1925, Chicago
Flynn was shocked to see Al freaking Capone drinking from a man's neck like he was a vampire. That either explained a lot or didn't make a lick of sense.
Flynn was hedging closer to it being in the nonsense category.
He motioned for Rapunzel to look. When she did, she jerked back, her eyes wide. What? she mouthed to him.
He shrugged. It didn't make sense to him either. Flynn pointed towards the front door, silently asking if they should leave.
But Rapunzel didn't have the same idea. Nope. She was striding forward into the kitchen, probably searching for answers. That only meant Flynn had to join her, which was something he really didn't want to do.
Al stopped drinking from the man to look up at them as they entered the kitchen. Blood was dripping down his chin. Flynn shuddered.
"What are you doing?" Rapunzel asked.
Al wiped his chin. "I'm having a snack, doll." For just a moment, his face shifted into something else. A blend of Al Capone and the man he just snacked on before he returned to looking just like Capone.
It was freaky to say the least.
Rapunzel squinted her eyes at him. "Are you really Al Capone?"
He threw his head back and laughed. "Why would you ask that?"
"Probably because you're drinking from this man like a freaking vampire," Flynn muttered. "Oh, and your face just looked like someone else's, so there's that."
"Explain this to me," Rapunzel said, pointing at the dead man on the table.
"I was hungry," Al explained as if that was any explanation. It wasn't. "And as a matter of fact, I'm still hungry." His eyes narrowed as he began stalking towards them. "Mind if you share some of your blood?"
Rapunzel bumped into Flynn as she back away. "Who are you? I know you're not Al Capone."
"Are you sure about that?"
"I know Al Capone wasn't a vampire."
Al ticked his head to the side. "Who ever said I was a vampire?"
Flynn huffed. "Seriously, man. Who are you?"
"I'm a man who is hungry." He lunged right at them.
Rapunzel jerked to the side which planted Flynn directly in Al's way. The mobster ran into him, barreling him to the ground. Flynn smacked his hands onto Al's face to keep him from stuffing his face in his neck. Flynn really wasn't in the mood to have his blood sucked out of his body. He much preferred to have his blood firmly inside his body.
"Let me have a drink," Al said in his high-pitched voice. It was a strange combination hearing the mobster attack him while speaking like a little boy.
"No," Flynn said, shoving Al away.
Rapunzel ran over and helped Flynn stand up. When Al charged them again, Rapunzel kicked out with her foot and landed a solid hit to Al's pudgy belly. The mobster doubled over.
They used that to make their escape, running out the front door.
"What the hell just happened back there?" Flynn asked as they ran down the street.
"I honestly have no idea. But my tower was right. There's something wrong with Al. He's not human but he should be."
"And you're sure about that?"
"I am. There was nothing ever written about Al Capone acting like a vampire."
"Not a vampire, remember?" he said, huffing as he ran. Flynn really needed to work more on his cardio. "He explicitly stated he wasn't a vampire. But, like, who else drinks the blood of humans?"
"Whoever that was back there, that wasn't Capone. That was someone else."
Rapunzel's words sent a chill down his back.
"We can't go back to Al's apartment. He'll look for us there," she said. "My tower is too far away. Let's find a hotel to stay in for the night."
"Sounds good to me."
Fortunately, Al wasn't following them, but that didn't mean he wouldn't find them and try to hurt them. So, they stayed vigilant as they searched for a hotel. Once they found a decent enough one, they hurried inside.
The room they paid for was a single queen, which Flynn didn't mind. Any chance he got to be closer to Rapunzel was in a win in his book.
But that night only made him more anxious to save Rapunzel in the past, or the future, depending on how you looked at it. That Rapunzel was dealing with Vikings. And the Rapunzel he was with was dealing with a vampire Al Capone. They had to figure this out so hopefully Rapunzel could figure out how to help her other self.
"That," he said, laying onto the bed, "was officially nuts. I… don't even have words for what I just saw."
"Neither do I." She laid down beside him. "I need to know who that was. And I still need to find out how to help my future self. I would just send my tower to the time she's in but it isn't that simple. Then I would be without my tower and that could cause a whole lot of chaos. I need to find a way to get her tower back to her."
"Is it weird referencing yourself as if you're another person?"
She shrugged. "In a way. I don't know that version of myself. She hasn't happened yet."
"For me she has."
Rapunzel gazed into his eyes. "I know. And I know you want to help her. Me. I've just never dealt with something like this before. If there was some way for me to connect myself to my future self, then maybe I could somehow connect my tower to her tower and her tower would return to her."
Flynn sat up. "Ok. So, let's do that."
"I don't know how," she admitted.
He slumped back down. "Ok, then never mind."
She rolled into him, sighing. "I'm still new at certain things, Eugene."
"I have a question. If this has happened before, then why wouldn't you remember it in the future?"
"Because time travel is a-."
"Fickle thing," he finished.
"I was going to say a mystery. Clearly, whatever is happening to me in the future is happening concurrently with me right now. Meaning, I must not know what's going to happen to me wherever I am in the future because I didn't know about it until today. Does that make sense?"
"Not at all."
Her lips twitched. "That's time travel for you." She studied his face.
"What?"
"You must be the link."
He blinked. "I'm what?"
"How did you end up finding me here?"
"You sent me here to find you after the tower disappeared."
"Leaving me behind wherever I am."
"Yes."
She nodded. "You are the link. When my future self sent you back to me to 1925, it must have created some sort of wedge in time. Meaning that me and my future self are moving in tandem with each other. So, if I can figure out a solution, then hopefully future me will just know the solution then. Because once I learn something, future me will have to know it. Because future me has my memories."
Flynn rubbed a hand down his face. "My head hurts."
"Just trust me. So, we have a plan. Find a way to save myself in the future and deal with Al Capone possibly being not-human."
"Oh, is that a plan? Because, Blondie, that just sounds like stating our problems."
She gently swatted his arm. "It's the start of a plan. And we can't plan a plan without the start of one, can we?"
"You're cute when you're being optimistic."
"Aren't I always optimistic?"
"That's why you're always cute." He leaned over her, placing his hands on either side of her face.
Her cheeks flushed. "You make me feel beautiful," she admitted.
The only thing he knew in that moment was that he needed to kiss her.
She didn't object as he pressed their lips together. It was slow and tender. Rapunzel wrapped her arms around his back, pulling him flush to her. He responded in kind by encircling his arms around her waist.
The kiss became more passionate. Flynn roamed his hands down to her hips, giving them a squeeze. She moaned softly into his lips.
"Eugene," she whispered as he kissed down her neck.
Hearing her say his name was like a splash of cold water. It reminded him when he had sex with her back in Italy. But that version of Rapunzel wasn't here. She was still stuck with Vikings and needed his help.
It didn't feel right to have sex with her in this moment, even though he knew he wasn't doing anything wrong.
He pulled away, feeling insanely guilty for two reasons. One – for making out with Rapunzel when he should have been focused on saving her. Two – for pulling away from the Rapunzel he was with because all he wanted to do was have sex with her again.
Rapunzel sat up, watching him questioningly. "Are you ok?"
"I just… can't. Not right now."
A flash of pain went through her eyes before she nodded. "I understand," she said, rubbing his back. That only made him feel more guilty. "You're worried about my future self. But Eugene, I am her. She's me."
"I know. I know that. But how can I be with you when I'm worried about another version of you?"
"Have you been worried about my future selves before?"
"No. Because I knew what was going to happen. I experienced it. But this time, I don't know what's going to happen."
She sighed, pressing her head to his shoulder. "I'm going to say something that might upset you."
His heart squeezed in panic. "So, then why tell me?"
"Because you need to hear it. When my future self sent you to me, she knew what she was doing."
"How do you know?"
"Because I know me. If my tower disappeared, then I would want to get help from the one person who could get it back. Which is myself. She sent you back to me but in so doing, she was making it impossible for you to ever go back to her."
He stared at her. "How do you know?"
"Because you and I keep moving in opposite directions. You always meet my future selves and I always meet your future selves. We're never moving in the perfect, right time together. It's like we always just miss each other. When my future self sent you to me, she knew she'd never see this version of you again."
He looked away from her, unable to stand what she was saying.
"You're with me now," Rapunzel continued. "And when we eventually part ways, you'll meet me again but it will just be a past version of me. I will save my future self. But you will never get back to that version of me."
Her words made his heart constrict. "How do you know for sure?"
"Is your watch working right now?"
He sighed. "I take it you know it's not."
"I know it's not because sending you to me meant you could never go back to her. You can use your watch to travel to other times and places. Just not that one."
"So, I can never travel back in time to any of the places we've been to before?"
"You can. But just not when we're there. You'd have to go at a different time, so as to not completely mess up time."
He huffed. "I'm really starting to hate time travel."
"I know." She buried her face into his back and he leaned into her, seeking comfort. "I'm scared that I'm not good enough for you."
He gazed back at her. "Why would you say that?"
"Because you're desperate to get back to my other self."
Flynn took a moment to look down at her before wrapping her into his arms. "I'm just desperate to make sure you're ok. That's all. But I'm not disappointed with you. You're still my Rapunzel." He knew the moment the words escaped them that they were true. She was his Rapunzel. Even when the day came that she didn't recognize him, she would still be his Rapunzel.
Her eyes softened as she gazed up at him. "You'll always be my Eugene."
Her words sent a flutter straight to his heart. The words I love you were so close to coming out of him.
But he didn't want this to be the moment. He was too much of a mess right now and when he said the words, he wanted Rapunzel to know that he meant them just for her.
Caught up in the emotion, he kissed her again.
And this time, he didn't stop.
Laying her onto her back, Flynn kissed the hell out of Rapunzel. He wanted her to know that even if he hadn't said I love you yet, he felt in in every part of his being.
She arched into him, breathing heavily. Her lips were so soft against his. It was like kissing cotton candy.
Just a few moments ago, he thought it would be wrong to be intimate with Rapunzel while her other self was trapped with Vikings. But knowing that he'll never see that version of her again made him lose some of the guilt. It hurt knowing that when she sent him away, that was their goodbye. But there wasn't anything he could do about that now. As long as she was safe, that was all that mattered.
The Rapunzel in his arms right now needed to be his focus. She needed to know how much she meant to him.
All he wanted right now was to make her feel good.
With that in mind, he got off the bed and pulled her hips straight towards him. She gasped. He kept his gaze locked with hers as he slowly took of her shoes. Her heels clattered to the ground. Rapunzel's chest was rising and falling fast and her cheeks her flushed. She looked so fucking beautiful it hurt.
He pushed the end of her dress up to her waist. When he saw her garter belt, he felt his cock grow even harder. "You don't know half the things you do to me, Blondie."
"I have some idea," she said with a twinkle in her eye. She nodded towards his waist.
He let out a primal growl as he leaned down to kiss her. "You're playing with fire."
"Then make me burn."
He unhooked her pantyhose from the garter belt and slowly took it off each of her legs.
"Eugene," she wined. "I need you."
That sent a fire through him. "You'll have me." Gripping her underwear, he pulled it off in one smooth motion. She gasped, arching her back.
He slipped off her dress, leaving her only in her bra. She was a sight to behold.
Rapunzel was already frantically tearing at his jacket as he took her bra off. Stepping away from her, he took the rest of his clothes off, wanting to be naked with her as soon as possible.
He gripped her hips again and brough her to the very edge of the bed. Rapunzel's eyes were burning with passion. He knew his expression was the same.
Wrapping her legs around his waist, he didn't waste any time leaning her back and thrusting right into her. The force of it made Rapunzel slap her hands onto the bed behind her.
"Oh," she sighed, dropping her head back. He loved how she completely let herself go when they were together. No timidness. No shyness.
He really wanted to ask how many times they've done this together for her but he knew he'd learn in time.
Right now, it just about them being in the present.
He thrust into her with more abandon than he did last time. He was full of pent-up emotion and Rapunzel's body was the outlet.
He held onto her thighs so tightly, he hoped he wasn't causing her pain. But Rapunzel only seemed lost in her pleasure. She kept gasping every time their hips collided. Her movements were in perfect sync with his.
"Eugene," she gasped out, lifting her gaze back up to his.
He never looked away as he fucked her. It was primal and dirty and it felt good.
Groaning, he grinded his hips against hers. Her lips parted as her eyes rolled back slightly. He kept up with his rough movements, needing her to know how he felt in that moment. He felt love for her, loss for the past versions of her he got to know, and hope for the future versions he'd get to fall even more in love with.
Leaning over her, he scooted her body up the bed so they were both on the mattress. She wrapped her legs even tighter around his waist, pulling him deeper within her. Rapunzel's inner walls clenched around his cock and he thought he was going to see stars for a moment.
Her breath came out even faster. Every time he moved, his chest brushed her breasts and the sensation made his body tingle. God, she was amazing. He never wanted this to end.
Because once it did, it meant that was one last moment he'd have with her.
"Eugene," she said, wrapping her arms around his shoulders and digging her nails into his back. The slight pain made him groan.
"You're amazing," he panted.
He ground his hips harder against hers. That sent her over the edge.
"Oh," she cried out as her body shuddered, her orgasm washing over her. He wanted to watch her come again and again but his own orgasm was approaching.
Within moments, he was coming too. She held him as his own body trembled. Their lips met in one final kiss.
Once they were both finished, he rolled off her and pulled her into his arms.
"That was something," he said, staring up at the wall.
"It was." She paused. "You've never been that… rough before."
He tensed. "Did you… like it?"
"I liked it. It just startled me for a moment." She tapped his forehead. "You have a lot going on in there."
"I'm here with you," he reminded her. "And I'm happy."
"But?"
"But I just want to make sure you'll be ok, even if that's a version of you I'll never meet again."
"I understand that. I want to make sure I'm ok too." She laughed softly. "Of course I do. And we'll do that." She grabbed his hand, linking their fingers. "Together."
He kissed the back of her hand. "Together."
986, Greenland
Rapunzel stared at the humanoid bat woman. She was covered in well water, which made the black fur on her face shine from the tiny bit of sunlight pouring into the well.
"Like what you see?" the bat woman asked, smiling eerily.
Rapunzel shook her surprise away. This was just another alien. She had met many before – this time wouldn't be any different. "What's your name?"
This clearly surprised the bat woman who sat back, frowning. "No one has ever asked me that before. Humans take one look at me and scream in fear." She tilted her head. "Why are you not screaming in fear?"
"You're not the first alien I've met."
Bat Woman huffed. "I am not an alien. It is you humans who are the aliens. I was living in piece on this land for years until humans arrived and ruined everything."
"How did you end up in this well?"
"That Viking up there didn't like the look of me, so he threw me down here."
"Erik?"
She sighed. "The very one. I was just living in my cave with my family. Those monsters killed them. They would have killed me but I told them I put a curse on them and if I died, they'd never find a way to remove it. So, they threw me down here. Every couple of days they come to see if I've removed the curse and every time I tell them I haven't. So, they continue to leave me down here."
"I am so sorry," Rapunzel said. She shifted against the cold, stone floor of the well.
"Why do you care? You're human. You're with them."
"I'm not. I'm not with Erik's people. That's why I'm down here. I disobeyed him and he didn't appreciate it."
Bat Woman's lips curled into a sneer/smile. "I'm sure he didn't like that. But I like the sound of that. Disobeying humans is now my favorite thing to do."
"You can count me in. I'm going to find a way out of here. I'll help you."
"How? My family is gone. My son-," she stopped, her breath hitching. "I have nowhere to go."
Rapunzel reached over and gently touched the other woman's arm. Bat Woman tensed. "I can help you. I promise."
She squinted her pure black eyes at Rapunzel. "Why would you help me? You don't even know me."
"I help people. That's what I do."
Bat Woman sighed. "Va'oria."
"What?"
"My name. Va'oria is my name. The name of people is the Lazat."
Rapunzel smiled, hoping she was infusing the other woman with a sense of safety. "Rapunzel." She shook the alien woman's hand. Va'oria looked quite startled when Rapunzel did that. "Well, Va'oria, I am going to help you. Not just get out of this well but I can take you anywhere you want to go where you wont be disturbed by other humans."
"That would be perfect. Can you really do that?"
"I can."
Va'oria shifted away, shaking her head. "How can I trust another human? Not when they've hurt me so much already."
"The only way I can earn your trust is by showing you. I am going to get us out of here."
"How? Unless you can climb up the well, otherwise, we're stuck."
Rapunzel craned her neck up. "I've climbed harder things than this. I'll go up and find something to throw down to you. We're getting out of here, Va'oria. Don't you worry."
She pulled her knees up to her chest, looking more like a child in that moment than an adult woman. "You're a very optimistic girl, aren't you?"
"So I've been told."
With some effort, Rapunzel stood up. Her entire body was still aching and her dress was soaked from the water, weighing her down. She took off the top layer of her gown, leaving her in nothing but her shift and corset.
Va'oria frowned. "What are you doing?"
"I can't climb this" – she nodded towards the wall – "with this" – she nodded at her dress – "adding extra weight. I'll make it up and be back for you. Don't worry."
"I don't have much faith, girl. But what other choice do I have?"
Rapunzel cracked her knuckles then got to work. Finding handholds for the well wasn't as easy as she thought it would be, especially since the ones she could find were slippery. But Rapunzel stayed strong and kept climbing up the well.
She was near the top when one of her feet slipped on a stone. She gasped as she caught herself, just barely holding on.
"Are you all right?" Va'oria asked from down below.
With a grunt and burst of effort, Rapunzel managed to righten herself. "I'm all right." Just a couple more feet above her and she'd be at the top.
Her hands splayed out around the edge of the well. Sighing with relief, she pulled herself up.
But before she could get her body completely out of the well, someone grabbed her hands.
Whipping her head up, Rapunzel came face to face with Masked Lady.
"Trying to escape, are we?" Masked Lady said, holding onto Rapunzel's hands tightly.
"Let me go."
She shrugged. "I can do that." She let go of Rapunzel's hands and Rapunzel would have fallen straight back into the well if not for her somewhat fast reflexes. She grabbed a hold of the edge of the well again, bracing herself as her body slammed into the wall.
Masked Lady winced. "That looked like it hurt."
Rapunzel glared up at the other woman. "What do you want?" She found a foothold and pushed herself higher but she couldn't get out of the well – not with Masked Lady in her way.
"You brought me here and now I'm a goddamn sex slave to a brutish Viking."
"It's only been an hour since we were taken."
"No, it hasn't. You've been in that well most of the day. That Viking has already rutted me like a dog. He didn't care where I went to after we were done, so long as I didn't get into trouble."
Rapunzel panted as she tried dragging herself out of the well. "Are you here to punish me?"
"No," she said, surprising Rapunzel. "I'm here because you're my only way out of this. Bring your tower back and I'll leave with you."
Rapunzel wanted to object but she knew it was pointless. Masked Lady, for all her faults, didn't deserve to be made into a sex slave. "Fine. But move out of my way so I can get out of here first."
Masked Lady did. "Then summon your tower back."
"Not until I help my new friend down there." Rapunzel managed that last pull over the edge of the well and then her feet were back on solid ground.
Masked Lady peered over the side of the well. "What friend?" When she saw Va'oria, she jerked back with a scowl. "That's your friend?"
"She is now." Rapunzel placed her hands on her hips, staring Masked Lady down. It was strange to still think of her as 'Masked Lady' when she was no longer wearing a mask. "You have a problem with that?"
The smile Masked Lady gave Rapunzel sent chills down her back. "I don't care who you make friends with so long as you get me out of this fucking place."
"I'll do that. But first, I need to find some rope."
Rapunzel set off, back towards the tiny Viking village. It was her only hope of finding something to use to get Va'oria out of the well. Masked Lady followed beside her.
"No, summon your tower. Now."
Rapunzel knew she couldn't keep it a secret forever. "I can't summon my tower back."
Masked Lady froze. "What?"
"It left because it was in danger from the Vikings."
"So, how do you get it back?"
"I'm working on that."
Masked lady spluttered. "You're working on it? What does that mean?"
"It means if you'd just stop asking me questions, I can get to work. Only when my tower feels safe, will it come back. Or…"
"Or what?"
She sighed. "If I can somehow send a message to my tower letting it know I'm in danger, it might come back for me."
Masked Lady waved her hands at Rapunzel. "So do that."
"It's not so simple. I can't just… do it. I don't know how. I'll have to think of something. And in the meantime, I'm going to get Va'oria out of that well."
"Va'oria?"
Rapunzel smile. "My new friend. Now, are you going to help me find some rope or not?"
Masked Lady looked like she really wanted to object but she nodded instead. "Fine. I saw some rope inside Erik's house."
"That doesn't sound safe."
"Well, do you have a better idea?"
Rapunzel did not. "Erik's house it is."
They set off back towards the village.
"What happened to Moretti?" Rapunzel asked as they walked.
"Do you mean, is he dead?" She shook her head. "That bastard is still living. The Vikings thought it would be funny to torture him."
"Karma."
Masked Lady tossed her a smirk. "Karma," she agreed.
They reached the outskirts of the village and hid behind one of the houses.
"You can go inside Erik's house and get the rope," Rapunzel whispered. "He won't suspect you."
Masked Lady was already frantically shaking her head. "No. I am not going back in there just so he can get his grubby hands on me. You want the rope. You're going to have to go in there and get it yourself."
"And what are you going to do?"
"I'll play lookout."
Rapunzel sighed, knowing she wasn't going to win this argument. All of this would be so much easier if Eugene was here with her but she was on her own. "Fine. I'll go in. Which one is Erik's house?"
Masked Lady pointed to the largest one.
"Right," Rapunzel said. "Wish me luck."
"Not on my life."
Rapunzel deigned to comment as she snuck into the village, staying close to the houses and the tiny bit of shadow there was. This would have been so much easier at night but the sun was still up, even though it was reaching the horizon by now.
She was getting closer to Erik's house when a woman walked right past her, saw her, and froze. Rapunzel smiled at the woman, hoping she wouldn't draw attention to her.
But that hope didn't last long.
"You're supposed to be in the well," the woman said.
"Please don't say anything."
"Help!" the woman screamed. "She's escaped!"
So much for women helping other women.
Rapunzel took off before 'help' could arrive. Running around houses in nothing but her shift and corset, she knew she looked the sight. Especially since she was supposed to be in the well and not running about the village like a mad woman.
She reached Erik's house and hid behind it. People shouted and went running. She knew they were looking for her.
With a quick glance around, she didn't see anyone by the front of Erik's house, so she used that opportunity and ran inside.
The inside of the house was one lone room filled with a table and cooking utensils. Looking around, she spotted some rope resting on a chair. Perfect.
She grabbed it and turned around, only to run head first into Erik's imposing chest.
"Where do you think you're going, girl?" His eyes flitted down to the rope in her hands. "What do you need that for?"
"For this."
Rapunzel was always a quick thinker – it had to do with all her training from the Academy after she escape Gothel. Within seconds, she noticed a hook above the door, so she threw the rope around the hook and using momentum, she swung herself past Erik, climbing up the rope so he couldn't catch her. She hoped that Eugene would find that impressive. No, she knew he would.
Erik watched in confusion as she swung right out of his house.
But that didn't keep him from comping after her.
With the rope in her hands, she ran through the village, Erik hot on her heels. It only took him a couple of seconds to reach her. Grabbing her around the waist, he pulled her flush to him.
"I should throw you back in that well for thinking you can steal from me."
With another quick thought, Rapunzel threw the rope around Erik's throat and pulled. He gagged, loosening his grip on her. It was just enough for her to resume running.
"Grab her!" he shouted at his men.
Rapunzel dodged and ducked as the Viking men tried to grab her but she was faster and smaller than them. It worked in her favor.
They were right behind her though as she went running for the well. She had no idea how she was going to get Va'oria out without the men catching them but she'd worry about that when she needed to.
She was panting hard as she reached the well and threw the rope down. "Grab it!"
Va'oria stared up at her in shock before she did as Rapunzel said. Rapunzel braced herself against the well as Va'oria climbed. Her hands were shaking from holding onto the rope. Va'oria wasn't the smallest of people.
Rapunzel felt someone behind her grab the rope. Looking back, she saw it was Masked Lady.
"You're going to get yourself killed. That's the only reason I'm helping."
Rapunzel nodded her thanks. Together, the two of them held onto the rope as Va'oria climbed.
The Vikings were getting closer. They didn't have much time.
Va'oria reached the top of the well and Rapunzel pulled her out.
"We have to leave. Now!" Masked Lady shouted.
Before Rapunzel could run, she was hit with a memory, stopping her dead in her tracks.
1925, Chicago
Rapunzel detangled herself from Eugene's arms, slipped her bra and underwear back on, and headed into the bathroom of their hotel room.
She sat on the clawfoot bathtub, thinking about everything that had happened in the past twenty-fours hours. Eugene had found her through her future self sending him back here. Al Capone was some sort of creature. And her future self still needed her help.
Looking up, she caught herself in the mirror and an idea hit her.
Back at her time in the Academy, training to be a time-traveler, she was taught all about the powers of a time machine. And one thing a teacher of hers said was that if a time machine ever left you stranded, you'd have to link yourself to it to get it to come back. But in order to do it, you'd have to be in two places at once, which was impossible.
Except…
Rapunzel was stuck in some sort of strange time travel experience with Eugene. It was because of him that made it possible for her to be in two places at once.
She was here in 1925 but her future self was… wherever. Eugene still hadn't told her where. But the point was – she and her future self were moving at the same time because of Eugene.
She ran over to the mirror, staring at herself. If she could connect her mind to her other self then it could send a signal to her tower, which would bring it back to her future self.
But how to do it…
Running back into the room, she searched through her clothes for her own personal mirror.
Eugene stirred on the bed. "What are you doing?"
"I think I figured it out." She found her mirror tangled with her dress, grabbed it, and rushed back to the bathroom.
Eugene followed her, slipping on his pants as he went.
Rapunzel lifted her compact mirror up to the main mirror and held it there, seeing herself reflected in two images.
"I'll ask again," Eugene said, leaning against the doorframe, looking incredibly handsome with nothing but his pants on. Rapunzel pushed that from her mind so she could focus. "What are you doing?"
"I'm linking myself to my future self. I figured out how to get the tower to return to my other self. She'll have the memory come back to her. Now, we just need to wait here until she does the same thing."
"What? Go to a mirror and hold up her own mirror?"
Rapunzel flashed him a smile. "Exactly."
He rubbed a hand down his face. "Did I ever say time travel was weird?"
"All the time. Now we wait."
Eugene stood up straighter. "Uh, Blondie, what if your future self can't access a mirror?"
"Why wouldn't she?"
"Because she's in a time when the mirror wasn't invented yet."
Rapunzel frowned for a moment before brightening back up. "No worries. Any reflective surface will do. Why do you still look worried?"
He sighed deeply. "I can't say. But trust me, where your future self is right now, is not good. I don't think it's going to be as simple as finding any reflective surface."
"Well, I'm not one to give up. Me nor my future self will stop until out tower is returned to us."
Rapunzel looked at herself in both mirrors, hoping that her future self could act quickly.
986, Greenland
Rapunzel stumbled as the memory hit her. Of course. That's it! She pulled her compact mirror out of her corset, giving it a squeeze. Now she only needed to find a reflective surface.
The well.
There was a tiny amount of water at the bottom. She could use that as a reflective surface.
But to do that, she needed to get back down there. But the Vikings were almost upon them.
But it was the only way she could summon her tower.
"What are you doing?" Masked Lady shouted at her. "We need to run now!"
"Rapunzel," Va'oria said. "You promised me you'd help. If the Vikings reach us, we're all dead!"
Rapunzel had a choice: either run and hope she found a still reflective surface. The ocean wouldn't do. Waves were coming and going. The surface needed to be as still as possible.
Or, crawl back down that well and summon her tower.
But to do that would mean letting the Vikings catch them. And she promised Va'oria that she'd help her. Getting recaptured by the people who killed her family wasn't helping her.
And yet, it was the only option that made sense.
"I'm sorry," she said to Va'oria. She climbed back over the well and began to descend.
"What are you doing?" screeched Masked Lady.
"I'm saving us," she called back up.
"You're not saving anyone," the deep voice of Erik said as he came riding up to them on his horse. A group of Vikings surrounded the well, all of them pointing their swords directly at her. The Vikings finally reached them.
Rapunzel froze. No, she was so close. She could drop down and quickly try to summon her tower.
But then a Viking brought forth Va'oria, his sword at her neck.
"Don't hurt her!" Rapunzel shouted.
Erik leaned over the well to look at her. "If you don't come back up right now, I'll kill her right here, right now. And I saw how you tried to save that one man. Something tells me you don't stand by and let anyone get killed. Come on up, girl."
"What are you going to do to us?"
"I'll make your deaths quick if you come up. But if you try anything again, I'll make all of you suffer."
"Rapunzel, you promised me," Va'oria said, glaring down at her. "You promised me!"
She flinched at the bat woman's words. She did promise to help her but now they were all caught by the Vikings. And she was no closer to getting her tower back.
She knew if she dropped to the bottom of the well, the Vikings would only kill her and Va'oria and probably Masked Lady instantly. And she needed time to link to her past self to summon the tower.
So, there was only one choice.
Rapunzel gritted her teeth as she climbed back out of the well.
If she could improvise, she'd find another way to save herself and Va'oria. She just needed time.
Both Va'oria and Masked Lady were being held by two burly men. Erik kept his eyes on Rapunzel as she landed before him.
"You thought you could get past me," he said, eyeing her over.
"I did."
Erik guffawed. "You are not afraid of me, girl?"
Oh, she was terrified but there was no use in showing it. "You don't want to kill us."
"I don't? I don't like people, especially women, telling me what to do."
"You don't want to kill us because we're valuable to you."
Erik sniffed. "Maybe that one." He nodded at Masked Lady. "She's a good fuck." Masked Lady bristled at this. "But what can you bring, girl?"
Rapunzel stood up straighter. "You were right. When we first met, you asked if I was a sorceress. Well, I am."
The Vikings surrounding them all began to murmur, looking at each other uneasily.
"I have the power to know your future."
Erik huffed, crossing his arms. "Do you now?"
"I do. And I can prove it. Don't you want to know you future, Erik the Red? Don't you want to know what kind of legacy you leave behind?"
Erik eyed her over for a moment before giving a sharp nod. "I would like to know. If you can prove it, I'll let you live. But if you can't, let me just kill you now and save everyone the trouble."
"I can prove it. All I need is a reflective surface. A still one."
"Fine." He nodded at his men. "Take them back to the village." He strode ahead on his horse.
Va'oria glared at Rapunzel as they walked. "You promised me you'd help me."
"I am. This is how I can help you."
"By taking me back to the people who killed me family? You're not different from all the other humans." She turned away from Rapunzel.
Masked Lady sidled up next to her. "Looks like your new friend hates you. Not surprising. I hate you. You're not very likable."
The only thing Rapunzel could feel as she was herded back to the village was shame.
1925, Chicago
Rapunzel lowered her mirror. "It's not working."
Flynn rubbed her arms. "Maybe you just need to keep trying."
"I have been trying for the past hour. If me and my future self share the same memories, then she should have found a way to link herself to me by now. But she's not. Which means that something went wrong to my future self."
Flynn's heart constricted in fear. He desperately wanted to try his watch again and see if it would send him back to 986 so he could save Rapunzel but he knew it was a moot point. It wouldn't work. He could only trust that the Rapunzel he was with now would still be able to save the Rapunzel he knew.
"Well, instead of waiting," he said, "maybe we should try to figure out what's going on with Capone."
She sighed, leaning into him. "Ok. You're right. That's one thing I know how to do."
"Well, I for one, vote to not go back to his house. I'm not in the mood to get sucked on by…whatever the hell he is."
"I agree. We need to get him in a public space. He might be less likely to try something."
"Public space it is."
They walked back into the bedroom and started getting dressed.
"He does own the speakeasy we were at earlier in the night," Rapunzel said. "He might go back there, especially if he's luring people out to eat them."
"Question." Flynn slipped his pants up his legs. "If you've been spending all this time with Capone, why haven't you noticed anything strange?"
"Good point." She went still. "Why did he never try to eat me?"
Flynn coughed. "I don't even want to think about that."
Rapunzel frowned at him before realization dawned in her eyes. "Eugene, don't be gross."
"Hey, you said it, not me."
She righted her dress once it was on. "Why did he never try to drink from me? I don't get that. If that isn't Capone, then why act like Capone?"
"Unless it is Capone and he's just possessed by a demon or something."
"Demon's don't exist."
He raised an eyebrow. "You sure about that?"
She laughed slightly as she swatted his arm. "No more talk about demons. Let's go back to the speakeasy and see if he'll show up. There, we'll confront him."
"Here's hoping he shows."
An hour later, he did.
Flynn and Rapunzel were nestled in a back corner of the speakeasy, listening to another jazz singer sing the blues. People were drinking away, since they couldn't get it upside without getting in trouble.
When Capone walked in, Flynn and Rapunzel got to work on their plan.
They joined a couple of other people on the dance floor and held each other as they swayed in time to the music. They wanted to draw Capone's attention to them.
And it worked.
He narrowed his eyes when he saw them, striding right over to them. "What is the meaning of this? Why are you dancing with him?"
Rapunzel smiled at Capone. "Because I like him better than you."
The anger that passed over Capone's face was chilling. What Flynn wasn't expecting was a fist straight to his face.
He doubled back, clutching at his nose. "Not the nose, man. Anything but the nose."
People glanced in their direction but when they saw that it was Capone, they avoided looking.
Capone grabbed Flynn by the back of his jacket. "You don't get to mess around with my girl."
"Newsflash: she ain't your girl."
Another fist came in Flynn's direction but this time, he was ready for it. He ducked at the last moment and barreled into Capone, knocking him onto his back.
Rapunzel placed her foot on Capone's stomach, keeping him in place. "Tell us who you are."
"I'm Al Capone, doll. And you're messing with the wrong man."
"You're not Al Capone. You're something else. Just tell me."
Capone shot her a cocky grin. "I've been waiting for this moment. I thought getting you alone would work but it didn't. You never figured it out."
"Figured what out?" she asked.
Flynn was seriously considering punching Capone in the freaking face.
Capone opened his mouth to speak when someone yelled, "The fuzz! The fuzz are coming!"
People scattered to leave.
"What the hell is the fuzz?" Flynn asked.
"The police," Rapunzel explained.
Capone began to laugh so hard, his face turned red. "If you don't leave now, you're gonna get arrested."
Rapunzel dug her heel into Capone's stomach, making the mobster groan. "So will you. So, if you want any chance of escape, then tell us who you are."
"It would just be easier for me to show you. Besides, she's been waiting centuries to meet you again."
Rapunzel frowned. "Meet me again?"
Flynn looked between her and Capone. "Meet who?"
"I'll show you," Capone said. "But you got to let me up."
Rapunzel nodded, easing her foot off him. But that was a mistake. Capone grabbed Rapunzel's ankle, making her drop onto her back.
Flynn pounced on Capone, finally punching him in the face like he'd been itching to do.
The loud sound of footsteps as people ran out of the speakeasy were a cacophony of noise. Combined with all the shouting, it was chaos.
Rapunzel sat up, rubbing her back.
"You ok?" he asked her.
"I'm fine. Let's just get out of here." She grabbed Capone's arm with Flynn grabbing the other. Capone fought them but the moment a couple of police officers ran into the room, he quickly became complacent.
"We've got to run!" Rapunzel said, following the large crowd of people. The police were shouting for order and were trying to grab people. Some managed to slip away, others got caught.
They were running up the stairs to the outside door when one of the officers spotted them. "Stop them! That's Capone!"
"Get me out of here," Capone hissed at Rapunzel and Flynn.
"We're trying, buddy," Flynn snapped back. "But you're not exactly fast on your feet."
Capone glared at him. Flynn glared back.
Rapunzel rushed ahead and opened the door, motioning them through. Once they were on the other side, she grabbed a broom resting against the wall and pressed it against the doorknob, keeping the police from following them.
"That should hold them for a moment," Rapunzel said. "But we need to leave." She turned to Capone. "And you're going to take us to this woman and tell us who you really are."
Capone sighed. "Fine. She's been dying to see you again. She's not exactly happy I was having my fun with you."
"I don't care," Rapunzel replied. "Just take us to her."
"This way." He motioned for them to follow him. With a last exchanging of looks, Rapunzel and Flynn set off to meet Capone's mystery woman.
Capone took them to a shabby house in a not so safe neighborhood, judging by all the looks they were getting as they walked by.
Flynn pulled Rapunzel closer to him.
"What are you doing?" she asked.
"Trying to protect you."
"You're sweet." She gave him a kiss on the cheek for his efforts. Flynn found that to be a win.
"Right this way," Capone said, leading them into the house. Flynn coughed the moment he stepped inside. The entire front of the house was filled with dust and mold. He could barely breathe.
"Blondie, are we walking straight to our deaths here?"
"Only if you think we're in a horror movie."
He shuddered when he saw a spider scuttle past him up a wall. "Oh, I think we're definitely in a horror movie."
"She's right in here," Capone said, leading them into the kitchen.
At the table sat a woman.
But she wasn't just any woman.
She looked like she was a cross between a human and bat. Rapunzel had never seen this woman in her life before.
The bat woman perked up when she saw them enter the room. Her eyes rested right on Rapunzel. She smiled savagely and when she spoke, there was no warmth to her voice. "I've waited so many years for this. I'm glad to see you again, Rapunzel."
Until Saturday!
