Rapunzel felt like she was floating. She was in the real world and in limbo. Stuck between two different places.

She knew the minute one of Connie's bugs had stung her that she would get mind-controlled. She knew Connie had betrayed her good will. But Rapunzel refused to kill someone unless it was absolutely necessary.

She watched from her own mind as Eugene demanded Connie let Rapunzel go. Connie told him that she wouldn't and killing her would only kill Rapunzel.

So, Rapunzel knew her only way out of this mind-control funk she was in was herself. She'd find a way.

But Connie had her body in a paralysis mode. She couldn't move but she could still think and hear and see.

"Where are we?" Eugene demanded, glaring at Connie.

The Gronen shrugged. "I'm not sure exactly. But judging from what's outside, it doesn't look like anything is out there so you might as well bring me back to New York and save yourself the trouble. You're never going to figure out where your blonde friend was trying to take me."

"Rapunzel was trying to take her," Eugene said with full disdain as he looked at Connie, "to a planet called Pozolla." He turned to Varian. "Can you figure out the coordinates?"

Varian looked down at Rapunzel's desk. "I can try but I've never seen this kind of technology before. I don't know how to find the original coordinates Rapunzel put in. It might take me a while." He glanced at Rapunzel. "Can we find a way to bring her out of the mind-control?"

"How?" Eugene asked. "With you, we pulled out all of the wires and that did the trick and with Lance, Connie let him go. But it's clear she's not letting Rapunzel go. I don't know how to help her."

Try! Rapunzel wanted to shout. She knew Eugene was starting to give up. That was something she learned about him the longer she knew him – when times got tough, he doubted himself. But she also knew that he was capable of extraordinary things.

She knew him as a cowboy, and as friend to Shakespeare, and as the man who saved her from getting hanged. The man who gave Rapunzel her first kiss. The man who showed her there was more to life than just existing. The man she loved.

Eugene wouldn't give up on her. Not even this version of him who was still new to her in some ways. This was a version who was younger by a few months – one who hadn't gone on the journey he would go on.

She knew in her gut, in her heart, in every fiber of her being that Eugene would find a way to save her again. He always did.

And in the meantime, she'd start working on ways to save herself.

Eugene stormed over to Connie. "Let Rapunzel go."

Connie looked up at him with a smirk on her face. "No."

He smiled back. "Then let's see what this new place has to offer. It's a wasteland out there. Something tells me that you need more than sand to stay alive. So, let's take a look around, shall we?" After untying Connie, he hoisted her out of the chair.

"But if I die, then so does Rapunzel," Connie said. "And you can't risk that. You'll never find your way home."

Eugene's lips formed a sneer. "You think I'm worried about finding my way home? No. I'm worried that Rapunzel will remain mind-controlled forever and trust me when I say, I won't let that happen. Rapunzel is the best of us and I'm going to get her back."

Rapunzel's heart fluttered. All she wanted to do was run into Eugene's arms and kiss him. But even if she wasn't mind-controlled, she wasn't sure that he would let her do that. He was holding back because all of this was still new for him. She understood that but it still broke her heart every time she remembered that.

"Besides," Eugene continued, "I'm calling your bluff. I think if you die, then Rapunzel will be fine. She told me that if a Gronen dies, then their mind-control over others is removed. So, let's see if I'm right."

"You're really willing to risk that?" Connie asked.

"I'm willing to try anything at this point. But I will not lose Rapunzel again."

Again? Eugene has never lost her before. Which meant… will something happen to her in the future? Does something happen to her today?

She couldn't worry about that. She needed to focus on saving herself while Eugene worked on a way to save her.

"Come on," he said, pushing Connie towards the door. "Let's go. Lance, you're coming with me. Bring Rapunzel. Varian, stay back and figure out a way to reverse the coordinates on Rapunzel's time machine."

"You got it," Varian said in a weary tone.

Lance gently grabbed Rapunzel's arm and started guiding her towards the door. It was strange, like she could sense she was moving but she had no control over her own body.

They exited the tower and stepped into sand. The entire place before them was just that – sand. Rapunzel couldn't tell if they were in a desert on Earth or a desert on a different planet.

She really hoped it was desert on Earth because she had heard stories when she was in the academy about deserts on a couple different planets and none of them sounded any fun. Scorpions and heat strokes didn't compare to the things she had learned about other planets' deserts. She didn't even want to consider that as an option.

Eugene pushed Connie forward and she fell straight onto her hands and knees. With a sigh, he bent over to grab her when Connie lashed out at his face. Eugene jerked back.

"What the hell?" he said as Connie stood up and started running away.

"Uh, Flynn," Lance said, "I think our prisoner is escaping."

Eugene leveled Lance with a look. "No shit. But we're in a desert. There's only so many places she can go." He picked up his pace as he ran after Connie. Lance guided Rapunzel next to him as they followed.

Connie glanced back and when she saw them following her, tried running faster. She was running, running, running, then…

She disappeared.

Eugene skidded to a stop and looked down. And laughed.

When Lance and Rapunzel reached his side, Rapunzel saw that they were standing on the edge of a small cliff. And Connie had fallen right off and rolled right down it. She was sitting on her butt, looking embarrassed.

"Who's the big bad alien now?' Eugene taunted. Lance chuckled. Rapunzel wanted to scold Eugene for making a joke at an inappropriate time but she also found it kind of funny. Too bad she couldn't show it.

"Lance, go down there and get her."

"Why me?" Lance asked, stepping away from the cliff.

"Because you're taller and stronger. I'm man enough to admit that. So, now, go get her."

Lance rolled his eyes as he lowered himself over the cliff and down the sand wall. Eugene grabbed Rapunzel's arm.

"I'm gonna get you back," he said to her in a low voice. "I promise."

She wanted to tell him that she was still here.

Lance reached Connie and lifted her up. "You're just making this harder on yourself."

Connie spit in Lance's face.

"Woah," Lance said, jerking back. "No need to be mean about it."

The sand rippled around Lance and Connie. Rapunzel recognized that sign immediately. She had learned about it back in her training. Just from that, she knew what planet they were on and it wasn't Earth.

She imagined herself closing her hands into fists… and then she felt her actual hands move into that position. She could have gasped for joy if she could. Maybe she still had some control over her body yet.

When the sand settled, Rapunzel knew something bad was going to happen.

The sound of a loud groan filled the air as the sand parted and two very large aliens popped up. They resembled a hippo with some human hybrid features. They were huge creatures with even bigger guns.

And they had them pointed at Lance and Connie.

"Those are some ugly-ass aliens," Eugene muttered, his hand tightening on her arm.

At the sound of his voice, the aliens pointed their guns up at him and Rapunzel.

"Shit," he muttered.

She knew who these aliens were. Zildur. A very violent race of aliens who didn't hesitate to kill people. Usually by eating them.

They lunged right for Lance and Connie and grabbed them before they could run away.

Eugene started sprinting in the other direction, dragging Rapunzel along with him, but the sand slowed them both way down. The Zildur grabbed them next.

"Where are you taking us?" Eugene demanded as the Zildur marched them all forward into the desert.

"To our camp," growled one of them. Judging by the way they looked, one was female and one was male. Not that you could really tell the difference.

"And then what?" Lance asked.

Connie sighed. "They're going to kill us."

Eugene whipped his head towards Connie. "How do you know that?"

"Because I know that these are Zildur and I know they eat humans. There's a lot of different species that live in this galaxy, boy. You should really learn a thing or two."

Eugene grumbled under his breath.

The Zildur walked them through the desert – which was something Rapunzel would have rather avoided – until they reached the Zildur's camp. 'Camp' being a subjective word. This wasn't your typical campsite of tents and fires.

This place was huge, with structures and buildings all around. And Zildur were everywhere. They saw the group of humans enter their camp and gave them all hungry looks. Rapunzel felt a shiver go over her. Would they die today? She couldn't stand the thought of living in a world without Eugene.

The Zildur walked them to a very large building that looked like it was something out of the apocalypse. Crumbling walls, tan brick, spray-paint everywhere.

Inside, the building was no better. They were marched into a kitchen area where the Zildur tied each of them up and forced them to sit on the dirty floor.

"Is that blood?" Eugene asked, pointing at a spot on the ground. "I really hope it's not blood."

Rapunzel couldn't move her head but she could still see and what she saw before her made her entire body go cold. A large rotisserie over an open flame. And on the rotisserie was… a human body. The person was already long dead. Rapunzel couldn't even tell if the human was male or female.

But there was no denying it – Rapunzel and her group were in a world of trouble if they didn't get out of this predicament soon.

"That's a body," Lance whispered to Flynn. He was amazed that someone like Lance, with such a deep voice, could possibly whisper.

"That is," Flynn commented back. "And I really want to get out of here before we turn out like that poor sucker. So, anyone, any ideas?"

Lance and Connie were silent.

Flynn looked at Rapunzel, in her mind-controlled state, and desperately wished she was here with him. She would know what to do. She probably already knew who the Zildur were and how to defeat them.

But it was up to him since he knew Lance had no freaking clue what was going on and Connie… well, she made it clear she had no plans to help them out.

A Zildur walked into the room, looked at them, grunted, and turned to the body over the fire and turned the spit, getting the top half of the human fried and crispy.

Flynn could feel Lance gulp beside him.

The Zildur pointed at Lance. "You will taste delicious once you're in my stomach." Lance flinched back and the Zildur laughed as it left the room.

"How can I understand what it's saying?" Lance asked as he leaned in close to Flynn. "I'm assuming aliens have their own language."

"They do. But Rapunzel's time machine helps translate things. Don't ask me how. It just does. Same as the device Varian made." He showed Lance his watch.

"I can't believe you've been out time-traveling these past few months… and you didn't ask me to join you!" Lance quieted down when another Zildur came into the kitchen and rotated the human before leaving again.

"I know," Flynn said once the Zildur was gone. "But it's only fit for one person."

Connie eyed Flynn's watch hungrily. "If you just gave that over to me, I'd let Rapunzel go."

Flynn scoffed. "Nice try. That's not happening." He turned to Rapunzel and spoke to her in a low voice. "I know you're in there. Give me a sign. Something. Anything." But Rapunzel didn't move. Her eyes were still glazed over. Flynn felt his heart constrict. He couldn't lose her – not again. Not ever.

"So," he said to distract himself from the pain of not having Rapunzel with him even though she was right next to him, "we need to get out of here."

"If you didn't notice," Connie said in her incredibly annoying voice, "we're tied up. How are we going to take on a Zildur, let alone hundreds of them?"

"We'll figure it out. They have guns. We just need to get our hands on one of them. I'll distract the next one that comes in, Lance you help me grab the gun, and then we'll fight our way out. It's our only play we have. Varian doesn't know where we are to help us. This is our only chance."

"Sounds good to me," Lance said. "But… why do I have to help grab the gun? I'd really rather not interact with the scary humanoid hippos, thank you very much."

"Because I can't do this on my own," Flynn responded. "Unless Connie can use some of her mind-control powers on them. That would sure come in handy right now."

She sighed. "I used my last bug on Rapunzel. I don't have any other ways to mind-control them. So, nope, sorry."

Flynn leaned over Lance to talk to her. "You're in this with us too, you know. If you want any chance of escaping, you need to help us."

Connie sneered at him before she rolled her eyes. "Fine. I'll help. I don't want to die anyway. Besides, you're still not sure if I die, Rapunzel won't die herself. You're not going to risk my death any time soon."

Dammit. She was right. He really didn't know if she died, would Rapunzel die along with her? He just wanted to get out of here, make sure Rapunzel was safe, and send Connie off to Pozolla where she could feast on all the energy sources she wanted without hurting anyone else. The only problem was – he had no clue were Pozolla was. They needed Rapunzel for that.

Another Zildur entered the room – or was it the same one? They were all very hard to tell apart.

Now was the time.

"Hey, Hippo!" Flynn shouted, drawing the attention of the Zildur. "Yeah, you. I want a word with you."

"I am not a hippo" he shouted in a deep voice.

"Calm down, buddy. It was only a joke."

"That's a female," Connie said out of the corner of her mouth,

Flynn raised an eyebrow. "That's a woman?"

"The Zildur are hard to tell apart."

"Huh. Ok." Flynn looked back at the Zildur. "Sorry, ma'am. I just want to talk."

"I am neither a ma'am," she said, still in a deep voice.

"Well, you don't sound like one personally to me." Flynn could tell he was pissing her off more and more by every word he spoke. He only hoped she would come closer so he could grab her gun and not have her decide to just blow his head off right there and now. "You sound like a right old hippo."

Steam literally flared out of her nostrils as she stormed over to him. "I. Am. Not. A. Hippo!"

She got close enough within range for him to grab the gun. The one problem was – the gun was pointed right at him.

The Zildur cock the gun and aimed it at Flynn's head. "You're next on the menu."

Flynn looked over at Rapunzel, wishing he could say a real goodbye to her.

He heard the Zildur grunt and the gun dropped to the ground. Flynn looked back. Lance was standing up and barreling his body straight into the Zildur, again and again. That's what made her drop the gun.

Flynn scrambled for it, even with his tied-up hands, grabbed it and aimed at the Zildur. He blasted her with it and she fell back, straight into the fire.

There was a moment of silence.

Then: "We have to hurry," Flynn said, standing up. Lance was already grabbing a knife. He cut off Flynn's ties before Flynn helped him. When Connie held out her hands, Flynn scoffed.

"We're leaving you tied up," he remarked as he bent down to untie Rapunzel. He lifted her up to stand. "We're getting out of here. Lance, make sure Rapunzel is safe." Lance nodded and stood protectively by Rapunzel's side as Flynn took the lead.

Connie muttered under her breath, something probably insulting.

They reached the door of the kitchen when the door flew back and smacked right into Flynn. He stumbled and almost lost hold of the gun.

The Zildur that entered the room was massive. He lashed out a hand and hit Connie square in the stomach, sending her flying back against the wall. She hit it with a crunch. Flynn winced. That did not sound good.

He glanced back at Rapunzel as she doubled over, almost in pain. Oh no. Flynn knew right then and there that Connie did something to make her and Rapunzel linked. If Connie got hurt, then Rapunzel did too.

Flynn blasted the Zildur out of the way but the son of a bitch didn't go down with just one shot. Flynn had to use two, then three shots before the huge Zildur slumped to the ground.

He had a decision to make. He could try fighting his way out, risking Rapunzel along the way or…

He could send Connie back to New York. It would spare Connie's life long enough to keep Rapunzel safe. It meant sending her back to a place where she could hurt millions of people. Rapunzel would absolutely refuse if Flynn did that to save her life.

But if Rapunzel was dead, then they were all definitely stuck here. At least, if Connie was gone, Rapunzel would be safe, they could get back to the time machine, grab Connie again and this time, send her ass to Pozolla.

It was the only thing that made sense.

Flynn would probably never see his watch again, meaning he'd probably never time travel again once he got back home. Sure, Rapunzel had a time machine but it was clear that their lives, while interconnected, were not exactly on the same timeline. If she wanted to go to Versailles, then he couldn't go with her because he couldn't interact with his past self.

He'd just have to figure all of that out later.

For now, all he cared about was making sure Rapunzel was safe.

He ran over to Connie, took off his watch, and wrapped it around her wrist.

She lifted her head. "What are you doing?" she asked in a tired voice. Blood was on the wall behind her. She got hit hard.

"I'm saving your ass. You better make sure Rapunzel is safe because of me." He plugged in the destination – New York City, 2023. "Or, I will kill you myself." He pushed the button before Connie could say anything.

Connie disappeared before his eyes.

Flynn staggered back.

"What did you do?" Lance asked.

"I'm trying to save Rapunzel," he admitted.

"But what about us?"

"We just can't get ourselves killed."

Lance huffed. "You make it sound easy."

"Hey." He grabbed Lance's arm. "How many tough situations have we been in where we almost thought we weren't going to make it out?"

"Too many to count."

Flynn smiled. "Exactly. We were a good team… before I left you to go time-traveling around the galaxy." Lance shook his head but he was smiling. "If anyone can make it out of this, it's us. Make sure nothing touches Rapunzel."

Lance stood ups straighter. "Got it."

Flynn cocked the gun. "Let's go."

They slowly left the kitchen, keeping an eye out for any more Zildur heading their way. The hallway was clear but that probably wouldn't last for long.

They began to run down it, not bothering with stealth anymore. Flynn would shoot any huge-ass humanoid hippos that came his way.

A Zildur rounded the corner and saw them, shouted for them to stop, and raised its gun. Flynn shot it down. He still wasn't sure if it was male or female. Damn. He couldn't imagine what it would be like if no one could distinguish him from a woman. That would be a sad day for women all around the world.

They were close to the lobby of the building when a loud round of footsteps came right towards them. Within seconds, a group of Zildur had them surrounded.

That wasn't good.

Flynn waved his gun around. "Let us go and I won't shoot any more of you."

The group of Zildur laughed, like he was a mouse threatening an elephant.

"You're not making it out of here," one Zildur said, coming closer to him. The Zildur's eyes flicked over Flynn's shoulder. He felt someone move closer to his back.

He turned around and saw another Zildur getting ready to shoot him. There was no time for him to defend himself.

Someone slammed into the Zildur, knocking it to the side, causing the shot to miss Flynn by an inch. He jerked out of the way.

To Flynn's astonishment, it wasn't Lance who knocked the Zildur to the side.

It was Rapunzel.

She turned to him with a smile. "Miss me?"

Rapunzel was in her mind-controlled state when she saw the Zildur sneaking up behind Eugene. She knew if she didn't do something, he'd most likely die. He already sacrificed his own time-travel device for Connie to save Rapunzel's life. He did that for her. She wouldn't take it for granted.

Eugene was still getting used to the idea of them but he was already showing signs of the Eugene she knew from before. The Eugene she fell in love with.

The one who was willing to be selfless to save her.

She felt a flicker at the back of her mind, like something tickling the inside of her brain. It grew stronger the closer the Zildur got to Eugene. She only had seconds but it felt like years.

Rapunzel focused everything she had on that flickering sensation. She knew what it was – her own conscious. Her own self. She was breaking through Connie's mind-control. Rapunzel figured it also helped that Connie was far away, lessening the hold she had on Rapunzel.

She only had a couple more seconds.

If Rapunzel wanted to save Eugene, she had to do it now.

With a burst of strength, she let the flicker grow into an inferno inside her mind. She gasped as the last of the mind-control left her. She was free. Connie would never be able to control her again.

So, Rapunzel did what she did best.

She saved people.

Channeling as much strength as she could in her body, Rapunzel slammed into the Zildur coming up behind Eugene. The Zildur – a male – fired his gun and missed Eugene by an inch.

Eugene looked at her with wide eyes as everyone else in the room went quiet.

She turned to him with a smile. "Miss me?"

"You don't even know it," he said breathlessly.

"I know a little."

He frowned but before he could ask her more – because Rapunzel knew Eugene always had questions – a female Zildur came running up behind him.

"Watch out!" Rapunzel shouted. She ran straight for the Zildur and used Lance's body as a spring board to jump onto the Zildur's back. Lance yelped. She hit the Zildur in the back of the neck, which stunned her. The female Zildur fell down and Rapunzel landed with grace on her feet.

That spurred Eugene into action. He began firing his stolen gun, and kicking and punching when that didn't work. Lance, being the huge guy he was, was able to attack the surrounding Zildur with a strength that impressed Rapunzel. He grabbed one of the guns and started firing it off himself.

"If you aim for their necks, it will stun them!" Rapunzel shouted as she ran up behind a Zildur and karate-chopped it on the back of its neck. It fell to the ground.

Eugene and Lance took her advice and soon, they had the advantage. They were able to take out the surrounding Zildur until all of them were on the ground, either passed out or dead.

"We have to move," Rapunzel said. "More will be coming." She picked up a gun for herself and the three of them hurried out of the building. They stuck to the shadows as they worked their way through the camp.

They leaned against a wall as two Zildur walked past without even looking in their direction. Rapunzel felt Eugene's strong, lithe body next to hers. She leaned in closer to him and he grabbed her hand, giving it a squeeze. That subtle movement filled her heart with so much joy.

They made it to the edge of camp but there was a problem. Only an open desert was before them. If any of the Zildur spotted them, there would be no way to hide.

"What do we do?" Lance whispered.

Eugene looked at Rapunzel. "Thinking what I'm thinking?"

She smiled. "We cause a distraction?"

"That's the only way apparently." He winked at her.

Near them was a rickety building ready to fall down at any moment. Fortunately, the Zildur had a ton of firepits around the area. If they could just light the building on fire…

"So, how are we even going to get to the fire in the first place?" Lance asked, after they went over the plan. They were hiding behind the rickety building, keeping an eye on a nearby firepit.

"The moment that Zildur leaves," Rapunzel said, pointing at the female Zildur who was tending to the fire, "we grab that stick" – she pointed to one on the ground – "and we light it on fire. Then we light this building on fire."

"Sounds good to me," Lance responded.

So, they waited for the Zildur to leave. And waited. And waited.

"I'd check my watch right now to see how much time has passed," Eugene muttered, "But, oh, that's right – I gave it to Connie. Freaking Connie."

"I saw," Rapunzel whispered back.

"You saw?"

She nodded. "I was still myself in there. I could see and hear everything that was going on… I just couldn't do anything about it. That's how I knew you missed me."

Eugene actually looked a little embarrassed. She had never seen him look like that before. It was cute.

Before she could tease him about it, the Zildur finally left the firepit, giving them their chance.

"Let's go," she whispered, heading over to it, staying crouched. Eugene and Lance followed.

She grabbed the nearest stick, stuck it in the fire, and after it was lit, threw it at the rickety building. It went up in flames instantly.

It only took moments for the Zildur to notice and to start shouting orders to put it out.

"That's our cue," Eugene said, grabbing Rapunzel's hand.

They raced off into the desert.

They made it to Rapunzel's tower after running through the desert all night. When Flynn saw the tower, he thought he could cry. Not that he'd ever admit that to anyone.

They hurried inside. Varian was still bent over Rapunzel's computer. "I got it!" he said. "I figured out Rapunzel's last coordinates." He turned to them with a smile, which quickly disappeared when he realized that Rapunzel wasn't mind-controlled anymore.

"Impressive," Rapunzel said to him. "But we're going to New York. We have to get Connie back."

"Get Connie back? Where did she go?"

"Eugene gave her your time-machine watch."

Varian's mouth gaped open. "Why?"

Everyone looked at Flynn. He shrugged. "It's not important. What's important is we need to get her back and actually take her to Pozolla." For some reason, he didn't feel like announcing to everyone the reason he gave the watch to Connie. He suspected Rapunzel knew the exact reason but that wasn't for Varian or Lance's ears.

Rapunzel nudged Varian over so she could take reign of the controls and within seconds, they were back in New York. Flynn could tell from looking out the window – he'd recognize those skyscrapers and dirty smelly air anywhere.

"What did you guys go through back there?" Varian asked. "You were gone for hours."

Lance patted Varian on the shoulder. "I'll tell you later."

"I tracked Connie here," Rapunzel said, pointing to a spot on her monitor. "She's in the Empire State Building."

Unfortunately, Rapunzel didn't park her tower right outside the Empire State Building but instead in Central Park so they had to walk the three miles to get there. Normally, that would be nothing in New York but they were under a time crunch. Who knew what Connie was getting up to while they were battling Zildur on a whole other freaking planet?

"Do you know exactly where in the building she is?" Varian asked as they entered it.

"No clue," Rapunzel admitted. "My tracking technology isn't that detailed."

"Let's split up," Flynn said. "Varian and Lance, you take the first half of the building. Rapunzel and I will take the second half."

"What do we do if we find her?" Varian asked, ringing his hands.

Flynn shrugged. "Knock her out."

Rapunzel and Flynn ran over to the elevators but the person working there – an older man who looked way too happy working with tourists - told them they needed tickets to go up to the observation decks. Rapunzel flashed her mirror at the employee and his eyes glazed over before they settled back on Rapunzel.

"You're from the Department of Justice."

Rapunzel rolled with it like it was nothing to her. "Yep. And we need to get upstairs. Now."

The man nodded and let them inside the elevator. It was a long trip up to the top. As they stood in the elevator, all Flynn could think about was how much he wanted to hug Rapunzel. How much he wanted to ask her about staying here in New York with him in the present day.

But he needed to save that for another time.

They reached the top observation deck and ran out, searching for Connie.

"Found her," Rapunzel said, pointing near the far end.

"How come she hasn't mind-controlled anyone else around us?" Flynn asked. "Another game she's playing?"

"I'm not sure."

They hurried over to Connie. Before Flynn could grab her and knock her out, Connie sighed and turned to face them, holding her hands up. "I'm not going to fight you."

"Why not?" Flynn asked.

"Because… you gave me this." She pointed at the watch on her wrist. "You saved my life. I know you were doing it just to save her." She nodded at Rapunzel. "But you still saved my life. No one has ever done that for me before. You knew I'd most likely run off with it but you sacrificed your one chance at freedom from the Zildur to save me." Her eyes met Flynn's. "I've never experienced someone being selfless like that."

Flynn was speechless. This was the last thing he had been expecting.

Rapunzel stepped forward. "Are you saying that you'll come with us to Pozolla willingly?"

"There's really a power source that will save me?"

Rapunzel touched Connie's arm. "There is."

"And you'd still do that for me even though I don't deserve it?"

"Yes," Rapunzel said simply. "Because that's the kind of people we are. We do good. We save people. Even at the expense of ourselves."

Flynn tried not to flinch at Rapunzel's words. All he could picture was her lying lifeless in his arms after she did everything she could to save the people of Versailles.

"Then take me away. Everyone is free from my mind-control, so you don't have to worry." Connie said. "I'm ready to go."

Flynn held onto Connie's arm tightly as they took her back downstairs. She might be claiming that she's a renewed person but he wasn't taking any chances.

They found Lance and Varian and as a group, they all walked to Rapunzel's tower. Connie didn't interfere as Rapunzel took them to Pozolla.

The planet Pozolla was covered in tall, white skyscrapers.

"It's an abandoned planet," Rapunzel said. "You'll be able to use the energy it creates to sustain your life. Just don't come after humans again or there might be a different outcome than this."

Connie nodded as she stared out the window. "I understand." She took the watch off her wrist and handed it to Flynn. "I'm assuming you'll want this back."

Flynn looked down at it, wanting nothing more than to take it. But… he wasn't sure he could time-travel again and risk running into Rapunzel over and over again, knowing that she'll know him less and less every time.

"Give it to Varian," he said. "He made it. He should have it."

Connie shrugged and handed it to Varian, who took it gladly. A little too gladly if you asked Flynn.

Connie didn't give them a look back as she left the tower. They watched her walk onto the planet and disappear among the skyscrapers.

"Let's get you guys back to New York," Rapunzel said. Within a minute, they were back home.

They all walked out of the tower and entered a quieter area of Central Park.

"That was wild," Lance said. "But I don't think I'm cut out for aliens. Robbery is more up my speed. So, I'll see you all later. Rapunzel." He kissed her hand which just made Flynn roll his eyes. "Take care of my boy for me."

"I'll try to," she said.

"Varian," he said next. "It was nice seeing you again. And Flynn. Whenever you want to go on another thieving spree, just call me." Lance and Flynn shared a hug before Lance walked away.

Varian started to turn when he stopped and came back to Flynn. "I want to know. Why did you give Connie the watch? That sounded like a stupid decision, if you ask me."

Flynn crossed his arms. "Then it's a good thing I didn't ask you."

"Eugene," Rapunzel said, touching his arm. "You can tell him. I'm curious to hear your exact answer anyway."

He sighed. "Fine." He kept his eyes on Rapunzel. "It… was to save you. You know that. I couldn't risk Connie dying and you dying with her. Simple as that." Rapunzel's eyes watered but she didn't say a word.

"Here," Varian said. When Flynn looked at the little guy, he saw that Varian was holding the watch out to him. "Take it."

"Why?" Flynn asked, not taking it.

"Because…" He sighed. "I'm not brave like you are. I'm a coward. This should be used by someone who will do right by it."

"You do know I used it to steal a ton of shit, don't you?"

Varian shrugged. "I know. But I can tell that you'll use it for good now. You're a changed man, Flynn. If it's obvious to me, it's obvious to anyone. I don't really need it. I'm too scared of most things anyway. Besides, if I want to make a new one, I can just make a new one."

"You're sure?" Flynn asked, grabbing the watch.

Varian nodded definitively. "I'm sure. I'll see you around, Flynn. Rapunzel. Or maybe not." With another nod, he started to walk away until Rapunzel ran over to him and hugged him deeply. Varian tensed for a second before he relaxed into it.

She let him go and came back to Flynn. They watched Varian walk away.

"It's just us now," Rapunzel said. "Eugene, there's something I want to ask you. When I was under Connie's mind-control, you said that you didn't want to lose me again. What did you mean by that?"

He sighed, forcing himself to face her. "You know I can't tell you that."

A flash of pain went through her eyes before she smoothed out her expression. "I understand."

"And you never answer my question. If I didn't have my watch, would you stay in the present with me, like this for… how ever long we wanted?"

She was quiet for a moment before she answered. "I would. I would in a heartbeat."

"But?" He wasn't sure he was breathing.

"But, you already know me. Which means you have to meet me at some point. Which means… I have to continue time-traveling without you and you have to continue time-traveling without me. Until we see each other again, that is. If I stay here with you, forever, then you never meet me for the first time."

"But I already have. We already know each other. Screw the rules of time-travel. We can make our own."

"We tried that before," she whispered. "Time doesn't like it when you break its rules."

He knew she was speaking about a time in her past and his future. It hurt him to think about it every time.

"I have to continue on," she continued. "And so do you."

"So, this is goodbye, huh?" He scratched the back of his head, trying to act cool when he was feeling anything but.

She grabbed his hand. There was that spark again. "It's not goodbye. I'll see you again. And I'm pretty positive you'll see me again."

"But it will be a version of you that knows me less."

"And the same will happen to me, too." She let out a rough breath. "But it will be worth it, Eugene. Trust me."

He nodded as he tried to keep his heart from beating out of his damn chest. "I do trust you. That's what makes it scary. I don't trust easily."

"You'll learn to." She stared up at him and he stared down at her and for just a moment, Flynn considered kissing her. It would be so easy to do. He could just lean down and… do it.

But he knew it would hurt even more to say goodbye if he kissed her.

So, he stepped back instead. Rapunzel had her typical disappointed and resigned face on. Which only made him feel even more like shit.

"Ok," Rapunzel said. "Until we meet again. You know, I always wanted to go check out the Palace of Versailles. I hear it's pretty great."

He almost blurted out the truth – that she dies there.

That was an impossibility though. It could ruin the entire world if she knew she was going to her death.

"Yeah," he could only say. "I have no clue where I'm going next. Hope I see you there."

She gave him a smile and walked into her tower.

Within minutes, she was gone.

Rapunzel plugged the coordinates for the Palace of Versailles, circa 1779.

She knew she was coming to the point where Eugene wouldn't recognize her anymore. When she met him here in New York, she could tell that things were still new for him. Their time was coming to an end and it terrified her.

She just didn't know how many more times she'd meet him before he didn't know her. She also knew that when that day came, her heart would break in half.

But there wasn't anyway for her to stop it.

So, with one final look at Eugene through her window, she pulled the lever and took off in her time machine, heading to the Palace of Versailles.

Until next Saturday!