Once Upon A Time
There was an enchanted forest filled with all the classic character we know.
Or think we know.
One day they found themselves trapped in place where all their happy endings were stolen.
Our World.
This is how it happened...
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"You're too late."
"No. NO! ...Open it."
"I'm sorry. She's gone."
"At least let me say goodbye."
"You, you found me."
"Did you ever doubt I would?"
"Truthfully, the glass coffin gave me pause."
"Well you never have to worry. I will always find you."
"Do you promise?"
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"I do."
"And do you, Snow White, promise to take this man to be your husband and love him for all eternity?"
"I do."
"I now pronounce you husband and wife."
"Hey."
"Sorry I'm late."
"The queen! Run!"
"She's not a queen anymore! She's nothing more than an evil witch!"
"No, no, no, don't stoop to her level. There's no need. You're wasting your time. You've already lost. And I will not let you ruin this wedding."
"Oh, I haven't come here to ruin anything. On the contrary, dear, I've come to give you a gift."
"We want nothing from you."
"But you shall have it! My gift to you is this happy, happy day but tomorrow my real work begins. You've made your vows. Now I make mine. Soon everything you love, everything all of you love, will be taken from you forever. And out of your suffering will rise my victory. I shall destroy your happiness if it is the last thing I do."
"Hey!"
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"That a good book?"
"This, it's more than just a book."
"Oh."
"Boston South Station. Thank you for riding Greyhound."
"Hold on."
"Uh, do you take credit cards?"
"Where to, chief?"
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Emma?"
"Ryan? You look relieved."
"Uh, well, it is the internet. Pictures can be-"
"Fake, outdated, stolen from a Victoria's Secret catalog. So..."
"So, um, tell me something about yourself, Emma?"
"Oh, uh, well, today's my birthday."
"And you're spending it with me? What about your friends?"
"Kind of a loner."
"And, you don't like your family?"
"No family to like."
"Oh, come on, everyone has a family."
"Technically, yeah. Not everyone knows who they are.. Ready to run yet?"
"Oh, not a chance. You, Emma, are by far the sexiest friendless orphan that I have ever met."
"Okay. Your turn. No, wait, let me guess. Um, you are handsome..charming."
"Go on."
"The kind of guy who - and now stop me if I get this wrong - embezzled from your employer, got arrested, and skipped town before they were able to throw your ass in jail."
"What?"
"And the worst part of all of this is your wife. Your wife loves you so much that she bailed you out and how do you repay that loyalty? You're on a date."
"Who are you?"
"The chick who put up the rest of the money."
"You're a bail-bondsman."
"Bail-bonds person. ...Really?"
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"You don't have to do this, okay? I can pay you. I've got money."
"No, you don't and if you did you should give it to your wife to take care of your family."
"What the hell do you know about family, huh?"
"Nothing."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Another banner year... Uh, can I help you?"
"Are you Emma Swan?"
"Yeah, who are you?"
"My name's Henry. I'm your son."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Whoa, kid, kid, kid. Kid! I don't have a son. Where are your parents?"
"Ten years ago, did you give up a baby for adoption? That was me."
"Give me a minute."
"Hey, you have any juice? Oh, nevermind, found some. You know, we should probably get going."
"Going where?"
"I want you to come home with me."
"Okay, kid, I'm calling the cops."
"And I'll tell 'em you kidnapped me."
"And they'll believe you because I'm your birth mother."
"Yep."
"You're not gonna do that."
"Try me."
"You're pretty good but here's the thing. There's not a lot I'm great at in life but I have one skill. Let's call it a superpower. I can tell when anyone is lying and you, kid, are."
"Wait. Please don't call the cops, please. Come home with me."
"Where is home?"
"Storybrooke, Maine."
"Storybrooke? Seriously?"
"Mmhmm."
"Alrighty, then. Let's get you back to Storybrooke."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing."
"You're thinking about what the queen said again, aren't you? Snow, please, I can't keep having this conversation. You have to let it go. We're about to have a baby."
"I haven't had a restful night since our wedding."
"That's what she wants - to get in your head - but they're only words. She can't hurt us."
"She poisoned an apple because she thought I was prettier than her. You have no idea what she's capable of."
"What can I do to ease your mind?"
"Let me talk to him."
"Him? You don't mean..?"
"I do."
"No, no, no, it's too dangerous."
"He sees the future."
"There's a reason he's locked up."
"Can you promise me that our child will be safe? Can you guarantee it? Because he can."
"Alright, for our child."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"I'm hungry. You wanna stop somewhere?"
"This is not a road trip. We're not stopping for snacks."
"Why not?"
"Quit complaining, kid. Remember I could've put your butt on a bus. I still could."
"You know I have a name? It's Henry."
"What's that?"
"I'm not sure you're ready."
"Ready for some fairytales?"
"They're not fairytales, they're true. Every story in this book actually happened."
"Of course it did."
"Use your superpower. See if I'm lying."
"Just because you believe something doesn't make it true."
"That's exactly what makes it true. You should know more than anyone."
"Why is that?"
"Because you're in this book."
"Oh, kid, you've got problems."
"Yep, and you're gonna fix 'em."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"When we reach to the cell, stay out of the light. And whatever you do, do not let him know your name. If he knows your name, he will have power over you. Rumplestiltskin! Rumplestiltskin! I have a question for you!"
"No, you don't. They do. Snow White and Prince Charming! You insult me. Step into the light and take off those ridiculous robes. Ah-ha-ha. That's much better."
"We've come to ask you about the-"
"Yes, yes! I know why you're here! You wanna know about the queen's threat."
"Tell us what you know!"
"Tense, aren't we? Fear not, for I can ease your mind. But...it's gonna cost you something in return."
"No. This is a waste of time."
"What do you want?"
"Oh, the name of your unborn child."
"Absolutely not."
"Deal! What do you know?"
"The queen has created a powerful curse. And it's coming. Soon you'll all be in a prison just like me - only worse! Your prison, all of our prisons, will be time. Time will stop and we will be trapped someplace horrible where everything we hold dear, everything we love, will be ripped from us while we suffer for all eternity. While the queen celebrates victorious at last! No more happy endings."
"What can we do?"
"We can't do anything."
"Who can?"
"That little thing growing inside your belly."
"Next time I cut it off!"
"The infant is our only hope. Get the child to safety. Get the child to safety and on its... twenty-eighth birthday, the child will return, the child will find you, and the final battle will begin!"
"We've heard enough! We're leaving.'
"Hey, no! We made a deal! I want her name! We had a deal! I need her name! I want her name!"
"Her? It's a boy."
"Missy, missy, you know I'm right. Tell me, what's her name?"
"Emma. Her name is Emma."
"Emma."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Okay, kid, how about an address?"
"44 not-telling-you street."
"Look, it's been a long night and it's almost... 8:15?"
"That clock hasn't moved my whole life. Time's frozen here."
"Excuse me?"
"The evil queen did it with her curse. She sent everyone from the Enchanted Forest here."
"Say again, an evil queen sent a bunch a fairytale characters here?"
"Yeah, and now they're trapped."
"Frozen in time, stuck in Storybrooke, Maine. That's what you're going with?"
"It's true."
"Then why doesn't everybody just leave?"
"They can't. If they try, bad things happen."
"Henry! What are you doing here? Is everything alright?"
"I'm fine, Archie."
"Who's this?"
"Someone trying to give him a ride home."
"She's my mom, Archie."
"Oh, I see."
"You know where he lives?"
"Yeah, sure, just, uh, right up on Street. The mayor's house is the biggest one on the block."
"You're the mayor's kid?"
"Uh, maybe."
"Oh, hey, where were you today, Henry? Because you missed your session."
"Oh, well, I forgot to tell you.. I went on a field trip."
"Henry, what did I tell you about lying? Giving into one's dark side never accomplishes anything."
"Okay, well, I really should be getting him home."
"Yeah, sure. Well, listen, you have a good night and, uh, you be good, Henry."
"So that's your shrink?"
"I'm not crazy."
"Didn't say that. It's just he doesn't seem cursed to me. Maybe he's just trying to help you."
"He's the one who needs help because he doesn't know."
"That he's a fairytale character."
"None of them do. They don't remember who they are."
"Convenient. Alright, I'll play. Who's he supposed to be?"
"Jiminy Cricket!"
"Oh, right, the lying thing. Thought your nose grew a little bit."
"I'm not Pinnocchio."
"Of course you're not, 'cause that would be ridiculous."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"I say we fight!"
"Fighting is a bad idea. Giving into one's dark side never accomplishes anything."
"And how many wars has a clear conscience won? We need to take the queen out before she can inflect her curse."
"Can we even trust Rumplestiltskin?"
"I've sent my men into the forest. The animals are abuzz with the queen's plan. This is going to happen unless we do something."
"There is no point. The future is written."
"No, no, I refuse to believe that. Good can't just loose."
"Yeah, it can."
"No, no. Not as long as we have each other. If you believe him about the curse, then you must believe him about our child. She will be the savior. What the hell is this?"
"Our only hope of saving that child."
"A tree? Our fate rests on a tree? Let's get back to the fighting thing."
"The tree is enchanted - if fashioned into a vessel it can ward off any curse. Geppetto, can you build such a thing?"
"Me and my boy, we can do it."
"This will work. We all must have faith. There is, however, a catch. The enchantment is indeed powerful but all power has its limits. And this tree can protect only one."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Please don't take me back there."
"I have to. I'm sure your parents are worried sick about you."
"I don't have parents. Just a mom and she's evil."
"Evil? That's a bit extreme, isn't it?"
"She is. She doesn't love me, she only pretends to."
"Oh, kid, I'm sure that's not true."
"Henry?! Henry! Oh, are you okay? Where have you been? What happened?"
"I found my real mom!"
"You're Henry's birth mother?"
"Hi."
"I'll just go check on the lad and make sure he's alright."
"How would you like a glass of the best apple cider you've ever tasted?"
"Got anything stronger?"
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"How did he find me?"
"No idea. When I adopted him, he was only three weeks old. Records were sealed. I was told the birth mother didn't want to have any contact."
"You were told right."
"And the father?"
"There was one."
"Do I need to be worried about him?"
"Nope, he doesn't even know."
"Do I need to be worried about you, Ms Swan?"
"Absolutely not."
"Madam Mayor, you can relax. Other than being a tired little boy, Henry's fine."
"Thank you, Sheriff. I'm sorry he dragged you out of your life. I really don't know what's gotten into him."
"Kid's having a rough time - happens."
"You have to understand ever since I became mayor balancing things has been tricky. You have a job, I assume?"
"Uh, I keep busy, yeah."
"Imagine having another one on top of it. That's being a single mom so I push for order. Am I strict? I suppose but I do it for his own good. I want Henry to excel in life. I don't think that makes me evil. Do you?"
"I'm sure he's just saying that because of the fairytale thing."
"What fairytale thing?"
"Oh, you know, his book - how he thinks everyone's a cartoon character from it. Like his shrink is Jiminy Cricket."
"I'm sorry I really have no idea what you're talking about."
"You know what? It's none of my business. He's your kid and I really should be heading back home."
"Of course."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Sneaky bastard."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"I don't want to do this."
"It has to be you."
"I'm not leaving you."
"Snow, it's the only way. You'll go in there and you'll be safe from the curse."
"He said it would be on her twenty-eighth birthday."
"What's twenty-eight years when you have eternal love? I have faith. You will save me as I did you. ...What is it?"
"The baby. She's coming!"
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Wake up, wake up! Look. The curse! IT'S HERE!"
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"What are you lookin' at, sister?"
"Hey, Leroy, manners. We have a guest. So you are Henry's mother. How lovely for him to have you back in his life."
"Actually, I was just dropping him off."
"Don't blame you. They're all brats. Who needs 'em."
"Well, I'd give anything for one. My wife and I, we tried for many years but, uh, it was not meant to be."
"Well cry me a river."
"Leroy! I'm gonna let you out. You need to behave. Put on a smile and stay out of trouble."
"Seriously?"
"Regina's drink's a little stronger than we thought."
"I wasn't drunk. There was a wolf standing in the middle of the road."
"A wolf? Right."
"Graham, Henry's run away again. And I have to-- What is she doing here? Do you know where he is?"
"Lady, I haven't seen him since I dropped him at your house and I've got a pretty good alibi."
"Yeah, well, he wasn't in his room this morning?"
"Did you try his friends'?"
"He doesn't really have any. He's kind of a loner."
"Every kid has friends. Did you check his computer? If he's close to somebody, he'd be emailing them."
"And you know this how?"
"Finding people's what I do. Here's an idea how about you guys let me out and I'll help you find him."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Smart kid. He cleared his inbox. I'm smart, too. A little hard disk recovery utility I like to use."
"I'm bit more old-fashioned in my techniques.. Pounding the pavement, knocking on doors. That sort of thing."
"You're on salary. I get paid for delivery. Pounding the pavement is not a luxury I get. Huh, here's a receipt for a website: whosyourmamma.org. It's expensive. He has a credit card?"
"He's ten."
"Well, he used one. Let's pull up a transaction record. Mary Margaret Blanchard. Who's Mary Margaret Blanchard?"
"Henry's teacher."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"As we build our birdhouses, remember what you're making is a home not a cage. A bird is free and will do what it will. This is for them, not us. They're loyal creatures. If you love them and they love you, they will always find you.We'll pick this up after recess. No running! Why, thank you. Ms Mills, what are you doing here?"
"Where's my son?"
"Henry? I assumed he was home sick with you."
"Do you think I'd be here if he was? Did you give him your credit card so he could find her?"
"I'm sorry, who are you?"
"I'm his..I'm his--"
"The woman who gave him up for adoption."
"You don't know anything about this do you?"
"No, unfortunately not. Clever boy. I should've never given him that book."
"What in the hell is this book I keep hearing about?"
"Just some old stories I gave him. As you well know, Henry is a special boy. So smart, so creative, and, as you might be aware, lonely. He needed it."
"What he needs is a dose of reality. This is a waste of time. Have a nice trip back to Boston."
"Sorry to bother you."
"No, no, it's okay. I fear this is partially my fault."
"How's the book supposed to help?"
"What do you think stories are for? These stories, the classics? There's a reason we all know them. They're a way for us to deal with our world if it doesn't all make sense. See, Henry hasn't had the easiest life."
"Yeah, she's kind of a hard ass."
"No, it's more than her. It's like any adopted child, he wrestles with that most basic question they all inevitably face, 'why would anyone give me away?' I am so sorry. I am so sorry. I didn't mean in any way to judge you."
"It's okay."
"Look, I gave the book to Henry because I want him to have the most important thing anyone can have - hope. Believing in even the possibility of a happy ending is a very powerful thing."
"You know where he is, don't you?"
"You might want to check his castle."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Ahh! Ahh! No, I cannot have this baby now!"
"Doc, do something! It's gonna be okay. The wardrobe's almost finished, just - just hold on."
"NO! Ahh!"
"It's ready."
"Great."
"It's too late. We can't move her."
"Push!"
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"The wardrobe. It only takes one."
"Then our plan has failed."
"At least we're together."
"No, you have to take her. Take the baby to the wardrobe."
"Are you out of your mind?"
"No, I know. It's the only way. We have to save our girl."
"No, no, you don't know what you're saying!"
"No, I do. We have to believe that she'll come back for us. We have to give her her best chance. Goodbye, Emma."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Find us."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"You left this in my car. It still hasn't moved, huh?"
"I was hoping that when I brought you back things would change here, that the final battle would begin."
"I'm not fighting any battles, kid."
"Yes, you are. You're here because it's your destiny. You're going to bring back the happy endings."
"Kid, cut it with the book crap."
"You don't have to be hostile. I know you like me, I can tell. You're just pushing me away because I make you feel guilty. It's okay. I know why you gave me away. You wanted to give me my best chance."
"How do you know that?"
"It's the same reason Snow White gave you away."
"Listen to me, kid, I am not in any book. I'm a real person and I'm no savior. But you're right about one thing, though: I wanted you to have your best chance - but it's not with me. Come on. Let's go."
"Please don't take me back there. Just stay with me for one week, that's all I ask. Just one week and you'll see I'm not crazy."
"We have to get you back to your mom."
"You don't know what it's like with her. My life sucks."
"Oh, you want to know what sucking is? Being left abandoned on the side of a freeway. My parents didn't even bother to drop me off at a hospital. I ended up in the foster system and I had a family until I was three but then they had their own kid so they sent me back. Look, your mom is trying her best. I know it's hard and I know sometimes you think she doesn't love you. But at least she wants you."
"Your parents didn't leave you on the side of the freeway. That's just where you came through.""What?"
"The wardrobe. When you went through the wardrobe, you appeared in the street. Your parents were trying to save you from the curse."
"Sure they were. Come on, Henry."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"No, no! No, no, no, no. Please, please come back to me."
"Oh, don't worry, dear. In a few moments you won't remember you knew him, let alone loved him."
"Why did you do this?"
"Because this is my happy ending! The child?"
"Gone. It was in the wardrobe, then it was gone. It's nowhere to be found."
"Where is she?!"
"She got away! You're going to lose, I know that now. Good will always win."
"We'll see about that."
"Where are we going?"
"Somewhere horrible, absolutely horrible. A place where the only happy ending will be mine."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Thank you."
"No problem."
"He seems to have taken quite a shine to you."
"You know it's kind of crazy. Yesterday was my birthday and, when I blew out the candle on this cupcake I bought myself, I actually made a wish that I didn't have to be alone on my birthday. And then Henry showed up."
"I hope there's no misunderstanding here."
"I'm sorry?"
"Don't mistake all this as an invitation back into his life."
"Oh--"
"Ms Swan, you made a decision ten years ago. And in the last decade while you've been, well, who knows what you've been doing.. I've changed every diaper, soothed every fever, endured every tantrum. You may have given birth to him but he is my son."
"I was not--"
"No! You don't get to speak. You don't get to do anything. You gave up that right when you tossed him away. Do you know what a closed adoption is? It's what you asked for. You have no legal right to Henry and you're going to be held to that. So I suggest you get in your car and you leave this town because, if you don't, I will destroy you if it is the last thing I do. Goodbye, Ms Swan."
"Do you love him?"
"Excuse me?"
"Henry. Do you love him?"
"Of course I love him."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"You're out all night and now you're going out again!"
"I should've moved to Boston!"
"Well, I'm sorry my heart attack interfered with your plans to sleep your way down the eastern seaboard."
"Excuse me, I'd like a room."
"Really?"
"Would you like a forest view or a square view? Normally there's an upgrade fee for the square but as rent is due I'll waive it."
"Square is fine."
"Now, what's the name?"
"Swan. Emma Swan."
"Emma, what a lovely name."
"Thanks."
"It's all here."
"Yes, yes, of course it is, dear. Thank you. You enjoy your stay, Emma."
"Who's that?"
"Mr. Gold. He owns this place."
"The inn?"
"No, the town. So how long will you be with us?"
"A week, just a week."
"Great. Welcome to Storybrooke."
