"We're actually on an adventure!" Belle exclaimed. "Isn't this exciting?"

Aurora shook her head. "I'm scared and I miss Philip."

"I know. But this will all be over soon. We'll find Snow White and the other girls, smash the crystal, and then go home." Belle paused. "I mean, it won't be easy, but we can do it."

Aurora nodded, but didn't say anything.

"Philip killed a dragon by himself, you can certainly defeat a witch with the help of seven other people," Belle said.

Aurora smiled at her. "You're right, Belle."

Belle smiled back at her. "I know I am."

The girls continued on their way. The sun was beating down on them, and Belle adjusted her ponytail. She knew they had been walking for at least a couple hours, but the sun was still directly above them; it seemed to be moving in slow motion. They found a dead end with a little bit of shade and decided to take a short break.

Aurora fidgeted with the skirt of her peasant dress, remembering the day she met Philip. She had been wearing this dress when she met him, which is why she chose to wear it on this journey. I wonder what he's doing now, Aurora wondered. She had left early the morning after Tomasa came to her to avoid the sad good bye. She left him a note explaining everything, but she knew he'd be worried. Part of her hoped he was thinking about her, too. But the other part hoped he was busy and wasn't worrying about her too much. She really regretted not saying good bye to him. She didn't know that she could actually die on this trip. Of course, part of her knew, but she hadn't been able to really accept it until Skyla told them about the labyrinth.

The excitement was starting to wear off for Belle, but she tried to continue to sound enthusiastic to keep their moods light. But, she was missing her prince, as well. She hated that she left on bad terms with Adam.

"I will return to you."

"Don't bother."

Adam's words still stung and Belle hoped he didn't really mean it. Maybe he was stubborn and overprotective, but she loved him with all her heart and couldn't lose him.

Suddenly Aurora stood up and walked back out on the path. "Do you hear that?"

Belle listened. She could hear a faint squeaking in the distance, but it was getting closer. A small chipmunk ran down the path and hid behind Aurora. She knelt down and picked it up. It was shaking.

"Sweetie, what's wrong?" Aurora asked it in a small voice.

It ran up her arm and hid in her hair.

"Um… Aurora?"

Aurora looked at Belle. She was pointing at something in front of her. She turned around and saw a creature standing there. It was about the size of a dog, but it didn't look like anything she had ever seen before. It had slimy black skin, green eyes, pointy yellow teeth and a long snout.

Belle slowly drew her sword, suddenly grateful the house they met in had been stocked with weapons.

"What is that thing?" Aurora asked.

"I don't know," Belle whispered back. "But it probably wants your little chipmunk friend."

Aurora frowned. "Well, it can't have it."

The thing snarled. Belle held her sword out in front of her, and Aurora prepared her bow and arrows. When it lunged at them, Aurora shot it with an arrow. Belle quickly went over to it and cut off its head. It was then that more of the creatures showed up. There were three in front of them and three behind them. They stood back to back, bracing themselves. The creatures were scary looking, but weren't too smart and they were able to kill all of them without too much trouble. When they were sure there weren't anymore, they continued on.

Aurora reached up and detangled the chipmunk from her hair. It curled up in her hand and she petted it.

"It's okay, little one," Aurora said. She turned to Belle. "I think it's a girl. I'm gonna name her Sweet Pea."

They reached a fork and Belle chose to go right. "You're gonna keep it?"

"Well, yeah. What if there are other creatures out there that want her?"

Belle suddenly stopped. "There were seven of those things."

Aurora nodded.

"Seven creatures for only one chipmunk? That doesn't make sense."

Aurora hadn't thought of that. "You're right."

"Those things were probably after us," Belle said.

xxx

"… So, then I remembered that my hair glows when I sing." Rapunzel laughed. "We used the light to see under the water and find our way out of the cave."

"That's great," Meg muttered. They hit another dead end and she swore under her breath.

"Have you ever been close to drowning?" Rapunzel asked. She didn't let Meg answer. "If feels like your lungs are on fire and your chest is just gonna explode!"

Meg tuned Rapunzel out. Once Meg was able to get the hang of the labyrinth, she let her thoughts wander. Her mind went back to a day when she was still with Hades. The soul of a man joined the other souls in the Styx. He had been the most beautiful man she had ever seen. But, he hadn't been there for long before he was somehow pulled out and brought back to life. Meg thought about him everyday. As far as she knew he was still alive and she wanted to find him.

Rapunzel realized she wasn't gonna be able to clear the tension in the air with her stories. Why did I have to get stuck with her? Rapunzel wondered. Meg was mean and convinced that none of them were gonna make it out alive. That was not an option for Rapunzel. She had to get back home to Eugene. Her heart hurt more the longer she was away from him.

"Do you have anyone waiting for you back home?" Rapunzel asked.

"Um. Kinda." That was all Meg said. She didn't want to get all personal with Rapunzel; she didn't know her and had no intention of ever seeing her again.

"What do you mean 'kinda'?" Rapunzel asked.

Meg sighed. "He travels a lot. He wasn't home when I left and I don't know if he'll be back before I get back. He may not even know I'm gone."

"That must be hard. Being away from him for so long must be sad," Rapunzel said.

Meg shrugged. "I'm used to it."

"Why does he travel a lot?"

"He's, um, a…hero."

"Really?" Rapunzel asked excitedly. "What's his name?"

Meg hesitated, but figured it was probably easier to just answer the questions than to fight with her. "Hercules."

Rapunzel stopped suddenly. Meg turned around. Rapunzel's eyes were wide and she was smiling.

"You're dating Hercules?" Rapunzel cried.

"You know him?"

Rapunzel shook her head. "Well, I've never met him. But I've heard stories about him. He's amazing!"

"He's a hell of a hero," Meg agreed.

"Eugene talks about him a lot. He met him once. Said he was a real nice guy. I think Eugene kind of looks up to him," Rapunzel said.

"Hercules is a sweet guy. His heart is bigger than his muscles." Meg smiled in spite of herself.

Rapunzel nodded. "That's what I hear. Eugene said-"

"Who's Eugene?" Meg interrupted.

Rapunzel's eyes lit up. "He's my fiancé!"

She reached into her corset and pulled out a photograph and showed it to Meg. It was a photo of Eugene standing behind Rapunzel with his arms around her. They both looked so happy. Meg took the photo and stared at Eugene. It was him, the man she had fallen for after she saw his soul in Styx. He was even more beautiful alive. But the name Eugene didn't sound right. What had Hades called him? Meg thought. Oh yeah. Flynn. Flynn Rider. Meg couldn't believe someone like Flynn would be engaged to Rapunzel. They just didn't fit. Meg handed the photo back to Rapunzel. She decided she was gonna start being a lot nicer to her. Meg needed Rapunzel to get to Flynn.

xxx

Skyla turned away from the birdbath. "Damn it!"

"What is it?" Snow White asked.

Skyla glared at her. "Two of your friends killed my tree monster and another two killed my pets!"

Skyla stormed over to Snow White and slapped her. Snow White cried out. Her cheek felt hot for several moments afterwards. Skyla paced back and forth in front the altar.

"I guess my monsters are no big deal to these girls." Skyla grinned. "That's all right; I'll just have to amp it up a little bit."

Skyla climbed back up the platform. She reached out to Snow White, but Snow White turned her head away. Skyla stroked her hair.

"We can't have them solving the labyrinth and taking you away from me. Imagine what I could do with a princess in my control. Your entire kingdom would be mine. Then I'll truly be the most powerful person in the world."