The morning after

Sunlight filtered through the moss curtain of the alcove, hitting my face. I opened my eyes. The fire had burned down to white ash, but I was still warm. Rapunzel was draped over me like a blanket. Her head rested on my chest, her golden hair tangled around both of our bodies, effectively tying us together.

She was deeply asleep, a small smile on her lips, her hand still resting possessively over the spot where her newfound sword slept in my trousers.

I shifted slightly. Rapunzel stirred. She groaned, a low, pained sound, and tried to stretch her legs. She froze mid-stretch, her eyes snapping open. She winced, clutching her lower stomach.

"Ooh..." she breathed, looking up at me with sleepy confusion that quickly turned into a flush of memory. "Good morning, Ray."

"Good morning, angel," I said, running a hand down her naked back. "How do you feel?"

She bit her lip, shifting her hips carefully. "I feel... sore," she admitted, her voice hushed. "Everywhere. My legs, my... inside. It feels like you're still there."

"That means I did my job," I said, sitting up and bringing her with me.

Gravity took effect immediately. Rapunzel gasped, clapping a hand between her legs as the seed I had filled her with shifted. "It’s... oh my gosh, it’s leaking," she whispered, her face turning crimson. "The legacy... it's coming out."

"Let it," I said, standing up and adjusting my clothes. "It’s a reminder. Every time you feel that wetness today, every time you have to wipe it away... you think of me. You think of who put it there."

She nodded, looking down at the mess on her thighs with a strange mix of embarrassment and pride. "I will. I promise."

"Get dressed," I commanded. "Your clothes should be dry. We have a Kingdom to reach."

Rapunzel moved to gather her purple dress. Her movements were stiff. The agility she had shown in the forest yesterday was gone, replaced by a tender caution. She pulled the panties up over her sore entrance, wincing slightly, then laced up the bodice of her dress.

She stood up and tried to take a step. She stumbled. Her legs were shaky, and her hips refused to move with their usual fluid grace. She had to walk with a wider stance, her thighs unable to close completely because of the soreness I had inflicted.

She looked at me, mortified. "I... I'm walking funny."

I smirked, walking over to her. I wrapped an arm around her waist to steady her. "You're walking like a woman who was thoroughly claimed," I corrected. "It’s not funny, Rapunzel. It’s a badge of honor. Wear it proudly."

"A badge of honor," she repeated, straightening her spine even as her legs trembled. "Okay. I can do this."

"Come. The road waits for no one."

We made our way out of the forest. Rapunzel leaned heavily on me, clutching my arm. Every step was a reminder of the night before. We crested a ridge, and the trees fell away.

There it was. The Kingdom of Corona.

It sat on an island in the middle of a massive blue lake, connected to the mainland by a long stone bridge. The castle rose high into the sky, white towers gleaming in the sun, surrounded by a bustling village of terracotta roofs. And everywhere, on flags, on ships, on banners, was the symbol of the Golden Sun.

Rapunzel gasped. She dropped my arm and stepped forward, ignoring the pain in her legs for a moment. "It’s... it’s real," she whispered, tears pricking her eyes. "It’s exactly like the painting. But bigger. And louder."

"That's your destination," I said, standing behind her, leaning down to whisper in her ear. "The place where the lights fly."

"I can't believe I'm here," she breathed. "With you."

"Let's go introduce you to your public."

We walked down to the bridge. It was crowded with travelers, carts, and guards. Rapunzel hesitated at the entrance to the bridge. She looked down at her bare feet, then at the rough cobblestones. Then she looked at the crowd.

"There are so many people," she whispered, shrinking back against me. "And... I don't have shoes."

"You don't need shoes," I said. "You have a Master."

I didn't carry her this time; that would attract too much attention. instead, I took her hand firmly. "Head up," I ordered. "Eyes forward. You are under my protection. If anyone looks at your feet, ignore them. If anyone looks at you, they answer to me."

She nodded, drawing strength from my grip. We walked across the bridge. Rapunzel was a sensory sponge. She swiveled her head constantly, taking in the smells of baking bread, the sound of horses, the colors of the market stalls.

She accidentally bumped into a large woman carrying a basket of apples. "Oh! I'm so sorry!" Rapunzel squeaked.

The woman glared, but then she saw me. She saw the cold, predatory look in my eyes and the Keyblade, which I glamoured to look like a sword to normal eyes, attached to my belt. "Watch it," the woman muttered, hurrying away.

"See?" I whispered to Rapunzel. "The wolf parts the sheep."

We reached the central plaza. It was a festival atmosphere. People were dancing, music was playing, and children were braiding hair with flowers. Rapunzel’s eyes lit up. "Can we...?" she pointed to a group of girls braiding a long tapestry.

"Go," I said, leaning against a fountain. "I'll watch."

She hobbled over to them, her 'claimed' gait noticeable to anyone who knew what to look for, but to the villagers, she just looked like a clumsy, excited girl. Within minutes, the village children had swarmed her. They were fascinated by her hair. They began to braid it.

I watched from the shadows. Rapunzel sat on a stool, laughing as three girls worked on her massive golden mane, weaving it into a thick, intricate braid filled with flowers. She looked radiant. Innocent.

But then she looked up. Her eyes scanned the crowd frantically until they found me. When she saw me watching her, her expression changed. The innocent smile turned into a look of deep, submissive adoration. She blushed, looking down at her lap, then back at me. She mouthed a single word across the plaza. Yours.

I nodded. She was having her hair done by children, surrounded by light and music, but her mind was back in the dark alcove, remembering the weight of me on top of her.

Suddenly, a massive white horse burst into the plaza. Maximus. The Palace Horse I had humiliated at the tavern. He was sniffing the ground like a bloodhound. He stopped. He sniffed the air. His head snapped toward the fountain. He saw me.

His eyes narrowed. He bared his teeth. He didn't neigh; he roared.

"Trouble," I muttered.

I pushed off the fountain. "Rapunzel!" I called out, my voice cutting through the music.

She stood up immediately, her half-braided hair trailing behind her. She saw the horse. She saw me. She didn't ask questions. She ran to my side, wincing as her sore legs protested the speed.

"It's the horse!" she cried. " The one with the pointy teeth!"

"We're leaving," I said. "Now."

I grabbed her hand and pulled her into the crowd, heading deeper into the city, toward the castle walls. The hunt was back on.