Chapter Text
Rapunzel's dream was dark and heavy, a swirling storm of guilt and sorrow. She stood in a dimly lit room, her mother’s voice echoing in the void.
“Rapunzel, how could you?” the voice said, cold and distant.
“No, Mom, I didn’t mean to disappoint you,” Rapunzel pleaded, tears streaming down her face. She reached out toward a blurry figure that seemed just out of reach.
“You’ve strayed too far. You’ll never see me again,” the voice declared, fading into the darkness.
“No! Please don’t go!” Rapunzel cried, but the figure disappeared, leaving her alone in the vast, empty void.
Suddenly, she jolted awake, her breath coming in ragged gasps. Her heart raced, and her face was damp with sweat. She blinked rapidly, disoriented by her surroundings.
This wasn’t her tower room.
The bed beneath her was soft and far larger than the one she was used to. The room around her was elegantly furnished, with trim along the walls, a high ceiling, and sunlight streaming through sheer curtains.
Her gaze dropped to herself, and she noticed she was no longer wearing her dress. Instead, she was clad in a white robe that felt smooth against her skin. She moved her hand to her abdomen, where a dull ache reminded her of the fight. Her fingers brushed against soft bandages tightly wrapped around her wound.
Her breathing slowed as she took in her surroundings. Where was she? How had she gotten here? She tried to sit up, wincing as the movement tugged at her injury.
Her mind raced. Was Flynn here? Had the guards brought her to this place? Or was this still part of the dream?
Rapunzel placed her feet gingerly on the floor, the cool surface grounding her slightly. She stared at the opulent room, but the lingering weight of her nightmare hung heavy in her chest. The thought of her mother’s voice still echoed in her mind.
“I have to find out where I am,” she whispered to herself, pushing away the fear gnawing at her.
Uncertain of what to do, Rapunzel rose from the bed and carefully made her way toward the door. She hesitated for a moment, then leaned down to peer through the keyhole. Through it, she saw two guards stationed just outside, their presence making it clear that she wasn’t free to leave.
Frowning, Rapunzel stepped away from the door and began pacing the room, her mind racing for a solution. As she moved, her eyes caught sight of a nearby window. Curious, she approached it and pushed it open, allowing a gentle breeze to flow into the room.
Stepping onto the large balcony outside, she walked to the railing and peered over the edge. Her breath hitched as she realized just how high up she was—far higher than even her tower had been. The castle grounds below seemed impossibly far away, the world beneath her small and distant.
Rapunzel instinctively backed away from the railing, the thought of descending from such a height making her stomach churn. While she could use her hair to climb down, the risk was too great. The sheer height wasn’t the only concern—she still felt weak and lightheaded from the blood loss, her wound making her movements unsteady.
She pressed a hand to her abdomen, her mind racing with possibilities. "There has to be another way," she whispered to herself, glancing back at the balcony, then toward the locked door. Her determination sparked, but she knew she’d have to be careful—and clever—if she was going to escape.
Meanwhile, King Frederic and Queen Arianna walked briskly through the castle's grand halls, heading toward the room where the young woman was supposed to be resting. Memories of the previous night replayed vividly in their minds, the events that unfolded after she had fainted from blood loss leaving a heavy weight on their hearts.
Queen Arianna had been the first to notice the severity of the young woman's wound. The sight of her bleeding profusely had driven her to urgently call her husband for help.
King Frederic wasted no time. He had immediately ordered the guards to summon the best doctor in the kingdom and instructed them to move the young woman to a more secure and comfortable room.
The guards had carefully carried her to the chamber, doing their best to stabilize her wound and minimize further bleeding while awaiting the doctor’s arrival. The king and queen had paced anxiously outside the room, their worry mounting with each passing moment until the captain finally arrived with the physician.
The doctor had worked quickly, cleaning, stitching, and dressing the wound. He assured them afterward that, while the young woman had lost a significant amount of blood, she was strong and would recover with proper rest.
Despite their immense relief, both King Frederic and Queen Arianna had wanted to stay by the young woman’s side through the night. However, the doctor had advised against it. He warned that their presence might overwhelm or confuse her upon waking, given her weakened state. Reluctantly, they had agreed, posting guards outside her door and retiring to their chambers. But sleep had eluded them both, their minds consumed by the possibility that their long-lost daughter had finally returned to them.
Now, as they approached the room, the queen turned to her husband, noticing the worry etched deeply into his face.
She gently wrapped her hand around his. "What’s wrong?” she asked softly.
The king hesitated, then replied in a voice heavy with doubt. "What if… it’s not her? Eighteen years have passed. All we have is the memory of her as a baby. What if we’re just desperately hoping she’s our daughter and we’re wrong?"
Arianna gave his hand a reassuring squeeze. "I’ve thought about that too," she admitted, her voice tender. "But whatever happens, we’ll face it together. If she isn’t our Rapunzel, then we’ll let her go. But if there’s even a chance she is, we must know."
Frederic nodded solemnly, and they continued forward until they reached the doors. One of the guards stepped aside to open them, but the king raised his hand. "No," he said firmly. "The queen and I will handle this alone."
The guard bowed and stepped back, allowing the king to open the door himself. He held it open for Arianna to step inside, then quietly shut it behind them.
The room was bathed in soft morning light streaming through the windows. The couple’s eyes immediately fell upon the bed, where a lump beneath the sheets suggested someone was still lying there.
Queen Arianna approached cautiously, her heart racing. She knelt beside the bed and hesitated for a moment before gently pulling back the sheets.
What she uncovered froze her in place—a pile of carefully arranged pillows where the young woman should have been.
“She’s gone,” the queen whispered, her voice trembling with disbelief.
Frederic quickly stepped to the window, his eyes scanning the balcony and the grounds below. “She didn’t use the door,” he muttered, “but she couldn’t have gone far.”
Arianna turned toward the window, her face a mixture of worry and determination. “Frederic, we have to find her. If she’s our daughter, we can’t lose her again.”
The king and queen hurriedly left the room, issuing urgent orders to mobilize the guards and search the castle for the missing young woman. The halls soon filled with the sound of armored boots and muffled voices as the castle stirred into action.
Meanwhile, Rapunzel, who had been hiding under the bed, waited in tense silence until the room fell quiet once more. Finally, when she was sure it was safe, she crawled out and tiptoed to the door. Pressing her eye to the keyhole, she noticed the absence of guards stationed outside.
She exhaled a shaky breath, gathering her long hair into her arms to avoid leaving a trail, and cautiously opened the door. With her heart pounding, she slipped into the hallway, walking quickly but silently as she searched for an exit.
Her only thought was to escape this unfamiliar place. But as she moved through the grand corridors, her mind drifted to Flynn. Where is he? she wondered anxiously. And Pascal?
The last time she remembered seeing Pascal, he had been hiding in her hair during the chaos. Yet when she woke up earlier, he was nowhere to be found. Worry gnawed at her—her loyal chameleon had always been by her side.
Lost in thought, Rapunzel found herself frozen in the middle of the hall, uncertain of what to do next. The conflicting thoughts of escape, Flynn, and Pascal swirled in her mind, paralyzing her.
Her indecision was abruptly shattered by a sharp scream echoing down the hall.
Startled, Rapunzel’s head snapped toward the sound. It was a servant, standing at the far end of the corridor, staring wide-eyed in her direction.
“Guards!” the servant shouted, pointing directly at her. “She’s here!”
Panic surged through Rapunzel as she turned and ran, her arms still clutching her hair tightly. The sound of approaching footsteps grew louder as the guards began to chase after her, their armor clanking in rhythm with her pounding heart.
Rapunzel sprinted down the hall, her breathing ragged as she desperately tried to escape. She glanced over her shoulder, her wide eyes locking on the guards in pursuit. Ignoring the sharp pain in her side, she pushed herself faster.
As he attempted to turn a corner, he felt a tightness in his chest from fear as more guards appeared on the other side , blocking his way.
Rapunzel skidded to a stop, surrounded on all sides. Her chest heaved, her heart thundered, and her legs felt weak beneath her. She gripped her hair closer to her chest, trembling. Desperation began to take hold of her until an authoritative voice was heard.
“Stop! We must not harm her,” the voice ordered, calm but firm.
Rapunzel froze, her gaze darting toward the source of the voice. It was one she recognized, though she couldn’t immediately place it.
The guards complied, stepping aside to make way for a tall figure to emerge from their ranks. As he approached, Rapunzel's stomach twisted in recognition of the captain of the guard.
He moved toward her with slow, deliberate steps, his expression unreadable. Rapunzel clutched her hair tighter, her knuckles white with tension.
The captain stopped a few feet away and extended a hand toward her, his tone soft yet resolute. “We mean you no harm. The king and queen simply wish to meet you.”
Rapunzel’s eyes flickered between his outstretched hand and his face. There was no malice in his gaze, only patience and something that resembled compassion. It was enough to make her hesitate.
Her instincts screamed at her to run, but her body betrayed her. Slowly, as if moving on its own, her hand inched forward. The moment their fingers touched, Rapunzel gasped softly.
The captain gave her a small, reassuring nod, his grip firm but gentle. “Come,” he said, his voice steady.
Too overwhelmed to resist, Rapunzel allowed herself to be guided. Her thoughts raced, but her body moved as if in a trance. Step by step, she followed the captain, her fear mixing with curiosity and a faint glimmer of hope.
Meanwhile the king and queen paced anxiously around the throne room, their hearts heavy with hope and fear as they wondered what they should say or do.
“Your Majesties,” a voice called.
They turned sharply to see the captain of the guard standing at the entrance. Beside him was the young woman, her hand resting in his. The captain began leading her forward, step by hesitant step. The King and Queen couldn’t take their eyes off her.
As she approached, their breath caught. There was no denying it—the young woman bore an uncanny resemblance to their long-lost daughter. Yet, restraint held them back. They needed answers, confirmation, before they dared let themselves hope.
The captain released the young woman’s hand and stepped aside, bowing slightly before retreating. Now, it was just the three of them. The King’s voice, unsteady but kind, broke the silence.
“I’m so sorry you were hurt,” he said softly. “If there’s anything you need to make yourself feel better, don’t hesitate to tell us.”
Rapunzel said nothing, her gaze falling to the floor.
The Queen took a step closer, her voice soft but insistent. “We need to ask you a few questions, if that’s all right with you.”
“Okay,” Rapunzel murmured, her voice barely audible.
The Queen offered a warm smile. “What is your name?”
“My name is...R...R...Ra...Rapunzel," she said, her voice wavering as she looked away..
“Rapunzel…” the King repeated, his voice filled with emotion.
“It’s a lovely name,” the Queen added, squeezing her husband’s hand as if to steady him.
“Where do you live, Rapunzel?” the King asked.
“I... live... In... in a t........tower” he replied hesitantly.
“A tower?” the Queen echoed, frowning. “Where is this tower?”
“I don’t know exactly,” Rapunzel admitted, her voice tinged with caution. “It’s in the forest somewhere.”
“And do you live alone?” the Queen pressed gently.
“No, I live with my mother,” Rapunzel said, a soft smile forming. “She takes care of me. She’s… protective.”
The King’s brows knitted together in doubt. “Your mother?”
“Yes,” Rapunzel said, her voice filled with longing. “She’s away right now, traveling to get me paint made from white seashells.”
The King and Queen exchanged another glance, the Queen gripping her husband’s hand tighter.
“And why didn’t you go with her on this trip?” the Queen asked.
Rapunzel hesitated before answering. “My mother never lets me go outside. She says the world is dangerous.”
The King and Queen’s eyes widened, shock flickering across their faces.
“Is something wrong?” Rapunzel asked, her voice tinged with concern.
The King exchanged a glance with the Queen before saying, “No, nothing is wrong,” he said, trying not to look nervous.
“So, if you never go out, What do you do to pass the time?” the Queen asked sweetly.
“It’s cozy,” Rapunzel replied. “I keep myself busy: cooking, cleaning, painting. It’s small, but it’s my home.”
The King recovered quickly, though his voice shook. “I have one more question,” he said, swallowing. “Why were you with Corona’s most wanted thief?”
Rapunzel hesitated, then decided to be honest. “I met him after he climbed my tower. He agreed to take me to see the lanterns in exchange for something.”
The Queen’s expression softened and her voice cracked as she said, “The lanterns we release every year on our daughter’s birthday.”
Rapunzel blinked in surprise. "That's quite curious... since that day is also my birthday."
A heavy silence fell over the room. Rapunzel glanced at the King and Queen.
Before she could react, they rushed toward her, enveloping her in a tight embrace.
Rapunzel froze, overwhelmed by the sudden gesture. Yet, a deep, inexplicable warmth blossomed within her. Slowly, she let herself sink into their embrace, her confusion momentarily forgotten.
Seconds passed, or maybe minutes—time seemed to stand still.
Finally, the Queen cupped Rapunzel’s face in her hands, her voice breaking as tears streamed down her cheeks. “After 18 years… you’re finally home.”
Rapunzel’s eyes widened in shock. “W-What?”
The King nodded, his voice shaking. "Rapunzel, you are our daughter."
Rapunzel could only stare at them, her mind spinning. "WAIT WHAT?!”