Disclaimer: Ranger's Apprentice belongs to John Flanagan and blah blah blah. There, I said the disclaimer.

AN: PLEASE READ!

Warnings: AU (EXTREMLY!), OCs (one of them is a main character…), mild swearing, and AU. I needed to repeat that because this story is an Alternate Universe.

If you want to know more about this universe, check my profile… I can't list all the info here because 1: that's self advertising, and 2: it would take up WAY to much space.

Now you can read the story.

Alyss looked around the room sadly. There, on the small table, sat that damned letter. How was she to believe what its contents said? How could she believe what the letter said? How can you believe something that was so terrible and sad and horrible? How?

Lady Pauline touched her hand to Alyss' arm. Instantly, the young woman jerked her arm away. Pressure was building up in her eyes, and before Alyss could stop them, a tear slid down her cheek. Pauline quickly wrapped her protégé in a hug, allowing the young woman to cry without the others seeing. She continued to rock the young Courier back and forth, muttering comforting words.

Across the room, a Ranger sat silently. He had no sarcastic comments, no grim humor, no raised eyebrows, just a look of disbelief. Knowing what would come, he pulled his hood up and over his head, leaving only his mouth visible. On his right cheek, sliding slowly was a drop of water- a tear to be precise.

For the first time, Pauline saw her husband cry. She gestured for him to come closer, so she could comfort both of them. It was to be expected after all. The three had just received the worst letter anyone could ever receive. They didn't even finish the letter- they just read the first sentence and stopped. "The Chocho is dead."

They didn't continue. The one sentence was enough for them. They didn't want to hear about their friend's death or anything else. They just needed that one sentence.

They should've finished the letter.

They would've known more information.

They would've known that the letter was fake.

(\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\)

Dear friends,

The Chocho is dead.

He went missing on the fifth of this month. A Senshi confirmed that he was dead after a week of searching.

You should know he was awake before he went missing. He talked with me, played with me, practiced with me, and sang with me.

I am sorry for your loss, he missed you and was excited to come home, but now he truly is home. He will be with you again, always remember that.

I am sorry,

Shigeru

(\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\)

You see, Emperor Shigeru's letter would've had the royal seal at the bottom. His hand writing was different. But, the three were so concerned about the first sentence; they didn't realize that the hand writing belonged to someone who'd written in the common tongue all their life. Instead of finishing the letter, they threw it into the fire, not wanting to reply.

Alyss remembered that day all too clearly… the day the arrow took him away from her. She couldn't say his name… it was too hard… too difficult. He was just… he. He wasn't Will or Chocho. He was just he.

And the day she lost him was one she'd never forget…

(\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\)

Ariska lay dead in front of the crouched figure known as Will Treaty. Will took a few deep breaths before standing to his full height. But before he could do anything else, and arrow was fired directly at him from less than four meters away. Will was instantly knocked back down to the ground. He lay on his back while the arrow protruded the center of his chest.

Halt O'Carrick saw a man running through Ariska's ranks, trying to get away. With anger burning his heart, Halt ran towards the running bowman. If anything angered the grizzled Ranger, it was hurting his apprentice. Halt stormed off towards the bowman, an arrow already nocked onto his bow string.

Alyss Mainwaring found herself sprinting faster than Horace or Cassandra as she tried to reach her fallen lover. After what seemed like forever, she reached his fallen form. "Will…" She whispered. His eyes drifted towards her as she gripped his hand. "Don't go to sleep!" She demanded as his eyes slowly drifted closed. "Will! Don't go to sleep!" She screamed this time. Now, Will's eyes were staring at the sky, blinking open and closed.

He didn't move, he didn't fuss, and even after Horace removed the arrow from his chest, he still stared at the sky blankly. "Will!" Alyss demanded. "Speak to me!" She said as he continued to stare at the sky. Finally, his hand moved towards her face. "Don't go to sleep… don't go to sleep… don't die…" Alyss whispered as his hand caressed her face.

Next to her, Halt watched his young apprentice. No one knew what to do. There was no healer that was trained enough to handle Will's injury. And Ariska's men may not be exactly loyal considering the man who'd done this to Will had been under Ariska's command. "Halt…" Horace's voice whispered. "What do we do?" He asked.

"I don't know." Halt answered after a few moments. "He's not going to make it on a trip home." Halt told the four young people. The Emperor entered their conversation, a solution on the tip of his tongue.

"I'll take him to Ito. There, he can recover and when ready, return home." Shigeru said with a sad smile. "It may be the only option we have, Halto-san."

"I know…" Halt replied. "Just… make sure he lives."

Alyss remembered what Halt had told Shigeru. Make sure he lives. "He… he said that he'd make sure he'd live…" Alyss whispered. Pauline continued to rock the young woman. "The Emperor promised… he promised that he'd come home…"

"Alyss… there are some things in the world we can't control. No matter what, there's always going to be a promise that can't be kept." Pauline began. "Will has laid down his bow, he's hung of his boots, he's up there with God and he's watching over you. He's been laid down in that field on the edge of town. His soul has gone where we always preyed that it would go.

"Will is already home." Pauline finished. Alyss couldn't stop the tears that glistened down her cheeks at the mention of his name.

(\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\)

Clomnel, Hibernia, three months later

Two men sat in the back of King Sean's court. They were an odd pair- one was a little shorter than average while the other was a bit taller than average. One had dark brown hair while the other had pale blonde hair. One had deep brown eyes that's gaze unnerved people, while the other had bright green eyes that looked friendly.

But, they also had many similarities.

For one, they had the same purpose in life- to protect the Kingdom of Araluen at all costs- even if it meant their life.

Two, they both were believed dead.

Their names were Will Treaty and John Blunt, and both had business to tend to.

(\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\)

Alright, I know that this is… short… but this is only a prologue. Hero will be on hold until I finish this- only because I have ideas burning in my mind for this story.

Now, I need you all to pretend that Will had already proposed to Alyss- it fits the story line a LOT better…

Updates should be weekly and possibly daily… and maybe even monthly. It all depends on my schedule with school and such.

-Sharkbait