Q and A time. I have been asked a few questions that I can answer without giving away too much.
Yes, this has as always been the course of this story. Proof of that is in the title. After it was leaked online that the Oz books would be the platform for the next season, I realized Aladdin was a fairytale they deconstructed to use parts of (the genie, then more genies and Jafar in OUATW which I plan to ignore...) but for the most part it didn't really exist. I found out right around the time Henry was kidnapped by Greg and Tamara. I've always felt bad for both Rumple and Regina too. Yes both are horrible people but not entirely of their own fault. They are shining examples of how bad choices, terrible role models and just life in general can turn decent or desperate people into evil pricks.
Yes, I rewrote Aladdin as follows: Jasmine is the magical daughter of a Vizier (royal advisor) not a princess; the Sultan is a wicked sorcerer named Destane she is forced to marry; the Sultan's son Mozenrath (the evil dude from the animated series) tried to kill him years before but failed and had to go into hiding; Destane dies accidentally tripping and hitting his head while attacking Jas; Jas and Moz marry after realizing they are soul mates.
No, I haven't thrown away everyone's favorite street rat. In fact, they've already been introduced...
No, Henry returning to his family isn't the ultimate endgame. Once that happens, things actually get worse.
So, here we go. Hook scares the crap out of someone, Jasmine visits a certain Hatter while the Blue Fairy speaks of her in a rather unflattering manner and questions begin to rise about the Arabian Queen. Shinedown once again leads the way with What a Shame.
*OUATE*
Blue, why did you do that? The Sultana and Sultan of Agrabah were powerful enough to seal off the entire desertlands." Granny huffed. Grumpy had to move his hand to avoid his hot soup being slammed down on it.
"Granny you must understand, she is not as she appears. She married Destane, the worst dark magician of all time and served him as his apprentice earning her the title Scourge of the Desert. Her current husband is the son of Destane. Mozenrath once attempted to usurp the throne but failed and took up residence in a wicked placed called the Citadel. There he learned the secrets of necromancy and other forbidden magics and became known as the Prince of the Black Sands. It was the two of them that caused the fall of Destane and started their reign over ALL the Kingdoms of the Sands. That is why they forbid outsiders. Ignored our plight when they could have aided us. Both their hearts are far blacker than even The Queen." The Fairy sighed, sitting in a booth with Archie who had moved to keep from falling off his stool in shock.
"There was a heart in that box." Ruby tucked her order pad in her apron. Coming up next to her grandmother, she continued. "Even under all that perfume, it didn't smell like it belonged to her but the scent is vaguely familiar."
"Here we go..." Grumpy groused.
"She was in the cemetery...not far from Regina's vault" The elderly werewolf removed her glasses. "My senses are duller than I thought to be fooled by a scent."
"Regina sealed her vault, to keep anyone out after what happened to Cora. In order to access it Jasmine had to shatter wards created by the Queen herself. I knew she was strong but this...wait you said familiar, as in someone you've met? Recently?" Blue asked suddenly.
"Yeah, someone I've seen in town but never payed attention to."
"After Graham, no one Regina took a heart from was still alive. It's something she confessed in a session. Well, technically after time was up-" Archie blanched and tried to legitimize breaking the doctor patient privilege in a slip up.
"Yeah, yeah justify the legal crap to yourself later bug. What are you talking about?" Leon demanded.
"Well, when the curse broke, she came to me for advice. She wanted to start over, be a mother to Henry. It seemed she no longer had anyone she could control, the Huntsman was her only puppet whom she destroyed in a fit of rage. The hearts in her vault belonged to victims dead before the curse but she wasn't forthcoming on her plans for them. Just that if she locked away the vault, maybe she could move on." The doctor relented. "So one either she was lying, she didn't know or..."
"Jasmine was in the cemetery AFTER she took someone's heart."
Whether from Archie or Mother Superior, all three scenarios seemed rather alarming.
*OUATE*
"Who the fuck are you?" Jefferson snarled at the woman sitting at his workbench. He'd paused in making a new hat for Grace's doll to brew some tea. When he returned, there the exotic woman sat perched on the desk corner holding a wooden box.
"My, my. Do you kiss your daughter good night with that mouth?" Amber eyes danced with humor. "My name is Jasmine. And I have something of yours you probably had no clue was missing. It's the reason you were never able to create another magic hat." Opening the box, she revealed the pulsing organ within.
"What the hell?! I have a heart, she never took mine." His eyes narrowed. "The fact that I love my daughter proves that. What are you playing at?"
"Obsession can be confused with love but isn't quite the same. Over time it twists and warps into something dark. You've given her more than she ever asked for, she wants for nothing but you insist she have more. It's never enough for you and you don't know why. Something is driving you to act this way because you're still tortured by the same madness you had been from the start of you imprisonment in Wonderland. This is why."
Jefferson stood there trying to keep his shaking hand from dropping the cup of jasmine tea; how ironic. He'd told himself everything would get better now that Grace was with him again. It had to. But still, there had been reasons he stayed away from her after the curse broke. He knew deep down that nothing had changed for him.
But he wanted so badly to believe it had...
"So what do you get out of this? Good samaritans are few and far between in my experience."
"I get to see a dear friend react to the knowledge that she and everyone she has ever encountered were merely pawns in a bid for immortality. That partially thanks to her, the most vile evil to ever breathe is mere steps away from becoming a god. Rumplestiltskin thinks Pan is someone to fear; that boy reputation has nothing on my not so dearly and far from departed ex husband." She shrugged. "And we all might just live long enough to laugh about it someday."
Seconds later, she had shoved the heart back into it's rightful place. And the Mad Hatter collapsed like a puppet with cut strings.
*OUATE*
Meanwhile, Killian was fishing off the port side of the Jolly Roger. No net or pole required, his own hook would suffice.
It's probably worth mentioning that this naval vessel was submerged and traveling through the barrier between realms at the time. The swirling visual always reminded him of the activated Stargate. Well since he discovered the series it had. Before that it was like looking up at the sun from under rippling waters.
Yes, a ferry to the underworld got satellite reception. What did you think he did all day? Davey Jones had minions to do most of the grunt work of reaping souls...
Back to the issue, Hook was glaring at the all encompassing tunnel before he thrust his handicapped arm out and yanked like a mad man. What emerged first was a silver chain, followed soon by a startled redhead with fins. She made not a sound despite the clear shock as she was tossed on deck like a rag doll. The chain slowly receding back into her chest.
"Please tell me Ursula isn't that stupid." He sighed. The silence persisted. All that answered him was a pair of angry seafoam eyes and grinding teeth. "Oh. Right then." A dismissive hand wave caused her to gasp as her voice returned to a previously unused throat.
"How did you do that?! Mother told me only the witch who stole my voice could return it."
"Yes well she was wrong. Or she lied. Whichever. What the hell are you doing Ariel?!"
"Getting my revenge. Mother said the key to hurting The Queen was making sure she could never have her son. The key to that is in the realm without magic." She huffed.
"For crying out loud...and you were to do this how?"
"Retrieving Pandora"s box."
"You realize the only one who could access it probably wouldn't help you if she knew you intended to used it to the detriment of a small boy and by proxy her own lover yeah?"
"I'm not above using force should persuasion fail." She drew herself up as much as she could in a sitting position. "She deserves what she gets for siding with the wrong sort."
At first, all the pirate can do is gape at her, eye twitching. After a minute, he slowly drug a black leather glove across his face in frustration. Was Ursula that pissed about being impersonated one time that she would endanger centuries worth of preparation to keep reality from falling apart like a poorly stitched hem?!
"Do you hear yourself lass? You're willing to murder an innocent woman and trapt a child's mother in a fate worse than death over something so petty?" Hook glared at her, but his eyebrow shot into his hairline when he looked at her wrist. Specifically, the gold band around it.
"Petty my ASS! That woman stole any chance I ever had at a happy ending. And I know I'm not the only one she's done it to! She deserves to be the one to suffer for once!" The young mermaid screamed. She clutched her throat in pain after her outburst, the muscles hadn't worked in decades. Stressing them wasn't a good idea apparently.
"Take that off or I will cut it off." he growled,
"But-oh!" She gasped as his sword appeared in his good hand.
"Won't ask again girl."
In a panic, she unlatched the band and tossed it to him. He caught it with his hook, bringing it closer for inspection. Migraine quickly setting in as he read the words 'The Mighty Never Fall" in flowing text on the raised surface along with a spell to give a mermaid legs.
In a script many might mistake for Arabic...
"Bloody hell."
*OUATE*
Anybody notice a disconnect regarding Jasmine? Or get the references to the animated series? If not, don't worry. I will make it more clear as time progresses.
Yep, this chapter totally left out our trapped heroes and Henry. I realized this needed to be addressed first or one secret might not make much sense. Of Charming, Snow, Emma or Neal whose darkest secret ties into this new threat? Cookies to anyone who figures it out n_n
In the mean time, reviews are like hugs. Sirensoundwave out.