Change the Fate's Design

The lights had vanished.

Rapunzel sang each night, as youthful and beautiful as ever, giving Gothel life and vitality. The floating lights rose each year, as they had done for generations, far longer than any normal human life

They disappeared. Rapunzel couldn't guess at why. Gothel suspected the kingdom had fallen, though she said nothing to Rapunzel. One final year, they simply stopped rising.

The last sight of the outside world that did not terrify Rapunzel was gone. Now all was darkness, save for her tower and her hair.

Rapunzel no longer had the will to sing. Gothel had to threaten her, but her voice was quiet, weary.

It was time to be silent, she decided. Time to close her mouth for good.

She had lived long enough, provided enough, sung enough. She had gone on long enough. Now, Rapunzel thought, the song had to end.

Gothel was away - looking for food, she'd said, though they had plenty - so Rapunzel sought a corner hidden long ago, a treasure she'd wrapped in hair. Her secret.

The promise of silence.

She sang her healing song, quietly - she promised herself it would be the last time - and settled herself before her mirror.

Humming the magical tune, she secured the thread, pressed the needle's tip against her lips, and began to sew.

Gothel had been gone too long - she aged rapidly now, without healing - and returned old, with grey hair, slow and stiff. She pushed open the door, catching sight of Rapunzel sat at her mirror, head bowed. She bade her rise, turn and face her.

Rapunzel turned, and Gothel retreated in horror. "Your mouth... What have you done to your mouth?"

Rapunzel said nothing, but stood, at last, blissfully, blessedly, silent.

Gothel recoiled in horror, but grasped at some solution - any solution - anything to keep herself young. She was so old, she felt she might die at any moment. She had to have some of that magic that was part of Rapunzel -

- part of Rapunzel -

- part of Rapunzel!

She leapt forward, catching Rapunzel by the wrist. Rapunzel struggled, but the old crone was desperate and strong. "No mouth? No voice? No song to feed me your magic?" She snarled, drawing her knife. "Then your flesh will suffice to feed my hunger and my youth!"

Rapunzel, horrified, knew she had to act. The outside world had corrupted Gothel completely. She was a beast, intent on devouring. A monster, like the rest. Rapunzel HD to return her to the outside world, banish her to the dark, and be rid of her at once.

Rapunzel gripped Gothel's wrist. Gothel charged. Rapunzel shifted, danced, let Gothel's momentum move her onward, around, past -

Rapunzel saw her moment. She whispered "No", and let go.

Gothel lost her grip, hit the windowsill, and plummeted out of the tower.

There was a thud. Then... Nothing.

Gothel was gone. The tower was silent. Rapunzel was silent. Nothing more to say. Nothing more to do but sit and wait.

Rapunzel sought the most secret corner of her tower, and surrounded herself with hair - a cocoon, to keep her hidden. She settled down, placed the needle beside her. Sat. Silent and thoughtful.

Sat and waited, still. Ignored all pain. All hunger. All sound. Focused on her cocoon. Safe and silent.

Forever.