Why hello my little humans! Wow. That was creepier than I intended. Oh well. I'm not changing it.

I'm already off to a bit of a rocky start. Let's see if I can fix this.

Hello! I am parchmentandquill7. This is not my first fanfiction, although it is my first OUAT fanfiction. I feel like this particular story deserves an explanation. I really, really, really love Rapunzel. Even before I saw Tangled, Rapunzel was my favorite princess ever, mostly because of how badass she is. Tangled did nothing but enhance that. You could understand how freaking excited I would be when I found out that Rapunzel would be making an appearance on OUAT. When I finally watched the episode, I was really disappointed. I don't want to start a whole thing where this turns into a huge rant (because you guys don't really read this things anyway) but all I'll say is: for a really modern (word choice?) show, she really was only there to further David's character development. Oh well, I guess. Anyway, I thought I'd fix it. This story starts on s5e1. I'll let you figure out the rest.

Disclaimer: Once Upon a Time is a by product of A&E and ABC. All characters taken from the show are a trademark of ABC and god only knows how many other companies. Any and all original characters portrayed in this fanfic are not to be copied without express permission from the author, under penalty of a stern talkin' to.

No matter how it starts, a day in Storybrooke, Maine is never normal. The day Sam arrived was as normal as it could get. The only thing of any real significance was that it marked the seventh day without even a glimpse of the Dark One.

The day Sam arrived started as it always did. Granny rose early to make breakfast, and the smell of coffee grounds and bacon sizzling on the pan in rows eventually woke everybody staying in Granny's Inn, including Killian Jones.

Killian had been living on the Jolly Roger, his prized ship, but to be closer to the people he loved, he had abandoned it. Now he lived in Granny's Inn, and every morning he drank his coffee and watched the same people come and go.

That morning, someone new would step through the doorway.

That day, Sam wasn't Sam yet. That day, she was still Rapunzel. She was eight years old and that morning, at almost exactly the same time Killian woke up, her grandmother died.

Rapunzel's grandmother was not a good person. She had kept her granddaughter out of the outside world for half of Rapunzel's life, and all because she was special. It's quite ironic how us humans tell people that being special and unique and different is a good thing, but as soon as we find someone who's a little bit too different, we run. People are quite funny things…

But I must digress because this story is about Sam - or Rapunzel, I should say. I'm getting ahead of myself.

I may be speaking too kindly of Rapunzel's grandmother when I say that she had been "keeping Rapunzel out of the outside world". What she was really doing was imprisoning her; holding her captive; detaining her. When she died, Rapunzel didn't just stop being imprisoned; it doesn't quite work like that. However, Rapunzel is a very strong little girl. That's important. Write that down. Rapunzel is a very, very strong girl.

Rapunzel escaped in under forty minutes. Impressive timing, considering the elaborate web her grandmother had created to keep her from escaping. Rapunzel does have the long hair that she is famous for, and her grandmother had wrapped and tangled and knotted it around the rafters of the old, decrepit garden shed she kept Rapunzel in.

I must say, it's actually quite ingenious, because if she tried to pull herself free, it would hurt. Because, you know, it's her hair.

However, once the actual threat of her Grandmother had left her, Rapunzel was free to figure it out.

Once her dirty, matted blonde hair was released and free, Rapunzel decided to go look for help.

So, barefoot and wearing the same faded blue dress she'd had since she turned five, Rapunzel pushed a rotting board away from the wall of the shed and placed a foot on the ground.

As Rapunzel carefully walked along an overgrown path towards what she thought would be her kingdom, Corona, Killian was just sitting down on a barstool with a cup of coffee. He glanced at the clock and counted down the seconds until the usual second person - a very small, very blonde woman with the highest voice Killian had ever heard - would enter the diner. Killian liked to imagine she would have been one of Cinderella's birds in the Enchanted Forest.

At exactly 7:39, the blonde woman entered Granny's Diner.

Killian sat and watched as the same people came and left the diner. At 8:04, the Charmings came in for breakfast and as they headed for their usual booth in the window, David Nolan gave Killian a sympathetic nod. At 8:10, Regina and Henry Mills joined the Charmings. Killian watched as David and Mary Margaret Blanchard glanced out the window over and over again.

He knew who they watching for.

Just as Killian swallowed the last drops of coffee, the door opened, followed by the bell jangling. It took Killian a second to realize that nobody came into the diner at 8:24. He looked up and saw Leroy, one of the seven dwarves, standing in the doorway. Killian sighed. He'd been hoping for a normal day.

"Check out blondie's hair," Leroy exclaimed, pointing out of a tall window. Everyone in the diner looked in Leroy's direction and the Charmings, Regina, and Henry even stood up to get a look. Killian stood up and slowly walked towards the window Leroy was looking out of.

Killian saw a little girl - even younger than Henry. She was wearing a stained grey dress that revealed her ankles and feet. Her hair was dirty and bushy and so long that the ends brushed the ground as she walked. She walked along the buildings, sticking as close to the walls as she could and nervously glancing in every direction. A cold blast of sea air hit her and she stopped in her tracks as if she had walked into a wall. Mary Margaret ran out the door, followed by David as Granny directed everyone's attention back to a fresh batch of bacon and eggs.

Killian watched Mary Margaret and David approach the little girl. She backed away from them, holding her hair protectively against her. She tried to run away, but got tangled up in a remaining curl, stumbled, and fell to her knees. She rotated around and sat with her knees bent in front of her. She looked up at the two adults with wide eyes.

Knowing now to keep their distance, Mary Margaret and David attempted conversation with the little girl. Killian saw David point towards the diner, and when her gaze followed his gesture, the girl almost made eye contact with him. Mary Margaret reached out a hand to the girl, but she did not accept it. The three began to walk back to Granny's Diner, with David and Mary Margaret in front, and the little girl with long hair several paces behind.

It was soon established that the little girl with the long hair was called Rapunzel, although Killian was surprised that this hadn't already been assumed. Soon after this revelation, Regina had sent Rapunzel off with Henry to get some clean clothes. Killian listened to the discussion of what to do with Rapunzel from across the diner.

"I really don't see what the big deal is," David was saying. "People come into Storybrooke all the time and they figure out what to do with themselves."

"Well, none of those people were eight years old, David," Regina replied. She almost sounded angry. "and you can't leave an eight year old to 'figure out what to do with herself'."

"Then why doesn't she stay with you, Regina." Mary Margaret asked, "I'd imagine you'd have the room for her in that house of yours."

"I would if it weren't for Zelena. If she were to escape and somehow get that bracelet off, I can't imagine what she'd do. I do know that it would involve me and also the people around me. It wouldn't be safe. That's why Henry is with you."

"Well there's no room in the loft." David replied.

"What about here," Mary Margaret suggested, "At Granny's Inn? Then we're right down the street and Killian could be right across the hall."

At the sound of his name, Killian slowly went over to the group in the booth next to the window.

"What exactly is it you want me to do?" he asked. His voice was scratchy, as if he hadn't used it in a while.

"Just watch over her, "Regina replied, knowing that Killian had heard the entire conversation. "Make sure that she's okay."

"Why are you so concerned about this Rapunzel girl when Emma is out there somewhere? No one is even trying to look for her anymore. You've just given up."

"Killian," David sighed, "We've been over this. She clearly doesn't want to be found. It's just like what she did last year. She was vulnerable and scared then when she was trying to figure out her normal light magic and she's the same now. She dealing with a whole new set of problems and being the Dark One can't be easy."

"And we haven't given up." Mary Margaret added, "Belle is in the library right now researching past Dark Ones to figure out where Emma may have gone."

Killian said nothing, but looked his disapproval.

"Will you do it or not?" Regina snapped.

Killian looked on.

"I'm taking that as a yes, then." David replied, turning back towards the women. "What we still have to figure out is why she's here. She's alone; no one is looking for her; she doesn't recognize anyone or anything."

"Do you think she came over in the last curse?" Mary Margaret asked.

"If she did, she's been on her own for a really long time." David replied.

"Are you sure that nothing unusual appeared?" Regina asked, crossing her arms and sinking further back into her seat.

"I can't say I knew some parts of those forests as well as others, but I certainly haven't seen her anywhere."

"Let's hope Henry gets something out of her." Regina replied.

Unfortunately, Henry hadn't had much luck getting her to talk. While her fate was being discussed, Rapunzel stood stiffly in Henry's bedroom as he rummaged through his closet. Occasionally, he tossed a piece of clothing onto his bed. Finally he held out a pair of jeans, a red and navy flannel shirt, a green army jacket and black high tops.

"You're lucky I never clean out my closet." Henry smiled, "These have been in here since I was your age."

Rapunzel gave Henry a questioning glance.

"These are clothes." Henry explained. "You wear them."

He directed Rapunzel towards the bathroom and waited patiently for her to return. Eventually, she pulled open the door and stepped outside, wearing the clothes Henry had given her.

"You look awesome." Henry said. Again, Rapunzel looked her confusion. "It means you look good." Henry explained.

Rapunzel nodded.

"We have to go back to the diner now."

Rapunzel stiffened.

"No, it's okay. They're going to help you get home."

"NO!" Rapunzel shouted, speaking for the first time. "I don't want to go back."

"Why?" Henry asked, unfazed by Rapunzel's decision to start talking, "Why don't you want to go home?"

"Because I don't have a home to go to!"

Rapunzel ran outside, letting her hair trail behind her. Henry sighed and slowly followed her.

Rapunzel and Henry arrived at Granny's diner at the same time.

"Great," Regina said, upon seeing the children enter the building. "You're back. Rapunzel, we've decided that you'll be staying here, at Granny's Inn. This is Killian. He'll be watching you."

Regina held out her hand and a stony-faced Killian stepped forward. Rapunzel looked up at him. She waited for him to start talking to her like the others had, but he never did.

There were a few moments of intense stillness as Killian and Rapunzel stared at each other. Finally, Rapunzel smiled. She smiled for the first time since she had arrived in Storybrooke. It was small - barely noticeable, but it was there. Killian's expression even softened a little bit at the sign of it. A bell jangled, breaking the silence, and Belle French hurried into the diner.

"You'd better come to the library." She said breathlessly. "I think I know where Emma is."

Killian moved faster than he had in a while and the other adults followed him and Belle out of the diner and into the street. Rapunzel glanced at Henry, hoping for answers but not wanting to ask for them. Henry understood.

"Emma is my mom," Henry began as they slowly followed the adults' path out of the diner, "and she got turned into the Dark One and then she disappeared. We don't know where she went and we're trying to figure it out. Belle - the person who just ran into the diner - she's been researching past Dark Ones so we could have some idea of where she could be. I think she might have figured it out."

By now, they had entered the library. Rapunzel stopped in her tracks, awed by the amount of books around her.

"Do you like books, Rapunzel?" Belle asked.

Rapunzel shrunk back, the glimmer that had appeared in her eyes faded away as quick as it came.

"Do you know her?" Henry asked, surprised by the use of Rapunzel's name.

"No, but not many people have hair like that. I felt safe making the assumption. Well, I should go help figure out where your mother went, Henry. Feel free to look around, Rapunzel."

As Belle walked towards the big table covered in old leather-bound books and faded maps, Rapunzel walked towards a row of shelves. She dragged her fingers along the spines of the lined up books.

"So you like books?" Henry asked, repeating Belle's question.

Rapunzel nodded.

"Here." Henry gestured for her to follow him. "I'll show you some books I like."

"You think Emma is in Camelot?" Killian asked, seeming more alive than he had since Emma had disappeared. He and the others had just pored over the documents Belle had found, all pointing to one place. Camelot.

"Merlin's tree is there." Belle explained, looking around at the papers surrounding her, "The first Dark One was created there. Historically, it's a home for Dark Ones. If she's doing what I think she's doing and trying to find Merlin so he can release her from the darkness, Camelot's where to go. If she's anywhere, she'll be there."

"Let's go then!" David said.

"That's the problem," Belle said, frowning, "Right now, we can't. There are no more magic beans, we can't make a curse, and there aren't any secret doors leading to Camelot anywhere in Storybrooke like the one going to Arendelle."

"Then what was the point of all this?" Killian asked angrily. "Why did we do this if we aren't going to be any closer to actually finding Emma?"

"Because it's a start." David answered, attempting to reassure Killian. "We know where she is. We'll figure out how to get there next. We are going to save Emma, Killian. We just need you to be patient."

Unfortunately for David, Killian is not a patient man. He already had a plan in mind. However, Regina began to speak before Killian could act upon it.

"Killian, why don't you bring Rapunzel back to Granny's Inn. Let can get settled in." Then, as a second thought, she added, "And bring Henry with you. He can keep her company. We'll meet in my office in an hour to talk more about getting to Camelot."

Without a response, Killian stalked down the aisles, searching for the little girl.

He eventually found Rapunzel and Henry sitting on plush beanbag chairs surrounded by small stacks of books.

"Let's go, Rapunzel." Killian said tersely, gesturing towards the exit, "We're going back to Granny's Inn. Henry, you're coming with us."

He turned and walked towards the door, stopping just before it and waiting for them. Henry stood up and Rapunzel slowly followed him.

"You can take some books with you if you want." Henry suggested, taking a slightly kinder approach than Killian had. "Belle won't mind."

Henry helped Rapunzel pick out a few books - and grabbed one for himself - before Killian coughed emphatically and they headed towards the door towards where he was standing.

The three walked back across the street and entered Granny's Diner. Upon seeing them, Granny nodded understandingly and handed Killian a room key. Upon seeing that the number and realizing that Rapunzel's room was indeed right across from his, he sighed. He'd been hoping that some unfortunate oversight would have separated him from the child by a few more doors, or maybe a floor or two.

"Henry, I need you to wait down here. I'll be down in a few minutes." Killian ordered.

"Okay." Henry shrugged, sitting on a barstool and opening his book.

Killian led Rapunzel into the inn and up several flights of stairs into a narrow hallway. He found her room, inserted the key into the lock and pushed open the door. Inside, Rapunzel saw a tall wardrobe, a small leather couch, a desk, a wooden chair, and most importantly, a bed. It was big, with a thick mattress and fluffy pillows and a heavy patchwork quilt resting on top. Rapunzel stood in wonderment at the luxury being handed to her.

"I take it you like the room." Killian said, amused by the little girl.

Rapunzel nodded. Killian nudged her through the doorway.

"Thank you." Rapunzel whispered.

Killian raised his eyebrows. He'd yet to hear her speak. Her voice was much softer than he had imagined.

"No need to thank me." Killian replied. "It's what we do here. We help people who need it. Get settled in then. I have some business to attend to. I'll, er, check on you in a bit."

As Killian left, he saw Rapunzel carefully put her books on her new bed before he shut the door. He caught himself chuckling at the little girl's behavior before he remembered what he had to do and hurried back into the diner. He saw Henry where he left him: sitting on a barstool reading a book. He strode across the room and began to speak to him.

"Henry," Killian started, "you can fix this. You're the author now. Use that pen to write the darkness out of Emma, bring her back."

"I broke it." Henry replied guiltily. After a long moment of silence, Killian finally replied.

"You what?" He looked like a parent scolding his child.

"It's too much power," Henry argued, trying to justify his decision. Killian rubbed his temple with his hand. "That's how the last author got in trouble. He stopped recording his story and used magic to change it. My mom wouldn't want me to. She'd want me to be good."

"Oh." Killian replied. Quickly thinking of a second plan. "So you won't break any rules then." Henry raised his eyebrows. He wasn't ready to agree to that statement yet. Killian saw this hesitation as a way to continue. "What if there's a way - a dangerous way - to help your mother. Something your other mother wouldn't like."

"I don't need her permission. I'm not a kid anymore."

"Good. Because our best bet is the person Regina hates most."

"Zelena."

"That's right. We're going to break out the Wicked Witch." Killian smiled gleefully.

After Killian left her room, Rapunzel quickly began exploring her new home. Her books moved from the bed, to the desk, and back to the bed before finally coming to rest on a small table beside the bed.

She opened the creaky doors of the tall wardrobe and saw several wire hangers, a stack of small shelves along one side, and on a shelf at the bottom, a red plaid blanket. Rapunzel draped this over her couch and then stepped back to admire her handiwork.

Next to the wardrobe was another door like the one that lead into the hallway. This one opened to a small bathroom. There were clean towels and small bottles of shampoo and other toiletries perched on the edge of the bathtub. Rapunzel fiddled curiously with the faucets on the sink and shower and the flushing capabilities of the toilet, wondering what magic made them work. As soon as she thought of magic, she snapped up, looking at herself in the mirror. During the hustle and bustle of the day, she'd never even thought of her most important thing.

Her heart racing a mile a minute, Rapunzel squeezed her eyes shut. Soon, her hair began to shimmer like a rainbow caught in a wave. Rapunzel opened her eyes to see her hair floating around her. She sighed, realizing that she had been holding her breath.

As Rapunzel was looking around her room, Killian and Henry were down in the psychiatric ward of the hospital carrying out their plan. Unfortunately, they were unsuccessful, and Zelena now roamed Storybrooke with the full use of her magic.

"You have to tell my mom," Henry was saying.

"I know." Killian replied.

"If you don't, people could get hurt."

"I know." Killian repeated loudly.

"Then where exactly are we going? Aren't we supposed to be going to my mom's office?" Henry asked, seeing that they were walking away from the town hall.

"We're getting Rapunzel."

"Aw. You care about her. That's nice."

"I don't care." Killian protested, "I just don't want it to be my fault if Zelena gets to her."

"I don't think Zelena knows that Rapunzel exists."

"I don't put anything past that woman."

Rapunzel was sitting on her new couch reading one of her new books when she heard a knock on the door. She carefully placed the book onto a couch cushion before crossing the room. Rapunzel opened the door to find Killian and Henry standing in the hallway.

"Hello." Henry smiled, "There's a witch on the loose and we're going to catch her. Killian wants you to come to keep you safe."

Rapunzel's eyes widened.

"Don't get yourself too excited, love." Killian cut in, "Most days in this town are this eventful."

"Okay." Rapunzel nodded slowly and followed him and Henry out of the room.

"You let her out?" Regina said, appalled. Rapunzel, Killian, and Henry had made it to the town hall. Rapunzel and Henry stood next to Killian, across from Regina, Mary Margaret, David, and Belle, all of whom looked very upset.

"Technically, I let her escape." Killian corrected.

"Moron."

"Watch it, Your Majesty. At least I'm doing something to save Emma."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Well, maybe you like being with Henry alone. Maybe you like not having Emma around." There were several eye-rolls, and Henry glanced towards his mother. He would have never accused her of committing such a crime.

"Maybe you having a hook? Maybe you'd like another?" Regina replied.

Rapunzel looked at the hook curiously. She wondered why he had it.

"Enough!" Mary Margaret cut in, not wanting to listen to the goading anymore. "Zelena's out, that is what matters, but not as much as Emma. Emma kept us united, and that is exactly how we are going to remain. Come hell or high water, we are going to put our nonsense aside, and find my daughter. Ok? Ok. Where would Zelena go first?"

"I know exactly where. Or more accurately, who she's after."

"Robin." David finished her sentence.

"We'll go find Robin." Regina directed, "Killian, bring Rapunzel back to Granny's and then meet us there."

"Why?" Killian asked.

"I don't want her seeing what my sister is capable of. Little girls shouldn't know evils like that."

Killian nodded and directed Rapunzel out of Regina's office.

"What does she mean 'evils'?" Rapunzel asked loudly as Killian dragged her as fast as he could without running out of the town hall. "Who's her sister?"

"She is someone I don't want you to ever meet."

"Why?"

"Because she's a bad person."

"Everyone I knew before I came here was a bad person."

"Not as bad as her."

"My grandmother kidnapped me when I was three."

Killian stopped in his tracks. Rapunzel was jolted forwards by his abrupt halt.

"What?" He asked, confused.

"Yup." Rapunzel nodded, proud of herself for bringing about this reaction.

"Your grandmother kidnapped you?" Killian asked slowly, attempting to make wrap his head around her words.

"Yes."

"How old are you?"

"Eight."

"Your grandmother had you for five years?" Killian asked, slightly in awe of this little girl. "How - how did you get away?"

"She died."

"She died?"

"Well you can't live forever, can you?"

"Aye, well, tell that to Neverland."

"What?" Rapunzel was now the confused one.

By now, she and Killian had reached Granny's. Killian ushered her inside and up into her room.

"It doesn't matter. What does matter is that you stay safe."

"Is she really that bad?" Rapunzel began feel the same butterflies she felt when she first came to this town.

"It doesn't matter." Killian repeated, bending down to her level and gripping her shoulders. "I will make sure that no more bad people go near you again, okay?"

Rapunzel said nothing, but barreled into Killian's already outstretched arms. Killian froze for a moment, unsure of what to do, before relaxing and wrapped his arms around Rapunzel's tiny body.

"I'll be back to get you. You have to stay inside."

"You promise you'll be back?" Rapunzel whispered into Killian's shoulder.

"I promise."

Killian met the others outside of Mary Margaret and David's loft, and as soon as they worked out what had been done, they walked down the road to where Zelena stood. Killian watched Zelena threaten Robins life. He watched Regina hand over the wand to save it. He watched Zelena use the wand to create a twister. Killian watched Zelena create his ticket to save Emma.

Back in Granny's diner, Rapunzel was only a few steps away but she was far out of Killian's mind. It wasn't until he felt the diner being ripped out of the earth when he thought of the little girl who had just hugged him so tightly.

"Rapunzel." He whispered as they whirled into nothingness.

Well, I hope you enjoyed this. Please R and R because I love your advice and comments. I don't know when the next chapter will come in because this one took me about three weeks to write/edit.

I also want to let all newcomers aware of my profile page, which is home to links to pictures of all my original characters (as I am the writer who has to find another human being that looks like my characters so I have something to picture. Tell me I'm not alone). There is a link for Rapunzel. Wink-wink.

Also, I hope you all have a fantastic new year!