A Rude Awakening
Apple had always been earlier riser, and the morning after Rotbart saved her was no exception. The first rays of daylight made her eyes flutter open and she got a good look at where she was. And a good look at who her rescuer was as well.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!" Apple screamed.
Rotbart was jolted awake and he immediately turned into a chicken. "BRA-BRAAAAAAAAAAAWK!" He squawked in alarm. And he and Apple frantically tried to escape the cocoon of clothes and blankets that he had created. Apple's mouth went a million miles a minute as she fought her way out:
"OhmyGrimm, WHAT'S GOING ON?! Where am I? How'd I get here? Why am I here? Why are YOU here? Why are you touching me? What happened to my dress? What did you do to my dress?! Are these your clothes? AND WHY ARE YOU A CHICKEN?!"
By this point Rotbart had managed to worm himself free and was now calm enough to change back into his proper form.
"Ohgodmother, those are your clothes!" Apple said as she noticed Rotbart's topless state. "What happened?"
"Princess…" Rotbart began.
"What HAPPENED?" Apple shouted again. "Tell me! I order you to tell me want happened!"
"Princess…"
"I swear, if you don't tell me exactly what's going on right now I'll…"
"GET A HOLD OF YOURSELF WOMAN!" Rotbart roared. His outburst immediately shut Apple up. "You ran away from the Yule Ball." He explained. "You ran into the woods, wouldn't stop, and nearly got yourself killed from exhaustion and hypothermia. Typical dumbass princess move."
Apple glared at him. "But why are YOU here?" She demanded.
Rotbart sighed. "I went after you." He said shortly.
"Why?"
"I just did! And I found you in this snow, brought you to this cabin, and tried to keep you from freezing. That's the only reason we look like this, I swear."
Apple stared at him. "Wait…you mean you saved me?" She said slowly.
"Yeah. Typical dumbass hero move. I'm not proud."
Apple was absolutely flabbergasted. "But-but…WHY?! You hate me!"
"Yeah…well…" Rotbart struggled to think of a good, evil reason for his regrettably heroic actions. "I can't have you die of natural causes." He finally said. "I'm supposed to kill you."
Apple crossed her arms defensively. "No, you're not…I keep telling you, my story isn't supposed to have you at all! Raven is supposed to kill me, then Daring is supposed to save me, and…."
Apple stopped. All of last night's events came flooding back to her. And the most prominent of these events was catching her prince with another girl.
"OHMYGODMOTHER, I'M GONNA DIE!" She screamed.