Epilogue

"Well, Princess, we finally did it," Eugene said, laughing, holding Rapunzel in his arms.

"Twice," Rapunzel said, smiling back at him. She squeezed him lightly.

"That two day celebration seemed like it went on forever. Boy, when Corona does something, they go all out, don't they."

Rapunzel nodded. "Marred by one thing though."

"Yeah," Eugene agreed, letting her go. He walked to the window. "It's hard to believe she's gone." He turned to face her. "Her last request was to see what she came for; to see us married."

He turned back toward the window remembering the last time he saw Rowena alive.

We rushed into the guest bed chamber to find the Queen putting another cold compress to Rowena's head. Rapunzel had just filled another bowl of cold water and fresh towels just delivered by the maid.

The two of them looked up as we entered the room. All I had eyes for at that moment was Rowena; her long, vibrant red curls a standout to her pale face. Her large brown eyes locked into mine and we stared at each other. She began to smile.

"Rider," she whispered, extending her arm. I grabbed hold of it.

"Just in time," the King said, smiling as Brother Timothy walked in.

I looked up at Rapunzel. "Can we have a few minutes alone? I need to talk to her."

But Rowena shook her head. "No, Eugene, I want to see you the two of you married. I want you to obey my last wish. I've always wanted you to happy in love and grounded. Then we'll talk."

I remember that the ceremony was quick and my new father in law rushing all of us from the room. I would have the rest of my life with Rapunzel, but Rowena had been special. And I had to say goodbye in my own way.

"The King said something about your heart," I asked her sitting by her side.

Rowena smiled weakly. "It has nothing to do with you, Rider, I got over you a long time ago. My father wanted me to distract you so that Nichol could catch Rapunzel, which never happened in the first place."

I looked at her. "Then what, Ro?"

"My father and Nicholas," she answered. "The two of them were planning something behind my back. They were actually planning to run away with the flowers and leave me alone to get caught. I don't know why they wanted me out of their lives, but they did." She coughed, and then smiled, her brown eyes locked into mine. "Beside, Eugene, you've always known that I had a bad heart. Any little shock will do this to me."

I smiled at her use of my real name.

I reached out to caress her cheek. "I always thought you hated that name." I bent to kiss her forehead. "You'll be fine, Ro. You've pulled through this before."

But Rowena shook her head. "No not this time," she answered me, reaching up to stroke my hair. "All I wanted was to see the two of you married and in love. I'm happy you finally found it. Thank you for giving me my last wish, Flynn Rider. May Eugene and Rapunzel live happily ever after."

She saw the tears in my eyes and smiled. "Hey, Eugene, it's not all that bad. At least I got to spend some time in the castle."

I laughed through my tears.

She smiled back and drifted off. At first, I thought she fell asleep, but when I reached to grab hold of her hand, it slipped through my fingers. I put my hand up to her nose and couldn't feel her breath. I bent down and began to cry because I had lost my only link to any family that I ever had. I just lost my sister.

Rapunzel walked over to him and put a hand on his shoulder. "You're thinking about her, aren't you?"

Eugene turned to face her. He had tears in his eyes.

Rapunzel took him in her arms. "I know she was your sister. I didn't understand back then, Eugene."

"I know, it was a long time ago."

"Not all that long ago, Eugene," Rapunzel smiled and let him go. She changed the subject. "It was funny how Brother Timothy was there to perform the ceremony. Thanks to my father who dreamed it all up."

Eugene nodded and wiped away the tears. "Has he ever heard from his brother? Did anyone ever find Nicholas?"

Rapunzel shrugged. "You're the Captain of the Guard."

"Oh yeah," Eugene said, smiling, "forgot there for a second. But the Stabbington boys have been on their tail and they reported mysterious sightings by your old tower; right down to a flying peregrine falcon."

"Father said he saw Angus float downstream unconscious. I don't think…"

"We don't know, Blondie," he whispered, pushing her yellow hair out of her face. "Oh, I forgot to ask permission to call you that again."

"You don't need my permission, Captain. My mother explained why my hair finally grew back and turned yellow again. I cried the night I saw you with Rowena. One of the tears penetrated my skin. Basically, I had the power to heal myself all along, I just didn't realize it."

"Without the flowers?"

"Turns out we had them all along. You did a great job of moving them around, Eugene. I wonder why he said the experiment didn't work."

"I'll speak to your father when we get back. He finally made a few of my dreams come true."

Rapunzel smiled. "Besides me?"

Eugene nodded. "Yeah," he said, stepping away from her. He extended his arm in a sweeping motion. "Look at this, I finally have my own island and I'm surrounded by piles of money."

"You know, Eugene, this really isn't your money. It belongs to Corona. You remember you're in the Treasury, don't you?"

Eugene shrugged. "It's an island, isn't it? And I'm surrounded by enormous piles of money? Now how many kingdoms do you know who keeps their treasury on an island."

Rapunzel shook her head and put her arms around his shoulders. "You know, I'm actually surprised he gave you this accounting job? Being a thief and all?"

"I guess he finally trusts me," Eugene said, putting his arms around her waist.

"Oh, Eugene, I think he trusted you all along," Rapunzel said, coming in closer. Their lips touched and Eugene went in for the kill.

"Your Highness?" Manny's voice called from outside. He had opened the door a crack.

"WHAT?" Eugene said, turning away from Rapunzel. "Can't a man have a little privacy?"

Manny smiled. "Not when you have kids." And he opened it wider to reveal three screaming children.

"Father, Mother," Rowen, the oldest at 9, screamed. She headed straight for Rapunzel. "I hurt myself. Gene told me to show it to you." She held out her right leg.

Rapunzel bent down to look at the injury, and then turned to her 7 year old son. "Is that what you told her? You know that Cora can heal you as well as I can."

"Gene wanted you to do it, Mother," 5 year old Cora said, bringing up the rear. "He said I was too young."

Rapunzel looked at the three of them. Rowen looked exactly like her, right down to the blond hair. Gene looked just like his father, but Cora? Cora looked like both of them.

And she was the only one to have the power to heal.

Rapunzel turned to Cora. "Let's see if you remember how."

Cora wrapped her medium length brown hair around Rowen's leg and sang the incantation her mother had taught her.

When she pulled the hair away, the cut disappeared.

"I guess she's not too young," Gene said, shrugging his shoulder.

Eugene bent down and brushed the hair away from his son's head. "Don't ever go against a woman, son," he said, smiling. "Especially when your surrounded by three of them."

"Eugene!" Rapunzel said, laughing as he stood up. He put his arms around her and placed a light kiss on her lips.

"By the way, kids, where's the chameleons? You know, Pascal and Blaize's children?"

The sound of tiny little legs crawled through the doorway. Three of the little green chameleons ran inside.

"The rest are in my room," Gene said, looking up at his father.

"Well, the entire family is here," Eugene said, squeezing everyone together.

"Uh, Your Highness?"

Eugene looked up. "What's up, Manny?"

"The King and Queen want to see you. You're late for dinner."

"Be there in a sec, Manny." Eugene said, kissing his wife. "Come on, guys, we're wanted at the castle."

XXXXX

Present day

A short description of the beautiful kingdom of Corona from the famous and popular travel book, Clyde's Guides and Other Stuff:

"The kingdom of Corona, which is run by King Eugene the 8th, has been voted the most beautiful city in the world. The dining is superb, be sure to stop off at Mother Gothel's Fountain of Youth and the Snuggly Duckling. Two five star restaurants with great drinks and everything to whet your appetite. Try the juicy and succulent duckling, the Snug's best dish.

Hiking here has always been a favorite, but the best one will lead you to Tower Falls, which has an 80 foot drop. The best place to look at these magnificent falls is from down below. There is also an abandoned tower there, although rumor has it that it is haunted. People have seen and heard strange goings on from atop that tower; lights going on and off, men's voices yelling at one another and the sight of a bird flying overhead.