The sun shone brightly in the little glen with the tower. By the window at the top, a small chameleon ran behind a flower pot, changing his coloring to blend in.

The window flew open suddenly, a handsome teenage boy with long, blond hair jumping out. "HA!" He looked around, then shrugged, gliding his feet away from the window. "Hmm...well, I guess Pascal's not hiding out here."

Pascal tittered, until hair wrapped around him and hung him upside-down. Richie then appeared in front of him. "Gotcha!"

"AHHH!" He turned red, the green slowly fading back in as he caught his breath.

"That's twenty two for me..." He pulled the lizard back and placed him into the windowsill. "How about twenty three out of forty five?"

He shook his head squeaking.

"Okay, well, what do you want to do?" Richie asked, sitting on the stone.

Perking up, Pascal pointed outside with his tail.

"Yeah...I don't think so." He picked him back up. "I like it in here and so do you."

He pouted, sticking his tongue out at Richie.

"Oh, come on, Pascal, it's not so bad in there."

He ran off, his hair sweeping across the bricked floor.

Richie:
Seven a.m.: the usual morning lineup
Start on the chores and sweep "till the floor's all clean
Polish and wax, do laundry and mop and shine up
Sweep again and by then,
It's, like, seven fifteen

After doing the chores, he looked at the clock. Seeing that only fifteen minutes had passed, he sighed.

-

Richie:
And, so, I'll read a book
Or maybe two or three

He took out one on cooking, geology, and botany, excited.

-

Richie:
I'll add a few new paintings to my gallery

He used his hair to give himself a boost on the higher part of the wall.

-

Richie:
I'll play guitar and knit
And cook and basically
Just wonder, "When will my life begin?"

After a bit of playing the guitar and knitting, Richie balanced a pie in one hand as he measured out part of the wall with the thumb on his other, one eye open, smiling to himself.

He got the paints out and began the background.

-

Richie:
Then after lunch, it's puzzles and darts and baking
Papier-mâché, a bit of ballet and chess

He tried to twirl around, but got tangled in his hair, tripping himself and falling on the floor. Pascal looked at him with a chessboard on the same table as him. Richie reached up and poked one of the pieces with his finger, toppling it over.

-

Richie:
Pottery and ventriloquy, candle making

He used Pascal as his dummy, then took the candles out.

-

Then I'll stretch, maybe sketch
Take a climb, sew a dress

He gushed over the mini dress he had made for Pascal, who gave a "kill me" look.

-

Richie:
And I'll reread the books
If I have time to spare

This time when he took the books, he did it bored, barely looking at them as he sprawled himself on his bed.

-

Richie:
I'll paint the walls some more
I'm sure there's room somewhere

But when he looked, there was nothing but a gallery of paintings.

-

Richie:
And then I'll brush and brush
And brush and brush my hair
Stuck in the same place I've always been

He finished brushing the tip of his hair, sighing, leaning back in the rest like a hammock.

-

He threw up his hair in a circle, standing in the middle of it when it landed.

Richie:
And I'll keep wond'rin' and wond'rin' and wond'rin' and wond'rin'
When will my life begin?

He went to the window and looked up at the blue sky, leaning against the edge.

Richie:
Tomorrow night...
Lights will appear
Just like they do on my birthday each year

He slowly turned back, looking at the painting of the lights he had made near the curtain.

Richie:
What is it like
Out there where they glow?
Now that I'm older,
Mother might just...let me go

-

He finished stroking the paintbrush across the mural, the finishing touch of himself watching the lights.

-

"Wow! I could get used to a view like this!" Flynn exclaimed as Jaylyn held him up. Her hands started to shake from the excess weight.

"Wrap it up, Flynn! God, have you gained weight?"

"Hold up..." He took a few more seconds before saying, "Yeah, I'm used to it. Jay, I want a castle."

The Stabbington Brothers, far behind them, rolled their eyes from a distance. They had been looking at the castle before their 'mission'. "When we do this job, you can buy your own castle," Sideburns said as Jaylyn let him down.

"Come on, let's get this over with," she said and pulled Flynn along by the back of the collar.

"Okay, okay, I'm coming!"

-

Flynn finished tying the rope around Jaylyn's waist, then nodded at Sideburns and Patchy. They lowered her into the palace, near the heavily guarded crown.

As she picked the lost prince's crown up, one of the guards sneezed. "Bless you, honey. Hay fever?" she asked casually, leaning against the stand.

"Yeah." He turned back around, then jumped when he realized who it was. "Huh?!" Turning back, he watched as she was picked back up. "Wait, what?! Hey, wait!"

They were already running out the kingdom as the palace guards ran after them.

"Can't you picture us in a castle of our own? I mean, I certainty can." Flynn was telling Jaylyn as they ran. She rolled her eyes, but he continued. "Oh, the things we've seen and it's only eight o'clock! Gentlemen, Jaylyn, this is a very big day!"

-

"This is it. This is a very big day, Pascal!" Richie squealed, getting everything ready. With a giggle, he picked the chameleon up. "I'm finally going to do it! I'm going to ask her!"

Outside came an operatic voice, beckoning for the blond. "Richie! Let down your hair!"

"It's time..."

He tried to hide Pascal in the curtain. Pascal desperately pointed at the painting of the lights.

"I know, I know. Come on, don't let her see you."

"Richie? I'm not getting any younger down here."

"Coming, Mother." Richie hooked his hair onto the hook and let it swing down for Gothel to grab ahold of. After she tied it in a small loop to step on, he pulled her up, the hair sliding easily through. When she got to the very top, Richie grabbed hold of her hand and helped her in. "Hi. Welcome home, Mother."

"Oh, Richie. How you manage to do that every single day without fail." She stroked his hair, her basket around her arm. "It looks absolutely exhausting, darling."

"Oh, it's nothing," he said modestly.

"Then I don't know why it takes so long." She booped him on the nose, then laughed dramatically. "Oh, darling, I'm just teasing."

He chuckled, a little awkwardly, subconsciously smoothing down his shirt. "Alright...so, Mother. As you know, tomorrow is a very big day."

But she was already walking around the tower, stopping in front of a mirror. Pulling Richie close to her, she said, "Richard, take a look in that mirror. You know what I see? I see a strong, confident, beautiful human being."

He smiled as he looked at himself, humming slightly.

"Oh, look, you're here, too."

His smile fell as his mother cackled. "I'm just teasing. Stop taking everything so seriously." She pulled back her cheeks, smiling at herself in the mirror.

"Okay, so, Mother, as I was saying, tomorrow is -"

"Richie, Mother's feeling a little run-down. Would you sing for me, dear? Then we'll talk."

"Oh. Of course, Mother!"

He grabbed a chair and made her sit, then rushed for the hairbrush, thrusting it at her. He sat on a stool, his hair over her lap and began to sing.

"Flowergleamandglowletyourpowershinemaketheclockreversebringbackwhatoncewasmine..."

"Wait!" Desperately, she tried to brush it.

"Healwhathasbeenhurtchangethefate'sdesignsavewhathasbeenlostbringbackwhatoncewasmine."

Her hair blew back, a shiny black once again. Relieved, but still annoyed, she glared at the prince. "Richard!"

But he jumped forward, too excited to let her cut off again. "So, Mother, earlier I was saying tomorrow's a pretty big day and you didn't really respond, so I'm just going to tell you: It's my birthday! Tada!" He wiggled his hands, having leaned on so that he was practically touching her face.

She shook her head, pushing him back. "No, no. Can't be. I distinctly remember. Your birthday was last year."

"That's the funny thing about birthdays! They're...kind of an annual thing!" he chuckled, then sighed, trying to word his request correctly. "Mother...I'm turning eighteen and I wanted to ask...what I really want for this birthday...actually, what I've wanted for a few birthdays now..."

Gothel glared at him. "Richard, please. Stop with the mumbling. You know how I feel about the mumbling. Blah blah blah blah. It's very annoying. I'm just teasing. You're adorable. I love you so much." She pinched his cheek, smiling at him, then walked off.

Richie glanced back at Pascal, who motioned for him to continue.

"Oh, I wanna see the floating lights!"

Gothel stopped, turning back, an apple in her hand from a basket, confused. "What?" She put the apple back.

"Oh...well, I was hoping you'd take me to see the floating lights."

"Oh." She smiled, turning back to her basket. "You mean the stars."

"That's the thing." Using his hair, he pulled the curtains back, showing her the painting. "I've charted stars and they're always constant. But these appear every year on my birthday, Mother. And only on my birthday. And I can't help but feel they're..." He gazed up at the painting, eyes sparkling up at it with longing. "They're meant for me." He turned back around, begging. "I need see them, Mother. And not just from my window...in person. I have to know what they are."

"You want to go outside? Why, Richard." She shut the window, coating the room in darkness. She then drew out her son's hair, as is playing with it. "Look at you, as fragile as a flower. Still a little sapling, just a sprout."

Mother Gothel:
You know why we stay up in this tower

"I know, but -"

"That's right."

Mother Gothel:
To keep you safe and sound, dear...

She bunched up his hair, hugging it tightly.

Mother Gothel:
Guess I always knew this day was coming

She put a hand on her head dramatically as she slammed the shutters closed.

Mother Gothel:
Knew that soon you'd want to leave the nest

She walked up the stairs slightly.

Mother Gothel:
Soon, but not yet

"But -"

"Shh." She put a finger to his lips.

Mother Gothel:
Trust me, pet
Mother...knows best

She hip bumped a lever, the room now completely dark, as the rest of the lighting went out.

Mother Gothel:
Mother knows best
Listen to your mother
It's a scary world out there
Mother knows best
One way or another,
Something will go wrong
I swear!

Richie tripped over his hair, giving Mother Gothel a chance to cast shadows on the floor.

Mother Gothel:
Ruffians, thugs
Poison ivy, quicksand
Cannibals and snakes
THE PLAGUE

"No!"

"YES."

"But -"

Mother Gothel:
Also large bugs
Men with pointy teeth and -

She leaned over with her hand back on her head by a painting of a red man with pointy teeth after had painted, paintbrush still in her hand and an upset look on her face.

Mother Gothel:
Stop, no more! You'll just upset me...!

Mother's right here
Mother's here to help you
Darling, here's what I suggest

Causing a fire hazard, she waved her cape on the stairs, surrounded by candles.

Mother Gothel:
Skip the drama, stay with mama
Mother...knows best

Go ahead, get trampled by a rhino
Go ahead, get mugged and left for dead
Me? I'm just your mother. What do I know?
I only bathed and changed and nursed you

Go ahead and leave me. I deserve it
Let me die alone here. Be my guest
When it's too late, you'll see, just wait
MoootheeEEEERRrr...knows...best ~

As she sang, Richie went on trying to light some candles, which Gothel promptly put out.

Mother Gothel:
Mother knows best
Take it from your mumsy
On your own, you won't survive

She showed him a mirror, then tilted it to show his waist.

Mother Gothel:
Sloppy, underdressed
Immature, clumsy
Please, they'll eat you up aLIIIIIVE

He tripped again, this time Gothel rolling him away.

Mother Gothel:
Gullible, naïve
Positively grubby
Ditzy and a bit, well, mmm, vague
Plus, I believe
Gettin' kinda chubby

She put a hand under his chin and pat it with the front, then squished his face before throwing him away.

Mother Gothel:
I'm just saying 'cause I wove you

Mother understands
Mother's here to help you
All I have is one requeeeeest!

He looked around blindly for her until he heard her voice. Turning, he saw Gothel with her arms wide open, which he ran into. She cradled his hair gently as she spoke. "Richard?"

"Yes, Mother?"

She pulled him away so she could look right at him, her eyes stern. "Don't ever ask to leave this tower again."

He sighed, looking at his feet, feeling overpowered. "Yes, Mother..."

"Oh, I love you very much, dear," she said as her face melted.

"I love you more."

"I love you most." She kissed the top of his hair, booped his nose, then patted his hair.

Mother Gothel:
Don't forget it
You'll regret it...
Mother...knows...best

She took two long stands of his hair and pulled as she glided away, leaving her son watching after her sadly.

-

"Tata! I'll see you in a bit, my flower!" Gothel called as she slid down Richie's hair.

Still disappointed, Richie whispered, "I'll be here..." Even after she was gone, he continued to look out into the world, his hair still dangling, blowing in the summer breeze.