The Towns of The Remembered:

Chapter 1: Snow in San Angel

Flashback: A Mexican desert, long before the Dark Curse, during Regina's reign

Under the hot desert sun, a rider galloped through the endless wasteland full of sand and cactuses. The rider had been galloping day and night in the hopes of evading the wrath of the Evil Queen Regina. Unfortunately for the rider, the food and water rations were getting lower and lower per day and unless a town was to be found, then death would fall upon the rider and her horse.

Snow White cursed under her teeth: she should have thought better before running off in a hot desert like this burning inferno, but what could she do? Regina's men have been chasing her for days and were reluctant enough to go after her when she left the kingdom and entered the desert. Despite the tiredness and lack of food, Snow kept going.

Finally, she saw it. She saw what appeared to be a small town rising above the center of a lake. Finally, she thought. A town! Hopefully I'll get something to eat and a place to sleep!

Snow got closer to the town, which revealed to be a hill full of houses and for a crown a large church. A small wooden bridge connected the town from the mainland. Before she could cross it, Snow heard the sound of music in the air.

She stopped to listen to it: the musical cords were played quickly but in a soft and emotional way. The music was very beautiful.

It came from a tree that stood on the mainland and a few feet away from the bridge. Snow got off her horse and got closer to the tree, seeing a young man in his early twenties, dressed in a black outfit with golden skulls and red hearts motifs that she'd never seen before. His skin was golden and his brown hair had a curl going upward in a circular motion. His back was lying against the tree trunk as he played a cord instrument that seemed like a large lute to Snow.

"Um…excuse me?" Snow hesitated, not wanting to interrupt the musician. He stopped and saw her in the tired and hungry condition she was in.

"Dios mío!" he exclaimed. He grabbed a bottle from his suit and gave it to Snow. "Drink this, señora. You could use for some water. You look like you haven't slept for days!"

"Thank you." Snow grabbed the bottle and instantly drank from it before giving some to her horse.

"Have you been riding all by yourself in the desert?"

"Yes."

"You should be careful. The desert here is home to bandits led by the evil bandit king named Chakal. Our town along with others is at his mercy."

Snow wiped off the water from her mouth as she gave the young man. "I didn't know. I've been riding days and nights in the hope of finding a place to stay temporarily…"

"Then perhaps you could go back to town with me. I'm sure my family won't mind sheltering a traveler for a few days," the young man smiled.

"Really? Thank you so much!" the two shook hands. "I'm Snow White, by the way."

"Pleased to meet you, Señora Snow White. My name is Manolo Sanchez. Welcome to San Angel."