Finding a New Dream
Rapunzel sat in stunned silence at the bottom of the staircase as her world came crashing down around her. With one fell swoop, she had lost the two most important people, the only people as a matter of fact, that she had ever loved. Why did he have to be so stubborn? Why couldn't he have just let her heal him? She would have been alright, but he wouldn't or couldn't let her.
Instead of healing the stab wound her mother had inflicted on him, Flynn, or rather, Eugene had found a shard of glass from the table had broken during her earlier altercation with her so-called mother, and had sliced through her long blond tresses rending her powerless to stop his impending death. And now all the power that Mother Gothel had used to retain her youth suddenly drained as she clamored to save what was left in Rapunzel's golden hair. But it was useless; the hair became brown and powerless. Violently, Gothel began to grab at herself trying to stop the centuries of age that were quickly eroding her from existence. Rapunzel saw Gothel walk towards the tower window and tried to reach out to her, but it was too late. The old woman tripped over a clump of hair that lied at the window and fell out and down, becoming ash on the ground.
After taking a moment for Gothel's death to sink in, Rapunzel turned to Flynn, who lay still on the ground beside her. Holding his head, Rapunzel began to call out his name, hoping by some miracle that he still lived. The small coughs that escaped from his mouth gave Rapunzel a small amount of joy, but she chided him on the inside for doing what he did. In a desperate attempt she placed, Flynn's hand upon her now cropped hair and began to sing.
"Rapunzel!" Flynn called out, using most of energy he still had. Rapunzel turned to gaze into her lover's eyes. "Y-You were my new dream," Flynn weakly whispered as his eyes fluttered shut. Realizing this was both a confession and a goodbye, Rapunzel replied, "And you were mine." Holding back her tears, she watched as Flynn's body suddenly became limp.
"NO! No! Eugene! Stay with me! EUGENE!" Rapunzel reached up to touch Flynn's lips. No more air escaped them, his chest had quit moving. Moving her hand over his body, Rapunzel sung the enchantment that she had memorized her entire life as a last resort to heal not only the man she loved but herself as well. Then reality hit. Rapunzel leaned over Flynn's body and sobbed. And there she lay for what seemed like hours; the sun's cruel joyous light flooding the tower with its light.
Once the sun has crested behind the tower, the darkness returned to the small room. Sniffling, Rapunzel looked at Flynn's body one last time. The chain that Gothel has affixed to his wrist clanged harshly with her movements. Standing from her place on the floor, Rapunzel walked over to the satchel Gothel had packed when she had chained Rapunzel. Digging inside, Rapunzel found the key and walked back over to where Flynn lay. Inserting the key into the hole and turning, she heard clink of the lock as it released Flynn's arm. Now she had saved him from Gothel, however silly it may have seemed.
Realizing she still had family back in Corona, Rapunzel prepared for her return journey. Gathering her now brown cut hair, Rapunzel wrapped Flynn in part of it, almost smiling at the memory of tying him up the last time. The memory seemed like a lifetime away, instead of just two days ago. Slowly, Rapunzel lowered Flynn's body to the forest floor below. Standing on the edge like she had the day before, Rapunzel gazed one last time at her former home before sliding down her hair. This time, though there was not joy at being free. She could never be as free as she once had been.
Landing on the ground, she could see Gothel's cloak lying in a heap. Lifting it from the ground, dust sailed into the air and away from the girl. Looking towards the rock opening that concealed the entrance to her tower, she heard footsteps approaching. A strong, white horse stepped forward from the bushes, a concerned look on his face. Trotting over to Rapunzel he stopped suddenly when he saw Flynn on the ground unmoving.
"He's dead, Max," Rapunzel informed the palace horse, straining to keep tears from returning. "He's not going to wake up." Maximus began sniffing the ground where Flynn lay and nudged him with his nose. A startled whinny escaped from the horse as if he too could not believe the dashing thief was dead. Rapunzel grabbed the horse's neck and began sobbing uncontrollably again and Maximus wrapped his powerful head around the distraught girl.
Gathering her strength, Rapunzel told Maximus what happened. From her realization she was the Lost Princess to Flynn's arrival and eventual murder at the hands of Gothel. Picking up Flynn, Rapunzel draped his lifeless form over Maximus and covered him with Gothel's cloak. Proof, she reminded herself of what she knew was true. Together, the Lost Princess and the Palace Horse left the tower's meadow and headed back for the gleaming capital.