~~A forest with no life burning a bright inferno.

A waxing and waning full moon a deep crimson.

Black ash that falls out of a ruby sky.

A little girl who sits on her knees holding wilted flowers.

Shh...listen...she sings a monotone...

"Ring around the rosie~..."

Filled with pain and sadness...

"A pocket full of posies~..."

Listen to the tears she cannot shed... "

Ashes~...Ashes~..."

Listen...

"We all fall down~..."

...Help...

Chapter 1: The Mondae family:

"Mary." Cooed the gentle voice of a man softly. "It's time to wake up. We're here."

He looks rather young (maybe in his late twenties), tall, and handsome in a charismatic sophisticated way with long shiny silver hair pulled in a pony tail and matching metallic orbs. He is clad in black from the trench coat, the pants, and the dress shoes.

The man addreses the sleeping figure of a young girl who looked to be four to five curled up in the seat of the car.

She had short and wavy brown hair and was wearing a black dress underneath a long red coat, a black rabbit hat, red stockings, and black flats with little bows on it.

"Mm...?" The child moans sleepily as she slowly sits up. "...yawn~good morning uncle Al." She greeted as she rubbed the wisp of sleep from liquid pools of warm brown.

"Uncle Al" smiles and pets her head. "You mean good afternoon. You slept for a long time."

The girl nods as she is silently picked up by her uncle. "Alright little one. We're finally here."

Mary looks around and marvels silently at her surroundings.

They were deep in the county side of Pearl Creek. The air was clean and fresh and the trees were painted in the colors of Autumn. A big plot of many vegetables and fruits were seen behind a giant house that looked more of a small mansion.

The house itself was very well taken care of. There was no chips in the white paint, not a crack in the many windows, no splintering wood on the steps, just a very simple yet beautiful house.

The two made their way to the sleek brown mahogany double doors and used the door bell which gave a small little tune.

Mary perked up at the familiar sound.

"Ah! It's ring around the rossie." She exclaimed quietly as the brass door knobs twisted.

"Yes~? Who is it?" Asked the sweet voice of a woman.

This woman was one of the most prettiest woman Mary had ever seen.

She had shoulder length rust colored hair that framed her smooth peach face and frosty blue yet warm eyes. She wore a yellow dress with a long frilly white apron.

The thing that stuck out the most to Mary was that she was covered in flour from head to toe.

"Ah! ALLY~!" The woman called out pulling her uncle in a bear hug. "It's been so long~!"

"Hello May. Still looking lovely as always." Joked Al with a happy smile.

"And you still a charmer as well! Are you still single?"

"Yes. I'm still waiting for the special someone."

"Well once you found her bring her over! I would love to plan your wedding!...Ara?"

The woman after her squealing noticed Mary who was hiding and clutching behind her uncles legs.

"Ah~! How cute~! And who is this little bunny I see down there." May cooed.

Al smiled and introduced her. "May. This is my niece Mary Grimm and I was hopping she could stay with you for awhile."

May gasped and looked wide eyed at the fidgeting girl. She then looked to the older male who had a unreadable expression on his face but with emotional eyes. They shared a telepathic conversation and May looked misty eyed at the girl once again.

She crouched down and smiled at her. "Hello dear. I'm your aunt May and this is your new home for awhile. I hope we can get along."

The brunnet nodded. "It's nice to meet you too aunt May. Please take care of me."

"He he! My what a polite little girl!" The red head woman then picked up her "niece" and turned back to the other.

"I'm sorry for doing this but as you know I can't take care of her well."

"Oh don't worry about it! She'll be just fine her!"

Al smiled gratefully and turned to Mary. "I'm going to leave soon Mary so I want you to be a good girl and help your aunt out okay?"

She nodded and hugged her uncle tightly. "Bye uncle Al. I love you." She said softly.

Unknown to Mary a heart breaking expression crossed his face for a brief moment until he returned the hug tightly.

"I love you too...Mary..."

When the two females entered the house after Al left, Mary stared at the interior.

For a farm house it was quiet fancy. The carpet was a deep coffee color while the walls were cream. They were in a living room were big comfy couches that matches the walls were surrounding a fairly big flat screen television. In the middle was a mahogany coffee table with elegant carvings of swirls and curls. Brown shelves lined the walls filled with books, knick knacks, and pictures of May, a middle age man, and a boy around Mary's age.

They made there way past the kitchen and out to the backyard on a patio.

There was the man from the picture plowing some land. He had short sandy brown hair, narrowed black eyes, and a broad build. He wore a white dress shirt with rolled up sleeves, jeans, and brown work boots.

"Sweet heart~!" Called May waving her arm. "Al came over and asked if we can watch over his niece Mary!"

The man cocked and eye brow and observed the small bundle in his wife's arms. If you look closely you could see his eyes widen slightly. He looked to his wife and they both had the same conversation in their head as earlier.

He sighed, shook his head and went back to work.

Mary tugged on her aunts shoulder. "Aunt May is his voice broken?"

May giggled and hugged the girl close. "No he's just shy meeting new people. Now! Let's get back inside, you must be starving!"

As if to confirm a low rumble sounded and Mary rubbed her stomach looking down. "I think my tummy's hungry too."

"Well then let's go! I was making apple pie just before you came here too!"

They went back into the kitchen and May put down her little guest. "Mary can I ask for a favor?" She asked.

"Can you go upstairs and bring down my little angle? He's been in his room all day and the lazy boy needs some fresh air."

Mary nodded. "Okay."

"Great! His room is upstairs second door to the left. You can't miss it since it's blue!"

The brunet nodded and climbed up the stairs. She followed her aunts instructions and found the door to be slightly ajar.

Peeking in she saw a lump on the bed and fully walked in.

The walls were painted a nice creamy blue while the carpet was white. Their was a brown desk in front of a window with see through curtains. There was a closet on the side probably filled with other clothes and toys. Then in the corner was a bed with blue and white sheets and under it was the boy she saw in the pictures.

He had messy black hair with long bangs that covered his eyes. He had a big white band aid on his nose and his cheek.

Mary walked up and shook him gently. He grumbled and turned over.

She climb over him and stared closely at his face. She grabbed his nose and waited...

After ten seconds he snapped awake due to lack of oxygen and fell of his bed frightened.

"Ahhhh!" THUD!

Mary crawled and peeked over at the fallen boy. "Are you okay?"

"W-w-w-who ar-are you!?" Shouted the boy pointing with a trembling finger.

"My name is Mary Grimm. What's yours?" She asked sitting in front of him.

"U-uh...C-Courage M-M-Mondae..."

"Nice to meet you Courage. Aunt May asked me to go get you."

"M-mom told you to get me?"

Mary nods and holds out her hand. "Uh huh. She's making apple pie come on."

Courage looks warily at her hand until he gently takes it in his.

They leave the room and enter the kitchen were the whimsical smell of apples and cinnamon wafts thru the air.

May pulls out the sweet desert and puts it on the counter while humming.

"Oh! Sweetie your awake~!" She shouted gleely as she scoops up the struggling boy in a hug.

"M-Mom!" He yelled blushing not wanting to be seen like this in front of another person. "P-put me down!"

May sighs sadly and hesitantly puts down the boy while fake sobbing. "Waa~my little boy is getting too old for his mommy! How time pass!"

While her son covers his face in red embarrassment her niece pats her on the back. "It's okay aunt May. He still loves you."

May looks at the girl with glassy eyes and crushes the girl in a hug. "So CUTE~~! It's okay sweet heart I'm alright! After all you can't get rid of a mothers love that easily! It will follow you till they day you die and then some!" The black-haired boy just sighs and trudges to the living room.