Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

For Athena and Corey who told me to read The Property Of Hate. I loved reading it and constantly re-reading it. The fantasy world was completely up my alley and I couldn’t help but write a bit of my own spin on it. 

For the fandom, I hope this revives it a bit. Or livin it up.

For Sarah Jolly, please don’t ever stop.  I haven’t been there for the beginning, but I would love to see the end. Thank you. 

……..

Twenty Years Ago. Modern Era.

“No.”

RGB didn’t expect this, not at all. 

He thought he had found the one. A one worth being a Hero. How could she not be? She had heart, a stubborn nature, a willingness to help others. He had watched her for nearly two weeks and she was saying… No?

The little girl in front of him stared at him with tears in her eyes. She clutched a book in her hands and appeared to be trembling. A book of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. Her fingernails dug deep into the cover of the book, tearing it. 

“...No?” RGB said, his voice almost cracking a bit, his hand that was outstretched to her was now slowly lowering downward to the floor and to his side.

“And why not? Don’t you want to be something more? ”

The young girl grit her teeth suddenly and pulled the book against her chest. It seemed speaking up was the most frightening thing for her. But still she was trying. 

“Mom…Mommy….I’m not going to leave her alone! She’s sick! ” She trembled and squeezed her book hard. 

“I say, I’m sure she will be just fine. She only has a cold doesn’t she? Humans recover quickly from-” There was an audible cough from the other room, it sounded painful, gut retching and a groan followed after and the young girl flinched. 

The girl then inhaled and shouted with finality in her voice. 

“I can’t!! I won’t! She’s my mommy! ”

The colors on RGB’s face twisted into a grimace. He had made yet another mistake. How? They were the perfect candidate. Who else could take the role? The human attachment to a parent was frustrating, regrettable. This one was too closely attached. For a Hero to rise, one must let go of all attachments. 

She wasn’t the one.

RGB then rose, looking down at the young girl and sighing. “I hope you understand that I will not be back. This is your last offer, kid.” He warned and watched as the girl did think about it for another moment. 

“I’m sorry, I can’t . I-I can’t leave mommy…”

RGB stared at the girl, before he began to shake his head and walk to the window. “Again with this. I was so certain.” He muttered, before he began climbing out the window. He stepped onto the stairwell, glancing back at the kid before walking off. 

“Another waste of time….At least she apologized.”

The young girl then rushed to the window, climbing up and peering out the window….

He was gone , leaving the girl to wonder about what just happened. Was this all just a dream?

Hearing her mother cough again, she rushed out of the room, ready to help her mother, her mind already made up. 

Chapter Text

“One day, you will be old enough to start reading fairytales again.”

― C.S. Lewis,  The Chronicles Of Narnia

Twenty Years Later

There was the sound of sizzling as [YN] put out her last cigarette of the night. The vanilla scent coated the air, yet it wasn’t unpleasant. It reminded her of a time before. 

Their eyes glanced up at the stars above as she reclined against the roof, inhaling the cool air. 

Her phone buzzed and she ignored it for a good long while. She wanted to feel the cold air before getting a good night's sleep. It was her nightly ritual. 

Retail, delivery, cleaning, bills. Sleeping, waking. Eating. Staring under the sky to get some semblance of sanity and to ponder life.

Buzz. Buzz. Buzz-

She sighed softly as she reached for her phone and pulled it out, seeing it was her friend calling she quickly answered. 

“Yo.”

“Uh, hi. Where are you?”

“My usual spot.”

“Okay but where though? That could be literally anything; Like your library, the bookstore, the bath-”

“The roof.” [YN] finished softly, making a face. 

“-Oh! So…is it too late for you to come read to your god daughter?”

“....Uh…well…” [YN] became sheepish. “I’m not having the best of times at the moment. Just uh…tell her I’ll get her something with chocolate tomorrow..?”

“Are you struggling with rent again?”

“Wha- No! Everything's fine. It’s upstairs you know, my head and all that. Nothing to do with rent. I’m fine!”

“Then you do remember what's tomorrow, right?”

[YN] paled, had she forgotten something yet again? “No I haven’t forgotten a thing. Uh…let me recheck my calendar and-” She pulled her phone away and checked her calendar, flicking through the damn months like speedy gonzales-

God daughters Birthday party. Coldstone creamery cake.

Oh, well I’m good and truly screwed. [YN] thought. I didn't even order the cake.

“You forgot, didn’t you.”

“Uh…N-No uh…I ordered a birthday cake for her! It will be ready tomorrow and we can have a nice…big party and go….s-somewhere.” [YN] was sweating now, her breath shuddering. She hated lying to cover her tracks.  She really had forgotten? She really was awful.

There was a long drawn out sigh. 

“[YN].....”

“L-Look, I’ll make tomorrow the best day she’s ever had and that's that! Maybe we could take her to the book store.” [YN] said. “You know how she loves picking out books for me to read to her.”

“A bookstore? Wouldn’t she have more fun at the water park? Also isn’t that my job?”

“Eh…True…Maaaaybeeee both?” [YN] said with a smile. “You know she likes to hear me read to her with different voices.”

“I don’t know, wouldn’t she be too excited?”

“Bookstore first, we don’t tell her about the waterpark until after.” [YN] said, glancing to her pocket. Why was she feeling such strange anxiety tonight? The stars usually calmed her down but now….

Something felt off.

Probably society was slowly crippling her.

“Anyway, I gotta tuck her in. She’s sad you’re not there tonight.”

“Aww. I gotta have my quiet moments.” [YN] said sadly. “I’ll read to her tomorrow after her adventure." She said, “We’re almost done with the Narnia series.”

“You’re obsessed with those books.”

“Yup. You know it.” [YN] said, before she hit the end call button. She wasn’t good at goodbyes. She sighed and placed her phone facedown next to her, before looking up at the sky again. 

Working in retail, sleepless nights, writing stories, missing rent. Ah yes, this was the life. 

And what a shitty life it was.

But it had its moments, reading every night to her goddaughter had its benefits, as she never had kids of her own. Things had just gotten in the way. Besides, her friend's daughter was a good practice to start with. 

……Two Hours later……

[YN] sighed softly, starting to feel frustration build. The night air wasn’t doing it for her. She began to sit up, rubbing her arms before she turned her head, hearing a window creak open and-

A strange figure was leaving the skylight window, the very same window that belonged to her god daughter.

What the-

That's  not-

What's going ON!?

 The figure then pulled what appeared to be her god daughter out from the window, and [YN]’s eyes bulged out of their head. They scrambled upward and rushed across the rooftops, almost tripping. 

...........

“There we go, upsa-daisy.” RGB said to Hero as she climbed out from the roof and rolled out. Hero had brown hair and dark eyes and wore her favorite red coat that her Godmother got her. She stepped up to RGB who seemed to observe the night air. Hero’s heart pounded excitedly in her chest. 

“Hmm. Well then!” RGB snapped his fingers and a hooked cane soon appeared and he waved it against the smoke coming out of the pipe chimney. The smoke began to take shape and formed into a flight of stairs. Hero gasped in surprise and wonder. 

“Whoa…” 

“Now, Shall we be off?”

“Yeah!” hero began to step onto the stairs. RGB began to follow behind, before a voice made him jump.

“LUUUUCY!!!!” Screamed [YN].

Hero stopped moving and her eyes widened. She turned, along with RGB to see her aunt running towards them. 

“Auntie?” Hero said in shock, glancing to RGB who was immediately on edge, he adjusted the volume dials on his face.  

“Caught red handed…” He whispered. “Time to improvise…” He sighed.

“A good morning to you! I was only going to show the dear girl here the sights-”

“GET AWAY FROM HER, YOU PERVERT!”

RGB felt a disgusted shiver rip through him and his mouth twisted into a grimace. His antenna turned crooked. “I-I....I beg your pardon?”

“LEAVE HER ALONE YOU……Y-You…” She came to a halt, staring at the anomalous…. man? In front of her.

The man wasn’t normal by any means. He bore a television as a head? And wore an old time pinstripe suit from the 20s? Thirties? 

Wait….

A chill crept up into her and the hairs on the back of her neck stood on end. Flashes of her old bedroom blanketed her thoughts. She heard a knock on the window, a flash of colors…..

And…..

…….

……

……

[YN] was startled out of her sleep when she heard a knock. At first she thought her mother had knocked on her door, but had not stepped inside. She blinked around tiredly in confusion and another knock was heard.

It was coming from the window.

A strange sight beheld her through the window as she pulled the curtains back.

A Television stared back at her, reflecting her face. Something in her brain made it look like it bore a face, but that couldn’t be right?

She jumped back and trembled, falling back on her bed and whimpering.

The strange entity looked at her for a moment before speaking. “Can you open the window a tad?” He asked with a muffled voice. 

[YN] was confused, glancing at the lock on the window. This strange thing was asking to come into her room in the middle of the night, even she knew something was off. 

“Mommy said I shouldn’t talk to….strangers.” She said, unsure of what to call him. He looked like a man but with that strange head….What was he?

“Strangers huh? Well, My name is RGB. What's your name?” He asked, his colorful mouth seemed to move into a smile. 

[YN] seemed to hesitate, she still wasn’t supposed to be talking to strangers. But he had just given his name?

“[YN].” She replied softly, before speaking up, forgetting he couldn’t hear. “[YN]!” She said, glancing to her shut bedroom door. Hopefully her mother didn’t hear. 

“Well then [YN], would you say we are strangers now? You know my name after all.” 

[YN]’s face twisted into confusion. It seemed…correct. It sounded true. But the intonations of it all…She wasn’t sure. 

“I-I don’t think….”

RGB then huffed, knowing he had to do better. “That book there, what are you reading?” 

[YN] looked at her book, biting her lip and moving to hide it under her blanket. “N-Nothing.” She said nervously. If anyone found out she was reading when she should be sleeping she was in trouble. 

“Nothing hmm? It certainly looks more than nothing.” He said, before he snapped his fingers. 

The window suddenly opened and [YN]’s eyes widened as he began climbing into her room nimbly. [YN] was tempted to scream, but his otherworldly appearance intrigued her.

“Y-You shouldn’t be in here. Mommy will catch you-”

“Dear, your mother is asleep. I don’t intend to wake her. Now, what is that you are hiding?” He asked and lifted the covers to her bed. [YN] tensed as the book The Lion The Witch And The Wardrobe was revealed.

“Ah, a classic.” He said and picked up the book carefully. “Now why hide this? ”

“I-I’m not supposed to be reading! I was supposed to be asleep…And Mommy doesn’t know I read chapters ahead. If she didn’t she would stop reading to me. She doesn’t want the story to be…. spoiled? ”

“Perhaps she is right. You read well then?” He noticed the bookmark. “Where did your mother stop reading previously?” 

[YN] then looked sheepish. “We’re not even past chapter two…I’m at chapter eight. She got sick….” 

“Tsk. You shouldn’t spoil so much. Too much fun at once could burn you out. Always take rests between chapters~”

[YN] went quiet, looking embarrassed and worried she would get in trouble. There was an awkward silence. 

“Are you gonna tell on me?”

RGB then huffed and gestured broadly. “At this hour? Certainly not. No, that would be a poor sport.” 

“T-Then why are you here?” [YN] asked. 

“It’s a simple question I have to ask you really.” He said then, starting to pace back and forth, glancing to the shut door. “I’ve spent time thinking about who to ask this question to. Only certain humans are qualified for it. You have to show bravery, strength. All the things that make one….a hero~ ” He turned his head to give that strange colorful smile. 

“A…hero?” [YN] looked confused, furrowing their brows. 

“Yes. Which brings me to my question. Would you like to be a hero? ” He snapped his fingers and a cane appeared in his hand and he twirled it carefully.

“A hero?” The girl said again, she seemed puzzled by this question and seemed to think deeply about this. “Do I have to save someone?” She asked then. “Like a rescue?”

“Yes! Exactly! You are needed to save the world. Or a world specifically. There would be adventures, dangers, scary monsters and such, not unlike what is in your book. But you would get the opportunity to see things you would never see in this reality-”

“Can I come back?”

There was a sudden pause in the air and RGB looked at her, surprised by the question. Normally, they never asked this question until after they left…This was going to be difficult to break down.  He debated on lying. But last time he pulled this...well it didn't end as good as he wished.

“No, one way trip I’m afraid, but you would become something much more than this-”

[YN]’s eyes widened and their heart began beating out of their chest. If she couldn’t come back, she wouldn’t see her mother again or hear her voice. And her leaving would worsen her mothers condition. She couldn’t do this to her, she could never be selfish.

“And you would be called Hero! You wouldn’t be anything else but a hero-” He was soon caught off guard by her answer.

“No.”

…….

……

…..

…

[YN] breathed out shakily, hot air escaping her visibly.  Her eyes seemed to clear but filled with uncertainty. “Who the….H-How….” [YN]’s eyes were wide. “You’re….real?”

I’ve completely lost it. I’ve snapped. This must be a crazy dream. Or…

Her eyes glanced to the ground below. 

I must have fallen. That's it. I must have fallen and died. Hit my head and split my skull on the pavement. That's it. This couldn’t be happening again. I couldn’t have gone round the bend. I’m too strong willed for that. I must be dead, or dying! Or maybe I feel asleep. Oh god I can’t make up my mind-

“There's no way any of this is real. Yes, I must be dreaming!” She said, snapping her fingers. “Why else would I have a dream about the strange man in my bedroom? Hahaha I must have fallen asleep. If I pinch myself I should be just fine.” But as she pinched herself she winced. And Hero looked worriedly up at her. 

“Auntie?”

Oh god no, this is really happening. [YN] thought. 

Strange man? Thought RGB. Who was this woman?

“Real? I say, what do you-” 

Wait, her eyes.

He paused, the colors on his face seemed to bleed a bit more and his expression turned to that of shock. His antenna stood straight up to attention. 

The crying child.

There was a flash in his memory, of a small child staring up at him, clutching a book to her chest and having the biggest eyes, crying tearfully in fear and uncertainty. The girl that declined his request….The one that he put hope into. That one that disappointed him. Who refused him-

“No!” Cried out the little girl. 

“No?....And why not, don’t you wish to be something more?”

“I’m sorry! Mommy needs me!”

“You….” RGB whispered. “It’s you….The one who chose to stay. Now why did I keep that memory? It’s odd that I would remember… that of all things.”

[YN]’s eyes widened and a chill went up their back, before they grit their teeth. “What are you doing with Lucy? ”

“Lucy hmm? I didn’t realize she had a name-”

“OF COURSE SHE HAS A NAME!” [YN] snapped. “What are you doing with her? Lucy! Why are you outside?!”

Lucy flinched and her big eyes welled with emotions. “He asked me if I wanted to be a hero! I said yes. I want to be a hero!”

[YN] felt her life flashing before her eyes at that statement. The moment RGB asked her to be a hero and explain what it would actually entail, it was manipulative. 

“He’s leading you into danger , Lucy. Please . Your mother is asleep and she would be scared sick if she didn’t find you in the morning. You don't understand-” As she spoke, her voice turned aggressive. Her posture showed fear and Hero tensed. 

“Danger? He said there would be danger. But I’m tough! I’m strong enough!”

[YN] was surprised to hear this from her, her eyes widening. Her blood began to boil and rise. “You’re a child, Lucy.  You’re brave, strong. But this isn’t what you think it is. Adventure can be fun. But then there's real dangers. We don’t know where this man is taking you. You could get hurt, Or worse!”

“B-But….” Hero began to bite their lip and looked back at RGB who simply stood there with a grimace on his colorful mouth. 

RGB was already thinking this was a lost cause. They had been caught. Hero was going to be taken from him. He hadn’t taken into account this possibility. He had watched this hero for a while, but not long enough. And who would expect the failed hero to be the reason for this next failed mission?

“Lucy, You don’t understand, you could d-”

“NO!" Hero suddenly screamed out, her eyes shutting tight as she did it. 

[YN] froze, her hand was reaching out to Lucy but completely halted in it's track. She has said no just like her...but for all the wrong reasons. 

"L-Lucy?"

"I said NO! I WANT TO BE A HERO!” Hero shouted again and began running up the foggy steps, dashing past a surprised RGB who stood there for a moment before he began to chuckle.

[YN] immediately began rushing forward. “LUCY-”

“I believe Hero has made her choice.” RGB said with a grin and twirled his cane, the steps began to slowly vanish one by one leading up to him and [YN]’s mind raced fast. There was a growing gap between them. 

If she went back and told Lucy’s mother that she let a strange man walk off with her, her mother would be forever angry, broken and upset with her. And if she told authorities about this strange TV man from her childhood had kidnapped Hero, she would be locked up for good. 

I'm not abandoning her.

She's my family. 

I'm no coward.

Her body began to move on its own and she lunged forward, leaping and reaching out, her hands grasping the third step and causing her to dangle off it's ledge. RGB gasped in surprised at this, not expecting this. 

“What are you doing? You can’t go with-”

“SAYS WHO!? THATS MY GOD DAUGHTER! ” [YN] screamed out, clinging to the edge of the step and struggling to pull themselves up. 

“This is Hero's story, not yours. ” He said and grumbled. “Say you’ll go back, forget this nonsense and I’ll let you go back safely.” 

“NOT A CHANCE BLOCKHEAD!” [YN] said and glanced down and gasped, realizing they were dangling at least a hundred to two hundred feet off the ground. If they feel…well, the road and sidewalk would be a different shade of colors in the morning.  

 “Goodness, you are stubborn. Just as you were back then…That didn’t change.” 

“Let me up NOW!” [YN] said and felt her fingers starting to slip. How was this cloud solid , how did any of this work? This was madness, this was like a nightmare, only she was going to die if she fell-

“Ugh.” It was then the cane he had from before was held out to her. There was only a moments pause. But it made all the difference. [YN] was surprised by the offer. But also how could this skinny man lift her?

[YN] grabbed it without question. RGB then pulled them onto the steps and sighed. [YN] was stunned by his strength.

“You’ll only slow us down. But fine. You want to see so badly what awaits Hero then please, don't let me stop you.”

[YN] then straightened and stared up at him, eyes narrowing. “If you let anything happen to Hero, I will personally punch a hole in your stupid screen face thing.” They said with malice and stood up, brushing their sweater and hurriedly scrambling up the steps, almost shoving RGB but thought better of it. 

RGB gave a shrug. “Wouldn’t be the first time~ Now hurry along.” He said and turned away from her. 

[YN] looked behind her but was surprised to see the world she came from was gone, replaced by a wall of white clouds. 

What had she done? Wasn’t this a one way trip? She couldn’t let Hero go alone. She just couldn’t. She continued to race up the steps to find Hero.

RGB watched her go, huffing. “This will complicate matters…”