BLAH THIS CHAPTER IS SO SHORT-- BUT I WANT IT TO BE 20 CHAPTERS BECAUSE I LOVE EVEN NUMBERS-- AHHH---

Don't worry! The next chapter was updated with this to make up for it my loves!

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Birds sing softly as they fly through the sunlight in the trees, the morning warmth shining down on (Y/N) and Faunus as they slept soundly at their camp. (Y/N) was sleeping with her arms tucked behind her head, Faunus on the other side of the campfire bundled up in his hair with Pascal sleeping beside him, also tucked up in his hair.

A bright blue butterfly flutters down, circling over Faunus before making its way over to (Y/N). Its shadow moves across her face as she slept peacefully, her sleep disturbed as a water droplet falls onto her forehead.

She stirs a bit, eyebrows furrowing as she wipes at her forehead before relaxing once more.

Another droplet falls onto her, making her grumble sleepily as her eyes slowly open in question. Maximus stood over her, snorting furiously with a glare. Water dripped off his snout, his mane a bit wet as well.

(Y/N) blinks owlishly, slowly moving her arms out from under her as she props herself up on her forearms while staring at Maximus.

"... Hi, there. Don't suppose you'll let me get a five second head start?"

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Faunus startles awake with Pascal as (Y/N) lets out a scream, Pascal's color changing red as he looks around on high alert. Faunus breathes heavily, quickly looking over to where (Y/N) was sleeping before gasping at the sight of a white horse dragging her way by her foot.

"Okay, that's a no!" (Y/N) shouts out frantically, digging her nails into the ground as she was dragged. "Put me down! Stop! This is a misunderstanding! Let go!"

Faunus staggers to his feet and runs after them, grabbing onto (Y/N)'s arms and yanking her back with all his strength as he backs up.

"Horse-- come on! Please!" (Y/N) exclaims in exasperation. "Let. Go!"

Maximus neighs fiercely while yanking her back, Faunus straining with effort as he tugs her back towards him.

"Give-me-her!" Faunus demands through clenched teeth, leaning back as much as he could as his hands grip her wrists tightly, (Y/N)'s hands holding his wrists as well.

Maximus snorts while shaking his head firmly, pulling back on her boot.

"Okay-- okay, ow, ow! This is starting to hurt!"

Maximus yanks back roughly, (Y/N)'s boot popping off and sending him flying back from the force. Faunus staggers back as well with (Y/N), the two exclaiming as Faunus falls back with her.

Faunus lands on his backside, (Y/N) landing over him with her hands on either side of his head. Both stare at each other with wide eyes, Faunus' face slowly brightening with a bright blush as he blinks rapidly.

(Y/N) looks back over her shoulder as Maximus nickers groggily, snorting angrily as he rises while digging his front hoof into the ground.

"Oh, man!" she exclaims, quickly rolling off Faunus and backing up on her rear using her hands and feet as he charges.

(Y/N)'s backside presses against the tree behind her as Maximus neighs while approaching rapidly, Faunus quickly recollecting himself as he scrambles to his feet while running to the horse.

"Whoa!" Faunus yells soothingly, arms outstretched on both side of him to block (Y/N) behind him. "Whoa, whoa, whoa!"

Maximus skids to a stop in front of the man, his eyes darting from him to (Y/N) before he neighs and tries to go around.

Faunus was quick to get in his path, (Y/N) scrambling back with wide eyes as she watches.

"Whoa! Easy, boy!" Faunus attempts to soothe, Maximus dodging left and right trying to get past him.

Faunus doesn't let him, keeping himself between (Y/N) and the horse at all times.

"Settle down!"

Maximus neighs furiously, rearing back on his hind legs.

"Whoa! Easy, boy!" Faunus' voice lowers a bit as he smiles warmly, his hands lowering in a calming motion. "Easy."

Maximus looks into Faunus' eyes, snorting a bit in surprise at how similar they were to Queen Arianna's. His ears perk a bit as he softly snorts, visibly relaxing as he huffs.

"That's it!" Faunus praises, smiling widening as he nods encouragingly.

Maximus looks up, spotting Pascal on Faunus' head. Pascal was staring at him with a blank face, raising his hands in a 'chill out' manner.

"Now, sit."

Maximus' ear twitches at the command before flicking back as he scowls, neighing in protest as he leans away a bit.

Faunus gives him a pointed look, pointing to the ground. "Sit!"

Maximus huffs as he obeys, sitting down in a quick motion with his head hanging low.

"I'm sorry, what?!" (Y/N) says in disbelief behind Faunus, her eye twitching as she watches.

"Now, drop her boot," Faunus points to the ground once more, nodding.

Maximus snorts in defiance, ear flicking.

"Drop it," Faunus repeats firmly, leaning closer with a stern glare.

Maximus stares at him for a beat of silence, snapping his mouth open and shut and dropping the boot on the ground.

Faunus' face relaxes to a delighted grin, "Aw! You're such a good boy!"

He coos gently as he steps closer, lightly petting Maximus' muzzle as he praises him. Maximus' expression brightens, his tail starting to thump on the ground behind him.

"Yes, you are!" Faunus chuckles affectionately, giving Maximus a quick hug before pulling away with a frown. "You must be tired from chasing this bad woman all over the place, huh?"

Maximus pulls away with a nod, pouting.

"Pardon?!"

"Nobody appreciates you, do they?" Faunus questions as he steps closer, hugging Maximus' neck.

Maximus lets out a weak snort, peering down at Faunus.

"Do they?" he repeats with more emphasis.

Maximus shakes his head while lowering it, hugging Faunus back.

"Oh, come on! I'm the victim here!" (Y/N) exclaims in disbelief, throwing her hands up before gesturing to herself. "Thanks to him everything spiraled out of control! He's the bad guy here!"

"Oh," Faunus clicks his tongue as he pulls away from Maximus, stroking his snout as he looks back to (Y/N). "He's nothing but a big sweetheart."

Maximus neighs happily as he nuzzles his cheek against Faunus',  Faunus chuckling as he scritches under his chin.

"I'm sure he didn't mean to cause you trouble. Isn't that right..." Faunus glances down at the front of Maximus' harness, a golden sun with his name on the front. "Maximus?"

"No, he quite literally fully intended on causing me trouble," (Y/N) responds with a blunt voice, rolling her eyes as she crosses her arms over her chest.

Faunus looks up with a fond exasperation at her words, continuing to scratch along behind Maximus' ears as Maximus lowers his head while kicking his leg, whinnying.

"Everything that happened was his fault!" (Y/N) continues, throwing her hands up in exasperation.

Maximus lets out a firm snort, glaring sharply at (Y/N) in an accusatory manner as she jumps in surprise.

Her face hardens right back, her arms lowering. "Hey! Don't look at me like that-- that was not my fault!"

He whinnies lowly while continuing to glare at her, stomping his foot on the ground angrily.

"Oh, yeah?" (Y/N) starts with an offended scoff, scowling as she rises. "Well, you're a--!"

"Okay, you two!" Faunus intervenes quickly, holding a raised hand to her and Maximus.

(Y/N) huffs as she turns away, Faunus sighing as he looks back to Maximus.

"Listen, Maximus. Today is... kind of the biggest day of my life," he starts in a soft voice, Maximus watching him with interest as he nickers. "And the thing is..."

Faunus backs up to (Y/N), grabbing her shoulders and turning her to face Maximus, her expression a set glare as he lightly pushes her towards the horse.

"I need you not to get her arrested."

Maximus huffs and rears his head back, scowling in protest.

"Just for the next 24 hours!" Faunus quickly says, his hand held up in a reassuring manner. "And then you can... chase each other to your heart's content. Okay?"

"I'd really prefer to not be chased at all," (Y/N) pointedly states, her eyes narrowed at Maximus.

She looks to Faunus, Faunus watching her with a small frown and pleading eyes.

"But... I'm willing to work with you if you are," she strains to say, looking back to Maximus.

Faunus smiles happily, looking to Maximus as (Y/N) offers her hand to the horse. Maximus snorts and turns away defiantly, making (Y/N) look back to Faunus and gesture to Maximus with disbelief and annoyance.

"And it's... also my birthday," Faunus says in a nervous sing song, hoping to sway Maximus. "Just so you know."

Maximus nickers in frustration, face falling in defeat a moment later as he sputters a sigh. He turns back to (Y/N), raising his hoof.

(Y/N) takes it and shakes his hoof firmly, Faunus' face lighting up. Bells begin to ring out, making Faunus look around curiously as he walks between the two, drawn in by the sound.

"Wait. Wait, what?" (Y/N) murmurs with furrowed brows, turning and watching Faunus as he walks a bit away. "It's... It's your birthday today--?"

Before she could finish her train of thought, Maximus delivers a swift punch to her stomach, neighing smugly with satisfaction as she groans in pain and falls over.

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Okay-- but like BFFR

How did Maximus and Eugene not piece together that Rapunzel was the missing princess-- her birthday was that day, she was in the tower her whole life (she told Eugene) and she has golden hair that's magic 😐😐

I question Disney too much-- onto the next chapter