Neal was looking sad and that always affected her mood. She walked up behind him, snaking her arms around him and leaning on his back. “Something happen today?” He just looked so gloomy.
It had been a rough day. Everyone had them, but for Neal they seemed to be more and more frequent. Those days where nothing seemed to be going right. He just couldn’t catch a break. He was tense and it wasn’t until he felt Emma’s arms around him that he began to relax. He leaned back against her, feeling some of the tension float away. “It’s just been a long day, and nothing seems to be going right.” He murmured. “Well, it wasn’t until now. But, you make everything better.”
" If you had to pick any place in the world to visit, where would you pick?” Henry asked glancing up from his Geography homework. “I’d pick Italy.” Ironically stated as he shoved a slice of pizza in his mouth trying not to drop it on the book.
Once upon a time,
a different story
took its course.
Befallen upon the kingdom was a curse
like no other. Slowly arising around the
castle, looming at the cracks and openings
in the walls, all entrances to the castle.
Screams echoed through the corridors of the mighty castle. A woman was in agony, begging for release from the child that ailed her womb. Then silence. The woman’s screams were brought to a stop. A soft cooing split into the silence; the child was born. A girl who was to be named Emma.
And that child was what this malicious curse was sent after. The Evil Queen had wanted her hands upon that of the child. But why that child? Why Emma? What was so special about this Emma? — Ah, she was the child of two very special people; Snow White and Prince Charming. However, the Queen had her own reasoning behind why she wanted that child specifically. Most importantly to be known, and unbeknownst to many of the realm, was that the Queen could not bare a child of her own. As for the wanting of the child of Snow White and Price Charming, it was a matter of convenience and an act of vengeance against the one who had wronged her ever so many moons ago: Snow White.
Now the pair had been forewarned of the curse from the day of their wedding; fearing the day their first child to be born. Nevertheless, after some time, the Evil Queen’s threats had slipped from the royalties’ minds. Continuing their rule over the land, even forgetting about the curse for moments.
Then it struck. Darkness now rolled into the makings of the castle, creeping through the corridors, leaving silence in its wake. However, the curse had mades its way though the kingdom first, leaving all who it touched at a standstill.
Snow White had been left alone with her newborn as the dwarves and her charming Prince disobeyed their promise and left her side. Stating it was necessary to protect their kingdom, to protect the newborn child. For what was it worth? They held no answers to as what the curse would bring, only knowing what it wanted. And Snow certainly would not allow that.
Left alone she lay, cradling her baby in her arms, close to her chest as unstoppable tears gushed down her cheeks. Inaudible whispers of sweet lies spoken from Snow White’s lips. Everything will be alright.
As time passed, her Prince did not return. The clomping footsteps of the dwarves made no sounds either. Something was wrong. Should she stay there and await for fate to take its course? Or should she take action? Quickly Snow White had to think. What would be the best choice to spare the life of her child?
She could barely move; the pulse of the pain was too strong, but she had to. The future of her child was on the line. Movement was not an option her body would allow. Even the slightly of movements caused Snow White to writhe in pain. Hopelessness sunk deep within the pit of her heart.
It was too late. A dauntingly familiar footstep sounded in the corridor just outside the bed chamber that held Snow White and Emma. It was the Queen; she was coming for the child.
A loud, pained scream echoed from the bed chamber, followed by that reciprocated from the newborn. But the younger of the screams was cut short, and the footsteps echoed back into the hall, leaving that and the helpless screams of Snow White be the only sounds that rang out through the castle.
And with that the Queen had taken Emma, just like that. Wicked smile playing on her lips as she made he way to exit the castle and head out to where her carriage was. It was not long before she was situated in the carriage, Emma safely in her arms. The carriage started to move along down the path out of the kingdom.
When the Huntsman arrived at the base of the castle, he’d been too late. Maybe if he’d heeded Snow White’s words and stayed closer to the castle than he did, then he could have gotten their sooner. He tried to rationalize things in his mind, to say that it would be alright, that Snow would forgive him. The Huntsman could not help that the wildlife he needed to survive had moved deeper into the woods. However, it still pained him knowing this would have not happened if he were to arrive on time.
He had seen the Queen’s carriage start to make its way down the path; maybe he could still have a chance. With a quicken pace, the Huntsman took one of the short cuts though the forested, hoping that he’d reach himself to some spot up the road, ahead of where the carriage was to go by. He had made a promise to Snow White, and had no intentions of breaking it, even if he had to go about things in a much different manner.
Stationing himself in the thicket up the path, he crotched with an arrow readied in his bow. He only needed one arrow; he’d take out the guard, not the horses, the horses were innocent, the guard was not.
The galloping of the horses hooves against the ground sounded out from the near distance, crescendoing as they grew closer. One chance, one shot, if the arrow missed, everything could go wrong; thankfully, the Huntsman was a good shot. One . . . two . . . thr— whoosh. Arrow released; impaled the guard, right through the space of the neck in the armor. The body fell, horses running rampant, carriage heading straight for a ditch.
Risky move. The Huntsman was putting Snow’s child in danger, but it was a risk he was willing to take. The carriage crashed. The Huntsman still stayed hidden, waiting. Moments after the crash, the Queen stepped out from the carriage, baby safe in her arms. This was going to be tough, getting the baby away from the Queen.
With pursed lips, the man whistled, hailing the wolf, who knew what to do. The wolf jumped out in front of where the Queen stood. Teeth bared and a growl in its throat. The Queen seemed a bit shocked, and as she was holding the baby still, it made it harder for her to act upon protecting herself. Now was his chance.
It was all so quick, but the Huntsman had to be careful not to bring any harm to the baby. No matter if he used his bow and arrows or his dagger, he could still put the baby at risk. Could he just sweep in there, steal the baby from the Queen’s arms and flee off into the forest? That certainly was a possibility, no, it was his only choice.
Distracted by the wolf and left helpless, the Queen stood her ground. The Huntsman cautiously exited from the thicket, positioning himself behind the Queen — He had nearly blacked out; what had happened? Only now her found himself running deep in the woods, wolf by his side, and yes, Snow White’s baby secure and safe in his arms. No time to stop now, he had to reach a safe point in the forest, thankfully, the wolf knew of where to go.
They had been running for what felt like forever only to finally halt to a stop. The wolf cocked it head to a large fallen tree and a little hidden alcove that it formed. That should do for tonight. The Huntsman had settled himself down in the small hidden area, finally able to get a good look at the infant he had saved.
Eyes closed, appeared to be asleep. It was still breathing, good. Swaddled up nicely in a plush white blanket with purple trim. The Huntsman ran his hand a long the side, falling to a corner of the bottom the name “Emma” was read. “Emma,” the Huntsman said softly, “I promised your mother that I would take care of you.”
Many, many moons had pasted since that day, and now the once infant was a young lively girl. The previous years had been hard; the Huntsman, not know much of how to take care of a human so young, but nevertheless, he had managed, even with the struggle of their constant, near daily moving. But they had to. If they had stayed in the same place for too long, it was without a doubt that they’d be found by the Queen’s men.
And the young Emma had been so good about it, rarely asking any questions, but if she did, the Huntsman would always give her an honest answer, even if it would be hurtful.
When the Huntsman arose that morning, he heard the young Emma giggling from the distance. He’d stated the previous night that they’d be leaving as the sun rose; apparently Emma had awaken before him and was ready to leave. They had already readied there small belongs to just pick up and go so they could leave at that early time. Once the Huntsman had gathered his things, he whistled for the wolf and called out for Emma, who was hiding behind a nearby tree.
As the Huntsman approached the tree, he spoke in a calmed tone, “Stop with this foolishness, Emma.” And she had looked to him with a smile, but hurried up ahead only to just hide behind yet another tree. That of which caused him call out, “If you wish to keep doing that, head not out too far.” He continued walking at his slow-ish pace, gaze falling to the wolf walking at his side, yet still keeping Emma in his peripheral. With a nod of the head, the Huntsman spoke to the wolf, “Keep watch of her,” and with that the wolf ran ahead to meet Emma at the tree she hid behind.
7. Is there anything you used to like, but now can’t stand?
in lieu of saying the same old stuff, i think i’m going to skip this lol
9. Have you received anon hate? What about?
on here not really. i’ve been pretty lucky that i haven’t had any hate on ariel. which might have to do people knowing i have a zero tolerance policy for bullying/anon hate and that i track ips ? idk.
i have gotten hate on killian in the past however. mostly from the overzealous hook apologists and problematic cs shippers and the occasionaly forceshippy emmas who don’t bother to read my rule and get all huffy because ‘how dare you ignore me????’. but those usually immediately get deleted since half their arguments are too stupid for me to even bother with lol
Snow walked at a brisk pace looking for her daughter, “Emma? Emma?” She called out as she rounded a corner and huffed. Why was this castle just so darn big? Sure this was just over the top, they didn’t even use all the rooms. Finally, she came upon her daughter and her eyebrows came together, “Emma, do you know what your soon to be husband just did?”
