Chapter 14.
Right now, over at Madam Mim's house in the conservatory. We have Storybrooke's Madam Mim and young Melinda sat around two couches which has a small coffee table between the two. Melinda had to admit she was terrified when landed in Madam Mim's back garden confronted by a tiger. That happened to be Madam Mim in another form.
"I must again apologise for scaring you, back in my garden I don't often get much visitors." Madam Mim said. Melinda looks at her confused, an apology from Madam Mim is unheard of, her mother would never give an apology it wasn't in her nature.
"Well it's not every day you land in someone's back garden and find a tiger there," Melinda replies as she picks up a coffee mug.
"Remarkable, you hide your emotions pretty well for someone your age. I am impressed and slightly concerned at that." Madam Mim commented.
"Oh why, when you're good at hiding emotions it makes you unpredictable." Melinda snipped, how dare this woman criticise her ability to conceal most emotions.
"Dear girl, the longer you conceal your emotions from others sooner or later you conceal them from yourself and that's never good. Sensing people's emotions has always been one of my gifts but for some time I abused it something I will always have to acknowledge." Madam Mim says.
"Are you sure my mother because she is the complete opposite?" Melinda rhetorically asks.
"In what way?" Madam Mim asked.
"It doesn't matter, after this, I really need to go after my friends. Who knows what other damage we've caused I need to complete the ritual and reverse the damage." Melinda responds.
"You and your friends you're very close you depend on one another. And more to you it is you three against the world." Madam Mim says reading Melinda's emotions. Melinda then not responding positively to this reading gets up from the couch.
"Don't ever try and read me again, I stayed here because you assured me that you would make sure I could find my friends quickly." Melinda snapped as she walks over to the front door and when she opens it she is shocked to see Marcel, Hagon and Chad standing there with their parents' counterparts and Alexandra.
"Melinda!" Marcel and Hagon spoke in unison forgetting to ask to come in the two just enter and the three share a hug.
"Guys, I was so worried about you guys wondering and worrying about what your parents' counterparts would do to you," Melinda tells her friends.
"Back at you, Melinda. Right now we have a problem a dozen actually." Hagon replies.
"I can tell by traitor standing next to the Blond Trio," Melinda said as points over to Chad.
"I so don't feel like being thrown across the street again or thrown at a side of a car," Chad complained quietly.
"Actually my original thoughts were shapeshifting into a lion and devouring you. But that's a good second option." Melinda snipped.
"Alright, we will have no violent acts of magic here." Madam Mim intervened.
"Is someone having a party?" A voice none of the children but Alexandra and the adults recognised spoke up.
"Gold, what a pleasant surprise please come in." Madam Mim welcomes Rumplestiltskin in with open arms.
"I wish I could say this isn't a business call. I'm looking for Melinda which I presume I have now found." Rumplestiltskin responds. The Ultimate Three look at each other for a moment.
"I warn you Gold if you're looking to harm my friend. I'll have no choice but to retaliate and I can assure you that you don't want to fight a Demi-god." Hagon spoke up as he conjures a blue fireball in his left hand. Rumple, although admires Hagon's devotion to his friend does feel slightly hurt that a child fears, that he may have come to bring harm to a child. Hades just clicks his fingers making the fireball simply vanish.
"I understand your concern but I along with Merlin, Ashley and Sean can speak fondly of Gold that he never seeks to bring harm to children. He is actually quite fond of children." Hades said.
"Maybe it would be best if Gold talks to Melinda in private with the supervision of Madam Mim while we leave the room yet stay close by," Sean suggests.
"I am not leaving Melinda, with some double of her mother and Gold a random stranger." Hagon protests.
"Guys, I can protect myself just give us ten minutes," Melinda speaks up.
"But M..." Hagon starts.
"You know I'm not that easy to take. You shouldn't worry too much Hagon, you'll get wrinkles." Melinda tells Hagon.
"Sounds excellent," Merlin replies.
All the others left Madam Mim's conservatory except from Madam Mim, Melinda and Rumplestiltskin. Now in Madam Mim's tiny kitchen, we have Ashley, Sean, Alexandra and Chad sat around a small breakfast table. Ashley and Sean their first impression of Chad was that he is pretty arrogant, selfish and believes the world owes him. But have a tiny hint of hope that's there is more to him. While their daughter really does believe there is more to him than what meets the eye.
"What did Marcel mean when he was talking about what he did to give you the perfect appearance for Auradom Society?" Alexandra asked Chad.
"It doesn't matter what's done is done and he is only flattering himself," Chad answered.
"I don't buy it there a reason you're here and it's not just because of some spell. I believe fate brought you here." Alexandra says.
"I suppose there is no harm telling you considering I'll be gone soon," Chad replies despite wanting to be left alone he does technically owe her for stepping in between him and Marcel and her parents for being kind to him.
"Hit us with it then," Ashley spoke.
"He did give me looks ideal for Auradom society but that's only because I was never meant to have them in the first place." Chad starts.
"Looks don't define you," Sean butted in.
"No, of, course they do anyone who denies it is liars. I'm not supposed to be here." Chad responded.
"I know you've said hundreds of times you're not supposed to be here get back to the story," Alexandra complained.
"This is my story when I said I'm not supposed to be here I don't just mean Storybrooke, I mean everywhere I'm not supposed to exist." Chad snapped slightly.
"How are you not supposed to be here in general at all. You told us that your parents' pride and joy is you?" Ashley questions.
"I am, my father he couldn't give my mother a child they tried all the treatments and even begged Fairy Godmother to help. But she refused she told my parents that it was beyond her limits of power and fate did not see them having a child. They couldn't accept it so they went to the most powerful man they knew risking it all." Chad tells Alexandra.
"This man who was he?" Alexandra asks.
"Look it's better if I tell the full story with no interruptions. Once upon a time." Chad starts to recall.
Flashback:
Over at Auradom's Cinderella's old childhood home, which is now vacant only used as a summer home by the couple. We have the royal couple standing in her deceased father's study standing next to Rumplestiltskin one of Auradom's most feared villains.
"What a marvellous summer home, you two have here. I was surprised to hear your cries during the past few nights begging me to meet you here." Rumplestiltskin commented.
"We know what your crimes are! But we need you to help we have no one else to turn to." Edward says.
"I prefer hobbies and profession over crimes. But none the less you princes and princesses along with commoners have always been judgemental." Rumplestiltskin replies.
"Please sir, we have tried everything at our disposal. We've even asked my Fairy Godmother, but she claims it is beyond her limits that she has already done her part in my Happy Endings. A..." Cinderella starts to beg.
"But fate decrees that you two shall not have a child shall not start a family." Someone interrupts appearing before the trio coming out from shadows.
"Who are you?" Edward demands to know.
"What you ask is beyond my powers but my friend over here on the other hand. Well, it is right up his street for a price." Rumplestiltskin responded.
"I'm Patrick son of Persephone and Hades, I'm a minor god. But a god none the less." Patrick said.
"You're friends with a god how is this possible gods are supposed to the pure good the most divine," Cinderella questioned stunned.
"You're asking the wrong questions and my time is precious," Patrick tells the couple.
"Oh, I'm sorry I never intended to offend a god." Cinderella apologised.
"I can grant you two your wish. But I warn you now what you desire doesn't come free there is a price and there will be consequences." Patrick warns the couple, he like Rumplestiltskin could smell the desperation the couple have.
"We accept whatever price and acknowledge whatever consequences that may come all we want is just a child of our own." Edward almost shouts.
"You must first help Rumplestiltskin over here fake his death make it convincing to the people of Auradom. Then return here and I will grant your request if not then you can kiss your dreams goodbye." Patrick instructs Cinderella and Edward, he then vanishes from their view.
The royal couple thought of nothing but this new participant they now have themselves in. On one hand, if they follow Patrick's instruction they will be helping a monster get away with their crimes. But on the other hand, if they don't then they will never be able to start a family of their own. They had finally come to the conclusion after almost two weeks of intense thought that they would follow through with Patrick's instruction it wasn't easy but they would do anything for a child of their own. After being successful in faking Rumplestiltskin death they returned to their summer house and back in the study they met up with Patrick.
"I admit I was surprised that it had taken you so long to decide." Patrick comments.
"Well, it was a hard decision," Edward replied.
"To some yes, now all you have to do is sign this contract stating that you acknowledge the possible consequences and that this is not a violation of your human rights. My father is very strict when it comes to such serious matters like this so are the other gods, to be honest." Patrick told the couple before conjuring the two contracts both identical to one another. Cinderella and Edward didn't bother to read the contracts they just wanted to have their child as soon as possible. So they quickly sign both contracts. Patrick then makes one of the two vanish sending it to the Underworld.
"All done how long will it take for me to get pregnant?" Cinderella asked.
"In three days when the next full moon occurs, you will be with child. Good luck with parenthood." Patrick answered before vanishing.
"You're going to need pathetic fools," Patrick says to himself once back in the Underworld.
End of Flashback:
"So you see I'm not supposed to exist. I am an abomination of nature. I have different needs to that of normal people my lifespan is also shorter." Chad said. Ashley, Sean and Alexandra couldn't help but be surprised at this story of Chad's conception Ashley knew all too well of running to the Dark One for help. But her and Sean's counterparts running to Rumplestiltskin is far more tragic than her. They were so desperate that they went against their beliefs and principles. The three couldn't help but shed a few tears.
"Just how short is your lifespan compared to other people?" Sean questions.
"I'll be lucky to make it to twenty-one," Chad answered wishing he never discovered this information as every day he counts down the day to his funeral knowing his life compared to the average person in Auradom is just a blink of an eye!
"I'm sorry to hear that no one deserves to die that young." Alexandra apologises.
"A short lifespan isn't the worse of it. All this the perfect skin, eyes and hair is nothing but a mere glamour to hide my truly horrible features." Chad confessed.
"They can't be that bad we all have insecurities." Ashley tries to convince Chad.
"Trust me, they are especially when your own grandfather refuses to be in the same room as you unless the glamour is on me at all times," Chad responded. This revelation breaks the trio's hearts Chad's own grandfather can't tolerate his grandson's true appearance. Is this reason why Chad acts arrogant, selfish and the world owes him? To make up for what has been handed down to him!
"Your grandfather should be the one who is ashamed not you? You have been handed a deck of unfair cards. But that doesn't mean you get to act the way you do think of the blessings you do have. You have two loving parents who by all accounts would go to the ends of the earth for you." Sean told Chad.
"They are the ones who cursed me, to live to breathe as a monster one that no one but them could truly accept," Chad responded not making direct eye contact and for once his voice sounds truly filled with sadness, self-hate and bitterness.
End of chapter 14.