Notes: I had originally started writing this before my other story here then I meet a plot bunny that became Shadows of ourselves. So there will be a few similarities (mostly in regards to some OCs and their back stories, as they were envisioned originally for this story)but this one is very close to canon. I'll try to release chapters for both, around the same time.
Chapter 1: Encounters in New York
The journey to New York was if anything was painfully awkward. It consisted of Henry probing Gold with hundreds of questions and Gold quickly snapping an answer back, living up to crocodile nickname. Thankfully, they had just arrived at their hotel.
"So now that we're finally here, how do you expect us to find him in a city of millions?" she gestured to people around them.
"With this." He said as he reached into his coat pocket with his right hand, dangling an amber-like gem on string in front of her, before handing it over to her. "I've enchanted it before we left. Think of it as a compass. It will point in whatever direction my son is in, glowing brighter the nearer he is. It will turn green when it comes into contact with one who has my blood."
"Great." She said non-enthusiastically, remembering all the trouble the last compass she had brought her. She examined the object in the palm of her hand, it wasn't anything special, a simple arrow-shaped pendant formed out of amber already glowing.
It had been three long days since they first arrived at New York. Their days consisted mostly of Henry dragging Gold along site seeing, while Emma ran around looking for Gold's son. So far they were nowhere in their search. The pendant would sway one way then swing the other way, many times it would lead back to Gold and Henry. Emma confronted Gold saying the thing was broken, but he said that there was nothing wrong.
Emma woke to the pendant's bright light, glowing brighter than it had in the past two days. Glancing at the clock, 4:42, who the hell is up at this time?She thought. Hastily, she got up, wrote a quick note to Gold and left the hotel room, hoping this would be the end of their search.
The pendant lead her to a park. Aside from the few passed out drunks it was deserted, probably all in bed still, and they said New York is the city that never sleeps. She cautiously walked by each of the passed out drunks, part of her thought it would entertaining if one them were Gold's son, but most of her hoped that none of them were, she didn't want to drag any them back to the hotel, thankfully none of them were.
The pendant begins to sway rapidly from side to side, flashing rapidly, before fading. Great I'm losing him. Never one to give up on a chase, Emma breaks into a run, following the pendant, leading her to one of the park's trails. The trails run deep into the forest. The pendent flashes brighter in the forest. She's getting closer. The trees are thick, her only source of light is the swinging pendent. It leads her deeper and deeper into the forest, through twists and turns.
BANG.
She falls to the ground and looks up to see her hooded assailant.
"I'm so sorry." The assailant says as he lowers his hood and offering her a hand. "You alright, miss…?"
"Swan, Emma Swan." She says as he helps her stand.
"Well Miss Swan, I'm Ricky. I must apologize again I'm not use to having the trails occupied this early in the day. "
The two begin to walk down the trail.
"So what brings you here so early in the morning?" He asks trying to make conversation.
"What makes you think I'm not out for a morning jog?"
"You don't exactly strike to me as a morning person." He says before adding." And you aren't exactly dressed for jogging. "He smirks.
"Fine you caught me. I'm looking for someone."
He strokes his well-groomed beard as pretends to think. "Long lost brother." There is playfulness in his voice.
"Nope"
"Hmm… cheating boyfriend?"
"Nope."
As they walk, he's guesses become more and more ridiculous. She realizes that he'd been leading her out of the forest.
"Long lost prince of Nigeria."
"… Yes."
"Really?"
"No."
"Well whoever you're looking for I hope you find them" he says as they stop.
Now free from the shade of the forest she takes her first good look at him. His dark brown tousled hair rests near his chin. A mischievous but harmless grin plasters his face. But it is his eyes that are his most memorable feature, an inviting chocolate brown with a hint of gold.
He takes a look at his watch. "I'm afraid I'm going to have to cut this conversation short. I'm running behind schedule. It was nice meeting you Miss Swan. Oh and before I forget you dropped this." He says as he hands her the pendent.
He runs off before she can say thank you. She looks in the palm of her hand to see that the pendent had turned a dark forest green.
So what do you guys think?
