Tucking away her paints, Rapunzel squealed. I climbed onto the back of her hand. "This is a very big day, Pascal. I'm finally gonna do it, I'm going to ask her." She chuckled.

Almost immediately, Mrs. Red voice rang through the air. "Rapunzel!"

Rapunzel gasped in excitement.

"Let down your hair!" She called out, slightly anxious.

"Ah! It's time!" She squealed. I puffed out my chest in confidence, trying to convince her to do the same.

"I know, I know. Come on, don't let her see you." She placed me on the wall. I smiled, but there was no way I was watching from this distance. I changed color to a navy blue, but the minute she jumped down from the ledge, I hitched a ride on the very end of her hair.

"Rapunzel, I'm not getting any younger down here!" I rolled my eyes at this comment. I hated how Rapunzel did all this labor for her mother, but it was her mother.

"Coming, mother!" I heard Rapunzel call out. The end of the hair started moving rapidly and it occurred to me that she was throwing it out the window and I was still attached to the end of it. I quickly let go and slid across the newly polished floors to rest behind an old vanity.

By the time I caught my breath and I was sure I didn't badly injure myself, Rapunzel was already getting the chair and stool for her mother. -. I started to take a step, but I gasped at the pain in my ribs. The end of the hair was in my reach and I quickly grabbed it and wrapped it around my side.

The warming magic flowed through my body and calmed me. I almost stepped out to get more, but I remember Mrs. Red was still there. I unwrapped myself and looked at the scene unfolding.

"That's the funny thing about birthdays, they're kinda an annual thing." She sighed and sat down on the stool. She rearranged herself. I turned quickly to stratch an itch developing on my side.

"What I really want for this birthday...actually what I've wanted for quite a few birthdays now." She mumbled, trailing off, even though it was a pet peeve of Mrs. Red.

"Rapunzel, Rapunzel, stop with the mumbling. You know how I hate the mumbling-blah, blah-blah-blah blah, I'm just kidding, you're so adorable, I love you so much." She walked off, leaving Rapunzel with a confused look on her face. I quietly tugged on her hair and when she turned around, I gestured her forward, encouraging her.

"Uh! I want to see the floating lights!" She blurted out.

I smacked my claw on my face. Smooth, just...smooth.

"Uh, what?" Her moter asked with a faked surprised expression. She placed the fruit she was holding back in the basket.

"Well, I was hoping you'd take me to see the floating lights." She climbed onto the ledge and moved aside the curtain. She looked back at her mother with an expectant look on her face.

Please say yes, please say yes, please say-

"Oh. You mean the stars." She picked up another piece of fruit.

"That's the thing." She tossed her hair up and opened a trapdoor, illuminating a diagram of the stars. We had rehearsed this part, so I mouthed along with her.

I've charted stars and they're always constant. These happen every year on my birthday, only on my birthday. And I can't help but feel like their meant...for me.

I could of been an actor in a past life. Mrs. Red stared at her as Rapunzel kept talking. She shook her head and walked to the window.

I have to see them. And not just from my window, in person. I have to know what they are.

"But you want to go outside? Why, Rapunzel." She slammed the window shut. The large sound startled me and I backed up against the wall, just listening, in case there are many more sounds.

"Look at you, as fragile as a flower. Still a little sapling, just a sprout. You know why we stay up in this tower."

Rapunzel protested. "I know but-"

Gothel interjected, "That's right, to keep you safe and sound here." She whisked something shut and the light dimmed. The curtain.

"Soon that you would want to leave the nest." She sang. "Soon, but not yet."

Rapunzel protested. "But-"

Gothel interuppted, "Trust me pet, mother-knows-best." The tower plunged into darkness.

A heavy box shifted in front of the opening of the vanity. Everything was instantly muffled. Only a few words made it's way through the box. A smell of wax drifted to my nostrils. The box of candles was blocking the opening. A rustling came from the direction of the box and the stench of old people wafted through, meaning Mrs. Red was getting candles. Once the rustling stopped, I slammed my body into the box.

It was too heavy.

"Ruffians, thugs..." It faded off. More rustling.

I slammed my body again and the box shifted a little.

"And stop, no more, you'll just upset me..."

Even more rustling. Given that Mrs. Red's income comes from the candles, this was a waste of money. More body slamming. More shifting.

"Sloppy, underdressed, immature, clumsy..." Why was Mrs. Red singing about herself? Anyway, I have to body slam more wood.

I had a growing pain in my side, so I rested and listened.

Mother understands, mother here's to help you. All I have is one request!"

A little mumbling was all that reached the box afterwards. The box shifted and I counted to fifty before crawling out. Rapunzel was by the window.

"I'll be here." She whispered. I crawled up her hair and nuzzled her, staring out at the cave entrance.