Russia, 1916
"Done!" The young princess exclaimed, as she finally finished her drawing. She had worked so hard on it, and could not wait to show her "Grandma-ma." She entered the ballroom, and was stopped by her father, wanting to dance with his beautiful little girl. She decided the drawing would have to wait. After all, she loved dancing with her father, and this was a special night. Hundreds of guests had arrived all afternoon for the grand ball her father was hosting. He spun her around so fast, she could not stop giggling. Suddenly, he threw her up in the air above his head, and she lost her hat. She didn't care, though…she hated that hat anyway.
Once the dance was over, she rushed up the stairs to the throne where her grandmother sat, smiling at her youngest granddaughter. Marie loved all of her grandchildren, but Rapunzel was the one who had the closest relationship with her. When Rapunzel made it up to the stairs, Marie was delighted by the drawing. She placed it next to her, and pulled out a small gold and emerald box.
""For me? Is it a jewelry box?" Rapunzel was in awe at the beautiful present.
Marie chuckled, reminding Rapunzel of the necklace she wore around her neck. She told her that it was the key to opening this box. Squinting her nose, Rapunzel found the tiny hole and began winding the box until it opened. When it did, Rapunzel smiled bigger than ever.
"It's our lullaby!"
"You can play it at night before you go to sleep, and pretend it's me singing." Marie explained. She would miss her Rapunzel, but duty calls her in Paris. So they began singing their lullaby:
On the wind, 'cross the sea
Hear this song and remember
Soon you'll be home with me
Once upon a December
Rapunzel did not want her Grandmother to go, but she read her necklace…Together in Paris. She remembered that Grandma-ma had promised her to take her one day. She hugged her neck, and could not wait to go.
Without warning, the lights went out, and the crowd gasped and parted as a dark figure eased forward. The only thing that could be seen clearly was a strange canister glowing green. As the figure progressed closer towards the royal family, his smirk became ever more grotesque and frightful.
Nicholas II stormed towards him. "How dare you come here!"
The hood fell back as the intruder answered, "Wh..what? I am your confidant!"
Nicholas II laughed at this, knowing very well he banished him. "Ha! You are traitor! Get out!"
The man was furious now. "You dare to banish the great Rasputin? By the dark powers vested in me, I banish you with a curse. Mark my words, you and your family will die within a fortnight. I will not rest until I see the end of the Romanov line forever!"
The crowd dispersed as Rasputin disappeared in the crowd. Without warning, guards appeared and stormed towards the throne room. Riots occurred in the streets, tearing down the statue of their "beloved" czar. Nicholas urged his family to pack their things and go as fast as they can to the next train out of the country.
Rapunzel was terrified. She stayed close with Marie as they were running out of the palace. She then realized she forgot something very important to her.
"My music box!" she ran back to the palace to her room to find it.
"Rapunzel! Come back! Come back!" Marie chased after her.
She found her in her room, desperately trying to find her music box. A young boy, much older than her, though, was trying to help her, but also urging her to leave. He was a kitchen boy at the palace for a couple years, but there was more to him than meets the eye. When he heard the soldiers storming up the stairs, he pushed open part of the wall and shoved the princess and the duchess into the wall. Rapunzel fought back, wanting her music box, but he was strong for his age, and shut the wall as soon as the guards broke in.
"Where are they, boy?!" one guard yelled. The boy threw a toy at them, and the guard knocked him cold. They then threw him out the window. He fell down into the icy river.
"Keep up with me, darling!" Marie encouraged her as they were running under the bridge where the train was about to depart.
Then, a scream came out of Rapunzel. Marie turned back, horrified. It was Rasputin! He had hold of the girl's ankle, dragging her towards him.
"Let me go, please!" Rapunzel begged.
"You'll never escape me child! Never!" Rasputin snickered.
As he was about to take his revenge on Nicholas, he let go of her as he realized the ground beneath him was disappearing fast. He was sinking into the icy abyss.
Marie saw the opportunity and grabbed Rapunzel, continuing to run to the train. She jumped on the train first, and reached for Rapunzel. But she was falling behind, as the train was already in motion. The crowd was so tight, Rapunzel could barely hold onto Marie's hand. Rapunzel let out a scream as she fell backwards, hitting her head. Then, it was darkness.
"RAPUNZEL!"