Chapter 54: Most Precious
My eyes open and I hear nothing, but the sounds of nature. I'm laying on a moss-covered bed of sod, dazed and confused. My head is throbbing and my hands are burning. I push up from the ground. I blink and I rub my eyes.
I'm in the forest outside of Storybrooke, it's lush and green with the sounds of birds in the trees and crickets in the bushes. The sun is in the sky and it only has a few clouds. It's the perfect day.
Was it all just a dream? Where are the wolves? Where are my children? Where's Emma and Hook? Rumple and Belle? Where's MASON?!
I'm a little shaky on my feet, holding onto a tree for support. The clearing is familiar, but there's no blood, no fire, no claw marks, nothing. No evidence at all.
Maybe I dreamed it all and just ended up sleepwalking or something.
I get up and start walking towards where the town is.
I suddenly feel a burning pain on my face. I put my hand up and I feel something sticking to the side of my face. I look at my hand and my heart drops. Blood. Drago scratched my face last night!
It all happened! It was not a dream!
Mason! Mason, Hook, and Ruby! They were wounded, close to death! Where are they?! Emma! David! Snow! They were all in danger!
I start running towards town, not caring about the scratch on my face. I push myself to where the others are... Tears begin to go down my face and they begin to sting my cut.
I stop and press my hand against my face, hoping to heal it.
Except nothing happens. I look at my hand and it's not purple, just covered in blood.
The urn! I think to myself. It must have...
There's a small jolt inside of me and a familiar warmth begins to fill my body, rushing through my veins.
I place my hand on my face and concentrate extremely hard. My face feels warm and the tingling sensation that comes from my healing is felt.
When I'm done, I feel slightly drained. I've never had to concentrate that hard before to use my powers. I guess the urn was only able to get most of my powers, but not all.
I keep going, hoping to find everyone at Granny's or something. All I want to know is that they are safe.
I keep walking for a long time, I don't seem to be getting anywhere. The scenery is changing so I'm going nowhere fast. What is going on?
I reach a familiar clearing, the place where the edge of town should be. I know because there's a tree with RH for Robin Hood is carved to ward off enemies is, except, the tree is clean, with moss growing where the initials should be.
I begin to get frantic, I rush forward, thinking there's some invisible field surrounding the borders of the town again. I put my hands out, but all I hit is air. Tears are welling in my eyes and my throat is closing up.
This was Storybrooke.
"NO!" I wheeze in agony. "No, no, no, no, NO!" I yell. I'm on my knees and pounding the ground, hurt and helpless.
"Crystal!" I hear. "Crystal!" I get up frantically search for the voice. My heart beats quickly in anticipation. Maybe the worst has not happened.
From between the trees, Henry comes running towards me. I run to him, relief spreading across my face.
"Oh, my gawd Henry!" I say, embracing him. I cling to him tightly like he's merely a vision that will melt away if I let go. He eventually pushes me back to see my face. his face is flushed
"Are you okay?" he asks breathlessly.
"Yes and you?"
"Fine."
"Is anyone else with you?" I ask, looking behind him.
"No...What happened?"
"Filtiarn found a way to harness the last bit of darkness inside me."
"How?! The darkness was destroyed by Emma?!"
"Did you forget there was still a piece that lived within me. It's what supported my powers"
My heart drops when he says that. My hope that the others were safe from the clan has been dashed.
"What happened?" Henry asks after a long silence.
"Filtiarn used my powers to enact another curse," I say sadly.
"What kind of curse?" Henry asks staring at a wide open space surrounded by trees.
"The kind where the clan would be all-powerful and wolves would dominate," I say quietly.
"Wait...I thought he said that he was going to take the most precious thing from you." Henry groans in confusion.
"He did..." I swallow.
"Storybrooke!"
A/N: This is the end of Once Upon Another Time. I will eventually fill in the missing chapters. Special thanks to all my followers