Once Upon A Time: The Kingdom of Camelot
On the outskirts of the kingdom of Camelot, a noble steed raced through the rolling hills, carrying with it, a knight who had received urgent news from a nearby realm. The knight commanded the horse to race faster down the mountainside, demanding his faster return to his kingdom, all the while questioning how to tell the news he had to the people of Camelot. The horse slowed once reaching the outside walls of the kingdom.
"He's here! He's back!" One of the guards shouted from atop the castle walls.
"Raise the gates!" Another shouted, signaling the guards to allow permission into the realm.
The gates to Camelot rose and the knight and his horse proceeded through, racing through the village marketplace, heading towards the grand castle that overlooked the entire village. The castle stood beautiful, ornate with its strong stone structure, in the center of the kingdom for all to see. When the knight arrived at the steps of the castle, he leapt off of his horse and ran to the drawbridge that led to the grand entrance of the castle.
The knight took long strides up the castle steps, a long maroon cape billowing behind him. The knight wasn't the tallest man and while he had muscle on him, he wasn't the most built man in the kingdom, but he moved swiftly and surely.
The knight entered into the great hall, where an elderly man turned to him, greeting the king. The elderly man had a long white beard that stretched down to the center of his chest and wore light grey robes that cascaded down his form.
"Arthur? My boy, you've returned! Is it true? Are the stories true?"
The young king held his side, quickly catching his breath and running a hand through his brunette hair, pushing the sweat that had formed away. "Merlin, yes, they're true. This is happening. We have to warn the kingdom and prepare ourselves. We don't know what will happen to this land...or any of us for that matter."
"What do we say to the people?" The elderly wizard asked, following the king down the great hall.
He turned to the older man, unsure, stuttering of what to say. "We tell them to prepare for the worst."
Merlin stopped in his tracks.
Arthur shouted, "Gather the round table!" He unsheathed his sword from his holster. The majestic, beautiful blade of Excalibur - a blade fit for any ruler. "We must prepare ourselves immediately!"
Chapter One - Fate Sealed In Stone
7:14:58
7:14:59
7:15:00 A.M.
"Good morning, Henry!" Mary Margaret cheered from the stairs.
"Hey kid, happy birthday!" His mother playfully nudged the kid from his sleep.
"Mom, let me sleep."
Emma smiled. "What the heck happened to you? Come on, kid. It's your birthday. You should be ecstatic."
He rolled over in his bed, "If it's my birthday, does that mean I can skip out on school for the day?"
"Afraid not, kid." She turned away from him, heading down the stairs. "Come on."
Emma and Mary Margaret went downstairs in their apartment, where David was in the kitchen, gently rocking baby Neal back and forth in his arms, trying to hush the crying child.
"Is the birthday boy up for his big day?" David turned to his wife.
"Almost." She turned to face back up towards Henry's room. "Come on, Henry! We're leaving for Granny's!" She turned and paced through the kitchen. "Okay, pencils, folders, ugh, I thought that I would be prepared to return to teaching...but I am in over my head. Are you sure you'll be alright with the baby?"
"We'll be fine. You enjoy your first day back at school. Trust me, we will be fine." He smiled.
"Are you sure? If you want, I can-"
"Relax, mom. I think he's got it." Emma turned towards the door.
Mary Margaret turned back. "Okay. Okay, you're right. You'll be okay. But if-"
"Have a good day at school." David cut her off, kissing her and smiling.
Emma smiled, "Come on, kid. Let's go!"
Mr. Gold was behind the counter in his shop, examining an ancient metal found from a distant kingdom called Prydain. He closely examined the metal through a magnifying glass.
Over the past several weeks, his heart had been heavy from the distance that had formed between Belle and him. He admitted to himself, though, that he deserved the way that she had reacted to him lying to her about the fake dagger and starting their marriage together on the foundation of a lie. When Belle drove him out of Storybrooke, he was devastated, but some time apart could be just what he needed to get his mind in place and to give Belle the space she needed.
Mr. Gold had returned to Storybrooke, but kept "how" to do so a secret just for himself. Now determined to get his happy ending, he formed an alliance with the Queens of Darkness - Maleficent, Cruella and Ursula - each of them determined to get their own happy ending and finally conquer over the heroes that had always blocked their path to happiness. When Belle saw how her husband had affiliated with the witches, it caused an even greater strain to grow between their marriage and Gold knew that he would never have his happy ending without Belle being a part of it. He abandoned the witches to their own devices and started to work on being a better man.
Though getting Belle to notice this was truly the difficult part.
With the witches' defeat days earlier, things had finally started to settle down in Storybrooke, which was a welcome change for everyone in Storybrooke. Though, as the residents of this small town knew, quiet days do not last very often.
Gold looked up from his work when he heard the bell at the entrance of the shop and saw Belle walk into the shop.
"Belle? What are you doing here?"
She stammered a bit, not having really talked to her husband recently and then suddenly felt nervous being alone with him for the first time in awhile. From her satchel, she presented him with his dagger with a stern expression on her face. "Here, I wanted you to have this back. You know that I don't feel right holding onto it...especially now."
"I...I understand."
"And I wouldn't want anyone else getting their hands on it or controlling you, so I know that you would take care of it. And it really is yours, power and magic and all."
He sighed, "Belle, I'm really trying to be a better man...for you and for myself. When the Wicked Witch took control of this dagger, I thought that I would spend the rest of my life under her control. I was terrified. Fear...took over my mind."
Belle's expression softened a bit as he listened to her husband speak.
"The moment I was freed from her command, I never wanted to let anyone take control of me again, but being so focused on being in control of myself and being able to keep my power only caused me to regress - becoming the monster I tried so hard to prevent from breaking through. I am what I always have been, a coward."
She sighed and looked down at the dagger. "You're...you're not a monster, Rumple."
"No, I am. At least I was. And still, after everything that I've done, how I've lied to you, you still believe that there's something good in me somewhere. You...deserve so much more than a monster that would betray you."
She took hold of his hand, the first physical touch that they had shared in weeks. "Rumple, you're trying to be a better man now. I want to see you succeed. You've been honest with yourself about who you were and the mistakes you've made, but now you can focus on re-building who you are."
Rumple smiled when she turned away from him, heading towards the door.
She opened the door at the entrance of the shop and turned back to him. "Rumple, I know that Neal would proud of you for doing this."
Rumple nodded, looking down at the dagger.
Emma and Mary Margaret walked through the entrance of Granny's Diner, where Henry followed behind them. Regina looked up from her table at her son when they walked through. She got up from her table and walked over to her son, embracing him.
"Henry, happy birthday."
"Thanks, mom." Henry smiled at her.
She looked in-between Emma and Snow. "So, what are we doing to celebrate the occasion."
Mary Margaret answered, "We thought a get together here would be nice."
"Of course, as if I hadn't had enough of this woman's lasagna." Regina and Granny quickly exchanged glances from across the room.
"It's fine, mom. I'm just happy to be celebrating my birthday with my family in the first place."
Emma smiled at him, "Come on, kid. Let's get some breakfast and head out." She led him over to the counter top. "Hey Ruby, two hot chocolates with cinnamon, please."
Mary Margaret turned to Regina, "So, how are you holding up?"
Regina cocked her head to the side, "And what part of my life is this referring to?"
Mary Margaret tilted her head, "You know what I'm talking about Regina. Finding your own happy ending."
Regina rolled her eyes. "Well...I don't necessarily think it's impossible anymore, but it certainly isn't proving to be easy."
"The journey to get to your happy ending is rarely ever easy."
Regina smirked, "You should know, your entire path to get your happy ending was filled with obstacles, primarily me."
"Yes and it was all worth it. And yours will be, too."
Regina sighed, "I hope so. I went about this all wrong. Finding the author...proved useless. He can't change the outcomes of the stories and yet, he can place his own story into the book?"
Mary Margaret smiled, "I never would have guessed that August was the author."
"I'm not surprised. He was elusive the moment he came into Storybrooke. But still, my entire plan crashed when I found that he was the author. It's not like I can just go to a kid and beg them for my happiness."
"So, then what are you going to do?" she questioned.
Emma stared at the two talking from the counter.
Regina shook her head, crossing her arms. "I don't know. I can't just hope that a happy ending can be given to me...and I can't change the past or rely on a book or an author to do that for me. It's on my shoulders to make it happen."
Mary Margaret nodded, "And Robin?"
She looked away, "Maybe some happy endings just aren't meant to be."
In her vault tucked away beneath the Storybrooke cemetery, Regina intensely studied Henry's storybook, quickly flipping through the pages.
"I figured I'd find you down here." Emma entered into the main room of the vault.
She looked up from the book, almost surprised. "What are you doing here? I thought you were taking Henry to school?"
"I did, but I also couldn't help but hear the conversation you were having with my mother back at Granny's."
Regina raised her eyebrow, "You couldn't help? Sounds like you have the same traits as your mother of having a fondness of getting herself involved in things she's not supposed to."
"Regina, I'm here to help. What's the matter?"
She sighed, "It's this book. We know who created it, but...there's still so many more mysteries to it. It just appeared in your mother's closet when Henry needed it, it chronicles all of our lives up until the moment the Dark Curse hit, there are hundreds of books with empty pages in that mansion on the edge of town...and a picture of Robin and I kissing, which had never happened."
Emma raised her eyebrow, "This book sounds like it has a few more secrets to uncover."
"Oh, this is more than just a book. When I cast the Dark Curse, the thought never crossed my mind that this book would ever come into existence...and yet here it is."
Regina flipped to the end of the book, a chapter with a picture of her casting the Dark Curse. "The author wasn't the only mystery to this book."
"And what do you think that means?"
She flipped the page, showing an image of David putting a newborn Emma into the magical wardrobe. "I'm not too sure, but, I have always been painted as a villain in this book, which, I was, but that's in the past."
Emma took a hold of the book, "Henry and I burned this pages years ago...back when I first came to town when he thought that you were...evil. How are they back in the book?"
Regina examined the page, "That's just it! It's like the book has a life of its' own, like it's finding ways to correct itself. To set things back to the way that they were supposed to happen."
Regina and Emma flipped the page to a picture of the Dark Curse engulfing Snow White's kingdom.
The knights gathered around the Round Table with their attention focused on Arthur and Merlin. They were intensely discussing the fate of their kingdom and the current dilemma that Camelot and other kingdoms within the Enchanted Forest were facing.
"It's coming. The Dark Curse is ripping its' way through the Enchanted Forest as we speak. It is unstoppable." Arthur warned the knights.
"What should we do?" Gareth, one of the knights called out.
Another knight, Lionel, questioned, "Maybe Lancelot will be of some help?"
"Don't be foolish! Show some respect to the king. Lancelot will be of no assistance." Agravain called out.
Arthur replied, "It's alright, Agravain. We have more pressing concerns than Lancelot right now."
"The curse really cannot be stopped? Maybe it can be broken?"
"How? We don't even know what will happen to us once the curse hits. And as much as I enjoy giving my time to go on a quest to break a curse, we don't have the time. It's already too late. There's no stopping it. It's hopeless." Arthur commented darkly, lowering his head.
Gareth placed a hand on Arthur's shoulder, "My liege, are you certain the curse has been cast?"
"Yes, I have received a message from a queen from a nearby kingdom. She's a loyal friend. She would not extend the warning unless she was absolutely certain that this threat was serious."
"Then it really is hopeless." Lionel replied, defeated.
Ector turned to Merlin, "Merlin, what of your magic? Surely, it's strong enough to repel such a spell."
Merlin scratched his forehead, before running his hands through his beard. "I am not certain. A curse powerful enough to rip everyone from this land - that's powerful magic, too powerful to be stopped completely. Unless..."
Arthur looked up at the elderly wizard, "Unless? Unless, what? Merlin? What is it?" He replied urgently.
"A protection spell - one powerful enough to protect all of Camelot. I learned such a powerful spell from a devious wizard from a distant land. If the spell is strong enough, it should...protect all of Camelot and have the curse wash over us...enabling us to escape the afflictions of the curse."
"And what is to happen to the kingdom? And to us?" Lamorak questioned.
Merlin closed his eyes, "Everything within the perimeter of the protection spell will remain frozen. Time will stop...and the surrounding lands will be destroyed. I cannot determine if Camelot is even fully safe from such a powerful curse."
Gareth turned to Arthur, "Then what should we do, my liege?"
Arthur rose from his seat at the table. "Noble knights, we must warn the kingdom of what is to happen. We move out immediately. Merlin, will you be able to control such a spell."
The older wizard nodded and warned, "Yes, my boy, but we must act fast. I can sense a powerful force making its' way towards the falls of Avalon. We must move."
From within the sleeve of his cloak, Merlin revealed a silver wand, shimmering and bright.
"As we build our birdhouses, remember, what we're making is a home, not a cage. Birds are free and will do what they will." Mary Margaret walked through the classroom heading towards the window, gently holding a blue bird in her hands. The students watched as their teacher made their way towards the open window.
"This for them, not us. They're loyal creatures." She let the bird fly from her hand, heading towards a nearby tree right outside of the classroom. She turned around, facing the classroom.
"If you love them and they love you, they will always find you."
The school bell rang concluding lessons for the day. The students began rising from their seats and packing their bags.
"We'll pick this up in our next class. No running!"
The students made their way out of the classroom, just as David came into the room, carrying the baby. "I think you have a visitor."
Mary Margaret turned to him, kissing him, "What are you doing here?"
"I figured your son would like to congratulate you on your first day back at school."
She smiled and took the baby from him, gently rocking him. "Oh, thank you! How's my little boy?"
"He's not any worse than when you left him. The apartment is still standing and he hasn't been placed under a curse, so I think my first day of father-son bonding was a success. How was your first day of school?"
She let out a slightly exasperated sigh, "I forgot that dealing with thirty kids at once can be a bit...much to handle, but I'm hanging in there." She weakly smiled.
"Don't stress yourself out." He gently kissed her cheek.
"Ha, well with raising a newborn, being a teacher and involuntarily becoming mayor of the town, I don't think I can be any more stressed out than I am right now."
"You'll be fine. I believe in you."
"Thank you."
David started to make his way towards the door with the baby. "I'm actually here to pick up Henry and take him to Gold's for work. Would you like to come?"
She sighed, taking a seat at her desk. "I wish I could, but I have meetings and work here at school that I have to take care of. I'm sorry."
He smiled, "It's okay, just make sure you make it to Granny's tonight."
"Don't worry, I wouldn't miss his birthday for the world." She smiled, watching her husband and baby walking out of the classroom. Her smile fell slightly, realizing that, with the amount of work that she had taken on, the amount of time she had to spend with her family had dwindled. She sighed, saddened that she had missed out on quality time with her family, before resuming rummaging through her desk to file papers.
Mary Margaret, still hard at work at her desk in her classroom, let out a heavy sigh, looking out of the classroom window, seeing the sun just starting to set. She was taken by surprise by the sudden knock on the door on the opposite side of the room, seeing Belle walk through.
"Belle? What are you doing here?" She rose up from her desk.
She approached her, a slightly concerned look on her face. "I'm sorry to bother you, Mary Margaret. I really needed someone to talk to, someone that could understand."
"Of course, what is it? Is everything alright?" She and Belle both took a seat at a pair of desks next to each other.
"You and David...well, if you don't mind me being blunt by asking, how does it work?"
Mary Margaret shook her head, "What do you mean?"
"I mean, as a couple. It seems that, no matter what challenges the two of you face as a couple, you always seem to find a way to overcome it."
Mary Margaret tilted her head to the side, "Belle, is this about Rumplestiltskin?"
She sighed heavily and confessed, "Yes. For the longest time, I thought that we were in love and happy, but after all of the obstacles that Rumple and I have faced together, we...I just find it so difficult to get past this one. How do we get through this?"
Mary Margaret placed one of her hands on her friend's, "Belle, it's understandable, it really is. Finding love...keeping love, it can be a very difficult thing to do. David and I have been through so much together - curses, false memories, evil sorceresses and everything in-between."
"Rumple and I have been through the same. What keeps you and David finding your way back to each other?"
The ebony-haired woman smiled, "Love and honesty. We know that, regardless of what happens, our love is strong and nothing can break it."
Belle thought for a moment and nodded, "Well, I loved Rumple, there's not a doubt that I still do, I just find it so difficult to trust him again, after how he's deceived me in the past."
"Do you ever think that you could trust him again?"
"I know that I could, but it's all dependent on his actions. He has always chosen power over love, but it seems like power has only brought him more pain than anything. He's just so unwilling to let go of that power. You know, there was this moment, back when I was a maid at his castle in our land, where we kissed...and I could see it for the first time, he looked like a man in love and the Dark One curse began to break, he started to look like an ordinary man again, but he pulled away."
"And what does that tell you?"
"That, maybe, what he really needs is someone to love and someone who can love him, regardless of how difficult it might be, but I'm not anyone walk over me anymore, even if it is someone I love."
Mary Margaret smiled, "Well, it seems to me that you just answered your own question. You need to stay strong and he needs to figure out what's really most important to him."
"I just want to see the changed man that I know he can be...and maybe, we can both get a happy ending, too."
"I'm sure that you can."
Belle gave a small smile and hugged the woman next to her, "Thanks, Mary Margaret. You're a loyal friend."
"Of course, Belle. Just...have hope. Believing in even the possibility of a happy ending is a very powerful thing."
Mr. Gold walked about his shop, examining one of the many artifacts that he had stored behind the counter. All the while, a figure peered into the store from one of the front windows, intently staring at Gold's every move, never being detected by the store owner. The figure stepped away from the building.
Emma parked her yellow buggy in the sheriff's parking spot outside of the Sheriff Station, before heading inside. She walked into the main office area, where her desk and a pair of jail cells was set.
"Hello, love."
Emma smiled to herself, knowingly, before turning around to spot Hook in one of the open jail cells.
"Killian."
He raised his eyebrow and smiled at her.
"Is there a reason why I should be putting you inside one of these cells?"
"Only to make sure that you'd keep your eyes on me all day, not that I have any doubt that you wouldn't." He smirked and walked out of the cell, waling towards the blonde woman. He grabbed her waist, pulling her closely to him, before placing a kiss on her lips. She smiled sweetly she pulled away.
"Unfortunately for you, being the sheriff of the town, I don't have the leisure of being able to stare at your pretty face all day."
Hook sighed, "What now? Storybrooke is at ease ever since Maleficent has been disposed of."
She took a seat at her desk, pushing her hair back. "We both know that these moments don't last forever. Between giants destroying the town, wicked witches, snow queens turning others against one another, whenever one challenge is out of the way, another always shows up. I have to be ready."
Hook placed his hands on her shoulders. Emma instinctively reached up to hold one of his hands. "Swan, no one works harder than you to protect your family and Storybrooke. What's the harm of taking some time to enjoy yourself when things are at peace?"
"Killian..."
"There's no way to prepare for what you don't know what will happen, so why stress about it until it actually does?"
Emma started to speak, but found herself stopping. He was right. As much as she wanted to prepare herself for the next hurdle that they would have to cross, what could she really do? Instead, she would spend this time worrying about their next obstacle instead of enjoying this peaceful time with her family and her friends.
She sighed and got up from her seat, taking hold of his hands. "I...you're right. I just...I want to make sure that Henry can have a good life here...that everyone can, without any evil sorcerers or monsters. The world's a dangerous place and I want to protect my kid as much as I possibly can. Being the savior, having to bring back everyone's happy endings, it seems impossible for just one person to achieve."
Hook smiled, stepping closer to her. "Well, Swan, if there's anything I know about you, it's that you are very much capable of achieving the impossible."
Emma leaned closer to him, "And whatever challenges might come our way, we'll fight them...together."
She slowly pressed her lips against his, gently gripping onto the collar of his jacket, as he wrapped his arms around her waist.
"Let's just hope our next crisis isn't anytime soon."
Arthur watched from the tall castle tower, as his knights quickly traveled throughout the kingdom, informing all of the villagers of the Dark Curse's approach and how Merlin would do his best to protect the kingdom from the afflictions of such a powerful curse. It was times like this when the kingdom would need Arthur the most and yet, he couldn't find himself leaving his chambers to offer comfort to the townspeople. In all actuality, he was terrified himself and didn't know what to do that would calm the nerves of his people.
Merlin entered his room, "Arthur, the knights have reached the far end of the kingdom. The villagers know that the Dark Curse is coming. If you don't appeal to them soon, then-"
"I can't do it." Arthur shook his head, "I'm no leader. I'm no king. I don't even know how to properly comfort my people in the times when they need it most - instead I send my knights to do the work that I should be doing."
The old wizard stepped forwards, "Arthur, don't be ridiculous. You pulled the sword of Excalibur from the stone - a feat only accomplishable by the true ruler of Camelot! You are our rightful king."
"Merlin, you and I both know that I am no king. I may have ruled this past few years now, but what do I have to show for it? Ever since I became king, I've done nothing to lead my people, I've lost love, I've let Camelot fall to ruin - being king isn't what I expected it to be. I have no experience with castles and knights...or protecting kingdoms from curses. All I did was...pull this lousy piece of metal from a rock." He slumped down onto the edge of his bed, defeated, dropping Excalibur to the floor.
"Arthur..."
"Maybe it would be best if we let the Dark Curse take over Camelot. At least in whatever world we end up in, these people wouldn't have to look to me as their king. I would just be any ordinary person there."
Merlin sat down beside the young man, "Arthur, you are so much more than that. I've known that ever since I started looking after you when your mother died. I've known from the beginning that you were special, my boy, but you know that giving up you throne would be denying who you really are. You know you are better and more courageous than that."
Arthur placed his head on the old wizard's shoulder, "Merlin, I'm...scared."
"I know, I know." The old wizard placed an arm around the boy.
"What if this protection spell doesn't work and we are swept away to this new world? What if we are separated? You've raised me for as long as I can remember - I wouldn't know what to do without you guiding me."
"Arthur, you've grown up so quickly. It feels as though your childhood passed in a moment and you've suddenly become this young man when I didn't even notice. All I've ever wanted was to raise you well and protect you from the dangers of the world, but the truth is, there will come a day where I will not be here to protect you."
The young man's eyes started to lower, hiding the tears that had formed. "I know, Merlin. And that's what scares me about me being alone."
The wizard embraced the king. "Arthur, I can assure you that you will never be alone. The world is dark and wild - it will be filled with many dangers, temptations and terrors, but by risking everything to face the fears that you speak of, you will discover just how strong you really are."
The wizard placed his hand on the young man's brunette hair.
"Heroes don't exist because they win against the villains, they are made when they face and overcome the fears that stop them from achieving greatness. I know you might be frightened if this curse carries us away, but you will find a way to survive, even if it is without me by your side."
Arthur pulled away from the embrace and rose to his feet, picking up Excalibur from the floor.
"Where are you going?" Merlin called out.
"I'm going to be with my people." Arthur turned towards the door. "You're right. I can't let fear stop me from being the person that I know I can be - and I'm going to prove that to my people and to you."
Merlin smiled, "My boy, you already have."
Arthur smiled, placing Excalibur over his shoulder. "Let's move out. I have a kingdom to protect."
Dusk had fallen and most of the town had gathered at Granny's to celebrate Henry's birthday. A banner for Henry hung on one of the walls of the diner. All of Henry's family had gathered, as well as the seven dwarfs, a few of Henry's friends from school and a few of the other residents of Storybrooke.
Sitting at one of the booths of the diner, Henry, Emma and Regina were sitting eating their dinner. Mary Margaret and David came through the door carrying their baby and walked over to the table after placing Henry's gift at the table at the back of the room.
"Hey, grandma and grandpa. You made it." Henry looked up from his food.
David smiled, letting him and Mary Margaret take a seat at the booth. "Yes, sorry it took so long. Remind me to always leave the gift-wrapping to my wife because I am not cut out for it."
Regina looked back at the table of presents and noticed David's crumpled gift-wrapping. "Ugh, you should stick to shepherding."
"So, when can we start opening presents?" Henry asked, excitedly.
Emma placed an arm on his shoulder, "Whoa, slow down, kid. Party just started, you'll have all night to open your gifts."
At that moment, Hook walked into the diner, walking over the booth and placing his hand on Henry's shoulder. "Happy birthday, lad."
Henry looked up at him, "Thanks, Killian. Whe-"
"Don't worry, lad. You'll get your present in due time, you don't even have to ask."
Regina rolled her eyes. "Great, eyeliner and fishing lessons. Just what every fourteen year old boy wants."
Hook knelt down next to Emma and kissed her cheek. "Good evening, love. Care for a drink?"
"Uhh...I think I'll pass on the drink, but a cup of coffee would be just fine."
"I'm on it." He winked at her before turning around to the counter. As he made his way over to one of the stools, he noticed Mr. Gold sitting at one of the tables in the corner by himself. They had made eye contact for a brief moment, before he looked away. They had not spoken at all since Gold had attempted to crush his heart and needless to say, Hook was shocked when the Dark One had returned to Storybrooke. Hook wanted nothing to do with the man anymore. Tensions were high to say the least, and in the small space of Granny's diner, it could be cut through with a knife.
Regardless, Hook was not about to make a scene at Henry's birthday and neither was Gold. They both went about their evening.
Hook caught Granny's attention at the bar, "Two coffees, love."
Granny walked behind the counter, checking her pad filled with different orders for everyone in the restaurant. "Two coffees, shot of gin?"
"Just one, you know me too well."
Granny set off to prepare the cups of coffee.
While Hook waited at the counter for his drinks to be prepared, Belle, whose was sitting at the counter, turned to him.
"Hey, Hook..."
Hook was almost surprised to have heard Belle talk to him. They had quite a history together, and not a good one.
"Belle, it's been some time. I haven't seen you since...well...since..."
"Since Rumple tried to separate himself from the dagger, I know." Bell nodded and shrugged, looking away from him for a second, quickly looking at Gold and then turning back to Hook. "That's sort of what I wanted to talk to you about, actually..."
Hook took a sit at the bar. "Do tell."
"Has Rumple apologized to you at all for what happened?" Belle asked, concerned.
He looked slightly astonished. "You're asking...if the Dark One apologized...to me?"
Belle nodded her head, in slight hope, but she could tell by Hook's tone, her question seemed a bit ridiculous to even ask.
"Belle, Rumplestiltskin and I haven't spoken since you banished him, I doubt he would be one to apologize, especially to me.
She sighed, placing her arms on the counter. "Well...he's going to have to rise above that and offer you one."
Hook turned his head to her surprised, "Wait, what? Why?"
"He used your heart and enslaved you to him. He more than anybody should have known what being controlled by another should feel like. If he really wants to become a better man in the future, he needs to redeem himself for the mistakes he made in the past. One of those happens to involve you."
"You're really serious about this?"
She let out a small laugh. "You sound surprised."
"I am. After how I tried to hurt both, you and Rumple-"
"Tried to kill, both you and Rumple." Belle corrected.
A small smile grew on Hook's lips. "Tried to kill both you and Rumple, you're still willing to help someone who hurt you. You even saved my life...and I don't think I ever thanked you for it."
She laughed, "Typically, I don't think it's common practice to thank the woman who's husband tried to kill you."
Granny walked back up to Hook with the two drinks.
Hook took the cups and turned to Belle, "Well, in that case, I'm sorry for hurting you and thank you for saving my life." He took one of the cups and clinked it with Belle's glass, before walking away from the counter.
Belle laughed to herself before taking hold of her empty glass. Ruby walked over to her from the other side of the counter.
"Another?" Ruby asked, slightly concerned for Belle.
"Yes, please." Belle moved the glass closer towards her friend. "I have to thank you and Granny for letting me stay at the Inn."
"Of course, Belle. We're always willing to help out a friend." She began cleaning up a bit behind the counter. "I get it, you're going through a rough patch, you need some space to yourself. What better way to have that than to move in with your best gal friend and her grandmother?"
Belle laughed, "I guess you could say that. I do need my space for myself and...I think I need time for myself to grow as a person without constantly being with or worrying about someone."
Ruby smiled, "Well, take your time. Feel free to stay with us as long as you'd like."
"Thank you." Belle smiled sweetly.
At this point of the evening, Mr. Gold had decided to get up and leave. He wasn't talking to anyone, he was sitting in the corner by himself and he felt incredibly awkward being in the same space with Belle and a man he had tried to kill, he felt that it was time to go. He got up from his seat and walked out. He made his way down the steps outside of the door, before hearing the door swing open behind him.
"Where are you going?" David called out.
"I'm leaving."
"And your missing your grandson's birthday party?"
Gold turned back to David, "I showed up, didn't I?"
"That's not the point and you know it." David crossed his arms, defensively.
"It doesn't matter, I'm going home."
As Gold continued walking away, David called out to him. "You'll never do it like this."
Gold stopped and turned back to him, "Excuse me?"
David stood his ground, "Change. You'll never convince anyone that you're a better man if you continue to run away from your problems. It's no secret to anyone in Storybrooke that you're trying to turn over a new lead, you know."
Gold stepped towards him, angry. "And you think I'm running away?"
"Isn't that what you're doing right now?"
Gold stepped up right in front of him, taking a moment to gather his thoughts. David's constant questioning almost drove him to want to incinerate the man for a moment, but then, after thinking through it some more, Gold realized that David was right. He was running away from his problems again instead of confronting them.
Gold let out a sigh, "Yes. I'm...I'm running. I'm scared. I don't know where to start. I don't know where to start on putting power aside, or how to apologize to the people I've hurt or how to make Belle take me back."
David corrected him, "Well, for a start, don't make Belle do anything."
"You know what I meant. Working to be a better man...is far more difficult than you think it would be."
David continued, "What did you think it would be easy and you wouldn't have to work for it? Gold, the truth is, you've had your power for too long that now, you don't even know how to live without it being a priority. But you're going to have to learn...or you might never be with Belle again."
"And that's what scares me the most. Magic and power has always been a priority and, when it comes down to it, I have always chosen my power over everything, but these past couple of weeks have been...hell. I can't lose Belle."
David sighed and placed his hand on Gold's shoulder, "Well, to do that, you're going to have to decide what's really important, Gold and you're going to have to work like hell to make sure that she knows it, too."
"Thank you." Gold said, continuing to walk away.
"And Gold," David called out, "when it comes to Belle, you have to remind her what made the two of you fall in love in the first place."
Gold continued walking down Main Street, heading back towards his shop, when he spotted a figure shrouded in the shadows sneak around the corner of his shop. Moments later, the sound of glass shattering from the back of Gold's pawn shop was heard. Gold quickly made his way down the sidewalk, ready to confront the intruder.
The Dark Curse quickly raced towards Camelot. The dark clouds rushed forward, rampaging through the lands, destroying everything within its' path and swallowing the surrounding kingdoms in its' darkness. As the clouds rushed forward, a great rumbled was heard, as the earth trembled with each flash of green lightning that blasted forth from the curse.
On the edge of Avalon Falls, Arthur and Merlin stood, carefully watching the menacing, dark clouds race towards Camelot. From within his sleeve, Merlin revealed his majestic wand, silver in color, shining radiantly. Merlin lifted his wand up towards the sky.
Arthur averted his eyes from the curse and looked towards the older wizard. "Are you certain that this is going to work?"
"Yes. It will take a lot of magic, but this protection spell will protect Camelot from being carried over to this new land. Everyone within our borders will be spared."
With a wave of his wand, the magical artifact begin sparkling brightly. Merlin focused all of his powers into casting this spell and soon enough, a ray of light shot upwards for miles into the sky. The ray of light suddenly exploded outward, forming a bubble that completely surrounded the kingdom. The dark curse reached the barrier and was quickly repelled away, causing the curse clouds to completely pass over the shield surrounding the kingdom. Arthur and Merlin watched as the sky was blacked by the dark clouds that surrounded the protective barrier.
"It looks like the spell is working. What will happen to our land while the other nearby kingdoms will be taken?"
Merlin turned to him, "We will be...frozen. For 28 years, time will stop and we, everyone in Camelot, will remain frozen in time."
"28 years?" Arthur asked, surprised.
"Yes, but our lives will resume again when the Savior breaks this curse. And she will do it."
"The Savior?"
"Yes. The one who shall restore all of the happy endings and save all of us."
Arthur looked up towards the sky, watching the curse clouds pass over them. "How will she be able to? We will be worlds apart."
"I cannot say for sure. What I do know is that - you and the Savior must use Excalibur to restore order in the world and defeat the greatest of evils - only the two of you can do this. That is why it is so important that you never lose sight of that blade, my boy."
Arthur looked down at the sword of Excalibur in his hand and spoke upon realization. "Excalibur...with this blade and the Savior's powers..."
"Yes, Arthur. You can accomplish great things."
Arthur looked at Merlin. "Even defeat...her?"
Merlin nodded, "Only you and the Savior will be able to stop her from enslaving all of us to become victims to her evil desires. Only you can stop..."
With that, the two of them froze, as the Dark Curse engulfed the surrounding lands.
The mysterious figure stuck their hand through the broken window of the door, unlocking the door to Mr. Gold's shop, as they quickly made their way to the main room of the store, looking through all of the objects and artifacts that Gold had kept in his shop. He went behind the counter and continued his search, but with so many objects crowding the small space, it became difficult to find this very specific object. Then, tucked away behind the counter, on a desk in the corner of the store, he found it - a rack containing several wands, but not the one he was looking for.
"Hello, old friend." Mr. Gold walked out from the back room. "I didn't expect to see you here."
Merlin looked up from the case, "Rumplestiltskin. What are you doing here?"
"Well, it is my shop. I could ask the same for you, having escaped the first Dark Curse, I never thought I'd see you again."
Merlin approached the man, "It was the second curse that hit the Enchanted Forest that brought me to Storybrooke. Arthur, too."
Gold smirked, and turned his back towards him. "Ah, still failing to protect the boy, I see."
"That's why I need your help."
Gold turned back, staring at Merlin by the wand rack. "Oh, having a little trouble with magic, are we? Some time ago, I recall you saying that you were the superior practitioner of magic, did you not?"
"Rumple, you started that foolish feud between us. We both did and said things that we regret."
Gold smiled, "And yet, here you are, coming back to the deceitful Dark One for help when you were so certain that you were better off."
Merlin stepped towards him, "Rumple, please. My magic was taken from me. I need it to save Arthur."
Gold begin examining some of the artifacts kept around his shop. "And what unfortunate predicament have you put him in now?"
"He's trapped... beneath the clock tower. He needs to be freed."
Gold let out a laugh. "By freeing him, you'd be sending him straight to his death. You'd be willing to do that to him? You realize that that pesky little curse didn't just bring the two of you this town. You have enemies here, Merlin, and no amount of magic wand waving will be able to change that."
Merlin stopped him, "I know she's here, but that is exactly why I need to free him. It is just as you told me long ago when he was a boy. He and Emma will be the only ones that can save Storybrooke when the time comes. Please Rumple, I need your help."
Gold raised his eyebrow, "Well..." In a flash, Merlin's wand materialized in his hand. "how can I say 'no' to the only friend I've ever had."
Merlin cautiously took the wand from him. "There's a long history between the two of us. You don't give favors. There's always a price with you."
"Consider this, a friend making amends for the past. But using magic comes with a price, dearie, one that you will eventually have to pay."
Merlin made his way towards the door. "I am willing to do whatever it takes to make sure that Arthur is safe. Thank you, Rumple." The old wizard exited the shop and vanished into the streets of Storybrooke, as Rumple carefully watched him.
Emma, Mary-Margaret with the baby, David, Henry and Hook walked up the steps to their apartment. Emma looked down at Henry. "So, kid, you have a good birthday?"
"Yeah, it was the best. Thanks, mom."
"Anytime, kid."
David unlocked the door to the apartment, letting the others in.
"Swan..." Hook spoke, causing Emma to stop in the doorway and turn around to face him.
Emma turned back inside to her parents, "Just a sec, guys." She closed the door behind her and turned around to face Killian.
Killian walked up to her, cupping her cheek with his hand, gently kissing her. "Goodnight, love."
Emma looked up at him, "Why such a rush to get back to Granny's? I think you've seen enough of that place, haven't you?"
Hook smiled, "Ah, well, at least I have a comfortable room there. I owe Granny one."
"Half the town does. I don't know how that woman does it." She laughed.
Hook scratched the back of his head, "And by the looks your father has been passing me all...year long, I think that a night here is out of the question."
Emma's hands went down to Hook's waist. "He's just being protective."
"That's one word for it."
Emma sighed, "Look, I'm sure he'll warm up to you just as you warmed up to me. Eventually."
Hook smiled and looked down. "Hopefully so. I hope that your parents know that I wouldn't want to do anything that would ever hurt you."
"They know that, Killian. I know it, too." She pulled him in for another quick kiss, before turning back to the door. When she made it to the doorway, she turned back to him. "And Killian, maybe it's time I started looking for my own place."
"Oh?"
"And if you behave, maybe you'll be lucky enough to stay the night," Emma whispered to him. Hook smiled as Emma closed the door on him.
"So, what was that all about?" Mary Margaret spoke.
Emma turned around, wide-eyed. "Gyah, how long were you standing there?"
Mary Margaret smiled, "Long enough to know that you want to find your own place."
"And that you think I'm an overprotective father, which is not true."
"You are the epitome of an over-protective father." Mary Margaret corrected.
"I am not." David stated.
"I don't really think it's a big deal." Emma shrugged.
"Right, so moving on." Mary Margaret steered the conversation back to her next topic. "You really want your own place?"
"Well,...yeah, I do." Emma stated, honestly, not wanting to hurt her parents feelings. "Look, I know we don't have the most traditional parent-child relationship. I mean, we're the same age and have equal amounts of experiences. And I know that we were separated for awhile, but..."
"We get it." Mary Margaret stopped her. "You're a grown woman. You're completely responsible for your own life. We can't keep you locked inside of this apartment forever."
Emma tilted her head, "You're not mad? Really?"
Mary Margaret sat down at the table, motioning Emma to sit down next to her. "Why would we be mad? I think some extra space would be good for you."
Emma sat down. " i just figured after all the years apart, having your lost child move out of your place might be...a bit emotionally crippling."
David moved next to her and sighed, "Well, we'd miss you here..."
"But it's not like you'd be moving to Neverland, you're just moving across town. We could still spend every day with each other."
"So, you two are really okay with this?"
David smiled, "Emma, we just want you to be happy and if that means getting your own place for you and Henry, then that would make us happy."
Mary Margaret slowly rocked her baby. "And it's not like you haven't had your own place before. And this time Henry would be with you when he's not at Regina's, maybe Hook, too."
"Whoa, slow down, mom."
David agreed, "Yeah, he's not moving in with her."
Emma smiled, "At least not yet."
"Wait, what?"
Mary Margaret smiled, "Regardless Emma, we want what will make you happy. Even if it means getting your own place and even if it means living with a pirate."
Emma shrugged and smiled, "Well then, I guess I should start looking at open leases. It's not like too many exist in a cursed town where no one leaves."
In her vault, Regina sat down, examining her book, flipping through the pages, wondering about the many mysteries waiting to still be uncovered. The book was finding ways to correct itself and tell the story the way that it should have been told, but how? It was like the book had a life of its' own. Regina flipped to a page in the book to find a picture of herself and Robin Hood kissing, then flipped towards the end of the book to find a picture of herself casting the Dark Curse.
Belle made her way up towards her room at Granny's Inn. She gently walked down the hallway stopping at her bedroom door when her eye caught sight of something placed at the bottom of her doorway. She knelt down and gently picked up the beautiful red rose. She lightly held onto the stem of the rose, taking in the flower's beauty. She smiled to herself, remembering the last time she had received a rose just like this.
Merlin quickly walked up towards the Storybrooke Library, taking a look up at the clock, which read 8:15 P.M. The old wizard quickly went inside the library and walked towards the elevator. With a swish of his wand, the elevator automatically began descending downwards, deep beneath the town of Storybrooke. The elevator continued downwards for a few more minutes before coming to a stop at the base of the elevator shaft.
Merlin opened the elevator's gate and walked out into a small tunnel that opened up into a vast cavern. Every step that the wizard took echoed off against the large cavernous walls. He knew that he had to act quickly before he was detected. He walked towards the stone structure that stood at the far end of the cavern. He stood before the stone pillar and brought forth his wand, which shimmered radiantly in the dark cavern.
As he was about to cast a spell, he suddenly felt a searing pain in his chest, right by his heart. He had to act fast before he had missed his opportunity. He pointed his wand towards the stone pillar.
"It is time that you have awoken from your slumber, King Arthur. The fate of Storybrooke lies in your hands."
A small beam of light shot from Merlin's wand towards the stone pillar. With that, Merlin collapsed to the ground, feeling an intense pain around his heart. He was being summoned and had no choice but to leave. Within moments, Merlin had disappeared in a puff of smoke.
Seconds later, the stone pillar began to crack and break, transforming into the figure of a man. The stone continued to break and fall, until Arthur had fully emerged from his transformed state. He crashed to the floor, gasping for breath, bringing the sword of Excalibur down with him. He spent the next several moments catching his breath from his solid statue state.
He then noticed the glimmer of light coming from before him. He slowly staggered to his feet, leaving the cavern. He walked through the tunnel, wondering what far off part of Camelot he was traveling in. The tunnel led up towards the elevator shaft, where Arthur had seen the many strange sources of light coming from the fixtures above him. When he had entered into the elevator, it suddenly started rising, causing Arthur to fall backwards, as the cart quickly lifted him towards the surface.
The young man gulped as he saw the ceiling rising towards him faster and faster. For a moment, he felt as if he was going to die. He had never experienced such a deadly contraption in his life and he wished to never experience it again. He closed his eyes, but just when he thought the end was near, the elevator slowed to a halt. He opened his eyes and saw that the room before him was filled with books.
He cautiously stepped out of the elevator, making his way across the room, towards the door right at the front. He pressed his palm against the door, his other hand firmly grasping onto the ornate handle of Excalibur. He did not know it at the time, but from that moment on, Arthur had completely stepped into a different world and his life would be forever changed.
Before him stood a kingdom unlike any he had ever seen before. The buildings were unlike any castles and villages, the lights were not the familiar lantern candles he had grown accustomed to, the people of the kingdom seemed utterly urban and here he was, completely new to all of it. Although alone, he felt excited and overwhelmed, mystified and curious.
He was certain this was not Camelot.
He curiously read one of the signs on the side of the library.
"Storybrooke..."
Chapter Two: Excalibur
As a lost Arthur arrives in Storybrooke, his confusion drives him to make an enemy out of both David and Hook. Regina makes an enlightening discovery on her journey to uncover the secrets of the book. Rumplestiltskin begins his long travel down the path to win Belle back. Emma's family comes together to help Arthur in lieu of Merlin's mysterious disappearance. In the Camelot of the past, a younger Arthur begins his journey with Merlin to become king when he is challenged by his friend Lancelot to pull a legendary sword from a stone. A dark force lurks within Storybrooke.