My first multi-chapter fic in almost a year. Like the one-shot I posted, this is also a Frozen Swan femslash fic. But, longer.
Basically, it takes place in in a world where the first Curse never happened, because, while Rumple was able to become the Dark One, he was too late to stop Bae from fighting (and dying) in the Ogres' War. As a result of this, things happened a bit differently. The main thing is that the timeline and the characters' ages are different. This takes place about two years after events of Frozen, with those characters being aged appropriately. The OUaT characters, however, are twenty-five years older. And Emma's twenty-five. The rest of the stuff will be explained in-story.
Disclaimer: If I owned OUaT, Ruby would be getting more screen time.
"Snow!" Grumpy shouted, bursting into the castle's war room. The occupants, deep in discussion, jumped in surprise. He was covered in sweat, and his left shoulder was bleeding heavily. Snow White's eyes widened.
"Grumpy, your shoulder…' she started to say.
"Never mind that," the dwarf interrupted. He was doing his best to ignore the pain. "Listen, we can't hold them back, much longer. And the Queen Regina's coming!" The dwarf stopped to let his words sink in. Lancelot spoke up.
"Your Highness, I don't think we can win this battle," he said, grimly.
"If we lose this battle, we may very well lose the war!" the Blue Fairy protested. The room went silent.
"No," David, said taking his wife's hand. "No! We've come too far, lost too much to give up now!" Snow sighed, tears beginning to form in her eyes.
"We may not have a choice…but to surrender," she whispered. Everyone stared at her. If Snow had given up hope, then they were truly lost.
"She'll kill you," Grumpy said. He was trying to keep the emotion out of his voice, and failing.
"But she might not kill the rest of you," Snow replied. "I'll go to her. And I'll surrender, if she spares the rest of you. I'll make her swear an oath on the River Styx." David stared into his love's eyes, silently pleading with her to reconsider. When she he saw she wouldn't, he sighed.
"Then, I'll go with you," he said. Snow started to protest, but he stopped her. "We go together, or not at all. And she's never going to spare me, anyway."
"And who's going to take care of Emma?" she asked. David was silent, then someone behind them cleared their throat. Lancelot and Charming drew their swords, spun around, and pointed them at the intruder, who simply giggled, in response.
"Rumpelstiltskin," David said, warily.
"Hello, dearies!" the Dark One said. "Lovely day, apart from all of the death and destruction."
"What do you want, creature?" Lancelot demanded.
"Why, to help, of course!" Rumple responded. The Blue Fairy's eyes narrowed.
"You said Regina had grown too powerful, for you," she said. Rumple's expression darkened.
"She has," he growled. "That tablet give her far too much power. But, I was actually referring to your child."
"What about her?" Snow said, suspiciously.
"I can take her somewhere safe!" he answered.
"No," David said. "Not a chance."
"Regina doesn't know about her," Rumple pointed out. "If she finds her, she'll kill her. Is that what you want?" The Charmings looked at each other, having a silent conversation. Snow finally nodded.
"Fine," David sighed. "But you have to take two people of our choosing, with you. And we choose where she goes."
"Deal!" the Dark One said, cheerfully, making an unusual 'nyahaha' sound. "Who did you have in mind?"
"Queen Abigail?" the guard said. The blonde queen looked up from the book she was reading. She was currently sitting on her throne. "We have visitors from the Enchanted Forest." Abigail smiled.
"Send them in," she said. The guard nodded, left, then came back with a woman, a baby, and a…cricket? Whoever they were, they looked as though they had been through a lot. The woman wore a red cloak, and seemed to have been crying. Never the less, she bowed.
"Your Highness," she said.
"Who are you?" the queen asked. "Did David send you?" The woman sighed.
"My name is Red," she answered. "'And David…David and Snow have been killed by the Evil Queen, Regina." Abigail gasped.
"And...who's the child?"
"Her name is Emma," Red responded. "She's David and Snow's child."
"Why have you brought her here?" Abigail asked.
"To hide her from Regina," Red said. "David told me that you were the one best suited to take care of her."
"Me?" Abigail replied. Red nodded.
"He said to trust you," she said, seeming to be holding back tears.
"I'll have to talk to Frederick," Abigail said. "But, I'm sure he'll say yes." Red tried to smile.
"Thank you," she sighed. "I'll be staying close by, along with Jiminy. And maybe one day…she'll be able to reclaim her place as Princess of the Enchanted Forest."
That's the end of the prologue. Was it bad? It was bad, wasn't it. Oh, well. Review, please!