𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐑𝐔𝐋𝐄𝐒

01. 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝗿𝗮

𝕺ne year into Auradon Prep, Rilynn felt like she finally belonged in the school with the other students around her age; the princess was accepted into the new generations of princes and princesses, the side-kicks. Rilynn was never allowed to play with her kingdom's children when she was a mere child, forbidden from leaving her castle ever since she was born. That night the third princess of Corona was brought into the world, and the kingdom celebrated and partied for the new line of generation. Everyone was ecstatic to have another princess in line for the throne.

     However, no one ever saw Baby Rilynn for nearly a year after she was born; it was like Rilynn had become a ghost, a figment of everyone's imagination. Neither Rapunzel nor Eugene spoke about Rilynn unless they were family members or within the castle, keeping their daughter's identity hidden from their kingdom. Call it fear, but Rapunzel was afraid to let Rilynn out in the world with the most golden hair out of their family of brunettes.

     Baby Rilynn bloomed with gorgeous blonde locks, and for a moment, the King and Queen of Corona figured it was because she was a baby, assuming Baby Rilynn would sprout brown hair at some point. But no matter how long they waited, their little girl continued to grow blonde locks as she grew. Concern began to settle in, but no one wanted to panic for no reason, so they continued to wait and see.

     One night, when Baby Rilynn was sleeping in her crib, Rapunzel wandered into her nursery with curiosity, itching away at her thoughts and telling her to answer her questions. When Rapunzel stood at the side of the crib, she parted her lips and began the lullaby she grew up with; her voice was soft and delicate, whispering the words Mother Gothel used to use whenever she wanted to make herself young again. And there it was--a sign, an answer Rapunzel had been hoping to avoid.

     Baby Rilynn's golden hair beamed into the night room, lighting her bedroom in a yellow hue.

     But as many years passed, Rilynn was finally going to a boarding school with her sister, Razelle, and other kids her age. She's never felt freer.

     When Rilynn arrived at Auradon Prep, the princess wasn't the greatest at communicating with her classmates, clueless to the lies they fed. It's always embarrassing whenever Rilynn thought about it--she'd turn red like a rose and smile awkwardly at the memory. It wasn't exactly a fun time for Rilynn, being naive and gullible like her mother once was. However, while Razelle is completing her last year in Auradon Prep, she promised her parents that she would keep a close eye on Rilynn. Razelle was only two years older than Rilynn, and they were fortunate enough to bunk in the same room, making it easier for the older sister to know whenever she was safe. Still, it was never easy helping Rilynn fit in because while Razelle was busy with her senior year, Rilynn made it her mission to find her own friends.

     Unfortunately, Rilynn would find herself sitting at the library with stacks of homework crowding around her like a wall all over the table; textbooks upon textbooks were stacked into mountains, and notebooks and loose-leaf papers were piled into sections of whose assignments were whose. Rilynn never minded lending a helping hand to her new friends.

☼☼☼

     "Ben?" called Razelle, worry flashing on her face. The princess had been running all over the school and was searching high and low for her sister; after finding their dorm empty, Razelle went into panic mode. "Ben, hey, wait up!"

     The prince stopped and turned to Razelle with a polite smile, clutching his bag as he waited for the princess. "Razelle, hey! What's up?" Ben greeted. He registered the frown on Razelle's face, sending mixed signals to the prince as he matched her expression with a hint of confusion. "Hey, what's wrong?"