Waiting for the Bus
Fourteen
[The next day, Mayor's office]
Snow was seated at the chair behind the large table that was unused since the curse broke, until today. In front, David was sitting at the guest chair to the right and Emma on the chair to the left. Granny, Ruby and Belle were all sitting on the large couch and Grumpy, the representative of the dwarves along with the Blue fairy were standing near the entrance.
"So what you're saying is that Regina was protected by the death curse from losing her memories?" Belle asked. Eyes still puffy from crying, Ruby's one arm draped over her shoulder in a friendly support.
"She should have died," The fairy said with a frown. "The Evil Queen has dark magic and death curse is made of pure light magic. It was made and named as such to vanquished dark power, it was the spell used to kill the dark fairy." The frown deepened.
"And what does that tells us?" Emma asked. She has her phone at hand in case Regina needs her. She and Henry packed Regina's things and then she drove herself to the entrance of the forest and walked through it to get to the brunette's safe house, which after seeing it, she was glad she agreed at once to Regina's idea because the cottage indeed seemed safe and magically protected.
"I can't say yet Savior..."
Emma sighed and raised a palm in the air, "Emma, quit calling me Savior."
"But..."
"Blue please," It was Snow's pleading and the tall red head nodded. "So she didn't die from the death curse which means something, but that is not why we are here. We are not here to talk about why the death curse didn't work, in my opinion and your Queen, I am quite relieved that it didn't worked because we all have to face reality... WE all need Regina."
Ruby shrugged her shoulders, "I've been telling you that since the curse broke. Actually, I am quite glad the curse happens, because it stopped me from turning into a wolf for 28 years. Now how many people have I almost killed during full moon if not for the newly found wolf patrol?"
"The Evil Queen may have wronged us in the darkest of way, but let's also admit, we have wronged her." Granny said and shook her head when she see Blue and Grumpy about to deny her words, "Not here, if we just think of the time we were cursed, the most evil the queen did was separate us from our love ones and made us forget and live each day again and again. Stopping time actually helped or really, if not I may not be here with you now, I'd be long dead from old age."
"We're not here for that. We all made mistakes and right now we all have to bury them if we want to keep our town." David this time.
"If it weren't for her we won't be here!" Grumpy shouted.
"Hey! No need to shout Leroy we all could hear you. But if not for the curse, then I won't have Henry. I would be living without electricity, no TV, no series, no heaters, no plumbing. So if you are not going to stop pointing blames on Regina the you can get out of this meeting!" Emma looked at everyone, "I only agreed to be here to talk about whatever it is because I wanted to keep the town as it is. Because let's all face it, how the hell are we going to explain a town suddenly appearing on the grid like some magical mushroom?!"
"I agree with Emma there," Belle said sighing, "Before Rumple took the sleeping curse, he told me that Emma might have broken the dark curse but he re-designed it so that it doesn't take everyone back to the Enchanted Forest because he knew that 28 years of absence will devastate the land. But also because he needed everyone to stay here to find Baelfire."
"And now he's here, is there a way to get everyone back to Enchanted Forest?" Blue asked. "We lost all the dust and it will take another 28 or more years to gather much to get us a working portal."
Snow shook her head, "Even if there is, I am not going back there."
Everyone looked at Snow who eyed the librarian. "Henry cannot go to the Enchanted Forest. He was born in this world."
"And if Henry is not going then I am not going. Even if Regina and Henry right now are having a hard time patching things up between them, I would bet my life Regina will not go back to Enchanted Forest and leave Henry for good. She's happy back in New York, and I know she'd rather be there than in your old world."
"And we are not leaving our daughter again." David said smiling at the blonde. He looked at everyone when silence descended upon them all. "Taking that reason into consideration, we all agree that we need Regina to keep the town going as it was. We need Regina to get Rumplestiltskin back because if there is anyone who could guarantee of our anonymity to the outside world, it will be him."
"How we heroes fall so far." Grumpy said frowning, "Now we all are relying to the villains to keep us safe."
Emma had enough, she stood and stepped in front of the dwarf. "Alright Leroy, you have quite a strong hatred of the queen, of the dark one. Why don't you take office in here and run the town hm? You want to build a portal? You want to go back? Go on, go back. You're not that big to be missed." she then looked at the blue fairy, "You want to go back to?"
"Even if I want to I can't." The blue fairy said. "No dust, no magic for us fairies remember?"
"Well maybe our new Mayor Leroy have some idea?" Emma then looked at the small man who was frowning but said nothing instead he looked down on the floor. "I thought so," She went back to sitting,
"Okay people, we have told everyone last night of the situation and one of the nurses that is loyal to Regina told me she had heard Sydney talking to someone and that it was about Regina."
"Sydney is back to the asylum?"
"We have no other choice Emma, we have to return him there. His behavior had been erratic since Regina's disappearance." David explained.
"You think he's contacting George? But how?" Emma asked frowning. Both parents shook their heads, "Does Sydney knows of Regina's safe house?"
"I don't think so..." Snow said unsure and looked at her husband.
"Maybe?"
"Fuck," Emma stood hurriedly, "We need to step up, find George..." she looked at Blue, "You think you could help find him?"
The Blue fairy raised one brow slightly and inclined her head, "We have some pixie dust at the convent, I'm sure we could use some to find him."
"That's great," then green eyes turned to the librarian, "Belle, I need you to go to the asylum and get a hold of Sidney? Try to coax him to talk?"
"I better go with Belle, I'm sure with my crossbow I could persuade him." Granny said smirking and then looked at the small woman who nodded her appreciation to the older one.
Blue sighed and pull off the vial that was hanging by her neck, "I got a suspicion that Sidney is using magic to contact King George, if he is then he could use it to escape, so here..." she handed the vial. "It's not much, but it could at least freeze him and give you enough time to interrogate him."
"Much appreciated," Belle said smiling.
The fairy looked at Emma, "As much as I hated Cora, and as one of the good people, I admit I wronged Regina greatly." She sighed, "Green was right, I should have not turned my back on Regina when she needed those wishes. The mother's sin is not her daughter's."
"Well it seemed admitting our faults is a start," Snow said smiling, "I'm no saint I know, but we have to move fast and find George. From what the nurse said, George is working with another.."
"My guess is someone from the outside, Me and Mary Margaret will try to find something about this and we'll call you when we get something concrete." David supplied which earned him a smile and nod from his daughter.
"What about me?" Grumpy asked.
"Get to Henry, make sure he doesn't get out of your sight. If you have to drag all your fellow dwarves to make it possible, then do so."
"In Snow's apartment? That would be unacceptable princess-"
"Then bring him wherever, so long as you keep an eye on him and keep him safe."
The dwarf nodded, "I'll call you..."
"No I will call you to check on him and keep you updated."
"Alright sister," he said as he turned and left the office.
"Thank you guys," Emma said smiling as she walked ahead and left after Grumpy. The rest followed.
-0-
[Same day, around afternoon, safe house]
It was late when Emma arrived with her things. When she checked the contents, she had an inkling that Henry has a hand in packing everything because all the things she thought she needed is there and she doesn't think Emma knows her that well. Yes she does in many aspects, but to know as specific as this? She was sure Henry was responsible.
She smiled. It seemed the boy knows her well. Her quirks... it's sad their relationship had to change for the worse after he had learned about his adoption. It's so sad she stopped being his mother because he wanted the woman who birth him... not the woman who raised him.
And then of course Snow White have to make it worst by giving him the book. In hindsight, she now think Rumple actually included that book into the curse, because really, how is he going to get the savior in here without it? Using his own grandchild as a tool. He should rot in that cursed state. He should just die... she doesn't owe him anything.
She have a ready antidote for the dreamshade Hook seemed to get a hold and dipped his hook in that wounded non-magical Rumple, an antidote she learned to make from her mother's book of spells and antidotes. She had the chance in the other world to butt head with the sleazy pirate and dreamshade was his poison of choice, it doesn't hurt to always be prepared. Yes, Emma and her had some talk of what have been happening in Storybrooke. Hook took a glamour spell in liquid form which Sidney made, pretending to be her, then abducted and tortured the poor bug, and made it look like she killed the psychiatrist. He did it in George's behest and then he was double crossed and then put under a sleeping curse that the genie also concocted. Serves him right she thought and sighed.
And then something occurred, a realization – bad realization.
There's another soul who knew of this place, and it's none other than the traitorous genie of the lamp. She growled, just wait until I get my hands on your scrawny neck Sidney...
And then she felt it.
Someone is trying to get in the magical barrier she created. She stood hurriedly and looked at the window. No, that someone is not trying to get in... whoever this is, he or she is using something that's weakening the magic. "Fuck..."
She took her mobile and dialed Emma. Two rings and the blonde answered.
"Emma,"
"Regina? I'm on my way there..."
She look at the phone, is Emma a mind reader now? "Yes, hurry Emma. Someone is using something, probably a talisman and is weakening my barrier, the protection spell I cast will be gone soon-"
"Can't you poof out of there?" there was panic in the blonde woman's voice.
"I tried, but I can't. Whatever they are using it's potent."
"Fuck, fuck fuck !" Regina could hear the urgency in the other woman's voice, "Your nurse girlfriend said she heard Sidney talking, and fuck! I think he knows where you are..."
"I know sheriff, I realized that too. Stop talking and just drive! You can't help me if you get into an accident." then she turned her phone off. Just as she put it down the center table, she felt the barrier gone. She then lift a hand and tried conjuring a fireball, and smirked when she was able to.
"Your majesty..." she turned and find her door open. A man was there... Martin – Andrew Martin.
"How did you get here?"
"Oh don't be surprised. Didn't the sheriff told you about the town's barrier's weakened state?"
Regina raise a hand, "I could incinerate you right now but instead, I want to make a deal with you."
"Why would I do that?"
"I could give you more than what George is offering."
He laughed, "You think I am doing this for the money? Really?" he laughed out loud again
"Yes, if not then what purpose are you doing this?"
And her focus was taken by another voice, "Because he is here to help us annihilate magic, and then burn this town down, taking all of you fairy tale folks with it."
Regina frowned, "Who the hell are you?"
The man grinned, "It has been long isn't it? You don't recognize me anymore but you know what? You still look the same. 30 years and you still look the same as I've seen you for the first time."
"Daily juice cleanse, does wonder to the skin." She said grinning evilly, "Now what is it you were saying?"
"My name is Greg Mendell..." he shrugged, "Well that's the name my adoptive parents named me, but it's not the name you know."
"Stop being so dramatic, just spit it out idiot." Regina said rolling her eyes, then smirked as she readied herself to ignite the two bastards into smithereens.
"You've known me as Owen, remember the child Owen you tried to kidnap? The child you made orphan?" Regina's eyes widened. Surprised. "Oh and don't bother trying to tap to your magic," he took a crystal out of his pocket, "It's a talisman, it's a stone that absorbs magic and right now... it's all what we need."
"That small stone cannot absorb all the magic in Storybrooke..."
"Oh it doesn't but its enough to render you magic-less for a while until we can cuff you." Regina sneered. She tried to make a fire, she did but then it dissipates as the stone absorbs the magic. "See? You can't even maintain it to hurl it at us." he looked at Andrew, "Cuff her,"
Before Regina could ran, the hit man caught her and slapped a leather cuff on her wrist. "This won't keep me..."
"Oh we are no fools your majesty, that cuff is specially made for magic users like you. It binds your magic so you won't be able to use it." Owen grinned, "Aren't I clever."
Regina scowled, "You'll never get away with this."
"They always say that," he smiled, "But you'll see..." he then looked at Martin, "Take her, and I don't want to hear any sound coming from her, you get me?"
Martin nodded and without preamble, he hit the woman at the back of her head. "This is good?"
"You didn't kill her?"
"Why would I, it's not in our contract."
"Good, if there's anyone who's taking her life, that would be me."
-0-
When Emma got out of her bug, she knew something is wrong already. She could feel it. Normally, her magic reacts wildly when she is near the brunette. Her magic and Regina's are like two opposing poles of a magnet drawn towards each other. So right now she already knew Regina is not around. The question is: Did Regina able to poof out of the cabin and safely hiding somewhere? Or, and she hopes this is not the case, was Regina taken by whoever it was who disabled the protection spell?
It was a strong one as she and Regina's magic combined to create it.
She took her phone and dialed Regina's number and as she nears the cabin, she heard the phone ringing. "Fuck!" she told the woman never to leave her phone, to always keep it in her person so its either Regina is there or...
"Regina!" she hurried to the house and cursed to kingdom come as she found the door open, and then as she walked inside and into the receiving area, she gasped and then closed her eyes to erase the scene in her head, but the image is already burned in her. There was blood on the floor (a pool of fresh blood, drops and smeared). If she had pushed herself more, she could have come to Regina's rescue.
Damn! Now what am I going to tell Aire and Nevi? I told them I'll protect Regina! I told Regina I got her back! FUCK! She hurriedly took her phone out and dialed her father, "David!"
"Emma? Where are you?"
"Safe house... they got Regina!"
"Who got Regina?"
"George and whoever he is working with."
"I'm sorry Emma," an uncomfortable pause, "We found George, in his room and he's dead... it seemed he was dead for a long time now."
"Fuck..."
Who the hell took Regina!
TBC