Well here's the second chapter, I hope you enjoy it. It hasn't been exactly very clear but Raine's hair is just as long as Rapunzel's is in the film, I couldn't have it normal length because then too many cool action scenes wouldn't be able to happen ;) Thank you to everyone who reviewed last time x
Oh by the way italics mean either song, thoughts or emphasis... I'm hoping you will be able to tell by the context :') x
The fear inside
The hills we've climbed
The tears this side of heaven
All these dreams inside of me
I swear were going to get there
Sooner or Later – Mat Kearney
Chapter 1: Paths Crossed, Towers Climbed
Raine sighed heavily as she leaned against the railing on the colourful balcony of the tower. She placed her elbows on the railing and dropped her head down; a blanket of black hair fell across her face. "Oh, I wonder where Estel has gone. He's definitely not out here…" she exclaimed loudly, gesturing her hands around her. She went back into the tower…or so it seemed.
Estel breathed a sigh of relief. This moment was short-lived however as Raine grabbed the tiny chameleon and shouted "Got you!"
She burst out laughing as she witnessed Estel's wide-eyes filled with shock. Estel jumped out of her hand and start sulk away from her, Raine knew the chameleon was going to attempt a temper tantrum.
"Oh come on Estel" she said, trying her best not to laugh as Estel huffed at her and shot her an exasperated stare. "You can't be mad at me because it's my birthday tomorrow and I know that not even you are that mean" she grinned at chameleon knowing she was going to be victorious.
In truth Estel was Raine's only other company in the tower aside from her mother. Raine scoffed inwardly thinking about the fact her only friend happened to be a chameleon. Not that she didn't love Estel, of course she did. Her mother had brought Estel back to Raine one day after one of her travels; Raine could never put into words how grateful she had been when she had discovered she had new company. Estel brought her comfort and joy from an early age, Raine quite simply thought she would have been drove insane without his feisty spirit and company.
She absolutely hated being isolated in the lonely tower every single day just like she had been all her life. Raine knew that she herself was adventurous and by her mother trying to keep her hidden away the more she longed to explore. However Raine wasn't completely immature. She knew her mother loved her deeply and would never want her to be hurt, she was only protecting her. Raine would never want to cause anyone pain due to her own actions and she knew it would pain her mother if any harm came to her; it was a mother's duty to protect their children after all.
Raine sighed as she knew full well why harm would probably come to her if she ever left the tower. Her hair. Yes, that's right, her hair. Her mother had told her ever since she was a young child, her hair had been very unique, and by unique she basically meant the strangest miracle ever. Raine's hair had the ability to shine a brilliant bright white light and even heal injuries. Unfortunately due to these special powers Raine's hair was desired by many people who only wanted to hurt her and have the valuable magic for their selves.
The proof of this lay in a lock of Raine's hair itself. It was the only lock that didn't glow when she sung. Oh yes. Raine's hair only glowed when she sang. Which was unfortunate for Raine as she definitely didn't consider herself a good singer, instead of a sweet, angelic voice, Raine's voice always came out lower than she expected. Not that it was bad singing but Raine knew from what her Mother had told her of other girls she had met who sung, it wasn't the way a girl typically sang. Not that I would ever know Raine thought bitterly to herself. She was never going to be able to meet anyone else out in the world and that thought made her feel so alone…
Estel's squeak brought her out of her trance.
'Well not completely alone' Raine thought to herself and she gave a small smile, her rouge lips turning up at the corners.
"So do you forgive me oh great one?" she mocked Estel bowing her head to him, waving her hand and curtseying.
Estel seemed to enjoy this and stood up and started muttering things and waving his arm around as if ordering her to do something. Raine laughed softly.
"Come on then, let's start the day" she said to him as he jumped on her shoulder, avoiding her dark locks somehow.
And I'll keep wonderin' and wonderin'
and wonderin' and wonderin'
when will my life begin?
And tomorrow night,
Lights will appear
Just like they do on my birthday each year.
What is it like
Out there where they glow?
Now that I'm older,
Mother might just
Let me go ...
Raine sighed as she flopped down on a wooden chair dramatically. She had just finished all her chores, very speadily thanks to her super-strong hair she though sarcastically, and she had even finished doing all the things she did for fun in the tower. She must have read all the fairy tales and novels in the tower at least 50 times each, well that might be exaggerating a little.
'I wonder why my life can't be like theirs' she sighed inwardly to herself, thinking about all the princesses in the tales and how they looked so beautiful and led brilliant lives. 'Not to mention they get rescued by handsome princes' she added in an afterthought. She then shook her head in amusement 'but I suppose I'm not like them at all anyway…I definitely would not want to be rescued by some egotistical moron who thought they were gorgeous and could get everything they wanted.'
Surprisingly enough Raine was quite independent (seen as she basically spent most of her time alone) however this was one of Raine's greatest flaws. Though she would never confess to it being one. Raine hated anyone offering to help her, she just got on better doing things herself. Even when her mother would offer to help her paint she would refuse and shake her head. Painting was one of the few things that Raine loved about the tower. The large walls and windows made the perfect place to create paintings. In a way it made the tower seem more exciting, all the colours surrounding Raine. Her hair also made a handy harness for her so she could even continue painting the higher walls.
Raine stood up from the chair and strode over to the beautiful arched alcove in the tower; she pulled back the red velvet curtains and admired her latest painting. It was off the strange yet mystical lights that appeared on her birthday. She didn't understand the fascination she had with them (Estel certainly didn't either) but she knew she would wish nothing more for her birthday than to be able to see and witness them from up close. There was something about them that drew her to them, it could be the fact that Raine had always loved the contrast between light and darkness and for her all the many lights in the sky helped eliminate the darkness and loneliness she felt up there in the tower. Curiosity of what they actually were consumed Raine and maybe if she could ever be able to see them in person she would feel as if she had achieved something…
Meanwhile…
Flynn Rider smirked with smugness as he managed to perfectly glide down the palace roof. That smug smirk disappeared however when he tripped slightly over a tile. He glanced out over the town, his eyes held much amusement and even a tiny amount of admiration.
"I could get used to a view like this" he said wistfully.
"Rider, come on!" came the gruff voice of one of his companions.
"Hold on" Flynn held his hand up "Yep, I'm used to it…Guys I want a castle" he joked, half seriously.
"We do this job… you can buy your own castle" his companion growled and grabbed him harshly by his shoulder.
Flynn reached down and grabbed the sparkling crown with his hand. This crown just happened to be the lost princess' crown and just happened to be worth a small fortune. Flynn's eyes practically lit up when he though how much money the treasure was actually worth. Maybe he should feel guilty about taking the crown that belonged to the lost princess but in truth, despite a tiny bit of guilt, he felt that it wasn't as if she was ever going to need it soon.
A sneeze from a uniform clad guard caught his attention.
"Hay fever?" he questioned, smirking again, leaning casually on the rope on his harness.
"Yeah…" the guard replied casually.
Flynn was pulled up quickly just as the guard shouted and realised what had happened.
"Can't you just picture me in a castle…maybe I could even be King" Flynn joked as they sprinted away "all the things we've seen boys and it's only 8 in the morning. Gentlemen this is a very big day!"
With Raine
"This is it Estel, today is a very big day. I know I never usually ask for help…in fact I hate it…but mother is the only person who can help me. I need to see those lights for myself this year and what better birthday present could I ask for?" she asked the chameleon, who nodded in agreement with her. Although Estel himself wasn't fascinated with the lights (except from the fact he found them pretty to look at) if it was important to Raine it was important to him.
"Raine, let down your hair!" her mother's voice came seeping through the windows.
Raine smirked at Estel, she wasn't even nervous. The excitement of the possibility of seeing the lights had consumed any remotely nervous feelings she had felt. Raine ran to the window and threw down her hair for her mother to access the tower. As soon as her mother entered the tower she began making jokes at Raine but Raine wasn't even paying any attention at all. Her mind was completely focused on the lights.
"Mother, as you are well aware tomorrow is a very big day-"Raine started her speech as she ran up to her mother.
"Raine you know what I see in this mirror?" her mother questioned gesturing to the mirror which reflected the image of Raine standing with her mother's arm around her. "A strong, beautiful, confident woman…"
Raine gave a small smile thinking her mother meant Raine.
"Oh…look at that…you're here too" her mother burst out laughing.
Raine laughed along, it couldn't hurt to try and butter her mother up before asking her question. Raine stared at her mother whilst her mother continued to look at herself in the mirror, her hands running over her face. Raine did love her mother but how she could be vain sometimes…
"Mother—"Raine began to ask again.
"Come here darling; let me brush your hair whilst you sing me a song. Mother's very tired today"
Raine sighed and rolled her eyes as she grabbed her mother's hand and quickly dragged her over to the armchair and began to quickly sing.
"RAINE!" her mother shouted.
"Well you keep ignoring me!" Raine pointed out.
"Fine, what did you want to tell me?" her mother placed her arm on the side of her chair and rested her face on her chin.
Estel nodded, whilst hiding behind the table, encouraging Raine.
"Tomorrow is my birthday, my 18th, and all I want for it…is to see the lights. I know it sounds stupid but I feel as if they are meant for me…" Raine finished, gazing at her mother, her stormy blue eyes calm at the moment and full of hope.
"The lights…" her mother repeated "you mean the stars-"
"They aren't stars" Raine exclaimed.
"No" her mother said quietly.
"That isn't fair" Raine hissed.
When it's too late
you'll see, just wait
Mother knows best
Mother knows best
"But this isn't fair-"
"Raine, you will not ask something so absurd ever again. Do you understand?"
"It's not absurd-"
"Raine, do you understand what it would do to me if something ever happened to you? It would deeply upset me darling; I need you…" Mother Gothel finished gazing at Raine, whose eyes were confused and upset. Mother Gothel moved forward and held Raine's face in her hands. "Do you understand?" she whispered.
"Yes but-"
"Fantastic, I don't think I could survive if any harm would ever come to you my dear"
Raine looked down guilty at her feet, maybe her mother was right. She would feel so guilty; all her mother had ever tried to do was protect her.
"I shall see you later darling; I must go back out to run a few errands"
Raine escorted her mother to the window and helped her down the tower. After waving to her mother, a false smile plastered upon her face, she returned to her seat and let out a slow sigh and rubbed her temples.
Estel walked over to her and sat on her shoulder again, he gave her a sympathetic glance.
"Your name means hope Estel, and even though she said no I still have hope I will get to see them personally…by what means I don't know but I have hope…" she trailed off.
With Flynn
Flynn grunted as he glanced up at the tower in front of him.
'I cannot believe I am actually being chased…by a horse. What a fleabag!' he groaned internally. 'This is what my life has come to, doesn't seem as glamorous as in the stories' he shook the thought off, at least he was having some fun with his life. 'Guess there's no other choice than to climb' he thought and began to climb the tower, silently hoping there was no one home.
With Raine
Raine glanced up as she heard noises climbing up the tower, then breathing and grunting. She gave a panicked look to Estel before she stood up and ran to the kitchen.
"Is this some kind of joke?" she hissed quietly. Her eyes fell upon the only weapon available…a frying pan. She grabbed it by the handle 'well there's no way I'll go down without a fight' she thought to herself.
Flynn
Flynn sighed as he pulled himself (with some difficulty) through the window. He rolled over neatly and pulled the satchel, containing the crown in, to him. "It's okay baby, we're safe at last…no horses around here" he joked.
Raine
Raine gripped the frying pan as tight as she could as she approached the stranger. He appeared to be saying some really weird things such as calling a bag baby and saying something about no horses. She must have made a small noise however as he turned around just in time to see her.
Flynn
Flynn spun around as he heard a noise directly behind him. His eyes widened as they locked with a pair of stormy blue ones. He must have been too distracted though as they were the last thing he could remember before his sight faded into darkness.
I hope you enjoyed this chapter, it seemed like it went on forever. *Squeak* They've met for the first time! Let me know what you thought and any comments you have, please review xxx
Responses:
Dontstopbelieving123- thank you so much for reviewing, I hope you enjoyed this chapter
BehindThoseGreyBlueEyes- thank you for reviewing, I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I'm going for a different kind of relationship between Flynn/Raine than what is in the film between Rapunzel/Flynn. And I'll give you a hint it might involve her annoying him by laughing at his real name…only to annoy him of course.
ZombiesForNarnia- Thank you for your review, I hope you like this chapter. I am trying to make the two sisters similar but different. I'd like to consider Raine as being a little more feisty and mysterious although she hasn't had much time to show it yet.
