A/N: I'm doing this differently now.

Chapter One

"Rapunzel?"

I sunk onto the bed, my eyes closing. "What?" I asked in a weak voice, sweat began to make my cheeks clammy. A hidden thought pricked my mind, the source of my nauseousness.

Too warm hands rubs my arms. "Are you okay?" It was Eugene.

I couldn't bring myself to look at him, I felt sick. I shook my head at him and a stab of pain had me lurching toward the front door. I ran past Mother and Father, who were walking in, probably asking a question and I slammed the door behind me. I didn't want anyone to see me like this and try to guess the cause.

No one came out to check on me and relief made my head spin. I was sick in the bushes. My stomach rolled and I trembled as I saw the world spin around me. The pain began to ebb slowly and gradually, my head stopped spinning.

I felt weak but I managed to stagger to my feet. I didn't make it far, just halfway to our bedroom before I sank down again.

Strong arms grabbed me and pulled me to my wobbly legs. I looked up to see Father. "Are you all right?"

I couldn't bring myself to answer and I just shook my head at him.

"I'll take care of her. It's probably a stomach bug." Eugene said, coming up from behind us.

Eugene grabbed me by the hand and kept me on my feet. I couldn't hold myself up so he got his other hand and scooped me up bridal style.

"Are you okay?" He asked absently, but I caught a trace of concern in his eyes.

"I'm fine." I knew why I was sick. "I'm just worried about the wedding."

He nodded and placed me gently on the bed. He got me a glass of water. I drank it slowly.

"One more day." He breathed happily in my ear. Happiness chased away the nervousness and I nodded excitedly.

"Want to go to the fair?" He suggested. "It's for us, you know. The whole country would be sad if we didn't show up."

"Okay." I was starting to feel like this was another day. "Let's go now, before it gets too dark!"

He left me to change into my traditional pink sleeved, lavender corset, purple dress. He came in after I was done wearing a black vest with his traditional pants and boots. He winked at me and we left the palace.

We went to the celebration fair. It was getting dark, a few minutes after sunset. There were streamers on the houses and shops with lanterns attached to them. I smiled at the decorations.

I marveled at watching the young girls dance and listening to the parade play. Eugene went over to one of the stands and came back with two frosted cupcakes. He smirked at me and gave me one of them. I giggled and nibbled on it self-consciously.

After I finished my cupcake, I noticed the maids were among the young girls, dancing in pairs. After a while of fast music and quick dances, the parade began to play a slow song.

"May I have this dance?" Eugene looked at me and held his hand out as the song began. He smiled at me and winked.

I felt my cheeks heat up. I nodded shyly and he grabbed my hand gently.

"I'll be nice." He mouthed. He smiled his "smolder" at me, nodded seriously, and put his other hand on my waist.

As we danced to the slow song, I leaned against his chest and closed my eyes. He placed his chin against my shoulder. The hand on my waist rose up to cradle my back as we swayed side to side. I felt admiring eyes on us but tried to ignore them.

Much too soon, the song ended and we broke apart, our cheeks red.

One of the maids, Fernidia, come over to me. "It's time to fit your dress!" She announced. Her blue eyes glowed and her brown hair shone in the dim sunlight.

I looked at Eugene and he shrugged. "I'll stay for the fireworks." He smiled at me.

"Okay." I turned back to Fernidia. "Let's go."

I followed her into the castle, away from the fair. I started complaining, the nervousness coming back in strong waves."It's too far from Eugene. He's going to miss me so bad, he might come in and check on me and then he'll see the dress. Then he would want to marry me right then but he would have to get the minister to come when he was supposed to come tomorrow and we'd have to rush the-"

Fernidia cut me off. "It's okay." She stroked my cheek with her right hand. "We just want to make sure it fits. You'll be back with Flynn-Eugene in no time."

I nodded and started to breath in and out. She led me into the bridal room and I gasped at the dress. It was smooth satin, pure white. It had a corset in the front that had a lavender tint. I dragged my gaze to look at the shoes. I saw that they were the same color as the corset but had a small heel.

"Do you like it, Rapunzel?" Fernidia looked at me, concern lighting her face as she saw that I wasn't paying attention. All I could see was me standing next to Eugene in my beautiful wedding dress. He smirked at me in my daydream and lightly kissed me on the lips.

A gentle slap on my face made me come back. "Mm?" I watched Eugene smirk at me, still caught up, seeing my daydream in the back of my mind.

"Rapunzel?" Fernidia's voice grew high with more concern.

"I'm fine." My voice broke as I added. "It's so beautiful. Thank you, Fernidia."

She smiled at me, her blue eyes shining with relief. "I'm glad you like it. Put it on!"

Shock flooded over me. "Now? It's only a day from the wedding! What if Eugene misses me already?" I looked around with my wide green eyes. "Did he knock?"

Fernidia calmed me down again and helped me get dressed. I stared in amazement at me in the mirrors, my skin contrasted beautifully with the color, the corset made my rosy cheeks glow.

I spaced out again and Fernidia somehow had me back in my pink sleeved, lavender corset, and purple dress.

Wordlessly, she grabbed me by the hand and towed me out of the bridal room and guided me toward our room.

"Eugene will be here soon." She smiled at me.

I smiled to myself after she left and realized I was alone. Before loneliness flooded over me, I went over to the bathroom and washed up. After wards, I came out and got onto the bed, feeling the nervousness hit me.

I remembered Eugene was staying for the fireworks. My feeling of the looming nervousness melted away.

Something pricked my heart painfully and I caught a glimpse of gold in the back of my mind. It was a blurred shape but it seemed to glow with a pale yellow light. My heart throbbed painfully.

Eventually I felt Eugene's presence in the room but as he started to speak, I began to drift to an uneasy sleep, the pain haunting me.