It took some time, especially since I had to rewrite the previous chapter, but the official first chapter is now ready for posting.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything related to the Tangled movie or television series. I only own my original characters and any concepts I add to the story.
It had been some time since the Coronan Royal Family had reunited. Days turned into weeks, and weeks rolled into months. Before anyone knew it, six months had passed, and the time had come for Princess Rapunzel's coronation. The entire kingdom was excited and busy preparing for the event. Castle maids bustled about to ready the esteemed ceremony guests while the guards inspected their armor and weapons. Among everyone, Prince Derek was probably one of the busiest. He had been assisting his sister with preparations for the event alongside Cassandra, her lady-in-waiting. Although he doesn't help often due to his own duties, this morning, he found some spare time and hoped to put it to good use.
The curtains in Derek's room were drawn open to allow sunlight to stream in. "Morning, Derek!"
The young prince groaned as he rose, shaking off his blankets while stretching. "Hey, Alex…."
Alexander was Derek's best friend and equerry at eighteen, the male equivalent of a lady-in-waiting. He was five inches taller than Derek and had an athletic, slightly muscular build. Alex possessed medium-fair skin and dark blue eyes, and his raven-black hair was styled in a short, military haircut. While working, he wore the castle's red and black equerry uniform, including white pants, gloves, and black boots.
"Ready for the big weekend?" the older teen asked.
"Ready as I'll ever be," Derek replied, setting his feet on the floor as Sapphire hopped down beside him.
"Do you have any plans before the welcome ceremony?"
"I have a few projects I want to wrap up, so I'll be in my lab. Speaking of plans, what's Kathy up to?"
"She's probably hanging out with Eugene," Alex responded, gathering Derek's outfit.
"Which means they're both with my sister," Derek concluded as he moved behind the changing screen.
Kathy is Katherine Strange, Derek's other best friend and the former partner of Flynn Rider, whose real name is Eugene Fitzherbert. The two knew each other back in the orphanage, with Eugene taking the four-year-old Katherine under his wing and later becoming partners-in-crime until a year ago when Kathy walked away from that life. Since Rapunzel returned with him in tow, Kathy has been seizing every opportunity to reconnect with her brother figure, which often meant she was with Rapunzel by default. Not that she minded; Kathy enjoyed spending time with the older girl.
Once she was gone, the boys stepped out from behind the changing screen, with Derek fully dressed, and approached the vanity table. "You ready for this?" Alex asked as the younger teen seated himself and grabbed a hairbrush.
"Totally. I'm just going to be there for this," Derek gazed at his reflection while Alexander brushed his hair, his expression serious. "It's Rapunzel I'm worried about…"
The older teen paused to glance at him through the mirror. "I think six months is too soon for this. She's barely had enough time to learn how to function in the real world, let alone be a princess."
"I know you're worried, but she won't be doing this alone," Alex reassured him, returning to business. "She'll have you, Cass, and me to help her. She'll be fine."
Derek sighed. "I hope so…"
(Meanwhile)
Rapunzel rode horseback through the woods by the wall outside the Capitol of Corona. She wore a slightly different dress from the one she had donned upon her return, yet it was still in the same purple and pink palette as before. Her hair was still short yet appeared to have grown out a little. She was mounted on a brown mare with a black, braided mane and tail, accented by a touch of white above her hooves and a stripe on her face. A brown saddle adorned her back, featuring the sun symbol of Corona on her saddlebag and harness, complemented by a red saddle blanket with gold and black trim. Her name, Fidella, was etched in gold onto the harness above the sun.
The princess's boyfriend, Eugene Fitzherbert, soon joined them, riding the guard horse Maximus. Eugene's attire had also undergone slight changes. He wore a black vest instead of a turquoise one, with khaki-gray pants and black boots similar to his previous pair. His belt and mini satchel were of different colors as well. Behind them, an unknown rider on horseback was chasing the couple.
"They're gaining on us!" The princess glanced behind her, urging her horse to go faster. Eugene mirrored her actions, staying close by her side. However, they weren't alone. Their pursuer accelerated as additional backup arrived, increasing the chasing party to three.
"There's more of them!" she exclaimed, her expression filled with concern.
"Good. It'll keep things interesting," Eugene smirked as they rode down the dirt path, racing along and leaving dust clouds in their wake. The unknown riders kept pace as they rushed after them.
"Man, these guys are persistent," Eugene commented.
"So am I," Rapunzel smirked back. "I'll meet you at the Wall!"
"Sounds like a challenge!" he called out as the brown horse pulled ahead, taking the high road.
"Think you can keep up?" she called down cheerfully.
"Oh, it's not me you have to worry about," he replied with a smug look.
Confused, she glanced over her shoulder and realized what he meant. "Uh oh!"
One of Corona's royal guards was right behind her.
"They're your problem now!" Eugene chirped, his voice echoing slightly off the ravine walls. However, as Maximus ran through the pass, Eugene noticed he had two remaining guards to deal with, one of whom was an old adversary. "Oh, great!" he muttered, rolling his eyes.
The Captain of the Guard was right on his tail, looking furious. Then again, he was always angry when it came to Eugene. "Okay, Max, follow my lead–Oh!" he began, gasping when he saw a tree branch stretched across the path ahead. "Log, log, log!"
Thinking quickly, Eugene leaped off Maximus and over the log as the horse passed beneath it. He landed back in the saddle and continued to ride. The captain executed the same maneuver, but the other guard's horse stopped short, causing him to be flung from the saddle and crash into the dirt.
"Ohh, good thing the ground broke his fall!" Eugene teased.
Meanwhile, Rapunzel was having a less enjoyable experience. Their guard was still pursuing her and Fidella. Looking ahead, she noticed bunnies munching on carrots all over the road.
"Whoa!" Rapunzel pulled on the reins, urging her horse to avoid them. "Bunny crossing! Careful, Fidella!"
Fidella carefully navigated through the herd, wary of the fluff balls beneath her hooves. The bunnies ducked and flinched as the massive horse stepped gingerly through the colony. "Watch out, watch out, cute little bunnies!" Rapunzel cooed as they continued after reaching the other side. The guard chasing them didn't have much luck. He pulled on the reins in an attempt to stop but still crashed into the bunnies, creating a horse-and-rider-shaped pile. One of the bunnies had its carrot snagged by Pascal, who took a smug bite as they left the guard in their dust.
Back with Eugene, he was having more problems of his own. The Captain had caught up to him, and the former thief was beginning to worry. "You're not getting away this time!" Captain Vogel said aggressively, reaching toward Eugene.
"He-yah!"
Rapunzel suddenly jumped in front of him, startling the Captain's horse into stopping. "Sorry!" she called over her shoulder before looking forward. "We're almost there!"
Just as she said that, Captain Vogel leaped out of the foliage behind them. "Oh, come on!" Eugene groaned. However, Rapunzel just smirked, and so did Eugene. Looking ahead, they galloped toward a stream in the distance. The only way across was a log that had fallen into the river. The couple's horses jumped as they reached the bank, practically flying over the river.
"Woohoooo!" the princess hollered as they soared before Fidella landed safely on the other side. Max had to land on the downed log, causing it to fall, but he and Eugene made it, too. The Captain wasn't so lucky as he splashed down in the middle of the water. Eugene pulled on the reins, causing Max to stop and turn around while Rapunzel galloped ahead. Captain Vogel heaved himself onto the bank, his horse popping up beside him. They looked annoyed but were otherwise uninjured.
"Looking good, Cap!" Eugene pointed at him with a grin before riding after his girlfriend.
Rapunzel rode on through a field beyond the river until she reached a tall wall marking Corona's borders and slowed to a stop. The wall, adorned with sun symbols, was called the Wall of Corona. Rapunzel and Fidella approached the wall, standing barely a foot away. The mare glanced back at the young woman, who gently pulled the reins to direct her closer. Fidella planted her hooves on the wall, allowing Rapunzel to climb onto her head and give her a boost to grasp the ledge. Rapunzel climbed on top of the wall and took a deep breath as she spread her arms wide, looking out at the breathtaking horizon beyond it.
"Pascal…" she said dreamily. "Look at that view."
Her chameleon squeaked in agreement, sighing in contentment.
"Ha ha!"
Hearing enthusiastic yelling behind them, they saw Eugene standing atop Max as they approached. The horse stopped abruptly, launching the man off his back. He flipped through the air before landing gracefully on the wall next to the princess.
"Okay, okay. I know what you're thinking," Eugene straightened up, adjusting his vest as he stepped toward her. "Now, it may have seemed like you won, but you gotta take into account that my hair is actually longer than yours now, so we gotta factor in wind resistance." He fluffed his hair for emphasis.
"Yeah, I'm no nerd like Der, but I'm pretty sure that's not how that works." A new voice interrupted, startling the couple. They turned to see Eugene's foster sister, Katherine "Kathy" Strange, standing on the wall a few feet away.
Kathy was 5'1", the same height as Rapunzel, with a petite yet athletic build. She had light blue eyes like Derek's and dark brown hair with a soft wave that fell between her upper and middle back. Katherine wore a simple dress similar to Rapunzel's but with short sleeves and a shorter skirt that ended at her knees. It was a cute light purple dress featuring a faded magenta bodice and white floral patterns on the skirt. She wore indigo leggings, dark gray boots, and a matching magenta hairband.
"Nice try, guys, but we still managed to beat you here," Kathy said triumphantly, pulling an apple from her pocket. She leaned over and gave them to her horse, Seraph, as a reward for her hard work.
Seraph was a Friesian stallion. His thick mane and tail were left loose instead of tied up like the guard horses, showcasing his feathered legs and striking blue eyes. He had the same saddle and blanket set as Fidella and Max. While most Friesian stallions were black, Seraph was unique because he was brown.
"Caught us again, huh, Kat?" Eugene rolled his eyes but smiled as his surrogate sister approached.
"Forgetting who I used to be?" Kathy smirked. "Plus, I've been out here so many times with Derek that I could find my way through these woods blindfolded. Just don't mention that to the King. I don't know how he'd react if he knew Derek had come this far from the castle without guards." King Frederic had grown increasingly paranoid about his son's safety after Rapunzel's kidnapping. None of them were allowed to leave the castle without an escort from the Royal Guard. This restriction had caused tension between Derek and their father since the prince entered his teenage years.
"Our lips are sealed," Eugene promised, zipping his lips to assure her.
Rapunzel giggled softly as she watched her boyfriend interact with the girl. She recalled the moment when the two old friends reunited. Kathy knew the men from the Snuggly Duckling, and when she learned they had helped break someone out, she rushed to see what was happening. Upon discovering it was Flynn Rider they had assisted in escaping, Kathy hurried back to the castle and found him with Rapunzel and her family in the foyer. The surrogate siblings exchanged awestruck gazes for a long moment. Katherine covered her mouth, tears welling in her eyes, before running forward to throw her arms around Eugene's waist in a long overdue hug. After Eugene introduced her to Rapunzel, she embraced the lost princess, grateful for bringing her brother figure back to her.
"Wow!" She turned back to the outside world. "Have you ever seen anything so beautiful?"
Eugene looked out at the majestic view before taking her hand, turning to her with a soft smile. "Yes. Yes, I have."
Rapunzel looked at him and smiled, leaning in for a kiss. Pascal covered his eyes while Kathy made a half-hearted gagging face.
"Game's over, Your Highness," the captain interrupted them. They turned to see him and the other guards gathered by the wall and the horses. "The welcoming ceremony is about to begin."
"Well, I think we showed those guards who's boss," Eugene joked. "Now, what do you say we go and make you an official princess?"
"Ohhh, is that today?" Rapunzel asked teasingly.
"Haha, very funny. Now, come on, let's get you back to the castle," Eugene gestured for her to follow before climbing off the wall. "Ooh, maybe I can squeeze in a royal message… before my daily trim, of course."
When he dropped to the ground, he looked back at his sister figure. "Wanna join me, Sis?"
Kathy pretended to think about it. "Well, it's your girlfriend's big weekend, so I may as well dress up."
"That's the spirit!" Eugene cheered as she jumped down next to him.
Rapunzel watched the others before glancing at Pascal when he squeaked at her. She turned back to the view, knowing what he was thinking.
"I know, Pascal," she sighed. "We'll get out there soon…" Ever since she'd returned, she faced the same restrictions Derek had imposed for fifteen years. They could only go riding because Eugene and Kathy helped her sneak out.
Rapunzel gave the outside world one last look before jumping back onto Fidella. "Ha! Race you back to the castle!"
"Oh, you're on!" Kathy smirked. Fidella and Seraph took off swiftly, with Maximus following shortly after. The captain groaned as they raced away. He wasn't paid enough for this.
The horses slowed to a walk as they crossed the bridge into the Capitol of Corona.
This is life after happily ever after
Everyone in town was decorating for the coronation. They hung banners, flags, and event announcements throughout the city. One woman hung a lantern featuring the sun symbol by her window. Rapunzel would be formally crowned Crown Princess, while Derek would be the next in line for the throne. However, he would only become king if, sun forbid, something happened to Rapunzel and Eugene before they could reign as king and queen.
Derek had already had his coronation when he was eleven. This weekend was all about Rapunzel.
And it's all just as sweet as the stories say
A pale-skinned young woman with dark pink lips, hazel eyes, and a black bob-cut layered hairstyle featuring gray highlights was impatiently pacing in front of the city gates. She wore a blue and white dress complemented by a white headdress. Her name was Cassandra Vogel, though those close to her called her Cass. She was Rapunzel's lady-in-waiting and best friend.
Cass's eyes widened when Rapunzel, Kathy, and Eugene entered the Capitol.
I feel wild, free, as light as can be
And ready to explore
Eugene and Kathy dismounted from Maximus and Seraph before Eugene helped Rapunzel do the same. Once off the horses, Rapunzel and Eugene were about to attempt another kiss when the woman walked over. She gently grabbed Rapunzel's wrist and pulled her away, much to Eugene's dismay.
With nothing at all standing in my way
Eugene watched them leave with annoyance, aware that the woman did it intentionally. Maximus kissed Eugene's cheek, and he wiped it off in disgust. Kathy and Seraph snickered at Eugene's expression, receiving a slight glare from the latter.
True, there are certain customs I have to follow
Cass led Rapunzel through the town, with the Royal Guard trailing behind. Citizens along the road bowed and curtsied to the princess.
"Curtsy," Cass whispered to the inexperienced girl, who responded with a curtsy.
Several small obligations I can't avoid
A little girl extended a bouquet to Rapunzel. The princess smiled as she knelt to pluck one of the flowers and placed it in her hair. Cassandra crouched down beside her.
"Princess, the time." Cass pulled Rapunzel away as she waved goodbye to the little girl.
A few rules, too
Well, more than a few
Commitments by the score
When they returned to the castle, Cass pulled out a to-do list and reviewed what they needed to complete before the ceremony. As they walked through the halls, the girls suddenly stopped in front of Old Lady Crowley, the head maid. Crowley pointed disdainfully behind them, revealing the muddy footprints that Rapunzel had tracked all over the carpet from the entrance.
The princess waved sheepishly as her teacher pushed her along, leaving the older woman to clean up the mess.
Aside from all that, though, I'm overjoyed
As Rapunzel was escorted down the hallway to her room, she and Cass encountered three maids- a mother and her two daughters- who began to pamper and fuss over Rapunzel's appearance.
"This way, Princess," Cass said.
And sure, there are corsets and buckles and bows
As they walked, the maids applied makeup to Rapunzel and adjusted her corset… A little too tight. She feared she might suffocate as one of the maids tugged on her corset strings.
Plus, all those names to recall
"Jane?" Rapunzel guessed, pointing to the maid brushing her hair.
"Ethel," the oldest maid reminded her, looking annoyed that she didn't remember.
"Right!" She could recall the daughters' names, Hope and Faith, but never their mother's.
Still, I can hardly complain, I suppose
Pascal was irritated by all the commotion surrounding his friend, and he squeaked in protest when he was hit with a face full of powder.
This is happily ever after, after all
When they reached Rapunzel's bedroom, Cassandra turned around and stared in disbelief at the messy scene. She also noticed how uncomfortable Rapunzel was with the pampering. "That's enough," she assured the servants sharply, shooing them away as she moved behind Rapunzel. "I'll take it from here." The servants backed away before returning to their duties. "How you holding up?" Cassandra asked the princess as she re-tied the corset.
"Busy," Rapunzel laughed awkwardly, stepping away as she brushed aside a bang. "But busy is good."
"I'm glad you think so, Raps, 'cause this welcoming ceremony is just the beginning," Cassandra reminded her, lifting Rapunzel's arms to adjust her sleeves. "Tomorrow's the festival, followed by the Royal Banquet, and that's all before the actual coronation on Sunday." When she turned the princess around to fix her corset, she glanced down with a frown. "Oh, come on. Really?" She groaned when she saw Rapunzel's hiked-up dress and bare feet. "Look, Rapunzel, I know this princess thing is new to you," Cassandra knelt to pull her skirt back down to cover her ankles so her feet weren't as noticeable. "But you've gotta at least try to act the part. Haven't you been paying attention to Derek's lessons?"
"Trust me, Cassandra, I know how important this is to my dad," Rapunzel smiled, lightly touching a portrait of Frederic.
(At the same time)
"As you've requested, Your Majesty," Captain Vogel said while placing a miniature plastic guard on a model of Corona. "We've doubled security at both the main gates and the south towers."
"Good," King Frederic nodded in approval. "We have guests from all over the world. I want them to know that they are safe." He rubbed his bearded chin before leaving the room. "Everything for my little girl's coronation must be absolutely…" He headed to Rapunzel's room and opened the door, finding Cass adjusting Rapunzel's dress again. "Perfect."
"Hi, Dad," she greeted him with a smile.
"And now that, at last, you are here in my arms…" He smiled softly as he walked over to his daughter. Cass stepped aside, bowing her head and demurely clasping her hands. Rapunzel threw her arms around her father. "I won't permit you to fall." He pulled back to look at his daughter, holding her shoulders. "I must protect you from all the world's harms." He stroked her hair gently, looking into her eyes as he took her hands reassuringly. "We'll live happily ever after, after all. Now, as Princess, you're not only representing yourself and the family," he explained, walking over to close the balcony window before turning back to them. "But all of Corona."
"Don't worry, Dad. I won't let you down," Rapunzel assured him, rubbing her arm nervously. "Der has been a great teacher and brother to me. I've learned a lot. But while we're on the whole princess coronation thingy," she continued, fiddling with her hair. "I mean, all these royal activities are great, but do you think I might be able to catch a little downtime soon?" Since her return, she has been busy with preparations and hasn't had much time with Eugene and Derek. She wanted to get to know her brother better.
"I know this is all new, but you'll adjust," King Frederic reassured her, kissing Rapunzel's forehead. "After all, your friend seems to be getting on just fine."
(Elsewhere)
While Frederic spoke with his daughters, Eugene and Katherine were enjoying their time at the royal spa, preparing for the ceremony. Eugene was checking his appearance in the mirror, wearing a new forest-green tailsuit and trying on a black hat adorned with a white feather. "Ooh-hoo-hoo! Hartmut, my man, this hat ties the whole outfit together!" He praised the tailor, who silently giggled instead of agreeing with him.
"Is this dress gorgeous or what?!" Kathy squealed as she twirled in her beautiful dress for the coronation. It featured a pink bodice with magenta off-the-shoulder long sleeves, a matching skirt that fluttered around her legs with a bright blue leaf pattern, and a yellow ribbon around the waist tied into a bow at her back. On her feet were black knee-high boots with heels. Her nails were manicured with bright blue polish, complemented by matching eyeshadow and a touch of mascara, blush, and lip gloss. "And this gold and pink topaz necklace just completes it!" She smiled and gently ran her hand over the jewelry as a maid tied her long hair up with a bright blue ribbon.
"You look lovely, Miss Katherine," the maid said, braiding her hair after it had been tied up and finishing it with another bright blue ribbon at the bottom.
"Looking great, Kat!" Eugene praised before dramatically tossing the hat aside.
"I think you mean… Fabulous!" Kathy corrected him with a confident smirk, swiping a perfume bottle and spritzing herself.
"Now, I know what you're all thinking," Eugene began, addressing their friends from the Snuggly Duckling who had stopped by. He sprayed on some cologne before tossing it to Shorty, who did the same. "'Why is Eugene in such a good mood today?' I mean, what gives?"
"Now that we're living splendidly," he sang, looking over Big Nose as the thug ate the cucumbers from his spa treatment. "Our dreams fulfilled extendedly." He shaved the foam off Attila's helmet, who hummed in approval. "Why leave things open-ended for Rapunzel and moi?" the former thief summarized as he handed Vladimir ceramic bride-and-groom unicorns, which he then made kiss. "Tonight, I'll hand this rose to her," Eugene plucked a rose from a nearby vase and handed it to Kathy. He spun her around before sliding down on one knee in front of Big Nose, Ulf, and Maximus. "Kneel down and then propose to her, and give this ring I chose to her!" Eugene held up a small box he pulled from his fancy jacket. Opening it, he displayed a beautiful gold ring with a small diamond in the center.
"Nice," Big Nose approved as Ulf swooned.
"Life's gonna feel like strawberry sherbert," Eugene sang, dancing around with Max. "Once she is Mrs. Eugene Fitzherbert."
"Hm, nah." Katherine shook her head as the thugs and Maximus glared at him.
"Okay, not great, but how about this?" He jumped on a couch in the room as Shorty swung by in his cupid outfit, scattering rose petals. "Once she is Princess Eugene Fitzherbert~!"
"Much better," Katherine approved as Maximus walked over to Eugene, smiling in full support.
"And what better day to propose to a princess than at her coronation?" Eugene asked, leaning on his former nemesis with a grin.
(Meanwhile)
While all that was happening, Derek was in his lab, finishing some ninety percent complete projects. The room was mostly dark, except for a few torches that provided light. Two tables were set up with various beakers, scientific equipment, and chemicals. A desk occupied the brighter area of the room, cluttered with blueprints, writing utensils, and measuring sticks. Several bookshelves lined the walls, filled with books on alchemy, science, engineering, and more. Some shelves displayed gadgets and gizmos that Derek had created.
Derek, wearing brown gloves and matching goggles, moved around one of the tables. He crouched to meet the equipment at eye level, ensuring the chemicals mixed as they should. When a drop of yellow liquid fell into the red flask, turning it light green, the prince straightened up to check a parchment with the formula he was using.
"Perfect," he murmured with a satisfied smile when he saw it was the expected reaction. He began to walk toward the desk when one of the bookcases creaked open like a door. Sapphire padded in and chirped at him. "Time to go, Sapph?"
The raccoon nodded. "Alright, let me shut everything down."
After turning off the equipment and cleaning up, Derek grabbed one of the torches and walked through the passageway with Sapphire on his heels. After a few minutes, a light appeared at the end of the tunnel. Blowing out the torch, the prince ducked through the opening and exited his room's fireplace. "Good thing we cleaned this thing…" Derek thought aloud, pushing the mantelpiece back to close the entrance.
This is life after happily ever after
His room was about the same size as Rapunzel's, featuring the same layout and furniture—a king-size bed, side tables, and a window seat by the balcony, among others. The differences included that his bed wasn't a canopy style, there was blue instead of purple, and various gadgets he built to streamline his daily routine were scattered throughout. Derek's ceiling was painted to resemble the night sky, a project he had undertaken himself. Additionally, a few items displayed the activities he participated in: one area was set up with an easel and paints, a guitar was on the fireplace mantel, and a telescope was in the corner.
But it feels like it's all going by too fast
Derek sat at his vanity, waiting for Alex to assist him in preparing for the meet-and-greet. He contemplated the chances of this going well as he looked toward the window. They weren't great, but they weren't zero either.
I know that she's been through a lot, and it might be too soon
Even though we're all glad she's home at last
He sighed lightly as he looked at a crown resting on a pillow. It resembled a smaller version of his father's crown but was silver instead.
Sapphire hopped onto the table, eliciting a smile from her human. He reached over and gave her some pets in gratitude.
Sure, it's still hard to take all this in
But maybe this could be the start of a new begin
The prince took a deep breath, gazing at his reflection with determination.
This is happily ever after, after all
Meanwhile, Rapunzel threw open her balcony doors, looking out at the sky.
"This is life after happily ever after," she sang along with Eugene, Katherine, and Derek. "And our story has finally reached its end."
"Settling down here," Eugene hopped into a chair.
"Year upon year," Rapunzel added.
"My family right here," Kathy sang, lounging on a chaise sofa while enjoying a cupcake.
"Contended and secure," Eugene said, taking a bite of his cake as Big Nose, Ulf, and Shorty enjoyed some munchies too.
"With dozens of duties, we'll have to tend," Rapunzel remarked, looking around her room, her eyes falling on the birthday lanterns she had hung from the ceiling.
"I don't know how we'll do it, but this day still has to end," Derek said as he stood up and walked over to the window.
"And now that we've achieved the dream that we chose," the four sang together. "Now that we're in for the haul." Eugene pulled out the ring and smiled at it. "Now our adventures can come to a close," The princess spun her globe while her brother lightly touched the windowpane and her boyfriend put the ring away. "Living happily ever after, after all.~"
Rapunzel gazed at the mural she had painted on her wall, depicting her life from the flower until her return. "Now that I've gotten the dream that I chose…." She lightly touched the section where she was reunited with her family before looking around the room again. "Why does my world feel so… small?" She walked over to her vanity table, where her crown rested on a pillow. "If this is it..." Rapunzel reached to pick up her tiara but hesitated at the last moment. "And it is... I suppose..." She glanced into the mirror, her doubts and fears beginning to surface. "Is this happily ever after… after all?"
Rapunzel sighed but attempted to regain her focus, giving herself a mental pep talk. "Okay, no pressure. Just introducing myself to the most important people in the world. Representing my mom, dad, brother… and the entire kingdom." She looked horrified momentarily before taking a deep breath, trying to smile confidently. "We got this…"
And on to the next chapter!