The Lost West Prince

A/N: A series of short drabbles in miscellaneous order that will be updated periodically and hopefully more often than my other works since they'll be shorter. I already have some specific scenes for this AU outlined, but feel free to leave requests for specific scenes from the Anastasia 1997 film. And as always, reviews and constrictive criticism is welcome.

Disclaimer: I do not own Young Justice or Anastasia. This is purely for fun and as a prompt from a friend.

Scene: Outside the steps of the ballet

Artemis still couldn't get over yesterday's interrogation. If she hadn't been in the same room same room as him as he recalled a long lost, strange memory that only three people in the world shared: a servant girl opening a secret door for a frightened Duke Allen and a young Grand Duke Wallace West to escape communist rioters and soldiers. Artemis absentmindedly rubbed the spot on her head where a solider had knocked her out with the butt of his rifle after she put up a fight.

That cocky, infuriatingly stubborn boy with intelligent green eyes, a playful dusting of freckles across his face, and a cheesy grin wasn't just a pawn in their con anymore. Her-their Wally, was Wallace West, the Grand Duke of Central. He wasn't just the lost boy they found running around the old palace, not just the boy she got dizzy dancing with, and not just the boy she held as he struggled through his nightmares. He was a real prince. How could you be so naïve? She reprimanded herself. Dreaming about a possible future with him, wealthy or not. His name was Wally, after all! That's not a big jump from Wallace, no matter how many Wallaces were around after his rumored survival. And then there were his lost childhood memories. Her fingers clenched as she grew increasingly frustrated with herself.

"Will you relax? You're making a groove in the floor with all that pacing. Wally's going to be fine. He nailed the interview with Dick and we have the pocket watch. Everyone's going to think he's the prince, even Duke and Duchess Allen," comforted Zatanna. "He'll be fine."

"Of course he'll be fine. That's not what I'm worried about at all," replied Artemis, feeling suddenly tired from the rush of emotions coursing through her veins.

"Good. He put up a good performance, even by my standards, especially with that last question. Dick always liked to play detective with hard questions like that."

"No, you don't understand," she said, shaking her head at Zatanna's ignorance. Artemis usually didn't enjoy talking about her life in the palace. Her father had a tight hold on her back then, making sure she showed up for palace work and stole what she could. Whenever she returned to the room empty handed, he was always there to physically remind her of her place. Unfortunately this happened a lot, especially since she loved sneaking off and watching the splendor of the royals and wealthy. If it weren't for the revolution, her family would be fired for all the rules they broke. But it was her position as a servant and skills for sneaking around that saved lives that fateful night. "I was the girl in the palace, the one who opened the wall," Artemis finally explained, leaning close to her friend. "He's the real thing, Z."

Zatanna's confused face brightened in amazement. Artemis could tell she was doing the math of all the unexplained times Wally had known something about the royal family that they hadn't taught him, how quickly he had picked up their royal teachings, or his age and appearance. There was no way to deny it. "That means, Wally's found his family. We found the heir to the Central throne!" Zatanna said gleefully, hugging Artemis. "And he has the gall to declare magic isn't real!" Then Zatanna looked at Artemis with a knowing twinkle in her eye, "and that means you-"

"Will walk out of his life forever," she replied determinedly. She had made her decision. Artemis was not going to let this news affect her. I'm better than this, I'm a professional. It's for his own good anyway.

Zatanna tried to stop her from shutting herself away, but Artemis cut her off again, "Princes don't marry kitchen girls." She wondered if her smile looked as forced and as sad outwardly as it felt inside. That's just how life is. People like me don't get to think otherwise. It's just a childish dream. The blonde turned away, Wally was supposed to arrive any second and she didn't want him to hear just yet. That man was always late, maybe now she could selfishly count it as a blessing.

"Don't be ridic-" Zatanna started.

"We're going to go through through with this as if nothing has changed," Artemis finally said.

Zatanna moved in front of her friend, not backing down and firmly stating, "You have to tell him." Whether it was about her feelings for Wally or his true heritage, Artemis would never know. But with her best friend, Artemis had a feeling it was both.

"Tell me what?" piped a familiar masculine voice from behind them.

Artemis turned to greet Wally, and was temporarily shocked by his appearance. It's amazing what a suit can do to man. The black evening jacket fit him in all the right places, showing off his lean and tall form. The tuxedo's dark coloring made his red hair and green eyes more vivid and alive. Grand Duke or not, he was sure to catch everyone's eye before the ballet. Then he just had to give her a soft shy smile, as if waiting for her approval on his new "royal" look. The formerly suppressed ache at the thought of saying goodbye to him pressed on her chest again. This was going to be harder than she thought.

"That you look handsome tonight," she replied simply before noticing the limp cloth tied around his neck. "Except you still can't figure out a bowtie." She stepped up to him, carefully undoing his attempt. Artemis focused on retying it into a perky, professional bow, trying to ignore the heat and excitement radiating from him. He also smelled a lot better than she was used to from their travels. Damnit, why did he have to make everything so hard?

Wally's grin widened, his eyes boring into hers with a mix of nervousness, hope, and something else she couldn't quite put her finger on. "Thanks, you clean up nice too, beautiful."

Despite her previous misgivings, a grin crept its way over Artemis' face as he held out an arm to her. Here she was at the ballet with her best friend (she decided to ignore her friend's current raised eyebrow), dressed in a gorgeous emerald green gown (at the insistence of Richard Grayson), escorted by a joyful gentleman who also happened to be a prince; she had what most girls dreamed of. And a part of her always dreamed of this easy life of luxurious events and dresses. A life where her biggest problem wasn't worrying about having money for food or shelter. Then Wally West stumbled into her life a naïve and silly man that had charmed her. But now, he had a chance of reunion with a family who loved him and suddenly the reward money didn't seem so important anymore. Artemis Crock had always been so sure of what she wanted, but when it came to Wally, she didn't know anymore.

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