The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows over the kingdom of Corona. The castle, perched high on the hill, glowed in the afternoon light, its golden banners swaying in the breeze. But for Flynn Rider, the beauty of the kingdom was secondary to the weight of the satchel slung over his shoulder.
He ran.
Feet pounding against the stone rooftops, Flynn leaped from ledge to ledge, the stolen crown safely tucked inside his bag. He turned his head briefly, grinning as he saw the bewildered expressions of the royal guards below.
"You guys really need to work on your cardio!" he called back, vaulting over a wooden beam.
Behind him, the sounds of pursuit echoed through the streets. The captain of the guards barked orders, and Flynn knew they were closing in. He needed to lose them, and fast.
Darting down a narrow alley, he landed in the marketplace, weaving through stalls of fresh fruit and startled merchants. A woman gasped as he grabbed an apple from her stand, flashing a charming smile as he ran past.
"Thank you, madam! I'll be sure to leave a glowing review."
He turned a sharp corner and spotted his two accomplices, The Stabbington Brothers, waiting with the getaway horses. Their expressions were as gruff as ever, but Flynn had grown used to their silence.
"Alright, boys, let's make this quick," Flynn said, tossing the satchel into the eldest brother's hands. "Now, if we stick to the plan—"
Before he could finish, the larger of the two brothers grabbed him by the collar and yanked him off his horse.
"Whoa! Easy there, big guy!"
The Stabbington Brothers were not amused. They had a deal, and Flynn knew exactly what they were thinking. He had no intention of splitting the loot fairly, after all, he was Flynn Rider. He always had a way out.
"Now, gentlemen," Flynn began, raising his hands, "let's be civil about this—"
A fist came flying toward him, and he barely ducked in time.
"Right, so… not in a talking mood," he muttered, before breaking into a sprint.
The brothers lunged after him, but Flynn was quick. He snatched the satchel back, swung himself onto a low-hanging branch, and climbed higher into the trees.
"Sorry, boys! I'd love to stay and chat, but I've got places to be!"
And with that, he disappeared into the forest.
Flynn ran until he was sure he had lost them, finally stopping to catch his breath beneath a towering oak tree. He peeked inside the satchel, the stolen crown glittering in the dim light.
"Hello, beautiful," he whispered, smirking. "You and I are going to be very happy together."
But before he could bask in his success, he heard a sound, a rustling in the trees.
His grin faded.
Someone was watching him.
He turned, scanning the thick forest, but saw nothing. And yet, an uneasy feeling crept over him.
Shaking his head, Flynn hoisted the satchel over his shoulder and continued deeper into the woods.
Little did he know, his luck was about to change.
Because ahead, hidden in the heart of the forest, was a tower. And inside, waiting for an adventure of her own, was a girl with seventy feet of golden hair.
And fate? Well, fate had a funny way of bringing two worlds together.