Chuck leapt off Maximus and ran to the tower's edge. He was no longer thinking.

He was acting on instinct.

"Rapunzel! Rapunzel, let down your hair!"

Nothing happened. He ran to the base of the tower and began to climb. Not far into his ascent, the tower doors opened. Golden strands fell from the top of the tower. Chuck grabbed on and continued up. But the higher he climbed, the more apprehension he felt.

"What is the matter with me," he whispered to himself, still climbing. "I'm acting as if I'm going to die—"

He nearly let go of the thick golden strand as he remembered his exact predicament.

"Whoa! That's no good!" said Chuck to himself, remembering that Gothel would be waiting in the shadows of the tower with her dagger. "I do not need to get shanked by a creepy old woman. That's it. She's totally getting roundhouse kicked in the face. Old lady or not." He closed his eyes, allowing himself to flash on his defensive maneuvers.

Chuck reached the ledge and pulled himself up. He saw Sarah tied up and gagged on the opposite side of the room. He had to fight the urge to run directly to her side.

Instead, Chuck to a deliberate step forward. But, just as Gothel came from the shadows to plunge her blade into him, Chuck spun low to the ground and took her feet out from underneath her. The dagger flew from Gothel's hand. Chuck picked it up off the floor and looked back at Gothel.

"Oh, and I'll be needing the keys to Rapunzel's chains," said Chuck as Gothel reluctantly pulled the keys from a hidden pocket and handed them to the hero.

"Honey, I'm sorry it took me so long. I was a little tied up." He released Sarah and helped her up, handing her the blade.

They both turned to Gothel.

"Well, well. Look what we have here. A classic case of a ridiculously old fairy tale character clinging to the vestiges of youth. This has got Edward Cullen written all over it," commented Chuck.

"Rapunzel, what will you do with me?" hissed Gothel. "I raised you! No one will believe that you are the Lost Princess! No one! You need me!"

"You wanna know a secret Gothel?" asked Sarah coolly. "I don't care." And with that, Sarah took the blade and sliced through her own hair, throwing the knife to the ground. Her shortened hair turned brown. The long blonde strands remaining on the floor quickly turned color. Gothel began to scream.

"No, no, no…no! What have you done? WHAT HAVE YOU DONE? ARGHHH!"

She stumbled towards the window, clawing at her face. Though she was mostly covered by her cape, Chuck could see her skin turning ashy grey. Pascal, who had been hiding in the corner, came out and pulled taut a long strand of cut hair lying on the floor. Gothel tripped and fell through the open window. Chuck and Sarah heard her scream through her long descent, which was eventually silenced by a soft whish.

"Whew," said Chuck. "So glad that's over. That was really disturb—"

Sarah was peering over the edge of the window at Gothel's scattered ashes below. "I'm sorry, what did you say, Chuck?"

She turned to see the captain of the guard standing behind Chuck, who was clutching his side. Orlan cackled maniacly as he gripped the bloodied knife in his hand. Chuck fell to the ground. After a few seconds, he stopped trying to get up. Harsh breaths were the only indication that he was still alive.

"CHUCK!"

"Oh, I do love the irony of this. I'm sorry to ruin your triumphant moment, but I couldn't have you beat me in my story. Knowing that your true love would eventually find his way to you, I arrived just before you and Gothel did last night, waiting patiently in the shadows so that—"

But Orlan had overplayed his hand. The doctor had forgotten that though Sarah was in the body of a Disney princess, she would not cower as he delivered his villainous monologue. Sarah smashed his nose with her fist and followed through with a foot to his temple. The deranged doctor crumpled to the ground and didn't move. Sarah picked up the dagger, ready to finish Orlan.

"Sarah," said Chuck weakly. She ran over to his side and crouched by him.

"Shhh, Chuck, conserve your energy. Let me look at your wound. I think I may be able to patch it up. Wait, this is a fairy tale, right? I'll just use my magic hair—"

"Sarah, it doesn't work like that anymore."

"What? Chuck, this is idiotic. It's a fairy tale. You have to be okay!" yelled Sarah.

Chuck took her hands in his own, "Sarah…you were my greatest dream come true."

"And you were mine," she whispered. Tears began to trail down her cheeks.

"Hey, it's alright. I finally had a chance to rescue you. It'll all—it'll all be okay. I, promise…"

His final breath passed through his lips.