Romance Fan Fiction / Other Fan Fiction ❯ Stars Above - A Cassunzel Fanfic ❯ Chapter 6: The Start of a New Beginning ( Chapter 6 )

Cassandra chuckled as she watched Rapunzel stop and exclaim at every little thing they saw. It had been hours since they departed from Corona, having be forced to get away as soon as possible, and the over-excited princess hadn’t let a single thing pass by her mind.

Although it was quite annoying to stop every ten seconds, Cassandra couldn’t help but not care. Seeing the princess so happy and running freely brought a smile to her face and made her heart warm. Cassandra could already see Rapunzel planting everything in her mind so she could draw it in the journal Cass gave her later.

Cassandra and Rapunzel went on a different path than the one they took years ago. Hopefully, to throw off the guards. But also to start off with a way Rapunzel had never been before so she could see new things. Cassandra kept her guard up, as always, to make sure they weren’t be followed and there weren’t any threats near as the princess galloped through the valley.

“Oooh, Cass, look at this!” She heard for what was like the 100th time in the last couple hours. She looked over to where Rapunzel was pointing and noticed the slowly blooming follows. Rapunzel nearly jumping out of skin.

Cassandra chuckled and walked up to stand beside the over-enthusiastic princess. “That’s great, Raps, but we should really get moving if we want to find a place to stay before sundown.”

Rapunzel nodded eagerly. “Right!” It only lasted a total of 5 seconds before Rapunzel got distracted with another meaningless flower. Cassandra rolled her eyes. Leave it to Rapunzel to make the most boring things seem beautiful.

She gently stroked Fidella’s mane as she watched the princess run from place to place. “Pascal, look!” She exclaimed to her little lizard friend as she pointed at a colorful butterfly. Pascal made a little squeak of amazement. Wow, these two really needed to get out more. She knew the princess was excited, but it wasn’t like the girl never went outside. She was acting like the time Cassandra accidentally erase her memory; like it was the first time leaving her tower. Which confused Cassandra. And sorta pissed her off. How locked up and isolated did they keep her in Corona?

It was then that she realized that the only time she ever really saw Rapunzel outside was last night at the lagoon and when she let Rapunzel draw her. But even then, she stayed close, too close, to the castle. The only time she did stray away from the castle, she seemed to had been forced to sneak away like she was doing something wrong. Should she ask her why? She didn’t want to ruin her mood but she just had to know.

“Hey, Raps?” She called out to her best friend. Rapunzel turned to her and gave her a brilliant, blinding smile.

“Yeah, Cass?”

“Can I ask you a question?”

“Of course!”

Cassandra thought for a second about what she wanted to say before continuing. “Why were you so condemned to stay near the castle?”

Rapunzel’s face fell for a second, and Cassandra regretted asking her, but Rapunzel continued nonetheless. “You noticed that, huh?”

Cassandra nodded. Rapunzel sighed as walked over to stand next to her. “After everything that went down with.. uh, what happened, my father decided that since every time I left I ended up finding danger so I had to stay near the castle at all times. Close to a guard. If I didn’t, I wasn’t allowed to go, well, anywhere outside the castle.” Cassandra looked surprised but looked down at realizing SHE was the reason Rapunzel was forced to be trapped. Realizing Cassandra’s downward expression, she quickly added: “N-Not just because of the moonstone! But also what happened with Varian, and the Saporians, annnnd that snowstorm made by Zhan Tiri. The time I got nearly brainwashed.. And basically everything else.”

“So, your father, forced you be locked up because of some problems that weren’t even your fault?” Cassandra asked, her voice angry.

“Yeah, but he was just trying to protect me.”

“That’s no excuse. No one should be forced to live a life of isolation, ESPECIALLY knowing what you had to deal with for 18 years.”

“Yeah,” Rapunzel responded, looking downward. Cassandra was about to reach out to her but she snapped her eyes back up and gave Cassandra a sweet smile. “But it doesn’t matter now. We left, so he can’t keep me locked up anymore.”

“I guess you’re right,” Cassandra responded. “But it’s still messed up what he did.”

Rapunzel rolled her eyes. “It wouldn’t be the first time.” Rapunzel sighed. “But I guess I can hardly blame him. He’s just terrified of loosing me again.”

“Still no excuse. But I guess I would be a little frightened if someone I cared about was seemingly kidnapped for 18 years.” Cassandra responded but then she thought of another question. A question a little more.. personal. But she felt like she had to know. “Can.. I ask you another question?”

Rapunzel could hear the hesitant question, realizing that this was gonna be one of THOSE questions. Cassandra always grew hesitant and nervous when she wanted to ask something a little more personal. Rapunzel stopped and looked at her in confusion. “Sure.”

“Uhm..” Cassandra looked to her right as she struggled to find the courage to ask. “.....What was Gothel like?” Rapunzel went quiet. Daring to look up, she could see the conflicted expression on her best friend’s face. “N-Never mind, you don’t have to-”

“She was...” Rapunzel started, shutting Cassandra up. “...A lot of things.” Rapunzel gave Cassandra an understanding smile and gestured for her to follow her. Confused, Cassandra followed her as Rapunzel promptly took a seat under a tree in a grassy field. Cassandra hesitantly sat in front of her. She waited for Rapunzel to collect her thoughts but as she saw the expression go to one of conflicted to hurt, she added.

“Raps, you don’t have to talk about her if it brings back bad memories. It was a stupid question anyway.”

“No,” Rapunzel finally said. “You deserve to know.” Cassandra was about to argue but Rapunzel started talking before she could. “Gothel wasn’t the... motherly type. She was rarely ever home. I had to learn at a very early age to cook myself food and fend for myself. When she did finally come home, it was only to use my hair, or so she called it ‘bonding experience’, to her advantage and then after that was done, she left again. Or sent me to bed. I never really knew when she would be home. Sometimes she would be gone for days, weeks and even months. One time, when I was 6, she didn’t return for 3 months.”

Cassandra listened with intent as her mood slowly turned angry. How could such a woman do this to someone so young and innocent? She wasn’t thrilled to the fact she was related to her. But, Rapunzel continued so she sat there and listened. “She always told me lies, as I see now, about the world. She always told me that the world was a cruel place and everyone just wanted me for my healing abilities. She told me about pirates, muggers, thugs, lava, strangely, poisoned gas and lot more ridiculously scary things. She started feeding me these lies when I 3 so I would never want to go outside. And for a while, I didn't. Her plan worked: I was absolutely terrified of the outside world. I became paranoid and even believed that every single person out there was out to get me. But as I grew older, my curiosity started getting the better of me. I dreamt of exploring the world, I dreamt of feeling the grass beneath my feet, I dreamt to just.. be out there. But most of all, I dreamt for a friend. Besides Pascal," She said as she rubbed the little chameleons head and he made a loving squeaking sound. "...I didn't have anyone. Gothel was never home and when she was, I was either being yelled at, hit, or used for my-"

"Hold on a second, she hit you?" Cassandra asked in disbelief. She knew that this woman was a terrible person but she never suspected her to be an abuser too.

Rapunzel shrugged. "Yeah. Everything I did, I did it wrong. I could be sitting in complete silence and she would hit me anyway, telling me that everything was my fault and that I was a burden to her life and made her unhappy. Sometimes she would even chain me to my bad for hours, sometimes even days, without food or water to 'punish me'. Most of these times were when she was drunk, which was quite often. I grew insecure about myself, I grew scared, and blamed myself for everything that happened to Gothel. Or myself."

"That makes sense now.." Cassandra thought sadly.

"As I grew into teenage years, I started becoming more and more self-aware. Not enough apparently, but I learned how to hide myself from Gothel when she was drunk to avoid being her punching bag. The night before my birthday, before I returned to Corona, she told me to never ask to go outside again and by how her voice sounded, I knew it meant there will be serious consequences if I did. And that's when Eugene showed up. I wasn't sure how to think of him at first after everything that she told me. But he didn't look dangerous but I still tied him up to be sure. That was when I made him agree to take me to see the lights. I was so excited but I also felt so guilty. After being guilt-tripped and manipulated for years, I felt bad for leaving Gothel; knowing she would be 'worried' but I continued on anyway. When Gothel made it seem like Eugene betrayed me, I went back with her. I was hurt and I just wanted my 'mother' to tell me it was gonna be okay or that she loved me or any sort of comfort. She didn't. She didn't have an ounce of sympathy. She kept telling me how stupid and naïve I was, how I should've listened to her and how they could've taken my powers away. Then she sent me to my room. That was when I realized that I was the lost princess and when I confronted her about it, she played stupid. Once I stood up to her finally after she was about to strike me again, her eyes darkened and she showed her true side. As she stated, 'you want me to be the bad guy? Fine I'll be the bad guy' and then she knocked me out. When I woke up, I was once again, chained. Eugene came to save me and well.. you know the rest."

Cassandra's eyes widened slightly in realization she said the same thing not to long ago. Cassandra's thoughts were conflicted. Was she just like her real mother? Did, was, she gonna follow in her footsteps?

"Yes," Moon appeared right on cue, wearing a smirk. "Like mother, like daughter, am I right?"

Cassandra's eyes turned from conflicted to panicked to scared to seriously upset in a matter of a second. Her face must've said it all because Rapunzel immediately leaned over and quickly grabbed her hand. "Hey, hey, no, don't you dare think like that. You are NOTHNG like her."

Rapunzel read her thoughts, she knew her to well. It was a curse and a blessing at the same time. "But Raps, I said the same thing, to you. What if.." Cassandra's gaze turned to horror as she started to panic and hyperventilate. "..What if I end up doing the same thing she did and hurt you? I already have once. What if I turn out like her? What if I'm as cold as she is? What if I hurt you again? What if.." Cassandra couldn't breath. Was she dying? She squeezed her eyes shut as more 'what if's' ran through her brain. Her breathing quickened even more, her hands felt clammy and sweaty and her mind was fuzzy as her panic grew.

Rapunzel was immediately on the scene. "Woah, woah, hey, Cass, breathe," Rapunzel moved closer and placed one hand on her back and the other grasped her clenched fist resting in her lap. She tried to soothe the panic-driven girl but her being there only seemed to make it worse. "Breathe, Cass," Rapunzel said softly, her voice laced with concern as she gently rubbed Cassandra's back. Eventually Cassandra was able to calm herself down enough where she was able to actually comprehend what was going on.

Once she leveled herself out, Rapunzel started talking, her one hand still resting on her back and the other rested in her lap gripping her had as she spoke. "You're nothing like her Cass," She started softly and Cassandra turned to her to argue but Rapunzel shook her head. "You're not. And don't think for a second you are. All Gothel wanted was to stay young and beautiful no matter what it took or who she hurt along the way. She never once cared for me or anyone else besides herself. You care for me right?"

"Of course I do, but-"

"There are no buts about it, Cassandra. You've made some mistakes, I've made mistakes, but the fact that you saw what you were doing before it went to far only proves the fact that you are stronger than her. The fact that you protect me with your life, you are there for me when I need you, and not once, not once have ever used me to gain something for yourself. All of those things prove that you are nothing like Gothel and that you are an amazing person. She may be your biological mother, but does it really matter? DNA doesn't make a person, Cass, you make your own person on your own. If anything, you are a lot like your father. Strong, powerful, determined, harsh but kind and you will do anything to protect those you love. The point is, Gothel may have a had a hold on us when we were young and innocent, but she doesn't now. We broke that hold and she can't control our lives or how we act. I mean, she raised me, if anything, I should be just like her. But I'm not. And neither are you. If you were like her, you wouldn't have risked everything to make me happy by helping me escape Corona."

Cassandra looked down for a second before whispering: "Are you sure?"

Rapunzel smiled. "Absolutely positive." When Cassandra still looked unsure, she added. "I promise. I wouldn't promise if I didn't believe it fully 100%."

Cassandra collected her thoughts for a second before taking a deep breath and rested her other hand on top of Rapunzel's. "Thanks Raps.. for telling me. I really appreciate it."

Rapunzel gave her a sweet smile. "Hey, you deserve to know, no need to thank me. If there's anything else you ever want to know, just ask, and I'll tell you."

"Thanks but," Cassandra grasped the younger girls hand. "I think I've heard enough. When I found out about who my mother was, I shouldn't have blamed you, I never properly apologized for that. It wasn't your fault, but I still put the blame on you."

"Cass-"

"But honestly, I should've thanked you."

Rapunzel looked at her in confusion. "Thank me?"

"Yeah," Cassandra started. "With everything you just told me.. you went through so much, so much trauma, she caused you so much pain.. and yet, after finding out what I was told, not once did you turn away or look at my disgust or see me as.. her. Even after I turned my back on you and continuously hurt you.. you still saw me as your friend, a different person, despite the fact I was acting like she did. I wanted to hurt you.. badly.."

"Well, yeah, of course I did." Rapunzel stated obviously. "Cass, everyone has a darker side. Everyone. For people like Gothel who ran with her selfishness and greediness, only their bad side shows. While you, I saw the kindness you had, time and time again. You are a good person but you were hurting and you had every right to be. When you're in a dark place, it tends to change you. But even in your darkest hour, you still never truly hurt me. Physically at least."

"What do you mean? I tried to throw you off of a very tall tower."

"Mm, maybe. But, come on Cass, you and I both know that if you ever truly wanted to hurt me, or anyone for that matter, you could've. You could've ended it the moment you had me pinned against a wall before our fight in your tower. But you didn't. You missed on purpose, even if that wasn't what you were thinking at the time, you still missed. There were multiple times you could've killed me. But you didn't. No matter what you said or did, you were, are, still my best friend. I knew you, the REAL you, the you that wasn't run on pain, resentment and betrayal. You had the literal world at your mercy but you never really attacked Corona until the last moment. Because you were angry and you had every right to be." Rapunzel sighed before looking into Cassandra's eyes. "For what it's worth, since I never told you, I never wanted to allow Project Obsidian. But the people were scared. It was suppose to be a last resort that I knew I would never have to use. I don't even know how it went off..."

"Hey, don't worry about it. I get it. I wasn't myself and I didn't even know what I was capable of."

"It's still no excuse. I never wanted to hurt you, Cass, I didn't even want to fight you. I tried to reassure the people of Corona over and over again despite the fact I didn't believe it myself. I knew that eventually, I would have been forced to choose between Corona.. or you."

"...And you chose me. Why? If Zhan Tiri hadn't taken the moonstone, who knows what I would have done.. Why did you take that risk?"

Rapunzel smiled. "Because I had faith in my best friend. Faith that, in the end, you would do the right thing. And I was right."

Cassandra groaned. "I really didn't deserve it. I still don't."

"And I didn't deserve to be forgiven. Cass, you forget, you're not the only one who turned their back. I turned my back on you as well. I don't know how or when it happened, but I did. Because of me, you were seriously hurt and it could've have been way worse had I not been able to regain control.. We've both done things we regret, but the fact that after everything we've done to each other, after so many people tried to tear us apart, we are still stronger and closer than ever. That's saying something."

Cassandra smiled. "Hm, I guess it is." She mumbled. They shared a quick smile before Cassandra got to her feet and lent a hand out to Rapunzel. Without hesitating, she took it as Cassandra pulled her up. "Enough about this depressing stuff. Come on, I wanna show you something." She grabbed the princess's hand and started pulling her in a direction.

"Oh?" Rapunzel asked, head tilted but she followed her nonetheless. The two of them walked for what felt like forever as Rapunzel wondered more and more where Cassandra was taking her.

Cassandra stopped suddenly and wrapped a blind fold behind Rapunzel's head. Feeling Rapunzel's confused look, Cass said: "Just trust me." And she did.

Another good 10 minutes of walking and Cassandra stopped once more. She felt Cassandra move behind her as the blindfold was taken off her eyes. She squinted her eyes slightly as the setting sun hit her but when she opened them, she gasped. The place Cassandra brought her to was gorgeous. There were flowers everywhere. All different colors, including ones Rapunzel had never seen or even heard of before. There was a small lake that seemed to glow. The place was breathtaking.

"Cass, this is.." Rapunzel started as she stared in disbelief at the scene. Rapunzel had to blink a couple times to make sure it wasn't a dream. "...Beautiful.."

Cassandra's heart warmed at the princess's awestruck expression. "I found this place after I first left. It's one of the places I marked down that I wanted to show you one day."

"It's..." Rapunzel started, taking a shaky breath as she turned to Cassandra; her eyes full of a joy Cass had never seen in her before. "Breathtaking. Thank you." The look Cassandra received was so full of love and admiration, it nearly brought her to tears. Nearly. She had only seen half of that look directed at Eugene before but this look was so.. different. So much more serious. 

Cassandra blushed deeply and looked away. "S-Sure, uh, no problem." She was glad Rapunzel was so focused on the scene that she didn't see Cassandra's deepening blush. 

As they walked more into the clearing, Cassandra noticed a flower that stood out from the rest. It was bright yellow, almost resembling the sun itself, and it stood out among the rest. Cassandra gently picked it up, smiled before gently tucking it behind Rapunzel's ear. "Here, it suits you." 

If she was mistaken, she thought she saw Rapunzel blush. "T-Thank you. Really, for everything you've been doing for me these last couple days. I just.. thank you. It means the world to me." 

Cassandra's, once more, heart warmed as she gave Rapunzel a sweet smile. "You deserve it and so much more."

"You do too." 

The two shared a look before Rapunzel laughed and grabbed the older girls hand and started tugging her more into the clearing of beautiful flowers. "Come on!"

Cassandra laughed and followed after her. "Okay, okay!" Once Cassandra caught up, Rapunzel looped her arm into Cassandra's and laid her head on her shoulder; all the while looking up at her with a beautiful smile. Cassandra gave her the same one back. 

Step by step, they walked together, heading towards the new beginning of their lives.