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For Shannan, With love on her birthday Charlotte xxx

Once upon a time, in a land far away, a drop of sunlight fell to the ground. It grew into a magical flower that possessed healing powers. An old women named Mother Gothel discovered the flower, and hoarded its power to preserve her youth and beauty.
As centuries passed, a glorious kingdom was built close to the cliff where the flower grew. When the beloved queen fell ill, the townspeople searched for the legendary flower, until at last they found it. The flower made the queen well, and she soon gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. The King and Queen launched a lantern into the sky in celebration.





One night, the vengeful Mother Gothel slipped into the nursery, there lying in two cradles, were two baby girls. Mother Gothel looked at the two babies and wondered which one was the queen’s baby child. She decided the blonde- haired girl looked more like the queen, but the curly- haired one had the same colour hair as the queen, she discovered that the blonde- haired girl had the healing power passed down from the flower, into the baby’s golden hair! Mother Gothel cut off a lock - but the hair lost its power and turned to brown. Mother Gothel knew that if she wanted to stay young, she had to keep the children with her always. She snatched the baby girls and vanished to a place where no one could find them. The King and Queen were heart broken, as were a married couple who were one of the townsfolk.
Each year on the princesses birthday, the King and Queen released lanterns in the night sky, and the married couple prayed for their daughter. They hoped their light and prayers would guide their children home.



Mother Gothel kept Rapunzel and Shannan locked away in a soaring tower and raised them as her daughters. Thought the women pretended to love Rapunzel and Shannan, she only truly loved Rapunzel’s golden hair.
Rapunzel and Shannan were happy with the companionship of Mother Gothel, each other and their friend Pascal, the chameleon. But Rapunzel had one dream that she longed to make come true.
On the day before her eighteenth birthday, Rapunzel told Mother Gothel what is was. Shannan had warned her what Mother Gothel might say about it, but Rapunzel really wanted to go.
“I want to see the floating the floating lights!” she said, revealing a painting she and Shannan had made of them. “They appear every year on my birthday - only on my birthday. And I can’t help but feel like there meant for me!”
Mother Gothel told Rapunzel she was too weak and helpless to handle the outside world, Shannan tried to defend Rapunzel but Mother Gothel said the same thing to her.
“Don’t ever ask to leave this tower again, neither of you.” she said.


Meanwhile, in another part of the forest, a thief named Flynn Rider was on the run with his partners in crime, the Sabbington brothers. Flynn clutched tightly to a satchel that held a stolen royal crown!
Flynn knew the Sabbington brothers were too dangerous to be trusted, so he left them and took off with the satchel. But the captain of the guards and his horse Maximus were on his heels! The tricky thief knocked the captain off Maximus and landed in the saddle himself.
Maximus spun in circles until he sunk his teeth into the satchel. As Flynn yanked the satchel free, it went flying into the air.



The satchel snagged on a tree that extended over a cliff. Flynn and Maximus both made their way out onto the tree trunk. But the tree broke, sending the thief and horse toppling into the canyon below. When they landed Flynn took off before Maximus could pick up his scent. The thief ducked into a cave. When he emerged from the other side, he saw something amazing: an enormous tour. It would make the perfect hiding place! He climbed the tower and scrambled into the open window at the top. Finally, he breathed a sigh of relief. He was safe!
CLANG!
Suddenly, everything went black.

 Rapunzel and Shannan had been so startled by the intruder, that Rapunzel snuck up behind him and hit him with a frying pan! Flynn was the first man they had ever seen. He didn’t look like the scary ruffians that Mother Gothel had warned them about. Rapunzel and Shannan thought he was actually pleasant - looking.
After making sure he was unconscious, Rapunzel and Shannan dragged Flynn into the closet and stuffed him inside. Rapunzel and Shannan felt exhilarated! Surely this act of bravery would prove to Mother that they could handle themselves in the outside world.
Then Shannan noticed the mysterious gold object in Flynn’s satchel.
“Hey! Rapunzel! Come her quick!” she told Rapunzel, Rapunzel walked over and Shannan showed her the gold object. “What do you think it is?”
I’m not sure,” answered Rapunzel. She placed it on top of her head and gazed in the mirror. She felt different somehow.



Suddenly, Mother Gothel arrived. Rapunzel brought up the floating lights again. Shannan tried to stop her, but Rapunzel wouldn’t listen. She was about to show Mother the stranger in the closet, but Mother cut her off.
“We’re done talking about this. You are not leaving this tower! EVER!” roared Mother Gothel.
Ever? Rapunzel and Shannan were shocked. Realising they would never get out of the tower unless they took maters into their own hands, Rapunzel asked for another birthday present. She requested special paint that would require Mother to leave on a three - day journey.
 Mother Gothel agreed to get the paint and left the tower. Not wasting another second, she told Shannan the plan and got to work. Rapunzel and Shannan dragged Flynn out of the closet and offered him a deal. If Flynn took them to see the floating lights and returned them home safely, they would give him the satchel. Flynn had no choice but to agree.


As much as the girl’s wanted to leave the tower, when the moment came, they were terrified. They had never been outside before. But when they glanced back at their picture of the floating lights, they overcame their fears and leaped!
With Pascal on her shoulder, she slid down her hair, stopping just inches above the ground. Slowly, Rapunzel touched one foot to the soft grass, then the other, Shannan wasn’t far behind her.
“I can’t believe I did this! I can’t believe I did this! I can’t believe I did this!” Rapunzel shouted as she rolled on the ground. Shannan laughed and joined in.


Shannan and Rapunzel were having the time of their lives, but they also