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YerMomIsMyBestFriend – That is exactly how I felt when I was all caught up in watching them too! That I needed more so I just had to write a fic for Ever After High, whether it was about Hunter and Ashlynn or not. I was itching to get into this fandom! And I've been so rewarded ever since. I'm glad you're enjoying! I truly hope you continue to do so. Thank you! Shiranai Atsune – I can't even describe how into this story I am right now. I don't pre-write my stories, but sometimes I get the updates out so quick that you would think so XD thanks love! MuffinsRyummy – Well I can't take all the credit, you guys who read and review and alert and favorite are the awesome ones! Hope you enjoy :) BrokenWings2602 – You won't wait long to find the answer! ;) ShiningBright - Thank you darling! Here's another post just for you, but you gotta share it with others too though xD enjoy! Treskttn - Lmao I do like injuring people in fiction, but it's only because I enjoy describing the pain felt, xD However, don't write me off just yet - I believe there's more to the twist than you saw coming. ;)

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A Royal Gone Rebel
Chapter Four

After the silence, came a dangerous sounding voice. "That's how it's done, son." The legendary huntsman glanced down pitifully at his son, who couldn't trip over pebbles without apologizing to them. What a disgrace he was to the hunting trade. It made him wonder if Hunter truly was his.

"You can't just shoot people like that!" He argued with his father, not thinking before speaking.

He scoffed, packing up his arrows and holding his bow. "Sure you can, it doesn't matter what you hunt, as long as you can hunt. You couldn't even catch a mouse Hunter, this is supposed to be your destiny... the legacy you carry to not just one tale – but multiple. You're jeopardizing so many futures... you cannot be so selfish." He ranted to his son, who didn't say anything. He wasn't important enough to speak in this moment.

Duchess Swan hid in the midst of the bushes, she could not make a sound or she'd be done. Especially with a skilled huntsman like Hunter's dad. She had no choice but to watch the display in front of her. "I'm being selfish because I'm not killing everything that moves? Really, is that how it works?" He turned away from his father. "If so... then I want no part of it."

The skilled, middle aged man shoved his son up against a tree harshly. "Then your mother and I want no part of you, Hunter. We deserve better, a son who can actually hunt so we won't starve during the frost when my bones ache too much to do so myself. But no... instead we got you. No talent, no hunting skill... nothing. You are nothing and you never will amount to anything Hunter Huntsman." As if this speech couldn't get worse, his father took his arrows and broke them all. The bow as well. "You are dead to me. Stay that way to your mother too." He tossed the broken objects on the forest ground, leaving a defeated Hunter to try and pick up the pieces as he watched his father walk away. He really blew it this time.

His first instinct was to plead about how he'd become better... but he'd lost faith a long time ago. He wasn't getting any better at hunting because he never wanted to. He was rebelling against his storybook destiny. Even if he never found another fairytale to live, he'd rather die in nothingness instead of live a constant lie.

In his sight, he noticed Duchess Swan sitting still in the bushes. His father wasn't completely out of sight, but the moment she moved and the bushes rustled, he knew she was doomed.

Taking off at top speed, Hunter flew in front of his father's rapid arrow, it piercing him instead of Duchess. The light gasp of Duchess Swan and the cursing under his father's breath were both muffled sounds to him now, but he knew he'd be okay. It wasn't a fatal wound, he could tell that much for sure. It would just hurt for a long time, but he shuffled and sat up, taking the arrow out of his leg and tossing it. "Please, let me." Duchess put a hand on his torn pants, where the arrow made contact. She gracefully bent down further to kiss the wound, it didn't heal right away but it wasn't as painful. "You saved my life you know," she shrugged, "not that it was really worth saving."

He glanced at her wearily, the injury having taken quite the impact. "What do you mean?"

She shook her head, "Don't you know my fated tale?"

"I'm not familiar with it, no." He told her honestly, he wasn't big on reading... nor was he into his own tale so the urge to read others didn't really strike him.

She gave a soft smile, "Then I can't give anything away." She assisted him to a more comfortable space where he could rest for awhile until all the pain subsided. "Thank you, Hunter." Before he could say anything else to her, she leaped and transformed beautifully into her swan counterpart. She'd love nothing more than to nestle in the ripples of a near-by lake.
It didn't take long for Hunter's mind to sift back to how Ashlynn was kissing that prince guy. Sure it made him upset... but he'd never inflict harm on another being. How his... parent could do that estranged him. Taking a life, no matter what form of life... was still that. Taking it much too soon.

Then another problem came to mind, he wanted to know if the guy was okay... but how could he possibly admit to Ashlynn that he was aware and present when it happened and did nothing to ease her mind or help the situation? It was to be his little secret... doomed to be kept forever.

Thinking over all the events that happened over the morning, he decided it was time for an early afternoon nap. Not much else he could do with his injured leg and all. Not fighting sleep any longer, he let his tired eyes close and Hunter finally surrendered.

~ ) * ( E – A – H ) * ( ~

Ashlynn shifted herself to gain comfort in the lounge chair beside the guest bed where Roland lay peacefully sleeping. She was trying to keep her mind occupied with a good book that Jameson suggested but it just wasn't holding her attention. "You sort of snore like Briar, y'know that?" She smiled, speaking to the sleeping Prince. "She's the next Sleeping Beauty. Although she's not 100% happy with her destiny either come to think of it. She's just not sure about it. But sometimes the best decisions in life you have doubts about, right?"

She moved the chair a bit closer to the bed, settling in.

"I couldn't tell you if this book is good or not, Jameson recommended it but the last time he recommended me a book, he gave me crayons to go with it." She smiled warmly at the humorous memory. "He told me to keep busy and quiet. He's quite fun-loving once you get to know him. But then again he was around when I was just a little baby in the Royal Nursery." She snagged a corner of the warm blanket to put over her cold socked feet. "I don't see where Maddie gets so much delight from one-sided conversations... they're actually kinda lonely now that I'm experiencing it for myself."

She watched his face intently, contented and fast asleep. But it wasn't pain-filled, so that was good.

"You were all, 'I've never seen a female wear pants, but that's okay as long as I can unfasten them'." She shook her head as she mimicked him in a voice that sounded nothing like his own. "As much of a jerk you are, I think I would give up a lot just to hear you say something right now. Offensive or not. It would just let me know you're okay. That's all I want to know. I wouldn't want to be known as a 'Prince Killer' or anything. Then I'll never get married." She chuckled at the thought, until she felt a hand on hers. It was Roland's!

"A-Ashlynn..." he began, weakly.

"Shhh, it's okay." She moved from the chair to his direct bedside, having a seat. "Are you in any pain?"

He shifted and cringed, "Not really... n-not much. Especially with you here."

She smiled and put her hand on his face. "You're not running a temperature, so that's good."

"I need to ask you something."

The young Princess felt puzzled, what would he need to ask her? "No, no Roland... shhh. It can wait, you're still very tired from what happened. Just settle down." She gave his hand a pat and went to move back to the chair, when he gripped her hand softly, causing her to look back at him with a curious feeling. "What is it?" She inquired softly.

Her hair draped around her shoulders, the way her eyes shimmered in the dim lighting made him genuinely smile through any pain he was feeling. That's what he needed in his life, light. And she was that light, no doubt in his mind. "Lay with me?"

She was going to instantly refuse, but remembering what he'd been through today and coming right back to the palace she stayed by his side all day and it was now into the night. "Only because you're injured. But don't do anything to make me punch your wounded arm." She smirked and he grinned.

"Promise."

"Whatever after." She retaliated, but found herself sinking into the space upon the bed. It'd been a long day, she was hexhausted. "I'm here, shh. It's going to be okay." She spoke softly, feeling him relax almost instantly. Fluffing the pillow up first she then lay her head down, pleading her racing mind to stop so she could hexperience a restful sleep tonight, if nothing else. Of course it didn't work, so she stayed there in the dark thinking about all that happened today plus the complications between her and Hunter and the pesky urge to pee, Ashlynn ignored it all and gave in to rest, what tomorrow would bring – she had no idea.

~ ) * ( E – A – H ) * ( ~