Ashton Ironshade stood at the edge of the shadowy organization’s stronghold, staring into the flickering lights of the forest far beyond. The distant glow, faint yet unwavering, reminded her of the enchanted woods she had fled from. It gnawed at her, the memory of her defeat at the hands of that girl—the PuppyGirlPrincess. The thought of her name alone was enough to tighten Ashton's jaw and set her blood boiling.

  Yet, beyond the anger, there was something else—a whisper of doubt. The creatures had fought for PuppyGirlPrincess, not out of fear, but loyalty. The magic of the forest had answered her call, surging with harmony and defiance. It was something Ashton couldn’t understand. Her life had been forged in the fires of betrayal, her path hardened by loss. She had fought to restore her family’s name, to resurrect the Ironshade legacy from the ashes of disgrace. But in the shadow of those enchanted trees, she had been reminded of what she had lost—not just her family’s honor, but her own connection to the world.

  Ashton’s hands curled into fists, her gauntlets creaking under the strain. Weakness, she told herself. That’s all it was. And weakness was unacceptable.

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  Behind her, the halls of the stronghold hummed with life. The leaders of the shadowy organization awaited her report, their intrigue evident in the way they spoke of PuppyGirlPrincess. But Ashton didn’t need their approval to understand what the girl represented. She was more than a threat; she was a symbol of everything Ashton had buried under her ambition—hope, unity, and the power of something greater than herself.

  The cold wind swept through the battlements as Ashton turned back to the stronghold, her iron armor catching the faint gleam of moonlight. If PuppyGirlPrincess believed she had won, she was mistaken. Ashton had faced ruin before and clawed her way out. She would do it again. And this time, she would not retreat.

  The shadowy organization might have their own reasons for wanting PuppyGirlPrincess alive, but for Ashton, it was personal now. The girl had made her feel—something Ashton had spent years avoiding. Anger, shame, and a bitter yearning for the honor she had sworn to reclaim. She would capture PuppyGirlPrincess, not just for the organization, but to prove—to herself, to her ancestors, and to the world—that Ashton Ironshade was unbreakable.

  As she stepped into the dim corridor, the echoes of her boots reverberating against the stone walls, Ashton lifted her head. The leaders might see her as a pawn, but she had her own game to play. The Ironshade name would rise again, and no enchanted forest or idealistic girl would stand in her way.