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Later that night, Sora and the gang were sitting off to the side while Rapunzel was going to help Flynn with his hand wound. During this time, Roxas and Aqua were scolding Sora for his rash decision.
"How could you leave like that?! You know we aren't allowed to leave the castle without the guards! What if we get caught? Oh, who am I kidding? We likely have already been found out and are going to get in trouble back at the castle!" Roxas yelled.
"I agree with Roxas. I understand that you wanted to have more freedom and to help this Rapunzel character, but do you know how much you're likely to worry your family should they find out you're gone?! You're just lucky Ventus is trying to cover for you and the others!" Aqua shouted disapprovingly.
"Wait, Ventus is covering for us? That's a relief. Still, even with that we are really pushing our luck to the max! We need to go home now!" Roxas demanded.
"But Rapunzel needs us if she is to see the lanterns tomorrow," Sora said.
"Why does she need your help, anyway? I understand that Gothel is protective of her child like our parents are, but why doesn't she just take her tomorrow without our help?" Roxas questioned.
"Because it is her birthday, just like it is for our missing sister! I just thought that while we were out we could change everything by finding our sister! Why can't you understand that?!" Sora yelled out, causing Roxas to be shocked.
Sora ran off with tears in his eyes. It took a moment but Roxas ran after his brother yelling, "Sora wait!" When he finally caught up to him Sora was crying by the river with his arms wrapped around his legs. Roxas slowly walks towards his brother and sits next to him.
"Hey." Roxas says.
Sora doesn't say anything and turns away from him.
Roxas sighs before saying, "Look, I didn't think you really thought that way about our sister."
Sora, at this, finally spoke. "Really? You didn't think that our whole family is miserable because one of our family members is missing? You never thought that way?!"
Roxas flinched in response to this, now remembering what Ventus had guessed earlier. "Okay, fair enough. On second thought, maybe I did think you felt that way before. I just never thought that you obsessed about it before. You always seemed so happy."
"I am happy about a lot of things. That doesn't mean I can't be sad, though. And our missing sister and the effect it has on our family is the biggest source of sadness for me and everyone else. I guess part of why I want to help Rapunzel so much is that she reminds me so much of me. A happy soul that can feel sad. But that isn't the only reason. I also thought that maybe she is our sister. After all, she has the same hair and eye color and the same name. I know it sounds silly, but it's true," Sora explained, pouring his heart out.
"Yeah, when I saw her I thought the same thing," Roxas revealed.
"Really?!" Sora started to get his hopes up.
"But..."
"But?"
"Sigh, The others and I meet her mom."
"Was she the same woman?"
"No. She was way too young to be the old witch," Roxas said as he shook his head sadly.
"Oh. For a second there I was getting my hopes up," Sora said, disappointed.
"I know. Anyway, I'm sorry for the way I was behaving. I just didn't want to see any of us getting into any trouble. We'll take Rapunzel to see the lanterns tomorrow. I'm sure her mother will understand," Roxas apologized.
"Apology accepted. Speaking of which, where is Rapunzel's mother?" Sora asked.
"She told us to look elsewhere for her daughter while she went to the spot where the tunnel was supposed to end. How about we look for her in the morning?" Roxas suggested.
"Yeah. By the way, we owe Ventus big time. If it weren't for him, our parents would kill us," Sora said.
"And Riku, Namine, and Cass. They didn't rat us out when the guards found them."
"I owe all of you big time for even following me on this crazy adventure."
"Hey, I couldn't let you get in trouble without backup. Besides, that's what family is for," Roxas said.
"We need to get back to the others. They are probably really worried by now."
"Yeah, lets go," Roxas agreed.
"What do you think is taking them?" Aqua asked the others.
"I don't know. Sora looked very upset when he left. It's been a long time since I've seen him like this," Riku answered.
"It makes sense, though. He wanted to return things to being happy for everyone by finding their missing sister, only for Roxas to indirectly push that sensitive button," Kairi explained.
"So, do you think we should take her to see the lanterns tomorrow?" Xion asked. "After all, we don't know if Flynn can be trusted to keep her safe."
"I don't know if we should or not. After all, it's not really our business," Terra reminded.
"I asked Rapunzel before we were asked to be separate from them, and she thinks that Flynn may have some good in him. Besides, she has a bargaining chip to keep things going her way," Namine said.
"I still think we should capture Ryder. He's been a thorn in Corona's side for the longest time now," Cassandra bluntly said.
"B-But if we do that then he'll be killed!" Namine, Xion, and Kairi yelled, horrified.
"Maybe, but doesn't he deserve it for being a criminal for so long?" Cassandra tried to reason.
"Maybe, but death is a horrible punishment, even for him," Riku pointed out.
"I agree, but he still should be taken into custody and punished in some way," Aqua reminded everyone.
"How about we let him remain free until the festival is over. Then, we can take him into custody. If he behaves himself then we can convince the king and queen to not hang him for his crimes," Terra decided.
"Good call, though either way I hope we don't have to take things to such an extreme," Xion said.
"Yeah. Rapunzel really has wanted to see the lanterns and the world outside her tower. She would be devastated if she couldn't go to the festival," Kairi said.
"Speaking of which, is it just me or does Rapunzel remind me of the lost princess?" Namine asked the others.
"Maybe a little, but it could just be coincidence," Cassandra pointed out.
"I don't know. You said that she's eighteen years old, right Kairi?" Riku asked.
"Yes. She also has the same eye and hair color as her," Kairi confirmed.
"Maybe, but remember that the one who took her was old. Unless she found a way to get younger, I doubt that it really is her, as coincidental as it may be," Aqua reminded.
Meanwhile, Dylan was in the middle of scolding Dolly for her reckless actions.
"I can't believe you, Dolly. You let Sora leave the castle and on top of that put him and Da Vinci in danger! Do you have any idea of the trouble you could get us all in if we get caught?!" Dylan yelled.
"I know that! What I don't know is why you can't let me and the other pups have any fun, you boring stick in the mud?!" Dolly countered.
"I'm not trying to be a "boring stick in the mud!" I'm trying to make sure our family takes care of the royal family and has a roof over our heads!" Dylan pointed out.
"Okay, I get it! You're the responsible one and you're always right! I can never be right compared to your obvious greatness!" Dolly sarcastically and bitterly yelled.
"Hey don't mock me! You know it's hard work being a guard dog for Ventus! You should be more responsible when it comes to you watching Sora!" Dylan argued.
"So that's it? You're saying that there's something wrong with me? That I'm bad and wrong while you're mom and dad's favorite?! Even when I am just trying to help Sora and his family?! Well then. I guess that I should never return home if that is the case! Enjoy living in the lap of luxury, Dylan, because that is the place you were obviously born for!" Dolly yelled as she ran off.
Dylan may not have seen it, but there were tears rolling down Dolly's face as she ran off.
A few minutes later, Sora and Roxas returned to the rest of the group.
"You guys are back!" Kairi was happy and ran up to hug Sora.
"So, are you guys feeling better now?" Riku asked the pair.
"We talked it out and we're doing better now," Roxas answered. "Right, Sora?"
"Yeah, Roxas. Tomorrow, we're going to take Rapunzel to see the lanterns," Sora revealed.
"Are you sure? You can easily get caught if you go back to the capital and don't return home," Aqua reminded them.
"I know, but we can't exactly abandon her either," Roxas explained.
"I do agree that it would be right to help Rapunzel, but like Aqua said you could get into serious trouble if caught," Xion warned.
"I have an idea. Maybe Aqua and Cass can return to the castle to help Ventus cover for them. I'll stay with everyone else and help Rapunzel," Terra suggested.
"You know what? That isn't a bad idea. Thanks. We'll be sure to be careful not to get caught in the meantime," Namine thanked Terra along with Cass and Aqua.
"Well, we better head on back in order to help Ventus," Aqua said.
"Hold on! I want to stay out here and help! Why can't I stay out here with everyone else?" Cass protested.
"I'm sorry, Cass, but we need people that know the castle well in order to make sure we can keep the secret from the king and queen. Come on, please?" Aqua asked Cass.
After a minute of thinking, Cass finally decided, "Fine. I'll go with you. But I don't like it. I don't trust Ryder at all."
"Well, we'll see you two later," Riku said.
"Yeah. Good luck!" Kairi said.
"With luck, we'll see you guys again tomorrow night," Xion said.
"Bye, you guys," Aqua said as she and Cass left.
At this, the group returned to Rapunzel and Flynn. Rapunzel was acting a bit strange, but they chalked it up to nervousness about seeing the lanterns the next day. In about an hour, everyone fell asleep, ready for whatever the next day had in store for them.
