What if...Cassandra was the princess...instead of Rapunzel? According to my calculations this would set off an intriguing chain of events. If you liked TTS/RTA this is a new twist on a beloved fandom. WARNING this includes SPOILERS for Rapunzel`s Tangled Adventure/ Tangled the Series. Authors notes at the bottom! Chapter 57 “Why is a bear-man attacking us?” Eugene screeches. He is referring, of course, to the stranger in an enormous, life sized bear mask that has suddenly appeared on top of the gondola and is trying to stop its progress. Yes, their lives are insane. Moving on. “He must be a part of the Brotherhood, protecting the stone!” Cass yells as the car swings back and forth violently. “He certainly looks weird enough to be one of them -“ “The Brotherhood?” Raps yelps. “Usually whenever we hear from the Brotherhood it’s quickly followed by -“ “Adira!” Lance calls gratefully. And there she is, out of the sky, landing on the roof and fighting bear-man with vigor. Lance cheers. “Varian, Lance, make this thing go faster!” Rapunzel commands. They oblige hurriedly, working the pump as fast as their arms will allow. “I’ll go up and help Adira!” Eugene shouts, evidently disliking feeling useless. He scrambles up the roof just in time - Just in time to see bear-man push Adira off. She even falls in battle gracefully, no panic on her face, only steely concentration. “Adira!” The gang cries from inside. Strange and suspicious as she is, this lady has protected them through thick and thin. Bear-man turns towards Eugene and regards him, just about to cut the gondola wire when Eugene charges. “No!” Varian yells. He knows Eugene is no match for this stranger. He abandons his end of the pump to to climb after him. Rapunzel rushes to follow, bursting through Cass, who tries to hold her back. She’s up with V in a flash, ready to fight. Cassandra is pretty sure she called after them, pretty sure she drew her sword. Upon seeing Lance desperately trying to keep them going on his own, however, she finds herself gritting her teeth and rushing to help him instead. Surprisingly, Eugene is holding his own. Something about this fight seems off, however, and he’s just realizing bear-man isn’t actually trying to hurt him when - Varian. The kid is a blur. He whams into bear-man with a fury, his whole body a weapon. The stranger, naturally, begins to fall and reaches for the nearest objects … Team Awesome. Falls. All. The way. Down. Rapunzel screams, unable to reach them in time. <><><> Don’t worry, this is actually a very fun story, no one dies. Eugene, Varian, and Bear-man land on an outcropping of rock a little way down. “Ugh,” Eugene groans. “That was … painful.” “Watch out,” Varian whispers, edging closer to him as Bear-man, too, groans and rises. Eugene draws his sword. “I don’t want to fight you,” the stranger says gruffly. “Could’ve fooled me,” Eugene snaps. “I didn’t know them what I realize now. I can’t fight you … I could never fight … my son.” Eugene stares as the man takes off his mask, revealing a kind of handsome face. A kind of familiar handsome face. A face Eugene might recognize as his own … or his own father’s. <><><> Cass, Rapunzel, Lance and Shorty make it to the other side. Rapunzel is … well, she’s trying hard not to be hysterical, but it’s not working well. “I’m sure they’re fine,” she says repeatedly. “We’ll find them, it’ll be okay -“ “I saw them.” Adira, of all people, is casually leaning against a rock, picking leaves out of her hair. “They didn’t fall far, they’re alive and well.” “Well?!?” Cass yells as Raps relaxes her grip on her arm slightly. “That guy is trying to kill them!” “Believe me, those two will be safe. Quite lucky it was them, actually. Come with me, I know a way -“ “No!” Raps and Cass yell at the same time. “Adira,” Raps says a little more gently. Not by much, though. “I think it’s time you gave us some /real/ answers.” “No cryptic talk,” Cass adds. Adira nods. <><><> Long ago - well. Not /so/ very long ago, but definitely in the past - the Dark Kingdom was a thriving metropolis, ruled by King Edmund. The kingdom was built around protecting something precious, something dangerous … The moonstone opal. But the power of the stone proved to be too much, far more danger than worth; when an accident occurred the cost was in lives. Including the queen. King Edmund ordered that the land be evacuated, so that innocent citizens would not be harmed any further by the stone’s destructive influence. Himself and a few chosen warriors, the best of the best, would stay behind, to keep the power from falling into the wrong hands. <><><> (+)
(+) (Continued) <><><> “And that’s why I sent you away as a newborn child and never told you,” Edmund comments cheerfully as he leads Eugene and Varian into the castle. “See, you’re a prince of the Dark Kingdom.” Eugene, having been laughing hysterically at Bear-man’s claims a moment ago, now stares around the gloomy, desolate chamber with its magnificent black - er, everything. “Is that -?” He begins quietly, nodding towards an enormous painting over the fireplace. “Your mother,” Edmund nods, pain in his voice. “The moonstone wasn’t protected well enough. Our kingdom paid the price.” He turns towards Eugene, warm brown eyes mirroring his son’s. “Don’t make the same mistakes I did,” he insists quietly. “Our ancestors were sworn to protect the stone - maybe you can succeed where I have failed.” “Eugene,” Varian whispers. “What is he talking about?” Edmund turns towards the boy. “I’m talking about your sworn duty to keep all away from the moonstone opal,” he asserts plaintively. Authors note! This chapter is very canon compliant lol, I didn’t change much. If it’s boring for that reason, don’t worry, the next one is a doozy hehe obviously this is fanfiction, I own none of the characters or other names.
