✨️Going Full Time✨️ I've been over there a while, but honestly, the vibe here is deteriorating. If you don't see story posts here anymore, that is why. 🖤 Take care. I love you all, and we will hold the door open for you when you're ready!

🖤See yall maybe Thurs. All the love, get yourself something nice.🖤

🖤Okay okay hear me out.🖤 CAS CC but it's like... I'm horrible at hand painting textures but I'm just sayin.

"Wait Norma?" Her voice weakened with an immediate departure from their bickering, "Norma's here?" "Of course she's here." Fritz sighed his exhaustion, "They're searching the gardens for you!" "The GARDENS?! Well why didn't you SAY that?!" H: "How are you two even functional?!"

"You want to run that by me again?" Her tone a low threat. "Which part, your majesty? The part where I won't leave a single part of you here or?-" "UUGHH, CAN WE JUST GO GET THE OTHERS ALREADY?" Hugo cried out. "Please, Norma can be patient for ONCE in her life!" Fritz dismissed.

"We stay here we may not get the chance to leave again. You saved your princess, Robin Hood. Lets. Go." Fritz scoffed. "Something funny?" "Nope just fitting you brought your crown so you can be a royal pain in my ass instead of a regular one." "Fritz NoOoOo..." Hugo groaned.

"No, WHO I am is who I please to be!" She sharply retorted, "And if being magicless means not asking anyone to risk their life- GOOD." "Well you didn't ask, I offered." "Well I refuse your offer!" "Hey guys, is this really worth the arguement-" Hugo interjected. Both, "YES."

"Wait what?" Hugo blinked. Rapidly, Theodora pushed away, "Are you joking?!" and with fiery protest, "If you think I am spending one more second in this.. damn house with those monsters you're out of your mind!" "Your magic is who you are, Theo." Fritz narrowed.

In exhaustion Theo rested her forehead against Fritz', "I know.. But I didn't want it to be the answer." "No one did." Fritz soothed. "We can find a way to help Mom after but first.." Hugo calmed, "We just need to get you out of here." "..After we get your magic." Fritz added.

"Mimsy told me she's here... She's- She's stuck-" Her voice cracked when her own eyes met Hugo's that glistened with restraint, "I'm.. so sorry..." "It's not your fault." Fritz quieted. In a deep breath Hugo nodded, "Don't be sorry. It's.. better to know. That's the goal, right?"

"They take something you cherish most- To keep you here and well if you leave it's gone forever." She trailed off. "How?" Fritz demanded. But Hugo gently intercepted, "Is... that what they did to my Mom?" Theo's heart pulled sharply at the mention. "Hugo, I'm so sorry..."

They only took a moment to rest, with Theo doing her best to fill in the details of her night. "Wait- The entire time he knew this would happen!?" Hugo asked cautiously. Fritz: "And they took your magic?" Theo glanced, "Well, Nancy didn't confirm But it's the best guess."

"Alright bring it in!" Hugo grinned joining their embrace, "Theodora I'm so glad you didn't get indoctrinated & join the dark forces-" He squeezed. "Aw, me too." Theo laughed softly with a sniffle of grateful tears, "But I think they just wanted to sacrifice me." "Wait what?"

"Definitely me.." She smiled as they both pulled each other close. Of course, she wandered if this was another trick of her own mind as Mimsy had warned. But the way Fritz finally warmed the chill in her bones was something the Nightwraith could never replicate. She was safe.

"But he can't say the same about me." Theo mumbled. The 3 of them relaxed to the moment of respite from this nightmare, "What?" Fritz tucked away a loose silvery strand of her hair. "...I sort of maybe broke his nose?" "Wow.." He chucked softly, "So did I save you or him?"

"..alive." Hugo quieted. Fritz took in her disheveled hair, the make-up that ran slightly watered beneath her eyes. The quiver of her lip, & the way her tremored fingers calmed in the warmth of his palm, "...Did he hurt you?" "No." She whispered before he helped her to her feet.

"It's just us, buddy." Fritz hopped out before turning to assist his evacuee. "Theo! Thank the Watcher you're-" Hugo exclaimed in the breath he had held, but his excitement for their success quickly faded upon seeing the wild fear in her eyes. The whiplash of a needed rescue.

The whining of pulleys and the harsh clanging of the dumbwaiter echoed falling through the walls until crashing behind the gate of the basement level. And Hugo scrambled setting his theatre sword & shield off to the side before bringing himself to his feet, "...H-Hello?"

Because Hugo Villareal- always swore to do the right thing. Their mission this night had become bigger than any wish he had for closure, but still if not for him... For Luna. Or even Max. "If it was you, Mom- Just... do anything." His whispers bounced off the walls, "Please."