Chapter 10: Simpler Times

"So?" Darlene asked Snow as they walked down the winding path, "What did you mean earlier?" she phrased her words carefully as she didn't want to get on Snow's bad side "about getting your happy ending, why did you ask if it was important?" at this question Snow couldn't help but chuckle, she gave her new friend a smile and then looked away. "What?" Darlene said, curious to know what was so funny. "What did I say?"

"It's honestly nothing, Miss Turner." Snow said calmly, "happy endings are a big thing where I come from, although lately." When Snow stopped talking, Darlene followed her lead, Snow then equipped some arrows from her quiver and prepared them for her bow. She then raised a finger to everyone silencing them and moved forward, creeping towards the sound that she heard.

Suddenly Darlene moved a little closer towards Alex as she waited for Snow to come back, "what has her so spooked?" Alex said quietly, in response to this Darlene shrugged, "Sometimes," Alex whispered which startled Darlene "I wish for the simple life, you know?" Darlene silently nodded, she knew what Alex must be thinking, all these adventures, so much loss, and so much heartache, being away from Ahsoka must really be hurting him.

"I've been thinking that too." Darlene admitted, "although, it's hard to imagine a life before all this, before you." She suddenly stopped herself, "god, it seems ages ago doesn't it. When we first met I mean."

"I know what you mean." Alex said "that adventure on Dareen seems like a lifetime ago. I still have nightmares about the Weeping Angels sometimes." at this they both laughed, and Alex and Darlene that their meeting on Dareen was know mere coincidence, something must have brought them together for a reason, though what and why, Darlene was determined to find that out.

"All clear," came the voice of Snow, which made Alex and Darlene jump as she emerged from the trees, "thought I heard something, but I just guess t was my overactive imagination." when she saw the confused looks on Alex and Darlene's faces she asked "what's up with you guys?"

"Just discussing simpler times." Darlene said happily "happy thoughts you know?"at this Snow nodded in agreement and set her bow and arrows aside to join in with the interesting discussion.

"God what I wouldn't give for simpler times right about now." Snow said which made the trio laugh, again Darlene thought she was going to miss moments like this, when it was time to eventually leave. Although Alex had the wrong idea about leaving her, as Darlene thought the more about it, having a normal life in the place that Alex had in mind, New York didn't seem like such a bad idea. Maybe after this was all over, she could tell Alex how she really felt.

Alex on the other hand, was suspicious of Snow's quick return. She had been gone for more than five minutes and had returned almost instantly five seconds later, something was definitely wrong. His instincts and Snow's sudden change in attitude towards him were the indicators, "so any ideas on how we move forward?" Snow asked them "I mean the TARDIS can't be far and surely it will have repaired itself by now?"

"The TARDIS is doing fine," Alex said a little unsure of himself and in this instance he was right to do so, all his senses were acting up and telling him that this person was not Snow.

"Alex?" Darlene said, catching on to his tone of voice, sometimes Alex hated that he and Darlene were such good friends, and the fact that she was able to pick up on stuff like this. Snow on the other hand, didn't seem all that interested in her surroundings and was suspiciously looking over her shoulder, that was a clear indicator that something was wrong. Alex chose his next words very carefully, if he was wrong about this, then his plan would be for nothing.

"How did we meet?"

As expected Snow didn't answer right away, which was a definite give away. "what's wrong?" Darlene asked and when Alex didn't answer her, she too began to get suspicious, sometimes when her friend was right bout stuff like this, it was just best to leave him to figure out the solution. It was here that Darlene noticed that Snow was in fact looking over her shoulder in an nerving way. "Snow?" Darlene asked nervously, "why do you keep looking over your shoulder?"

It was at that moment Alex knew something was wrong Snow's us all voice was replaced from a kind and caring one to a cold and distant, "waiting."

"Waiting for what?" Darlene dared to ask, and at that moment she knew that everything would go to hell. It was sought of the typical thing she had gotten used to, travelling on her many adventures.

"The right moment." Snow said softly and it was in that moment a cloud of purple magic appeared, as Alex and Darlene watched Snow engulfed in the cloud and change into the form of a tall woman, dressed in black clothing, with brown hair and piercing brown eyes appeared in the place of Snow. "Now to be exact."

Darlene then stood helpless as just before she heeded Alex's orders to "Run!" she watched as the Evil Queen plunged her hand into Alex's chest as she tried to rip his heart out...