(Nope. No puppy love yet, gotta wait for Great Expositions.)

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Chapter 44 -
Cassandra V. Eugene
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The paint brush is lightly dipped into a tiny pot of pale blue paint and slowly the brush is raised up to the blank canvas. It goes toward the surface, but shakes in hesitation. Up to the canvas, down away from it. Everything seemed undeceive in that moment until it stays in determination.

“FITZHERBERT!!!!!”

You drop the paint brush and try to catch it, only to paint your arms as the wooden brush tumbles to the floor.

“I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE SO UPSET ABOUT?! Oh wait, no, those are the wrong choice of words. I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU'RE UPSET ABOUT!”

“Again?” You groan in irritation and look to the drawing you did of Varian, which is in your journal that sat on a small podium, next to the canvas.

Varian had went back home a few days ago and right when he left. That's when Eugene and Cassandra started a constant bickering between each other.

You wanted to try to use paint for a slightly bigger portrait of Varian, so you asked Rapunzel if you could borrow some of her paints.

So far, it hasn't been turning out good. One reason is because of Eugene and Cassandra. Second reason is because the paint doesn't work well with your work.

The pile of four canvas sat near your bed. Now you hear Cassandra, Eugene, AND Rapunzel talking loudly.

Down in the King and Queen's private dining room where you usually sit with Rapunzel and Eugene, you had found them in there.

“To be fair, I asked SEVERAL times if I could use that thing!” Eugene points to Cassandra’s halberd.

“And I said NO every TIME!” She hits the hilt on the floor.

Eugene grins smugly, “Which shouldn't matter because I don't LISTEN to you.”

“Guys, this is getting ridiculous.” You felt a headache coming on and rub your temples.

“Eugene, a halberd should be handled by a skilled warrior!”

Eugene laughs mockingly, “Hello! Skilled warrior, you forgot Flynn Rider…” He takes the halberd from Cass and spins it around skillfully. “....has handled plenty of weapons.” He swung as he nearly misses the vase. “See?”

You walk over next to Eugene, then slide the vase off and it breaks.

The three of them stare at you with mouths wide open. Rapunzel panics, “(____)! You realize-”

“I am aware that this is your dad's one of a kind, irreplaceable and favorite vase.” You point to Cass and Eugene, “If you two don't figure out how to make-up soon, then I will tell King Frederick you two broke it.”

Eugene gasps, “You're blackmailing us! I am not getting blackmailed by-”

You yell in panic, looking down at vase, “EUGENE! WHAT DID YOU DO-”

Eugene covers your mouth and Cassandra took this opportunity. She mocks him with a laugh, “HA! Way to go, EUGENE.”

“Wha- oh, well I'll just say THIS is faulty halberd in my defense.” He holds up the weapon and let's you go.

Cass smirks, stalking around Eugene, “Hey, I have an idea Eugene. Why not just steal another one?” She slaps her forehead sarcastically, “Oh, oh wait wait. YOU CAN'T! This is a one of a kind, VAZ!”

You shush very loudly, “Enough!” You growl slightly and rub your temples again, “Before you two start one the name, Vase, Vaz. Either way, that!” You point to the broken vase, “Will be the first thing the King sees when he sits down for dinner tonight or I say it was both of you.”

They see you walk to the doors, “Make-up or feel the wrath OF THE ALMIGHTY (____)!!!”

You stomp out in stress and frustration. Rapunzel is worried and runs after you. “(____), wait!”

“What?”

She stops you, “Do have any ideas to get them to stop? I can't think with their constant bickering.”

“If they won't do anything willing, then force them.” You smile lightly, “I'm sure you'll come up with something creative, Rapunzel.”

She hums, thinking and grins excitedly, “Wait a minute! Wait a minute! Wait a minute! I have an idea!” She runs off to her room.

You continue back to your room and about to head up the stairs when Queen Arianna comes down.

“(____). There you are.” She chuckles, “I happen to see you're having trouble with painting.”

You sigh, “Yes. It's just that bickering going on and I can't paint with….paint. It's just too fluid.”

Arianna hums, “Well have you tried working with oil paints?”

With that idea, Arianna had requested one of the errand boys to go get a set of oil paints from town.

You sat on your bed then fall back. The Queen sits beside you and takes your brush, brushing your hair. You close your eyes and lay there in content.

“Are there anymore events coming up?” You ask.

“Not for awhile, but there will be an Expositions of Sciences and a lot of important people will be there too, but its open for everyone.”

There was no doubt Varian would go to this because you've seen glimpses of what happens for a moment. “Oh…..do you think I could be a judge?”

“A judge is provided for it, but….I think you'll have to take that up with Frederick.” Arianna suggests.

That was going to be hard, though you hope the King would approve. The door to your room opens and Rapunzel slides in with a basket, “(____)!” She blinks at her mom and grins, “Hi mom! I need to borrow (____) for a moment.”

Arianna laughs softly, “Okay, you two have fun with whatever it is.”

You're lead in the direction of the dungeon area and raise a brow, “So, what is this big idea?”

“I am going to lock them in a cell and let them work together to get out.” Rapunzel says proudly.

You look to Pascal, “Is she serious?”

Pascal nod and squeaks with uncertainty about it all and you chuckle. You walk in quietly and Rapunzel hands you the basket of what you smelt were cookies in it.

You take one and eat it after seeing a letter and a number written in frosting. “Huh.” You hear Eugene and Cassandra’s voice echo throughout the empty dungeon block.

“You said in your note, you wanted to say sorry.”

“I didn't write you a note, YOU wrote me a note.”

Rapunzel closes the opened cell and locks it, spinning the key on her finger with a smirk.

Eugene gasps, “Hey! What are you doing?”

You stand next to Rapunzel and Eugene glares, “You, you planned this!”

“Nope. Not my idea.” You eat another cookie.

“Let the game begin.” Rapunzel says and Cass looks confused, “Game? What are you talking about?”

Rapunzel grins happily, “Don't you see? I wrote the letters. They were merely a ruse to lure you down here.”

You giggle as Eugene is in disbelief, “What? You can't just lock us down here!”

Pascal and you give each a look, then raise a brow, “She definitely can if she wants too.” Rapunzel giggle, “(____)’s right. I can and I have and I'm afraid the only way to escape is to work together. To solve a puzzle, of my own design.” She smirks in triumph.

Eugene seems a bit dumb about this, “What puzzle?”

“Within these walls, you will find a series of strategically placed, increasingly difficult clues. Each one more unfathomably perplexing than the last.”

You notice writings on the walls of the cell had matched some of the cookies.

Honestly, Rapunzel sounds like villain planning their game. “Put them together and you're free to go. Fail…….and this prison cell will become your new home.”

You stood there as Rapunzel walks off, laughing evilly. Suddenly she comes back, immediately being her cheery self and gives the basket to them as you step back from her. That laugh seriously sent chills down your spine.

“Oh! And I made you guys cookies.” She waves.

“What are we, twelve?” Eugene takes a cookie and eats it.

“If your acting like 12 year olds, then you'll be treated like adolescent criminals.” You state and about to take another cookie, but Eugene takes the basket away.

“These are for me. Blondie said so.”

Cassandra rolls her eyes and frowns at Eugene, “Listen, this is all your fault.”

“Oh please! You know darn well that my only fault is that I have the faults.”

You rub your neck and head back to the entrance, “I pity the prisoners who are going to hear those two bicker.”

“(_____)! Come back! Don't leave me here with this Dragon!”

“Dragon?! Don't talk about me while I'm right here, Freeloader!”

Once you go back into the hallways, it was finally peace and quiet. Unfortunately, nobody informed you if the oil paints are picked up, so time to speak with the King.

“A judge for the Expositions of Sciences?” Frederick asked in confusion while looking through papers. “(____). We have the best judge for this type of thing. The Best Scientist, Dr. Alcott St. Croix.”

“Not the main judge.” You wave your hands around, trying to think, “More of a secret judge. You know, I can look over other entries for the Expo and give them awards, possibly something small for even entering. Instead of just having one person win.”

Frederick hums in thought and stands, “I believe you have a good idea on this. We always want everyone in Corona and visitors to feel welcomed.” He grabs a blank piece of parchment paper and begins writing.

You patiently wait. He must be having a good day if he's doing thus request for you. The quill finishes writing with King Frederick’s signature and a stamp of the Royal Crest. The paper is rolled up and tied with a purple ribbon. It's now held out to you.

You reach for it, only to get pulled back and the King is slightly smirking.

“What?” You moue.

“I know you do not like anyone who are sometimes ill-mannered, but promise me you will be on your best behavior to Dr. St. Croix. You will be showing him to his room when he comes.”

You sigh and hold up a hand, your other hand behind your back to cross your fingers, “I promise, Your Majesty.”

“Good. Here you are and I take it that you'll make your own awards, but be sure to have Corona’s Crest.”

You smile and bow, “Don't worry, I will.”

By the time you returned to your room, the oil paints sat on your desk. “Now I can take the opportunity to finish the portrait.” You smile and put the rolled letter in the drawer of the desk.

The paint brush glides across the canvas almost like the breeze brushing against the grass. The colors blended together nicely and you didn't have to use more than three colors. There something more to using just three. It blended well and…...it just made the portrait stand out more.

Time passed, but you didn't notice until you were done. You wipe an imaginary sweat from your forehead, getting paint on your face. Your eyes shifted to the windows to see it's night time.

“Oh…..wow.”

The time showed it was a little past Midnight and you notice someone must have put up candles to help you see your painting. A plate of bread, cheese, and grapes sat on your desk too. All you eat were the grapes and slumped against your couch.

You wondered if Eugene and Cassandra had gotten out, though you were extremely tired to go back to check.

“I CAN'T EVEN LOOK AT YOUR FACE!”

“WHY YOU-”

A loud shatter is heard and you jump up. You groan groggily, checking to see it's lunch time. The oil painting portrait came into your vision. Getting up, your hand runs over it to feel that it's dry.

Your gaze softens as his eyes stare back. A cover is thrown over it and you move it so no one can run into it.

“It's not my best, but I hope you like it Varian.”