Chapter Seven

The four children looked at each other. Their brown eyes were as wide as saucers. They were scared to death to get in trouble especially by the king and queen. There had to be a way to avoid it.

"Please, don't get us in trouble. We did not mean to cause any harm. We were hungry," Daphne said.

The guards gave each an understanding look. They knew that this particular orphanage was having financial troubles, but they also knew that the children needed to be punished so they would not do something like that again. "Sorry, kids, but you should not have done what you did," one the adults replied.

Daphne looked at Flynn. "Get on your hands and knees. I am going to stand on your back for a few seconds," she whispered. "Tell Paul and Jacob to move forward. Tell Jacob to stand normally, and for Paul to keep his hands up."

"Why?" He whispered back.

"Do not question me just do it," she said harshly.

The youngest boy sighed. He did not like being told what to do, but he obeyed.

"What are you doing? Stop!" One the guards said as he saw the strange thing that the children were doing.

Daphne stood on Flynn's back. She bent her knees then she flipped in the air. Her hands clutched Paul's hands then she stood on Jacob's shoulders. She flipped over one of the guards, and landed a foot away from him. She grinned then ran.

Two of the guards ran after her, leaving the boys with three guards to watch them. They grinned at each other. They could handle them.

Jacob punched one guard in the stomach, Paul punched one in the nose, and Eugene kicked one's legs. The boys took off like a rocket. The guards got up and ran after them.

A few minutes later, they found Daphne. The four friends let out a sigh of relief. They were safe, but that moment ended because the guards saw them. They ran again until they saw two doubles doors. They opened the door and burst through the room. Their eyes widened as they saw where they were. They were in the throne room with the king and queen!

"Can you help us? We are playing hide and seek with the guards," Flynn said. He put his right lip half way up, and gave the royal couple a puppy dog face. He had read about the look in the Tales of Flynnigan Rider. It was called the smolder, and it had seemed to get the pirate out of trouble a lot.

The king and queen smiled. These children were so cute and the look the little boy was giving them… how could one resist a look like that! They pointed to the curtains and behind their thrones.

Paul and Jacob hid behind the curtains. Daphne and Flynn hid behind the thrones. They jumped when they heard the voices of the guards. They hid deeper.

"Your Majesties," the captain of the guard said. "I apologize for intruding, but some children from the orphanage tried to steal some bread from the kitchen. They were seen coming toward here. Did they come in here?"

"No," they answered at the same time.

The king and queen laughed when the captain left then their faces turned serious. They looked at each other and nodded. "Come on out, children," the queen said.

The children obeyed. They looked down at the ground. Each had sorrowful expressions on their face.

Silence filled the room for several seconds. No one knew what to say. The children were embarrassed. The king and queen were being patient. They were children once and understood that they were trying to think of what to say.

Finally Eugene broke the quietness. He cleared his throat. "We are sorry about what happened in the kitchen, your Majesties," he said. He pointed to Paul. "He was hungry, and we tried to stop him; but he tried to steal. The baker grabbed him and we panicked and pushed a box of tomatoes to try to help him…. And we are sorry." He concluded.

The king and queen stared at each other. The king got up from his throne and walked toward Eugene. He lowered himself so he could get to the young boy's height. "What orphanage are you from?" He asked gently.

Eugene told him the name. The king looked deep in thought. "It seems to me that this entire thing could have been avoided. We sent the money with the captain to give to it unless… we are going to have to have a talk with him. You four may leave and go catch up with your group. They are not far ahead," the king said.

A few hours later, all the children went back to the orphanage. The orphans yawned. All the excitement of the day had gotten to them and most of them went to sleep once their heads hit the pillow.

"Stupid horse," Eugene said as he wiped the tops of boots with a rag.

Daphne laughed. "I cannot believe you stole the bread from the kitchen after the king and queen let us go."

The young boy sighed. "I was going to give it back, but I was afraid of what they would say. I had taken it when we ran from the crazy chef."

"I think it was funny that that horse pooped on your boots after you told us what you did. That white colt was pretty smart," she said.

Eugene shook his head. "I do not like Maximus!" He exclaimed angrily.

"He is nothing but a big sweetheart."

"Is not."

Daphne threw a pillow at him. "Yes, he is."

Eugene smiled and threw the pillow back which accidentally awoke Paul and Jacob. The four children grinned wickedly, and that was how a very loud pillow fight got started.

Hello, everyone. Since today is Rapunzel's coronation. I decided to write a long chapter in honor of it. I hope everyone enjoys this chapter.