The warmth of a fire seemed to warm Rapunzel's soul as well as her body. After nearly freezing to death, she enjoyed the feeling of heat soaking into her body. She did wonder where she was, and slowly opened her eyes.

"Bien," her rescuer said, smiling down at her. The man's brown eyes had probably melted many a girl's heart when he was younger. "You are awake, non? Would you like some soup? Hot, and freshly made."

"Papa," a girl's shrill voice complained, "she is only another mouth to feed!"

"If you insist on treating our guests so rudely, I'll send you into the forest to freeze!" the man barked at his daughter, and the girl withdrew to another room, muttering to herself. He turned back to Rapunzel. "My apology," he said. "My name is Pierre. Forgive the rudeness of my children; most have not inherited very good manners."

"I'm Rapunzel," she said, sitting up. The blanket around her shoulders slid off a little, and Pierre replaced it gently for her. "Umm...thanks."

"De rien," Pierre said, smiling. "You come from another Story, oui? What brings you to Beauty's?"

Rapunzel explained everything. Will's search for the Editor and his desire to learn the truth about Final Death, getting captured by the Beast, and making a deal with him. Finally, she said, "I need your help to save Will, though. Unless I can get Beauty to leave the castle, the Beast will kill him."

"And how do I fit into this?" Pierre asked. "Beauty, she will not leave the castle unless my life is directly in danger..." Pierre's voice trailed off, and Rapunzel nodded at him as what she wanted dawned on him. "You want me to...lie to her?"

"I'll be the one doing all the lying," Rapunzel assured him. "You just have to act like a victim so she thinks you're in danger. Trust me, I know what I'm doing, and I won't hurt you or any of your family. I promise."

"I just met you," Pierre argued helplessly. "How do I know I can trust you?"

Rapunzel hesitated, then shrugged. "You don't," she answered. "But unless you want your daughter to be stuck with a Beast for the rest of her life, you'll help me. Because I won't let you down."

Pierre nodded, convinced. Rapunzel, satisfied she had gotten him onto her side, went on, "She has that magic mirror thing, right? The one that lets her see you?" Pierre nodded again. "When does she check it?"

"In about two hours," Pierre replied, glancing at a clock on the wall to be certain of the time.

"Okay," Rapunzel said, grinning. "We've got a lot to do before then."

. . . . . .

Two hours later, Beauty sat at her vanity, brushing out her curly auburn hair. She fingered the little mirror in front of her, waiting for the perfect time to check it and see her father. A clock went off somewhere in the castle, ringing out the time—midnight. Beauty picked up the mirror and willed it to show her father.

Beauty's reflection disappeared, and her home appeared in the mirror. Small but comfortable, it had held seven children in the past and her father. Somehow, Papa had always kept it neat as a pin.

Until today. Looking in the mirror, Beauty saw the furniture strewn about, shattered glass scattered across the floor, and...it couldn't be. Was that blood? "Beast!" Beauty screamed, dropping the mirror. Somehow, it didn't break. "Beast!"

The Beast slammed through the door, splintering it. When he saw all seemed well except for Beauty weeping, he sat back on his haunches and asked, "What is it, Beauty?"

"My papa! Something is wrong!" she gasped, flinging herself sobbing into the Beast's arms. "I must go to him—immediately!"

The Beast's expression became rather peculiar. Beauty frowned. "What is it?" she demanded.

"Nothing," the Beast answered quickly. "Go to your father. Twist this ring on your fingers three times to return to me. Hurry back."

"Merci," Beauty said hastily before hurrying away. The Beast watched before shambling through the castle to the tower prison. His prisoner, Will, looked up with his eyebrows raised.

"Well? Has she left?" he asked.

"You don't seem surprised," the Beast countered.

"I'm not," Will said. "I trust Rapunzel. She wouldn't abandon me to die, even if we did just meet."

The Beast stared at him for a long while until Will's face went as red as his hair. "What?" he demanded, brushing his hand across his scalp to cover his embarrassment.

"You are very...loyal." The Beast's voice had a tinge of respect to it. Before Will could dwell on it for too long, the Beast turned and ambled away.