Choices
By: Jecir
Chapter Nine: Wishing Your Were Somehow Here Again
"Where are we?" Henry asked. They had landed in a dense and musty forest. It felt ancient. It was cold but humid, and the ground was slick. There had been no silver flash of information when they landed or any indication of their time or place. The moon was full and hung high in the sky, but its light did little to penetrate the coverage.
"We are in one of the few remaining What Ifs," Evangeline said with a solemn tone. "A mere few years prior to the last one; one year after the Second Ogre's War."
"Few remaining?" Henry asked. "How so?"
Evangeline looked up through the trees to the little patches of starlight above. "Probability, Henry," she said. "Time and choice are infinite, but there are events that are highly probable no matter how many What Ifs there are. You wished that the Dark Curse had never been cast. That event was highly probable and played a major role in several What Ifs. All of those What Ifs are gone, and as we have travelled farther and farther back in the timelines, our What If options have gotten fewer. I dare say, after this world, we will be down to a mere dozen."
"What happens if I don't wish before then?"
"The Wild Magic stops," Evangeline said. "Once your family disappears from time and space, the Wild Magic will leave the rest of the What Ifs alone."
"That's...a lot. Why my whole family?"
"Because it is what you wished," Evangeline said. "You wished for none of this to happen. "None of this" was started by your grandfather, Rumplestiltskin, thus, in order to grant your wish, I suspect that the Wild Magic will make sure that he was never born."
"And without him, my father would never be born," Henry added.
"Nor would Regina," Evangeline explained. "Without the Dark One to intervene, Cora Mills would be executed for lying to the King. Your grandfather, David, would die in the Ogre's Wars because there would be no Rumplestiltskin to keep the beasts in check. Belle's Kingdom would fall, and though Snow White would have her mother, she would never love any man enough to marry him; regardless, your mother would never be born. Your grandfather's actions and choices as the Dark One were the lynch pins that created your family.
"Even if a What If was spared where he never became the Dark One, he would still lose your father and have no power to save him. Both would die." Evangeline sighed heavily and rubbed her eyes. "The world would move on without note, but the stars would cry to lose such a magical lineage."
"Magical," Henry scoffed. "Magic has done so little good for my family."
"Perhaps if it had been used better," Evangeline mused.
"How can magic ever be better?" Henry asked. "Even the Blue Fairy's magic seems sketchy. At least, that's what my grandfather said once."
"And what about my magic, Henry?" Evangeline asked gently. "Is my magic sketchy?"
Henry looked up at her with open honesty. "We keep trying to make things right," he said. "But I wonder if we are just making them worse."
Evangeline smiled and motioned for him to come near. She placed her arm around his shoulder, gave it a soft squeeze, and then led him further into the forest. They did not speak. Both were numb and tired and in need of silence. They could feel their time running out.
"Reul Ghorm?"
The weary travelers stopped at the sound of that voice. "Oh yes," Evangeline whispered. "We are not too late."
"Too late?" Henry asked.
"I want you to see this," Evangeline said. She steered him behind a large tree, and together they peered through the bushes.
A young man with shaggy brown hair sat on a log. He was dressed in fine robes and a green cape. The brass lantern at his feet illuminated the space around him.
"Dad," Henry whispered.
Baelfire looked up at the stars. "Reul Ghorm? If you are out there, please help me."
Long moments passed in silence broken only by Baelfire's calls for Reul Ghorm. The light in the lantern was growing dim, and Baelfire's confidence was wearing thin. He sighed heavily and ran a hand through his hair. "Please," he whispered. "Please, anyone. I need help." He lowered his head into his hands. "I need to save my father."
"That's a noble wish."
Baelfire popped his head up and looked around.
"Down here." Standing on the log next to him was a small, blonde fairy with a spring green aura. She smiled up at Baelfire. "I heard your wish, young one. I can help."
"Are you Reul Ghorm?" Baelfire asked.
The green fairy frowned. "No. To be honest, she is not coming. She is weary to aid the son of the Dark One no matter how much he pleas."
Baelfire frowned, but his hope roused as he asked, "Can you help me?"
"That's why I am here," the fairy said with a tinkling laugh. "My name is Tinker Bell, and I am not afraid to grant your wish."
"Thank you!" Baelfire knelt on the forest floor so he could be level with Tinker Bell. "I want to save my father, but I don't know how. He's turned into such a monster. I just want things to go back to the way they were."
"Your father is cursed, yes?"
"Yes, but I can't break the curse without killing him, and I don't want that; besides, the curse would just transfer to whomever kills him."
"So, you want the curse gone and your father to live. Is that correct?"
"Yes," Baelfire nodded. "My father used to be a good man. I just want him back."
"Then what you need is True Love." Tinker Bell crossed her arms and nodded. "A kiss from your father's True Love will break the curse, no doubt about that. There is no magic more powerful than that of True Love."
"But that's impossible," Baelfire said. "My mother is dead."
"Then it's a good thing your mother is not your father's True Love," Tinker Bell replied.
"She wasn't?" Baelfire asked; his tone disheartened.
Tinker Bell shook her head. "But don't you worry. I know True Love. I can find the woman who is your father's perfect match just like that!" As she spoke, she pulled her wand out from her belt and waved it in the air. A flash of green magic shot into the sky and promptly disappeared. "That's interesting."
"What?" Baelfire asked.
"Usually my magic creates a path to the True Love, but this time, it is disappearing."
"Does she not exist?"
"No, no, no," Tinker Bell waved off his question. "Everyone has a True Love. It just means that she isn't here yet. Not born yet, I mean. Your father's True Love exists in the future."
"That's wonderful," Baelfire exclaimed. "But that does not help right now."
"Of course it does!" Tinker Bell proclaimed. "You just need to use this." She waved her wand, and a translucent bean appeared in Baelfire's hand. "This is a magic bean. It will take you anywhere you wish to go. When you are with your dad, wish to find his True Love and then drop the bean at your feet. I find that is the best method least, I don't know, one of you takes the coward's route and tries to run. If you drop the bean right at your feet, you will not have time to escape the vortex."
"Vortex?"
"Don't worry," Tinker Bell assured him. "It's perfectly safe. You and your father will travel the vortex to wherever his True Love is and presto! Her kiss will do the rest."
"Thank you, Tinker Bell," Baelfire said.
The scene before Henry and Evangeline faded into a pulsing silver light. Before their eyes, Henry and Evangeline watched the brave Baelfire heed the fairy's advice. He waited until he was embraced by his father before making his wish and dropping the bean right at their feet. The Dark One had no time to escape when the portal opened. They were sucked through time and released centuries later in the midst of a violent Ogre's War. That day, during that battle, Rumplestiltskin met the courageous daughter of Sir Maurice and began the journey of True Love.
"I've always loved this What If," Evangeline said as the light faded. "It was everything I ever hoped for your family." She steered Henry back into the woods as she spun the tale of the What If that would be no longer. "Because of their time jump, Rumplestiltskin would not be there when Cora called for his help in the King's Tower. Instead, Tinker Bell would come to the aid of a woman whose heart teetered on the edge of light and dark. Her magic would give Prince Henry the courage to save Cora and allow them to take the long and arduous journey to their True Love.
"Because of their love, Regina would be allowed to marry Daniel, and even Zelena would be retrieved from Oz to live her life with her mother. Rumplestiltskin would become instrumental in defeating the Ogres and saving the Enchanted Forest. He would be proclaimed a hero. Belle's kiss dissolves the curse, and for a moment, they are able to live happily ever after.
"Then Pan arrives and kidnaps Baelfire and there seems no hope to save him until Princess Emma's tenth birthday when your immortal great grandfather strikes again. This time, King David and Great Hero Rumplestiltskin are able to chase Pan to Neverland, where he is defeated. Your father and mother are returned safely and, eight years later, marry. There is no Dark Curse or jilted dark lovers threatening your family here."
"Yeah, seems perfect," Henry mutters distractedly.
"You do not seem so excited."
"Why should I be?" he asked. "This world is going to disappear."
"Yes," Evangeline agreed though a bit perturbed by his cynicism. "But, that does not mean...Henry, I wanted you to see this world so you can hope. Not all magic is disastrous."
Henry did not answer. They walked along in silence for a few moments more when Henry asked, "Would you have saved my father?"
Evangeline paused. She was caught off guard by the question. "I," she hesitated. "I can't afford to think like that, Henry. We Wishing Stars have the power to alter events, but if we did it without restraint, we would be nothing sort of vengeful gods forcing the worlds to bend to our whim."
"Yeah, but..." He looked up at her. "Would you have?"
Evangeline met his gaze. Something heavy passed between them; something that spoke of connection and unity in purpose. "Yes," she said finally. "I would have saved him."
"Will you please show me the moment I wished?"
Evangeline hesitated once more, for she was taken off guard by the sudden shift in topic. "We talked about this already, Henry," she began.
"I know," Henry countered. "But, please, I want to see something."
Evangeline looked deep into his eyes. There was a new resolve there. Something had shifted in his heart since the last time he tried to see that moment. This development gave Evangeline hope. "Alright," she said. She looked around them. "There."
She pointed to a talk tree just off their current path. Its roots were large and billowing up over the ground creating a semi-circle of protection. Evangeline led Henry to it and instructed him to sit opposite her. "Take my hands," she instructed. He did as told. She squeezed his fingers and smiled at him. He smiled back. The numbness in their souls began to melt away. "Close your eyes and clear your mind. I will guide us back to that moment. Stay with me and you won't get swept away."
Henry nodded and, taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes. Evangeline followed suit. The forest stilled around them; it was as if the creatures of the woods could sense the ancient magic. Evangeline allowed her powers to flow freely through her. They hummed and glowed; surrounding them both in silver light. Henry felt the magic pull at his consciousness—similar to when he attempted this along. In his mind's eyes, he saw silver light blossoming around him. It surrounded and enfolded him and pulled him swiftly but gently along an unforeseen path. His heart beat quickened as the light got brighter, and then, in a flash, he was there.
The graveyard was just as he remembered—silent and ominous. Snow covered the ground, and a gentle winter wind drifted lazily over the world. Henry looked around. He was hovering over the stillness and the silence; a specter to the memory. Evangeline appeared next to him a moment later. They nodded to each other then, as one, turned when they heard the approach of hurried footsteps. Henry watched as his past self ran into the graveyard. The young boy knelt in front of his father's grave.
"They're fighting again," his past self said. "They're always fighting!" Past Henry slumped where he sat. "I hate it," he whispered. "I hate this. I hate all of it! I wish—"
A cold laugh cut him off. Past Henry turned on his knees. A tall woman dressed in off-white robes stood behind him. Her eyes were artic and her smile was sharp. "I have found that wishing is such a frivolous activity. Life in its very nature is cruel, so why would we endeavor to fight it? Would you not agree, Henry?"
Past Henry jumped to his feet and slipped into a defense stance. "Elsa."
The woman laughed. "Oh dear. Do I look like that child who fancies herself a queen?"
Past Henry swallowed. "You're not Elsa?"
"No," the woman chided.
"Then who are you?"
"The real Snow Queen," she said. "But, that does not matter as you will be dead before you can tell a soul." She raised her hand. A strong wind howled from the north. It trapped Henry before he could react. The young boy fought against the wind's hold but to no avail. The Snow Queen smiled, amused by his struggles, and glided forward.
"You won't get away with this," Past Henry said with all the bravery of his lineage. "My family—"
"Will crumble with your loss," the Queen said. She stroked his face. Past Henry bit back a cry; ice crystals formed on his cheek where her fingers had touched. "By killing you, I defeat any who are powerful enough to stop me." Her fingers continued to trail ice down his neck and to his chest. "It really was foolish of you to come here." She flexed her fingers. Ice shot into his heart. "You made this far too easy."
The wind released him. Past Henry dropped to the ground. His hands clutched his chest; his heart painfully pumping ice through his veins. He tried to stand, but his body was going numb. Tears froze in his eyes, and the air in his lungs felt like daggers. He stared at the retreating form of the Snow Queen; his vision growing dim around the edges; and thought a thought that sparked a longing inside his heart that formed into a wish that was heard by the stars.
"I've seen enough," Henry said.
Evangeline nodded and took his hand. The silver light surrounded them. Before they returned to their consciousness, Henry took one last look at his dying past. The truth solidified in his heart.
He knew his True Wish.
AN: This What If was going to be the original ending to Choices, but the story has taken me in a different direction. The final chapter will be posted tomorrow. Stay tuned.
