Tangled in a Knot

15. You're a Prince, Horace

* * * 

Bayagnor 

4:30 P.M. 

When they arrived, the kingdom was indeed covered in black rocks. Rapunzel, out of curiosity, touched them. She was astonished when her hair began to glow. The glow was so bright that it shone through the whole castle. 

"What is that blasted light?" said a voice. "Is it my son has returned at last to reign by my side?" 

"What is he talking about?" Rapunzel said, turning to Eugene, since he was the only reasonable suspect. 

Eugene shrugged. "I don't know. Don't ask me," he said. 

A kingly figure appeared out of the darkness and walked up to the entrance of the castle to investigate. He put his hands on Eugene's face and felt all around. "You... you are my son!" 

"I-I don't understand. I grew up in the streets. I was a thief, though I'm not very proud of my upbringing," Eugene said. 

"I know you may not remember me, Horace, but I am indeed your father," said the king. "Horace, I am King Edmund." 

"My name is Eugene. Not Horace," Eugene corrected him. "And I don't remember having a family." 

King Edmund sighed. "Your mother and I named you Horace, and you were originally going to be the heir to the throne of the Dark Kingdom. But alas, we wanted to protect you from the Moonstone's power that we have protected in a glass case in a special place in this castle." He led Eugene to the Moonstone. "This, Horace, is the Moonstone. For years, our family has protected it. But its power is extremely dangerous." 

"How dangerous?" Rapunzel asked. 

"The Moonstone has the power to destroy. With just one drop of moonlight, the opal has the power of death and destruction. I vowed to destroy it, but alas, I never really could. Things darkened quickly when I sent you to the orphanage, Horace. The Moonstone's power wielded out of control and it even killed your mother...," King Edmund said. "A power that strong that made me make the call that everyone evacuate the Kingdom as it was unsafe for anyone to stay here." 

"But why did you stay here? You could've come to Corona with me! Why did you decide to stay behind? The Moonstone could've hurt you, Dad!" Eugene cried. "And I don't want anyone I love taken away from me." 

"I want to keep its magic out of the wrong hands, so I carefully sealed the blue opal in a glass case in hopes that its power would not accidentally surge out and kill me as well," King Edmund said. "And you were only a baby then. Think what could've happened if you stayed behind!" 

"You still could've escaped! I may not understand what it's like to be faithful to your kingdom, but no one should have to endure that hell! Not even my dad," Eugene cried, tears welling up in his eyes. 

"I did it to protect my people," King Edmund said. "And most of all, you."