The Girl and the Nutcracker ~ A Once Upon a Time Story

1x02: The Thing You Love Most

Enma summarised Henry's theory. "So, for decades, people have been walking around in a haze, not aging, with screwed up memories, stuck in a cursed town that kept them oblivious." Henry smiled, "I knew you'd get it! That's why we need you. You're the only one who can stop her curse."

"Because I'm the daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming?" Emma said with a questioning tone.

"Yes. And right now, we have the advantage. My mom doesn't know that. I took out the end. The part with you in it. See? Your mom is Snow White." Henry showed the page of baby Emma and Emma looked at him, "Kid..."

"I know the hero never believes at first. If they did, it wouldn't be a very good story. If you need proof, take them. Read them. But whatever you do, don't let her see these pages. They're dangerous. If she finds out who you are, then it would be bad. I got to go. But I'll find you later and we can get started. I knew you'd believe me!" Henry told her while they arrived at the school grounds, and ran away towards the front door.

Emma looked at his disappearing figure, "I never said I did!" Henry turned around to answer, "Why else would you be here?" and he then disappeared in the building.

Emma looked at the girl still standing next to her, "shouldn't you head into there, too?" Clara laughed awkwardly before turning to her to answer, "Uh no, I am uh... homeschooled."

Emma gave her a pointed look, "I know when someone's lying." Clara raised her eyebrow, "Technically it's not a lie, but it's hard to explain." She then started walking away.

Emma shouted after her, "So who are you in the book?" Clara turned around and replied, "Henry doesn't know yet!" Then Clara turned the corner out of Emma's sight.

"Miss Stahlbaum, pleased to see you here." Mr. Gold said when he came across the girl on the street. "Oh don't do that, you and I both know you don't like me enough to be pleased by my sight." Clara complained and just continued walking. Unfortunately, Gold seemed to follow her by the sound of his cane tapping onto the sidewalk.

"We need to have a chat. It's about yesterday." Gold told her as she stopped in her tracks and turned around to face him. "I have nothing to say to you."

Gold chuckled darkly. "I think you do, dearie. Otherwise you wouldn't have given me the doll." Clara just stared at him, giving him the cue to continue. "You see, the reason why you gave me the doll, is because you know we are both aware of what really happens here."

"An old man stalking a young girl on the street is what happens here." Clara responded with an annoyed tone, "Now, if you'll excuse me, I told Graham I would help as a deputy today." Clara then stormed off to the Sheriff's office, leaving the man behind.

———–

"Do you actually like doughnuts?" Clara asked while sitting upside down on the bed in one of the jail cells. Graham looked over at the girl from the other side of the room, "Very stereotypical to ask that, Clara... but I prefer regular food."

Before Clara could ask any further, the phone started ringing. Graham grabbed it to answer and shortly after he hung up and grabbed his jacket. "You stay here, I won't be long. Answer the phones if someone calls." Then he walked away before Clara could even get a word in.

After a while Graham returned with Emma to the office, and Clara looked up at the two, "Emma? What are you doing here? This is two days in a row you're going to jail."

Emma answered the girl while Graham was positioning her for mugshots. "This time I did nothing, except the sheriff here doesn't believe me." Then she turned to the sheriff himself. "You know the shrink is lying, right?" Emma said to him, but Graham just took another mugshot. "To the right, please. Why would he lie?"