"Hello, Katie..." Emma said softly. "It's nice to meet you... It's nice to meet anybody really..." she then sharply sighed. "No doubt it's been many years since I ended up down here."
"Wait... Emma Swan... Do you know a little place called Storybrooke?" Katie asked softly.
"Storybrooke..." Emma repeated. "Yes, I've been there... It's... It's complicated to explain, especially around new people."
Katie gave a small smile. "I've finally found you..." she said quietly.
"You've been looking for me?" Emma asked, sounding surprised about that.
"Yes, Henry remembers you and told me about you... Are you here through death or were you dragged from the living world?" Katie told her, then had to ask.
"I... I wish I could remember..." Emma said softly and nervously. "I remember being with my family for a minute... And then, something happened... I got very dizzy and everything looked blurry and I suddenly blacked out and... I just woke up here."
"It sounds like Isaac sent you here..." Katie frowned. She shifted over and hugged Emma. "Don't worry, our family and friends will come for us... I'm not leaving without you though either way." she promised.
"Really? Oh, thank you," Emma said softly before she looked Katie in the eyes for a few moments. "Hmm..."
Katie looked back, tilting her head just a little.
"I just wanna make sure you're not lying," Emma frowned a bit. "I've had my heart broken before, but you seem like a sweet and trustworthy soul."
"I'm not lying, Emma," Katie promised her. She then gave a small shy smile. "Wh-Who do I look like?" she asked softly, trying to gently guide Emma to the realization.
"Who do you look like?" Emma repeated, feeling curious of that question at first.
Katie nodded. "Think Storybrooke while thinking on that question." she said softly.
Emma nodded in return before she took a close look at Katie and closed her eyes thoughtfully and had a very interesting idea. "...You almost look like my mother..." she began to say softly.
"And who else?" Katie asked taking her glasses off so Emma could see them clearer.
Emma kept looking at Katie, looking up and down. "...I see hints of my father too..." she then said before shaking her head. "No way... Th-That's impossible."
Katie put her glasses back on so she could see. "Why is it impossible?" she asked softly.
"I... I don't have a sister..." Emma said. "...At least not that I know of."
"I was sent away to protect me from something evil." Katie said softly.
"I was sent away to be given my best chance at life from a curse brought on by The Evil Queen who wanted to destroy my parents' happiness." Emma replied.
"They just wanted us to be safe," Katie said softly. She then moved so she was sat next to Emma and cradled her wrist to her chest. "They'll come for us both." she said softly but surely.
"I don't know how long I've been down here, but I've given up hope that someone will come save me," Emma sighed. "Especially Jefferson."
"Jefferson?" Katie asked curiously.
"My boyfriend," Emma explained, blushing a little. "I don't know if you've met him, but he's quite an enchanting man around me. Sometimes for Date Night we go to The Rabbit Hole together and he treats me like a princess," she then sighed wearily in dismay. "I'd give anything to see him again... Especially when we bond with Henry and Grace together... They're our children." she then added.
Katie reached over with her good hand to squeeze her shoulder. "I haven't had the pleasure to meet him yet, but when we get out of here you'll have to introduce us, so I can make sure he knows not to hurt you," she gave a soft chuckle. "And you can meet Killian, Edward, and Felix." she said.
"Oh... Thank goodness, Killian's still okay..." Emma said softly, though she deeply appreciated the comfort. "I don't think I know Edward or Felix though."
Katie felt just a tiny flash of jealousy, but it quickly passed. "H-How do you know Killian?" she asked first. She carefully removed the ring as she could feel the bad hand swelling a little and didn't want the ring cut off.
"He helped save my life against some giants," Emma said softly. "Long story involving a beanstalk... Also apparently Jack from Jack and the Beanstalk was some lady and not a young boy like in the storybook we probably read as kids," she then added to mean "we" as anyone who had ever been a kid since fairy tales were universal knowledge. "I thought maybe I liked him once, but I just felt closer to Jefferson, especially after bonding more with him and Killian was mostly an aid in some adventures. How do you know him?" she then asked.
"So Jack could be short for Jaqueline... Cool..." Katie softly laughed. "And he's my fiancé, Edward wormed his way in to join us... And Felix... Felix is mine and Killian's adoptive son, from Neverland." she said softly.
"...Interesting," Emma nodded. "Sounds like you've had quite a life ever since you ended up in Storybrooke, huh? Well, welcome to my world." she then said with a smirk.
Katie laughed softly to that. "I don't remember much about my life outside of Storybrooke... Though my dearest friend and younger sister-figure came with me," She said. She sighed softly but smiled. "It might be nice having a big sister too though." she admitted quietly.
"At least you got to have some friends before going into Storybrooke," Emma said softly and distantly before she gave a small smile back. "...Yeah, I guess this means that we're sisters. I was never told about you though, I don't think."
"We think that was the curse, when they sent us away they forgot, but once we get back to Storybrooke and seen they remember us... Though Henry is so very special and powerful too, he remembers no matter what." Katie said softly.
"He's a very smart and wise kid," Emma nodded. "I also like the way you think. I just hope I can get out of here, I really hate being down here, especially in this creepy-ass version of Storybrooke or as Hades decided to call it 'Underbrooke'." she then shuddered.
Katie leaned her head against Emma's arm. "They'll come for us, they might come thinking it's only me, but when they see you too they save you too." she said softly.
"I really hope so," Emma said. "You're such a good sister."
Katie blushed a little. "Are you cold?" she asked then.
"Heh... Kinda hard to in a place like this honestly..." Emma smirked, a bit weak, though trying to joke to keep her hopes up about someone coming to rescue them, especially with Katie's emotional support.
Katie took off her dressing gown and spread it over both their legs.
"You didn't have to do that." Emma said bashfully.
"Eh, sisters share, we'll fight, but there for each other no matter what." Katie gave a small smile.
"You're right," Emma smiled back. "Thanks, Katie."
"Yes, Katie, how kind and charitable of you~" Hades's voice mocked as he stepped over again, making Emma flinch, but soon glared firmly at the god. "I see you and your sister are playing nicely."
Katie noticed Emma's flinch and subtly shifted so she could easily pounce or shove Emma out of the way. Emma glanced over in concern towards Katie.
"Ah... I love to see sisters fighting..." Hades smirked even though they weren't fighting. "Don't stop on my account, ladies~"
"I'm not going to fight her." Katie frowned.
"Shame... I figured you would fight each other," Hades smirked. "Especially since Katie stole your life, Emma."
"She... She wouldn't do that..." Emma narrowed her eyes.
"No, I wouldn't... And in between kidnappings and rescues I've been working to find Emma and bring her home." Katie said, sincerity pouring from her.
Emma looked over before nodding to herself as she knew that Katie wasn't lying.
"Interesting," Hades smirked. "Even if Emma was erased because of a wish your friend made before you ended up in silly old Storybrooke?"
"What...?" Emma muttered from that.
"What?" Katie also asked, frowning in confusion.
"Didn't your friend make a wish to explore and experience other places and a whole new world like some sort of adventure?" Hades prompted with a smirk. "Or have you forgotten that too?"
"Cherry wouldn't do that, at least not at the expense of someone else's life!" Katie told him. She moved and stood protectively in front of Emma. "You're just saying that to try and break our family relationship up!" she glared.
"Bastard..." Emma glowered.
"Why, thank you," Hades smirked. "Is anyone hungry? I'm thinking of stopping over at The Blind Witch's."
"I don't trust you." Katie glared to him.
"You never can." Emma added.
"You're both fools," Hades smirked. "Your family and friends can come try to save you, but who can stop a god, really?"
"Our family and friends and Zeus." Katie smirked.
"Never ever mention that name around me." Hades glowered as his eyes nearly turned into simmering embers.
"Watch out." Emma warned Katie, though tried to sound cool and cocky so that Hades wouldn't take advantage of their weakness in his realm.
Katie glanced to Emma a moment, though not turning her back on Hades.
"I'll let you out later on," Hades smirked. "Oh, and Katie? Don't try to corrupt any of my other pets... I've had eons of training them... Cerberus is just a dumb animal who doesn't know any better."
"He's not dumb!" Katie glared and tried to waft him away as if he were an annoying fly.
Emma's eyes widened.
"Ooh... Easy there, Princess," Hades warned as he grabbed her hand with a smirk. "I might take something valuable of yours since you took something valuable of mine~"
Katie glared at him to that, glad it wasn't her injured hand.
"What a dainty little hand you've got here..." Hades smirked. "You have lovely hands~"
"Uh-oh..." Emma whispered in concern.
Katie blinked, derailed from the sudden compliment.
"Maybe I could make you a deal instead of taking you to my playroom." Hades smirked at Katie.
"Don't do it." Emma warned Katie.
"What deal?" Katie asked, shifting her foot just slightly so Emma knew she had heard her.
"You really interested in knowing?" Hades smirked.
Emma shook her head rapidly.
"I'm sure you'll tell me either way, one to piss off my sister and two because you'll want me to agonize over the choice to accept or not." Katie said dryly.
"Very well," Hades smirked. "Here's the cheese, Princess..."
Emma rolled her eyes at that before she looked fearful for Katie's sake.
"Why don't you stay down here with me for all eternity?" Hades smirked. "Your friends go free and you stay here, you can take care of and spend as much time with Cerberus as you want, and you will never ever have to deal with any pain, humiliation, or torture~"
Katie seemed to look thoughtful a moment, then picked apart his deal. "My friends will go free anyway, Ican take Cerberus with me when they rescue Emma and myself, and I've already dealt with pain, you tried to humiliate and torture me by having Cerberus try to hunt me down..." She said. "So I'm afraid I'm disinclined to acquiese to your request." she finished.
"Hmm... Good luck with taking Cerberus with you," Hades scoffed before smirking. "I'll let you sleep on this choice, my pet. You may have a pleasant evening... As pleasant as you possibly can in a world like thisthough..." he said before kissing the back of her hand. "You have fiery in your heart and soul... You remind me of someone I once knew~"
"Well, just soul at the moment." Katie muttered to that, tugging her hand away.
Hades chuckled as he let go. "Good night, ladies, you might as well get comfortable," he then smirked. "Because you're going to be here for a while~"
Katie wiped her hand on the back of her nightgown, then waited until he left before she would sit beside Emma. Hades soon walked off, leaving the women alone.
"You got pretty lucky," Emma said to Katie. "He may seem harmless and boring, but he can actually be pretty brutal when he wants to be."
Katie nodded. "Have you slept recently?" she asked Emma caringly.
"I have a bed, it's comfortable enough," Emma said with a small shrug. "Could be better, but it could also be worse... It was hard to sleep the first week or so though."
"Well, you take first sleep, I'll watch out for now." Katie said softly.
"All right... If you're sure," Emma said to her sister. "Katie? I don't want to give up hope, but I do wish to get out of here very soon and go back to my life... I wanted to go back to Boston at first... But I suppose being in Storybrooke was better because I finally got the chance to have a family."
"Well, no matter what I'll make sure you can... Our family and friends will be coming for us." Katie gave a small but sincere smile.
"I hope that you're right about that, Katie," Emma smiled back softly. "Good night, Katie."
"Night, Emma." Katie said softly.
Emma smiled and she soon went to drift off to sleep in the bed that she had, curling up a bit as she yawned and slowly began to snore. Katie settled in to keep watch.
"Hello?" Ruby answered the phone.
"Ruby, it's Belle," Belle answered with a small smile. "We'll be coming by in a few minutes."
"Alright, we're still where you left us~" Ruby chuckled.
"Thank you," Belle nodded. "We're on our way."
Cherry put her hands behind her back as she shuffled her feet while standing next to Gold.
"Alright, see you soon~" Ruby smiled.
"See you soon," Belle smiled back before hanging up and facing her lovers. "All right, let's get to work."
"So this is for real?" Cherry asked. "We're literally going down the Highway to Hell?"
"If you want to, if not I won't mind if you stay with Aurelia, dearie." Gold told her. He didn't want to force her either way so gave her two options.
Cherry nodded as she decided to think about it at least for a little bit, not to mention with the fact that Ursula was coming along.
Belle soon went to take them over to Ruby and Dorothy's to come see Aurelia one last time before the journey. Ruby came out to meet them with Aurelia in arms. Aurelia shifted before reaching out for Cherry right away.
"Hi, hon..." Cherry said softly as she came to hold onto Aurelia now. "We weren't gone that long, were we?"
Aurelia latched on, tugging on her mother's hair right away, cooing a bit.
"She missed you guys." Ruby chuckled.
"Well, we missed her too." Cherry beamed as warmly as she could as she carried Aurelia.
"Thank you for watching her." Belle added.
"It was no trouble at all." Dorothy smiled.
Ruby smiled softly.
"We might need a little extra help with keeping her safe and out of trouble." Belle soon said to the two women.
Cherry decided to sit with Aurelia in her lap, cooing and smiling as warmly as possible, trying to be the best mother she could possibly be, even if Katie was the more maternal one between the two of them.
"We'd happily look after her for you guys if you needed to go do stuff." Ruby smiled.
Gold came over to see Aurelia too.
"You're lifesavers," Belle smiled back. "Have you thought about having your own children?"
"Sometimes." Dorothy blushed.
"I'd love to have a child," Ruby said softly. "Puppies~" she giggled.
"Yes, Ruby wants puppies." Dorothy giggled in agreement.
"I'm sure you'd be wonderful parents," Belle smiled, amused at the term of "puppies". "You're great babysitters after all."
"I'm doing my best..." Cherry said to him as he came by. "She doesn't clap and laugh like many babies."
Aurelia looked between them as she nibbled on her fingertips a little.
"She's a bit young for that yet, dearie." Gold told her.
"Hmm... I guess you're right..." Cherry said before sighing. "I wanna help Katie, but I can't just leave Aurelia... She's helpless without us..."
Aurelia was soon shown to be trying to nibble on her foot, lifting it up as best as she could.
"Well, Miss Gale and Miss Lucas could watch over her for us," Gold said. "But if you want to stay I know Katie wouldn't hold it against you." he said.
"...I'll go, though I'm nervous about going to Hell, I mean, I can't imagine much good coming from that... But I'll go..." Cherry decided then as Aurelia looked between them, not knowing what they were saying as she nibbled.
Gold gently stroked Aurelia's cheek with a finger. Aurelia cooed and soon tried to nibble on his finger. Cherry cupped her mouth as a smirk came on her face before she snickered behind her hand as she couldn't help but let her mind go into the gutter from the sight of that.
"Mind out of the gutter, and no baby girl, don't try to eat Papa's finger~" Gold told Cherry and tenderly told Aurelia.
Cherry soon just cracked up laughing and took out her phone to snap a picture of this. "That's a keeper~" she then teased him.
"Coo...?" Aurelia titled her head at both of them, looking confused.
Gold took his finger from her mouth and gently booped her nose. Aurelia let out a small squeak sound, looking to her nose which made her a bit cross-eyed.
"Ahem... Yes, very good..." Cherry cleared her throat, trying to look cool and casual.
"Do you have a deadline to go to the Underworld?" Belle asked her husband, coming between them a little.
"Well, we better get there as soon as possible." Gold said.
"All right, we'll go home and I'll get you your dagger." Belle suggested.
"I hope you know what you're doing," Cherry said to him before yelping suddenly. "Whoa! Cold! Cold..."
Aurelia giggled as she tried to eat Cherry's hand next, drooling all over it. Gold nodded to both, smirking at Cherry's 'demise' of baby drool.
"You're enjoying this, aren't you?" Cherry narrowed her eyes at him as Aurelia giggled innocently.
Gold merely smirked in answer.
"Blech..." Cherry groaned as she waved her hand as it was covered with drool.
"All right, we'll go back home for a little bit, then you can have your dagger and it's straight to the Underworld." Belle decided.
Aurelia soon toddled over before crawling around, nearly going out to the road as Cherry gasped fearfully and scooped her up in her arms, shaking her head and cooing as she caught the baby girl before she wandered too far. Gold nodded to Belle.
"Let's go then," Belle said. "Cherry? ...Please try to be mature."
Cherry rolled her eyes while she cradled Aurelia before they went back home. Gold walked along with them. They soon came into the house to get ready for the trip. Cherry played with Aurelia on the floor while Gold and Belle would get ready in their own way. Belle soon came into the spare room which was where the infamous spinning wheel was as she opened up a drawer and soon held out the dagger that was requested. Gold made sure he had some supplies for the girls especially and even some potions for just in case.
"Papa and the Mamas gotta go away for a while, but we'll be back soon, so let's get you back to Aunt Ruby and Aunt Dorothy, okay, dear?~" Cherry cooed as she picked up Aurelia after making a bag of her stuff such as bottles, diapers, and her favorite toys. "Wet's gwo... Wet's gwo... Why am I tawking wike this?" she then asked herself as she got stuck down the spiral of baby talk.
"I'm very proud of your maternal instinct." Belle smiled fondly.
Gold came out to see them. Belle playfully shook her head before she looked back at her husband.
"Goldibear, are you ready?" Cherry asked as she carried Aurelia and the diaper bag carefully.
"Yes, I'm ready, dearie," Gold nodded. "Do not call me that in the Underworld though, Hades could use it to try and manipulate you." he advised though.
"Huh? Oh, uh, sure... Rumple..." Cherry replied bashfully before looking down at Aurelia. "All right, let's get you back to Aunt Ruby and Aunt Dorothy and Papa and the Mamas will be back very soon."
Aurelia looked up as she nibbled on her fingertips as she was carried off to be separated from her parents yet again.
"We'll be back soon, dear one." Gold told Aurelia.
Aurelia babbled as she reached out at them.
"Very soon," Belle reassured. "You be a good girl for Aunty Ruby and Aunty Dorothy."
"Mmmmmwah!~" Cherry soon leaned over, kissing Aurelia right on the cheek. "We love you so much... My Golden Girl~"
Ruby was busy tidying her apartment and baby-proofing it.
Dorothy helped out of course, always happy to help Ruby in her time of need. "So... Puppies..." she then said with a small smirk towards her girlfriend. "How do you like the name Toto?"
"Cute~" Ruby chuckled.
"Toto Gale-Lucas..." Dorothy giggled. "It has a lovely ring to it~"
Cherry soon knocked on the door as she shushed and cradled Aurelia who was sleeping soundly so far.
Ruby giggled. "Dorothy, will you get that please?" she asked.
"Sure, Rubes," Dorothy smiled as she soon came to the door. "Oh, hello."
"Hey..." Cherry greeted softly as she handed the bag and Aurelia right over, nearly making Dorothy stumble, but she kept still luckily enough. "Make sure she sleeps with her bunny, she can't get to sleep without it. If she cries, it's because of a reason provided on the list. Before bed, put on Lambchop, and some Big Comfy Couch which I put the DVDs for inside, she loves those... They're classics... Make sure she eats her apple sauce... Oh... Am I forgetting anything?" she then asked, feeling the stress and structure of being a mother.
"Don't worry, we'll take very good care of her." Ruby smiled.
"You go and do what you must do," Dorothy added as she nodded her head. "Aurelia's in good hands."
"O-Okay... All right then..." Cherry nodded before lightly patting Aurelia on the head. "M-Mama will be back soon... Be good... Buh-bye~..." she then cooed before kissing her daughter's forehead as Belle took her hand and walked off with her.
"She'll be fine," Belle smiled. "And look at you, you're a wonderful mother."
Gold was waiting outside for the two. Belle soon stood by with a calm and patient smile.
"All right..." Cherry soon said as she raised her right fist. "Let's do this... How do we do this?" she then asked.
"We'll meet Hyde, Jones, Ursula, and the Charmings at the lake if they're coming." Gold said as he led the way.
"All right," Cherry replied. "Going down the Highway to Hell."
"Please stop saying that." Belle complained.
"It's a song, Beauty," Cherry smirked. "Get used to it... Maybe I should sing~"
Gold soon led them to the lake. "Is everybody ready?" he asked.
"Ready as we'll ever be." David replied as Edward nodded.
"Let's do this," Killian added before looking at Cherry. "No running away."
Cherry rolled her eyes at that as she soon stood as bravely as her body would allow her to. Gold took his dagger, cutting his palm and allowing the blood to drip into the lake, summoning Charon. Cherry and Belle both winced from the cutting.
"Here we go." Edward said, boldly and confidentally.
After a few moments, fog appeared along the lake and soon came the cloaked figure known as Charon, arriving on his boat of death and there was soon a walkway on the lake for them to walk across and to climb aboard on. Gold healed his hand, then slipped his dagger into his boot so no one would be able to hand it to Hades.
"Oh, God, this is real..." Cherry muttered suddenly. "Maybe I should turn back and-WHOA!"
"Come on, Cherry, time to go." Edward said, helping Cherry onto the boat, seeing her hesitance and thought maybe she felt nervous about coming for a ride.
"I'll find you, Katie," Killian promised once they came inside. "I will always find you."
Gold followed, helping the ladies on first. Cherry shivered a bit once she was sitting down, glancing over towards Ursula with a firm look on her face. Ursula glanced to Cherry as she felt her gaze. Cherry then turned away from her, crossing her arms with a firm pout, though her body began to shake from cold chills from fear. Charon soon set the boat down the lake and they were soon leaving Storybrooke and headed straight into the Underworld. Gold held Cherry and Belle's shoulders soothingly. Mary Margaret looked determined.
"...Is it too late to turn back?" Cherry asked.
"Aye," Killian nodded. "We're going now and that's final."
"Oh... Goody..." Cherry said before gulping. "I'm not scared. I just thought maybe Belle was."
Belle did feel scared, but she didn't say anything in response to that. David held onto Mary Margaret in comfort. Mary Margaret gave a small smile to David. David smiled back as he looked forward as they passed through realms, starting another new adventure.
"Heh... Fresh meat... Don't even bother trying to escape..." A voice teased Katie. "The only way out of here is through DEATH!"
Katie glanced around to that warily. The voice laughed at Katie.
"Ya can't get out that easily!" A second voice added.
"Who is talking?" Katie hissed.
Two voices chuckled before two men were shown. One tall and lanky and another was short and pudgy.
"Aw, great... Not them..." Emma groaned as she briefly woke up.
"Pain and Panic..." Katie stated, pointing at them with her good hand.
"Reporting for duty!" The two men teased with smirks.
"Just ignore them, Katie," Emma sighed as she went to get to bed. "They'll just ruin your life if you let them get involved."
"You two better go, Emma plans on sleeping and I know Hades won't be happy you're here." Katie told them.
The two men began to look scared about that before running off.
"Thanks, Sis." Emma smirked before she drifted off to sleep.
Katie came over, tucked Emma in and gave her a tiny hug before letting the slightly older woman sleep. Emma smiled from the tucking as she drifted off to sleep. Hades checked over a few things and also punished Cerberus as he began to turn in for the evening until something would come up. Katie could sense Cerberus' hurt and tried to send healing magic and comfort through the bond. Cerberus whimpered before feeling the healing and began to drift off to sleep next.
The Underworld looked a bit like the "Overworld", only the sky was about as red as hellish blood and it looked like the end of the world with fire and familiar locations changed and altered into a very unsettling sort of way, such as a melting clock tower and a very grim and bleak atmosphere that could only fill one's soul with hopelessness and despair. It was dark though as it was close to people to go to sleep, that is, those who hadn't ascended into Mount Olympus into the Heavens with Zeus or suffered the singes and eternal torment that awaited them in the fires of Hell with Chernabog.
"So... This is the Highway to Hell..." Cherry said as she did her best to hide her fear as she stepped out to take a closer look before looking at the others.
"Actually, this is the Underworld," Edward told Cherry, sounding intelligent. "It's sort of in the middle in the Death Realm where you will either go to Olympus or Hell, depending on if the soul is ready to perish into the afterlife."
"G-Good to know..." Cherry said with a small gulp.
"Everyone in our group here will be safe as we're alive." Gold assured Cherry.
"Just do whatever Rumple tells you," Belle advised Cherry. "That way, nothing bad will happen and we can get Katie and go back home to safety."
"Ugh... This is really weird..." Cherry said as she took a look around. "It's like some sort of post-Apocalyptic video game where we're the only survivors and we need to form a gang in order to protect each other."
"Bear, you always have a very interesting perspective on things." Killian commented.
Gold glanced around calmly. "We'll need a base to work from." he said.
"All right... Where do we go then?" Belle wondered as she looked around with him.
"I guess we'll explore, but stay close together," Killian advised. "Last thing we want is another one of us trapped down here forever with no escape."
"Daugh..." Cherry quietly yelped in fear of that possibility before she spoke up. "W-W-Well, maybe this place has a Granny's Inn too?"
"Or we could use our apartment..." Mary Margaret took note of the apartment building and knowing instinctively that was empty.
"You have your apartment here?" Cherry asked, a bit surprised and startled.
Mary Margaret pointed to the apartment building.
"Oh... Well... All right then," Cherry replied. "I guess we can hang out there until we think of a plan to save Katie."
Mary Margaret nodded.
"Let's go then..." David said as they went to the apartment.
The apartment was more or less of the same, though it was a bit more burnt and singed, looking like it had caught on fire, but they were still able to come in and some of the furniture had cobwebs.
"Kinda eerie that Hades has this waiting just for you for when you die..." Cherry said in a haunting tone of voice. "We'll hide out here until we know how to free Katie so that she doesn't... D-D... Die..."
"Once we get to her, we'll need to give her the half of heart." Gold started to say.
"She might actually need a whole one..." Ursula spoke up quiet and calm.
"A whole heart?" Edward asked Ursula. "Are you sure?"
"Yeah..." Cherry added sharply as she looked over to her mother.
Ursula nodded. "This one's shadows were affecting her even before he took her heart... And here with no heart will make it hard for just half to bring her back to Storybrooke." she said, the 'this one' being Facillier.
"That is actually a very good point... " Gold mused.
"What?!" Cherry looked annoyed.
"Cherry, please..." David scolded before looking at Ursula and Gold. "I suppose Ursula could be right if Gold agrees."
"I'm not saying give someone else's whole heart to her... Killian's half and half of someone else's would work." Ursula told them.
"It's worked before in our favor..." Killian said softly.
"Could I help?" Edward offered, being as nice as he could as he had changed a lot ever since he left his original land.
"That would join you three together like it had for Katie and Jones." Gold said.
Mary Margaret was looking over the stuff here. "It's weird." she said gently about stuff for them being here. She then noticed a picture frame, picking it up and as she looked at the woman in it she gasped, almost dropping it.
"Interesting..." Edward nodded.
"Well... Whatever gets us to Katie and prevents that Hothead from hurting her or worse," Cherry said before she fell flat on her back on the bed before it suddenly collapsed under her weight as she groaned. "Ugh... Well, that didn't hurt so bad."
"Mary Margaret?" David gasped in concern as he rushed to his wife's side. "Are you alright?"
"Are you alright?" Ursula asked, speaking up in concern.
"How could we forget Emma?" Mary Margaret whispered as she showed him the picture.
"I'm fine..." Cherry replied roughly as she stood up and walked away from the fallen bed. "Ugh... Do NOT lie down on the beds."
"Give her time to warm up," Edward said to Ursula. "She's going through a lot right now."
Ursula gave a slightly sad nod.
"I... I don't know..." David said with wide eyes. "That's right... We have two daughters... Emma was supposed to be The Savior."
Mary Margaret looked up to him, her brown eyes filling with tears.
"Oh, Mary Margaret..." David whispered before he soon hugged her, feeling just as emotional as she did as this was a rough time for the both of them.
Mary Margaret hugged him back tightly.
Cherry sighed as she stared out the window, missing Katie very much already, but tried to keep calm. "I think... I'll write some poetry... Until we find Katie and get a solution..." she soon suggested for herself. "Maybe take a walk after."
"Don't go out there alone," Killian advised. "It would probably be a bad idea to go out there on your own."
"I can go with her, keep an eye out, but letting her have more privacy." Ursula suggested.
"Perhaps you should." Killian nodded.
"Do you still want to go out?" Edward asked Cherry.
"Yeah, just to think," Cherry said before looking at her two lovers as she clutched her journal and a pen. "I'm going out... Don't follow me."
Belle frowned, feeling deeply worried about that. Gold frowned, but having heard Ursula would watch over her, he nodded to allow it.
"Such a good girl, but so impulsive sometimes..." Belle sighed softly.
Edward and Killian both nodded as they could agree. Gold then gave Belle a gentle hug to which she hugged her husband right back.
Cherry nodded at them and soon walked off out of the apartment. "Well, that was easier than I thought..." she then said as she soon looked both ways before crossing the road. "...What am I doing? I can't die here..." she then shrugged at herself as she soon walked across to find a place to go sit and think before finding a place that looked like Granny's and decided to come inside as a few others were there and the place was owned by The Blind Witch from Hansel & Gretal and not Mrs. Lucas in Storybrooke.
Ursula followed, quietly nearby but not intruding.
Cherry soon sat down at the bar table, sitting in a seat that was open as she set down her journal and pen as she decided to maybe have a little snack while she was out. "Hmm... None of Granny's smith apple pie I see..." she said, glancing at the dessert menu. "Maybe I'll take a shake."
"What kind of shake?" The Blind Witch asked as she came over.
"Hmm... Cookie dough..." Cherry decided. "If you have it, then if not, then I guess just a plain vanilla shake... So, you're the witch from Hansel & Gretal, huh?" she then asked.
The Blind Witch nodded curtly to that, going to make the shake.
Cherry nodded and she soon opened up her journal and began to write freely in it, coming up with a poem as she hummed to herself, trying to keep calm and quiet, especially with being in a place like this. "The evening sky is as red as the blood that comes unwashed from the hands of sin and betrayal... There is no escape, no hope, the stench all those unloyal... Those to perish and suffer in this bleak realm with no joy or relief... It will make you question it all... Question your own faith and belief... You can almost hear the agonized cries of souls as they venture to death... As the moan, wail, and yell... As you live your life and end up straight in-" she then suddenly stopped as her pen ran out of ink. "Aw, dammit!" she then complained before looking over.
The woman beside Cherry soon glanced back at her, studying her a bit. "Do I know you?" she then asked.
"...No, I don't think so..." Cherry shook her head.
The Blind Witch was busy making the shake, then came back and placed the shake and a pen on the table. Ursula looked at the woman.
"Thanks." Cherry said as she accepted both.
The woman glanced around before looking over. "Ursula?" she then muttered.
Cherry soon sipped her shake to get a good taste of it before raising an eyebrow.
"Think you can either breathe into this or shed a tear?" The Blind Witch asked as she held out a vial.
"I don't cry, but perhaps this miserable, poor, unfortunate soul~" The other woman smirked as she grabbed onto Cherry's hair and plucked out some hair.
"OWWW!" Cherry cried out before glaring. "Fuckin' bitch..." she then grumbled before looking at The Blind Witch. "Erm... What is this for?"
"I was talking to Cherry here, not you dear," The Blind Witch told the woman. "And breathing the living or tears of the living sell a lot on the black market... Gotta pay for your shake somehow~" she told Cherry.
"Ohh... Okay... Well... I miss my friend, though I don't really cry in public... So I guess my breath will have to do," Cherry said before chuckling bashfully. "I hope you don't mind chocolate breath though."
"Just as long as it's breath." The Blind Witch said.
Ursula growled and approached the woman. "Cruella." she glared.
"Oh... Hello, there..." The woman soon smirked at Ursula. "How long has it been? Two? Three centuries?"
"Apologize to my daughter." Ursula frowned.
Cherry nodded as she went to take a breath for The Blind Witch's request before glancing over. "Wait... Ursula...?" she then uttered out after she took a breath for the witch.
"I wouldn't dream of harming your little mermaid," Cruella smirked. "But where is she? I wasn't aware you even had a daughter~..."
The Blind Witch took the vial, capping it and slipping it aside for safety.
"You followed me..." Cherry glared at Ursula.
"Oh... Things just got dark, darling..." Cruella smirked.
"I said loud enough for you to hear, but I wasn't going to do anything unless you got hurt!" Ursula called after her.
"I asked you guys not to follow me!" Cherry glared at Ursula, feeling very angered, a bit sad, and annoyed as she stormed off into the bathroom, memorizing the way over from Granny's back in Storybrooke. "Why won't you just leave me alone?!"
However, unluckily for Cherry, the bathrooms weren't signed as the signs were being remade, and she ended up in the men's. Before she could back out though, a tall, handsome, but obviously mean man who kind of smelled like dogs had blocked her in and as she was pretty and she had a rose-ish scent around her he forced himself upon her.
"H-Hey... Cut it out..." Cherry stammered nervously. "Stop... Stop! I SAID STOP! HEEEEEELP!" she then cried out, trying to get the man off of her, though she was weak where he was strong.
Cruella merely sipped her drink, smirking to herself a bit before looking curious from the yelling as it looked as though Ursula was about to leave the diner.
Ursula heard this and came running, slamming open the door. She held out her coat to Cherry and grabbed the man. "You have a flight to catch, Gaston." she told the man then tossed him so hard he gained massive airtime and landed in the water.
Cherry was curled up in the corner, wrapping herself up in the coat as she began to cry while hugging her knees, looking very miserable over what had just happened to her, shivering a bit during the crying.
Ursula approached softly, slowly to not spook Cherry. "He's gone and not coming back~" she said in a soft soothing tone.
Cherry looked up at Ursula before latching onto her, hugging her closely and warmly as she sniffled. "I'm so sorry..." she said as her voice cracked emotionally. "I'm sorry... Please don't be mad... I'm sorry I yelled at you!"
Ursula hugged her warmly and stroked her hair gently. "It's okay, it's okay~" she soothed softly focusing more on the soothing of Cherry, maybe later w hen it was all calm again they could speak. "No one is going to hurt you again, and if they do they'll answer to me." she told her.
Cherry sniffled and nodded during the cuddling as she tried to talk, though her voice was cracked and she was babbling a bit through the tears. "C-C-C-Can we go b-back to th-th-th-the apartm-m-m-ment?" she then asked, struggling to say it.
"Of course." Ursula said softly, making sure Cherry's clothes were straight, but letting the girl keep her jacket. She put her arm around her and led her out of the Witch's diner and headed back to the apartment with her.
Cherry sniffled as she curled up, latching onto Ursula, a bit like a little kid right now as she felt very vulnerable and traumatized about what had happened to her. Ursula soon led her back to the apartment.
