A Wish is a Dream

Chapter 11

| REVENGE |

Night had draped its cloak over Ravenmoor, casting long and deep shadows across the kingdom. The castle stood silent and imposing against the backdrop of a starlit sky, its turrets reaching toward the heavens like sentinels guarding a forgotten realm. Within its stone walls, the inhabitants slumbered, blissfully unaware of the storm brewing beneath the surface of their dreams.

In the heart of Ravenmoor Castle, in a secluded chamber hidden from prying eyes, Fallon stood with her parents' most trusted lords. Their faces were etched with determination, and the flickering torchlight caught the glint of steel in their eyes, reflecting the weight of the momentous task that lay before them. Beside her, Sir Philip, stalwart and resolute, checked the tension of his sword belt with practiced ease, his gaze steady and unwavering.

"Tonight, we take back Ravenmoor," Fallon declared, her voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through her veins. "We end Queen Snow and King David's reign of tyranny once and for all."

The lords exchanged solemn nods as they prepared to carry out their carefully laid plans. Each one knew their role, their place in the intricate dance of strategy and deception that would unfold in the hours ahead. They moved with silent purpose, shadows blending seamlessly into the darkness that enveloped them, the air thick with anticipation.

Outside the castle walls, the night held its breath as Fallon and her companions crept through the labyrinthine corridors and secret passages known only to the most trusted. The faint sound of their footsteps echoed softly against the cold stone floors, their hearts racing in the stillness, each step bringing them closer to the confrontation they had long awaited.

As they reached the inner sanctum where Queen Snow and King David lay in slumber, tension hung thick in the air, the promise of confrontation imminent. Fallon raised a hand, signaling for her companions to take their positions. They moved with practiced precision, their movements synchronized in a silent symphony of anticipation, the resolve in their hearts palpable.

Just as they braced themselves for the inevitable clash with the castle guards, a miraculous turn of events unfolded. The soldiers stationed at the doors—those whom Fallon had deemed disloyal to her and loyal to the oppressive regime—lowered their weapons and bowed their heads in deference to their true sovereign. This unexpected act sent a ripple of hope through Fallon, igniting her spirit with a fierce resolve.

Fallon's heart swelled with a mixture of relief and determination as she exchanged a glance with Sir Philip, who nodded in acknowledgment of the tide that had turned in their favor. With newfound courage, Fallon led the charge into the inner chambers where Queen Snow and King David lay defenseless in their beds.

The scene that greeted them was one of surreal contrast. The opulence of the royal bedchamber—silken tapestries, gilded furnishings, and an air of tranquility—stood in stark contrast to the vulnerability of its occupants. Queen Snow, her regal demeanor stripped away in sleep, lay tangled in sheets of silk and satin. Beside her, King David snored softly, oblivious to the storm about to descend upon them.

With swift precision, Fallon's forces seized the monarchs, dragging them from their beds with a force that echoed through the silent chamber. Queen Snow awoke with a startled cry, her eyes widening in terror as she found herself face-to-face with the very people she had oppressed for so long.

Panic surged through her, and she instinctively recoiled, scrambling back against the headboard. "What is the meaning of this?!" she shouted, her voice tinged with both fear and anger.

Outside the castle walls, the villagers had gathered, drawn by the commotion that echoed through the night air. Their faces twisted with a mixture of anger and determination, their voices rising in a cacophony of demands for justice.

Regina, rushing into the fray with Emma by her side, arrived just in time to witness the unfolding chaos. Emma, newly awakened from the spell that had ensnared her in this realm for so long, gazed around in confusion and disbelief at the scene before her, her heart racing with both recognition and fear.

"Fallon, stop!" Regina cried out, her voice carrying across the courtyard with the force of a mother's anguish. "Violence is not the answer. Revenge will only breed more suffering."

Fallon turned to her, her eyes blazing with righteous fury, the pain of years of oppression and loss fueling her resolve. "They took everything from me," she spat, her voice rising above the clamor, thick with bitterness. "My kingdom, my people, my future. They must pay for their crimes and you! You better leave before I serve your friend the same fate."

Regina's heart broke at the sight of Fallon consumed by rage. She stepped forward, her hands outstretched in a gesture of peace. "Please, Fallon," she pleaded, her voice choked with emotion. "Listen to reason. This world, this violence—it's not real. None of this is real."

But Fallon's resolve was unyielding. She turned away from Regina, her gaze hardening with determination, refusing to be swayed. "I am not you," she whispered, her voice barely audible above the din of the crowd. "And this world, my kingdom—it is real to me. I will not rest until justice is served."

Regina watched helplessly as Fallon led her people forward, their cries for vengeance echoing through the night. She knew she could not stop her, that Fallon's path was now her own to tread. With a heavy heart, Regina turned away, tears streaming down her cheeks as she retreated into the shadows of the Enchanted Forest, a silent witness to the tragedy unfolding before her.

Emma lingered for a moment longer, torn between her allegiance to her mother, birth her realm mother and her wish realm mother,  and the fiery spirit of the young princess before her. She glanced back at Regina, her heart heavy with sorrow, then at Fallon and the villagers surging forward with torches held high. In that moment, Emma realized the enormity of the choices that lay before them all, the weight of their legacy pressing down upon them.

As dawn broke over Ravenmoor, casting its warm embrace over the battlefield that lay beyond its walls, Fallon and her people marched forward with unwavering resolve. The clash of steel and the cries of defiance echoed through the air, a testament to their courage and the strength of their unity.

For today marked the beginning of a new era, a chapter in Ravenmoor's history written in blood and fire. As Fallon led her people forward, she steeled herself for the road ahead, fraught with peril and sacrifice. But she also knew she could not falter—not when the fate of their kingdom and the hope of its people rested squarely upon her shoulders.

The sun climbed higher in the sky, casting its warm glow over the battlefield that awaited them. Fallon's heart surged with determination. This was not just a fight for her parents or her kingdom; it was a fight for the soul of Ravenmoor itself. With banners held high and swords drawn, she marched toward destiny, ready to reclaim what was rightfully theirs.

The air crackled with tension as they approached the outer battlements of Snowfall Keep, where Queen Snow and King David awaited their inevitable reckoning. The villagers rallied behind Fallon, their spirits ignited by the promise of freedom, each step echoing the resolve of those who had suffered under tyranny for far too long.

As they drew nearer to their fate, Fallon felt a surge of strength and purpose flow through her veins. She would not rest until justice was served, until her parents' honor was restored, and until Ravenmoor once again stood as a beacon of light and justice in the realm.

This day would mark the turning point, the moment when the shadows of oppression would be lifted from their land. And Fallon, with fire in her heart and courage in her soul, led her people forward into the fray, ready to face whatever trials awaited them on the path to victory.