Rapunzel: A Tale to Raise Your Hair

Based upon the fairy tale by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm

  Adaptation by Greg K. Morris

Once upon a time, a little way's away and not too long ago, there was a pristine, buoyant kingdom. A happy couple lived in the land. It consisted a wife named Mabel and a husband called Arthur. He artfully worked on the trade of clocks to earn his living, she helped him with his work. They yearned to have a child together and, given their personalities, had the capacity to be effective parents. After almost giving up on their dream of starting a family, Mabel started to carry a child. She and were husband were over the moon.

Unfortunately, a month into her pregnancy, she took ill and was bedridden. Being the man he was, Arthur was determined to do whatever it took to help out, for his wife's safe and their baby's. One evening, after a hard day's work, he went to the modest living quarters above his picturesque shop and brought Mabel some dinner. "Good evening, dear. How you are feeling now?" he asked.

Arthur was a tall, skeletal, gregariously voiced man with slicked-back, graying hair and a warm face (which reflected the heart that beat in his chest). He had on a wide-brimmed green hat, white shirt, black vest, tanned work apron and dark brown pants. "Same as I was this morning, but thank you for asking, my love" Mabel replied.

She herself was a striking, dainty beauty with sensitive looking eyes, plaited brown hair and a bow-like mouth. Her demeanor was graceful to boot. She'd sadly been rendered frail and gaunt by her illness. Mabel donned a pure-white nightgown and lay woefully in her bed. "I brought you some supper" Arthur told his wife.

"Just leave it on the dresser, please" Mabel responded. "Now Mabey, you haven't even touched the lunch I brought you", so said Arthur when he saw the untouched lunch trey from earlier in the day. "The doctor said you've got to eat". "I know Artie", sighed Mabel. "I appreciate all your hard work and how you're trying to keep the baby and I nourished. I'm just hungry for something else, that's all".

"I understand perfectly. What are you hankering for? Name it, and I'll fix it for you" said a reassuring Arthur. Mabel carefully got up from her bed and led her husband towards the window. She opened the shutters and pointed forward. "I watched our peculiar neighbor gardening this afternoon. She tended that rampion down there. After seeing it, the cravings began and they haven't ceased" Mabel proclaimed.

"Obtaining rampion leaves for you to eat may be a tricky ordeal" was Arthur's response. "Why's that?" his wife inquired. "I usually don't like to assist with the spreading of rumors, but it's been said that our neighbor's a witch" Arthur answered. "Oh, come on now", said Mabel with a laugh as she sat down in a nearby chair. "I don't think that's possible". "It isn't out of the realm of possibility. Folks in the town have spotted strange shadows passing across full moons. You've heard the odd noises coming from her home at all hours of night. Everybody's frightened of her. Out of fear, she's referred to as Dame Gothel, even though she isn't a woman of stature" said Arthur. "Even so, I don't think those are grounds to call her a witch of all things", Mabel opined. "We don't know for sure."

"True enough" agreed Arthur. "Do you think she'd relinquish rampion if you were kind and explained our situation?" Mabel asked her husband. "I'm thinking the answer is no to that question, dear. However, I'll give it a try right now" said Arthur. And so he did.

I guess you can say that our story's been instigated by lettuce. Arthur kissed Mabel goodbye on her forehead, walked down the stairs, went out his shop's door and approached Dame Gothel's home. It was a sizeable, predominantly white house with a brown roof. Pillars held it up its awning. The rectangular windows on the ground floor were dark. Above, there was a centered pointed arch window. Arthur could have sworn he saw the silhouette of an ominous figure looming in it.

Despite the feeling of apprehension in Arthur's belly, he got his gumption together and knocked on the door. A deep, feminine voice with a touch of rasp in it carped out "Go away or else!". "Yes ma'am" exclaimed a panic stricken Arthur as he ran back home. "What happened?" Mabel asked Arthur when he returned home. He was shaking and green 'round his gills. "She yelled at me" Arthur explained. "The dame didn't even come downstairs or open the door let alone give me a chance to ask for a bit rampion and explain what's going on with us". "That's not particularly neighborly" Mabel stated. "I shouldn't be so surprised" said Arthur. "She's known to be a mysteriously misanthropic recluse. Clearly not a people person. What should we do now?".

"well, given the fact that I'm sick and have a baby to feed. Drastic actions must sadly be taken. She seems to have quite a bit of rampion. I don't think Dame Gothel would notice if some of it were gone" Mabel replied. "Are you saying what I think you're implying?" Arthur inquired. "Yes. Tomorrow night you could sneak into her garden and pick it", a regretful Mabel said. "That's stealing" protested Henry. "I know, my love, but our situation's quite dire" his wife responded. After thinking the situation over for a minute for two, Arthur gave in.

"I'm not going to let you turn into skin and bones. Our baby's going to be healthy, too. That's a promise. Normally, I wouldn't rob someone. However, this is for the greater good. Maybe we could eventually give Dame Gothel something in return, without her knowing I took their lettuce, of course" Arthur said. "I'm grateful that you'd do this for me, even though you might be putting yourself into danger" his wife said. "Oh, I'll be careful. That's a given. Dame Gothel obviously wouldn't take it well if I were caught", Arthur reassured.

"Besides, I won't take it all. Just enough to make you better". Mabel, who'd be laying down, sat up in her bed and stuck their arms out widely. "I really did marry the sweetest man" she gushed. "In all honestly, I'm not looking forward to it, but anything to assist you" Arthur said as he hugged his wife. "And our baby, too", both of them uttered at the same time.

The next night, Henry gave Mabel their medicine and tucked her in. Then, he went outside and checked the front of Dame Gothel's house. Nobody was at the master window this time around. The only noise to be heard were Fall leaves blowing in the wind. "Hopefully she's asleep right now", Arthur muttered under his breath. He walked to the house's backside and ran into a something. It was a fence. "Oof", Arthur mumbled quietly. "I should've seen that coming". This fence was made of red brick, wood-trimmed columns. They were connected to iron bars with spiky tops. There was a sign which read, "Stay out!". "Oh, that's welcoming", the clockmaker whispered to himself. Arthur carefully climbed atop the fence. Once at the top, he jumped off it and broke his fall in a carrot patch's dirt.

Arthur leapt silently to his feet and looked around. Dame Gothel was a reputable gardener. Her garden was bountiful. Aside from the usual fruits and vegetables, she grew herbs, spices, pumpkins, nuts and roses, too. Arthur saw the plentiful raised beds which held Dame Gothel's rampion. Arthur had brought a burlap sack with him. He picked the fresh, green, round rampion leaves and put them inside. True to his word, he didn't pick too much. Arthur saved a few of the light purple, star-like Rampion flowers for Mabel, too. He began to leave but unfortunately tripped over some gardening tools in the dark, which made clattery noises. "Who goes there?" the fearsome voice from before called out. "I persecute trespassers!". A nimble Arthur got himself over the fence and returned to Mabel in a timely manner.

He caught his breath, gently woke up Mabel, showed the bag to his wife and said ,"It was a close call, but here's dinner, and flowers as an extra surprise!". "That's fantastic. Thank you, dear!" exclaimed a touched Mabel. "You're welcome, my love", her husband replied. After putting the flowers in some water, he washed, dried, dressed and served the leaves as a salad for his wife. Mabel enjoyed her meal thoroughly. She started to look and feel a bit better than before. Still, she desired to savor the flavor of additional rampion. When Arthur finished working the next day, she said "Artie, I don't wish to be any trouble, but would you mind fetching some more rampion. I promise this would be the last time". "I don't see why not" Arthur responded. "I'll just be more careful than before". "Oh, bless you sweetie", Mabel said with admiration.

Arthur waited 'til the following evening, hoping that Dame Gothel would've forgotten about the noise he'd caused with her gardening tools. After going over the fence, he began picking rampion once more, storing them in his burlap sack. When finished, he tiptoed across the garden. However, while tiptoeing near potato plants, somebody shouted "There you are!". Startled, he fell over. Torches that were placed all over the garden were magically lit. When Arthur looked up, he saw an angered Dame Gothel.

Pushing fifty years of age, Dame Gothel was a statuesque woman with pasty skin, a long nose, black lips, blue eyes with red circles around them, curvy eyebrows, defined cheekbones and lengthy, jagged red hair. She had on a slinking, lacey dress, silk stockings, her cloak, high-healed slippers (all were in black) and lots of jewelry, most notably a purple stoned, golden brooch. Her fingers were spidery with green nails. "I've gotcha now!" she stated with threatening cadence.

"Oh, please spare me!", begged a frightened Arthur as he got on his knees. The imposing lady before him folded her arms, scowled and hissed, "You are a commonplace thief. Why should I do that? Given your appearance, I might as well transform you into a scarecrow and actually make use of you". "You're really a witch, aren't you!", Arthur blurted out. "You only now grasped that fact? My rumor based reputation, demeanor, home and the lighting torches weren't indicators enough!" the cross witch replied.

"You have have point" Arthur admitted. "I do have an explanation, though. Would it improve matters if I explained myself?". "Explain away" the witch answered as she put her hands on their hips. "Well, my wife, who actually gave you the benefit of the doubt.", Arthur began. "That was idiotic of her. Sometimes rumors wind up being true" Dame Gothel interrupted. "Even so, may I please continue?" Arthur asked. "I'll allow you to elaborate" the witch answered.

"Though it was a long time coming, Mabel started carrying our child. Sadly, she's been ill the past week and wasn't eating. She looked outside, saw your rampion and just had to taste it. I did stop by the other night the intent of asking for some", Arthur explained. "I recall that. You distracted me from my spellcasting" the witch interjected. "T-that wasn't my int-t-tent" Arthur stammered out. "Anyhow, go on!" Dame Gothel commanded.

"Since I didn't get a chance to a acquire a bushel by asking for it, I took what didn't belong to me out of desperation. My apologies. I only wanted to keep my wife fed and help be her healthy once more" Arthur continued as he held up his rampion filled bag. "Please understand that and let me keep this last amount, for our baby's sake".

"You may keep what you've stolen here and take more later on if you need to" the witch surprisingly replied. "Oh, thank you, dearest lady!" was Arthur's response. "I'm not finished yet, loathsome man", Dame Gothel snapped. "Since you resorted to thieving and need to suffer, my rampion's going to come at a severe price that you must pay". "What'll that be?" Arthur inquired. "Once your baby's born, it will officially belong to me!", she answered with calm malevolence.

"No, anything but that. I couldn't force Mabey to give our child up. Perhaps I'd be able to craft a brand new clock for you instead", a desperate Henry said. "I already have a powered and maintained by magic grandfather clock, so I've no use for your worthless wares. You should've thought of that before you stole from me and agreed to bargain with a witch. Just imagine how your wife would react if you returned empty handed. She'd be so upset at you" the witch said. Arthur tried to stand up to her by saying "I don't think she'd mind". "Oh, she would. You'd be a disappointing, angering hope dasher. She probably can't go on without it. Given her current state of malnourished, sickly fragility, by not consuming that rampion in your hand, the unthinkable could occur and your baby would be gone along with Mabel. Why, you'd never be able to live yourself" the witch replied.

"I hate to admit it, but I think you're correct" a saddened Arthur admitted. "I thought you might", a self-satisfied Dame Gothel stated. "So, have a trade?!". "Yes", Arthur said after a gulp. "Wonderful!" the witch exclaimed. She then smirked, gestured the clockmaker away and said, "Now you run along home and prepare your wife a nice supper. You'd better hold up your end of our trading, by the way. There'll be consequences if you don't". "I understand", Arthur stated as he retreated over Dame Gothel's garden fence. "I'm glad you do. Good night!" said the spiteful, witchly woman.

When Arthur returned home, he was in tears. "What's wrong?" Mabel asked when she saw him. "Darling, I've got a confession to make. It turns out that our neighbor is a witch. She caught me taking her rampion. She agreed to give me it on the condition that our child is hers once they're born. She manipulated me into giving in to her demand and made threats. I didn't know what else I could do in the moment", Arthur explained through his crying. "I'm so sorry. Please forgive me". He dropped the rampion filled bag and fell into his wife's arms.

She started to tear up, too. "I'm the one who should be sorry. If I didn't hanker the witch's rampion in the first place, you wouldn't have put in that position", she cried out. "Rest assured, I'm not going to let her have our child. We'll protect them" Arthur promised. "Yes, no matter what the witch does" Mabel chimed in. "We won't be bothering her anytime soon, either" Arthur added. "Right" Mabel agreed. From what you've said, that witch is the kind of lady who'd stoop to stealing our child away. We've got to be extremely careful".

Soon after, the couple fled their home. They moved into a house on the opposite side of the kingdom. Each night, their doors and shuttered windows were tightly locked. Arthur resumed clock work and Mabel recovered from her illness. The two of them also informed the land's king and queen about their predicament. Having a newborn prince themselves, they were most empathetic. Guards were given the task of protecting Mabel and Arthur. A group of villagers also marched upon the witch's residence. However, her house and garden had vanished. She'd transported her property elsewhere.

Just under eight months passed by and the couple's baby was eventually born. It was an adorable baby girl. "She's so precious and angelic!" a gushing Mabel said. "We're so lucky to have her" Arthur exclaimed. I'm sorry to say, despite all the precautions, their joy wasn't going to last long.

Outside, the wind began to pick up. Wicked laughter filled the air. "Oh, no" muttered Mabel. "She's here!" uttered Arthur. As the baby began to cry, they clutched onto her and made an effort to comfort their daughter. The guards outside started to charge. However, all of them were quickly incapacitated, albeit temporarily. The couple listened to their screams from inside. Flashing, colorful lights were emitting from cracks in the doors and covered windows. Then, the front door burst open. Dame Gothel emerged on her broomstick and landed in the middle of the room. She stepped off of it and held the broom in one hand. "Did you really think you could escape me?" she questioned. The couple backed into a corner, with their baby girl in Mabel's arms. "We made valiant attempts" Mabel answered. "clearly they weren't enough" the Witch scoffed. "We're not going to steal our child, regardless of my accursed bargain" Arthur cried. "You can't just whisk her away" added Mabel.

"Oh, yes I can!" the witch responded. She snapped her fingers. All at once, the couple's limbs were rendered immobile and limpy. They fell over and Mabel dropped her baby (its parents broke their fall). Dame Gothel cast a spell of silence on the parents' mouths and picked their still crying baby girl up off the floor. "What a sweet little lass you are" the witch cooed. "Unlike like them, I'm going to be a worthwhile giver of care". The baby calmed down but didn't know what to make of the witch. Dame Gothel turned to the baby's parents and tauntingly said "Goodbye, you two. You'll be able to move and speak once I've left. Incidentally, you only have yourselves to blame for your regrets. I simply took what was rightfully mine. To commemorate the obtaining of my new child, I shall name her after Rapunzel, also known as rampion." The witch mounted her broom, kicked off from the floor and flew out with Rapunzel. Her distraught parents looked on as she and Dame Gothel vanished into the night's blackness.

While it was Dame Gothel taught who Rapunzel reading, walking and writing, she managed to teach herself how to cook, clean and sew. For the first ten years of their life, Rapunzel lived with Dame Gothel in her moved house, which now resided in a woodsy, distant land. As a tenth birthday gift, the witch flew Rapunzel to a secluded, nearby tower and forced her to reside in it. It was a colossal, stony, gloomy, ruinous structure without a door. A room contain a water pump and stove rested on top of it. Its only means of seeing outside was a single, yet sizable window. It had been filled with some toys, a few books to read and furniture.

"I don't want to live here. Please don't do this to me, mama!" a tearful Rapunzel begged. "This is for your own good, child. The world is overflowing with wickedness. You've got to be protected from it. We'll make do. Stop that crying!" was Dame Gothel's way of trying to justify her decision. By this time, Rapunzel had flowing, soft light blonde hair which the touched floor.

Eight years went by. Rapunzel was now a teeny, doll-like, ethereal maiden with doeful brown eyes, milky skin, full, pink lips, neat eyebrows and a well rounded face. A lady of fairness she was. Rapunzel's usual outfit of choice was a simple dress, it shared the color of her namesake flower. Her maintained hair had been extremely lengthy for a long while.

Several years earlier, Dame Gothel started using it for an unusual purpose. If Rapunzel hung it over a small hook connected to the window, Dame Gothel would climb it and enter the tower. When first asked to use her hair as rope, a confused Rapunzel said "You've already got your broomstick. Why do you want to use my hair instead?". "It'll help you earn your keep and save me the trouble of flying. If you don't obey, I'm sorry to say, you'll no longer have any food, warm blankets, fire wood or fitting clothes" an unnervingly calm Dame Gothel warned in response. Rapunzel begrudgingly obeyed.

However, in spite of all she'd been through, Rapunzel stayed warmhearted. Shortly after her eighteenth birthday, Rapunzel's dream of obtaining freedom was finally going to be initiated with special help. One morning, she spent some time staring out the window. To distract herself from her lonely feelings, Rapunzel daydreamt as she looked out at the vast array of trees in Summer and flying, tweeting birds.

Her serene daydreaming was sadly shattered by Dame Gothel. "Rapunzel, Rapunzel. Let down your hair, so I may climb the golden stair!", the witch yelled out. "Oh, dear. It's that time again" Rapunzel muttered to herself. She always had a sense of dread when the witch arrived. "Quicker!" Dame Gothel projected. "Just a second, mama" Rapunzel said. She threw her hair over the hook. The witch started climbing the towering height. Meanwhile, poor Rapunzel grimaced with pain. "This woman's hard on my head!" went through her mind. "Good morning, darling!", was the witch's greeting when she swept into the tower's room. She was currently sixty four years-old. The passed years had rendered Dame Gothel's eyes sunken-in and bloodshot. Their lips had chapped and her cheeks were hollow. They turned the roots of Dame Gothel's hair, which she now tied into a messy bun, gray. Their teeth had a yellowish tinge to them. Though withered, she still dressed the same.

Dame Gothel pinched Rapunzel's cheek, much to her chagrin. "Sit down and allow me to work on your lush locks!" the Witch requested. Rapunzel obliged, even though her cheek was sore. Dame Gothel started to brush and braid. She wasn't particularly gentle. Rapunzel bit her lip to cope with the pain and guise her discomfort. "What are your plans for this day?" the witch questioned. "I might spend some time cleaning the tower, if you don't mind helping out a bit" Rapunzel answered. "Oh, you know those kinds of tasks aren't for me!" Dame Gothel replied. "Never mind, you're right. I'll do it myself, like normally", responded a discouraged Rapunzel.

Rapunzel actually had a huge plan for that day. Currently apprehensive, she was going to ask the witch an on her mind question. Just get it over with", she thought to herself. "Mama, since I'm finally a grownup, may I leave this tower, please! I'd love to see what lies beyond the forest", Rapunzel said after taking a deep breath. Dame Gothel stiffed up and dropped the hairbrush she was holding. Her eyes narrowed, too. "Certainly not. You are my little innocent. Mine alone and nobody else's. You're not made for such a cruel world and wouldn't last a mere day" the witch gravely replied.

"I know who I am, I'd be able to handle it. Besides, being outside would allow me to make an actual friend, too" Rapunzel insisted. "Ha, don't be foolish. You're forbidden from going outdoors or seeing others. On top of that, you don't need anybody else in you life. I'm more than sufficient as a companion. Keep in mind, the outside world supplied your birth parents. Those two left you. Heartless souls they were. In my own way, I've actually given you an equitable life" Dame Gothel said. Rapunzel stood her ground by saying "I'm sure not all people are like that". "Consider this a warning. I'm not going to spend anymore time arguing with you. Drop the subject at once. Listen or else!", the witch commanded. as she gave Rapunzel a harsh nudge. Not wanting the situation to escalate, a reluctant Rapunzel replied with a simple "Alright". "Good girl" responded Dame Gothel. "Now, be useful and prepare us both some breakfast". Rapunzel rolled her eyes and got to work.

The rest of Dame Gothel's visit, which the witch had soured with her reaction, was stilted and unfair towards Rapunzel. "I love you", Dame Gothel said as she started to disembark the tower. Rapunzel hesitated. "What you do say! This is no way to treat your mother" the witch scolded. "I love you, too, mama" Rapunzel disingenuously muttered. "That's my girl", Dame Gothel said as she stroked Rapunzel's hair. The witch saw herself out. "Farewell, lettuce leaf" were Dame Gothel's parting words.

To take her mind off of the unpleasant visit, Rapunzel sang to herself with her lovely voice. By chance and unbeknownst to both ladies, a gentleman had been passing by. Hiding behind a tree, he'd witnessed the witch's departure and heard Rapunzel's sing. Jerome by name, he was the prince who'd been born just before the witch's debacle with Rapunzel's parents. Jerome was an averaged sized, gangly, amiable, soft spoken young man. The prince had frizzy, red hair, thick brows, a narrow nose and wide blue eyes. His face was all together seraphic. He had on brown boots, tan-colored pants and a dark purple shirt with golden buttons. "What a nice voice. Wait a second, this poor girl's living in an isolated tower. I'm assuming that unusual woman's her only form of company. I'd better go up there and pay her a visit. She probably gets lonely all by herself", he said to himself.

Jerome approached the tower and politely knocked. "Back so soon?" Rapunzel called out. "She thinks I'm that interesting woman from before", the prince uttered to himself. "I'd be better be quick on my feet". Mimicking the witch's voice, he answered back "Yes, m'dear!". "Alright, mama", Rapunzel said as she tossed her now braided hair out the window. The braid tumbled towards him. Delicately, he started to climb up it. "She's a lot lighter and more gentle than she normally is" Rapunzel uttered to herself. "I'd better not frighten her", Jerome muttered as he climbed. When Jerome finally reached the top, Rapunzel saw him through the window and he gently smiled. "Good afternoon" he chirped. "Hello, there" a stunned Rapunzel said.

"How're you doing today?" a mellow Jerome asked. "Not too bad at the moment, and you?" Rapunzel answered. "Just fine, thank you. May I please come in? I don't want to dangle your hair too long", the prince said. "Oh, of course. Please do!" an intrigued Rapunzel responded. He went inside. Afterwards, she took her hair back into the tower. Gobsmacked, Rapunzel starred silently at the prince. Jerome stopped the silence by saying, "I apologize for dropping in unannounced". "That's alright. I am glad you did. I'm not used to having a wanted guest", Rapunzel stated. "Well, I ought to make a good first impression. It's a pleasure to meet you" Jerome said. "Oh, believe me. The pleasure's more than mine!" responded Rapunzel to her guest.

The two shook each other's hands. "What's your name?" Rapunzel asked. The gentleman before her said, "My name's Prince Jerome". "My goodness, I never thought I'd be in the presence of royalty", Rapunzel gushed. "Don't be so formal" said Jerome. "I'm just charmed to be your presence. "What might your name be?". "Oh, it's Rapunzel", the fair maiden replied.

"What a name" said the prince. Secretly, it rang a rusty bell in Prince Jerome's brain. "Oh, thank you" responded a smiling Rapunzel. "Won't you have a seat?". "Thank you" said the prince. Both of them sat down at a close by table. "I must say, you've got a lovely head of hair" Jerome complimented. The compliment made Rapunzel blush. She wasn't used to somebody being so genuine, friendly and pleasant. "Thank you again" she uttered, still smiling away. "The length of it is most remarkable. How long have you been growing it out?" Jerome inquired. "Since I was little. It hasn't been cut at all. It wasn't my choice, to be honest. Having it grow was mama's idea" Rapunzel answered. "Was she the aged woman I saw leaving the tower earlier?" Jerome asked.

"Yes, and to tell you the truth, she isn't particularly maternal when it comes to being a mother. Believe it or not, she's a witch, too" Rapunzel responded. Jerome's eyes started to widen and his memory was jogged even more. "Oh, I'll take your word. If you don't mind my saying so, trapping you up here wasn't the gesture of a worthwhile mother" he said. "Finally somebody sees matters the way I see them. Thank you!" Rapunzel cried. "Oh, I'm more than happy to. Out of curiosity, how long have you been stuck in here?" Jerome inquired. "Eight years, she left me in here on the day I turned ten", Rapunzel explained. "Why'd she commit such a terrible deed?" the prince questioned. "It was apparently for my own protection" Rapunzel responded. "Or hers" Jerome interjected. "What was that?" a confused Rapunzel asked.

"Never mind for now, go on" said Jerome. "Well, she's a possessive lady. According to her, evil's rampant throughout the world and I'd suscept to it" a continuing Rapunzel added. "Well, there's good in our world, even if it doesn't seem like it's there", the prince said. "Oh, trust me. I've always thought that, and my thoughts were confirmed as of today" Rapunzel complimented. Jerome's face started to turn red like his hair. "That's sweet of you to say. I think you're somebody who'd be able to function out there. Did she name a specific example of the world's badness?" he asked.

"Namely my birth parents. According to her, they deserted me shortly after I was born. Mama took me in thereafter", Rapunzel explained. "Of course the witch would say that. By chance, does she go by Dame Gothel?" Jerome inquired. "Why, yes. How'd you know that?" Rapunzel asked. "I'm sorry to be the one to tell you this, but you've been lied to" Jerome revealed. "I have been? Rapunzel queried. "Yes", the prince said in a grave tone of voice.

He elaborated. "When I was younger, my parents told me stories. Years ago, a couple in their kingdom were about to become parents, but the wife got sick and yearned to have rampion from her neighbor's garden. The husband tried to ask for some, but his witchy neighbor scared him away. Out of desperation, he stole some twice and was caught the second time. After explaining himself and apologizing, the witch coerced him into trading her baby in exchange for the rampion leaves. Obviously, the two couldn't part with their baby girl. They asked my mother and father for their protection. Despite everybody's best efforts, the witch won in the end and stole the couple's child. Guards and villagers scoured around for years to find their child, but they weren't able to prevail. Not being able to find her was my mother and father's biggest regret. Talking to you reminded me of what they said. It all came back to me. You've officially confirmed a suspicion I was having just now. You're that baby girl".

To say that Rapunzel was surprised by this revelation would be an understatement. She began to cry, too. "That witch is even worse than I imagined", Rapunzel said through her tears. Jerome handed her a hander kerchief, stood up and put his hand on her shoulder. "You just let it out, it's bad to bottle up your feelings", the empathetic prince said. "Are my parents still alive?" a tearful Rapunzel asked. "I'm happy to say that they are" Jerome answered. "The two of them still reside in the house you were born in. Poor souls, your parents were heartbroken. The two of them never really got over Dame Gothel taking you away. How could they?".

By this point in time, Rapunzel had calmed down a bit. "That's relieving to know, thank you for informing me" she said. "You're welcome" Jerome replied. Rapunzel looked down and began to talk. "You know, I've often thought about getting out of this tower. Ever since that nightmarish birthday. It was the worst day of my life. Just today, I asked if she'd finally let me go. She turned down my civil request. Real motherly behavior. For the past eight hopeless years, I've been wanting to ask her for my freedom, but given Dame Gothel's nature, I refrained out of fear. Can't say I'm really surprised at the answer I received. After learning what you've told me, the nail's been driven in the coffin of our relationship. I didn't deserve any of this. That witch has kept me here long enough. I've endured too much at her hands over the years and have got to get back to my parents!", were her words.

Rapunzel looked up at the prince. "I would've escaped myself years earlier, but this tower's just too high up. Would you please help me out?", she asked. "I certainly will", Jerome promised. As thanks, she gave him a hug and kiss, which he enjoyed. "How should we get you out of there?", Jerome then asked. Rapunzel stood up and began to pace. "Well, the most logical way would be using a ladder. However, I don't think there's one tall enough to lean against this tower", she thought aloud. "I guess we'll have to make one" Jerome chimed in. Rapunzel stopped pacing. "Well, I'm pretty handy with a needle and thread. If you kept bringing me little pieces of silk, I'd gradually be able to sew them into a ladder" Rapunzel enthusiastically declared. "I can do that!" Jerome stated. "Perfect! Can we start tomorrow?" an eager Rapunzel queried. "Indubitably, dear lady!" Jerome said. "Excellent!" Rapunzel exclaimed. "I'm looking forward to having an actual friend". "It'll be an honor sharing a friendship with you" the prince said in return.

In the coming days, the prince continued to visit Rapunzel. He'd wait in the bushes until the Witch left and subsequently made himself known. With the aid of Rapunzel's hair, he'd enter the tower. They'd work on the silken ladder together. They spoke while working, enjoyed spending time together and made gradual progress. Rapunzel was jubilant about having somebody wonderful to spend time with. Having Prince Jerome in her life had been extremely beneficial for her. A look of joy was visible in her eyes, Rapunzel's cheeks were rosy. She smiled more than she did and would frequently let out sighs of happiness.

Unfortunately, the witch had noticed these changes. "Lettuce leaf's been keeping secrets from me of all people. She's going to pay for this. Something's going on, and I'm going to find out what it is!" she told herself. Dame Gothel decided to interrogate Rapunzel at their next visit. When the witch arrived at the tower, a glowering look was on her face. "What's wrong, mama?" Rapunzel innocently queried. "It's occurred to me that you've been a lot more joyful than usual. Speak the truth. I will not allow myself to be deceived by a little hussy!" the witch angrily answered. "She know I'm up to something", Rapunzel thought to herself.

Despite the nervous feelings churning inside her, she remained calm and bravely defended herself by saying, "If you must know, I met a prince called Jerome. After seeing you leave a couple weeks ago, he decided to visit. Meeting him was a pleasant surprise. The prince was a sheer gentleman. We got talking and became friends. In fact, our friendship recently started to transition into romantic feelings. Jerome actually informed me about your past, too. I cannot believe the heartless, grasping, vindictive, overly reactive petulance you demonstrated with my real parents. I wound up stuck with you all because you wouldn't allow a needy couple lettuce, for Heaven's sakes." "Your father was a despicable thief!" the Witch claimed. "He only stole to feed my pregnant mother, you rudely rebuffed him, too. To be honest, I never much cared for you as a little girl. There always something off about you. On my tenth birthday, your true colors were shown and my resentment of you grew even further. Knowing what I know now, you are even worse than I imagined. You're quite possibly the wickedest woman alive. A prime example of the world's badness, too. I'm not going to be your prisoner anymore" were Rapunzel's words to the Witch.

"Is that so? What do you intend to do!" Dame Gothel inquired as she tried to keep her temper. "Prince Jerome and I have been working on a escape plan. It's near to completion. Soon I'll be free of you and spend more time with somebody actually worth keeping in my life" Rapunzel proclaimed. "Not if I can help it" the witch said in return.

Dame Gothel's negative emotions burst. She lunged at Rapunzel, who found herself on the wooden plank floor. She was pinned down by the witch. "Shame on you for being an ungrateful, double crossing wench!" Dame Gothel cried out. Livid, she grabbed a pair of shears from her dress pocket. "This'll teach you not to be defiant with me, girl!" the witch carped as she snipped off most of Rapunzel's hair. It was left shoulder length. Rapunzel screamed as all this transpired. "I'm going to put this hair to constructive, nefarious use" Dame Gothel threatened.

Then, she engulfed Rapunzel in the darkness of their cloak and magically transported her to a decrepit, deserted old cabin. Its location was a miles away wood. "Since you no longer wish to be my ward, enjoy a solitary life and see how well you fend for yourself. I won't be missing you!", were the witch's parting words. "The feeling's mutual. I'll be better off here and than with you!" Rapunzel retorted as Dame Gothel vanished.

Dame Gothel went back to the tower and intended to deal with the prince. Shortly thereafter, Prince Jerome arrived on time for his daily visit with Rapunzel. "It's me, dear. Please let down your hair!", he shouted upward. Rapunzel's snipped off hair tumbled downward and it was subsequently climbed by Jerome. He stepped inside the tower and walked into the middle of its room. The prince was confused by how dark it was. Nobody appeared to be there. "Rapunzel, where are you?", Jerome asked. "She's no longer here!", a sinister voice answered.

Dame Gothel emerged from the darkness, grinning wickedly. "You've fallen for my little trap", she said. "What'd you do with Rapunzel?" the prince demanded to know. "I simply dropped her off in a forsaken place. You're not going to be seeing her from now on", Dame Gothel explained with venomous glee. "I'll just have to go out and find her!", Jerome proclaimed. "Oh, contraire. I won't be letting you depart this tower alive!" Dame Gothel said, still smiling evilly.

"Oh, don't try to scare me. Your empty threats aren't going to make me cower. You're just a mean spirited, wretched, malicious, shameless, unwise, imperious, aging witch. It's no wonder Rapunzel never loved you. You brought such tragedy onto her parents' lives. You shouldn't have told me about Rapunzel being alive, either" Jerome said. The prince's brave words began to anger Dame Gothel. "Silence!" she ordered. "Not on your life. I will clean up the messes you made. Unlike you, Rapunzel's a wonderful person. You've actually allowed her to grace this world with their presence. I'll l see to it that she's reunited her family. Though we haven't known each other a long time, we made a connection. Hopefully someday we can share our lives together. That's our goal and there's nothing you can do about that!" Jerome declared.

This furrowed Dame Gothel's brow and pulsed her veins. "That's it. I shan't be listening to any additional lip from you, impudent boy. You won't be able to do all that if I finish you off first!" the witch menacingly snapped. She got out her shears once more and made a charge for the Prince. However, he was going to put up a daring fight. "Do your worst" were Jerome's words.

The two of them scuffled. "Hold still, you knave!", the witch ordered she tried to stab Jerome. "That won't be happening!", the prince said. "How dare you infringe on my right to parent as I see fit!" Dame Gothel barked. "Who'd ever want a parent such as yourself? Glad you're not mine!" Prince Jerome quipped back. The witch grabbed hold of Jerome and started pushing him towards the tower window. She tried to knock the prince outside. However, Jerome wasn't letting go of her. In the midst of their scuffling, Dame Gothel lost her footing and both of them found themselves falling out of the tower. The agile Prince Jerome grabbed onto Rapunzel's still dangling hair, which had been tied to the hook. The witch, who was screaming at the top of her lungs, started plummeting downward but quickly cast a spell of blindness on the prince. "Aggh!" he grimaced as it hit his face. Still, he kept gripping the hair. Quite firmly, too. Then, the witch hit the hard ground below, landing on her own shears. That was the last of Dame Gothel.

The prince slid down Rapunzel's hair. Carefully, he stood on the ground. Though blinded, "Glad she's out of the picture. Now, I've got to find Rapunzel" were the first words Jerome said. The prince felt around for a walking stick, picked one up and set forth.

A passage of time passed and Autumn took heed. Leaves on trees changed color and fell. The air turned fresh and crisp. Jerome hadn't found Rapunzel yet, but he kept on scouring. In the interim between her banishment and the current day, Rapunzel proved the witch wrong. Showing resilience, she restored her cabin by turning it into a comfy, cozy home, lived off the land and survived. Out of her heart's goodness, Rapunzel even took in a set of precious twins who'd been abandoned. "I'll be an effectual, affectionate mother to you two", she promised. "You'll both be cared for". Though happy with her accomplishments, she still missed Prince Jerome. "We'll meet again", Rapunzel told herself.

Rapunzel was outside playing with the twins when she heard a familiar sounding voice. It called out, "Rapunzel, are you here?". Rapunzel gently placed her twins in their prams, told them "I'll be right back" and followed the outcall. She saw Jerome, rushed into her prince's arms and cried out, "I knew in my heart that'd we see each other again!". He hugged her tightly and wouldn't let go.

"Fate helped me wander here. Thank God we're together. I only wish I could see your beautiful face. I went to go see to at your tower, but the witch was there instead. We fought and both of us fell out the window. I managed to save myself, but Dame Gothel blinded me before she died", Jerome said. "Oh, you poor man. At least she's gone and can't cause us anymore harm. I'm just so relieved to have you alive and here with me" Rapunzel uttered as tears began to drop from her eyes and dripped onto Jerome's face.

All at once, they broke the blindness spell Dame Gothel had cast on Jerome. "You've cured me!" the prince gasped. He got a good look at Rapunzel when his vision was fully restored and he readjusted to seeing. "And you're as lovely as the day I met you. On the inside, too. Not just the outside", he added. Rapunzel smiled at this. I'll have you know, you're just as handsome", she complimented. "Oh, thank you" replied a blushing Jerome. "It's my pleasure!" Rapunzel responded.

"Nothing's going to separate us the way Dame Gothel did. Not ever again!" the prince promised. "And we won't be just us. Come with me!" an enthusiastic Rapunzel said. She showed Jerome the twins. "I recently found these two nearby in a ravine. They were left all by themselves. I couldn't just leave them in it, obviously. So, I decided to take them in", Rapunzel revealed to Jerome. "They're like angels. That was extremely noble of you", Jerome commented. "What did you name them?". "I've named them Charlotte and Ferdinand", Rapunzel explained. "Their names suit how they look", Jerome said. "Will you do the honors of helping me bring them up?", Rapunzel asked. "Is that even a question? I absolutely will!" the prince enthusiastically answered.

The two of them took their twins and departed to Jerome's kingdom. True to his word, Jerome saw to it that Rapunzel was reunited with her parents. Mabel and Arthur, both of whom had aged gracefully, were overjoyed to see their daughter again. They were ecstatic about being able to hold and play with their grandchildren, too. "Even after so many years apart, I never doubted that we'd see you again!" Mabel said to her daughter. "This is a dream come true!" Arthur stated. Rapunzel was overwhelmed by moment's splendor. "You have no idea how thankful I am to be here with you two!" she said. As the twins cooed in their cribs, all three of them embraced. They gratefully invited Jerome to join in, too. "It was honor helping you reconnect. We'll all be a family from now on!", he said.

Rapunzel and Jerome were eventually married. They were also declared monarchs of the land, too. "They're wondrous together and will work wonders for this kingdom" Mabel commented. "And we get to be the grandparents of two terrific twin grandchildren!" Arthur added. Despite all the tragedies which occurred previously, everybody managed to live happily ever after. The end.