Here's the latest chapter. Enjoy, everybody! Oh, and one other thing before I forget. For those of you who are wondering who it is I have playing the role of Nicholas...well, I have absolutely no idea. I can't seem to find anyone that I think has the best resemblance to how I'm picturing him. I leave it up to you guys how you want to picture him. But if you guys want me to pick someone to play him, just tell me. Remember, he has chestnut brown hair and brown eyes. Picture his hair wiry yet long enough to part even though he doesn't.
Disclaimer: I do not own Once Upon a Time or its characters.
The following day of the wraith's attack, the entire town of Storybrooke was in a panic. Most of Main Street was destroyed and covered with debris; thankfully, Nicholas began repairs with his Alchemy as soon as the sun rose. At town hall, Red helped organize the panicking crowd as they searched for loved ones, supplies for their damaged homes, etc.
David, on the other hand, paid a visit to Regina in hopes that she would be able to repair the hat. Of course, it goes without saying that Regina proved to be a dead end so he returned to town hall where he was bombarded with questions.
Lucky for him, Nicholas and the dwarves broke the commotion; unfortunately, they didn't have good news. "Terrible news! Terrible news!" Leroy cried as they ran over hauling a confused looking Sneezy.
"I found I them running through town like this from the town line." Nicholas said to David in a panic.
"We were out testing to see if it was possible to leave town." Leroy explained, "Tell them who you think you are, Sneezy!"
"Will you stop calling me that?" he asked dryly, "You know who I am. I'm Tom Clark. I own the Dark Star Pharmacy. What's going on here?"
"If you cross the border, you lose your memory all over again." Nicholas explained.
"And coming back doesn't fix it?" Archie asked.
"If it did, would I have come running in yelling 'terrible news'?!" Leroy bellowed, "If we leave, our cursed selves become our only selves."
"…Well, we're boned." Nicholas bluntly said breaking the silence. As soon as he said this, everyone erupted in another uproar and surrounded the prince.
"People!" he cried trying to calm them, "Everybody! Everybody, meet back here in two hours. I'll tell you my plan to fix everything."
As he walked away, Red, Nicholas and Henry followed him. "What's the plan?" Red asked.
"I don't know, but I got two hours to figure it out." David replied.
OUaT
In the gardens of the palace that would soon be his sister's, Flamel enjoyed the cool breeze as he smoked his pipe. But it didn't last as he saw Regina storm out of the castle nearly in tears.
"Regina," he called as she went past him, "Hey, what's wrong?"
"It's Mother, Nicholas." Regina replied, "You don't know what she's doing to me. It's like she's turning me into her. I have to get away."
"Away?" he asked, "Regina, the wedding's tomorrow. Mother won't let you out of her sight."
"I don't care. I don't want to marry the king, I told you that." his sister said as her voice broke.
"I know, but there's nothing Mother won't do to prevent anything from ruining this wedding. Even if you try to talk to her all she'll do is write it off as cold feet." Flamel reminded.
"This is not cold feet, Nicholas. This-this is-this is insanity!" Regina cried, "I'm angry all the time. She's making me crazy."
"To her, it's her giving you everything she never got for herself." Flamel reasoned.
"I don't want her life." she said crying, "I want a life of my own. How did she get like this?"
"Father once told me that story. There was a man. Someone Mother knew before they met. He was the one who taught her magic and gave her that spell book of hers. He was the one who made her what she is."
"Who was he?" Regina asked.
"He was the one who brought me home after beating him in deal we made." he replied.
"What is his name?"
"Regina," Flamel pleaded.
"What was his name?" she asked again.
"I cannot tell you. He's dangerous." Flamel warned, "Anything involving him comes at a price."
"And yet your deal with him went well." Regina retorted.
"That's because I made the deal before he could. Not to mention, he underestimated me and I was able to exploit that."
"But his book would say." Regina deduced. Seeing that his sister made up her mind, Flamel sighed in defeat.
OUaT
In Storybrooke, David and Nicholas barged into Gold's shop with the tattered hat in their possession. "Looks like I was throwing my money away when I bought that closed sign." Gold remarked with distaste.
"Looks like it." Nicholas retorted.
"Sorry to hear about your wife and daughter, Mr. Nolan. If you're looking for retrieval, I'm afraid portal-jumping is just outside my purview."
"Of course it is." nodded David.
"So what's all the commotion outside?" Gold asked.
"A little stir at the border." Nicholas informed, "A problem crossing the line."
"Do tell." Gold commented looking intrigued.
"Actually, I'm here to buy something-a way to find someone." David informed.
"What, like a map?"
"Something with a bit more kick, like the ring you gave me to find Snow."
"Oh, yeah. Magic. Whom are you following?"
"Not telling."
"So do you have something of theirs, this missing person?" Gold asked.
"Yes."
"May I see it?"
"No." they replied causing Gold to chuckle. He then pulled out a small vial filled with a locator potion.
"Pour this on the object and then follow it. So simple, even David Nolan and Nicholas Mills could do it."
"What do you want for it?" David asked.
"Peace." Gold replied, "Leave me alone."
"And what do you care what David Nolan and Nicholas Mills do?" Nicholas scoffed.
"No. No." Gold denied, "It's Charming and Flamel I worry about. I'd like a little…non-interference guarantee. From both of you."
"Fine. If you give us the same." David bargained, "We stay out of each other's ways."
"Thank you for your business." Gold thanked as he handed Nicholas the potion.
"One last thing before we go." he interjected, "I caught a whiff of Regina's perfume when I walked in. What did she come by for?"
"Let's just say your sister stopped by looking for some reading material, and leave it at that, Mr. Flamel." Gold replied causing Nicholas to groan in aggravation.
"Oh, great." he grumbled as they turned to leave.
"So, uh," Gold said as they headed towards the door, "What happens when you try and cross the border?"
"You lose your memory of everything of our old lives." Nicholas informed, "Looks like we're stuck here."
"So what did Gold mean by Regina looking for reading material?" David asked as they walked through the streets.
"Sigh, it means my sister has gotten desperate." Nicholas replied as he poured the potion over the hat and followed. Fortunately, Jefferson was just around the corner stuck in his flip car covered with debris.
"You okay?" Nicholas asked as he helped him out.
"Yeah, thanks." Jefferson nodded.
"Good, now we can talk." David informed.
"I don't have anything to say in front of him." Jefferson sneered at Nicholas.
"Fine." he said curtly, "You handle him. I'll head over to the meeting and give Red a hand."
As soon as Nicholas made it to his destination, he found his sister drunk on her newly regained powers with a fire blazing behind her and a terrified crowd in front. "What do you want?" Red asked.
"Me." Henry said from the crowd, "She wants me. I'll come with you."
"That's my boy." Regina smiled. Suddenly, Henry slid back over to Red causing everyone to gasp. Some of them quickly realized that it was Nicholas who did this and cleared the way for him.
"You will do no such thing, young man." Nicholas said as he stared down his sibling, "Enough is enough. Stand down, Regina."
"I don't recall asking for your input, little brother." Regina said as she tossed a fire ball at him. Nicholas didn't even batt and eyelash as he made a small wall from the floor block the attack.
"Folks, you may want to clear the room. The Mills siblings are about to have a little spat and you don't to find yourselves in the crossfire." Nicholas warned, only Red and Henry stayed behind.
"I think it's time I remind you who's the big sibling around here." Regina snarled as he hands filled with fire. Nicholas used his alchemy to make a lance from the marble floor; with an impressive twirl showing his skills, he said three words that sent chills down Red's spine.
"Bring it on."
"Stop it! Both of you!" Henry cried before the fighting began, "Uncle, I'm going with her."
"But, Henry-"
"She's not going to stop unless I go with her." he reasoned. He then went to his mother's side and let her wrap an arm around him.
"See at dinner tonight, brother dear." Regina wickedly smirked as she poofed them away.
"Sigh…She's just like our mother." Nicholas sighed.
"We need to find David." Red said. The two of them ran out of the building and found David chasing after Jefferson. "David, Regina has Henry." Red informed.
"But he has the way!" he stressed as they tried to stop him.
"She has Henry and she's threatening everyone." Red warned.
"She has Henry?" David asked calming down.
"That's what she's been saying." Nicholas replied, "She showed up at the town meeting-which you missed. Not to mention her magic's back. Everyone is in a panic. They want to leave town. They're going to lose everything. Am I getting through to you yet?"
"Okay. Okay, but I have to go after him first." David relented, "He's my only hope of finding a way to get Emma and Snow back."
"Back to what?" Red asked, "This town is about to come apart. You gotta do something."
OUaT
In the king's castle, Cora and Flamel walked into Regina's new room and saw her in her beautiful wedding dress. "Oh, Regina," Flamel said with a sad smile, "You look amazing."
"What's this?" Cora asked as she looked at a tall gift.
"I don't know. A gift." Regina replied, though she was clearly lying.
"Maybe it's a portrait." Cora guessed as she took off the wrapping. Turns out the gift was a tall looking glass. "Oh, a looking glass. Not nearly as personal. I wonder sometimes if the people really love you."
"I'm doing my best, Mother." Regina said sadly.
"Oh, honey, I'm sorry." Cora apologized sincerely, "Come here. Nicholas, you too." she said as all three of them stood before the mirror. "Look at the two of you, with your whole lives ahead of you, and it's going to be better than you can imagine."
"What is she getting at?" Nicholas asked in his mind.
"The king's not a strong man. The kingdom will be yours." Cora explained to Regina, "Raise the tributes, form a personal guard, let everyone know where the new power lies, and you'll hold the hearts of your people in your hands."
"Is that what you would do, Mother?" Regina asked.
"That's exactly what I would do, yes." Cora chuckled.
"Well, the thing is I don't want to be you." Regina said before attempting to push Cora through the mirror; only Cora anticipated this and froze Regina in her tracks.
"What are you doing?" Cora asked, "You think it's that easy to get rid of me? Your stuck with me forever, darling, because I'm your mother, and I know best."
As she said this, Rumplestiltskin appeared in the mirror and made a pushing gesture behind Cora. In a burst of will and anger, Regina cried out as she pushed Cora into the mirror. Cora held on to the frame as it tried to pull her in; Flamel looked absolutely shocked at what he was seeing.
"Nicholas," Cora begged while holding on, "Sweetheart, help me."
"Nicholas, don't." Regina pleaded, "She's ruined my life. Don't let her do it anymore."
"B-b-but…" Flamel stuttered.
"Nicholas, please." Cora begged, "The two of you need me. I'm your mother."
"Don't listen to her!" Regina shrieked.
Flamel looked back and forth between his mother and sister; he didn't know what to do. He had had enough of listening to the voices in his head before, now that they were gone, he didn't want to hear anymore pointless squabble. On one hand, he wanted to help his mother. Despite her methods in parenting, he still loved her and didn't want to go through years and years without her in his life again.
On the other hand, he knew what she had done to his sister whom he loved dearly and knew if she stayed, Regina could possibly become worse than he already feared. He knew what he had to do.
"I'm sorry." he muttered as he looked to the one he would have to betray, "I love you, Mother." he said as his alchemy created a column from the floor which pushed Cora through the frame. As soon as she was through, the mirror shattered. Flamel didn't want to stay a minute longer. He used his alchemy to liquefy the floor beneath him, and fell through it to the floor below.
OUaT
Along the road which led to the town line, cars belonging to the town's residents piled up as they tried to leave. "Oh, no." Red muttered as she, David and Nicholas rode alongside them.
"They're nearly to the town line." David realized.
"I'm on it." Nicholas calmly reassured. He then opened the car door, leaned out as they continued to drive, grazed his fingertips against the road and used his alchemy to erupt a wall right on the border surrounding the town. "Problem solved." he said evenly.
"He's so hot~!" Red squealed in her head. David then steered the car in front of the lead car, everyone in their cars came out and shouted in protest.
"Get out of the way!" Archie shouted, "We have a right to go!"
"Listen to me!" David shouted, "Listen! If you cross that line, you're gonna be lost. Everyone who loves you will lose you. But there's something worse. You'll lose yourself. Look, I get wanting to leave here. I do. And I get that it's easier to let go of bad memories, but even bad memories are part of us. David, Storybrooke David was-is…weak…confused…and he hurt the woman I love. I wouldn't give up being Charming just to be him. But you know what? I wouldn't make the other trade either, because that David reminds me not only of whom I lost…but of who I want to be, my strengths and my weakness. David and the Prince. I am both…just like you. You are both. The town is both. We are both.
"Stay here, and every choice is open to you. Live in the woods if you want. Hell, live in a shoe if you want. Or eat frozen burritos and write software. Let's open Granny's and the school and get back to work. I will protect you. She won't be able to hurt any of us, not as long as I'm alive. Not as long as we all come together…as we did before…as we shall do again."
It took a moment for David's words to sink in, but they seemed to do the trick. Everyone looked at him with gratitude and awe as they returned to their cars to drive back to town. "Nicely done." Nicholas praised.
"So what now?" Red asked.
"Now, I go and fetch my grandson." David replied. As Nicholas followed David with his sword in hand up to his house, he tried to reason with him.
"Okay, just let me do all the talking. The last thing Henry needs to see is his family pit against each other twice in one day." he said though David ignored him, "I know my sister and she-don't kick the-"
But David just kicked the door in and charged in blindly. "I want to see him." he demanded Regina.
"Don't kick the door in." Nicholas finished with a sigh.
"Henry, come down." Regina willingly called, "You won't be using your sword."
"Whatever you conjure, I can fight." David countered.
"She means, you won't need your sword." Nicholas corrected as his sister gently lowered it. As Henry came down the stairs, Regina went up to talk to him.
"Henry, you're gonna go with David and Uncle Nicholas." she informed gently.
"Really?" Henry asked.
"Really." Regina nodded, "I shouldn't have brought you here. I was…I don't know how to love very well. I wasn't capable of it for a very long time. But I know, I remember…that if you hold on to someone too hard, that doesn't make them love you. I'm sorry I lied to you, that I made you feel like I didn't know who you are. But I want you to be here because you want to be here, not because I forced you…and not because of magic. I want to redeem myself. Go get your things."
"Then prove it." David said as Henry went up-stairs.
"How?" she asked.
"Answer one question. Does it exist?"
"What?"
"The Enchanted Forest, our land-does it still exist?" Nicholas flatly asked.
"Yes." Regina replied, "But I have no idea how to get back there."
"Therein lies the issue, then." Nicholas sighed.
"Just make sure you take care of my son." Regina pleaded.
"Easy enough." Nicholas smirked, "I've been helping you do that for the past ten years."
Later that day, Henry and David went over to Granny's for dinner while Regina stored away her mother's spell book. As she did, she could hear the sound of a knife hitting a chopping board from her kitchen. She walked in and saw her brother wearing his apron as he was cooking.
"I know you invited me for dinner and all, but let's be honest, I've always been the better cook in the family." he said while keeping his eyes on the knife.
"What?" Regina asked.
"Wash up, I've made my special linguine and clam sauce dish. Oh, and I got a great deal on kale at the store today, so pick out the salad dressing you want from the fridge." he said with a warm and quick smile.
"I don't understand. What are you doing?"
"Making dinner." he replied showing the knife as though it were obvious, "I'm hungry, I haven't eaten all day and food tastes better when you eat it with others. Besides, sister dear. You can get pretty mopey when you're upset and I'm not just gonna let you bottle up your feelings until you break something in my house again."
"Oh, your house?" Regina asked playfully.
"Yes, my house." Nicholas chuckled.
"Funny, I seem to recall that I was the one who paid all the bills and the mortgage on this place." Regina quipped.
"Not my fault you didn't curse me with a job." Nicholas muttered as they both laughed.
Now despite the fact that his sister could easily get on his nerves and gave him reasons why he wanted to strangle her almost daily, Nicholas still loved his sister and didn't want her to face what lied ahead alone.
That's just what family does.
OUaT
As Mulan and Aurora dragged Emma, Snow and Nicholas (now fully clothed after an awkward incident when he woke up) Snow finally decided to speak to them. "What is this place?"
"Our home." Mulan replied curtly as they entered the little settlement.
"It's like they're refugees." Emma commented.
"We're survivors." Mulan snapped. Snow then kneed Aurora as Nicholas cut their bonds with his claws.
"Emma, run!" Snow cried. But as they made their escape, Mulan something at Snow which sent her to the ground.
"Mary Margaret!" Emma cried as she fell to her unconscious mother's side, "What did you do?!"
"Take them to the pit." Mulan ordered.
"Like hell!" Nicholas shouted as he attacked their captors. One of the men then threw his ax at Nicholas and struck him in the head.
"Nicholas!" Emma shrieked. He stumbled a couple of steps before he yanked the ax out and healed his wound, much to everyone's shock/horror.
"I'd rather die than be bound by someone as their prisoner." he snarled, "And since I'm immortal, that ain't happening anytime soon. I am the Immortal Alchemist, Nicholas Flame-"
His speech was cut short by a sleep dart piercing his neck which sent him to the ground in a heap. Shortly after that, they were all dragged into an underground prison cell.
"Hey," Emma said as she shook her fellow captives, "Can you guys hear me?"
"Do you need help?" a woman asked from the cave's shadows.
"Who are you?" Emma asked.
"A friend." she said as she revealed her face, "My name's Cora. And that man you're trying to wake up is my son."