No Happy Endings
By: The Duchess of Arendelle
Rapunzel: A Wilted Flower
AN: May be some triggers ahead. Read with caution and I apologize for any mistakes.
"Rapunzel! Come to me dear!" Rapunzel sighed deeply. It was mother again. The blonde put down her book, she had read it 137 times anyway, and trudged down the stairs. There, she saw Gothel waiting for her with an overly sweet smile and the silver hairbrush that had become a permeant fixture in her life. Gothel used the hand that wasn't holding the brush to beckon Rapunzel over.
"Come here bobsie and let mother brush your hair, she's feeling a little saggy today." She told Rapunzel as the girl closed the distance between them. Rapunzel obediently sat on the floor in front of the fireplace as her mother situated herself behind her.
"You know the routine, sing for me flower." Gothel said impatiently. Rapunzel nodded her head and began the song.
"Flower gleam and glow.
Let your power shine.
Make the clock reverse, bring back what once was mine.
Heal what has been hurt.
Change the fate's design.
Save what has been lost, bring back what once was mine.
What once was mine…"
Rapunzel sang the song she knew the words to before she could even understand what words meant. Gothel looked on, brushing her 'daughter's' hair with an evil gleam as it began to shine brighter than the fire burning next to them. She felt her body began to rejuvenate. Her skin became tighter and wrinkles disappeared. By the time Rapunzel finished the song, Gothel was completely renewed.
"Oh thank you Punzie dear, your mother feels much better. Now! How about I make your favorite, hmm? Hazelnut soup." She said excitedly, oblivious to the distressed look on her daughter's pale face.
Things had never been same between them since Rapunzel had reluctantly returned from her short lived outing away from the tower. It was seven years ago now and she was no longer that hyper eighteen year old. Rapunzel had really wanted to see those lights, but just mere hours after her and the charming thief, Flynn Rider had left on their adventure, her mother quickly caught up with them and had Flynn thrown in prison on kidnapping and theft charges. She came back happily the next day with news of Flynn's execution. Rapunzel had blamed herself for that and decided it was better to stay put and listen to her mother, lest she ruin anybody else's life.
"That sounds fine mother." She replied quietly. Gothel hummed and rose from her seated position, swiftly making her way to the kitchen. Rapunzel remained settled on the floor, staring into the flames, thinking. Was this it? Was this all she was ever going to know? She had tasted freedom for maybe three hours and it had been at the cost of someone's life. Flynn was not only the only other person she had ever met, but also the only man she had ever laid eyes on in her entire life. It was strange, mother had always told her that men were evil, beastly creatures with pointy teeth and were only after one thing. Flynn hadn't been like that. Sure he was a little rough around the edges, but that's what drew her to him. She often thought of Flynn. Especially on those lonely nights where the silence was suffocating and the walls began to close in. She would think of his sly smile, his full laugh, the little crook in his nose, and for a second she would feel again. Then she would hear her mother's footsteps creak outside her door and she would close her eyes, pretending to be asleep. Her mother would stop and she'd hear the door slowly creak open as mother made sure she was still there.
Rapunzel sighed again as Pascal jumped into her lap. She stroked his head lightly as she continued to let her mind wonder. Suddenly she felt her chest tighten and she prepared herself for another coughing fit. These fits of violent coughing had started to become more and more frequent. She would often find herself doubled over on the floor, coughing her lungs out as she tasted blood on her tongue. They had started about a year after her eighteenth birthday and had since been progressing in frequency and severity. In the beginning, Gothel had been slightly worried, she couldn't have her flower dying on her. How would she revitalize herself then? But soon she became use to it and completely ignored Rapunzel when she saw the girl coughing on the floor, tears streaming from her eyes. Today was no different and as the bitter taste of blood filled her mouth she hurriedly rose from the floor, running past the kitchen and up the stairs into her personal bathroom. She spit the crimson liquid out and watched as it went down the drain. She remained over the sink and rode out her coughing episode.
****TANGLED****
Rapunzel had been steadily becoming weaker. The blonde had lost a considerate amount of weight. No matter how much food Gothel shoved down her throat, the girl couldn't keep any weight on. She had also turned ghost white and was often seen shuffling around the tower in a dazed state. Gothel didn't know what to do, her flower was withering right before her eyes, and that wouldn't do. She needed Rapunzel to be fresh and healthy so she herself could be fresh and healthy. When Rapunzel had gone three straight days without leaving her room even once, Gothel really began to worry. On the fourth day and still no Rapunzel she decided to check in on the blonde. She lightly tapped on Rapunzel's door, balancing a bowl of soup with one hand and turning the door's knob with the other.
"Hello, flower! I thought I'd bring you your favorite! Hazelnut so-" Gothel cut herself off when she saw the state Rapunzel was in. The blonde princess laid limply on her bed. She was white as a sheet and her cheeks were sunken. Dark circles adorned each of her eyes. The girl looked like she was at death's door. Gothel quickly ran over to her and checked for a pulse. She sighed in relief when she felt one, albeit faint.
"Hold on flower, mother's going to fix this!" Gothel said as she repositioned the sickly blonde in her bed and covered her with more blankets.
"M- mother?" Rapunzel murmured out, dazedly. Gothel quickly turned to look at her.
"Yes flower?" she said, moving to the girl's side. Rapunzel murmured something incoherently then passed out. Gothel looked at her for a second then ran down stairs. She strode over to a door located just behind the staircase. She had always kept it locked, it had been as off limits to Rapunzel as going outside was. Gothel felt around the border of the door frame and retrieved the key. Unlocking the door, she threw it open and hurried inside. Shutting the door behind her, she lit a candle and looked around. The room was small. The air was stale and filled with dust. Shelves filled with big, heavy, old books aligned the walls. She quickly made her way over to the bookcase farthest from the door. She brought the candle up to illuminate the books in light. She perused her selection only for a moment before finding what she was looking for. Snatching the black leather bound book from its place she walked over to the old wooden desk in the corner. Throwing the book on the desk, she sat the candle down as well and opened the pages. Flipping through the worn pages she stopped when she saw a picture of a flower surrounded by the sun.
"Ah here! What does it say?" Gothel read over the faded text. All color drained from her face when she read over a section it seemed she had missed all those years ago.
"The flower may heal with all its shine, but overuse will surely cause its demise."
Gothel had been using the healing power more than strictly necessary over the years that's for sure.
"The vessel that holds the flower's glow, will perish but the flame won't go." What did that even mean? Wait. The vessel that holds the flower's glow. That's Rapunzel.
"And if I'm reading this correctly, even if the girl dies I would still be able to somehow harvest her power. I would still be able to look young and beautiful! But how can I extract the power from Rapunzel? If I knew how to do that I wouldn't have taken the brat in the first place." She thought out loud. Gothel let out a frustrated groan then continued to read on, unaware of the presence of another.
****TANGLED****
Rapunzel, in all her sickness, regained consciousness and slowly climbed out of bed. She felt her body protest but she pushed forward. She had to see her mother. She had to thank the woman for all she'd done for her. For always protecting and looking after her. Rapunzel felt the life draining from her body and knew her time was limited. As she made her way down the stairs, she clutched on to the railing, weak and barely able to walk. Pascal sat sadly on her shoulder as the girl made it down the last step.
"Mother?" she called out weakly. She received no answer but heard a voice coming from under the steps. She looked around and saw the forbidden door cracked open. She was always told never to go in there, never to even approach it. Being sick did nothing to quash her curiosity and she slowly shuffled over to the door. Pepping through the crack, she saw her mother, clocked in darkness with only a single candle lighting her, bent over a book and reading aloud.
"The vessel that holds the flowers glow, will perish but the flame won't go." Her mother read the part aloud then stayed quiet for a moment. Rapunzel was about to make her presence known when she heard her mother speak again. It seemed as though she was thinking out loud and Rapunzel listened quietly.
"And if I'm reading this correctly, even if the girl dies I would still be able to somehow harvest her power. I would still be able to look young and beautiful! But how can I extract the power from Rapunzel? If I knew how to do that I wouldn't have taken the brat in the first place."
Rapunzel was shocked by the words that had just left her mother's mouth. She heard Pascal growl on her shoulder and put a finger to her mouth, motioning for him to stay quiet. She continued to watch on as her mother took several more books from the shelf and studied them. So it was all a lie? Her mother had never really loved her, only her powers? Was Gothel even really her mother? The more Rapunzel stood there in silence, thinking and watching her so called mother look for different ways to save not her but her powers, the more she grew infuriated. How dare this – this witch do this to her? It was her fault Rapunzel never got to live a life of her own. It was her fault Flynn Rider was dead. It was her fault Rapunzel felt alone and empty inside. And it was her fault Rapunzel was now dying. Just as those thoughts crossed her mind, she heard Gothel yell out in joy.
"Yes! I've found it! I've finally found a way to extract the power of the sun flower! And who would have thought it would take that brat dying for me to do so?" she said cheerfully hopping up and down.
"Now I just have to gather these ingredients and get Rapunzel to drink the potion before she dies." She said to herself, writing down the list of the things she would need. Rapunzel had seen enough. As quickly as she could walk in her condition, which wasn't very, she went back up the stairs and laid in her bed. But not before making a quick stop to her 'mother's' room.
****TANGLED****
"Flower?" Gothel sang out, out of breath as she made her way to Rapunzel's room. She had been gone for hours and because Rapunzel was in no condition to hold her own weight, let alone Gothel's, the evil witch had to climb down and up the tower's walls herself. As soon as she returned, she had thrown together the mixture and stealthily poured it in the leftover Hazelnut soup. Gothel had bursted through Rapunzel's door, caring motherly smile in place as she held the bowl of soup with both hands. Rapunzel weakly looked up at the woman she had once called mother. That smile looked so fake, how could she have ever thought this woman cared for her? Gothel swiftly made her way to Rapunzel's bedside and kneeled beside the girl.
"Here flower, eat this, it will make you feel better." Gothel said in a tone that had Rapunzel marveling at how sweetly she could lie. Rapunzel stared at the bowl then at Gothel.
"You're not my real mother… are you?" Rapunzel asked quietly. Gothel looked shocked, then quickly changed her expression to false confusion.
"My sweet flower, what are you talking about? It must be the fev-" Rapunzel cut her off by weakly lifting her hand.
"Don't. Don't lie to me Gothel. I'm dying and we both know it. At least grant me the courtesy of knowing the truth about who I really am." Rapunzel said firmly. Gothel's features turned cold and she smirked. For the tinniest of seconds, Rapunzel was shocked. She had never seen her 'mother' pull a face like that. Then she remembered, this wasn't her mother. This was Gothel's true self. Gothel laughed wickedly and continued to smirk.
"Curious little flower. Were you lurking around places you shouldn't have been?" she asked, manner completely different from mere seconds ago. Rapunzel held firm, refusing to be intimidated by this ghastly woman. Gothel pressed on.
"No, I'm not your mother. Your mother was- is – a selfish fool who consumed what wasn't hers to save her own life. You want to know who your parents are? Look no further than those lanterns you wanted to so desperately go see. Those imbeciles actually believed I would let you out of my sight long enough for you to follow those things to them." She laughed cruelly, throwing her head back. Tears wiled in Rapunzel's eyes, she knew those lanterns meant something. She had always been drawn to them, even after Flynn's death, she still longed for the chance to see the lanterns. Rapunzel sniffed, but refused to let the tears fall.
"Who are my parents?" she asked through the lump in her throat. Gothel smiled.
"Why, the king and queen of Corona of course."
Rapunzel's eyes widened. She was the lost princess Flynn had spoken about?
"You're lying." She said firmly. Gothel smirked.
"Sweetie, I couldn't make this stuff up if I tried." Gothel responded dryly.
"So… I'm the lost princess?" she asked in disbelief. Just then she felt her chest tighten and the coughing fit soon followed. She knew that this was it. She wouldn't survive this and she had one more question to ask. Gothel looked on in panic as she brought the bowl to Rapunzel's mouth. The blonde moved her head away and spoke through her coughs.
"I- I – I just have o-ne *cough, cough, cough* m- more question, then I'll accept my fate." She said weakly. Gothel had no room to argue as time was running out.
"Fine, fine. What is it?" she asked impatiently. Rapunzel struggled to catch her breath for a moment then breathed out.
"Did you ever really love me?" she asked, staring up at Gothel. Gothel looked down at Rapunzel and smiled sweetly, bringing a hand up to wipe the blood from the corner of the blonde's mouth.
"Oh flower… of course not…" she said in the same sickly sweet voice. "Now eat up, we don't have much time."
Rapunzel shook her head in understanding.
"Alright, th- there's just one more thing…" she said, reaching under her pillow. Gothel rolled her eyes and huffed in exasperation.
"What no-" she was cut off when she saw Rapunzel suddenly sit up in her bed. The blonde had something firmly clutched in her hand and upon further inspection, Gothel saw it was her dagger. In an instant, Rapunzel held the sharp dagger close to Gothel's throat.
"I trusted you. I cared for you. I loved you." She said angrily. Gothel looked down at the knife and then at Rapunzel.
"Go ahead, do it. Kill me. End my life." Gothel dared. She was gambling her life right now but she took the chance. When Rapunzel didn't move she smirked.
"You can't do it can you?" she asked, taunting the girl. Rapunzel's hand shook.
"Just give up flower and die peacefully." She said, moving to take hold of the knife. Rapunzel stuck the dagger closer to her throat and Gothel paused as she felt the tinniest trickle of blood run down her skin.
"You're wrong Gothel, I can kill you." And with that said, Rapunzel removed the knife from Gothel's throat and brought it to her hair, chopping it off in one fatal swoop. Gothel's eyes widened and she screamed out.
"NOOOOOOOOO!" she yelled launching for Rapunzel. She grabbed the chopped of tresses, holding on to them as they turned from golden blond to chestnut brown. She looked up at Rapunzel with unabashed fury.
"You little shit!" she screamed as she grabbed the girl around the throat only to stop mid squeeze. Gothel looked at her hands and her eyes widened even more. They were rapidly aging. She removed her hands from Rapunzel's throat and brought them to her face. Wrinkles. Wrinkles. Wrinkles. She felt her body begin to shrivel up. Rapunzel watched the whole scene in stunned silence. Gothel's body literally began to crumble and turn into dust. Helplessly she looked up at Rapunzel and reached out a hand.
"Flower..." She croaked. "Please…"
Rapunzel frowned down at Gothel and backed away, feeling the strength return to her once frail body.
"I am not your flower."