One year later…

…Phinelle could hear her father outside, talking to someone. She heard him wail. The sound jerked her out of her thoughts, and she looked out of her window, to see him on his knees in front of an old hag, who had her head tipped back and was laughing maniacally. Phinelle saw her father stand and walk dejectedly back to the house. His head was hanging, and even from her window, she could see the tears running down his cheeks as he opened the door to the house. She heard him walking upstairs.

"Maria!" She heard him call, his voice breaking. "Maria… Maria!" Her father spoke to her mother. Phinelle could not hear his voice below, but she heard crying, then her mother screamed. It was a terrible sound, the pain of it filled Phinelle's ears. Her father answered softly, then called Rapunzel to him. A moment later, she saw her father leave the house, carrying Rapunzel, who wailed when she saw the hag, and began to cry loudly into her father's shoulder. Her father handed the baby to the hag, who disappeared into thin air. Her father stood, his back to the house, not moving, his head hanging. Phinelle bit her lip, and felt a lump rise in her throat, and tears came to her eyes. Then she blinked. What was the matter with her? She didn't care about her sister. She was the fairest in the land now. No one, especially a baby, could survive long living with an old witch like that. Her beauty was incomparable now. She was invincible. An evil smile spread across the lips of Phinelle Montorin. She picked up a crystal bauble her father had given her. She could see her reflection in it. Standing before her mirror, she flung up her arms, and turning her head.

"Who now is the fairest of them all?" A mocking voice in her head answered her.

"Rapunzel Montorin." Her beauty was still surpassed by a mere child. She smashed the toy the floor, crushing the fragments with her heel.

THE END

(maybe)