I get the feeling this has been done before, but most of the stories like this I've read are horribly Mary Sue-ish. I do my best to avoid that. I got this idea MONTHS ago and just barely got it back up and running again... Hope you like it!

I don't own Ranger's Apprentice... that incredible honor belongs to John Flanagan.

(And may I just add that this Series is the one of the best I have ever read. Do you have any idea how hard it is to write a series?! AND make each book as good as the last one? And yet Mr. Flanagan has done it. 3)

Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish.

John Quincy Adams

At first, Will wasn't sure if he'd really seen her. She was just another shadow in the growing darkness by the kitchen door of Jenny's restaurant. Then, as someone walked out the door, the shadow took a half-step back to stay out of the way. Will moved over to her, taking the long way around so he came up behind her; reaching her silently, he laid a gentle hand on her shoulder.

"May I ask what you're doing?" He was impressed when she didn't jump violently at his touch and voice; only a sharp intake of breath indicated she hadn't been expecting him. She turned slowly to face him.

"Trying to decide if I want to ask for a job here."

Will could sense that she spoke the truth, and her eyes held no malice. "Any particular reason you feel the need to stake out the Kitchens to do that?"

Again she answered promptly, if a bit hesitantly. "I've worked places before where the help isn't treated very well; I've taken to watching the workings for a day before asking for a job."

Will nodded; it was actually a pretty good policy. "May I ask your name?"

"Sabrina." Will waited for a moment and she continued when it was obvious he was waiting for a family name, "Just Sabrina." Will arched an eyebrow; there could be several reasons she didn't give a family name—she didn't want anyone to know it, or she didn't have one.

"Why don't I introduce you to the Mistress of this establishment? I can assure you that she treats her staff well; maybe a crack on the head with her ladle if you make the same mistake more than once."

Sabrina's eyes widened. "You know her, Ranger?"

Will nodded, slightly pleased that she had recognized him as a Ranger—and still seemed confident around him. "She'd my sister, come on."

Sabrina followed Will around to the main entrance and he got his first good look at her. Tall and slender, he guessed she was about sixteen; curly auburn hair filled the hood of her worn blue cloak. Forest green eyes shone from a well-tanned face. Most conversation stopped when the Ranger and girl stepped into the dining are. Jenny instantly turned to investigate the cause and her eyes lit up when she saw Will.

"Will! So good to see you!" Jenny hurried over to give her brother a hug, then turned to Sabrina. "Who's this?"

Sabrina stepped forward. "I'd like to ask for a position in your restaurant, Mistress Jenny. My name's Sabrina."

Jenny looked her over, then gestured to the cloak, "Take that off, and let us get a look at you." Sabrina hesitantly removed her cloak, revealing a threadbare grey dress with ragged hems.

"I'm an orphan." She explained quickly. "I was tossed from farm to farm for a few years before…" She trailed off.

"How about a meal first? You can help with clean up after hours."

Sabrina glanced up at Jenny, then smiled. "You mean it?" Jenny nodded and bed both Will and Sabrina to an empty table in the corner.

"Bring us anything Jen." Will said as he sat down. Jenny beamed and hurried to give orders to the kitchen staff.

They had almost finished eating their meal when a serving girl nearby tripped, a tray of plates falling from her arms. There was the sound of a chair sliding back; Will blinked as a flash of red crossed his vision and a clatter of dishes sounded. Sabrina stood with one hand gripping the girl's arm and the other holding the tray. Nothing had hit the floor. Sabrina handed the girl the tray as soon as she had regained her feet and sat back down. "That was impressive."

Sabrina shrugged, "I've always been fast." They finished their meal in silence; Will toying with an idea that had been forming since he first saw Sabrina in the shadows.

#####

Will headed straight to Castle Redmont after he left Jenny's and sought out Halt.

Halt looked up from where he was re-fletching some arrows when someone knocked on the door. "Come in." He called, recognizing Will's knock.

Will entered the room, taking off his cloak. "I need some advice, Halt."

Halt raised an eyebrow. "And what might it be on?"

Will sat across from Halt and took an arrow to re-fletch. "I've found someone I'd like to be my apprentice; I just don't know if Crowley and the others would accept them."

"And why wouldn't they accept them?"

"The person I have in mind is a girl." Halt's head snapped up, Girl? his expression asked and Will nodded. "I met her tonight, outside Jenny's restaurant. I almost didn't see her, she was standing in the shadows by the kitchen; I was only sure she was there when she moved slightly to avoid someone. She didn't panic when I snuck up behind her; then she caught one of the serving girls AND the tray she was carrying when she tripped, in the time it would take us to fire our bows."

Halt seemed suitably impressed. "I would just ask Crowley about it."

"Ask me about what?" The Ranger Corps Commandant stepped into the room and both Rangers fixed him with level looks.

"It's more polite to knock." Halt informed him dryly; Crowley only shrugged and moved to join the men.

"What does someone want to ask me?" He asked again and Will shrugged.

"I've found myself an apprentice; just wanted to make sure you were okay with it."

A grin spread across Crowley's face. "Excellent! Who is he?"

Will glance at Halt then turned back to Crowley. "HER name, is Sabrina."

The smile disappeared. "A girl?!" Crowley looked more and more interested as Will told him about Sabrina. "Sounds like the Corps is going to have a female Ranger." He commented after Will finished.

"So… you're okay with it?"

Crowley nodded. "Of course. Besides, Princess Cassandra would be very angry if I said no just because she's a girl."

Will laughed, "Yes, I would imagine Evanlyn wouldn't be too happy with you." Even Halt chuckled at that, and Will stood. "I should go. I know she'll be at Jenny's still." He threw his cloak over his shoulders and nodded to the others as he left the room.

Halt looked at Crowley, "I do believe an apprentice will be good for him."

#####

Will slipped into the now-empty restaurant and glanced around. Sabrina was cleaning one of the tables on the far side of the room; she hadn't noticed him yet, so he slipped into the kitchen to find Jenny first. "What do you think of Sabrina?"

Jenny glanced out into the main room. "She's a hard worker and she catches on quickly. She's quiet, but I feel that's more because she isn't sure of us yet. I think she'll be full of questions in a week."

Will smirked at Jenny's remark on questions. "Would you hate me if I took her away?"

Jenny looked at him. "Will Treaty, what are you planning?"

Will shrugged, laughing off her glare. "I plan on asking her to become a Ranger." He pushed open the door and headed towards Sabrina; fully aware of the shock on Jenny's face. "Sabrina."

Sabrina glanced up from her work, "What can I do for you, Ranger?"

Will sat and gestured her to do the same; once she had done so, he began. "You're a special girl, Sabrina; I would like to take you as my apprentice."

"Do they have female Rangers?" Sabrina asked softly, eyes wide.

"They will if you accept." Will said softly, wondering what she was thinking.

Sabrina bit her lip, her gaze flicking to look at Will's silver oakleaf and Ranger cloak; a small look of longing in her eyes. "I… I would be honored to become a Ranger, sir."

Will smiled. "It's just Will."

Well, there you go... hope you enjoyed chapter one.

As I mentioned at the beginning, I'm trying very hard to not make Sabrina a Mary Sue so if you think I'm getting to close, let me know. (I swear I won't be offended.) Please don't just review to say how much you hate my story. If you don't like, don't read. Simple.

However; any suggestions to make it better will be greatly appreciated and taken into account.

++ ImagineShine