I do not own Austin and Ally or Ever After.

Ally stared at him. "Austin Lynch?" She repeated. She'd never heard the last name before, but he looked so much like Austin Moon… She shook the thoughts out of her head. He was in town visiting a cousin; perhaps he was somehow related to the Austin that she had known years ago. She was quick to give the boy a grin. "There now, that wasn't so hard, was it?"

Austin bit his lip, resisting the urge to smile at her as he turned away. Maybe she'd leave him alone now that he'd given her a fake name.

Ally took another step forward. "I've never met anyone other than my tutor who can quote Thomas More." She called out. Austin whirled back around to face her, and Ally was satisfied that she had once again caught his attention. He stared at her with raised eyebrows, and she caught sight of his beautiful eyes once again.

"The Princess has read Utopia?" Austin asked, surprise clear in his voice. Ally shrugged, shaking herself out of her daze as she took a step closer to him. His shifted to his side, but he didn't step back.

"To be honest, I found it dull and quite boring." She replied. "The plight of the everyday life bores me to no end." She confessed. Austin stared at her, an unreadable expression in his eye.

"I'm guessing that you don't converse with many peasants."

Ally shook her head, chuckling. "Certainly not! It is only natural."

Austin glared at her, taking another step forward. Ally noticed how close that he was, and though she couldn't see directly into his eyes, she could see his chest. He smelled of apples and sunshine and green grass; the scents of her childhood. "There's nothing natural about it. A kingdom's character is defined by the 'everyday life'." Austin said, mocking Ally. The Princess's eyebrows drew in together. No one had ever dared to mock her in years.

"Am I gathering that you find me arrogant?" Ally asked, looking up to meet Austin's eyes. There was an unexplained fierceness behind the honey brown, one that she couldn't understand. Why did he care so much about servants? She tried to look forceful the way that she had seen her father do so many times before, but Austin didn't flinch.

"Well, you gave life back to one man, but did you even glance at the others?" Austin challenged. Ally stared into his eyes once more and he met her gaze instead of lowering his eyes to the ground. The boy was one of the few people that she had ever met who could leave her speechless.

"I knew a boy name Austin as a child." Ally said, changing the subject. Austin tilted his head to the side. One part of him hoped that Ally remembered him the way that he remembered her, but the other part hoped that she wouldn't notice. What would she think of him then?

"Did you? I never thought of it as a common name," Austin said, pretending to be interested. Ally eyed him warily, but allowed herself to smile.

"Neither did I. I have such fond memories of him…" Ally allowed her voice to trail off. "His father passed away of a heart attack and fell off of a horse." She frowned, and Austin was silent. "He ran away from home shortly afterwards, and I have not seen him since then."

Austin's eyebrows flew up towards his hairline. Is that what Ally thought? Who would tell her something so ridiculous? He shifted on his feet, uncomfortable in the dress shoes. He decided to place a hand on her shoulder. She looked surprised, but didn't protest. "I'm sorry. It's always terrible to lose someone that you're close to."

Ally nodded, smiling lightly. "He used to address me as Ally." She shook her head. "Not one of the other children in the kingdom would've done the same."

Austin stared at her, trying to hide the smile on his face. "There's always a first time for everything, isn't there, Ally?"

Ally slowly opened the door that led to her wing of the castle, hoping that her parents wouldn't here her come in. She couldn't shake the smile off of her face, even as she tip toed through the hallways, making her way to her chambers and nodding at each servant that she passed. Austin Lynch was unlike anyone that she had ever met before, and she was already thinking of ways that she could see him again. She arrived at the door to her chambers, and pushed it open, revealing her parents staring at her with crossed arms.

"Oh, Allyson, my darling!" Penny exclaimed, walking towards Ally with open arms. She pulled her daughter into a tight hug, and Ally had a perfect view of her angry father. "Hello, Mother," She answered, patting her mother's back.

Penny pulled away from her daughter, pushing some hair out of the girl's face. "Your father would like a word with you."

"Several words, in fact," Lester stepped forward, his arms still folded. With his angry face and the crown perched on top of his head, he looked like a pouty adult. Ally rolled her eyes, gently pushing her mother's hands out of her hair. "When doesn't he?" She asked rhetorically. Lester poked his finger in Ally's face.

"You, young lady, are restricted to the palace grounds." He announced, his voice booming.

Ally crossed her arms, mimicking her father. "What, am I under house arrest?"

"Do not mock me, child. You have already pushed me much too far past my limits." Lester boomed. Anyone else would be terrified, but the King's daughter only stared at him with a bored expression in her eyes. "I will have my way." He ordered.

"Or what? Will you send me to the Americas, like some sort of criminal?" Ally challenged. She pushed past her father, leaning her head out of her window. "All for some stupid contract…" She murmured to herself.

"You are the Crown Princess of Miami, and it is time that you started acting as such." Lester's face was as red as tomato. Ally only rolled her eyes, turning her head back towards the window. She wondered where Austin was staying, and where she could reach him. Perhaps he would be a better tutor than the one that she already had.

Penny looked between her only daughter and her husband. "Lester, sit down before you have a stroke." She ordered, leading her husband to a chair. "Look at the two of you." She said. Ally still didn't turn around, and Lester narrowed his eyes. "Sweetheart," Penny started, placing a hand on Ally's shoulder. "You were born into privilege, and with that, comes specific obligations."

Ally let out a groan, surprising her mother. "Forgive me, but marriage to a stranger never made anyone in this room happy." She replied, casting a glance towards her father before looking back at her mother. Lester practically jumped out of his seat, but Ally didn't flinch.

"You will marry Dallas before the next full moon, or I will strike you in any way that I can." He commanded, leaning into Ally's face.

"What will it be, Father? Hot oil or the rack?" Ally snapped without hesitation.

Lester shook his head, flabbergasted. "I will simply deny you the crown… and live forever." He sighed, realizing the fault in his plan. Ally rolled her eyes, turning towards the door in pulling it open.

"Excellent. I don't want the crown, anyway." She announced, stomping down the hallway. Servants jumped out of her way as she traveled, and Penny stared after her longingly. Lester clenched his hands, letting out a groan.

"She's your daughter!" He exclaimed, storming out of the room.

"That was excellent!" Mr. De La Rosa exclaimed again as they walked back towards the manor. "I never would've thought that you could stand up to people in that manner, Austin." He grinned. Austin chuckled softly, shaking his head.

"It was all Dez's doing." He said, turning to his friend, who carried the suit in his arms. Austin had changed back into his work clothes minutes earlier, and was hurrying back to the manor before his step-mother started looking for him. Mr. De La Rosa had showered him with compliments the whole way back to the manor. Dez grinned. "I'm still surprised that he pulled it off." He tipped his baby blue hat at them, before turning towards his father's shop.

Austin and Mr. De La Rosa didn't even make it to the door before it swung open, and Trent stared at Austin with a mischievous smile. "Someone's in trouble," He taunted in a sing-song voice. Austin's eyes widened in panic.

"What are you talking about?" Austin asked, looking back at Mr. De La Rosa with panic in his eyes. Austin hadn't seen any of his step-family in the market, and Dez was supposed to alert them if he did. Did they send spies out to search for him? He tried to tell himself that he was being ridiculous, but his mind began to run wild. Trent rolled his eyes and opened his mouth to speak, but was silenced by Val appearing and pulling Austin into the manor with a jerk of his arm.

"You stupid, stupid little boy!" She hissed. "How dare you do this to me, to Trent? You make me sick!" She exclaimed, resting the back of her hand on her forehead like she was about to faint. "It is deceitfulness and I will not have it in this house!" She snapped. Austin's eyes grew wider by the second and his eyed darted between Trent and Val.

"What did I do?" He asked. Did they know about what he did in the marketplace?

Trent rolled his eyes. "Think long and hard, Austin."

Austin let his mind travel back. "Um, Princess Ally, Allyson," He stumbled over the girl's name. "She stole our horse this morning…" He trailed off. Trent clapped his hands at Austin like he was a puppy. "Excellent!"

Val rolled her eyes. "And that would explain why she returned it earlier this afternoon. How dare you let her surprise us like that? We weren't properly prepared!"

Austin was somewhat relieved, but clenched and unclenched his fists. "I'm sorry?" He offered in a soft voice. Val shook her head, letting a small smile appear on her face.

"Nevertheless, Trent performed beautifully. He and the Princess had quite the interlude. I wouldn't be surprised if she dropped by again." She complimented, resting a hand on her son's shoulder. Austin's eyes darted between the two of them. He knew that they were crazy, but never thought that they were this crazy. Ally would never fall for someone like Trent… Austin let his thoughts trail off.

He didn't know much about this new Ally. She was her old self in many ways, but also some sort of product of her environment. He almost shuddered when he remembered his conversation with her earlier. She had seemed almost entranced by the way that he lectured her about running a kingdom, all from things that he had learned from reading Utopia.

Austin was snapped out of his thoughts by Val snapping her fingers in his face. "Come now, I must know exactly what was said. What felt like a simple phrase to you could have had a thousand meanings. She said that you were forceful. What did you say?" Her voice was hard.

Austin's mouth opened, but words didn't come out the way that he expected them to. "Uh, I-I called her a thief... I did not recognize her." He gave a nervous and short laugh at the blank faces in front of him. Trent was silent, but soon Val started to chuckle.

"Oh, Austin. What a simple country boy that you are," She shook her head as though she were sorry for him. She was silent for a moment as Trent stared at Austin with a smirk on his face. Soon, Val was snapping loudly. "We all must work harder than usual to make sure that the manor is spotless, to be prepared in case the Princess drops by for another surprise visit." She commanded. "We wouldn't want the Princess to be… disgusted with our appearance, would we?" Val asked, her eyes traveling over Austin's work clothes.

He stared at her, biting back the words that he truly wanted to say to her. "No."
Val was turning to leave the room when she saw Mr. De La Rosa standing behind Austin, almost like he was hiding behind the boy.

"What is he doing here?" She asked, pointing at the man like he was a bug on her carpet. Mr. De La Rosa clasped his hands together.

"I have paid off your…" Mr. De La Rosa paused when he saw Val narrowing her eyes. "My debt, madam, and was told that I could return home."

Val stared at Mr. De La Rosa for a silent moment, watching the man sweat. Austin wanted to roll his eyes, because he knew that Val would jump for the chance at having more workers around the Manor for free. She waved her hands at him. "Very well. Go… catch a chicken, or something." She rolled her eyes, leaving the room, Trent following her like a shadow.

Austin stared after for a moment, the smile returning back on his face as Ally entered his mind again. He remembered the way that she had pranced off after he called her Ally, her chocolate brown hair floating in the breeze. Mr. De La Rosa clapped a hand on his shoulder. "Let us go mingle with the rest of the servants, eh?" He suggested. Austin knew that he wanted to surprise his wife and daughter, and nodded, following him back outside.

"Who?"

"Count Austin Lynch." Ally repeated while standing in front of her mother's desk. Penny sat in front of an open book, a pen in one of her hands. She had been writing until her daughter burst into her study, demanding information that she did not have.

"He's the cousin of…" Ally trailed off. "Well actually, I'm not entirely sure who his cousins are." She frowned as she dropped her body in the sat next to her mother's. Penny stared at her daughter for a moment, before looking back down at her studies.

"Is he a cousin of that boy from when you were young? His name was Austin as well, was it not?" She asked. Ally shrugged.

"Austin Moon ran away, Mother." She sighed. Penny looked back up at her daughter with raised eyebrows. She remembered the death of Lord Moon, but not his son running away. Penny decided not to bring anything up with her daughter now, while she seemed so confused about the young man that she had just met. "Surely you have heard of him? You know of everyone in the kingdom." Ally said, the hope clear in her voice.

Penny sighed. "Oh, darling, there are simply too many courtiers for me to remember them all by name in my own mind." She flipped the page of her book, writing down more words. Ally let out a sigh, slouching in her seat. Penny noticed, and a smirk graced her features. "Why do you ask, Allyson?"

Ally bit her lip, hoping that the bright blush on her cheeks wasn't very visible. She opened her mouth to reply to her mother, but was interrupted by the opening of the heavy door. King Lester walked into the room, holding his hands behind his back. He looked much calmer than the last time that Ally had seen him, but she still wasn't up for speaking. She looked down at her fingernails, ignoring her father.

Lester noticed, and cleared his throat. When he realized that Ally wasn't going to look up, he began speaking. "In honor of Mister James Moon, I have decided to throw a masked ball." He announced. His voice was booming, but held gentleness to it. Ally's eyebrows furrowed. James Moon was one of the most famous musicians in the whole kingdom, and the father of Ally's best friend. She had only met him once, but was very excited to do so. The man was a musical genius. "During this time, you and I will compose a compromise."

Ally smirked. "You, strike a compromise? That's a nice one."

Lester ignored his daughter. "If love is what you seek, I suggest that you find it before then because five days from now, at the stroke of midnight, you will announce the engagement to the young man of your choice." He paused as Ally's eyes met his. "Or, I will announce it for you. Do we have an agreement?"

Penny looked up at the pair with wide eyes, her studies forgotten. Ally didn't get her hopes up right away. "What about your treaty with Tampa?"

Lester rolled his eyes. "Leave the worrying to me. You've got bigger problems to worry about, such as finding the love of your life in five days. Choose wisely, my dear." He leaned down to press a kiss to Ally's forehead, his voice lowering a considerable amount. Ally flew out of her chair, and kissed his father's cheek before wrapping her arms around him.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" She exclaimed, the words tumbling out of her mouth. Lester laughed. He hadn't seen his daughter this happy since she was a nine year old, and he was enjoying this moment.

Penny watched the scene with knowing eyes. "I agree. Divorce is only something that they do in Tampa," She mumbled, looking back down at her book. Ally looked up at her with a smile, while Lester frowned.

"I mean, I love my dad, but I would've given anything to see you dressed up like a gentleman." Trish grinned as she leaned against an apple tree. She was out in the orchard with Austin again while he picked apples. Mr. De La Rosa was back and the servants were joyful, but that didn't mean that there wasn't still work to be done. Trish poked Austin with her elbow. "Speaking to the Princess like a nobleman," She teased.

Austin rolled his eyes as he bit into an apple. None of the older servants were around, and Trish definitely wasn't going to scold him. "Scolding her is more like it," He scoffed. "I still can't believe that I gave him my mother's maiden name." He shook his head. "The girl is unbearable."

Trish eyed him, the grin still on her face. "Yes, you've been saying that since you came back."
Austin blushed, tilting his head down to hide it. "Well, it's is true now as it was this morning."

Dez walked over, his hands in the pockets of his baby blue suit. Austin would never understand why his friend walked around wearing fancy clothing while he was in an orchard. Trish always said that it was because there was so much extra clothes hanging around his father's shop, but Austin was beginning to believe that Dez actually enjoyed making his own clothes. "Austin, she's royalty. They're all born like that." He stole an apple from Austin's basket, and took a seat in the grass.

"I bet that she's quite the charmer once you get to know her…" Trish teased. Austin glared at his female friend while Dez stared with wide eyes, wondering what he had missed.

"I think that she and Trent deserve each other." He exclaimed, pushing down his feelings into the pit of his stomach. The butterflies in his stomach from earlier needed to leave, anyway. He shouldn't be feeling that way about the Princess of Miami. There was no way that anything could happen. She was Princess Ally and he was just… Austin.

"Oh, shut your mouth. The only throne I want him sitting on is the one that my mother tries to make me clean every day." Trish groaned.

"And you really believe that everyone has one perfect love?" Ally repeated, looking to her friend with disbelief in her eyes. She sat on a tree stump, her green dress spread out in front of her so that the cloth wouldn't get caught on anything. Kira nodded.

"I do, as a matter of fact." She nodded, staring out at the river. Ally shook her head, not able to make sense of the idea.

"Well, how would you be sure to find them?" She asked. Kira, though her best friend since Austin Moon disappeared, had a way of coming up with fanciful ideas that often tried Ally's last nerve. "And if you find them, are they really the one for you, or do you just think that they are?" Ally asked, not allowing Kira to answer the first question.

Kira shrugged, picking up Ally's song book. The princess shot her a warning glance, and Kira gently dropped the book into Ally's lap, knowing that she wasn't allowed to touch it in the first place.

"And what if the person never disappears? Perhaps they're ill, or dead. Or what if they do appear, but you're too distracted by work or studies to notice them?" Ally asked as the questions filled her mind. She remembered the way that her name sounded on Austin's lips, but shook the thought out of her mind.

Kira chuckled, playing with the cloth from her dress. "Well, first you learn to pay attention." She responded, making the princess shake her head.

"I'm being serious here!" Ally protested. Kira shrugged. "As am I."

Ally paused as another idea filled her mind. "Then let's say that two people on this Earth are lucky enough to find each other, but the other gets hit by lighting during a storm. What's the other lover to do?" She hesitated as Kira opened her mouth, but continued to speak anyway. "And then this lonely lover meets someone new and decides to marry again. Is the first lover the real love, or the second?" Ally asked. "Is everything just by chance, or are some things meant to be?"

Kira held up a hand to signal her friend to stop. "You cannot leave everything to fate, Allyson. She's got much to do, and sometimes you must give her a hand."

Ally stared at her friend for a moment, before shaking her head and bending back down towards her song book.

"What is this project that you've been working on?" Kira asked, filling the empty silence. Ally shrugged her shoulders. One of the best parts about being around Kira was that she only had to speak when she wanted to and when she did, she could speak freely.

"Just a little something that reminds me of someone," Ally answered. Kira looked at the princess with raised eyebrows, but didn't say anything. The pair sat in silence for a while, before Kira grew bored.

"Come along, let's go for a swim." She pulled the princess up to her feet, eyeing the river.

"Are you sure?" Ally asked, stepping out of her dress. She wore a cream colored underdress underneath, and threw the heavy dress to the side the same time as Kira. Kira only smiled, knowing that her friend was just as anxious to swim as she was. "What if someone were to see us?"

Kira waved a hand and started walking towards the river. "They won't. Come along!" She ordered again, and Ally followed. Kira dove into the water elegantly, her underdress flying out underneath her like the feathers on a swan. Ally was sure that she looked like a fool when she attempted to dive into the water, her limbs flying in different directions. She tried to move towards Kira, and panicked when she felt her foot tangled into something. "Kira!" She cried out, reaching for her friend. Kira stared at the princess with horror in her eyes when she realized that her friend was tangled in a vine. "Do not worry, Allyson, I'll go back for help!

Ally shook her head. "Don't!" She ordered, knowing how her father would react if he had to send the guard to rescue her from something as silly as this. She flailed her arms around in the water, shrieking as she tried to untangle herself. Suddenly, she felt a pair of strong arms wrap around her. She continued to flail her body, but started to slow down as she felt something tugging at the vine around her foot.

"Ally, hold still!" The voice ordered in a soft voice. Ally relaxed as she realized who it was. The vine around her foot was cut, and she turned her head to see Austin staring at her with worried eyes. She opened her mouth to speak to him, but he began to swim back to the land, still holding onto her body. She didn't protest.

"Are you alright?" Austin asked as Ally started to pull herself onto land. Kira followed after the two, squinting at the young man. She was certain that she had never met him before, which made him wonder why the princess allowed him to address her so informally.

Ally turned to her side and started to cough, letting the water escape from her lungs. "I went for a dip, Monsieur. Fortunately, I tripped over an angel."

Austin stared at Ally in surprise, his cheeks a dark red color. Ally was instantly embarrassed at what she had said, and moved a few inches away from Austin. She knew that her cheeks matched Austin's, which made her a bit more comfortable. Her eyes darted up and down, between Austin's eyes and the grass on the ground. Austin kept his eyes on her the whole time, not able to believe that she was just as beautiful even when she was soaked from head to toe.

Kira cleared her throat. "Where are your attendants, Monsieur?" She asked as she crawled next to Ally. She took in the boy's clothes, similar to the clothing of the workers from her home. Ally seemed startled that her friend reappeared, and was sorry that she had forgotten her.

Austin paused. "I gave them the day off."

Kira stared at Austin with narrowed eyes, but Ally laughed loudly, surprising the two of them. "The day off? From what, their life?"

Austin stared at Ally, feeling a familiar frustration wash over him. "What, do you never get tired of people waiting on you all of the time?" He fired back. Ally looked surprised, and looked to Kira, who still stared at Austin. There was something different about him, something that she couldn't quite place.

"Well yes, but they're servants. That's what they do." Ally replied. She looked a bit confused, but there was a smile on her face from having Austin around. She was so sure that she wouldn't be able to see him again. "I wish I could rid myself of mine as easily as you do yours."

Kira looked at Ally in surprise, but the princess ignored her friend. Austin stared at Ally for a moment, looking like he was in shock, before his pushed his body up and turned the other way. "I have to be going," He apologized. Ally stood up as quickly as she did, and Austin blushed even harder when he saw that she was wearing an underdress.

"I made you angry." She noted. Austin started walking away, and she followed after him. "Admit it."

Austin rolled his eyes, not looking back at her. What happened to the Ally that he had known as a child? This one thought of peasants like they were pieces of furniture, which meant that she felt the same way about him. "Well yes, if you must know."

Ally bit her lip, but hurried behind him. It was easy to keep up to his pace without the long dress on. She realized that Kira hadn't followed, and wondered what her friend was thinking about. "Why?" She asked simply.

Austin shook his head. This was just like the last time. "Because you're trying to bait me with your snobbery," He replied. He had been bonding with Trish and Dez before Mrs. De La Rosa found them and sent Austin to fetch water from the river. He had seen Ally thrashing around, and jumped in to save her. Now, he was wishing that he had planned better.

Ally's eyebrows pulled in together as she stared at the back of Austin's head. "I'm afraid that you're a walking contradiction that I find rather fascinating." She sighed and stopped, rubbing her temples. Austin paused, slowly turning around to face her. "Me?" He echoed. He couldn't believe it.

Ally chuckled softly. "Yes, you. You spout the ideals of a Utopian society, and yet you live the life of a courtier."

Austin was thrown off guard for a moment. "Well, you own all of the land that there is, but you take no pride in working it. Isn't that also a contradiction?"

Ally slapped her hands on the sides of her thighs, and turned her head up towards the sky as though she were speaking to the heavens. "Excellent. First I'm arrogant, and now I have no pride. However did I manage that?" She asked sarcastically.

Austin stared at her cautiously, but continued. "You have everything and your world still has no joy, and you make fun of those who still see its possibilities." He turned to start walking away again, but paused when Ally called out to him.

"How do you do it?" She called out, her voice soft. He turned back around to face her, holding in a sigh. Her wet hair dripped down her back, and he wanted to hug her and warm her up while lecturing her all at once. "What?" He asked.

"How do you live each day with this kind of passion? Do you ever find it exhausting?" Ally asked, looking genuinely confused and interested in his answer. Austin paused, taken off guard by her question. She thought that he lived life with passion? It sure didn't feel that way.

"Only when I'm around you," Austin answered. "Why do you like to irritate me?"

Ally puffed out her chest. "Well, why do you rise to the occasion?" She fired back. He hesitated, staring at her face instead of her wet underdress. He knew that he can see right through the white material, and forced himself to keep his eyes on hers instead. They were big and brown, full of curiosity.

"Austin!" A voice called, snapping Austin out of his thoughts. He couldn't tell who it was, but the voice sounded frustrated. His head snapped back in that direction.

"Uh… forgive me. I lost track of time…" Austin mumbled as he turned to leave. Ally surprised herself by reaching out and grabbing his arm, pulling him back towards her. He almost tripped over his own feet.

"I'm playing tennis tomorrow. Will you come and watch?" She asked boldly, still gripping his arm. Austin's eyes darted down to her chest, before flickering back up to her eyes and back towards the direction of the voice.

"I must go." He apologized, gently pulling his hand out of her grip. She called after him, but he was already running away. She shook her head to herself, feeling foolish as Kira walked up behind her. Her friend stared at Austin as he ran.

"Why does he keep doing that?" She asked, groaning to herself.

I'm sooo excited for this story that it isn't even funny. I've been trying to wait a few days after I post each chapter, but I have too much time on my hands, which means more updates! YES!

Thanks to:

RexLuna: Thank you! And I hope that this is fast enough, lol.

Trying2StayHopeful: Um, alright? Lol, your review was so random. Plus, I love Bemmet, too ;)

ILoveThisStory: Haha, thank you so much! I'm glad that you like it.

ILoveThisStory (Again?): Aw, don't we all. I wish things could be easy for Austin and Ally, and thank you for your reviews!

Bubblegum913: Thank you! And that's good, because I think that I only know how to write long chapters.

LoveShipper: I know! I hate the way that they treat him. Thanks for your review!

Thank you all so much for your reviews! There will be romance coming up soon... and I'm so excited! What do you guys think will happen?