Characters:
ES: Emma Swan aka the savior (Swan)
RM: Regina Mills aka Evil Queen
HM: Henry Mills
AP: Amber Philips aka Orion Constellation (Star)
MG: Mr. Gold aka Rumpelstiltskin (Rumple)
KJ: Killian Jones aka Captain Hook (Hook)
MM: Mary- Margret aka Snow White (Snow)
DN: David Nolan aka Prince Charming (Charming)
The Storm
In Rumple's shop Hook stood over the counter facing Rumple. The urgency was written all over his face.
MG: Let me ask you this, Pirate. Why is it so important to you that she stays?
Annoyed Hook's brows pinched together and his jaw clenched. He had been asking himself that question since Amber got her memories back. He had convinced himself that keeping her here was the right thing to do. That it is what is right for her, but in his heart Hook knew that was not the only reason.
KJ: What does that matter? Hook replied evading the actual question, How are you going to make sure she can't leave town? Hook asked again, People are not going to be hurt are they?
MG: Awe look at you worrying about everyone else. You have been acting as quite the hero lately. I must say I am really intrigued by this softer side to you. Rumple teased, Now that the Captain has gone soft is he trying to back out of our deal? Is he afraid?
KJ: No. Hook spat as he clenched his fist.
Rumple nodded and smirked.
MG: There is always a price. You must pay it.
KJ: What is that supposed to mean?
Interrupting their conversation the items on the shelves around the shop began to shake. The ground quaked beneath their feet. Hook looked to Rumple, who stood before him with a wicked grin.
KJ: What the bloody hell did you do? He exclaimed.
At Granny's Diner the earthquake rattled the cups stacked on the counters. The party music stopped and everyone froze. The lights in the Diner flickered momentarily, and when the quake stopped everyone looked around at one other trying to figure out what just happened.
DN: That was strange. David said as he followed everyone outside.
Outside the wind whipped viciously through the streets. Over the bay storm clouds had begun to gather. It was something like a hurricane.
AP: A hurricane? It is the middle of the winter and we are in Maine...
Hearing Amber's remark Emma and Regina exchanged a look. Everyone knew that this was no ordinary hurricane. It must have been caused by magic.
AP: How is this possible? Amber asked raising her voice over the ever growing strength of the wind.
ES: Magic. Emma replied without tearing her gaze from the growing clouds over the bay.
AP: What? Amber asked unsure if Emma was kidding.
DN: Alright, lets everyone get back inside. It is not safe out here. David said ushering Henry and Mary-Margret back into the Diner.
With everyone safely back inside Amber turned to Emma and pulled her to the side so they could talk.
AP: What is going on around here? She asked, First with this storm and the fact that everyone here seems to know something I don't. Second, that remark about magic... what is that supposed to mean?
Emma sighed. There way no way they could hide the truth from Amber any longer. She needed to know what was going on and why Storybrooke is such a special place. Emma sat Amber down in the far corner booth and explained everything.
ES: This is going to sound crazy... She began, You probably won't believe me but this town,Storybrooke, it is a special place.
Amber leaned against the table and listened very carefully to what Emma was saying.
ES: This town... it is magic.
Amber looked at Emma completely puzzled.
ES: It is sort of complicated, Emma chuckled a bit to herself, You are familiar with the stories of Snow White, Rumpelstiltskin, Little Red Ridding Hood, Peter Pan?
AP: Yeah of course, who isn't?
ES: Well it turns out all of those stories were real.
Amber gave Emma a sideways look.
ES: I told you it would sound crazy... all of the people from those stories actually exist. They lived in another world known as the Enchanted Forest.
Amber busted out laughing. Her face turned bright red as she clutched her stomach. As she laughed the lights in the Diner went out. The backup generator kicked in a few moments later and Regina made her way to the table in the corner where Amber and Emma had been sitting.
RM: Listen, I hate to interrupt but Emma we really need to take care of this... whatever it is.
Emma nodded and told Regina to give her one more minute.
ES: I really need to go with Regina right now. Just promise me you will stay here with Henry. He can explain what it is going on, probably better than me. She smiled. Will you wait here?
Amber agreed and watched as Regina and Emma left the Diner. Henry took Emma's seat a few minutes later and pulled the large story book from his backpack. He placed it on the table and spun it around so Amber could flip through the pages.
Regina and Emma took Emma's yellow bug and drove down to the docks. The wind whistled and whipped through the trees. Once they reached the docks they could see vibrant blue and purple lightening streaks running through the clouds.
ES: This is not ordinary storm, Emma repeated. As she looked out towards the horizon she thought she had seen something moving in the water, Did you see that?
RM: See what? Regina had been watching the way the storm clouds were circling over the bay.
ES: Nothing... Emma replied thinking it was just her imagination.
As they stood there trying to determine what was going on the wind picked up and the clouds broke open. Rain poured down on them pelting them both.
RM: What do you think caused this? She asked.
ES: I don't... Emma began to reply but as she did she saw a streak of lightening strike a nearby telephone pole. The pole snapped in half and was falling towards Regina.
Moving quickly Emma threw her hands in the air towards the falling pole. She could feel the tingling sensation of her power rushing through her veins, and the strength of her emotions as she used her magic to push the falling pole away from Regina. There was a bright flash of light as Emma's power came pouring out of her finger tips.
As the pole fell to the ground Regina spun around to see the broken pole. She looked from the pole to Emma and then back down to the pole.
RM: Thank you. She replied.
Emma nodded as she took several deep breaths.
ES: This storm is too unpredictable. We don't even know what we are up against here. Now that we have seen it for ourselves I suggest we go back to the Diner. We can talk to everyone there and try to figure what the hell is going on.
Regina agreed and they both hurried back to the Diner. At the Diner everyone eagerly waited for Regina and Emma's return. Everyone was worried about the strange storm.
Emma and Regina come through the doors of the Diner and are bombarded with questions from David and Mary- Margret. Granny and many of the other townspeople chimed in trying to find out just what Emma and Regina learned at the docks.
ES: We did not learn much. Emma said trying to address everyone's panicked questions.
RM: No, we were a little busy trying not to be killed. Regina mumbled under her breath.
ES: It looks like the storm is centered over the bay, and it doesn't appear to be moving in any particular direction. Emma said, Until we know what caused the storm we aren't going to be able to stop it.
From the corner of her eye Emma saw Amber and Henry still sitting at the table in the far corner. Emma left Regina to answer the rest of everyone's questions and she went to sit beside Henry.
HM: Mom, you guys are back! He wrapped and arm around Emma's waist and looked around for Regina.
ES: She is fine, Kid. Emma reassured him, Why don't you go over to her.
HM: Here you can keep it. Henry said to Amber as he stood up and pushed to storybook towards her.
AP: Oh... um... thank you. She said feeling a little guilty about accepting it after seeing how fond he is of it.
Henry only smiled then he dashed across the Diner to hug Regina.
Emma gaze fell to the story book that was now in between her and Amber. She smiled slightly as she thought about the numerous times Henry had shoved that very book at her trying to get her to believe in magic.
ES: So Henry filled you in on all the details of our little town? Emma asked still looking at the book.
AP: Uh, yeah...
ES: Emma's gaze drifted from the book to Amber, It is crazy, right? Fairy tale characters all living in a magical town the middle of Maine.
Amber did not reply.
ES: When Henry first found me and brought me here I had a hard time believing it too. These kinds of things, evil queens, giants, curses, knights, princesses they don't exist in the real world. That is just fact. I was so sure that poor Henry was just insane or really lonely... It wasn't until he nearly died that I realized magic and true love were real. It was not until I almost lost my son that I had to believe in magic. The tears were building up in Emma's eyes as she thought back to the day Henry had eaten the poisoned apple turnover that was meant for her. I know your head is telling you that this is madness and you think you should run out of here as fast as your feet can take you, but just wait... What is your heart telling you? You know in your heart that everything Henry and I have told you is true.
Amber stayed quiet for several moments looking at the book in front of her. When she finally looked up and opened her mouth to speak the bells above the door at the Diner chimed. Rumple and Hook stepped through the door. Emma turned around in her chair and her gaze met Hook's. Without stopping to talk to anyone Hook walked straight to the back of the diner towards Amber and Emma. Emma met Hook half way placing a hand on his chest to stop him from walking any farther.
ES: We told her the truth.
Hook had been looking past Emma to Amber who sat looking back down at the book. At Emma's words Hook's gaze flashed to her. He took half a step back and raised an eyebrow.
KJ: The truth?
ES: Yeah, well about Storybrooke... I still don't think now is the right time to tell her about her parents. She is having a hard enough time swallowing this first bit.
Hook looked back to Amber. Emma let her hand slip away as she went to rejoin the group of people who were huddled around Regina and Rumple.
Granny: So what are we supposed to do just sit around and wait patiently until it goes away? Her voice piercing with annoyance, You already were almost killed by it. How are we supposed to last the night?
Emma listened to everyone's fearful comments knowing that they had to come up with some kind of a plan.
MG: It is strange...
RM: What is?
MG: I have heard of a storm like this once before. It formed suddenly out of nowhere and was fulled by the energy of water.
MM: Alright, so do you know how to stop it?
MG: Unfortunately I do not. He replied simply.
RM: Well then what do you know? You said you have heard of a storm like this happening once before.
MG: I don't know much about it. There was talk that the Sea Witch Ursula had created it.
DN: You think she is the one behind all of this? David asked.
Rumple did not answer.
ES: In the meantime we need to do something to contain the storm so everyone isn't trapped here. Emma chimed in, Regina do you remember when we used our magic to contain the power from your gem in the mines, the fail safe you created?
RM: Regina's eyes lit up, You think we might be able to do the same thing with this storm?
ES: It is worth a try.
Emma and Regina marched out into the street. They stood side by side and exchanged a glance before raising their hand above their heads. The power inside them rising up through their bodies, their knees and hands shaking from adrenaline.
Just seconds before they let their magic explode from their hands the storm clouds vanished. The wind calmed and the rain stopped.
RM: What the hell? Regina said letting her arms drop to her sides. She and Emma exchanged another look.
They looked around and everything appeared to be back to normal.
ES: That was weird.
RM: I doubt that is the end of it.
Emma nodded in agreement. She followed Regina back into the Diner. Everyone had been watching them from inside the Diner.
MM: You did it! Mary- Margret exclaimed as she threw her arms around Emma. Over Mary- Margret's shoulder Emma eyed Rumple.
There was something about all of this that just wasn't adding up. Emma found it strange that the storm had just suddenly manifested itself over the bay, she had not seen Rumple all evening and he suddenly shows up after all of this stuff occurs, and then out of nowhere the storm completely disintegrates. It did not add up.
DN: Now that the storm is gone it is safe for everyone to return to their homes. David announced.
MM: Emma, David and I will take a drive around town to see what other damage the storm may have caused.
Emma thanked her parents and watched as they both got into David's pick up truck.
RM: It is great that everyone is all cheery again, but we need to be prepared for the next time that thing comes back.
ES: Yes... I think I will talk to Rumple to find out more about the last time a storm like this occurred. She whispered to Regina as Rumple walked passed them and back outside with Belle.
In her pocket Emma's cellphone rang. She pulled it out and saw David's name across the screen.
ES: Dad? ...She listened as his muffled voice came through the speaker, Alright I will tell her... No I think your right. We will wait and try to figure out what we are dealing with first... Okay, bye. She hung up the phone and turned to Amber and Hook who had walked up behind her. David and Mary- Margret just drove out to the town line. There are trees and power lines down everywhere. Amber, it doesn't look like you will be able to leave tonight. Regina and I could go down there and try to use our magic to clean it up, but until we know more about what we are dealing with I don't think it is a good idea for us to use our magic. We don't want it to start some kind of chain reaction or anything.
Hook's breathe caught in his throat. He realized now that this was Rumple's plan. He held up his end of the deal. Amber stood beside Hook unsure on how to react. She did not know if she was disappoint she couldn't leave or if she was relieved.
KJ: I'll walk you back to the Inn. Hook offered. They walked slowly out to the street following Regina and Emma. Once they reached the street Amber stopped and grabbed Hook's arm.
AP: I am not sure I want to go back to the Inn just yet. Could we just take in the night air for a bit? Sleeping seems highly unlikely considering everything I have seen tonight. She explained.
Killian nodded and the pair of them decided to walk down to the docks and check on the Jolly Roger.
When they arrive they find the Jolly Roger is still intact. There doesn't appear to be a scratch on board. Killian gushed at the beauty of the ship. Amber giggles as she watches him.
AP: So Henry told me that everyone in this town is a character from a fairy tale. He told me that Mary- Margret is Snow White, David is Prince Charming... He didn't tell me who you are. She watched him carefully from the corner of her eye.
KJ: You mean you don't know? His gaze fell to the prosthetic hand he wore then he looked over at Amber who had moved to stand beside him. I am a Pirate...
AP: A Pirate? She chuckled. Hook could see she was still having some trouble letting herself really believe in what she had been told.
KJ: Aye, He replied somberly as he raised his left hand. Amber heard a click as he unscrewed the prosthetic hand. Then he reached down into his satchel and retrieved his hook. He snapped the hook in place with a click.
Amber felt a chill run down her spine as she realized who he was.
AP: Captain Hook... She breathed.
Before Hook could say anything there was a loud screeching sound that echoed throughout the bay. The ship began to rock back and forth. Amber and Hook desperately reached out for something to steady themselves.
The rocking became stronger sending both Hook and Amber tumbling across the deck. With a final massive rock Amber was thrown backward. She stumbled back and fell over the side of the ship.
Hook raced to the side of the ship managing to grab Amber's hand just as she lost her grip on the railing. Hook tried to pull her back up but there was something fighting him. Another force was pulling Amber down into the water.
AP: There is something on my ankle! She called to Hook while she desperately tried to tighten her grip on Hook's hand.
Hook tried to see what it was that had Amber's ankle but he could not tell. He was losing his grip on her wrist as she was being pulled farther away from him towards the water.
Slowly Amber's fingers slipped through Hook's hand. With a splash she was pulled down into the dark water.