Hey Everyone! Vanitas Ryuzaki Here! I'm so sorry for basically disappearing of the face of the Earth, but my life has been a massive roller coaster of ups and downs! I got a new job and all the work I had for my stories was lost because my laptop decided not to work anymore. I got a new laptop and had to start the chapters from scratch and I'm still trying to recover everything from my old laptop.
Anyways, again I'm sorry for keeping you all waiting but here it is Chapter 13 of The Will of the Phoenix!
Jurgen strolled through the crowded marketplace. To think that a market as large as this existed nearly in the middle of nowhere; however, it's a very convenient and traveler friendly environment to purchase supplies. Jurgen took in the numerous stands that surrounded the area, many of them consisting of various fruits and vegetables while others are lined with clothing, jewelry, pottery and among other things—the market even had a local blacksmith and a small bakery. The prince smiled softly at the friendliness of the people, their smiles contagious and mannerism flattering him to no end; who would have thought that people who built such a small town could be so welcoming to strangers.
"Greetings, young traveler." Jurgen halted, his eyes meeting those of a young woman with long red hair. He was concerned at first, but her gentle green eyes and angelic smile soothed his worries. "You come from a far-off land, yes?"
"That obvious?" Softly chuckled Jurgen, rubbing the back of his head in sheer embarrassment.
"Quite easy to pick out a foreigner in a crowd when you've lived here long enough." Smiled the young woman. "I sense you're troubled—perhaps a reading will ease your thoughts. Come, my child, let Arianna cleanse your sorrows." Offered the redhead, pulling aside the tapestry hiding her shop and holding out her hand to the dark-haired prince.
Jurgen hesitated, glancing slowly to his left and right before taking the mysterious woman's hand and following her inside. The redhead led him through a small tunnel behind a bookcase, releasing Jurgen's hand upon reaching a windowless room lined with various books, vials of colored liquid and strange artifacts—Jurgen licked his lips, sitting on a small cushion offered by the young girl, watching her produce a deck of cards from her robes; he watched as she laid several across the table, her eyes closed and hands gliding lightly over each card. The tips of her fingers faintly glowed, a delicate blue light radiating from her hands, her brows frowned in concentration as she read deeply into the cards.
"You're searching for someone. Someone very dear to you…you love them with everything you are and will do anything to find them." The card reader said. "I see someone in your past, one you treasured and lost but continue to hold onto and imagining what could have been."
"…" Jurgen didn't know what to say. His very soul is bare to this woman, every emotion he's ever felt in his life is laid out before her. Is it possible that she can see the despair that haunts him now?
"Placed under a spell you were, an incantation that blinded you to the suffering of the one you love most. Caused him great suffering you did…" Arianna stared into Jurgen's emerald eyes, his gaze reflecting pain and longing. "Rest assured, the one most precious to you love you still."
Jurgen trembled under Arianna's gaze. Hope filled his broken heart, a soft cry of relief leaving Jurgen's lips; he doesn't hate him, his baby brother still loves him…he still has a chance to make things right. Jurgen felt a great weight lift from his shoulders; he never felt so free in all his life—he's going to make sure Hans understands and knows how much he means to him; Jurgen will spend the rest of his life making it up to Hans if he has to.
"I must warn you…their suffering is far from being over. A great pain will befall him in the land he resides in. Lies and secrets will be his undoing…these factors will cause him to make a dangerous and life altering decision…a decision that will jeopardize the relationships he's made."
"Hans…" Was all Jurgen could say before a great chill seeped into his bones and a quiet sob ripped from his lips.
Henry stared at the pages in his hands, silently praising himself for ripping them clean out of the storybook beforehand. Fear had gripped his heart when Paige mentioned seeing Hans reading the book of fairytales; Henry knew the storybook would eventually appear to Hans, which is why he made the decision to tear out the pages containing Jurgen and the rest of his brothers; he regrets keeping them a secret from his older brother, but soon convinced himself that it was for Hans's own good.
"Hey, kid." Henry peeked over his shoulder to find his mother Emma standing behind him, her face shining with concern. "You okay?"
"Am I doing the right thing?" Asked Henry, turning his gaze to the pages in his hands. "Should I really be doing this to him?"
"Maybe, Maybe not." Answered Emma. "We'll have to come clean eventually though."
Hans calmly shaded the small areas of his newest sketch with a crimson colored pencil; he couldn't understand why he felt the need to add such a large and breathtaking being to his masterpiece, but something in the back of his mind told him it was necessary. The fire prince set aside his brightly colored pencil before selecting a beautiful cobalt one from his collection of art supplies—numerous sketches circled Hans, many of them were drawings of the residences of Storybrooke while others were of various sceneries, birds, his brothers and one of a land he's never seen before. Hans briefly glanced at his sketches before adding the finishing touches to his work, gently returning the cobalt pencil to the wooden box, before admiring what he believed was his greatest work yet.
Dominating most of the top half of the page was an enormous bird: wings spread wide as if preparing for flight and its feathers ranging from brilliant shades of red, orange and yellow, its tail long and majestic and the color of a raging fire, its beak open and releasing a silent but powerful cry, several feathers on its head extended like long antennas and were as red as its tail with gold tips; the most striking feature on the great bird are its eye, blue like precious sapphire with hints of golden yellow surroundings the irises. Orange/yellow flames caressed this beautiful creature's body, swirling and flickering in an elegant dance—standing in the foreground of the page is a sketch of the 3rd born prince of the Southern Isles Jurgen Elias Johannes Westerguard. Hans had drawn his brother in a rather religious position: Jurgen's arms are spread wide as if he were worshipping the large firebird above him, palms facing forward and cloaked by leather gloves that left his fingers exposed, his eyes closed in serene and lips slightly parted, the necklace Hans had gifted to Jurgen as a child rested comfortably against his chest and appeared to be reacting to the solar bird's presence; Jurgen looked completely at peace and expressing great gratitude to the beautiful Phoenix.
Hans drank in the clothing he chose his brother to wear in the drawing: Jurgen wore a long royal blue trench coat, the ends flying in the wind behind, leather pants that fit snug against his body, seductively enhancing his defined muscular legs and slim hips, a black long sleeve shirt covered his upper body and outlined the muscles on his chest and abdomen, a gray utility belt circled his waist with a single pouch resting against his right hip, a lone gray leather belt lay across Jurgen's chest and is secured by a strange emblem in the center of his chest.
"The attire suits him…strangely enough." Muttered Hans, unconsciously taking a red orange pencil from the art box and adding faint flames surrounding Jurgen from the waist down.
Hans smiled faintly at the finished sketch; the layering is flawless and facial features lifelike and smooth—Hans is proud of himself and hopes to one day demonstrate his skills to his older brother…if they ever crossed paths again.
"Strange…" Mumbled Hans, his soft emerald eyes catching sight of barely visible details circling Jurgen's body. "I don't remember drawing tiny glass fragments…let's not dwell on trivial things, it's nothing to worry about. A minor detail that's best ignored."
Hans took his writer's pen from its leather case and glided it expertly across the corner of the sketch paper, effectively inscribing his name onto the parchment in royal blue ink. The young prince smiled in satisfaction, exhaling onto the fresh ink scrawl before slipping the sketch into a clear plastic sleeve and adding it to his art binder—Hans collected all his sketches and placed them into their proper place, carefully returning the portfolio into his backpack and making his way off the roof of the Mills Mansion.
A single sketch lay innocently on the rooftop of the Mills Mansion. This sketch is far from innocent: dark clouds swallowed the background of the page, small crackles of lighting swirling within the ominous clouds, a lone figure cloaked in black stood on a ledged in the foreground. The face of the figure is obscured by the shadow of a hood pulled over their head, their nose and lips being the only features visible; gritted teeth were in place of a smile, a faint glow radiated from the figure's chest; the individual looked to be sneering at an unseen audience from behind them...however, the most disturbing features of the sketch are the dagger of the Dark One clutched in their right hand and an unknown victim's beating heart resting in their left.
Ruby smiled at the innocence in Hans's eyes as he listened to Robin Hood speak of his merry adventures with his band of merry men. His eyes reminded her of the carefree gaze his brother had whenever they were together; she could still remember every detail of his person. The way his hair swayed in the gentle breeze of their meadow, the glow of his eyes when he spoke of his brothers despite them being rather crude at times, and the musical sound of his laughter (his laugh turning into adorable snorts), the softness of his lips, his perfect pearly white teeth, but what she loves most about him is his heart of gold and benevolent nature. So perfect and wonderful, too pure to be tainted by her bloodline's curse...she let him go, heartbroken and eyes filled with tears.
"You're still thinking about him." Ruby cringed at her grandmother's tone. "You loved that boy."
"I do...my feelings never changed." Admitted Ruby, twiddling her thumbs before gathering a tray filled with dishes from the counter. "He won't forgive me...not after all this time."
"Ruby, give the man some credit. He was hopelessly in love with you. If I were many years younger, I'd have taken that boy's hand and never let go." Stated Granny, giving her granddaughter a stern look before returning to her cooking.
Ruby sighed, taking the dishes to the back and solemnly laying them down on the steel counter. Granny was right...he had been head over heels for her and she broke his heart. Ruby never considered the possibility of him still harboring feelings for her, it made it easier to assume that he had moved on with his life and found someone new...still, is it possible that his feelings never changed either?
"If I do see you again...will you forgive me for leaving you behind?" Ruby whispered, wiping away a stray tear from her cheek before picking up a blue sponge from the dish wrack and proceeding to wash the dishes. "...I still love you…"
Jurgen clutched the Phoenix pendant tightly in his right hand, using his left to stoke the fire with a long, sharp branch. The 3rd born heir gazed deeply into the embers of the fire, slowly slipping his hand through the flames and watching them dance around his palm; Jurgen still found himself astounded that fire couldn't hurt him anymore, even though it would burn so many times before...Arianna assured him that it was a side-effect from awaking the Phoenix's power within himself.
"Makes me wonder...what else father is hiding from me…" Jurgen sighed, brushing back his unkempt hair from his face; his once short hair now grazing his neck.
Jurgen tossed a stray branch into the burning fire, the night air growing colder every day. He began to wonder if perhaps he should have told his brothers what he was doing, but then Franz would've tried to stop him; Franz is noble and cares deeply about his brothers, but his overprotectiveness blinds him to the feelings of others. Jurgen had argued with Franz more than any of his eleven brothers, moreso when it came to Hans and the small boy's needs; Jurgen did his best to provide Hans with everything he ever wanted and more.
"I gave you everything anyone could ever want...but all you really wanted and needed was us." Jurgen gave a pained smile, recalling a time when Hans would try and gain their father's attention and approval. "So innocent and young...you didn't deserve to be ignored."
"Papa! Look, look!" Hans cried, jumping up and down and trying to show his drawing to the king. "Papa?"
King Cladius continued down the corridor, ignoring his youngest son as though he were nothing but a puny insect. The old king could never understand how such a young child could be so irritating and needy; not one of his twelve other sons were such a handful, but then again Hannah had been alive at the time and showered all of their sons with love and attention. What makes this tiny princeling so special? Gifted with the powers of their grandfather, yes, but little else. As thirteenth in line for the throne of the Southern Isles, Hans will never have the chance to rule the kingdom the way he'll wish to.
"Such a waste." Growled King Cladius, shoving the tiny prince aside and leaving him to his own misery.
Hans cried and cried, not understanding why his father hated him so much. All Hans wanted was for his father to look at him the way he looked at his twelve older brothers, with pride and love. Why did he never receive such praise and affection from their father? Was he truly that unlovable? Hans rubbed his eyes, tears continuing to cascade down his baby face, his attention brought to the drawing he made for his father.
On the small parchment is his family. His twelve big brothers, the servants, his grandfather, his mother and father, and himself; they all stood together, faces bright and happy.
"Huh?" Hans drew his eyes to a lone figure standing in the background. "Whose that?"
A woman with long black hair and soft brown eyes stared back at him, her red lips pulled up into a loving smile. His heart fluttered with happiness, a happiness he couldn't understand; it was as if his heart knew this person, but his mind didn't. A forgotten friend perhaps? Hans didn't know but smiled nonetheless.
"I wonder if I'll meet her." Hans stood, dusting his pants clean, and calmly placed the drawing in a frame on his nightstand. "One day...One day, he'll see I'm just as great as all my brothers."
Jurgen laughed softly, he happened to be walking down the hall when he heard Hans's cries. His baby brother always wanted to be just like them, but Jurgen always reminded Hans that he should strive to be the best of himself and not try to be like everyone else.
"You'll always be the best to me…" Jurgen tucked away the pendent and slowly laid down on a bed of leaves, his backpack serving as a pillow. "It won't be long...I promise."
_.
Hans maneuvered his character over a pallet, hoping to lose the killer chasing after him. The young Prince is so engrossed in his new game and console that he failed to sense several people watching him from the kitchen. Regina, Emma, Mary Margret and David eyed Hans warily, cringing at the sound of a spine-chilling and inhuman screech.
"I see Henry introduced him to uhh...what was it?" David asked, his mind drawing a blank at the game's title.
"Dead by Daylight. It's a very popular game these days." Emma answered. "Hans seems to have made some friends."
"Wait! No, Jesse, don't go that way!" Hans urgently said, hissing softly as the character of his new friend was taken down. "Keep crawling away, Jake and I will keep him busy."
Regina silently cast a spell, curious to know what her son and his friends were talking about.
"Hans, what are you doing?!" Regina heard one friend say, the one called Tyler.
"I'm fine. It'll be my first hook, get Jesse out of here." Hans said, slowly jostling the left stick of his controller as what looked to be a humanoid plant carried Hans's character away.
Regina smiled at her eldest—Hans is still uncomfortable with the idea of talking to several residences in Storybrooke, but at least he's comfortable enough to talk with others even if its through online gaming. Regina had been a little nervous about the new console, more so when Henry introduced Hans to the world of online gaming; Henry had even presented one of his online friends to Hans. The meeting...didn't turn out as well as Henry hoped—his friend had taken pleasure in tormenting Hans: making fun of the color of his hair, his clumsy actions during certain game plays and even repeatedly pointing out that he and Henry didn't look anything alike. Hans refused to go online for 3 months after that debacle and Henry quickly reprimanded his online friend and unfriend him immediately—Henry soon found out that his ex-online friend had posted comments about Hans and his inexperience, which hurt the awkward prince's self-esteem more than ever.
But after another week of silence, a single message gave Hans the confidence to give online friends a second chance.
Hans sighed softly, his eyes trailing calmly across the pages of his book. The Fire Prince was so engrossed in his book that the sound of his phone made him jump and fall off his bed, his book lying open on the floor beside him. Hans shakily leaned on his bed as he stood, having hit his head against the nightstand, and glared at the small device on the bed—the 24-year-old snatched his phone from the bed and frowned at the notificationonthe screen, Hans hesitantly tapped the icon and found himself staring at a message from an Xbox gamer; the young fire wielder read the message and found himself stunned at the person's words.
'Hi...umm Phoenix_13th Prince. I heard that you had some problems with a gamer online. I want to tell you that you shouldn't let little punks like that stop you from enjoying online gaming. There are a lot of people out there who are new to gaming, heck some of them don't even know how to turn on a game console or even know what online means. You're not alone in the gaming department, I've been there. Many people have been in your place. I saw some posts about you and a picture of you too...and well, I grew curious and decided to look up your gamertag. I know you've had a rough first experience and…I don't know the details but I can tell how much that scum's words hurt you. I'm here for you not as a fellow gamer, but as a possible friend. Let me know if you ever want to game together. My gamertag is Skywalker59_JJ. Names Jesse Walker. Looking forward to gaming with you.
Tears cascaded down Hans's cheeks, low sobs escaping his lips as he took in Jesse's kind words. A complete stranger had offered him his hand and even friendship from a world that's completely new to him. Hans sniffles, eyeing his new Xbox One console warily before turning it on and grabbing hold of his custom controller; he searched for Jesse's gamertag and added him as a friend, he quickly plugged in his gaming headset and waited. No sooner did Jesse add Hans as a friend and invited him to play Friday the 13th The Game.
"Hey 13th Prince. We've been waiting for you." Came a friendly voice.
"H-hello…" Hans said, his voice giving away his unease.
"Shy ain't he?" Asked a second voice, this one equally friendly.
"Don't mind him, Jake is a big mouth." Stated a third voice.
"HEY!" The one called Jake shouted.
"Anyway, allow me to introduce you. 13th Prince, my twin brother Jake Walker or Ravager93_JJ, Aiden Miles or MythWrecker, Tyler Anderson or TyLeonhart83. And I'm Jesse Walker or Skywalker59_JJ."
"H-Hans…" Hans bit his lip, his anxiety clouding his mind and making him dizzy.
"Pleasure to meet you." Said Jake.
"Welcome to the world of online gaming, Hans." Said Aiden.
"Nice to meet ya." Tyler sounded calm and collected, but there was a hint of excitement in his voice.
"Welcome to our family, Hans." Jesse said.
"Family…" Hans trembled at the thought, memories of Jurgen and his other brother's filling his mind.
"Yeah. You're one of us now, Hans. Nothing you do is going to change that. What do you say, Little Brother?" Asked Jesse.
"Well…" Hans swallowed thickly, his lips becoming dry and heart pounding heavily in his chest. "Game on?"
"GAME ON!" Shouted all four of Hans's new friends. Maybe online gaming isn't so bad after all.
Five months had gone by since that day and look at Hans now: smiling, laughing, not as shy as he once was, but still a bit socially awkward. Her Little Phoenix had grown up so much and made other friends online, but Hans played more with these four individuals since they're the ones who welcomed him with open arms to their little gaming family.
"Hey, Demogorgon!" Called a second voice through Hans's headset. "You put my bro down!"
The Demogorgon dropped Hans, temporarily blinded by the bright beam of a flashlight. Hans and Aiden hurried away from the Demogorgon, Aiden glancing back to make sure they weren't being followed.
"How is it possible to blind something that has no eyes?" Questioned Hans, guiding his character behind a large portion of bricks and allowing Aiden to heal him.
"Video game logic, bro. Don't question it." Answered Aiden, quickly healing Hans thanks to the med-kit he carried.
A soft beep echoed throughout Autohaven Wreckers, the final generator having been repaired and the exits ready to be opened. Hans and Aiden raced to the door in the far right, Hans's character (Meg Thomas) pulling the lever down and Aiden's character (Feng Min) standing guard as his teammate opened the shutter. A powerful screech made Hans cringe, the Demogorgon approaching them from behind; Aiden coaxed the killer into chasing him, Hans beginning to sweat as he heard his friend be hit by the Demogorgon. Hans stepped away from the door as soon as it opened, charging towards the Demogorgon and taking a hit for Aiden as the duo passed; Hans thankfully being fully healed and able to hobble towards the exit before the Demogorgon attacked him.
"Whooo!" Aiden cried, happy that all four of them had gotten out safely. "Hans, I owe you one, bro!"
"Don't worry about it. You saved me, so why not return the favor." Hans smiled, shaking his head at his friend's enthusiasm.
"WE ARE UNSTOPPABLE!" Shouted Jake.
"Jake, tone it down. You're gonna make us go deaf." Scolded Jesse, his voice betraying his joy and relief in watching his friends and brother escape the Demogorgon.
"Oh my god, we finally escape from that damn Demogorgon." Tyler whined, his exhaustion evident in his tone. "Man, I'm starving!"
"It's about dinner time here in Boston." Commented Jesse, clearly the leader of the group. "Well, Jake and I got a date with some meat-lovers pizza."
"Ah, food orgasm." Sighed Aiden, no doubt drooling at the thought of meat-covered pizza.
"We'll game some more later, I'm pretty hungry too." Added Tyler. "I'm sure Hans could use some food too."
"Absolutely." Hans said, still slightly growing used to the idea of speaking not-like a prince.
"It's settled. We'll take a deserved break and game on later." Decided Jesse.
"Later bros!" Said Aiden.
"See ya." Followed Jake.
"Adios amigos." Added Tyler.
"Bye guys." Hans said, his awkwardness shining brightly in that moment.
Hans walked about his room, wireless gaming headset over his ears as he conversed with his online friends. They had all joined together for a round of Friday the 13th after playing 10 matches of DBD, Hans is very skilled as a counselor, especially with AJ, but a force to be reckoned with as Tommy or Jason. It still amazes Jesse and the boys how little Hans knew about video games, yet be so adaptable within only 10 minutes of gaming.
Jesse: You're kidding, right?
Hans: No.
Aiden: You've never been anywhere besides this little town called "Storybrooke"?
Jake: I think I need to lie down.
Tyler: Why haven't you left that town and gone out and seen the world?
Hans: My mother's the mayor and...I just…
Jesse: You don't want your mother to worry.
Hans: Precisely...I don't want to worry her...we've been apart for nearly twenty years...I'm scared to lose her again.
Aiden: Hans...
Tyler: Why don't you talk to your mother about this? Maybe she'll understand that you can't stay in a small town forever, you gotta live your life. Plus, you should talk to her about how you feel: she's your mother, Hans, and she'll never judge you.
Regina eyed her eldest son, watching him take calm sips of water from his glass before placing it softly back on the table. The sorceress knew she'll have to address the issue soon, she worries that Hans may react negatively at the thought of being prohibited from leaving Storybrooke to explore the outside world; Regina cares deeply about her son, but she can't help the fear of what may happen if Hans were to lose his temper in a public area beyond their little town.
"Mother…," Hans said, growing unspeakably nervous as Regina met his gaze, "there's...something I wish to talk about."
"Hans," Regina says, drawing her eldest's attention, "My Little Phoenix. I'm sorry, but the answer is "no". You're not leaving Storybrooke."
Hans stared at Regina in disbelief. How had she known?
"You were eavesdropping?!" Hans grit his teeth. The conversation had been a private one in his bedroom. How could Regina have invaded his privacy?! "Why?! It's not like I haven't ever been on my own before."
"I did it to keep you safe." Warned Regina, disliking Hans's current tone. "Don't you ever think I abandoned you!"
"You left me in the Southern Isles with my father and 12 older brothers. I thought Jurgen would always be there for me, but after I turned thirteen everything changed. Mother, I'm not a naive and defenseless child anymore! I withstood 18 years of my father's abuse and 10 years at the hands of my brothers! What dangers can there be in traveling to Boston! I sailed across the seas alone to Arendelle for heaven's sake!" Hans is angry. Why Regina is suddenly treating him like a child is beyond him.
"YOU ENDED UP IN JAIL FOR WHAT HAPPENED IN ARENDELLE!" Regina shouted, growing impatient with her son's stubbornness.
"You don't know what happened there," Hans said, his voice low and venomous, "NO One knows but me, nor will anyone understand what Anna did to me."
"What would that girl do? She's whiny and can never get it through her head that the world doesn't revolve around her. Anna is a selfish and bratty woman-child." Regina responded.
"You wouldn't understand! You don't know me, you only know the five-year-old boy whose world revolves around you!" Hans hissed.
"Don't you use that tone with me, Hans," Regina grit her teeth, her patient wanning, "I'm your mother and what I say goes!"
"YOU HAVEN'T BEEN MY MOTHER FOR OVER 18 YEARS! YOU LEFT ME ALONE IN THAT FORSAKEN PLACE! HOW CAN YOU POSSIBLY CALL YOURSELF MY MOTHER WHEN YOU COULDN'T EVEN—"
A violent smack filled the air with silence as flesh met flesh. Hans stared at the ground, cradling his left cheek as reality slowly set—she struck him?! His mother had never raised a hand against him, she would grow frustrated with him, yes, but Regina never had the heart to actually hit him. Hans trembled at the well-known fact that Regina had, so suddenly and with good reason, struck him; he had pushed Regina too far, but he never thought his mother would go so far either.
"Regina!" They had an audience, the commotion had drawn several inhabitants to the Mills Mansion: everyone had rushed inside at the sound of Hans's shouts and found themselves shocked as Regina struck Hans harshly across the face.
"Hans," Regina's voice is pained and filled with regret, "My Little Phoenix, I—"
Large flames emerged from beneath Hans's feet, surrounding him in a blazing cocoon before dissipating as the young prince vanished from sight. The damage had been done, shattering Hans's heart painfully; he had already been wary and guarded around Regina after the Forest Incident, but now she had driven him further away than ever.
"Hans…" Was all Regina could say, the tears in her son's eyes burned deeply into her heart.
Regina paced in her office, chewing on her thumb as she worried about her beloved eldest son. Hans was unreasonable and couldn't see her perspective on the matter of him venturing into Boston, but it was still no excuse for what she had done. How could she have done such a thing?! She had struck Hans, struck him so violently that his cheek had grown red.
"Regina. " David's voice brought her back to the present, the man entering her office and followed by Mary Margaret, Emma, Hook and Robin.
"Did you find—"
"No," Emma answered, "we lost his trail at the cemetery."
"We searched everywhere," Robin added, "even in the woods."
"Regina, " Hook softly said, his eyes reflecting sympathy, "I think the lad has made it clear...Hans doesn't want to be found."
Across the waters of Storybrooke, an island sat alone. No bridge connected the island to the town, a plateau of stone lined the shores of the island and circled a large, forever, dormant volcano; at the top of the volcano lay of cavern, inside sat Hans with his legs pulled to his chest and face buried in his knees—the sound of dripping water breaking the silence of the cave, Hans never once moving from his position despite the water droplets raining down on his head and the chill settling into his bones. The cold is a welcoming embrace, a distraction from the burning pain in his heart and the boiling rage coursing through his blood.
"You wish to see the world beyond this town, yes?" Asked a voice as cold as ice.
Hans's hands gripped the sleeves of his jacket tightly, his knuckles growing white and fingers crackling with sparks. He chose to ignore the voice, but his ears were open; he wants to venture out of Storybrooke, see what the world has to offer, but no one can ever leave this town and come back.
"Perhaps it's time, you remember." Stated the voice.
The mysterious presence produced a violet bottle from the shadows of their sleeves. A soft hum emitted from the bottle before the cork was removed and a stream of blue swam through the air and into Hans's temple; a soft grunt passing the young prince's lips as memories wove themselves together.
"Now do you recall?" Asked the stranger.
"Why are you here?" Hans growled, his face still hidden in his knees. "What are you seeking, witch?!"
"There's no need for name calling," lectured the now known woman, "I'm here to offer you my help."
"I don't need nor do I want help from a ice-cold harlot," responded Hans, flames slowly flickering to life along the walls of the cavern, "go back to your little ice cream parlor and leave me be."
"What if I told you that there's a way to leave Storybrooke and return?"
Hans lifted his gaze from his knees to the woman standing before him, her blonde hair tied in a bun and her blue eyes as cold as a winter storm. Why is she here? Why is sharing this valuable information with him? What are her motives? Hans is wry of this woman, the very woman that froze him in the North Valley for, apparently, calling her "a monster".
"In the cemetery, you'll sense a pull of magic then follow it to a grave site. There will be a door only you and Regina are able to open. Collect the objects in the chamber that call to you and then return to the Mills Mansion. Go into your mother's office and locate the spell that is hidden somewhere in her belongings. Only then will you be able to leave Storybrooke and return to the town whenever you wish."
Hans glared at the blonde woman, his eyes burning with distrust and anger. He doesn't trust this woman, nor should he; this ice queen is after something, Hans isn't sure what it is but he can sense it. Why of all people would she help him? Hans cared little about her motives, but he must know his possible ally if he is to leave this miserable little town behind.
"What do you gain from this?" Questioned Hans.
"I merely wish to help you escape from this prison." Answered the blonde woman in white.
"I don't need to be Emma Swan to know that you're lying. Tell me...Ingrid, what are you after?!" Retaliated Hans, growing rather impatient with this song and dance.
"Believe what you wish," Ingrid smiled, her eyes giving away nothing, "I only gave you what you desperately want...an escape from the pain."
Hans grit his teeth. He may not admit it to her openly, but Ingrid is right; Hans is suffering, alone and unsure of where he will go. The spell Ingrid mentioned is tempting, but...could he really bring himself to steal from his mother?
"And if I refuse?"
"Then you can spend the rest of your life living in fear and isolation."
Screams echoed across the streets of Storybrooke as Fire and Ice clashed. Elsa sending winds of ice through the air in an attempt to freeze Hans's feet to the ground, Hans constantly preventing the ice from reaching his legs with his own magic. He's acting out of fear, that much Elsa knew but it still didn't change the fact that Hans had stolen from Regina; Elsa and Anna had been entering the Mills Mansion to check on Regina when a ruckus came from the mayor's office and the two stepped into the room to find Hans hastily rummaging through Regina's belongings. Hans had looked like a cornered animal, quickly sending fireballs at the two sisters before crashing through the back window and running towards the town square.
A large wall emerges from the ground, blocking Hans's escape and forcing the prince to face the group that had been chasing him. Hans panted heavily, his heart hammering rapidly in his chest as he took in the people before him: his mother, Emma, Henry and Anna and Elsa. All five of them stared at Hans: Anna wearing a look of anger on her beautiful face, Regina one of worry and disappointment, Emma looking ready to retaliate should he attack, Henry's eyes expressing fear and sadness and Elsa chewing on her bottom lip as she fought back the tears brimming in her icy blues.
"Hans, stop this." Regina begged.
"NO!" Hans answered, his eyes becoming red with anger. "You don't understand how it feels to know that everyone you know is afraid of you! Don't think I didn't notice the glimpses of fear and unease in the eyes of everyone in this town!"
"Hans…" Henry whispered.
"I'm not going to spend my life living in a town where everyone believes I'm a monster and all that I'll ever do is cause destruction!" Hans snarled, gripping the scroll in his hand in a deathgrip. He wasn't about to lose his one chance at freedom. "I'm leaving Storybrooke and no one is GETTING IN MY WAY!"
Time slowed. Elsa giving a sharp gasp, Anna's hands soaring to her mouth, Henry crying out in shock, Emma holding Regina back as the sorceress tried to reach her son. Hans cried in agony as Regina's spell swirled around him, falling to the ground as the purple smoke coiled around his right hand and slithered up his arm. Regina hadn't meant to cast that spell! She only wanted to subdue Hans, weaken him enough for them to take back the scroll and place the magic blockers on his wrists; in her haste to stop Hans from making a big mistake, she cast a spell that would bring him more pain than ever.
Hans bit his tongue, silencing the screams that constantly ripped from his lips. He futilely fought against the dark spell, the magic his mother had taught doing little to stop the incantation—Hans stood to his feet, his body screaming in protest, and watched in horror as his arm slowly hardened to stone. Tears of betrayal and anger fell from the Fire Prince's eyes as he met the eyes of the people who caused him so much suffering; expressing great fear in his presence, all conversation ceased when he entered a room, Paige and Henry wearing wary expressions on their faces after hiding numerous torn pages from sight, and Regina openly expressing her lack of faith in Hans's control over his power and temper. Elsa suddenly ignoring him after the tender moments they shared and Emma shielding Henry behind her whenever Hans got angry.
In an explosion of fire, Hans disappeared from sight.
"He's headed for the Town Line!" Emma hollered.
"If he crosses that line, he'll never be able to come back!" Henry sobbed, holding onto Emma's red jacket sleeve like a lifeline.
"Hans…" It was all Anna could say.
"We have to stop him!" Elsa said, desperation seeping through her voice and worry glowing in her eyes.
"Hold tight!" Regina said, using her magic to quickly transport them to the Town Line.
Hans ran down the road, stumbling frequently as he tried to ignore the spasm of pain threatening to bring him to his knees. Soft pained cries left Hans's lips with each step, tears streaming down his cheeks as he grew closer and closer to the Town Line—Hans fell to the ground, sobbing helplessly as he peered over his shoulder to see his left leg resembling the gravel beneath him.
"No…" Wept Hans, forcing himself to stand and sluggishly dragged his rock-like leg beside him. "I won't…"
Hans gave a tired smile at the sight of a large red line painted across the black road. He's so close. The 13th prince soon found himself a small distance away from the Town Line, his happiness disappearing at the sound of his mother's voice.
"HANS!" Regina called, running towards her injured son. "HANS, STOP!"
Hans refused to stop walking, his leg giving out as the last of his flesh became stone. He continued towards the other side, his body growing heavier and heavier as he dragged himself towards the line that kept everyone imprisoned in Storybrooke. Regina closed in on Hans, the prince's hand nearly passing the invisible barrier before warm arms closed around him and held away from freedom.
"STOP! LET ME GO!" Hans begged, his struggling reigniting the pain he had ignored for so long.
"HANS!" Regina shouted, still holding her son tight despite his pleas. "Hans, please! You have to calm down!"
A powerful wind blew through the air, Elsa shielding Henry, Emma and Anna from the blast. Regina held Hans with all her might, her son continuing to squirm and weakly cry for release; she would never forgive herself if she let Hans go, not after realizing how much her actions had hurt him—a great wind tore Regina from Hans and another sent Hans over the Town Line and onto the cold pavement on the opposite side.
Hans stirred, groaning at the dull throb in his head. He slowly sat on his knees, his eyes drinking in the empty highway before him; Hans frowned, looking down at his hands and saw flesh instead of gravel. Hans shivered, dropping the scroll and shakily touching his arms and face—Hans chuckled softly to himself. He did it! He made it over the Town Line! He's Free!
Hans turned away from the sight that had once been Storybrooke and ran down the road, unable to see the sorrow in Regina's eyes or hear her cries for him to come back!
Ow! That's just heartbreaking. To be honest, I was stuck on this chapter for months and didn't know how to end it but I'm glad I wrote it! There'll be 2 more chapters before I begin Part II of The Will of the Phoenix. My other stories are still in progress and I have no chapter read for those since I lost the finished chapters on my previous laptop. I hope to recover those, but until then I may have to write completely new chapters for Angel of Mine and Futatsu No Kodou.
Thank you so much for waiting for this chapter and reading it. Please like and leave a review!
Be on the look out for chapter 14 of The Will of the Phoenix and my new Jakeward oneshot "Another's Imprint".
Vanitas Ryuzaki Signing Off!