AN: Thanks for all the incredible responses! Keep them coming! I know replies get long, but I love that so many are still following me on the incredible journey that is this story. See previous chapter for explanation on realms. Now that the realms are united, everyone is on Storybrooke time and aging for adults is very slow due to the Chalice.
Thanks for the great reviews! Keep them coming! The feedback gives this story life, so please consider leaving a review! Unless you're a troll, because then your reviews get deleted. You can also follow me on Tumblr Lilacmoon83. All my stories, plus artwork is posted there, as well as all things Snowing and Charming family. So give me a follow!
This story is now updated bi-weekly. As always, reviews on all stories are very much appreciated, so please consider leaving reviews. :)
Below is a comprehensive list of face claims and all can be googled.
Face Claims:
Leo Charming Nolan: Matt Lanter
Eva Charming Nolan: Bailee Madison
Summer Charming Nolan: Joey King(young) and Luna Blaise(older)
Bobby Charming Nolan: Logan Lerman
Christopher Sean: Dr. Paul Sakura
Aphrodite: a blonde Ginnifer Goodwin
Xander(Robert) Nolan Charming: David Cubitt(the actor they cast for Robert in canon)
Clayton(even though he's finally dead): Vincent Irizarry
Mephisto: Formerly, Henry Fonda. Newly – Jeff Kober
Amora the Enchantress: Laura Dern
Seth: Rami Malek
The Major, Patricia Donovan: Camryn Manheim
Zorro: Galen Gering
Nick: Danny Pino
Angela: Jordana Brewster
Hermes: Nakia Burrise
Prince John: Paul Giamatti
Sir Hiss: Jesse Eisenberg
JJ: Garrett Wareing
Nora: Mae Whitman
Queen Serenity: Sarah Michelle Gellar
King Endymion: Freddie Prinze Jr.
Apollo: Amir Arison
Artemis: Rachel Leigh Cook
Drizella Tremaine (1.0): Melanie Lynskey – Drizella Tremaine 2.0(Ivy Belfry) is still Adelaide Kane.
Rodmilla Tremaine: Angelica Houston
Johnny Clayton(Junior): Paul Telfer
Natalie Zearing: Melissa Roxburgh
Thalia Zearing: Stacey Haiduk
Hera: Melissa Archer
Zeus: Greg Vaughan
Dione: Arianne Zucker
Athena: Catherine Sutherland
Nyx: Selma Blair
The agents:
Agent Tessa Green: Sasha Alexander
Agent: Brian Dorsey: Scott Porter
Agent Danielle Harding: Ellen Tamaki
Sirius Clayton: Billy Zane
John Clayton(the first): Hank Azaria
John Clayton(the second): Thaao Penghlis
Malina Pizarro: Alicia Coppola
Dr. Hector La Guerra: David Dayan Fisher
Adam Rodriguez: Santo
Cote de Pablo: Irina
Zia: Camila Banus
The Dragon Queen(Zia Troyano): Julia Jones
The Dragon King(Esteban Zhu Ling): Michael Copon
Mendoza: Javier Bardem
Tao Xang Li: Jay Laga'aia
Queen Nubia: Nadia Bjorlin
Ali Larter: Goldilocks
Le Fou: Josh Gad
Joe: Bobby Cannavale
Frankie: Ezra Miller
Grimm: Sam Rockwell
King Runeard: Alfred Molina
If I missed any, let me know and I will add to the face claims. :)
Here are individual responses to reviews:
Ghostwriter: Yeah, Jekyll is really wearing on everyone's last nerve. Glad you're enjoying!
Jennifer Baratta: Thanks! Glad you're enjoying it!
Lucy Maia: Yep, Charming to the rescue! Glad you're enjoying!
Gaby2019: I think I answered this in the last chapter, but if you didn't see it, I will paste the response from the last chapter: Gaby2019: Are you asking how old the Charming kid's significant others are? If so, well, we know Killian is probably somewhere between 300-400 years old. But if you cut out the years he didn't age in Neverland, he's probably in his forties somewhere, but we know that no one ages much in the United Realms, thanks to the chalice. Elsa is probably about Leo's age, in her thirties somewhere. Paul should be closer to Snow and Charming's biological ages, which is probably in their seventies. Obviously, Snow and Charming still look like they're in their thirties or forties. Paul was de-aged by his father the Dragon way back somewhere between chapters 50-60. JJ is about twenty-two or three, so just a few years older than Summer. And Bobby doesn't have a girlfriend, but both Olivia Flaversham and Zia Ramos are about his age, around 14-15. Hope that answers your question. :)
Grace5231973: Lol, I like that. He totally should take himself and then listen to it. If he can't hear the crazy...then he's really gone. Glad you're enjoying! :)
Number Ten: You're about to get your wish. He's going...and it will be an epic fall. He was very effective, but no, no one will miss him. This may be one of their greatest victories too. I get a bit more into its secrets in this chapter. No, unfortunately, Johnny never really had a chance. Yeah, looks like both girls like Bobby. We'll see what happens. Glad you're enjoying! :)
Alynnaa: Glad you liked it!
Zariah: Thanks, glad you enjoyed it! Yes, the Jekyll arc is coming to what will be an epic end. Yeah, looks like Runeard may be the next big bad. Yeah, Johnny never had a fair shot so we'll see what happens with him. It would be very interesting if he ended up defying his father's wishes and turning to good. Glad you're enjoying it! :)
JDubReaderWriter55: Yep, Jekyll's final and ultimate demise is here! It will be epic! I think both girls are definitely crushing on Bobby. Glad you like Elsa getting some spotlight time, me too. Yeah, Goldilocks is bitter and jealous, as always. Yeah, Johnny never had a fair shot really. He could go either way at this point, probably. We shall see. Glad you're enjoying it! :)
Sexystarwarslover: Yep, Jekyll has a very insane plan that is going to cause an epic final battle between him and Charming. Aw, thanks, I'm glad to know at this point that I can still add twists and layers to this epic. I know it's very complex and that turns some off, but I'm glad many like it so much too. I know, Snowing bandit foreplay is the best! Snowing romantic times, followed by Snowing being adorable grandparents is also the best. I can imagine all Hope's toys too. I love that Hyde has found himself a family of sorts too. Yeah, David loves his girls and still getting used to the idea that his baby peanut is dating now. Yep, Bobby knows his comics. I agree, no negative comments about the Charmings, but you know there will always be those people. Yeah, three women who he was interested in are all creeped out. Take a hint, especially since the last two are very taken. Yep, looks like Bobby has a couple of girls crushing on him. At this point, everyone wants Jekyll wiped from existence. Leo's right, Elsa is the rightful Queen and her grandfather will probably be the next big bad for sure. We shall see. Glad you're still enjoying so much! :)
AnonSnowing: I know that imagery of David there in the beginning really gets me going too. I love the bandit foreplay too, it's fun. I know, then Charming in the shower. I must have been in quite a mood when I wrote all that, lol. Ha yes, they are a very young looking 70. Yeah, they definitely need a staff. They have so much responsibility that they don't have time to manage a household now, must less a castle. I don't know if Storybrooke does, but I decided to add that in. They were a big thing in the 80's and 90's so you never know. I love that they are doting grandparents too. No, Daddy Charming is still getting used to the idea of his baby peanut dating. I'm glad Hyde found his own family too. He moved on like Jekyll should have. Yes, this new metal may give Charming the edge. I know, Goldie is pathetic. He should, but we know he won't and it is very creepy that he keeps a portrait of Snow in his lab. He is very gross. Yeah, there might be a shrine or something gross like that too. I'm glad the Flavershams are okay too. Jekyll is quite possibly the worst monster of all. Yep, the Chalice may have the extra edge needed now to overpower Jekyll completely. Yeah, they were horrible parents. She was bitter about being third choice and he was...well, Clayton. No, Johnny didn't have a fair shot at all. Yep, it's fun that it's still tropical climate on Mu. Yeah, it might be a good place for a Snowing tropical second honeymoon. Bobby and Zia are adorable and we delve a little more into the lore around the stone and jar in this chapter. Jekyll is very scary and it gets even scarier in this chapter. It's time though. The final face off. So glad you're still enjoying! :)
Finding You Always
Chapter 234: Final Reckoning
Jekyll smirked, as he looked at the photo of a necklace with a ruby pendant in the book he had swiped from Rose Red's library some time ago. It was a copy of the long and true history of Aphrodite. He had taken it to see if he could glean any weaknesses in the lore of the Chalice and use it to defeat them. And now, after days of skimming through the tome, it looked as though he just might know exactly what he needed to turn the tables against them and defeat Charming once and for all.
Though it was small, the library of Cibola was magnificent in its own right. The books looked to be very old, but well kept, and rested on golden book shelves.
"We need to bring Rose and Belle here. These books look like some of the oldest in existence," Snow mentioned, as she looked at her eldest.
"Can you use a little magic to translate some of these titles?" Snow asked. Emma nodded and waved her hand, causing the lettering on the bindings of the books to change to English.
"Can you read any of this language?" Bobby asked curiously, but she shook her head.
"It's a dead language...maybe even older than Latin," Zia replied.
"Let me guess...Lunarian?" he asked and her eyes widened.
"You know about the Lunarians?" she asked.
"A little. The first truest loves were Serenity and Endymion. I guess she was Lunarian and in one of my visions, I met their daughter," he explained.
"That's amazing!" she exclaimed and he blushed.
"Yeah...so were the Lunarians really from the moon?" he asked. She giggled.
"No...that part isn't true. They just worshipped the Moon Goddess Selene. The most noble bloodline and first Queen of the Lunarians were named Serenity and thus why all first born daughters in the royal line were named such," Zia explained.
"I guess that makes more sense than living on the moon," he agreed.
"You sound sad about that," she mentioned. He smirked.
"Well, I read a lot of comics and it would be so cool if they really did live on the moon and there was some kind of moon base or something," he said. She giggled.
"I don't think I've read any comics," she mentioned.
"Oh you have to! They're great and Fandral can tell you about some of them that are actually real with all his adventures with Thor," Bobby gushed
"I have heard of the Norse God, Thor. But I'm guessing what I know is not what he's like at all," she mentioned.
"Yeah, the Thor that Fandral knows is a bit different from the one in Mythology," he said.
"Maybe you can tell me about it," she replied. He nodded.
"I've love to," he said.
"Someone is crushing hard," Emma muttered to her mother.
"I know...it's so cute..." Snow gushed, as she looked at her youngest and put a hand to her heart. Emma chuckled and shook her head, as she saw a book that said Maui.
"Hey...wasn't Maui a demi-God?" Emma asked.
"You found a book on Maui?" Zia asked. She nodded and pulled it out. When she did, both the pounamu stone and the book glowed.
"Whoa…I think we found it," David said, as Emma opened the book, while Zia peered over it.
"Lunarian again," she said, as she used her magic to translate it, before handing it to the dark haired girl, who skimmed it. After several minutes, she gasped and started reading.
"Listen to this," she said.
"And though he was fatally wounded by the Void, Maui gave explicit instructions to his younger brother Tao so that his coveted fish hook be protected from those who would exploit it, especially the Void," she read.
"The Void? Is it really talking about Runeard?" David asked.
"How could it be? Runeard wasn't born during Tao's lifetime," Snow replied.
"No...but his powers came from somewhere. He didn't have them when he was banished," Killian reminded them.
"He's right...he picked them up in the Netherworld somehow and we don't really know how or why," Bobby said.
"Before he died, Maui disguised his fish hook as Pounamu stone and told his younger brother that he must guard it from the Void. And so Tao sailed to the island of Mu, aboard his family's luxury vessel, the Solaris, and consulted with the High Priest of Cibola to help him create something to protect the stone. But the High Priest, Atanos told him that only the children of the sun could help him craft something to protect the fish hook of Maui," she read.
"Atanos sent him east to find his son, Esteban, insisting that he was one of these children. Esteban accepted Tao into his Kingdom once he learned he was sent by his father, Atanos. But Tao was much less trusting and it took him time to trust Esteban. Even then, Tao never revealed what the stone actually was. Only that he must conceal it from the world," she continued.
"Does it say what the stone does?" Bobby asked. She nodded.
"Once Esteban met Zia and they were declared the truest love in all the realms by Venus did Tao realize that it was the Chalice of Venus that could craft what he needed," she continued.
"But Tao's mistrust of Zia did not serve him well and he was not happy when he discovered that she knew what the fish hook could do. He accused her of being a witch at first and thought she wanted the fish hook for herself. When she revealed that she knew the fish hook could…" Zia said, as her eyes widened and trailed off.
"What? What does it do?" Emma asked impatiently. Zia swallowed thickly.
"When she revealed that she knew the fish hook could capture all the natural elements, including the sun and the moon, she convinced Tao that she knew what they needed to craft to protect the stone," she revealed.
"Capture the elements?" Emma asked.
"If that's true, it can control the weather, including the phases of the sun and moon. That could be devastating," Snow realized.
"Do you think Aphrodite knows?" David asked.
"I don't think so…" Zia said, as she continued.
"Tao was grateful for her help when she used the Chalice to create a golden jar. In her possession were two golden bars from Cibola, the last in her possession. She used the chalice to melt them down and pour them into a mold of Tao's choosing. The jar mold was one from his home and thus the fish hook was sealed inside so only the children of the sun could open it," she read.
"Tao begged Zia not to tell Esteban what the pounamu stone really was and what it could do. He feared the information could be revealed inadvertently to Esteban's advisors, whom he did not trust," she continued.
"Mendoza," David surmised.
"Most likely," she agreed.
"Zia was very reluctant to keep information from her husband, but agreed and told him only that the jar could never be opened, for the purpose of the stone inside could never be revealed, as it could fall into the wrong hands, particularly, the Void's," she finished, as they looked at each other and then at the stone hanging around Bobby's neck.
"Okay...so this thing probably should go back in the jar," he said, as he took it off.
"Yes…if Runeard sees this, he'll know what it is if he is the Void now and I want you no where near something like that," Snow said, as she took the stone.
"So we seal it back in the jar...but we need to put the jar somewhere that it can't be accessed," David agreed.
"In the tallest tower of Cibola," Nubia chimed in.
"Why there?" Snow asked.
"Yeah...a bunch of steps will hardly deter someone like Runeard," Emma warned. Nubia smiled thinly.
"No...but there are fail safes. There is a place for the jar built into the highest temple by Atanos himself. You'll know it when you see it," Nubia said, as they ventured through the gates and saw the tallest tower gleaming in the distance.
"Okay…we can just teleport ourselves up there," David said.
"I'm sorry, but the journey to the tallest tower must be traversed by foot and by the children of the sun," Nubia said.
"Truest loves," Snow corrected.
"Yeah, sounds like the children of the sun had too many secrets between them. Snow and I don't keep anything from each other," he added.
"Of course...it was their flaw. I do not believe they ever told the Goddess about the stone," Nubia said. David sighed.
"That is a lot of stairs," he said. She smirked.
"Is Prince Charming going soft on me," she teased.
"Do I look like I've gone soft," he teased back, as he towered over her.
"Oh no...and I know where every muscle is," she gushed, as her hands swept over his torso.
"Yeah...you guys have fun with Stairmeggedon," Emma quipped.
"Those that are of their bloodline can accompany them," Nubia chimed in.
"Yeah, hard pass. I'll wait here," Emma said.
"Chicken," David teased.
"Could that mean me? I'm only his half sister," Natalie mentioned.
"I'm sorry...only the children can accompany them, being that they are of both of them," Nubia answered.
"Damn…" she muttered and then looked at her brother.
"Tell me all about it?" she asked. He smiled.
"I'll take pictures for you," he promised.
"I'll go...but I guess Zia can't come?" Bobby asked.
"Actually, she can, because she is training to become the High Priestess of Cibola, she is permitted to enter the sacred temple," Nubia replied. Zia smiled.
"I wouldn't miss this for the world," she said, as she and Bobby followed his parents.
"Uh so...if she's going to be the High Priestess, does that mean she can't get married someday?" Emma asked curiously.
"Stars no...where would you get that idea?" Nubia asked.
"Just the whole Priest thing. In some other religions, it has some restrictions," Emma replied.
"Denying a person of love sounds like it would cause many problems," Nubia observed.
"Oh it does, which is why I asked and I'm glad this has no restriction of that kind," Emma said. Nubia smiled.
"You are good to look after your brother's feelings," she complimented.
"He's a great kid...and I hate it, but he's probably going to end up saving us all from Void," she mentioned. Killian put his arm around her.
"He'll be okay, love...there's no evil that can defeat this family. I've seen it try and fail," he assured her. She smiled and leaned her head against his shoulder, while they waited for them to return.
"Oh Dark One...your magical protections are no match for science," Jekyll said, as he used his demon powers to burn through the magical protections on the shop door. The cameras weren't picking up anything, since he was using his nano technology to disguise his presence. Therefore, no alarms went off in the shop. He proceeded to the safe behind the counter and then a device he had created to crack the combination. The door opened and he extracted the ruby necklace.
"The necklace of Harmonia...misfortune to any who wear it," he said, as he disappeared in a fiery display.
"Thanks for bringing this to me...I'll definitely get it added to the Master copy right away," Henry said, as he skimmed through the hidden history of Arendelle that they had recently uncovered.
"Thanks...it's an uncomfortable history. I'm still trying to accept that Arendelle has such a bloody past," Elsa said.
"That's not your fault. Many Kingdoms have committed atrocities in the past. It shouldn't be up to the ancestors of those Kingdoms to pay for those misdeeds," Leo replied.
"He's right...you're doing exactly what you should be. You're informing your people of their true history, which means that they can learn from the past mistakes of their people. Then history hopefully won't repeat," Henry agreed. Elsa smiled and nodded, as they noticed a copy of a tabloid from the Land Without Magic.
"You've got to be kidding. Grimm got someone to publish his dreck?" Leo asked.
"Well...it's a tabloid so I doubt too many are taking it seriously. He and Goldie are doing their best between this and their dumb podcast to make people fearful of magic," Henry said uncomfortably.
"The podcast is getting a lot of hits lately...too many," Eva agreed.
"Are you worried that it might be working?" Paul asked.
"To be honest...yes. They're sowing a narrative of fear and anxiety toward magic and magical people that makes what the Home Office did look like nothing," Henry replied.
"That's why I've been doing my best to keep new chapters of the book up and I've even talked to a few contacts I have at reputable publications in the journalism world to make sure the true story is out there. But you know how people love gossip," Henry replied.
"Yeah...Grimm is even live streaming Goldie's stupid show on the Internet so people in the Land Without Magic get all the happenings going on here in the United Realms, from her skewed point of view, of course," Eva complained.
"Is ENN live streaming any of their broadcasts? Now that we have honest journalists running that show...they should be doing the same," Elsa said.
"She has a point," Leo agreed, as Henry smiled.
"You know, that's a great idea. I'll head over there later and talk to Mr. Boots' replacement. He'll love the idea," Henry said.
"Who is running it now?" Eva asked curiously.
"August," Henry answered. Her eyes widened.
"August left the Storybrooke Mirror?" Leo asked. Henry shrugged.
"A bigger and better opportunity and they came to me and asked me to run it, which I don't have time for. So I recommended the next best journalist I know," he replied.
"That's great! I still wish we could do something to counter their podcast though," Eva said. Paul smiled.
"Maybe we can," he said.
"Like what?" she asked.
"You love podcasts...you listen to them all the time, no matter the subject, because it's an easy way to learn while you're working. So...why don't you do your own," Paul replied.
"You think I should do my own podcast?" Eva asked.
"Now that is an incredible idea," Henry replied.
"Yeah...you could counter their narrative and get all the guests. No one worthwhile would go on their two bit broadcast, but you could get all the good guests. All of us, Mom and Dad, and anyone in our family," Leo said.
"He's right and it will blow theirs out of the water," Henry agreed.
"I'm not even sure I know how to do a podcast though," Eva said.
"I do though and I know August can set us up with all the best equipment. We can go over there now if you want," Henry said.
"That sounds great...I would really love to get the real message out through the airwaves," she agreed. Paul kissed her cheek.
"You're going to be great," he said.
"Will you be my co-host?" she asked.
"Me?" he asked.
"Who better? You were born in the Land Without Magic and you can attest to what it's like having lived in both worlds," Eva said.
"She has a good point," Leo agreed. He smiled.
"Okay...two doctors doing a podcast I guess," he agreed, as they proceeded to head over to the Enchanted News Network studio.
Jekyll looked at the model on his laptop with satisfaction. He had created the computer model of his plan and with his demon magic, it would all become a reality in a matter of moments.
"Yes...this will be quite perfect," he said, as he made the final modification to the virtual model on his screen.
"You know, I do not take kindly to being summoned, doctor," Rodmilla said, as she arrived.
"I am the reason you're luxuriating in your new castle now. You are at my beck and call, Rodmilla. Make no mistake...I can end you with a flick of my wrist," he warned, as he produced a tiny flame in his palm. She stilled and swallowed her pride.
"What can I do for you, doctor?" she asked.
"You can create this in the ocean at these coordinates," he replied, showing her the model.
"What is all this?" she asked. He smirked.
"My very own nightmare and the place where Prince Charming will perish at my hand," he replied. She didn't question him and did as he asked. She hardly thought he would be successful. No one had managed to defeat Snow and Charming yet and they were more powerful than ever. Honestly, if he did, it would destroy Snow White and cause her eternal misery. If he didn't and Charming finally rid them of the doctor, she'd be free of his insanity and being under his thumb. It was a win-win situation for her.
"There…" she said, as it was complete.
"Good luck doctor...I think you'll need it," she surmised.
"I don't need your luck...my power will overcome him this time," he insisted, as he walked out of his lab. It was time.
David looked at his wife in amusement, as she groaned during their climb to the top of the tallest tower.
"Okay...you were right, these stairs are a nightmare," she whined, as she lagged slightly behind him with her hand in his.
"Yeah...you'd have to really want whatever is up here to make this climb," he agreed.
"Would you like me to carry you the rest of the way?" he asked.
"No...that would be very unfair to you," she replied.
"But I could," he said. She smirked.
"I know you could...I'm well acquainted with all your muscles," she replied coyly. He smirked back.
Behind them, Bobby closed his eyes and put his hand over his face in embarrassment, as Zia giggled.
"They are so embarrassing sometimes," he said.
"I think they're adorable," she replied.
"Yeah...just wait until you're eating dinner with them and they're feeding each other and start making out. It gets less adorable really fast," he said.
"We can hear you," Snow admonished.
"I know...it'd be nice if you and dad didn't make out during dessert," Bobby replied.
"Yeah...your chances of that aren't good," David said and he rolled his eyes.
"We just got the Emma eye roll," Snow snickered to him.
"Of course...she taught it to them all," he said, as they finally reached the top.
"Finally," Snow said.
"At least going down won't be so bad," David replied, as they went inside and found golden walls except the one in the center. The center wall was stone, with hieroglyphics on each square.
"They just look like symbols," Snow asked. Zia nodded.
"This is the Temple of the Sun...so they use the language of the Chalice. Lunarian," she replied.
"David…" Snow uttered, as she pointed to the square with the depiction of a split heart.
"Wow...and here's one of the chalice," he said.
"Look…" Bobby pointed at five squares in sequence below the split heart.
"Fire, lightning, wind, water, and earth," he said, pointing at the flame, lightning bolt, gust of wind, wave, and a leaf. They looked at each other in amazement.
"This is depicting the seven of us," David said.
"Your love is written in the stars," Zia replied.
"What's this one?" Bobby asked, as it showed a figure surrounded by many objects.
"The Collector…" Snow realized.
"Clayton's bloodline...it's always been a threat, even back to Serenity and Endymion," David said.
"What is this one?" Snow asked, as it depicted another figure shrouded in what seemed like darkness.
"The Void…" Zia said gravely.
"There's the hook," Bobby said, pointing out Maui's fish hook.
"How do we seal the jar away?" David asked.
"The Chalice…that's all I know," Zia replied. Snow and David willed it into its cup form between them and the wall immediately reacted by lighting up in a variety of colors. The squares slowly receded away from the center of the wall, as a compartment revealed itself.
"I guess that's a good place," David said, as they placed the jar inside the compartment. The squares glowed and returned to their place.
"All secure I guess?" she asked.
"Yeah...seemed too easy," he replied.
"I think we're just used to everything we have to do being a pain in the ass," Bobby quipped.
"Language," she chided, as David took pictures for Natalie, before they started back down the stairs.
"You know how we said that going down would be better?" Snow asked.
"Yeah?" he asked.
"It's not any better," she replied, making him chuckle.
"Hey...we got out of there without something or someone trying to kill us. That's a win for us," he reminded her.
"So true," she agreed.
"So...is it safe?" Emma asked. They nodded.
"These pics you just sent me are fascinating. It's practically your story in hieroglyphs," Natalie said, as she swiped through the photos.
"Yeah…I guess we shouldn't be too surprised by now. The texts that King Arthur was once studying back before we met him depicted the chalice and our split heart," David recalled.
"Do you remember whatever happened to those texts?" Natalie asked curiously.
"I assume they're still somewhere in Camelot. I'm sure Lancelot and Guinevere would be happy to let you check them out," Snow replied.
"I'd love to build a display out of these pics and anything they have for the museum," Natalie said. Snow and David smiled. She was really finding her niche as curator of the Atlantis museum.
"So...I guess we're done here," Emma said.
"Yeah...let's head back to Mu," Snow replied, as a portal suddenly opened and they could see Dr. Jekyll through the portal, on an island that seemed to be besieged by molten lava.
"What the hell…" David said.
"Greetings…" he said.
"Not even man enough to face me now? You have to do it through a portal?" David challenged. Jekyll smirked.
"Oh on the contrary...the lovely scenery behind me was created with just you in mind, Charming. It is where you will perish at my hand," he claimed.
"No...you leave my husband and my family alone!" Snow shouted.
"Alas, dear Snow...I could do just that if you would submit yourself to me," he offered.
"No way in hell psychopath…" Bobby said.
"You're not taking her, especially not into some fiery hellhole," David added. The doctor smirked again.
"Like I said, Charming...this fiery hellhole, as you put it, is for you," Jekyll said, as his arms became fiery chains that shot through the portal. They wrapped around him and pulled him through it. Snow cried out in alarm, as it closed and she looked around frantically.
"I'll get a bean," Emma said, as she prepared to transport herself to Anton's field, but Jekyll's voice cut her off.
"Do not bother, Savior...for there is no way you can get to this island via portal now," Jekyll said, as a hologram appeared before them in the sky.
"Charming!" Snow cried, as she saw her husband behind the doctor and on a piece of rock surrounded by a lake of lava.
"As you can see, he is in quite a state of peril and without the help of the Chalice, he will perish at my hand," Jekyll said.
"And the demise of the legendary Prince Charming is being broadcast to the entire United Realms and beyond! It is time for everyone to witness the fiery end to the truest love!" he added.
"Why isn't Dad calling the Chalice sword?" Emma asked. Snow willed the chalice into sight and saw that she had both halves. She tried to will it to her husband...but nothing was happening.
"I see that you have found that your husband is completely cut off from the power of your Chalice," Jekyll said.
"You Son of Bitch!" Snow cried, as she broke down in tears and Emma held her mother, hugging her tightly.
"How the hell is that possible?" Bobby asked, as Regina and Rumple appeared at their location.
"Because he stole the necklace of Harmonia from my shop and placed it around your father's neck upon his arrival in his demonic realm," Rumple answered, just as the twins appeared with Summer and JJ in tow.
"The necklace of Harmonia...how does that cut him off from the Chalice?" Leo asked.
"It's a long story...but in short, from my restored memories, it was a necklace created by Hera and meant for me," Aphrodite replied.
"It curses the wearer with misfortune. Hera meant it for me, but a man named Cadmus found it where Hera left it for me first. He presented it to his bride, Harmonia, and she was killed in a horrible accident on their wedding day. It's been an object avoided like the plague since," Aphrodite explained, as she and James appeared.
"Then why did you have it in your shop!?" Emma cried.
"Because I'm already cursed and immune to its charms. As the Dark One, I was entrusted to keep it away from humanity by Zeus himself. Centuries ago...but the damned psychopath found it. It's quite likely he has been browsing through Rose Red's books without her knowledge," Rumple said.
"We have to do something! We have to get the chalice to Dad somehow!" Summer cried.
David looked around and hissed from the burns on his arms, thanks to Jekyll's fiery whips. He saw the peculiar necklace around his neck and took in his surroundings. It was definitely an island, but the erupting volcano in the distance had turned it into a nightmare. Acrid smoke filled the air, as embers and ash rained down. Molten magma flowed around the remaining land like a river and the heat was so sweltering that it was hard to breathe.
"Welcome to your demise, Prince Charming," Jekyll said. David extended his hand and attempted to call on the Chalice sword, but found that nothing happened. Jekyll smirked.
"I'm afraid that necklace around your neck will cause you quite a bit of misfortune. Whatever light magic you are able to wield is thwarted by the cursed necklace of Harmonia," he announced. David tried to take it off, but found that he couldn't.
"So this is it...you're so afraid to face me on an even ground that you have to take away my weapon and give me a serious disadvantage?" he challenged.
"Fairness is for heroes. I am a villain, as you so eagerly point out time and again. So I decided to stack the deck in my favor, so to speak," Jekyll said, as an ordinary sword appeared in his hand.
"But I will give you a weapon...not that it will matter much," he added.
"Fine…I'll fight you at a disadvantage and still win," David said confidently. Jekyll chuckled, as his own fiery sword appeared in his hand.
"Oh, your hubris will see that you fail miserably," the doctor said, as he charged with a fierce battle cry and David moved to defend himself.
Snow screamed, as she saw David narrowly escape falling into the river of lava, as he dueled the psychotic doctor.
"I have to get to him…" Snow sniffed, as she tried to use the Chalice again, but became frustrated when it didn't work again.
"Why isn't it working!?" she screamed.
"It's the necklace...it won't let us portal there with magic," Aphrodite said regrettably. That thought struck Eva.
"But we could with science!" she realized. Snow looked at her daughter with a tearstained face.
"Honey...what do you mean?" she asked.
"That's how he's doing all of this. He got around Mr. Gold's magical protections in the shop with science. We have to use science to get to Daddy," Eva replied.
"She's right...he would have never got through my protections in the shop using magic. He found another way," Gold confirmed.
"Then how do we do it?" Snow asked.
"Hyde...I'll go and see what he and Mr. Flaversham can do," Emma said, as she hugged her mother quickly.
"I'll go with you," Bobby said, as he disappeared with her. Leo and Eva sandwiched Snow between them and held her, as she cried and they witnessed their father try to stay alive.
"And if you're just joining us...it seems that everyone's favorite Prince is under siege by none other than Dr. Jekyll himself. It would see that the good doctor has found a way to isolate him from his precious Snow White and their magical chalice," Goldie reported, as those at Grimm's tavern all seemed glued to the fight.
"You think he'll do it?" one patron asked.
"If he does...he'll be a legend," another answered.
"And if he does...we will capitalize on the grief of his family and wage attacks on their Kingdoms," Rodmilla said, as she entered with Runeard. A few of them looked uneasy by this plan, but they did not protest. The last protester had been swiftly dealt with and none of them wished for that fate.
"Hyde!" Emma cried, as they burst into his lab and saw they were watching the spectacle on one of the computer screens in the lab.
"I guess he's beaming the frequency to every screen," Bobby realized.
"I'm afraid so...the doctor has gone too far again," Hyde said.
"He's blocking us off with magic and made it so my Dad has no access to the Chalice," Emma replied.
"And you hope there is a scientific solution," he replied. They nodded.
"We have been working on something...a teleportation device, but it is in no way ready for human trials," Hyde said.
"Yes...at this point, it would likely kill a person in transit. We're still working on the human application," Hiram added and their hearts sank.
"But we have had success in teleporting objects," Hyde said, as he showed them what looked like a silver pad.
"You think you can teleport the chalice to our Dad?" Bobby asked.
"If I can triangulate his location within a few yards. That will take a few moments, but we're ready if you can take us closer," Hiram said, as they picked up their equipment. Emma smiled and nodded, as the four of them disappeared.
David breathed heavily, but coughed since the air was so filled with heat and ash that it was overwhelming.
"You are so fragile without the power of your chalice sword…" Jekyll goaded.
"Then stop dodging me and actually fight. I may not have my Chalice sword, but I am a master swordsman and even with all your powers...you're not. I think I'll fare better than you think," David challenged. Jekyll smirked.
"I will so enjoy slowly killing you while the lovely Snow watches," he said, as he looked up.
"Pay close attention, my dear Snow! I want you to see the life leave his eyes when I crush him!" he called. David charged him at that and their blades clashed in a fury of strikes, parries, and slashes.
"You're tiring, Charming...I can see it. But I do not tire anymore," Jekyll warned, as they exchanged blows.
"You are fragile...and can barely breathe here. But I am in my element," he continued to boast.
"Doesn't matter," David said, though his words sounded labored.
"True love always wins," he insisted, as the doctor elbowed him in the gut and sent him to the ground. He slid painfully across the ground on his back and could feel the burns already. The pain was excruciating, even as he tried to pull himself to his feet. His shirt was in tatters now, as embers had burned holes in it. But he pressed on and got to his feet, only to have to block Jekyll's blade again.
"Time to die, Charming...and it will be slow and agonizing," he promised. David swept his legs out from under him, but the demon shot a fire blast at him, forcing him to dodge. He rolled to the ground and stared up at the blackened sky. He coughed, as the ash filled his lungs and he tried to move, despite the multiple burns covering his body.
"Snow…" he croaked, as he could feel her presence and love enveloping him.
"Not sure I'm going to make it out of this one, my love…" he whispered, as the doctor's shadow loomed over him…
Snow cried out, as she saw her husband roll to the ground and she reached out toward his image.
"I have to get to him...this can't be happening!" she cried in anguish, just as Emma reappeared with Bobby, Hyde, and Mr. Flaversham.
"Can you help?" Eva asked.
"We have a solution, but it's not yet ready for human testing. However, we believe it can get the Chalice to him," Hyde replied.
"No…I have to go to him. Please…" Snow cried.
"Mom...this will work, but you getting ripped apart in a teleporter does not help Dad," Emma soothed, as she put her hands on her shoulders. Reluctantly, Snow nodded and watched them set up their equipment.
"Not to pressure you...but you need to hurry!" Leo called, as they watched the dire position their father was in.
"Can you get a fix on his location fairly quickly?" Emma asked.
"Got it...fortunately, the doctor is sending up smoke signals into the atmosphere so to speak," Hyde replied, as he nodded to Snow. She placed the Chalice on the flat device and stepped back, as her children huddled around her.
"Initiate," Hyde said, as Hiram operated the controls and the Chalice disappeared. A few seconds later, the image before them and all the screens where it was being broadcast were filled with a blinding white light, resulting in no one being able to see what was happening.
"Charming!" Snow cried.
"Do you think she'll feel it? When I drive my fiery sword through your half heart?" Jekyll asked, as he looked down on his nemesis with a smug smirk. He was going to savor and enjoy the Prince's demise immensely.
"She will...but my children will avenge me and protect her," David rasped, as he coughed again.
"So...you're finally admitting defeat?" Jekyll asked with glee.
"I may die at your hand...but our love won't. That will never die," he replied.
"Yet you will be able to do nothing from the afterlife to stop me from making her mine," Jekyll said, he saw a beam of light penetrate his shield around the island.
"Impossible," he uttered, as the light faded and he saw the Chalice resting about a hundred feet away.
"No…" he said. It should have been impossible and he saw Charming's hand twitch.
"Not this time…" he seethed, as he prepared to thrust the blade through his chest. The Prince could barely move, but managed to lift one leg enough to kick Jekyll off balance. The doctor stumbled briefly, but it was enough and the Chalice flew into his hand.
"Noooo!" Jekyll screamed in rage, as light exploded around David and blinded him, as well as blowing him back several feet.
He growled, as he rolled over and tossed his cracked glasses away, before pulling himself to his feet. But what he saw when the light started to fade gave him pause.
David stood tall, as the light faded in his familiar leather jerkin, pants, and boots; the very outfit he had fought many battles in before. His wounds were healed and the Chalice sword gleamed brightly in his hand. The necklace of Harmonia fell off in pieces and burned to ash.
Jekyll seethed and cursed, as he decided to find a way out of this botched plan to fight another day, but the Prince anticipated his next move. David tapped the tip of his sword on the ground, sending a lightwave of power throughout the entire island and the sky.
"What is that?" he asked, as he saw the shimmering shield around the island.
"You promised there was no escape for me from this island, so I'm promising the same for you," David replied.
"You think you can really end me?" Jekyll challenged. David smirked.
"Oh…I know I can," he replied, as he charged, almost catching the doctor off guard. His sword became alive with fire and he parried the Prince's blade. But he was shocked when his sword shattered into a million pieces upon contact with the Prince's. Jekyll screamed in rage and blasted him at point blank with fire. But David slapped the flames away with his blade in expert precision.
"Damn you!" Jekyll screeched, as he slashed at him with his fiery whips, but David evaded his fire and Jekyll made a run for it in an attempt to somehow escape the island. He cackled maniacally, as he ran toward the river of lava that had burst up between the land mass.
"Once I disappear into the fire...you'll never catch me! And then, I'll pop up again when you least expect! Just like Mephisto did!" Jekyll warned, as he saw the river within reach. He laughed, preparing for his escape, as he jumped toward it.
"Damn him…" David cursed, as he chased the psychotic doctor. If he slipped into the fire, he'd disappear and come back to haunt them again. He couldn't let that happen again. He knew of only one move that could stop him now. He stopped in his tracks and thrust his sword into the air, sending it sailing toward the monster.
The fire could be seen reflecting in Jekyll's eyes, as he was just a few feet from escape, but he lurched and looked down to find Charming's blade protruding from his chest. He landed on his feet, just at the edge and turned around, looking at him in shock. He saw the blackness slowly spider webbing from his wound and started to see the ash flaking from his body.
"No...this can't be! You can't defeat me!" Jekyll cried, as he lurched again and the blade returned to David's hand.
"I just did," the Prince stated.
"You're done...and you're never going to hurt my wife again, let alone haunt her," David assured him.
"The Chalice absorbed the Olympian crystal long ago. No Underworld, no afterlife, nothing...you just stop existing and we rest easy, knowing that not even your soul can cause harm to anyone ever again," he continued. Jekyll tried to charge at the Prince again, but the white fire from the Chalice sword consumed him in a brilliant flash. He screamed briefly, as he was destroyed and his cries were swiftly squelched, as was his existence.
Charming sighed in relief, as he used the Chalice sword to create a portal out of the hellish island and he returned to Cibola.
The moment his feet hit the sand, Snow was in his arms. He smiled, as she kissed his lips and then buried her face in his neck, as she wrapped her around around his neck. He smiled and held her, as she quietly sobbed in relief.
"It's okay...I'm okay and he's dead, Snow...for real this time," he said, as he pulled back and cupped her beautiful face in his hands.
"He's dead, my love...he's never coming back," he promised. She sniffed and cried happy tears, before their lips crashed together and her feet dangled off the ground, as he picked her up and spun her around while kissing her passionately. Their lips finally parted and their kids gathered around them with hugs as well.
"And...it appears that the battle is over. Dr. Jekyll, who quite possibly was Charming's greatest challenger ever, is dead. It would appear that no one can defeat the Charmings," Goldie stated gravely.
"Most will celebrate this, I'm sure...but those of us that have made mistakes and refuse to play by their set of rules, life will not improve at all," she added.
"Snow and Charming will continue their reign, unchallenged it seems. Their children will continue to make all others fail to measure up, and Henry Nolan Charming's narrative will continue to be the only acceptable version of the story, while other talented writers like those in the Grimm line will be ignored," she continued.
The patrons in Grimm's bar went back to their normal business and Elias tossed his rag down on the counter in frustration. Charming's heroics would once again be the highlight of any articles and it almost seemed pointless for them to even do a podcast.
He noticed Runeard leaving and Rodmilla followed. Curiously, he followed as well. After all, this mysterious former King was likely the only real challenger to the Charmings that they had now.
"What are you doing?" Rodmilla asked, as she followed him into Jekyll's lab. Runeard was silent, as he picked up the staff that Jekyll had recreated from Hiram Flaversham's blueprint of the original design.
"They will soon come...emboldened by the fact that there is no real challenge here, even without magic. Except me, of course," he said.
"I have magic...synthetic magic that works here where theirs might not," Rodmilla replied. He smirked.
"Oh my dear...I think we both know that whatever you can muster up can easily be quashed by Charming now...or his Asgardian doppelganger for that matter. He just killed a demon with powers derived from hell itself," he reminded her.
"But you can challenge him!" she insisted.
"Oh not yet...not without this staff filled with the star gems I cannot...it's too risky. He knows what I can do with a touch...he'll anticipate my every move. I am not a master swordsman. Jekyll's arrogance is partially why he's dead now. He had no business fighting a warrior of Charming's caliber, even with all his demonic power," Runeard said.
"So...what, you're just going to disappear and leave me to fend for myself?" Rodmilla questioned.
"I must go into hiding for now. I do not have a plan ready to take on all the elements at once. I must take them by surprise and now is not the time. Good luck to you," he said, as he faded away with the staff and the doctor's gloves.
"There must be something in all this junk that we can use!" she cried desperately.
"The only way we still win any of this is to get their mixed blood and write ourselves a new narrative," Grimm said.
"Which is impossible!" she shouted.
"Then you better find a place to lay low...because this will be the first place Charming and his brats come for," Grimm replied, as he left the lab and started back to his tavern.
"There you are…" Goldie said, as she joined him.
"You're a wanted woman...this place isn't going to stop them from coming for you now that Jekyll is gone," he warned.
"You too...that's why we need to escape," Goldie said.
"Where? Pleasure Island was the one place that gave them pause," Grimm replied.
"The Land Without Magic...we can escape there and still do our podcast, you can write…" she said. He sighed.
"I guess it's all we have. We better go now though or we'll never make it. As it is, it will take us all night to go around the checkpoints again," he replied.
"Without the tavern...we'll be broke in no time," he warned.
"We still have a pretty good following with the podcast and that brings in some money. We'll have to supplement in other ways. It's that or prison," she replied, as they started packing what they could.
"We'll manage, I guess...now to figure out where to go," he said.
"The nearest bus stop is Misty Falls. We'll figure it out on the way to Boston," she replied, as they headed to the Harbor to make their escape.
After celebrating at Granny's with a mountain of food and all their family and friends, they had come home with their kids and retired for the evening. Except with them, there was no sleeping yet and the celebration had continued, in a much more intimate manner.
She rested her head against his chest and relished his arm around her.
"You did it...you freed us from his insanity," she purred, as she looked up at him. He gently kissed her.
"I said I wouldn't rest until he could no longer haunt you...I'm just glad I was able to keep that promise," he replied.
"I never doubted you...but I came very close to losing you," she said, as her eyes misted.
"Shh...no, you could never lose me. He never had a chance...not when it's you and our children that I'm fighting for. Not with a true love as powerful as ours," he replied, as she kissed him passionately and then pressed her forehead against his once their lips parted. He gently wiped a tear away from her cheek and green eyes stared into blue.
"I feel so free with his shadow finally gone," she admitted. He smiled.
"We are free, my darling. There are still battles ahead, but he was the worst one and he's gone forever," he promised. Their lips met again in a searing kiss and their passion consumed them once more. Once again, they had faced certain doom head on and their true love had prevailed, as it always would.
In the next chapter, one year has passed...