How dare she? How dare she? How dare that spoiled selfish girl betray her? After everything she had done for her? The witch was fuming. Her anger and devastation taking over her. She stared at her daughter as Rapunzel sat on the bed and sobbed. She had that look in her eyes. The same look that people always gave her…fear, hatred, disgust. The look coming from her dear Rapunzel made the Witch's stomach twist.
She scowled and turned away. "Why? Why Rapunzel? Have I not given you everything? Is my love not enough for you?" the Witch demanded.
"No!" Rapunzel sobbed. "You know that I love you, mother, but I'm no longer a child! Please, I wish to see the world."
"The world," the Witch spat. "The world is dark and cruel and selfish and full of wolves and murderers and thieves."
"No! It's not! I know it's not! There may be dangers in the world but there is also goodness and kindness. The Prince—," she began then she cut herself off with a gasp when the Witch grabbed her by her hair.
"Do not mention that snake in my presence ever again you selfish, spoiled, child," the witch hissed and yanked on Rapunzel's hair. She yelped in pain causing her to sob more. "Do you not understand that he is poisoning your mind? He will hurt you. Can you not see that? But don't worry…I've taken care of him."
Rapunzel grabbed her mother's wrist and looked up at her through blurry eyes. "What did you do to him?" she demanded.
"It doesn't matter what I did to him…now…I'm going to put you somewhere where no one will ever find you again!" she yelled and grabbed a pair of rusty scissors.
"No! No! Please, mother don't! No!" Rapunzel screamed and the Witch began to chop her hair. She began to cut through the long blonde curly strands of hair and they fell to the floor with feather-like grace.
Ungrateful, selfish, traitor. The words ran through her head like a mantra as the witch chopped. Finally she was finished and she threw the scissors to the ground. She looked down at the hair then she looked back at her daughter.
Rapunzel's sobs had ceased. Her face had taken on a look of shock. Now she was the one who looked hurt and betrayed. She looked up at her mother with such heartbreaking eyes, that the Witch felt her own heart shatter.
Her expression wavered, only for a moment before the cold took over her heart once again. She grabbed her daughter's arm and used her magic to teleport them out of the tower. They reappeared in a swamp.
Rapunzel wrenched her arm from her mother's grasp and she fell to the ground. She looked around her surroundings and felt her heart clench in fear. "Where are we?"
"A swamp. No one will find you here," the Witch said.
Rapunzel slowly reached up to her head and ran her fingers down her hair. She widened her eyes at the short length. She felt fresh tears form in her eyes and spill down her cheeks.
"You wanted the world…welcome to it," the Witch said.
"No, mother, please. I'm sorry," she said. "Please don't leave me here."
The Witch looked down at her then quickly teleported out of the swamp. She reappeared in the woods at the base of the tower. She felt tears fill her own eyes. Then she quickly blinked them away.
"Children must learn," she said to herself.