A/N: Ok wow, this is new for me because I've never been in the Tangled fandom before, nor have I ever written anything for this amazing movie and series. I loved the film and when the series I came out I was apprehensive, especially when I took a look at the animation style. But of course YouTube has a great way in showing you spoilers of things you never even wanted. So incidentally I saw 'Ready as I'll ever be,' which I admitted to myself was catchy, but I still was doubtful. Then I saw clips about Cassandra's betrayal and my interest piqued. It wasn't until another song, 'Waiting in the Wings,' popped up in my YouTube feed that finally made me watch the show and man am I glad I did. It was a masterpiece and one amazing journey. I loved it so much and I just wish there was more of it.
There was a couple of things that I wanted touched upon that weren't so I decided to make a fic of it. Please excuse me if I'm not quite in character or the writing is off – this fandom is new for me and I'm not sure if I've got quite the right tone for it, but we'll see. Hope you enjoy!
Wisps of blue fire encompass me, licking away at my bare forearms but leaving no trace of pain or marks.
"Rapunzel!" The familiarity of that name strikes me, but I can't move or comprehend anything. All I can focus on is the darkness ahead of me, it beckons me in such a manner that I've never experienced before.
"Raps!" My ears perk up at that nickname. 'Who is that?' But my senses are overridden once more; this time by a low humming chant that draws me further down a path of the swirling unknown.
A warm touch.
An agonising scream.
I blink, jerking my head back as I feel a sudden immense weight landing on my shoulders. I drop to one knee as I try to gather myself, but when I become aware of the distinct sound of whimpering I whip my head to the left to find Cassandra kneeling on the ground, clutching her hand to her chest as if her life depended on it. A block of lead settles in the pit of my stomach as the cruel realisation hits me. 'No. Not again. No!' I run over to my best friend who scowls and jumps away from me. But not before I catch sight of the charred black appendage. A mixture of guilt and nausea twist together tightly in my abdomen. I take a cautious step closer while stretching a shaky hand out in front of me.
"Cass, please." I start, but wilt when her eyes turn to shoot daggers at me as she pins me down with that steely hardened gaze of hers.
"This is your fault! It's always your fault. I want nothing to do with you!" My lips tremble at the harsh remark.
"But Cass…" I cut myself off when her hand shoots out in front of her.
"I said LEAVE!" The hand-maiden screeches as a black spike erupts from the ground beside her which hurtles straight at me. I open my mouth, ready to scream.
I awaken from my nightmare with a start, clutching desperately at my rapidly beating heart. When I become aware that it was only a dream, I slump against my pillows as I shakily comb my fingers through my hair. My eyes stray to my husband to find him sound asleep, his arms hugging his pillow a little tighter. I sigh and turn my head to gaze at my window, taking in the night sky peppered with glistening stars. Very quietly, I pull back the duvet on my side and pad across the room until I reach the balcony outside, being extra quiet to close the door behind me. I walk over to the railing where I lean my forearms as I stare over the quiet town of Corona and breathe in the mid-summer night air. The freshness is almost enough to make me forget my recurring nightmare, but that train of thought reminds me why I'm up in the first place and my sense of ease takes a nose dive. 'Why am I having these nightmares? Cassandra and I parted on good terms. We're even best friends again! So why do I still feel so guilty for burning her hand? I even healed it! It shouldn't bother me. None of this should bother me.' I tap a finger against the stony surface, so deep in thought that when a gentle hand lands on my shoulder I jump and swirl round to meet Eugene and his bedhead. I giggle at the sight, earning a grumble from the Captain.
"I thought we promised not to laugh at the bedhead." Eugene complains as he jut his lower lip out while crossing his arms. I cover my mouth to hide my smirk, but when he shoots me a glower, I cough into my hand and smile apologetically.
"You're right, I'm sorry. It's just I'm so used to seeing you so immaculate and well-groomed that it's still strange to see you be anything but." I explain softly as I watch my husband run his hands through his messy hair.
"You'd think after 5 years you would've got used to it. I mean if I could comb my hair while I slept you know I would." The Captain teases and I chuckle at the image.
"Now that would be a unique sight." I comment as Eugene wraps an arm around my shoulders.
"It wouldn't be the strangest thing we've seen." Eugene remarks off-handily. I frown slightly at the reminder of our past adventures, especially with whom many of those adventures were spent with. My smile falls.
"That's true." I affirm quietly.
"You miss her." I blink at the statement and turn to meet my husband's warm, steady gaze. I exhale softly.
"I do. When she left, I knew I would, but…" I trail off, averting my gaze. I feel an encouraging squeeze on my deltoid.
"But?" The Captain prompts.
"But, I thought I would get over it. I didn't expect it to still…hurt." I admit softly.
"Cassandra's probably so busy with her life at the moment. You know she would visit if she could." I swallow thickly, hating that I'm no longer part of her life anymore.
"I know; it's just…surely she has time to send us a letter to let us know how she's doing. Other than that first letter she sent a month after leaving, we haven't heard anything from her. I thought she'd at least want to keep in contact, but it seems I'm…we're not important to her anymore." I rant, pushing away from the former thief who watches me carefully.
"Oh Sunshine, how long have you kept this bottled up?" At Eugene's query, I deflate and stare at my feet.
"A while." I mumble, but I bite my lip when I recall Gothel's criticism of my mumblings. Eugene's fluffy socks appear in my line of sight as he rests his hands on both my shoulders.
"Blondie, you know this isn't true right? You will always be important to Cassandra. Always. I'm sure she's so caught up with traveling, working, fighting or whatever she's currently up to and hasn't had the time to do anything else. Remember what life on the road was like for us? Hectic and adventurous. And I bet my Captain uniform that the same is going on with her." I smirk at the mention of my husband's favourite outfit.
"Well considering how much you love that uniform, I suppose you must be right." I express lightly as I watch Eugene puff his chest out.
"When have I not been?" The Captain voices over-confidently.
"Well…" I start, but I'm cut off when my husband pulls me closer to him.
"Honey that was a rhetorical question." Eugene comments blandly. I snort and lean against his chest as he wraps his arms around me.
"You know she's not mad at you anymore, right?" At his statement I bury my head deeper into his chest.
"But what if she is? She has so many reasons to hate me. I burnt her hand, I ignored her, I never gave her the recognition she deserved, I stopped trusting her judgement and I'm the reason she didn't get to follow her dreams. Gosh it's no wonder why she doesn't want to stay in contact!" I cry with increasing realisation as I grip onto my husband's shirt who rubs my back soothingly.
"Sunshine, you brought her back to life! If anything, that one act automatically annuls everything else. You didn't mean any of the things that happened – you're too pure-hearted to do any of those things on purpose and she knows that. Stop beating yourself up about it. When Cass decides it's time to come back home, she will. I'm sure of it. If you want I could even go through the reports from our neighbouring towns to see if there's been any sight of her. And in the meantime, I don't want you to worry about it, especially not with our new arrival on the way." I pull away slightly from Eugene.
"Really? You'd do that?" I ask, eyes hopeful.
"Of course blondie. Anything for you." The captain responds as his eyes soften with understanding. I bite my lip and launch myself back into his arms.
"I don't deserve you." I utter quietly.
"Rapunzel, you deserve the world. Besides it's you I don't deserve. I mean, have you heard what people say about labour? Boy am I glad to not have to go through that!" I lean back from the prince with a raised eyebrow as I cross my arms over my chest. The action quickly gets the message across as I watch him widen his eyes and stumble over his next words. "I mean! It's such a shame that I can't have the same extraordinary experience…erm I'm sure you'll enjoy it sweetheart?" I roll my eyes at the obvious lie.
"Remind me not to go to you for child-bearing advice." I quip smoothly as the brunette rubs the back of his neck awkwardly.
"Doubly noted." I snort. Grabbing his hand, I lead him back into our bedroom and onto our bed. As we make ourselves comfortable I feel Eugene's eyes on me. I tilt my head, encouraging him to say what's on his mind. "If you have a nightmare, you know you can wake me up right? I wouldn't mind." My whole body warms at the sweet reassurance and I feel my worries fading away. Reaching over I grasp his hand in mine.
"I know. Thank you Eugene." I voice with a warm smile, eliciting a wide grin from my husband. We settle into bed and for the rest of the night my sleep is peaceful.
A/N: So I'd like this to have multiple chapters, but I guess it depends on whether you guys like it, so please review. Let me know if everyone was in character, if the writing needs some work etc. Hope you all are staying safe and well, what with everything going on in the world at the moment.
26/3/20