Romance Fan Fiction / Other Fan Fiction ❯ Cassunzel Short Stories ❯ The Clash of the Sun and Moon ( Chapter 12 )

“Sorry Rapunzel, but this is my destiny.” Cassandra smirked as the sunstone left Rapunzel’s body and drifted towards her. There wasn’t an ounce of empathy or remorse in her voice.

“Cass, no..” Rapunzel responded weakly as she watched the sunstone drift towards her ex best friend. Zhan Tiri stood in the corner with an evil grin.

Once the sunstone was close enough, Cassandra grabbed it. She immediately felt the power rush through her. She stared down at the stone with an animalistic grin. “I did it,” She said in disbelief and with a short maniacal laugh. “I actually did it!”

“You sure did.” Zhan Tiri said in the corner with a grin. “Now you’ll be unstoppable! No one will ever deny you your destiny ever again.”

“You hear that Rapunz-” Cassandra stopped. “Rapunzel?” Rapunzel was where Cassandra had left her. She was laying on her side with her long now brunette hair covering her face. From the looks of it, she was barely breathing. Cassandra turned towards Zhan Tiri. “What’s happening? Why isn’t she getting up?”

“The effects of removing the sunstone, of course.” Zhan Tiri responded like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

“What?” Cassandra asked in confusion. “What effects?”

Zhan Tiri tilted her head to the side and rolled her eyes. “Let’s put it this way,” She started. “Rapunzel was born with the sunstone in her body. So, removing it would be like taking her life form; like taking her heart.”

Realizing crossed in Cassandra’s eyes. “Wait- so that means she’s gonna...-”

“Die?” Zhan Tiri asked. “Precisely.”

Cassandra’s eyes widened as she whipped around to face her. “You never told me that was gonna happen!”

“I told you your destiny was to destroy her. What do you think I meant?” Zhan Tiri asked, her voice laced with sarcasm.

“I-I don’t know- break her spirit or something, not kill her!”

Zhan Tiri laughed. She actually laughed. “Oh, dear girl, you have so much to learn.”

“I’m giving it back.” Cassandra ignored Zhan Tiri’s comment and said matter of factly. She moved to go to Rapunzel before Zhan Tiri spoke up again.

“It won’t work. Once the stone is removed from her body, it cannot be replaced.”

“So that means..” Cassandra swallowed as she continued. “There’s nothing else I can do?”

“Precisely.” Zhan Tiri responded. “Why do you care anyway? I thought this was what you wanted? To get rid of her?”

“No! I- No.. this is not what I wanted!”

Zhan Tiri moved closer to Cassandra. “Oh, but think about all the pain she put you through. How she treated you. How she treated you like a servant and pushed you beneath her. She had you chained, I set you free.” Zhan Tiri grabbed onto Cassandra’s arm. “You’re nothing but an object to her. Something to play with. She used you then when she was done, she threw you to the wolves.”

Rapunzel watched through her hair and blurred eyes as Zhan Tiri told her best friend lies. She wanted to protest, she wanted to tell Cass that she loved her; loved her, loved her. She wanted to tell Cass that she was sorry and she would never hurt her or discount her again. She wanted to tell Cass it was okay. That she was here. But she couldn’t. She couldn’t move. Every breath she took hurt more and more. It hurt so much. Tears filled her eyes. It hurt so damn much. So what did Rapunzel do? She called out to her best friend like a kid would call out to their mother when they were scared. She didn’t know why she called out to her but it was what her mind and body had decided before she could catch up with it. She was terrified and she needed her. She was in so much pain. She couldn’t breathe. She was suffocating. She didn’t know if Cass would respond to her plea, but she did it anyway. It was the only thing she knew how to do at that moment. Call to the one person that she cared for more than anyone else in the world. The one person that she always ran to her when she was in pain, scared or hurting. The one person she felt safe with. Protected. The one person that was her everything. Cassandra always came to her rescue. Cassandra always saved her. She would save her. She would make the pain go away. Right? She always does. Rapunzel was scared, terrified and hurting like never before. She needed her. She needed her. Her mouth moved before she had a chance to stop it. It was instinct. “Cass..”

Cassandra heard her voice. As mad as she was, as hurt as she was, something was pulling her towards Rapunzel like it always did when she knew she needed her. But this time it was different. Rapunzel sounded so scared, so helpless... So broken. Her voice was laced with aguishing pain. She sounded like a scared child. She had never heard Rapunzel sound like that before. She was pleading with her, she knew, she heard the plea in her voice. Rapunzel needed her. Rapunzel needed her. For the first time in a long time, Rapunzel needed her. But that’s not what motivated Cassandra. It was the terror, the un-maskable pain, in her voice. The plea she heard. She was in pain, she was dying, and it was her fault.

Cassandra realized Zhan Tiri was still feeding her lies. Were they lies? Cassandra wasn’t sure. But she didn’t care at that moment. “Get off.” She told Zhan Tiri in a whisper, her eyes trained on the barely breathing, whimpering Rapunzel.

“Cassandra, you’re only falling into her t-”

“I said get off!” She shoved Zhan Tiri off of her and followed the instinctual pull that was leading her to Rapunzel. She immediately got on her knees and pulled the shaking girl in her arms. Rapunzel’s eyes were barely open but she could see the girl trying to focus on her. When she got a good look at what she could see in her eyes, she had to choke back tears. She could see so much pain swirling through her emerald hues, she could see immense fear. But what stood out to Cassandra most of all, was that she could see love and forgiveness in her eyes. Towards her. Rapunzel wasn’t looking at her like she had just destroyed her kingdom, put her friends and Eugene in danger, and took the literal thing that was keeping her alive. No. No, Rapunzel was looking at her as if none of that happened at all. She was looking at her like she first did back before all this even started. She was looking at her with so much love, admiration and forgiveness. She wasn’t looking at her in pity. Wasn’t mocking her. She wasn’t yelling at her, or scolding her, or sending her to be hanged like she deserved. She wasn’t looking at her with hatred and betrayal. She wasn’t looking at her as if she was a monster. No, she was looking at her like she was her best friend, like she was a hero, a savior. She was looking at her like she was her protector; like she would take all her pain away. She was looking at her as if she was the only thing that could save her. She was looking at her as if she was her air that she desperately needed to breathe. She was looking at her like she was the most important in the world. Cassandra couldn’t stop the tears even if she wanted to.

“I’m here, Raps.” Cassandra whispered, bringing the girl closer to her chest and rested her forehead against hers. Cassandra’s voice was shaky and broken.

“Cass..” Rapunzel tried to say before wheezing.

“Shh, don’t talk. Save your energy. We’re gonna figure this out, you’re gonna be okay- just.. hang on, please.”

Rapunzel only shook her head weakly. “No..” She responded, her voice weak and shaky. “Please, I need... I need to say something..” Cassandra wanted to argue but it seemed important to Rapunzel, so whatever she had to say, she stayed quiet. Rapunzel took that as a yes to continue. “Cass, I am so so so sorry. I don’t know if that means anything, but I really am. I never meant to make you feel inferior... that was never my intention. I shouldn’t have ignored your warnings or feelings, I shouldn’t have.. I shouldn’t have made it seem like I didn’t trust you... You’re my best friend, Cassandra. I look up to you.. I... you’re my hero, Cass. I never meant to make it seem like... like you were anything less.”

By the time Rapunzel was done, there were tears in Cassandra’s eyes. She choked them back down and gave the princess the best, sorrowful, smile she could muster. “It’s okay, Raps, It’s okay.”

“But it’s not Cass!” Rapunzel tried to yell, but it only came out as a painful wheeze. “I’ve been a terrible friend and an even worse person!”

"You’re a terrible person? If you’re a terrible person, then I must be a horrendous person.”

“Cass, no.. No, that’s not true.”

“Look around Rapunzel!” She yelled but still held the weakening princess close. Cassandra’s eyes were frantic and full of so much guilt and pain. “We- I failed! I was supposed to be helping you, I was supposed to see this journey to the end - but I let my own selfish desires get in the way! I-... I turned my back on you, I tried to hurt you.. I destroyed my home, I nearly killed people! I nearly killed Eugene. Calliope. Even Varian’s life was put in danger. Everyone’s life was in danger because of me! I let Zhan Tiri,” She hissed the demon’s name; who was probably still in the corner for all she cared. “....feed me lies and I believed them! I let anger and hurt cloud my judgment... I let rage fuel me. I gave in and... and.. now.. now I’m going to lose you..” Cassandra ended in a whisper. And this time, she couldn’t stop the tears that flowed down her face. “...I really am Gothel’s daughter.”

Rapunzel got the hidden meaning behind Cassandra’s words as her eyes widened. She summoned up the energy to raise her arm and place it on Cassandra’s cheek. “Cass, no, no.. don’t think like that. You’re nothing, nothing, like her!”

Cassandra laughed bitterly, tears still flowing down her cheeks. “Really? Did she not kidnap and imprison you because she wanted to stay young forever?”

“Yes, but-”

“Did she not hurt you and feed you lies? And the moment you rebelled, she turned and showed her true colors. She tried to kill Eugene, she tried to force you to be chained to her forever to live a life of sorrow and solitude, because all she wanted was to stay young and beautiful. Did she not do all that?”

“She did, but what does that-”

“Maybe it’s not the same story, but when you look at everything I’ve done, her and I are a perfect match.” Cassandra’s voice was quiet as her blue bangs shielded her eyes.

“You don’t know how wrong you are,” Rapunzel finally whispered. “If you were really like Gothel, you wouldn’t be here now. After everything we’ve done to each other this past year, after everything I’ve done to you since the beginning, you’re still here. Gothel was a horrible woman, she didn’t care about either of us. She didn’t care about anyone but herself and that was her downfall. But you - Cass, you are so much more than that. I’ve seen you risk your life for me, for our friends, for complete strangers because you cared. You could have walked away, but you didn’t. I remember how you used to stay up long hours in the night because I was having nightmares because you cared. When I was upset, you did everything in your power to make me feel better. Even going as far as risking being sent away and losing everything you worked for because you snuck me out, because you knew that was what I needed. Because you cared. Or how about the time you helped a little girl who was being bullied. Or the time you showed me around Corona in the time period that I was still new to it. Even if you were put up to the job, and you didn’t want to do it, you still showed me every little detail and answered every question I had. You taught me how to fight, how to be myself, you showed me how to live all because you cared. You were the first, true friend I ever had. And I don’t regret choosing you. When I first saw you, I felt a pull. I needed to get to know you. I needed to meet you. I never knew why that pull was so strong, but after all these years, I do now. Even if you never ended up becoming my lady-in-waiting, I still would have chosen you as my best friend. The point is, Cass, Gothel never cared for anyone in her life. But you have done so much for others. You’re an amazing person, Cass, an amazing friend. Even after all of this, I never stopped looking up to you. I never stopped thinking about you. I stayed up many nights trying to figure out how to get you back.. ... And how I went wrong. How I hurt you. You’re right, you have been in my shadow for a long, long time. Everything you ever did, tried to do for yourself, I got in the way. But you know what? Even when I did and you had a choice to leave, you still chose our friendship. Every. Single. Time. I now understand why you did all of this. And honestly? I don’t blame you one bit. If I was always in the shadow, always being put down, by someone I cared about... I would be pretty mad too. I love you Cass, I love you so much. You mean everything to me.”

Cassandra honestly couldn’t believe it. Rapunzel had noticed all that? She always thought it went unnoticed... especially by her. She was about to respond when Zhan Tiri’s voice cut through. “Don’t listen to her, Cassandra. She’s only telling you lies. Just like she always does.”

Rapunzel tried to glare at Zhan Tiri but she didn’t have it in her as her body grew weaker. Cassandra looked stricken, uncertain, confused, lost. Like she didn’t know who to believe. In some way, that hurt Rapunzel more than words ever could. But she could hardly blame her. Rapunzel rested her hand on top of Cassandra’s. Cassandra’s eyes snapped back to hers. “Cass, you have to believe me.” She whispered before adding: “I promise every little bit of that is true.” Cassandra’s eyes softened only slightly. If there was one thing that was true, Rapunzel never broke a promise. She never had. Well, other than that time with Varian but that was a harsh situation.

“You’re really going to believe her? After all the pain she put you through? After all the lies she told?” Zhan Tiri sneered. “Make her suffer, make her suffer like she made you suffer!”

Rapunzel looked deep into her best friend’s eyes, her eyes pleading. “Cass, please.” She whispered. Something in Cassandra’s eyes changed. The once blue hues that were filled with so much hatred and rage were now soft and forgiving. Rapunzel missed that look of love and adoration she always saw in her best friend’s eyes that was always directed towards her. She finally got through to her. But, on the other hand, she could see the building un-maskable pain, sorrow, regret and guilt that coursed through her eyes. The building of tears that Rapunzel knew she would never let fall.

Rapunzel wanted nothing more than to jump up and hug her and tell her that everything was going to be okay. That she was here. But sudden fatigue coursed through her body. The adrenaline of convincing her best friend that she loved and admired her had passed. Rapunzel felt weaker than ever and was fighting to keep her eyes open. Immense pain returned as well. It was the worst feeling in the world.

Cassandra suddenly jostled her. “Hey, hey - stay with me Raps. Just hang on a little longer, I’ll figure something out.” Cassandra looked, searched, desperately for something to save her. Anything. Suddenly narrowing her eyes, she picked up Rapunzel as she got to her feet and turned around. She held the slowly dying princess close to her chest as her expression changed to one of cold as she glared deathly at Zhan Tiri. If Zhan Tiri was smart, she would have run away right then because the glare she gave her promised pain and death. Even Rapunzel was shaken by it. It was murderous and horrific. Rapunzel realized that she never received that type of glare from Cassandra, even through all of this, and for that, she was incredibly happy and grateful. With a voice as cold as ice and as sharp as a dagger, Cassandra spoke. “Tell me how I can save her.” Her voice was low and threatening.

“I told you, there’s nothin-”

“Bullshit. There has to be a way. There’s always a way. And I know you know, so tell me!”

“You aren’t listening, there isn’t-”

Cassandra took a step forward. “I won’t ask again.” Her voice was so cold, it promised death. Cassandra started to glow. Literally. Her eyes lit up, her hair glowed and lifted slightly; blowing in imaginary wind. Her body was cackling with energy. She looked almost god-like. She looked beautiful. She looked terrifying.

Cassandra gently set Rapunzel on the ground and leaned her against a wall. Blocking her view, the stone crackled upon her chest. “You’ve caused me a lot of trouble.”

“You caused yourself a lot of trouble.” Zhan Tiri hissed. Cassandra sneered. Cassandra knew that on her own, the demon was powerless.

“I’ll give you a chance to leave right now and never return.”

Zhan Tiri stubbornly refused. “Not without those stones.” She took a step forward towards Cassandra, her eyes filled with rage and something else Cass couldn’t place, but it was already too late. Cassandra snapped. With a rock, she pierced Zhan Tiri through her stomach. A surprised, choked, wet gasp left the demon’s mouth as blood poured from out of her mouth. And with a final snap of her wrist, she incinerated Zhan Tiri until she was nothing but ash. How, she did not know. Maybe she used the decay incantation somehow but she didn’t focus on it as she turned and bolted back to Rapunzel’s side.

Rapunzel was taking shallow breaths as they slowly left her body, her body shook with searing pain, and her eyes were nearly glossy. They were distant. Rapunzel hadn’t heard Zhan Tiri’s choked gasp, she didn’t hear the demon die. She didn’t even see it. She couldn’t have. She could barely see herself.

Cassandra was at her side in an instant as she was pulled back into her arms. “Hey, hey, hey,” She said fastly, jostling the younger girl. “Keep your eyes open, stay with me. Come on Raps, you can fight against it! You’ll be fine, I... we will figure something out. Just... stay..” Cassandra was trying her absolute hardest to hold back tears; to be strong for her. Rapunzel’s eyes stared up at her, but they lacked their usual shine. The light was fading.

Rapunzel tried to focus on Cass, she really did, but it was becoming increasingly harder by the minute. Cass’s voice seemed so far away. “Rapunzel? Rapunzel, please, please.. Stay with me! Please!” Cassandra was becoming frantic as she desperately tried to cling onto her. It was then that Cassandra felt the smooth surface of the sunstone on the ground next to her. She picked it up with a gasp. “The healing incantation! It will heal you!”

Cassandra frantically placed the stone over Rapunzel’s fading beating heart and started to sing:

"Flower gleam and glow...

Let your power shine..”

Rapunzel’s eyes focused only slightly as her best friend recited the incantation she knew too well, but to no avail. It was clear it wasn’t working but Cassandra continued anyway.

“Make the clock reverse...

Bring back what once was mine...”

“Cass-” Rapunzel tried but she continued.

“Heal what has been hurt...

Change the fates’ design..”

“Cass-!” Rapunzel tried again. She still continued. Rapunzel could tell that Cassandra heard her for tears filled her eyes as she desperately clung onto the stone and her words became slurred and broken. An almost DeJa Vu feeling filled Rapunzel. Not so long ago, she did the same thing for Eugene as he died in her arms. Desperate and pleading that it would work. Hoping, praying, losing hope. Rapunzel knew the feeling too well. Rapunzel knew she was gonna die, but she wasn’t going to spend her last remaining moments of life watching her best friend plead and cling onto false hope. She needed to reach her.

“Save what has been lost..” Cassandra’s voice was barely audible as tears streamed down her face. Her eyes squeezed shut, she clung onto the sunstone as if her life depended on it. Or rather, Rapunzel’s life.

“...Bring back what once was-”

Rapunzel summed up as much as energy as she could. “CASSANDRA!” Cassandra stopped but kept her eyes squeezed shut for another couple seconds before opening them to look down at Rapunzel. Rapunzel then added: “It’s not gonna work, Cass.” Rapunzel’s voice was scared, but full of empathy and understanding. And.. in a way.. she sounded so wise. 

“I-It has to work! It has too! ....It will work! I just need to try again, I need to keep trying... I-It will work!” Rapunzel shook her head weakly. Cassandra sobbed. “It’s not fair! It’s... Why did it work on Eugene? Why did it work on everyone else? Why did it work for someone as selfish as Gothel? It needs to work on you! It needs too! I don’t... I can’t lose you! Please, there has to be something. There just has to be... This is not how our story is gonna end. There’s so much I need to make up for, so much I need to apologize for-- so much I need to say... You can’t leave me, n-not now. Not ever. You’re my best friend Raps, .....y-you mean everything to me too. Please. Please don’t leave me.” Cassandra sobbed as she pressed her forehead to Rapunzel’s and whispered: ”Please.” Cassandra’s tears fell on her face.

Rapunzel never heard Cass sound so scared. She never heard Cass plea. She wanted nothing more than to reassure her that it was all gonna be okay. That she was gonna be okay. That they were gonna be okay. But she couldn’t. Because it was all a lie and they both knew it. She wanted to help her best friend and take away all her pain, all her burdens and worries. But this time, she couldn’t. Because she was the one who was causing that pain and there was nothing she could do about it. Rapunzel reached her hand up and cradled the older woman’s cheek. Cassandra leaned into her touch and looked down at her with pleading eyes. “Cass.. I..” Rapunzel started then realized she didn’t know what to say. What could she say? She didn’t want her last memory of Cassandra to be one of pain and sorrow. That’s not how she wanted to go out. She wanted to see her smile, laugh, she wanted her to tease her like she use too. She wanted to have that special connection they had before all of this. She knew she couldn’t fix it all, but she could at least try. “...Cassandra, I love you.” She said quickly before she could turn back.

“I-I know Raps, I know, It’s-”

“No, Cass, you don’t know. I.. I love you.. love you, love you. Past friendship, past sisterhood. Something.. more. Something stronger.” Realizing lit up in Cassandra’s eyes and before she could utter a word, whether it to be one of a gentle let-down, rejection or anything else, Rapunzel didn’t wait to find out. She felt herself slipping and she needed to do this. She needed to finish this. She didn't want Cass's final memory of her to be a grimace of pain, to be sorrow filled, so she tried to make it as happy and sweet as possible. She tried to leave her with some form of hope. Some closure so that she always knew; that she loved her. This is how she wanted to go out. This is what she wanted her final memory to be, her last action. She wanted this to be her final breath. She summed up all the remaining energy she had to push herself up and crashed her lips to Cassandra’s. Somewhere in her fading mind, she felt Cassandra stiffen. Her eyes were wide in surprise as Rapunzel kissed her. But before she could so much as react, Rapunzel’s lips left hers and with a final breath of what briefly sounded like ‘I love you’, Rapunzel’s body went limp. The sunstone that was still placed in her palm went dark. It lost its light.

Cassandra took a second to come to her senses. “Raps?” She asked as she gently shook the unresponsive girl. “Rapunzel?” She shook her again, this time harder. “Rapunzel?!” She yelled. “No! Wake up! Come on Rapunzel, wake up! Y-You can’t admit something like that then leave me! That’s not fair! Please wake up!” Cassandra pleaded with a corpse. She shook her harder as tears blurred her vision. “Wake up! Wake up! DAMMIT RAPUNZEL, WAKE UP!” Nothing. Not a smile. Not a sound. Not a whisper of her name. Not even a stir.

Cassandra sucked in her breath and as the moonstone pulsed in beat with her shattered heart, she let out an agonizing, ear-piercing, scream. The whole place shook, rocks sprouted, but she didn’t care. She then pulled Rapunzel close and sobbed like never before. Her face was buried in her hair as she sobbed. “I love you too.” She admitted, her voice broken and barely audible. “...I love you so much.” Again, nothing. Not even a response. Not a sound. Her once warm, beautiful skin that reflected that of the sun was cold and pale. It was then that Cassandra realized that she was actually gone. Rapunzel, her best friend, the reason why she was still going, the most important person in her life, was gone. And it was her fault. Cassandra buried her face into Rapunzel’s neck and continued sobbing.

The moonstone pulsed. She didn’t feel it. Even if she did, she didn’t care. All that mattered to her was Rapunzel. She was still sobbing. The moonstone pulsed a second time. Suddenly, a flash of light surprised Cassandra and pushed her back. She never let go of the lifeless princess that was in her arms. She clutched onto her tightly, holding her against her body. She didn't want to let go. Not now. Not ever.

She watched in awe as the moonstone tore itself away from her body. Cassandra barely noticed as her aqua hair turned back to its normal color. Her eyes turned back to hazel. Her armor turned to nothing but a body suit. The sunstone suddenly started to float up to meet the moonstone. Cassandra could only watch in astonishment as the moonstone collided with the sunstone. No, not collided. The moonstone circled around the dark sunstone and started to wrap it with its natural blue light. Cassandra had no idea what was happening, but it was beautiful.

The moonstone covered the sunstone with its blinding blue light. She felt the pulse before she saw it. Some of the sunstones light returned to it but not enough. She suddenly felt the moonstone... talking to her. She somehow knew what it was saying. “I-I don’t know how!” It was asking her to refill the light. The moonstone spoke and suddenly Cassandra was surrounded by light. Rapunzel’s destroyed bedroom faded away and all that remained was Cass, the stones and Rapunzel. Suddenly, Cassandra started to hear a melody. She started to sing.

“Each shining light above us

Has its own peculiar grace;

But every light of heaven

Is in my darling’s face

For it is like the sunlight,

So strong and pure and warm,

That folds all good and happy things

And guards from gloom and harm

And it is like the moonlight,

So holy and so calm;

The rapt piece of a summer night,

When soft winds die in balm

And it is like the starlight;

For, love her as I may,

She dwells still lofty and serene

In mystery far.”

Cassandra’s body began to glow as she squeezed her eyes shut. The sunstone grew brighter. But still not enough. So, Cassandra focused on the melody and continued:

“You taste like sunshine

Just like you’ve been kissed by the morning light

And I was the darkness, dancing with the stars

Carelessly, breathlessly

And our lips met softly

Color erupting in the atmosphere

The absolute lightest darkness

Dawn is breaking:

A fleeting moment when the sun can kiss the moon.”

Cassandra’s hair started to blow as her body pulsed with power, with energy. More and more, as she continued to sing the melody that she felt within her soul, the sunstone slowly filled with light.

“You be the sun

I’ll be the moon

Just let your light come shining through;

And when night comes,

Just like the moon,

I’ll shine the light

Right back at you.”

Cassandra could feel her energy being zapped but she also never felt more alive. The sunstone was almost complete. She could feel it. So, she continued:

“You were like the sun that brought light

Into my cold, dark and lifeless night

You made me realize that no matter what I do

My life will always resolve around you

Just when I thought the darkness was all around,

You showed me your light and picked me up off the ground

In your arms, love and care is what I found

With you peace and ease, surround

We are like the sun and moon,

All ways there are to love and care,

Even when we are miles apart,

We never forget we are connected in our heart

Because we love each like the sun brings light

Like the moon so white, so bright

You bring delight into my life 

Into the world

We are connected by heart and soul

In spirit and faith

Like the stars shine in the sky,

You shine my life so bright

You are my sun, the warmth in the sky

The blanket on a rainy day

I long to be by your side

To be your moon

To be your light in the dark nights

Together,”

Cassandra felt the last note. And with all her heart and soul, she sang the last verse:

“We are the sun and moon swirling in the sky

Intertwined by all eternity.”

As soon as the last vowel was sung, the room exploded into a beautiful ray of gold and blue light swirling together; beautiful melodies and sympathies filled the room. Cassandra watched in amazement as it swirled both Rapunzel and Cassandra. It was then that Cass felt... the moonstone entering her body. But this time, she stayed the same normal Cass that she was. She felt the power soaring through her veins, her blood, her body, her soul. Then she felt the suntone. She looked up and saw it shining like it never had before. It was blessed in pure gold, it was shimmering and sparkling. It spread a warmth throughout the room that calmed her very soul and mended her broken heart. She felt it, knew it, cherished it. It brought warmth that spread throughout her body. It was so beautiful, so warm, so pure; it brought tears to her eyes.

She watched as the sunstone drifted down and placed itself over Rapunzel’s heart before slowly, all its light and glory entered her body. Then everything went quiet. The light faded. She was back in Rapunzel’s room. She held her breath as she stared at her best friend. She was still so pale... “Please..” Cassandra whispered. “Please work..” For a minute or two, there was nothing. No stir. Or a flutter of opening eyes. Cassandra was about to give up all hope when...

She heard a groan.

Cassandra snapped her eyes back down at Rapunzel as the princess groaned and placed a hand on her head. Her beautiful skin turned back to its natural bright color, her warmth had returned. Cassandra couldn’t contain herself. She let out a joyous, watery laugh and raised the princess and crashed her to her chest as she hugged her tightly.

“Rapunzel!” Cassandra shouted with a joyous laugh.

She heard Rapunzel let out a giggle as she wrapped her arms around Cassandra. Cassandra dug her face in Rapunzel’s neck, smelling her beautiful scent that she thought she would never get to smell again. “I thought I lost you..” Cassandra mumbled into her neck.

She could feel Rapunzel smile. “I wasn’t worried,” She heard her say. “You always save me.” Cassandra couldn’t contain a happy grin. In a moment of pure happiness and relief, Cassandra brought them both to their feet, picked Rapunzel up off the ground and spun her; laughing in joy the whole time, tears still running down her face. This time, joyful tears. Rapunzel laughed right along with her, tears also running down her face. Cassandra eventually put her back down on her feet and finally looked at her eyes. She let out a gasp. They were.. different. The emerald eyes that usually stared back at her now had hints of gold in it. It was... beautiful. It was magnificent. 

Cassandra was about to say something about it, but Rapunzel gasped before she could say anything. “Cass, your eyes..” She spoke softly. But she didn’t sound scared nor disgusted. “They... They’re beautiful.” She whispered in awe. It was then that Cassandra saw herself in the shattered mirror that was placed behind Rapunzel. Her eyes widened. Her usual hazel eyes had specks of blue in it. They really were a sight to behold. But so were Rapunzel's.

Shaking off her surprise, she looked down at Rapunzel and smiled. “Speak for yourself.” She then turned Rapunzel around gently and Rapunzel immediately gasped upon seeing herself in the mirror. Upon seeing them in the mirror.

As much as Rapunzel wanted to know what the hell happened, she had a pretty good idea. She turned back around and cradled Cassandra’s cheek with her hand. Cass leaned into it. “I.. heard your song.” Rapunzel whispered. “..It... It was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever heard, Cass.”

Cassandra couldn’t help but smile. One of those rare smiles that were only saved for Rapunzel. The smile that Rapunzel missed so. “I meant every word of it.”

Rapunzel’s eyes softened as she leaned into her. “I love you, Cass.” She said quietly.

“I love you too, Raps.” With that, Rapunzel stood up on her tippy toes and kissed her. This time, Cassandra kissed back with no hesitation. Both Cassandra and Rapunzel could feel the auras of the moon and sun surrounding them and engulfing them in a beautiful, warm light. They could feel the threads of fate tying together, the threads of destiny coming as one. They could feel the bond that they once shared being tied into something more.

Cassandra parted eventually then fixed Rapunzel with a glare. “Scare me like that again, though, and I will bring you back to kill you myself.”

Rapunzel giggled. “You already tried that. It didn’t work.” Although the pain and guilt of her acts were still strong in Cassandra’s heart, she still couldn’t help but grin at the joke. Though Cassandra had a lot to make up for, a lot to clean up, and a lot of apologies to say, she couldn’t have been happier at that moment.

She now knew that whatever obstacle they came across, whatever problem they faced, they would do it together. For they were tied as one. Tied together by heart, by soul, by spirit, by mind, by body and most importantly, by love.

The sun and moon had once clashed, but now they shone brighter than the sky. And they knew that whatever happened, they would face it together.

For the sun can’t shine on its own.

Phew! I’m sorry that was so long. I had a lot of fun writing this one though. A lot. Hope you enjoyed! It is my favorite one by far. If you have any feedback, it’s always appreciated ^^.