Hi everybody! I hope it's warm wherever you are. We're just getting over a nasty blizzard.

I have a new story for you today. This is the very first Tangled story I ever thought of, and I finally managed to post it. It took a while since I had some serious writer's block with this first chapter, but hopefully, the next time the spinner lands on this one, it will go faster.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything related to the Tangled movie or television series. I only own my original characters and any concepts I add to the story.

Anyway, onward, we ride!

Long ago, before the Seven Kingdoms were founded, when magic ran rampant and people believed that unseen deities controlled the sun and moon, there was a mysterious clash in the heavens. From that clash, two drops fell from the sky: a drop of sunlight and a drop of moonlight. The sundrop formed a magical golden flower with healing powers, while the moondrop created a single opal stone embodying death and destruction.

They became known as the Sundrop Flower and the Moonstone Opal.

Both were incredibly powerful. Although the artifacts' magic was opposite in nature, they called to one another, two halves yearning to be reunited.

While the legend of the Sundrop and Moonstone is well-known among those who study magic and myths, early sages speak of a third light that fell from the sky—a drop of starlight that split into seven smaller lights as it descended from the heavens. Though only whispered about, these seven specks are said to be called the Seven Starshards.

Much of their power remains a mystery. Each Starshard supposedly controls an element, one of seven that would later inspire the names of the Seven Kingdoms. It is believed that together, they serve as a balancing force between the Sundrop and Moonstone. As opposing forces, the shards ensure that neither gains too much power over the other.

Centuries passed, and the Seven Kingdoms formed, grew, and changed. The Sundrop Flower watched from a secluded spot by the ocean as the Light Kingdom, Corona, expanded from the mainland onto an island in the bay. The kingdom experienced its golden age during the reign of King Frederic vi Sonne and his wife, Arianna. Everything in the realm was prosperous and peaceful; the economy was stable, and crime was low.

But then, everything changed when the queen fell ill while expecting their first child.

It was a story that would become quite well-known. Desperate to save his child, King Frederic sent search parties to find the fabled Sundrop Flower, believing it would heal his wife and unborn child. They succeeded; the queen was saved, and Princess Rapunzel was born. Everything was blissful and happy until one night when an unknown woman broke into the castle, kidnapped the princess, and vanished into the night.

Many would argue that the king went mad after that, his grief-stricken mind overcome by rage. The kingdom's guard intensified efforts against criminal activity, arresting even the pettiest of thieves. A shadow fell upon Corona as days turned into weeks, months, and years without any sign of the princess. Nonetheless, the royal family refused to lose hope. Every year on the princess's birthday, her parents would light floating lanterns and release them into the sky, praying for their daughter's safe return.

Three years later, a spark of hope emerged when the king and queen were expecting another child. Everyone was surprised to learn that Queen Arianna was pregnant again. Given all the complications from Rapunzel's birth, many assumed she couldn't conceive once more. While there was excitement and happiness about this prospect, there was also a sense of dread. The kidnapping of the princess was still fresh in everybody's minds, leading to fears that the kidnappers might return for the new baby. The threat was considered severe enough that King Frederic instructed the Captain of the Guard to bolster security around the castle while the delivery took place.

Then, as if fate were mocking them, Arianna fell ill again. This time, however, there was no miraculous flower to save them. All anyone could do was pray and hope for the best. In a show of solidarity, the people gathered for a candle-lit vigil in front of the castle, seeking intervention from a higher power to protect the queen and her baby.

Fortunately, this time, the kingdom's pleas were answered. Arianna survived the birth, and a miraculously healthy baby boy was welcomed into the world.

He was named Prince Derek de Sonne.

To celebrate the miracle of their new prince, the kingdom released floating lanterns into the sky, just as they had done for their princess. The night sky became awash in golden-orange light, the stars appearing dull by comparison.

For the first time in years, the veil of grief lifted ever so slightly from the Light Kingdom. The princess was still missing, and uncertainty was no telling what the future was. The kidnappers were still at large and could potentially target the prince. But at that moment, none of that mattered as everyone reveled in the joy of their new heir.

Years passed until, finally, their prayers were answered. The day after her eighteenth birthday, Rapunzel returned home.

The sun had just risen over the Kingdom of Corona that day. The castle was quiet, everyone having just recently gotten up to start the morning. The silence was then broken by footsteps as a fifteen-year-old boy raced toward the castle entrance.

Prince Derek had grown since the night he was brought into the world. He wasn't very tall, standing at only 5'3", but he looked athletic. His long brown hair reached past his shoulders to his upper back and was pulled back in a low ponytail. Derek's hair turned golden-yellow about halfway down, and a matching stripe ran along the right side. He had light skin since he didn't get outside much, with freckles across his cheeks and watery blue eyes like his father. For clothes, Derek wore a white collared shirt with the sleeves rolled up past his elbows under a red vest, navy blue pants with a gray belt, and tall brown boots with laces. It wasn't typical royal attire, but that was fine with Derek.

Running behind him was a female raccoon named Sapphire. Like all raccoons, Sapphire had monochrome fur and a long striped tail. She was slim, with brown eyes and splashes of brown on her paws and face. Around her neck was a silk scarf in the same shade of blue as her name.

As for why the prince was running through the castle, a few minutes earlier, he had been in his room with Sapphire while Derek's best friend and equerry, Alexander Frost, helped him prepare for the day. They had just finished Derek's morning routine when one of the maids entered the room. She looked out of breath as if she had just run up there. What she said next brought everything to a sudden halt:

Rapunzel was home. His sister had finally returned.

Derek didn't know what else was said afterward. The moment those words registered, he bolted out the door.

He skidded to a stop when he reached the foyer, panting hard. Sapphire caught up to him and climbed onto his back to curl around his shoulders. Taking in the scene in front of him, he noticed his parents had just walked in from the courtyard balcony with a young woman who looked familiar yet wasn't at the same time.

She was shorter than him, probably 5'1", with a slender frame and fair skin a shade lighter than his own. She had large green eyes that made her look youthful and brown hair styled in a short, choppy cut. She wore a purple and pink dress with white lacing on the neckline and sleeves and swirling floral patterns on the skirt. The mystery girl was also barefoot and seemed to have a lizard on her shoulder. This had to be his long-lost sister.

Along with them was a man Derek recognized from the wanted posters around town: Flynn Rider. He was a foot taller than Rapunzel, with a lithe, athletic build, short dark brown hair, a well-trimmed goatee, and light brown eyes. The man wore his signature turquoise vest, a white long-sleeved shirt, dark cream pants, a belt with a mini-satchel around his waist, and brown bucket-top boots.

Derek stood frozen, uncertain about what to do or how to approach them. He had envisioned a thousand scenarios for this moment, ranging from a daring adventure to find her to a casual encounter on the streets. None of those had prepared him for the overwhelming shock and emotion of the situation. So he remained there, staring as he waited for them to notice him.

Fortunately, the wait wasn't long. Rapunzel noticed him first and stopped a few feet away. Snapping out of his stupor, Derek went to say… something. Introduce himself? Confirm it was his sister? He was still deciding when he opened his mouth. However, his final decision was interrupted as Rapunzel closed the gap between them, knocking him off balance as she threw her arms around him. The jolt nearly caused Sapphire to tumble off his shoulder.

"I'm back, Derek," she said softly, holding him tightly.

Once he got over his surprise, Derek slowly returned the hug. He held her close, afraid she would disappear again if he didn't. Their parents and Flynn hung back, letting the siblings have their moment while the animals smiled at their companions.

"Welcome home, Rapunzel," he whispered back, trying to hold back tears of joy.

At long last, the royal family was whole again. However, none of them realized at the time that this was just the beginning. What seemed like a fairy tale ending was, in fact, the start of an epic adventure.

And that was the prologue.

I'll be back soon, either with more of my old stories or some of my new ones.