Chapter 43

The group walked up towards the gates of the Kingdom. Rapunzel was giggly and was jumping up and down like a child. She then faced the group and mouthed wow at them. As they walk, Flynn saw his wanted poster on the bridge. He grabbed it and crumpled it into a ball, Maximus huffed when he saw what Flynn did. Flynn responded by shoving the ball up his mouth, Maximus then spotted it into Flynn's face. Flynn removed paper and started getting into a fight with Maximus but before they could continue, they saw Pascal making eye contact at them.

"Behave yourselves.", said Erza.

Flynn and Maximus immediately stopped fight and stood there, shoving each other as they entered the Kingdom.

"Rapunzel sure looks happy.", said Sora.

"She does.", said Donald.

"Well, her dream's gonna come true.", said Goofy. They're sendin' the lanterns up after dark."

"Cool! We don't wanna miss that!", said Sora.

"We should also keep a lookout for any Heartless or Nobodies so they won't ruin the festival.", said Erza.

"Yes, ma'am!", everyone said.

"But for now, let's enjoy the festival."

"Yeah!", everyone said as they ran into the Kingdom.

When Rapunzel entered the Kingdom, she saw people walking around carrying baskets, crates, food all around. Shops were open selling fruits, bread, desserts, meat, anf fish.

"Alright, fishies here I come!", shouted Happy as he flew past Rapunzel at max speed.

"Wait up, buddy! I want some meat!", shouted Natsu as he ran after Happy.

"Don't go running off on your own!", shouted Lucy as she ran after the boys.

"Hey, is that a plaza up at the end of the street?", said asked Goofy.

"Let's go see!", said Donald as he and Goofy headed to the plaza.

Rapunzel was about to follow them, but she kept getting bumped into people who are walking around and people were walking on her hair as they walk. Flynn then grabbed her hair off the ground, looking troubled.

"It's going to be difficult with her hair like that.", said Erza.

Flynn then noticed four redhead girls sitting on a fountain, braiding each others hair and laughing. Flynn whistled at them. They then saw Rapunzel's long her and gasped with excitement. The girls separated Rapunzel's hair by four layers and they braided her long hair on the ground by making the layers criss cross each other.

"Those girls really know what they're doing.", said Gajeel.

"It's a natural thing for girls.", said Laxus.

"Erza, are you braiding your hair?", asked Lily when he noticed the braiding patterns on Erza's hair.

"Oh! Um...yes. I needed to look nice for the festival.", she responded with an embarrassed look on her face.

"Gray-sama, let's go find a place to eat.", said Juvia as she dragged Gray to the nearest restaurant, making Gray a little annoyed.

"Wow. Sure is a busy place.", said Sora.

"Looks like they're done.", said Wendy.

They all faced Rapunzel, who's hair is now braided and not dragging everywhere. The girls had put some flowers in her hair to keep the braid still.

Rapunzel twirled around and said, "Thank you."

Flynn smiled. Maximus saw this and made a You looove her look. Flynn then pushed his face away from him.

Rapunzel then grab Flynn's hand and dragged him to the nearest food stand.

"Guess we should explore, too.", said Sora.

"Can you do my hair?", asked Erza to the little girls as her braid was not perfect.

Everyone had went off on their own in the town. Wendy and Charle went to some stands to get some snacks while the four girls braid Erza's hair. Gajeel, Laxus, and Lily walked around and saw Donald and Goofy hanging around the plaza eating food and watching Rapunzel painting something on the ground. The three of them continued to walk around. Sora was wandering the place, buying snacks and souvenirs. He then made his way back to Erza. Natsu, Lucy, and Happy looked for a restaurant to eat at. While searching, they picked up some food from the stands and fished at the docks for Happy. They eventually found a restaurant with some food that Natsu really wanted to try.

"You're really enjoying that dish.", said Lucy while she watched Natsu stuffing his face a type of chicken bowl dish while Happy was eating a smoke salmon.

"No duh, this is really good!", said Natsu.

"A place that has raw fish. I'm loving it!", said Happy.

"What's this called again?"

"It's called Bowres: ¼ pound of chicken mixed with 1 cup ale, 1 tsp. Salt, and 1 tsp. Sage.", said the waitress as she came over to the trio's table with more dishes. "Here is Eisands with Otemeale grotes for the lady. Garlic Prime Rib for the young man. And a Bouillabaisse bowl for the blue cat."

"Thank you. This looks really good.", said Lucy.

"Thank ya. We're the best in the Kingdom and it's your lucking day. All the food here is half price since this festival is very important to the Kingdom."

"This might be weird but...do you know what this festival is about? We're travelers so we don't know anything about this Kingdom."

"Travelers, are ye? Well, I'll be happy to tell you the tale of the festival."

"Food and a story. I'm liking this place!", said Natsu as he stuffed his face with some prime rib pieces.

"Aye. It began about 18 years ago, in this very Kingdom. The queen of this Kingdom was about to have a baby, but she then fell ill. The king heard of an ancient golden flower that can cure any disease in the world. The king then ordered his guards to find the flower before it was too late."

"A golden flower?", asked Lucy.

"Aye. It said that the flower came from the Heavens and fell onto Earth. Anyway, the Royal Guards did find the flower and used it to make a special medicine for the queen. The queen drank the medicine and she was strong and healthy like before. The queen then gave birth to a beautiful baby girl with golden hair. After the princess' birth, the king and queen then sent a lantern into the sky in celebration of her birth."

"So this festival is the princess' birthday.", said Lucy.

"She gonna have a great birthday with all these people around.", said Natsu. "Does she come out of her palace and greet the people?"

"Unfortunately, that has never happen."

"Why?"

"Shortly after the princess' birth, someone snuck into the palace were the king and queen were sleeping and kidnap the princess."

"What!?", said Natsu, Lucy, and Happy in shock.

"Why would they do that?", asked Lucy.

"I honestly don't know. In response to this, the king ordered his guards to find the princess. They search far and wide, but to no avail. Hoping to see her again, the king and queen release lanterns into the sky every night on her birthday in hopes that she would see them and return."

"Wow. And she never return since?"

"Aye. But I believe she is out there. Today marks her 18th birthday, which means that she's probably a beautiful young woman."

"I'm sure she is."

"Well that's enough storytelling for today. Hurry up and eat your before it gets cold."

"Here's your change, ma'am."

"Thank ye. Have fun at the festival!", she said as she walked away from the table.

"Natsu. Lucy. Happy."

The three of them turn and saw Gray and Juvia sitting at a nearby table.

"We heard everything from here.", said Gray.

"Why are you here?", asked Happy.

"Its Juvia and Gray-sama's date!", said an excited Juvia.

"Eh!", said a surprise Lucy and Natsu.

"It's not a date!", said Gray.

"So anyway, about what the woman said.", said Lucy.

"Yeah. 'A baby girl with golden hair.' Do you think it has something to do with Rapunzel?"

"I was thinking about it. I mean, a girl who is never been seen by anyone at all and the Kingdom's princess is missing."

"It was just like what Laxus-san said.", said Juvia.

"What did he say?", asked Happy.

"We met Rapunzel-san's mother when we were looking for you. She said she was looking for Rapunzel, but we told her what happen. She then became disgusted after hearing this and decided to look for her by herself. Laxus then said there was something more to that woman."

"Now I'm even more curious."

"Let's go talk to Erza.", said Natsu.

"How does my hair look?", asked Erza as she showed the others her braided hair with flowers attached to her hair.

"It looks very lovely.", said Wendy.

"Any guy would dance with you with that hairstyle.", said Sora.

"I bought some snacks that we could have.", said Charle, carrying bags of fruits and sweets.

"Thanks!"

"Would the ladies like a slice of Strawberry Cake?", asked a baker as he came up to them, holding a medium sliced Strawberry Cake.

"Yes, please!", said an excited Erza as the baker handed the cake to her. She took a bite and she was full of happiness. "This is the best cake I've tasted!"

"It's yours, free of charge. Enjoy the Festival!", he said as he walked away.

"Erza. Wendy. Sora."

Gajeel, Lily, and Laxus came up to the girls, each one of them holding a plate of cooked food.

"Where did you get that?", asked Erza.

"From a stand.", said Laxus.

"They have really good Kiwi Juice back there.", said Lily.

"You drink Kiwi Juice?", asked Sora.

"Its my favorite."

"Everyone is really active today.", said Wendy.

"Yeah. It makes me wish I would never get tired.", said Sora.

"We hold some festivals in Magnolia.", said Wendy. "You should check them out."

"I will!"

"Hey. We found out what this festival is.", said Gajeel while eating a piece of chicken.

"It's a celebration for the Princess' birthday.", said Lily.

"That's nice.", said Erza. "Was there anything else about today?"

"That's all we got.", said Laxus as he finished the food on his plate.

"Erza!"

They then saw Natsu, Lucy, Happy, Gray, and Juvia running towards them.

"What is it?", asked Erza.

"Did you braid your hair?", asked Gray.

"Yes. This is a day of celebration."

"Anyway,we found out what this festival is about.", said Lucy.

"It's the princess' birthday, we already explain it", said Laxus.

"Was there anything else that you know about today?", asked Gray.

"No, that was it.", said Charle

"I wonder if the princess will make an appearance at the festival.", said Sora.

"That's the thing. The princess is not here in the Kingdom.", said Juvia

The five of them explain what they heard at the restaurant, making the others shock on what they're hearing.

"So, the princess has never celebrated her birthday.", said Gajeel.

"That is so sad!", said Erza who was about to cry, making everyone give her a weird look.

"But don't you guys think it has something to do with Rapunzel?", asked Lucy.

"You make a good point. Her mother, Gothel, was a little strange.", said Sora.

"This is getting stranger and stranger by the minute.", said Charle.

"We should go talk to the guards about it.", Natsu suggested.

"Yeah, and get arrested after what we did to their captain.", said Gray with an attitude. "Leave the thinking to the grown ups."

Both Natsu and Gray started fighting each other, making the people around the group stare at them.

"Focus!", shouted Erza as she punched both their heads, making them stop.

"Maybe we should talk to Rapunzel about this after the festival.", said Sora.

"Yeah, we really don't want to ruin this for her.", said Happy.

"For now, let's go see her.", said Erza. "Do any of you know where she is?"

"We saw her at the plaza with Donald, Goofy, and Flynn.", said Lily.

"Let's go."

Flynn was standing in line to get some food while Rapunzel was standing next to them and Donald and Goofy have gone to look for the others. While she was looking, she saw a mother holding a baby and her daughter laying a flower on a memorial of the King and Queen with their baby daughter with long golden hair and bright green eyes.

"It's for the lost princess.", said the girl to the baby.

Rapunzel looked at the princess on the memorial and examine her. It's strange., she thought. She looks familiar.

She then heard a band playing music next to her, snapping her out of her thoughts. She ran after the band and began dancing in the center of the plaza. Everyone started to clap while Flynn and Maximus watched. The rest of the group entered the plaza and saw Rapunzel dancing while others from the crowd join her.

"There she is.", said Sora.

Seeing the group, Rapunzel then said, "C'mon, everyone! Come dance with us!"

"Alright!", said Sora as he went up to a woman and started dancing with her.

"Guess we should join too.", said Lucy as she grabbed Natsu's hand and pulled him into the crowd.

"Gray-sama, let's go outshine these people with our love!", said Juvia as she dragged a reluctant Gray into the crowd.

"I'm gonna join too.", said Wendy to Charle as she headed into the crowd.

"Charle, will you dance with me?", asked Happy who held out his hand to her.

"Well, I suppose since were both Exceeds.", Charle responded by taking Happy's hand.

"Ready? Let's dance!", said Erza as she requip into a light blue dress.

"Would you like to dance?", asked a man who came up to Erza.

"Yes, I would love to.", Erza responded with a smile as the two headed into the center.

"You're not going to join Gajeel?", asked Lily.

"This is stupid.", Gajeel responded. "I'm just gonna head down to the docks."

"Wait up.", said Lily going after Gajeel. The two of them then headed down to the docks.

Laxus was leaning against the all when a young woman walked up to him.

"Excuse me…", she said nervously. "But, would you like to dance with me?"

"Sure. Got nothing else to do.", he responded.

Everyone was dancing in the square. Maximus pushed Flynn into the center to make him dance. Rapunzel was twirling around the center and grab some people to hold hands with each other and dance in a circle at the center. Natsu hold both Lucy's hands and continued dancing while Happy did the same thing with Charle. Gray and Juvia were doing the same method as Natsu and Lucy and Juvia was enjoying it.

Dancing with Gray-sama at a festival is the best thing ever!, she thought. A women then came up towards to two for a dance. When she saw the woman, Juvia gave the woman a creepy obsession expression and said, "Gray-sama is mine!" The woman became nervous and backed away, making Gray sigh with annoyance.

"I can't even see straight!", said the man who was dancing with Erza. But instead of dancing, Erza was twirling the man around in a circle.

"You lack the spirit!", said Erza with confidence.

"That poor man.", said Sora while continuing to dance with the lady.

"She's not doing great, huh?", said Goofy who was dancing near Sora.

"She completely sucks at it!", said Donald who was also dancing near Sora.

Rapunzel then went up to Erza and corrected her dancing, making her dance like Natsu and Lucy.

"She fixed her dancing.", said Laxus.

"You're really good.", said the woman that was dancing with Laxus.

"It's really simple."

They dance for a while until sunset. Rapunzel kept twirling in the center until she was caught by Flynn. Everyone clapped at her dancing.

"To the boats!", someone shouted.

Everyone immediately stopped dancing and headed for the docks.

"Guess it's time.", said Flynn.

"Yeah.", said Rapunzel.