. : Laura of Neverland : .

"I need your help,"

Laura frowned. She tugged at her house robe, pulling the ridiculous pink fabric tighter around her, and closed her books. She had been working on a paper for her class on beautification and was not anticipating the prince on her door.

"Sure," Laura stood, rolling her eyes, and moved to close the door, but hesitated at the last second. There was an air of desperation around his face, and the way he glanced around had her furrowing her brows. Something was wrong. Severely wrong if he came to her for help. She didn't trust him-- likely never would-- but it was hard to turn away. She had seen the same face on some of her Twilight Children before.

"Please," He stammered, placing a hand on the door. His eyes met her, pleading. He looked as if he were on the verge of tears. "I don't know what's happening, but I need help. I can't control anything."

Laura narrowed her eyes. It couldn't be him. She wouldn't allow it. She would not let the next water sage be him. She stared at him for a moment. She could at least test him, couldn't she? Besides, even if he wasn't the next water sage-- and her suspicions were wrongly placed-- at least she'd get the pleasure of testing him.

Laura made up her mind and slid into her shoes. She opened the door, giving him a shove. "Walk, now," She glanced back at Agatha. "I'll be back soon."

Laura watched Sebastian move down the girls' hallway and towards the stairs. She paused for a few seconds, watching a few of her classmates peek out of their doors. With a heavy sigh, she followed after him.

She made it to the end of the hallway and followed him down the stairs. Maybe she could kick him the rest of the way. Grab his hair and pull it. It was far too tempting with him right in front of her.

They made it to the bottom of the stairs, and he twisted to look at her expectantly. His eyes were wide, and he kept clenching and unclenching his fists, running his thumbs over the powdery blue material of his suit jacket. His eyes darted around, glancing around to see if there were others.

"What now?"

What now indeed? She needed somewhere to test him, where they wouldn't be seen. If it was a false alarm, then good, she had nothing to worry about and had to continue to search for the sage. The issue arose if he was the sage. What would she do if it turned out to be him? He was trying to destroy Neverland and magic. She would have to tell Dovey and the rest of the council. Then they would figure out what to do. That was what she would do.

She just had to test him.

"The bridge," It was the perfect spot to test him, and he would have no idea.

"The bridge?" He asked. His face contorted with confusion.

"Yes, the bridge," She pushed him, resisting the urge to do it harder. "Move."

He stumbled but instantly righted himself. He looked self-righteous as he walked like he knew he had been born to lead. Laura felt a small pang of jealousy at his self-assured confidence.

They exited the castle and headed towards the halfway bridge. The surrounding area was dead silent, no wildlife anywhere. Even the blue forest-- which was beginning to encroach on the castle grounds-- was quiet. No noise anywhere. Laura shivered at the silence. It was uncomfortable. There should always be noise in a forest.

"I'm not giving you my jacket."

Laura scoffed, her eyes narrowing. "I was shivering at the quiet," It was true. Since her magic had had the chance to replenish, she had yet to feel the chill that was beginning to creep through the air. A thin layer of frost had begun to cover the grass in front of the castle, and as they walked, their feet crunched. Sebastian's breath was visible in front of him.

"Sure," She couldn't see his face, but knew he was rolling his eyes from his posture.

"Do you want my help or not?" Laura snapped, crossing her arms.

They had made it to the bridge, and Sebastian turned around. "I wouldn't have let you bring me out here if I didn't want any help."

"Good," Laura responded, walking farther out into the bridge. He couldn't see the test coming. "Now give me back my necklace."

He paused, and Laura raised an eyebrow. "I'm not going to help you until I have my necklace back."

He avoided her eyes as he responded. "I don't have your necklace."

Laura's face dropped into a frown. "Really? I guess you're going to be on your own then," She made the move to turn and walk back to the castle.

Sebastian reached out and snatched her upper arm, tugging her back. Instinctively, Laura sent magic rushing to the tips of her fingers, miniature flames bouncing over her nails.

"Try it, I dare you." She hissed.

He was silent for a moment, his dark eyes darting between the good castle and her face. They were the same height, Laura concluded. She could easily headbutt him if she wanted.

A moment passed, where the only sound was the gurgling of the streams that fed into the lake. Finally, Sebastian sighed and dug his hand into his pocket.

"Here. I didn't take any from it." He shoved it into her palm.

Laura let out a heavy breath of relief, and snatched the necklace, squeezing it tight. It had been disturbing not having it on her. It was a failsafe, in case her magic ever left or vanished. A safety guarantee.

"Now help me," His hands clasped together. "Please, I'm begging you."

Laura swallowed. She had her necklace and could leave now, there was nothing stopping her from turning and walking away. Yet, she had her duties to the council and had to verify that he wasn't the Water Sage.

"Fine. Tell me what is happening." An order.

Sebastian nodded rapidly. "I woke up a few days ago and my room was flooded--"

Laura cut him off, waving her hand in front of her. "Why did you wake up?"

His ears turned pink. "Oh, I--um, I had a nightmare."

Laura raised an eyebrow. The prince didn't seem like the type to have nightmares.

"I woke up, and my room was flooded. The water, when I touched it, it seemed to know me, and I swear this sounds crazy, but it crawled up me."

Laura clenched her jaw. He would not be the next water sage. She would kill him and take on the magic again before she let him anywhere near the council. The son of those who wanted to destroy magic as the next sage would never happen.

"Okay, and?"

He shuffled from foot to foot, his hands clasped tightly.

Laura leaned against the edge of the stone bridge, ignoring the cold that seeped through her thin sleep clothes. "Are you going to tell me? Or are you going to figure it out on your own?"

"I had a fight with Kendrick,"

Laura rolled her eyes. Not all was well in paradise. Although, if the pirates and Havfrue were closer to an internal dispute than Laura had previously thought, it may give her an advantage over the war.

"And the river froze over behind me." He continued, his eyes failing to focus on anything.

"So, some strange occurrences with water, are you sure it isn't just because of your guilt about learning magic? Your parents won't be pleased." Perhaps it was just a coincidence, but there was one test Laura could try. She had had the same one done to her when she first learned of her magic.

Sebastian shook his head, a flash of anger spanning his face at the mention of his parents. "I don't know how to explain it, but it's like there is this foreign body inside of me, and it's pulling at me and trying to eat me."

Laura groaned, certainty flooding her. She had the same feeling before she had learned how to control her magic, and had heard many of the other council members describe it in an almost identical manner.

Along with the certainty came rage. She had spent years of her life dedicated to the Council of Magic, keeping it safe, and now, the one person who was threatening her existence-- and the existence of magic itself-- was supposed to be her partner in cardinal balance.

She would kill him before that happened.

Or, Laura thought, turning her back to Sebastian, making it look like she was thinking while she glanced over the side of the bridge. Dark water swam below. The railing to the bridge wasn't too high, and there were no enchantments to stop someone from falling off.

She could test him, tell him what he is, and leave him alone with the thoughts. It would drive him to madness, no doubt.

"Come here," She ordered.

His eyes widened, and he looked as though he was going to protest, but stopped whatever he was thinking, and made his way over.

Laura gripped his shoulders and twisted them so his back was to the edge of the bridge. She suppressed a smile.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm testing you."

Sebastian's eyebrows furrowed. "For what?"

"For magic," Laura responded, taking her hands off his shoulders, and making sure he was positioned correctly. She was going to enjoy this.

"What do you mean magic? What's wrong with me?"

Laura didn't respond, and instead stepped forward, giving him a firm shove, sending him toppling over the edge of the cobblestone bridge.