Shout Outs: Thanks to Chronicler of Hearts for favoring and following the story.


Chapter 10: The Lost Princess

Riku glanced across the area while the rest of the group (except for Flynn and Rapunzel who went somewhere else). They were currently relaxing themselves at the bench that had the lake for a view and ahead of them was the castle. Something wasn't right here. Riku gave another glance from behind. Maybe it was the fact that Kairi walked towards them with a sad look on her face or the fact that Sora disappeared.

Again.

Why was it always him who noticed Sora's disappearance?

Sora. What did you do now? Riku growled in thought.

"Hey guys," Kairi muttered as she sat beside Riku.

"Gawrsh, Kairi. You look sad. Anything the matter?" Goofy asked.

Kairi shook her head. "No. Don't worry about it."

Riku frowned. "Where's Sora? What did he do this time?"

"I…I don't know. He didn't do anything other than the fact that he ran off somewhere. Why? I don't know but he just did."

Riku grimaced. Yeap. Sora has a habit for taking off somewhere as usual. And what happens? It usually has him either in trouble or being lost forever.

Riku groaned. "I swear. The next time we go to an adventure, we're going to bring a chain of Sora. I swear that kid just won't stop running off. Honestly, why did we have to bring him in?"

"Well, wherever he is, he's going to miss out the floating lanterns. It looks like it's going to start," Donald said as he motioned his head to the darkened sky.

For a few seconds, the sky was dark except having glittering stars sparkling up above and the lights that were from the Kingdom and the city itself. Riku held his breath as the others were watching the sky intently.

And then, ever so slowly, it happened. Far off at the distance, towards the castle, there was a small lit lantern that was floating away by itself before it got joined by thousands of the same kind that were being delivered by the boats which had set them free. All of them were illuminating the night sky as it was covering it completely. There wasn't even a single star that could be seen from the glowing lanterns.

"Woah!" they all exclaimed as Kairi gasped with amazement. She stared at the floating lights that were gently falling and as she stared at them, she felt warm and light as this scene made her think about Sora.

Just by mentioning his name, it made her blush.

Everything including the lake was being shone by the light, enlightening its beauty even more. Kairi tilted her head to the side before she rushed towards the edge of the rocks to save a lantern that was about to hit the water. She gave a small lift to it so that it floated upwards, joining the others.

As the lanterns were resuming their routine, Riku looked up at the brighten sky as he thought.

Sora, where are you?


Sora cracked both of his eyes open. For a brief moment, his vision was hazy but it quickly passed away as he pushed himself up.

Where am I?

His eyes then trailed at the front as he noticed the bars in front of him. Oh, that's right. Now he remembers. He got thrown into jail, being wrongly accused for something he never did. Sora growled as he remembered the guy with the eyepatch who ran away.

When he finds him, Sora would make sure he would pay.

"How do I get out of here…?" he muttered.

"You can't," the voice announced which made Sora be on guard. He narrowed his eyes, squinting through the darkness while a question was inside his head.

Why was it that every time a person is making himself/herself known they always have to hide in the dark?

"What's the matter? Too much of a coward to show yourself?" Sora sneered, grabbing the bars and he tightened his grip on them.

Unfazed by the words, the silhouette simply made a small flick of her hand. Because it was small, Sora wasn't aware of it until at the last minute where it sent jolts of electricity throughout his body, making him wince from pain.

He tried to not let out a scream but rather he let out an uncomfortable strain of gasp. He wheezed, wincing from the pain that had ended and he slightly gave a glare at the shadow.

"Now that intolerance won't be tolerated, we can begin…"


While there were still lanterns up at the sky, the group were only now waiting for Flynn and Rapunzel.

"Guys, I don't like this..." Kairi replied after a while.

"I know what you mean. Those two should've been back by now," Donald spoke.

Goofy sighed as he wondered if they'll ever get their friends back. He then looked back only to find a figure that looked about having Rapunzel's height was running down the street.

"Hey, is that Rapunzel? She's seems to be in a hurry," Goofy pointed out.

Riku narrowed his eyes before he spoke. "Well, come on. Let's go follow her."

With that, the group took off, chasing after the shadow down the street and through the alleyways. When they were close enough, they called out.

"Rapunzel!" Kairi called out. "Wait!"

The hooded shadow gave a small gasp as it slightly turned its head before making another turn at the corner.

But, perhaps the next move shocked the group. As soon as the shadow turned the corner, in puffs of dark blue smoke, strange figures popped up, blocking their paths.

The group halted in their tracks as they looked around the odd beings.

"What are those?" Kairi gasped.

"Could it be...Heartless?" Goofy quizzed.

"But how? I thought we had defeated every single creatures there was," Riku spoke.

He stared at the creatures. They were skeletal, pale skin and something was unnerving about them. They literally had no face and what made it so scary was the way they stared ominously at the group.

"So do we call them the 'Faceless?'" Riku joked.

"Not funny, Riku..." Kairi replied nervously. "Hey uh...didn't the King mentioned about a new evil? Could this be it?"

Donald shrugged. "Could be. Something tells me that wasn't Rapunzel..." he added.

"Well. We can't stand here. We have to fight them!" Riku proclaimed.

"Hey. I don't think you realize but we don't have our Keyblades!" Kairi said.

Riku gave a hard stare at the 'Faceless'. "Well, I guess we have to do this the old fashioned way...ragh!"

Riku gave a charged yell and then he made punch across the face of the enemy. It didn't even staggered back though it did had its head go back but it then brought back to its proper position, glaring at Riku before the being delivered its own attack.

Riku shouted as he flew across until he landed roughly on the ground. After seeing this, the group went into fighting mode while knowing that they would probably end up like Riku.

Perhaps that was what made them so dangerous.

Keyblade...where are you? Riku thought as he turned his head back to glance at all the fighting that was going on.

The group wasn't doing too well. He then noticed that one if the creatures was going to attack Goofy from behind. Eyes wide, Riku scrambled up as he ran towards him.

"No!"

And then, as Riku jumped into the air, all of a sudden, a bright glow materialized in his hand. When he brought his hand down to strike, the object sliced through the Faceless and a clang was heard as it hit the ground.

Goofy turned around and saw Riku panting though he looked down at the ground to see the dark blue blood staining the floor and he instantly connected the dots.

However, something else had gotten his attention.

"Gawrsh, Riku. Thank you."

"Yeah, no problem," Riku nodded as he got up. He suddenly got just a bit heavy...

"But you might want to look down. I think you'll like what you see."

Raising an eyebrow, Riku looked down only to see the blade.

"The Keyblade!" Riku exclaimed. "It came! But how?"

He had less time to shoot out some answers for his question since more came. Riku grinned.

"Now, it's time to fight back!"


"What...what do you want with me?" Sora asked the shadow.

The figure stopped what she was doing and turned around to give a look at him.

"You really have no idea don't you?" she asked.

"If I did, I wouldn't be asking," he shot back.

However, Sora cringed as he was waiting for the electricity to come but it never did. Instead, the shadow studied him before she decided to emerge from the darkness. When she did, Sora widened her eyes at the person.

"Cruella?" Sora questioned.

The woman smirked. "Look kid...it's complicated. Do you even know what you're up against? If so, then you stand no chance in survival."

Sora narrowed his eyes. "I'll be the judge of that. But you still haven't answered my other question. What do you with me?" he growled.

"You're certainly persistent. I'll give you that. You see, after doing a bit of research, I discovered that there was an unspeakable power that lies somewhere but wherever it is, I need it. I need it to awaken itself," she growled.

"Tough luck. I'm not going to let you get it."

Cruella smirked. "You don't have a choice. That power—the one that allows you to shake your reality on how you want it to be—must be in you. If not, then you must have a clue inside you."

Sora widened his eyes. "Me? What makes you so sure that it's me?"

"Because your light always shines the strongest," she gave him a look, indicating that it was as though the most obvious answer. "Well...there is small little Kairi but she won't do—"

"Stay away from Kairi!"

The woman paused as she gave him glance, having a sly smile creeping up her lips.

"My, my. Don't tell me you have a thing for her?" she gleamed madly which made Sora be uneasy.

"We're just...friends."

"Ha! Just friends? Please, I know that route. No one's just friends when they're madly in love with their buddy."

"But I'm not—"

Cruella cackled. "I find that cute. Adorable even. But too bad you won't stick around to tell her your undying love to her," her tone suddenly grew dark and sinister.

"Oh yeah? What are going to do with me? You can't open the door without a key and there are no guards around."

Cruella shot him an annoyed look. "Imbecile. Have you forgotten..." she spoke, walking towards the bars.

It actually made Sora be scared of her since he started to scramble backwards until his back reached the wall.

"Who you are dealing with?" Cruella asked as she materialized through the bars and into the cell.

"I'm Cruella Devil. Don't you forget it," she snarled before she raised her hand.

With a snap of her fingers, Sora's arms were chained much to his surprise and he tried to release him but it was futile.

"Struggling is...futile."

And then, she extended both of her arms out and a crackle of dark red energy appeared. It shot out of her hands, zapping Sora.

He screamed from agony as the power coursed throughout his body. It hurts so bad...make it...stop...

Sora resumed screaming as the energy got fiercer but it only made Cruella growl from annoyance.

"Open up, you fool! I know you have the power!" she yelled, shooting out more power.

It felt like his body was on fire, gradually being weakened as it continued to drain his energy. He had no will to fight anymore.

"S...stop..." Sora gasped as his head was lopsided to the side.

Cruella didn't hear it as she was too consumed by the power she so desperately needed. Her mad gleaming eyes shone madder as she shoot another streak of power and then another, torturing Sora even more.

And then, she stopped abruptly.

"Hmph. I guess you don't have the power after all…" Cruella replied.

"What power are you even talking about?" Sora asked as he shut his eyes tight, trying to breath.

Cruella gave him a hard stare. "The power that holds everything—the Ultimate Power. It goes by another name; the Sleeping Power only because it has been in its slumber for quite a long time but it's time for it to awaken itself."

Sora let out a small smirk. "Heh…if it's time to awaken it…obviously, it's not…ready for it…"

Cruella made a small snarl but she then began to walk towards the bars before going exiting, going to the other side. Before she fully left, she gave a glance to the side.

"You've got guts kid," Cruella said. "Not many people have that. Oh and I should mention…you won't be alone."

With that, Cruella snapped her fingers and the chains that were on Sora vanished which left the boy collapse on the floor, feeling the cold stone against his cheek. As his vision was going blurry, he heard voices shouting before the sound of the jail door being opened only to be closed again.

"Hey? Sora…? Sora! Wake up, kid."

But Sora passed out.


Rapunzel let out a heavy sigh as she sat on the edge of the bed, holding the small banner she got at the marketplace. She didn't understood what had happened. One minute, Flynn and her were all enjoying the market and then the lantern which was beautiful and then the next, she met these two large people before meeting Mother Gothel…

"Rapunzel?" the voice from Gothel spoke. She opened the door only to sigh as she saw a saddened Rapunzel. With a pity look, Gothel walked towards her and sat beside, beginning to pick out the flowers that were in hair.

"There, it never happened. Now, wash up for dinner. I'm making hazel nut soup," Gothel grinned in attempt to cheer up Rapunzel but it didn't work. Gothel's face softened as she spoke. I really did try, Rapunzel. I tried to warn you, what was out there."

Sighing, Gothel walked towards the door but before she left, she turned around and stared at the upset girl.

"The world is dark, and selfish, and cruel. If it finds even the slightest ray of sunshine. It destroys it," she said and then she closed the door, leaving Rapunzel to her thoughts.

It's just not fair… Rapunzel thought, staring at the small banner. Letting out another heavy sigh, she laid down on the bed, closing her eyes. Her heart was in pain as her body was limp with agony.

She really thought she understood Flynn, took every word from him and yet…he left.

Rapunzel opened her eyes and stared at the ceiling, hoping that it would distract her. However, the more she gazed at it, something about it seemed…familiar. As though it the holes that were in her mind were finally starting to connect herself.

What…?

She looked more at the drawings before she lifted the banner that was in her hands and started comparing them. Eyes wide, Rapunzel let out a gasp as the flowers that was on the ceiling began the glow, one by one until all of them were lit up like stars. She got up, still gazing at the drawings and her mind was spinning as flashes of images went into her mind.

There, it showed the King and Queen, smiling at the newborn baby before it went to the stained painting she saw at the marketplace and then another image flashed into her mind where she tried out on the tiara.

Over flooded, Rapunzel stumbled backwards unstable, bumping into her dressing table. She vaguely heard the Mother calling out her name since she was too busy connecting the dots.

"…Rapunzel, what's going on up there?" Gothel shouted as she opened the door, revealing an overwhelmed Rapunzel who stared down at the floor.

"I'm the lost princess…" Rapunzel mumbled in realization.

Gothel gave her an annoyed look. "Please, speak up, Rapunzel. You know how I hate the mumbling."

Rapunzel narrowed her eyes as she stood up, staring boldly at Gothel. "I am the lost Princess. Aren't I?" she spoke, glaring at Gothel who widened her eyes.

Author's Note: That you are. Go Punzie! ^^ I always liked that part where she finally figured out who she really was—I have to say it—but even though I do like Frozen, Tangled will always be a better story. At least that's for me; don't get me wrong though. I loved both movies but I feel that Tangled had a better story flow and a better villain—that's just me, I guess. And hooray! Riku got his Keyblade back! And I also did research between Cruella and Sora and I think it's safe to assume that those two knew each other-if I'm wrong, please correct me. What happens next? Find out! Toodles!