Prologue:

The room stenches with pools of blood, and was soon filled with the cries of a baby. Snow's eyes brimmed with tears. Her Emma. Their little princess.

"She is so beautiful, Snow." Charming, who was unable to talk for a while gazed lovingly at now the two most important women of his life. For a moment, he was almost lost in the fleeting joy brought to them by their child. But the tears of joy from Snow turned to sob. She laid Emma on his arms.

"Take her." She said.

"But, Snow." He hesitated.

"You have to take her to the enchanted wardrobe. We have to believe in her, that she will come for us. We have to give her her best chance."

Snow, pure heart and the bravest woman she ever met. A lump formed on his throat and his eyes stung. His family will be shattered. The family he ever dreamt of.

"Goodbye, Emma. I love you so much." Snow bids her final goodbye. He took her on his arms, unsheathed his sword and turned to the door.

"I will be back, Snow." He said.

Upon turning to the door, he headed down towards their daughter's cradle.

The clanging of swords are heard all throughout the castle. The evil queen's henchmen besieged the palace. He turned left and two knights came to him, sword in hand. Without hesitation, they both lunged forward, not to him but to his daughter. Anger surged in him. And he joined the cries of the blades.

Blood seeped on his shoulder and another just above his stomach. He was panting, one knee on the ground and taking strength on his sword.

A few more inches, he thought. He needed Emma to shove down the wardrobe. Sweat blinded him. No, he didn't need to fail his wife, his people and simply, Emma's chance to live. Pain lashed on his injury. It was burning like hell.

" James..."

He spun around and Snow, drenching in blood was in front of him. She walked towards him and helped him to get up.

"We must get her to that wardrobe."

"You're hurt."

Shakingly, he stood up. "We'll die together, Charming."

Snow wrapped her arms around his waist, trying to steady him.

"Well, well, what do we have here? The family so, charming, is it? Prepared to die together." Regina dressed in her regal gown stepped forward. A smug grin plastered on her face. "Oh, is this my little step granddaughter? How lovely, but not as lovely as I am. And poor little girl, no life awaits her."

He clutched her daughter, sword, ready at hand. "You will never harm my daughter, evil witch." He spat at her.

"In your state? I don't think so. You're not as charming as you are today. Bathed in blood. That is disgusting." Her eyes glistened in triumph.

It was over. He failed to protect their kingdom. He failed snow. He failed Emma. He failed himself.

"Give me your child." She stretched her hand. "The curse is here."

"No." Snow mustered barely recognize. She was pale. He gazed at the wardrobe. Only a step further to shove Emma, but the curse, the willowy purple smoke seep through the door. Then it happened. Pinocchio, wherever he had came from lunged to the queen stumbling on the floor.

"Quick, into the wardrobe." Pinocchio said, straining the queen on her head as his hand clasped her eyes, blinding her. The queen rang curses to him.

"Hurry up, Snow," It was the blue fairy. "I will offer the very last magic i had for you, James and Emma." She waved her wand as the queen knocked Pinocchio to the ground.

"You will not have victory over mine. I will have it." The queen shouted.

He mustered all his strength and gave Emma to Snow, in that way, he can protect them. The three of them backed away to the wardrobe. He rambled its door and let Snow get inside with Emma in her arms. He followed after. He saw the blue fairy waved her wand and chanted the spell. He glanced at Pinocchio whowas unconsciously laid on the ground as the smoke engulfs him. The door in the wardrobe closed. He was clutching Snow on his arms.

"It's over snow, we shall live with Emma." And kissed the top of her head. Then it whirled round and round. It wasn't a smooth ride. "Snow, hang on."

"James, no."

He was blinded by the light and the chirping of birds woke him up. It smelled of earthly soil, of pine and citrus. A stifled cry was heard. He got up and felt his head heavy, like it had been hit hundreds of times. Snow, he first thought. He whirled and saw her half sitting and half lying on a rock. The pain in his wounds were burning like hell. He got up and inched towards Snow.

"Snow, are you fine?" He asked worriedly. Something amiss. She was still sobbing. "Snow, what is it?"

"She's gone, she's gone." She said and buried her face on his chest.

"No.." He can't believe it. It couldn't be. They were altogether. A family, escaped from the wrath of evil to start anew in this new dimension. And it was gone. Emma is gone. Emma their savior is gone.

"We will find her. We always do." He said and hugged his wife.