A/N: No, this chapter isn't an April Fools' Day joke like the one-shot I posted earlier! Now, I get to write about the character I kin from the main cast: Ally!

And curse you Google Docs for lagging as I wrote this chapter!

Prince Austin moaned, regaining consciousness as he propelled his aching body up. Why… was it so dark down there? Then the events of the past few hours came back to him- the wedding, the old woman, the wishing well! His head ached just with the memory of it.

Somewhere, there was a small hole of light piercing through the blackness. Gingerly, he poked at the light source. It moved by a crack and more light filtered through. Now more reassured, he pushed aside the lid and propelled upwards.

Once he finally freed himself, he looked around to observe his new surroundings. There were tall towers with blaring lights and metal beasts roaming the street recklessly. Rather than grass and dirt, he was standing on… concrete.

He didn't know where he was but he was definitely not in Lunaria right now, navigating the odd world.

A loud honk made the prince come back to his surroundings.

"OI! Watch where you're going, will ya?"

"Oops… sorry…" and with that, he took off in an attempt to find his way back to his love and his home…

Today was the strangest day of Ally Dawson's life.

It had all started out like any other day: wake up, get ready for work, drop Lizzie off at school, drive to Marino Middle School and teach the children music. That was when it all went haywire from there.

The harsh shrill of the school bell alerted the students and faculty that it was the end of another day.

"Alright, class! Tomorrow, you will turn in your essays about your assigned songs and present your projects to the entire class!"

Ally smiled at the students and bid them farewell for the day as they dashed out like cheetah hunting after prey. As the last of the students left the music room, the music teacher felt a sharp pang in her head. She moaned softly, massaging her temples as she sat on the piano bench. The doctors warned her that this was one of the few side effects of the medication.

She took out a bottle of water. As the cool liquid entered her throat, she felt her headache begin to subside. After a moment, she decided to do her work. The sooner, the better. However, just when she logged into her email, someone burst through the door with the speed that could rival The Flash.

"Ally! ALLY!" a voice cried out desperately. Slightly annoyed that she was disrupted, Ally looked up to see the school's drama teacher, Dez. He was known for his rather… eccentric fashion choices and sayings. However, none argued that his vision and passion for the performing arts could be rivaled.

"Um… Dez? What's so important to the point where you drag me away from trying to wrap up all the things I'm doing?" she cocked her head in confusion before noticing his distraught expression.

"The accompanist for the school musical just called in sick for a week! You're the only person I know who can play the piano and sing at the same time!"

Ally thought for a moment. Dez wasn't wrong about his statements. She was passionate about helping people and music the way he was about theatre in general. She shouldn't have been surprised if she were the first person he'd find on last-minute notice.

But the offer was all too sudden and she already had a lot on her plate. Taking care of Lizzie, managing homework assignments, planning out classes, checking up on the progress of her students, making time for her new boyfriend… She had many things on her shoulders and couldn't stop for a break.

As she was about to turn down the invitation, Dez pouted and used puppy dog eyes on her. Ally sighed in resignment before finally answering "Alright. I'll do it."

"Yay!" he jumped up and down like a kangaroo, she raised her hands, trying to calm him down "Whoa, tiger! Calm down before you break the floors!"

She stepped outside, hoping a little time in the cold January air could clear her mind. Ally clung to the neatly-wrapped gift, hoping that it could make up for lack of quality time together recently. And with that, she made her journey to the car park…

"You got me a… book?" Lizzie inspected it with a raised eyebrow as if it were an alien.

"Yes!" Ally squealed excitedly, bouncing in her seat as the waiter looked at her with confusion while clearing up the table. Realizing all eyes were on her, she coughed and fidgeted in her seat.

"Oh, don't be so glum…" she reassured her daughter, noticing her crestfallen expression "I know it's not the fairy tale book you're eying but… this is even better!"

The woman flipped to a page in the book "Look! Here's a clever one! Katherine Johnson."

She turned another page, revealing another practical woman "Oh! Ruth Bader Ginsburg's in here too!"

Lizzie gaped at it, unsure of how to respond to the book. Ally felt a sharp pang of guilt in her stomach but it was for the best. She had to prepare her daughter for the real world. A world of disappointment and monotone colours. After all, she didn't want Lizzie to end up like her. Being a useless, crying wreck who had believed in fairy tales once but only for the things she loved to be snatched from her.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a phone call. She picked up her cell phone and saw the caller.

"Hold on for a moment," Ally held her hand up in front of her daughter before responding "Hey, Dallas!"

"Hey, Ally! So I was wondering… if I can come over to say something tomorrow!"

"Oh," Ally blushed like a tomato "Of course! Can 7:30 work?"

"Yeah! I can do that."

"Great, see you then!" and with that, she hung up the phone. She looked at Lizzie before smiling at her "It's Dallas."

There was a silence between the two before the little girl nodded "Mm-hmm."

"Uh-huh," Ally awkwardly answered before finally finding what she wanted to say "He's… coming over tomorrow morning,"

"What?" Lizzie asked in shock.

"You like him, don't you?"

"What's going to happen?"

"Well, if I'm lucky, he and I might get married, and… you'll have a dad!" she tried to explain as simply as she could.

"Do I have to give up my bedroom?" Lizzie pouted, worry and fear in her eyes.

"No, no! You don't have to!" Ally reassured with a sad smile "I promise everything will be alright… It's not like he's attempting to replace your father…"

"You mean, he's going to be my step-dad."

"Right! And unlike those fairy tales, he'll be a good dad." Ally took her daughter's hand gingerly and looked her in the eye, making a silent promise between the two.

To say that Austin found his way back by now would be a complete and utter lie. He was wandering around the streets aimlessly (after a few angry shouts and complaints from the subjects), cold and tired as his legs ached from endless walking.

At last, he stumbled upon a small building and looked up at the neon sign, resembling a palace…

"Your payment, miss?" the cashier asked, tapping his fingers against the table.

"Oh, right!" Ally fished through her wallet, taking out a few dollar notes just moments before the weirdest thing happened to her.

"Mommy, why is there a prince on the castle billboard?" Lizzie's voice was filled with wonder and excitement.

"Oh, that? It's just an advertisement for the upcoming Renaissance fair!" she dismissed quickly, not looking behind.

"He's really there!" And with that, the little girl dashed out of the diner.

"Wait! What are you doing here?" the woman angrily asked before looking at the man "Keep the change. I've got a daughter to catch!"

Ally took chase as she called out in a mix of worry and anger "Lizzie! Lizzie! Elizabeth Brunhilde Dawson! Stop this instant!"

At last, she caught up with her daughter and grabbed her, squatting down to face the latter with a stern glare "Thank God you're alright! Don't do that to me again!"

"Look!" she pointed up and Ally looked in that direction. In fact, Lizzie was right! There was a man on the billboard, calling for help. Immediately, she whipped out her cell phone and dialed 911.

"Erm. Hello? 911? Yes. There's a man stuck on a billboard! Where am I? Well, it's…"

"Hello? Is anyone there?" Austin knocked desperately on the door. It was already dark and he needed somewhere to sleep and he felt his teeth begin to chatter and his body shaking feverishly "I-I'm Prince Austin of L-Lu-Lunaria! I w-was s-s-s-separated fr-fr-from my tr-true love, my f-fa-family, and my kingdom a-a-aft-after an st-st-strange series of e-e-e-events!"

There was no response at all. He sighed in frustration, muttering to himself "This is the last time I fall down a wish-"

However, before he could finish his sentence, the prince lost his footing and felt himself plummeting down the building…

Before Ally could finish relaying the address, she saw the man lose his footing and falling down.

"Hang on!" she called out, stretching out her arms and running aimlessly as she tried to catch him. When he fell into her arms, she struggled to carry the stranger before finally putting him down on his feet.

"Oh, um… Thank you," he finally spoke up after a moment of silence. Ally now had a good look at the man.

"Oh, well… you're welcome, I guess?" Ally found herself blushing before her face became serious "By the way, what exactly were you doing up there?"

"Oh, right! Erm…" the stranger quickly bowed down to her "I am Prince Austin of Lunaria, I am grateful for your deed, fellow subject of this strange kingdom!"

"Lunaria? Fellow subject? Strange kingdom?" the woman raised her eyebrow in confusion "Erm… well, welcome to New York?"

There was a beat "New York?" He blinked at her, confusion in his eyes "I don't remember seeing a 'New York' on the maps back home…"

The sounds of thunder began to rumble across the sky before Ally finally spoke up "Maybe we can talk about this on the way."