Laying in the darkness, Magnolia realized what she had to do. No one else deserved to die because of her and she knew the King was not going to stop looking for her until he found her and made her Queen. Magnolia decided she rather return to the castle than watch anymore of the runaways die. She knew the others would disagree, so she silently got up and packed a backpack full of one water jug, a gun, and one of Archer's blankets.

She swung the backpack over one shoulder, looking back at the sleeping others. Leaving the people she felt the most free with was hard, but it was the right thing to do, Magnolia convinced herself. It was almost as if she had to meet the runaways to realize the damage the King was making just in his journey in finding her.

Magnolia glanced at Dakota, remembering the surprised connection they made that night. When she first had met him, she had despised him, and he to her. But tonight, she had seen and realized that it was all just an act, a wall he had built up and surrounded himself with. He tried hiding the pain with anger, but she knew now. She knew that he was just like her, and somehow, when she folded her hand in his, she felt that pain disappear. It was an odd feeling, really, but she never wanted to let go of it.

Forcing herself to turn away, she was overwhelmed once again with aloneness and discomfort.



Dakota's eyes fluttered open, looking directly into the half-hidden sun as it rose. He ran a hand through his hair to get it out of his eyes, standing immediately. He looked around tiredly, watching some of the others stir in their sleep, and some whisper quietly to one another. Dakota's eyes rested on the spot Magnolia fell asleep last night, blinking twice. Archer's old sleeping bag was ruffled, and unzipped. But she was not there.

His eyes searched around himself, frantically picking up his hat and placing it on his head. He walked fastly up to Hudson, "Where's the Princess?"

Hudson looked at the sleeping bag himself, eyes confused. "Um, I don't know."

Dakota didn't continue the conversation, just broke into a sprint towards the field of flowers. He reached it a minute later, gazing upon it in horror. She wasn't there.

Dakota ran back to Hudson, eyes not focusing on anything in particular. Hudson shook his head sadly, "She's gone, man. She wasn't taken, she left."

"How do you know that?" Dakota growled.

"She took a water canteen, a blanket, and a gun. She left." Hudson bit his lip, glancing at Dakota's distraught face.

"She went back." Dakota murmured, talking about the castle. He should've known. He should've seen it coming. After yesterday, she wasn't going to let anyone else die because of her.

Hudson sighed, "I know. We have to find her before she reaches. You know that, right?"



Magnolia travelled on foot for six hours, breathing heavily. She knew it was a longer walk through the woods than on road, but it avoided unknown collisions. Hair was sliding out of her ponytail, sticking to her sweaty face. She realized how tired she was, but didn't care. She knew that once the others noticed she was gone, they would search for her and she needed to make sure she made it to the castle in time.

Her eyes grew heavy, as her steady walk slowed. The fainted laughs and voices increased, and she whipped her head in the direction of the sounds. Magnolia narrowed her eyes, searching the trees. Over the top of a few pine trees, she saw the very top of what looked like... a ferris wheel. Her knees unlocked, sinking into the leaves and dirt.

But as soon as she hit the ground, she got right back up, changing the direction of where she was going. She headed straight for the ferris wheel and the voices of others. She knew she was being stupid, but she also knew if Archer was with her, they'd be doing this. She swallowed the memories, strolling up to the small line for the ferris wheel.

A voice boomed over the speakers, "Last ride for the day. Make sure you take all your belongings when you go. There is no assurance you'll get them back if you forget." The old guy's grumpy voice laughs, causing Magnolia to shudder. She realized Merindal Kingdom is not what it used to be at all.

Magnolia slowly stepped onto the wooden box, sitting down abruptly on her seat. It swung back and forth, making her cautious of moving at all. She held on tightly to the straps of her backpack, making her knuckles go white. The ferris wheel began moving, and she closed her eyes. She thought of Archer, wondering what he would think of this. She envisioned him smiling ear to ear, his arm around her shoulders, laughing hysterically to nothing at all. She knew he would've continued his mission to make her smile, to make her laugh. She opened her big eyes, watching as she reached the top, looking over all the trees.

Magnolia narrowed her eyes, seeing the top of the castle gleaming in the sunlight. It was a faded white, with grass growing up the sides like it was enchanted. It looked almost identical from when she saw it last. Seeing it again brought back horrid memories, and gave her anxiety about going back. It is the best thing to do, she thought.

She hopped off the ferris wheel sadly, and began running the rest of the day away.



"I can't see a thing." River whispered, fidgeting with the end of her maroon v-neck.

Slate looked at her silhouette, "You scared of the dark, Riv?"

She doesn't answer, just swallowed. Slate got the message, reaching his hand out and gently hitting his with hers. She took the opportunity, gripping her small fingers around his tightly. Slate sighed, relieved, running his thumb over the top of her hand reassuringly. River pulled him closer to himself, feeling better knowing someone was right there.

"You okay, sis?" Phoenix asked, knowing his sister's fear of the dark from when they were little. River choked out a yes, squeezing Slate's hand again.

Dakota picked up the speed, the group following behind. Phoenix caught up to him, "We'll find her."

Dakota shook his head forcefully, "You don't know that."

"What suddenly changed? You wanted her to be returned." Brylee asked, her voice sharp and almost angry.

"Everything changed." Dakota answered, not looking at her.

Brylee shook her head in disbelief, "Doesn't make much sense. We don't travel at night, we don't save others, especially when they've done us wrong-"

Dakota whipped his head toward her, "She didn't do anything wrong!"

"Then explain Archer's death."

Furious, Dakota began raising his voice. "You need to-"

Hudson shouted, "Quit arguing! Magnolia is gone and we're going to find her. If any of you disagree with us, then you can leave!"

Everyone silenced, and no one left. Brylee still seemed very unhappy, knowing this wasn't like themselves. They never sacrificed their own lives for others. All of this for the Princess? It didn't make sense.

"She chose to go back, maybe we should let her." She murmured, rolling her eyes.

"Shut up, Brylee. She only left to protect us." River was done with the fighting.

Brylee shook her head, "Maybe she finally made a smart decision for once."

"Let it go, Brylee." Slate scolded.

"Since when are you defending her?"

Slate glanced at River, "Since now."

Brylee stopped arguing as she saw the glance between Slate and River. She looked down and noticed they were holding hands. Swallowing, she accepted the fact that no one was ever going to notice her, no matter how hard she tried.


Brylee lowered her eyes on her feet as her mom and stepdad and step sisters came into the living room and sat down alongside her. They immediately broke into chatter about what expensive advanced education tower their two beautiful blonde girls were going to. The older step sister, Kylah, began to persuade her parents into letting her go to the same one her beloved was going to. Brylee's mother began to ask how good the teaching was there, and what the dress code was.

Brylee listened, knowing neither her mother or step dad would want the same future for her. She wished her birth father were alive, and she wondered what he would've wanted for her. She sighed, wondering how her mother could ever love someone after her father and have two more kids.

She let her dark hair fall into her face as she watched her so-called family skeptically. She knew where she wanted herself to go for education, but she knew it was hopeless. She just wanted someone to care, at least notice her existence.

Still, she tried. "I want to go to Velnar." She said, surprised at herself. Her family continued their discussion as if she never opened her mouth. Turning her sad emotions to anger, having enough of it all, she rose her voice.

"LOOK AT ME!" She screamed, her voice scratching against her dry throat. Everyone in the room silenced, and turned their heads toward her.

The step sisters looked at her in disgust as their father began, "You will not scream in this household-"

Brylee focused on her mother, "You are my mother, aren't you? Because you sure don't act like it. Not ever talking to me. Not ever listening to me. Not ever asking me what I want for my future!"

Her mother shouted in disapproval, "Brylee!"

Brylee shot up from her seat, running up the narrow staircase into her small room. Quickly, she packed a backpack and opened the window angrily. Jumping out, she wondered how long it would be until anyone noticed her disappearance, and if they would even care.

Six hours later, Magnolia was so close to the castle. The uneasiness in her stomach came back, her head dizzy from the heat. She sat down against a tree, knowing she had to keep moving. She heard a faint whimper coming from behind her, making her jump up in fear. She slowly walked toward the noise, finding a rather large wounded male wolf. The wolf looked up at her in pain, and eventually closed its big eyes. Magnolia felt pity for the poor animal, kneeling down in front of it. An arrow had went right into it's back leg, blood was seeping out of it uncontrollably.

"Hey there." Magnolia slowly and fearfully placed her hand on its fur and the wolf didn't flinch, didn't harm her as she ran her fingers through it.

"This is going to hurt but I'm going to help you." Magnolia swallowed, slowly pulling the animal up against herself. She grabbed hold of the arrow, closing her eyes as she yanked it out quickly. The wolf's eyes shot open, whimpering loudly in pain. It tried and failed to get out of Magnolia's arms. Taking out her canteen, Magnolia took one last drink before pouring the water over the opened wound. Running one hand through the fur, she tore a piece of fabric off her dress, slowly wrapping it around the cleaned wound carefully.

"You're going to survive." Magnolia muttered to the wolf. Letting the wolf drink the rest of her water weakly, she laid down, laying her head on it's soft fur.

"I'll give you a name, okay? Let me think." She whispered to him, eyes drooping in tiredness. She thought of the arrow that almost killed him, and nodded to herself.

"Arrow."



Magnolia woke up suddenly, mad at herself for falling asleep. Standing up quickly, she looked down at the wolf, who, luckily, was still breathing, but asleep. Magnolia sighed, running a hand through her hair.

"I'm sorry, Arrow, but I gotta go." She swallowed, picking up a piece of bark and cutting an M through the trunk of the tree Arrow was asleep next to.



After two more hours of running, she reached the castle and collapsed on her knees in weary. The sun was heightening in the sky, the air chilly against her wet tan skin. A guard came running up, his sword pointed directly at her forehead. Her vision got blurry as the guard shouted to another.

"I am Magnolia, the Prin-cess." She gasped, falling into unconsciousness.