Ch. 12- The... end? (Part 1)

ERMAHGERD! ERMAHGERD LOOK! I HAVE RETURNED!

I'VE BEEN BROUGHT BACK FROM THE DEAD! (The afterlife was awesome by the way... really nice hotels. XD)

I'm sorry for not updating. I truly am. But being a sophomore isn't a day at the beach. With school work and all, I haven't been able to do anything but work and work. I wish there were more hours in a day. Seriously, three hours of sleep a night IS NOT normal. I don't even know how I managed to keep myself from falling asleep in the middle of meals/classes- let alone write this last night.

Not to forget that I've been recently diagnosed with severe case of depression- so I had absolutely no ideas whatsoever for the next chapter of O.U.a.T. I was planning on updating this on Thanksgiving break but I never found the time to actually sit down and do it until now. I thought this would be a great way to kick off the holidays and new year!

SO HERE IS THE NEXT INSTALMENT OF ONCE UPON A TIME!~

[Warning: A lot of dialogue and one curse ahead!]

Disclaimer: I OWN ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.

For all you awesome people who commented, I'm simply going to state who's who because it's been quite a long time and I doubt many of you remember your comments from, what? June? (Oh my god, has it really been that long?!)

Ok, so:

Jeremy= Peter Pan

Suzy= Tinkerbell

Perry= ...some sort of hybrid of platypus and crocodile (basically he's the crocodile from Peter Pan)

Dr. Doof= Captain Hook

Norm= Mr. Smee AND Pinocchio! (PLOT TWIST~)

And I think that's it.

Don't forget to pat yourself on the back if you got at least one right, and enjoy a free virtual cookie!

Now, ON WITH THE STORY! ENJOY!

"Are you sure you guys can't come with us?" Isabella pouted.

"We'd love to," Milly explained, "But we need to stay behind to work at the mines. Gotta make a living somehow you know."

"Besides," Adyson whispered, "I don't think I can take Robin's stench much longer."

"I heard that!"

Isabella sighed, worry and concern evident on her face.

"Hey, don't worry," Ginger placed a hand on her shoulder with a tender smile, "We've called on an old friend to help you out. He should get you to the Oracle's temple in no time."

A wave of relief washed over the raven-haired girl.

"Terribly sorry to break up such a touchy moment," Charming interrupted, "But if we're gonna make to the Oracle's by sundown (or today for that matter), we should get going."

Isabella gave him a nod and began to follow him back into the woods. "Thanks for everything guys!" She shouted back, "At least your food was edible!"

Katie let out a quiet giggle.

"The pleasure was all ours! Remember, if you ever need anything, you know where to find us!" Adyson called back.

"Will do!" Isabella chuckled, waving, "Bye guys!"

"Bye! Be safe! And good luck!"

A middle-aged woman bit her lip as her husband paced nervously back and forth.

"Where on earth could she be?" The man muttered continuously.

"Dear," his wife spoke up, "I think it's time you sent someone to go after her."

"Hmm?" The king looked up, snapped out of his thoughts. "Oh yes... you're right. I forgot..." He turned to one of the guards standing by the door. "You, fetch me my daughter's maid."

The guard humbly bowed and hurried off into the shadows.

"UGH! My aching feet!" Red loudly moaned, "Please tell me we're almost there."

"Well, according to the dwarfs, the Oracle lives on a mountain high up in the clouds. So..." Isabella turned to look at the seemingly floating mountain in the distance.

Red groaned and fell face first onto the ground.

"Red, what the hell are you doing?!"

She raised her face out of the dirt and slowly wrapped her arms around Isabella's ankle. "Carry meeeeeee!"

"Red!? Seriously!? Let go of my foot!"

"NNNNOOOO!" Red sobbed. "PLEASE can we take a break?! We've been walking FOR HOURS!"

"Red! What's gotten into you?! Let me go!" Isabella screeched, frantically attempting to shake the ginger off her. "Charming! Uh, a little help here?!"

"Nah. This is too much fun to watch." He smirked.

"RED! Come on! This is ridiculous! You're acting worse than Robin for Pete's sake!-" She finally managed to shake Red off with one final kick. "Wait...where is Robin anyway?"

Charming's eyes widened. "Uh..."

Isabella faceplamed. "Great. Red looses her sanity, and now we've lost Robin?! Perfect. Just per-" A loud scream cut her off.

All three teenagers froze.

Another shout was heard, this time louder and closer. Suddenly, a flash of brown leaped out of the bushes behind Charming.

"RRRRUUUNNNN!" Robin shrieked as he ran past the three at full speed.

A loud roar followed as the ground began to shake. The three finally snapped out of their trance and started to scurry after Robin.

"ROBIN! If we survive this...I'M GONNA KILL YOU!"

"Do you understand the task I have assigned you?"

"Yes, your highness."

"Just know, I'm placing my full trust into you and this mission. Do not fail me."

"Rest assured, your majesty. I will not fail. I will find the princess."

"I give you a week's time. If you do not return, I will assume the worst."

Gretchen nodded and mounted the horse beside her. With a loud "Hiya" and a flick of the reins, the horse gradually began to gallop into the forest.

"Oh no! A dead end!" Isabella screeched as they slowed down in front of a large sealed cave.

"How typical."

"What do we do no-?!" A loud roar once again caused the four to freeze in place. The beast's echoing footsteps left the ground wobbling uncontrollably.

"Hah," Robin nervously chuckled, "Wouldn't it be ironic if Pinky suddenly jumped out from the bushes?"

Isabella shot him a glare. The beast let out a deafening howl.

"Yeah, ok." Charming rolled his eyes. "That's definitely gotta be Pinky."

"Where is Pinky by the way...?" Red frowned, deep in thought.

"Thank god!" Isabella muttered, "I thought we'd be stuck with a deranged teenager for the rest of this journey! I was even having thoughts about ditching you a few times."

Red looked confused. "W-what?! Why?!"

"Oh no reason... Except for the fact that you practically lost it back there!"

"What! I did not!"

"Uh, you did too!"

"Did not!"

"Did too-!"

"Oof, come on guys! This is like the WORST time to act like 5 year olds!"

The two girls' eyes grew in surprise as they slowly spun around to look at each other and then at Robin.

"Did Robin just..." "...act mature?"

"Um, guys?" Charming croaked in fear. "I think we have a different problem to worry about at the moment..." He raised a trembling finger at the large oak trees who were parting one by one.

"Robin, this is all your fault! Now we're all gonna die!" Red cried.

"What?! It is not!"

"I'm actually siding with Red on this one..." Isabella muttered.

"Why am I always blamed for everything?!"

Charming smiled innocently. "Because you're the perfect scapegoat."

"Exactly! A scapegoat!" Isabella smirked. "*Gasp*, oh, I know! How about we tie you up to a tree and sacrifice you to the beast, while we take the time to sneak away and escape without a scratch! That way, you'll be a scapegoat and bait!"

Robin threw the princess a look. "I've got a better idea. How about we take that mutt of yours and... Nah, nevermind. Pinky's not even here."

"Why you-! Were you thinking of using my dog as bait?!"

"Yeah but, now that I think about it... I don't think the beast would even want to eat that scrawny little thing."

Isabella growled at him.

"Guys, guys! Relax!" Red cut in between the quarreling teens. "Besides, if there's anything that we should use as bait, it should be Charming's flying pony."

"You wouldn't dare." Charming snarled, joining the argument.

The teenagers were so preoccupied with their petty squabble, that they had once again forgotten about the life threatening situation they were in.

Isabella opened her mouth to comment on Red's suggestion, but the only sound heard was that of a falling tree. All four shrieked as they jumped and latched onto each other.

They huddled together in a trembling cluster with their eyes squeezed shut, silently praying for a miracle.

"G-g-g-uys..." Isabella stuttered uncontrollably, "If this is how it's all going to end... I... I just want to say that these past few days have been the most fun I've had in a while... And Robin, your food was gross."

"Hey! I worked hard on that!"

"I'll really miss you guys," Red sniffed. "... And I kinda was the one who dyed Robin's pants pink."

"IT WAS YOU!?"

Isabella snickered. "So that's why he didn't want anyone to see him this morning!"

"I-I have to confess to something as well." Charming stared at the ground. "I... sort of spiked Red's breakfast with 'Coo-coo powder'."

"WHAT?!"

"I should have known!" The princess screeched as she frantically flapped her arms. "That explains why she suddenly went berserk in the forest!"

"Aww man, I wish I could've been around to see it." The hunter pouted with a sigh. "I miss all the fun stuff."

Charming threw him a sympathetic look and whispered into Robin's ear, "Next time."

"Uhm..." Red frowned at the boys. "Could you have perhaps- oh, I don't know... forgotten that we're about to be eaten by a huge monster?"

"That...might've slipped my mind..."

"Ehm, g-g-uys?" Isabella cut in. "T-t-turn ar-around."

Upon hearing the terror in their friend's voice, the other three stiffened and slowly turned around only to find themselves staring straight into enormous golden gleaming eyes.

'Oh shit...'

As you can tell, I was bored and just typed up whatever came to mind. Yeah...

PART TWO WILL BE UP SOON! I WILL TRY TO GET IT UPDATED BEFORE MY BIRTHDAY (late January)!

But I'll let you guys in on a little secret: comments help me get over my writer's block~

...SO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU GOTTA DO.

I'd love to hear of your opinions! Was it funny at all? Or just plain weird? I think I made the entire group seem like a bunch of squabbling 5 year olds... Oh well.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYBODY! I hope you all enjoyed! Until next time!

~kittenlover1 :)