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Rapunzel laughed as she felt the warm breeze blow through her long golden hair. She smelled the fresh afternoon air, thick with the scent of flower petals and grass, and listened to the sound of hooves beneath her feet, as Maximus and Fidella rode out across the plain. Riding next to her was her girlfriend Cassandra, and while Rapunzel was clearly having the time of her life, Cassandra was anxious, nervous... quiet with trepidation.
“We should stop here for now, Raps,” said Cassandra, whose suggestion could barely be heard over the sound of Rapunzel's ecstatic laughter. “Raps?”
Rapunzel continued onward, giggling and spreading out her arms, letting the wind fly over her body. Cassandra groaned and sped back up, trying to chase the princess down.
“Rapunzel, can you hear me? I said stop...!”
“This is the best day ever!” Rapunzel cried out, still unable to hear Cassandra's admonitions.
“You've said that about hundreds of days! We need to stop, before it gets too late and we go too far, and-”
Rapunzel giggled again, and Cassandra realized that she wasn't getting the message... either she was deliberately ignoring her, or, more likely, she was just too caught up in her own merriment to hear. Either way, she'd need to try a different approach. She commanded Fidella forward, and raced out ahead of Rapunzel, then came to a quick stop, forcing Maximus to do the same.
“Whoa, whoa!” shouted Rapunzel, gripping the reins tightly as Maximus let out a loud whinny. “Cass, what gives? That was kind of dangerous...”
“Sorry I had to do that, but I wanted you to stop and you couldn't hear me,” said Cassandra. She dismounted Fidella and walked over to help Rapunzel down from her own horse. “I think we should go back. We're already way farther out from Corona's walls than we're allowed to be, and I promised when I became your princess knight that I would keep you safe.”
“But we are safe,” said Rapunzel, as Cassandra helped her down. The two were up on a hill, overlooking a wide, open plain, and as they walked up to the crest of the hill, they could see a beautiful landscape before them. Off in the distance, a short plume of chimney smoke indicated the presence of a town. There was a mountain range far across the horizon, and down below, small animals ran freely. Rapunzel looked at the animals and felt free herself, so glad to be outside the constricting walls of the palace. While she loved her new home, and had far more freedom than she ever did living with Gothel, her parents' restrictions on her movement still annoyed her greatly. She wanted to get out there, have adventures, spread her wings... but her father was too worried about her to let her go too far away. Lady Caine and the Circle of Thieves were still on the loose, the mystery of the black rocks was a threat looming over everyone, and who knew what other dangers lurked out beyond the walls? Rapunzel knew why her parents worried, but she craved adventure, and knew she was strong enough to handle anything that came her way. “You and me, out here... we'll be just fine.”
Cassandra wanted to believe Rapunzel... and was certainly brave enough not to be afraid of the threats lurking beyond. She knew Rapunzel was brave as well, and smart, and strong... but she had taken an oath to protect her, even if she knew Rapunzel didn't need as much protection as the king thought she did. She swore to keep Rapunzel from straying too far away, and by allowing her so far outside the walls, she was already breaking that oath... though she valued her promise to Rapunzel even more.
“I know we'll be okay, Raps, but it's your dad that doesn't, and he's the one who calls the shots,” said Cassandra.
“Yes, but do you see him anywhere?” asked Rapunzel with a sly grin on her face.
“That's not the point,” replied Cassandra. “Listen, it's not like I want to go back to Corona-”
“Then let's not! Not until midnight! We'll sneak back in late, no one will ever know where we were!”
Cassandra was surprised to hear such talk, even from a free spirit like Rapunzel. As much as Rapunzel loved being out on adventures, she also didn't like to rock the boat, especially with her new parents. Clearly, the stifling effects of the king's rules and restrictions had had an effect on Rapunzel, and she was growing more and more rebellious by the day... which would make it harder and harder for Cassandra to protect her.
“If I don't take you back, the king might replace me as your princess knight,” said Cassandra.
“I won't let that happen,” Rapunzel replied. Cassandra looked into her eyes, wanting to believe it was true, but she also knew that it was the king who had the final say... and she feared being taken away from Rapunzel, not only because it would make it harder to protect her, but because it might make it hard to spend time with her at all.
“Come on, Rapunzel, we have to go,” said Cassandra, walking back toward Fidella. “We can go back out tomorrow, I promise.”
Cassandra's heart ached to see Rapunzel so disappointed, and as a frown began to cross the princess' face, she almost felt like going along with her and worrying about the consequences later. She climbed back onto Fidella and looked at Rapunzel again, trying to apologize as best she could.
“I'm sorry about this, but I don't want to make your dad upset... he trusts me with you, and I just want to make sure we can spend time together. It won't always be like this, you know. Once the Circle of Thieves is taken down, once we solve the mystery of the rocks, maybe you and I can convince the king to let you go anywhere you want. Just give it a few more months, okay?”
“Okay,” Rapunzel replied, mounting Maximus once more and starting to follow Cassandra as she and Fidella slowly turned and walked back toward Corona. “It's just... I was having so much fun...”
“...I was too, Raps,” said Cassandra, smiling as she turned back toward Rapunzel. “If it were up to me-”
“-so much fun I don't want it to end!” shouted Rapunzel suddenly, laughing as she spun Maximus around in the opposite direction and raced toward the small village off in the distance.
“RAPUNZEL!” shouted Cassandra, whipping Fidella around and taking off after the princess again. “Get back here!”
“Only if you can catch me!” Rapunzel said with a laugh, spreading her arms as if they were wings as Maximus accelerated toward the village.
“Max, why are you helping her?” shouted Cassandra, knowing just how much of a stickler for rules the Royal Guard's #1 horse normally was.
“Because I fed him lots of apples today and he promised to do whatever I wanted, isn't that right, Max?”
Maximus clearly looked embarrassed, but unlike Cassandra, the horse just couldn't say no to the princess. As Cassandra watched in annoyance, Maximus gained even more speed, leaving her and Fidella in the dust.
“Dammit, Fidella, after them!”
Rapunzel turned around and watched as Cassandra was left behind, and though she did worry a bit about her girlfriend and how upset she'd be, she didn't want this adventure to end... not yet, anyway. With a smile on her face and excitement in her heart, Rapunzel kept going until the village loomed. It was a small trading post, strategically positioned near the border of three of the Seven Kingdoms, with a financial standing somewhat outpacing its relatively small population. As Rapunzel and Maximus approached, she looked back for Cassandra once again, but seeing that she was nowhere to be found, Rapunzel decided that she'd slow up and give Cassandra a chance to catch up to them. By the time she did, Rapunzel knew she'd already be in the village, and she hoped Cassandra would see that she was having too much fun eating and shopping to take her back until she was finished.
“What a nice little town,” said Rapunzel, smiling and looking all around as she and Maximus entered. The villagers were friendly, and a couple of them even recognized Rapunzel, waving to her as she rode past. “I'm sure Cassandra will like this place... I'll just find us a nice place for lunch...”
Rapunzel dismounted from Maximus and made her way toward the village's largest structure, a tavern near the town square. She smiled and made her way inside, expecting there to be plenty of food and plenty of people to meet.
“Hello?”
Instead of food or people, there was nothing. The tavern was deserted... though as Rapunzel began to look around for any signs of life, she could hear faint voices coming from down below.
The proprietor must be down there... maybe taking a nap? I shouldn't bother them, but I am starting to get really hungry....maybe I'll just go take a peek.
Rapunzel crept down the stairs, feeling more nervous about interrupting the tavern owner's private time than she was about being in any sort of danger. As she made her way to the basement, the voices got louder... there were several of them, talking in hushed tones, mentioning Corona.
That's strange... thought Rapunzel, descending the bottom step. Why would they be talking about our kingdom when we're so far outside the walls?
She then peeked inside the room, and could see several people crowded around a table, discussing something with an older gentlemen who appeared to be the owner of the tavern.
“You said you could keep that tunnel open for us indefinitely. What's changed?” asked a tall, skinny man who looked to be the leader of the strangely dressed group currently in a discussion with the tavern's owner.
“The guards have been poking around here since your partner Andrew tried stealing that book from Corona!” shouted the tavern owner. “Corona considers it an acts of war, and now I've got people from Neserdnia and Galcrest coming here asking questions about your people! If they knew I was letting you guys use this tunnel, they'd shut the place down and I'd be headed to prison!”
“What's the big problem?” asked a young woman. “This is neutral territory.”
“Technically it's Galcrest territory, it's a free town but Galcrest has jurisdiction over interkingdom affairs, and you Saporians going after Corona concerns everyone!”
“Andrew made a rash decision, but you don't have dealings with his group, you have dealings with mine, and I'll deal with him when we bust him out.”
“Let's just trash this guy's place, Colvin,” said the woman, withdrawing a dagger from her sheath. “If he won't help us, let's put him out on the street like he was about to be before he agreed to let us use his tunnel to the river.”
“No, wait! I... I just need a few days for the heat to die down, then you can use my tunnel all you want!”
Rapunzel had heard just about all she wanted to hear, and she didn't like any of it. Her hand went back to her frying pan, and as she pondered whether to flee the gang of Saporians or fight them, she felt a gloved hand clamp tightly over her mouth.
“Mmmmm....!”
“Quiet!” Cassandra hissed, crouching down right behind Rapunzel. Rapunzel let out a muffled whimper into Cassandra's hand, but it remained in place. “What the hell were you thinking?”
Maybe I could answer if you'd take your hand off my mouth... thought Rapunzel, looking back at Cassandra with an annoyed glare. You scared me!
Cassandra sighed and slowly lowered her hand, though she stayed behind Rapunzel and was ready to drag her out of this dangerous place if she had to.
“Cass, there are Saporians here!” Rapunzel whispered.
“I can see that,” Cassandra whispered back. “And we have to go.”
“Aren't we going to stop them?”
Cassandra blinked, and had to bite her tongue to stop from yelling, lest she alert the Saporians to their presence.
“I wish we could, but this isn't Corona,” whispered Cassandra. “This is Galcrest, and I am a member of Corona's Royal Guard, if we started anything with Saporians here it would cause an interkingdom incident!”
“But Cass-”
“No buts, we go right now!”
Cassandra grabbed Rapunzel by the wrist and began to physically drag her toward the stairs. Rapunzel protested, tugging against Cassandra's grip.
“Let me go!”
“Are you crazy?”
“Cass... Cass!”
Cassandra continued to pull Rapunzel along, and though the two were still whispering as they spoke, she was becoming more and more concerned that their struggles were alerting the Saporians. She dragged Rapunzel with all her strength, just wanting to protect her, just wanting to keep her oath and make sure the two of them could stay together.
“Cass, you're hurting me!”
Cassandra immediately stopped and let Rapunzel go, letting out a quick gasp. Rapunzel stumbled back after Cassandra released her, keeping her balance and looking at her with wide, nervous eyes, as Cassandra looked back with guilt in her own.
“Rapunzel, I-”
As Rapunzel began to speak, she suddenly let out a scream, and was pulled back several feet by her hair.
“Well, what do we have here?”
“Rapunzel!”
As Rapunzel continued to cry out, she was pulled back into the arms of the largest member of the Saporian gang, who wrapped both his arms around her and held her tightly.
“I think I recognize her,” said Colvin, the leader, stepping forward with a smirk on his face. “Rapunzel, the princess of Corona, right?”
“Let me go!” Rapunzel shouted, struggling fiercely and trying to free her arms so she could use her frying pan.
“RAPUNZEL!” Cassandra shouted, running toward the big Saporian as quickly as she could. Before he could react, she leapt up and struck him in the face as hard as she could with a closed fist, knocking him back and forcing him to release the princess. “All of you, get back, now!”
Rapunzel gasped as she was freed, then quickly turned around and backed toward Cassandra, pulling out her frying pan and facing the gang of Saporians, six in all, as they walked toward the two of them. The big one hadn't taken long to recover from Cassandra's punch, and he led the way with Colvin, rubbing his jaw and smirking.
“Now what's the princess of Corona doing all the way out here? Somehow I don't think she's on a diplomatic mission... and is that a member of Corona's royal guard? Attacking Saporians outside of Corona-”
“Just shut the hell up,” said Cassandra, withdrawing her sword and stepping forward.
“We're closing down your.... tunnel thing,” said Rapunzel, pointing her frying pan at the Saporians, even as she and Cassandra continued to back away.
“Uh... uh... uh... it's closed!” shouted the tavern's proprietor, falling to his knees.
“No, it's not,” said the female Saporian, glaring at Rapunzel. “We just have to take care of a couple of problems.”
“You sure about that?' asked another of the Saporians, a younger, smaller man. “That's the princess, we can't-”
The female Saporian then took her dagger and threw it at Cassandra's head. Cassandra just moved to the side and avoided it as it embedded itself in the wall behind her.
“Okay,” said Cassandra, who stopped backing away. “Now it's just self defense.”
Cassandra then ran toward the Saporians as Rapunzel watched with a mix of excitement and nervousness. She elbowed one in the gut, bringing him to his knees, then swung the hilt of her sword into the dagger thrower's jaw, sending her into a daze. The big Saporian grabbed Cassandra from behind, but she quickly reached back and grabbed his unarmored groin, bringing him down quickly as well.
“Well, Raps?” said Cassandra, looking over at the princess. “You wanted adventure, I guess you got it, right?”
“...right!” Rapunzel replied, quickly rushing into the fray toward the leader. Colvin backed off, and two other Saporians stepped up, both of them holding up clubs. Rapunzel smiled, ducking under one swing and decking the Saporian with her frying pan, then turned toward the other, the youngest of the group. “You're just a kid!”
“I'm seventeen!” said the youngest Saporian, looking rather nervous as Rapunzel faced him down.
“Still a kid,” replied Rapunzel, who didn't know whether to swing on him or try and talk things out. Meanwhile, Cassandra was occupied with three other Saporians, and though she'd landed several harsh blows on them, they kept coming back for more.
“Annette, what do we do?” asked the big guy, looking over at the female Saporian.
“What do you think? We outnumber her three to one, we need to kick her ass!”
Cassandra just laughed, pointing her sword at Annette and smirking.
“How's that working out for you so far?”
Annette growled and rushed Cassandra, swinging her fist furiously. Cassandra easily dodged to the side, then drove her knee hard into Annette's gut, bringing her down again.
“Why not stay down this time?” asked Cassandra, placing her sword at the woman's neck. Annette smirked, and Cassandra instinctively looked behind her, expecting either the big guy or the Saporian she'd just elbowed to be back there. Instead, she got a harsh punch to the side from Annette instead. “Nnnnngh! Why'd I fall for that?”
Annette then tackled Cassandra to the ground as hard as she could, knocking the sword from her hand.
“Cass!” Rapunzel screamed, watching her friend go down. Suddenly, she felt a sharp pain in her right leg, and cried out in pain. “Aaaaaaaaaah!”
“Sorry...” said the youngest Saporian, holding up his club. “But Colvin says the Corona royal family are a bunch of evil pigs who need to die!”
“That's terrible!” shouted Rapunzel, holding her afflicted leg. “You know what? I don't care if you are one year younger than me, you're eating this frying pan! Cass?”
“I think you got bigger problems, princess,” said the big Saporian, as he and two of the others advanced toward Rapunzel. As Rapunzel, leg still smarting from the blow she'd took, hobbled back, she watched the four Saporians walk toward her, all armed with either clubs or swords, as she held only a frying pan in her hand. “Get her!”
The Saporians all surrounded Rapunzel, who looked around to see one of them in each direction. She gripped the frying pan tightly, trying her best to remember everything Cassandra had taught her about fighting.
“Face it, princess, you'd better just surrender... we don't wanna hurt ya, you're more valuable to us ransomed off to Corona for everything in the kingdom's coffers!”
“And let Saporia buy an army to start a civil war? I'd rather die,” said Rapunzel, her hands and legs trembling. “Bring it on!”
“Fair enough,” said the big Saporian, as he and his companions rushed Rapunzel.
As he and the youngest one dove on her with their clubs, she let out a shriek and slid out of the way. The two hit the ground on their feet and turned toward Rapunzel, who had just stumbled back into a Saporian armed with a sword. Rapunzel soon felt the glint of Saporian steel against her neck, letting out a gasp.
“Now come quietly,” said the Saporian, “or this blade-”
The Saporian let out a scream as Rapunzel yanked back on the strand of hair she'd managed to lasso around his ankle as he grabbed her, pulling him upward and causing him to drop his sword. She then saw the big guy lunge at her, and swung her frying pan squarely into his skull, knocking him out cold.
That's the big one down, now what about the others...? thought Rapunzel, watching another Saporian slash at her with his sword. There he is!
She parried the blow with her frying pan, then, as he got ready to swing again, she leaped into the air, swinging her hair around at both of the Saporians armed with swords, who had been coming at her from both the front and back. The hair looped around their chests, causing them to slam into one another, knocking both of them out. She then turned toward the young Saporian, who held his club in a defensive stance.
“I'll hit you again!” he shouted. Rapunzel just rolled her eyes and grabbed the club with a strand of hair, yanking it away. He gasped, before Rapunzel then wrapped another strand of hair around him to pin his arms to his sides and suspend him from the ceiling. “Aaaaaaaaaaaah!”
As Rapunzel paced around the young Saporian, he thrashed ferociously, looking at Rapunzel with fear in his eyes, which he didn't once take off her frying pan. She walked around in front of him, fiercely glaring at him as he dangled there helplessly.
“P...please, have mercy...!” shouted the young Saporian, as Rapunzel held her frying pan menacingly in front of him. Rapunzel paced around him, contemplating her next move, then walked around behind him. “Don't hurt me!”
Rapunzel glared fiercely at the young man... then gave him a single swat on the behind with the back of the frying pan, causing him to yelp out before she then dropped him to the floor, releasing him from her hair.
“Now you go straight home and think about what you've done, young man!” shouted Rapunzel, pointing toward the room's exit. The young Saporian didn't have to be told twice, he stood up and ran out of the room as fast as he could, leaving his three fallen companions behind. “Whew...! That was some fight, huh, Cass?”
Rapunzel looked around the room... Colvin and Annette were gone, as was the tavern owner... and Cassandra.
“...Cass?”
Rapunzel scanned the room frantically for Cassandra, but she was nowhere to be found. There were signs of a scuffle, and a few drops of blood on the floor near where Cassandra had fallen, with the only other clue being some faint scuff marks nearby.
Cassandra... did she beat those two and take them outside? No... she wouldn't leave me behind, which can only mean... they've taken her!
Rapunzel followed the scuff marks, but they stopped at the wall at the far end of the room. She gasped, and looked for more clues, but there were none. She looked back up at the wall.
They couldn't have taken her out the other way, the trail leads here, which means...
Rapunzel felt along the wall for any sign of discontinuity, and sure enough, there was a single brick that looked slightly different from the others. She smirked, even allowing herself a quiet laugh. It was one of the most basic secret door puzzles there was... though she imagined that some of the royal guards might have had trouble solving it.
I suppose if you didn't know you were looking for a secret door, you'd be stumped... for a short while at least.
Rapunzel pressed the brick, and the wall slid open, revealing a secret tunnel. Without fear or hesitation, she made her way inside.
I don't care if it's a trap. I don't care what's waiting on the other end. Cassandra needs me.
And as Rapunzel navigated the dark, narrow tunnel, she couldn't help but think that everything that had happened... the detour to the village, their fight with the Saporians, all of it was her fault.
If I'd just gone home like Cassandra told me, none of this would've happened! If I hadn't fought back when she tried to pull me out of here, they wouldn't have spotted us. Whatever happens to Cassandra is because of me... that's why I have to make sure she's safe. I know it's her job to protect me, she's my princess knight... but I'm her princess, I'm responsible for everyone in Corona, including... no, especially her!
The tunnel led to a cave, a cave that led to an underground segment of the nearby river... and after a few minutes of walking, Rapunzel emerged into a large cavern with that underground river nearby.
She crouched down behind a large rock . She could see Colvin and Annette... and several other Saporians who must've come from down the river, standing around a small wooden boat loaded up with supplies.
And there, with them, was Cassandra.
Her arms had been bound behind her back with ropes, while more ropes were tied around her chest, pinning her wrists behind her back. Her ankles had also been tied, and she looked to be giving Colvin and his goons the third degree, angrily protesting her treatment and dragging her feet on the ground to keep from being taken onto the boat.
“Too bad we didn't get your princess, but a high-ranking Corona guard should fetch a decent ransom nonetheless,” said Colvin, smirking at Cassandra. “I think a prisoner exchange might be in order... you for Andrew, maybe throw in some gold while we're at it?”
“You sure she's even worth that much?” asked Annette, her inquiry more taunting than serious.
“That's why it's not such a bad thing if the princess managed to get away,” said Colvin, who then stroked his hand down the side of Cassandra's face. “You two seemed pretty close, let's hope she's in charge of the negotiation...”
“Corona doesn't negotiate with terrorists, you dumb Saporian bastards, now let me go or I'll kill-”
Cassandra's protests were suddenly silenced as a piece of white sticky paper was pressed over her mouth from behind, sealing up her lips and rendering her threats and swears unintelligible. Annette, holding a roll of the sticky material, gave Cassandra a taunting smirk and even stuck her tongue out at her, while Cassandra lunged forward, briefly breaking free of one of the two men holding her and screaming more muffled swears at Annette.
“Terrorists?” said Colvin, briefly placing a hand up to his eye and pretending to wipe away a tear. “That hurts my feelings, we're the rightful rulers of Corona, but now all we want is our own kingdom, I'd hoped your people would understand, but now we have to resort to tactics like these. Too bad, but I do have to admit, it is quite fun watching people like you squirm. All right, get her into the boat, we're headed to Corona!”
Cassandra screamed out another protest as she was pushed toward the boat, though the fear in her eyes as she looked back toward the cave leading to the tavern wasn't for herself, but for Rapunzel, who she knew was still in the midst of a fight of her own when she'd been knocked out from behind by Colvin after managing to fight off Annette.
Raps, I'm sorry for everything... I couldn't protect you, and what's worse, I hurt you... I just hope you made it out... don't throw the kingdom away for me, I'll get out of this somehow and I'll make it back to you, I promise.
Rapunzel watched in fear from behind the rock... but she also felt a rage building up inside her. There were eight Saporians and only one of her, but she'd die before she'd ever let them get Cassandra onto that boat.
Hold on, Cass. I'm coming.
Rapunzel stood up, and with absolutely zero regard for her own safety, walked toward the Saporians with frying pan in hand and a look of pure determination on her face.
“Let. Her. Go.”
Cassandra's eyes widened in terror.
Raps, no! she screamed through the tape, struggling with renewed vigor against the Saporians holding her. Colvin laughed, stepping forward by himself.
“Ah, princess, I see you've come for your girlfriend. A stupid decision, but I admire your spirit.”
“Did I mumble? Let her go, NOW.”
Colvin laughed again, drawing a knife and continuing to advance on Rapunzel.
“How about a trade? We dump her on the shore, and you surrender-”
Colvin didn't get out another word before Rapunzel's thrown frying pan hit him squarely between the eyes, immediately knocking him unconscious. As he fell to the ground along with Rapunzel's pan, his men and Annette looked on in shock.
“How about my frying pan for your... face!” shouted Rapunzel gleefully. “Wait, that didn't make any-”
“Kill the bitch!” Annette screamed, pointing at Rapunzel.
The other six Saporians rushed Rapunzel along with Annette, with the two who'd been holding Cassandra tossing her back into the boat before joining the rush. Rapunzel ran toward her frying pan, knowing that she needed to reach it before the Saporians did. She slid across the ground and grabbed it just in time, even managing to take out a pair of Saporians by whacking them in the knees with the pan as she slid past. As the two kneecapped Saporians hit the cave floor, two more lunged at her, and instead of using her frying pan, she leapt up with a double kick that Cassandra had taught her during an earlier sparring session. The two Saporians hit the ground, and as they sat up, stunned, a blow to the face from Rapunzel's frying pan incapacitated them as well. That just left Annette and the two burly Saporians who'd been holding Cassandra, and they charged at Rapunzel with equal fury, thinking they'd be successful where their companions hadn't.
As one of the big Saporians swung his large, muscular fist at Rapunzel, she leapt up into the air, grabbing him by the wrist with her hair and yanking him to the ground. The other big Saporian continued forward, and Rapunzel ran across the downed man's back and leapt up again, swinging her frying pan and clubbing the other big Saporian in the face. He fell, and Rapunzel landed back down on the other big Saporian's back, in the perfect position to knock him out as soon as he lifted his head.
“The bigger they are, the harder they fall!” shouted Rapunzel, triumphantly standing atop a pile of bruised and unconscious Saporians while holding her frying pan across her chest. “Now it's just me and you, uh... uhmmm...”
“It's Annette, and I'm not stupid enough to fight you fairly.”
Rapunzel! came Cassandra's muffled voice from the boat. Rapunzel looked, and could see Annette standing behind Cassandra on the deck of the boat, holding a knife up against her neck while holding another arm around her to keep her from struggling. Let me go, gods dammit!
“Let her go!” shouted Rapunzel, walking toward the boat and Cassandra.
“Ah ah ah, stop right there!” Annette shouted back, pressing the dagger into Cassandra's throat until a single drop of blood slid out. “Take one more step and I'll kill her.”
“If you kill her, I'll-”
“You'll what, you'll kill me?”
Rapunzel hesitated to respond, and Annette had the answer she needed. She smiled, and backed up with Cassandra, toward the rope keeping the boat moored to the shore.
“You have nothing to threaten me with, princess. I've lived my entire life as a Saporian without a country. I've been to jail seven times for sedition and 'terroristic' activities, the first time when I was ten. Oh yeah, your daddy even threw kids in jail back before your triumphant return to Corona. I've watched my people being executed, I watched my older sister hang. You think you've been through a lot? Oh no, you haven't been through anything.”
Rapunzel was shaking at the revelations Annette had disclosed to her, but she was also shaking with fury that her girlfriend was being held hostage, and she started to take a step toward the boat.
“You think I'm messing around?” Annette said, pushing the knife against Cassandra's neck even harder. Cassandra's eyes widened in fear, but despite this, she screamed out through her gag at Rapunzel, begging her not to let her captor get away.
Don't listen to her, Raps, she's lying about everything, even if she's not you have to stop her! You're the princess, it's my job to die for you, don't let her get to you, please!
But Rapunzel didn't budge, and Annette lowered her hand toward the mooring rope.
“Wait!” shouted Rapunzel, extending her hand. “Let Cassandra go!”
“Tell you what, princess. We both know you don't trust me and I don't trust you, so here's how this is going to go. I'm going to leave with Cassandra. You're going to leave the cave and leave my companions there. They'll meet up with me, and I'll send you a note telling you where we can do a secure prisoner exchange... you for her, straight-up, no tricks. If any of my companions don't make it,or if you try anything at the exchange, Cassandra dies. Simple as that.”
Rapunzel froze, looking out at the boat and at Cassandra. Annette smiled, starting to untie the rope.
“Cass...!” Rapunzel shouted out to her girlfriend, tears forming in her eyes. “I'm sorry... this is my fault, all of it...!”
Cassandra looked on, silent as Rapunzel tearfully apologized to her, not knowing what she'd say even if she could. A tear rolled down her own cheek. Rapunzel continued.
“I should've listened to you before... if we'd turned around and gone home, we'd be safely back in Corona and none of this would have happened. Cass, I promise, I will come for you, and I will save you, no matter what it takes.”
No, Raps...! Cassandra screamed out to her. She shook her head, even though it caused the knife to scrape against her neck every time she moved it. Don't do this, don't surrender yourself for me, please! I don't care what happened, I'd rather die than let her take you!
Rapunzel watched tearfully as Annette lifted the rope, causing the boat to begin to float away. She smirked, and Rapunzel fell to her knees in agony. Cassandra looked at her, then looked at Annette, then looked back at Rapunzel.
“You should've listened to your girlfriend,” said Annette tauntingly. “But now you can make things right... you'll surrender yourself, won't you?”
“Yes...!” Rapunzel cried out. “Please, let Cass go, I won't stop you from taking me, just let her go and you can have me, you can have everything!”
Cassandra realized that there was no way Rapunzel would refuse to give herself up... she also knew Rapunzel was clever enough to think of a way to save both of them, but she couldn't be sure... and she couldn't risk Rapunzel surrendering for her.
She felt the knife against her neck, and knew it was the only way.
She shouted an apology to Rapunzel, as best she could through the tape over her mouth... then, she loudly declared her intentions. She was going to run her neck into the blade, and as she made her intentions known, she looked right into Annette's eyes.
Then, she moved her neck forward... and felt only air.
“You idiot!” Annette shouted, holding the knife away from Cassandra. “You'd really throw your life away for-”
Cassandra then drove her bound fists directly into Annette's gut, hard enough to knock the wind out of her. She looked up at Rapunzel, hoping that the princess had seen her wink at the same time that she'd apologized.
Rapunzel had seen it, and despite her continued fear and despair, she trusted that Cassandra would never again do something like she'd done back at the tower, when she'd leapt out the window to keep Rapunzel from going with Gothel. By the time Cassandra had punched Annette, Rapunzel was already running toward the boat as fast as she could. She wiped the tears from her eyes, and with a powerful leap, traversed the distance between the shore and the boat, making it onto the deck with just a couple inches to spare.
“Why you...!” Annette shouted, before lunging at Rapunzel with her knife. Before she could close the distance between the princess and herself, Cassandra pushed up against the deck and slammed her feet into Annette's chest, knocking her back. “Unnngh!”
“Cass!” Rapunzel shouted, immediately going to untie her girlfriend.
No, get her! Cassandra muffled, gesturing toward Annette. I'll be okay!
“Right!”
Annette turned toward the two with fury in her eyes. She looked up at Rapunzel, whose eyes were blazing with determination. Annette's own were furious with hate.
“Give it up, Annette!”
Annette looked at Rapunzel, and in a second, every cruelty Corona had visited upon the Saporians flashed through her mind... including her sister's face as she was hanged.
“...die!” Annette screamed, throwing her dagger at Rapunzel just as Rapunzel had thrown her frying pan at Colvin before. Rapunzel deflected the dagger harmlessly away with her frying pan, then glared down at Annette.
“Did my father really order your sister to be hanged?” asked Rapunzel.
“Yes...” said Annette through gritted teeth, her fists clenched tightly as she pondered whether to charge Rapunzel or leap off the side of the boat. “She was just eighteen... same as you, right?”
Rapunzel shivered, even though she knew that the days of capital punishment in Corona had ended the day she'd returned to the kingdom. She still knew of people harmed by her father's tough stance against crime and dissent during her time as Gothel's prisoner... first Lady Caine, then Andrew and the Saporians. Corona had a lot to answer for... and Rapunzel knew it would take more than just a few new laws and kind words to make it all right.
“I'm truly sorry,” said Rapunzel. “But I will protect the people I love.”
“So will I,” said Annette, lunging at Rapunzel. Rapunzel threw her frying pan aside, choosing instead to down Annette with a single punch to the face, sending her sprawling and unconscious to the floor of the boat. “Nnnnhh....”
“...I hope you can forgive me someday,” said Rapunzel, turning away from Annette and walking over to Cassandra. “Cass, are you all right?”
Rapunzel knelt down beside Cassandra and reached to pull the tape from her mouth. She ripped it off in one quick motion, and Cassandra let out a loud cry of pain, followed by a swear.
“I'd be a lot better if you hadn't just tried to tear my lips off!” shouted Cassandra, before her expression quickly softened. “Sorry... guess it beats having a dirty rag shoved in my mouth...”
“Cassandra, your neck's bleeding...” said Rapunzel. It wasn't much blood, but any was unacceptable to Rapunzel, who blamed herself for every single drop.
“Think the back of my head is too,” groaned Cassandra, as Rapunzel began untying the ropes from her wrists and ankles. “I'll be fine though... thanks to you.”
“No, Cass... I'm the one who should be apologizing. If I had just listened to you-”
“Raps, I get it... you hate being in that stuffy palace, I feel the same way.”
Cassandra rubbed her wrists as Rapunzel untied the last of the ropes from her body, but she didn't have much time to do it before the princess then leapt on her with a powerful hug, arms wrapped tightly around Cassandra's chest. Cassandra smiled, basking in the warmth of Rapunzel's tender embrace.
“I don't hate being in the palace... it's where all my loved ones are,” said Rapunzel, caressing Cassandra as she continued to hold her tightly. “But I want my freedom, too... I want to keep going on adventures, and I want you with me. I know it's dangerous out here, I know things like this will keep happening, but I know that together, you and I can handle anything that comes our way.”
Cassandra sighed softly. She was afraid... afraid of losing Rapunzel, whether through an adventurous mishap or through being separated from her by royal decree.
She'd always be afraid of losing Rapunzel... but she couldn't let that fear keep her from enjoying what she already had. She would always have Rapunzel's love, and she'd always love her in return. She couldn't keep her from adventuring... otherwise, she'd be no better than Gothel.
“I'll always try to protect you, Raps... but I won't hold you back. If you can't keep from going outside Corona's walls, I'll follow you to the ends of the Earth, no matter what happens.”
“I won't let them separate us... I promise,” said Rapunzel, leaning over and kissing Cassandra's cheek.
Eventually, the river ran outside the cave, emerging just outside the village as the sun was beginning to set over the horizon. As soon as the boat made it out, Rapunzel and Cassandra could hear the familiar sound of hooves, galloping up to the shore. It was Maximus and Fidella, and they'd brought someone with them... the tavern owner, tied up tightly with ropes, caught by the two horses after trying to flee.
“Ah, I was wondering about our horses,” said Cassandra, as she and Rapunzel stood up on the boat and looked over at them.
“You,” said Rapunzel, glaring down at the tavern owner. “You let my girlfriend get kidnapped and you didn't even try to stop them!”
“I... I couldn't, they threatened me, I'm too young to die, please don't hurt me, I'll do anything!”
The blubbering and begging tavern owner whimpered on the ground, as Maximus and Fidella looked down at him with annoyance in their eyes.
“I say we turn him in,” said Cassandra, looking over at Rapunzel. “Galcrest or not, he was aiding terrorists across the border, that's a crime even in neutral territory.”
Rapunzel continued to glare at him.
“Please, don't! I'll do anything you want, I promise!”
Rapunzel looked at Cassandra and smiled.
“I think I have a solution that will help everyone. ...everyone except the Saporians, that is.”
O-O-O
A short time later, all the Saporians, including Colvin and Annette, were being hauled off in chains by the Galcrest authorities, charged with attempting to smuggle contraband across the interkingdom border. The tavern owner had been graciously credited by Cassandra and Rapunzel with helping bring the Saporians to justice, and after the guards had left with the Saporians in tow, Rapunzel was there to remind him about holding up the second end of his deal.
“Your finest room, and your finest meal,” said Rapunzel, her arms crossed over her chest.
“We're staying the night here?” asked Cassandra. Her wounds had been bandaged, but otherwise, she looked no worse for wear.
“Or we could go back home and sneak over the walls after midnight,” Rapunzel replied. “It's up to you.”
“...I'm in trouble either way, might as well enjoy it.”
The two enjoyed the best meal they'd had in quite some time, then retired to a room at the tavern. As they lay in bed together, holding each other tightly, Rapunzel couldn't help but feel a bit of lingering guilt.
“Cass, I promise, from now on, I'll trust your judgment when it comes to our adventures. I know your dad and my dad trust you to keep me safe, so I won't make your job too difficult... if you say we need to go back to Corona, we will.”
“Raps, this job's not difficult in the slightest,” said Cassandra, reaching up with her now bare hand and stroking the hair back from Rapunzel's face. “It's not even a job... I love you, and I love being with you. The fact that I have a high-ranking title in the Royal Guard for it is just a bonus.”
Rapunzel giggled softly, and nuzzled her face up against Cassandra's. She started to lean in, but she didn't have to... Cassandra leaned all the way in and passionately kissed Rapunzel, holding her tightly under the sheets as their lips parted slightly to deepen the kiss. As they parted, Cassandra looked warmly into Rapunzel's eyes, smiling tenderly.
“...my hero,” whispered Cassandra.
“Hmm?”
“Coming to my rescue, taking out those bad guys... my knight in shining armor.”
Rapunzel giggled, and kissed Cassandra's lips again, a quick smooch this time.
“...I'm not supposed to be the one to get rescued,” said Cassandra, blushing. “Saving damsels in distress has always been my dream... but... I won't lie... it was nice having you save me.”
“And you make a pretty good damsel in distress,” replied Rapunzel with another giggle.
“What's that supposed to mean?”
“Struggling in your bonds, crying out for help...”
“Excuse me, Raps, I was not crying out for help!”
“Well, how can you prove that? You were gagged, I couldn't understand anything!”
“Oh, come on! If I was yelling for help, you'd know!”
Rapunzel then began tickling Cassandra's ribs, and Cassandra let out a quiet shriek.
“Stop that... help me...!” Cassandra cried out.
“There it is, right there!” said Rapunzel, laughing and keeping up the tickling. “A damsel in distress, crying out for help!”
“I'll show you a damsel in distress!” Cassandra shouted back, laughing and reaching around to tickle Rapunzel. “Come here!”
As the two continued their tickle fight, laughing together as another day of adventure came to a close, they weren't thinking about how much danger they'd been in earlier, or what the king might think of their overnight stay outside the kingdom walls... at that moment, all the princess and her knight could think about was each other. Whatever happened, they'd always be together... one protecting the other, the princess and the knight, no matter the danger they faced.