A/N: OLAF! It's me, IFYOUCOULDFLY! I'd just like to say-THANKS! I wasn't even expecting any ratings at all, but lookie here! You guys are just too awesome. Oh, yeah, I've got a guest here with me. Will, can you do the disclaimer please? Will: The what? Me: The disclaimer…It's the thing that says John Flanagan owns Ranger's Apprentice and it's characters… Will: Whoa, what?! Somebody OWNS me?! Me: Umm…yeah how 'bout you go ahead and read you guys? This is getting awkward…

-CHAPTER ONE-

Will slowly rose out of bed and stretched. He peeked out the window, only to see that the sun was just barely showing itself on the colored horizon. "Funny," he thought, grinning, "that I've lived without Halt for months, yet still I'm accustomed to waking up at dawn." Memories of his grizzled old mentor shouting at him to get out of bed appeared in his mind as he got dressed. He ate a typical breakfast of oatmeal and (of course) coffee, then headed out the front door, bow in hand.

Soon he was flying along the coast of Seacliff on Tug, feeling the cool sea breeze on his skin. He sighed contentedly. "This is the way it's meant to be." He thought. In the quiet town of Seacliff, he had a lot of free time to enjoy himself, something that didn't come often during his apprenticeship with Halt. At dawn, nobody was out by the cliff that gave the fief its name, so he could have target practice without causing alarm to the citizens. Swiftly, he fired arrow after arrow at designated spots he used as targets: a log, a tree, even the side of an abandoned cabin. He smiled, remembering part of Halt's farewell: "Just because you're an official Ranger doesn't mean you can get lazy. You'd better keep practicing, or I'll have to go waste my time with a funeral for you."

After finishing practice and collecting his arrows, he led Tug back to his stable. "Good boy," he said, rubbing his ears and giving him an apple. "Yeah, whatever…ooh, is that an apple?" The shaggy pony seemed to say. Will grinned and rolled his eyes, then turned and walked back to his cabin for another cup of coffee. As he approached his home, he was surprised to see a messenger knocking on the door. "How can I help you?" He asked, suppressing a laugh as the man jumped in surprise. He kept forgetting how silently Rangers moved.

"Y-yes, Ranger Will I presume?" The messenger asked, trying to recover. Will nodded, and he handed him a letter. Will raised his eyebrow, a trait he'd picked up from his former mentor. "What's this?" "From King Duncan's advisor, sir." The messenger said, nodding his farewell. He was off quickly, seeming very eager to leave the young Ranger's presence. Shrugging, Will went inside, then opened the letter and began to read.

King Duncan has requested that you arrive at Castle Araluen immediately. A pressing matter has arisen, one that would be safer to discuss in person, seeing as this letter could easily slip into the wrong hands. We are trusting you will arrive swiftly, Ranger Will.

Sincerely,

The Court of King Duncan

Will frowned, sipping his coffee quietly. "Already," he thought, "I'm being called to the castle." He quickly brightened. "If I'm wanted, Halt, Gilan, and Crowley will most certainly be there!" After gulping the remainder of his coffee down, he ran to the stabled to fetch Tug again.

"Oh, come ON!" The shaggy pony seemed to say. "You were just here!" "Yeah, I know. Jeez, what kind of horse are you? We're needed at the castle." If it was possible for horses to arch their eyebrow, that's exactly what Tug was doing. "Well, why didn't you say so? Let's go! I'm so bored here!" Will laughed. "Well, we'd better get going, then!"

Several hours of riding later, they were practically galloping through the forest they knew so well, on their way to the castle. "I missed this old forest, buddy." Will muttered happily to Tug, who tossed his head in return, his way of saying "Yeah, so did I". He glanced up at the dimming sky. "It's getting dark, buddy. We'll make it to Castle Araluen tomorrow." Tug grunted his tired approval, and they slowed down to a trot, then walk, then finally a halt.

Will slung his leg over Tug's body and landed on the forest floor with barely a sound. It was a peaceful place at night, with hardly and noise other than crickets chirping and Tug's snorting. Will loosened Tug's girth instead of removing his saddle, not fully trusting of the dark woods at night, and slumped down by a tree. He was just beginning to doze off when he heard a twig snap.

Instantly, his hand grasped the bow next to him, and he had an arrow ready. Tug's ears were pricked in the direction of the noise. "It might just be a rabbit," Will thought, "but I'm better safe than sorry." He glanced at Tug, who was still alert, and nodded at him. "Hello?" He called. "Is anybody out there?" There was no reply, but he hadn't expected one. Anybody sneaking around his camp wouldn't respond. What he was really looking for was another sound, like crunching leaves or snapping twigs.

He stood there for a full minute, bow still ready, Tug still prepared for action. Finally, he shrugged. "It's nothing, boy." He called to his faithful pony, who relaxed, but had a doubtful glint in his eye. He smiled. "Come on, Tug, rela-" he was cut off mid-sentence by a sharp pain in his arm.

He fell to the floor with a pained cry. Tug whinnied, frantically moving to his master to protect him. Will, with his teeth clenched, ripped the object out of his forearm: a small dart. "Uh-oh." He thought as the ground in front of him began to waver. "Tug!" He shouted weakly, his head pounding. He winced and, using every last drop of effort he could, muttered. "Find Halt." Tug looked at him defiantly. "I can't leave you!" "Find Halt!" Will said again, in a more demanding tone, then shuddered as a wave of pain coursed through him. Everything was spinning now. In his delirious state, he made out figures emerging from the shadows.

"GO! There's nothing more you can do!" Will urged to Tug. His pony seemed reluctant. "I can't leave you!" Will opened his mouth to protest, then cried out in pain as he felt hands grasp his throbbing arm. "Alright, Ranger Will, say bye-bye to Araluen!" A sleazy voice ordered. "The messenger…" Will thought. "Tug! GO!" He cried, seeing Tug's attempts to fight his captors. "He'll be in Redmont!" If horses could cry, that's exactly what Tug was doing. "But Will…" His eyes said. "Go…" Will muttered, and his horse finally seemed to accept it. He knew Tug was aware that Halt could help much more than he could. With one last regretful look at his greatest friend, Tug began to run, girth still loose, towards Redmont, and away from the people that were slowly dragging Will away. "Good…" Will whispered, watching his faithful companion tearing through the night. That was the last thing he saw before it all went black.

A/N: Again, you guys, thank you! Yeah, this one was a lot longer, sorry 'bout the short prologue…and how this chapter jump around a lot…yikes. Oh, but I got 2 uploads in one day! That's something I guess….whatever keep reading!-FLY