Once Upon A Time: Goldilocks comes to Storybrooke

Chapter 37

Goldilocks was waiting at the docks, in the exact same spot as she had been with Cruella the few nights before. This time she was alone. Henry had offered to come with her, but she had said no. Goldilocks had told him it would be best if she did it alone. But really it was so he didn't learn about the ring.

"Darling, I almost didn't recognise you then," Cruella said from behind Goldilocks. Goldilocks spun around. "Your hair, you straightened it," Cruella said, walking towards Goldilocks.

"Well done," Goldilocks rolled her eyes.

"Did you get what I asked?" Cruella questioned her niece.

"The ring and the key, yes," Goldilocks had both in her pocket, and she brought out the ring, and held it up between two fingers.

Cruella gasped quietly. "It's been ages since I've seen that ring." Cruella tried to grab it, but Goldilocks quickly moved it out of her reach.

"Tell me where Merida is, and if your answer is detailed enough, then I'll give you your precious ring."

"Ring? Precious?" Cruella laughed softly. "Ahh, Gollum was so funny."

"Goll-what!?" Goldilocks asked.

"There's this TV show called The-never mind. It just reminded me of something I used to watch on television. You wouldn't understand, you haven't been here long enough to know what I'm talking about."

Goldilocks tilted her head. "I have no idea what you just said."

"Never mind. How about you just give me the ring, and then I'll tell you what you need to know about your beloved cousin."

"Or how about you tell me what I need to know about my cousin, and then I'll give you your beloved ring," Goldilocks suggested.

"Now don't you get cocky with me young lady," Cruella pointed a warning finger.

Goldilocks laughed. "Then tell me what I want to know."

Cruella didn't like the idea of being beaten by a child, but she sighed and told Goldilocks. "Your cousin Merida was turned into a bear when she was sixteen."

"A bear!?"

Cruella nodded. "Yes. And I told you she had died. But right after she had been turned into a bear, Merida was then turned into a statue. She is now in that little forest, on the outskirts of Storybrooke."

"But-" Goldilocks felt weak at the knees. "How-why-who-"

"But I'm afraid them questions weren't part of our deal, darling," Cruella said as she tried to grab the ring from Goldilocks.

"I have one more thing I want to know," Goldilocks said, raising her finger, commanding Cruella to stand back. "Henry told me they met Merida a few years ago, but how could they, if Merida has spent over thirty years as a statue?"

"Do you know what a clone is, darling?" Cruella asked.

"It's a copy of something, right?" Goldilocks replied. Then her eyes grew wide with horror. "Wait, are you saying somebody turned Merida into a bear statue, and then cloned her?! Where's the clone now?!"

"Long gone," Cruella promised.

"Oh, and I also got told you were supposed to be dead," Goldilocks raised her eyebrows at her aunt. "Care to explain that?"

Cruella looked around, clearly getting impatient. "You sure do like to ask a lot of questions, don't you, darling?" Cruella sighed. "But if you must know, I became ruler of the Underworld when Hades was killed. Then some... handsome, rather dashing... annoying King called Arthur comes along, and tries to take my kingdom away from me. I remember the storybook that belongs to Henry, and I remember there was a copy in the Underworld. I found it, and learnt what my unfinished buisness was."

"Which was?" Goldilocks asked, tightening her grip on the ring in her hand. 

"To make sure you learnt the truth about your cousin, and for me to some - well - unfinished buisness. I went to Zeus, lord of the sky, and convinced him to let me come back to the real world in order to finish my work and move on to a better place." Cruella flashed a smile. "Let's just say, Zeus had one night in heaven, even though he lives in the sky."

Goldilocks raised her eyebrows, and looked away for a short moment. "So how do I use the key to find Merida?"

"Pass me my ring first," Cruella said.

Goldilocks hesitated, but tossed the ring over to Cruella.

Cruella admired the ring befit looking up. "You see darling, the key will open the statue up, and you will be able to find out how to turn your cousin back into a human.... I must be off now."

"No! Please! Tell me more! Wait!" Goldilocks cried out, but Cruella seemed to have disappeared, leaving Goldilocks alone.

Goldilocks could hardly think. Her head was buzzing, her mind felt like it was about to explode, and get heart was hammering in her chest.

Merida was a bear? A bear statue? But she had been cloned all these years?

Goldilocks had to grab hold of the railing to stop herself from falling over. She heard the sound of a car, but it sounded so distant. She turned her head slightly, and saw the light of a huge black car. Henry, Regina, Emma and Dr Hopper all climbed out.

"There she is," Regina said, noticing Goldilocks.

"Goldilocks!" Henry called.

"Henry - " Goldilocks whispered, but her eye sight blurred, and she lost her footing. She slipped, banging her head on the railing, and lost consciousness.