Meadowpeak

The sound of scrapping boots filled the air as Levi dragged his feet through the dirt. Pain twisted in his heart, and hatred boiled his blood. How could Snow be so heartless? How could she just kill dozens of innocent lives? He knew she wouldn't stop there. She wasn't going to stop until she had found them.

A sniffle broke him out of his thoughts. He turned his head until he was glancing over his shoulder. Elyssa barely kept pace with him and his Mother as they trekked through the woods. She wrapped her arms around herself and her head drooped as she shuffled behind them.

He knew she was trying to hide her tears from them. She had always acted so brave saying, "A dragon never cries. Never shows weakness." But Elyssa was more then a dragon. She was a girl as well, and humans deserve to grieve.

Levi balled his hands into fists. He couldn't even imagine what it would be like to witness your own parents murder. He didn't know whether his Father was alive or not, but he didn't care. He would never want to watch something so horrible happen to his Mother. His Mother was his world.

He couldn't contain his anger. He stomped his foot, picked up a stick, and launched it into the woods. He heard the smacking of wood indicating the stick had struck a tree. "How could Snow be so heartless?" His tone rose with his words.

He looked behind him once more as Elyssa dropped to her knees and broke out in sobs. He grimaced. Maybe releasing his anger was a mistake. He knelt down beside his best friend and placed his arms around her. "I'm sorry, Elyssa. I should've kept my mouth shut."

She shook her head. "But you're right." She sniffed and cried some more before continuing. "Snow White is heartless. I just watched her murder my Father and my Mother." She shook her head. "And my Father." She looked up into his eyes. "He turned you in. Why? Why would he do that? Our family wasn't rich, but we were surviving."

"Maybe Snow White forced him to say something, and she pretended to pay him to make him seem like a traitor." His Mother turned around, and squatted in front of him and Elyssa.

"Or maybe Jerald is just a traitor," Levi huffed.

"Levi, hush! We don't talk like that. Jerald was our friend and Elyssa's Father. There has to be an explanation."

Levi lowered his head as his cheeks blushed with embarrassment. It had been a while since his Mother had scolded him like that, but he deserved it. He shouldn't have spoken about Elyssa's Father that way. She was hurting, and he needed to be there for her.

Mother rose to her feet, and hoisted her pack higher. "Come on, you two. We'll need to make camp for the night."

He glanced down at Elyssa one last time before helping Mother with what she needed. "Go grab some wood," she said. "We'll need a fire. I'll use what is here to get one started."

He cocked his head. "Won't the smoke from a fire draw Snow to us?"

Mother gave him a gentle smile. "There's nothing to fear. I will use my magic to keep the smoke from reaching above the trees. We'll be okay."

He gave her a firm nod before leaving to collect wood. He walked away until he was far enough away that neither of the girls could hear him. He sighed heavily and dropped to his knees, placing his head on the ground with his hands covering him. He wanted to burst out crying, but couldn't. The anger that raged within was enough to hold the tears at bay.

Instead, he punched the ground with his fists causing leaves to shift and twigs to break. Why? Why did Snow do it? Why did everyone have to die? Why couldn't he save them? Why was he so pathetic? What kind of King was he supposed to be to the Kingdom if he couldn't even protect his own people?

"That is a good question."

Levi's eyes popped open and he bolted to his feet. He swiftly withdrew his sword and aimed it toward the man before him. "Who are you?" He gritted his teeth ready to take action if necessary.

The man rolled his eyes and crossed his arms. "Calm yourself, boy. I'm not here to hurt you."

Levi narrowed his eyes. He didn't like the looks of this man. He says he wasn't going to hurt him, but his demeanor told a different story. The man before him was dressed in all leather. His jacket, pants, and boots. His hair was gray and reached to his shoulders. Levi swallowed a lump in his throat worried, but trying not to show his fear. "Then what are you here for?"

The man gestured toward Levi. "Why I simply heard a cry for help, and am here to assist."

Levi let his sword lower a tad intrigued by this mans words. "Help how?"

The man grinned and waved a hand in the air, blue sparkles swirled around his hand and arm until they disappeared into thin air. "Helping you learn magic of course!"

Levi's eyes opened even wider. Had he heard correctly? Magic? This man could teach him magic? "How?"

The man sighed and rolled his eyes. "You ask too many questions, boy." He walked back and forth as he stared at Levi. "So what'll it be? Yes or no?"

Levi let the tip of his blade fall completely to the ground along with his gaze. Could this be his chance? His chance to save his Kingdom? To save his Mother? To take back what was his?

He narrowed his eyes once more as he looked back up at the man. "What'll it cost me?"

The man smirked. "Oh, just a tiny thing that you wouldn't even care about."

"Tell me!" Levi shouted, gripping the handle of his sword tighter. In the blink of an eye, the man was gone. Next thing he felt was a prick on his head. He turned his head to the left to find the man holding a strand of hair.

The man shrugged. "Just some hair is all."

Levi gave him a bewildered look. "Hair? What would you want that for?"

The man slowly walked away from him, placing the strand in a glass bottle. "That's for me to know, and for you not to worry about." He swirled around to face Levi. "Now! Are you ready to learn some magic?"

Levi thought about it for a split second. This was what he needed to do. For his Kingdom. He sheathed his sword, and stood tall before the man in front of him. "I would be hon—"

"Levi! Get away from that man!"

He flung himself around as his Mother and Elyssa both emerged from the tree lines, Mother with a ball of fire in her hand.

He held up his hands trying to get Mother to stop panicking. "Mother, don't! You don't understand! He's promised to help us!"

Mother wouldn't listen to him. She stepped in front of him, the heat from her fire singeing the hairs off his face. "You don't know who this man is, Levi. He has never helped anyone in his life. He only causes pain."

"Ivy!" the man exclaimed in his pitchy tone. "How good to see you!"

"Wish I could say the same Rumplestiltskin."

Levi stepped out from behind Mother's back. "Wait! Rumplestiltskin? As in, the most powerful man in the realm?"

Rumplestiltskin made a dramatic bow. "Guilty."

Levi couldn't believe his eyes. He had heard stories about Rumplestiltskin his whole life. Stories that should never have been told. Mother was right. All this man did was cause harm to other people. He was no friend to anyone.

Rumplestiltskin snickered. "By the looks on you two youngins faces I guess you know about my reputation." He took a small step forward. "I know I've done bad things in the past, but I'm not here to cause any trouble. I want Snow gone just as much as you."

"Then what are you doing here?" Elyssa asked from the back.

He pointed toward Levi. "Teaching the boy magic of course!"

"Never!" Mother spat.

Rumplestiltskin chuckled, but it wasn't any chuckle Levi had ever heard. It was high and girly almost for one of the most wicked people in the world. "Sorry, Ivy, but it's too late. The boy's already struck a deal."

Mother extinguished her flame, and swiftly turned his way gripping tight onto his shoulders nearly shaking him as she spoke. "What did you give him, Levi? Don't tell me you were so foolish to make that deal."

Levi furrowed his brow. He had no idea what she was talking about, but by the look in her eyes, there was something she was hiding. "What deal? All he did was take a strand of my hair, and he told me he'd teach me."

Mother sighed heavily as she lowered her head.

He glanced from Rumplestiltskin back to his Mother. "It's a good deal! I know who he is, and how dangerous he can be. That is why I'll keep an eye on him always, but if he can teach me magic then we can win this war!"

"No!" Mother shouted.

He coward back wanting to bury his head. Never had Mother seemed so scary in her life. Nor had she ever looked so distressed. What else was she hiding from him? What was she not telling him? It had to be something to do with Rumplestiltskin. She wasn't acting this way before hand. Unless... she and Elyssa had been discussing something serious.

Mother rose to her feet, and turned to glare at Rumplestiltskin. "His sword," she spoke sternly. "If you must keep your deal then you will train him how to use a sword, and don't tell me you don't sword fight because I've seen you do it." She looked over at Levi, her eyes still locked in anger. "And I will be watching ever second to make sure you don't strike anymore deals."

With those words, she stomped to a nearby tree and leaned against it with her arms crossed.

Levi lowered his head and sighed before drawing his sword once more and aiming toward Rumplestiltskin. He wasn't in the mood to fight with Mother. Only magic was going to save their Kingdom, but if she didn't want him learning by this man then perhaps he could find a new teacher.

Rumplestiltskin clapped his hands together. "Alright then!" He put his right hand up his left sleeve and withdrew a shining, sturdy sword. He waved it around in the air showing off some moves before aiming toward Levi. "Let's begin!"