Hello loves! I am almost done editing the last chapter I have written for this and, then I will be penning up an epilogue that will tie up all the loose ends. I apologize that I've been taking a while to edit this fic but, I have a lot of ideas running through my mind and often, my editing time gets pushed to the 'end of the line' if you will. Anyway, enjoy the newly edited chapter and be on the look out for edited chapter 7 and the upcoming epilogue, thanks!
Daring had been watching Cerise from across the room for a while now. She had yet to leave this party and well, she had to leave first. They'd come to that agreement via hext message hours ago.
But, he figured that Cerise was probably taking her time and wanted to thoroughly enjoy herself before it came to her and Daring's secret rendezvous.
He hated to be thinking this way but, maybe Cerise was thinking about the agony that would be their secret meet-up.
If they weren't trying to have sex, they would probably end up having awkward conversation the very same way they'd had awkward conversation over the phone earlier.
"You seem upset," Apple walked up to Daring.
"I..." He was snapped back to reality, realizing that he better get that scowl off his face, "that's because I couldn't find you!"
Apple seemed to light up at his explanation and Daring really hoped that he could convince Cerise to claw him across the face later for even having said these words to Apple.
"I went to freshen up with Briar," Apple smiled wide, "Shall we dance?"
Knowing he'd dug his own grave thus far, Daring allowed the over-zealous princess to lead him to the dance floor.
Hunter, Blondie and Maddie were now at the hospital. They had yet to send word out about being here. Ashlynn had been rushed to the emergency ward and Hunter was busy protesting that he didn't need any medical attention.
"Hunter, you have to let them treat you," Blondie insisted.
"I'll heal eventually. Let them worry about Ashlynn!" Hunter countered.
"What kind of hero is an injured one, hm?" Maddie knew to bring up the fact that Ashlynn often gushed about Hunter, calling him her hero.
"I..." Hunter didn't have anything to say to that.
"Hunter Huntsman?" A doctor with a clipboard called his name.
Sighing, Hunter went over to the doctor, realizing that Blondie and Maddie must have written his name down to be seen next.
"Should we send out a hext about what's going on?" Blondie asked.
Maddie nodded, "I think that's best."
The girls hexted the others and could only wait for their responses while Hunter and Ashlynn were being treated by doctors.
The Spring Fling Dance was finally starting to wind down. Songs got slower and party guests were taking leave.
Cerise left with Cedar and that was Daring's cue to make up an excuse to ditch Apple and finally get out of here. Dexter and Raven had slipped out a while ago and Daring wondered if maybe he should have made an exit with them while he'd had the chance.
But, when he was about to go find Apple and leave with a decent and naturally, Charming good-bye, several Mirrorphones went off at the same time.
"Sorry to be a royal pain but, we're going to have to call it a night," Briar was speaking into the microphone that had been lowered from the ceiling once more.
Wondering to himself what was going on, Daring took out his Mirrorphone and looked down to see an urgent hext message from Blondie.
Without wasting any time, Briar had called a taxi carriage. She and everyone who was left then scrambled to clean up what had been the party space.
Dexter, Raven, Cerise and Cedar were going to be meeting the others at the hospital.
This night had started out as a fun-filled affair, what in the world had caused it to suddenly become contaminated and to manifest into a nightmare?
No one wanted to dwell on that —let alone discuss it— but, it was no secret that everyone had their thoughts about why tonight was playing out like this.
However, Daring was still stuck on his and Cerise's secret meeting that hadn't happened. At this rate, their secret rendezvous wouldn't be happening tonight. He sighed and looked out the window on the way to the hospital, remaining quiet.
Apple and Briar huddled together. They were worried for their best friend forever after. Poor Ashlynn...
There weren't many details in the hext from Blondie but, it was still scary to think about Ashlynn being in the hospital.
Cupid had locked her gaze on her phone, wondering if she would get another hext from Blondie or Maddie. Both hexts, while very different, were indeed, scarce when it came to details.
With an audible sigh, Cupid only hoped that love was going to triumph tonight. It had to, some way and somehow.
Ashlynn and Hunter wouldn't lose each other, they couldn't. A love like theirs deserved to last and keep thriving. Or, so she hoped. She looked up and met Briar's gaze to see her rather sleepy friend look away in shame. That looking away was very informative. Even though Briar hadn't meant to, she ended up ditching Hopper very quickly due to the emergency hext.
Not that he wasn't a friend, not that he wasn't a nice guy but, he wasn't exactly part of 'the circle' of the group of them where the Rebels and Royals seemed to find common ground. Yet, she could have asked him to come along, she could have said something instead of just running off like she always did. Briar then started mentally cursing her 'You Only Live Once Upon a Time' mentality. She only hoped that she could have a chance to explain herself once this situation blew over. Though, the idea of this situation blowing over was such a far thought right now.
With no details on how Ashlynn was doing, everyone was clueless and fearing for the worst.
"Oh, they're here!" Blondie jumped up when the rest of the gang started piling into the waiting room.
It appeared that both taxi carriages had arrived at the same time and made this a lot easier for everyone. That was quite the stroke of good luck and on the bright side, if one could find a bright side in the situation currently at hand, everyone was together now.
"Raven!" Maddie rushed to her best friend forever after, "I'm sorry I wasn't at the dance tonight, I meant to..."
"Maddie it's..." Raven was about to tell her that it was alright in not so many word but, she found a better way to put it, "Like you always tell me, don't be a worry flurry. It's okay."
A number of greetings rang out amongst the group. Now that they were indeed, finally together, they could go on and face this situation with strength borrowed from one another.
"Any info on Ashlynn?" Briar was the first to ask.
Blondie and Maddie shook their heads no.
"What about Hunter?" Dexter asked.
As if on cue, the afore mentioned Huntsman began walking towards the group of his friends. They would have all run at him and given him a group hug but, his one arm was not only in a cast but, also in a sling. He looked pretty banged up in addition to that.
"I'm okay, really," Hunter walked over to his friends, insistent as ever.
The group spread out and took seats in the waiting room. However, knowing that they were going to be here a while, it was suggested that they should get something to eat and drink. Maddie, Cupid, Cedar and Briar went off in search of drinks and snacks while the others remained in the waiting room with Hunter.
"Hunter, I..." Blondie's voice trailed off as the doctor from before entered the waiting room anew and stopped a few feet away from the group.
"Mr. Huntsman, may I have a word with you?" The doctor gestured for Hunter to come over to him.
The group looked on as Hunter walked over to the doctor. When Hunter all but threw himself to the ground, his friends jumped up from where they sat.
With his good hand, Hunter motioned for them to sit back down and albeit in a whisper, he repeated what the doctor had said to him.
Everyone's faces fell at his words. They didn't want to believe it. The world seemed to freeze in this moment. The only movement that took place right now was an of exchanging looks of sadness from one friend to another.
"Miss Ella is stable. You may see her, Mr. Huntsman," The doctor spoke again and began leading Hunter to Ashlynn's room.
Ashlynn's eyes opened slowly, her vision was blurry. The last thing she remembered was that altercation with Duchess and that book, then she blacked out. Her eyes re-focused and she saw a very sad Hunter looking down at her.
"H-Hunter?" Ashlynn asked, she was confused and still felt groggy, as if she needed to go back to sleep because having been out cold for a time sure wasn't the way to get a restful sleep.
"Ash!" Hunter knelt down and held Ashlynn's hand that wasn't hooked up to the IV. He did his best to hug her while she was still laying down.
"Wha...What happened?" She then dared ask, "Is the baby okay?"
The way Hunter started to shake said it all. He wanted not to cry, to stay strong for Ashlynn but, her question did it. He hugged her tight as best he could in this position.
"Hunter?" Ashlynn felt the tears swimming in her eyes.
"I can't believe this," Raven looked down at the ground.
Dexter grabbed one of her hands and squeezed it tight, "I know. None of us want to."
Then, as expected Apple opened her mouth, "I think it was destiny. This serves as more proof as to why Royals and Rebels should never mix. No offense, you two. But, because Ashlynn has chosen to deny her destiny and predetermined prince, the universe decided to punish her like this."
"Apple!" Daring was even surprised by the princess' remark.
"Don't act like you're not all thinking it," Apple retorted.
"We're not!" Raven fired back, "Apple, we have no idea what Ashlynn and Hunter are going through right now, especially not what Ashlynn is experiencing. None of us have any right to try and dismiss the fact that Ashlynn is going through unimaginable pain right now."
Blondie remained silent and was capturing all of this on her Mirrorpad. She certainly wasn't going to broadcast this. However, she figured it was smart to record this, if only to show Apple how un-royal she was acting at a later time.
Cerise was hiding under her hood and squeezing the handles of the chair she was sitting in order to keep from springing up, pouncing Apple and tackling her to the ground. The events that had taken place tonight were starting to hit a little too close to home for Cerise's liking.
"Raven, I love Ashlynn. She's one of my best friends forever after. I was worried about her and look at how she ended up. I was right to worry. She made a bad choice and this is what it got her."
"So, you think it's wrong for someone to listen to their true heart?" Raven questioned.
"No, it's perfectly acceptable to listen to your true heart. As long it aligns with your destiny, of course," Apple wouldn't stop.
"You're wrong, Apple. If you're so concerned about falling in line with your destiny like a little soldier then, you're not listening to your true heart in the first place. Destiny may be one thing but, I really doubt that any of our destinies are paved in gold and don't have their rough patches," Raven was over Apple and her ranting about blindly following destiny.
Cerise had heard enough of this, got up from where she sat, and started for outside.
"Cerise, wait!" Daring went after her.
"I think we all need some air," Dexter squeezed Raven's hand as a signal to stand up and they walked away.
Apple frowned as most of the group exited and she was left alone with Blondie.
"I wasn't being that unreasonable, was I?" She turned to look at Blondie.
The other blonde sighed, got up from where she sat with her Mirrorpad and then placed the Mirrorpad in Apple's lap.
"Press play when you're ready...That should answer your question," Blondie walked away from her, getting some air was sure the way to go.
"Uh...what just happened?" Briar returned with Maddie, Cupid and Cedar.
"Cerise, slow down," Daring picked up his pace, "You're making it very difficult to keep up with!"
Rather than turn back to look at him, Cerise only mumbled something along the lines of 'good' and continued on.
"Please, slow down?" The prince begged, not being in the mood for a chase right now.
"And why should I?" She still refused to turn around.
Something inside Daring sparked. He wasn't quite sure if it was adrenaline or pain coming from thinking that he was about to lose Cerise but, he somehow sped up and managed to hug her from behind and held onto her tightly.
"Because, I shouldn't have to chase you if we belong to each other," He whispered.
"Daring..." Her voice trailed off.
Cerise was going to tell him to get off of her, to let go of her and then threaten to bite him or something. Of course, Daring was pretty into being bitten by Cerise so, maybe she would have left out that last part. But, the minute Daring had embraced her, all of Cerise's anger melted.
As much as Cerise didn't like to go down without a fight, Daring had a point. They belonged to each other and they should start acting like it.
"Yes, Cerise?" Daring spoke again.
"Should we go back?" She wondered aloud.
"Not just yet," He spun her around, dipped her and kissed her.
Dexter and Raven had found themselves a spot not too far from the hospital. They were under a big oak tree, cuddled up close together. The bespectacled prince was running his hand through Raven's hair while he held her.
He kept trying to come up with something to say. He wanted to find words that might provide some kind of comfort but, simply holding Raven was proving to do that.
Both Dexter and Raven felt for Hunter and Ashlynn. They had no idea what it could possibly be like to have lost a child but, they understood the Rebel and Royal conflict.
Sure, maybe Ashlynn and Dexter went to so far as to declare themselves Rebels to make being with their significant other easier but, it still didn't get rid of the haters, nay-sayers and the judging looks from wandering eyes in the halls at school.
Why was love being persecuted? What did it matter that love had been found between stories that originally weren't meant to crossover? They had found something real and had every right to pursue their feelings.
Sighing, Dexter thought that maybe everyone ought to have a sit down with Cupid. She would know how to move next, wouldn't she? And if she didn't, there was a possibility that her father knew, wasn't there?
After the ultimately somber end to the night, Dexter felt that hope was all that was left to hold onto and no matter what, he was going to cling to that hope.
Ashlynn sat up in her hospital bed and looked down. She curled her knees to her chest, she had almost forgotten what that was like.
Luckily, assuming that luck was even present at this point, Duchess hadn't been the one that attacked Ashlynn. It had been Headmaster Grimm who had summoned that monster from the book. On top of that, Grimm had used a spell to look like Duchess. Thankfully, Ashlynn was right in thinking that Duchess herself couldn't be completely heartless and hadn't been her attacker after all.
Hunter was on the other side of the room now. He was watching Ashlynn. She asked him to please let go of her a few minutes ago so that she could sit up and move around some.
"Ash?" Hunter broke the silence that had fallen upon the room.
Ashlynn's emerald orbs met Hunter's light brown ones, the usual brightness and energetic bounce that was usually present in the eyes of the strawberry blonde princess was missing. She waited for her hero to speak again.
"How are you feeling?" He looked at the ground as these words left his mouth, he more wanted confirmation that Ashlynn was comfortable for the most part or would have settled to hear some semblance of her voice, even if she didn't answer him with words.
She lay back down in the hospital bed and closed her eyes. She didn't expect to sleep, what with the fact that there would be no Rose and no Dylan because he or she was gone…forever.
Rather than make Hunter feel worse and not respond to his question, Ashlynn decided to offer some kind of reply.
"...empty," Her voice was a low whisper, dry and devoid of hope.
A/N: We have now come to the end of this edited chapter. Thanks so much for reading and being patient with me. I hope what's to come will live up to everyone's expectations and, I am indeed, hard at work on my other fics. Hope you had a pleasant experience reading!