"Neal?" A voice whispered into a phone, soft quiet and urgent, a woman's. "We're headed there, I know the rules." She said, and then hung up before, Neal could say anything. It had been mere minutes since Henry came with word that Emma was his mother. Of course, Henry asked Emma to take him back to StoryBrooke the very place, Neal and the woman on the phone had been avoiding. Autumn was her name, Autumn Cassidy, Neal Cassidy's twin sister.
"Autumn, are you ready?" Emma Swan asked fixing her red jacket on her shoulders, and pulling her blonde locks of hair from the insides and leaving the curls to cascade down her shoulders. The raven haired girl looked over shoving her phone in her pocket and offering a smirk.
"I don't know, 'mommy', are you?" Autumn asked, she grabbed her jean jacket off the bed, and raised a hand to her face, using her index and middle finger to push glasses up her nose. She allowed a chuckle to leave her lips as Emma gave her wary face and a weak glare.
"We'll see," Emma spoke weakly, she grabbed her keys off the counter, and turned around to walk out the door. Autumn smiled and followed after her closing the door behind her and smiling at Henry.
"Your mom, I bet she's pissed you disappeared?" Autumn asked giving a raised eyebrow, as she went to put on her jean jacket.
"If she's even noticed I'm gone," Henry said, and Autumn gave a frown, as did Emma the girls looked at each other before looking to Henry.
"Kid, you know that isn't true," Emma said, as she led the way to her yellow car. Once there she got in, and Autumn got in the back, smirking at the look given to her from Emma as Henry sat up front next to her.
"You don't know my mom." He muttered.
The dungeon that held Rumpelstiltskin didn't feel so empty anymore, which caused him to give a smirk. "Regina." He said a mouse from the ground caught his eye as the creature went up in a purple smoke, turning into that of the evil queen.
"Rumple!" She said with a smile, her head tilting long waves of black hair falling down her shoulder, and she mover her cloak behind her as she walked towards the dark one's cell. "Somethings happened that I think you may be interested in." She said, and Rumple glared, before giving an impish giggle.
"You wanna make a deal?" He asked darkly, a smile spreading on his face.
"Tell me why my curse didn't work, and I'll show you something, you've been looking for." Regina purred. Rumple tilted his head.
"For such valuable information, dearie," He growled the last word, "I want more than just what you'll show me." He said, "I want power in the world where you'll send us all, and for you, to do as I say just as long as I say 'please.'," A laugh left Rumple's mouth and he grabbed the bars of his cell leaning his head against the bars.
Regina pursed her lips fighting with herself, biting her tongue as to not fight back with him. As much as she wished she could snap his neck, she knew she couldn't. Her revenge against Snow White was too strong, and she knew Rumple knew just that. "Deal." She said, as she waved her hand and a hand held mirror appeared.
Rumple gave a curious look as he watched a girl rummage through his castle. "You came all this way to show me a thief?" He growled. Regina chuckled.
But this girl was more than just a thief, inside the mirror, the girl wore clothes that were not from the Enchanted Forest, jeans, a black and white striped sweater, and black leather jacket over it with black combat boots, black wavy hair was up in a ponytail, black thick rimmed glasses on her face, she appeared to be 13, and was frantic as she searched for something.
Finally, the girl gave a gasp as she looked up and looked at the mirror that was pointed in her direction. She started looked back down, she knew she was being watched, but she found it and picked up the necklace she had been looking for, placing it around her neck, and then looked back at the mirror with a glare. She lifted her hand and with a twist, the mirror shattered.
Rumple stared at the now purple clouded mirror until it showed his reflection and he looked back at Regina. He had a mixture of surprise on his face, maybe even a layer of hurt. He knew his daughter when he saw her. "That's impossible. She's-"
"In the land without magic?" Regina finished and shrugged, "Maybe she was never in that world." She gave a shrug. She could care less about that girl, the only thing she cared about was getting to know what she needs to know to start the curse. "Well, I held my part of your deal." Rumple looked at her and huffed before nodding and turning around.
"You need the heart of the thing you care for most." He said, and Regina gave a huff.
"I did that already and it didn't work!" She said, "My steed, and-"
"No, dearie! That isn't thing you care about the most," Rumple turned around and grabbed onto the bars of his cell, and gave a giggle. "Who do you care for most, Regina?"
Regina's face gave a hopeless look, before she disappeared in a puff of purple smoke.
Autumn was looking down at her phone, pulling liquorice from the pocket of her white polo shirt, and held the food out to Emma and Henry in the front seats. "If we're going to sit in awkward quiet, can we have a reason like," Autumn looked up catching Emma's eyes in the mirror, "Oh I don't know food in our mouth, or maybe the radio being on?" She asked and tilted her head, raising her eyebrows. "Oh right, your radio is a piece of shit." She should know. Her and Neal lived in it for a while.
Henry gave a sigh shaking his head at the offered candy, but Emma took it shoving it in her mouth. Maybe, just, maybe she wouldn't have to have the conversation she knew would happen eventually. "Can we stop for real food?" Henry asked.
"Gas station food ain't good enough for you? How rude." Autumn chuckled, reaching into her shirt pocket and pulling out another piece of candy and taking a bite out of it. Henry looked back at her with a smile.
"Not what I meant." He said and Emma looked at him.
"We're not stopping kid, we have to get you home," Emma said in a stressed way, as she driving picked up. Autumn gave a sigh and shook her head.
"I have a name." Henry snapped at her, and Emma looked at him with a concerned look. Of course, she knew he had a name, It just felt too real for her to use it. To say her own son's name. She shook her head slowly.
"I know, Henry. I'm sorry." She said. And then glanced at Henry momentarily, and looked at the book he had on his lap. "What's that?" She asked and Henry closed the book looking at her.
"I'm not sure you're ready." He said, and Autumn leaned forward and then as she saw the cover, she dropped her candy in her lap. 'Once Upon A Time', the very books her and her brother had been studying in New York. This couldn't be? Henry had one?
Autumn leaned back slowly with a wide eyed expression, This was it. It was time. She only hoped her father had no memories, but just to be safe she'd stay clear of her father.
She only hoped that maybe she could look into StoryBrooke library and see if it had the answers on how to destroy magic.
*break here*
The girl that had broken into Rumplestiltskin's castle, and stole a necklace, now sat upon a horse, looking up at the castle that held Rumplestiltskin captive, she frowned deeply looking down at the key that was given to her by 'The Dragon'. The Key was one that would bring her back to the land of untold stories, where she would meet with the man Aladdin to give her, her key back to the world without magic. She knew she should leave right away, not that she has the necklace of Avalon. The necklace that would protect her from all dark magic. Something inside her wouldn't let her leave. She had to see him. She had to see Rumplestiltskin. Her father.
She squeezed her legs together to make the stolen steed go onward once more, pushing her glasses up her nose as they went. "I'm going to regret this." She muttered as kept going onward, towards the back of the castle. If there was anything she learned from living in New York and in Neverland, it was that there was always another way in.
Autumn was looking out the window as they entered StoryBrooke her hand going to a necklace that was around her neck, the necklace looked like a simple broken in half jade stone held to her neck by a small silver chain. She had been zoning out when Emma slammed the breaks to her car causing her to hit her head on the back of Emma's seat and give a groan.
She looked out the window and blinked. They were in the middle of the street, and she looked up as Emma got out of the car and slammed the door. "What the Hell did you do kid?" She asked pulling Emma's seat forward and opening the door getting out.
Henry got out of the car and looked at the girls.
"Look, kid, we've had a long day-" Emma started but was cut off by Autumn.
"Actually, I just stayed in and wrote fanfiction for Stargate-" She paused and looked at her turning and crossing her arms at Emma's glare, "Proceed." She muttered and gave a smirk as she looked at the un-ticking clock, before grimacing. The sooner they left this town the better. She only came for Emma, because Emma didn't want to go alone. To be honest, she didn't even know Emma had a kid, She only recently came back into Emma's life two years ago, after helping her catch someone that she was trying to get for her work. It was the least she could do since her brother, Neal let her go to jail for something he did. She had a small suspicion Henry was Neal's son, but Emma would have told her. Right?
"Times frozen here." Autumn heard Henry say, Which was followed by Emma's exaggerated 'excuse me'. As much as Autumn felt like sticking up for the kid that knew this town was much more than it seemed. She knew she couldn't. Emma might think she was crazy, and Henry's mother makes think she was crazy, and that the kid's biological mother and a crazy woman kidnapped her kid. That was the last think Emma needed.
"Oh, the irony right?" Autumn cut it in with a smile turning around. "Story book character's stuck in StoryBrooke, Maine." She let out a laugh. She was hinting of course. Hinting at the irony, which she knew was true, just like she knew Emma was the savior of this town. She knew the people were under a curse. Emma glared at her again and rolled her eyes, before looking at Henry.
"It's true!" Henry said up to both of them. Emma sighed and looked down at him.
"Then why don't they just leave?" Emma asked and Autumn grabbed her necklace looking off. Autumn knew why, it was why she had the necklace, the necklace that she broke in half and gave half to her brother. To keep the Evil Queen's curse from affecting them if they ever came to StoryBrooke.
"Because bad things happen to the people that leave." Henry said and Autumn gave an absentminded nod, which Henry noticed, "She knows!" He said pointing at Autumn, Autumn looked down at him and widened her eyes.
"No, I was just thinking about something else," She lied with a laugh, and Emma looked at her with a confused look. She knew she had to have been caught. With Emma's "super power" and whatnot. She'd come up with a better lie later to tell Emma.
"Henry!" Another voice called out which made Autumn and Emma jump and look over at the older man walking his Dalmatian. Immediately Autumn gave a gasp and pointed at the dog as the man neared.
"Can I please pet your puppy?" she asked, and the man gave a startled look, before chuckling and nodding, Autumn kneeled down and started holding the dog's head, and scratching behind his ears.
"Everything alright here? Henry, why aren't you home? Who are these people?" He was bombarded with questions onto Henry, and Autumn stood up slowly, rubbing her knees.
"We're just some nice people giving him a ride home." Emma started, and then Henry butted in.
"She's my mom, Archie," Henry said and Archie looked up at Emma and Autumn and Autumn pointed at Emma with raised eyebrows. Emma gave her a look, and Autumn stuck her tongue out with a laugh, she dropped her hand crossed her arms.
"I'm just, Autumn," Autumn said, and Archie gave a thoughtful look.
"The support," he said and Autumn gave a smirk and a nod, Emma gave her a glare, Autumn shook off, and sighed.
"Can you tell us where he lives?" Emma asked, and Archie nodded.
"Turn a left on the main street and it'll be the Mayor's house, can't miss it." He smiled. Autumn's eyes widened and Emma looked down at Henry.
"The Mayor's kid?" Emma said in an exasperated way. Autumn looked down. She assumed that The Evil Queen was the mayor. This was her curse after all. Why did Regina have the child of The Savior? Was Henry powerful? Was she just jumping to conclusions? Autumn had zoned off in her own thoughts when Emma nudged her with her elbow to get in the car, she shook her head.
"You okay? You've been zoning out a lot." Emma said with narrowed eyes, Autumn gave a slow laugh.
"I'm peachy, how about you go and drop off the kid, " Autumn said with a shrug, "I can't be cramped in the back of that damned car for much longer," She said and stuck her hands in her jean jacket pockets. "Call me when you're done, and I'll tell you where I'm at, and we'll leave together." She said, and Emma gave her a wary look, before nodding and getting in the car.
Autumn watched her before locking the frozen clock, she had to find something in there that would help in the destruction to magic.
Soon she was by the back of the castle, abandoning her steed by the stable where they would be taken care of, she found herself pressed up against the cold stone of the castle wall, by the exit of the dungeon, the wooden doors shut, but she could faintly hear the sound of people talking, and then the door swung open and the girl covered her mouth as Snow, and Prince David walked out along side a guard, before the door could close she quickly stepped through looking through the dark tunnel like prison.
"This does not look like juvie." She whispered as she grabbed a torch off the wall, looking at the empty cells. She imagined it was empty so that they could isolate her father, to make him feel alone, to ponder the wrongdoings that he'd done. She thought it was cruel, at least in juvenile detention she had friends, and her brother occasionally. Then again, The Dark One was cruel.
This walk felt like a long one for the raven haired teen, her heart was pumping in her chest, a thin layer of sweat formed above her brow. The need to rid herself of her suddenly heavy jacket gnawing at her. She shook her head some, it was just nerves making her all nervous. Biting on her bottom lip, she saw him, Rumplestiltskin, sitting in his cell looking as though he was thinking.
Rumple was thinking about 'Emma', and his daughter, the girl that looked almost the exact same as the day she left. He knew she should have been an adult by now, but then again, she'd be a hundred and three years old. The only possible way he could understand that she was alive was that if she was in Neverland. But did that mean Baelfire?. He paused as he caught glimpse of a torch heading his way, but as the person drew closer he saw who it was. "Blossom?" He classed out his voice cracking as he stood up and grabbed the cell bars his eyes wide.
Blossom paused and opened her mouth, and then closed her mouth tilting her head. "Yes, papa, it's me." She said setting the torch in the metal holders by the cell and looked at him behind bars her eyes getting teary eyed. She always knew her father would end up this way, but to see him like this was something else.
"How- How are you here?" He asked, and Blossom held her hands out smiling as Rumple took her hands in his, she didn't care if it felt scaly. She had missed him. She shook her head.
"Magic." She whispered as her answer. "Papa, I don't have much time left. I have to leave, but-" She paused her talking to let a sob leave her mouth, as her father's hands tightened around hers and pulled her close hugging her the best he could through the bars.
"You can't leave, where's Bae, why did you take the necklace?-" He paused his necklace and pulled back, his eyes narrowing. "So you won't be affected by the Evil Queen's curse." he said, "Why?"
"No, so, Baelfire and I can finish what we started." She said and looked down and pulled her hands away from his. She shook her head. " I shouldn't have come." She suddenly said and looked at Rumplestiltskin. "I should hate you!" She cried out. "You abandoned us, you could have come, and we would have been the family we all needed." She said wiping her eyes furiously of tears that fell.
"I was scared!" Rumple exclaimed reaching out for her though the bars but she jumped back quickly, pulling out the large key from her coat pocket. "I love you both!" And then he caught sight of the key and frowned. "No, no don't leave!" He said and she shook her head.
"Bae and I will destroy magic if it's the last thing we do!" She said and shoved the key into a weaponry closet door, and when she opened it, a glowing portal opened up. She stepped through after pulling the key out and the the portal was gone, leaving Rumple alone once again.
Autumn was picking the lock to the library her tongue sticking out of the corner of her mouth in concentration, the effective click of the lock caused a smirk to up turn on her face, as she opened the door to the library. She closed the door behind her and lifted her hood. She stuck her bobby pin back in her pocket, a thoughtful look on her face as she looked at the dusty room.
"Nobody read here?" She asked herself sarcastically, slowly looking through a shelf, running her fingers through a long line of books. It wasn't exactly a book she was trying to find, as it was an object. One she hoped wasn't left in the Enchanted Forest. If it ever was in the Enchanted Forest. Her eyes caught sight of a glass case holding objects and she walked over to it and ran her finger over the glass looking through it. Some old swords and the books of Camelot, and Jack and The Beanstalk.
"Come on anti-Holy Grail where are you?" She whispered to herself.
"Now why would you be looking for that, dearie?" A voice asked behind her. Autumn felt her chest tighten and anxiety filled her. She knew that voice, and she knew the only person she knew that called people 'Dearie', was her father. Thankful her hood was up, she smirked to herself. Magic didn't work here so he couldn't hurt her that way.
"That business isn't yours," Autumn said firmly, looking down to keep her face hidden as she turned around and noticed his cane, quickly she kicked it and gave him a shove, grimacing as he fell over and then she ran out the door shutting it behind her. She looked around for anyone near by before running down the sidewalk. 'Holy shit, Holy shit, I need to get out of here, I've been compromised.' Autumn thought to herself as she pulled her phone out. Part of her knew she was exaggerating, but she couldn't help it, now she couldn't face the very man who she knew would stop her from destroying magic, and was her father.
She dialed Neal's number and brought the phone to her ear. When it went to voicemail she whimpered and kept running until she saw the small diner called 'Grannies', she slowed down and went in taking a seat and slumping down immediately, and then as phone went off she gasped bringing it up and sighing when it was just Emma, she brought the phone to her ear.
"Hey, I'm at the diner called 'Grannies'," She said and looked out the window, She was thankful this town was so small, she could already see Emma's headlights, she stood up and walked out side.
"I'm almost there," Emma said with a sigh, and Autumn frowned she could tell something was wrong. She shook her head
"I'm guessing his mom, is 'Evil Queen' material?" Autumn asked and then smirked as Emma pulled up and looked at her with a look that screamed to push her. Autumn walked around the car and got into passenger side and leaned back as Emma began driving.
"She was a bitch, that's for sure," Emma said gripping the wheel tightly until her knuckles turned white. Autumn smirked some and shook her head. She could feel Emma driving a bit faster.
"I know you're upset, but don't kill me while you're driving," Autumn said bucking her seat belt She looked at the book on the ground. The book Henry believed everyone from StoryBrooke was from and grinned. That little brat. She then paused as she noticed something up ahead by the welcome sign into StoryBrooke. A white wolf. Autumn held her necklace in her hands tightly.
Emma gasped and swerved out of the way, causing her to run into the sign her car almost flicking sideways. Emma's head hit the steering wheel, and Autumn's head hit the window of the car, both girls knocked out
Baelfire and 'The Dragon' were waiting, Blossom should have been back hours ago. The Dragon sat down drinking tea, Pitayas sat in front of him as well.
"She will be here. She would not let you down." The Dragon spoke, taking a sip of his tea. Baelfire looked over with a frown running a hand through his raven colored hair, "You haven't touched your tea."
"I don't want it, I'm too worried, what if father wasn't in jail as you said?" He said slowly, "What if he got her?" He looked through the wardrobe his sister had left through, part of him felt guilty for letting her go, but she did know the castle better than he did, and she was the stealthiest.
Suddenly, Baelfire widened his eyes as the wardrobe opened and stepped through was her sister. "Sorry it took so long, I couldn't find Aladdin," She lied. Baelfire hugged her, and smile found its way on her lips before she pulled away from him offering him an 'I told you so' smirk.
The Dragon smiled, "I told you she would come, you just needed patients." He said and Baelfire offered a smile, and Blossom grinned holding the necklace out. The Dragon stood up leaving his tea and holding out his hand for the necklace.
"The Necklace of Avalon, just like you said, how does it work?" Blossom asked as she dropped it in his hand. The Dragon said nothing as he placed the necklace on the table and picked up pulled a dagger from within his kimono, a gold jewel was within the dagger and he stabbed the jewel, causing it to crack down the middle.
Baelfire and Blossom both gave a gasp, jumping forward and looking at the now broken in half necklace. "What have you done?" They both asked in unison
"Now you both will have a necklace." The Dragon said as he picked up the broken piece and walked over to a counter picking up a small glass tube and placing the broken jade jewel inside before attaching a small silver chain to it and holding it to Baelfire and the original he placed in Blossom's hands.
"It was that easy? No rituals involving the moon? No blood shed?" Blossom asked and placed the necklace around her neck, fixing her glasses with a confused look.
"Of course not." The Dragon said and gave a laugh, "Magic isn't the same in this world." Blossom shook her head and sighed, and Baelfire.
"Now what?" Baelfire asked shaking his head.
"You finish your research, make sure destroying magic is what you want to do before you do it." The Dragon said returning to his tea, Blossom gave a firm look.
"It is what we want to do." She said and Baelfire nodded.
"Well, until you figure out how, I suggest changing names in case someone from the Enchanted Forest comes here and knows your name." The Dragon said.
"Autumn will be my name," Blossom said, Autumn was her favorite season, the leaves falling, it reminded her of the fall she spent with papa at the hovel before he was The Dark One, and they played in the woods in the leaves.
Baelfire, he shrugged "Neal, Neal Cassidy." It was a simple name, a mixture of people he met. "Neal and Autumn Cassidy." He said with a grin. The newly named Autumn gave a grin.
"At least you didn't go with 'Darling'," And Neal punched Autumn in the arm. A blush crept onto his face.
"Listen, I wasn't drunk there was a wolf in the middle of the road," Emma said through the bars to someone Autumn couldn't see because her eyes were closed, and she was laying on what felt like a jail cell bed. She opened her eyes. Wondering where her glasses were.
"I can vouch for that, and I don't drink so…" She said then groaned at the brightness. Her head was throbbing. "What party did I go to that ended me in jail?" She asked looking around the jail cell, seeing her blonde friend leaning against the bars, talking to a police officer. She looked down and noticed her glasses on the floor of the cell, and she picked them up placing them on her face.
"Well, how about the party that involved breaking into the town's library." The officer said and Autumn narrowed her eyes, "And assaulting an old man." He finished, Emma looked at her with wide eyes.
Autumn opened her mouth and laughed, "I did not." She lied, "I haven't done anything illegal like that in years." She said looked at the badge getting the officer's name. "Sheriff Graham Cracker, how about you let us out of here, and you don't have any proof that I did anything of the sort," Autumn said shaking her head
"Graham? Henry's run away again!" Autumn watched as Regina walked in, and she looked her over. So, this was the Evil Queen? Autumn decided she could totally punch her until she was unconscious. Regina paused upon seeing Emma and glared her lips pursing. "What are you doing here? Do you know where Henry is?" She started walking towards Emma.
"Does it look like we know where Henry is?" Autumn asked, and earned a glare from Regina, and Autumn held her hands up. "Sorry, Madam Mayor, I'm just tired of the accusations this early in the morning." She offered a glare at Graham. Graham offered her a look in return, before going to unlock her cell. He let her out and Autumn walked by her looking her over.
"She has a point, we've been in a jail cell since last night," Emma said, and Autumn looked at Graham.
"I don't see why we weren't in a hospital? We were in a car crash?" Autumn asked Graham gave a shrug, but Autumn widened her eyes, going to grab her necklace and sighing in relief when it was there, and then she pursed her lips. Emma, She can't leave StoryBrooke, or bad things happen. Autumn could feel a migraine coming on. She couldn't leave her friend here either could she? Nope! Which means, she'll have to help break this curse. Fantastic.
"Check his friends?" Emma asked, and Regina pursed her lips.
"Henry doesn't have friends," Regina said.
"Every kid has friends, Did you try his computer? Someone could be emailing him?" Emma said, and Regina narrowed her eyes.
"And you know this how?" Regina asked firmly, and Autumn gave huff.
"Do you wanna find your kid or not, Mayor? It's her job to find people, blah blah blah." Autumn said and Graham almost laughed, before gesturing for Regina to move so he could unlock Emma's cell. Regina stepped out of the way but didn't break eye contact with Autumn.
"You know, Miss?-" Regina stopped and waiting for Autumn to interject with her name.
"Cassidy, Autumn Cassidy."
"Miss Cassidy, you haven't even been here, 24 hours, and you've already made enemies with Mr. Gold, an enemy you're going to wish you never made." She chuckled and smiled sickly sweet. "I don't know what you were doing in the town's library, but I will find out."
"Again with the accusations, haven't even had my coffee today, I don't know what you're talking about," Autumn said, in a voice that basically said she knew everything, Autumn and Regina stared at each other with icy looks. "Appears I made another enemy." She said looking Regina up and down.
"Another one, you're going to wish you never made." She said, and Emma and Graham looked at each other with concerned looks.
Autumn stood beside Emma who sat in front of Henry's computer. Autumn was never good at computer stuff, she always stuck to books, and pen and paper, and stealing stuff and reselling it. She always left that last part out though, with a sigh she stood up and looked around the boy's room.
"He likes Star Wars? Cool." Autumn said looking at a poster and then picking up a toy Wookie, which she paused when Regina snatched it from her hands. She gave a slow blink, "Wookie's aren't cool anyway." She mumbled and looked at Regina.
"If I knew you weren't going to be helpful, I would have just left you outside," Regina said in her sickly sweet voice, and smile on her face. Autumn chuckled.
"Oh god, you're a real thorn in my side, Madam Mayor," Autumn said with a sweet drawl, plastering a fake smile on her face.
"Can you two stop fighting?" Emma mumbled, and Regina and Autumn looked at Emma with glares, which she raised her eyebrow at and shook her head. "Does Henry have a credit card?"
"He's ten?" Regina said in an incredulous voice, "Does it look like he has a credit card?"
Emma scoffed "Did he steal one then?" She asked and hovered a name of the name of the person who owned the credit card, "From Mary Margaret Blanchard?" Emma asked.
'Sounds like Neal's kid.' Autumn thought to herself and shook her head. She frowned and looked down, and then glanced at Regina who offered a sigh.
"It's his teacher's," Regina said with a frown.
"Looks like we're goin' to school!" Autumn said in a fake country accent. Regina looked at her with a sour look. Autumn was only excited because it seemed like that's exactly where Regina didn't want to go.
Autumn, Emma, and Graham all walked together, Emma looked slightly uncomfortable, which made Autumn uncomfortable as well, both their arms were crossed, and Graham was just smiling at some stray kids that lurked the hallways in hopes of breaking free before the bell rang to release them from school. Regina walked further ahead, walking with a purpose.
"So, is she always like that?" Autumn asked suddenly, jabbing a thumb at Regina.
Graham chuckled, "Only to people who provoke her," he said pointedly, "And you didn't exactly give off a fantastic first impression," He said and Emma laughed with a nod.
"Neither of us did, did we?" Emma asked Graham.
Autumn chuckled, "I always say, 'be yourself, even if yourself comes from where the sun doesn't shine'." She said and Graham laughed looking at her. Emma shook her head.
"Ignore her," Emma said and Autumn shrugged and pulled her phone out of her pocket.
"You guys go ahead, I have to call someone." She said, and then stopped outside the classroom, giving an apologetic smile to the woman she assumed was Mary Margaret. Emma looked at Autumn suspiciously, before walking in behind Graham.
Autumn dialed Neal's number. She tapped her foot repeatedly, she was anxious. "Hello?" Neal said on the other side. "Autumn?"
Autumn gave a relieved smiled, "Neal, I know we aren't supposed to contact each other, but-" She paused and let out a sigh. "I ran into him, he caught me looking for the Grail's twin." She said quietly her lip wobbled.
"What?" Neal said worriedly, "How does he know that what you're looking for?" He asked urgently, Autumn sighed.
"I said it out loud.." She said quietly, "Like an idiot, and because of it, I knocked his cane out of his hands and shoved him, and now I'm the prime suspect for the library break-in, and assaulting pa- I mean Mr. Gold." Autumn sighed. She heard Neal sigh as well.
"He didn't hurt you did he? He doesn't know it's you?" He asked, and Autumn shook her head then paused knowing he couldn't see her.
"No, I had my face covered, but apparently, I've made an enemy." She mumbled and shook her head giving a tired groan. "And I got into a car accident, and my head hurts, The Mayor is my enemy as well, and I think Emma had-" Autumn paused as she heard Regina storm out of the room with Graham, "I gotta go." She mumbled "Love you." she hung up quickly, and smiled as Emma walked out with Mary.
"Did I miss the episode of Miss Hell in Heels? Oops." Autumn laughed looking at Mary with raised eyebrows, The woman gave a small smile.
"Lucky for you, yes," Mary said, and Autumn stuck her hand out. "Mary Margaret," Mary said and shook her her hand.
"Autumn Cassidy," Autumn grinned shaking her hand and dropping her hand to her side walking along side the girls, "And if you ever need me to hit her with a car, I'll call Emma." Autumn nodded and Mary gave a laugh, and Emma looked at Autumn with a small glare though a shadow of a smile flickered on her face.
"As much as I'd love to do everyone in this town a favor, I'd like to not have murder on my record," Emma said sarcastically.
"Accidental vehicle manslaughter is nothing!" Autumn waved her hand in a cheery voice and laugh, Mary looked at her with a disturbed look before laughing.
"You're joking right?" Mary asked, and Autumn nodded.
"Murder is not on this girl's record," Autumn said though mentally, she knew she was wrong. There had been one, but it was back in 19th century England. Nobody needed to know that though, then a few times while traveling between worlds with her brother, and sailing with Captain Hook. Oh God, she was murderer. Was it for good reason though? Autumn was shaken from her thoughts as Emma looked at her, and Mary was gone. "I feel like I missed something important," Autumn said with a sheepish smile.
"Ever since we came here you've been, 'blanking'," Emma said looking at Autumn worried, Autumn, shook her head. "Have you been here before? Why did you break into the library?" Emma asked quickly, and Autumn shook her head.
"I don't know what's wrong with me, I broke into the library, because, I noticed something inside, I thought it was a person," Autumn said, it was lie of course, but she couldn't go with the truth Emma may have thought her crazy, and she couldn't have that. Emma frowned, she didn't know if she was lying or not.
"Well, maybe you just need some rest?" Emma said and laid her hand on Autumn's shoulder. "You know you can tell me anything right?" She said softly. Autumn gave a smile, she knew it was true, and she always came to Emma with normal problems, even if Emma wasn't the best at advice giving. It was still nice to have a friend to talk to, that wasn't her brother. Autumn gave a nod and smile, though she didn't answer. "Alright, let's go. I know where Henry is." She said and nodded her head towards her yellow bug.
"I proclaim myself as 'Auntie Autumn'," Autumn chuckled and followed after, "After all, I have been helping corral your kid since yesterday," Autumn smirked.
"Who would have thought, he'd be like me," Emma smirked, and Autumn shook her head.
Autumn and Neal, walked threw the wardrobe door just getting back from the world of untold stories and gave a laugh of relief. "He almost got us!" Autumn laughed. "I wonder what papa did to make him angry?" Autumn shook her head, as she looked at the new they carried. A wand, that 'The Dragon' believed needed a new home.
"I don't know how Mr. Hyde knew we were his kids though?" Neal said. The kids looked as though they were 17 or 18-years old, but many a time had passed since the last, as least 15 years since Autumn had returned from The Enchanted Forest with the necklace. Sometimes the children forgot that entering The World Of Untold Stories, paused their aging and existence, in the real world. It was almost just like being in Neverland, but different. It wasn't filled with lost boys, and evil Peter Pans.
"I accidentally let it slip in the cage." Autumn asked, "Before you came back for me." Autumn said sheepishly.
Neal looked at her with a weak glare, "Why?"
"Because, I thought throwing in my father was The Dark One would help?" Autumn laughed and shook her head, picking up the skirt of her dress she wore to the land so they didn't stick out, Neal wore similar victorian clothing. She walked over to the glass case and grabbed a wooden box filled with wands and put it in box. "It only made him all the more angrier, so whatever father did, he left salt from the dead sea in his wounds, because let me tell you what?" Autumn looked at Neal. Neal tilted his head with a bland look.
"That boy was, salty." Autumn finished and shook her head. "But hey, we got the job done." She said.
Neal rolled his eyes and smiled "We always do, sis, Ole' Drago, chooses us because we're the best damn thieves around." Neal said, and Autumn gave a sigh.
"Isn't that just a lovely title," Autumn said grabbed her normal clothes and heading into the bathroom.
Soon, the two teens exited the separate bathrooms in their normal clothing. Autumn smiled at Bae, and then she paused as she saw a girl with blonde hair in a ponytail walk by The Dragon's shop. The Dragon once said they'd know the savior when they saw her, and by god, Autumn just got massive chills up and down her spine. "Did you-" She was cut off by neal.
"Yeah, and she's eyeballing my yellow bug." He said. And Autumn looked at him and smirked. It was true what they said. People are tied to fate, and Emma was connected to them. Emma would help them destroy magic, right?
Emma and Autumn smiled as they saw henry sitting on the wooden playground right where Mary said he would be. Autumn gave a smirk. So, this was Henry's 'castle', he was so imaginative, just like Neal and Her were when they lived in a hovel in the enchanted forest.
"Gotta say, pretty fly castle, kid," Autumn said as Emma climbed up the wooden castle, Henry's book in her hands -the one he left on the floor of her car- then she took a seat next to Henry, and Autumn climbed up the wood castle as well, perching herself on the wooden railing.
"I wouldn't sit there if I were you, it's gonna-" Henry didn't get to finish because the railing broke and Autumn fell on her ass on the sand.
Autumn stood up quickly, giving a thumbs up. "I am A-okay!" She said, and Emma gave her a comical look. Autumn blinked and shrugged before climbing back up the castle and sitting on the other side of Henry. "That doesn't leave the castle." She whispered and Emma and Henry gave a chuckle.
"You left this in my car," Emma said passing the book on Henry's lap, who took it and held it to his chest before looking back out to the ocean. Autumn couldn't help but smirk, before looking out to the ocean herself. Thoughts of when she was on the Jolly Roger crossed her mind, the times in which she sailed the seas with Captain Hook.
"I was hoping that when I brought you back things would change here," Henry said looking up to Emma, Autumn looked at him out of the corner of her eye. This kid knew more than this entire town, and she couldn't even discuss this with him, well, not with Emma present anyway. "That the final battle would begin."
"I'm not fighting any battles, kid." Emma sighed and looked out to the ocean, and Henry sighed in a dramatic fashion causing Autumn to give a chuckle.
"You know what, Henry? We'll fight as many battles with you that you need." Autumn grinned, "Whatever it takes to bring back all the happy endings, and make this town remember who they are." Autumn said, and then Henry paused and looked up at her with a grin, and Emma glared, before dropping it as Henry looked up at her.
"Now you're both on this book crap?" Emma sighed and shook her head, and Autumn scoffed.
"Get off your high horse," Autumn said and reached into er coat pocket remembering her cigarettes, she wasn't a big smoker, but, she was stressed out as all hell being here and she needed it just to take the edge off. She paused as henry took the pack out of her hands and tossed it, the pack landing in some wet sand and the cigarettes being taken by a small wave that sucked them into the sea. "Good news guys, I'm quitting." Autumn said, and looked down at Henry with a smirk. Emma gave a teasing smile.
"I know why you gave me away." Henry said softly to Emma, "It was to give me my best chance." Henry said, and Autumn paused some, before sliding herself off the castle to give the two some privacy.
"How do you know that?" Autumn heard Emma said, and then smirked to herself as she heard Henry say something about Snow White. Autumn pulled her phone out and paused at all the texts she received from Neal. Though, of course, Emma couldn't know she was talking to Neal so his name was code named, 'BF' for Baelfire.
'BF: I know we said we would never do this…
BF: But I think it's time do it. It's time to break the curse, or at least help Emma do it.
BF: It's time for 'Operation Tiger'.
BF: Delete these, be safe and remember the rules. If Gold finds out.The other is dead.'
Autumn felt her heart racing as she read the texts. Small bubbles of anxiousness filling her heart and she closed her eyes. She opened them, before deleting the texts. She knew better than to text back. She wasn't even allowed to tell Emma that she knew where Neal was, or that she even knew if he was alive.
Autumn looked back as she heard Emma's shaking voice and Henry looking as though he was begging. Turning, Autumn looked back and widened her eyes. "God, I stop baby sitting you two for five minutes, and it's gone to hell. Mother like son, huh?" Autumn asked holding her hands out before dropping them and shrugging. Autumn flinched at the glare given to her by Emma and then she made a face watching as Emma and Henry started talking about whose life was worse.
"My father abandoned my brother and me, because he was scared to be with us. We were 13 years old, living on the cold streets of En-.. New York." Autumn said and shook her head, "My mother abandoned my family when Neal and I were only wee children." Her voice cracked and shook her head. "My whole life is filled with abandonment and daddy issues, that I don't throw around, so drop it." Autumn snapped and blinked away the tears that shun in her brown eyes. "Henry, lets get you home. I need a nap, and some food, we've been hunting your ass all day," Autumn said rubbing her face. Emma watched Autumn carefully, and shook her head.
"I didn't know-" Emma started and Autumn held her hand up.
"You weren't supposed to, but it shut you both up," Autumn smirked and then stuck her hands in her pockets, before pausing and pulling out a slim jim. She gave a dorky smile. "A gift from the Gods." She muttered opening it and taking a bite. Emma gave water smile and laughed some looking at Henry who looked sad, and still a little angry.
"Listen, your mom is trying her best and I know it can be hard, and I know sometimes you think she doesn't love you," Emma started and bent down laying her hands on her knees and looking Henry in the eyes. "But at least she wants you."
Henry sighed and shook his head, "But your parents did want you, and they didn't leave you on the side of the freeway, that's just where you came through." Henry started and Emma tilted her head, Autumn bit her lip so she wouldn't interject like she was famous for. "You went through the wardrobe, and appeared on the street. They were trying to save you from the curse" Henry said and his tiny fists clenched tightly. Autumn thought it was precious seeing him like this, passionate and ready to break this curse.
"Sure they were," Emma gave a chuckle, a small tear falling from her eye. Autumn frowned and she wished she could go right along with Henry's story. She might in private, but now, she couldn't. "Come on, Henry." Emma said softly and stood up walking back towards her car, Autumn and Henry followed.
Autumn looked down at him. "We'll talk in private later." She nodded pressing her glasses up her nose. Henry gave her a look before smiling and running up and taking Emma's hand. Autumn walked behind them, hands going into her pockets. A small smile on her features.
It had been a week since Neal and Autumn had seen the blonde haired Savior. They had followed her around and decided she was like them. People with no money, and did what they had to, to survive.
"I think we need to set up rules, for if one of us meet her and get taken to StoryBrooke." Neal said from inside the back of the yellow beetle, Autumn gave a shrug, pushing her glasses up her nose and kicking her feet up on the dash of the car, she sat on passenger's side.
"Rules?" Autumn asked and chuckled shaking her head. "Fine, I guess, what kind of rules?"
"Ones that will protect us from, Rumple," Neal said, and Autumn looked down. She supposed that idea was a good one.
"Proceed," She said, and Neal sat up his head leaning against the back of Driver's side seat, Autumn looked at him.
"Well, rule one: If he finds out about one of us, the other is dead, lost." Neal began and Autumn made a concerned face a frown falling on her features. "Rule Two: We don't contact the other while in StoryBrooke, so that if the other is caught and held captive by Rumple, they aren't found." Autumn gave a nod, "Rule three: We don't help with breaking the curse, we stop it, unless said otherwise, because maybe the Savior will help us destroy magic." Neal said, and Autumn sighed.
"Do I really have to say you're dead?" Autumn asked, and Neal looked at though his eyes softened some. He gave a nod.
"Or that we were separated when the portal took us." He said and Autumn gave a nod slowly. She frowned deeply. She didn't like lying, but perhaps this was the only way to keep the other safe from their father.
"Woah Woah Woah," Autumn started looking through the rearview mirror as she saw the blonde haired savior running toward their yellow beetle. Autumn hopped into the back and covered herself with the blanket sinking down into the car's floor, Neal did the same. "The savior is gonna try and jack the car you jacked." She whispered, and Neal smirked.
"A woman after my heart," Neal whispered.
"More like a woman after your car." She muttered. Before hearing the door open.
Autumn, Emma, and Henry walked towards Regina's home, Autumn crossing her arms as the door opened, and Regina looked at Henry with a soft worried look, watching him run past her and run inside.
Regina looked at the two girls and her look was soft, different from her usual soft look. "Thank you," She said in a kind voice. Autumn blinked and and hummed some. Emma looked at her as though Regina had a third head before shaking her head. "He's seemed to have taken quite the shine to you two." Regina said, hands going into the pockets of her suit jacket.
"He likes you too, I thought you should know that," Autumn said with a shrug, and Regina looked at her. "I know, so different from usual banter with you, but you're a good mom," Autumn said and Regina tilted her head.
"Perhaps I was wrong about you, Miss Cassidy," Regina said, and Autumn shrugged and just offered a smile.
"I'm going to go to the car, no drinking you two," Autumn said walking back towards the car, Emma watching her before going on about her wish on her birthday. Autumn stopped suddenly, her head tilting.
"You're going to get in your car and you're going to leave this town, or, I will destroy you Miss Swan if it's the last thing I do." Autumn heard Regina say and Autumn looked at the yellow car, before looking back at them. A glare was on her face. A heated glare, that Regina had only seen once in her life, and it was from The Dark One. Regina shook her head and looked at Emma. "Goodbye, Miss Swan." She turned and started heading inside.
Autumn was about to lift her fists and begin fighting, nobody talked to her friend that way. She held back for one reason and one reason alone. It was Emma's words.
"Do you love him?" Those words made Regina turn around and look at Emma with a baffled look.
"Excuse me?!" Regina asked in an offended manner, Autumn clenched her fists tightly.
"She said, 'Do you love him?', Hell on Heels. Now I suggest you answer," Autumn said, leaving some kind if threat open in the air, Emma looked back at Autumn with a small smirk, though her eyes read that she didn't need Autumn's help.
"Henry, do you love him?" Emma asked again and Regina looked at Emma.
"Of course I love him," Regina said, and with that, she slammed her door shut. Emma stared at the door a bit longer and then looked back at Autumn.
"We're staying," Emma said, and Autumn nodded.
"I figured as such," Autumn said, getting in the car and looking at her friend. "You never did take kindly to threats." She smirked and Emma looked at her and shook her head.
The drive to Grannies was in comfortable silence, The need for food was hitting Autumn hard, while the need for some rest was hitting Emma.
"I'm going to hit up the diner, you get us a room, we'll split it." Autumn said and walked to a spot in the diner and took a seat, She didn't give Emma time to answer, but watched as she she talked to the kind looking old lady, and then her heart clenched. There was Mr. Gold, talking to Emma. Suddenly, Autumn felt very relieved in knowing she decided to take her leave here, instead of sticking with Emma.
"What can I get for you?" A woman asked down at Autumn who looked up at her and offered a smile to the woman who wore red, like it was the newest fashion statement. "I'm Ruby by the way, I can tell you're new." Ruby grinned in an excited way.
"I'm, Autumn." Autumn smiled in a friendly matter, Ruby widened her eyes.
"Are you the one that hit Mr. Gold?" She asked, and Autumn shook her head slowly pushing her glasses up her nose. "Sorry, news travels fast in a small town." She said and Autumn gave a small chuckle.
"Well, I can see that, but I'm wrongly accused." Autumn said reaching up and releasing her hair from it's tight ponytail letting it fall down her back. Ruby shrugged.
"That's not what Mr. Gold thinks." Ruby said and Autumn looked down as Mr. Gold was heading his way over, Ruby looked over and looked at her, "Grilled cheese?" Autumn gave a quick nod, and watched as Ruby quickly vanished. Autumn held her hands on the table. She craned her head to look up at Mr. Gold.
"Hello there, Miss Cassidy." Mr. Gold said and offered a thin lipped smile holding his cane in front of him and leaning against it.
"Woah, you know my name, bad sign." Autumn said sarcastically, she gestured to the seat in front of her. "Please, sit down." She said sarcastically and gave a sickly sweet smile, which he didn't return as he sat in front of her
"You're lucky I decided not to press charges for breaking into my clock tower library and assaulting me, dearie." He said in an amused voice, though his eyes said he was anything, but amused.
"Straight to the point, I like that, though It wasn't me." Autumn said, and shrugged raising her eyebrows comically and then dropping them. A scoff left Mr. Gold's mouth, and Autumn gave a roll of her eyes. "Don't believe me?" She snapped her fingers in an 'oh well' way, before shrugging. "Fine, it was me." She said and sighed dramatically. "Go ahead and have me arrested," She said and held her wrists out.
"I don't know what your business is in StoryBrooke, but you should take it elsewhere, or else." He said and Autumn frowned in a dramatic way, causing Gold to give a huff.
"Blah blah blah, I get it you own this town, right? You control everyone in it, like their little marionettes," Autumn said and held her hands up wiggling her fingers as if controlling imaginary puppets, before dropping them. "I don't care, keep doing what you're doing, but my business doesn't concern you, nor does it affect you," Autumn said, lying, and smiled, she talked to him as though she wasn't afraid of it, which deep down she wasn't, oh but under the surface of her skin she was riddled with fear. She wasn't dealing with her 'papa' right now, she was dealing with 'The Dark One'. Mr. Gold paused and narrowed his eyes, something about her looked familiar, but he shook that thought off. Then it came back at him like gnawing feeling, She held similar features to his ex-wife Mila.
Mr. Gold gave a chuckle, "I'm very good at seeing through lies, Miss Cassidy." He said and stood up as he saw Ruby coming closer, "You should know, that I'm better as an ally than I am an enemy."
"Why? Wanna make a deal?" Autumn said with a smirk, then she frowned, her heart pumping faster than before. 'Too far,' She thought to herself. 'Too far, you idiot!' She scolded and looked up at Mr. Gold. "Because I think I'll have to think about it." She said slowly. Giving no notion she was suddenly scared, her eyes going bored.
Mr. Gold stared at her for the longest time, "Do we know each other?" He asked and Autumn shook her head.
"Unless you been to New York, I don't think so." Autumn said, and the Mr. Gold shook his head and gave a bitter chuckle.
"I guess not," And then he walked off, and Autumn looked up at Ruby and then she shook her head dropping it on the table. Her heart was going mad, she thought she could feel it pumping in her head, suddenly an anxiety headache hit her like no other. She just messed with the wrong guy. She just messed with The Dark One, that wasn't her father. Nope. Her father would never threaten her, no matter how mouthy she got.
"Whisky?" Ruby asked, and Autumn nodded looking at the plate of grilled cheese that was placed in front of her. Ruby walked off quickly to retrieve the liquid that would set her mind at ease.
'Who would have thought at thirty-years-old I'd be scared of my own father still.' Autumn thought to herself. Sitting up and looking out the window smiling suddenly as she watches the clock suddenly move.
Hey, kids! The first chapter of 'The Dark One's Child', If you liked this chapter, and would like more ! Please, comment! :) -ThankfulPolaroid