Chapter Text
As Flynn and Rapunzel dashed through the secret tunnel beneath the Snuggly Duckling Tavern, guards hot on their heels, they ran as fast as they could, but the chase was short-lived. Soon, two guards had Flynn firmly restrained, while another swiftly intercepted Rapunzel before she could swing her frying pan to help him.
“Flynn!” Rapunzel cried, struggling in the guard’s grip.
Flynn strained against his captors. “Let her go! She has nothing to do with this!”
The captain, unfazed, sneered. “Oh, I think she has plenty to do with this, seeing as she’s aiding a wanted thief.”
Rapunzel tried to wriggle free. “He’s not a thief! He’s… he’s with me!”
The captain chuckled and turned to his men. “Cuff them.”
The guards complied, clamping Flynn’s arms behind his back and shackling his ankles, with two more guards stationed beside him to prevent any escape attempt. Rapunzel, however, was only handcuffed at the wrists, her hands left in front.
As they were marched towards the tunnel’s exit, Flynn kept glancing around, clearly searching for an opportunity. Noticing this, one of the guards warned him, pressing a sword closer. “Try anything, and you’ll regret it.”
Flynn flashed a defiant smirk. “You’ll need more than that to keep me down.”
Once they finally emerged from the tunnel into a forest clearing, the captain ordered Maximus, his loyal steed, to find the guard left to watch the Stabbington brothers. As they waited for the horse to return, the captain strode over to Flynn with a mocking smile.
“Well, well,” the captain drawled. “Looks like the infamous Flynn Rider has finally been brought to justice. And here I thought you were untouchable.”
Flynn met his gaze, fire in his eyes. “Don’t get too comfortable, Captain. This isn’t over.”
“Oh, it will be soon,” the captain taunted, leaning in close. “You’ll be back behind bars where you belong. And this time, no daring escapes.”
Unable to hold back, Flynn clenched his jaw and leaned forward. “We’ll see about that.”
After mocking Flynn a little longer, the captain turned his gaze toward Rapunzel, studying her with a curious expression. Noticing his stare, Rapunzel’s shoulders slumped as she hung her head in shame, trying to avoid his gaze. The captain eventually lost interest, and silence fell over the group as they all stood waiting.
Moments later, the sound of hooves announced Maximus’s return, followed by a guard leading a horse-drawn wagon. “Wagon’s here!” the guard called, signaling to the captain.
The captain swung himself onto his horse, gesturing to his men. “Load them up. And make sure Rider is thoroughly secured—I don’t want any surprises.”
Two guards lifted Flynn and placed him in the wagon, sitting on either side of him to ensure he didn’t make any sudden moves.
“Really?” Flynn muttered, glancing at the guards on either side of him. “Two of you? Don’t you think that’s a little excessive?”
One of the guards smirked. “Better safe than sorry.”
As Rapunzel was brought over, the guard holding her struggled to manage the weight of her hair. “What on earth… how much hair does one girl need?” he grumbled, heaving the golden locks onto the wagon and trying to keep it from tangling in the wheels.
“Hey!” Rapunzel protested, watching as he unceremoniously shoved her hair into the wagon. “Be careful with that!”
Finally, once both were secured, the captain approached the guard who had been watching over the Stabbington brothers. The guard looked uneasy, glancing down at the ground.
“What is it?” the captain asked impatiently.
“Sir… the Stabbington brothers… they’ve, uh… escaped,” the guard stammered, his face red with embarrassment.
The captain’s jaw clenched in frustration, but he let out a huff and waved it off. “Fine. At least we’ve got Flynn Rider.” He shot a glare at Flynn. “That’s one less headache.”
Flynn leaned forward, unable to resist a smirk. “Seems like you’ve had a bit of a rough day, Captain.”
“Careful, Rider,” the captain sneered back. “You’re lucky I haven’t thrown you in a cell yet.”
Rapunzel looked at Flynn, worry etched on her face, but he gave her a reassuring nod. Despite their capture, he wasn’t ready to give up just yet.
Finally, the captain ordered the wagon to move on to Corona. As they traveled, Rapunzel sat uncomfortably, her gaze fixed on Flynn, who was on the other side of the wagon with guards flanking him. When their eyes met, Flynn's expression was a mix of annoyance, while Rapunzel looked visibly worried. They stared at each other in silence, each lost in their own thoughts.
“I can’t believe this is happening,” Rapunzel finally whispered, breaking the quiet.
Flynn shrugged, trying to maintain his tough demeanor. “Welcome to my world,” he replied, rolling his eyes. “Trust me, it’s not as glamorous as it looks.”
Before long, they arrived at the gates of Corona. Rapunzel, who had spent her entire life in a tower, was awestruck by the kingdom. Her eyes widened as she took in the vibrant colors, bustling streets, and joyful townsfolk. “It’s... beautiful,” she murmured, unable to tear her gaze away from the sights around her.
Flynn noticed the wonder in her expression and felt an unexpected tug at his heart. “Yeah, it’s got its moments,” he said softly, momentarily captivated by the light in her eyes.
The wagon came to a halt at the entrance of the castle, jarring Rapunzel from her reverie. One of the guards clambered out and ordered both of them to follow. “Out! Now!” he barked.
Rapunzel complied without hesitation, but Flynn hesitated, his stubbornness flaring up. “Do I really have to?” he protested.
“Get moving!” the guard shouted, roughly shoving him from behind.
Flynn stumbled out of the wagon, glaring back at the guard. “Some hospitality you’ve got here,” he muttered under his breath.
As the captain gestured for the guards to escort them to the dungeon, Rapunzel took in the grandeur of the castle. “It’s even more magnificent than I imagined,” she whispered, her eyes wide with awe as they walked through the grand entrance.
“Just wait until you see the inside,” Flynn said, trying to lighten the mood despite their predicament. “I hear the dungeons are particularly lovely this time of year.”
Rapunzel managed a small smile at his attempt to joke. “I’ll take your word for it,” she replied, her voice laced with uncertainty. As they were led deeper into the castle.
As the captain watched Rapunzel and Flynn being led to the dungeon, a guard approached him, hesitating before speaking. “Sir, will they be interrogated about the lost princess’s crown?”
“Yes,” the captain replied curtly, his eyes still fixed on the prisoners. “But first, I need to inform the king about our catch—Flynn Rider and his accomplice.”
With a dismissive wave, he signaled for the guards to continue. Flynn and Rapunzel were roughly pushed into a dark cell and locked inside, the heavy door clanging shut behind them.
Once they were alone, Rapunzel felt the weight of the situation pressing down on her. “Flynn, what’s going to happen to us?” she asked, her voice quivering.
Flynn paced the small cell, frustration etched on his face. “We’re probably going to rot in here for the rest of our lives,” he said, slumping against the wall, his irritation evident. “This is just great.”
Rapunzel’s heart sank at his words. “I shouldn’t have left the tower,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. “What if I never see my mother again?”
Tears began to fill her eyes as the reality of her choices hit her hard. As she sank into her thoughts, Pascal, sensing her distress, had hidden himself among her long locks. But when he heard her soft sobs, he bravely emerged, landing gently on her lap.
“Pascal,” Rapunzel said, her voice breaking as she looked down at her little friend. She reached for him with both hands, bringing him close to her face. “Oh, Pascal, I’m so scared.”
Pascal’s wide eyes gazed back at her, and he nudged her cheek affectionately, offering silent comfort. “You’re right,” she whispered, wiping away a tear. “I didn’t think this through.”
Flynn, initially trying to ignore Rapunzel’s tears, felt a wave of compassion wash over him as her sobs filled the small cell. He glanced at her, then sighed, realizing he couldn’t just sit back while she was upset. With a reluctant determination, he moved to sit beside her on the cold stone floor.
“Hey,” he said softly, trying to sound reassuring. “It’s going to be okay. I know it feels overwhelming right now, but we’ll get through this.”
Rapunzel wiped her tears with the back of her hand, looking up at him with glistening eyes. “I just—I thought leaving the tower would be amazing. I wanted to see the world, but now…” Her voice trailed off, her expression filled with uncertainty.
Flynn shifted closer, sensing the weight of her fears. “You had the courage to step outside those walls, Rapunzel. That’s more than most people ever do.” He paused, searching for the right words. “And I get it—this isn’t how we planned it, but we’re not out of options yet.”
She looked at him, the faintest hint of hope sparking in her eyes. “You really think so?”
“I know so,” Flynn said with a small grin, trying to lighten the mood. “I mean, if I can steal a crown from a princess, I can certainly break out of a dungeon.”
Rapunzel managed a soft chuckle, the tension in her shoulders easing slightly. “You have a point. You’re good at getting into trouble.”
“Yeah, and I’m really good at getting out of it too,” he added, his confidence returning. They shared a brief smile, a moment of connection in the otherwise bleak atmosphere of the cell.
As they sat together in silence, the reality of their situation loomed over them, but the shared warmth of their conversation made it a little more bearable. Rapunzel leaned her head against the cold stone wall, feeling comforted by Flynn’s presence beside her.
“We’ll wait and see what happens next,” Flynn finally said, his voice steady. “And when the time is right, we’ll figure out our escape.”
“Together,” Rapunzel echoed softly, feeling a renewed sense of determination. She took a deep breath, ready to face whatever was to come, knowing they were in this together.