The Prince and The Stablehand

Knuckles POV

It was another day in Moonrose. Yet today we are being visited by the king and queen of the kingdom Estella. I woke up extra early to get the stables ready because it was rumored prince shadow was also coming and he adored horses. So by the command of the princess I get the stables in tip top shape. I finished up with the other horses before heading to Wildstar. As I get closer I noticed a black and red hedgehog admiring Wildstar. Was he a new hand? I lean on the post as he tries getting closer. "I wouldn't get any closer to her if I were you" I said making him jump. He asked why and I explained to him it was the princess's horse and so on. I click my tongue and called over the beautiful beast to give her medication. I look over and noticed how he was mesmerized by this beautiful creature so I offered if he would like to feed her. I saw the spark in his eyes. I was surprised when Wildstar let him feed her and something in my heart just warmed up. Suddenly the princess comes and for some reason I told him to hide. The princess comes comes in and demanded to ride her horse which may I remind you she had never rode nor bothered to spend time with this horse. I tried telling her repeatedly that the horse can not be ridden due to the medication could cause sudden hostility if pressured. Sure enough it happened and I had to calm Wildstar down. She almost collapsed on top of me but I managed to get out of the way. She lays on the ground as I pet her continuing to calm her. "THAT HORSE IS OUT OF CONTROL!" The princess yelled as the other stablehands and maids take her back to the castle. Deep down I had a very bad feeling that it wasn't going to end well. I entered back into the stables to find the hedgehog was gone. I guess he got spooked by the princess's reaction or Wildstar's suddenly hostility. I bring Wildstar back to her stable and she lays down. I was summoned to the throne room where the king and queen ordered me to put Wildstar down. I tried explaining to them that I warned their daughter but they didn't want to hear it. My heart was broken once I saw the light in Wildstar's eyes fade away. At least she knew someone here actually cared about her. I have had enough of the princess and packed up my things. I loaded up my dads old Chevy and told the king and queen I quit. I drove off to the bar the next town over and ordered the strongest whiskey they had. As I was sipping on my drink i heard his voice. I looked up and for some reason my heart raced seeing him. He sat next to me as I told him about Wildstar and how I had quit. Once he offered a job to me at his castle it clicked he was prince shadow. I told him my name and took the job. Once we left I was nervous with him riding in my beat up Chevy yet he loved it. He longed to live non royal and I respected him for it. The way he talked about how he would sneak out just to enjoy being away from the castle made me fall for him. He's not a selfish prince he's a kindhearted prince and I can't believe I developed feelings for the prince.

After proving myself with his horse he showed me my own little house which I was very grateful for. When I went to sleep that night I had a dream of the two of us..... together. Deep down I know it's forbidden because he is betrothed to Azula. Yet I didn't care she doesn't deserve him. That morning I woke up and helped out around the stables getting to know more of the other Stablehands who spoke highly of the royal family. I was summoned to the throne room and was waiting for shadow. We entered the room once he arrived and the other were right about the family they're kind and understanding. Shadow followed me back to the stables to watch how I groom Zuzu. When I was done Zuzu was a complete different horse and Shadow was very impressed. He asked me to join him for a ride to show me around the kingdom which I gladly accepted. It wound up helping me out a lot to know where to go and everything. He took me to a special spot that only him and his brothers knew about which made me felt kinda special in away. We talked more and I never thought how much royal duties were hard. Yet he rather be on the other side of it and have a better understanding of his people. I never thought I would ever meet a royal so kind and long to be like his people. I don't remember much but he muttered I was stunning I thought he was confessing that he liked me. So I stupidly kissed the prince but broke it once I realized I have done something that could cost me everything. I apologize hoping he wouldn't freak out but instead he kissed me back and I was floored. I felt happy it was amazing. We stared into each other's eyes and was out to kiss again until the horses alerted us that someone was coming. It was his brother Silver and Shadow was summoned by his parents. I saw the disappointment in his eyes as we rode back. I placed the horses back into their stables and finished up some of the work before I saw that Prince Shadow had dropped his pocket watch when we were in here earlier. I picked it up to return it just as I heard him getting on his brother. That's when I heard that he was in love with me and couldn't risk my job if his parents knew right away. He cares about me and my well-being....

I fell for him hard after hearing that.