Chapter SEVEN: A Battle
Later the same day. The Professor was helping Mr Gold pack a bag with some brochures and maps, when David barged in. Mr Gold looked up, and said, "It appears when I bought that closed sign, I was just throwing my money away."
"Looks like it," David said.
"Sorry to hear about your wife and daughter. If you're looking for a retrieval, I'm afraid portal jumping is just outside my purview."
"Of course it is."
"I see there's some sort of trouble outside… What's it for?" the Professor asked.
"Oh, a little stir at the border. Problem crossing the line," David said.
"Do tell," Mr Gold said.
"Actually, I'm here to buy something. A way to find someone."
"Well, like a map?"
"Something with a bit more kick. Like the ring you gave me to find Snow."
"Ah, yeah, magic. Whom are you following?"
"Not telling."
"So do you have something of this missing person?" the Professor asked.
"Yes," David said.
"May we see it?"
"No."
Mr Gold pulled out a vial out of the box behind him. "Pour this on the object, and then follow it. So simple, even David Nolan could do it." He held it in front of him, but pulled it away when David went to take it.
"What do you want?" David asked.
"Peace. Leave us alone."
"What do you care what David Nolan does?"
"Oh, no. It's Charming I worry about. I'd like a little non-interference guarantee."
"Fine. If, you give me the same. You and I – we stay out of each other's way."
Mr Gold then handed over the potion. "Thank you for your business." David started to leave the shop, but Mr Gold interrupted him. "So, uh, what happens when you try and cross the border?"
"You lose your memory of everything of our old lives. Looks like we're stuck here," David said, then he left the shop.
When David had left, Mr Gold turned around and smashed two of his glass cases with his cane, before flinging it to the ground. "You gonna be okay, Rumple? I need to check on that meeting. Regina may crash it…" the Professor asked.
"Yeah. I'll be fine. I may go for a drive…" he said.
"Okay. Just don't go round smashing more things… Or people," the Professor said, then ran to the town hall.
The entire town had gathered in the Town is gathered at the town hall for the meeting. Henry had been trying to call his grandfather but her was too busy trying to find Jefferson. "Come on, Gramps. Pick up. Come on…" Henry said.
"Please, everyone. Just be patient. I'm sure he's going to be here any second," Ruby said to the crowd, then noticed Granny pacing up and down with a crossbow. "Granny, do you really need that?"
"We've got a lawless town, Ruby. Damn right I need it," Granny said.
"Try calling him again," Ruby said to Henry.
"He's not picking up," Henry said.
"Just keep trying."
Suddenly, Regina turned up. She stood at the door and said, "My, what a nice turn out." Then she casually walked to the front. "No need for a fuss. It's just little old me."
"Regina. Think about what you're doing," Archie Hopper said.
"Bug," Regina said, magically throwing him across the room, when the Professor turned up.
"Hey!" the Professor exclaimed.
Regina tried to do the same to him, but the Professor caught her magic throw. Regina looked stunned. Granny then fired an arrow at her, but she caught it. "How sweet," she said, turning the arrow into a fireball. She flung it into the crowd, but the Professor caught it and made it disappear.
"What do you want?" he said.
"Me. She wants me. Okay, I'll come with you. Just leave them alone," Henry said, stepping out.
"That's my boy," Regina said, putting an arm around him and leading him out of the hall.