A/N: This is my first crack at Once fiction. Hope you guys like it. It takes place in the future. For reference Henry is now 21.
Synopsis: Five Years ago Gabrielle was sent to our world to escape the wrath of The Shadows and their malevolent leader Beatrice in hopes of someday returning to her kingdom. Five Years have passed and when she meets Henry he and his family back in Storybrooke may be able to help her find her family.
Only Teardrops
Chapter 1: A Ball
I gave myself a look in the mirror. Something just didn't feel complete. I let out a sigh before walking over to my bed and sitting down. Today was a very big day for me. It was my 16th Birthday and in this kingdom that meant one thing. I was to meet my future husband at a ball being thrown in my honor. I stood from my bed and walked over to my window. I looked below. I could see party guests arriving by carriage. I was so nervous. I didn't know what to think. My entire life had been planned for me down to this day and down to my 21st birthday where the engagement would be official and this mystery man and I would have a year to be married. I wasn't much more tradition, in fact I despised it. I had always dreamed of falling in love, but being a Princess didn't allow for that to be possible. I leaned against the windowsill. I knew soon I would have to join the party. I heard someone clear his or her throat behind me. I turned to see my mother. She gave me a smile. I weakly smiled back.
"It is nearly time." She said as she entered my room holding a small wooden box. She stepped to my bed and sat the box down. "I have a gift for you."
I walked to her not knowing what to expect. My mother was beautiful and everything I wished to become. Her black hair was pulled up and on top of her head she wore her crown proudly. She wore a golden gown, the straps sat delicately on her chocolate shoulders. She motioned to the box. I picked it up. She then handed me a small key. I used the key to unlock the box and it popped open. Inside there was a beautiful tiara covered in diamonds.
"It's beautiful." I said as I gently ran my hand over it.
"I wore it to my 16th birthday ball where I was introduced to your father." She said happily. "I want you to wear it tonight."
"Me?" I questioned. I didn't feel worthy of wearing my mother's tiara. My older sister hadn't even worn it at her ball.
"Yes. I saved it for you. You remind me so much of myself at your age. I felt that tonight you needed it. After tonight you my keep it. It will travel through life with you." She said as she removed the tiara from the box in my hands. She placed it delicately on my head. She gave me a reassuring smile. I walked over to the mirror and looked at myself. I felt nearly complete, but not quite.
"Did you love father when you met him?" I asked as I turned to her.
"Not at first, but that is normal. You get five years to get to know one another and in that five years I fell in love with your father. He means the world to me. He gave me two beautiful daughters." She said. I knew she was trying to reassure me, but I just didn't feel that way. I simply nodded and turned back to the mirror. I studied myself.
"There are my two beautiful ladies." Came a voice. I turned to see my father. He gave me a grin. I remember my sister's ball six years ago. I was only 10, but I remember it all. My parents were all aglow; their crown princess was to be introduced to her mate. My sister was to inherit the kingdom and she would live out her days here. I think what made me nervous was that I was set to be with a crown prince, which meant when it was time to marry I would be relocated to his kingdom, my family would be far away from me. If I didn't love him I don't know how I would do it.
"I just gave her my tiara. Doesn't she look beautiful?" my mother said to my father. He fully entered the rom. He studied me with his green eyes.
"She looks absolutely beautiful, but she needs one thing." He said. He pulled a small velvet box from his pocket and opened it. There was a necklace inside. It was gold and the pendant was a pink teardrop. He pulled out the necklace and walked to me. He put it around my neck. I then looked at myself again in the mirror. I now felt complete. I ran my fingers across the teardrop.
"Now it's all perfect." My mother said happily.
"Your Highnesses." Called a voice. "It is nearly time."
"It is time to go party." My mother said clapping her hands together. My father slipped his arm around hers and led her from the room. I stood alone looking in the mirror.
"Princess." Called a voice. I turned to see my handmaiden Violet.
"I'm coming." I said with a sigh.
"Your Prince awaits." She said joyfully trying to get me excited as everyone else.
"So they say." I then said. I gave myself one last look. My purple gown nearly sparkled. I felt beautiful, but I wasn't ready for this. I wasn't quite ready to face my future.
"Everything will be ok. You will be very happy together." Violet said as she came to me and fluffed my gown.
"I just want to be in love when I marry. I want to feel that feeling." I said looking down at her. "You know defy all odds with our love like Snow White and Prince Charming."
"You don't need that. They didn't quite defy all odds. The Enchanted Forest is in ruins because of the Evil Queen's curse. You want peace not odd defying love." Violet said as she stood. I sighed. "Now come on."
I followed Violet to the stairwell where my parents were waiting. I watched them, studied them. My mother turned to my father and fixed his tie. He gave her a kiss on the cheek. They were in love. I could only hope that I would find that with this prince of mine. Suddenly there came the sound of trumpets. My parents straightened up. My father placed his hand on the small of my mother's back.
"Introducing their royal highnesses King Stephen and Queen Amelia." Called a voice. My parents began to make their way down the stairs. I could see partygoers downstairs bowing and curtsying to my parents. I held my breath because I knew I was next. "Introducing the Birthday Girl, Princess Gabrielle."
I let my breath go as I made my way alone down the stairwell. I saw many faces I knew all bowing and curtsying. I then saw a face I didn't know. He stood next to my parents. He was tall with fair skin and blonde hair. He has piercing blue eyes. I watched as his eyes studied me. As I made my way to my parents this man I didn't know took me by the hand and curtseyed before kissing my hand.
"It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance Princess." He said.
"Gabrielle this is Prince Cadewyn of the Kingdom of the Isles of Perrin." My father said glowing with pride. So this was my prince. He wasn't bad looking, but I felt no connection. I had only dreamed I would feel one.
"Hello Prince Cadewyn." I said politely.
"May I have this dance?" he asked. I looked to my mother. She gave me a smile and a nod. I guess this was it. This was my life. I gave him a smile and he took my hand and led me to the dance floor. We waltzed along to the music. I could feel his eyes on me. I tried to not look at him.
"So the Isles of Perrin…are they nice this time of the year?" I asked.
"They are beautiful this time of the year, but not as beautiful as you." He said. I looked up at him. I wanted to laugh in his face. He was trying too hard. Truthfully he didn't have to try because our fates were already sealed.
"Thank you your highness." I responded. I looked over to see my sister and her husband dancing. She looked at him with such romance. They surely had fallen in love. I only hoped that I would and not because it was my duty to do so.
Without warning a man rushed in. He was one of the Kingdom Guards. He was panting and clearly out of breath. Everyone looked at him confused. We had all stopped dancing as he starred on at the guard. My father walked to him. The guard said something to my father. I could see concern written all over his face. This wasn't good I could feel it inside. My father then walked over to the stage. He looked down at everyone.
"Everyone. We must all get to safety. The Shadows have made it to our Kingdom." My father announced. There was gasps and there were a few screams in terror. I rushed over to my mother who wrapped her arms around me. My father joined us as we made our day down into the dungeon. It was cold down here, but there were supplies and it was where we would be safe. My sister and her husband joined us.
The night was quiet. Nobody wanted to sleep. My father would leave for minutes at a time to get news. It seemed they kept drawing closer to us. I was afraid. Our Kingdom had been so quiet and so peaceful for many many years. Even my mother couldn't remember times of war or strife, but in the last few years there was an uprising of evil. The Shadows as they called themselves; a group of mystical bandits led by a woman named Beatrice. We had heard stories from other kingdoms that had fallen to The Shadows. A real danger was present.
My father rushed back in the room. He didn't look good. I could see terror on his face. This was real not and a drill. He went to talk to my brother-in-law. At once he and my sister fled the room. My father then came to me. He pulled me into a hug. I was shaking. I knew all was not well.
"Gabrielle. I didn't think we would need this, this soon." He said looking at me. "You will have to flee. I am sending you to another world. You will live in this world until we can defeat The Shadows and find you. I don't know how long it will be…" he trailed off. I could see tears in his eyes. My mother walked beside me and placed her hand on his shoulder.
"I'm not going anywhere!" I said at once. If my family was going to fight then I was to join them. I would not leave them when they needed me. I could help.
"You must. For all of our sake. You must leave and find the magic within yourself." He said. "Now we must hurry. Your necklace. Hold onto the teardrop and close your eyes. Don't think. Keep your mind clear." I was shaking, but I nodded.
I took my hand and placed it on the teardrop. I felt a warmth spread from my hands through my body. I did what I could to clear my mind. I thought of nothing….absolutely nothing… at once it was like I was flying and falling. I didn't know which way was up or down. Abruptly I smacked something hard. My entire body hurt. I lifted my head. I could see trees all around me. I blinked. My head was pounding and I was dizzy. I fully pulled myself up and made it to my feet. I started to walk. I looked around as much as I was in nature I could hear so many sounds. Suddenly I was at hard ground. I could see people everywhere. None of these people looked or seemed to dress like me. It was strange. I wasn't quite sure where I was. A woman was walking past. She had a small creature on a leash. It barked at me. I jumped.
"Excuse me ma'am…where am I?" I asked the woman.
She looked me over from head to toe. "In Central Park." She answered. Before walking away quickly. I had no idea where this Central Park was or why I was there, but I was alone and afraid. My family was literally worlds away and in immense danger. I was here. I needed to survive.