Warnings: Mentions of infertility, fishing and hunting, and sickness
I arrived in Galcreast a week later. I looked around. It had tan, warm sand, and buildings made of sparkly, white, marble. "Woah!" I exclaimed. I had never seen such grand buildings in my life. I smiled. "Rapunzel has got to be here.". I slowly began to turn around. I bumped into someone.
"Young lady!" A strong female voice explained. I turned around to see a woman with dark skin and hair, brown eyes, wearing a lavender dress and holding a fan of the same color.
"Sorry, ma'am!" I explained. "Just looking around.".
"You're not from here, are you?" She explained, a gentle smile forming on her face. I nodded.
"Let me take you to my mansion." She explained as she took my hand.
The woman led me to a white marble mansion. We went inside. It had a red carpet and the same white, marble walls as the outside. A man with black skin and hair wearing a blue suit with gold shoulder pads ran up to us. "How was the village, Fatoumata?" He asked his wife.
"Just dandy, Oumar." Fatoumata replied. He kissed her on the cheek. She smiled.
"Who's the white chick?" Oumar asked Fatoumata. She slapped his hip.
"Not appropriate." She told him.
"Sorry." He replied.
"My name is Anna." I told them.
"Anna, I am Fatoumata, and this is my husband, Oumar." She told me.
"Fatoumata, do you really want to take a child in right now?" Oumar asked his wife.
"Honey, you know I'm infertile." Fatoumata plead. "And besides she's a teenager, it's not like we're taking in a toddler.". I giggled slightly.
"Funny story, I'm actually 21." I explained.
"Oh! I'm sorry about that, my dear, it's just that you look so young.". I looked at myself. The robe that I got from Nezertnea was hanging off my body.
"Yeah, I'm just really skinny.". Fatoumata stood silent for a minute.
"Would you like to go with me to the tailor and get better fitting clothes for you?" She offered. I nodded. She took my hand. She led me outside.
Outside, there was a white carriage. In front of the carriage, there were two white horses. I got in the carriage. Fatoumata got in front of the carriage. She cracked the reins. The horses got going.
We arrived at the tailor's about five minutes later. I jumped out of the carriage. "Be careful please." Fatoumata reminded me. We went in. There were brown wooden floors, teal walls, and beautiful dresses of every color. A woman with black skin and hair wearing a pink dress was behind the brown, wooden counter.
"Hello, Fatoumata, what are you wanting today?" She asked her.
"I was wanting to get a nicer dress for this young lady." Fatoumata answered, stroking my hair. I smiled.
"Okay, let's see, would this dress do?" The tailor questioned, holding up a fluffy purple dress lined with diamonds. She gave it to me to try on. I went into the back room. It also had teal walls and brown wooden floors. I changed out of my robes from Nezertnea and into the dress. As I came out, I had trouble walking. I could barely move my legs in the tight dress. "Like the dress?" The tailored questioned. "You can take the corset out.". I looked down at my gown. I lifted the skirt. There was a brown, wooden hoop skirt underneath. I took it off. The dress felt looser. I spun around.
"Thank you!" I explained. The seamstress smiled.
"Anna, now you got your dress, should we get home?" Fatoumata asked me. I nodded.
We got in the carriage. We arrived at the mansion five minutes later. We went inside. Oumar was standing outside. Fatoumata got out of the carriage. She lifted me out of the carriage. "You look beautiful Anna." He told me.
"Thank you." I replied.
"You're welcome.".
"Should I get going on dinner?" Fatoumata questioned. Oumar nodded.
One hour later, Fatoumata had dinner ready. It was rice, pork, and tomato peanut sauce. "Here you go." Fatoumata told me as she got a golden plate and put some pork and rice on it. She drizzled a red sauce on it. She placed it in front of me. She sat down. "Dear God, thank you for this food. Thank you for bringing Anna into our lives. In your name," She started.
"Amen." I and Oumar finished. I grabbed my fork and began to eat. The pork and tomato sauce was really good.
"This is really good." I told Fatoumata.
"Thank you!" She told me.
After dinner, it was time for bed. I changed into my purple, silk nightgown from Corona. I got into a huge purple, fluffy bed. I pulled my journal out of my blue bag and began to write.
6/21/1622
Dear Journal,
Today I arrived in Galcreast. Everything is so fancy here! I am staying with a very rich couple, Fatoumata and Oumar. More importantly, they are also very kind. Fatoumata is infertile so, I think that they are happy to have a younger person in the house.
Sincerely,
Arianna
I put down my journal beside my bed. And laid down and went to sleep.
Two weeks later, it was time for the lantern festival. I woke up that morning, got ready, and went to the living room. Fatoumata and Oumar were in the living room. "Hi, guys, would you like to go to the lantern festival today?" I questioned.
"In Corona? Yeah, we can do that!" Fatoumata explained. I smiled. "First eat some rice.". I ate some rice. As soon as Fatoumata and Oumar were done, I raced outside and got in the carriage. Fatoumata and Oumar just giggled.
Three hours later, we arrived in Corona. I got out of the boat, went into town, and looked around. The baker was selling cupcakes at his booth in the street. People were dancing and making chalk art in town square. Some people were also selling flags, dolls, and other souvenirs along the sides of town square in wooden booths.
I went over to the baker's brown, wooden booth. "Can I have a chocolate cupcake?" I asked him. The plump, red-headed baker nodded. He handed me a brown cupcake. "Thank you so much!" I told him.
I noticed Fatoumata and Oumar waltzing in town square. I went over to them. I took a bite out of my cupcake. It was sweet! I was able to finish it in a few minutes. I put the wrapper in my back pocket. I went over to Fatoumata Oumar. "Hey, can I join you?" I questioned.
"Yes!" Fatoumata replied. She and Oumar extended their hands out to me. I took them. We began dancing. A few steps later I heard Fatoumata cry,
"Anna, you're on my foot!".
"Sorry! Sorry!" I cried as I got off. We all just laughed.
I went over to the chalk drawing area. sat down on the concrete. I took the yellow, tan, white, green, black, pink, and purple sticks of chalk. I outlined baby Rapunzel with the black chalk. I colored her skin with tan chalk. I drew her eyes with the white, green, and black chalk. I colored her lips and gave her some blush with the pink chalk. I colored her dress with purple chalk. I stood up and wiped my brow. "Is that the princess?" Fatoumata asked me.
"Yes!" I cheerfully told her with a smile on my face as I thought of my Rapunzel. Suddenly, I heard a strong, male voice announce: "To the boats!".
I, Fatoumata, and Oumar rushed to the boats.
We got in a brown, wooden kanone. Oumar rowed us into the middle of the ocean. As soon as we got to the middle of the ocean, we noticed lights arising from the island. "Hey, Anna, we heard people talking about a 'lost princess and queen thing'. Do you know anything about that?" Oumar asked me. I sighed.
"Four years ago, a witch slew The Queen who was pregnant which made her very sick. She was on death's door. But they found the Sundrop flower, fed it to her, and she gave birth to a little princess. But, the witch snuck into the castle that night and kidnapped the princess. The Queen developed severe mental health issues and ran away the next week." I explained.
"Oh," Fatoumata realized. "I guess there is more going on on this island than what meets the eye.".
"Corona may look nice on the outside but inside, there are some pretty big holes.". Just then, we noticed lights arising from the island. "And there are the lights." I explained. "You know, the only reason I come back to Corona is for the lantern festival.". Oumar smirked.
That night, while Fatoumata was sleeping in the carriage and Oumar was driving, I pulled my journal out of my blue bag and began to write.
7/4/1622
Dear Journal,
I went back to Corona today for the Lantern Festival. Again, like last year, nobody recognized me and I didn't get caught. I had a chocolate cupcake. It was good. I waltzed with Fatoumata and Oumar. I stepped on Fatoumata's foot. I drew a picture of baby Rapunzel with chalk. Fatoumata recognized it. I saw the floating lanterns! I hope Rapunzel sees them and knows to come home.
Sincerely,
Arianna
I put my journal in my bag. I laid down on Fatoumata's shoulder. I went to sleep.
Three months later I went down to the garage. Oumar was pounding a piece of metal on a silver metal brick with a hammer. "What are you making?" I questioned.
"Oh, just some horseshoes for the horses." He explained. He continued to pound, sending some red and yellow glowing embers into the air.
"Can I try?" I questioned. He looked up at me.
"Sure!" He exclaimed. He pulled me in front of him. "Now, under any circumstances, don't touch the metal, it's hot and it will burn you.". I nodded. He pulled out a sliver, metal stick from the wooden bin on the floor beside the brick. He put it on the brick. "Now, smash this into any shape you want it to be." He explained. He gave me the hammer. I smashed the top of the stick into the shape of a butterfly. "Now, you can make a design in the wings you want with this pen." He explained as he gave me a tiny metal stick. I drew a wavy design in the wings with the stick. "Good job, Anna! Your butterfly wand will be ready tonight!" He congratulated me. I smiled.
That evening, after I got my butterfly wand, it was time for bed. I changed into my purple, silk nightgown from Corona. I got into a huge purple, fluffy bed. I pulled my journal out of my blue bag and began to write.
10/26/1622
Dear Journal,
I made a butterfly wand with Oumar today. It's pretty.
Sincerely,
Arianna
I put down my journal beside my bed. And laid down and went to sleep.
Four months later, I woke up. I got ready and went to the living room. Fatoumata was eating bacon on a golden plate in the dining room. I joined her at the banquet table. She slid me over another golden plate with bacon on it. "Thank you!" I told her. I ate my bacon. It was salty. Just then, Oumar came into the dining room.
"I'm going antelope hunting. Can I take Anna with me?" He questioned.
"Sure!" Fatoumata replied. I got up and went outside with Oumar.
I and Oumar got in the carriage. He started driving. As soon we got out of the village, Oumar saw an antelope. He shot it. He stopped the carriage, got out, and lifted the corpse into the brown, wooden cart in the back of the carriage. He got back in the carriage. We drove a few more miles before I saw an antelope.
"STOP!" I yelled. Oumar stopped the carriage. I picked up my crossbow, aimed at the antelope, and shot it. Oumar got out and lifted the corpse into the brown, wooden cart in the back of the carriage. He got back in the carriage. We drove back home.
That evening, I changed into my purple, silk nightgown from Corona. I got into a huge purple, fluffy bed. I pulled my journal out of my blue bag and began to write.
2/26/1623
Dear Journal,
Today I and Oumar went antelope hunting. It was fun. He shot an antelope and I shot an antelope.
Sincerely,
Arianna
I put down my journal beside my bed. And laid down and went to sleep.
Another four months later, I found Oumar sitting on a muddy bank a few miles behind the mansion holding a brown, wooden pole with a white string on it over the murky water. I took my shoes off, put them in my blue backpack, and sat down on the bank with my feet in the water. He giggled then handed me a brown, wooden pole with a white string on it. I dangled it over the murky water. I held it over the water for a few minutes before announcing, "This is boring.". Oumar chuckled.
"Anna, you have brought me and Fatoumata so much joy. We tried for ten years to have kids before we found out that Fatoumata was infertility. That broke our hearts. And now with you around, I know you're not a kid anymore, but it's still comforting to have a younger person in the house." He explained. I smiled.
That evening, I changed into my purple, silk nightgown from Corona. I got into a huge purple, fluffy bed. I pulled my journal out of my blue bag and began to write.
6/14/1623
Dear Journal,
Today I and Oumar went fishing. It was boring. Oh well, at least I had someone to talk to.
Sincerely,
Arianna
I put down my journal beside my bed. And laid down and went to sleep.
A month later, it was time for the lantern festival again. Fatoumata woke me up. "Hey sweetie, would you like to go to the lantern festival again this year?" She quietly asked me. I shook my head. "Alright, then get ready.". I got ready and went to the living room. Fatoumata was eating bacon on a golden plate in the dining room. I joined her at the banquet table. She slid me over another golden plate with bacon on it. "Thank you!" I told her. I ate my bacon. It was salty. A few minutes later, I, Fatoumata, and Oumar got in the carriage to go to Corona.
Three hours later, we arrived in Corona. I got out of the boat, went into town, and looked around. The baker was selling cupcakes at his booth in the street. People were dancing and making chalk art in town square. Some people were also selling flags, dolls, and other souvenirs along the sides of town square in wooden booths.
I went over to the baker's brown, wooden booth. "Can I have a chocolate cupcake?" I asked him. The plump, red-headed baker nodded. He handed me a white cupcake. "Thank you so much!" I told him.
I noticed Fatoumata and Oumar waltzing in town square. I went over to them. I took a bite out of my cupcake. It was sweet! I was able to finish it in a few minutes. I put the wrapper in my back pocket. I went over to Fatoumata Oumar. "Hey, can I join you?" I questioned.
"Yes!" Fatoumata replied. She and Oumar extended their hands out to me. I took them. We danced in a circle.
I went over to the chalk drawing area. sat down on the concrete. I took the yellow, tan, white, green, black, pink, and purple sticks of chalk. I outlined baby Rapunzel with the black chalk. I colored her skin with tan chalk. I drew her eyes with the white, green, and black chalk. I colored her lips and gave her some blush with the pink chalk. I colored her dress with purple chalk. I stood up and wiped my brow. "You drew the princess!" Oumar told me. I smiled. Suddenly, I heard a strong, male voice announce: "To the boats!".
I, Fatoumata, and Oumar rushed to the boats.
We got in a brown, wooden kanone. Oumar rowed us into the middle of the ocean. As soon as we got to the middle of the ocean, we noticed lights arising from the island. "Anna! Look at the lights!" Oumar exclaimed. I smiled.
That night, while Fatoumata was sleeping in the carriage and Oumar was driving, I pulled my journal out of my blue bag and began to write.
7/4/1623
Dear Journal,
I went back to Corona today for the Lantern Festival. Again, like last year, nobody recognized me and I didn't get caught. I had a vanilla cupcake. It was good. I waltzed with Fatoumata and Oumar. I drew a picture of baby Rapunzel with chalk. Oumar recognized it. I saw the floating lanterns! I hope Rapunzel sees them and knows to come home.
Sincerely,
Arianna
I put my journal in my bag. I laid down on Fatoumata's shoulder. I went to sleep.
Three months later, I found Fatoumata weaving outside. She was weaving white silk into a rectangular shape. I went over to her. "Hi, Fatoumata, can I try?" I questioned. Fatoumata looked up at me. She nodded. I knelt on the ground. She gave me some white silk. After about fifteen minutes, I weaved it into a rectangular shape. Then, she gave me some pink and green dye. I dyed the cloth green. Then, after a few minutes, after the green dye dried, I painted green squiggly lines on the cloth.
"You did good." Fatoumata told me. I smiled.
That evening, I changed into my purple, silk nightgown from Corona. I got into a huge purple, fluffy bed. I pulled my journal out of my blue bag and began to write.
10/15/1623
Dear Journal,
Today I wove a cloth with Fatoumata. It's so cool! It's pink with green squiggly lines.
Sincerely,
Arianna
I put down my journal beside my bed. And laid down and went to sleep.
The next week, I woke up with a headache. I groaned as I got out of bed. My legs started shaking and I collapsed. I heard Fatoumata and Oumar rushed to my room. Fatoumata gently grabbed me and put me back in bed. "Get the doctor." She told Oumar. He rushed out of my room. Fatoumata went downstairs. I closed my eyes. After a while, she came back. She gently placed a wet rag on my forehead. Oumar came back with the doctor.
I felt strong, warm hands take my hand. "Can you hear me miss Anna?" A strong male voice questioned. I tried to nod, but my neck was too stiff. I groaned. I felt gentle warm hands squeeze my hand. "She is still concuss." The doctor told Fatoumata and Oumar.
"Is she in pain?" Oumar questioned nervously.
"She is acting like she has a stiff neck. We could try to put a pillow under there to relieve her pain." The doctor suggested. I felt something be stuffed under my head. He gently touched my neck. "Oumar, Fatoumata, look at her neck.". The next thing I heard was Fatoumata crying.
Three days later, I was laying in bed with the doctor gently holding my hand. I heard the door open and footsteps walk in. "How is she?" I heard Fatoumata question.
"Oh… I gave her medicine for the pain about an hour ago… She seems fine now, but…".
"Oh, I brought her some rice." She quietly announced. I felt something thin and cold be placed over my stomach. I felt my head be lifted and the cold, wet cloth be taken off. I felt some rice be put into my mouth with a silver spoon. I swallowed. After doing that a few times, I finished the bowl. Fatoumata lied me back down. My eyes rolled up into the back of my head and I passed out.
Another three days later, I woke up. I sat up. My neck wasn't stiff anymore. "Do you feel better, Anna?" Fatoumata questioned.
"Yes, I do." I replied. Fatoumata hugged me.
"You better get going before another skitter bites you." I giggled.
One hour later, after I got dressed, packed, and ate some ham, I got going.
I went out of town, sat down by an oak tree, pulled out my journal, and began to write.
10/31/1623
Dear Journal,
I got sick. I got bit by a mosquito. So Fatoumata sent me away so I don't get bit again. These last five years of my life have been awful. I really don't feel like completing my journey, but I have to do it for Rapunzel.
Sincerely,
Arianna
I got up. I put my journal in my bag. "What do you do? You try, you fail. You fall down, you get up." I told myself as I headed towards Pittsburgh. I smiled.