. : Sebastian of Neverland : .

Sebastian swung his wooden sword towards Tedros. The room was hot and stunk, as it normally did during the swordplay and weapons training class. Sweat dripped down Sebastian's face and the clash of metal was deafening throughout the room. It reverberated through his bones and set his soul on edge.

Physical exertion and noise. The only two things that could get the damned magic to quiet. Sebastian found that if he was exhausted, the magic would calm enough to let him sleep, only to return with a vengeance the next morning.

So he pushed himself more. Spent more time training. Spent more time running. He worked his body until he could barely stand and was dozing off in class.

His grades were slipping, but at least he could sleep.

It had been nearly two weeks since he had spoken to Laura outside the dining hall. The trial by tale was in a few days' time, and he knew he would be competing. His family had competed in the trial by tale for as far back as the school went.

Sebastian was worried. The magic he now apparently permanently contained was scratching at his insides. The exercise was working for now, but still, the magic seemed to riot.

He slammed his sword into Tedros, pushing the blond boy toward the edge of the ring that was painted on the floor. Next to him, Nikolas of Gillikin and Chaddick of Foxwood sparred as well. 

He kept tossing over what Laura had said. He could either die, go insane, or learn to control.

Sebastian thrust his sword at Tedros' side, stepping away. Tederos' wooden sword moved to hit Sebastian's arm.

Death, understandably, was not an option. Not only did Sebastian not want to die, but he was also the only living heir to Havfrue. Without him, the kingdom would pass into the hands of his estranged Uncle, and Sebastian would rather have someone like Laura rule a kingdom than his Uncle.

Tedros took the offensive, rapidly swinging his sword towards Sebastian in slash over slash. Sebastian met each swing easily, the smell of metal and the clash of the sword sinking into his blood.

Insanity also seemed unappealing. He had been taught that he must be a strong but peaceful leader. Insanity wasn't conducive to those measures.

Sebastian ducked as Tedros swung at his head, and slashed his sword at Tedros' legs. Tedros crumpled to the ground.

Control was a horrible thought. The last thing he wanted was to accept the magic.

Sebastian stepped forwards, his sword to Tedros' throat.

And then again, he didn't have to accept it or yield it. If he could learn to keep it hidden and pressed down, he wouldn't need to worry about unleashing anything accidentally.

Tedros grinned up at him, and let go of his sword, swinging his hand up to grab Sebastian and pull himself up.

A slight twinge of guilt arose in him. What if his parents? What would they say if they knew? 

Enough. They didn't know, and would never know. Tedros wouldn't need to know. None of his family, his friends, nobody needed to know. 

Except for Laura. 

Sebastian glanced around, worried that someone might be able to hear his thoughts. Professor Espada approached and Sebastian twisted his wrist on the sword. Tedros followed his motion and stepped towards him to begin sparring again. 

And yet she hadn't told anyone. She had kept it a secret. She knew it could ruin him. He would no longer be a prince, a soldier, or a son, and yet she hadn't told anyone.

Maybe it was a trick. An attempt to get him on her side and finish the war in Neverland. She was smart enough to do that. She could be ten steps ahead of him. Still, she offered the one thing he needed.

Control. 

~~~

Sebastian thumbed the edge of his cornflower blue coat. The garden was dead silent, with most students inside for dinner or trial fittings. He was supposed to get his cloak fitted this evening. Tedros hadn't shared his thoughts about the trial, but Sebastian was worried about him and worried about the influence the Never had on him. As much as he loved the boy like a brother, Tedros was heading into a foolish destiny.

The hedges were tall and deep green. The air was cool on his face, and a gentle breeze ran into his red hair. The pathway was made of cobblestone, and Sebastian paced it, heading toward the centre of the hedge maze. 

Upon reaching the centre, he came upon a small pond. The water was crystal clear, the evening light reflecting off of it. Sebastian crouched, examining it closely, but keeping his hands away.

The water was restless, and ripples formed on the edge. The magic thrashed, despite the countless hours of exercise that Sebastian had put in. He frowned and shoved it down.

Movement flickered in the water and Sebastian neared the water's edge. A school of wish fish waited. Their rainbow bodies flickered on the surface, peering up at him. 

His mom had told him about these before. She had used them to try and share with his father that she had lost her voice. They showed your soul's deepest desire.

Sebastian hesitated. Did he risk contact with the water? It couldn't be that dangerous.

Sebastian dipped the tips of his fingers into the water, and the fish swarmed immediately, grabbing onto his hand. They shuddered and began to flash different colours, before going back to their grey colour and blinking up at him.

Sebastian frowned. "Foggy mind."

He moved to pull his fingers out of the water but was met with resistance. The water had grabbed onto the magic and wrapped upward around his wrist, pulling him closer. It soaked into his coat and yanked him down. 

Sebastian could feel a sense of panic, and the magic seemed to respond, rising up to battle his fear and snatch at the water. 

His eyes watered as he tugged his hand away, pulling as hard as he could until finally, he had freed himself.

He definitely needed to speak to Laura.

~~~

Sebastian frowned to himself, staring at the wooden door. All he had to do was knock, but admit he needed help from her. Nothing disgusted him more.

He sighed, raising his hand and tapping on the door. The sun had set outside, leaving the hallways dark. Most rooms had their lights out, with the exception of the one he know stood in front of.

He stood for a moment, almost certain it wasn't going to open. He turned to walk away, with plans of seeking her out before the trial tomorrow, but the door opened silently.

"What?"

Sebastian bristled. Laura had been the one to open the door and she was in loose linen pyjamas, her hair pinned away from her face. 

"I need your help...again."

A small smirk crept onto her face, and Sebastian resisted the urge to say anything. The look she gave him had him wishing he had brought his sword. His magic wasn't pleased with his thoughts, settling down in Laura's presence.

"Why?"

"You said my options were death, insanity, or control."

She hummed, looking less interested in the conversation than she had at the start. "Well?"

Sebastian was fairly certain she already knew but was waiting for him to speak.

"Control. Show me how to control it."

Laura snorted. "Absolutely not."

Sebastian recoiled as though he had been physically hit. "What?"

"I will not teach you how to control a magic that can be used against me to take my home."

Sebastian glared at her. "I'm not going to use it to take Neverland."

"I don't know that."

Sebastian clenched his fists. The water magic thrashed with him. What did he do? He needed to learn to control it, and she was the only person he knew who had this type of magic.

"Give me your word," Laura said.

"I don't understand," Sebastian responded, focusing his gaze back on her.

"Give me your word, that if I teach you how to control your magic, you will draw your soldiers and yourself out of Neverland and never set foot there again."

His parents were going to kill him, yet he had no choice. She was the only one who could teach him how to control. 

Sebastian let out a shuddering breath. He would deal with his parents later. "Fine, you have my word that no more soldiers of Havfrue will wage war on Neverland."

That seemed to satisfy her. 

"I can't do anything about the pirates though," Sebastian added, thinking of Kendrick's face.

Laura rolled her eyes. "I can handle the pirates."

There was a moment of silence before Laura spoke again.

"We will start your lessons after the trial by tale."

And with that, she closed the door in his face.

~~~

A/N ~ Sorry for the delay on the chapter everyone! I had exams recently and was focused on those. Also, a shoutout to my sister, who has in fact bullied me into writing this chapter.

~ Indigo