The Raven's Story

Once upon a time, in a kingdom that was being invaded by monstrous Ogres a child was born to an aged farmer and his weak wife. It was an autumn night and the red lights of the war front could be seen from the door way and the faint roars of war could be heard on the cool breeze that rushed past the plains and hills. The stars shown celestial blue and crystal white and if not for the ongoing battle one could hear them sing and hum the world to sleep.

However above the star's song and the cries of battles, the laughter of the new born child filled the farm house as the farmer's wife went limp and her bright emerald green eyes faded to a dull green and closed. The farmer cried out and prayed for the child to be taken from him, a pale blue light coming from the North Star itself filled the farm house and appeared the Blue Fairy. She was clothed in a satin blue dress with strings of silver silk, and in her hand was her ten inch wand, it glowed a sky blue.

"Let me take the child and protect him."

"Tak' hi', I don't wan' hi'." The tears filling the farmer's voice with a deep croak.

The Blue Fairy summoned a basket of blue with her wand and placed the infant in it and flow out the farm door as the red glow of the battle had reached the fence that separated the farm from the hills that were to stony to use.

* * * * * Twenty Years Later * * * * *

A hooded figure could be seen looking down onto the mountain pass, were one to look up. However a battle raged underneath the Tall Mountains, with a flick of the hooded figures wrist the Ogres turned to stone and crumbled under their own weight. The knights cheered as they looked up and say the hooded figure vanish into black hazy smoke.

The people of the Raven's Crown Tavern, a tiny local tavern made of blackened clay and black wood with a sign of a raven wearing a silver crown hung above the bolted tavern door, cheered as the Ogres were finally pushed back into the Infinite Forest by a mysterious hooded figure that no one had seen or had thanked. Rumors spread across the kingdom that King Midas had promised lands title and as much gold as a person wished to anyone who could prove that they were the hooded figure. As of yet no one had been able to prove that they were the figure even though hundreds had tried.

The doors to the tavern opened and the cheers died as the General of the Front worked in with his band of knights and walked up to the tavern owner.

"Barkeep it's time to pay your weekly taxes." The General roared.

"Yes general." The tavern owner reached into his coin purse and pulled out three gold crown, fifteen silver thrones and ten copper spears. As he handed them to the General a cold wind blow through the tavern killing the fire in the hearth and the glow of the candle lights, the hooded figure walked into the tavern and reached out his hand within a second his hand was thrown into the General's chest and pulled out his heart. The heart glowed a deep crimson with veins of black mist, a clear sign of the wickedness of the General.

The General's face paled as the hooded figure been to crush the heart in his hand until it turned to ash and fell onto the dirt covered tavern floor and his knights drew their sword only for them to rusty away and break. The knights ran out of the door and it slammed shut only for the candles and hearth to be relit. The hooded figure sat at the bar and placed two golden crowns on the bar and poured himself a black ale in a silver cup. Once the hooded figure finished his drink, he vanished once more into a clod of black smoke.

The onlookers remained silent for much of the rest of the night, until dawn crept through the mountains and into the tavern.

I took off the my black wool hood as I entered my black stone round castle high in the Tall Mountains, where no one would even think to look for a person let alone a castle. The stars were beginning to shine as the moon rose above the mountains. "Hello Mother," I spoke to the bluest and more vided star that was just to the right of the moon. Like normal, all I received in return was the slight hum of the Fairy Lullaby that I could still remember from my child hood.

I started a fire with a flick of my wrist and repaired my supper as I settled into my chair. I looked into the flames and saw the Ogres marching in the Infinite Forest trying to find another way through the Tall Mountains beside the mountain pass that I destroyed. I did not notice as a figure appeared from red smoke and sat down next to me until he laughed as only a mad man who was turned into a monster could laugh.

"Anything exciting in those flames, dearie?" Rumple gilled.

"Just some thoughts, Dark One."

"Like what?"

"Silence and go make me some tea." I spoke as I pulled out the Dark One's Dagger.

I sat and watched the flames dance flying ever higher up the heart as I drank the tea. I soon feel into a slumber.

Regina, the Evil Queen, had finally heard that I had the Dark Curse, I thought as she sat on my chair.

"Hello dear. I want that Curse of yours," spoke Regina with a wicked toothy smile her dark amethyst purple lips stretching so far they nearly reached her black pearl studded ears.

"Fine you can have it on two conditions; the Dark One is my ever loyal servant and I have wealth and power in this new place." As I took out the curse from a hidden pocket in my cloak.

I could see her thoughts as they formed behind her mind. Confusion to wonder to joy as she took they aged paper from my hands. "Deal."

As I watched Regina disappear into a cloud of royal purple smoke, Rumple laughed from his cage. "You think you will be happy in this place? You're dealing with Regina you know once she gets what she wants, she will get rid of you."

"I know that, that's why I have my own plan. But for that I will need my mother's help."

"You won't get it dearie." Rumple echoed in a crackled laugh.

The Curse was covering the lands in a grey smoke, but I was holding a jar of black fairy dust as Regina stood over the crying Snow White. "…somewhere horrible. A place where the only happy ending will be mine."

"Think again." Threw the powder onto Regina turning her into a silver grey cat with deep earth brown eyes.

"Thank you," wept Snow just as the curse consumed us as well.