There was a tower. I saw a tower. Was I a tower? No. I was in the tower. The tallest room of the tower. It looked ancient. The inside was made entirely out of stone, sunlight emphasising its rough surface, every nook and cranny casting a small shadow. The same mural I had in the apartment was painted on one of the walls, with many, many smaller paintings around it. I couldn't see any electronic lights anywhere. Actually, I couldn't even see any electronics anywhere. Was there even any running water? It was as if I was transported 200 years back in time.
My hair was still short, as short as the day Aunt Gothel first cut it, but instead of it's usual blonde hue, it was brunette. In fact, there was a lot of brunette hair. I thought that pile in the kitchen was bad but here it just surrounded me, dozens of feet of hair curling around and around the room. Some of it was swung up on what looked like a pulley system, some was suspended near the ceiling, but there was just so much of it. I was crying. Why was I crying? No, not just crying. Sobbing. Bawling.
"Have you learnt your lesson, Rapunzel?" My voice caught in my throat as Aunt Gothel materialised from the shadows, holding a shard of mirror in her hand. The rest of it sat shattered and broken not too far from me. She ran a single finger along my jawline, making me flinch. "I made it clear you weren't to leave this tower, did I not?"
"But why?"
"The outside world is dangerous, dear," she continued, walking along the room's perimeter. That mirror shard scratched against the stone walls, making a horrible screeching sound. I could see it slicing a line through the paint of my mural. "First your penis and now, well, now this silly little game. You liking, no, you loving women. Women you've never even seen, never spoken to. You think I'm the bad guy, but I'm just trying to protect you. If you go out there, you'd be dead in minutes."
My fists were balled up at my sides. "You're wrong." The statement sounded low. Animalistic. Vicious.
Her head snapped to face me directly. "What did you say?"
"I said you're wrong!" I felt my voice crack at how quickly it rose. "I know about your past. I know about you wanting to be with another woman and I know about Roz and what she put you through."
Aunt Gothel's eyes narrowed, a steely look shooting through me. "Roz brought me to the light of Christ. She saved me from eternal damnation and I am trying to do the same to you."
"God doesn't discriminate! And people don't either. I'm sorry this wasn't what you were taught growing up but it's true. I wish things could have been different. When you think you're helping me, the reality is you're just pushing me further and further away. Maybe this is why you and Dad were never close, you were pushed away from who you truly were as kids."
"Frederic was nothing but wretched! Him and your mother! They brought along nothing but shame to this family and you are the perfect example of that! An anomaly, an abomination, a mistake!" Her voice was like thunder, shaking me to my core.
"Maybe you've failed me as my family, but I've found a new one. I've found the Hamadas who will help me find my mother, my real family."
"There's no place for you here. I'll admit, there was certainly a novelty about having a teeny weeny baby around, but it became tiresome." Her words made me want to hurl. "This family of yours you have going for you. They'll soon grow tired of you too, leave you, abandon you."
Rapunzel?
There was another voice, it seemed so far away.
"No," I took a step back. "No no no you're lying! Cass… Tadashi… Hiro…" My fingers tried to thread through my hair, but there was hardly anything to thread through. "They're more of a family to me than you ever were! Th-th-th-they… they wouldn't…" Would they?
"Oh, poor princess. The police, they told you nothing could be done about me, didn't they?" she cooed before her voice went cold. "I knew what was wrong, that my heart was going to give out, but what was the point of delaying the inevitable, of staying around for a defect like you? Arianna didn't even want you! Why do you think you ended up living with your father before he died?"
"Arianna…" My face was hot with tears. "The rest! I need the rest of it!"
Her lips didn't move, didn't even part.
"A name! Please! You've done nothing for me, nothing! Just this, just her name. I need to find her, I have to!"
Rapunzel…
Of course, she couldn't give me a name. How could she, when I didn't know it for myself? The mirror shard glinted in the evening light, closing in on me. I looked behind me and saw myself backing away from her, edging closer and closer to the tower window.
"I will never ask anything of you again. I'll stay here if that's what you really want." I struggled to breathe, hyperventilating, tears blurring my vision. It felt like glass was slicing at the insides of my lungs. "I just need her fucking name!"
Rapunzel!
Aunt Gothel got closer and closer, and I edged myself further and further. A strangled gasp escaped me when I felt my foot hit the edge. "How cruel and heartless do you have to be to deny me the only family I have left?" I could barely force the words out, my voice nearly too choked up.
"You are an absolute disgrace," she spat, her voice like venom.
"Just a name," my lower lip trembled.
From the corner of my eye, I could see her fingers relaxing. With a soft clang, her weapon fell to the ground. But before I could heave a sigh of relief, her hands were on my shoulders, her nails digging painfully into me. "You're never going to find her."
I could only scream as I felt her push. My stomach dropped as I felt myself hurtling downwards, the ground below me getting bigger and bigger. The dress I wore fluttered in the wind, its material billowing. From above, Aunt Gothel looked down on me, her dark silhouette shrinking. It seemed like I was falling endlessly, as if the ground saw me coming and sank downwards so I would never hit it. I saw Aunt Gothel's horrid sneer, watching as I could only cry, hoping for something else, anything else, to happen. Her mouth opened and she was yelling. Her voice chased me down as I fell further. "And they'll leave you too."
"Rapunzel!"
"No!" I bolted up, sobbing uncontrollably. "D-d-d-d-don't… don't l-l-l-le-lea-leave..." The blanket over me felt suffocating, making me sweat buckets. My hands immediately flew to my shoulder blades, searching for the scratches her nails would have left.
"Hey hey hey shhh… it's just a dream, it's just a dream, I'm here." Cass' soft voice could barely be heard over the sounds of my cries. The only thing that alerted me of her presence was her hand gently rubbing circles on my upper back, between my heaving shoulders. "You're okay… you're okay, I'm right here, you're safe." I swore it was real, I could even feel the marks she left. It was only when Cass intervened, carefully pulling my fingers away one by one that I realised it was just me, my nails digging into the soft flesh exposed by my loose sleeping shirt, leaving small but distinct marks in my wake.
"A-a-a-au-au-aunt," I couldn't even get a single word out, my body struggling to get any oxygen at all.
"Shhh… shhh, honey, you need to take a breath and calm down," she cooed, her large green eyes meeting my teary ones. Her soft hands cupped my flushed face, steadying me. "Deep breaths, deep breaths, nice and slow. Breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth, can you try to do that for me?" I nodded helplessly, trying to follow her instructions. Though my nose would certainly be plugged up, I tried it, forcing the air through my lungs until my uncontrollable shaking became more manageable tremors. My breathing slowed, the tears from my eyes slowing to become just occasional droplets over the course of a few minutes.
"There you go," Cass brushed her thumbs over the upper curves of my cheeks, brushing away what tears she could. "It was just a nightmare. I came in to wake you and you were fussing in your sleep." She passed me a tissue box from the bedside table which I gratefully accepted, dabbing at my blotchy face. "It got worse quite quickly. I tried to wake you but it was no use, you were really out until, well, until you woke up, I guess." I could feel the mattress shift under us as she sat herself down next to me, her legs tucked underneath herself like a neat package. "Are you alright?"
"Aunt Gothel… she… she knows. She knew. She knew and didn't… wouldn't… couldn't tell me." I sounded pathetic, like a small whining child. She didn't cast any judgement upon me, instead listening intently. I tucked my knees under my chin, curling myself into a ball, wrapping my arms around me. It was a habit I kept since I was a kid, particularly when Aunt Gothel was raving about having a God awful day. "I'm never going to find my mother, am I?"
"Come on now, don't think that way." She wrapped an arm around me, her presence comforting. "You know, Rapunzel, in the short time I've known you, something I admire so much about you is your optimism. Somehow you're always able to see the light in the darkest of places. When most people would give up, you've shown amazing strength and resilience, working to get yourself out of a bad situation because you know there are better things, and you deserve these better things." Cass lets me rest my head on her shoulders, the feeling of hopelessness I felt mellowing out. "Things seem bleak now but I promise you I'm not giving up and neither should you. There has to be a trace of your mother somewhere and we're going to find it. You hear me?"
I nodded helplessly, burying my splotchy face in the crook of her neck, taking in her scent which had become familiar to me. "Even if she's gone… I'd at least like to know."
Cass stroked my hair softly. "I promise, I'll get you your answers, or die trying."
"No." My eyes met hers, wide with fear. "You won't… you wouldn't… please, don't leave me." A warm blush spread to her cheeks and a look crossed her face, one I couldn't quite read. It quickly vanished as soon as it had appeared and she looked at me with confidence. "I'll never."
XXX
"Why do I have to wear this?" Once I finally calmed down enough to seem somewhat presentable, Cass gave me space to wash my face and get ready for the day before fastening a blindfold over my eyes.
"Because- whoa!" I felt her hands grab my arms, steadying me as I tried to feel my way around. "Because it's a Hamada birthday family tradition! And you don't argue with tradition." Cass continued, her hands gently secured on my forearms, leading me to wherever I was going. "Left turn here." Mapping out the apartment in my head, I knew she was leading me to the kitchen. My ears just about picked up the sound of Hiro and Tadashi shushing each other and the clatter of cutlery being thrown on the table. A moment of silence passed before Cass removed the blindfold.
"Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday dear Rapunzel!
Happy birthday to you!"
They all chorused my little birthday song as my eyes adjusted to the light. On the table sat a massive stack of green pancakes which kind of reminded me of a lizard. Candles sat on top of the, one big one and seven little ones.
"Is that Pascal?" I asked once their chorus finally stopped.
"I told you she'd recognise them!" Tadashi said to his brother triumphantly.
Hiro put his arms up defensively. "Hey, all I'm saying is Rapunzel is the artist in this household. We're scientists for a reason."
"At least Mochi got to eat all the messed up ones. The batter has been engineered to be delicious for humans and cats alike!" Mochi materialised at my feet, purring softly and rubbing her body against my leg.
"Come on," Cass steered me in front of the stack. "Close your eyes, make a wish and blow out the candles." Noticing my hesitation, she added "it's a birthday thing."
Closing my eyes and holding my breath, I wracked my brain for a wish. I wish that I will find my mother, and that the Hamadas will always stick by me, even when I do. With a huff, I blew out the candles, ensuing applause from the rest. Although it was technically two wishes, I was sure the birthday wishing gods would let it fly since I'd been about 16 birthday wishes behind.
"I have to say, considering last time you two made pancakes you somehow set fire to my cast iron skillet, this is a massive upgrade," Cass praised as we all tucked in.
"This time we had a secret weapon," Tadashi countered, gesturing to the counter when a small metal box sat. I watched in awe as, with the snap of a finger, little spider legs shot out of the sides, allowing the device to walk around above the stove. "The Pancake Maker 2.0!"
"We're still workshopping the name," Hiro interrupted. 'But it's super easy. Just add the ingredients through an opening at the top, input a design and out come near picture perfect pancakes!"
"So…" I asked casually, 'it's unlikely any of you are telling me what else you have planned for today, right?"
"Not a chance," Cass laughed, handing me the blindfold.
XXX
"Tadashi, you may be a brilliant inventor, but dear Lord, this is the last time I'm letting you drive my car."
"Come on, Aunt Cass, it's not that bad."
We had been driving for awhile, me blindfolded of course. I had to grip the banister of the stairwell for dear life back at the apartment, counting the 18 steps it took to reach the bottom. When I tried to protest that it would make no difference if I was blindfolded going to the car since we were driving to our next location, Hiro shushed me and told me not to get in the way of the "birthday vibes".
That family was strange, but damn it I loved them.
While we drove, I made sure I was buckled up tight. Tadashi's driving was… concerning, to say the least, with twists, swerves and jam breaks at random intervals.
"Ooh! Ooh! I can see it from here!" I felt the entire backseat shift as Hiro bounced up and down, pointing out whatever location we were headed to.
"Must be nice," I said sarcastically, earning a laugh from all of them. The car swerved as Tadashi apparently pulled into a side road, gearing up to parallel park.
"You can keep going!"
"If I do, I hit that car."
"Then go the other way."
"Then I hit the other car!"
"Aunt Cass, you gotta stop backseat driving," Hiro suggested. "Just let Tadashi do his thing."
"Alright, alright!" I could imagine her raising her hands in submission.
Tadashi's voice was steady with focus. "Almost… almost…"
Bump
"Aaaaand that's my car hitting the pavement."
Cass forced Tadashi out of the drivers' seat and parked the car flawlessly before helping me out, muttering about how she, for the life of her, had no idea how he got his driver's license in the first place. Taking me by the shoulders, they led me on. I could feel the ground under me transform from tarmac to something softer. Sand? No, it wasn't that fine. Astroturf maybe?
'You guys are bizarre, I hope you know that!" I laughed, steadying myself as they swerved me left to right, making me dizzy.
"Never a normal day in the Hamada household!" Hiro yelled in a singsong voice, the direction of it making me think he was running in circles around me. Though, the breeze suggested something more.
"Is this spot good, Aunt Cass?" Tadashi asked.
"Hmm… I suppose so. Nice and quiet. Alright, be warned. It's fairly bright out, so don't be blinded." My eyes squinted involuntarily as she removed the blindfold, revealing my surroundings. I was close. The surface beneath my feet was lush, green grass. We were in a park I had never been to before. Since it was a school day, it was nearly entirely empty. Thankfully, Cass, Tadashi and Hiro took days off for me. I think they knew I was still majorly anxious around crowds at the time. It was right at the tail end of Sakura season and I could see the trees with the final flowers of the season, pink petals falling and littering the surface of the park's shimmering lake. Nearby, there was a vendor renting out swan paddle boats for park-goers to enjoy. Though, I think the most surprising thing was Hiro zipping around at what seemed like the speed of a car, several feet in the air thanks to his hoverboard.
"Hiro Hamada, get down here this instant and help us unpack!" Cass ordered, her hands on her hips, though she could never stay serious for long, her expression breaking into a smile. He begrudgingly came back down to earth, parking his hoverboard on the grass and helping Cass unfold a large picnic mat.
"Do you like your surprise?" Tadashi asked, ruffling my hair affectionately.
"I'm… speechless," I replied, rubbing the back of my neck sheepishly.
"Okay!" Cass clapped her hands eagerly, jumping up and down excitedly on the balls of her feet. "We have the whole day free. I've packed us a picnic, we can rent paddle boats, go out on the lake and tonight we can watch the lanterns! Seeing the reflection on the water is absolutely magical, you're gonna love it!"
I smiled so much that day my cheeks hurt. Cass, Tadashi and Hiro taught me how to pedal and steer the swan-shaped boats. Their dad used to do this while he was in Japan, and he was one of the people who brought the practise to San Fransokyo which I thought was really cool. Cass packed us croissant sandwiches and frozen juice boxes for lunch. Who knew those amazing pastries could be savoury?
After that, Hiro let me try riding his hoverboard. I think I gave Cass about a dozen heart attacks as I nearly fell off multiple times, but feeling the wind in my hair, the world grow smaller and smaller beneath me, it felt awesome. After that, they insisted I taught them how to draw. Getting out some paper and charcoal, I gave them the task to try to draw each other, since figure drawing is a key skill every artist should possess. It was hilarious to see them try to work out how proportions are supposed to work, especially hands. It's always the hands. Cass drawing in particular showed that she happened to forget Hiro's hands had joints.
Finally, we all sat in silence, leaning against each other while dozens of lanterns floated into the air. The water of the lake reflected the light of each one, making its surface look like it was covered in a million tiny fireflies.
"What's up with all these lanterns anyway?" I asked.
Cass sat up to explain. "Apparently, over 200 years ago by now, there was a prosperous kingdom in Germany. The King and Queen had no siblings, so it was crucial that she bore a child to take over the throne when the time came. It took a long time, and the royal couple were becoming tired after so long. Eventually, after months of unsuccessful attempts, they managed to conceive, but not with a few pitfalls along the way, including an ill Queen, a nasty fall and severla assassination attempts. Against all odds, a princess was born, healthy and strong, the kingdom's sole successor. Unfortunately, she was kidnapped, taken from her family just a few days after she was born. Every year, the kingdom mourned for her on that day, lighting thousands of lanterns and setting them afloat, high into the sky in the hopes of her spotting them and following them home. I'm assuming a German settler brought the tradition here. It's one of the things I love about living here. There's a little bit of every country, of every culture."
"Did they ever find her?" I pressed on, curious to hear the end of the story.
"Who, the princess? Not too sure, my parents never really got further than that," she replied, pursing her lips in thought. "It was centuries ago. Who knows if it actually happened. People like to have reasons for doing things, but I say we should be able to do them just because. Though, it is nice to think about."
While I wasn't entirely happy with that answer, I was happy about being able to spend the day with them. We stayed out late into the night, long after the final lantern was extinguished. By the end of it, I was exhausted and my skin was slightly sun kissed but I couldn't have been happier. I was just grateful that 1. they didn't make me wear a blindfold on the drive back and 2. they didn't let Tadashi drive back.
XXX
"I wanted to ask you something… and it's okay if you don't want to share."
"What is it?" I asked, climbing under the covers.
"Last night…" Cass brushed a tuft of auburn hair behind her ear. "What were you dreaming about? I've worked with a lot of kids in my days and I've never seen a nightmare that bad."
What was I supposed to say to that? Oh, nothing, I'm just afraid you'll all abandon me because I've become too much of a burden and I've come to fear the fact that my own mother won't even want me which is why I had to grow up with Aunt Gothel in the first place. I knew things in my dreams were just manifestations of my own feelings and anxieties, but come to think of it, I never knew much about my parents' divorce. Maybe my dad didn't gain custody of me, but rather he had to because my mom just… didn't want me?
I couldn't say all that to Cass. One look at her face told me that it would break her heart. She opened her home to me, gave me a place in her family, how could I admit to her that I feared they would drop me in an instant if they could?
"It's nothing. Just a nightmare about my aunt. Maybe the wake yesterday got to me, but I'm sure it'll pass."
She didn't look convinced. "Are you sure?"
I forced a smile. "Positive. I don't want to worry you. Trust me, I've dealt with much worse than a few bad dreams."
The corners of her lips curled up into a smile. "I know you have, brave girl. And I hope you had a good birthday, aside from the rough start."
"It was the best birthday."
"Oh! I almost forgot, I have one more thing for you." Cass pulled out a large rectangular object from her bag. It was wrapped in purple wrapping paper dotted with confetti, a neat bow stuck on the corner. "Go on," she encouraged, "open it."
My fingers worked nimbly to unwrap the pretty paper, careful not to tear it up too much. Cass couldn't hold back her excitement when she saw my face light up with joy. "Oh my God… how did you-?" In my hands, I held the most amazing set of art supplies I've ever laid eyes on. Prismacolor coloured pencils. A set of 150 colours, over 12 times what I had access to before.
"Do you like them?" she asked hopefully.
"I… I love them… but… how did you even manage to get these? They're super expensive!"
"I have my secrets," she smirked, waving her fingers in a mystical fashion. The breath is knocked out of her as I practically leapt onto her, wrapping my arms around her and keeping her in a fierce hug.
"Thank you, Cass."
A/N - Hello dear reader! This is just a PSA that upload days will be fixed to weekends because I'm assuming that's when you guys have time to read as well, so any time between Friday and Sunday. If I have an excess of content, I will try to post sometime during the middle of the week as well, but those will likely be one-shots or shorter stories. This fic is gonna be the longest I've ever written and we still have a ways to go.
I've seen a review asking who would play Rapunzel if this were a live action show. After some thought, I feel like I wouldn't be opposed to Mandy Moore who played Rapunzel in the original movie, but Dove Cameron would be my other choice. Then again, I'm not hugely aware of celebrities and actresses and probably don't have the best grasp on who would best suit this role, so feel free to use your imagination.