Gotta Dance 88: Glad you liked it! =)

Meulin Paws: Thanks! Glad you liked it, and yes. She'd probably be like that if she was on OUAT.

Chapter 4

The next morning, I was eating breakfast with Henry on Granny's when Henry made me buy a cup of Cocoa for Emma.

"...—That I like cinnamon on my chocolate, 'cause most people don't, but I'm not here to flirt, so thank you, but no thank you" said Emma to Graham. I had to smile at the thinking of Emma and Graham. He was handsome, and she had too quickly assumed that the Cocoa was from him.

"I didn't send it" said Graham.

"I did" piped Henry.

Emma turned to us, and I smiled at her.

"I like cinnamon too" said Henry, raising from the bench and dragging me with him. I complained while I trying to finish my cup of tea.

"Don't you two have school?" said Emma confused.

"Duh. I'm 10, she's 16" said Henry. "Walk with us"

I shrugged helplessly when Emma looked at me.

And so, we started walking together. I would have liked to leave them alone, but Regina would kill me if I did. She had told me to watch Henry, to make sure he get to school safely. But in the process I was feeling like the third wheel.

"So what's the deal with you and your mom?" was asking Emma as we walked. She and Henry were walking together, I walked behind them while shuffling my IPod, trying not to eveasdrop on them.

"—Step one—identification. I call it Operation Cobra" I heard over my music Henry say.

"Cobra? That has nothing to do with Fairy Tales" said Emma.

"Exactly. It's a code name to throw The Queen off the trial" said Henry. "Victoria helped me choose it"

"So everyone here is a Fairy Tale Character—They just don't know it" said Emma, trying to catch everything Henry was saying about the curse.

"That's the Curse" said Henry. "Time's been frozen, until you got here"

Emma moved an apple to her mouth.

"HEY!" said Henry suddenly, startling us. "Where did you get that?"

"Your mom?" said Emma, giving me a confused look.

I shrugged, confused too.

"Don't eat that!" said Henry. He snapped the apple from Emma's hand and threw it behind us, nearly hitting me. Emma looked back wide eyed, I looked at Henry amused. Of course. The Evil Queen used an apple to send Snow White to eternal sleep, or something like that.

"O-Okay" Emma said, turning back to Henry. "Uh, all right, what about their pasts?"

"They don't know. It's a haze to them" said Henry, to then turn to me and smile widely. "Though Victoria remembers. But ask anyone else anything and you'll see"

Emma looked at me, and I winked at her. "So for decades, people have been walking around in a haze, not aging, with screwed memories, stuck in a cursed town that kept them oblivious" Emma's tone was slightly sarcastically.

I sighed tiredly. "Couldn't summarise it better"

"I knew you'd get it." said Henry happily, obvious to Emma's tone, making her smile. "That's why we need you. You're the only one who can stop her curse"

"Beacuse I'm the daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming—"

"Yes, and right now we have the advantage" said Henry, stopping.

We stopped too. I stoped my iPod, to hear him better. "My mom doesn't know that" he opened his backpack and took out some book pages. "I took out the end, the part with you in it" he handed Emma the one where Prince Charming had baby Emma in arms. "See? Your mom is Snow White"

"Oh kid" said Emma smiling fondly at Henry.

"I know the hero never believes at first" said Henry. "If they did, it wouldn't be a very good story"

I sighed. I just hoped Emma would believe soon. I wasn't sure if I could stand more time here.

A couple of hours later, I was sitting in history class, totally bored out of my mind. I was contemplating the idea of taking a nap when I felt a paper ball hitting me on my shoulder.

I frowned and looked back. Delilah Jones smiled at me. She was the only one I liked from school. We weren't enemies or anything, but we weren't exactly close. I smiled politely at her, and she motioned me to open the paper ball.

I did, and saw that she had wrote a single 'Hi' on it. I smiled amused, and wrote 'Hi' back. I threw the paper ball at her, and she caught it perfectly. She opened it and saw it. After a couple seconds, she wrote something down, but before she could throw it at me, the professor passed between us, and the ball hit him right in the face.

We all started laughing, only to stop when he glared at all of us. I bit my lips to restrain myself from giggling at Delilah's mortified face.

"Mr. Novak!" she said, her voice sounding an octave higher. "I'm so sorry—"

"Ms. Jones!" barked Mr. Novak. "You—"

She was saved by the ringing bell.

We all cheered and raised from our seats. The day was finally over!

I put my things on my backpack, and followed Delilah outside the classroom. We both giggled at the same time, and I smiled softly at her.

"I'm sorry" she said. "I wrote: Are you doing something later?"

I looked at her slightly surprised as we walked together in the halls. Nobody had ever invited me to do something, like, ever, in 28 years.

"Oh...I don't know" I said. "I don't think so. Why?"

"I was thinking that maybe we could hang out or something" she said, and I saw a blush on her cheeks. "I mean, go to the movies together or something like that..."

"Oh" I said slowly. "Sure, I guess we could"

Her face brightened happily. "Awesome! Do you wanna go now or...?"

"Now's good" I shrugged.

"Perfect" she dragged me to the parking lot, and as we walked to her car, other people joined us. I recognised them as Benny and Lily Smith, twin brothers from our class. Now, I've never talked to them before, but they looked nice. Lily was a redhead like me, but her hair was straight, unlike mine. Her eyes were brown, and she had a cute smile. Her twin, Benny, was totally different from her. He was blonde with freckles and green eyes. They were like opposite poles.

"Hey, Victoria" said Lily.

I smiled politely at her. "Hi, Lily"

"Hey, sweetheart" said Benny.

I frowned. He reminded me of Young Macintosh. One of her suitors. Oh, how she hated him. He had been a good boy, he was loyal and all that, but he was so obnoxiously seductor.

"Don't. Call. Me. That" I said, gritting my teeth.

Benny smirked, while Lily and Delilah rolled their eyes.

"I invited Victoria" said Delilah as we moved forwards her car, "Is that okay...?"

I nodded quietly. "I understand if I'm not wanted..."

Benny and Lily both laughed. "No, no, it's okay. We like you"

Then they proceeded to glare at each other, like if they didn't liked talking at the same time. I proceeded their words in my brain, and smiled shyly. They liked me. Someone actually liked me here.

Wow.

We entered Delilah's car. I sat in the backseat with Lily while Benny went shotgun. Lily actually took out a book while Benny and Delilah flirted.

I tried to bit my tongue, but Lily noticed my look and smiled amused.

"What?" she asked.

"That's actually one of my favourites books" I blurted out.

She smiled, surprised. "Really?"

I nodded eagerly. "I love it"

We started to talk about the book. Our favourite characters, our favourite part of the book. Out favourite chapter, favourite quote...Everything.

Soon after, Delilah and Benny joined the conversation, but they talked about the movie adaptation of the book, one I had yet not watched.

I kinda liked being with them. I felt like a normal teenager for once, just gossiping and talking and joking around.

...

The trip passed quickly, so when we arrived to the movies, Lily and Benny went to buy some popcorn and candies while Delilah and I waited at the movie line. We were gonna see a new action movie. Lily didn't liked the idea too much, but the rest of us were okay by that. I was never too girly girl not to like an action movie, and Delilah said she watched everything.

When we were making our way towards our sits, someone bumped into me. I glanced up to say 'sorry', but the words died on my throat when I saw who was in front of me. A BIG man with long hair and pointy nose looked right back at me. He was dressed in what could be described as a punk style. He had tattoos on his arms. But what really scared me, was the thought of him being there.

I froze. My heart racing wildly with fear.

It looked like him.

But that couldn't be.

There was no way that could be him.

Was it him?

"Sorry" he said, his voice sounding weirdly polite.

I continued to look at him wide eyed, and irritation quickly showed on the man's face. "You alright, lady?"

"I-I-I..."

Delilah, Lily and Benny were looking at us wide eyed, confused and concerned by my attitude too.

"Victoria? What's wrong?" asked Lily.

I shook my head, still watching the man with fear and confusion.

"You can't be here" I whispered.

"What? Look, lady—"

I looked at him, and then to Lily and Delilah and Benny.

My head was spinning and I felt about to have a mental breakdown.

I did what I was best at.

I ran.

A little fiery redhead girl was staring at her mother wide eyed. Her mother, the beautiful Queen, was telling her the legend of the four brothers.

"There was a beautiful Kingdom once" started the Queen. "It was ruled by a King whose wisdom was equal by the love of his people. The King had four sons. Each gifted in his own ways—"

"Like me!" she piped. She was gifted with beauty and perseverance, or that's what her mother had told her.

"Yes, Merida. But let me tell the story" said the Queen.

The little girl nodded eagerly, moving her floppy hair behind her ear.

"The youngest was wise. The third was compassionate. The second son was just. And the king eldest son was strong. But he mistook great strength for character." the Queen took a deep breath, and continued. "One dark Autumn the King grew ill. On his death bed, he proclaimed the crown would not pass to the eldest, but that he would divide the rule. He thought the combined gift of the brothers would make an even better kingdom." the Queen looked at her daughter, this was the part Merida needed to listen to. "But the eldest son, feeling disgraced and filled with greed, refused to accept this, proving his point in front of his brothers by using one of his axes to break an image of himself and his brothers"

Merida gasped. "How could he!" Family images were extremely important in their Kingdom.

The Queen smiled softly at her daughter. "Well, sweetie, I hope you never do that"

"Never ever" the little girl vowed.

The Queen smiled, and continued the story. "By shattering the image, he shattered the bond of their brotherhood. His words turned to war, changing the Kingdom's fate forever"

"But I thought you can't change fate" said Merida confused, tilting her head to one side.

"Princesses don't do that" said The Queen, and Merida quickly straightened herself. The Queen didn't answered her daughter, she continued the story. "As war remained a stalemate, in looking for a way to change his fate, the prince came across a menhir ring within the woods. From there the will-o'-the wisps guided him to the edge of a loch, and the witch's cottage far from the shore. Hoping to turn the tide of the war to his favour, the prince persuaded the witch to make a spell to give him the strength of ten men by offering her his signet ring, and she gave him the spell in a drinking horn, but warns him of making a choice: either to fulfil his dark wish or heal the family bonds he had broken. When the Prince brought his brothers before him by staging up a false truce, to their protest he drank the spell, which immediately gave him the strength tenfold but to his surprise, in the form of a massive black bear. While he would have chosen to break the spell by mending the bonds with his brothers, instead, he accepted his new form, and brought them and their enemies down. He then tried to get his army to rule the Kingdom, but they saw him as a wild creature and turned against him. Enraged, he attacked his former men, killing most of them...Doomed to his bestial form by his desire for power over family bonds, the Prince's human consciousness and intelligence were, over time, consumed by animalistic bloodlust. Now, known by the name of Mor'Du, he wanders the lands aimlessly, a savage beast mentally and physically..." the Queen looked at her daughter. "And that, my dear Merida, is why you can't go in the woods"

Merida snapped out of her awed state.

"But mom!" she whined. "I love it there!"

Her father came in the exact moment, leaving his bow on the table, and taking one apple.

"Fergus" said the Queen. "No weapons in the table"

Merida ran to the table and tried to take her father's gigantic bow.

"Can I ship an arrow? Can I? Can I? Can I? Please? Can I?" she giggled when she fall to the grass, the bow being to heavy for her.

"That's too big for ya" said the King, making a thinking face. "Why not with yer very own!" he showed her a tiny little bow.

Merida gasped.

"Happy Birthday, my little darlin'!" said the King.

Merida giggled and ran to the woods with her new bow. She practiced for a while, falling miserably all the time she shoot, but her father assured her it was only matter of time and practice.

"I miss...again" said Merida with a sight.

"Go fetch it, darling" said The Queen.

When Merida was out of earshot, the Queen turned to her husband. "A bow, seriously Fergus? She's a lady!"

A pierce scream interrupted them, and the King and his guards ran to where it was coming from.

"Mor'Du!" yelled the King.

Merida stood there, frozen as a gigantic bear growled at her. She was clutching her arrow with fear as the beast roomed over her. A guard ran and moved Merida out of the way when Mor'Du moved to attack her. Her father took his sword and launched to fight the monster. The guard that had Merida on arms ran towards the Queen, putting Merida on her arms, he watched them go on a horse.

The pierce scream of the King echoed on the forest that evening. Mor'Du had eaten his leg.

I remember blacking out, but when I gained conscious of my acts, I was in the woods, crying my heart out and hugging myself. My head felt like it had exploded.

I was sobbing wildly. Why was he there? He wasn't supposed to be there!

How was he in human form again? Was it because of the curse?

"Merida?" I heard a familiar voice ask, but I didn't looked up. I was still trembling and sobbing, my memories flooding my mind, making me unable to think anything else that wasn't about my other life.

I felt someone crunching down in front of me, but before I could look, another memory invaded my mind.

"I am Merida! Firstborn descendant of clan DumBroch, and I'll be shootin' for my own hand!"

She took her bow and shoot, perfectly hitting the bullseye that Young MacGuffin had missed. The crew gasped. She moved and shoot again, perfectly hitting Young Macintosh's one. Then, she took a deep breath, and looked at the bullseye without blinking. That one was gonna be harder, Wee Dingwall had actually hit the bullseye.

She stopped breathing, and shoot.

The crew gasped again, as she had hit over Wee Dingwall's arrow.

She turned and smirked at her angered mother. "I think I win"

When I opened my eyes I didn't knew where I was. For a moment, I just stood there on the bed, looking at the ceiling.

My head was a mess. Half my Merida memories were invading my Victoria ones. I had to close my eyes again, as I felt to dizzy to have them open. For a scary moment, I forgot if I was Merida or Victoria.

Or...was I both? Or...—

"Merida"

Merida. I was Merida.

I wasn't Victoria. Not right now.

I opened my eyes again, and blinked a few times. I tried to sit on the bed so I could see who was with me there, or where I was. As I did so, I started to see a resemblance on the room. I had been the before.

"Merida?" that voice again.

I looked towards it, and saw a blue eyed man with dark hair. I tilted my head to the side for a moment.

Did I knew him?

No. Merida didn't knew him.

But...I had seen him. It took me a moment to place him in my memories. Victoria had met him. He was in my newest memories. He was the Mad Hatter. He remembered too. We...we were on StoryBrook. Not...not in my Kingdom. StoryBroke.

Story...Broke.

Oh. Yes. The Curse. A Curse...a curse trapped me here.

"You..." my voice sounded strained, and my throat hurt when I talked. "Jefferson?" Yes. That was it. That was his name.

He was looking at me with pity and pain. "Hey...you okay?"

I blinked. No, I wasn't okay...

"I—" my voice broke.

...I was crazy.

Jefferson came forwards and hugged me.

Merida never liked any boy contact. She had nearly shoot Wee when he had kissed her hand repeatedly. So, why did she hug him back?

God. Now I'm referring to myself as 'she'.

What the hell is wrong with me?

You're crazy, sweetie, said a voice in my head that sounded like my moms.

I found myself crying again.

"Why is this happening to me?" I sobbed on Jefferson's shoulder.

He whispered something to me, but I didn't quite catch what he said. Another memory made me black out again.

I'm not sure how many times that happened to me that night. All I know is that Jefferson was always there with me. Leaving me cry on his shoulder, or simply helping me remember his name, or mine...