A new life
It was a cool night in Australia, in The New World.
The Artful Dodger sat close to a campfire in the middle of nowhere, stretching his hands closer to the warmth of the fire. Wrong Way Brown and the Dodger had left Sidney weeks ago in a "borrowed" carriage.
Now they were on their way west. Wrong Way Brown had a hunch about a huge pile of gold and Dodger just followed. Everywhere but Sidney was fine with him.
Though it was only two weeks since they had left, it felt like ages for Dodger. The time spent in Sidney had come and passed so quickly. In contrast to this travel, that felt like months to him. He missed the city and his life there.
Firstly he´d dreaded his deportation to Australia. But then he´d met Oliver and The Princess. Or Hannah, as her name was. But somehow he´d ended up naming her Princess. Originally because it irritated her, but later the nickname felt fitting.
He smiled by himself. Oliver and The Princess had soon found their way around the city, staying out of Bate´s sight and off the grid. He was proud of them.
He would rather have stayed in Sidney with Oliver and the Princess. Leaving was one of the hardest things he had ever done. But he dreaded the "respectable" life, the normal live that was in store for him there. He´d just got pardoned by the Governor. He was free, a hero even. Everybody seemed to like him now, after what he´d pulled off to save all the kids from the street.
He knew Oliver's granddad could get him into the best schools. He knew he´d be welcome everywhere in Sidney now. He knew this was his chance to be respectable, to get an honest life.
Instead he´d stolen a carriage from Colonel Springs and joined Wrong Way Brown in new adventures.
A respectable life was nothing for him. Partly because he liked his lazy life as The Artful Dodger but also because he knew, he would never really fit in as a normal, respectable boy.
(Start flashback)
"Cheer up. This is the New World. You can be everyone you want to be" The Princess words echoed in his mind. He had smiled at her, slightly sad, as she had said that. The two of them had been alone in the back of the theater, small talking about the recent events. They had succeeded in finding her brother Martin and exposed Bates as the villain he was.
As he sat there with her, he wondered if he should tell her how he felt. He´d felt a wired rush of feelings inside him. He knew his gaze had probably told on him right then and there. And judging by her nervous glance and smile she´d probably known something was off with him.
Instead he´d told her about the shrine. She´d looked inside it and found the jewelry.
He´d been standing with one foot on the ladder ready to climb up and out of her life. But something had held him back. He´d wanted to see the look on her face, as she´d found the jewelry.
He knew he´d never forget that moment. She´d looked so happy.
Right before she´d turned around to face him, he´d climbed the ladder and was well on his way to meet Wrong Way Brown.
(End flashback)
He´d no idea where he would end up now. After all his company was Wrong Way brown.
But he would find his way, as always.
He was the Artful Dodger after all.
A/N: What do you think? I might turn this into a multi-chapter fiction later. And then it would be about Dodger, Wrong Way Brown and their adventures. If you guys have any ideas for that, please let me know :P