The beanstalk swayed. Or so it seemed as she lifted her gaze higher and higher. She knew that it would take her to a new world, a world full of adventure and excitement. She also knew that her destiny lied within this beanstalk. At age ten Emma just wanted to reach the top. She wanted to know if giants existed if they really lived at the top of the beanstalk or not. Everyone said giants lived at the top of beanstalks and she should take caution. "Hah!" Emma said to the beanstalk, "Today is the day I will climb you." She pulled the rope from her bag and tied it around the large trunk of the beanstalk and tried to shimmy her way up. Emma reached for a branch of the beanstalk and pulled herself up then she reached for another and fell. She got up brushed herself off and tried again, and again. After falling for a third time she stepped back and stared at the protruding green mass. People in the village had said it was impossible to climb but Emma said "Impossible? Nothing is impossible to the great and powerful Emma!"
Laughter came from behind her and she closed her eyes in a wince as she turned to the men standing beside a tree. "The Great and Powerful Emma? Someone's been hanging around her Aunt Red and Dorothy too much lately. She's been telling you tales again huh kiddo?" Her Uncle Graham laughed, and then grabbed her around the neck teasingly. Emma turned to the other man standing nearby and asked" How did you find me? I was so quiet and I didn't tell anyone not even Greta where I was going."
King David walked over to his daughter and kissed her on the forehead and replied" I will always find you"
"That's creepy David, That's real creepy." Graham replied jokingly.
"What are you talking about?" David cried. "That's our thing, Emma loves it, tell him Emma."
"It's creepy..." Emma laughed at the scowl on his face. David mockingly hit her in the arm.
As they walked away from the beanstalk Emma looked back, she knew something at the top of the beanstalk waited for her she just didn't know what.
"Someday, Princess, you are going to climb that beanstalk and slay the giant that lives there, you will have saved the entire village and they will bow down to the princess savior. And you'll bring all the riches and treasure from the top of the beanstalk to our kingdom."
"I don't want to slay the giant. I want to befriend him. I want him to show me his world. And I want to show him mine. I want to go on grand adventures together and he'll always be my protector."
David shook his head and wrapped an arm around her shoulders smiling, He loved her imagination. He knew that Snow feigned hurt that Emma was more interested in adventures and excitement than balls and fancy dresses, but deep down David also knew his wife secretly loved their daughter's wild side. After all she gave Emma her first Bow and Quiver. He had taught her to fight with a bow and her mother had taught her to fight with a bow and arrow. Graham her Godfather and the king's most trusted guard had taught her hand to hand. At eight Emma could beat them all in a match form any weapon almost every time. David couldn't help the pride he felt in his daughter. She had a brave an adventurous spirit and a wonderful imagination.
The trio neared the village and David told them he needed to stop at the clock shop, Geppetto the owner was a wonderful man and acted as a grandfather and uncle to Emma. Emma was best friends with Geppetto's adopted son Pinocchio. The red-haired boy was as adventurous and spunky as Emma and could often be seen running around the castle chasing after the young princess or being chased by the young princess. David was happy that Emma had such a great friend.
"Hi Emma!" Pinocchio said happily when she came through the door. He turned to his father and pleaded to be allowed to go play. His father agreed merrily.
As David poured over the choices for a birthday gift for the queen, and Graham stood guard at he door the children ran off to play.
"Did you get to the top? Is the giant friendly? Is there tons of treasure like everyone says?"
"No, I didn't make it, I can't climb it." Emma said sadly, "I think it's protected by magic or something."
"I know someone that can help you. But you can't tell my papa. "
"Okay. Who is it?"
"His name is Rumpelstiltskin."
"The Dark One?" Emma asked incredulously.
"Yeah, I hear he has a magic cuff that can let you climb any beanstalk anywhere."
"Why didn't you tell me this before I climbed the beanstalk?"
"I don't know. I never thought of it, until now."
"We need to come up with a plan. How am I going to get to see the dark one without my parents knowing?"
"We could ask if you could come with me on the hunt for an enchanted tree. My papa needs it for the navy. He is going to help build a ship." Pinocchio stated.
"Let's go ask!" The children rushed off and the king agreed if only she take Graham with her. Emma knew she could escape from Graham easily enough.
The next day Emma was dressed much the same as before in a blue tunic and tan leather pants with her brown boots to match; her hair was pulled back in a braid that hung over her shoulder. The group set out to hunt down an enchanted tree. Graham and Geppetto sat in the front of the carriage while Emma and August sat in the back.
"The Dark one's castle is a short trek from where we will find the tree we can sneak away while Graham helps my papa."
"How are we going to do that?"
"Watch and learn princess." Emma smiled and August laughed.
Graham glanced over his shoulder at his young charge. Emma was a good kid. He had saved her life as a baby and after Snow convinced Regina not to curse them Graham had become a guard for the king and trained all the guards in archery with Snow White's help of course. The queen insisted on teaching her staff herself. They had become good friends and The King and Queen had named both Graham and Red as Godparents. He had been in Emma's life since the day she was born and wouldn't have it any other way. The carriage stopped near a forest of ordinary looking trees. He jumped out of the carriage and walked towards Geppetto. "How do you know which tree is enchanted and which isn't?"
Geppetto laughed. "Watch and learn."
While Graham and Geppetto were busy, Emma and August made their escape. They ran off into the woods while Graham was distracted and made their way to the dark One's castle. Emma knew Graham would come looking for her soon.
As they reached the front door of the Dark One's Castle she could hear Graham in the not so far distance calling for her. They had to get in and get the cuff and get out.
Emma raised a hand to knock and the door flew open she stumbled back and looked at the sparkling skinned man who stared down at her. "And who might you be?"
"Em- em- Emma," She stuttered.
"Ahh, yes," He crooned." What a lovely name, Emma. How may I help you?"
This wasn't going to be as bad as she thought he was very friendly. "I'm here to purchase a cuff for climbing beanstalks, I understand you have one?''
Rumpelstiltskin looked from Emma to Pinocchio and back again. "A beanstalk cuff," He held out his hand and a balk bracelet appeared in his palm and Emma gasped.
"I just happen to have one. It won't cost much dearie. All I need is a drop of your blood."
Emma shrieked, "My blood? Are you crazy?"
"I am asking nicely. All magic comes with a price dearie. I could take it by force as I hag you from the rafters in my dungeon and bleed you like a gazelle. However I would rather not do that,"
Emma looked at Pinocchio who was shivering in fear and she could hear Graham calling for her again and Geppetto. She winced and looked back at Rumple." All right, but do it fast. My Godfather is looking for me."
Rumple grabbed Emma's hand in his scaly one and his fingernail poked her fingertip and he made a needle appear in his hand and he soaked up all the blood that poured out of Emma's finger then he snapped and he was gone before Emma could say or do anything.
"Where'd he go?" She asked Pinocchio?
"Better question why did he need your blood?"
Emma glanced down and on her wrist was the cuff. She grabbed Pinocchio's hand and ran toward voices calling her.
"Graham!" Emma called as she saw him." We went on a hunt and got lost." I didn't realize how far we had strayed till we couldn't find our way back." Graham pulled Emma in for a hug then yanked her back and stared. "We'll talk about this when you get home."
The journey back was uneventful and even less fun as Graham didn't let Emma out of his sight for a minute and went straight to her mother and told her what happened.
"Where did you really go?" Snow asked.
"To see Rumpelstiltskin, I just wanted to get the cuff so I could climb the beanstalk." Emma answered. Emma raised her shirt sleeve and showed it to her mother.
"Oh, Emma this outrageous giant befriending quest has taken a whole new level. What were you thinking?" Snow White cried shaking her head. "Thank you for keeping her safe graham. You can go about your duties now."
Emma winced at the stiffness and formality in her mother's voice. Then looked over at graham and mouthed "sorry" He nodded and left the room. Her mother turned on her the minute the door closed." You know I have always supported your ideas of adventure and I taught you how to defend yourself but from here on out I will no longer be supportive of your adventures to the beanstalk. If I see, hear or know you went to the beanstalk I will take your bow and hide it and will only allow you to wear dresses and tiaras until your eighteenth birthday."
Emma smiled. "You would never do that mama."
Snow sighed "I might consider it if you put one more gray hair on my head young lady."
Emma looked at her mother for a moment she looked so much like her but had her father's hair. She walked over to where her mother sat in a chair with her head in her hands and wrapped her arms around Snow's shoulders. "Can I go see the beanstalk tomorrow? Would you go with me?"
"I thought you'd never ask."
The next morning Snow and Emma set out to climb the beanstalk. Emma was able to climb nimbly but Snow could not stay on the beanstalk.
"It's the cuff. It has magic to help me climb. I will go look and you can stay here," Emma offered.
"No, it's going to take you all day to climb that thing. I won't sit here and wait for you. I will find a way to get up there."
"Please mom. I don't know why or what it is I need to find up here…" Emma trailed off looking at the beanstalk.
"One day you are not going to be able to give me that sad look and get your way," Snow sighed. "Please be careful. Emma you have ten hours then I am coming after you one way or another."
Emma squealed and hugged her mom. "You won't have to come get me, I promise."
As Emma climbed higher and higher in the beanstalk she glanced down at her mother sitting at the foot of the beanstalk. Then she climbed higher until she reached the top.
At the top of the beanstalk was a courtyard of sorts and in the middle sitting on a very large stone bench was a very large giant. He was small for a giant. Emma almost drew out her bow and arrow when she noticed he was just a child. He saw Emma move and yelped in surprise. "How did you get here?"
"I climbed, "Emma giggled. "I thought the giant would be… well Giant."
"So does my family." The giant told her. Emma walked to him her whole body was barley as tall as his shoe." I am Anton but they call me tiny because I am small for a giant."
"Nice to meet you, Tiny, I'm Emma."
"Hi Emma, You sure are pretty for a human. I mean I was always told they had ugly faces with warts and smelled foul." He sniffed the air. "You smell pretty. Like flowers."
"Uhh, Yeah Um I have been trying to climb this beanstalk for years. I am glad I finally made it here and that I met you." Emma looked around I have never seen a giant or a giant's castle before. " Tiny looked at her and smiled
"I have never seen a human before."
Emma giggled, "I've never seen a Giant before, but I think you're wrong. You are human just a very large one."
Tiny thought about that and said "I like that."
After a while Emma said her goodbyes to Tiny and went back down the beanstalk her mother was gone and in her place was her father and the ever present Graham. Emma noticed the sky was dark where it had been first light when she went up the beanstalk. She jumped into her father's arms from the last foot before ground and told him of the beanstalk and the giant and how she would be friends with Tiny. Her father smiled at her and told her he was glad she had a grand adventure. He really didn't think she had gone to a giant abode and Emma knew it, she didn't care if he believed her or not she knew the truth.