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Flynn burst through the wall of bushes, gasping for air after the long-distance run he had made. He checked his satchel, breathing in a sigh of relief upon seeing the letters hadn't fallen out in his mad dash through the woods. He closed the satchel, glancing up at the tower in the center of the clearing, frowning as he remembered what he'd heard about Gothel. None of it was nice, and it didn't help him in figuring out any other way to enter the tower, but he had to try. Flynn took in a deep breath, and walked towards the tower, looking up at the single window. He stood there looking up, emotions bubbling up inside of him, but he shook his head, turning his gaze to the tower. He had a job to do, and he wasn't going to give up now. He walked around the base, stopping halfway around as he spotted an inconsistent patch of vines.
"Well, it's not like I have any other leads." Flynn huffed to himself, tearing the patch off the tower to reveal a doorway filled in with rocks.
"Well, seems like I've found my entrance." Flynn chuckled, grabbing the rocks and carefully removing them, making a mental reminder to re-hide the doorway when he leaves, hopefully with Rapunzel. After a few minutes of exhausting work, the doorway was unblocked, and Flynn entered the tower slowly, remembering the last time he'd seen Rapunzel. She probably hates me, but I don't really care. She can hate me all she wants as long as she hears me out. Flynn thought, making his way up a spiral staircase, stopping in front of a trapdoor. Now or never Eugene. Fly-Eugene breathes in deeply, then pushes open the trapdoor and steps up into Rapunzel's room.
"Flynn." If Rapunzel was shocked he was here, she was doing well at hiding it. Her voice was full of hatred, and when Eugene turned to her, he saw that she was gripping her frying pan tightly, an expression of seething rage on her face.
"Hey Rapunzel. Brought you a couple of things." Eugene sighed, reaching a hand into his satchel and carefully grabbing the letters.
"Why would I want anything from you? I thought you loved me, but you betrayed me without a second thought!" Rapunzel spat, glaring at him as he pulled the letters out of his satchel. Eugene winced at her words, heart sinking slightly. Of course she saw it that way. Eugene thought, holding out the letters towards Rapunzel.
"Here." He said softly, looking at Rapunzel sadly. This is what I get for leaving her alone. If only I'd gotten out sooner, maybe I could've helped her. Eugene thought, waiting patiently as Rapunzel's eyes flickered warily between him and the letters.
"What are those? Why are you even here? Didn't you get what you wanted, thief?" Rapunzel hissed, eyes steely.
"These are letters from your parents, the King and Queen." Eugene replied calmly, trying to ignore how deep her words hurt him. Rapunzel's eyes widened in shock, and she stared at him like he'd just told her he was an alien.
"That's...that's not true. Mother's the one-" Rapunzel said, frying pan lowering slightly.
"Gothel stole you from your cradle after you were born because of your hair!" Eugene interrupted angrily, taking in a deep breath before continuing calmly, "The King and Queen are your real parents, the ones that Gothel stole you from. They've been mourning that loss every year, sending up lanterns on your birthday." Rapunzel seemed lost, scared, and Eugene wanted desperately to just rush over and pull her into a hug and tell her that everything would be fine. But he knew she wouldn't respond well.
"You still haven't told me why your even here. You got what you wanted, right? I bet the King and Queen paid you hundreds of gold to get back the crown you stole." Rapunzel snarled, resuming her steely glare.
"I got what I wanted, is that what Gothel told you?" Eugene scoffed, seeing a brief flash of confusion in her eyes. "Well guess what princess, she lied about that too." Rapunzel opened her mouth to protest, but Eugene barreled onward. "Let me guess, she said I'd gone to ransom the tiara for money and my freedom, and that I was sailing away after using you as a pawn." Rapunzel was scowling at him, but there was a hint of uncertainty in her eyes that motivated Eugene to keep talking. "What actually happened was I was knocked out, tied to a ship, and practically handed to the guards on a silver platter. I spent the last six months in prison, wishing that I could tell you what I'm telling you right now. I never betrayed you Rapunzel, Gothel did."
"No, you're lying!" Rapunzel denied, voice trembling slightly, taking a half-step backwards.
"Am I? Are you sure that I'm the one that's lying to you?" Eugene asked her softly, watching her sadly as she hesitated a second before lifting her frying pan, face blank.
"Either you leave right now, or I kill you." Rapunzel seethed, her eyes burning with hatred as she glared at him. Eugene sighed in defeat, walking over to her desk and placing the letters in the top drawer on top of the pictures.
"I'll leave these here if you want to read them." Eugene told her, walking over to the trapdoor. He closed it behind him and walked down the stairs with a heavy heart, re-closing the doorway to the tower and covering it back up before leaving, a single thought running through his head as he began the long trek back to the palace.
I will reunite you with your parents, Rapunzel. Even if it costs me my life.