A/N: So I actually finished this chapter yesterday, but I want to look over it before I posted it. For me, I see this scene as a slight change in how Rapunzel sees Flynn, and I wanted to make sure that it came across like I wanted. It pretty much does, so here you go! As always, thank you to those who are reading and review my story :) A very Happy New Year's to you!

Disclaimer: I do not own Tangled.

Chapter 6-The Outside World

"She had not known the weight until she felt the freedom!"

-Nathaniel Hawthorne, The Scarlet Letter

After Flynn Rider and I had our fantastically fun tete a tete, he informed me that we needed to leave the tower now, or we would not cover enough ground that day. I agreed, and in turn, I told him to lead the way. Naturally, he did and started climbing down the tower with part of a broken arrow, all the while assuring me that nothing could ever harm me when I was in the company of the incredibly good-looking, unbelievably intelligent rogue, Flynn Rider. Loyal listener, I'm pretty sure you can guess my reaction to that (If you guessed a very large eye roll, you're right).

I hastily walked over to my tower's window, not wanting to hold up the irrepressible Flynn Rider, with Pascal on my shoulder and Hesty under my arm. But as soon as I had placed my hair over the hook, uncertainty and apprehension covered me like a very stifling blanket. As I looked out the window, my heart pounding a mile a minute, I finally realized what I was doing: After almost 18 years of living in a tower, I was leaving. I was leaving the only home I had ever known to enter a world that my mother had told me was dangerous and scary. I hesitated, unsure of which option I preferred: A tower that threatened to suffocate me with boredom, but would protect me at the same time, or a world with lanterns that I longed to see, but could potentially harm me. Inwardly, I went back and forth- should I stay? Should I go?

My shilly-shallying was not lost on Flynn Rider, of course. "You coming, Blondie?" he called, already a third of the way of the way down the tower.

I barely heard him over my beating heart. I couldn't tear my eyes away from the view from the tower. I had, of course, looked out the window many times, and each time I thought it was beautiful- numerous green trees, lush grass, a swiftly falling waterfall. But this was the first time I was actually about to physically see it for myself. "Look at the beautiful world out there, Pascal," I murmured. "It's so close and big! Do I even dare to leave?" He glanced at me, with a grin. Certainly you should, Rapunzel. Just get out there and do it. I smiled back as I tightened my grip on my hair. "All right, then. Here I go!"

I jumped out of my tower, using my hair as a guide, and passed a very surprised looking Flynn Rider on my way down. Exhilaration filled my veins, as I traveled closer and closer to the ground. Finally, I was there and grass was only inches beneath my feet. I cautiously touched one toe to the ground. Would it be everything that I dreamed it would be?

Oh, it was! The outside world was everything I had imagined it would be, and even more. The grass smelled heavenly, and the summer breeze seemed to call out to me- Rapunzel, we're so glad you've finally come outside. I started running, completely forgetting about Flynn Rider, because I felt so free. I was free from the tower, and even from my mother's protectiveness. It tasted so good that I, for the first time, realized how incredibly horrible it was to be cramped up in that tower. I felt so happy, but part of me couldn't believe that I had ignored my mother's warnings and left the tower. "I can't believe I did this," I muttered to Pascal. "I can't believe I did this," I repeated, for the first time fully understanding what I had done. It also dawned on me how furious Mother would be if she found out that I had left the tower and disobeyed her.

Suddenly, the apprehension that I felt up in the tower came back to me, in full force. But this time it came with a twist. Instead of being torn between the tower and the outside, I was conflicted between my own desires and obedience to my mother. My emotions went up and down like a see-saw, from one extreme to the other. One moment I would be enthralled with what I had done, the next berating myself for disobeying my mother (all you fans of Flynn Rider will be happy to hear that he actually put up with me quite patiently as I talked myself through this. Although Pascal told me later about all the irritated looks and glares that he made):

"Mother would be so furious if she found out."

"That's okay, what she doesn't know won't kill her."

"Oh my gosh, this would kill her!"

"This is so fun!"

"I am a horrible daughter. I'm going back."

"I am never going back!"

"I am a despicable human being!"

"Whoo-hoo! Best-Day-Ever!

Soon, I was emotionally spent and began to cry uncontrollably, burying my face in my hands. Pascal tried to comfort me, but to no avail. I was completely frozen by indecision and I didn't know what to do. I wanted to go see the lanterns badly, but my love for my mother drew me back to the tower. What am I going to do? What am I going to do?

Finally, I head a throat clear behind me. I quickly glanced up, wondering who it was (silly of me, I know. But I was really upset). Oh, it's just Flynn Rider. I wonder what he's going to mock me about this time.

He surprised me, though, by what he said and how kindly he said it. "You know, I couldn't help but notice that you're a little at war with yourself."

Completely stunned that not only was he not mocking me, but he also sounded like he wanted to help. "What?" I asked. Maybe he's not as immune to feelings as he appears to be.

He held up his hands. "Now I'm only picking up bits and pieces," he said. "Over-protective mother, forbidden road trip. This is serious stuff."

The word surprise doesn't go far enough to describe what I felt then. Was he actually sympathizing with me? No teasing? No joking about how I was acting like an indecisive idiot? Perhaps I've judged him too harshly. He seems to actually care about my feelings.

He continued, gently. "But let me ease your conscience. This is part of growing up. A little rebellion, a little adventure. That's good, healthy even." I watched as Pascal jumped on his shoulder, and he quickly flicked him off.

I chuckled inwardly. At least one thing about Flynn Rider seemed constant: He was not overly fond of Pascal. I processed what he was saying as I rubbed my hand across my teary eyes. What I was feeling was normal? Healthy? "You think?" I asked finally.

He leaned one foot against the rock behind me and resumed his lecture. "I know! You're way over-thinking this, trust me. Does your mother deserve this? No. Would this break her heart, and crush her soul? Of course. But you just got to do it."

What I was doing could emotionally hurt my mother? Of course, I realized that, but tear her heart in two? What kind of daughter was I? "Break…her heart?" I repeated slowly.

He picked something from the plant behind us. "In half."

What was the other thing he had said? Crush her soul? How could I do that to my poor mother? "Crush her…soul?"

He squished whatever he had picked between his fingers, as if to emphasize his point. "Like a grape."

My mother would be hurt if she found out that I had left the tower. I was surprised that his words were so true, and I was even more surprised when he gently helped me up. "She would be heartbroken, you're right" I told him.

He seemed to process that for a minute. "Hmmm. I am, aren't I? Oh bother," he muttered.

I felt my face fall, with the growing realization that I could damage my relationship with my mother. Oh, what should I do?

He noticed my facial expression (I was actually starting to wonder if there was anything that he didn't notice) and seemed to come to a conclusion. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm letting you out of the deal."

I was completely and utterly shocked, and thoughts of my mother went flying out of my head. After all we had been through, he was willing to just forgo our agreement? "What?"

He picked up Pascal and Hesty, who had been lying at my feet, and started to push me in the direction of the tower. "That's right. Let's just turn around and get you home" he assured me. I was totally dumbfounded, and had a new appreciation for his surprised looks in the tower. This is what it must have felt to have something you had counted on being completely erased. For him, it was his ability to talk himself out any deal except mine. And for me, it was the assurance of finally seeing the lanterns.

He shoved Pascal and Hesty into my hands, as he continued. "Here's your pan and your frog." Chameleon, I corrected silently. "I get back my satchel and you get back a mother-daughter relationship based on mutual trust and voila! We part ways as unlikely friends."

I found myself growing increasingly annoyed as he talked. A mother-daughter relationship built on mutual trust? That's a laugh! Mother didn't trust me at all, and I hated that. Fueled by my anger, I came to my final decision and stopped dead in my tracks. "No," I insisted loudly. "I am seeing those lanterns!"

In turn, he became irritated. "Oh, come on!" he protested. "What's it going to take for me to get my satchel back?"

Um, you fulfilling your end of the deal? For the unnumbered time that day, I shoved Hesty into his face. "I will use this," I threatened. He quickly put his arms up, as if to protect himself. As he did that, I was plagued by indecision. Should I hit him again, and then endure the hassle of trying to wake him up? Or should I just continue to threaten him, but not act on it? Pascal, now seated on my shoulder, seemed to want the former. Hit him. Hard.

I never was able to decide between the two, however. Immediately, I heard rustling in a bush behind us and I was overcome with terror. In fact, I was so scared that I didn't think for a moment and just impulsively jumped onto Flynn Rider's back, hoping that Hesty would be able to protect us. My mother's warnings about scary men echoed in my mind, and my heart beat rapidly in my chest

"Is it ruffians? Thugs? Have they come for me?" I said, panicked. I clung fearfully to his shoulders. In the back of my mind, I was somewhat surprised that he didn't seem nervous at all. And, of course, his nonchalance was valid in the end. I decided later that it would take much more than rustling to scare an experienced thief like him (but, of course, I didn't know he was a thief then).

Instead of big, burly men, a small, non-threatening rabbit bounded out of the bushes. It was actually very cute looking with an adorable fuzzy tail.

Flynn Rider couldn't resist any opportunity to be facetious. "Stay calm," he said dryly. "It can probably smell fear."

Completely overcome with embarrassment, I slid off his back. I was also totally mortified that I had thrown myself on him. "Oh, sorry!" I apologized bashfully. "I guess I'm just a little bit…jumpy!"

He straightened his vest since it had gotten slightly lopsided when I clung to his back. "Probably be best if we avoided ruffians and thugs though."

I forced a slight laugh, as my heart rate slowed back down to normal. Please! "Yeah, that would probably be best. Who knows what I'd do if I actually saw one?"

Suddenly, a scheming glint appeared in his eyes. What is he thinking now? "Are you hungry?" he asked. "I know of a great place for lunch."

Slightly surprised by this apparent non-sequitur, I couldn't help asking him a question. "Where?" Aren't you going to protest our deal some more? You are so completely unpredictable!

He laughed. "Oh, don't worry," he assured me. "You'll know it when you smell it."

I would know it…when I smelled it? Dubiously, I followed him. After all, what other choice did I have if I wanted to see the lanterns?