#but i thought it made sense since it would be viewed as weak by ogres

[lovelahela]

❛ i know it's today ❜ ─ lily spencer.

⇢ requested by @windswiftcupid !

⇢ pairing: lily spencer x mc (jade)

⇢ genre: fluff, highschool!au

⇢ song: i know it’s today ; shrek, the musical

⇢ description: in which lily spencer, just another tech crew kid, likes the out-of-her-league female lead.

⇢ word count: 1399

⇢ notes: i’m sorry for the long wait esp if it didn’t end up being worth it skjfasf if u want a part two i’d love to write it!

Theatre was the bright bubble in Lily Spencer’s stressful world,  a place the inner life of the human soul comes to dance, sing and exclaim of all that really matters. High school was not an easy stage in life, at least for people like Lily, who are kicked to the side as outcasts who don’t fit in with the social norm. Maybe it was her weird love for video games, or her impeccable skill of spilling word vomit and ultimately embarrassing herself; either way, Lily made peace with being an outcast, no matter what the reason for her exclusion was.

There were people like Lily; cast aside, viewed as peculiar and “uncool.” And then there were people like Jade; popular, loved, adored by all. Jade was out of her league, of course; when you’re a hyperactive nerd crushing on a lead actor that is - defying all laws of physics and the universe - also the captain of a varsity team and the president of several clubs with outstanding grades, you realize your chances are quite slim.

She did like girls, though, so Lily never truly surrendered her dream of snatching a gorgeous, rare specimen like her.

“Spencer! Were you paying attention?” Mr. Castellanos, the school’s economics teacher, snapped impatiently at the daydreaming girl sitting at the back of her class. She had paced her cheek on her fist and was gazing dreamily at the wall behind him, igniting a spark of exasperation for what seemed like the thousandth time since he had begun teaching her.

She jumped in her seat at the abrupt yell, earning snickers from her classmates. Jax Matsuo, a fellow outcast (although he was definitely loved by the female population more than his peers, considering he was quite handsome and gave off “bad boy” vibes) nudged her playfully from behind and whispered, “Oooooh, busted.”

“Uh - I - Of course I was!” Lily lied straight through her teeth while looking the teacher straight in his angered eyes. Her heart could run whole marathons at the rate it had been beating, and her hands began to sweat. At that point, all pairs of eyes present in the room had been on her, including her raging crush.

“Oh? Then tell me what the financial gain made in transactions is.”

She gulped nervously. Shit, crap, damn it all to every hell, she swore profusely in her mind. Mr. Castellanos raised his eyebrows at her expectantly. Out of the corner of her slightly widened eyes, she spotted - to her shock - Jade waving to grab her attention. Once they locked eyes, her heart skipped a beat and a fuzzy feeling warmed her stomach. Shut up, stomach, now isn’t the time, hissed Lily mentally. Jade gestured to her lips, and mouthed clearly: PROFIT.

Lily immediately made eye contact with the economics teacher once again and blurted out the answer that her classmate gave her so quickly and panickedly that it made him slightly suspicious. He narrowed his eyes at her, but nonetheless congratulated her for answering correctly.

“Good to know you’re not completely useless in my class, Spencer. Don’t let me catch you like this again.”

Lily let out a long breath in relief and a grin resembling that of a maniac stretched across her lips. With reddened cheeks and pinkish ears, she mouthed a thank you to Jade, who returned it with the warmest smile she had ever been given.

You had better believe that particular moment was the only thing Lily thought of until the end of the school day. On her way to lunch, through Eng. Lit., during her mathematics class - the single topic on her mind was Jade. She couldn’t believe how childish she had been acting and felt as though she was back in elementary school with the biggest schoolgirl crush.

Eventually, rehearsal rolled around. All the theatre kids gathered in the theatre, discussing their plans for upcoming rehearsals before the big day. The play they were preparing for was, to Lily’s delight, Shrek: The Musical. She remembered laughing like a madwoman with the Costume and Makeup crew, who adored the idea of making the most pompous boy in their school look like a large, green ogre. It was beautiful, really.

Lily positioned herself next to the tech crew’s equipment as Jade, who played the eldest version of Fiona (she had been glad they didn’t rob her of the part for not being light-skinned), readied herself to begin singing one of Lily’s favourite parts of the musical - I Know It’s Today.

She watched as the child and teenage Fiona sang their parts beautifully and adjusted the lighting accordingly. The youngest had quite the magnificent voice, Lily knew she would go far in life. She could barely prepare herself when she realized Jade’s verse was approaching, knowing she would be just as affected by it as she always was.

“Here come the waterworks,” whispered the person in charge of the music, Nicole, jokingly. Lily poked her in the ribs with a childish huff.

Jade finally appeared, wearing a long ginger wig and a green dress that fit her like a glove. Her powerful, melodious voice rang throughout the theatre loudly and clearly, striking a chord within every occupant of the room - even their jaded and strict director, Kamilah Sayeed. Lily’s eyes glazed over with a glossy coat of tears threatening to spill over her cheeks. Her voice was beauty, music, grace. It was the promise of tomorrow, and Lily never wanted it to end.

“Lil, are you crying?” chuckled Nicole quietly, careful not to disrupt the rehearsal.

“No, I just have a tree in my eye.” Her voice quivered when she answered, and when she saw Nicole eyeing her with a single quirked eyebrow and a smirk, she huffed out again. “Both eyes.”

The blonde next to her shook her head with a knowing smile, but Lily completely ignored her and centred her focus on the singing beauty on the marvellously decorated stage.

Once rehearsal was over, Lily waited at the bus stop nearest her school to finally go home and unwind from such a long and tiring day. She stared at the blue sky above, adorned with pure clouds and the occasional soaring bird. She sensed someone take a seat next to her, but took no notice of them.

“Wow, no thank you, Jade, for the heroic save during Econ?”

A shriek unwillingly barreled out of her lips as she jumped yet again in her seat, startled by the sudden appearance of Jade. She sat next to her, the uncoolest person in the world, of all people? Eyes wide and cheeks flushed, Lily avoided Jade’s gaze and stammered the worst apology in the universe, earning a hearty laugh from the latter.

“Relax, Lils, I was just joking!” Her pearly whites almost blinded her when she showcased her megawatt smile. Lily squeaked pathetically at the sound of that nickname, unaware that Jade even knew her name. “You do a great job with the tech crew, by the way. You’re a pretty cool gal.”

“I… Pretty… Gal? Cool?” The gay panic is too much for me to handle, cried the mortified teenager in her anxious mind.

She chuckled nervously. I’m in danger.

“I’m sorry we never got the chance to hang out before, I usually try to get to know everyone in the club. How about I make it up to you?” Her gaze was soft and friendly, making her feel weak in the knees despite being seated. Her stomach did somersaults.

“You - I - Yeah. Cool. Cool. SURE!” She cringed at the way her voice cracked when she all but screamed the last word.

Jade smiled warmly. “You don’t have to be nervous around me, you know!”

“Easier said than done,” muttered Lily, but it was loud enough for her companion to catch it.

“Come on, there’s an ice cream parlour just down the road! Ditch the bus, I’ll give you a ride home when we’re done.” Jade grabbed her hand firmly and yanked her onto her feet, excitedly dashing down the asphalt with a very confused but very ecstatic Lily Spencer attempting to catch up without tripping over her own two feet. A grin crept and the air grew thick with a tenderness that couldn’t help but make her breathe faster, happier.

Maybe Jade wasn’t as unreachable as the glittering stars in a night sky like she thought she was.

#lily spencer #lily x mc #adrian raines #kamilah sayeed #bloodbound #bb choices #playchoices #choices stories you play #pb choices #choices fanfic #choices fanfiction #request

[shadowedoracle]

An Unconventional Gift

Happy Rumbelle Christmas in July! This is my RCIJ gift for the lovely @moonlight91​. I’m sorry you had to put up with me and my poor communication when my life and health overtook me in the last month. Also I’m sorry I drifted over into the next day -- I’ve no idea what timezone you’re in but I’m sure it’s well in Sunday wherever you are.

I hope you enjoy your gift. This what happens when I come up with a new idea so you have a complete gift and write it all at the last minute. I enjoyed working on it even if it wasn’t my initial idea and is perhaps quite different to what you were expecting from your prompt. I’m planning on posting my initial idea too at some point so if you have any interest in seeing that I’ll hopefully post the prologue and first chapter soon.

Summary: Rumple brings a baby back to the Dark Castle.

Enchanted Forest AU and canon-divergent.

Prompt: Fairytale Murder

Rating: G

Notes: Fluffy and but also angsty because that’s what apparently happens when I decide to try to write fluff. 

Also because I decided to write this new idea at totally the last minute please let me know if you see any typos because I haven’t obsessively been through this as many times as I normally would before posting.

Warnings: Depression (not in any real depth or detail but it is there).

[AO3]

“And then I reached into her chest and do you want to know what happened next?”

There was a high pitched giggle that was answered by a happy little burble.

“Do you? Yes of course you do.” The high voice trilled. “You’re going to be the baddest and most evil of sorcerers when you grow up.” A scaled green-grey scaled hand reached into a carry basket and tickled light haired baby’s stomach. “Yes, you are. You are, you are.” An excited shriek echoed through the large hall.

Rumplestiltskin grinned at the baby. “Yes. You are and I’ll teach you all there is to know. It’s actually quite simple. You see, little one, the thing you have to remember is people turn to me in times of need, out of desperation, for things they can or won’t do for themselves. It’s amazing what people will ask an evil sorcerer to do for them. You just have to know how to extract the right price for your services. You will want to remember that for yourself later.”

The baby stared back at the sorcerer solemnly, then gave a little twitch of her head which, if you squinted at it carefully enough, you could just about interpret as a nod. The sorcerer’s grin widened and was answered by a small, almost wry, quirk of the lips from the baby. Could babies have a wry sense of humour?

Then again this one seemed to be one of those children who was born an adult in all but body. Her intense blue eyes gleamed with intelligence as if she was in fact taking copious mental notes. If she could have held a pen she surely would have been taking actual notes. She would surely grow up to be a scholar of great renown. Or would have if she had been born into a world that readily allowed women to become scholars.  

The sorcerer, snorted to himself, that was of course, a stupid a narrow minded view. Not that he expected anything less from the fools of this land any more. He’d been alive for centuries and how much had changed? Precious little. Women, rich and poor still, died in childbirth and far too many infants never lived to adulthood. The lands were still mostly ruled by the same noble families, mostly by men (although there were notable exceptions), the poor were still expected to give their lives in the battles the noble families fought between each other and occasionally existential threats such as ogres.

Which really reinforced to him how little had changed -- they were still fighting ogres wars of all things. He had always believed when he had been called up to fight them that they would finally have stopped the ogres in their tracks once and for all. Of course he’d been a naive fool back then and now understood something of the harsh barrenness of many of the ogres’ lands and the complicated nature of ogre politics. They weren’t nice and fluffy creatures (then again neither was he) but they weren’t all the rampaging senseless villains most humans believed them to be.

Well all humans he’d ever met in fact except perhaps the one living in his castle. He didn’t think he’d met another person in his life who so much as considered that perhaps not all ogres were monsters. Some would have mistaken such compassion for softness but then only one who had never clashed minds with Belle would have ever have thought her soft. She was gentle in many ways but soft implied that she was weak and malleable and his Belle was neither of those things.

She also wasn’t his Belle. She might have come with him as part of a deal and have been his maid (although with the all the Castle’s self-cleaning spells and other spells to provide food and drink she was barely even that at times) but she most certainly wasn’t his in the way he sometimes wished she could be. She would never look at him that way. If he was a better man he could have released her from her deal with him and let her go out into the world and find the happiness she deserved. But he was still a monster, a selfish one at that, and he couldn’t bear to lose the light she had brought back into his life.

He knew one day he would find his son but that seemed a long way off most days. Before her there had been so many times when he wouldn’t rise from his bed for weeks when the despair over the loss of Baelfire consumed him. But with Belle here even the darkest days were easier. Having someone who would smile at him and even if she was not able to fix his problems somehow made those days less unrelentingly terrible.

She also would not allow him to mope and feel sorry for himself for too long. The first time he had fallen into one of his dark spells after she’d arrived and holed himself up in his chambers, she had waited three days before hammering on his door and then barging her way into his inner sanctum when he didn’t respond. He supposed he could have used magic to lock his door but he’d been so startled it hadn’t ever occurred to him. He’d never bothered with any locks, magical or otherwise until he given her her own suite of rooms and wanted to make sure she’d feel safe from anyone, including him.

Even that first time Belle hadn’t asked him any questions and just taken one look at his pathetic form and walked out. He’d assumed that she wouldn’t be back --  who would after looking at his matted and wild hair, his crumpled night shirt and his twisted bedsheets from   his nightmares? He sincerely wished the legend that the Dark One didn’t need sleep was in fact correct when the nightmares over took him. But his little maid had surprised him. She’d returned less than five minutes later with a glass of water and a book. She’d placed the water on his bedside and after looking around his room and discovering that he had no chairs in the room sat down beside him on his bed and began to read to him.

He supposed if he were a better man he would have summoned a chair for her but he wasn’t one. If this was to be the only way he would ever have Belle in his bed he would not pass up the opportunity. So he had lain there entranced by the sound of Belle’s voice and the tale of the hero Gideon. She had read to him for hours and while the heavy feeling in his heart and his limbs was still there somehow it wasn’t quite as bad as it had been before.

Hours later she laid down the book looked him in the eyes. She had smiled somewhat sadly at him and he felt a stab of guilt at idea he someone made his little Belle feel sad. But before he could apologize and grovel for her forgiveness, she had stood up an informed him in no uncertain terms that she didn’t think he’d eaten in at least three days (he hadn’t but hadn’t really noticed) and that she expected him downstairs for dinner. Since he could think of no way to reply to that or how to argue with the fierce and stubborn creature that was his maid he’d acquiesced.

Ever since then whenever he’d have one of his episodes she’d come to his room and read, sometimes out loud to him and other times silently to herself. Either way she would always sit next to him keeping him company. Sometimes she’d absent-mindedly reach out and stroke his hair and it was all he could do not to purr. He would have liked it if she touched him like that out of true affection and not pity but he couldn’t stop in taking comfort from them. They were a soothing balm for his ancient dark and misshapen soul.

She never asked him any questions during those times --  which was a good thing as he didn’t trust himself to answer them without soaking her shoulder in tears. She simply was there and all she seemed to expect was that he managed to magic himself from bed at least once a day to appear for a meal that she’d make with her own rudimentary cooking skills. Some of the concoctions she’d laid in front of him tasted truly terrible he had to admit. But the idea that she cared about him enough to try to make him a chocolate cake was to him a far sweeter gift than her simply instructing the castle to make one for her (and not just because she’d gotten the salt and sugar confused).

No his little maid was kind and compassionate towards him and he had found himself slowly opening himself up to her in a way he hadn’t to anyone ever before. Not even with Milah. Belle might have just been his maid and gradually becoming, dare he hope a friendly companion? He couldn’t hope to yet have met the bar for a friend yet but she was a constant in his life that even a year ago he never would have believed possible. Now he was about to change both their lives. He just hoped that she would be pleased and not mad at him about it. Maybe he ought to have consulted her first?

A loud wailing broke though his reverie. He looked back to the baby and took in the red screwed up little face.

“Hush now. Little one. Hush. What’s wrong now? I’m sure it’s nothing we can’t fix.”

He reached into the basket and stroked her cheek. She took a big breath and for a moment it seemed like that was all that would be needed to calm her. But then she let out an even louder cry and it seemed that that hope would be in vain. He sighed and took the tiny little one into his arms, sniffing her slightly as he did so. That wasn’t the issue it seemed.

She was lighter than Bae had ever been to hold even though he thought from some of the other signs that she must be at least a month or two old by now. Of course he hadn’t arrived home until weeks after Bae’s birth but he was certain Bae had never been this tiny even as a newborn. His anger stirred as he felt how thin the babe was in his arms.

A quick thought later and a leather bottle appeared in his hand and he shifted the baby in his arms slightly and tilted the bottle so that the teat was in front of its mouth. He hoped that the nipple shaped object in front of it would be enough for the babe to work the rest out but apparently he had slightly over-estimated its intelligence at this stage at least. He shook head, amused at his own stupidity and gently opened the baby’s mouth and placed the bottle’s nipple inside. For a moment she seemed confused but then she gave an experimental little twitch of her mouth and her whole being seemed to relax as she began to drink more enthusiastically.

“That’s it. Drink up little one. There’s more where that came from. Infinitely more, in fact. Now I should go back to telling you your story where was I? I was telling you about how I murdered that women who wanted to harm you. Yes? Now I had dispatched the first two and the final was one was choking on my magic when I reached into her chest and I out her heart.”

There was a crash from behind him and the large doors to the Great Hall flew open and Belle came rushing into the room.

“Rumplestiltskin, I didn’t realize you were back already. Do you want your tea now or later? And what was that noise just now? I could have sworn I heard a baby crying but...”

She trailed off as the sorcerer turned towards her and she caught sight of the small bundle in his arms. His generally soft and good natured maid’s countenance took on a much sterner and frosty appearance as she glared at him.

“And where, pray tell, did that come from?” She tapped the heel of her foot against the floor while he tried to remember how to make his mouth work.

“It’s not what you think, Belle.”

“And what precisely is it that you think I think?” Her stony expression almost made him cringe before he reminded himself sternly that he was the Dark One and he did not cringe to before his maid no matter how much her liked her or how sharply he could feel the points of the her stare piercing into his skin.

“Well… You probably think I broke my promise I made to you after that whole, er, um, incident with Jack and Jill’s baby. But I didn’t. I swear.”

“Then where exactly did it come from? It didn’t just appear out of thin air.”

He gave a nervous little giggle, “No, no, of course not my dear… I mean, dearie. I was getting to that. You see there was this village that called on me to help it deal with a problem it was having. The town’s babies had all gone missing from their cribs overnight. Their parents woke up pleased at first with a good night’s rest because of not having been awakened in the night to discover they had all gone. So I was called by some of the parents to help them find their children.”

“For a price.”

He rolled his eyes. “Well of course for a price. The Dark One doesn’t do anything for free and he most certainly does not do good deeds. But you needn’t worry about the price, it was just some gold the families offered up. Nothing more, er, exotic, this time.”

“Then how did you get her”, a quick nod of that beautiful head towards the bundle in its arms, “if not as the price?”

“I’m getting to that bit. Now I can see you’re not in the mood for the clever little bit of magic I did to find the children right now. But it was a particularly good piece of magic to find them so quickly, if I do say so myself.”

His maid didn’t look the least bit impressed with that.

He swallowed hard. “Right. Anyway, so I tracked the children to a cave in the middle of the Infinite Forest. A trio of those gnats who call themselves ‘Fairy Godmothers’ had taken them in the hopes of using their blood to enhance their powers. They weren’t the first ones, just the first time they’d branched out to taking a whole village. Which was foolish if they’d hoped to go unnoticed but it seems from what I found there they’d done enough experiments to ascertain that this would likely have worked. Well… I’m dark but I’m not like that.

“I dealt with the fairies then returned the rest to their homes but this one was well left over, nobody claimed her or even knew whose she was. I tried to track her parents with magic but there was no trace of them. There’s only one reason for those that particular spell to fail -- if they’re dead. So she’s an orphan, see.”

Belle’s face had softened during his explanation and while she still looked serious she looked more like her usual self. He became aware that the sucking on the bottle had stopped too. He removed the bottle from the girl’s lips and vanished the bottle.

“And so what are you planning on doing with her now?”

He gulped and stared down at baby to give himself courage.

“Well it seems that she needs a home.” He glanced back up at Belle but she seemed to be more focused on the baby in his arms. That was good. Maybe she wouldn’t be too mad about this after all.

“And well, I was, er, wondering if you wanted her.”

Belle’s eyes snapped back up to his face. She looked at him, startled.

“Me?”

He suddenly wondered if perhaps this was a bad idea and that maybe he should have asked her whether she wanted a child before bringing one back for her. She’d never wanted her marriage to Gaston perhaps she hadn’t wanted children either. It would hurt to give this child up if she didn’t want her. In less than a day he’d become rather fond of the little one. But he could hardly keep her if Belle didn’t want her, he wasn’t a fit and proper person for such a task on his own.

“Well… That is if you, um… If you want to of course. It’s just you seemed quite fond of that one baby but gave up on marriage and all that life to come here with me. We agreed that I wasn’t to take any as part of deals any more but I thought this might be, um, a mutually agreeable way for you to get that chance.”

“Rumple...”

“It’s fine if you don’t want to.” He hurried to add. “I’m very good at finding homes for babies.”

“Rumple...”

“I have experience doing it.”

“Rumple!”

“And I wouldn’t hold it against you in the least...”

“Rumplestiltskin! Will you let me get a word in?”

“Oh, right of course.” He swallowed hard of over the dryness of his throat and unconsciously ran a finger over the forehead of the baby.

Belle smiled at him slightly and took a few steps closer to him and the baby.

“Are you sure about this?” She reached out a hand towards him but stopped just short of touching the baby.

“Yes, yes of course.”

“You won’t mind a child running around the place all the time?”

“Why I mind that? Would I have suggested this idea, if I didn’t mean it?”

She shrugged. “You might not have fully thought this through.”

Well he hadn’t but that didn’t mean he was going to regret it if she wanted this.

“Does she have a name?” Her hand grazed the baby’s head as she said it.

“Does that mean you want to keep her?”

She smiled softly her gaze now fully on the baby. “Yes. Yes I want to raise this child with you Rumple.”

He opened his mouth but no sound came out. When she phrased it like that it made it sound like she would be letting him do more help her out every so often. Almost like she would let him help parent the child, almost like they were a couple. He was sure she didn’t meant the latter but perhaps this meant she viewed him as a friend of sorts now? He felt a dampness that felt suspiciously like tears begin to well up in the corner of his eyes. She held out her arms to him and he wordlessly transferred the baby into her waiting arms.

“Why, hello little one.” She smiled one of the most radiant smiles he’d ever seen down at the babe in her arms and she was answered with small little smile. “You’re beautiful aren’t you? What’s your name? Rumple, you didn’t tell me if she had a name yet.”

He didn’t think he could reply, he wasn’t sure he’d seen a more beautiful sight since he’d lost Bae. He swallowed a few times to force the emotions he was feeling down enough so he could answer Belle’s question.

“Yes… Well at least I assume it’s hers it might not be I guess. It was sewn into the blanket I found her in but I suppose that blanket could have belonged to another child first…”

She nodded, “Well let’s assume that it was probably her name then unless it’s truly dreadful.”

He shook his head, “it’s Alice.”

“Alice? That’s a good name. I think it suits her don’t you think?”

He nodded the sight of Belle cooing down at the baby was too much for him to trust himself with words right now.

“Well. Then I guess we’ll have to make a place for you to live, little Alice. We didn’t have much time to prepare but let’s see what the castle can rummage up for us shall we?”

He cleared his throat, “I um, might have taken the liberty of preparing the room next to yours as a nursery. At least until you decide how you want to decorate it of course.”

She smiled at him. “Well let’s start there shall we Alice?”

As she reached the doorway she turned and looked back at him and said, “Oh and Rumple, just so you know, this wasn’t the only way I could have had a child and remained faithful to our deal.”

He nodded wondering what her point was. He supposed she could have found herself some young man in town to get her with child. It didn’t quite seem Belle’s style somehow but perhaps he’d been wrong. She rolled her eyes slightly and he watched the slight crinkles form at the sides of them as smiled at him.

“Just the next time you decide you want to raise a child with me Rumple, perhaps consult me first? We could try the traditional route of acquiring one. I hear it’s a lot of fun.”

And with that she breezed out of the room while he stood gaping after her.

#Rumbelle Christmas in July #Moonlight91 #Rumbelle Christmas in July 2019 #RCIJ #RCIJ 2019 #OUAT #OUAT Fan Fiction #Rumplestiltskin #Enchanted Forest Belle #Rumbelle #Rumbelle Fan Fiction #Alice #My Fan Fiction #Fic: An Unconventional Gift

[lilacmoon83]

Dreaming Out Loud

Also on Fanfiction.net and A03

Chapter 100: Someday I'll Wish Upon a Star

"Wow…" Emma uttered, as she finished viewing the intense situation that her family had just been in. Some things about this reality were very good, but in many ways, there were also even more problems.

"Is it weird that I miss the days where I thought Cronus might be our big problem?" Emma quipped. Athena smiled thinly.

"Arawn is extremely dangerous...but Frollo is perhaps even worse," she agreed.

"Not surprising. The guy hates magic and then turns around and uses it. He can call that science all he wants, but that was magic and he used it on my Dad. I'd like to give him a punch in the face for that," she groused.

"Does this mean you are ready to make your decision?" Athena questioned.

"I...I don't know honestly. If I reverse the spell, does that mean Arawn and Frollo go away?" Emma asked.

"There is a possibility that everything could return to just as it was before Zelena cast her spell," Athena replied.

"Why do I sense a but in there?" Emma asked.

"Because time travel is so unpredictable, not to mention forbidden. It defies the laws of magic and it is the one rule that even Zeus has dared to break and believe me, Zeus has broken every other rule in the book," Athena mentioned.

"So you're saying that even if I do turn back time...there still might be changes?" Emma asked.

"There is always that possibility. The original time line would return, but elements from this time line might also become a reality," Athena answered.

"Like two worlds literally colliding," Emma muttered, as she thought for a moment and then sighed, as she put her hands to her face.

"I hate this! No matter what I do...I feel like we're damned if we do and damned if we don't!" the blonde cried.

"That's a fair assessment. What Zelena has done will cause ramifications that not even me or the oracles can foresee. It's unfair Emma...but the decision remains with you," Athena implored. The blonde sighed.

"So I still have about ten years to go...any chance I can just get the highlights?" Emma questioned. Athena chuckled and waved her hand over the viewing pool.

"That I can do, but it will also speed up the need for your decision," she warned.

"I understand…" Emma agreed, as the major events began to play out before her again.

~*~

Arawn sat in his Throne that evening, extremely displeased with the turn of events.

"Sire...I know today did not turn out as you had hoped, but the division among the Gods of Olympus will only benefit us. For the first time in history, they fear us mortals," Frollo advised.

"Which could lead to our destruction," Arawn countered.

"Or theirs. The warring between brothers Zeus and Hades could end up destroying them and their entire bloodlines. They will not take Zeus' betrayal against Persephone lightly," he warned.

"Yes...I suppose you are correct and we can seize any opportunity to expand our Empire," he said, as he rose from his Throne and gazed out the window.

"Starting with Midas' Kingdom. Once he falls...others will fold to me with little quarrel," he surmised.

"All while violating the laws of the land along the way," a new voice interjected, as the two men looked around.

"Show yourself!" Frollo demanded, as a young looking man with an olive complexion appeared. Though he looked like he was barely thirty, his eyes had a wisdom and told that he was much older than he looked.

"And what concern is it of yours?" Arawn questioned.

"I am Apollo and to say that I have a strong aversion to your evil is an understatement," he responded.

"Ah...the God Apollo. Perhaps no one has informed you...but the Gods have little sway in the mortal land these days," Frollo stated.

"Your arrogance is deeply troubling, Judge Frollo. Almost as much as your perversion," Apollo countered, which angered the other man immensely.

"I am the Royal Vizier and was a man of justice! You let magic disease this land and yet I am called out for perversion," he hissed.

"After the way you looked at my niece...I'd say I'm correct in my assessment," Apollo stated.

"So that's what this is about. Has Persephone sent you to plead for her daughter's life? Because you shouldn't waste your breath. She killed my sister," Arawn growled.

"She did not...and I have proof," Apollo claimed.

"Any proof you carry is hardly that. You are a God of immense power and ability to twist anything you want," Frollo claimed.

"My oracles do not lie or deceive, but I wouldn't expect a man like you to recognize the truth," Apollo stated, as he used his oracle to show them the vision of that night. Of Deimos conspiring with the Queen, before betraying and killing her. Of Deimos staging the crime scene and framing Princess Snow.

"As you can see...the one you have allied yourself with is the one that murdered your sister," Apollo stated.

"That's a very convenient story...but there is nothing you can show me that will stop my conquest. The Kingdoms are in disarray. Their leaders are weak. King Eli, King George, King Midas, King Stefan, King Hubert...even Prince Eric in the Maritime Kingdom. They are either weak sods or greedy tyrants. Only through conformity can there be prosperity," Arawn claimed.

"Spoken like a true dictator," Apollo said distastefully.

"Even if we were to believe these claims, Snow White would not escape our scrutiny. She is an abomination...a demon born and bred in the Underworld," Frollo responded.

"Snow is as good and pure as her name suggests...but then that's why you want to destroy her. She's fated to become a great leader and to find a true love that Athena has already etched in the stars, because it will be so profound," Apollo warned. Frollo scoffed.

"We will not be threatened by that child's rule. A woman has no place on the Throne without a man by her side. She will not ascend to her father's Throne," Frollo refuted.

"This war...it will slaughter thousands. It could be worse than the ogre war. You will not create order and justice with war!" Apollo declared.

"Your laws need mending. Mortals break them and ignore them, because they are not harsh enough, but the time of leniency has passed. This is the dawn of a new era upon us and with Zeus behind us, I'd say there is little the rest of you can do against us," Arawn replied.

"We shall see," Apollo countered, as he disappeared in a puff of smoke. Arawn noticed the pensive look on Frollo's face.

"What is it? Speak your mind, my friend," he requested.

"Well...while I do not believe their claims are anything more than bluster...I am beginning to think that Snow White may be more useful alive, rather than dead," he said.

"How so?" Arawn inquired.

"Apollo was not wrong in the fact that her mother Persephone has quite the sway over the other Gods. The same can be said of the people about Snow White. They adore her. That has been made clear by how even intimidation from our soldiers did not get anyone to reveal her whereabouts," Frollo proposed.

"But Snow White would never side with us," he reminded.

"Of course not, but you do have control of her father's Throne now. As King, you would have the power to order her to marry whomever you choose for her. Royals from all over would clamor to marry the fairest of them all," Frollo countered. Arawn smirked.

"And to do so, they would offer up their Kingdoms in a merger," he surmised. Frollo nodded.

"She'd be merely a figurehead and is obviously as unruly as they come. But with a firm hand from someone like me and a suitable husband, she could be molded into the Queen we need to sway the people," Frollo mentioned.

"Hades and Persephone are still a problem though," Arawn reminded.

"This plan if far from a complete thought. There are details I have not yet worked out, but perhaps we should change her wanted posters and instruct she be brought to us alive," Frollo proposed.

"That makes it more difficult...but not impossible. Especially since we know there is a peasant boy out there somewhere that she loves," Arawn agreed.

"Who happens to be identical to George's son. Do you think either boy knows of the other?" Frollo asked.

"Doubtful...that's not something George would want to advertise, if he even knows himself. Whatever business transaction he participated in to get his brat was likely as shady as they come," Arawn commented. Frollo nodded in agreement.

"Do we tell Prince James and King George?" he inquired.

"Not yet...it might be useful information later on. I'd like to keep that one close to the vest, so to speak," Arawn responded. Frollo nodded obediently.

"Then we proceed with the invasion?" the Vizier asked.

"Yes...for now we place our plans for Snow White on hold. I have no idea that you are correct in your assessment that she may become useful to us. For now, we seize Midas' Kingdom. Once we have overtaken them, King Stefan, King Hubert, and Prince Eric's Kingdoms will fall easily enough," Arawn replied.

"And what of Arendelle? We know so little about it," Frollo stated.

"We remain cautious with it. There are closed gates there for a reason. But soon the first born Princess Elsa will come of age and she will be forced to open the gates for her coronation. That is when I will send Hans in," Arawn responded. Frollo nodded and left his King to prepare the armies for the coming invasion…

~*~

Snow arrived in her step-father's Throne room and gently pet Cerberus with affection, before noticing the sapling that had grown just after she had met David.

"Mother...where did you get this?" she asked, as she looked at the sapling that was now under glass.

"I extracted it for safekeeping once I came upon it while we were looking for you," Persephone responded.

"I didn't have time to think about what it might mean, because we had to run. But I know magic when I see it," she mentioned. Persephone smiled.

"It was the first spark of true love, sweetheart," she revealed Snow grinned and then bit her bottom lip.

"I knew what I felt for him...but it's nice to have it confirmed. I know that Nana always said I'd find true love...but I thought that wouldn't be the case anymore when I was framed for murder. I...I almost lost hope," Snow admitted. Persephone went to her daughter and hugged her tightly.

"Oh my little snowdrop...I am so sorry all this has happened to you," Persephone said, hating that there were things that not even she could protect her from.

"It's okay Mother...I almost lost hope, but then David came along. He's wonderful," Snow swooned. Persephone smiled and hugged her daughter.

"Handsome too," she mentioned, enjoying how her daughter's cheeks colored.

"I noticed," she muttered, as they watched Hades use his oracle with what could only be described as a troubled look.

"Is Papa Hades okay?" Snow asked.

"He'll be fine, sweetie. I'm afraid he's just worried...because he's about to get very busy," Persephone replied regrettably.

"Because of me," Snow said sadly.

"Absolutely not...none of this is your fault. A very evil man saw an opportunity to create chaos and seize power," Persephone admonished.

"She's right snowdrop," he agreed, as he turned and opened his arms, so he could hug them both close.

"But a lot of people are going to die, aren't they?" Snow asked.

"I'm afraid so," he told her honestly, as they watched Arawn's army march toward Midas' Kingdom.

~*~

David arrived home on horseback and saw all three of his parents on the porch of their house, looking as worried as he had ever seen them. Which was understandable, as he was three days late getting home.

"David!" Ruth cried, in a voice that was a cross between relief and scolding. She tackled him in a hug and he almost fell over when Mama Sera joined them. He met his father's eyes over them and sighed.

"I'm sorry...I promise I'm okay and that I have a very good reason for my lateness," he said.

"You had better. Do you know how worried we were? You can't disappear like that, David," Sera said fearfully. There was something behind her voice and David wondered if it had to do with her past, though she had no idea why. Surely they could never make any connections between him and his adoptive step-mother, but then he really didn't know a lot as she never wanted to talk about it.

"I'm sorry Mama...but maybe we could go inside," he suggested. They nodded and prodded him inside, though his parents hung back for a moment. Sera's hands shook in fear and Ruth clasped her hands with her own.

"He's okay…" she promised.

"I know...I just fear that we have to tell him soon. With war upon the Kingdoms...James will be traveling more. If he runs into him out there...George would have David killed on sight," Sera whispered.

"He won't...telling him can bring no good," Robert disagreed.

"How can you say that? He should know," Sera insisted.

"Our other son is about to fight a war and I know we're all scared. But telling David? What if he foolishly decides to rush off to meet his brother anyway and we lose two sons!" Robert hissed fearfully. Ruth sighed.

"He may be right...we should discuss this later," Ruth said, mediating what would be a heated argument between them. They agreed for the moment and followed their son back inside.

~*~

Arawn's vast army, led by a savage and blood-thirsty Deimos moved on Midas' Kingdom like a hoard of hungry locusts. Midas' own army was very large as well and the once gorgeous, mountains hills where Midas' Kingdom sat became a war ravaged landscape in a matter of hours. The blood of innocent soldiers simply defending their home soon littered the battlefield and the once clear, mountain springs ran red from bloodshed.

Midas' army presented a valiant and staunch resistance, but it was barely a day, before the castle was invaded. Frederick, Midas' most trusted Knight, tried to flee with Princess Abigail to get her to safety, but they were stopped. Midas presented his own defense and managed to turn several of Arawn's soldiers into gold with a simple touch. But the King was halted when Abigail and Fredrick's lives were threatened.

"You put up a valiant defense, Your Majesty. You should be proud of that. King George folded like a weeping willow," Deimos commented, as Frollo and Arawn entered the palace with grandiose. Frollo was carrying a peculiar looking gauntlet and Arawn nodded to him. Deimos held the struggling King, as Frollo placed the hand shaped gauntlet on the King. The device turned gold upon contact with Midas' skin, but then locked his hand down.

"Test it," Frollo ordered to Deimos. The God scoffed.

"I'm not doing it," he commented, as he grabbed one of his soldiers and thrust his face against the King's golden hand. And nothing happened, much to Abigail, Frederick, and most of all Midas' shock. Frollo smirked.

"Once again, as you can see, science is far superior to magic, Your Majesty. My creation has nullified your power. A power of which you are nothing without," Frollo boasted.

"I will never surrender to you!" Midas growled.

"You will...or your daughter and her lover will be executed now," Arawn threatened, as Deimos moved toward them.

"Wait!" Midas cried, as he looked at them sadly.

"I will surrender in exchange for my daughter's and Fredrick's lives," Midas relented. Arawn smirked.

"A good choice," he stated, as he looked at the prized new golden Throne that he had now added to his collection.

"Lord Deimos...assimilate the remainder of Midas' army into our own. You will lead them to King Stefan's Kingdom tomorrow," he ordered. Deimos smirked.

"Yes, Your Majesty," Deimos responded.

~*~

Persephone had never seen her husband quite so weary than she had in the last few days. It pained her to see her husband's Throne room so busy, as it meant that Arawn was committing senseless violence and slaughtering.

"All those people…" she heard Snow say from behind her. Persephone turned and hugged her close.

"I know sweetheart, but I promise that things will get better," she told her daughter, as she pulled her into her chambers.

"But Papa Hades, your father, and I all have something for you," she said, as there was an object covered with a sheet.

"What is it?" Snow asked, as she pulled off the sheet and found a beautiful looking glass beneath it.

"A looking glass?" Snow asked.

"An enchanted looking glass. Your father and your Nana are delivering the other mirror to David right now. So even though you cannot be together in person for a while, you can still talk," Persephone replied. Snow's eyes lit up and she hugged her mother.

"Oh Mother...thank you," Snow said gratefully. Persephone hugged her baby tightly.

"I know that magical looking glasses like this aren't easy to get, even for you and Papa Hades," Snow said.

"There is nothing your mother and I will not do for you, snowdrop," Hades interjected, as he joined them in a hug.

"Go on...I'm sure David has his looking glass by now," Persephone prodded, as they left their daughter to talk to her love, while they spent a few moments together.

"You're tired, my love...the souls can wait. Time is all they have, after all," she admonished, as she made him sit down for a moment.

"I know...most of them shouldn't even be here. They died for nothing," he mentioned.

"Damn Zeus…" she growled.

"This is what he wants. He wants to break me and take away my hope, but he will never do that to me again," he promised, as he pulled her down into his lap.

"Because I have love; something that he will never have. My family will ensure I am never broken by this station again," he promised. She smiled gently at him and kissed him passionately.

~*~

To say that Ruth and Sera were overjoyed and elated to discover that their son was in love was an understatement. His whole family had been enthralled by his tale of meeting a Princess and their journey to save her father. They weren't crazy about all the danger along the way, but they had to admit that they always knew that David was meant for more than a quiet life on the farm. They knew the restlessness in his youth had been because he was missing something in his life. And now they sensed a peace in him that they had not seen before. Ruth's ring had led her son to true love, after all, ultimately renewing her faith even more.

In the backs of their minds, they knew there was a real possibility of David discovering that he had a twin. But none of them knew exactly how to tell him about it. So they stalled once again, hoping that telling him would not become necessary. They met and welcomed Snow's father when he delivered a gift to David that would allow him to communicate with Snow during their separation too.

After staying with them for an evening, Eli moved on, telling them that he was heading east to lay low for the time being.

~*~

The months passed. The war raged. And the weariness grew among the people. It was clear that they needed saving from Arawn and his tyrannical rule. And Athena was clear that it would be true love that would save all the Kingdoms. She wasn't specific as to how, but Persephone knew that Snow and David were somehow integral in that. She suspected that the Dark One knew it too, for his saving of her daughter was more than just to make them even, she was sure of it and so was her husband. She supposed that he had a vested interest in seeing someone like Arawn taken down too though. They had just learned how Frollo had managed to invent a device to nullify Midas' magic, after all. If something could be developed to seal Midas' golden touch away, then that meant it was very likely that Frollo might find a way to suppress the magic in a person. Which was very bad news for all of them. Knowing that her daughter might somehow be key in defeating Arawn gave her a lot of anxiety too. But she knew that Snow and David were special; that their love was special. Which meant they would see and face evils and adversity like some never would.

As least they would not be alone in their battle though. Between the two of them, they had six loving parents that would be with them every step of the way. She had not met David's mothers or his father yet, but she knew they were good people that loved their son and would love her daughter, just as she would come to love their son as her own as well. Their family would stand on the front lines against Arawn and despite the fear that created, she knew that love would prevail. She only hoped that there wasn't too much sacrifice along the way.

At this very moment, her anxiety was in full force. It was fall and the leaves were beginning to turn. And Snow had gone to the surface for her first secretive rendezvous with David. The pair would reunite and travel east together so Snow could visit Eli as well. Her ex was living in the eastern mountain regions at the moment, quite secluded and safe. But she was still worried that they might run into trouble. Still, she was excited that her daughter was getting to see the man she loved at last. Despite the fact that a war was keeping them apart, she still had hope that love would win out.

~*~

David worked on repairing their fence that afternoon and his father had come to help him. He was proud of his dad these days, as Robert hadn't had a drink in years. He still gambled a bit more than David liked, but he seemed to be mostly in control of his addictions and for that he was proud of his dad.

"We're making good time on the fence. We might even be done by dinner," David mentioned. Robert smirked, as he had already noticed the young woman in the distance.

"I doubt it, because you're having something else to tend to right now. But that's okay. The fence can wait," he replied. David's brow furrowed, as he looked ahead to what his father was seeing and his eyes widened in surprise.

"Snow…" he uttered. Robert chuckled in amusement, as his son cleared the fence in one easy leap and ran to the raven haired beauty, dressed in an airy white dress, as she waited for him in the meadow beside her unicorn.

"Snow...you're here…" he exclaimed, as he picked her up in his arms and spun her around. She giggled and relished being in his arms again.

"Mother and Papa Hades said it should be safe for a few days. Arawn is moving toward King Hubert's Kingdom and they're much further south now," she mentioned. He grinned at her and their lips met passionately.

"I missed you so much…" he confessed and she caressed his handsome face.

"I missed you too, my love," she whispered to him, as she clung desperately to him. They had gone months and being able to talk to each other had been a blessing. But they had parted each night wishing and longing to hold each other.

By then, David's mothers had come out of the house and joined his father at the fence.

"I think I'd like to finally meet them in person," Snow mentioned. She had talked to all of them through the enchanted looking glass and his mothers already adored Snow, just as she adored them. He took her hand and led her over to the fence, helping her over it.

"Oh Snow...it so good to finally meet you in person," Ruth gushed. Snow smiled and hugged her back.

"It's so good to meet you too...all of you," she said, as Robert and Sera both greeted her as well.

"Dinner will be ready in a couple hours. Why don't you and David enjoy a ride in the meadow on your unicorn," Sera suggested. David smiled and took her hand.

"That sounds like a great idea," he agreed. Snow smiled, as they mounted Stardust together, with David riding in front at Snow's insistence. She put her arms around him and leaned her head against his back, as Stardust galloped off into the meadow. Snow relished the thrumming of his heartbeat. David took them further into the meadow and along the outskirts of the forest until they came upon a small lagoon with a waterfall.

"Oh David...this is beautiful…" she marveled, as he dismounted and then helped her down. He knew she was perfectly capable of getting down herself, but he simply wanted her in his arms and she wanted the same.

"I know...it's kind of a hidden gem. I've been wanting to share it with you," he replied, as he held her close and they gazed at each other. But now that they were completely alone, all politeness was gone and their lips crashed together with wanton desperation.

"I love you…" David uttered, as she pressed her forehead against his.

"I love you too...my Charming," she said with a bright smile, using a name that she had coined for him after he had saved her life so many times. He looked down shyly.

"I keep telling you I'm not a prince," he reminded.

"No...but you're my prince," she purred, as she kissed him again and the way she said that, with love in her voice and a touch of possessiveness, made him feel hot all over. He smiled at her, as their lips parted.

"And I want to be with you...eternally. I know that we're young and we can't be together all the time yet, but I know this is true love," he said. Snow smiled.

"I know it is too and someday, we won't have to be separated at all," she assured.

"Until then...I want to put this on your finger. I have since the troll bridge when I realized I was in love with you," he said. She gasped, as he got down on one knee.

"Will you marry me...someday?" he asked and she bit her bottom lip.

"What do you think?" she teased, as she held out her hand and he slipped the ring on her finger, before standing up and taking her in his arms again. Their lips met passionately again and they lost themselves in each other once again...

#Snowing #SnowxCharming #Charming family #Swanfire #AU #Rumbelle #HadesXPersephone #Greek Mythology meets fairy tales #romance #adventure #family #dreaming out loud