xx. memories lost

━ ❝ fight till you die ❞

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warning! very short chapter!

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PAN'S PLAN BEGAN to take shape once Henry returned to camp. Felix was quick to help him, listening to the idea and knowing what he needed to do. It was a perfect scheme but they just prayed that it worked. If it didn't, they'd be screwed and Arabella would be even more worried than she already was. Currently, the two were walking together, the leader giving him some instructions which were actually a part of the plan. "Head to the other side of the island and deliver the supplies," Pan told him.

Felix nodded, keeping a straight face easily. "Understood. Anything else?"

The teenage boy stopped walking and paused for effect, then replied, "Just be certain Henry doesn't find out what you're up to." Felix nodded and then walked away. Pan turned around and walked in the opposite way his friend did. Of course, the both of them knew that Henry was listening to them the entire time. He wasn't being to smart about it considering that he got up and followed after the second in command. Pan looked back at him and scoffed quietly. "Idiot."

———

FLASHBACK

"Arabella, love, calm down," Malcolm chuckled, shaking his head as he did so, watching his wife holding their baby. She shot him a dirty look, continuing to rock Rumple in her arms. For at least a good three house now she had paced back and forth with their son. "Set him down in the crib, he will sleep, nothing is going to happen."

She looked back at him. "You think this is funny! Well, it's not okay! What if he starts choking or what if he starts to cry?" The former princess kissed the top of the boy's head, bouncing him up and down. He pointed out that she needed to sleep, getting an "I'll sleep later" from her in reply.

Malcolm stood up and went to take the baby from her arms. But she moved away. "Aria...come on. You need rest. I promise you he will be fine." Seeing that she wasn't budging, he sighed. "You can set him in the middle of us on the bed if it makes you feel better." He saw the expression on her face from just the side profile. "Come on, love. Please?"

The brunette turned to him, sticking her nose in the air. "Whatever." She walked to their bedroom and Malcolm shook his head again, laughing quietly as he followed. Arabella laid Rumple down on the bed and then laid next to him. Her husband came in and laid on the other side of his child, smiling once he saw that their son was already asleep.

"See? Wasn't that easy?" Her eyes opened and she gave him another look. Because she was stubborn, she wouldn't admit that he was right. However, he never took it to heart and simply grabbed her hand, intertwining them together. The smile on his face made her smile back. "You are a perfect mother, love. Do not doubt yourself."

Arabella frowned, turning so she laid on her side. "I just don't want to miss anything. I don't want to miss our son growing up." She sighed, biting her lip. "This seems too easy, Malcolm. We were never caught by anyone. We ran away when we were children and no one found us. It just doesn't seem right."

"Why can't you admit that we won? Aria, we changed history! We inspired others, we won against our kingdom, and we made new lives, lives we wanted to live instead of that idiotic hierarchy we were born into." He squeezed her hand. "You are a wonderful mother so do not stress. We are raising this baby together and I promise nothing bad is going to happen."

The older woman slowly nodded, leaning over to kiss his lips gently, pulling back to reveal the tear that escaped her eye. "I love you more than I can tell you."

He smiled, wiping the tear away. "And I love you more than all of the realms can hold."

———

PRESENT

Arabella hadn't done lots of thinking about her lost memories besides when they were returned to he and so sitting in camp, thinking, alone, felt odd. Her eyebrows were furrowed together in concentration, her eyes crinkled at the edges, her lip was pursed into a thin line, and she stared at her hands in her lap. These were all signs of her being lost off in thought.

There was something eating at her, poking her, telling her something wasn't right, something was missing. The former princess couldn't imagine what it would be. Everything was perfect, besides the fact Emma and her family are trying to rescue her and Henry. She had gotten her son back and she had gotten her one true love back. There was nothing that could possibly make her happier. Right? 

So she wondered why she felt as if something was off? Something was missing and with her personality, that didn't help one bit. Arabella was stubborn and she didn't give up easily. The brunette thought back to how Pan told her Henry was going to save magic. But why couldn't he just tell them the heroes? Even if Henry did have to stay on the island, couldn't they just let the kid be a hero like them?

Or maybe Pan lied to her about why Henry was here. Then came the question: why would he have to lie? He should trust her and tell her everything. She couldn't shake the feeling as if something about this story didn't add up. There were holes, there were questions that were unanswered.

Pan was different from when she knew him as Malcolm. There was a darkness in his eyes that she didn't seem to notice until then. He allowed these poor boys to hurt themselves and he taught young children violent things that they shouldn't know or see. But Arabella knew she had no right to change her husband. He was who he was and it's wrong to change someone. Yes, he was more cocky and arrogant. And was sure full of himself. However, she would be lying if she said that it didn't make him more intriguing and the fact that she hated that he held more confidence.

And after all these years he still loved her. But Aria couldn't think of anyone who would take that away from her; take away her happiness and the only things she cared about. She knew what she was giving up when she chose Malcolm that day and she never looked back nor did she regret her decision. Why stay in a life she dreaded to live every single morning when her eyes opened? But who would take her away from her son and her one true love? Who?

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FLASHBACK

Arabella entered the cabin, breathing heavily and shut the door, watching it for a moment. Malcolm entered the room with Rumple in his arms, smiling when he saw her state. "Honey, what's wrong?" He instantly went over to her, his eyes shining with concern. "Did something happen? Are you alright?"

She moved away from the door, looking up at him. "Someone was following me, Malcolm. The feeling I got... they had magic, dark magic." Brushing past him she entered their main room. "You have to move immediately." He was confused because everything she said came out in a rush.

"Are you positive, love? You have been under a lot of stress lately so perhaps you should sleep—"

"No! I will not rest until I know you and our child are safe." Arabella looked down at her hands. "Let's hope I'm not too rusty on the spell." Right before she could, her husband grabbed one hand since the other held their son. She looked up at him to see him looking extremely worried for her.

Malcolm sighed. "Aria dear, calm down. I'm sure it was nothing now please go and rest." When she went to protest he cut her off that time. "No, I'm not budging this time. You haven't used your magic in years. It could backfire and you could be harmed." Pressing a soft kiss to her cheek, he pulled away to look at her. "Please. You know I would never forgive myself."

Knowing he was right, the brunette nodded slowly, looking down at her bundle of joy. She kissed Rumple's forehead and then kissed Malcolm's lips. And then she left to go and take a nap. It was times like this that she realized just how much she loved him. Because he rarely was stubborn and usually let her be the boss of things. Though when he did it told her that he wasn't messing around.

But as she lied in their bed, staring at the wooden wall she couldn't help thinking that she was right, her paranoia wasn't fake. Someone was out there watching her, following her to her home. For what reason, Arabella couldn't think of one. It seemed silly to think that someone would come after her for leaving royalty behind. So she just rolled onto her other side, gripping the blankets and letting her eyes shut. Unaware of the figure just outside her home.

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PRESENT

There were a few people Arabella could think of who would try and hurt her for something she did. And that was Alistair and his father. His father, she imagined, was probably outraged that his son did not get to marry a wealthy royal so he took her away from her son and her husband. If it was Alistair, she imagined that he was embarrassed for being left at the altar and that his king status basically went to waste because of her. Think of the gossip that he must have had to endure!

But then how did she arrive StoryBrooke? That was a question that she had yet to remember the answer to. It just didn't make sense that all of her memories up until the point where she had been taken, were missing. There was a spell on her no doubt that kept her from remembering. Whoever did do this to her though, held a massive grudge over her. Little did she know that the memories of her capture were in her head. She just truly didn't want to remember.

Why would her captor let her escape? Or maybe her captor took her to StoryBrooke. But why? Nothing made sense and that only made Arabella more and more frightened. What if her captor was planning something without her knowing? What if her captor was out there just waiting for the right time to pounce? If her captor was planning something, what were they planning? 

And what if her captor's plan ended with someone Arabella loved dying? What if her son died? What if Pan died? What if one of the boys died? She wouldn't be able to live with herself. And it would be all her fault. All her fault that they died.

The former princess would not go down without a fight if her captor was indeed alive. She was going to fight her captor for the people she loved. Because there was no other option. There was no, maybe I can do this instead of killing someone. Arabella hadn't killed anyone before but she knew that it would come down to it. And she was going to fight. Even if it ended with her own death.

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So who do you guys think Arabella's captor is? Alistair? Alistair's father? Or someone else?Plot twist: Malcolm's future self, which would be Pan, kidnapped her. I'm just kidding lol. Anyways, what would you guys do if I killed Arabella at the end of this book? Have a great day/night guys :)

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