Into the Woods

Robby and Marty ran as fast they could so they could lose the soldiers from Luna. They bumped into one person, but they just simply pushed him away. Nothing could get in their way. They needed to get out of Luna territory, or at least lose the authorities, and they'd be scot-free.

"How much farther?" Marty asked.

"Not until we lose them!" Robby shouted back.

The two took a U-turn and lost the soldiers behind a boulder. It was when they were able to catch their breaths Robby saw their bounty posted on the tree next to the boulder. "Thieving Brothers: $1000," was what it read.

"That bounty of ours gets higher each day." He crumpled the poster up and threw it away. Then he turned to Marty and said, "Alright, let's check the merchandise."

However, Marty found that his hands were empty. "Uh-oh."

"You lost the satchel?"

"I must've dropped it when I ran into guy on the road."

"What guy on the road?"

"The guy with the hat."

Robby tried to remember who Marty was talking about and an image of a young man greeting them in the middle of their path suddenly came to mind. He remembered the stranger also had a satchel that looked almost identical to theirs. "That guy… We have to go back and get it."

"What? And risk getting arrested?"

"We have no choice! If we don't have that crown, we won't get our money!"

Marty sighed exasperatedly. "How are we going to find this guy? How do we even know he has the satchel?"

"Because anyone with common sense wouldn't just leave a bag with valuable merchandise in the middle of the woods!" The two robbers stopped breathing when they heard the hooves of palace horses galloping near their location. "Come on!" Robby hissed. The brothers then ran back towards the kingdom of Luna to retrieve their merchandise.

"You coming, Snow White?"

"Just wait a second!"

Flynn sighed heavily. He was outside waiting for Selena, who was still inside the doorframe. She wasn't kidding when she said she never stepped foot outside.

"You've been standing there for five minutes! What's taking you so long? You were so excited to leave this place a moment ago."

"But that was before you agreed to take me!"

Flynn glanced at the chameleon on his shoulder and they exchanged glances. They waited a little longer for her to move, but Selena still stood in the doorway. "It's just grass. It won't bite."

She glared at him. "I know it won't bite!"

"Then what's the matter?"

"I don't know… I think I'm scared."

Flynn face-palmed. "No kidding. Maybe you just need a little push. Here." He held out his hand.

"No, no, no. It's okay. I'll just…" Selena was caught off guard when Lupe suddenly pushed her outside. The young woman fell flat on her face. When she got up, she glared at the canine. "Lupe!" The wolf grinned victoriously before trotting past her.

When Selena stood, the dewy sensation of the grass tickled underneath her feet. She felt each blade of grass between her toes. She then ran up to the river, the one she always saw from her bedroom window, and put her hand in the water. It was cool and refreshing feeling the flow on her hand. On the edge of the river was a flower, a dandelion. She plucked it from the ground and took a short whiff of it. The fragrance was wonderful.

All of a sudden, the girl was running across the river, twirling and cavorting about in ecstasy. Flynn was not amused.

"I can't believe I did this," she murmured to herself when she stopped dancing. She gasped. "I can't believe I did this." Then she laughed. "I can't believe I did this!" She gasped again and covered her mouth. "Ambrose would be so furious."

Selena was suddenly sitting on a rock in a pond, holding a lily pad. "That's okay," she said as if she were talking to the flower. "I mean, what she doesn't know won't hurt her, right?"

She huddled herself in a cave sitting in the fetal position. "Oh my gosh! This is going to hurt her so much!"

Flynn's arm were crossed as she ran around in an open field. "This is so much fun!" Selena cried out as kicked a pile of leaves. He grimaced grouchily.

Selena was now sitting on a branch, hugging a tree. "I am a terrible sister. I should go back. I have to go back."

Lupe looked at her very worried. Her master was never so bipolar.

"I am never going back!" the ashen-haired girl suddenly exclaimed, cartwheeling down a hill.

Pascal rolled his eyes. It was like déjà vu to him.

Now the group was sitting in a field of flowers. Selena was lying facedown.

"I am a despicable human being!" she mumbled into the ground.

Flynn sighed as he leaned against a tree. Lupe and Pascal watched the young woman as she swung on a vine in the tree.

"Whoo-hoo! BEST. DAY. EVER!"

Flynn couldn't take it anymore. This girl obviously couldn't bare the guilt of leaving her home without the aforementioned sister's permission, but she also had too much enthusiasm; it was leading them nowhere. At this rate, it would take them at least two more days to get to Luna, and his day of freedom would've been wasted. And not only that, he also wouldn't be able to return home like he promised Jerrod. He had to do something quick. He could only think of two ideas:

He could either ditch the girl to fend for herself (his conscience wouldn't allow him to do such a thing, though. His mother taught him better than that), or he could convince her to return to her little hovel on her own so he could get his satchel back.

Pascal slapped his cheek with his little tail. "Ow!" The chameleon gestured towards Selena, who was now crying against a boulder. Lupe was nudging her arm, but the young woman wouldn't budge. "Alright, alright. I'll handle this."

As Flynn walked up to girl, Lupe snarled at him. He set the chameleon on her head to distract her for the moment. He knelt beside the girl so they were on the same eye level. He cleared his throat before speaking to her.

"You know, I couldn't help but notice you seem a little at war with yourself."

Selena wiped her eyes and sniffed before looking up at Flynn. "Wha—What?" she squeaked.

"I'm only picking up bits and pieces here," he said as he stood. "Overprotective older sister. Forbidden road trip. This is some really serious stuff here. But let me ease your conscience. This is just a part of growing up. A little rebellion, a little adventure—that's good. Healthy, even."

Selena wiped her nose. "Really?"

"Yeah." He ignored Pascal as he rolled his eyes at him. "I know how you feel. You're way over-thinking this, trust me." It was really easy getting through to Selena. He was in the same situation, so he could empathize. However, when he left his kingdom, he didn't feel guilty at all about it. Well, only slightly.

He tried to forget his departure as he continued, "Does your sister deserve it? No. Would this break her heart and crush her soul? Most definitely. But it's something you just have to do."

Selena gasped. "'Break her heart'?"

Flynn nodded as he plucked a berry from the bush next to them. "In half."

"'Crush her soul'?"

He squeezed the fruit effortlessly with his index finger and thumb. "Like a grape."

"She would be heartbroken, wouldn't she?" she said as she stood from the ground. "You're right."

"I am, aren't I? Oh, bother." He sighed melodramatically. "Alright. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm letting you out of the deal."

"What?" she gasped. Lupe's ears perked up. She knew he was up to no good.

"That's right." He grabbed the frying pan that was leaning against the boulder beside them. "But don't thank me. Let's just turn around and get you home. Here's your pan and your dog." He took Pascal off Lupe's head and pushed her towards Selena. Then he began to push her in the direction of her home. "I get back my satchel, you get back a sister-sister relationship based on mutual trust, and we'll never have to see each other again."

She pushed him away. "No, I'm still going to that festival."

"Oh, come on!" he cried. He was so sure that plan was going to work. "What's it going to take to get my satchel back?"

She pointed her frying pan at him. "I will use this." The bush behind them suddenly began to shake. Selena jumped behind Flynn and pointed her pan at the bush. "What is it? Is it ruffians? Thugs? Hoodlums?"

A rabbit jumped at the bushes and blinked at them innocently. "Careful. It can probably smell fear," Flynn said sarcastically.

"Oh, sorry. I guess I'm just a bit jumpy." An awkward rumbling noise erupted abruptly. Selena held her stomach shyly. "And a bit hungry."

Flynn thought for a moment. "Yeah, it'd probably be best if we avoided any hoodlums, wouldn't it?"

"Yeah." Selena laughed and rubbed her arm nervously. "That would probably be best."

That gave him an excellent idea. "You know what? I think I'm a bit famished myself."

"Can we have some of those apples?"

"Oh, you don't want those. They're too bruised and dirty. But I do know this great place for lunch."

"Where?"

"Oh, don't worry." Flynn grabbed the head of the pan and began pulling her further into the woods. "You'll know it when you smell it!"

Anyone who lived in Corona knew who Maximus was. He was the best palace horse you would ever know. He was swift, crafty, and just too darn good at his job. But today he made an utter mistake.

When he saw Flynn in the bushes, he knew it was trouble. Flynn wasn't allowed outside the walls of the castle, every guard knew that. Maximus was in charge of Corona's soldiers, so he was obligated to keep the crowned prince inside the kingdom. However, Flynn knew his weakness:

The delicious, succulent, traitorous red apple.

Once he saw it, he was mesmerized. By the time he got the apple, Flynn was already gone. He had failed.

Now it was his responsibility to bring him back.

His scent was still fresh. It drifted around the village. It was especially strong near the bakery where he saw the baker's son sweeping outside the shop. Looking at the young man, Maximus's eyes were suddenly filled with cognizance. This young man—Jerrod was his name—was Flynn's best friend. He usually caught the young prince with this boy whenever he snuck out of the castle, and the fact that Flynn's scent was surrounding this place made Jerrod appear very shady.

The palace horse strutted up behind the unsuspecting young man until he was baring a shadow over him. The shadow he cast was very familiar to the baker's son, so he regretted turning around.

"Hey, Max," Jerrod greeted hesitantly. "I'm guessing you're looking for Flynn."

The horse grunted in reply.

"Well, to be honest, I have no idea where he is. But it was nice catching up with you…!"

Maximus grabbed his shirt with his teeth before the young man could get away. Jerrod sighed in defeat. "Fine. He left the village, but that's all you're getting out of me."

Maximus raised an eyebrow.

…

"Get me down! Put me down, Maximus!" Jerrod soon found himself dangling from a precipice.

Whenever Maximus didn't get his way, he'd turn to drastic measures. Jerrod didn't know they'd be this drastic, though. If he did, then he would've gone with Flynn just to avoid the overly-faithful palace horse.

"Come on, Max! You know I can't just tell you where Flynn is! He's my best friend."

Maximus's grip on his pants loosened.

"You'll get fired if they find I'm missing…!"

Jerrod felt himself get lowered.

"You know I'm afraid of heights, Max…!"

He could already feel himself falling.

"Alright, alright! I don't exactly know where Flynn's going, but he won't be back until tomorrow! Honest!"

Maximus swiftly threw the boy back onto land. He was very disappointed by the information he received. He knew Jerrod was telling the truth. Flynn probably suspected he'd be after his best friend. He was getting cleverer each day.

Jerrod grabbed his chest, hyperventilating as soon as he felt the ground. When he finally calmed down, he hollered at the horse, "Are you insane! You nearly gave me a heart attack!" He stood and brushed himself. He began heading back to Corona as he mumbled to himself. "Flynn is going to kill me when he finds out I ratted him out. I'm supposed to be his best friend and I blew his cover. I hope you know how guilty I feel, Max, because it's your fault—"

Maximus stopped him in his tracks before he could get away. Jerrod observed the horse as he suddenly began sniffing around the area. When he found Flynn's scent again, he pointed down the trail. He glanced at Jerrod a few times, indicating him to follow.

"You want me to come with you?" Maximus shook his head affirmatively. "No way! After what you just did, why should I help you?" The horse glanced at the precipice behind them suggestively. The young man gulped timidly. "Fine. I'll come as long as we're not near anymore cliffs."

Maximus pulled the boy onto his saddle and ran like the wind. Jerrod had a terrible time trying to stay on.

Their journey was like a pattern: Every few steps he took, Maximus would run so fast, every time he came to an abrupt stop, Jerrod nearly flew off his saddle.

"Would you stop that?" he finally said. "How am I supposed to stay on your saddle if you keep stopping without warning to sniff around for clues?"

Maximus merely snorted indifferently as he continued to run. This boy obviously never rode a horse before.

He was having a hard time tracking Flynn's scent again, but then something caught his nose. He stopped again, and this time, Jerrod did fly off. He landed in a bush somewhere—Maximus wasn't paying attention. Once Flynn was on the brain, nothing else was important at the moment.

He sniffed about until he was in front of tree. On the tree was a bounty poster. It had a picture of two ruthless thugs, one taller than the other. Under the picture, it read "Thieving Brothers: $2000." It looked like the someone changed the bounty because the original number was crossed off and replaced with a two.

This wasn't good. The crowned prince of Corona was roaming about while these ruffians were running free. Flynn should've known better than to just run off. There were many crooks still running around, and the kid barely knew how to protect himself.

A crunch from a branch made Maximus alert. The scent wasn't Flynn's. He wouldn't take any chances, so he hid behind a bush that looked awfully like the horse himself. When he sensed the stranger approaching, he jumped out of his hiding spot and neighed menacingly. Unfortunately, he only scared an innocent young woman. He nickered discontentedly.

The woman breathed a sigh of relief. "You're just a palace horse. But, where's your rider?" Her eyes widened at the sight of his empty saddle. "Oh no. Selena!" The woman took off. Maximus watched her precariously.

"Max!" The horse turned at the sound of the irate voice. He snickered at the sight of the unkempt boy with leaves in his sandy brown hair. "Will you give me a little warning next time! Jeez! I landed in a bush this time, but next time I might not be so lucky. Why'd you stop, anyway? Did you find Flynn?"

Maximus looked at the spot where the woman disappeared as the boy climbed back on his saddle before he ran back onto Flynn's trail once again.

Ambrose didn't want to believe it. Once she saw the empty saddle on that palace horse, she had to make sure. She ran as fast as she could to their little hovel, the one she thought would protect her sister all these years. She even dropped her basket on the way to gain more speed. She didn't know how she could possibly go any faster.

Once she was at the hovel, Ambrose gasped when she saw that the door was open. She should've known better. The doorknob was rusty and old; anyone could've broken in at any time.

"Selena?" she called out to her sister. There was no answer. "Selena, it's me! Please come out!"

She quickly ran inside and checked every corner of the house. She couldn't find Selena anywhere, not even in her room. Her wolf companion was gone, too. Ambrose fell to the floor, completely defeated. She had no idea where her sister could've had gone, or where the kidnapper could've gone. If her wolf couldn't protect her, then her source of eternal youth was gone forever.

Then she saw the glitter. A dazzling light shone through one of the steps on the stairs. She slowly approached it, not sure what she would find. Under the step was a dirty satchel, and inside it was the dreadful reminder of her sin: a fair crown that was made for the lost princess of Luna.

A thief obviously hid it there, she thought pensively, but why? Was it possible that they discovered Selena was the lost princess? She was much more valuable than her crown because of the magical qualities of her hair, which must be the reason why he left his worthless satchel in her home. That was the only answer she could fathom as to what happened to her little sister.

In the satchel, she also found a poster. "'The Thieving Brothers'?"

So these were the men who took her precious flower away. Their pictures looked quite fearsome, but it wasn't anything she couldn't handle. Ambrose had been on this earth for many, many years. There wasn't anything she was afraid of. She didn't care how daunting these characters looked; she wasn't going to allow them to take away her precious flower.

Ambrose put the crown and the poster back in the satchel before going up to her room. She retrieved her knife from her dresser drawer before pursuing the thieves who took her sister.

If you guys haven't noticed (it's really obvious, actually) that Selena's fear of hoodlums is similar to Rapunzel's fear of ruffians. I changed ruffians to hoodlums because I didn't want to take everything from "Tangled". I wanted the storyline to be similar, but not completely the same.

Oh, and this may be the last chapter I'll update before NANOWRIMO, just to tell y'all. See ya in a month!

R&R!