27 ~ Return to the Fairytale World

. : Laura of Neverland : .

Laura ran a thumb over her necklace. Her pixie dust was running low. She had been keeping it hidden-- for fear of Evelyn Sader and her eavesdropping butterflies-- yet the lack of the glittering dust at her neck made her nerves spike. She hadn't been without pixie dust before. It was rare she needed to fly, but what would happen if she was without it and she needed it?

She shook her head, banishing the thought from her mind. It was not worth worrying about things that would not happen.

Laura waited outside Dovey's classroom, where she continued to teach good deeds, only now to ever and never girls. 

The last girl slid out, and Laura stepped inside, pressing the oaken door shut behind her. The worn desks were turned a honey brown by evening light trickling through the glass walls of the castle. Clarissa stood at the front chalkboard, using her magic to erase the white writing while she stacked long scrolls of paper.

Laura took a glance around, ensuring there were no butterflies, before flipping up the gauzy blue veil that was required as part of the new girls' uniform. 

"I have news." She spoke, stepping towards Clarissa. "Sophie and Agatha have returned to the fairy tale world."

Clarissa snapped her blue eyes to Laura. The high-necked pale gown she wore only emphasized the worry in her eyes.

"Any idea where they are?"

Laura shook her head. "No, they've entered the forest, and I would assume they are headed for the Flowerground."

Clarissa nodded, her eyebrows creasing. "I can get you out of the castle. There is no doubt they will be taken captive if they are found by any boys. They will be safe if they are found by you. Get them and bring them back to the castle."

"And what about Evelyn?"

Clarissa shook her head. "I will figure that out. As long as they return safe, we can restore the balance."

~~~

Laura wrapped the dark cloak around her as she rushed down the underground tunnel. The walls were dripping with icy water, and the wind howled behind her, accompanied by the thundering of an afternoon rainstorm. Despite the chill, she was warm, her magic begging to be used. Fire ran in her blood, and she would not let the dark, cold, or damp haunt her.

Laura had no classes for the rest of the day, and Clarissa had slipped her out through the museum exhibit in the basement. As it turned out, there was a wide series of escape tunnels from before the School Master ruled. They were contingency plans designed to allow students a quick escape from the school in case of a threat. As the School Master reigned, they had fallen from everyone's knowledge, except for Clarissa who apparently knew everything about the school.

Laura broke into a jog, dashing through the dark tunnels, holding a ball of orange fire in front of her to light the way. Her feet splashed in the pooled water, and she cursed the new uniform that Evelyn had designed. She had never thought she would miss the frilly pink uniform of the school for good, but at least the blush pink Mary Janes were more practical for running than the blue butterfly emprinted slippers. 

The tunnel sloped upwards and Laura followed it, until she reached a trapdoor, with water dripping through it. Laura pressed one hand to the cold metal and pushed until it moved. 

She pulled herself out of the trapdoor and flung her dark cloak over her head. The cloak was enchanted to remain dry, no matter the weather. She was glad it didn't cover her face; the rain on her skin reminded her of the salt water spray off the cliffs of Neverland.

Laura paused, overwhelmed for a moment with homesickness. They must be safe now, with Mel in charge, and Sebastian pulling his soldiers away, yet still, she longed to be back.

A loud shout rang out, and Laura snapped her gaze to the sound. She had come out near the School for Boys, and the army of princes who had set up camp. They were shouting at each other, and Laura let out a breath, tucking her hair under her cloak, and pulling up her dark mask, before darting off into the Blue Forest.

She dashed through the trees, dodging blue animals and bushes, approaching the entrance to the Flowerground. Princes were banned from it now, with the way the world had changed.

As she neared, she saw two figures, one dressed in pink-- although stained in blood-- and the other in black. She let out a sigh of relief, only to freeze as she noticed they were running from men in dark red cloaks and chased by blue butterflies. 

Laura broke into a sprint, dashing over fallen logs like she was back in Neverland, being chased by the Havfrue soldiers. 

"Sophie, Agatha! Get down!" She shouted. The girls snapped towards her. Agatha didn't hesitate, grabbing Sophie and yanking them both to the ground.

Laura raised her hands and unleashed her magic. The fire cried with joy, shooting toward the hunters and the butterflies. Laura's fingers trembled. It had been a while since she had used her magic to its full extent, and her soul was relieved. 

The men vanished back into the Flowerground, followed by the butterflies. Laura dropped her hands, and the fire vanished, the magic pacified. 

Laura approached the two girls as they pushed themselves upwards. They were both drenched in rainwater, hair plastered to their heads, but Agatha was beaming like a madman. 

Agatha broke into a run and launched herself at Laura. The soaking-wet girl pulled Laura into a hug and Laura returned it happily, squeezing her friend tight.

"I'm so happy you're safe," Agatha spoke. "What is going on?"

Laura stared at Agatha and then at Sophie. "I've got a lot to tell you."

~~~

Laura shared what had happened to the world as they moved at a quick pace through the Blue Forest, back to the tunnel she had come out of. She told them everything, how the world was now girls vs boys instead of good and evil, how the three ever kingdoms were the only ones refusing change, how the princes had turned into savages, and how Tedros was now the schoolmaster. 

That one had gotten a reaction from both girls.

"Is Teddy evil now?" Sophie asked, her voice breathless as they moved quickly down the same tunnel.

Laura hadn't thought to ask Sebastian that and put it in her mind for the next meeting. "I don't know. But I need to get you both to safety, you are the most wanted women in the world."

Laura led them back to the School for Girls, pulling them both up the trapdoor. They took a back staircase, although she gestured at them to halt when a rogue butterfly flew by. They continued onto Clarissa's office.

Laura opened the door and ushered both Sophie and Agatha inside. Lady Lesso and Professor Dovey waited on the couch, a hot pot of sweet tea waiting on the coffee table. 

"Girls," Clarissa stood. "I'm so glad you're safe."

Clarissa waved her hand, the water vanishing off of Sophie and Agatha. Laura shucked her cloak, hanging it on Clarissa's coat stand. 

"Why are we here?" Sophie asked. "Why didn't we just come through the front door?"

Laura watched Clarissa look at Lesso, before back at the girls. Laura crossed the room, sitting on the armchair closest to the fire. 

"To be back in this world, one of you made a wish and erased the ending of your story. Which one of you did so?"

Sophie shook her head, her blonde hair curling at her face. "I didn't, I would never make a wish. We were happy, weren't we Aggie?" 

Laura looked at Agatha at the same time as Sophie. Agatha avoided eye contact, her face turning pink. "Agatha, what did you do?" Laura questioned.

"I was longing for Tedros," Her voice was quiet. "I thought I saw my finger glow, but I couldn't be sure. I didn't mean to hurt anyone."

Sophie's face was laced with hurt. "What do we do?"

Lady Lesso stood and walked around to face the two girls. "Agatha you must choose. Tedros or Sophie. It doesn't matter who, but to restore balance you either go with Tedros or Sophie and make your happy ending."

Clarissa opened her mouth to speak but stopped as the door flew open, and Evelyn Sader strode in, dressed in a scandalous gown of pale blue.

"Clarissa, Lesso, why are you hiding our special guests in here?" Her voice was honey-sweet, dripping with a thinly veiled threat. Laura resisted the urge to light her skirts on fire.

Sader didn't wait for a response. "I am Evelyn Sader, the Dean of the School for Girls. Sophie and Agatha, you must come with me, I have a welcome ceremony arranged."

Laura raised her eyebrows and glanced at Dovey, who gave her a brief shake of her head. 

"Laura," Evelyn glared at her, and Laura met her stare head-on. "Get downstairs to the welcoming ceremony. I will not catch you here again."

Laura opened her mouth to respond but thought better of it, ducking her head once and sliding out of the room.

She took one last glance around Sader to Agatha, who was looking at her with worry. Laura had to help her get to Tedros, so the world could return to normal, and she could make her own way home.

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