Once Upon a Time: Ever After High (Book 8)

Ch.18 Alter ego

Now back at the science lab, everyone watched as Dr. Jekyll used his lab equipment to recreate the serum.

"So Jackson" Aidan suddenly said "You can really change into your alter ego?"

"Yes" he said "It only happens when I hear loud music, so please don't play any loud music around me."

"But uh, I kinda wanna see your other haft."

"No way, my other haft is loud and obnoxious, you don't want to meet him."

"It's true" Rachel agreed.

"Oh dear" Dr. Jekyll suddenly said while looking at the fluid.

"What?" everyone said.

"It appears I'm missing an ingredient, the purple flowers that I grew in the front yard."

"Oh man" Jackson whined "I completely forgot about those."

"I can't finish the serum without them."

"Hey wait a minute" Darling suddenly said as her face lit up "I think I saw flowers like those at the garden center."

"Really?" everyone said surprised.

"Well I'm not entirely sure, but Jenna does know a lot about flowers, maybe she can help us."

"You're right" Terrence agreed "She is the flower expert."

"Okay then, I'll go talk to Jenna."

And with that she headed out. But as soon as she was gone, Aidan's suddenly got a text on his phone and he checked it.

"Oh hey" he said "Kendell's band released a new song."

And with that he started to play the rock and roll song out loud on his phone.

"Oh no" Jackson's eyes widen as he covered his ears "Loud music!"

All of a sudden he began to feel himself change to his alter ego. His skin turned blue, his hair became the colors of flames, his outfit changed to a more edgy style, and he shouted out a loud rock and roll yell that pierced everyone's ears. Now standing where Jackson used to be was now Holy Hyde.

"Wow!" he yelled with enthusiasm "Does it feel good to be back!"

He then noticed that everyone was looking at him with their eyes widen and their jaws dropped except for Rachel and Dr. Jekyll.

"What are you all looking at?!" Holt asked "Do I have something on my face?"

"Uh, everyone" Rachel said "Meet Holt Hyde."

"I can see why Jackson didn't want me to play loud music" Aidan said with a surprised look.

"Dr. Jekyll?" Holt said to the doctor "Is that really you?! Long time no see!"

"It's good to see you too Holt" Jekyll said with a fake smile.

"Uh, how come you don't look like your father?" Olivia asked.

"It's a long complicated story" Holt said "Which is too boring to explain. But Cupid told me that my old man is locked up now, that's a relief."

"Okay Holt" Rachel said as he held up her phone "It was nice seeing you, but we need Jackson back."

And with that she began to play a slow song on her phone as Holt felt himself turn back into Jackson.

"Thanks" he said in relief.

"Okay then" Aidan said "No more playing loud music around Jackson."

"So now you guys have met my alter ego" Jackson said to everyone.

"And I have to agree with you" Elena said "He is loud."

"You get used to it" Rachel put in.

________

Now at the garden center, Darling made her way inside where she called out Jenna's name, but there was no reply.

"Hey Darling" Jillian came up to her "Can I help you with something?"

"Yeah where's Jenna?" Darling asked.

"I don't know, I just came here and I couldn't find her. Is there anything I can help you?"

"I think so" she said as she pulled out her phone "Do you know if you grow any of these purple flowers here."

She showed her a photo of the purple flowers.

"Hm..." Jillian said as she thought about it "I'm not sure, I think Jenna can help you with that once I know where she is."

"I'm right here" Jenna suddenly appeared.

"Oh great" Darling said "I need your help, do you grow any of these purple flowers here?"

She showed her the photo.

"As a matter of fact I do" she smiled as she went away and later returned with a small plastic bucket containing the purple flowers "Here you go."

"Oh thanks Jenna" Darling smiled as she took the plant.

"Hey where you by the way?" Jillian asked Jenna "I couldn't find you anywhere."

"Well-" Jenna said "I want actually planning on telling you later, but since you're here, you might wanna see this."

And with that Jillian and Darling followed Jenna through the flower when they soon came upon the soil path that was now sprouting flowers.

"Are those Middlemists?" Darling asked.

"Yep" Jenna smiled.

"This is what you wanted to show me?" Jillian asked.

"Look closely."

As Jillian examined the flowers, she suddenly spotted one that caught her eye as she gasped.

"Is that-" she started to say with a surprised look.

"A Red Middlemist?" Jenna finished with a smile "You bet it is."

"Oh my God" Jillian gasped as she looked at the red middlemist that was starting to sprout "How did you manage to grow it?"

"I found a vessel containing water from Lake Nostos in Mr. Gold's shop, and I used it to water the middlemist seeds and just like how it said in the book, a red middlemist is now growing."

"Oh, I'm not catching on" Darling suddenly said "But why is a red middlemist so important?"

"Well back at Ever After, right before the curse happened, I learned about a magical flower called the Red Middlemist that has the ability to protect against dark magic, and I was planning on using it to protect us from the Evil Queen's curse. But as soon as I was heading back to Ever After with water from Lake Nostos which was the only thing that can grow a red middlemist, the curse happened so I was never able to plant it.

But now that we have our memories back, I've been trying to plant a red middlemist for as long as I can remember, but I apparently forgot that it needed water from Lake Nostos. But thankfully I finally remembered it and I was able to find it in Mr. Gold's shop and now, a red middlemist is starting to grow. And once it's fully grown, it may be able to help us break the curse."

"Wow" Darling gasped with smile as she turned to the patch "I gotta say Jenna, you really may of found a way to help us break the curse."