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. Chapter 58 “No way,” Eugene scoffs. “All of a sudden I have a father, and - no, not only a father but a /royal/, who claims I have to abandon my mission and literally do the /exact opposite?/“ “This castle holds a power that could kill us all,” Edmund warns. “You have a right to this castle as I do, and only we have the right to protect others from falling -“ “My friends are counting on me!” Eugene insists. “Your friends don’t know what they’re getting into!” Edmund pleads. “What /are/ we getting into?” Varian interjects cautiously. Edmund looks between them, worried eyes wide. “In all honesty, Varian, I hoped you’d help me figure that out,” he mutters. “Very little fact is known about the stone, but with your research we could -“ “Wait.” Eugene eyes him suspiciously. “How do you know -“ “His name? Sorry, I thought I mentioned - I’ve been keeping tabs on the both of you. Wouldn’t want to lose track of the next generation of Dark Warriors!” He chuckles. “What?” Varian whispers. “Oh yeah, Horace here -“ “Excuse me?” Eugene splutters. “You named me what?!?” “ - Was always meant for greatness, but I had high hopes for you, as well.” Edmund smiles and kneels to look into Varian’s startled blue eyes more easily. “With your father having trained under me, I thought you might have great potential as our next Dark Knight,” he says kindly. “This is insane,” Eugene mutters. “Son -“ “You do /not/ get to call me son.” “That’s - that’s fair,” Edmund concedes, sighing. “I’m only trying to help here. The moonstone is more powerful that you realize - your friends are in grave danger.” Eugene uncrosses his arms to stare at Edmund, trying to hide his growing fear. “What’s going to happen -“ he begins. “What does the moonstone do?” Varian interrupts breathlessly. Edmund shrugs. “No one knows what is does … except harm,” he adds. “It’s a dark and twisted path we have - to protect, to guard, to learn, so that others don’t have to. So that others don’t have to pay the price.” Eugene and Varian glance at each other. “We have to do something,” Eugene whispers. <><><> The front gate. Cass and Rapunzel just stare at it. A giant black door, made of the very black rocks that threaten Rapunzel and all of Corona I’d this doesn’t succeed; it stands tall and ominous and thick as a casket. “Knock,” Lance whispers. “Just - just knock.” He leans towards Adira. “Why aren’t they knocking? Do you think they know how to -“ Cass grits her teeth and pounds on the door with a determined gloved fist. Rapunzel gasps as the sound of a ginormous lock can be heard shifting. “It’s opening,” she screech-whispers. “It’s -“ A crack. Just enough for cold, gloomy air to come pouring out into the day. Just enough to see a face. “Eugene!” Rapunzel gasps. “I’m /so/ glad you’re okay -“ “I’m sorry,” Eugene interrupts. “I’m sorry, Rapunzel, Cass - I - I won’t let you in.” “What?” Cass gapes. “Eugene, don’t be a -“ “It’s for your own good.” Eugene’s eyes close in pain and conflict before he makes up his mind … And closes the door. <><><> “Don’t worry, we’ll find another way,” Adira is saying nonchalantly as she leads the group around the building. Rapunzel isn’t listening. “Go check on Eugene,” she whispers to Pascal. “And Varian. Make sure they’re together and safe.” Pascal nods dutifully and scuttles off in search of a hole in the wall. “This way!” Adira calls. “There’s an underground passageway under the castle that should lead us where we need to go.” A dark, rocky path - Rapunzel trips and catches herself. “Careful, Raps,” Cass whispers. “It’s slippery -“ “I’m fine!” Rapunzel mutters. She’s trying not to cry. Thankfully no one can see her drop her sunshine - but all her friends are in danger, because of her. They’re all trying to look out for her, keep her safe, keep her protected - and now they’re all in mortal peril. Rapunzel takes a deep breath and sets it aside, for now. Things will go right. She knows it. <><><> Eugene sits alone in the castle, staring down at his hands. He’s not sure where Varian and Edmund are. He’s not sure what’s going on anymore. All he knows is nothing is the same, and he hates it. Pascal wanders into the room from a small crack and glanced around, unimpressed at the gloomy interior, before spotting an even gloomier Eugene. “Pascal -“ he sighs when he sees the lizard. “I know. I /know/ you’re mad, stop looking at me like that! I just … I don’t want anything to happen to the girls.” He scoops up Pascal to look at him seriously. “I mean, cmon, we have no idea what’s in there! What will happen when Cass takes it? She could die!” He reminds him. “And what about Blondie, huh? Will this plan of having two people hold the powers even work?” (+)
(+) (Continued) Eugene sets Pascal on his knee so he can wipe the frustration off his face. “I just don’t know if we can trust that everything will be okay,” he mutters. “I have to keep them safe.” Pascal shakes his head softly and climbs toward Eugene’s pocket to pull out - The note. The one predicting betrayal. “Dang it!” Eugene exclaims, smacking himself in the head. “Am I the one - okay.” He gets up and starts pacing, scooping and placing Pascal gently on his shoulder. “I can’t trust these circumstances,” he admits. He pauses. “But I can trust my friends. Let’s go.” <><><> Varian walks with Edmund through the hallway of grand statues, in awe of his surroundings. “Our sacred duty, and the duty of my ancestors who you see before you, has been to protect,” Edmund is saying. “These are noble people, and I feel that protecting will be a strong suit of my son’s as well.” Protecting. Looking after. Keeping safe. Varian wants to do all these things, but … he’s not very good at it. His father would know. “What will be my strong suit?” He whispers. “Why Varian, I think we already know that!” The king laughs. “Your inquisitive mind is perfect for this job. So much is to be learned from the moonstone - we just need someone who is willing to dive in.” “Do you think it could melt amber?” Varian asks quickly. “What? Well, I don’t know - I guess we’ll have to -“ Varian!” Eugene calls, busting in. His wide eyes find his companion’s and he nods. “I think our friends could use some help.”
