Chapter Text
He wakes in a cold sweat.
He doesn't remember falling asleep, but he also doesn't remember much at the moment.
Surrounding him were tree like bookshelves, an unmistakable glow of sorcery emanating from the pages. The ceiling was out of the human eyes vision, only giving the thought of a ceiling through the gray mist and smoke.
That's right, I'm in the Library. But shouldn't I be fortifying defenses with Eugene and the Brotherhood?
He rose from the floor and headed towards the hill where the exit lay. If this some type of prank Catalina and Keira pulled I swear-
The exit isn't open.
Fuck. He rushed towards the arch. "Oh no, no no no no no no!" He banged on the mirror, praying for someone to hear. I can't be stuck here, I need to be there for Rapunzel's kids, I need to protect Corona, I was about to-
"That doesn't work darling."
He turned to the sound of a voice. Staring at him from behind a bookshelf was a woman with ginger hair reaching her hips. A crown braid rested atop her head, sapphire blue eyes gazing at him.
Her blue dress fluttered in the ethereal wind as she moved into the amber glow bathing the hill that held the exit. The books and shelves behind her were still visible, the transparency quite noticeable.
"Believe me, I've tried. Took me a day or two but I'll find another way out. For now I've grown to enjoy the Library. I'm sure you will too, there's-"
"Mom?" he cut her off in a quiet voice.
Ulla looked to the side, then returned her gaze to him with a sigh. "I'm sorry, I think you have the wrong person."
"No, mom it's me. Your son. Why are you here? You live in Old Corona with Dad now, right?"
Ulla stared blankly. "I don't have a son."
He stared at her in disbelief. Then, a voice whispered into his ear, as cold and unforgiving as the blizzard 7 years ago.
No one will remember you. And now you will learn what happens when you seek the truth.
A sharp pain stabbed into his chest. His shriek of pain was cut off when he stared down to his chest, where there was now a black rock, jutting through his chest, soaking his vest and the rock itself in blood. He could hardly stand from his hemophobia, but he didn't need to. As the rock retreated, he slipped and fell into a sickening heap of gore, his head breaking open on the floor with a painful crack and caking him in more of the red fluid as he felt his breath slow. His eyes glazed as his consciousness gave its last thoughts.
No. I really survived all that, met so many people, just to get stabbed in the back by the one thing that ruined my life?
I didn't even say goodbye to Hugo.
Darkness surrounded him.
He was listless, his sentience beginning to fade as he slipped to the afterlife.
Then he woke again.