Laura could see the soldiers of Havfrue from where she sat crouched in the tree, concealed by the dark and the leaves. They were sitting around a fire on the shore of Neverland, unaware that the lost boys, now more commonly known as the Twilight Children, were stalking them, as stealthy as cats as they watched from the bushes and trees.
Neverland was at war with the kingdom of Havfrue and had been for six months. King Eric and Queen Arial were searching for the source of magic and they believed that Neverland held the key. They sent their son, Prince Sebastian, to retrieve it, along with the shaky allegiance with the pirates. They wanted to team up on them and Laura was not about to let it happen. She was one of the most powerful sorcerers in the fairytale world, the worthy replacement for Peter Pan. And she was not about to let her kingdom and throne be stolen by some entitled prince and a pirate.
Laura watched as the prince walked down the ramp off the ship. His red hair was illuminated by the fire as he discussed war plans with the soldiers, etching the plans in the sand. Silently, she gave her second in command, Mel, a small flick of the wrist and everyone lept into action.
They never even saw them coming. As silent as shadows, they lept from the trees, Laura leaping into the air like a warm breeze, flying towards them. As stealthy as a pack of hyenas and as deadly as cobras they attacked.
The soldiers and the prince drew their swords, only to have them blasted out of their hands by tongues of fire. Laura let a begrudging smirk cross her face as she landed and rolled, throwing balls of fire towards him, allowing her second to lead the rest of the Twilight Children in attacking the soldiers and pirates that ran off the boats. Prince Sebastian was hers.
The two circled each other, him ducking to avoid her blasts and her stepping back from his sword. It was a beautiful and deadly dance.
They were both two soldiers, both who had fought to make it to the top, and both who were at each other's throat. So many similarities and so many differences.
Laura grinned, and cast her spell, turning all the twilight children invisible.
Every sorcerer had a strong point in their magic. Hers was elemental, with a favour in fire, just as Merlin specialized in training magic, and culinary skills. She, unlike other kids, who learned it at schools, was born with her power. After she had almost destroyed her parents' castle, they had sent her away and she had ended up on Neverland, and after many years of training with Peter Pan, she took over as the leader, letting him retire.
She hovered just above the sand, letting Sebastian wave his sword gently around.
"I know you are there, you rat. Why don't you show your face?" He hissed, staring into the dark, trying to detect her as she crept behind him.
She grabbed him around the throat and pulled him into a choke hold, heating up her hand. The pirates and soldiers froze, staring at her as she became visible, holding their beloved prince tight.
"Get on your ship, or he gets it."
Sebastian grabbed her arm, trying to flip her, but she held strong, planting her boots in the sand.
"Get on your ship," She hissed. She twisted and placed her burning hot hand inches away from his throat. She didn't want to hurt him, but she would if she had too.
Kendrick, the leader of the pirates, stepped forwards. Laura tugged Sebastian back, forcing him to drop his sword.
"Last chance. Get on your ship, or your precious prince gets it."
Kendrick paused, before flicking his hand, and the pirates and soldiers, who were being held by Laura's army.
Laura waited until they had all made their way onto the ship, then she released him, kicking him away from her.
Sebastian turned to face her, nothing but pure malice in his face as he kneeled. "You will never keep the magic. We will find it, and then, you will have nothing left."
Laura stared at him, before crouching and grabbing the collar of his blue uniform jacket for the kingdom of Havfrue. There was a small emblem on the collar, a golden crab, the symbol of the kingdom of which Sebastian hailed.
Havfrue was a kingdom that Laura had known of since childhood. It was one of the three major ever kingdoms. The one nearest to water and famous for the story of The Little Mermaid.
"What are you going to do?" Sebastian asked. Laura was distracted by the fimiliarity of the emblem and didn't notice as his hand crept around her neck and grabbed the back of her cloak.
"Watch out!" One of the children behind her shouted.
Laura rolled her eyes as he pulled down her cloak, exposing her face.
"You're a girl?" He blinked in surprise.
Luara scoffed and pushed him away. "Go back to your ocean, you do not belong on this island. I don't ever want to see you back here."
Sebastian stumbled towards his ship and scrambled up, taking one last glance towards the cloaked faces of The Twilight Children.
The Twilight Children let out shouts of excitement and even Laura let a smile grace her face. What they had spent so much time doing was finally over, magic and the residents of Neverland were safe.
Laura watched to make sure they were retreating, before turning her back. "I have to meet with the fairies and alligators. Take everyone else home." She ordered Mel.
Mel nodded and Laura turned, heading north towards the home of the fairies of the great oak. She was stopped, however, when a shout arose from one of the boats.
She spun back around and squinted into the moonlight. A large bird, a stymph, had swooped down and grabbed the prince. Laura narrowed her eyes. Stymphs were only residents at the schools, and they were also nice to evers.
She then groaned as it tossed Sebastian up onto its back and took off, letting Sebastian ride it. Must be time for a new semester at the schools. Laura turned and began walking toward the trees. She only began running when another stymph squawked and flew after her.
The stymph had its hands out as it came after her, chasing Laura. She ran into the trees, and paused, thinking she had escaped. That was her downfall.
The stymph flew down and snatched her up, leaving her to shout in surprise and minor pain as its claws dug into her ribs. The stymph threw her upwards, trying to let her sit on its back, but Laura paused, letting her magic kick in so she hovered above.
It squeaked and chased after her until it finally managed to grab onto her cloak. Laura screamed as it lifted her onto its back, keeping a firm grip on both her cloak and the end of her braid, not letting her escape again.
Laura made eye contact with Mel and she nodded. Mel would keep Neverland safe. Laura pressed a gentle hand to the stymph's bony side. She squirmed slightly, trying to loosen herself, but the stymph was having none of it. It only tightened its grip on her hair, leaving her stomach down on the bony bird.
Fine then, she would get out when she got where they were going.
Laura had almost dozed off, her eyes heavy from flying through the night. The sun was beginning to rise and she opened her eyes, staring into the sun. She squinted, her eyes adjusting from the dark to the light as they soared over the clouds.
"Oh hell no," Laura said, as a large glass castle appeared. The light streamed through it, setting the pink cotton candy fields alight.
The first thing to cross Laura's mind is that she didn't want to be a princess, she didn't want to become her mother.
The stymph finally let go of her braid and tipped over, letting Laura vanish into the cotton candy of The School for Good.