Long Lost | Once Upon a Time (REWRITING)

Chapter One: Broken

The Enchanted Forest

Twenty-Nine Years Later...

The sun was fairly high up in the sky on one hot summer morning, the wind barely blowing as to relieve the awful humidity that lingered throughout the air. The bright rays of light cast down onto the earth's surface, along with whoever stood in its path. Grace wasn't exactly dressed for the weather but more so for the off chance that she would have to be prepared to fight - which nowadays, isn't an off chance at all. She'll be lucky to avoid any danger that lurks among the island, not to mention the ogres.

Ah, the Enchanted Forest. To the inhabitants that lived there, there wasn't anything enchanted about the place. All it was was a wasteland, though from what tales had been told across the land, it only became that way once the Evil Queen's curse struck. It ravished all the realms, leaving only ruins of what was there previously. But for some reason, this corner of the land was untouched, freezing anyone who occupied it in place for exactly twenty-eight years. However, Grace was not one of those occupants. The girl had only come to the Enchanted Forest many years after the curse was cast and so she was lucky not to have had any part in it. There was a short time where she was alone on the island, making things harder. Grace didn't exactly have the proper experience or maturity that everyone else seemed to have, seeing as how she was just a mere teenager.

Now, I know you're probably wondering how Grace is so young - or, at least, why she appears to be. And no, it's not a monthly juice cleanser. Her past will be revealed in given time, but for now, let's focus on the present. Prince Phillip and Mulan had found Grace while they were searching for something - or someone, to be more specific. The Prince's doting fiancée, Princess Aurora, awaited at their castle under a sleeping curse. She had been put under the spell just before the Dark Curse was cast, leaving her to be in her current state for nearly thirty years. Currently, the three had been traveling among horses towards the long forgotten kingdom. That was where Aurora had once become a sleeping beauty, and that was where her curse would finally be lifted.

"Hyah!" Phillip shouted loudly at the horses and pulled on the reins to make them go faster. The three approached the kingdom covered in vines that had grown around the princess's sleeping form. Phillip hopped off of his horse and darted towards the castle in search of his lover. He unsheathed his sword and began cutting through the vines entrapping Aurora in the center pavilion. Grace and Mulan ran after him as he broke the vines and stepped inside.

Phillip returned his sword to its sheath before slowly approaching Aurora. Said princess was laid stock still on a small bed in the center of the abandoned room. The tile was cracked and chipped in some areas caused by the vines growing up from beneath the floors. The walls were covered by dead plants, causing Grace to grimace at the decaying sight.

Phillip walked around the front of the bed before kneeling down beside Aurora. Slowly, he had begun to lean in to kiss her but stopped. He looked up at both Grace and Mulan for reassurance. "If this works," he began, causing the two to draw their gazes in his direction, "we don't tell her everything, not right away." He finished. Grace looked to Mulan and saw her give a single nod. At that, she turned back towards the prince with her own nod.

Phillip was relieved and quickly brought his attention back down to his cursed fiancée. He leaned in towards Aurora like he previously had and prepared to kiss her but hesitated as he gave them both one last look. Grace was getting fed up with his constant hesitation. "Just kiss her already!"

Phillip didn't hesitate this time, whether it had to do with the fact that Grace yelled at him or not. Instead of waiting any longer, the man finally planted his lips firmly onto Aurora's in a meaningful kiss of true love. For a moment, they stood there awkwardly whilst Phillip's lips moved against an otherwise dead girl's. It was then that Grace was hoping that Aurora truly was under a sleeping curse and not dead, otherwise Phillip brought them all the way out there because he's a necrophiliac. Though that was before a wave of magic washed through the land, ultimately lifting the sleeping curse off the brunette woman. Shortly after, Phillip brought his head back up as Aurora began gasping for air. She breathed heavily as she stared up at the ceiling. Phillip looked worried for a second before Aurora turned her head towards him with a smile. "Phillip?" She called out quietly upon seeing him.