Where Our Destiny Lies

by Lusia_98

Summary:

Cassandra never felt at home in Corona. Raised by the Captain of the Guard, she grew up to love adventure, combat, weapons and cartography - all the things that she knew were not appropriate hobbies for a young lady. That was enough to make the people of Corona look at her sideways. She didn’t want to imagine what they would do if they knew everything.

Rapunzel spent her entire life in the tower, terrified of the dangers of the outside world. She knew that the people out there would want to use her for her healing powers, and she needed to stay here to be safe. She was filling her days with cleaning, reading, cooking, painting and daydreaming about the day when her life will finally begin.

When the day before Rapunzel’s eighteenth birthday a mysterious woman breaks into her tower, she sees the perfect opportunity to at last fulfill her biggest dream.

Chapter 1: Waiting for the Right Moment

“I can’t believe this,” Cassandra grumbled, nervously pacing through her room. Owl, her best friend, was observing her cautiously from where he was perched on a nearby bookshelf. “How stupid and incompetent can these idiots be? First they let these bandits steal the Lost Princess’ crown. You know, this thing that was supposed to be one of the best guarded objects in all of Corona? I think only the remnants of the Flower have a higher level of security than this crown was supposed to have. And when they finally managed to catch the Stabbingtons, it turns out Rider and Strongbow escaped with the crown anyway!”

Cassandra threw her arms in the air and collapsed on her bed, frustrated beyond belief.

“And they say women are too fragile and incompetent to join the Royal Guard,” she smiled bitterly. “If I was the one guarding that crown, none of this would have happened.”

“Hoo?” Owl changed the subject. He very rarely looked as worried as he did now.

“No,” Cass answered quietly, her anger finally softening a little. “Max isn’t back in the palace yet. It’s been hours since my father and his people returned with the Stabbingtons, too. Fidella is worried sick, even if she doesn’t want to admit that. And to be honest, I’m starting to get worried about what happened out there, too.”

Truth be told, Maximus’ absence was more than a little alarming. He was one of the most competent, loyal and persistent soldiers in the Guard (the fact that he was a horse was beside the point). Surely, if he was the one to chase Rider and Strongbow on his own, he would do everything to come back with both the thieves and the crown. The fact that he wasn’t here yet upset Cass more than she was willing to admit out loud.

She clenched her fists, her anger and frustration overflowing once again.

She knew that she would be able to stop Rider and his cronies from stealing the crown if she was the one guarding it. She had better instincts and reflexes, more skill in wielding weapons and she was faster and more agile than any of those idiots who actually were members of the Guard. She knew that her father was aware of that. After all, he was the one who trained her. She has been training with the guards since she was a six years old girl. She knew almost everything about combat. She could pass this ridiculous little test that so many of her father’s men had problems with while blindfolded.

And yet, her father never let her take this test at all.

She couldn’t understand why.

Of course, she knew that people of Corona were looking at her sideways at least since she was a preteen. Even then, she liked to learn how to fight with her father and his guards. When she wasn’t training, she was often busy joining boys’ fights - and usually winning them without as much as breaking a sweat. Later, when most other girls her age were busy talking about boys and dresses, she took interest in cartography, collecting weapons and learning about war history. All of her life she has been forced to listen to people mocking or scolding her for her interests, telling her that her behavior wasn’t fitting for a young lady or threatening her that she’ll end up as a spinster if she won’t change her attitude. She quickly learned to either fight back or just ignore it if she couldn’t. With time the disapproval or outright contempt of the people stopped to bother her entirely. She didn't care about behaving like a lady. As for being a spinster, she would choose it over being married to a man without a second thought.

Cassandra was used to people having a problem with her. She didn’t care about this anymore. What she did care about was her father and how inconsistent his behavior was.

Usually he didn’t seem to care about what other people say, either. He was the Captain of the Guard, after all. He didn’t have time to be soft or sensitive. He was the one who told Cass that she didn’t have to worry about what people think. He was the one who taught her how to fight and let her train with the Guard since she was a little girl. He let her cut her hair short when she was ten, and he didn’t have a problem with Cass wearing tunics and trousers instead of dresses in her free time.

On the other hand, he was the one who forbade her from joining the Guard and forced her to work in the palace as a maid instead. He was the one who kept repeating that she just needed to be patient and wait for the right moment, though he never specified when that might be. And he was the one who threatened her with the vision of a convent if she refused to follow the rules.

She couldn’t understand why he acted like that. The Captain knew that Cass was talented, persistent and hardworking. He knew that she was more than capable, unlike some of the men he actually let into the Guard for one reason or another. He knew how much she despised her current job. And yet, when she tried to talk to him about what else could she do to prove to him that he should give her a chance, he shut her down every time.

Maybe it was because, deep down, he shared the same views about the roles of men and women as the rest of Corona? Maybe he was afraid for her safety because she was his daughter, but he was too tough to openly admit it?

Or maybe… Maybe it was because he knew the one thing that Cassandra was trying to hide from everyone, no matter the cost. She didn’t want to think how people would react if they found out who she really was.

Maybe he was afraid of her.

Cassandra shook her head. It was impossible. She spent her entire life making sure that nobody would ever know, not even the ones closest to her - not Owl, not Max or Fidella, not Varian, and especially not her father.

It didn’t matter now, anyway. Her father’s people had failed in the most pathetic, humiliating way possible. If Cassandra could fix what they had broken, if she could bring back Lost Princess’ stolen crown and catch the thieves responsible for this entire ordeal… then even her father couldn’t deny her access to the Guard anymore.

Cass stood up from her bed, determined more than ever before.

“Hoo?” Owl looked at her incredulously. He knew what she had in mind, and she wasn’t enthusiastic about her plans.

“Stop nagging, Owl,” Cass said, already opening the wardrobe with her collection of weapons. “Don’t you understand this is our chance? If I get this crown back, my father will have no choice but to accept that I am more than capable of joining the Guard. I could finally forget about stupid maid outfits and about waiting for the right moment. I have the whole Corona mapped out and I know for a fact they couldn’t get that far in this amount of time, especially if Maximus is still after them. We’ve got this.”

---

Rapunzel really should’ve known better than to expect Mother to just let her out of the tower to see the floating lights. For as long as she could remember, Mother was telling her tales about the dangers of the outside world. The stories she shared were as fascinating as they were terrifying.

The most frightening incident happened when Rapunzel was just an infant. An evil man tried to cut a lock of her hair to take a part of her healing power for himself, but when he cut it, it turned brown and lost all of its magic. Rapunzel still had a lock of short, brown hair left from that incident. A gift like that had to be protected. That’s why she couldn’t ever leave the tower.

Mother told her that evil people out there not only would want to use her as a mere tool to heal themselves and stay young forever, but they would also treat her horribly while doing it. They hated and feared magic and anyone who was blessed with it. They were horrible hypocrites, who would take advantage of Rapunzel’s talents while hating and abusing her for being a witch. Mother even said that if they found a woman who had magic and didn’t want to share it with them, they would kill her out of fear and blind hatred. Rapunzel had to stay here, safe and hidden away from those disgusting people.

She understood all of that. She really did. She knew that Mother had seen a lot of horrible, horrible things out there, and she was just doing her best to protect her. Rapunzel appreciated it more than she could put into words. The last thing she wanted was to make her mother sad or worried.

Still, she couldn’t just ignore the almost magnetic pull of the floating lights that appeared each year on her birthday. They were the most beautiful, hypnotizing thing she has ever seen, and she would give anything to see them up close, just for once. She was sure that if Mother went with her, she would be safe. Nobody had to know who she really was. Her power was only activated once she sang the Healing Incantation, and she wasn’t going to do it in front of anyone out there. She could hide her hair under a cloak. She didn’t even have to go close to any people. She just wanted to see the floating lights and go back to her tower.

Rapunzel was waiting for the right moment to ask for Mother’s permission since she was just a little girl. She thought that her eighteenth birthday was the perfect occasion. After all, she was an adult now. Surely she would be able to handle herself out there for the few hours the journey would take.

She really should’ve known how well this conversation would go.

At first, Mother didn’t want to listen to her at all. She wanted Rapunzel to sing for her, as usual, then he complained about her mumbling and went on to unpack the basket of food she brought. It was kind of frustrating that Mother was brushing Rapunzel off like that while she was waiting for this very conversation most of her life.

She nervously looked at Pascal, who was hiding behind a leg of a chair nearby. He nodded encouragingly, gesturing for her to go on anyway.

“I want to see the floating lights!” she blurred out.

“What?” Mother looked at her, pausing for a moment.

“I was hoping you would take me to see the floating lights,” Rapunzel continued, glad that she finally got Mother’s attention. She climbed onto a stool and moved the curtain, revealing the painting she made earlier that day on the wall above the fireplace.

“Oh, you mean the stars,” Mother smiled, turning back to her basket.

“That’s the thing!” Rapunzel said excitedly, showing Mother the map of the sky she had made. She was expecting Mother would think this. “I’ve charted stars, and they’re always constant, but these… They appear every year on my birthday, Mother. Only on my birthday. And I can’t help but feel like they’re meant for me. I need to see them, Mother. And not just from my window. In person. I have to know what they are.”

“You want to go outside?” Mother smiled at her. The tone of her voice made it clear for Rapunzel what the answer was. “Why, Rapunzel… You do know the dangers that are waiting out there for people like you. We’ve been over this a thousand times, haven’t we?”

“Yes, Mother, but… I’ll be eighteen tomorrow, and I thought…”

“You’re an adult now, I know,” Mother interrupted her softly. “And if you’re truly mature now, I shouldn’t have to explain to you over and over again why your safety is so important, Flower. Some of the people who have magic know how to handle themselves out there.” Mother put a hand on her chest and gave Rapunzel a meaningful look. “But your healing powers won’t help you against evil people who want to use and hurt the ones like you. You are fragile, dear. You’re inexperienced, naive, gullible. These people would eat you up alive. You need to be protected.”

“You can protect me,” Rapunzel suggested quietly. “People out there don’t even have to know who I am.”

“I am protecting you, Rapunzel,” Mother said more sternly, as if she was offended by Rapunzel’s words. Rapunzel flinched a little. “I’ve spent the last eighteen years protecting you. The only thing you have to do is not make it so hard for me. You have everything you could ever want here, don’t you?”

“Yes, Mother, but…” Rapunzel hesitated.

“So don’t be so difficult, Flower. Even if people out there wouldn’t know about your power, do you know what the ruffians do with young girls like you? You could be robbed, left for dead, or worse. And if not that, you could accidentally touch a poison ivy, get bitten by a snake or step into a quicksand, or a million other things. You’re so clumsy and inexperienced, I guarantee something would go wrong. Do you know how it would make me feel if you got hurt out there, after all I’ve done for you?”

Rapunzel looked down, ashamed of herself. She didn’t want to make Mother upset. After all, she did so much to take care of her. She didn’t want to be an ungrateful daughter.

“I… I am sorry, Mother,” she whispered.

“Then don’t ever ask to leave this tower again,” Mother said seriously.

“Yes, Mother,” Rapunzel promised quietly yet clearly. She didn’t want to annoy Mother with her mumbling.

“Oh, I love you very much, dear,” Mother said more softly, gently lifting Rapunzel’s chin with her hand.

“I love you more,” Rapunzel forced a small smile. She knew Mother was being stern for her own good. After all, she was the one who has seen the outside world for herself, many times. She certainly knew best, and she wanted what’s best for Rapunzel.

“I love you most.” Mother kissed the top of Rapunzel’s head, as she has done so many times before.

Rapunzel sighed internally. She did feel safe, protected and loved in her Mother’s arms.

Maybe it was for the best if she just accepted that the right moment for leaving the tower would never come.

Chapter 2: You Have Magic, Too

“Still nothing, huh?” Cassandra murmured, letting Owl land on her outstretched arm.

If she was going to be honest with herself, she didn’t expect this mission to be so difficult. She thought she would just follow the thieves’ trail, ask Owl to check the area from the above, and she would find them in no time. But, despite her best efforts, it seemed like Rider, Strongbow, Maximus and the Lost Princess’ crown all disappeared from the face of the Earth.

“Hoo?” Owl asked, visibly exasperated with the entire ordeal.

“No, we’re not going back to the palace,” Cassandra glared at him. “We’ve been searching for hours now, surely my father already noticed that I am gone. If I go back without the crown, he’ll be furious. He might forbid me from training again, and considering that they’re all in an awful mood after the crown fiasco and I took one of the best horses on the Guard when they need them the most, he might even…” her voice trailed off. She didn’t want to finish this sentence. The very sound of the word convent was sending shivers down her spine every time it was mentioned. “So I am going back to that castle with the crown or I’m not going back there at all.”

Fidella nodded, giving Owl a scolding look. Even though Owl was Cass’ oldest and best friend, Fidella often seemed to understand her better than he did. She wasn’t so judgmental towards Cass’ choices and attitude, and she shared her longing for freedom, adventure and recognition. Maybe it was because Owl was free to fly wherever and whenever he wanted, so he couldn’t quite understand how it felt to always be restricted by countless lines and expectations, even though he heard Cass complaining about them for many years now.

“Hoo,” Owl finally agreed, rolling his eyes.

“Thanks, Owl,” Cassandra smiled. “Now, we have to try and go… Hm,” she stopped, noticing an ivy curtain between the rocks. “That looks like a good place for a thieves’ hideout, don’t you think?”

Owl and Fidella looked at each other as if Cass had lost her mind.

“Hoo,” Owl commented warily.

“What do you mean it’s just stone?” Cass looked at him as if he was the one who had gone insane. She got off Fidella and approached the curtain cautiously. “This is clearly a veil made of ivy, as if a secret entrance or something like that. You guys really don’t see that?”

Both Owl and Fidella shook their heads, looking at her with growing concern.

“You have to be kidding me, guys,” Cass said, lifting her hand to brush the curtain aside and reveal the entrance. Without much thinking, she went inside and stood in front of something that looked like a tunnel between two enormous pieces of rock. “See? Don’t you play tricks like that on me anymore, alright? I’m really not in a mood for…” She turned around and trailed off. Her friends didn’t go after her. Their silhouettes weren’t even visible behind a thick curtain.

Then it hit her.

The entrance was enchanted. That’s why Owl and Fidella couldn’t see it.

“Oh, no…” she whispered to herself, hugging the hand that touched the ivy to her chest. She was doing her very best not to use these cursed abilities under any circumstances, and especially not if someone had a chance to see her doing that. And now she basically disappeared inside a huge rock right in front of both Owl and Fidella. She used magic without even realizing it. She didn’t want to guess what they were thinking about her now. How many times did she unknowingly use this thing? How many things she’s seen weren’t meant for the eyes of normal people? “No, no, no… What have I done?”

She took a few deep breaths, trying to steady herself. She couldn’t do anything about what had just happened now. And, after all, this curtain was here to hide something, or someone, from the outside word. Maybe the thieves somehow got their hands on some dark magic and that’s how they managed to steal the crown and escape from the Guard. Maybe some evil witch was hiding something even more valuable or sinister here. Maybe even… Her heart started to beat faster at this last thought.

No, she shouldn’t get ahead of herself. What she should do is investigate this enchanted hideout. It’s not like she had anything left to lose.

The path between the rocks turned out to be pretty short, thankfully. Soon, Cassandra stood in front of a beautiful clearing. It was undoubtedly a breathtaking sight, with the green shrubs and small trees, a narrow river, and even a waterfall falling from one of the huge stone walls surrounding the glade.

But the thing that really caught Cassadnra’s attention was the tower standing in the middle of it all.

She approached it cautiously, really hoping that whoever the owner of this thing was, they weren't anywhere near now.

She walked around the tower’s base, looking for anything resembling an entrance, but there was none. Cass rolled her eyes. Of course. The only way to go inside was the single huge window near the top, and Cassandra didn’t have any means to climb the exterior of the tower at the moment. She had left her quiver and arrows outside with Fidella.

As soon as she thought about that, a two solid, metal arrows materialized in her hands out of thin air.

“Fuck,” Cassandra sweared under her breath. This used to happen way more often when she was a kid, and she seriously thought that she managed to stop it for good.

Even though she liked this situation less and less with every passing moment, she felt like she didn’t have a choice but to use these arrows and check the inside of the tower. She really hoped that whatever was in there would be worth it.

Climbing the tower was a little bit of a challenge, since it was considerably taller than any of the climbing walls Cass had ever exercised on, but nothing she couldn’t manage, either.

When she finally climbed inside, she took a few deep breaths. She instinctively reached for her sword, looking around a spacious room for any signs of danger.

Instead of the thieves or some evil witch, she saw a young girl with a little chameleon on her shoulder, looking at her with wide, terrified eyes and tightly holding a frying pan with both of her hands. She had absolutely ridiculously long, golden blond hair, the likes of which Cassandra only ever saw on the murals and paintings of the Lost Princess.

Could it really be?...

“Who are you?” The girl asked, pointing at her with her frying pan. Cassandra could say that she tried to sound threatening, but it was more than obvious that she was terrified of her. “And how did you find me?”

“My name is Cassandra. Don’t worry, I don’t want to hurt you,” Cass said, seething her sword. Whether this girl was the Lost Princess or not, she didn’t look like a threat. And if she was, Cass believed that she was able to act quickly enough to defend herself without the sword in hand. If the situation went dire, she could use her magic in a fight. She broke the rules so many times today, one more wouldn’t really make that much of a difference. She needed to know what was going on. “I wasn’t looking for you, either. I was searching for someone else, I saw the ivy curtain between the stones and I decided to check if the people I’m after hid here or not. Then I saw your tower, I thought it wouldn’t hurt to see what’s hidden here, and here we are.”

“You saw the curtain?” the girl asked quietly, lowering her frying pan in confusion. “My mother said the curtain that’s protecting this place is enchanted, so no people from outside can find me in here. And that has to mean that… You have magic, too.”

“Too?” Cassandra repeated, dumbfounded. If the Lost Princess did indeed have magic…

“You first,” the girl ordered, abruptly raising her silly frying pan again. “Mother said that people from outside hate everyone who has magic, they just want to use it and hurt the ones who don’t want to share. If you want me to tell you anything, you have to show me first.”

“Yeah, fair enough,” Cass sighed.

She really didn’t want to do this. She spent her whole life trying to suppress it, to hide it from everyone, including the ones she cared about the most. This day was already disastrous enough in that regard. She accidentally revealed who she was in front of both Owl and Fidella, and now this strange girl was demanding proof of her abilities, too.

But the chances that the girl was the Lost Princess were too high to risk messing it all up. Her ridiculous, golden hair, the extreme measures used by the person who claimed to be her mother to keep her hidden, the way she acted as if she was talking with anyone new for the first time in a long time… If Cass had to show off her magic to gain the girl's trust, she was ready to do that.

“It’s not like I’m very good at it, though,” she admitted after a brief pause. “People out there really don’t like magic, and I’m usually doing my best not to use it. But let’s see…”

After a few seconds of thinking, she raised her right hand and did the one thing she knew she could do, even involuntarily sometimes - summoning random objects out of thin air. This time she chose a solid, metal frying pan.

“Is that proof enough for you?” Cass smirked, offering the girl the newly made pan. She took it from her hands cautiously and then quickly stepped back. “Not much of a weapon, really, but you can keep it if you want. Now, would you tell me who you are and what you are doing in this tower?”

“My name is Rapunzel,” the girl said hesitantly. Cass swallowed hard. “I live here, in the tower, because… I do have magic, too. My hair… it glows when I sing, and it can heal people.”

“Heal people?...” Cass repeated quietly.

“Well, yeah,” Rapunzel smiled awkwardly, finally putting away both of her frying pans. “I guess it’s only fair if I show you, too…”

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

“Flower, gleam and glow…” she started to sing a soft, soothing melody. Before Cass could start to wonder what the hell was happening, Rapunzel’s hair started to glow with a golden light. “Let your power shine, make the clock reverse, bring back what once was mine… What once was mine…”

For a moment, Cass was looking at the entire thing, flabbergasted.

Then it hit her.

The Flower.

When the Queen was pregnant, she drank a potion made of the legendary healing Flower, and now its magic lived on in the baby she was pregnant with back then.

Cassandra didn’t have any doubts now. She was standing in front of the Lost Princess Rapunzel of Corona.

And she just showed her that she is a witch.

She didn’t know what to do or what to think anymore. She was terrified, of course. She didn’t want to think what the Royal Family and the people of Corona would do to her when the Princess inevitably tells them what Cass really is. The vision of the convent wasn’t that frightening anymore, not under these circumstances. If she’ll bring back the Lost Princess, maybe she at the very least won’t be executed for witchcraft.

She couldn’t believe that she actually found her, either. So many people were searching for her for so many years on the entire continent and beyond, and all of this time she was so close…

What’s more, the magic of the Flower was living inside of her this entire time. Cassandra was certain that the King would not be happy to know the power that saved his wife was the reason his daughter was taken from him, or that the very magic that took her away was still living inside of her. Cass wasn’t sure what he would do with that fact.

And all of that depended on the assumption that Cassandra will be able to bring Rapunzel home at all, of course. She knew it wouldn’t be a simple task. For what she saw and heard here, the Princess was convinced that the person who kidnapped her was her mother. What’s more, she was untrusting, scared of the outside word, and probably never left the clearing behind the enchanted curtain. Hell, maybe she never even left that tower. How was Cassandra supposed to convince her to go with her to Corona without sounding as if she was either insane or trying to deceive and use Rapunzel?

“Well?” Rapunzel asked quietly after a brief moment of silence.

Cassandra blinked a few times and forced herself to smile.

“Well, that’s impressive,” she admitted, trying to sound nonchalantly. “So, Rapunzel… Are you really living in this tower all the time? You never leave to see the outside word?”

“No, I don’t,” Rapunzel admitted softly. “Mother says the outside world is a dangerous place for people like us. Is it really that bad out there?”

“Yeah, it’s kinda bad,” Cass shrugged. “I mean, I’m doing my best not to let anyone know. I didn’t ask to be born with it or anything, and I try not to use it.”

“How about your parents?” Rapunzel asked hesitantly. “Mother says magic is a thing living in a person’s blood, and it’s almost always inherited. Do your parents protect you?”

“I don’t know my birth parents,” Cass admitted uncomfortably. “My adoptive father doesn’t know. I know he wouldn’t like that if he did.”

“I’m sorry,” Rapunzel said softly.

“Eh, I manage,” Cass shrugged again. She didn’t know why she told this girl, who she saw for the first time in her life and who was the Princess of her Kingdom, more than she ever told any of her few lifelong friends, but she really felt like it was too much. She needed to think about something that would make Rapunzel trust her enough to leave the tower with her, and she needed to be quick. “You have quite a collection of paintings here,” she said, trying to stall the conversation. “It’s clear that you have way too much free time. Did you paint all of this yourself?”

“Yes, I did!” Rapunzel said, smiling at her. “I do have a lot of time here. Do you like them?”

“They’re certainly something,” Cassandra was trying to force some enthusiasm as her mind raced with thoughts about how to get Rapunzel to leave the tower without sounding too suspicious. Then her eyes fell on the painting above the fireplace. She smirked. “The lanterns?”

“I knew they weren’t stars!” Rapunzel exclaimed excitedly.

Cassandra had to stop herself from rolling her eyes. Stars. Of course.

“These lanterns show up every year, exactly on my birthday,” Rapunzel explained, as if Cassandra didn’t know all of this already. “I always dreamed of seeing them. I mean, not just from the window. But my mother says it’s too dangerous out there, and she doesn’t want to take me.”

Cassandra grit her teeth, but tried her best not to show how furious she was. She couldn’t tell her everything at once. She couldn’t waste this chance.

“She doesn’t have to know,” she said, giving Rapunzel a mischievous smile. “My father doesn’t know I’m out here, either. I can take you to see the lanterns.”

“Really?!” Rapunzel exclaimed, excited. Good. “Would you do this for me?”

“I kinda know how it is to hide from everyone and dream about freedom. I think you deserve at least a day of real adventure.”

“I mean, Mother did leave for three days to get these really rare paints for my birthday…” Rapunzel hesitated. “But… are you sure it’ll be safe? Are you really able to protect me and bring me home after everything?”

“My father is the Captain of the Guard,” Cassandra said with a smirk. “I’ve been training in combat since I was six. I think I’ll manage to get you to see the lanterns and safely bring you home.”

Rapunzel exchanged a look with her little chameleon friend, who was still sitting on her shoulder. Though Cass didn’t pay much attention to him so far, she knew he was glaring at her suspiciously the entire time. It was obvious that he had a special bond with Rapunzel.

“Just give me a second, okay?” Rapunzel asked, and without waiting for a response, she turned back to consult her little friend.

Cassandra was doing her best not to show how nervous she was. She wasn’t sure what she would do if it didn’t work. She could go back to the castle and tell her father everything, of course, but she couldn’t be sure that he would believe her, and she would have to confess how she found the tower, too. She didn’t want to imagine how this conversation would go.

“Alright,” Rapunzel’s voice interrupted her panicked train of thought. “So, I talked with Pascal, and I’ve decided that I trust you. We’ll go to see these lanterns together, and then you’ll bring me back home.”

“Sure,” Cass smiled, doing her best not to show how utterly relieved she was.

She would bring Rapunzel back home, no matter what.

Chapter 3: That's When My Life Begins

Rapunzel was standing firm in her decision to trust Cassandra.

Of course, she didn’t just forget about all the things Mother was teaching her for the last eighteen years. The outside world was a dangerous place, and people from there hated and feared magic in all of its forms. Rapunzel knew there were some powerful magic users who were able to handle themselves out there despite everything, just like Mother, but she was certainly not one of them. Her healing power, while rare and valuable, couldn’t protect her from the ones who would want to hurt her. If anyone knew about the things she could do, they would certainly try to use her as an object, a tool. She knew all of this. Mother made sure that she knew a lot about how dangerous non-magical people were for magic users like her. That’s why she had to stay safe in the tower, where Mother could protect her.

But Cassandra was a magic user. Rapunzel never really considered the fact that there were people like her out there, and they had to find ways to survive, too. She hadn’t thought about whether others were also forced to hide behind enchanted curtains or fight with evil people just to survive. Or, like in Cassandra’s case, live between others, hiding who they really are, not having support from anyone, even from their own families. She felt almost stupid that she never thought about that before.

She felt really bad for Cassandra, too. Though Rapunzel never saw people other than her Mother before, she at least knew there was one person who cared for her and wanted to protect her from all the evil in the world. Cassandra had no one like that. Rapunzel didn’t dare to ask, but she suspected that her real mother and father could have been killed or imprisoned somewhere by the people Mother warned her about, the ones who feared magic and didn’t understand it. And now, even Cassandra’s adoptive father didn’t know who she was and what she could do, and she suspected that he wouldn’t understand if he did know. Rapunzel imagined Cassandra’s life was very scary and sad out there.

Despite all of that, Cassandra seemed very strong and confident. Almost as strong and confident as Mother, in fact, even though she wasn’t using her own magic very much. But she was training to fight since she was little, and she was even carrying a real sword with her. Surely, she knew how to survive in the world beyond the curtain, and she could protect Rapunzel if it was necessary.

Cassandra seemed to understand what it feels like to have to hide from everyone, to be afraid they would hurt you if they knew who you truly are. She wanted to help Rapunzel to fulfill her biggest dream. She even trusted her with her own secret, too.

So yes, Rapunzel did trust Cassandra to take her to see the floating lights - the lanterns - and safely bring her back home.

That didn’t mean that the perspective of leaving the tower for the first time in her life was any less frightening.

She was excited, of course. She dreamed about going out to see the lights ever since before she could remember, and she wasn’t going to give it up now. This could be her only opportunity to at last truly live for a while.

But it was so difficult. She spent her entire life in the tower, terrified of people from the outside. She tried not to think too much about all the awful, horrible things these people could do to her if they found out who she was and captured her. Or about how much her Mother would be disappointed if she knew that Rapunzel was risking her safety like that, after all Mother did to protect her. Or about how devastated she would be if Rapunzel truly got hurt out there. Or about how much trouble she could get Cassandra in if she wasn’t careful enough.

She didn’t want to think about any of that. Rapunzel has already made her choice, and she was going to stick to it. Mother was away for now, and Rapunzel would be back home long before she would return from her journey, so she would never know Rapunzel left the tower at all. Cassandra knew how to fight and she could protect both Rapunzel and herself. Everything was going to be alright. She had to believe that.

“I think I’ll take it,” Rapunzel said, taking the frying pan in her hand - the same one Cassandra made for her to prove that she has magic, too.

“I don’t think you'll need that,” Cassandra looked at her as if she was a naive child. It was the same look that Rapunzel’s Mother gave her so many times before. “A frying pan isn’t much of a weapon, Rapunzel. Trust me, my sword will do if a fight is necessary, and I don’t think it will be.”

“But… I don’t want to be helpless,” Rapunzel admitted quietly, holding her frying pan a little tighter.

“Yeah, sure, whatever,” Cassandra shrugged. “It won’t be that much of help for you, but you can take it if it really makes you feel better.”

“Thank you!” Rapunzel beamed at her.

“I suppose you should also take a few solid hairbands and some kind of cloak,” Cassandra added thoughtfully. “We don’t want everyone to be staring at you when we’ll be among people, after all.”

“You’re right,” Rapunzel nodded. She couldn’t believe she didn’t think about that herself. “Pascal, would you bring some of my favorite hair bands? The lavender ones? I’ll get the cloak.”

Pascal nodded and saluted at her, gave Cassandra a suspicious look, and jumped off Rapunzel’s shoulder to take the hair bands from her dresser.

“I’m sorry about him,” Rapunzel smiled at Cassandra a little nervously. “Pascal has been my best friend since we were both children, and he’s just a little worried. I’m sure he’ll get used to you in no time.”

“I get that,” Cassandra waved her hand dismissively. “My best friend is Owl, and he can be annoying like that sometimes, too. I heard a lot about responsibility and doing what’s right from him. It’s just his way to show that he cares.”

“Oh, you are friends with a real owl?” Rapunzel jumped excitedly and almost dropped the purple cloak she took from the wardrobe. “That’s so amazing! I’ve never seen one before! But he won’t hurt Pascal, right?” she looked at Cassandra, now a little afraid. She read about how owls were eating smaller animals in one of the books Mother brought her to the tower.

“I’m sure he won’t if Pascal is with you,” Cassandra said reassuringly. “Besides, Owl and Fidella, my other friend - she’s a horse - saw me getting behind the curtain,” she added, looking down at her hands. “I mean, from their perspective it must’ve looked like I disappeared inside a huge rock, since they didn’t see the entrance at all. They didn’t know what I’m capable of until now, but now they pieced it all together for sure. I don’t know if they’re still waiting for me out there.”

“I’m sure they are,” Rapunzel reassured, gently touching Cassandra’s arm. For a moment the other girl almost looked like she wanted to recoil, but she didn’t. “At least if they’re your real friends.”

“Thank you,” Cassandra smiled back at her.

This was the moment while Pascal returned with hair bands. He put them in Rapunzel’s bag, right next to her frying pan and cloak, and jumped at her arm again.

“I guess we have everything now,” Cassandra said in a way more energetic tone. “Let’s go.”

---

A little while later, Rapunzel was standing on the edge of her windowsill, observing as Cassandra was climbing down the stone wall using two arrows. Rapunzel suggested that she could help her get down using her hair as a rope, as she was always doing for Mother, but Cassandra firmly refused the offer.

Now Rapunzel was looking down at the familiar view from the window of her tower. Cassandra was already halfway to the ground, but Rapunzel couldn’t quite bring herself to join her. She could barely believe that she was actually going to do this, after all this time. The world beyond the tower looked so much bigger than ever before, and it seemed impossible that she was finally going to truly touch it.

Maybe she shouldn’t do this after all. Maybe she needed to stay here, safe, just as Mother wanted. Maybe the world beyond the tower really was too dangerous for her.

She looked back at the main room of the tower. The first thing that brought her attention was the very same painting of the floating lights - the lanterns, Cassandra had said - that she made earlier that day. This was her first and possibly the last real chance to see them up close for herself. She couldn’t afford to squander that.

She looked at Pascal for some reassurance. He just tied a lock of her hair around his waist and gave her a thumbs up.

Rapunzel couldn’t help but chuckle. She knew that he wanted them both to get out of this tower just as much as she did. He was the one who encouraged her to go outside long before she ever considered this a real possibility.

Taking one last deep breath, she threw her hair down and slid down, using it as a rope. She couldn’t stop herself from giggling maniacally as she did so.

She couldn’t believe she was actually doing it. She was so caught up in her excitement that she barely avoided a collision with Cassandra, who was just above the ground now and who somehow managed to dodge before Rapunzel bumped onto her on her way.

But just a meter or so above the surface of the earth, Rapunzel stopped. She couldn’t quite bring herself to do this yet.

She had never seen the grass from this close. It was somehow so much greener, so much more vibrant in color than when she was observing it from the window of her tower. Was she really supposed to just… stand and walk on it?

Before Rapunzel could decide what to do, Cassandra got down to the ground and looked at her expectedly.

“Is there a problem?” she asked, raising a brow.

“It’s just… I’ve never walked on grass before,” Rapunzel admitted, smiling awkwardly.

Cassandra gave her a strange look, as if she wasn’t quite sure how to handle this situation, either.

“Well, I’m sure you’ll do great,” she said, extending a hand in an inviting gesture.

Somehow, that reassurance was enough to make Rapunzel take her first ever step on the real grass.

For a few seconds, all she could do was to stare at her own bare feet. She wasn’t quite sure if it was just another dream or did she actually finally dare to take her first step on solid ground.

“I can’t believe I did this!” she squeaked, jumping from the overwhelming mix of excitement, astonishment and joy. “Just look at it all, Cassandra! The grass, the dirt, the water…” She looked at the small stream that was flowing just next to the tower. She was amazed by how much bigger it looked from this perspective. “It’s all just like I dreamed I’d be!”

She couldn’t help but lie down in the grass, trying to absorb these new sensations to their fullest. It was so far beyond anything she could ever imagine, even in her wildest dreams. The smell of warm earth and fresh grass, the summer breeze blowing through her hair, the feeling of the solid ground below her feet… It was so overwhelming she could barely process it, and at the same time, it was the greatest thing that ever happened to her in her entire life.

She didn’t know for how long she was running around, trying to touch and feel everything she could only watch from the above until now. She took her time to run around and explore - actually touch the stone walls surrounding the clearing, listen to the singing of small birds living in the trees, put her hand inside of the waterfall, run into the stream and be amazed by how different the cold, flowing water was from the one she used to bathe in in the tower… She felt like every new sensation was a life-changing discovery, and she could spend the rest of her life bathing in the warm, afternoon sunlight.

For the very first time in her life, Rapunzel actually felt free.

In all of her excitement, she barely noticed Cassandra, who was always just a step or two behind her, as if ready to pull her out of the water if she lost her balance or grab her hand if she tried to touch a plant she wasn’t supposed to. All of this time, Cassandra didn’t say anything, letting Rapunzel experience everything at her own pace, even though she seemed flabbergasted with everything that was happening.

“Rapunzel,” Cassandra finally said, stopping her from attempting to climb one of the bigger trees here. Rapunzel looked at her, surprised. She almost forgot that she wasn’t actually alone. “I’m happy that you’re having fun, but we really need to go now. There’s no chance to get to the Capital before the sunset, but I think we can stand by my friend’s house for the night. We need to start moving if we want to get there on time, though, especially since I’m not sure if we still have a horse.”

“Your friend?” Rapunzel looked at her hesitantly. She was really supposed to meet another person? “Is he… like us?”

“Well, no, and he doesn’t know anything yet,” Cassandra admitted. “It’s better if no one knows, trust me. But he’s a good friend. His name is Varian. He’s fourteen, he’s an alchemist, and he’s also probably the most brilliant mind in the entire Kingdom. We don’t have to tell him about your hair, but we can trust him to let us stay for the night. I promise.”

“You do?” Rapunzel looked at her seriously. “Promises mean a great deal to me, you know.”

“Yes, I promise,” Cassandra repeated, looking in her eyes seriously.

Rapunzel smiled at her.

“Alright.”

She turned towards the stone tunnel leading to the enchanted curtain and beyond, to the outside world. She took a deep breath, trying to prepare herself for this step.

Today was the day when her life will finally begin.

Chapter 4: A Nuanced Situation

Cassandra watched Rapunzel carefully as the girl approached the curtain that was separating her tower from the rest of the world. Cass knew she had to keep a very close eye on her during this entire journey.

She didn’t want to get personally attached to Rapunzel. She really didn’t. After all, this was the Lost Princess of Corona, and escorting her safely back home was simply Cassandra’s duty. The palace staff, the guards and even the advisors weren't supposed to have any personal feelings towards the members of the Royal Family beyond respect and loyalty. That’s just the way it was always supposed to be.

Not to mention that Rapunzel knew what Cassandra was now. True, the healing powers of the mythical Flower were still living in Princess’ hair, so she seemed to be accepting towards Cass and other people like her for now, but it would most likely change once they returned to Corona. The Princess will eventually realize that she was, in fact, kidnapped and imprisoned by an evil witch, and that inheriting magic with one’s bloodline and gaining it the way Rapunzel herself did were, in fact, two very different situations. Cassandra didn’t have any idea what Rapunzel and her parents will do with her after all is said and done. The Princess was kind to her now, but she was pretty convinced that it won’t last.

Still, she couldn’t help but feel a weird mix of pity, protectiveness, annoyance and something that felt almost like endearment when she observed Rapunzel interacting with the outside world for the first time in her life. This poor girl literally never touched grass before. Her childlike wonder and curiosity were charming, in a way, even if they were a result of truly tragic circumstances.

Cassandra knew she needed to protect Rapunzel. Of course, she was a member of the Royal Family that Cass was personally responsible for escorting safely back to the palace now, but this wasn’t the only reason Cass was feeling so protective towards her. The girl seemed to have very little regard for her own safety, trying to touch and experience everything in her reach. It was more than understandable after a lifetime of being confined into a few small rooms on top of an isolated tower, but it was also going to make Cass’ task that much more difficult.

To Cass’ surprise, as soon as Rapunzel’s fingers brushed the curtain leading to the outside world, the vines turned back into a smooth stone.

Rapunzel sighed, upset but not entirely surprised.

“I guess I should've known that Mother would make sure I won’t leave when she’s away,” she said softly. “Maybe I really should go back.”

“Oh, c’mon, Rapunzel,” Cassandra rolled her eyes, forcing herself not to show that the very thought of the Princess turning away now made her panic a little. “You won’t let something like this stop you from going on your first adventure ever and seeing your lanterns, right? Let me try.”

Rapunzel still looked a little discouraged, but she stepped back to make place for Cassandra. As soon as Cass touched the stone in front of her, the curtain reappeared in its place.

Cass smirked.

“See? That was easy,” she said, pulling the vines away and gesturing for Rapunzel to go on first.

The Princess took the one last hesitant look back on her tower before stepping outside.

Cassandra quickly followed her, trying to steal her nerves. She was used to discipline and responsibility, but the weight of the task ahead of her was something she really wasn’t prepared for.

To her surprise and immense relief, both Owl and Fidella were still waiting for her outside the curtain, looking more concerned than anything else.

“Hoo?” Owl exclaimed with a mix of relief and surprise. His eyes darted between Cassandra and Rapunzel, as if he couldn’t fully comprehend what he was seeing.

Cass rolled her eyes. She knew exactly what Owl was asking about. He wanted to know if the entire situation was what he thought it was: Cassandra apparently having magic she was hiding from everyone all of this time and the girl she brought with her being the Lost Princess. Rapunzel’s insanely long, golden hair really was truly unmistakable.

“Yes, Owl, it is exactly what it looks like,” Cassandra said pointedly. “I found an enchanted curtain no one else could see because I have had magic since before I could remember. Honestly, I wasn’t sure if you and Fidella would even still be here when I come back.”

Both Owl and Fidella looked at her reproachfully, as if wounded that she could even think something like that.

Rapunzel giggled.

“See, Cass?” she said, elbowing her gently. Cassandra looked at her, surprised. The only other person who has ever used a nickname when talking to her was Varian, and she hadn’t expected that the next one would be the Crown Princess of Corona herself. She kind of liked the way she said it. “I knew that real friends wouldn’t leave you because of who you are! By the way, I am Rapunzel, and this is Pascal.” Rapunzel gestured to the chameleon, who was, quite understandably, hiding behind her hair at the moment. “Pascal is my best friend. Cassandra promised that you will not hurt him,” she added, looking at Owl seriously. “You wouldn’t do that, right?”

“Hoo.” Owl shook his head firmly, though he still eyed the little lizard, as if warning him not to come too close. “Hoo?” he looked back at Cassandra, demanding an explanation.

“Well, to put things briefly, I found Rapunzel in the tower behind the curtain,” Cassandra explained. She hoped that her tone and expression were enough to let her friends know that yes, this girl was obviously the Lost Princess, and no, it wasn’t the time to tell her about this yet. “She had never been outside before, because her mother is a bit… overprotective, so to say. Her biggest dream is seeing the lanterns that appear every year on her birthday up close, so we’re going to Corona for the festival tomorrow. The rest of it can wait for now.”

“Oh, right!” Rapunzel interrupted as if she just remembered something. “You said that you were searching for someone else when you found me. I really hope that I’m not ruining your plans that much. Would you like us to look for them together before we go see the lights?”

“That’s not necessary,” Cassandra assured her quickly.

Rider, Strongbow and even the stolen crown weren’t so important at the moment. She was sure her father and the guards would find them all eventually. What was important was bringing Rapunzel safely back home. Everything else could wait.

Fidella nudged her gently with her nose. Cassandra knew what she had in mind - they still had no idea where Maximus was. Cass would lie if she said she wasn’t worried about him, too.

“I’m sure he’s already home anyway,” she said. Maximus was possibly the best trained and most persistent soldier in the entire Royal Guard. There was a big chance that he was already back home, possibly even with the two thieves and the crown. She had to believe it. “You know him, Fidella. He doesn’t need us to take care of him, though I’m sure he’d be flattered by your worry.” She smirked at her.

Fidella rolled her eyes and nudged her with her nose again. She seemed a little reassured, at least for now.

“That’s the spirit!” Cassandra commented. “We won’t make it to the Capital before sunset,” she added more seriously, casting a glance in the direction of the descending Sun. “We’re going to stop by Old Corona and ask Varian if we can sleep at his place. I’m sure he won’t have a problem with that.”

Owl and Fidella nodded in understanding. Even Rapunzel looked somewhat more enthusiastic than a moment before.

“I think I would like to meet more new friends,” she chimed in with a smile. “Let’s go!”

She immediately ran ahead - miraculously in the right direction - and Cassandra had to sprint after her. She could feel Owl looking at her reproachfully from just above her head. He was obviously a little wounded that she didn’t trust him enough to reveal her secret to him, even after all those years of friendship. More than that, he was convinced that she should tell Rapunzel everything from the start.

She rolled her eyes. It wasn’t the first time when Owl tried to push her to do what he thought was the right thing, no matter the circumstances. She really felt like he didn’t understand the concept of a nuanced situation sometimes.

---

Until this day, Rapunzel had had no idea how utterly fascinating the world beyond the curtain really was.

The very limited view from the window of her tower and the books that she had read over the years could never prepare her for the sheer freedom of it all. Rapunzel wanted to see and touch everything in her reach. Every tree, shrub, flower and blade of grass, every bug and bird, every stone, it was all equally new and fascinating. For a moment she got so busy running from one new discovery to another that she didn’t think about anything else. She couldn’t get enough of it all. For this moment, she completely forgot about fear and guilt of breaking the rules and disobeying Mother.

She knew that Cassandra was struggling a bit to keep pace with her, even though she was clearly very athletic. Rapunzel really didn’t want to make her new friend run after her like that, but she simply couldn’t help it. She was way too excited with her first adventure outside to care about anything else.

That is, until she gestured to one particularly interesting plant climbing up a tall tree.

“Oh, look at this one!” she squicked, reaching her hand to touch its big, green leaves.

Cassandra firmly grabbed her wrist, stopping her at the last possible moment.

“Whoa! Poison ivy,” she warned her seriously, letting go of her hand.

“Oh my gosh,” Rapunzel whispered, stepping away from the plant. “My Mother warned me about these! Actually, she warned me about a lot of things besides the people who would like to… you know…” she couldn’t bring herself to finish that thought. Not out loud, not here, where someone could hear their conversation, even by accident. “She told me about ruffians, quicksand, snapping turtles, molten lava, puppets, guys on stilts, the plague, riptides, wooden shoes, man with pointy teeth… What am I even doing?” She hid her face in her hands. “She was right. I am not ready to deal with the outside world. I have to come back.”

“That’s a bit of an overreaction, don’t you think?” Cassandra raised a brow. “All these things do exist out in the outside world, sure, but trust me, they are not as common as your Mother made it look like they are. Half of those things aren’t even local to Corona at all. You would have to travel really far away to see quicksand or snapping turtles. And you’re not alone here, remember? You don’t have to be afraid when you’re with me.”

“Yeah, you’re probably right,” Rapunzel smiled at her, reassured. That was true. Cassandra saved her from the poison ivy, and she would surely save her from any ruffians with pointy teeth, too. “Thanks, Cass.”

“No problem,” Cassandra smiled at her. “But maybe you could be a bit more cautious-” she didn’t get to finish the thought before Rapunzel noticed an adorable little pond nearby.

She spent a lot of time exploring the forest. She was determined to take full advantage of her one day of total freedom. She had to explore every cave, touch every brook, listen to every bird that she came across. She knew this was her only chance. And what’s even better, she felt like she could actually lose herself in experiencing all of it. After all, she had someone who would protect her. She trusted Cassandra enough to know that she wouldn’t let her get hurt by a poisonous plant or slip in the water and drown.

Thankfully, the situation with the poison ivy didn’t happen again. Rapunzel could feel Cassandra’s eyes on her as she was running around, climbing trees and wading in the shallow water, but she didn’t have to intervene again. For now, she was letting Rapunzel have her fun, while keeping a close eye on her all the same.

And then Rapunzel noticed one of the shrubs shaking violently. She instinctively jumped back, hiding behind Cassandra.

“Is it ruffians? Thugs? Have they come for me?” she yelped. She knew it was a bad idea to leave the tower.

A second later, an adorable little bunny jumped out of the shrub and looked at them curiously.

“Relax, Rapunzel.” Cassandra rolled her eyes. “I’ve told you, it’s not so bad out here.”

“Sorry.” Rapunzel chuckled, nervously playing with a strand of her hair. “Guess I’m just a little bit jumpy. But I think I like it here. It’s just that…” She sat on the nearby log, trying to collect her thoughts. Cassandra hesitated for just a moment before joining her. “I know my Mother only wants what’s best for me, and she would be heartbroken if she knew what I have done. She is doing everything she can to protect me, and I feel like a horrible daughter and a despicable human being by betraying her trust like that. What’s worse, even if I know all of that, I still want to see these lanterns. I should go back right now and try to act as if none of this had ever happened, but the truth is, I don’t want to. Does that make me a bad person?”

Rapunzel hid her head in her hands again, frustrated with herself. She felt Pascal’s little paw gently patting her cheek. He has always done this to comfort her when she’s upset, but this time it didn’t help much.

“Why are you telling me this?” Cassandra asked quietly after a moment of silence.

“Because we’re friends,” Rapunzel said, looking up at her with a shy smile. She wasn’t sure what to make of Cassandra’s expression. Was she worried about her? “That’s what friends do, right? They tell each other what’s in their hearts.”

“I suppose you’re right.” Cassandra sighed quietly. “Believe me, I know something about overprotective parents. My father is like that, too. He is the Captain of the Guard. He personally trained me since I was a little girl, and he knows that I’m more than capable in combat. And he still doesn’t let me join the Guard and tries to control my every move. If I was listening to him all the time, I would be in the palace right now, sweeping floors or serving tea, or something boring like that. But you know what? I really like being here with you much better. I guess it’s good to rebel a little sometimes.”

“I think you’re right.” Rapunzel smiled at her. It was so good to have a talk with someone who actually understood. “So, we’re going on an adventure together, and we’ll worry about our parents later, right?” She stood up from her log, ready to go.

“Right,” Cassandra nodded, joining her. “But we should hurry if we want to arrive at Old Corona before the sunset,” she added. “I think we should use Fidella’s help.”

“I’ve never ridden a horse before,” Rapunzel looked in the direction of Cassandra’s mare, both hesitant and a little excited. Fidella and Owl were observing Rapunzel and Cassandra from a distance that allowed them to see if they were not in trouble without overhearing too much of their conversation.

“I think you’ll enjoy it,” Cass assured, leading her back to their friends. “After all, we’re going on an adventure, right?”

Rapunzel smiled at her brightly.

“Right.”