People were annoying. That's why she lived on the outskirts of town away from those disgusting beings.

Most of them felt that way towards her anyway. They called her horrid and disgusting all because of her talents.

Somehow that didn't stop her from being kind. Sure, she said the occasional rude remark towards them, but only because they were so stupid.

They feared her. All because of her talents.

She was what they would label a witch. She preferred the term mage. The connotation wasn't as bad.

Gothel lived on the barely outside of town, near the forest. No one ever visited her and her closest neighbors were a recently married couple who seemed terrified of her like the rest of the world.

So instead of occupying her time with socialization she chose to tend her garden.

She didn't expect anything too out of the ordinary to ever happen to her, despite her powers. Nothing ever happened to her. The most exciting thing in her life was when she was called a witch. Which wasn't pleasant funnily enough.

Gothel was tending her lettuce plants when the chaos erupted. Perhaps chaos was a strong word, but her neighbors frantically crying and running in the streets seemed to fit the criteria.

Her neighbor, Cordelia Sonnewyn, stood outside her fence, tears streaming down her pale face. Her platinum blonde hair was in tangles and she clutched a bundle of blankets.

Atharia was a safe place for the most part, even if it was full of idiots, something Gothel hoped would change with the new king and queen, so it was a wonder why Cordelia would be in such a panic.

"Ms. Gothel? Gothel Sterling, may-may I-"

Gothel had only spoken to this woman on very few occasions before. When the newlyweds had moved next to her and another time when Cordelia had been desperate for some lettuce. She'd been pregnant and sick so Gothel hadn't fussed about giving her some of her rampion. Even still she seemed nicer than the rest of the town of Ariette. She had never scorned Gothel for her abilities and she didn't leave Gothel to her own devices out of fear, more out of respect and privacy. So Gothel decided it was alright to hear the young woman out.

"Yes, that's me. Please come in?" Gothel opened the gate to the fence, allowing the woman to enter.

Cordelia shuddered as she steeped into the garden. It wasn't too breezy out. She kept looking over her shoulder, as if someone was after her.

"Well can I do for you?" Gothel wondered, wiping the dirt on her hands onto her pants. The fact that she chose to wear pants probably didn't help the kingdom find her any less strange.

Cordelia bottom lip trembled. "He's after us. He wants our child."

Gothel's eyes narrowed. "I don't know who he is."

"He! The little man. He's tricky. A man with odd little powers- Oh I suppose that's not important." The woman sighed. "I need a favor. A huge favor."

"Well spit it out." Gothel placed her hands on her hips.

"Can you watch our daughter? Just until tomorrow morning? We'll be back for her, but we need to throw the little man off our trail. It'll just be the one night I swear. She's been fed and washed so she shouldn't even bother you. She's a fairly content baby."

Gothel sighed. "I'm really not good with children."

"Please," Cordelia's blue eyes were wet with tears. "I'm desperate. She'll be safe with you."

Gothel let out another sigh, one twice as long. She was going to regret this. She held out her arms. Cordelia placed the child in Gothel's arms.

"What is her name?" Gothel wondered as she gazed down at the sleeping child in the blue bundle of blankets. She was pale like her mom, with platinum hair and rosy freckled cheeks.

"Rapunzel Lunelle. Like the ancient Atharian word for silver grace, Rasepezel."

Gothel purses her lips. It sounded derived from rampion. She hoped that Cordelia hadn't named her daughter after lettuce.

"I'll watch her. For the night." Gothel nodded.

Cordelia looked ready to burst into tears out of gratitude this time. She almost hugged Gothel, but decided against it. Instead she planted a kiss on her daughter's forehead.

"Mommy loves you. She'll be back real soon."

That was the last Gothel saw of her. The next day came and there was no sight of her. She waited all day. The next day was the same. As was the next. Each day her faith in the couple returning diminished even more.

But she found that she enjoyed the little child's company more than she had expected. Rapunzel was a fairly content child, like Cordelia had told her. She was always happy. The little baby had a laugh like bells whenever Gothel showed her a magic trick.

Her eyes were the soft teal color of a bright lagoon, with silver specks in them. They were hypnotizing. Gothel only hoped that the little girl would grow up with the ability to fight, or else she was going to be up to her knees in marriage proposals. Luckily enough she wouldn't have to worry about that for years to come.

There was one thing unusual about Rapunzel. Her hair changed color. Often Gothel would show her a bit of magic with lights and colors to entertain the girl. Rapunzel would giggle before strand by strand, her short hair glowed sliver. The first time she did this Gothel had freaked out, but eventually she pieced together that that was probably why the little man had been after Rapunzel.

So she built a tower in the woods. It took a long time, but it was the best way to keep Rapunzel safe. It was guarded by magic.

Gothel would stop at nothing to keep Rapunzel safe.