I don't own Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy, Ant-man and the Wasp, and any of the video game characters that will be mentioned in this story. Okay so sorry for not putting this up so soon but I had to look over some of the things in this chapter before I posted it. Anyway I've been busy with work, doing the other stories, and doing other chapters for this story. I hope everyone will have a good Halloween since it's coming up soon, and I'm going to put up the other chapters that I have for this one right now. So it will go after one after the other, but I really hope you all like this. Also like before please leave a comment/suggestion I really do like hearing from you guys, and so now on with the story.

Chapter Twelve: Two people meet in the Forest

In the back of the cottage and into the woods

Pepper went straight to the horse that was tan with a white heart spot over its eye as she got on it. Pepper turned the horse around and went straight for the woods not even looking back at the cottage that she once called it home. Pepper cried as the horse galloped through the woods hoping no one would ever find her. As they went through the path were the trees never hit them Pepper looked up to see a stag in front of them as she cried out "Whoa stop Love, stop" the horse stopped in front of the stag as Pepper looked at the beautiful creature as she said "Don't worry I won't hurt you".

The stag only looked at her kindly as it went up to Pepper giving her a nod to let her know that she was no threat to him. As then Pepper heard horses in the distance as she became worried as she looked at the stag while saying "Go, you need to go Mr. Stag. You must go, run away from here before they catch you" with only a nod to Pepper the stag ran in the different direction that the horses were coming from. Pepper smiled knowing that she stopped the royal guards from killing the stag. As then there in the distance was a burgundy horse with white mane but a handsome young man was sitting on the horse riding him very fast with another horse behind him with a black man riding behind him.

Pepper yelled out "Stop, stop hunting that stag!"

Tony stopped his horse Ironman as he looked around to see a beautiful young lady sitting on a tan horse with light yellow mane with a heart patch over its one eye. James had finally catch up to Tony as he said "Well I guess you win this time your highness" as Tony hushed him by saying "Don't call me that, just say I'm apprentice." James looked at him weird as Tony whispered again "Just trust me on this okay" James nodded as both Tony and him had their horses go up to the beautiful young lady and her horse.

Tony had Ironman go up to her as he said "Hello what are you doing out here all by yourself?"

Pepper looked at him as she spoke out accusing him with "Why would you hurt the stag! The stag didn't do anything to you" Tony looked at her oddly for a second then looked at James as James could only shrug as he turned back looking at Pepper as then it hit him as he laughed nervously. Pepper wasn't going to have any of it as she said "That isn't funny it's an animal that lives and breathes! And you want to" Tony stopped her by saying "Oh no I didn't mean to make it sound like that."

Pepper looked at him oddly as he continued "I wasn't hunting the stag, I was racing with my friend here" Tony gestured to James as the knight only nodded as Pepper couldn't help it but blush at the fact that she had gotten it all wrong. Tony smiled as he said "I hope that the stag is okay though" Pepper smiled as she said "Oh yes he's safe."

Tony had his horse go around her as he said "Do you live far or is it close" Pepper sighed as she said "Yes, but I don't" Tony looked at her sadly as he said "Do they force you to do things that you don't want to do? I know how that feels" Pepper looked at him with a bright smile as she chimed out "You do".

Tony smiled as he said "Well yeah something like that. . . . . I'm always doing what I'm told" Pepper chimed even more by saying "Are you an apprentice to the royal family?

Tony gave a nervous grin as he said "Well yes I am" as Pepper had her horse get close to him as she said "I think that is wonderful to know that you are learning things from the royal family, but I bet they use you all the time." Tony gave off a shy smile as James went up to him while whispering "Tony we have to go now, the royal guards is coming. Your father must have sent them" Tony looked in the other direction to see that James was right as the royal guards were calling his name. Tony looked back at Pepper as he said "Look I have to go, but I want to see you again."

Pepper looked around unsure at first as she said "Oh I don't know I mean we just met and I don't know your name fair sir."

Tony gave a genuine smile as he said "My name is Tony Star. . . . I mean just Tony I don't have a last name, and you?"

Pepper blushed as she was about to say her name both of them heard the royal guards getting closer as Tony said "No don't tell me your name. . . . . Just meet me back here tomorrow right here at this very place and we'll call it a date okay." Pepper could only nod as Tony became excited as he said "Yes okay then I'll see you then" Pepper smile as she said "Until then."

Tony gave off a goofy smile as he and James went in the direction of where the guards were coming as Pepper had no choice but to go back to the house that made her into a servant.

Back at the castle

Tony was at the stables putting his horse Ironman in the horse's stall as James went up to him after he put his away. James whispered "What are you going to tell you parents about this? I mean you just met this woman in the forest" Tony looked at his friend as he said "Look I don't want to tell them anything, so please don't tell them about what just happened yet." James only nodded as one of the guards came into the stables as he said "Sir King Stark, and Queen Stark wants a word with you right away" Tony sighed as his horse made a noise that made Tony smile as he petted his horse as he whispered to it "You said it buddy" the horse nuzzled his neck as he giggled at the feel of the horse. Tony looked at the guard as he said "I'll be there in a minute" the guard nodded then left as both of the men laughed as they continued to take care of their horses before they left.

Tony went back with James behind him as they headed back to the castle; went to the main lobby of the castle, but only to have Tony's parents in front of him. Howard yelled out "Where have you been young man! Your mother and I have been worried sick about you" Tony sighed as he said "I went riding with James Rhodes that is all. Happy" Maria smiled as Howard gave off an 'I'm mad at you for making us worried sick about you' but Tony only looked at Maria as she said "I'm glad you went riding, did you meet anyone."

Tony blushed as James smiled out "Oh yes he did, a beautiful maiden with the most beautiful horse that she was riding on. I swear Ironman was going to hump that poor horse" Tony punched James playfully as he said "Dude stop you know that isn't what happened" James laughed out "Yeah but you didn't see the look on your horse's face because you were too busy with the beautiful maiden that was in front of you." Maria gave off a gleeful smile as Howard yelled out "You will not go see this person ever again!"

Tony looked at his father as he yelled out "Why not! I just met her and I want to see her again" Howard went up to Tony as he put his hand on his shoulder as he said "Is she a princess?" Tony looked away from his father to only look at his mother as he said "Well I don't know, but I do know that I have feelings for her. Isn't it a enough" Howard yelled back "No that isn't okay young man you need to find a princess so that way you won't be alone when your mother and I pass away." Tony turned back to his father as he yelled back "You'll never understand, and you never will" as then both Howard, Maria, and James watched Tony stomped away from his parents and to his room.

James shook his head in a no motion as he walked away from them leaving the King and Queen Starks alone. Howard sighed as he said "Well that went well" Maria looked at her husband as she said "Why would it be so bad if he falls in love with a commoner? If this person makes him happy then why should we degrade him of that?"

Howard huffed as he walked up to his wife as he looked at her in the eyes as he yelled out "He's a prince and princes are supposed to marry a princess! What would you have me do let him do what he wants! He's our son and he needs to grow up" Maria looked at her husband with a sad smile as she sighed as Howard said "What!"

"You don't get it do you, as I recall you were young once and you fell in love with Princess Peggy before you married me. As I recall you didn't want to marry me but you did because you felt as though you didn't have choice. You've always reminded me every single time but then when we had Tony you've been letting him know that he's a prince his whole life like he was programed to do things that you wanted him to do. I for one am happy that he has found someone to fall in love with and he will see this lady!"

Howard yelled out "No he will not, I want him to meet with Princess Lilly of the Northern seas" Maria walked up to Howard and slapped him in the face as she said "You know that you're lucky that I didn't divorce you" then walked away from him. Howard sighed as then the duke came up to the king as he said "You know your highness if you want I'll have a word with your son."

"No I'll let him cool off for a bit Obadiah but thank you though" said Howard as Obadiah nodded then walked away from the king leaving him to think for a while. Obadiah made sure that no one was near him as he pulled out an envelope and then pulled the letter that read:

Dear Duke Obadiah Stane,

I hope that our agreement is in order of having Prince Tony Stark to marry my daughter Princess Ann of Winterstar. I don't want my daughter to be upset to find out that prince is betrothed to another, and if he is then I want your head on a spike. But I know you don't want that so I know you'll do the right thing and make sure that the prince will see my daughter at once. We will come soon to see the King Stark's kingdom along with the queen and the young prince. I know that you won't fail me, but just remember who you are talking to when we meet.

Sincerely,

King Thomas of Winterstar

Obadiah sighed as he looked back to where the king was as he thought 'I'm going to have to tell him about the king and princess of Winterstar. Maybe he'll like the idea of Prince Tony wanting to marry the princess.' Then continued walking in the different direction of where he needed to go.

At the cottage

Pepper got off of Love as she put her horse in her stable as Anastasia ran up to her as she said "You really need to come quick, I think my mother and sister are going through your things." Pepper then ran into the house with Anastasia in toe with minutes to spear as Pepper noticed that her step-mother was holding a necklace that Tony had given to her. Pepper cried out "What are you doing with that necklace! That doesn't belong to you give it back" as Pepper went up to Lady Tremaine the evil step-mother smacked her across the face making Pepper fall to the floor looking up at the evil woman.

Lady Tremaine yelled out "Where did you get this! Did you steal this from the royal family?"

Pepper shook her head as she cried out "No I. . . . . It belongs to my mother and she left it to me. Please just give it back" but Drisella just laughed as she kicked Pepper on the side making Pepper hunched over in pain while Anastasia ran over to Pepper helping her up. Anastasia looked at her sister and her mother with such anger while saying "Why, why are you hitting and kicking Pepper when she's down! I for one believe that necklace belongs to her and that we should give that back to her. She's our sister too and we should be a family not like this!"

Lady Tremaine looked at Anastasia as she yelled at her "You are my daughter and if I want you to be nasty to your step-sister Pepper then you will! Now get up stairs and stay in your room" Anastasia looked back a Pepper as she mouthed out 'Sorry Pepper' and did what Lady Tremaine said and went up the stairs to her room that was Pepper's room.

Pepper looked up at her step-mother as Lady Tremaine put the necklace in her pocket as she looked at Pepper as she said "You will never get this back, Drisella and I will give this back to the royal family where it belongs you little thief! Once we do that hopefully the king and queen of the kingdom of Stark will be kind in their action. As for you Cinderella you will clean the kitchen, our bedrooms, the bathrooms, the main lobby, the laundry, and everything else. Feed the animals, and clean my cat Pussy" the cat hissed at Pepper as she could only nod. Lady Tremaine and Drisella walked out of the room leaving Pepper alone to do her work that she had to do today.

Pepper got up wiping the tears from her face and got to work of the day. Pepper cleaned everything in site; the lobby of the cottage, the bathrooms, their bedrooms, had done the laundry, and did the kitchen as well cleaning the dishes from the sink. Pepper sighed as she even took the cat and cleaned him as best as she could while the cat just scratched and clawed at her. After getting everything done Pepper went out of the kitchen and was about to go up into the attic where she was supposed to go sleep in. Pepper felt a cold breeze coming from the attic so she went back to the firer place to sleep and to keep warm.

As Pepper was about to head back Anastasia had appeared in front of her as Anastasia gave her step-sister a hug as she whispered "I'm sorry that had happened to you. I didn't think that they would do that to you, and I just wish I could do something."

Pepper thought for only a seconded then let Anastasia step back for the hugging that she gave her as Pepper said "Maybe you can, see I want to go see this guy I met in the woods today. And if you could keep Lady Tremaine and Drisella away from the cottage so that way I can go see him. It won't take me long he wants to see me too and well" Anastasia giggled as she replied back with "Oh I knew it that had to be what it was because when you came back you had a smile on your face as if the sun was shown upon you. Well I'll see what I can do but I can't make any promises" Pepper smiled as she whispered "Thank you and goodnight Anastasia".

Anastasia said "Goodnight Pepper and sweet dreams" then Anastasia went back up the stairs to go to bed leaving Pepper where she needed to go and that was the kitchen where the firer place was at. Pepper lay down on the firer place next to the ambers letting the heat warm her and feeling a little safe.

Pepper let her eyes closed as sleep had taken over her as she laid there next to the firer place dreaming of the handsome apprentice Tony and that she would see him again the next day.