Escape

The kingdom of Luna was a safe haven during the day, so most people would expect robbers and thieves to be lurking around during the night, waiting for the perfect opportunity to steal something valuable. But they wouldn't expect two thieves to go around stealing valuables during the day.

Not even something as valuable as the lost princess's crown.

Two inconspicuous men walked through the streets casually. They slowly turned into an alleyway, quickly changing into a running pace. They stopped at the side of a brick wall. On the other side of the wall, the glorious castle of the Luna kingdom stood proudly with thousands of soldiers guarding the other side of the perimeter.

"You got the stuff?" one man said.

His partner nodded. He pulled out a bag that contained two grappling hooks and rope. They each took their own rope and swung them over the wall. With the grappling hook securely wired up, the two climbed up the wall. On the other side, they saw a few soldiers walking alongside the wall. From where they were perched, they also saw two others were guarding the front gate where the two other soldiers were about to meet. One of the men gestured his head to the left so they would avoid them. From then on, the other man led the way having more knowledge of the structure of the castle.

They went to one of the dais and jumped onto another until they were over the secret sanctum that held the crown. The glass skylight allowed the rays of the sun to shine off the crown. Five guards surrounded the pedestal where the crown was now placed, watching out for any burglars, such as themselves, who would try to steal it.

"This is it, Marty," the taller man said.

His partner sighed. "Let's get this over with."

The shorter man tied a rope around his waist. He jumped down into the sanctum while his partner lowered him down. When he thought he was close enough, he grabbed for the crown. However, it was still too far away.

"Lower," he whispered to his cohort.

"What?"

"Lower," he said a little louder.

"What?"

"I said lower!" The soldiers turned to see the thief trying to steal the lost princess's crown. "Shoot." He quickly grabbed hold of the crown before they could catch him. "Pull me up, Robby!"

His partner did so before the guards grabbed him. Once he was back on the roof, the two thieves fled the castle with the crown safely stored in their bag before any guards showed up outside. They were able to escape the bedlam by entering the forests that were just outside Luna. However, the thieves had a long journey ahead of them before they were scot-free.

Flynn had been wallowing about in his room for three hours since the time he ruined his date with Julia, the daughter of the duke of Orae. He didn't want to be around his parents right now, but he didn't want to be stuck in his room forever. Of course, if he were to escape again, it would just be the same routine.

Escape. Caught. Princess. Escape. Caught. Princess—the princess sounded more like a punishment. He was getting tired of this customary pattern.

Instead, Flynn decided to do the unthinkable.

Under his bed, he pulled out a bag that contained a set of his father's old clothes, a hat, a few apples, and an empty canteen flask. He packed these things long ago in case he actually wanted to escape for a day, but he never thought he would do it. He was always bluffing to himself. But now, he didn't care how much trouble he'd be in once he left; he'd risk it. He was already in trouble and there was nothing else his parents could possibly take from him now.

Flynn put on his clothes and glanced at the mirror. Then he put on the finishing touch—his hat to cover his blonde hair. After filling his canteen, he made sure he had everything else he needed. Then he checked the hallways before fleeing. It was hard getting past the help because they were at every corner. He was able to pass a suspicious butler when he made it to the kitchen. Unfortunately, his sister was in there assisting one of the cooks—he forgot about his sister's crush, Tony, the chef's son. If he ran into her, she'd tell her parents and he wouldn't be able to leave the castle. Ever. Again.

Fortunately for him, there was another path he could take.

It was a secret passage that he seldom ever used. One, because the kitchen escape was the easiest one to get through. Two, he had forgotten about it long ago, until now. He came across the hall of his ancestors. The latest addition was his grandfather, who poised proudly in his portrait. Before he died, the just king told him about some of the passageways he made when he was once the crowned prince—the kitchen and the alternative were the only ones he could remember right now. Behind his portrait was the other one. He moved the picture slightly and knocked on the wall three times. It opened magically. Once inside, he walked straight ahead until he saw a dim light. He knocked again and the dim light turned into sunshine.

But he wasn't just outside: he was still within the castle walls.

Now the only problem left was getting past the guards. That part was always tricky because the guards were fast learners, so they knew every one of his tricks. Worst of all, Maximus, the most loyal palace horse of Corona, was the head honcho of the palace security. He wasn't as dimwitted as the guards themselves. He would be able to see through his disguise. It was a good thing that he remembered to pack those apples he had before escaping.

Now the only thing he could rely only was Lady Luck.

He took an apple and throw it at a guard. He fell unconscious, and as a result, several other men went to his aid completely dropping their guard. Flynn stepped out from his hiding spot but quickly retreated when he heard the familiar whinny.

The great white stallion was able to catch a whiff of him before he receded into the bushes and was already on his way there. The young prince quickly took out an apple and held up his vulnerable hand. "Here, Maximus." He peeked through the bushes to see the horse's usually concentrated eyes suddenly hypnotized by the delicious, shiny, bruise-free apple. "Freshly picked," he coaxed on. "You want it?" Maximus nodded. "Go get it, boy!" He threw the apple, which hit another soldier. It didn't knock him out, but he was soon attacked by the beguiled palace horse.

It left the prince scot-free and on his way to more freedom.

No one recognized him as he walked leisurely through town. It was like he was invisible, with the exceptional greetings that came his way.

"What are you doing, Flynn?" The said prince turned around to see his best friend giving him an odd look. "And where'd you get those clothes?"

"Why, I don't believe we've met before, stranger."

"Cut the act, Flynn. I know it's you. That's the same hat I got you for your birthday last year."

He sighed. "Fine, you caught me. These are my dad's old clothes. I should've known I wouldn't get past you, Jerrod."

"That's your best friend for ya. So what's up? You usually don't make a second attempt to escape. Did your parents drive you out of the castle again?"

"You could say that." Jerrod eyebrow quirked up in suspicion and he waited for an explanation. "I decided to run away."

"What? Are you crazy? Was your date really that bad?"

He took a deep breath before confessing to his friend, "I had a date with the daughter of the duke of Orae."

"Yikes!" he grimaced.

"Yeah, it was bad."

"So bad that you have to run away?"

"It's not forever. Just for the day. I'll be back in time for the Festival of Lanterns."

"What's this really about, Flynn? It's not just the date, is it? It's… your mom, isn't it?"

Flynn grimaced at the mention of his overprotective mother, who did happen to be one of the reasons why he was running off. "It's more than just that, Jerrod. You remember what I told you this morning, don't you? I need more freedom, so starting now, I'm going to live like there's no today and venture the world… well, as far as I can go for the next day. And I'm going to do it before the responsibilities of being the king of Corona take over my life."

Jerrod shook his head. When he saw Flynn's face, he frowned. "You're serious." The prince nodded firmly. After a few seconds, the baker's son sighed and rubbed his neck. "I know I won't be able to stop you, so I guess I'll just have to help you get to the bridge before you gain some common sense."

"Jerrod, you don't have to…"

"Nonsense. That's what best friends are for."

Flynn smiled sincerely at his best friend. "Thanks, buddy."

The two walked and talked for their last few minutes together until Flynn's departure. They stopped immediately once they were in front of the bridge that would lead him out of Corona. Flynn never went anywhere outside the area for many obvious reasons. Now it was time to prove himself and to show his mother and everybody else who discouraged him how well he could take care of himself outside the castle walls and outside of Corona. But he would be lying to himself if he didn't say he was nervous.

"Well," Jerrod said, "this is my stop."

"Yeah." Flynn faced his friend. "I guess this is where we say goodbye, for now."

"I guess it is." The friends shook each other's hands firmly.

"I'll see soon, my friend."

Jerrod waved him off and watched as he crossed the bridge. Then he walked back to his father's bakery knowing his friend had crossed the bridge safely. Hopefully his best friend would survive the rest of his journey.

On the other side, Flynn took a deep breath and exhaled. He looked back to see his friend going back into the village. When he stepped into the forest, he almost fainted. "I'm free…" he mumbled. It took him a few minutes to marvel the thought. "Okay, calm down, Flynn. You're just outside. It's not a big deal."

A second later, he ran through the forest like a maniac. "I'm free! I'm free! Hallelujah!"

He ran through the trees, up a hill, and continued to shout the incantation, "I'M FREE!"

On top of the hill, he took a deep, solid breath. He looked out at the world and crossed his arms. "That's how I like my air—free and natural."

When Flynn settled back down on flat land, he stretched out his arms as he walked along the pathway. "Now this is more like it," he murmured to himself. "Fresh air, a nice breeze, and not a brick wall in sight. This is the life." He saw two obscure figures coming towards him. "And it looks like I'm about to make some new friends." When they were closer, he saw that they were running. "That's odd. They seem to be in a hurry. I wonder why."

Even though they didn't look like they were going to stop, Flynn stood and waved at them, anyway. "Hello, fellow travelers! My name's—"

"Move it!" One of the running men shoved him to the ground.

"Well, that's the last time I try to be friendly to strangers I meet on the road." As he sat up, Flynn noticed something on the ground beside him. It was a satchel. "Hm. It seems that they dropped something."

He picked up the bag and began examining it. It looked just like his, only dirtier. The strap looked about ready to break. "Maybe I should run after them and return it," the prince thought to himself. "Then again…" He was very curious about the contents of the bag. Flynn knew better than to look into someone's belongings, but he doubted he would ever see those people again. They were running so fast, he knew he couldn't catch up with them even if he tried. "Just one little peek," he said to himself. "Just one."

When he opened the bag, something shiny glinted in his eye. He closed it quickly and rubbed his eye. He stopped when he heard a thumping noise. Then it stopped. Suddenly, the prince felt something breathing down his neck. He slowly turned to face a palace horse's flaring nostrils.

"AH!"

Flynn backed away until he saw three soldiers mounted on three palace horses. His casket hat flew off, but then he quickly caught it and put it back on securely. "You caught me!" he said. He put his hands over his head and bowed in front of the leading official. "I'm sorry I ran away! Just please don't tell my mom! She'll kill me!"

"Get up, boy."

The prince looked up away from the ground to study these soldiers more closely. They looked like Corona's soldier's but with a few slight differences. The most obvious distinction was Luna's crescent moon insignia indented on their armor. And even though these soldiers weren't from Corona, it still made him very frightened. He would've patted himself on the back if he wasn't so scared. He made it all the way into Luna territory, and Luna was about five hours away from home, ten on foot; it only felt like ten minutes.

It must've been all the running I did, he thought.

"Sorry." He stood from the ground and brushed himself off. "I just—um, how can I help you fine gentlemen?"

"Did you happen to come across anyone suspicious?"

"Suspicious how?"

"We're wasting time with this fool!" one of the other soldiers said.

"Fool?" he murmured.

"He's obviously helping those two thieves! He has two bags to prove it!"

The commanding officer saw the two bags the other soldier mentioned. "What's that you got there, boy?"

Flynn looked at his bag then he glanced at the other one. Then he did a double-take. He forgot he was holding the other satchel. "Oh, well, this is my… emergency satchel, in case I lose this one." He patted his original bag. "I don't think this has what you want." When Flynn held up the bag, a little clink was heard. He froze and then quickly recovered. Then he looked at the soldiers who glared at him grippingly. The horses seemed just as intimidating.

"Hand over the bag, boy," the soldier said.

"But I—"

"Hand over the bag," he repeated.

"You can't be serious!" An arrow was shot at his feet. "Oh. Perhaps you are. But I already explained—"

"Men, seize him. We'll take him back to Luna and go after the other two later."

The two soldiers obeyed their commanding officer and got ready to seize the boy. Flynn had other plans, though.

"Hey, we're all men here, aren't we? I think we can arrange some—" He knocked the commanding officer off his horse with the dirty satchel and climbed onto his horse. "I am not getting arrested on my first day outside Corona! Hiya!" And with that, the prince and his horse galloped away.

It would've been bad if he was taken to Luna as a criminal. They would discover he was the crowned prince of Corona, and if they thought he was an accomplice to the robbery, it could cause a feud between their kingdom and his. Then he mother would definitely kill him for causing such a feud, which would somehow end in war.

I probably shouldn't have said I was from Corona.

Flynn's exaggerated imagination was suddenly interrupted when another arrow flew past him. He quickly looked back to see that the three soldiers were following him, along with their commanding officer, who rode with the soldier who called him a fool. If only he could find momentary shelter until they left. However, this chase didn't seem like it was going to end for the poor prince.

"How am I suppose to evade these guys?" Flynn thought aloud. "I need to ditch this horse fast."

The thought gave him an idea. As the palace horse gained speed, Flynn grabbed a vine and swung off his horse, making a quick U-turn. He was glad to be back on his original path, but he still had no idea where to go. The soldiers probably thought he was still on the horse, which gave him a great amount of time to find a hiding place.

As he ran, he saw a chimney popping up from among the trees. The chimney slowly turned into a roof, which slowly turned into a little hovel. Flynn stopped in front of the worn-out house and thought for a moment. It didn't look like anyone lived there. There were weeds growing around it and vines clung to the walls. It was the perfect place to hide.

Flynn walked up to the door and hesitated to put his hand on it. The knob was rusty and it squeaked as he turned it. Once inside, he cleared his throat and said, "Hello? If anyone's here, I'm just going to hide in here for awhile, if you don't mind." No one answered, so he came into the house.

Everything looked cleaner inside the hovel than it did outside. When he went into the house, entered the kitchen. There was a basket filled with cinnamon raisin bread. He was about to grab a piece when he heard something clatter. He turned to see the fireplace. Next to it was a mirror standing in the corner.

Flynn walked up to the mirror and looked at his reflection. He looked like a mess. His hat was crooked and his clothes were dirty. He took off his hat and slid his fingers through his hat hair. "Oh man. Look at me. This is my first day in the wilderness and I look like this. What a day."

He looked in the mirror again. He put his hand on his chin and puckered his lips into a smolder, something his father taught him long ago. And as he did so, he noticed something moving in the background. He quickly turned around to see nothing.

"I guess it's just my crazy imagination gone wild, again," he said. "Now, back to my smolder—"

Before the prince could turn back to the mirror, something hard and cold hit him in the back of the head. And then everything went black.

Flynn's wearing the same clothes Eugene wore in the movie (I added the hat. It's a casket hat to hide his hair) and he has the same bag. Anyone who hasn't seen the movie, watch it! It's one of the best! Anyone who has, please read my story! It's one of the best!

R&R!