Tangled Continued

Prologue

The woods were dark, much darker than usual, there was no moon out tonight. The only light is from the Stabbington's campfire. The night is split with laughter and celebration that can be heard throughout the entire forest.

"Look at all this, brother," said the twin with the eyepatch. "This is the best haul we've had in months."

"Yeah," answered the brother with the sideburns. He held up the money and spread the bills as if they were cards.

"And our release from jail. What a shock. I didn't think that, ever, not in my…"

Suddenly, the two quieted at the noise coming from the bushes.

"Hello?" both brothers called at the same time. "Anyone here?"

"As a matter of fact, there is."

A figure emerged from the bushes with something perched on his right shoulder.

"Nice night," the stranger asked, getting a bit closer. "How ya two doin?"

The Stabbington's looked at each other, then at the stranger. "Do we know you?"

The stranger inched forward, a dark mask around his eyes. "Not yet, but we do have a mutual friend or should I say enemy."

When there was no answer, the stranger continued. "I need a little favor from you guys," he said.

"Come a bit closer toward the light," Eyepatch answered, his eyes narrowing. We don't do favors for people we don't know."

The stranger shook his head and stayed his ground. "Let's just say you've come highly recommended."

Sideburns made a move toward the stranger, but Eyepatch held him back. "What's in it for us?"

Sideburns stared at this brother as if he were crazy. "I thought that we were going to…" but Eyepatch glared back at his brother before turning back to the stranger. "Well, what's the payoff?"

The stranger crept forward a bit, but the brothers couldn't recognize him.

"All in due time, gentlemen," he said. "But I can tell you it's big. I'll come back tomorrow night to discuss details, but just keep a low profile. This is bigger than all of us and you'll get a piece of it."

And then the stranger with the familiar voice slipped back into the shadows.

"Who is that guy?" Sideburns asked. "And why would he ask for our help?"

Eyepatch shook his head. "Don't know, but I do know who he was talking about, don't you?"

"Rider, Flynn Rider." Sideburns answered with a smile. A frown furrowed his eyebrows. "Yeah but we…"

Eyepatch put a hand over his brother's mouth. "Let's see what he has to offer, and then we'll make up our minds. Right now let's enjoy what we have, before it's destroyed. No one has to know anything yet."

And the two laughed as they sat down by their fire.