DISCLAIMER: ALL AFOREMENTIONED CHARACTERS BELONG TO STEPHENIE MEYER. THIS VERSION OF "SLEEPING BEAUTY" LOOSELY FOLLOWS THE DISNEY PLOT, SO THAT BELONGS TO THE BIG MOUSE. (Although I don't think Mickey would've imagined anything that I'm about to do!)

Arms, hands or legs must not leave the car for the duration of ride. Enjoy!

Chapter Nine: Explanations pt. I

Life as a prince would never be the same again. Since it was monotonous before, Edward of Masen knew that it was bound to be much more interesting. From the gruff answers his father gave his attendants and his heated expression, Prince Edward already understood he would no longer be Anthony of Happiness. In the hour-and-a-half it took to return home and get prepared for supper, his fantasy life had become a loose figment of a dream. He was already beginning to forget the details of the boy's face. What color was his hair? Was it brown? No, it was… It was gone. As the facets of his facial structure continued to fade, it dawned on Prince Edward that he wouldn't even be able to pick him apart in a crowd.

It was like a representation of his fleeting happiness (inside, Prince Edward was beyond the emotion required to feel pride at his poetic analysis). It was wonderful and real and perfect but was torn away only to become a supposed imagining. He couldn't help but feel infuriated at the society that kept him from the thing he wanted most: love. There was a time when he wanted control, but it was only a misunderstood evaluation of his desires. Now that he felt what it was like to be easily accepted without a title or former prejudice, it was everything he didn't know he had. He had love from his father, but King Emmett was a bit forceful with his display. There would always be an impromptu head-lock-maneuver when Prince Edward least expected it. Whether it was in the hall, or on his way to his studies or before meals; King Emmett always made time to demonstrate his affection. But sometimes, the need for someone's full attention became too much. He wanted a person who would love him and only him. He was aware of his father's liaisons with the Good Faerie of Beauty and knew he would always come second when it came to his love.

(Even though Prince Edward had experienced a slight epiphany on this day, he still wasn't any less dramatic.)

It was obvious now what he wanted. And after feeling a glimpse of what it could be like, he realized he would never look at his life the same way again. He wasn't quite sure how, but that remained to be seen after his conference with his father.

His musings kept him quiet as he waited at the long table. Like most evenings, it was just the two of them dining and the places were set modestly since there was no need to impress company. That didn't diminish though, the amount of food set out. It was a small feast every night to satisfy the king's endless hunger.

His father entered without pomp and circumstance and sat next to his son, to his surprise. He usually dined at the opposite head of the table. Prince Edward did not know what to make of this development.

He was caught off-guard when King Emmett started, "You know we must discuss what happened this afternoon." Prince Edward jumped slightly and nodded timidly. "Not only did you disrupt my," he tugged at his collar discreetly, "appointment with a prominent, ah, peacekeeper… But you have broken my trust, Edward. I've never had to worry about your behavior until now. Why would you run away to Forks of all places? You must've known youwould get lost in their forests because you've been taught as such. You have much more to learn when it comes your survival lessons. Was this what it was about? Proving yourself? Because, son, there is nothing to prove. You are the only eligible heir in this realm. With Cullen's prince being gone, our kingdoms need another heir to bridge the gap. You are that heir and you must behave as such. Now, you may speak."

King Emmett picked up his knife to cut into his feast-sized portions. He would eat while his son explained the events of his day. Prince Edward had never thought much of this routine until now. He couldn't even hold his father's attention for a decent reprimand! This thought gave him an idea and he proceeded theatrics of a trained thespian:

"I met someone today in the forest. He is a peasant Faerie and he is what I want to be. I don't want to be a prince any longer." His father paused with his fork halfway to his mouth and, delighted with his notice, Prince Edward continued as melodramatically as possible, "I ran away to escape my life. I hate it and you know this. Why can't you see how I feel? I'm dying inside every day! Let me go and be happy, please?"

King Emmett cracked a smile at his son's antics and shoveled in a sizable cut of bear meat. He spoke through his food, "You can go and frolic in the forests of Forks whenever you want. Hell, you could go live there, I wouldn't stop you. But until the Lost Prince is found, your royal ass stays here. I can't have anything happen to you because you have to outlive me. So, my words of advice are: get used to this life."

With that, the discussion was over and Prince Edward slumped to stare blankly at his plate. He had always loved meat until this moment. It looked as trapped as he felt (this time, he was in a better mood to appreciate his creative metaphor). The browned meat was perfectly cooked and groomed for its audience but was still dead on the inside. As he saw some blood-fluid ooze out as he poked his knife in, he realized for the first time he wouldn't be able to stomach it. He turned instead to the array of vegetables on the table and munched on them in contemplation.

From this day forward, Prince Edward of Masen was setting into work a long-term plan. He would always be strategizing an escape and a way to find Hale. He had more fun this afternoon than he ever had in his life. He would dream of this day fondly and would imagine other ways they could've played.

Distracted, he thought of how they wrestled on the ground. Hale's body was considerably smaller but he was much quicker and hit against a part of his body his governess told him not to touch. At first he thought it would hurt, but it felt…different. It was Good and made him out of breath. He forgot to deflect a parry because of the disorientation; it was like everything in his body tightened like a coil. It was strange but not unwelcome. They collectively stopped and stared. His stared at Hale's face, trying to commit the image to memory because he was so happy. Then Hale pecked his nose with a kiss and the coil suddenly sprang open as did the part his governess told him not to touch. He wasn't sure if he should feel guilty, but he certainly felt embarrassed when he heard his father's voice call his name. He couldn't have Hale know who he really was because he didn't want him to think he was a liar. He wasn't, Prince Edward tried to justify, he only wanted to fit in.

Realizing he had stopped eating and that his private part had sprang back up at the memory, he hastily picked up a large carrot in the hope it would divert his mind to the task at hand: escaping. Crunching on the carrot helped him formulate his thoughts and he arrived at the conclusion that he would have to find the Lost Prince of Cullen. If he ever wanted to get back to the friendship he had this afternoon with his Faerie boy, he knew he had to find the only person that could take his place: Prince Jasper. Perhaps Hale could help him? This gave Prince Edward further motive to devise an escape back to Forks.

In honor of this plan, Prince Edward henceforth decided that he would always push the boundaries where propriety was concerned. He would dress as a peasant at all times to demonstrate his protest of the life he wanted. He knew now how he would see his life differently. From this day forward, his experience with the Faerie boy in the woods was officially an escape from his undesirable world and he would do everything he could to get it back.

That boy is just growing up so fast! He's got his first erection and everything! I'm a proud mama...