They walked in silence, until Astrid broke it.

"Ruffnut, Heather…"

The two girls glanced at her, and Ruff raised her eyes.

She took a deep breath. "I am so sorry for this. Now neither of you will become princesses."

Heather shrugged. "Don't sweat it. Who wants a tiara anyway? All they do is make your head itch."

"And it's not easy to keep them from falling either," Ruff added with a smile, "Plus Tuff's been waiting for me to go to jail since we were born."

The girls let out small disheartened laughs at this. Silence was about to claim them once more when a voice behind them yelled, "Stabbington!"

They all turned, and there was Rapunzel, looking superior, and very smug. "You may turn the prisoners over to me. I have something else in mind for them."

He hesitated. "But my orders -"

"Will eventually come from me in just a few short hours. They keys?" She held her hand out.

Rapunzel knew how to get what she wanted.

Stabbington gave them to her. "They're all yours."

"Thank you. You may go."

All three girls stared the princess down. Heather was the first to speak. "If you've come to gloat, you don't have to."

"Yeah," Ruff agreed, "We get it. You won."

"Shh!" Rapunzel looked over her shoulder.

"What are you -"

"I'm not supposed to be here," she hissed, "Mother's probably looking for me." Her expression softened and she turned to Astrid. "Tell me, are you really Princess Astoria?"

Astrid's eyes widened. "I - I don't know for sure! How did you -"

"I heard you guys. At the gallery. And for what it's worth," she added, "I think you are the princess."

"Wait," Ruff cut in, "Why are you even here?"

Rapunzel rummaged in a small bag she had been carrying and took out an old looking piece of parchment. "This is a map of the palace basement. There's something of yours inside the vault." She wore a small smile.

Even before Astrid opened the map, she knew. "Berk's magical crown!"

"You have to find it. Before I'm crowned. Once that happens, it's too late. Berk's mine for life." Rapunzel's shoulders sagged helplessly.

She stared at her, confused. "You don't want that?"

"I want what's right. Now, I'll leave a window open for you on the third floor. East Wing. Good luck!" She ran off, not giving them time to thank her.

"Well, then," Heather said, eyebrows raised, "I guess we're back into the game."

Toothless knew what to do. Probably because she looked so much like her mother, he obeyed her every command without hesitation. There was a guard who was watching the east side of the castle like a hawk. The dog ran up to him, and snached his flashlight right out of his hand.

"Hey, Toothle - Toothless! Come back here!"

Besides the black dog, the girls' only other companion was Stormfly, who they had run into. The other two fairies weren't there, and there certainly wasn't time to find them. Quickly, quietly, the girls ran up to the wall, and Ruff took out a rope from her bag.

"Let's hope Rapunzel did what she said she would," Astrid muttered, looking up at the third window, trying to see if it was open. Stormfly took the rope and flew up, then disappeared for a minute, confirming that the princess had indeed opened the window. The fairy came out with her thumbs up.

"Alright. You sure this will work, Ruff?"

"Not really," her friend quipped, and when she was met with alarming looks, she raised her hands in surrender. "Joking, jok9ing! Just don't look down."

They began climbing. It was not an enjoyable task, the rope burned her hands and she thought she would slip more than once.

But they all made it, whooping softly. "Now all we have to do is -"

"Rapunzel, why are you still up? You should be sleeping, you've got a big day tomorrow!"

"Hide!" Astrid hissed frantically. All three of them jumped into the next hallway, hearts pounding and teeth almost chattering.

Astrid closed her eyes. She heard Gothel's heel's soft click as the woman walked their way, and then, by a miracle, dismissed whatever she may have heard and walked away. They were safe.

For now.

For now...
Was Rapunzel's redemption enough? Will the girls find the crown? Why do I feel like the Spongebob narrator?
XD Hope you liked this chapter...