Another update! Finally. How about that Winter Finale?! Craaaaazy! But now I'm sure we all have dozens of ideas for new FanFiction stories :D Only a few chapters left...
Chapter 8
Snow coughed and sat up. Her throat felt dry and there was a dull throbbing in her head. She glanced over and saw David lying on the ground beside her. He was stirring and slowly waking. Snow sighed in relief when she saw David and turned her gaze to her surroundings.
Tall trees grew high above and thick bushes dotted the landscape. Grass covered the ground, save some spots where the hard-packed dirt showed through. A group of birds glided through the air and took rest on a thick tree branch. Snow took a deep breath and inhaled the familiar smell.
"The Enchanted Forest," she murmured.
A hand clasped hers. "Home."
Snow looked over her shoulder and saw her husband grinning at her. "Well, help me to my feet, Prince Charming. We need to find Rapunzel!"
David pulled Snow to her feet and planted a kiss on her rosy lips. "It's good to be home."
Snow kissed him back. "It is. I just wish it was under happier circumstances."
David nodded his agreement and turned to glance around. Thankfully, the portal had dropped David and Snow right by a road. It took only a minute for David to recognize the road and determine which way they should travel.
"Rapunzel grew up in Corona," David told Snow. "Hopefully she still lives there."
David and Snow set off down the road together, praying they would find Rapunzel soon.
Emma woke up and rubbed her eyes. I must have dozed off… she thought.
"Did you have a nice nap?"
Emma glanced over and saw Regina perched on the edge of the coffee table, staring at her. "What the…? What are you doing here?"
"I'm in charge of babysitting you until your parents return," Regina replied.
"Where'd my parents go?"
"The Enchanted Forest."
Emma stared at Regina in shock. She tittered nervously, "You must have thrown me pretty hard. I could've sworn you said that my parents were in the Enchanted Forest."
Regina laughed at Emma. "Your hearing is fine. Your parents are in the Enchanted Forest."
"What?! Why?! When did this happen?!" Emma sat up on the couch and kicked off the blanket that was draped over her.
Regina calmly explained about her and David's visit with Mr. Gold, Rapunzel's hair, and the Charmings departure to the Enchanted Forest.
Emma could hardly believe all that had happened while she was napping. She folded her arms across her chest and frowned.
"So what do we do in the meantime?" Emma finally asked.
"Nothing really," Regina sighed, showing her own annoyance with the plan. "All we can do is keep our eyes and ears open to be sure Peter Pan doesn't do anything until your parents return with Rapunzel."
There was a knock on the door, interrupting any further conversation between Regina and Emma. Regina stood to answer the door while Emma remained on the couch.
"Regina? I'm here to see Emma."
Emma straightened up on the couch. There was no mistaking that accented pirate voice.
"Listen, Guyliner, Miss Swan isn't in the mood for a visitor."
Emma scrambled off the couch. "I'm not an invalid, Regina!" She joined Regina at the door.
Regina sent Emma an icy glare, clearly indicating that she didn't think Emma should talk with Killian.
Emma gave a slight shake of her head, hoping Regina would back off.
Regina opened the door a little wider and beckoned Killian in. "Your mother will kill me if she finds out about this," she hissed to Emma. "Be careful."
Emma shrugged off Regina's warning, hoping Killian wouldn't notice how cautious Regina was being. "What brings you here, Killian?" Emma said, sitting down beside Killian at the table. "Any news?"
Killian nodded, "I visited Gold today. I asked him if there was some potion I could use to protect Henry from Pan. He gave me this." Killian reached into his vest and pulled out a tiny bottle of some type of liquid.
Regina snatched the bottle out of Killian's hands. "What is it?" She gazed intently at the bottle.
"Gold said it would repel Pan if he tried to get to Henry." Killian took the bottle back. "Emma, if you take me to Henry's hiding spot, I can enact this and protect Henry."
Emma hesitated for a split second. "You want to go to Henry's hiding spot?"
Killian grinned, "Yes, love; to enact this potion that the Crocodile gave me."
Regina stared down Emma; waiting to hear how she responded.
Emma pressed her lips together, praying that no one could see the panic that was swirling around inside of her. She was certain her eyes were wide in fear and that her heart was beating outside of her chest. This had to be a hoax; Pan was trying to trick Emma into telling him where Henry was hidden. She couldn't let Killian get to Henry's hiding place because then, Pan would know where Henry was hiding. However, if Emma refused to take Killian to Henry's hiding place, Pan would know something was up. Either way, she was screwed. Emma sucked in a deep breath and looked at Killian.
"Okay. I'll take you."
Regina suddenly was overcome with a coughing fit. Killian stood to his feet but Emma motioned him to sit back down.
"I'll help her." Emma led Regina to the kitchen and got her a glass of water.
Between sips, Regina whispered to Emma. "What are you doing?!"
"I'm going to pull a fast one on Pan, that's what," Emma whispered back.
"This is going to be the biggest bluff of your life!" Regina hissed. "Can you do it?"
"I don't have a choice," Emma replied. "You talk to Gold to be sure Killian is lying. I'll meet you at the pawn shop if everything goes well. If not…as soon as my parents return, bring them to your vault." Emma left Regina and returned to the kitchen table. "Let me just get my boots and jacket," she said to Killian.
Emma tugged on her boots and Killian helped her with her jacket. Regina watched them from the kitchen.
"Be careful you two. You don't want Pan to find out where Henry is."
Killian looked over his shoulder. "Right. We'll keep a sharp eye out, Regina." He ushered Emma out the door and Emma led the way down the stairs.
"We'll walk there," Emma told Killian. "It's a nice day for a walk."
Killian nodded and took Emma's arm. "Aye, love. 'Tis a beautiful day for a little walk in the woods." He turned suddenly and kissed Emma.
Emma was taken by surprise, but quickly recovered and kissed her boyfriend back. "Mmm," she murmured. "I've missed you so much."
Killian caressed Emma's hair. "I've missed you too, love."
Emma pulled out of Killian's embrace and headed for the cemetery. She kept a slow pace, but not slow enough that Killian would suspect she was purposefully wasting time.
I just have to waste enough time for my parents to get back with Rapunzel and her magical hair. It shouldn't be too hard…
Charming stopped in the middle of the road and held out his arm to stop his wife. Snow stopped beside him and glanced at him.
"What?"
Charming pointed ahead. "We made it!"
Snow followed Charming's finger until she saw a prominent castle in the distance. "We're almost there. Quick, let's go!"
Charming and Snow bounded up the road and headed for the castle gates. When they reached the iron gates, a guard hailed them from the watch tower.
"Who goes there?" the voice barked.
"Prince James and Princess Snow White of the Enchanted Forest," Charming announced with authority.
"State your business," the guard said.
"My wife and I demand counsel with Rapunzel."
"Princess Rapunzel," the guard corrected with annoyance.
"Princess Rapunzel," Charming repeated. "We must speak with her. It is urgent."
"I'll notify the princess and she will get back to you when she has time."
Charming stepped up to the gate and grasped the metal bars. "We don't have time to wait! We need in right now!"
"I will tell the princess your request and I will let you know as soon as I can. For now, you may wait in the courtyards." The guard opened the gates into the outer courtyards.
The courtyard was buzzing with activity. Servants bustled around with packages and parcels, headed for the castle. Guards were performing exercises in the western side of the yard. A few stablehands were walking a herd of horses through the middle of the courtyard.
Charming turned to his wife. "What are we going to do know? Who knows how long we're going to wait?" He lowered his voice, "We don't have time to wait!"
Snow carefully looked around the courtyard once more before she glanced at her husband. "We're going to go see Rapunzel. Now."
"What? How?" Charming asked in confusion.
"By creating a distraction." Snow motioned at the horses. "You keep everyone else busy while I slip inside."
A smile graced the lips of Charming as he realized his wife's plan. "Good luck," he whispered with a kiss. They split up, Snow headed to the edge of the courtyard while Charming headed for the herd of horses. Charming reached the horses, shouted, "Yah!" and slapped his hand against the rump of the nearest horse.
The horses took off like a shot, dragging the stablehands behind them. The stablehands shouted in surprise and anger as they were dragged along. Everyone nearby dropped their things and rushed to aid the stablehands.
While the entire courtyard was focused on corralling the runaway steeds, Snow slipped right into the castle, unnoticed. While slinking through the castle corridor, Snow thought about the old days when she was a runaway bandit. She grinned to herself. It was just like the old days again. She and Charming were together, in the Enchanted Forest, battling evil. Suddenly, Snow paused; two things were missing; Emma and Henry.
"Henry!" Snow whispered. The name reminded Snow of her mission in the Enchanted Forest. She had to find Rapunzel and get back to Storybrooke before Peter Pan took Henry. She moved along the hallways faster. She had to find the right hallway that led to Rapunzel.
The sound of footsteps up the hallway rang out loud in the quiet hallway. Snow ducked into the closest room and shut the door behind her. Snow breathed a deep sigh of relief as she heard the footsteps pass. She moved as if to return to the hallway when a noise behind her made her stop. Snow looked over shoulder and her eyes widened at the sight.
A dashing young man with shaggy brown hair and a young woman with long black hair were standing in the back of the room, sharing a passionate kiss.
A blush colored Snow's cheeks as she witnessed the intimate moment, but then she recognized the woman. "Rapunzel?!" she gasped.
The young woman tore away from the young man and stared at Snow White. A blush crept onto her face and she gaped, open-mouthed at the other woman.
"You're Rapunzel?" Snow asked.
"Yes…um…can I help you?" Rapunzel pushed her extremely long hair over her shoulder.
"Yes! I'm Snow White and my husband is James. You've met him before."
"I know James," Rapunzel nodded. "He saved me from my tower…I owe him everything."
"Well," Snow grinned, "I have a perfect opportunity for you to repay him for saving you."
