Chapter 3: Mother Knows Best 

Warnings: Child Abuse, Emotional Abuse

She shoved Cassandra's unconscious form in the closet. Rapunzel ran over to the window. She threw her hair down. Gothel grabbed on. "Rapunzel, I have a surprise for you!" Gothel announced. "I do too!" Rapunzel announced.

"I bet my surprise is bigger!".

"I seriously doubt it!" Rapunzel chuckled as she finished pulling up Gothel. "Oh Rapunzel, how do you do that everyday without fail?" Gothel questioned. "Then I don't know why it takes so long!" Gothel exclaimed. Rapunzel sighed. "Mother…". "I'm just kidding, Rapunzel, stop taking everything so seriously!". Gothel patted her head. "Mother, I was wondering if I could see the floating lanterns." Rapunzel announced. "You want to see the stars." Gothel corrected. "No, I track stars and they appear every night.". Rapunzel pulled back a curtain to reveal a painting of the tower and the stars. "Rapunzel we talked about this; YOU ARE NEVER LEAVING THIS TOWER EVER!" Gothel announced. Rapunzel looked at Gothel shocked. Gothel sighed. She began to sing:

"You want to go outside? Why, Rapunzel...!

Look at you, as fragile as a flower Still a little sapling, just a sprout You know why we stay up in this tower That's right, to keep you safe and sound, dear

Guess I always knew this day was coming Knew that soon you'd want to leave the nest Soon, but not yet

Shh! Trust me, pet Mother knows best

Mother knows best, listen to your mother It's a scary world out there Mother knows best, one way or another Something will go wrong, I swear

Ruffians, thugs, poison ivy, quicksand Cannibals and snakes, the plague Yes! Also large bugs, men with pointy teeth, and Stop, no more, you'll just upset me

Mother's right here mother will protect you Darling, here's what I suggest Skip the drama, stay with mama Mother knows best

Mother knows best, take it from your mumsy On your own, you won't survive Sloppy, underdressed, Immature, clumsy Please, they'll eat you up alive

Gullible, naïve, positively grubby Ditzy and a bit, well, hmm vague Plus, I believe, gettin' kinda chubby I'm just saying 'cause I wuv you

Mother understands, mother's here to help you All I have is one request"

"Don't ever ask to leave this tower again." Gothel told her. "Yes mother." Rapunzel confined.

"Don't forget it, you'll regret it Mother knows best.".