I don't have an intro for this chapter, so let's jump into it.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything related to Tangled. I only own this story idea.
The throne room had been transformed into a dining hall for the occasion. Six tables were arranged around the room, adorned with gold tablecloths and purple bows. Rapunzel was seated between her parents near the front, while Cassandra was a hostess. Varian sat at the kids' table while his father mingled with some of the other nobles. Eugene looked at the engagement ring thoughtfully before closing the box and placing it in his jacket. Suddenly, he was splattered with food and shot an annoyed look at the little boy beside him. For some reason, he, too, was seated at the kids' table…
The teenager they met the other night chuckled slightly and looked at him while frowning. "Oh, laugh it up. You wanna swap places?"
"No thanks, I'm good," Varian said with a grin, declining the offer.
"Why am I even sitting here?" Eugene asked, frowning.
"I'm in charge of the seating charts," Cass replied nonchalantly as she walked past him. "One of the perks of the job." Annoyed, Eugene rested his chin on his hand and glared at the handmaiden as she walked away. Varian shrugged sympathetically before attempting to concentrate on his food. (Honestly, Varian didn't enjoy sitting at the kids' table either. You'd think fourteen would be old enough to sit with the adults.)
While everything appeared grand to everyone else, to Rapunzel, the Royal Banquet was a private, intimidating spectacle filled with nobles and dignitaries and everything that made Rapunzel nervous. She poked at her food glumly, wishing she were sitting with Eugene and Varian instead.
"I don't understand why you're so upset, sweetheart," King Frederic said calmly, noticing her silence. "I said you could do whatever you wanted. That's exactly what you did."
"Hmm, you didn't say anything about a battalion tagging along," Rapunzel glanced at him with a stiff smile.
"Why would I need to?" He raised an eyebrow with an equally stiff tone. "You're royalty, making a public appearance."
"But Dad–"
Rapunzel was interrupted when Eugene cleared his throat. At some point, he had risen and made his way to the center of the room. "Ladies and gentlemen, Dukes and Duchesses, Barons and Baronesses, Marquis and, you know, the female version of those, may I share a moment of history with you?" he said, gesturing around the room in a zig-zag pattern as he approached the head table. Eugene then turned to Rapunzel, extending a hand to her. "Princess Rapunzel, would you join me up here?"
She glanced between him and his hand before getting up with a sheepish smile, worried she would embarrass herself if she didn't. Frederic raised an eyebrow as he watched her walk around the table, taking Eugene's hand in the center of the room. "Tonight, we celebrate our love for the Princess..." Rapunzel smiled at the crowd before leaning back to check Cassandra for any hint of what he was doing. Cass could only shrug and shake her head, just as confused as everyone else. "I, for one, can think of no better way to celebrate the love I have for this woman," Rapunzel straightened up as Eugene pulled her in front of him. "Than this." Without warning, Eugene dropped to one knee. Frederic's mouth fell open as Cass looked on in shock. Pascal mirrored the king's reaction while Varian's eyes widened in surprise.
"Eugene!" Rapunzel looked at him in confusion, then around at the floor. "Wait, did you drop something?"
"No." He assured her, releasing her hands to reach into his jacket. He pulled out the box and opened it to reveal its contents. Realizing what it was, Rapunzel beamed at the sight of the ring. Her father quickly stood up, scraping his chair loudly. "Rapunzel, from the moment I first met you and you knocked me out with that frying pan, I knew it was love," Eugene said, gazing at her fondly. "You're my light, you're my best friend, and I want to be your partner in all things. I can't wait to laugh with you and share with you. I see us raising our children here and our children's children. And celebrating banquets of our own here in this very hall for many, many, many, many years to come." Her smile grew bigger and bigger as her boyfriend went on. "I wanna ride our horses to the Corona Wall together, each and every morning, until we're both very, very old and gray."
Rapunzel could feel the 'yes' in her mouth, but then the reality of what he was saying began to sink in. Her smile faded, and dread washed over her as she continued to listen to him.
"I love you, Rapunzel," Eugene finished, holding up the box, unaware of her slight jolt of alarm. "And I want to spend the rest of our lives here, together."
"Here..." she repeated slowly. "In this... castle... forever?"
"I mean, unless you wanna rent," he joked. "But I hardly see how we're gonna top this."
Her eyes widened as she reflected on earlier conversations with him.
"I want to spend the rest of my life with you here."
"It doesn't get any better than this, this castle."
She stared at his smiling face before glancing at her father. His voice penetrated her thoughts, reminding her why she needed to be closely guarded. "Princesses need to be protected at all times."
She looked at the guards, sensing their gaze as she turned back to Eugene. "Rapunzel?"
Her boyfriend's voice felt distant, yet it jolted her back to reality. "Rapunzel?"
She sighed as she tried to gather her thoughts. "Ah, I… wow." She reached out a little, then clasped her hands while chuckling awkwardly. "I… love you, Eugene, but… I–I can't. Just… not–not now." She stepped back slightly before running out of the room. "Uhm, I need some air!"
Everyone was shocked when the princess dashed out. Cass watched her leave with concern before glaring at Eugene, who closed the box with a mix of confusion and hurt on his face. Still reeling from the moment, hardly anyone noticed Varian slip out of the room.
(Outside the banquet hall)
"Well, that went over like a house on fire," Varian muttered as he left the castle. He looked around the grounds and glanced at the sky to check the sun's position. One of his abilities allowed him to see wherever the moonlight touched. He would receive visions in his mind's eye and learn the location of whoever or whatever he was searching for. However, the sun maintained its domain over the skies, so he couldn't use that ability. But maybe there was something else he could try…
Checking his surroundings to ensure he was alone, Varian tugged off his gloves and stuffed them into his pocket. After one last glance, the teen focused on his powers, his hair trying to escape its clip. Varian concentrated on what he sensed near the princess–the connection he was sure they shared. Feeling a pull in his stomach, Varian followed that feeling to the gardens, convinced Rapunzel was nearby.
The teenager was able to find the princess relatively quickly after that. She was curled up by some rose bushes, her face buried in her knees as her shoulders shook with quiet sobs. "Prin–Rapunzel?" Varian asked, crouching beside her. "Are you okay?"
She shook her head, still not looking at him. "Do you want to go back inside?"
"… They don't understand…." She mumbled.
"I'm sorry?"
"They don't understand!" Rapunzel raised her voice, her volume just shy of yelling. "None of them do! I've already had a sheltered, routine life for eighteen years! I want something new! I want a life! I thought… I thought Eugene understood that…"
The princess grew quieter as she trailed off, burying her face in her knees again while she cried. He couldn't deny it: Varian was taken aback by the outburst. At the same time, though, his heart went out to Rapunzel. She had been holding that in for far too long. Varian shifted his position to sit beside her, trying to offer comfort.
"Rapunzel?" They heard Cassandra, who had come out to find her.
"Do you need a minute?" Varian whispered. "I can distract her."
Rapunzel shook her head before calling to her friend. "I'm over here, Cass!"
"There you are," Cassandra said when she joined them. "How are you feeling?"
"Well, not great," Rapunzel admitted. "But less panicky."
"Good to hear. Do you want to go back to your room? Get changed? After that scene, I wouldn't be surprised if they called off the rest of the banquet."
Rapunzel nodded before glancing at Varian. "Could you… stay a little longer? Please?"
"Sure." He replied as they stood up and headed inside, discreetly putting his gloves back on.
"I'm sorry for yelling earlier…"
"Princess, don't apologize for being upset," the younger teen reassured her. "Sometimes, you just need to vent."
"Thanks…"
By dusk, the trio was in Rapunzel's room after she had changed into her casual dress. She paced the floor while Cass sat on her chaise and Varian sat on her bed.
"Ugh, I feel horrible about Eugene. I… I do love him, and I wanna marry him someday, but not like this!" Rapunzel clutched her head, groaning in frustration. "I need to get out and clear my head without a fleet of guards tailing me."
"Say no more." Cass stood up with a smirk before glancing at Varian. "Wanna come, kid?"
"Are we sneaking out?" Varian asked, a grin playing on his lips.
"Just don't tell anyone, okay?"
"Of course not, then I might as well tell my dad that I sneak out almost every night." He raised an eyebrow. "You won't tell him, right?"
"No, of course not." Rapunzel shook her head and then smiled. "Wanna have an adventure?"
Varian glanced out the window, seeing the moon taking its place in the sky. "Sure, but we should probably be back before sunrise."
"Right." Rapunzel nodded. "We'll want to do that anyway."
Cassandra walked out with them and directed them to her room to hide while she found some guards to ensure no one disturbed Princess Rapunzel's "rest." The teens were just passing the castle library when Varian suddenly stopped short. Rapunzel ducked inside the open door as the alchemist was approached by his father.
"Varian, there you are. Where have you been? I haven't seen you since the banquet," Quirin said with concern.
"Sorry, Dad," Varian said sheepishly. "I felt overwhelmed by all the strangers, so I went to the library. I'm still reading. I just stepped out to find a bathroom."
Quirin looked into the room next to them, nodding when he saw it was the castle library. "Alright. Just don't read all night, though. We have to attend the coronation tomorrow."
"Yes, sir." Varian saluted with a grin. Quirin rubbed his head and walked past him. Varian waited until his father turned the corner, then glanced inside the library as Rapunzel emerged from behind a bookshelf. "Okay, let's go."
They hurried quietly through the hallway, ducking behind statues and curtains whenever guards passed. They reached the servants' rooms and entered the one leading to Cassandra's room.
"There you are," Cass said, already there.
"Sorry about that," Varian apologized. "We ran into my dad and had to get past a few guards."
"So, what's next?" Rapunzel asked.
"Check this out," Cassandra smirked, opening her armoire as Rapunzel gasped in surprise.
"Whoa." Cass's closet was packed with weapons. Every blade and tool the Royal Guard could possibly use was in there. "Where's the war?"
"Well," Cass replied, removing her headdress. "When your dad is Captain of the Guards, you tend to collect... stuff." She waved a dagger in her hand. Curious about the weapons, Rapunzel picked up a metal ball, only to drop it in shock when it transformed into a spiked orb. Carefully, she grabbed it by one of the spikes and returned it. Varian selected two dark cloaks for them—one with pink trim and the other with blue. They both looked up to see that Cass had changed into a tunic and leggings with a sword slung across her back.
"I have a feeling this is going to be fun," Rapunzel grinned, pulling her hood up before turning to her lizard friend by the fireplace. "Pascal, I need you to stay here and make sure no one knows I'm gone."
Pascal saluted her, ready for the task.
Having everything they needed, Cass led the teens in one direction while Pascal returned to Rapunzel's room. The handmaiden opened the door to a storage space, using a lantern to light the way. Varian and Rapunzel followed her into the room, with the princess shutting the door behind them.
Moving to the back, Cassandra pushed a crate away from a banner and pulled the tapestry aside, revealing a tunnel entrance. Rapunzel gasped loudly as she removed her hood, causing Varian to wince.
"Is that a secret passage?!" She ran over to look inside, knocking the tapestry onto Cassandra.
"It was," Cass said as she pulled the tapestry off with Varian's help, "before you announced it to the whole ca–?" However, once it was removed, she saw only Varian. "Rapunzel?"
Varian simply pointed to the passageway.
(A few minutes later)
As the guards made their rounds on the bridge, the gondola dock remained deserted until Rapunzel opened the grate and crawled out. "That was so fun!" she said excitedly, with the others right behind her.
"I'd like to take this opportunity to remind you that we're supposed to be sneaking out," Cass said, putting the cover back in place.
"Cass, I think you'll discover that I can be pretty sneaky when I need to." Rapunzel retorted, still being a little too loud. Cassandra suddenly dashed forward and grabbed Rapunzel, pulling her around a corner, with Varian following closely behind. Moments later, two guards moved past the area.
"Nightly patrols," Cassandra whispered as Rapunzel adjusted her hood. "We can get by them if we time it right."
"Wait, how did you know they were coming?" Rapunzel asked curiously as the handmaiden watched the guards leave.
"I have eyes in the sky," Cass smirked as she extended her arm. A small, brown owl swooped down toward them, capturing the attention of Rapunzel and Varian. It glided in and perched on Cassandra's gloved wrist.
"That is amazing!" Rapunzel exclaimed fondly, inadvertently startling the bird. "You have your own owl! What's his name?"
"Owl," Cass replied flatly, then raised her arm to signal Owl to take off. She turned towards some crates and clicked her tongue, urging Maximus to come out of hiding. Poking his head up, he looked around before sniffing the ground as he approached them, with Fidella following behind him.
"Guard horses?" Varian asked.
"Max!" Rapunzel exclaimed, pleasantly surprised.
"Yeah." Cassandra smiled at her before turning to the horses. "When he heard I was sneaking you out of here, he insisted he come along."
"I don't know about this…," Varian said, crossing his arms while Cassandra rubbed the stallion's muzzle.
"Don't worry, Maximus is my friend," Rapunzel assured him. "He won't rat us out."
"And between you and me," Cass continued, whispering as she walked past them with Fidella. "I think he's got something for you-know-who." Max whinnied in embarrassment and looked bashful.
"Hmm, it'll be our secret," Rapunzel assured him. He neighed happily at her, grateful. After getting into a boat, Cassandra picked up a bow and an arrow attached to a rope. She shot the arrow across the water, where it lodged into something on the other side. Cass then gripped the rope and slowly began to pull them across, careful not to let the guards on the bridge see them.
"Do you need some help?" Varian asked quietly.
"I got it, Young Master." She winked and continued pulling on the rope. "You and Rapunzel just enjoy the ride."
After passing the bridge, Cassandra switched to using an oar to navigate the rest of the way to the woods. Sailing through the fog on the bay, she took the group to the shore on the other side.
As they pulled up to the bank, Rapunzel slowly stood while Cass put the oar away.
Seems like I've spent my whole life hoping
The princess stepped onto the grass, feeling its softness beneath her toes as she had during her first time out of the tower.
Dreaming of things I've never tried
She turned to Max as he approached, wrapping her arms around his neck before guiding him forward.
Tangled in knots, just waiting for my time to shine
The five of them began to walk into the woods, with Rapunzel glancing around curiously.
What if the doors began to open?
They soon reached the edge of a field beyond the woods. The princess stepped forward and took off her hood.
What if the knots became untied?
Rapunzel glanced back at the others; Cass wore a knowing smirk, while Varian smiled as he removed his hood.
What if one day, nothing stood in my way
And the world was mine?
A gust of wind swept through her hair, startling Rapunzel as she looked ahead again. She spread her arms wide, embracing the crisp night breeze that washed over her, a bright smile blooming on her face.
Would it feel this fine?
The princess hopped onto Max, with Varian following her, while Cassandra climbed onto Fidella.
'Cause I got the wind in my hair
The five raced through the field as the moon watched from above.
And a gleam in my eyes
And an endless horizon
They approached a stream, and Rapunzel tiptoed through the shallow part, holding her cloak and dress to keep them dry.
I got a smile on my face
And I'm walking on air
Varian knelt beside a deeper section of the river with Rapunzel, pointing out the fish swimming around.
And everything life oughta be
Rapunzel and Varian trailed the fish along the bank as they leaped out of the water and swam upstream. The princess began to sprint, racing the fish with Varian following closely behind her.
It's all gonna happen to me out there
Varian moved ahead and signaled for Rapunzel to follow him.
And I'll find it, I swear
They made their way toward a rocky path leading up a small cliff face. As the fish leaped up the falls, the teens appeared from an opening that overlooked them. The duo smiled at the view while the princess tucked some hair behind her ear as the breeze picked up.
With the wind in my hair
Rapunzel and Varian climbed back onto Maximus and ventured down a path behind another waterfall. As they went by, they ran their hands through the water, grinning from ear to ear.
So many roads I've yet to travel
The humans were back on foot when they reached the woods once more. They arrived at a fork in the road with two paths. One was illuminated by moonlight, while the other remained dark due to the dense tree canopy. They exchanged glances before choosing the path to the right, the shadowy one.
So many friends I haven't met
Rapunzel smiled as she and Varian examined the animals around them as they explored. Suddenly, a wolf appeared on the trail, startling them with its intense stare.
So many new adventures just around the bend
Cassandra quickly drew her sword but was baffled as Rapunzel and Varian cooed over the wolf, who reveled in the attention. Rapunzel smiled while rubbing his belly as Varian stroked his fur, attracting more animals around them. The village boy grinned at the animals as one of the birds landed on his shoulder. Ever since discovering his powers, he had bonded with the nocturnal wildlife.
The three spotted some fireflies up ahead. Beaming at each other, they needed no words.
Plenty of mysteries to unravel
Cass inched closer, brushing aside some ferns.
Tons of mistakes to not regret
Rapunzel emerged from behind her and spread the ferns wider as Varian glanced over her shoulder. The field exploded with light, causing the pond beyond to shimmer with countless fireflies as Varian and the girls gazed around in wonder and awe.
So much to see, and to do, and to be
Rapunzel cupped a firefly in her hands, and Varian mirrored her action. Cass leaned against a tree as the teens released their fireflies, watching them take flight before following them.
A whole life to spend
The three friends chased the fireflies, leaving behind glittering trails as more lightning bugs followed them.
And it doesn't end
Rapunzel and Varian climbed back onto Maximus with excitement and ran, a trail of fireflies following them. The horse leaped into the air, silhouetted by the moon, while Varian hugged Rapunzel tightly.
'Cause I've got the wind in my hair
The two teens smiled with determination as Max continued toward the wall.
And a song in my heart
And the fun's only starting
They slowly stood up and jumped off his back, landing on the wall as the fireflies danced around them.
I got a skip in my step
And I haven't a care
Rapunzel grabbed Varian's hands with joy and spun him around. The sudden movement took Varian by surprise, but he smiled nonetheless. Rapunzel then lowered a rope over the other side of the wall.
And everything life ought to be
As they slowly approached the edge, the teens gazed down at the ground beneath them.
Well, I know it's waiting for me out there
Rapunzel hesitated for a moment, glancing back at the castle. She then turned to Varian, who met her gaze with understanding eyes. Without speaking, he assured her that there was no wrong choice.
And I'll find it, I swear
Reaffirming her decision, she looked ahead again, smiling determinedly as they dashed toward the ledge. They leaped off together, swinging down toward the ground.
With the wind in my hair~!
Everyone climbed back onto their horses once they were on the other side. "So, how are you feeling?" Cass asked as they rode off. "You're outside the Wall."
"That means we shouldn't linger in one spot for too long," Varian reminded them. "Where are we headed, Miss Cassandra?"
"You'll see." She smiled. "It's a surprise."
"Well, let's try not to stay out too late. We need to be back before sunrise." He turned his attention to the princess. "Feeling better, Your Highness?"
"Yes, I am, and you can call me Rapunzel, Varian," she smiled.
"Okay…." He smiled shyly, "Rapunzel."
They slowed to a halt when they reached an old, crumbling bridge. "Just remember, no one can ever know I took you two outside the walls of Corona," Cass reminded them.
"Don't worry," Rapunzel assured her. "No one is going to find out. Right, Varian?"
"Right." The village boy nodded, though he was starting to appear uneasy.
"What's wrong?" Rapunzel asked, noticing his change in mood.
"I know this place. My dad told me never to come here. He said it's dangerous."
"Don't worry; it's not dangerous," Cassandra assured him. "I'll make sure nothing bad happens."
"… Okay." He nodded after a moment. In truth, while Varian trusted Cass (not completely since they had only known each other for two days, but enough that he felt she wouldn't actively try to get him killed), he had his reservations about this. He worried that if things got too dodgy, he'd be forced to use his powers and reveal his secret.
He was sure Rapunzel wouldn't be too put off. If she was open to hanging out with crowds like the one at The Snuggly Duckling, then a kid with moon powers probably wasn't too far off the mark. On the other hand, Cassandra was the daughter of the Captain of the Guard and a reservist in the Guard. She was loyal to the king and followed the Captain's orders meticulously. If there were wanted posters for his arrest, part of him believed Cass would diligently do her duty and take him in. (Not that he would make it easy for her; he hadn't remained free this long by sheer luck.)
The teens went first, with Max walking as slowly and carefully as he could across the bridge. However, each step caused the bridge to creak, putting them on edge. A couple of cracks appeared beneath them, making Max rear up in panic.
"Whoa, whoa, Max," Rapunzel said soothingly. "Alright, this looks dangerous. Can you… can you stay here and watch Fidella for us?"
"We promise we won't be gone long," Varian said with a reassuring smile. Once off the horses, the three humans made their way across the bridge, leaving them behind. Max glanced at Fidella, whose ear drooped at seeing the humans going alone.
A piece of the bridge fell off as they walked, making the horses glance at each other skeptically. Varian's anxiety grew as the bridge continued to crack and creak. "We'll be fine," Cassandra reassured him. "We're lighter than the horses."
"We don't have to be as heavy as a horse to break a bridge this old," he replied. "It's been here for ages."
Rapunzel looked around as they crossed the bridge, noticing signs of ruins everywhere. "Hey, Cass? What used to be here?"
"No idea," Cassandra admitted.
"Xavier once told me that another kingdom existed here before Corona," Varian said, feeling better now that they were back on the ground.
"Xavier the blacksmith?" Cassandra asked.
"Yup. He mentioned that this other kingdom knew about the Sundrop Flower, and its people protected and worshiped the flower as if it were their god."
"Wow!" Rapunzel exclaimed, captivated by the story.
"What happened to them?" Cass asked, equally intrigued.
"No one knows," Varian replied. "They just vanished without a trace. I tried to look them up once but couldn't find anything—not even a name. It's as if someone went out of their way to make sure this kingdom was lost to history."
"Mysterious," Rapunzel said.
"Come on, it's just a little further," Cassandra urged them on, aware that time was limited.
"If my dad finds out we came here, he'll never let me see the light of day again," Varian said, his expression filled with concern.
"It's okay," Rapunzel reassured him with a smile. "He won't find out."
They reached the cliff's edge, and Cassandra led them down a stairway carved from stone. "So, what did you want to show us?" Cass glanced around to make sure the coast was clear before leading them away from the steps.
"Trust me, it's better if you see it for yourselves." When they halted, the group found themselves at the edge of an outcrop adorned with several jagged black rocks. Varian's heart raced when he caught sight of them. It couldn't be…
"They're… beautiful," Rapunzel murmured, gazing at the rocks curiously. "What are they?"
Varian knew. One of his powers was the ability to summon these rocks.
"Don't know. They just kinda sprouted up here about a year ago," Cassandra said, unsheathing her sword.
"How…?" Varian whispered before clearing his throat and speaking up louder. "Is that when it happened or when it was noticed?"
"I dunno. Does this place look like people usually come here a lot?" Cassandra shrugged.
Varian's mind raced with this new information. When he first discovered his powers, he learned that smaller versions of these rocks would appear if he was scared or upset and his gloves were off. When he tried to summon them as an experiment, he could only conjure one, and it was only waist-high. Moreover, doing that drained his energy. Over time, he learned about the minor things he could do with the rocks, but after six years of attempting to create spikes like these, he still couldn't achieve them. He subconsciously tugged at his gloves. How long had these rocks been here? And why did they appear here, of all places?
"And watch this." Cass grinned, lifting her blade and glancing at the teens. "Uh, y–you might wanna stand back for this one." Rapunzel and Varian stepped back a little before Cass swung her sword against the black rock. The blade shattered into pieces without leaving a scratch on the rock's surface, causing the teens to flinch.
"Wow!" Rapunzel exclaimed in awe. Varian watched, fascinated. He didn't know they could do that.
"They're unbreakable," Cassandra said, sliding her broken sword back into its sheath. "Wanna know the weirdest part?" she added, walking over to them before looking towards the rocks. Rapunzel followed her gaze and moved toward a dust-covered memorial in the cluster's center. "This is where they found the miracle flower that saved your mom."
"And me..." Rapunzel breathed. Wiping away some dust from the monument, the rocks began to glow a bright blue as her hand neared, startling the princess while Cass and Varian turned back to her. Rapunzel extended her hand toward the rocks, which shone brighter and brighter as she approached. A breeze came from nowhere, blowing her cloak back as the spikes illuminated.
The closer Rapunzel got to the rocks, the more Varian noticed he was developing a headache. It steadily worsened, building into a migraine. The teen pinched his eyes and nose to ease the pain. While Cassandra focused on the princess, Varian unconsciously removed one of his gloves. His fingertips gleamed the same blue as the rocks, causing the anomaly to go unnoticed by witnesses. Oddly, removing the glove caused his headache to ease slightly, but Varian still felt nauseous.
Rapunzel's finger barely grazed the rock when a strange blue light erupted, silencing her scream as everyone was thrown to the ground. The light radiated outward, breaking into energy waves that shot across the Kingdom. The water became tumultuous, splashing near the outcrop before gradually settling down. Then everything fell silent.
(Back at the castle)
Quirin woke with a start, sensing that something was off. He sat up, peering at the moon through the window, then glanced at a circular mark with three lines on the back of his hand.
Something had occurred… something ominous.
A shadowy figure in the woods shared this feeling. They looked at the same mark on their left hand and then toward Corona.
(At the monument)
Knocked out by the blast, it was unclear how long the trio had been unconscious before they began to regain awareness. However long it had been, they started to wake up slowly, pushing themselves off the ground.
Varian was the first to come around, gradually propping himself on his hands and knees. He let out a soft whimper as he felt a sharp pain in his head. That was sure to leave a bump. Despite the discomfort, he felt oddly energized—more so than he usually did at night.
Varian blinked his eyes open and saw something blue in front of his face. With a start, he realized his hair stripe had come loose from his hair clip when he was thrown back. He also noticed that his hand was glowing because his glove was off. Looking around, he saw the girls a few feet away, but they weren't looking in his direction. Breathing a sigh of relief, especially when he spotted his glove right next to him, Varian quickly put it back on, dimming the light.
However, he noticed that his hair wasn't the only light source. With the blue light gone, a smaller yet just as bright golden shimmer became evident. Looking back at the girls, Varian realized the light was coming from Rapunzel.
Specifically, her glowing golden-yellow hair.
When the princess noticed the change, she tugged on the strand in horror. However, they didn't have a chance to ponder it when a black rock burst from the ground near Rapunzel, causing the princess to jump back toward Cass, who was still getting up.
Varian slid over to the girls, staring at the spike in shock. Was that him? But his hands were covered!
Another soon emerged, stabbing out of the ground around the now-broken monument, leaving the group gaping in shock. Then another burst forth, and, to their horror, a mass of dark rocks began to sprout rapidly, charging straight at them. No one had to say a word as the trio took off. Skipping the stairs, the group climbed back up the cliff and dashed away, the rocks in close pursuit.
"Wait, what is—?" Rapunzel attempted to ask as they ran away.
"Get to the horses as fast as you can," Cass ordered as she led them back the way they came. "And don't look back, you two!"
The rocks kept bursting through the ground in front of them and the cliff beside them. They ducked, dodged, and ran around them as they attempted to reach safety. Cass glanced back, seeing more rocks coming. She paused and urged them on when they passed an archway supported by a tree.
"Don't stop, you two! Keep going!" she shouted as the teens raced ahead. Cassandra began kicking the tree with all her might. The vibrations caused the overhanging rocks to tumble down. Cass sprinted after the others as the path to the monument was blocked, momentarily slowing down the rocks.
Meanwhile, Rapunzel and Varian raced through the dark woods. Rapunzel's glowing hair began to shine brighter and lengthen as they ran. Varian had to shield his eyes as best he could while still seeing where they were going. They reached the top of a hill, and the friends jumped to avoid tumbling down it. Rapunzel's hair gave one last bright flash, and when they landed, Rapunzel felt a wave of dread in her stomach when they heard something heavy hit the ground behind them with a thud. Turning around, Varian almost gasped at what he saw. If he had, he wouldn't have known whether it was from awe or fear.
"Um, Cassandra!" Rapunzel called, tugging at her now longer hair.
"Keep moving, you two!" Cassandra rushed out of the woods. "We need to get–whoa, what?!"
The handmaiden stopped dead in her tracks, staring in shock at Rapunzel's seventy feet of restored golden hair. The princess examined her strands, grimacing with a helpless shrug.
I think this chapter is one of my longer ones for this story. Please be careful if you're in my neck of the woods in Ohio (or anywhere with winter weather).
Edit: This is another combined chapter.