Through the Looking Glass
*RING!!!*
The final school bell rang throughout the halls of Canterlot High, signifying the end of another day of learning. The once deserted halls quickly filled with a mob of students, all eager to get out of school and return home. Amongst those students was one Twilight Sparkle, or ‘Sci-Twi’ to some, walking slowly and casually through the halls, clutching her textbooks to her chest. Out of her backpack, little Spike poked his furry head out. He looked completely bored out of his mind.
“Another boring school day where nothing exciting happened,” He groaned.
“Don’t be such a downer Spike,” Twilight giggled. “School is actually a lot of fun. I personally can’t wait for all those book reports to do for English class. Just imagine all the books I get to read.”
While Twilight was extremely excited about her schoolwork and her books, her little dog was more or less enthusiastic about it. He just hung his head and rolled his eyes.
“Don’t you miss those crazy adventures we’ve had in the past?” Spike asked seriously.
As Twilight walked, she pondered over what her little friend asked. Those adventures she and her friends had in the past were certainly fun. From defeating and rehabilitating Sunset Shimmer, defeating the all-powerful Sirens in a battle of the bands… well ‘she’ wasn’t involved with those adventures, but they sure sounded exciting. Regardless, since meeting Sunset and her friends, they did accomplish so much after that. And yet there was a part of her that really didn’t miss it all that much.
“Nope, not really,” She responded truthfully.
“Why not?” Spike asked. “You don’t think it was really fun when you and your friends save the school on multiple occasions?”
“I never said that Spike. I loved what me and the girls were able to accomplish. It’s just after all the times we almost got killed, it’s nice not having to worry about anything other than schoolwork for a change.”
“It’s been months though,” Spike pointed out. “I just figured something interesting would happen by now.”
“I wouldn’t get your hopes up Spike,” Twilight said, patting his head.
As the two made their way out the front doors, they noticed a huge stretch limousine parked in front of the school. Twilight grinned, shaking her head as she knew there was only ‘one’ person who’d have a limo at school. The answer only became more obvious when the back window rolled down revealing her fashionista friend, Rarity.
“Twilight darling!” Rarity called. “Come in quickly!”
Twilight quickly ran over to the car door, peering in to see all the rest of her friends as well. Rainbow Dash and Applejack were fighting over who gets the last piece of apple pie. Fluttershy brushing her pet bunny Angel, who was snoozing peacefully in her lap while she talked to Sunset Shimmer. And Pinkie Pie was being… well Pinkie Pie.
“Hiya Twilight!” Pinkie called excitedly. “Check it out! Rarity picked us all up in her limo today! We’re all going back to her house and guess what we’re doing! Come on! Guess! Guess! Guess!”
Twilight giggled at her perky pink party friend’s excitement, as she tapped her chin and put a mocking quizzical look on her face.
“Hmm… ice skating today?” She asked sarcastically.
“No silly… besides that’s next week.”
“Meeting a famous celebrity by chance?”
“Try again!”
“Oh… I’ve got it! The school dance is coming up soon and Rarity’s taking us to her shop to get us our dresses?!”
“DING! DING! DING! Your winner and still trivia champion, Twilight ‘Sci-Twi’ Sparkle!!!”
Everyone in the car laughed, as Twilight opened the door of the limo and hopped in alongside her friends. The limo sped off through town towards Rarity’s house and boutique. All the while, they talked about the upcoming school dance.
“So… I think we’ve waited long enough to talk about this,” Sunset spoke up.
Everyone leaned forward to hear exactly what Sunset had in mind.
“Who is everyone going to the dance with?”
“Well, I don’t know about all of you, but I for one have the ‘perfect’ date in mind,” Rarity bragged.
“Let me guess,” Rainbow smirked. “Is his name ‘Ragamuffin’ by any chance?”
Rarity turned her face away, hiding the shy little smile.
“Perhaps,” She whispered.
“Well I think that’s fantastic,” Twilight congratulated her. “What about the rest of you?”
“I asked Flash if he’d be willing to go with me,” Sunset answered. “He said only if he can get off work.”
“I’m sure he’ll be able to. You two will have an amazing time together.”
Fluttershy was next to speak up, although she tried her hardest not to look at any of them while she toyed with her hair.
“Um… I-I-I’m g-going with B-Bulk B-Biceps,” She stammered.
All the girls looked at Fluttershy in shock, even Pinkie Pie did a hilarious spit take.
“Say what now?!” She asked loudly.
Fluttershy squealed in fright, as she hid herself in her hair. It wasn’t till Twilight pulled her hair away and looked at the meek girl with a huge smile.
“That’s amazing Fluttershy,” She said sincerely.
“I-I don’t k-know,” She shook her head. “Maybe I shouldn’t go. This was a bad idea.”
Twilight placed a comforting hand upon her friend’s shoulder to ease her down. Soon as Fluttershy took a few deep breathes, Twilight looked deeply into Fluttershy’s eyes.
“It’s not a bad idea at all, Fluttershy,” She assured. “In fact, I think it’s a great idea.”
“But how did you get Bulk to agree to go to the dance?” Rainbow asked. “He normally doesn’t do anything that doesn’t involve lifting the entire school for his daily ab crunches. Don’t think I haven’t noticed you checking him out while he works out.”
Fluttershy turned a deep shade of crimson red, pulling her hair back in front of her face.
“Come on Dash,” Applejack scolded. “Ain’t no good reason tah go teasin’ Fluttershy like that.”
“Oh yeah? And just exactly who are you going to the dance with?”
“Ah ain’t goin’ tah the dance. Got too much work tah do on the farm. Ah can’t wait tah hear which feller got unfortunately saddled with you.”
“Me dancing? Meh, dances aren’t really my thing. All that mushy-gushy lovey stuff and dancing so close to each other… blech! I’ll pass.”
“What about the time we danced together during the Fall Formal?” Rarity pointed out.
“Yeah, well… that was different.”
“What about you Twilight?” Pinkie asked.
Twilight blushed as she twiddled a tiny strand of her hair as she gazed out the window.
“I just can’t wait to attend my first school dance… with Timber Spruce,” She said with adoration.
“I’ll say it again… blech!” Rainbow Dash said dramatically.
As the limo continued on towards the boutique, Twilight suddenly felt a rather strange feeling wash over her. A weird tingling sensation that came over her entire being, so much her body felt rather strange. Sunset looked over at Twilight and could instantly tell something was off.
“Twilight, you okay?” She asked with concern.
Suddenly, Twilight felt a very sharp feeling in her head… then she suddenly felt dizzy and ill at the same time. Clutching her head, trying to stop the pain, a flash suddenly appeared in her eyes. A vision began to play of the enchanted mirror, the very one that the ‘other’ Twilight traveled through when she came to visit her friends in this world. She couldn’t exactly figure out why she received this vision, but she felt there was something wrong. As the vision came to a stop, Twilight snapped back to reality.
“We need to get back to the school!” She said urgently. “Now!”
“What’s wrong?” Sunset asked.
“You look as though you’ve seen a ghost!” Rarity gasped.
“The mirror that the other Twilight came through,” Twilight explained. “I think there’s something wrong with it!”
This made the girls rather nervous. They recalled what the other Twilight once told of them, of a mirror serving as a very powerful portal. A portal created by the great pony wizard, Starswirl the Bearded, to banish the Dazzlings from the World of Equestria. Of course the mirror was initially locked away until the Princess of Friendship ended up finding it and wound up in the human world. Of course, the only time something was ever wrong with the portal was when Sci-Twi accidentally closed it off in her pursuit of understanding the magic. So why now?
“Twilight?” Sunset spoke. “If there’s something wrong with the portal, what do you think it is?”
“I don’t know!” Twilight answered. “But I have this bad feeling something very bad is going to happen. We need to go and check the mirror.”
“But what about picking our dresses for the dance?” Rarity asked.
“Seriously Rarity?” Rainbow raised an eyebrow.
“Excuse me, but I designed the most gorgeous dresses for Twilight and all of you. I really wanted you all to see them.”
“Sorry Rarity, but that’s the least of our problems,” Twilight warned. “We need to turn around now!”
Rarity sighed but ultimately signaled the driver to turn back around and head back to the school.
“I suppose it’s for the best anyway. Sweetie Belle and the others will be finishing their afterschool activities soon anyway. Was planning to take them home afterwards.”
“Ah still don’t know what y’all are talkin’ about with that mirror, Twi,” Applejack said confused.
“Yeah, considering that the mirror is all the way in Pony Land,” Pinkie Pie reminded. “And the portal only leads to the school’s statue.”
“You all have to trust me on this,” Twilight insisted. “Something’s wrong and we need to see for ourselves. Besides… there’s more than just ‘one’ mirror, right Sunset?”
The girls turned toward Sunset Shimmer, who looked back toward Twilight and her friends. A sigh escaped her lips as she reluctantly nodded her head.
“I do know of ‘one’ other.”
In that moment, Spike popped out of her backpack again.
“Are you kidding me?” Spike asked. “Twilight, I thought you wanted to enjoy some peace and quiet. Now you want to follow Sunset and find ‘another’ portal?”
“I do want some quiet Spike,” Twilight insisted. “But if there’s something wrong with the mirror, something bad has happened with the magic between our worlds and that could spell doom for everyone. We just need to make sure the magic’s okay.”
Soon enough, the limo pulled up outside of the school again and all the girls stepped out. Quickly, they made their way back inside and made their way to where Sunset claimed an additional portal is kept. Just as they turned a corner, they almost ran straight into three familiar little girls: Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo of the Canterlot Movie Club.
“Whoa!” Apple Bloom yelped. “What are y’all in such a hurry for?”
“We’re not even done with rehearsal for another fifteen minutes!” Sweetie Belle added.
“Sorry girls,” Twilight apologized. “But we’re in a really big hurry right now.”
“Why?” Scootaloo asked curiously.
“It’s complicated. Just head back to rehearsal, we’ll come and get you soon.”
The three girls looked toward their older sisters, except Rainbow Dash wasn’t really a ‘sister’ while more of an ‘honorary’ one for Scootaloo. The three older girls shrugged their shoulders having no idea either. Nonetheless, the three girls continued on their way.
“Alright Sunset, is that mirror here?” Twilight asked.
“Yep,” Sunset nodded. “Just down this way…”
<>
The girls stand in the center of a secret hidden room in the school, standing before where the mirror portal stood. In a way it resembled the very same mirror from Equestria, all hooked up to its structural frame with all the mechanical wirings and power conductors. Aside from being very dusty, however, it didn’t seem anything was out of the ordinary.
“Still hard to believe that there truly were other portals between here and Equestria,” Rainbow noted.
“Well if you hadn’t insisted on wanting to go hunting for, and I quote, ‘Evil Magic’,” Twilight Sparkle gestured. “We never would’ve been able to find this one portal.”
“I said I was sorry! Sheesh… you go a little magic crazy for one moment and suddenly I’m the girl who crashed our Spring Break trip.”
“Well…” Sunset began, looking away.
“ANYWAYS… what exactly are we supposed to be looking for?”
“I’m not sure,” Twilight responded. “But I’ve had this strange feeling in my gut something was wrong.”
“You sure it might’ve been that noodle casserole we had for lunch today?” Pinkie motioned. “I don’t know what Granny Smith put in there, but it had a really funky taste. Well, you are what you eat?”
“Pinkie, did y’all just compare Twilight to a bowl of noodles?” Applejack asked, raising a brow.
“Well not directly, I was mostly suggesting—”
“I’m serious girls,” Twilight interjected. “There’s something not right with this machine!”
“Well we have to bear in mind that magic between dimensions is unstable,” Sunset pointed out, examining the mirror. “Soon as I realized that the magic was so strong it opened portals to other corners of Canterlot City, I happened to stumble upon this portal during one of my trips… ended up in a mom-and-pop pawn shop. Spend nearly every dollar I had to buy this mirror and take it to someplace in the school where no one would think to look while Twilight and I could study this every chance we get.”
As Sunset Shimmer explained, Twilight approached the power conductors. Powering up the machine for a test, the mirror sputtered to life and created a swirling pink energy vortex in the dead center as they’d expect it too. Twilight approached it and gazed toward the spinning void as if expecting something to happen.
“Looks just fine Twilight,” Fluttershy assured. “Of course, I’m not really an expert on these mechanics so I wouldn’t know.”
“You’re just nervous about the dance this weekend,” Rarity implied. “Maybe you’re just using this mirror as an excuse not to get your dress done.”
Completely ignoring Rarity’s comment, Twilight stared at the machine. After a few moments, Sunset finally thought of something.
“I still have that journal I use to communicate with Princess Twilight,” Sunset said. “We can go to my locker and get it so we can inform her what’s happened. If there’s nothing wrong on our end, maybe it’s happening in Equestria. Follow me.”
Sunset made her way to the exit, with Twilight Sparkle following close behind. Her friends, if not begrudgingly, followed behind them.
“I still don't know what the big deal is,” Rainbow whispered.
“Me neither,” Applejack whispered back. “Ain’t nothin’ wrong with that mirror before and ain’t nothin’ gonna be wrong with it now.”
Applejack, the last girl to leave, closed the secret entrance behind them before heading off. A moment after leaving to recover Sunset’s book, the CMC quickly raced around the corner, looking around frantically.
“Are you sure Colonel Wigglesworth is around here?” Scootaloo asked Apple Bloom.
“Sure ah’m sure,” Apple Bloom shot back. “Just keep lookin’, ah love that little guy.”
“He’s a worm Apple Bloom,” Sweetie Belle pointed out. “If we can’t find him, just wait till it rains and pick up another one off the sidewalk.”
Apple Bloom sent a death glare toward her friend.
“Ah’m gonna pretend y’all didn’t say that,” Apple Bloom frowned.
Before she could say more, she noticed a small, tiny green worm slithering across the ground toward the wall.
“Colonel Wigglesworth!”
Apple Bloom rushed to grab the little worm, which crawled through a crack in the wall and disappeared. Apple Bloom knelt down to see if she could look through the crack. Unfortunately for her, it was pitch black. Although… she did notice this didn’t seem like an ordinary wall. As a matter of fact, it had an outline as thought it resembled a door.
“Guys! Come help me move this here wall!” She called out.
“How are we supposed to move a wall?” Scootaloo asked bluntly.
“Ah don’t reckon it’s a wall at all! It may be fake!”
“A fake wall?” Sweetie Belle questioned. “You mean there’s a secret compartment in this school under our nose?”
“No time for more questions! Just come help me please!”
The other two girls just shrugged their shoulders, before approaching their friend.
“On the count of three, we push!” Apple Bloom instructed.
The three girls pressed themselves against the wall, leaning at the ready.
“1… 2… 3!!!”
They pressed with all their might and the wall began to move. Eventually, an entire section of the wall pushed back like a giant door. Before their eyes, the opening revealed the dark room where the mirror portal was kept. The three girls looked in amazement and curiosity, having never seen such a mirror before.
“What the hay is that thing?” Apple Bloom asked.
“Looks like a mirror,” Sweetie Belle answered simply. “With wires all over it.”
“Looks more complicated than that,” Scootaloo observed. “I mean why would a mirror be kept in a secret room like this?”
“Maybe the prop department ran out of room and they probably left the mirror where there’d be extra space.”
The three girls slowly walked deeper into the room toward the strange mirror. They observed the mysterious-looking glass cautiously but noticed nothing more than their own reflections.
“An unusual place to keep a mirror this fancy,” Sweetie Belle replied. “It’s probably worth a lot more than my own family or sister can afford. But why would all these wires be hooked up to it?”
Driven by curiosity, Sweetie Belle began to tinker with several buttons along the back panel of the mirror. And suddenly, the wires sparked to life, the mirror clattered and shook. The girls looked on as the wiring sputtered out, the sparks flying around it, and forcing the trio to back away from the device. If they weren’t scared before, they most certainly are now.
“What did you do Sweetie Belle?!” Apple Bloom yelled.
“I didn’t mean to do anything!” Sweetie yelled back. “I only touched it!”
It was during this moment that Twilight and the rest of the girls reentered the room. In Sunset’s hand is the book used to communicate with Princess Twilight Sparkle.
“If my hunch is correct,” Sunset began. “Whatever’s going on in Twilight’s vision has something to do with…”
And then they instantly froze, the very sight causing Sunset to drop the book. Twilight’s mouth dropped as she witnessed the mirror portal spiraling out of control. And what’s worse, they spotted the three girls cowering against the wall, smiling nervously the moment they saw Twilight and her friends.
“Girls, what did you do?!” Twilight asked frantically.
“Um… it was an accident?” Scootaloo smiled sheepishly.
Before any more could be said, a giant vortex opened up and started swallowing everything and everyone in the room. The group of students felt drawn towards the vortex, as they struggled to get away. They all screamed as they flew forward, into the looking glass, and fell into the abyss to possibly oblivion.
<>
“AAAAH!!!!!”
A lavender-haired girl screamed, as she shot right up from her bed. Gasping for air, she looked around the dark bedroom she currently resided in. She breathed heavily, as if starving for oxygen, following her screaming fit.
“Juliet?!”
The girl quickly snapped her head in the direction whence the voice came from. A young woman with black hair, in a pixie hairstyle, rushed from the stairs of the loft, entering the room dressed in a nightgown. The woman was Mary Margaret Blanchard, Storybrooke Elementary School’s favorite teacher. Mary Margaret quickly flipped on the light and slowly approached the young girl’s bedside.
“Juliet, are you okay?” She asked concerned.
Juliet rubbed her tired eyes, shaking her head from the dream she just had.
“I’m alright mom,” She answered. “Guess I just had a bit of a bad dream.”
Mary Margaret released a breath of relief, as she pulled her daughter towards her in a hug. Juliet breathed deeply, allowing herself to sink into her mother’s embrace. When Mary Margaret finally pulled back, looking deeply into her daughter’s eyes, she smiled as an idea came to mind.
“You know what? I think I have something to help with that.”
Mary Margaret quickly ran back downstairs to grab something, leaving Juliet to sit there for a moment. Her thoughts go back to the dream she just had, which strangely felt more real than it seemed. Of strange girls, a mirror portal, a dream that felt… familiar. As though she herself had been there before… but how?
Before Juliet could ponder any further, her thoughts are cast aside the moment her mother came back upstairs. Only now she held a candle in her hands.
“What’s the candle for?” Juliet asked curiously.
Mary Margaret smiled, as she placed the candle upon her daughter’s bedside table. She watched as she lit the candle and a single flame formed before her eyes.
“I once heard if you have a bad dream, you light a candle by your bedside,” Mary Margaret explained. “It will help light your way through the darkness until you finally get back to the light.”
“Really?” Juliet asked quizzically. “Where did you hear that from?”
Mary Margaret thought about what her daughter asked, trying to recall from the back of her mind where she heard that before. But truth be told, she really had no earthly idea where she heard it. For some strange reason, it was something she always held dear in her mind. And yet, she really didn’t have any idea where that came from.
“Actually, I really don’t know,” Mary Margaret answered.
The chipper schoolteacher sat beside her daughter in her bed, smiling as she used her hand to brush some stray hair behind Juliet’s ear.
“I think maybe its time to get back to bed,” She suggested kindly. “After all, you’ve got school tomorrow. Then you have to babysit for Henry afterwards.”
Juliet nodded with a smile, as Mary Margaret leaned forward to plant a loving kiss upon her daughter’s forehead.
“Goodnight honey,” Mary Margaret spoke sweetly.
“Goodnight mom,” Juliet responded.
Mary Margaret flipped off the light before making her way downstairs to return to bed herself. Juliet lays back for a brief moment, before standing up and staring toward the bedroom window. She gazed out amongst the town of Storybrooke, her eyes upon the big clock tower in the town square. It still remained stuck at exactly 8:15 pm, just as it always been her entire life. Juliet yawned heavily as she returned to bed and settled beneath the sheets. As she drifted back to sleep, the candle burning brightly by her bedside, a thought raced through her head.
“Twilight Sparkle… why do you look exactly like me?”
Author's Note
Before anyone goes and says anything, yes I know not every scene is in here and there's a reason for that. I mostly wanted to focus on the scenes that have the Mane Six or my OC Natalie in them for this story.
Pilot
Once Upon A Time…
There was an enchanted forest, filled with all the classic characters we know…
Or ‘think’ we know.
One day, they found themselves trapped in a place where all their happy endings were stolen…
Our world…
<>
The Enchanted Forest…
Prince Charming rode his white steed along a path across a river connecting two isles in the enchanted forest. He wore blood-red tailored clothing along with a blood-red cape that blew erratically as he and his steed raced through the trees of the forest. As he rode, he faced both sides of him to his most trust friends riding alongside him.
Twilight Sparkle and Rainbow Dash rode to his right on a chestnut mare; Applejack and Pinkie Pie rode to his left on an auburn stallion; Fluttershy and Rarity rode on the back left on a black-coated Arabian mare; and Sunset Shimmer rode her own golden beige stallion.
“How do you even know where to find her?!” Twilight yelled toward Charming.
“These woods are endless!” Applejack added. “How ya possibly gonna find one girl in all this?”
“I’ll let my heart guide me just as I always have,” Charming responded.
“That’s a lovely sentiment darling,” Rarity replied. “But are you certain you know what you’re doing?”
“Of course I do. I said that I’d find her, and I will always find her.”
“I really hope you’re right Charming,” Sunset spoke uncertain.
Word had reached the group that Charming’s beloved Snow White had fallen under the Evil Queen’s sleeping curse and now he was on his way to save the woman he loved. As the steed increased in speed, the forest began to be blanketed in a layer of snow. They soon came along a small clearing in the trees, where the seven dwarves he had gotten to know were gathered around a fallen tree. However, approaching the tree, he noticed it had been fashioned into a glass coffin and inside it… was Snow White.
“You’re too late,” Doc said sadly.
All eyes moved back to the glass coffin and the forever sleeping Snow White inside. Charming’s eyes, as well as the dwarves’, began to grow sad as tears formed.
“No…” Charming whispered, approaching the coffin.
As he stood beside the coffin, he looked down toward the sleeping form of his true love. She was beautiful beyond belief with her hair black as night and skin white as snow. This shouldn’t be happening to her; Snow was always so gentle and didn’t deserve what had happened to her. Twilight and Sunset both wiped tears from their eyes, Rainbow Dash and Applejack both bowed their heads in respect, Rarity held the weeping Fluttershy close, and Pinkie bawled her eyes out as she held a whimpering Spike in her arms.
“This isn’t fair!” Twilight sobbed. “Snow only ever cared about people and wanted the best for everyone. She doesn’t deserve any of this.”
“She gave us a home when we first landed in this world with nowhere to go,” Sunset added sadly.
“I swear if I ever see that Queen again, I’ll do such unspeaking things to her!” Rainbow spoke, through gritted teeth.
Charming didn’t acknowledge their words. He just looked down toward his beloved Snow. Just then, an idea came to his head. It was a long shot, but he had to try.
“Open this!” He demanded.
“I’m sorry but she’s gone!” Grumpy spat.
“At least let me say goodbye,” Charming nearly plead.
The dwarves exchanged looks with each other, then nodded and removed the glass case off the coffin. Tears threatened to fall down Charming’s face as he knelt beside the coffin and placed a kiss gently on Snow White. Suddenly, a ray of light and force of wind shot from the coffin as Charming pulled away from Snow, as her eyes shot open, and she took in a deep breath of air. A great smile made its way across Charming’s face as Snow looked at him and smiled.
“You found me,” Snow said joyfully.
“Did you ever doubt I would?” Charming replied.
“Truthfully the glass coffin did give me pause,” Snow replied, as Charming sat her up.
To the side, the girls all smiled brightly seeing their good friends completely alright once more.
“Same ole’ Snow,” Applejack chuckled.
“Even after just waking from a sleeping curse, she’s still such a kidder!” Pinkie giggled.
Snow looked toward the group of girls, beckoning them to come closer. Upon doing so, Snow hugged them all individually.
“I can’t believe you all came to find me!” She spoke amazed.
“What’d you expect darling?” Rarity asked. “You’re our best friend, and we would do anything for you.”
“We couldn’t just walk away and let you die,” Fluttershy added.
Little Spike leapt out of Pinkie’s hold and landed right in Snow’s lap. Snow giggled at the little dog, then began scratching lovingly behind his ears as he licked her cheek.
“Yes, I’m very glad to see you too Spike,” She laughed.
Charming held back a laugh as he placed his hand upon her cheek and smiled once more.
“Well, you never have to worry because I will always find you,” He replied.
“Do you promise?”
<>
“I do…” Charming said.
It was Snow White and Prince Charming’s wedding day. The entire kingdom was in attendance… well except for a few ‘UN-welcome’ guests. The Equestria Girls stood in the audience alongside the dwarves as they watched their best friend get wed to the man she loved.
“And do you Snow White promise to take this man to be your husband and love him for all eternity?”
“I do…” Snow replied.
“I now pronounce you man and wife.”
The entire room, the Equestria girls included, erupted in cheers and applause as the new couple leaned to seal their marriage (And happy ending) with a kiss.
Suddenly, the doors to the chapel burst open and the entire room gasped at the sight before them. There, standing in the doorway, dressed all in black, was the evil queen Regina. To her left was a girl of sixteen years with long blonde hair, piercing green eyes, and a fiery hatred within. This was her daughter, Princess Natalie, someone the girls knew far too well.
“Sorry we’re late,” Regina smirked.
Regina and Natalie made their way down the aisle and a few guards ran toward them with swords raised. Seeing this Regina shot her arm out and sent one of the guards flying with Natalie doing the same with the other. The girls quickly raced up in front of Snow and Charming, ready for a fight. Twilight, Sunset, and Rarity readied their magic, Rainbow and A.J. cracked their knuckles, Fluttershy hid behind Rarity, and Pinkie… pulled out a cupcake from her hair… and ate it.
“It’s the princess and the queen!” Doc shouted. “RUN!!!”
Snow grabbed the sword holstered at her husband’s side and pointed it directly toward Regina and Natalie.
“They aren’t royalty anymore,” Snow growled. “The queen is nothing more than an evil witch, and the princess should know better.”
“Don’t worry Snow!” Twilight assured. “We won’t let anything happen to you or Charming!”
“I’ve been aching for a shot at the royal pain for the longest time!” Rainbow threatened Natalie.
Snow didn’t want to be hostile towards Natalie, seeing how she was her little stepsister. But she was willing to protect her kingdom and her people at all costs. Charming reached up and lowered the blade.
“No, no… don’t stoop to their level there’s no need,” He assured his wife. “You’re wasting your time you’ve already lost, and I will not let either of you ruin this wedding day.”
“Oh, we haven’t come to ruin anything ‘Charming’…” Natalie chuckled.
“On the contrary dear, we’ve come to give you a gift,” Regina added.
“We want nothing from you,” Snow said sternly.
“But you shall have it!” Natalie shot back.
Regina paced about the floor, as the plan came to fruition.
“Our gift to you is this happy… happy day. For tomorrow, the ‘real’ work begins. You’ve made your vows, now I make mine. Soon everything you love, everything ‘all’ of you love, will be taken from you… forever. And out of your suffering will rise our victory.”
Natalie approached the alter to the point her and the Mane Seven were nose-to-nose.
“We shall destroy your happiness… if it is the last thing we do!” She growled.
Soon she and Regina made their way towards the doors.
“HEY!” Charming shouted.
Regina and Natalie turned and saw Charming hurl his sword at them. But before it could hit them, black smoke engulfed them and soon they vanished from sight, leaving the newly wedded couple holding each other close and the Mane Seven (And Spike) looked on with fierce determination in their eyes.
<>
Storybrooke, Present Day…
Another long day had just commended at Storybrooke High. By now, the students quickly started piling through the front doors for a taste of sweet freedom. Amongst all the students was a young Juliet Blanchard…
The teenage girl with the lavender hair with a streak of pink tied in a ponytail walked down the front steps of the school. She adjusted her backpack over her shoulders as she walked, paying no attention to where she was going. As she walked, she suddenly tripped over something and fell face first onto the ground. Thankfully, she caught herself before she got seriously hurt except her lovely cranberry top and purple skirt was completely covered in dirt. That really sucked because her mother, Mary Margaret, worked so hard to provide her with nice clothes. The poor girl looked up to see what she tripped on and looked straight into the cold blue eyes of ‘the Princess’ of Storybrooke herself, Natalie Mills.
“Have a nice fall Blanchard?” She chuckled.
Juliet groaned as she picked herself off the ground and wiped herself off.
“Just like yesterday, Natalie,” She muttered to herself. “And the day before that… and the day before that…”
“I’m sorry, what was that?” Natalie asked mockingly. “Couldn’t hear you over those cat dishes you call classes.”
“What do you want now Natalie?” Juliet asked.
Natalie chuckled as she grabbed her backpack before hovering directly over Juliet.
“My mom wants you at our house at 6 pm exactly tonight,” She instructed. “Someone’s got to look after Henry, and it’s not going to be me.”
“I already know that…” Juliet replied.
“Then you also know she’ll be docking your pay by ten dollars for every minute you’re late?”
Juliet’s jaw dropped in shock before she sighed with defeat.
“I’ll make sure I’m on time… if not sooner.”
“You better.”
With that, Natalie walked by Juliet making sure to purposely bump her shoulder as she walked by. This of course caused Juliet to drop her books once more. The poor girl shook her head as she knelt down to pick them up.
“Hey, um—you uh—need a hand?”
Juliet looked up toward a meek-looking, blue-skinned girl looking down at her. The girl in question had her bright rainbow hair tied back in a ponytail and she wore black rimmed glasses over her magenta eyes. She held a pair of textbooks close to her chest yet still extended a hand to help her.
Juliet quickly grabbed her books and took the girl’s hand as she stood up.
“Thanks,” She said gratefully.
“No problem,” The girl answered. “I’m Brooke by the way.”
“Juliet Blanchard,” Juliet greeted.
The two girls quickly shook hands.
“What’s that girl’s deal anyway?” Brooke asked curiously.
“That’s just Natalie Mills being herself,” Juliet responded. “She thinks just because her mom’s the mayor she can make life miserable for anyone she wants. For some reason she likes to target me the most.”
“That’s terrible! I’m just thankful I’ve never had a confrontation with her before. Usually I like to spend my time studying in the library.”
A buzzing sound quickly drew Juliet’s attention. She reached into her school bag and pulled out her cellphone. Looking at it, she noticed the notification that it was time to head home.
“I have to go,” She told Brooke. “It was nice meeting you thought.”
“Yeah you too,” Brooke nodded. “Maybe I’ll see you around sometime.”
Juliet as she started walking away and waved before she got out of view. The whole walk home, Juliet thought about Brooke for some reason. She seemed like a nice girl, a bit nerdy perhaps, but nice. That, however, was not the reason she was thinking of her. Only one reason alone kept Juliet thinking about that one girl.
“Why do I feel like I know her?”
<>
Natalie Mills walked through the door of her house after school, feeling like the happiest girl in the world. Her life had been much better since casting that dark curse. She was the most popular girl in school, with full immunity against the law with her mother as mayor, and she never had to work for nothing. As she walked in the door she caught her mother, Regina Mills, pacing rather frantically.
“Mom, are you okay?” She asked.
Regina turned toward Natalie in the doorway and walked toward her.
“Henry’s gone Natalie,” She answered. “Do you know where he is?”
“What? I have no idea!” Natalie spoke, seemingly horrified. “Where would he even go?”
“I’ve had Sheriff Graham looking everywhere in town for him,” Regina replied. “But he’s nowhere to be found.”
Regain began breathing like she was hyperventilating, which made Natalie vey nervous for her mother. She placed her hands upon her mother’s shoulder, steadying her.
“Okay mom, you need to calm down,” She advised. “We’ll find him; he couldn’t have gone far.”
Natalie left her mother with Sheriff Graham and went up to her room. The moment she entered her room, she quickly removed her school uniform and the headband from her long blonde hair and exchanged it for a red tank top and a jet black silk skirt. She sat at her dresser with the huge mirror on it and began her homework. Natalie truly despised schoolwork, but better than being in Mary Margaret Blanchard’s class.
Just as she began working on her math, she looked toward her mirror and an idea popped in her head. With a wave of her hand, purple smoke swirled behind the glass. It was the last magic she had in this land, but it be worth it to find her little brother before her mother gets another heart attack.
Suddenly, an image of Henry appeared in the mirror. He sat on the city bus en route for Boston, Massachusetts. In his lap was a big book he looked at with great admiration.
“We got much longer ‘fore we get there Henry?”
Henry looked up from book toward three girls seated right next to him. All three girls appeared to be around Henry’s age, but clearly were not like him at all. One girl had yellowish skin and red hair with a big pink bow in it. The next one had marshmallow colored skin and a head of light purple and pink locks. The final one had more tangerine-like skin and a head of unkept purple hair. These three girls were Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo.
“Don’t worry Apple Bloom, it shouldn’t be much longer now,” Henry assured.
“I certainly hope so,” Sweetie Belle hoped. “The sooner we find her, the sooner we get back to Storybrooke and get this whole mess straightened out.”
“I still can’t believe ‘you’ guys still remember everything.”
“Yeah… we still don’t understand it either,” Scootaloo said.
“Well don’t worry,” Henry informed them. “We’ll find her and then she’ll bring back all the happy endings.”
“Ah sure hope yer right Henry,” Apple Bloom said unsure.
Henry turned his attention back to his book when another woman nearest him looked over toward what he was reading.
“That a good book?” She asked.
“This… it’s more than just a book,” Henry responded.
The bus pulled to a stop at a nearby station as a voice announced throughout the bus.
“Boston sub-station. Thank you for riding Greyhound.”
Henry and the CMC got off the bus then proceeded to knock against the window of a taxi. The driver rolled down the window.
“Uh, do you take credit cards?” Henry asked, holding one up.
“Where to, chief?”
<>
Henry and the CMC proceeded to walk through the halls of the apartment duplex. Before long, they eventually arrived at the spot they were looking for.
“Is this it?” Sweetie Belle asked.
“This is it,” Henry nodded.
“Well go ahead and knock so we can get this going!” Scootaloo encouraged.
“Give ‘em a minute will yah?” Apple Bloom reprimanded her. “He’s finally meeting his real ma fer the first time! Let ‘em have this.”
Henry reached up and proceeded to knock on the door. Within moments, a tall blonde woman wearing a very fancy-looking radish red dress opened the door and looked toward the four children.
“Um, can I help you?” She asked.
“Are you Emma Swan?” Henry asked.
“Yeah, who are you?”
“My name’s Henry, I’m your son.”
He smiled and pushed himself past her into the apartment. The CMC all followed closely behind him much to the woman’s confusion.
“Whoa hey, kid, kid, KID!” She called after them. “I don’t have a son. Where are your parents?”
“Ten years ago, did you give up a baby for adoption?” Henry asked. “That was me.”
Emma looked genuinely shocked by what he said and started to step back.
“Give me a minute.”
She walked into the bathroom and began to process everything that was going on. She did have a son she gave up for adoption… but she was eighteen when that happened. Now suddenly that little boy was in her apartment… with three other girls? How did they even find her?
“Do you have any juice…?” He called out. “Never mind, found some!”
Emma walked out of the bathroom and caught him drinking the juice straight from the carton. Standing beside him, she could also see his three friends staring disgustingly toward his actions.
“Can’t ya at least use a glass?” Apple Bloom asked disgusted.
“Can’t reach them,” Henry responded simply.
“So the logical choice is drinking straight from the carton?” Scootaloo asked.
“Yep.”
It was then they all noticed Emma returned and Henry smiled at her.
“Let me guess…” Emma muttered. “Your three friends ran away from their adopted homes too?”
“Oh no, they’re just friends I met on my way here,” Henry replied. “These are Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle.”
“Hi!” The girls greeted.
“You know we should probably get going,” He spoke smiling.
“Going where?” Emma asked.
“I want you to come home with me,” He said.
“It’s a mighty big emergency!” Apple Bloom insisted.
But after hearing him say those words, Emma’s jaw dropped with shock.
“Okay kids, I’m calling the cops,” She threatened.
“Then I’ll tell them you kidnapped us,” He replied.
“And they’ll believe you because I’m your birth mother?”
“Yep!”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa, don’t bring us into this!” Sweetie Belle said quickly.
“You’re not gonna do that!” Emma said.
“Try me,” He said smugly.
“Your pretty good, but here’s the thing,” She explained smugly. “There’s not a lot I’m great at in life but I have one skill, let’s call it a superpower. I can tell when someone is lying, and you kid are.”
The girls faced each other rather nervously, as Emma proceeded to dial her phone.
“Wait… please don’t call the cops!” He pleaded. “Please come home with me.”
“We know it’s crazy, we know we’re asking a lot!” Scootaloo added. “But he truly believes you’re his mother, and right now he needs you… we need you.”
She considered for a moment, but then came to only one conclusion.
“Where’s home?” She asked.
“Storybrooke, Maine,” He replied.
“Storybrooke, seriously?”
“It gets weirder…” Apple Bloom reassured. “That’s all we have tah say.”
“Okay then, let’s get you back to Storybrooke.”
<>
The car proceeded down the road toward where Emma hoped would lead to Storybrooke, Maine. But to say that Henry was making things ‘difficult’ for the woman to get him back to his home was putting it politely. In their seat the girls had to sit back in awkward silence just watching the pair bicker with one another.
“Okay, kid, how about an address?” Emma asked, frustrated.
“Forty-four, not-telling-you street,” Henry replied.
Finally, Emma was completely off her wits end. She skid the car to a stop and stepped out for a breather.
“Look, it’s been a long night, and it’s almost—”
But the moment Emma turned toward the nearby clock tower, something felt off.
“—Eight-fifteen?” Emma finished uncertain.
“That’s one of the weird parts!” Sweetie Belle pointed out. “That clock hasn’t moved when the girls and I got here.”
“It’s like time’s frozen here,” Scootaloo replied.
“Excuse me?” Emma asked.
“The Evil Queen did it with her curse,” Henry explained. “She sent everyone from the Enchanted Forest here.”
“Hang on. The Evil Queen sent a bunch of fairytale characters here?” Emma asked, perplexed.
“Yeah, and now they’re trapped.”
“Frozen in time, stuck in Storybrooke, Maine. That’s what you’re going with?”
“It’s the truth!” Scootaloo insisted. “We thought it was crazy too, but here we are!”
“Then why doesn’t everybody just leave?” Emma pointed out.
“That’s what I was asking the first time!” Sweetie replied.
“They can’t. If they try, bad things happen.”
“Henry!”
A voice draws the group toward the source. A man, Archie by name, approached the group with his dog, Pongo.
“What are you doing here?” Archie asked curiously. “Is everything all right?”
“I’m fine, Archie,” Henry replied, petting Pongo.
“Who’re your friends?”
“I’m Apple Bloom sir,” Apple Bloom greeted. “And these are my friends, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle. And this is…”
“Just someone trying to give them a ride home,” Emma responded.
“She’s my mom, Archie,” Henry corrected.
“Oh… I see…” Archie nodded.
“You know where he lives?” Emma asked.
“Oh. Yeah, sure, just uh, right up on Mifflin Street,” Archie instructed. “The Mayor’s house is the biggest one on the block.”
“Oh yeah… her house…” Sweetie spoke nervously.
“You’re the Mayor’s kid?” Emma asked Henry.
“Uh… maybe?” Henry answered.
“It’s a long… very long story,” Apple Bloom added.
“Hey. Where were you today, Henry, because you missed our session,” Archie spoke.
“Oh. I forgot to tell you,” Henry answered. “My friends and I went on a field trip.”
“Yep! Just giving young Henry a tour of life outside Storybrooke,” Scootaloo lied. “Building some character, and uh… stuff…”
But Archie was not so easy to sway as they hoped. He crouched until he was face-to-face with Henry, who could barely look him straight in the eye.
“Henry, what’d I tell you about lying?” Archie reminded. “Giving in to one’s dark side never accomplishes anything.”
“O-kay!” Emma replied awkwardly. “Well, I really should be getting him home.”
“Yeah. Sure. Well, listen—have a good night, and uh, you be good, Henry.”
And just like that, Archie proceeded to walk away leading Pongo along.
“So that’s your shrink,” Emma remarked to Henry.
“I’m not crazy,” Henry argued.
“Didn’t say that. Just—he doesn’t seem cursed to me. Maybe he’s just trying to help you.”
“He’s the one who needs help. Because he doesn’t know—”
“That he’s a fairytale character!” Apple Bloom interrupted.
“None of them do!” Scootaloo added.
“We’ve seen almost ‘every’ inhabitant in this town in less than a week, and not one of them remembers who they are!” Sweetie Belle insisted. “Not even… well…”
“Convenient,” Emma remarked, as they returned to the car. “All right. I’ll play. Who’s he supposed to be?”
“Jiminy Cricket!” Henry answered.
“Right… the lying thing. Thought your nose grew a little bit.”
“I’m not Pinocchio.”
“’Cause ‘that’ would be ridiculous…” Scootaloo remarked, leaning back. “Hmm… who did Henry say he was again?”
As the group pondered in thought, the car drove off down the street toward the Mayor’s house, presumably Henry’s home.
<>
A large gathering assembled consisting of Snow White, Prince Charming, the dwarves, Red Riding Hood, Granny, Jiminy Cricket, Geppeto, the Canterlot Crew and a few castle guards. Together they were in the midst of discussing the threat made by Regina and Natalie earlier.
“I say we fight!” Charming yelled, slamming his fist on the table.
“Fighting is a bad idea,” Jiminy argued. “Giving into one’s dark side never accomplish anything.”
“And how many wars has a clear conscious won?” Charming shot back. “We need to take the queen and princess out before they can inflict the curse!”
“Now hold yer horses there Charming,” Applejack spoke up. “Ah understand wanting tah stop Regina and Natalie bout as much as y’all do. But yer talkin’ killing here…”
“Applejack’s right,” Twilight agreed. “If you allow yourself to do that, you’re no better than they are. None of us are.”
Charming merely looked toward them as though the girls were talking crazy.
“You can’t be serious!” He spoke bewildered. “I wouldn’t think you guys would be on my side especially since she has your sisters!”
This made Rarity, Applejack, and Rainbow Dash all look toward each other in concern.
“Yes Charming, she did take our sisters,” Rarity agreed. “And we’d want nothing more than to storm the castle and rescue them. However, if we so much as even make ‘one’ attempt, we know for a fact she’ll kill them with little thought.”
“Exactly!” Charming said. “So that’s why we must fight so that we can stop them and save those girls before it’s too late.”
“Can we even trust Rumplestiltskin?” Doc asked.
Prior to the meeting, Snow and Charming went to see Rumplestiltskin, the dark one, about the queen and princess. He told them they created a powerful curse and the only one able to stop it was Snow’s unborn child.
“I’ve sent my men into the forest,” Charming informed. “The animals are abuzz with their plan. This is going to happen unless we do something.”
“There’s no point, the future is written,” Snow declared.
“No!” Charming argued toward his wife. “I refuse to believe that; good can’t just lose.”
“Maybe it can,” Snow spoke, defeated.
“No… no, it can’t 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.”
Suddenly, the doors burst wide open. More castle guards entered the room, pulling what looked like a tree behind them.
“What the hell is this?” Charming asked.
And then, the blue fairy came floating down straight into the room.
“Oue only hope of saving the child,” She said.
“A tree?” Grumpy growled. “Our fate rests on a tree?”
“Maybe it’s not a bad idea to lean toward the fighting plan,” Rainbow suggested.
“Rainbow!” Applejack scolded.
“The tree is enchanted. If fashioned into a vessel it can ward off any curse,” She informed, facing Geppeto. “Geppeto, can you build such a thing?”
“Me and my boy, we can do it,” He said, patting young Pinocchio’s head.
“This will work,” Blue spoke confidently. “We all must have faith.”
Snow grabbed Charming’s hand and they looked at each other with huge smiles. They may actually escape this curse and this enchanted tree was their ticket. Blue, however, dropped her smile.
“There is, however, a catch,” She said. “The enchantment is indeed powerful, but all power has its limits, and this tree can protect only one.”
Suddenly, the room fell silent as if all hope had been ripped away from this joyous moment. Even the girls looked at each other with regret knowing just what Blue means.
“And we know ‘just’ the one…” Twilight sighed.
<>
Juliet Blanchard walked along the sidewalk to the Mills house. When she reached the front door, she gently knocked. Within a moment, Regina pulled the door open and stared at Juliet with wide eyes.
“Good evening Ms. Mills!” Juliet greeted kindly. “I’m here to—”
Her words were instantaneously cut off the moment Regina snatched her arm and yanked her inside. By the time Juliet was in the house, Regina slammed the door behind her.
“Henry is missing!” She cried out, in panic.
“What?!” Juliet asked shocked.
“Do you know where he is? In the last few times you’ve babysat, did he say anything or suggest anything that would make him run away?”
“No!” Juliet shook her head.
Regina glared toward the girl, pointing a single finger which made Juliet step back.
“Don’t lie to me little girl!” Regina growled. “If you know anything about where he is, you better tell me right now.”
Just then, Natalie came running down the stairs and her mother turned her attention much to Juliet’s relief.
“Mom, Henry’s back!” Natalie yelled.
Regina immediately jumped up from the table, raced toward the nearest window, and looked out. And there was Henry, in his black coat and red scarf, talking to some blonde woman in a red leather jacket. She could hear slightly what they were talking about.
“I’m sure your parents are worried about you,” The woman said.
“I don’t have parents, just a mom and a sister,” Henry replied. “And their evil!”
Hearing that made both Regina and Natalie feel as though a dagger were plunged into their hearts. Henry thought they were… evil? It was true in the old world, but ‘why’ did he think that now? Juliet, sitting nearby, was more confused for a different reason. In all the times she spent caring for Henry, she never heard such talk from the boy. Certainly not toward the most powerful woman in town.
“Evil, that’s a bit extreme isn’t it?” The woman asked.
“They are,” He said. “They don’t love me; they only pretend to.”
Natalie couldn’t bear to hear this anymore. She and her mother loved Henry, with every fiber of their beings. To hear him say otherwise… that’s the worst form of torture they’ve ever experienced. Regina got Sheriff Graham from the other room, while Natalie flung the door open.
“Henry?”
They both ran outside and embraced Henry with a massive hug, which he didn’t return.
“Oh Henry!” Regina’s voice cracked.
“Are you okay?” Natalie asked, looking him over.
“Where have you been?” Regina asked. “What happened?”
“I found my REAL mom!” He answered.
Without another word, Henry shoved right past them and raced into the house. Regina looked appalled after hearing Henry say that. She looked at Emma with shock upon her expression.
“Y-Your Henry’s birth mother?”
“Hi!” Emma replied nervously.
“I’ll just go check on the lad and make sure he’s all right,” Graham offered, heading into the house.
“I’ll come with you,” Natalie said.
“Actually Natty, why don’t you stay?” Regina asked, facing Emma. “How would you like a glass of the best apple cider you’ve ever tasted?”
“Got anything stronger?” Emma asked.
Juliet watched as Regina lead Emma into the dining room with Natalie following close behind. One glance out of the open door, and Juliet thought she saw something by the woman’s car. But whatever she saw, a trio of heads ducked out of sight before Juliet could get a good look. She looked out for a moment, then shrugged to herself, before closing the door.
Three heads indeed slowly peeked up along the window, looking toward the house. There was no way the CMC could afford to be seen especially near the premise of the occupant residing in that house. For if they knew that the girls were also involved with Henry’s absence, the boy won’t be the only one in trouble. They could only hope that Emma could handle herself and not take too long in that house.
<>
Taking some apple cider from the kitchen, as well as three glasses, she carried them toward the dining room where Natalie, Emma, and Juliet sat. She brought it back into the dining room and began pouring it, whereas Juliet sighed to herself since there wasn’t a glass for her.
“How did he even find me?” Emma asked.
“No idea,” Regina replied. “When Natalie and I went to adopt him, he was only three weeks old. The records were sealed. I was told the birth mother didn’t want to have ‘any’ contact.”
“You were told right.”
“And the father?” Natalie asked, taking a glass.
“There was one,” Emma replied.
“Should we be worried about him?” Juliet asked nervously. “I mean… this is the boy’s father we’re talking about.”
“Nope, he doesn’t even know,” Emma replied.
Regina walked over toward Emma, handing her the glass. The latter can tell just by the look on Regina’s face, some slight irritation was forming.
“Do I need to worry about you, Miss Swan?”
“Absolutely not,” Emma assured.
At that moment, Graham walked back downstairs.
“Madame Mayor, you can relax,” Graham spoke. “Other than being a tired little boy, Henry’s fine.”
“Thank you Sheriff,” Regina smiled. “Natty, would you please go check on Henry.”
“Of course mom,” She replied.
Setting her drink down, Natalie stuck her hand toward Emma.
“Pleasure to meet you Miss Swan.”
“You too,” Emma replied, shaking her hand.
Later, Natalie walked upstairs and stopped just short of the entrance to Henry’s bedroom. She was reluctant at first, but soon opened the door to see her little brother curled up on his bed.
“Hey kiddo,” She spoke sweetly. “You doing alright?”
But Henry did not even stir, which all the more made Natalie frown. Whatever patience remained in her, she walked over and sat at the foot of his bed.
“Henry… do you really think mom and I are evil?” She asked. “I need you to be honest with me.”
Henry just sat there, not even rewarding Natalie’s question with a word. She looked toward the floor with disappointment, seeing there was no way she could get him to speak to her. All she could do was place a gentle hand upon his shoulder.
“Well… if you do need anything, you know where to find me,” She said.
She soon made her way out of his bedroom and shut the door softly. Still with a frown on her face, she returned to her own room and got dressed for bed. Ditching the skirt, she put on a pair of pajama shorts and climbed into bed. And for a while, she laid there thinking about why Henry would suddenly think she and Regina were evil. He’d never thought of such before.
“Why now?” She thought.
<>
The next morning…
Natalie woke up, stretching out her arms and legs. For the first time in a while, she didn’t have dreams about home. That was a bit strange because she’d been so used to it. Proceeding to her closet, she changed into an ensemble consisting of a pair of black yoga pants, a red t-shirt, and her signature black leather jacket. Black and red were truly her favorite colors, truthfully she’d want to wear it ‘all’ the time. But her mother insisted on her wearing more than two colors.
Afterward, she proceeded downstairs to find her mother already in her coat and shoes, the car keys clutched in her hands.
“Going somewhere mom?” She asked.
“Yes we are!” Regina replied, clearly annoyed. “Henry’s run away… again.”
“Seriously?!” Natalie sighed. “Where to this time? What’s up with that kid lately?”
“I have no idea. Quick, grab a bagel from the kitchen. We’re leaving in five minutes.”
Natalie nodded as she walked into the kitchen where a bagel was already waiting on the place, the cream cheese spread and all. Her mother knew her so well. One bite of the bagel put a smile on Natalie’s face as she stepped out the front door toward the black Mercedes her mother drove.
“Where are we going?” She asked, with her mouth full.
“Natty, I really wish you wouldn’t speak with food in your mouth,” Regina groaned. “It’s not very ladylike.”
Natalie immediately swallowed the bagel and wiped her face clean with a napkin she swiped from the kitchen.
“Sorry mom,” Natalie smiled.
“You know I love you right?” She asked.
“Of course.”
<>
It wasn’t long before they pulled into the sheriff’s station and made their way inside. Graham was currently speaking with Emma, who was locked inside of a cell.
“Graham, Henry’s run away again. We have to…”
Regina stopped in her tracks upon the sight of Emma, her sentence completely cut off.
“What is she doing here?” Regina asked. “Do you know where he is?”
“Lady, I haven’t seen him since I dropped him at your place,” She replied. “And I have a pretty good alibi.”
“Yeah well, he wasn’t in his room this morning,” Natalie spoke up. “And you were with him the last time he ran away.”
“Did you try his ‘friends’?” Emma asked.
“What friends?” Natalie replied. “He doesn’t have any; he’s kind of a loner.”
“Every kid has friends,” Emma replied. “Did you check his computer? If he’s close to someone, he’d be emailing them.”
“And you know this how?” Regina asked curiously.
“Finding people is what I do. Here’s an idea: You let me go and I’ll help you find him.”
<>
Soon everyone was back in Henry’s room, searching through his computer for any clues that could lead to his whereabouts. Anything they could find would determine just where Henry had gone… only they soon realized finding the boy would be easier said than done.
“Smart kid. He cleared out his inbox… I’m smart too,” Emma said, pulling out a hard-drive. “A little hard disk recovery utility I like to use.”
“I’m a bit more ‘old fashioned’ in my techniques,” Graham replied. “Pounding the pavement, knocking on doors, that sort of thing.”
“You’re on salary, I get paid for delivery,” Emma said.
Soon the hard disk proceeded to scan through the computer, gathering whatever data Emma would need to ensure a successful find.
“Pounding the pavement is not a luxury I get.”
Soon, a small beep was heard. A cue that the hard drive found just what they needed.
“Huh… there’s a receipt for a website whosyourmomma.org,” Emma observed. “It’s expensive, he has a credit card?”
“He’s ten!” Regina replied.
“What about her?” Emma asked, pointing to Natalie.
“Hey, I’m responsible with my money,” She replied, showing the card. “Always keep it with me at all times. I’d never give it to just anyone, especially Henry.”
“Well he used one,” Emma spoke, studying the screen. “Let’s pull up a transaction record. ‘Mary Margaret Blanchard’… who is Mary Margaret Blanchard?”
Regina and Natalie frowned, staring angrily toward the name in question.
“Henry’s teacher,” Regina answered.
<>
Walking into one of the classrooms at school, Regina and Natalie spotted Mary Margaret Blanchard (a.k.a. Snow White) speaking to one of her students. They approached her rather impatiently, and she too was a slight shocked to see them there. But she was not the ‘only’ one shocked by their sudden arrivals. Three particular students quickly brought their books to their faces, desperately trying to hide themselves while spying on the angry pair.
“Miss Mills, Natalie, what are you two doing here?” She asked.
“Where’s my son?!” Regina asked angrily.
“Henry? I thought he was home sick with you.”
“Do you think we’d be here if he was?” Natalie asked harshly.
“Did you give him your credit card so he could find her?” Regina gestured to Emma, who just entered.
“I’m sorry who are you?” Mary Margaret asked Emma.
“I’m his…” She began to say. “I’m his…”
“The woman who gave him up for adoption,” Regina finished.
Mary Margaret began searching through her purse when Emma spoke up again.
“You don’t know anything about this do you?”
“No, I don’t,” She replied.
And the teacher kept searching through her purse only to notice that one of her credit cards was missing.
“Clever boy… I never should have given him that book.”
“What in the hell is this book I keep hearing about?!” Regina yelled.
“Just some old stories I gave him. As you well know, Henry is a special boy. So smart, so creative, and as you might be aware, ‘lonely’. He needed it.”
“What he ‘needs’ is a dose of reality,” Regina replied back.
“Come on mom, this is a waste of time!” Natalie spoke, walking toward the door.
Regina turned around in a huff, storming out the room while knocking down a stack of books.
“Have a nice trip back to Boston,” She muttered toward Emma.
Emma just looked on as Regina left the room. Three pairs of eyes looked up from the books, as the CMC themselves watched nervously as the woman and her daughter finally left. Silent sighs escaped their lips knowing that for the time being they were safe.
“This is getting ridiculous,” Scootaloo muttered. “We can’t keep hiding like this forever!”
“We don’t have a choice Scoots,” Apple Bloom responded. “Until we’re able to recover our friends and get the hay outta this town, we cain’t afford those two to stop us.”
“Oh Henry… if he truly knew what was really going on,” Sweetie Belle sighed. “I just still can’t believe how it came to this…”
<>
Snow White’s screaming was heard all throughout the entire kingdom. Her child was coming now, and with that arrival… the curse drew near. If she had the baby now, all hope for the plan of escaping with her daughter would be lost. But this was one impatient baby.
Regina and Natalie sat in the carriage, speeding toward the direction of Snow White and Prince Charming’s castle. Dark clouds representing the curse was not far behind them nor their black knights, a sinister group speeding alongside them. Eventually the carriage came to a stop just outside the castle walls, they could hear Snow White’s screams from the other side. Wicked smiles spread across the faces of both Regina and Natalie; hearing Snow’s pain gave them a sense of sick pleasure.
“Today’s the day we finally win,” Regina declared evilly.
“Indeed mother,” Natalie replied.
Both women stepped out of the carriage and together they walked through the castle door.
Inside, the sounds of a newborn infant crying was the happiest moment to brace Snow and Charming’s ears. Their new daughter, Emma, all bundled up in Snow’s arms. Even Twilight Sparkle and her friends were very pleased to see such life emerge into the new world. But then it suddenly dawned on them, even Twilight knew what this meant.
“The wardrobe…” Twilight realized, facing Snow White. “Snow… you know it only takes one.”
Snow White turned toward Twilight Sparkle sadly, her expression made the rest of the group look down sadly. Suddenly, sounds of a struggle were heard just outside their bedroom. It was clear there was no more time.
“Then our plan has failed,” Charming spoke sadly.
“Well… at least we’ll still be together,” Pinkie replied hopefully.
As bad as Snow didn’t wish to, she knew there was only ‘one’ thing they can do.
“No… you have to take her,” Snow instructed, handing the baby to Charming. “Take the baby to the wardrobe.”
“Are you insane?!” He asked shocked.
“We don’t even know what’ll happen!” Rainbow added.
“We ain’t got a choice, now do we?” Applejack retorted.
“Applejack’s right, darling,” Rarity agreed. “We have to believe Snow’s child will come back for all of us. This is our best chance we have for the kingdom, for our sisters… and us.”
Charming gazed into his wife’s eyes, knowing deep down she was right. That they were ‘all’ right. He leaned down, kissed his daughter’s forehead, and Snow did the same.
“Goodbye Emma,” Snow spoke tearfully.
“Stay safe…” Fluttershy cooed.
Charming took the baby, walked toward the door, and grabbed for his sword. He turned back toward Snow, the girls, and Spike for a brief moment. Without a second thought, he rushed toward the wardrobe. Rainbow Dash and Applejack turned toward each other and gave a silent nod knowing what they must do.
“You girls guard Snow!” Applejack instructed. “Dash and I will keep Charming safe.”
“Just let Regina’s troops try and stop us!” Rainbow added, cracking her knuckles.
“Be careful girls!” Twilight spoke worriedly.
“C’mon Twi!” Rainbow smirked. “It’s ‘me’, remember?”
Not too long after leaving, the girls followed Charming’s trail only to find he was facing a group of knights, with Emma still in his grasp. The knights slashed with their swords, one nearly hitting Emma, but Charming blocked each strike and defeated the knights with ease. Just as another group of knights arrived to take their place, Rainbow Dash zipped toward the knights and barreled them down like pins. Applejack even took a discarded shield and blocked a sword swipe from another knight and gave a hard kick to the sternum knocking them down.
“GO!!!” Applejack shouted. “Get her out of here!”
Charming gave a quick nod and made a mad dash through the hall, while Applejack and Rainbow Dash kept the swarming knights occupied. Soon he entered Emma’s nursery, carefully placing her inside the magic wardrobe, and kissed her forehead one last time.
“Find us,” He spoke his last words.
Just as Charming closed the wardrobe, the doors burst open, and a pair of bodies were thrown violently into the nursery. Applejack and Rainbow Dash, overwhelmed by the knights, laid on the hard floor before Charming’s feet. Before he could react, two more Knights entered the nursery. One of them stuck his blade through Charming’s abdomen and he collapsed upon the ground, dead.
Regina and Natalie walked through the destroyed halls of the castle and surveyed the damage. Many castle guards were dead, all the paintings and banners burned within the flames as they finally reached the nursery. By the time they got there, Snow tried to wake her husband with a kiss and the girls gathered around their fallen friends, who were either unconscious… or worse…
“DASHIE!!! WAKE UP!!!” Pinkie cried out. “Oh please, Dashie! Don’t do this to us! Please, please, PLEASE! Say something!”
“Applejack… wake up!” Rarity cried, clutching her friend’s head. “You just can’t leave us… you just can’t!”
“Oh, don’t worry dears!” Regina replied, with Natalie behind her. “In a few moments, neither of you will even remember them.”
“Let alone ‘loved’ them…” Natalie smirked evilly.
“Why are you doing this?!” Sunset asked angrily.
“Because this is ‘our’ happy ending,” Regina snarled. “And I won’t let you take that away!”
Two black knights entered the room, and Regina smiled wickedly.
“The child?” She asked.
“Gone… it was in the wardrobe then it was gone,” One knight informed. “It’s nowhere to be found.
“You idiots!” Natalie growled, facing Snow and her friends. “Where is she?”
“She got away, you’re going to lose,” Snow said.
“You can destroy our bodies Regina, but you will ‘never’ have your happily ever after!” Twilight spoke determined.
“That’s right!” Spike nodded. “Good guys ‘always’ win! Always have, always will!”
We’ll see about that…” Regina chuckled.
Suddenly, the room started to rip apart. A violent wind blew forcefully into the nursery, as Twilight Sparkle and her friends looked around toward the darkness which began to overtake them.
“Where are we going?” Snow asked.
“Somewhere horrible…” Natalie replied.
“Absolute horrible,” Regina emphasized, one arm around Natalie. “A place where the only happy ending… will be ‘ours’!”
As the world around them turned black, the girls and Spike faced each other then quickly gathered around each other in a tight huddle surrounding their fallen friends. They gave one last look of determination toward each other, as they held each other’s hands.
“Whatever happens now… we have to hope that our girls will make it!” Twilight declared. “No matter how long it takes… no matter what we must do… we’ll find each other again… somehow…”
And just like that… the darkness swept over the entire team, all of them closing their eyes bracing themselves for the impact… and then… ‘nothing’…
<>
Later…
Emma and Henry walked toward the Mills mansion, where Regina and Natalie stood waiting. Henry did not even acknowledge the pair, merely rushing past them again as he stormed through the house. Regina watched as Henry climbed the stairs to his room before turning back toward Emma.
“Thank you,” She smiled.
“No problem,” Emma replied.
“Seems he’s taken quite a shine to you, hasn’t he?” Natalie asked rhetorically.
“You know what’s kind of crazy?” Emma chuckled. “Yesterday was my birthday and when I blew out the candle on this cupcake I bought myself, I actually made a wish that I didn’t have to be alone on my birthday. And then… Henry showed up.”
“I hope there is no misunderstanding,” Regain spoke.
“I’m sorry?” Emma asked confused.
“Don’t mistake this as an invitation into his life!” Natalie shot at Emma.
“Miss Swan, you made a decision ten years ago,” Regina added angrily. “And for the last decade while you’ve been, well who knows ‘what’ you’ve been doing, I have changed every diaper, soothed every fever, endured every tantrum. You may have given birth to him, but he is my son!”
“I was not…”
“No, you don’t get to speak!” Regina growled. “You don’t get to do ‘anything’. You gave up that right when you tossed him away. Do you know what a closed adoption is? It’s what you asked for. You have no legal right to Henry, and you are going to be held to that. So I suggest you get back in your car and you leave this town because if you don’t, I will destroy you if it is the last thing I do. Goodbye Miss Swan.”
“Do you love him?”
“Excuse me?” Regina asked, slightly offended.
“Henry… do you love him?” Emma emphasized.
“Of course I love him!” She replied, sealing the door.
The only ones left on the front lawn were Emma and Natalie. Natalie had a look on her face that screamed ‘awkward’. For a brief moment, Emma and Natalie just looked at each other with utter silence.
“Wow, you’ve unleashed the full storm Miss Swan,” Natalie replied, breaking the silence. “Know this: My mother will stop at nothing to ensure you are gone for good… and neither will I.”
“Wait what?” Emma asked.
“You heard me!” She growled. “You have two choices Miss Swan: Leave now and live your life in whatever way you want… or feel our wrath. Oh… and don’t let another sign hit you on the way out… on second thought…”
Natalie spat inches from Emma’s feet, as she turned into the house and slammed the door behind her. She proceeded into the living room, finding her mother holding Henry’s book as she stood in front of the mirror.
“Is she gone?” Regina asked.
“Yes mom… and I believe she won’t be coming back,” Natalie smirked evilly. “I warned her that if she doesn’t leave, that the both of us will deal with her. Just give me the word mother… and she won’t be a bother to you ever again.”
Regina approached her daughter and placed a single hand under her chin with a smile.
“That’s my evil little girl…”
<>
“You’re out all night, and now you’re going out again?!”
“I should’ve moved to Boston!”
“I’m sorry that my heart attacked interfered with your plans to sleep your way down the Eastern Seaboard!”
Emma had just entered what was presumably the local inn and she just happened to walk right into some argument between two women. Probably a grandmother and her granddaughter, judging by how they interacted with one another. Speaking of which, the two women in question, Ruby Lucas and her granny, made their way down the stairs as they continued their arguing.
“’Scuse me?” Emma called out. “I’d—like a room?”
This caught both Granny and Ruby by surprise as they both looked at her in shock.
“Really?” Granny spoke.
Emma gave a single nod and Granny made to fetch a ledger.
“Would you like a forest view or a square view? Normally there’s an upgrade fee for the square, but as the rent is due I’ll wave it.”
“Square is fine,” Emma assured.
Just then, the front door opened and slammed shut. The three women all turned around and saw a girl with pinkish skin walk in. She wore a dark hoodie which she pulled over her head. Based on what features could be made out, they could see her hair was straight and flat. So long that it fell completely over her shoulders. Her baby blue eyes looked so lifeless, so sad. Even her demeanor gave the impression that she just looked so upset.
“Hi Granny…” She greeted somberly. “Hi Red… how’s business going today?”
“Well… we’ve finally got a customer,” Granny responded. “That’s a start in the right direction.”
“How about you Skye?” Ruby asked. “Therapy going any better?”
“Same as always…” Skye responded dryly. “I go in, they tell me to be happy, think lovely thoughts… but nothing ever happens. I’ll be in my room if anyone needs me… which I doubt. Sigh…”
The girl proceeded to slug her way up the stairs. Emma kept watch after her until the girl disappeared from view.
“Who was that?” She asked.
“That’s Skye Richards,” Granny responded. “Local girl with serious depression issues.”
“Why? What happened?”
“We have no idea,” Ruby responded. “For as long as anyone can remember, she’s always been so sad and somber about… everything. When we found her, she’d been homeless for a good part of her life. We offered her room and board here as long as she helps out in the diner… but she never seems happy.”
“Well… why?” Emma asked.
“Like I said… we don’t know. She won’t talk about what happened or why she was homeless in the first place… or even if she has family. She keeps rambling, ‘It wasn’t my fault’. Eventually, we just ‘stopped’ asking.”
“Don’t worry, she’s a girl who likes to keep to herself mostly,” Granny assured. “She won’t bother you none. Now… what’s the name?”
“Swan… Emma Swan.”
“Emma… what a lovely name.”
Emma quickly spun around behind her and saw a man in a very fancy black suit with shaggy dark hair looking right at her with a smile. Though he seemed like a very polite man, he certainly gave off a creepy vibe. There was also a girl standing next to him, with skin white as fresh fallen snow. She wore a very dark purple-and-blue blouse covered by a fur boa, a black skirt with three diamonds embroidered on it as well as knee-high boots. A bored look was upon her face as she stood with her hands on her hips.
“Thanks…” Emma said awkwardly.
“How much longer is this going to take papa?” The young girl asked.
“Shouldn’t be but a moment longer dear,” The man responded, with a smirk.
Granny reached into the top drawer of her desk, pulled out a roll of money, and handed it to the man.
“It’s all here,” She said.
“Yes, yes, of course it is, dear. Thank you.”
He then looked toward Emma again with a smile.
“You enjoy your stay, Emma.”
He opened the door for the young girl to exit first and then closed the door as he followed her out.
“Who’s that?” Emma asked.
“Mr. Gold…” Ruby responded, facing the window. “He owns this place.”
“The inn?”
“No…” Granny shook her head. “The town.”
“The girl’s his daughter, Ariana,” Ruby continued. “He adopted her when she was two years old. She’s just as cold and calculating as the man who raised her. Best to not get on either of their bad sides.”
“Good to know,” Emma nodded.
“So! How long will you be with us?” Granny asked.
“A week…” Emma answered. “Just a week.”
“Great!” Granny smiled, handing Emma a key. “Welcome to Storybrooke.”
<>
Meanwhile, halfway across town, Henry Mills sat at the windowsill of his bedroom. His eyes gazed toward the giant clock tower in town. The very clock that, for his entire life, had not moved from the time of 8:15 even once… that is until the big hand of the clock actually moved one minute forward. This caused Henry to smile in glee, knowing that this meant things were finally starting to change.
In town itself, the CMC walked silently down the streets for an evening stroll. They too saw the hand finally budge an inch, their expression in awe as if they were seeing a miracle for the first time. They turned toward each other and realized this was the beginning of something greater.
“Girls… I dunno how we’re gonna do it… and I dunno wut it’ll take…” Apple Bloom spoke. “But somehow, we’re gettin’ our friends back… and those mean ole ladies will pay for what they dun!”
“I sure hope so, Apple Bloom…” Sweetie spoke quietly. “Our friends and family are practically right under our noses… but they’ve changed so much! All of them… even…”
“Do not think that way Sweetie Belle!” Scootaloo scolded. “They’ve never given up on us no matter how often we screw up. We can’t give up on them. Until we figure out how to snap themselves back to their old selves, we’ve got to hope Emma can help us.”
“She has to… if the rumors are true…” Apple Bloom spoke. “Our only hope to get our happily ever after back, to get everyone’s back… it all rests on her…”
