Chapter 6

Disclaimer: I don't own Once Upon a Time or the Tairen Soul miniseries.

Key

XXXXXXXXXXXX are POV changes

OOOOOOOOOOO are time changes

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OOOOOOOOOOO are POV changes and time changes

I'm still looking for a beta. PM me if you are interested. Again, I will accept a beta who has not read Tairen Soul or who has read Tairen Soul.

Authors Note: In case you didn't notice portals are going to work differently than they apparently do in canon. There's no way Emma could've thought of the Fading Lands and surrounding kingdoms if she had never been to or heard of that world at all before.

I'm trying to write this for an audience who has not read Tairen Soul, but I really don't know if I'm succeeding. Please as for clarifications or explanations if you need them.

So… a little from last chapter since I left you with a cliffhanger.

Ellysetta paused and looked at both Emma and Charming, who had run out of tears for the moment. "What did Lord Hawksheart mean by there haven't been any world travelers for a long time. Have there been people from your world here before?"

Charming shrugged. "I have no idea."

Emma looked at Ellysetta nervously. "Are there portals in this world?"

Ellysetta looked at Emma sadly. "I've never heard of such a thing, Emma. That's why I was so interested in your portal when we met. That's part of the reason King Dorian was so concerned as well."

Emma's face fell. Charming's did as well. For a moment, he had thought maybe… Why did it have to be this way? "Will we always lose each other, too? Is that our fate?" Snow had asked him in the fire room. At the time he told her no. But now… Had she been right?

Emma suddenly turned on Charming. "Why did you have to convince me we'd find them here? I was so sure I'd see Henry again! Why did I listen? Nothing ever goes right for me!"

Charming's heart broke more than it already was at that comment. Did she really believe that? Had her life really been that horrible?

In the background, Rain was talking. "Ellysetta, we have to get you some distance from these people. There's no way to help them now, and there causing you too much pain." With that, he led her through the forest away from their group. Bel, Galen, and Gil followed, leaving Tajik and Rijonn with Charming and Emma. Charming had no idea what that was about, or how he and Emma could causing Ellysetta, someone who had only been trying to help, pain. But Emma was his first priority

"Emma," he thought about putting his arm on her shoulder, but thought better of it. Emma, unfortunately, wasn't very physically affectionate. And since she was angry at him now… "That's not true. You woke Henry from the sleeping curse. You came back to Storybrooke with…Mary Margaret. You helped Henry find his way back from evil in Neverland. You even made Neal remember you." Charming still didn't like to think of Emma with a boyfriend, but he understood Neal was important to her.

Emma shrugged, like none of that counted. "Yeah, but what difference does that make if we can never see them again?"

Charming thought for a minute. He wasn't sure he had an answer for that. The pain of knowing he never see Henry smile at him again or ask him to practice sword fighting again was incredibly painful. The pain of knowing he'd never see Snow's beautiful face again, or kiss her wonderful lips, or hold her hand as they supported each other through everything was so painful he could barely breathe.

Barely Breathe he said to himself. Because Snow was still alive. They had made it out of Neverland. And because Emma, his daughter was still with him. "Because I think you can agree that it was better for them to get out of Neverland than for them to stay there with that shadow…thing. Or even worse, Henry could have stayed as a Lost Boy believing no one loved him. And we're together. That's important to me, Emma, because you're important to me."

Emma sighed, not disagreeing with him, but not willing to agree, either.

Then Charming looked at Tajik strangely. "How come we hurt Ellysetta? We didn't do anything to her! Why would we want to hurt someone that's been helping us?"

Tajik sighed and shook his head. "It's not your fault. Fey women are empathic. Your…unhappiness about not being able to find your family…she feels it. Ellysetta is actually better at shielding emotional pain than most Fey women are; she can even stand near dahl'reisen. But still…that much pain, especially from two people…when there isn't anything she could do to fix it right now…Rain thought it was best to take her away so she wouldn't feel it so much."

Charming had no idea what a dahl'reisen was, but he did understand he was causing Ellysetta pain. All the pain he felt because Henry and Snow were ripped from his life, a pain that made it hard to breath…she felt that? And whatever Emma felt for losing Henry and the rest of their family as well? No wonder Rain had taken her away from their vicinity. He put his face in his hands. Now he had hurt someone else; an innocent person who tried everything to help him and Emma. "Is there anything I can do to help her?" he asked Tajik.

He shook his head. "For now, it's better if she just stays with Rain. Tomorrow, she can take away some of your pain by weaving peace on you, if you permit it." Charming nodded. He really wanted to help Ellysetta; it wasn't her pain and she shouldn't have to live with it. But what would the price be for "weaving peace?" Taking away some of his love? All magic had a price, after all. If that was the price, there was no way he would pay it.

Tajik looked at Emma, Charming, and Rijonn. "Look I know this is going to be hard, but there's nothing we can do right now. Try to get some rest. With that, he laid down. Rijonn did as well. Emma sighed and looked at the ground as if it might swallow her up. Emma obviously really hated sleeping on the ground; she wasn't really a "woods person", much less sleeping in the woods. He wished he could make it better for her. Rijonn offered to "weave Earth" to create a bed for Emma, but she said no. Charming had a feeling she was too proud to accept help from the man, especially since she hadn't got to know him very well.

Sleeping on the ground was bittersweet for Charming. It was uncomfortable in some ways; he was used a bed now. Still, it reminded him of a time when he and Snow were sleeping in tents in the Enchanted Forest to "take back the kingdom." The hard Earth under his back almost made him think she would cuddle up to him any minute, and they would discuss their plans for the next day before falling asleep in each other's arms. But that wouldn't happen. It would never happen again. Snow! He thought, aching for her like a physical pain, and cried himself to sleep.

OOOOOOOOOOOO

The next morning everyone got up and ate the food provided. Elfish food tasted different than anything Charming had ever tasted. Celierian food had been a cross between food he ate in the Enchanted Forest and food available on Earth. Food in the Fading Lands had been quite similar to some of the food in the Enchanted Forest. The food they ate while they were traveling consisted of berries and dried goods; similar to food he ate hiking through the woods in Storybrooke. But elfish food tasted different than anything.It was sweet and creamy and magical all at the same time. He was assured he would not obtain magic just for eating it.

There was a big part of Charming that wondered whether eating was worth it. He would never see Snow or Henry again. They would have loved this place. Snow loved the forest, having spent much of her life living there at one time. And Henry loved anything magical. But he remembered what he had told Emma yesterday. Their family had left Neverland, and they were okay. And Emma was with him. He'd just have to keep reminding himself that.

Emma seemed to have more trouble than he was, though. It made sense. While a big part of Charming felt like he was coming home, Emma was out of her element here. She stared at the strange food without eating anything. "Emma, you should try to eat something. These yellow things are pretty good." He held up a piece of food similar to a pineapple, but tasted more like a pastry.

Emma picked one up and tried it, and then put it back on her plate. "Henry would think it was delicious," she grumbled.

Charming tasted the yellow thing again and agreed with her. He sighed.

Ellysetta approached them carefully. "Look I know this is horrible, and I'm sure you don't want to talk about this, but I think you should come back to the Fading Lands with us. You don't have anywhere else to go, and I think it would help for you to be around friends. Plus, you still need training with your magic, Emma."

Emma shrugged, like it didn't matter to her one way or another.

Charming looked at Ellysetta carefully, remembering what Tajik had told him the night before. "We appreciate the offer, but are you going to be okay with us around? I was told your feeling our pain, too."

Ellysetta sighed and nodded. "I do feel your pain and it's terrible, yes. That's why Rain took me away last night. But I still consider both of you friends, and it would hurt more knowing you're in our world with no place to go."

Charming nodded. He knew Emma, in particular would rather have a place with a bed to go to.

"I did want to ask you if it was okay to weave peace on you. It would help with the pain, and it's a good chance for Emma to watch me do some magic. She may be able to pick up some things that way. But I won't do it without your permission. Weaving magic like that without permission is against Fey law."

Charming thought for a minute. Ellysetta was right; it would be good for Emma to watch Ellysetta use magic. And he hated to cause Ellysetta more harm; Tajik had said this would help her pain as well. But…what would the price be?

Memories of Snow flooded him.

Seeing her for the first time, shocked to find out the "cowardly thief", had been a girl.

His excitement at having "bested" the thief by tying her in a net.

His terror when he realized the soldiers had every intention of cutting out her heart.

Amazement at the girl who had thrown her in a river came back to save him and his mother's ring, from the trolls.

Realizing he couldn't stop thinking of Snow or comparing her to Abigail, and there was no way he would marry Abigail

Stopping Snow from turning her heart black, no matter what the cost was.

The physical pain in his heart when he realized Regina had done something to Snow, but he didn't know what because he was stuck in Regina's dungeon.

The overwhelming joy at seeing Snow open her eyes after he was sure she was dead.

Putting his mother's ring on her finger, where he knew it had belonged, all along.

Kissing her, so many different ways, so many different reasons, just kissing her.

Marrying her, twice, promising to love Snow for all eternity was never a problem.

The complete utter joy at finding out Snow was pregnant with Emma.

Realizing Mary Margaret was his Snow and he was her Prince Charming.

Understanding Snow and Emma could really come home and he could see Snow if he went under a sleeping curse.

The look on Snow's face when she woke him.

Laughing after having a huge misunderstanding with Anton that made him want to kill Charming. Snow was right; adventures together were so much fun.

Comforting her after Snow was afraid her heart would turn black after she made a mistake in killing Cora.

Would all those memories, all memories of loving Snow disappear if he let Ellysetta "weave peace" on him?

And not just Snow. There was Henry, too. Memories of Henry flooded him.

"Grandpa?" Henry had asked him right after the Curse broke. A wave of love to the boy came over him as he realized he was the boy's Grandpa.

After losing his wife and daughter into the vortex, Henry appeared, saving him from Regina trying to choke him. Then he realized even though Emma and Snow were gone, Henry still needed him. "He can stay with me," he announced.

Rescuing Henry from Regina's vault. Henry wanted so much to help get them back; to be a hero.

Understanding Henry wanted to know more about being a knight, and it was something he could teach.

Laughing as they played with wooden swords.

Teaching Henry how to care for a horse.

The look on Henry's face when he realized their family was reunited.

How excited Henry was to get to know his father.

Proving to them that Pinocchio could be redeemed because he had tried to warn them about something.

Convincing Henry he belonged with his family all of his family instead of the Lost Boys.

Would he lose all of those memories of Henry? Reasons he loved the boy? He wasn't willing to do that.

Charming looked back at Ellysetta warily. "I don't know…I know it would help you, and Emma, in a way. But I don't know what the price is for doing this. From my experience, the only way to cure a broken heart is to remove love and memories of love. I'll take my broken heart, thanks."

He got up and walked away.

Ellysetta followed him. "Emma's magic may be almost identical to a shei'dalin, but the magic in the rest of your world is obviously different. I can weave some peace without taking away your memories. If I gave you complete peace, your right, I would take your memories away. But I would never do that. Taking away memories is also against Fey law. What I am offering to do is give you and Emma enough peace to make your pain bearable."

And hers, Charming added to himself, knowing she was feeling their pain as well. "Okay. You can do it for me, anyway. You'll have to ask Emma herself."

With that, Charming and Ellysetta walked back to the group. "You can watch this, Emma. See if you can see my weaves." With that, Ellysetta put her hands on Charming's and bristled. Rain came over immediately and placed his arms on her shoulders from behind. Suddenly Charming felt better. Not as good as he would feel if Snow and Henry were with him, but better than he had before. "Thanks," he told her.

"Did you see the magic I used?" Ellysetta asked Emma.

Emma shrugged. "I'm still not very good at seeing "weaves" as you call them, in magic. I didn't really see much. But I think I understand… that was Spirit you were using for healing, right?"

Ellysetta nodded. "That's right. You understand what elements are used to weave different magic, Emma. That's important. And I noticed you said you didn't see much, not you saw nothing. You did see a little. Just keep practicing Emma, and keep watching." Emma nodded. "Now do you want me to weave some peace on you as well?"

Emma shrugged again. "It doesn't matter." So Ellysetta took her hands and did the same with Emma.

Emma seemed better than before, but still…

As the group set out for the Fading Lands, Charming looked at Emma. "I'm really glad you're here with me, Emma. And that we have friends to depend on." He smiled at them, particularly Ellysetta and Tajik. Emma finally gave a small smile back.

"I'm glad you're with me, too, David. And you too, Ellysetta."

They all headed out of the woods toward the Fading Lands.

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Emma was trying not to get to depressed. Ellysetta's "weaving peace" had helped, and David was right. They had each other. And their new friends. How much worse would this situation be if she was all alone? The same as it's always been for her, she supposed. Alone. But since last year when Henry had knocked on her door, she hadn't been alone.

Memories of Henry overwhelmed Emma.

"Are you Emma Swan?" he asked as she answered the door. My name is Henry. I'm your son."

"I'm calling it Operation Cobra. It's our mission. To break the Curse."

"I found your father! He's at hospital in a coma!"

"Henry?" She called after making sure Ashley could keep her baby. " About me being the only one who can leave… See you tomorrow!" Henry's smile went from ear to ear.

Pulling Henry out of the mine. He was safe!

Henry showed her his campaign poster for the Sheriff election. "I replaced the fireman's head with yours. Because you're a hero!"

Something was stuck under her car. What was it? It was Henry's fairytale book!... "There's something I wanted to give you." She grinned at him as he saw his book…."Our luck is changing. Operation Cobra is back on."

Henry showed her how to prove Mary Margaret didn't kill Kathryn.

The party after Mary Margaret was released. "The whole class got you a present. And I got you a bell!" Henry told Mary Margaret excitedly.

Henry was dead? No. It couldn't be. "I love you, Henry", she whispered as she kissed the top of his head. To her amazement he opened his eyes and took a breath. "I love you, too", he told her.

"Don't let them kill her," Henry begged her after the Curse broke, and a mob was headed for Regina's. "She's still my Mom."

She finally climbed out of the well into Storybrooke. "Mom!" Henry exclaimed immediately, running to her. They hugged for all it was worth.

Taking Henry with her and Gold to find his son. He was so excited about going on a plane and an adventure.

Henry was so happy that he had his father. "I drove a ship! My Dad taught me how!

Henry showing them Pinocchio could still be redeemed.

Convincing her she had to help save Regina from the failsafe.

And finally, convincing Henry he belonged with his family all of his family and not the Lost Boys.

Of course, all most as soon as Henry entered her life, Mary Margaret had been there too.

When they were looking for Henry that first day. "You might want to check his castle", she suggested. Henry had been there, of course.

When she was in jail, Mary Margaret bailed her out.

When she didn't think she should stay in Storybrooke. "I think the reasons you think you should leave are the very reasons you need to stay. Who will protect him if you don't?" Mary Margaret advised.

"You want me to read to a coma patient?" she asked, her face showing how ridiculous she thought it was.

Mary Margaret's face the next morning when she told them "John Doe" had grabbed her hand while she was reading him the story.

Mary Margaret providing her with more than a place to stay. She provided her with a home.

Mary Margaret comforting her after Graham died.

Mary Margaret supporting her campaign to be sheriff.

Mary Margaret helping her with Ava and Nickolas by providing them with a place to stay while she looked for their father.

Mary Margaret confiding in her that she was having trouble getting over David.

Mary Margaret, heartbroken that David had lied to Kathryn, and things would never work out between them. But she didn't want to be alone. She wanted Emma.

Emma begging Mary Margaret not to leave her. Instead, to stay in Storybrooke and believe Emma would prove her innocence.

The party at their apartment after Mary Margaret had been released from jail, showing the town believed in her again.

When she realized everything Henry had told her about the Curse was true, and the book showed her parents – Mary Margaret and David, saying goodbye to baby Emma.

Mary Margaret, jumping through the portal to be with the daughter she had just rediscovered.

Mary Margaret, taking on an Ogre that wanted to attack Emma.

Seeing the nursery and all the plans her mother had for Emma before she realized Emma would have to go through the wardrobe.

Mary Margaret telling her they would be able to get back to Storybrooke.

Helping her pack after they realized she would have to leave Storybrooke with Gold.

Comforting her when she realized Neal was actually Gold's son, and advising her not to keep him a secret from Henry.

Helping her find out who abducted Regina and stole the beans.

Convincing her that saving Regina was the right decision.

Helping her save Henry in Neverland. Convincing him that he belonged with his family; all of his family instead of the Lost Boys.

Giving Emma advice on how to make True Love's Kiss work.. "Don't try to kiss him. It'll just make him angrier. Let him kiss you." It had worked.

And right before the portal closed. Emma realized she couldn't go through; she had to deal with the shadow and heal David. But she needed someone to watch Henry in her place. So Mary Margaret went through.

Of course, some of those memories made Emma think of Neal. As she walked she thought of the man who she once believed was a deadbeat who didn't deserve to be a Dad, but was actually the only man she ever loved, and the perfect father for Henry.

When she met him she just needed a car. The rules never helped her at all, why should she follow them? It didn't bother her at all that she was stealing it at the time. Then she realized someone was already in the car. Would he call the cops? Of course he would! That's the way Emma Swan's world worked. But he didn't. And when the cops pulled them over, he made an excuse for her.

Then she realized he stole the car as well. Comforting. Were the cops looking for this guy, too? But they talked. He was on his own, too. No family, and no one to take care of him. So he took care of himself. Just like Emma did. They understood each other.

Neal taught her some more tricks on how to steal without getting caught.

They formed a partnership. One of them would provide distraction while the other picked up what they needed.

Neal promised he'd be there for her when no one else had. "I'll take care of you," he had said. And Emma made the same promise to him.

But even though they belonged together, they still didn't belong anywhere. They had the yellow bug. That was it. But one day, Neal suggested they change that. "How about we give up the Bonnie and Clyde act and settled down? You pick the place."

They decided on Tallahassee. They could live in a house and hang their dream catcher. Maybe it really would keep all of their nightmares away. Could Emma Swan finally have a place to belong?

Then he found out he was wanted for stealing some expensive watches. "I'll have to go to Canada. Tallahassee is out… I don't want you with me if I get caught." He wanted to keep her save when no one else had before.

But she still wanted Tallahassee with Neal. "What if I steal the watches? She asked him. "No one is looking for me. Then we can get everything we need to start over."

"I love you," she told him. "I love you too," he told her.

But he never came back. And she wound up in jail instead of him. That hurt. And yet…subconsciously, maybe she had never really let go. She still wore his key chain. She still drove the car they had used as a home for a long time.

And when she saw him with Henry… Telling him how he had to try New York Pizza, teaching him to drive a ship, playing with the wooden swords… she knew Neal was the perfect Dad.

And when Neal realized Tamara had betrayed him… he realized he had never really stopped loving Emma. "I love you" he told her again as he struggled to stay out of the portal. "I love you too", she told him… realizing she had never really stopped loving him, either. But he put Henry first, as any good father should, and told her to let go, so Henry would at least have Emma. She loved him more for that.

Then she realized Neal had landed in Neverland as well. But he wasn't on their side. He was the leader of the Lost Boys. Neverland's magic had turned the man she loved, and Henry's father into a killer more ruthless than his father. But Emma couldn't hurt Neal. No matter that he wanted to kill her and their family, she couldn't hurt him.

Then she formed a partnership with him again. A partnership that made him start to fall in love with her again. Enough so he would kiss her and True Love's Kiss would make him Neal again.

She wasn't going to see them ever again. Emma started crying again. David had been right before, though. It could have been worse. What if they had been stuck in Neverland? Mary Margaret was there to watch Henry in her place. Neal was there, and he was a great Dad. Even Regina and Gold cared about Henry. But still… How were they going to deal with this? She sighed and continued heading over the mountains toward the Fading Lands. At least they had friends to stay with.

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As Charming climbed the mountains as well, he kept an eye on Emma. Was she okay? No of course not. Henry was ripped from her life. She would never be okay again. Not that he would be okay himself, without Snow or Henry. Somehow, they would have to get through this; with each other, and with their new friends.

Tajik approached Charming. "How are you holding up?" he asked, gently. Charming grumbled, but he still smiled a little. It was nice to have a friend like Tajik. And now, they had even more in common.

"You said you lost a love once. How did you handle it?" Charming asked, interested.

Tajik snorted. "By hating Hawksheart with everything I had in me. I still see it as his fault, you know." Blame could be tempting. Charming understood that. Even now, a part of him wanted to find someone to blame for his situation. But who would he blame? Emma, for using the portal to bring him to this world? Neal, for using the other portal to get Henry out of the battle? The Lost Boys, who were obviously blind to obeying "shadow?" No, as tempting as it was to have someone to be angry at, there was no one. He could never blame his daughter for trying to help him. And as much as he didn't like to think of Neal, because then he would have to deal with the fact that Emma now had a boyfriend, he had done the right thing in Neverland, trying to protect Henry from the battle. And the Lost Boys had no will of their own.

"I also threw myself into training. The Warrior's Academy demands extreme discipline upon every Fey who trains in it. There is little time for thinking of other things on the field."

Charming nodded, interested. That was a tactic that might work. Emma could continue to practice her magic. Of course he didn't have magic but… "You use swords, right?" He pointed to the weapon Tajik was carrying. Tajik nodded. "Can you train in the field…with just a sword, or do you have to use magic, too?"

Tajik glanced down at the sword Charming was still carrying, understanding. "Both. We're encouraged to practice swords with and without magic. Our enemies often use something called sel'dor in battle. I think Ellysetta mentioned it in reference to the would – be kidnapper yesterday. It prevents us from doing magic. So we have to practice using swords as if we can't use magic, as well. Are you interested in using the field?"

Charming nodded. "Would it be possible? I know I'm not a Fey, but back in the Enchanted Forest, I was pretty good with a sword. At least it would give me something else to think about, like you said."

Tajik shrugged. "Rain doesn't usually open the Warrior's Academy to people that aren't at least partially Fey." As Charming's face fell, he added, "But he's already allowing you to stay in the Fading Lands, which is more than he allows most mortals. And Emma is your daughter, correct?" Charming nodded. No one here seemed to find that odd, despite how close in age they were. He wondered why that was. "She is to be honored for helping to protect the Feyreisa with her truthspeaking. Since you're her family, he may extend the honor to you, as well."

Charming nodded. Maybe he could look into it, after all.

"I also spent time with my family," Tajik continued, discussing how he had dealt with the loss of his love, the elf maiden. "Of course that was before my sister was taken away from me," he added, bitterly. "But now I have Elfeya again. And my niece, too." He glanced ahead at Ellysetta.

Charming nodded. At least he still had Emma with him. Hopefully they could help each other. Still…how could this really be it? After everything he and Snow had already gone through, there was no way to see each other again? It didn't make sense. "I just don't get it," he said to Tajik. "Snow and I have been through everything together. We always find each other! I restored her memory when she drank a forgetting potion. I found her in the infinite forest, dead, or so I believed, after eating a poisoned

apple, and she still came back to me. Why can't we be together now?" Charming said those words quite loudly, as he was becoming very upset. So loudly, in fact, that Ellysetta and Rain, who were walking a good twenty feet ahead, heard him.

Ellysetta, with a very strange look on her face, ran back to where Charming was. Rain followed her. "David," she said nervously, "Did you just say your wife ate a poisoned apple, and you believed she was dead?" David nodded, confused. Why did that surprise her so much? Granted it was kind of unusual, but this world had magic, right?

Ellysetta's eyes grew wide. "David, I recognize that story! From this world. Tell me the whole story. About the apple."

Charming nodded, slowly. "I'm afraid I don't know all the details, but I'll tell you what I know. Snow and I were separated, again" he added under his breath. "Regina had taken me to her palace and locked me in her dungeon. Snow had thought I was somewhere else, so she couldn't rescue me there. Regina invited her to 'talk' without any weapons, about freeing me. She went, much to everyone else's protest. I couldn't stop her, because I was locked up. She walked right into Regina's trap. Regina had an apple that was enchanted with what we call a sleeping curse. She said it would be worse than death for Snow, because her body would become her tomb, and she would be conscious only in a dark world of nothingness." Thinking of Regina's plans for Snow at that time still made his blood boil in anger. He pulled out his sword and wacked off a nearby bush. Using his sword made him feel a little better. Then he put it back in the sheath.

"Anyway, so she ate the apple and fell under the sleeping curse. Meanwhile, I was still in Regina's dungeon and was desperate to get out. I knew something had happened to Snow. I was able to get out with the help of a few well timed moves, and some help from a guard kept there against his will. Then I was stuck in the infinite forest. I tried to find Snow on my own, but my dear friend Rumplestiltskin," Charming said that sarcastically as he spat on the ground. He still couldn't get over what Emma had told him. That the man had created the Curse and sacrificed their family for his. "convinced me I needed a tracking device to find Snow. After doing him another favor, he gave it to me, and I found her, in the forest. She was lying in a coffin. I was told I was too late by her friends, but I wanted to say goodbye. So I kissed her, and she woke up. That's not the end of our story, obviously, but it's about it for the apple. Except all the nightmares she had after she woke up from the sleeping curse. The burning room." He gestured to his own fading burns from that room.

Emma shook her head. "The one I know is a little different, but similar enough. A mage believed a Celierian young woman was in the way of his power. Kind of like me, I guess. Maybe that's why I know it so well. So he wove Earth to create a very special apple. The apple also had spirit woven in it, so when the young woman ate it, she would appear dead, but would actually sleep forever. But the Celierian woman had a love, a noble that would do anything to bring her back. So, understanding that the woman was enchanted by eld magic, a Fey Shei'dalin provided a cure for the woman. She wove Earth to create another apple, with spirit also in it. This spirit, was healing power, to wake up the young woman. But since she was in enchanted sleep, she couldn't eat the apple herself. So the Shei'dalin gave the apple to the noble, the woman's love. He ate the apple and kissed her. So she woke up." Ellysetta shrugged.

Charming nodded, trying to figure out what this meant. That story was extremely similar to the story of Snow and him. So…

Emma, meanwhile had noticed the group wasn't moving and had stopped to understand what was going on. She heard most of Ellysetta's story. "So what?" she said nonchalantly. "The story of Snow White is told everywhere. I hate to break it to you, but she's pretty popular," Emma said to Charming.

Charming chuckled and grinned. "I know, and I have no problem with that at all. But Emma, did you ever wonder where those stories come from? Back on Earth, I mean. Some of them are older than we are!"

Emma shrugged. "No, not really. I mean, their just stories." Charming's face fell. After everything she had been through last year, she really believed they were "just stories"? That was their lives Emma was talking about! Emma, obviously realizing what she had said, corrected herself. "Of course, they're more than just stories, but I've always thought they were just stories. And after realizing they aren't, I guess I've had too much on my mind to think about where they come from."

"Well, personally, I've always thought the popular versions of our stories were a part of Regina's Curse. I mean think about it. What better reason for no one to listen to Henry and to August when they tried to tell us who we were. Who wants to be a cartoon character?" Emma nodded, understanding what he was saying. "But if the same stories are told here…. There is no Curse in this world, so there has to be a different reason for it."

"But the story Ellysetta told… It wasn't really the same. The mage wanted power, not vengeance, like Regina did. And you didn't need any help to make the…kiss work."

Charming nodded, thinking. "But they had to make our story work according to the rules in this world, Emma. Here, we don't have evil magical queens. Mages have dark magic, correct?" he asked Ellysetta and Rain. They both nodded vigorously. "And Mages only care about power, I'm assuming?" More nods.

Ellysetta took over. "And only Shei'dalin's have healing power in this world, Emma. In order for the story to make sense to us, there had to be a Shei'dalin who provided a cure for the apple."

Emma nodded, beginning to understand. "So the 1930's Disney movie shows Snow White all timid and easily fooled because that's the way they wanted women to be in the 1930's?"

Charming nodded. That made sense, too. It was certainly an explanation for turning his spitefire and wise wife into a timid, foolish person. "But that still doesn't explain why this world would have our story of the apple, in the first place." He sat down on a nearby rock, still thinking. There was something they were missing.

Ellysetta's eyes lit up. "Lord Hawksheart said there haven't been world travelers to this land in a long time. That means there have been some before. From your world, David. That's why we have a version of your story here. Your people were once here! We've just forgotten about it. We have to look up the Hall of Scrolls in Dharsa. Maybe they'll be information on how to open another portal."

Charming's eyes went wide. Did they really have a way home after all? Could he see Snow and Henry again? He hugged Ellysetta and then Emma, too, unable to stop himself. She didn't seem to mind.

Rain however, shook his head. "Ellysetta, Shei'tani… I'm not so sure. You may have heard his story, but I certainly haven't. It sounds like a Celierian story. How can we be sure their information is in the Hall of Scrolls?"

Ellysetta shrugged. "I've studied the Hall of Scrolls more than you, Shei'tan. When I was looking for information to save the Tairen, remember." Rain nodded. "Maybe I remember it because of that. Although, you are right, the young woman was supposed to be Celierian, not Fey. But it doesn't change the fact that it involves magic, and it's way too similar to his story to be a coincidence." Ellysetta pointed to Charming as she said that. She thought for a minute. "Maybe the dahl'reisen and hearth witches know something. They're magic, but closer to Celieria. Rain shrugged, accepting the possibility. "Galen," she called out.

Immediately the large Fey came forward. "Contact Farel and Sheyl. We need to see what they know about old stories and portals. See what they can dig up." The man nodded and immediately went in another direction.

As they all headed for the Fading Lands again, Charming's feet felt so light they barely touched the ground. They could go home after all! His Snow would be in his arms again. Henry would grin at him and call him "Gramps." Emma could enjoy being a mother to Henry again. Life was good.

So what did you think? Did you like the "Fey/Celierian version of Snow White? I'd like to mention I didn't get the idea of fairy tales being a part of Fey/Celierian culture myself. The Tairen Soul books mention at least three, if you look closely. (Snow White was not one of them, so that I did create on my own.) I'm sorry I kind of lessened the impact of "True Love's Kiss", but like Ellysetta said in the story, I had to make it makes sense in the Fey world.

Are you understanding this? Please let me know if you are confused about anything.

Do you think I'm writing Emma and David in character? That's always one of my biggest concerns with fanfiction.

If any of you have read the Tairen Soul, I'd love to hear if you think I'm writing those characters correctly, as well.

I will ask again, Please review me or PM me about this story. Don't be afraid if you have criticism, although praise is welcome, too.