WHAT UP!

Well, this is the chapter where we find out who the Man in Black is! Again, if you've seen the movie or read the novel, then you already know who it is based on that. So, enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to Austin & Ally or The Princess Bride by William Goldman

Chapter 8

The Man in Black Is…

After defeating the leader of the kidnappers, the Man in Black and Ally had run from the rock table to a vast clearing of boulders and grass. He thought they could keep going and outrun the prince and his men, but he could feel the princess beginning to slow down. He looked back to see her panting, sweat beginning to form on her brow as she tried to keep up. Realizing they needed a break, he gently thrust her in the direction of a nearby boulder to sit on.

"Catch your breath." He said as he looked behind them to see how far ahead they were.

"If you release me," Ally said as she looked at him from where she sat. "Whatever you ask for a ransom, you'll get it, I promise." Originally, she had thought that he would take her plea that he would return her for whatever he desired, but he only gave a hearty laugh as he smirked at her.

"And what is that worth, the promise of a woman?" He said, mockingly. "You're very funny, Highness."

"I was giving you a chance." Ally said with no fear in her voice as she did. "It does not matter where you take me. There is no greater hunter than Prince Dallas." And for that, Ally spoke the truth. Dallas had taken her on a hunting trip, against her pleading to not go, and she had watched him show his prowess as a hunter. He was truly an amazing tracker and hunter. "He can track a falcon on a cloudy day, he can find you." The man looked at the princess with curiosity.

She spoke of the man she planned to marry with adoration and praise, but it was not in loving way. Nothing she did or said about this man was in a loving or even a caring way, if anything it was more plain and serious. He didn't want to be upfront about his thoughts, so he decided to play her with his wording of his questions.

"You think your dearest love will save you?" He asked her and watched as her face scrunched up a little when he said 'dearest love'.

"I never said he was my dearest love," She said with a little irritation in her voice. "And yes, he will save me. That I know."

"You admit to me you do not love your fiancé." The man said as he walked towards her. Ally stared up at him and suddenly felt a little nostalgia. Why did this man all of sudden seem familiar to her?

"He knows I do not love him." And she spoke the truth.

After Ally had agreed to his marriage proposal, she had been upfront and told Dallas in private that while she would marry him, he should not expect her to love him. She had made that promise when Austin died and she wasn't going to break it.

The man, seeing Ally's somber mood, decided to push her a little farther.

"Are not capable of love is what you mean." At that, Ally felt her anger begin to rise at that. Not capable of love? How could he, someone who probably doesn't know what love is, say that she was incapable of such an emotion? She stood up and stared the man down before her.

"I have loved more deeply than a killer like yourself could ever dream." At that, the man in black raised his right arm, his hand forming a fist, and Ally, by instinct, turned her head as if waiting for it. However, the slap never hit her face. She looked back at the man as he lowered his arm.

"That was a warning, Highness." He said as he pointed his finger at her like a parent scolding his child. "The next time my hand flies on its own, for where I come from, there are penalties when a woman lies."

The man then grabbed Ally by her arm and took off down the clearing once again. They had waited long enough and the prince's men were probably catching up to them.

Prince Dallas held the small vial to his nose as he inhaled what was left of the white substance.

"Iocane." He said as he lowered the vial. "I'd bet my life on it." He and his men had been hot on the tail of the princess's kidnappers, but when they came to the last one, they were surprised to see the last one dead. From what he could tell, there was another kidnapper that they would have to deal with.

He looked out and saw two different sets of footsteps; one he recognized as the princess's and another he did not.

"And there are the princess's footsteps. She is alive, or was an hour ago." He got up from his spot on the ground and returned to his men. "If she is otherwise when I find her, I shall be very put out." He mounted his horse, slapped the reigns and took off down the pasture.

When they had finally put enough distance between them and the prince, the man in black once again threw Ally onto a rock to catch her breath.

"Rest, Highness." But, resting was the farthest thing from Ally's mind. While they were running, Ally had finally piece together who this man was. The cruel attitude, the sarcastic nature and the brutality and sharp wit could only be one person. A person she has held contempt for ever since her Austin was taken from her.

"I know who you are." She said as she leaned on the boulder he threw her on. "Your cruelty reveals everything. You're the Dread Pirate Roberts, admit it!" And with a soaring bow, the man did not deny the accusation.

"With pride." He said. "What can I do for you?"

"You can die slowly," Ally said with a foreboding air of hatred in her voice. "Cut into a thousand pieces." If Ally had hoped to wound him, it had done none of the sort. He simply shook his head at her and clicked his tongue at her.

"Hardly complimentary, your Highness." He said. "Why lose your venom on me?"

"You killed my love." She said back.

"It's possible." Roberts said. "I killed a lot of people. Who was this love of yours? Another prince like this one, ugly, rich, and scabby?" He began goading her as he sat on a rock opposite her and it worked.

"No, a farm boy, poor, poor and perfect, with eyes like the leaves after the first autumn's day." Ally said in a dreamy voice as she recalled the man she loved. Oh, how she could remember staring into those beautiful eyes for hours and never get tired of it. Then she remembered who she was taking too and the dreamy state was broken. "On the high seas, your ship attacked and the Dread Pirate Roberts never takes prisoners."

"I can't afford to make exceptions." He said as he got up from his spot on the boulder. "I mean, once word leaks out that a pirate has gone soft, people begin to disobey you and then it's nothing but work, work, work all the time."

"You mock my pain!" Ally yelled back at him.

"Life is pain, Highness." He bit back. "Anyone who says differently is selling something." Ally remained stone faced as she watched him walk a little forward and then lean on an upright boulder. "I remember this farm boy of yours, I think. This would be, what, five years ago?" He looked back at her. "Does it bother you to hear?"

"Nothing you say will upset me." She said back.

"He died well." He continued as he turned back to the sun lined horizon. "That should please you. No bribe attempts or blubbering. He simply said, 'Please…please, I need to live.'" He turned back to see her reaction, but was met with the same face as before. "It was the 'please' that caught my memory. I asked him, what was so important for him here." What he said next roused something within Ally as her eyes began to shine with tears. "'True love,' he replied. And then he spoke of a girl of surpassing beauty and faithfulness. I can only assume he meant you." He could see Ally trying desperately to contain her emotions, be they sadness or anger, but he had to goad her just a little more. "You should bless me for destroying him before he found out what you really are." And that threw everything out the window for Ally. She had enough of this man and his constant jabs at her and Austin's relationship. He was a murderous pirate, what did he know of true love?!

Ally rose from the rock she sat on and released her building anger on the pirate.

"And what am I?"

"Faithfulness he talked of, Madame, your enduring faithfulness." He shot back at her. "Now tell me truly, when you found out he was gone, did you get engaged to your prince at the same hour, or did you wait a whole week out of respect for the dead?"

"You mocked me once, never do it again! I died that day!" She yelled in his face, her rage and anger finally boiling over. It was then that she heard the whining and galloping of horses and the sight of Prince Dallas and his men coming over the ledge of the valley. Roberts turned around to view them and Ally saw the perfect opportunity to throw him off his game. "And you can die too for all I care!" And then she pushed him down the hill of the valley. However, what came out of his mouth was something she thought she would never hear again in this life time.

"AS… YOU…WISH!" Ally didn't want to believe what she had heard, but then his black bandana fell off his head and a head of blonde hair. Her eyes widened and realization began to set in. The familiar eyes, the same scent and then same slightly cocky yet playful manner, it all made sense.

"Oh my sweet Austin," She said. "What have I done?" And, throwing herself forward began to tumble down the valley behind him until they both landed in the center ravine.

Dallas had caught sight of his fiancé with her kidnapper, but suddenly they had both disappeared from his range of view.

"He disappeared." He said as he scanned the view before them. "He must have seen us closing in, which might account for his panicking into error. Unless I am wrong, and I am never wrong, they are headed dead into the fire swamp."

Lying in the grassy bottom of the valley, Ally couldn't believe what had just happened and who was lying next to her. His identity finally revealed, Austin removed his black mask and rolled over to lean over Ally. He couldn't believe how much she had changed, how mature and beautiful she had become and to see her, actually see her and hold her in his arms once again, it was worth all that he had gone through to get to her.

"Can you move at all?" He asked as she looked at him, tears visible in her eyes.

"Move? You're alive!" She said. "If you want I can fly!" They stared at each other and then embraced, neither one willing to let go of the other.

"I told you I would always come back for you." He said as he held her. "Why didn't you wait for me?"

"Well, you were dead." Ally said as she pulled back a little, but not really letting go of him.

"Dead cannot stop true love." He said. "All it can do is delay it for awhile." Ally gave a small smile as she leaned her forehead against his and closed her eyes, breathing in the scent of him.

"I will never doubt again." She said.

"There will be no need."

And then, after so long, after so much pain, anguish and heartache, the two lovers connected their lips in a slow and loving kiss.

Well, I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Please leave your reviews, likes and follows for me because I love hearing your feedback!

Just a little note, but please take a moment out of your day and send some love to the Marano family. They recently lost a family member, Laura and Vanessa's grandmother, and a recent picture on Instagram just tugged at my heartstrings. #StayStrongMaranos #StayStrongLaura #StayStrongVanessa #RIPGrandmaMarano