Rapunzel and her group get attacked by a mysterious stranger known as Hector but manage to avoid pursuit thanks to Adira. She tells them that they must pass through the Great Tree to cross the mountain range leading to the Dark Kingdom. However, things will be difficult as the journey through will be perilous and with Hector in hot pursuit. Rapunzel also discovers a horrible truth about the Moonstone, the antithesis of the Sundrop.
This episode provides examples of:
- The Beastmaster: Hector rides a rhinoceros and is accompanied by two wolverines.
- Beat the Curse Out of Him: When Rapunzel was uncontrollably singing the Reverse Incantation, Adira used what little strength she had left to knock her out to stop the incantation.
- Big "SHUT UP!": Cassandra doesn't hide her distrust of Adira and adamantly says they should just ditch her, despite the fact she's their best chance out of there. When she goes too far by saying Rapunzel is obliviously naive, Rapunzel takes offense and shouts "Enough!", finally putting her foot down on the matter.
- Bittersweet Ending: Rapunzel and her friends defeat Hector and escape the tree with new knowledge. But some conflict and a little miscommunication has left Cassandra's hand deeply scarred, as well as scarred her friendship with Rapunzel.
- Black Eyes of Evil: Rapunzel gets these while in the grip of the Reverse incantation (and her hair turns black).
- Body Horror: Touching Rapunzel while she's chanting the Reverse incantation causes Cassandra's hand to blacken and shrivel.
- But for Me, It Was Tuesday: Lampshaded by Eugene after they elude Hector and are saved by Rapunzel's hair:Eugene: Two years ago, I'd call fighting jackal monsters on the back of a speeding carriage whilst a rhinoceros chases the woman I love absolutely bonkers. Now I call it Tuesday.
- Call-Back: Adira mentions that Varian's father, Quirin, was also part of the Order she and Hector are a part of. Rapunzel gets a sad expression as she remembers said man sealed in crystal, which also led to Varian's dark path.
- Dangerous Forbidden Technique: As the Sundrop has a song of healing, the Moonstone has a song of destruction. After first accidentally almost destroying the party with it, Rapunzel later uses it against Cassandra's advice to kill the Great Tree, damaging Cassandra's hand when she tries to stop her and nearly sacrificing herself.
- Dark Reprise: When Rapunzel sings the reverse incantation, the song and music are sung very similarly to the Sundrop incantation from the film.
- Disney Acid Sequence: Eugene and Lance wind up getting pollen gassed by sentient flowers that cause them to acid trip, even breaking into song.
- Friendship Song: While under the influence of the pollen, Eugene and Lance sing "Buddy", about how they'll always be best friends.
- A Handful for an Eye: Cassandra tosses dirt into Hector's eyes to distract him long enough for her to throw him into the central shaft of the Great Tree.
- "I Want" Song: Cassandra sings "Waiting in the Wings," about how she wants to be a hero, but her chances seem to be fewer than ever.
- I Warned You: Cassandra tells Rapunzel she should have let her use the Moonstone spear on the empowered Hector.
- Ignored Expert: Again, Cassandra insists they can get on without Adira's help despite barely getting away from Hector and going through a place they know nothing about.
- Internal Reveal: Rapunzel and the others learn that Varian's father was a member of the Brotherhood of the Dark Kingdom.
- Is That What He Told You?: Hector cryptically tells Rapunzel that Adira is leading her and the others to their death if they go to the Dark Kingdom. Yet Adira, who was in front of him, told Rapunzel she must continue with the path.
- Magical Incantation: The reverse incantation, which can harm anything in its path.Wither and decay,
End this destiny.
Break these earthly chains,
And set the spirit free. - Mood Whiplash: In the two part version, part one ends right as Rapunzel is taken over by the reverse incantation. Cue the normal happy credits song.
- Mushroom Samba: A Man-Eating Plant sprays Eugene and Lance with pollen to make them too high to think of escape.
- Never Found the Body: Hector and his animal servants check the destroyed remains of the coach. Since he doesn't find any bodies, he correctly deduces his targets are still alive and goes in hot pursuit of them.
- Power Dyes Your Hair: When Rapunzel recites the Moonstone incantation, her hair turns black.
- Rhyming Wizardry: Rapunzel recites and eventually sings the lyrics of the Hurt, a.k.a Reverse, a.k.a Decay Incantation when visiting The Great Tree. As she sings, her hair and eyes turn black and everything in the room begins to decay. It's an ABCB rhyme:Wither and decay,End this destiny.Break these earthly chains,And set the spirit free.
- Sealed Evil in a Can: The heart of the Great Tree seals in the magic of Zhan Tiri, thanks to an enchanted crystal spear stabbed into it. Hector removes the spear and awakens the magic in a last-ditch attempt to stop Rapunzel's party.
- Significant Wardrobe Shift: At the end of the special, Cassandra changes into a suit of armor she scavenges from the remains of the Great Tree. It also serves to hide her damaged hand.
- Supernatural Floating Hair: Once the reverse incantation takes hold of Rapunzel, her hair unfurls from its braid but doesn't fall to the ground. Instead her locks eerily hang in the air once their momentum ends.
- Unfazed Everyman: Eugene comments that being chased by Hector on a rhinoceros didn't seem so unusual because of everything else they've experienced since they started this journey.
- We Used to Be Friends: Adira reveals she was friends with Hector as they're from the same order, but he became a sadistic extremist who didn't believe in the existence of the Sundrop, opting to just kill anyone who may come across even knowledge of the Moonstone and calling Adira a traitor just for disagreeing with him.
