Once Upon a Time

Chapter 32

‘Dad?’ Hope asked as she walked through the castle.
‘Are you here?’ Hope asked.
Then Amity flew towards her.
‘You found him?’ Hope asked.
Amity tweeted and flew back in the direction she came from, with Hope walking after her. They walked through the corridors and ended up in front of a door. Hope knocked and opened it. When she came in she saw her dad fighting someone with his sword. After the door had opened Charming stopped in his track and gave Hope a smile.
‘Good afternoon.’ he said.
‘Hi.’ Hope said.
‘What are you doing?’ Hope asked.
‘Training.’ Charming said.
‘You train? Doesn’t it come, well I don’t know, naturally?’ Hope asked.
Charming laughed.
‘I wasn’t born like this you know.’ Charming said.
Hope shrugged.
‘Can I train with you?’ Hope asked.
‘You can fight?’ Charming asked.
Hope nodded.
‘Finn taught me.’ Hope said.
‘You’ve got a sword?’ Charming asked.
Hope nodded.
‘Finn made one for me.’ Hope said.
Charming smirked.
‘Well get that thing down here then, I’ll wait.’ Charming said.
Hope smiled and fast walked upstairs to her room. She kneeled down in front of her bed and grabbed the sword that was laying underneath it. When she got it she fast went back down and closed the door behind her after she entered the room again.
‘Let me see.’ Charming said, placing his own sword back in his belt.
Hope gave him her sword and he inspected it carefully.
‘This is made perfectly.’ Charming said.
Hope smiled.
‘Shall we begin?’ Hope asked.
Charming nodded and gave back her sword.
‘You must be Hope.’ A man said.
Hope hadn’t even noticed the man before.
‘I am.’ Hope said turning around.
‘I am Charles, it’s lovely to finally meet you.’ Charles said.
‘Nice to meet you too.’ Hope said.
‘Charles’ is an old friend of mine, we train together.’ Charming said.
Hope nodded.
‘Are you ready?’ Charming asked.
‘Yes.’ Hope said taking her sword in her right hand.

Charming smirked and Hope started to make her way to her father with her sword in her hand. Charming ducked, just as she had predicted and kicked him in the side. Charming fell over and rolled away, before Hope could place her sword above him. Hope hit the ground hard and saw Charming was already standing. She saw him coming to her again and she rolled away from him, jumping to her feet. He came to her and she ducked, stretching her leg out, but Charming jumped over it. Hope fast stood back up and Charming knocked her back down. Hope groaned and saw Charming standing above her. Hope smirked and kicked him against the leg and he fell down to the ground next to her. She rolled on her side and placed her sword against his throat.
‘Gotcha.’ Hope said.
‘And that after, what was it? Twenty? Thirty times?’ Charles said.
‘No it wasn’t that much!’ Hope said.
‘It doesn’t matter honey.’ Charming said.
Hope got up and helped her father.
‘Plus he let you win.’ Charles said.
‘No I didn’t.’ Charming said.
‘Yes you did.’ Charles said.
‘You knew she was going to kick you, so you let her so she would win this time.’ Charles said.
‘No one can beat him.’ Charles said turning back to Hope.
Hope frowned.
‘But you’re an amazing fighter! Seriously.’ Charming said.
Hope gave him a small smile.
‘And you can prove that by winning from mister ruin-someone’s-victory over there.’ Charming said jerking his head in Charles’ direction.
Hope smiled.
‘Sounds good to me.’ Hope said shrugging.
‘You want me to fight your daughter?’ Charles asked.
Charming nodded.
‘I’m not going to fight a girl.’ Charles said.
‘That’s going to be an easy victory then.’ Hope said and she made her way towards Charles.
Charles duck away and fast grabbed his sword from his belt. He held it up to her and she smiled, she kneeled to the ground, stretching one leg out and knocking Charles to the ground. She fast got up again and made her way over to him. He had unfortunately gotten up again and was making his way towards her. He made a swing with his sword and if she hadn’t ducked, her head would be off of her body. Hope wanted to get up, but then she felt cold metal pressed against her throat.
‘You lose sweetheart.’ Charles said.
‘You think so?’ Hope said.
Charles looked down and saw Hope had her sword pointed at his crotch.
‘Oeeh autsch.’ Charming commented.
Hope chuckled and got up.
‘Good fight.’ Charles said shaking Hope’s hand.
‘Thank you.’ Hope said.
‘I was talking about me.’ Charles said.
‘Oh yes, you’re part was fine yes.’ Hope said.
Charles laughed.
‘I like her.’ he said.
Charming smiled.
‘Good to hear.’ Charming said placing his hand on Hope’s shoulder.
‘Shall we get something to eat?’ he asked.
Hope nodded and they walked out of the room. Amity flew after them and landed back at Hope’s shoulder. Hope hadn’t even noticed that she had left her shoulder. They walked through the corridor and then through a door. They walked into a huge kitchen with woman, who were preparing food.
‘Good afternoon my King.’ they said.
A woman walked up to them and bend through her knees, looking down.
‘My king, can I do something for you?’ she asked.
‘Can you make us a sandwich please?’ Charming asked.
The woman nodded and walked away again. After a few minutes the woman came back with a plate filled with different sandwiches. Charming and Charles took both two sandwiches and then the woman turned to Hope.
‘Which one would you like princess?’ she asked with a friendly smile.
Hope took one and thanked the woman, who nodded and walked away again. Hope took a bite from her sandwich when another woman walked into the kitchen.
‘There you are.’ she said.
The woman looked at her and Hope raised her eyebrows.
‘Excuse me?’ Hope asked.
‘I’ve been looking everywhere for you.’ she said.
‘I’m sorry, but who are you?’ Hope asked.
The woman raised her eyebrows and looked over at Charming.
‘Who am I? Who am I?’ she laughed.
‘I am Gwendolyn.’ the woman said.
‘Nice to meet you Gwendolyn, I’m Hope.’ Hope said offering her hand.
Gwendolyn looked at it as if it was something extremely dirty Hope was offering her. Hope took back her hand and bit her lip.
‘I know who you are.’ Gwendolyn said.
Hope looked over at Charming who shrugged.
‘I’ve been hired to teach you how to become an example, a rolmodel, how to become a princess.’ Gwendolyn said.
‘Well I was, apparently, born as one.’ Hope said.
Gwendolyn sighed.
‘We’ll start tomorrow.’ Gwendolyn said.
‘Erm, start with what?’ Hope asked.
‘With the lessons.’ Gwendolyn said and she walked away.
‘Don’t be late.’ she said and then disappeared out of the kitchen.
Hope looked over at Charming who was looking after the woman with his eyebrows raised.
‘Did she say a time?’ Hope asked.
‘If she did, I didn’t hear it.’ he said.
‘Me neither.’ Hope said shrugging, finishing my sandwich.
‘Did mom hire her?’ Hope asked.
‘I wouldn’t say so.’ Charming said.
‘I’ve seen her walk around here a few times, so maybe she’s included in the castle packets.’ Charming said.
Hope laughed.
‘If you say so.’ Hope said.
‘I’m going to find mom.’ Hope said.
Charming and Charles nodded. Hope left the kitchen with Amity on her shoulder and started her search for Snow. Then she saw Faith and Finn walk down the stairs together. Hope saw Faith had flushed cheeks and was smiling as Finn told her something. Hope frowned, but fast made her way past the stairs and into the ballroom.
‘Hope.’ Faith called after her.
‘Don’t have time.’ Hope said and she fast walked further, not turning around.
Then Hope saw Snow standing near a window, looking outside.
‘Mom.’ Hope said.
Snow turned around and gave Hope a smile.
‘Who’s that Gwendolyn woman?’ Hope asked.
‘Oh no.’ Snow said.
‘What?’ Hope asked.
‘Just so you know, I didn’t hire her.’ Snow said.
‘But she teaches every princess how to act.’ Snow said.
‘Did she teach you?’ Hope asked.
‘No her mother did.’ Snow said.
‘Gwendolyn is about five years older than me.’ Snow said.
Hope nodded.
‘And you can’t tell her to go?’ Hope asked.
Snow shook her head.
‘It’s a tradition.’ Snow said.
‘But I’ll suck in those classes.’ Hope said.
‘I’ve never even seen a princess.’ she said.
Snow nodded.
‘I know.’ she said.
‘But those movies you were talking about once, aren’t there a few about princesses?’ Snow asked.
‘I don’t know if princesses really act like those.’ Hope said.
Snow nodded again.
‘I’m sorry honey, but you have to go to those classes.’ Snow said.
Hope groaned and nodded.
‘How late do they start?’ Hope asked.
‘At six.’ Snow said.
‘After or before dinner?’ Hope asked.
Snow chuckled.
‘Six in the morning honey.’ Snow said.
Hope dropped her jaw.
‘Excuse me?’ Hope asked.
‘If I could change that, I would, but I can’t.’ Snow said.
Hope gave Snow a pouty face. Snow smiled.
‘You got that pouty face from me.’ Snow said.
‘Not going to work?’ Hope asked.
‘No honey.’ Snow said smiling.
Hope sighed and stopped.
‘Trust me on this one, this totally works if you use it to your dad.’ Snow said winking.
Hope smiled.
‘Won’t forget that.’ Hope said.
Snow smiled.
‘What were you doing here?’ Hope asked.
‘Looking outside.’ Snow said.
‘Why don’t you go outside? I haven’t seen you outside since I’ve arrived here.’ Hope said.
Snow looked down.
‘Maybe I’m a little scared.’ Snow said.
‘You? Scared?’ Hope asked.
‘What do you mean?’ Snow asked looking up.
‘I’ve read your story, you’re brave, have a lot of courage, care about others and have a good heart.’ Hope said.
Snow smiled.
‘So what makes you be scared to go outside?’ Hope asked.
‘I don’t know, I’ve been in here for a long time.’ Snow said.
‘I’ll come with you.’ Hope said.
Snow looked up at Hope.
‘Would you do that?’
‘Of course.’ she said offering her hand.
Snow took it and Hope slightly pulled her after her. She walked through the double doors and then through the door that led to the garden.
‘See? Nothing’s wrong, you’re perfectly fine.’ Hope said.
Snow smiled and looked around her.

‘Is it true you can call the animals?’ Hope asked as they had sat down on one of the benches.
‘Yes, it is.’ Snow said.
‘Can you show me?’ Hope asked.
‘Why don’t you try it?’ Snow suggested.
‘Because they don’t listen to me.’ Hope said.
‘Of course they do.’ Snow said.
‘You’re my daughter, you’ve got my DNA.’ Snow said.
‘What do I have to do?’ Hope asked.
‘Open yourself for them, stay calm and let them know you won’t hurt them, then call them.’ Snow told her.
Hope swallowed and closed her eyes.
I’m calm, I’m totally in control. I can do this, I-
Snow gasped and Hope fast opened her eyes again. She saw the signs on her fingers had lightened up. Hope fast put her hands in her lap and bit her lip.
‘Had you forgotten to tell me something honey?’ Snow asked.
‘I don’t know what you’re talking about.’ Hope said.
‘Since when do you have those?’ Snow asked.
‘Since I came here.’ Hope said.
‘They just appear.’ Hope shrugged.
‘Honey, those signs, they’ve got a meaning.’ Snow said.
‘How do you know?’ Hope asked.
‘I read a lot when I was pregnant, I’ve seen something like that in one of the books.’ Snow said.
‘Really?’ Hope asked.
Snow nodded.
‘Can you do things? Things that can’t be explained?’ Snow asked.
Hope nodded slowly.
‘Like what?’ Snow asked.
Hope bit her lip.
‘Please don’t tell anyone.’ Hope said softly.
‘Of course not.’ Snow said placing her hand on Hope’s arm.
Hope looked up and nodded.
‘I can heal people when I touch them and sing a certain song.’ Hope said.
‘Which song?’ Snow asked.
‘I don’t know how it’s called.’ Hope said.
‘And when I touched my sword for the first time, it started to lit up with a bright blue light.’ Hope said.
‘And sometimes I heard whispers, that nobody else can hear.’ Hope told her.
‘That’s it so far.’ Hope said.
Snow nodded.
‘About that song, can you sing it?’ Snow asked.
‘I don’t reall-‘ Hope started.
‘Please.’ Snow said.
‘Maybe I recognize it.’ she said.
Hope sighed and nodded.
‘Flower gleam and glow,
Let your power shine,
Make the clock reverse,
bring back what once was mine.
Heal what has been hurt.
Change the fates design.
Save what has been lost.
Bring back what once was mine, what once was mine.’
The signs on her fingers lit up again and this time Snow didn’t gasp. Then she widened her eyes.
‘The song, Rapunzel used that to heal me when I was ill.’ Snow said.
‘When I was pregnant with you.’ Snow said.
‘I’ve read something like that, yes.’ Hope said.
Then Autumn came outside.
‘My Queen, Rapunzel and Flynn have arrived.’ Autumn said.
‘Great timing.’ Snow said smiling as she got up.
‘Thank you Autumn.’ Snow said.
Autumn nodded and walked back inside. Hope followed her mother inside and when she got there she saw Rapunzel and Flynn standing in the hallway. Rapunzel looked stressed and relieved at the same time, she was looking around her as if searching for someone.
‘Oh my goodness! Snow!’ Rapunzel said and she gave Snow a hug.
‘It’s alright Rapunzel.’ Snow said smiling.
I looked at the man who was standing behind Rapunzel. He was tall, muscular and handsome. Finn really looked like his dead, except for the short beard.
‘Is that your daughter?’ Rapunzel asked after she had looked over Snow’s shoulder at Hope, which made Hope slightly uncomfortable.
‘Yes, this is Hope.’ Snow said pulling away.
I offered Rapunzel my hand, but she immediately pulled me into a hug.
‘Thank you Hope, for bringing my little boy home.’ Rapunzel said.
‘He’s so young, we were worried sick.’ Rapunzel said as he pulled away.
‘Erm no problem.’ Hope said.
‘But he helped me more then I helped him.’ Hope said.
Rapunzel smiled.
‘Thank you Hope.’ Flynn said as he too pulled me into a hug.
This whole “getting a hug from a stranger” thing is starting to feel normal. Before you know it I’m hugging every stranger I see.
‘No problem.’ Hope said.
‘But he could take care of himself.’ Hope said with a small smile.
‘I know he thinks that, but he’s still so young.’ Rapunzel said.
Hope looked over at Snow with her eyebrows raised.
‘Erm- Rapunzel, Finn is 19.’ Hope said.
Rapunzel froze immediately.
‘Wh-what?’ Rapunzel asked.
‘He’s 19, not 3.’ Hope said.
‘No, no he is 3.’ Rapunzel said as she looked over at Flynn, who was looking the same as his wife.
‘I’m sorry Rapunzel, but he is indeed 19.’ Snow said placing her hand on Rapunzel’s shoulder.
‘How is that possible?’ Rapunzel asked.

A/N:

A very merry Christmas to you all :D Hope you'll have a wonderful day
I hope you'll like the chapter

lots of love
xxc