Yeah I know this chapter's been pretty late. I was hitting a total story snag here and I was hoping to post this last night to get another July update in but that unfortunatly didnt happen. Anyway, I'm vowing to put more effort into updates this month so I can get this out of the way (with a goal of getting it finished before the Season Premiere.) There's still more characters I wanted to introduce and they'll be introduced in likely quick succession. Have fun with this and please keep reviewing. Pretty pretty please.

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PART EIGHT

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King Walter panicked when he found his son was gone once again. He was also quite sad. It made him wished that he hadn't been so harsh towards his son in the short time he had been reunited with him.

Little would he know that months later, Prince Peter was hesitantly heading back toward his father's castle, the last place he wanted to return to. At first, he thought of confronting William the Sorcerer head on but he had little knowledge of the dark magic that he and his father worked with…the same kind that had been keeping Olivia prisoner for months. For all Peter knew, William was capable of killing him with a single look.

So he knew that his best bet was to see his father.

On the plus side, Peter was not treated like a criminal as he arrived back on the premises. He was even able to walk to his father's chambers and knock on the door.

There was no answer.

Peter hesitantly opened the door. The smell of various foods struck him hard as he carefully treaded through all the trash and the junk that consumed the floor. King Walter was sadly sulking over a table with his back to him.

"Walter."

When he turned around, Walter's face slowly lit up. "Oh…Peter!"

The old man's clammy arms wrapped themselves around Peter so quickly that Peter didn't have a chance to shove him away. Instead Peter gave Walter a nervous smile. "Oh son, I was worried you ran off again."

"Of course not, Walter. I just needed some time to myself." Peter then sarcastically added "whom am I to ditch responsibility to the crown?"

"Yes, my boy," the King smiled. "Would you care to join me in this new treat I have just invented? You see I take root beer and I add this frozen cream taken from Gene's udders…oh wait, I don't think you've met Gene…but he is a special cow and his milk is quite nutritious…"

"No thank you, Walter. I just want to talk…"

"Of course, son. What do you want to talk about?"

"About Olivia…"

Walter gave a gleeful smile. "You like her don't you? It's sad that she had to be a reckless criminal and wreck that chamber of mine…"

Peter then shoved Walter against a wall.

"That's not what I wanted to talk about," growled Peter. "And I know that whole arrest was a setup. I know where you really took her. Now tell me about the Gate Children. Tell me why you're putting Olivia through this!"

His grip loosened and Walter could only stand there in fear. His voice was lost, unable to call the guards.

But then Peter had another threat to add. "We can discuss this like reasonable adults," said Peter. "…or I can leave and never come back. And this time, you wont have someone as good as Olivia to find me again."

The King now was left with an ultimatum, risk telling his son all of his secrets or lose his son forever. William would surely kill him if he spoke but this was Peter…his son…whom he had already lost numerous times before.

He wouldn't be able to take losing Peter again.

"It wasn't my idea, son. It wasn't William's either. It was the Seers."

"The Seers? Who are they?"

"Those who could travel between the worlds and see into the past and the future," Walter explained. "Son, I didn't want to take those children away from their homes but it was the only way to put an end to the war."

"Well Walter, I don't think it's going to work. You really think Olivia could stop an entire army from a single room? You are out of your mind! Now tell me how to undo the curse and get her out of there!"

"Peter, there is no way to break the curse…until one of the kingdoms is destroyed…either ours or theirs."

Peter then turned and was angrily heading for the door.

"Where are you going?"

"I'm going back to Olivia."

Walter then quickly ran over and stopped Peter from leaving. "To Olivia…that's where you've been this whole time?"

"Get out of my way, Walter!"

"You love her, don't you?"

Peter froze. "And why would that matter to you, Walter? Is it because she's not royalty? Or is it because you have issues with letting me grow up and fall in love?"

Walter's eyes widened. "Peter…listen to me…this changes everything, don't you understand? You and Olivia can never be together. It's the prophecy of the Seers."

"You know what, Walter? It's your own damn fault for taking her away from her normal life and making her a Gate Child. So I couldn't care less what some stupid old people have to say about…

"But it's you, Peter," said Walter. "The reason you and her can never be together is because of you!"

"What about me? Because I'm a prince?" But then Peter looked at Walter who was sweating badly. "Is there something you're not telling me, Walter?"

Walter was wiping the sweat from his forehead. "Whatever do you mean son?"

"I heard you and William talking. He said something about Olivia turning someone against you. Were you talking about me? Why would she turn me against you? Tell me the truth, Walter!"

Walter began to tear up. "Forgive me, William," he whispered. "Peter…when you were a young boy, you were very sick…"

There was a banging on the door and Peter opened it. "What?"

A guard stood there a bit nervous and then said to Walter "your majesty, we've sighted enemy troops near the west border. Captain Broyles and his men are on their way there."

The west border? That's where the fortress was.

Peter pushed the guard back and started running down the hall. Walter was unable to stop him.

...

The veiw outside the fortress was clouded by smoke. Olivia could smell the burning villages. Still no one had yet to come through to the Magic Mirror. Perhaps these armies had found other ways to break through into this world. Perhaps this mirror wasn't the only gate. That would've made Olivia's job worthless then didn't it?

But suddenly the mirror began to shake violently and Olivia, being all alone and unable to escape didn't have any other choice. If she was going to die, she might as well die fighting.

Through the glass came two soldiers and Olivia was quick to charge them. One she managed to push out of the tower through the window. The other crashed against the harp and Olivia was quick to stab him with the sword.

A bright blue light began to shine through the window, and consumed the room. Olivia shielded her eyes. This time at least half a dozen guards broke through and Olivia was outnumbered and exhausted. One of the guards struck Olivia and she blacked out.

"Stop!" A fine well-dressed man carrying a staff had entered the room through the mirror. "Do not finish her just yet." The man went over to the unconscious Olivia and turned her gently on her side. He pulled her hair back and saw the mark. "So this is their savior," the man laughed. "This is the so-called Gate Child? This kingdom is more pathetic than I thought to have a woman do a man's job."

The guards laughed. The man then ordered two of his men to pick up Olivia. "The King has commanded that we bring this one back alive." They then took Olivia through the mirror and disappeared.

A moment later, a part of the wall opened and Peter burst into the room. He noticed Olivia's absence instantly.

"Where is she?"

The man looked up smiling at the Prince and ordered his guards to stand down.

"What have you done to her?" Peter asked. "Who the hell are you?"

"I am Lord Newton," said the man. "I've come to return you to your father."

"He sent a search party out for me already?"

"No, I meant your true father."

"Very funny," said Peter.

Newton sighed. "Well, I see you're going to need more convincing. This King Walter seems to have brainwashed you."

The stone table began to shake and from out of thin air King Walter and William the Sorcerer appeared.

"PETER!"

William aimed a magical beam at Newton but he managed to stop him with his staff. Then William quickly went with his other alternative. He began to chant something and Walter eyes widened in terror. He was going to perform the banishment curse.

As the room began to glow red, Walter knew that had to get Peter out now.

"Peter, you must leave the room quickly!"

"Not until I know what's going on here."

Newton laughed. "He's right, your majesty. Let your son stay and find out what is really going on. You've never heard of the banishment curse, have you Peter? It's only a temporary harmless spell to throw anyone back into their original world."

"Peter, leave now!"

William was unable to stop the banishment curse once he got started. The room got redder and redder.

Peter tried to take a step closer to the door, but Newton grabbed him. "No…stay…"

Before Peter knew it he was lifted from the ground, along with Newton and his guards. Newton had dealt with William's banishment curse before and he knew it would throw him back into the mirror.

"PETER! NO! William you must stop this!" Walter pleaded.

But it was too late. Newton, his men, and Peter were suddenly sucked back into the mirror.

When Peter got his senses back, he was no longer in the dark fortress but rather a rocky and gloomy valley. The ground was coated in dust and not too far away was a large mirror, similar to the one back in the other world.

He was picked up by the guards again and Newton smiled down on him. "You see, Peter. You've finally been brought back to where you belong. And now, I do believe it's time for you to meet your real father."