Rapunzel’s Little Sister
Inspired by the Fairy Tale
Welcome to another edition of Speclectic. You never know what’s next around here, and frankly neither do I . . .
Once upon a time, in a land in another dimension, a lone tower stood in the middle of a wide, deep forest. In an apartment at the top of the tower lived two girls, Rapunzel and her younger sister, Kolibri.
The girls were princesses, daughters of a proud king and his beautiful, but rather selfish, lady. The lady hadn’t really wanted children, and when the girls were still babies she convinced her husband to seclude them in this remote tower where “they would be safe.” The king agreed. He enjoyed taking vacations, driving his sports cars, and playing golf. Like his wife, he really didn’t care for the responsibilities of raising children.
The lady had magical gifts (which is how she had seduced the king in the first place). She arranged for a fairy godmother to visit the tower each day to take care of the children.
The fairy was named Oma, a small being with a round body and moth-like wings. Each day, Oma flew into the single window of the tower. She brought the children food and drink, mainly cookies and milk, but also a little fruit and carrots to keep them healthy. As the girls grew, Oma taught them lessons: reading and writing and how to use the Internet. She supplied each child with a tablet, but the signal in the tower was weak and not always reliable.
The fairy also taught them dancing. She would zoom around the apartment playing a flute and coaching them in different steps—from jigs and reels to minuets and waltzes. Dancing became the girls’ favorite thing.
Still, as they grew older, the sisters became more and more bored—especially with the bad Wi-Fi.
One day, when Rapunzel was 16 and Kolibri 14, they appealed to Oma.
“Now that we’re older and more independent,” Rapunzel said, “Don’t you think our parents should let us go back and live with them?”
“Well, they might,” their godmother said, “But I’m afraid that’s not an option. Your parents have emigrated.”
“What does that even mean?” Kolibri asked.
“Your father was charged with tax evasion. He had to sell the castle. They moved to some island, I think, but they were careful to leave no trace so they can’t be tracked down.”
“Oh, no!” Rapunzel moaned.
“Whatever,” said Kolibri, who was more impatient, less mild than her sister. “The point is, there’s a whole world out there, and we’re stuck in this stupid tower. How can we get out?”
“Well … with your parents gone, I guess you’re free to leave any time.”
Kolibri flung up her hands. “Great! But how?”
“Hmmm.” Oma puzzled over the question. “I can’t just fly you out. You’re too heavy, and I’m too small.”
“There’s a door at the bottom of the stairs,” Rapunzel said. “But it’s always locked. Do you have the key?”
“Well, I suppose there must be a key someplace.” Oma frowned. “Your mother might have kept it when she placed you up here. It was all so long ago.”
“Great,” Kolibri said. “You’re not helping!”
“Oh, it’s all right. I’m sure you two will figure something out. Give it some thought. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
With that, the fairy spread her wings and flew out the window.
That evening, over their milk and cookies, Rapunzel and Kolibri had a long, sometimes heated discussion. Kolibri suggested several plans, including setting fire to the locked door at the bottom of the tower, or setting fire to the entire tower, or jumping from the window and seeing if magic would let them land without harm. Finally, Rapunzel agreed to a slightly less dangerous scheme: She would lower her incredibly long golden hair out the window, and Kolibri would use it to climb down. After reaching the ground, Kolibri would search until finding someone or something to help Rapunzel also escape.
Early the next morning, Rapunzel carefully fed her extraordinary tresses out the window. Setting a hand on her sister’s shoulder, and swearing to keep her promise, Kolibri clambered onto the window ledge and began to lower herself.
“Ouch,” Rapunzel cried. “You’re pulling my hair! Ouch!”
“Sorry,” Kolibri called. “I’m being as gentle as I can.”
Luckily, she was lithe and light and, with all the dancing, quite agile. Soon she reached the bottom of the tower.
“You can pull your hair up now,” she called. “I’ll get you out as soon as I can.”
“Please hurry,” Rapunzel answered. “I don’t like being alone up here!”
First thing Kolibri did was to walk around and examine the door from the outside. Like the inside, it had a keyhole and a latch, and was firmly locked. She hunted all around the base of the tower, but found no hidden key.
She would have to find a ladder, or someone to help her rescue her sister.
She looked around for a path. Now that she was on the ground, the woods seemed vast and deep and, yes, a little scary. Not sure which direction to choose, Kolibri twirled her finger around three times and pointed at random.
“All right,” she told herself. “That way.”
She walked all morning, over ground that rose and descended and rose again. Breezes touched her skin and choruses of birds sang in the branches. Despite her fears, Kolibri felt a wild thrill to finally be free of the tower.
When the sun was high, she began to hear faint tapping up ahead. It grew louder as she approached. She came to the edge of a clearing and saw a man. He was tall and broad-shouldered, using an axe to chop a fallen log.
A woodsman, Kolibri thought. He might have a ladder.
“Who are you?” the man asked when he saw her. “Where did you come from?”
“Greetings, sir.” Kolibri introduced herself and explained that she lived in a tower beyond the hills.
“Oh, yes,” the man grumbled. “The two princesses in the tower.”
“You’ve heard of us then?”
“Everyone in these parts has. Is it true the old king left you behind?”
“Yes, I fear he did. And now we’re trapped in the tower and trying to get out. Or, at least my sister is still trapped there. Do you perhaps have a ladder I could borrow?”
“Wait. Is it true you have a fairy godmother who brings you cookies and milk and everything you need?”
“Yes, but—“
“Then why do you want to leave the tower? Don’t you know how difficult it is to make a living down here? Can’t you see how hard I’m working? You have it easy!”
“But we can’t just stay in the tower forever!”
“Why not? All your needs are taken care of. You’d be stupid to leave.” He picked up his axe and aimed it at the log
“Can you help me find a ladder, sir?”
He brought the axe down with an angry thump. “Go back to your tower, princess. That’s my advice!”
Kolibri stared at him as he chopped. Perhaps he was right? Perhaps she and Rapunzel should just stay in the tower and live their life of ease?
“No!” She stamped her foot. That could not be right. The woodsman had no idea what it was like to be trapped with no way out.
With a sigh, Kolibri set off around the clearing and continued on her way.
In the early afternoon she came to a stream. An old man in a straw hat stood on the bank, holding a fishing rod. He was very still, and Kolibri sidled up quietly so as not to disturb him.
“Excuse me, sir,” she said softly.
He turned his head, startled, then held a finger to his lips. “Whisper, please, so you don’t scare the fish!”
“Sorry,” she whispered. “I need some help. My sister is trapped in a tower and I need to find a way to get her down.”
He looked at her with lips parted. “Oh, are you one of them princesses?”
“Yes, sir. I managed to climb down my sister’s hair, but now I need to get her out. Would you happen to know where I could find a ladder?”
The old man pondered. “Well, I don’t have a ladder here. But they might have one in the village.” He pointed upstream. “But your better bet would be to go to the city over yonder. That’s a longer walk, but lots of folks live there. One of them could probably help you.”
When mentioning the city, he waved at the opposite shore.
“I’ll try the city then,” Kolibri said. “I’ve always wanted to see a city. But, uh, how can I get across the water?”
“Oh, don’t try to cross here,” the fisherman whispered. “All that splashing would sure scare the fish. Anyway, there’s a bridge a little way downstream. That road will take you right into town.”
Kolibri nodded. “Thank you, sir.”
“Sure. Good luck, princess.” The man turned back to his fishing line.
Across the bridge the forest thinned and then disappeared. Fields and meadows lined the road. Soon, in the distance, the city came into view—buildings of stone and glass, some low and sprawling, some as tall and thin as the princesses’ tower. Approaching, Kolibri grew more and more excited.
At the edge of the city stretched a park, wide green lawns interspersed with paths, oak trees, and flower beds. People strolled and children chased each other, laughing. Kolibri could not help but grin. So much life! This was even better than she had imagined.
Then she heard music, brazen horns and a thumping beat. In the middle of a lawn, a group of rabbits were dancing. Hip hop. Kolibri stopped to watch.
Before she knew it, she was dancing along, mimicking their moves. Oma had only taught the princesses a little hip hop, as the fairy preferred older dance forms. But Kolibri was a quick study, and soon she was stepping and jumping right along with the bunnies.
It didn’t take long for them to notice her. In between songs, the rabbits talked among themselves, then two of them ambled over to Kolibri.
“Hey, you’re not bad, for a human.”
“Thanks,” Kolibri laughed. “This is fun!”
“My name is Ophelia,” the larger rabbit said. “This here is George.”
They both put out paws for Kolibri to fist-bump.
“We don’t just dance in the park,” Ophelia said. “We go clubbin’ most every night. And we’re starting to get some paid gigs.”
“You could try out for our troupe,’ George said. “If ya want to.”
“We were thinkin’ you’d add a new twist to the act,” Ophelia said.
“Wow! That sounds like fun.” Kolibri was thrilled at the offer. But then she thought of her sister, still trapped in the tower.
“C’mon,” Ophelia waved a paw. “We’ll show you some more moves.”
Kolibri got in line with the rabbits, and they switched on the Bluetooth speakers again. For the next couple of hours they danced, the rabbits instructing Kolibri in different steps and kicks and poses. In between songs, they took breaks and sipped soft drinks.
During one dance a bird swooped down from a high branch. A large crow, he stalked back and forth, throwing curious glances at Kolibri in particular.
“Lookin’ good,” the crow cawed when the song ended. “But who’s the kid with the short ears?”
The rabbits all laughed.
“This here’s Kolibri,” Ophelia introduced her. “This is Tomasso. He’s sort of our manager. Kolibri is thinkin’ of joinin’ the act.”
“Agh. She is ‘ey?” The crow tilted his head as he scrutinized her.
“Add a new twist,” George suggested.
“Well, she got some talent. And it would be different. She’ll need a lot of work though. What do you say, human?”
Kolibri took a moment to catch her breath. “It sounds great. I love dancing, and I’d adore doing it with the bunnies and being paid and everything, but, you see, I have this sister …” She explained about the tower and the locked door and climbing down Rapunzel’s hair. “Before I can make other plans, I must rescue her.”
“Well, that’s too bad,” the crow said, not really interested. “Come see me when you’ve sorted that out. Maybe we can arrange something.”
With that, he spread his wings and flew off. As it was starting to grow dark, the rabbits also took their leave, sorry they didn’t know where Kolibri would find a ladder, but wishing her luck with her “sister problem.”
As twilight fell, Kolibri sat on a picnic table, wondering where she could spend the night. It was getting cold and she had no coat.
Suddenly another bird appeared. But as it landed it sparkled, and she saw it was no bird at all: It was Oma, her fairy godmother.
“I’m so glad to see you!” Kolibri cried.
“Oh, I’ve been watching you all day from the treetops. And I must say, you’ve done really well.”
“I have?”
“Yes, my dear,” Oma touched the girl’s wrist. “First you figured out how to leave the tower, and you bravely climbed down your sister’s hair. Then you set off into the woods alone. That grumpy woodcutter tempted you to flee back to the tower, but you didn’t give in. Then you were polite to the old fisherman, and careful not scare the fish. Most importantly, you wanted to join the dancing rabbits, but you put them off rather than leave your sister stranded.”
“That’s all great,” Kolibri mumbled. “But where does it leave me now? I mean, besides cold and alone in a dark city?”
Oma laughed. “Don’t worry, little princess. Now that you’ve proven you are a) brave and clever, and b) determined, and c) respectful of others, and d) most importantly, not selfish like your parents, you’ve earned the right to live in the world. And I’ll keep watching, to make sure you’re okay.”
“That sounds great. But what about Rapunzel?”
“Oh, I forgot.” Oma reached into her robe and pulled out a brass key. “You can let her out too.”
Next morning, Kolibri turned the key in the lock and pulled open the tower door. Waiting at the bottom of the stairs, Rapunzel gleefully embraced her sister.
“I have so much to tell you! There’s a city with all these buildings, and a park. And I met a dance troupe. They do hip hop! Oh, and they’re rabbits, but they asked me to maybe join!”
With Oma watching from a high branch, the two princesses skipped and danced away laughing through the forest.
“Hip hop”. Heee … 🤣
This would've been a much more interesting and nuanced Rapunzel. Thanks for sharing, Jack-