[two: You take that back]

The sky, as brilliantly blue as any other summer day, was impervious to the carnage below. It was a cruelty, an evocation of summers past when we were whole and young, not decimated by this senseless conflict, not burying a loved one every other day of the week. It was a reminder too of our mortality and that our great troubles are insignificant to the world. This azure wash above will be here next year and every season to follow whether we were here to witness it or not. Cambridge specifically was enjoying the blue skies, the markets being held more frequently as many tried to get collect the best necessities they could despite the ongoing war - which rationed their every need day by day.

Lucy Pevensie stood by a stall, a brown paper bag full of groceries in her hand as she struggled to hold them all - her eyes searching the stalls for carrots but only finding turnips once again which she willed herself to pay fro, Aunt Alberta did need her to start making soup after all. In the midst of it all, the beautiful young woman managed to lose her brother Edmund - the older Pevensie retreating to the War Office in hopes of signing up for the war even though he was only a few months off being old enough to join. Lucy sighed in frustration as she saw him in the distance walking in, and hesitantly followed with her bike and groceries.

"Are you sure you're eighteen?" The officer asked Edmund, looking the young man up and down with a confused look and Edmund gave him a weak smile.

"Why? Do I look older?" He asked and the officer only held out his hand for his papers of identification which Edmund handed over, crossing his fingers in hope that the Officer didn't question them - though the look on his face gave away that he would.

"Alberta Scrubb?"

"It's a typographical error- It is suppose to be Albert A. Scrubb." Edmund stated, the line being rehearsed in his head whilst the officer shook his. It was then the doors opened and Lucy sent her brother a disappointed look, barely able to hold the groceries in her hand.

"Edmund, you are suppose to be helping me with the groceries." She stated and Edmund immediately made an annoyed face as the officer passed the papers back, Edmund being shoved away by the next person in line who was smirking at him.

"Better luck next time, ay, squirt?" The young man laughed and Edmund only glared as he followed Lucy out of the War Office and helped her carry the groceries - a scowl on his face.

"Squirt? He barely had 2 years on me!I am a king." Edmund stated with a sour look on his face as he kicked a rock on the ground. "I've fought wars and I've led armies and been married."

"Not in this world." Lucy whispered as her eyes settled on a young couple behind them, her gaze lingering on the girl who tucked a piece of hair behind her ear - which Lucy followed in hopes of looking as pretty as the girl did, though in reality she looked a lot more beautiful.

"Yeah, instead i'm stuck here. Doing battles with Eustace Clarence Scrubb. If anyone so deserve the name." Edmund rambled until he saw his sister sticking a piece of hair behind her ear and looked at her in confusion. "What are you doing?"

"Nothing." Lucy muttered before sending her brother a smile. "Come on then."

+++

Dear Diary,

It is now day 253 since my ratchet cousins Edmund and Lucy invaded our house.Not sure how much long i can cope living with them. Hard to share my things. If only one could treat relatives like one who treat insects, all my problems would be solved.I could simply put them in a jar. Pin them to my wall?

"I'm home!"

"Hello?"

Note to self. Investigate legal ramifications of impaling relatives.

Eustace makes his way downstairs, his eyes looking instantly towards his cousins before he rolls his eyes accordingly. His father, Harold Scrubb, was watching the small television screen in the corner the room, a paper raised to his face though Lucy was sure he was actually sleeping in his armchair. 

"And that concludes the war news from the western front."

"Hi, Uncle Harold. I've tried to find some carrots but all they had were turnips again. Should I start making soup? Aunt Alberta is on her way home." Lucy stated as she placed the groceries in the kitchen and turned to face Harold who ignored her - so Edmund started making faces at him. "Uncle Harold?"

"Father." Eustace interrupted as he pointed a finger at Edmund accusingly. "Edmund's making faces at you."

"Why, you little..." Edmund sneered before he started running up the stairs his fist raisng as he looked at his younger cousin.

"Father, he's going to hit me!" Eustace whines and Edmund's fist was about to collide with his face until Lucy stopped him and smiled, a letter in her hand.

"Edmund look, it's from Susan."

+++

I do wish you were here with us.It is such an adventure. But nothing like our times in Narnia. America is very exciting. Only we never see father.He works so very hard.I was invited to the British consuls tea party this week by a naval officer. Who happens to be very handsome. I think he fancies me. It seems that the Germans have made the crossing difficult right now. Times are hard. Mother hopes you both won't mind another few months in Cambridge.

"Another few months?" Lucy asked with wide eyes before she let out a groan and sat on her bed. "How will we survive?"

"You're lucky." Edmund stated before he stood up and walked around the room. "At least you've got your own room. I'm stuck with mullet mouth."

"Susan and Peter are the lucky ones. Off on adventures." 

"Yeah. They are the oldest we are the youngest. We don't matter as much." Edmund commented as he fiddled with the locket around his neck, a sad look on his face.

"Do you think I look anything like Susan?" Lucy asked but Edmund ignored her as his eyes trained to a painting on the wall - the ship looking vaguely familiar.

" Lucy, have you seen this ship before?"

"Yes, it's very Narnian looking isn't it?"  Lucy stated with a sad smile, watching as Edmund's mood dampened immediately. 

"Yeah. Just another reminder that we're here not there - that I'm not with her." Edmund whispered the last part with a frown before the door opened forcefully - the Scrubb boy walking in.

"There once was two orphans who wasted their time, believing in Narnian nursery rhymes."

"Please let me hit him!" Edmund begged but Lucy shook her head.

"No."

"Don't you ever knock?"

 " It's my house. I do as I please. You're just guests." The snobby boy stated with a sneer before he looked at the picture in disgust. "What's so fascinating about that picture anyway? It's hideous."

"You won't see it from the outside of the door." Edmund retaliated as the two boys stared at each other - Lucy watching the painting as the water began to move slowly before their eyes.

"Edmund look, it looks like the water is actually moving." Lucy muttered and Eustace just rolled his eyes.

"What rubbish, see? That's what happens when you read all those fancy little novels and fairy tales of yours." Eustace said ssnobbily as he stared at his cousins who rolled his eyes.

"There once was a boy called Eustace, who read books full of facts that were useless." Edmund mocked his rhymes and Eustace only glared at him.

"At least I don't make up being married, only pathetic people do that."

"Eustace!"

"You take that back." Edmund growled towards his cousins whose eyes widened for a moment before he composed himself.

"People who read fairy tales are a a hideous burden to people like me.I read books with real information"

"A hideous burden?" Edmund asked as he lifted a finger and pointed at Eustace in the chest. "I haven't seen you lift a finger since we've been here. I've got a good mind to tell Aunt Alberta it was you who stole her sweets."

"Liar!"

"Really?"

"Edmund, the painting!" Lucy muttered as the boat seemed to sail closer to them - water falling from the bottom of the frame.

"I found them under your bed.And you know what? I've licked every one of them!"

"Ew! I'm infected with you!" Eustace grimaced before he looked at the painting, which was leaking, with wide eyes. "What is going on here?"

"Lucy, do you think..." Edmund asked with wide eyes and a smile on his face.

"This is some kind of a trick. Stop or I'll tell mother. Mother! Mother!" Eustace shouted worriedly before he set a determined look on his face and advanced toward the painting. "I'll just smash the whole thing."

"No Eustace, no! We can't stop it!" The two shouted as they grabbed Eustace and pulled him away with the painting.

"Get off me! Get off!"

"Let go! Put it down! Get off it!" Lucy shouted before Eustace dropped the painting and water began to fill the room. 

As the water filled the room, Lucy sent one last look to Edmund before she held her breath and swam under water until she resurfaced again - but she wasn't in her bedroom anymore. They were quite near the ship but before she could investigate she felt a tugging as she went under.

"Let go! Edmund! Edmund!What's happening? Where are we?" Lucy screamed before the ship got closer and closer and her eyes widened. "Eustace, swim!

"What's going on?"

"Eustace come on! Come on!"

"Move Lucy! Keep swimming!" Edmund shouted from afar as Lucy began to swim further away.

"Edmund!It's alright!" Lucy muttered before someone appeared in front of her and placed a secure arm around her waist.

"I got you." The familiar voice stated and Lucy looked up at him before a wide smile spread across her beautiful face.

"Caspian?"

"Lucy."

"Edmund, it's Caspian." Lucy screamed and a smile lit up on the boy's face as the crew members surrounded him and Eustace in order to help them.

"It's all right boys. You're safe now." A crew member said before he swam over to help Eustace who seemed to be struggling the most.

"Are we in Narnia?" Edmund asked Caspian who nodded.

" Yes, you are in Narnia."

"I don't wanna go. I want to go back to England!I'm going back to England!" Eustace whined as he swam towards his cousins, Ron by his side helping him swim - though the Pevensies hadn't noticed him yet.

"Hold on." Caspian said to Lucy before they were pulled upwards onto the ship, Lucy dripping with water as she stepped onto the ship and was immediately handed a towel.

"That was thrilling!" Lucy commented with a smile as she shivered.

"How in the world do you end up here?" Caspian asked her and Lucy only shrugged as Edmund and Eustace stepped onto the ship.

"I have no idea."

"Caspian!" Edmund shouted as he and the king embraced before Edmund was passed a towel.

"Edmund."

"It's great to see you."

"It great to see you!"

"Didn't you call for us?" Lucy asked and Caspian only shook his head with a smile.

"No, not this time."

"Well, whatever the case, i'm just glad to be here." Edmund muttered before a door opened and someone stepped out with an angry look on their face as they scanned the deck - and Edmund smiled immediately.

"What's all the commoti- Edmund?"