Chapter 34 – Two Cousins, Two Speeches, One Purpose
Standing in the middle of the half-crowded diner, Esperanza shifted her legs to relieve the pressure from her aching feet while rubbing her hand tenderly along the small of her back where a persistent ache had been throbbing for nearly an hour. Accustomed to a life of hard work in the family flour mill, she found nonetheless that being a waitress was much more difficult than she had anticipated.
Ruby had been right after all. Endless flitting back and forth between tables, taking orders, turning them in, keeping track of said orders, keeping track of customers who needed refills, keeping track of her tips, and finally ensuring that her invoices were properly accounted for at the end of her shift left little time for even brief reprieves during rush hours. During off-peak times, there was opportunity to decompress, but not enough to prevent fatigue, sore muscles, and quite a bit of mental stress from accruing. Still, though it could be tough work, she was thankful for the steady supply of income.
For the first week after she arrived in Storybrooke, Esperanza had been far too concerned with Ruby's welfare to question the kindness she was being extended from Granny, who had offered her a room at the Bed and Breakfast portion of her business, free of charge. But within two weeks' time, Ruby was back to work at the Sheriff's Station and Esperanza was feeling guilty about taking advantage of the kind old lady who had so graciously taken her in. Seeing as Granny was in need of a waitress, Esperanza decided to apply for the position. She was hired on the spot. Wicked gleam in her clear blue eyes, Granny then roped Ruby into training the new hire those first few nights, when she was off duty from the Station of course.
It was a bit strange interacting with people about whom Esperanza knew next to nothing, but most of the citizens of Storybrooke seemed like good people, with kind and courteous manners. Adapting to the new job was relatively painless, and in no time, she began to make connections with the people she waited on. In particular, she'd grown fond of the regulars who, for whatever reason, seemed to share the sentiment. The warm welcome made her feel like she was more than just an interloper who had taken advantage of family connections, but that she was actually becoming a member of the community. This acceptance, in turn, gave her a much needed injection of bravery to venture out of her comfort zone when she was not on the clock.
The first time Esperanza visited the Rabbit Hole was an experience to remember. When she'd walked in, dressed casually in some clothing Ruby had commandeered from Regina, since they shared similar builds, the entire bar turned to stare at her as one. For a long moment, she had stood there like a deer facing down a deadly arrow, blushing so deeply she was sure her cheeks were aflame. And that was the moment Victor Whale came to her rescue.
"Stop gawking at the pretty new lady and go back to your beers," he'd announced loudly enough for everyone to hear. When some of the braver men around the bar continued leering, he stepped up to Esperanza, threw his arms around her shoulder and then beamed a smug smile out at the crowd. "Haven't you all heard yet that she's the mayor's cousin?"
Apparently mentioning Regina in Storybrooke was an unwritten code for people to mind their own damn business, as in no time flat, all eyes were off Esperanza and back on their drinks or their dates. Shrugging out of the arm slung round her shoulders, Esperanza looked up at Victor with a grateful smile.
"Thank you, kind sir," she had said.
Victor had laughed at that, his eyes crinkling at the edges. "You're welcome, though I'm far from kind. What I am, however, is good company. Care to join me for a drink?"
Nodding bashfully, Esperanza allowed her dashing rescuer to lead her over to the bar, where she perched on the stool next to him. In no time at all they were chatting like old friends. Doctor Whale was, Esperanza had deduced, a complex man, but not in a bad way at all. He was handsome, unashamedly ambitious, and highly intelligent. What's more, he was very good friends with Ruby, so Esperanza had felt as if she could relax around him. During their adventures in the Enchanted Forest, she had come to appreciate Ruby's judgment. So if her friend deemed Victor a trustworthy person, who was she to doubt that assessment?
That night, hours went by as Esperanza conversed with Victor, though during that time they had moved from the bar to a more private booth. Intrigued by his job, Esperanza spent a great deal of time questioning Victor about the impressive knowledge of science and medicine that existed in this world. On his part, Victor seemed keenly interested in hearing about her travels, so she regaled him many stories that had him on the edge of his seat with fascination, some of which even had them both in peals of laughter. By the time the clock rounded midnight, head a bit light from the alcohol she'd consumed, Esperanza felt as if she had made her first true friend in Storybrooke.
As usual, her gut proved to be very accurate. Over the next several weeks, she met Victor regularly for either drinks after work or lunch during their respective breaks. Each time, she grew more and more comfortable around him, more reluctant to part from their engaging conversations, and more eager in anticipation for the next time she could be in his presence. If she was correct in where things were going, she didn't believe it would be long before Victor was asking her out on a date, and much to her pleasant surprise, she found herself most willing to accept the invitation.
But while things were personally looking up for her, she knew Ruby, Regina, and Emma's lives were still exceedingly complicated and stressful.
"Esperanza!" Granny called out from behind the counter, and Esperanza turned to find the elder Lucas waving her over.
After giving the customers she had been waiting on their check and wishing them farewell, she made her way over to the counter where Granny was standing, looking worriedly out the front window.
"What is wrong?" she asked, crossing behind the counter to stand behind the kind older woman she had come to love as her own grandmother.
"Something happened to Ruby," Granny said, her face drawn and haggard as if age were finally catching up to her. "Apparently, she got so sick that Regina had to take her to the hospital, but now she's up and bolted from the E.R. Regina and Emma went out looking for her but they can't find her. While they were searching, they ran into Zelena. Something's going on out at her farm, and it's bad enough that Emma has called an emergency meeting at the Sheriff's Station. Said we need to close up the Diner now and meet them there."
The news startled Esperanza, though not as much as it would have had she not been looking over her shoulder since the moment she left Belmordan's castle. It was clear to her without needing to gather any evidence that this was the foul sorcerer's handiwork. Since the moment he laid eyes on Ruby he had coveted her, and now at last, he had returned to collect her, just as Esperanza and Emma had feared. It was impossible to predict how Belmordan's would play things from here on out, but one thing Esperanza was sure of was that he would neither be so patient nor so seemingly benevolent as he had first been back in Misthaven. All pretense was over now.
Things were about to get interesting, and by interesting she meant dangerous, and not only for Ruby but for every citizen of Storybrooke. In his parting words before magicking away after being wounded by Emma at the bean portal, Belmordan had sworn to return, and having failed once in wresting from Ruby what he desired, he would not leave things to chance again. It was likely that this time he would have the backing of steel and shield to complement his fiendish bestial servants.
The size of his army, she figured, would only be dictated by the method of travel he had concocted to reach this realm. If he utilized the same portal method as he had to reach Misthaven, his forces would be inadequate for the task of defeating a town full of heroes and villains alike that would be equally hellbent on protecting their homes. But if, by chance, he had come across some other method of crossing realms, well...then the possibilities were both endless and chilling.
It was entirely plausible that an army a thousand strong was entering this world at that very moment, and because of that, there was no time to waste.
"Shall I alert the others?" she asked Granny, who nodded grimly in response.
"Go tell everyone not able to fight to go home and take shelter," the werewolf matriarch commanded. "The rest are to gather at the Sheriff's Station with whatever weapons they have at their disposal. We don't have a lot of time, so move quickly, girl."
There had been no need for Granny to tell Esperanza about their lack of time, but nonetheless, she heeded the wise old woman's words. "Right away, Granny." And with that, Granny departed into the back to gather her things while Esperanza went about doing as the elder Lucas had instructed by making a general announcement to the entire diner.
From where she stood behind the counter, she brought her fingers up to her lips just as her father taught her to emit a booming whistle.
"Attention!" she shouted as every customer and employee currently inside the diner turned toward her. "I have an announcement. There has been a possible unfriendly incursion into Storybrooke. As such, the Sheriff and Mayor are putting the town on high alert. In five minutes, the diner will be closing, so finish your meals quickly. Those who are unable to wield weapons are to return to their homes and take shelter. Those with experience in battle or those who do not but are nonetheless willing to stand and fight, please make your way to the Sheriff's Station within the hour. If you have access to weapons, retrieve them. Thank you for your attention."
A general cacophony full of disbelieving and frightened voices filled the diner as people stood from their seats to gather in the center of the restaurant. As they mingled to discuss her announcement, she heard some of them questioning whether the situation was indeed as dire as she had said it was while some others wondered whether or not it was some kind of preparatory drill.
"I assure you, this is not a drill," Esperanza spoke up again, raising her voice so all could hear over the chattering, which thankfully quietened down at the sound of her voice booming over the restaurant. "This is real. This is happening. A great evil has come to this world and he will stop at nothing to claim what he believes belongs to him. Please, if you care for this town and for the good people who live here, do as you have been asked."
When she heard, a few disgruntled voices mention that she had no right to invoke love for the town, she stepped out from behind the counter into the midst of the crowd. "I know I am new to this place," she said, her voice reflecting her deep feelings of appreciation for Storybrooke and the people who inhabited it. "But I have come to love Storybrooke, and even more so, to care for all of you." A hush fell over the crowd as they listened intently to her words. "When I first arrived, I was among friends but, being so far away from my home and family, often lonely. I was out of sorts in this new world full of wonders that I still am adapting to. I did not belong, yet none of you made me feel like an outsider. You welcomed me, helped me feel comfortable when you might have distrusted me or shunned me. I will never forget that kindness.
"I deeply admire what you all have built here, and I want to be a part of it for as long as I am able. I believe in this town and I am willing to fight for it, to die for it...for each of you if necessary. But the choice now remains to you as to whether you are willing to do the same. Decide. If not, no one here will shame you. But if so, the time to act is right now."
Striding toward the door, Esperanza turned back just in time to see Granny coming round the counter with a quiver of bolts slung round her shoulder, her crossbow in one hand and Esperanza's rapier in the other. Her eyes were gleaming with pride as she stepped up beside Esperanza, lending silent support and approval for what had been said as she held out the rapier in the space between them. After smiling gratefully at her employer, her adopted grandmother, Esperanza gripped the sheathed weapon and raised it high, turning blazing eyes back to the people still watching her, half of whom were torn by indecision.
"If you feel as I do, then come with me," she began, feeling a burning of emotions in her chest along with a surge of energy at the prospect of battle. She was, quite unexpectedly, itching for a fight. "I know that you feel afraid, and so do I, but there will time later to submit to those fears, to look back and question whether we made the right decision to risk our lives for something greater than ourselves. But now is not that time! Now is the time to act, for the evil coming to destroy everything you love, everything you hold dear, will not hesitate, nor will he show mercy. So come my brothers and sisters! Come fight for this town and for the people you love! For tomorrow may well be too late."
And with that, she turned once more and pushed out the door. To her amazement, when she glanced back over her shoulder, she saw a steady stream of citizens with determined faces following in her wake, a sternly resolute Granny at the fore. Glancing down the street, she saw lines of citizens doing the same, marching in unified purpose toward the Sheriff's station, weapons in hand if they had them, armed with steely determination if they didn't. It was a sight that made Esperanza's heart soar.
Storybrooke was mobilizing and if the people of this town fought as they loved, Belmordan was in for one hell of a surprise.
Ten minutes later, Esperanza, Granny, and their group of volunteers from the diner arrived at the Sheriff's station. Among those with them were individuals of various trades and professions, most of whom had not seen combat while back in the Enchanted Forest, and of those who had, three of five had been impaired in some way during their experiences. Yet even as unprepared and ill-equipped as they were, Esperanza was extraordinarily proud to be among them. Such unsung courage only reaffirmed the wisdom of her decision to seek out her long-lost kinswoman.
Speaking of Regina, the moment Esperanza entered the Sheriff's station, her cousin spotted her from Emma's office and waved her over to where she was standing with the Savior, Killian Jones, David, Belle, and Snow. With Granny at her side, Esperanza made her way there. Upon arriving in Emma's office, both women greeted the occupants of the room, voices laden with the gravity of the situation. The responses they received carried similar tones. It was clear that everyone was in knots about what might soon happen to their town. To their loved ones.
After greeting Granny and Esperanza, the implicit leaders of Storybrooke returned to the business at hand, which consisted of pouring over a map of the area surrounding Zelena's home and trying to ascertain the most likely direction an attack would come from to organize proper defenses. All around them, people were milling in and out of the station, some delivering reports of increasing volunteer numbers and others updates on the status of their armaments. It was quite a hectic scene, though having worked rush hours at the diner for over a month, Esperanza was long since used to such an environment.
"What can I do to help?" she asked, circling around the desk to stand beside Regina who was positioned beside Emma.
"Of everyone here, you have the most experience with Belmordan," Emma said, folding her arms across her chest, blonde hair mostly hidden beneath a gray beanie. "We were hoping you might have some insight as to what his strategy will be."
"My knowledge of him is limited," Esperanza began, leaning over the map to study the lay out of the land around Zelena's farm and the various approaches to Storybrooke that could be taken from it. "And I cannot speak for the terrain around town as I am unfamiliar with it. However, I am aware of the pattern of patrols he instituted back at the Dark Palace, though I cannot say for certain what he will do based on that information. The best I can do is to speculate."
"Anything is better than nothing," said Regina, imploring Esperanza with her eyes.
Regina's relative desperation said much. The war council, as it were, had clearly been unproductive in coming up with a strategy to defend the town. Likely the cause was having to face an enemy none of them even knew existed until Ruby and Emma journeyed to the Enchanted Forest, where fate conspired to introduce them. As someone who had lived in the area, scouted it thoroughly, it was understandable that they would seek her opinion. She just wished she had more to tell them.
Looking up from the map, she met Regina's eyes, projecting her genuine desire to help in any way she could. "Well, from what I was able to learn in the few short days I was in the area, he prefers to be active at night. This is no great surprise now that we know him to be a werewolf. Patrols during the day were tripled, so at the time I assumed that was an indication the inhabitant of the castle utilized the day time to rest. I was fairly certain this was the case because I was made aware during my travels that the dark sorcerer never left his castle except for very rare occasions when something of great import was happening, such as when Ruby and Emma used the bean to return home."
While Regina flinched slightly at the mention of Ruby's name, her obvious worry about her wife did not affect her voice, remaining strong and clear though her expression indicated a great deal of worry.
"That means," she said, glancing up at the clock, and when Esperanza followed her gaze she saw that it read 11 pm, "he will attack before dawn. We have less than seven hours with which to prepare."
"Much less I would say," Esperanza replied, falling back on her many talks of great battles and military strategies with the old hermit she had befriended back in her village.
Though the people of her village referred to the enigmatic man as 'the wanderer', Esperanza had known him by the equally mysterious name by which he introduced himself to her: Ambrosio. During her conversations with old Ambrosio, she had learned much of the way men order battles and had also learned that there was great value in intelligence, thus her inquiries to the folk remaining in Misthaven of the activities of the inhabitant of the Dark Palace. From what she had learned of Belmordan, she could wager an educated guess as to his time tables, but not much beyond that.
"Again, from what I could glean, Belmordan seems to be a patient man," she explained. "After all, per his own admission, he has waited a very long time for this day to arrive. But the incident at the bean portal proved that when he has an objective in sight, he is quick to strike and ruthless in execution."
Her facial expression slipped then, revealing the painful nature of the information she was about to relay. She had not shared with this with anyone, mostly because she was still raw over it.
"When I arrived in Misthaven," she went on, "I ventured far to the western regions of the realm in search of someone before I turned back toward the Dark Palace. On my journeys, I met a man who was coming north from the border Misthaven shares with a great kingdom to the south. He told me that the dark sorcerer had recently learned of a kingdom to the south, rich in produce and textiles, and famous for boasting a library which contained ancient volumes and manuscripts that do not exist elsewhere."
"My father's kingdom," Regina supplied for everyone else, already aware that Esperanza hailed from the very same realm. Looking somewhat affected at hearing the news, she turned worried eyes to her cousin. "He used to tell me stories of the Great Library of King Salazar where scholars and magicians the world over came to learn."
Esperanza nodded sadly. "It was, indeed, a sight to behold."
"Was?" Hook prompted from next to Emma, in tact hand absently clutching his eponymous one.
Ducking her head, Esperanza's eyes slid shut as she grappled with a reality she had yet to come to terms with. "It is gone now. The price of resistance against the Dark Sorcerer is a terrible one."
"Wait," said Emma, features scrunched in confusion. "Is this why you were acting so weird when we met him? You already knew he was dangerous? And you said nothing?"
"To be fair, I didn't know for certain Belmordan was this Dark Sorcerer." she replied, partially feeling defense, but also just as shamed at having kept quiet. That she was reluctant to speak of it for reason of her personal anguish was no excuse. Not now. Unfortunately, as then, her pride won out. "Nor could I assume if he was said sorcerer what his intentions would be toward us. Angering him would have been foolish, and I dared not speak of the matter after I learned what he is. He might easily have overheard and then decided to kill us."
Drawing up to her full height, Emma's visage turned thunderous. "That wasn't for you to decide!"
"I couldn't take that chance!" Esperanza cried, tears pricking at her eyelids. "Not when he'd already destroyed my entire realm! I lost my whole family. I couldn't lose you and Ruby as well. I simply couldn't bear the thought. So long as Belmordan remained cordial, I was content to stay silent to keep us all alive. Hate me if you must, but I did what I had to do. To keep you both safe, I'd do it again."
"What?" Regina interrupted, paled upon latching on to a particular bit of news that had been inadvertently dropped. Emma's indignation fled upon catching on to Regina's dismay, affording Esperanza a reprieve she wasn't exactly glad of considering the cause. "The entire kingdom was destroyed? How?"
Though she hadn't been raised in the kingdom in which she was considered royalty, Esperanza knew of the affection Regina held for the land and its people. Her father, she had told Esperanza once when they had time to speak of it, often told her stories about the land of his birth, and of his noble father, King Xavier, who had ruled wisely and fairly, and who Regina had wrapped around her little finger when she was a toddler. Having moved from there at the tender age of five, Regina expressed she'd desired to return there when she was young, though her wistful expression turned sad as she confessed her mother had forbidden it.
Now, she would never get the chance, nor would her children. For all intents and purposes, that land was gone. Reduced to ash and dust by one man's madness. An entire culture and history lost to the sands of time. A heritage forever quenched, but for two women upon whose shoulders and an entire people's continued existence rested. In Sophia and Amelia, Regina had done her part to ensure their race's survival, but Esperanza had yet to fulfill her own obligation. And now, with Belmordan arrived, the prospects of ever doing so looked ever so bleak.
"It is a long story, though I will keep it brief," Esperanza explained, trying to stay strong and not let her emotions run rampant. She needed to remain clear and calm for what was ahead. "A month before before I arrived in the cottage I resided in near the Dark Palace, Belmordan sent a contingent of troops into the kingdom to fetch an important scroll housed within the library. They, of course, met resistance, driving them back toward Misthaven, but then as victory seemed assured, Belmordan himself arrived.
"The man I mentioned earlier told me that he was there that day, that the skies turned black when the dark sorcerer appeared and the ground began to quake with each step he took. With his robes swirling in a vortex of shadowy magic and his eyes burning the pale red of a blood moon, he began snuffing out entire regiments at time, crushing them with a clench of his fists or burning them in an unquenchable flame that rained down from above summoned by a mere motion of his hands. It was, the man said, as if he were a god.
"That day, the kingdom to the south fell, and once Belmordan had procured the scroll, he ordered the entire realm burnt to the ground, down to the tiniest village. My kingdom. My people. Gone forever due to the insanity of one man. This is what we are facing. He will not stop. He will not show mercy. Either we win this battle tonight or we will all die. To the last woman and child."
"On that happy note," injected Hook, a false grin in place as he hoisted his flask in the air, "anyone some rum?" When everyone at once turned to glare daggers at him, he shrugged. "Suit yourself, then. More for me."
"Killian..." Emma gave a longsuffering sigh.
"What, love?" he replied, eyes narrowing. "The lass has just told us that we are facing a power the like of which we've never encountered. That's reason enough for a drink as it is. But you forget, I am a pirate, and pirates do their best fighting when properly sloshed."
When Emma prepared to chastise him again, Regina intervened. "Leave him alone, Swan. He's right. We each need to prepare ourselves in whatever way we can."
"And do so quickly," said Esperanza immediately after, "for I fear he will not wait for long. As soon as his forces are marshaled, they will march on the town." Having said that, Esperanza felt someone's eyes on her. Her eyes flitting about the room to see who it was, she noticed Regina staring at her with a sable brow raised. Her own brow furrowed. "What?"
Regina gestured with her hand up and down the length of Esperanza's body, prompting her to study herself. "You expect to fight a battle in that, dear?" she smirked, referring to Esperanza's work uniform, a slightly more modest version of the get-up she'd heard Ruby once made famous.
Esperanza frowned, eyeing Regina critically in the same way she had been just seconds earlier seeing as she was still in her own work attire. "I could ask the same of you, your Majesty," she sassed back, knowing Regina appreciated a little attitude, which was proven correct when Regina chuckled.
"Touché."
A month ago, Esperanza would not have felt comfortable enough around her cousin to take such a tone. Having spent quite a bit of time around the woman, she had come to realize that Regina was more bark than bite – not that she was so naive as to believe her elder cousin absent whatsoever. Esperanza was was neither ignorant of Regina's history as the Evil Queen, nor of Regina's willingness to wrap herself in the persona of the Queen if necessary to protect her family, even if it meant slaughtering the enemy en masse. Normally, Esperanza would disapprove of such tactics, but after Belmordan had destroyed her homeland, she was much more willing to adapt to more extreme measures. Belmordan was not the sort of enemy to show quarter. To defeat him would require similar callousness. Fight fire with fire, as the people of this world might say.
"If you don't mind, I can rectify that promptly," Regina then said, a tacit offer to magically re-clothe the both in more proper attire.
Esperanza nodded her assent without second thought. "By all means..."
With a flick of her wrist, Regina summoned her impressive powers, directing her magic first to address her own need, a command which it promptly obeyed, drawing a thick curtain of purple smoke around her which swirled upward until she was completely engulfed. As the cloud thickened, Esperanza felt a tingling sensation wrap around her own ankles. Glancing down, she found a ribbon of smoke twirling around her feet, currently stuffed into a pair of high heels, which in a split-second burst into a tempest of magic just as it had around Regina.
When she emerged out of the cloud moments later, Esperanza was no longer in her work clothes, but dressed in a set of fine black leathers, her hair gathered into a functional ponytail. The tunic provided was formfitting and sleeveless, leaving enough of her bronze skin exposed to be striking but not at all risque, and the leggings were tight yet supple so as not to be restrictive. Finishing off the look was a pair of black calf-high boots with three straps held tight by silver buckles and a studded belt slung low around her waist onto which her rapier was attached. All in all, she cut a sleek figure that rather impressed her.
"Thank you, mi prima," she said, smiling at Regina, whose own attire more closely resembled the fearsome tyrant she was most widely recognized as.
In all black herself, Regina chose a velvet waistcoat trimmed in silver filigree and glittering diamonds, and accented by a high decorative collar as well as a train that nearly dragged the ground. Hair piled high on her head in an elegant bun, a silver chain adorned her brow, the ends of which disappeared into midnight tresses. As Esperanza's were, her legs were wrapped in leather and she wore boots, though rather than being calf-high, the high-heeled version she chose rose to just above her knee and had a more distinctive sharpness, tapering off more acutely toward the toes as if a hybrid between boots and modern pumps. Her dress combined with her dark, shadowy makeup made for an intimidating appearance that was certain to give Belmordan's soldiers pause.
"You are most welcome," said Regina, her voice warm but laced with a hint of danger. "In these perilous times, family must take care of one another. Don't you agree?"
"Absolutely," replied Esperanza, and after shared a moment of silent conversation with Regina during which they both promised to look after one another and their friends as well. It made her feel more prepared to brave the battle to come knowing that there was such a strong mutual affection present between the occupants of Emma's office. Each of them, Esperanza knew, were willing to die for one another, and that kind of kinship was difficult to find even among blood bonds.
Bolstered by her confidence, she observed the rest of the group, beginning with Prince Charming. David seemed at peace, his features set into a determination borne of the many battles he had fought and struggles he had overcome to build his family and protect it. Next to him was Snow White, who, like her husband, wore the expression of a veteran soldier, ready to face the next in a long line of battles with the same courage and unyielding belief that made her a beacon of hope to all who knew her.
Also still in the room was Granny, standing stoically with her arms folded over her chest, her trademark glasses low on her nose as she met Esperanza's eyes with a twinkle in her own. Always unflappable, Granny was the true rock of Storybrooke, never wavering, always the same, always dependable. Sometimes Esperanza thought that the town might implode if Granny were not around to keep everyone fed and motivated with her sharp wit and biting sense of humor.
Beside Granny stood Belle, her nose buried in an old tome which Esperanza did not recognize. Bound in deep black leather, it was unadorned of any distinctive markings save the name of the author on the spine: Athanatos the Wanderer. The name struck a chord that piqued her curiosity.
"The wanderer," she said aloud, her eyes widening.
At the mention of the man's title, Regina stiffened in concert with Belle looking up from her book.
"You've heard of him?" Belle inquired.
"Yes," Esperanza replied. "When I was very young, an old man came through my village, white of hair with a beard that reached his chest. Because he had a reputation as a hermit, he was given the nickname: the wanderer, though I knew him by a different name. Ambrosio, he told me to call him. He is the source of the knowledge I imparted to Emma and Ruby back in Misthaven."
"That is very interesting," Belle said, blue eyes shining with curiosity. "I would wager that the old man you met and the author of this book are one and the same. Did he tell you anything specific about Belmordan that can be useful in defeating him?"
Esperanza shook her head sadly. "As I told Emma and Ruby, the legend I heard was very general in nature."
"That's unfortunate," said Belle, her spirits a bit dampened, "but at least we still have the prophecy."
"Wait," spoke Emma from beside an even more tense Regina. "What prophecy?"
For a moment, no one replied as Belle and Regina engaged in a staring contest which neither was likely to back down from. But as if to prove Esperanza wrong, Regina soon sighed and then gestured to Belle, looking a bit affronted but resigned to revealing whatever information they held between them.
"You may as well tell them," she said. "They're going to find out anyway."
With what might pass as a look of apology, slight as it was, Belle flipped the pages of her book until she found what she was looking for. "A while back, before Ruby and Emma left for the Enchanted Forest, Regina asked me to do some research. Unfortunately because the collection of tomes from which I recovered this one were locked away in a strange cellar in the basement, I was not able to scrounge anything up until after they had already left. Anyway, the day you guys came back," she glanced at Emma and then Esperanza, both of whom were listening intently, "I discussed what I found with Regina."
Stopping in her tale, Belle turned the book to where Emma could read it and then laid it on her desk. She then pointed at a passage that was clearly intended to be a poem or verse of some kind.
"I believe this to be a prophecy," Belle continued. "In the text, it is credited as being given by a goddess or demigoddess named Diana. As you can see, it reads:
When Kingdoms fall and packs be scattered,
When darkness sweeps the land asunder
A King of darkened soul will come,
His conquest being all but done.
When his triumph is at hand,
And hope seems lost to beast and man,
The moon shall rise in color red
With she who lives yet once was dead.
Of kin are we in blood and name,
With spirit that no man can tame;
Adjoined she is to sovereign's soul,
Whose shadowed heart she shall make whole.
From greatest shame she bears my mark
To lands of birth she shall embark,
Encount'ring there an ancient past
That seeks to end all light at last.
What once was meant for Master's sake
A touch of hand to stone awakes
An ancient power hidden deep,
Unleashed, the darkness it shall reap.
Chosen, beloved, tried and true,
One heart that beats though torn in two;
When rings the dawning of the morn':
Artorius soon shall be reborn.'
"At first, I had no earthly idea what this meant," Belle then said, "but when I read a certain line for what must have been the hundredth time, it hit me all of the sudden that it is talking about Ruby."
"How did you arrive at that conclusion?" Hook asked, though next to him, Esperanza saw Emma flinch.
"It's the scar isn't it?" the Savior said sorrowfully, clearly affected by something.
Glancing at Regina, Esperanza saw her cousin looking stricken, as if reliving something terrible in her mind from which she was unable to escape. It was likely the event that those closest to Ruby and Regina referred only obliquely, and ever refused to describe in any detail. Whatever had happened, it had left indelible mental and emotional scars as well as physical ones which seemed to resonate even to the present.
"Yes," Regina affirmed with a pained wince, to which Belle nodded her own melancholy agreement.
"I've only seen it rarely when with Ruby at the beach or something of that sort and she's neglected her pendant," commented Belle. "But it's the kind of thing you don't forget. She has a scar the shape of a crescent moon right above her heart. Now, let me read this line once more." Picking up the book, her eyes swept the page for the passage she wanted to highlight and when she found it, she read: "'From greatest shame she bears my mark.' The mark of Diana is obviously a crescent moon. See the crown?" She pointed at the top of the page to a semi-crude depiction of the goddess, clothed in linen with a crown upon her head. Upon the crown was a crescent moon. "It's the same exact shape and orientation as Ruby's scar.
"And while that may be dismissed as coincidence, listen to this next one: 'Adjoined she is to sovereign's soul, Whose shadowed heart she shall make whole."
"Speaking of me, obviously," said Regina, clearly having ascribed to Belle's theory, which made Esperanza tend to believe it as well. Recent as their acquaintance was, she didn't think Regina to be the kind of person who would give credence to a prophecy without good reason, particularly one as old as she and Belle said this one was. Furthermore, what Belle had revealed thus far actually made a lot of sense.
"I believe so, yes," chirped Belle, having picked up a bit of energy doing what she did best, using that enormous brain of hers.
To be such a delicate and beautiful woman, Belle was not shy about her wits, a trait that would not have been possible where Esperanza hailed from. That women could freely express themselves as they were, not as society demanded them to be, was one of the best things about this new world. So while Belle could be quirky and a bit absent minded at times, she was a great asset to the town, and thus far a great friend to Esperanza.
"And just before that," Belle continued, raising a slim finger to point at yet another passage, "the prophecy says this: 'Of kin are we in blood and name,' and thanks to what Emma and Esperanza have told us, along with information that Granny here clued me into recently, I now know that passage to be true as well."
When Esperanza turned to Granny, the elder woman shrugged as if what Belle had said was not strange at all. But it was. It was very strange because Belle had said the prophecy was delivered by a goddess named Diana and claimed it to be speaking of Ruby. When she glanced around the room to ascertain the reactions of the others in the room, she found that Emma, Hook, and David all appeared as confused as she was. Yet Snow and Regina remained as calm and passive as Granny had been.
"But how is that possible?" asked Emma, speaking what Esperanza was thinking. "I thought you said the chick who spouted that nonsense was named Diana."
"That's right. Her name is Diana," Belle replied, prompting Granny with her eyes to fill in the rest.
Sighing, the Lucas matriarch pushed her glasses a bit up her nose and then glared at the four faces looking at her, eager for an answer. "She'll kill me for sure for telling this to so many of you, so whatever happens to me later is on all of you." When no one dared speak, her expression lightened and she chuckled, indicating that she was joking. Esperanza did not find the jest very funny at all. The very thought of Granny dying in any way filled her with an indescribable dread that made her want to incessantly hover at the elder woman's side until she was chased away at the point of a crossbow. "Anyway," Granny then went on, "Red is not Ruby's given name."
"What?!" Emma screeched, obviously unhappy that her best friend had not told her of that fact. Esperanza was surprised herself, but not in such a way as Emma was, and truth be told, had every right to be. "How do I not know this?"
"Because she hates her real name," Granny explained. "It was the only thing Anita left her when she gave Ruby away, and because I did not lie to her to spare her feelings about that subject, by the time she started school she had grown to resent her mother. That's why she didn't say anything."
"How did she come by her name then?" asked David, also a bit hurt by Ruby's excluding him. He then glanced at Snow, who was biting her lip anxiously. His eyes narrowed at his wife. "And why does it seem like you know this when I don't?"
"Don't get upset, honey," Snow assuaged. "I only found out at the same time Regina did."
"It's true," Regina confirmed, appearing as though she was still wounded at her wife having kept such an important piece of information from her.
"As to how she came by her name," Granny then picked up her explanation, "she chose it herself. It's a shortening of her given name."
"Which is?" prompted Emma, hands on her hips.
Sighing once more, Granny shifted her stance. "Now remember, I am telling this under duress should she get bent out of shape."
"We know, Granny," said Emma, not unkindly so much as she was flustered by being kept out of the loop by her best friend. "Don't worry, I'll protect you from the Big Bad Wolf."
"Alright, smart ass," Granny griped. Emma grinned facetiously. "Ruby was born Redelle Diana Lucas."
"Jesus, it's true," Emma gasped at the same time Hook snickered, "Redelle?!" He yelped when he received an ungentle elbow in the ribs from his spouse.
"So, as you can see, Belle's theory is not just a theory," Regina said, her brow furrowed with worry. "This prophecy is about Ruby, but how it all pans out in the end, I have no idea."
"Prophecies are generally vague for that very reason," Belle offered in clarification. "Easy to see in hindsight but shrouded in shadows beforehand."
Regina's lips formed into a thin line. "Well, let's hope we get to look back in wonder rather than in horror at what is about to happen."
Running a hand over her ponytail, Esperanza turned away from the desk and stepped over to the window in the Sheriff's office. Outside, a small group of people were gathered, faces firm and weapons in hand as they awaited orders.
"While I share your hope," she said, "I get the feeling that if things go wrong, no one here will live to tell the tale."
After moving over to stand next to her, Emma laid an encouraging hand on Esperanza's shoulder. "More reason to get a jump on this bastard. We kicked his ass once, we can do it again."
Looking up at her friend, Esperanza mustered up a smile that she knew did not quite reach her eyes. She wanted to believe Emma, but something in her gut was gnawing at her. Something terrible was going to happen.
As she made to turn back to the group, a loud noise blared out from Regina's direction. It was a song from this world by the handsome fellow Ruby enjoyed raving about. If her memory served, it was entitled, "Living On A Prayer."
Scrambling for something in her purse on the desk, Regina pulled out her cellular phone and glanced at the screen. "It's Ruby," she said, eyes wide with hesitant hope as she pressed a button to connect the call. "Ruby?"
Watching with bated breath, Esperanza prayed that her friend was alright. The entire trip to the station she had fretted over Ruby's illness and subsequent disappearance. From what little Granny had said in the diner, the situation was serious, and with Ruby missing, there was nothing Regina could do to help her, which had to be putting even more strain on her already overwrought cousin.
But instead of any kind of relief or joy, Regina's hopeful expression crumbled. "Oh," she breathed into the phone. "Where did you find it? And there was no sign of her at all? Dammit!" Pinching her nose, she took a deep breath. Obviously whoever was calling was not Ruby but had stumbled across her phone. When Regina regathered herself a moment later, she spoke again to the person on the phone, "Okay, what about the situation at the farm?" Ah, Esperanza thought, it had to be Robin Hood, as Zelena's farm was in an area of the forest he and his men heavily patrolled. After listening for a few moments longer, Regina suddenly stiffened, her expression growing hard. "You're sure?" A tense pause. "Alright. Hold for one second, please."
Drawing the phone away from her ear, she turned her eyes onto the occupants of the room. "It's Robin," she said, and then proceeded to place the phone on the desk. After pressing a button on the device, she spoke once more, "Robin, you're on speaker. Repeat what you just said."
"The forces that marshaled at Zelena's farm are already on the move," he told them, his voice strained from either tension or exertion, Esperanza could not tell which. "It's too late now to mount a proper defense, so you'll have to gather in the town square to stand a fighting chance, and quickly at that. Whoever they are and wherever they are from, these blokes are well armed and well trained. Get everyone ready. They'll be there within a half hour."
"Very well, Robin," Regina replied, her face stony and unreadable. "Thank you for all you've done. If you and the Merry Men are able, join us in the square. If not, make for their flanks once they enter town to harass them as you can. They'll have to funnel into tight lines in the streets."
A shuffling came over the speaker as if Robin was moving. "It will be our pleasure," he said, once the shuffling stopped. "See you soon, Regina. Do me a favor, though: stay safe."
A grim looked passed over Regina's face but still she nodded as if Robin could see her. "I will try my best. See you soon." And then the call was cut off.
"I guess this little pow-wow was for nothing then," Emma said in response to Robin's report.
Rather than replying to Emma, Regina left her place at the Savior's side and joined Esperanza at the window. "Are you ready for this?" she asked, brown eyes lit with a fire that Esperanza rarely got to see. It was, she knew, the Evil Queen making herself known.
With a firm nod, Esperanza held her arm out. "I am." When Regina clasped Esperanza's forearm, she returned the gesture and offered her kinswoman a silent promise that she was prepared to fight and die if that was what was required.
To the Esperanza's surprise, Regina's eyes softened somewhat and she allowed a muted smile to form on her lips. "I'm glad you're here, dear," she said, the words laden with genuine affection.
It was the most earnest declaration Regina had given to Esperanza, and it made her feel a sense of belonging she hadn't felt since she left home all those months ago. And while it haunted her nights to consider that her home no longer existed, if for no other reason than to have met the woman who turned out to exceed her every expectation, Esperanza was glad to have made that decision.
"As am I, mi prima, as am I."
And with that, Regina nodded and strode toward the door. When she stopped in the doorway, she looked back over her shoulder. "I don't know what's going to happen next," she said to the group, "but what I do know is that everything we love is in danger. Our town, our homes, our neighbors, our friends, our families," pausing, she took a shaky breath, moisture gathering in her eyes, "our children." But then her expression hardened once more. "Fight for them. Kill for them. The time for holding back is past. Both Emma and Esperanza have told you who we are dealing with. Remember their warnings and heed them. For us, this is not a battle for land or wealth or power, but a battle for our right to live, and I don't know about you, but I intend to give it everything I've got."
With that, Regina turned once more and swept out of the room, the train of her waistcoat rustling about her legs. Esperanza had already been ready to fight a bloody battle, but at Regina's speech, she felt as if she were ready to wage war in hell itself.
Falling in behind the woman she silently pledged her loyalty to, Esperanza stepped out into the station proper, among the twenty or so individuals trusted enough to be included in preparations. Among them were a few Esperanza recognized, including Flynn and his wife Rapunzel, as well Aladdin and Jasmine, and Hercules and Megara. Finally, lingering near the exit of the station was Rumplestiltskin, waiting for his beloved wife with his hands folded at his waist wearing a dreadful expression that sent shivers down Esperanza's spine. It was good, she thought, that he was on their side in this fight because a man of such knowledge with access to the magic of the Dark One was a danger in and of himself.
Turning her eyes up as she moved with Regina toward the exit of the station, Esperanza caught sight of the lone prisoner in the cells spring up from his cot to grasp the bars of his cage.
"You'll never win," the man taunted smugly. "It's too late. The master is too powerful now. And even if you do defeat him, you'll never save your precious little wolf."
"You'd better hope that's not the case," Regina replied, turning baleful eyes on the man. "If she dies, so do you, and as much torment as you have condemned her to suffer, I will return to you a hundred-fold."
"Oh, your Majesty," the man grinned, "I do so look forward to gloating over your bloated corpse."
Returning a dark smile, Regina waved her hand. Almost immediately the man began to choke, gasping for air as he stumbled backward, tripping over the cot and landing on the cement floor with a thud. Writhing on the ground, he gasped and gagged and spluttered.
"And I yours, Mr. Hatter," she then said, her smile turning gleefully malicious.
Having had her fun, she released him and turned away then marched out the door, leaving the man she'd called Mr. Hatter scrambling over the back wall, his face red as he gulped for air. Following in her cousin's wake, Esperanza departed the station and did not give the horrible man a second thought. If he was correct, she would soon be dead, and if he was proven wrong, she would return with her cousin to extract vengeance for the life he had taken. For now, her focus was on the task at hand: winning the battle to come, no matter the cost, no matter how many soldiers she had to put to the sword.
For her family, Esperanza was willing to go as far as necessary, she simply hoped that it was enough.