Author's Note: This chapter is necessarily longer than expected. Apologies, but I felt I needed to cover a lot of ground.

The Battle of Sherwood – Part I

Emma was in the diner when she received Regina's text, still slowly recovering from the late night out. She sipped her second black coffee, having just ordered a fried breakfast brunch from Kathleen, one of the young girls Ruby had recently hired.

She looked up at the departing waitress's back. Didn't Henry date her for a couple of weeks? she thought, before looking at the other waitress on duty. Grace, Jefferson's daughter, now serving an elderly couple she didn't recognize. She remembered Henry's first crush on Grace, and over the years the girl had truly blossomed. She felt a tinge of jealousy looking at her. She's got tits like rocks, that face and hair, not a wrinkle in sight and a figure to die for! Although having just turned forty last year, all the stresses of her home life made her feel her age. Where the hell did that go?

She was brought out of her melancholy by the text:

Gina: 'Spencer has taken hostages. We need to meet, IMMEDIATELY. Everyone with magic, come to Sherwood Clinic. NOW...'

Emma nearly choked on her coffee. "What the fuck?" she gasped, shocked, as several other diners' phones went off simultaneously. Ruby, looking down at her own phone in surprise, lifted her head to see Emma stand, throwing bills down to cover the drinks. "Emma, wait! I don't think..." the wolf called. But it was too late, as the blonde's magical mist now enfolded her, teleporting her away "…it's Regina!" she finished. That text definitely looks suspicious - but it seemed Emma wasn't going to waste time asking questions.

Within seconds, Emma apparated to the green lawn just outside the front of the Earl of Locksley, as she gathered her thoughts, taking in her surroundings. The first thing she noticed was the silence. Nobody present, apart from a couple of guys hanging around the front entrance to the new clinic. Seeing the former sheriff appear, one of the men, Derek? Dave? - she'd seen his face before, but it didn't matter now, appeared to stiffen. "Lookin' for your wife? She's gone inside!" he croaked, waving his thumb over his shoulder. Without hesitating, she followed his direction, walking across and into the building.

Like everyone had before her, she was flabbergasted as the small entrance opened up into a vast reception area completely out of proportion with the view outside. Before she could even take in her surroundings, she felt a hard jab of metal to her side. "Hello, Saviour? We've been expecting you!'

She slowly turned to see Clive Thomas, one of Keith Nottingham's former deputies, sporting a smirk as he held a pistol against her side. Forgetting where she was and her anger rising, she attempted raising a simple spell to incapacitate him. Nothing. No reaction! She groaned, remembering all magic had been neutralized in this place. That's a fucking smart idea! she sarked internally. "Thomas – what the hell are you doing?"

"As I've been asked, Saviour! And as you can see, we're all equal now! No magic getting in the way!"

"So someone asked you to stick a gun in my ribs? Where the hell's my wife?" As she looked around, she saw about six other armed men in the room, covering various unfortunate members of the public as they knelt or lay. Another man darted in from a side door, a sly expression on his face, whispering to a colleague.

"All in good time! First, I've been told to tie you up, then take you in to see Nottingham," he nodded towards a room the other man had left. "Your missus is in there with him."

She now realised the danger they were in. Without magic, if I let this arsehole tie me, I'm fucked! Better do it the old-fashioned way...So, without any further warning, she spun, pushing the gun from her ribs, before swinging her right fist up to connect with his jaw. The satisfying thump was immediately followed by the fierce pain in her knuckles as she was reminded how magic was always so much easier and less painful.

"Aargh!" yelled Thomas as he reacted to the blow, temporarily disorientated. He felt her grab his wrist, trying to wrest the gun from his hand. No sooner had Emma grabbed the weapon, when she felt a fierce blow to the side of her head, as another of the armed men slammed his rifle butt into her. "Fuuuck!" she groaned, spinning in pain, the blow immediately followed by a massive punch from Thomas, delivered directly onto her nose, most certainly breaking it, as she went down, unconscious within seconds.

"See how you like it, you cunt!" he snarled.

In the adjoining auditorium, Regina, now knelt on the floor, hands bound behind her back, facing the lectern. She felt the left side of her face now swelling painfully from the blow. Beside her, Caroline, now barely conscious, also knelt, head bowed as blood poured from her nose.

"You bastards! You know you won't get away with this!" she scowled at the former mayor.

"Oh, do shut up you stupid woman! You really think I care what you think? I've put up with so much shit from you over the years. You, Snow White and that insufferable arse I treated like a son! You've controlled everything for so long only because you had magic. But we're fixing that. Today!"

If looks could kill, Spencer would be ashes. Despite searing pain now throbbing across her face, Regina snarled, ready to unleash yet another barb, when the main door from the reception area burst open. Two armed men dragged a lifeless body, by the arms, into the auditorium. Regina's face turned from red with anger, to white with horror, when she saw who the body belonged to.

"EMMA!" she screamed, struggling against her ropes, desperate to comfort her fallen wife. "WHAT THE HELL HAVE THEY DONE TO YOU?"

Clive Thomas, face bruised but no longer afraid of the bloodied woman before him, just cackled. "No more than she deserves! That bitch punched me in the face a couple of years back, and just now, so I guess I've just given her a taste of her own medicine, your most gracious majesty!" he sneered as he pulled the body to the foot of the stage.

Regina heard her groan. She' alive! Thank god! "Emma, my love, I'm here!"

The two soldiers bound the Saviour's hands tightly behind her back, leaving her lying prone. As they stood, the door opened again, to another armed man, a smaller, squat figure who headed straight to Spencer. "You have news, Colonel Smith?"

"Aye, sir! Several fairies arrived here and all have been held in one of the wards, though we've seen no sign of the Dark One, the Sorcerer, the Blue Fairy or Hood yet! It appears Hook's still on board his ship, sailing outside the bay. Either he has no phone, or is out of range to read the queen's message yet…" Smith reported, looking down at Emma's body.

Spencer smiled, maliciously. "I hardly think the pirate's going to waste time on her anymore!" He sneered, nodding towards Emma, now moving up onto her knees with difficulty. "Discovering his former girlfriend's a dyke, shacked up with one of the most evil bitches around, would put most men off!"

Regina was trying to shuffle across to Emma when her ears pricked up. Queen's Message? That's why he took the phone!

Spencer saw her reaction. "Yes, Regina, you heard right! Your message sent from your phone. You've told everyone you need help and to get here immediately! I'm sure your cavalry is on its way! Let's just say I've a reception planned for them, just like your bitch wife."

"You're a fucking idiot, Spencer!" groaned a voice from the floor, Emma, now awake and presumably having heard him. Regina's breath hitched when she saw the clearly broken nose and purple bruising coming out around her eyes. "Can you imagine what we're going to do to you when we get out of here? Once we're out…" she stopped, seeing him smirk, completely unconcerned. Regina knew that look.

"That's it, isn't it? That's the plan? You're not intending for us to leave, are you?" she snarled.

"Got it in one! I just need everyone who has magic, in here, a place where you cannot use it to control us. It's perfect. A real level playing field!"

"Then what? You kill us? Then take control? Use physical force instead of magic?" growled Regina. "It'll never work! It only takes one of us…" she yelled as Spencer leant forward, slapping the non-injured side of her face.

"Enough! Any more and we'll gag you. Kneel quietly now, with your girlfriend."

"I'm her WIFE, you gormless shit!" yelled Emma, before being delivered a swift punch on the jaw from Smith, knocking her onto her back again.

"Nobody cares anyway, you dirty little dyke! You'll be dead soon!"

Albert Spencer looked down at the pitiful pair, now both almost unrecognisable. Emma's right eye had puffed up, already turning purple as the blood across her nose and face congealed. Regina's left cheek had similarly swelled up, distorting one eye socket. The pair gazed at each other, both silently crying out to offer some form of comfort to the other, before Spencer against started shouting at his minions.

"Mason, check the latest arrivals. Phone around! We need the Dark One, Merlin and Locksley in here as soon as they arrive! Say anything. Just get them into Reception somehow then put those magic cuffs on them from the station, just to be sure. Then you can shoot 'em, beat 'em, even kill 'em as far as I'm concerned, just get them in here! Anyone else, just bind and gag them. Don't bother about the sprogs yet. We'll deal with the two Mills children later, before school ends. Who else has magic out there?"

"The Witch ain't got proper magic no more, so I don't think she'll be over anytime soon. The Blue Fairy hasn't arrived yet. Hatter hasn't been seen for ages, so I think he's gone…"

He hadn't mentioned Henry! So, there was a chance he's been overlooked? Just hope to god he speaks to Gold before he does something stupid like trying to mount a one-man rescue mission!

Regina looked at Mason, whose face she vaguely remembered from long ago. "How could you do this? What have we ever done to harm you? You've no idea what that man's capable of!"

"How could I? You don't even know who I am, do you?" He roared at her, his voice low and angry, his face inches from hers. "My name's Jeffrey Mason…Your Majesty!" He almost spat the title out. "You murdered my brother on his wedding day! For the terrible crime of trying to get married on the edge of your land without your permission! You drew up in that ridiculous carriage with that pathetic father of yours in tow, just as we were getting started. You told us we were trespassing and murdered him in front of us! Murdered him! My mother was expecting, and miscarried because of what you did! She was so broken she killed herself! So, don't you DARE ask me why, you vile, obnoxious, self-important piece of filth! Oh, what the hell…" and with that diatribe, the man raised his foot to slam Regina hard under the chin, causing a loud crack in her jaw as she fell back, unconscious.

"Gina!" cried Emma, distraught at the brutal attack, too devastated to respond, and knowing if she did the situation could get even worse. Mason looked down at her, no longer with fear, but contempt.

"And you! Call yourself a fucking Saviour? When did you save someone who wasn't in your family? The rest of us could go hang, provided your own lot were taken care of! Never mind the rest of us poor bastards! You're a disgrace. No wonder Hook gave up on you!"

Emma looked at his wild, angry eyes. There was no point in trying to calm him or make him see reason. Best to stay silent and hope, no, pray, for the best. Her mind went to how on earth they were going to get out of this. They were tied up in a room with armed men itching to kill them, and no magic. For the first time in a very long time, she felt hopeless and very, very, scared. She thought of Killian, the man who had saved her life in the past. The past. He wouldn't care now. The moment he realized I'd moved on, so did he. She thought of Gold. If Belle had been in the room with her, he might have bothered finding a way in, a loophole, to get past the magic barrier and slaughter every one of Spencer's men. Neil would have approved of that! She thought. Then she thought of Robin, the man who'd built the place. With his new powers, perhaps he could do something? Anything?

Outside

Robin and Merlin apparated into a copse, a few hundred yards from the front of the clinic, "Still got to get used to that!" whispered Robin, orientating himself.

"No need to whisper, Robin, we're in a magical cage! They can't see or hear us," assured Merlin. "Now, let's not waste time. People without magic are going to start coming here soon, now they've gotten Regina's message. We need to stop them before…" as he spoke, a nearby magical swirl heralded two new arrivals. Henry and Gold. Anxious for them not to be seen by anyone, Merlin twirled his fingers to collect the pair into his cage, before the mist had even cleared.

"Whooaah!" yelled Henry. "What just happened?"

"Sorry gentlemen - I was trying to stop you being seen! Here, you're now invisible to others," explained Merlin. Gold merely nodded, as though this was all an average day for him. "Good day, Professor. Mr. Locksley."

"Hello Mr. Gold, I'm assuming you also saw the text message purporting to come from Mrs. Swan-Mills?"

"Indeed. My grandson was with me when it arrived. We both realized it was a rather crude hoax."

Merlin nodded. "Well, we believe Regina may be being held in there, along with my daughter and who knows how many. It's a perfect place to capture anyone with magic. Anna was working in there this morning, and isn't responding to my calls. Until we get inside, we have no way of knowing what's going on."

"I think my other mum may be in there too! She poofed out of Granny's, almost as soon as she got the message!" said Henry, looking seriously worried. "I tried calling her, them, but nothing. Grandpa, I've an idea. If you go in there, you lose your magic advantage, right? But can't you control anyone before they go in there then get them to do what you want?"

Gold smiled up at his grandson, mischievously. "Indeed, we can my boy. You sound more like your father every day!" His admiration was interrupted by two guards leaving the building opposite, clearly on an errand. Rumple recognized the smaller, squat man.

"I believe that's Captain Clive Thomas, previously one of King George's most loyal soldiers. I guess he's as good a source as any…" Then, with a small twirl of his fingers, the man apparated from beside his colleague, in a short mist, from the front of the clinic to be unceremoniously dumped in front of Rumple, within Merlin's sound cage.

"WHAT THE FUCK?" he yelled from the ground, as he saw The Dark One looking down on him. Now seeing the angry faces of Merlin and Robin Locksley, Thomas started to panic, realizing he was in serious trouble.

"Right. You!" said Robin, grabbing Thomas by his shirt and hoisting him onto his legs. "What's going on in there? Speak now! Speak clearly!"

Thomas was a tough old bird. "I'm sayin' nothing, Hood! You wanna know? Go find out for yourself!"

Gold didn't waste any more time. "Wrong answer!" he growled, forcing his fist into the man's chest. He swiftly pulled out the heart in a smooth, brutal movement, Thomas screaming in pain at the contact as Gold instantly transformed himself into the scaly, gold features of the Dark One.

"Now, dearie, you know how this works, don't you? Answer the question Mr. Locksley has asked, or I crush this little organ of yours and you're history. Decide now!" Rumple gave the beating organ a little squeeze, earning a painful groan from the guard, who slumped to his knees, knowing the game was up. "George…he's got the Queen, the Saviour and a bunch of others at gunpoint in one room, and others elsewhere."

Robin's fears were confirmed. "Are they okay? How are they holding them? Is anyone hurt?" He demanded. Thomas refused to look anywhere but down on the ground, clearly trying to avoid the question. Robin grabbed his hair brutally, forcing his head back to meet his eyes. "ANSWER ME! Or on my son's life I will take your heart from the Dark One and crush it myself! Are they hurt?" Rumple gave the heart an extra squeeze for good measure.

"Aargh! Yes!" he flinched, "They're hurt! The Saviour took a beating. She's tied up…"

Robin winced. "And Regina? Tell me, dammit!" he roared.

"She's unconscious, and…tied up." At that, Robin's hand went to the man's throat, squeezing tightly as he lifted him back to his feet. With his other hand he lifted the beating heart from Rumple's palm, squeezing it firmly and bringing a scream of pain from their captive. "Why-is-she-unconscious? Who did it?"

Merlin, having been silent till now, calmly stepped forward, placing a gentle hand on the archer's shoulder to stop him going any further. "Robin, I understand your anger. But we'll gain nothing if this man also becomes unconscious! Here, let me…" With a flick of his fingers, a large dream catcher appeared in front of them. A light blue wave of light emanated from it towards Thomas's head, directed by Merlin, which within seconds started to fill the screen with images from the man's very recent memory.

Robin, Rumple and Henry looked on aghast, as they saw, from the man's view, the commotion that had just taken place inside the building. Robin's anger grew as he saw Emma receive a rifle butt to the head, followed by Clive Thomas himself punching her in the face. As his rage increased, so did his grip on the heart and Thomas slipped into unconsciousness. Fortunately, the dream catcher continued to play out recent events as Merlin eased the heart out of Robin's hands, fearful the Outlaw might turn it to dust in his tightening fist.

Seeing Geoffrey Mason kick Regina in the head was the last straw! Robin almost wept with barely controlled fury as he saw her slump to the ground. "I'll fucking kill him! I'll rip his lungs out, the bastard!" Seeing him like this, Merlin was glad he's had the foresight to remove the heart from his hand.

"Robin, you MUST calm yourself! We need to plan our next steps carefully…"

"CALM? After what that swine did?"

"Yes, even after what he did! You forget, Robin, that man in the dream catcher said it himself. The Evil Queen murdered his brother, caused his mother to miscarry, and she went on to commit suicide. That's three members of one family dead due to her actions."

"SHE'S NOT THAT WOMAN ANY MORE!"

"No, but the effects of her actions live on! While she is now Regina, a loving mother to your children, people like that man have their whole lives ruined by what she was. For them there is no respite, no recovery. Their families are gone. Forever. Robin, I'm not justifying what he did, but you can understand the hatred he feels. So he deserves to be punished for harming her, but he doesn't deserve to die!"

Robin sighed angrily, knowing the man was right. He continued to watch silently as the scene played out. Seeing his cousin Carrie, her face covered in heavy bruises made him want to vomit. She and Emma were now kneeling either side of Regina's body, all with hands bound behind their backs as the former King George strutted around the room, firing orders at all staff as other innocent bystanders knelt or lay nearby.

Merlin turned to Henry, who was now shaking in silent rage, teary-eyed as he saw his mothers' battered faces and suffering. He held him by the shoulders. "Henry, I know this is hard for you, but we need your help. You probably still have many Storybrooke contacts on your phone?"

"Of course. Why?"

"I need you to send everyone a message, telling them to ignore your mother's earlier message. Tell them that people are being held hostage in that clinic, and to avoid the area completely. Tell them Albert Spencer has illegally armed men on site, and it's too dangerous. Tell them to keep away until further notice…"

"But won't Spencer see it? He has mum's phone!"

"Yes. He'll then know that we know. But it will keep them contained inside. Nobody else will step outside while we figure out what to do!" As he spoke, both Merlin and Robin's phones buzzed as a new text arrived.

David Nolan: CHARMING

Recognising the 'safe' word agreed with Emma's father, Robin immediately started calling the former sheriff.

"David, is everyone safe there?"

"Hi Robin. Yes, kind of. Philip has called out the militia and some of them are guarding the school, as we speak. So the kids are safe. Mulan and Aurora have secured the town hall and the police station and they're letting everyone know what's going on. Dorothy said Ruby went straight into the forest once she got the message. So she may already be in there. What's going on over there?"

Robin didn't want to tell David about his daughter, but knew he had to. "George is definitely holding hostages. Emma and Regina are two of them." He could hear the anxious gasp at the other end.

"I'm coming over. Robin, poof me over there? Now please!"

"I will do, David, but give us a chance to plan this. They're being held under heavy armed guard, so we need to be careful. There's no magic in there, remember? First, we need to keep everyone else away, and make sure that bastard doesn't have anybody else causing problems elsewhere. Can you help with that?"

"Of course. Philip is already on to it. Robin, if Emma is in danger, I need to be there! Have you heard anything? How are they?"

How do you tell a father his little girl has been beaten senseless? "David, I'll let you know as soon as I have any more news. I need to go. Someone's coming!" With that, he ended the call.

As Merlin knelt down to place the unconscious man's heart back in his body, Rumple, seeing his shaking grandson, stepped forward. "Henry, my boy, it's time for us to do something useful. We need to assess the situation out there; how many people Spencer has. How about I show you how to do our very own aerial survey?"

"Aerial? You mean we can fly?" Henry gasped, earning a short giggle from his magical tutor.

"In a matter of speaking. You'll be under an invisibility shield but, yes, in a way you will float above. Here, let me show you…" He held the boys shoulder and in a matter of moments, the familiar mist engulfed them, leaving a smiling Merlin and Robin behind. "Impressive young man, that!" said Robin.

"Indeed. Impressive and with a quite astonishing future to come, I can assure you…"

Inside the auditorium, Regina still lay unconscious, the swelling to the side of her face now joined by bruising from her chin. The result of Mason's kick. Emma leaned over to get closer, her hands still restrained behind her back. "Come on Gina! Wake up! Please!" she pleaded.

The adjoining door to the reception swung open once again as two of Spencer's men dragged another struggling victim into the room. Emma's breath hitched as she realized who it was.

"Ruby?"

The café owner looked up, revealing a large blackened right eye, swollen to a mere slit. "Emma? What the hell did they do to you?" she yelled, earning a cuff around the side of her head from one of her captors. She growled loudly. If I could just change, that fucker would pay! she thought. Though seeing the blood-spattered face of Regina, laying still, made her realise their situation was serious.

"Put Lucas over there…" Spencer pointed to the opposite of the stage. "…I don't want them even talking to each other. Put a gag on her if need be!"

The two burly men lifted Ruby under her shoulders, dragging her across the floor before unceremoniously dumping her on her knees. "You heard the Mayor, now shut it if you know what's good for you…"

Emma scanned the room, trying to think of any way to get out of this. This was bad. Really bad! From what she could see, there was no way Spencer and Nottingham were going to get away with it. If they threatened to kill everyone inside, everyone with magic outside would probably get them eventually. Rumplestiltskin would almost certainly kill them. And Henry? He's just come into his magic. If he lost control at the thought of his mothers, he could go and do something stupid, even kill Spencer himself! So why are they doing this? They can't possibly win…unless…? That's when she realised the plan. They have no intention of letting anyone leave here alive! That's it! They'll just capture everyone with magic, kill them, then wait for more victims to come in and do the same again! Without any magicians, they can go back to controlling everyone with their thugs!

A good thirty minutes after leaving, Rumple and Henry apparated back behind Merlin's invisible shield. "Grandpa, that was bloody awesome!" said the young man, still excited. "Robin, I was slowly floating all over the top of this place! I could see everything!"

"That's great Henry, but did you find out anything?"

Rumple stepped forward. "We counted around twenty five armed men, in a small gulley about a quarter mile from here, mostly armed, plus a few on the perimeter a few hundred yards away. Several were wearing that ridiculous checkered uniform of George's army."

"Plus, a couple were on phones. They're clearly coordinating with some of them inside." Henry elaborated.

Merlin sighed. "Very well. Mr. Gold, would you kindly incapacitate them? I suggest a short sleeping spell for a day or so rather than actually killing them?"

"Spoilsport!" said Rumple, a mischievous smirk on his face.

"Thank you. Now then, while you were gone, Mr. Locksley also been busy with his men. Fortunately, most of them were further away from the clinic when Spencer struck. Robin, would you kindly explain your plan?"

Everything kicked off about fifteen minutes later. In the large reception area of the clinic, Keith Nottingham surveyed the captives. Lying or sitting on the carpet in front of the main desk, lay around thirty very frightened villagers, bundled together for comfort. Surrounding them with their backs to the wall stood six armed men, their rifles pointing threateningly at the group. Nottingham addressed them with a nasty grin.

"Ladies and gentlemen. My apologies for this interruption to your day but it has unfortunately been necessary for us to take this action, to arrest the ringleaders of the recent coup at the town hall. As you are aware, our mayor, Mr. Spencer, was illegally thrown out of office days ago, and I myself was forcibly removed as sheriff. We're seeking to rectify this, by arresting those responsible! Several of the collaborators have been taken into custody already. Anyone who does not possess magic has nothing to fear. So all we ask is that you sit quietly, until we have finished. Now, I have to warn you that anyone seeking to resist us will be dealt with harshly. So please, sit still, be quiet and things should hopefully soon be over."

He then addressed his men. "Gentlemen, kill anyone who resists!"

As he turned to head back into the main auditorium, knocking was heard from the main doors, a sequence of three followed by two strikes, as agreed in advance. Two of Spencer's men slowly opened the doors, yelling out, "Who goes there? Identify yourself!"

"It's me, Captain Thomas! Reporting back, with additional prisoners, sir!" a voice yelled back.

"Open the doors!" Nottingham ordered. As the doors opened, he was met with the sight of Thomas standing in front of three men, their hands tied in front of them, escorted by two of Spencer's guards immediately behind. Nottingham recognized the men immediately. Will Scarlet, Little John in the middle, and Alan-A-Dale!

"Ha! Some of our illustrious 'Merry Men'! Not so merry now, are we? Excellent, Captain, a fine prize indeed! I've a score or two to settle with these particular gentlemen. Perhaps Mr. Hood would like to try and rescue them?"

"Aye, Sir, a prize indeed," said Thomas, trying not to wince in pain.

"Bring them in. We'll take them straight in to see the Mayor!"

The doors opened wide, the prisoners and escorts stepping into the reception area. Nottingham turned towards the door to the auditorium. "I'm sure he'll be-"

The enormous bang and piercing white flash took everyone by surprise! Everyone, apart from the three captives. As all eyes had been on the largest man in the middle, Little John, the guards had missed Alan-a-Dale's shrugging off the faked ties around his wrists, to reach behind his head and into his hood, pulling out Rumplestiltskin's primed thunderflash, slamming it into the floor.

Alan, Will & John closed their eyes as instructed, though the piercing white flash from the small grenade which temporarily blinded everyone else in the room, was felt even under their closed eyelids! The enormous bang that followed shook the room, giving the three 'captives' their chance.

Within seconds, Little John stepped across to two of the guards closest to the door, his enormous hands gripping the back of one man's head pulling him sideways before slamming his skull into that of a second man, the two falling unconscious almost immediately. Swiping a rifle from one and a sword from the other's scabbard, John turned to face a third guard, raising his rifle and pressing it into the man's throat as he started to react to events by raising his weapon.

"I wouldn't, pal! Drop it before I drops you!"

The man, a young former officer in George's guard, looked down the barrel pointing into his throat and surprisingly, smirked. The safety catch was on! "Not used to handling guns, are you?" he said. John responded to his arrogance by swiftly pulling the barrel point from his throat and swinging the butt into the man's head, making him silently collapse onto the floor.

"You're right! Guns was never my thing…"

Having been the one to set off the flash, Alan was more prepared than any of them! He stepped swiftly towards one guard who, temporarily blinded and deafened, had nonetheless pulled a pistol from its holster in self-defence. Alan calmly pushed the gun down before slamming his forehead hard into the man's face, hearing a satisfying crunch of bone. He went down to the floor almost instantly. Alan then stepped nimbly across to another dazed guard, raising his right leg, spinning his entire body backwards to deliver an almighty thump to the soldier, who collapsed but not before a follow up kick was delivered to the side of his head. Down he went, and Alan was silently grateful he remembered Mulan's excellent fight training. She really is a master, he thought.

Will's task was to secure the doors, and recover the reception area. He did so by charging towards the armed man standing next to the auditorium entrance, raising his entire body into the air to deliver a tremendously hard kick to his head. The man scrambled back, dazed but still able to fight. Without hesitating, Will punched him hard on the nose, splitting the cartilage. He went down. Now, the only one standing was Nottingham!

Nottingham couldn't understand why Thomas and the men who brought them in were just standing there, not fighting! Then he realised. Someone got to them first! His anger instant at being fooled so easily, Nottingham pulled his short sword from its scabbard, racing back to the nearest outlaw to plunge it into his back.

At least that was the plan. However, as the tip of the blade was about to drive in between Will Scarlet's shoulder blades, a small zipping noise was heard, as something flew through the air. Nottingham felt his sword hand pushed backwards, glancing up to see that an arrow had pierced deep into his wrist. Moments later, he felt the pain, which was excruciating. Looking up to see where it had come from, he paled as he saw the leading outlaw himself, walking calmly into the entrance, side-by-side with the Sorcerer, arrow cocked, and ready to fire again.

Seeing his men had already secured the room, quicker than expected, Robin quickly walked over to Nottingham. The former sheriff had a gun at his side, cocked and ready to use, although the sheer agony coming from his right wrist took all his attention. Until Robin reached him.

Robin lowered his weapon, ignoring the arrow deeply imbedded in the man's wrist as he grasped Nottingham by the throat, squeezing tightly.

"You had your chance. Now, you WILL pay!" Robin withdrew his grip before fisting the hand and slamming it hard into the former Sheriff of Nottingham's throat, pushing the Adam's Apple back. Nottingham collapsed to his knees instantly, his throat too constricted to even choke. He tried to draw breath, but it was painful. Very painful. A harsh right foot on the back of his head rendered him unconscious.

Robin walked to the centre, where the traumatized villagers lay or knelt, some clutching each other in shock following the enormous flash and bang. "Sorry everyone! Now, I must ask you to leave very, very quietly! John, help them please?"

Little John nodded, collecting the traumatized villagers to leave the building through the safe exit, while Will and Alan stripped the unconscious guards of their weapons. "Could some of you good folks help us tie up and drag these 'ere villains outside? I'm sure the Dark One can take good care of 'em from there…" said John. A small group instantly formed to help them.

"Now then," said Merlin, walking around to the reception desk and pulling the small microphone to him. Pressing the little button at the base, everyone inside the building heard the distinctive clack of the loudspeaker system.

"Ladies and Gentlemen. This is Merlin!" he said in the most imperious voice he usually used for errant medical students. "This is a message for Albert Spencer and all those currently holding hostages or captives…"

Collective gasps rang throughout the hospital. Perhaps this wasn't going to end so badly, after all!

"All your armed colleagues outside the clinic have now been incapacitated. Furthermore, Nottingham and others are under arrest and will be tried in due course. I insist you lay down your weapons and walk slowly outside with your arms in the air! We are fully aware of your murderous little plan, and I can assure you he will not be allowed to succeed. Now is the time to give yourself up. You will be dealt with fairly if you surrender quietly and calmly…"

By now, more of Robin's men had entered the reception area. Noises were heard from the floor above as people started to walk down the stairs, some with their arms in the air as Merlin instructed. Some of the former hostages now surrounding them, using their former captors' own weapons to contain them. Suddenly, Annabelle appeared on the landing, yelling down as soon as she saw her father in the foyer. "Dad! Dad! We need you up here! Quickly!"

Merlin, greatly relieved to see his daughter safe, called up. "Anna, What is it? What's wrong?"

"There's been a few stabbings, and someone's been shot! Victor's doing all he can, but we're short-handed in theatre! Carrie Locksley's in the building too but she's not answering her phone…"

Robin froze. Carrie! He only just got her back yesterday from her trip with Whale to New York! "I'll try and find her. Will, Alan, please go organize the men to clear the place, room by room. But stay away from that door - it goes to the auditorium and we think that's where Regina and Emma are being held hostage! Spencer's probably holed up in there too, so that's where they'll keep the best fighters and the most guns. So, go to it!"

"Got it, boss!" called Alan, really getting to enjoy this rescuing stuff after such a long time.

"John, could you go ask Gold for another of those thunder flash things?"

As the large man turned, the Dark One himself ambled into the room, barely containing a most devious smile. "Ahead of you, as always, dearie!" he cackled, before handing a device, larger than the previous thunderflash, to the outlaw. "Now, go steady with that, Locksley, and for heaven's sake don't drop it beforehand! It's about five times louder and you'll definitely need the earplugs again, for this one. And when you slam it down, keep your eyes shut!"

Within a few minutes Alan and Will reported back. Most rooms had been cleared but a few pockets of resistance remained. However, Will had some disturbing news. 'Rob, young Henry's been taken hostage down in the cellars! He tried to get in through the back, thinking Spencer's mob wouldn't be covering it. He thought wrong. I think there's a least two of them holding him. One of them says they won't come out without some sort of guarantee, or Spencer telling them to let him go!"

"Dammit!" growled Robin, irritated. While Henry's bravery impressed him, he knew not to go off plan. Contain them, reduce the number, and only fight when you absolutely have to! However, before he even formulated a change of plan, Rumpelstiltskin stepped forward to the desk, looking to the microphone.

"May I?" he grinned.

In the auditorium, Emma looked through swollen eyes at Albert Spencer. The former king and mayor was pacing angrily, unsure of his next move. The six armed men in the room looked to each other, nervously. She smiled inwardly. If Merlin's here, there's a fair chance we'll get out of this alive! she thought, though bile lodged in her throat as she looked at the state of her wife's face, her beautiful features wholly distorted from the swelling. Regina was now awake and tried to smile at the younger woman, difficult with a broken jaw. Neither of them were ready for the next announcement over the tannoy system.

"Good afternoon to you all! This is Rumpelstiltskin. Though most of you may know me as the Dark One…"Emma and Regina, though battered, shared a look. Where was this going now HE was involved?

"The Sorcerer has been most patient with those of you causing us problems today, and has asked you to surrender quietly. Now, most of you have given yourselves up and are now outside, safe and sound. Some of you will sleep safe in your beds tonight! However, there are a few of you who insist on keeping people hostage in this building. As you are aware, the Dark One always keeps his promises. I do not have Merlin's kind heart or Mr. Locksley's sense of justice, but I do know how to keep a promise! So here is my promise. If you surrender yourselves immediately, leaving all weapons behind, I promise not to execute you the moment you leave these premises!"

Emma tried to chuckle, but the pain made it difficult. However, the Dark One wasn't finished.

"I also have a very special message for the two armed gentlemen currently holding Mr. Henry Mills at gunpoint in the annex of this building."

Emma and Regina thought the same thing - Shit – they've got Henry!

"You will immediately hand over your weapons to Master Mills, and allow him to escort you into the Reception area. If you fail to do so within the next five minutes, or ANY harm befalls my grandson, I swear here and now to skin you both alive, repair your flesh and skin you again and again until you beg me for death! That is all. Five minutes, gentlemen!"

Robin tried to stifle a laugh as Merlin merely smirked. "You think he's bluffing?"

"Probably not," said Robin. "I was half expecting him to finish with "Have a nice day!""

It took just over a minute before doors were heard opening and two very ashen-faced men, their hands held behind their heads in defeat, slowly walked from a side room and down the staircase, followed closely by Henry Mills, carefully carrying a selection of guns, rifles and a side sword. He seemed to be limping, but smiled when he saw his paternal grandfather below, before shouting to the two in front. "Keep moving! These are starting to get heavy!"

Arriving at the reception desk, Henry dropped the weapons and stepped up to Rumple, pulling him into a broad hug. "Thanks Gramps!" Rumple reciprocated, quietly relieved the young man was unharmed. Little John led the two silent captors away as Henry continued. "That was awesome! When you threatened them, they almost shit themselves! I've never seen anyone so scared."

"That was no threat Henry, that was a promise." Which earned a quizzical look from his grandson.

"You'd really do that?"

"To anyone hurting my Bae's boy? – in a heartbeat!"

In the auditorium a few minutes later, Ruby Lucas, her right eye now completed closed with the bruising, was able to collect her thoughts. Seeing her two magical friends, battered and bruised, close by, made her heart sink. She had been in awkward situations before but had never seen the two most powerful women she had ever known in such a vulnerable state. A twitchy Albert Spencer had left the stage, and was now in close discussion with his remaining armed thugs. There was no doubt the Dark One's threats had spooked them badly and they were frantically trying to develop a plan. For the first time since she'd been dragged into the room, she was in a position to whisper to the women, hopefully without getting caught and beaten again. She leaned across to Emma.

"Em, she whispered, "you still have some magic, right? Some way of getting us out of here?"

Emma, whose own bloody face now resembled a car wreck, tried to whisper from the side of her mouth. "No. No magic in here. It's useless. Just pray Merlin and Gold can do something…" she whispered back. "These guys are panicking and could do something stupid. Gina's in a bad way too. I'll be honest Rubes, I'm…I'm scared!"

Ruby looked across at the now hunched body of the former Evil Queen. Her beautiful features were now completely distorted, and it looked like she was barely conscious. Ruby knew they were in real shit but tried to comfort her friend. "Emma. Look at me! You're strong, but right now you need to be like your mum. I know you think she's a bit ditzy sometimes, but I'll tell you, I've spent years on the run with Snow and she's the most awesome fucking woman I've ever known. You're like her, my girl! Have her faith! We'll get through this…"

Emma croaked. "I'll try, alright? I'm just -" she stopped when the tannoy crackled to life again.

"This is Robin Locksley. I have a message for Albert Spencer. Albert…"

Spencer flinched. He hated people using his first name. I'm a former fucking king for god's sake!

"Albert, you'll be delighted to know that Henry Mills is safe and sound, your men having very sensibly decided to surrender to him peacefully. So now everyone, apart from those good people you currently have held in the auditorium, has left the building and they are all safe and well, apart from some needing treatment…"

Regina and Emma both visibly heaved a sigh of relief. Henry's safe! Plus, Robin's calm, reassuring voice somehow seemed to just ease them a little, despite the awful situation they were still in.

"However, I know that you and the rest of your men are holed up in there. Mr. Gold and Professor Sage have offered you the chance to come out alive if you all surrender peacefully. Now, I'm a little more benevolent. Albert, I know how much you pride yourself on being a king, a true leader of men. And as you know, true leaders always lead from the front! So, my proposition is quite simple. I challenge you to a duel. Just you and me! There's no magic in here, so we're equal. So, what do you say, Albert? Are you going to prove to your men that you are a true leader? By leading your men from the front? Or are you going to continue to be the snivelling coward I've always thought? The man who takes innocent women and children hostage, and hides behind braver men…"

Spencer was furious, his eyes bulging in anger, a vein throbbing in his temple. How dare he? How dare that bastard call me a coward! He walked across the room to face the now locked door which led to Reception, lifting a semi-automatic assault rifle to his shoulder, which he now pointed at the door, ready to instantly kill the first person to cross the doorway. "Locksley!" he roared, loud enough to be heard the other side. "Big words for a thief! Without your magic you're nothing! I accept your offer but on my terms! The door will be unbolted shortly, then you may come inside. Only you!"

Emma crouched down closer to her wife. Why's he winding him up? Ruby, also with her hands tied, shuffled closer, desperately trying not to draw attention away from the scene near the door.

"Em…Em!" she whispered, desperate not to be overheard, "I can hear Merlin! He's talking to me. He knows how my hearing works! He's telling me something's about to happen - we need to keep down, keep our heads down and for god's sake keep our eyes tight shut when we hear the door go! You need to pass it on to Regina!" Emma nodded silently, turning and shuffling closer to her wife, now laying on her side closer to Carrie's still unconscious body.

"Gina!" she whispered as the wolf had done. "Help's on its way. Something's about to happen but you must keep your eyes shut!"

She looked back at the door. It was obvious the cowardly bastard had no intention of fighting Robin. He was just going to shoot him the moment he came through! She had to do something, but how? She was tied up by the legs and hands and he was on the other side of the room. As she thought what to do, the tannoy crackled again.

"Good, Albert, good! I'm pleased you'll accept my challenge. Now, as a sign of good faith, how about you let a few of your hostages go? Perhaps the most injured ones? It'll make no difference to you and show your troops what a marvellous, considerate leader you are!"

To be continued…