Disclaimer: Any use of the title, dialogue, and plot is prohibited. Disney owns Tangled.
The king stood in the doorway to the balcony, his expression despondent as he watched the lanterns in the night sky.
Today marked the lost princess's eighteenth birthday and although the day was full of celebration and joy, the king and queen couldn't bring themselves to be happy. Their daughter's mysterious disappearance had taken its toll on the monarchs' lives and they were unable to focus on other matters. It was as if a dark cloud had descended and shrouded them in darkness and gloom.
The king continued watching the lanterns ascending into the sky, unbidden tears forming in his eyes. He couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt and regret for the disappearance of his daughter. At times he felt angry with himself and wished he could have prevented that fateful night.
How could he have allowed his daughter to be taken away far beyond the borders of Corona to goodness knows where? How could he have let the baby whom he had sworn to protect escape him and Arianna? He tried to remain strong for his wife's sake, but deep down knew his pride and joy would never return.
He was so lost in thought that he didn't notice his wife coming to stand beside him.
The queen turned toward her husband, her expression concerned as she noticed the tears falling from his eyes. "Are you all right?"
The king buried his head into her shoulder and wept, the tears coursing down his cheeks. He wept for the loss of his daughter and for how he only got the chance to hold Rapunzel once. He wept for never being there to watch her take her first steps and for never giving her piggyback rides.
After a while he said, "Arianna, I—"
"Ssh." The queen's tone was gentle and consoling as she comforted him. "I know you miss her. I miss her too, but I believe she'll return to us."
"B-but what if she doesn't?" The king couldn't keep his voice from trembling as he spoke.
"She will." The queen's tone was hopeful. "She will return, Frederic. We need to stay strong and believe."
She reached out and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Everything will be all right. I have faith and hope."
"Thank you." The king planted a kiss on his wife's cheek. "Your positivity is what I needed to lift my spirits tonight."
"Of course, dear. Now," she added, producing a lantern she had been holding, "shall we release this together?"
The king nodded his assent and followed his wife onto the balcony. The king placed his hand on the lantern and let it fly, watching as it was soon lost among the lights.
Arianna looked up at the sky, remarking, "It's a lovely night out. I hope the lantern we send will be seen by our daughter, wherever she may be."
In the silence that followed, the king and queen continued watching the lanterns as they rose into the heavens and were soon lost among the clouds.
