#cassete

OUAT Cassunzel: Do You Believe Me Now?

Characters: Cassie aka Rapunzel, Arete aka Flynne Rider, Cole aka The Dark Warlock

Settings: The Snuggly Duckling, Cassie's shop in Fighter-Town

IB: Tangled, OUAT and Cassandra by Taylor Swift

"So Goldie," Flynne began as Rapunzel narrowed her eyes, streaking past her. "Rapunzel. Not Goldie." She warned as Flynne held up her hands in surrender. "Fine, Rapunzel. How did you get a name like that anyway? You know it means Lettuce right?" She said as Rapunzel raised an eyebrow, looking at the thief. "Oh you think my name's weird? How did you get a name like Flynne Rider? Your mother read too many books?" She questioned as Flynne just shut up after that. Rapunzel smirked, glad she'd shut that down as Flynne saw a familiar wooden sign.

"Hey Goldie, fancy a drink?" She asked as Rapunzel frowned again but she was getting a little thirsty. "Actually that's not a bad suggestion, I should've brought water with me," she sighed as Flynne held back a laugh. "Yes. Water. A drink..of water. Well I know of a place where we can..refresh ourselves just up here. Ever been to a tavern before, Little Witch?" She asked as Rapunzel shook her head. "Mother goes to sell her wares outside the Tower but she's never mentioned a tavern before." She shrugs as Flynne grins. "Well then allow me to introduce The Snuggly Duckling to you."

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Cassie was bewildered. Just as Cole went to leave her shop she stopped him. "Wait!" She called as he sighed, turning to face her. "Yes?" He said, tapping his foot. "You can't just leave me with that and expect me not to ask for more!" She retorted, as she tried to block his exit. He rolled his eyes. "That's not going to be very effective dear, I have my own magic that counteracts closed doors easily." He says before trying to disappear but he can't seem to leave the threshold. "I...wait, what have you done!" He says, incredulous as Cassie smirks and points to the door.

"Oh you didn't know? That door has wards. Wards that say that only the witch who cast them decides who comes and goes in this shop." She smiled as the Warlock grimaced. "This is why I don't fraternise with witches," he grumbled as he took a seat. "Fine, have it your way. Ask your questions, Cassandra." He says, as Cassie smirks and seats herself across from him. "First question, why can't I remember everything?" She asks as his expression falters.

"Ah. That. Well...you won't like it but it's...Alexander's fault. And a little bit mine." He says reproachfully. Cassie's eyes narrow. "Explain?" She says, eyeing him as he sighed and scratched his neck. "Oh alright. So when...the Curse was enacted, I did explain to him that the magic was strong but it probably wouldn't affect the likes of you the way he hoped. And of course I was right and when Fighter-Town came to be, you were quick to start.. asking questions and trying to rally people." He explains as Cassie just shrugs. "Understandable. So what happened?" She says.

"He...he came to me asking for a solution. I suggested...a memory spell." He says, wincing as the penny drops. "A..memory spell?" She repeats. "Yes. It worked a little too well though as it didn't really erase them entirely, it scrambled them around. A lot. And some of them did disappear entirely. While others became more prominent. I did warn him that it wasn't foolproof but he didn't listen. And so you forgot a lot of what happened in the Enchanted Forest. Especially what happened after you left your tower." He says slowly.

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The air was thick with the scent of alcohol, smoke and general bodily odour. There was nothing snuggly about this establishment as far as Rapunzel was concerned. Flynne handed her a cup and she winced. "Is this the same stuff they're drinking?" She asks as Flynne shakes her head. "No, Goldie. This is wine." She says as Rapunzel takes a sip. "It's...got a funny aftertaste.." She says as Flynne chuckles and shakes her head. "Just try it. If you don't like it, I'll get you some water instead." She offers as they take a seat and Rapunzel starts to notice the other patrons around her. They're burly, tough and they seem surprised to see her in their tavern. And then she overhears a conversation.

"Haven't you heard? They're cracking down on crime in the kingdom, you'll be lucky to make it to the spring with your neck intact," one says grimly as the other grumbles. "Not like I can see the future," he shrugs as Rapunzel turned to face them. "I can show you the future." She says as Flynne nudges her, giving her a look. The burly man looks at this woman, frowning. "You? You're not some charlatan are ya?" He says as Rapunzel shakes her head. "Of course not. Look, give me your hands and I can give you a glimpse of the future, or there's also a chance I'll see your past but uh, we'll try anyway." She says as Flynne covers her face.

"Alright girlie, try me." The man grunts as he gives Rapunzel a large, scarred hand as she goes to take his other but sees the hook and smiles. "Ah well it still works. Alright then." She nods as she takes his hand and she's plunged into this man's future as her eyes roll back and she takes a breath. "Beautiful music, coming from a piano, you're playing this piano!" She says while she's under as the man gasps. "I...I become a musician?" He says, his voice softening. "You do. An excellent one," She smiles as she lets go of his hand.

She hears other patrons start to laugh mockingly as she frowns. "Hey! Don't mock his dreams! I say, if you think you're so tough, let me see yours and I'll tell you what the future holds." She declared as the tavern fell quiet. And another patron spoke up. "I'd like to see what my future holds, Miss." He says, laying down his weapon on the table as Rapunzel noted his exterior and smiled. "But of course." She took his hand and saw immediately what his past had wanted.

"Oh you wish for love, don't you?" She sighed as the brute's expression changed and he nodded. "Yes, yes I do!" He smiled. "But just look at me, lady, I'm no prize." He said as she let go. "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, my friend. Don't let your exterior counter your heart's desires." She said as patrons started lining up to see their futures.

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"So, because Alexander wanted his picture perfect Curse Life, I got stuck with possibly one of the cruelest fates? Just because of my...gift?" She choked as Cole just sighed. "The price of magic, love. He clearly had his reasons for making you part of this Curse nonsense but he didn't really think it all the way through I'm afraid," He says as he tries to stroke Blanche but she bats his hand away. "You have a very sassy cat," he commented as Cassie just sat there, deep in thought. "I've lost a whole chunk of my story- story! It'll be in the book! Right?" She says as he smiles but it doesn't reach his eyes.

"Yeah. You'd think so wouldn't you? Well...let's just say...part of your story is there. The.. other half." He says as Cassie's eyes narrow. "The other half? You don't mean..." she starts as he winces. "Goldilocks. That one. The Rapunzel story never made it to the book." He states as her eyes widen. "WHAT!? But...but that was barely even a chapter in my life! That was a cover! A ruse! Oh my- the Rapunzel story was ERASED?" She cried as Cole tried to calm her down.

"Peace, Little Witch. I agree that it's entirely unacceptable but what's done is done." He said firmly as Cassie collapsed into her chair and Blanche immediately ran to comfort her. "Goldilocks...that stupid nickname.. and now I don't even remember where it came from!" She cried as Cole just shifted in his seat. He was never very good with crying. "Goldilocks, of all the stories to be stuck with..." she sighed as Cole awkwardly patted her knee. "I'm sorry, Cassie."

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Rapunzel was laughing and smiling as she reached the end of the line of patrons but she spotted Flynne still sat at the table, nursing her mug of ale. "Flynne, how about your future?" She asked gently as Flynne lifted her head. "Me? Uh nah there's no point. And it's nothing exciting what I want. Money, mostly. The easy life." She shrugs as Rapunzel settles next to her, locking eyes with her. "Please?" She said as if butter wouldn't melt. And Flynne thought she had a way with getting what she wanted. Her blue eyes sparkled like precious jewels as Flynne swallowed and just nodded. "O-okay then. Sure."

Rapunzel took hold of her hands as Flynne tried not to blush and the girl was plunged into her future. She saw a body of water at night, a wooden boat, a gorgeous starry night and through Flynne's eyes she saw someone in the boat with her. Silhouetted by the darkness, her hair threaded with flowers in a thick braid as she feels Flynne hesitate before speaking. "Rapunzel?" She says in a voice soft and calm. Rapunzel's eyes widen as she watches the silhouette turn and sees a face like her own, smiling back at Flynne. "Yeah?" She said as Flynne moved closer and captured her lips in a kiss. "Rapunzel? Rapunzel? Rapunzel!"

Flynne let go of Rapunzel's hand as she came back, gasping as blood poured from her nose and the patrons hurried to her aid. "I'm fine, I'm alright, it happens." She says wiping her nose. "Well? What did you see?" A man says as she blinks, realising. "Oh! Uh well you uh, you'll get what your heart truly desires." She nods, trying not to blush as Flynne raises an eyebrow. "Really? You're certain?" She nods again as Flynne smirks. "Well boys, I guess drinks are-" She begins as the door hits the wall hard. "Flynne Rider!" A voice barks as Flynne's smile drops and she grabs the sleeve of Rapunzel's dress. "We're going. Now." She says urgently as they start to make their escape, as the patrons tried to hold off the guards.

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Cassie just sat there, cuddling with Blanche as she waited for Cole to keep talking. He'd very kindly made her a cup of tea, as comfort was not his specialty. "My entire story, replaced with a footnote. My entire legacy, my story was reduced to the silly side plot of my life after my original story concluded." She says softly, sipping her tea. "I..I know. But there might be something that can open the door for the rest of your memories to be restored." He says as Cassie sits up. "And you didn't think to mention that sooner?" She says as Cole holds up his hands in defence. "You were grieving, that was more important! But yes, I might have one of the pieces of your puzzle. Or at least the key for finding your missing piece." He says as Cassie leans forward. "Tell me." She says.

"The name of the person missing from..from your tale, from Fighter-Town. I know it." He says quietly as Cassie just waits. "Her name was Arete." He says as something shifts in Cassie's mind as she's flooded by memories. Her eyes roll back as she clutches the arms of her chair as she starts to remember. Laughter in a field, running away from the guards, kissing in a boat, feeling a heart stop beating, the snick of metal as her long hair fell away.

"Cass? Gods, Cassie? Cassie!" Cole called, his eyes glowing green as he dragged her back to the present. "Cass, your nose," he said as her eyes went back to normal and she gasped as she grounded herself. "Arete.." she said quietly, like she was reciting a spell. Cole nodded. Now there was no going back. "I have to find her, Cole." She said firmly as she struggled to her feet. "I can't let Alexander think he has any glory left. Not while there's breath in my lungs."

There! Okay but I'll need time to write the next part, I do have a plan...part of a plan. Okay mostly the flashback bit for now. Art takes time be patient.

Dedicated to @gcthvile my personal hypewoman and fellow Cassete shipper