She hated her cage. It felt even more stifling than the tower. At least the tower had flowers, and rain and sunlight... Her new cage had nothing. Nothing but rock, and darkness, and all that horrid black sand that stuck to her clothes and her skin and seemed to mingle in her hair. It would vanish when she sang,her hair glowing brightly, lighting up the dark world she had been forced into by the nightmare king. But when it was dark, the sand would return,leaving a gritty feeling on her skin when she stroked her hair,trying to comfort herself. She tried to comfort herself often,mostly alone in the dark recesses of Pitch's lair. Occasionally she would notice he was around,though he didn't say much,save for maybe the small command of 'Sing for me'. Rapunzel had refused at first,though with Pitch's rather vague threats, and the need for at least a bit of light,she gave in after about a day.

She sang,but not for him. She sang for herself,hoping that somehow she would find a way out, or that one of her companions would find her. Pitch stayed around when her hair lit up the room around them,though he watched from the small cast shadows silently,gilded eyes glinting in the darkness,reflecting the light they drank in.

The nightmare king wanted to touch it. To touch her. He hadn't had physical contact of any kind in years,save for when the guardians, or Frost's little 'team' got into a scuffle with him. But that was painful. He wanted something soft. Something warm and gentle,something that wouldn't leave his skin stinging and bleeding. With each day that passed, he would slowly approach her,closer and closer until he was leaning against the bars of the large cage her had put her in,watching his golden flower as she sang for him. It was a sad,almost mournful sound...

And he loved it. He wanted to touch her and hold her, but seeing her cry was invigorating. It was a wonderful feeling, and he almost wanted it to last forever. And yet... He shook the thought from his inky mind. He couldn't make her smile. He couldn't make her happy. Even if she stayed with him forever, she would hate him. She would try to leave him, always,try to leave him for that damned Frost.

He clicked his tongue at the thought,watching the sleeping form of the very exhausted female. Frost didn't belong with a sunny flower like this. Frost killed flowers and greenery. And yet... His darkness didn't belong with the sun. Darkness blotted out the light,snuffed it out. He would be there when she wasn't,just like how when a candle was blown out,the darkness was all that was left. Pitch turned on his heel,nearly gliding away from his flower,his dark sand around her like a blanket. He knew it would give her nightmares,but he could not help himself. It would be as close as he could get for the moment, and he nodded,still wrestling with his decision on whether to let his little flower wilt into the darkness he offered. If he let her go,she'd be happy. Happy to jump back into the arms of the winter spirit and their friends. Overjoyed to be back in the sun. He sneered to himself.

He would much rather snuff her out then give her back.