Chapter 21: My Declaration

I sat alone on the green grassy island with my knees curled up to my chest for a minute. I miss Rapunzel. I miss both Rapunzel's. I thought. I looked up at the yellowish-white stars shining in the night sky. Suddenly, I remembered the events of the past two days. Meeting Rapunzel, taking her outside for the first time, going to the Snuggly Duckling, Rapunzel's glowing hair, talking with her by the fireside, the festival, and seeing the lanterns. A picture of baby Rapunzel popped into my head. And then a picture of the Rapunzel. The same two pictures popped into my head several times. Finally, I realized: Rapunzel is my daughter. Wait… if Rapunzel is my daughter, then who's her 'mother'? I wonder. I remembered seeing Gothel slip off into the night with baby Rapunzel in her arms. I gasped. I quickly pulled out my journal and began to write.

7/4/1636

Dear Journal,

I took Rapunzel to the lantern festival. We had a lot of fun. We danced and saw the floating lanterns. I realized Rapunzel is my daughter and her step-mom is Gothel. I have to go back to the tower and confront Gothel.

Sincerely,

Arianna

"I'M COMING RAPUNZEL!" I cried. I ran towards the tower. I bumped into Cassandra. "Watch it, young lady!" She cried.

"Sorry!" I replied. I slipped in between Frederic and Eugene.

"Hey, Ari." They both greeted me.

"Busy." I spat out. I could see Quirin, Ulla, and the boy with tan skin, freckles, black hair with a blue streak in it, wearing brown goggles in it, blue eyes, and a blue suit on the edge of the island. Okay, Quirin's there, I'll turn around and exit from the other side. I thought. I spun around. I could see Cassandra standing with some brown rope a couple of miles away from me. Umm, I'll go to the left. I thought. I look towards my left. I didn't see a bridge. Okay, I'll swim. I ran towards the ocean. A brown rope was tied around my wrist. I fell. My body was turned around. I saw Cassandra dragging me towards Corona.

"Got ya." She told me.

"Let me go!" I yelled.

"Half of Corona thinks you're dead.".

"Half of Corona WANTS me dead.".

"Stop acting on impulse like my mother.". I held back tears.

"I waited a week. I am nothing like your mother.".

"'Nothing like her?' . Neither one of you was there to see me grow.".

"STOP! STOP!" Frederic and Eugene yelled. Cassandra let go of the rope.

"Anna, are you okay?" Frederic questioned as he helped me up and undid the rope around my wrist.

"I'm fine. I found Rapunzel!" I blurted out. Frederic looked shocked.

"Wait… Rapunzel… our baby… is she okay?".

"Gothel kidnapped her and locked her up in the old watchtower.".

"Sounds like something that my mother would do." Cassandra told us. Eugene jabbed her with his elbow. "Sorry… I missed you… I understand why you left.". I hugged her.

"We all make mistakes from time to time. The important thing is that we grow from them." I whispered.

I saw Quirin in the distance. I let go of Cassandra. "Quirin! What the heck was the thing that you said on the night of the Sundrop expedition?" I questioned.

"I can explain." He explained. I crossed my arms.

"You better.".

"Gothel got a hold of the Mind-Trap, a device that can control me and my siblings.". I looked at Frederic.

"It's true, his eyes were glowing blue. I thought he had some sort of blue bioluminescent fungus in his eye.". I turned to Quirin. I hugged him.

"Quirin… I'm so sorry.".

"It's fine. You must have been really scared. I would be scared if I thought one of my friends was plotting to kill me behind my back.". He let me go. "Don't you have a princess to save?". I smiled.

"Yeah! Bring back Rapunzel!" The boy with tan skin, freckles, black hair with a blue streak in it, wearing brown goggles in it, blue eyes, and a blue suit chanted as he jumped. I ruffled his hair.

Frederic walked up to me. "Hey, I heard what happened in Invarr. Are you okay?" He questioned.

"I'm fine. Stuff like that happens to me all the time." I replied.

"Well, you don't need to let it. Because you are a wonderful woman who is smart, kind, compassionate, creative, and who cares a lot about her country and family.". He bopped my nose. I smiled. We hugged.

"Okay, I'll come back later, assuming that Gothel doesn't kill me first." I cried as I ran across the bridge.

"Bye, Ari!" The group called. Okay, now to the tower. I thought. I ran across the bridge going into the forest.