𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐄𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓:

𝑭 𝑶 𝑹 𝑮 𝑰 𝑽 𝑬 
𝒀 𝑶 𝑼 𝑹 𝑺 𝑬 𝑳 𝑭

           Jax and Uma washed up on Auradon's beach, her on her back taking deep breaths and him on his stomach, clinging to a piece of driftwood, they were over twenty feet apart but both oh so exhausted. He was tired and his arms and legs were soared from having to swim. While Uma was a help in the water, she had to keep swimming too, that meant fending for himself without the sea witch's help for a few times. But it wasn't just his body, his own energy felt weakened like an anchor was on top of his soul. He wasn't sure if he was imagining it or if it was real. Whether it had to do with leaving Harry or being this close to his family. But he could have sworn that he felt it once before.

           The first thing that Jax does when he comes back to Auradon is something that he will always regret. Despite his body screaming to lay back down, he gets up and starts walking towards the familiar lights of the kingdom of Auradon. Soon enough he'll spot the castle that contains Auradon Prep, the boarding school for all royalty and the fairytale famous. He keeps walking and doesn't stop, not even when he heard Uma yelling his name.

           Uma swore that the Hatter boy had been close by when she washed up. She just needed a couple of minutes to catch her breath. The ocean isn't her friend, but it's not an enemy either, it's an obstacle. Just because she's the daughter of the most powerful sea witch in existence doesn't mean swimming across the ocean was gonna be a cake walk. She just needed to rest. To just close her eyes. Uma was certain that Jax was there, but now she wasn't. Could she have been hallucinating? Letting her mind believe it was okay to rest? She doesn't know what's real now, whether Jax went to go find supplies or if he was still floating out in the sea. Or worse, if he was lying dead on the ocean floor. She could never live with herself if it was the latter, and just the thought of Harry finding out she lost him made her shiver. She was supposed to be the captain, the leader, the one that was supposed to change everything.

           Not knowing what else to do, she called out his name, "Jax!" She took a deep breath, "Jax, where are you?!" She yelled hopelessly. He wasn't just her alchemist or the guy that knew the area, he was her friend. And she lost him. "Jax!" Her breathing was uneven, she sobbed and gasped. She learned soon enough that she should stop yelling and screaming or else she would draw attention to herself pretty quickly. So she quieted herself, sobbing silently and praying to the underwater gods that he was okay.

*******

           No, he kept walking. He didn't turn back, not even when he heard her sobs through the thick breeze that made him cross his arms to fight back against the cold. He had to get to Auradon Prep, he was finally on the same land as his friends, his people, he couldn't waste any time. If you knew Time as well as I did, you wouldn't talk about wasting it. It's him. As his dad always said, supposedly he was once friends with Time, who resided in Wonderland, though Jax had his suspicions.

           This is what he will always regret, because he actually did have time, to this day, Jax Hatter will never forgive himself for abandoning Uma to fend for herself in one of her most vulnerable of times.

           At that moment, he made the wrong call, and he truly felt like a villain, just like he was taught to be on the Isle.

           At that moment, he didn't feel like a victim from Wonderland, but rather a survivor from the Isle of the Lost.

           At that moment, he didn't feel like Jax Hatter.

*******

           He made his way towards the dorm rooms. It took him several moments, not because of security but rather because of his memories. It had been six years since he was last here, and he definitely spent the better part of his time on the Isle trying to forget about this place. Now, he had to dig deep and remember all those horrible memories of him screaming his head off and running away every chance he had. He took a deep breath and started to make his way to the girl's section of the boarding school. At least he never forgot her room number.

           Jax made his way inside Ruby Queen's bedroom, which she shared alongside Allie, Alice's daughter. He was hit with the familiar smell of the lavender that Ruby always wore mixed with the strange sweet smell that Allie somehow always displayed. He gasped as he took it in, it smelled like home.

           He didn't turn on the lights, knowing it would attract some unwanted attention. So, he observed in the dark and walked ever so slowly, as though this entire bedroom would crack with a wrong step. He looked carefully at every single thing in that room. From the girl's pictures on one wall to the chess set on the left that was laid out on Ruby's desk. He took a moment to laugh, I could never beat her.

            He stopped himself when he saw what was on display next to her desk. Entombed in a glass case, positioned to the corner of the room to keep away from prying eyes, was his hat. The last hat that he and his father made, he was so happy when it came out perfect. Of course, his father would never let him know that he secretly fixed it up every night before Jax went to bed. The Hatter couldn't help himself, he had to see the smile on his boys face when he saw the hat.

           Slowly, he walked towards the glass case, and oh so delicately he lifted it, or so he tried. Ruby was smart, she had put it under lock and key. Jax was breathing heavily at this point. Something snapped inside him. And with a yell, he pulled the case to the floor, shattering the entire thing and leaving broken glass everywhere.

           Look at the mess you've made, Jax. He cursed at himself. Never mind the glass, he bent down to remove his hat from the stand, not caring at the slices the little bits of glass left on his palm.

           He gripped it tightly in his hand, making it bleed even more. His breathing hadn't gotten better, as he slumped to the foot of Ruby's bed, landing on the pool of tiny glass shards. He was sobbing at this point. Hugging the hat close to his chest as though it would disappear any second now. As though him even being there was all part of a sick dream. These hopeless thoughts only made him cry harder.

*******

           Hours passed, and there he still was, sitting on the pile of broken glass, clutching his hat and staring into the dark room. He didn't know how long he stayed there, but he was determined to stay up until Ruby or Allie, or both of them finally came back. And soon enough, one of them did arrive, it seemed to be around one in the morning, seeing as how tonight had been some big party. At that unfortunate second, he was reminded of one of his mates, Uma.

           He hoped that she somehow figured it out on her own, and while he knew it was wrong, he wasn't that interested at the moment, especially when his eyes landed on the one and only, Ruby Queen.

           Her hair and bits of her dress had gotten wet, and you could tell they had recently been air drying. Nonetheless, she could still strike fear into the eyes of her enemies, and even her allies at times. Anyone who knew Ruby knew that she didn't get surprised easily. She was very difficult to catch off guard, and even more so to impress. But the second she saw Jax, laying there with a bloodied fist around his old hat, eyes and cheeks red from most likely crying and staring up at her like a child looking for his mother, she fell apart.

            She shut the door hastily, and just as quickly sped to her old friend and bent down to look him in the eyes, her dress protecting her from the shards on the floor. He tried to speak, but she shushed him, "Come on," She whispered, helping to lift him up, she wanted him away from the sharp pieces on the floor. Ruby brought him to the carpet in between her and Allie's beds.

           As she kneeled to look at him, he instead sunk down to his knees, his neck low to avoid her eyes.

           "Sorry for the mess," He mumbled.

            She chuckled sadly, "It's alright, it's yours after all."

           Just before she could utter that last word, Jax was already sobbing again. "I'm sorry," He cried. "You told me to stop. All those years ago, you told me to just leave the people here alone, to keep my head down. I didn't listen." He frowned. "I disobeyed you, and look where it got me. Kept from the last remnants of home I had here. I'm sorry," He kept crying.

           All Ruby could do was shush him as he lay his head on her lap, bawling his eyes out. She swept her fingers through his hair as a means to calm him down, it only barely worked. "That's in the past now, little one. All is forgiven," She whispered to him in a comforting manner.

           "Then why do I feel like my hearts been stabbed repeatedly?" He grumbles.

           "Well, isn't it obvious?" She asks. At that question, he lifted his head to look her in the eyes directly, she paused for a second, "You need to forgive yourself." She sent him a sorrowful smile.

           He sniffs at that, "Easier said than done."

           "You've become much more pessimistic in the last six years." She notes.

           He gives her a sarcastic smile, "And you have only gotten more vague, my Queen."

           Ruby returns with her sad smile again. Being around each other somehow brought out the best in them, at least some would think. "It's been a while since I've been called something like that."

           Jax raised his eyebrows in wonder, "What, your Wonderland subjects slowly losing respect? I'll make sure they find it right away." He promises.

           Ruby stayed calm, as she usually does. "No, it's nothing like that. Sometimes they call me that behind closed doors, but in the last year we've barely been able to come together. Too many eyes following us. Sometimes Binx will call me that mockingly, but I know he's been feeling rather down the past few months."

           He cleared his throat, "That doesn't excuse his offenses."

           "That's rather ironic coming from you," She smiled, happy this time, reflecting on old memories.

           "I was a child, how was I supposed to know that I'd been meeting royalty at five years old. Of course, I was offensive."

           She chuckled at that. "I've missed you, dear trickster."

           "And I, you, Rubelina." He grinned.

           She took a deep breath, knowing that small talk would have to end at some point. And they had more pressing matters at the moment. "So, why don't we get down to business?" Ruby's stoic face read that he had no other choice. He nodded in agreement, "First things first, do you have anything to do with the daughter of a sea witch sprouting eight tentacles during a cotillion?" Despite every emotional rollercoaster that Jax has ridden this entire day, Ruby remained detached and eerily calm.

           Jax raised his brows once again at that description, "I feel like you want me to say no and at the same time you don't want me to lie."

           Ruby simply tilted her head in exasperation.

*******

So, what did you guys think about Jax abandoning Uma?

Were you expecting it?

Did you agree with Jax?

Are you pissed with him?

You got another look at Ruby Queen, what did you think?

Final question: how do you guys read on Wattpad?

I personally recommend reading it in the Times New Roman font. It make's the books and chapters look more like an actual book.

Just look at the examples:

Arial

Times New Roman

I don't know, give it a shot, it'll feel much more serious and real for you. But it's up to you, have fun and read how ever you want. Just remember to try something new every now and then.

no mundanes allowed
- polaroized