Worlds Colliding (Once Upon a Time) Book Three

chapter 12 - New York City Serenade

Flashback - One Year Ago

Enchanted Forest

Day - Woods

Philip rode through the woods.

Aurora was preparing a picnic. "You're late."

Philip dismounted the horse. "I came as quickly as I could."

"I'm hungry and I miss you," Aurora told him.

They embraced with a kiss.

Philip looked at Aurora's belly, gently stroking it. "You're always hungry now."

"And cranky," Aurora agreed. "I'm sorry. I know, there are royal responsibilities."

"None that match my responsibilities to you, our family," Philip assured. "I'm the one who should be sorry."

In the distance, thunder and rumbling could be heard. Purple clouds rose.

Aurora looked up at 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 answered. "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," Aurora answered. "What was that?"

Philip sighed worriedly. "I don't know."

They turned around to see the people of Storybrooke, dressed as they had used to dress while in Enchanted Forest, arrive.

"Snow?" Aurora asked in surprise. "Freya? Emma? Mathias? What happened?"

Lisa looked around, and though she was in her normal Light Bringer clothes as Vasilisa, she still had her red hair from Storybrooke.

Freya sighed. "We're back."

ღ Worlds Colliding (Once Upon a Time) ღ

Now

Land Without Magic

New York City, New York

Day One

Night - Restaurant Ostria

Ella walked in, taking off her jacket.

Her boyfriend, Walsh, was waiting for her. "Hey."

"Sorry I'm late," Ella told him.

Walsh stood to embrace her. "I guess that means you caught the guy."

They kissed, embracing.

Ella smiled. "So optimistic. I like it."

"If you hadn't, you'd have cancelled," Walsh pointed out.

Ella nodded in acknowledgement. "You know me too well."

"Ella Swan always gets her man," Walsh told her.

They sat down. A waiter served a glass of wine.

"And apparently my drink," Ella told them. "Thank you."

"Thank you," Walsh agreed. The waiter walked away. Walsh looked at Ella. "How did Henry and Rose's volcano do at science fair?"

"It was Pompeii all over again," Ella told him. "Thank you for your help."