A New Friend?

**A New Friend?**is the 30th episode of Tangled the Series: the Next Generation.

Next episode: The Royal Coronation

## Synopsis:

Lara makes a new friend, but begins to question his true intentions.

## Character Appearances:

* Lara
* Matthew
* Varian
* Cassandra
* Victor
* Ginny
* Toby
* Anxelin
* Ruby
* Eugene
* Zhan Tiri
* **Tromus**

## Transcript:

On a sunny fall day, Lara was getting ready for her guard-training class.

Cassandra went into Lara and Ginny’s room and saw Lara dressed in her guard-training uniform, which is silver armor and she had a shield and a sword over her shoulder.

Cassandra: Good luck in your class, sweetie. I remember when I did this class when I was your age.

Lara: And I remember all the stories, too!

Lara headed out the door.

Cassandra began crying.

Cassandra: They all grow up so fast!

Varian overheard and wrapped his arm around Cassandra.

Varian: How about we have some quality time together on a nice hike?

Cassandra: I’d like that.

~ ~ ~

Lara reached her guard class, which was near Rapunzel and Eugene’s castle.

Lara set down her stuff and sat down.

A young, white haired boy with bright green eyes went up to Lara.

Boy: Hey, can I borrow your shield?

Lara: Uh, sure… Why?

Just then, a tomato came flying towards the boy and Lara.

The boy shielded himself and Lara.

Lara: Wow! Who knew tomatoes could fly at us like that?

Boy: Those were my friends pranking me. Yeah, it’s not funny anymore.

Lara: Oh. Mind I ask… What’s your name?

Boy: I’m Matthew.

Lara: Well, I’m Lara. Nice to meet you, Matthew.

Eugene entered the guard-training area wearing his old Captain of the Guards uniform.

Eugene: I’m your new trainer for this class. You might’ve known Pete and Stan got mauled by a big bear just a week ago…

Matthew: Yeah! They were the WORST guards Corona has ever seen!

Lara smiled. She HAS heard of the stories of Pete and Stan messing up everything for their parents when they tried to defend Corona from Zhan Tiri.

Eugene: Okay, so since Pete and Stan won’t be able to teach the class, for… I’d say a few months… we’ll do some new training exercises. Dueling practice with a partner.

The entire class groaned.

Eugene: Come on! It’ll be fun! Now, I’ll assign the partners, and this will remain till the end of the unit.

Eugene began pairing off people until Matthew and Lara were the last ones.

Eugene: ...And Matthew and Lara! Okay, enjoy your pairs!

Matthew: Well, isn’t this just interesting?! I get paired with the best student in the class. I hope you’ll go easy on me!

Lara: Of course I will! I only really fight for self defense!

Matthew: Well, I am pretty good myself too! Let’s see if you can keep up!

Matthew took out his sword and swung it towards Lara, who blocked it with her shield.

Lara took out her sword and swung it towards Matthew, who also blocked it with his shield.

Eugene noticed them.

Eugene: Nice work, you two! Say, have you two thought about becoming REAL guards someday?

Matthew and Lara (in unison): Like every day of my life!

Lara and Matthew looked at each other amazed.

Lara: YOU wanna be a guard?

Matthew: Yeah. Ever since my parents died, I had to live with my grandfather. And...he’s not too good at defending himself. So, who’s going to defend my old grandfather when a bunch of thieves try to rob the house?

Lara: Well, I want to be a guard like my mother wanted. Yeah, since she was manipulated by some insane demon to become evil, she abandoned that dream. But I wanna live out her dream and make her proud!

Matthew: That sounds so interesting! I bet you’d be a great guard!

Lara: And I think you’d be a great guard too!

Matthew smiled.

~ ~ ~

As the day went on, Matthew and Lara became really close.

Matthew: Wow! I feel like I’ve known you my whole life!

Lara: Yeah. It’s good to have a friend who has like-minded interests. My best friend, Anxelin is the princess and she is always so busy with royal duties, we can’t just mess around like we used to.

Matthew: Wow. A princess. You know, I’ve always wanted to see how the royal lives.

Lara: Well, I live near the castle. You should come over sometime.

Matthew: How about tonight?!

Lara: That sounds great!

Lara and Matthew high-fived.

~ ~ ~

That night, Lara was cleaning up her side of the room she and Ginny share.

Ginny went in.

Ginny: Lara! I never see you clean like this!

Lara: Well, I have a new friend coming over. He should be here any moment!

Someone was knocking on the door.

Lara: That must be him!

Lara opened the door to see Matthew.

Lara: Matthew! Come on in!

Matthew entered, and looked amazed.

Matthew: Wow. What a nice home!

Cassandra and Varian came into the living room, along with Victor, Ginny, and Toby.

Varian: Who’s your new friend, Lara?

Lara: This is Matthew.

Matthew: Pleased to meet you. You all look like such a nice family.

Cassandra: Aw. This friend’s a keeper.

Victor: Be good to him, sis. You never know where it could go…

Victor winked.

Ginny: Come on! I doubt Lara even wants to date anyone right now!

Lara: It’s true!

Toby: Well, surely Matthew can help me record some new data for a plant I’m growing.

Matthew: Oh, I love botany. Also alchemy.

Toby and Varian both looked awed.

Cassandra: Well, you are welcome to have dinner with us.

Varian: I just made this amazing soup!

Matthew: Oh, that is really sweet… but I just ate. Yeah, my grandfather fed me dinner before I left.

Lara: That’s okay! You can stay for dessert! Mom made cookies!

Cassandra: Yep. Good old fashioned, chocolate chip cookies!

Matthew: I never had them before! Are they good?

Lara: Only the best!

~ ~ ~

A while later, Matthew had to leave.

Matthew: Well, I’ll see you at the guard training class tomorrow, Lara.

Lara: See ya there!

Matthew left.

Cassandra: Well, he seems like a really nice boy!

Varian: I’m glad you’re friends!

Lara noticed Matthew’s shield he left behind.

Lara: I gotta return this to Matthew! He left his shield here and he’ll need it for practice!

Cassandra: Alright! Hurry back!

Lara headed out the door and could see Matthew talking with his grandfather, Tromus.

Matthew: Yes, grandfather. I did it. I befriended that...Miller girl.

Tromus: Excellent! Now you know what comes next? You remember her weaknesses and use it against her. Meanwhile, I shall summon Zhan Tiri so she can see that Lara’s defeat.

Matthew laughed evilly.

Matthew: Perfect! I’ll do it!

Tromus: That’s my boy!

Lara looked shocked.

Lara: I DON’T believe this! No way he deserves his shield!

Lara rushed inside.

Lara: Mom! Dad! Matthew isn’t who he seems!

Cassandra: Oh really?! He seemed pretty nice.

Lara: Well, he’s not!

Varian: The same kid who gets my love of alchemy? Not nice? I don’t believe it!

Lara: It’s true, dad!

Victor: But he was a total gentleman!

Ginny: And he didn’t judge when I kept rambling on at dinner.

Toby: And Matthew is a total genius when it comes to plants! I don’t know where he got it from!

Cassandra: Why don’t you get some rest? You’ll feel better in the morning.

Lara rolled her eyes and grumbled.

Lara (muttering): Yeah. Real better that my new best friend is a backstabbing jerk!

Lara headed to her room.

Lara: I can’t WAIT to expose Matthew for the liar he is!

~ ~ ~

The next morning, on the way to her guard training, Lara went to Rapunzel and Eugene’s castle.

Anxelin and Ruby were sitting on the front steps braiding each others’ hair.

Lara: I need your help…

Anxelin: What happened?

Lara: I made a new friend in my guard training class, and let’s just say, he’s not who I thought he was.

Anxelin: Oh? What’s his name? Ya know, so we can get a better picture…

Lara: It’s Matthew.

Anxelin and Ruby both looked shocked.

Ruby: Not Matthew! No! It can’t be! He’s the only young boy with class in Corona!

Anxelin: And he helped my mother tidy up the castle. He’s a real giver!

Lara: Are you kidding me?! I actually saw him telling his grandfather that he was going to humiliate me!

Ruby: Maybe you misheard him. Come on, Lara. You must admit you blow things out of proportion!

Lara: I do?

Ruby: Yeah! When you thought Hugh was evil after finding out his ancestor is Zhan Tiri?

Lara: Well? How can we know for sure?

Ruby: Oh and what about the time you were suspicious of Lance? Lance! He’s totally harmless!

Lara: I just heard of the stories about him being a thief in his youth and just assumed-

Anxelin: Quit bugging her, Ruby. If Matthew’s not to be trusted, we’ll keep an eye on him. But if he turns out to be totally true blue, you’re a lucky girl, Lara.

Lara looked relieved.

Lara: Oh thank goodness you agree! Anxelin, Ruby, PLEASE come to my guard practice today!

Anxelin: Oh, that sounds great!

Ruby: I’m in...as long as I don’t have to get all dirty and sweaty and stuff.

Lara: There are benches for people who wanna watch.

Ruby: Then I’m in!

Lara: Great! Cause I think I’m late! Let’s go!

The 3 girls left the castle.

~ ~ ~

At the guard class, Lara went up to Matthew, who was stretching.

Lara: Hello, Matthew…

Matthew stood up.

Matthew: Lara! I missed you!

Lara: Oh, did you?!

Matthew: Well, yeah. You didn’t tell me… What possession of yours can you never live without?

Lara: Uhhh… My…

Lara whispered to Matthew.

Lara: Stuffed bear…

Matthew grinned, then stopped.

Matthew: Perfect. Now I know something about you!

Lara: Okay. Now to learn something about you… What’s your grandfather’s name?

Matthew: Tromus! He is a real wizard!

Lara: Ah-ha, I thought so.

Matthew: Oh, but my grandfather’s a pretty cool guy! He’s very sophisticated!

Lara muttered under her breath.

Lara: ...and evil…

Matthew: What was that?

Lara: Oh, nothing.

Eugene came out and was in his guard outfit again.

Eugene saw the audience, which consisted of Varian, Cassandra, Victor, Ginny, Toby, Ruby, and Anxelin.

Eugene: I didn’t expect an audience!

Eugene looked at Anxelin and Ruby.

Eugene: And I thought you two were supposed to be prepping for the big royal cotillion with your mother.

Anxelin: We got bored!

Ruby: Besides. We made a promise to a friend.

Eugene looked confused.

Eugene: ...okay.

Tromus and Zhan Tiri both entered the guard class.

Eugene noticed this and went up to them.

Eugene: I’m sorry. No evil wizards or demons allowed in my guard class.

Tromus: Stuff it, Eugene. I came to watch my grandson.

Zhan Tiri: And I came for the sheer enjoyment of seeing your class crash and burn!

Eugene face-palmed.

Eugene: If you REALLY wanna watch the class, go watch it in outer space! Cause WE DON’T NEED YOU!

Zhan Tiri: It’s too bad you think that way…

Tromus: But we don’t take no for an answer!

Tromus zapped Eugene into a frog.

Eugene: A simple “No thanks” would have sufficed!

Zhan Tiri: Now to see that Lara make a fool out of herself!

Tromus: I hope my dear Matthew knows what he’s doing!

Zhan Tiri: Now, about that… He is far from impressive... I think he gets that from his parents. That’s why I had to kill them.

Tromus: Yeah. They would’ve held him back.

As Lara and Matthew were dueling each other, Lara noticed Zhan Tiri and Tromus sitting together.

Lara: Hey, Matthew…

Matthew turned to Lara.

Matthew: Yes, Lara?

Lara pointed over to Tromus and Zhan Tiri.

Lara: Is that your grandfather?

Lara pointed to Tromus as Matthew nodded.

Lara: And is THAT Zhan Tiri, who really shouldn’t be here?

Lara pointed to Zhan Tiri.

Matthew: Yes. But, I can explain!

Lara: Explain what? You’re a backstabber and your grandfather is TROMUS! One of Zhan Tiri’s manipulative, evil minions who terrorized my parents back in the day?!

Matthew grinned evilly.

Matthew: Well done. I didn’t think you could figure it out.

Lara: Well, you should know… I destroyed your shield. Thanks to one of Toby’s alchemy potions lying around, I disintegrated it!

Matthew: You didn’t!

Lara: Oh, but I did! Mom! Help us out!

Cassandra stood up and shot out black rocks from her hands.

Lara: How’d you do that?

Cassandra: No matter HOW! This boy is hurting my baby and he’ll PAY!

Varian: Yeah!

Varian threw a bunch of alchemy potions at Matthew, who just ducked.

Matthew: It’s really cute you all are coming to Lara’s rescue… But when I get orders… I do them!

Suddenly, Matthew was floating in midair. He shot lightning bolts out of his eyes towards Lara, Varian, Cassandra, Ginny, Toby, Victor, Anxelin, Ruby, Eugene, and the entire fencing class.

Everyone all ducked and shielded themselves.

Tromus: Don’t give up, son!

Zhan Tiri: Annihilate the Millers! They’re the ones I’m after!

Matthew nodded and shot the lightning bolts towards the Millers.

Lara noticed them hurtling towards her and her family.

Lara: Dad, quick! I need your resizing potion!

Varian: Oh, you mean, THIS!?

Varian pulled out a test tube out of his pants pocket and held it up triumphantly.

Lara: We’ll use this on my shield to shield ALL of us!

Victor: Real clever, sis!

Ginny: I don’t think I could’ve thought of it…

Toby: I could’ve!

Varian handed Lara the test tube. She poured the potion all over her shield.

Lara: Okay, go!

Lara put the shield in front of the lightning bolts that were even closer to her and her family.

The lightning bolts bounced off the shield, and hit Matthew.

Everyone stood quietly and looked scared.

Zhan Tiri and Tromus rushed up to Matthew, who was now lying on the ground.

Tromus: Are you okay?!

Zhan Tiri: It’s all because of that stupid family!

Matthew looked groggy, and sat up.

Matthew: It is! Take me out of here! And Lara, you and your family better watch your backs! Cause me, my grandfather, and our good friends Zhan Tiri and Sugaracha will get our revenge! YOU’LL ALL PAY!

Tromus, Matthew, and Zhan Tiri all flashed out.

Lara looked terrified as the entire room got quiet.

Varian: Are you okay, sweetie?

Lara: I...I…

She started crying.

Lara: Don’t believe this! How’d you know to stop him?

Cassandra: We heard everything. Also, when you first brought him home, he left clues. Like… He was just WAY too polite and formal for a 11 year old boy. Like, I’d think he WAS royalty or something!

Varian: And he just didn’t seem like you, Lara. You’re brave and fearless...while, let’s face it...Matthew shrieked because he found a piece of his hair on the chocolate chip cookie he grabbed.

Lara: Don’t remind me!

Lara and her family all joined in a big hug and left the guard training class.