A/N: Ok I have a really high fever and I'm drugged up on medicine so if this chapter is completely insane that explains it. I was watching Ever After and came up with this idea. Most of the dialogue was taken from the movie because I am too lazy to make up my own please no flames. This chapter is completely Ashley's dream.
Disclaimer: I don't own Ever After or the WWE wrestlers who are mentioned.
(Ashley still in coma dreaming)
"Wake up you lazy pig" a boy said throwing water on a young woman. The young woman removes her arms from her face and it is Ashley.
"Sleeping by the fire again they should have named you Cinderella instead of Ashley" he said.
"Good morning to you too step brother" Ashley said.
"Get up and make breakfast" he ordered.
Ashley sighed as she sat up. She had been having the best dream she dreamt that her father was still alive and he had realized what a wicked person her step mother truly was and sent her and her horrible son and daughter away. Had it really been 10 years since she last saw her beloved father Chris. She reluctantly got up and straightened her dress.
"Good morning Ms." Trish another one of her step mother's servants and Ashley best friend said.
"Morning Trish" Ashley said yawning "how are they this morning?"
"Their horrible selves as usual" she replied. "by the way the mistress said she wanted apples so you'd better go to the orchard and fetch some"
"I'm going" Ashley said as she grabbed a biscuit and head out the back door towards the orchard. Her father had loved the orchard he used to take Ashley out there and they'd sit under a tree and read for hours and hours till they couldn't see because the sun had went down.
Ashley began picking some apples when she heard one of the horses in distress , she looked up and saw a hooded figure trying to steal her father's horse.
"What do you think you are doing trying to steal my father's horses?" Ashley asked.
She threw an apple at him but it hit his arm and he didn't stop trying to take the horse.
"Please my horse slipped its shoe and I just want to borrow this one" he said.
Still Ashley could not see his face so she continued throwing apples at him. Finally one hit him in the head and he fell over it was then that she saw his face.
"Your majesty I am so sorry I didn't see you" Ashley said throwing herself to her knees.
Oh my God she had hit the crowned prince in the head with an apple.
"Your aim suggests differently" he said rubbing the spot on his forehead where she hit him.
"And for this I know I must die" she said lowering her head in shame.
"Speak of this to no one and you shall keep your life" he said.
He took out a bag of gold coins and threw it on the ground beside her.
"For your silence" he said.
Ashley walked back into the manor with a huge smile on her face. She put the apples on the counter and looked at Amy.
"We can get him back" She whispered taking the money out of her pocket. "20 francs"
"Put that money away because if she sees it it's as good as hers" Amy said.
Ashley put the money away before walking into the dining room.
"Good morning step mother I trust you slept well" she said.
"Where were you?" her step mother asked.
"I was in the orchard picking apples like you asked but I fell off the ladder but I am well now" Ashley said.
"You seem too happy are you up to something?" her step mother asked.
"Of course not I am but a humble servant" Ashley replied.
"My pourage is cold heat it up" her step brother said.
As Ashley went to grab the bowl but her step brother purposely knocked it to the ground. It spattered all over the floor and on Ashley's dress. Her step sister Candice was softly laughing at the whole scene.
"Now look what you did!" He exclaimed.
"I'm sorry Cameron" Ashley said.
"Well go and get me some new pourage" he ordered.
"Right away" Ashley said.
Ashley walked back into the kitchen praying for the strength not to kill these people.
"I'll take care of the master and you go get changed" Amy said.
"Thanks Ames I owe you one" Ashley said.
Later that day while her "family" was out shopping Ashley was standing in her step mother's bedroom with her other best friend Jeff.
"You can't seriously be thinking about doing this?" Jeff asked.
"I can and I am" Ashley said.
"But impersonating a courtier is punishable by death" Jeff pointed out.
"Then I guess I won't be getting caught" Ashley pointed out. "I'm coming out now you'd better not laugh"
"Ash you look beautiful" Jeff said
"Tons of fabric and I still feel naked" she said.
"Now come on let's do something with that hair"
Jeff had pulled Ashley's hair into a tight bun but he had left some strands in the front to brush against her face.
"My lady I believe you are ready" Jeff said.
Ashley now looked the part but could she act it.
"Remember you are a noble woman don't look down to anyone" Jeff said as he picked up her chin so she was looking him in the eyes.
Ashley had arrived at the town square. Matt was stuck in a wagon with many other prisoners which was about to begin a long journey.
"Excuse me sir but I'd like to buy my servant back" Ashley said looking the wagon driver straight in the eyes.
"These prisoners are being sent to the Americas on the king's orders" the man said.
"But my servant is no prisoner he has done nothing wrong and I have the money to pay for him" Ashley said.
"The king has already sold him" the man argued.
"Well I want to buy him back" Ashley said.
"I ALREADY TOLD YOU HE IS GOING TO AMERICA" the man yelled.
"How dare you raise your voice to a woman" Prince John said.
"Highness … I didn't… I meant no disrespect" the man stuttered. "It's my job to take these criminals and beats to the coast"
"A servant isn't a thief your highness and those who are cannot help themselves" Ashley said.
"Really?" John asked "Well then by all means enlighten us"
"If you suffer your people to be ill-educated and their manners corrupted from infancy and punish them to those crimes that their first education exposed to them what else is to be concluded sire but that you first make thieves and them punish them"
"Well there you have it release him" John said.
"But…" the man said.
"I said release him" John said a little louder.
Reluctantly the guard let Matt go. He embraced Ashley in a tight hug.
"Thank you" Matt whispered.
"Meet me at the bridge" she wh1ispered.
"Go and fetch the horses" she said so that the prince could hear.
Matt nodded in understanding and winked before taking off towards the bridge.
"I thank you your highness" Ashley said.
"Have we met?" John asked.
"I do not believe so your highness" she lied.
"I swore I knew every courtier in the province"
"Well sir I am visiting a cousin"
"Who?"
"My cousin"
"Yes you said that didn't you, which one?"
"The only cousin I have sire"
"Are you coy on purpose or do you honestly refuse to tell me your name?"
"No" Ashley stated "and yes"
Ashley tried to walk away yet again but the prince was intent on finding out who this beautiful stranger was.
"Well then pray tell me your cousins' names so I might call upon her to tell me who you are" John said. "because anyone who can quote Thomas Moore is worth the effort"
"Your majesty has read Utopia?" Ashley asked.
"I find it sentimental and dull" he said walking around her in a circle carefully looking her over. "I confess the flight of the everyday rustic bores me"
"I gather you do not converse with many peasants" Ashley said.
"Certainly not no" he replied rather smugly. "naturally"
"Excuse me sire there is nothing natural about it" Ashley said walking away from him.
She was starting to get very irritated with this young prince and his views on the common people.
"A country's character is defined by its everyday rustics as you call them, they are the legs you stand on and that position demands respect"
"Am I to understand that you find me arrogant?" John asked amazed.
"Well you gave one man back his life but did you even glance to look at the others?" Ashley retorted.
Ashley began to walk away again.
"Please I beg of you a name … any name" John said.
"I'm fear the only name I can leave you with is Countess Sarah Alexandria Hardy" she said.
"See that wasn't so hard" John said.
"John dear there you are" John's mother the queen said.
"Hello mother" John greeted.
"The king would like a word with you, several words in fact" his mother said.
"He usually does" John said. "I shall be right in"
Ashley used this distraction as her chance to get away. John looked over to see where Ashley went and was confused to see she had left so fast.
Amy and Trish were working outside. Amy was the first to see Ashley and Matt walking up the path. She ran to meet Ashley and her husband. Matt ran ahead to meet his wife. The four of them embraced in a group hug.
John walked into his father's study to find him painting.
"You sir are restricted to the grounds" the king said.
"Are you putting me under house arrest" John taunted.
"Don't mess with me boy I am in a fowl disposition" the king shouted. "and I will have my way"
"How… by sending me to the Americas like some criminal" John said. "all for the sake of your stupid contract"
"You are the crowned prince of France" the king said.
"And it is my life" John replied.
"John Sr. sit down before you have a stroke" John's mother said. "really the two of you"
"Sweetheart you were born to privilege and with that come specific obligations"
"Forgive me mother but marriage to a complete stranger never made anyone in this room very happy" John argued.
"You will marry Elizabeth by the next full moon or I will strike at you in any way I can" the king said.
"What is it to be father hot oil or the rack?" John asked rolling his eyes.
I will simply deny you the crown and live … forever" the king said some what unsurely.
John stood up and looked at his father.
"Good agreed I don't want it" John said.
"He is your son!" the king exclaimed at his wife.
Ashley walked into her home and found out she was in big trouble. Her step mother began yelling at her for not telling them that the prince had borrowed one of their horses. She that Ashley left them unprepared for his visit. To say her step mother had been surprised that the prince had showed up at her home to return the horse he had borrowed had been an understatement.
"Who dear?" the queen asked.
"Countess Sarah Hardy" John said.
"She's the cousin of… well I don't know who her cousin is" John admitted. "Surely you have heard of her"
"Oh darling there are simply too many courtiers to remember them all by name" the queen said. "Why do you ask?"
"Hmm never mind" John said.
"I decided to throw a ball, a masked ball and you and I will strike a compromise" the king said.
'Compromise you?" John asked.
"If love is what you want I suggest you find it before them and if not you are going through with your engagement to the Spaniard" the king said. "For 5 days hence at the stroke of midnight you will have to make your decision"
"You will have till then to announce to engagement to the girl of your choice or I will choose it for you" the king said.
"And what about your treaty with Spain?" John asked.
"Let me take care of that" the king replied.
"Choose carefully John because a divorce is very hard to come by" the queen said looking at her husband.
The king looked at them and then walked away.
"The king is throwing a ball and there is a rumor that he has to choose a bride before then" the man said.
"I need to know who the competition is" Ashley's step mother said.
"He is playing tennis with the Marquez de Fairmount tomorrow" the main said.
"I've come to enjoy our little chats" she said with a cruel laugh.
Ashley and Amy were collecting honey from a beehive.
"I would have given anything to see you all dressed up as a courtier and talking to the prince like you were" Amy said with a chuckle.
"I cannot believe I gave him my mother's name" Ashley said. "the man is insufferable"
"Yes you've been saying that" Amy replied. "all day"
"It is true now as it was this morning" Ashley said.
"He's royalty, they are born like that" Amy said.
"Well I guess the bad side of being wealthy is you have to live with the rich" Ashley said as they began walking to the house.
"I bet he is quite charming" Amy said. "once you get to know him"
"Honestly I think he and Candice deserve each other" Ashley said.
"Bite your tongue the only thrown that bitch belongs on is the one I have to clean every day" Amy said.
"What about this one?" Deanna (Ashley's step mother) asked. Holding up a pale blue dress.
"It's blue" Candice said.
"John loves blue" Deanna said.
"20 million other girls will be wearing blue" Candice pointed out.
"Good thinking Candice" Deanna said "and I think I have the perfect dress"
Deanna, Candice and Cameron left Candice's room and walked into Deanna's. Deanna went over to her trunk and began to rummage in it.
"Here we go" she said pulling out a dress.
"It's perfect where did you get it?" Candice asked.
"It's part of Ashley dowry" Deanna said.
"Who would want to marry her" Cameron commented.
"What are you doing?" Ashley asked walking into the room with a handful of fire wood.
"We're airing out your dress for the ball" Deanna said quickly.
"You wish for me to go to the ball?" Ashley asked.
"Ashley have I really ever been that cruel to you?" Deanna asked "I though we could go as one big happy family.
"That is of course you get all your chores done and mind your manners until them" Deanna said.
"Yes step mother of course I will" Ashley agreed happily.
"Do you really think that there is only one perfect mate?" John asked his best friend Randy.
"As a matter of fact I do" Randy replied.
"Well then how can you be certain to find them and if you do find them are they really the one for you or do you just think they are and then what happens if the person you are supposed to be with never appears or she does but you are too distracted to notice"
"You learn to pay attention" Randy replied.
"Then let's say God puts two people on earth and they are lucky enough to find each other but one of them gets hit by lightning… well then what? Is that it? Or per chance you someone new and marry all over again is that the lady you are supposed to be with or was it the first and if so if the two of them were walking side by side were they both the one for you and you just happen to meet the first one first or was the second one supposed to be first… is everything just chance or are some things meant to be?"
"You cannot leave everything to fate, she has a lot to do sometimes you must give her a hand" Randy said.
It was late in the afternoon and Ashley had been sent to pick mushrooms along the borders of their property but she decided that the job was way too boring so she was going to go for a swim. When she had made it to the river she saw the most unexpected sight the prince was just getting out of the river. His chest gleaming with falling water droplets. He noticed the girl right away but decided to wait before he let her know that he had seen her. He got out of the water and stretched out on the grass.
"You like what you see?" he asked with his eyes closed.
"I'm sorry your majesty I was taking a walk and I saw you and didn't want to disturb" Ashley said.
John opened up his eyes and beckoned her forward. When she came out from behind the group of trees she was hiding behind John smiled.
"It's you" he said. "I was beginning to think I would never see you again"
"Why would you want to see me again?" she asked.
"Seriously are you always like this?" he asked.
"Do you take pleasure in getting me all irritated" she retorted.
"Well you do always rise to the occasion" he replied.
"Are you always this condescending?" she asked.
"Only to the people I like" he said. "where are your servants?"
"I gave them the day off" she lied.
"Gave them the day off that is the most absurd thing I have ever heard of" John said.
"Why?" Ashley asked.
"Because they are servants their job is to well serve" John replied.
"Don't you get tired of everyone serving you all the time?" Ashley asked.
"Yes but they are servants that is what they do" John said.
"Well I wish I could dismiss mine as easily as you dismiss yours' Ashley said.
"They work hard and deserve to rest" she added.
"Then what are the good for" he said.
"I will never understand you, you have this whole land and it means nothing to you and yet you make fun of people who would find joy in working it" Ashley said.
"I'm afraid madam that you are a walking contradiction and I find that rather fascinating" John said.
"Me?" Ashley asked.
"Yes you, you spout the ideals of a Utopian society and yet you live the life of a courtier" John said.
"You have the whole land and you take no joy in working it isn't that a contradiction?" Ashley asked.
"You've already said that" He said.
"Well it is true" she replied.
"First I'm arrogant and now I have no pride however did I manage that?" he asked.
"You have everything and still you are not happy" Ashley said.
"How do you do it?" John asked.
"Do what?"
"Live each day with such passion, don't you find it exhausting?" John asked.
"Only when I'm around you" she replied.
"Why is it that you like to irritate me so?" Ashley asked once again.
"You make is so easy" John replied.
Both of them laughed. The Ashley heard Cameron calling her name from a distance and if he found out she was talking to the prince, he would tell his mother and she would get a lashing for sure.
"I'm sorry your majesty I have lost track of the hour" Ashley said.
"Why does she keep doing that?" John asked himself.
"Amy where are the candlesticks?" Deanna asked. "it is so dark in here we can barely see our plates."
"I don't know ma'am they are missing, I've looked everywhere" Amy said.
"The painting in the upstairs hall is missing as well" Candice said "seems we have a thief in our mist"
"Then I shall garnish your wages till the pilfered items are returned" Deanna said. "or maybe I'll send you to the Americas with all the other slaves"
"Didn't you hear the prince went to the king and asked him to release all those men" Cameron announced.
"He didn't!" Ashley exclaimed.
She had to hide the happiness she felt inside because now everyone was looking at her.
"What I want to know is who is this countess everyone keeps talking about?" Candice asked. "there must have been 10 courtiers talking about her today and how the prince fell all over himself"
Ashley wore a smug smile both Amy and Trish looked at her with the same one. The prince was falling for her and everyone in that room with the exception of Ashley's idiotic step family.
"We shall find out who she is and bury her" Deanna said.
Ashley who was about to begin pouring wine for her step mother missed and spilt it all over the table. Deanna jumped up from her seat as not to get wet.
"What is the matter with you girl?" she asked.
"I'm sorry step mother I am not myself today" Ashley said truthfully.
The next day the prince played tennis dun dun dun Candice is a whore. Everything went fine, nobody cares etc.
Ashley was flying a kite through the country side. Jeff was standing a few feet away from her painting the landscape.
"I'm telling you Jeff he is the most arrogant person in the world he makes Bradshaw, the man who won't stop trying to hit on me look human" Ashley said "let him and Candice marry".
"But then he'll be your brother in law and you countess will be serving them breakfast in bed" Jeff said.
"They would move into the castle and then leave us alone" Ashley said. "my father's land could be as it once was".
"Besides the prince is a stupid fool and if I ever see him again I would tell him that to his face" Ashley said.
"Well here's your chance" Jeff said.
"Oh no" Ashley ran and hid behind a few trees. She watched as the prince rode up to Jeff and stopped.
"I'm looking for Senori Orton have you seen him?" John asked Jeff.
"Me no" Jeff replied.
"That is strange I thought I saw his stupid flying machine" John said.
"You did but it was being flown by Countess Hardy" Jeff said with a smile.
"You know of her?" John asked.
"Of course highness and I know she is at her cousin the baroness Deanna De'Andre's home" Jeff said.
"Thank you kind sir" John said.
"Jeff I hate you!" Ashley exclaimed.
"Why?" Jeff asked.
"You just sent the prince to my house" she said.
"You'd better run then" Jeff said.
Ashley took off muttering obscenities to herself every step of the way. By the time she had reached her house she had called Jeff every name in the book and a few more that she had mad up herself.
"Trish, Amy he's coming here" Ashley yelled running through the house looking for them.
By the time the prince had arrived she was dressed in a very presentable gown and Amy and Trish were exhausted. Ashley met John in the front of your house.
"I told you I'd find out who your cousin was" John said.
"I had no doubt you wouldn't" Ashley replied.
"Randy and I were supposed to go visit the Franciscans today and well they have an amazing library" John said.
"It's not fair your highness you know my weakness and I have no idea what your's is" Ashley said.
"I would have thought it was obvious" he replied.
Ashley had never seen so many books in her life. It was amazing.
"What are you thinking about?" John asked.
"When I was younger my father used to go away for business and when he came back he would always have a new book for me" she explained.
"The last one he ever gave me was Utopia" she added.
"Sometimes I wish I wasn't a prince" John said.
"Why one day you will become king and think of all the good you could do" Ashley said.
"What if I don't want to be a king?" John asked.
"But you were born a prince and with that you have specific obligations" Ashley said.
"You sound like my mother" John said. "for once I'd just like to be John"
"What do you mean?" Ashley asked.
"Not Prince John… just John like any other person" he said.
"Ok well John we should be heading back" Ashley said.
John agreed and they got into his carriage but on the way back home the carriage lost one of its wheels.
"Great, just great!" John exclaimed.
"Sir this could take a while to be fixed" the driver of the carriage said.
"Then we'll walk" Ashley said.
"Are you kidding its half a day's walk" John said.
"What a better way to see your land" Ashley said.
Ashley and John had been walking for about 3 hours and they still had no idea where they were.
"I think we are lost" Ashley said.
"No trust me I know where we are" John said.
Ashley didn't say anything and followed him but about 30 minutes later they had passed the same tree about 6 times she began to get a little annoyed.
"You have no idea where we are do you?" she asked.
"No" he admitted.
"Men" Ashley said.
She began climbing up a tree but with the gown on it was happening. So she began taking it off. John stared at her wide eyed.
"What are you doing?" he asked.
"I can't climb a tree with this on" she said.
"Why are you climbing a tree?" he asked.
"So I can see which way the castle is" she replied.
"Right" John said.
Ashley began to climb. She made it to the top.
"I still can't believe I am down here and you are up there in your underwear no less" John complained.
"Well if you fell and broke your royal neck then what?" Ashley asked "the castle is about 100 miles to the right"
"Oh joy" John mumbled.
Once Ashley climbed back down and got re-dressed, she and John began walking again. To pass the time they were playing this little game where each person had to tell something about themselves.
"I want no part of the marriage to the Spanish princess" John said "I believe a person should marry for love"
Ashley looked surprised she had never thought that she would be hearing something like that coming from the man who she had spent the whole day not too long ago 'insufferable'.
"What?" John asked.
"Nothing it's just you didn't strike me the type of man who would be interested in love" she said.
"Well Countess looks can be deceiving" John said.
"I guess" Ashley said.
"Is everything alright?" John asked.
"Just thinking" Ashley said. "have you ever felt like your whole life has been a lie?"
"No" John said.
Ashley shrugged and kept walking. John watched her he knew she wanted to tell him something but didn't know how.
"Are you hiding something from me?" John asked.
"No whatever gave you that idea" she said.
John picked up her chin with his finger forcing her to look him in the eyes. The moment was magical, John couldn't help himself he lowered his lips to meet hers in a soft sweet kiss. Ashley pulled back in surprise.
"I… I'm so sorry I don't know what came over me" John said.
Ashley smiled "It's perfectly alright, I enjoyed it".
John laughed before kissing her again. Neither Ashley nor John could explain it there was just this connection between them.
"As much as I'd love to stand here all day but I need to get home" Ashley said.
"I know but this moment is so perfect" John said.
"Yes it is" Ashley agreed.
It was way passed dawn when they had finally made it back to Ashley's home. But both didn't really seem to notice, they were too rapped up in each other.
"I've never had such an interesting day" John said.
"I don't think I have either" Ashley replied.
"Can I ask you a question?" John asked.
Ashley nodded.
"Do you think it is possible that we have met before in another lifetime?" John asked.
"You mean like you we're Julius Caesar and I was Cleopatra?" Ashley asked.
"Stupid question I know" John said looking away.
"No it wasn't"
This time it was Ashley forcing him to look at her. She smiled, her blue eyes sparkling with the love she had for this man.
"Who knows maybe" she said.
"May I kiss you?" he asked.
"Yes you may" she replied.
John captured her lips with his, he pulled her closer to his body. He knew at this moment that he loved her and he wanted no one else. He wanted so much for her to be his in everyway but this was the 1600's and it was a sin to take a woman who wasn't his wife to bed no matter how much he wanted to.
"I must go" he said.
"Yes that is for the best" Ashley agreed.
"Do you think it would be possible to borrow a horse?" he asked.
Ashley flashed him a smile and led him to the stables.
"Can you meet me tomorrow?" he asked.
"We'll see" she replied.
"How can you say no to me I am a prince" John said.
"I distinctly remember getting the privilege to treat you like a normal person" Ashley said.
They walked from the stables and John gave her one last kiss on the cheek before he mounted his horse and headed home. Ashley sighed and touched her cheek before turning to enter the house.
"This cannot be happening" Deanna said from the window of her room. She had seen the prince kiss a servant girl. All hell was about to brake loose.
To be Continued…
A/N: 18 frickin pages man I must really love my readers. lol jk.