A/N: It isn't necessary to read this, but it sets the tone a bit. Plus, it reveals more about Leslie's past, what Hank found, and what she's hiding. But it's all very subtle.
Disclaimer:
"…happily ever after didn't last as long as we'd hoped…"
~The 10th Kingdom
~Interlude 1: Once upon a time…~
Once upon a time…
Once upon a time is where things are safe. The giants haven't come down from the beanstalk yet. The little girls are still safe in their beds, red cloaks hanging on the wall. Twelve princesses can still dance, mermaids still sing, and spinning wheels are safely locked away in the tower…
But sometimes you have to leave safe behind.
Sometimes the cinder girl has to take a chance. Sometimes the little maid runs into the woods, running toward something—she doesn't know what—that's better, sweeter, stranger. Sometimes the princess just has to try and spin. And you have to wonder, didn't they ever tell her what would happen if she did? They had to have told her, to warned her…
But she tries anyway. Like her friend who takes the apple from the hag. Twice already she'd been tricked—once by a corset, once by a hairpin—but she takes the apple, because it's so beautiful, because it's forbidden, because she can't live with herself knowing she didn't even try it.
And sometimes things workout. Sometimes the beast turns out to be a prince. Sometimes the ugly duckling turns out to be a swan. Sometimes the prince finds the princess and with a kiss the spell is broken. The pricked finger is healed, the apple coughed up, the fairy tale finished.
But sometimes…
But sometimes they don't work out so well, and that's the part that people like to forget. Sometimes the match-girl dies. Sometimes the mermaid loses both her legs and her life. Sometimes the tin soldier melts. Sometimes the red shoes have to be cut off, taking the feet with them. Sometimes the spell isn't broken, sometimes the curse is forever.
Sometimes the beast is a just a beast and eats the girl whole. And he doesn't feel badly, because he knows he's a beast, and that's what he does. Sometimes the little men in the wood take the girl and have their way with her instead of helping her. And sometimes the prince just never thinks to leave his castle, and the princess sleeps for eternity.
And unhappily ever after is just as likely as happily. People forget that, because they want to take the risk, they want to live, they want to try, and they can't let themselves think for a moment that maybe it won't work out.
Leslie's different. She took the chance once, ran into the woods, but didn't find her happy ending. It took her ages to find a way out of the shadowed forest, to finally escape the wolf. She remembers it, she has to stop and look at her life. She sees the paths ahead, and realizes she can only take one. There is no turning back.
So what will it be? Now and forever, or wait and never? Run back into the woods or stay locked in the tower? Make your choice, Les, place the bet, play the cards. Kiss safety goodbye or cling to it with all your might? You can't have it both ways.
Come on.
Time's running out.
~End Interlude 1~