Hello, Rangerverse, I am back!

Here is the summary for the actual "The Royal Ranger" that I am trying to predict...

*************NOTE: I added a whole lot to this, so hang in there.*****************************

Synopsis

Will took an oath when he joined the Ranger Corps. Does it mean nothing to him now?

After a senseless tragedy destroys his life, Will is obsessed with punishing those responsible - even if it means leaving the Ranger Corps. His worried friends must find a way to stop him taking such a dark path.

It is Halt who suggests the solution: Will must take an apprentice. The candidate Halt has in mind will surprise everyone - and it will be a request Will cannot refuse.

Training a rebellious, unwilling apprentice is hard enough. But when a routine mission uncovers a shocking web of crime, Will must decide where his priorities lie - finishing his quest for revenge, or saving innocent lives?

The final book of the Ranger's Apprentice series raises the stakes higher than ever. Is Will on his last mission for the Ranger Corps?

Summary (Not Full, for obvious reasons)

Will, now a grown man, has lost his beloved wife, Alyss, and the once mischievous and spirited young man has grown grim and humorless.

The Rangers still exist but are desperate for leadership and new energy. That new energy arrives in a most unexpected way: Maddie, the daughter of Horace and Evanlyn — a headstrong girl always getting in trouble and with no interest in her royal status.

When Halt, Will's onetime mentor, suggests that Will take Maddie under his grumpy wing, Will balks at first. Yet there is something about this troublesome and brave girl that reawakens the Ranger in Will.

Finally, the Ranger's Apprentice has an apprentice of his own

*In depth summary will be posted once book has been released*

Getting excited?! I hope you enjoy my version of John Flanagan's "The Royal Ranger"... Ranger's Apprentice Book 12!

4 Years Ago

War raged like a roaring fire. People fell repeatedly, almost equally among both sides. The battle had lasted so long, even Will couldn't remember who and why they were fighting. As a man came and slashed at him, five more fell to the ground under a rain of arrows, each one perfectly hitting its mark. Will, short and lanky, with brown eyes and bushy, unkempt hair, flew about the battlefield, firing arrows at any inch of exposed enemy flesh he could find. For he was fighting for the fate of Araluen.

Will was a Ranger, possibly the best in all of Araluen. He was raised an orphan, nurtured by his daydreams of his father's knighthood. Only later did he find out his dreams were a lie, and that being a Ranger was the suitable path for him. Alyss had been his wardmate for as long as he could remember. They were raised under the same roof, at least until they both turned fifteen and moved into their mentors' quarters, who, a couple years later, got married. Will had survived thick and thin, fighting for Araluen and for those he cared for. But Alyss had been his only true love. At the age of twenty-one, Will proposed to Alyss, who rejected, claiming his proposal was not 'good enough'. Only three years later did the happy couple get married. The two later moved to a small fief bordering Castle Araluen, Hailie, only about thirty minutes away from the castle by horse. After a few months of married life, Collier, Will and Alyss's only son, had been born. He had just recently turned ten and was a perfect mixture of his mother and his father: striking grey eyes and brown hair with his wife's face shape, but his father's cheeky grin. Collier had an almost mirrored personality of Alyss, who had already began diplomatic and Courier training with her son. Of course, it wouldn't be official until he was at least fourteen.

"Will!" a voice called across the battlefield. Will turned, momentarily distracted. Halt, his former mentor stood across the field, motioning to a white surrender flag. Will sighed with relief, realizing the flag had not been raised by their own troops. The bugle sounded and the enemy forces receded. Will ran up to Halt, glancing over his shoulder every now and then to make sure there wasn't a battle crazed foe following him. Once he was safely back on familiar territory, Will let the news sink in. They had won, Araluen had won the war.

Halt clapped his former apprentice on the back. "Another war won, a new day for Araluen." Will smiled and gave his mentor a happy hug, which he not-so-politely rejected.

"We had better go and check in with Crowley," Halt pondered after forcefully shoving his slightly insane apprentice off of him. Even though Will drove Halt crazy most times, he managed to cope this time around. Will was probably just happy this dumb war was over so he could get back to his family. As a confirmation of his thoughts, Will frowned.

"Can you check in for me? Alyss will be expecting me home. She had to have heard the bugle ring."

Halt nodded, sending an anxious ranger off to see his wife and son.

Will hopped on Tug and raced through the forest, keeping his eyes open for hidden enemies. Even riding on Tug, the trip seemed to last a lifetime. Worry clouded the ranger's mind; he didn't realize the tracks of enemy soldiers making their way to the cabin.

The first thing that threw Will off was that Alyss's mare, Lady, had not neighed like she usually did when Will returned home. Probably out grazing. Then, there was no smoke billowing out of the chimney. Probably a safety precaution. Then, Tug whined, just a short, hurried warning. "Get in there! Something's wrong!" Tug pleaded. Realizing his horse was right, Will flew off of his saddle and dashed into the cabin, not even bothering to knock.

The cabin was in ruins, desks were thrown around, shelves flipped through, even the food locker had been shredded to bits. To his horror, Will ran in to his wife, who had been home when the tussle began, thrown to the ground, lying in a puddle of blood.

Her blood.

What happened after that was a blur. All that Will could remember was panic and chaos, getting his already pale and sickly wife to the healers... and waiting, lots and lots of waiting. By the time Alyss was ready to be visited, and even then they only allowed Will to enter, the royal family: Horace, Evanlyn, and their eleven year old daughter, Maddie, who had fallen asleep on her father's shoulder, Halt, Pauline, and Gilan were in the waiting room, trying their best to support Will and Alyss. But they knew there was no hope. Alyss had lost more blood than she could make up for. It was only a matter of getting Will to accept the inevitable, yet he wouldn't even talk.

When Will entered the small treating room Alyss had been given, he nearly broke down. Alyss, his beloved wife, was lying in a bed across the room. Her once blonde hair, so bright and bouncy, was tangled with stubborn blood. A large gash spread from her temple to her chin. Alyss's once vibrant and bright skin as pale and sweaty, and she breathed as if every ounce of air took a whole army of energy to produce. Will rushed to her side and took one of her clammy hands in his. A tiny tear swelled in his eyes, and he brushed it away, for his love's sake. After a few silent prayers, Alyss managed to open her eyes. Will hated to see the pain that shimmered in her gaze, but he held tight.

"Alyss!" He exclaimed, "You're awake!"

"Will," Alyss weakly pleaded. Her words intruded Will's mind like nails down a chalkboard, "keep Araluen safe for me."

A cold chill gripped Will's heart. "No, Alyss! Don't talk like that!" Tears streamed freely down his face as he saw the anguish in his wife's face, "You will make it through this, just sit tight! I'll get a healer and-"

"No!" Alyss forced, feeling her strength seeping away from her body with each word she spoke. "I don't have much time... they- they took papers. You were filling them out the other day," she managed. Another fear gripped Will's heart. Those papers were the protection plans for castle!

"No!" Will bounced back, "You just have to hold on..." His voice trailed off as he realized Alyss's eyes were closed. She sighed softly, and Will whispered, "I love you," Slightly smiling, as if saying I love you, too, Alyss managed one last breath, and her hand slipped away from his.

"No..." Will whispered to himself.

Halt warily entered the room. The news of Alyss's death had reached the waiting room, yet Will had not yet resurfaced. There, tear-stained and distraught next to his deceased wife sat Will. He was sobbing to himself, longingly looking after Alyss's body. Will's senses were dulled by grief, and he didn't notice Halt's arrival until he cleared his throat. Will turned his ashen face on his mentor, surprised that he had managed to sneak up on him.

"Will," Halt began, putting his hand on his former apprentice's shoulder, "It's time for you to g-"

"No!" Will shouted, voice crumbling with fury and mourning, "Don't you try to sympathize me! It won't bring her back!" Halt began to slowly back away, stunned by Will's out-of-character attitude, "Calm down, you're making a scene!" Halt hissed.

"I don't care if I'm making a scene! This is all my fault! I should have made sure she wasn't home alone before I left for battle! Now she's gone, and the castle protection papers are gone as well!"

Halt opened his mouth to reply, but Will continued, his face twisting with pure rage and hatred. "I will find them. I will get my revenge for killing my wife. These bastards will wish they had never been born!"

The room's doors flew open, and Will was gone, in more ways than one.

A search party was sent out the next day in an attempt to find the missing Treaty. Rangers from surrounding fiefs were called in for Collier's search. Will did not say a word, but searched furiously for his son, who was nowhere to be found. He wouldn't even respond when Halt would speak to him. Will expected the worst, but was ecstatic when he found his missing son, physically and mentally tolled. After a joyful reunion, Collier asked the question Will had been dreading all day.

"Where's Mom?"

I'm sorry that was so depressing. I figured I had to make it really tragic because the summary says that Will wants to abandon his Ranger position to get revenge.

When Duty Calls readers: Sorry, I have put that on hold! I REALLY want to write this!

R&R!

~RangerNinja