Chapter 3: Found my Real Mom!
The Enchanted Forest. Past. The Castle. Prince Charming, Snow White, Red Riding Hood, Granny, Grumpy, Doc, Geppetto, several guards and Jiminy Cricket are discussing what to do about the Curse while two children play under the table.
"I say we fight!" Charming yells slamming his fist on the table causing the children to jump. Losing interest, the little girl placed her doll in her lap and listened intently to what was riling up the adults.
"Fighting is a bad idea. Giving in to one's dark side never accomplishes anything." Jiminy stated. The girl smiled. She always liked the cricket.
"And how many wars has a clear conscience won? We need to take the Queen out before she can inflict her curse." Charming said.
"Can we even trust Rumpelstiltskin?" Doc asked.
The girl continued listening while trying to play with her doll and Pinocchio, but couldn't help feeling the intensity growing in the room. She looked over to where Charming and Snow sat and crawled over, feeling the sadness wave off of Snow.
"I've sent my men into the forest. The animals are abuzz with the Queen's plan. This is going to happen unless we do something." Charming stated.
"There's no point. The future is written." The girl gently tugged at Snow's dress. She looked down seeing the 5-year-old. Giving a sad smile, she pushed her chair back, allowing the girl on her lap.
"No. I refuse to believe that. Good can't just lose!" Charming looked around the table before turning back to Snow, catching the girl on her lap.
"Maybe it can." Snow wrapped her arms around the child sadly. The girl placed her head on Snow's shoulder and continued playing with her doll. Snow glanced over at Ruby and Granny, who gave a small smile, silently questioning to remove the girl. She shook her head and gently rocked the girl, enjoying the comfort she gave.
Noticing the exchange, Charming continued. "No." Charming sat down facing Snow, pulling inspiration from the child's action. He reached over, grabbing Snow's hand. "Not as long as we have each other. If you believe him about the curse, then you must believe him about our child. She will be the savior."
The doors banged opened causing the girl to jump. Snow instinctively pulled the girl closer to her.
"What the hell is this?" Charming asked.
The girl lifted her head off Snow's shoulder, seeing the Blue Fairy enter with some soldiers carrying a tree trunk. The girl felt Snow relax her arms, allowing the girl to adjust.
"Our only hope of saving that child." The girl heard Blue answer.
"A tree? Our fate rests on a tree? Let's get back to the fighting thing." Grumpy stated.
"The tree is enchanted. If fashioned into a vessel, it can ward off any curse." The girl sensed something changing as Snow adjusted in her seat.
Blue looked over to where Geppetto was sitting. "Geppetto, can you build such a thing?" the girl looked at the tree Blue had brought in. 'Were they going to make Emma a tree house?'
"Me and my boy. We can do it." Geppetto answered proudly ruffling Pinocchio's hair. The little girl giggled, knowing how much her friend hated that. She leaned back into Snow, a yawn escaping her lips.
Blue smiled at the little girl in Snow's arms, her eyes barely holding open, before looking back at Snow and Charming. "This will work. We all must have faith."
Snow grabbed Charming's hand with hope in her eyes. "There is, however, a catch. The enchantment is indeed powerful, but all power has its limits. And this tree can protect only one." She said looking sadly at the girl who lost the fight to stay awake.
Snow and Charming shared a concerned look while pulling the child protectively towards her.
Storybrooke. Present. The Mayor's house. Emma walks Henry up the garden path to the house.
Aliyah looked at what she could see of the dark neighborhood. "Seems like a pleasant neighborhood." She looked back at Emma and Henry before passing through the gate. "What is so bad about it?"
Henry glared at Aliyah before begging Emma, "please don't take me back there."
"I have to. I'm sure your parents are worried sick about you."
"Yeah, I know I would be."
"I don't have parents. I just have a mom and she is evil."
"Evil, it's a bit extreme, isn't it?" Emma asked.
"I have heard myself being referred that many times. I'm sure she loves you; it's called tough love." Aliyah told Henry.
"She is. She doesn't love me. She only pretends to."
"Kid, I'm sure that's not true." Emma assured.
The door opens to reveal a man, who Aliyah thought could be police, and…. her eyes went wide at the dark-haired woman. Henry said his mother was the Evil Queen, but she didn't take it seriously.
"Henry? Henry!"
Aliyah watched the woman run out to hug Henry. She couldn't see Henry's face, but his mother's was a bit confusing. Her face showed love and concern, but Aliyah couldn't put her finger on it. Aliyah came out of thought when she saw Henry run and storm up the stairs.
"I'll…. just…. go check the lad, make sure he's alright." The officer left.
Aliyah glanced over, watching Emma and the mayor look at each other with uncomfortable smiles, until the mayor spotted her. "And you are?"
"Oh, I'm sorry, I'm Emma's sister," Aliyah held her hand out, but the mayor ignored it and looked back at Emma, the fake smile plastered back on her face.
"How d'you two like a glass of the best apple cider you ever tasted?"
"Find anything stronger?"
"Actually," Aliyah looked at the mayor, "I appreciate your offer Madame Mayor. But I would love to look around your small town." Her stomach growled. Aliyah's face reddened, "or maybe if you could recommend a place to eat? I haven't eaten since breakfast."
The mayor nodded, pointing down the direction they came. "There is a diner down the street. They should still be open." Aliyah nodded her thanks, sending Emma a good luck smile, and headed off while the other two women went inside the house.
Before she got to the end of the house though, Aliyah saw Henry climbing out of his window. She stood quietly by the house, shaking her head. 'Just like Emma,' and noticed something on the ground. It was Henry's book. Aliyah looked up, noticing Henry was almost to the ground, and softly went over and picked the book up.
Hearing a small grunt, "You know, I remember Emma sneaking out all the time." She glanced at a startled Henry. "going somewhere?" Henry looked at his window, at the bug, then back at Aliyah. "Don't worry, kid. It's just you and me."
"I was, uh, wanting to go with you." Aliyah looked at him, unconvinced. "Okay," his shoulders slumped. "I was going to leave that in Emma's car."
"So, she would have to have a reason to come back." Henry nodded. "Clever." She handed the book back, nodding towards the car. "I'll keep an eye out." Henry smiled and ran towards the bug, then came back. "Okay, head back up." He nodded. 'Hope this works, kid.' Then headed off towards the diner, hearing the window close.