Chapter 16:
"Swan!"
Emma turned from the hospital desk nurse to see Killian approaching. "Killian," She said. She stepped away from the desk and walked up to him, giving him a hug when she arrived.
"Swan, what happened?" Killian asked, scanning her eyes and reading the look on her face.
"It was Audrey," Emma said.
"Audrey?" Killian repeated.
Emma nodded. "She knocked out the bookshop keeper and turned Lily to stone. We found the shop keeper. He told us what he could remember."
"Lily…" Killian looked thoughtful for a moment. "Maleficent's daughter…Her older daughter?"
Emma nodded again. She then looked back at the desk nurse. "Call me if he has any more information," she said.
"Of course Miss Swan," the desk nurse replied.
Emma then looked over at Killian. "Come on, let's go," Emma said, leading him towards her car.
"Where are we going?" Killian asked.
"Back to the Sheriff's station so I can fill out the report," Emma answered. "And figure out what to do about this Audrey. Regina already took Henry, Evie, and the boys back there."
"She really is quite the troublemaker," Killian nodded. He then cracked a smile. "You know for a pirate, I spend way too much time at the Sheriff's station," He added in a cheeky tone as he and Emma climbed into the car.
Emma chuckled. "It's 'cause you decided to try to steal the Sheriff's heart," she added. With another small laugh, she started the car and drove off.
When they arrived, Emma and Killian both got out of the car and went inside the building. Henry, Jay, and Carlos all sat together on one side of the waiting room. Dude lay under Carlos' seat, sleeping. Emma saw that Evie however was alone on the other side of the room. She had a look of thought and worry on her face.
"How's she doing?" Emma asked Regina.
Regina sighed. "She's been better."
Emma looked over at Evie again, then brought her attention back to Regina. "Seeing Mal like that must've been tough on her," Emma said. "I've only known Mal and Evie a short time, but the two are clearly like sisters."
"That's what concerns me," Regina agreed.
"Regina?"
Regina took a breath. "I remember what you told me about yours and Lily's past," she explained. "I even got to witness some of it. Mal is her sister. You saw how she spoke to Evie before following Maleficent."
"This is different though," Emma said. "Remember, Mal raced after Evie to save her. Lily never did that for me. There's still hope for her. We just have to get to her in time."
Regina looked at her. She decided to go with Emma's judgment for now. "If you say so, just trust me, darkness is not an easy thing to overcome. It's definitely a slippery slope."
On the other side of the room, a voice suddenly caught Killain's attention "Captain!" Regina and Emma looked over too.
Killian looked over to see his first mate, Mr. Smee walk in the doorway. Mr. Smee was a shorter, round man. He had a black messy beard and wore a red cap over his black hair.
"What's he doing here?" Regina asked Killian, giving him a look.
"Yes, what is it Mr. Smee?" Killian asked. "If you didn't notice, we're a little busy."
"Sorry Captain," Mr. Smee replied with a sheepish tone. "The men were all talking about the dark curse, sounds like someone in a place called Auradon cast it and brought the whole lot of them here."
"Yes, I'm well aware of that Mr. Smee," Killian answered.
"Go easy on him Killian," Emma said to Killian with a smile.
Jay, Carlos, and Dude walked up. "Wait you're Mr. Smee?" Carlos asked.
"Yes. Who are you?"
"I'm Carlos," Carlos replied. He motioned towards Jay and then picked up Dude. "He's Jay, and this is Dude."
"Hello," Mr. Smee said before turning his attention back to Killian.
"The curse brought them and their friends over," Killian said. "So as you can see we know about it."
"Oh, ok then," Mr. Smee said, again in a sheepish voice. "So have you seen your son yet then? Ironic that a terrible curse like that can reunite you two."
Everyone in the room raised their eyebrows. Emma gave Killian a "tell me what's going on now" look.
"I knew it," Jay said. Carlos nodded his agreement.
"Not this again," Killian said with an eye roll. "Mr. Smee, you and the crew didn't have a few too many before you came here, did you?" Killian asked with a warning tone.
"No way Captain," Mr. Smee replied. "It's just I thought…I thought you would have seen him. He's gotta be around their age by now." He motioned to Jay and Carlos.
"Mr. Smee," Killain said, starting to get irritated. "I don't know what you're talking about. I don't have a son. So I recommend you go back to the ship before you upset everyone."
Mr. Smee looked thoughtful for a second. "Oh yea you wouldn't remember would you?"
"Killian?" Emma asked. She looked him in the eye. "Killian what's going on?"
"Mr. Smee," Killian said warningly.
"You had a son in Neverland. You and Tinkerbell," Mr. Smee explained. Regina's and Emma's mouths both dropped. "But…but Pan took those memories from both of you, and sent him to the Isle of the Lost. I raised him there. His name is Harry." Mr. Smee reached into his pocket and pulled out a couple pictures. He then handed them to Killian.
Killian stared at the pictures. A moment later, a stunned look fell over his face. His mouth falling open as all words left him.
Flashback:
Maleficent waved her hands in a consistent circular motion over a large green stone, chanting a spell as she did so. Nearby was a piece of long piece of twisted wood. The wood had been shaped and worked into a scepter. Near the top end, the wood spread into several claw-shaped pieces that swirled together at their tips, leaving an empty orb shaped space.
"What is that?" A voice asked.
Maleficent looked over. "My child's scepter."
"You mean our child?" The voice asked again. Making a look, Maleficent turned to face its owner. The voice belonged to a clean shaven man with red hair. He wore a black suit with a black tie. As the man talked, his hair turned into blue flames. It was Hades. He stared into Maleficent's eyes. "I thought so."
"You may have been involved," Maleficent spat coolly. "But that doesn't give you any right to that child." She then turned back to her work. For the next few seconds the orb glowed brighter and brighter. "I won't lose her like I did my last one."
Hades chuckled. "Well I hate to break it to you but yes you will."
Maleficent glared at him. "No I won't-" she began.
Hades chuckled again, cutting her off. "As you are aware Regina is about the cast the Dark Curse. The child, as she is in still in an egg, would be utterly destroyed by it." A look of complete rage now covered Maleficent's face. Hades shifted his look, but still kept a small smile. "Luckily for you…and me…I made a deal with Rumplestiltskin. He is going to take her away to safety."
"What?!" Maleficent snapped. Rage filled her as green sparks began to fly from her hands.
Hades replied, calm and cool as if nothing was happening. "Your rage is increasing the scepter's power. Very nice work Maleficent." He then reached into his pocket and pulled out a blue stone and a small knife. Hades then scraped a few small shavings off the stone and added them to the green orb. "He will take her to a place called the Isle of Lost in the land of Auradon. The curse won't reach her there."
"And then what?" Maleficent responded. "He abandons her there and she dies of starvation? Or exposure? Or worse?"
"You really think I would let that happen deary? It would be too much trouble for me to then just simply leave the child out in the cold."
Maleficent and Hades both looked over. "Rumplestiltskin," Maleficent said with malice. "What are you doing here?"
Rumplestiltskin chuckled. "Well I came for the scepter of course."
"Excuse me?"
Rumplestiltskin sighed. "The scepter deary. As I believe your dear hubby explained, I will take your child to Auradon. I require the scepter also though."
"And why's that?
Hades looked over, darkness falling across his face. "We had a deal."
"That we did," Rumplestiltskin replied. "The scepter isn't for me…it's for the well being of your child."
"And I repeat," Maleficent said, growing angrier by the second. "How's that?"
"Well," Rumplestiltskin said, making a face before continuing in a sing song type voice. "Well…how should I put this? She will need caring for, will she not? Who better to care for her than her own mother…or at least an imitation of her? Hades will be joining her on the Isle…watching from afar. Like him, if you want her to grow powerful and reach her full capability, you cannot interact with her until she is ready. I have already explained all this to him…I guess he didn't tell you."
Hades growled. His hair blazed brightly.
"Fear not my dear Maleficent," Rumplestiltskin continued. "Your devoted hubby will watch over her on the Isle as well. Although again…from afar. After the curse is broken and the child is ready, she will be reunited with you."
"And tell me again why I cannot go with her to this Isle? Why an imitation of me must watch over her?"
Rumplestiltskin sighed loudly. "Simply put deary, your place is here in the Enchanted Forest. Prince Charming, you know, Snow White's husband-"
"I KNOW WHO HE IS!"
Rumplestiltskin laughed. "Prince Charming will be by with a…gift…in the near future that is," Rumplestiltskin said. "And trust me…you won't want to pass it up."
Present Time:
With a puff of purple smoke, Maleficent, Mal and Lily appeared at Maleficent's dwelling. Maleficent waved her scepter, causing Lily to magically move through the door and into her living room. Maleficent then quickly followed with Mal right behind her. In the following hours, while she devised a plan of action, Maleficent had made Mal remain inside under her watch. Eventually Mal couldn't take it anymore and had to step outside for some fresh air.
After being outside a very short time, Mal saw her mother motion for her to return inside. As Mal took a step towards the door, something else caught her attention. She picked up a sense of dark energy several paces behind her. Mal froze in her tracks before she turned around to face a man with shoulder length dark blond hair that also contained several gray strands. His suit was black with a dark purple vest and velvet tie under his jacket.
"Well well, you must be Mal," the man said, his mouth forming into a small smile.
"That's right," Mal said, completely disinterested in what he had to say. "Who are you? On second thought, I don't care. Leave me alone."
"That's unfortunate," the man replied. "Because I think you might be very interested in what I have to say."
"You heard her…Rumplestiltskin," a third voice said suddenly. Both the man and Mal looked over to see Maleficent stepping up next to her daughter. "Leave her alone."
Mal's eyes shifted between her mother and Rumplestiltskin. "You're Rumplestiltskin?"
"Why yes I am. Here though, I am known as Mr. Gold," Mr. Gold said, taking a step forward. He looked at Mal again. "You have your mother's eyes…" he finished with a chuckle.
"It was you then!" Mal yelled suddenly, anger filling her again. "You were the one who stole me away from my parents and brought me to that Island!"
Mr. Gold smiled again, he could feel the darkness within her increasing. "That's right deary," he said calmly. "However, that isn't the wording I would use. Your parents made a deal with me. I brought you there to save your life…and in return…your father gave me this." Mr. Gold then reached into his pocket and pulled out a small blue stone. "And now I'd like to make a deal with you my dear."
"She's not interested," Maleficent repeated.
"Oh I think she'll be very interested once she hears what I have to say," Mr. Gold replied.
"I doubt that," Mal answered with a scoff.
Mr. Gold twirled the blue stone. "I assume you know what this is?" He said, scanning Mal's eyes. "This is one of your father's embers."
"Yea I do, what of it?"
Mr. Gold chuckled softly. "Tell me, was Audrey that powerful in Auradon? I can see it in your eyes, no she wasn't…that is until she obtained your scepter."
"I don't have a scepter," Mal replied. "That thing belonged to my fake mother."
"Are you so certain?"
Mal looked at her mother. "It was supposed to be yours when you were old enough," Maleficent said in a cold tone as she shot Mr. Gold an icy stare.
Mal looked from her mother back to Mr. Gold. Mr. Gold chuckled softly again. "Ah yes, but fate had other plans. Such a cruel force…fate is," Mr. Gold continued. "Your friend Audrey has since stripped the scepter of its power and now possesses that power herself…or so she thinks." Mr. Gold then waved his other hand and the green orb from the scepter appeared.
Mal's eyes flashed with rage. Green sparks jumped around her pupils. "DON'T EVER call her that again!" She said in a venomous tone.
Maleficent was growing angrier by the moment as well. Unlike her daughter however, her face was able to hide her emotions as she stared back at Mr. Gold.
Mr. Gold looked away for a second before returning his eyes to Mal's. "Here's my offer…as powerful as you are my dear…you will not be able to defeat Audrey and Uma." Mal and Maleficent looked at him. "Yes I know all about those two…just like I know all about you. I will give you this ember and your scepter's stone. They will assist you in the upcoming battle and give you the edge you will need."
"Thanks but I have my mother," Mal replied.
Mr Gold chuckled.
"What's so funny?"
"Those two fools are nothing compared to me," Maleficent said.
"They were, but how certain can you be things are still like that?" Mr. Gold explained. "I'm certain you, Maleficent, have felt the increase in their powers. Also, don't forget, Mistress of Evil, you are a villain, and Audrey is the daughter of a hero. A hero that's already gotten the better of you I might add. Need I remind you what happens with villains and happy endings here? Do you want to risk losing dear Mal too when tools to assure victory were so close at hand?"
"What's your price?" Maleficent asked. Mal looked at her.
Mr. Gold smiled. "Simple. Mal must be the one that defeats them and she must have the ember and the stone when she does so. Even if by chance it turns out they are unnecessary for her."
"Not much of a price," Mal said sarcastically.
Mr. Gold let that pass before continuing. "Once she has won, if she does what I've said, the powers Audrey took from the scepter will be returned to that stone. Besides, that's the way you want it, isn't it Mal? In addition to casting the curse that brought you here, didn't Audrey attack your dear sister?"
"How dare you!" Maleficent snapped. "Leave Lily out of this!"
Mr. Gold ignored her again as he looked back to Mal. "So I take it we have a deal?"
"Yes!" Mal yelled. Before Maleficent could do anything to stop her, Mal stepped forward and grabbed the ember and the stone. "Those two will suffer! I will have my revenge! Audrey…Uma…you will regret the day you were ever born!" Green flames shot around Mal as she laughed evilly.
Perfect, Mr. Gold thought to himself as he stepped back and disappeared. She has absolutely no idea. With her incredible power and darkness levels my spell will be able to work this nice little loophole I found. Unfortunately, Mal, as Hades daughter is the only one who can make the ember do this. When she does something unthinkable to get her revenge and becomes completely ensnared in her darkness…then power of her father's ember will fulfill my wish. By using the power of her father…a god…and her mother through the ember and the scepter stone, she will open the channel the darkness needs to tie her to the dagger…replacing me as its eternal slave…without the cost of my power. Then I'll have it all. I will keep my power and I'll be free of the dagger's control. Then I will be unstoppable!
Rumple is never one to pass up an opportunity. This chapter dove a bit deeper into his plans. If anything is confusing please feel free to PM me or leave a question in a review.
