(Hiatus) Let's Talk: Tangled The Series

OS- "This Isn't What I Wanted" ANGST WARNING

Uh... blood/gore and character death warning, MAJOR angst. Read at your own risk.

Set in season three, spoilers for season three and the end of season two

Cassandra POV

"You can't beat me, Rapunzel. Just give up now, before you get yourself killed." I forced the hateful words from my mouth, scowling as the princess staggered back to her feet. Hefting my shadow blade, I growled, "You know it's hopeless."

Rapunzel just gave a heartbroken smile and shook her head. "It's not, Cassandra. I'm not giving up on you."

I laughed bitterly, raising a hand. "Funny, that you'd think I care." At my silent command, a plethora of black rocks shot up and surrounded Rapunzel, two of them rising to strike the ceiling. We had become trapped in this cave thanks to a rude twist of fate, and I was determined to make the best of it.

The blonde grunted as she was thrown back, her back colliding with the jagged stones. My lips curled up, and I strode to her new-found prison.

"Cozy?" I asked mockingly, reaching through to grab the collar of her dress. She didn't struggle as I lifted her up, her head rolling as her green eyes seemed to dull. Her magic was spent, and she now ran on pure adrenaline. As I almost did.

"Please just come home, Cass," she murmured, one of her tired, shaking hands coming up to brush over my cheek.

I growled and tossed her down, and Rapunzel crumpled into the dirt and rock. "It's not my home anymore. You know that." I felt an oblivious cold slip through me.

A cough scraped from her throat, and she pushed herself up as blood dripped from her mouth. "It will always be your home, Cassandra," she insisted. "You can beat me down again and again, but I will never turn you away."

Anger rose in my chest, and without thinking, I lowered the rocks around her before spearing one down from the ceiling onto Rapunzel's leg. Her body jerked and she screamed, tears filling her pained eyes as the rock retreated, leaving a bloody, gaping wound. I knelt and grabbed her chin as she whimpered, my face twisting cruelly. "Listen to me, Rapunzel," I spat, my fingers digging into her skin. "I don't need help, and I don't need you. So stop acting like you feel sorry for me." Rising to my feet, I flicked my hand up, sending several rocks stabbing back to the ceiling, causing it to rumble.

It was almost over.

"Cassandra..." Rapunzel's weak cry for me echoed around, somehow causing me to stop, and I felt the numb cold in me shift a little. "You can hate me-"

"Wow, I didn't know I needed your permission," I deadpanned.

She kept going. "I just... I'm sorry," she sobbed through her teeth, the agony from her wound evident in her voice. "I am so sorry."

I frowned hesitantly, keeping my back to her. "I don't care."

"I'm sorry I failed you. I'm sorry I hurt you. I'm sorry, Cass."

My body stiffened. A small part of me knew that I had failed her, but I could never say it.

And then she whispered, "Now go. This whole place is coming down. You need to get out."

The cold that had wrapped around me suddenly snapped, as if I was re-entering myself. I turned to face her as my eyes widened. My heart stopped at the sight of her, and I felt suddenly sick. Sticky blood coated her hands from her leg and from where a falling rock had struck her stomach. Sweat shone on her pale face as dirt and tears tracked down her cheeks.