Stalyan flipped her hair over her shoulder. "Flynn's my fiancé. Or he was before he left me at the altar."
Stalyan's words punched Rapunzel right in the gut. First, Eugene didn't recognize her and now she learned that it was his fiancé who kidnapped her. And to top it all off, she was still strapped to the table and laying on her side because no one bothered to pick her up back up.
The Baron and Stalyan had been gone for hours, searching for her parents. It was only Stalyan and The Baron who had returned so clearly her parents were still out there somewhere. Rapunzel needed to find them to make sure they were ok. Despite how angry she was with them, she still didn't want them to die.
As for Eugene and Cass, they looked the same so she was hoping they took the long path. Rapunzel wouldn't wish what was happening to her on anyone.
"Your fiancé?" Rapunzel asked, wincing as she heard her voice. It was so different. So… old.
"Ex-fiancé," Eugene said, still keeping his eyes on Stalyan. He hadn't looked back down at Rapunzel since Stalyan showed up. "You tried forcing me into a marriage I didn't want all because your father was making me. And speaking of your father, where is he now? Off in a ditch, I hope."
"I'm right here," The Baron said, making Eugene jerk back.
"What?" He whistled. "Damn, you aged badly. What happened?"
"The same thing that happened to her," Stalyan said, nodding at Rapunzel. "They took the short path. It makes you age fast even though your body still feels like it's young. Sad really. My father is looking for a cure. It's great that you two showed up. We needed new people to experiment on." She lunged for Eugene and he backed up quickly before pushing her away.
Cass drew her sword as The Baron went after her. Rapunzel could only watch at the fight went down.
"What the hell is going on?" Eugene said, keeping Stalyan at arm's length, even as she tried striking him with a scalpel.
"My father needs to find a way to reverse the curse," Stalyan said.
"So, you've experimented on people? Jeez. I knew you were a cold-hearted bitch, Stalyan, but this takes the cake." He pushed her back and grabbed a tray off a table and slammed it against her head. She stumbled back and sprawled to the floor, knocked out cold.
Cass managed to land a cut to The Baron's arm. He looked around the room, knowing he was outnumbered and ran away.
Eugene walked over to Rapunzel and grabbed the table. "Cass, help me with this." Between the two of them, they got the table upright and helped Rapunzel undo the ties around her.
"Thanks," she said.
"No problem. Helping old ladies is my specialty." Eugene flashed her a smile but it broke her heart. He still didn't recognize her.
"Eugene, it's me. It's Rapunzel. I took the short path. I'm aging fast like The Baron is."
That pulled Eugene up short and he squinted at her, getting a better look. "No… that can't be. You can't be Rapunzel."
"I know about the Tales of Flynnigan Ryder. I know about Lance. I know about the foster homes you lived in. How your foster mom Sherry was your favorite. I know about the Stabbington brothers. What they made you do. It's me, Eugene. It's me."
The shock on his face was an understatement. "Rapunzel?"
"Yes," she gasped out, sagging in relief. At least he knew it was her. "I'm aging five years every ten minutes. I know I must look over a hundred by now."
He reached out a hand to her and then dropped it before he touched her, which only hurt her more. He was afraid to touch her. "How do we reverse this?"
"There's no cure. The Baron was searching for one. We have to get off this planet. If we leave, it will stop the affect on me but it won't reverse it. At least, I don't think so. I'm… stuck like this."
Eugene couldn't hide the horror in his eyes. "But…"
"Which path did you and Cass chose? Long or short?"
"Long," Cass answered for him.
"Then this won't happen to either of you. At least there's that." She got down from the table. It was strange – she still felt like she was twenty years old. "But we need to find my parents and get off this planet. Stalyan and The Baron are killing people. The Baron also told me that the robots that inhabit this planet attack when you try to leave. So, we'll have to deal with that also. Ready to go?"
"Rapunzel…" Eugene said sadly. "I'm sorry."
She fought back the tears that hit her. "This isn't your fault. And it's ok if you hate the way I look. I understand. I won't blame you." She said it all on one breath. She needed to get it out before she lost her nerve.
"I don't know what to say," Eugene admitted.
That hurt most of all. Eugene always knew what to say.
And now he didn't have words.
"Let's just go," she said, heading for the door. Rapunzel wasn't sure she could stand the pitying look Cass was giving her or the sad, horrified look Eugene was giving her. It was all too much.
She knew in her heart that this was probably the end of her relationship with Eugene. There was no way he would want to be with an old looking woman for the rest of his life.
So, she didn't want to think about it. She just wanted to do what she did best – help people.
And that's what she was going to focus on.
Eugene couldn't believe his eyes. Rapunzel – his Rapunzel – was old. He had just seen her just twenty-four hours ago where she looked like her normal self. Within such a short span of time, she had aged over a hundred years. This fucking world took her youth from her. Eugene was sad and angry and just plain pissed.
What did this mean for his and Rapunzel's relationship going forward? He loved her more than anything in the world but…
Could he love her as an old woman while he was still young?
He figured they'd either die tragically young or grow old together. Key word being together. When she was grey, he'd be grey. When she was wrinkled, he'd be wrinkled. And while the thought horrified Eugene of having wrinkled skin, he assumed he'd be ok with it as he aged gradually.
But now, he wouldn't get to age gradually with her because she already aged.
He found himself sneaking looks at her as they left Stalyan's house. He didn't want to be an ass but he couldn't stop. It was Rapunzel but wasn't.
And that was another thing – Stalyan. What the hell was she doing here? The last time he had seen her it was a few years ago and, like Stalyan said, he had left her at the altar. He never intended on seeing her again and yet, here she was with her psychotic father who was trying to experiment on people. Experiment on Rapunzel.
Eugene knew he couldn't ignore the elephant in the room forever. He, Cass, and Rapunzel were making their way back through the very large garden. There was no end in sight. He just wanted to find her parents and get the hell off this planet.
But he was also determined to find a way to reverse the effects on Rapunzel. There was always a loophole. He had found one when he brought her back to life and he was going to do it again.
"So," he said, approaching her side. "Care to talk about it?"
Rapunzel flicked her eyes at him and away. "Talk about how I look, you mean?"
He sighed. "Rapunzel, it's a huge deal. I don't even know what to think."
"That I'm old and ugly?"
Cass glanced back at them as she walked ahead before looking away. Even Cass knew this was a private conversation between him and Rapunzel.
"You're not old and ugly," he said.
Rapunzel gave him a look.
"Ok, fine. You're old now. But you're not ugly."
"Eugene, I know you're trying to be nice. You're trying to spare my feelings. But I look like I'm over a hundred years old now. How can we ever have a relationship? You must find me repulsive." She ducked her head as she said this and it broke his fucking heart.
"Rapunzel." He grabbed her hand, making her stop walking. "Go on ahead, Cass."
Cass nodded and walked away.
"Rapunzel, I love you. You know I love you. I could never find you repulsive. Not in a million years. Not ever."
Tears spilled from her eyes. "I love you too. But look at me."
"I am."
"How can you be with me? We can't grow old together, Eugene. I'm already old."
"So? You know, I've always had a thing for older woman." He tried to charm her but it wasn't working.
"You're just saying that. I'm younger than you, remember? My body is still twenty but I don't look it anymore. I'll never look it again since there's no way to reverse this. You don't want to be shackled to me forever out of guilt. Go be with someone who looks your age. Like Stalyan."
Eugene heard the bitterness in Rapunzel's voice. It was something he had never heard from her before. "Stalyan is my ex-fiancé for a reason."
"What happened between you two? You never told me you were engaged." Mixed with the bitterness in her voice was now betrayal.
"The reason I never mentioned it was because it was stupid."
"It's not stupid to me," she said.
He sighed. "Fine. I was young. Stalyan was hot." Rapunzel gave him a withering look and he cleared his throat. "Clearly she's not hot anymore. She's ugly. So, so ugly."
"Better."
"And anyway, we met. She liked to steal stuff just like me. But then her dad caught wind of us. The Baron. He was some big time drug lord. He thought if his daughter was going to be dating a guy like me, then we should be married. I was forced to the altar but then I ran. That was the last time I saw either of them. I have no idea how they ended up on this planet." He squeezed Rapunzel's hands. "Trust me, Blondie. You're the only woman I've ever loved. Stalyan doesn't mean anything to me. I have no desire to be with her again. She's vindictive and mean. There's no ounce of compassion in her body. But it was your compassion that made me into a better man. It's because of who you are that I love you. Not for what you look like."
And he knew as he spoke just how true that was. Rapunzel would always mean everything to him, even if she was wrinkled and grey now.
"You say that now but can you even kiss me? Do you even want to?"
Did he? The truth was – he didn't find Rapunzel as attractive as an old woman compared to how she looked as a young woman. There was no denying it. If they had gotten the chance to grow old together, then it wouldn't have bothered him because he'd be old right with her.
As a young man, he didn't desire to kiss an old woman. But Rapunzel wasn't an old woman.
She was the woman he loved.
He cupped her face between both his hands and leaned down and pressed their lips together. It was short and sweet but impactful. She still tasted like herself. She still kissed as she did before.
She was still his Rapunzel.
When he pulled back, he smiled down at her. "I will love you no matter what. But we will find a way to reverse this."
"And if we can't?"
He knew there was only one answer. "Then I'll find a way out of this world and come back in and choose the short path this time. That way we can look old together."
"You'd give up your looks for me?"
"Rapunzel, I'd give up everything for you. You have to know that. My good looks don't mean anything if I don't have you in my life. So, we'll either find a way to reverse it or I'll make myself old too. It's one or the other. But either way, we'll be together."
He knew in his heart that he was speaking the truth.
Rapunzel leaned into his hand and gazed up at him with soft eyes. Her green eyes were duller and wrinkles surrounded them but they were still her eyes.
"I hate to break up this moment," Cass said, coming back towards them, "but we have a problem."
"What is it?" Rapunzel asked.
"Stalyan is back." She pointed down the path. "No clue how she found us but there she is."
"Let me try talking to her." Eugene stepped forward but Rapunzel grabbed his arm, stopping him.
"Be careful. She tried to help kill me. She's not a good person."
Eugene saw the fear in Rapunzel's eyes. "It's ok. I know she's not."
Rapunzel nodded slowly and let him go.
He approached Stalyan, who was just standing there. Not attacking. "What do you want?"
"I want a way off this planet," she said.
"Ok? And what do you want me to do about it?"
"It's clear you and your friends know how to fight. Me and my father tried escaping past the robots but we couldn't. But maybe with a large enough group, we could all escape together."
Eugene stared at her for a moment before laughing. "You're joking. Please tell me you're joking."
Stalyan frowned. "I'm not."
"You and your father were going to experiment on my girlfriend!"
"Girlfriend?"
"Yes! Rapunzel. The one you had strapped to a table. Why would I work with you to get off this planet? I don't trust you."
"I didn't realize you had a girlfriend."
Eugene scoffed. "That's what you took from what I said?"
She shrugged, staring down at her feet. "I just didn't realize. You seemed to have strong feelings for me and then you left me. Do you have strong feelings for Rapunzel?"
"She's the love of my life."
Stalyan looked like he had just punched her. "Oh. Well, I guess that makes things awkward. But trust me, my father just wants to find a way to reverse what's happening. I'm assuming your girlfriend wants the same thing."
"We'll figure it out ourselves. You're on your own, Stalyan." He started to turn away when Stalyan said, "Wait."
He glanced back. "Yes?"
"I know the way out of here. I just can't get past the robots. I can lead you there. There's only two ways in and out of this planet. The way you came in and the other way."
An idea occurred to Eugene. "Can we leave the same way we came in?"
"I've never tried but… probably. I doubt the robots will let you leave that way either."
"Thanks for the information but we got this." He hurried back to Rapunzel and Cass.
"What did she want?" Cass asked.
"To leave this planet. She wants us all to work together. But never mind her. I have an idea." He grabbed Rapunzel's arms. "We need to go back the way we came in and get to your tower. It heals people. Maybe it could heal you from this." He gently touched her grey hair.
Rapunzel's eyes widened. "Oh my god. You're right. It's worth a shot. But… we need to find my parents first. I need to make sure they're all right."
"Do you really?" he asked.
"Eugene."
"What? It's a genuine question."
"Of course we have to find my parents. I don't know where they are. They could be in trouble. And once we find them, we leave and get back to my tower."
"And then… what?" Cass asked. "Come back into this place? If we leave, we're no closer to find the Society's headquarters."
"We'll come back in," Rapunzel said. "And besides, now I know the name of the planet we're on. I can just time travel us back here. Let's do this."
Eugene nodded. "Sounds like a plan."
Cass sighed. "Fine. Let's do this."
When Eugene turned back around in the direction of Stalyan, he saw that she was gone. He no longer had any feelings for her so it wasn't hurt that made him feel this way. It was worry. Stalyan liked to get what she wanted and he had denied her that. He was worried of what she might get up to. They had to find Rapunzel's parents and fast before Stalyan or The Baron found them. Then he was going to save Rapunzel. He said he'd find a way and he just hoped that her tower was the answer.
"So, did The Baron and Stalyan really kill everyone who has come through here?" Cass asked as they hurriedly made their way through the gardens.
"The robots might have played a part in that," Rapunzel responded, nodding at a silent, immobilized robot. "I'm not sure what they do when people try to leave but I guess we'll see when it's time."
They made it back to the place they entered from.
"I was hoping my parents might be around here somewhere," Rapunzel said. There were multiple paths that lead off in different directions. "Stalyan and The Baron tried going after them but they escaped. They might be in hiding."
"Or they're right there," Eugene said, pointing down one of the paths.
Rapunzel whirled around. Eugene was right. Her parents were racing towards them.
They skidded to a stop when they saw Rapunzel.
"What happened?" Arianna asked.
"I took the short path," Rapunzel explained. "Now, we need to get out of here."
Frederic stepped forward. "We know. Some lunatic tried killing us!"
"That would be The Baron for you," Eugene said. "He always had a thing for killing people."
"Oh. So, you're back." Frederic's tone was clipped.
"Enough," Rapunzel said. "I look like I'm two-hundred years old. We have The Baron and Stalyan coming after us. And apparently the robots here don't like it when people try to leave. So, we need to get off this planet right now and stop bickering." She faced her parents. "Eugene is the man I love. That is never going to change. So either accept him or get out of my life."
Frederic looked taken aback while Arianna just looked sad.
"Which is it?" Rapunzel asked.
"Yes," Arianna said. "Fine. We'll accept him."
Frederic's jaw dropped. "What?"
She laid her hand on his arm. "Frederic, just accept your daughter's boyfriend. I want off this planet too."
Rapunzel continued to stare her father down until his shoulder's slumped and he nodded. "Fine."
"Great," Cass remarked. "Glad that's all cleared up. Now, let's get going." She pointed her sword at Rapunzel's parents. "Just be glad I'm not in a fighting mood right now."
They rushed towards the two doors that would lead back the way they came.
"How do we get them open?" Eugene asked.
Frederic snorted. "You don't know how to open a door?"
"There's no doorknob!"
"Enough!" Rapunzel shouted. "Stop fighting." She looked at the doors, searching for any clue that would open the them. But there was none. "Ok. Just try prying the doors open."
They all get to work doing just that but it wasn't easy. The doors weren't budging.
And right on cue, all the robots in the surrounding vicinity woke up and started moving towards them.
"You can't leave," they all repeated in their robotic voices. "You chose a path. You must stay on the path."
"Why won't you open?" Eugene said through gritted teeth as he tried prying at the door.
One of the robots reached Rapunzel and grabbed her by the air and flung her to the ground.
"Rapunzel!" Eugene shouted, running towards her but another robot blocked his path and shoved him back.
Her parents got into their fighting stances. What surprised Rapunzel was to see Cass stand beside them, ready to fight.
A robot ran at them and a dagger extended from its hand. It tried slashing at them but Cass cut the robot in two. It fell to the ground and didn't get back up.
A horde of the robots descended on them, all with scary looking daggers coming out of their hands. Rapunzel had to dodge and jump and kick to avoid getting struck with one of their daggers. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Eugene doing the same.
The Baron wasn't kidding when he told her how difficult it was to leave this place. These robots were merciless. Who created them and why make them want to kill?
Rapunzel screamed as she got cornered against the wall. A robot slammed its dagger towards her face but she jerked out of the way at the last second. Its dagger got stuck in the door. It tried pulling it out but it couldn't.
The robot placed its hand to the door and…
…the door opened. The robot was able to remove its dagger and come at Rapunzel again. The door quickly shut.
So, that's how they could get the door to open. The robots needed to do it.
"The robots can open the doors!" Rapunzel shouted, kicking one out of her way. "We need to get them to open the doors!"
"Easier said than done I think!" Eugene called back.
Cass huffed. "I got this." She grabbed one of the robots and shoved it against the door. The robot pushed itself away and came running back towards her. "That didn't work!"
"It needs to get stuck in the door," Rapunzel explained, dodging a blow from a different robot. "Its dagger needs to get stuck. It will open the door then but only for a few seconds. We need to all make it through the doors."
Frederic jerked out of the way as a robot tried delivering a killing blow to his face. In his momentum, he grabbed the robot's arm and forced it against the door. The robot's dagger got stuck.
The robot tried pulling it free but it couldn't. It touched the door with its other hand and then the door opened again.
"Go!" Rapunzel shouted.
Since her parents were the closet, they ran through the door, Cass right behind them.
Eugene grabbed Rapunzel's hand and they started running for the door…
When it slammed right in their face.
"No!" Eugene shouted, pounding on the door. "No!"
"Maybe they can open it from their side," Rapunzel said, waiting. But nothing happened. The door wasn't opening.
She screamed when a robot grabbed her and threw it back onto the ground. It got on top of her and plunged its dagger straight into her stomach.
Well, it would have it someone hadn't pushed the robot off her.
It wasn't Eugene who did it.
It was Stalyan.
Her father was behind her, fighting the robots off.
Eugene helped Rapunzel stand back up. "What are they doing?" she asked.
"I think they're helping."
Stalyan threw them a look. "We want off this planet, same as you. We saw what you did with the doors. I figured we'd help since there's no way me and my dad can take all of these robots on ourselves." She snarled as she slammed her own dagger into the robot's face, making it fritz out.
"Well, at least you're trying to help," Eugene muttered before facing off with another robot.
The four of them fought side by side to get through the robots.
"We can't destroy them all!" Rapunzel shouted. "We need one alive to open the door."
"Fine," The Baron growled. He grabbed one of the robots and shoved it up against the door, forcing its dagger into it. "Open, damn it!"
After a moment, the robot did.
The door opened. She and Eugene ran for it and this time, they made it through. They were back in the main white room they first entered into.
Stalyan and The Baron were running after them but the door was slowly closing.
"We need to help them," Rapunzel said, slamming her hands against the door before it slid shut again.
Eugene groaned but helped.
They managed to keep the door open long enough for Stalyan and The Baron to make their way through.
All four of them bent over, breathing heavy.
"That was wild," Eugene said.
Rapunzel stood up and looked around. Where were Cass and her parents? She saw an open doorway opposite her. It wasn't like the door she had gone through when she first came in. This was the doorway back through the portal. "Come on!"
She ran through the portal and ended up back in the lake in Ireland, 1448. The sudden drop from being on solid ground to suddenly being in water made her fall right in. Eugene followed and ended up face-planting straight into the water.
Stalyan and The Baron followed through next.
On the bank stood Cass and her parents. Good. They made it out. Rapunzel waded through the water, giving a nod to the water creature as she went – who nodded back – until she made her way onto the bank.
"We all made it," she breathed out, giving Cass a hug. Cass awkwardly hugged her back.
She turned to her parents and then stopped. Arianna opened her arms for a hug but Rapunzel couldn't walk into them. She was still too angry with her parents.
"What are they doing here?" Cass asked, nodding at Stalyan and The Baron.
"They saved my life," Rapunzel said. "I had to help them. I'm going to my tower. Just me and Eugene. The rest of you can stay here."
"What tower?" Stalyan asked.
Rapunzel was hesitant to tell Eugene's ex-fiancé about her time traveling tower. "It's nothing. Just something I have to do. If you and your father want to leave, then leave. You're off that planet." She looked at her parents. "I need some space to think about everything. Please don't try to kill Cass in the meantime." She looked at Cass. "And don't try to kill my parents."
She grabbed Eugene's hand and started the trek back to her tower. "I hope this works," she said, squeezing his hand.
"I hope so too."
They reached her tower and entered it. It felt good to be back in it.
She closed her eyes and prayed that her tower would heal her. She didn't feel anything happening.
And then she was hit with a burst of energy so strong, it knocked her off her feet. Her hands slapped the floor as she collapsed. She felt Eugene's arms around her, though she still didn't dare open her eyes. If her eyes were closed, she could imagine herself young again.
The burst of energy from her tower left her as quickly as it hit her.
She crumpled to the ground.
"Rapunzel." Eugene gently tapped her face. "Rapunzel."
This was the moment of truth. She opened her eyes.
Eugene was smiling down at her. "It worked. You're back to your normal self."
She gasped, sitting up. "I am?"
"You are." He cupped her face in his hands. "I love you, Rapunzel."
"I know." She leaned in and kissed him. He groaned against her lips as she crawled into his lap. It had been too long since they had been together. The last time they tried, her father interrupted them.
Well, she wasn't going to let her parents get in the way this time.
For a moment back on that planet, Rapunzel had thought that was the end of her relationship with Eugene. She had aged over a hundred years within just a day.
But now, she was back to her old self. And all she wanted was to be in Eugene's arms again. Her parents could try to keep them separate but they would never succeed.
Rapunzel tugged at Eugene's shirt and helped him slip it off him as he pulled the top of her dress down and kissed along her neck and collarbone. She shivered from his lips.
"I need you," she said into his ear. "I thought I had lost you."
"You were never going to lose me, Rapunzel. Never." He brought their lips back together. They gripped and clutched and clung to each other as they laid down onto the ground, Eugene on top of her. He pulled the rest of her dress off, leaving her naked beneath him except for her underwear. His eyes darkened as he ripped those off next.
She gasped and clung to his back as he leaned down and kissed her. Their lips melded together perfectly. Their bodies did the same.
He sat up and pushed his pants and shoes off before leaning back over her. Rapunzel brought him down closer to her and wrapped her legs around his waist. Their kiss became more frenzied and hot and chaotic. It was perfect to her. Just being with Eugene was perfect.
He pulled back from the kiss and rested his head against hers. She gazed back up at him.
And then he entered her in one thrust. Her breath caught in her throat as she tried to gasp. Eugene groaned again, his breath mingling with hers.
"Did I tell you how much I love you?" he asked.
She smiled. "Yes. But you can tell me again."
"I love you," he growled.
Their hips moved together in a perfect rhythm. Eugene's erection buried deeper within her, filling her up. She dug her heels into the backs of his legs, bringing him even closer to her. They were chest to chest. Skin to skin. Every thrust of his hips drew Eugene forward, the skin of his chest brushing her breasts. It made her body tingle.
He captured her hands with his and drew them over her head. Even their breath was in sync with each other. As he exhaled, she inhaled.
"I love you," she gasped out. "Oh! I love you." She kept repeating it like a mantra. This made Eugene increase his pace, thrusting into her harder. She loved when he was a little rough with her. It let her know that he trusted her not to break. That he saw her as his equal. Their lovemaking was always magical to her. She never wanted it to end.
But then her orgasm hit her before she could help it. "Eugene," she gaped out, clutching his back.
He followed after, whispering her name. They stayed tangled in each other's arms for a long time after that. Rapunzel wasn't even going to care about her parents or Cass or Stalyan and The Baron outside. They could all wait.
In this moment, it was just her and Eugene.
He rolled off her and pulled her into his arms as they laid on the floor, tangled up in their discarded clothing.
"Sex on the floor of your tower is starting to become a common thing between us," he said, making her laugh.
"It never used to be."
"That was because you had never met me before."
She traced her fingertips over his cheek. He moved his head to kiss her fingers. "That's true. You were all my firsts."
"And I'm very glad about that. I'm a jealous, possessive man after all."
"No. You're a perfect man. My man."
"I vote we never leave your tower again. We don't need to reach headquarters. That's something your parents and Cass want."
"That sounds like a dream. Just you and me again." She sighed.
He raised an eyebrow. "But?"
"But you know we have to reach headquarters. I'm not sure what Cass or my parents will do if they get there. You're the only person I truly trust. With you, I know if we reach headquarters we can change things for the better. Stop sending assassins after people. Only help save lives. Not take them."
"I know. It was just wishful thinking."
Her fingers traced down to his chest where she drew circles into his skin. "It was perfect thinking. I want nothing more than to just be with you. But we have to do the right thing."
They laid there a little longer before Rapunzel spoke again. "So, answer me truthfully now that I'm back to my normal self. How did I look as an old woman?"
"Cute."
She scrunched up her nose. "Really?"
"Yes. You make a cute, little old lady. And I can't wait to be the distinguished handsome older gentlemen right at your side."
"How will you handle getting wrinkles someday?"
"Botox."
Her laughter filled up the tower.
Her laughter didn't last long though before her parents came bursting through the door of her tower. Rapunzel gasped and clutched her dress to her chest. Eugene grabbed his shirt and covered his lap.
"Sorry," Arianna said, quickly turning away, Frederic following suit. "We just weren't sure what was taking so long. Stalyan and The Baron are getting antsy out there. We couldn't keep them at bay for long. They're right outside with Cass."
"While you two are wasting everyone's time by having sex!" Frederic thundered.
Enough was enough. Rapunzel was done with her parents trying to control her. She slipped her dress back on and stood up. Eugene quickly got dressed behind her.
"You can turn back around," she said. They did and before Frederic could speak again, Rapunzel said her peace. "You came into my tower without my permission. You tried to kill the man I love and keep us separated even though I am an adult now. I know you missed out on twenty years. And I want to get to know you. Both of you. Truly. But I can't if you're going to keep controlling me. I'm done. You can either choose to stay in my life and we can work together to get to headquarters or you can leave and we all go our own ways." It was breaking her heart to say this.
"You don't mean that," Arianna said.
Rapunzel kept her resolve. "I do. So make your choice."
They all stared each other down, no one making a move, when the door opened again and Stalyan waltzed into the tower like she owned the place. Her father and Cass followed after.
"I tried to stop them," Cass said, "but I wasn't sure if you wanted me to kill them."
Stalyan shot a look at Cass before spinning around. "What is this place?" She jerked when she saw that Rapunzel was young again. "How did you do that?"
The Baron surged forward. "Yes. How are you young again?"
"My tower healed me," she said.
"Then why isn't it healing me?" The Baron asked.
"Because my tower has a mind of its own and it doesn't trust you."
Stalyan walked over to the console, taking in the computer and other doodads and knobs. "What does this do?"
"It's a time machine," Rapunzel said, grabbed Stalyan's hand before she could touch anything. Stalyan ripped her hand free, looking at Rapunzel like she was the problem, even though Stalyan came into her tower uninvited. "Now, everyone out. It's getting crowded in here."
The Baron grabbed Rapunzel so fast, she didn't have time to react, and pressed a dagger to her throat. Everyone else froze. "You will make your tower heal me." He pressed the dagger down harder. She felt the sting and then the warmth of blood trickling down her throat. "Or I will kill you."
"Then my tower will never help you," she said without trying to move her throat too much.
"Let her go," both Eugene and Frederic said at the same time. They exchanged a quick look – Eugene looking shocked and Frederic looking annoyed.
"Not until she heals me," The Baron said.
"I wonder what this does." Stalyan poked a button on the computer.
"No!" Rapunzel screamed.
And then the tower was moving through time, taking them to a time and place Rapunzel had no idea where.
Until Sunday!
