Flashback
"Little dearie, is something eating at you" Rumpelstiltskin says his voice full of amusement, as he comes to my side, "Is there something you need to…Get. Off. Your. Chest"
"I wish I could do more" I am glaring at the bottle in my hands. For the last week, I have been trying to learn a new skill; bottling magic. Unfortunately, with my mood, the magic isn't reacting the right way, and twice, I've had several minor explosions, further damaging my white dress. Now, along with the faded bloodstain, there are several burn marks on the sides.
"More what?" he comes up behind me again and guides me through the activity. Instantly, I feel calmer.
"I wish I could…I don't know, protect younger kids" the magic is now falling into the bottles easily and he backs up, allowing me to do it on my own. "I hate to see them picked on in my 'home'. No one else does anything to stop it"
"Ah!" he points a finger in the air before pointing at me again, "You want more power"
"No" I point out, becoming annoyed with his theatrics, "I want to do good. I want to help-"
"Yes, yes!" he cuts me off sharply, "Now how do you think you'll do that?"
"I, I don't know" I stutter.
"You need power"
"How do I get power?"
"It's simple" his voice comes out in a sharp hiss, "You need to take it"
"How?"
His grin is almost scary. "Make them afraid. When the people are afraid of you, you can get them to do anything you want"
I have been given a 'job', here at the Orphanage. At sixteen, it is unlikely that they'll try to put me in a foster home again, so I now have to earn my keep. It's alright, I'm doing the same job as Miss Jenna did when she was my age. I am helping new children adjust from leaving a foster home. I am also a patrol. I don't know why I have this title. All I really do is walk around. My mood has turned very sour as of late. Most of the adults here have neglected most of the new children. The older children have been having a field day taking advantage of the situation. Turning a corner, there is some faint laughing, followed by a cry.
"Stupid baby" two girls about my age have cornered one of the new children, a little boy barely over five. Curled up in a corner, his face is bright red and one of the girls steps back to kick him.
"Hey!" I stomp down the hallway towards them. Both girls stop and turn towards me. Seeing his chance, the little boy makes a dash for it.
"Hey!" one of the girls screams back at me, the other one close behind her.
"You just ruined our game!" the other girl moves to my side, and I can feel my body tense. I am not afraid.
"That little shit stole from my room" the first girl glares me down. She has short, silky black hair, dark skin and hazel eyes. "We were teaching him a lesson"
"You're lying" I don't even flinch.
The other girl with curly brown hair is giggling, her fists clenching and unclenching by her sides. I can see them in slow motion as they both come at me all at once. The first girl lunges at me. The second girl swings a fist. Catching the second girl's fist, I turn around and with a kick in the chest, I send the first girl flying down the hallway. The second girl freezes, brown eyes wide in shock. With my free hand suddenly wrapped around her throat, I pin her to a wall.
"So, you think its funny to kick babies do ya?" I sneer at her. I barely even recognize my own voice. Her hands fly to my wrist and she makes a gagging noise.
I don't even realize that my hand is squeezing tightly around her neck until a pair of hands throw me off her. Three adults, alerted by the first girl's cry have come rushing into the hallway. Two grab my arms and drag me roughly into a small room and toss me in.
"Emma, what the hell is wrong with you?" Miss Jenna is furious with me when she comes into the room. I have been locked in here for the entire day, curled up in a corner
"They were kicking that child" I say, not at all remorseful.
"Yes" Miss Jenna says, "And they said you looked like you were going to kill Angela! And did you know that you sprained Jessica's ankle when you kicked her across the room? This is the second fight this month! You can't keep doing this Emma! My mother almost threw out today! I can't keep pulling strings for you if you're not even willing to listen!"
I say nothing. Still in my corner, I turn away from her.
Kneeling next to me, Miss Jenna is now eye level with me. "Who are you Emma?"
"Someone's got to stand up for those children" I mutter, "And every fucking adult here has made it clear that unless they're getting paid, they don't give a shit"
"I give a shit!" this surprises me. Miss Jenna never curses. "What happened to the sweet Emma I know. The one who reads stories? I thought you wanted to be good"
"I have been protecting the kids!" I snarl, "Isn't that good?"
"Not in this way!" Miss Jenna says incredulously, "Using force doesn't work! Remember, those children you beat up are in the same boat as you are! Take that into consideration next time you want to kick someone!"
"Using force always works" I say, lip curling in a sneer, "Using fear works. Good doesn't win without it"
"Who told you that!" Miss Jenna suddenly jumps to her feet. I turn away from her. Eyes narrowing, Miss Jenna is back at my side. "Its those dreams again aren't they?"
When I say nothing, she continues on. "Emma, you are too old to be listening to an imaginary friend! I know you love stories, but don't let them control you!" When I don't look at her, she grasps the sides of my face and turns my head towards her. Tearful, brown eyes staring straight in my eyes, she continues on through clenched teeth, "Good. Always. Wins! Good wins with the right way!"
I search her face, trying to find a lie. When none comes up, I allow myself to relax.
"Why do you care so much?" I ask her. I have been meaning to ask for years. "You're the only one. You've always been there for me. You've always been my friend"
Grinning, Miss Jenna wipes away her tears, her eyes now sparkling. "Well, everyone needs a fairy godmother, don't they?"
"Thought I was too old for imaginary friends" I laugh.
"Yes, but I'm not imaginary" Miss Jenna laughs with me. Her voice drops into a whisper, growing serious again. "Promise me; no more fighting"
The room is very tense for a minute. Nodding, I see her face smile in relief as I allow her to pull me into a fierce hug.
"Keep your eyes peeled for the next two weeks" Miss Jenna whispers into my ear, "You're finally old enough to learn where you come from. I shall bring you a box with some old clippings of you in it"
"Tell me now!"
"No" she says softly, "Just wait. You'll find your answers. And I will help you. Just wait"
"You're awfully quiet today, little dearie" Rumpelstiltskin is not smiling when he approaches me. I have been organizing the potion jars for awhile now. "Was there another fight?"
"Yes" I say flatly.
"Oooh, not a scratch on you this time!" he bursts out in one of his giggles, "Did you win?"
"When don't I win?" I say snidely.
"Ah, so true. So, so true" he is waving his arms around again, "And the poor child was saved again. You are becoming quite the hero"
"Am I?" I turn around towards him, "Miss Jenna doesn't seem to think so. She says all the children I beat up are all alone like me"
"Well, what does she expect you to do?" he lets out an insane giggle, "Oh, I know! Next time, trying talking to them while they are beating a defenseless child. Tell me how that works out"
I grab a potion bottle off the counter. I had helped to create it. After another year of practicing turning straw into gold, he let me help with making magic. The riddles became harder, so hard that once I finally mastered them, I had my normal school work down to a science. I was nearly two full years ahead of the kids my age when it came to academics.
"What is this for?" I shove the bottle at him. He is now silent and still. "Why did you want me to create this, huh? You never told me that! You just said I could create powerful magic!"
"And that you can" he agrees with me.
"But what for! Why am I here"
"Because you asked" he answers, "You asked for a friend. And here I am"
"No" I glare at him, "Everything comes at a price! You said that yourself! What is the real reason you brought me here? Is it to help you create magic to trick people!"
"I have never tricked anyone!" he remains calm the entire time, maddeningly so, "I present deals, and it is not my problem if they don't understand, or don't take the time to"
"Deals? What kind of deals do you make? Do you visit other people too?"
"None of your concern" he says, somehow becoming even more serious "What's my business is my own"
"And what would prompt you to make a deal with a child anyways? What are you getting out of this?"
"Me?" he puts a hand on his chest with a mock expression of surprise, "I have taught you to spin straw into gold! I found you had a knack for reading people and now, no one can lie to you. I have given you lessons that have made you far above the others in both strength and intelligence" he points back at me, nearly snarling, "Rather, little dearie, what is it that you are getting out of this?"
"I'm always here in this princess dress! I am always here! What for? What is the point? Why are you teaching me this stuff?"
"Sounds like someone's becoming ungrateful with my gifts" Rumpelstiltskin's voice has now become mocking, "You really ought to be more careful"
"I'm done" I say. I hold my chin up. "I am too old for an imaginary friend. I am too old to be having this dream. And, I'm too old to be listening to a crazy old goblin"
I expected him to be angry, but instead, he is smiling like a leprechaun who just found a pot of gold. Feeling nervous, I walk past him, kicking off the stupid heels and sending the tiara flying. Hair in my face, I don't look back.
Car keys twirling in her hand, Jenna May looked like any young woman heading home from a long day of work. With light brown hair and soft features, she always seemed to have that smile that made even the coldest hearts melt. She had been searching for weeks for the hidden information regarding the little princess, and had deposited the box on her bed for her to find. Tomorrow, she would explain everything. Something rustled behind her, startling her. Pulling her jacket closer to her body, Jenna nearly burst into a sprint, desperate to get to her car.
Lip curling in a disgusted sneer, he watched her walk. For two weeks, he had been watching her, waiting for a chance to have her separated from the others. He knew what she really was. And he despised her and her kind.
'Fairies' he thought with a snort, 'Godmothers trying to help people not face reality. Nothing but meddlesome, disgusting creatures'
Too many times they have interfered with his plans. He could take no chances with his precious tool this time. Not that he particularly needed an excuse to remove a fairy dumb enough to step away from the rest.
Turning a corner to head towards her car, Jenna was stopped by a loud click behind her. There is sharp tap against the sidewalk, and before she can even register what's happening, she felt the cold metal pressed to back of head.
"Turn around" a deep, Scottish accent orders her.
She swallows, her mouth suddenly dry. Turning around, heart in her throat, she stares at the middle aged man who is now smirking at her. He has on a black suit and tie and appears to be leaning on a heavy looking cane. There is a gun that is placed in the center of her forehead. His sharp features are distinctive, even in this world.
"So, it really is you, isn't it?" she says accusingly. He doesn't even grace her with a response before pulling the trigger.
Rumpelstiltskin, or Mr. Gold as he was known in this world, watched the young woman crumple to his feet, a big gaping hole in her face. He smiled to himself as he wiped her blood off of his face. The little princesses' only life line to this world had been shattered, and now she would return to him. All he had to do was wait.
Numb. That is the only thing that registers to me. Last night, I had found a box on my bed. In it was a newspaper. It was the newspaper that said I was found on the road by a seven year old boy, stating is was issued in Maine. From there, I was taken to a nearby hospital. If I were to ever search for relatives, obviously Maine would be my first start. There are a couple of other newspapers about my early childhood before I came to this place. They all point to Maine, again. One has a picture of a strange looking town, but there is no name on it. The name on the newspaper reads, 'The Daily Mirror'.
Last night I had been giddy with this new revelation. Today, I feel nothing. When I arrived for my patrol shift at 7:15am, I was informed that Miss Jenna had been murdered. My only friend, gone forever. I feel nothing. I cannot cry. There is nothing left in me to cry. The Orphanage manager, has told me I need to leave. A police officer has offered to take me in, despite knowing my records. Sitting in the waiting room next to my suitcase, I clutch my baby blanket in one hand, and the book from Miss Jenna. This is all I have left.
I sit in the lobby, and soon, a large police officer swaggers in. Despite this, he has a very kind face. The receptionist in the lobby hands him a file and points. Looking over at me, he boldly approaches. I don't care. He sits down next to me without offering.
"You must be Emma" he says, "I'm very sorry, I heard that the lady who was killed here was your friend." I now look up at him, comforted in the fact that there was a kind voice next to me again.
"I promise, I am not here to hurt you" he says with a soft smile-
-as a cold feeling starts at my toes and creeps up all the way up my body as I catch the lie in his face.