Disclaimer: "Okay, here goes. I do not own any of the Grimm Fairy Tales. I do not own any of the new and reworked versions of these fairy tales that Disney has turned into movies. I do not own any of the characters here in. The only thing I claim are the twists and turns I included in the story that were obviously not part of the original tales told by the Brothers Grimm or Disney. And also, my description of the main character."

The Girl with Glass Slippers and the Sleeping Beauty

When Ariel says that the young girl's name was Robyn, Snow sits up a little straighter and asks, "What did she look like?"

Looking to Snow, Ariel says, "Well, she was quite a bit older than you. I'd say she is about Cinderella's age. She was strong, she had magic obviously…"

Snow nods and asks, "Did she wear a necklace?"

Ariel shakes her head. "No, I'm sorry dear. She wore no necklace."

"That's alright. I was just wondering."

But inside, Snow feels her hope deflate again. All she wants is to find Red, to bring her home, to try and help her have her life back, or what she can get of it.

Looking over at James, who sits on the other side of Aurora, she wonders what would have become of her sister if she'd been able to stay, if she and James had been able to continue growing up together. Even as a child Snow had seen the connection between them. And it's clear that even though he'd gone as far away as possible not too terribly long after Red had gone away, he still hasn't forgotten her either. But really, who would ever truly want to forget Red.

Cinderella, sitting beside Jasmine, looks over at Ariel and asks, "Did she have deep red hair? Not like yours, but like a dark, deep set, brownish red?"

Ariel thinks back and then says, "Possibly. When we first met she was drowning so her hair was wet. And she was wearing a cap so I only saw a few strands."

Cinderella can't help but smile and Henry nudges her arm gently before asking, "What is it dear?"

"Oh nothing. It's just, I had a friend like that once, and I often wondered what happened to her. She is very much a part of how I met you my dear Henry. I believe she is the woman Ariel saved, in which case I can't thank you enough."

Ariel grins and asks, "And how did she help you?"

Cinderella laughs lightly and says, "She helped me pick out a pair of shoes."

"Father, everything is going to be alright. You'll see. You're going to get better and…"

Marian cringes as her father coughs into his handkerchief and blood appears on the fabric. He looks up at her after that and says, "My dear Marian, I'm so sorry to have to leave you so early in life. I promised your mother I would look after you, and it appears I'm doing a poor job. First I sent you to Prince John, and now I'm leaving you behind so young."

"No father, you have done a wonderful job in raising me. I have always been content with our life. I have never wanted for more love, and that is all I've ever needed."

"I love you my sweet Marian."

"I love you too daddy."

She feels the life leave him as she holds his hand tightly, as though if she squeezes tightly enough he won't be dead, and he'll wake up again. For a moment, she hears someone sobbing, and then realizes that the person sobbing is her, and she can't stop it. Tremaine, her stepmother, steps up behind her and grips her shoulders. "Come child, you mustn't linger here. Come. We must get ready for the funeral."

Shocked at that statement, Marian looks up at her stepmother and asks, "So soon?"

"Your father had the preparations made in case it happened. He did not want to remain in a house of the living longer than necessary once he'd passed."

Marian doesn't believe it, but Tremaine is her stepmother and she can't really argue with her at this point. She goes to her room and changes into an outfit she feels her father would've liked, and then steps back down the stairs where Drizella and Anastasia are waiting. Drizella turns up her nose and says, "It's about time."

Anastasia nods and adds, "It wouldn't have taken this long if you hadn't been sitting there by his bedside all day doing nothing."

Marian has learned to ignore them and their rude remarks. Tremaine comes down the stairs after her and says, "Well, come on girl. We have to hurry up and get moving. You'll have plenty of work to do when you return home."

After the funeral, Tremaine put Marian to work cleaning the house, scrubbing the floors, mopping and sweeping, cleaning the dishes, doing the laundry, fixing the tea, feeding the livestock, and the list went on and on.

Marian eventually grew used to the work, eventually grew used to the way her stepmother and stepsisters now treated her. They had never really cared for her, just the estate her father had owned. And now that he is gone, well, there was no need to pretend.

Still, she tried to be the best daughter she could. "One day…" she thinks to herself, "… one day I will find my true love, and when that happens nothing they do or say will ever matter again. Because he will be mine and I will be his, and that is all that will matter."

"You don't seriously expect to go to the ball do you?"

Marian, now better known as Cinderella, looks to Anastasia and says, "Tremaine said that if I finished my chores and could find a dress to wear that I could go."

"Indeed I did." Tremaine walks around Cinderella and studies her closely. "And so you have. And what a beautiful dress indeed. I guess we will simply have to make room in the carriage. And what a lovely sash you're wearing. Don't you think it's lovely Anastasia?"

She notes the wink in her mother's gaze, and then marches straight up to Cinderella. "No, I don't. In fact, I'm pretty certain that this sash is mine. How dare you touch my things and try to pass them off as your own. Here, this is what I think of your dress."

Before she can try to stop them, both of her stepsisters turn and attack the dress, tearing off what pieces of fabric they can, and ripping it to shreds while it still hangs from her body. And Tremaine simply stands to the side and watches with a cool and cruel grin on her face.

"Girls, that's enough now. I think Cinderella has learned her lesson about touching your things. Come along now. We don't want to be late. Hurry up."

Both girls exit the door with their noses in the air, an aloofness about them that they don't deserve. Tremaine steps up to the door, but then turns quickly and says, "Oh, and Cinderella, be a dear and clean out the fireplace while we're gone. I've heard it's going to be a bit chilly tonight."

When the door shuts with a click, it finally hits Cinderella what has happened. Crying, she runs through the house and out the back door and runs into the garden behind her house. Falling into a bed a daffodils, she curls up and cries, allowing the dirt to stain her face and clothes. What does it matter now? She's not going to the ball. She'll never meet her true love. No matter who he is or where he might be, Tremaine will never let her leave.

"I must admit, when I decided to come and see how my old friend was doing after the last couple of years, this is not what I expected to find."

Sitting up slightly at the sound of the unexpected voice, Cinderella can't help but smile at seeing her friend in the hood standing over her. And her smile grows when Robyn pulls the hood back and even removes her cap in front of her. "It's been a long time Marian. I almost didn't find you."

Taking the hand Robyn extends, Cinderella stands up and sniffs before saying, "That's because I'm Cinderella now. My mother changed my name after my father died."

"And why is that?"

Cinderella shrugs, but then says sadly, "Because at night I like to sleep by the fire. The room I'm in now is dark and cold, so I come downstairs where it's warm."

"And this Tremaine woman is the one responsible for that."

"Yes."

Robyn looks at her friend, looks at the torment evident in her eyes. "This should not have happened to you my friend. And what of the bracelet I gave you so long ago? Why have you not used it to call for me?"

"I did not think this merited pulling you from whatever other duties you may be fulfilling."

"Marian, I'm an outlaw. I don't fulfill duties."

Cinderella shakes her head and says, "You are a wonderful person Robyn, one of the few I have ever know."

Sighing, Robyn says, "Regardless of your personal opinion of me and what I may or may not have been doing, you should've called me. Where is it anyway? You're not wearing it."

Cinderella lowers her head and says, "After my father died, Tremaine took it away once when she felt I hadn't cleaned the house well enough."

Robyn's deep blue eyes grow darker, and then she closes them and takes a deep breath before opening them and smiling slightly again. "Okay."

"Okay?"

"The bracelet is no longer yours. I can't change that. I'll just have to find it one day and deal with it then. In the meantime, let's worry about what I actually can do for you now that I'm here my dear friend. I shall get you to this ball I keep hearing so much about. I assume your sisters had something to do with this."

Robyn gestures to the now destroyed dress that Cinderella is wearing, who nods before saying, "It's alright Robyn. I don't need to go to that ball."

"Don't be ridiculous. Every girl should be able to attend a ball at some point. Now, take me to your room." When they get upstairs to the tiny attic of a room, Robyn sighs and says, "I think I'm going to have to have a word with your stepmother if things don't work out for you at this ball. But for now, hand me your favorite pair of shoes."

Cinderella is about to pick up a pair of flats that she wears most often, but then reaches into the very back of her closet and pulls out a little blue box. Setting it out on the table, she opens it gingerly and reveals two glass slippers.

Robyn looks down at them too and says, "They're beautiful."

"They were my mother's. I kept them hidden from Tremaine so she couldn't take them from me too."

Robyn nods, and then puts her hands on Cinderella's shoulders. Smiling, she asks, "Will you let me hold them?"

"Of course."

She picks them up gently, and then Cinderella watches as she mutters quietly as she holds them close to her. And where dust had once been, it fell away, and the shoes sparkled and shined like they were brand new. When the initial glow finally dies down, Cinderella asks, "What did you do?"

"I have enchanted them for the night. Put them on, and spin around in a circle two times."

Cinderella slips them on, and then moves to stand in front of the mirror in her room and spins in a slow circle. When she finishes her second spin, she freezes and stares at herself in the mirror. The beautiful dress she's now standing in looks as if it has been covered in freshly fallen snow and sparkling diamonds. The tiara on her head matches, and her long blond hair is now piled on her head beautifully. Long white gloves grace her arms, and a beautiful white mask is secured over her eyes.

"Robyn, this is…"

"This is what you made."

Cinderella turns to look at her again and says, "But, you did the magic."

Laughing a little, Robyn says, "I enchanted your glass slippers with a very simple spell. They have clothed you in an outfit that matches the beauty you possess inside your heart. And your heart is beautiful Marian."

Stepping up behind Cinderella and turning her back to the mirror for a moment, Robyn puts her hands on her friend's shoulders and says, "Now, go downstairs and wait for the carriage that will arrive. You are going to go to that ball, and you are going to show them what true beauty really looks like."

"Oh Robyn, how can I…"

"Don't even think of thanking me. This is a gift to a dear friend. No thanks is necessary." Cinderella laughs happily, but before she turns to leave, Robyn says, "There is a small catch to this. The spell can't last forever obviously. You'd end up dressed like that forever if it did. You will have until midnight at the ball, and then the magic will begin to fade. You must leave before midnight Marian. Do you understand?"

"Yes, I understand. Oh Robyn, thank you so much."

Smiling, Robyn motions for her to go out the door and says, "Go, have the night of your life. I hope it turns out to be everything you want it to be and more."

"You truly are the most beautiful woman here. And please don't think me cliché, but my day had been truly dull and dim before you walked into the room. And then I saw you, and everything changed."

Cinderella smiles up at Henry, the man who had asked her to dance the moment she'd stepped inside. "Thank you. You have made this night one I shall not forget either."

He smiles back, and then asks, "Shall I get us something to drink?"

"Oh, yes please."

"Okay, I'll be right back."

Cinderella sighs and then turns to look out past the balcony at the kingdom beyond her. Everything truly looked so beautiful from this point of view. She can't believe the night she is having. Henry is wonderful, a perfect gentleman, and he'd held her so close as they'd been dancing. She felt truly special while with him.

She's still looking out at the kingdom when she hears the thump of a bow string, followed by the arrow planting itself firmly into the balcony right in front of where she's standing. Most would be afraid of this, but Cinderella knows that it's Robyn.

Pulling the note that is attached from the arrow, her eyes widen as she reads, "You're running out of time. Almost midnight." Cinderella looks up at the clock on the tower of the castle, and gasps when she realizes that it's eleven-fifty-five. She has five minutes before the magic wears off, and then her dress will be gone.

Henry is just returning when Cinderella turns around and starts to run past him. "Hey, what's happened? Are you alright?"

"I'm sorry, please forgive me, but I must go."

Dumbfounded, he asks, "Go? Wait why?"

Cinderella shakes her head and says, "I can't explain, I'm sorry. Please, I must leave. I'm late."

"Late? Late for what? Please, whatever it is I can have you pardoned from it."

"Henry, only the prince can pardon someone."

His eyes widen a little when he realizes she has no idea exactly who he is. "But don't you see. I'm the…"

But she cuts him off while turning away and says quickly, "I'm sorry, I must go. Goodbye." She turns and begins running for the stairs.

Henry is frozen for a split second before he tries to rush after her. "Wait! Please! I don't even know your name!"

Cinderella runs down the steps of the palace, and nearly trips and falls, but catches herself and keeps right on running. The carriage that brought her here is already waiting for her, probably Robyn's doing. Hopping in, she says, "Quick, take me home please sir."

The man tips his hat and says, "Yes mam. Ya!"

Henry makes it down the steps as the carriage pulls away, and while a few of the knights run to grab their horses to chase her, he steps back to the stairs. A single glass slipper rests on the stairs, and as he picks it up, he looks out at the gates that are just now closing, her carriage having just made it through the gates. "I will find you, and we will be together. You have my word darling. I will find you."

Meanwhile, as the carriage pulls up to the house, Cinderella steps out and realizes that her dress is indeed gone. And while that isn't really devastating, the fact that one of her slippers is gone as well makes her gasp. Running through the house as fast as she can, she makes her way back to the back yard. "Robyn! Robyn, are you out here?"

She hears the gentle sound of someone landing, and turns to see Robyn straightening from her jump out of a nearby tree. Looking up to Cinderella, she says, "Sorry about the arrow. I know you were having a good time, and I figured you'd forgotten about the time."

"I did indeed. Thank you for that."

Robyn watches her expression closely, and then asks, "What's wrong? Did something happen?"

Cinderella nods after a moment and says, "Well, I mean, I lost one of my slippers."

Robyn looks down and says, "I see. Fret not. If the prince does not find a way to return it to you himself, I'll make sure I get it for you."

Confused, Cinderella asks, "The prince? But why would he return it?"

Robyn tilts her head, and then smiles and says, "Oh, you don't know."

"Know what Robyn?"

"The man that you were dancing with tonight, the one who chased you out of the building, the one whose heart I'm pretty sure you've stolen. That was the prince Marian." Cinderella's eyes grow wide and her mouth drops open. "You might want to close that Marian. You don't want any flies to go in there."

She closes her mouth, and then says slowly, "I was dancing with the prince?"

"Indeed you were."

Throwing up her hands, Cinderella exclaims, "Well, this is a disaster."

Robyn tilts her head in confusion and says, "Okay, I'll bite. Why is this a disaster?"

"Because if he starts looking for me and finds me he isn't going to find a girl with a beautiful white dress. He…"

Robyn steps up to her and puts her hands on her shoulders. "No, he isn't. He isn't going to see the girl in that pretty white dress." Lifting her head gently by her chin so she'll look at her, Robyn smiles gently before continuing. "What he will find is the girl who wore the glass slippers. He will find the girl who made him laugh on a night that he truly expected to be dreadful. He will find the girl who stole his heart, and then took off running at midnight. He will find you. Remember, the dress you wore tonight was only as beautiful as it was because that is how beautiful you are inside. He didn't fall in love with a dress my dear friend. He fell in love with you."

Grinning teasingly at her friend, she adds, "And when he does find you and asks you to marry him, you'd better say yes."

Cinderella laughs at that, and then asks, "You want to be my maid of honor?"

Robyn's face falls slightly, but Cinderella just shakes her head and says, "I'm joking. I know you still think you serve your purpose better as a mysterious hooded figure that everyone thinks is a man. I will respect that. Still, I wish you would be there if what you think will happen does come to pass."

"Oh, rest assured my loving friend. It will happen, and I will be there."

"My prince, I know you want to find this woman badly, but how much longer can we keep this up?"

Henry looks to the servant sitting across from him in the carriage and responds, "I will keep searching until I find her."

Tremaine peeks out the window as the prince's carriage pulls up to the house. Turning back to her daughters, she says, "Alright, now you both look beautiful. Remember, whatever it is he's asking, try to think of what that girl last night might've said."

"Yes mother," they reply in unison.

Cinderella steps into the room with the tray of tea, and Tremaine hurriedly takes it from her and shoos her away. Confused and hurt, she says to her stepmother, "But… I thought I might see the prince."

Tremaine leans back and gives her a look of disgust before saying, "What? Let the prince see you? You're filthy. No, you stay outside in the garden, and don't you dare come in, or there will be severe consequences."

Cinderella cringes as Tremaine raises her hand to strike, but she pauses and then says, "Now get out!" With tears streaming from her eyes, she runs out the door and into the garden.

Robyn watches carefully from the tree line at the back of the house. She'd nearly shot an arrow through the window and through Tremaine's hand when she'd been getting ready to hit Cinderella. But Cinderella wouldn't have wanted that. Climbing down, she walks around to the front of the house, and leans in the open doorway to watch the scene unfold.

"Hello Prince."

Prince Henry bows to them politely as they all greet him together and says, "I have here a slipper from the woman I was dancing with last night. She dropped it on her way out, and didn't return for it. So, if you two will please try it on. Or if you would like to just tell me now whether you are her or not." Neither of the girls speak, and Henry sighs and motions for his knight to step forward and try the shoe on each of them.

Drizella, frowns when it barely slips past half of her foot. "You idiot. What have you done to it? It fit perfectly before."

And as she gets ready to lash out, Prince Henry holds up a hand and says, "There is nothing wrong with the shoe. It's glass. It can't be changed. If it doesn't fit, it is because you are not the one who wore it. Next please."

Anastasia takes her seat and is almost happy until the shoe won't slip past her heel. "Well, I think my feet must've swollen. You know, with all the dancing we did last night."

Exasperated already, having been searching long into the night and throughout the morning, Henry glares and says, "Jack, please, bring the shoe and let's be on our way."

Anastasia pulls her foot away before he can take it and says, "No, don't go, look." She scrunches her foot up and reveals it back to show that the shoe is in fact on her foot. "See! It fits!" Henry watches her briefly, and knows that she isn't the woman who danced with him last night. And yet, the shoe does fit. Barely, but it fits.

But after a moment, Anastasia's foot slips from the shoe, and when she kicks her foot back again, happy to have it fitting, the slipper flies into the air. All mouths open wide as it soars through the air and appears to be heading on a crash course for the floor. But that's nothing compared to the way everyone jumps when Robyn's arrow flies through the room and lands in the cabinet above the sink. And Cinderella's slipper lands on the end of the arrow, balancing carefully there instead of landing on the ground.

Everyone jerks around to see the hooded man standing in the doorway. Henry watches warily as he walks through the room and then plucks the slipper from the arrow just fired. "I think it would be a terrible tragedy to have this beautiful slipper destroyed when you are so close to the one who owns it. Wouldn't you agree Henry?"

He nods after a moment and asks, "Who are you exactly, if you don't mind my asking?"

"Oh, how rude of me. Where are my manners?" Robyn bows graciously and says, "My name is Robyn, Robyn Hood sir prince." Henry relaxes instantly, having heard about Robyn Hood from his friend Luke.

Tremaine and her daughters gasp, and then all hurriedly rise and then curtsey. "Dear Robyn Hood. It is a privilege to have you…"

"Save your breath Tremaine. I have a very short list of people I actually enjoy listening to, and you aren't on it. In fact, you are on a list of people I truly prefer not to hear speak." Tremaine stares, not understanding, and Robyn says, "And the fact that you don't comprehend how menacing you are is what I find truly sad at this point."

Turning to look at Henry, Robyn holds up the slipper and says, "I'm afraid I'm going to have to take this from you Henry."

He shakes his head though and says, "You can't. I need it."

"No you don't good prince. And you see, I promised my friend that I would return it if you didn't, so if you please." And as she walks through the house and out to the back yard, Henry follows, along with everyone else.

Cinderella is sitting on the gazebo steps, her eyes red with tears, her shoulders slumped in defeat.

"Marian?"

She looks up at Robyn and smiles sadly before saying, "You were wrong. Tremaine won't even let me be in the house while he's here. How…"

Robyn hushes her gently and says, "I know my dear friend, and I am sorry that you ever had to put up with her." Bending down, Robyn gently pulls one of the shoes off of Cinderella's feet, and replaces it with the slipper the prince had. "I have returned it, as promised."

"Oh, thank you Robyn. They are the only thing of my mother's I have left. Thank you."

"Of course." And then Robyn turns to look behind her, and Cinderella looks past her to see her stepmother, stepsisters, the servant, and most importantly Prince Henry standing there watching.

Henry smiles widely at her, and rushes forward and pulls her to her feet. "My dear, I knew I would find you. I knew it was only a matter of time."

Cinderella is speechless, and at first simply looks from Robyn to Henry and back again. Robyn finally chuckles and says, "Well, quite gaping and kiss the man. He's had a long day and night of trying to find you I imagine."

She finally laughs and jumps up into his arms. Henry laughs too and spins her around in circles before letting her slide back to her feet. Cinderella then wraps her arms around his neck and pulls him down for a deep and slow kiss.

When they finally pull apart, he says playfully, "I suppose that means when I get down on one knee you'll say yes?" And she gasps when he does just that. "I don't even know your name darling."

"It's Cinderella."

He smiles brightly at her and then asks, "Cinderella, I promise to love you for as long as I live. Will you marry me?"

"Yes, yes Henry, yes I will!"

He picks her up again and spins around before letting her down and kissing her again. Robyn smiles at them, and then takes a step back as Henry turns to face Tremaine and her daughters. Glaring at them, he says, "And you weren't even going to let her try the slipper on, weren't even going to let her in the house to see me."

Before any of them can protest, Henry holds up his hand to silence them as he speaks. "Your behavior is disgraceful, and I will have no part of it. You are all hereby banished from the kingdom, and if I should see your faces again, you will be captured and put in the dungeons."

Robyn laughs as all of their mouths fall open. And when Tremaine turns and starts to speak harshly, Robyn quickly knocks back an arrow and aims it at her. "Not a word Tremaine. The prince has spoken and if I were you I'd get to packing before he changes his mind about simply kicking you out." They stand frozen for a moment, and then all three move and run back into the house.

Cinderella sighs, leaning her head against Henry. "Oh Henry, I thought I'd lost you for good."

"And I thought I'd lost you. But that no longer matters. We're here, we're together, and I love you."

"And I love you Henry."

When she lifts her head to look for Robyn, Cinderella jerks to look at the back of the garden where Robyn is currently preparing to leave. "Robyn! Wait!" She stops and turns and manages to right herself just in time for Cinderella to run up and grab her in a hug. "Must you leave?"

"I'm afraid I must. But don't fret my friend. I promised I would be there at your wedding, and I shall be." Pulling back, Robyn smiles from under her hood and says, "Don't lose those shoes now Marian. They're even more special now than they were before."

Cinderella nods, and then watches as Robyn goes back into the woods and finds Midnight and starts riding off. Henry comes to stand beside her and puts an arm around her. "So, you know Robyn."

"Indeed. I was a guest at King Richard's kingdom while Prince John was in charge. I helped Robyn whenever I could."

Henry smiles and says, "So, you defied a ruler and trusted an outlaw to help protect your people. I do believe I've made an excellent choice in who shall be my queen."

Cinderella laughs lightly and says, "Can we go?"

"Yes, we may leave at once if you like."

"Yes please."

She looks back to the woods one last time, and then turns back around and leans into Henry, happier than she could ever hope to be.

Standing in the dressing room, looking at herself in the mirror, Cinderella spins slightly to look at the dress again. While she supposes it is elegant, the dress she'd worn with the help of Robyn's magic had been much more her style. It had been simple, yet elegant and gorgeous.

"You look lovely Marian. The kingdom will not know what hit them."

Turning, she smiles when she sees Robyn standing on the balcony just outside the window. "How did you get up here?"

"You of all people know that I am an expert on scaling castle walls." They hug each other tightly, and then when Cinderella pulls back Robyn studies her again. "You are not completely satisfied though."

She shrugs and says, "Oh, it's just because of these women that have been dressing me. I haven't had much say in any of this."

"Marian, you are going to be the queen of this kingdom one day. You can't let those women walk all over you, telling you what they think you should wear and say."

Smiling, Robyn takes a step back and closes her eyes while mumbling quietly again. And when she's done, Cinderella smiles and goes back to the mirror and spins around twice to see the dress she'd had for the ball returned to her. "I enchanted your slippers again. The dress will remain until you and your new husband are alone and ready to… well… head out for your honeymoon."

Cinderella laughs and says, "Robyn, how will I ever thank you enough?"

"You are my friend, and that is all the payment I will ever need."

Hugging her again, Cinderella sighs and says, "And now my day is perfect."

Robyn nods and says matter-of-factly, "As it should be. It is your wedding after all." Pulling back, Robyn smiles and removes her hood for a moment so Cinderella can see her face. "Now, as I told you once before, go and show them what true beauty looks like."

Cinderella nods, and as Robyn makes to leave, she says, "Robyn?"

"Yes?"

"You've never called me Cinderella."

Robyn smiles and says, "You will always be Marian to me my friend. Now and always. Now, go and enjoy this wonderful day of yours. You have more than earned it."

After the wedding, while riding back through the woods and on to another part of the land, Robyn is forced to come to a halt at a cottage where a young woman about the age of Cinderella, maybe a year or two younger, is staying. The woman looks up at her, and then quickly runs into her house, only to emerge with a sword of her own.

But Robyn can tell right away that she has no idea of how to use it. Sighing, she hops off of her horse and says, "Do you really expect to threaten or even scare anybody holding it that way?"

The girl stares for a moment, and then hesitantly lowers it to the ground. "Well, what would you suggest then? And who are you?"

"The name's Robyn."

Her eyes widen a little, and she asks, "Robyn Hood?"

"One and the same."

"I've heard much about you. If you're here to rob me though, I have no money."

Robyn rolls her eyes and says, "Why does everyone assume I'm still robbing people? Besides, you're poor, and I only rob from the rich."

"Sorry, I guess I just forgot that part."

Looking the young woman up and down, Robyn sighs and says, "You're too weak to be really effective with a sword. Here." She pulls out one of her golden daggers that she's had long before she can even remember now and hands it over to her. "You'll have better luck with this. And if you use it, be sure not to hesitate. That's a good knife and it will get the job of protecting you done, but only if you let it."

The woman nods, and then extends her hand and says, "I'm Aurora."

Robyn takes her hand and kisses it quickly before asking, "As in Princess Aurora?"

"How did you know?"

"Aurora isn't exactly a common name. But why is a princess living out here in the woods by herself?"

Aurora hesitates, but then sighs and says, "When I was a baby, this evil fairy Maleficent cast a curse onto me. When I turn sixteen, which is actually happening this year, I'm supposed to prick my finger on a spinning wheel and die."

Robyn blinks, and then says, "That seems highly unlikely."

"Yeah, well, with a curse involved I'm sure it's possible."

"Point taken. And you're out here because..."

She nods and adds, "My father thought that if I stayed away from the kingdom, just until I turn sixteen, then maybe I might be safe."

Robyn chuckles harshly and shakes her head. "Hate to break it to you sweetie, but if you've been cursed the only way to get out of is to accept it and find a way to change it. Hiding out in the woods isn't going to help you."

"How do you know?"

"Let's just say I know a little something about magic."

And as Aurora's eyes fill with tears, Robyn sighs and says, "Wait right here."

She walks a bit of a ways out of sight, and then takes out the carefully wrapped package that Belle had given her long ago. Three stones, each a different color of red, blue, and green, fall out into her hands. 'Just drop them on the ground, and they will come to help you. Only call on them if you feel the situation is dire.' Closing her eyes, Robyn lets the stones drop from her hands and onto the ground.

When she opens her eyes, three fairies, a red one, a blue one, and a green one flutter before her in their tiny forms. "Wow. I'm actually a little surprised that it worked."

The red one flutters forward and says, "You called us. You are in need of help."

Robyn shakes her head and says, "Not me good fairy, but a friend of mine back there is."

The fairies look to Aurora who is crying on a stump by the house. "What is the problem?"

"She's been cursed."

The green one flutters and says, "Perhaps she deserved it?"

Robyn narrows her eyes and says, "I'm pretty good at reading people, and she doesn't seem bad to me. I think this Maleficent just had a grudge against her father the king is all."

The fairies freeze, and then their wings beat faster. "Maleficent cursed her?"

"Does that mean something to you?"

"She was a fairy once, a fairy who defied the rules, a fairy who found a way to break them, and was banished from our home land."

Tilting her head, Robyn asks, "Fairies have a homeland?"

"Yes. A place called Neverland."

Robyn nods, and then holds up her hands. "Okay, so Maleficent is evil. So, will you help her or not?"

"Is that your request from us?"

"Yes."

"Then yes, we will help her."

As they float by, the blue one stops and then floats back in front of Robyn. "I sense much sorrow in you. Much loneliness and sorrow."

Robyn looks at her, and then back at Aurora. "And?"

"Are you sure you wouldn't have us do something about that?"

She shakes her head and says, "You can't wish for true happiness miss fairy. Anything you can grant me would be fake and not real." Sighing, Robyn says, "I chose this path. My sorrow is one that I decided to bear for myself." She then looks back to Aurora, she adds, "Aurora didn't chose this. Someone else picked it for her. She deserves better. She deserves to be happy."

The blue fairy tilts her little head and asks, "And you know this about her?"

"She's a good person. I can feel it. And good people deserve to live a happily ever after. Everyone does." Looking back to the blue fairy, she says, "Help her if you can. And when you're done, do me one last favor."

"What is it?" Robyn holds up a small piece of string and hands it to the blue fairy. Holding it in her tiny hands, she says, "This is already enchanted."

Robyn nods and says, "I know."

Looking up at Robyn, the blue fairy asks, "What would you have me do with it?"

"When you're finished helping her however you can, please tie this around the golden dagger I gave her, and secure it so that it won't come off."

The blue fairy nods, and then asks, "What is your name?"

And even to the fairy, Robyn bows and says, "Robyn Hood mam."

The fairy smiles and says, "I'm Merriweather, and those two are my sisters. The one in red is Flora, and in green is Fauna."

Robyn nods, and then asks quickly, "You wouldn't by any chance know a fairy named Tinkerbell would you?"

"The name sounds familiar, but she must not be on the same side of the island as I am. If you are ever in Neverland however, I'm sure you will find her. You can always find fairies in Neverland."

Robyn nods, and then stands by her tree and waits for the fairies to be done with whatever they're doing. When they return, she asks, "Is it done?"

"We could not lift the curse, but we were able to alter it slightly."

"How so?"

Flora floats a little closer and says, "Instead of dying, Aurora will simply fall into a deep sleep, until such a time when her true love comes and kisses her awake."

"True love's kiss is going to break the curse?"

"Yes."

They answer in unison, and Robyn nods after a moment. "Thank you."

Fauna asks hesitantly after a moment, "What will you do with the stones now?"

Robyn tilts her head in confusion and asks, "What do you mean?"

The fairies look at each other, and then Merriweather floats forward and says, "The stones were stolen from us a long time ago. When we found them, they had already been given to a mortal man. Now the stones travel from person to person."

"So, people can only use them once, and then they just give them away?"

Flora nods, and Robyn rolls her eyes and says, "That just seems dumb to me." Reaching down, she picks the stones up from the ground and then holds them out. The fairies stare at her dumbfounded. "What? You said that they were yours long ago. If I give them to you then shouldn't you be able to take them back?"

Merriweather goes first, gingerly taking the stone from Robyn's hand. Once she's done, Flora and Fauna do the same. Smiling brightly, Fauna says, "You have done us a great service on this day Robyn Hood. In return, we will grant for you one wish."

Robyn blanches for a moment, and then thinks hard. "A way to call you again."

Flora tilts her head and asks, "There is nothing you want."

"There is nothing I want for myself that you can give me without possibly messing up someone else's life. But Aurora is still in trouble, and if Maleficent has anything to do with it, her true love is probably going to have a hard time finding her once she's fallen asleep. I would like a way to call you back so that you might help him in finding her and defeating Maleficent when the time comes."

The three fairies look at each other for a moment, and then all put their hands together. When they pull back, a tiny shiny whistle floats down into Robyn's hand. "When the time comes, blow on this, and we will come."

Robyn nods and says, "Thank you. I am in your debt."

"No Robyn. It is we who are in yours." And then they're gone.

Back in Neverland, sitting around a table, the three fairies ponder over their encounter. "Do you think he knew how valuable they were?"

Fauna nods at Flora's question and says, "Of course he did. He may not have known how it worked, but he clearly understands our power and purpose. He knew how important these were."

Flora sighs and asks, "Then why did he just give them back?"

Merriweather rests her head on one hand and says, "Perhaps he is wiser than most others. Perhaps he knows that a fairy as a friend is better than a fairy as a possession." Thinking on it again, she adds, "Or maybe he just wanted to try and give us a happy ending like he was trying to do for Aurora." They remain silent for a moment, and then Merriweather scoffs a little and says, "He certainly is confusing."

Fauna asks, "Why do you say that?"

"Because he said that everyone deserves to be happy, and I could tell that he meant it. And yet he is not happy, and he did not do anything to try and fix his own happiness."

Flora nods and says, "He truly is smarter than most. He understands that true happiness isn't something you can wish for."

Merriweather nods and says, "But it is still confusing. If he knows all of that, if he is as smart as we think, then why is he not happy. He said that his path is one he chose. Why would he chose a path that he knew would make him unhappy?"

Fauna lifts her head and says, "Maybe because he was trying to save someone else's happiness instead. Maybe he gave up his own for someone else, just like he gave up his wish in favor of trying to help Aurora."

The fairies muddle over all of this, and then Flora says, "I do hope we see him again soon. And I hope he finds his fairy friend he was looking for. He deserves so much more, but he at least deserves to find the friend he seeks."

And this is Chapter 6! Sorry it took me a while longer. Hopefully chapter 7 won't take as much time to get up.

So thoughts? I hope you're enjoying the story. :)