"So you're being strangely cryptic as you wrap your magic hair around my injured hand," Eugene said, forcing a chuckle before grunting as Richie tied his hair around his hand. Y/n only watched, fascinated already that it could glow. A fire glowed in front of them, keeping them warm.

"Sorry," he winced when he noticed the pain etched on his face. "Just don't..." He then looked between Eugene and Y/n, locking eyes with her. "Don't freak out."

She nodded, the promise in her e/c eyes.

Taking in a deep breath, eyes shut, he began to sing.

Richie:
Flower, gleam and glow
Let your power shine
Make the clock reverse
Bring back what once was mine

The thieves' eyes trailed along their new friend's hair as they watched it light up, all while Pascal gave them a calm, 'lol bitches I'm high' look.

Richie:
Heal what has been hurt
Change the fate's design
Save what has been lost
Bring back what once was mine...
What once was mine

He opened his eyes and his hair lost its glow. With a slightly freaked out face, Eugene peeled back the hair and looked at his hand. What once bore a cut now had not. Looking at the back and front of it, his breathing picked up, all while Y/n sucked back a gasp, staying true to her promise. He opened his mouth to scream, but stopped when Richie begged, "Please don't freak out!"

Mouth open in mid scream, he croaked, "Iiii'm not freaking out are you freaking out no I'm just very interested in your hair and the magical qualities it possesses how long has it been doing that exactly?"

He chuckled, trying to think back. "Forever, I guess? Mother said when I was a baby, people tried to cut it. They wanted to take it for themselves. But...once it's cut, it turns brown and loses is power." He pulled back a chunk of his hair, revealing a spot where it had turned completely brown from when Gothel had cut it so long ago. "A gift like that, it has to be protected. That's why Mother never let me..." He stopped himself, starting again. "That's why...I...I never left the..." He trailed off again.

How long had he been living in fear? And for what? Nobody seemed to know or even care about his hair. Just surprised when they saw how long it was.

"You never left the tower," Y/n finished for him. Unconsciously, she reached over and put a hand on his shoulder. "And you're still gonna go back?"

"No!" he said quickly, turning back to her gaze, then shrugged. "Yes? Ugh, it's complicated..." He buried his face in his hands as she and Eugene exchanged concerned glances. Y/n shook her head, indicating that she would not let him waste any more of his life in that.

Pulling himself together, he looked back up and smirked. "So. Eugene Fitzherbert and Y/n L/n, huh?"

"Uh, you know what? I still don't do backstory." Eugene got up suddenly, the other's eyes following him. "But, uh, hey, maybe Y/n does. Actually, I should get some more firewood." He brushed past them, nodding his head upwards at Y/n with a smirk as he went.

Once it was just the two of them, Richie's eyes turned to her expectantly. With a light laugh, she shook her head. "Ah, yeah, well, I'll spare you the story of poor orphans Y/n L/n and Eugene Fitzherbert. It's a little bit...ah, it's a little bit of a downer."

But he scooched in closer, anyway, head resting in his hands as he waited with a smile. Giggling, she relented. "There was this book. A book Eugene used to read to the kids every night. The Tales of Flynnigain and Jaylyn Rider. Swashbuckling siblings, richest alive. Not bad with flirting, either," she added, boosting her own ego a little. "Not that they'd ever brag about it, of course," she added to make him laugh, which he did a bit.

"Were they thieves, too?" he asked curiously.

Slowing a little, she answered, "Ah, well, no. Actually, they had enough money to do whatever they wanted to do. They could go wherever they wanted to go. And...and for kids with nothing..." Her face slowly began to drop as she was forced to revaluate her life, in front of a cute guy, no less. "I don't know, it...it just seemed like a better option..." Shaking off the vulnerability, she made sure to make him understand, "You can't tell anyone about this, okay? It could ruin our whole reputation. That and Eugene'll kill me."

"Ah, well, we wouldn't want that," Richie chuckled, his head leaning in closer.

"Well, a fake reputation is all we've got. That and I don't wanna hear it from him."

They looked at each other a moment more, something seeming to choke Y/n as she looked into his eyes. Noticing, she quickly got up. "Um, well, I should, uh...I - I should go help Eugene with the firewood." She began to walk away, silently praying a thanks that she had made it [to God or the universe, whatever], but then heard Richie's voice, stopping her.

"Hey. For the record, I like Y/n L/n and Eugene Fitzherbert much better than Jaylyn and Flynn Rider."

Y/n shook her head with a smile. "Well, then, you'd be the first...but thank you." She turned her back again, leaving Richie with a smile of his own.

Once she had found Eugene, he was already carrying a large pile. "Here, take half," he instructed. She did so without word. "Hey, what's with the look?" he asked her.

"Huh? What look?"

He was about to answer with something smart before a lightbulb went off. "Ohhhh, so I was right."

"What? Right about what?"

"Nothing, sweet summer child. Now help me with the next load."

-

"Well! I thought they'd never leave!"

Startled, Richie whipped around, his stomach dropping when he saw who it was. "Mother?"

Mother Gothel took a few more steps over and reached out to hug his hair. "Hello, dear."

Stuttering, he asked, "How did you find me?" while she stroked her baby.

"Oh, it was easy, really. I just listened to the sound of complete and utter betrayal and followed that."

Guilt now mixed with his fear, he tried to apologize. "Mother..."

"We're going home now." She tried to pull him along, but he resisted.

"You...you don't understand! I've been on the most incredible journey!" he told her excitedly. "I've seen and learned so much! I've even made new friends!"

"Yes, the wanted thieves. I'm so proud. Come on."

He resisted against her pull again. "Mother, wait, I think..." He felt that same small smile creep on his face. "I think she likes me."

"Likes you?" Gothel's face turned to one of disgust. "Please, Richard, that's demented. This is why you never should have left!" She kept touching at his hair as she spoke to him. "Dear, this whole romance that you've invented just proves that you're too naïve to be here. Why would she like you. Come on, now, really. Look at you! You think that she's impressed? Don't be a dummy. Come with Mummy. Mother..." She reached out again, but this time, instead of resisting, he pulled back.

"No."

Surprised, she raised her eyebrows. "No? Oh. I see how it is."

He looked at her helplessly, wishing he could take it back and tell her everything would be okay now that they were together again. That he would never leave her side again, screw Y/n. But...something prevented him from doing it.

Mother Gothel:
So Richie knows best
So Richie's so mature, now
Such a clever, grown-up boy
So Richie knows best
Fine, if you're so sure, now
Prove she doesn't see you as a toy!

She flashed the crown at him, his jaw dropping. "How did you...?"

Mother Gothel:
This is why she's here!
Don't let her device you!
Give it to her, watch, you'll see!

She dropped it in his hands as she badmouthed Y/n, Richie's eyebrows narrowing. "I will."

Mother Gothel:
Trust me, my dear
That's how fast she'll leave you

She snapped her fingers for emphasis.

Mother Gothel:
I won't say I told you so

NO, NOW RICHIE KNOWS BEST
So if she's such a dreamboat,
Go and put her to the test!

She snaked around him before retreating back into the shadows, making him feel horrible about everything all over again. "Mother, wait!" he begged.

Mother Gothel:
If she's lying, don't come crying
MOTHER...knows best...

She disappeared just as suddenly as she came, leaving Richie near tears as he watched her go, not noticing that Eugene and Y/n had returned.

"So, hey, uh, can I ask you something?" Eugene started. Is there any chance I'm going to get super strength in my hand. Because, I'm not going to lie...that would be stupendous."

He still did not notice them, wishing his mother was still here as his eyes kept following her away.

Noticing his lack of presence, Y/n asked, "Hey, are you okay?"

Her voice seemed to snap him back to attention at he turned back around. "Oh, sorry, yes. Just, um, lost in thought, I guess..."

Knowing there was probably something he would rather keep to himself, Eugene kept trying to get him to laugh as he threw in more firewood. "I mean, because here's the thing: Superhuman good looks? Always had 'em. Born with it. But superhuman strength? Imagine the possibilities! I'm just..."

Y/n sat next to Richie, falling asleep already, her head sliding onto his shoulder as she watched Eugene, brushing back the hair.

-

Gothel watched them with Patchy and Sideburns, who grunted at her.

"Patience, boys," she reminded them through gritted teeth. "All good things to those who wait..."

-

"AHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!"

Richie woke up with a start, finding a white horse with Eugene's foot in his mouth, Y/n crawling away to the back of a tree.

"No, no, put me down! No, NO!"

Richie got up and, completely ignoring Eugene in paral, rushed to Y/n to make sure she was okay. Once he got an assessment, he turned his head back to the horse and thief, recognizing the horse as the one who had previously chased them. "Release him!"

He let him go, but took Eugene's boot, Eugene hitting the ground. "Ow!"

Richie got up and ran to the horse, who was still freaking out slightly, his hands out. "Whoa! Whoa! Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa! Easy, boy, easy! Calm down. Easy..."

Maximus stopped when the handsome young man smiled up at him comfortingly. But his kindness aside, the horse felt the need to obey this boy.

"That's it. Now sit. Sit..."

His butt hit the ground.

"Now drop the boot. Drop it..."

His mouth opened and the boot fell out.

"Oh, you are such a good boy! Yes, you are!" Richie praised, throwing his arms around him, Maximus' long tail beginning to wag. "You all tired chasing the bad man and his temptress all over the place?"

He nodded sadly.

"Excuse me?" Eugene asked, offended.

"Temptress?" Y/n questioned.

But Richie ignored them both, hugging the beautiful, tall horse. "Nobody appreciates you, do they? Do they?"

Maximus shook his head, sighing in his own little horse way.

"Come on! He's a bad horse!" Eugene yelled, throwing his hands up.

Richie scoffed, brushing him off. "Oh, he's nothing but a big sweetheart. Isn't that right?" He took a look at the collar around him and read his name. "Maximus."

Y/n sighed, pulling Eugene to his feet from behind. "You've got to be kidding me."

Looking between them hopefully, Richie asked, "Look. Today is kinda the biggest day of my life. And I need you to not get them arrested."

Maximus began to snort a 'no', but he kept pressing. "Just for twenty four hours. And then you can chase each other to your heart's content. Okay?"

Hesitantly, Y/n put out a hand, but Eugene and Maximus turned away from each other.

"And it's...also my birthday. Just so you know."

Sighing, Eugene relented and they all shook hands.

"Thank you."

But once Richie had his back turned and was paying more attention to the bells of the kingdom, Maximus punched Eugene in the stomach, sending him toppling over, then have Y/n a glare. Slowly, she put her hands up and backed away.

Once Maximus had turned his attention away, she mumbled just for Richie to hear, "Happy birthday, Blondie."

He smiled back at her, giving her a light punch on the shoulder.

"Don't touch me."

"Sorry."

-

"Wow!"

The celebration had already begun, everyone busily hurrying in to celebrate the birth of the lost prince, which, of course, Richie did not know about. As they entered, Eugene noticed a poster of his bounty and ripped it off. Noticing Maximus glaring at him, he shoved it in his mouth, only to have it spat back out in his face. The two began to tussle until they heard the sound of a throat being cleared, noticing it was Y/n with her head turned, giving them both a disapproving look. They stopped, Eugene out of foster sibling fear and Maximus because he already liked Richie.

But not before giving one another one last jab.

Richie looked around in awe, not noticing the people pushing past him. He fell into another man, quickly apologizing, "Sorry."

Eugene and Y/n picked up his hair as people stepped on it, trying to look for something to do with it. Seeing four little girls with red braids, Y/n called to them and held up Richie's hair, making them all squeal with excitement.

Patiently, Richie sat and waited as the girls braided while the other two tried to stay out of the guards sight. However, their attention was drawn back when they heard Richie gasp. He twirled around, his hair now twisted together, off the ground. "Thank you!"

Y/n perked up a little with a small smile. Noticing, Eugene leaned in, wiggling his eyebrows. Y/n pushed him away while Maximus horse-chuckled.

He then pulled them along to the different stands, not even realizing Y/n was not only getting stuff for him, but buying it, much to Eugene's shock.

While they busied themselves at the stands, Richie happened to notice the large mural in the square of the king, queen, and a little baby boy. A girl with her mother and brother held it a flower, explaining to them, "It's for the lost prince."

He took another look, squinting at the baby when he saw the hair...eyes...face...

Noticing a band had started up, he ran off to the center, twirling around. Y/n noticed, her eyes so fixated on him, she did not even notice when Eugene stole a piece of cheese.

Richie grabbed a little bit and pulled him into the circle, spinning around with him, then a man, and another man, who pulled others in. The last he pulled in was a young lady, who laughed at she danced with him and the others. Soon, they were all dancing around the outside of the sun in the middle.

He looked over and beckoned fit Y/n and Eugene to join him. Y/n shook her head, waving him off, but Eugene shoved her into the circle. Getting lost in the crowd, she glared back at him as he shrugged, leaning against Maximus, who booted him off.

-

Y/n bought one of the pieces of cloth with the sun - Corona's crest - on it. He held it up to the real sun, smiling with her as they looked at it.

-

Dancing, Richie reached out for Y/n, who got ready to take his hand, until there were pulled away by new partners.

-

The crest was drawn in the center of the kingdom. Richie stood up, wiping his forehead and smearing chalk on himself as he admired the work.

-

Hiding from the guards, they ate the cupcakes Y/n had, once again, bought, giggling to each other like school children.

-

Y/n and Eugene showed Richie a book on the outside world, spending a long time reading together.

-

Y/n watched Richie as the sun set, still not having danced with him. While he spun around, eyes closed, Eugene ran in and pushed Y/n from the back, having her fall into Richie. He reached out and caught her, their hands intertwining. They caught one another looking at the other, out of breath, but smiling.

"To the boats!"

Noticing they were still holding hands, they quickly let go, trying to laugh out off while Eugene facepalmed. [EVEN MY MANS' DONE WITH YOU -]