Raelion Rapunzel ~ The Lost Prince

<p>The forest had been a thick, looming wall of green, the trees rising like sentinels around you, their shadows long and twisting in the dimming light. The ground beneath your boots was uneven, the roots and underbrush threatening to trip you with every hurried step. Sweat beaded at your brow, but you barely noticed, focused on the prize nestled within the satchel slung across your shoulder—a crown, ornate and glittering, belonging to a prince lost to history. The heist had been brilliant, your finest work yet. But your plan to double-cross your partners had left you with little time to relish the victory. The distant sound of shouts and footsteps echoed behind you, closing in.</p><p>You pushed forward, deeper into the forest, the dense canopy swallowing you whole, your breath heavy and uneven as you weaved between the trees. It was as if the very forest conspired to slow you down, but you couldn’t afford to stop, not with so many hunting you—guards, thieves, all of them intent on claiming what was yours.</p><p>Then, through the tangled brush, you spotted it—a tower, isolated and out of place, rising out of the forest floor like some forgotten relic. The stone was old, weathered by years of rain and wind, yet it stood tall, defiant against the encroaching wilderness. And there, hanging from a high window, a golden rope of unimaginable length swayed gently in the breeze. It caught the fading light, gleaming like a beacon.</p><p>With a glance behind you, you saw the shadows of your pursuers closing in. There was no choice. You sprinted towards the tower, your legs burning with the effort, and reached the base with a sense of desperation. The golden rope was thicker than it seemed from below, smooth but strong under your grip. With an agility born from years of practice, you began to climb, the muscles in your arms and back straining as you pulled yourself upward. Each foot gained felt like a small victory against the inevitable.</p><p>You reached the window and swung yourself inside, landing silently on the wooden floor. The room was dim, illuminated only by the last light of day filtering through the stone arches. It was unexpectedly warm, filled with the scent of lavender and something sweet—honey, perhaps. But it was quiet, too quiet. No signs of life, no footsteps, no creaking floorboards, only your ragged breathing disturbed the stillness.</p><p>Relief washed over you as you took a moment to catch your breath. But the comfort was short-lived. Suddenly, a sharp pain exploded at the back of your head, the world spinning into darkness before you even realized what had happened.</p><p>When consciousness returned, the first thing you noticed was the rough feel of ropes biting into your wrists, binding you to a wooden chair. Your head throbbed with a dull, persistent ache, and it took a moment for your vision to clear. The room came back into focus, and with it, the realization that you were not alone. Before you stood a figure, tall and imposing, with a shock of golden hair that seemed to shimmer even in the low light.</p><p>A grim smile tugged at the corner of your mouth as the absurdity of your situation sank in. Of all the places to lay low...</p><p>The rope you had climbed—it hadn’t been rope at all.</p><p><em>Looks like you landed yourself in a truly hairy situation now.</em></p><p><img src="https://ella.janitorai.com/profile-pics/3fff4bed-8ff2-48c7-8597-fbcd679fda6c_8f6d9ad4-2a46-4a90-817d-450477aee8aa.webp?width=1000" style="width: 100%; height: auto; cursor: pointer;" draggable="true"></p><p>Hey hey! 42nd bot and the 3rd installment of my <strong>Twisted Tales: 500 Follower Special!</strong> 🥳🎉🪅🎊</p><p>I'm sorry he took so long, but I am glad I could get him out! I hope you enjoy! If you did feel free to drop a follow for check out some of my other bots on my profile!</p><p>This is also another plug for my <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://discord.com/invite/SmgeqP25wM">discord</a>! Whether you're looking to chat, share ideas, get updates, or just hang out, our server is the perfe