Chapter 14: I See the Light
Rapunzel looked up in wonder at the towering structure that was Eglise Soliel, her expression mirrored by Pascal, who sat on her head. The bright stained glass windows glimmered in the setting sun while the growing shadows highlighted the features of the statues carved into its walls. Up above, the looming sight of the royal castle sat above the cathedral, lights from dozens upon dozens of lanterns just waiting to be released illuminating the castle from below.
"It's beautiful," she whispered.
"You should see the inside," Flynn commented with a smile.
"We should!" Rapunzel exclaimed, as she grabbed Quasi's hand and began to drag him over to the cathedral. As she did though, she noticed that the others weren't following them.
"Aren't you guys coming?" she asked, confused.
"Nah," Flynn said, waving his hands at the two of them to go on without them, "We got plans. You two go have fun."
"Oh okay," she said with a puzzled look on her face before she turned to Quasi and beamed at him, "Let's go!"
Quasi glanced over his shoulder as Rapunzel continued to drag him with her. As he did, he saw Flynn smile and wink at him, which he returned with a nervous smile of his own.
"So," Esmeralda began, smirking as she looked at Flynn, Djali looking up at him next to her, "What exactly are these plans that we have?"
"We'll I don't think it's as good as Quasi's but I think I know a nice place to watch the lanterns," Flynn explained.
"Great!" Phoebus said in a mocking tone, "Where would that be?"
Flynn just glared at him for a few moments while Phoebus smiled mockingly at him.
"You're mocking me, aren't you?" Flynn guessed as he continued to glare at Phoebus.
"Only a little," Phoebus replied, "Still, I should probably stay with you two to keep you out of trouble."
"Relax, Captain," Flynn said, "You've gotten us through the worst of it. Trust me, Esmeralda and I can take care of ourselves."
"That's not what I'm afraid of," Phoebus replied with a snort.
"Hey, just relax. Enjoy yourself. I know of some lovely ladies who would surely enjoy your company this evening," Flynn stated with a grin before he indicated towards a group of women who were watching them, giggling and waving at Phoebus. A smile crossed Phoebus's face as he waved back at them, causing the women to burst into a fresh chorus of giggles.
"See, plenty of things to keep you occupied," Flynn said with a smile as he patted Phoebus' shoulder. As he did Maximus snorted in annoyance and rolled his eyes.
"Don't think I forgot about you, my equine friend," Flynn said, eyeing the horse with a grin, "I got a special treat for you to share with the goat."
The horse and goat looked at him skeptically as Flynn pulled out a burlap sack filled with something. Opening it, Flynn revealed it was filled with apples as he laid it before the two animals. Maximus and Djali smiled excitedly before a suspicious look crossed the horse's face and he sniffed the apples cautiously while Djali began to devour the apples.
"Relax," Flynn said, with a smile, "I didn't steal them."
Maximus whined happily as he began to dig into the bag of apples with a relish.
"Well, most of them anyway," Flynn said with a sly grin and a shrug as he and Esmeralda began walking away. Maximus froze in his eating before raising his head and glaring at Flynn, who merely chuckled in reply.
"That was mean," Esmeralda half-chided as a small grin spread across her face.
"You enjoyed it," Flynn replied simply, his grin growing.
"So where are you taking me?" Esmeralda asked, "Assuming I even agree to go with you."
"You're following me, aren't you?" Flynn replied with a raised eyebrow.
"Call me curious," she answered, her own smile growing, "Also you didn't answer my question."
"Quasi may be taking Blondie to the best spot for watching the lanterns, but let's just say I know of a good spot of my own."
"That still doesn't answer my question," Esmeralda pressed, crossing her arms.
"You'll just have to wait and see," he answered, causing Esmeralda to roll her eyes but continued to follow anyway, smiling to herself.
Meanwhile,
Quasi pushed open the large wooden doors leading into the cathedral, before quickly slipping inside, holding the door open for Rapunzel. She cautiously stepped inside, her and Pascal's eyes going wide as they looked around and gasped in amazement.
The cathedral was made up mostly of a single large room with a high vaulted ceiling held up by a few rows made up of dozens of marble columns. The walls were decorated with numerous murals and frescos depicting scenes from the history of the religion or important people in it. All the pictures and frescos also carry the theme of light and the sun, many having a sun in the background or one of the historical figures having a sunburst somewhere on their person. The room ran from east to west, with the door to the cathedral in the west end while at the east end was an altar on a raised stage, towards which numerous wooden pews were facing. The altar was large and square in shape, made of dark, heavy wood on the front of which another sunburst had been carved and painted a beautiful glowing gold. Numerous candles of various sizes were lit upon large candlesticks of gold, symbols of the sun molded into the metal.
Her eyes slowly drifting upwards, she saw the large painted glass window above the altar. It was painted light blue, pink, yellow and white, invoking the colors of the sky surrounding the rising sun. Glancing behind her, she saw that there was an equally large stained glass window above the door, colored red, orange and purple like the sky surrounding the setting sun. Slowly, her eyes drifted to the ceiling. A multitude of pictures had been painted upon the plaster covering the ceiling. At the very center of the ceiling was a great depiction of the sun, a large golden circle surrounded by an aura of sunrays reaching out towards the surrounding picture. Surrounding it were four depictions of the moon. The full moon sat on the north side and the new moon sat on the south side, while the waning and waxing crescents flanked it to the east and west. Further out, the ceiling was colored a dark purple and the multitude of stars in the night sky were painted in white upon the background.
As she looked up in wonderment, she slowly made her way forward into the center of the room, her bare feet silent on the cold stone floor. As she walked, she felt a sudden change in the texture of the floor change. Looking down, she saw that directly below the depiction of the sun on ceiling was another depiction of the sun, only this one was depicted an angry red color, surrounded by an aura of flames. The image sent chills down Rapunzel's spine, though she couldn't say why. She quickly stepped off the painting and in doing so bumped into a person walking by.
"Oh, I'm so sorry!" she exclaimed, turning around to face the person she had bumped as Pascal hid himself in her hair. He was an old man, with greyish white hair and warm brown eyes. He had numerous wrinkles and stood only to her height. He wore dark brown ropes, trimmed in gold, with the hood pulled up and he wore a golden sunburst medallion held by a golden chain around his neck.
"Oh no, do not trouble yourself, my dear," he said laughing good naturedly, before looking at her, his eyes squinting in concentration, "Now I'm getting on in years and I don't remember everyone who visits my Lord's house but I don't think I would forget someone with hair as long as yours. Is this your first visit to Eglise Soliel?"
"I-It is," she said nervously.
"No need to be nervous, my dear," he said in a friendly tone, "We accept everyone in here. What is your name?"
"Rapunzel," she stated simply.
"Rapunzel, that's a nice name," he said with a smile, earning a smile from Rapunzel in return, "I'm the Archpriest of this cathedral. What brings you to us on this festive day?"
"I was visiting with my friend," she replied.
"You're friend, and where would your friend be?" he asked.
Rapunzel pointed behind him and the Archpriest turned around, his eyes widening in surprise as he saw Quasi lingering near the door.
"Quasimodo!" he gasped in surprise, earning glances from other priests who were milling around. Ignoring the glances and whispers, the Archpriest rushed over, Rapunzel following him.
"Quasimodo what are you doing here?" he asked in a hushed tone as he led the hunchback over to a corner of the room for some privacy, "You're a wanted man!"
"It's my fault," Rapunzel spoke up, catching the Archpriest's attention.
"What do you mean?" he questioned.
"It's a long story," Rapunzel admitted, "But basically he hid in my house and I asked him to take me to see the floating lights."
"The floating lights?" the Archpriest asked, "You mean the lanterns?"
Rapunzel nodded.
"What ever for?" he questioned.
"Because I have never seen them," Rapunzel admitted nervously.
"You've never seen them?" the Archpriest asked, confusion on his face before a stern look replaced it, "Very well, both of you, tell me the whole story."
Rapunzel looked at Quasi nervously, but he smiled at her and took her hand in order to calm her. Feeling her hair shift, she looked at Pascal as he crawled onto her shoulder, and smiled as he gave her a thumbs up.
"It's alright," Quasi encouraged her, "I've known him my entire life."
Rapunzel nodded before taking a calming breath and explaining everything that had happened in the past few days, with Quasi filling in where necessary. She told him about her home, her mother, the crown and the adventures that led them to where they were now. She even told him about her hair and its unique properties.
"You're hair has healing properties?" he asked in wonderment, looking at her long golden locks. She nodded in reply, happy the Archpriest was taking everything so well.
"You are truly blessed my dear," the Archpriest replied a look of awe on his face, "The Lord Soliel grants such gifts occasionally, though it is very rare and I have never heard of a blessing such as yours."
"Blessing? Lord Soliel?" Rapunzel asked in confusion, "I'm sorry but I don't understand what you're talking about."
"You don't know of the Lord Soliel?" the Archpriest asked in surprise, "Don't you know what this building is used for?"
Rapunzel shook her head. The Archpriest looked at Quasi for an answer but the hunchback merely shrugged in reply.
"Well, Lord Soliel is the sun," the Archpriest explained, "And this building is used for worshipping him."
"Worship the sun?" she asked in confusion, "Why?"
"For all the good he does, of course!" The Archpriest explained like it was the most obvious thing in the world, "He grants light to combat the darkness and heat to fight off the cold. It is he who makes the plants grow. He is the granter of life. He's the reason we are here. That is why we worship him."
"So you're thanking the sun for what it does?" Rapunzel asked, "I didn't even think the sun was alive, let alone actively helping people."
"Oh yes, he is very much alive, and very much helping," the Archpriest explained, "Most of it is in the broad terms that I spoke of, but there are other ways he helps, such as the teachings he has left for us or the blessings he grants on rare occasion."
"Teachings?" Rapunzel asked, "What teachings?"
"Soliel has left many teachings for us other the centuries, through his prophets. He teaches us that we must love one another, help each other when we are sick, or injured or hungry or cold. He teaches us that it is through peace and cooperation, not war and bloodshed, that we become great."
"I like that," Rapunzel stated with a smile, before turning her attention to the painting on the ceiling, "So what is that depicting?"
"Well, at the center is a depiction of Lord Soliel's peaceful side," he explained as he walked towards the center of the room, Rapunzel and Quasi following.
"Peaceful side?" Rapunzel asked.
"As with everyone, Lord Soliel has his moods" the Archpriest replied, "Most of the time, he is peaceful and loving. But if he is angered, usually by some great crime or injustice a person has done to another, he…well…"
As the Archpriest paused, he stopped in the center of the room, looking down at the red depiction of the sun at his feet.
"Is that the angry sun?" Rapunzel asked nervously as Pascal retreated into her hair out of fear.
"It is," the Archpriest said with a nod.
"What happens when he gets angry?" she asked cautiously.
"He will punish the offender, usually killing them and keeping their soul trapped in his fiery core, burnt by what has been dubbed hellfire until he deems their crimes have been punished and he puts their soul into a new body," the Archpriest explained.
"Places their soul in a new body?" Rapunzel asked, "What does that mean?"
"It means that if a soul is judged unworthy, then Lord Soliel will return their soul to earth in a new body to try to live a better life this time around. Usually, this would be a lesser form, such as an animal," the Archpriest elaborated.
"Or a hunchback," Quasi said solemnly.
"Is that true?" Rapunzel asked after she gasped in surprise at Quasi's comment.
"It could be," the Archpriest replied, before continuing in response to Rapunzel's saddened expression, "It could also be if he was the soul of an animal reborn as a person for its good deeds. It's also possible for a brand new soul to be born in such a way."
This seemed to placate Rapunzel, but Quasi still seemed saddened.
"Lord Soliel does not give us burdens he does not believe we can carry," the Archpriest said, placing a hand on Quasi's shoulder and squeezing it, smiling at Quasi and earning a smile in return.
"What happens if you were good and don't need to be reborn?" Rapunzel asked.
"Then you join Lord Soliel and his wife in the sky," the Archpriest replied, looking up at the painted ceiling.
"You mean you become a star!?" Rapunzel asked excitedly.
"Indeed, and you spend the rest of eternity amongst the rest of the greatest souls and basking in the presence of our Lord, observing life for all of time," the Archpriest explained.
"Wow," Rapunzel whispered in amazement.
"Yes, it is quite amazing," the Archpriest agreed.
"What about his wife?" Rapunzel asked, "You said the sun had a wife."
"Who do you think that would be?" Quasi asked playfully.
"You mean the moon?" she asked.
"Indeed, Lady Lune is Soliel's lovely wife and our loving mother, watching over us and her husband as we sleep," The Archpriest explained.
"Wow," Rapunzel said in awe.
"Indeed," the Archpriest agreed before glancing at the setting sun outside the western window.
"I believe you two should be moving up to the bell tower," the Archpriest suggested with a grin, "You don't want to miss the lanterns."
"Oh right!" Quasi said, before grabbing Rapunzel's hand and leading her across the hall, "Thank you, your Eminence!"
"It was nice meeting you!" Rapunzel said, waving as she ran off with Quasi.
"You as well," he said with a chuckle, before she disappeared with Quasi through a door, the last thing he saw of her was a flash of her blonde hair. Seeing that made him think before he made his way towards his office.
Quasi and Rapunzel raced up the winding stone stairs, smiles on their faces as they reached the bell tower. She gasped in amazement as she looked around at the vaulted tower, holding dozens of iron bells, ranging from the size of her head to one that looked like it could swallow her whole. Pascal quickly crawled from her hair and looked up at the bells from her shoulder, his eyes going wide in wonder.
After giving her a moment to look around, Quasi took her hand and lead her up a set of wooden platform from which he rung the bells, before leading her out a stone doorway onto one of the balconies. Rapunzel gasped in astonishment and happiness and Pascal's mouth dropped open in shock, as she stood on the balcony, the entire city stretched out before her, with the water surrounding it beyond, sparkling in the setting sun. Most eye-catching however was the royal palace on the higher part of the hill north of cathedral. Its towers shot up into the evening sky, the setting sun reflecting off the pure white of the castle's stone walls. As the night fell across the city, the glow from the castle courtyard became more and more prominent, as more people gathered there with lanterns, waiting for the sun to fully set.
Rapunzel brought up her hands to her mouth, covering her smile as tears began to well up in her eyes.
"Oh my goodness," she whispered, "It's so beautiful."
"Yeah," Quasi said as he looked up at her, studying her overjoyed face, "Beautiful."
"Thank you," she said, turning to look at him, causing him to blush and glance away when he realized he had been starring. Rapunzel seemed to take no notice.
"It really wasn't any trouble," Quasi replied, scratching his head awkwardly.
"We both know it was a lot of trouble," she stated as she kneeled down in front of him and pulled him into a hug. Quasi blushed before returning the hug.
"Thank you," she whispered to him before kissing him on the cheek, causing his whole face to turn tomato red. Rapunzel giggled as a small blush crossed her face as well. Seeing her giggle Quasi chuckled nervously as well, relieving some of the tension. They laughed together for a few moments before they fell into a weighty silence. Quasi stared into Rapunzel's light green eyes as she gazed into his dark blue ones. As he looked closer, he saw golden specks in her eyes near the pupil that he hadn't noticed before. She smiled shyly as her blush continued to spread, all the while their face were slowly getting closer. Noticing this, Quasi gulped nervously as he felt his face get even hotter, but he kept going as Rapunzel slowly closed her eyes and leaned forward as well. Just as their lips were about to meet, Quasi heard a noise.
"Quasi!" he heard the voice say, causing him to start and pull backwards, in turn causing Rapunzel to lose her balance, her arms pinwheeling as she tried to keep from falling forward. Letting out a cry of surprise, Quasi quickly grabbed her arms and rebalanced her.
"Sorry," he apologized as she glanced over to where the voice had come from, seeing the gargoyles peeking out from around a column, signaling to him.
"It's okay," Rapunzel replied, now unsure of herself as she rubbed her arm nervously, "Is something wrong?"
"No, nothing's wrong," he replied quickly as he began to move over towards the gargoyles, "I just have to take care of something quickly."
"Ok…" she said, still confused and unsure as Quasi turned and walked away.
Quasi quickly ducked behind the column where the three gargoyles were waiting.
"Quasi!" Hugo greeted happily, "Long time no see!"
"When I told you to go out into the world, I kind of hoped you'd come back!" Laverne exclaimed.
"Is it true what we've heard? You stole the crown?" Victor questioned, clearly distressed.
"And who's the dame?" Hugo asked, indicating to Rapunzel.
"You had better start explaining yourself!" Laverne cried.
"Okay, hold on," Quasi said, holding up his hands defensively, glancing over at Rapunzel, who had gotten up and was exploring the bell tower, "Let me explain."
While Quasi talked to the gargoyles, Rapunzel wandered around the bell tower. Eventually, she came across the model of the cathedral and courtyard that Quasi had built. She smiled as she picked up the model Quasi had made of himself and looked it over. She was snapped out of her train of thought as she heard Quasi's voice nearby. Curiosity overpowering her, she followed the voice until she came to a corner. Peeking around it, she found him apparently talking to three stone gargoyles.
"Quasi?" she spoke up, causing him to jerk around in surprise, eyes wide, "What are you doing?"
"Um…I…uh….that is…" he sputtered trying to think of an explanation that wouldn't make him seem crazy.
"Were you talking to those gargoyles?" she asked as she stepped out in front of him, looking at him in confusion.
"…Yes," he relented with a sigh.
"Why?" she asked.
"They're…they're my friends…" he replied.
"Your friends?" she asked.
"Yes…growing up here I really didn't have anyone other than the Archpriest and…my master," he explained.
"You wanted friends…" she continued, "So you made some…"
"I suppose," Quasi agreed, glancing back at the gargoyles "Though I didn't really make them. They were just there one day."
"I completely understand," Rapunzel replied, catching Quasi totally off guard.
"Huh?" he asked, unable to form a better question.
"Quasi, before you, my only friend in the world was a chameleon," she explained, causing Pascal to squeak angrily from her shoulder.
"I never said I was complaining," she said, rolling her eyes as she chuckled, before turning back to Quasi, "Can I meet them?"
"Excuse me?" Quasi asked, clearly confused.
"Can I meet them?" she repeated, "Is there a way?"
"I suppose. Let me think," Quasi said, before taking a moment to think, "Okay, I have an idea. Close your eyes."
Rapunzel nodded before closing her eyes, Pascal following suit on her shoulder.
"Okay, now I need you to picture the three of them," Quasi instructed.
"Alright," Rapunzel said with a nod.
"The short fat one, that's Hugo," Quasi explained, "He's a bit of boor, always interested in the physical. He's loud and crass, but he has a big heart and wears it on his sleeve."
"I think I got it," Rapunzel replied, a small smile spreading across her face.
"The tall one is Victor," Quasi continued, "He's an intellectual, always prim and proper and interested in learning something new. He's emotional and loyal and a true friend."
"Go on," Rapunzel urged him, nodding her head.
"The last one, that's Laverne," Quasi went on, "She's an old girl, the grandmother I never had. She's deeply caring and always there to support you, even when you don't support yourself."
"I think…I think I see them," Rapunzel whispered.
"Then open your eyes and meet them," he said gently.
Rapunzel slowly opened her eyes and let out a gasp of surprise at the sight before her. The gargoyles had come to life before her very eyes, the three of them smiling up at her.
"Hey, nice to meet ya, toots!" Hugo said, hopping over to her and shaking her hand.
"It's nice to meet you all too!" she exclaimed, laughing happily.
"What's your name, dearie?" Laverne asked.
"Rapunzel," she answered.
"It's wonderful to make your acquaintance, Rapunzel," Victor greeted her.
"Sounds like you and Quasi here have been having one hell of an adventure!" Hugo commented.
"It's been an exciting couple of days, I'll say that," Rapunzel laughed.
As they talked, Pascal crawled off of Rapunzel's shoulder and onto Hugo's head, causing the gargoyle to jump in surprise.
"Hey, get off my head, ya stupid gecko!" he shouts, waving his hands around his head in an effort to brush Pascal off. Instead, Victor reached down and scooped Pascal off before Hugo could get to him.
"He's not a gecko, he's a chameleon," Victor says, raising his hand up to better examine Pascal, "And a marvelous specimen at that."
Pascal puffed out his chest proudly at the compliment.
"Don't give Pascal to much praise," Rapunzel laughed, "It will all go to his head."
Pascal squeaked with indignation as he glared at Rapunzel earning chuckles from everyone else.
"You two should probably head to the roof if you want to see the show," Laverne told them, taking Rapunzel's hand, "You don't want to miss out on your dream."
"Right," Rapunzel said, suddenly nervous.
"Don't be nervous, dearie," Laverne said, giving Rapunzel's hand a reassuring pat, "Dreams aren't worth having if you don't chase them."
"Thank you," Rapunzel said nodding her head, taking Pascal as Victor handed him back to her, "It was wonderful getting to meet you all."
"The pleasure was all ours," Victor replied.
Rapunzel nodded and smiled before turning and taking Quasi's hand, allowing him to lead her towards the way to the roof.
"Nice kid," Hugo commented as they watched her go.
"I think we'll be seeing a lot more of her," Laverne stated, "I got a good feeling about her."
Meanwhile
The waters surrounding the city of Corona were calm, except for the soft paddling of a single rowboat, its paddles dipping in and out of the water every few seconds, propelling the boat through the dark waters. In the boat, Esmeralda and Flynn sat facing each other, with Flynn rowing the boat.
"So your secret spot is in the middle of the harbor?" Esmeralda asked, raising an eyebrow at him.
"Hey, don't knock it until you've seen the view," Flynn replied. Esmeralda merely rolled her eyes but said nothing more.
Eventually, Flynn pulled the oars out of the water as the boat glided to a stop.
"Alright, ready for a show?" Flynn asked with a smile.
"I am," Esmeralda replied, before a nervous look crossed her face, "Flynn, I wanted to talk to you about something."
"What's that?" Flynn asked.
"These last few days…they've really changed my opinion of you," she admitted and after a moment of hesitation, she reached out and took his hands in hers, catching him off guard.
"I mean, I don't think you were unaware of how I thought of you," she continued, bringing his attention back to what she was saying.
"Selfish, amoral, egotistical," Flynn provided, "Yeah, I got that vibe."
"Well, I don't see that in you anymore," she replied, "And it doesn't feel like you've changed. It feels like everything before…everything about Flynn Rider was an act."
"It feels like I'm meeting you for the first time," she continued, looking him right in the eye with an earnest expression, "And I like this person. I like Eugene Fitzherbert. I like him a lot."
"Wow," Flynn said with a surprised smile, "That…that means a lot coming from you."
"Why's that?" Esmeralda asked in confusion.
"You…you're a amazing person, Esmeralda," he said nervously, "I mean, you're such a kind, thoughtful, wonderful person. You always strive to be the best person you can be and to help people whenever you can. Trust me, I felt like a creep anytime you were around me. I was a creep compared to someone like you."
"I…that's…" Esmeralda mumbled, caught off guard by his kind words.
"It's not every day you meet someone who's as beautiful on the inside as they are on the outside."
"Flynn…that's the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me," Esmeralda admitted, a small blush crossing her face as she looked at him in amazement.
"Please," he said, looking her right in the eye and flashing a genuine smile at her, "Call me Eugene."
Meanwhile
King Henri stood in his bedchambers, looking at himself in a perfectly polished mirror that showed every detail, from his carefully trimmed brown hair and beard, spotted here and there with grey hairs, to his regal red and yellow clothes made of the finest cloth and tailored to his powerful build, to the golden crown on his head, decorated with the finest jewels.
All around him, his room was furnished with the finest things in the kingdom, from his hand carved bed and its goosedown mattress, to the magnificently painted stone walls, to the floor carpeted with the finest furs.
He had everything a man could ever want and yet as he looked at himself in the mirror, he could see only sorrow and pain etched across his feature.
"It's her eighteenth birthday today," the queen, Susanne, whispered from her position in a hand craved chair near a pair of glass doors leading out onto a balcony looking over the city, her arms wrapped around an unlit paper lantern.
"She would be a woman grown," Henri stated.
"She is a woman grown," the queen corrected, to which the king did not reply, the fact he did not share in her hope going unstated.
"It's time," she stated, standing up and walking over to him, handing him the lantern.
Henri nodded, taking the lantern and a lit candle sitting on his dresser before solemnly walking to and through the doors out onto the balcony.
Down below, the castle's courtyard was filled with the citizens of the city, each holding a lit lantern, the combined light illuminating the entire courtyard and castle. The people turned their eyes towards their king and queen, wearing solemn expressions to match the monarchs' own.
Meanwhile, upon the very roof of the cathedral, Rapunzel and Quasi stood watching the event.
"Look!" Quasi exclaimed, pointing towards the balcony, "It's the king and queen!"
Rapunzel followed his gaze and her heart swelled as she could just see the figures standing on the balcony.
"They'll light their lantern and release it first," Quasi explained, "And then the others will follow."
A nervous expression suddenly crossed Rapunzel's face as she gripped onto one of the spires for stability as she felt her legs grow weak and her heart speed up.
"What's wrong?" Quasi asked, instantly at her side with a concerned look on his face.
"I…I don't think I can do this," she whispered.
"Why not?" Quasi questioned, confused.
"What if I it's not everything I hope it is?" she asked, her expression on the edge of panic, "Or what if it is? What do you do when your dreams are fulfilled?"
"Well, I guess you find a new dream," Quasi said, taking her hand and squeezing it. Rapunzel looked at him for a few moments before a smile crossed her face and she nodded her head in understanding.
"Look!" Quasi exclaimed, pointing towards the castle with his free hand, "It's starting."
Rapunzel immediately spun around and latched onto the spire, pulling herself up it to get the best view possible as Pascal climbed to the top of her head.
Meanwhile, in the harbor, Esmeralda and Eugene turned from each other and looked up towards the castle, smiles of excitement growing across their faces.
On the castle's balcony the queen took the lit candle from the king and lit the lantern. Together they both took hold of the lantern and held it out above the balcony, before releasing the lantern, allowing it to float up into the night sky. A moment later, the citizens of the city followed suit and released their lanterns as well and the night sky came alive with light.
As the lanterns floated across the sky, many of them floated over the cathedral, illuminating the great church and the young man and woman standing on the roof. Rapunzel's mouth hung open in wonderment as she took in the sight. The lanterns, the lights, the way they danced through the sky and illuminated the entire city with their glow. It was everything she had ever dreamed of and more.
As she followed some of the lanterns across the sky, one floated down low and passed behind her. Turning around to follow it, she saw Quasi doing the same, a look of happiness and wonder on his face. Suddenly, they both turned from the lantern and looked at each other, and felt their hearts stir.
The light from the lanterns seemed to illuminate Rapunzel, causing her hair to glow almost as brightly as when she invoked its power. To Quasi, she was the most beautiful woman in the world.
As for Rapunzel, she looked deeply into his blue eyes, the light from the lanterns sparkling in them in a way that took her breath away. Here stood the most wonderful man she had ever known, the whole reason she had left her tower to explore the world and fulfilled her life-long dream. At that moment, she knew what her new dream was.
"All those days, watching from the windows," she sang softly, letting go of the spire and stepping onto the cathedral roof.
"All those years, outside looking in," Quasi sang back, taking a step towards her.
"All that time, never even knowing," Rapunzel sang staring intently into Quasi's eyes as Pascal crawled off her head and hopped onto the side of the spire to watch.
"Just how blind I've been," Quasi finished, taking another step towards her.
"Now I'm here, blinking in the starlight," she sang as the lanterns began to seemingly dance around them.
"Now I'm here, suddenly I see," he sang back, walking closer to her as the lanterns began to circle around them both.
"Standing here" she sang as she held her hands out to him.
"It's all so clear," Quasi sang back, taking her hands.
"I'm where I'm meant to be!" they sang together, pulling each other closer.
"And at last I see the light," they sang as they began to slowly dance in a circle, the lanterns seeming to dance along.
"And it's like the fog has lifted," Quasi sang, spinning around with her as his hands slipped to her waist.
"And at last I see the light," they sang in chorus, their feet gracefully moving together.
"And it's like the sky is new," Rapunzel sang as her hands gripped his shoulders.
"And it's warm and real and bright," they sang together as they pulled closer until their bodies were touching, spinning in small circles, "And the world has somehow shifted."
"All at once, everything looks different," they sang as they pulled their faces closer, "now that I see you."
Meanwhile, down in harbor, the lanterns had begun to sink lower and hover over the water, illuminating the boat in which Esmeralda and Eugene sat in, their hands still entwined as they watched the beauty around them. As they did, a lantern floated between them, catching their gaze and leading their eyes to meet. As the lantern floated on, their gazes held, as emotions swelled in their hearts.
"All those days, chasing down a daydream," Esmeralda sang softly.
"All those years, living in a blur," Eugene picked up, a smile growing on his face.
"All that time, never truly seeing," Esmeralda continued, a smile growing on her face as well.
"Things, the way they were," Eugene finished, squeezing her hands.
"Now he's here, shining in the starlight," Esmeralda sang, staring into Eugene's eyes.
"Now she's here, suddenly I know," Eugene sang right back.
"If he's here," she sang pulling closer to him.
"It's crystal clear," he adds, leaning towards her.
"I'm where I'm meant to go!" they sang in unison as the lanterns begin to circle them, skirting along the water.
"And at last I see the light!" they sang, their voices unknowingly mingling with Rapunzel and Quasi's as they sung the same tune from the top of the cathedral.
"And it's like the fog has lifted," Quasi and Eugene sung together from across the city.
"And at last I see the light!" their voices echoed through the city as the lanterns dance across the sky.
"And it's like the sky is new!" Esmeralda and Rapunzel's voices harmonized.
"And its warm and real and bright!" they all sung while two couples pulled closer together as the light from the lanterns fade as they float away, "And the world has somehow shifted."
"All at once, everything looks different," Eugene and Esmeralda sing as their lips pull closer together, "Now that I see you."
"Now that I see you," Quasi and Rapunzel echoed before their lips met in their first kiss. Meanwhile, Eugene and Esmeralda's met as well, their boat rocking lightly from their movement.
After a few moments, Quasi and Rapunzel pulled away, slowly opening their eyes as they looked at each other with fondness.
"Wow," Rapunzel whispered.
"Yeah," Quasi replied, "Wow."
"I take it that means you…like me?" she asked nervously, "You know…like that?"
"Me? Of course I do!" Quasi replied, happily "I just can't get over you feel the same way about me."
"What's not to like?" she asked as she kneeled down to look straight at him, cupping his face and feeling his skin against hers. Quasi looked at her in wonderment for a few moments, a blush growing across his face to match hers.
"Want to try again?" she asked shyly.
"More than anything," Quasi said earnestly as he leaned towards her, an action which she mirrored.
"I think that will have to wait," a new voice said, causing them to jump apart and look in the direction it had come from.
They gasped together as they saw Frollo standing a few feet away, flanked by the Stabbington brothers, who were dressed in guard captain armor and accompanied by at least a dozen other guards, one of was holding a battered looking Archpriest up by his robes.
"After all, a reunion is occurring," he sneered.
"M-Master?" Quasi asked in shock, "What are you doing here?"
"Come to see you, of course," he explained, "As I always have. I am your father and master after all."
"You're no father to anyone," Rapunzel snapped glaring at Frollo as she stood up, "No father would do or say the things you've said and done to him."
"So you've been talking about me behind my back, have youm Quasimodo?" Frollo chided, before turning his attention to Rapunzel, "Still, I suppose welcomes are in order."
"Welcomes?" Rapunzel asked, confused.
"Yes, welcome home," he said, his grin turning sinister, "Princess."
A/N: Hey guys! I really hope you all enjoyed this chapter because it was an amazingly fun one to write. From getting to use my favorite song from Tangled, to the explanation of the church's views, to the relationships, to the cliffhanger ending, it was all an enormous amount of fun. I hope you guys enjoy it as well! Please review! Thanks!