Once Upon a Dream (Golden Guard x Gender-Neutral Reader)

Flowers From Backstage

"And so the Good Witch Azura raised her magic scepter over her head and glared at Hecate, fiery embers burning in her eyes. She hissed air into her lungs through gritted teeth, then foolishly cried the following words."

"'I challenge you to a witch's duel!'" Edric exclaimed passionately as he pointed an old broomstick at you. The end of it was mounted by a small bat creature that had absolutely zero thoughts behind its eyes. It went from resting upon the end to hanging upside down, hiding its face behind its wings in order to rest. It took everything you had not to laugh. Looking at Ed's face, he felt the same way. And Em too. The smallest Blight however was taking this quite seriously, despite the fact that the little horde of children gathered were not. They pointed and giggled at the bat softly enough to allow Mittens to continue.

"Hecate dipped her hat over one eye and glowered at Azura with the other." Mittens narrated before giving you a look. You did as she said.

"'On what terms?'" You glanced at the notes you had hidden on the inner brim of your hat.

Ed took a step forward per Mittens's instructions and stamped his broom against the ground. "'If I win, you release my friend and let us pass through the bog safely!'"

He paused, then took the hat from atop his head and held it to his chest.

"'And join me in my fight against your master, the Evil King Ferys.'"

The crowd of children gasped, one rather tall child in the front letting out a dramatic "WHY?!" You widened your eyes.

"'You expect me to betray my mentor over one frivolous duel?'"

"'You say that as if you're already certain you'll lose.'" A grin spread across Ed's cheeks. You stood tall, face unamused and on the verge of fuming. Then with closed eyes, you exhaled heavily through your nose. Once you opened them again, a smirk formed along the corner of your mouth. You lifted one leg and fell forward in a confident saunter. One foot after the other, you found yourself only a foot away from Edric.

"'Fine. But if I win...'" You leaned down to Ed's eye level. "'You, and your little mutt, will be mine.'"

The crowd gasped once again and your smile deepened.

"'Have we got a deal?'" You extended your hand towards Ed. He deepened his brows, his cheeks and ears turning red with very convincing rage.

"'Don't do it, Azura!'" Shouted Emira from a nearby chair she'd been "bound" to. In reality, it was just an illusion of tree roots wrapped around her. Her nose was painted black, accompanied by three dots on either cheek and a pair of very goofy looking dog ears sitting on her head.

"'Hecate will destroy you!'" She exclaimed again. Ed paid her no mind, instead casting a small circle and shaking your hand through it. The circle collapsed in on your hands and he pulled you closer so that the two of you were now nose to nose. His eyes fell upon yours.

"'Deal.'"

There was a brief pause as the weight of what just happened settled into the crowd. The lot was flabbergasted.

At least they were until one of the kids shouted something that caught you off guard.

"Are they gonna kiss?!"