Sun and Stars:
A/N: One post. One. That's all it took. All I did was point out how similar Ezekiel and Cassandra were to Flynn Rider and Rapunzel. Well that simple post sparked a revolution. A Tangled AU that really isn't an AU because the characters are already the exact same. Except, I'm not having Cassandra have 70 feet of hair. It would be too tricky to work into this story. I'm super excited by this so without further ado, Sun and Stars…
Disclaimer: I own neither The Librarians nor Tangled.
This is the story of how Ezekiel Jones died. Don't worry, this is actually a very fun story and the truth is, it isn't even his. This is the story of a girl named Cassandra 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. Every night, an old man would come to the flower. Remember him. He's kind of important.
Well, centuries passed, and a hop skip and a boat ride away there grew a kingdom. The kingdom was ruled by a beloved king and queen. And the Queen, well, she was about to have a baby. She got sick. Really, sick. She 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.
Ah, I told you he'd be important. You see, instead of sharing the sun's gift, this man, Dulaque, hoarded its healing power and used it to keep himself young for hundreds of years, and all he had to do was to sing a special song. One night, he grew careless and forgot to cover the magic flower. Naturally, the guards found the flower that night, and returned to the king and queen. They then used the flower to make tea and gave it to the queen. The magic of the golden flower healed the pregnant woman. A healthy baby girl, a princess was born, with beautiful red hair. I'll give you a hint: that's Cassandra. To celebrate her birth, the King and Queen launched a flying lantern into the sky. And for that one moment, everything was perfect. And then that moment ended
Dulaque knew that the child had the power of the flower, but didn't know how to use it. He did the only thing he could think of doing. He broke into the castle, stole the child and just like that - gone. The kingdom searched and searched, but they could not find the princess. For deep within the forest, in a hidden tower, Dulaque raised the child as his own. He had found his new magic flower, but this time he was determined to keep it hidden.
"Why can't I go outside?" Cassandra would ask him.
"The outside world is a dangerous place, filled with horrible, selfish people. You must stay here, where you're safe. Do you understand, flower?" He would tell her, using her pet name.
"Yes, daddy." She never knew him as anything different than her father.
But the walls of that tower could not hide everything. Each year, on Cassandra's birthday, the King and Queen released thousands of lanterns into the sky, in hope that one day, their lost princess would return. That brings us to now…
The window flew open as Cassandra laughed. "Hmm, well, I guess Stumpy isn't hiding out here." As she turned away, she heard a quiet snicker. She reached around the flower pot that sat on the windowsill and found her stony pet. "Gotcha! That's twenty-two for me. How about twenty-three out of forty-five?" She asked. The gargoyle's face fell to show a look of clear boredom. "Okay, well what do you want to do?"
Moving his wings, Stumpy pointed out the window to the great outdoors that lay beyond the tower.
"Yeah, I don't think so, I like it in here and so do you." She smiled when the gargoyle stuck his tongue out at her. "Oh, come on, Stumpy, it's not so bad in there." She carried her pet inside where she did her everyday routine, involving her chores, cooking, playing chess, reading, and of course, studying up on math and science.
In the meantime, let's catch up with the other, more unlikely hero to our story. Ezekiel Jones. Why was he an unlikely hero? At the moment, he, along with his partners, were going to steal the crown that had once belonged to the lost princess. He stood on top of the palace, gazing out at the world that lie before him.
"Wow! I could get used to view like this." He smiled in wonder.
"Jones! C'mon!" One of his partners called from behind. He was working with the Stabbington Brothers. Their relationship was built on complete and utter distrust for each other. They would surely try to stab him in the back when the job was done, but Ezekiel had a plan, as per usual, because Lord knows, Ezekiel never loses.
"Hold on. Yup, I'm used to it. Guys, I want a castle." He said as he turned towards them. The problem with working with a set of identical twins was that he could never tell them apart. Sure, they each had a scar that told you which was which, but he never cared enough to learn their names.
"We do this job, and you can buy your own castle." One slapped him on the back as they lowered him into the room where the crown was being kept. In front of said tiara was a line of guards. The two center most were having a casual discussion when the blonde one, a woman, sneezed.
"Oh, hay fever?" Ezekiel asked from behind her. She didn't even turn around.
"Ugh, yeah." She answered.
"I didn't say anything." The other guard, a burly southern man told her. They turned around quickly to see Ezekiel just climb through the hole in the roof.
"Hey wait! Get him!" The guards shouted after him as he and the twins ran from them.
"Can't you picture me in a castle of my own? 'Cause I certainly can! All the things we've seen and it's only eight in the morning. Gentleman, this is a very big day!" He shouted to the twins while they ran into the forest.
Meanwhile…
"This is it! This is a very big day, Stumpy. I'm going to do it! I'm going to ask him!" She told her pet.
"Cassandra! Let down the rope!" A voice called from the bottom of the tower.
"It's time!" She whispered to the gargoyle. He puffed out his chest to her in a way that said 'be confident'. "I know, I know, come on, don't let him see you." She scooped up her pet and hid him amongst the stony spirals of her tower, knowing her father wouldn't approve of a pet.
"Cassandra, I'm not getting any younger down here." Cassandra rushed to the window and lowered a rope down to her father. She pulled him all the way up.
"Hi, welcome home, father." She panted, out of breath from the strenuous activity.
"Ugh, Cassandra! How you manage to do that every single day without fail! It looks absolutely exhausting, darling." He cooed over her as he entered the tower.
"Oh, it's nothing." Cassandra breathed out heavily.
"Then I don't know why it takes so long." He laughed. "Oh, darling, I'm only teasing."
"Hmm." Cassandra laughed awkwardly. "Alright, so, Father, as you know tomorrow is a big day-" She was cut off by Dulaque dragging her over to a mirror.
"Cassandra, look in that mirror. You know what I see? I see a strong, confident, attractive, young adult." Cassandra stood up straighter, surprised by the compliment. "Oh look, you're here too." The man laughed. "I'm just teasing! Stop taking everything so seriously."
"Right… so father, as I was saying, tomorrow-" He cut her off again.
"Cassandra, Daddy's feeling a bit run down. Would you sing for me, dear? That'll do." He asked.
"Oh, of course. One second." Cassandra rushed around, setting up two chairs, one for him and one for herself. She also handed him a brush. She began to sing so rapidly that he couldn't keep us and brush with her. There was suddenly a woosh of air and Dulaque became younger and healthier once again.
"Cassandra!" He began but Cassandra spun around and practically draped herself on him.
"So, mother, earlier I was saying tomorrow's a pretty big day and you didn't really respond, so I'm just gonna tell you, it's my birthday! Uh. Tada!" She laughed quietly.
"No, no, no, can't be. I distinctly remember: your birthday was last year." He frowned.
"That's the funny thing about birthdays–they're kind of an annual thing! Uh, Father, I'm turning eighteen, and I wanted to ask," She began, trying to find the proper words. "What I really want for this birthday…" She lowered her voice to a mumble."Actually what I've wanted for quite a few birthdays-"
"Okay, Cassandra, please, stop with the mumbling. You know how I feel about the mumbling–blah-blah-blah-blah, it's very annoying, I'm just teasing, you're adorable, I love you so much, darling." He smiled at her. Cassandra glanced to the side where she saw Stumpy motioning her to just spit out what she had to say.
"I want to see the floating lights." She blurted, relieved to finally get to say it.
"Uh-huh." Dulaque was only half listening until he heard 'floating lights'. "What?" He questioned, tone much more serious now, even slightly sinister sounding.
"Oh, well, I was hoping you'd take me to see the floating lights." She repeated.
"Oh, you mean the stars." Dulaque tried to cover, to no avail.
"That's the thing. I've charted stars and they're always constant–but these–they appear every year on my birthday, father–ONLY on my birthday. And I can't help but feel like they're… they're meant for me. I need to see them, father, and not just from my window. In person. I have to know what they are." She begged.
"You want to go outside? Why, Cassandra. Look at you. You're fragile and weak. You wouldn't be able to handle yourself out there. I've seen it. The world is harsh and full of evil people." Dulaque tried to scare her.
"Evil people? Like who?" Cassandra asked, with a slight waver to her voice.
"Ruffians, thugs, cannibals, and so many more!" He shouted, making her jump. "Do be stupid. Stay here, with me. I know more than you ever will about the evils that lurk beyond your tower. I have given you the privilege to stay here, safe and sound. All I have is one request." He told her.
"Yes?" She asked.
"Don't ever ask to leave this tower again." He whispered to her.
"Yes, father." She conceded.
"I love you very much, dear." He changed his tone entirely.
"I love you more." She answered in the same way she always did when he told her he loved her.
"I love you most. Just don't ever forget, I know what's best for you." He sighed as he ran a hand through her hair.
"Yes, father." She watched as he took a hold of the rope. She began to lower him slowly, feeling depressed on the inside, knowing she would never see the lights in person.
"I'll see you in a bit, my flower." He called up to her from the bottom of the tower, waving as he walked away.
"I'll be here." She said quietly, to herself, while waving back at him.
Well, would you look at me! The storyteller that has only told about one side of the story. Let's return to our resident thief and see what trouble he has cooking up.
Ezekiel Jones ran through the woods with the twins, guards hot on their trail. They stopped a moment to catch their breath by a tree that held wanted posters with their faces on it. While the twins looked like photo realistic drawings of them, Ezekiel's was cartoonish with an oversized goofy nose where his would have been.
"Oh no. No no no no no no no no no no, this is bad, this is very, very bad, this is really bad… They just can't get my nose right!" He pointed out to the boys as he panicked.
"Who cares?" One of them asked.
"Well that's easy for you to say! You guys look amazing!" They heard the whinnies of several horses behind them and so the began running until the came to a dead end where the only way to the path was by climbing a tall rock, just a few feet above them.
"Uh, alright, okay, give me a boost, and I'll pull you up." He told them. The twins exchanged a glance before returning their gaze to him, scowling.
"Give us the satchel first." One commanded as he eyed the satchel that held the crown.
"I just–I can't believe that after all we've been through together, you don't trust me?" Their facial expressions remained the same, clearly not falling for his guilt trip. "Ouch." He deadpanned before handing them the lifted him to the stone above them before he looked down at them.
"Now help us up, pretty boy." One of them said gruffly.
"Sorry," Ezekiel smiled smugly. "But my hands are full." He held out the satchel that he had taken while climbing up on one of them, before turning around and taking off, leaving the twins alone to get caught.
"What?" The redheaded man felt around his body where the satchel was just moments before. "JONES!" He shouted in anger. Ezekiel, a few feet down the road laughed. That is until he noticed that the guards had caught up with him again.
"Retrieve that satchel at any cost!" The blonde woman, clearly the guard in charge shouted to the rest of them. They began firing crossbow and other things at the young thief until a moment came on the path where the horses could cross. The woman, Eve Baird, grabbed her second in command, Jake, and began to chase him down on foot. They chased him until he was cornered with only a cliff behind him.
"We've got him now, Stone!" Suddenly the branch that Stone was pushing out of his way snapped back and hit her in the face, knocking her out. Ezekiel didn't realize that Jake was there and began to celebrate until the man wrestled him to the ground, trying to grab the fought until the satchel was being held by a small branch the end of a small tree growing horizontally from the side of the cliff. They raced each other to it, but Ezekiel reached it first. CRACK! The tree broke free from the cliff causing them to tumble to the ground. Ezekiel rolled as he hit the ground hardly. Rubbing his sore shoulder that had popped on impact. He hid behind a large boulder as Jake ran by. Ezekiel decided that his spot was too obvious and moved behind a wall of vines that covered the opening to a large valley where he found, a large tower with a long rope hanging out the side of it. Convenient. He heard Jake searching behind him, so he began climbing the rope.
A/N: In the next chapter our two heroes will meet for the first time and an agreement will be made. I hope you guys enjoyed reading as much as I did writing. I love Tangled! My favorite is Brave but Tangled comes in at a close second. I know I said I wouldn't be doing a Pascal but I couldn't resist having Stumpy in this. I hope to update soon. Love you all more than frying pans (If you haven't seen the movie you'll understand soon.) ~ FGaT XOXOXOXOXOXO