Shadow Blade, Lance rushed to the nearest statue and cut it easily. While doing so, the ghost that corresponded to the statue squealed and disappeared. Only this time it does not return.
"Lance, you're a genius!" Eugene shouted enthusiastically, discovering a new energy. "And that's the first and last time, I'll ever say that!"
After the incredible realization of Lance, the party seemed to have regained their second wind.
"Guys, cover for Lance!" Rapunzel announced.
Lance jumped over the rubble of the statue and threw the Shadow Blade at Adira. She threw it in the air and jumped, dragging it down through the statue of one of the old Dark Kings, and its spirit vanished.
With horror and anger, the spirits realized what the gang was doing. They begin to fade around Adira, who throws the Shadow Blade at Hector, riding his rhino.
"Hector! Heads up!"
The knight jumped from the rhinoceros, took the sword, landed on the rhinoceros and ran it through one of the statues before its corresponding ghost could reach him. When another spirit approached him from behind, Hector threw the sword at Cassandra, who threw the sword at another sword and another ghost vanished.
Rapunzel used her hair to extract the Shadow Blade from the ruins of the collapsed statue and threw it at Eugene. But before Eugene grabbed the sword, a ghost attacked him and nailed him to the ground. He was about to hit him with his weapon when he suddenly escaped with a puff of smoke. Confused, Eugene looked at his statue, the last, and saw that Edmund had the Shadow Blade and cut off the statue's head. Its head crashed into Edmund's unfinished statue and it fell on its side in front of the door of the Moonstone Chamber.
"Our family is just awful." Edmund remarked, as everyone breathed a sigh of collective relief. Rapunzel slipped towards Eugene and the two exchanged kisses. Eugene noticed that Hector and Adira were looking at him with concern. Eugene broke away from Rapunzel and went to the two knights.
As soon as he got in front of them, he stopped. He turned to Adira first. "Aunt Adira?" She gasped and nodded. Then he turned to Hector. "Uncle Hector?" He nodded too. In a minute, Eugene jumped into the arms of the two knights. All three shed little tears of happiness.
Edmund allowed Rapunzel to enter the Moonstone chamber. With Eugene and Cassandra, they entered the chamber, where the rocks reacted to the presence of the Sundrop, pointing directly to the Moonstone. A path was created to cross and eventually they reach it. Before doing so, she went to Cassandra and thanked her for all she had done for her and for standing by her side despite the difficulties they had endured. After hugging Cassandra and telling Eugene that she loves him, she approached the Moonstone, which reacted to Rapunzel's presence and removed itself from its cage. Rapunzel leans towards the stone, ready to fulfill her destiny.
However, before she could take the stone, Cassandra grabbed it instead.
"Cassandra?" Rapunzel said in shock as her hair stopped glowing and fell out. "What are you doing?!"
"I'm fulfilling my destiny!" Cassandra shouted, struggling to contain the power of the Moonstone in her hand.
But the power of the Moonstone exploded from the opal. The explosion drove them back and all eyes were on Cassandra as she holds it over her head, power flashed and a blinding light emanated from the stone. She screamed in agony and fear as she pushed the opal over her chest and the black rocks began to stick out all around. She rose from the ground, while an armor of black rocks took shape around her body.
Eventually, all the energy in the room stopped crackling and everything was quiet. Rapunzel and Eugene were so shocked that they were completely speechless.
But Cassandra broke the silence by laughing, wickedly.
"I tried to warn you, Rapunzel." Cassandra said, taking a threatening step forward. Other black rocks appeared where she walked and her hair had become completely blue. Her eyes had also turned into a bright blue that matches the Moonstone, which is now embedded in her armor. "You have to be careful who you trust."
Rapunzel and Eugene could only watch in absolute horror as they witnessed the fulfillment of Demanitus' prophecy.