[Magic Power Detected: Sundrop Flower]
[Sundrop Flower: A celestial yellow flower containing three magical enchantments: the Healing Incantation, the Incantation of Hope, and the Incantation of Light.]
[Healing Incantation: Possesses miraculous powers of life and light, capable of healing minor wounds and, in extraordinary circumstances, restoring life. Requires a specific song to activate.]
[Incantation of Hope and Light: Can counteract powerful dark spells and perform miracles, provided the user has sincere thoughts and masters the manipulation of light.]
[Do you wish to copy the Sundrop Flower's ability? Yes/No]
Orion stared at the options in awe. He didn't recall the Sundrop Flower having two such distinct powers, even if they shared the same essence. The potential of this magic surprised him; it was so powerful it could provide him with unexpected benefits.
However, he paused to consider something: if he took the power, would his hair grow long just like Rapunzel's?
Can I channel the healing ability somewhere other than my hair? he wondered, a bit uneasy.
[It is not necessary. You may choose where you wish to manifest the magic.]
Orion sighed in relief. Alright, then. Copy the healing ability and channel it into my left hand, he commanded mentally. Instantly, a warm sensation surged through his hand, forcing him to quickly hide it behind his back.
"Orion…" Rapunzel whispered, her voice wavering. Her eyes showed a mix of fear and excitement. After a moment of hesitation, she took a deep breath and looked toward her room. "Wait for me a moment."
Orion smiled patiently, watching her disappear into her bedroom. Inside, Rapunzel grabbed a suitcase and began frantically packing: a few books, light clothes, and small personal trinkets. Her mind was a whirlwind of nerves.
"If we go and come back quickly, Mother won't find out… everything will be fine," she told herself in an attempt to stay calm.
Meanwhile, in a distant cave, Flynn began to wake up with a throbbing pain at the back of his head. He reached for the spot where he'd been hit, feeling dazed, and was relieved to find no blood.
"Ugh, at least it's not serious…" he muttered, trying to clear his head. His eyes scanned the cave, adjusting to the gloom, as he began to figure out how to get out of there.
"No, no, no! This has to be a joke!" Flynn cried out, moving frantically as he searched every corner around him. He tapped his head a few times, as if that could help him remember. "Where is the crown? It can't be gone..." he muttered, never stopping his search. Finally, a thought flashed through his mind and he froze, his face reflecting a mix of worry and frustration.
"The person who knocked me out!" he exclaimed with a spark of realization. "It must have been some bandit. If it were a royal guard, I'd be rotting in a dungeon by now..." His brow furrowed as he tried to think clearly. "First, I have to get back to that tower. I might find some answers there."
Carefully, Flynn stepped out of the cave, straining to recall the path he had taken. After a few minutes of fumbling through the woods, he managed to find his bearings and picked up the pace, his heart thudding in his chest.
But his progress was cut short by a thunderous noise. Flynn skidded to a halt and looked toward the source of the sound. His eyes went wide when he saw the last creature he wanted to encounter: the great white horse of the Royal Guard.
"Maximus!" Flynn yelled, feeling the adrenaline surge through his body. Without wasting a second, he spun around and bolted, racing away from his unusual and tenacious pursuer.
Maximus glared at him with determined eyes and let out a loud neigh, charging after him with renewed vigor. Flynn zigzagged through the trees, ducking under low branches and looking for any possible hiding spot, but Maximus stayed right on his heels with the determination of a hunter who never gives up.
The forest seemed to be conspiring against Flynn: protruding roots, thorny bushes, and low-hanging branches hindered every escape attempt. Despite his agility, an inevitable stumble sent Flynn face-first into the dirt.
Maximus caught up in an instant, but Flynn scrambled on the ground, dodging the horse with clumsy, desperate movements.
Just when the situation couldn't get any more chaotic, an unexpected presence brought them both to a standstill. Flynn looked up in alarm, thinking it might be a guard, while Maximus neighed with satisfaction. However, upon seeing who it was, Flynn let out a sigh of relief, while Maximus gave a huff of frustration.
The newcomer was Gothel. At the sight of the scene before her, she was startled, but she quickly regained her composure.
"A castle horse... catching a bandit..." she whispered, her voice trembling. Then, her eyes widened in pure panic. "And its rider?" Thinking of the risk to her secret, Gothel dropped her basket and ran toward the tower with clear urgency.
Maximus watched the woman flee but decided to ignore her, refocusing on his target. When he looked back, he discovered that Flynn had vanished again. With an angry neigh, the horse stamped the ground with his hoof, determined not to give up.
Meanwhile, Gothel had already reached the base of the tower. Years ago, when Rapunzel was just a small child and couldn't yet help her up with her hair, Gothel had created a secret entrance, now hidden behind stones and leaves.
Quickly clearing the obstacles, she climbed through the old passageway, her mind racing with worry over the potential discovery of her hiding place and what might have changed in her absence.
"Rapunzel!" Gothel cried out, bursting into the room. Her eyes darted around the space in desperation as she realized it was completely empty. A wave of panic washed over her, as if her worst fear were coming true: the imminent loss of her youth.
Suddenly, her gaze fixed on the large mural Rapunzel had painted. The lights rising in the distance, floating through the sky during her birthday, stood out on the canvas. Gothel remembered how Rapunzel had always yearned to see those lights, and how her behavior had shifted over the past year. She had been much more high-spirited than usual, as if something were driving her in a strange way—something Gothel couldn't quite put her finger on.
Furthermore, the amount of food in the tower had increased significantly. There was now far more than Gothel herself could eat, and it troubled her. In fact, she had been forced to warn Rapunzel several times about the danger of gaining weight—to which Rapunzel would always respond with a timid look and a bashful nod.
With a mix of frustration and confusion, Gothel looked back at the mural, staring at the lights once more. An idea began to take shape in her mind, and instantly, she understood where Rapunzel might have headed. Determined, Gothel quickly hurried out of the tower.
Upon reaching the outskirts, she was surprised to find someone else nearby. It was none other than Flynn, who was sprinting at full speed with Maximus, the royal guard horse, hot on his trail.
"What are you doing here?" Gothel asked in a threatening tone, crossing her arms and eyeing the man with deep suspicion.
Flynn skidded to a stop and, seeing Gothel, gave a somewhat incredulous smile while still glancing over his shoulder.
"Oh, don't mind me," he replied casually. "I'm just looking for something."
Gothel narrowed her eyes, studying Flynn's every move. Something about his attitude seemed fishy, and that was when it clicked. She remembered a poster she had seen recently, featuring the face of a man who had stolen the crown from the royal palace.
"Are you looking for the crown?" she asked, unable to hide the hint of anger in her voice, suspecting that Flynn might be hiding it somewhere nearby.
Flynn looked at her, but kept moving toward the spot where he had been knocked out.