Sorry I didn't post this yesterday! Got caught up in some other stuff.
This is another EF-chapter and, in case you're wondering about the story that Rachel wrote that the other characters are referring to, that story is The Dark Ages, my Harry Potter-fanfiction ;) Since it's based on (roughly) the same people I really wanted to make those references because when my friends started to read this at least the guy portraying Toby in both stories was freaking out about some similarities.
Anyway, hope you enjoy this!
One Year Prior
The Dark Palace, Enchanted Forest
"Well, this isn't too bad, is it?" Jade said, peering out from behind the curtain and then quickly pulled back as one of the flying monkeys passed outside the window of the room they were in.
"Could definitely have been better", Wolfgang answered, rubbing his wrist. He must have landed on it when the vortex dropped them off, but since he could move and flex his fingers he doubted it was worse than a sprain.
"We're missing most of our friends, we're somewhere we don't know and we've got flying monkeys on patrol outside the window", Toby said. "How could it not have been better?"
"On this one I agree with Toby", Rachel said. "Wherever that vortex brought us we're not here to have fun and relax, it would seem."
"Flying monkeys would place us in Oz, wouldn't it?" Arianne asked. "I mean, if Oz was a real place this could actually be it."
"I'm actually going to go ahead and say it's a real place", Filipi responded. "By the way, the monkeys are leaving."
"Leaving?" Wolfgang said, walking up to the window. "Where would they be heading? To destroy some random town?"
"Maybe", Rachel said and joined him, "or maybe something drew their attention."
"I vote for getting out of here while we can", Jade said.
"No", Toby said, vigorously shaking his head. "No, we're not going anywhere. Not this time. I don't want those stories to become a reality."
He glared at Rachel who huffed at him.
"Really, Toby? You're afraid the Huldra might come after you?"
"Let's face it, Rachel; this is just like one of your stories", Filipi said with a smile. "Toby's just playing his usual part of never moving out of his safe zone."
"Which is the logical thing to do", Toby pointed out. "This room is, as far as we know, safe while outside we have flying monkeys with sharp teeth and who knows what other creatures that might be lurking there."
"Well, I'm going", Wolfgang said and rose. "I'm done waiting around in here."
"No. No. Stop. Petrificus Totalus!"
Wolfgang hardly had time to hear Toby finish the spell before his arms and legs were locked to his sides and he fell onto his back, unable to move anything but his eyes.
"What the hell, Toby?" Jade exclaimed. Toby did not respond; instead he looked from Wolfgang to the wand in his hands and back again.
"It works?" Arianne asked, looking equally surprised.
"Finite", Rachel said, waving her own wand towards Wolfgang who instantly found himself capable of moving again.
"What was that for?" he angrily said when he got up on his feet again.
"It was the first thing that came to mind, really", Toby answered.
"But this means we have working wands", Filipi said. "We could actually defend ourselves."
"Or at least do a pretty good job at it", Jade filled in. "See, Toby; you have a weapon that you know how to use perfectly! Why should you linger back in this room when you have that?"
"For the same reasons I previously stated", Toby answered.
"Toby, I'm sorry, but the logical thing right now is not to wait for people to rescue us because they don't have a clue about where we are", Rachel pointed out. "Until we have means to communicate with some friendly possible rescuers we have to get going on our own."
Toby muttered something inaudible but eventually seemed to see the logic behind this reasoning as well and joined the group as they slowly made their way out of the room. This led them to a corridor built out of black marble, or at least a stone highly similar to that.
"So, which way do we go?" Jade asked. "Should we split up?"
"No splitting up", Toby quickly ordered.
"It's not one of my stories, Toby", Rachel groaned.
"Well I'm not taking any risks."
"Alright", Wolfgang said. "No splitting up or Toby will start to panic. Let's go this way."
He brandished his wand and took the lead through the dark corridor. In his head he went over every possible spell and curse he could use against a possible opponent that might be lurking around the next corner. It was as if he had always been walking with a wand at the ready.
He peered around the corner and saw a dark shadow at the other end, but whoever it was he had seen the person was moving away from them.
"Come on", he whispered. The others followed him and together they aimed for the stairs at the far end. He did not bother mentioning that he had seen someone walking down there only moments before.
"Regina!"
The voice caused them to stop. It was male, had a British accent and came from somewhere to their right. There was another corridor not far ahead from where they were standing, leading them in that direction.
"No splitting up, right?" Wolfgang said, looking back at the others.
"Logically..." Toby begun.
"If you mention that word again I'll cast a silencing spell on you", Jade threatened. "Let's find out who needs our help."
"Your Gryffindor is showing, Jade", Wolfgang said with a grin, before they took off down the corridor. At the end they found a large set of open double doors and inside the well-kept bedchamber was a man, dressed in medieval styled clothes and holding a longbow in his left hand. At the moment he was desperately trying to move his feet, but they seemed to be glued to the floor, effectively rendering him incapable of moving. When he looked up and saw them standing there, however, he still drew an arrow and raised his bow.
"Who are you and what are you doing here?" he asked.
"You're seriously going to shoot us just because of that we came to see why you were shouting?" Wolfgang asked. The archer drew back the bowstring.
"I should warn you; my arrows never miss their mark", he said, his voice threatening.
"Really?" Jade asked. "You're like a Robin Hood-hero-person, then?"
The man frowned at her in surprise and lowered the bow.
"I am Robin Hood", he responded. This caused the group in the door to stare at him in surprise.
"So we're not in Oz?" Arianne asked.
"You don't know where you are?" Robin asked.
"No, we were transported here by a green vortex", Rachel responded. "We assumed we were in Oz when we saw flying monkeys outside."
"No, you're not in Oz", Robin said, then tried once more, to yank his feet free. "Come on!"
"You need some help with that?" Jade asked. Robin looked up once more.
"Can you undo this spell?" he asked, frowning.
"Actually, Jade, we don't know which spell is responsible for gluing him to the floor", Toby pointed out. "Casting the wrong counter-spell might cause more harm than help."
"I was actually going to suggest you cast one", Jade responded. "You've probably got every single spell ever mentioned in even the shortest paragraph beneath all that hair."
Toby stared at her.
"It can't hurt to cast a spell like Finite", Rachel pointed out.
"Then why don't you?" Toby asked, turning towards her.
"Because you're the best one when it comes to spells."
"No, you're trying to get me into trouble."
"Fine, I'll do it!" Wolfgang groaned and flicked his wand. "Finite Incantatem!"
The spell on the outlaw's feet immediately lifted and he sighed in relief when he was able to move them again.
"Thank you", he said, then hurried past them into the corridor.
"Where are you going?" Jade asked as they turned and followed.
"I need to find the Queen before she goes through with her spell", Robin answered.
"Rewind; what Queen and what spell and where the hell are we?" Filipi asked.
"You're in the Dark Palace in the Enchanted Forest", Robin answered as he led them down the stairs. "The Queen is Queen Regina, formerly known as the Evil Queen. I came to aid her lower a shield cast by the Wicked Witch so that she could regain possession of her castle. At least, that's what I thought when we came here; seems she was planning all along to use a sleeping curse on herself once the shield is down."
They stepped off the staircase and Robin stopped, looking around.
"Do you know the way to the courtyard?" he asked.
"You mean you don't?" Arianne asked in return.
"I have never visited this castle before."
"Well, we're newcomers in this land, so I doubt we'll be much help in finding anything", Rachel pointed out. A cackling sound drew their attention and they looked out through the window, seeing a witch soar past on a broom.
"I assume that is the Wicked Witch", Toby breathed.
"Regina!" Robin shouted, taking off down the corridor.
"Has he got any idea where he's going?" Arianne asked.
"I highly doubt that, but I don't want to lose sight of him", Rachel responded as they all took off after him. The chase led them through a set of winding corridors and down another set of stairs before they suddenly found themselves standing in a courtyard, lit up by multiple torches. Close to the centre stood a woman clad in black who turned as they approached, looking both furious and surprised.
"How did you get out of that enchantment?" she asked Robin.
"I found some help, or rather they found me", he responded, glancing back at his companions. "Now, I can't let you go through with your plan."
"Don't worry", the woman answered. "I have to admit that you were right; the Sleeping Curse wasn't the answer."
She smiled at him.
"As you said I just needed to find something to live for."
Robin smiled tentatively at her.
"And you found it?" he asked. "What is it?"
"Something I haven't had in a very long time", the woman answered. The wicked smile on her face caused Robin's smile to disappear and caused the six others in the courtyard to tighten the grip on their wands.
"Someone to destroy."
"Alright, I can see why she's called the Evil Queen", Wolfgang said, drawing the woman's gaze.
"You haven't seen a thing yet, young man."