A Tangled Web

Chapter 1: The King and I

As I watched Rapunzel fall into her parents' arms with tears of joy running down her face, I felt a familiar ache swell within my chest. Growing up in the orphanage, I had often looked out my window and watched as other children got adopted and taken to their new homes by their new parents.

The expressions of joy on their faces always gave me a slight pang. Don't get me wrong, I was happy for my friends, but it was hard not to be a little bitter as well because...

Nobody ever came for me.

I'd wondered if the reason that I didn't have a family was because there was something wrong with me.

I wouldn't go so far as to say that such childish angst made me turn to a life of crime, but wanting to be like my hero was not the only reason why I changed my name to Flynn Rider. I had grown to despise the person I was. Because Eugene Fitzherbert was clearly an unlovable child, a bad child. Good children had homes and families who loved them. I did not. The conclusion was obvious.

Even though I was now a grown man who had seen too much of the world to believe that life was fair, a part of me had still believed that I must have done something horrendous to deserve my fate.

That part of me had died, ironically, in the same instant I had come back to life. Because if there was anybody in the world who deserved to grow up in a loving home with her mother and father beside her, it would be Rapunzel. Nobody would ever convince me that this beautiful, wonderful girl had done something to deserve being locked up in a tower for eighteen years with that old witch of a woman for company.

So I was happy for my formerly blonde-haired companion even if I couldn't help but feel a little envious that I would never get to experience such a tender, loving family moment.

And perhaps because Fate felt that I hadn't been proven wrong enough times for today, this was the moment that Rapunzel's mother, the Queen of Corona, reached her hand out to me. A bit befuddled, I took it thinking she wanted to shake the hand of the man who brought her daughter home, and before I knew it I was experiencing my first group hug.

If I was in my right mind then I would have wondered what the Queen was thinking hugging the most wanted thief in the kingdom. She knew nothing about my character or motivations. I could have been some greedy opportunist who had stumbled across their daughter and was just taking advantage of this situation. Maybe she was so happy that she would have hugged a leper if he had brought the lost princess home. But I was too overwhelmed by the feeling of warmth and belonging to think clearly.

I'm sure that the Flynn in me would have gagged at such a sappy sentiment, but Eugene was in control again and he felt a little sappiness was all right once in a while. But just once in a while. After all, I had a fake reputation to defend.

The moment disappeared quickly enough as all good moments do, and I found a reason to excuse myself to the other end of the balcony. I didn't want to intrude on this family reunion any further, and I was beginning to feel a bit awkward. So I looked down on the city of Corona. I had always enjoyed looking at the castle whenever I was in the area. I had never expected to be on the other end of that viewpoint. At least not without a noose around my neck.

Life sure could take you down some interesting paths.

I stood and admired the view for awhile until I felt a presence beside me.

"So you are the infamous Flynn Rider," the King said quietly.

It was a statement, not a question.

I winced a bit. It may have been an unrealistic hope, but I had really hoped that he wouldn't notice that I was the man who stole his daughter's crown. After all, I look nothing like my wanted poster!

I was also surprised by actually hearing the man speak. I had started to wonder if Corona had a mute head of state. I guess he was just the strong, silent type. And, boy, he knew how to glare. He must have taken a class on how to look kingly and intimidate lowly thieves out of their wits.

My first instinct was to put up a show of bravado and crack a joke like I always did, but I sensed that this was not the best time. Hey, I can be sensitive. It usually only happens when I'm trying to con someone, but that's probably something I should keep to myself.

"Yes, your Majesty. I am Flynn Rider," I replied, looking him straight in the eye.

"The thief."

I couldn't help it. I said, "No, the beloved children's character."

The King looked at me even more sternly (which I didn't think was possible!) then he threw his head back and laughed. It was actually more of a light chuckle, but it was still a shock to see such a solemn and regal face dissolve into laughter like that.

"Your Majesty?" I said uncertainly.

"I suppose that it is only fitting. One criminal took my daughter away and now another one returns her. A swashbuckling rogue too, by the look of it! I feel like I'm in a fairy tale."

Even though I had been in imminent danger of being hanged by his guards earlier today, I couldn't help but warm to the man. I could see why the people of this kingdom loved him, and I could see where Rapunzel got some of her incessant cheer.

But I was still wary. The King was a good man, but he was also a hard man and my fate was still in his hands. I had once heard that the king was a merciful man, but that was a long time ago. He had been a great believer in giving second chances and allowing those who were not complete monsters the opportunity to redeem themselves and turn their lives around.

But then his daughter was taken from him.

By all accounts, he was still a fair and just man. He wasn't cruel and he was quick to forgive honest mistakes like always, but if you came before him as a criminal you could expect to be treated fairly and with strict adherence to the laws of the land. What you would not expect was sympathy for there was no longer room in the King's heart for such emotion. There was only grief.

It was said that it was as if a light inside him had died out.

Now this is just what I've heard in taverns and from gossiping busybodies, so it may be a little exaggerated, but I'd heard that the King promised that if his daughter was returned he would not only grant a full pardon to whomever was involved in the kidnapping, he would reward that person or people with anything in his power short of the crown itself if only his daughter was returned.

Some accounts say that the man was even willing to abdicate the throne if that was what it took, but his advisers had convinced him that throwing the kingdom into chaos wouldn't help matters at all.

I had been a hardcore cynic even as a child, and I had never truly believed any version of that story. I mean, yeah, parents were supposed to love their kids and all that, but it was unbelievable to me that anyone could promise to potentially give up all of their power and riches and actually mean it.

Many years later, I would toss the crown that had taken me so much effort to obtain and the key to buying my own castle at the feet of the Stabbington brothers without a second thought.

So perhaps the King and I had something in common after all.

"Mr. Rider, it must have-"

"Eugene, your Majesty," I said. I mentally kicked myself a bit for actually interrupting the King, but I was already committed so I continued, "My real name is Eugene Fitzherbert. Not a name that rolls easily off the tongue, but it's starting to grow on me."

"I see. Well then, Mr. Fitzherbert-"

I sighed. I suppose it was too much for a thief to ask to be on a first name basis with royalty. Speaking of which, what was this guy's name anyway?

"-I'm sure it must have occurred to you that you were able to get in to see my wife and me rather easily."

That has occurred to me. Rapunzel and I could not possibly have been the first people to pull the 'long-lost daughter' routine in Corona. And we had no proof. I had been prepared to do some fast-talking and skull-bashing, but that hadn't been necessary at all. The Captain of the Guard had been so baffled by my return that he sent a messenger to the King for orders, which I had expected him to do. What I hadn't expected was that the King would be so willing to see the two of us.

I said, "I admit I was surprised by that. I'd figured that you and the Queen were simply curious about why your most recent escapee would wander back to you with the most ridiculous story ever."

"There was that," the King admitted. "It has also been a long-standing policy in this kingdom that anyone claiming to be the princess was to get an immediate audience with my wife and me. It would hardly make any sense to send out signals into the sky every year and then make it impossible for my daughter to respond to it."

"Makes sense."

"I do not usually expect much from these type of meetings. My wife and I have been exposed to every kind of con known to man. There are a surprising number of fair-skinned, blonde, green-eyed freckled women in this world who think nothing of attempting to fleece this kingdom for all it was worth."

"Having the country's most wanted thief waltz into town with a green-eyed brunette probably didn't instill you with a lot of confidence in this particular meeting," I replied, rubbing the back of my head.

"On the contrary, this was the most hopeful that I had felt in ages," the King replied.

"What?"

"Aside from the fact that only an idiot would put his head back into the lion's mouth after having escaped it, I could not imagine that Flynn Rider or any reasonably competent con artist would make the amateurish mistake of getting my daughter's hair color wrong! That suggested that there was more to your claim than met the eye. In addition, while I have heard many things about the illustrious Flynn Ryder, I have never heard that he was the type of man who would exploit a couple's grief for their lost daughter."

I shuffled my feet guiltily. I suddenly couldn't look the other man in the eye. I said quietly, "I don't know about that. I did steal your daughter's crown..."

"There is a grave difference between suffering caused by indifference and by maliciousness," the King replied solemnly. "The former is often a result of youthful impetuousness and can be outgrown while the latter is often the sign of a twisted character. I think of myself as a good judge of character, and it did not sound like you were the malicious sort."

"Is that why you were going to have be hanged?" I asked, sounding more bitter than I intended. But can you blame me?

The King didn't even flinch. He replied, "The penalty for theft of royal items has to be severe enough to prevent this type of thievery. It was no secret. You knew the risks, and you took them anyway."

He had me there. I knew exactly what I had been getting into. The thought of getting enough money to fulfill my dreams in one swoop had simply been too much to resist. The thought of being hanged for my crimes hadn't deterred me for a moment, which either proved the King's point about my impetuousness or that I was way too arrogant for my own good. Probably a little bit of both.

And I've been to places where the penalty for theft started at having one's dominant arm chopped off and got worse from there. Death probably would have been preferable to being reduced to beggary. Although if anyone could have created a successful career as a one-armed bandit, it would have been Flynn Rider...

"On the other hand, perhaps the penalty for this particular crime need not be quite so... final. Lives are much more important than mere objects after all. This might be something to discuss at the next Council session," the King said, giving a thoughtful look over at Rapunzel.

Look at that. Blondie's only been here for five minutes and the old man was already turning into a softy. Let us hope that she continues to use her power only for good.

I smiled then I said, "While I'm always up for a good discussion on the reformation of the justice system, wouldn't you rather be talking with your long-lost daughter instead of me?"

The King looked at me again with that penetrating stare that felt like he was staring into my soul. I resolutely stared back. My soul may have been a little tarnished, but it was not so black that I could not hold my head up high.

"You have not asked about the reward," the King said at last.

I was taken aback. "Reward? What? No, that's totally not necessary. That is so not the reason I did this-"

"Oddly enough, I believe you. The fact remains, however, that a reward was promised for the safe return of my daughter. Eighteen years ago, I announced to the world that anything in my power short of the crown itself was for the taking."

"But I'm a thief!"

"I would not care if you were Attilla the Hun!" the King thundered. "I am a man who keeps my promises! When I promise to do something, then I will do it!"

I had the oddest feeling of deja vu.

The King softened his tone as he said, "Do not mistake me, young man. This is not merely about keeping an oath. My wife had always believed that Rapunzel would come back to us one day, but I will admit that I had given up such hopes a long time ago. I do not know if you can understand the pain of losing someone you love."

I thought about the moment when I thought I would lose Rapunzel forever to that Gothel woman.

"I think that I do understand. At least a little bit."

The King raised his eyebrows at my solemn tone. Then he said, "Perhaps you do. Now, we have gotten off the topic at hand. Mr. Fitzherbert, I must insist that you name your reward."

I didn't know why I was hesitating so much. Wasn't this the chance of a lifetime? I could have anything I wanted. I could ask for enough money to buy ten islands. Wasn't this what I've been working for since I was a child?

Yet somehow my old dream of living on a secluded island surrounded by piles of money wasn't quite as appealing as it used to be. I looked over at Rapunzel and I remembered my dying words to her. She was my dream now, and a life without her would seem unbearably lonely.

I wanted to be by her side forever.

The Flynn in me gagged at this syrupy thought then he pointed out that I had the power to do that now. After all, it was traditional in fairy tales for the dashing hero to get the princess's hand in return for his daring deeds. But I immediately rejected that idea. It just didn't seem right to me to ask the King to hand Rapunzel over like she was some kind of prize. I wouldn't be any better than that Gothel woman if I did that. Besides, it was definitely not a good way to get on her parents' good side!

I don't know how long I stood there thinking, but the King never showed one sign of impatience. He stood silently beside me until I said, "I know what I want."

"Name it and you shall have it."

"I want a second chance."

The King looked surprised. He said, "Perhaps I should have been more clear. I had already planned to pardon you for your crimes out of gratitude for your heroic deed. What would you like in addition to-"

"I don't want anything else," I interrupted, which was again still not the brightest idea in the world. "This is not just me being proud. You've probably sensed it by now, but I think your daughter is utterly stupendous. I fully intend to try to win her heart, and I will not have it said that I'm only doing it because you gave me a title or a castle.

"I have always worked for everything that I have. The work may have not been honest but it was still work. All I want is a clean slate so that I can be judged based on who I am and what I've accomplished and not what anyone else has given me. I want a second chance not just in the eyes of the law but in the eyes of you and the Queen. I want to prove that I'm a man who is worthy of the princess."

"That sounds like a risky proposition," the King said with a stone face. "There is no guarantee that the princess would remain as enchanted with you as she does now. You may end up regretting this choice. Are you certain that you would rather not simply have a castle?"

I couldn't read what the man was thinking at all. He would definitely be a great poker player. Even so, that didn't change anything for me.

"She's worth the risk. And I won't regret trying. The only regrets that a man has are for when he doesn't try at all."

The King finally broke out in a broad smile. He slapped me on the back and said, "Well said! I'm beginning to see what Rapunzel sees in you. From this moment forward, you are welcome in my kingdom."

"Thank you, your Majesty."

"As long as you behave yourself," the King added.

I had to grin at that. "Of course."

"Welcome to your new life, Eugene Fitzherbert."

Author's Notes

I really enjoyed the movie Tangled. It's been a long time since I've seen an old school Disney film like this one. I have also really been impressed with the high quality of fanfic in this fandom so far, and I wanted to join in on the fun.