Truth or Bears

Chapter 5

 'To where?!' the White Rabbit asked in shock.

'To Storybrooke' she answered without looking up as she opened her closet and packed a few things in a backpack. She really hoped that the weather was nice there, because she had to give away her coats and jumpers the last time she moved, and she hadn't had time to buy new ones yet. She opened a drawer and looked down. There it was. The cloak. Her cloak. She started stroking the leopard patterned fur as memories flew through her mind.

'Are you even listening to me?' the Rabbit's voice dragged her back to reality.

'Oh, sorry. I was impolite' she said as she realized that she approached the Rabbit the wrong way. 'Dear White Rabbit, great friend of mine, could you take me to Storybrooke? Pretty please?' she said as she tried not to grin so hard in excitement.

'I am sorry Goldy, but I can't.' the White Rabbit shook his head. 'I would love to, but I'm in a hurry. I have to be home soon, and my wife's gonna kill me if I'm late. You know, we are going to a dinner party....

'Excuses! Always the excuses!' she exclaimed as she swept some more stuff in her bag. She turned to the Rabbit to face him. 'Listen Rabbit, this is much more important than some stupid dinner party! Besides, it won't take long! I'm almost ready' she said as she put on her cloak and turned back to keep packing. 'It's just a few minutes! You just put me down there then go home. It's simple. And don't worry about me. I will manage on my own' she smiled. 'Please...'

'But I can't.' the Rabbit said it. 'Even if I wanted to.'

'And why's that?' Goldilocks turned around to face him.

'Well... The borders are closed. I mean, with magic. No one can see or go through.' the Rabbit said.

'Okay...' First things first: why wouldn't you want me to go to Storybrooke?' she eyed him curiously.

The Rabbit sighed and shrugged. 'We both know why you want to go to Storybrooke, and I can tell you, it will end in heartbreak for you.'

'So dramatic now, aren't we?' she murmured. 'You know, I'm not going because of him. I want to have a real life. Not this fake one. I don't want to pretend anymore' she sighed. 'I've always lived in a magical world. World filled with... magic. And this world... without it... it just seems so wrong to me.'

The Rabbit looked at her doubtfully. 'So you really want to go?'

'Yep' she answered.

'Even though he's married?' the Rabbit asked raising an eyebrow.

Goldilocks jaws dropped. 'He's married?' she asked in shock. Then she felt embarrassed. Of course, he's married. He had moved on. It's not liked they had made any promises anyway. She pulled herself together and faked a smile.

'So what? I said I wanted to go to have a normal life. I mean a normal one, considering the life in the Enchanted Forest.' she shrugged.

'He has a daughter.' the Rabbit added. 'I saw them once. Father and daughter - they had such a unique relationship. You wouldn't want to ruin a family, would you?' he said eyeing her. That was too much for Goldilocks. Bringing up her past was something that he didn't have the right to do.

'I said I don't care!' she shouted but her voice was unsteady.

The Rabbit looked at her with pity in his eyes. Goldilocks suddenly realised. The Rabbit felt sorry for her. She felt rage building inside her.

'The White Rabbit of Wonderland' she screamed in fury. 'Don't you dare take pity on me because I fell in love! Oh, don't you dare patronise me because I've waited! How dare of you to think that love is weakness?! You with your happy family, still thinking that love makes you weak! After what you've been through...' she shook her head. 'I should be the one to feel sorry for you...'

Now, it was the Rabbit's turn to burst out in rage.

'Yes, it does make you weak! The Red Queen blackmailed me with my family! I became weak and helped her! There's nothing to be ashamed of! Yes, love is amazing in every form, but it is a weakness, indeed. And you have no idea, what I've been through so don't pretend to know it all!' the Rabbit grunted.

'Then the same applies to you' she said calmly. The Rabbit took a deep breath. He knew Goldilocks was right. He didn't have the right to tell her what to do or what not to. Besides, he knew that Goldilocks had a bad temper and he had expected something like that.

'Still, I can't take you there' he said after nodding. 'The borders are closed...'

'Then take me to the border' she shrugged. 'I'll figure out something, just drop me off there.'

'But you can't get into the town, I've told you. Don't speak such nonsense!'

'Says the talking white rabbit from Wonderland' Goldilocks pointed at him. Finally, the Rabbit cracked a smile.

'Still thinking about six impossible things before breakfast?' he grinned.

'Never forgetting it' she grinned back.

'Fine. I'll take you there' the Rabbit gave in. 'But, I stay with you, until you realise this is useless, and then I bring you back home.'

Goldilocks rolled her eyes. Poor Rabbit, never giving up! 'Fine' she sighed.

'Okay. Are you ready?'

'Just a second' she said as she unlocked her phone and sent a message to her only friend in this harsh, magic-less world.

NotRapunzel25: How about that meeting, this week? :)

Goldilocks turned her phone off, then accidently touched her necklace. She brushed the cool copper mask-formed medal with her fingers. Maybe the Rabbit was right. She should move on now. And she won't need it, where she was going, anyway. There will be magic. And other people like her. The ones who encountered magic, but couldn't do it. Overwhelmed by the feeling of going home, she ripped off her necklace and threw it out of the open window. It's time for her to break free.

She glanced at the mirror once more, fuzzing with her punk-princess tiara in front of it. She certainly didn't want to lose it. Just a little time, and she will be able to use it again. Not as if it mattered. She didn't plan on leaving to anywhere from Storybrooke. But it was good to know that she had a way of escaping. She examined her make-up and hair once more, then turned to the Rabbit.

'Ready' she shouted to the Rabbit who had already opened the portal. He took her hand and said what all portal jumpers say: 'Hold on!' So Goldilocks held on as the familiar sensation of portal-jumping flooded her guts.