Chapter 2
A New Beginning
Slowly she woke as the sounds of the city and the people moving within the castle, broke through the silence of her dreams. Silence, she thought drowsily, that was how she'd always woken at the tower, and to the silence and knowing she was alone. She rolled over on her side and looked at Pascal who was just waking as well, "Good morning" she whispered, "Are you hungry?" she asked him. Pascal's nod made her smile, "I bet they have more pancakes" she said thinking of the food she so loved.
There was a knock at her door, and then a maid entered as if on cue to bring her the breakfast she knew the Princess loved. The young woman was laying there looking content with her little chameleon friend next to her. Pascal and Rapunzel were like two peas in a pod, she mused, Maria curtsied, and "Princess….breakfast is served" she said offering it to her.
Rapunzel looked eagerly at the food, it had been a week since she'd arrived home and most of those days had just been one big celebration! Now though the party was over, and she knew that she now faced new aspects of her life here in her real home. With her real parents, she mused, it would be something to adjust to; parents that treated her kindly. For hers had done nothing but hug and kiss her since she'd arrived, or even held her as they wept for joy. But now it was time to settle into a normal routine, whatever that meant. She shrugged and smiled at Pascal who was inching towards the food.
"I see they brought you oranges" She said to her best friend as she watched him steal a slice from Maria. She smiled as the girl giggled at Pascal's antics, once they'd stopped weirding out over a lizard they'd gotten to love him. Why was anyone afraid of Pascal? It was one of the odd questions she didn't ask or care to know, he was friendly and kind, and not at all frightening.
Maria sighed as she began to move about Rapunzel's room and prepared to grab her dress for the day. "Princess Rapunzel….your parents wish to see you in a hour" she explained. "Do you want to wear the green dress or the blue?" she asked holding out two choices. The green dress was a mixture of darker and lighter greens with hints of gold along its sleeves and through the skirt, it was a full dress. The blue was a lighter blue with royal blue details along the sleeve cuffs; it was also a full dress and to Rapunzel seemed far more formal.
"I would prefer the green" she told her and wondered quietly why her parents wanted to see her. "Can't you just call me Rapunzel?" she asked Maria hopefully.
Maria chuckled, "Princess it is not proper, I am a mere servant" she pointed out gently, she had been asked more than once by Rapunzel to refer to her by her name. Somehow she didn't feel comfortable with the idea of such formality, after all once she learned how to be a proper princess, she would insist upon having her title used; Maria just figured it was best to keep the habit in place.
Rapunzel frowned a little, "I still don't understand why everyone insists on calling me Princess" she mused as she got dressed for the day and let Maria do her hair, which of course was much easier since it was so short. "I hate it, I have always been Rapunzel" she muttered, wishing that this stupid rule of Corona's people could be ignored.
As she helped Rapunzel into her dress, Maria decided to try one last time. "Because your parents are the king and queen of our kingdom, we do not call them by their real names. They are the King and Queen of Corona, and you as their daughter are our Princess" she explained. "Rapunzel is your real name but Princess is your title, and we are paying respect to you by saying your title" she explained.
Rapunzel shook her head as she finished dressing, and her crown was placed on her head, "I do not agree that is all" she muttered. "I suppose I should go see what my parents wish to speak about" she mused and stood up without another word on the subject of her title. "I will see you later" she said to Maria and smiled just a little before taking Pascal with her and leaving her room.