~Henry's POV~
We quietly got dressed in fresh clothes and left the loft. I made sure my keys didn't make so much noise that it woke everyone in the house. And once we were outside, we couldn't stop laughing as we raced down the street toward the library.
"Are you sure Belle won't mind us going in so early?" Sera asked as we kept our fast stride.
"I sure hope so," I said. "I mean, she's the only one who knows about my dreams and visions."
"Visions?" She cocked her head, confused. God, that looked adorable.
"Ever since the first curse was broken, visions of a different life, a different time, were coming to me," I explained. "I didn't tell anyone because we were so busy with everything going on."
"But, didn't you go to New York and forget ever being in Storybrooke?" I gave her a look, wondering how she knew that. "I heard the talk around town when you came back."
"Right," I took another deep breath before continuing. "But yeah, that did happen. And the visions stopped coming. But when I got them back, the visions returned."
She nodded as she understood what I meant when we arrived at the library. I jiggled the door handle, sighing as I figured it would be locked.
But I have to thank Belle for the spare key.
I slipped the key into the lock and turned, hearing the satisfying click of it unlocking. I opened the door and we rushed in.
The door closed behind us and I made sure to lock it to be sure no one followed.
"Alright, where to look first?" Sera asked as she walked to a section of the library and started her search. I followed, going to a different section to look as well.
As we searched, however, more and more images of the "Earth Kingdom" is how I'll call it came back to me. A king and queen...a Prince with honor...and the princess he loved.
Why were these memories coming to me? I was born in this world, not the Enchanted Forest.
Though, I was the son of a princess and grandson of Snow White and Prince Charming. So, I guess I had some Enchanted Forest in me.
After a while of searching, I sighed. The book in my hand held no answers. So I put it back and went to grab the book next to it when it came down like a lever and the entire shelf opened.
"Whoa!" I exclaimed.
"What is it?" Sera asked as she came around the corner and stared at the opened wall. "Whoa!"
I opened it further, stepping inside as I could see what looked to be a castle library, with books upon books and shelves upon shelves. It was truly remarkable.
Marble walls and a navy blue carpet. And in the center of the carpet was a crescent moon rug. Tables littered the surrounding areas and a giant window to the side showed the half-moon in the sky perfectly.
"Holy Cow!" Sera exclaimed as she walked in after me and the door closed behind us. "Where do you think we are?"
"I'd say a secret library," I said before noticing a double door nearby. I raced up and tried to open it, only to find it locked in return.
"I'm sure we can get out through the bookshelf again, Henry," Sera said as she started climbing a ladder up to a top-shelf.
"Hey, be careful!" I called, racing to the ladder she was on. "You just got over a stab wound!"
"I'm fine! Yes, it's tender and stiff still, but I'm fine!" She called as she looked at a few books on the shelf. I stayed close to the ladder, watching her as she reached out to grab a book. I held my breath.
She lost her balance as she grabbed the book and fell off, screaming as I caught her in my arms bridal style. I gave her a look as I stared into her eyes.
"Told you to be careful," I said, getting a blushing look from Sera. But neither of us looked away, mesmerized by the other.
This touch...why did it feel familiar? Like I held her like this before.
"Uh, Henry?" She spoke. "You can set me down now." I shook my thoughts away and set her down, making her grin at me.
"Thanks for the catch," She said as she held up the book she brought down.
I stared in shock.
It looked just like the one Belle gave me.
"There's two of them?"
"I guess so," Sera said. "You think it's a sequel?"
"There's only one way to find out," I said as I took it from her and opened to the first page...and saw nothing.
"Blank? Really?!" Sera sighed. "Why publish a blank book?"
I stared for a moment, thinking it over as to why since the books in the Sorcerer's Secret library were all blank as well. So maybe with me as the new Author, I could write the rest of their story.
If only I didn't break the pen.
I sighed, turning another page just for the heck of it, and froze. There, in the center of a few cutout panels, was a ring box.
"Whoa! A ring?!" Sera exclaimed as I pulled the box out of the book and looked at it for a while. It seemed familiar to me.
Man, why did everything seem familiar all of a sudden?
I placed the book on a table we were near and opened the ring box, seeing a silver band with a crescent moon on the top of it.
"Whoa, that's so pretty," Sera said as I pulled it out of the box and flipped it over in my hand for a bit.
"Well, if this tells us one thing, is that the tale of the Moon and Earth is real."
"I always thought so," Sera said as she stepped closer and looked the ring over. "It still looks pristine and clean!"
"Yeah, how!?" I asked surprised now that I thought about that little feature. If something like this was left in a book for all these years, it would have started to rust or tarnish or both.
How did this still look good after so many years?
"Well, it's 5 am. What do you want to do?" Sera asked after she pocketed her phone again. I looked at her, seeing how tired she looked, but she still held her head high like a princess.
I grinned before I gestured for her right hand. She seemed confused but obeyed as she placed her hand in mine and I showed her the ring.
"I think you should have this," I said as I went to slip it on her middle finger.
"I don't know, Henry. It belongs to the princess in-" But she stopped mid-sentence as I pushed the ring on her and she gasped. I stared as I saw her blue eyes glowing with a moonly brilliance and eventually they stopped and she let out the air she was holding in.
I watched her, worried as she placed a hand on her head...and I noticed the crescent moon mark on her forehead.
"Sera?" I asked, making her look at me as the moon mark left and she stared.
"Henry..." She began, "...I remember."
~No One's POV~
In the sheriff's office, Bea was asleep in her cell as a guard slept by the entrance. His uniform was different from other uniforms, for a castle sigil was on the badge.
However, that was of no concern at this time, for Bea woke up with a gasp and sat up quickly. Her breathing was heavy, her eyes unfocused.
But her memory returned.
She growled and grimaced at the memories pouring into her brain like an old forgotten song, and she winced as the strength of her powers returned to her.
But once it was over, she knew what happened. She knew what was found and who had remembered first.
"No!" She yelled, making sure her voice stayed low so she didn't wake up the guard. "What I was preventing came true! She remembers!" She then paused, standing up from her little damp bed. She could see what was happening and she just smirked in realization.
"But he hasn't been found yet," Bea said. "Maybe I have time...to kill her."
And with a swipe of her hand...she disappeared.
