Tangled

4.

The next morning, Xiao wakes to see a soaking wet Paimon glaring angrily down at him. Paimon attempts to carry Xiao off but Aether befriends the horse and convinces her to let Xiao stay with him until after he sees the floating lights.

"You are such a good girl. Yes you are. You all tired, chasing the bad man all over the place?" Aether smoothed the hair of the horse.

"Excuse me." Xiao huffed.

"Nobody appreciates you, do they?" Aether asked the horse.

"Come on, she's a bad horse." Xiao rolled his eyes.

"Aw, she's nothing but a big sweetheart. Isn't that right?" Aether cooed.

"You've got to be kidding me." Xiao sighed.

"Look, today is kinda the biggest day of my life. And I need, I need you not to get him arrested. Just for twenty four hours and then, you can chase each other to your hearts content. Okay? And it's also my birthday. Just so you know." Aether told Paimon.

Paimon made a sound of agreement.

"Thank you." Aether smiled.

Paimon relents but accompanies the pair as they travel into the kingdom. The marketplace is alive with vendors and townsfolk preparing for the sky lantern festival.

The two walked through the marketplace when they came across a few young girls braiding hair with flowers. They were in awe with Aether's hair and asked to braid his hair. Aether agreed and the girls began to braid his hair and add flowers to it.

While Aether and Xiao tour the kingdom, Aether notices a large tile portrait of the Royal family, including a two babies with golden hair. Xiao finds himself growing fond of Aether and, as the time for the lanterns to be released approaches, he takes Aether out on a boat to the middle of the lake surrounding the castle.

There, the two watch in awe as the lights are released and the sky is filled with a soft orange glow. One lantern with a sun emblem on it floats down and Aethee gently pushes it back skyward.

During the boat ride Aether decides to reveal the bag she had been hiding to Xiao but, unlike what Mother Amias predicted, he puts it aside and takes Aether's hands in his.

Xiao slowly leaned in closer to Aether and Aether did the same but when they were about to kiss Xiao notices the harbingers on the near by shore.

"Is everything okay?" Aether asked Xiao when he noticed he was looking somewhere else.

"Huh? Oh yes. Uh, yes of course. I just...I'm sorry, everything is fine. There's just something I have to take care of." Xiao told him.

"Okay." Aether nodded.

He rows the boat in, tells Aether to wait, and goes to meet them with the bag.

"I'll be right back." Xiao said before walking away.

~

"Ahh, there you are. I've been searching everywhere for you guys. Since we got separated. Hey, the sideburns are coming in nice, huh? You gotta be excited about that. Anyhow, just wanted to say, I shouldn't have split. The crown is all yours. I'll miss you, but I think it's for the... best." Xiao said when he reached them