This is my first story like this. The idea came to me after seeing Into the Woods. And because I felt that I was left without the resolution I needed the cogs began to turn in my head, which brings us to this.

This is my own spin on Rapunzel. I hope you enjoy it.

EDITED 11/10/15

At first Rapunzel was terribly frightened when a man such as her eyes had never yet beheld, came to her.

Many years ago, when magic still existed, and the ruling lords were at peace with it, there lived a woman and her husband. Having already had one child the woman longed for another. Her husband, wishing to please her, shared these sentiments.

Every morning as her husband prepared to leave, she would take his hand and together they would stand in silence, wishing. However, as time went on it seemed to all be in vain.

Years passed. And finally in a moment of desperation the husband struck a bargain with a sorcerer. In exchange the sorcerer made the husband promise that he would be allowed to collect the payment of his choosing. And so he agreed, caring only about the wishes his wife possessed.

When it came time for the child to be born so came the sorcerer too, demanding his payment. The pleas of both the husband and wife did nothing, and devoid of a second thought the sorcerer took the child, from her mother's arms without even having been named.

The first few years of her life were spent in a cottage, deep within the woods, being raised by the sorcerer who, though, was trying, had come to love her as his own. She became everything to him. In the time they shared the sorcerer taught her about magic, though she had none, and of the magical world.

Eventually the sorcerer began to fear that the little girl's parents would search for her, and so he moved her to a tower, which was hidden away from any known part of the kingdom. As she grew into a young woman, her hair grew with her. The long red strands, often kept in a braid, served as a way by which the sorcerer would leave, to bring his daughter food, and often gifts.

However, unknown to the sorcerer, the young woman had also grown to be curious about the world. She longed to be free, the way she had been when she was young. Although she never was.

For everything he had taught her, she could never understand what he feared. When she looked out the window of her tower she saw color and light. She could see the magic of it all. But the man she had come to know as her father denied the world to be beautiful, having seen what it held. He knew that if he let her leave, she would never come back. And he was right. Just never in the way he had expected to be.

The day on which everything changed started just as any day normally would. The girl and the sorcerer both rose early. She prepared a basket for him, with provisions for his journey to the market and helped him gather any of the things he might come to need.

Just before he prepared to descend down the tower, he looked about the main room, taking in the beautifully ornate walls.

"You've run out of room to paint," he mused.

He wasn't wrong. Over the years she had become a gifted artist. In the same way that he practiced magic she practiced the art of crafting fantastic sceneries.

"Yes," she agreed.

"Perhaps some new canvases would be of use to you," he smiled, reaching up to stroke her cheek.

"You shouldn't trouble yourself too much, Father," she said," I can simply paint over the old ones."

"It would be no trouble. Besides, your birthday is nearly here."

"If you insist," she told him, knowing that there was no point in arguing otherwise.

"I might purchase some of that blue flower paint as well."

"Oh, Father," she whispered, wrapping her arms around his neck," Thank you."

"I shall return tomorrow," he told her, as he untangled himself from her," I love you."

"And I you."

With that, he left.

As this was happening the Crown Prince was quarreling with his father on the opposite side of the kingdom.

The king had just revealed to his son the intentions that he take a bride.

"I am not ready to marry!" he huffed with anger.

He stood just below the steps, which led up to the throne, glaring at his father.

"You will do as I say! Until you become king, what I say is what goes."

"I don't wish to take the throne," he muttered.

"I have been training you for years," said the king," It is your duty, and you will do as I tell you to."

In the midst of their fight he briefly wondered which awful creature his father intended for him to marry. Over the years there had been plenty of interest in the young prince, but no offer had ever been deemed worthy.

"I will not."

The prince turned and stormed from the room. As he angrily walked the halls he was approached by the son of a duke.

"How did it go?"

"Well, he expects me to be wed," the prince reported.

"How soon?"

"Within the month."

"I'm sorry."

"I'll survive. I always do," sighed the prince.

He had been subject to his father's passing whims, his entire life. He had never asked to be the eldest child, yet he was the one who had unluckily received the honor, and was forced to bear its unfortunate consequences.

"If there is anything that I can do just tell me."

"I will," nodded the prince," Now if you'll excuse me, I think I'll go for a ride, before I come back to face the king."

"Of course," the duke's son said, taking a bow.

The prince continued on to the stables, where he mounted his horse.

He rode off into the woods, hoping to find peace. All the while he thought of how much his father was asking him. Since he was a child, he had noted the differences between his life and that of his siblings. He knew that neither his sister nor brothers would ever be required to marry against their will. As heir to the kingdom this pressure was placed solely upon him.

The prince continued to ride until long after the sun had set, at which point he dismounted and began to walk.

Eventually he came upon a path. Curious as to where it led he followed it. Soon he came upon a tower. As he stared up at it, he could see the light coming from its window.

Taking in the remarkable craftsmanship of the lonely tower, he wondered if he should climb it.

Please tell me what you think and review! I'm completely open to constructive criticism and ideas!

~Lillie