"Sunset herb!" Ro gasped. The animals at the stable showed no sign of waking up.

"I must make the rose tonic to wake them up!" she looked at the greenhouse where she saw the island roses, which could be used as a cure against the poisonous herb.

"I'm sure Prince Antonio would let us use them." Sagi assured.

"I'll go and ask him."

…

"I couldn't ask him, the guards didn't let me in." Ro sighed, worried for the animals.

"That's terrible.." Sagi commented. "But we can't delay this, Ro. The animals need the tonic as soon as possible before they starve to death!"

"You're right, Sagi. Their lives matter more right now than anything. We should get those roses whether the king and queen likes it or not...it's for the best!"

Ro immediately ran to the greenhouse which she had been taking refuge for the past three days in civilization. She plucked the biggest island roses and used their stems and petals mixed with some water to create the tonic.

"There! This should do it…" she looked at the sun, it was already high noon. "Let's hope there's enough."

"To the stables, quick!"

Ro approached the stables and was pleased to see no one around. She knew many wouldn't trust her procedure to cure the animals.

"Hold the pigs, steady…" she whispered. Tika held them as Ro fed them the tonic.

"Hopefully it starts to work soon! In the meantime we must-"

"Hey you!"

Ro froze.

"What business do you have in the Royal stables?!" the stable keeper approached. "I'm sure you and your beasts are the ones spreading this disease!"

"Please, no! We're just trying to help! The animals have been poisoned with sunset herb and I can cure them."

"What nonsense is this! Who would poison them!" the stable keeper glared at the girl, preparing to make her leave the stables.

"Please believe me, the animals, they will-"

Oink, oink!

Ro watched in amazement as she saw the pigs awake from their slumber, gathering everyone's attention. She was surprised that the tonic worked this fast.

The stable keeper watched in disbelief, "How did they-"

"Sunset herb. Trust me. A tonic made from the island roses can cure them!"

"Can you-"

"But wait! First we need to make sure the animals don't eat that food again! It's poisoned!"

"You're right!" The stable keeper rushed to empty the animal's feeding containers. Ro helped.

"Thank you so much." The stable keeper finished emptying the last of the feeding troughs before filling it with new food.

"No problem." Ro checked if the new food was poisoned as well. Luckily it wasn't. "We must make more tonic, there could be more animals poisoned!"

"Actually, all the animals in the kingdom have been reported with the same sleeping sickness… All except yours, however…"

"Hm… I'm not sure why… but that doesn't matter, we need to make more tonic right away!"

"We can't…not at the rate required to feed all the animals by sunset. I must go tell the king!"

"Thank you, please be fast!" Ro felt an overwhelming sense of relief to see that at least someone trusted her here and that the animals in the stable were now awake and fed. However she couldn't stop worrying for the rest of the animals still starving in their sleep. "Tallulah, the horses…"

"Everything alright, Ro?" Sagi asked her. "All the animals should soon be treated with the tonic now that they have proof that we aren't the ones spreading the disease."

"I hope so… but how is it that you three weren't poisoned and the rest of the animals were…?" Her face strained with worry and confusion. "What does this mean…who could do these two all of the animals?"

"Maybe princess Luciana?" Tika suggested.

"What? No, Tika. Why would she ever-"

"Ro!" It was Antonio's voice. He ran to her, with the scientist, Frasier, following him, "You know how to cure the animals?"

"Yes, the island roses can be used to make a tonic."

"Thank goodness" He held her hands in his as he watched the animals in stable move about, like they were never poisoned. "My parents are convinced it was you who spread the disease."

Ro wasn't surprised. "I...um, sorry I had to use roses from the greenhouse to make the tonic. I wanted to ask you first-"

"It's alright." He smiled at her. "You did it to save them."

"Your Highness" Fraiser interrupted, "I need Ro's guidance on how to create the tonic."

"Yes, of course!" Ro walked over to the scientist, she knew this would keep her away from Antonio, but most importantly, the animals needed to be cured fast.

….

By dusk that day, barrels of tonic were produced and distributed to all the animals in the kingdom. The effect was almost instant and luckily no animals had starved to their deaths.

"Thank you, Ro, for coming up with such an effective cure against the herb." The king had invited her to have dinner at the castle tonight, along with his family, to express his gratitude.

"I'm glad I could help."

"I still wonder, who would poison the animals..." the king questioned.

"Who poisoned the animals?" Queen Ariana hit her fists on the table, gathering everyone's attention. "Are you sure this girl didn't purposely poison the animals when she knew the exact cure? Don't you question why her animals were left unpoisoned?"

Everyone remained quiet for a moment as Ariana glared at Ro, and Ro at her, trying to resist the urge to defend herself. She feared if the king would actually believe in Ariana's false claims against her.

"I believe the true criminal shall be revealed through time's progress." Antonio broke the silence, his voice stern. "You may believe Ro had attempted to kill the animals but so far we only know she had pure intentions to save them and not let a single one die."

The king nodded, "I agree. Time shall reveal the true one behind this plot."

Ro was in awe to hear the king and prince speak for her defence against the woman who made her feel unwelcome and inferior the most. For the first time she truly felt like she belonged here. In fact she suddenly felt bold enough to speak up for the first time.

"I think in the meantime it's more important that everyone's food is checked for safety before they are consumed." Ro turned to the king, "Your majesty, you are never sure who the next target is. Today it's your animals. Maybe tomorrow, it's your own people." She gave Ariana a quick glance before returning to the king,

Ariana glared back. Ro couldn't help but smirk at her because it was quite obvious she was the mastermind behind all this.

The king and the queen were both pleasantly surprised to hear the girl speak up, and even more by how regal she sounded like she was never brought up on an island after all. They must have underestimated her more than they thought.

"I agree. With the wedding ceremony expected to commence the day after, I shall see that all food is prepared and served with precautions by the royal cooks." the king responded.

Ro, upon hearing about the wedding, flinched, "The d-day after? It's that soon?"

All eyes went at Ro.

"Why, yes." Ariana smirked at her. "I'd say it actually could have been moved up by one more day!"

Ro felt her face grow hot, she once again embarrassed herself while dining with the royals.

Antonio, forced to sit across the table next to his fiancée, had noticed the sudden discomfort the girl felt when hearing about the wedding date. But if this news saddened her, why didn't she respond to the note he left for her in the greenhouse?

He would have to talk to her.

…

After dinner was over, Antonio invited her to take a stroll with him in the palace gardens. She hesitated at first but accepted.

"Ro, thank you, again."

"Anytime." she smiled. "I'm glad everyone's safe."

"We never had anything like this happen before. Also to have all the animals fall asleep on the same day… doesn't seem like a normal disease spread for me." He tried to distract himself from asking her if she had read the note he had left for her yesterday. "I hope we find out who was behind all this, soon...before that person comes up with any newer and deadlier plans."

"Do you have anyone specific in your mind who could have done this…?" Ro asked.

"My money is on queen Ariana." He chuckled. "This morning she was the one who suggested you and your animals spread the disease. Her logic was that since your animals didn't sleep they must have been the carriers as they are immune themselves. My father was furious and was about to put you into the dungeon!"

"Oh my…" Ro shook her head. "And then she also claimed that I tried to poison them myself and cure them."

The prince laughed, "Yes, I wish my parents could see the obvious as we do."

"I know. Maybe you should tell them."

"Ro, so, last night…did you find my note?"

"What? Your note?"

"Uh, yes. I left a note for you in the greenhouse."

"I didn't find any. What was it you wanted to tell me?"

He sighed, "Ro, I want you to sail away with me."

Ro was in disbelief, "I-"

"Please, Ro. Don't deny it." He grabbed her hands, his voice shaky. "It's you I want to marry, not Princess Luciana. "

Ro shuddered to his touch, her face flaming crimson from his words. He had never been so direct with her. Not until now.

"I've tried convincing my parents enough, Ro. I just don't think it's any use talking to them anymore. Trust me, I had no idea I would get stuck in this mess. I had planned to marry you the moment we'd step in my kingdom." His voice shook with agony as he caressed her cheek, "Let's leave, Ro. Let's leave this place and go somewhere we will never be found. Where we can start over and be happy...together."

Ro stood in silence as he continued, "And besides wanting to be with you and not Princess Luciana, I also don't trust queen Ariana. I don't think aligning our kingdom with hers would be advantageous to our people...especially now that you and I both believe that it was she who had poisoned the animals. Her demeanor is just suspicious to me. My parents would never believe me but Ro…I hope you do. It's for the best. For us and the kingdom."

"I do believe you, Antonio. It's just that…what's going to happen when everyone finds out you're gone? You have a family and-"

"I know…I love them and will miss them, but Ro, it really is for the best. My family and kingdom will be safer if the marriage doesn't happen and Ariana is then forced to leave."

"Will we ever come back?"

Antonio shuddered, "I don't think so…we probably wouldn't be allowed. And not that I want to come back..I don't want to come back to being Prince Antonio, again. I want to start over with my entire life...with you by my side this time."

Ro stood still for a moment or perhaps longer, feeling a plethora of emotions crash and collide inside her mind. She loved him and she would be lying if she said she came back with him to 'just find her family'...she wanted him, too.

Perhaps the words he just said were really true and maybe running away was the best choice. It wasn't and wouldn't by no means be easy but it would be right. To start over again. She took a deep breath.

"Alright."

Antonio's eyes glimmered with relief and excitement as he pulled her close to him, throwing his arms around her, "Thank you, Ro." He whispered to her, "I promise everything will be alright. We can do this."

Ro laid her head on his chest, "I hope so, Antonio. I really hope so..."

…

Later that night they both fled the palace grounds. Ro, with a cold and heavy heart, had decided to leave Sagi, Azul and Tika behind because she knew they would receive better care here. She didn't know how long she and Antonio would have to remain in a ship or where they would ultimately end up at and if that place would be suitable for the animals. It was very hard for Ro to make this decision but sometimes, sacrifices were for the best.

She talked to Sagi and to her luck, he immediately understood and said that he would deliver this message to Tika and Azul at the right time, when they would be ready.

Ro looked at the sleeping Tika and Azul, whispering words of farewell and hoping they would adjust to this new life just fine. She decided it was best not to wake them up and ran away from the greenhouse, tears flooding from her eyes.

Antonio finished packing enough supplies and money for him and Ro and left his crown at his father's desk along with a note under it. He took one last look at his family portrait. His parents, him and his three sisters, all together and happy in each other's presence. He refused to let any tears escape. Everything that was once a reality would now only exist as a distant memory in his mind.

He couldn't believe he was doing this.

Ro couldn't believe she was doing this.

But they couldn't let the feeling of disbelief linger any longer. Time was running out.

Both of them headed towards the back entrance of the castle from where they would make their final escape, as planned.

They managed to get past the guards, thanks to their heavy disguises and capes covering both of their faces. They made their way to the docks and snuck into the first ship they saw, relieved yet anxious of the nature of their upcoming journey.

The ship soon set sail and Antonio watched his kingdom, the place he had called home for all the twenty years of his life fade into the distance. "Goodbye, mother, father. Goodbye, my sisters."

Ro stood beside him, watching the same disheartening view, "Goodbye Sagi. Goodbye Azul. And goodbye...Tika...thank you for everything."

They both found tears falling from both of their eyes as they had to say their farewell to the one and only family they ever knew, for good.

Antonio couldn't imagine the embarrassment his parents would face when they'd find out their son has fled and Ro couldn't imagine how horrified Tika would be to see her gone. In fact, she felt angry. She felt angry at Antonio for ever finding her island but she felt even more angry at herself, "Why did I ever choose to leave the island! I betrayed my family!"

They stood there for almost an hour, trying to take in what they had just done.

"It's getting colder." Antonio broke the silence, "Let's go inside."

The two made their way to the cabin in silence.

Throughout the night they couldn't find sleep nor could sleep find them. They laid still on the bed, griefing and thinking about where this journey would place them in life...now that they're gone.

…

The next morning, news spread across the kingdom as it was found that the crown prince was missing along with the wild girl he found in his voyage. Search parties were sent immediately throughout the kingdom along with ships that sailed south, because the king knew his son would always sail south during all of his travels.

King Peter was furious at the stunt his son played against him and even more at that island girl...for luring his son into his most irresponsible and ignorant act yet.

He thought about what Queen Ariana said before, "are you sure that this girl isn't the one who poisoned the animals when she knew the exact cure?"

When he heard her claim in the dining hall yesterday, it seemed ridiculous...why would she poison the animals just to cure them right after?

But now...it made sense. It made complete sense that she was the one who poisoned the animals because through this act, she knew she would impress everyone and find a way to talk to the prince again...before stealing him away from his throne, his family and his kingdom.

Peter clenched his fists. That girl ruined everything...his family, his reputation and the fate of the kingdom.

Ariana couldn't sleep once she had received the news that the Prince had run away. All her life long plans to get vengeance on king Peter had depended on that marriage between the Prince and her daughter...all her dreams to take what she believed was rightfully hers and to stroll the palace grounds as the queen of Apollonia...all gone to dust because some wild girl stole the prince's heart!

Luciana, despite all the commotion going on around the kingdom found a way to remain calm and collected. In fact, she was secretly pleased. Antonio and Ro reminded her of the adventurous lovers she read about in her books. Those who would give up everything they had possessed for true love. Those who didn't let any social barriers dictate who they should love or not. And of course, she was very happy for herself since she wouldn't have to get married to a man she never loved.

…

It had almost been two weeks and there were no signs of them. The marriage between Antonio and Luciana were eventually called off and Ariana and her daughter returned to their kingdom, much to Ariana's dismay.

Ships were starting to return to deliver the news that the prince's ship was nowhere to be found. One had sailed to Ro's island, the first place the King suspected his son to sail to, along with Ro's animals to return them there (because why would the king even let them live in the Palace when he hates Ro) while also bring back the Prince. The ship returned empty, having only returned the animals.

Tika had a very hard time accepting Ro's departure but she believed she deserved it, for she had purposely tried to get between Ro and the prince's relationship by hiding the note. She understood she was selfish to Ro and understood Ro belonged in the human world, while animals belonged in the wild. Ro's animal trio missed her terribly but were at least happy to be returned to their island home.

However, life in the island was never the same without Ro by their side.

…

The ship Ro and Antonio were on had sailed for a week before stopping at the port of a faraway land. As soon as they dismounted the ship, they got onboard another random ship to minimise their chances of being found. Ship after ship, they had now been sailing for more than two weeks. It was tiring and hectic, especially for Ro as she wasn't used to travelling but Antonio would always calm her in his embrace every night and assure her that everything would be perfect as long as they had each other.

Ro would look into his eyes and notice that behind his optimistic demeanor was a man who was equally as scared, stressed and exhausted. He would try to hide it but some days he couldn't. They would collapse into tears, fall asleep in each other's embrace, dreaming of days where they are walking down a valley, laughing, hand in hand, on a fine spring's afternoon and all their melancholy have long disappeared, now replaced with endless happiness and rejoice.

...

A/N: Yes, that happened. They actually ran away! I'm sorry if you're mad at me but lol I just love experimenting! And honestly, I love all the Ro/Antonio moments going on. In the movie I didn't think their romance was that well written and seemed to end on a very typical note: Prince and Princess get married, they live happily ever after, the end! I want their romance to be more than that..

Sorry if you found any errors! See you next chapter!