I stepped onto the rock that dug into the ground. A light dawn breeze blew into my hair, causing it to fan out a little bit behind me. The Corona wall was destroyed, clearing a path for me to discover what the black rocks so desperately wanted to show me, to end the unsurety and answer the questions about my hair returning six months ago.

But before I could set out on my journey, I needed to prepare.

I turned around.

"Cass, Eugene, should we go back to the castle to pack?" I asked them, breaking the still silence of before.

"Whatever you want to do, Raps," Cassandra replied. Her pet owl, which she named Owl, swooped down from the early morning sky and onto her forearm.

"I'm with you, Rapunzel," Eugene said. He smiled at me lovingly, and a sense of calm washed over me. As long as Eugene was by my side, I knew everything would be alright.

"Your mother and I will accompany you back to the palace, Rapunzel," Dad said. I knew he wanted to make it up to me- locking me in my bedroom, directly lying to me- and demonstrating stifling cruelty over the past year. I hadn't completely forgiven him, but I didn't hate him. Dad wasn't perfect- not at all- but he was my father, and I loved him.

We went back to the castle. On the way home, Cass, Eugene, and I had agreed that we would leave tomorrow at dawn. We were going to follow the rocks; go where they wanted me to go, see what they wanted me to see. We were going to answer all the questions, and solve the mystery of my hair.

I climbed up the stairs to my bedroom and collapsed onto my bed. I thought I wouldn't drift off because of all that had happened on my birthday, but the day's events had thoroughly exhausted me, so I was in a deep slumber within a few minutes.

When I opened my eyes, sunlight was streaming through my window- or rather, what was left of it from when Eugene, Cassandra, and the Snuggly Duckling pub "thugs" broke me out of my room. I scratched my head, and suddenly, everything came flooding back to me- the rocks, Varian, and everything my father had done- I remembered. I slumped against my pillows and sighed. I felt I wasn't ready for tomorrow- but then, I thought about the black rocks pointing me out of Corona, and about how they wanted to show me something important that would finally answer all my questions- and I realized that I had to be.

I headed out to the royal terrace, where Mom, Dad, Cass, and Eugene were sitting at the breakfast table, nibbling on fruits, pancakes, and other breakfast foods. I took a seat and grabbed a cinnamon roll from a gilded platter at the table's center. I ripped off a sugary chunk and rolled it in my hand.

"Rapunzel, you should start gathering food, water, a toothbrush, change of clothes, and anything else you want to take with you," Cassandra said. Owl flew over and perched on the table, tearing a small bit of the lace tablecloth with his talons. Mom's eyes widened over the rim of her teacup, but then, as Cass began to stroke Owl's feathers, she merely smiled. Dad winced at the torn placemat, and clearly was itching to change the tablecloth. I grinned at him, and at that, he laughed. A real laugh. His blue eyes shone with glee, and the lines under them crinkled up joyfully.

I looked down at my hand. The piece of cinnamon roll had gotten so warm in my palm that that it was stuck to my hand and the table. I tried to pry my hand free, to no avail.

Then, everyone at the table was laughing. Cass smacked the table's surface as she gasped for breath through laughter. Eugene laughed so hard that he fell out of his chair, causing us to laugh all the more. Mom choked on her tea in her attempts to keep from laughing, making Dad's grin a little bit wider. I giggled and swept a stray lock of golden hair out of my face. It felt so good just to laugh, and for that one moment, to not worry about what was to come. For that one moment, everything was perfect.

And then that moment ended.

I walked down the cold stone steps to the castle dungeons. The captain of the guard had insisted that he himself accompany me, but I had argued, stating that there were already multiple guards down there patrolling the cells, and that if anything happened, they would be right there. Besides, he was still injured from when a monster version of Ruddiger- Varian's pet raccoon- threw him forcefully to the ground.

It was cold in the dungeons, so I clasped my dark cloak for warmth as I proceeded into a dimly lit, dank hallway. I halted at the corner of it, and took a deep breath. To encourage me, Pascal hugged my shoulder with his tiny chameleon-hands.

Around the hallway turn, there were jail cells with fearsome criminals inside them that sent shivers up my spine. One grabbed his cell bars and growled at me throatily, while another cracked their knuckles and gave me a gruesome sneer. Confident-looking guards were standing in front of every three cells to make sure the prisoners didn't try to escape.

I wandered down the hall of cells until I came to the end of it. I shut my eyes. I hoped against hope he wouldn't be waiting for me when I opened them. But he was, just as I knew he would be.

Sitting on his dingy cot in the very last cell was Varian. There was a rather thick wall composed entirely of black bricks putting space between his cell and those of the other prisoners so he had nobody to talk to except for his pet raccoon, Ruddiger, who was permitted in the cell with him.

Varian was slumped up against the wall, with his head hung low, his eyes downcast. Ruddiger restlessly curled around Varian's large feet.

I approached him nervously, wringing my hands. I just stood in front of him silently for a few seconds- but they seemed like elongated minutes.

Varian lifted his gaze from the floor and saw me. Pure sadness and hurt flashed across his face for a brief instant, but then it was replaced by a manic and evil grin.

"Hello, Your Highness," he said, appearing to be calm, although I knew he wasn't. He said "Your Highness" as if it was an insult rather than a royal title. In a way, it was. My mind wandered back to when I first met Varian, about six months ago.

"I am so sorry, Your Highness,"

"Your Highness? Wait, you know who I am?"

"Uh, how could I not…. Huh! Look at your hair- Your Highness,"

"Oh, please. Just Rapunzel,"

I took a sharp intake of breath.

"I- I…" I stammered, not knowing what to say. I knew words wouldn't fix anything. I had broken a promise, and he had made me pay.

"At a loss for words?" Varian sneered. Ruddiger stared at me sadly. I felt bad for him.

"Are you embarking on your grand journey today, Princess?" he continued smarmily. This conversation was too much for both of us, and we knew it. I was on the verge of tears, and Varian was going to keep pushing me until I broke. When would his torturing me be enough? Suddenly, my mind answered my question.

"That's enough, Varian,"

"It's not enough until you endure the same amount of pain and agony I have!" his warped voice echoed in my head. I shuddered.

"What is it? Is the ever-confident "lost princess" finally scared?" he replied to my action, calling me by my old title. He ran a black gloved hand through his greasy head of hair.

"You think you haven't already scared me enough?" I gasped. Varian chuckled to himself.

"Considering what you did to me… No, I don't think I have,"

I drew a ragged breath.

"Varian- I- I- I'm-" My voice broke. Tears welled up in my green eyes.

"I'm sorry," I dashed out of the hall, without looking behind me. I didn't get to see Varian's facial expression. I wondered if he was amused by my emotion, or if at least a small part of him regretted making me feel that way.

I regretted doing the same to him.

I ran up the stairs, my bare feet slapping against the stone steps. I stumbled into my bedroom through my tear-blurred vision. Eugene was waiting for me- he had turned away from my window and had his arms open wide. I sprinted into them, placing my blond head against his chest.

After a few minutes of crying, I lifted my head off of him. He looked at me, concerned, and then said,

"It's okay, Rapunzel, it's okay-"

"No- no, it's not," I sniffled. A couple of my tears fell onto my bed.

"It will be, Blondie. It will be," he replied soothingly. He took my hand in his.

"Now, you tell me everything he said to you, and I'll tell you how he's wrong," Eugene said, smiling at me a little.

"Not- not right- not right now," I said. I felt lightheaded and a bit dizzy from crying too much. Eugene looked slightly hurt.

"Rapunzel, you know you can tell me anything, right?" he asked.

"I- I- I- I know- I know I can- but…" I trailed off.

"I don't feel so good,"

Eugene instantly arose.

"Don't worry, Rapunzel, I'll be right back- I'm going to get you some more pillows- and- and a drink of water," he said. I didn't want him to leave. By the time I reached out for him, though, he had already gone.

I wept.

Eugene had brought up the pillows and water hours ago, and I was staring out my window. Pascal was taking a nap on a cerulean cushion beside me. He grinned in his sleep- he must have been having a happy dream.

A warm breeze blew onto my tearstained face. I gauged that it was three or four in the afternoon. In about twelve hours, Cass, Eugene, and I would have already started our journey. I sighed.

I tried to read, but my mind wandered away from the words written on the story's pages. I was dreading leaving Corona to follow the rocks. It was all I could think about- my attempts to push the thought into the back of my mind we're futile.

I forced myself to gather my belongings. I packed my journal, a sketchpad, some paints and paintbrushes, and a few pens. I grabbed some sewing and knitting needles, along with yarn and thread. I got three changes of clothes, tooth-cleaning powder, and a hairbrush. I was counting on Cass and Eugene to pack food and water.

I stuffed all of my things into a burlap sack that had been lying in the corner of my room. Eugene must have put it there. I looped some twine around the top of the bag- Eugene must have supplied me with that too. The twine was so rough that tying the sack closed seared my hands and gave me rope burn.

I shook my hands at my sides as I walked down to the royal kitchens for a snack. The sun was starting to set. I would be leaving Corona when it rose.

I took a shiny red apple from a bowl of assorted fruits. I sat outside in the setting sun munching on it. I was scared. I didn't want to leave my home and live life on the road. I was afraid of what the rocks had to show me, partly because I couldn't fathom what that might be. I was connected to the rocks because I possed sundrop magic,- at least, I thought I did- so what would it take to stop the turmoil of the black rocks once and for all?

Suddenly, the ground beneath my feet quaked. I clambered away from that patch of grass. A millisecond later, a blue spike pushed itself out of the ground. After it formed, it quickly turned dark. A black rock.

I dropped my half-eaten apple and inched closer to the rock. My hair began to glow bright yellow, and the rock bright blue. I didn't dare touch it- I knew if I did, it would create an enormous reaction. I had discovered yesterday that if I gripped the rock and didn't let go of it, a more enormous reaction would be created, and it would be one that pained and weakened me. But I knew this was a sign. I had to leave, whether I was scared or not.

I headed inside, where Cass and Eugene were waiting for me.

"Have you packed, Rapunzel?" Cassandra asked. She was carrying a sack filled with items we'd need for our journey. Eugene was carrying a bag of his own.

"Uh… Yeah, Cass. The bag's in my room," I replied.

"Do we have food and water gathered?"

"Yes, Rapunzel, we do," Eugene answered. Pascal yawned on my shoulder.

"You should go get some sleep, Raps. We'll be leaving at dawn," Cass said.

"Yeah, I'm going to go rest up," Eugene said as he strode out of the room.

"I wasn't talking to you, Fitzherbert," Cass called after him. I smiled. Through everything that had happened, Cass and Eugene hadn't changed.

I couldn't fall asleep. I stared at the moon, thinking of the rocks and what was to come. I tossed and turned, but sleep just wouldn't come. I thought about Varian, and how he was right below me, in the dungeons. I thought about how I had left things so broken with him, and how it was my fault.

I wasn't ready to leave, but I had no other choice. There was so much on my plate, but only more would come. I thought that I had cried myself out today, but I was wrong. So much was going on, and I didn't have any time to take it all in. I cried for all that was happening. Why couldn't something be easy for me?

I awoke to Eugene's loving face.

"Rapunzel… Rapunzel, you've got to wake up," he whispered, gently shaking me to rouse me. The sky was a golden-orange- it was early in the morning.

"Rapunzel, Cassandra and I are going to saddle up Max and Fidella. You get dressed and then say goodbye to your parents. After that, we can leave," Eugene said, striding over to the door. Before leaving, though, he walked back to me and said,

"I love you, Sunshine," He kissed my forehead. I gave him a weak smile, although I wasn't happy at all.

I changed into my purple dress and donned my dark cloak. I picked up the burlap sack holding all my belongings and walked down the hall to Mom and Dad's room. I slowly pushed open the door to see if they were already awake.

They were. Dad sat on the edge of the bed in silence with his head hung low. Mom was slumped into the bed's pillows, reading a maroon-covered book. She swept a wisp of her brown hair behind her ear as I entered the room.

"We didn't know you were leaving now, honey! Your father and I were going to say goodbye at the courtyard!" Mom exclaimed. At that, Dad looked up at me with a sad smile. There were tears in his eyes. I walked over to him and gave him a big hug.

"I won't let you down, Dad," I whispered.

"I love you,"

"I love you too, sweetheart," Dad replied. He planted a kiss atop my blond head.

"I'm sorry for what I did-"

"Dad, it's okay," What Dad had done wasn't fine, but I didn't want him to be more upset than he already was.

I climbed onto the bed and approached Mom. I saw Dad leave the room, his blue eyes shining with tears. I didn't try and stop him. I understood that he needed some time to himself.

I turned to Mom. She was pursing her lips to keep them from quivering, and tears were in her eyes- they were green, just like mine.

"I packed my journal… To record all of my adventures," I said, attempting to lighten the mood of the goodbye.

"Your adventures will be wonderful, honey," Mom replied with a bittersweet smile. We both sighed, at a loss for words.

"There's more in me," I said at the same time that Mom said,

"There's more in you," We giggled awkwardly. Then there was a still silence.

"Go explore, Rapunzel," Mom said in a serious tone.

"Go follow those rocks, but enjoy seeing the world," I nodded.

"I only ask that you be safe, be smart, and above all-"

"Be true to myself," I finished, grinning a bit.

"I will, Mom,"

"I love you,"

I love you too, sweetie," Mom whispered.

We embraced. As we pulled out of the hug, Mom put her hand on my cheek, caressing it. We stayed just like that for a moment- mother and daughter.

"You go catch up with Cassandra and Eugene," Mom said. I got off the bed and walked to the bedroom's door.

"Oh- and don't forget Pascal!" Mom chuckled. All the sadness and uncertainty from the start of our conversation seemed to be gone, but I knew Mom was just hiding it- being brave.

"I'm going to miss you, little fella," Mom said, tickling Pascal and smiling weakly. She was trying hard to hold herself together.

"I'll meet you at the courtyard in a few minutes, Rapunzel," she said.

"Okay, Mom," I replied. Tears welled up in my eyes. I loved Mom and Dad so much.

I left the room and went out to the castle courtyard. Cass and Eugene were there, with Max and Fidella. Our belongings were attached to the horses' saddles, but some of our things were inside the saddlebags. I heaved my bag to Max and put the sack on his saddle with a thick, tight knot.

"You're sure we've got everything?" I asked Cassandra. She gave me a curt nod. I guess saying goodbye to her dad must have been painful. I understood she didn't want to talk.

I sighed and sat on the ground with my legs crossed, waiting for Cass's dad and my parents to arrive at the courtyard to watch us leave.

Eugene sat down beside me.

"Rapunzel, it's going to be fine," he said, attempting to console me. I took a deep breath.

"Is it really going to be?" I asked, looking at him doubtfully.

"Yes, yes it is," he replied. He took my hand in his.

"Hey, you've got me," He grinned. I still frowned. Eugene sighed.

"Rapunzel, you can do anything. I know leaving your parents is hard- but they are so proud of you, Rapunzel. Anyone would be. And they know that you can handle yourself out there in the world. You're going to be fine," I smiled at him sadly.

"I love you, Eugene," I replied. I leaned over to him and kissed him on the lips.

When we finished the kiss, I saw my parents and the captain of the guard. All three of them were tears-eyed. The captain was in a wheelchair, and in physical pain. More noticeable, though, was the emotional pain he was in, caused by the fact that Cassandra was leaving him. Cass's dad gruffly cleared his throat, trying as hard as ever to seem tough and unfeeling. I arose. So did Eugene. For a brief moment, his deep brown eyes locked gaze with my spring-green grass ones. He made me feel a little more confident about what was to come. Eugene and I were partners for life- if he was by my side, I knew I would always feel more safe than if he wasn't there for me.

"Come on, Raps. You get on Max with Eugene," Cass said to me. She mounted Fidella. Eugene got on Maximus. I followed suit, sitting on Max directly behind Eugene. Then I leapt off to give my parents one last hug.

I ran to Mom and Dad. I wrapped my arms around both of them, holding them close. I never wanted to let go. I wanted to smell Mom's lavender perfume and Dad's brown leather vest forever- just to be nestled in the safety of my parents and their love forever. I didn't want to leave them.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Cass jump off Fidella and hug her dad. They smiled at each other, and the captain tussled Cassandra's dark hair, blinking away tears.

At last, I had to withdraw from the embrace. I drew a shaggy breath.

"I love you," I whispered to them. My vision blurred with tears as I stumbled onto Maximus. I turned around so when Max started moving, I could still see Mom and Dad. Max began to trot forwards. He picked up a little speed, and soon I was about two feet farther away from my parents. Mom put her hands on Dad's right shoulder. They looked heartbroken, as was I. Tears streamed down my face as Max pulled me farther and farther away from my loving parents, who I had only been with for a year. My loving parents, who I truly wanted to spend every day with, and who and I wanted to know more and love more. My loving parents, who would not be there to comfort me about what was to come.

My loving parents, who were now out of sight.