Chapter One

Eighteen year old Rapunzel read the letter she had just received. Tears filled her eyes as she read it. It was a message from Eugene. She let out a deep sigh and wiped her eyes with her right hand. She then rubbed her hand through her short brown pixie hair.

It had been a month since she and Eugene had seen other. The two had not parted on the best of terms. Two weeks after they had returned from the tower, Rapunzel found out that Eugene was seeing another woman behind her back. He apologized to her, but it was too late the damage had been done. Eugene left the kingdom soon afterward.

Once she was done reading Eugene's letter of apology, she set it down on her desk in her room. She then went to the royal library to read. She climbed up a ladder that lead to top shelf, and grabbed the book she had been reading the other day. The book was entitled The Proper Etiquette of a Princess and Other Responsibilities. After she took the book, she scaled down the ladder and headed back to her room to read.

Before she was able to go inside her chamber; however, her mother called for her. Rapunzel let out a soft groan. It was so hard being a princess! She had so many responsibilities! She had to learn how to rule a kingdom, how to dance properly, how to eat, and….it was so frustrating! She felt like she was going to let the entire kingdom down if she did not do everything the correct way. I am the princess of disaster, she thought as she walked toward the throne room.

One year later, Rapunzel looked around anxiously at the castle she and her parents had been invited to stay in. The castle was small compared to Rapunzel's new home, but it was beautiful! It was right on the beach which was something that she loved! The way the ocean felt on her skin felt so wonderful. It was a sensation that she would never ceased to amaze her. She felt like she could live in the ocean forever if she wanted to.

"Rapunzel?" Two female voices questioned behind her snapping her out of her thoughts.

The short brunette haired princess turned around. Her green eyes widened. A grin came across her face. "Elanor! Jessica!" She exclaimed. She gave the two princesses a hug. "How have the two of you been?" She questioned once she pulled away. Elanor and Jessica were two princesses that Rapunzel had met a few months after she came into the kingdom. The two princesses were really kind and had given her great advice on how to be a princess.

"We are doing well," Jessica replied. "What are you doing here?"

"Dad, Mom, and I got invited to the Valentine's Day Ball. Is that why you are here?" She asked.

"Oh, no. We are just passing through," Elanor told her.

"That's too bad," Rapunzel said sadly. "It would have been nice to have some familiar faces around.'

Jessica looked up deep in thought. "Do you have a date for the ball?"

Rapunzel shook her head. She did not.

Elanor gave Jessica a questioning look then smiled. "I have a friend who is here for the ball. A friend of his was in need of a date for the ball. His friend doesn't want it to be a date or anything. He just would like have someone to go with as a friend," Elanor explained quickly knowing about Rapunzel's past relationship.

"Would you like to go with him? He is really nice," Jessica interjected.

"Um…." Rapunzel began. She was about to say no, but the look that her friends were giving her were hard to resist. Besides, she thought, we are going as friends. Nothing romantic is going to come out of this, and I won't look an idiot going to a Valentine's Day Ball with an escort. "Okay."

"Great!" Jessica exclaimed happily. "We are going to go find him."

Before Rapunzel could get a chance to say anything else, the two princesses ran off. She sighed. Once again she was left alone. Why do I get the feeling that I set up? She thought to herself.

Valentine's Day came and Rapunzel had not been asked to ball yet. The ball, thank goodness, was being held the day after because people were still arriving to the kingdom. She sighed. The man probably decided he did not want to go with me, she thought as put her flute in its case.

A hand gently touched her shoulders causing her to turn around. Her eyes came face to face with a white shirt obviously worn by a man. She looked up and saw the brownest eyes that she had ever seen.

"Hi, I'm Prince Eric," he said as he extended his hand.

"I'm Rapunzel," she replied as she shook his hand.

He smiled and took a step back, letting go of her hand. "Uh…a friend of mine said that you wanted to go the ball with me. Do you still want to go?" He asked shyly.

"Yes, I do," she replied.

Eric grinned. "I am sorry that it took so long to ask you. I have been busy with preparations, and I was just told last night about you," He said sincerely.

"It is okay, " Rapunzel told him understandingly.

"Well, I feel bad beca-"

"Eric," an elderly man with gray hair and a purple colored tie yelled. "Chef Louie wishes to go over the menu with you…again."

"That's Grimsby," the black haired prince said with a sigh. "I am sorry for rushing off, but I have to get this done. I will see you tomorrow. "

"It is okay. I will see you tomorrow."

"Until then, madame," he said. He got on his knee, kissed her hand, then left.

Rapunzel watched him leave. A smile crept on her face. Maybe she would have fun at the Valentine's Day Ball after all.

Hello, again. I hope everyone will enjoy this new chapter. Now I know in the movie Eric has blue eyes, but for the sake of this story I am going to make them brown. If anyone has any ideas that they like to see in this story, suggest them in a review. I may use them. They are also good in defeating writer's block. Oh, if anyone would like to make a video on youtube about this story go ahead. If someone does make a video, please let me know. I would love to see it. By the way, this chapter is dedicated to The Sage Journal, my first reviewer on this story. Please review though. I would love to hear what you readers think.