The Lost Power: Chapter 3

Emma watched out the window toward the music shop. When to her surprise the saw Hook coming across the road with young woman, wearing only his jacket. "What the?" Emma said and headed toward the door.

David and Snow followed her not knowing what was wrong. They were just as surprised when they walked out the door and saw what Emma had seen.

"Killian who is this?" Emma asked trying not to be too defensive, but wasn't very successful. Then she noticed how scared the young woman seemed to be. She forced herself to relax a little.

"She said her name is Shadow. I found her alone over in that alley." Hook explained.

Snow looked around. It had gotten chilly outside and had started to rain. "Well lets get her inside and then find out everything." Snow said smiling at the young woman and wrapping an arm around her shoulders to escort her inside.

Emma gave Hook a quick glance. "What? She was crying. I couldn't just leave her." Hook said in his defense.

Emma rolled her eyes knowing he was right. "I know that." She admitted. "It's just, all she has on is your jacket." Emma said motioning toward Shadow to make a point. Then she smiled and hugged him.

Hook enjoyed the hug from Emma. The temperature had dropped pretty quickly outside and Emma's hug offered some warmth that he had lost with his jacket. "I asked her where she was from and she said she didn't know. I don't think she was telling the truth though." Hook told Emma before they walked into he room where Snow and David were with Shadow. Emma nodded and went into the room.

Flashback:

Evil Manta escaped King Triton and went deep into a cavern where he had been staying. He sat down and stared at the crystal. "The things I can do with you. I can finally get back at those merpeople for rejecting and exiling me." Evil Manta said as an evil grin slid onto his face. Then he looked up and swam back toward Atlantis.

When he got back to Atlantis he once again looked over the city watching the merpeople swim about happily. He would have to be more sneaky this time. He noticed one young mermaid swimming alone at the edge of the city. He quietly swam down to her. When she turned and saw him he quickly hit her with a golden ray that turned her into a small stone statue. Manta snatched up the statue and put it in his pocket. He knew he could not be seen and could no longer hide in the ocean or his new plan would be ruined. He had to go to the shore and hide. He would only return to take another merperson. He would keep taking them, "Until I have them all." He spoke his words out loud and gave an evil laugh. A small tear fell down the small statues face.

Evil Manta walked out of the ocean using his triton powers from the crystal to turn human. He found a cave in the cliffs near the ocean. He placed the small statue on a rock shelf in the cave. Once again an evil smile came to his face. "This will teach them." He growled.

Present Day:

Regina finally decided that her and Henry had done enough cleaning for one day. "Ok Henry we'll work on it more tomorrow." Regina said standing up, dusting herself off, and walking toward the door.

Henry excitedly stood up and quickly followed behind her holding the crystal in his hand. "I think I'll stay with you tonight so I can test out the crystal."

Regina turned and looked at him with a frown on her face. "Well put it around your neck and don't loose it whatever you do. And don't forget, it's not a toy. It's a lesson." Regina said before they stepped out of the vault. The cold air hit Regina like a wall. She folded her arms tightly. "When did it get cold again. I'm not walking home in this." She started to put out her hand to transport her and Henry home, but stopped and smiled. "First lesson Henry. Getting home the quick way. Think of where you're going. So think of the house." Regina said and was gone in a puff of purple smoke.

"Mom." Henry called. He had no idea what he had to do. "Ok Henry you can do this. Just think of home." Henry said to himself and squeezed his eyes closed.

When he opened his eyes he was home, but not Regina's, he was at his moms and had appeared right in front of Hook.

Hook jumped back startled. "What the bloody?" Hook asked. Then Hook looked around. "How did you do that?

Henry held up the crystal. "It's from this. I gives me the power that it has stored inside." Henry quickly explained.

"Does Emma know about this?" Hook asked.

"Shh, no, Regina is teaching me some stuff about magic so she gave me some to use. I'm still getting the hang of it evidently. It's supposed to be between me and her so please don't tell mom. She'll just worry." Henry pleaded.

Hook rolled his eyes. He pointed his hook at Henry. "I won't lie to your mother, but I won't tell her either. If she asks me though I'm going to tell her the truth. Is that fair?"

Henry smiled. "Absolutely." Henry answered and then ran out of the door.

Hook turned back around. Emma had asked him to get some clothes for Shadow. Why she had not came herself Hook had no idea, but being in the Sheriffs station with young woman still only wearing his jacket was starting to get awkward so he was glad to get out.

At the sheriffs station Emma watched Shadow closely. Something about the woman was off but she couldn't figure it out. She had asked her if she knew where she was from and Shadow had told her somewhere far away. Emma's internal lie detecter hadn't went off once while talking to the woman. Maybe she was still distracted by Hooks jacket wrapped around the woman.

"Wonder why Mr. Manta is in his store so late tonight?" Snow asked looking out the window.

When Snow mentioned Mr. Manta, Emma instantly noticed Shadow begin to tremble. "Shadow do you know Mr. Manta?" Emma asked.

Shadow avoided eye contact with Emma. "No."

Now Emma's lie detecter was going off. "I think you do."

"Mr. Manta is not who he seems. Don't let him find me." Shadow pleaded.

"Ok. We'll protect you." Emma said looking at Snow and David.

"Got the clothes." Hook said walking into the room. When he noticed the looks on David, Snows, and Emma's faces and the fear on Shadow's he became alarmed. "What's going on?"

"I told you something was up with Mr. Manta." Emma said determined.

Hook handed Emma the clothes he had brought. Emma looked at the clothes. These are winter clothes, why did you bring those?"

"Because it's freezing outside." Hook said rubbing his arm still chilled from walking back with no jacket. "So what do we do now?" Hook asked.

Emma handed Shadow the clothes and pulled Hook to the side. "I don't trust her, but I will protect her. At least until we know what's going on with Mr. Manta. Did you notice if Belle was at the library?" Emma asked.

"No, but I can go check." Hook said.

"There's an extra jacket next to the door if you need one." Emma said noticing the pirate was shivering.

Hook nodded and headed back out. He looked at the coat hanger next to the wall where a dark blue jacket with the word 'Police' written on it hung. He shook his head and left the station. When the cold, sharp air hit him he reached back in the station and grabbed the jacket. Then he quickly headed to the library.

Flashback:

Evil Manta walked onto the shore holding more statues. The air had grown cold. A cold he had never felt before. He lifted his collar up around his neck to help deflect the cold wind that begun to blow. He quickly made his way to the cave. The first thing he did was light a fire. Then he carefully placed the statues on the rock shelves smiling at them in the dull firelight.

As he sat warming by the fire he heard movement deeper in the cave. He looked up and saw a dark figure in the cave. "Who's there?" He called out.

Present Day:

Regina sat by the fire she had lit in her massive fireplace. "Where is that boy?" She asked herself becoming worried. When she heard the front door she jumped up to see a shivering Henry bursting into the door. It took both her and him to shut the door against the gusty wind. "Henry, where have you been?" Regina asked once they had the door latched.

"I guess I got confused on which home." Henry said shivering.

Regina grabbed a throw and wrapped it around Henry's shoulders and escorted him over to the fire. "Did anyone see you?"

"Only Hook." Henry answered vigorously rubbing his hands together over the fire to get the circulation flowing again.

"Oh great." Regina huffed.

"No, he promised not to tell unless mom asks and I won't give her a reason." Henry said quickly.

Regina rolled her eyes. "Where was everyone else?"

"I think at the Sheriff's station." Henry answered

"It's kind of late for that. Is something going on?" Regina asked. Henry just shrugged and focused back on the warm fire.

Regina looked out the window. The weather was being rather strange. "Maybe I'll pop over there and see if they need any help." Regina told Henry.

She appeared at the door as Hook was coming out causing Hook to bump into her and starting him. "You people and your purple smoke." Hook hissed.

"Well if you would learn to watch where you're..." Regina snapped and then stopped herself. "Sorry, Excuse me." Regina fixed herself and open the door to the Sheriff's station. Hook glared at her and continued to the library.

"Regina, what are you doing out in this weather?" Snow asked as Regina walked into the room.

"Henry said he thought you were here and it seemed late, so I thought I would see if you needed help." Regina said. She immediately noticed the young woman sitting at one of the desks. "Who's that?" She whispered to Snow.

Snow looked over at Shadow then pulled Regina out of the room. "That's what we're trying to figure out. Hook found her in the alley. She knows something about Mr. Manta. She's scared of him." Snow explained.

"Of the crazy music man? Who isn't?" Regina said.

"Do you know who he was before the curse?" Snow asked.

"No, but I'm pretty sure he wasn't a hero." Regina said. The two walked back into the room with the others. When Shadow saw Regina she began to tremble and sink into the chair.

"Why is she here?" Shadow asked.

"Regina is our friend." Emma told Shadow calmly.

"But she's the Evil Queen." Shadow said now giving them all doubting looks.

"Oh gees." Regina said rolling her eyes.

Snow glared at Regina and went over to Shadow. "Shadow this isn't the Enchanted Forest and Regina is good now." Snow said in a soft, gentle voice.

Shadow looked between Snow and Regina and slowly began to calm down. Emma looked at the others. It was getting late and she was hungry and tired. "Shadow can stay in our extra bedroom tonight. It's late. We can figure this out in the morning." Emma said then looked at Regina. "I'm assuming Henry is at your house."

"Uh yeah." Regina said as if distracted. "So we'll meet back here in the morning then."

Emma noticed Regina seeming distracted but decided to address it in the morning. She gave Snow and David a hug and headed out with Shadow to go to her house. The air was even colder and the wind stronger. "Wonder what's up with this weather?" Emma asked as the two walked to Emma's car. Before getting in the car she glanced over at the library. "Wonder what Hook found out?" She asked herself before getting in.