Robin Pov

I crept through the gates and found the back door that lead to the kitchen. The help were all in bed so I was safe. I had made it to the floor where my room was, the third, when I ran into a rigid body. I looked up and met the eyes of Rick.

You could smell how angry he was. Helen Keller would have been able to see it and then tell someone. He. Was. Mad.

"Hey dude. What're you doing here so late?"

His eyes turned to slits. "Do you want me to ask you the same thing?" I was about to answer when he continued. "You said stay away. I was going to. But it wasn't for my safety was it. You wanted her. Well, don't bet on getting her. You have competition now." HE hit me with his shoulder as he left while I ducked my head and walked to my room in shame.

How had he seen?

I climbed into my bed and closed my eyes. But I didn't sleep.

I was a little busy remembering.


Maria POV

I stomped through the front door. It was about 2:00 am by the time I got back. I, once again, stomped very loudly up to my room, daring Ben to get me in trouble. Climbing into bed with Serena in my arms, I mentally went back to Robin. Apparently, as much as I would like to deny it, he was more than just a bad fighter.


I was at the dinner table that night, ancy and anxious, waiting for it to be over so I could go to the forest. I had to have time to sneak out before I could go. That took time and planning. That required me to know where everyone was at all times. That required time. I DIDN'T HAVE TIME!

"So, Maria, where were you last night?" I couldn't help the smile that graced my face. Why was I even worrying? They already knew. So calm down.

"I was kissing a boy." I said it with a straight face. I don't believe in lying.

Mrs. Heliotrope choked on her wine. "Maria! Don't say such dreadful things. You are lady, act like one."

I gave her my, "Do you wanna go?" look. I had dirt on her too.

"Maria." Uncle Ben was going to scold me, wasn't he? Well, then that was my escape.

"I'm sorry! I guess I misjudged your sense of humor. I'll just go to my room." I stood up and pushed my chair out, it screeching against the floor.

"All I was going to say was that it isn't right to lie just for a laugh."

"You're right. I don't believe in lying." I walked out of the room and up the staircase. My mind started to drift to yesterday. I was out of practice. Maybe Robin could let me practice on him…

But then again, my kissing needed more practice than my fighting… choices, choices.

I reached my room and looked for Serena. I couldn't find her anywhere. I looked everywhere. All I found was note attached to the mantle on my fireplace.

Maria,

I took you rabbit so that you would be free of it. I promise little Ms. Serena is in the best hands. I saw you leave the forest with her and couldn't help but feel sympathy. Rick is an evil one, isn't he!

I hope your not angry. I promise you'll see her again.

-L.D.

I was mad to say the least. I sat there reading and re-reading the letter. That was my Rabbit. Mine. I didn't even consider the fact that this person had seen me in the forest or been in my room. I was more upset that I had lost the rabbit I had successfully snuck past Uncle.

Poor Serena.


I walked into the forest fuming. I would find this "L.D." And get Serena back. I went to the spot where I had beat up… Rick, I guess his name is. I searched everywhere. But there was no trace.

Maybe I was in the wrong spot.

If I-

I felt a tap on my shoulder. The guy I had beat up last week was standing behind me with a bright smile on his face.

My ADD mind forgot about Serena and immediately went onto how fierce his ice blue eyes were. I had never seen such eyes.

"Do you where contacts?"

It would make sense. They make those in tons of colors. Red, lime green, black, so why not ice?

"Excuse me?"

I looked at his expression and realized he had no clue what contacts were. "Oh, right." I awkwardly looked around for an escape. This guy gave me the creeps. Instead of fleeing, I stuck my hand out. "Maria Merryweather."

He flinched at my last name but shook my hand anyway. "Rick Cooper."

I put a false confused face on and said, "Not Denoir?"

He shook his head with a lopside smile on it. "Sorry. I'm not related to Bird Boy."

"Well, who knows? Maybe that will be a good thing in the long run." I lifted an eyebrow at the suggestion, him soon mirroring me.

"Is there something I don't know about?"

I shook my head, and honestly said, "You don't seem like the kind of person who would let that happen."

He smiled at me. "No, you're right. I'm not."

I know something you don't know! Hahahahaha! I know something you don-

"So I will tell you now. Robin is trouble. Rendezvousing at night is a bad idea."

Apparently I don't know something you don't.

The world started spinning. "How do you know?"

"There was more than one tree to hide behind you know."

"Pervert."

"What?"

"Nothing."


Robin was waiting for me when I got to the clearing. He smiled but I silently shook my head at him. "Do you know where a big field is?"

He nodded cautiously. "Why?"

"I'll tell you when we get there."

"Okay…"

And so we walked. It wasn't a short walk either. It took probably half an hour, but oh was it worth it. It was probably three football fields long and wide. It had a giant oak in the middle and a waterfall a hundred yards away. The whole thing had a winding stream running through it.

"It looks like it came out of a movie."

"Yeah, I think so." I jumped when Robin talked. I had almost forgotten he was there. He was looking out at the tree in an awe filled respect. "I've been climbing that tree since I was seven. It was grown a lot."

I looked back out at the tree, no imagining a seven year old Robin falling all over the barrel thick branches. Giggling, I took off at a full sprint towards it. I soon heard him catching up which was very impressive seeing as I had taken first in every race I had ever participated in.

We hit the tree at the same time, only he used his momentum to haul himself up about five feet so he could sit on the lowest knot of the tree. I smiled and climbing nimbly up three times my height, so high I could see over many of the tree tops of the forest that was so far away. I saw the red flag that was posted at the very peak of the Merryweather mansion. Being up hear made me realize how close we actually were to home. I could see the mountains surrounding the Valley, reaching so high up. But I knew, unlike so many others, that subway was so close.

We were surrounded by London and no-one even knew it. This was a prison. This is what Australia was many many years ago. This is where criminals were sent. Any other theory wouldn't make sense. But then again, my dad was raised here.

"Maria?"

I was snapped out of my thoughts by Robin's unsure voice.

I met his eyes. "Do you like to swim?"

He nodded.

"Perfect." I jumped down to the ground and raced over to the waterfall and looked down. The water looked deep enough.

"Maria, you don't have no swim gear." Robin said from right behind me.

"Dude. I always have swim gear."

"What do you mean?"

I faced him and watched his eyes go wide and his face go red as I lifted my tank top over my head and tossed on the ground. I shrugged at him before jumping in the water. I had worn shorts, so those could stay. But swimming with a shirt? What a hindrance? I guess it was a little over board to strip in front of him and the more I thought about, the more conscious I had to be about the color of my face.

I looked up at the bank where he was standing there, not knowing what to do.

I rolled my eyes. I had never realized how comfortable I was losing clothes in front of people. I need to work on that. I dove down into the water with my eyes open. It was clear water. It was clear to the point that I could see Robin's feet swinging in the water from so far away.

This was amazing. I surfaced and looked at Robin. He was watching me too. "Come on. I just undressed in front of you, I'll even look away for you. Don't leave me hanging."

I heard him mumble something that sounded very similar to, "but then I will be," but brushed it off. I turned around while treading water and heard him shuffle around with his clothes. I stayed that way until the water was disturbed by another body parting the perfect harmony that was this reserve. When I turned around, he was still under the water, at the bottom, which was so far down that he looked the size of a Barbie doll. Just the thought of a Robin Denoir Barbie Doll made me go into hysterics. When he came back up, he found me trying not to drown, failing miserable, and laughing so hard I'm sure my eyes were popping out of my head.

He swam over to me and dragged me to the bank so I could hold on and laugh.

"Are you okay, Maria?"

Still giggling slightly, I answered, "Yeah. Just really stressed right now."

He nodded in understanding. Like he really knew. He has no clue.

"Well. Let's make this field a stress field. When we leave, you can go through the stress force field and take it back when you go home. But for now, put it in a jar and throw it away."

"You make it sound so easy." I sighed. "I wish I could be a kid again."

"Well then." He swam up to me and took my hands before pulling my into his, alarmingly muscled, bare chest and whispered in my ear. "Let's go back to when we were kids. As you wish."


I woke up with my head on Robin's shoulder and a sword to my neck. Rick and his buddies were standing over us but Robin was still conked out. With the sword still to my neck, Rick gestured his head up and over. I did as he said and they lead me to the other side of the sanctuary that was this field.

"What the hell are you doing with him?" One of the guys flanking Rick said menacingly.

The sword was put to my neck again when I didn't answer right away.

"Easy, Rick. I was just making friends. You yourself told me he was trouble. I didn't ignore you. So do me a favor." His arm moved easily when I pushed the sword away. "Don't ignore me when I tell you that I can rip you limb from limb in the time it takes you to take a piss. Don't make me angry."

He smiled sweetly at me. "I don't believe you. You think you're so great, but you're just a girl . Girls are weak. Their only good for three things."

"Oh, please bless me with the knowledge of what I'm good at." I said sarcastically.

"Babies, Sex, and Cleaning."

This guys. What is his issue? What a twisted fu-

All the boys around him snickered.

"I am going to assume you think Robin is using me for the second? Am I right?"

"What else could you be useful for? You have a bad temper, you're a Merryweather, and let's be honest, with that strength you possess, you might just be able to keep up with a man."

I kept my face on, my brave face, but inside I was fearful. What if Robin was just looking for a quick night? I would be none the wiser.

"Well I'll tell you one thing. You are right." I walked up to Rick and whispered in his ear, "I can keep up with a man. But luckily for you, I won't ever feel the need to show you. So you can live in your little fantasy of a life." I backed away. "Then maybe one day, if you ever find a woman you can love, and you stand beside her during childbirth but she bleeds out and the baby doesn't make it, you'll realize how very wrong you are."

My first mistake was assuming they were done. My next was turning my back on them while they still had a sword in their possession.

When I felt it slice down my back, it was worse pain then I have ever felt in my life. I shrieked and fell to the ground, praying to God they hadn't permanently damaged anything.

Robin POV

Competition. It is such a… versatile word. You might be fighting over food, property… girls. But, apparently, in this case, it was over prey, recognition, and pride.

I felt my heart sink.

I had opened my eyes, expecting to see the beautiful grey star filled eyes staring back at me. But there wasn't. All there was was empty space. The grass was swaying with the soft breeze. The birds chirping. The water bubbling. My less than uneasy breathing. It all flowed with an elegant grace I could only describe as peaceful. But, just as that though hit my still groggy mind, I heard an ear piercingly high pitched shrieked of what sounded like pain. I tried to get up and draw my sword but my legs were still trying to wake up too, and the pins and needles were racing over my body as it tried to catch up with my mind.

I found my balance and sword at about the same time. The gold handle fitting in my hand like putty, perfectly sculpted by an expert jeweler to fit in the fighting hand. The sun glinted off of the two point blade. This sword belonged in my hand.

I looked up, realized that the time between the shriek and my sword unsheathing, was only a matter of second, because as I faced towards the commotion, I saw a sword head straight down toward Maria's neck.

But, I watched as Maria brought her hands up in time to knock the sword forward just enough to miss her head. It made thundering contact with the ground, leaving a panic stricken look on Ricks face as he saw me running with my sword at the ready. Before I got there, Maria writhed with wide eyes as she tried to free herself from the ground, but the sword was holding her by her thick mass of locks.

As I reached them, I swung my sword like a baseball bat, and knock Rick out. I made eyes contact with the men whom followed Rick.

I smiled the sadistic smile I had been practicing my whole life. I didn't know what Rick had told these men, but whatever it was, it was probably about me.

"See, and here I thought we were friends." I had to consider my options very carefully here. "I was going to get a night out of that there moonprincess, but y'all had to come ruin m'a fun." Total lies, Robin. Total lies. "Now, I dow'nt know bout ya prats, but if there r any me'en amo'oung-" I heard the sound of fabric rip.

No, not fabric. More like, when you cut a bunch of grass in a tight bundle. I glance at Maria to check on her. But, to my surprise, she was lunging for me, arms out stretched and hands grabbing at air until it made contact with me. I dropped my sword and helped lift her to her feet. The guys around me snickered, and I wanted all the more to slaughter Rick. I lifted my left hand up to her head to run my finger through her hair to comfort her, but what my fingers felt wasn't to be expected.

Her hair was choppy, some of it seemingly her original length, and others only the length it takes to reach her shoulder. I looked down at it, and it looked like a little child had taken a knife to their hair.

One had.

I searched for the sword in the ground, and sure enough, her hair had been cut off, it brutally pinned to the ground. I had to concentrate on not having a gaping mouth while looking at it. I guess the saying is very true. You don't know what you have till it's gone.

I felt her squirm in my arms.


Heh. Hi. So, um, hello again. It's been four years, I know. Probably nobody is going to read this because its been so long. But if you're here hi! I honestly completely lost inspiration for this story, because, well, I was fourteen while writing it, which is kind of weird considering some of the things I added in. However, being the adult I am, I've decided to finish this story about a children move. This chapter I just posted is the complete chapter nine, as I had only posted a partial before, if anyone is still here to remember that.

So basically what I'm saying is that this is the last chapter written by fourteen year old me. The writing is going to change significantly (at least I hope so) because my skills have changes, and hopefully, improved. I'll do my best to recapture the magic I thought I had back then. I have the next two chapters written and will keep working till this story is done. I need closure even if nobody reads this.

Thank you for anybody who waited four years, if you guys are still out there, and if there is anybody new that is interested in The Secret of Moonacre, Welcome, I'm surprised you made it this far because these first nine chapters are cringe af.

So yeah, let me know if your still here in the comments. Ill post chapter 10 on Friday. No if, ands, or buts about it.

Also I didn't proofread this chapter so whatever 14 year old me wrote is what you're gonna get. (insert cringey laugh face here)