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Chapter 17 -
Healing Incantation
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Water. That's what all that noise was and now you're trapped. In the dark, you can barely make out the outline of Rapunzel and Flynn. The water was rising up fast and you managed to go up a pile of rocks to avoid it as much as you can.

Suddenly you began to hyperventilate and start pounding on the rocks with your palms. It had to be somewhere. You knew there was an exit. “There's an exit, I know it's here!” There's a sharp pain on your palms.

Flynn lets out a painful gasp when he tried pushing on a sharp rock, though he dives into the water before coming back up. “It's no use. I can't see anything.”

You try to dive even though you can't swim, only to be pulled back up by Flynn, “Hey, there's no point. It's pitch black down there.”

Rapunzel places her hands on your shoulders, “It's okay. It's all going to be okay.” Her voice waivers and she cries, “It's all my fault. I never should have done this.” Her head is on your shoulder now and you couldn't help but hug her.

“It's okay, Sunflower.”

Rapunzel looks up at you once you say that then looks at Flynn, “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, both of you.”

Flynn sighed and decides to loosen up the situation, “Eugene.”

“What?”

He seems very sympathetic now, since Rapunzel sounds like she's broken hearted, “My real name is Eugene Fitzherbert. I thought at least you two should know.”

Was he implying you all were going to die? But what about Varian? You run your hands over your head, thinking and hoping something useful will appear. A song. You didn't even know what it was, yet it seemed familiar like you heard it before.

“Flower gleam and glow, let your powers shine-” You took a deep breath and head down, before you could see their reaction.

There was the exit and you began to move on the rocks, though being in water slowed your process. Your eyes widen when Rapunzel's hair began to help and you almost lost your breath.

Suddenly they stop when Eugene's hand appears and with one movement, his arm goes through. You feel your body fall from somewhere and now you're able to breath. Your hand grabs wet grass and you barely pull yourself up.

Eugene and Rapunzel pop up a few feet away from you. You turn to lay on your back, gazing up at the sunset colored sky, “Why am I always in sudden situations?”

“Eugene!”

“WHY DOES HER HAIR GLOW!?”

“EUGENE!”

“WHAT?!”

You stood up to wring your clothes out and squint your eyes before they widen. “My glasses.” You panic and look around frantically, “Where are my glasses!?” Rapunzel had a faint golden hue around her, so you walk over, still upset about your glasses.

“Why is he smiling at me?” Eugene asked slightly mortified and holding his injured hand. He looks up at you, “Why aren't you freaking out!?”

You rub your eyes. “I don't know, I'd rather be freaking out from almost dying just once than seeing something magic that might happen later on again.” You say sarcastically, noticing you might have picked up on that from Cass.

“Let's just make a fire and get dry.” Rapunzel and Eugene look at you worried, but follow you.

Eugene makes a fire while you sit on the grass next to Rapunzel who's sitting on a big tree root. “(____), right?” You glance at Rapunzel then nod. She holds her hair like she's hesitant about something, “How…..how do you know that song?”

You shrug, “I don't know. It just naturally came to me.” You place your palm on your forehead but pull away at the cut you had gotten, “To be honest, stuff like that just happen and most of the time I have no idea why.” You sigh, “I just woke up one day and I couldn't remember anything. I don't even know who I am or where I came from.”

Eugene sits on the root across from Rapunzel, listening to you, “I feel like I don't belong anywhere and to make it worse, I just seem to pop into existence to everyone.”

“That's why you hang out at the Snuggly Duckling. You want to fit in somewhere?” Eugene says.

You chuckle a bit, “Not exactly, I'm there and at the castle.”

“Oh, as maid. Seems fitting.”  Eugene said with a smile.

That made you a bit annoyed, “Actually a Young Noblewoman, which the King decreed that would be my title.”

Eugene's eyes widen and he squeaks, “I'm in so much more trouble now. No wonder they called me a kidnapper! LITERALLY!”

Rapunzel giggles, “I'm sure it'll all blow over once we explain we didn't kidnap, (____). Oh yeah!” She holds your glasses to you, “My hair seemed to tangle around these.”

You smile happily, “Thank you!” You put it on and you can see clearly again.

“They're gonna have my head, I KNEW this day was going to get worse!”

“Eugene.”

You roll your eyes as Rapunzel got him to calm down. “It'll all work out just fine. Now let me help you two out with your wounds. It's the least I can do.”

Rapunzel wraps her hair around your hands then Eugene's. “So, I know why (____)’s mysterious because of her memory loose, but you're being strangely cryptic as you wrap your magic hair around my injured hand. Ah!” He says in pain.

Rapunzel flinches, “Sorry.” She sighs and bites her lip, “Just….don't freak out.”

You watch Eugene and you had a feeling he was already freaking out on the inside. “Flower gleam and glow. Let your power shine.” Her hair began to glow from her head, then flows down. “Make the clock reverse. Bring back what once was mine.”

“Call back what once was dear.”

You shook your head as a verse of a song echoed in your head. “Heal what has been hurt. Change the fate's design. Save what has been lost.”

“See Redemption here.”

Who were you before you lost your memory? The glow reaches your hands now and you felt like something was seeping into your wounds. You look to see Eugene just staring in disbelief, “Bring back what once was mine. What once was mine.”

You slipped off the hair once she was done and she panted faintly. “I've never gotten worn out before. That's a first.” She said.

Eugene looks at his hand then shakily lets out a breath and was about to scream. Rapunzel stopped him, “Please don't freak out?”

His face looked so ridiculous right now with his mouth open that was supposed to scream and a weird noise following his words, “Iiiii’m not freaking out. Are you freaking out? No, I'm just interested in the magic quality your hair possesses.”

Actually his whole speech was squeaky. If Cass were here, she would've said, “He's totally freaking out. Fitzherbert, you're freaking out and don't try to deny it.” You try not to laugh as you hear Cass in your head and come to think of it she would make of his real name.

“How long has it been doing that, exactly?” He rocks a bit, trying to keep calm.

“Uh, forever, I guess? Mother said when I was a baby, people try to cut it.”

You zone out and in your head, you could see a cloaked figure sneaking in through a balcony door. There was singing then a golden glow before it faded and a sound of a baby crying. It changed to a different room and you could see a golden glow from a tower.

“You must stay here where it's safe. Do you understand, Flower?”

That old woman, you seen her somewhere, but where? Why was she familiar? A sundrop falling and a flower growing……

“You can't tell anyone about this okay? You too, (____).” Eugene said and you had no idea what they were talking about this whole time.

You look at him confused, “Uh...okay.” You smile, “Something to do with a man’s reputation?”

Eugene laughs lightly, “Exactly.”

Rapunzel grins, leaning close to him, “Aw. Well we wouldn't want to mess that up.”

“A fake reputation is all a man has.”

It kinda got awkward again with you because right now they were having a moment. A very special moment…...with the eyes. You stood, smiling sheepishly, “I'm going to go get more firewood.”

Eugene gets up, clearing his throat, “I'm going with you.” Rapunzel speaks up, “Hey. For the record….” She shrugs her shoulders, looking at him shyly, “....I like Eugene Fitzherbert much better than Flynn Rider.”

You smile softly as he glances down, “Well then you'd be the first, but thank you.” She hums softly, smiling at him.

Eugene stares at his hand the whole time and you smile warmly, “She's right, Eugene. Your name is much better than Flynn Rider. It's more…...real. The REAL you.”

He looks at you then smiles softly, “Thanks, kid.” You both are quiet for while until he speaks up and you couldn't help but facepalm.

“Do you think I'll get super strength in my hand? If so, that would be stupendous!”

“Not likely, but maybe you can ask that question to Rapunzel.” You roll your eyes, then stare at your healed palms.