shoutout to mm_mikii_ and that person my irl friend told me read this fic and wanted me to update it. yall i updated it 👍

***

Nobody knew who Ally Parkinson was. 

Well, except for Tedros. Maybe. He wasn't quite sure half of the time. 

Sometimes, Ally talked to the people around him, and they seemed to know who she was. But other times, they acted like she wasn't even there. When Tedros mentioned or asked about her, they just stared at him like his head had ballooned five times its size. 

Tedros had first started hallucinating her on that carriage ride to the School for Good. And he really wished it would stop. He didn't know if he was going crazy, or if this was some weird magic spell someone cast on him. Maybe a Never thought it would be funny to make him hallucinate an immortal child (who was definitely not an Ever) who seemed to have no purpose other than to try to make him feel inferior. Maybe this was some sort of test. 

Whatever it was, Tedros didn't appreciate the gesture. But, he learned to live with it. Sort of. He pretended she was a pestering voice in the back of his head.

Unsurprisingly, Ally gave no explanation. She was simply the definition of an annoyance. Tedros has a newfound appreciation for being an only child. 

(He swears, if he finds out that old wizard set this all up, he'll ban that man from Camelot and all allied kingdoms as soon as he is crowned.) 

Tedros' best guess? She was a ghost. Or possibly an omnipotent goddess.  But even that didn't make much sense, and she would probably call him a lunatic for thinking so. 

He was hallucinating a child, his grades were slipping, he fell for a witch- no she tricked him and he fell for her trick, and now his heart was confused about everything, and he was hallucinating an adolescent annoying little twit- 

Going crazy, he decided. He was going crazy. 

***crazy? i was crazy once***

"What exactly are you?" he once asked her after accepting all likelihoods pointing towards his insanity.

She looked straight at him and replied, "An insignificant plot convenience." 

She did not elaborate. 

***

"This summarization brought to you by Ally! So, after we further deepen the Ally lore because the author is trying to scavenge whatever the heck she was trying to accomplish in the first place, we return to the story. If you're familiar with the original story, you'll remember that disaster of a Trial by Tale. Sophie broke Tedros' heart so he's angsty now, well more than before, Hester's very angry about everything, yadayada. And Sophie's attacked the School for Good! She's so funny when it comes to her exes iykyk.

Also nobody besides Sophie and Tedros, maybe Hester, and that weirdo schoolmaster know that Agatha was the one to save him at the Trials. I saw Agatha trying to cover up the burns she got going through the magical barrier with a shawl. The shawl does not go well with the pink uniforms by the way. Sophie would be flabbergasted, if she wasn't acting like Agatha was some evil mastermind out to take her happy ending away from her. So dramatic. 

Anyways, Tedros has sorta been in shock. I mean, his whole life has been turned upside down. Betrayed by his supposed "true love", then saved by a "witch". Reading about all of this was one thing, but to actually see him so upset, is, well... upsetting. 

Oh, also, remember the beginning of this story? Like, the weird uniforms and the fancy customizable rooms? Yeah, you can scrap most of that rubbish. It was all a fever dream. Insert jazz hands. We love retconning things!! Except for the parts with me in them, those are treasured pieces of art. And Abe. He's chill, and very real. Word of advice: just stick to the original story and think of the rest of this fic as some alternate or additional scenes. Kind of like one-shots but connected-"  

"You have been muttering to yourself for the past 10 minutes," Tedros said. 

"Have I?" Ally smiled innocently. "I hardly noticed."

"Could you be any weirder? Maybe you should seek professional help-" 

"ANYWAYS- draw near, Tedros of Camelot. We must be on our way to Sword Class, lest we dawdle." 

"What kind of an accent is that? We do not talk like that in Camelot. And, you're not even enrolled in this school--you don't exist-- and what in Nimue's name is Sword Class? Don't you mean Weaponry Trai-" 

"Lest we dawdle, Pendragon. And I am very real, do not offend me. Now hurry along." 

Then she teleported away. 

Tedros sighed. 

He had bigger problems than his hallucinations to deal with. 

***^^^this was an all off-the-whim lore dump, so now we can get to the stOrY** 

Agatha shouldn't have saved that stupid oaf of a crown prince. 

Her legs moved before she could think twice, she didn't know Hester would attack him outright, she never--

She lost the one thing that mattered. Her best friend hated her. 

All because of him. It was always because of him. 

And now he kept looking at her oddly every time they were in the same vicinity. They would be eating lunch, she with Kiko and a few other girls, and he would be blustering about playing football or chatting. Then he'd falter, and stare at her with slightly furrowed brows, as though he was reassessing her, second-guessing the insults and assumptions he'd thrown at her. 

Like right now: He had been talking to Beatrix, took a swig from his water bottle, and then his eyes landed on her. 

She never held his gaze for longer than a wandering glance. It made her stomach feel squirmish, like she was going to be sick. She wished he'd get back to scowling whenever she'd walk by him, it was much less awkward that way, pretending to be enemies. Him throwing insults at her in class, her pretending to put hexes on him and him believing it... 

Agatha shouldn't have saved him. 

She was only trying to help Sophie, that's all she's ever done. But he was about to get hurt, maybe even killed. How could anyone have just stood by and done nothing? 

Sophie didn't even move, a little voice in the back of Agatha's head whispered. She didn't even try to save her "true love". 

"Agatha, can you believe the homework Professor Dovey and Pollux gave us?" Kiko groaned. "I feel like we're getting more and more work as the weather gets colder, do you think they're preparing us for something?"

"I can't tell a difference," Agatha said. "It's all the same obnoxious work that we always do." 

"Well, you're surprisingly good at that 'obnoxious work'," Kiko said, giving her a look.  "You help me all the time! You know you're the only reason my ranking isn't any lower than it is. I would be failing if not for you! Are you sure you don't enjoy it just a little, tiny bit? Anyway, with the weather getting a little colder, I recall an event that usually takes place during winter. Something important. I wish I could remember what it was. Maybe a play? Oh my gosh but what if it's a..." 

It was all so strange. 

And to top it all off, Sophie was now attacking the School for Good? How could she? Wasn't she supposed to be the Good one? Why would she do this? 

Was it Agatha's fault? 

The last words Sophie had said to her echoed through her mind. 

GET YOUR OWN LIFE

Agatha swallowed the lump that formed in her throat. 

It was all so strange. 

She tried not to cry. 

More than ever, Agatha missed home. She missed the dry, overgrown plants that made her legs itch when she walked through the graveyard, she missed running her fingers along the grooves of words etched onto cracked gravestones. 

She missed her mother and her cat. 

She missed having a best friend. 

(A part of her still thought she was Good and Agatha Evil. Maybe Sophie was just confused and hurt. She really did love Tedros. She didn't mean to hurt him. Evil should be with Evil, Good should be with Good.)

Agatha turned her gaze to Tedros again, trying to muster any rage for the boy, but guilt tugged at her conscience. It wasn't his fault he got taken advantage of. But, why couldn't he have been smarter? This would've never happened if Tedros hadn't been enchanted by Sophie's charm and beauty. They were enamoured with each other the moment they saw each other at the Welcoming. 

He fell for Sophie so quickly, so easily. Weren't princes supposed to have high standards? 

And what, look at you instead? 

Agatha brushed the thought away because it was silly and stupid and he was silly and stupid-- a handsome face with a hero complex. No one in their right mind would think of her like that. They would have to be an idiot. 

...Tedros was an idiot...

But was Tedros truly nothing more than a pretty face? Maybe he wasn't as much of an idiot as she had thought. Of course, he wasn't an idiot. He ranked first out of the entire school, he was charming and, while lacking in intelligence at times, he was capable of being clever. 

Tedros's shoulders slumped when he thought no one was looking, Agatha had started noticing. Like he was letting go of a heavy burden, like a mask made of stone was plastered onto his face and he finally got to take it off.

For so long she had been insulting him and fuming whenever they spoke, yet after all of that she still didn't know much about him. Maybe after all that time of scheming to get him to fall in love with Sophie, she began to assume things about the prince. Despite what Sophie might say, that girl was horrible when it came to relationships, but was Agatha much better? Had she been so arrogant to think Tedros was dumb enough to fall for Sophie using tricks? He had seemed so infatuated with her, but he must have had some doubts.

He hadn't fallen for Sophie because of their schemes, Agatha affirmed to herself. It was because he had put his hope in Sophie. Their schemes allowed him to deepen his hope- the hope that Sophie was Good, that she was the one for him. He, perhaps naively, took the surface-level parts of her and painted his own picture, choosing to disregard her faults and look deeper, beyond her beauty, to the aspects that Agatha only thought she could see.

Yes, Sophie had betrayed Tedros. But it was also Agatha's fault that he still would be seen moping around the castle, brooding. His reputation had mostly been scavenged, as the Evers assumed he had been tricked by the most malicious of evils, but something told Agatha that it ran deeper than that. His pride as the future leader of Good had been wounded. 

And it was Agatha's fault. 

Kiko snapped her out of her thoughts with a side comment about Chaddick recently giving Beatrix heartsick eyes whenever she passed him in the halls. That he looked so helplessly ridiculous, even Professor Dovey stopped him from walking to ask if he was doing okay. Agatha laughed. 

Of course Tedros had fallen for Sophie. He was kindhearted and strong-willed. Of course he would try to see the Good in Sophie. He was desperate to find the right person for him, for the future, a beautiful princess who was just as strong as him. It blinded him, his desperation.

He was charismatic and chivalrous. Yes, he joined in with the people who made fun of Agatha and ostracized her because she didn't belong at this white-pearled school full of self-righteous shallowness, grace, and beauty. But, it didn't help Agatha was rude to him first and pushed away his first attempts at friendship. And yes, maybe she did tell him she used to live with a coven of witches who kidnapped children and used them for stew. Maybe she did enjoy his mortified face a little too much. And maybe she couldn't deny how their first meeting would flash through her mind; his soft smile as he introduced himself; how he was the first person at the school to greet her without a grimace, without some preconceived judgment. And when she saved his life, the look on his face-

Stop.

She was thinking too much of him. She had too many emotions swirling in her heart, confusion, sadness, anger, and hurt were all merging together, and she couldn't decipher what was going on with her because she felt different. She wasn't the same as before, she wasn't the scowling witch clad in black who was dropped into her personal hell. Agatha felt things she had never felt before, things she ought not to. And she was thinking too much of him.

"Are you okay?"

Agatha turned, tranquil. "Yes, why?" 

Kiko's eyes narrowed. "You seem distracted, and not in your usual 'this is boring Kiko so I'm ignoring you face."

"I don't ignore you," Agatha said. "Sometimes you just prattle on and on, and I-"

"Ignore me," Kiko said smugly, crossing her arms. 

Agatha opened her mouth to protest, but then-- Tedros.

He walked past them, Beatrix in tow.

"Teddy," Beatrix said, "Are you okay? You seem unwell--" 

"I'm fine," Tedros replied gruffly. "I'm going on a walk. By myself," he added. "Thank you, Bea, but I'm-" his gaze faltered on Agatha. Agatha looked down at her lunch. "But, you can go back, it's fine. I just... I'm okay, truly. "

Beatrix frowned, but walked away.

Tedros turned to move. He hesitated. 

Please don't look over here, please don't look over here. 

He awkwardly turned to Agatha and Kiko. 

"Hello," he said. 

"Hi," Agatha croaked. 

He blinked. 

She blinked.

"So, um," Tedros started, the pinnacle of eloquence. "Did you finish your Good Deeds assignment from the other day?" 

"No. But I'm almost finished."

"Mad, that Dovey is. She always gives us so much work knowing full well how crammed our other classes are. The least she could do as our dean is give us a break."

"Yeah." Agatha didn't know why Tedros was talking to her. About schoolwork, of all things.

"OHH don't get me started on Professor Dovey!" Kiko complained through her sandwich. "I can't decide who's worse. Her or Pollux and his stupid textbook readings he assigns. They're sooo tedious. And then he does pop quizzes and humiliates you in front of the entire class if you don't get a good grade! I already am so behind on etiquette compared to, like, everyone else, you know growing up underwater and all."

"You guys have to do readings about etiquette? " Tedros' lips quirked. "Sounds like hell. " 

"You don't know the half of it," Agatha muttered. 

"Well, surely it can't be that bad," Tedros said, leaning forward. "I mean, how hard could princess etiquette be compared to prince etiquette? Sure, the pleasantries and round-about way of talking can be annoying... but the dances were fun to learn- at least some of them..." Agatha refrained from telling him she was not a very good dancer. "And you probably don't have to learn about how to "negotiate politely" and the strict rules of being a gentleman. Chivalry, and whatnot." Tedros' nose wrinkled. "I had some very stiff instructors as a kid. They used to slap me on the head if I slouched even a little, or used "contractions". Said it wasn't very proper for a future king. I told them I could talk as I pleased. They uh," Tedros smiled sheepishly. "Didn't really like that."  

"At least you had a human teaching you," Agatha said.  "Do you know what it's like to have a dog telling you how to dress? The proper way to eat a salad? It's not very encouraging when that dog tells you that its cousins eat food more properly than you do... "

Tedros shifted in his shoes. "If it makes you feel any better, I'm sure he'd get on me for some things. I don't always eat the most gracefully."

"I can imagine," Agatha said without much thought, thinking of how most of the Everboys had little regard for sharing food. She noted with satfication his eyes twitch. 

"And some kingdoms don't even mind improper etiquette at the dinner table. They think all the rules are pointless." He frowned. "Though, I've never met a girl who ate like me either, so I can't speak to how it would be responded to..."

Kiko took another bite of her sandwich. Tedros seemed to realize what he said. 

"Sorry, that came out wrong." 

"It's fine," Agatha said. "It says a lot, if you've never met a girl who could eat." You'll probably marry some pretty blonde ninny who looks just like you but is skinnier than a pole. She'll give all her leftovers to you.

He looked dazed. "Yeah." He shoved his hands in his pockets. "So homework. Hope your assignment goes well. And yours too, Kiko"

"Thanks," Kiko said.

His mouth opened, then closed, as if he had forgotten what he was going to say. 

"See you," he nodded. Then he practically powerwalked away from them.

"What was that about?" Kiko asked, raising a brow. 

"I have no idea," Agatha answered honestly. She felt the attack of interrogations about to leap from Kiko's tongue, so she scrambled and added, "Maybe he's still not right in the head... you know... after everything. Look at how worried Beatrix looked." 

"Gosh," Kiko said. "That girl has stuck to him for so long! I really thought she'd abandon going after him after the Trial incident. I feel bad for him, honestly. There were so many rumours the next few days after it. I would never be able to deal, I'd probably beg to drop out." 

Agatha tried not to wince at that. 

***wow so much angsty thoughts. did anyone ever tell you show don't tell, Sunny?***

Agatha tried to go on without thinking much of the situation, Sophie, Tedros, or any of it. 

See she was good at that, ignoring something until it was like it was never there in the first place. 

But he had to stop looking at her like that, like she wasn't who he had thought of her as before. It made her feel guilty, because, really, was she all that different? Had she changed?  

Sophie might've broken his heart, but Agatha was the one who gave her the hammer. 

For a moment, she wondered. 

She wondered if he would stop looking at her like that if he knew the truth. 

***

Agatha sat in A History of Heroism, tired but mildly interested in learning. Professor Crackpot had decided not to show, as he was teaching at the School for Evil. 

As per usual, they had a substitute who was supposedly a renowned hero from the many famous tales Agatha grew up reading about. Unfortunately, most of these "heroes" were old and senile, and way too self-centred for their own good. 

However, today was a fellow who appeared fairly normal. A man stood before them, perhaps in his late 60s, but his small brown eyes seemed older. Smile lines prominent, bones shaky, he sat on a stool and introduced himself as Jack. Yes, he said all too cheerily as the class stared back at him in silence. Jack, you know, from the story? Jack and the Beanstalk?  Ring any bells? 

None of them would've believed him if it weren't for the side-lopsided, boyish grin that spread across his face, like the ghost of a mischievous soul. 

 Tedros repressed a smile, for it was a funny image: a frail old man making his daring escape from a monstrous giant, sliding down a magical beanstalk.

"I came from humble beginnings," Old Jack began his tale, his voice had an easy,  scratchy timbre. "I lived on a farm, a good walk away from our village. My mother was a cranky soul and didn't show me much affection. We were poor. Dirt poor. To say life was boring would be an understatement, but I worked hard to help my mother and I get by. So when the schoolmaster chose me over all the other kids, I took the opportunity to leave my old life behind with glee." He let out a laugh, sunspots dancing across his cheeks.  "Then, after all my years at the School for Good and graduating as a Leader, I thought I was ready for something greater! Who would have thought I would be back where I started-- in another village in the middle of nowhere without a penny to my name.

"At the time, I lived with my old love from the school. I made money using what I learned as a boy: farming. She knew how to garden and sew. We got by. Barely. She had already begun to resent me for the unworthy conditions she had to endure while being with me. I don't blame her, this wasn't what either of us thought our lives would be like. It did hurt, though, when she finally got up and left."

Jack paused for a second too long, having a pathetically sad look on his face. The class shot each other awkward looks. He went from being a fairytale hero to a depressed old man in a matter of seconds-- a reality they did not want to be subjected to. But, he brightened up as the next words to the story were brought to the forefront of his mind once more. 

"There was one good thing about it all- we had this cow. Oh, I loved that cow! Such a travesty when i had to sell it. It was quite like the one I had as a boy you see, so you could say I was overly attached to the poor thing. My ex did not appreciate that. Just like my mother. Oddly, they were actually quite similar. They both hated being poor, got sick of my jokes if i made 'em too often, both thought my nose was too crooked..." He went on for a while, talking about what work was like in the fields as a child and as an SGE graduate. maybe it was boring, and certainly not as eventful as when the 12 dancing princesses visited them, but there was something wholesome about seeing an old man talk so fondly about his life. 

It was when he began talking about his adventures in the land of the Giant that the class started to perk up. His voice became animated, words perfectly practiced as they had been repeated thousands of times before. The old man before them transformed into a storyteller, eyes lost in memories, displaying deep longing for his youth. Then he talked about the riches, and he became even more delighted. Oh the riches! It brought him fame! Fortune! His name was renowned, known throughout the kingdoms. Even his ex came "crawling back" but he refused her. She ended up marriying some other chap from school, a rich duke. 

As he finished, he described the morale of the story: "Follow your dreams, just don't be too reckless! I got what I longed for- and only nearly died because I was too eager. Be bold, be eager, make the best out of a bad situation. Now, some people might argue its also about a kid being ungrateful and never satisfied with what he had, but I can't help but think they're just  jealous that they never took a risk in their life."

Agatha couldn't help but roll her eyes. 

"In the end, I've lived a good life, a prospoerous. I've gotten to travel lots- see the Endless Woods. I got all the riches I could have ever wanted, whether that be people or things. And I wouldn't want anything more or less." 

The youth faded, face relaxing, wrinkles set back in. He was finished. 

"So," Old Jack said. "What did you think of my tale?" 

The faces of teenagers stared back at him. Not one opened their mouth to respond. 

Old Jack simply smiled. "Well, if you're going to be like that, then I'll just have to ask someone." 

He scoured the room, squinting. He's probably losing his eyesight, Agatha thought. 

Then he pointed at Agatha. "You. What did you think?" 

Everyone's eyes were upon her. 

Agatha opened her mouth before she could think twice: "I always thought the kid was a selfish brat who stole from someone who was minding his own business." 

Eyes gaped. Jack's lips pursed. 

"That one's a Reader," Chaddick called out. 

"Ah," Jack nodded in understanding. "They always were the strange bunch." 

The class snickered.

Agatha shot Old Jack a puzzled look. 

The old man looked down at his watch, and jumped off his stool. "Ah! Look at the time, I must have talked too long. You all best be off!! I'm not sure there  punishments they give out for being late, but back in my time... lets just say I was late a lot and had to use my wits to get out of trouble. The worst was when they'd give us to the Nevers to deal with--"

"You're a Reader, too," Agatha called out though the ruslting of chairs being tucked in.

Silence. 

She took a deep breath. "You're that boy who used to live on that farm near the edge of the village, right? You've been gone for a while now, but your missing posters are still around." Agatha folded her arms- not in an aggressive way, but like she was cold. "Some of the older folk still talk about you. Say you were a quiet kid who liked to pull prank and  gave away his lunch to the kids who went hungry at school, even though you hardly had much lunch to give. They called you Jack the Bothersome, though that's just what they tell the younger kids. I assume it was something more vulgar." 

His eyes glazed over.

Frick, Agatha thought. He's not senile is he? 

"Do... you remember?" she asked. Oh hell, why did she even open her loud mouth--

"...I remember," Old Jack said quietly, lips parting in astonishment. his eyes were still foggy and faraway, but he seemed uncomfortable, wrinkled hands fidgeting with his clothes. 

"Your mother," Agatha blurted. 

"My- what? "

"She's- she's fine! If you were worried. 'Yells a lot since she's practically deaf. She still lives on that farm, though she's sold most of the land. She pays someone to tend to it. She's one of the only regular patients my mother has since Mom's the only one who can put up with her fussing and complaining..."  Well, Agatha actually thought she was so deaf and decrepit that she couldn't care less if Callis was a witch or not. But she'd never say that out loud. When agatha was a child and explored the village before deciding to lurk in the shdoaws like a hermit, the old women had smiled at her. That meant something. 

She was about to continue rambling, but at his look, Agatha faltered. The more she spoke, the more dread filled his face, and the shadows seemed to grow on his features. 

"...I thought you ought to know. When you talked about your story, it sounded like you... missed home..."

"...Miss home?" Now he sounded angry. Beligerrent, scoffing. "What made you think that?" 

"Well you just kept mentioning it. A lot. And kept bringing it back up. Like you're mom, the cow..." 

"Just," Jack put his hand out. "Just stop. Please. I don't want to hear anymore." He sat back down on his stool, putting his face in his hands. Exhasted. 

People were looking at her. Her palms were clammy and her knees were shaking. 

What as she even doing? Upsetting an old man? All because she wanted to... because she... 

Agatha turned to leave. She couldn't face this old man. Or face herself. 

But, as she took one step, she heard a voice. It came from her chest, in the back of her mind, so quiet she almost missed it, but it was clear. Like the voices of the Wish Fish. 

I miss home.

She turned, this time slower, she walked towards him, sitting on the floor next to him. Jack looked angrily down at her, appaled she hadn't fled. Agatha hugged her legs, looked at her clumps and spoke softly. 

"You have cousins. They're carpenters... own a family business. They mostly sell furniture, I think..."

She waited for him to snap, to scream at her to leave him alone. Instead, Jack's voice responded, slow, deep, shaky. "I... didn't even know i still had family..."

"Yeah. A bunch. And they have their own kids. All pretty young. There's a set of twins, they're trouble makers, kinda like you were. I saw them steal candy from the candystore. The crabby owner chased them down the street with a broom, shouting till his face was red. It was hilarious."

His lips were quirking, almost a smile. agatha felt something bloom in her chest. 

"Tell me more," he said.

"Sometimes i deliver medicine to your mother, if my mom's busy. If she's feeling good, she'll invite me inside for tea, and serves it with these really dry and hard scones. Like break your teeth hard."

"She never could bake..." Jack murmured. 

"I've asked about you before," Agatha said. "She says she doesn't miss you, but... I've seen your mom's copy of your fairy tale. The spine's completely messed up."

At that, Jack's smile didn't disspear, but it grew terribly sad. "She missed me?" Jack said, like a little kid. like the poor farmer boy. Not an old man, nor a one who escaped a giant. A poor farmer boy, who lived in a village beyond the woods. Who only had his mother and a cow. 

"Yeah," Agatha said. "Yeah, she did." 

"I didn't think..." Jack's chapped lips quivered. "When i was taken to the School for Good, i convinced myself that she didn't care that much... and that if i never went back..." 

"There's still time- you could go back!"

"Go back? Is that even possible?" 

"It must be." Agatha was struck with a sudden pain. that wa s smth she had been trying to figure out for the past year. She was telling him that there might be a way to reassure him, and honestly it was something she velived, but it felt... wrong. Foolish. Like a fantasy, like a weathered, dusty childish dream.  

"I don't know,"" Jack said. "I've talked about it with other Readers before a long time ago... but we've never tried. beyond the woods is elusive, its hidden. i don't think it is possible, not without magic like the school master. 

"Ah," Agatha said. 

She cast her eyes, trying to hide her disappointment. what did she expect?

"Thank you," he said. Agatha looked up, and was surprised to see tears in his eyes. "For all the fortune I gained, it never really took away the pain of knowing I would never see my family again. As much as I talk about where my story began, I have been hiding from it for so long, acting as though I am above it. Thank you, for reminding me of who I was, of who I am. The boy who gave his lunch to the poor even if he didn't have much to offer."

"And who nearly set the market on fire because of a failed prank," Agatha added. "And who used to make his mother scold him so loudly that people would file complaints."

Jack pulled a face. "I suppose I suppressed that too."  

He tilted his head in thought. 

"You know, that reminds me of someone. Angus, that pointy eared scoundral used to help me pull pranks. He was always much more devious than I am, and always took it too far." He laughed. "But, we were friends of a sort, until we got taken to the School. I remember... I remember after chopping down the beanstalk and he fell, and I saw the look on his face. He was scared, more than I'd ever seen him before." He shook his head, as if snapping from a trance. "But that's all in the past." 

"Wasn't that unfair though? You, causing the death of a friend?" 

Old Jack shrugged. "Fairytales are never 'fair'. There's always a hero and a villain, and only one can be the victor."

Agatha's thoughts went to the story the Storian was writing about her and Sophie. 

She wondered who was the "hero" and who the "villain".  

She didn't want to think about the story anymore. 

"I will take my leave now, miss...?"

"Agatha," she said.

"Miss Agatha," he said, smiling. "I wonder what tale you'll be part of!"

Agatha's mouth tightened as she tried to smile back. 

***imagine jack had fallen off the beanstalk and gotten absolutely bodied by gravity***

After Old Jack and the other students had gathered their things and left, Agatha lingered. She wanted to avoid bumping into any of them. The sheer awkwandess might kill here right then and there. Then, she saw Tedros walk up to her, giving her a weird look, and she just about shot herself with a curse. 

Agatha glared. "What do you want?" 

He stopped in front of her. "What did you mean when you said he'd been missing for so many years?" Tedros asked softly. His stance was more relaxed than it usually was around her. 

"Why he had been missing-- ?"  She took a breath, she had to suppress her annoyance. She was in no mood to deal with this nitwit. "Why do you think Readers are so confused when we first get here? Besides Soph--," Agatha cut herself off, sighing. "Look, I didn't even know the fairy tale world existed beyond storybooks until now. And most of us wouldn't want to be taken from our families and homes. Unlike you and every other fairy tale ninny, we don't get the choice." 

"Oh," Tedros said. "Right." 

He coughed. 

"So," he began. "You obviously didn't want to be brought here, then--" 

"What gave that away?" Agatha griped.

"What I mean," Tedros said, eye twitching, "is that I understand that this place displeases you. I've known that since the moment we met. But lately, I feel like your opinion has changed. Maybe not much, but you're certainly not as... grouchy as before. Though, I can't say that applies to this present moment." 

Agatha folded her arms. "One, I am not grouchy--" 

Tedros snorted.

"--and two, what are you actually trying to say?" 

He hesitated before answering. "Do you... regret your time here?" 

"Regret?" Agatha chortled.  "It's not like being a student here has been pleasant, no thanks certain people--" Tedros pulled a guilty face at that, "--and, I didn't have much choice in the matter. Were you not just listening to what I just said?"

"No! I was listening to you--! Why are you always so--" He scratched the back of his neck, avoiding her gaze. "I meant, that if you think staying here has been worth it? Surely it hasn't all been terrible. I know you want to go home, though I wouldn't know why you'd want to since Soph-- the witc... Your friend made it sound so horrible. But... is there anything here, anything at all that has made you... happy?" 

Agatha goggled at him.  

Nobody had ever asked her these kinds of questions. Much less Tedros. 

Before, she would have said no. In fact, she wouldn't have even answered him, instead turning her nose at him in disgust like every bad experience she's had was his fault. 

Now all she could do was falter, a lump forming in her throat. 

I miss home, she wanted to tell him. Instead, she replied, "I'm not sure anymore." 

He took a step forward, his eyes staring at her intently. Their blue seemed to swallow her whole. Agatha's shoulders hunched and turned gauche. 

He opened his mouth, "For what it's worth, though I'm not sure my word means much to you, I hope you don't regret being here because you're different-- different than anone I've ever met. But, you belong here, more than anyone." 

She stared at him, dumbfounded. Like he was a fool. 

He turned pink. "Or just be rude and ignore me entirely when I try to get to know you. Like usual." He turned and followed the exiting students, and mumbled things under his breath about how complicated women are. 

***

Leaving Princess Etiquitee left a bad taste in Agatha's mouth. She stalked through the halls. People cleared the way for her, avoiding her like a plauge. It reminded her of when she first arrived at the School for Good, and brought some comfort. Some.

Maybe she had been trying a little harder. Washing her face. Going on walks (and avoiding Merlin's Menagerie and those statues). Staying up late to practice her balance-- a few dance steps-- looking in front of mirror to fix her slouch (being sure not to look at her face). Maybe it hurt, just a little, to get belittled again by a dog.  

Agatha didn't care. she wasn't supposed to care about any of this stupid princess stuff anyway,  even if it didn't bother her so much anymore. but sophie's command still echoed in her mind-- get your own life. She rolled her shoulders back- stalking turning into a power stride, jaw setting-

Turning the corner, only to see a crowd of boys leaving their latest class. 

Agatha flattened herself against a wall, grimacing as the odour of sweat and boy walked by. shoving  each other from behind- laughing boisterously, swearing as they tripped over one another. It was like they lived in their own world- no regard for any one else trying to get through.

Just her luck, Tedros swerved out of the way of a tussle, shoulders crashing into her. She shoved him off her, and he stumbled into the wall. He let out a string of curses-- and apologizes-- until he realized who she was. 

He raised one thick brow at her. 

"what are you doing?" he asked, accent a low timbre, barley audible above the noise of the  boys. His lips were lifting, slightly. they both pressed more into the wall. He wasn't much taller than her, but his training boots gave him the extra hieght-- his body acted as a shield, torso leaning over her, against the endless torrent of students. 

"What does it look like I'm doing?" she snapped. 

"It looked like you were about to be crushed, and now I'm protecting you. You're welcome."  

Agatha's nose flared. "You were about to crush me--" 

Tedros grunted as another boy jostled by him roughly, and cast a disdained frown. Tedros then tilted his head towards Agatha, his nose inches from hers, giving a look- can you believe this? As though he was above being an immature, teenage boy, despite that being exactly what he was. 

His shirt was unbuttoned at the top, as usual. She could count every long lash that overcast the crystal irises that sat above high cheekbones. His golden hair was damp, laying flat against his forehead-- seriously how much does this guy exercise-- ridiculously, he still smelled faintly of mint. And he was standing far too close. 

"I just can't seem to get rid of you," she muttered. 

Tedros looked properly appalled. "Excuse me?"

Agatha's neck turned bright red as she stuttered out a jumble of syllables in response, then ducked under his arms and wordlessly fled with as much grace and dignity as her black clumps could offer, shoving through the crowd with contempt. 

When had things been so awkward between them? Where were her endless snappy comments and his hot-headed remarks? 

Her hands balled into fists, nails digging into her palms. Get a grip, Agatha. 

After a moment, Tedros released a breath he'd been holding. 

***

It was hot out, that day at lunch. 

Tedros' forehead was drenched. He would have to go swimming later to cool off. 

It's nearly winter, Chaddick had said. Yes, we played rugby, but you are not hot.

Tedros took a long drink from his bottle.

She's been on his mind since the trials. Since she saved him. He doesn't understand her. Why she would do that, when she had hated him so much. Then there was that awkward conversation about ettique... and that thing with Old Jack...and... 

It really was very hot out. 

Her face seemed lighter, her shoulders less slouched.

Sometimes, though, he noticed her mournful gazes towards the stark castle across the moat, as if looking for something long-lost in its jaded towers. He remembered when those gazes used to be wistful. Now they just seemed sad. He wondered what changed. He wondered why he even cared. 

Tedros takes a swig from the water bottle.

Just get on with it and thank her, he thought. Yes, then this weird tension between them would stop. Lessen the awkwardness. The guilt. The crippling shame of being tricked by a witch. Not being able to look statues of your father in the eye.

Tedros' hand clenched. He looked down. The bottle was dented. He frowned. 

Chaddick let out a small sigh. "That's the fifth time this week." 

"Well, they should manufacture these things with better material," Tedros replied, shaking water out of it into his mouth to check if he had not completely busted it. 

"Now you sound entitled." 

"It's not my fault they clearly don't value the quality of life of their students."

"I don't think the material is the issue." 

"Then what is if you know so much?"  

Chaddick raised his brows. "Dude. Chill."

Tederos let out a series of unintelligible grumbles.

"Look, you've been acting strange since the Trial. I get it, okay? I'm just worried about you, that's all. I need you-- we need you to be Tedros. You unite this school, you know?" 

"There's nothin' to be worried about," Tedros replied stiffly.

Chaddick shrugged. "I'll believe you when you stop breaking everything you touch."

Tedros' frown deepened. 

He turned away, and Chaddick did not say more. 

Tedros felt his gaze laze over to the line of trees across the clearing, to where she was sitting with Kiko, back rested across a trunk, gangly legs sprawled out. She seemed without a care of the world around her, book lay relaxed and open in her hands as she listened to Kiko's rambles.

Did her hair always seem so dark against the pale pink uniform?

A feeling within his chest grew, unfamiliar and strange.  It spread through his body, extending to the tips of his fingertips. Suffocating. It was familiar, as if some part of him he trapped away a long time ago was finally able to surface, gasping for air. Comforting. 

He remembers her eyes in that moment when she saved him. They were unflinching. Magnetic. 

His face heats at the memory. Chasteness overwhelmed his senses.

He gripped his shirt, right over his chest, like he was off balanced, as if it was the only thing tethering him to the ground beneath his feet.

Then she laughed, that croaky laugh, and he couldn't feel his lungs. 

Witchcraft, he thought later in his dorm, burying his burning cheeks into his pillow, heart thumping in his chest. That's the only explanation. She's-she's... 

Desperate denial tormented him throughout the night, so from then on he tried to avoid the girl with the bug eyes, focus on his studies and his friends. But his eyes seemed to travel to her figure, every time they were in the same vicinity, drink in her smirk and the way she gestured with her hands when she was annoyed. 

You're different. Different than anyone I've ever met. But, you belong here, more than anyone.

He almost, almost, missed when she used to glare at him, filled with spite and resentment. Because ever since Agatha saved him in the Trials, she seems to be taking every step to avoid him.

Sorcery. 

***

Author's Note:

fun fact: that thing with Ol' Jack and Agatha was an idea i had around 2018, and I remembered it while writing this chapter, so i thought it would be cool to incorporate it. 

i find it quite humorous that i write these low effort segments where i try to salvage what my 2017 self decided was a good idea, and then I'll have these parts where I'm really proud of my writing. the difference is just funny to me

oh yeah, it's 2025 now :'D. oops. 

so yeah, the update took a lot longer than expected (UM 4 YEARS IM SORRY-). also it's been so long since i read the first book i don't remember anything about these characters LMBO so it' a little clunky and all over the place but i can't be bothered to make it better. this chapter was hard to write because i felt ~uninspired~  (a.k.a. crippling writer's block. like. it was really bad). yall know at this point i'm stubborn to a fault and am not dropping this fic. i will finish it. i will lift this curse myself the way I intended to. I SHALL BE FREE!!!!!!!!

(why do i do this to myself) 

ALSO GUYS GUYS it annoys me so much that the MOVIE THE MOVIE CAME OUT AND I WATCHED IT OMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMG I GOT TO SEE MY TEDROS ON SCREEN but I'm like NOT DONE THE FIC YET--

edit from 2022-08-02:  I JUST FINISHED THE RISE OF SGE AND OH MY FREAKING GOSH THE ENDING I HAVE SO MANY QUESTIONS AND IM SO ANGRY CAUSE NOW WTH AM I SUPPOSED TO DO WITH MY PLANNED POETIC ENDING THAT DOESN'T EVEN WORK TO THIS STUPID FANFIC I DON'T WANT TO TRY BUT NOW I FEEL LIKE TRYING STOP IT SOMAN I'VE HAD ENOUGH 

guys i finished Fall of sge recently- like okay it doesn't really affect this fic but iykyk like wth am i supposed to do with names T_T it's fine i won't go back and edit lol aslfjaldf

anyways 

i read over my outline for the rest of this fic and little scenes I wrote a few years ago, and honestly it made me pretty excited even though it's a bunch of nonsense put together !! i want to write it so bad TvT why can't it just write itself

i really appreciate and adore you guys sm <3 thanks for sticking with me all this time T_T see you next update C: it won't take years this time!! I hope!! haha!! 

ALSO THANKS FOR 30k+ READS??? HUH?? HI NEW READERS LOL 

love,

sunny

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