Disclaimer: I do not own Once Upon a Time or it's Characters, they belong to their respective owners. I do, however, own Storm and her alter ego as well as Striker and his alter ego and their story line. This has come from the haunted, depraved, tortured darkness that is my mind.

Savysnape7: Thank you, I will try and keep it up.

shippolove844: Here's more and even more to come still, good to hear I have hooked you in so far.

jugalettePENNER: Never fear, Mr. Gold will be here soon.


Memories

=Storm's P.O.V=

I woke, for the first time in a long time I woke refreshed and ready to take on anything the world decided to throw at me, it was a feeling that had long since evaded my grasp. I looked to Rumpel who was silently watching me.

"Good morning dearie"

"Morning my love," I murmured turning and pressing myself against the bars before pressing a kiss to his lips, I rested my forehead against his slowly flicking open my eyes and wet my lips savoring the taste of him on my tongue. "I haven't woken this refreshed in a long time"

"Nor have I," He murmured. "Not since they put me in this damned cage and tethered me like a savage mongrel dog"

"It'll all change soon, you'll be free," I murmured tracing light patterns in the dirt and rust on the ground. "We'll all be free"

"Freedom and comfort," A smile flickered to his lips. "Something most people take for granted and others savor," He ran a finger over the edge of my cheek, the bruise had gone down slightly but the colour was still there. "Just as I have savored this night with you," He looked to the cage separating us in disgust. "Even if this horrid piece of dwarven ingenuity was in the way"

I smiled lightly shaking my head. "Everything has a way in and a way out, nothing is impenetrable"

"You're very chipper this morning dearie"

"Let's just say I have a feeling today will change a lot of things for everyone," I stated as I freed myself from his grasp and stood dusting myself off. "Now I must take my leave my love" I murmured as he stood and pulled me closer to the bars again before pressing a kiss to my lips, his arm winding around my lower back tugging me closer.

I felt dizziness sweep over me as my face flushed from the rush of blood and lack of air. I tangled my fingers through his greasy hair and separated our lips briefly before shaking my head. "We continue down this road and we can't go back"

"I don't want to go back," He murmured, voice cracking in his throat as his fingers played with the slight notch in my ear, a mark of the Elven blood running through my veins. "I just want you to stay by my side, my companion"

I flicked my eyes up to his and swallowed roughly before nodding and leaning forward against the bars. "Now and forever Rumpel," I ran a finger down his cheek. "Now and forever" I murmured staring into his eyes.

"Go dearie, I know you have that steed to attend to," His laughter cracked slightly. "I would hate to keep you from him" Sarcasm slipping through his words as he pulled back and turned away from me, it was the one thing he could never understand, the relationship I had with Striker, the heavy set jet black war draught stallion, he was a part of me, a part of my heart and a part of my soul.

I let my hand drop and sighed softly before turning away; leaving him here would always be the hardest part especially knowing we wouldn't even remember each other once the curse swept across the land. "Goodbye my love" I murmured pulling the old wooden door shut behind me.


I sat in the grass and watched the scenery before me, the mountains sat to one side with the forest below it and the length of the coastline to the other side. I leant back against Striker, his head coming to rest in my lap as he curled his neck around my side.

I idly stroked his forehead as I rested against his thick barrel and closed my eyes letting out a long low sigh, the way Rumpel had turned away from me, it was as if he had wanted nothing more to do with me, it was confusing almost hurtful in a way. I looked to the clouds and allowed my mind to drift; I allowed it to take flight to the clouds.

"Miss Blackridge?"

I yawned looking over from my desk in front of the window and raised an eyebrow towards the maid that had scurried in, head down and eyes unable to meet mine, I hadn't even bothered to dress properly yet, very unladylike as the maids would say. "Yes?"

"King George requests your presence" She gasped softly seeing me in a long loose peasant type dress instead of in the clothing they had to force me into and tutted softly shaking her head before turning to the wardrobe and beginning to go through the many, many dresses in there.

I sighed heavily standing and pushed her gently out the way before picking one at random and through it over the changing screen as the maid began to rush about gathering a corset and shoes for me as I began to change into my under garments behind the screen, I truly did hate dressing up in all this finery just because the King had called for me, just because he wanted to talk.

I waited silently as the maid tightened my corset and helped me into the dress, eyes on the painting of a rearing horse and rider on the wall the entire time.

"There" She breathed out smiling. "You're all set"

"Right," I looked to myself in the mirror pulling a face and sighed. "Let's go see what his highness wants"

She nodded quickly scurrying to the door and opened it before leading me down the hall towards the study. "Your highness?"

King George looked up, his eyes moving from the maid to me. "You may leave now"

She nodded quickly and scurried away to finish her other chores before the head maid tanned her ass for neglecting them.

"You wanted to see me your highness?" I lowered my head slightly.

"Yes, I trust you remember there is an event tonight?" He didn't wait for an answer as he continued. "King Midas will be attending, hopefully we can try and keep this peace between us," He eyes came up to mine. "I will require you to sing"

I nodded. "Any song in particular you wish for me to sing?"

"That one about the bird singing"

I nodded knowing which one he meant, it had been the one that had attracted him to my voice in the first place. "Of course your highness"

He gave a nod and turned to the window. "I don't suppose you've seen my son have you?"

"I saw him in the courtyard only a few moments ago, he appeared to be going to the stables"

He laughed softly and nodded. "Of course, you may leave now"

I bowed my head and turned quickly leaving the room, it would take hours to get ready, it meant scrubbing and cleaning, having half my hair yanked out by a maid and done up in some fashionable design and being squeezed into a corset and dress that hugged the curves beginning to come into my body.

I swept my eyes over the clouds and sky; they were beginning to darken slightly. "The curse is coming Striker"

The stallion curled around me snorted softly as if to say 'I know'. He shifted stretching out his legs before curling them back under him and rested his head back in my lap nudging my arm to get me to continue stroking his cheek.

I glanced out the window to the courtyard that was filled with carriages and people, stable lads were running around feeding and watering the horses. I groaned softly before looking to the door as a maid appeared.

"Are you ready Miss Blackridge?"

I nodded slowly and pulled myself away from the window and headed towards the door, a shy smile crept to my lips as my cheeks flushed at the guard on the other side to escort us, he was one of the new recruits.

"Evenin' Miss Blackridge, I'll be your escort for tonight"

I nodded lightly murmuring a thank you before following him down the hall, maid in tow before we stopped at the ballroom doors. I exhaled slowly and looked to the doors letting my shoulders slump briefly before straightening up. "Let's get this over with" I murmured plastering a fake cheerful smile to my lips as he led me in and towards King George who had King Midas standing next to him.

"Your highness' Miss Blackridge is here"

I smiled playing along with social niceties as required by me before taking the small stage set up.

I smiled softly, I started to hum, Striker snorting softly and nuzzling my cheek as the clouds began to darken even more, the thunder rumbling with them and several bright flashes of lightening.

I stood silently in the courtyard and watched Red swoop up into the sky before watching the stars against their inky background.

"My, my dearie, you do have a lovely voice"

I turned to look at the man behind me. "Your point?" I knew he wasn't a royal; I'd met all of them before.

"Such a lovely, lovely voice yet you sound so sad," His fingers curled under my chin tipping it up slightly. "What's wrong?" His lips curved into an almost cruel grin. "Not happy with your life here?"

I growled softly. "No," I snapped slightly. "I'm not happy here, I've never been happy, I have always felt like a caged dog" I spat ripping my chin away from his calloused fingers and turned away leaning onto the edge of the thick stone banister enclosing the stone work porch.

"And why do you hate this life so much dearie? You have everything you could ever need, everything you could ever want"

I laughed coldly. "I was born on a farm, whisked away from it by the King, I was caged then by the laws of society, destined to be a poor farmer's daughter and marry another poor farmers son," I brought my eyes back to his. "I am now yet again caged by the laws of society, I am one of them yet I am not, I can never marry any higher and I cannot marry any lower, I am stuck in this cage that binds me to what I am"

The man before me smiled brightly. "Never fear dearie," He held up his finger grinning. "For I can help you there"

I laughed lightly, I might have only been eighteen but I was naive. "I know who you are Rumpelstiltskin," I looked to Red as he hovered above us. "And I have heard of your deals through the guards and I do not want to make a deal with you" It was true, for the three years I had been here the guards would relay information about a Rumpelstiltskin who made deals with anyone who wanted and needed to, one had said he'd just appeared one day, no sort of background, none that anyone knew anyway.

"But I could give you the life you want; you'd be able to do whatever you wanted"

I shook my head lightly. "I will make my own life, my own future; I will not have someone else make it for me"

A smirk slipped to his lips. "Alright dearie, no need to wind yourself up," A cruel sort of smile slipped to his lips. "The offer still stands if you ever need it"

I glared lightly at him. "I will break free of this cage but I will do it of my own accord," I sighed softly looking to the stars. "One day" I added softly. I looked past him as music began to filter out of the ballroom.

"Well if you won't indulge me in a deal dearie at least indulge me in a dance then" He said extending his hand bowing slightly at the same time.

I looked to him and then back to the ballroom before nodding lightly and taking his hand. "That I can do"

I exhaled slowly holding Striker close as a chilling wind swept over the cliff side. "This is it old friend," I kissed his temple. "A brand new life awaits us" I murmured before sighing softly and closing my eyes.


At the point when the maid entered in the memory I was just like "Holy shit, a wild maid appears" It was literally the first thought to go through my mind after writing it, thank you so much my, lovely, lovely fiancée and your damn Pokémon games.

Also, next chap, dun, dun, dun, it's set 27, nearly 28 yrs into the future, so about a week or two before Emma arrives in Storybrooke.