PAST - ONE YEAR AGO - THE ENCHANTED FOREST
Prince Philip rode through the woods. Aurora prepared a picnic.
"You're late," Aurora said.
"I came as quickly as I could," Prince Philip replied.
"I'm hungry and I miss you." Prince Phillip embraced her. They kissed.
Prince Phillip looked at Aurora's belly, gently stroking it. "You're always hungry now."
"And cranky. I'm sorry. I know, there are royal responsibilities."
"None that match my responsibilities to you. Our family. I'm the one who should be sorry."
In the distance, thunder and rumbling could be heard. Purple clouds rose.
Aurora looked up to the sky. "What is that? Is it a storm?"
Their horses fled the scene in panic. Lightning hit the ground.
"That's not a storm," Philip said. "It's magic. Come. We need to get you to safety. Now." They turned to run. With one final rumbling the purple clouds disappeared. "Are you all right?"
"Yeah, I think so. What was that?" Aurora replied.
"I don't know."
They turned around and faced a group of former residents: Snow White, Prince Charming, the Dwarves, the Evil Queen, Neal Cassidy, Nichole Cassidy, Granny, Red Riding Hood, Hook and Belle.
Aurora, surprised, asked, "Snow? What happened?"
"We're back," Snow White said.
LAND WITHOUT MAGIC - PRESENT DAY - NEW YORK CITY - RESTAURANT "OSTRIA"
Emmett entered. A woman awaited her.
"Hey," the woman greeted.
"Sorry, I'm late," Emmett apologized as the woman stood and embraced him.
"I guess that means your friend caught the guy."
"So optimistic. I like it."
"If you hadn't you'd have cancelled."
"You know me too well."
"Emmett Swan always gets his man." A waiter served a glass of wine.
"And apparently my drink. Thank you."
"Thank you. How did Henry's volcano do at science fair?"
"It was Pompeii all over again. Thank you for your help." They clinked glasses.
"Come on. All I did was convince him not to use real lava."
"His teachers did appreciate that. Let's eat. I'm starving."
"Let's do it." Emmett looked at the menu enlisting small plates.
Both enjoyed a meal and the woman asked, "Are you happy? With your food - are you happy?"
"We are happy," Emmett told her.
"I'll be right back." She stood.
"Okay." A waiter took the plate away. "Thanks." Emmett's cell phone beeped. "Hang on, I'll just finish one quick work thing." Elizabeth sat opposite Emmett. "You!"
Elizabeth interrupted him. "I can explain."
Emmett, angry, cried, "You are a stalker!"
"Don't scream. Just hear me out. I don't do this very often. So treasure it, love. I've come to apologize."
YOU ARE READING
Rise Above
FantasyEmmett and his family, alongside a few others, are on a quest to save his son. But a threat they know not is lurking, and it won't be as easy as they think. And just when they think they've settled everything, new faces appear and new threats emerg...
