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A Royal Gone Rebel

Chapter Six

It was nearly impossible to concentrate in class for both Ashlynn and Hunter, despite being on opposite ends of the school during their classes, they still couldn't hocus focus. They didn't have a list of problems, but they did have a couple major ones. Ashlynn was trying to think of any other way she could possibly save her Kingdom instead of marrying Prince Roland.

Having little wildlife picnic lunches in the woods all this school week with Hunter just reminded her how much her heart belonged to him and no one else - not that she ever forgot, it was a sweet reminder. No one could make Ashlynn's heart flutter and skip a beat like her handsome rebel. She knew he felt the very same, there was no question about it. So now it was up to her clever royal brain to get to work.

She thought about everything from fundraisers to donations but even though every little bit counted, it would never be enough for the whole Kingdom. It was near hopeless. "Why so glum, chum?" Madeline Hatter pranced by with a nice warm cup of apple cinnamon tea, it's wonderful warm scent just filling the air.

"Oh Maddie, I'm so lost." Ashlynn admitted to her good friend, a statement couldn't be more true than that. No matter what she thought of, nothing was good enough. It didn't leave a girl with many more ideas left. "No matter what I do it's never gonna be enough."

"What's good for the goose, is always good for the gander."

She sighed, even if Maddie didn't make sense half the time, she was still a great person to talk to. "Is it selfish of me not to... want to give up my own happiness for the benefit of the Kingdom?"

"Depends on who you talk to," Raven Queen entered the conversation nonchalantly as she gave her best friend Maddie a pat on the shoulder, lightly dismissing her as she added her own input to Ashlynn's worry. "I adore Apple and all, but she might say it is being a tad selfish, but y'know her."

"Well that's the thing, I don't think even Apple would know what to do, this is even defying my story." She explained in a hushed whisper.

"Oh wow, seriously?" Raven couldn't help but to be both intrigued and worried at the very same time. "That's... intense."

Ashlynn nodded, "Well what's going on is that, my Kingdom... we've had seven more fatalities just in one night alone, no more yet but... it's too close. There's little to no resources and we can't survive much longer."

"So you need to find the air of some type." Madeline snorted happily, "Some pumpkin spice tea, Ashlynn?"

"Oh, if you have some peppermint tea, I would be delighted to have some. Two sugar cubes please and thank you Maddie."

Ecstatic, Madeline poured the peppermint tea and tossed in two sugar cubes flawlessly, stirring vigorously and handing Ashlynn a tea cup and saucer. "There we go!"

She smiled weakly, "Thanks."

"What Madeline meant is," Raven didn't even have to tell Madeline what she took in her tea, her best friend just knew. Accepting the tea gratefully, she thanked her good friend. Turning her attention back to the issue at hand. "you need to find another, Royal to borrow from? That shouldn't be hard, I'm sure Apple's Kingdom for example, would love to help."

"That's the thing, we can't just borrow from another Kingdom, one Kingdom has to be joined to another in order to share its resources." Ashlynn sighed, gently blowing on her tea to cool it down some before consumption.

Raven gave a nod, silently thinking about things. "So what you're telling me is that you can't just borrow from a neighbouring Kingdom, they have to be joined. And joined as in...what exactly?"

Ashlynn shifted solemnly, which told both Madeline and Raven Queen that her last resorts weren't the most favored. "As in... I need to marry a Prince in order to save my Kingdom."

The girls gasped, Madeline whispered suddenly, "What about you and..." hinting in her voice about she and Hunter.

"I know, I haven't even gotten to that yet. I've enjoyed our picnic lunches but I just, I don't know what to do." This was devastating to the other two girls, but they actually only heard one part of it just yet.

"So, someone like Daring?" Madeline suggested, but Ashlynn's nose scrunching caused them all to giggle. He was definitely far from anything close to Ashlynn's type.

She sighed after giggling, "Somewhat. But that part's kinda of... covered. I met a Prince from a neighbouring Kingdom who's willing to help... it's just, I'd have to not see Hunter anymore and I just," it didn't take long after saying those words and having them sink in, when her eyes began to well up with tears. She set her tea down and was given a handkerchief.

Ashlynn softly sobbed, "I love him, so much. My heart hurts. To say I love him," she sniffled, "doesn't even come close to describing how I feel."

Neither Madeline or Raven Queen had ever felt that way about someone. To the point where nothing but the thought of not being with that special someone made them cry, or their heart break. It must be quite powerful to have that affect on her.

Raven shook her head, her lovely black and purple locks surrounding her. "You, are a brave girl Ashlynn. I don't even know what I would do if I was in your position. What do you think you should do?"

She sighed wiping her eyes carefully, trying not to mess up her make up completely. "Well, I know that it's a Princess' duty to do whatever she must to benefit her Kingdom and have it thrive. The darker side of me just wants to run away with him, but if any more people die... I just, couldn't do that. I can't bare to have another soul leave my Kingdom." She sighed, "I know what I have to do, doesn't mean I want to do it though. And it will affect my story greatly but even my parents aren't concerned with that at this point."

Madeline sighed, "Oh my, it must be of utmost urgency then."

"Yes, I'm afraid so." The girls made their way into the castleteria for lunch. Today was the only day Hunter said he'd be late, he was helping his mother pick berries in the woods. Ashlynn was so proud of him for going back home despite his father's snide remarks and inability to forgive.

It wasn't the easiest for him, but he was trying and made every single day count. She knew how much of a hardworking man he was and always would be. She had to shift her thoughts away from him quickly, or she'd begin to cry again. "Oh, what is today's mystery speciality?" Madeline mused, Raven Queen smirking.

"Well, it can't be anything too special. It is the castleteria. I swear they're trying to get us to appreciate dirt fonder of castleteria food." She glanced over to Ashlynn who still seemed distracted, poor thing. She really did have so much on her mind right now.

Apple White and Briar Beauty waved at Ashlynn, "Hey girl! Over here!"

Ashlynn waved farewell to Raven and Madeline, wishing them all the fairy best with the remainder of their day. She practically floated over to the lunch table, being so distracted that she didn't even realize her feet were moving. It was as if they had a mind of their own. "Hey," she greeted plainly as her best girl friends hugged her tightly, sitting down soon after.

The castleteria doors opened suddenly during that lunch hour and in marched someone that no one had ever seen before. "Arghh," Daring Charming crossed his arms over his chest as this new fellow gained all the attention of the ladies. Dexter nor Hopper – even Sparrow hadn't seen this guy before. They also never saw Daring so irked by another male stealing his spotlight either.

He marched through the crowd, every student's eyes on him and headed straight for the Royals lunch table. "My lovely Ashlynn Ella,"

Ashlynn gasped in a frightened manner, "Roland!" She glared at him as he kissed her hand tenderly.

"My Princess, I couldn't wait until the weekend to see you again." Many harsh whispers were floating about the whole crowd, causing Ashlynn's cheeks to redden even more. Everyone's eyes were on her and this, Roland guy. Everyone's.

"You shouldn't have come to my school silly, what's up?" She greeted him nonchalantly, a mere shrug of her shoulders. Today wasn't any special holiday or anything, no exception in the school schedule so what was he doing here of all places?

With the whole castleteria in silence, he brushed her hair back and smiled. "Ashlynn, what are you doing for... the rest of your life?"

Ashlynn shrugged yet again, "Nothing much really, I- wait, what did you just ask me?"

He shushed her, "I know we're young, but I've never felt so right with anyone before. I couldn't wait until the weekend I just had to come see you and..." there it was, in front of the whole student body he got down on one knee and held Ashlynn's trembling hand in his. Pulling out a gorgeous diamond ring he simply asked, "Ashlynn Ella, will you marry me?"

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