After her pitiful spill of emotions, Rose Red lifted herself off the floor. The flower band was kicked away with a dismissive glance to it. Her dirty feet left a mark on one of the fake flowers, causing her to bend down with a sigh and pick the band back up. Only to throw it back to the ground.
"No, no, no, what do you mean 'truly love me?'" Rose Red interjected.
The shadow, instead of being annoyed at the interruption, flew around the clearing once with a shriek and cold laugh. "Don't you remember? Your mummy didn't want you and the others are only forced here by magic. That love needs to be unwavering and accepting"
Rose Red glared at the shadow, looking like a child almost. "And what makes you think I'll find true love."
"You're so stupid it hurts sometimes." The shadow growled dryly, "Listen closely, someone needs to truly love you."
"Argh! I don't understand!"
"That's not my fault. Now, again before I was so rudely interrupted, tell me about the help you need."
It was her mother's fault, Rose Red concluded, if only the weak woman had held herself together after her father died. Then she could have continued to love her only child. Sometimes she wondered what happened to that woman; maybe she fell prey to the cold village and never made it out, or fell in love with a merchant. It made her feel slightly better to know she wouldn't love another child, having known since she was young her mother couldn't have anymore after her own miracle birth.
Then why would she give up her only child? Maybe that's where it all stemmed, this horrible mess she'd fallen into, right back at the beginning of her story.
(Time jump)
"Now, I think it only fair to return this favor." Pan had said those words years before to the Lost Boys, earning wild screeches and running feet for response. But, he had never acted on them, much to their discouragement.
Now, it was finally time. Those girls would have let their guards down and the real fun would soon begin.
The boys gathered their staffs and weapons, lacing their poisonous plant around the weapons and rubbing it on the spears and arrows tips. Their plan was laid out before them in the dirt, a crude circle representing the girl's island. Dirt smudged faces exchanged smiles, Pan had really out done himself this time, those girls would know to never mess with him again.
Pan stood off to the side, watching the boys get ready.
"Are you sure this will work?" One of the lost boys asked, "The girls might have changed for all we know, doing t-"
"The plan will work, Felix." Pan glared out, "Just be ready to ta–"
Pan himself was cut off; the other Lost Boys had finished with their preparing. They ran towards Pan with wild screeches, ready for a moment they'd wanted for years.
"Well boys, I'd say it's time to return Rose Reds favor."
"Won't you at least talk to me?" Thea screamed at the girl in front of her, "We've been back for days and all you do is stay in your room."
Rose Red, who was walking back into her tree house, froze. A glare set towards the tree in front of her. "You don't understand anything."
"I do know that you aren't as bad as you like to pretend to be!" Thea shouted out, grabbing her hair in frustration. "Why else would you save me?"
"I didn't do it out of the goodness of my own heart." She stated coolly, "I did it because Pan would have inevitably returned you after he grew tired of your whining."
The flower band had once again rested on Rose Reds head, her magic constantly swirling around her fingers. She wasn't found without a flower in hand most times. The Free Girls, ever enchanted and oblivious, continued as they always did for all the years. They played silly games, the giggled naively, and Thea stood off to the side- watching them and scowling. Rose Red always strutted around them, basking in the one thing they never ceased, an unwavering adoration.
But it wasn't enough, the hourglass continued to pour, a magically induced love was forever, but it wasn't true or accepting. Even she wasn't that dense, she was sure deep down inside they must be somewhat aware, with a steadily growing hate that would never be released as long as Rose Red lived and danced around the island with her little figurines. Maybe, deep down in Rose Red, there was that little part of Anastasia that felt bad for them, that little part that was weak and frail. It was always squished away.
This day was no different, the girls clearing was sunny, as always as the cold never dared to touch her land, and the girls were either running around or playing today's game; hopscotch. Milania was taking her turn, orange hair flying around as she jumped. Cerebella was laughing with Eliana, both out in a further away field. Thea was watching Sarine climb a tree with disinterest, while Margaret joined them. And Rose Red relished in her control.
That's why she crumpled up the flower in her hand once she felt other enter her island. Pan must have finally decided she should be bugged again, or maybe he fixed that boy she'd cursed and he meant to boast his achievement in breaking her magic. Either way she wasn't concerned. With a little huff, she turned away and into her tree house. The little addition in her room never ceased to make her feel sick, almost pitiful like that day. Still, she stuck her head up and perched herself on her bed. Making herself oblivious to the events as she brushed her hair.
They were easier to take down than Pan had thought, surprised that all it took was a few dreamshade scratches to keep the first ones down. Pitiful how easy it was. However, the boys enjoyed it nonetheless. He looked down at one of them, still writhing on the ground. He stepped on her orange hair, watching coldly as she screeched in more pain.
He expected Rose Red to have come out soon enough, which she didn't disappoint in doing.
"What are you doing!" Her screech echoed loudly, causing all of them to look up. Well not all of them, the three that were attacked weren't getting up anytime soon.
Pan started walking towards her slowly; laughing at the chaos he'd created.
"What did you do?" She looked at the two, presumably dead. "Margret? Milania?"
"Is that their names?" He replied smartly to her whisper.
"Thea watch over the others." She ordered to the others huddled in a corner. Thea gave her a curt nod, albeit confused, until Rose Red threw the flower and its powder over to her. It swirled around them, vanishing into a puff of lilac.
"I want all of you gone!" She yelled the last word, throwing powder around and flailing her arms.
Lost Boys backed up, some of them recognizing it to be Remy's demise. Some of them even cried out as it was sent out of the flower and puffed out in some sort of cloud. Several of them covered their heads, ready to become mindless like Remy; others shut their eyes and shook. Only Pan stood there, watching the empty spot Rose Red once stood in.
Coldness was the first thing she felt. Then the snow on her body. Next, magic flooding over her and blinding her senses.
A/N: If you've paid attention, you'd know where she sent herself and maybe you know whats happened next. Sorry for the time jump! I just got bored with fillers and yada yada, and it became crucial for the big plan to be set in motion.
Also, as much as I love Rose Red, who needs to love her should be obvious.
