The Magic Within
By Schroederplayspiano
Chapter 1: Do You Believe In Magic?
The breeze was filled with pumpkins and long steams of grass. Unnamed smells and sensations that made the air crispy, that painted the picture of leaves turning from green to orange wafted into Snow White's castle.
Fairytale Land's fall enticed Emma to the balcony. She approached with caution. The view from the terrace was still daunting. She could see for miles. On a clear day, Emma could locate three different kingdoms in the distance. When she first settled down here, the far distance castles were like little models, toys a girl would imagine for her dolls. After living here for a month, she'd been in each of those castles. Walked amongst their halls and ate in their dinning rooms. Cinderella's was her favorite. She constantly got lost at Abigail's and Fredrick's and Rumpelstiltskin's castle could allure her with a power she either desired or feared, she didn't know which.
Although, out of the three closest castles nearby, Emma had to admit she spent the most time at Rumpelstiltskin's. It was a fact she could admit to herself. It was a secret she dreaded coming out.
A small wind gust gathered her curls and tugged them before letting them go. She liked the breeze. At the change of the season, it was refreshing.
Shouts, followed by laughter, redirected Emma's wandering attention. She quickly spotted the dwarfs tackling Henry down below. Together the dwarfs struggled to throw growing Henry into the leaf pile they had just gathered. Soon they succeed and Henry retaliated by grabbing fists full of leaves and hurling them at the dwarfs. Due to the wind, his attempts foundered, and it took the leaves behind him instead of shoving them to their bodies.
The lapse only caused more laughter and shouting. The sound was delightful to Emma. The longer it went on, however, the more her forehead creased.
"That sounds wonderful." Snow's voice surprised Emma and she whipped her head around.
Snow smiled at her daughter in greeting. Emma stepped in from the balcony just in time to see Snow place some old books on her wooden desk. She sighed.
"Henry needs to make his own friends," Emma shared softly.
"You keep saying that," Snow leaned on the desk. "But you don't see him in lessons. He does have friends his own age."
"None that come over. None that bond with him in way that most teenagers have."
Snow tucked a curl behind her ear. Though her raven hair was not as long as before the curse broke, she appreciated it growing out as quickly as it had. "That's how being at court works Emma. His greatest chance to have friends is with the people who surround him." Snow examined Emma, she accepted the statement but still was not satisfied. "His first ball is in a couple months. Maybe he'll meet some friends there."
"Preparing Henry for his first ball doesn't seem as exciting as it should be."
Snow adjusted her position. "Do you mean because he is a boy or because it means he's growing up?"
Emma considered her mom's question, but just shrugged.
"Henry seems excited about it," Snow said. "Well, as much as a young boy can be."
Emma turned to the window. "Henry is excited by every magical tradition."
"And you're not?" Snow raised her eyebrows.
"Henry should be making his own friends, Mom." Emma repeated to avoid the subject. "Not hanging out with yours."
Snow blinked back the blow. "Are you talking about Henry now, or yourself?"
With her head still turned, Emma rolled her eyes at her mother. After a few silent moments, where the tension still hung in the air, Emma spoke out. "I have a right to be concerned."
Snow's retort formed instantly. She paused and considered the risk before speaking. "You should be concerned about Henry's social life as well as your own."
A serious expression greeted Snow when Emma faced her. "Mother…"
Snow stepped towards her daughter. Her accusation rushed out her mouth. "You broke up with Graham for who knows what reason. Pinocchio lives in the castle and you only see him once or twice a week. You spend most of your afternoon on hikes by yourself-"
"I am exploring the kingdom!" Emma retorted. "Just like you asked me to do."
"-When you are not at Princess lessons or studying for them. You are with Henry. The two of you huddle in corners away from the rest of us-"
"He is my son! I missed out on his entire life. I have a right to alone time with him."
"And we missed out on your life." Snow fought back, silencing the room for a moment. "And yet, your father and I have had no alone time with you."
Emma shook her head. "That is not true at all and you know it. I spend three hours a day with you in Princess lessons. We have every meal together as a family. Dad is trying to teach me how to ride a horse. It is not my fault I suck at it, but don't say we don't spend time together."
"Fine." Snow's concede was firm, but not angry. "Maybe the point is not how much time we spend together, but what you do in that time." Snow paused, hoping her point would sink in. When Emma didn't respond, she continued. "You act like a guest in our home." Emma tried to protest, but Snow spoke over her. "Maybe not outwardly, and certainly not verbally, but you won't open yourself up. You won't let anyone in. We've given you time. We've given you space. Still, you won't share your life with us."
Rumpelstiltskin's castle popped in Emma's mind.
"I'm sorry your daughter is so reserved. Forgive me for not spilling out my untrusting heart."
Snow stood. She took a couple steps towards the door. Hesitation prevented her from turning back immediately. "I can forgive you for anything Emma. I just hope you remember that my heart is as breakable as yours." Snow squared her shoulders and departed the room.
Emma released the breath she was holding when Snow was out of sight. The tension in her body released and she fell to the bed. Sighing, she closed her eyes and found peace inside her mind.
A bluebird from a cuckoo clock on her nightstand popped out and marked the top of the hour. Emma lifted herself up, as if her chest was attached to a string, at its call.
The clock read four o'clock. Emma perked. It could not four o'clock already. Sprinting from the bed, she went to check the sun's position in the sky.
It was indeed four o'clock. Unaware of the bounce in her feet and the smile on her face, Emma gathered her small handmade handbag and sped out the room.
Like usual, the castle seemed empty for housing over fifty people. The dwarfs were always on the go, always busy with a job they needed finished or someone they needed to entertain. Emma tried to social with the staff, all of whom of course were paid, but her princess status made it uncomfortable for them to carry on a normal conversation with her. A few past by her as she escaped out of the castle. They wouldn't dare try to stop her or ask where she was going. Down one flight of stairs, Geppetto was working in his workshop. August was not with him; at least not according to the quick scan Emma took, which lasted about a second. Guards turned their heads at her, which reminded her of Graham. She ran even faster past them.
Once outside, Emma slowed and inhaled the crisp fall air. It didn't stop her completely, however, she only did that when she spotted Henry across the courtyard. He was distracted by Grumpy and Dopey trying to gather all the leaves together in one pile. Shaking his head, he turned in Emma's direction.
Emma raised her palm in greeting.
"See you for dinner?" Henry yelled from the opposite end of the courtyard.
"Wouldn't miss it!" Emma yelled back.
The mother and son held the other's attention for a moment longer before Emma turned away to the start of her path. When it turned the corner and trees blocked the castle so it disappeared, Emma felt more stress leave her body.
The path went on for miles. Emma pulled up her dress when mud obstructed the trail. She encountered no one. She didn't expect to, not in this direction, not this late in the day.
Emma reached her destination forty minutes later. Her knock on the oversized door echoed within.
It took a few minutes for the door to open. When it finally did, she recognized tensed shoulders before the face was revealed to her.
Belle's shoulders dropped instantly when she encountered Emma at the door. Her flat palms rested on either side of the door and she leaned against it casually. "Hi friend," she welcomed Emma inside.
A/N: The thrills are just getting started! Magic, family, and romance to come. Chapter 2 is written and waiting to be shared! So, as soon as it feels wished for, it might just appear!