Ghost and Goblins

The door creaked softly as Rapunzel slowly entered his chambers, her bare-feet tiptoeing hesitantly inside. She creeped to his bedside, shaking him and softly whispering his name.

"Eugene, wake up."

He groaned, curling tighter around his blankets. Burying his head deeper into his pillow.

"Eugene, please," she begged, still shaking him. "It's important."

Still seeing no response, Pascal took it amongst himself to take action. Leaping from Rapunzel's shoulder, and towards Eugene's ear. The tiny chameleon stuck his tongue into his ear with profound skill.

"Gah!" Eugene yelled, jerking up from the bed to see Rapunzel hovering over him, frying pan in-hand. "GAH!"

"Why are you peering over me in the middle of the night while holding that thing?" he shrieked, gripping the blankets tightly. He quickly turned his attention to the tiny lizard, sitting on his bed. "And why do you keep doing that?"

"Calm down," she whispered. "It's not for you."

"Comforting," he said, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. "Who is it for, then? Because if you're planning to cook me breakfast in bed, 4am is still a bit too early."

"I heard a noise," she said, sheepishly. "I need you to come with me to investigate."

"A noise?" he said, his expression deadpan. "Nearly a month ago we escaped a broken dam, fought some of the most wanted men in the Kingdom and brought me back to life...and you're scared of a noise you heard in the middle of the night?"

"I never said I was scared," Rapunzel said defensively. "I just said I heard it. Will you come with me? Please? I won't be able to go to sleep until I find out what it is."

"All right fine. You're lucky I'm such a nice guy," he said exasperatedly, gently handing her back Pascal before swinging his legs out of bed. "And that I'm afraid of what Pascal will do to me if I refuse."

"Thank you!" she squealed, pecking his cheek and taking his hand in hers. "C'mon, it came from the Library."

She pulled him down the Castle's halls, stopping in front of the oversized double doors. Rapunzel stopped, letting go of his hand and gripping her pan tightly.

"You check first," she stammered as he raised an eyebrow at her curiously. "To scout the perimeter, you know what I mean?"

"Sure," he said, unconvincingly. Grabbing one of the door's handles, opening the heavy door slowly. He peaked inside, before quickly slamming the door closed with a gasp.

"What did you see?" she asked eagerly.

"I don't believe it..." he answered, looking shocked.

"Was it a ghost?"

"No..."

"A goblin?"

"Worse..."

"Oh my gosh," Rapunzel squeaked, hiding behind her frying pan. "A ghost goblin?"

"No, it's actually..." he said, opening the door to the Library, bearing an unfazed expression. "Nothing. It's absolutely nothing. The most threatening thing in here is a paper cut."

Rapunzel looked up at him, before tentatively walking into the doorway. Craning her neck out, she examined the darkened Library. All seemed safe, until a rustling of papers were heard, terrifying her enough to jump into Eugene's arms. She dropped her frying pan with a loud clank as she gripped his neck tightly. He stumbled backwards slightly, in an attempted to hold both her and the heavy door open.

"Did you hear that?" she squeaked, as she gripped Eugene. "I told you there was something in there!"

"Rap-un-zel," he gasped for air. "Can't...breathe..."

She loosened her grip slightly, enough for him to get some air, as she clung to him. Her face buried in his shirt.

"Why are you so worked up over this?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. "It's probably just a draft or something."

"Just check," she said, voice muffled. "Please?"

"All right, but you're going to have to let go of me."

She shook her head, face still firming planted in his chest. He sighed, petting her hair softly. She looked up at him sheepishly, before hopping out of his arms. He handed her the frying pan, kissing her forehead before venturing inside.

He walked around the room, stopping at a stack of papers on the windowsill, brightly visible in the moonlight. He grinned when he discovered the source of the noise. Turning around, he motioned for Rapunzel to come over. She tiptoed to his side as he pointed behind the pile of papers, to the tiny white mouse that stared at the closed window longingly.

Handing Eugene her frying pan, she unlocked the window. A cool night breeze flew in, as the mouse looked upwards towards Eugene and Rapunzel, nose twitching, before it scurrying out into the night.