Chapter Fourteen: An Anxious Attack

The mayor clucked her tongue as she looked at Mr. Gold's Pawn Shop. Robin had accidentally broken one of the front windows of the store.

"That magic is a bit too much for you, isn't it dearie?" The mayor asked Robin. Robin tried sitting up, but was being held down by the mayor's…magic? The mayor wasn't actually touching Robin, and there wasn't any other explanation for why she was glued to the ground.

"It's alright, it's just a sign that you shouldn't have magic." Fiona teased. She stood up and looked at Robin's backpack.

"I'm hoping to get my wand back, now." The mayor said.

"Pretty sure I bought it this afternoon." Robin retorted. In response, the mayor rolled her eyes…and Robin was hanging ten feet in the air.

"That was a terrible answer, Robin. You should be smarter than that." The mayor commented.

"However, I did believe you in the grocery store when you gave me a different name. Rebekah is a lovely name, but not yours, I'm afraid. Granny sort of spilt the beans on that one."

Robin tried to muster up some magic, but couldn't. The only magic she had on her was the wand in her backpack. She could feel it leaning against her back, and felt it shake in her bag.

"It doesn't belong to you Robin. And that wand won't do you any good. Now give it here." The mayor demanded.

What choice do I really have in this matter? Robin didn't know how to fight back, not really convinced that she could. The mayor slowly let Robin lower towards the ground, and now she was hanging a few inches off of the concrete. The mayor came behind Robin and began to open her backpack.

However, the next part wasn't something Robin had considered part of her plan. The mayor and Robin were about the same height, though Robin was a bit taller since she was hanging in the air still. Robin's heel was in perfect alignment with the shin of the mayor's leg…

"Now we're reunited." The mayor zipped up Robin's backpack and stood in front of Robin. Robin was lowered a little more, but still couldn't fully place her feet comfortably on the ground.

"This town is not what it used to be, Robin. It isn't your home anymore." Fiona explained.

"That isn't news to me. You caused that fifteen years ago." Robin spat.

"Ah, you're aware of my position in the town other than being its mayor. Well since I've relieved you of a burden you've been carrying, why don't you help me relieve one of mine." The mayor suggested.

"Henry is right, dearie. I am the Black Fairy."

"Wow, it is such a relief to get that off my chest. I feel so much, lighter." The Black Fairy teased wickedly.

Though Robin was still about an inch taller than the Black Fairy as she hung in the air, she felt smaller than a child. Henry had explained about the Black Fairy, and Robin's anxiety had increased. Perhaps it wasn't fully because of the notion that an evil fairy existed in a town and that fairy tales were actually true. Sure, that caused quite a bit of anxiety, but it was the Black Fairy that caused the most. The idea that she was real. The fact was, the Black Fairy was real. She caused anxiety in Robin from when she was a toddler.

So, while the mayor felt relieved to have admitted her identity, Robin felt anxiety fill her chest.

The Black Fairy noticed Robin's change in demeanor, and tilted her head.

"Feeling a bit anxious, dearie? I can see why, you have no where to go."

Robin's heart was beating heavily in her chest, and she realized that it was beating loudly. The mayor gave her a look, and smiled wickedly.

"I see that you seem to have another burden on your chest, Robin. Would you like some help relieving it?"

Henry had only told Neal about what the Evil Queen used to do to her enemies in the Enchanted Forest regarding their hearts. Neal actually threw up when he heard about it, and asked if the Black Fairy could do the same thing. Henry said that she could, but Robin wasn't aware of that.

The Black Fairy's hand came near Robin's chest….and Robin's instincts kicked in. Her idea from earlier came back to her mind, and Robin kicked at the Black Fairy's shin, quickly kicking her right leg and then her left. The Black Fairy yelled and cursed, and Robin grabbed hold of her jacket. She pulled herself and the mayor to the ground. Robin grabbed the wand from the mayor's hand and ran down one of the alleyways.


Robin's heart was hurting, and that surprised her. As she ran behind the stores towards the forest, Robin wasn't expecting any pain. She had sprinted before, and long-distance running wasn't a joke to her body. It was more of a routine.

Why was her hand near my chest? Robin felt so much anxiety that she was having a hard time breathing as she ran. Usually running was what jolted her system and kicked the anxiety out. But this time was odd.

"Robin!" Robin recognized Henry's voice and looked behind her. Henry was riding up on the bicycle from the house.

Henry parked the bike and came up beside his cousin, who kept on walking.

"We've got to get over the town line, Henry." Robin said. Henry saw some tears in her eyes. He already knew that the Black Fairy was behind them, because he had seen her car on the main street.

"Her hand was near my chest-"

"She was going to take your heart." Henry blurted out. Robin stopped, and stared at Henry.

"What?" She demanded.

"The mayor, the Black Fairy…Fiona…she was going to take out your heart."

"From my chest?" Robin asked. Henry nodded.

How's that anxiety doing in my chest right now? Oh, worse when I've been told that an evil fairy was planning on ripping out my heart? Okay, now I think the panic is necessary and therefore appropriate.

Henry looked at Robin, and saw her begin to tremble. In her hands, little wisps of magic were appearing, both blue and green. Robin's feet crossed for a moment because she wasn't sure where to move.

Henry grabbed Robin's arm and continued walking where Robin had been headed before. He wasn't rough, but held on. He wasn't used to this.


The Black Fairy was standing beside her car, fuming. Her shins were hurting. Robin hadn't used any magic to stop her.

The wand was now gone. Not the Black Fairy's only wand, but one that she hadn't used in the longest time. The other wand sat in her office. Grabbing her phone, the mayor dialed her head minion.

"Go to my office and bring me my wand." Hanging up the line, the mayor took a deep breath, and held out her hand. She could trace where her wand was going, which was towards the town line.

"We're not trying to repeat history, are we dearie?"


"You know the Black Fairy is probably going to track the wand, right?" Henry mentioned. Robin nodded, then stopped.

I didn't think about that.

"Maybe some magic could cover up the wand?" Robin asked. Henry shook his head.

"Your magic won't be able to."

"Henry, I feel so hopeless…" Robin sat down on the ground, letting the wand rest beside her crossed legs. Henry sat beside her.

"I know this is really scary, Robin, but we have to save the town." Henry pleaded. Robin clasped her head in her hands.

"I don't know how to stop her. And the fact is, I don't know if it is possible."

"Why was she wanting to take my heart?" Robin asked.

"Can you first explain to me why we are headed towards the town line?" Henry responded.

"I think the ripping-out-my-heart-from-my-chest dilemma should be dealt with first."

"I mean we are running away from the Black Fairy but also further away from the house…"

"Henry she almost pulled my heart out of my chest I need some explanation!"

"Okay!" Henry responded.

"It's a villainous technique used from the Enchanted Forest. I mean, that's where I first saw it. It's a way to control someone. It's a scary threat, because if someone doesn't do what a villain wants, they can crush a person's heart."

"Oh my gosh…" Robin moved away from Henry for a moment and threw up.

Huh. Neal had the same reaction.

"While you're throwing up, I'll give a bit more explanation for how that is possible." Henry stated. Robin stuck up her thumb.

"So the heart can work outside of the body, and can be manipulated. If someone has your heart, they can speak to it, and cause the owner to say that as well." Robin continued to throw up.

"But its worse for someone who has magic. It's mostly a threat at that point, because someone holding your heart can't make you use your powers against your will…"

"But they will threaten your life." Robin guessed.

"Now can you tell me why we are going to the town line?" Henry asked.

"I don't know. I feel safer being closer to the outside world. Did you find something in the crypt that could undo the spell on the town line and open it up again?"

"We can try a few things I guess." Henry admitted. Robin handed Henry her phone so he could call Charlotte. She then ducked into the woods while holding the Black Fairy's wand, and closed her eyes.

She needed some time alone to panic.


"Hey Charlotte! I found Robin, don't worry. Where is Neal? Really, you convinced him to practice? Um, I'm sure we can fix that hole- how big did you say it was? Okay, Robin and I are heading to the town line, we want you to come meet us here. I don't think she wants to leave, but she wants to see if she can open it now. Yeah, she still has the wand… but there was a run in with the Black Fairy. And then she almost lost her heart…yep, you know what I mean. Robin had the same reaction as Neal. Anyway, come down and meet us here. Bye."

Henry told Robin that they should keep walking, and Robin walked through the woods parallel to Henry walking on the road. She needed some space.

Oh man, how am I going to get us through this? There were no adults around to help Henry and his friends out. Now Henry felt like he needed to panic.

Finally, Henry and Robin reached the town line, although the pink line on the concrete had disappeared.

But as Henry levelled his eyesight to looking out beyond what would be the magic shield's end, he saw a car parked out on the road. A woman sat in her car, looking straight ahead. Henry didn't recognize her, but couldn't see her properly. Maybe one of Neal's parents or Robin's guardians?

"Let go of me!" Henry turned around and saw Robin tumble out of the woods. A young man around her age cuffed something onto Robin's wrist.

"No!" Henry cried out. Henry recognized the leather cuff because it was something that had been used on his family members before. It blocks the person from using their magic. However, the boy who had cuffed Robin had one on his wrist as well.

Robin kicked the boy in the groin and stood up, trying to pry the cuff off of her wrist.

"It won't come off, we need magic." Henry said.

"He was in the woods behind me and I was crying and didn't hear him. He has the wand!" Robin explained. Henry saw the young man point the wand at him. The young man had darker brown hair and was smaller than Henry was in weight.

"Gideon." Henry said aloud. The boy stared at him. There were only two toddlers who were able to get across the town line fifteen years prior. One toddler was with his parents when the Black Fairy came back.

"I needed to retrieve my mother's wand." Gideon explained. "And she wanted that girl to have a gift."

"You tackled me in the forest to give me a wrist cuff." Robin spat. She wanted to use her magic, but it was as if there was a block between her hands and wrists. The magic wouldn't come out.

"The Black Fairy has blocked your magic as well?" Henry asked aloud. Gideon gave him a confused expression.

"I've worn this cuff since I was seven years old." Gideon explained.

"I haven't used magic before."

"Maybe you did, once upon a time." Henry countered. "Or the Black Fairy was trying to be proactive."

"Whatever the case may be, she wanted to make sure that girl had one as well." Gideon spat.

"I go by Robin."

"Pleasure to meet you, Robin."

"Yeah I can't say the same."
Henry looked behind him and saw the woman step out of the vehicle, and recognized her. She was a friend of Emma's from when she was around Henry's age. She also happened to be the daughter of Maleficent.

How on earth did she get here? And when did she leave the town in the first place?

"Mother knows that you two have reached the town line. She wants her wand back. And to continue her chat with Robin." Gideon explained.

Henry was scared that Robin might break down, but surprisingly she stood taller. Henry thought that some bravery had kicked in, but it was more of a realization of the situation that put Robin's brain into gear. Gideon couldn't use magic either, which meant that he was just standing with a stick in his hand.

"You're not scary, Gideon." Robin said.

"Neither of us can use magic, which means that all you are holding is a stick."

Gideon stared at Robin, and smiled.

"You really think that you could take me down?"


"Why did Henry have to take the bike?" Neal complained as he and Charlotte jogged down the road. Neal was not the biggest fan of running, but Charlotte apparently needed the exercise. She was basically sprinting compared to Neal's pace.

But as the pair ran through the woods, Charlotte heard someone cry in the distance, and was ready to change direction. But Neal knew where they were and grabbed Charlotte before she could do so.

"It's alright, I'm here." Neal comforted. Neal wasn't sure if Charlotte was going to run towards the cry or back to the house. But either direction would have been away from the town line.

Charlotte nodded, and asked if Neal could give her a piggyback ride.

Of course, why not? I mean hey, you run a lot faster than I do and this will only slow down my pace, but sure, be my guest.

Neal let Charlotte climb onto his back and asked her to hold his bow and arrows. Charlotte obliged and leaned her head against Neal's shoulder. Neal felt a brotherly connection to Charlotte, and promised that no matter what happened, he would make sure that she got a good home in the end. Of course, he didn't say this out loud.

Neal and Charlotte got to the town line, and didn't know what they were seeing. There was a woman standing beside her car outside of the town line, and Henry was looking at Robin punching a young man. The pair were wearing identical cuffs on their wrist and Neal had no idea why.

However, Charlotte noticed the wand lying on the ground and ran towards it. Charlotte grabbed it quickly and gave the young man a kick to the leg, which surprised him.

"I hate you!" Charlotte screamed. Robin didn't know that Charlotte knew Gideon and quickly pushed the boy aside before Charlotte could give him another kick.

Neal notched an arrow in his bow and pointed it at the boy.

"I suggest that you don't try to pick a fight with the girls." He suggested. Robin gave Neal a surprised look, not seeing him as someone who would threaten another person with a weapon.

"Your magic is pathetic compared to mother's." Gideon spat.

Neal rolled his eyes and decided to mock the boy.

"Well I'll be darned. But the wicked witch isn't exactly present at the moment, is she? Besides, I recognize that cuff on your wrist!"

"You do?" Robin asked.

"Nope, but I know that Charlotte does!"

"It blocks off his magic, he can't use any." Charlotte quickly explained. Neal nodded his thanks to the girl.

Henry came up beside Neal.

"Neal, he's Rumpelstiltskin's son. My dad's brother." Henry explained.

"Your dad had a brother?" Neal asked.

"Yeah, but Neal never met him-"

"Yeah I've never met this guy before."

"No my father Neal! That's who you were named after."

"Really? So I shouldn't be threatening this guy?"

"He just got pulverized by Robin, I don't think he needs to lose any more dignity."

"Okay." Neal quickly unlatched his arrow and took the wand from Charlotte, pointing it at Gideon while standing in what he assumed was a defensive stance, like the ones he saw in Harry Potter films. But to the others, Neal looked like his legs were spread too far apart and he was going to fall over.

"Oh yeah, that's dignifying." Robin commented.

"Why are you fighting the Black Fairy?" Gideon demanded.

"She's in charge, and rules this town. She is powerful and cannot be dealt with."

"She's in charge because she took over." Henry responded.

"She took your parents from you Gideon, and separated us from our families."

"Also she kinda sucks, and we don't like her." Neal added. Robin rolled her eyes.

This is all getting to his head.

"I doubt you'll be able to stop her. She didn't go after you two over the town line way back when for a reason. You two were no threat."

"Or she couldn't get across because she sucks!"

"Neal I don't think that's doing the trick of making him intimidated."

Neal changed his stance as he pointed the wand at Gideon, but he hoped that the others weren't waiting for him to use some magic. He could only use magic when he was using a bow and arrows.

"Why don't we get out of here." Neal said.

"Gideon might just follow us." Charlotte pointed out.

"I could shoot an arrow at him."

"Neal!" Robin yelled.

"No Robin not to kill him! You didn't see what I could do with a bow and arrows-"

"Maybe shooting one at Robin could take the cuff off of her wrist." Charlotte suggested.

"Wait a minute-"

"Guys the Black Fairy could literally come find us because we are all standing out here in the open!" Henry yelled.

"She'll find us anywhere in this town, Henry, maybe we could try opening the town line-"

"And that requires magic!" Neal and Charlotte said. Neal handed Charlotte the wand and pointed an arrow at Robin's wrist. Surprisingly, Henry helped out by holding Robin's arm out for a better shot.

"Henry! Neal! Charlotte!" Robin exclaimed.

"Robin I wouldn't do this unless I knew that this would work!" Neal said.

"I've never seen you use magic!"

"Oh like you have any right to say that! You literally started shooting lasers out of your hands yesterday!"

"Maybe you make a fair point-"

Neal released the arrow, and Robin watched the arrow hit her cuff and wrap around the leather. The magic was red and broke the cuff underneath the arrow. Gideon's mouth dropped open as he stared at Robin's wrist.

Charlotte gave Robin the wand and Robin looked at Henry.

"What spell am I supposed to use?" She asked. Henry opened his backpack and started looking for a spell.

"Try whatever comes to your head, maybe your magic will spark something-"

"Bibbidi Bobbidi Ba Bam!" Robin exclaimed.

That wasn't what I had in mind.

Henry was starting to become anxious, but he saw the magic shield around the town line dissolve. Before Gideon could do anything else, Robin shot some magic from the wand at him, and he fell onto the ground.

"Nice shot Robin!" Neal yelled. Robin nodded, and saw the car on the other side of the town line. A woman was sitting inside.

"Oh yeah, that's Lily, she was a friend of my mom's-" Henry was explaining.

"Yeah that's great Henry but I suggest we get going." Neal said. He and Robin ran into the woods away from the road. Henry quickly waved at the woman in the car and then ran with the others.

"Do you have a plan of where we are running to Neal?" Robin asked.

"I have a crazy idea right now, but I don't want to explain it." Neal admitted.

"Cause it's crazy?"

"No, because you'll hate it."

"Great."