Chapter 1. A Woman In A Boat
Helene, the Trickster Princess, was watching the Hudson River. Everything had been really peaceful that day, and she was bored. Jonathan, her brother, was certainly enjoying himself on the base, and Mom and Dad were celebrating the end of the recently won battle. Only Helene – with a flock of pixies, of course – was forced to watch the river in case the enemies come.
"And no tricks," Mom had ordered. Oh, what awful boredom!
"Stupid Hand," Helene muttered. Just then, she suddenly spotted a tiny boat approaching her.
The young fairy was more than startled. Enemies didn't like small boats, and no real friends of the good guys were left alive outside the forests Ferryport Landing. Then who was that? A tourist? Helene laughed at the thought.
A young pretty brunette, not more than twenty-five years old, dressed in a black old-fashioned gown, was sitting in that boat, accompanied by a three-year-old girl. They had no weapons and probably were completely unaware of the war.
"Who are you?" Helene called them. The boat came to the bank, and the woman and the girl jumped out of it.
"We're from another world," the woman explained slowly, with a foreign accent, trying to find the right words.
Helene was just as skeptical as her mother, so she replied with a doubtful "oh!"
"We are from another world," the strange guest repeated. "I'm the Princess of Stones."
"Of what?"
"That was my foster mother's title, and she died," the brunette shrugged. "And this is my adopted daughter Vera. Sorry, she can't speak English."
"Why did you come here?" Helene cried, trying to figure everything out in the whole odd thing.
"We heard that the descendants of the Brothers Grimm live in this world," the woman said.
"Well, yes, that's true, my mother's actually one of them. Was your story documented by Jacob and Wilhelm?"
"No, not at all," the stranger smiled faintly. "My story was documented only a year ago (A/N at the end of the chapter). The things they said in the film weren't all true... Oh, I need to see the characters of one of the Grimms' fairy tales."
"Which one?" Helene wanted to know, still confused.
"I don't know its title. It's about two twin brothers who were great friends and who also befriended wild animals. One of them killed a dragon and married a princess, but then a witch turned him and his animal friends into stones. Then his brother rescued him. I don't actually know the details."
"I know whom you are referring to. These twins, Hans and Ludwig, as well as Rosa the princess and the animals, are our good friends."
"Oh," the woman sighed and murmured something in her own language. "I must see them. As soon as possible."
"Wait, what's your name?"Helene exclaimed.
"It's Kate in English."
"Helene, the Trickster Princess – Lena for friends," Kate shook Helene's hand.
"One more question," Helene added. "Are you sympathetic to the Scarlet Hand?"
"Sorry?"
"Er… Are you friends with the Scarlet Hand?"
"I have no idea what it is," Kate said, looking straight at Helene. Her eyes were genuine and very sad.
"Assuming you're right – I have weapons anyway…" Helene said, still a little doubtful. "Follow me."
Kate said something to Vera in another language, and Helene led them to the fort.
A/N: It's my favorite movie, it came out in October 2009. I loved it all except for the ending – I'm changing it right in this fanfic.
