NSOUAT: The Whittaker Twins

by xeuphorics

Now that the trio is split up.. what happens? What will Neal do now that he's back in the clutches of Fiona? Gideon makes new alliances, but can he trust them? And where on earth is Robin? Book 2 of the Not So Once Upon a Time series (read book one first!) (timelines from the show aren't relevant)

2. everyone has a story

Robin Mills

"Fitzooth as in.. David Fitzooth? Like Robin Hood?"

I didn't think so many thoughts could run through my head at once. I remembered once how Gideon snuck a book down to my cell about my father one time, and how the book explained how Robin Hood's real name was David Fitzooth, but established 'Robin Hood' as sort of a stage name.

And now this boy was saying he has the same last name? Does this mean he's supposedly my brother? That scenario didn't seem to exist outside of stories.

No. You just met him. Stop getting your hopes up. A sickening voice that sounded awfully like Fiona in my head said, 'All you hope has done is cause disappointment.'

Roland's flabbergasted look turned into a grin. "Just like how Robin is for Robin Hood."

"How is this possible?" I said to myself. How is this luck possible? How did I manage to fall into the same realm as my supposed brother (or cousin, or just any relation for that matter, fuck knows), and be in front of him in line at that cart?

Maybe it's because I wished for my family. Maybe it was fate.. That's why I was here.

I started to pace in my spot, putting more pressure on my left foot than my right foot. You'd think I wouldn't walk, considering my ankle was sprained, but I had many many more things to worry about, and the pain was sizzling away from the adrenaline of it all.

I ended up deciding that I did actually need to take care of my ankle. "I need to sit down."

"Here, let's sit over there," Roland guided me over to a bench where the two of us sat down.

I ate the rest of my pretzel while I processed everything. "So. We have the same dad?"

"We do."

"How old are you?"

"Twenty."

I tried to do the math. "So is our age gap.. twenty years?"

Roland almost choked on his burger again. "No. No. We're two years apart. Well, we were the last time I saw you."

"I'm eighteen." I thought about Gideon's past that he managed to slip from Fiona, and how his was almost the same as mine. "Have I really been gone that long?"

"No..." Roland did a face like he was trying to calculate something in his head. I supposed he was. "You've been missing from this realm for about.." He counted on his fingers. "A year and a half."

My jaw dropped. "What? How are you twenty?"

Roland took a breath, like a story he was about to tell is a burden. "A few months after you were born and our dad died, I went back to Sherwood forest to grow up. My mother was dead too, so little John and my grandparents from my maan's side raised me. Time works differently in realms, so when I came back here, only a few months had passed and you were.. Gone."

Our dad is dead? The famous Robin Hood is dead?

I didn't feel like eating my pretzel anymore. I was about to ask for more, but my ankle started to throb, and on top of all the grief I felt for the dad I never met, everything caused me to let out a sob.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah, just my ankle-" I lifted my leg up so he could see.

He made a face. "How long have you been walking on that?"

"Since last night- Or whenever last night for me was here."

"Okay. That is not good. I'm taking you to my apartment. Come on." Roland stood and put his arm out. I was grateful for the help. I think if I walked on my foot anymore by myself I would fall over.

Roland guided me to one of those wagon contraptions. I had so many questions for him as he probably did me.

I must've had some weird look on my face when Roland opened the door for me because he raised an eyebrow. "No cars or wagons in the dark realm?"

"I grew up in a cave."

"Oh."

I threw myself down into the seat and Roland sat in the one with the wheel in front of it.

"I have a lot of questions," I told him.

"Yeah, same. Put your seat belt on." He put a strap over himself.

I did the same, but it took me a while to figure out that the end of it needs to be clicked in behind the red button.

Roland started moving the car. He explained how he didn't live in the city, and he hated the subway- Whatever that was, and that it'll take them a bit to get to where he lives. I thought that was fine, it gave us time to catch up.

The thing that confused me the most about us being siblings is that even though we were half-siblings, we didn't look all that alike. My skin was fair and pale, my hair blonde, my eyes blue, and Roland's skin was a warm light brown, hair brown and curly, and his eyes light brown. I supposed we both inherited more of our moms' genes.

I sat up straighter in the seat. "So what's your story?"

"Pardon?"

"Everyone has a story.. What's yours?"

There wasn't a question Roland wouldn't answer. He explained both of our backstories. How he and dad arrived in Storybrooke, how my mom got pregnant with me (Which disgusted me- but there wasn't anything I could do now), and how he can't explain the day I got taken because he wasn't in this realm.

"You got taken with Gideon Gold and Neal Nolan.. Do you know them too?" Roland asked, eyes still glued to the road.

"Oh yeah, I know them very well."

Roland glanced over at me with an intrigued expression.

"They're my two best friends."

"That's very unintentionally poetic."

"It's shared trauma."

"Makes sense. Are they here too?"

My face fell. "No. It's just me."

Roland wanted to know that story, so I explained to him our upbringing, our escape, Charlie, sweet Charlie, who was so willing to be my friend, and the events that led me here.

"Jesus," Was all Roland said.

"I know."

"I can't believe you found paapa's bow," He said after a while.

"I know, right? I wish I had it here." I was sure Roland would've liked to see it, to have something left of our father that I wasn't sure he had.

For the rest of the ride, Roland and I shared more stories about each of our childhoods. Like how Roland can tell the difference between poisoned and non-poisoned berries, how he can fish, and how he can't cook. I didn't have anything like that other than cleaning skills and art skills, but I explained how quickly I was able to learn how to use the bow and my powers. He told me how the reason he came back to this realm was that he felt as if he had nothing left for him in Sherwood forest. I found myself relating to that in a way. Sure, I was free from Fiona, but all I had been doing was running away from her. I wasn't really free, at least not in the way I wanted to be free.

About an hour later, we eventually arrived at the set of apartments Roland lived at. They look similar to the ones in the dark realm, except these have crimson bricks and stairs descending from the windows. Roland and I managed to get up to his apartment. We had to take this cool contraption called an 'elevator' because Roland lived on the second floor.

"Why were you in the city today in the first place?"

"I work there from time to time, but living there is so crazy expensive that it's easier to live out here. I can do most of my work from home, you see."

When we walked in, I immediately felt at home. His place looked very outdoor-like. Hardwood, tapestries on the walls. The kitchen was to the right, a hallway to the left, and the living room was in front of the kitchen. He helped me sit down on the couch.

"Do you want a change of clothes?" Roland asked as I laid my head on a pillow.

"Yes, and a bath."

Roland disappeared down the hallway as I examined his living room. He had a lot of plants, which I think Charlie would've liked if she was here, a circler rug beneath the table next to me, and two flags hanging on the wall. I had no idea what they meant, but one was pink, purple, and blue, and the other one was yellow, white, purple, and black.

Roland came back into the room and handed me clothes, but I couldn't take my eyes off the flags. Roland must've noticed because he turned his head toward them too. "I take it you guys didn't have pride flags in the dark realm either?"

"Nope.. What do they mean?"

"That one," Roland pointed to the pink, purple, and blue one. "Is the Bisexual one-"

Like Neal, I thought.

He pointed at the other one next. "That one is Non-Binary. I'm Non-Binary."

"Oh," I knew a few Non Binary people who Fiona had captured. "Shit wait- what are your pronouns?"

I could tell Roland held back a laugh at my panicked expression. "They and he. I prefer them but I don't mind him."

I nodded. "Can you show me the lesbian flag?"

Roland pulled a small box out of their pocket and started tapping on it. "This is a phone," they started explaining. "I'm not sure how to explain how phones work, though. They're like.. Quick mail."

I knew I wouldn't understand so I didn't bother asking them to explain more.

"You seemed pretty accustomed to how this realm works considering you haven't been here that long, either."

Roland shrugged. "I'm a quick learner. The people in Storybrooke helped a lot before I could get settled myself."

They handed their phone to me with a picture of the flag shining brightly at me. The flag was gorgeous with the two different oranges and the pinks, mixed in with white. The combination reminded me of the dress I was wearing. I smiled a little and handed the phone back to Roland. "It matches my dress."

I looked down at my dress and noticed the dirt on it for the first time. I was very glad I would never see those people who I interacted with again because now I was slightly embarrassed.

"I'm gonna go bathe now," I said quickly and stood up, getting ready to zoom to the washroom, but I didn't know where it was.

"It's on the left down that hallway," Roland guided me. "Don't wash your ankle though, you need to ice it first."

I wasn't going to tell them that I knew how to take care of a sprain. When I was with Fiona, she would assign us different jobs she thought would be helpful to build her army, and one of my jobs had been as a nurse. Most of the people I would help would be the fighters, and they came in with sprains all the time, but, I appreciated how much Roland wanted to help, so I gave them a small smile and a nod of thanks before hopping over to the bathroom.

His bathroom had the same vibe as the rest of the apartment did. The walls were red, the sink looked almost wooden from the color. The mirror was the same color on the edges and round.

It took me a while to figure out how to turn on the faucet and get it to a temperature I liked. When I eventually got there, I eased myself into the water, leaving my right foot on one of the edges of the tub.

It was relaxing in there. All my worries went away. I wasn't thinking about Gideon, Neal, Charlie, my parents... My mind was clear for the first time in hours. I went down under the water to wet my hair, and it felt like paradise.

When I emerged to the surface, I started to massage my temples, attempting to ease the tension that had built up. Instead of the tension unfolding, the emotions started overwhelming me once more.

I let out a pained cry. I hated being here without Neal and Gideon. They should be here too. We worked too hard for them not to be.

I lingered on everything longer than necessary before getting out of the tub. I hung my dress up on a hook and changed into the clothes Roland gave me. I pulled the hair tie that was keeping my hair up out. It fell down my shoulders and I just stared at myself in the mirror.

I thought of Roland's face as I did that and concluded we had the same nose. I scanned his sink and found a bottle with 'facial cleanser' in all caps. I figured this would work to get the rest of the dirt that might've remained on my face off.

After using the face wash, I came across face lotion. I remembered how Fiona had body lotion in her bathroom. No one but her was allowed to use it, but I assumed it was essentially the same thing. I applied it all over my face and then exited the bathroom, taking a deep breath before returning to Roland's couch.

"Robin!" Roland stood up from behind the kitchen counter. "Peas or an ice pack?"

I didn't know what an ice pack was, so I answered with peas. Roland disappeared again and then reappeared shortly after with a bag of frozen peas. "I was going to have these for dinner- but this is more important."

"I mean, eating and a sprained ankle aren't really comparable."

Roland sat on the arm of the couch and tilted their head. "They aren't, aren't they?"

"They are not," I agreed and Roland applied the peas to my ankle.

"I have a question-" Roland started. "It's been nagging me since the car ride."

I also had a lot. Though, a lot of them were questions I knew Roland wouldn't have the answers to. Questions about what goes beyond my family- questions about Storybrooke itself. From my understanding, Roland wasn't there long enough to have those answers. I didn't respond and just waited for them to continue.

"How did you find out who your parents were? From my understanding, Fiona doesn't exactly seem like the type to tell you."

Like I thought about earlier, that was all Gideon. He was the only reason Neal and I was able to find out who our parents were."She isn't. She would claim she was our mother- but Gideon always had a book from his real mother. He had found more evidence over time, so it wasn't hard to put two and two together. I think she might've confirmed it for him at some point. Gideon was her favorite." I let out a small sigh and laid my head back on the pillow I was using earlier. "I can't stand the idea of Neal being back with her."

"You said Gideon is her grandson.. Did that have something to do with favoritism?"

"Yup."

"What about you? Did she like you?"

"Yeah. When I learned how to behave." I grinned.

I could hear was a laugh held back by Roland.

Suddenly, the conversation took a turn. The mood changed. The question Roland ended up asking wasn't even serious, but my reaction was.

"Do you still want to go to Storybrooke?"

The grin fell from my face, but my eyes still lit up nonetheless. Is this it? Is this finally the time get to meet my mom? Despite how my face lit up, I had still an uneasy feeling inside of me. Escaping Fiona and getting to Storybrooke was something Neal, Gideon, and I planned to do together. It felt off, experiencing it without them. Like I should wait.

Maybe Gideon would be a little disappointed, but he would kick me if I didn't end up going. Same for Neal.

But if the mere hours I had spent here taught me anything, it's that if Fiona wants to use this to break me, then she was coming down with me. I was going to use Storybrooke as a way to get back to the Dark Realm, and then I would end her myself.

I nodded, and Roland smiled. "Great! I barely have clients right now, so we can go tomorrow."

"What do you do for work?" I made conversation.

"I'm a developmental editor for books and other things like that."

"How'd you get into that?"

"When I was younger, I used to write a ton. I based the stories on my actual story. When I came here, I wanted to be a published author, but I ended up enjoying the process of helping other people with theirs. With my job, I basically get to help them build their stories more and give feedback. It would still be nice to be published someday, but that idea is still an ocean away in my life."

"Would people notice your name being after Robin Hood?"

"Nah, people in this realm would just think it's a funny coincidence, or that it's a pen name. You should see some of the ones people use."

Roland and I sat in a long silence after that.

"Do you think.." He started. "Fiona would find you in this realm?"

I shrugged. "Probably. She probably knew when she threw it where it would take "us." But she's probably too busy deciding what to do with.." I trailed off, getting worried as I spoke the words. "Neal, rather than what to do with me."

"What do you'll think she'll do to Neal?"

"Either kill him or turn him into a goonie out of spite. I can't see a universe where she lets him go unpunished." My voice was low, sad. "Hopefully Gideon can figure that out."

Gideon Gold

It was ten minutes of silence before Charlie and I started discussing her plan.

"So the Whittaker twins agreed to help you, correct?" She started.

"Yes," I answered lazily. I didn't see how that had anything to do with saving Neal.

"I was thinking we could still get them to stay true to their deal. It would help save Neal."

It took me a moment to remember that the twins' father perform magic at their birthday ball. I was told by many people that the twins had been blessed with the gift too, but I had never seen it in action. It might've all been a hoax, but still, It was a better idea than what I had had. Bargaining in there without reinforcement would've been stupid, especially when the royals also had a significantly higher status than her. I just wish that had been my idea instead of hers.

"Why are you helping us?" I began, I didn't mean to start this argument, but I couldn't undo it now. "You haven't even known them that long," It came out more harshly than I meant it to.

Charlie stayed quiet, debating her response. I knew it was rude of me. In the few weeks I've known Charlie, I've figured out how it's in her nature to help people. It doesn't matter how long she's known them, or how many words she's spoken to them, It's just in her nature. "I knew you grew up with them, and you've known them longer, but just because I didn't doesn't mean I don't care about them. So please don't question my actions again, okay? It's a personal thing. I'm sure you understand what a vendetta feels like?"

"Who do you have a vendetta against?"

"Fiona."

"Why?"

She scoffed at me. "Do I really need to explain it?"

I didn't think speaking would soothe her, so I just shrugged and kept walking. I had a bad feeling nagging at me. To be fair, I've always had one. Growing up in the castle forced me to always be suspicious of my surroundings. Fiona or some of the people who hated me for my connection to her were always right around the corner. It made my guard always be up, and my trust not easily to come. I had to do it to survive. What if Mariah had been joking about helping us and the goonies are right at her door? No, she helped us get out of there when the goonies stormed the castle. What about her brother Gustin? I didn't get a chance to talk to him. Would he be capable of doing such a thing?

But then, I watched as Charlie clenched her fists. "You don't get to question me after everything I've done for you with no thank you!" For the first time, Charlotte Flynn snapped. "My village got burnt to a crisp because I took the three of you in. Not even just my cottage, everyone who lived in Ugada. So instead of asking me why I'm helping you because I haven't known all of you that long, be fucking grateful instead." She sped walked up ahead of me, leaving me with my jaw dropped behind her.

Her reaction was fair. If it wasn't for Charlie Flynn, we probably all would've been back with Fiona by now, and instead of thanking her, I've just been expecting it out of her.

But I also realized that this whole time, I might've been blaming her for Neal on accident. I had been resenting her ever since I met her. It wasn't her fault her plan went horribly, and if it wasn't for her, I wouldn't have the opportunity to bust him out, because the three of us would all be back there. Or I might be with Roderick right now.

"I'm sorry," was all I said with sincerity. What more could I say to her? I was being a dick.

"Just..." Charlie spoke quieter now. "It may seem like it, but not everyone is out to get you, Gideon. Remember that."

With that, we were left in silence again. Just this time, it left me with a sick pit feeling in my stomach.

Even after more hours of walking, not a word was spoken. The tension was still awkward, but neither of us could think of what to say to each other. It didn't help that we didn't talk to each other much before the group got separated. Still, I was tempted to learn more about her vendetta against Fiona. I supposed everyone who lived in this realm had one, but as Charlie said, it was personal. The only noise that could be heard was the wrestling of the trees, neighboring villages, Charlie's boots hitting the ground, and Neal's sword swaying among her belt.

Charlie eventually spoke. "We should rest. It's getting dark, and I can barely see anything."

"I have tents in my bag-"

She looked at me, appalled. "Gideon Gold, I am not sleeping in a tent."

I raised an eyebrow at her. "Where do you suppose we sleep, then?"

"In an inn," She said, with an unspoken 'obviously.'

"I don't have any money with me. Was planning on making it more of a day trip."

"Yes, I'm very glad you didn't steal Uncle Peter's money- You mean to tell me you thought it would be a day trip?"

I ignored the second part. "Don't suppose you stole is money then?"

Charlie laughed. "I'm his niece. All I had to do was ask." She pulled a small pouch of coins from her bag.

"Point made. Is it enough for an inn?"

Charlie and I walked toward the sudden appearance of lights, recognizing it as a village. "Enough for a night or two... Do you think magic could replicate money?"

"Wouldn't that be considered illegal?"

"Says the boy with a bounty over his head."

"... Another excellent point. I will check the spellbook." With the goonies having magic now, every spell counts. Even little ones.

Charlie grinned at me, her hazel eyes flickering with mischief. We made it to the center of the village. With it being nighttime, everything was lit up, but we were still hardly able to see where the inn might be. If there's even an here.

I looked over at Charlie, about to ask what she thought we should do, but then I saw a group of people dancing around a bonfire. It looked like they were having a party.

I tapped Charlie's shoulder and pointed at them. "Do you think we should ask them for directions?"

Before she could reply, one of the girls who had been circling the bonfire spotted us and smiled widely. She sat down the drink she was holding and jogged over two us. The girl had long black hair, tan skin, and a friendly smile, but I wouldn't let that fool me just in case.

"You're that runaway, right? Gideon Gold?" She spoke as if it was the most casual thing in the world.

I froze, getting ready to make an exit. As Charlie said, the bounty was over my head, and I'm sure some random strangers from a village we don't know would be more than willing to earn it-

"Don't be so tense. No money is worth returning you to that woman. We all hate her here. Good for you for escaping." It's as if she read my mind.

"Oh good. I wouldn't want to cause a scene."

"I'm pretty sure my friends and I already beat you to that," She gestured to the party behind her before putting her hands on her hips. "I'm Rosalie, by the way. What brings you two to Woodmare?"

"I'm Charlotte, that's.." Charlie flicked her wrist at me. "Gideon," she stated in a knowing tone, considering Rosalie already knew that. "Do you have an inn here?"

"Yeah, but It's a long walk from here." Rosalie's attention turned from us to back to the party. Some people were yelling her name, begging for her to come back. Others were glancing at me and Charlie, trying to solve our unapparent puzzle. Perhaps if I stepped closer, they would run away at the sight of me. The posters called us dangerous, and I had a feeling I just might be if I didn't get to Fiona soon.

But Rosalie said everyone here hates Fiona, so maybe they wouldn't run away from me at all.

Rosalie snapped me out of my thoughts. "Why don't you come and join our party? My home is near the inn. I can take you two there afterward?"

I locked my gaze with Charlie's, trying to silently communicate with her. Is this a good idea? Would it really be so bad? We don't know where we're going. We could try to find it ourselves. She could be a lying murderer! I don't think Charlie understood that part.

If I couldn't even trust Charlie at first, how was I going to trust some random stranger I met two minutes ago to keep her word?

Charlie noticed my tenseness and patted my shoulder. "Sure." She turned to Rosalie. "But neither of us will drink."

That plan sounded decent enough. Stay with them, but stay alert.

Rosalie smiled a little too wide for my liking and led us to the bonfire. It was there I realized how drunk mostly everyone here was. How Rosalie was probably a little tipsy too.

Loads of people greeted us, some getting in my personal space, others not. Some were even congratulating me for escaping Fiona. Others asked if I knew the other runaways, where they might be. A few tried to flirt with me, but I shut them down.

One guy was doing some tricks with the fire. He had it on both ends of a stick and was twirling the stick around his body. I thought it was cool as hell.

Someone handed Charlie and us two cups. I guessed this person wasn't aware of how we said no drinking.

I lifted the cup to my nose and sniffed the substance. It smelt.. Sweet. I wasn't sure what it was. Fiona kept all alcohol off-limits. (There was a group of people who used to sell it in the caves, but I never had the courage to drink anything other than rum.) The scent lingered and I couldn't help but crave a sip of it, just a little sip.

No, my brain yelled at me. Stay alert.

I looked around for where Rosalie could've gone off to. I spotted her dancing with some girl, clearly forgetting we were even here.

"Do you know what drink this is?" I asked Charlie. I didn't know if she drank, but I figured she might know.

She shook her head. "I've never had alcohol that smells sweet like this. This is like.. The furthest thing from it."

"Are we sure it's even alcohol?"

"Everyone seems drunk or on the verge of getting drunk, so I think so."

I looked down at the drink in my hand again, the scent filling up my nostrils. It wouldn't hurt to have just a sip, no one is in their right mind. They won't hurt you. The pain of Roderick, Robin, and Neal will all go away. A different voice from before yelled at me, and I fought so hard not to listen to it.

Trustnoonetrustnoonetrustnoone-

My arm had other ideas as a sweet sensation filled my mouth. As soon as that sip was done, I instantly wanted more.

"Gideon-" Charlie warned, but I ignored her and took more sips.

"It's so good, Charlie. You need to try it."

Charlie said something, but I didn't pay attention to it. Everything was suddenly louder. Was that music I heard? My body moved forward towards a group. I decided right then I would stop thinking. Stop thinking about Roderick dying, Robin falling through a portal to who knows where, Neal being gone. Charlie was right. We wouldn't make this trip in a day, it wouldn't be so wrong to know worry for a little bit... Fiona be damned for once.

I was greeted by smiling faces as I started swaying and drinking more. "Where can I get more of this?" I asked the guy I was dancing next to.

The guy leaned close to me, close enough that I could feel his breath hitting my face. His face was illuminated by the brightness of the bonfire. He grinned, and I couldn't help but stare at his lips. He was cute, with blonde curls and blue eyes, but not really my type. "You beautiful boy, I can get you more," he purred and took my cup before I could reply.

He walked off and I continued to dance. Everything was getting louder and louder. My body was moving more out of my control. My vision was starting to get a little blurry, but I was having fun. I didn't care for once. For once I wasn't worried about anything. I didn't even feel like this at the masquerade. I was feeling free.

The blonde-haired boy came back with two cups and handed one to me. "The line was ridiculous."

"Thanks," I tried to look around and find the line, to see what he was talking about. Instead, I saw Charlie dancing in the middle of a group of people. She was leaning back, moving her shoulders, and had a smile on her face. I grinned. I guess she couldn't resist the sweet smell and taste either.

I drank my refill and the boy danced closer to me when I finished. I didn't push him away, I was letting him close to me. I thought about how I danced with Princess Mariah a few days ago, and I wanted to do something similar with this boy. I put my hands on his hips, and he reacted by putting his right below my shoulders.

"Closer," The boy commanded and grabbed me by my shirt collar, and pulled me closer himself. Our lips were close again. "Is this okay with you?"

I nodded, tossing my cup on the ground.

"I'm Kyle," He introduced, his lips lingering over mine.

"Gideon." I didn't get to say more before he kissed me.

I kissed him back, pulling him as close as I could. His kiss was addicting as I tasted the sweet sensation from the drink on his lips. He began to run his hands through my hair, and I wanted to feel his lips for as long as I could. This was what made me feel the freest.

I've kissed people before. It was in situations like these, where I knew it didn't matter because I was never going to progress further with the person. I didn't see any shame in it, I wouldn't be seeing him again after tonight anyway. I liked the way his lips felt, so why should I stop?

Kyle eventually pulled back, breathing heavily. I did the same. That kiss left us both breathless, and I wanted to do it again.

"Do you want to get out of-"

"Gideonnnnnnnnnnn!"

I turned my head towards the person calling my name and saw Charlie stumbling toward us. She still had her cup in her hand, and she had taken her ponytail down. I could see she was about to trip over her own feet. I moved towards her and caught her.

Charlie grinned up at me. "Oh, sorryyyyy. Did I interrupt?"

I gazed back over at Kyle, who had a dumbfounded look on his face. "Sorry- Are you two together?"

I wasn't sure what would give him that sense, considering I just had my hands all over him.

"No, I like his best friend." So she confirms it. Charlie let go of my hands that were holding her up. She tumbled a little to the side but didn't completely fall over.

"And I'm very into boys," I said with a wide grin on my face.

That cracked Kyle up. "That's good to know."

I spun away from Kyle, looking directly at Charlie, but she started to blur. Her auburn hair was beginning to be unnoticeable. The music was starting to become muffled. Did someone turn it down?

Butthen I remembered.. The party didn't have music, to begin with.

"Gideon, look!" I heard a soft voice say, despite it being almost muted. "There's a snack table."

I saw an arm through the blur and rubbed my eyes. Blinking rapidly, my vision cleared a little bit. Charlie was pointing across the small patch of woods we were in. I looked in the direction she was pointing, but I saw no snack table. Maybe there were too many people around?

"I don't see anything," I told her.

She scoffed dramatically. "It's literally right there, come on." She grabbed my wrist and tugged me in the direction. I looked back to send an apologetic look to Kyle, but he was gone. That's weird. He was near me a second ago. I would've noticed if he left.

Charlie stopped us abruptly. "See, Gideon? It's right there."

There was still no table. "Charlie, nothing is there."

"It's right there!" Charlie's voice went from soft and sweet to deep and sour.

Everything was mute now. I turned to Charlie, but she wasn't there. The forest around me faded. The air went from warm to chilly.

I was in an empty room. A dark one. It was Fiona's room of collectibles.

How did I get here? I thought. I looked down at my clothes, and instead of the black shirt and jeans Peter gifted me, I was in the long gown Fiona always forced me to wear.

Then, Fiona appeared with two of her goonies in tow.

"From the moment you arrived, you were supposed to be different, Gideon. You were a gift. My loyal son," Fiona gave her best manipulative smile.

"Gift?" I spoke with no control over my voice. "You stole me, Robin, and Neal from our parents."

I remember this. This is a memory. This was the day the three of us found out who our true parents were. When I went looking for the book Fiona stole from me as a child, I had found a document that had endless details about every fairytale character you could possibly imagine. Robin and Neal's names were under their parents' information, the same with mine. Robin was the one who figured out she stole us all at the same time.

I had already known long before that about my real parents, though. Because even though Fiona stole that book from me, I had stolen it from her first. It was a never-ending cycle with that thing. There was an inscription inside from my real mother, Belle. I wish I had brought it with me.

"They abandoned you!" Fiona shouted through gritted teeth. "I'm the one who took you in. Gave you, Robin, and Neal a home. Taught you. Fed you. Shared with you everything that I had."

"You never did that with Neal!" I shouted over her. I was feeling the same rage I felt that day. But why was I here? "And only now with Robin! Do I only get special treatment because I'm your grandson?"

Fiona shook her head slowly at me. "I am so disappointed in you, Gideon."

I remembered how I was going to apologize as I had always done. But I didn't that time. I had had a conversation with Robin before this. Robin and I had both been let out of our cell to do work in the caves. Robin had started to get cramps, and I was overseeing the mining, so I let her take a break. I was sitting with her because I didn't want her to sit by herself.

We had been having a conversation about Fiona's strange mood swings, and how she had been acting towards me during that time.

"Do you know what the name Gideon means in Hebrew?"

"What?" I had said.

"Mighty warrior. Be a mental warrior against her, Gideon. Be a hero."

So, I had decided to do what Robin said. Be a warrior. Be the hero that Roderick had needed. "No. You don't get to intimidate me anymore. I should've stood up to you years ago."

"Gideon, how many times do I have to tell you?" Fiona walked backward. "You are not a hero."

"Yes, I am." Robin agreed with me. "You're the monster, and one day, my friends and I will destroy you."

And that's when she ripped my heart out.

The memory changed again. I was back in the forest, but no one was around this time. I had been given my heart back for good (forced) behavior, but Fiona had held onto it for months after that. Robin and Neal had been punished that day because of me. I never tried to be a hero again after that.

Except now. I was going to be a hero now. I was going to be a hero and save them both this time.

"But you won't." Fiona was back. No goonies, no castle. Just her and me in the woods.

This wasn't happening. There was no way she read my thoughts-

I was hallucinating. I had been hallucinating since I took a sip of that drink.

"No. You aren't real."

"I may not actually be here with you," She was circling around me now. "But I am very real. You know me, Gideon. You know I'm more powerful than you. You've only had your magic for what, a few weeks? Do you think your few weeks of magic versus my years of practice will be enough? Do you really think that redhead doesn't want anything from you? Maybe she's going to turn you in to get the reward, and then you're going to be punished. Just like Neal-"

I tensed as a tear rolled down my cheek. She isn't real, don't let her get to you. "I have the spellbook. I'm learning."

"But it won't be enough. Nothing you ever did was enough. Nothing you will ever do for your friends will ever be enough. It wasn't enough to save that little boyfriend of yours, Gideon-"

I clenched my fists, more tears rolling down my cheeks. "Shut up!"

"Gideon!" She repeated. "Gideon!"

I covered my ears and closed my eyes. "Gideon!"

"Gideon!" That wasn't Fiona's voice.

I opened my eyes. I was sitting on the ground, Charlie kneeling in front of me. Her hair was back in her side ponytail. I realized it never actually was let down. I heard people around us. We were only a little distance away from the party.

Charlie uncovered my ears. "Are you okay?"

I gripped her hand. She was my only source of reality at that moment.

"What was in that drink?" Was all I said.

"It was starshine. It makes you hallucinate. Everyone here is drunk out of their minds."

I rubbed my head as a headache was forming. "Yeah, I'm familiar with the substance. Neal-" I stopped talking. Neal was a part of the group of people who used to deal alcohol back in the caves. It was up to him if he wanted to tell Charlie about that or not, not me.

"Neal what?"

I shook my head. "Nothing." Charlie helped me stand.

"Come on, I don't trust Rosalie to actually get us to the inn. We can set up the tents far away from here." She started walking away.

"I thought you refused to sleep in a tent, Charlie Flynn."

"I'll just have to make do."

That night, after setting up the tents. I stood outside of mine for a little bit, looking up at the stars. One was shining particularly bright.

I started thinking about Roderick, and how I was breaking my promise to him. I promised him I wouldn't go back, and here I was.

"Please understand, Ricky," I whispered to the stars before entering my tent, falling into a dreamless sleep.

Neal Nolan

"It's time," Mark repeated when I didn't immediately get up.

"Yeah, yeah. I'm coming." I stood up and took one last look at Astrid before descending out of the room with Mark. I wasn't able to tell Astrid I needed her spare key that she had stolen from Gerad.

Talking to Astrid has me reflecting on memories from here, memories that I haven't lingered on since we escaped. Besides Robin and Gideon, Astrid and Dennis were the people I was closest with. The three of us had met when I found out Astrid had been smuggling starshine and other forms of alcohol into the caves. How she got it and slipped it past Fiona, I still had no idea. I was fifteen when I met her and decided to help her. I wanted to be a teenage rebel. It wasn't the best thing to do, but neither was my upbringing. Dennis and I met through Astrid.

We were all a dynamic, and Dennis and I.. I never found a suitable word for us, but that dynamic fell apart the day Dennis became a goonie.

That's why he annoyed the most out of them all.. Because I knew that was not him. I knew the real him.

I remembered that day like it was yesterday. My emotions were high, I didn't think they ever rose that high, but they did. It was like he flipped a switch, which I guess is essentially true. My negative feelings for him now all stem from that day. I had no doubt about Fiona, and what she did to him. I wanted to destroy her for it, for destroying the way Dennis' eyes would light up when he saw me or something he loved. For destroying him.

But I couldn't do that. I wouldn't risk Robin and Gideon for him. I wouldn't. I couldn't.

I followed Mark through the halls yet again. A boy who seemed to be around thirteen started to approach us. I recognized him a little bit. He used to follow me and Gideon around, but his name I could not remember.

"Is that Neal-"

"Zip it, kid," Mark flicked his wrist, and I thought he was going to throw the kid out of the way. The spell only smacked him a bit. He grabbed his nose out of pain.

I wanted to ask the kid if he was alright, but I knew Mark would have my head if I did. I sent him an apologetic look before speed walking up to Mark. I might as well enjoy myself while I'm here.

"Already a mastermind at magic, I suppose?"

Mark looked like he was about to slap me. "I don't get how Robin and Gideon are already so good at it."

I lifted my hands up. "If I wasn't in captivity I could ask them for you." I knew the answer, but I was definitely not giving it to him.

"Stop talking," Mark waved me off.

"Aw, now you're starting to sound like Dennis."

Being here was just one big wave of nostalgia, but not in a good way. I could name the countless times Gideon and I would sneak up here to spy or cause chaos, or when Robin would find some way to visit us.

But it was also putting me on edge. I didn't want to be back here. I wanted to run as far away as I possibly could. I had been feeling a rise of panic inside of me all day, and if I didn't get out soon, I knew I would lash out. And even if I hated the goonies and Fiona, I didn't want to lash out at them. That would just make things worse for me in the long run. The best thing I could do right now is to keep my cool.

But how am I supposed to keep my cool when this place caused me and my friends so much pain?

I had never spoken to Robin or Gideon about how I felt growing up here. I had it normal, they didn't. I knew neither of them would care about that if I ranted to them, but I also felt like I didn't deserve to. I just wished it had been them instead of me.

The 'normal' here was being locked in a cage. I was only allowed to be let out to eat, do my assigned, or work in the mines on a bad day. The times when I was able to sneak to Astrid and Dennis were miracles. All I really did was bind out my time. I didn't have time for hobbies. I didn't have time to be a fucking kid.

There were periods of time between when I saw Robin and Gideon where it would be so long, and other times very short. With our schedules being all different, it could go from a few days to a year. Looking back on it now, I was pretty sure Fiona did it on purpose. She didn't want us to be friends. She didn't want us to know our history.

She shouldn't have made me and Gideon cellmates, then.

I began to think about the time when Gideon and I's friendship truly began. I was eight, he was seven. He had left the cell to help Fiona with something, and I was left alone. I had found a long stick that I knew one of the older kids had to have dragged in. I craved to use it, to swing it around. I didn't know at the time, but now I know it had to do with who my father is. I had picked it up and started swinging it around. And once I started, I didn't want to stop.

Whenever Gideon would leave the cell over the course of those next few weeks, I would use that time to practice sword fighting. That's how I learned everything I know now, I taught myself. The only difference is my sword doesn't blister my hand like that stick did. I could feel on my side where my sword is supposed to be latched onto me. I missed it. It might only be an object, but I felt empty without it. What my sword is to me is what magic is to Gideon and Robin. It's my weapon, but also my protector. Seven-year-old Gideon caught me one day and told me he bet Fiona would make me a fighter for her one day (She never did. I don't think she wanted me to have anything similar to my parents). Ever since that day, there was an unspoken trust between us. He trusted me to be his defensive line and vice versa.

I started to think more about that memory with the stick and Gideon; There was one time some of the older guys caught me practicing with it and started making fun of me.

"You think you're some warrior prince, Nolan?" The tallest of the group had unlocked my cell with a bobby pin and yanked the stick from my hand.

"Give it back!" I had demanded, but they had just laughed in my face. An eight-year-old wasn't much of a threat to them.

The boy had just smirked at me and snapped the stick in half.

Gideon ended up showing up while I had hot tears streaming down my face. I had felt so pathetic, and ever since then, I was determined to always know how to defend myself.

As we trekked along a corridor in the castle, we passed a door that I knew all too well. It was the door that led to the boy's dungeons. If you took a left after you descend down the stairs, you'd end up right in front of my cell.

I need to get out of here. Seeing part of my old living space set me off. If I didn't get out of here soon, I might burst. Bad memories and trauma continued flooding through my brain. I squinted my eyes shut, like if I squeezed them hard enough I'll somehow teleport out of here.

But I didn't have magic, so what was I supposed to do?

But you can fight. A voice echoed in my mind. Like in that one memory. Fight your way out.

I opened my eyes. They were glossy, but that wasn't going to stop me. I twisted the part of my restraints that were hanging down around my wrists and clenched them in my hands. Luckily, Mark wasn't paying much attention to me. Good. This plan will work better with him not.

I charged at him and used both of my fists to hit him upside the head. Mark went tumbling to the ground. This would be a victory, but I needed to get out first. I didn't forget how Fiona gave the goonies magic. He had the advantage if I didn't get away.

I sprinted away as fast as I could and ran into the first room I found. It was locked but was determined. I tried running into it a few times, but it wouldn't budge. I looked back at Mark, who was getting up. I didn't have much time. I used all of the leg strength I had left to kick it open. I locked the heavy door behind me and realized that it was another entrance to the caves. One I was familiar with. It was the room Astrid, Dennis, and I would use to deal our starshine. Fiona must have discovered it, or Astrid moved locations because everything that we used was gone. The only thing left was a small table with a large book left on it. Why the book and nothing else? I wondered.

I walked up to it. The front had beautiful gold designs on it. They curved around the edges and continued running along the front until the designs curled around the centerpiece. It looked like a diamond. Was the room locked because of this book? I couldn't stop my curiosity from taking hold of me as I opened the book. Inside continued lists and lists of names, as if it was Santa's naughty and nice list. Whatever this was, I for sure couldn't be on the nice list.

Some names were scribbled out, but one name that wasn't caught my eye.

Charlotte Flynn.

Why was she in here? What was this thing? I flipped through it more, looking for an answer.

And that's when I found it. I could make out a few of the scribbled names. Carmen Riegler. Mark Roveri. Astrid and Gerard Cordeo. Dennis Semenov... Gideon Gold, Neal Nolan, Robin Mills.

And then I saw Mariah and Gustin Whittaker among the unscribbled names. That's when I realized the scribbled ones were people Fiona was holding captive.

This is a list of every child in the realm.

I grabbed the quill that was next to it and tapped lightly on the corner to see if it had any extra ink. It did. I flipped back to Charlie's name and scribbled it off so hard that the page almost ripped. If I couldn't protect her out there, I could at least protect her in here.

I heard the door open, and even though I wanted to keep looking, I slammed the book shut. Mark stood in the doorway, fury across his face. He lifted his hand and conjured up a fireball.

I lifted my hands up in defense as if they would do much defending. "Whoa, hey man at least make it a fair fight-"

Mark fell on the floor, knocked out. Above him stood Dennis, his hand clenched beside his head. I concluded he cast a sleep spell or at least something that would knock Mark out.

"We're not supposed to hurt him!" He snapped at sleeping Mark, his Russian accent being as pronounced as ever.

"Thought you got bored," I commented as he approached me. He pulled a key out of his pocket and started to unlock my restrains.

"Wait- what are you doing?" I asked, confused. Of course, I didn't want to be restrained, but why was Dennis unlocking them? Especially when he was making a point earlier about how he doesn't care.

Perhaps it was an order from Fiona. Maybe she wanted to toy with me. Let me think I could escape but really couldn't. She should know that I know better. I wasn't stupid.

"I'm getting you out of here," Dennis said quietly.

What was he doing? "What?" I breathed. Both of us talking so softly reminded me of old times. My heart was twisting and turning."Why would you defy Fiona for me?"

Dennis dropped the restrains to the floor and looked up at me. His brown eyes were looking at me sweetly and luminously, and I could see so much emotion across his face. "Neal," he said softly. I knew then, that this was the real Dennis. This was my Dennis. The Dennis Fiona had stolen from me.

"Dennis," The look I was giving him let him know that every angry retort, every physical fight, everything, that I was sorry for it. That I would get this side of him back. That I would let him be himself again.

His left hand raised and barely- just barely touched my cheek. Just the coldness of his fingertips. He yanked his hand back suddenly, every emotion on his face disappearing. He stepped back and said, "Because I feel for you, and I'm not supposed to feel!"

My face softened. I needed to get through to him. I didn't think I could stand seeing him like that anymore. Not when I saw how the real Dennis was suffering behind those emotionless eyes. "Do you want to feel?"

Dennis looked like he was contemplating an answer, but in the end, he didn't give me one. He grabbed my arm and forced me out of the room and toward a different part of the castle.

I had never been through the area he was taking me. I'm sure Gideon or Robin had, but I was never up here long enough to explore. This corridor was dark, the only light coming in was from the sun reflecting through the stained glass.

"Where are we going?" I couldn't help but ask. I probably shouldn't be trusting Dennis that easily, he could laboriously be tricking me by showing forced emotion and leading me right to Fiona like the plan originally was.

No. I reminded myself. What you saw was the real Dennis. You know the difference between real and fake.

But do I really? Dennis had always been a good actor. We all had to be to sell without getting caught, but Dennis was particularly good at it.

"Do not speak, or else I will change my mind and take you straight to her."

"God damn, Dennis," I mumbled.

"Nolan, I'm serious, shut the hell-"

"What happened, Dennis?" I egged on. "What did you do that made her do this to you?"

Dennis snapped around, a bored look on his face. "Why do you think you and Astrid never got in trouble for the starshine?"

I parted my lips slightly. He took the fall for us? "Why did you do that?" My voice sounded pained as if I had just been betrayed, but I didn't feel betrayed. I was hurt. I was hurt because he knew what would happen, and he did it anyway.

You would've done the same for him, or for anyone else. The voice in my head told me.

Dennis shrugged. "You and Astrid didn't need to become this."

I fought the tears that were forming in my eyes. "And you did?" My voice broke.

Dennis didn't say anything and kept guiding me through the corridor and the rest of the castle. Our destination was still very unknown to me.

"I did all of that just for you to sleep with that redhead," Dennis remarked quietly under his breath.

"So what?" It's not like I even slept with her, anyway, but jealously is an emotion. I needed him to feel something. So if I had to act like I did, I would. "You're the one who broke up with-"

"I can't break something that wasn't together in the first place."

"We may not have been together, but we were something."

"I'm bored of this conversation," We suddenly stopped. "And we're here."

Dennis dropped to his knees and pushed on the wall underneath the window seal. The wall pulled itself back and slid open, revealing a tunnel.

"Do I want to know how you know about this?" That would've been so much more efficient during my escape, but whatever.

"It's how the goonies get in and out of the castle-" then he added, "not that it's any of your business,"

I rolled my eyes and wasted no time getting ready to crawl in, but I stopped myself and turned around to look up at Dennis.

"Come with me." I could get through to him if he does.

Dennis looked like he was about to laugh. "You're joking, right?"

I looked him in the eyes. "No. All you ever wanted to do was leave, so do it."

"I can't."

"Why not?"

"Because Fiona has my-" He started wheezing, clenching his chest.

I got to my feet and reached out to grab him-

"Heart?"

I looked to my left and saw Fiona approaching, a heart held firmly in her hand. Mark and Carmen were trailing behind her.

Fiona started squeezing the heart, and Dennis started choking.

"Stop! Stop!" I yelled. I couldn't bear seeing Dennis in pain like that.

Fiona surprisingly stopped, and Dennis started gasping for breath. Once he regained it, I pushed him behind me.

"Did escaping once teach you nothing, Neal? You should know better than to try it again." She looked at Dennis behind me. "And you especially should know better than to help him." Fiona smiled, then. I wanted to wipe it from her face. I never could stand her smile, I still couldn't. It was full of only cold and wickedness. "Is this why you were trying to convince me not to inject him with the serum?"

Dennis said nothing.

"You shouldn't have done that, Dennis." Mark yawned, clearly still tired from the spell. I flicked my eyes to Carmen. She seemed like she didn't want to be there any more than I did.

"The serum.. What do you mean?" I asked.

"The goonie serum, of course. Come, Dennis," Fiona spoke into the heart like it was a microphone. "And bring Neal with you."

Dennis was forced to obey and held my arms behind my back. "Yes," Dennis said so quietly that I knew only I could hear.

"Pardon?" I responded at the same volume.

"To what you said back in that room. I.. I do want to feel."

I had to hold back the smile that wanted to form because Fiona was still watching.

"Come along now," Fiona commanded and we all followed. There was a pit in my stomach. I didn't know what the process of turning into a goonie was. I didn't want to go through that and I didn't want to be one. I didn't want to be the emotionless humans that they all were.

But if I could slowly start to get through to Dennis- then Charlie, Gideon, or Robin could get through to me.

We entered a close-to-empty room. The only things that were in there were a chair and a table with things scattered across it.

"Dennis," Fiona spoke into his heart. "Lock Neal to the chair."

Dennis pushed me to the chair and I sat it in. I could've tried to fight my way out, but everyone in this room except for me had magic. I also couldn't risk Fiona completely crushing Dennis' heart due to my uncooperation.

"I'm so sorry," Dennis said in his tone again while he strapped my wrists to the belts on the armrests. The emotions were scattered on his face again. He might not have minded fighting me or throwing me across rooms, but I knew he never wanted this for me.

I never wanted this for him, either. I was about to understand the pain he must've been put through, trying to feel something that was getting blocked off. "I tried to talk her out of it."

"It's not your fault," I told him as he strapped my legs.

Dennis looked like he wanted to say more, but Fiona was making commands again.

"Mark, Carmen. You two leave. Dennis, you stay."

I didn't want him to stay. I didn't want him to have to watch.

Fiona picked up a syringe with a dark green liquid in it. She grabbed rubbing alcohol and a cotton ball and walked to my side. Why she still wanted to do this safely while I was deemed a traitor to her was beyond me.

I had to fight back the urge I had to spit on her. "Robin and Gideon will come for me, and when they do, we're gonna take you down forever." I threatened.

Fiona, however, didn't seem fazed and rubbed the alcohol on my arm. "Robin isn't even in this realm, darling."

Everything in my body suddenly stopped working. "You're lying."

"I am not, I'm afraid. I'm sure Gideon is more worried about her than you. He's always liked her more."

I knew she was trying to work me up, but I was only thinking of Robin. Where the hell was she? What did Fiona do?

None of those thoughts came to a reasonable conclusion, because Fiona then injected me with the goonie serum.

"This is what happens to people who disobey me."

The last thing I looked at was Dennis before the pain took over.