//------------------------------// // ~Chapter 2~ // Story: The Prince and the Scullery Maid // by Wolfen Spirit //------------------------------// “You stupid, stupid deer!” Rael’s mother screamed at her when she arrived home. “How dare you!” Rael looked at her mother. “M-mother… I don’t under- um I don’t know what I did, I don’t understand.” Her mother growled. “You stupid deer. You’re just like your father. Stupid.” She sneered. Rael gasped, “My father was not stupid! He protected me!” “He was stupid. If your mother didn’t die when you were born he would’ve not have died. It’s your stupidness that killed them both. Your stupidness of being born, and your stupid curiosity.” Rael silently cried. “You stupid deer. You killed your mother. You killed all my crops. Now we are never going to make ends meet.” Rael apologized profusely and sadly. <~~~~~~~~~~~> “Mother… umm can I go to the Prince’s Birthday Ball?” She heard the announcement right before she left that, in payment for the hard work of all the kitchen staff, they were invited to the ball. Her mother looked shocked but then smiled, a little evilly if you will. And before she knew it, Rael was in front of the castle, in nothing fancy. She hid in the shadows and watched as each party guest more beautiful than the next, walked into the front gate. All the young mares spoke dreamily about the Prince, and upon hearing this, Rael felt a little stab of jealousy in her heart. She felt a tap on her shoulder and turned around quickly. She saw a middle-aged Spanish pony, wearing a well crafted suit, “Are you the deer?” Rael nodded. “I-I am a deer. My name is Rael.” The pony smiled, “And I Tailor Suit.” He herded her along to the side door, “Now, come, come. You must look your best tonight.” Rael blushed and obliged with the orders. As she got measured and different fabrics got laid on her, the Prince got ready for his party. <~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~> “Mother…” The Prince complained, “Stooppp.” His mother rolled her eyes at him and smiled. “So, any mare’s you want to impress?” Queen Quill said, almost pleadingly. But, to her pleasure, Kohen shrugged, “Maybe.” Quill squealed like her daughters and smiled widely. <~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~> At the party, The Prince is finally announced, “Announcing his highness, Prince Kohen!” All the mares screamed and even a few fainted as the black stallion walked out from the doors. He flung his gray and black mane. More screams and sighs followed. Some random pony came up to him, and said, “P-Prince um… can we dance?” The Prince nodded politely and grabbed her hoof and lead her towards the dance floor. After one song, all the mares were lined up to dance with him. Then, one certain deer came out, dressed in the most beautiful silver and blue dress. Her shoes were a solid silver and she walked gracefully towards the Prince. She stopped mid-point as she saw his gaze turn to her. He left the mare he was in front of and walked towards her. “My name is Kohen,” He announced, blushing. She smiled, “I am called Rael.” He grinned and bowed, she did the same. And they danced. “You are a scullery maid?” She nodded but flinched. “You are a deer.” She nodded again, “Then why, if we come from completely different lives, I can’t stop thinking of you?” Rael blushed at that statement. “You are a prince. You are an alicorn.” He nodded as they danced, “Then why can’t I stop thinking about you? I don’t even know you.” He grimaced and nodded. “And I you. Though I would like to know you.” The Prince spoke gently. Rael scoffed, “Me? A dreadful scullery maid?” “Yes you. The dreadful scullery maid.” The black prince nodded in confirmation. But, Rael took a step back. “I don’t need charity. I get enough of that from the staff.” The Prince looked dumbfounded. “Char-charity? Who said anything about charity?” The Prince asked quietly. “You didn’t have-ta say anything.” she growled. “I know what charity looks like. I’m a deer. Nothing special. A stupid scullery maid.” The prince tried to interrupt but, Rael stormed on, “You’re a Prince. Mister High and Mighty.” He looked hurt, and Rael started to feel guilty. But before she could say anything a loud crash came from the staged section. They both looked up in alarm. “Get her! She has committed many felonies! She insulted the prince, she’s an illegal immigrant! I said GET HER! You fools!” Wheat Stock , Rael’s “mother” flipped back her red mane. She glanced at Rael and smirked as the guards closed in. Rael stepped backwards and opened her mouth, though nothing came out. She looked at the Prince, who moments ago she insulted. He looked back at her with shock and hurt clear on his face. Tears ran down her face as one by one, guard after guard grabbed her. She looked at Kohen one more time, she could see determination on his face. <~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~> 3 weeks later in her jail cell Rael was singing a song her father always sang to her. She gave up trying to escape and just laid on her back. Run baby Run, Don’t you ever look back to me, Your escaping me, Your escaping my destiny, You are little Rael my little one, You have dreams that are bigger than everyone Baby, my little baby You gotta run, Baby, my little baby You gotta go Gotta fly, Gotta sing Your happiness Will meet your wings You will soar You will glide Until your nose Touches the skys’ Run baby Run… She then heard hooves clapping outside of her stall, “You can sing too? Wow. A triple threat!” When she looked out she saw the Prince. She scrambled up and looked at him, “Well, if it isn’t my knight in shining armor! And those threats would be? Singing…” She began. “Well dancing is the second one of course!” The Prince chuckled “And the third?” She answered snarkily. But the Prince smirked. And with wearing that ‘You’ll see’ expression, he got keys out and levitated them in the air temptingly. “I don’t even know you. Why are you saving me? I’m an illegal immigrant remember?” He smiled sadly, “Is that true?” He put the keys away, unfortunately. She shook her head, then paused and shrugged, “I don’t know. Is it really illegal to be here? This is Equestria, right?” He nodded firmly, understanding lighting his eyes. His handsome amber eyes. She thought longingly. He smiled again, his eyes kind, “Why?” She tilted her head, “Why what?” He sighed, “Why did you call-” He cleared his throat nervously, “Um. Why do you think I’m like every Prince in the world?” He did not expect her reaction. She laughed, “I don’t. Because no other Prince would give me the time of day.” She lightly touched the bars of the cell. That seemed to snap him out of his thought, and the Prince unlocked the doors. “Thanks,” she rolled her eyes playfully. He watched her with rapt attention. She snickered, “What could be holding your attention now?” The words just tumbled out of her mouth, she shocked herself. She was usually the nice, quiet, and reasonable one. The one who was afraid of everything. Now she was mean. “I didn’t mean that.” She stuttered looking at the blushing face of the prince, “Your highness I-” Kohen interrupted her, “No, don’t apologize. It is- eh hem- okay. But, please call me Kohen. I’m- You- um-We’re friends. So…” She blushed and echoed his last statement. They walked away from the cell and ended up in the kitchen. One of the cooks shrieked, “The Prince!” A crowd surrounded him and pushed Rael away. She kept backing up until she bumped into something. She turned around, “Oh! Sir Carlander! I did not mean to-” But The Prince’s uncle laughed it off, “Ah! Young deer! It tis alright. I would not have any bad feelings towards the one whom stole thee Prince’s heart,” She flushed, “But, young stow away, aren’t thou supposed to be in thee dungeon?” Rael took a step back, “Now young deer. I would not like thou to be in trouble with thee Royal Family!” He ushered her away, down the hall, and to a secret room. He turned to her, the confusion clear on her face. “Ah young deer,” He smiled evilly, “Don’t worry, thou will always be safe.” She looked at his face nervously.