Reviews:

Wolvmbm - thank you so much! I always look forward to your reviews because they're so full of thought, development and everything that an aspiring writer looks for. I cannot tell you how much reviews make my day! XD I do hope you continue to read, :) MuffinsRYummy - lmao well I'm not quite sure about that, but I mean - I suppose y'never know right? XD thanks for reviewing love! Ashlynn Cariaga - Awww thank you! This is my first Ever After High story and I wanted to make a lasting impression, so I chose to do a canon couple. That's actually a rarity for me, I don't normally do stories about couples whom are already known in the series, but the reason I did, was also because Hunter and Ashlynn were the first dolls I personally purchased, of the Ever After High series, so it's a bit of a tribute if you will. rubyalix - thank you, thank you! :D

I'd also like to say a quick but meaningful thank you to everyone who's favorited, alerted, read, reviewed, followed - all of the above! It really does mean the world to me, I wanted you to know that! :)

A Royal Gone Rebel
Chapter Nine

Finally, Monday had arrived! Ashlynn couldn't wait to get to school and have a nice long chat with her friends! She needed all the help and advice she could get. So she wanted to call upon all her enchanting friends to see if they could put their heads together and think of something. She sent texts to her dearest friends to meet up in a secluded area of the woods before school started for the day. She wanted to get the ball rolling as soon as possible!

She nearly ran out the doors before Roland could even see her, practically diving into the horse-drawn carriage she took to school every day. Checking to make sure she still had both shoes - which she did - she would wait until the horsemen and driver were ready. "Ooh Hunter, you're so smart!" She praised softly, "This is brilliant."

The ride there was about twenty minutes, to half-hour. It depended on the weather really, but today the sun was shining bright and she couldn't see a bad thing happening today - that's how good she felt. Until she passed what used to be a luscious garden in her Kingdom, all flowers were actually wilted, lifeless. Dead. They were all dead.

Ashlynn wouldn't let it bother her right now. She had a plan, well. . . she and her friends would have a plan. They would for sure, they. . . she looked back at the wilted flowers. They had to come up with a plan. Her poor Kingdom couldn't take this any longer. They depended on her, she needed to help them.

"Ashlynn Ella, has arrived!" Her carriage came to a halt and that's how she knew they were there. Other than the obvious announcement.

She hopped out of the carriage, despite the horseman holding out his hand and she gave a nod. "Thank you." Grabbing her knapsack, she carried on while they drove off - but darted out into the woods quickly there-everafter.

"There you are!" Hunter was the first one waiting for her, she lunged into his arms - almost knocking him off his own two feet. "I missed you, even though I just saw you last night."

She nodded eagerly, her eyes wide and sparkling. "I missed you too Hunter, you don't even know." She pulled him in for a gentle tender kiss, before parting. It was too short for the both of them, but it had to do for now.

Several minutes had passed by and no one else showed up yet. Ashlynn checked the clock numerous times, but was relieved when a few of her hexcellent friends showed up. Apple, Briar, Maddie, Raven to name a few so far. "Hey girl!" Briar greeted her, hugging Ashlynn. "Before you even say anything, you have to fill us in. What's up with the dude who asked you to marry him the other day? Bizarre much!"

Hunter had his arms folded over his chest, it was bizarre indeed. Nor was he impressed about it what-so-ever-after. But, this wasn't about him today. It was about Ashlynn and her Kingdom. He was tense until he felt a hand upon his shoulder. Looking back quickly, he saw Dexter and Daring. This was a great turn-out as is! Daring was your go-to guy to get the word out. Everyone paid attention to him whenever he spoke and smiled so - it was a perfect combination. "Thanks guys, for showing up."

Daring nodded, "Wouldn't miss it!"

Dexter shrugged, "It really is the least we can do. A fellow Kingdom's in distress. In times of need, you have to come together - because sometimes one just isn't enough."

Ashlynn sighed, she shifted a little bit. Hunter put his hand on her shoulder briefly, letting her know it was okay. "Well, I'm minding my own business in my Kingdom when I'm told we're going to have a guest. A. . . suitor." The girls took turns rolling their eyes, they knew what Ashlynn was going through. Their parents trying to play matchmaker rarely worked out. They were so old-fashioned!

"Ugh, that's less than charming." Briar waved it off, hoping her parents wouldn't make her search for one of those soon. Maybe they'd forget? Only if she was lucky enough.

Ashlynn nodded, "So this guy - Roland, is now all up in my Kingdom and I wasn't impressed of course. I was hoping I had the weekend to de-stress, not get stressed. Anyways, so he decides to take me out for a ride on the forest trails. And he starts asking me about my life and stuff, you don't just do that when you meet someone. You're supposed to take time to get to know someone, not drill them right away!" There were many nods as she expressed her annoyance. "I told him if he wanted to get anywhere with me, that he best not treat me like a piece of meat. He said he'd treat me like the finest grade piece of meat," Dexter, Daring both silently face-palmed. Hunter, was near seething. "Anyways, I had on this totally fableous outfit."

Apple clapped lightly, "Ooh, do tell!"

Ashlynn caved right away, "Well, I had this dark forest green riding jacket, some light brown riding pants and these cute black riding boots."

"That is such a rebel move," Raven chuckled. "a Royal Princess wearing pants?"

Ashlynn smirked, "I don't like riding in a dress! Anyways, Roland," the disgust in her voice every time she spoke his name stood out more than anything else. "told me he didn't mind if I wore the pants, as long as he could unfasten them later."

Madeline Hatter shook her head, "He sounds like a dried out teabag."

Queen Raven chuckled, "I agree."

Briar shook her head, "He sounds like a pig."

One of the three little pigs snorted, "Hey!" They all shared a good laugh at the poor innocent pig's expense, but he soon joined in on the laughter.

Taking the opportunity to rephrase her statement, Briar did. "I'm sorry, he sounds like a dirty piggy."

Ashlynn nodded, "Mhmm. Wait, there's more. So I told him a bit about Ever After High, that we're Royals and Rebels, he asked if the Rebels were hot."

Maddie shook her head, "An empty, un-flavorful tea bag - that's all he is."

Raven put a hand on her friend's shoulder, "Whoa there, relax Maddie. There's more to the story. But that was Prince Jerk-ish."

Ashlynn agreed right on the spot. "Anyways, I learned a bit about him, he learned a tiny bit about me, I told him he was a big jerk and just as I suspected, he agreed because he wasn't listening to me." She rolled her eyes at the memory, "He moved in to kiss me right away, I was so shocked I didn't know what to do - out of nowhere, this arrow just pierces his shoulder and he falls from the horse. I was frightened! So I did the only things I could really do. I tore some of my blouse, tightening the wound to stop bleeding out and brought him back to my palace on my horse."

No one really spoke, they were too intent listening to the story Ashlynn was re-telling about her life for the past week.

She crossed one leg elegantly over the other, carrying on. "He was out for awhile, I just wanted to hear him say something so I knew he'd be okay. I didn't want to be a 'Prince Killer'." She giggled out of a bit of nervousness. She wasn't sure what her friends would think of her, knowing or - for the most part she was with Hunter. "He woke soon, barely got out the request for me to lay beside him. I told him I only would 'cause he was injured, and he'd best not do something to make him punch his injured arm." She shook her head, not wanting to reveal any slight intimacy that had happened between them. Absent-mindedly, she touched the gold chain around her neck. "Then it pretty much leads to him, proposing to me. My Kingdom is dying, it will be nothing. We've had over ten fatalities, probably even more - we cannot survive much longer. We might even parish ourselves. I feel sick, I feel scared, I feel lonely, I feel so hurt."

Briar blinked, it was one heck of a story! But it all made sense and led up to the recent events. "I could give you some of my 'rents fortune, if we all pitched in we could help your Kingdom no problem!" She was ready to fist-pump with the wonderlandiful idea, but some didn't share the same enthusiasm.

Daring shook his head, "It won't work. There's a system you see." Everyone paused to look at him, he could almost feel the glares - it was something he was not used to feeling at all.

Dexter fixed his glasses upon his nose, giving a nod. "Daring is right. In order for a Kingdom to help another Kingdom, they must be joined somehow. Whether it's by blood, or. . . marriage. They must be joined."

Plenty of saddened sighs and discouraged groans came from the group, until Raven peaked with an idea. "Sure, the Kingdom's have to be joined, but there's nothing about individuals coming from Kingdoms, to maybe, fundraise or donate or something - and the Kingdom in need just happens to, come across this new found fortune. . . anything's possible with a bit of brain power and, just a touch of evil." She shrugged, "My specialty, sadly."

Going Rebel for a Royal cause, it was certainly something to think about. It didn't take long before the whole crew cheered - they were ready for anything to help out in any way possible.

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