(Warning: Long Chapter)

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Chapter 46 -
Unwillingly In Like Flynn
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A night like this wasn't to be wasted, especially since you had nothing to, but relax in silence. It was slightly warm inside your room, so you decided to leave your window open and sit out on the balcony.

Something jumps about the rooftops on town, making you narrow your eyes in confusion. Dark figures all jump and land in front of King Frederick's statue of himself. You couldn't tell what they were doing. Not long after, they just leave. “Weird.”

You go back inside to get some rest before morning. The King might want to hear about this tomorrow.

“It's the first thing people see when they enter the castle, Dad. I mean, maybe we could remodel it or something? You know make it warm or welcoming!” Rapunzel suggested to her dad while seeming to imagine the archway of the castle in her image.

You're seated between Arianna and Rapunzel, taking a spoonful of peas. Eugene is coming up on the terrace with his plate of food.

“That Archway is an important line of defense, Rapunzel. It is imperative that it conveys strength and security.”

You groan when Eugene speaks with his mouth full, “Don't talk with your mouth full, Eugene.”

He swallows, “I knew that. Anyway, you want strength and security. Here's what you do.” He grins and the King looks at him with expressionless face, though raises a brow in slight interest.

“Lion statues.” Eugene pats the table like a kid, taking on a mouthful of mashed potatoes, “Oh, Oh! Better yet, turn the entire archway into a giant lion's mouth! No wait!” He grins, “Let's do the whole lion!”

You flick a piece of pea which splats on his cheek, “Better yet, make it Cassandra’s face so YOU won't step foot into the castle.”

Eugene wipes his cheek, glaring, “Oooh, you're playing on dangerous grounds.”

“And what are you going to do?” You secretly smirk.

“I will-” He stops and notices the King and Queen giving him a look of disapproval. “I- I will give you a biiiig hug for trying to intimidate me.”

The King hums, “Thank you, Eugene. I'll take those suggestions under advisement.”

“There, teamwork!” Eugene stands, dusting himself off his hand and holds up a hand, “Up high!”

The King seemed peeved and slouches, eating his food and not paying attention to Eugene. “Your Majesty.” He still wasn't giving him a high five.

Rapunzel sits Eugene down as she shakes her head, “Right, you're eating. WE'RE eating….. Next time then. Cool.”

Rapunzel and Eugene finish and excuse themselves. You roll the last of your peas around on your plate, wondering how you should bring the incident from last night.

“(____). Is there something on your mind?” Arianna said in concern.

“Uh….well…..it's just….” You look at them. “Your Majesty, there were these figures last night and they did something to your statue. I didn't know what they were doing.”

The King now had this irked aura around him and he stood, “(____). Let's take a look, shall we?”

You blink at the very…..a drop of paint falls to the ground…..waggishly decorated King Frederick statue. Green mustache, red lipsticks, eyelashes, blush, and flowers around the shoulders. Then the sign that said, Equus Rules.

“Wait…..are those chicks?” You hear the yellow birds peep up on the crown of the statue.

“Captain. Ring the emergency bell.” Frederick commanded.

Equus…..where did you hear that from? You glance at Frederick and his mustache twitches. That's when you remembered. King Trevor. That guy was so annoying. You get lost in thought, not hearing the conversation. Arianna had told you that Frederick and Trevor had a rivalry since youth, though Frederick never took part in the pranks.

“YOU HEAR ME TREVOR! I WON'T PARTAKE!”

You push up your glasses and shake your head, “Excuse me for this, Your Majesty.” You climb up on the statue and smile warmly at the chicks, “Awww. Look at you guys. Come on now.” You gently hold out your hand and they back away a bit scared. “Hey, shhhh. It's okay, come on.” You speak softly and pet one on the head.

They all peep and happily crawl up onto your shoulders and you laugh. “Alright. Hang on.”

King Frederick stared at you, humming in thought as you pet one of the small chickens.

After dropping off the chicks with Stan’s wife, Melissah, you help Freidborg dust off a few paintings. You began to sneeze as she looks at you with grin and you pout still sneezing, “It's… not…..funny….”

“(____).”

You scream and accidentally smack the King with the feather duster. Luckily, it was feathers that hit him.

“I am soooo sorry!”

He began to sneeze and after he stops, he stares seriously, “(____). You're good with animals and I need your help.”

You agreed to help, but you had no idea what the King was doing until you gotten outside with the King wearing a dark outfit. Eugene had come out next to you and you look confused.

“Let's go partners!”

“What?”

“I'm sorry, you two want to come with me?”

“Huh?” You ask even more confused.

“Of course we're coming with you. You think I'm in the habit of dressing like this? Though this new dashing adventure suit I made is quite slimming.” Frederick grins then gets serious, “I must witness Trevor's humiliation first hand.”

“Wait, where does me helping with an animal-” You get cut off by Eugene.

“Oh yeah, see….um….thing is I was thinking you wanted, you know, ME to do it alone. Not that I would love to have you along, it's just you probably have more important-”

“Hey, question here.” You say.

They paid no mind to you, “This is a matter of national pride, Son. Of course, it's important. I specifically said WE would steal the Royal Seal of Equus, remember?”

Your eyes widen in shock, “Steal the Royal Seal?!”

Eugene laughs, “Good one, (____)! Steal the Royal seal.”

Frederick grins, “Come on! Let's do this!” He seemed really hyped about this. “How’d you put it before? TEAMWORK!” He raises a hand, “Up high!”

Before Eugene could give him a high five, the King walked off. “Yeah, when you say up high you usually-” Frederick throws Eugene a satchel. “Okey-dokey, nevermind.”

You shake your head and decide to just got along with this shenanigan.

“So your majesty.”

You're laying next to Eugene as he pulls out a map and you couldn't help to laugh at The King. He pops his head out of a big leafed bush next to you.

“I've drawn up this map based upon the brilliant way I got into castle Equus before to show you how this is gonna go down.”

The King takes one look and looks displeased, wanting to do it his way.

“All we need to do is borrow a couple of uniforms and waltz right through the front door. Eeeh?”

“We're not doings that.”

“We're not?”

You take Eugene's telescope and look at the castle with it, seeing all the guards. “Wow.” You begin playing around and look anywhere, but the castle.

“-heavily guarded, impossibly fortified northeast tower?” Eugene asks, not believing what the King said.

“Tower?” You questioned.

“No one will expect it.” The King smirks and slowly backs into the bush with an eerie vibe as he disappears.

You and Eugene turn to each other before looking at the heavily guarded castle.

The three of you hide in the bush and you can tell Eugene is annoyed by the King and his tactics. “All is clear. Just follow my lead.”

Frederick picks up the bush to hide himself and walks out. To be honest, you felt nervous because of all these guards. It was more than Corona. Now you had to share a bush with Eugene as you two followed him.

“Your Highness!” Eugene whispers in panic.

You look to see Frederick was walking past an outhouse just as a guard walks out. The two of you speed up and you grab the guard by the leg and Eugene pulls him from the top. Quickly, Eugene slips on the uniform and you stumble out.

You slightly squeak in panic as other guards are coming. Eugene takes your arm, panicking since the King was still walking as a bush. You see a horse then pull it over to block the view of the moving bush, “Shhhh. You're okay.” He follows you and you hide behind Eugene.

“Eh heh heh heh, hello guards.”

You facepalm and turn around to see Frederick finally out of his bush. “Yes! There. See, easy.” He said proudly, then looks at Eugene with a frown. “Eugene, I thought I said the guard uniforms are unnecessary. Come on!”

The two of you watch Frederick shuffle against the wall. “Do we really have to follow him?” You ask.

Eugene chuckles, seeming to have lost it, “Oh yeah. No, don't mind me. I'm just gonna scream into this for a little bit.” Eugene screams into the hat and you watch with wide eyes with the horse. Awkward.

“Ow!”

Another rock had hit you as the King climbs above you and Eugene.

“Oh!” Eugene groans, swinging and you two hit against the stone wall.

“Quiet, both of you.”

You grimace as Eugene is groaning in pain, being dragged up the wall.

Once inside, Eugene rubs his face and look at him on worry as he waves it off to you. You peek around the corner and silently say two guards. When they go around the corner, you run across to the other side and you panic when Frederick attempts to roll across.

“Heyee!” Frederick groans loudly after landing hard from a roll. He gets up and goes by you.

“What was that?” “We better check it out.”

Luckily, Eugene makes the guards go the other way. You see the King pop up from the stairs behind you with a thumbs up, “They didn't spot me.” He chuckles and heads down the stairs. “Let's move out.”

Eugene has his hands to his face, “You love Rapunzel. You LOVE Rapunzel. YOU love Rapunzel.”

“Why am I here?” You follow them.

Soon, the three of your are going up some stairs to some big doors. You pant, not ready for all these stairs especially so steep.

“The Royal Seal room. How do you like that, Eugene?” Frederick hits Eugene hard on the back, “Flawless plan.”

Eugene unlocks the door with irritation and the King pats your head gently, “You will have your time.”

In the room, you see something hidden behind a curtain. “Behind that curtain lies the Royal Seal of Equus.” Frederick pulls the curtains back, “Oh ho ho. Sweet revenge.”

Your eyes soften and you cooed, “Awww! He looks so cute!” You happily go over to the seal and he smiles at you, barking. You hug his head, “Look at you, so adorable.” He leans into your arms.

“It's a seal.” Eugene says dumbfounded.

“Of course, Eugene. The Royal SEAL of Equus.” You smirk and he frowns at you.

“It's a seal seal, not a royal seal! You have got to be kidding me! You know what? Just grab him and lets get out of here.” Eugene goes around to push the seal.

The seal looked uncomfortable. You glare and push Eugene to the floor, “Don't handle him like that.” You smile and hug the seal's head.

Eugene scoffs then looks over at the King and gets up, “What are you doing?” He starts to argue and attempts to pull the seal again, “Let us go now!”

You cover your ears as the seal lets out a wailing cry. Quickly, you hug him again and soothingly pet his head, “Sh, sh, sh. You're okay. He's not gonna hurt you, okay?” He calms down, whimpering quietly.

Guard voices echo on the other side of the door. Eugene groans, “I'm gonna need your grappling hook, Your Majesty.”

Eugene throws the hook up by the chandelier above, “Go, go, go!” He has the king go up first then you hang onto Eugene's back as he ties the seal to the end of the rope. By the time you all hide, the guards come in.

You're still holding the seal to keep him calm. The King and Eugene start to bicker again, well more like Eugene is bickering.

“You're the expert, what are we going to do now?”

“Oh, so when you say WE, do you still mean the Royal WE which actually-”

“Don't tell me what to do!”

The chandelier began to slightly move and the seal gently nudges you in worry, looking up. You follow his line of site and your eyes widen, “Oh geez.” This thing isn't going to hold you four much longer. The bolts were beginning to fall out.

“No, by we, I mean us.”

“Is that just the Royal us, because it still sounds like me!”

“I asked you to come, so that WE could get the seal.”

You slug Eugene in the arm, he holds back a yell and whispers painfully, “What?!” You point up and both their eyes follow. “Oh no.”

The chandelier snaps and you all scream as it crashes to the floor. The dust clears and you smile sheepishly at the guards.

“You guys! Would you believe that we're the chandelier repairmen?” Eugene voice cracks nervously. “Repairing in the middle of the night.. Cuz this thing is broken.”

You groan, rubbing your cheek, “Do you have to be more obvious, Eugene?”

Eugene chuckles, “If I did. The plan wouldn't have worked.”

“Shut up, Eugene.”

The guards separate you from Eugene and Frederick. Reason being, the seal wouldn't let go of you so now you're pacing in a locked room. You notice the seal looks sad and you kneel in front of him. “You're not happy here, are you?”

He shakes his head, barking softly and you hug him, “Well I promise I'll set you free.”

“Hands off my Sweet Trevor Jr.!”

“Trevor Jr?” You scoffs, “This sweet seal needs a better name than that.”

King Trevor closes the door and stomps toward you, but yells, nearly dodging a book thrown at him. “You little- Ah!” A chair misses him.

You're picked up by guards and glare at Trevor as he opens his mouth.

“Nope.” You say before he could say anything.

“Wha- I didn't ask my question!”

“No.”

He growls and pulls Trevor Jr. with him, “Fine. I'll mock King Frederick on my own.” He leaves and you think.

“Is there a bathroom nearby?” The guards groan in irritation at your question. They take you to the halls and when you head around a corner, you run the opposite way.

Slipping into a room, you lock the door and sigh in relief. The room was actually a Potion Room. A mischievous grin spreads across your face and you push up your sleeves.

The red droplet glows and drips into mushy white substance. A pink bubble forms and continues to grow.

“Good luck cleaning up your castle, King Truffle Pants.” You snicker and run down the hall.

A body collides with yours and Trevor barks in worry as you land on the floor. “Ow.”

“(_____)! There you are, we were looking in every room for you.” Eugene helps you up.

“Thanks. What happened to Truffle Pants?”
Eugene and Frederick smirk, “Nothing, just trying on a Jester hat.”

The sound of something fizzing comes from down the hall and you laugh nervously, “We should leave. Like now.” You glance back and push them toward an exit. “RIGHT now.”

The four of you stood back on the cliffside, watching as you hear a loud pop and pink gum like stuff explodes from castle Equus windows.

“MY CASTLE! CURSE YOU, FREDERICK! CURSE YOU!” King Trevor yells, struggling in his binds with the sign ‘Corona Rules’ stuck to him.

“Ah ha! Nice one!” Eugene grins and pats your back. Frederick laughs and ruffles your hair, “Your time came, Little Lady.”

You smile shyly then kneel to Trevor Jr., “You know. You deserve a better name.” You tap your chin and grin, “How's about Weston?”

Weston barks happily and claps. You giggle and take small crown off his head along with the collar.

Down by the ocean, Weston jumps in and his swims out far before waving to you three. You smile softly, “Weston is so much more happy now.”

“That he is and so am I.” Frederick said with a smile.

You roll your eyes, chuckling and you guys start your way back to Corona.

A yawn escapes your mouth, but the tiredness immediately leaves when you see the castle archway is painted with designs of birds on branches.

“Gotcha Dad!” Rapunzel laughs. “Oh man! You should've seen the look on your face right now!”

You, Eugene, and Frederick were confused. Frederick smiles, “Well, I suppose it's fine as long as you girls repaint the archway….by nightfall.”

You give Cass a look and she smiles, shrugging. Rapunzel giggles, “Obviously, Dad.”

“Of course, your majesty.”

Eugene chuckles, “No idea what went on, but we should help them out.” He picks up a paint brush.

You shrug, picking up a brush too and grin, “Hey Eugene. I bet I can paint faster than you.”

“Ooooh ho ho, it's on.” Eugene says in a competitive manner and quickly starts to paint the wall.

You stand there after putting the brush down. Cassandra stands next to you and smirks, “I don't think we have to finish this, Raps.” She smiles at you, “I wonder when he'll realize he's doing all the work.”

“No idea, maybe when he's done.” You laugh.

Eugene pants, but puts his hands on his hips and grins in triumph. “Ha! I bet you, so what do I get?”

He turns around and his eyes widen. Nobody, except the guards stood in the courtyard and it was nightfall.

“(____)!!!!!!!”