New Family

"Jafar! You've done it again!"

King Frederic showed no regard for royal customs, wrapping the man in an inescapable bear hug.

His wife sniffled joyfully, wiping at her tears.

As one could tell, the couple were overjoyed at the return of their daughter. So overjoyed that they barely realized she was tied up and telekinetically bound.

"Arrgh…"

"Jafar? What's wrong?"

He did his best to smile.

"I… was slightly injured on the way back. If you would let me, my King and Queen, I would like to head to my chambers and treat my wounds."

Frederic's eyes widened.

"What a worthless host I am! Not recognizing our benefactor is gravely injured! Call the medics! Get the best doctor in Corona! Jafar must be saved!"

"I… I'm not going to die," Jafar weakly argued.

"Nonsense, Jafar! We must get you patched up at once!" Arianna scolded.

Sigh…

The rest was a blur.

Jafar rested on his bed for at least a day or three while a good dozen healers surrounded him and monitored his condition.

The royal couple came in at least once a few hours to check in on him as well. However, with each visit, their expressions seemed to darken.

When Jafar finally asked what was wrong, they revealed that bonding with their newly returned daughter had been troublesome.

"She's been… so distant. That witch had too much of an effect on her," Arianna explained. "She refuses to acknowledge us as her parents."

They implored to help them once again.

"She trusts you," Frederic added. "Please, Jafar. Just one more time."

Jafar tried his best not to roll his eyes.

'Why am I being treated like a child therapist again? I'm the Royal Vizier! Not to mention 'gravely' injured! What am I even supposed to do? I'm the one who blasted her fake mother into bits in the first place so if anything, she should hate me!'

But they were still the rulers of the kingdom. He couldn't directly refuse.

With his expectations low as the dirt, he trudged into Rapunzel's room the next day.

"Rapunzel…? Your parents wanted me to speak with you."

"..."

'Well silence is better than something thrown at me.'

"Are you still hurt?" she asked, surprising him with her concern.

"Yes," he bluntly replied. "And I'm in terrible pain. Honestly, it's a miracle that I'm still standing."

"Well good," she muttered. "You deserve every bit of it."

"What?! Say that again!"

"You murdered Mother!" she shrieked.

"Well…" Jafar had no good counter for that one. Again, he wondered why the royal couple sent him of all people.

"Well she was a terrible person! And I saved your life, by the way!"

"I didn't ask to be saved!"

"Fine! I'll send you back into the woods and shove a knife in your face!"

Inwardly, Jafar knew as those words came out of his mouth that he was not off to a great start. Only a few seconds in and he was threatening the princess.

"I'm… I'm sorry," he muttered.

"Well I'm not!" she huffed, turning away.

Pushing aside the urge to drop-kick this child out the window, Jafar slowly walked closer.

"I... uh, I heard you had some troubles connecting with your parents?"

"They're not..."

Rapunzel's rebuttal was fast and instinctual— as if she couldn't even dare to think of the royal couple as her family.

Jafar's eyes narrowed.

"Say it. Say they're not your parents."

'You ungrateful squirt,' he mentally added.

"I..."

Rapunzel collapsed into herself, clutching her head.

"I don't know anything anymore. I'm confused. I'm lost. I don't even know where to start."

Jafar's expression softened a touch.

"You can start by acknowledging what your parents have done for you."

"Done for me?" the princess scoffed.

He wasn't deterred.

"I know it's all been shocking for you. To learn that your Mother was not your mother. To learn there have been loving parents waiting for you all along."

"Mother loved me," she sharply interrupted.

"I… can't say anything about that. But what I can say is that those two love you very much."

Rapunzel snorted.

"Do they now?"

"They do," he gently pushed. "Why else would they have been searching nonstop for the last 6 years for their precious princess?"

"Non… stop... ?"

"Every day, they wake up distressed and worried about their precious daughter. Sometimes they break down because they can't take it anymore."

"I don't believe you," she whispered.

"Believe it. And here's the proof of it all. Every year, on the day you were born, on the day when they miss you the most… they send this."

Now right next to her, Jafar showed the object resting on his palm. A bright lantern, radiating with warmth. The radiant sun emblem etched into its sides shone in Rapunzel's pupils.

" Gasp… "

Jafar waved his hand, showing how the lantern gently floated up and down.

"Beautiful… isn't it?"

Breathless and speechless, Rapunzel could only nod her head.

"It's all for you, Princess Rapunzel. Every year, the city releases hundreds and hundreds of these. They float up into the sky and form a source of light— a guiding way for their lost princess to return home."

"All that… for me?" she spoke almost in awe.

"Every single lantern is meant for you," he confidently claimed. "Every single one is a reminder of what you meant to them. Can you imagine? Having parents that adore you to that degree?"

"I… I can't… I don't know."

Jafar softly smiled.

"You don't have to. Now that you're back, I'm sure His Highness and Her Highness will make sure you feel that for yourself."

Rapunzel silently continued to stare at the fluttering lantern. He could see her heart slowly shifting.

"And— cough! "

Jafar turned his head to the side and let out a violent hack.

"Jafar?"

The princess jerked her gaze away from the source of her wonder.

He swallowed heavily and grimaced, tasting the iron in his mouth.

"I'll be fine. Cough . Give me a moment. Cough, cough ."

Rapunzel stared at the tall man who was coughing his lungs out in the corner of her room. For a moment, guilt and sympathy filled her youthful visage.

"Jafar… come here."

"Princess?"

When he didn't respond fast enough, she impatiently yanked him towards her and pushed him onto her little chair.

 "Just… stay there for a bit."

With a slight smile, she gently wrapped a thick truss of hair around his waist while making sure not to directly press on his injury.

"Why is your body so big?" she grumbled under her breath.

"Princess?" Don't tell me you're going to— Mmph!"

Whatever he was going to say was cut off by the gentle, silky ends of Rapunzel's hair which were forced into his mouth, just like the way he manipulated the rope into her mouth as a gag.

"Heh. Serves you right," she snickered.

"Mm mm mph (how childish)."

Jafar rolled his eyes.

Ignoring him, the princess closed her eyes in concentration. Then… she opened her mouth.

Nothing on a screen could have prepared him for the following stream of soft, heavenly singing that tickled his ears. Jafar would have also closed his eyes in pleasure if it didn't mean he had to stop watching Rapunzel's ethereal form, accented by her brightly shining golden locks.

At the same time, he could feel his body growing lighter and his pain gradually lessening. Even though he knew it was expected to happen, Jafar couldn't help his shock. He had never seen anything like it. His grievous stab wound was slowly but surely closing on itself as the singing continued.

However, he saw something strange when he switched his gaze back to the princess.

'Tears?'

Indeed, the corner of her emerald gem eyes seemed to sparkle with moisture. Her contorted expression and grit teeth revealed her grief. Still, she continued to sing her soul out.

Jafar somberly swallowed as he realized this was her first time using her hair after Gospel perished.

'Even if Gospel was a terrible woman… she was still her mother for years. Let her grieve.'

Pat, pat

With a wide, comforting palm, Jafar tenderly stroked her head.

How long did it go on for?

It felt like an eternity, yet it also felt much too short when she stopped. Her golden hair darkened to a normal shade of blonde.

Thump

The girl tiredly laid her head against his shoulder, drained from using her powers.

"Show me the lights again," she whispered, her voice slightly nasally.

Jafar smiled, letting his hand weigh against Rapunzel's head.

"Of course princess."

The first lantern was far gone, drifting into the night sky. Thankfully, he came with backup.

He pulled out a second, slightly crumpled one, unfolded it with care, then lit it up with a spark of magic.

"I'm here all night, princess. Watch for as long as you want."

He had to admit, it pleased him to see Rapunzel's tense posture melt as she was once again hypnotized (no, not that kind) by the luminous symbol of her birth.

"You said… they'll send hundreds and hundreds of these on my birthday?"

Jafar paused to think.

"It's become a cultural attraction so I don't see why they would stop now? Especially not if you wished for it."

Rapunzel continued to watch with enthralled, emerald eyes. Her head gently rested against Jafar's broad shoulders.

"When that day comes… will you be there to watch with me?"

Jafar was slightly taken back by the request.

"Princess… that day won't come for many more months."

'All the work I would miss out on, on top of leaving Jasmine for that long.'

"…"

The blonde pitifully looked back over her shoulders, her eyes wide and wet with hope and tears. His defenses crumpled.

"... Of course, Rapunzel. I'll always be there for you."

A glowing smile even brighter than her magical hair stretched across her face. Just for being able to see that smile, Jafar left behind any regrets for agreeing to her request.