Happily Ever After

By: Sandreline Moon

Hello everyone! Ready for chapter 3? Before we start, I wanted to let you all know that I just published a short story to Amazon! It's a slightly smutty werewolf short story, hehe. You can get it here:

Amazon dot com /gp/product/B0178LPN6Y

Or if you are not in America, just type in "Scent of Attraction" by Karisa Williams in the search bar.

If you click on my name for the author's link, it will also bring up my other book "Her Motivation". It's the first book in my Her Legacy series. Second book, "Her Revenge" will be in editing stages and published soon!

I hope you all enjoy!

Chapter 3: Accomplice

Henry raced over to the mansion as fast as he could, eager to search for clues to the latest mystery. This was what he had been hoping for; they finally had proof not just that his mom could have a happy ending, but they it actually would happen!

As he burst through the doors, his last thought shook him.

It was one thing to have a page reflecting something in the past that could have happened. But it was a whole different matter to have proof of an event that hadn't occurred yet. That means that the page was from the future!

Mom did say that a portal had opened up this morning, and it's not like it was unheard of after Zelena's portal sent Hook and Mom back in time.

Henry raced down the hall and tipped the light post back that opened the secret door to the book room. He ran inside only the stop dead in his tracks.

He wasn't alone.

Kaley stood beside the desk, flipping through blank pages of a book as if she did it every day. Her hair was up in a royal bun, with her bangs swept to the side across her forehead and random ringlets of curls brushing her shoulders. She was wearing a black skin-tight dress that ended at her knees, with the sleeves tight under her elbows before they billowed out. Draped along her shoulders was a velvet hooded cape of pale olive green, it's length brushing the backs of her black ankle boots.

Something about the stranger's appearance and wardrobe looked eerily familiar to Henry, but he couldn't place it. "Who are you, and why are you here?" He said with more authority in his voice than he meant.

Kaley shut the book gently. "You'll never grow out of the hero complex." She said with a smile. "You know," she continued, moving around from the behind the desk before she leaned on it. "This is really weird for me. The older brother that I have always looked up to and admired is currently standing before me, and he's ten years younger than me!" She gave a small laugh.

"What are you talking about?" Henry asked as he tried to make his way inconspicuously over to the swords on the wall.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you," Kaley warned.

"Why should I trust the crazy lady who claims she is from the future?" Henry shot back.

Lifting up a hand, Kaley formed a fireball. "Probably because we both want the same thing: for Operation Mongoose to succeed." With a toss of her hand, the fireball went into the hearth of the fireplace, lighting the wood instantly into a burning blaze.

The newly appointed Author stopped in his tracks. Suddenly it clicked together. How closely this stranger resembled Regina, how she could make fireballs, the portal opening up this morning in town…

"It was you," he said confidently. "You were the one who left the page for Mom. You came through the portal this morning!"

Kaley smiled softly. "Correct, brother dear. You told me that you would figure it out quickly."

Henry came closer to her. "So you're form the future. And you're my little sister? This is so cool!"

In a move that surprised her, Henry threw his arms around her in an enthusiastic hug. Blinking back tears, she returned it. It only lasted a few moments, and he pulled away, but he was overly excited when he did. "This is amazing! That means that everything works out! We have to go find mom and let her know."

As he turned to run back out, Kaley held out her hand to stop him. "Wait!" Barely taking a hold of his arm in time, she stopped him. "Where do you get so much energy?" She questioned to herself. "Mom and dad can't find out! No one can."

Henry looked confused. "Why not? Do you have any idea how much mom needs this?"

Kaley's blue eyes blurred. "I've heard the stories. But if mom and dad find out, it could change everything."

Her older-but-currently-younger brother seemed to let this process for a moment, so she released his wrist. "The ripple effect. Nothing can be changed." He paused. "So why tell me? Why are you here if it's so dangerous?"

Kaley looked away, her eyes settling on the fireplace as she wrapped her arms around herself. "She needs hope; she needs to believe that it can be possible. Otherwise, she won't get the motivation to create the spell to undo her curse."

"What curse?" Henry asked.

"You don't know?" Kaley asked, actually surprised.

"Adults tend to not trust that I can handle all of the information." Henry said with frustration.

His not-yet-existent sister let out a laugh. "Unfortunately, that doesn't change."

"Yeah, it sucks." Henry agreed. "What curse?"

"Well," Kaley began. "Apparently in one of her many tiffs with grandma Kora, mom drank a potion to prevent her from ever having children."

"Oh," Henry said with wide eyes. "That explains all the tension about Zelena and Robin Hood having a baby…"

Kaley winced. "Please don't bring that up; I don't want to get into it."

Henry held up a hand. "Can't know the future, got it. So," Henry began. "What do you need from me?"

"I'm sure you already figured out that the page I gave mom is from a new book," She explained. "One that you haven't started writing yet."

"I broke the pen, how can I write?" Her brother asked. After her pointed look, he sighed. "This going to be frustrating."

"Tell me about it." She agreed. "In any event, we need to make sure that mom and dad keep to the course that leads to me being born."

"So what do I have to do?" Henry asked.

Kaley lifted herself to sit on the table. "Let them know that you came here to find a new book open and ready to take on the continued story. Let them think that fate, or destiny, or whatever, is telling everyone that it's time for the story to continue. It's what everyone needs after Isaac royally messed everyone up."

Henry crossed his arms over his chest. "That seems easy enough. What else?"

"See," Kaley bit her lip. "That's where it gets tricky. I'm having enough trouble trying to blend in, and I can't tell you too much, so I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place."

"Can you give me clues that I can pass on to mom about how to undo the curse? How does she make the counter potion?"

"It's before my time, and I couldn't exactly ask before I came here." Kaley sighed.

"Why not?" Henry asked.

Kaley looked sheepish at this question. "I don't exactly have permission to be here. Time travel is too dangerous… I have a feeling I'll be in big trouble when I get home. Especially with you and Roland."

"Are you trying to tell me that I'm more of a hard ass than mom?" He arched an eyebrow in disbelief.

Kaley let out a chuckle. "Let me think about that… yes!" She answered. "You and Roland are always so protective over me, your precious baby sister." She made air quotes at the emphasized words. "Do you know how hard it is to sneak out of the house when the two of you gang up on me?"

"Well, I am pretty smart. And I have experience with sneaking around. I'd assume being the son of the legendary outlaw Robin Hood makes Roland pretty adept at being sneaky, too."

"Exactly!" She threw her hands up in the air. "I didn't get my first date till I was twenty!"

Henry couldn't do anything but laugh, and she scowled at him. "Back to the subject," Kaley huffed while hoping that she didn't give too much away. "Mom will probably be upset, but knowing her she will be secretly proud. Dad will probably ground me for leaving; wearing a smirk while he tries to sold me. But you and Roland will probably not forgive me for awhile."

"Tell you what," Henry said. "As a part of Operation Mongoose, I promise not to be mad at you."

Kaley blinked. "Really?"

He nodded. "Promise. Though there's no such agreement for me teasing you."

Her face blossomed into a bright smile. "Thank you!" Then she frowned. "You better remember." She warned.

He smirked. "I will. So," he added. "Where do we start."

Kaley's eyes lowered into a glare. "First, I need to check on Zelena."

"One designated Nurse Distraction, coming up."

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So this was a bit of a filler chapter, but I wanted to do something so Kaley wouldn't be completely on her own. Let's face it, this is something that is right up Henry's alley. I hope you all enjoyed it none the less!

Please take a look at my author's note at the beginning if you missed it!

~Sandreline