Prince James paced about his new home in Snow White's castle, trying to keep calm and think of how to stop the curse. Two of the guards walked past him greeting him, so thing in their hands catch his eye. "What is that? What are you holding?" They both turned around and walked back and showed him. "A rose? Why is it glowing?"
"It is enchanted my lord."
"Who gave it to you?" the prince questioned.
"We took it from the thief, Robin the Hood, and a maiden traveling with him."
"Where are they?"
"In a cell below us."
"Who was the maiden?"
"She didn't say."
"She said she was ready to tell you." the other guard added.
"What?" he King asked confused, trying to remember who this could be.
"She said that you won't know her by name, but she was ready to tell you now" Realization filled the prince, clearing a fog he didn't know was there. He ran from the guards and down to the dungeons.
He looked around the cells calling out, "I'm here! Its James! Where are you?"
"Over here friend!" Robin Hood called to the prince, and helped Rapunzel to her feet and over to the cell door.
"Oh my god!" James said shocked. "What did you do to your hair?"
"You don't like it?" she asked throwing the man off guard.
"It's a... Just really different. What are you doing here?"
"The DarkOne is gone. I need a new place to stay." she said, unknowing of the guilt that was growing inside the prince.
"And you came here?"
"Well yeah, you said you wanted to be friends. And I really could use a few." she said smiling hopefully. "This is Robin. He's-"
"A thief." James finished for her.
"Pleasure to meet you, your highness." Robin greeted with a charming smile.
"So Prince James, can you put your friend up for a few nights?"
"Yes of course." He left and got the keys. "The thief stays."
"Why?" Rapunzel asked insulted for Robin.
"He'll rob us blind."
"Without Robin I wouldn't have made it here. If he didn't help me you wouldn't of caught him."
"Exactly! We'll never have him again. We can't just let him go because he was helpful." the prince reasoned.
"Its alright my lady." Robin said.
"No its not!" Rapunzel argued. "Is there anything you can do?" she asked the royal. Her plea hurt him, and he already felt so guilty that locking the DarkOne away meant she had to leave her home behind.
"Ok look, we can walk him out. But I can't let you steal any treasure." the prince warned the thief.
"My hand to god." he promised.
"Alright come on." and the prince unlocked the cell, and they followed him out of the dungeon. Once they made it to the palace door they got ready for goodbyes.
"Wait a moment." Rapunzel said then running off. The two men stood awkwardly next to eachother.
"So how do you know the lady?" Robin asked James.
"Oh she... She came to a wedding a while back. We danced a bit, before she ran out chasing the DarkOne."
"The DarkOne?"
"Yeah, they lived together."
"Her and the DarkOne?"
"Yeah. Shocked me too."
"Wow."
"So how did you meet her?"
"She was wandering around the forest, and stumbled upon me and and my men."
"Oh."
"Yep." Robin responded stiffly.
"Hey did you ever get her name?" James asked curiously.
"Of course. You never got her name?" the crook was baffled.
"She wouldn't tell me." and the thief laugh at him. Rapunzel reappeared struggling with a large brown sack, filled with unknown items.
"What's all that?" the crook asked.
"A goodie bag." she answered out of breath.
"What did you take?" the prince asked dumbfounded.
"Nothing you can't get more of." she said holding the back to Robin, who took it and looked inside.
"I can't just let him take that."
"You don't need silver forks and gold candelabra, and whatever else is there."
"Don't worry your highness, I'm not wasting all this on myself. It'll feed a poor village for months." Robin vowed.
"Alright." the royal sighed. "But this better do some good."
"You have my word sir." Robin reassured him. "I will never forget this my lady." he said taking Rapunzel's hand and putting it to his lips.
"It's really nothing." she said embarrassed.
"No you have given me so much. I will owe you for the rest of my life."
"Yeah well, I'm getting kinda fond of you knave." She confessed then pulling Robin into a hug. Pulling away she said "Go! take care you no good Hood."
"I shall." he nodded to the prince and left.
"So the DarkOne still your only friend?"
"I guess I got a few more." she shrugged.
"So do I get to know your name yet?"
"What is my name?" she asked teasing.
"Oh come on. I let your thief go, and gave him half his weight in gold and silver. You will have your own room in my wife's castle. I think I've earned it." He complained.
"My name is Rapunzel."
"Its very nice to met you Rapunzel." He smiled then started laugh to himself.
"Why are you laughing?" she asked a little offended.
"How was I supposed to ever guess 'Rapunzel'?" He asked still laughing. "It's just as bad as trying to guess 'Rumpelstiltskin' as a name."