Hey guys :) so obviously this doesn't exactly follow the exact timeline of OUaT, but I hope you guys don't hate it :( Regina, Emma, Snow and Price Charming are all together (probably not for long...) but yeah I hope you enjoy reading :)
His fingers bled on the dark purple fabric. His vision is beginning to swim in front of his eyes and his fingers have gone numb, causing his stitches to become clumsy and uneven. He can't remember how long he's been at this, trying desperately to make a hat that will get Ludovine to the Enchanted Forest. But like always, nothing works. The magic is simply gone.
Jefferson's fingers are trembling and it cause the needle to be plunged into his already bloody index finger. He inhales sharply and is forced to stop and yanks the needle out. He's so exhausted and his entire body aches, but he can't stop. He has to protect his family.
Fiona sits on the floor with Grace and Violet huddled into her side. She has her ear pressed to the wall and she can hear Jeffersons' rapid breaths and moans. He has been in his hat room for nearly three days, working vigorously, but she knows he has barely any strength left. She can hear every gasp and can practically feel his exhaustion. She looks up at Ludovine, who is pacing the floor of the living room. Each day she grows increasingly anxious, and it's beginning to show vividly on her face. She had hoped to have been in the Enchanted Forest by now, but obviously her plans are failing. Jefferson has no way to make a portal for her.
"Let me see him... Please." Fiona asks quietly. Ludovine snaps her head towards her and bars her teeth, like a wild animal.
"Not until he makes me a portal!" she yells in response.
"I told you he can't! At least not yet. He's exhausted. Please, let me see him just for a few minutes. I beg you." Fiona says. Ludovine kneels down and glares at the She-Bear with her pale, yellow-green eyes.
"For five minutes only," Ludovine hisses and grabs Fiona by the shoulder and yanks her up. The children squeal, but Fiona hushes them before she's shoved into the hat room. The sight that greets her is terrifying. Jefferson's skin has turned into a pale, waxy color and the bags under his eyes are purple. There are long, fresh cuts on his cheeks from Ludovine's nails. It happened yesterday, when she had grown so angry that he hadn't made a portal and had used her long nails to her advantage. Fiona runs to him and grabs his hands, forcing him to stop sewing. He looks at her with his tired, bloodshot eyes and tries to argue.
"No, I have to finish-"
"Stop, love. Just stop." She whispers. He can only nod before he slumps off the stool and crashes on to the floor. Fiona has her arms wrapped around his shoulders, and cradles his head against her chest.
"I can't do this," he whispers.
"I know." she responds. She leans down and kisses his lips, but he's too weak to do much besides touch her face with his bleeding hand.
"I think I can get us out of this," she tells him.
"How?" he asks. His eyes are beginning to slide shut and she just holds him close before whispering her answer.
"Because I have magic."
When Ludovine pounds on the door, screaming that time's up, Fiona leaves Jefferson sleeping on the ground. She opens the door but quickly closes it once she's out, so the evil blonde can't see the exhausted man on the floor.
"I need to talk to you," Fiona whispers. Ludovine glares at her, but eventually nods so Fiona continues. "He won't be able to make you a portal."
A look of pure anger sweeps across Ludovine's face. "Then I'll need to kill you all because if Regina finds out I'm here than I'm dead. She hates me. You better say goodbye to your kids, Fiona-"
"No, wait!" Fiona screams and grabs her arm. "I have a solution. I can get you to the Enchanted Forest. But only on one condition, you let my family go. I can have you at the Enchanted Forest before anyone would have time to come back here and find you. But if you kill us all, than I guarantee you someone will find you and bring you to Regina."
Ludovine is quivering with anger but she knows she'll have to trust the girl. "Fine," she spits. Fiona rushes forwards and embraces her girls. Before Ludovine grabs her, Fiona whispers in Grace's ear.
"Find Snow White and Prince Charming. They'll know what to do. I love you."
Fiona is yanked away from children and Grace cries out and tries to grab her hand. Fiona smiles at her, trying to show that everything is okay. Ludovine has gone into the hat room and has kicked Jefferson to wake him up. He groans and rolls over on his hands and knees.
"You're not needed anymore, darling." Ludovine snarls and grabs him by the collar and pulls him to his feet. She begins shoving him towards the door. He tries to speak but can only turn around and see Fiona standing against the wall. She mouths "I love you" before Ludovine throws him out the door, with Violet and Grace behind him.
He tries to open the door, but Grace grabs his hand and leans forwards to whisper in his ear. "Mommy told me what to do."
Fiona breathes in and out slowly as the blonde princess begins circling her like a predator. Her hair is tousled and she looks dangerous.
"Now bring me to the Enchanted Forest." she hisses.
Fiona doesn't answer, but simply looks at the ground. Ludovine walks up to her. "Didn't you hear me?" she snaps. Fiona, again, doesn't answer. Ludovine slaps her across the face and Fiona tumbles to the ground.
"Bring me to the forest!" Ludovine screams. Fiona curls up in a ball and still doesn't answer her. Ludovine kicks her so she rolls on her back. Ludovine drops to her knees and sits on Fiona's chest, her hands pinning down the girls shoulders.
"Answer me!" she screams at the She-Bear. Fiona only tightens her lips. Ludovine snarls and brings her nails down over Fiona's right eye. The girl screams at the sudden pain on her face. Ludovine is quivering, but there is one thing she doesn't know about Fiona. Her magic. Fiona manages to arch her back and then snap forwards, so her head comes in contact with the blonde's nose. She hears a crunch and Ludovine cries out and staggers back. Fiona slips out from under her and runs towards a bookshelf, where her wood lies. She hasn't needed it in a while, but she's glad she put it somewhere close. Ludovine is running towards her, but it's too late. The wood is in Fiona's teeth, and soon she has turned into the black bear. The blonde woman's mouth pops open in surprise as she stumbles backwards. The bear growls at her and uses its large front paw to slice the woman's chest. Ludovine screams out and falls to the floor.
However, there's something else Fiona doesn't know... That Ludovine can change into a serpent. And she chooses that moment to do that. Her body quivers and then she shrinks into a long, shiny green snake. She hisses at the bear and the venom seeps from her fangs. The bear tries it's best to avoid the snakes fangs, but it's simply too quick and it manages to latch on to Fiona's right paw and sinks it's teeth deep into the skin. The bear roars, and the wood slips from her mouth which changes her back into human form. The snake is still attached to her right leg and Fiona screams again.
However, there is suddenly a loud bang and the front door swing open. Jefferson runs in, with Snow White, Prince Charming, a blonde woman and the Evil Queen herself behind him. The snake releases Fiona's leg and turns around, fear suddenly obvious in its eyes. The Evil Queen grins at the snake, but doesn't offer any words before conjuring a fire-ball and sending it towards the serpent. The snake is consumed with flames within moments.
Fiona is gasping on the floor, the magic tainted venom from the serpent making it's way quickly through her body. It's like nothing she's ever experienced before. Her vision is beginning to go dark and she can feel her limbs shaking and spasming. Jefferson is beside her, but his words are coming out like a jumbled mess to her.
The Mad Hatter looks up at Regina, a look of pure desperation in his eyes.
"Help her please!" he screams. Prince Charming, Snow and the blonde woman- Emma- is on the other side of Fiona, trying to grab her shaking limbs. The Queen tries to think of something, anything, to help the girl but her thoughts are cut short as she hears a scream from Snow White. Fiona has begun to foam at her mouth... And soon she can't breathe.