Forest of Fireflies

Chapter 77

(Daniella's POV)

The darkness gave way to light as I slowly opened my eyes, initially squinting away the brightness. As they adjusted to the environment around us, I breathed heavily. Even the air smelt different; it was slightly fresher, with more of a wet rainy taste to it. I looked around and saw that we were no longer in the grass of the showgrounds. We were in a large clearing, that was surrounded by trees in the distance on either side. I looked up and saw familiar mountains with caps of snow on top. Somehow, we had ended up on the Northern highway. 

Surprisingly, it seemed like everyone else had been transported here too, despite their social position in Storybrooke. Not far from us, was Henry and his family. Emma and him were the only ones not dressed in clothes from the Enchanted Forest. I looked at what I was wearing, and was glad that I was finally back in my own clothes. Although the ones from Storybrooke allowed mobility, I found the dresses here simply more beautiful. 

As father put down his arms, mother stood and helped me up. I wasn't aware of how much time had passed between getting hit by the arrow and the curse arriving, but it was clear that there was at least enough for mother to have a change of fashion. I grinned and said, "I like it, it's perfect for the day of the curse."

By the expression that she gave father, it was obvious that I shouldn't have linked the curse with her. Despite his confusion, he chose to ignore them for the time being as he pulled in my mother for a kiss. I looked away awkwardly and walked over to Henry. As I was going out of range, I heard my father's voice say quietly, "It's...uh, it's different."

"Do you not like it?" Mother asked in a small voice.

"No, it's just...you've matured so much. That girl back in the other land called you 'your majesty'. Did you end up marrying him?"

I turned my head briefly and saw mother rest her head against his chest. Well, this will be new for all of us.

Henry's voice interrupted me. I jumped as he appeared by my side suddenly. "Is that the stableboy?"

I frowned at Henry simply because he had avoided talking to me ever since the incident with his heart. I snipped back, "Yeah, that's my father. Why do you care? It's not like they're your parents."

Henry huffed and stalked back to David, who was walking briskly towards the others, on the opposite end of the clearing. I created a little fireball in the palm of my hand, just out of habit. However, I extinguished it when I heard mother's voice call, "Firefly, put it out."

I turned to see her making her way towards me with her arm linked around father's. When they came close enough, I asked, "Are we going to meet up with the others?"

Mother squinted at the group on the opposite side of the grassland. They had congregated near a little pavilion. She sighed and replied, "I guess. They should know what had broken the curse."

Father questioned, "They?"

I let mother answer the question as I didn't know what or what not to reveal. She replied simply, "The other people from Storybrooke. And it seems like most of the royal leadership group are there too."

He turned mother around gently with his hands on her shoulders and said, "Darling, I've just missed...what is it? Maybe 10 years of-"

"Almost 50," mother corrected.

His expression was priceless and I suppose it just made him even more confused yet amused at the same time. "Well, exactly. I was never a great mathematician but those years don't match with your age, do they?"

Before mother could speak, I said quickly, "I mean, I'm actually 16. Wonderland just slowed down my aging process."

"You're..." When we began to walk again, he said, "You two must tell me everything, especially you, Regi-"