Chapter Text
It happened like this: Mother’s knife slid between Eugene’s ribs. Rapunzel bartered her life for Eugene’s. She opened her lips to sing and he asked her to wait. A shard of mirror sliced through the golden magic hair. Mother fell from the tower window, reduced to dust. Rapunzel cried out, but there was nothing to be done. Her hair was gone, shorn short by the man dying before her. They said their good-byes. Eugene called Rapunzel his new dream.
Eugene died.
And though Rapunzel wept, and sang her healing song, the magic was gone. Eugene was gone.
Rapunzel didn’t immediately leave her tower. The secret stairs waited, the door unlocked, but she couldn’t bring herself to leave just yet. She’d only descended those stairs once. To bury Eugene at first light the day after he died. The dirt at the edge of the pond was soft enough to dig. Rapunzel threaded flowers through his hair and made a cross for a marker. She painstakingly carved the Corona sun into the wood and painted his name in blue like his vest.
Rapunzel looked up at the path that led to the city. It pulled at her. Her new life, her parents, the kingdom.
Her new dream was dead, and Rapunzel needed time before she could face the rest of her life. The next day she woke to the sun streaming through the window and she knew. Today was the day. Time to go.
Rapunzel packed slowly. She’d lived here for eighteen years. Though she’d hated parts of it, it was home. She needed things. Her paints, her books, her frying pan. She packed them into Eugene’s satchel, the one thing of his she’d let herself keep.
Rapunzel gathered Pascal onto her shoulder. His scales turned a dull shade of blue.
“Me too, buddy. But it’s time to go,” she said. She turned to the stairs.
A crash startled Rapunzel. She whipped around. A ceramic bowl lay in shattered pieces on the floor.
Rapunzel cast her eyes about, but she didn’t see any reason for the bowl to have fallen.
“That was weird,” she mumbled to Pascal. Rapunzel turned back to the stairs. The door, a little wood trapdoor set into the floor, creaked.
“The wind?” Rapunzel muttered.
The door slammed shut.
Rapunzel jumped. “Not the wind!” Rapunzel clutched at Pascal. “What is it?”
Cold like frost crept up the back of her neck. Rapunzel dashed for the trapdoor. She yanked on the handle, but it didn’t budge. Something tickled the hairs on her arms.
“The door is stuck!” Rapunzel grunted, throwing her weight against it. Pascal leaped from her shoulder and tried pulling with her.
Something moved in the corner of Rapunzel’s vision. She snapped her head up. A pale figure flickered in the center of the room. Nearly transparent, it was impossible to make out any features.
“A ghost!” Rapunzel screamed. She tripped and fell back, her hand colliding with the broken bowl. She hissed as the shards cut into her palm. The ghost vanished and reappeared an instant later, close enough to touch.
“Back off!” Rapunzel swung her uninjured fist. It passed through the apparition like air. The ghost faded like mist with a sigh.
Rapunzel cradled her bloody hand to her chest, breathing hard. She stood and spun, searching for the ghost. It seemed to have disappeared for now. Rapunzel’s heartrate doubled.
“It’s trapping us here, Pascal,” she whispered. The thought hit her like a sledgehammer. “It must be Mother’s ghost. She doesn’t want me to leave.” Rapunzel’s breaths hitched into hiccups. Tears ran down her face.
“I’m going!” She shouted to the empty tower. “You can’t stop me anymore!”
Nothing answered.
The cut on Rapunzel’s hand was deeper than she’d thought. It took ages to stop bleeding. Finally, she bound it tight and approached the trapdoor again. She tugged and strained, but it didn’t budge. The sun was dying crimson on the horizon when Rapunzel finally gave up. Panting and worn out, she trudged up to her bedroom.
“We’ll find some rope tomorrow,” Rapunzel promised Pascal. “I’ll tear up the bedsheets if I have to. But it’s too dark to travel right now. We’ll start in the morning.”
Rapunzel fell into exhausted sleep immediately. She dreamed of rolling green fields, swirling sunbeams, and laughter. She danced in the town square again, whirling from partner to partner. Every time she changed hands, she looked into their face and felt disappointment cloying her stomach. Rapunzel turned her head, searching the clapping and laughing crowds for a face she could not name. Brown hair, brown eyes. Every flash of blue drew her, but it was never who she was looking for. The spinning was making her dizzy. Rapunzel closed her eyes.
“Blondie,” a voice sighed in her ear. Rapunzel opened her eyes and woke up.
“Eugene,” Rapunzel whispered into the grey dawn. Tears spilled down her cheeks. Her heart ached. How long would she feel this? How long was it going to hurt before she could look back and smile at the dream they’d shared? How long until it stopped feeling like the blade Mother wielded had pierced Rapunzel’s heart?
Pascal chirped on the pillow beside her. His tail flicked away the tear that had trailed down her cheek.
Rapunzel gave him a watery smile. “Thank you, Pascal.” She sat up and stretched. “We’re getting out of here today. Let’s go.”
Rapunzel ended up tearing the sheets. She knotted the linens together and tossed one end out the window, leaning out to measure how far. The makeshift rope didn’t quite reach the grass, but it was close enough to jump the last bit.
Rapunzel secured the rope on the hook above the window and gave it a tug.
“Ready Pascal?” Rapunzel brushed her new bangs out of her face. The little chameleon let out an excited chirp.
“Here we go!” Rapunzel leaped out the window. The soaring air rushed through her hair and lungs. It was almost as good as the first time. The sheets slid through Rapunzel’s fingers. The grass came up to meet them. Rapunzel tightened her grip and slowed their descent. The last five feet or so ended in open air. Rapunzel held her breath and let go.
Rapunzel’s feet hit the ground hard. Something in her left ankle gave with a stomach churning pop. Rapunzel cried out as she hit the grass, her legs giving out under her. She lay still for a second gasping on pain. She gritted her teeth and pulled herself to sitting. Her ankle didn’t look broken. She tried flexing it. A spasm of pain lanced up her calf. Rapunzel hissed. It was definitely sprained.
“Great,” Rapunzel mumbled. How was she supposed to walk through the woods on a sprained ankle? She glanced back up at the tower. There was no way she could pull herself back up the rope. Maybe she could make it to the stairs, but then what? The door was barred by the ghost. A shudder ran through Rapunzel. She wasn’t staying here. She had to get away from the ghost of Mother.
With a wince, Rapunzel pulled herself to her feet. She tested her injured foot. It hurt, but she could limp on it. Rapunzel gathered Pascal onto her shoulder and set her sights on the cave beyond the meadow. If she could make it to the woods, she could fashion a crutch out of a tree branch.
The sun crested the tops of the trees and fell on the fresh turned earth beside the pond. Rapunzel’s heart sank. She knew deep down she was never coming back here. Time to say good-bye.
Rapunzel knelt beside the marker she’d made.
“Eugene Fitzherbert,” Rapunzel ran her fingers over the letters.
Tears splashed down her face. Through the haze, she suddenly noticed a pale form standing behind the grave.
Rapunzel leaped to her feet, her ankle protesting.
“What do you want?” She asked, her voice shaking.
The ghost did not answer. In the sunlight, Rapunzel could see the green meadow right through its form. It stepped closer.
“I’m leaving, Mother,” Rapunzel lifted her chin defiantly. “You can’t stop me.”
The pale figure’s fingers closed over the cross. Red hot rage spiked through Rapunzel.
“Get away from there!” She yelled. “You already killed him, you don’t get to touch this place.”
The figure flickered and vanished. Rapunzel let out a wobbly breath. Her head was spinning with adrenaline and emotion. She quickly dried her eyes.
Casting one last long look at the grave, Rapunzel clutched her satchel strap and hobbled towards the cave entrance.
It took all day to limp into Corona. At last the bridge to the island was in view. Rapunzel leaned heavily on the crutch she’d made. The sun striking the parapets of the castle glowed like a jewel. She sighed happily. She’d been so excited the first time she’d been here. Pulling Eugene along the bridge, prancing around Maximus, spinning in the sunshine. It had been the perfect day.
Getting to the castle was easy. Convincing the guards that she was the Lost Princess was another thing. Well aware of her disheveled hair, crutch, and dirty dress, Rapunzel still thought they could at least listen to her.
“Fellas, I’ve walked a long way today,” Rapunzel explained with a winning smile. “And I just want to see the King and Queen. They’ll know it’s me.”
The guard on the left, Stan, shared a glance with his partner, Pete.
“I have proof!” Rapunzel dug into her satchel and produced the missing crown. The mustached guard’s jaw dropped. Rapunzel felt a twinge of pride that at last they believed her.
“Come here!” Pete the guard snatched Rapunzel’s arm in a vice grip. “You’re under arrest for the theft of the crown jewels.”
“What? No,” Rapunzel’s spirit dropped in dismay. Stan yanked the crown from her grasp.
Pete frog marched Rapunzel down the cold stone steps to the dungeons. “Please,” Rapunzel begged. “I’m telling the truth. I’ve been in a tower for eighteen years. I’m the Lost Princess.”
“Sure you are,” Pete growled. He shoved Rapunzel into a dank cell. “And I’m the Queen of Geneva.”
The cell door slammed shut. Rapunzel sank onto the damp bench that served as a cot. Pascal wiggled out of his hiding spot under her collar to chirp at Rapunzel.
“How did this go so wrong?” Rapunzel asked. “I thought… I thought they’d welcome me. I thought they’d love me.” Rapunzel pulled her knees up to her chest. “I was wrong. I was naïve, Pascal.” She turned to her little green friend. “Do you think… do you think my parents gave up on me? It’s been so long, maybe they think the princess is gone for good.”
Rapunzel fell into a fitful sleep. She kept hearing a voice calling for her, but every time she turned around, no one was there.
Rapunzel woke with a start. Nighttime whispered through her tiny barred window. Something had woken her. A noise. There it was again. A scraping of metal on stone. Rapunzel sat up. The cell door swung open.
Rapunzel gasped. The torch light was faint down here, but she could just make out a white figure at the bars. Rapunzel whimpered and curled in on herself.
“Go away,” she whispered. The ghost vanished.
The door remained open. Hesitantly, Rapunzel stood and poked her head out. Pascal chirped on her shoulder. She glanced down. A worried frown tugged the corners of her friend’s mouth.
“I know,” Rapunzel whispered. “There’s got to be guards around here somewhere, right? But if we can sneak passed them-,”
A scream cut her off. “Ghost!”
Rapunzel cringed. Heavy boots thundered down the long stone hallway. A pair of guards hurtled passed her cell, too intent on the shriek still emanating from out of sight to notice Rapunzel was no longer secure.
Rapunzel crouched in the dark corner of her cell until their footsteps receded.
“C’mon,” Rapunzel tucked Pascal into the crook of her neck and slipped out of the cell. She made to limp away from the screaming, but an approaching glow of torchlight illuminated the hallway from that direction. Stomping footsteps brought the light closer. Rapunzel scrambled to stay ahead of the light. She frantically scoured the hall for a door, a corner, anywhere she could escape the chasing guards. The wailing grew louder.
At last Rapunzel came to a fork in the hallway. The yelling came from the left, the right was dark and quiet. She dove to the right just as the torch caught up to her.
Three guards whirled passed, heading to the left.
Rapunzel panted and slid to the ground, taking the pressure off her ankle. The voices around the corner grew louder. Rapunzel held her breath and listened.
“Shut up, Stan!”
“Tell us what happened.”
“What did you see?”
The screaming finally died into blubbering. Through the panicked sobs, Rapunzel heard Stan stammer, “A ghost! It attacked me. Flew out of the rafters. Flew through the wall!”
Muttering accompanied Stan’s account.
“I saw it!” Stan yelled, making Rapunzel jump. “White as bone and floating. It didn’t have a face.”
Rapunzel shuddered. Mother’s ghost had indeed followed her, it seemed. She had to get out here. Rapunzel groped her way along the stone hallway. Eventually, limping, she came to a set of stairs leading up. Rapunzel followed them, her bare feet silent on the steps. A massive door sat at the top of the stairs. Praying it wasn’t locked, Rapunzel tried the latch. It opened under her hand.
Rapunzel crept out into pale moonlight. Her feet sank into lush carpet. A long corridor spread before her, lined with white doors to the right and soaring windows to the left. Rapunzel looked down at Pascal. He shrugged. She’d just have to try the doors until one let her outside. She couldn’t stay in the castle any longer.
Rapunzel’s hands shook as she tried the first door. It was locked. She opted for the next one. Locked. Every door was barred. Rapunzel’s heart pounded. Each passing second was a chance for the guards to discover her missing. Finally, Rapunzel tried the last door in the corridor. The latch gave. She slid inside with a sigh of relief.
The ceilings of the room soared. A balcony window let an ocean of moonlight bathe the room. Rapunzel hobbled towards the balcony. Maybe there would be some ivy to climb down. Her eye caught on the center piece of the room. A baby bassinet. Curiosity piqued; Rapunzel tip toed closer. A purple blanket draped over the crib, emblazoned with the sun of Corona. A tiny rattle lay in the crib. Rapunzel plucked it up with shaking fingers.
This was mine, the realisation hit. Rapunzel stood in the Lost Princess’ room.
“Who’s there?” The voice startled Rapunzel. She dropped the rattle. It clattered against the marble floor.
“I’m sorry,” Rapunzel stuttered. “I’m, uh, I’m lost. I didn’t mean to-,”
Out of the shadow stepped a huge man in a robe of flowing purple. On his head, a crown winked in the moonlight.
Rapunzel gasped. “You’re the King.”
The King frowned under his mustache.
Rapunzel dropped into a curtsy to hide the expression on her face. Her father. She was facing her father.
“Come here,” a match struck and the King held up a candle. “Let me see you.”
Rapunzel limped forward. She kept her eyes respectfully downwards.
“What are you doing here?” He asked. His voice was gruff, but Rapunzel noted the lack of anger.
She took a deep breath. Now or never. Rapunzel lifted her head. “I’m the Lost Princess.”
The frown darkened to a scowl. “Young lady-,”
“My name is Rapunzel,” she interrupted. “Eighteen years ago, a woman named Gothel stole me away. I’ve been in a tower ever since. She stole me because I had the power of a magic flower. But,” Rapunzel stumbled over her explanation. “I don’t anymore. Eugene, my… my friend, he cut my hair to save me. He saved my life,” she whispered the last phrase to herself.
Rapunzel watched the King’s face. He remained frozen, with his lips parted, staring at her. Suddenly the candlestick dropped from his grasp. Rapunzel flinched as it hit the marble floor.
“Can it be?” The King reached out for Rapunzel. “Is it really you?”
He cupped Rapunzel’s chin and lifted her face. A breathless laugh escaped the King. “You have your mother’s eyes.”
Tears flooded the King’s eyes. He wrapped Rapunzel in a crushing hug. She clung back, her heart soaring. This was all she ever wanted. Years of dreaming. With a pang, Rapunzel wished Eugene could see this. He had sacrificed himself for this moment.
The King pulled back. “Come with me,” he tugged her hand. “We have to tell your mother.”