Her long manicured fingernails tapped impatiently on the window ledge as she stared out at the world beyond the tower with troubled blue eyes. Her hair, so long that it could easily be wrapped around her slender frame twenty times, was neatly braided and shone like gold where it was hit by the sun's rays.
"Sister!" she called, and a hurried scuffling sound was heard before a hunched figure emerged from behind the wooden door. As the figure stepped into the light, it was obvious she was a witch, with her pale, sickly yellowish green skin and bloodshot eyes and her every pore oozing a slimy substance. Crooked teeth so yellow that they were almost brown showed when she parted her thin, dry lips to reply.
"What is it now?" she screeched, "can you not see that I am busy?"
The girl, was seemingly unperturbed by the sight and sound of the witch. "I am hungry! You told me this kingdom would be filed with delicious handsome young men. Yet, we've been here days and I've seen none!" She shouted back in a curious breathy voice that contradicted her tone. "And why must I always play the part of the damsel in distress? This stupid voice I have to speak in absolutely sickens me!"
"Dear sister" replied the witch, "do not worry. I have fair proof that this kingdom is filled with delicious young men desperate for attention, even if the last wasn't. I have already sent out word that a beautiful princess named Rapunzel ,you, has been trapped by an evil witch, me, in a tower, and any moment now some airheaded human male is going to try to climb up your hair in an attempt you rescue you." Here, she paused to cackle loudly before continuing, "And we both know that you are the only one strong enough to drink the "pretty potion" every few hours. Besides, pretending to die when another prince shoves a sword into your chest isn't very easy either."
Prince James Clearknight the Third was considered the most handsome man in the entire kingdom. His jet black hair came down to his neck and his eyes were the perfect shade of blue. He was very wealthy and only wore the grandest clothes. He smiled flirtatiously at very maiden he saw, who often giggled coyly back. His only flaw, however was that he was immensely arrogant and thought a great deal of himself, so of course, when he heard of the beautiful princess held captive in a tower, he knew that he would be the one to rescue and marry her.
The prince had, of course heard of the princess' long hair, and had decided this was the way he was going to climb up the tower to get to the princess, and was very pleased with himself for thinking of it. (He had not, however, though of a way back down). He had also had the Royal poet think up a short verse that he could recite to Rapunzel when he finally reached the tower.
As he entered the gate to the tower, the prince mounted off of his white steed and, tightening his grip on his sword, made his way on foot towards the tower. All of a sudden, the most hideous creature he had every seen, with slimy green skin and hair resembling dead snakes, came up in front of him, seemingly out of nowhere. Heart racing with fear, he summoned up all of his courage and plunged his sword into the heart of the witch, who let down a dramatic yell and collapsed, lifeless by his feet.
Prince James shuddered, repulsed at the sight of her, and stepped gingerly around the body towards the tower. He could see his beautiful princess sitting at the window, and his heart skipped with joy. He cleared his throat and started to recite the now well versed poem he had memorized for this occasion.
"Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your long hair, so I can climb the golden stairs"
Up in the tower, Rapunzel rolled her eyes at his attempt at poetry. "Oh my Prince! You have come to rescue me at last!" she replied in her usual breathy voice as she threw her hair out of the window.
The Prince, after a lot of slipping and many painful tugs on Rapunzel's scalp, finally made it to the window, and looked very pleased with himself when he finally managed to get inside, but as he turned around to look at his beautiful bride to be, the smug smile slipped off of his face and was replaced very quickly by an expression of pure horror.
Something dreadful seemed to be happing to her, and all the prince could do was to stand and stare, paralyzed with fear.
All her golden hair was falling out of her head, replaced by hair that was murky green in colour that which was very thin and missing in a few places. Her once perfect white skin became a sickly, slimy green with a large prominent wart on her chin. She seemed to shrink, and grew hunched over, and dark yellow teeth protruded from her mouth. The most gruesome thing about her though, was her eyes. One of them, shaped like a normal human eye, but a pale yellow colour with the iris so translucent it was barley visible. The other eye, was small and beady, darting around, watching everything.
The prince still stood staring, transfixed with horror. This witch was even more horrific than the last and he sight of her made him feel nauseated with revulsion.
"No where to run, my handsome savior." She cackled.
The first witch he had seen suddenly came up from behind him. He jolted, had he not slain this witch only a while ago? Apparently, his trusted sword was useless to him.
They both smiled evilly at his sweaty face and bewildered expression.
"You were right sister," said Rapunzel, "There was a decent catch in this kingdom after all. Now I believe I had promised you the first bite..."