Saved!

"I saw her! She is there!" Bell told Lord blare everything she saw, including Bubbles. "They call her Annastia and treat her with absolutely no dignity or respect and have her living like a common maid." Blare nodded as he described 'Annastia'. "They must have smeared dirty into her hair…oh, her beautiful hair!"

"Enough." Boomer ordered. Bell fell silent. "That is her…no matter what they've done to her hair, only she would take such abuse without crying. Butch, Buttercup, you are to go to her as soon as possible. I'm coming too."

"Yes, Sire." they said before exiting to ready the horses.

"Are you sure you want to come? It's no place for a lady." Lord Butch asked her. She glared at him indignantly.

"Then I shall dress in boy clothes and be every bit of man you are." She said, turning her head with an angered look on her face.

"Listen, I didn't mean to offend you, but…"

"No apology. They are just for men who want to cover up their mistakes and clense their reputations. I will hear non of it." Buttercup walked farther ahead, with her head held high and her arms crossed. Butch hurried up and caughter before getting in front of her.

"Then allow me, My Lady, to clense not my reputation…but my relationship with you." She blushed when he took her hand. She turned her head again to hid it.

"What relationship? The only relationship we have is a servant and a lord."

"And I hope it develops even further than that." He kissed her hand and didn't let go when she struggled.

"NO! NO! LET GO OF ME!" She shouted, trying to get away with Lord Brick and Blossom watching.

"I think they like each other."

"Blossom, I couldn't agree more."

Butch rode his black horse with great speed while Buttercup dug her hands into his clothes to keep from falling. " I hate riding side saddle!" Prince Boomer followed behind on his grey horse while his guards followed with their swords.

"Well, I've always had women ride side saddle, My love."

"I'm not your love, danggit!"

"Enough of your arguing! I can see it!" Prince Boomer shouted.

"Yes, Sire!" They saluted and followed suit. They came to the silver gates and crashed through. Their horses strode confidently as a crowd of orphans and their caretakers gathered. Buttercup jumped down and walked down in the middle of armed guards who had their swords drawn into a long arch.

"Announcing his royal Majesty, the very esteemed and intelligent Prince Boomer Jaques Timothy!" She curtsied when she got to the side as Prince Boomer walked through the line. "Announcing the important and honestly bravest in all the land, the very dignified, (really? I never saw any dignity) Lord Butch." Lord Butch walked down the line after Prince Boomer and the swords slowly lowered after him.

"Who is head of this orphanage?" Prince Boomer asked. The head Mistress quickly pushed her way ahead and curtsied deeply to him. Maddi was glowing with excitement. "Hello, Miss. Might I ask, what is your name?"

"My name...is...Theresa...Stewards..." She stammered.

"I am looking for someone, Miss. Stewards. Someone whom goes by the name of Annastia. I hear she is at this orphanage. Bring her to me, please." The Head Mistress looked a little shocked, but nodded. Ironically, Bubbles was in the foye, scrubbing the floors when they came upon her.

"Annastia, his highness has been looking for you." She looked up and her eyes widened. Boomer blinked and there was silence before she squealed.

"BOOMER!" She ran into his arms and squeezed him.

"Annastia, you foul girl! Let go of him this instant!"

"Bubbles! I've been so worried!" He hugged her back.

"Do not talk to her that way and her name is NOT Annastia," Buttercup snarled. "She happens to be Lady Bubbles, your future queen." Maddi's eyes widened along with her Head Mistress.

"W-what...? I-I've been ordering around...but her hair isn't like how Madame Bell described it."

"Girl, go fetch me a pail of warm water, a wet rag, and a towel. We must wash that dirt out of her hair." Boomer was still hugging Bubbles and vise versa while Butch tried to get them to stop (failing miserably). "You'd best stop trying. There is no separating those two." Maddi grudgedly went to get her requested things.

"You have a knack for disappearing, My Love." Boomer whispered before kissing her cheek. Bubbles giggled.

"And you have a knack for finding me again."

Buttercup had Bubbles put her head above the pail of water and began rubbing furiously with the rag. "OW! OW! OW! Buttercup, that hurts!"

"I'm sorry, My Lady, but this dirty had been in your hair for so long that it's leaving its mark! I have to scrub this hard to clean it. Soap!" Maddi handed her some soap while Prince Boomer and Lord butch got information of Edward's whereabouts from the Head Mistress.

"I think he is headed towards the border where he'll govern his orphanages and boarding schools there."

"When did he leave?"

"Yesterday."

"That gives my guards time to catch him. Ms. Stewards, it seems that you did not get notice. I stripped Edward of his lord title, so he has also been stripped of his orphanagese and boarding schools. I shall send word of your new benafactor in time, but until then, I leave this orphanage to my palace. Your orphanage is now royal property."

"B-but, Sire, where shall I go!? I can't provide for my family if I do not keep this job!"

"You may keep your position." They spun around to see Bubbles was done.

"Here, go put this away." Buttercup handed the rag back to Maddi and she froze. Her rage was building up in her. "Do not contradict your elders, Child, especially since I'm of a higher status."

"Buttercup, do not talk to her that way." Bubbles scolded. Buttercup jolted.

"Forgive me, Princess."

"Maddi, please take that rag and get it cleaned." Bubbles said. Maddi muttered a 'yes, Your highness'. "I'm sorry for snapping at you, Buttercup. I just don't like the idea of statures and ranks."

"It's no problem, Your highness. Shall we be on our way?"

"Yes, they expect us back at the castle soon. Come, my Love, our home awaits." He held out his hand and Bubbles took it. Buttercup set the tiara she had been given onto Bubbles' head and followed behind her.

"Announcing her royal highness, the most beautiful, most kindest, and the most generous girl in the land, and your soon to be princess/queen, Lady Bubbles." Bubbles walked out and into the guard line, in rags.

"Annastia?!"

"But she's a servant..."

"Wow, she's pretty! I thought her hair was dirty blonde."

"Can I pwease be a pwincess?" Bubbles turned around and waved to them before climbing onto Boomer's horse.

"Butch, Bubbles and I shall be going ahead. I want to get her to the palace as quickly as possible." Boomer announced. Before Butch or Buttercup could comment, their whole group rushed ahead. They rode in silence.

"You asked him to do this, didn't you?" Buttercup growled when she caught a glance of him smirking.

"You spend too much time in the castle, Love. A nice stroll will do you good."

"How many times must I say it, I am not your love!" Butch chuckled.

"I wonder how long it will be before you finally realize and accept the truth about being madly obbsessed with me?"

"The only truth I'm accepting it the truth about you being some crazed jerk with an overinflated ego!" Buttercup snapped before becoming silent again, showing her stubborness. In truth, it was taking all her strength not to blush.

"Now is that how you talk to someone of higher stature?" Butch asked, flaunting his title.

"It's how I speak to insane morons."

"Ouch, that hurt, Love."

"Ugh!" Buttercup groaned.

"I know your problem, Buttercup." Butch finally said.

"How much longer until you make this beast go faster?"

"No woman would act like you towards me unless you were heartbroken once." Her heart stopped and her breath quickened. "Someone captured your elusive heart and abused it before throwing you away or am I wrong?" He stopped and looked back at her only to see slight tears forming. She jumped off his horse and began walking. "Buttercup?"

"What kind of gentleman would bring up a past like that?! YOU IGNORANT MULE!" She screamed at him before running away.

"Buttercup!" He called out his name. How many times will I mess up before finally winning her over?! "HI-YAH!" He slammed his heels on the side of his horse and shot forward before catching up and getting in front.

"AHHH!" She shrieked before stopping. "What are you trying to do!? YOU COULD HAVE KILLED ME!"

"...Buttercup, I'm sorry..." He said solemnly. They just stood there in silence before Buttercup climbed back onto his horse. The rest of the trip was in silence until she spoke.

"How did you know...?"

"I told you, no lady would be like you unless they were hurt like you." Butch looked back to see her face was filled with sadness. "Buttercup, I promise that I can be better then he ever was to you. Would you just give me one chance?" He asked.

"...I'll be the judge if your better." With that said, silence enveloped them both as she clasped one of his hands.