Rapunzel's discovery

Agneta looked out of her window, and saw the night sky filled with lanterns, she had just turned 18, one day she thought, one day she would see where they come from and why it was her on birthday that they always appeared. Agneta was always too afraid to ask. She knew her Mom had her best interests at heart, but she also knew that her Mother had a habit of being over-protective and tended to exaggerate when she was trying to dissuade her daughter from "dangerous" things...

Sunlight illuminated Agneta's room and she could be seen already making preparations for the day. After all today was a very special day for Agneta, it was her 19th birthday tomorrow and this morning she was going to be the best daughter and show her mother that she was ready to go to where the floating lights were. And so she got up before dawn and began cooking her meal for her mother, she went all out. She had also finished painting a picture of her and her mother to hopefully win her mother over. Everything was set, now she needed to wait for the food to cook and her mother to return. Now was time for her daily chores, *cue the song from the movie https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_AyUovLL7Q .

Rapunzel had just taken out and prepared the food on a small table for her Mother. "Perfect, everything perfect. Today will be the day I ask her" Rapunzel's voice creaked a bit on the last part, she was way too excited, but also nervous. It was then that a faint voice could be heard "Agneta. Agneta, dear, let down your hair" The voice was kind, but also had confidence behind it, it was her Mother now the plan was sprung into motion and let her mother into the tower.

"ah, Agneta" her mother said, a little out of breath, 'I might seem ungrateful if I choose the wrong words ... ' she had to walk on egg-shells for her plan to work. Her mother was smiling at her, but her smile started to falter when she saw the looked in her daughter's eyes "Agneta, honey, what's wrong" Rapunzel snapped into a full smile as her mother walked over to the mirror, but it was too late, her mother was looking at her worried. She had to say something. "nothing's wrong mom, you just looked tired and I was scared thinking you might've fallen" her mother regained her smile, happy that she had such a caring daughter "oh, honey, are you saying I'm getting old!?" her mother said in a serious tone, contradicting her face, "no! Mom! I didn't mean that I ju-" Rapunzel was cut of by her mother bursting out laughing, 'she was joking, gee, im too on edge, I need to calm down'. Her mother then asked for her to sing to her, like always.

This helped heal her mother, and stop her from growing older, a strange ability Agneta possessed. Her mother had revealed this to Agneta and also told her that this was one reason for why the outside world was dangerous, others would this power, and as she was told last year, they would also and do unspeakable things to a young innocent woman, like her, Agneta didn't understand what her mother meant by that, but it must be serious if she wouldn't elaborate. She didn't understand why she couldn't go with her mother though.

After she'd finished her song and her mother was replenished she decided to just ask. "Mother, tomorrow, what I'd really like for my birthday, whatI'vereallywantedforsometime-"

"Agneta, stop mumbling, you know mother can't understand you unless you speak properly" she said in a sympathetic voice."take a deep breath and speak slowly, I know you're excited but mommy won't be able to get you what you want for tomorrow, unless she knows"

"OK" Agneta took a deep breath "I would really love to see the floating lights"

For a moment her mother had a look of rage, then looked at the table filled with food and their family painting in the middle, behind where Agneta moved to "Oh" agneta knew her mother had seen the food "sweety, you lovely, silly, smart girl. I know this seems important to you but I can't bring you the stars"

"no, mom I've charted stars before in regular patterns, and these don't match any stars, besides they only come out on my birthday"

to emphasis the point she opens the drape hiding the part of the mural with the lanterns on,

'oh no, those. The royal lanterns for the lost princess, agneta, she could never see them, they would take her away and do unspeakable things to her, those degenerates, those filthy, filthy people would taint my agneta rapunzel, there's no doubt about it, and I already have a present for her' Gothel was perplexed, she could not grant that wish, but she also couldn't tell Agneta either, as the truth would or rather could cause her "daughter" to run away on her own.

"I've told you that the world is filled with dangerous people who would love nothing less then to ra-*cough* ravage you and your powers, you should stay with momma, safe in your tower"

"I know Mom, I just thought that if you took me then I could go, we would return and I wouldn't be on my own, we'd be together you and me" she looks at her mother with puppy dog eyes

"aww, sweetie" Gothel had started her meal that her daughter prepared for her. "no"

"what? Why!?" Agneta started to tear up, she didn't expect her mother to be so brutal.

"We can't you're too weak, if you wander away evil, nasty people will hold you down, and take your hair for themselves, even just a bit could cause them to stay youthful, they may also decide to do other, more vile things, this is why you must stay here, away from evil men and women"

Gothel resumed eating, a bit angrier than before. There was way too much food here for her, so she beckoned rapunzel over

"come, join me, I can't eat this on my own, you've done a fabulous job here, that is the one thing I can't get you, too must trust me on this, I am doing this for your sake,please agneta"

"OK, mom"

Agneta could feel the emotion behind her mothers words, and decided to give up, for now. She sat down across from her mother and placed an empty plate in front of herself from the middle of the table.

"at least until I get stronger then" she was still determined to win her mother over one day.

Gothel laughed, a warm, gentle laugh, as she moved some of the food from her plate onto her daughter's, she knew she wouldn't change her daughter's wish that easily, but was happy she had stud down for now.

"We'll see, and by then perhaps the country will be safer, and less vile, and besides, I already have a present for you tomorrow"

After they eating Gothel told her daughter she was going to collect the present from the local store, and that Agneta would be on her own for a few hours

"and no peeping when I get back, it'll be a surprise, I love you very much dear!" Gothel shouted from the bottom of the tower

"bye Mom, I love you more!" Agneta beamed back

"I love you the most!" her mother wittily replied and went off through the cave that lead out to the outside world.