—{Rapunzel}—
"Rapunzel! Let down your hairrrr!" I was startled by the sound of my mother's voice and quickly hid all of my artworks. Curtains closed, pastel colors hidden, and things my mother calls junk tucked away in secret compartments.
"C-Coming, Mother!" I yelled back, hurrying to the window while brushing my hair. I threw away the brush once I arrived before opening the window.
Down below, a few feet to the ground was my mother, wearing her dark hood and carrying a basket with probably fruits and supplies again. It's the only reason she goes out every morning and why I had to wake up early and wait for her to come back so she could use my long hair to pull her up.
"Rapunzel! I got you something! And I'm definitely sure you'll like it!" On the ground, Mother Gothel happily grabbed her satchel and shook it, letting the items inside make a noise—though considering how far she is in terms of height, I'm not sure I heard anything from it.
"Anything you bring back home always makes me happy, Mother!" I responded back as I expertly tied my hair on the hook near the window before fully throwing my entire hair out. I've done the same routine a thousand times so I already know the accurate measurement before throwing my hair so it wouldn't touch the ground below.
Albeit I have to constantly remeasure because my mother told me that my hair continues to grow every year.
As soon as I felt the tug on my hair, I started to pull. While doing so, I couldn't help but recall the weird voices I heard earlier—I was too scared check so I'm not sure if it was voices that I heard or maybe it was different.
"Rapunzel!" As soon as mother reached the top floor, she gave me a quick peck on my forehead before dropping on the bed and stretching her limbs.
She sighed in relief, "Aahh~ well that was exhausting. Can you imagine I had to walk for 10 miles every week just to fetch some food for us!"
"Yes, mother," I replied, picking up the brush and resuming brushing my hair. She always says the same thing every week whenever she goes out to fetch all my needs and that's why I'm truly grateful to her for doing such hard work just for me.
After a brief silence, I heard my mother call my name, "Rapunzel?"
"Yes, mother?"
"You're brushing your hair wrong. Come here." She gently said, and I found myself heeding her words and sitting in front of her, the back of my head facing her.
She took the brush from my hand and brushed my hair, more gently and carefully than I had earlier. Mother seems to love my hair so much, to the point that she would always find a time to brush it herself. Mother told me that she's the only one who still brushes my hair all these years, how the other mothers out there aren't doing the same for their daughters.
"Rapunzel, can you sing the song?" And of course, there wouldn't be a day when she wouldn't let me sing as she brushes my hair.
"Okay, mother," I replied and started singing the lullaby that she once taught me.
"Flower, gleam, and glow~" I closed my eyes and immersed myself in singing. I would always feel this exhilarating and comforting feeling all over my body whenever I sing so I've grown to like singing even without mother having to tell me sometimes.
"Let your power shine~"
"Make the clock reverse~" At this point, I could feel mother's hands caressing my hair, making her fingers pass through the strips.
She muttered to me from behind, "You have such a beautiful voice and hair, Rapunzel." There was a hint of something in her tone that I can't describe but I chalked it up to her bubbling love for me.
I smiled at it and continued singing, I noticed my hair shining as usual, I don't know why but my mother told me that I'm unique and that everyone in the world wants to harm me because of my hair and that she's the only one who cares and protects me.
By the end of the song, just as I was about to settle on the warmth of mother and her careful brushing, she suddenly stopped and stood, saying as she picked up her satchel, "Here, the color pastel you've been asking for. I went through so much just to get it for you, so take good care of it, alright?"
I beamed in happiness and grabbed the color pastel from her hand, filled with joy as I launched at her and hugged her, even though she pushed me soon after but I don't mind. Maybe because I haven't washed yet and I smell bad.
"I'll go out again, there are a few…bad men I spotted outside, I have to fend them off to protect you." She approached me and tucked a hair behind my ear and caressed my cheek before walking away.
As usual, I helped her down using my hair and watched as she left the place. The moment she's gone, I couldn't help but stare at the distant sky, using my hand as support on my chin.
'I wonder what the outside world looks like. Is it really ruled by bad men who want to harm me?' I wondered to myself once again despite knowing that no one would be here to answer me, not even mother.
———
—{Flynn Rider}—
I'm so afraid of my own safety right now. First, I got caught trying to steal a horse, then I got caught by the Crown Prince of Lioncrest of all places! I thought that man died? I heard it from a rumor somewhere. And to make matters worse, I kind of also insulted his companion—his lover perhaps?
Don't even get started on the fact that I also lost the very same thing that put me up in this situation.
Now here I am, riding on the back of a horse along with a Knight Captain who could probably cut me in half in a single swing, talk about great luck. Ever since I stole that tiny crown, nothing good has ever happened to me.
I asked the Knight Captain, "Mind telling me where we are right now?" Although the Crown Prince didn't expose me right away, I don't trust what he wants to do to a thief like me.
If there's an opportunity to escape, I must do so right now. Thanks to him, I'm not seen as a prisoner or a bad guy—just a stranger who hitched a ride with them, so if I could just leave without having the prince or his lover's eyes on me, I could practically escape in one piece.
I might even spread the tales of how the great Flynn Rider managed to escape from the Lioncrest's Crown Prince and his entourage without anyone noticing. Actually, having that kind of reputation doesn't sound bad.
Thankfully, the Knight Captain answered in a casual manner, "We're a day away from Corona Kingdom, perhaps we'd drop you there and hopefully you can find your way back to where you came from."
My face turned dark and I reluctantly agreed, "Yes, that's right! You're absolutely right! Definitely dropping me in Corona Kingdom."
Like hell I'll go back to that place! My face is probably plastered all over the walls over there! I just stole their missing princess's crown for god's sake!
Alright. Calm yourself down, Eugune. There's still a way out of this. He mentioned that there's still a day before we arrive, so midway we'll probably camp somewhere to rest and fill our bellies. I can use that opportunity to make my escape. I'm good at making up reasonable excuses, I've once managed to fiddle a free lodging from a local tavern.
If I can do it once, I can definitely do it again.
———
Unbeknownst to Flynn, Henry was keeping a close watch on him, and as soon as he heard his question to Ser Liam which was followed by a look of deep contemplation, Henry instantly knew what the man was planning.
'Trying to escape I see.' Henry mysteriously smiled. Even though he only thoroughly punishes the bad men who do the most vile of things, that doesn't mean he'll be complacent toward those who commit lesser evil crimes.
His intended punishment for Flynn is simple. The man will work with him for perhaps a year or a few. It wouldn't be wrong to say that Flynn will have a part in his plan to take down his siblings.
'Last I remember, Samantha always wrote her everyday life in her diary. I'm still not aware of how Timothy and Alexander pulled the shipwreck off when it was Father himself who screened every crew before the voyage, so her diary will probably serve as both evidence and the truth.' He murmured in his breath. Thank the heavens he was the one who taught Samantha about diaries and stuff.
'Just stay with me for a while, Flynn Rider, after that, the fame and wealth you've been chasing will be within reach.' He murmured to himself as he continued to watch Flynn's movements.
———
—{Flynn Rider}—
I was right. After a few hours of traveling, it was Prince Henry himself who suggested we rest for a bit. This is my chance to escape. As long as everyone aside from him and that red-haired lady doesn't know that I'm a thief, I could bluff my way out of here.
I gently stood up while the others were setting up tents and handing out rations when all of a sudden, Ser Liam noticed me leaving and asked in curiosity rather than suspicion, "Where are you going, mister?"
I turned around and answered with a slight twitchy lip, "I-I'll just find a place to take a leak, it won't be long."
Ser Liam nodded his head in understanding before replying, "Well don't take too long now or you won't be getting food with how all my men are famished after traveling."
With a nod of my head, I left the area. At first, I was walking calmly, pretending as if I was really searching for a good place to pee.
'Yeah, you can have all that food. Cause I'll be leaving you all eating my dust.' With a grin on my face after looking back and seeing that I'm not being followed, I immediately bolted, feeling the strong winds slapping my face.
"Hahaha' I'm free—!?" Before I could finish my joyful words, the ground beneath me suddenly turned sluggish and before I knew it, I was now knee deep under the sticky ground, doing my best to pull my legs out.
"Oh no." Realization dawned upon me and as I expected, the familiar figure of Prince Henry stepped out behind a tree.
With a smile on his face, he spoke, "I guess not all the sticky situationsyou find yourself in can't be escaped at all times huh?"
"…I'm sorry, was that a pun?" I pointed out.
Prince Henry coughed and cleared his throat, purposely avoiding answering my question and instead, he changed the topic, "Do you know why I didn't expose you earlier?"
"…Let me guess, you want me to steal something. Typical nobles." I rolled my eyes at him. I was already expecting to see shock on his face for successfully guessing his intentions but he just smiled and nodded instead.
"That's right. But it's not just stealing something. It's more like stealing something in exchange for fame and wealth. Your dream is to become a legend like the real Flynnigan Rider, right?"
My eyes widened at his words. He knows of the Tales of Flynnigan Rider? The greatest Swashbuckler?
"What if I tell you, I have the power to make you the next Flynnigan Rider, the world's greatest Swashbuckler?" There was an eerie smile on his face while saying those words.
I unconsciously blurted out, "What do I have to do?"
Ah man, I guess I have no choice but to agree, right?
"Well, unlike Flynnigan Rider, what you're going to do is much more flamboyant. I want you to steal something from my siblings, Lioncrest's Royal Princess and Princes'."
———
"Halt! S-State your purpose." The Corona Kingdom's gate guard stuttered in surprise after seeing an entire squad of Knights escorting three carriages and a seemingly wealthy-looking young man.
In his mind, the Corona Knight seemed to instantly know that he was looking at some rich noble from afar.
"We're here for entry, to resupply, rest, and pass through your Kingdom. I bring with me the Crown Prince of Lioncrest, Prince Henry Charming." Ser Liam's horse stepped forward and the Knight Captain took over the conversation.
"I-I see. May I have your papers please?" The Corona Knight was stunned at first before nodding his head and politely requesting identification.
Ser Liam handed it over without much of a fuss and then said, "I have brought some unusual friends on those carriages over there. I assure you on my knight's honor that they're harmless, so I hope there won't be much trouble for us about it."
The gate guard nodded his head and left before returning soon after, "Unusual friends are welcome here, ser. Just make sure they won't cause trouble for the locals."
He handed back the identification papers and said, "Please enjoy your stay, ser." He turned to Henry and gave another nod of his head, deeper than the one he gave to Ser Liam earlier.
"So this is Corona Kingdom? It's so colorful!" Ariel's eyes were literally sparkling as they came across several children and adults doing various arts and cultural dances on the streets.
On the other hand, Henry deep in thought, 'Maybe if I didn't drag Flynn with me, Rapunzel would be enjoying this today and tomorrow, she'd reunite with her parents. But because of me I delayed it a bit.' He murmured to himself.
'I'll make it up to her. Once I get back to Lioncrest and handle my things there, I'll come back to her and set things right.' Henry swore in his heart.