Disclaimer: I do not own Maximum Ride

I LOVE you all for reading this story! Thanks for reviewing, Awesome Ones!

Royal Prince – Chapter 8

MAX POV

Yeah, I stink. Literally. I suggest you hold your breath.

I was pushed and shoved out of the dungeons. They held my struggling self as still as possible as the noose was tightened around my neck.

Nothing I did would save me.

I stood, already feeling lifeless in the cold wind that pierced my skin.

I could do nothing. Nothing at all.

I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to forget the world around me, trying to forget what was about to happen.

A man's voice rose above the wind, practically screaming to the people. People that were watching me with sad eyes. "This troublesome girl has committed a serious crime that deserves a serious punishment. Death. She has put her family to shame. She has put her whole village to shame. And now-" a loud shout cut the man off mid sentence.

"STOP!"

Ella had found a way.

FANG POV

I pulled at the wood that covered the windows. But I knew it was locked from the outside. Safety precautions, they had called it. More like making sure a prisoner couldn't get out. And I'm the prisoner.

A voice slid through the wood, informing me on what was happening. "This troublesome girl..."

I knew what was happening, but it was no use. I'd already tried every possible way to get out and save Max. I had tried so many things... But I hadn't given up just yet.

And that was when a loud clicking sound came from the door and the heavy wood was thrown wide open.

"Ella?" I remembered Max's sister. I looked past her shoulder to see the four guards that were guarding my door lying flat on the ground.

Ella shrugged, seeing where my gaze had shifted. "It's easy to get past them if you have been fighting all your life... and when you're desperate to save your sister," she added as an afterthought. "You're the only one who can save her now."

I nodded frantically and ran past her. "Be careful!" I shouted over my shoulder.

Ella shouted back, "Always am."

The next thing I remember is Max. Max with a rope tied around her neck. Max, the girl I fell in love with the second I saw her.

And, no, I won't deny I said that. I would shout it to the world, but I'm kind of in the middle of making sure she doesn't die.

I remember my breath being caught in my throat. And I remember shouting over the voice that was describing why Max is going to die. Horrid stuff, I'll tell you.

"STOP!" I remember yelling as loudly as possible before passing out or something like that.

MAX POV

"Fang!" I screamed as he dropped to the ground. Tears sprung in my eyes, blurring my vision. "Fang! Answer me, Fang!" Did he only faint or did something worse happen?

Everyone stood there, staring at the limp body on the ground. Which really pissed me off. "Why are just standing there?" I screamed at everyone. "Help him! Now!"

This got everyone moving, even though I was the one with the rope around my neck and was in no position to be giving orders.

Prince James (or, as Fang had called him – Iggy) and a couple servants burst through the palace doors, running straight to Fang. A little girl skipped over to me. "Hi, Max," she said, bouncing on her heels in a cute girly way. And then, in a more non-girlish way, she screamed at the top of her lungs, "NUDGE!" A girl appeared at the demanding princess's side in an instant. Princess Angel pointed at me. "Take that silly, annoying rope away from her neck. Maxy needs to kiss Fangy. He'll wake up for sure!" She said this in such a positive way that I was wondering how many fairy tales she had read.

The girl named Nudge stood on her tippy toes, untying the rope. Noticing the look on my face as I watched Angel, she smiled slightly, a twitch of her lips. "She's always right, just so you know."

There was, well, a lot of confusion for the next few hours.

What do we do with the girl? She's committed a crime.

How did the prince escape? And why did he not want the girl to die?

What happened to the prince? Is he okay? Couldn't have my true love dying.

And the one the rose over everyone, What the hell is happening? Will someone tell me what the hell is going on?

That one came from the king. That stinking bloody king who cared nothing for his people.

I hope he goes to hell.

The servant Princess Angel had called Nudge knelt at the king's feet and whispered reluctantly, "Prince Nicholas escaped the custody of his room and stopped the death ceremony" – nice name they gave my death. A 'ceremony' makes it sound like a celebration – "and, um, he, well, he kind of dropped to the ground. Prince James carried him away." It must be hard to be the one telling the person who could kill you in a second something like that. I mean, even I wouldn't want to do that.

The 'king' sighed. "Just... continue the death ceremony."

"No."

The protest was unexpected. And you wouldn't guess who it came from...

Angel.

The king looked at her. "Honey, this girl has been doing bad things. She needs to be punished."

Everyone seemed to hold their breath.

Angel placed her hands on her hips. "No, Daddy. I want Max to do my hair."

"Ask Lissa to do your hair."

"I don't like Lissa. She's a bitch." Where does a little girl even learn that word? Right, probably from said bitch. "Fang doesn't like Lissa either. He loves Max."

Hah- Wait, what?

"He loves Max and he wants to marry Max, not Lissa. Fang hates Lissa. Lissa also kicked Fang in the balls. She's mean."

Um... no comment?

Every single jaw seemed to drop, even mine, even the royal family's – let's just say every single person. That's when the crying started. Little sobs from girl's who believed Fang was their true love, but mainly from Lissa She shrieked and sobbed and just about looked like she was going to get on the ground and pound her fists into the earth.

I gotta say... it was HILARIOUS.

And then everything was deadly silent. Oh, god...

That's when Prince James – Iggy – slammed the palace doors open and screamed to the whole world, "He's awake! Nick is awake!"

I had to think for a second who Nick was and when I finally remembered it was Fang's name, I breathed a sigh of relief. Thanking who-knows-whatever- god that had made sure that Fang would be okay.

I felt a tap on my leg and turned to face the source. "Can you do my hair now?" Angel asked.

I grinned at her.

So... did you like it? Too brief? Too short? Or was it absolutely awesome?

Review?