disclamation: I still do not own anything except for this fanfiction.
Sora finally runs away on her horse and into the woods where the horse is spooked by a stag being hunted by several men. Sora hears the men from the hunt in the distance.
Sora Takenouchi: Run… quickly, my friend, or they'll catch you.
The stag wonders why she is warning it and telling it to run away from the hunters.
Sora Takenouchi (continued): Go!
The stag finally obliges to Sora's orders and runs away from the hunters. She goes after the stag to protect it from the hunters. Then, she heads off towards the hunters in hopes of distracting them from catching up to the stag, unaware that these hunters are the king's royal guard with the prince leading the charge and their captain at his side.
Miyako 'Yolei' Inoue: Perhaps, it was just as well that Sakura and Jun were so cruel to her. For had Sora not run away from her stepfamily and her house that day, she might have never met the prince.
It is then that a dashing young man with rugged blonde hair and deep aquamarine eyes comes charging in on his own horse. It is not long before the prince hears Sora trying to calm her horse down from the gunshots it hears in the distance during the prince's hunt with the royal guard.
Sora Takenouchi: Easy, easy, boy, easy! Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa! Easy, boy! Easy, easy! Whoa! Slow down!
Then, the prince finally notices Sora having trouble controlling her own horse and rushes to help her.
The Prince: Miss, miss, are you alright? Hold on.
The prince finally catches up to Sora just in time to stop her horse from throwing her off of its back.
Sora Takenouchi: I'm alright, thank you. It's fine.
But the prince does not budge in his efforts to help Sora control her horse. And the prince does help Sora control her horse… by pulling on the reins and making them easier for Sora to use.
The Prince: Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa! Whoa! Are you alright?
Sora Takenouchi: I'm alright, but you nearly frightened the life out of him.
The Prince: Who?
Sora Takenouchi: The stag. What's he ever done to you that you should chase him around these woods?
The prince only chuckles a bit at this notion as the two of them circle one another on their horses.
The Prince: I must confess that I have never even met him before. Is he a friend of yours?
Sora Takenouchi: An acquaintance… we met just now. I looked into his eyes, and he looked into mine. I simply felt as though he had a great deal left to do with his life, that's all.
The Prince: Miss… what do they call you?
Sora suddenly grows sad at his question and does not want to answer it honestly.
Sora Takenouchi: Never mind what they call me.
The Prince: You shouldn't be this deep in the forest alone.
Sora Takenouchi: I'm not alone, I'm with you, mister… what do they call you?
The prince just chuckles at her question.
The Prince: You don't know who I am?
Then, he realizes that this mysterious girl might just turn into the type of girl to like him without the aid of his title and his crown.
The Prince (continued): That is… they call me 'Matt'. Or rather, my father does… when he's in a good mood, that is.
The two of them share a good chuckle at this 'Matt's' little notion about his father, right before Sora decides to get to know this 'Matt' better.
Sora Takenouchi: And… where do you live, Mister Matt?
Prince 'Matt': At the palace.
It is then that 'Matt' realizes that he might as have advertised that he is, in fact, the prince of her kingdom. He becomes quite desperate to fix this grievous error.
Prince 'Matt' (continued): My father's teaching me his trade.
It suddenly seems to dawn Sora just who she is talking to at the moment…
Sora Takenouchi: You're an apprentice.
Well, it kind of dawns on her… more or less.
Prince 'Matt': Of a sort.
Sora does not let what this 'Matt' says about her conclusion scare her away from getting to know him better.
Sora Takenouchi: That's perfectly fine. Do they treat you well?
Prince 'Matt': Much better than I probably deserve, in retrospect. And you?
Sora suddenly does not know how to be honest and kind all at once.
Sora Takenouchi: They treat me as well as they're able to.
Prince 'Matt': I'm sorry.
This 'Matt' regrets ever asking Sora how they treat her where she lives. But Sora only assures him that…
Sora Takenouchi: It's not your fault.
'Matt' respects Sora enough to tell her…
Prince 'Matt': Nor yours, either, I'll bet.
Sora and 'Matt' suddenly stare into each other's eyes, but Sora is the first to snap out of the trance.
Sora Takenouchi: Still, it's not like it's all bad. One of them actually treats quite well whenever she can. And she's also always trying to encourage all of the others to treat me better.
Prince 'Matt': Well at least, one actually tries to treat you the way you deserve. So, there is that, at least.
Sora Takenouchi: And I'm sure that others have it even worse than I do. We must simply make sure to always maintain the love within our hearts and be brave and kind, mustn't we?
Sora does not know it as of yet, but she has wholeheartedly won the affections of the prince in her home kingdom simply by quoting her mother, Toshiko's, dying words. It becomes evident when 'Matt' finally responds to her claim.
Prince 'Matt': Yes. Yes, you're right. That's exactly how I feel.
Then, 'Matt' realizes what he just said to this mysterious girl.
Prince 'Matt' (continued): That is, I feel that we should be brave and kind. I'm not saying anything about love.
Then, the two of them hear the sound of French horns blare out into the woods, and Sora grows worried about the stag.
Sora Takenouchi: Please don't let them hurt him.
Prince 'Matt': But we're hunting, you see. It's what's done.
Sora Takenouchi: Just because it's what's done, doesn't mean it's what should be done.
Prince 'Matt': Right again.
'Matt' continues to grow even more entranced by Sora.
Sora Takenouchi: Then, you'll leave him alone, won't you?
'Matt' finally realizes that leaving the stag alone like his mystery girl requests of him is exactly what should be done.
Prince 'Matt': I will.
Sora Takenouchi: Thank you very much, Mister Matt.
Suddenly, a duo of young men and a mysterious man arrive.
Mysterious Man: Ah, there you are, your high_
But 'Matt' interrupts the man before he can finish speaking.
Prince 'Matt': It's 'Matt'. 'Matt'. I'm 'Matt', and I'm on my way.
The young man who looks older than the other young man is the next to speak.
Older Young Man: Well, we'd better get a move on, Mister Matt.
Prince 'Matt': As I said, on my way.
Sora just chuckles at his words to these other men. Then, 'Matt' pulls on his horse's reins and begins to ride the horse over to the other men when he turns back around to Sora and tells her…
Prince 'Matt' (continued): I hope to see you again, miss.
Sora Takenouchi: And I you.
As soon as 'Matt' rides back over to the others, both he and Sora are rendered completely breathless by one another. And he heads back over to his other men. As for Sora, she rides back to her house, now that her confidence to endure her stepfamily is finally as good as reborn.