Chapter 1
My alarm goes off, 6am. I roll out of bed trying not to wake Henry. For the first time in my life, I wake up knowing exactly where my son is. In the instant that it takes for my mind to register the thought, my heart swells. I woke up happy. When's the last time that happened? Anyway, I should probably get ready and stop staring at Henry before he wakes up. I shake my head at myself. I'm losing my mind….
I crack my dresser open, trying to be as stealthy as possible. Henry stirs but rolls over and is fast asleep. I grab some clothes and make my way down stairs to the bathroom. David is awake and reading the newspaper. "Good morning, Emma! I was hoping you'd be down soon. I have a question to ask you." I never understood why people talk to other people before they've had their morning coffee. Maybe that's just my chaotic, caffeine-addicted-foster-parents, don't-speak-unless-spoken-to childhood memories creeping through. Anyway, I try to cut him some slack. After all, he did just remember that I'm his daughter, after being magically spellbound and trapped in my world; the land without magic. "Good morning" I smile, "What's your question?" He folds up his newspaper, which is from a few days ago. "I was wondering if you needed any help down at the station. The animal shelter is fine and all, but it's not a position fit for a King. I need some control. Regina is bound to strike back with dark magic and when she does, I need to be at the forefront of our comeback." David sounds weary and I wonder if he's slept at all. "Actually, now that you mention it, I could use some help getting Storybrooke up and running again. I'll meet you at the station at 7:30. I want to run by Granny's first and I need to get ready." My mind is spinning. I believe all of this, the curse and magic and all, but it's still hard to wrap my head around. "Well, how about I drive you? I would like to stop by Granny's as well…if that's alright with you." He looks hopeful and longing. I won't ruin his happiness. "Sure, thank you. I'll be ready by 7." I smile and walk to the bathroom.
After a quick shower, which was welcomed with open arms, I get dressed and fix my hair. A soft knock is rapped on the bathroom door. I open it and Mary Margret is waiting patiently on the other side. "Emma! Good morning. Are you finished in here?" she asks so sweetly, it almost hurts. "Hi, good morning, I'm done. It's all yours." I start to gather my things and am walking out the door when she catches my arm. "Emma, have a wonderful day at work today. Please stay safe. I don't know what I would do if I somehow lost you again." Her eyes twinkle at mine. She fits the bill of a fairytale character to a "t". I smile at the thought and reply "I will be safe because David is my new Officer at the station. We will be patrolling the town together. And, I trust that he's going to have my back." "David? Who…oh, you mean Charming? Good. I feel much better now. Henry and I will bring you lunch this afternoon. Where should we meet you two?" asks Mary Margret. "How about you call around lunchtime and we can figure it out then? Today is going to be busy. I just have a feeling." I try for a joking tone, but we both know that this problem is serious. "Okay, just be careful." She sighs, but I can feel her faith in me and it gives me all the reassurance I needed. "I will. We will." My turn to be reassuring.
"Ready, darling daughter?" David inquires as he saunters over to us, smiling. "Yes, just let me grab my jacket." I answer quickly. I'm not good with touchy-feely conversations. David kisses Mary Margret and leans his forehead to hers. I blush and walk awkwardly away to fetch my jacket. I look back over my shoulder and they are still having a moment to themselves. Why is this so weird to me? They should love each other. They should be affectionate. Maybe it's awkward because they're my parents? I don't know. Before I have time to mull it over, David opens the door for me. "Good bye, my love." He waves to Mary Margret. She puts her hand over her heart then waves back, with a gentle smile. Off to work we go.
The car ride was not long and therefore had no time to be awkward. I sat in the passenger seat watching the town I had come to know so well, pass by almost unrecognizable. The ride was bumpy and unnerving. Regina had to be behind this. This is the work of something evil. This is black magic. Why else would everything be so destroyed? Surely pure magic doesn't have this effect…just as I was pondering these thoughts; we pulled up in front of Granny's, which was still standing by some miracle. There was no one in Granny's, which was extraordinarily odd. Ruby looks different. There's just something different about her. We exchange some small talk, but I still can't place the difference. David and I get our coffee and bagels and head back to his truck.
"It's weird that no one is at Granny's, right?" I ask him, hoping he'd confirm my theory. "Yes, very odd." He says shaking his head. We start our drive to the station when we see a mob of people walking down Second Street. "What the…? David, Stop!" I yelp. He slams on the breaks just feet from the end of the mob. I scramble out of the truck. "Hey, what's going on?" I ask the person nearest me. "Emma, so nice of you to join us", Mr. Gold turns around, "We're on our way to Regina's. The townspeople need their mayor in this most desperate time of need. I'm sure you agree, don't you, dear-y?" "Rumple, please. She's not worth your soul. You are good." A beautiful woman pleads, clasping his hand. I'm taken off guard and before I can stop my lips from moving, "Who are you?" falls out of them and I am genuinely curious. "My name is Belle." She replies. Mr. Gold…er…Rumple looks at her with kind eyes, longing eyes. Okay, what the hell is going on here? What's his deal? And where did this Belle character come from? "Rumple" growls David. "Oh, Charmy Charm, how I have missed you. My Belle and I must be on our way now. Off to the Queen's." Rumple replies wittily with a wry smile. David's jaw clenches, "Snow is the only one deemed fit for the title of Queen, as you so well know, Rumple. What are you playing at? Why are the townspeople heading for Regina? What have you promised them?" "Me? I do not promise anything without a price, of course as YOU so well know, Charming. I'm simply taking a stroll with my beauty. Good day, Ms. Swan, Charming." Rumple leads Belle away toward the mob of townspeople.
I look up at David, who is still fuming. I can't ignore my part as Sheriff, but is it really a good idea to take David with me? I just don't want things to get out of hand. "Let's go. We have to beat the mob to Regina's." I decide. He looks at me bewildered, "No, you can't go anywhere near her. She will try to destroy you. I won't let you. Emma, I won't lose you again." "I have an obligation as Sheriff-"I try to protest, but he shakes his head sternly at me. I don't press the topic anymore; his eyes hold so much regret. "I guess I'll have to wait until someone calls and requests help then", I say sourly. He nods and I feel so defeated.
We clamber back into the truck. "Let's go survey the area and see how far the destruction goes", he says trying to brighten the mood. "Alright" I answer so I can analyze the whole mob-of-angry-people-on-their-way-to-Regina's thing. Why would they want answers from Regina? Obviously everyone remembers the curse. Then they're going to Regina's for revenge? No, Maybe? I don't know. All of this is giving me a serious headache. David turns some music on and hums along to it happily. It's my turn to fume.
After driving the perimeter of the town, the coastal land and the local landmarks, we decide to drive out to the edge of Storybrooke. There's no way it could have gotten all the way out there. As we are driving along and David is merrily humming to the sound of the music, my phone rings. It's Mary Margret. "Mary Margret? Hi. We are driving out to the edge of Storybrooke to see how far the destruction carried. Would you guys like to meet us out here? We could have a picnic out in the woods." I chat into the phone. "Sure, we'll meet you there. Grilled cheese sandwiches, fruit and water sound good? Maybe I'll get a pie from Granny's! You and Henry like Pumpkin right?" she is excited, I can tell. "That sounds great! We'll see you guys in about 20 minutes?" I am equally excited. I really do love spending time with my…family. "We'll be there! Oh, Emma! I'm so happy." She's smiling into the phone, her voice gives her away. "I am too, Mary Margret, I really am." I wonder if she can hear me smile through the phone too. "We're on our way! Good bye." I can hear her car door shutting. "Bye! See you and Henry soon." I hang up the phone.
David smiles at me and pulls to a stop by the "Welcome to Storybrooke" sign. There are trees lying in all different directions. The ground is cracked and uneven. It did reach the edge of Storybrooke. I wonder how. Just then, a baby deer crosses the road, right in front of me. "Wow! Look, it's so close!" I exclaim. "It's beautiful," David answers. He walks over to where the deer disappeared into the foliage. "Emma!" he whispers and motions for me to come. I walk over as silently as possible, and peeking over a fallen tree, there are hundreds of deer. Not only deer, but horses and birds and there's a beautiful pond, glistening in the middle of all of these animals; A watering hole of sorts. It's the most beautiful, strange and magical thing I've ever seen. I'm drawn to it and start to move toward the scene. "No!" David whispers, "It's a trap. This is dark magic." "But it's so beautiful…" I say in dismay. "Exactly, it is a way to lure the unsuspecting in." he says calmly. I'm disappointed but I'm glad to be sharing this moment with him. He's so focused. "Why's it here?" I ask him incredulously. "That's what I'm trying to figure out. It doesn't make any sense." He whispers back intently. "Come on, this is giving me the creeps." I tug on his arm and he follows me. We walk out of the foliage and back toward the street.
"Hey, look at the sign!" he says pointing at a gaping hole in the middle of the "Welcome to Storybrooke" sign. I walk over to the sign with him, "Wow! How did this happen?" I run my fingers along the sharp edges of the hole. My fingers tingle. I feel the sudden urge to stick my hand through the hole and I do.
"Emma, no!" it's Henry. They must have just pulled up. I reflexively pull my hand out from the metal hole in the sign, only I can't free it. "Emma! Get your hand out of there!" Mary Margret shouts. "I…I can't! It's stuck" I'm starting to panic now because the hole is huge, my hand shouldn't be stuck. Something is pulling me. I look back and my arm is all the way in the sign. "Take my hand!" Mary Margret flings me her hand and I hold on with all of my might.
I feel like I entered a whirlpool. The force is so strong that I have to fight to keep hold of Mary Margret's hand. Which way is up? All I can see is Mary Margret yelling to me. I can't even hear her. It sounds like wind and ocean waves in my ears. It's deafening. I try shouting out to her, but she can't hear me either. I hit something hard and roll a few times on what feels like forest floor.
My vision starts to come back into focus. I'm lying on pine needles. Above me are trees and sky. I can hear birds chirping. Okay, maybe I passed out? Maybe I'm hallucinating. This is a dream. I sit up and Mary Margret is lying beside me. Her iron steel grip on my hand is starting to cut off my circulation. I rouse her, "Mary Margret?" She opens her eyes and rubs her head. "What happened?" she asks, "Where are Charming and Henry?" Henry! Where is he? Is he okay? I stand up abruptly. This is the part of the dream, where I should wake up gasping in my bed. I don't wake up. This isn't a dream. "Henry?" I yell. Panic courses through my veins. "Emma, look around. We're in the middle of the forest." Mary Margret urges, standing up and taking my hand again. "Where's the road?" I say aloud. I start looking around but all I can see is forest for miles. "I know these woods. Emma, welcome to the Enchanted Forest." She says gulping.
*I'm looking for more ideas! If you have a topic, ship or scenerio that you want to see written about, please let me know and I'll try to incorporate you ideas! Feedback is welcome. Hate is not. I hope you guys like it! It's my first fanfic :) Feel free to leave a comment