Jegulus One Shots <3

#53 Forest Dweller (Part Two)

James ventured through the forest, he seemed to be having walked for days but the trees above him were too tall and blocked any light he could indicate of time. James paused in the middle of the forest and noticed a path appear, James smiled and walked over to the lined dirt, finally happy to have found a path he could follow.

As James continued down the road he heard a familiar whistle coming from the end of the pathway. James shook his head in frustration, his eyes widening at what was in front of him.

"No, no no no, please don't tell me- yep I've been walking around in circles. Gods fucking damn it"

James reluctantly walked down the path and knocked on Regulus' front door, except this time he heard someone call out for him from the other side of the hut. James looked beside the house and saw Regulus weeding the flowers in his garden and picking herbs from his veggie patch.

"Hiya James, how's your quest going?"

"Regulus?" James walked slowly, he felt like he was in a trance as he came closer, listening to Regulus' voice as it trailed through the air. When James neared he realized something was off about the person in front of him. There was something wrong, he was wrong, it was as if Regulus was almost glitching, yet James couldn't stop moving.

"Well of course it's me, you came back early James. Did you want to be with me? Please say you do"

James tried to hold himself still but couldn't, he went to respond when a flash of light suddenly hit Regulus and sent James flying backwards. When James looked up Regulus was looking down at him and then back at the doppelgänger in frustration.

"Regulus" James said it with more confidence this time, he knew this was the right one.

"Yes, my apologies for that. Foul creatures, I'm impressed you at least acknowledged something was wrong though rather than just leaping into its arms like most of them do"

James dusted himself off and looked past Regulus at the grey sludge that now remained, "what was that?"

"A form of shapeshifter, they prey on your desires"

James' face went red, "my desires? Did you hear what I said..."

Regulus lied, "no, only you can see it's depiction"

James nodded, "how did I get back here? I've been walking for ages, away from your home not back to it!"

Regulus snapped a bit of crystal that was hanging from his hat, "yes I'd like to know why as well, let's find out"

James followed Regulus inside, looking around at the familiar sight, noticing that the potion he had placed on the shelf was still there, and for some reason that made James smile. James watched Regulus crush the piece of crystal and then add a golden liquid into the mixture.

"Pass me the crystal ball"

James looked around the room and then handed the ball to Regulus, trying not to laugh when Regulus turned around, the glasses he was wearing making his eyes look three times the size.

"What are you smiling at?"

"Nothing, nothing. You look cute"

"...are you making fun of my glasses?"

"Maybe"

"You're wearing glasses?"

"Yeah but not ones that make me look like a mad scientist"

Regulus grinned then shrugged, "I am a mad scientist, why do you think your little king kicked me out of the kingdom?"

James went to speak before Regulus cut him off, pouring the mixture over the crystal ball to reveal a picture of James and Regulus standing exactly where they were.