Charming, dawned in armor, stood next to his white horse at the royal stables tightening the horses saddle straps. "So, Jack have you ever ridden a horse before," Charming asked.
Jack stood next to the large grey horse looking it up and down. "Uh, it's been a while but I'm sure it'll come back to me," he replied. He looked at the necklace Iris stole from Rumpelstiltskin in his hand. This had better work, he thought and put it in his pocket.
Charming put his foot in stirrup and threw his leg over the horse. "Are you sure you wouldn't feel safer with a bit of armor on? We could run into trouble," he asked.
Jack only wore his cleaned and repaired uniform. But he still had his rifle, two clips of ammunition left, and the local blacksmith repaired his bayonet. "Thank you but this should be all the protection I need," he replied putting his arm through the leather strap of the rifle.
"If you say so. I'll watch your back all the same."
"And I'll watch yours," Jack said. "It's the least I can do for you since you and your wife saved my life."
As he was ready to mount his horse Iris ran into the stables. "Jack I just wanted to see you before you left," she said. "Thank you for saving my life from the werewolf."
"It's nothing really," he smiled at her. "Just be safe while I'm gone. This may be the last time I see you if this works so just know I'll miss you and I'll leave you with this. Continue your work here as you did in France. Help people as much as you can."
"I will, I promise," she smiled and gave Jack a hug.
Jack embraced her back and said, "And thank you for saving my life."
"Anytime," she chuckled, tears forming in her eyes.
He turned to put his foot in the stirrup. He grabbed the saddle horn and pulled himself onto the saddle.
"Ready," Charming asked.
"I am," he replied.
"Let's go then."
Charming spurred his horse and it began to walk then run and Jack followed suit and away from the palace they rode.
After several minutes of ridding, it was all beginning to come back to Jack. All those times he had ridden with Carina in exchange for her riding a locomotive with him had paid off. As they rode through the forest Charming broke the silence. "I can only imagine how strange this must be for you. To come from a land with no magic and all the sudden find yourself practically surrounded by it."
"Honestly I'm still having trouble believing it all," Jack replied. "I am thinking that I'm going to wake up any minute now and this will all be a dream."
"Well, I can tell you this is all very much real," Charming said. "That feral werewolf you fought was real and Iris was real."
"I have no doubt she was real. I'm guessing you must have had life easy here, you and Snow. Being the rulers of this land and all."
"Actually, no we didn't. I was a farmer and Snow lost her father at a young age. The Evil Queen, Regina, she killed him and soon after she began to pursue Snow. We had to fight to make our way here and it wasn't for power or glory it was to make a change."
"Where I come from people in power tend to meddle in affairs that they don't belong in. Just…be wiser than they are."
"We do our best every day and we put our people first," Charming replied.
They rode out of the forest and next a river for a few miles then back into the woods again but the more they rode the darker the woods became, and more disturbed Jack began to feel.
"So, you said this Regina killed Snow's father then went after her later? Why," Jack asked.
"Over a mistake Snow made when she was a child," Charming replied. "She never forgave her. Since then, we had to deal with her tyrannical rule, a war to overthrow her and even now things still aren't all peaceful."
"I hope things get better for you both, Charming," Jack said. "You and Snow are good people. The world could use more like you. Especially mine."
"Thank you," Charming smiled. "We're getting close to Rumpelstiltskin's castle now. You hear that?"
"Hear what."
"Exactly. Just nothing but silence. I've always hated coming here."
"Have you met him multiple times," Jack asked.
"More than I care to remember," Charming somberly replied.
They were both on the pathway now up to the Dark Castle and once they approached the site of the place made Jacks skin crawl. Dead plants sat around in pots on the outside, the windows were dirty, and all the curtains were drawn closed. The castle looked like it hadn't been inhabited in a long time. As they dismounted their horses at the door Charming drew his sword.
"We have to be on our guard here. You never know what mood he's in," he said. Jack held his rifle by his side and bulled the bolt back to make sure there was one in the chamber. Once they were ready Charming led the way inside.
As they entered Jack saw they were in a large open area with paintings on both sides of the walls. Straight ahead was a fireplace and a staircase leading up on either side. A large dusty chandelier hung from the ceiling. The building was cold and there was not a single source of light around.
"Is he here," Jack asked.
"He's around somewhere," Charming replied looking around the room.
Then the fireplace lit up, burning bright and hot. The chandelier shook slightly as a woosh filled the air. Jack shouldered his rifle and Charming held his sword ready to attack if the need arose. Then a delighted giggle filled the air and Jacks blood ran cold. Then they heard footsteps. Jack and Charming looked to the staircase on the left side of the fireplace and there they saw him making his way down.
Jack had never seen such a man or creature before. He dressed in dark clothing, but his skin appeared to be a golden color. "Charming you can put your weapon away you won't need it today," he said as he reached the bottom step.
Charming lowered his weapon but kept a tight grip on it.
"And you I don't believe we have met," he grinned at Jack. "Let me introduce myself." He took a deep bow and said, "Rumpelstiltskin, at your service."
"I'm Jack Evans," Jack said. "We've come looking for your help."
"Not we…you," Rumple said and pointed a finger at Jack. "You wish to get home. Home to another place, another time."
"How'd you know?"
Rumple let out a giggle. "Deary please, I have eyes and ears everywhere. And the answer to your question is yes, I can help you, but the real question is do I want to help you?"
"What is it you want this time," Charming asked.
"Straight forward as ever. I always liked that about you Charming." Rumpled smiled wide and said to Jack. "In exchange for my help I want you to bring me that thief Iris and we have a deal."
Jack raised the barrel of his rifle and pointed it at Rumpelstiltskin head. "No deal. She's not part of our deal."
Rumple frowned, put his hand on the barrel and lowed the rifle. "Oh, I do believe she is. She stole it from me and in exchange she pays with her life. Such is how these things go."
Charming now had his sword on Rumple. "You can't have her," he said. "We'll find another way to get him back."
Rumple looked at Charming then back at Jack. The tension was so thick it could had been cut with a dagger. He watched Jack a moment then burst into a fit of laughter. Jack and Charming looked at each other in confusion.
"I don't want that fool girl," he laughed. "She helped me test what that necklace can do without her knowledge. It was my true enemy who sent her to me thinking she was going to play me but instead…I played her."
"So, you don't want Iris," Jack asked.
"No, deary," Rumple said. "I was going to find a test subject for that transportation stone anyway. I was told it could be highly unstable and I wouldn't risk finding that out myself. I wanted to see if it worked and so it does."
"But will you help me or not," Jack asked.
"I shall do my best to help," Rumple smiled. "In exchange I'll need your help with something."
"What do you mean you'll need my help? You said you were going to help me I'll be gone back to my own world," Jack said.
Rumple wagged his finger at Jack. "No, no, no. I didn't get to finish. This kind of magic needs time to charge and an item to charge it with."
"And you want me to get it for you," Jack asked.
"Yes, indeed I do," he chuckled.
"What is it you need?"
Rumple looked over at Charming and said, "You can wait outside. This is a private business matter."
Charming frowned with a grunt.
"It's alright," Jack said. "I'll be outside with you as soon as he's done talking."
"Fine but if you're not out in ten minutes…," Charming said giving Rumple a hateful look.
"He'll be fine deary. Now move along," said Rumple as he ushered Charming toward the door.
When he saw that they were alone Rumple gave him his proposition. "What I need from you is just a magical bauble if you can call it that. I need you to go and find a fairy fallen from grace. Queen Mab. Not so much of a queen these days. Long ago she was once queen of the fairies before being cast out. She lost her wings but maintained most of her powers somehow and they have become a bit twisted along with herself."
"How will I get her to give me this magical object," Jack asked.
"Simple," Rumple giggled. "Another trade. She wants something in exchange for it. She lives almost a day's ride north of here in the darkest part of the forest. She'll make it easy for you to find her. Speak of this to no one. Not Charming nor his true love. You speak to anyone about this and the deals off and I keep the necklace and you are stuck here for good." Rumple held his hand out. "Do we have an agreement."
Jack looked at his hand for a moment. "I guess I have no choice," he said as he took Rumples hand and shook it.
"Good," Rumple smiled. "Now off you go."
Jack began to walk to the door and Rumple called to him, "Wait!" Jack turned to face him. "The necklace."
Rumple held out his hand and Jack reluctantly gave it to him. "Oh, and just a warning," Rumple said. "This journey will put you face to face with an evil long forgotten." He then put his fingers up to his head to imitate horns and he let out a devious giggle. "Oh yes this king has been long forgotten. Have fun deary!"
Jack walked out of the room as the fireplace went out as he opened the door and Rumpelstiltskin was gone.
"So, what did he want," Charming asked, sitting on his horse.
"I…I can't say," Jack answered as he mounted his.
"What do you mean?"
"Part of the deal was I can't talk about it. If I do, he'll back out and I'll be stuck here. This is something I have to do on my own."
"He may do worse than just back out," Charming stated. "I've never trusted him and I never will. Come on we can try and make it back to the palace before dark."
As the rode away from the old castle Jack felt a feeling of relief but also worry and a bit of fear took its place. Soon they had reached the river again and they were almost back into the forest when Charming looked back at him and said, "Speed up. Don't panic."
"What's wrong," Jack asked.
"Something doesn't feel right. Come on hurry!"
They both spurred their horses and darted down the path. Just a moment later something whizzed by Jacks ear. It surprised him so bad he almost dropped the reigns. Charming looked back to see if Jack was alright and an arrow embed itself into his shoulder. Charming feel off his horse while the animal kept galloping. Jack pulled the reigns to stop his horse, jumped off and ran over to Charming.
"There," Charming shouted and pointed to the tree line. Jack saw two archers clad in black readying their bows while three other soldiers in black armor charged at them. Charming pulled himself up sword at the ready and charged the attackers. Jack shouldered his rifle and took aim at one of the archers. He squeezed the trigger and the rifle fired. The archer dropped to the ground and everyone even Charming paused for a moment at the sound.
Jack loaded another round in and fired as the last archer was about to release his arow. The archer dropped his bow and hit the ground. He looked over and saw the three soldiers in black back off slightly never having seen a weapon like Jack's before. Jack took the opportunity to place his bayonet on his rifle. As the attackers found their courage again one of them charge at Jack. Jack was too slow to fire again and the swordsman took a swing. Jack moved to the side and held up his rifle to block the neck swing. He swung his rifle like a club striking the swordsman on his helmet. While he was stunned Jack quickly thrusted his bayonet between the plates of the swordsman's armor killing him.
Charming was blocking and parrying every blow the other two attackers struck. Charming went up to block but one of the attackers brought a great sword down hard enough to loosen his grip on his sword. Charming dropped his sword but Jack fired as swordsman brought his great sword down toward Charming. The bullet pierced his armor and he went staggering back. Jack got another round in and fired, the second bullet dropping the attacker.
"Your left," Charming shouted.
Jack's head was just barely missed by a mace. He held up his rifle to block it and the mace came down hard cracking the stock. He blocked another blow, striking the barrel hard. He quickly kicked Jack in the chest knocking the wind out of him and off him feet. Charming quickly ran up behind the attacker and shoved his sword into his back. The man slumped over, dead.
Charming held out his hand and Jack took it. He pulled him up and winced in pain. He looked at the arrow sticking out of his shoulder.
"Are you going to be alright," Jack asked.
"Sure. Not the first time I've been shot with an arrow. Just ask Snow."
Somehow Jack figured he wasn't joking.
"Come one we need to get you some help," Jack said.
Charming whistled and Jack looked to see Charming's white steed running from out of the woods toward them.
"Yes, we need to get back before we run into anymore of the Evil Queens men," Charming said. "Just because she's banished doesn't mean she can't cause trouble. Come on let's get back." With that they both climbed on their horses and rode as fast as they could back to the palace.
