An: NymhadoraTonks: Chester hasn't really said much about Oakley to Matt, just has mentioned him a few times. I just wanted a little mention that Chester thinks about Oakley a lot. Those girlfriends are just basic and really judgy. They see Eliza for the outsider as she is. At least then they didi, now everyone is going to notice Eliza.

As for Matt and Eliza's hair situation...He'll be surprised, but you'll see what happens between them. Something definitely changes.

Thank you so much!

Chapter 11

Gifting Talents

Matt went to Wonderland that weekend. He missed home dearly. After last night, Matt felt fine getting a peaceful weekend. He went through the Well of Wonder, his favorite way to get to Wonderland. Tracking it down was probably his favorite part. Instead of using a guide, he used his Wonderland instincts, and they usually proved right.

Once on the other side, Matt took a deep breath of fresh Wonderlandian air. It was a short walk to the White Castle. When he arrived at the gates, he was let in immediately. Taking a moment to admire the garden, Matt picked a blue rose. Perhaps he would give it to Eliza. In its place grew a purple one. Matt had never seen a purple flower in the garden. Although he had to admit it was lovely.

As Matt climbed the stairs, Hermon climbed out of his coat pocket and sat on his shoulder.

Are you sure your parents are going to like me?

"Like you? They're going to love you, Hermon," Matt said with a smile as he pushed the white marble doors open. The hall seemed to be empty, but Matt wasn't quite convinced. He stopped, listening around.

He whistled a tune as he strolled farther into the hall. There was a sudden rustle by the stairs. Matt placed down his bag as he grinned. He detected the noise from the blossom tree. It grew in the center of the spiral staircase. It was his mother's touch, but Matt loved to see color in the castle. Matt quietly ran halfway up the stairs before leaning against the trunk.

Matt then tapped with his knuckles against the bark in an intricate pattern. The tree twisted in response, making its branches shake slightly. Blossoms fell down, as well as his mother, Maddie Hatter. She was hanging upside down from one of the branches. "You found me!" Maddie giggled. She then swung down from the tree's branches and onto the stairs. "You've grown about a foot since I've last seen you the other week!"

Matt gave his mother a questioning look as he stepped down two steps. Once they were on the same level, Maddie came up close to her son's nose. "Oh," Maddie laughed. "Silly me." She then got up on his tiptoes and ruffled Matt's hair. Matt gave a small chuckle.

"I've missed you, mom," Matt said and gave his mom an unexpected hug. Maddie returned the embrace willingly. When they pulled apart, Maddie gave him a warm smile. Matt loved these more sincere moments with his mother. It was a side he rarely saw, which made every moment special.

"Oh!" Maddie jumped up and clapped her hands. "You've brought a friend."

"Yes," Matt shrugged Hermon off of his shoulder. "This is Hermon." Hermon began to crawl down Matt's sleeve.

I can see where you got your crazy hair from.

Matt tried his best to stifle a laugh.

"What did he say?" Maddie asked. She knew of her son's abilities to read animals' minds. "If there was a narrator I could hear it myself, but apparently we're not interesting enough."

"He said," Matt trailed off as he tried to think of something. "That he likes you."

Don't put words in my mouth.

"Sorry," Matt whispered. Maddie held her gloved hand out to Hermon. Hesitantly, Hermon lept onto her palm. She took her index finger and first pet his small head, then Hermon moved under her touch, clearly loving the attention.

"Friendly little thing," Maddie smiled at Hermon before placing him back unto Matt's outstretched hand. "Getting a mouse is a wise decision, even if some think it's mad. They are the best pets."

"Darling," Wade's voice called through the hall. "Could you stop tickling the tree so much during the fall season? The blossoms are already getting everywhere. the tree doesn't need to be provoked."

"Sorry dad," Matt called down. He couldn't see where his father was, but then Maddie suddenly hopped onto the rail and began to slide down the stairs. Matt decided to walk down. "So, did I really put words into your mouth?" Matt asked Hermon with a sly smile.

No. You didn't say enough. I love her.

Matt gave Hermon an extra pat on his small head before reaching the bottom of the stairs. Maddie had slid right from the railing into his father's arms. Wade caught her easily and twirled her around the large hall, laughing as the blossom petals swirled around them. Matt watched his parents with a wide smile. He could only hope to love someone that much one day. Someone who would accept his madness.

Once the spinning concluded, Wade put Maddie back down on the ground. He ran his finger through his thick silvery hair before adjusting the crown upon his head. Matt gave a small wave with his hand when his father's bright eyes placed themselves upon him. Wade's face went slack before he flashed his white teeth. "Aren't you going to give your old man a hug?"

Matt closed the distance to his father and gave him a quick embrace. "My, you've gotten taller," Wade remarked.

"That's what everyone's been telling me," Matt shrugged.

"I was afraid you were going to get your mother's genes," Wade teased. "Then would've been living with two dwarfs."

"It's not my fault you're as tall as a full-grown willow tree," Maddie gave a small elbow to Wade's gut.

"Well," Wade grinned wickedly, "better not get caught in my willow whips then, aye?" He threw out his arms.

"No!" Maddie tried to run but it was too late. Wade wrapped his arms around Maddie's waist and pulled her back to him. She struggled, but he held onto her. Wade spun her around once and kissed the top of her head a few times. Then, planted one last kiss on her cheek.

Matt was used to his parents showing playful affection in front of him. It was just something that was a part of his everyday life. Some kids might have thought it gross and repulsive, but Matt found it quite sweet. His parents were happy, and he was glad that they were. It only reminded him of his wish, and that it was possible.

Once Wade placed Maddie down for the second time, he turned to Matt. "How about a game of croquet and some catching up?"

Matt smiled and nodded. He missed home more than he thought.

They played all afternoon in and around the castle. Maddie was busy chasing the free hedgehogs when Matt and Wade had a moment alone. "So," Wade put down his mallet and sat down on a garden bench, "how's Ever After been treating you?"

"Good," Matt followed his father's actions. "Much better than Wonderland High." He bit his lip as his mind recalled his time at Wonderland High. Loneliness, bullying, and just insanity.

"I'm glad," Wade put his hand on Matt's shoulder. "Wonderland never suited me either when it came to the schools." Wade had transferred to Ever After his final year of studies. According to most people, he and Matt had the same sanity that drove other Wonderlandians a little crazy.

"I've got friends," Matt added. "Chester Cheshire."

"Nice boy?"

"Yeah," Matt nodded. "He can be a little mischievous, but he's entertaining. And of course, there is the whole bookball team and that posse I'm in now."

"Any girls throwing themselves at you?" Wade asked with a cocked brow. He didn't respond right away, thinking of Eliza. They did just start dating a week ago. Matt felt himself go red as his father laughed. "What's her name?"

"Eliza," Matt said quietly. "Eliza Swan-Hood."

"Duchess Swan's girl?" Wade raised his brows again.

"Yeah, why?" Matt was confused as Wade began to laugh again. "What?"

"It's nothing really," Wade grinned. "Just that she desperately threw herself at me when I first arrive in Ever After."

"Really?!" Matt laughed.

"Apparently she was fascinated with my royal status, and my good looks I'm sure," Wade rolled his eyes. "I didn't even give her a second glance after I saw your mother. I'm sure mixed with Sparrow, this Eliza is rebellious and really sharp." Matt nodded. He was dead on.

Matt held his tongue for a moment but then asked, "How do you know when you love someone?"

Wade looked a little off-put by the question. Matt was about to take back the question, but then Wade cleared his throat. "I think it's in the lines of when you want to be with someone, and when you need to be with someone."

Matt gave his dad a questioning look. "What I mean is, you want to be with someone right now," Wade simplified. "But when you find someone and love them truly, it's no longer just a want, it's a need. Although, need can be assessed with idealizing. That's not what I'm saying. You should never idealize what isn't there. I mean I'm sure you're not idealizing. I ju-"

"I know what you mean, dad," Matt helped out his father. Wade cleared his throat again.

"What I mean by a need is like a soulmate. You couldn't live without them. You need them in your life. That's how I knew your mother was the one."

"I knew you couldn't live without my madness," Maddie said suddenly from behind them. Both men jumped up from their seats. They both scratched the back of their heads in sync.

"How much of that did you hear?" Wade asked, his cheeks turning a slight shade of pink.

"Just the last part," Maddie said, wrapping her arms around her husband's waist.

Matt grinned again as he pulled out the blue rose from his pocket. He would remember what his father said, that he knew for certain.

Laura and Mitchell were hanging out in Mitchell's room. Lee was there, which was a little awkward, but Laura got used to it when he started to take a nap. Mitchell was flipping through his homework while laying his head on Laura's lap. She had been reading the spellbook as much as she could. Taking in every intricate spell she could find.

Mitchell eventually sat up from his relaxed pose. He got up from the bed and placed the textbook back on his desk. Laura didn't even look up from her book as she flipped a page. Mitchell was suddenly behind her, his arms wrapping around her waist. "You finally finished your homework?" Laura asked.

"No," Mitchell swept Laura's hair off of her shoulder. "I'll just have the Wonder Kid do it. Besides, I think m'lady has waited long enough." He gently kissed her neck a few times before Laura became stiff. They had only kissed three times since they had gotten together, and Laura wasn't used to the affection as much as she hoped.

Checking to see if Lee was turned away, Laura turned her head back to Mitchell. Their lips met in a gentle case before growing more intensely. Mitchell turned her towards him, his lips hungry for more. Laura leaned into him, but then felt the book fall from its perch on her leg. She pulled away from Mitchell swiftly and dove for the spellbook, but it was too late.

It crashed onto the floor with a thud, making Lee jump up from his slumber. He looked at them in an annoyed manner. "Get a room," he said, shifting back into his napping state.

Mitchell rolled his eyes. "As if you and Fen make no noise at all," he muttered. Laura peered down at the book on the ground. It had flipped open to a page she had no recognized. She gazed at it, not even bothering to pick it up. She leaned over the bed and began to read.

Gifting Talents

This spell is well fantasized but hard to achieve. Some must use potions, but others can simply use their mind and willpower to conduct such feat. This spell can give a non-magical human the ability to conduct magic as well as any sorcerer or sorceress. I have only performed this once myself since there was no use to share my power, but I have seen well-known sorceress Baba Yaga achieve this spell.

Laura's eyes widened at the name. Baba Yaga was at least mentioned, so the book couldn't have been older than her. But Baba Yaga's age was unknown to Luara. All she knew for sure was that she was ancient. She grabbed the book, looking at the instructions. As she straightened, she could feel Mitchell's eyes looking at her with curiosity.

"What are you reading now?" he asked.

"Just a spell," Laura dismissed the question. Mitchell put his hand over the page.

"Aren't we going to get back to where we stopped?" Mitchell asked. Laura looked up and gave him a grin before pressing her lips to his. He tried to kiss her more, but she pulled away after a second.

"I would hate to disturb Lee," Laura said as she got up from the bed. "I'll catch you tomorrow?" She didn't give him much of a second glance to see his disappointed eyes.

"Yeah," Mitchell nodded. He opened his mouth to say more, but Laura was already gone.

Eliza, Fauna, and Oakley were all on a shopping expedition in Book End. "I think my mom is in today," Fauna said as they pushed the doors to the Glass Slipper. Oakley didn't need to search for Ashlynn Ella, because Fauna was already squealing and racing through the store. Eliza and Oakley watched her with wide eyes as she embraced her mother. Eliza and Oakley casually walked over to the reunion.

"Oh!" Ashlynn squeezed her daughter. "I've missed you so much."

"Me too!" Fuaan hugged her again, then amended, "To you I mean."

"What have you done to your hair?" Ashlynn asked as they pulled away. She looked over at Eliza, seeing her hair dyed with green tips.

"I dyed it the other day," Fauna grinned. "It's a magical spell, though. No animal testing."

"Good," Ashlynn smiled. "I think it looks lovely on you." Fauna ran her fingers through her long dark-brown hair then moved to the blue edges and smiled.

"Psst," something whispered in Oakley's ear. Oakley turned his head to see a grin over by the alley exit.

"I'll be right back," Oakley told Eliza as Fauna and Ashlynn continued to talk and giggle. He went over to the door discreetly through shoe shelves and merged through the wooden door into the alley in between The Glass Slipper and The Gingerbread Boutique. He glances around, looking for Chester.

That was when he was swept up into an embrace. Oakley didn't see Chester materialize, but he was there now. Once he set Oakley down, Chester gave him a small kiss on the cheek. Oakley was utterly bewildered. "What was that for?"

"I don't know," Chester shrugged. He was dressed in a casual outfit with many colors of purple to match his fair lavender skin. His baseball cap was a bright green that matched his eyes. His ears poked out through small holes in the top of the hat. He had it turned backward, making his curled violet hair fall onto his forehead. "Just felt like seeing you I guess."

Oakley gave a small grin. "I thought you would be gone this weekend."

"I changed my mind," Chester shrugged. "You'll still come in two weeks though, right?"

"Yeah," Oakley nodded. "It's the only other free weekend I have before the election."

"I still don't think you should be helping her," Chester muttered.

"Well, it's too late now," Oakley gave a small shrug. "Is that all you wanted to say to me?"

"No," Chester leaned against the wall. "I was hoping we could hang out tomorrow? Or just do something?"

"Well, you could come along with me and the girls to Hocus Latte," Oakley offered. "That's our next destination." Chester looked around sheepishly, then laid his eyes back on Oakley.

"Can we do something together, alone?" Chester asked. "I don't think we've been together long enough for me and your friends to hang out."

Oakley wasn't really sure about dating standards. Mostly because he didn't know if he and Chester were even together. He never asked Oakley to be his boyfriend. Maybe tomorrow he'll ask. Oakley gave him a nod. "Okay. We can do something tomorrow. I do have to work in the greenhouse for a bit though."

"Purrrrfect," Chest said with a catty grin. He closed the small distance between him and Oakley before pressing his lips gently to his. It was a small kiss, but it made Oakley melt all the same.

Then Oakley was alone again, Chester nowhere to be seen.

Laura found the others sitting in Hocus Latte. She had been searching everywhere for them. If her mind weren't rushing, she would've used a spell. But her mind wasn't just rushing, it was whirling with thoughts and hopes and predictions. Once Laura spotted the three sitting at a corner table, Laura practically ran to them and slammed the book down on the table.

This made Oakley and Fauna jump, but Eliza just took another swig of her latte casually. "Hey, Laura," Eliza said in a monotone.

"What's with the rush?" Oakley asked, putting a hand on his heart.

"I've found it," Laura said, catching her breath. She didn't realize how much she had run until now.

"What?" Fauna asked with eagerness. Eliza shifted uncomfortably in her seat.

Laura sat down next to Eliza and pointed to the spell in her book. Fauna read from across the table. "Gifting talents?"

"Yes!" Laura said louder than she expected. "Remember the first day of school, you joked about us all having powers? I've found a spell that makes it possible."

"Then we could really be fairy friends forever?" Fauna asked with wide eyes. Laura grinned and nodded. She loved how interested Fauna always in magic. It was nice to be recognized for her talents.

"Uh," Eliza interrupted the fun. "Did you read the bottom line?"

Caution: if you mess up any of these actions, the spell can forever alter the control of your powers as well as others'.

"Pft," Laura rolled her eyes. "The instructions are easy. I'm not worried."

"I have faith," Fauna added.

"I don't," Eliza muttered.

"I thought you wanted to be rebellious?" Laura snapped. Eliza looked down at her hair, then back at Laura.

"I am rebellious," Eliza defended.

"Hardly," Laura said, rolling her eyes. "So, Oakley, you in?"

"No, thank you," Oakley shook his head. "I've already got enough to deal with. Besides, it could mess with my own weird power."

Laura didn't press him any longer. She knew he wouldn't want anything to do with it. However, she was shocked by Eliza's sudden turn.

Later that night, Fauna had gathered six wildflowers. Each of a different color. Laura had set up the circle of burning candles. There were three spaces. One for each girl. Laura and Fauna both willingly took their places on the floor. Eliza was leaning against the wall with her arms crossed. Her face was serious. Fauna patted the seat next to her, but Eliza shook her head.

"It's alright," Laura assured Fauna. "She'll come around in a few days."

Eliza didn't say anything as she turned towards the window, ignoring them.

Laura turned to Fauna and the book. "You ready?"

"Yes," Fauna nodded with eagerness.

As Laura began to conjure the spell, Eliza felt a guilt wash over her. Didn't she promise herself that she was going to make her own decisions? That she was going to rebel against what her parents wanted for her? Eliza thought about the girl from the first day of school. Innocent. Sweet. Did what she was told. Well, to Eliza, that girl is no more.

No more.

Eliza looked back from her perch from the window. The candle flames began to extend from the wicks. Before the circle could close around Laura and Fauna, Eliza stepped forward, but then she resisted. What was she doing? This was dangerous. She shouldn't risk herself like this. The flame circle closed around the other two. For a second, Eliza thought that the fire reached out to her, but then it retreated back to its circular motion.

Eliza felt her heart begin to pound in her chest. Something strange was happening. The fire was suddenly snuffed out, and Laura's veins began to glow bright pink. Fauna's began to do the same. The flowers placed around them shed their petals and weaved between them. Eliza felt a chill run up her spine before she wrapped her jacket around her tighter. She felt her breath quicken as if someone was stealing it.

Then it was all over in a flash. The candles were burning again, and the flower petals burned to ashes. Laura opened her eyes. Fauna didn't. She stayed motionless for a moment. Eliza's eyes widened. "Fauna!"

"She's coming back!" Laura hissed, keeping Eliza stiff in her place. Laura drew out her fingers, creating pink strings. They reached out to Fauna and touched both of her wrists, making her eyes snap open.

"Woah!" Fauna exclaimed. "I can feel it. The power." Eliza felt something heavy on her own skin, but she just thought it was fear.

"Don't try anything tonight," Laura warned. "You should let your body rest. It can have effects if you use your new powers too soon."

Later, when Fauna was sleeping, Eliza was brushing her auburn and green hair in the bathroom. She had to admit, she was worried about Fauna. "You're still mad, arent' you?" Laura asked as she walked in. Eliz put down the brush and face Laura.

"You could've killed her," Eliza said in a low voice.

"But I didn't," Laura defended. "Since when have you care so much about safety. Rebellious Eliza still in there?"

"I would not put any of my friends at a risk like that," Eliza shook her head. "You should be more careful."

"You should be more careless," Laura snapped. "Fauna isn't yours to control. She made her choice, and you made yours."

"I still don't trust that book," Eliza bit her lip. "There's something wrong with it."

"That's not your problem either," Laura snapped again. "I'm being taught by one of the most powerful witches in all lands. I think I know what I'm doing."

"If you knew what you were doing you would've told her about it. She might help you learn more."

"No way," Laura backed away. "I've finally got the chance to show everyone I've got great power. Unlike you, I'm not going to give up my chance of seizing my wants." With that, Luara left Eliza. Eliza turned back to the mirror. She blinked back tears as she looked over the sink. She didn't like fighting, but Laura was right. She was missing her chance.

Eliza looked back up to her reflection in the mirror. She did at least look like herself now. Eliza now needed to discover who she truly was, before someone told her who to be. Because Eliza knew one thing for sure.

She would never let herself be controlled.

Never again.