Rapunzel's Homecoming 7

Rapunzel's Homecoming Chapter 7 - Rapunzel and the Great Big Ocean.
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The King and Queen were showing Rapunzel and Eugene around the palace. It was her new home so she needed to have a tour. They were up in one of the towers, explaining about some particular ancient relative on the wall, when they realized that Rapunzel was no longer with them.

They saw her back in front of a large window, she was just standing there, shivering, holding her arms out like she was trying to keep from falling.
Eugene ran back to her and caught her up in a hug. "Are you alright?"
Her parents were right behind him.

"It's. so. big." She whispered. Her already large eyes were huge, and staring at the ocean.
Eugene looked and it was a beautiful, clear day outside. The window faced away from land and it had a completely clear view of the ocean. The ocean was dark blue and still, the sky azure and cloudless. It was like looking into forever.
"I'm sorry, but it is so much bigger then anything I've seen, except the sky."

"Of course, I should have thought. That tower of yours is in a small canyon. It was only a few hundred feet across. Of course, you're scared. Please, let's get away from the window." said Eugene turning.
"No, please, I'm not scared, I'm just not used to it yet. Thank you for holding me, it just felt like I was going to fall into it. It's so beautiful."

King Leonard put one arm around Rapunzel and the other around his wife and they just looked out the window. After a long moment he said, "I had forgotten that such simple beauty still existed."

Another long silence stretched out along the vista of the open ocean and sky.

"What's happening down there?" Rapunzel was looking down and pointing.
"Those people are swimming." said Eugene seeing a few people frolicking on a beach.
"What's swimming?" asked Rapunzel, trying out the word on her tongue.

"If you're going to become princess of a seafaring nation, you have got to learn how to swim, and this is a 'first' that your parents can help you with." Eugene said with a wide grin. Both the king and queen got excited looks on their faces and the King dragged them all back to their rooms for a change of clothes before heading down to the beach.

Being an excellent climber, it didn't take Rapunzel long to get the basics of swimming and after a few pointers from the local pod of dolphins, she was splashing about with the best of them. Even the king and queen joined in for the synchronized swimming sequence with the dolphins.
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Author's Note: Rapunzel grew up in a tower in a small canyon, it looks to be 500 feet or so from the window to the cave entrance wall, that is so tiny as to be scary. But at some point she is going to see the sea in a spectacular way. (say that 5 times fast). She isn't agoraphobic or anything like that, she has enough emotional land mines to deal with, but it would be a significant experience for her.

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