Wicked Game | Mr. Gold/Rumplestiltskin

I. Awakening

*.~.*.~*RAPUNZEL WISHED ON THE BRIGHTEST STAR EVERY NIGHT BEFORE BED. It was to her detriment that the wishes never came true... help never came, and she was forced to stay, kept as a slave for her magical hair. The strands possessed power she had nary understood. Healing, reversal of time, and the power of light. She had grown into the power with grace and beauty, her hopeful mind never feeling hopeless, though things were incredibly bleak in Mother Gothel's tower. She hated it, but there was not much that could be done.

Wishing upon the star one evening brought about favor, though it wasn't anything like she was expecting, nor hoping for.

"I wish a prince would find me, and take me away," she whispered, thought put in her head by one of the three books she'd read over and again.

"Wishes don't come true, dearie," sounded a voice from near behind her.

She leapt from her spot at the window seat, a small yelp of fear escaping her when she realized there was someone else here, and it wasn't her mother. She backed up against the wall, trying to keep distance from the stranger. He was a strange figure, with scales for skin and sinister eyes... The only thing that kept her from screaming in fright was the oddly comforting smile he wore. His giggle followed the wide spread of his grin, and for a moment she felt as though he were not a threat.

"Are you-" she stopped herself short, gaining more confidence before she dared to speak. "Are you here to help me?"

He took several steps closer, and she flinched, unsure of his intentions still. She relaxed a bit when all he did was lift a strand of her hair from the ground and feel it between his fingers.

"That is entirely up to you," He mused, dropping the hair and backing away so as not to frighten her further.

"I'll do anything, please. You have to help me escape..."

He was about to name his price, but noise sounded from the other room, followed by a call of her name in a disdainful tone.

"Oh no," she whispered under her breath. She took a few steps and began shoving at the stranger. "You must hide. My mother, she's wicked! She'll kill anyone who tries to set me free."

He planted himself like a tree, grabbing at her arms and keeping her stationary as well.

"It'll be hard to kill me when she's... a mouse," he dropped his mouth open in fake surprise, and behind him, as soon as her mother came into view, a puff of smoke surrounded her.

Sure enough, a little mouse came hopping down the steps of the stairs, unable to cause harm now that her human form had been taken away.

"You-" she shook her head. Of course, he was a man with magic. How else could he have gotten up here without using her hair? "She's..."

"No longer a threat? Yes, that's the idea," he came closer again, picking up the same strand of hair he held before. "And you said you would do anything to be free."

"Yes, anything! Name your price, I am forever thankful to you," she almost knew what he wanted, and was too happy to oblige.

"This'll do," he giggled, conjuring a pair of shears from the air. He snipped off the strand he was holding, and the remainder fell back against her chest. It was just a small piece, barely noticeable to the eye, but the power it held was so great and untamed, even the Dark One himself needed to have some for himself. It was a power that could not be replicated nor found anywhere else. "Now that the debt is settled... I wish you a fair journey to your freedom."

With a flick of his wrist, the hair in his hand became bundled, and it seemed like he was ready to leave...

"Wait," she spoke, her hand held out in front of her. He tilted his head in curiosity... What more could she want from him now she'd been loosed of her captivity? "I must know the name of my rescuer..."