Disclaimer: Don't own it. Why would you even ask?

A/N Hey every1! Thanx for ur reviews! Glad u liked it!

Oh, guess what guess what guess what! I planted a part in my very first high school musical! YAY! I'm a freshman, doncha know? I got Lady In Waiting, which isn't a very big part, but I AM on stage almost the whole time! AND there were some sophomores and juniors who didn't even make it! Aren't u all happy for me? I know you are, right? RIGHT? Well, anyhoo, my best guy buddy, Erik, got King Sextimus! Lol Don't u just LOVE the King's name? Yeah, he gets to GOOSE people! Tehehe…and as his wife, Queen Aggravaine would say: Go out GROPING in the middle of the night! HAHAHA! This is one of the best plays ever! Lol Not to mention…perverted…lol believe me… the name "King Sextimus" isn't the only thing in there that brings certain things to mind…haha…I like my new Drama teacher. He's kewl. Wow, really of topic…sry. Nehoo, I could go on bout it for an entire like 3 pages, but I'm not gonna do that…Tehehe K. Well, bye now!

Sara: You were my very first reviewer for this story! That person has a very large, role, you know! Lucky You! Tehe J/K

Nakhti: King Joshua? Of course there was a King Joshua! He was right after King Richard, of course! Tehe. Ooh, you are ingenious! You saw right through that, didn't you? Yes! Jonathan IS Joshua. I noticed how there was no reference to him having been in Egyptian times with everyone else, and I didn't find that to be very fair. So, I gave ol' Johnny Boy a part in this story…true, his character is greedy and even a complete brat—but don't tell me you don't see how that could add up to be Jonathan! Lol…he DOES, after all, have each of those qualities. Great Bond impression, by the way:-)

Kay: I like the two a lot too! Glad to know we have something in common! ;-)

Toni Isis: My, I have TWO genius reviewers for this story! Yes, Rowan is Rick, Joshua is Jonathan, and Emma is Evie…but there are more characters to come, so do hang on!

Chapter 1:

"Well, that was very nice of you to do, Princess." Rowan stated after they were outside. "I'll just be on my way now."

He didn't even get the chance to think about turning around because Emma started talking right away. "What do you mean? You can't just leave."

"And why not? Many other people are leaving to get away from our King. Why can't I?"

Emma was quiet for a moment. She wasn't sure if what she was about to say would make any sense at all, but she said it anyway.

"You are Rowan of Locksley, are you not?"

"Yes, I am. What's your point?"

"Your family name is legendary."

"What are you talking about?"

"Oh, everyone knows the story! The infamous Robin Hood who saved this place over twenty-five years ago by killing off my evil Uncle John along with his crazy taxes. My father told me of him years ago when I was just a child."

"Yeah. My father was a legend, but for what? He saved this place, yes, but his time of praise only lasted for about one day. Then he went on living a normal life just like everyone else, and even died just eleven years after his days of glory."

"Why wouldn't you want to continue the glory of that name, sir?" Lionel asked, just as confused as Emma was.

"Why would I?" He got no answer and with that turned around to walk away.

"I saved you form being one of the many men who have spent years of their lives in that wretched place, and you don't feel that even the slightest bit of debt owed to me?"

"Maybe I do, but I'm not going to try to save this whole damned place for that."

"Please, Rowan. Heroism is in your blood. And think of your mother. I know she's still alive, but she might not be for long if no one's here to save her." Lionel said, trying to convince him of what he already knew was right to do.

"My mother sent me away, wanting me to leave while I could and make something of myself elsewhere."

"Why not make something of yourself here?" The Princess asked, her eyes pleading with him.

Rowan sighed and thought for a long moment. Maybe they were right. He couldn't leave his home to become trash. But, he didn't want to stay. Or did he? Maybe he really did have "heroism" in his blood. It apparently could travel that way because the more he thought on the situation, the more he came to realize that saving this place was what he needed to do.

"You're right. I can't leave this place. But as far as saving it, I don't know where to start."

"We'll help, right Lionel?"

"Wait a minute, dear Princess. I'm not sure about that…"

"Why not?"

"Why would you want to help me defeat your brother?"

"I'm against him and everything he's for. He's the one who put Lionel in jail for something he knows he didn't do. And…I think… I think he even poisoned my father." At that, she cast her eyes down.

"Highness, what makes you think that?" Lionel asked her. He knew Joshua was evil, but he never would have suspected him of such a thing.

"I have my reasons." She told him plainly, wanting desperately to change the subject.

"But, you're…" Rowan tried to break to her why she wouldn't be of any use easily, but the words didn't come to mind. "You're…you can't…"

"What? You think I'm useless, is that it?"

"I didn't say that, but…"

"Well, you're wrong." She pursed her lips and put her hands on her hips. "I'll have you know that I've been trained in the arts of swordsmanship and archery since I was a young child."

"Oh."

"Yes, oh." She glared at him, fuming mad, and Rowan held up his arms in a fashion that said, 'sorry'.

"So, do we have a deal?"

"Sure."

"Good."

&&&&

They walked the semi-long distance to Sherwood Forest and when they got there, they were starting to see the old tree houses that were probably abandoned by now.

"So, this is where he hid out?" Emma asked, not to anyone in particular.

"I can't believe he stayed here all those years ago." Rowan said, in awe at how his father could have actually helped build all of this. He had never seen a side to him like this before. He had always just been…his dad. But now, it seemed like his father's life really did have more meaning somehow, although he wasn't even far into it all yet.

They were nearing the very middle of the little forest neighborhood now, and walked on.

"So, you're going to stay here, then, Rowan?"

"I don't have a choice, now do I?"

"You aren't blaming that one me, are y—OOOH!" Suddenly, as they reached the middle, Emma was ripped up off of her feet by a rope and now hung upside down with her head just about 2 feet from the ground. "WHAT IS GOING ON?" She yelled out, dangling from a high tree branch with her dress trying ominously to fall past her head. She held on to it, though, with her arms as she screamed, keeping it from revealing everything, but not doing the best of jobs.

Rowan stood eyes wide for one moment until he realized the absolute humor in it all and started to laugh loudly. Lionel even saw how funny it was and had started to snicker quietly.

"GET ME DOWN!" She screamed, her face blushing wildly.

Lionel started to go for the rope that held her up, but was stopped when Rowan said, "Wait just a moment, Princess. Is that how one asks for things? I was brought up to believe that royalty, such as yourself, had manners unlike the rest of us." He mimicked her haughty way of speaking like she owned the world almost perfectly.

"No, don't be like that. I'm really not that bad. Please. Please, let me down."

"Well, well, well," they heard a voice coming from behind one of the large trees. "What have we hear?" The owner of the deep voice showed himself then. He was a tall, lean man, with slightly gray hair. His face showed the small wrinkles of old age starting to come in as he smiled.

"Who are you?" Rowan called to the man.

"You've entered into our forest and demand to know who I am? I think you have things a bit mixed up, boy. Who are you?"

Rowan narrowed his eyes slightly but then answered, "Rowan of Locksley. This is Lionel, and…Princess Emma."

"A Princess? Sister of King Joshua The Greedy, no doubt? Well then, that makes it all the more fun for us."

"What are you talking about?" Emma questioned, her long, flowing, and curly hair brushing the ground as she moved, trying to free herself.

"Yes, what?" Lionel asked. He was her guard, and although found it somewhat funny that she was dangling the way she was, was not going to let anything truly horrible happen to her.

"You don't know then? The Taxes of Sherwood Forest, of course! Taxes founded by Robin Hood himself, God rest his soul."

"Robin Hood? But I thought he was against taxes for all. What makes you so different from King Joshua, taxing people like that?" Rowan asked, skeptically.

"Ah, good sir, you don't understand. We take from the rich and give to the poor… A princess, especially one with bloodlines like our precious King's, is exceptionally rich, of course."

"Well, I don't believe my father would appreciate it very much if he were here to see how you are treating his very own son."

"His what?"

"Yes, Rowan Hood of Locksley. I'm his son."

&&&&

Yeeeees, well…can't say I liked that chapter very much…but maybe you disagree? Probably not, but do review anyway, becuz (#1) it'll make my day, (#2) you know you want to…lol, and (#3) becuz if you don't, I won't write more, so there! MUAHAHA!

Now, I'm going to use my new phrase, becuz I like it…cuz I do…tehehe

Yes, review, but say whatever you want to say! I don't really care, becuz as always…

What you say is your business,

Not mine, so whatever.

Just review the damn story,

Or I'll hate you forever.

Does silly dance I'm so clever. I know it! You don't have to tell me! Tehe. TTFN!

EvelynC.O