Hey guys! So I managed to finish this chapter before I headed on my trip so I thought I would post it for you guys to save the wait. I'm hoping to have another chapter up by the end of the week for you guys. Hope you enjoy this chapter my lovelys.
'Okay so let me get this straight. In the last 48 hours, I have watched my daughter die, learnt that all fairy-tale characters are real, my daughter's mom turned out to be the evil queen, I got sucked into a magic portal where I've been dragged beaten and thrown in a ditch to spend time with the mother of the queen from hell?' Zac ranted from his place on the floor. Mary Margaret was still knocked out and currently being nursed to health by Cora who Emma and Zac had learnt was Regina's mother.
'Yep pretty much,' Emma nodded not being able to rationalise any of it.
'Well as long as we're on the same page,' Zac stood up trying to adjust is eyes to the dark pit they found themselves in.
'Oh, Snow, you're awake. I'm so relieved,' Cora chimed in Emma and Zac looking at the woman who was starting to stir.
Mary Margaret took one look at Cora and felt like she was 10 years old once more. She quickly stood up even though her head was throbbing and stood in front of Emma. 'As bad as you think Regina is, this woman is worse,' Mary Margaret warned staring Cora down.
'Oh, Snow. Sweet Snow. Please… Believe me. Whatever she told you isn't true. I just want to help you,' Cora's voice was sickly sweet but Snow refused to be tricked again.
'Let's hear her out,' Emma mumbled to the teacher not sensing the same danger.
'Emma,' Mary Margaret tried again.
'Listen to your mother,' Zac agreed from the side earning a glare from Emma. 'What? That's what you always say to Sarah,' the man grumbled before turning back to the stranger.
'Okay. Right now, we are at the bottom of a hole with no other options. And Henry and Sarah, are back in Storybrooke with Regina,' Snow knew it was a mistake to mention the kids to Cora especially since she was sure Cora had never learned of Sarah's existence.
'Who's Henry and Sarah?' Cora asked curiosity getting the better of her.
'My kids. I kind of share them with Regina. It's complicated. Henry is technically mine… I mean I'm his birth mother and … well… Regina is Sarah's birth mother,' Emma rambled.
'Okay that's enough,' Zac interrupted not trusting the woman they were faced with.
'Don't talk to her,' Mary Margaret growled as she saw anger and confusion flicker over Cora's face as she pieced everything together. Regina had a child without telling her.
'Well I know who these two are but who are you?' Cora changed the subject directing her question at Zac.
'Me?' Zac questioned quickly looking behind him with the hopes that she was looking at someone else. 'I'm nobody just an ex alcoholic who kind of just drifts around, I don't have many talents you see, unless you count guitar hero which…' Zac was cut off as Emma slapped his shoulder trying to get back to the point.
'Enough!' The guard yelled from above them. 'Our leader requests an audience,' he demanded lowing a rope into the pit.
'So, what's on the agenda for Operation Scorpion?' Henry asked as him, David and Sarah walked down the streets of Storybrooke heading to the bus stop.
'What's Operation Scorpion?' David questioned.
'Yeah it sounds like a weird James Bond movie,' Sarah added with the same confusion.
'The code name for our mission to find Emma, Zac and Snow? Do you prefer viper? That was my second choice,' David's face fell as he thought of the best way to deal with Henry.
'Henry, we need to talk,' David began but was cut off by Sarah.
'Scorpion is so much better than viper,' Henry nodded in agreement with his sister.
'No, it's not that. It's…' David tried again but this time it was his grandson who cut him off.
'I'm not coming with you. But I… I thought we were going to find Jefferson?' Henry stopped near the bus stop the disappointment evident on his face.
'I already did,' the man explained now having both of his grandchildren's attention.
'What? Is he going to help us?' Henry asked hopefully.
'No. No, Henry, he's not,' David sighed.
'He's not? Where is he I will personally make him agree,' Sarah quickly scanned the streets looking for the man. 'I'm just going to need some rope, coffee and the Annie soundtrack.'
'I don't even want to know what you have planned,' David shook his head at the teen.
'Why didn't you tell us you talked to him?' Henry asked sadness taking over his voice.
'Because I didn't want to disappoint you guys,' David looked between both of the kids hating that he was letting them down. 'I know you want to find your mom, and your dad,' David added looking at Sarah. 'But Jefferson can't help us. I need to find a way to restore the hat.'
'So, why can't I help you look?' Henry hated that everyone treat him like a little kid, he was the one who believed all along.
'It'll require magic, Henry. And magic- '
'Always comes with a price. I've read the book, you know,' Sarah looked to her feet as the two boys talked guilt hitting her as she thought about her own magic that she had recently discovered. She knew if she told them they wouldn't treat her the same. The teen had promised herself that she would never use her magic again but it seemed like she had no control over it.
'I'm sorry, but I just can't let you anywhere near this stuff. If you really want to help me, you'll go to school where I know you'll be safe, okay?' David's eyes pleaded with Henry hoping the boy would agree.
Sarah couldn't stand to listen to talk about magic anymore so she placed a hand on her brother's shoulder. 'It's okay David I'll make sure he gets to school,' Henry looked at his sister wanting to protest but the glare she shot him made him change his mind. David gave Sarah a grateful smile turning to walk away as the kids headed for the bus stop.
'Are we really going to do nothing?' Henry whined.
'Of course, not but I feel we will get more done without the power ranger over there,' Henry laughed as both kids ran past the bus stop.
It wasn't long till the brother and sister found Jefferson at the docks sitting on a bench. The fog was low and the place seemed deserted, it was enough to cause anyone else anxiety but not Henry. The boy ran straight over taking a seat next to the man his sister standing next to him.
'Jefferson. …Right? The Mad Hatter? I need your help,' Henry exclaimed quickly.
Sarah bent down lowering her voice. 'Just a tip: when you want someone to help you it is probably best not to call them mad.'
'Look, I already told your grandfather. I can't do anything,' Jefferson kept his stare straight ahead having no time for the tag team.
'I know. But, there must be something we can do,' Henry pleaded.
'I'm the wrong person to talk to, kid. Magic's not my thing. Try your mother. Maybe she's got something in that vault of hers she can help you with,' Sarah felt herself wince at the mention of magic: was it really so bad?
'You know what, you aren't even worth the Annie soundtrack,' the teen grumbled while Jefferson finally looked at her in confusion.
'Vault? Her vault is here? In Storybrooke?' Henry continued ignoring his sister.
'It's none of my business. Talk to her,' the man went back to staring into space signaling the conversation was over.
'What's that?' the boy asked noticing the piece of paper in Jefferson's hand. The man quickly returned the paper to his pocket refusing to answer. 'Your daughter's looking for you, isn't she?'
'What do you know about it?' Jefferson scoffed.
'I read your story. I know how the two of you were separated. Why are you here? She's at school,' Henry continued never one to back down.
'Henry…' Sarah warned noticing how agitated that man was getting.
Jefferson abruptly stood up to walk away from his annoyances but Henry blocked his path. 'I've got to go home, kid.'
'She probably wants to see you,' Henry stood his ground.
'Get out of my way,' the man raised his voice causing Sarah to step in front of her brother.
'Hey! You don't get to talk to him like that,' the teen growled her tone making the man back down slightly.
'Why aren't you trying to find her?' Henry tried again.
'Because I left her!' Jefferson yelled finally losing it. 'And she'll hate me.'
'No, she won't,' Sarah said softly. 'Go to her.'
'I was on my way… fate reminded me I shouldn't,' the man looked away as his eyes rimmed with tears.
'Trust me I know what it's like to be left,' Sarah took a step forward. 'There are many reasons for me to hate Regina and I'm not going to lie her leaving me is definitely something I'm mad about but… at least she came back. If you don't find her she is going to spend the rest of her life wondering why and thinking it's her fault. Do you really want that?' The man looked into the teens blue eyes and finally his walls fell down. He gave a grateful nod before walking away.
'Well that got us no closer to getting Emma back,' Henry said sadly staring at the man as he walked away.
'At least we helped bring a family back together even if it's not ours,' Sarah said softly pulling her brother close.
'Okay so are we clear with the plan,' Sarah asked Henry as she dropped him off at Grannys.
'Give you ten minutes then ring mom and get her to meet me here for lunch so you can search her office for the keys to her vault,' Henry said with a nod.
'Very good,' Sarah smiled.
'Have fun Pegacorn,' Henry smiled using Sarah's code name before running into Grannys.
Sarah quickly made her way across town to the Mayor's office trying her best to go unseen. The teen made it to the office door seeing Regina bustling around putting things into boxes. Her heart hurt slightly part of her still missing the woman regardless of what she had done. It was in that moment Regina's phone broke through the silence.
'Henry!' Regina greeted brightly. 'I'm just packing up the office. I've been asked to leave. No, of course it can wait. I'd love to have lunch with you. Granny's – ten minutes,' nothing could stop the smile on Regina's face as she quickly picked up her purse and darted out the office not even noticing Sarah.
When Regina was out of sight, the teen walked into the office looking round for where to begin. She quickly opened the drawers in the desk before turning to the filing cabinet. In the second drawer, she found what she was looking for. Sarah held Henry's book close using it as a guide to her Grandfathers crypt. She paused outside the door taking a deep breath whatever was inside had the potential to answer her questions or cause many new ones. After getting herself together the teen walked forward opening the heavy door. The brunette stared at the coffin belonging to her grandfather and started pushing. She felt her muscles sting as she tried to move the heavy object. 'Gramps no offence but you really needed a diet,' the teen grumbled as she finally moved the coffin to see a long staircase. Slowly Sarah descended the steps into darkness. As her eyes adjusted the young girl noticed all the books and potions that scattered the room. She picked up the closest book seeing the spells inside and without a second thought she put it in her bag not knowing why she felt a pull towards it. Turning around Sarah made her way to an empty room a rhythm of beating hearts being the soundtrack to her expedition. The teen noticed a box in the middle of the room with some kind of carvings around the rim. Slowly the teen bent down and opened the container to be greeted by two snakes springing out. Sarah jumped back as the snakes lunged forward suddenly seeing David appear to close the animals back in their cage.
'Maybe we should've gone with Operation Viper,' David joked before looking at the teen. 'You alright?'
'Yeah,' the teen stuttered her heart still racing 'How'd you know I was down here?'
'Henry accidently let it slip to Regina,' Sarah rolled her eyes as David sighed.
'Tell you what you can't trust kids, all they can focus on is candy and how to cope till they get more candy,' David gave a light chuckle. 'I'm surprised Regina didn't come herself.'
'She would've come herself, but she didn't think you'd go with her,' David explained.
'Well she got that right,' Sarah agreed.
'What were you thinking?' Concern now too over David's features as he stared at his granddaughter.
Sarah looked sadly at the ground. She wanted to tell David about what happened in her room, about how she could feel the magic inside her, how she couldn't control, but she just couldn't. 'I just… I just want them back,' Sarah said instead. 'It wasn't supposed to be this way. I should be over there with them. I should have never left Emma.'
'I know. I know. It's okay,' David pulled the teen into a hug. 'Because we're going to do this together. Come on, now. You have to go tell Henry you're okay, and I have to make sure no one else finds this place.'
'Where's the 'on' switch?' Emma asked as she inspected the tree that was hopefully going to take them home.
'It's more complicated than that. We'll have to get it back to the island. Hopefully, someone there has access to enough magic to make it work again,' Mary Margaret sighed at the impossible task.
'How are we going to carry this thing?' Emma exclaimed looking at Zac.
'Don't look at me! I left me fork lift in my other pants,' Emma rolled her eyes at the man's sarcasm.
'You'll make it with the help of an old friend,' the trio turned to see Lancelot in the doorway.
'Lancelot. What are you doing here?' Snow questioned.
'We heard about the ogre attack, and I had to make sure you were alright,' the man smiled with warm eyes.
'Where are Mulan and Aurora?' Mary Margaret continued suspicious of her friend.
'I sent them to find food. Tonight, we'll make camp and then, in the morning, we'll head back,' Lancelot turned his attention to the tree. 'So, this is it – the portal you were after.'
'The same one Emma went through. That's how she skipped the curse,' Mary Margaret explained.
'Remarkable…' Lancelot ran his hand over the tree in amazement.
'Geppetto carved it from an enchanted tree, but there's no magic left,' the brunette continued staring sadly at the dead portal.
'Well, a portal this powerful… there must be another way to recharge it,' the man turned to look at his friend.
'Why are you so interested in the wardrobe?' Mary Margaret's suspicion returned.
'Well, I just want you to get home to your husband,' the man then turned to Emma. 'And Henry and Sarah. They must miss you.'
With that Mary Margaret drew her sword pointing it at Lancelot causing alarm and confusion in Emma and Zac.
'Stay away from him. He is not who he says he is,' Snow didn't take her stare off the man who was now smirking.
'What are you talking about? Who the hell is he?' Emma looked the man up and down trying to catch on with what was happening.
'There's only one person you told your kids names too,' Snow explained recognition flying across the parents faces.
'Cora,' Emma whispered and with that Lancelot disappeared in purple smoke leaving Cora in his wake.
'Clever girl,' Cora smiled at Snow.
'Where's Lancelot?' The brunette growled.
'He's dead. I killed him a long time ago,' Cora explained like it was nothing.
'And you've been posing as him ever since?' This was a new low even for Cora.
'Well, they'd never listen to me. And besides… Every kingdom needs a hero, don't you think?' Snow shook her head in disbelief.
With that Snow lunged forward but Cora acted fast pinning the brunette against the wall followed by throwing Emma and Zac across the room.
'If I haven't said it before, I hate magic,' Zac grumbled.
'Thank you, Snow. I've been looking for a way over for so long,' Cora walked towards Snow who was struggling to breathe. 'I never thought the person to help me find it would be you.'
'Why? Why are you doing this?' Snow chocked out.
'I want to see my daughter. It's been too long. And you know, I would love to meet my granddaughter and find out how I never found out my daughter was pregnant,' rage flicked across Cora's face at the thought of the teen.
'No, you won't,' Emma called from the tree as she set it on fire.
'No!' Cora screamed using her magic to gather the fire and throw it at Emma. Just as Emma thought she was done for Mulan's sword blocked the flame. With that Cora disappeared in purple rage.
'Are you okay?' Emma quickly ran over to Snow helping her to her feet.
'I'm fine thanks for asking,' Zac moaned as he got up himself.
'You saved me,' Mary Margaret whispered.
'Yeah, well… Where is she?' Emma changed the subject suddenly feeling uncomfortable.
'Gone,' Mary Margaret turned her gaze to where Cora had once been.
'So's our ride home,' Emma looked at the now burnt tree.
'Lancelot was one of the most noble knights I ever knew,' Mary Margaret thought of her lost friend.
'How could I be so blind? How could I not see that it was Cora?' Mulan growled mad at herself.
'Let's be fair – the whole shape shifting thing threw me, too,' Emma tried to comfort the woman who saved her life.
'Yes, but to be fair you would be the person to not recognise superman when he put on his glasses never mind someone changing into a whole different human being,' Zac smiled at the blonde.
'You know what I now see where Sarah gets it from,' Emma shot Zac a glare.
'What can I say I trained her well,' Zac gave a proud nod.
'What are we going to tell the people on the island?' Mulan asked getting back to the point.
'The truth. That Lancelot was cut down by a terrible villain. He died an honorable death,' Snow spoke confidently.
'Cora's still out there. We need to find her. We need to defend what's left of the kingdom,' Mulan raised her sword at the thought.
'Who's going to lead us? You?' Aurora asked Mulan.
'No. Her,' Mulan pointed to Snow.
'I'm honored. But Emma, Zac and I still have to find a way back to Storybrooke,' Mary Margaret couldn't afford anything stopping her getting home.
'We'll help you. We'll find a way, won't we?' Mulan insisted turning to Aurora who nodded.
'Yes. Perhaps, it will help me channel my anger,' Aurora and Snow shared a smile before Mulan and Aurora left the room.
'I'm going too I no longer like this room,' Zac turned on his heels leaving the two women behind giggling at the dramatic man.
'I'm, uh, sorry I torched our ride home. I couldn't let her get to Sarah. I just-' Emma tried to explain but Snow cut her off.
'You had to put Sarah first,' Mary Margaret nodded knowing Emma's choice.
'I was angry at you for so long… Wondering how you could choose to let me grow up without you,' Emma couldn't help the tears that started to fall. 'But then I just… Seeing all this… You gave up everything for me. And you're still doing that. I'm sorry, I'm not good at this. I… I guess I just… I'm not… I'm not used to someone putting me first,' all the emotion Emma had kept inside exploded as she looked around at what was supposed to be her room.
Snow quickly moved forward pulling Emma into a tight hug. 'Well, get used to it,' Snow said into Emma's blonde main causing the blonde to smile.
'Can I join you?' Sarah asked Henry who was sat in Emma's yellow bug. Henry gave a shrug which Sarah took as a yes. She got into the driver's side looking at the car she had grown up with. Sitting in the memories made her miss the blonde even more. 'Are you okay?' the teen asked her brother to distract herself.
'Are you mad at me?' Henry asked instead staring at his feet.
'Why would I be mad at you?' Sarah asked in concern.
'For letting it slip to Regina where you were,' Henrys sad voice was too much for the teen.
'Henry look at me,' Henry hesitated for a moment but then looked up at his sister. 'What did I tell you when I came back from the concert that I wasn't supposed to go to?'
'Never apologise for telling the truth,' Henry answered remembering that night off by heart.
'I meant that Henry. Never be sorry for being honest it is one of the things that makes you great,' Henry smiled at his sister relief washing over him.
Before anymore could be said David appeared in the passenger window crouching down. 'I've been thinking… If you're going to start helping me, we've got to make sure we do this right. So, I picked these up on my way home,' David showed Henry the wooden swords causing the boy's face to break out into a smile.
'Are you really supposed to encourage him to play with sharp objects,' the teen joked causing an eye roll from David.
The kids got out the car David passing a sword to Henry letting the sword fight begin. Sarah looked on for a few moments feeling peace in finally seeing a genuine smile from Henry. After taking a moment she ran forward picking up a laughing Henry. 'I got him,' she yelled as David poked him with his sword while Henry couldn't stop laughing in his sister's arms.
