OKAY so here's the thing: I put up a little "request whatever fanfic you want and I'll write it" thing on my Tumblr blog, and this one particular request by maryranstadler1 got me so hyped up I just had to make it into a full-length story! GerIta is one of my greatest OTPs and Tangled is my favorite Disney princess movie. (Because Lion King and Wreck It Ralph are top.)

So a Tangled AU, main pairing is GerIta and this is the first chapter! I don't own Hetalia or Disney! (gods I'm so excited for this! I'll also update on my tumblr. URL is eranishxd )

This is the story of a boy, named Feliciano; and it starts with the sun.

Now, once upon a time, a single drop of sunlight fell from the heavens. And from this small drop of sun, grew a magic, golden flower. It had the ability to heal the sick and injured. Of course, this was all written off as a legend. No one would totally, completely believe in something as incredulous as a magic flower, no would they?

Well, centuries passed, and a hop, skip and a boat ride away grew a kingdom. The kingdom was ruled by a beloved king and queen. And the queen…

…well, she was about to have a baby. And she got sick. Really sick.

Queen Elizaveta was running out of time, and that's when people usually start to look for a miracle. Or in this case, a magic golden flower.

Now, someone did manage to find this golden flower before—an old man by the name of Flavio Vargas. But instead of sharing the sun's gift, he hoarded its healing power and used it to keep himself young for hundreds of years. And all he had to do was sing a special song…

Flower gleam and glow, let your power shine…

His wrinkled hands would cup its petals, pupils wide with greed.

Make the clock reverse, bring back what once was mine…

And his skin would grow taut and fresh, spots disappearing, any trace of white on his hair chased back into a vibrant gold.

What once was mine.

And just like that, the miracle was kept to himself, and he lived with this secret for hundreds of years. That is, until a crucial blunder was made at the worst of all possible times.

It was an accidental flick of his oil lantern, a panicked movement upon hearing the rumbling of hooves and footsteps. Flavio could do nothing but watch, hidden away behind the brush, as his precious little flower was spotted and uprooted, glaring icily at his protective leaf-dome now forgotten on the banks of a river.

"We found it! We found it!" Gleaming armor, leather-saddled steeds… the soldiers of the kingdom have indeed found it.

Now in the palace, the magic of the golden flower healed the queen with a simple little concoction. As she drank the magicl liquid, hope returned to the hearts of the people and to the heart of King Roderich.

Months later, a healthy baby boy, a prince was born. A little hint: he was Feliciano.

His amber eyes were bright with joy, their luster matching that of the thick, caramel locks sprouting from his scalp, adorned with an adorable little curl to the side and a jewel-studded crown on his head.

The king and queen, as well as the kingdom, had been brought joy to by the young prince. His bright smile could outshine the sun any time, and his little giggles of laughter were music to the ears.

To celebrate his birth, the king and queen launched a flying lantern into the sky for the entire kingdom to see. Festivities went on in the prince's honor, and the Sun became the kingdom's symbol in memory of that flower. And for that one moment, everything was perfect.

And then that moment ended.

In the dark of the night, Flavio, the old man wrecked with grief and anger at the loss of his beloved miracle, scaled the palace towers with the intention of getting it back.

The balcony was open, King Roderich and Queen Elizaveta fast asleep and thoroughly exhausted, and there, in the little crib in the center of the vast bedroom, was his prize. Flavio wanted to test his little theory.

"Flower gleam and glow," At the uttered melody, the boy's hair began to glow. Amber locks gleamed in the dark resembling a light almost golden. Bingo. "Let your power shine," Now all he needed was a good bunch of that hair and he would be gone, quick as he planned. Out came the scissors. Snip! "Make the clock re—"

Flavio gasped, stumbling back. The golden glow faded and the luscious amber of the boy's hair grew into an ugly, dull brown. His hands wrinkled once more; he could feel himself growing older by the second. No, no chances could be taken.

In one swift motion he swooped the boy into his arms and ran out to the balcony, but not without an alarmed cry and a clatter of falling scissors to alert the king and queen. But then it was too late.

He'd broken into the castle, stole the child, and just like that— gone.

The kingdom searched and searched, but they could not find the prince. But deep within the forest, in a hidden tower, Flavio raised the child as his own…

He taught little Feliciano the special song, and would have him sing it, in his sweet little voice, as his hair was brushed every day. Flavio had found his new magic flower, and this time he was determined to keep it hidden.

When little Feliciano would ask, "Why can't I go outside?" He would always respond with his same, reasonable answer.

"The outside world is a dangerous place, filled with horrible, selfish people." He shakes his head. "You must stay here, where you're safe. Do you understand, flower?"

An innocent little nod. "Yes, Papa."

But the walls of that tower could not hide everything.

Each night of that one day of the year, that one special day of his birth, Feliciano would sneak through the halls, past his Papa's bedroom door. All the way to the window he'd walk, gathering up his footstool to stand on and throwing open the great wooden shutters.

There, he'd see those little sparkling lights in the distant sky, moving upwards in such delicate grace. He felt as if they were calling him, beckoning him to come closer, even though he hadn't the slightest clue what they were.

They couldn't be the stars, they moved far too quickly for that, and shone far brighter. It didn't matter. They were special, and they were special to Feliciano.

For each year, the king and queen released thousands of flying lanterns into the sky, in hopes that one day their lost prince would return…

Next chapter coming soon! Thanks again to maryranstadler1 for the request!

~Nixh