Wishes

Misunderstood

"Wow," Ella looked around at everyone. "That was... odd. I just walked through a tree and out a book!" "Lucky..." Little Red envied.

"By the way," Ella turned to the baker. "How did you know that I'm the new princess?" The baker shrugged. "Rumors." Jack nodded, completely understanding. "Yeah, I know what you mean."

"So," Little Red paced back and forth. "If Mr. Baker can walk through the book into a whole different place... then that's how we can get the strand!"

The baker whipped around. "How do you know about this?" he asked her.

Little Red pointed to the baker's wife. "Like I wasn't talking to someone while waiting for you to return!"

"Oh."

Jack suddenly turned the page of the book and ran straight through it. It showed a picture of Rapunzel.

"Wait!" Little Red turned to see Jack disappear. She stamped her foot down like a whiny toddler. "That's unfair! I wanted to go next!" She ran to the page, only to bang herself against it.

"Sorry," the baker smirked. "Looks like it only takes one traveler at a time from this side."

Little Red pouted and sat down, folding her arms.

Jack on the other hand, reached the other side. He felt the gust of wind. If Little Red were here, he thought, she'd be like, "Cool blow dryer!" He impersonated her in a high pitched voice. He saw the flash of light, then pitch black. He rubbed his eyes, to find himself in Rapunzel's room at the top of the tower.

Jack looked behind him to see a blank wall. But when he slowly pushed his hand into the wall, his hand disappeared into a blanket of ripples.

On the other side, everyone saw Jack's hand poke out of the page. This was Little Red's first reaction: "Whoa! That's disturbing."

Jack stepped out of the shadow where he was standing. Rapunzel was hugging her prince. Luckily, they both didn't see Jack. Rapunzel's prince let go of her hand. "I must go. That earthquake was quite the surprise! But I'll see you again soon." Rapunzel threw her long hair out the window, and watched the prince descend from her hair to the ground.

As she watched from the opening at the top of the tower, suddenly she saw Gothel appear out of nowhere. "Mother no!" she shouted. The prince drew out his sword. But then Gothel held her breath as she took out of her cape a small flower and pushed it into the prince's face.

The prince smelled it, and immediately collapsed. Knowing Rapunzel would roll back up her hair, Gothel revealed an unusual vine and threw it up to the opening. The vine magically grasped the opening, and pulled her up. Rapunzel stepped back.

"What have you done to him?" she whispered.

"Please," Gothel tried to reassure, "Don't worry. He'll wake up. I know you love him."

"More than you know," Rapunzel took another step back.

"Actually," Gothel said. "I know a lot more about love than you do sweetie. Love is also among family. Brothers. Sisters."

She paused for a moment after "sisters".

"But right now, I must hide you from the world."

"Isn't that what you've been doing my whole life?!" Rapunzel yelled, tears streaming from her angry eyes. "I've been hidden in a tall tower deep in the woods, for no reason! You have been greedy, using my magical powers all to yourself!"

"You misunderstand," Gothel tried to say, but then the ground once again shook. The tower began to collapse.

Jack finally revealed himself. "Hi. Don't worry. Don't ask how I got here. You must get out of here. I know a shortcut. But," he then turned to Gothel. "I'm sorry miss, but only Rapunzel can come with me. She'll be safe."

He pulled Rapunzel with him. "Why are we running towards the WALL?!" Rapunzel screamed as they both disappeared.

Gothel stood still, staring at the wall for a long time as the tower began plummeting to the ground. She then snapped back to attention, pulled out another magical flower, and activated it to use as a parachute. She landed and looked upon the ruins.

"You misunderstand."