Rapunzel felt almost in a daze after Flynn left. She had to be brave, and it had gone well, but what if it hadn't? She hadn't been truly thinking the whole time, and what if he had taken advantage of that? What if he had stolen her things and run off? Hurt Pascal? Hurt her? Kidnapped her?

She couldn't even say that was irrational – because it had happened before!

Rapunzel was very young when the kidnapping itself happened, but she remembered the day her parents told her about it. She was nine years old, and had just run away from home after being deprived of her dessert. Her parents had taken her by the hands and led her up to her room, up, up, hundreds of steps. Sitting down on her bed, her mother produced a gift, which Rapunzel thought was an apology offering. She was wrong.

"Honey, it's time we told you something." Her mother had begun.

"I know you think we're overprotective sometimes. And hey, we may be." Her father continued. "But there's a reason why."

"Why?" Rapunzel had pouted. "You guys never let me do anything!"

"We try, darling, but it's hard."

"Why?"

Her parents sighed, and began.

"You were far younger than you are now, just a few weeks old. We were still working on your nursery, and didn't like to be far apart from you besides, so you slept in a cradle at the foot of our bed. You were a little sunshine of a child, and slept easily during the nights, and we had grown used to it, letting the nanny go home at night. It was just the three of us. You know our room; we're on the first floor, backed up against the gardens, with the little porch. We would spend mornings sitting out there with you.

One night, I was having trouble sleeping, and was drifting in and out of consciousness. I had only just fallen asleep, when I had the strangest dream, with song lyrics I can't forget. I'll get back to that. I heard the singing, and a light seemed to rise up. I sat up, and there was a woman standing over your crib! I don't know how she got in, but I woke up your father, who called out for the guards, and we both rushed towards her. She had tried to kidnap you, darling, and we never, ever wanted that to happen again.

We moved you up to the tower. We know it's a bit of a walk, and we know it seems like we're keeping you up here, but it's only a bit of safety. During the day, enough people are out that we don't worry about letting you roam about the castle or the town, but at night, well, we just sleep more soundly.

Rapunzel was quiet, but looked up at her parents with bright eyes, gathering her hair about her. "What's in the box?"

"Remember how I mentioned the lyrics the lady was singing?"

"Yes."

I'm going to say them, and I want you to repeat them."

"Okay…" Rapunzel said tentatively.

"Flower gleam and glow, let your power shine…"

Rapunzel repeated, "Flower gleam and –" she gasped as her long hair began to glow. "Mommy, what's happening?!"

"Here, darling." Her parents grabbed her hands to soothe her. "You're fine, we promise.

"Why did it do that?!"

"We don't know. And we think you're old enough to begin to find out."

"Is this why she wanted me?" Rapunzel asked.

Her parents paused for a moment, before her mother spoke. "We don't know."

They had taught her the rest of the song, and opened the music box to reveal that it played the same haunting tune. What if that's what Flynn was looking for? What if he wanted to find her? Her hair? What if he?-

Rapunzel steadied herself. If he was going to kidnap her, he would've done it just then. There was something else he was searching for, and she would find out what.

…

Gothel had taken her chance today. The dark haired thief was gone, and the two burly twins had seemed to celebrate with one or six bottles of whiskey. They were now passed out, slumped by a fire, and didn't look like they'd be moving any time soon.

She scuttled down a staircase – it was always so terrible to travel, with the steps small, slick, and close together. The air smelled like mold and she had neither the time nor patience to try and clean it. She crept out the door of the tower, shoving ivy and overgrown brush aside to get out, and piling it back on top.

It was not too long of journey to get into town, but it was a progressively harder one. Gothel couldn't remember getting this winded last month! But, sadly, she was getting old, and this was what happened.

Town was lively with people bustling: trading, conversing, and generally amusing themselves. Gothel wrapped her cloak about herself, and moved closer to the side of the street, hiding in whatever form possible.

"She's almost eighteen!"

"Once she's married, she'll be out in society more. I think her the king and queen just don't want her by herself."

Gothel stalled – they were talking about Rapunzel! She quickly turned away and began to slowly examine a display of fruit, hoping they would continue.

"You can kind of see her there." One townsperson said optimistically. "Maybe they just don't – ha! – want her hair getting all tangled up."

Gothel turned and stifled a gasp. Rapunzel could be seen leaning out of her a window, long blonde hair reaching down below. Why, it had to be 70 feet long! The king and queen hadn't cut it, there was hope for her yet!

"I would've had her chop that off years ago, how does one's hair even grow that fast?"

"I don't know, but maybe that's why they had to put her up so high."

…

This was going to end badly. Flynn knew it. He was a thief, and not just any thief, he was a wanted thief, and not just any wanted thief, he was the greatest, most swashbuckling, downright coolest thief, who had ill-rendered posters of his face plastered all around the kingdom. He didn't have important parents to get him pardoned, hell, he didn't have parents at all! Flynn had no advantage, no bargaining chip, nothing that would make it normal for him to be headed to the royal castle for dinner, with the princess.

But, yet, here he was, walking towards – guards!

Oh no, he did not think this one through! There's no way he could walk in the front gate, he'd be recognized for sure! Even if these bumbling idiots couldn't get his nose right, the rest of his swaggering good looks would do him in for sure. Curses!

Flynn dashed to the side of the castle, pushing his way through bushes. Luckily, only the entrances were guarded with any intent. Flynn was able to travel through gardens with ease, and met only one sad excuse for a fence, which was so low and poorly designed that even an old lady could get over it.

He soon found himself within the castle grounds, but he didn't know how to get inside the castle itself. Any doors were still being guarded, and any windows were locked. He couldn't make too much commotion, because that would tip off the guards, and they'd be on him in a minute.

Flynn worked his way around back, to the same tower he had climbed up before. Only difference was, last time, he had brought supplies. This time, he had nothing.

"Rapunzel!" he hissed. Hoping, praying, that she'd be there.

No response.

"Rapunzel!" he said a little bit louder.

No response.

"Rapunzel!" he said, slightly louder than his normal talking voice. He ducked back, hoping no guards heard him. He did not hear footsteps, so he assumed not.

"Yes?" She poked her little blonde head out the window. "Flynn! Oh, hello! Come around front, I'll let you in."

"No can do, Blondie." Flynn said flatly.

"Why not?" Rapunzel furrowed her brow.

Seriously? Did she even remember how they met? "The kingdom guards and I aren't exactly the best of friendsies, okay? Just, give me something to climb up."

"Oh." Rapunzel said, thinking. "Why, I don't have anything!"

"A rope, a ladder, anything!" Flynn continued.

"Well, I-" Rapunzel stopped there, stifling a giggle.

"What?"

"You could climb up my hair."

This was going to be a weird day, Flynn could tell. "All right, Blondie." He said, a little amused. "Let down your hair."

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