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Wolvmbm - I actually love, love, love Dexter Charming, he's one of my favorites for sure. I thought it'd be nice to give him a little cameo appearance in this story, xD lmao of course that's always an option, you'll see what happens though. Thank you for reviewing! MuffinsRYummy - Awww, don't worry! At this point, I'm not even sure what will happen yet, I just go with the flow whenever I have time. That's why sometimes it does take awhile for me to update, life just gets in the way y'know? If I ever abandon a story, you will no longer see it posted - or I will warn you, :) no worries! Thanks for reviewing, I totally appreciate every single one I get! Average Everyday Sane Psycho - Awww, me too. Glad you liked it! Thanks for reviewing, :D Guest - I absolutely plan to! Hope you enjoy this update. Ashlynn Cariaga - Awwww, I feel so bad yet exhilarated that you feel so passionately about the stories events. It shows that I have touched you with this storyline in one way or another. My apologies for all the tears and I certainly owe you a box of tissues! XD But as for what will happen, I'm not too sure yet. But I can assure you, and warn you, that there will be more tragedy before there will be light. You, and everyone else reading, has now been warned. Hope you continue to read though! :)

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A Royal Gone Rebel
Chapter Eight

For the past few days Ashlynn had been in a roaring, foul mood. She even called off schooling at Ever After High for the remainder of the week. How could her life become ruins in a single question? She was only trying to be nice to Roland! She never thought he'd dream of asking her hand in marriage, it was such... such a... such an... asshole move!

But walking out onto the palace balcony from her bedroom, she saw a nearby scramble and what looked like a crowd of people rushing, she leaned over the railing to look further, tears soon slid down her cheeks as she realized, there was yet another sudden death. There was a man hugging four children, their mother and his wife - didn't make it.

She let out a saddened sob and turned her back to the scenery, dropping to her knees, she did nothing but cry. She cried so hard. She cried, for many reasons.

So many lives were at stake. She couldn't risk anymore like this. She had to do something, but what? What could she possibly do? "Princess!"

"I swear, you're the la-" she peeked through the cracks of the balcony. She scrambled to her feet, "Hunter!" She almost dove over the railing, until Hunter climbed up to meet her. It wasn't that far, just a few hundred feet or so. He climbed an old tree this height before. She hugged him so tightly, he almost fell down to the ground below.

He swung one leg over the railing, pulling himself over. He and Ashlynn collapsing to the cement floor together in a heap. "Well, surprise!" He greeted her softly.

He came with hurt still in his heart, but he put it behind him for now. Dexter's solid advice stood still in his head, he needed to talk to Ashlynn about this. About everything. Whatever he had time to talk to her about, he would. "Hunter, I'm so glad to see you. I'm so sorry, I didn't think that imbecile would go and do that, and in front of everyone... I'm so- ugh!"

"Shhh, shhh. Ashlynn, I'm here to listen to you, start from the beginning - okay?"

She nodded, lying next to him, her head on his chest. "My Kingdom is in grave danger Hunter, my people are dying. Mothers, fathers, children... animals, nothing is thriving in my Kingdom."

He gave a nod, "Even the flowers are dead."

"Hunter!" She lightly smacked him.

"Sorry! Sorry, I - I uh, thought you knew." He rubbed the back of his neck nervously, he didn't come here to upset her. That definitely wasn't his goal.

She snuggled into him further, "Well now I do." Sighing was the only thing she could do. "Hunter, maybe... together we can think of something?"

He thought, "Fundraisers!"

"They're already poor. You can't ask the poor to donate to the poor," she waved it off.

"No, that's right. But you could ask other Kingdoms... our friends, they might help and pull through for you. So you don't have to get married to some jerk you barely know." He paused for a second, "Sorry, was that outta line?"

Ashlynn looked up at him, poked his nose and smiled. "Not at all, it's quite accurate." She shifted in thought, "Do you really think it's worth a shot? I mean... would anyone care that much to help me and my Kingdom out?"

Hunter brushed her hair back, "It's worth a try, at least we could say that we tried, before we gave up. Right?"

She sighed, her eyes welling up with tears. "I will never give up on you Hunter, he... he backed me up against the wall. He used my dying people against me to make me say 'yes'. I, I hope he's not lying. I don't want to marry him, but you understand... that if I do, if I have to make that ultimate sacrifice... that we, probably couldn't... be, anymore don't you?" A hot tear fell from her cheek as she nuzzled into his neck.

He hugged her, "I don't care if we just talk once in awhile - I want to be part of your life no matter what. I want to be your happily ever after, but if it doesn't work out that way, I'm alright with being a very good friend. I just want to have you in my life, even just barely, is still better than not at all."

Ashlynn reached up and caressed his cheek, "Oh Hunter, you're so sweet. I want to have you in my life no matter what too. I'm just not sure how, it's not fair to you if we're not together. I want to be, I'm so scared for my future." She hugged him tightly. "Promise me, that if I have to get married you'll see me the night before. I... I want to see you at least one more time, before it has to be, seldom."

She was barely making sense, but he was sure they would be able to pull of something. Anything, or so he solemnly hoped.

Several moments passed, Ashlynn was almost asleep in Hunter's arms. It was one moment of many that he missed so badly. All was calm, until he swore there was a noise, followed by a door opening and closing. He slid out from underneath Ashlynn, hopping over the balcony railing and hanging just underneath it by rope he had handy.

"Ashlynn! My love," Roland called out to her, kneeling down beside her. "can you hear me? Ashlynn?" Even though asleep, she could hear him perfectly fine. She just didn't want to move, or do much of anything.

She pretended to 'come to', and wiggled a little. "Oh... hello. Sorry, I was just... erm, watching the stars."

"Oh, oh. Good, that's nice." Roland leaned down and kissed her lips. She let her arm fall to the side, her hand reaching off the balcony, she felt Hunter grasp it. She tightened her grip apologetically, her whole hand was trembling.

He'd never felt anything more as real as her love, compared to her fear that he experienced right then.

"Come inside now Ashlynn, dinner's being held up."

She sighed, "Alright. I'll be down, I promise." He exited the balcony and her room, leaving her to roll over and glance down at her true heart's desire - Hunter Huntsman. "I'm so sorry!" She whispered sharply, she never meant for Hunter to be present during any of that. Not that she wanted to be involved at all with another man, she just - wanted no part of it.

Why was this so complicated?! Maybe she was making it much more complicated than it truly was? She shimmied her body over, dress and all, to the railing. There was just enough separation in the rungs for her to be able to lean out and kiss Hunter, probably for the last time. Their lips brushed and her whole body tingled. She'd never forget how much his kiss alone made her feel.

The only thing she had to look forward to was a lifetime of numbness.

"Ashlynn?" He whispered, caressing her cheek.

"Yes Hunter?" She whispered back, grasping his hand.

He smiled, kissing her nose. "I'll never stop loving you," he didn't want to make her heart ache or his, any longer. "goodnight my Princess." She watched as he climbed down from the balcony ever so swiftly, not making a sound. He reached the bottom and was off into the night.

Feeling a bit of vertigo come over her, she pulled herself back on to the balcony, she hugged herself as a chilly breeze flew by her. Cold and alone, she'd just have to get used to this feeling.

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