Later that evening, after the wedding ceremony, the guests gather for the reception. Hook Hand is on stage with his piano, preparing for his performance.
"He looks even more nervous than he did before," Varian observes, standing next to Lance and Cassandra at the food table. He also notices that Hook Foot is currently hiding behind a shrub, seeming more eager than he should be.
King Trevor prances out in front of the guests. "And now, I shall favor the couple with my dance!" He announces, striking a pose. "Maestro Hook Hand?"
Hesitating, Hook Hand glances out at the audience. Cassandra is getting a slice of cake, Lance is munching happily on a cupcake, and Varian is just waiting expectantly. But it is Rapunzel's glare that seems to actually be bothering Hook Hand.
"Enough dawdling, fool. Play!" Trevor shouts.
Hook Hand stands up from the piano and clears his throat. "Ladies and gentlemen... and seals. I got somethin' to say."
Curious, Hook Foot steps out from behind the shrub as Rapunzel continues to glare at Hook Hand.
"Playing the piano for people like you was always my dream," Hook Hand continues. "And I'm living my dream because people that could've laughed at me, didn't." He glances at Rapunzel as he says this. "But the truth is, I haven't always been as supportive of other people's dreams as I should have." He makes eye contact with his brother, who's expression transforms to guilt.
"Wow, what got into him?" Varian wonders aloud.
"I may have had a word or two with him before the wedding," Rapunzel replies with a smirk.
"Enough of this sentimental hogwash," King Trevor says. "It is time for my dance!"
The crowd cheers, waiting for Hook Hand to begin.
Lance sniffs the air. "Uh, does anyone else smell fish?"
"Always thinking with your stomach," Cassandra says with an eye roll.
But Hook Foot gasps as Hook Hand sits back down at the piano. Varian notices a fish tail sticking out of the mouth of the piano, and he realizes what is going on.
I guess Foot did decide to go with revenge, Varian thinks.
"No!" Hook Foot shouts, knocking over tables as he rushes toward the stage. But before he can stop him, Hook Hand places his hand and hook on the keys. He attempts to play a chord, but fish that were meant to feed the seals fly up from inside the piano and a horribly off-key note rings out. Everyone gasps, and Varian even covers his ears.
King Trevor stomps over to Hook Hand furiously. "You are a failure! And as of this moment, I am revoking my support of your music!" With a snap of his fingers he adds, "Guards! Remove this leather-clad, silly mustached gremlin from my sight."
Hook Hand sighs, and he rests his head on the piano keys as more sour notes ring out.
The guards begin to move forward, but Hook Foot stops them "Hold on! How dare you talk to my brother that way? He's got more talent in that one hand of his than you got in your entire body."
"Who are you to judge talent, you chipmunk-faced meat hook?" Trevor says.
Varian has to hold back a chuckle at this exchange. But he is surprised when Rapunzel decides to step forward:
"Who is he?" The princess says. "Uh, he just happens to be the best dancer in Corona. He could dance you under the table any day! Unless you think you have what it takes." She leans against Hook Foot confidently.
The crowd giggles as Hook Foot gapes at Rapunzel.
"This ruffian is the best in Corona?" Trevor says with a laugh.
"Rapunzel, I don't think this is such a great idea," Hook Foot says, rubbing the back of his neck nervously.
"You can do this," Rapunzel encourages him.
"Things are about to get more interesting," Varian says, grabbing himself a slice of cake.
"If it's a dance-off he wants, it's a dance-off he shall have," Trevor says, warming up. "The stakes? If I lose, I shall double my contributions to this sad sack's piano career." He points to Hook Hand, who is still leaned over against the piano. "But if I win, he'll never play another note ever again."
The crowd murmurs as Rapunzel glares at King Trevor. Hook Hand shares a nervous glance with his brother, but then smiles encouragingly and gives him a thumbs-up.
"Let the dance-off commence!" Trevor announces.
"Um... a little problem here," Hook Hand says, staring inside the piano. "My piano is full of fish."
"Problem solved," Shorty says, appearing from inside the piano. Fish bones fly out everywhere as he belches loudly.
Wow, he really can eat anything, Varian thinks, not sure whether to be impressed or disgusted.
Hook Hand smiles. He looks at Rapunzel and says, "I could use some accompaniment?"
The princess eagerly grabs a guitar, and begins to strum. Varian folds his arms, until Hook Hand points at him.
"You too, kid," he says. "Get up here."
Varian smiles, and steps onto the stage. He sits on the piano bench next to Hook Hand, and the two of them begin to play.
"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Eugene asks Rapunzel as Hook Foot and King Trevor stretch. "I mean, betting Hook Hand's entire future on that guy's ability to dance?" He points at Hook Foot.
"You can't achieve a dream without first risking failure," Rapunzel replies, booping Eugene's nose lovingly. She then continues to strum an upbeat melody on the guitar as Hook Hand and Varian perfectly harmonize their duet. But they all stop playing their instruments as King Trevor steps out in front of the stage, and a single spotlight shines on him.
"You shall listen as I proclaim the dance-off rules," Trevor says. "The first dancer goes, and the second dancer shall match and embellish. After which Lucille shall choose the winner."
"All these people here, and you pick the seal to be the judge?" Cassandra says.
"Of course!" Trevor replies, as if Cassandra is being completely ridiculous. "That is, after all, her official title. "She is... the 'Seal of Approval'."
The crowd murmurs, and Varian and Cassandra facepalm at the same time.
King Trevor chuckles, and then throws his cape back. Hook Hand, Varian, and Rapunzel begin to play again, as Trevor dances all across the floor. He ends with a pose, tossing his cape onto Hook Foot.
Hook Foot rolls his eyes, and prepares to dance himself. But before he can begin, he trips and falls flat on his face.
Trevor laughs, leaning back in his chair. "It does look like the best dancer in Corona isn't up to the challenge."
But Hook Foot stands up, and does a few perfect twirls. "Your Majesty," he says.
The dance-off continues as the crowd cheers and hollers. "Woo! Alright!" Lance shouts. "Get down, Hook Foot!"
Their dances get more and more wild and difficult as Trevor begins to realize he may have met his match. But suddenly, Hook Foot stumbles as the music stops and the crowd gasps. He glances down, and realizes that the last move he pulled off bent his hook beyond repair.
Trevor laughs as Hook Foot limps over to Rapunzel. "That's it for me," he groans. He sits down at the edge of the stage. "I can't do it! Not without my hook. Maybe he's just too good."
"Hook Foot, I—" Rapunzel begins to say.
"Rapunzel, let me talk to him," Hook Hand says with a smile, coming down from the stage. The princess backs away and Varian watches from the stage as Hand kneels down to talk to his brother. "Come on, Dazzle. I need you to dig down deep, and find them guts and show this chump what real talent looks like."
"But even if I wanted to, my hook..." Foot says.
"Maybe this'll help," Hand says, holding up his shiny, golden, gem-incrusted hook. "It's only for true artistes. Now get in there, and live your dream!"
Rapunzel smiles proudly as Hook Foot puts the hook on and heads back to the dance floor. "Couldn't have said it better myself," she says, giving Hook Hand a kiss on the cheek.
Varian can't help smiling, himself. Rapunzel just has this way of helping people, and it never fails to impress him.
Joining Varian back onstage, Hook Hand begins to play a lively tune again. Varian plays with him as Rapunzel strums the guitar.
Hook Foot taps his foot to the beat, as the crowd watches on. Lance continues to shove food in his mouth, Eugene covers his eyes nervously, and Cassandra watches with new interest. Even Maximus and Ruddiger, who is sitting atop the horse's back, can't help swaying to the music.
As the music swells, Hook Foot pulls off the best dance any of them have ever seen. Lance nudges Eugene so that he'll uncover his eyes, and Eugene is happily surprised at what he sees. Foot's dance is so amazing, that even King Trevor has tears in his eyes. The golden hook shines so brilliantly in the light, that it's as if sparks are flying from Foot's dance. Everyone ooh's and ah's, completely mesmerized.