Hello my fellow Oncers!
Last night's episode about the Black Fairy was damn good. I knew all along she loved Rumple and I'm mad at Blue right now. Enjoy the new chapter.
Zila's POV
Not long after Ursula and Cruella entered town did I fall ill with a cold. Normally I didn't get sick but when I did it sucked out loud. I spent three days with a fever and a constant runny nose. At night I had to breathe through my mouth since my nose was stuffed. While I was in bed Ursula and Cruella managed to resurrect Maleficent. I don't know how that was possible since Emma and I had killed her but as long as the Queens of Darkness didn't get near my family I didn't care what they did.
"How are you feeling dearie?" Rumple asked as he felt my forehead.
"A lot better these past three days have been a bitch" I told my mate.
Rumple chuckled before removing his hand away from my forehead.
"Your fever is gone but I would recommend taking one last day off just to be safe" Rumple instructed.
"I'm not staying in the house again or I'll go crazy" I growled.
"As you wish" Rumple chuckled as I sat myself up.
Rumple conjured a potion that I had been taking to get rid of my cold. I took the vial and downed the contents before I shooed my mate of our bedroom. I took a quick shower before pulling on some clothes and headed downstairs. My husband made pancakes which was one of my favorite things to eat for breakfast. I ate them greedily and when Rumple suggested I slow down I gave my husband a death glare. Rumple only smirked and I shot him the bird before I continued to eat.
"Just one thing before we go dearie" Rumple said as he took my plate away from me after I finished eating. Rumple then used his magic and my body was engulfed in crimson smoke. A second later the smoke disappeared and I was wearing a blood red t-shirt with black jeans and boots. I had on my black leather jacket and my hair was in a braid.
"Sorry dearie but black looks better on you" Rumple teased.
"Of course it does" I agreed as I walked over to my husband.
I gave my mate a thank you kiss against his lips. We made the kiss quick because Rumple wanted to get to the shop to start the day.
Athena's POV
So far things have been going well. After entering Storybrooke I found the cabin I owned and used that as a meeting place. Ursula and Cruella were successful in getting Maleficent to rise once more and now I was ready for the next phase of finding the author.
"How long has it been Athena?" Maleficent asked.
She was dressed in all blue which I think suited her well.
"Thirty years I suppose" I told Maleficent. "I had no idea you were even pregnant before the curse was casted"
The reason Maleficent was able to be brought back to life was thanks to Snow and Charming. Long ago when Ursula, Maleficent, and Cruella crossed paths with them, Maleficent was the one who had discovered Snow was carrying a child like she was at the time. However Emma had a risk of becoming evil and instead Snow and Charming stole Maleficent's egg which contained her offspring inside. The darkness was switched from the unborn Emma Swan to the child within the egg. But in the end a portal opened and as the egg started to hatch it went through the portal along with Cruella and Ursula. All three ended up in a land without magic and since Snow and David did such a horrible thing their blood was used to bring back the dragoness.
"And you will keep your word that after we find this author you will show me if my child is alive or not?" Maleficent asked.
"Yes I was a mother myself and I recently lost my daughter so I feel your pain" I reassured the dragoness.
The door to the cabin opened and in came Ursula and Cruella.
"Gods this town is starting to annoy me" Cruella growled as she slammed the door. "Damn heroes all over the place"
"Tell me about it" Ursula agreed. "Any updates Athena?"
"We should probably tell her about Regina" Maleficent interrupted. That got my attention all right and I turned to the sorceress.
"Last night Regina came to us and said she wanted to join in"
"But you don't trust her" I suggested.
"We don't but Mal does" Cruella answered.
I swore under my breath. It was Regina after all who had been searching for the author to begin with. I thought to myself for a second before looking to Maleficent.
"Take Regina with you to retrieve Geppetto's son"
"What does Pinocchio have to do with our search for the author?" Ursula asked.
"You ladies shall see" I replied to them with a smirk.
Maleficent nodded before she asked.
"What about your dagger?"
"Oh I already have a plan for that" I answered the dragoness with an evil smirk.
Rumple's POV
After I opened the shop with Zila things were fine until my wife started to feel a little tired. I made her go take a nap on the cot in the back while I continued to work.
"What's going on with Zila?" Salem asked from the chair he was laying in.
"She's just feeling under the weather" I told the black cat.
"She normally doesn't get sick"
I chuckled at my friend's comment because it was true. The door to the shop opened and Belle came in.
"Good morning Belle what can I do for you?" I asked my sister in-law.
"I was wondering if you are aware what those three witches are up to"
She was referring to Maleficent, Ursula, and Cruella.
"I'm afraid I don't but I think that's not the reason why you're here"
"I'm actually here about Athena's dagger" Belle answered.
I froze when my sister's name was mentioned. Even after six weeks I was still having trouble accepting the fact I was the one who banished her in the first place and now Belle had my attention.
"Go on" I encouraged.
"Well now that Athena is no longer an issue but her dagger is still here"
"What you think they'll come after it?" I inquired.
"They want to find the author or they could have possible lured her back here into Storybrooke"
Damn she had a point.
If anyone of those witches got a hold on Athena's dagger they could control her or worse kill her and take the power of the female Dark One for themselves.
"You betrayed them once Rumple and if they find your sister's dagger it would mean more suffering for Athena"
"And if I were to find it what would I do with it then?" I asked.
"You can trust me I know many good places to keep it hidden"
I was quiet for a second before I nodded.
"Alright dearie you have yourself a deal"
Zila's POV
I ended up sleeping for two hours and I gave Rumple a long lecture for not waking me up. To make up for it my beloved gave me money to go to Granny's to calm my nerves.
"Hey Zila I was wondering when you would be back on your feet" Granny teased as I entered the diner.
"Sorry but I wasn't feeling well" I replied to the former werewolf before I gave her my order and I took a seat at the table by the window.
"Zila good to see you"
My eyes went wide when Maleficent walked over to me.
"I'm not in the mood for any funny business Maleficent so don't push me around" I growled to the dragon shape shifter.
"I'm only here to say hello" Maleficent said. "And I also wanted to say when that dragon appeared to save your life I was impressed to learn it was Smaug"
"How did you find out I was his rider?" I asked her as Granny brought over my food.
"I've crossed paths with him several times while I was in dragon form" the shape shifter explained. "He made it pretty clear that he wouldn't hesitate to kill me if I threatened your life again"
"And he's right"
I noticed Cruella and Ursula weren't in the diner and that got my interest.
"Where are your friends I thought they would be with you?"
"Oh their resting" Maleficent answered.
"Hmm" was all I could say.
"I'll leave you to your meal then but I will give you my word that I don't plan on threatening your life again"
I listened to the way her heart beat within her chest and she was telling the truth. The dragoness then left me alone to finish my lunch in peace. After I paid the tab I noticed the whole Charming family hurrying over to the library along with Hook and that got my interest all right. I left the diner and shouted.
"Oi! What the hell are you all going in such a hurry?" I teased the Charmings.
"Zila you're better" Snow greeted me.
"Yeah but I was in bed for almost four days something's up what's going on?" I demanded.
"Inside" Emma said nodding towards the library so I followed them inside. I made the door shut behind them and I put my hands across my chest.
"Alright spill what's going on?" I demanded.
"We think Cruella, Ursula, and Maleficent are up to something so we sent Regina to go undercover" Emma explained.
"Excuse me?" I asked in shock.
"I said we needed to meet covertly now I see you brought the entire Charming softball team with the pirate mascot and Rumple's wife" Regina snapped walking over to us in annoyance.
"We were worried about you" Snow said to her step-mother.
"Well worry quickly" Regina said. "I can't be seen with all of you"
"Regina listen to me this a bad idea" Emma said to the former queen. "This woman this dragon she's dangerous and you don't know the first thing about going undercover"
"I'm a quick study" Regina answered. "And Maleficent already told me why they're here apparently they're after the author too"
"Son of a bitch" I growled. "That's not good"
"No Zila it's not" Regina agreed. "I simply want him to change my fate"
"What do they want?" Emma asked.
"They want to shoot the entire balance so that villains win and heroes lose"
"That's f**ked up" I growled.
"Zila language" Snow scolded.
"It's no use love that's part of who she is" Hook defended. "No offense Zila"
"You're right" I told the pirate.
"The only way to get their happy ending is to destroy yours" Regina explained.
"Do you think they can find the author?" Emma inquired.
"They have a lead we don't" Regina replied. "And tonight they want me to help them steal it whatever it is"
"I'm telling you these things never end well" Emma stated in a serious tone.
"I understand your concern but I'm in"
"Okay well I'm in too"
"So am I" I agreed.
"What?" Regina demanded shocked she just heard us say that.
"I'm going to stick by you and have your back through this"
"No it's too dangerous" Regina argued.
"I said I was part of Operation Mongoose I'm a part of it you wanted my help now you're gonna get it no matter what it means for us" Emma said. "Whatever their planning tonight I'll be there"
"We'll be there" I corrected Emma. "I just love spying on the bad guys"
Athena's POV
I patiently waited for Rumple to appear. Choosing Belle as my disguise was a smart move. I knew my brother trusted the book lover and he would trusted her enough to hand over my dagger. It was raining and I shivered just as Rumple's car pulled up.
"Sorry I kept you waiting dearie" my brother said as he walked over to me.
"It's fine how is Zila? I heard she got sick"
"She's better now thankfully her temper was pretty foul while she sick" Rumple joked before he used his magic to make a hole in the dirt. Something wrapped in a cloth came into view and Rumple stopped using his magic and he bent down to pick the cloth up. He unwrapped it and my dagger emerged.
"Thank goodness it's safe" Rumple said glad to see the dagger hadn't been disturbed. "Do you know where you're to hide it?"
"The less you know about it the better" I said to my brother.
"You have my thanks Belle the idea of my sister returning after, after everything that has happened I don't know what I would do"
"At least you don't have to worry about that now" I reassured her.
Rumple was about to hand over the dagger when he hesitated.
"What is it?" I asked him.
"I just had this terrible feeling what if she's already here"
"There is one way to find out" I suggested. "Use her dagger to summon her"
Rumple hesitated before he held my dagger and called out.
"Dark One if you're here come and face me, now"
I held back a smirk because I was already in front of him. A few minutes passed before Rumple brought the dagger down and he finally handed it over to me.
"I guess I was wrong" my brother said. "Good night Belle"
"Good night Rumple" I replied to him as he turned around to head back to his car. I watched as his car backed up and drove away out of sight before I smirked. Crimson smoke surrounded me as I returned to my normal self.
"Good to see you again old friend" I greeted my dagger. "How I missed you"
Regina's POV
Maleficent opened the door to the strange cabin I wasn't familiar with. Once I recognized Athena's belongings and I knew this cabin once belonged to her.
"Athena's cabin?" I asked turning to Maleficent. "What are we doing here?"
"We needed someplace to hide away our headdresses and hide our kidnapped puppet and this little hovel became available to us"
For a second I had no idea what she was talking about and then it hit me.
"No" I began. "Your dark magic it's not a spell or an object it's"
"That's right" Athena's voice called out and I turned to see the female Dark One approach me with her dagger in her grasp. "You didn't really think I wouldn't stay banished for long now did you?"
I remained silent for a second before I smiled darkly.
"My apologies I'm just shocked to see that you managed to get back here"
The door to the cabin opened and Cruella and Ursula came in carrying an unconscious Pinocchio. August was returned to a real human child awhile back. Cruella placed Pinocchio in a chair and Athena looked to him.
"And with the help of the real boy that you've acquired we can take our first steps to find the author"
"And what exactly do you plan on doing to him?" I asked her.
"Nothing that won't hurt him too much" Athena reassured me. I faked an evil smirked and got out of her way so she could do what she needed to. She walked past me with a pleased smile on her face and she came to a stop in front of Pinocchio. She held her dagger up and waved it up and down activating her magic. Pinocchio glowed white and when the light faded August W. Booth appeared.
"Welcome back August" Athena greeted.
August opened his eyes when he heard Athena's voice.
"Now shall we begin?" Athena inquired her smirk widening even more.