"What's a bounty?" Rapunzel asked. They had been walking through the forest for a while now. Their steps soft, neither making much noise. Sweat rolling down between her breasts and caused her dress to cling to her torso in an uncomfortable way.

Mando didn't even pause, he just kept up his pace two steps ahead of her. "A bounty is a person being apprehended for a fee by a bounty hunter."

"You, being a bounty hunter."

"Yes." He responded.

Her eyes roamed over the armor and weapons that covered his whole body. She couldn't help but feel curious about what he looked like under it all. Was he human, like her? What were the color of his eyes? Was he as muscular and lean as he seemed?

"You should know all this." Mando stated plainly.

Rapunzel's brow furrowed. "Know what? About bounties?"

"About the universe. About everything." Mando stepped over a fallen tree truck, having to leverage a foot in the side of the trunk to leap over it. "What did your mother teach you?"

Rapunzel shrugged. Her hair wrapped around her whole right arm and tied off at her wrist. It kept getting snagged on roots, vines, plants, basically everything in the forest. "Just stuff. Math, history, reading, writing..." She trailed off. She didn't get what he was driving at. Mother and Stacy both taught her everything. Mother even told her about the world outside the tower and how dangerous it was, though she never mentioned how beautiful it all was... Her eyes lingered on the small tree smushed by the fallen one, though it still stood strong. White little flowers covered the limbs and some fluttered to the ground.

Mando didn't respond. He watched passively as Rapunzel nibbly climbed the smaller trees limbs till she could step onto the fallen log and climb down next to him. He almost hated that he admired her. She had grit and determination, never asking for help till she realized she had no way to do it herself. He also realized he had a weak spot for those in tough situations. Always had, he just learned to push it down and stay detached over the years.

But something slipped through. That's all it was. Mando turned around and kept walking. He'd get off Corona and leave Rapunzel and never have to deal with her again. He ignored the twist in his gut.

It's for the best.

Deep in that very same forest a golden guard droid with dinted armor hunted.

It had already sent word back about the criminal scum in armor, now it just had to find him.

Not far from the droid walked a woman, face hidden in a deep hooded cloak.

She paused at the sight of the guard. "A palace guard droid." She breathed. Her voice barely a whisper.

"Rapunzel!" She gasped and turned. Her robes flew behind her as she rushed to the tower.

An empty tower.

Soon, the droid wouldn't be the only one hunting.

Yes. Yes. I know. It's a very short chapter. I'll add another within a day to make it up to you! I thought about combining chapter 6 and 7, but I think it reads better this way.

Reviewer question: Would anyone like little holiday one shots? E.g. Valentine's Day, Easter, Halloween, Christmas, etc. They would not necessarily fit in the current timeline, maybe set in the future, and would not be a part of the plot. Just good holiday fluff. Yes? No? Maybe? Let me know!

Happy New Year!