New York Royalty

By: PrinceOfNewYork

Chapter Eleven: A Different Kind of Real Name

Summary: In the world people are viewed in several different ways. Some are leaders, some are followers, some are somewhere in the middle, and some just get power through possessions. The concept of royalty can take on more than just one form.

Disclaimer: Most of these guys are mine, except for the few that ain't. And, if ya don't know which ones those are then you better go watch Newsies again.

A/N: Alright, this is my first shot at a Newsie fic, but I've been messin' with this character for over a year now, and it's about time she had her story put down (before I completely forget it all!) Thanks a bunch to all of ya who read this!

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That night everyone was back at the lodging house, and Mary Ann was standing in the middle of the room as the boys looked her up and down. Avalanche was walking in a circle around her. "Now… tell me again," one of the boys said. "Where ya from?"

"Manhattan."

"And ya parents?"

"Were killed…." she was getting better at lying.

"So ya came here?"

"Yeah, to hide."

"From what?"

"The man that killed them. I don't want him coming after me!"

"So… what's the issue?"

Avalanche rolled his eyes. "Ain't you been listenin' kid! We gotta help her hide… swear sometimes I dun think youse gotta brain Two-step."

Mary Ann just smiled. After all, she'd told a lie to a bunch of kids who lie every day. And they bought it! She and Avalanche had worked the story out over lunch. They had to explain something to the newsies, so they would help her hide from her father.

"Alright, I got it!" Two-step said. Avalanche turned to him, arms crossed and just waiting to hear with the quick talking, little thinking, newsie had to say. "We'll put her in da basement. He'll nevah look dere!"

"Yeah? Yeah, dat's a thought," Avalanche said walking towards Two-step. "Yeah, dat's a thought. We'll feed her three times a day, an' well let 'er out when she whines," he smacked the kid lightly upside the head. "She ain't a dog!"

"Ow! Hey! I'm only tryin' ta help!"

"Then think b'fore ya speak for a change," he said glaring.

"Well," said a boy in a chair, an older boy, smarter than Two-step. "I got an idea."

This was someone Avalanche really trusted. If this kid had an idea it would be worth listening to. "Let's hear what ya got."

"Well, that killer guy is gonna be lookin' for a goil right?"

"Yeah…" Avalanche said.

"So… we say she ain't a goil."

"Ya think he'll take da woid of a newsie dat a goil ain't really a goil aftah all? Even though she looks like one? I dun get where ya goin' with this Dash."

"It's simple…" he said standing. "Look," he walked up to her and took her hat off of her head, and pulled back her hair.

Avalanche looked at her for a second, and his mouth slowly fell open and he nodded with a smile. "Yeah…"

"So… all we'd hafta do is teach her ta be a boy! Well dat an' cut 'er hair. But if she wears clothes like dis all da time no one will see… uhhh… nothin'. An' if woise comes ta woise we's can rig up somethin' ta make 'er look like a boy, if need be."

Avalanche walked up and stood along side Dash. "Yeah, I think it could be… but we'd hafta cut your hair," he said to Mary Ann.

Mary Ann was very protective of her hair. Her mother used to play with it all the time. She didn't let people cut her hair without her permission, and never that short. "No," she said shaking her head.

"Mary Ann, ya wanna hide or not?" he asked her.

She looked at him for a second and sighed as her head drooped low. Then her eyes shot back up. "Wait!" she said. "Give me my hat back, please," she said, and Dash gave the hat back to her. She put the bill in her mouth so the hat was upside down. She took her hair in one hand, and twisted it around the other and brought it up to the top of her head. She placed her hat on top to hold it into place, and made sure that the sides were tucked in. She then brought her hands down.

Dash and Avalanche stepped back a bit to take a look at her. Avalanche nodded slowly, "I think that could woik."

"I think ya right," Dash said with a smile.

"Good thinkin', both of ya's. Now…" he said as Dash went to sit down and Avalanche began circling Mary Ann again. "…she needs a name."

"She's already got one," Two-step said.

"I mean a boy's name!"

"Oh…" he said and went instantly quiet again.

"Mark!" Mary Ann said quickly. Avalanche stopped and looked at her. "Well, it makes sense, doesn't it? Their similar… Mark and Mary. Just switch the Y with the K. Simple to remember, right?"

Avalanche nodded. "And the Ann?"

"An…drew. Andrew. Mark Andrew," she answered.

He nodded in response. "And a last name?"

"S…Saunders," she said slowly.

"Mark Andrew Sanders," Dash said trying it out. "Sounds good to me," and the rest of the boys nodded in agreement.

"Alright, Mark, now we need a real name for you."

"But, I already have a real name," Mary Ann or Mark said.

"No… a different kind of real name." She looked at him rather confused. The room went silent, and no one said anything for a long time.

That was until Two-step laughed. "What is it now?" Avalanche said looking at him.

"Nothin'… just… think somethin's kinda funny." Avalanche looked at him with a curious expression meaning… Two-step had better explain. "Well… look around. How many newsies here are girls? Except for… Mark," he said meaning the newly named girl.

"None," Avalanche answered.

"And… what part of New York are we in?"

"Queens… I dun get it Two-step."

"Well wait!" he said as though he were the leader. "Queens are goils… but none of us are goils. Now we finally have a goil… an' she dun wanna be a goil! So… she coulda been the Queen of Queens, but… since she dun wanna be a goil she cain't be."

"What do you suggest then?" Avalanche said. He was amused by this.

"Call her King!"

He shook his head, and Mark did too, she didn't like the sound of that. "No… a bit too royal… and it sounds like she's tryin' ta take over… how's about Prince?"

She blinked a couple of times and looked at him with a small smile. "What ya think? Prince?" The boys nodded in agreement. "The Prince of Queens," Avalanche said laughing.

"Just… don't call me a Princess…"

"Unless ya wanna stop breathin'!" Avalanche added. He had no doubt in his mind that if anyone did call her a Princess, she could handle herself. She smiled at her and she smiled back.

Prince… she liked it.

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It was almost late! Haha, but I got it in, right under the wire! You're gonna hafta wait until friday to see anymore from Prince and Avalanche's adventures. In the mean time, let me know what you think. See you friday!