The morning sun rose to envelop the Kingdom of Corona, breaking through the princess's high bedroom tower window. Rapunzel's closed and sleeping eyes detected the emerging glow on her face that awoke her, a gentle kiss from the sun. Blinking in the radiant light, she revealed her forest-green irises that reflected the golden rays. She yawned and stretched and turned to her side to find her charming prince still asleep beside her.

"Eugene, get up," she whispered softly, lightly shaking his arm, "The guests are arriving today. We need to get ready."

"Hmm, okay," he groaned, eyes still closed. He rolled over and yanked the blanket up higher across his chest. She heard the sound of soft snoring.

"Eugene," Rapunzel sighed, leaning above him and quickly kissing his cheek, "Do you need a kiss to wake you up, Sleeping Beauty?"

He opened one eye slightly, glancing up at his beautiful wife with the sun shining behind her like a halo. Smiling, he rose up to return a deeper kiss on her sweet lips. He dropped his head back into his pillow. "Nope, it didn't work, I'm still sleeping."

Rolling her eyes at Eugene's usual shenanigans, Rapunzel got out of bed. She walked to her closet to change from her nightgown and into something more presentable, picking up a pale gold and pink silk dress. It was nothing grand like the gown her parents had given her to wear at the ball tomorrow, but it was more official than her usual attire. After she slipped it over her head, she pulled it down and adjusted the corset. It was a little too tight this time.

Glancing over her shoulder to her sleeping husband, she formed an idea. "There's a way to wake you, alright," she muttered to herself.

She opened her closet again and searched the top shelf where a small and inconspicuous bed lay, occupied by a small and inconspicuous friend.

"Psst. Pascal." The princess poked the chameleon's side. "I need your help."

Pascal opened his wandering eyes, first pointed in different directions until they finally focused upon her. He nodded knowingly and stood up, lumbering over to Rapunzel's shoulder.

"ARGH!"

Eugene could spot Pascal from the corner of his eye, smiling at his discomfort. He desperately rubbed the slime out from inside his ear. "There are better ways to wake me up, you know. I thought that was behind us."

"It was the only way to get you up on time," Rapunzel said. "Get dressed and come down to the main hall to start welcoming the guests with me."

Eugene finally emerged from the bed and leisurely sauntered towards her. "Whatever you say, Sunshine."

He held her tight in an embrace and pulled her up to his chest, kissing her again. At this rate they were going to be late, but they could always make time.

"Introducing Princess Merida of DunBroch!" announced the Corona guard that stood by the grand entrance. Rapunzel and Eugene confusedly witnessed a walking bird's nest of orange hair bouncing through the door with swinging arms.

"Aye, that's not how you say it!" the girl shouted, defiantly poking the guard in the chest. "What you need to do is say 'DunBroch' like there's something stuck in your gob."

The guard stood transfixed at the angry mop of hair. "I will make note of it, Your Highness."

Rapunzel approached the girl and dipped into a bow. "Welcome to Corona, Princess Merida. I am Princess Rapunzel, and this is Prince Eugene Fitzherbert -"

Merida interrupted with barely stifled snorting.

"... and we hope you like it here." Rapunzel finished.

"Are you the lost magic-hair princess?" Merida asked abruptly, leaning towards her.

"Well, yes, that's me." Rapunzel nodded, slightly stepping back. "Not so lost or magical anymore, though."

"Why'd you cut it?"

"Um, well that's a long story, perhaps I'll tell you after I'm done greeting the guests," she offered. Her stomach started to churn uncomfortably. She wasn't really in the mood to go into back story.

"Alright then, can you point out where the food is?"

Rapunzel pointed down a hallway to the right. Merida stomped off in the direction before she suddenly stopped to remember something.

"Oh yeah, thank you, Your Highness." Merida tried to do her best curtsy for the royal couple before instinctively following the scent of food again.

"She's a charmer," Eugene whispered to his wife. She responded by sending a soft elbow into his side.

"Eugene, shh, more guests are coming." But she couldn't help a smile.

The guard's voice rang out again. "Introducing Princess Anna of Arendelle, accompanied by Arendelle's Royal Ice Master and Deliverer, Kristoff Bjorgman."

The couple entered the hall hand in arm. As they walked past the guard, Kristoff quickly tapped his shoulder. "Hey, you didn't say 'Bjorgman' right. You have to say it more like something's caught in your throat."

"Indeed. I will keep a note of that, sir." The guard was very visibly annoyed.

"Ah, finally, familiar faces." Rapunzel bowed once more. "Cousin Anna," she started, taking her cousin's hands in hers, "I want to learn all about how you and your sister are doing!"

Rapunzel no sooner said this when she noticed dark bags hanging under Anna's eyes, her skin a ghastly pale. The young princess looked awful.

"You look… like you need some rest," she said, trying to avoid offense. Kristoff put a hand on Anna's shoulder.

"She had a few rough nights during the trip," he told her.

"I don't like ships," Anna admitted, "but I'll be fine now that I'm back on land."

"Hey, where's your ice-happy sister?" Eugene interrupted. "Is she coming? Should I wear something warmer?"

Anna gave him a faint smirk and shook her head. "No, she said she was too busy. But she hasn't frozen Arendelle since. You just came at a really bad time."

"Aw, that's too bad. I wanted her to come so we can get to know each other better. You know, now that we have the time," Rapunzel said.

Anna thought over her words. "You know, we're cousins, but we don't really know anything about each other. I still don't know the full story about your hair."

"There's another princess that's curious about that too. I think I'll just tell you both now, since I think you two are the last guests."

The two couples strolled together down the crowded right hallway, where they found Merida finishing off an apple pie.

"Wow, and I thought my hair could get messy…" Anna said in surprise.

"Princess Merida?" Rapunzel called out, "did you want to hear the story now?"

Merida put the last large bite of pie into her mouth before answering, "Mhm, I will be thar in a minoot!"

"You see, I was born with long golden hair…" Rapunzel started. She and Eugene took the two girls and the ice harvester outside to the mosaic at the center of town, depicting baby Rapunzel being cradled in her parents' arms. "That's because…"

Rapunzel was suddenly struck with pain and hunched over. Nausea grew like a worm in her abdomen, her insides grumbled in protest.

"Rapunzel, what's wrong?" Eugene asked, bending down to comfort her. Before he could do anything she hastily straightened up again, fighting the sickness.

"I'm not feeling very good right now Eugene, will you tell them the story? You are better at it anyways."

Eugene reluctantly accepted, concern growing on his face as he watched her run back up the castle steps. After she disappeared behind the doors he returned to his new audience, waiting patiently for the story to continue.

"Alright, listen up. This is the story of how I died…" he started, rolling up his sleeves.

Rapunzel raced through the crowds of guests. Visitors tried to make her stay and talk. Some forced glasses of wine into her hands, insisting she make a toast.

"No, no, I can't, I'm sorry!" she pleaded with them, pushing the glasses away.

In a panic she ran around a corner to spot her parents, chatting with high-power dignitaries. Backing away slowly, she attempted to progress in the other direction without any notice; she didn't want to start up a conversation now, as much as she loved them.

"Darling," her mother began, sighting her daughter just before she could escape behind the corner, much to Rapunzel's dismay. "Why don't you come over here and join us?"

Rapunzel didn't have the heart to decline her mother's wishes. She clutched her stomach and took a deep breath, stepping forward.

The King placed a loving hand around his daughter and introduced her to their acquaintance. "This is my beloved daughter Rapunzel. Rapunzel, please meet the Duke of Weaseltown."

The short and short-tempered old man pursed his lips and clenched his fists, before taking a deep breath and calmly correcting him. "It's Weselton. The Duke of Weselton."

"You seem familiar. Weren't you at Queen Elsa's coronation?" Rapunzel asked. She seemed to remember his aggressive behavior towards her cousin.

"I, well, yes..." he admitted, "and I apologize for my rash and premature accusations towards the Queen." He was grinding his teeth and glancing up at the King and Queen, now returning suspicious looks. "But now you see I am trying to renegotiate trade partnerships. With all due respect, I don't think this is any of your concern, Princess."

The King stepped in front of his daughter. "I invited my daughter to talk with us. You have no right to tell her where her place is. She is staying here."

He turned to face his daughter, but she was already gone.

Rapunzel ran down to lower floors, tripping hurriedly on the stairs that approached the dungeon and cellars. There would be less people here. Opening the first empty room door, she found an empty closet with a mop and bucket inside. She closed herself in, swiftly removed the mop and pulled the bucket up to her face.

After she had lost her breakfast, Rapunzel sighed and sat down on the cold floor, her short brown hair hanging in her face and dripping with sweat.

"I will tell him soon, I just need to find a good time," she whispered to herself. She trembled as she stood up, holding her belly.

"I promise."