AN: Reviews make the world sing, readers! Just saying ;)

Chapter 24.

Heading straight towards the demonic looking green mist of evil was nerve wrecking. What was going to happen when we went in it? Would we vanish? Would it be like poisonous gas and kill us? I stood next to Edmund by the wheel of the ship along with Lucy, Caspian, Tavros, Drinian, and other crew members. I glanced up at the sky nervously. It looked like it was going to storm or something, and Eustace was up there flying around with Reep.

Not that I was, psh, worried or anything.

"So what do you think is in there?" Tavros asked.

"Our worst nightmares," Edmund replied calmly.

"Our darkest wishes," Caspian added grimly.

"Pure evil," Drinian spoke up from the wheel.

"Thanks, Doom, Gloom, and Pouty," I said sarcastically. "Maybe next time we can go tell some kids that they're all gonna die someday."

"We're stating facts, Miss Rose," Drinian said gruffly as he left the wheel. "If you can't face 'em, then why are you here?"

I held my hands up in surrender. "Just trying to ease the tension, bro."

"Archers, prepare yourselves!" Drinian called. Shouts of "Aye, Captain!" went through the ship.

"Light the lanterns!" Tavros roared as he went down the stairs to the lower deck.

"Let's get ready," Caspian said quietly. Him and Edmund left while I followed Lucy to our cabin.

We were both nervously getting ourselves together as Gael sat on the bed, watching us.

"When I grow up, I want to be just like you two."

Lucy and I both froze in surprise. The temptation to laugh nearly burst out of me. No way should that sweet, innocent angel become anything like me.

Smiling, Lucy went to her and put an arm around her. "When you grow up, you should be just like you."

"Yeah," I agreed, sitting down on the other side of her. "Imagine the good you can bring to this world just by being you."

Gael glowed, looking brighter than even that damn star woman who nearly blinded me.

The three of us stood us up.

"Well," I said, forcefully cheerful. "Let's get this show on the road."

Lucy nodded, looking solemn. Before I could help myself, I threw my arms around both girls.

"Whatever happens," I said, trying to swallow the lump in my throat, "you two are the most incredible girls I've ever had the privilege of meeting."

They hugged me back fiercely for a long time before we finally pulled apart.

Lucy took a deep breath. "Let's go."

We exited the cabin in time to see that we were at the entrance of the mist. It looked even more terrifying up close.

Caspian stood at the very front of the boat on the steps as the crew was spread out, watching him with their undivided attention.

I found Edmund, who wore a steel plated suit for protection. I suddenly felt exposed. All of the men wore armor.

I crept up next to him and he immediately pulled me into an embrace, probably bruising me from the cold, hard steel. But I didn't care.

"That's a nice new sword," I said, tapping the side of its sheath.

"It's my brother's," he replied softly. "Both of them."

Before I could reply, Caspian spoke, addressing us all. "No matter what happens here, every soul who stands before me had earned their place on the crew of the Dawn Treader."

I couldn't help but be awed by the regal tone in his voice. For once I didn't have anything snarky to say, or even think.

"Together we have gone far," he continued. "Together we have faced adversity. Together we can do it again."

Of course we could, our mental sanity was so far gone I didn't think anything could break us anymore.

I really hope the mist doesn't take that as a challenge.

"So now is not the time to fall to fear's temptations. Be strong. Never give in."

I glanced up at Edmund who was looking at Caspian with a fierce pride, the way I was feeling about everybody here.

"Our world-our Narnian lives-depend on it. Think of the lost souls we're here to save." I looked over at Gael who was hugging Lucy and I felt my determination rise.

"Think of Aslan. For Narnia." With that, his epic speech ended.

"For Narnia!" A crewman shouted, leading everyone else to join in, including me.

I couldn't help but laugh when I saw the complete and total shock on Caspian's face. He looked at Edmund and I as if to say, "I did good?!"

I gave him a thumbs up to assure him and he looked pleased. I wound my arms around Edmund completely and clung to him, my heart pounding.

"This is it," I said grimly as we got closer and closer. The front of the boat, where Caspian had just stood was now cloaked in the darkness. Sure the speech sounded good, but this was different. We were entering what looked like the entrance to Hell.

"I can't do this, Edmund," I whispered as shadows covered us. The fog was so thick I could hardly see.

He pulled away and gripped my shoulders, forcing me to look at him. "Don't you dare! You're stronger than it is, don't succumb to it."

I nodded, shutting my eyes briefly. We'd been through so much together, there's no way we couldn't get through this.

No longer was I Rose from America. I was Rose from Narnia. I could do anything, this world was my home and I couldn't back down now. 0

"You're right," I said finally. "Let's go fuck this place up."

He nodded in satisfaction. "That's the Rose I love."

I took his hand and together we stood, watching as we entered the monster. The lights on the front of the boat were lit, but I could barely see anything but black smog.

Then the voices began. Eerie voices were whispering and murmuring. My heart nearly dropped as green mist began slowly weaving it's way around the ship, like snakes.

"Rose," a voice whispered. It was the same one I had heard that night Edmund saw the Witch. "Are you ready to give up this fantasy?"

Was it her? I whipped my head around to look. Sitting on the railing of the ship was . . . me?

"Wha-what the hell?!" I stared, dumbfounded.

"Rose, what is it?" Edmund asked me, shaking me slightly. But I couldn't look away. It was too weird, seeing myself like a mirror image.

"I-I," I couldn't even answer.

"Don't you get it?" Other Rose asked. "We might as well just go home. There's nothing left for you anywhere, anymore. Once Edmund leaves, you'll be all alone again."

I was vaguely aware of Edmund shaking me, but I brushed him off.

My imposter smiled impishly. "At least at home we're nice and safe, no one can ever hurt us there. In Narnia, you never know what's going to happen."

"But I love it here," I insisted. "This is my home."

"You think it's your home," Other Rose corrected gently. "But eventually they'll tire of you."

"Go away," I heard Edmund say harshly next to me. "You're dead."

The dream of the White Witch flashed through my mind, as did everything we talked about. Was he seeing her now?

I turned my attention back to my other self. Enough was enough. "This whole time you've been trying to drive a wedge between me and the people I love. Do you know why?"

Other Rose looked startled, raising an eyebrow.

"I'll tell you why!" I yelled. "Because I am terrified of being alone and going back to how I used to live. You want me to go back home and live in a shell again. Well, guess what? That's never going to happen. I love all of these people and I would die for them so you can SHUT YOUR WHORE MOUTH!"

Did I just call myself . . .? Ugh, nevermind.

Other Rose stared at me, wide-eyed. I really am adorable looking when I'm scared.

"You're never going to ruin my life again!" I pulled out my sword at the same time I heard Edmund yell, "No!"

Just like that, Other Rose disappeared in a puff of green smoke. Damn, I'm a coward.

Suddenly, a sharp sting went across my face.

I let out a hiss of pain. "Holy shit!" I looked to see Lucy, staring at me.

"You said to slap you if you went crazy," she said with a shrug.

"I had already snapped out of it and was taking a nice, slow detour back to reality!" Scowling, I rubbed my throbbing cheek. The little lady had quite the hand.

I turned to Edmund who looked as dazed as I felt.

"Are you alright?" Lucy asked him.

He nodded. "Yeah."

Ed and I stared at each other, both of us trying to make sense of what we'd just seen. I threw my arms around him and kissed him, for the first time feeling like nothing was holding me back. He kissed me the same way.

Our attentions were jerked away when a loud moaning sound came from somewhere in the distance. We all stared, listening intently.

I could faintly hear someone yelling, "Keep away!"

I blinked. "Either there's someone out there or the monster is trying to protect us from itself."

The voice, which was a man's voice, called out again, "Keep away!"

"Who's there?" Edmund demanded.

"We do not fear you!" Caspian added.

"You showed him," I said sarcastically, rolling my eyes. "I bet he's shaking now, Caspian."

"Nor I you!" the man yelled in response.

"What'd I tell you, bro?" I said with a snicker.

Edmund left my side and I saw him retrieve the flashlight. He turned it on and shone it out towards a giant rock, where the voice was coming from. It was a man wearing nothing but a ragged brown sack. He was old, and his hair was long and grey. His back was pressed up against the rock and he was soaked. He was gripping a sword tightly.

"We will not leave," Caspian told him.

"You will not defeat me!" Determined little guy, isn't he?

"Caspian," Edmund called eagerly. "Caspian, his sword!"

I looked closer. "He's old with grey hair so, of course, he's got to be one of the lords."

"Lord Rhoop!" Caspian said, running to the side of the boat. The lord tried to get further away from us, Edmund kept his flashlight on him the whole time.

"You do not own me!" he shouted.

"Stand down!" Caspain said to the crew, who were all pointing their weapons at the poor old man. "Let's get him on board, quickly."

The men all began to prepare to do so, when suddenly Eustace shot out of nowhere and grabbed the lord.

"He's going to kill him from shock!" I shrieked as the man screamed. Eustace flew over the boat and held him over the crew, who all reached out immediately and helped him down. Huh, the kid was actually being really helpful today. I think I like him better as a dragon.

"Be calm, my lord!" Caspian tried to comfort him. The man wouldn't even look at him.

"Off me, demon!" he roared, his voice nearly going hoarse from the effort.

My eyes widened. "Weeeeeird. I say the same thing when he tries to make me get out of bed in the morning!"

"No, my lord!" Caspian said, after shooting me a major death glare. "We are not here to hurt you. I am your king, Caspian."

The man stared at us, an insane look in his eyes.

"Caspian?" Lord Rhoop whispered, shaking like a leaf. He slowly turned around to face Caspian and gasped, reaching to touch his face. "My lord!"

"And that's what I say whenever he feeds me," I said solemnly, earning myself another look.

"You should not have come!" he said desperately. "There's no way out of here. Quickly, turn this ship about before it's too late!"

I gripped Edmund's arm, slightly frightened. There was no lord in front of us anymore. He was a broken man who had seen horrors beyond belief.

"We have the sword," Edmund insisted. "Let's go."

Caspian nodded. "Let's turn her about, Drinian." I nearly wept with relief. We hadn't even been in here long and I was already losing my mind.

"Aye, aye, your Majesty."

Lord Rhoop ran after Caspian, his arm outstretched. "Do not think! Do not let it know your fears, or it will become them!"

No problem. I'll just focus on staring at Edmund, who I loved, not feared. I thought about him, only him.

Suddenly, his eyes widened and he let out a sharp gasp. "Oh, no."

I thought about killing him.

I narrowed my eyes. "What's "oh, no"?" I hissed.

"Edmund, what did you just think of?" Lucy asked fearfully.

"Oh, I'm sorry!" he said desperately. He ran to the side of the ship and looked down into the water.

I exchanged a horrified look with Lucy. This was not going to end well. I ran next to him and looked.

"No, it's okay," I whispered. "All I see are some giant rocks-WHY ARE THEY MOVING?!"

The ship jerked and I felt myself soar through the air to the other side of the ship. I was sure I'd crash into the pile of people, but somehow Edmund caught me before I fell to the ground. Did he not fall or had he already jumped to his feet? Oh well, either way without him that would have really hurt.

"Thanks," I said shakily as he let go of me. He ran over to his sister and pulled her to her feet.

"Look!" Caspian called. "What is that?"

"It's too late. IT'S TOO LATE!"

Well . . . Lord Rhoop had officially cracked.

This was really, really, REALLY not going to end well.