Chapter 44

By the time Rapunzel and Flynn were on the boat, it was already dark outside. While Rapunzel and Flynn were on the boat, the rest were sitting on the docks, enjoying the view. Maximus looked at Flynn and Rapunzel with a worried look when Flynn pushed their boat off of the dock.

Seeing the look, Flynn said, "Hey, Max." He then threw a sack of apples in front of Maximus. Maximus looked suspicious. "What? I bought them." After hearing this, Maximus happily ate one of the apples. "Most of them." Maximus immediately stopped chewing looked stun.

"Where are we going?", asked Rapunzel.

"Well, best day of your life. I figured you should have a decent seat."

"Gray-sama, why didn't you get a boat so you could be with Juvia during the lantern show.", said a sad Juvia.

"Cause I like sitting on the ground while looking at the sky.", Gray responded, making Juvia sigh.

"Hey, guys.", shouted Wendy as she came up to the group with Charle, Erza, and Lucy. "We got some lanterns so that we can all light them."

"This is part of the festival.", said Charle.

"Awsome!", said Natsu as he grabbed one of the lanterns.

"So when can we launch them?", asked Happy.

"From what I heard, the King and Queen are suppose to launch their first, then everyone else launches their's.", Lucy explained.

"C'mon, I want to launch it!", said an impatient Natsu.

While on the boat, Rapunzel and Flynn were watching the castle, waiting for the first lantern to come out.

Rapunzel then sighed with a sad look. Flynn noticed this and asked her what's wrong.

"I've been looking out a window for eighteen years, dreaming about what it might feel like when those lights rise in the sky.", she said. "What if it's not everything I dreamed it would be?"

Flynn smiled. "It will be."

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

"Well, that's the good part, I guess. You get to go find a new dream."

They continued to look at the castle until they saw a small light coming from the highest tower in the castle. Rapunzel gasped. She got up and moved to the wooden railing that was sticking out of the boat, making the boat rock a little. She hold onto the railing while she watched in awe, more lights starting to float into the air and lighting the night sky. Soon, lights were covering the entire Kingdom.

Back at the docks, everyone was watching the lights in awe.

"They're so pretty!", said Wendy.

"Yeah!", said Lucy.

"This is a lovely site.", said Charle.

"It's breathtaking.", said Erza.

"Gray-sama, aren't they beautiful.", said Juvia.

"Yeah.", said Gray as he put his arm around Juvia's shoulder, making her face completely red with happiness.

"This is like the Fantasia Parade in Magnolia.", said Laxus.

"Guess we know why they call it the Lantern Festival.", said Gajeel.

"Agreed.", said Lily. "Anyone who saw this will never forget it."

"Alright! Let's light those lanterns!", said Natsu.

"Aye, sir!", said Happy.

"Don't burn the entire lantern.", said Donald.

"Shut up!"

"I don't think Natsu would want to do that.", said Goofy.

"You get it."

Natsu then lighted the rings on the lanterns with his finger and gave everyone their own lantern.

"Ready?", asked Sora.

Everyone nodded and lifted their lanterns in the air.

"Sora, take a picture on the Gummiphone.", said Erza.

"Oh, yeah!", said Sora as he grabbed his phone and took a picture of the floating lanterns.

"I bet Rapunzel and Flynn are enjoying the show too.", said Gray.

Rapunzel was still looking at the lanterns in the sky until Flynn said, "Hey."

She turn and saw Flynn holding two lanterns in each hand. Rapunzel immediately got down and sat in front of Flynn with excitement.

"I have something for you, too.", she said as she pulled out Flynn's bag. Flynn looked surprised. "I should've given it to you before, but I was just scared. And the thing is, I'm not scared anymore. You know what I mean?"

Flynn put the bag down and said, "I'm starting to."

Both of them smiled and lifted their lanterns into the sky. They floated high into the sky until they reached the other lanterns. After looking at the lanterns, Rapunzel and Flynn looked at each other. Flynn then put his hand on Rapunzel's left cheek and brought her closer to him. Before he could bring her closer, Flynn saw the two men from before looking at him, making him worry.

"Is everything alright?", asked Rapunzel.

"Huh? Oh yes.", said Flynn. "Uh, yes of course. I just..."

Flynn then rowed the boat over to a nearby shore and got out of the boat, leaving Rapunzel in it.

"I'm sorry.", said Flynn as he took his bag out of the boat. "Everything is fine. There's...just something I have to take care of."

"Okay.", said an unsure Rapunzel.

"I'll be right back.", he said as he head towards the woods.

Pascal appeared on Rapunzel's shoulder with a worried look.

"It's all right, Pascal.", she said, but then she gave a worried look too.

In another part of the shore, the two men were sitting on some rocks, sharpening their knives. Flynn the approached them and said, "Ahh, there you are. I've been searching everywhere for you guys. Since we got separated. Hey, the sideburns are coming in nice, huh? You gotta be excited about that."

The two men looked unsurprised and kept continuing on their work.

"Anyhow, just wanted to say, I shouldn't have split. The crown is all yours.", he said as he tossed the bag in front of the two men, making the crown appear out of the bag. "I'll miss you, but I think it's for the...best."

Before he could leave, Flynn bumped into the man with the eye patch that appeared behind him.

"Holding out on us again? Hey, Rider?", asked the man sitting on the rock.

"What?"

"We heard you found something.", said the man as he got up and walked towards Flynn, kicking the crown away. "Something much more valuable than a crown. We want her instead."

"Your not getting her.", said Flynn with an angry look. He then got into a fighting position.

"Guess we're doing this the hard way."

Before the men could attack him, they suddenly floated into the air and crashed into each other really fast and hard. They then fell to the ground and laid unconscious.

"What the?", said a surprised Flynn.

Flynn looked around the area to find the source, but there was nothing. Suddenly, a man wearing a black coat with pink hair approached him.

"Who are you?", Flynn asked cautiously.

Before he could get an answer, a dark aura appeared around Flynn's head, making his vision blurry until he pass out onto the ground.

"You're in the way.", said the man.

"This is so nice.", said Charle.

"I wish this could last forever.", said Lucy.

"Yeah. But we all have to move on.", said Laxus.

"I bet those two are having a fun time on that boat.", said Natsu.

"Actually, I don't see them.", said Gray.

"What?"

"Where they go?", asked Donald.

"Must be on break.", said Happy.

"Let them have it. It's Rapunzel's special day.", said Sora.

Suddenly, dark portals appeared behind and Reapers appeared from the portal. The group turn and saw them, they all looked annoyed.

"Could you guys have possibly picked a worse time?", said an annoyed Sora.

"I don't think they appreciate the moment, Sora.", said Goofy.

"Not one bit!", said Donald.

"You ruin the moment!", said an angry Juvia.

"It's time for these wet blankets to go!", said Sora as he summon his Keyblade.

"Yeah!", everyone said as they prepared for battle.

They all fought in the Reapers at the docks. No one was out in that area, so no got involved with the fight. Natsu burned the reapers, then Gray froze some of them, and Juvia furiously attack them with the town's water. Eventually, all the Nobodies were all gone.

"We should go find them.", said Erza. "Natsu, you know what to do."

"Yup!", said Natsu as he sniffed the air for Rapunzel and Flynn's scents.

It was getting foggy out and Rapunzel was leaning against the boat, still waiting for Flynn to return. Suddenly, a figure in the fog was approaching her.

Rapunzel sighed with relief. "I was starting to think you ran off with the crown and left me."

But when she got a better view of the figure, it was not Flynn. It was a man with long pink hair and wearing a black coat.

"Who are you?", she asked.

"Look.", the man responded when he pointed at the water.

Rapunzel looked and saw a boat heading towards the castle. But when she got a better vision, she became horrified at what she saw as the person on the boat was Flynn steering the wheel on the boat. But what she doesn't see is that Flynn is unconscious and tied to the boat with his hands tied to the wheel and the crown in his hand.

"Eugene?", she said. No one on the boat responded. "Eugene!"

"Oh dear… He's run off with the crown and forgotten you.", said the man.

"No. He wouldn't." Rapunzel then looked back at the boat with doubt.

"Forget Flynn Rider. You know where you belong, and it's not with him. Now…" He then summon the Reaper Nobodies behind Rapunzel.

Seeing them, Rapunzel backed away in fear and started to run away from them. Before she could continue, her hair got caught in a branch, causing her to be pulled back. She then pull her hair out of the branch, but it would not budge. Before she can continue, she heard some grunting noises from behind a boulder.

"Rapunzel!", someone shouted.

"Mother?" Rapunzel slowly approached the area where he met the man and saw Gothel holding a stick with both hands and the Reapers were gone.

"Oh, my precious girl.", said Gothel with great relief.

"Mother.", said Rapunzel as she ran up to Gothel and embrace her in a hug.

"Are you all right? Are you hurt?", asked a worried Gothel as she examin Rapunzel.

"Mother, how did you-?"

"I was so worried about you dear. So I followed you. And I saw them attack you." She then hugged Rapunzel. "All right, let's go, let's go before they come to."

Before she could leave, Rapunzel looked back at the boat with a sad look. She then looked at her mother, who was waiting for her. She then ran up to her and started to cry.

"You were right, mother.", she said. "You were right about everything."

"I know darling. I know."

They then walked into the woods.

Meanwhile, the boat Flynn was on approached the docks of the Kingdom. Two guards saw the boat and Flynn on it.

"Look!", said one of them. "The crown."

Flynn then started to wake up.

"Rapunzel.", said a tired Flynn. But when he saw the situation he was in, he began to panic. "Rapunzel!"

The guards then approached the boat. Maximus, still on the docks heard Flynn said, "No, no, no. Wait, wait, wait. Guys, guys." Maximus then saw Flynn being taken away by the guards. "Rapunzel!" Maximus then looked out at the water with a worried look.

"You sure they were here?", asked Donald.

"How many times do I have to tell you. Don't underestimate a Dragon Slayer's nose!", said an annoyed Natsu. "I can smell them here. Along with more scents."

"Someone else was here?", asked Erza.

"Maybe."

"Hey, isn't that Rapunzel?", asked Sora as he saw her and another person walking with her into the woods.

"It is.", said Wendy.

"Wait!", shouted Sora. "Rapunz-"

Sora was then interrupted when Marluxia appeared in front of them.

"You again?", said Natsu, still sounding annoyed.

"Show some decorum.", said Marluxia.

"Marluxia!", said a surprised Sora.

"You met this man too?", asked Erza.

Sora nodded.

"The girl has found her dear mother.", said Marluxia. "You should let them be."

"And why is that?", asked Sora.

"Because Rapunzel is far too important."

"You mind explaining yourself.", Erza said with a serious tone.

"Certainly. Atop her tower, she must remain out of sight and live out her days with Mother Gothel."

"And never see anyone else?", said Goofy.

"But that's like...locking her in some prison!"

"That is exactly what it's like.", said Marluxia. "Rapunzel's hair holds the powerful magic of healing."

"'Healing?' Like my Sky Magic?", asked Wendy.

"Yes. And Mother Gothel wants it for herself. As do others."

Erza then remember what Rapunzel said. "Mother said when I was a baby, people tried to cut it. They wanted to take it for it's cut, it turns brown and loses its power. A gift like that, it has to be protected." Erza then remember the princess' memorial at the Kingdom and took notice of the princess' hair.

"I know who the lost princess is.", she said.

"What?", asked Lucy.

"It was Rapunzel. She was kidnapped by Gothel so she could have her powers."

"But how do you know that?", asked Charle.

"When Lucy told me the waitress' story and seeing the princess' golden hair on the memorial. They both had long golden hair."

"You got it.", said Marluxia. "And, if Mother Gothel's actions will protect Rapunzel, preserve her...then she is doing the Organization a favor."

"What favor?", asked Sora.

"They want her power. Is that it?", asked Gray.

"Let's say she's keeping Rapunzel on the shelf for us.", Marluxia answered. "An extra pawn in case you fail to find the remaining guardians of light, and we have occasion to call on other hearts of light instead. A New Seven Hearts to fill out the ranks."

"'New Seven Hearts'?", question Sora.

"Are they the new Princesses of Hearts?", asked Happy.

"Yes." Marluxia continued. "Seven who inherited the princesses' light after their role was fulfilled."

"I knew something was going on in this world.", said Laxus.

"So, you don't care about her.", said Sora. "You guys just want Rapunzel for your own purposes!" Sora then summon his Keyblade. "Well, you're done here!"

"Keeping her imprison like that.", Erza growled. "You will pay for this!"

Marluxia looked unsurprise. "Hmph. I just knew you would go and make a scene. Very well, then it's lights out for you."

Marluxia lifted his arm and straighten it. Then, a powerful wind came from Marluxia and it hitted Sora in the face. Suddenly, Sora's vision became blurry and he dropped his Keyblade, surprising his friends. He then started to fall to the ground and his vision became black.

"You always were such a sound sleeper."

"Sora!", shouted Natsu, Donald, and Goofy.

"What did you do?", asked Erza demandingly.

"He was in the way. So I put him to sleep.", said Marluxia.

"Damn you!"

Erza summon one of her blades and charged towards Marluxia. Before she could land a hit, Marluxia summon his Scythe and blocked her attack. Seeing his weapon she jumped back towards the group.

"Whoa.", said Donald and Goofy with awe.

"I guess that's your weapon."

"Correct. It's called Graceful Dahlia. I will not let you take her away from us."

"You shouldn't keep your focus on us.", said Gajeel.

"That's right. Flynn will save her!", said Lucy.

"If you're putting high hopes into him, don't bother. He will never reach her.", said Marluxia.

"What did you do to him!?", asked an angry Natsu.

"He is a criminal, is he not? And like all criminals, the deserve to be punished. Flynn Rider is to be hang tomorrow morning."

There was shocked on everyone's faces.

"No way!", said Juvia.

"You bastard!", shouted Natsu.

"I better go guards those two. Good luck on trying to save them.", said Marluxia as he disappeared into a dark corridor.

"Dammit!"

"Great. This one is lying unconscious and Flynn's about to be sentenced to death.", said Gray.

"This is turning into the worst night ever!", said Donald.

"Sora, wake up!", said Goofy as he shook Sora, but he did not wake up.

"It must be a sleep spell.", said Laxus.

"Erza-san, what should we do?", asked Wendy.

"We can't let them win.", said Charle.

"First, we must save Flynn.", said Erza. "If Gothel wanted to use Rapunzel's powers, she would not hurt her."

"But how are we going to get him out?", asked Lily.

Suddenly, a russell came from the bushes. Everyone prepare for battle until Natsu stopped them. Figure came out of the bushes, revealing to be Maximus.

"Maximus!", said a surprised Erza.

Maximus then pointed his snout at the Kingdom and at the forest.

"You want to help us?"

Maximus nodded.

"You really are a noble horse.", she said as she petted him. "Since, Maximus knows the castle, will split into groups. Natsu, Gray, Lucy, Juvia, and Happy will rescue Flynn with Maximus."

"You got it!", said Natsu and Gray.

"Wendy, Charle, Donald, and Goofy. Watch over Sora."

"Yes, ma'am!", all of them said.

"The rest of us will go after Rapunzel. Are we ready?"

"Yeah!"