Tangled!

The journey back to the tower was eerily silent.

Rapunzel sat in the small boat, hands clenched in her lap, her mind reeling. The world beyond the tower had been everything she'd dreamed of, it was beautiful, exciting, alive. But it had also been terrifying.

Dangerous. The Stabbington brothers had nearly taken her, and if Mother Gothel hadn't been there…

She shuddered, blinking back tears. Gothel had been right. The outside world was cruel. And Eugene—Flynn, he had abandoned her. Just like Mother had warned.

The boat bumped against the rocky shoreline meters away from the tower. Gothel helped her out, her hands firm, guiding Rapunzel toward the hidden passage.

"I know this is hard, my flower," Gothel murmured as they climbed the winding staircase inside the tower. "But I only want what's best for you."

Rapunzel nodded numbly, the words feeling hollow.

Once inside, the familiar walls closed around her. The warmth of the fireplace flickered, casting shadows along the stone. Everything was as it had been before. As if nothing had changed.

And yet, everything had.

Gothel sat beside her, she began removing all the flowers that were put on her hair by the girls at the kingdom, she undid the braid brushing Rapunzel's hair with long, practiced strokes. "The world outside only wanted to use you," she said gently. "That thief was no different."

Eugene's face flashed in Rapunzel's mind, his smile, the way he had looked at her beneath the lanterns. But then she saw the crown, the boat, the betrayal.

She squeezed her eyes shut. "I don't want to talk about him."

Gothel smiled, pressing a kiss to Rapunzel's head. "Good girl."

But as Rapunzel sat there, the golden strands slipping through Gothel's fingers, a small ember of doubt remained. Something wasn't right.

---

Meanwhile, in the Dungeon...

Eugene sat on the cold stone floor of the prison cell, his hands shackled behind him. The guards had wasted no time tossing him into the deepest part of the castle's dungeons, and now, the only light came from a single torch burning outside the iron bars.

His head throbbed from the scuffle, but the pain in his chest was worse. Rapunzel.

She thought he had betrayed her.

He yanked at the chains, gritting his teeth. He had to get out. He had to tell her the actual truth.

The sound of approaching footsteps drew his attention. He straightened as the Captain of the Guard halted outside his cell. "Flynn Rider," the man said sternly. "You are charged with theft and treason."

Eugene smirked, despite the situation. "Oh, great. Add treason to the list. Why not?"

The Captain ignored him, stepping aside as two figures entered, a pair of smug, scarred faces Eugene recognized instantly.

The Stabbington brothers.

Eugene's smirk vanished. The brothers stepped closer, glaring at him through the bars.

"You," one of them growled.

Eugene sighed. "Oh, come on. Haven't we played this game enough?"

The second brother crossed his arms. "We had a deal. And you ran off with the crown."

Eugene's stomach twisted. "That wasn't me, and you know it."

The brothers exchanged a look, then one of them smirked. "We don't care about the crown anymore."

Eugene frowned. "Oh? Then what do you want?"

The brother leaned forward, his voice dark. "The girl."

Eugene's blood ran cold.

The Captain turned to the guards. "Take them away."

As the brothers were led out, one threw a final glare at Eugene. "Enjoy your last night, Rider. She won't be safe for long."

The moment they were gone, Eugene surged forward, grabbing the bars. "Captain! You have to listen to me. That girl is in danger. Ra—"

"Enough," the Captain cut him off. "Your execution is set for dawn."

Eugene's breath caught.

Dawn.

No. No, no, no. He had to get out. He had to save Rapunzel. Something within him knew that Rapunzel was in danger.

As the Captain walked away, Eugene slumped against the bars, heart pounding. He was out of time.