It's a Tale of Woe and Revenge

Chapter Twenty-Nine

In the Enchanted Forest…

"I can't believe that people actually live through here," Emma said quietly as she looked around her while, she, August, and Regina walked deep through the dark woods surrounding the Forbidden Mountain. "Even with Maleficent gone… I feel like I should expect a lion to jump out at us, you know… like the Cowardly Lion did in The Wizard of Oz while Dorothy and the others were chanting. Only in this case, perhaps a dragon, rather than a lion."

"It's nice to see that you're keeping up your sense of humor," August replied with a smile.

Suddenly both women glared at him as they asked in unison, "What sense of humor?"

August laughed while Regina spoke up saying, "A lion probably won't be jumping out of these trees, or a dragon since Maleficent and now Lily are the only dragons left, but there are plenty of other creatures in these woods. This forest is filled with dangerous beings."

"How are you feeling, Emma?" the former Queen asked finally after pausing to look back at her friend. "I mean, with all of what I made you watch back at Brennan's cottage and…"

"I'll be fine when all of this is over and we're all back home again, with Killian," the Savior answered curtly. "I was the one who told you to show me all of it, so like I told you, don't blame yourself. And don't keep looking over at me like I'm going to shatter into a thousand pieces. I'm angry and I'm terrified for Killian, but so long as I have the slightest chance to save him, I'm well enough to keep my mind clear when we fight against whatever we're going to have to fight against. Now, how much further is Liam's grandparents' home?"

Regina looked ahead again as she responded, "We're close now, very close. Out of curiosity, what are you going to say to him, or to them… when we actually meet them?"

Emma shook her head as she replied worryingly, "I haven't a clue. What do you say to a boy whose half brother murdered their father, especially when I want to convince him to help me help Hook because I'm in love with him?"

"The right words will come, Emma," August answered confidently. "They always have for you before. Even when you refused to believe me when I was changing back into a wooden puppet, you were strong and determined. You may have been wrong about magic being real, but you made a pretty strong case for why it couldn't be. If I hadn't been… well brought to life in a world of magic, I wouldn't have believed me or anyone else in Storybrooke either."

"I hope you're right about the words coming when I need them to," she responded nervously as they came upon a large open field where a few huts resided, then froze as she struggled to think of what to say to the younger Liam and the couple who took him in after their son in law was killed. "Which one is it?"

Regina waved her hand, her magic helping her to indicate which home was the one they were looking for, then led her friends forward. When they stood in front of the door, Emma raised her fist to knock, but paused for a moment to try to calm her nerves, while August put his hand down on her shoulder and gave her a reassuring squeeze.

After knocking three times, an old woman finally came to the door and opened it just enough to see who was coming to visit her at the late hour while she asked fearfully, "Who are you? If you're those friends of Liam's, he's not here."

"I assure you, we are not here to cause you any trouble," Emma replied quietly as she looked the woman in her eyes. "We're not your grandson's friends, whom you're clearly afraid of. Please, we would just like to talk. We're afraid that Liam might be in trouble."

"What kind of trouble?" Gael asked nervously when she finally allowed the blonde woman at her door inside, followed closely by August, and Regina, whom the old woman immediately gasped in shock upon seeing as she fell back against the wall in fear. "You! You told me you didn't mean my boy harm. You lied!"

Regina raised her hands in a motion to show she meant the woman no harm as she answered, "I promise you, I mean you and Liam no harm. I'm not… Well I am the Queen, but I'm not the Evil Queen all of you feared any longer. Emma, perhaps it's best if I wait outside."

Emma shook her head as she kept her eyes between the other women around and responded, "It's all right, Regina. You don't have to leave. Ma'am, Regina isn't that woman any longer. She's changed, become loved by her entire kingdom including my parents. My name is Emma Swan. I am the daughter Snow White and Prince Da… James. I'm not really sure which of the brothers you might have known him as. You must have known of them."

"Of course I knew Snow White and the Prince," the older woman replied sternly. "I was at their castle on the day of their marriage, along with my daughter and my husband, both of whom have passed on now."

"I'm very sorry," the Savior answered with sincerity. "I know how it feels to lose someone you love. The man I love, his life is at stake and Liam can help me save him. His father was Brennan Jones?"

Gael nodded as she responded, "Yes, Brennan was my grandson's father. But Brennan has also passed on. He was murdered, by some notorious pirate if any of the rumors are really true. How can Liam be of any help to you? Why can't everyone just leave him alone? He's a good boy."

August asked quietly, "Who else has been bothering him, Madam…"

"Gael," the woman stated worryingly as she looked between the three strangers now inside her home. "Call me Gael. And if you really care, Liam has fallen in with bad men at the tavern where he's been working. Ever since your curse was broken, Your Majesty, Liam's been determined to find the monster who killed his father and those he's worked for have been helping him to find him."

"We need to know where Liam is right now," Emma replied curtly. "Please, it's a long story, but…"

All of a sudden, Liam charged into the hut crying out his grandmother's name until he swiftly froze upon seeing the others surrounding her, but as soon as he noticed Regina, he pulled out his pistol and aimed it at her while he said coldly, "What the hell are you doing here? Was sending Captain Hook to kill my father not enough for you? I won't let you kill my grandmother too!"

Liam fired the weapon to try to kill Regina, but Emma immediately raised her hand as she made the musket ball disappear and forced the pistol from his hand, then she spoke up softly saying, "I promise, Regina isn't here to hurt her, or you. And neither are we."

"I don't believe you," Liam answered as he glared at the blonde woman. "I just came from the tavern where her friends were waiting for me. I was lucky to get out of there."

"These two are my only friends here with me and like Emma said, we're not here to hurt either one of you," Regina responded. "Are you talking about a man who wore a hook in place of his hand and a woman who's travelling with him?"

Liam glared at the former Evil Queen as he replied, "That's right. You should be more careful with the people you enlist to work in your army of Black Knights. Captain Hook may be ruthless, but he's also crazy."

August looked into the teenager's eyes as he asked, "He tried to tell you he was your father, didn't he?"

"How did... You know about that?" Liam asked in return as he turned to the third stranger between the Queen and the other woman with magic as well, then looked over at Regina. "Is it true? Did you really bring my father back from the dead and put his soul inside the bastard who killed him?"

"I didn't, but my evil counterpart did," she answered remorsefully. "It's as we've tried to tell you, it's a long story and we'll explain everything if you'll let us. You just need to remain calm."

The sixteen year old crossed his arms as he glared at the heroes again and responded, "I only want to know if you can remove that monster from his body so that only my father will remain alive. He told me something about his soul needing another body. If my father really is alive, then I want him back, but I want him to be free. Captain Hook deserves to die for what he did to him. I don't care if he is my father's other son. He killed him!"

Emma looked at the young man sadly as she replied, "You're right. The pirate Hook once was did kill your father. But Killian isn't that man anymore. I'm guessing that Brennan made his son out to sound like the only monster, didn't he?"

"He told me that Killian found love," Liam answered cruelly upon recognizing the look in Emma's eyes. "That's why you three are here, isn't it? To save him?"

"I am in love with Killian," the Savior responded steadfastly. "And I will save him because he is a good man, who has more than made up for his past sins. I promise that if I can save your father too, I will. However, your father was a monster back when he sold Killian and his brother into servitude to try to save himself from the law. Just as he's a villain now. Please have a seat. We have a lot to talk about."