Introduction:
She sat on a simple pine chair in the middle of the forest, her legs crossed and blue peacoat waving above the golden leaves of fall that rolled with the breeze. She'd been waiting for him - or for someone, at least, but he'd been the only one to cross her path. He was sure of it.
Had anyone else, she'd be in town, being bombarded by the Charmings.
"Good afternoon," She greeted pleasantly.
She was young. She was beautiful. Perhaps an angel her figure was so divine. She had shoulder length, caramel colored hair and curious brown/blue eyes. Her full lips were a soft pink and round cheeks blushed. She wore a charming purple blouse that tucked into her skinny jeans that disappeared into her black boots. A small golden heart hung around her neck.
He didn't know her.
"Who are you?"
She licked her lips. "I'm a lot of people. The more appropriate question, Rumpelstiltskin, is: What am I doing here?"
"How do you know my name?"
"You're the Dark One. Who doesn't? And that wasn't the question."
"What are you doing here?"
"I'm here to show you your options. A rare gift, but I see it as befitting. You've really screwed things up this round, darling." Her eyes glinted with knowledge.
His eyes went wide and all air escaped his body as he realized who was truly sitting before him.
"You're the Author."
She grinned deviously.
"But you're a girl."
"A young woman." She corrected sternly, standing. "You'd think you'd be a bit more grammatically correct after who you married."
His fists glowed with heat.
"Oh, pipe down, you big baby. You need to relax. Take a deep breath." She demonstrated. "Because if you think your life's hell now," She laughed, "The next couple of hours are gonna give you a run for your money."
"What are you going to do?"
"I'm going to show you what you could have, Rumpelstiltskin. You were once a powerful clairvoyant, but you could only see the definite. Right at this moment, both your happiness and your power hangs in the balance."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean that you can have both. You've spent your whole life thinking that you could only have one or another, and that is what has truly driven all who love you away."
"But I can't-"
"Your happiness will be your power. You'll see."
She snapped her fingers and everything disappeared.