The jungle ahead of us was no ordinary jungle. It was covered in thorns and overgrown branches and dead trees. When I hopped off my horse the dead leaves crunched underfoot. It had been a two days journey, but I hoped it had to have been worth it.
"I've got just the right thing for this," said Scorpios and pulled a knife from his pocket. "This will be easier to do on foot, we should leave the horse here." I nodded and tied the horse's reins to a tree then kissed her on the forehead. She snorted with happiness. Scorpios sliced through the thorns only to be greeted by another set.
"This is going to take forever," he muttered as his arm came crashing down and sliced through a branch.
"We can do this," I said running a hand through my hair. Scorpios snorted.
"Your not the one doing all the work." he said stepping deeper into the jungle. He sliced away anything that was in our way.
"Well when you grow tired, I will take over," I teased. "But a real strong man can make it through by himself. I'm sure it'd be a wonderful story for the girls at home." Scorpios grinned.
"You're just saying that so you don't have to work," he said. "But there is a point in there. A great story if they question my right to be in the League."
"And a great story to tell Rapunzel," I joked.
"If we ever find her." Scorpios pointed. I shrugged.
"You think we can accomplish this is thirty days?" I asked.
"If she's not here than no," said Scorpios. "It would take much longer than a month to travel the whole Realm. Why do you ask that?" his knife cut through another branch.
"If I don't find her in thirty days, I'm doomed." I said. Scorpios shook his head.
"I'd suggest leaving the Realm if you can," said Scorpios. "But if it's the League we're talking about, then you probably have no chance of survival." I bit down hard on my lip until I tasted blood.
What came to view was three houses. To the left was a crumbling brick house with vines encased around it. There was a large house in the middle with dead plants in the middle and a rusted roof. If the right was once a house, you couldn't tell anymore. It was now only a pile of rubble. Scorpio walked to the middle house and grasped a dead plant; it crumbled in his hand.
"It's a skeleton of a dead Rapunzel plant," Scorpios said. He looked up then jumped back, knife clenched in his hand.
"What is it?" I cried jumping back.
"Somebody's watching us."
I popped my head beneath the window then peeked back out. There was a boy with a knife standing stock- still glaring into my window. I thought he was here to kidnap me, but then I noticed the boy standing next to him. He had soft features and large emerald green eyes. His brown hair shagged around his face. I smiled and lifted my head. He glanced up at me and smiled. I felt a strange warmness overcome me. The other boy smirked and stuck his knife back into his pocket. I rolled my eyes then thought of what my mother warned me about. But she didn't love me; and he seemed so harmless...
I popped open my window then propped my elbow up on the pane and rested my chin on my palm.
"Princess?" said the boy with the knife. "Yes, princess indeed. No royal drop of blood, just beauty." I laughed.
"Does the one with the green eyes have anything to say?" I smiled. He shook his head nervously. "What's your name?" I called.
"I'm Scorpios." said the boy with the knife.
"Alexander." said the boy with the green eyes.
"Alexander," I said. "And what do you think I would like to hear for you to climb my hair?" he stood there in thought then took a step forward.
"Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair so I may climb the golden stair." I nodded my head.
"I like that," I smiled and tossed my hair out the window. He grasped my hair between his hands and propped his feet up against the wall and began to climb up.
"I'll be down here!" Scorpios yelled angrily.
When Alexander's hand grasped the pane, I stuck my hand out to grasp. When he clasped it, I felt a shock of electricity run through my body.
"I think he's the one," I whispered.
It was a weird feeling. Like a happiness in my stomach I hadn't felt in a long time. I was in the League, I was going to bring her to safety. But when I looked into her face, my thoughts vanished. I looked into her bubbly blue eyes and saw her shocked face. Her blonde hair tumbled over her shoulders and onto the floor.
"I gave you a chance," she said taking a step forward. "You're not here to kidnap me, are you?" I shook my head.
"No," I said. "I came here to find you, and free you." she smiled. "What about your friend?"
"He came to hit on you," I laughed. "He's quite the ladies man... or he thinks he is." Rapunzel smirked and crossed her arms across her chest.
"Well none of his tactics worked on me," she said. "And I hope you have luck trying to free me. I've tried to get out since ever since I was a little kid." she plopped down on her bed.
I looked at the wall and saw a rainbow over a tower. Above it was a starry universe with planets arranged in a crooked line.
"Did you do that?" I asked. She nodded.
"It's the only thing to do in a tower," she said. I plopped down next to her.
"When I do free you, you'll have no problem leaving, right?" I asked. Rapunzel shook her head.
"My mother doesn't really love me," she said.
"Why wouldn't she love you?" I said. "Your beautiful." she smiled and my face went red.
"Rumors are your hair makes people younger and influences good health. Is that true?" Realization hit her eyes, but she shook her head. "When you free me, I'll tell you." she said. I nodded.
"Let me let Scorpios know." I said and made my way to the window. But when I looked out of it, he was gone.
A knot formed in my stomach. The song mother always wanted me to sing made her young and healthy. That's why she always came into my tower cloaked with her head bent. That's why she wanted me as a child; because she wanted me to keep her young forever.
I glanced over at Alexander throwing himself against the door. At least mother didn't know my special song. I never sang it out loud, but I had known the song ever since birth. It seemed as if it had came with the powers of my hair. I hummed until I heard a crack. I spun around and saw Alexander huffing and a hole in the wooden door.
"You did it!" I cheered and ran to him my hair following after me. I bounded down the flights of stairs then ran to the door, but I didn't open it.
"What's wrong?" Alexander questioned. I bowed my head.
"I've never been outside before," I said. "Besides being forced outside and bound and gagged. I'm scared." Alexander patted my shoulder.
"It's alright," he said. "I won't let anything happen to you- it's alright." he gently folded his hand over my wrist and opened up the door.
The fluffy clouds hit the lemon colored sun. It was a perfect round circle and it lit up the baby blue sky. I breathed in the smell of earth. It was deep and fresh, just how I had hoped it to be. I crinkled my toes and felt the cold green grass beneath my toes.
"This is- amazing!" I cheered. I jumped through the air and felt the wind catch my dress as it fluttered around my waist. I giggled and twirled through the air and felt my hair swirl around me. My foot fell into something wet. I jumped back and saw a pool of water. I poked my toe back in it and giggled as I jumped into it. It splashed up my legs and wet my dress. I cupped the clean water in my hands and flung it at my face. I gasped at the freshness. I spotted a branch above me and jumped up towards it. I grasped the branch and swung up on it. I climbed up the top and breathed in the fresh air. I laughed.
"You can see everything from up here!" I cried then glanced over at Alexander. He was sitting down on the soft grass and smiling at me. I climbed down the tree and ran to him then plopped down cross legged.
"Tell me about this place your taking me," I said excitedly. He smiled.
"They can be a little hard on you, but its only because they want you to do great things." he said. "They care a lot about you, and they want you to be safe." I nodded.
"How long will the trip take?" I asked.
"It depends if Scorpios stole the horse, or not." Alexander laughed. "I guess he got mad you didn't like him. I'm sure he went back to his slave shop of girls." I smiled.
"We'll go soon," I said. "But I want you to do me a favor before we leave."
"Anything Rapunzel."
"I want you to teach me how to swim." I said grasping his hand. The electric ran through me. I looked at him in the eyes. He slightly closed his palms around mine.
"I'd love to teach you how to swim." he said.