"Rapunzel, no!" Papa shouted.
He looked frightened. "Run away!"
Mama glared at the witch.
"Leave my daughter alone!"
"It's okay," Rapunzel said bravely.
"I do not want you to turn into hedgehogs.
I will go with the witch.
I will visit you often."
"At least you are wise, girl," the witch said.
Her face turned dark.
"But you can never visit your parents.
They would only hide you from me again."
Rapunzel folded her arms.
"I will work hard for you, Witch.
But I must visit my family!"
The witch shook her finger at Rapunzel.
"I said you can never visit your parents.
If you do, I will turn them into hedgehogs!
Do you understand?"
Tears filled Rapunzel's eyes.
"I must be brave," she thought.
She quickly wiped her tears away.
"Yes. I understand."
"Good!" the witch snapped.
"Now come with me.
It's a long trip to the city.
And I am already tired."
Rapunzel turned to her parents.
Tears rolled down Mama's face.
"We will think of you every day," Mama said.
"We will miss you so much!" Papa said.
Rapunzel reached out to hug them.
But the witch yanked her arm.
"Come along!" she said harshly. "Now!"
The witch dragged Rapunzel away.
Rapunzel looked back at her parents.
"I will never forget them," she thought.
"I will find a way to return home!"
"Oops!" Suddenly Rapunzel tripped over something.
It was the hedgehog.
Rapunzel scooped it up.
She dropped it into her pocket.
The witch spun around. "What are you doing?"
"Um, nothing!" Rapunzel said quickly.
She hurried after the witch.
In Rapunzel's pocket the hedgehog wiggled.
Rapunzel patted it.
"You need a friend," she whispered.
"And so do I!"