"Pitch, I need your help," Gothel pleaded.

He walked behind her, fiddling with her gray hair. "Why, Gothel, did you do something to your hair?"

She quickly flipped her hair away from him. Defensively, she said, "That is why I need you! Will you help me or not?"

"Hmm," Pitch told her, "What do you want, and what do I get?"

"I need you to help me kidnap a young girl. As for your prize, you can have me."

After long conversations, Gothel and Pitch agreed on a plan. After figuring out Gothel couldn't steal the princess' hair, she knew she would have to take the girl for herself. The king and queen were protective of their daughter, so guards kept the castelo out of close reach of strangers. That's where Pitch came in. He used his powers to transport him and Gothel into the castelo and back out.

"Can I see her?" Pitch asked.

Gothel covered the young princess with her shawl. "No," she demanded, "I won't let your powers affect hers."

Pitch grunted, but questioned her once again, "Where are whe taking her?"

"We?"

"We, as in you are my prize, and she is a part of you now, so let me see her," he angrily told her.

Gothel hesitantly uncovered the xaile from the child. "Don't touch her."

"Rapunzel," he whispered.

"What?" Gothel said, confused.

"Rapunzel is her name now."

Gothel said nothing mais and held onto Pitch's arm, waiting to be transported.

Rapunzel sat on the window sill, looking out in the dusk sky. She sang her song, while her mother gently brushed her hair. All Rapunzel wanted to do was to please her mother. She was five now, meaning Gothel had kept her for three years.

"Mother?" Rapunzel called.

"Yes, dear?"

"Do you think I could go outside?"

Gothel stopped brushing Rapunzel's hair. She slammed down the brush as she asked, "Why, why would you want to do that?"

She scooped Rapunzel into her arms. "It looks fun out there. I really like the way the birdies fly around."

"Oh, honey," Gothel lay Rapunzel in her bed. She strolled toward the window to close the shutters. Gothel continued, "You won't like it out th--"

Before her mother could close the shutters, Rapunzel tugged on her dress. "Look, mother!" She pointed out the window.

"What do you see Rapunzel?"

"Look! It's... black. Looks like sand, Mother!" Rapunzel insisted.

Gothel hurried to keep the darkness out. "Go, Rapunzel, hide!"

She ran to the wardrobe and left the door open a sliver to watch. Gothel quickly shut all the curtains and shutters, but it was too late. Pitch emerged from the darkness of the tower.

"You forgot that I could teleport, my darling," Pitch said.

He walked around the room, touching all of their trinkets. Pitch picked up the brush. "No!" Gothel screamed and jumped toward him. "I... need that." She snatched the brush from his hands.

"The child, where is she?" Pitch asked, concerningly.

"Uh," Gothel didn't look him in his eyes. "She's asleep."

Pitch leaned toward Gothel and whispered in her ear, "You see, that imposes that you're lying, considering that the cama is empty."

Gothel slumped down in the chair. "Why are you here Pitch?"

"To see you, of course," he came in closer.

Gothel pushed him away, "Pitch, I can't. Our deal... I can't keep my end of the bargain, because I am preoccupied with Rapunzel. You know that, can't you understand?"

Pitch quickly turned away. "I knew this would happen, and quite frankly I'm glad it did."

She quickly jumped out of her chair and grasped his arms. She begged, "Please don't take her, Pitch. I need her."

"I guess... Well, I will need something else."
Pitch looked Gothel straight in her eyes. "I want her." He pointed toward the wardrobe.

Gothel stepped in between him and the wardrobe. "The whole point of this deal is for me to keep her. For the fiftieth time, Pitch, I need her."

Pitch laughed, "I wouldn't dare separate a 'mother' from her daughter."

Gothel rolled her eyes, "Pitch, get to the point!"
She demanded.

"Almost, persay... visitation rights," Pitch suggested.

Gothel chuckled, but then said calmly, "Fine, but once a year. Let's say... her birthday."

"What a lovely conversation Gothel. I'll see you soon," Pitch spoke as he disappeared into the darkness of the tower.

Gothel heaved a sigh of relief. She opened the shutters and curtians to let light in, only to see the moon. Gothel sat on the window sill, soaking up the moonlight. Suddenly, Rapunzel emerged and climbed onto her lap.

"Who was that man, mother?"

Gothel stroked her hair, "No one you will have to worry about, my dear."