A/N:
Hello everyone and welcome to another brand new Alternate Ending Through the Looking Glass. This is going to be Ashlynn's ending, and will be an ending to the entire story. I will try my best not to contain story spoilers through it, until certain events from Through the Looking Glass come to fruition. This is going to be an alternate universe, so don't take whatever happens here as fact. I may include some stuff from this chapter in the official canon ending of Through the Looking Glass, but I also might not. This is just a fun little look at the future for Blake and Ashlynn.
Matter of fact, I'm working on the ending of Chapter 63 which will also contain the segway to Apple's ending, which will most likely contain a Lemon chapter. I did say before that not all of those will contain a lemon, but This will be based on the ending of Chapter 63, so I'm gonna include it for fun. I'll most likely tweak some things after writing Way Too Wonderland. I also did this because I want to explore Snow White's reaction, especially once Way Too Wonderland is over. Snow White through out the dragon games wants Apple to fix her image, so her dating a Rebel is definitely a big no no in Snow White's book. It will be quite interesting to see that from a different point of view, though it might not change much from the canon whenever I get around to writing Dragon Games.
This chapter contains mentions of Alcohol Abuse...I tried my hardest to find a way to break Hunter and Ashlynn up...and this was the only way that it made sense. I know it's fucked up of me, but as you read this I hope you understand the reason behind why this shit happened. It isn't me bashing on Hunter, I mean he's a cool character and one of Blake's bros, so I would never do that. But stress, coupled with traumatic events leads people to go to the things they would never do in order to get the edge off. So please don't hate me for the way I have chosen to portray Hunter in this story, I assure you he will redeem himself later on in this alternate story.
I am actually in the process of writing chapter 2 for this, since this is going to be a story in the future, it's the only one that I will be actively writing for, since most of the stuff will be future events and will contain no spoilers until certain arcs have been written. This story might actually be a bit longer than five chapters, which is my goal for most of these alternate stories. Most of them will be in high school, with the last two chapters being in the future, so some of this stuff will be similar depending on the story.
I will be updating the main story in a few days, once I get my supply of chapters ready to post. As soon as I finish one chapter I actually write a new chapter for the alternate segways. I'll be writing Apple's after I finish chapter 63 so I won't be able to post chapter 2 of this story until after tomorrow, unless I put of CHapter 64 to work on chapter 2 of this...yes, confusing isn't it? Indeed it is. I will say that Chapters 62 and 63 will be two parters, or rather they will be paired chapters all revolving around Apple White's birthday bash, so look forward to that!
Let me know what you think of this chapter, I stayed up until three am to write it so let me know what you all think. I hope you all have a wonderful day/night!
Through the Looking-Glass
Alternate Universe 2
Ashlynn's Happily Ever After
(Alternate Ending to Through the Looking Glass)
A sigh escaped his lips as he cracked open his eyes. His vision was blurred for several seconds, finally clearing showing him the familiar wooden ceiling above him, painted white and decorated with a ceiling fan. He sat up, groaning in pain. He had then remembered he had passed out in the couch, causing the stinging pain to his lumbago. Another shooting pain sliced through his head as if he had been stabbed with a knife. Glancing at his coffee table, he saw an empty bottle of Whiskey and a tipped over glass. He instantly realized what he had done the night before and was already regretting it. He stood up from his couch, stumbling out of the living room toward the stairwell that lead to the second floor of his house. He walked into the first door to his left, and hurled into the nearby toilet. The sloshy contents filled the bowl, which he rapidly flushed as to not see it any longer.
He slowly stood up, grabbing the counter to pull himself up. He opened the tap and sucked some of the cool water into his mouth, swishing it around and spitting it out. He glanced up at the mirror, seeing his reflection.
It had been five years since Blake Queen had graduated from Ever After High. Six since he had landed in the Fairy Tale world. A lot of things had happened during those years, good things, bad things...and sad things. But in the end, he had graduated with high honors and had successfully proven that destiny wasn't set in stone. For the first time in several generations, the students of the school were free to do with their lives what they wanted, and they're stories didn't disappear. They're pages, were all nestled safely within, ready to be signed or passed on to their children if they decided.
He had grown quite tall in that time, being six feet even now. His hair had grown past his shoulders, he hadn't gotten it cut in quite some time. The long fringe that normally covered his right eye was currently a mess of violet, green and crimson. His face no longer resembled the cute boyish one he had while in high school. He now had more chiseled features, a firm jawline, bright green eyes and a bit of a shadow on his face due to not having shaved. He was still a lean young man, having taken his regimen seriously, he still trained his martial arts and parkour when he had the time.
He grabbed a hold of his tooth brush and spread some toothpaste onto it, shoving it in his mouth. His head still hurt from the hangover he had, it wasn't pleasant but he would accept it as his punishment. He had been quite lonely as of late...all of his friends were busy with their lives. It had been three months since Purple Rhapsody had returned from they're tour around Ever After and the other realms, with Wonderland being the final realm they had visited. It had been wonderful to see Lizzie, Kitty, Alistair, Bunny and Maddie again.
It was also great to see his best friend Lucy, or Gloriosa as she insisted on being called now. While they still visited Ever After, they still had things to do in Wonderland. Lizzie was helping her mother run Wonderland, so she often didn't have time to hang out. Alistair and Bunny were raising their daughter so they were busy all the time. Kitty and Maddie had opened a cafe in Ever After that also worked as a prank shop, so they were always busy running the business. It was a blessing just to even get a text from them.
It was the same for his bandmates...Dexter and Raven had gotten married four years prior, he had been asked to be the best man, an honor which he was still proud of. It had been an emotional day for him and his friends, especially since they got to see Raven finally rewrite her destiny with the man she loved. It was even more of an impact when she announced her pregnancy during the reception. They had to go to the hospital that night, and it wasn't because of Raven, it was because Dexter had fainted at the news. He had a beautiful niece named Zelda Queen Charming, named after Dexter was introduced to Legend of Zelda by Jessica, he had barely put the game down afterwards.
Cupid was still single, and was currently a teacher back on Mount Olympus. The only reason she had agreed to the tour was because it was summer break and she had a lot of time to travel with her friends. She had finally become an angel after getting two stubborn people to see the error of their ways and make them fall in love. Her ascension had been the talk of the realm for quite a long time, as not many cherubs made it to full angel so young in life. She could finally fly with her own wings, and she was quite ecstatic about that.
Melody was also single, and had taken a job at Ever After High, teaching a supplementary music course apart from her father. The Pied Piper taught classical music, while she taught more modern and computerized music. She was still just as loved by the students as she was when she was a student. She had grown into a fine woman, and made the perfect drinking buddy whenever she had the free time. That of course left his last bandmate and former girlfriend, Cerise Hood.
True to her word, Cerise had told everyone her secret at the very end of Graduation day. She had been scared about what they all thought, but she had been accepted just as she was. Blake was extremely proud of her for finally telling people her secret. He and Cerise had been talking again, and he had thought that they could rekindle what they had lost. However, she decided at the last moment that she just wanted to stay friends, which he was okay with. He had tried asking her out various times, and most of the time she agreed to his advances, but other times he was rejected.
He only found out at the beginning of summer before they're tour that she was engaged to another man. Another man that had turned out to be Daring and Dexter's cousin Derrick Charming. He had been completely taken aback by the news, even more by the giant rock on her finger, but he had been happy nonetheless. As long as she was happy that was what mattered. That of course lead to a downward spiral of self loathing and binge drinking.
After he finished brushing his teeth, he walked into his bedroom and grabbed a change of clothes. He didn't like going out hungover, so he wasn't going to dress up for anything. Once he had the appropriate clothes, he went back into the bathroom for a shower, hoping that would ease the throbbing in his head. He sighed, leaning against the tile wall, thinking about his other friends.
Hunter and Ashlynn had yet to get married, the two had been together for six years. He had met with Hunter a few days after their tour finished and he didn't exactly seem normal. When he had asked how Ashlynn was doing, he just got really mad and started downing bourbon like no tomorrow. He was hoping the alcohol would at least get him to open up a bit, but the son of the Huntsman didn't crack at all. He had changed a bit too, having grown taller, being five foot eleven in height. He didn't shave half of his head anymore, deciding to keep his hair long and in a ponytail. He had more chiseled features now, slightly bulkier arms and a toned chest. He had been working out a lot, all while advocating for the animals.
He had in fact not seen Ashlynn in quite awhile, but he did talk to her quite often on the phone. She always tried to stay upbeat, but he could tell there was something bothering her. Whenever he asked, she always clammed up, made up a reason or just hung up. He had been trying to see her, but she lived in High Village with Hunter so he barely had time to actually make it there. Cadence had grown so big that she had to stay at Ever After so he had to ride to the school on horseback to get there.
After graduating high school, he had bought a log cabin in a village of the outskirts of Cendrillion. He wasn't going to miss out on the chance of living near Cinderella's castle after all. Since Ashlynn didn't sign her page, the lovable queen had lived and her people absolutely adored her. He did some garden work for her a few times a week, so he had kept in contact. Even she had expressed worry for her daughter, but expressed that she was an adult and could come and go as she pleased. It made him sad knowing that Ashlynn hadn't visited her mother in a long time. Made him want to talk some sense into her too.
His log cabin was rather rustic in style. It had two bedrooms, one master bedroom, his room, and a guest room. He had converted his living room into his hang out, having decorated it in the same fashion as his former dorm back in Ever After High. His walls were lined with bookshelves stacked to the brim with different manga series and animes. Jessica still visited, and often times stayed over. She had been considering building a tower adjacent to his house, and he had even agreed on allowing her to do it, but she hadn't yet decided. His guest room was mostly used as a nursery, but since Zelda was a toddler now, she didn't sleep in her crib anymore. She liked sleeping with her uncle in his bed, and he often times let it happen, having read some stories to her to get her to sleep. He treated her like his own.
He shook his head a bit, more pain shooting through his head. He grabbed the frilly shampoo Holly had told him to use, and started lathering his hair with it. Even after Graduation, he had remained close friends with the Twins, who were his personal stylists. They had decided not to live they're destinies, and had even told they're friends that Poppy was actually older than Holly by a hair, making her the true heiress to the Rapunzel destiny. It was quite the shock to everyone, but they had accepted it. Holly was an accomplished novelist, having turned all of her stories into successful novels. Her current series was called Red Riding Hood, Tales from the Dark Woods, and Cerise was the main character of it. She had just released the third part of the series and had said she was working on her fourth book for the series. The people just ate it up.
He had kept in touch with most of his friends, and he missed them dearly, but now that he was living alone, the loneliness truly hurt. He hadn't been able to qualify for knight training, so he had unfortunately broken his promise to Darling. When he was younger, he had a nasty break in his leg, and that had disqualified him from ever being a knight. Darling was the first woman to actually become a knight, and part of Snow White's Royal Guard, thus proving to her father that a woman could become a hero.
She had been an ambassador in foreign realms, making connections for Snow White, and had been sent to war twice already, though thankfully not in Ever After. Some guy named Blueblood had apparently grown bored and wanted to wage war, and Darling had almost lost her life when she had been captured by him. She had tried her best not to kill anyone while in battle, but that was the only person she had actually decapitated. She didn't like talking about it much.
Daring had actually become the next Beast, so he and Rosabella had gotten quite close. They had married right out of high school, not exactly fulfilling they're destiny, but at least fulfilling one part of it. They had a three year old little boy named Daring Jr, and an infant little girl named Bella, in honor of her mother.
To Blake, it seemed as if everyone was starting to pair up and start families. Even Duchess had moved on, finally finding the man of her dreams, and that had been quite the shocker to him. The two were joined at the hip, and she hadn't even told him she had been dating someone whenever they got together for a drink. It made him seem like a big loser by comparison, the girl that had been in love with him for years, had found someone else. It was as if the world was spiting him, he could almost hear the Evil Queen laughing at him.
He finished his shower, having felt the cold water on his skin. He hadn't realized he had been lost in memory lane for far longer than he had expected. He grabbed his tower and rapidly dried off, hopping into his underwear, putting on his white socks. He dried his hair off, shaking his head a bit, finally being free of the migraine he had woken up with. He grabbed his basketball shorts and slipped them on, followed by a faded Pusheen shirt, the same one he had worn on the day he had arrived to Ever After. He had used some magic to make it a little bigger for his current body, he wasn't ready to part with it just yet. It was the last thing of his world he had left.
He started heading back down the stairs, into his spacious kitchen. It had been one of the reasons why he had purchased the cabin. It had beautiful oak cabinets, with black granite counter tops, stainless steel sinks, twin gas stoves, an island in the center of it with a pot hanger over it. It also had a large stainless steel refrigerator, the kind that one could actually control with their MirrorPhone. It had all cost quite a lot, the entire property had been purchased for nearly 200,000 Gold. It was nothing to him, seeing as he was still a famous singer. He had quite the nest egg, but he doubted he and his bandmates could continue making music due to their busy lives.
He decided to put on a kettle for some tea. He wasn't feeling coffee this early in the morning, especially since Maddie had practically gotten him off coffee entirely. While he did that, he had decided to grab something quick to eat, a can of spaghetti and meatballs which he proceeded to eat cold. He smirked a bit to himself, leaning against the counter.
"Ah man, twenty-three years old and I still act like I'm sixteen. Where do the years go, I wonder?" he asked, his voice sounding deep and firm.
A loud chiming bell filled his ears, startling him out of his thoughts. He had wondered what it had been until it rung again. It was only then that his half sleeping brain realized that it was his door bell. He rapidly finished his breakfast, tossing the can in the trash and the spoon in the sink. He grabbed a napkin, wiping his mouth clean shoving it into his pocket. He was wondering if it was a package or something, since he didn't get many visitors. He paused to fix his hair a bit before opening the door, expecting a mailman on the other side of the wooden barrier.
He was not prepared for who was on the other side however. It was a young woman, around his age, with fair colored skin and bright green eyes. She had long auburn colored hair, with streaks of gold highlights in her hair. She wore a beautiful golden tiara atop her head, a long strand of hot pink hair falling down the left side of her face. She was wearing a beautiful sleeveless silken dress, the top of it was magenta in color, with hot pink and gold threading forming various flowers and birds on it. The bottom part of the dress was blue in color, the skirt reaching down to just above her knees. Various roses and flowers had been embroidered into the cloth, along with more birds and butterflies. He noticed she was wearing a golden necklace, with a bluebird charm on it, and was holding a small leather bag in her hands.
She was a rather curvy young woman, and was very tall for a woman her age. Though that was most likely due to the heels she was wearing. She had a beautiful face, soft features, bright eyes a small nose and full pink lips. She was definitely a looker, and judging by some of the other young men that had passed by the house in the two minutes he had been standing there, it was obvious she was an attention grabber.
He was honestly rather confused. Why would a young woman like this come to his house of all places. She looked familiar, but he couldn't recall exactly who she was, or where he had even met her. He was about to ask her something, but she beat him to the punch, looking down at the ground as she did.
"Hi Blake, it's been awhile hasn't it?"
"Um...do I know you?" he asked curiously. Her eyes widened a bit, a giggle leaving her lips.
"It really has been awhile, it's me...Ashlynn?" she said. He blinked a few times, glancing at the floor, seeing a rather fancy pair of glass heels on her feet, the straps of which wrapped around her leg, and were glittering brightly. He gasped a bit, a look of shock on his face.
"Ashlynn! Oh my god, look at you! You look gorgeous, I didn't even recognize you...you've grown taller."
"So have you, it's been two years since we actually saw each other. You look good with stubble." she replied, causing him to reach up to his face.
"Oh...I knew I forgot something." he muttered. He shook his head, opening the door a little wider.
"Would you like to step inside?" he asked, earning a nod from the girl. She nodded, reaching to her left, grabbing the handle of a suitcase, which he hadn't even seen. She stepped into the house, her eyes scanning the living room.
"Just like your dorm back in school...the more things change, the more they stay the same eh?"
"I suppose...what's with the suitcase? Visiting the folks?" he asked curiously, closing the door after her. She frowned, sweeping some hair behind her ear as she set her bag down on the couch.
"No, well...yes...I'm going to be staying with my parents for the week. I haven't seen them in quite awhile after all. After that, I'll be staying with Briar, she got a flat in Meadow Brooke. She is an actress now, after all."
"Ah right...I forgot Briar was filming a new movie...a live action Beauty and the Beast I think...kind of ironic since it's in fact her cousin who has that destiny." he said, earning a nod from Ashlynn.
"I've told her that, she just says she acts whatever her manager slides her way. Who would have thought Briar Beauty would actually be a successful actress after high school?"
"Certainly none of us, she was voted most likely to sleep through her mid 20s after all. She's just doing this to prove them wrong, kind of a shame that she still has to deal with the pricking curse, even after rewriting her destiny. Would you like anything? I got a kettle on if you want some tea." he said.
"That sounds lovely actually, mind showing me your kitchen? Raven says your house is amazing. I guess living in a castle is much to boring for her."
"Tell me about it, she messages me every other week asking me to take care of Zelda, just so she has a reason to come here. I love her to death, but if she really used her head, she could buy herself a cabin just like this one...this is the kitchen." he said, allowing the girl to walk in first. She gasped looking around the spacious kitchen. She walked toward the island placing a hand on the cool granite.
"This is beautiful, Raven was right! This kitchen is so much better than the one I used to have back in High Village." she said, causing Blake to give her a confused look. He added more water to the kettle, turning the heat up a bit. He snapped his fingers, conjuring a pair of cups, plates and spoons, along with some sugar.
"What do you mean used to?" he asked, leaning against the counter. The young woman frowned, glancing away from the boy. She took a deep breath to calm herself.
"You asked me a few weeks back if I was doing alright. The truth is, I'm not...me and Hunter broke up." she said.
"What? Are you for real?" he cried, utter disbelief on his face. She gave him a nod, further confirming her statement.
He couldn't believe what the girl was saying. She and Hunter had been together for the longest time, had fought for their love through thick and thin. They had been voted most likely to have a beautiful family. He had been expecting them to get married at some point, Hunter had even shown him the ring he was going to give her after they left high school. To hear this was completely heartbreaking, he just didn't know how to react. What to do, what to think, what to even feel. He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath to regain his composure.
"Okay...I apologize for how I reacted...would you mind explaining what happened so I can understand this mind fuck?" he asked.
"Sure thing. Me and Hunter started arguing about two years ago, it was something small at first, but it blew up rather fast. I started to see him start changing. He was focused more on saving the animals, which is completely fine. But he spent more time outside, and drank a lot more. Eventually he started coming home late, and I told him I didn't think it was appropriate for him to be doing that kind of thing."
"Hmm...I do recall him drinking heavily the last time we got together. Daring had invited us to his castle to have a week on the town and he was always drinking...any reason why?" he asked.
"I'm not sure...but I think it has to do with his mother passing away. He started growing more angry, since he got along with her better than his father. He didn't hit me, but he did insult me at times whenever he was drinking. I told him I wasn't going to marry him if he kept it up. Apparently, there was more to it than that...he was angry because I didn't want to have sex with him until we were married."
"Oh...wait you're still a virgin? Damn Ash, props for keeping your urges back." he said, making her giggle.
"Thanks, but it's just something I wanted to do. He told me it was bullshit that his friends were getting married while I was just a prude who wanted a ring on my finger. He didn't want to get married yet, because he didn't want to tie himself down. It was something completely different than what I was expecting. He started hanging out with other girls...I didn't think anything of it, but I had a nagging feeling in my chest."
"Oh my god...did he cheat on you? Ashlynn tell me if he did...I'll rearrange his fucking face if that's the truth!" he snapped, eyes glowing violet with anger. She shook her head, placing her hand over his own.
"No no...he didn't cheat on me, or have sex with anyone else. But it was obvious that he wanted to. One day, he got home really late and started shouting like he always did when he was drunk. I couldn't take it anymore, so I told him that I didn't want him in my house if he was going to start screaming. That was the first time he slapped me." she said, bowing her head almost shamefully. Blake grit his teeth in anger...his hand clenched so tight he swore his nails had cut his palm. Ashlynn sniffled, wiping a tear from her eyes.
"He was sorry, he apologized a zillion times and held me like he used too. I told him he had a problem and that he needed to get help. But he didn't want any help...he said he would quit on his own, and he did. He got rid of all the alcohol. Everything was getting better, for six months everything was fine...that is until I caught him sneaking alcohol into the house. An occasional drink was fine but I watched him downing bottles of Jack almost daily. I told him that he had one final chance to quit and get some help, but he told me he had enough of my bullshit and told me to leave. After all, he had bought the house so he made the rules."
"Oh Ashlynn, sweetheart I'm sorry. I didn't think Hunter had turned into an alcoholic. He was always so happy when we hung out, I didn't even know his mother had passed away." the black haired man replied, hugging his friend tightly.
She hugged him back, holding back her tears. She felt a choking feeling in her throat, it had been a long time since all of this had happened. But it was so fresh to her. Feeling the warmth of his arms, and the security that she had gotten, that she was safe there, it made her feel immensely better.
"Thank you Blake, I've been needing a hug for the past nine months. It's been hard, having to stay in various places...I've stayed with everyone I was friends with. I just came from Blondie's place in Bookend. It was so nostalgic seeing the high school again, but I just couldn't stay there any longer."
"It's fine sweetheart, I understand. If you want you can stay here for as long as you like...I doubt you want to go back home permanently anyway. Plus you can always visit your parents whenever you like." he suggested, causing her to back away from him, looking into his eyes.
"Are you sure? I can't impose like that."
"Of course...it gets a bit lonely being by myself. I don't work, seeing as I've made some investments and increased my funds from the band. I have no issue with letting you live here, you're my friend." he said, grabbing the tea kettle as it started whistling. He turned the stove off, pouring the water into the two tea cups.
"Thank you for this Blake...but I'm not gonna just live here for free. Even if I'm a princess, I plan to pay for my own things. There are actually a few places in town that are in need of housekeepers. I like cleaning so it's a good source of income." she replied, graciously accepting the tea he had offered.
"Come on Ashlynn, you don't have to pay for a thing! Whatever you want, or need I got you. You've helped me out so much since we met...I know, if you want we can open a new shoe store here in town. I could even help you with stock, just like the old days."
"I couldn't ask you for that...I've been meaning to open up a new store but...I'm not sure if I can do it anymore. Hunter used to help me out with everything, it feels empty without him there." she replied, a frown on her face.
"Forget about him, this is all about you sweetheart. Besides, I owe you a favor for that Stellanium crystal you helped me find all those years ago. I saw a storefront in town the other day, it's nice and big and right next to the market place. I can get in touch with some companies have some shoes sent right to the location, once we buy it of course." Blake said, reaching into his pocket for his MirrorPhone.
"I dunno...this is all so sudden."
"Remember what Holly said...if you let fear consume you, you won't ever be able to do anything in life. Her words have carried me through a lot of dark moments in life you know." he said, giving her a wink. She smiled, a genuine smile of happiness.
"You're right Blake, I can't let the past hold me back. So I'll let go of it and make a new beginning...I knew coming here was a good idea!"
"I'm glad...I at least get one thing out of it...I won't be alone anymore." he said happily, taking a sip from his cup.
"No one deserves to be alone...I think living close to home will be good for me. It's been four years since I've been home. My mom and dad always went to visit us back in High Village, so it feels nice to be able to visit them for a change."
"Mhmm, for now we need to go shopping and get some stuff for the guest room. I have it set up for my niece, but she ends up sharing a bed with me whenever she's over here anyway. You should see her, she's absolutely precious." he said, a grin on his face.
"Hehe, I've heard...I've been dying to meet her in person. I still remember when Dexter passed out a couple years ago. Now that I think about it, Raven's wedding was the last time we actually spoke like this...time flies doesn't it?" Ashlynn asked, earning a nod from Blake.
"Yes it does. Give me some time to get ready and we can head out, I'm sure your parents are dying to see you again." he said, leaving the kitchen a second later.
xxx
A few days had passed since Ashlynn had reappeared in Blake's life. It had only been around eight days, but his life had already become much brighter. They were still getting the Glass Slipper ready for its grand opening, but already people were looking forward to seeing the new store. When it had been discovered that the daughter of Cinderella was the owner, every woman, girl and teenager had lined up asking Blake when the store would open. He hadn't given them a date but he told him he was working on it. He had to give them some autographs just to calm them down a bit, even after so many years, Purple Rhapsody's fame reached infinite bounds within the Fairytale world.
His house, which had normally been a bit dreary. He was prone to get bored and that usually lead to him taking a walk through town. He would get home play some online games with whatever random lobby he got stuck with and drink whenever he lost a round. That usually ended with him being drunk on the couch, usually ending in a splitting headache the next day. He had forgotten Ashlynn had actually been staying with him one day and spent almost all night playing video games and drinking. He had gotten a rude awakening the next day when she literally poured a gallon of cold water on his face. He already knew she hated alcohol and she didn't want to see her friend falling to it's clutches. So he drank in moderation and made sure not to pass out on the couch anymore.
But on good days when he did fall asleep on the couch he was greeted by her beautiful singing. All of the windows were open whenever he came downstairs, and various small birds were flying around her, helping her take care of various chores in the house. She always had breakfast for him, he would prepare lunch and the two would work on dinner. It had become a routine for him now, a very welcome routine. He was at least glad that Ashlynn was feeling much better now that she had been away from Hunter.
He was disappointed in his friend, but he still thought of him as a brother. Of course the next time he saw him, he would have words with him. He needed an explanation after all, alcohol drove people to do a lot of stupid things, and he knew that very well. He understood what it was like to mourn the loss of someone, he had experienced that for most of his life in Ever After. But that didn't mean you had the right to slap the one you loved, that's what was pissing him off over all. Ashlynn had told him to forget about it, but he truly never would.
"So Ash, what's on the agenda today?" he asked, after he had finished washing the last of the dishes. The auburn haired woman glanced at her phone, humming a small tune.
"Stocking the last of the shoes and getting everything ready for the opening. I'm really excited, if this store is as successful as the one I had in Bookend, then it is definitely going to bring in a lot of money. I'm glad Blondie agreed to let us use the name."
"Well you sold the store to her when you and Hunter left, technically speaking the name was yours. But now that this is considered a branch store, it will definitely bring in a lot of attention." he replied.
"That's what I'm hoping for. But please Blake, don't start putting the shoes on, we don't need someone to see that." Ashlynn said, earning a smirk from the boy.
"You just don't want me to show off my smooth legs. You are just jealous that I look better in your heels than you do!" he exclaimed, causing the girl to laugh, rather loudly at that. She flicked a tear from her eye, her cheeks flushed crimson.
"Yeah right, as if I want to stop you from doing that. You can show off your amazingly smooth legs if you want, just not in my shoes." she said, in an almost scolding tone.
"Oh alright, but you owe me one." he replied, giving her a wink. His phone started ringing, causing him to sigh audibly. He picked up the call, putting it on speaker.
"Busy day?"
"Maybe. Who dares disturb Blake on this fine Wednesday morn?" he said, his tone deep and gruff.
"It's your favorite sister of course. I was wondering if you'd do me a favor."
"Sure Rae, what's up?" he asked, curiosity written on his face.
"I need you to watch Zelda for me, I have a doctors appointment today and you know she gets bored if they're no toys around."
"Eh...shit...I mean yeah sure, I don't have an issue watching her, but I'm sort of busy today. I'm helping Ashlynn with her new store."
"Ashlynn is opening a new store? In Cendrillion?" the woman asked, clearly surprised.
"Yup. We should be ready by next week...I'll take care of Zelda, I have some coloring books for her anyway." he said.
"Okay, if it's really no trouble, I'm sure Darling can also watch her. She's taking time off from the Guard, and she loves her niece just as much as you do."
"No no, it's fine. Ashlynn has been dying to meet her, so this is the perfect chance, so get your evil butt here already. I wanna hug my awesome sister!"
"Okay, okay...we're just about to land...see you in a few minutes." Raven replied, ending the call right after.
"Well, now you finally get to meet Zelda...are you alright Ashlynn? You've been oddly quiet since the beginning of that call." he said, earning a small frown from the woman.
"I'm fine...I just haven't heard Raven's voice in so long. I'm a little nervous, especially after so many years. So many of my friends don't know me and Hunter broke up, and it isn't something I like talking about often."
"You don't have to say anything if you don't want too. If you let me, I can explain it to Raven in private, it isn't something Zelda has to hear anyway." he replied. It wasn't long before the familiar sound of the doorbell filled the house.
Blake gave Ashlynn a confident smile as the two of them headed into the living room. She stayed back a bit, glancing at the floor nervously. She wasn't scared of seeing her friend again, she was in fact very excited. She just wasn't prepared mentally for all of the questions, and to relive those memories. Whenever she thought about Hunter and the love they had shared, she always remembered his downward spiral into alcoholism. She cared for him dearly, but the man that she had fallen in love with was long gone. The door opened, and Blake was almost knocked over by a little girl, who jumped into his arms.
"Uncle Blake!" she cried excitedly, causing the young man to hug her back.
"There's my favorite niece! You look so cute today, look at you!" he said, holding the girl up, her laughter filling the house with joy.
Much like her mother, she had pale skin and dark violet eyes. Her hair was a mixture of dark purple and light brown, a trait she had gotten from her parents. She was wearing a long sleeved tan shirt, with a lavender colored skirt, light pink leggings and matching flats.
Standing behind her was her mother Raven Queen Charming. She had barely changed over the years, having grown slightly taller than she was in her high school years. She had her hair tied into a high ponytail, and wore a golden tiara on her head. She was wearing a violet leather jacket, over a lavender smock top. She wore a pair of black jeans, along with armored riding boots. Her eyes were lined with dark make up, she was also wearing violet lipstick as she normally did in school. She was holding some leather reins in her hands, belonging to her dragon Nevermore, who was currently outside.
"Uncle, I'm your only niece." the three year old said. He chuckled, giving her a kiss on the cheek.
"I know that, but one day your mommy will have more babies. You'll be my favorite no matter what, because you are my Princess Zelda." he said, hugging her tightly.
"It's nice to see you Blake, it's also good to see that you aren't hungover."
"I made sure he would kick that nasty habit of his Raven. He's not gonna get hungover while I'm here." Ashlynn said, making her look right at her, a look of surprise on her face.
"Ashlynn, it's been such a long time...look at you, you look beautiful in that dress." she said, pulling the girl into a hug.
"Thank you Raven, you look good yourself. Considering the fact that you are a mother now...so this is little Zelda?" she asked, turning to the little girl, who buried her face in Blake's shoulder.
"Don't be scared sweetheart...this is my friend Ashlynn. Me and your mom went to school with her, we've been friends for years now. Say hi."
"Hello." the little girl said, finally looking at the auburn haired woman, who gave her a warm smile.
"Hello Zelda, it's so nice to meet you. You can call me Ash if you want, or Lynn, I don't mind either."
"Okay, I'll call you Auntie Lynn. Is Uncle Blake in love with Auntie Lynn?"
"Eh? Why would you ask me that you little rascal?!" Blake replied, tickling the little girl's tummy causing her to laugh and squirm in his arms. Ashlynn blushed brightly, looking at the floor.
"So Ash, how are you and Hunter doing? I haven't heard much from either of you. Are you two married yet?" Raven asked, causing the girl to look away, a frown on her face.
"Hey Ashlynn, why don't you go make Zelda a snack? You can teach her how to sing too."
"Um...sure, I'd love too. Come on Zelda, what would you like to eat?" she asked, taking a hold of her hand.
"I want chocolate pudding!"
"That's not healthy, how about some fruits instead? Apples and grapes are really sweet and good for you too." she replied, earning a nod from the little girl. Blake pulled Raven outside, closing the door behind him. He leaned against the wall, patting Nevermore's snout when she got close to him.
"Raven, there's a reason why Ashlynn is here with me right now. She actually moved in with me, she and Hunter broke up."
"Huh? You're shitting me right?" she asked, clearly taken aback by what he had told her. He sighed, shaking his head.
"Fraid not, they started arguing a couple years ago when his mother passed away. He took to alcohol to drown his sorrows, and would always come home drunk. He also got pissed off at her, since she wanted to be engaged before they had sex. It got really nasty between them, he even slapped her once. They broke up six months after, it's almost been a year since then. She's been staying with all of our friends, she came from Blondie's last week." he said.
"Oh my godmother...I didn't think...Hunter? Drinking?" she asked. Blake nodded, a frown on his face.
"I know, it's hard to believe. You've got no idea what it's like to know that your brother is wasting his life away. Not just that, he let alcohol separate him from the sweetest person any of us have ever met. Poor thing, she cries herself to sleep every night. I pretend I don't hear it, but it's hard to ignore it when she's balling every night." he said.
"Wow I...I'm sorry to hear that...I was honestly expecting those two to be together forever. They sacrificed so much to be together...they're destinies, they're business. I was expecting her to had kids by now."
"Same here...but I know she's telling the truth. Last time Daring invited us to his castle, Hunter got way out of hand with the drinking. I mean, I was drunk too, but not as much as he was. I'm sure Dex, Alistair and even Daring must have noticed." he replied.
"Now that you mention it, Dexter did say something about it. He said Hunter drank all of the bourbon Daring had, and had asked one of the maids to go buy more for him. It was so odd, but no one said anything." she replied.
"He's got serious issues, but that's not important right now. I have to make sure Ashlynn is safe...she said she wasn't going to let the past affect her. But it's clear she hasn't gotten over her heartbreak, and you and I both know what that shit feels like." Blake replied, glancing at his boots. Raven leaned against the wall beside him, arms crossed.
"I can't believe this...so she's been alone dealing with this for a year. All while he's been out there, probably drinking his brains out. Ashlynn shouldn't have to deal with that shit."
"I know, but there's nothing we can do about it. I'll talk to the guys and see if we can make him see reason, but Ash already told me she was done with him. She doesn't want to date someone like that ever again, even though she's had beautiful times with him." he replied.
"I don't blame her...so, does that mean that you'll take care of her? I mean, you've been alone for awhile. I think you'd be a good thing for Ashlynn right now." she said.
"I'm not interested in dating."
"Really? That's why you were looking at her subtle when you were holding Zelda? That's why you told her she could stay here with you? And you are helping her open up a new store? Are you sure it isn't because you want to make her happy?" she asked.
"Raven, just because you got married before me doesn't mean you are the all knowing. By the way, are you pregnant?"
"Eh? How the hell did you even arrive at that?" his sister asked, earning a grin from the boy.
"Well, you don't usually go to the doctor unless it's something serious. If you have an appointment, then it's because you want confirmation on your thoughts. If you are, then congratulations, he or she will be just as beautiful and amazing as Zelda." he said. She shook her head, giving the boy a kiss on the cheek.
"Thank you, I'm not sure if I am pregnant or not. Just don't tell anyone alright? If it gets back to Blondie she'll squeal to everyone we know, just like she did with Rosabella was pregnant." she said, jumping into Nevermore's back.
"Don't worry, I'll keep it secret!" he replied, giving her a wave. The dragon took off into the air, disappearing after a few seconds. He stepped back into the house, sounds of laughter filling his ears. He moved toward the kitchen where Zelda and Ashlynn were, decorating some cookies. He was very confused, but as long as Ashlynn was smiling he didn't care. She looked up at him, flushing slightly at his appearance.
"Oh Blake, I hope you don't mind. You had some pre-made cookie dough in the fridge, and I thought it would be alright to make some cookies. I'll replace it later."
"It's fine Ash. I would have likely forgotten about that dough at some point, or gotten hungry and eaten it in the middle of the night. How's my little sweetheart doing?" he asked, earning a giggle from the little girl, who held a man shaped cooking to him, decorated with various colors and a silly face.
"I made you, Uncle Blake...he has the same goofy face you made at Auntie Lynn earlier." she said.
"Huh? I wasn't making a goofy face!" he said, feigning ignorance causing the girl to puff her cheeks.
"Yes you were, momma said liars get their pants set on fire, so don't lie!"
"I'm not lying sweetheart, tell her Ashlynn. I'm not lying right?" he asked, earning a nod from Ashlynn.
"He's right Zelda, he wasn't lying at all...Blake never lies, he's a wonderful person, who cares about all of his friends. He's a hero, just like your mommy was during the Dragon Games."
"The Dragon Games? What are those?" Zelda asked, taking a bite from the cookie in her hands.
"She hasn't told you that story yet? Wow Raven, nice of you to do that to your daughter. Alright, we have to finish lunch because Auntie Lynn has to go back to work. But we'll tell you all about your momma and how she saved Ever After during the Dragon Games." he said, causing the girl to grin.
"Okay! Was Uncle Blake in the Dragon Games? And Auntie Lynn too?" she asked.
"We sure were, all of us were heroes that day...it's quite a long story, but it's full of magic and dragons! If you are a good girl, we'll tell you more stories, and even take you to Wonderland. How does that sound?" Ashlynn said, earning a vigorous nod from the girl.
"Yeah! I wanna go to Wonderland! Momma hasn't taken me yet, I wanna go see Auntie Maddie!"
"Okay, next Saturday we'll go to Wonderland. The two of us aren't doing anything that day anyway. We'll just talk to your momma first okay?" Blake said, earning a nod from the little girl. Ashlynn picked her up from the ground, holding her tightly in her arms.
"Alright, let's start at the beginning of the Dragon Games, when all of the baby dragons were hatching from their eggs."
Blake smiled warmly as Ashlynn started telling Zelda the story. She had her full attention, almost unblinking as she set the scene. He had to admit, Ashlynn was really good with children, she had an instinctive motherly aura. He started thinking back to what Raven had said to him earlier, and had started thinking about it.
"Ashlynn is hurt, still recovering from what happened with Hunter. I'm not sure she's even looking for a relationship right now...but she is still as beautiful now as she was in high school. Maybe...I'll give it some thought."
He continued leading Ashlynn toward the new store, wrapping an arm around her waist. She didn't seem to mind, her focus was entirely on the story she was telling the little girl in her arms. The towns people around them would most likely believe they were a happy family, but they weren't even close to figuring out the truth.