Reunion at Sea

Wolf

Red was missing.

Angry had come up to Rapunzel's room crying in worry because she'd woken up to use the bathroom and found her sister gone from the room, with her boots and hair-ties left behind. Rapunzel, of course, had rallied the Royal Guard – that were still in the Capital and hadn't already gone after The Jester – to look for her.

"Red! Little red-haired girl!" Stan called, holding up a lantern as they walked through the woods.

"Why can't kids just follow simple orders? They always cause trouble when they don't." Pete grumbled.

"Because they're kids, Pete. I don't know about you, but I was a pretty free-spirited child myself." Stan chuckled as he thought of his childhood.

"Yeah, and we see what kind of adult that made you." Pete huffed.

Stan sighed. "Pete..." He shook his head. No, he wasn't going to indulge Pete's bad mood by arguing with him again. "Never mind."

"No, go on, Stan." Pete turned to him. "Why don't you tell me what's on your mind? We're going to have to do it in the morning when they check us all for werewolf marks, anyway!"

"Pete, I know you're mad about the truth serum—"

"Furious." Pete confirmed.

"—but that's no reason for you to take it out on me! No, you know what? I'm tired of this." He clenched his fist on the lantern. "There's only so much ridicule and abuse a guy can take! You've never really respected my opinions when it comes to adding things to my uniform—"

"Because it's not protocol! And a cravat looked terrible on you! Even Maximus agreed!"

"—and you've always told me off for bringing lunch from home for myself instead of sharing it with everyone, when you don't share with everyone yourself—"

"Wha—because you always bring such delicious food!"

"—and I'm always having to clean up after your mess when your loose lips cause trouble!" Stan finished firmly. "And I have been standing by you, defending you when everyone spoke against you, complimenting you even when you make mistakes, but this is going too far! I don't care if you're upset about having to take truth serum – we ALL have to take truth serum! We have shapeshifting MONSTERS out there and we can't take any chances! But you're so fixated on your grudge against a teenager that we – yes, we – hurt by throwing out into a blizzard and then you decided to tell him he was worthless as you slammed the door in his face getting back at you by making you Patient Zero for his truth serum cookies – WHICH WERE MOSTLY HARMLESS – that you're snapping at everyone even when you're no longer on it!"

"What's the point of pretending to be nice?! Everyone's seen my true nature, everyone knows who I really am!" Pete threw his hands up. "If I'm such a burden to you, then fine! Why do you stick around?!"

"Because that's what friends do!" Stan insisted.

"Then, maybe you need a better friend." Pete said coldly, before he turned on his heel and stormed off into the darkness.

"Pete? Pete! They said not to be alone!" He followed him into the darkness, his lantern lighting the wall. "Pete!"

"AHHHHHHH!" Stan felt his heart stop briefly as he heard a scream of agonizing pain.

"PETER!" He ran towards the sound and found a large figure stepping back before it dashed back into the shadows. Lying on the ground, Pete was clutching at his arm and whimpering in pain, blood slipping from under his hand.