After the departure of Baelfire, Robin Hood: The Prince of Thieves was comforting his son, who was still quite shaken by the encounter with Peter Pan's shadow. "Are you alright, my boy? No broken bones?" The boy looked up at his father and tentatively whispered, "No, papa." Robin sighed in relief, staring at the others in the luxurious mansion dining room. Letting go of the boy he gazed out the window, believing he could faintly see the outline of Baelfire, sailing through the sky to the second star on the right. Robin then spoke up. "Little John..." The other thief looked at Robin expectantly. "I suggest we make camp in the mansion foyer. Get the others out of the cold. Could you tell them, please? My friend?" John stared at him with a massive grin. "Right away!" With that he scampered out the door and headed for the rest of the Merry Men. Robin grinned brightly and loved that happy twinkle in the other man's eyes. Suddenly, another voice spoke up, startling Robin slightly. "May I help in some way?" Turning around he found the young warrior woman who had been in the mansion with Baelfire, and was now leaning against a bookshelf looking uncomfortable.
"Oh! Erm... I'm sorry. I don't know your name." Robin felt out of place speaking with her. She carried a heavy air of confidence. "My name is Mulan. I'm certain I can be of assistance to you... Robin." He was impressed by her overall demeanour. An articulate, obviously strong and proud woman. "Well, Mulan... Would you take my boy to the others in the foyer, while I look around here a little while longer? I haven't read in awhile and this library seems quite well stocked." She nodded and took the boy gently by the hand, leading him out of the room, leaving Robin alone with row after row of books to explore through. "What a gorgeous room." Robin thought to himself. Books were a wonderful way to escape into the world of adventure when you weren't there yourself.
After spending several minutes simply walking around the room, he heard the sound of a door creaking shut. As he made his way through the library again, a strange whistling echoed from the dining area! Before stepping out of the shadows, Robin made sure to draw his bow, keeping an arrow nocked in case of unwanted enemies. At first glance the room appeared empty, but on closer inspection there was a figure reclining in a chair near the windows. "Stand up! Who are you!?" Robin yelled assertively. The figure slightly turned its head, but appeared unfazed by Robin's tone. "I am here to help you, Master thief." The voice that emanated from the figure was crisp and contained power, but didn't sound like a man or woman. Robin's breath caught at the sound of the stranger! "Give me your arm. Please." Robin couldn't help but obey, putting his bow back in place, while walking forward as if controlled by a mysterious force. The figure had kindness contained in its unusual voice. "Show me the lion and shield." Robin did so. The figure was bathed in a dark red and black tinted cloak, but the hand that protruded from its sleeve was smooth and gentle against his skin.
The cloaked figure then began uttering a language Robin wasn't familiar with. "Ith coul veatrew mesgt vaswe iptraq mawesdera." Suddenly Robin's mind was flooded with images of a man he had only met a few minutes earlier. Baelfire. The images involved him and the other man embracing, kissing and very in love! This shocked him beyond belief, wondering what these images could possibly mean. "I don't even know this man. What are you showing me?" The figure then stood up and pulled back its hood, revealing the man in the images, Baelfire right in front of him. "Hello, Robin. I've missed you." Said the cloaked man evenly. Robin stared into the man's eyes with disbelief. "You were taken to Neverland by Peter Pan's shadow only a few moments ago. How could you be here now?" Baelfire simply stepped forward and took Robin's face in his hands. Closing his eyes, he claimed the thief's lips in a gentle, yet powerful kiss which left Robin feeling absolutely complete! Once they pulled apart, Baelfire spoke. "I haven't had the chance to do that in so long. I'm sorry." Robin merely put a hand to his (now swollen) lips. "It's perfectly alright. Thank you for that." They both grinned at each other warmly. Baelfire then revealed something very odd. "I came here from a parallel reality. A world where it wasn't my father who became the Dark One. I did to stop him from being corrupted. I couldn't come here until you had met my other self. You and I became involved as soon as we came into contact with each other. Then you died in front of me and I wanted to make sure that you and my other self found each other here."
Robin was shell-shocked by this revelation, unsure of how to process it. "Your other self is on his way to Neverland. How can I possibly find him or get there?" Baelfire laid a finger on Robin's tattoo. "Utter his name and you will be there. Don't worry about your son, either. Mulan will take care of him. I know you and I are meant to be together." Robin then looked down at the tattoo that began to warp and change from a lion and shield to a swirling circle that contained flames within. "The symbol of Baelfire." Robin whispered. The cloaked Baelfire then spoke quietly. "I will tell your son where you've gone. I promise." With that he disappeared and left Robin alone again. He put a hand over the hypnotic tattoo and without hesitation uttered. "Baelfire, I seek you." As he closed his eyes a strange sensation came over him and when he felt comfortable, he decided to open them again. As he did, he took in his immediate surroundings, which told him he was in the middle of a dense forest. After staring towards the dark trees he heard a familiar voice. "Robin?" Turning around, the thief found himself near Baelfire and several others he didn't recognise. Regardless, he moved forward and kissed Baelfire with immense passion, not caring about anyone else. Just them and this beautiful moment, for he couldn't deny that Baelfire was a new love, now and forever!
Author's note: Thank you to everyone who keeps reading my story! Hope you enjoyed this little twist. (: