Hey all, this is my first Tangled story! I'm hoping to continue this into quite the story. But if it doesn't work out, I can always leave this as a standalone. I hope you enjoy it! :D

After escaping the orphanage, Eugene Fitzherbert decided to live out his dream – he cast his old, embarrassing name aside and became known as Flynn Rider at the age of sixteen. In a matter of years, he'd been recognized as a menace; wanted posters with his "name" and face on them began to pop up everywhere.

He had many wild escapades during that time – he stole to survive, he stole for vengeance, and he stole just because he felt like it. He had assisted the Stabbington Brothers in stealing a priceless tiara from the Castle. Why? So he could get a nice cut of money when they hocked it, of course. But during that job, he met a woman that changed his life and Flynn Rider died during that adventure. He'd seen the light and became a hero. At the age of twenty-five, after nine years of thievery and evading arrest, Eugene returned the Lost Princess to her Kingdom and retired his alter ego.

Without making reparations, the King would not allow Eugene to marry his daughter – the Lost Princess, Rapunzel. As Eugene Fitzherbert, he could repent his sins to the citizens of Corona Kingdom. At twenty-eight, after three grueling years of servitude to the citizens he had wronged; Eugene married Princess Rapunzel and became known as a Prince.

Though most citizens offered forgiveness to Eugene, some citizens thought the reparations he had offered did not outweigh what they had lost. Few citizens even went as far as to make threats on Prince Eugene's life.

Flynn Rider had experienced many threats and managed to always escape death by the skin of his teeth. But, no as he was longer swashbuckling thief, Prince Eugene had nowhere to hide, nowhere to escape to and no safe place to lay his head. He knew he didn't belong in the Royal Family. He didn't belong in the castle; it was almost culture shock. He had a nice bed, new clothes, a permanent room. He was overwhelmed by it all. The servants, though generally accepting, still occasionally shot him awkward looks.

Without protection, the streets proved dangerous, as a small group of citizens had taken it upon themselves to punish the ex-thief. Usually outnumbered and overpowered, he reluctantly took his beatings like a man.

After the King and Queen noticed Eugene having black eyes and other such bruises on a regular basis, they confronted him. And Eugene, unused to such attention, was unsure of how to act. He assured them that he was used to such treatment.

The Queen stared. He averted his eyes, burning with embarrassment – he'd revealed his rather poor upbringing. The awkward Prince looked up tentatively, the Queen's eyes had softened and were welling with tears as she approached him. Embracing him, the Queen promised quietly that he would never endure such treatment ever again.

But there was already a movement against him; a group of soldiers and citizens had come together. He felt trapped within the safe walls of the castle, but didn't feel the need to escape from it altogether – he'd finally gotten a family, but he was the black sheep. He didn't fit in, nor would he ever. The citizens that moved against him were justified; he'd wronged them – and in their eyes, he would never belong.

Thanks for reading! :)