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Fairytale Land of the Past
She dreaded attending parties such as this, especially if they were for her. Birthdays never went according to plan and she always ended up doing something bad. The maids tended to her dress with fussy hands and fast pacing feet, scrambling about, trying to make her seem perfect. But the gold, ah, too much of it. Her mother insisted that wearing gold helped bring out her blue eyes. Still, Belle hated just how bright it shimmered, making her the absolute center of attention.
"My, my, my," her mother whispered as she entered the room, clasping her hands together and examining her daughter with loving eyes. "You look marvelous, darling. Marvelous." She didn't see how it was possible. Belle just felt funny in this dress, so big and so out there. "To be quite honest with you, mother, I would much rather go to this ball in my nightgown. This dress is horrid," she whined, to which the maids saw that as their invitation to exit the premises.
Colette approached her daughter with ease, helping her off of the stool she stood upon. "I know it seems like a funny dress," she began to explain to her daughter as she straightened out the wrinkles within the silk spun masterpiece that was her golden gown. "But the more you wear these funny dresses, the more you will get used to these funny dresses, and then you will be able to explain to your own daughter, one day, that they will soon get used to these funny dresses as well." Belle gave a little giggle as her mother pinched her cheeks, her jewelry on her wrist dangling and clanking as she did so. "Everyone is already downstairs, Belle, including that handsome young fellow Gaston. Last I heard, he desires to dance with you."
Belle looked to her feet at that. Sixteen years old and she knew that this was the day she would be picking out her future husband amongst the crowd of fellows who have arrived to, supposedly, celebrate her birthday. "I know, mama," she mumbled to the ground, to which her mother lifted her chin with a delicate finger. "It is not polite to mumble, Belle," she scorned, but her daughter just nodded in agreement or to perhaps release the tension. Colette grew a sudden sadness for her daughter. Arranged marriages, they all stung.
"I know an arranged marriage is not what you desired, sweetheart, but I do hope you can make the best of it. You tend to do that." Belle backed away from her mother's touch and turned to her balcony. "I know what you expect of me, mother, what the kingdom expects of me, but I can't help to wonder..." she trailed off as she gazed up at the stars. Her mother approached her with ease, but was sure not to get too close as to ruin her daughter's thoughts. "Wonder what, Belle?" she asked. Belle took in a deep breath before continuing on. "If I would ever fall in love with the man I am going to marry. If my wedding would be as romantic as I have always pictured it to be."
Colette could not help, but to smile at her daughter's wild imaginations. It must have come from all those books, poor dear did love to read more than anything else. She could spend hours at a time just sitting on her sofa or out in the garden, nose stuck in a book as she dug deep into contents, ripping apart every word and every metaphor written. "And what did you picture your wedding to be like, my darling?" Colette asked and Belle drifted off into the deepest parts of her imagination.
"Well, it would not be too grand like most princess's weddings. I would want it to be rather small," she explained and Colette chuckled. "A small wedding for a princess?" she asked, not too sure if she believed the words that spilled out of Belle's mouth. "Yes, mama. A small wedding for a princess. Perhaps in the forest, hidden within the trees. I wouldn't be in some extravagant gown, but rather a small petite one. It would not be during the day, but late at night. That way, me and my lover...we would not need witnesses. The stars could be our witnesses, the moon our guidance."
"And how would you see in the dark, my dear girl?" her mother interrupted, but she did not at all mind. It added texture to her tale as she came up with the very next detail. "Candles," she smiled. "Candles everywhere. Small candles, medium candles, large candles. Everywhere, just a bunch of...candles." She smiled as she thought about it, gazing off and dreaming, imagining her life before her.
A sudden hand was placed upon her shoulder, her mother's lips right by her ear. "Well, my dear Belle, I am sure that one day you will have your small, candle lit wedding in the forest. And I am most certain that the man waiting for you in the middle of that forest will be so overly in love with you...that he will sob with joy when you two are just about to share your first kiss as husband and wife amidst all those trees and glowing candles." Belle smiled at the mere thought of it. She was not sure who it was that was going to be standing with her in that forest on that day, but she knew it was going to be someone special. "But, just for now," her mother went on to say, "I am afraid that you are going to have to put on your best fake smile and dance with a few boys. Let's not forget that you also have to wear your crown as you do so." Abruptly, Belle felt a disturbance placed upon her head. Another piece of gold, her small crown that fitted her natural one perfectly. "You are not going to make me start balancing books on my head, are you?" she asked to which her mother responded with chuckle and a kiss to Belle's cheek. "No, dear. Only if you keep the stories safe within your head." Belle looked out to the distance and leaned against her balcony railing. There were so many stars out tonight.
"I'll be down soon, mama. I just want a moment to myself, please," Belle begged, and her mother obliged. "Alright, dear, but don't stay up here for too long." She placed a kiss on the top of her daughter's head and drifted away, down to the ball she was due to attend while Belle continued to look up to the skies, counting to stars. She thought about her wedding, what was to happen to her, how she was to go through an arranged marriage and she saw no escape from it. No way out. A single tear slipped down her cheek.
Fairytale Land of the Present
"He looked over to the crowd of people wandering into the bar, already appearing to be drunk from too much liquor consumption. Rumpelstiltskin's sharp eyes caught sight of the man that lead them in, calling for more ale and alcohol. The man who had stollen his wife not too long ago, ripping away from Baelfie his mother, ripping away a wife from her husband. Rage grew within as the serving wench reappeared before him.
"'Are you sure you don't want anything to drink?' she asked with obvious fear shaking in her voice. Rumpelstiltskin turned to the frightened girl rather enthusiastically and whispered to her. 'You know, I suddenly find myself quite thirsty,' he responded with an evil smirk of revenge."
Lucinda set the book down so that she may rub her eyes, attempting to wipe away the sleep, but the truth was she was still drifting, the sandman taking control of her. Lucinda was stubborn, however, and she was in a fight she was determined to win.
Stay up, Cinda, she told herself. You need to keep reading.
She reached over to her waiting tray, not touching the eggs nor sausage, but rather just the blueberry muffin that she had been nipping at every once in a while when her stomach craved something to be put within it other than tea, which was what she was going for. Another cup of tea.
She tipped over the pot slightly, but not substance came pouring out, the spout dry and her cup empty. She tilted it over even more, but all that managed to leak its way out was a speck, the size of a tear drop, that dripped off the lip of the spout, dangling for just a moment before it splashed into her empty glass. "Great," she said as she put the kettle back on the tray and leaned back in her bed. She then proceeded to get into a rather heated debate with herself. "Keep reading or go get more tea?" she questioned and made arguments back and forth. She huffed before forcing herself off of the bed and slipping her feet into her slippers. "Off to the kitchen, I guess," she said, picking up the pot after slipping Once Upon a Time under her many pillows. She figured it would be safe there for just a while, just for a moment.
She shuffled down the halls, too lazy to pick up her feet and too tired to care about the sounds she made. Her eyes were half open and her mind was half awake, making her walk unsteady, as if she was drunk. She had no idea she had even changed back to her normal self, pale skin and all. Still, she did not look as well as she used to. Even Maid Marge caught sight of that as she passed the princess in the halls.
"Your Majesty, are you felling well?" she asked, sounding truly concerned, but Lucinda didn't buy it. "Just peachy," she snapped back, in no mood to speak with servants. "Do you know where my parents are?" she asked the maid to which she heard the same response as she has heard before. "Meeting with Parliament, Your Majesty." Lucinda rolled her eyes before continuing her shuffle down the halls, sliding her feet across her marble floors, leaving no trace or evidence of where it was she has been.
Into the kitchen, she pushed open the doors with little force needed, to which all of the servants and cooks stopped their tasks and bowed to her. "Afternoon, Princess," they spoke together, but Lucinda paid them no mind, just setting the pot down on the counter and speaking as loudly as she could manage. "Someone, please fill up my pot. I am afraid I have run out." Several servants rushed to her aid, but only one was needed for the task and so it was only one who grabbed the pot first and brought it back with her to her station.
Lucinda rested her head on the table, falling victim to sleep for just a moment. It was disturbed rather quickly, though, by a little tug on her pajama pants. She peeked open one eye, looking from under her folded arms in which she rested on to the little girl below her. Her smile was too bright and cheery at the moment. She shut her eye again after taking just a second to glance at her.
"What do you want Annie?" Lucinda mumbled. The ten year old in pigtails smiled up at the princess, not afraid of her one bit. "My mother tells me you made a big mess in your room last night," she went on to say. "Your mother tends to gossip very much," Lucinda mumbled under her breath. "And you tend to mumble too loudly," Annie snapped back. Lucinda just gave a loud exhale.
"So, what happened, Cinda? Did you wet the bed or something?" Annie went on to ask to which Lucinda stood up and began to walk away, forgetting about her tea.
But wasn't that whole purpose in getting up anyway?
She rolled her eyes and stayed put. "No, Annie. I didn't wet the bed. Something much bigger than that happened."
Annie raised her hands dramatically. "I only speak about what I hear," she spoke with attitude.
"No need to get so sassy, little girl," Lucinda spoke and leaned against the wall, folding her arms and craving to crawl back to bed, saying good night to the world. "You get sassy all the time," Annie said.
Lucinda"I am the Princess, I can do that," Lucinda replied.
Annie rolled her eyes and placed her hands on her hips, swaying them sightly and giving a little thot walk as she made her way to the wall and leaned against it next to Lucinda. She glanced up at the disorderly princess, giving a sly and twisted grin as she did so. Lucinda spotted her gaze from the corner of her eye and did her absolute best to ignore it, but her strong gene of curiosity kicked into overdrive. What was it that the little twit was smiling about? "Alright, what are you hiding?" she asked and Annie sucked her teeth. "What makes you think I'm hiding something?" she asked. LucindaLucinda raised her brow and Annie caved.
"I'll help you out if you help me out," the redhead began to bargain. "Help you out with what?" LucindaLucinda questioned, not sure with what this child could possibly want from her life. "Not much, just that nice pearl necklace you have up in your room." LucindaLucinda snapped. "You little twit!" she shouted, causing all eyes in the kitchen to shift to her and Annie. LucindaLucinda saw the error in her ways and grabbed ahold of Annie's arm, tugging her to just outside the kitchens to speak to her in a more private environment. "You went into my room?" Annie rolled her eyes again. Damn, she loved doing that. "My mother asked me to help her clean up your mess last week. I saw it on your dresser then. I thought it was really pretty. Lucky I didn't steal it." Lucinda laughed. "If you did, you would have lost your head."
"Look, Lucinda, if you want my help you are going to have to cough up the necklace."
"Your help? Why would I need your help?"
Annie gave that same sly and cold grin, creeping onto her face slowly and cooly, like she had the whole world in the palm of her hand. Her darkening blue eyes made her appear that much more sinister. "Because I am the only one who knows about the tunnels." Now Lucinda was just flat out confused. "I'm sorry, tunnels?" she asked and Annie nodded. "Two tunnels to be exact," she went on as she held up two fingers, "and I am the only one who knows about them and where they lead to. So, if you want to learn more about these tunnels, you will have to give up the pearl necklace, deal?" Oh great, deals. Well, if her father could make them certainly she can. After all, they had a lot more in common than Lucinda originally thought they did. She stuck out her hand and grabbed ahold of Annie's. "Alright, you little rat. Deal. Now, show me these tunnels." Annie seemed more excited about it than Lucinda did, pulling the princess away and down the golden halls.
Fairytale Land of the Past
Her feet were sore from the numerous amount of horrid boys she was forced to dance with. She was sure blisters were developing on her feet. Gaston was nowhere near as good of a dancer as he thought he was. Belle was dreading how many torturous minutes she would be stuck spinning and twirling with him about the dance floor.
"You are a wonderful dancer, Princess Belle," he complimented, making Belle put on yet another fake smile, but she was overly distracted. Just before she had started preparing for her birthday celebration, she had read the most wonderful story. The prince had taken the princess for a magic carpet ride and they had glided off through the stars, seeing the world from a whole new prospective. In that moment, she had lost her sight, her thoughts, everything went to speeding through diamonds in the night sky.
She bumped into the person beside her, causing them to tumble over, knocking into the table holding the cake and punch. Clatter and splatters latter, poor Princess May was covered from head to toe in cakes, treats, punch and other sticky, gooey substances that made her scream in horror. Belle covered her mouth with her hands, rushing over to her fallen guests as the music died and eyes turned to the scene.
"Oh my, I am so sorry, May. Here, let me help you," Belle extended her hand to bring the fallen princess to her feet, but May swatted her away. "No! Don't touch me! Don't you touch me!" Belle backed away as May wiped the substances stuck to her face off onto the floor. All eyes were glued to Belle and she felt the redness come to her cheeks.
"Belle," her father called. Her eyes shifted to him softly as he gazed upon her with fear and discomfort, but her mother's...they were far past it. They were disappointment, as if Belle had brought upon her family some great dishonor that stung her soul.
She collected her dress and ran off, past the staring guests, past the mess and past her own happiness or at least comfort. It had all been stripped from her and now she felt exposed. She wanted her safety, contempt in her own mind...or within the pages of her books. Scrambled into her room, kicking off her shoes and ripping off her dress as she went, staying in her corset and chemise. This was just too much, all of it blowing up in her face. She pushed open her balcony doors, sunk to the ground and wept.
Tears spilled out of her eyes, pouring onto the floor as she despised herself for her mistakes and flaws. For everything she was going to go through. This arranged marriage was killing her inside, making her crumble and slump to ruins.
"Oh, sweet child," a voice whispered. "Please, do not shed such tears." Belle looked up from her sorrows and was surprised to see a young woman dressed in green standing before her. It wasn't the fact that there was a stranger in her bedroom, but rather the fact that said stranger had a huge pair of wings attached to her back and a wand in her hand. "I can help you make those tears disappear."
Belle became intrigued. "You van help me? Who are you?" she asked and the fetching young blond smiled, nodding at the young one's question. "Yes, my dear. I can. I am your fairy godmother, Gretchen." Belle's tears slowly began to disintegrate as she listened to her fairy godmother. "I have a fairy godmother?" Again, Gretchen smiled and nodded with glee. "Yes, my dear. I'm here to make it all better. Now, what seems to be the problem?" Belle took in a big gulp, swallowing the lump in her throat before she revealed the sad truth of what she had done not too long ago.
"I kind of ruined my own birthday. I was distracted and knocked someone over right into the dessert table. Needless to say, there is no cake anymore." Gretchen examined Belle closely, not fully believing that everything she was saying was true. "Perhaps that may have happened, Belle, but there must be something else on your mind," she pressed on. Belle shook her head, daring not to stare into Gretchen's eyes. "Nothing not even my fairy godmother can fix," she explained. "Try me." Gretchen folded her arms, accepting the challenge. "Arranged marriage," Belle confessed and Gretchen crinkled her nose. "I despise arranged marriages. I don't see much of a window for me to work, but if I knew who you are to be married to, that may help."
"Sir Gaston," Belle knew for sure it was going to be him. "No one else would approve of me after that little stunt, and he was the only one ever really interested in the merchandise my father was selling." Gretchen knelt beside Belle on the floor, cupping her face with a gentle hand and wiping away a few lingering tears with a press of her thumb. "Don't think of yourself as property, dear. I can help you." Belle smiled slightly, but decided to press her godmother's duties on further. "I want my fairytale to be different from all the others, though. One that no one would ever expect and quite possibly, the best love story ever told." Gretchen smiled and helped Belle get back on her feet. "I like your enthusiasm, Belle, but I am afraid, due to the Laws of Magic, I cannot make anyone fall in love with anybody else. However, I have a feeling your love story will be unlike any one that has ever been written."
Fairytale Land of the Present
So these were the tunnels? Who would have known they were located behind her father's portrait? The present King's portrait was always hung in the same place on the same wall, and then transferred to the Hall of Kings once they have passed. Annie ran up to the portrait and stared at it for a moment. Lucinda did the same. There was here father, standing tall, but proud was the question, not dressed like himself. Rather, in a blue suit with a large golden crown on his head. Lucinda could only imagine what he looked like without the scaly skin and knotty hair. The suit would have fit him well if he looked like himself again, or so she thought.
"That's your father," Annie said as she stared at the picture, Lucinda nodding in response, remembering that she once looked like that not too long ago. That she controlled looking like that when she pleased. Annie shivered a bit, trying to make it seem like she didn't, but Lucinda understood. People took one look at her father and shivered in fear, that was the instinct reaction and that was what made him a good king. Everyone was terrified of him just by looking at him.
"It took me a while to find it because of the portrait," Annie began to explain as she slowly tipped the portrait to its side, revealing a door just behind it. "As you probably well know, your father kind of freaks me out." Lucinda tilted her head to her side to try and see the portrait straight, or as straight as possible, trying to decipher whether or not her father was as scary as everyone perceived him to be. Maybe he wasn't, but then she looked at herself, looked at her very existence and knew- she knew very well how babies were born. How the hell her mother was willing to "create" her with someone who looked like that...it was mind boggling, but Lucinda did her very best to not think about it that often.
"You coming?" Annie asked as she pulled open the door, allowing the two of them entrance. Lucinda snapped out of her thoughts and followed Annie inside. The little girl slid the portrait back into place before closing the hatch to the tunnels, crawling behind Lucinda who did not hesitate. "How do you see in here?" she asked as she trudged forward in the cold dry cement that she had a feeling was scrapping her arms. "Just move forward, I guess. I have only been in here a few times," Annie explained as she followed close behind. "Where exactly does this take me?" Lucinda asked as she forced herself to move forward, never slowing down. "Where you want to go, trust me," Annie giggled. "You are going to reach a fork in the road up ahead. Go left." Lucinda looked back for a moment, trying to see Annie in the pitch dark, blackness. "What's to the right?" she asked and Annie bumped her head into Lucinda's slippered foot, unbeknownst to her that the princess had stopped crawling. "Haven't had the chance to investigate it yet," Annie explained and pressed for Lucinda to move forward once more, heading straight for the fork in the road.
"You're not going to knock me out and take my kidney, are you?" Lucinda teased while Annie held in her chuckles, staying close behind the fifteen year old, crawling in the dark. "Who knows what your kidney looks like with how your father looks like? For all I know, it could be all black, covered in mold spores and mushrooms. No, your kidney is worthless to me, as is the rest of you." Lucinda rolled her eyes. Annie was always this rude, and was quite possibly the only one worse than herself in this castle. "That's not funny, kid, and I can assure you that my kidney looks like anyone else's as does my daddy's."
"How do you know? You seen it?"
"No."
"Then how do you know?"
"Because I believe it. Besides, my mother would know better than to be with someone who doesn't have the proper organs."
Annie scoffed. "I don't know. Your mother seems to go for the first man she can find." That was it. Lucinda lifted up her right leg and kicked back, knocking Annie square in the nose, she has gotten into a nasty habit of doing that. "Ow!" Annie cried as she grabbed ahold of her nose. "Oh, I'm sorry, did my foot connect with your face? It is just so very dark in here, I can barely see." Annie straightened out her nose and slapped Lucinda's foot away. "Point taken, just keep going straight." Lucinda obeyed, sure to stay to the left as they passed the fork, but her curiosity heeled for nothing. She glanced to the right just briefly, wondering what could be lurking past that tunnel.
Her head hit against a wall, leaving her to rub it tenderly as she braced her other palm against it. "Hit a dead end, Annie. Now what?" She knew Annie rolled her eyes, she could just feel it, allowing her to believe that she has said or done something stupid. "It's not a wall, it's a door," the young one explained. "There is a latch on the bottom left hand corner. You have to pull it up and then push on the door." Lucinda attempted to feel her way through the darkness, running her fingers over every part of the door, across its entire surface, trying to find this latch that Annie spoke of, and just when she was about ready to give up, her fingers traced a cold piece of metal. "Gotcha," she smiled as she pulled the latch up and gave a gentle push on the door, a lit hint of light peeking through.
Lucinda swung her legs around and hopped out of the square tunnel, which was only a few feet off the ground, at the most five, and found herself in a rather quant looking room. Blue walls, but candle stick holders complete with candles that appeared as though their wick has already been lit. They rested on small polished tables, alcohol trays placed upon these tables, bottles half empty and glasses awaiting for the next pour. A large blue couch with cushions and pillows leaned against the wall that the tunnel was dug into, even portraits covered the wall-some rather famous looking works of art. Two bookshelves, one on each side of this rectangular room and a slit towards the bottom of the floor.
"What in the world...?" Lucinda began as she inched closer to the slit, Annie jumping down from the tunnel and straightening out her skirts. "I thought the same thing when I first came in here," she said as she closed the tunnel door, appearing as a portrait of the current Queen; Belle. "What is this room?" Lucinda asked, Annie looking up at her smiling. "That's just the question, isn't it? This room is a secret, though. I have a feeling only the King and Queen know about it." Annie knelt down onto the floor where the slit was, sure to kneel on her knees. "My parents?" Lucinda questioned, and Annie nodded before grabbing ahold of the handle on the slit's tiny sliding door. "It must have been the royal's who built it because...well...I guess you just have to see where it leads to." With that, she pulled the handle on the small rectangular door that was only about three inches long and five inches wide, not allowing much of a view, but at least a glimpse of one.
Light shinned through and voices could be heard echoing from the other side, mumbling stuff about trade, conquest, something foreign and that did not capture Lucinda's attention. What did, however, was that voice that could not be forgotten anywhere-her mother's. She laid down on the floor and peeped through the little opening Annie had revealed to her, able to see into Parliament's Chamber's, listening into the conversation her parents were having with the council, and there her parents were, sitting upon their thrones as one member spoke of shipments and importation, then taking his seat amongst his fellow councilmen. There had to be at least forty of them, maybe a little more. No wonder these meetings took hours at time. All had their own complaints, their own problems with the kingdom, their own speciality within it. Some controlled taxes, some controlled land acts, others laws, others shipment details. Every issue with the kingdom was addressed to her parents this way. She suddenly felt bad for them and her desire to become Queen has greatly lessened, even though it was never that high to begin with.
Once that councilmen had retaken his seat, a rather large looking one stood up, clearing his throat before speaking rather loudly. "Next issue as to be addressed before the King and Queen shall be presented by the Head of Royals and Heirs, Councilmen Unders." An old, greying looking fellow stood up from his seat, making his away around the bench to address the King and Queen as if they were not above him, but equals, possibly even beneath him. When he spoke, his voice developed within you a certain form of fear that could not be shaken, it just sort of lingered upon you, making you see your own breath and feel his pain.
"Your Majesties," he began, not even bowing. She didn't know why, but it bothered her greatly. "We have spoke of this matter before, but I am to assume it is to be addressed every time we hold a meeting. Your daughter, Princess Lucinda, is of the age of fifteen at the moment. Is that or is that not correct?" She watched as her father tensed. "Indeed it is," he spoke in his sinister voice, trying to reciprocate the councilmen's ways of terror. Her father was much more frightening than he was, Unders should know this by now. "Go, daddy," she mumbled as she watched more. "Her sixteenth birthday is how many days away, may I ask?" Rumple clenched his fists. "Indeed you may, it is exactly two days away."
"And in this point in time, it is on the sixteenth birthday of ever young Princess of this fine kingdom to choose a suitable heir to the throne, in which they shall spend the next two years agreeing to the certain terms and Laws in which makes this great kingdom so great, is that or is that not correct?"
"It is."
"So, then, I do wonder why it is that only twenty seven Lords and Princes have been given invitation to the event when there are fifty two more than eligible Lords and Princes for the Princess to choose from. Can you please explain to the council why that is?"
Rumple took a deep inhale before looking slightly to Belle who was in the process of gnawing her lip, obviously frightened about the conversation that was to take place.
"More than happy to do so, Councilmen Unders." Lucinda was a bit surprised when she watched her father stand from his throne, located at the top of a few stairs, firmly placing his hands before him when he was about to begin with his reasoning. He was dressed in his usual leather, except he had his large, golden crown placed upon his head. It seemed so unlike him.
"I am sickened by this Law," he began, bringing gasps from the entire council. "I am sure many of you know that by now, so I do not expect so many of you to be all that surprised. What I am shocked over, is the fact that not a single one of you in this room, who sits before me today seems to have a problem with such an unfair and, not to mention, unjust Law. That is what is turning my head, making it spin in circles. The only ones who appear to have a problem with such a disgrace as this is my wife and myself. Oh, and obviously, Princess Lucinda, my daughter, whom I would appreciate if she was spoken of as a person rather than a relic to your kingdom.
"I only sent word to the Princes and Lords that she is well aware lives in this world, has met face to face, and has grown somewhat comfortable around. That way, if I should fail at being a father, unable to have this curse that you have thrusted upon her removed, at least she has some sense of comfort not marrying a complete stranger."
A smile wanted to form on Belle's face, but she forced it to stay hidden as Lucinda and Annie peeked on. "Your father scares me," Annie whispered and Lucinda smiled. "Good, that's his job."
"The Princess has two years to get to know the man she is to marry, therefore he shall not be a complete stranger to her," Unders argued.
"Those two years of said comfort between the ages of sixteen and eighteen is to help the man she is forced to marry study his history on the kingdom he is to marry into, its geography, past wars, current relations. It is all to prepare him for a kingdom he knows absolutely nothing about, but gains through my daughter having to surrender her hand and her vows...and her heart to some boy who claims he is ready to be a man and is willing to prove that by violating my daughter."
"Those two years," Under raised his voice, "is for the future King to prepare himself for what is expected of him with the helping hand of his future wife."
"All while pushing his plow into every wench he could find before he must give himself to a woman in exchange for a kingdom." All were silent as Rumple's rage grew and it became perfectly clear. He began to make his way down the stairs.
Quickly, before anything else should happen, Lucinda turned to Annie and asked. "How many of these meetings have you sat through?" Annie swallowed before confessing. "Seven." Lucinda lowered her voice even more. "Why doesn't my mother say anything?" Annie pointed to Rumple. "He makes her promise...before every meeting that she won't say a word. That she remains silent because he doesn't want her to be hated like he is. If anything should go wrong, he wants the blame to fall on him and only him." Lucinda had a feeling Belle would never agree to such terms unless there was something bigger than that. "My mom would never make such a deal. She always fights for my daddy." Annie shrugged. "Maybe she is smart enough to wait for the right one." Lucinda nodded and looked back out to the meeting.
"Lucinda is not just some toy for some boy to play with. She is much more than that. She is my child, my daughter and I will not have her broken because of something as ridiculous as a few men sitting in a room saying this must be so. You want my daughter, guess what, you can not have her. She is mine and my wife's, and no Law is ever going to change that."
"She belongs to the kingdom."
"No, the kingdom is indebted to her. To my wife. To me. We protect it. Another thing it is going to need protection from is a child sitting upon a throne he has no right to."
"You have no right to this one," Unders argued. "You have no right, Rumpelstiltskin. No right whatsoever. You just showed up here one day, with the former King's body in your hand, parading around these halls with that crown on top of your head. We had a King in place for the future. The Princess was all set to marry the perfect man for the job, but you ruined that. You took her as part of your bargain and you imprisoned her. She calls this love, I call it a bad case of Stockholm Syndrome."
Lucinda's head did back flips. What were they talking about?
"How dare you," Belle spoke between gritted teeth.
"I beg your pardon, my Queen?" Unders questioned as Belle clawed at her throne. "You do not have any right to question my judgement, councilmen. May I remind you that you bow to me, not I to you, and in case you are unaware, allow me to jog your memory, that the former King was my father who granted his blessing to my marriage. So, you are not only questioning my judgement or your current King's judgement, but you are also questioning my father's."
"The same man who founded the perfect match for you some years ago. The perfect man whose head should be under that crown instead of your's...Dark One."
Rumple got into the councilmen's face, allowing his breath to linger in his nose as he left no space between them, chilling the old man to the bone. "You will die in pain one day, councilmen. Frightened, tired, lonely and in pain. And it won't be my judgement that you question, but rather your own."
"Two days, Your Majesty. Two days to invite those last few Lords and Princes or else you may have yourself out an heir. The Princess will never become Queen until she marries by her eighteenth birthday, and if she doesn't you will have some lost boy sit your throne instead of your own flesh and blood."
"You wouldn't be that cruel to the kingdom."
"No, but I would be that cruel to you."
Lucinda slammed the slit shut.
Fairytale Land of the Past
He sat on his bed in the guest room, wondering when it was Belle would be ready to show herself again. He hasn't seen her since the whole incident, and he found it hard to believe that she would be the one to hide herself away for too long. She would have to come out and face him sometime.
He removed his boots and placed them on the floor beside his bed, leaning back on the pillows and imagining himself wedding the beautiful princess. She did hold a great amount of fairness in her, the most stunning woman he has ever seen. She would definitely be worth all the trouble. Nothing was going to change his mind about this arranged marriage. The only thing that could possibly ruin it was the fact that he would be watched nearly every moment of every day. No way for him to 'work around the clock.' He figured he could handle such a thing. The kingdom and her beauty were defiantly worth it all.
Just as he was about to drift, he could feel he wasn't alone, knew he wasn't alone. Someone was in here, watching him as he rested his eyes. As nonchalantly as he could possibly manage, Gaston reached for his sword, pulling it out from its sheath and swiped it through the air, attempting to slice the person that he believed stood over him.
"No need for sword play," she spoke and he was shocked to see it was a rather stunning woman standing by his bedside. A young woman with flowing blond hair and rather large wings, standing in a silky green gown complimenting her more than perfect hour glass figure. "I am not here to harm you, rather than to help you. Both of you." Both? He lowered his weapon.
"Who are you, if you don't mind me asking?" She smiled and bowed her head slightly. "Not at all, I was expecting you to. My name is Gretchen, I am Princess Belle's fairy godmother. I am summoned through tears and she was sobbing rather rapidly this evening. She tells me she is to be engaged to you for an arranged marriage. Is that so?"
Gaston put his sword back into its leather sheath, setting his guard aside and focusing on Gretchen's rather wonderful body. "Did not know she had one, but what she says is true, though it has not been confirmed, but then again, I guess it has now that she has said that. Would you like to sit down?" He offered up the seat beside him, hoping she would take it. Gretchen, however, just looked down as her cheeks glowed a bright crimson color. "I suggest we keep things professional, Sir Gaston," she whispered. Was she getting shy? "Just offering a pretty lady a seat."
"Yes, well, the pretty lady who needs the most attention at the moment is your bride to be. I am afraid Princess Belle does not reciprocate feelings for you as you may have of her." Time to work, he thought. He put on his best smile as he shook his head. "Belle and I are not like that. Neither one of us has feelings for the other. It is rather just the King's orders." Gretchen tightened her face. "It appears the King does not have a lot of regard for his daughter, now does it?"
"No regard for anyone. He is putting me through the same amount of misery as she. I am just hoping we can figure things out together. I am attempting at getting my own parents to reconsider. I am so close to doing so. I should be out of this marriage soon."
Gretchen became intrigued. "So, you don't believe you will get married?" He shook his head, straight out lying to her. She was gullible. Believing anything she wanted to hear. "Indeed, dear Gretchen. Indeed. As a matter of fact, this may be my last night in this castle. I wouldn't want to go on leaving it empty. Poor Belle is sobbing away in her room and I am left here...alone."
Gretchen shook her head and smiled slightly. "No, she is not sobbing. She is sleeping. I put her to bed about an hour ago. Poor dear needed her rest. A lot seems to be going on in her life and in her kingdom."
Gaston patted the space on the bed beside him, welcoming her into his space. This time, instead of denying it, she took it gladly. "I am too awake to rest, what about you Gretchen? How long has it been," he scrapped his knuckles against her cheek bone, "since you have had the affection of a man?" She thought about it. Her late husband, dead in the Ogre Wars, laying on the battlefield as blood trickled out of his mouth and other wounds onto the already dampen grass. She then looked to Gaston, and saw the face of a charming young man, offering himself to her. Offering his love to her...so she believed. She bit her bottom lip and gazed into his eyes. "Too long," she responded before lunging herself onto him.
Fairytale Land of the Present
"We tell no one of our little adventure, got it?" Lucinda asked as she handed Annie her strung up pear necklace with a little hesitance. "Got it," the redhead replied as she strapped the pearls around her neck, admiring herself with them on through her own sense of vision. "Get out of my room now, Annie," the princess ordered as she headed back towards her bed, teapot in hand. "It actually isn't your room. Your room is in the process of being cleaned. This is a guest room," Annie corrected. "And I am the guest in which occupies this room, making it my room at the moment, and I am demanding you leave." Annie folded her arms, gave a stomp of the foot and then stormed towards the door, but not before looking over he shoulder at the princess who was crawling into bed.
"You and I have more secrets between us than anyone else in this entire castle, Cinda. Just remember that." With those final words she left, leaving Lucinda to open up the storybook to a random page in which her fingers grazed over the picture. Lucinda focused on those words, believing them to be untrue.
"No we don't," Lucinda mumbled as she continued to stare upon the picture in the book. "My parents do." Her fingers traced the outline of her father as he was seen forcing Belle into his dungeon, into the dampness and the dark. Leaving her to quiver in fear of what would become of her, what he would do to her. She read the first line on that page, knowing she should not spoil the story for herself, but she had to just get some insight on what was taking place on that page. She read it out loud in a low whisper.
"And he lead her down the stone steps, into his awaiting dungeon.
"'Where are you taking me?' she asked as she followed close behind her new master, her owner.
"He replied coldly to her, only looking at her for a moment, to send chills down her spine and make her stay as unpleasant as possible.
"'Let's just call it your room,' he said as the two traveled down what seemed to be a hundred stairs, Belle too exhausted and too frightened to count.
"Rumpelstiltskin forced the large wooden door open with a twitch of his fingers, leaving her to stare in horror.
"'My room?' she shivered to which he responded with a shrug.
"'Well, it sounds a lot nicer than dungeon.' And with that, he shoved her inside, plummeting her into darkness."
She held her breath, still staring at the page.
What if Unders was right? What if it was just Stockholm Syndrome?
She shuttered at the thought and flipped back to the page she was up to. Back to her father digging his hand into Milah's chest, tearing out her heart and crushing it slowly within the palm of his hand, cutting off the pirate's.
"...Then vanishing after Jones embedded the hook into his chest, it dropping to the floor with Rumpelstiltskin's ghost shimmering away in a cloud of smoke," she read.
Fairytale Land of the Past
Three months. That is how long it has been. A whole three months of this affaire, sleeping with the other and confessing their love for each other. Gretchen smiled as she rested her cheek upon the sleeping Gaston, the man she has fallen so helplessly in love with. She had been thinking of plans on how the two could escape the watchful eyes, run away to be together. It has been too long since she felt this good, since she has been this in love with someone. She breathed softly as she listened to the beating of his heart, tracing her long fingernail up and down his sternum. He woke up with a chuckle.
"How long have we been in this bed?" he asked with a lazy voice. "Not long enough," she replied. Gaston leaned over and kissed the top of her head. "Agreed. However, today I must get up. I have to tell the King and Queen that I will not be marrying Princess Belle, not when I have you." She smiled as he placed a soft kiss upon her nose. "You are a very beautiful woman, Gretchen," he whispered and shivers explored her body with lust and love. "Why thank you, and you are one handsome man," she complemented. He chuckled and nodded. "I know." They both laughed and she kissed his chest gently.
"My love," she spoke and he listened. "I was thinking, perhaps we could...you know...run away together? That way, we would be able to be with each other and not have to worry about anyone every coming between us. What do you say?" She was honestly nervous, not sure what he may say and frightened that he would just laugh at her suggestion, but the look he gave begged to differ. "Why, darling, that is not such a bad idea." A smile grew across her face as Gaston seemed more excited about her plan than she did. "Really?" she asked and he nodded. "Yes. It is a marvelous idea! That would be perfect. Just you and I together. Do you want to leave tonight? Tonight would be perfect." Tonight? Oh, she was overjoyed! She finally had the love she always desired, not even her husband made her feel the way that this man made her feel. "Tonight then," she agreed. "Where do you want to meet?" she asked, allowing her future husband to make the arrangements. She believed he was more romantic than herself. "How about that large oak tree by the lake? You love that place." She nodded with joy, feeling the excitement rush throughout her. This was perfect. "Wonderful, my love. Best place to meet, say midnight?" He nodded and kissed her lips. "Yes, my dear. Perfect. Midnight tonight at the oak tree by the lake, and we will run far far away." She laughed and held him close, kissing him passionately as she thought about telling Belle the news. She has managed to save Belle from her arranged marriage and find her own happiness.
"Now, my dear, as much as it pains me, I must get up and get ready to deny the King and Queen of their offer." He pushed the covers off of him and ventured to the other side of the room. It was already the evening, they have been in bed all day. She smiled at the memories. "Please, be kind to them. Belle is special to me, you know." He bowed to her, making her giggle. "You have my word, darling." As he dressed, Gretchen thought of telling Belle herself how the arranged marriage had fallen to ruin. How Belle was free and Gretchen had been saved. Tonight before she left, she would go to Belle and tell her. She would tell her of the good news.~~~
"Dear Belle," she whispered. "Wake up, sweet one. I have news for you." Slowly, and rather hazily, Belle lifted her head off of her pillow, giving a yawn and stretch. "Fairy godmother, you're back so soon." Gretchen chuckled. It has been three months since they last spoke. "Oh, my dear. It has been far too long, but your arranged marriage has been taken care of." Belle perked up like a spring chicken, jumping straight up and her eyes as wide as can be. "Honestly? I won't have to marry Sir Gaston?" Gretchen nodded with glee, admiring how happy she has made this child with her own pleasure gained as well. "Yes, my dear. I handled everything. No marriage will be made." Belle's smile grew well past its limit as she threw her arms around Gretchen's neck, embracing her godmother tightly. "Oh my gosh, you did what my parents couldn't do in years! Thank you, fairy godmother! Thank you!" Gretchen chuckled with joy as she returned the warmth of open arms, proud of what she has accomplished with her new set of skills. "It was my great pleasure, dear Belle. Now, hows about some tea? I am rather parched."
Belle giggled, but released Gretchen from her tight embrace. "Very good idea, godmother. Mother doesn't usually allow it in bed unless I am sick, but I would say this is a rather special occasion." Gretchen couldn't agree more. "Indeed it is." With a flick of her wrist and a wave of her wand, a tea set hovered in the air before them. Belle was amazed while Gretchen looked to it as if it were a normal thing. She poured herself a cup and allowed Belle to help herself.
"Godmother, can I ask you a question?" Belle asked as she took a sip of her tea and Gretchen swallowed the bit that was in her mouth. "Of course, my dear. What ever do you wish to know?" Belle grew hesitant, like she had no right to ask or if it was something so personal that it should not be asked. Either way, she built up her courage and spilled her question into the open. "How is it you got your powers? Were you born with them or were they a gift to you?" Gretchen was still, making eye contact with the floor rather than Belle. It would be the first time she ever spoke of the incident besides the time she barely touched it with the Blue Fairy, but children always asked more questions than adults. They had nothing better to do than to dig deeper into someone else's past.
"Yes, well...that is a very delicate topic, dear Belle," she spoke as she took another sip of tea. "So, you don't like talking about it?" Gretchen was silent. "Was it because you had to do something terrible to get them? I have read in a book once that fairies are not born, but rather created. Even fairy godmothers are given their title based upon behavior and stuff like that. So, you must have had the powers before you got your wings, right?" Damn, she knew too much. Too smart for her own good.
"Belle, it is not important how I got them. Let's leave it at that, please." But Belle was too determined.
"I am just very curious is all. What did you have to do to get them because...I would want to become a fairy godmother someday. Help people like you have helped me. Do you think it is possible if I get my powers the way you got your's?"
"You do not want to get magic the way I got mine."
"How did you get them, godmother? Please, tell me."
"It is not a big to do, Belle."
"What is so bad about it?"
She sighed before giving her the answer. Before telling Belle the truth, just not all of it. "I made a deal with someone. My powers in exchange for something I already possessed. The deal was struck and I used my newly obtained powers to help people in distress. People like me, or at least, what I used to be."
Belle leaned forward, placing one hand on her godmother's shoulder, trying to comfort the fairy who had feelings just as she did. "Who was it? Maybe you can get the treasure you traded back. Show them that you used your powers for good."
Gretchen shook her head, looking to Belle slightly slanted. "No, child. No. I am afraid the person that gave me my powers is as dark as they come, not willing to listen to any reason whatsoever."
"You don't know that," Belle insisted.
"Oh, yes I do, Belle. I know for sure."
"How?"
"Because the one who gave me my powers was the Dark One himself."
Belle nearly choked on her own shock and surprise when they suddenly heard footsteps just outside her door, her father's voice calling to her. "Belle! Belle! We have great news!" She turned to her godmother, who flashed the floating tea tray away.
"You must hide, godmother. You must." Gretchen got up in haste, making herself as small as can be. She wanted to be able to see the look on Belle's face when she is told how Sir Gaston would not be marrying her and she would be free from her vows to the man, allowing herself and him to be together. She fluttered into Belle's wardrobe as the child positioned herself to appear as though she had been resting up until now.
Her father and mother bursted into her room, great smiles of joy plastered upon their faces as they crowded around their darling Belle, pulling her close to them. "Oh, dear Belle! Great news!" her father cheered and her mother applauded with him.
"What is it papa?" Belle questioned as she suspected what it was her parents were about to tell her. How she was free and would be able to marry this special someone that she had in mind.
"It is Sir Gaston, Belle," her mother began. "He has agreed to marry you," her father concluded. Belle and Gretchen's smiles fell into frowns of depression and anger.
"What?" Belle asked. Her mother kissed her head.
"He came to us just moments ago, saying he would happily have your hand in marriage. It has been decided. In two years, you will be married to Sir Gaston, and you shall be Madame Gaston!"
Gretchen fluttered out the window and back to the chambers of her beloved, off to have a word with him.
Fairytale Land of the Present
"That bitch!" Lucinda screamed, sending her teacup slamming into the far wall, shattering into bits and pieces. "You bitch! Evil, horrible, cruel, deserves to die bitch! You broke my daddy's heart!" she screamed at the illustration of Cora. "You evil, cun-"
"Princess?" Maid Mary-Lu spoke from the other side of the chamber doors. She found herself shell shocked in place on her bed, the book wide open to the page where Cora was explaining to her father how she had ripped out her own heart and locked it away. "Are you alright?" Maid Mary-Lu asked as Lucinda suddenly discovered herself and began to clean up her pile of tissues from when she sobbed over the loss of her brother, being sucked into that portal well into the land of the unknown. Sobbing from when her father covered himself in dirt, trying to dig his way back to Bae, leaving his tears behind as he crawled out of the dirt ditch. Crying from when her grandmother Colette had passed and Belle was heartbroken. She shoved the book under her pillows and positioned herself in bed. "Yes," she called. "Yes."
Maid Mary-Lu pushed open the door with her back for her hands were filled with a tray of food. "I heard you only got up to get a new pot of tea," she said as she approached the bed, bringing the Princess her lunch. Soup and a loaf of bread, but what kind of soup, she could not determine yet. Changing had made her a bit sick. Sore throat and stuffy nose. Her senses were not as good as they used to be. "You were told correct. Where are my parents? Still at the meeting?" Maid Mary-Lu shook her head, placing the tray on Lucinda's bed. "No, Princess. They finished that about an hour ago. They said they would speak with you as soon as they could. They asked me to tell you that they know you are frightened as well as confused, but not to be. That they will clear everything up as soon as possible. Right now, they just want to discover the right approach to it." She couldn't be that mad after seeing what they have to go through every time they sit down the have a meeting. Not to say how often they must listen to the cries of the people. She nodded at Maid Mary-Lu's words, bitting her lip. "Could you just tell them I am not mad and that I understand?" The maid bowed her head as she cleaned up the old tray from breakfast. "Not like I have much of a choice," she complained as she made her way towards the exist, leaving Lucinda her lunch and hate for this woman named Cora.
Once Maid Mary-Lu left, Lucinda reached back under her pillows and opened the book to the page she was on. Back to Cora and her father going their separate ways, so she hoped. She dashed a hint of salt into her, what is it? She took a whiff. Ah, french onion soup, and swallowed a spoon full of it. Not too hot, just perfect. She skimmed over the page until she found the line she was up to and read out loud once again.
"Ah, yes. Here we are. This line." She cleared her throat and began. "'I am sorry, Rumple,' Cora whispered as she placed her hand on his cheek, stroking it lightly." Lucinda rolled her eyes and scooped up some more soup. "Please, sorry my ass. Matter of fact, you can kiss my ass evil bitch. I hope your dead." She took in more soup and continued reading.
Fairytale Land of the Past
He strutted down the halls, feeling power rush within him without the need of fairy dust or a crown upon his head. This was great. An entire kingdom and a beautiful woman as his wife all perfectly wrapped up tight with a bow on top just for him to rip open in two years. Everything was going his way.
"You agreed to marry her?" Gretchen called out to him once he entered his guest chambers within the palace. He chuckled at her sudden appearance. "Sorry, darling," he shrugged. "I am afraid I have to." Gretchen's hold on her wand grew tightly, making her knuckles as white as the moon. "You said you weren't going to marry her. That you would convince your parents to let you go. Get out of this arranged marriage. That you have no feelings for the girl."
"Oh, I don't," he spoke freely. "But you see, she can provide me with something that most pretty faces simply can't?" Gretchen looked at him, lost and confused. "Money, and a whole lot of it. Not only that, but an entire kingdom for me to rule and a beautiful woman seated beside me for me to call my own. Plus, I trust, spending enough time with her and with my good looks she'll fall in love with me eventually. Love is a very simple thing after all. All looks, no brains. Any average person can understand that."
"What do you know about love?" Gretchen questioned.
"What do you?" he snapped back. "Last I recall, it has been a long time since you have been with a man."
"They all seem to lie, apparently." Gaston shrugged. "To each his own." She turned away frustrated and too enraged to even look at him in the eyes. He poured himself some liquor and took in the great stinging sensation, feeling no need to show any remorse whatsoever. "So, that's it then? You are just going to marry her? You said you were going to marry me, that we were going to run away together. Were you just going to leave me standing there for hours, waiting for you?" She turned back to him to catch his reaction, to see if her tears would make a difference in his judgement. They didn't. He shrugged. "It would appear to be that way, now wouldn't it darling? To be honest, I had hoped that would have happened. That is what I planned to happen. Would have been much less embarrassing, darling." She snapped. "Don't call me that! Don't you ever call me that! We could have been together, but you choose that...that...that brat over me! She doesn't even love you! Why does everyone always choose children over someone who can make them truly happy? It is always children! Stupid and arrogant children who have everything! Who do nothing, but ruin your life and take away from you all that you may have left! I hate them! I hate her! I hate him! I hate you Todd! I hate you Todd! I hate you!"
With that, she flashed away into the forest, leaning against a tree and letting her tears flow out from her eyes. "I hate you Todd," she sobbed. "I hate you so much. You took him from me. You took my husband. Determined to protect you from ogres. I should have fed you to the ogres."
"You got your powers from the Dark One? From Rumpelstiltskin?" the small voice asked and Gretchen looked up from her sobs at the Blue Fairy who fluttered too close to her for her own liking. "Just go away, and what does it matter? I have always done good with my powers." The Blue Fairy was obviously frightened by what it was Gretchen had said. "You talked about killing your son. Was that what you traded for your magic? For your dark magic?"
"Dark magic? I don't have dark magic. I have light magic," Gretchen argued. The Blue Fairy shook her head. "No, Gretchen. You can only get the same magic as the person who gave it to you. Rumpelstiltskin could not have given you light magic if all he had to give was dark. You traded your son for this magic?"
She finally let it lose. "Yes! Yes! I traded my son, Todd, for the magic Rumpelstiltskin gave me. I gave him up for my powers and it is the best decision I ever made. If I had a chance to go back in time, I would do it all again. You better believe that. He did nothing, but ruin my life. I hear the Dark One skins children and wears them as pelts, I pray to the gods that that is what happened to Todd. I would much rather enjoy wearing that pelt myself."
It was overly disturbing, the words Gretchen had to say. Very disturbing. It sickened the Blue Fairy to her stomach, imagining a little boy being skinned and turned into an object of clothing. But she knew Rumpelstiltskin better than what she would like. She knew what happened to Baelfire. She knew that not even the Dark One would have the ability to harm a hair on that little boy's head. As far as she was concerned, Todd was just fine, if possible, better than just fine. Rumpelstiltskin always made his deals for a reason.
"That dark magic is taking over you, Gretchen. You are in no right mind to continue on being a fairy godmother. You are not worthy of your wings." Gretchen reached behind herself and grabbed her wings fiercely, pulling them off in one tug. "You want your wings? Take your damn wings! Why should I be kind to the world if all it is is cruel to me?" She threw the wings to the floor and began to walk away, still keeping the wand in her possession. "Gretchen, what will you do now? Ruin people's lives as you go?" She turned back around and shook her head. "Oh, no. Just some. The ones who deserve it. I have had my heart broken too many times. It is time for others to feel my pain. I am no fairy godmother anymore. I am not even a fairy. I go by no good names, and I'll be damned if I let that little bitch in that castle get away with what she did to me. I will ruin her much more harshly than she has ruined me."
"Gretchen, wait, this isn't you," the Blue Fairy called, but the woman in green laughed sinisterly and shook her head. "No, Gretchen is dead. But the Enchantress has just been born." And with a flash of green, the Enchantress was gone.
Fairytale Land of the Present
"Yes, bitch! Yes! Go daddy!" she shouts as she jumps up and down on the bed, clapping her hands wildly. "Yes! Yes! YES!" She lands on her back and kicks her legs in a manic fashion as she laughs over the page she has just read. She picks up the book again, forced to reread the lines she has just skimmed to get some more satisfaction out of it.
"And Regina looked into the mirror, watching as Rumpelstiltskin suddenly appeared, telling her to push Cora into the mirror, showing her the action with the widest grin upon his face. With all the force that she contained, Regina thrusted every bit of magic upon her mother, Cora slipping into the mirror, fading away from her daughter and the room in which she stood. The mirror shattered into millions of pieces of glass, blocking the evil Cora's path of redemption."
She did a fist pump to the air with victory, laughing sinisterly, tears streaming out of her eyes. "Oh, you so deserved that," she whispered as she took a bite of her bread and turned to the next page.
She was frozen when she heard a voice, though, not outside the room, but all too close to her. Right next to her. "That is not how she died, though," the voice whispered.
Lucinda slowly shifted her head and looked into the eyes of her father.
Longest one so far, but I hope you enjoyed it and I have a very special gift planned for you guys on Sunday for the premiere of Season Four. Spread the word, check out Trickster, and don't forget to watch and read Sunday. Thanks a million guys.
PS-Lucinda hasn't been cursed yet ;)