#cinderellaashbourne

Nuka

Nuka hadn’t considered his little game with Tiana would ever be useful. Of course he intended for it to be fun and had even gained access to her house because of it. But finding out the princess of the forest lived in the house.

Lucky day for him indeed.

Slipping in even while the house was busy wasn’t difficult, he had passed Aurora by her room and quickly compelled her to forget him before he walked into the room with Willa having her quiet down in a moment.

They didn’t want to draw any attention now did they? Yet it was curious that there were bags packed as if Miss Willa and Ella were about to leave town. A shame for them they hadn’t moved a little quicker. But curious indeed.

Not enough for him to worry about it, not when he heard footsteps and he slipped out the window heading to Talon Manor.

One Sacrifice was in hand and the remaining would walk in by themselves later tonight.

Ella

They were pretty much all packed and ready to go. Ella would be a liar if she said she hadn’t been waiting for Aurora and Tiana to tell her that something was happening, after they revealed the truth about themselves. About the knights, and all the rest of it. It seemed like it was building to something, and had she not known about her friends, Ella would never have known about it at all. 

Though at least she and Willa would be out of the way for… whatever it was. She had made a deliberate decision not to ask too many questions, both so that she wouldn’t worry too much about the other girls and so that, should anything happen, she could claim deniability. 

All that was left to do was to collect Willa. Ella had put her down for a nap, hoping she might sleep through the journey out of town, if only because travelling with a baby was difficult at the best of times but made even worse when that baby was fussy. She crept up the stairs with the practised silence of a mother not wanting to wake her child, and peeked into her bedroom, where Willa’s crib was nestled in the corner. She knew where all the creaky floorboards were, avoiding them as she moved through the room, arriving at the side of the crib with a soft smile.

It fell away when she saw that the crib was empty, though.

“Willa?” Ella took a step back from the cot, dread sinking like a stone in her stomach, making her feel cold all over. Willa wasn’t one to climb out and run around, she never had been… “Willa?” Ella called again, louder this time, panic creeping into her tone. Last time she had found Willa gone she had been halfway through the woods, taken by the trolls--

“Tiana! Aurora!” Ella cried, skittering to the top of the stairs. “She’s gone! Willa, she’s-- she’s gone!”

Tiana

Tiana had barely slept that night, but somehow, in the early hours of the morning, she had managed to drift off. Which meant that she had a harder time getting up than usual. She trusted Ella to take care of the things she needed to get done in the early morning, so she took her time getting out of bed and getting ready. She was just finishing up the sandwich she had made Ella for the road when she heard Ella’s voice. What was that? Gone? Who—

When Tiana saw Ella’s face, though, she understood. A feeling of horror and dread settled in Tiana’s stomach. It was just what they had feared. Willa was gone. They hadn’t moved fast enough.

“Are you— are you sure?” Tiana stammered, though she knew there was no use. Of course Ella wouldn’t have missed her somehow. She looked to Aurora. “I mean— right. We’re going to find her, we have to— did anyone see anything last night?” Her head was spinning, but she had a feeling about who this could be.

Aurora 

Aurora was dazed, much like when she woke up from a sudden fainting spell, she was curled on her bed, dressed and ready for the day but it took a few moments to remember why she was ready and why Ella was screaming.

When she had though, she jolted out of her room running to Tiana and Ella the dread and heavy weight settling in. They had been too late, they had tried to protect Ella and Willa and they failed. Maybe whoever took her was close, Aurora could do what she did in Elfhame, extend her magic into the earth and see how far she could reach.

“If they are close I can- I can tell-” Aurora stated running back out of the room Lolly close on her heels barking madly at the commotion and the panic. Trying to tell them something no one could understand.

Getting to the backyard wasn’t any help though, whoever it was, was long gone and although Aurora had a feeling of who it was, or at least what family she had no proof.

“It has to be them right? The Blackwell’s.” Aurora stated meeting back up with the girls. “And we’re going to get her back.” 

Ella

It took Ella a moment to stumble down the stairs after Aurora; her eyes were fixed on the crib, the empty cot, the room that she had turned upside down when she had looked for Willa. She was just willing her to crawl out from under the bed, or behind the curtain, or something. Or anything. Anything other than the reality she was now faced with.

Was she such a terrible mother? To have her daughter so easily snatched from her not once, but twice? After the first time she had never left Willa alone, she had watched her round the clock, slept with her right by the side of the bed. But time had gone on, and nothing else had happened, and Ella had let her guard down. Things had seemed so normal, but she never should have begun to settle, she could see that now.

“The Blackwells?” She asked, fumbling the words, her throat dry and her mouth feeling like it was full of chalk. “What-- what about the Blackwells?”

TIANA

Tiana couldn’t bear to look Ella in the eyes. She had failed her. After all the training, all the preparation… even though Tiana had thought living with two Knights would protect Willa, Tiana couldn’t help but wonder if it made her even more of a target. The horrible feeling of guilt in Tiana’s stomach grew.

“Remember when we told you about that… Knights of the Round Table thing?” Tiana started, looking to Aurora for confirmation. “There was a little more to the story. We didn’t get into it because it was still sort of developing, and if anything were to happen, we didn’t want to put you in more danger, having that knowledge. But I think you need to know, now.”

Tiana took a deep breath. “There’s a plot to take over Swynlake. By these people. The Blackwells. It has to do with undoing the charter. And there’s a spell that requires… certain items. And certain people. It’s, er, why I had a weather vane stashed in my room for a little bit, for example. I’m wondering if— it’s possible that Willa was a target.” 

The implication dawned on Tiana: that meant Willa’s life could be in danger. “But we’re going to get her back,” she added quickly, glancing at Aurora again. 

Aurora 

“We never knew who they wanted just they wanted people.” Aurora supplied with a grimace. “We wanted you to get out of town before anything. I’m so sorry.” This was their fault. They should have moved faster, quicker. Done more. Done so much more.

“I don’t care what we have to do to get her back. We will. I promise.” Aurora stated without a second thought, perhaps she considered herself a pacifist, but taking someone she loved meant that she was going to do what she needed to get Willa home. To make this little family whole again.

“I know you weren’t planning to go but are you coming with us? A rescue mission of our own?”

Ella

She didn’t blame her housemates for a second. Even if there was more to the story than what they were telling her, it still wasn’t their fault. Ella knew that they would’ve done absolutely everything in their power to protect her daughter if they had known, and now she trusted them to do everything they could to get her back.

But like hell was Ella letting them go without her.

“Of course I am,” She said after a moment, once she had collected herself just a little more. She had to be strong, for Willa. She had to keep herself together until she found her again. “I’m not going anywhere without her. Not without my baby.”

TIANA

Tiana couldn’t imagine what this was like for Ella. She didn’t have any children. But she knew that her own mother would have done just about anything to keep her safe. So of course they had to get Willa back, and unharmed. She and Aurora had promised Ella that much. And beyond the promise, Tiana couldn’t imagine the house without Willa. She had developed a deep tenderness for Ella’s daughter over the past year, and now Tiana would do what had to be done to save her.

There wasn’t another option. Tiana wasn’t going to think about the alternative. 

“Then that’s what we’ll do,” Tiana said decisively. “If the Blackwells took her, then our best shot at finding her is going to the ball. We’ll search the place, top to bottom. And we won’t leave without her.” She took Ella’s hand. “We’re getting her back, Ella. I promise.”

~TIMESKIP~

NUKA

Nuka watched everyone fall, as he held the unconscious Willa in his arms, her mother was here as expected and so were Tiana and Aurora, what he hadn’t accounted for or expected was both of them to jump into action. He had wanted Tiana to cower in fear like she did every time. He wanted to see Aurora falter the way she had last time.

But it was fine, it didn't matter too much to him. Nuka had all the time in the world for the game. Right now all he needed was a bit of Willa’s blood and with a prick of her finger, Nuka collected it. Abandoning her on a nearby table. 

Don’t worry little Willa, or the girls trying to rescue her. He would be back for her. He still had a game to finish.

ELLA

So much was happening, and it would be so easy to be distracted, but Ella only had one thing on her mind. She was looking for her daughter - she didn’t even care about the person who had taken her, she only wanted Willa. She just wanted to find her daughter safe and sound, and get her somewhere else - somewhere safe and secure, where they could lie low for a while. She wasn’t thinking too far ahead, admittedly. Her focus was just getting Willa, and keeping her safe.

Ella looked across the room, her gaze moving quickly, like she was pulled towards it, and she saw her: her little baby girl, being set down almost gently, as if the pair of hands holding her actually cared. Ella didn’t even bother to look at whoever it was had set her down, though she was sure Tiana and Aurora would-- she was already pushing her way across the carnage, all but throwing herself towards the table to grab up little Willa where she lay.

“Willa, sweetheart, my poor baby--” Ella shifted her in her arms, brought her close, pressed her ear to her chest until she could assure herself of the beating of her little heart. It was hummingbird fast, but it was there, it was strong. Ella ignored the tears in her eyes and held her daughter close, shielding her with one arm. “She’s alright,” She said, turning back to her housemates. “She’s alright, I think.”

TIANA

Tiana was surprised that Nuka left Willa without much of a fight. She had been readying herself for a battle, to do anything she had to do to get Willa back in Ella’s arms safely. It almost made Tiana a little nervous. Because Nuka clearly had more up his sleeve. 

But Tiana couldn’t think about that right now. First, she had to make sure Ella and Willa got to safety. As Ella picked up her daughter, Tiana watched Nuka disappear into another part of the ballroom. She stayed there for a moment, her sword raised, until she could be quite sure Nuka was not coming back. He seemed otherwise occupied. For a moment, Tiana wondered if she should go after him, but she had to make her first priority Ella and Willa. If the Knights needed her, she would go help them as soon as she knew her housemates were safe. She turned back to the others. “Is she okay?” Tiana said, rushing over to Ella. “I think— we can try and find someone to check her out, make sure she isn’t hurt?”

OLLIE (TW: Blood, Arm Gash)

His next choice was a human, one he had seen quite a bit at the hospital lately, working with kids. How kind and caring. Not really.

Grabbing Ollie’s right arm he cut horizontally deep enough that it was quite a bit of blood and exactly how Nuka liked it. Really Nuka should have punctured each of the flowers on his chest but he was being nice and time was more important. He could play with his food later.

Aurora 

Aurora followed quickly her hands on her taslisms, ready to make sure she protected the girls. She had failed once already but she wasn’t going to fail again. All of the Blackwell’s were running around quickly and suddenly she wondered why she never figured it out before. 

Vampires.

They needed to stay on guard. And ready for anything. 

Surrounding Ella, Aurora made sure Tiana and herself were the first line of defense as everyone else jumped into battles, Marzel was with his sister. There were so many people unconscious. “We need to figure out if she took the same thing as them or she’s just unconscious.”

ELLA

They could’ve all been vampires, every single one of them, and it wouldn’t have stopped Ella. She had hunkered down by the table where she had scooped Willa up, clutching her close to her chest; it was the first time she really stopped to look around and even then, it wasn’t to wonder what was going on. It was only to try and find the best way to get them out of the carnage and somewhere safe.

“I think she’s ok,” Ella said, glancing up briefly at Aurora and Tiana before she looked at her daughter again. She couldn’t be sure, of course she couldn’t, but--

Willa wriggled a little in her arms, and then blinked big, blue eyes up at her mother. Ella felt lighter almost immediately, like she could finally breathe again. “There you are,” She said, a smile in her voice, tears in her eyes. She looked up at Tiana and Aurora again, giving a nod. “She’s awake - we have to get her out of here. We can go to the forest, maybe. Bambi should be able to look after us both.”

SORA (TW: Blood, Wrist Slash, Broken Ribs)

Nuka ran over to the next target glancing up only briefly at his Mother and Arthur as they began to tumble. He’d help her soon, not that she needed it, Arthur was unmatched in both brilliance and brawn. He had no chance.

But Nuka felt that tick of annoyance building up. How dare any of them think they could face them. How dare they try to oppose them.

|| Grabbing the boy's wrist Nuka made a slash || drawing the blood needed and even though his wrist dripped blood it wasn’t enough for Nuka. Dropping the boy roughly he kicked him in the ribs forcing him back into a wall feeling just slightly better at the small act of violence.

TIANA

Tiana let out a sigh of relief for the first time that night. Willa was okay. That was what mattered. And Bambi would help, of course he would. Tiana tried to avoid turning serious, urgent moments into sentimental ones, but she couldn’t help it. She pulled Ella and Willa into a hug. 

“Be careful. Stay there until we give you the all clear,” Tiana instructed. “I’ve got a feeling this night is only going to get scarier.” She glanced at Aurora. “Should we all walk there together?”

Aurora 

Aurora nodded, they needed to get Ella to safety. First and foremost that was the most important thing. But there were so many screams of terror around them. People were going down. And then the most terrifying sob was heard and Aurora twisted her head to Marzel and his sister.

“I’ll back both of you up. Ella go!” There just wasn’t enough time for anything and that was the point. Strike when they were all down at least they hadn’t poisoned a child at the very least.

ELLA

It was surprisingly easy to find her feet. Ella would’ve gone alone, if Aurora and Tiana had needed to stay here to help, but she was glad that she didn’t have to. When Aurora told her to go she was up and running, following Tiana through the crowds of people. She kept Willa’s face tucked in against her chest, shielding her from as much of it as she could until they were out, and hopefully, safe.

“Thank you,” She said, once she could hear herself think. “For finding her. And for helping us both,” She looked between her housemates, smiling softly. “I suppose your night isn’t over just yet, but… we should be safe, until we have the all clear.”

TONY (TW: Broken Arm, Blood)

Salt - They had trapped his Mother with salt. These people were prepared for it and it pissed Nuka off. He needed to move quicker. As that anger ticked higher and higher, the only thing stopping him from jumping in and killing the knights was the fact his Mother needed him to collect the blood.

One more to go after this. Grabbing Tony’s arm roughly he heard the bone crack before he even drew the blood, but Nuka’s eyes were wild as he slowly stopped caring. 

Not that he did before but he dug into Tony’s skin to draw his blood before running off to his next target.

TIANA

Tiana whipped her head around at the sound and froze for a moment, but then she remembered what she was doing. She had to get Ella and Willa out. She could help Marzel once she knew they were safe. 

“Right. No time to lose,” Tiana agreed, motioning for Ella to follow her to the door. It was a good thing Talon Hall was so close to the lake, and to the forest. Hopefully the animals would have alerted Bambi. 

BAMBI:

The forest was in a tizzy. It had not been unaffected by the strange smoke that billowed through the town. Of course, the animals were left alone, and himself, but those few humans and humanoids that resided within its borders were overtaken. 

Something was very wrong. 

In an instant, the edges of the forest shored up, becoming denser. Old paths grew over and entrances to the forest became indistinguishable from the rest of the treeline. Bambi was not taking any chances with whatever this was. 

Only the birds and the smallest of critters could manage to make their way through. 

That was how he found out that Ella and Willa were headed to the forest. He cut a path, following the birds, to where the would be and with a clench of his fists, a hole opened in the trees just as the trio stopped. 

“Ella,” Bambi said, flicking his eyes towards the other two with her. He assessed them for a moment before looking back at Ella and his sister. “What’s happened?” 

Aurora 

Aurora made sure to cover the girls as they ran, the smoke was blinding and they didn’t have much time. They were going to have to move fast, be back to help the others but Willa and Ella were their family too and they needed to protect her.

Standing in front of the Great Prince was something though, even if he seemed like a kid.

“There’s a group of Vampires trying to destroy the town?” Aurora mused with a slight shrug. “It has to do with the Charter and we don’t know the repercussions of it. But it’s not going to be good. If you can protect Ella and Willa, Tiana and I would be grateful and we can go help the town.” Aurora offered a little more sincerely looking at each of her housemates. They would be fine after this, they had to be. 

ELLA

“They took her,” She blurted, shifting Willa in her arms. Ella didn’t know what exactly her daughter could hear, but she supposed it must be the forest. As soon as they had gotten close she had perked up a little, looking surprisingly no worse for wear, and now that she was within arms reach of her brother Willa twisted in her mother’s arms, reaching out a chubby little hand for him. 

Ella wasn’t so delighted, though. She knew Bambi would understand how she felt - he had been there the first time, too. “For whatever it was they did. I think she’s fine,” she added, looking at Bambi. “But I don’t… I don’t think I’ll feel safe at home.” 

BAMBI:

Bambi’s eyes narrowed, pinched, at the sorceress. Humans were so troublesome. 

Except, of course, Ella and Willa. 

He stepped closer, though he did not leave the comfort of the trees. Reaching out, he touched his sister’s hand with his own, as if reassuring himself that she was alright. His heart clenched in his chest to think something might’ve happened to her. If it was up to him, he would keep her here in the forest. Where she would be safe. 

It was not up to him. 

At least she appeared unharmed. 

“Of course, Ella. You know you are welcome here, any time. The trees are open for you.” He grabbed Ella by the bicep gently and pulled her closer, toward the trees. He looked over his shoulder at the women. 

“If there are any other children and their caretakers that need protection, tell them to come to the forest edge and say that they are a friend to the trees and creatures here. Children only.” And with that, he flicked his wrists and the trees and foliage closed around them again, plunging the forest into darkness. 

TIANA

Tiana had never ventured very far into the forest. Under other circumstances, she wasn’t sure she trusted this. But Ella trusted Bambi, so Tiana did, too. She made a note to tell people to bring children to the forest, if they had to. 

“Thank y-“ Tiana started, but the forest had already closed itself again. She turned to Aurora. “Alright, we’ve got to get back inside. I think I saw Nuka trying to hurt Marzel, I—“ Tiana couldn’t speculate. She would only make herself crazy. “I’ve got to go help him, before it’s too late.” 

NUKA

Nuka’s last target already had a knight over her body, his sword drawn to protect her. Did all of his games have to have knights attached to them? It was annoying. Dull. Boring. Blood needed to be drawn first before they really fought.

Maybe she was a distraction and he would be useless.

Either way he still had to get through him. Rushing Marzel, Nuka grabbed the sword in his palm so even though it sliced him he disarmed Marzel grabbing him around the throat so he couldn’t speak.

“We did our research. We know your kind. Don’t think your voice is going to save you here.” Nuka mocked holding tighter and tighter until Marzel couldn’t breath. The sword tossed to the side, Nuka reached over with his bloody hand though it healed and snapped Marzel’s wrist as Marzel kicked out with the power only a merman’s tail could have (Well with legs) pushing Nuka away and dropping Marzel again in front of his sister.

Coughing out Marzel leaned low. He didn’t have his human weapon but he would fight to the death to protect his sister. 

Nuka didn’t have the time, Arthur was fighting his Mother and she needed the charter broken now.

Rushing ahead Nuka didn’t attempt to play nice anymore, slamming Marzel into the wall and letting him fall limply to the ground.

Marisa was next. And Nuka was pissed off. Grabbing the girl’s throat he squeezed watching her even unconscious struggle for a breath before he sliced down her arm, watching the blood fall like a waterfall. More than enough to shatter that charter. And with this he had done what he needed to do.

Weren’t you proud of him, Mother?

Looking up at his Mother to see how she was doing, that elation dropped and Nuka snarled, she was bleeding.

What had he done, what had Arthur done! She wasn’t healing!

Nuka needed to get to her, to protect her. And as he worried about his mother his grip tightened on Marisa’s neck, cracks heard but not cared about. It was this distraction that allowed Marzel his opening. Slicing his sword through Nuka forcing him to drop Marisa, Marzel rushed to catch her and stop her head from cracking on the ground.

Grabbing his sister Marzel checked her pulse, watching her head lull to the side. At first he couldn’t even find it and when he did it just grew weaker, fainter. Her name could heal- maybe- hopefully. He just needed to stop the bleeding as it pooled around them. 

Marzel scrambled to rip off pieces of his jacket trying to stop the bleeding. Begging his sister to live. They were supposed to go back to the ocean, they were supposed to lead their pod. He was going to follow her to the ends of the earth.

He had only been here to protect her.

The sobs ripped out of his throat as he tried to save her as he begged for help, covered in her blood.

“Marisa, please. Please. I’m sorry I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you. I’m sorry. Please just wake up. I’ll do better next time please. I won’t fail again. Please. I’m sorry Valentino I promised you I’d protect my family and I failed again. Please please. Just give me this chance.” Marzel begged again and again as his sister’s head lulled to the side.

Those words couldn’t be the last. Those words couldn’t be the last ones he heard from her.

This couldn’t be the end, it couldn’t.

“Wake up please. Wake up.”

Aurora 

Well that worked? Even if it was a bit rude. All that mattered was that Ella and Willa were safe. And any kids that needed protection as well.

Nodding at Tiana they both rushed inside, where Nuka was ready to go after Marzel again and he was clutching at his sister sobbing. 

TIANA

Tiana had remained in the shadows, trying not to let Nuka see her. She just needed to protect Willa and Ella. That was top priority. And she trusted Marzel to handle this on his own. After all, the sparring attempts with Belle had proven that Tiana was not the best fighter. But she was small and quick, and she believed she would be best suited to hanging back.

But when she saw what Nuka did to Marisa, Tiana had to clasp a hand over her mouth to hold back a scream. It was just so brutal, so cruel. And so surreal. Once, Tiana had considered Nuka and Marisa her friends. Marisa was her best waitress, and Nuka was one of her best customers. And now, he had-- no. He couldn’t have. Marisa had to be…

Nuka fell and Marzel caught Marisa, and the sound of his voice was enough to confirm to Tiana what had happened. Tiana staggered backward, her hand still over her mouth, tears falling without Tiana even really noticing, feeling like the wind had been knocked out of her as she struggled to catch her breath but it caught in her throat. No. No. No.

She couldn’t stand there any longer. She had to do something. Tiana rushed over to Marzel, one hand on his shoulder, the other reaching for Marisa’s hand. It was all over. The realization was crushing and horrible, but Tiana knew it was a million times worse for Marzel. He needed to get out of here before he got hurt-- or worse. He was in pain. He wasn’t going to be thinking straight. Tiana knew loss well, and she didn’t know if she would still be here if she were in a battle situation when she had found out what had happened to her father.

“Marzel,” she said in a low voice, a little wobbly but determined. “Take Marisa and go. Someone can help her. There… there has to be something. But I’ll take on Nuka. You need to get out of here.”

MARZEL/AURORA/NUKA

They had gotten Willa back and for the most part that was all Aurora cared about, at least until she could tell how many people were getting injured during this. It was bloody, it was terrible and Aurora couldn’t stop it. Directing Lolly to stay at Ella and Willa’s side Aurora watched the terror appear on Tiana’s face and her rush down to Marzel and Marisa.

She didn’t know them well not more than within the knights for Marzel but the pain of losing a sibling was insurmountable. Aurora already knew that. His regents were painful to look at.

But Nuka was already standing and Marzel wasn’t moving, as he continued to sob into Marisa’s chest, her heart a slow beat.

Marzel couldn’t even feel the pain of his broken wrist. Not when it felt like his heart had been ripped from his chest. Did he have anything to live for if he had failed his duty.

Tiana’s words barely registered to him. He did need to get Marisa out of here, he needed to get her help. Gathering her body in his arms ready to run Nuka stood up and Aurora moved to grab her talismans keeping Willa and Ella behind her.

“Too late.” Nuka called out. “One, Two, Three, Falter. One Two Falter.” He called out in regards to Marisa’s heart. “She’s lost too much blood. Even a mermaid like you can’t survive that.” Nuka grinned a side glance thrown to Zira and Arthur. She would be fine. Nuka had a game to play and it seemed his favourite player had thought she won.

“Can you really take me on Tiana. Of course you don’t remember all the times you already tried but it never goes well.”

TIANA

Wait— a mermaid?

Confusion flickered across her face as she looked at Marzel and Marisa, as though trying to figure out whether that could be true just by looking at them. No, not the time, Tiana thought. She’d try and figure that one out later. Right now, there were lives at stake. And she wouldn’t put it past Nuka to say something just with the purpose of confusing her.

She drew her sword, praying that her practice wouldn’t fail her now. Oddly enough, Tiana thought of Belle. Irritating, maybe a little bit, but self-assured and competent. She needed to channel a little bit of that energy. Maybe that twisted ankle wouldn’t be for nothing.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. But you’re outnumbered, Blackwell. We can do this the easy way or the hard way,” Tiana said in a voice that was not really her own. She wished she could muster the strength of Gareth— but Gareth was scared, too. Tiana was just going to have to lean on her team. “Either say your piece and surrender, or you’re going to lose this fight.” 

MARZEL/AURORA/NUKA

Nuka scoffed at Tiana’s ill placed confidence. He could say his piece but it would be more fun for her to relive it. Meeting her eyes Nuka compelled her to remember before meeting Aurora’s and doing the same.

Anger flooded through Aurora as she remembered and it was only one instance to remember. Reaching out Aurora threw the seeds forward quickly turning the house into a battlefield she could control vines wrapping around him and when he ripped them and moved away Aurora tried again and again. Not letting up. She didn’t know how Tiana would react and she needed to cover her.

And Marzel who had sunk to the ground knowing his sister wasn’t making it out of here, not alive. He tucked her hair behind her ear and softly sang to her as if he could take away any of the pain she might be feeling. Marzel had failed but he would get revenge for her, even if he died doing so.

Slowly Marisa’s heart stopped and Marzel whispered his goodbyes forcing himself to stand. His voice was still horse from what Nuka had done earlier but it wouldn’t matter. His wrist was broken but it didn’t matter not as he drew his sword again.

He was going to kill this bastard.

TIANA

There was so much happening at once. Too much. Time seemed to go in slow motion, the vines creeping over the floor and Marzel falling to the ground and the memories coming back to her, one after the other. Each one started out familiar: Nuka, joking and flirting with her at the bar. Nuka, walking home with her after work. And then the unfamiliar part: Nuka, sinking his teeth into her neck. It was almost like Tiana was back there again, in that alley, and she felt the terror seize her in a way that was so real, so palpable, that she never wanted to feel that way again. 

Tiana was proud and stubborn. She didn’t let anyone control her destiny but her. And yet the memories proved that someone had, over and over again managed to terrify and control her, then wipe it from her memory. That was what angered Tiana most. Not the blood drawn from her, not even the betrayal of someone she had once considered a friend. It was the fact that Nuka had managed to make her feel so weak and pathetic, so out of control of her own life. 

As she grasped the full extent of what had happened, Tiana started to become aware of her surroundings again, and she heard Marzel’s song, low and mournful, an unfamiliar language. Maybe he was a merman… but that was not the point right now, Tiana reminded herself.

Nuka had taken away the one thing Tiana clung most tightly to: her dignity. And, worse, he had killed a woman in cold blood, an innocent woman, someone who used to help Tiana when the restaurant got crazy and who made Tiana want to be a better boss. And clearly someone who Marzel loved very dearly. Tiana had never seen Marzel like this before. She had always thought he was cold, guarded, closed-off. Marisa brought out something different in him. And now, she was gone. 

This time, Tiana didn’t even need to pretend. She was angry, numb to the pain, ready to do whatever it took to make Nuka feel as pathetic as he had made Tiana feel. “You are despicable,” Tiana spat, raising her sword higher. She glanced at Marzel, who was drawing his sword, and she could see something dangerous in his eyes. Under other circumstances, Tiana might have told him to go, that he wasn’t in his right mind, that he shouldn’t do something he might regret. But Tiana had no mercy left. Not after the horrors she had just seen Nuka commit. “Rot in hell.”

She exchanged a look with Marzel and then charged forward, her sword raised. 

MARZEL/AURORA/NUKA

Marzel truly had no emotion on his face, the anger seeped just below the surface bubbling, his rage was palpable. He was empty, his purpose in life was to protect his future Queen and he had failed. Just like he failed to protect his late fiance, just like he failed to protect his home.

There was nothing quite like the rage of a siren scorned. And this time it was toward a vampire and thankfully not a human. 

Nuka didn’t notice nor care about this journey on Marzel’s face, but Aurora did. She watched the waves of anger roll off of him and she never knew an instance she had seen a reagent that dark and suffocating. It was only matched when Nuka glanced up and watched his mother fall to the ground and his rage surrounded him.

Suddenly the vines he had been able to dodge along with Tiana and Marzel’s sword weren’t what he was focused on. 

Nuka screamed about killing him while he battled the two knights but as soon as Aurora could surround him she grabbed him tightly with all the vines even as her head swung.

“I can’t hold onto him much longer!” Aurora yelled out.

TIANA

This was probably some of Tiana’s best work when it came to fighting, which wasn’t saying much, considering her inexperience and her ankle injury, but it was saying something. She managed to hold Nuka off, anyway, even if the few hits she managed to get in barely seemed to faze him. The vines helped. But Tiana didn’t want Aurora to use all of her energy. 

“Aurora, it’s okay! We’ve got it! Save your energy!” Tiana called over her shoulder. She wasn’t so sure about that, but if Aurora fell unconscious, it would be another person down. And another person the Blackwells could try to use for their scheme— although, as Zira fell in the distance, Tiana gained more hope that the Knights might actually be able to stop them. 

No time to think about that, though. She kept trying to pin Nuka against the wall, but he was too fast, too strong. At the very least, though, the vines kept him from escaping. 

It occurred to Tiana, as she and Marzel surrounded Nuka, that if he slipped up even slightly, they could beat him. And then— what were they going to do? Turn him in to the Sheriff? Make him beg for mercy? Kill him? Tiana had never in her life wanted to kill someone before. She wasn’t sure she did now, even. But there was a determined glint in Marzel’s eye. And after seeing what Nuka had done to Marisa… Tiana made a decision.

If Marzel tried to kill Nuka, Tiana wasn’t going to stop him.

She slashed at Nuka, slowing him down, and shot Marzel a meaningful glance. One that said, Do it. 

MARZEL/AURORA/NUKA

Marzel didn’t know what was up with Aurora and Tiana, why she couldn’t hold her magic. But he did know he didn’t need her to hold him. Even now as he struggled against the vines, hissing and ripping them apart. 

Aurora stumbled even with the call of Tiana. She needed to conserve her energy and even without Lolly she knew she was using too much of her magic. With Willa and Ella behind her they couldn’t take a chance.

But there was a moment that Nuka stopped fighting, a calm surrounding him and Aurora watched Marzel’s lips moving singing him into a stupor. Slowing him down enough and reaching out for Tiana. The last blow would be his.

This wasn’t the first time that Marzel had killed someone and it wasn’t going to be the last, there was no hesitation nor was there any regret. Not for Nuka of all people. Marzel wished he could make it more painful.

That’s why at the last second he stopped his song, waited until the recognition flooded his face and then Marzel sliced through his neck his head falling off his body and he stabbed his sword through his body.

“How do we make sure he’s dead?” Marzel questioned. Glancing back at the girls.”

“Fire?” Aurora supplied weakly, all her resolve to do anything to protect Willa and Ella, Tiana now that she had jumped into a fight escaped her as she her vines got coated in blood. She had participated in that.

TIANA

It all happened so fast. And Tiana thought she had prepared herself, but how did you prepare for a murder happening right in front of you? Even if it was one you had aided in, of a person you despised more than anyone else…

A wave of nausea came over Tiana. But she had to focus. Nuka was a vampire, which meant it would be difficult to tell whether he was dead for good-- Tiana tried to remember what she knew about killing vampires. Not very much. Maybe she should have studied this more… but it was too late at this point. 

“Sure. Yes. Fire,” Tiana said, trying to get her bearings. One thing at a time. Having a next step to focus on helped. Zooming out too much and thinking about how insane all of this was did not. She realized she was shaking all over. Tiana took a deep breath and tried to focus on the task at hand. “B-but I don’t want anyone else getting hurt… maybe we ought to go outside? Or we could find a Magick who could do it…” 

In the distance, other fighting continued, but Tiana tried to block it out, Otherwise, she was going to completely lose it. One thing at a time.

MARZEL

“I’ll just burn his head. He can’t survive that.” Marzel stated simply. Perhaps he would feed his body to a shark or something. Of course that would be hard to do but Marzel didn’t care. Nuka deserved to die in the most painful way possible.

Gaining a lighter from somewhere Marzel arranged Aurora’s vines in a way to burn them and eventually Nuka’s head. It was Simba’s voice that brough Marzel’s attention away and he glanced to Arthur.

“I’ll finish up here. Go to Arthur.” Marzel would be right behind, his eyes trailing to his sister’s dead body and focusing back on disposing on Nuka.

TIANA

Tiana didn’t have to be told twice. She wanted to get away from this scene as quickly as possible. The image of Nuka killing Marisa would haunt her forever, she knew, and the less time she spent here around all this death, the better. But there was one more thing to do.

Tiana glanced at Aurora to make sure she was still conscious (she looked a little ill, but still okay) and then turned her gaze to Marisa. Her coworker. Her friend, even, lately. Tiana burned with regret that she hadn’t gotten to know her better. But all she had was this moment.

“Just… one second,” Tiana said, and knelt down beside Marisa’s body. If only she had gotten here sooner— if only she had been strong or fast or brave enough to take Nuka down before he had the chance to harm Marisa. She couldn’t change the past, but she could at least do her best now to say goodbye. She took off her tuxedo jacket and laid it on Marisa like a blanket, like she could be sleeping, covering the massive gash on her arm and the bruising on her throat. 

“I’m so sorry,” she whispered, her eyes welling up with tears again. It was so uncharacteristic of Tiana, to be emotional and sentimental like this. But everything felt wrong. Everything felt off. This was the only thing that felt right. She imagined this was the kind of thing her mother would do if an innocent person was killed, and that was the thought that she clung to. Compassion and kindness and gentleness. Things Tiana didn’t always think she was capable of. So she channeled Eudora. 

She pressed a gentle kiss to Marisa’s forehead and then stood up, rolling up the sleeves of her dress shirt. “Alright. Let’s go find Arthur.” 

MARZEL

Nuka’s head burned and there was no relief from the pain. The anger and grief, he had killed and nothing felt better. Of course Marzel knew it wouldn’t solve anything, he killed and killed and none of the lives of his pod had been returned. This would never heal Marzel, nothing ever could.

He was a broken man before his sister died and he was nothing of one now that she had.

Marzel barely appreciated Tiana’s sentiment, he couldn’t. He just didn’t have it in him.

Stumbling to his sister Marzel ran his fingers over her hair before picking her up and setting her away from the fray. She wouldn’t be hurt anymore tonight. And this night wasn’t close to being finished, even as Aurora and Tiana moved to speak to Arthur, Marzel knew it wasn’t over, the night was just beginning.

HATTER: 

The fae had gotten back to him with their part of the bargain. A crystal, which Hatter had wrapped up in a few towels and placed in his bag alongside reagents and other things he thought may be useful for the task at hand. It bumped against his hip with every step he took along Enchantra’s floor. 

With him were Aurora’s housemates that he had gone to gather as soon as the crystal was in his possession. As he had been persistently worried about, he didn’t know how much time Aurora had, if any, and didn’t want to waste any more of it. The trek back to where Aurora was sleeping felt far longer this go around than it had any other time. Maybe because the anticipation of what could or could not happen that evening made it seem farther, like the forest was trying to give him time to get his thoughts together before having to do what needed to be done. 

Eventually, though, they did arrive where the plants were more plush and vibrant, vines like a curtain on a bedroom tucked away out here. He pulled his bag from around his body, letting it down beside where Aurora was still sleeping, and rummaged through it to pull the bundle with the crystal and his wand. Which didn’t look like much of a wand so much as it did an old baseball cap. It was something he rarely even had to use these days, but since he was going to be collecting reagents that he didn’t normally, it would be necessary. He untangled the crystal from the towels, holding it in one hand with the wand in the other. 

“Alright,” he said, turning around to Truitt and Ashbourne. “In order for this to get a proper charge on it, and fine tune it to Aurora’s person, I’m going to need something from you. Memories of her. The fonder the better.” 

TIANA

Tiana had a sense of anxious deja-vu as they walked through the forest. She and Ella had already tried this before, to no avail. But this time was going to be different. It would have to be different, because they were running out of options. At least they had Hatter now. Tiana just tried not to think too much about the last time she had tried to do a spell with him.

She opened her mouth to protest that Hatter hadn’t prepared them or told them to bring anything, but then he finished his sentence. Memories. Yes, she had plenty of those. And she hardly needed any preparation to recall them. She thought about Aurora all the time, after all. She missed her all the time.

“Any kind of good memory? Oh, uh, okay… I don’t even know where I’d start…” Tiana said, pausing to think. She glanced at Ella, a small smile creeping across her face. “Do you remember that time we all went to prom together? The theme was heaven and hell, and we all went as Willa’s Angels?” 

ELLA It was all Ella could do to steady her breathing and keep her composure as they went deeper into Enchantra. The forest would know she was here, of course. It would know that all three of them were there, that they were heading towards Aurora and the place where she rested, but she knew they wouldn’t be disturbed. Whatever it was Hatter needed to do, they would do it in peace; Ella had asked the forest to keep her friend safe, and it would do so, diverting people away from them, letting them work in peace. Or so she hoped, anyhow.

The request sent her a bit off kilter. Where did she even start? She had more fond memories of Aurora than she could count. Some were small, cups of tea on cold mornings, movie nights all tucked under one night, small gifts exchanged after a trip to the farmers market. Others were far bigger – helping her rescue Willa in a night of horror, holding her hand as she talked about the Prince. There were far too many fond memories of Aurora, so many that Ella suddenly felt overwhelmed by missing her, probably the opposite of what Hatter needed from her.

But she saw Tiana smile, and slowly, she smiled too, nodding. She couldn’t remember whose idea it had been now, the matching white outfits and the corny photos posed as Charlie’s Angels, but it had been fun. “We looked like an early noughties girl band,” She said with a laugh. “I don’t think I’ve ever danced as much as I did then.”

HATTER: He gave a nod of confirmation and encouragement at Truitt’s questioning. As he was no expert when it came to this sort of reagent he figured it best to go with the ones that would be fueled by the emotions that packed the hardest punch, making it somewhat easier for him to recognize them and be able to pull them free into something tangible. It also seemed like a miserable affair to ask them to remember times that made them sad or upset, as well as trying to wake Aurora up with those emotions. To fuel it with care and friendship and smiles and warmth seemed like a far better way to bring someone back from a long sleep. 

As they talked between one another, Hatter waited, having to focus in order to even begin to see any sort of glimpse of the memory they were describing. He had to place the crystal on the ground to free both hands and arms. He stepped closer with fingers holding the bill of the cap so it was upside down and the crown fell open like a bowl.

“Pardon,” he said softly as he reached forward with it. The bill swept close to Truitt’s forehead first, almost but not quite touching. His hand was there, too, trying hard to pull at something smooth. It took him a moment, and a frustrated puff of air from his nose, before he actually had a hold of it. Then he turned to Ashbourne and did this same thing. He dropped them into the hat, two marble like shapes rolling around in their fabric home. They gleamed like Christmas lights, bright and twinkling on their own, as if they held a whole universe inside them. In a way they did. A little infinity of a moment, fogged by memory but cleared by the emotion it held. 

“Good,” Hatter said as he inspected them, a slight smile at the edges of his features before he looked up. “Again.” 

TIANA

Tiana watched anxiously as Hatter did the spell. She didn’t know enough about magic to tell whether it was going well or not, but Hatter briefly looked frustrated, which scared her— but then he smiled and said otherwise. Okay, she thought as he looked at her. Just keep going.

It was like the world’s most terrifying oral presentation. The stakes had never been higher. But it was for that reason that Tiana couldn’t afford to lose her nerve now.

“Uh, okay, yeah,” she said, glancing at Ella again. Her housemate’s presence steadied her. Ella had that effect on people. “Well, er, this is sort of a silly one, but once she pretended to be my girlfriend around the holidays so my mum’s friends would stop trying to set me up. I don’t think we were all that convincing, but that’s Aurora for you. She’s always going to help you out.”

Tiana blinked back tears. These were supposed to be happy memories. And they were. But recalling them reminded her how much she missed Aurora— and how afraid she was of the possibility that she could be gone forever. 

ELLA She did her best not to look at Hatter whilst he was working, focusing instead on the memory, the laughter, the happiness, how wonderful that night had been. She didn’t want to ruin any reagents by letting herself get distracted.

She did let herself reach across the space between herself and Tiana for a moment, taking her hand and giving it a gentle squeeze. She knew how hard it was. Just because the memories were good ones didn’t mean it didn’t hurt, didn’t exacerbate the way they missed her. It felt like so long now since they had seen Aurora. Ella missed late nights in the living room with a bottle of wine, or picnics in the back garden when the sun finally started shining in the springtime, but she didn’t want to get bogged down in the sadness that tinged the edge of all those memories.

“She’s always happy to help,” Ella agreed, smiling gently. “We used to spend hours out in the garden, and she never did mind any of the questions I asked, even though they were probably so stupid. And she used to make me things, little charms to keep things growing or keep the pests away, without me even asking.”

HATTER: Hatter found himself huffing at Truitt’s story, glancing over to where the sleeping form of the friend in question was, as if she could somehow confirm what was being said. Only, as Truitt continued to speak, the silliness of it was stripped away and the heart of it remained. He returned back to his task, gathering that memory to join the others inside the hat. The glow twinkled, glancing over the trio as they stood there, as if he was holding a jar of fireflies they had all taken to gathering. 

He managed to get Ashbourne’s, too, though it did try to slip past his fingers with its glossy finish. It landed among the others. The grouping seemed like it may be enough to fill the crystal now, and he could tell by having held them and looking at them that they held more power than most would probably imagine. He knew it would be enough. 

But just in case. 

“That she did,” he said with a small smile, looking down at the reagents as he slowly began to make his way toward where Aurora still lay. “She’d brought me cookies, Christmas before last. I’m sure she did it for a lot of people, but it was different. No one tends to bring me food. Can’t say I blame them, considering, but she did. My favorite, too, though she didn’t know it at the time.” 

It had been a simple gesture. As it had been when she’d sat down to have some with him. Only to someone like him, who was quite simple and who valued food so highly, it had been much more. 

He reached up with the cap, letting the bill scoop at his temple and letting the reagent land among the others. 

Alright. No need to get weepy. If this worked then there would be plenty more cookies to share, help to be given, and charms to be made. 

With a long breath he got down on his knees, setting the hat and crystal down in favor of searching his bag, he pulled a pair of trowels, and turned at the waist to offer them to Truitt and Ashbourne. 

“Mind digging a bit? Deep enough for that thing to fit-” he nodded toward the crystal, “- just above her head?” 

TIANA

As Hatter gave his own memories, Tiana was struck, not for the first time, by the realization that Hatter had been close with Aurora as well, and that meant he he was deeply invested in this whole thing as well. He didn’t want to fail her either, and it wasn’t just a favor Hatter was doing to Aurora— he knew the stakes, and here he was still.

It wasn’t all that surprising, of course. Aurora was important to many people. Because she was just that kind of person. Like she had said, and like Hatter and Ella had said.

That made Tiana feel just slightly reassured as she took a trowel and knelt down to start digging. All of this was so foreign. Tiana felt like she shouldn’t be doing it, all this sorcery stuff. But Aurora needed her. So she dug hesitantly, as though she might mess it up at any moment.

“Am I, uh, doing this right?” she said, glancing at Hatter.

ELLA For all the time she had spent in Enchantra, Ella wasn’t sure she had ever disturbed the soil before. She had held back tree branches, moved aside shrubs, picked flowers to take home and put in the pot on the windowsill, but this was the first time she had dug into the earth like this, carving it out. She eyed the crystal for a moment, wondering what it would do, and then she nodded, taking the trowel and digging into the earth besides Tiana. Somehow, she thought the forest wouldn’t mind. 

It reminded her of Aurora. Those spring mornings spent in the garden, the two of them chatting and gossiping as they tended their beds. She went about this the same way she had gone about that, digging with purpose, not thinking too hard about the action except to compare the hole they were making to the size of the crystal that lay on the ground. 

She paused when Tiana looked to Hatter, turning her gaze to him as well. She had to trust that if they had been making a mess of things, he would’ve told them. “That should be big enough, shouldn’t it?”

HATTER: Meanwhile, Hatter was working on transferring the reagents to the crystal itself. It was not as easy as filling a jar with sweets since there wasn’t exactly a lid on the rock. One by one he had to carefully transfer a memory from the cap to the crystal. Which was hard since these were so close to the subject of the memories and he could feel them gravitating toward her. They were magnetized to her person, of course. They wouldn’t go flying, but they knew. They were made of her, essentially, of the three of them’s perception of her. Recognizable of the person she had been to them. Their memories had missed her and they were asking about her, even now. 

“You’re doing just fine,” he reassured Truitt before he even looked up to confirm for himself. Not that he had any doubt that she was. She was a smart kid, if a bit by the book. He had no worries about her or Ashbourne. 

What he worried about was the memories cracking open on the crystal, he worried about the slipping free of his fingers and getting lost among the vast foliage that surrounded them thanks to whatever magic had a hold of the sleeping girl that fueled them to grow. He worried that they wouldn’t be enough. He worried that he had put too much trust in a being that warranted none, and yet he had no reason to not trust them either. Or the stranger who had come to show him where Aurora was in the first place. He worried about what would happen should she wake up, if she would be the same girl who had laid down to sleep here in the forest or if it would be a stranger in her body, whether of the same mind with no memories or someone else’s mind occupying the space. So many possibilities lay at the end of this decision he had made and forced upon the two girls who sat mere meters away, digging, as he had asked them to. Just like he had asked them to hope. 

Most of all, Hatter worried that she would not wake up and that whatever magic he had wouldn’t be enough. 

As each memory was fit into the crystal it began to glow like they had. Brighter and brighter it shown, the memories bringing the seemingly still object to life. He kept the last memory clasped tightly in his palm and then looked up at Ashbourne’s voice. 

“Yes,” he said, shifting himself to sit beside the dug up ground. “Thank you. Now, I’d take a few steps back. But, um, it’d be best if you were in her line of sight when she wakes. I’m sure it would be nice to find familiar faces waiting for her.” 

He nodded his head for them to get a move on. When he was sure they were a safe distance he stuck the crystal into the ground in the place they had made for it. Light beamed up from within, dancing across the dark, dirt colored walls of the room where it sat. Already roots from the vines were crawling across the new real estate, wanting to fill in the gap, to greet this seemingly new addition to their garden. So, there was no time to lose. 

Like a seed being planted, Hatter dropped the last memory into the crystal alongside whatever raw magic he could conjure into the transfer. Its light burned brighter, almost blinding, and it began to shake. He quickly shoveled the dirt on top of it, burying it beneath the Earth, the element of the witch that lay just above. 

AURORA: 

The forest was quick to react to the new magical artifact buried within her soil. The memories that charged it glowing beneath the surface, The roots searching for the new source of magic, the veins loosening on Aurora as they did.

She only had a fragment of her magic left compared to where she started last summer. The crystal was new and fresh and bursting with magic.

But the crystal was not a human that circulated her magic at low levels. The crystal fed them and fed them well as it cracked giving all it’s energy to the plants around it. The plant growing thicker, and taller, blooms surrounding Aurora even as it loosened its grip it looked like it was swallowing her whole.

Until it wasn’t.

A small boom, as the crystal shattered and cracked. Most pieced left underground and a few escaping the soil, Aurora’s eyes shot open, flickering from her normal hazel to a hint of red before the inner circle of red remained.

With a gasp, Aurora scrambled for anything to hold onto, for some hint of her magic in the ground to guide her. Where she was, what she should remember, what she should do.

With laboured breaths, Aurora tried to force herself to sit up as she looked around, all the veins and plants now lay unmoving on the forest floor, alive but acting like normal plants and her friends looking at her.

“Hi?” Aurora murmured her voice raspy from being unused.

TIANA

Something was happening. Something was changing. Either it was working, or it wasn’t, and Tiana couldn’t tell because she knew maddeningly little about magic. She watched anxiously, her jaw clenched in fear.

And then Aurora’s eyes opened, and she spoke. And Tiana burst into tears. 

“Rora!” she exclaimed through sniffles. “Oh my god, it’s you! You’re alive!” And then, whether or not it was wise, and maybe just to be sure she was really there and it wasn’t some trick of the light, but mostly because she hadn’t been able to do it in nine months, Tiana sprung forward and hugged Aurora tightly, shaking with sobs.

ELLA Ella’s eyes were wide and wet as she watched and waited, holding her breath as she hoped for some kind of sign that something was happening. The small boom caught her by surprise, the few shards of crystal that leapt into the air making her jump. She looked back to Aurora, hoping that that was a good sign, that it was working how it was supposed to, when all of a sudden, Aurora sat up.

Ella felt her heart clench, the tears slipping down her chest as she watched Aurora slowly sit up, finding them standing there and focusing on them, opening her mouth to speak. She was just a few steps behind Tiana, stumbling forward over the vines so that she could wrap one arm around Aurora as well, the other around Tiana, holding the both of them tightly.

“It worked,” She said weakly, redundantly– but she didn’t know what else to say. Nothing seemed enough to properly explain how she was feeling. “It actually worked, you’re here.”

HATTER: Hatter, who was sat behind Aurora, stayed put. He watched the faces of Truitt and Ashbourne, trusting their relief and happiness before he let himself feel it, too. All the tension that had been turning him into a finely tuned upper octave piano string left on a silent exhale. He was quick to turn away from the scene to hide the sting he could feel behind his eyes that the sudden emotions had produced. Not that it mattered, it wasn’t like anyone was paying him any mind, but it was his nature and a habit yet to be broken. 

He didn’t wish to interrupt, as much as he too wanted to look at her and see that it was in fact Aurora that was looking back. Not to mention ask her what the hell had happened to put her in a magic coma and if anyone had done it to her and- well. It could wait. Now that she was awake there would be plenty of time to do…anything.  

He sniffed, composing himself to get back to his feet, back and knees twinging with the movements. He felt tired, having taken so much magic out of himself. Never had to do that before. It was almost a good tired, knowing that he could still do something that extensive and that it had been enough when it counted most.  

He crossed the short distance back to his bag, leaning down to pick it up, and from one of the other pockets, one that had been enchanted to be able to carry more than it seemed and to be insulated, he pulled out a metal water bottle and sandwich that was wrapped in a tea towel. Being who he was, he'd been wondering if Aurora would be hungry when she woke up while waiting for the fae to get back to him. So he’d packed lunch. Just in case. He set it down close to where the three girls sat and then stood back again, going about retrieving his other things, like his wand and the trowels. 

AURORA: 

Aurora didn’t know what was happening. Here last memory was sinking her fingers into the earth as she sought out the curse that had plagued the town. The earth felt different now, the forest too. Everything in different stages of growth from when she fell asleep.

But that didn’t mean she didn’t hold her friends back when they rushed her. It was a loose hug on her part. All her muscles stiff and weak. 

Looking up at Hatter as he fussed about as well just added to her confusion. Why were the three of them together.

“I don’t understand?”

TIANA

To be completely honest, Tiana didn’t entirely understand either. She didn’t understand why that had worked, or what that crystal was made of, or what happened now. But she didn’t really need to. All she knew was that Aurora was awake, was alive, and that was what mattered.

“Hatter did something magic– I don’t really get it either, but there was this crystal, and we had to say memories, and… yeah, I don’t really know, but… you’re here! You’re okay!” Tiana sniffled, wiping at her eyes and glancing back at Hatter before turning to Aurora again. “You’re okay, right? Are you cold? Or hungry? Girl, I am gonna make you the biggest thing of gumbo…”

ELLA Ella laughed wetly, pulling back just enough to be able to wipe the tears from her cheeks with the back of her hand. She didn’t understand it herself, but she decided that she didn’t need to. Like Tiana said, she was back. She was okay. But she probably was cold and hungry and they really shouldn’t linger in the forest, not when Aurora needed a good meal and a warm bath and to be at home, away from the forest that had held her for so long.

“Why don’t we get you home?” Ella said softly, looking at Tiana and then back at Aurora. All she wanted now, so desperately, was to go back to their house that had been missing something for months. To put in the piece of the puzzle that had been missing. But she didn’t understand the magic that had gone on and so she looked at Hatter, the hope clear in her eyes. “We can take her home, can’t we?”

HATTER: 

“Of course,” he said, having looked over to meet Ms. Ashbourne’s gaze. He gave the trio a small, warm smile. “She’s already stayed out here long enough, I think getting her to a proper bed is well deserved.” 

His thinking was much the same as theirs, except he knew the magic that had been at play. At least, what it had taken to have woken her up. Hatter didn’t want them to linger longer than they needed, fearful that something with the fae’s magic would somehow turn out to be a sham and the vines would seek her out again. There was no reason to doubt them, but he couldn’t help it, his last deal having fallen through as hard as it had. A tea shoppe could be lost, Aurora could not. 

Hatter avoided Aurora’s eye for a moment longer, glancing between her friends, until he worked up the nerve to finally look at her so he could ask, “Think you’re up for a walk?”

AURORA:

Memories? Magic? Did her spell go wrong? Had she been able to help the town being cursed to lose their magic? To lose the very thing that made it special.

Aurora looked at Hatter as if he would have the answers. He was the other sorcerer here so many he would. She wanted to ask so many questions but Ella and Tiana’s worries were enough to cause her to pause. To worry about it later.

“Yeah?” Aurora offered moving one hand from the girls to push herself up. Her body was weak, unused to movement and she quickly had to hold onto the girls. “Maybe not.”

TIANA

When Aurora almost fell, a jolt of fear struck Tiana. Had they waited too long? Had Aurora’s health been permanently affected by this? They should have acted sooner, maybe, but Tiana had been so afraid…

But what was important was that Aurora was alive. Anything else, they could handle. They would find a way.

“Uh, I could call an Uber?” Tiana suggested. Or she could offer to run and get her car, but she didn’t want to leave Aurora. “Maybe if we can just get to the edge of the forest? Just hold onto us, Rora, we’ll get you there.” 

ELLA Ella felt the stab of panic as well when Aurora stumbled, but she told herself it was okay — Aurora had been sleeping for a while, now. Of course she would be stiff, her muscles not used to moving as they once had been. 

“We’ve got you,” Ella agreed with Tiana, looping an arm around Aurora so that she could keep a good good on her. 

HATTER: Hatter caught the look but it seemed Aurora was on the same page; there would be time later for explanations. She had questions for him and he had questions for her. She held the beginning of this story while he had the end. But they could go over it later, right now the priority would be making sure she could begin a new one. Starting with getting home. 

He figured her weakened state would be the case, and yet had not been optimistic enough to bring anything to help. Although he doubted she would take kindly to sitting in a wagon or that the ride would be very comfortable through the brush and bumpy forest floor. There was little he could do to help unless she wanted a piggy back ride, but her friends seemed to have it handled. They would look after her. They had done so all this time before.

“Take your time,” he offered since, hopefully, there was plenty of it to go around. 

AURORA:

Aurora leaned on the girls and took a deep breath, she would get home, she would eat some food because damn was she hungry now that she thought about it. 

But that wasn’t step one.

Aurora knew this time, this time she had her future ahead of her.

Aurora

The Summer Promenade was going wonderful, her kids were running around with the others, her husband was off showboating but he looked good while doing it. And Aurora needed a few moments away from all the woman that she was entertaining.

It was the only reason she was in the middle of a clearing, in heels and a fancy maxi dress. Still dressed to the nines, showing off, Aurora knew she needed to get back soon. At least until she heard ruffling in the bushes.

“Come out of there. You should not be lurking, my family is around the corner and will assist if someone is wondering around without warning!” Aurora called out backing up toward the rest of the order. If it was a magick they would deal with it quickly.

TIANA

The sunlight hurt Tiana’s eyes. Suddenly, it wasn’t midnight anymore– what had she stumbled into? It must have been some kind of strange magic, connected to the vines, maybe… Tiana just hoped she and Ella would be able to get themselves (and Aurora) out of here eventually. 

“Rora?” She looked different, and not just because she was dressed for some kind of garden party. There was something in the way she carried herself, in the way she spoke. “We’ve gotta get out of here– not that I really know where ‘here’ is, but something really weird is going down and I’m worried.” She glanced at Ella for backup.

ELLA

Ella squinted into the light, raising one hand to shield her eyes until they had adjusted. She took in as much of their surroundings as she could – the clearing, the sound of laughter just a little ways away, the gentle breeze moving through the trees. Ella wasn’t sure where they were; presumably still in Enchantra, but if it was Enchantra, she wasn’t sure where. 

But, far more worryingly, then there was Aurora.

How many times had Swynlake provided them with those strange dreams, thinking they were someone else? This had to be like that, except for some reason only Aurora was the one caught up in the magic, leaving her housemates on the outside. Ella looked at Tiana, and tried for a reassuring smile. “Aurora - you know us, don’t you? We’re your friends. We have to go, we can’t stay here.”

Aurora

They spoke her name, used a nickname only Phillip and the boys used for her. It just meant they had been keeping an eye out on her. That they were dangerous. Even if they were just women.

“Don’t come any closer! Why do you know my name and what do you want with me. My husband, my brother, they are all around the corner!” Aurora challenge holding up her hand as if to keep them back, but in this world, in this dream she had no magic. 

“I know where I am, and you two need to leave.”

TIANA

Tiana still didn’t really get it. But she could tell Aurora was under some kind of spell. And it was up to her to get her out of it. Because this was… sort of the Aurora she knew. But not fully. The real Aurora would never speak to her like that, she knew it.

“Rora, you’re one of my best friends. You live with us– you taught us how to grow basil in the backyard, remember?” Tiana didn’t know exactly what was going on, but it seemed that Aurora maybe had some memory issues. Tiana wanted to remind her just how important she had been in their group of friends. “You know? The herb garden we have in the window? The veggies in the backyard, that the cats always get into?” She glanced at Ella for backup. “You’ve gotta know what I’m talking about.”

ELLA

Her husband, Aurora said, with so much conviction, as if he were real. As if she had a whole head full of memories of this family, a life well lived, even if she wasn’t very far through it yet. Ella almost felt bad for her, for how they would have to rip her away from what probably felt like a wonderful life, a safe haven. But they had to – this wasn’t their Aurora. This wasn’t real.

“Lolly,” She said, hoping it would bring back some kind of memory. “Your service dog, do you remember?” she searched Aurora’s face, hoping for some kind of recognition, any sign that their Aurora was in there, under the fog of this fake life. “And Willa - you planted daffodils for her. She calls you her aunty - you’re her family. We’re your family.”

Aurora

Aurora blinked at the names, at the memories of the girls that called themselves her friends. This wasn't right.

She could hear a young girl’s laughter, see the bouquets of flowers.

But Aurora had never seen them in her life before. - So why was it she could picture what Willa looked look, she could see her smile. The same smile Noah had as a child. 7 years older than her brother she could clearly remember him running around picking flowers just for her.

Why could she see the three of them sitting down and sipping wine, gossiping like she would gossip with the other wives. 

Setting her hand on her head Aurora shook her head as the leaves on the trees shook a little with her. 

"I don't understand. There's two stories in my head."

TIANA

Two stories in her head. Tiana could understand that. All the knights could. There came a time when you had to sort out what was really real to you, and what parts of yourself you would fight for. Aurora had helped Tiana with that, actually. So maybe it was fitting that Tiana was returning the favor now.

“Rora, this is going to sound a little crazy, but we fought together against people who wanted to take over our town. We were knights together. It was a… magic thing. Long story. The point is, I remember there was a time when I had these memories in my head put there by magic, stories where we were enemies. But I knew that wasn’t true. You helped me remember the truth, that you’re my housemate, one of my best friends. Do you remember that?” Tiana looked at her pleadingly. “Come on, Rora, I know you can do it.”

Aurora

Aurora shook her head the trees continuing with her movement. This didn't make any sense. Stories put there by magic! That was something the order would never stand for. Something that would get her in trouble.

And yet it was something that brought her the feeling of family and completeness. It didn't make her scared or worried.

Just like how these two girls made her feel.

"You're lying you have to be lying." But even as Aurora said it she knew it wasn't true. They weren't lying.

ELLA

“We would never lie to you, Aurora.”

That much Ella knew. She didn’t know what all this was, how they had gotten here, what Aurora’s magic had done to get them here, but she knew that she would never lie to her. Not to one of her best friends, someone she would trust with her life. Ella could see the cracks starting to form in Aurora’s resolve, as she realised that they were right. She didn’t want to upset her, but she knew they had to keep pushing. Deepen those cracks, until the illusion shattered.

“I know it’s scary,” She said gently, “But you have to remember. You have to remember what’s real.”

Aurora

They wouldn’t. Aurora knew it deep down. Just the way she knew her family would. In fractured pieces Aurora could put together her parents abandoning her, saving her yes, but also leaving her and holding onto Noah. He was only a baby when she had left and Aurora had forgotten him completely.

The way she had forgotten about the Order.

None of this was fake.

Deep in Aurora’s heart she knew it wasn’t, not on either side.

Setting her hand on her chest, there was no curse, and if there was no curse, she wouldn’t have left. She would have grown up here. She would have hidden the fact she was a sorcerer or risk being thrown out again.

Aurora’s name was called out but not from the girls, from her family- from her brother - this world asking her to stay, just a little longer. This is where she belonged. This is where she should have belonged. Where she would have been.

And even though she didn’t want to, it was Aurora that needed to step away this time. She had to walk away by her own choice. 

Afterall she would choose her found family in Swynlake, the girls, the knights, her magic over this world.

It was harsh to think because in this world, she had a family, she had children. But she knew this dream wasn’t real. She knew Phil and Tom and John were. But not these versions of them.

Tears streamed down her cheeks as Aurora lifted her hand, branches and leaves growing thicker until the three of them were covered and hidden.

“Aurora?!” Even if she could hear her brother's voice and wanted nothing more than to protect him. He hadn’t chosen this life, the same way Aurora hadn’t chosen to leave. Swallowing deeply Aurora nodded turning back to face the girls slumping on the ground exhausted from the clashing memories.

“Did I do all of this?”

TIANA

It never failed to amaze Tiana, her housemate’s magic. Even now. Even when it scared her a little bit. Even when she worried Aurora was in danger. Tiana wished she understood more, but she didn’t. All she could do was watch, her eyes wide in surprise.

And then the danger struck her— they needed to get out of here.

“I don’t know— I don’t know if it was in your control,” Tiana said, looking around at the branches and vines growing around them. “Do you know if you can get us home?” 

Aurora

Aurora didn’t know, she wished she did. But what she did know is she could feel her magic in ways she had never felt it before. All this time she had been walking around with weights on her limbs.

There might have been a second that Aurora thought she could fly.

She had never felt this light, she had never felt this powerful, the earth that had once grounded her now fueled her, powered her and Aurora could taste it, smell it, sense it. This dream was of her making. Her magic swirled around it.

All she had to do was tug at it.

To the other girls it might not have felt so immediate, they were still covered with vines protecting them from the knights, but Aurora could feel each of the swords as they fought the vines. Her magic had seeped into the ground around them and as each tendril returned to her and a vine retreated back into a small plant wrapping around a tree or a bush and Aurora felt that rush of power again.

The light and airy feeling that made her think she could fly, that she could accomplish anything. That she could live.

Glancing up at the girls from her seated position and to the knights that had come running Aurora smiled at them. She was right when she came here Swynlake was exactly where she belonged.

Aurora Rosewood was curse free.

Tiana Truitt

Hi, I know it’s really late but is anyone around? It’s kind of an emergency and I didn’t know who else to go to

Belle Acheron

Three young children means I am always up. What's wrong?

Eilonwy Llyr 

I'm awake!

Tiana Truitt

I’m somewhere in Enchantra, Rora and I were out of town late and we got zapped back and then as soon as we got here all these vines started growing around her

Tiana Truitt started sharing location

I don’t know what’s going on but I’m worried about her I think she passed out and I can’t get through the vines they’re really thick

Belle Acheron

That's so odd. Did you disturb something?

Tiana Truitt

I don’t know I didn’t do anything we were just on the train

I feel like it’s gotta have something to do with her magic since she’s like a garden witch??

Belle Acheron

It could be -- but she's not controlling it is she?

Tiana Truitt

No I don’t think so??

I’m pretty sure she’s unconscious but I can’t check

Belle Acheron

I'll see what I can do from here. Maybe I'll be able to call the Great Prince? He usually responds...

Eilonwy Llyr

I'm on my way

Tiana Truitt

Thank you both so much

Eilonwy Llyr

I have all my swords with me here so I'll bring those along, and I'll see if I can recognize the feel of the magic

Belle Acheron

Be careful, both of you. We don't know what kind of magic this is.

Tiana Truitt

Yeah for sure I just don’t want to leave her alone out here

Simba Bonfamille-Lyons

What is going on my phone kept going off?

Eilonwy Llyr

Rora's in trouble in Enchantra

Tiana Truitt

Her magic is going crazy ever since we got zapped back at midnight

Simba Bonfamille-Lyons

Where are you Enchantra? What do you need?

Tiana Truitt

Sharing my location with you now

I don’t know honestly sorry ahhh I’m just freaking out

I thought maybe someone had seen something like this happen before

Simba Bonfamille-Lyons

Okay, well--take a few deep breaths. If this is her magic, I doubt it's going to hurt her, right?

Tiana Truitt

I hope not ugh I just don't know a lot about this stuff

Belle Acheron

That logic seems sound, but we don't know what kind of magic this is. Try not to panic. Simba, can you go assist her? Eilonwy is already on her way there. I am too far away, but if it doesn't get handled quickly, I can make my way there.

Simba Bonfamille-Lyons

Yeah, sure. Changing now. Er...should I bring my sword?

Tiana Truitt

Uhh sure why not!

Thanks y’all

~~~~

TIANA

When she heard footsteps approaching, Tiana whirled around, momentarily terrified at what magical mayhem might ensue next— and then relieved when she realized it was her fellow Knights, coming to the rescue after she had enlisted their help.

“Eilonwy! Simba! Oh, thank god— you see what I was talking about now?” Tiana gestured to the vines. “I can’t even see through them— those swords might actually come in handy, good thinking, Eilonwy.” She paused for a beat. “You think she’s okay in there?”

EILONWY

As soon as Eilonwy told Tiana she was on her way, she slipped all her enchanted jewelry on, slammed her feet into her shoes and was out the door. She could feel the way fear beat a steady beat in her chest, especially at the idea of going back into the forest, but determination was stronger. As she began to run down the street towards the forest, for the first time in months, Eilonwy released the lock she had placed on her own magic. 

It felt like the world suddenly brightened around her, senses opening as she felt the caress of light particles she had been missing. Without thought, she gathered together moonlight and the light from street lamps and the light from car headlights until there was a glowing nimbus surrounding her as she raced into the clearing, following the directions Tiana had given. 

When she arrived and saw the tangled ball of vines at the center, she skidded to a stop. Immediately, she shoved her hands upward, sending light to twine around tree branches and across the roof until it glittered overhead and lit up the entire clearing. 

“Do you want a short sword or a longsword Tiana? I have both. I don’t know a lot about this type of magic, but she’s going to be ok. We’re going to make sure of it.”

SIMBA:

It took Simba a bit longer to get to Tiana’s location than he wanted. After all, he’d been in his jammies, settling in for a movie night with Berlioz when the group chat had blown up. “Duty calls,” he joked to Ber, even though both of them had felt the strain of that comment. Though, Simba would be lying if he said he didn’t feel cool, changing into his running clothes and grabbing his sword like some sort of superhero suiting up. Even if he was just in trainers and a pair of sweats instead of his underwear. (Should he put his underwear over his sweats? Ha.)

Anyway, once he was in the woods and on the path, he made quick work of things, even if running with a sword was cumbersome and annoying. How did knights used to do this? 

Anyway, he made it to the clearing, nearly getting blinded as he tripped through the undergrowth. Not exactly the heroic entrance he had been envisioning. He rubbed his eyes, blinking at the gyrating, pulsing vines. He let out a low whistle and then put a hand on Tiana’s shoulder, giving it a squeeze. 

“I’m sure if the magic is happening–she’s fine.” He didn’t actually know that but if she was, er, not fine, would her magic still be…working? Malfunctioning? 

“Have you tried cutting into it yet? We should be careful. Magic plants don’t usually like getting cut up.”

TIANA

Tiana reached for the short sword (considering her own short stature, it was easier to wield), but hesitated when Simba commented on the behaviors of magical plants. If these vines were connected to Aurora’s magic, what if cutting into them would hurt her?

“Good– good point,” Tiana stammered, a little bit frantic. She looked from Simba to Eilonwy. “Eilonwy, from, uh, a sorcerer perspective– what do you think? I mean… I feel like we don’t have a lot of choice here, do we? We need to get to her and make sure she’s okay. But I don’t want to make things worse.”

EILONWY

As soon as Tiana mentioned that she would prefer the short sword, she pulled it out of the enchanted belt clip with a muttered word and handed it over. A swirl of her wrist and her elven sword appeared in her right hand from the bracelet it was attached to, leaving her armed and ready as Simba came into the clearing. 

But at Tiana’s question, Eilonwy felt the familiar bubble of frustration that came with being too much of something and not enough at the same time. Maybe if she had trained over the last few months or had a more steady education, she would be able to speak on this more confidently. 

When she opened her senses though, she could only really confirm what they all already knew. “The vines are all definitely magical. But it’s hard to know if it’s a cage or something protective or if it’s even really her magic that is causing this. But I think you’re right. I don’t think we have a lot of choice, especially not if she’s possibly unconscious inside.”

Thinking for a moment, she turned to the both of them. “Perhaps if I take the right side, Simba takes the left, it gives you a clear shot to the center so we can defend you from any of the vines Tiana?”

TIANA

Tiana hesitated. She was taking the lead here? Fighting had never been Tiana’s strong suit, especially not with swords. Hell, the last time she had trained with a sword, she had twisted an ankle!

But it was the only choice she had. Aurora was in there. This was their best chance of getting her out. Tiana couldn’t lose Aurora. She just couldn’t. “Alright, I’m going in,” Tiana said, looking to her left, to her right, and then gritting her teeth and attacking.

As Simba and Eilonwy predicted, the vines attacked back. Tiana yelped in surprise, but quickly fell into the familiar rhythm of fighting. The skills came back in muscle memory, and while Tiana wasn’t as quick or sharp as she wanted to be, she was holding her own. “Watch out!” she called, continuing to hack. “Are y’all okay over there?”

SIMBA:

Right. Looked like they were diving in! 

Usually Simba was a fan of this, but at the moment–he was a little more hesitant. After all, none of them had a tonne of experience with this sort of thing. Tiana certainly didn’t. And Eilonwy was just a kid. But–Swynlake had chosen them for a reason and there was someone who needed rescuing. A friend who needed rescuing. 

Ugh, when did he become a responsible adult who thought about things? 

With that thought, Simba sprung forward, bringing his sword down on a thick vine. He felt it reverberate up his arms. It had been a long time since he’d actually swung his sword about. His shoulder twinged, but he just grit his teeth and jumped back as a vine snapped in his direction. He dove back into the fray, hacking and slashing indiscriminately, careful not to get too close to Tiana. He figured he wasn’t that good with a sword. 

“Oh, yeah!” he called to Tiana. “Doing brilliant. Exactly how I wanted to spend my Saturday night.” 

EILONWY: 

Their initial mission as knights might have ended, but that had changed very little for Eilonwy. As soon as the casts had come off and her bones had healed, she had gone right back into her training sessions with Laurel and Edward until her old strength and skill returned. She had plenty of both. Even better, she now had a reason to use them.

With her magic lighting up the clearing, she couldn’t make a shield out of it the way she might otherwise have had, but that didn’t matter. Instead, she pulled a knife out of the ankle bracelet she was wearing, and with a weapon in each hand, she went to work. 

She sliced through the first vine easily, swinging her off hand to block an attack before coming in low to slice through it again. One made it past her defenses, flicking her against the cheek and snapping her head back, but with a mildly feral snarl, she swung her sword and cut through two of the next vines, refusing to let herself be pushed back. 

Spinning around, she sliced through a vine that had tried to creep around Tiana’s back to pull at her and grinned over, the light of battle in her eyes. “Never better.”

SIMBA:

Simba wasn’t sure how long he toiled. His vision became green and brown as the vines twisted and pulsed, very much alive. Sweat beaded at his brow and soaked the back of his shirt in the hot spring night air. He felt like he only took a few steps forward, not making much headway. For every vine he cut through, another replaced it. Like a many headed hydra. 

Still, he pressed forward—thinking about Aurora. Thinking about Tiana. Wanting to make sure they were okay. He thought about the town too. He thought about several years ago when the whole town had come alive and tried to take over. He thought about dragons and knights and he saw Arthur’s face. 

There was just the sound of hissing leaves across the forest floor, the periodic grunts of those around him, and the slash of swords. (They didn’t clang the way they did in movies, which he’d been disappointed to find out, but it didn’t make him feel any less cool. Okay, maybe a little less cool.)

They pressed forward inch by inch, cut by cut…

ELLA:

Ella had returned to Swynlake alone, the train having begun to move just moments after Tiana and Aurora had disappeared. It was like it had been waiting, unable to move until the magic had claimed them and then off it went again, carrying her back home, this time alone.

She had known something was wrong as soon as she had stepped off the train and onto the platform. She had said that she would manage, even if they weren’t able to meet her at the train station, but she had sort of expected them to be there. They must be at home, she told herself, checking her phone, looking for signs of anything amiss, but… nothing. 

There were no lights on when she got back to the house. No signs of life at all, in fact, the doors all still locked up tight, every undisturbed, as it had been when they had left. Ella might’ve assumed that this was some sort of knights business, something she couldn’t help with, had it not been for the mice. Jacques and Gus had scurried up as high as they could, squeaking frantically, their little noses twitching. It was then that Ella noticed the rest of them – the birds at the window, puffing themselves up, tapping gently but urgently at the glass to get her attention.

The forest. Something was happening in the forest.

She wasn’t exactly prepared. The creatures of the forest did their best to lead her through it, but Ella didn’t have the same nimble feet as the hares, or the sharp eyes of the owls. It took her a while to catch up to the others, the knights that she didn’t even know she was heading towards until she saw the light emanating through the trees…

“Oh my god,” Ella gasped, looking at the tangle of vines, and at her friends, battling through them. She stepped forward slowly, calling out when she caught sight of Tiana. “Tiana? What’s going on?”

TIANA

Tiana recognized her housemate’s voice– she’d know it anywhere. She whipped around in surprise. “Ella?” Tiana gasped, but then another vine flew out at her and she quickly had to react, pivoting around to slice it off. Her first thought was– how did Ella know? And then her second thought was, right. Ella had a relationship with the forest. With the Prince.

“Stay back!” she warned, grateful for Ella’s presence, but also worried by it. The forest must be in trouble if they had sent Ella, she thought– and she didn’t want Ella getting hurt, but Tiana wondered if they might need her help soon.

She continued hacking at a weaker spot that Simba and Eilonwy had started to create. They needed an opening. They needed to get to Aurora. And whatever happened after that… well, they would worry about it when it happened. For now, Tiana had to focus on not twisting her ankle. Or worse.

EILONWY

The vines wouldn’t stop coming. Everytime she sliced one away, another thrust forward to take its place, and while she wasn’t tired yet, exhaustion was a risk they had to consider. Whatever was happening at the center of this was powerful and didn’t want to be interrupted. 

Which was too damn bad in her opinion. 

At the familiar voice of the woman she babysat for occasionally, Eilonwy glanced over for only the briefest of moments to confirm it was really her. Before the events of March, she might have wondered what the other woman could do there. After all, she didn’t have magic or skills with a sword, or any of the other things she had learned to rely on. But after her own experiences, she knew differently. If Ella was here, it was because she needed to be here.

Pinning a vine with her knife to the floor, she slashed through another before she reclaimed her weapon. 

“Ella, Aurora’s inside there! We don’t know what’s going on and we don’t know if she’s ok. We’re making a path, but as soon as there’s an opening you gotta get in there and get her out. We’ll do what we can from here.”

As if in response to her words, she saw some of the vines start to creep out towards where Ella was standing, and Eilonwy quickly beat them back, working her way closer to Tiana and closer to whatever the center of this maelstrom was. 

ELLA:

Aurora was in there – Ella felt her heart squeeze, and she took a step forward even as the vines crept towards her. She realised now that the forest creatures had left her, retreating back into the hides and their burrows now that she had joined the gathered knights. Ella knew what she had to do, even as Eilonwy said it. She had to go in there – she had to get Aurora out.

Herself and Tiana. They would get their friend out together.

Ella didn’t have any weapons to beat the vines back with, so all she could do was try to move strategically, to push forwards as the knights cleared a path for her. She ducked and dodged, weaving her way through the space they had carved until she could reach Tiana, setting a hand on her shoulder so that they couldn’t get separated. 

“I’m with you,” Ella said, trying not to be afraid of whatever was in there. It didn’t matter, she told herself. They would get Aurora back. And the forest would do its best to keep her safe, as it always had; whatever magic this was, she could only hope that the forest had a way to reach through it if they needed it to. “Let’s go get her.”

TIANA

Tiana felt Ella’s hand on her shoulder, and a protective feeling surged through her. Ella and Aurora were more than her housemates, they were people she had shared some of her most chaotic and difficult moments with over the past few years. They were like family, at this point. And Tiana was not going to let anything happen to them. “Stay close to me,” Tiana told her, brandishing her sword defensively. She swiped at a few more vines as they stumbled into the thicket, and suddenly, they were inside encircled in winding, thorny vines and branches.

Aurora

It was useless, it truly was. Not that Aurora had much hope coming into town like this but she had hoped for something a little more concrete. Yet every time a cursebreaker got closer to her magic the vines grew thicker, suffocating not only her but the other sorcerer too.

There was a second in the meeting that Aurora felt it reaching out in Tiana’s direction as if she had magic as well. It was Aurora then who had pulled the plug, shutting down the connection and dropping her hands from the other.

Aurora had just wasted her time, and the time of her housemates and waiting for the train to take them back into Swynlake now, just felt like more of a defeat. Sitting on the bench since she had barely enough energy to stand and wait she rubbed at her nose again expecting for another nosebleed to happen.

“Sorry I dragged you two out here for nothing. But I guess thank you for coming.” Aurora stated as the familiar whistle was heard, the train just moments away from picking them up.

TIANA

It was hard for Tiana to take time off away from the restaurant, that was true. But Aurora needed her support, and Tiana wasn’t going to say no. They had been through so much together, after all, with the Knights and all the tragedy that followed. So if Aurora was asking, Tiana wasn’t going to deny her that.

“You don’t have to apologize. We’ll just keep trying,” Tiana said decisively. “It wasn’t for nothing. That’s another lead we can cross off the list. Now we have more data to work from.” That was the best way for solution-oriented Tiana to think of it.

The train stopped and Tiana gestured for Ella and Aurora to go ahead. “I’m right behind you,” she promised. 

ELLA

Ella didn’t know if she agreed that it was a waste of time. In a way it was, but… they never would’ve known if they hadn’t gone, just like Tiana said. They had to keep trying anything and everything they could think of so Aurora could get better. And to be honest, Ella wouldn’t stop until Aurora said she wanted to stop, so if that meant more wasted time, then that was fine by her.

When the train slowed to a stop Ella looked around, assuming they’d arrived at their stop– but the train was just stood in what seemed to be the middle of nowhere, waiting on… well, Ella wasn’t sure what. 

“Must be something on the tracks,” She said to her housemates, before smiling softly. “Anyways, Tiana’s right. We’ve got to figure out what doesn’t work, or else we won’t figure out what does.”

Aurora

The girls were a whole lot more confident than Aurora was, she was more than willing to give up and stop. At least she might be able to enjoy the summer, she wouldn’t have to spend it in a constant state of disappointment. Getting her hopes up and dashed again and again.

It was painful and she was thankful her friends weren’t sorcerers and couldn’t see the regents swirling around her.

The stopping train had her curious but really, just another downside of a disappointing day again. Really what could you do or worry about. 

Except there was one certain thing to worry about and when they didn’t start moving again, Aurora pulled out her phone to check the time.

“Uh Tiana, it’s almost midnight.”

TIANA

Tiana glanced at her phone as Aurora said it. “Shoot…” she mumbled. She remembered the last instance she had lost track of the time, over at Vixey’s baking Christmas cookies with Al. Luckily, they had been able to chalk it up to weird Swynlake magic. But even if Ella knew about the Knights, Tiana didn’t want to leave her all alone on this train!

She looked around anxiously. “What are we gonna do? I mean, we can’t just…” She looked at Ella and cringed. “Sorry. It’s weird… last September stuff. Long story short, we might, uh, get zapped back to Swynlake, unless— you can’t do a spell, Rora, can you? I dunno, long shot…”

ELLA

Ella looked between her two housemates as they talked amongst themselves and her first thought was that it was probably something Knights related. Ella didn’t know what exactly, but she was glad she had gotten at least a little warning, if something was going to happen.

And the two of them getting zapped back to Swynlake wasn’t too horrible. Ella had done this journey before and even though it was late, she wasn’t too worried about being out by herself. She could make it home on her own and anyways, if the two of them did get magically recalled back to town, she wouldn’t have much of a choice anyways.

“If you can’t help it, don’t worry about it,” Ella told her friends, looking at each of them in turn. “I might be a little jealous of the two of you getting to take a shortcut, but I’ll be alright.” 

Aurora

Aurora shook her head, even if her magic was up to par and could handle something like that. It wasn’t like her magic was something that could counteract the fact they were somehow binded to the town.

Especially at Midnight.

“Sorry, it’s such a silly little quirk that affects pretty much all the knights. Of course not everyone has tested it but I don’t see how it would affect some and not all.” Like Aurora for example, she had never been out of town long enough to see if it would happen. But it was really just a question of time and when it happened to her. “We’ll meet you at the station at the very least?” Aurora offered as the seconds ticked away until midnight struct and on queue the girls popped right into Enchantra.

But what should have been an easy pop into Enchantra and walk home was anything but simple.

In fact the moment Aurora’s feet touched the ground she was heading to the ground. Sprawled out on the ground, the ground rumbled underneath Aurora, where her hair twisted and twirled on the ground vines grew around her, Wrapping around her legs and arms until it exploded outward pushing at Tiana until only Aurora was left in the cocoon of her own making.

TIANA

At first, it was just like last time. It was of annoying, because walking through Enchantra late at night was a little more harrowing than just walking the few blocks from the train station. Tiana was just about to pick herself up and start toward the trail when she felt the ground move. 

“Rora?” Tiana scrambled backward instinctively. What was going on? Aurora had never had trouble controlling her magic before. Was this some kind of side effect of the spell? Tiana supposed the last time this had happened to her, both people were Mundus…

She tried to pull at the vines, but they were too thick and interwoven. “Rora! What’s going on?!” she called, starting to worry about Aurora and her curse with all this magic. “Rora!”

There was no response. Tiana looked around frantically. She had no idea what to do from here or where to go. There was only one group of people who knew about this magic and how it worked.