𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐞𝐢𝐫 - Flynn Rider X Reader

IV. The Thief

You're gripping the reins for dear life as you fly down the kingdom's main bridge, the sea shining bright and crystal clear on either side of you beneath the midday sun whose glare forces you to squint through the trip across. The castle grows smaller behind you, and the trees and greenery across the sea grow larger, waving in the soft, salty breeze. It's a beautiful day, one couldn't be forced to miss for the world. You'll be damned if you have to miss it for an etiquette lesson.

The wind tears through your clothes, ripping the hood you'd put on in case a guard noticed you on the way off of your head. You're too far to be seen at this point, though, and so could care less. All you want to feel is the wind and sun against your face.

Maximus races across the final stretch of the bridge, and the clacking of the weathered stones turns to the soft thump of earth beneath his hooves. You're on the mainland, and the scent of grass, dirt, and fresh flowers hits you all at once just as the tall, winding trees begin to surround you, god rays streaming through their branches. You smile, and pull a little on the reins.

"Slow up, Max. We're nearly there."

You have this part of the forest memorized, mostly thanks to landmarks you know to look for. An overturned log there, a stump there, a cluster of red flowers here, and so on. So long as you've got those landmarks somewhere nearby, you know you can't lose your way.

You duck under low hanging branches as you and Maximus trot further into the forest, where you step into a small clearing open to the sky. The grass bathes bright in the sun and flowers of every color litter every corner, some ash and a couple of twigs of yours left there from the last time you'd been around late into the night and lit a small fire to keep warm.

You pat Maximus and jump off the saddle into the grass where you open and sift through the saddle bag fastened to him. Your fingers find a small blade, its metal cold and razor sharp. While you have been safe every time you have come here in the past, it's reassuring to know that you stand a chance with protecting yourself in case something unexpected happens, however unlikely it may be. Still, you feel secure enough to leave the dagger behind in your saddle bag when you leave Max to travel on foot.

Your having a dagger is another thing your parents don't know about. They don't even know you've ever even been out here on your own, you don't think at least. They don't know plenty of things.

Max folds his legs underneath him and settles into the grass to rest after the journey. You fold your clothes underneath you and take a seat next to him, leaning against his back to get comfortable. The sun warms your face, and you shut your eyes to listen to the rustling of leaves and the birds as they flutter and chirp happily above you.

You could stay here forever, you think.

You fade into sleep.

—

That voice.

"Flower, gleam and glow."

Croaky and harsh.

"Let your power shine."

Haunting in the dark.

"Make the clock-"

A crash and a thump. Even in your dreams, you feel the fresh panic of a sister stolen in the night, and run. You cannot see anything, but you know you are running. Or trying to.

—

You wake in a pool of sweat to Maximus shoving you off of his back as he pushes up off the ground.

Maximus is panicking. He thrashes, throwing the reins about and rearing his head. His hind hooves dig into the earth.

"Max!"