Everyone believed the King and Queen were good people.

That couldn't be farther from the truth.

They tried to make it seem as though there was only one flower that had been blessed with the healing properties of the sun. In actuality, he'd seen dozens of the same flowers on his adventures and yes… he'd often used them to keep himself young and fit, which was always a useful thing when adventuring was involved.

And then he heard the rumours about the Queen… how she was so sick and that she needed the last Sun flower in the kingdom in order to survive and for her child to survive as well.

All rubbish of course.

What they wanted was their own little girl to possess healing powers that could keep them in power for years to come.

But, everyone in this kingdom was a sucker and the last flower in the kingdom was stolen, crushed and made into an elixir for the pregnant Queen. The baby was born with gorgeous, golden blonde hair (very far from the brown locks of her parents), and that's when Flynnigan Rider knew that something had to be done.

Donning the cloak of his youth for the first time since his wife had been slaughtered and his son taken away kicking and screaming, he'd climbed up the side of the castle, using uneven stones and vines until he got to the baby princess's room.

The plan was simple.

As the power was likely connected to her hair, judging by the golden sheen in her hair, the plan was to simply cut the hair and prevent the healing powers from being used.

But as soon as he made the first snip, golden hair turning brown, it was almost like there was an alarm attached to the hair as loud footsteps started to echo throughout the corridors.

Thinking quickly, he grabbed the baby, wrapping her up warmly and escaping out of the window just as the King and Queen burst into the room.

Yes, the Kingdom mourned… but Flynnigan knew that he'd done the right thing, bringing the princess back to his tower to live with him.

No, he didn't cut her hair… but keeping himself young and healthy was the only thing keeping her safe and free.

"Daddy, why can't I go outside?"

"… It's dangerous little one. Trust me, it's much safer in here."

He knew that she used to sneak out of bed when it was her birthday, watching the floating lanterns rise into the sky, but they made her happy, and that was all he wanted for her.

He just wanted her to be happy.

…

18 years passed with no incident, but Flynnigan knew that would never last.

Teenage girls were never happy cooped up somewhere, and if it weren't for the looming threat of the King and Queen hanging over them, then Flynnigan would have happily taken her out on some adventures.

A few 'rob the rich to feed the poor' raids, rescuing a few kids from unfortunate circumstances, things like that.

But not until he knew that they could be safe.

As she got older and older, he gave her more time alone, allowing her to go through all the activities that made her happy. Painting the wall, cooking, reading (he really needed to get her some more books), everything that made her, her.

On the day before her birthday, he made his way back to the tower, and started to climb up the winding vines that surrounded the tall building. As he did, he could still remember the conversation he'd had with Rapunzel a few months ago.

"Those vines are rotting away, why can't you just use my hair? I could lower it down for you and I'm sure I could lift you and- "

He'd cut her off with reassurances that he was fine, and that he didn't need any help just yet in climbing up the tower.

There would come a day when he would be too old, but hopefully, that day was after Rapunzel could live in freedom, without the threat of her powers being used against her will.

Today, he had to admit that it did take him a little longer to climb up to the window, something that Rapunzel was very quick to pick up on.

"Are you sure you don't want to use my hair?" She helped him in the rest of the way, "I don't mind, honestly and- "

"- my answer is still the same Rapunzel." He sighed, forcing a smile onto his face, "Is that a new dress?"

She beamed at him noticing, before nervously clearing her throat, "So… tomorrow is a pretty important day."

"Oh?" He knew what she was talking about of course, but a little teasing never hurt, "Is it?"

"It's my birthday!"

He smirked, "It can't be… I distinctly remember your birthday being last year."

"Dad!" Rapunzel groaned and rolled her eyes, "Can you just stop? I need to ask you something important. What I really, really want this year… in fact- " She mumbled the last bit under her breath, prompting Flynnigan to lean in closer.

"Darling, we've talked about the mumbling remember? My hearing isn't what it used to be."

Silence.

Knowing that she would tell him in due course, Flynnigan headed over to the wicker basket full of vegetables and fruit… and a lovely skinned rabbit, hoping to get most of them prepared for tea tonight.

"I want to see the floating lights!"

Almost instantly, Flynnigan felt his entire body freeze, "What?" He turned around to see Rapunzel clambering over to a covered area of the wall, pulling the curtains away to reveal a gorgeous, detailed painting of Rapunzel staring up at the lanterns that the King and Queen released every year.

He knew he should have told her, that her birthday was on a different day. That would have prevented all this.

"I was hoping you could take me to see them?"

Thinking quickly (although perhaps not smartly), Flynnigan shrugged, "Oh, you mean the stars, right?"

"That's the thing!" She used her hair to open up a high window, the early morning sun illuminating the paintings of the stars and constellations, "I've charted stars and they are always constant! But these, these are everything year on my birthday! Only on my birthday, and I can't help but feel like they're meant for me!"

Part of him was proud at how smart she was to chart all the stars… the other part of him was cursing about how stupid he was.

He should have changed her birthday.

"I need to see them Dad! And not just from my window, in person! I need to know what they are!"

"So, you want to go outside…" Flynnigan knew that he had to put her off the idea, "… You're… a little fragile to be out there, honey, just a child! This tower keeps you safe from harm."

"I'm not a child!"

"I know…" He sighed wearily, "… I know, and I'm sorry." He walked over to the large window and peered outside, "I knew this day would come… I knew that soon you'd want to leave, make a name for yourself, and you will, I promise- "

"- but- "

"- Soon… I promise. But you need to trust me." He forced himself to smile, "I know best."

"But, what's so bad about out there?!"

Flynnigan rolled his eyes, "Where do I even start? Ruffians, thugs, poison ivy, quicksand, cannibals, snakes… the plague!"

"Really?"

"Yes!"

No… but Flynnigan was never going to admit that.

"There's also large bugs… men with pointed teeth!" He stopped when he saw just how terrified Rapunzel was, he took a deep breath, "Please…. Don't push me on this."

"… Okay."

"I do love you, you know."

"I love you more."

"I love you most."