WOOHOO! Double digits! Let me tell you guys, after last chapters depressing tone, this one was hard to write, but I think it came out well. Enjoy!

Chapter 10: A Mother's Warning

Rapunzel opened her eyes to the sound of rustling leaves. Her eyes were focused the stars in the dark sky with the millions of stars in the sky. She still couldn't believe at what she had done. She entirely disobeyed her mother's rule of eighteen years. She was outside, she was following her dream of seeing the floating lights, and she even made a few friends along the way!

Speaking of which, she turned her attention to her two companions. Flynn was still snoring away, without a care in the world. But...something was missing or... someone!

"MAX!" She yelled as she sat up.

"HUH-WHA? ARE WE UNDER ATTACK?!" Flynn shot to the sky screaming in horror. He looked around to see Rapunzel's distressed face. "What's wrong?"

"I can't see Max anywhere!"

Flynn turned around to a tree, where the winged girl used to be, only to see an empty tree. "Crap! Where did she go?" He asked as he got to his feet. "Stay here, in case she comes back."

"Got it!" Rapunzel nodded as Flynn started to run towards the woods. Rapunzel could only watch as he ran.

"Well!" A familiar voice screeched her ears, making Rapunzel's heart stop. "I thought he'd never leave!"

She turned around to see a face she is all too familiar with. "Mother!" She squeaked.

"Hello dear!" Gothel said with a smile one of the fakest smiles Rapunzel had ever seen.

Right now, Rapunzel wished that she was a chameleon and disappear. "How-how-how did you find me?" She asked as Gothel gave her a hug.

"Oh it was easy, really. I just listened for the sound of complete and utter betrayal and followed that."

Rapunzel knew she would say something like that. She knew she broke her mother's heart, but she can't stop now. Not after how far she had come.

"We're going home, now!" Gothel ordered as she started to pulled Rapunzel.

"Mother, you don't understand." Rapunzel began her counterattack. "I've been on this incredible journey, and I've seen and learned so much...I've even made some friends."

"Yes, a spiky haired boy, a girl with pink hair, a girl with wings on her back, and the wanted criminal. I'm so proud...let's go!" Gothel said as she began to pull Rapunzel again.

"Mother, wait!" Rapunzel yelled as she let go of her mother's grip. "I'm going to stay with them!" She expected to have a giant argument with her mother. She prayed that neither Flynn nor Max see her now.

But Gothel doesn't seem mad at all. "Fine then! It seems like Rapunzel knows best this time." She said as started to walk away. "But I'll have you know, once those 'friends' abandon you, Mother will always be there for you." She warned Rapunzel as she disappeared into the woods.

"Hey!" Flynn called from behind Rapunzel, making her jump. "I couldn't find her anywhere." He sighed with displeasure. He stared at Rapunzel's mortified face. "Hey, are you okay?"

"Huh?! Uh...yeah. I'm just worried about Max, that's all..." She lied through her teeths and finished off with a fake laugh.

Gothel stared with disgust at the sight of Rapunzel escaping her grasp with each passing minute. She stared under her. The little black creature was ready to attack. "No, not yet." She ordered as the little thing rested. She doesn't know what these things are, or why she could control them, all she knew was that they and those two idiots could be useful eventually...

I can't believe it... My wings... They disappeared! I tried to take them out and started flapping them, but nothing happened. I couldn't even feel them on my back anymore. It feels like they were never there to begin with. I was on the verge of freaking out, but I quickly regained my composure because I don't want Flynn and Rapunzel to worry. I dusted myself off and made my way back to the camp.

It felt so weird not having my wings. I've had them for as long as I can remember. Not having them anymore just feels like I'm missing something. A big chunk of my life vanished before my eyes. My back feels so...empty...

When I made it back to the others, they were already awake and let out a big smile on their faces.

"There you are!" Rapunzel sighed. "You had us worried there..."

"I just went for a walk." I briskly made a lie. "I'm sorry I scared you."

"Well, just be glad those little black monsters didn't get you." Flynn said as he cracked a big old smile.

"Don't worry! They can't kill me that easily! Don't forget who saved you!" I say that, but I'm not so sure anymore. My wings may be gone, but did it take something else from me? "Anyways, why don't start heading out to the castle town. I bet they have a comfy cell just waiting for you Flynn."

"Oh yeah... I forgot about that..." Flynn sighed.

"I've been meaning to ask, why are you taking Flynn to prison?" Rapunzel asked with a tilt of her head.

"This guy is a criminal. He stole a crown from the castle!" I answered.

"Where is the crown?" Flynn asked about his precious cargo.

"Kairi should have it She was the last one holding on to the bag when we were separated. Anyways, let's go! The guards are waiting!" I ordered as I started to pull Flynn by the ear.

"I don't think Flynn should be arrested!" Rapunzel yelled.

"You agree with me blondie!" Flynn squealed out with tears of joy.

"Why do you say that?" I couldn't help but ask Rapunzel.

"Well...uhh...you see..." She started to think of a way to answer. "He may have done a lot of bad things, but he's done more good things." She took a deep breath. "He protected us as we made our way across the gorge, he carried you through the cave, he stood guard as you unconscious..." She listed off all the positive things Flynn had done. It started to make me feel guilty. I looked at Flynn, whose eyes were wide. "And...and... don't you think, if he wanted to leave, he would have left a long time ago?"

"Uh...well..." I couldn't think of a counter argument. Crap, she made me feel guilty.

Even Flynn was impressed with her speech. His eyes were wide and getting teary-eyed. "Blondie..." I heard him whisper under his breath.

I stared back at Rapunzel and saw...THE EYES! The eyes a certain six years old girl always give me. I thought throughout the years, I would get better with dealings with this.

"Fine. I won't let the guards take Flynn away." I guess I still need work on that... Rapunzel and Flynn cheered for joy while I let out a sigh. How am I going to explain this to Kairi? "Let's go!" I started walking towards the castle.

"Thanks Blondie." I heard Flynn praise Rapunzel. "You really saved me there."

"What are friends for?" She stated with a giggle.

"Well it's certainly...bigger than what I'm used to." I said as I stared at the bridge that leads to the town. The building themselves looked like they were under the castle and surrounds it. The castle itself was gigantic, even from where we were standing.

Rapunzel stared at the castle town with amazement. Her smile connecting to each ear. "WOW!" She mouthed to Flynn and me as we made away across the bridge.

Along the way, we noticed another wanted poster. Just like the other ones, they got Flynn perfectly, except his nose. I couldn't help but chuckle as he ripped off the poster and throw it to the lake.

Once he got his composure back, he started to question something. "Well anyways, they won't light the lanterns until tonight. So what should we do before then?"

"I want to explore the town!" Rapunzel suggested.

"I want to look for Kairi and Sora ." I put in my own suggestion. "Flynn, why don't you take Rapunzel to explore, while I search for them."

"There's no need." He said as he pointed behind me.

I gasped as I saw Kairi and Sora running towards us. "MAX! RAPUNZEL! FLYNN!" Kairi yelled as she dashed towards us. Once she was close enough, she hugged me tight. "We were so worried about you!" She whimpered, trying not to cry.

"There, there. It's okay Kairi..." I comforted her as I wrapped my arms around her.

"We were worried sick when you started to fall into the ditch." Kairi began to sob.

"Then Rapunzel jumped into the water and we lost track of you three." Sora added as he made his way over to us. "Kairi wouldn't stop crying." He started to laugh in his light-hearted way.

"Shut up Sora!" Kairi yelled. "You were worried sick too!" She then looked back at me. "We decided to come here, knowing that you guys would come here as well."

Rapunzel bowed her head. "I'm sorry we worried you!" She apologized. "I'm sorry I jumped into the water without telling you two! I saw that they were hurt, so I thought I could help."

Kairi let go of me and stared at Rapunzel. After a quick look of Sora, then back, she let out one of her heart-warming smiles. "It's okay. You did what was right. We're not mad at you." She comforted her. "Even if you didn't jump in, I bet a certain spikey head would have."

"HEY! WHAT'S THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN!" Sora yelled at the Kairi's statement. But then we couldn't hold our laughter. "Oh, by the way Rapunzel, you should braid your hair again. There are a lot of people here and they will easily step on your hair by mistake."

"I'll help!" Kairi cheered, raising her hand up in the air. She quickly grabbed my hand. "Come on Max, you'll help too." She ordered as she dragged me.

"Wai-what?"

After about half an hour of fighting the monstrous hair, we finally finished braiding Rapunzel's hair. Even though it was braided, it just barely touched the floor. I may not be too into this braiding-stuff, by I got to say Kairi and me didn't do a bad job. When we reunited with the boys, Flynn couldn't keep his eyes off of her. Even Sora gave him a "I know you like what you see" look to him, only to get pushed away.

"So anyways," Flynn coughed out, to change the subject. "They should be lifting the lanterns up when the sun goes down."

"Why don't we just have fun around the town until then?" Sora suggested. "Considering that this is Rapunzel's first time here."

"I like that idea!" Rapunzel agreed.

"Same here!" Kairi joined in. The four of them looked at me. "What about you?"

Normally I would disagree with this idea. Being surrounded by thousands of people isn't really my cup of tea. Usually that would mean there would be a high chance of fighting Erasers or not showing anyone my wings. On the other hand... we're in a completely different world, so there wouldn't be any Erasers, and what happened this morning, I don't need to worry about my wings either...

"Why not!" I yelled. "A lot of crazy things have happened. Why not take a break for today?"

After everyone cheered "hurrah!", we all ran into the town. Let me tell you this, it's much more livelier than the woods. All over the place, you could see merchants selling goods, people running in every directions, castle guards patrolling, Flynn hiding from said guards. We got some bandannas that match the ones that were all over town. Rapunzel and Kairi joined some kids with their chalk drawing while Sora and I hid Flynn from some guards as we ate cupcakes and watched the two from afar. When we entered a library, Flynn and Rapunzel looked at the map of the world while the rest of us looked at some other books. There was so many things to do in so little time.

Before the sun went down, we decided to look around the center of town. Something there peaked my interest, and I guess Rapunzel as well. There was this big mural standing near the end. It was a mural of, what looks like, the king and queen holding their baby girl. The baby princess had blond hair, unlike her parents, and big green eyes. At first, it reminded me of a green-eyed Angel, but it soon started to resemble a certain blond girl in our group. Could it be a coincidence? It has to be! Right?

Once I turned around to stare back at Rapunzel, she was dancing to the music of the passing caravan. People started to gather to watch her dance. It seems like she noticed this because she started picking people one by one to dance with her, including Sora and Kairi. In a matter of seconds people were clapping and started dancing together. Once the party got going, Rapunzel signaled Flynn and me to join them. Me, I'm not the "party-till-you-drop" kind of person. But that didn't stop me from pushing Flynn into the festivities. As a random lady dragged him into the dance, I could see him scowl at me, only to get a laugh back. Throughout the dance, Rapunzel and Flynn tried to dance with each other, only to get separated at the last minute. The same could be said about Sora and Kairi.

It seems to look like fun, but my attention keeps going back to the mural. The baby looks just like Rapunzel, but that couldn't be! Rapunzel had stayed with her mother all her life. But the princess is still missing to this day. Could it be...?

As the song sounded like it was reaching its climax, I looked back at the dance. Everybody was spinning and jumping, it started to make me feel dizzy. Once the caravan played their last note, the four lovebirds finally reached their targets. Only to have some guy yell "To the boats!" which ended the dance. They all separated with red cheeks as I made my way to them.

"Let's go!" I yelled.

"Here we go!" Flynn grunted as he pushed his boat into the water.

"You better not get any funny ideas!" I yelled. "Once this is all over, you better bring her back!"

"Don't worry! Don't worry!" He said. "Let's go Rapunzel!" He jumped into the boat as Rapunzel nodded. As they sailed off, Sora, Kairi, and I waved at them.

I looked at the corner of my eye to see Sora holding a bag. "Sora, what's in the bag?"

Sora gave off his award-nominee grin. "Flynn and I came up with this great idea." He answered.

"What do you mean 'great idea'?" Kairi asked with an eyebrows raised.

"Just follow me and watch." He said as he started making his way to where most of the citizens were.

"Where are we going?" Rapunzel asked as she turned around

"Well, best day of your life, I think you should have a decent seat." Flynn answered as he rowed the boat to the center of the lake.

"Sora, what are you planning?" Kairi asked once we found a spot where we can see the water. We can even see Flynn and Rapunzel.

Sora lifted his bag and took out three hot air balloon looking things. "Today is a special day for Rapunzel." He said. "We should help with it." He let out a grin, which was apparently contagious because Kairi and I couldn't help but smile.

Flynn stopped rowing as soon as they were perfectly in the middle of the lake. They were surrounded by other boats. Rapunzel let out a sigh. "You okay?" He asked.

"I'm terrified..." Rapunzel answered.

"Why?"

"I've been looking out a window for eighteen years, dreaming on what it must feel like when those lights rise to the sky. What if it's not what I dreamed it would be."

Flynn couldn't help, but stare at her. "It will be." He answered.

"And what if it is? What do I do then?"

"Well that's the best part. You get to go find a new dream." Rapunzel and Flynn shared a heartwarming smile with each other. Flynn looked back at the town. "Look over there."

From the top of the castle, I can see a lantern starting to float towards the sky. That was the signal for the citizens to light their lanterns and send them into the sky. We joined in the crowd and let them go. Above us was a wall of light that was as bright as the sun itself. It looked...beautiful. You know what? You're an alright man Flynn. I'm glad Kairi and I made that decision.

Rapunzel saw a single lantern floating to the sky. Seconds later the sky was filled with lanterns. Even behind them, people let their lanterns up into the sky. Rapunzel even grabbed the edge of the boat. She couldn't look away. It was everything, no... more than what she had expected it to be. Everywhere she looked, there were lanterns. It was so beautiful.

She turned around to see Flynn holding two lanterns of his own. She quickly made her way in front of him. "I've got something for you too." She took out a burlap sack. "Max and Kairi have decided that even though you were a criminal, you still earned to have this back."

Flynn put the bag down. "Now's not the time for that." He said as he handed a lantern to Rapunzel. They both simultaneously let go of them and sent them flying into the sky. Even though more lanterns filled the sky, Rapunzel and Flynn continued to stare at each other. They could feel their bodies inching closer to each other. Closer...closer... Flynn touched Rapunzel's cheek. Rapunzel started to turn red. They continued to inch closer to each other. So close that they could feel each other's breath.

Flynn spontaneously stopped and looked off into the distance. He didn't like what he saw. The Stabbington Brothers were standing at the edge of land, holding a green lantern, staring at them. They started walking into the woods, almost as if telling Flynn to follow them. Flynn couldn't believe what he just saw. He could feel his heartbeat continuously. Sweat was running down his face. His breathing became heavy.

"Is...everything alright?" Rapunzel asked, noticing Flynn's distressed face.

"Huh? Oh yeah! I'm great!" Flynn answered, eyeing the bag next to Rapunzel. "I need to stop there for a minute." He said as he rowed all the way to dry land.

"Where are they going?" I whispered to myself as I noticed Flynn and Rapunzel going the opposite way of the town. "I'll be right back." I said to Kairi and Sora as I started walking towards the docks.

When I made it, I could see Flynn walking away from the boat, leaving Rapunzel by herself. "That jerk... What the hell is he doi-" I felt a sharp pain on my head. It's as if something blunt hit me. I started losing my sight as my knees slammed the ground. Dammit... what's going on?!

Riku stared at the castle as lanterns filled the sky. He let out a sigh. "How much you want to bet those three are here, getting themselves into trouble..."

To be continued...

I think I'm getting pretty good with these cliffhangers. You thought I had forgotten about Riku, haven't you? Well anyways, after I asked about TotWW last chapter, a few of you answered, and I asked some of my friends, and I decided to keep them separate. But as a warning, a lot of plot elements in that story will be important in this fic. So either way, if you're interested, you could check it out. Anyways thanks for reading.