Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters mentioned here.

This story was made only with entertaining purposes and is not intended to be taken seriously in any social, political or religious context under any circumstances.

"Destiny" and its characters belong to "Bungie".

"Tangled" and its characters belong to "Disney".

Believe

Chapter II:

The Union of the Dreamers.

"Guardian? Guardian? Wake up, Guardian…"

"Huh?" Rapunzel heard the call in her dreams, her eyes fluttered open and shut as she woke up. Everything was too bright, her surroundings were trembling unexplainably while her ears only perceived distorted echoes.

Once her senses cleared, she found herself sitting in the small cabin of the strange, flying ship with the 'Ghost' hovering before her nose.

"We're close to the Tower," the construct said. "I already notified the Vanguard and the Speaker of our arrival. We'll be there in no time."

"So… It wasn't a dream…" Rapunzel commented, releasing a long, silent yawn. "Where are we going?"

"See it for yourself." Ghost replied, parting from her side.

Rapunzel complied and leaned closer to the window above the dashboard. Numerous pillars of sunlight suddenly blazed through the shapeshifting clouds painting the crystals of the ship, making her place her hands ahead her eyes, for protection against those incandescent beams.

Bun soon, her sight adjusted to the current illumination, and then, the girl let out an inaudible gasp in awe, her jaw hanging a bit open at the surreal imagery displaying on the front window.

There was a colossal, pristine sphere hovering low upon a large city with a thousand buildings, surrounded by a swarm of quiescent lights, blanketed in an ethereal mist under the morning sun.

"What. Is. That?" Rapunzel stammered dumbfounded, frowning while tilting her head to the side.

"That is 'the Traveler', Rapunzel..." the construct answered. "Prepare yourself, I'm transmatting us out of the ship."

"Wait, wha-" before she could finish her sentence or even react, a sparkling, cerulean dust-storm appeared from thin air, swirling around the girl, engulfing her and dissolving her whole body into nothingness in just a split-second.

"-WHAAAOOOW! Ow…" shortly after, a wave of bluish light-particles materialized spontaneously in mid-air outside the ship, assuming Rapunzel's physical form, which was abruptly dragged down to firm ground by gravity. She landed on her backside with a loud 'thud'.

"You were not prepared." Ghost said nonchalantly, manifesting beside the girl.

"Yeah, next time, a bit more of anticipation would be appreciated..." Rapunzel mumbled, rubbing her forehead while she clamped her eyelids tightly shut. "Where are we now?"

"Welcome to the last safe city on Earth." the construct replied.

"The 'last'?" Rapunzel inquired again, placing her palms upon the vast expanse of ivory tiles beneath her, pushing herself off the floor.

"The only place that the Traveler can still protect. It took centuries to build. Now, we count every day it stands. And this is the 'Tower', where all guardians live."

Then, the Ghost left Rapunzel's side, floating forward. She remained behind, standing still, following her tiny companion with her gaze. And in that moment, she gawked, her eyes growing wide as she encountered a second breath-taking sight.

Several buildings rose tall on all directions around her, large and small, ornate by planters, as well as trees. Two skyscraping iron poles stood atop a low staircase before her, with elongated crimson banners hanging above them, waving slowly, almost hypnotically due to the gentle breeze flowing through the foreign square.

Rapunzel lingered motionless in her stance, silently contemplating the dreamlike scenario ahead her. Towering suits of bulky armor wandered back and forth across the terrain.

It was loud, overcrowded, ultimately alien for her.

And yet, there was something about this 'Tower', something she couldn't quite figure out, that evoked a certain familiarity.

A homely aura, soothing, even welcoming, which somehow managed to elicit a little smile from her.

"Step aside!"

"Huh?" Rapunzel's train of thought was interrupted by a bizarre creature stepping uncomfortably close to her personal space. A strange automaton with an iron, humanoid husk for a body, holding a broomstick between its abnormally thin arms.

"Oh, sorry sirr… Lady, uh…?" she babbled rapidly. A deep, crimson blush spread over her face as she extended her hands forth in plea.

The odd character shook its narrow, elongated head with seeming disdain and simply continued walking, sweeping the dust on the floor, emitting low chirps as it did.

"Don't mind them," Ghost said, approaching to Rapunzel from behind. "Apparently, the protocols used for the programming of frames seem to be lacking in the 'manners' department."

"'Programed'? What say you?" the girl asked, twisting her eyebrows while she turned to her small companion. "I believed that-"

"There you are!" once again, Rapunzel was suddenly cut off. On this ocassion by a cloaked, masked figure walking towards her, wearing brown leather armor, with deep-glowing blue eyes and a short horn protruding from the top of his head. His mouth irradiated a radiant, orange glow as he spoke.

"The Guardian and Ghost I was looking for!" the newcomer chanted gleefully, standing beside Rapunzel, gently patting her shoulder. "Kudos to you for making it out of the cosmodrome in one piece. The name's 'Cayde' by the way, and since you're a hunter, that means, from now on, I get to tell you what to do."

"Um, we're still not sure what kind of guardian Rapunzel is, Cayde." Ghost said.

"Hmm…" the individual who called himself 'Cayde' took a step back, remaining silent, looking at Rapunzel from top to bottom while he brushed his chin with his index and thumb.

"Yup, you're a hunter, a 'huntress'!" he spoke after a brief silence. "Trust me, I have a knack for these things. Besides, it would be a shame if you weren't one, 'cause I'd have to throw away all of this."

After he was done talking, Cayde moved a hand behind his back, pulling out a folded piece of gray cloth, which was torn and stained.

"W-what? Is it for me?" Rapunzel asked, staring down hesitatingly to the item between the newcomer's palms while pointing at herself for emphasis.

"Of course, kiddo!" Cayde exclaimed in reply. "It's… better than it looks. Careful with the edges, though."

Then, the girl cautiously took the offering in her trembling hands as she slowly tried to unfurl the worn fabric without ripping it, eventually revealing a long, sharp knife with a black leather grip hidden underneath the cloth.

"'My first knife and cloak'. Somebody should take a picture," Cayde said, wrapping one arm around Rapunzel's neck. "To be frank, I didn't expect your Ghost to find anything out there, or even return for that matter. Your presence here means I already lost a thousand glimmer on a bet. But hey, no hard feelings! Glad you two made it here!"

"I-I appreciate this a lot, sir. Thanks." Rapunzel replied, clutching the dagger against her chest.

"Don't mention it, kid. Just keep it sharp and polished. Now, I'll be on my way before Zavala finds I'm not around. In the meantime, I want you to find 'Lord Shaxx', I already told him you'd be coming. He'll set you up for the real deal, since the next season of the Crucible begins tomorrow morning."

"'The… crucible'?" Rapunzel inquired.

"Yeah!" Cayde replied, slowly parting from her side. "Guardians murdering other guardians for the world to see. A good opportunity for a quick buck if you bet on the right horses. But don't let that deter you, it's completely safe! Despite the real ammunition… Anyway, I gotta' go. Welcome to hell, kid! Talk to you later!"

With that, Cayde gave a last pat on Rapunzel's shoulder before his body was swiftly enveloped in a shining dust-storm that emerged from thin air, which then dissolved spontaneously into nothingness, leaving the hunter vanguard nowhere to be seen.

"What a… curious individual…" Rapunzel mumbled, her sight lost on the crowd of guardians roaming around the Tower.

"That's 'Cayde-6' for you," Ghost spoke. "He has a certain… sense of humor. But, if he's right about you, we'll be reporting to him at the Vanguard soon enough."

"'Vanguard'?" Rapunzel questioned again, turning to the construct hovering beside her.

"The Tower is run by a group called 'The Vanguard'," Ghost answered. "Cayde-6 is the mentor for all new hunters."

"What happened to him? Why is he wearing that mask?"

"Mask?"

"Yes, you know, the blue one with all those flashy lights on his eyes and mouth, moving as if it had a life of its own."

"You mean his face?"

"No! How could you not see it!? It had a horn like that of a unicorn's!"

"There is no flesh or blood coursing through the body of an Exo, Rapunzel. They are quite literally 'living steel and wires'."

"'Ex… xos'? I-I don't understand, you mean that they are like… not human?"

"They were created a long time ago to fight in some forgotten conflict. But their origins remain a mystery, even to themselves. Many inhabitants of the city are Exos, actually. Some live and work just like humans do, and there are others who serve as guardians, so don't be surprised if we come across one of them during our missions."

"I-I uh… I believe I need to sit down…" Rapunzel mumbled, raising her hands to massage her temples.

"There's a whole database we can read together later on," Ghost said. "But right now, we must head for the Crucible, Lord Shaxx must be waiting for us."

"W-wait!" the girl blurted out as the construct unexpectedly left her side, floating across a second staircase leading to the lower level of the Tower.

She hurriedly chased after her little companion, arriving at a tiny outpost that resembled a living room with two velvety red couches over a large, orange rug and a small table which had several books and papers resting upon its surface.

The place was also inhabited by a small group of tall guardians wearing thick, bulky armors, bantering among each other with their backs turned on her.

Atop the counter beside it, Rapunzel spotted what she could only describe like a dragon skull, something that froze her blood in sheer trepidation. Yet, she found a pair more of those frightening craniums hanging from the background wall, next to many strange artifacts she had never seen, as well as a huge iron plate that she believed was a tower shield.

"Ghost… Is that where we're supposed to be heading?" Rapunzel whispered, standing still at the foot of the stairs, staring silently into the unsettling room and its intimidating residents.

"That is exactly where we're supposed to be heading," Ghost replied nonchalantly. "But don't worry! It's not like those Titans are going to beat you up… At least not if you don't say something that bothers them."

A cold shiver ran down her spine. She gulped, and wrapped one of her palms around her throat. Shortly after, she turned to her little companion hovering above her shoulder, which only let out a small chirp in acknowledgement.

It was the answer she expected, but not the one she wanted.

Rapunzel sighed deeply, dropping her shoulders in defeat. She closed her eyes and straightened her back as she gathered some bravery to start dragging her feet sluggishly towards the hulking, armored masses before her.

"Um… P-pardon, e-excuse me, gentle… titans?" she stammered nervously, standing behind one of those towering guardians, timidly tapping on his shoulder with her index finger. The titans slowly spun on their heel to face her.

"I uh… H-hello!" she resumed hastily, swinging her left arm over her bosom, rubbing her bicep with the opposite hand while she spoke. "I-I was wondering if any of you could tell me where I can find the one they call Lord… 'Sh-Shaics'?"

The guardians remained silent for a moment, looking at each before taking a step back.

Then, the tallest titan among them emerged. He sported a visorless helmet with a wavy, pointy horn protruding from it, wearing a thick, full-body plated armor painted white on the right side, orange on the left and a thin, black stripe in between those colors. Several utility belts hung loosely around his waist as vast motes of brown hair covered his shoulder plates, also surrounding his neck.

"Welcome to the Crucible," the colossal guardian said diligently. "I am Lord Shaxx. How may I be of assistance to you, young lady?"

"I-I uh… G-greetings!" Rapunzel babbled timidly, tapping her forefingers' tips together in front of her, gazing upwards at the titan standing ahead her. "My name is Ra-Rapunzel and s-sir 'Cayde' sent me here and-"

"Ah, you must be the new Guardian..." Lord Shaxx replied. "Perfect timing, a new season of the Crucible begins tomorrow. There is no better place for a novice to learn the tricks of the trade. And with this in your power, there'll be few trials you may not conquer on your own."

When his speech concluded, the titan moved a hand behind his back, delivering to Rapunzel a strange-looking device shaped as an 'L'. The curious gadget had a cylindric block encrusted in its cerulean, steel frame, as well as an elongated, hollow barrel projecting outwards, and a small handle protruding from its bottom.

"What is this?" Rapunzel asked, staring curiously at the odd device on Lord Shaxx's palm.

"The 'Renegade Mk. Fifty-five'!" he answered eagerly, encouraging the girl to take the gadget with a gentle shake. "Sturdy and reliable, perfect for a rookie such as yourself."

"I-I will do my best to live up to these gifts, sir 'Shaxx'." Rapunzel said, chewing on her bottom lip while she lowly extended her hand forth, reaching for the device. She carefully wrapped her fingers around its grip as if trying not to break it, then she saved it in one compartment of her utility belt.

"The Vanguard and the Crucible will provide you with everything you might need for your crusade against the Darkness," Lord Shaxx replied. "Honor thy offerings with your prowess in the battle. Prove yourself worthy of them, tomorrow, 'Eastern Flood Zone', 'The Rusted Lands'. We'll play 'Rumble'. Six contenders, you against all. Challenge your fellow guardians in a fight for survival. I'll send the details and coordinates to your Ghost."

"We'll be there, right, Rapunzel?" Ghost responded earnestly, turning to Rapunzel, who remained silent. Instead, she nodded fervently many times as she stared with wide eyes at the titan before her.

"I've high expectations vested upon thee, guardian. I hope they're not misplaced." following that, Lord Shaxx parted from the girl's side, heading towards the staircase, leaving the scene.

"That went well, if I say so myself," the construct spoke. "But before we go anywhere, we'll need an update on our ship. Hopefully the shipwright will have good news for us."

Again, Rapunzel did not reply, she only let out a heavy sigh.

"What is it?" Ghost asked.

"I… Do you mind if I catch up with you later? I need to be alone for a moment." Rapunzel answered feebly, looking at her little companion hovering above her shoulder.

"I uh… Sure! No problem. I'll go check on our ship, and come back to you when I'm done, if that's okay with you."

The girl gave a small, silent nod as response, stretching her lips into a thin line.

"Good. I'll se you later then, I won't be gone for long."

With that, the construct vanished in a flash of cerulean light.

Rapunzel sighed deeply once more, her sight lost on the crowd of motley armor suits and slender automatons walking around the Crucible outpost.

Then she gazed down at the dagger wrapped in cloth given to her earlier while she stood alone and quiet on that room. A thousand questions still plaguing her thoughts.

'What am I even doing here?'

Two pristine doors slid open before her, and Rapunzel cautiously stepped out of the elevator with Ghost following her closely.

"Home, sweet home. It has… a charm to it." the construct spoke as they entered the room.

Everything inside had a sleek, whitish aesthetic, dimly lit by the sapphire shine of the moon. There was an empty bookcase on the right side, next to a door which destination remained a mystery for the moment. In the opposite end, a small nightstand found shelter along the desk and a table lamp resting atop it.

At the background wall laid a single bed enveloped on ivory sheets, below a rectangular window that showcased the city submerged under a vibrant swarm of lights, with the slumbering Traveler watching from above.

"At least the sight is wonderful," Ghost said, feigning enthusiasm. "You should rest, it's been a long day and tomorrow won't be any different."

Rapunzel gave another deep sigh while she approached to the bed and climbed upon the mattress, sitting, hugging her legs against her chest.

"Um… Ghost, there is something I need to ask you. May I?" she inquired softly, turning to face the construct.

"Sure, what's on your mind?" Ghost responded casually.

"Why did you choose me for this… whatever it is we're doing?"

Following the question, the construct floated closer to Rapunzel, casting upon the bedsheets a bluish light-beam from its eye.

Then, over the mattress materialized the translucent model of a small island, which had a tall, medieval castle crowning its summit as numerous buildings, ancient houses and cabins tightly gathered around it.

The girl folded her legs underneath her thighs, kneeling on the bed with her hands resting on her lap, so she could appreciate better the ethereal imagery before her.

"During my explorations, I came across an old archive," Ghost began, the holographic stage play changing while the narration continued. "From a time before the Collapse and even the Golden age. In this database, I found the excerpt of a legend speaking about a great kingdom named 'Corona', said to be a paradise on Earth, ruled by wise and benevolent monarchs. But on one fateful night, its queen was stricken by illness during pregnancy, and no home remedy or healing spell was able to cure her disease."

"What happened to her?" Rapunzel interrupted.

"After exhausting every countermeasure, the townsfolk rallied in search for a fabled magic that could save the royal family. A golden flower, blossomed from a small tear of light dropped by the sun centuries ago, gifted with incredible powers. This flower was found and given to the queen, restoring her health at last. Soon after, a little girl named 'Rapunzel' was born. Somehow, she retained the magic essence of the flower in her flesh and soul. But then, she was stolen from her parents by an evil witch, and hid her in a tower secluded from the rest of the kingdom. The people of Corona banded together and searched for years, but they could not find the lost princess."

"Then what happened?" the girl questioned hastily, more demanding this time.

"I never managed to find the complete version of the legend," Ghost resumed, shutting off the light from its eye, and the holographic stage play dissipated into nothingness. "Some sources state that a common thief helped her return to her true family. Others say that she never saw the light of day and died imprisoned in that tower. But, if I'm being honest, that's not what got me interested in the legend."

Rapunzel turned to her little companion, tilting her head like a confused kitten.

"I had this crazy theory. What if the sun mentioned in the legend wasn't actually the sun, but instead the Traveler arriving to Earth during a time long before the Golden age? And what if the tear was actually a mote of the Traveler's light!? So I figured, if I could find this 'Rapunzel', she would make for an exceptional guardian with a deep connection to the Traveler and the Light, one to rival even the Speaker's!"

The girl frowned at Ghost, her jaw hanging lightly open, moving as if to speak, but no words came out.

"Of course, no one believed me," the construct continued, its voice tone suddenly growing melancholic. "Sometimes, I even found myself very close to giving up. As centuries went by, as I saw other Ghosts find their guardians while I was chasing a 'children's bedtime tale', like they said, I... I began to wonder if I would ever find you. But in the end, it paid off. I was right, so far I've been, despite you not being able to remember anything from what I told you. But that's not important. I found you, and that's what matters most."

"No… It can't be…" Rapunzel whispered, covering her mouth with her hands. Her eyes wide as plates, becoming crystalline. "Am I a mere 'fairy tale'? Am I even real? What am I?"

"I… I hate to break it to you," Ghost spoke timidly, earning her attention. "But all of this is very real. The Traveler, the city. They're re all counting on us to fend off the Darkness and bring back the Light to our lost worlds, and there are real consequences. If we fail, your past, all that you have seen, everything humanity has ever known, will be gone… So, you know, no pressure!"

The statement elicited a death-stare from the girl.

"And about who you are," Ghost resumed hastily, attempting to ease the tension in the atmosphere between them. "I'd say, an extraordinary individual, whose life and feats were archived in history for the next generations as an example to follow."

Rapunzel tried to remain serious, but shortly later, a small giggle escaped her lips, and her somber expression softened into a feeble smile.

"Thank you, Rapunzel." the construct spoke suddenly.

"For what?" she whispered, maintaining her smirk.

"For being real, and joining me in this journey…"

Following that sentence, Ghost faded from the room in a flash of light, leaving the girl alone with her thoughts.

Rapunzel's sight remained fixed over the place where the construct used to be.

After a few seconds of silent thinking, she let out a pleased sigh before tucking herself under the bedsheets, folding her hands atop her abdomen.

'An extraordinary individual, whose life and feats were archived in history for the next generations as an example to follow.'

Ghost's words still echoed loud and clear in her head, but fortunately, she got some answers. It was a nice change of pace that would help her disoriented mind to rest placidly, at least for the moment.

The other, thousand questions could wait a bit longer.

As of now, the revelation had left her drowsy. The mental fatigue was comparable to the weariness plaguing her body, both being almost unbearable.

Rapunzel stared back at the roof, yawning silently and closing her eyes, allowing Morpheus' embrace to take her away.

Tomorrow in the Crucible, the first verse of her legend would be sung…