Disclaimer: I do not own Once Upon a Time or the characters. This is just one of the
many sandboxes I like to play in. :)
AN: Happy Once Day! I think after last week's episode and the fact that they are in this week's episode too, I think we can tentatively say that the Year of Snowing is off to a good start. Here's to hoping they keep it up. Please enjoy this next installment of my story, which always centers around Snowing and Charming family and will always see them at their best.
Updates will remain on Sunday nights.
One more special note: When I started this story, I always had the intention of giving Charming a back story and giving details on his father. I honestly thought they were never going to do either, so that's why I decided to do it myself. However, it looks like A&E might actually give us both. I'm unsure what they're going to do and it's probably very far off from what I'm doing. That being said, I am going to continue my plan for Charming's back story/his father. If I like what they do and can work with it, I may incorporate it into my story. If I don't, I'll probably disregard, just like I'm going to disregard and rewrite most of 4B. I also don't know what they're going to do with the Dragon. I never expected them to bring him back either, but I will likely keep the storyline I've started regarding his character too.
It also seems that they are bringing in Ella's step family. In my story, the Tremaines are actually in Storybrooke and I'm operating under the theory that Ana from OUATIW is Ella's reformed step-sister. Drizella is the evil one and Lady Rodmilla Tremaine is extremely cruel. I modeled the Lady Tremaine in my story after the version seen in the 1997 movie Ever After. Once did a really good job of portraying her as basically evil with no redeeming qualities and that fits my portrayal and I will continue down the path I've started with the Tremaines. This story is AU, after all.
Ten years have passed since Henry's birth. It is now the year 2011 in the Land Without Magic.
Emma is now 28
Alexandra Herman is nineteen
Leo and Eva Nolan are eighteen
Henry Nolan is ten
Everyone else has remained the same. Time has now resumed in Storybrooke and all the previously frozen realms...so we'll be kicking it up a notch. :)
Thanks for all the great reviews. Here's individual responses:
Ritu: I'm really enjoying this season so far too. They are the same writers. I think they're just finally listening to fans and taking the show back to its roots. Let's hope they continue this way. Glad you like the story.
Guest: Yes, this story juggles a lot of characters and I have a lot of storylines planned for this story, some canon, and some completely original.
Rukia's Reflection: Thanks! Glad you liked it. Yes, I'm still doing the Enchanted Forest storyline. It will play out a bit differently here though and I think you'll find it fun and interesting.
EvilRegalMockingjay: Thanks! Glad you're enjoying the story!
Emmaathena2013: Yes! Snowing fell through the portal with Emma and Summer so it's going to be an interesting twist on this canon storyline. As for Xander, you'll see him a bit in this chapter and I promise his introduction to his family is coming. It's just been delayed a bit. ;)
RunningInthePouringRain: Yes, I couldn't resist having Charming fall through the portal with them. There are going to be lots of feels and adventure. As for the castle...you bet! With them both back there, I can't resist throwing in all those memories. Glad you're enjoying the story so much!
Sexystarwarslover: Yes, August and the Dragon are the way to Storybrooke. And yes, there will be lots of meetings for Snowing and their girls in the Enchanted Forest. There's much in store on all fronts. Glad you're enjoying the story!
Thanks also to Disneylover1233, Littlest1, and barratta Jennifer.
Finding You Always
Chapter 49: Worlds Apart
Soft crying slowly roused Emma from a hazy world of unconsciousness.
"Owe…" she groaned, as she flexed her sore muscles.
"Emmy…" a voice sobbed. Emma opened her green eyes and instantly took her baby sister in her arms.
"Mommy and Daddy won't wake up," Summer cried. Emma was struck with a flurry of memories. The Wraith. Pulling Summer out of its path. The portal. But Mom and Dad should be back in Storybrooke...unless…
She looked behind her and let out a strangled gasp, as she saw her unconscious parents, arms wrapped protectively around each other.
"Mom...Dad…" she called, as she reached out and shook her father's shoulder. But the cold steel of a blade was suddenly at her throat. She clutched Summer close and looked up, finding a dark haired woman glaring down at her.
"Don't move," she ordered.
"I'm just trying to wake my parents," Emma said, using her free arm to hold it up in surrender. The woman narrowed her eyes and it was then that a brunette woman in a dress stormed into her vision.
"You're the reason my prince is dead," she hissed.
"What?" Emma asked.
"You brought the Wraith here," the other woman hissed.
"No...we were trying to stop it too...and my sister and I were knocked into the portal. My parents followed us...where are we?" Emma stammered, as she heard her mother whimper.
"Mom…" Emma called.
"Emma...Summer…" Snow called, as she sat up, instantly noticing their company and the woman's sword on their daughters.
"Charming…" Snow said, as she shook him awake and brushed her hand over his face.
"Snow…" he groaned, as his blue eyes met her green ones.
"Mommy! Daddy!" Summer cried, as she reached for them. But the woman's sword blocked them from their girls.
"Where are we?" Charming asked.
"I think we're home...or what used to be home," Snow replied.
"But...I thought the curse took everyone to Storybrooke," he recalled.
"The curse...you're talking about Queen Regina's curse?" the warrior woman asked.
"Yes...we were victims of Regina's curse. We thought everyone was," Snow replied.
"Well, you were wrong. This portion of the land remained untouched. No one knows why," the woman with the sword explained.
"We need to find a way back to Storybrooke. The rest of our family is there," Emma said. Her parents nodded.
"You're not going anywhere. You killed Phillip," the woman hissed.
"We didn't kill anyone! We came through the portal, because two of our daughters fell through it!" Snow protested. Summer wriggled away from Emma and started to run to Charming, but the blade stopped their baby.
"Get that blade away from my baby," Snow hissed.
"She's four...she's no threat to you," Charming added.
"Thinking you have any kind of power here is a mistake," the woman hissed back.
"Aurora...put the child on my horse," the warrior ordered. Summer kicked and screamed, but the princess managed the task. Charming's hands were tied first, followed by Snow and Emma and soon, the three of them found themselves being dragged along behind the two horses.
"Where are you taking us?" Snow asked. But she received no answer, as the horses trotted along to a destination unknown to them.
The empty glass sailed across the Captain's quarters on Clayton's ship and smashed into a million pieces, as it hit the wall.
"Calm down," Clayton pleaded.
"Calm down? You say it's finally time! That I can finally tell my son that I'm alive and he falls through a portal!" Xander cried.
"Do you have so little faith in him that you don't think he'll find a way back?" Clayton questioned.
"Of course not. But you and I both know how hard portals are to find," Xander responded.
"Yes, but not impossible. We will simply bide our time a little longer," Clayton replied.
"And if they can't get back?" Xander asked.
"The Dragon is on his way here. He'll know what must be done if it comes to that," Clayton replied, as he poured another drink.
"In the meantime, I'll keep up appearances as the new Harbor Master and you can keep an eye on the King. With Charming gone, George may try to seize power in one way or another. Instead, you can deliver a little revenge for what he did to your boys. No one will miss the old fool," Clayton said. Xander smirked and clenched his fist.
"I suppose that will be a good use of my time. I've waited a long time to make him pay," Xander replied. Clayton smirked.
"And now you can,"
"So...do you think it can be fixed?" Leo asked. It was the next morning and they had all gathered at Granny's for breakfast. Regina sighed.
"Even if I can or Jefferson does, we still need to get it work. My magic is not cooperating like I'd like it to. I'm still getting the hang of it here in Storybrooke," Regina explained.
"Was it because my Mom touch the hat that made it work?" Henry asked. Regina smiled at him.
"Yes Henry, she's the savior and magic comes very naturally to her, even though she's untrained," Regina explained.
"But...then Uncle Leo and Aunt Eva should have magic too, right?" Henry asked.
"Yes...in fact we've seen a type of focal magic from Uncle already," Regina answered.
"Focal magic?" Leo asked.
"So far we've seen that your abilities have a focal point, that being animals," Regina explained.
"Then my magic is limited to that?" he asked.
"Not necessarily, it's just what comes naturally to you. Like Emma, magic is natural to you. You both were born with it, which means it can be easily taught to you," Regina replied.
"It just doesn't do us any good at the moment," Leo added.
"Unfortunately, no," Regina answered.
"But I haven't shown any sign of magic at all," Eva said dejectedly.
"Yet. Magic is emotion and we don't know how or when it may choose to manifest," Regina reminded.
"What about the fairies? They have magic, right?" Henry asked. Leroy cleared his throat.
"I talked to Nova...and without fairy dust, they don't have magic for their wands," he answered.
"But didn't you and your brothers used to mine the diamonds that created fairy dust?" Thomas asked. Leroy's eyes widened.
"The mines...now that magic is here," he started to say.
"The diamonds might be too!" Happy finished. Leroy pounded his first on the table.
"All right boys, let's get to the mines!" he called, as he and his brothers, minus Sneezy, filed out.
"I'll come by later and take a shift," Robin offered. Leroy nodded gratefully.
"I guess my next stop is Gold's shop," Leo said. Regina nodded.
"I'll talk to him if you don't get anywhere, but he might be more forth coming if it's just you," Regina said. He nodded.
"What about me?" Henry asked.
"You're off to school with Roland, kid," Leo replied.
"But I wanna help! How come I have to go to school?" Henry complained.
"You're helping me stay alive by going to school. Your Mom and my Mom will kill me if I let you skip," Leo replied. Henry's shoulders slumped, but he walked to the bus with Roland with reluctance.
"I'll head to the station," Thomas said.
"I'll go help the dwarves," Robin said, as he kissed Regina.
"Should I go to the library and do some research?" Eva offered.
"Maybe later, but they're might be better sources of research in my vault. I could use an extra set of eyes," Regina replied. Eva nodded with a smile, as she left with Regina.
Their arms throbbed from being pulled along behind the horses by the time they reached Mulan's camp, which looked like a refugee camp.
"What is this place?" Emma wondered.
"They're refugees," Snow answered.
"We're survivors," Mulan snapped.
"Daddy!" Summer called, reached for him.
"Please...let me hold our daughter," David pleaded.
"And untie your hands so you can escape?" Mulan questioned suspiciously.
"I'd never do anything to jeopardize the safety of my wife and daughters," he snapped back. Mulan studied him for a moment, before undoing the ropes.
"One false move and you'll regret it," she warned. He ignored her hard stare and reached for their baby, taking her in his arms. She cried against his chest and he cradled her head, whispering soothing things to her. He gathered by Snow and Emma and his wife lifted her bound hands to gently stroke her baby's caramel colored locks. Charming kissed Snow's forehead and cuddled as close to him, as her bound hands would allow. He stroked her cheek and kissed her lips tenderly, hoping to convey that everything would be all right in one simple gesture. He gave Emma a glance, hoping to convey the same to her.
Mulan drew her sword and pointed it at them.
"Walk single file into camp and no sudden movements," she ordered. Charming shared a look with his wife, as he took the lead and did exactly as the warrior said.
"What are we going to do with them?" Aurora asked.
"They're prisoners. We'll put them in the pit," Mulan answered.
"We haven't done anything wrong," Emma insisted.
"You're the reason my Phillip is dead!" Aurora hissed.
"No...we were trying to protect our loved ones from the Wraith just as you were. Because of it, we're separated from the rest of our family. We didn't mean to harm anyone. That was the Wraith," Snow insisted.
"Quiet," Mulan snapped, as she marched their prisoners into the camp.
"Mulan...you have returned," a man called, as he approached. He was dressed like the others, but there was something decidedly regal about this man.
"King Richard," she regarded with a curt bow.
"King Richard...of Nottingham?" Snow asked. The King regarded her skeptically.
"Do I know?" he asked.
"N...no, but you knew my father. King Leopold...long ago," Snow replied. The man's eyes widened.
"My goodness...could it be? Little Snow?" he asked. She nodded with a smile. Before he could continue, they heard another voice.
"Snow? Charming?" another warrior called, quickly removing his helmet.
"Lancelot!" David exclaimed in relief. Seeing their tied hands and Mulan's weapon pointed at Charming, he looked to the other warrior.
"Mulan...stand down. They are friends," Lancelot ordered.
"When I returned from Camelot a few days ago, after apparently we were all frozen in time, I saw the devastation the curse left in its wake. I assumed like most, you'd been ripped to another land by the curse," Lancelot said.
"We were. It's a bit of a long story," Snow said, as they hugged.
"I'd love to hear it, but you all must be famished. Come," he said, as he led them into the camp. Mulan followed, as did Aurora, but the princess looked very unhappy.
Leo ignored the closed sign on the shop window and went inside.
"It seems I was wasting my money when I bought that closed sign," Rumple drawled. Leo smirked.
"Probably, though Belle told me I'm always welcome to come in whether it says open or closed," Leo replied.
"Well...then what can I do for you?" Rumple asked.
"I have some questions and let's not kid around, not much happens in this town without you knowing about it," Leo said. Rumple smirked.
"By all means then, junior deputy Charming, ask away," Rumple mused. Little did either know, Belle had slipped in the back entrance, deciding to surprise Rumple with an early lunch from Granny's.
Leo pulled a photo out of the file he was carrying.
"And what exactly am I looking at?" Rumple questioned, as he viewed the photo of a hand with the symbol burned into it.
"This symbol was found burned into Medusa's skin when we found the body this morning. Any idea what could have caused it?" Leo asked, studying his reaction. But Rumple betrayed no emotion.
"Can't say that I do," he replied.
"It's the same symbol that is on Jefferson's hand that made the wraith come after him. We think that's what killed her," Leo continued.
"Still...I don't see what that has to do with me," Rumple replied.
"Your knowledge of magic is vast. Surely you've seen this before," Leo stated.
"Are you accusing me of something, deputy?" Rumple asked. Leo smirked.
"Not at all," he answered.
"But here's my theory. The fact that Medusa just happened to find that diamond at the same time you brought magic here can't be a coincidence. And it's interesting that my parents were kept busy with finding Summer, while Emma and I were looking for Henry, which also resulted in us getting the potion you needed to bring magic to Storybrooke. And it's funny that Medusa and her dimwitted bodyguards went after Henry and Summer in the first place. Even those idiots had to know that we'd be on them in no time. They were risky targets," Leo explained.
"What is your point?" Rumple asked impatiently.
"My point is that someone put her up to it and now she's dead, because the person behind it didn't want her to talk," Leo said. Rumple smirked.
"You'll be quite the detective one day, even though you have your father's tact. But I assure you, I had nothing to do with that vile woman," he lied. Leo shrugged.
"Even if you did, it's not like I could lock you up anyway, not with magic here," Leo replied, as he noticed Gold's packed suitcase.
"Planning a trip?" he asked.
"What business is that of yours? Rumple asked. Leo smirked.
"You don't know, do you?" he asked.
"Know what?" Rumple snapped.
"Let's make a deal. You tell me what I want to know and I'll tell you...unless you'd like to take your chances," Leo said.
"Fine...I needed to bring magic to this land to help me find my son," Rumple confessed.
"Your son?" he asked, thinking for a moment.
"Baelfire...from the book. He jumped into a portal. But that was almost two hundred years ago," Leo said.
"Your reading serves you well, but I assure you he's still alive and somewhere out there. Everything I've done is to find him," Rumple explained.
"Including having my little sister kidnapped to distract my parents?" he asked. But Rumple didn't dignify that with a response.
"I've told you a very closely guarded secret of mine. Now I think you should tell me about the town line," Gold stated evenly.
"Anyone that was cursed loses their true memories if they step over the line. Sneezy thinks he's just Tom Clark, owner of the pharmacy now," Leo explained. Rage boiled inside Rumpelstiltskin, but he it kept it at bay for the moment.
"Well...then I think we are done here, dearie," he said. Leo gave him one last withering look, before leaving the shop. Once he was gone, Gold picked up his cane and smashed the glass on his display cases in a rage.
"Rumple!" Belle cried. He froze in place, instantly wondering how long she'd been there.
"Belle…" he uttered.
"Is Leo right?" she asked, as she folded her arms over her chest.
"Belle...let me explain," he pleaded.
"Did you conspire with Medusa and then let the wraith lose on her?" Belle demanded to know.
"I need magic to find my son. The children were never in any real danger," he insisted.
"Little Summer is only four! She almost drowned!" Belle exclaimed.
"I knew Snow and Charming would find her in time," he insisted.
"You used two innocent children for your own gain. Now half of the Charming family is probably in another land, fighting for their lives!" she said.
"They are resourceful, Belle. They'll find a way back," he replied.
"You hope...or maybe you don't care," she huffed.
"Of course I care! I've always been fond of them, you know that," he retorted. She crossed her arms over her chest and started toward the door.
"Where are you going?" he asked.
"Home...to pack a bag. I'm going to stay with Ruby for a few days. I...I just can't deal with this right now," she replied.
"Belle...please don't leave me," he pleaded.
"Things were so good for us before magic returned. It's been back a mere two days and you've already lied repeatedly to me, conspired to kidnap two children, and committed murder," Belle said.
"Yes...I need it to find my son and I'll do anything to find him," Rumple replied.
"And hurt anyone that gets in your way. You haven't really changed at all," she added, as she stormed out. He desperately wanted to go after her, but he needed to stay focused on Baelfire. He needed to find a way to leave Storybrooke with his memories in tact. And most of the people that could actually leave town without consequence were in another land. He really did hope they returned. He hated to admit it, but he needed the Charming talent of finding people and Emma's experience in this world outside Storybrooke.
"Hey kid," Leo greeted, as Henry hopped off the bus with Roland in tow.
"Hi Uncle...any luck?" Henry asked eagerly.
"Well...the dwarves have been in the mines all day. It may take a while, but they'll find some diamonds. Mr. Gold wasn't very forthcoming, but then I knew he wouldn't be," Leo told him. Henry lowered his head sadly and Leo knelt beside him.
"Hey...we will find them. It's what this family does," he promised, as he looked into Henry's brown eyes.
"But for now, you have a lesson," Leo said, as he pulled out their wooden swords from the passenger seat of the patrol car. Henry beamed.
"I know Gramps has been teaching you, but do you think I'll be a decent stand in?" Leo asked. Henry smiled.
"Gramps taught you so you can teach me too," Henry replied, as they started playfully sparring, while Roland cheered them on.
Neither of them noticed the older man in a car nearby, observing them closely. They could have been his legacy, but the shepherd and his bandit had ruined them with their talk of true love and hope. But George knew better. The only thing that mattered was power and money. With the Sheriff and the Mayor gone now, he knew he needed to ensure they never returned. Even then, he still had the Queen and the two remaining brats to contend with. But he was confident that he could seize power again with the right calculated moves. Charming had once destroyed everything he had built...and now, he would do the same, starting with the rest of his family...
