Hey guys, this is my version of RTA. I need a way to cope with the hiatus, so this fic is the result. I'm planning to make it quite long. I can't put into words how great it feels when I get a review with feedback on my writing. It means the world to me. So make sure you hit up the reviews guys!

Enjoy!

Chapter 1

"And then I said, 'you wouldn't know a thing about me, you big galoot!' And then he said, 'Of course I would, I've known you for 5 years!' And then I said…"

Rapunzel nodded distractedly at Eugene as he continued his blabbering. She usually loved listening to his stories, but today, she was feeling a little unsettled. She was thinking about the dream she just woke up from. She couldn't remember everything, and she was racking her brain trying to think about it. Something had happened in the dream that had shook her up.

It was a warm, sunny morning, and the crew was getting ready to leave camp and continue down the road to their destination, the Dark Kingdom. Who knew what lay in store for them?

Birds sang in the trees, and a gentle breeze tickled her face. Rapunzel decided she should stop worrying and just enjoy the beautiful day with her friends.

She relaxed, and leaned against her boyfriend. "What did you do then Eugene?"

"Well, being the brilliant, charming, clever, dashing rogue that I am, I escaped." He grinned smugly, giving his hair a casual flick.

Cass, who of course had been just waiting for the opportunity, strolled past. "I'm surprised you could even walk with the enormous ego you carry around." There was no edge in her voice though, and she was clearly holding back a smile.

"Not only could I walk, Madame Ice Queen, I could run. With an unconscious Lance strapped to my back."

Lance, who had been setting up the caravan, gasped. "EUGENE! You said you wouldn't tell!"

Rapunzel, like always, was ready to step in and defuse the situation.

"Alright, it seems like we're good to go! Eugene, can you please saddle up Max and Fidella."

"Of course Sunshine."

"Cass, go get Shorty, and Lance, make sure everything's in the caravan."

"Gotcha!"

Rapunzel smiled, everything was looking good. "Alright guys! Next stop: the Dark Kingdom!" She felt excitement bubbling up inside her, and she giggled. "This is going to be so much fun!"

The Black Rock Road, as she liked to call it, was taking them on a gorgeous path. They were going through a gigantic forest. Trees towered over her, and she could hear the roar of a river in the distance. Sunlight was cutting through the canopy in all the right places, and Rapunzel had half a mind to fetch her journal so she could capture some of the beauty in her drawings.

It had been more than a year since her tower, and she still couldn't seem to get enough of the world around her. Many nights she would think about the 18 years of life that she was denied, and those were the nights where she wouldn't be able to sleep, and Eugene, sweet Eugene, would come in and hold her and whisper to her until she closed her eyes. She wondered what would have happened if Eugene never found her tower. She shuddered at the thought.

"Rapunzel."

That broke her out of her thoughts and she glanced at Cassandra, who was riding Fidella beside her.

"What's up Cass?"

Cass looked worried. "Look, I hate to be a downer, but you need to know that our food supply is running alarmingly low. And there is no town near here for at least 5 days time. We're going to have to figure something out soon."

Rapunzel frowned. No food. And no towns.

"Well, we could hunt, couldn't we? I mean, do you know how?

Cass considered it, but she looked doubtful. "I'm no hunter Rapunzel, but I can try. No other choice anyway."

She pulled on the reigns, and Max and Fidella slowed to a trot. Eugene stuck his head out the door.

"Blondie! Why're we stopping?"

"We need to hunt down some food. Our food supply is short and there's no town nearby."

"Makes sense. What are we looking for?"

Cass hopped off the caravan, opening up the compartment where she kept her weapons. "We are not going anywhere. I'm going. You guys need to watch the caravan."

"What? But I used to be a thief. I can stay quiet and stealthy. Besides, if anything goes wrong, you would need backup."

Rapunzel nodded. "Eugene will go with Cass."

Cass crossed her arms. "I'd rather go with Shorty."

Shorty dropped out of the caravan and fell on the ground. "Who's Shorty?," he mumbled drunkenly before falling asleep.

Rapunzel gave Cass a pointed look, and she sighed. "Alright, I'll go with Fitzy."

"Don't worry Cassandra, I'm just as excited to be going with you as you are." Eugene walked over to Rapunzel and gave her a quick kiss. "We'll be back before you know it." He winked at her before jogging to catch up with Cass.

Rapunzel watched as her two bickering friends walked away. She knew they didn't really hate each other, and that they just enjoyed poking fun. They reminded her of siblings. She wondered what it'd be like to have a sibling.

She was interrupted from her thoughts by a squeak from her best friend, Pascal. He was motioning towards the caravan.

"You're right Pascal, we should set up camp."