Once Upon A Time ~ Book 1

Chapter 129 - Pale, Still Faces

Charming strolled from the lake to the land opposite the forbidden fortress where Rumplestiltskin stood watching him by a fire he had lit by the water.
"Impressive, dearie." called Rumplestiltskin to him as he stepped onto the rocks, water dripping from his chin to his soaked clothes. "Very impressive, indeed. Come warm yourself."
"I have done what you've asked. Return my ring to me."
"Of course, you're in a bit of a rush. How rude of me." he lifted his hand to reveal the silver ring between his dirty, yellow fingers, the green jewel glistening in the sunlight. He stepped closer to him as he walked towards him. "With this, Prince Charming.......you will find her." he held it out to him.
He panted heavily and looked down at the ring, taking it as it glistened bright. He gazed at it then stepped past Rumplestiltskin and towards the white horse that was waiting near by. "Thank you."
"Something's missing." he turned to him and Charming stopped.
Rumplestiltskin waved his hands and velvet red haze surrounded Charming, then as it faded away he appeared in a velvet red clothing and a glamorous cloak to match the haze. He stared down at what was no longer his torn leather coat and trousers with worn boots.
"Now your ready for your big moment."
"Why do you want us together?" he asked curiously. "What do you get out of it?"
He shrugged his shoulders. "I'm a fan of true love, dearie. And more importantly, what it creates."

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Emma stared up at the dragon that snarled and growled at her as she lay upright on the dusty, rocky ground. Then she held up her gun again and fired some useless shots up at the beast. The shots echoed loudly throughout the cave mine over the growling, buy they did nothing else but intimate the dragon.
"Really?" shouted Emma, frustrated. She jumped to her feet and continued running through the mine, still firing shots behind her as the beast threw flames at her through his mouth. She hid behind some rocks, at loss at what to do as she fired aimlessly at the dragon. Then the heed of her father's sword glistened in the flames the dragon breathed and an idea caught her mind. She took a last look at the dragon and dodged the flames, running towards the sword on the rocky ground. She picked it up and held it high as the beast came around the corner.
"Hey!" she yelled and she grunted loudly, her voice echoing as she held the sword above her head and threw it at the dragon's leathery chest, where the skin was about to break from the heat and flames. It thrust straight into the leathery skin, breaking, sending cracks of flames around it's body and exploding it. Emma fell back, holding her head to dodge the explosion of the beast.
Then when the sound of the dragon's growling could no longer be heard and only the crackling of the fire remained, Emma raised her head, gazing ahead at the dark, misty cave mine, lit up by little remaining sparks of flames floating in the air. She gazed at the ashes on the rocky ground and at the golden egg that glistened in the little light from the tunnels. She slowly rose to her feet and stepped through the fresh, warm ashes beneath her knee-high leather boots. Then she bent down in the remains of the beast, lifting from the ashes the egg, as she stared at it solemnly. She panted heavily and held it close to her chest, fear in her eyes.

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Prince Charming rod on his nobel steed on a bridge accross a mighty river, his velvet cloak bellowing in the wind. He reached the forest and rod through it's magnificent trees and glanced down at the ring he hooked on his smallest finger as it glowed brighter than ever before. He then urged his horse to ride faster and eventually reached a snowy part of the woods where the dwarfs crowded around a glass coffin. He jumped from his horse and ran towards them, snowflakes in his brown hair. The dwarfs looked around at him.
"Your too late." said Doc sadly.
Then Charming saw behind Doc Snow in the glass coffin, her face pale, white as snow, her hair black as soot, her lips red as the rose. His eyes filled with fear.
"No. No!" he exclaimed. He gazed down at her, then he looked up at the dwarfs, his eyes filed with tears. "I least let me say goodbye."
The dwarfs looked at one another then pulled the glass lid from the coffin.
He gazed down at her beautiful, still face, then went down on his knees, bending down and kissing her rose red lips. Then a shudder came from the touch of their lips and it engulfed the land, traveling through the forest accross the lake.
Snow gasped and her eyes shot open as she breathed in the air. She gazed up at him and he smiled in relief. She reached up and touched his rough cheek.
"You found me." she smiled.
He held her arm. "Did you ever doubt I would?"