A Quick Escape

The Snuggly Duckling was alive with music, the air thick with laughter, clinking mugs, and the deep voices of ruffians singing about their secret dreams.

Rapunzel had never felt anything like this before. For the first time, she saw something she had never expected from the outside world, kindness in the unlikeliest of places. She had spent her life believing that men like these were monsters, the kind Mother Gothel warned her about. But here they were, criminals and thieves, but also poets, bakers, pianists, and dreamers.

She had spent her whole life yearning for freedom, longing to chase something she didn't fully understand. But maybe, just maybe, she wasn't the only one.

As the last note of Hook Hand's song echoed through the tavern, Rapunzel clutched her hands together, eyes sparkling with wonder. "That was—" She turned to Eugene. "That was amazing."

Eugene, slouched against the bar with an amused smirk, shrugged. "I mean, yeah, if you like musicals performed by bloodthirsty criminals."

Hook Hand shot him a glare, and Eugene quickly straightened. "Which I do. Love them. Big fan."

The ruffians chuckled, and Hook Hand crossed his arms, looking back at Rapunzel. "So, kid, gonna go see those lanterns or what?"

Before Rapunzel could answer—

BANG!

The doors to the tavern slammed open with such force that the entire room seemed to shudder. Mugs tumbled from tables. The ruffians froze.

A deep voice cut through the air, sharp and authoritative. "Find Flynn Rider!"

The tavern fell into an eerie silence.

Rapunzel turned, her breath catching in her throat.

There, standing in the entrance, was a battalion of royal guards, led by a stern-faced captain. Their polished armor glinted in the dim light. And at the front, ears pinned back, eyes locked onto Eugene like a predator, stood Maximus.

The white warhorse let out a furious snort, pawing at the ground.

Eugene stiffened beside her. "Oh no."

"Seize him!" the captain ordered.

The guards lunged forward.

"Time to go!" Eugene grabbed Rapunzel's wrist, but before they could take a step, two heavily armed soldiers blocked their path, swords drawn.

Rapunzel gasped, her grip tightening on her frying pan. "Eugene—"

Eugene let out a nervous chuckle, glancing around. "Alright, anyone got a—"

Before he could finish, a massive shadow loomed over them.

Hook Hand.

He cracked his enormous knuckles, stepping between them and the guards. "You heard the girl," he growled. "She's got a dream."

The moment was silent.

Then, chaos!

The ruffians charged, overturning tables, sending chairs flying, grabbing whatever they could find. One swung a barrel at a soldier's head. Another leaped onto a guard's back, sending them both crashing into a pile of crates.

Rapunzel barely had time to react before a huge, mustached thug tackled a guard right in front of her. She let out a small shriek, pressing against Eugene.

"Okay, okay, time to go!" Eugene yelled, dragging her toward the bar.

But another guard spotted them and surged forward.

Rapunzel didn't think, she swung her frying pan.

CLANG!

The guard dropped like a stone.

Eugene blinked at her. "…Wow."

She barely had time to process what she'd just done before Hook Hand grabbed the back of Eugene's jacket and hauled them both toward the far wall. "Secret passage. Now."

He shoved aside a massive bookshelf, revealing a dark, narrow passageway.

Rapunzel gasped. "You have a secret tunnel?"

Hook Hand smirked. "What kind of tavern do you think this is?"

More guards stormed into the tavern.

"Go!" Hook Hand roared.

Rapunzel didn't hesitate. She grabbed Eugene's arm, and together, they bolted into the tunnel.

Just before the bookshelf slid shut, Hook Hand's voice echoed after them.

"Go see your lanterns, kid."

Then, ,darkness.

The tunnel was damp and narrow, its stone walls slick with moisture. A musty smell filled the air, and the only sound was their rapid footsteps echoing through the passage.

Rapunzel's breath came in quick gasps. Her heart was racing. They had barely escaped.

She turned to Eugene. "What now?"

Eugene ran a hand through his hair, exhaling. "Well. That was fun."

She shot him a look. "Eugene."

He put his hands up. "Okay, okay. We keep moving. This tunnel's got to lead somewhere, preferably somewhere without an angry warhorse and a squadron of guards."

Rapunzel hesitated. "What about the others?"

Eugene slowed his pace, looking back toward the sealed entrance. For a moment, something almost unreadable flickered across his expression.

Then he shook his head. "They'll be fine. They've handled worse."

He offered her a grin. "Besides, we have a festival to get to."

Rapunzel swallowed, nodding.

They kept running, deeper into the underground, their path unknown. But for the first time, Rapunzel felt something stir deep inside her.

Excitement.

She had escaped again.

She had faced down danger again.

And, despite everything, she was one step closer to her dream.