Chapter 10: Rumplestiltskin

Looking back, she realized it only took her only two months to call Neverland home, and the Lost Boys her friends—perhaps brothers, even, though a few still didn't talk to her. She knew almost all of their names, and had settled into a general routine with them. She hunted almost every day with them, herself only killing as much as she needed to eat while they often continued for sport. But they never commented or teased her for it; she suspected she earned their respect with how accurate a shot she was.

She still only fought one-on-one with Felix during training in the separate clearing. She was improving rapidly in hand-to-hand, but he still wasn't fighting her one hundred percent himself and she had never fought anyone else. Her arrow shooting and dagger throwing surprised even Pan, making up for her rubbish handling of swords and spears. That was how the boys measured themselves, by fighting and survival skills, and she slipped into that easily. She didn't really know another lifestyle, so it was an easy adjustment. And she was happy. Neverland was officially her home, the Lost Boys her family.

When she wasn't hunting with them, she was training with Felix, or swimming in the pond Pan showed her, or practicing her magic. Sometimes, Pan would free himself from the boys' games and teach her something new or help her with the swimming, but she was good at teaching herself—she'd spent her life doing so. She loved magic lessons with Pan, he showed her all kinds of things to do. She now could subconsciously use magic for details like heightened senses. He taught her to keep her twisted hair floating slightly so it didn't tangle or get dirty as much, it also resembled how it looked underwater, so the sight of it at her side was constantly calming. She also improved her sensitivity to others' magic: each person had an individual aura, like a fingerprint, from which she could interpret how much magic a person had in them, what kind of magic, and, thus, she could recognize a boy from it.

At sunset, she skinned and cleaned and cooked her kills, Felix showing her increasingly messy ones of his own on purpose, keeping his end of their deal to help her develop the stomach for it. She was pretty sure he enjoyed it more than she thought he should, and had had the nerve to actually slap him when he suggested eating a badger raw once. At sunrise or midday, depending on where they were and what they were doing, she gave him reading and writing lessons. These had only been going for a week, but he could now write all of the boys' names in unexpectedly neat handwriting.

She stuck around Felix as much as she could when he wasn't off doing some obscure task of Pan's. Honestly, she didn't really want to know. She knew the boys weren't always good people, and she knew Pan was less than friendly when he wanted to be, but she hadn't been harmed so far and he always did what he thought was best for the boys, so she trusted them anyway. Felix tried to tell her as much as he could, but either Pan or she restricted him. Still, she stayed with him; she even slept in his tent, although she did make herself a thin mattress on the floor. He didn't mind, he seemed to like the company.

This afternoon, she was hunting alone. It was more relaxing than she predicted, and she was excited to go kill something herself and bring it back to show, just to prove to the boys that she could without their help.

She knelt on the branch and pulled back her bow string, just as Pan had taught her. Following the line of the poison-tipped arrow, she focused on the raccoon. It was unusual to see one in the daytime, she had been with Daniel and Robert when they saw it, and she had taken off after it instantly. Not worrying about where the boys had ended up, or how far off she was from familiar territory, she had kept going until it stopped. She let the arrow fly, not bothering to use magic to help the arrow find its groggy target. Her arrow hit straight in its eye, and she jumped down from the tree and ran to it.

"Thank you," she whispered as she pulled out the arrow and wiped it on the grass. She didn't remember when she started saying that, she'd been hunting for a good time now, but she felt right thanking nature for her luck and survival. And thanking the animal for sacrificing its life to help hers. She carefully put the arrow, still with most of the poison coated on it, back in her quiver and began to gather the raccoon.

She froze, dropping her kill, when she felt a presence behind her. Pan often popped around, but she knew what his magical aura felt like. The aura behind her was powerful, not as much as Pan's or her own, but so much darker that it was just as imposing. Shivers ran down her spine and she felt her hair glow brighter, preparing to protect herself on instinct. She stood and grabbed an arrow.

"My, my, dearie, how you've grown," a high-pitched voice greeted. It belonged to a gray-and-gold skinned man with glittering dark eyes. A memory tugged at her mind, but she couldn't picture it clearly enough to place him.

"Who are you?" she demanded, stepping back into a defensive stance and tightening her grip on the arrow. Then, she remembered a rule of Neverland a boy had told her: no one entered, or left, the island without Pan's permission. But this man was a grown-up, she doubted Pan would welcome him. Which meant he was able to sneak in past him. Pan must not know he was here, or with her, alone. Time to really test what Felix had taught her, she sighed internally.

"Don't remember?" he mocked a pout, then tilted his head side to side. "Well you weren't really born yet so that's understandable. I did visit you occasionally though, when you were a tiny little thing. Enjoying my gift?" he smiled manically, exposing dirty teeth.

"What?" she growled.

He just giggled. "Ooh, life with the Lost Boys has made you not so princess-y anymore," he mocked another pout, "what a pity. Your parents might not be too happy about that." She raised her arm, ready to throw her arrow at the imp for mentioning her parents. "I am Rumpelstiltskin," he rolled the 'R' and bowed flamboyantly. "You might want to thank me now for the hair, dearie. It's polite."

"You…how?" she breathed, thrown completely off-track. Actually, she didn't even have a track at all for this. She had never said or heard a word about her parents since she was first taken to the tower. No one had ever told her how her hair became magical, and she'd never figured it out. She had accepted it as just a part of her.

"Magic," he gestured largely. She rolled and narrowed her eyes.

"I got that part, thanks," she said acidly. He lowered himself primly onto a log.

"Ah, that's a question you've never gotten an answer to. Not even your parents really understand, I suspect. Thick-headed." He smirked. "Once upon a time," he began, overly exaggerating his tone, "your fair mother was quite ill, your good father ruled a poor kingdom. Together, they wanted a cure and the most valuable, unique item in the world." He sneered, "for pretty wealth. To sell by the use, or touch even. So, here you are."

"My mother and father were saved?" she breathed. He giggled again, this time sardonically. "And wanted to sell me?"

"All magic comes with a price, dearie, your parents were far too dull to realize that. Or too selfish, you choose," he raised an eyebrow at her. She growled, baring her teeth, and hurled the arrow. How dare he insult her parents, he didn't know her or them. She didn't even stop to think about what she was doing, or that she anticipated seeing the arrow pierce his heart. But he vanished into thin air, her arrow sailing through into a tree. She pulled out another and spun in a circle. He reappeared on a branch about a foot above her head. "Now, now, if you want to hear your story, you might not want to throw things at me, child," he chided. She bared her teeth, but lowered the arrow. Keeping it in her hand, she pointed it at the ground, showing she was listening peacefully.

"Fine. Go on, bloody imp," she muttered.

"Now, where was I?" he tapped his chin with a long, dirty fingernail. Then, he straightened, and twirled his finger up. "Ah, all magic comes with a price. You realized that, haven't you? When one holds what nearly everyone desires…" he trailed, but she got the idea. She was constantly wanted, her parents had had to spend all their energy protecting her and trusting no one, not seeing that their price to save themselves and their kingdom was giving up their daughter.

"So now, you're here. Living freely, running about and playing with the little boys," he sneered as if it was a silly fairy tale. Then he looked straight at her and said flatly, "not much of a princess, or daughter, abandoning your parents and your dear mistress," he examined his nails.

She saw red, her arm raised the arrow. Her blood was burning with rage at his claims. From far away, she heard the man yelp, then thin fingers wrap around her arm and nails bite into her skin. Her vision cleared and she saw a circle of fire around them both. The flames swallowed the trees and bushes around them, but didn't spread. They licked at her skin but she didn't even feel a change in temperature, and her skin and dress was unharmed. He wasn't. His face was twisted in anger as his skin and clothes had large patches where the fire, her fire, burned him.

He raised a hand and clenched it into a fist. It was wild magic, fuelled from her emotions, and she had no control over it, so he was able to put it out.

"No more games for you, princess," he hissed. "I travelled all over looking for you, that damn woman hid you well. And now, I had to come all the way here, to this damn island, and I will not be leaving without my price. I made you what you are, and since you were taken, my price will not be paid until I have myself a pretty little magic toy," he sneered. She spat at him. He slapped her, but it only fuelled her anger. She could feel the air heating up, ready to burst into flames again, and she saw him straining to keep control over it.

"My parents haven't had me in years, they don't have the most valuable item. Your end isn't quite fulfilled," she bit out.

"No, but a deal is void when one party dies," it was barely a whisper, but she froze. He continued in the high-pitched, giggly voice. "Your parents were sloppy, that's why you were taken. It's not my fault, it's theirs. If your parents aren't around to possess you, only then do they truly not have you. Only then is my deal void. Then, I may have whatever I choose, dearie."

He leaned closer, so his face was right in hers. She was about to spit in it when his fingers wrapped around her throat. She could breathe, but only just.

"Does Pan even know your name, dearie?" he leered. She gasped, trying desperately to get out of his hold, to interrupt him, to stop him. "Pan!" he called out, throwing his head back and the hand not around her throat out as he spun. "Oh, dear Peter Pan! I have such interesting news," he giggled. They heard twigs break and both their heads turned, he grinning in anticipation, her grimacing and desperately pleading for Pan not to be there. She didn't want him to know it, or to see this. Instead, Felix jumped out, followed closely by Daniel. Daniel looked apprehensive, Felix looked worried but determined. When they took in the scene—the burnt plants, her hair blazing, the evil man with his fingers wrapped around her neck—Daniel's face crumpled into fear and confusion. Felix's, who she had never hated more for showing up right then, twisted into anger.

"Let her go, now," he growled. Rumpelstiltskin just chuckled. "Pan'll have sensed you by now, don't want another run in with him, do we?" Felix's voice changed into that low drawl, driving the threat straight into the man. But Rumpelstiltskin just giggled.

"Oh boys, so preciously devoted to your little girl. She is pretty, I suppose," he taunted, running a long finger down the side of her face. She twisted and bit it, and he slapped her again. This time, she fell to her knees and he let go of her neck, throwing her down. "Your dear little princess," he loomed over her and hissed, "Rapunzel."

She couldn't even form the word 'no'. She couldn't even take in her surroundings. All she could do was scream, but she couldn't even hear it. She only knew she was because her throat immediately started burning. Her magic was barely in her control, some part in the back of her mind reminding her not to hurt her brothers. She cast out, pushing them backwards, hard. They hit the trees and slumped, conscious but winded. Rumpelstiltskin made to grab her, and she kept screaming, and threw her hands out in defense. Oh no, he wasn't touching her again. He'd just said it, he'd just killed them, her past didn't matter. He had just done it. Her emotions fueled her as she pushed out, her magic barreling into his chest so hard he shrieked in pain as he fell backwards.

She stood, blood burning, and felt her blindingly bright hair whipping at her arms. She just froze, trying desperately to calm herself and regain control. Calm down, she had to think. She had no control as long as she was irrational, and she had to be rational to kill him. She was going to kill him, he was evil and he was the one person in the world who deserved it. But she had to calm down. Calm down like Pan told you, she thought to herself, just like Peter told you. Too soon, Rumpelstiltskin stood too, and he had control. He cast a spell on her, subduing her magic. She could feel it still there, but not nearly as strong despite her remaining anger. She thrust her hands out, but it did nothing and he smirked.

"Now, come along," he murmured as he reached out. When his nails brushed her skin, she snapped out of it and abandoned trying to rationalize. She turned and sprinted through the forest, only vaguely remembering the way back to camp.

She skidded to a stop, and turned at a right angle off the path; she couldn't go back to camp, they couldn't see this, and she couldn't lead Rumpelstiltskin to them. She was off the path and would have tripped over or gotten caught in the vines and rocks and bushes, but she was going too fast and she was able to wrestle enough magic out of his spell to push the obstacles out of her way.

She shrieked when the ground suddenly stopped three feet ahead of her. She fell back from how hard she stopped, and looked around wildly. Rumpelstiltskin emerged from the tree line, only a dozen steps behind her. She tried to run to the side back into the forest, but he threw up a barrier and she bounced off, sliding to a stop at the edge with her head dangling over. Pulling herself up, she panted and looked around again desperately. She could see the walls he'd cast, the air was slightly silvery and moved like waves where it was. The only open side was the cliff behind her. She heard the shouts of boys, they were coming but he didn't seem to pay attention.

"No," she breathed to herself. She couldn't let them be near. This evil man would use them as leverage, or kill them, or they'd do something stupid and irrational and boyish. The thought of anyone else being hurt because of her was too much.

"Now, come along, I've trapped you. You play with the boys, you know the game," he sighed in annoyance, not even winded. He'd probably just transported himself here, like Pan did.

"Oh, Pan, you would be of great help right about now," she murmured to herself, thinking out loud. He heard her and chuckled.

"He's not coming, dearie. Now you're mine. Don't worry, you'll be in a castle, you can be a princess again," he suggested gleefully.

She inhaled, and straightened her back, throwing her hair over her shoulders, and took two steps towards him. She read a book, years ago, about demons. The book had listed several interpretations, but they had all led to the same conclusion in her mind: they were always there behind everyone, the dark parts of themselves and their lives. Rumpelstiltskin, her magic, the tower, her parents. Those were her demons. And she'd proved the people in the book right: she really couldn't run from them. But maybe she could get rid of them.

"A prison is prison," she snarled, "no matter what it looks like." With that, she surrendered her magic to the spell he'd cast, so that her hair stopped glowing almost completely and lay still against the ground. If the Lost Boys got here, they'd do something stupid and try to fight him, and lose. She had to be quick so they wouldn't have the chance, and she had to keep him distracted until he couldn't possibly get her anymore. She couldn't go with him, though. More people would be hurt, and probably killed, if he had her power.

"No," she repeated, louder. He raised an eyebrow in amusement. She turned and ran the four steps to the edge of the cliff, and jumped forward. In the moment she was suspended in the air, she twisted, seeing Rumpelstiltskin furiously run forward, but she was falling by the time he reached the edge.

She heard him scream his fury, it sounded like two screams. The wind was rushing in her ears as she immediately gained momentum, and she couldn't hear anything else. The evil man's form faded quickly as she fell farther, but she didn't even try to look down. She shut her eyes and waited to hit the water; she hoped her parents' deaths were like this, quick and fairly painless.