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It is clear from the advancing shouts that whoever the unknown men are, they are either more skilled or simply more numerous than the royal guard. Soon, they'll be close enough to reach the coach. Rapunzel will wait no longer! She ignores her father's worried glance and reaches for her knife when the most particular thing happens.

Another man, whose voice carries above all others, shouts, "Stop, you fiends! By the command of Prince Banale of the kingdom of Trist, I order you to stand down!"

Almost immediately, the king relaxes. "It would seem that Fate has smiled kindly on us today, my daughter. Prince Banale is a noble man, skilled in swordsmanship. His family has been one of our most trusted allies for generations."

Trist… Trist… Rapunzel scrunches up her nose as she digs through her memory. What had she learned about the neighboring kingdom of Trist? Oh! That's right; Trist, a peaceful country of modest standing, is ruled by a king and queen. This fortuitously arriving prince is their only child. She marvels at the odds of such a timely encounter. He had been out and about on one of his adventures, when he'd heard the commotion of the attack? It seems ridiculously lucky.

Judging by the sounds outside now, the tide of the battle is turning. She leans back against the seat cushion although she does not relax. If this prince really can help the guard beat back the enemy, then perhaps all of the comments she had overheard from her parents about him are true. Perhaps he is an excellent fighter, honorable and noble, adventurous and dashing, a bit reckless even. And if those things are facts, then it's probably also true that her parents had been correct about his age being very near Rapunzel's. She glances at her father who now looks very pleased indeed as he peers out the carriage window. Although she is curious to meet this person, she is certain her father's hopes for the kindling of a new romance will be dashed. But there's nothing she can do about that. Her heart belongs to Eugene. End of story.

Rapunzel simply isn't impressed by a man who runs off to slay dragons or wrestle sea monsters. Those sorts of exploits make for wonderful reading, but… well, really! Couldn't he find something more… helpful to do within the borders of his own lands? Despite that apparent shortcoming, Rapunzel is truly thankful for his expertise here today; the guard had been clearly unprepared for defending against a serious attack.

From the sounds of the clattering metal hitting the ground, Rapunzel assumes that the unknown assailants have acquiesced to the prince's demands. The guards release a resounding shout of victory – "Huzzah!" – as the bandits ride off, crashing through the forest. The king lets out a shaky sigh and a wobbly smile.

Nearly a minute passes before the back slapping and sword swishing quiet. Rapunzel tries to listen to what is going on and being said outside in the sudden – almost shocked – silence of a relieved aftermath, but the sounds are too muffled by the coach's walls. Her father places a hand on her shoulder. "They will summon us when it is safe."

As if on cue, the door opens and Mandel, their footman, leans inside. "Your Highness, Prince Banale of Trist has requested to speak with you," he says, bowing slightly. "He says he has news of the utmost importance."

"Ah, perhaps he has insight into these criminals who have attacked us." He offers the explanation happily to Rapunzel as he moves to step out of the coach. Turning to Mandel, the king declares, "Of course, I shall speak with him at once." To Rapunzel, he charges, "Wait here, my dearest."

"Daddy," she interjects, her tone one that no one has ever dared to reckon with, "I'm coming with you."

He hesitates briefly.

If there is unpleasant news, Rapunzel doesn't want to be protected from it. Hasn't she been training how to react in certain crises for moments like these? And for another thing, there could still be danger afoot and Rapunzel is better able to defend him than he is himself! Also, she is curious…

Finally, he nods and holds the door open for her. Mandel takes her by the hand and helps her to step out of the coach. When her feet touch the rough road, she realizes that she has forgotten to put on her shoes. Again.

Drat! Where is Eugene when I need him?

The king comes to her rescue; as he emerges from the carriage, he offers her the abandoned silk slippers without saying a word. As she kneels to put the unwanted footware on her feet, she discreetly surveys the crowd for Maximus. When she doesn't find the diligent horse, she frowns.

If everything is truly fine, then where could he be?

But that question will have to wait. She takes her time standing, getting her bearings. It's not until her father nudges her gently that she sees their timely rescuer.

A young man – He must be Banale! – stands in front of the royal guards, posture straight, chin lifted, and lips curved into a winning smile. His haphazardly cut blonde hair nearly veils his piercing green eyes. His skin is tanned, in testament to the many days he has spent trekking the land in the sun. His muscular frame rivals the most well-built men in the royal guard.

Uh-huh. Another Flynn Rider. Must be a popular character… Rapunzel regrets never having gotten he chance to read the book. Perhaps she'll ask Eugene to tell her the story later. I'm sure he remembers.

Rapunzel doesn't miss the double-take Banale makes when he sees her straightening up beside the coach.

Finally, Banale seems to remember himself. With a blink and a brief shake of his head, he moves his gaze to her father.

"Your Majesty, it has been far too long." His voice is smooth and overpowering. Kind of like that fish oil her royal physician had tried to make her take. If only Pascal were here, they could have made "burnt cookie" faces together.

"Prince Banale, is that really you?" The king remarks, brows arched upward in surprise. "The last time I saw you, you had not even grown to your father's knee." This is the moment, Rapunzel senses, when her father would have closed the distance between himself and the prince in order to clasp hands in greeting. However, the king's gaze darts from the prince to his rather large company of heavily armed soldiers. When he speaks again, his voice has an edge to it that makes Rapunzel wish for the reassuring weight of a frying pan in her hands. "I was not aware that your caravan was travelling through our borders."

The prince's smile falters slightly before the too-wide grin is back. "I was not aware I needed to inform you. Our treaty allows us to travel into each other's land, does it not?"

"Of course." Her father doesn't seem at all perturbed by the prince's arrogance, but the concerned tilt of his brows lingers. "I was told you had some news to deliver. It must be of great importance."

The statement is clearly meant for the prince, but Banale doesn't give any indication of hearing it. Instead, he blithely turns to face Rapunzel. She fights the urge to scowl in response to his frank appraisal of her. "Is this your daughter, your Majesty?"

"It is." Rapunzel recognizes this tone of voice in her father's. Usually though, he only uses it around Eugene.

Banale holds his hand out for her to take. Rapunzel simply looks at him blankly. Eugene had warned her about would-be suitors wanting to kiss her hand to a greeting. This prince and his too-perfect hair will not be preforming such an act with her hand!

After a very long, awkward moment, he drops his hand but is, unfortunately, undeterred. "She is beautiful," he frankly evaluates, irking Rapunzel by both his high-handed manner and indirect address. She is not a horse at auction! "And to think, if she hadn't had been stolen as a child, she would have been my wife."

This… is surprising. Rapunzel flinches toward her father. "Daddy?" she whispers questioningly, not taking her eyes off Banale.

She doesn't care much for the three long seconds that pulse in the summer afternoon as the king clearly weighs his options. Tone both steely and apologetic, he replies, "I will tell you about it later."

There isn't much she can do at the moment short of starting an argument in front of Banale, so she nods.

Rapunzel looks at the man in front of her and frowns. A betrothal? Between her and this... prince? When she manages to spare a thought for the idea of marriage (which is an admittedly rare subject of contemplation; there are so many things she has to do now that she had so many responsibilities to Corona!), there is only one man who enters the picture. And he is most definitely not a prince.

"Perhaps, Prince Banale, it would be better to deliver the news of great importance," the king says in a slightly chiding tone, directing the conversation back to a topic that is far more relevant.

If Banale is disappointed by her father's implied demand, he makes no outward sign of it. Instead, he nods. "Yes. The news. I am afraid, your Highness, that there is a new band of thieves that have been plaguing the countryside of Trist for the better part of a year now. Robbing travelers, destroying homes, stealing livestock… all in the light of day, no less!" He gestures to the men who are standing noticeably separate from the royal guards. "My men and I have done our best to control them, but it seems as though they have made it through to the borders of Corona."

Rapunzel frowns, thinking of the Stabbington brothers. Not every thief is a redeemable Flynn Rider, after all…

The king tenses slightly. "I see."

"I have come to request your permission to be able to use your castle as a base of operations." The prince takes a step closer to them. Rapunzel resists the urge to fist her hands, ready herself for delivering a right hook to a royal eyeball. There was something about this prince that was decidedly uncharming.

"Of course," her father agrees. "We will do everything we can to assist you in stopping such a band of brazen thieves."

Banale turns to look at Rapunzel, his expression hopeful and… something else, "Perhaps, my princess, we will have an opportunity to get to know each other better."

If skin really could crawl, Rapunzel is sure hers would be doing precisely that, precisely now. Even Eugene's early attempts at charm hadn't made her want to… to…! Actually, she can't quite decide what she would like to do. Other than put this prince back on his horse and send him straight back to his castle!

Borrowing an expression she'd learned from watching Eugene, she pastes a toothy grin on her face. "We shall see," she replies noncommittally.

He flashes her a quick wink (Ugh! It's hardly worth the effort of comparing it to Eugene's smolder!) and bows to the king. "Your assistance is appreciated, your Highness."

Banale then levels his sword at the half dozen men who tried to attack them. The prince puffs up with self-importance as his men surround the brigands and force them to stand. "You will all pay for your crimes," vows the prince. "This is a land of peace and beauty." Rapunzel steadfastly ignores the fact he directs the latter part of the sentence in her direction. "Where is your leader?"

"We ain't tellin' ya nothing," snarls one of the bulkier men.

The prince glares briefly at the man, then turns back to face the king. "I do not know if it is prudent for you and your daughter to be travelling these roads with so few men. Especially as there is may be another attack. These men have no respect for royalty. No honor to speak of. I would hate for anything… unfortunate to happen."

Rapunzel finds herself being contemplated by not only Banale but her father as well. The solution to the problem is obvious and impossible: she and the king should return to Corona, but to show weakness in the face of lawlessness. Well…

Unfortunately, they must move onward. And, unfortunately, they need more guards. Very unfortunately, Banale seems to be waiting for them to invite him and his soldiers along for the tour.

Rapunzel can see the advantages, of course. That doesn't me she likes the option in general, however!

The king, having considers the prince's words for a moment, takes a step toward the prince and proposes, "Or perhaps you could accompany us. You and your men have certainly proven your skills today. You might find the tour useful for carrying out your investigation and then, upon our return to Corona, the base of operations you requested could be assembled."

Rapunzel watches a wide smile spread across the prince's face. "Just take a look at that smug, bug-eating grin," Eugene would have said and Pascal would have agreed with wholeheartedly.

The prince sheaths his sword and bows to her father. "I am humbled by your request, but I will only go if it is acceptable by both parties in the royal family."

Oh, fudge fingers and coffee cakes! Rapunzel nearly growls with frustration. The truth is that she and her father must complete this tour of the country. Another inconvenient truth is that their guard is poorly outnumbered by the linger threat in these woods. And, since Eugene made himself scarce for this year's journey, Rapunzel sees no other option. The king will need someone more skilled in swordsmanship to protect them if the outlaws return for a reprise. Still, it is very clever of Banale to force this decision on Rapunzel. This man, she decides, bears watching. After careful consideration, she announces, "The king and I would be grateful for your assistance, Prince Banale."

"I cannot refuse the request of a princess," he says smoothly, clearly pleased. The prince gestures to eight of his guards. "Go. Deliver these prisoners to the prison in the royal castle in Corona's capital. Continue to be diligent in your search for their heinous leader. I will return once my duties to the king and his daughter are complete."

The men before him bow deeply. "As you wish, your Highness."

As the thieves resist their captors in vain, swearing and scuffing their feet in the dusty road, Rapunzel catches a glimpse of white in the trees out of the corner of her eye.

More thieves!

For a moment, her heart pounds in her chest and begins to climb up her throat. And then the unmistakable swish of a horse's tail shows – just barely – through the dense vegetation.

Maximus?

Yes, it is him. She can barely make out the horse's shape behind the thick trees that crowd the edge of the road.

What does he think he's doing back there?

Yet another question that must wait. The prince approaches and Rapunzel carefully looks away from Max's hiding place. Banale genteelly offers Rapunzel a hand to help her into the coach. She doesn't miss the smile on her father's face.

She knows why her father is smiling now but he certainly hadn't when Eugene had helped her into the carriage only hours before. In fact, the gesture had been a bit out of character for him. On previous occasions, he'd rushed into the coach, shot her a false look of annoyance, offered his hand as if reaching out to grab his jacket and said, "Are you coming, Blondie?"

She meets Banale's intrusive stare with her own and, bracing her hand on his forearm – she has no desire to touch his bare hand! – boosts herself into the coach. Her father enters the cabin next, followed by the prince.

The blonde-headed monarch glances around the cabin with an air of entitlement as his booted feet smash the delicate patterns Rapunzel had spent hours coaxing out of the velvet carpet. His eyes stop on the frying pan and he reaches down to pick up the seemingly out of place object.

Rapunzel scoops it up quickly. I'll – "Thank you." – not to touch my things!

"If I might inquire, why is a kitchen utensil in the royal coach?" he asks, mirth entering into his eyes.

She holds it up to her chest proudly. "I use it to fight off ruffians and thugs," she replies unrepentantly. Let this man mock her. That would be preferable to his greedy gaze.

"A frying pan? Now that is something I must see for myself," Banale replied. "Perhaps you can show me your technique when we stop in the village for the evening."

Her father nods at her encouragingly. She forces herself to smile at the prince. Only when she imagines using the frying pan on him does her expression become one of genuine mirth. "Of course."