Crown of Feathers Oneshots

Those Far Away Lights- CoF Tangled AU Part 1

So subrosasteath (aka Bori!) on tumblr came into my inbox one day and made up an idea for a Tangled AU for CoF. I made a few headcanons of my own later on.

Tristan is Rapunzel (it could have been Veronyka, but we both prefer this). He's held captive by Lord Rolan. Sev is Flynn (except in this au, they're just a brotp). Veronyka and Kade are royal guards who are chasing them, and then Tristnyka and Sevade happens. Not sure where Val comes into play, but whatever. Tristan's patrol would probably just be random other guards working for King Cassian and Queen Olanna Flamesong.

I would have made this it's own story, but really, this is more of a bunch if snippets. I'm most likely not going to write the entire thing, just what I feel like, and it will likely be out of order.

But this chapter does take place in the beginning!

Tristan dreamed of life outside. It never used to happen at first, he used to be content living up in the tower. He had his father Rolan to keep him company. But as he grew older, Rolan would start showing his more angry side. It made him wonder why he was even here in the first place.

"Lord Rolan." That was another thing. He always wanted to be addressed by Lord Rolan. What did Lord even mean? "I know that I'm not strong enough-"

"I already told you," Rolan interrupted. "You're weak and you can't survive the horrors outside."

"But just once... you could take me... you could protect me," Tristan insisted.

"If I brought you out with me, you'd only hold me back. I'm not bringing you out to see those... stars."

•~•~•~•~•~•

"Rex, what do I do?" Tristan murmured, staring out of the window. "I'm sure I could do a lot. I can clean and I know how to move around. Why won't he let me join him? He could teach me how to fight, I'm willing to learn!"

All Rex did was squawk. Rex was a small bird, around the size of his head. He was red and gold and had a surprisingly large wingspan.

It was nice that he had Rex with him. Even though he didn't actually do too much, he always showed Tristan support, and was always there to listen to him. Rex could have flown away whenever he chose, but still, all these years, he had chosen to stay by Tristan's side.

"Tristan!" Rolan called out. "Let down your hair!"

"Hide, Rex," he whispered.

He didn't need to say it, it was a routine at this point. One time, Rolan had found Rex and had been angry. That was all it took for Tristan to know that he had to he more careful.

"There's a feather in here. Tristan, who was in here?" Rolan had asked.

"No one was in here." He'd answered. "A bird flew in here."

"Well get the bird out! I don't want to see another animal in here!"

Tristan went over and let his hair down. His father climbed up, then scanned the tower. Deeming it proper, he kept quiet and looked over a paper.

•~•~•~•~•~•

It was Tristan's eighteenth birthday, and he was just so impatient. He desperately wanted to go outside, just see what those floating lights were. To see why they always came out on his birthday.

He didn't even dare ask Rolan to go outside again. Even the thought was terrifying. Then Rolan left for one of his trips again, but promised that he'd be back in a day or two, and would bring some gifts.