Disclaimer: I own nothing related to Tangled; I only own this story idea.
Rapunzel, Eugene, and the guards had just returned to the city. The horses slowed to a walk as they crossed the bridge, entering the capital of Corona.
This is life after happily ever after
Everyone in town decorated the city for the coronation ceremony. Event announcements were posted on the walls for those who weren't aware. Kids played with the flag banners as they were hung, and adults watched them fondly while guards patrolled nearby. One woman hung a lantern with the sun symbol by her window.
And it's all just as sweet as the stories say
Cassandra paced impatiently in front of the city gates. Her eyes widened when she saw the princess and Eugene enter the capital.
I feel wild, free, as light as can be
And ready to explore
Eugene dismounted from Maximus and helped Rapunzel do the same. Once they were off the horses, Rapunzel and Eugene were about to share another kiss when Cass approached. She gently grabbed Rapunzel's wrist and pulled her away, much to Eugene's dismay.
With nothing at all standing in my way
Eugene watched them go with annoyance, knowing the woman did that on purpose. Maximus kissed the former thief on the cheek, causing him to wipe it in disgust.
True, there are certain customs I have to follow
Cass led Rapunzel through town while the Royal Guard followed behind. Citizens along the road bowed and curtsied to the Princess.
"Curtsy," Cass whispered to the inexperienced princess, who obeyed her instructions.
Several small obligations I can't avoid
A little girl held out a bouquet to Rapunzel. The princess smiled as she knelt, plucking one of the flowers to tuck into her hair.
"Princess, the time." Cass bent beside her before pulling Rapunzel away. The princess waved to the little girl as she left.
A few rules, too
Well, more than a few
Commitments by the score
Once back at the castle, Cass pulled out a to-do list and reviewed what they needed to do before the ceremony. As they walked through the halls, the two women suddenly stopped in front of Old Lady Crowley, the head maid. Crowley pointed disdainfully behind them, revealing the muddy footprints that Rapunzel had tracked all over the carpet.
The princess waved shyly as Cassandra guided her away, leaving the older woman to tidy up the mess.
Aside from all that, though, I'm overjoyed
As Rapunzel was led down the hallway to her room, she encountered three maids: a mother and her two daughters. They began pampering and fussing over Rapunzel's appearance.
"This way, Princess," Cass directed her.
And sure, there are corsets and buckles and bows
As they walked along, the maids put makeup on Rapunzel and adjusted her corset—a little too tightly. She felt like she would suffocate as the youngest maid, Faith, pulled on her corset strings.
Plus, all those names to recall
"Jane?" Rapunzel guessed, pointing at the maid who was brushing her hair.
"Ethel," she reminded her, annoyed that she hadn't remembered.
"Right!"
Still, I can hardly complain, I suppose
Pascal grew irritated by the commotion surrounding his friend, squeaking in protest when powder got in his face.
This is happily ever after, after all
When they reached Rapunzel's bedroom, Cassandra turned around and stared in disbelief at the messy scene as the maids fussed over the princess. She also noticed how uncomfortable Rapunzel was with the pampering. "That's enough," she told the servants sharply, shooing them away. "I'll take it from here." They returned to their duties, leaving Rapunzel and Cass alone. "How you holding up?" she asked the princess as she redid her corset ties.
"Busy," Rapunzel laughed awkwardly, brushing her hair aside. "But, busy is good."
"I'm glad you think so, Raps, 'cause this welcoming ceremony is just the beginning," Cassandra reminded her, holding up Rapunzel's arms to adjust her sleeves. "Tomorrow's the festival, followed by the Royal Banquet, and that's all before the actual coronation on Sunday." She turned the princess around to fix her corset and glanced down. "Oh, come on. Really?" Cass frowned when she noticed Rapunzel's hiked-up dress and bare feet.
"Look, Rapunzel, I know this princess thing is new to you," Cassandra said, kneeling to pull her skirt back down to cover her ankles so her feet weren't as noticeable. "But you've gotta at least try to act the part."
"Trust me, Cassandra, I know how important this is to my dad," Rapunzel said, gently touching a portrait of Frederic.
(At the same time)
"As you've requested, Your Majesty," the Captain of the Guard said as he placed a miniature plastic guard on a model of Corona. "We've doubled security at both the main gates and the south towers."
"Good," Frederic nodded in approval. "We have guests from all over the world. I want them to know that they are safe."
His old friend, Sir Quirin, would attend the celebration to the king's delight. These days, they only saw each other for business, and Frederic had been trying to persuade Quirin to come to events in the city for years. He wondered whether he should ask his friend to assist with any trouble that might arise. Being a former knight, he knew Quirin would never stand by in the face of danger, especially since he was bringing his son along.
"Everything for my little girl's coronation must be absolutely…" he said as he walked out the door and headed to Rapunzel's room. He opened the doors to find Cass adjusting Rapunzel's dress again. "Perfect."
"Hi, Dad," Rapunzel said with a smile.
"And now that, at last, you are here in my arms…" He smiled softly as Cass stepped aside for him to approach his daughter. Rapunzel threw her arms around her father, holding each other tightly. "I won't permit you to fall.~" He pulled back to look at her. "I must protect you from all the world's harms." He stroked her hair gently before taking her hands reassuringly. "We'll live happily ever after, after all.~ Now, as princess, you're not only representing yourself and the family," he explained, walking over to shut the balcony window, "but all of Corona."
"Don't worry, Dad. I won't let you down," she assured him hopefully, rubbing her arm nervously before fiddling with her hair. "But… while we're on the whole princess coronation thingy, I mean, all these royal activities are great, but do you think I might be able to catch a little downtime soon?"
"I know this is all new, but you'll adjust," King Frederic assured her, kissing her forehead. "After all, your friend seems to be getting on just fine."
(Elsewhere in the Castle)
While Frederic spoke with his daughter, Eugene was dolling himself up for the ceremony at the Royal Spa. He was checking his reflection in the mirror, adorned in a new forest-green tailsuit and trying on a black hat with a white feather. "Ooh-hoo-hoo! Hartmut, my man, this hat ties the whole outfit together!" He praised the tailor, who silently chuckled instead of agreeing with him. Eugene then dramatically tossed the hat aside as he began chatting with his friends from the Snuggly Duckling who had stopped by.
"Now, I know what you're all thinking," he said as he sprayed on some cologne and tossed it to Shorty, who did the same. "'Why is Eugene in such a good mood today?' I mean, what gives?"
"Now that we're living splendidly,~" he sang, looking over at Big Nose as the thug ate the cucumbers from his spa treatment. "Our dreams fulfilled extendedly.~" He shaved the cream off Attila's helmet, who hummed in approval. "Why leave things open-ended for Rapunzel and moi?~" the former thief summarized as he handed Vladimir ceramic bride and groom unicorns, prompting them to kiss. "Tonight, I'll hand this rose to her.~" Eugene plucked a rose from a nearby vase and handed it to Shorty while spinning the old thug around on a dress mannequin. "Kneel down and then propose to her!" He slid down on one knee before Big Nose, Ulf, and Maximus, cupping something in his hands. "And give this ring I chose to her!~" He opened a small box to reveal a beautiful gold ring with a small diamond in the center.
"Nice," Big Nose approved as Ulf swooned.
"Life's gonna feel like strawberry sherbet," Eugene sang while dancing with Max. "Once she is Mrs. Eugene Fitzherbert!" The thugs and Maximus glared at him, disapproving of his words. "Okay, not great, but how about this?" He jumped onto a couch as Shorty swung by in his cupid outfit, scattering rose petals. "Once she is Princess Eugene Fitzherbert~!" Maximus walked over to Eugene, grinning in full support as his former nemesis leaned on him with a smile. "And what better day to propose to a princess than at her coronation?"
With Rapunzel, after her father and Cassandra left, she flung open her balcony window and gazed at the sky. "This is life after happily ever after," they both sang. "And our story has finally reached its end.~"
"Settling down here~," Eugene said, hopping into a chair.
"Year upon year.~"
"Contended and secure.~" The former thief took a bite of cake while Big Nose, Ulf, and Shorty enjoyed snacks.
"With dozens of duties we'll have to tend.~" Rapunzel looked around her room, her eyes landing on a few of her birthday lanterns hanging from the ceiling.
"And now that we've gotten the dream that we chose. Now that we're in for the haul.~" Eugene pulled out the ring and smiled at it. "Now our adventures can come to a close," Rapunzel spun her globe as Eugene put the ring away. "Living happily ever after, after all.~"
Rapunzel gazed at the mural she had painted on her wall, depicting her life from the flower to her return. "Now that I've gotten the dream that I chose…." She lightly touched the part where she was reunited with her family before scanning the room. "Why does my world feel so... small?" She walked over to her vanity, where her crown rested on a pillow. "If this is it..." Rapunzel reached for her tiara but hesitated at the last moment. "And it is... I suppose...~" She looked in the mirror as her doubts and fears surfaced. "Is this happily ever after… after all?~"
"Okay, no pressure. Just introducing myself to the most important people in the world," she said, giving herself a pep talk as she brushed back a strand of hair. "Representing my mom, dad… and the entire kingdom." She looked horrified momentarily before taking a deep breath and smiling confidently. "We got this…."
(Back in Old Corona)
The carriage arrived just as the father and son were finishing getting ready. Quirin had put on his formal attire, and Varian wore a matching outfit in his size, a fancy dark blue and black suit with boots and gloves. Quirin had pinned Varian's hair back, tucking his streak out of sight.
"Are you ready?" he asked his son, cupping his cheek. Varian nodded eagerly before they left the manor.
The driver opened the door, and they climbed in before heading out. Quirin sighed, looking toward the city in the distance. He hoped this wasn't a mistake…
(In the castle courtyard)
The courtyard was filled with nobles from Corona attending the celebration. Trumpets sounded as carriages passed through the gates, bringing in other nobles from neighboring lands. Rapunzel stood between her parents in front of the castle doors. The princess wore an elegant pink and white dress, accessorized with a matching necklace, pink earrings, and neatly brushed hair. Pascal, ever the supportive friend, sat on her shoulder, behaving perfectly. "We're good at making people feel welcome. This is completely doable… ish," Rapunzel told herself, glancing at her parents nervously.
The princess glanced at the crowd gathered in the courtyard, spotting Eugene among them. When their eyes met, he waved enthusiastically at her. Rapunzel eagerly waved back but stopped when her father cleared his throat and awkwardly repositioned herself. Trumpets played again as more carriages entered the courtyard. Rapunzel took a deep breath as the first carriage pulled up in front of the Royal Family.
"Your Highness, I present Dame Elizabeth Van Hoskins of Rochester." The footman announced as he opened the door for an older noblewoman in a fancy red dress and hat.
As soon as the woman approached Rapunzel, the princess ran forward and wrapped her in a bear hug, which caught everyone off guard.
"Get in here!" she chirped while Cass and Eugene cringed at her bear-hugging the woman. "So nice to meet you." She released her, and the woman sank to her knees. Rapunzel felt a bit guilty and adjusted her hat but didn't touch her dress. Pascal shrugged at the stunned woman. She glanced at King Frederic, who smiled back sheepishly. Dame Van Hoskins walked away to go inside while Rapunzel waved obliviously after her. Her mother placed a hand on her shoulder and guided her back to them.
"Uhm, perhaps you should refrain from the bearhugs, sweetheart," her father murmured.
"Oh!" Rapunzel gasped in realization. "No bear hugs. Gotcha. Sorry."
"I present Lieutenant Commander General James Rutherford-Carver the Third." The following guest was a man around her father's age, wearing a military uniform adorned with several medals.
Rapunzel let out a sigh before attempting to be playful. "Phew. That's kind of a mouthful. Is it okay if I just call you 'Jimmy'?"
"I'd prefer you didn't." The man walked away from her.
"Well, uh, welcome all the same, then!" she said, attempting to smooth things over before sighing again.
"I present the Duchess of Quintonia." The Duchess stepped forward, fanning herself with a judgmental expression. She was a heavily made-up woman in an elegant pink dress, topped with a tall, powdered white wig.
"Wow, can I just say that I love your hair!" Rapunzel complimented, tucking a strand behind her ear. "I used to have long hair, too–"
"This is a hand-woven coiffure, weft from the finest silk and Vicuna fabrics. It designates high social status." The Duchess interrupted her impatiently, snapping her fan shut to point at the princess. "You'd think you'd know that." She huffed before fanning herself again.
"Uh… still, nice to meet you," Rapunzel giggled sheepishly.
The Duchess glanced at her before directing her gaze to the ground. "Sadly, not nice enough to wear shoes, I'm afraid," she remarked about Rapunzel's bare feet. Pascal's eyes widened at the insult as she walked away with a condescending smirk, giggling. "Really."
The chameleon glared at the woman before turning to Rapunzel. The princess gazed at the ground sadly, feeling self-conscious about her mistakes. Queen Arianna placed a gentle hand on Rapunzel's shoulder. Rapunzel managed to offer a slight smile before looking at her father.
"Sorry," she whispered, frowning.
The next carriage rolled up, and everyone shifted back into position, masking their expressions. To Rapunzel's surprise, it resembled one of the carriages from Corona Castle, the same as the driver. The footman jumped down from the front to open the door. "I present Mayor Sir Quirin Ruddiger of Old Corona and his son, Varian."
Rapunzel watched as a man emerged, accompanied by a young boy dressed smartly in dark shades of blue and black. The adult was a tall, strong-looking man who seemed to be around her father's age. His son, a blue-eyed boy with black hair, appeared a bit younger than her, definitely in his teens. Judging by his hairpin, she suspected his hair usually covered at least part of his freckled face. They both bowed, and she gave a curtsy, slightly blushing. "Uhm, welcome! Welcome to Corona!"
"Thank you, Your Highness," the man smiled kindly.
"I'm looking forward to your coronation, Princess," the boy smiled before his father led him inside.
Rapunzel couldn't help but smile slightly as they left. It was nice to meet them after dealing with the Duchess.
(Inside)
Upon entering the castle, Varian and his father were shown to one of the elegant guest rooms. Around sunset, Quirin left to speak with the king after the welcoming ceremony.
Varian sighed contentedly as he watched the sunset, surrendering the sky to the moon. He had to admit he didn't enjoy sitting around doing nothing; he always needed to be productive. However, at that moment, everything felt so peaceful and beautiful that he began reconsidering his viewpoint.
"So worth the wait…" he said to himself. "But where do I go from here?" He was glad to finally meet the princess but needed to approach this carefully. As much as he wanted to understand his powers, he didn't want to alarm Rapunzel.
Either way, he knew he wouldn't get any further with that right now. So, he decided to take a stroll. He wasn't tired yet and felt like having a snack. Getting up, Varian quietly slipped out of the room as night descended on Corona.
(A short time later)
Varian smiled as he strolled around, savoring the cool evening air. He always felt more comfortable and alert at night, likely due to his powers, which he believed were somehow linked to the moon. Even though the shops were closing, Varian still managed to grab some candy from Monty's Sweet Shoppe. He wandered about, waving to the guards, who simply nodded back in recognition of him from the castle. One guard kindly informed him they would lock up the castle soon, suggesting he start heading back.
Varian paused when he heard voices near the gondola docks and curiously approached the sound. He climbed onto one of the buildings and looked over the edge. He saw the princess sitting in one of the boats with a man. They were engaged in a discussion.
"… Eugene, is all this everything you dreamed it would be?" Rapunzel asked.
"Rapunzel, you are my dream," the man replied. Varian recognized his voice as the same man who had nearly run him over that morning. "So, as long as you're with me, that answer's always going to be 'yes.'" He paused, hesitating. Why? Don't you feel the same?"
"No–Ye–Yes!" she stammered, nodding at him. "I mean, of course, I do! I love you with all my heart, Eugene."
Yeah, she loves you, Varian concluded with a frown. It's this new life she's been given that she's struggling with.
"Look, I know this has gotta be weird. No one's expecting you to take it all in overnight," Eugene said. "But believe me, I've been all around the world, and it doesn't get any better than this. This—this castle, our friends, your family, each other. What else could you possibly want?"
She remained silent for a moment before shaking her head. "Nothing."
Varian retreated deeper into the shadows as a woman dressed in blue and white approached the couple. Just as they began to kiss, she leaned over and said loudly, "Time to go!"
Eugene was so startled that he ended up taking a dip in the water. Varian covered his mouth to stifle his laughter. He felt bad for the guy, but it was still pretty funny. The man pulled himself back up to cling to the edge of the boat, coughing up water.
The woman chuckled. "How's that water feeling, Fitzherbert?"
He gasped heavily. "Dark… and icy… just like you."
The woman then turned her attention to the princess. "Come on, Rapunzel, it's time to head in. You don't wanna be exhausted for tomorrow."
On that note, Varian noticed how late it was. His father must have realized he was gone by now… which, he thought with a cringe, meant Varian would be in trouble when he returned.
"Right! My morning off!" Rapunzel recalled as she assisted Eugene back into the boat. She pressed a kiss to his forehead. "Sorry."
Eugene's shoulders sagged as Rapunzel stepped onto the docks. Cassandra smiled at the princess before smirking at Eugene, watching him wring out his hair. She turned to follow Rapunzel, the former thief glaring after her. "Man, she scares me," Eugene muttered.
Taking his leave, Varian jumped off the roof and headed back to the castle. Just as he rounded the corner, he stopped suddenly when something purple and blue flashed into his view.
"Whoa!" Rapunzel gasped as she came to a halt. "Sorry!"
"Entirely my fault, Your Highness," Varian apologized, bowing slightly.
"'Your Highness?'" The princess blinked, then realized who he was. "Oh, wait, I remember you. You're Varian, right?"
"That's me," he nodded.
"It's nice to see you again," she smiled before asking, "What are you doing out here?"
"I came to town to grab a snack from the candy shop," Varian explained, holding up his bag of treats. "I was about to head back when I heard voices and a splash, so I came to see what was going on."
"Oh, that," Rapunzel said, glancing as Eugene approached them. "Yeah, Eugene just fell out of the boat we were sitting in."
"Come on, Young Master," the lady in blue said. "I'll escort you back to the castle."
"Thank you," Varian nodded gratefully. "Hey, if we run into my dad, can I say I was with you guys? He'll freak if he finds out I was out here this late by myself."
"Sure thing, kid, we'll be your alibis," Eugene said. "Let it be known, Eugene Fitzherbert is no snitch."
Varian and Rapunzel chuckled softly as they made their way back to the castle.
(The next day)
Suffice it to say that Quirin was not pleased with Varian for sneaking out last night while he was gone. However, with the support of Rapunzel, Eugene, and Cassandra (the lady in blue), he managed to avoid getting into too much trouble. The next day, Varian had breakfast with his father and settled down to sketch before the banquet. He was halfway through a drawing of the princess when one of the castle servants knocked on his door. They informed him that he had been invited to accompany the princess on her outing into town, and, well, you don't turn down an invitation like that.
Varian went to the courtyard to meet the princess and the guards who would escort them. He arrived first, and Rapunzel soon joined him.
"Alright, let's get going then!" Rapunzel chirped, walking up to him.
"Thanks for inviting me," Varian said.
"Well, it was actually my parents' idea," the princess admitted sheepishly. "But I thought it would be fun to make a new friend." Varian smiled at her as they walked together.
The guards suddenly surrounded them in a close circle. The younger teen glanced around, annoyed, before schooling his expression to be nervous. "Could you ask them to give us more space?" he whispered to the princess. "I get nervous when I feel trapped."
"Oh, okay." Rapunzel nodded and glanced at one of the guards. "Guys, you're standing a bit too close. It's making Varian uncomfortable." The guards exchanged looks before stepping back to give them more space.
"Thank you," Varian whispered, smiling at Rapunzel when he noticed Pascal looking at him. "You have a chameleon on your shoulder again."
"Oh, would you like to see him?" She took Pascal off her shoulder and handed him to the teenager. "This is Pascal. He's my best friend. We were in the tower together."
"Nice to meet you, Pascal." He smiled fondly, gently stroking the lizard. Pascal chirped happily, enjoying the attention.
"You like animals?" Rapunzel asked.
"I do," he nodded, returning Pascal to the princess. "Dad won't let me have a pet, though. He says I'm messy enough without one."
"Yeah. My... kidnapper didn't approve of pets either."
They engaged in small talk about their likes and dislikes until they reached the town center, where the festival was taking place. Upon their arrival, a trumpet sounded, prompting everyone to turn toward their princess and her friend. "The Princess, Rapunzel, will spend her day about town!"
Rapunzel took Varian's hand and eagerly stepped forward, only to be squeezed between two guards. The princess cleared her throat to get their attention, casting them a look before nodding to Varian. Disgruntled, they backed up slightly as they walked through town.
Rapunzel waved cheerfully to the townspeople as they passed, who bowed or curtsied in return. The local butcher made the mistake of waving his cleaver, which resulted in him being tackled by a guard and caused the teens to cringe. Varian's expression darkened briefly at the incident, but it was so fleeting that Rapunzel missed it. Pascal noticed, however, and looked at the teen oddly. That kind of expression didn't belong on a fourteen-year-old…
People began reaching out, eager to shake hands with Rapunzel. When a guard stepped forward to intervene, Varian let out an uneasy whine, causing him to retreat. Rapunzel smiled and cheerfully took each person's hand as she walked by, with Varian positioning himself as a shield between her and the guards.
Next, they paused to enjoy a group of street performers. One act featured a fire-eater who juggled torches and blew flames in front of the teens. Rapunzel was so captivated by the performance that she failed to notice one of the guards reaching for a bucket of water. Varian, however, spotted the man before whispering something to the chameleon. Pascal saluted him before going invisible. Suddenly, the guard seemed to trip over his feet and fell just as he was about to throw the bucket at the performer, resulting in it splashing onto his head.
"Wow, what an amazing performance!" Rapunzel exclaimed in awe, realizing what had happened only when she looked to the side. "Oh my gosh, are you okay?! What happened?!"
"I don't know..." Varian replied, pretending he hadn't orchestrated an assault on a guard. Pascal reappeared on the village boy's shoulder. The teen raised his fist, which Pascal knocked his claw against. "Let's move on, shall we?" Varian suggested as another guard helped the soaked one to his feet.
As they continued to explore the festival, they soon came across four little girls forming a braid train by the fountain. One of them waved to Rapunzel, who recognized her as one of the red-headed sisters who had braided her hair during her first visit to the kingdom. The princess was thrilled to see the four sisters again and ran over excitedly. A guard moved to stop her, but Varian decided to drop the act and take a stand.
"Seriously, do you all distrust the people that much?" he asked, stepping in front of the guard to confront him. "They're kids! Not only that, she seems to know them! Leave her alone, and let her breathe! It's not like she will shatter the moment she touches the hands of a commoner!"
Without waiting for a response, Varian walked over to join the girls. "... If I didn't know better, I'd say he had something to do with the bucket incident," a guard muttered to one of the others as they watched the teen leave.
"What can we do? Arrest him for letting the Princess have fun?" another guard whispered.
After that, the guards allowed Rapunzel to greet her subjects, but they kept a close watch for any signs of danger. She eagerly shook hands and hugged people. While Rapunzel cooed over a baby, Varian grabbed a couple of cupcakes offered by a local woman. "Don't think we don't see what you've been up to, young man," the woman said, smiling at Varian as he took a bite of his cupcake.
"I don't know what you mean. I'm just a boy accompanying the princess on her outing," he said innocently, winking before handing Rapunzel her cupcake.
Deciding to take a break, they found a spot by the fountain to rest and enjoy their treats. As they relaxed, something caught Rapunzel's eye. She spotted a wanted poster on the nearby noticeboard that stood out from the rest. Instead of a criminal's face, the picture depicted a figure whose head and face were obscured by a hood and mask, revealing only their eyes. There was no way to determine this person's gender, age, or appearance. The individual was referred to as The Moonlight Phantom and was wanted alive.
"The Moonlight Phantom?"
Hearing the name, Varian followed her gaze and spotted the poster. "Man, the King's really taking that legend seriously…." He muttered, though privately, his heart raced. "Clearly, the Guard has nothing better to do than chase ghosts…."
"What do you mean?" Rapunzel asked.
"Don't worry about it, Princess," Varian said, smiling at her. "It would take too long to explain, and our time together is getting short. It's almost noon."
"Already?" she asked, checking for herself. "And my parents want me home for lunch with them…"
"Well," the boy said, getting up, "let's see what else we can do before we head back."
"Okay!" she smiled before following him, the earlier conversation forgotten.
(Later)
After their time at the festival and lunch with her parents, Rapunzel returned to her room to unwind with tea. She had invited Varian to join her, but he mentioned he had plans with his father. As she sat on the chaise at the end of her bed, Rapunzel felt conflicted about the day. Despite having fun, something was nagging at her. "Let me guess. Big day on the town wasn't all you hoped it'd be?" Cass asked, setting the teacups on the vanity as Rapunzel was drawn from her thoughts.
"No, no, it was great! We had a lot of fun!" Rapunzel reassured her before sighing. "It's just the legion of guards that had to come with us." Pascal blew a raspberry and gave a thumbs down.
"Uh-huh, I get it," Cass said, placing a hand on her hip.
"I just wish my dad would let me get out and see the real world," Rapunzel huffed as she began to pace.
"You know, if you really wanted, I could get you in and out of here before anyone even knew we were gone," Cassandra offered as she opened the balcony window. Pascal chirped in excitement, agreeing with the idea.
"Uh, you mean sneak me out?" Rapunzel asked, a bit unsure despite her grin.
"Exactly," Cass said, walking over to her. "What you do when no one's looking is your business." She gave the princess a playful poke.
Rapunzel looked thoughtful until they were interrupted by a knock on the door. "The royal banquet is ready to receive the Princess now!"
"Cheer up, Raps. Hey, maybe your dad got someone to chew your food for ya." Cass said teasingly as she went to get Rapunzel's fancy dress.
Rapunzel and Pascal frowned in annoyance, not appreciating the joke. The princess let out a tired sigh before sitting down on her bed. Reflecting on her day, her thoughts drifted back to when she and Varian were relaxing with cupcakes. Then, a memory surfaced of something they had seen during that time…
"Hey, Cass?"
"Yeah."
"Do you know about the Moonlight Phantom?"
Cassandra suddenly paused before turning to the princess in surprise. "How do you know about that?"
"I saw a wanted poster of him in town."
"Wow…" Cass breathed as she recovered from her shock. "They're really going through with that…"
"Through with what?" Rapunzel asked.
Her friend sighed, searching for the right words before continuing. "I don't know much about the Moonlight Phantom. What I do know is that he mostly appears at night and always keeps his head and face covered."
"Is he dangerous?" the princess asked hesitantly.
"Honestly, I'm not sure. That's how little is known about this guy. Everything else is a matter of opinion, and opinions vary depending on whom you ask. Some say he's a good guy, others believe he's a threat, and some say he doesn't exist—just an urban legend that popped up a few years ago."
"Well, what do you think about him?"
"I… I don't know," Cassandra admitted. "There's not enough information for me to work with, but both of our dads believe he's such a problem that he needs to be caught."
"Oh…"
"Anyway, let's not dwell on this anymore. We still need to get you ready for the banquet," Cass said, returning to her tasks.
Rapunzel genuinely wanted to learn more but understood that Cass was right. Hopefully, the banquet will go better than the welcome ceremony…