The First Path: This was The Plan from the Beginning
wanderlustlover
Summary:
There were four ways The Dark Curse was set up to be defeated, before the fifth which led to story which the show has given us.
In the very first way, The Blue Fairy commissioned Geppetto to build a door in a magical tree that Prince Charming and the pregnant Snow White, carrying The Savior, would make it to the real world and save them all. This is that story.
Notes: For alemara, zelly, mink, ladyoflorien.
Chapter 1: The Beginning
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Giving birth in the woods, off the side of a road, where metal beasts roared by louder than screams, was not the fortuitous start anyone had planned for. No one had planned for Snow White to be carried, disheveled and shaking, into the wardrobe by Prince Charming, doing her best not to do the one thing her body was trying: to give birth to their daughter.
Looking back Snow didn't remember the fear or pain as much as she thought she might. Didn't remember the explosion of the tree bark, or the hardness of the dirt, as much as canopy blurring green leaves above them and James' eyes. A blue, dark with concern and steady with concern and steady with unwavering faith, even then.
How she'd laughed through her pain, through their tears and the shreds of her heart screaming for every single friend and person in the kingdoms left behind to her Stepmother's Curse, when James wiped her brow, pulling that smile from whatever place it always lay ready to cheer her, telling her they'd been through so much worse already.
It had been a good contrast for Snow's whisper, soft with beaten exhaustion, even as she strove to hold on. To the child in her arms, to herself, no, to both of them in the circle Charming's arms. Her temple resting against his neck and jaw, both of them staring at her, Emma, their perfect miracle, beyond her heavy destiny.
"We all started here." Here, in a forest.
Here, in the last place they'd ever expect.