A/N: Ok, this is really long... but I did miss this story so much! Thank you to alwaysreading for reminding me of that! I've been so busy so please forgive me if you catch a few grammar mistakes. Thank you all so much!

36. She-devil

Scotty looked over Vlad's makeshift burial. He removed his hat, winging it in his hands as he looked slack-jarred to his friend's grave.

Mina watched on, pulling a cloak around her shoulders as the afternoon breeze blew over cemetery hill. Her feline like eyes darted to Flynn who stood beside her, his head hanging low.

"How did it happen?" she asked quietly.

"Poison," Flynn answered. "Damned if I know who, or why, for that matter."

Mina frowned in confusion, "You don't know?"

Vlad glared to Flynn. The businessman never could differentiate between grief and anger. And, at the moment, he was blinded by both.

"No," Flynn replied shortly, "someone took this poison Rapunzel had had in her satchel and must've-"

"How coul' y'have let t'is happen?!" Scotty roared. "An' m'own daughter! Keepin' such secrets from me!" Scotty looked away, shaking his head. "But t'en again, she es naught truly m'daughter, es she?"

Flynn squinted to the man.

"What do you mean, Scotty?" he questioned, not needing to hear his answer. "Do you mean… you know who she is. Who she really is?"

"Yer an opportunistic sonaffabitch, arn'chya?!" he spat, pointing to Flynn, his fiery highlander blood boiling. "You knew all along! How coul' I have been so blind to et?"

"You're wrong," Flynn protested, "I had no idea, not until the other night and she confessed everything to me!"

Scotty's face softened, though his stern words continued.

"You woul' do all of t'his…? Come all t'his way just by t'e word ef some girl who'd not been a mile from home?"

"Well, not exactly," Flynn admitted. "She tricked me. She showed me a letter signed by the King. It said the princess's crown was in a tower somewhere… God only knows…"

Scotty creased his brow, "That's not what t'e letter she left said."

Flynn pulled a face of confusion before looking to Mina who pulled out a winkled piece of parchment from her coat pocket.

"Rosemary found it. Just before she was taken," said Mina despondently, looking over Rapunzel's letter. "It's what you get for teaching her how to write and read," she added, returning to her usual cruel tone.

"What does it say?" asked Flynn.

"Everything," she shrugged before reading portions of it. "I left with my husband for new lands. I've told all the Snugly Duckling that it is our honeymoon, but that is not true. I have reason to believe I am Princess Satine as I possess her crown and her healing powers. I can heal with a touch just as my father… as Angus said the star lass could…" She looked up, eyeing Flynn. "We'll be en route to Corona leaving from Dunsinsane… and so on and so forth."

"I don' t'ink she ever wanted us ta read et," said Scotty. "But, ye ca'be certain, what's don' in the dark, well be brough' t'the light…"

"And here we are," concluded Mina, refolding the letter and sticking it in within her coat. "Miles from home, and still no closer to either of them."

"Either of them?" asked Flynn before realizing what she meant. "I'm sorry," he said to the pair. "But Rosemary… she was killed by Caldon- the Captain of the-."

"The King's Dragoons," finished Mina in sad realization.

"Yes? You know of him?"

Mina looked to him, look of shock and hurt flickering in her eyes for a moment.

"What proof have ya?" she asked, ignoring his question. "How would you know she was even in his keep?"

"Because… I saw it happen with my own eyes. I saw her there in his camp."

The pair glared to him in disbelief and Flynn realized he had much to them. Regretfully, most of it was painful to recall.

"It was when…" he continued, "Rapunzel was taken by him-"

"WHAT?" yelled Scotty, stepping close to Flynn. Flynn recoiled, demanding the man let his finish.

"He took her from me but Vlad and I, we faced hell to get her back. And we did! She was unharmed..." He looked to Mina, "As we left, she was shot. And nothing could be done."

"And how could you know that certain?" she cried.

Flynn was taken back by Mina's emotions for the girl. He never took her as one to care much for others, especially other competition at the Snuggly Duckling.

"She was shot in mayhem of the escape. I wasn't about to stay there another moment. You shoulda seen it," he said to Scotty. "Vlad had set the place on fire and let loose their horses. It was chaos and we got away by the skin of our teeth! No thanks to Will…"

"Will?" they asked in unison.

"He came with you?" questioned Mina.

Flynn sighed, "It's a really long story…"

"Good," said Scotty, "since you'll have t'e journey to Dunsinane ta explain et ta may!"

"Dunsinane?" exclaimed Flynn.

"Aye, she's headed t'ere," he said certainly, "or whoever has her. T'ey're goin' to Corona, one way or anot'er."

He ushered for Flynn and Mina to return to the carriage as he took one last glance to where Vlad rested. Flynn hesitated, and looked back to Vlad from a distance.

Scotty looked around, seeing the village from atop the hill. He shook his head.

"Sorry I got ta leave ye here… ef all bloody places," he muttered, scratching his head. Then, he hung his head, and slumped forward a bit.

Flynn looked away then, but he heard the man muttering something, over and over-

"I'll find t'e bastard. I'll find 'im…"

Rapunzel looked curiously to Will. He had just explained to her an impossible story. Though, it was hard to believe, it explained how he knew she was the princess before she had married Flynn.

"I… I can't believe you… you knew all of that about me, and you never let on?"

Will offered her a lopsided smirk, "Funny isn't it? I guess we all offered one another an act of some kind."

"Well, it's good to know who you really are," she said bitterly, still hating the man just the same.

Will glanced to her sadly when she said that, but his frown soon turned to a look of optimism.

"So… now we shall work together?" he whispered, as lowly as he could.

Rapunzel looked away from him. For the first time in her life, she was uncaring of her future. She was broken and she yearned for Flynn. That love that once had made her strong, suddenly felt as though it were never there at all. That, perhaps, it was not meant to be, and fate had driven them apart for good.

Will narrowed his brow angrily to her.

"Answer me!" he spat, "I gave up my side of the bargain!"

She looked back to him, as coldly as her green eyes would allow.

"And you trusted me, did you?" she asked with a cocky raise of her brow.

Will felt like strangling the small woman by the neck, but then, something derailed his rage.

"Oi, look ahead! Company!"

The voice of one of the Stabbington brothers caught their ear, and they glanced at the road ahead to see an ambling caravan in the distance.

"Hide the girl!" commanded the sideburn clad brother to Will.

Will looked bewildered for a moment, wondering how that was possible.

"DO IT!" he repeated, "or I'll sell your guts to these gypsy dogs!"

Will sneered but complied. He shoved Rapunzel to the floor of the cart and ripped off his coat, throwing it over her form. He then threw hay over her legs before quickly returning to his casual position.

It was then that they pulled along in a gypsy's caravan. The man who commanded the large wagon came in view. He smiled warmly to the brothers and greeted them theatrically.

"Good morrow men, might I interest you in any of my wares?"

Will looked to the man before frowning and quickly looking away. He realized he recognized the man, though it had been years since he had last seen him; the gypsy bounty hunter.

As Rapunzel lay hiding, she realized she recalled the man's accent and low charming voice. All though, she was unable to find the vigor in her bleak state to cry for help. Besides, she was not certain anyone would care to help her. Her ideals of humanity had been demolished.

Pascal narrowed his brow, looking oddly to Will before one of the brothers barked to him.

"We've got no need for the likes of you, y'mangy gypsy!"

Pascal eyed the dirty man. He took great pride in his eccentric and immaculate appearance. And though he wanted to disagree with the brutish man, his years on the harsh road had taught him better.

"Yeah," came the other brother, "keep on movin'! You'll not be findin' a simpleton victim here."

"Forgive me, I was only just…" Pascal paused for a moment, looking a bit more closely to the men. "You lot appear rather familiar, I suppose you wouldn't tell me what you call yourselves?"

"No!" protested one of them, laughing at the preposterous idea. "Is there no one else on this road you can pester?"

"I'm only curious-"

"We couldn't give a rat's arse about your curiosity!" spat the red-headed man as he snapped the reigns of his horse. "Now, be gone with ya!"

Will was careful not to turn his head again as they rode past the caravan. However, Pascal had a sly smile as the suspicious men traveled by. And soon, something strange caught his eye. A curious lump of hay that flinched under a cleverly placed coat.

The traveler shrugged before turning back to the road and carrying on towards Coleridge.

Flynn sat next to Scotty as he drove the carriage down the barren path out of Coleridge and in the direction of the seaport city. Unbeknownst to them, they were traveling further away from Rapunzel by the turn of their wooden wheel.

Yet, what Flynn did know for certain was what he left in the past. And, he had spent hours explaining it all to Scotty.

Flynn had told all he could about Charley, Trevor, and Will. In fact, he had spoken so much his voice had gone hoarse and his mouth had dried.

"But what I don't understan' is jest why ye didnna t'ink of heading back, after the run in wit' the Captain?" questioned the older man.

"I had begged her! I tried as hard as I could to talk some sense into her. It was no use, though. She had her mind set on Corona. And now, I suppose we know why…"

"An… you really believe she es who she claims?"

Flynn looked to him. He was reminded that he held her priceless crown on his lap concealed by a tattered satchel.

"Do you not?"

Scotty sighed, a hand running over his tired face. He had barley slept or took a rest in the past days tracking down Flynn and Rapunzel. He felt so worn that he was fearful his heart would give out. Though, he pushed such mortal worries aside.

"Et's hard ta believe," he laughed. "That little lass I found like a lost nymph on the side of t'e road…" he smiled, lost in thought as Flynn smiled as well. "You know, I always did say she had some'tin about her… she was akin to the night sky, and reminded me ef a story I once haird… of a wooman who had the blood o' the stars in her veins, and woul' walk t'rough fields of injured men after battles and such, healin' em all wit' a touch o' her hand."

Flynn could hardly believe what he was saying. He stared to him with his mouth hanging open. It was the healing legend of the royal women of Corona he had read of.

Scotty eyed him knowingly, "So… you've haird t'e story, aswell?"

"It's not a story," said Flynn shaking his head. "She healed me. I succumbed to a wound one of the Stabbington brothers had given me… and I was dying. And now," he said, pulling down the fabric on his shoulder, revealing the unmarked skin of his upper arm, "there's nothing. Not a scratch," he laughed a bit thinking of it, "she waited bloody long enough to help me, though."

Scotty looked to him befuddled, "Yer serious?"

"As the grave," he said, pulling his shirt back up.

Scotty chuckled, looking further down the road.

"M'girl… I knew et! I always knew et! She's a special one, she es."

He glanced back to Flynn who looked less amused.

"I'm sorry she dragged ye ento all o' t'his, t'ough. I didna raise her ta bay a connivin' little she-devil!"

Flynn smiled, thinking back on the little brothel kitten, as he called her, so many years ago.

"She is who she is. And she's…" Flynn looked away, his heart aching at the thought of her.

Scotty noticed, but kept a stiff upper lip.

"She es your wife. T'as who she es…"

Flynn nodded, clearing his throat.

"An', she es alive," he added with clear conviction that made Flynn look up to the road hopefully.

"I never meant to marry her-" he confessed. "Actually, I never meant to marry anyone! Though, when we said the vows... I was prepared to take on the duty of marriage, but she was under the impression she could get out of it. That it wasn't real. I never felt that way. It was real to me from the moment we were wed."

"Och!" grumbled Scotty. "This es what comes o' not doin' a proper blood oath!"

"No… I love her now. I'd do anything for her. I know it sounds… stupid, I've never felt like this about someone. I don't know how to explain it."

"And who was t'at lass t'en? The one who gave ye t'at purse you've been clingin' ta?"

Flynn shifted, pulling the sacred item closer to himself.

"It's a satchel," he corrected, his voice defensive, "and she was a maid of Milly's who helped us, is all."

"Oh, es et all?"

Flynn stuck his hand in the satchel and was prepared to pull out the crown, when he paused.

"Are you ready for this?" he asked as Scotty scoffed to him.

"What sort o'question es t'at?"

"One a man asks before changing another man's life."

Scotty frowned before Flynn revealed the lost princess's crown.

As the Stabbington brothers stopped at a river to water their horses, Rapunzel and Will emerged from the wagon and stretched their legs on the dirt road.

Will looked around carefully once they both stood alone. He noticed the brothers were far enough away to not hear them and he decided to use the opportunity to his advantage.

He walked beside her and placed a hand on her shoulder. The contact made her flinch as her mind was miles away.

"We can get a head start, look-" he said, gesturing to the woods. "We run off and they won't know which direction we went in. The hulking bastards wouldn't be able to keep up with us…"

Rapunzel turned to him, looking to his wild stare as if he were mad.

"No," she said softly. "They have guns, they'll shoot us in the back."

He shook his head, "Not you."

She frowned, "Than you. And I'm sure, that's the only life you care about. Besides-" she said, raising her chained hands, "I can't run. If I fall, I'll stay down."

Will glanced back to the brothers to see they were still occupied. He stepped closer to Rapunzel and she glared to his audacity.

"I can get them to free your hands, like I said. But… it will take a degree of… skill from you."

"Skill?"

Will's eyes darted back to the brothers. Her cry had caused them to glance their way.

"You have acted the role of the whore before, haven't you?" Will asked, glancing lower between them. She glowered to him.

"How dare y-"

"We don't have time for propriety, princess. Can you act as though you are a wanton slut, or can't you?"

As he spoke, she noticed the brothers had begun to stroll toward them.

She slightly raised her chin, "So… you have a real plan now? I'm almost impressed."

"Aye," he said, pulling her closely, "I've got a plan."

And then, Will kissed her roughly on the mouth. And she, with as much hate as she could manage, kissed him back.

Flynn ducked into the carriage as the sun had just began to set. He smiled to Mina as she sat, longingly looking out the window.

The cold of the evening had set in, and Scotty proposed they take turns driving the carriage closer to the city. As the older man took the first shift, Flynn had hoped he could rest his eyes for a moment in the tense company of his once favored whore.

"I've missed you," the fiery haired woman suddenly said. "I knew you were getting married… but I didn't think you would leave for good."

Flynn looked to Mina's impish smile. The woman was older than him, though, she always had an eye for Flynn, ever since his first visits to the brothel. She had the fanciful look one might imagine a successful woman of night would have. And every bit of her enticed, with the sensual promise of her lusty sex.

Once, such a creature would excite Flynn. Now, she only reminded him of a wasteful past spent among women who had most likely forgotten his name.

"Mina," he began as earnestly as he could, "I've changed a lot… since… last we met."

"We just saved you from the noose!" she laughed, "Seems like you're the same old sorry man to me."

He smirked to her and she leaned closer to him, placing her hands on his knees.

"Why don't we have a go at it? For old times sake?" she asked with a wide grin. "You're as cold as a corpse. Come, I could warm you."

She moved to sit beside him, but she noticed how he had turned away from her. She frowned, her excitement fading.

She placed an arm around his shoulders, enticing him to look her way.

"What is it? Have we been apart that long?"

Flynn crossed his arms and cleared his throat.

"Won't Scotty notice when the carriage starts rocking?" he asked with a weary grin to her.

She raised her brows innocently.

"Well, we don't have to do all of that. We could just… you know…" she said, reaching for his belt buckle and leaning closer to his lips. "Slowly…. reacquaint with one another…"

"No," he said softly, taking her hand. "You know I can't do that."

She looked to him, taken back by his denial of her. She laughed at his cold stare.

He said nothing as she sat back, her flirtatious smirk changing to a catty scowl.

"I'll have you remember whose bed you were in the day of your wedding!" she spat. "Look at you, acting so high and mighty now! You can drop the ruse."

"I'm married," he answered firmly. "I know some men don't take the oath seriously, but they have boring wives they can't stand! I have Rapunzel. And she's all the woman I need."

"And what about everything you said to me?!" she cried. "All those nights?"

"What about them?" he asked. "I paid you, didn't I?"

His words struck her like a smart hand across the face. He felt a jolt of regret as she shamefully looked down.

"I'm sorry," he said. "That was low of me. But can't you see? I never knew what love was until I met her."

She said nothing, but dabbed at her eyes as she glanced out the window.

He noticed again how she seemed to be looking for something.

"Why did you come all this way?" he spoke up.

She slightly looked his way before her eyes wandered back to the view of the open rolling hills.

"Because… she's still out there…"

Flynn frowned, "You followed Scotty all this way for Rapunzel?"

"No!" she hissed. "Rosemary. She was taken that night and I just watched! I did nothing!"

"I see… so, it's your guilty conscious that drove you here?"

She looked to him, her hurt eyes blazing into his indifferent glare.

"Aye, but it'll be my detestation for you that drives me back!"

He frowned and was quiet for a long moment.

If learning to love Rapunzel had taught him anything, it was patience. And he was beginning to gain a sense of humility and empathy. Traits the older woman might possibly never possess. Flynn was thankful then. Looking to people like Scotty and Mina, he realized not many people allow others to change them for the better. And, many more are not willing to learn from their mistakes.

He was a better man because of Rapunzel. And, he knew people were more complicated than they let on.

"We have a long road ahead of us," he began, more calmly. "And I need you, Mina. Without the both of you… I'd be a dead man."

She looked out the carriage window again, careful not to meet his gaze.

"I thought I knew you Flynn… but you're not the same. I've never known a man to deny me... especially you."

"I vowed myself to one woman," he began, "and we are bound to each other. Having her, being the first man, being the only man… that was the greatest gift I'll know…"

Her hand flew at his jaw and she laughed wickedly as he clutched his face.

"Will you bloody shut up! You sound like a fucking priest!"

He pouted to her as he rubbed his face.

"A priest you say? Then so be it…" he smiled at the thought of his wife's gentle and innocent love, "she is the only woman I'll have, and me, the only man…"

Rapunzel wrapped her legs around Will's torso as he lifted her to the wagon and pushed against her as she lay on her back.

"Here they come," he whispered in her ear as he pushed her skirts up around her waist. "Sell it… sell it like I'm paying you."

"You bloody well should pay me after this!" she whispered back before pushing her lips against his.

"How about a moan, then?" he asked coyly, separating from their kiss.

She heard a smirk in his lusty voice that made her skin crawl.

"I am not moaning!" she protested. "You moan!"

"No, that's the slut's job!" he replied, thrusting into her at the word.

She grimaced at his pretend sexual movements. Though it was an act, she knew Will had always kept an eye on her. And she suspected he was enjoying the drama they were putting on far too much.

He thrusted again, against her practically bare form. She narrowed her brow as she realized he was indeed relishing the act, and far more than she was comfortable with.

"If you don't moan, they won't believe it…"

"Oh, they won't?" she asked with a crafty smile before raising her leg and positioning it slyly between his.

Will smiled, almost in disbelief that she was capable of such wickedness.

She seductively brushed her leg against his bulge until she met him with her knee. And then, she swiftly jabbed her kneecap to his groin. He cried out in pain, falling on top of her, seemingly spent.

That was when she noticed the Stabbington brothers eyeing them over his shoulder.

Rapunzel laughed, patting Will on the back.

"One of you handsome men down. Only two more to go…"

She winked to one of the brothers who only stared back to her with his usual icy frown.

The scarred brother pulled Will from Rapunzel and he quickly began to redo his belt. The man eyed him over before looking him dangerously in the eye.

Will let out an embarrassing laugh as he shrugged.

"She's insatiable," he said after swallowing his pain, "believe me, she grew up in a whore house, after all."

Rapunzel crossed her legs that still showed to her thigh.

"A princess… a whore… is there anything we shouldn't expect from you?" asked the other brother, stepping closer to Rapunzel.

She felt a twinge of fear, though she looked back to him defiantly.

"It's all I know," she began, "since the age of ten… my father kept me hidden, only used for the highest payin' customers."

"Scotty? Selling his daughter?" laughed the other brother suspiciously. "Are we meant to believe that?"

"Oh, believe it," said Will looking up to him. "Don't tell me you didn't think of it! Two red-blooded men. When else will you get a chance at royalty?"

Rapunzel smirked up to the man as a hunger suddenly flashed in his eye.

"Well…" he began, "I always did say… fuck Corona…"

Rapunzel suddenly sat up just as he lowered down to her. She looked into his eye, his lips practically touching hers.

"Down by the river," she said smiling, "then you can take me… in a soft patch of grass."

Will laughed and hooted at her words, "Told ya! She's as cock crazed as they come. And, imagine…." he added lowly to the man who held him, "I had her with her hands tied…"

The brother before Rapunzel turned to Will.

Will smiled to him, "imagine what it would be like with them freed."

Rapunzel fell back onto the wagon humming and smiling, as though she were reclined in a sunny field.

"Hurry up men! I've only just begun. You think that skinny man could satisfy me?"

Will frowned as the others looked back to her.

She giggled to herself, "Think again…"

The brother dropped Will and retrieved a knife from his belt. He threw it to his brother.

"Do it. But keep a hold on her."

Rapunzel sprang to her feet, "No need to worry about that," she said, throwing herself to the man. "It'll be me who'll keep a firm hold."

The man wasted no time in cutting the ties from her hands and, in the next moment, she led him to the river.

Will watched on, discreetly sighing in relief.

Though, the more suspicious brother hovered behind him, and he tensed once more.

"You're an odd pair, aren't ye?" he asked. "Either she's glaring at you with all the venom of a rabid cat, or, she's fucking you…"

"Eh, what can I say… women! Right?" he awkwardly laughed again, though, he found it hard to fake a convincing smile.

"Right…" said the brother, not believing a word.

Rapunzel allowed the man to aggressively push her against a tree.

"You like it rough, don't you?" she asked breathily.

"Shut up," he commanded before suddenly prying his tongue into her mouth.

She felt tears sting her eyes but she pushed her emotion away. She knew she had to concentrate if Will's harebrained scheme was to work.

"Still… I find it hard to believe Scotty offered her among his ladies," said the brother to Will.

Will was nervous, and did not realize he was averting eye contact with the intimidating aggressor.

"The man's full of surprises. Besides, you know him, anything for a buck."

Will leaned against the wagon as the brother stared him down.

"I do know him," he answered. "Though… I suppose I do not know her as well."

Will nodded, "You sure don't… but you could, after your brother there. I'm sure she'll want more."

"You've suddenly become optimistic."

"A good whore can do that."

"But she's not a whore…. Is she?"

"You saw for yourself! She couldn't resist!"

"Is that why your fly was still buttoned when I pulled you off of her?"

Will's eyes grew as he looked to the man.

Rapunzel fell to the ground as the Stabbington brother fell on top of her.

He fiercely kissed her as he raised her skirts. She worked quickly to lower his suspenders and pull up his shirt.

Her hands ran over his back. She mapped his ribs, his muscles, and his tender flesh around his waist.

He reached between them and she gasped as he clutched her.

He pulled away, looking into her frightened eyes. He narrowed his brow.

Silently, he realized she did not want him. He only pushed his hand harder against her.

She whimpered and recoiled against his rough touch.

"What sort of whore are ye…?"

She quivered beneath him, unable to hide to her true emotions any longer.

And then, he grabbed her hands and pinned them over her head.

"You lying cunt!" he spat before shoving his mouth back onto hers.

Will backed away from the brother as he wielded his knife in his hand.

"Care to explain that," he asked, "or, have ye not had a proper lay before? Still a virgin, are ye?"

Will swallowed his nerves and attempted to reason with the man.

"It all happened so fast, believe me, I was as shocked as you would be!"

"Eager enough to straddle her in the middle of the road, but not eager enough to free that prick of yours?"

"Really man, you're jumping to conclusions. Can't you just accept a blessing when it comes your way?"

"You're a lying sack of shit," he growled, pushing Will against the wagon. "Any man who trusts you is as daft as they come."

Will looked up to him, "Then you pair must be pretty stupid."

With that, Will thrust his fist into the side of the man, sending him back to the road.

The brother jumped back, kicking Will in the knee and sending him to the dirt beside him.

The pair wrestled together for a long moment before Will noticed the blade had been knocked from his hand, and lay in the dirt just out of reach.

Rapunzel struggled below the scarred man and thwarted his attempts to control her.

"Stop strugglin' lass, it won't las' long!" he cried.

She grimaced to him. In a moment, she acknowledged her fate, realizing he was far too large to overcome.

"That's it…" he mumbled as she fell limp against him and began to cry. "That's my princess," he chuckled before reaching below to free his member.

And then, a man's yelp rang out.

"Help!" he called before crying out in pain.

The brother over Rapunzel looked toward the commotion and time seemed to slow. She realized, in a split second, it was her only chance.

She closed her eyes and heard the now distant voice of her Flynn. Once, he had held her, and trained her in how to kill a man, if need be.

"You thrust straight here, as hard, and quick, as you can. That'll fatally injure him."

"It will?"

"Just don't hesitate, or question your intent."

She pulled away from his grasp and reached for a dagger concealed in her skirts. And then, as he turned to look back at her, she guided the blade to the place she had plotted before, just where Flynn had told her.

The man jolted in a silent gasp of pain as the breath seemed to be driven from him.

Rapunzel narrowed her brow and pushed the blade deeper, her anger guiding her hand and blessing her with strength.

He rolled off of her, withering in pain. Rapunzel sat up and staggered to her feet.

She gawked down to the man, backing away from him. Her breath heaved and she shook her head in disbelief. And then, she caught a glimpse of her hand. It was stark red, covered completely in his blood.

He made several agonizing moans of agony and some attempts to reach for her, though, the wound overcame him, and she could do nothing but watch him bleed out and slowly die.

As she stepped away from him, stunned by the sight of the failing man, a pair of hands grabbed her back and she screamed in terror.

"It's me!" cried Will, grasping her shoulders.

She looked him over to see blood covering his shirt.

"It's not mine," he assured her, "He's down... we've done it!"

Rapunzel nodded, looking away from him, suddenly appearing ghostly white as she swayed in his grasp.

Will noticed how shaken she was. He embraced her and she allowed herself to fall into him.

"You did a good job, Rapunzel… I don't know how to thank you. You've saved us."

She frowned, realizing she was in the arms of the man that had made her a killer.

"I saved myself," she muttered, pushing away from him.

He eyed her as she walked over to the man who seemed to be drawing his final breath.

Will watched curiously as she kneeled beside him and quietly said a prayer. He was not certain which it was, or what it meant, but he knew it meant something to her. And he let her have a moment to herself.

She sat there for a while, staring at the dead man and crying. Her hands shook as she they fell at her sides.

"Flynn…" she whispered to herself. "Flynn…"

In the midst of his waiting, will's patience grew thin.

"C'mon," he said gently, stepping behind her. "You've said your piece. There's no God in heaven that blames you…"

She sniffed, dropping her head lower. It was then she noticed a pistol at the waist of the dead man. Her eye lingered on it for a long moment.

"We have to get a good start before anyone wanders upon this scene," said Will. "That won't look good. Not one bit."

He kicked at the dirt as she stayed sat, frozen to the ground.

"What are you gonna do?" he cried, "Bring him back from the dead so he can try to kill us again?"

She frowned, tears rolling down her eyes again.

"Damn you," he cursed, "get up! Get a hold of yourself! Stop acting like some spoiled little bra- hnng-"

Rapunzel looked up, catching the peaceful sight of the river before hearing dreadful gurgling sounds from behind her. She leapt to her feet and turned to see the bloodied Stabbington brother, dragging a knife across Will's throat.

Her eyes widened in fear as blood burst from his neck and soaked the front of his tunic.

Will had his eyes fixed on her, though, in the next instant, they wandered to the back of his head. And then, he fell to his knees and collapsed forward.

The Stabbington brother behind him did not appear to be in the best shape. He had several stab wounds about his chest and deep bloody thrash above his knee. Yet, there was an animal-like glint in his eye that promised Rapunzel; he was far from death's door.

He dragged his limp leg forward, stepping over the body of Will.

"Poor fool, he's finally… found… his place… in the world," he gasped, speaking each word with a wince of pain.

Rapunzel looked around feeling as trapped as a mouse before the house cat. She held her hands behind her back as she stumbled against a tree.

"Don' get smart girl," he said, pausing a few steps before her, "just comply with me- ye know I ain't here to kill ya."

She eyed the crimson dripping dagger he held and felt untrusting of his words.

"Come here!" he commanded again, "Listen to me, and I'll let you live!"

She shook her head, her legs shaking as she leaned against the oak.

"I… I can't trust you!"

He held out his hand to her and took another step forward.

"You must!" he barked. "You've got no choice, girl!"

She looked to him, her eyes softening as tears freely fell from them.

The men took another step toward her, as cautious as he could.

Her hands shifted behind her back.

"Now… just take… my hand… and we'll… forget… this ever… happened…"

Rapunzel lowered her glance to his open palm before looking back to his worried eye.

And then, she straightened her back and took a strong step forward, sticking the pistol she had concealed between his eyes.

Her hand shook as she held it there. And then, after a long moment, he began to laugh.

"There's no way you know how to use that…"

She scowled to him, enraged by his clever smirk.

With a guttural growl, she pulled the trigger… only, no noise followed.

He laughed harder as she grew frustrated, clicking the trigger several more times.

As she was preoccupied, the Stabbington brother shoved her hard against the tree. And, in the span of a few minutes, she found herself in the same dire circumstance as before.

He covered her mouth with his blood-stained hand and lowered his face to hers.

"There… now it's just the two of us… lucky me."

He grabbed her by the shoulders and threw her to the grass.

She looked up as he began to unclasp his belt.

"Now, I don't know… if my brother got his turn… but I'll be god damned… if I don't get mine."

He tossed his belt to the side and she flinched back.

She grabbed for the pistol that fell at her side and she raised it to him again. He scoffed to her.

"My, my… you are a stupid bitch, aren't ye?"

He unbuttoned his trousers and took a stride toward her as she shakingly fumbled with the gun. And then, out of nowhere, a shot rang out through the woods. The noise spooked the houses that stood nearby, causing them to run out of sight.

As Rapunzel looked around, desperately wondering where the noise came from, the man before her fell to his knees, a fresh gunshot injury at his heart.

He looked past her, dumfounded by what he saw. And, he was only capable of making out a few prolonged grunts before falling to his back.

Rapunzel sat up, looking to the man's lifeless body in astonishment.

"You know, I just remembered who they are," came a familiar voice from behind her. She turned to see Pascal standing at the clearing, a smoking pistol still aimed before him.

"I'm not always the best with names," he continued, smiling pleasantly to her as her chest heaved, unable to control her breathing.

"But then, what other band of criminals are identical, ugly, redheaded, heathens like they?"