A/N: It's...well...it's pirates. I have nothing more to add to this except I watched "Pirates of The Caribbean" before I wrote this chapter.

Rapunzel was afraid as she looked around at all the scowling and sinister men that surrounded her. And unlike usual she didn't berate herself for her fear, because this fear was not silly like being afraid of thunder or spiders. This fear was perfectly logical and understandable. What Governor's daughter wouldn't be scared when she was surrounded by pirates and miles away from any decent Human beings or potential saviors?

She was stuck, trapped, and for her safe return a hefty ransom would be demanded no doubt. As cherished as she was to her Father and Mother she was sure it would be paid, no matter how high the number went. But even then she doubted she'd get out of this alive. Pirates were a cut-throat bunch, ones that would much rather slit a few throats then leave a single survivor. Yes, even with a ransom paid she'd probably be killed, unfortunately for her. Because of these suspicions, if not truths, she was having trouble not crying and could barely contain the shivers of fear that raked through her body.

"Well, well, well," Rapunzel whirled around to see a man with white hair and eyes as blue as the sea they were sailing approaching her. She instinctively took a few steps back only to bump into a large man with a hook for a hand and she would have screamed if not for the gag in her mouth. She felt like a trapped rat as the man came even closer to her, an amused smirk on his lips. ",what do we have here, eh boys?"

Rapunzel flinched when a cool finger began to trace her jaw and tears pricked her eyes at the laughter of the men around her but she blinked them back stubbornly. "I'm a strong girl", she chanted to herself half-heartedly, trying to stop herself from showing weakness. She was not a coward! Yes she was afraid and, yes she was entirely sure was going to be murdered at some time or another. But she wasn't going to face death like a quivering idiot! No, she'd look both death and her killer right in the eyes with her chin up high and an air of dignity. Because she was a Corona.

And how could she have told her parents that she could take care of herself and back down when the chance to prove it was pretesented to her? She couldn't, or else she'd be a liar, and Rapunzel never lied. So with these thoughts in mind she stuck her chin up high, squared her shoulders and scowled up at the man touching her with as much defiance as she could muster. He only chuckled harder.

Her confidence waned. She must look a bit amusing, a bit weak, standing there trying to look intimidating when she was gagged and her hands were bound. She entertained the thought of stomping on his foot but decided against it. Brave and foolish were two very different things.

"Out of me way ye' bums! Ye' heard me! Move it!" A voice that demanded obedience and respect made it's way to Rapunzel's ears and her eyes went wide as saucers. The voice sounded as if it- it did! It belonged to a woman!

Rapunzel stared at said woman who stood just behind her teasing tormentor in awe. She had wild red-hair that looked like it had never seen a comb and wore the clothes of a man. She looked fierce and despite her abundance of scars, grimy face and overall rugged appearance, Rapunzel couldn't help but find her rather...well, beautiful in a wild sort of way.

"Mister Frost!" The woman snapped making the man jump to attention and nearly trip over himself trying to face her quickly enough. And for a moment Rapunzel had thought he was in charge, this was now, obviously not the case.

"Captain Merida!" 'So that's her name', Rapunzel thought it suited her and it sounded nice to, she wished she could say the name herself and test if it felt as good rolling off the tongue as it did to hear it.

"What are ye' doing to the captive?" She demanded hotly.

"Teasing her!" He replied with a cheeky grin, his momentary panic over and Captain Merida rolled her eyes.

"If ye weren't me first mate you'd have gone overboard long ago, Frost."

"Well than lucky me!"

Merida rolled her eyes again and walked around 'Frost' to stand in front of her. She regarded the woman curiously and after a moment of them both staring each other down Merida untied the dirty gag from her mouth...and then gave her an expectant look that made Rapunzel scowl.

"If you want a 'thank you', Captain Merida, you might as well throw me overboard because you won't get it!" Everyone on deck tensed. No one, disrespected the Captain. She was a fierce lady whose temper was legendary. The only reason no one died everyday onboard "The Red DunBroch" was because her crew was her family, but a captive mouthing off! Why, they almost felt bad for the poor girl!

But the reaction everyone got was very different than what was expected. Captain Merida laughed, not a chuckle, a loud, hearty laugh before clapping Rapunzel on the shoulders and giving her a wink. "Quite the little firecracker aren't ye'? Come, let's have a wee chat in me quarters. Mister Frost go get Mister Haddock and then come join us will ye'?"

"Yes ma'am!" Frost nodded before running off to go find this 'Mister Haddock' and Rapunzel groaned.

"What have I gotten myself into?"

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