A/N - Thank you guys for bearing with me while I wrote this. Even with the MASSIVE gap in the updates right at the end, I've actually thoroughly enjoyed writing this one. It's helped give me the discipline and structure I need to work on my own personal writing.

So I'm finishing this one with a little epilogue, just to tie things up (or not!).

Disclaimer: I own Tangled... the original soundtrack! And you own my eternal gratitude for reading and reviewing!

Epilogue

They slept until noon, when the heat of the sun warmed Rapunzel's skin, turning it back to a healthy pink. She yawned and stretched and smiled, feeling rejuvenated already. Eugene stirred beside her and was woken rather more abruptly by Rapunzel throwing herself into his arms and kissing him enthusiastically. Eugene responded in kind, only breaking apart when a distant neighing sound caught their attention.

"Oh, Max! He'll be worried!" said Rapunzel. Pulling Eugene to his feet, and scooping Pascal up and onto her shoulder, Rapunzel was as full of energy as she had ever been. She even started rowing, before her eagerness led them more sideways than across the lake and Eugene felt compelled to take over.

Reaching the opposite shore and disembarking, Eugene was almost bowled over by Maximus as he turned to help Rapunzel from the boat. Rapunzel giggled and threw her arms around the neck of the horse.

"We did it, Max!"she said, nuzzling his mane. "The Green King is sleeping again and we can go home!"

Home. Never had one word sounded so welcoming. Max out-did himself racing back to the kingdom where the King and Queen were anxiously waiting for news of their daughter.

Rapunzel told them the story slightly breathlessly, with Eugene filling in some of the gaps.

"I think the legend was forgotten for a reason," Eugene finished. He turned to the King, then to the Queen, knowing she would understand. "Maybe it should be forgotten again?"

The Queen smiled, reached forward and took the young man's hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze.

"I think that's for the best," she said.

She reached for her daughter's hand too.

"I'm so glad you are safe again," she said. "Both of you."

She joined the two young people's hands together and took a step back, where her husband put an arm around her shoulder. The two couples rejoiced in the happiness and contentment of their perfect, and safe world.

xoxox

A thousand years later a terrible war tore the world apart and scorched the earth. The survivors looked up into the sky and watched the sun and moon meet. And deep within the ground a marble tomb lid stirred and shifted and the Green King sat up with a smile. It was time...