~~StoryBrooke, Present: a few days later ~~
"Shouldn't we be doing something? Instead of just sitting in a musty old boathouse?' Hans remarked with a small groan. "Plus, it smells like fish…." It had been about a day or two since the two had arrived in StoryBrooke, and to make sure they weren't immediately found, Naridia moved them to a house where they wouldn't be found out. "...Hello? Earth To Naridia"
"You're supposed to be staying quiet, remember," Naridia answered as she kept her focus as used magic on a mirror. "What I need to look for takes time, and I can't concentrate with your constant droning."
"You haven't even told me what it is you're looking for...or what we're even doing here?" Hans shot back. " We should've just stayed in Arendelle...At least let me track down Jack and Elsa and take them down."
"God, you really are an idiot." Naridia said with a small scoff as she continued to look through the mirror, "Even if you did find them, there's no way. You could take them out yourself...Despite having my mark, Elsa still has her magic. Plus, they have some pretty powerful people on her side...Come on, where is the bloody thing."
"...What exactly is it that you're looking for?" Hans questioned
"The one thing that can help me become more powerful and help secure your reign over Arendelle," She answered as a small smirk appeared on her face as the image on the mirror finally cleared up to show what appeared to be a staff or the beginnings of the staff which appeared to be inside of a certain pawnshop. "The Staff of The Northulrda.., the answer to all my problems…."
"Well, it's certainly not the palace, but this is pretty nice," Jack said with a small smile as he looked around the room at Granny's that He and Elsa were given while they were in Storybrooke. Soon after, Jack woke up, and checked out his shoulder and discharged him from the hospital. "Don't you think so, Els…." He paused for a moment as he noticed the window that had a little frost on it. "Elsa?"
"We need to get back to Arendelle…." Elsa said as she paced around the room, clearly worried about her kingdom, especially since she had no idea what happened to her sister and Kristoff, which caused a snow flurry throughout the room. "Who knows what Hans and that woman could be doing to it."
"Hey, Elsa, it's okay…." Jack said as he took her hand in an attempt to calm her down. "We will get back and save Arendelle...but we also need a plan. This, Naridia...is pretty powerful."
"Well, the good news is, you won't have to deal with her alone…." Emma said as she walked into the room with Hook close behind. "Sorry, I hope we weren't interrupting anything, my Mom had mentioned that you had gotten a room here at Granny's, and we just wanted to make sure how you two were getting settled."
"The Snow everywhere is certainly something to get used to," Hook chimed in as he noticed the snowfall around the room, which caused Emma to nudge him a little.
"Sorry, that's my fault…." Elsa said with a slight smile as she did her best to calm down and stop the snow flurries, "I've been so worried about, well, pretty much everything...I don't know how I can handle just being here while my kingdom is in danger."
"I've been trying to keep her calm. But...I don't think I'm much help," Jack chimed in as he gently squeezed Elsa's hand. "But Elsa's right, I'm afraid we can't be here long. Arrendelle is in danger."
"Oh, come on, what harm can a single prince do to a kingdom? From what I've heard from your story, he doesn't sound like much," Hook remarked.
"Killian…"
"No, it's alright...It's not Hans that I'm worried about. It's this Sorceress that he's partnered with," Elsa stated. "I've never seen magic like hers before. It was so powerful...yet so menacing and dark at the same time," She remarked. "I can't help but think what she has planned."
"Or the fact that she's partnered up with Hans and doing who knows what to Arrendelle," Jack chimed in.
"Trust me. We've all had our fair share of villains and dark magic over the years." Emma assured them. "That's actually what we wanted to come and talk to you about too. What exactly do you remember that Naridia can do? That way, if it comes to it-"
"You'll be ready if they come to Storybrooke," Elsa said, finishing Emma's sentence. While Elsa had been in Storybrooke, she had heard stories about all the people they have faced in the past and that most villains had come from other realms. "I'm sorry, all I could really remember is being sent through the portal that sent me here...and her casting some spell to leave this mark," She stated, gesturing to the strange mark on her arm.
"I Didn't see much of her magic, but I do know Naridia created that army Hans invaded Arendelle with her Magic.." Jack remarked, "You really think she could find her way here...to Storybrooke?" He asked while protectively putting a hand on Elsa's stomach as he thought about their coming child.
"It's a possibility. It wouldn't be the first time." Killian stated, "But don't worry mate if that does happen, you and your family will be safe."
Jack and Elsa were silent for a moment as they shared a silent look. It was pretty obvious that they were thinking the same thing. They needed to get their kingdom and their family back while also making sure their child would be safe once it was born, especially with the chance of Naridia coming to StoryBrooke.
"Well, in that case, let's try and learn everything that we know about Naridia so that we'll be ready."
~~MeanWhile~~
Naridia did her best to stay low as she walked through what appeared to be a quaint little town. She had heard all about the Dark Curse and that it created the charming little town Storybrooke. A magical place in a world without magic, however right now, she could care less about the citizens of Storybrooke. All she cared about was one place in town...and one place only, 's Pawn Shop. As she opened the door to the shop, she was a bit taken back by all the magical things in the shop. Though they seemed useless little trinkets, she could sense their magic coming from them.
"Marvel later, Naridia, we've got work to do," She thought to herself as she started to look around the shop. "Now...if I were staff, where would I be?"
"Can I help you?" A voice called out, pulling Naridia out of her concentration and causing her to turn around to face the source of the voice, which turned out to be Belle. "I Didn't realize we had a customer. My husband will be back soon."
"Oh, I'm sorry, I was just looking around…." Naridia putting on a small smile, this woman was definitely not something that she planned for. However, it was possible that she could help. "I'm looking for a certain magical item, and I heard that this was the place to find magical things...I just didn't expect to find well...all of this"
Belle laughed a little at this. "Well, I must admit, my husband can be a bit of a collector of sorts," She remarked as Naridia started to look around the shop again. "I suppose that's thanks to him being the dark one" This caused Naridia to pause. That was certainly something she didn't expect though it did explain why she was sensing one magical item in particular. Oh, this just made things better. "Maybe I can help you look for what you need. What exactly is it?"
"Oh, that'd be great...I don't think I can find it all by myself," Naridia said with a small smile. "It's something from the old land, of course...I believe it's called the staff of Northuldra."
"Oh, that does sound a bit familiar. What exactly is this Staff?" Belle asked a bit curiously.
"Ah, not many people would,' Naridia remarked. Noticing something in Belle's bag that looked like the dark one's dagger...but something wasn't right, it hardly resonated with any magic. "It's an old relic, really. It was just something that was...is something significant to me, I've been searching for it for a long time."
'
"Well then, I'm sure we can find it here...or at least something here with information on it," Belle assured Naridia. "And if not, I'm sure my husband will be able to help you as well."
"And what exactly would I be helping with," Rumple asked as he entered the shop from the back entrance.
"I was just telling...oh, I'm sorry, I don't believe I even caught your name," Belle remarked, looking over at Naridia as she realized she never even asked her for a name.
"Naomi," Naridia said quickly. There was no way she would be revealing herself right away."And your wife was just telling me that you could help me search for a certain relic that I've been looking for.
Rumple paused for a moment. There was certainly something about this Naomi that certainly was peculiar, to say the least. "Oh, I see, well I can see what I can do...Belle, why don't you meet Emma at the library? She did call earlier to see if we could help our visitors from Arrendelle. I'll help, miss. Naomi here with her little inquiry."
"Oh alright, then don't forget to pick up Rose and little Neal from their playdate with Hope later," Belle said before going to kiss Rumple's cheek before heading out the door. "Good luck with everything Naomi. It was nice meeting you."
"Don't worry. I won't forget," Rumple assured Belle as she left the shop. Once Belle had left, Rumple turned his direction to Naridia with a serious look on his face. "Well, you then what exactly can I help you with ...or should I even call you that"
This caused Naridia to smirk a little. She wasn't surprised that the dark one saw straight through her guise. "Alright, fine, you can call me Naridia. Though I must say, it certainly is great to meet the legendary Dark one...and to have him help me well, needless to say, I'm honored."
"And what makes you think that I'll be helping you, dearie" Rumple questioned with a raised eyebrow. "Especially since I can just give a call and let everyone in Storybrooke, especially a certain ice queen, know that you're here. I'm a changed man."
Naridia let out a small laugh. "Oh, I know you could do that...but I also know that you won't," She said with a small smirk." "Especially to avoid his darkest secret being revealed to his darling little wife."
"And what exactly do you know about my darkest secrets...dearie?'
"Well, if I had to guess, Dearie," She started a bit mockingly. "I would have to guess that you've been lying to your wife for a while now...and that dagger that's in her purse...is a fake one" She paused before snapping her fingers and the real dark one dagger appeared in her hand. "And the real one is right here. I didn't expect that to happen...one would think that the dark one wouldn't be so careless with something so powerful."
"I suggest you be careful with that, dearie.."
"Or what...you do something to hurt me? Well, guess what you can't...not as long as I hold this," Narida remarked. "Now, I heard how much The Dark One likes to make deals...so how about we make one now?...you help me get what I want, and then I'll give you want back your precious dagger...And if you don't well, then your wife, who clearly adores, will finally learn the truth about the dagger she holds."
Rumple paused for a moment. His hands were tied for once. He had finally got what he always wanted: a life with Belle and raising two children he loves more than anything, and if Naridia let his secret out...that life he created would come crashing down. "Well, Dearie...I suppose you have a deal. But make no mistake, you threaten my wife or my children, and I'll make sure you pay...regardless of any type of secret coming out."
"Fine, fine, deal," She said, rolling her eyes, not really hearing his words as an actual threat...well, at least not yet. "Now, Dark one...I command thee, get me the Staff of Northuldra" Right on cue, Rumple did as he was commanded and retrieved exactly what she asked for. Though much to her surprise, it appeared to be just the staff and not complete at all. "What the hell...where is the other part of it?"
"Oh, you thought it was going to be easy," Rumple said, a bit amused by Naridia's shock. "I'm afraid you're going to need to do a lot more to achieve whatever you're planning."
Narida was silent for a moment, slightly furious that her plan wasn't going to be easier than she thought, but that wasn't going to stop her, not after all this time, especially since she had one of the items to activate the staff already. "Well then, Dark one...tell me what else I need to know."
An: Aannnnd cue Once Upon A Time theme music. And there it is, Chapter 11, things are about to get well tense up in StoryBrooke once again. Next chapter, we'll find out what exactly the staff of the Northuldra is. Yes, I did take that from Frozen 2, lol. Go ahead and let me know what you think Naridia's plans are, as well as what you thought of this chapter. I can't wait to hear your thoughts! Anyway, see ya in Chapter 12!