— Rapunzel, let me introduce you to my friend, the Genie, — Orion said, pointing to the floating blue being who shimmered in the air with a unique energy of his own. — He's a bit eccentric, but he has a big heart and, to be honest, he's quite funny.
The Genie, with his animated face and a mischievous smile, made a graceful bow in the air, making his usual military hat disappear, only to replace it with a sleek top hat that looked like something straight out of a magic show.
— Pleased to meet you, Miss Rapunzel, — said the Genie, his voice brimming with enthusiasm as he offered a theatrical greeting, as if he were in the middle of a performance.
Rapunzel, who had been watching in fascination as the Genie floated so effortlessly, raised her hand in a shy wave.
— H... hello, — she responded, her voice a little hesitant, her eyes sparkling with wonder at the magic unfolding before her.
Then, without missing a beat, the Genie gently lowered himself into a chair that had magically appeared next to him, while a small table with juice and fries materialized in the air.
— Alright, Orion, what story are you going to tell us today? — the Genie asked with a curious look, settling comfortably and casually picking up a fry, the ease with which he interacted with the floating objects showing his familiarity with them.
Orion couldn't help but laugh, feeling a mix of amusement and affection for the way the Genie always managed to make everything so entertaining. He turned toward Rapunzel, who was still gazing, fascinated, at how the objects floated and organized themselves in the air so naturally.
— Hmm... — Orion placed his hand on his chin as if pondering his options, before letting out a small sigh. — I know what story to tell you, — he exclaimed finally, his eyes sparkling with excitement as he settled himself more comfortably, mentally listing all the details in his mind.
Rapunzel, a bit surprised by the sudden change in tone, adjusted herself in her seat and watched, curious.
— I'll tell you about Quasimodo, the protagonist of The Hunchback of Notre-Dame. — Orion paused, thinking about what to say next. — It's a fascinating story about bravery, love, and overcoming challenges… something I'm sure you'll love.
Though he knew he had many other stories to share, at that moment, the story of Quasimodo was the one he could most clearly recall.
….
And so, time began to pass.
Rapunzel's days slowly started to fill with life. Although she had always tried to find the silver lining in her isolation, the unexpected arrival of Orion and the Genie brought a spark of color to her daily routine. Every evening, as night fell, she found herself eagerly awaiting the morning, longing to share more laughter and conversations with her new friends, the first she had had in a long time.
The days turned into weeks, and then into months.
For his part, Orion quickly became accustomed to the demanding training that the Genie set for him, although, surprisingly, he enjoyed it immensely. With a companion like him, laughter was never in short supply.
In fact, many times, their excitement led them to play with the Genie's own powers. On one occasion, the Genie used his ice magic while allowing Orion to use fire magic, creating an impressive display right in front of Rapunzel.
The Genie played the role of the evil villain who had captured Rapunzel, while Orion was the hero coming to rescue her. The battle was epic: Orion enveloped his sword in flames and manipulated the fire to launch spectacular attacks, while the Genie responded with ice that melted into impressive shapes.
But in the end, both the fire and the ice were just visual effects, causing no harm. It was all part of their game to entertain Rapunzel, who watched in fascination.
Little by little, Orion and the Genie grew closer to Rapunzel. After several daily visits, during which they told her stories and had long conversations, Rapunzel invited them to share some homemade cookies.
They both eagerly accepted, and they spent a wonderful afternoon together. After that day, they began to visit the tower more frequently, and Rapunzel taught them how to cook, paint, and enjoy many other activities she had never had the chance to try before.
In his past life, Orion had never had the time to learn such things, but he thoroughly enjoyed them during his visits, even surprising himself with how good he was at them.
One significant event was the first time Rapunzel left the tower. That day, she was especially nervous and excited. She feared her mother would see her outside, as she had never been allowed to leave.
Yet, in her heart, it was something she had always wished for. She was curious about what lay beyond the walls of her tower, and above all, she wanted to see the lights that appeared in the distance every year on her birthday.
Though they didn't go far, only walking around the nearby surroundings, for Rapunzel, that small outing meant the world. She felt as if she was finally touching a piece of freedom, something she had longed for so much.
One day, while Orion and the Genie were visiting, they heard a woman's voice calling for Rapunzel from outside. Upon hearing it, Rapunzel became incredibly nervous. She feared her mother would react badly to seeing two men in her house. On impulse, she asked the Genie to shrink himself and sent Orion to hide behind a large cabinet.
— I feel like a lover about to be caught, — Orion whispered, causing a small laugh from the Genie, who was thoroughly enjoying the situation.
That was the first time both Orion and the Genie saw Rapunzel's mother. She was a very aged woman, with deep wrinkles on her face and black hair that was already showing hints of gray. She wore a dark pink dress and black shoes, which stood out due to their lack of elegance.
— What a superficial woman, — commented the Genie, observing how the woman interacted with Rapunzel, showing no affection or warmth.
Meanwhile, Gothel, Rapunzel's supposed mother, sat calmly in a chair in front of her. With expert hands, she began to brush the young woman's long hair, while Rapunzel, lost in her own melody, began to sing softly.
— Flower that gives light, returning to what was, take away illness and cruel fate, bring back what I lost, returning to what was… to what was… — her voice was soft, like a familiar melody that seemed to hold a special power.
As she sang, Rapunzel's hair began to glow with a golden light. A soft, yet powerful radiance that lit up the room. As the lights danced in her long hair, Gothel's wrinkles slowly began to fade, as if time itself had stopped for her.
— Incredible! — whispered the Genie, his eyes wide, watching the scene in awe. — That song… it's a chant, right? It channels power from the sun, giving it the ability to reverse aging. And not just that… it could even heal certain wounds.
Unknowingly, Rapunzel was revealing something much deeper with her song. While Gothel continued to rejuvenate before their eyes, the Genie couldn't help but admire the power the young woman possessed. However, Gothel didn't stay for long. After a few quick words, she stood up and left, leaving the tower in silence.
Relieved that they hadn't been discovered, Rapunzel sighed and quickly went to free Orion and the Genie, who were still hidden behind the large cabinet.
As the days passed, life in the tower went on.
The Genie, still amazed, praised Rapunzel's ability, while Orion, though already aware of his friend's power, was surprised to witness it in person. As they said, experiencing something firsthand is always very different from just seeing it on a screen, especially when all you knew about it came from a movie.
Time went by, and the days turned into weeks, and the weeks into months. Rapunzel continued to learn and explore new activities with her friends. Orion shared many stories and movies he had seen in his past life.
Some were fun, others full of suspense, and some even a bit scary. But the most important thing was that, beyond the stories, each day was filled with laughter and new experiences for the three of them.
Thus, life in the tower transformed into a vibrant canvas of shared moments, where each day brought with it a new story to tell and a surprise to discover.
*****
"In about a week, it will be Rapunzel's birthday… it's time to start getting ready so we can begin our journey," thought Orion, his eyes lost in the starry sky.
"It's also time to fulfill my promise to the Genie."
As he thought about this, a bittersweet feeling washed over him. Over the past months, he had come to see the Genie as a true friend, and although he knew freeing the Genie was the right thing to do, the thought of saying goodbye filled him with sadness.
"Goodbyes are harder than I expected… especially when you've gotten along with someone for almost a year," he whispered, shaking his head as if trying to dispel his own thoughts. "But it's unfair to him, staying trapped in that lamp for thousands more years…"
After a long sigh, Orion made up his mind. He stood up, leaving his thoughts behind, and walked toward the cave where the Genie was staying. The cave, surprisingly cozy, looked more like the interior of a welcoming home than the inside of a rock.
Upon entering, he saw the Genie deeply focused on a chess match against a clone of himself. The clone, with a serious expression, had just delivered a checkmate.
"Ugh! How can I lose to myself?" the Genie exclaimed, staring at the clone in disbelief before turning to Orion. "Oh, you're here! What's up?"
Orion smiled, trying to mask his sadness with a playful expression.
"Come with me. Let's go for a walk," he said, motioning with his hand. Without waiting for a response, he quickly left the cave and started running toward the lake—the same place where they had first met. The Genie, curious but amused, followed him at full speed.
"Where are we going?" asked the Genie, his tone uncertain.
"Are you scared?" Orion replied with a teasing smile, not slowing down.
"Of course not!" the Genie shot back, suddenly growing much larger and adopting a more "ferocious" appearance, as if trying to intimidate Orion.
The two kept running at high speed for about thirty minutes, the calm night surrounding them. Finally, they reached the lake—the very place where it had all begun.