Clarissa stands to her bedroom window, wrapped in a think woolen blanket as the rainbow of the horizon comes into view, and she looks down into the garden and sees all the clear greenery, no other color to be seen, not considering she ripped them all out, plucking out the blossoms before they even fully bloomed.

She walks into the dining room a few short hours later with breakfast on a tray and smiles at finding her employer already in his seat and waiting "you're late"

"No, you're early" she smiles and places the food down in front of him

He beams up at her with his yellow eyes and smiles "join me dearie?"

Clarissa tilts her head, pretending to think about it before bouncing happily into a chair "bye the way you missed a piece of glass in the east hall"

She pours herself some tea and nods "I'll take care of it after I've done the dishes"

The brunette sips at her tea as he swallows his breakfast and asks "so what exactly was that little trick dearie, with the glass?"

She shrugs and answers honestly "I wish I knew, all I know is it happens and can be very useful"

He looks at her with his crooked smile and says "very useful I'm sure"

She gives him a pointed look while taking another sip of her sweet tea while he grins with a mouthful of food; the silence is comfortable, easy…

Later that day he walks past, coming back from a deal as she mops the floors, careful not to step on the wet patches and frowns at her pensive expression "something the matter dearie?"

She seems to snap from her trance and shakes her head "what? Sorry, no, nothing"

The leather clad demon folds his arms and raises an eyebrow "Clarissa dearie… you're a terrible liar"

She giggles and leans against the mop "no, I'm a great liar; I just don't have the energy to care right now"

"Do tell" he looks to her with curious interest, noticing her diamond blue orbs have been wondering for most of the day

With a shake of her head she says "it's nothing, really... it's just my sister's wedding is in a couple of days. They'll have the servants building a pyre for the festival by now, having the feast prepared"

He watches as she gets this glazed look in her eyes and clicks his fingers as he taps his chin "I didn't peg you for the romantic, wedding type"

"I'm not, but Belle is" she says with a trodden tone and he feels a pang of empathy for the girl

"How about I make you a deal dearie?" he says with the click of his boot as he takes a step closer to the girl

Their eyes meet and she cocks her head to the side as he leans into her so their mere inches apart "you can go to your sister's wedding, then when we return you are to tell me about your little party trick"

He watches her tense for a moment before thinking about the offer and nods with a sinister smile "Deal"

Rumpelstiltskin watches as the carriage leaves with his housekeeper inside, a heavy frown set on his face, because he truly believed he'd never see her again and for some reason this pained him, more than he would ever admit.

~~~~~The stars are glistening brightly, the moonlight making the misty trees seem to glow amidst the darkness, the sound of giggling echo's against the grain and footsteps race along the thriving pasture, the wind whistling and the night creatures singing as two bodies brush against the trees, two hands gripped tightly together "Come on"

"I'm trying…" the other girl answers while haling her dress up to gain speed

They stop in a small meadow, the elder girl smiles to the one she'd pulled out of bed and into the night. Her sister sighs and blows a strand of chestnut out of her face "Belle why are out here? Father will be furious if he catches us"

The elder sister walks easily to her younger sibling and tenderly moves a strand of hair behind her ear "don't worry sister, It's alright…"

Clarissa swallows at the brunette's words, but nods gingerly as she takes her hand and follows her onto the ground, both looking up and staring at the shining lanterns offered by the heavens. Clarissa knows their nightdresses will be filthy and groans "this is disgusting; we're lying on the ground, a place where insects inhabit and wildlife excrement! Why are we even out here?"

Belle leans on her forearms and looks down to her sister with her usual bright smile "because I wanted to show you the stars… mother used to bring me here as a girl, I thought it was only fair"

A solemn gaze comes to the younger girl as she turns away and bites bitterly "what's so special about a bunch of lights in the sky?"

Belle looks up and explains with a sparkle in her blue orbs "the stars are indifferent Clarissa, they have no judgment or quarrels and they never fade or change… in a world full of transformation they're the only constant."

Clarissa frowns and shakes her head "you are a wonder sister…"

Looking back down to the other girl, diamond and sapphire blue meeting as Belle smiles "only to you it seems"

Clarissa sits up then and asks "why are you always so pleasant to me?"

"What reason would I have not to be?" the elder sister questions with a tilt of her head

"Don't play coy" the blue eyed girl says with a stern expression

Belle lets out a deep sigh and shrugs "why do I need a motive to be pleasant? You are my sister, isn't that reason enough?"

Clarissa looks into her siblings eyes for a hint of fault but finds none, only a kind gaze and tender smile "besides today I must be extra pleasant… not every day you turn sixteen"

Both sisters smile, however the younger's falters and her body tenses as two arms rap lovingly around her, it was a foreign thing for her, this simple gesture, but it was her birthday and Belle had been so kind. So despite her instinct to push her to the ground and sneer in revolution she awkwardly raps her arms around her sister and nuzzles into her soft hair…

Present Day Fairytale World ~~~

Its two days before Clarissa arrives at the palace, but when she does the guards immediately step aside and others rush to tell the king, she'd made it… her big sister's wedding.

She walks into the royal court, dressed in a bottle green silk dress, once again the Princess "Clarissa, my child… however did you escape?"

She sneers to her father's question and smiles wickedly "didn't think I would miss my sister's wedding now did you?"

He strides over to her and growls "you will not ruin this day!"

"I have no intention" she answers with a cold glare, forcing the man to back down in fear of his own daughter

She sees everyone is simply waiting on the bride and sighs "Well, I'll go and see what's keeping Belle"

She turns to leave only for her arm to be held in a vice grip, she turns and sees it to be her sisters betrothed "you will leave my fiancée be!"

Her face is filled with a blank rage as she leans up to him, pulling a blade out of the tin air of her dress "she was my sister many a year before your fiancée and she will continue to be so long after becoming your wife. Now remove your hand before I sever it"

Reluctantly he lets go and she smiles, continuing down the hall under the watchful eye of the castle guard and the dreaded fear of her people…

She walks stealthily into the room, able to hide behind a thin curtain and observe her sister, who is dressed in a blue laced white gown and littered with the family jewels "fit for a queen"

The bride turns at the sound of the familiar voice and stands with shock and joy "Clarissa"

She runs over gleefully and embraces her sister, who just stands there with a whimsical smile. When they are no longer connected Belle questions "how can you be here?"

"Rummy allowed me to come; after all I couldn't miss your big day" the younger girl smiles

Belle pulls her sister by the hand and beams "oh sister, I have missed you so"

"And I you but no time for dramatics, you are a bride and are going to be late… you know you don't have to marry that buffoon, we could leave right now" the green clad girl suggests halfheartedly

Her sister laughs and smiles her perfect smile, so innocent "Gaston is a good man, despite his faults; he will make a fine king I'm sure…"

Clarissa seems more than skeptical but nods with a blank expression "it's your decision Sister"

Clarissa watches as Belle weds with a smile on her face, she seems happy, Maurice is obviously pleased with the union, but he is aware of his youngest child's past and is on high alert, the kingdom a buzz with her return, but she doesn't care at that moment, because she didn't go with Rumpelstiltskin for her father's approval, the kingdoms freedom or even her own, she exchanged places with Belle for exactly that… for the sister who was always to kind and forgiving, strong and pure of heart, everything she wasn't, who never understood but always accepted her, her only friend, her big sister… Belle

The feast begins, ritual and tradition, so no one notices when the princess slips away for just a moment, she has never liked the mundane festivals of the kingdom, they always made her head throb with pain and her heart with boredom "does he know you have come or do you bring his wrath with you?"

The doe eyed girl doesn't bother looking back and answers "I have his permission, don't worry, your little kingdom is safe"

"Why have you come?" a voice so filled with worry and concern question's, but not for she

Clarissa turns to meet her father's gaze and bite "I have come to see my sister marry, don't fret father, I won't burden you with my presence much longer… he's expecting my return"

She goes to leave the quarry but at the sound of his voice she holts "thank you… for saving the kingdom"

The pure blood curdling rage boils in her as she turns "don't you mean for saving Belle, after all you were so defiant she stay"

He holds his head high, like he has no need to be ashamed "she is the future queen"

"And what am I? Am I not your daughter?" she screams at him, the glass of the windows shuddering

His eyes fall over her and he shakes his head solemnly "why are you so angry at the world?"

"Not the world, just you!" she laughs bitterly

His eyes narrow and he frowns "Me? All I've ever done is try to save you"

"What about supporting me, comforting me, holding me… you're my father, you're supposed to love me no matter what I do or who I become, but you couldn't do that could you. Was my crime really that terrible that you have grown to hate me, fear me… more so than that, become indifferent to me?" she says with a stammer in her voice

Maurice looks down to his daughter and shakes his head "your being theatrical Clarissa. Must you always have the attention?"

She laughs bitterly, just standing there for a moment and the as he goes to walk past her, her blade is against his throat, her voice hard "I should kill you now, you heartless bastard!"

The sharp edge of the blade slices into the curve of his neck, a drop of crimson falling and she watches it, eyes wide and ready to end him "Clarissa? Papa?"

At the sound of her sisters nearing voice the brunette quickly hides the dagger and turns just as the bride rounds the corner and she rushes over "there you two are"

"I'm afraid I must leave" Clarissa says as the sisters near

Belle's big blue eyes fall at that and she questions "already but the festival isn't over yet?"

"I'm afraid so, Rummy will have my head if I'm not back before tomorrow's dusk, literally, there's a display along the castle gates" she smiles casually and looks to her sister

Suddenly Clarissa embraces Belle, who is shocked and elated by the action. The younger girl tightens her hold, squeezing lightly with her eyes closed and nuzzles into the brown locks "Congratulation's Belle… I…I love you!"

Just as she mutters the words she coldly detaches herself and marches away from the pair, not seeing the smiling tears on her sisters face "I love you to"

Clarissa doesn't stop until she reaches the stable holding her carriage and immediately leaves the kingdom, never wanting to look back again.

She had ridden in the enchanted carriage for the night, because a carriage without horses couldn't be anything but! When the dawn breaks and the sun wakes she stops in on a town for nourishment, leaving the carriage to the safety of the stables as she wonders the pub and market place thanks to the gold Rumpel had given her before leaving. After eating she took to acquiring some things for the dark castle, such as new drapes, a pretty new tea set and a bite of honeycomb for herself, her favorite. The thing that sparked the young girl's interest was different to anything she had ever seen, it was sat at a market stall and she couldn't resist kneeling down to the table height for a better look, scared to touch it.

It was a glass sphere on a matching intricate base, inside was trapped a beautiful crystal rose, the stem and leaves colorless but the petals, oh, they were a deep crimson and seemed to glisten ever so "do you like it my pet?"

Clarissa looks up from the object to find an old woman smiling sweetly down to her "it's beautiful."

The hag holds up a finger and says "this is a special item, enchanted by a good witch"

The princess's brow creases as she asks "for what purpose?"

The ugly old woman picks it up and touches the glass protecting the fragile rose, only for sparling white and miniature crimson petals to glitter down inside "just a luck charm, my pet"

A smile spreads to the corners of Clarissa's face and she beams "how much?"

"For you? A song!" the hag smiles sweetly

The doe eyed girl gives her a curious look "a song? You want me to sing for it?"

"Yes pet, sing!" she answers, Clarissa looks to the globe and sighs

"Red river, red river amongst the world so bright, red river, red river, save me this night. My mother is weak, my brother is dead, my future looks bleak red river, my heart is no more, no more is my heart innocent and pure. Oh red river, red river forgive me my sins, my glee and hate, red river, red river my hands wash with blood and mud, save me red river, drown out my fate" her voice, angelic and strong is applauded by the market folk and she can't help the blush

She takes the globe from the woman and makes her way back, not seeing the hag smile into new lips and golden curls "good luck my pet"

Clarissa hums as she makes her way to the carriage and is about ready to leave when someone bumps into her, making her drop some of her things, thankfully none break "oh, my, I'm so very sorry"

"You should watch where you're going" she snaps and starts picking up her belongings, only for another pair of hands to aid her.

She looks up to see a woman washed over in black garments who picks up the crystal globe "my, what a beautiful object, is it for someone special?"

Sorry for the cliffhanger but it's like half one and I've been up since five am, I'm knackered so, yeah… tell me what you think blah blah blah… I'm too tired to be nice so just review ok? Good! JJ X x