1x01—Pilot

There was an enchanted forest filled with all the classic characters we know. Or think we know. One day the found themselves trapped in a place where all their happy endings were stolen. Our World. This is how it happened…

Lilian followed behind Charming, though still swiftly, at much more leisurely pace than he was willing to go. Though, she conceded, he had reason to make haste. It was his love on the line. She was only there as a favor to Rumpelstiltskin. By the time she reached their destination and jumped down off her dappled grey stallion, fine gown and heavy underskirts notwithstanding, the young pretend prince was already looming over the glass coffin protecting the body of one Snow White.

Lilian swept her skirts up into her hands and bustled over to the group of dwarves and the Prince. The dwarves looked at the woman with disdain. She was sure they had recognized her immediately as the Dark One's companion of sorts. One look at her and it was clear. A fine gown with the jeweled plate armor fitted to her bosom. Black velvet gloves with delicate embroidery threaded through the hems at her wrists. A gleaming diadem heavy with pearls and enamel lilies. The most telling, though, was the long iridescent veil held to her person by the diadem; as thin and fine as gossamer, it was charmed to completely obscure her face despite its transparency. There was no doubt in their eyes. They knew her as the "Veiled Lady" that was virtually never not in the company of Rumpelstiltskin. While many the dwarves seemed merely concerned, the dark haired one by the name of "Grumpy" outright sneered at Lilian.

"What the hell is she doing here with you?" he bristled. Charming seemed too entranced by the corpse of his true love to bother answering that she had been sent with him to help. Clenching her jaw, Lilian chose not to dignify the unsaid accusation made by the dwarf, instead, gently placing her hand on Charming's shoulder.

"You were too late. My condolences." Lilian was usually never this solemn, this serious. She still had the heart and soul of a mischievous child. This was the loss of love though, a loss the Lilian knew all too well, and so, she could not bring herself to disparage the young man. The dwarves, Grumpy especially, were seemed gob smacked at the almost kindness being shown by the Veiled Lady. Her words also seemed to bring Charming from his stupor.

"No. No! Open it," he demanded. Grumpy beat her to a response.

"I'm sorry, she's gone," he said somberly. Charming pleaded, "At least let me say goodbye."

Lilian quietly took a few steps back. This wasn't a moment she should encroach upon with her presence. She worriedly thought, what if Rummie is wrong? If his kiss doesn't wake her? She and Rumpelstiltskin were adamantly invested in the outcome of Snow and Charming's union, there was too much at stake for them both for him to be wrong. As soon as she resolved to trust in Rumpelstiltskin's vision of their future, Charming leaned down to place a chaste kiss on pale Snow's still rosy lips.

A golden pulse of magic radiated from the couple and spread throughout the land. Lilian felt the warmth of the powerful, light magic as it passed through her and her heart clenched at the thought of what she had lost. Lilian gathered her heavy skirts and made her way back to her horse. She had no desire to stay for their reunion.

"I do." Charming's words rung out through the church.

The cathedral was packed, all to witness the union of their queen, Snow White, and Prince Charming. Lilian stood quietly at the front in a lovely velvet dress with a jade green tone that nicely complimented the opalescence of her veil. Rumpelstiltskin cared about appearances and wished for her to dress regally, and though such things mattered not to Lilian, she indulged him.

"And do you, Snow White, promise to take this man to be your husband, and love him for all eternity?" Lilian shifted her weight and tried to ignore the sting in her heart. I'm here to witness their union and see that everything goes according plan, she reminded herself.

"I do."

"I now pronounce you husband and wife." The crowd gathered erupted into applause and cheers, even Lilian clapped, as the newlyweds leaned in for a kiss. The crowd immediately silences when they're interrupted by the Evil Queen bursting in. Lilian straightened her back, this is what she was here to see, as Regina confidently strutted down the aisle to the Snow and Charming. Everyone seemed to cower as Regina knocks two guards from her path, Lilian even hears one of the dwarves yelling to run. Regina continued to the center, briefly giving Lilian a shocked glance, before marching on.

Snow White apparently felt no fear for the woman, however, and drew the prince's sword.

"She's not the Queen anymore. She's nothing more than an evil witch." Snow's strong word seemed to placate the crowd, but the people were still on edge. Lilian didn't move a single muscle, she wasn't afraid of the woman.

Charming moved to take the sword from Snow, "No, no, no. Don't stoop to her level, there's no need."

"You're wasting your time, you've already lost. And I will not let you ruin this wedding." Lilian almost snorted at his proclamation, as if few strongly worded declarations would deter the queen.

Regina laughed, "Oh, I haven't come here to ruin anything. On the contrary, dear, I've come to give you a gift." A predatory grin stretched across Regina's heavily made-up face. This is it, this is what Lilian had been waiting for. She subtly leant forward to hear the Evil Queen's "gift" to the royals.

"We want nothing from you—"

"Oh, but you shall have it! My gift to you is this happy, happy day! But tomorrow, my real work begins. You've made your vows, now I make mine. Soon, everything you love, everything all of you love, will be taken from you. Forever. And out of your suffering, will rise my victory. I shall destroy your happiness, if it is the last thing I do." Regina spun around, going for the door when Charming called after her and hurled his sword at her head. So much for not stooping to her level, Lilian thought.

Regina dissipated into smoke, taking the sword with her, before it reached her. Snow and Charming embraced and the crowd whispered worriedly amongst themselves.

Finally, it was happening. After all this time.

"Flora, I'm leaving for rent collection if you would like to accompany me."

"Sure, Uncle Gold, just give me a minute to grab some shoes and a jacket."

Lilian sat on a stool in front of the cell Rummie had allowed himself to imprisoned in. Their quiet whisperings ceased when the heard company coming down the corridor.

"…do not let him know your name. If he knows your name, he will have power over you." Rummie and Lilian giggled at the proclamation, as if she and Rummie didn't already know it was Charming and a heavily pregnant Snow coming to visit.

The guard came bounding in, two cloaked figures following behind him. "Rumpelstiltskin, Rumpelstiltskin! I have a question for you." Rummie laughed.

"No, you don't, they do. Snow White and Prince Charming… You insult me! Come, step into the light and take off those ridiculous robes!" The couple wisely complied. Lilian gave a smug smile, though it was hidden by her veil.

"That's much better!" he giggled. Charming stepped forward. "We've come to ask you about the—"

"Yes! Yes! Yes, I know why you're here! You want to know about the Queen's threat!"

This time, Snow stepped forward. "Tell us what you know," she demanded.

"Ooh, a bit tense, aren't we? Fear not, for I can ease your mind! But…"

Lilian smirked before speaking up, "It's going to cost you something in return."

"No, this is just a waste of time!" Charming proclaimed. Lilian rolled her eyes, how presumptuous, that he expected such information free of cost. Snow was not deterred, though.

"What is it you want?" Rumpelstiltskin grinned, "Oh… Perhaps the name of your unborn child?"

"Absolutely not—" Charming started before Snow White cut him off, "Deal! What do you know?"

A crocodile's smile split across Rumpelstiltskin's scaly face as he answered, "The Queen has a powerful curse. And it's coming. Soon, you'll all be in a prison, just like me, only worse. Your prison, all of our prisons, will be time. Time will stop, and we will be trapped. Someplace horrible, where everything we hold dear, everything we love, will be ripped from us while we suffer for all eternity. While the Queen celebrates, victorious at last. No more happy endings."

The Prince and Snow looked equally horrified.

"What can we do?" Snow asked, desperate. Rumpelstiltskin almost laughed.

"Oh, no, not 'we,' we can't do anything." Snow scowled at him. "Well, who can?"

Rumpelstiltskin gestured towards her stomach and replied, "That little thing, growing inside your belly." Charming slashed at his hand and Lilian abruptly stood up, knocking her stool over, ready to defend her old friend. The prince looked at the offended woman, before quietly saying, "Next time, I cut it off."

Rummie took it all in stride though, and tutted at the Prince.

"Tsk, tsk. The infant is our only hope. Get the child to safety. Get it to safety and it's…twenty-eighth birthday, the child will return. The child will find you and a final battle will begin!"

"We've heard enough, we're leaving," Charming replied as he ushered his pregnant wife out. Lilian stepped after them only to have a guard's sword pointed at her face and then she and Rummie grew frantic. "We had a deal! The name!" Lilian shouted after them. Rummie was practically frothing at the mouth as he climbed the bars of his cell, screaming, "Hey! No! We made a deal! I want her name! We had a deal! I need her name! I want her name!"

Charming turns around. "Her? It's a boy," he replied matter-of-factly. Lilian moved back by the cell to stand as close to her oldest friend as she could manage. He pressed his face more into the bars before shouting again at Snow.

"Missy, missy! You know! You know I'm right. Tell me, what's her name?" Snow turned to look at him, knowing he was right, that she had made a deal for the information. "Emma. Her name is Emma." Rummie leant back into the cell and Lilian sighed in relief.

As the couple and the guard left, Rumpelstiltskin whispered to himself.

"Emma…"

People from all stretches of the land had gathered around the table to form a battle plan against the Queen's curse. Dwarves at one end, a werewolf and her grandmother at another. To the side sat Geppetto and his boy. To the other sat Lilian, back straight and perfectly poised with her glimmering veil draped around her like a canopy. She was just barely listening to the argument, only gracing the ragtag group of "heroes" with her presence to make a statement and to report to Rumple that everything was going according to plan. She wasn't here to contribute to the efforts and she was sure that everyone at this table knew that.

"Can we even trust them for that matter? It's Rumpelstiltskin and his Veiled Lady hasn't exactly proved herself trustworthy either," the greying dwarf remarked. Lilian vaguely remembers him to be called "Doc." And before Lilian can give her scathing reply, the prince beat her to an answer.

"She accompanied me to help me on my journey in saving Snow White, she's trustworthy enough for the time. And as for Rumpelstiltskin's prediction, I've already sent men into the forest. The animals are abuzz with the Queen's plan; this is going to happen unless we do something." Snow sighed, dejected, and Lilian leaned back in her chair, still agitated.

"There's no point, the future is written," she uttered out. Lilian rolled her eyes, the future could always be changed, precautions could always be taken. There were fixed points, but they could be worked around, they could change the outcome. Otherwise, Lilian wouldn't be here making sure that everything happened as Rummie foretold it. Lilian tuned out the argument until guards drug in a tree, the Blue Fairy accompanying them. Lilian had to sneer, she had a particular dislike towards fairies, especially the blue one.

Charming jumped up, astounded. "What the hell is this?" he demanded. Blue gracefully flew closer the round table to answer.

"Our only hope of saving the child," her lofty voice rang out. Some members of the table scoffed, disbelieving. Grumpy was the one to voice it.

"A tree? Our fate rests on a tree? Let's get back to the fighting thing," he remarked. Lilian shifted her weight in the chair, waiting for the fairy's answer.

"The tree is enchanted. If fashioned into a vessel, it can ward off any curse. Geppetto, can you build such a thing?" Lilian rolled her eyes, of course he could, if the man could carve an animate and hedonistic block of devilwood into a charming young boy, the man could do anything. Geppetto politely replied.

"Me and my boy, we can do it." The people of the round table seemed to relax, soothed by this prospect of hope, before the fairy dashed it all away.

"This will work, we all must have faith. There is, however, a catch." Everyone, save Lilian, sucked in their breaths, waiting for the other shoe to drop.

"The enchantment is, indeed, powerful…but all power has its limits, and this tree can protect only one."

"It's a rather chilly night, isn't dearie? Why don't we finish collecting tomorrow night; I'm in a charitable mood."

"Sure, Uncle. Let's head back, I'll make lasagna."

"It's happening, Rummie. The Queen has unleashed her curse, it's coming!" Lilian clung to the bars caging her dear friend. He gleefully giggled. Lilian herself had to let out some raucous laughter, they were so much closer to their centuries of planning coming to fruition. The two of them were reduced to tears, crouching in the dirt, their laughter simultaneously becoming more and more insane together. They had each became unhinged.

"Good morning, Flora! I got you some cherry turnovers, they're on your desk."

I looked up from my keys to my employer, Sherriff Graham, smiling. "Thank you."

"We have a new guest, after you eat, see if she needs anything. When you finish, I have a few errands for you. I'll be in my office." I glanced over to the cells to see Leroy, a regular, and a sleeping blonde woman. That was a touch strange, we hardly ever got visitors in our little ant-farm town, but pleasant. The turnovers could wait.

"Good morning, Leroy," I turned back to make sure Graham's door was closed, "need a bloody Mary to nurse that hangover?" I got a nod and a grunt in response, the closest you could get to gratitude from Leroy. I smiled. "I'll have the usual ready in just a few." I looked at the woman, still asleep. I didn't need to bother her.

I grabbed the Clamato, V8, and Worcestershire from small kitchenette down the hall before mixing some up in a glass and topping it off with a splash of vodka. I kept the vodka stowed away in the back of the cabinet under the sink. It just wouldn't do for Graham to know a 17-year-old was mixing and serving bloody maries to the town drunk. I felt bad though, to have to spend the night in a crusty cell while sick. Leroy didn't really get that rowdy, I feel like it's fine to help him out a bit with the hair of the dog.

I snuck the drink to him and washed the glass when he finished. I try my best to keep busy and be helpful. When I finish my breakfast, I'll go run errands for Graham.

Lilian ducked into a room to replace her lavish dress and slippers with sturdy riding pants, cuffed leather boots, and leather armor over a linen blouse. The diadem, veil, and gloves remained. She wiped away the tears still clinging to her skin from her earlier fit of laughter. After conjuring a few daggers to strap to herself and a sword to fight with, she propels herself back out into the hall. Running, she sees a very injured prince with a newborn, struggling to make it to the nursery. She sees a Black Guard behind him.

"Behind you!" He turns just in time to take another injury, all to protect baby Emma. Rushing towards them, she quickly hauls her sword up and slices through the throat and spinal column of the attacking guard. Prince Charming slumped against the wall, clutching his daughter to his chest. Lilian knelt in front of him and reached her arms out. "Rumpelstiltskin sent me for help. Give her to me, I'll get her to the tree."

The prince scoffed. "And I'm supposed to—supposed to trust you? The Veiled Lady?" The prince huffed out. He was dying.

"It's completely self-serving, I assure you. She's supposed to save me, too." Lilian reached up and pressed her hand against his shoulder, grinding the slashed skin on his back into the masonry. She went on as he hissed in pain.

"You're dying. Fast. I can get her there safely." Charming looked down at his daughter, blinking away tears before thrusting her into Lilian's arms. "Thank you." Lilian stood, careful of her hold on the infant, before replying.

"Thank me in 28 years."

Lilian ran through the halls, slashing down guards as sprinted. She was a practiced magic user, sure. You didn't spend almost 300 years with the Dark One and not learn a thing or two, but Lilian had always been more skilled with a physical weapon in hand. She pushed herself faster when she noticed a group of guards gathering behind to chase her. Sliding into the nursery, almost falling in doing so, and jammed her sword through the handles of the doors to buy time.

Looking down at Emma, she used her free hand to flip the front of her veil up and over her face. She was a beautiful baby. Round, pink cheeks and big green eyes. Lilian was almost brought to tears before setting about preparing her for her journey. Lilian made sure her blanket was wrapped tightly around her. It wouldn't do for her to catch her death from the elements in this unknown land. Holding the infant, she couldn't help but worry for how the baby would grow up, for all intents and purposes, orphaned. She'll grow up believing her parents threw her away.

No child should feel unwanted. Lilian thought briefly of her own childhood, only to be snapped out of it by guards banging on the doors. She quickly deposited baby Emma into the tree, shutting the doors. A light flashed inside as Lilian flipped her veil back over her face. The guards broke in and wasted no time in throwing a spear through Lilian's chest, knocking her back onto the ground. Her breathing slows as they bust open the tree to find it empty. Lilian smiles.

"Godspeed, Emma."

Lilian's last thoughts were of a green-eyed boy with chestnut curls before exhaustion and blood loss flooded her vision with black.

My uncle holds the inn door open for me and I tilt my head, smiling at him. I look up in pleasant surprise when I see Granny talking to the stranger from the station. By the time I had finished the errands, she had left and I didn't want to be nosy and ask Graham. It seems we came in just as she was introducing herself as Emma Swan. Emma was such a lovely name.

"Emma, what a lovely name," Gold spoke up. I smiled, having just been thinking that. Emma looked at him a bit perturbed, but maybe she just wasn't good with strangers. I smiled at her nonetheless, and she replied with her own wan one in return.

Granny passed over the roll of rent money to my Uncle, who handed it to me to put in the bank deposit pouch. "It's all here."

I smiled.

"Yes ma'am, of course it is." Granny nodded at me, but didn't say anything in reply. I couldn't help but let my smile droop a bit. Not many of the towns people seemed to like me. Sure they were nice enough, but they didn't seem to like me. I looked to my uncle, he seemed in a strange reverie, I gently patted his shoulder. He snapped out of it.

"Yes, yes, time to go, Flora. Thank you," he nodded at Granny before turning to Emma. "You enjoy your stay…Emma."

I gave a final smile before filing out behind my uncle.

Disclaimer: I do not own OUAT or any affiliated characters/plot, only my original character(s) and any plot changes I make.

This is my first OUAT fanfic, please review and leave feedback :)

Not all chapters will be this long, chapter length will vary throughout the story. :)