Beneath the Floating Lights

by Gkmader

What if Gothel had let Rapunzel see the floating lights for her birthday under strict supervision? When Rapunzel crosses paths with a notorious thief by the name of Flynn Rider, her life is turned upside down in a blink. With one brave venture outside the safety and security of an isolating tower, Rapunzel finds more than what she bargained for. A reimagined Tangled story.

5. Chapter 4

~Chapter 4~

Gothel

Those stupid brothers and their theatrics. I thought they were just going beyond what I had tasked them to do. I expected too much in knowing they could perform a simple task for me. Nothing complicated. When I came to, I was bound by my ankles and wrists behind a rock in the forest with a nasty lump on my head. Rapunzel was gone and I could only hope she made it back to the tower safely before those thieves nabbed her. I had worked too long and come so far to lose her after everything. My dagger was hidden behind my belt on my dress. Clearly, they didn't check for that-imbeciles. I hired idiots whomever they may be. I positioned myself against the rock and with my bound hands seized my dagger. I was cut free in moments throwing the rope bits on the forest floor. The kingdom was nearby, so the tower was quite the distance away. I took off in a sprint feeling less energetic as it had been some time since Rapunzel had helped me maintain my youthful glow, but no matter, I had to get home.

Adrenaline coursed through my veins with every step that I took. It was the middle of the night by the time I came back to the tower. I crossed the grassy knoll outside the tower and called to her hoping she was here.

"Rapunzel dear, let down your haaaaairrr." I called, "The brutes are gone."

There was a nervous twinge in my tone as my anxiety was increasing. Nobody came to the window. If she was here, she was scared. I waited a minute calling her name repeatedly and still no answer came. There was no choice, I faced the south end of the tower base and pulled away a layer of ivy. Behind the dark green ivy was an archway filled in by loose rocks and I began pulling them away quickly. In my frantic state, the rocks fell quickly, and inside the tower was a stone staircase that led all the way up inside. The top was covered by a loose stone slab and all I had to do was hit it with my shoulder a couple of times and it shook free. Small pebbles fell on my face as I climbed inside calling for Rapunzel and still no answer. I searched my room, under the beds, in the wardrobe, yanking curtains off their rods desperately. Anxious and agitated, I crouched down on the floor trying to calm myself and collect my thoughts. The tower looked just as we had left it, so there were no signs of a struggle. Rapunzel never made it here. I saw nothing to go on here, so I grabbed a few extra weapons from my room before heading down the staircase. Throwing stars, a bottle of poison to dip my dagger in should I need it, along with some coin. Traveling light was important. As I moved toward the stairs, I saw wrinkles appear on my hands.

My first stop was the pub where many thieves and questionable characters ventured to in these woods. It was the closest location to the tower, but I avoided it with Rapunzel naturally. This waste of space was called the Snuggly Duckling, but I had to start somewhere. I went inside the pub, but not before snatching the wanted posters of the twin brothers and their accomplice, Flynn Rider. When I found those thieves, I'd kill them for taking her. They didn't know who they were dealing with.