AN: I do not own OUAT
I'm so glad you guys enjoyed my ideas for the last chapter! Now as we go through this arc of the story remember that the first time Emma, Killian, and Cora were fighting for the compass it was only so Cora could destroy the Enchanted Forest as we know it and she would be in control. But this time it's so she can travel to Storybrooke and see Regina.
Chapter 19: Everything Is Different
Emma stirred as she was beginning to gain consciousness again. Her muscles were sore and it had felt like she had just smashed through concrete. She slowly slid her hand on the ground, it didn't feel like tile or grass, it felt like dirty concrete, and she could feel the sun beating down on her skin. This didn't feel right, the last thing she remembered was being in City Hall trying to save Regina from the wraith for which they were trying to send through the...portal. Then it all hit her, she fell through the portal with the last thing she heard was Killian and her parents yelling at her.
Opening up her eyes and looking around she saw a castle with vines growing up the walls of it. The castle looked familiar, she spent lots of time here before with her friend Aurora.
"Emma?"
That voice was so soft and innocent, and also very familiar to her. Turning her head slowly to the side she saw a lavender silk gown, following the skirt up to the bodice she saw auburn locks. It took her only a couple of seconds to focus on the face. "Aurora! W-What are you doing here?" She sat up and instantly felt the pounding in her head.
"I 'd be careful if I were you," Mulan said from the corner where she was too busy tying up Killian to a post that supported an arch.
"Let me go! I've done nothing wrong!" Killian shouted as he fought against the restraints that were rubbing against his skin, "Swan!"
Emma ignored what ever Aurora was telling her, she was too caught up in hearing her husband call for her. But he couldn't possibly be here, she was the only one that fell through the portal...wasn't she. "Killian?" She saw Mulan pull on the ropes to tighten them to a squirming Killian once again without his hook, "Let him go! Mulan!"
She didn't care about the pounding in her head anymore, her husband needed her. She got up and ran over to them as Aurora followed her behind. She grabbed onto the ropes and tried to pull them off but Mulan just kept tightening them. "Mulan, he's done nothing for you to do this!"
"Are you forgetting everything he's done last time with Cora. He was going to give her the compass for us all the get killed, he sided with her!" Mulan said tying the last rope.
"He stole my heart, and not in a good way!" Aurora spoke up from behind everybody else.
Emma turned to face her friend, "Yes, but then he also gave it back to Mulan to give to you, and he did not give Cora the compass, he destroyed it and then almost got himself killed...for me" She explained to them.
Both princess and warrior looked at each other, they were confused. Last time they saw them together, Killian was over top of Emma with his sword and hook scratching against her own sword. They were fighting for each other's lives.
That's when Mulan noticed the ring on Emma's finger and then grabbed it before she could pull away. It was a diamond set on top of a silver ring, it was a wedding ring. When she looked over at Killian's only hand he had the matching set. "No...this can't be, this isn't right."
"You're married...to Hook?" Aurora asked puzzled out of her mind, she didn't ever imagine her friend being married to a pirate. She couldn't believe she was never invited.
Emma nodded looking at the both of them. "Indeed we are. Now if you please, Mulan." She motioned to her husband that was tied up and still trying to wiggle himself out. Mulan gave her one last glance before cutting him free where he collapsed into Emma's arms and hugged her as tightly as he could. "Why are you here?"
"I couldn't let you be alone here, I couldn't leave you, not again," He said sweetly into her ear as he pulled her close to him.
"What about Henry?" Emma asked as she closed her eyes, absorbing the heat of her husband. Forgetting where she was and who was around her.
He pulled away and placed a kiss on her forehead, "Your parents are there to watch him until we get back." He gave her a comforting smile as he pulled their bodies away and only wrapped his arm around her waist. "Now, Mulan, if you could be such a dear" He held up his hookless contraption.
Mulan gave him a dirty look that only said 'I'm watching you' as she clicked on the hook. She couldn't believe what she was seeing. The two who hated each other the most when she last saw them were married, and deeply in love as it looked.
"Wait, who's Henry?" Aurora questioned a bit confused.
"Our son," Emma told her looking up at Killian with a smile, it felt so good for her to say our son, "He turns eleven hear soon."
Aurora smiled widely. It seems as if her old friend had gotten her happy ending. A happy ending she wished she could have, but that was impossible now she thought as she looked over to the resting spot of Philip.
"Sorry to break up this happy reunion, but I do believe we should all get going," Mulan told them picking up her sword and sheathing it.
"Going where?" Killian asked pulling Emma closer to his side, not wanting to lose her to anything else ever again.
"Our Safe Haven, after the curse spread through the land and ripped everybody from the land, everybody on this corner was untouched and for ten years we were all frozen until the other day when time started up again and the curse was weakened," Mulan explained to the group as she started to walk a head of them to where there were two horses tied.
"So you weren't brought over with the curse?" Emma asked as Killian helped her up on the horse saddle.
Aurora shook her head, "I just found out about it, I guess I've been asleep for the last twenty-eight years until Philip woke me, unfortunately, his soul was taken from me too early, a wraith came out of nowhere and Philip happened to have marked himself."
Emma turned around to looked at Killian, was that wraith from them? When they tried to save Regina did they actually end up killing an innocent man in return, Aurora's husband?
"Don't worry love, I'm sure it wasn't from us" Killian whispered into her ear as he seen the worry spread on her face. He didn't want her to worry, they had no way of knowing what would happen. They were told all the lands were destroyed and they were just sending the Wraith into a dark hole.
She nodded and took a deep breath as they followed Aurora and Mulan who were on the other horse, ahead of them. She couldn't believe she was actually here, with her husband. Maybe someday they could come back as a family and show Henry just where he was born and they could build the kingdom and start over.
That funny feeling was happening in her stomach, the feeling she had felt since Killian had woken her up. She felt wet down below, but not the good kind, her stomach was hurting and it felt tender. She decided to ignore it, not wanting to worry Killian.
Neal was crying in his mothers' arms, he knew something wasn't right, he could sense how his parents were on edge. He's been like this ever since last night. "Shh Neal, it's alright, we'll get our family back." She tried to soothe the baby by rubbing his back but nothing was working, he was crying all night long, not letting his parents or brother have any sleep.
"I miss them too buddy," Henry said from the middle of his grandparents old beat up truck.
"Hopefully Jefferson can give us some answers about...this," David said as he took the beat up hat from his jacket and pulled up to the mansion that could probably fit the entire towns people inside. Opening up his truck door he got out and turned around to see Henry starting to come out, "Whoa, where do you think you're going?"
"I want to go in with you," Henry told him as he tried to get out again but was stopped by his gramps' hand.
"I think you should stay in here with Snow and Neal," David told his grandson who looked like he was about to pout.
"But...I want to help" Henry said. He's been helping out his father ever since he arrived in this town, he had to help with this.
David smiled at his grandson, of course, he did. "Look, if you really want to help, stay in here and help Snow with Neal, alright?" Henry pouted but nodded as he moved back to where he was sitting.
Thank goodness he listened. Walking up the grand stairs to the wide french doors he rang the doorbell. It didn't take long for the man all dressed in fancy black clothing to answer the door.
Without an invitation David just walked himself in, "I want you to tell me everything you know about this," he said taking out the hat and flashing it in front of Jefferson's face.
Jefferson sighed, "Good morning Dave, I'm good and you?" He teased the prince. He knew the prince didn't have the best attitude towards him after he kidnapped his wife and daughter.
"Enough joking around Hatter, unless you want to be locked up again I suggest you tell me now, "David threatened, walking up closer to the mans' face to the point they were uncomfortably close.
"Isn't it obvious, it's the hat that took your beloved ones," Jefferson said, only stating the obvious that everybody already knew.
Of course, this was going to be more frustrating than he thought, he wasn't going to just walk in here and expect to get a straight up answer. It was the Mad Hatter he was dealing with. "I want you to tell me what I don't already know, that was the whole point of coming here."
"Look, if you wanted information about the hat why not just go to Regina," Jefferson asked as he walked through two swinging doors that lead into the kitchen where a set of teacups and a teddy were laid out.
"Because one she has her magic back and two what better way to get information about an object than the person it belonged to." The hatter ended up looking over at him, making him smile proudly at himself.
He couldn't help but laugh at that, he knew better, Regina didn't have her magic back. "If Regina were to step outside there would be a line a mile long for her head and plus that wall paper trick she pulled the other night was nothing more than just an illusion, if she really had her magic, this entire town would be nothing but charcoal."
"Look, Jefferson, I only want to talk to you, you're the one who this hat belongs to so I want to talk to you...not Regina!" David exclaimed as his temper and patients were starting to rise. Sighing Jefferson finally agreed to listen to him and motioned for him to continue. "Snow and I want you to make it work, can you do that?"
Jefferson laughed as he cupped his face in his palms, "If only you knew!"
The more David stood here, the more aggravated he was getting. Looking around he noticed the tea set and the stuffed rabbit laid out on the table, it looked like it belonged to a child and not something a grown man would keep around his house. Even if he was crazy. "Look you have a tea set and a stuffed rabbit, so I'm guessing you have a daughter you love." He watched as Jeffersons' face fell and he started to look down at the floor, "Well I do too, and a son in law and they're out there somewhere in the Enchanted Forest or a void, I don't even know but I'm going to get them back."
"They're in the Enchanted Forest that's for sure, I just can't get there," Jefferson said as he looked up to see Davids' face start to glow with hope and realization that he was going to get his family back.
If what Jefferson was saying were true, that only meant one thing to him, "It still exists?"
Jefferson shrugged his shoulders and cocked his head behind him, "Yes, it still exists but I don't see how any of that matters because we can't go there."
"So you won't help us" It was more of a statement than a question.
"I'm a portal jump, and you destroyed my portal, so you're out of luck." The next thing he knew he was being grabbed by his scarf and pulled so close to the mans face that he could hear the steam blowing out of his ears and his eyes turn red with anger.
"Well guess what, I'm standing in as sheriff so I could just easily throw you in a cell again until you figure out a way" David threatened as he grinded his teeth together.
"Then all we'll both do is sit! Stuck! Two lives in our head cursed worse than ever, two lives forever at odd, double the suffering," Everything he went through for twenty-eight years was all coming out. All he could do was sit and watch, stuck in this house, two lives playing over and over again in his head. One he was happy with his daughter, the other he was miserable and trapped.
Henry walked into the kitchen after hearing what sounded like glass shattering to the floor. What he didn't expect was to see his grandfather holding Jefferson by his collar with a tight grip. It looked like he was about to murder the man. "Gramps?" When he looked over to see him standing there, David instantly let's go and pushed Jefferson to the side.
"Henry? I thought I told you to stay in the truck with Snow." He wasn't surprised it wasn't the first time he didn't listen. He remembered when Emma was taking care of Henry when Killian was in the hospital and she would come to work and next thing she was getting a call saying Henry never showed up for school.
"Uh, grandma told me to come in and see if everything was alright." Henry was too scared to move from his spot. He thought if he moved then he would get involved in this argument his grandfather and Jefferson were having, and he did not want to get involved in that.
"Right, of course. Jefferson and I were just finishing up here anyway." He turned to walk towards his grandson when he stopped once again in his tracks and turned around. Watching as Jefferson swallowed hard, thinking he was coming back to punch him. "If anything comes to mind, contact me or Snow!" The last thing he saw was Jefferson nod as he walked out the door.
It had been a long ride back to this so called Safe Haven that Mulan kept mentioning. It was on an island, at least a days ride from Aurora's kingdom. The one question that was on Emma's mind was how come Aurora wasn't swept away with the curse? her resting spot obviously wasn't apart of the Safe Haven.
Upon arriving at the hideaway Emma and Killian got to see just how many people have survived the curse and were making a living here, while everybody else was gone. A gurgling noise was heard deep in her stomach, making a sharp pain escalate face, having her clench the Killian's hand that held on around her waist.
"Love, everything alright?" Killian asked as he got worried. He could tell she had been in pain the entire ride here, was she getting sick? Or was she just working herself up from everything that had happened?
"Yeah, no, I'm fine, probably just hungry" It was only half a lie. She was hungry but there was also just something else wrong, she had a feeling she knew what it was, but she didn't want to tell Killian, not yet anyway.
"You sure?" You could tell by the way his forehead scrunched up that he was still worried about her, she loved that about him. He was so protective of her. He treated her like a sea diamond, a rare beauty that could easily be taken away from him by greedy hands. Ever since he had to leave her side all those years ago he always worried that somebody would take his place, but that was far from the case.
She turned around to face him and gave him a strong smile. She didn't want him to worry. "I'm fine." Placing a sweet chaste kiss on his lips she didn't want to pull away, it just all seemed too real, too good like sooner or later something was going to scoop him up and she would wake up in her bed and this would all just be a dream.
He never pulled away from her, instead he cupped her cheek gently and softly, stroking his thumb on her creamy delicate skin. This all seemed like a dream to him, to have her back in his arms as his wife and not a lonely orphan that was sheriff of a small town. When they finally did separate their lips their foreheads did not move, they just wanted to enjoy each other the most they could.
Mulan cleared her throat as she demounted off her horse and helped Aurora. She wasn't one for romance, even if she did fall for somebody she wouldn't show it. Aurora had pointed out she had love in her eyes for Prince Philip but the love wasn't for him, it was for her.
"Welcome to our Safe Haven," she said as she tied up both horses and watched as Hook helped his...wife off the horse. It was still weird for her to think that a Princess and pirate got married and had a child. Especially where she held a knife to his throat and tied him up to a tree when they first met.
Emma grabbed a hold of Killian's hand immediately after stepping foot on the ground, she wasn't scared or nervous, she just missed his touch, especially after thinking it's been eleven years since she touched him as herself. It was weird for her to look around and see so many familiar faces.
"So this is it huh? The only population left of the Enchanted Forest." Emma looked around at all the familiar faces. Some here were people who would work for her family, they looked the same since the last time she saw them.
"It appears so, the people here lost a lot. Some lost families, others lost homes. Everything we were able to fix up here wasn't enough to heal the pain they all feel" Mulan explained.
"Aye, I believe I can relate to that" Killian said as he pulled Emma close to him until she was snug against his side, "When the curse was going through the land, Emma had literally just given birth to Henry and right at that moment I had to take him away and escape the curse, for ten years we've been apart. Until almost a year ago on Henry's birthday did we return to Storybrooke, not having a single clue on how to break the curse."
"Henry, what a lovely name."
That voice, it sounded so familiar to her. Turning around she didn't expect to see the one women who gave her, her happy ending. "Cora."
He didn't think twice. In that one simple second, he pushed Emma behind him, wanting to protect her. "Stay behind me, Swan."
Cora smiled, "It seems you finally got your happy ending Captain," She purred as she peered behind him at the young princess who was holding onto her lovers hand so he could use his hook if needed.
"Why is Cora here?" Aurora asked.
"We captured her when the curse hit and kept her hostage since just in case she tried anything" Mulan explained, "She says she just wants to get back to her daughter, but we feel as if there's more to that story."
"Aye, there is." It was Cora, there was always something else to her reasons. All he knew was they weren't safe here and he had to get his Swan home, as soon as possible, he would do whatever it took.
Snow was drained, she didn't get any sleep at all last night from watching over her newborn son and worrying about the rest of her family being lost somewhere she didn't know. Everybody was angry, upset and confused. Jefferson didn't have any way to make the hat work and that just meant another dead end. She knew the only way for her daughter and son in law to get home was by a portal, which was caused by magic and to Regina, it was different here.
Henry could sense his grandmas' worries, he had the same. He wanted his parents back, and he wished that he could just have some kind of communication with them. "Don't worry, we'll bring them home," He said placing a comforting hand on her shoulder as he smiled.
She couldn't help but smile back, seeing his smile just brightened up her day. "Oh, I know Henry, I just wish everything was different and much for simpler. I wish we all could go back."
Suddenly everybody was forced forward by the force of David having to push on his breaks. The streets were covered with the citizens of Storybrooke. Everybody was rushing around. A Bolton board was set to the side that held papers of missing people. Ruby was rushing around with blankets. Dr. Hopper was carrying about a clipboard and tents for medicine were put up. What was this?
"If you need help finding a loved one go to the front desk if you need counseling Dr. Hopper is carrying around a signup sheet if the Wraith destroyed your home, cots are being set up at the school" Ruby shouted out as she walked through the crowd.
"What is all this?" Henry asked as he watched all the people scatter around the place. Some of his class mates were here, some were alone and others were being reunited with their real families. the one that caught his eye though was Paige...or Grace, she was sitting all alone on a bench, looking down at a paper in her hands and then back up and side to side. She was waiting for her papa, Jefferson, was he not going to show up?
"We better check it out," David said as he got out of the truck and walked around to the other side to help out his wife, "I think I know another way we could get Emma and Killian back." He took Snow's hand in his as her other occupied Neal.
"Really? How?" Snow asked, her face immediately brightened up, "Did you hear that little man? Daddy has a way to get your sister and her prince home" She cheered to her son.
"David! Snow!" Ruby shouted as she saw the Charmings walking down the streets, "Do we know where Rump - Mr. Gold is?" It was so confusing to her, she didn't know if she could call him by his real name or cursed name, everybody was confused. Like did she call herself Red or Ruby?
"No Red, do you know where Blue is?" David asked immediately. He had a plan and he only hoped that it could work. Ruby shook her head, but before he could respond others were gathering around him.
"Do you know where my boy is?" Gipedo known as Marco asked.
"The Queen, does she have her magic back?" Dr. Hopper asked anxiously.
Neal started to squirm uncomfortably in his mothers' arms, the crowd was upsetting him. "Sh, it's alright little man, daddy has this."
David was ignoring all the questions and shouting all around him, it was too much to take in at once. He had to find Blue. Pulling his wife and grandson away the crowd only followed him and they only got noisier and bigger. Great.
"Gramps, what if Mr. Gold is planning something?" Henry asked as he followed right behind his grandparents. What if Gold was planning a way to kill his father, that 's all he could think of, Gold never fully moved on from Milah, even if he had Belle.
"We'll handle it when and if that comes up." Finally, he saw Blue in the tent with the medicine, helping an injured out. "Blue! Do you think there could be a tree on this side? The way Killian and Henry escaped the curse? Maybe we could go after them that way" He asked tightening his grip on Snow's hand as he saw her and Henry both look at him with utter shock.
"It's possible" Blue answered, she honestly didn't know what could have been brought over here now with the curse being broken.
"Do you think it'll work? "Snow asked as she bounced Neal on her shoulder.
"I know it will work," He said with a smile, he still had hope, he was still the Prince Charming everybody knew and loved.
Blue hadn't finished, "wait...there's no fairy dust here to guide us, it's hopeless, I'm sorry."
Snow, David face all fell, they were really hoping that would have been the way to get them back, maybe even send everybody else back.
"We'll find another way, in the book everything always looks worse right before there's good news" Henry added in. He read all the stories and every one of them each had something in common, right when they thought it was the end, something magical would happen to fix everything.
"Terrible news! Terrible news!"
Everybody turned to see Grumpy and the rest of the dwarfs all running in together as a group. Did they ever separate?
"Grumpy, what is it?" Snow asked as the man she counted as her brother ran up to them.
"We were out at the town limits," Grumpy shouted in David's face, "Tell them who you think you are sneezy!"
The man who was known as sneezy for his well...sneezing was pushing forward, "Why do you keep calling me that? I'm Mr. Clark, I run the Pharmasave" He said as he whipped his nose.
"If you try to leave, you lose all your memories and your cursed self becomes your only self," Grumpy said as the crowd started to go nuts again with asking a bazillion questions at a time.
The crowd was all piled up together, everyone asking their own questions. They were all speaking at the same time that they just started to sound like a swarm of bees. David and Snow tried to leave as Henry pushed through the crowd begging them that he could help. But everyone just kept following and yelling in their ears. Eventually, Neal started to cry, scream and flare around, the loud noises were making him upset.
"Everybody, please! Calm down, you're upsetting Neal! Snow shouted as she tried to soothe her bundle of joy.
"David stopped and glared around, the crowd was getting too out of hand. "People, please! There's no need to panic, we'll figure something out, we always do!" The crowd quieted for no longer than a couple of seconds.
The crowd quieted for no longer than a couple of seconds. Everything was going hectic.
Snow had enough. Walking over to an empty park bench she perched herself right on top of it and shouted for everybody to listen. "Alright, listen here! I know this is difficult, the curse is broken and it's like waking up from a dream or coma, it doesn't seem real, but it is! This is our reality now!"
Everybody seemed to quiet down after hearing Snow speak, they were ready to listen to their beloved ruler Snow.
"Having these two lives in our head is difficult. It's like we have two people in our head fighting for control of one body, and it's confusing and terrifying. But we are not alone. We were all cursed, we all understand what each of every one of us is going through. Regina may get her magic back, but that hasn't stopped us in the past, we will protect one another." She had no clue where this speech was going but she knew she had to stop the crowd from doing something stupid and try to calm them down. "Yes, I get it, we are not from here and it will be difficult to adjust, but we have to, we need to learn to coexist, with both lives and everyone in this town. We'll keep the business and schools open, keep some semblance of normalcy. I know you are all scared and Regina is partly to blame for that fear considering everything she's done in the past. But she will not harm you here. Charming and I will protect you, we've done it before and we will not stop now, so you need to give us the chance and to trust us that we are doing what's right for you, the town."
Snow finished her speech, everyone looking at her with either shock or amazement. "Now, I suggest we all go back to our normal everyday routines, get back to just being a normal town until we figure out how to return to the Enchanted Forest."
Everybody seemed to listen, thankfully. Everything was now quieted down and most people were starting to head back to their home with their families, but some still stayed to see if they could find lost ones or to receive some physical aid.
"You did it," Charming said helping her off the bench as he placed a sweet and loving kiss to her lips.
"No, we did it," She said with a smile, "Now, how about we go and find Gold and see if he can help us with a way to get Emma and Killian back, you coming to Henry?"
Henry looked around at all his classmates, all the children that were lost. "You know what, I think I'll stay here for a bit." And with that, he ran off to go find Grace, tell her that her papa was alright and was going to look for her.
Emma was sitting down on a small log beside a fire, she was freezing, which didn't make sense since it was summer in the Enchanted Forest and it was usually boiling. She was watching as Killian was helping to gather more fire wood. She couldn't believe how happy she was feeling, to be back with him, her pirate.
"Hey"
Aurora had walked up to Emma without her even noticing. Taking a seat next to her, it was mostly just awkward silence between the two with the sound of what was going on around them. "I've been meaning to ask you, how did you and...Killian get here?"
Swallowing Emma became nervous, if she told her what had happened, then Aurora would know that they had sent the wraith her, the one that killed her love, but she also couldn't lie "W-we were saving Regina from the wraith so we sent it into a portal but the Wraith ended up catching a hold of my ankle, pulling me in and then I guess Killian jumped in after me."
"He seems like he'd do anything for you, it's true love," Aurora said sweetly with a smile.
Oh good, she didn't know Emma thought. She couldn't help but smile, she could feel her cheeks start to go warm, she was blushing. "Yeah I and he went through a lot together before we were finally able to get our happy ending, but the more I think about it, it's not really a happy ending. Yes, we got married and had our son, but I wasn't there for ten years to watch him grow and it just seems like Killian and I just keep getting separated whether it's a curse or a battle against someone or something."
She placed a hand on Emma's shoulders, she could tell she was very torn from losing everything she had always hoped for, "I know life doesn't always go how we plan, but everything get's better. Yes you were separated from your love and son, but you're back now and that's all that matters, I'd do anything if it meant having a second chance with Philip."
Rage had struck her on the inside, she was trying to let it show, but the more she spoke to her "friend" the more it was just balling out waiting to explode like a kettle. Philip's death was her fault, she knew it. And she was going to pay for the life she took. Wait, no, what was she thinking? Emma was her friend, she wouldn't purposefully hurt Philip, would she?
Regina eyed up the candle, staring strongly at the wick. She was forcing everything she could within her out, hoping she would be able to ignite it.
"Come on, come on, come on!" She grunted to nobody but herself.
The wick did flicker for a slight second, getting a small flame before burning out.
Grunting once again to herself, she picked up the candle and threw it into her fireplace, nothing was working! Then it hit her, she needed it, and she knew exactly where it would be.
He knew he heard something as he sat in the back inventory of his shop. Admiring the beauty of the chipped cup he held so dear to his heart. Belle had not returned which frightened him, but he knew he had to give her space, to let her clear her mind.
"Library's under the clock tower dearie, you should know that you closed it," Rumple said as he stepped foot into the front room to see Regina rummaging through his shop, through all the books that lay around, "Oh that's right when you still had power."
"Which I would've still had if you hadn't lied to me!" Regina declared with a puff of one single breath.
"Oh, I did no such thing dearie, I simply just stretched the truth," He started strongly, "Yes, Mrs. Jones was a savior that helped break the curse but no she was not the savior that fought your dragon."
"Yes, which was killed and then you stole the true love potion you kept inside, how did any of that have to do with breaking the curse?" Regina was confused. Captain Guyliner defeating the dragon had no real purpose to break the curse, so what was the whole point of it?
He had to give a smug grin. She may not have known it, but Hook defeating the dragon was a big part of breaking the curse. "It was what happened after defeating the dragon that really matters. Thanks to Hook defeating Maleficent, I got my potion, being able to bring magic here and the Captain's son discovered he had magic, healed his father after he was partially dead on the floor, then our one-handed wonder woke up his princess breaking the curse."
Regina had just stayed there glaring at him with anger and betrayal. If she had known before she would've been trying to get rid of the pirate and not so much Emma or Snow.
"Wait...Henry had magic?" An evil plan appeared in her mind.
"But, I know you, your majesty, you didn't just come here to talk about the curse breaking. Now, what is it you need?" He tightened his grip around his cane, giving her the wicked smile.
She sighed, "I need the book." She couldn't believe it had come down to this. Where she needed her help.
"Which book?" He started to chuckle roughly as he pretended to search around his shop, "oh, so it's come down to that eh? You need your mommy's' a help."
"Give me the book" Regina demanded firmly placing her hands on the counter and trying to make herself look threatening.
"Do you really need the smell of the written word to get the magic flowing again, love?" He had hope in Regina. Hope that she could figure things out for herself and not by use of somebody from long ago.
"It worked once, maybe it can work again. I just need a shortcut back" she whined, she wants going to give up so easily.
Of course, she always wanted things done the easy way, never the hard way unlike him. He did everything for himself, even crushed his own ankle to return back to his newborn son.
"Yeah, well, I don't' have time either. So leave...please." The magic word, please and thank you.
Waiting she was expecting the force to pull her away from begging since he had used the word, please. That word would always get in the way, but not now, no the curse was broken and so was the magic word. "Oh, well would you look at that. It looks like your Pleases have lost their flare. They don't work on me anymore."
"Well the fact remains jump starting your magic is not in my best interest," He wanted her to go.
"You know what else isn't in your best interest? Telling everybody the Enchanted Forest still exists, that we're keeping them here," she began as he stayed quiet to listen, "no, you're up to something, and it doesn't involve going home." She traced her finger along the bulky black metal case that laid on the counter, as she tried to open it though, Rimole slammed it back shit and with a poof of smoke and a flick of his wrist, the book was there.
"Be careful dearie, their straight up spells, rough in the system," Rumple informed her.
She smiled once she got it in her hands, she didn't care what it took for her to show this town who she really was. "I don't care if it turns me green, that's all I need."
She got what she wanted and now she was ready to leave. But before she could even make it to the door Runole scuffed making her turn around and give him a glare.
Rumple smiled at her words, I don't care if it turns me green, if only she knew what he did about her long-lost sister. "I once told you, that you looked nothing like her but now...well now, now I see the resemblance." He watched as the Queens' face fell, turning into something dark and murderess as a small shuddering breath escaped her mouth before she opened the door and slammed it shut without a word.
He knew it was the time he had to start packing for his trip to find Bae, the curse had broken, the Queen was dealt with and now it was all his. But just then Snow and Charming opened up the door, making the small bell make a chime. Was everybody going to disobey his closed sign?
"It appears when I bought that closed sign, I was just throwing my money away," Rumple said as he turned around to see the Charmings'.
Snow was the one to step forward, now that she was Snow White again, she was much more confident and wasn't scared to speak up. "We need your help to get our daughter and Killian back, Rumple."
"And what makes you think I'll help you with that one? Are you forgetting me and that pirate have a past that will most likely result in one of us killing one another." He folded his hands in front of his torso and stood strongly without his cane in front of the couple.
She had heard everything from the back room where she snuck in after Regina had left. "Because I know you'll do the right thing Rumple in order to become a better man."
Everybody turned their heads to see the auburn haired beauty walking in. She had a beautiful gray dress and the most gorgeous heels with the bounciest of curls. "Belle? I thought you never wanted to see me again."
"I didn't. I took a long walk to clear my mind, but I kept feeling guilty for leaving because I know you're trying and you're not going to be better just overnight," Belle explained herself, "It's going to take time, and I'll be by your side every step of the way."
Rumple couldn't help but have a small smile spread across his lips, "Well, the beast is gone and Regina lives, so I guess I didn't get what I want."
Belle knew he was trying to change for the better, and she was glad he never got his revenge on Regina. She only hoped that this time he would stick to his words and actually try and not twist her words around anymore.
David cleared his throat, "Back in the Enchanted Forest you said you cared for somebody, is this her?" He asked looking at the girl. She looked awfully familiar to him.
"It just so happens I am, I'm Belle French." She walked over to the couple and shook both their hands until she saw the small baby resting in his mothers' arms. "Who is this little cutie?"
"This is Neal our newborn," Snow said with a smile as she bounced her baby up and down, "Our eldest daughter is trapped after falling through a portal and we want to get her back home, that's why we're here, can you help us?"
Belle could see the sadness int he mothers eyes. She was feeling heartbroken after losing her child, she would too if she lost her child after she had just gotten him back. "Of course, I'm sure Rumple can think of something."
Everybody turned to look at the man who was standing there quietly with an emotionless face.
"What portal did they fall through?" He questioned.
David held out the torn up hat and placed it on the counter for him to see. "So? What do you think?"
"Well, unfortunately, there's nothing I can do, only fairy dust can restore something like this, without it I'm afraid they can only find a way back, where ever they may be." He knew where they were, they were in the Enchanted Forest, but they didn't know that.
"Jefferson told me they're in the Enchanted Forest, there must be something there that can help them get back," David said impatiently.
"Rumple, there must be something you can do," Belle said as she looked at him with pity, pity for the two parents.
Rumple stood quietly for a matter of seconds before speaking again, "The only other thing I can think of is the compass, it can create a portal back, but they need water from the the lake that restores what was once yours."
"The compass? Killian destroyed it when Cora was fighting us for it and the lake is dried up," Snow explained. How could two things that no longer exist form a portal back to a town that shouldn't even exist?
"Well, then I guess you'll have to hope you find some fairy dust here, or your family will never return home!" Rumple exclaimed, "Now if you please, I have packing to do for a trip."
"A trip eh? I'm afraid you can't leave this town, whoever leaves loses their memories of who they really are and becomes their cursed self again!" David exclaimed right before he and Snow marched out and slammed the door, not having a single clue on how they would get Emma and Killian back. Right now their level of hope was going rapidly downhill.
"Snow! Charming!"
Both looked across the street to find a small girl running over to them. Snow knew her as Paige back int he classroom but she now knew that it was Grace, one of Henry's friends.
"Grace, what is it?" Snow asked she could see the worry and fright in the small girls face.
"It's Regina, she got her magic back and took Henry!"
Both looked at each other. Their grandson was taken by the Queen, but why would she want him. She was nothing but a step great grandmother that only wanted to kill her own family and didn't care what happened to them, so why was Henry so different? It looked like their life just went right back to how it used to be, trying to always defeat Regina.
He waited until they were gone before he let out his rage by smashing his cane against one of the glass cabinets having it shatter to the ground. The whole point of this curse was just so he could get over to this land and find his son once the curse broke and now he no longer could do that, now he was stuck.
"Rumple! Calm down! What is it!?" Belle didn't understand he just randomly flew into a rage after the two couple had left the shop.
"I can't leave the town Belle! Which means, I can't find Bae, my son!"
She knew how much finding his son meant to him. She felt sorry for him, but that didn't mean he had to start smashing things. "I know you, Rumple, I know you'll find another way."
Regina walked confidently down the sidewalk, she had just restored her magic, or at least she thought so. She was able to bring her Honeycrisp apple tree back to life. Now she had a plan, she was going to take what she always wanted. A family, a son.
She saw him sitting there next to Jefferson's daughter, they were laughing and smiling and looked like they were having a good time. Henry was showing her the book and showing her why her papa really never came back home. She always knew her papa never meant to abandon her.
"Henry" Regina called sweetly, trying to approach the children with care so she wouldn't scare them off and ruin her plan.
The two turned and looked to see who was calling for the boy, but when they laid eyes on the women their smiles faded and they immediately jumped up to guard each other.
"Oh, don't worry, there's no need to be scared, I just came for Henry," She said with a smile.
"You took my papa away from me!" Grace exclaimed, she didn't say it with anger or vengeance, no she said it like the sweet girl she always was.
Regina smiled, "That's right, I did. But where is your papa now?" The girl's face seemed to fall at that, making Regina's attention turned back to the reason she came here, "Henry, I want you to come home with me, there's already a room set up there for you, filled with things any boy your age would wish for."
"Why would you want me?" He was confused, when the curse was enacted they hated each other. She put his father in the hospital where he almost died, luckily his mother saved him.
She approached him softly, "Because I always wanted a family."
"You do have a family! And you can have one, you just have to show that you want to change!" Henry exclaimed. It would be nice if she could change and be part of their small family.
"They won't ever trust me, Henry, But you see the good in me, you want me to change, and that's why I'm taking you now" She stood up to poof them away, bring them home.
Grace started to run over to her, to take her friend back, "No! Step away from him!" Before she knew it she was frozen, Regina froze her so she wouldn't be able to do anything.
A wicked smile spread across her lips as she watched Grace, frozen, not able to do anything. "Shall we?" In a poof of purple smoke, she was gone with Henry, and Grace was unfrozen.
They appeared in the main entrance of Regina's home. It was the first time Henry had ever been at the Mayor's home. It was tidy and surprisingly bright, but he didn't want to stay, he wanted to leave. So before Regina even knew it Henry was rushing up to her stairs, she thought he was just going to go and find his room.
"I'll call you when suppers ready, we're having lasagne!" Regina called out. She didn't care if he tried to escape, he couldn't, she used a spell to keep him in like her mother used on her when she tried to escape her fate from marrying the King, Snows' father.
"Okay!" He tried to play along so she wouldn't catch on that he was leaving. But as soon as he found the room Regina probably made by magic he quickly tore the blankets off the bed, tied them together and made a small sheet latter that was long enough to reach the ground, long enough that he could escape and go find his grandparents and have her arrested again.
He pushed himself up and over the window, the sheets were draped out of. He started slowly and carefully climbing down them, making sure he didn't fall.
Something tight wrapped around his torso and pulled him flush against it. It was the large tree that sat outside of the house. Did she do this because she knew he would escape? He tried to pull away but the branches were just getting tighter.
"Don't fight it, Henry, you'll get a splinter." She appeared in the window the sheets were hanging out of. When she saw them brushing against her window she knew something was up and immediately rushed up stairs to see the protection spell she enchanted working against Henry.
She waved her hand, making the tree carefully place Henry back inside. "Don't worry, you'll be able to leave sometime, but only with me."
"How long am I trapped here? Forever?" Henry asked sadely. First his parents were both gone, and he didn't even know if they were alive and if he was ever going to see them again, and now he's been kidnapped by his step great grandmother The Evil Queen and being forced to be her 'son.'
"Just until you love me," She said with a smile.
"So I'm a prisoner because you want me to lvoe you? That's not how it works Regina, that's not fair" Henry said with a pout. How could this be happening?
Henry was right, she knew that for certain. But she was going to have a son, even if that meant putting a spell on him. She always wanted a son, ever since that little boy Owen came for a visit with his father. She would do whatever it took, she had to go through more worse things from her mother. "You know where I come from, you know my story, now that wasn't fair."
"You ruin people's lives. You sent my mother and father away" He stated. She wasn't doing anything god, she was being selfish, and only thinking about herself and not him or anybody else for that matter.
"That was an accident," Regina said honestly. She never meant for Emma to fall into the portal and then Hook jump after her.
Henry shook his head, "But the way you treated me wasn't an accident, you putting my father in a coma wasn't an accident and you giving my mother a poisonous apple turn over wasn't an accident!"
She knew he was right, she did do horrible things that weren't accidents. "But that's all going to change, Henry you can know the secrets, you can live in a house with magic. Here look what I can do." She blew in her hand, making purple smoke form at her palms and then suddenly a giant cupcake filled with multiple colours appeared on her palm. "I heard about your magic, I can teach you how to use it. And you can have as many friends as you want come over, you can show them your book."
Her cupcake trick wasn't fooling him, he didn't really care for cupcakes unless it was his Birthday, "Nobody would want to come over here, they're terrified of you."
"You can make them not be scared. You can make them love you" She told him with a smile, she would give him everything.
Henry sighed and pushed himself back agasint the headboard, he wanted tog et out of here. "I dont want to be like you, I want to be like my parents."
"Your parents? Your father was a ruthless pirate who only cared for his revenge, he killed Henry, innocent people!" How could he ever want to be like his father? He was selfish.
"But that was before he met my mother and turned himself around. Now he cares for others and would only kill if it meant protecting his family. I do want you apart of his family...but not like this."
But not like this, those words rung in her ears. She released a breath she had no idea she was holding. What was she doing, why did she ever think this would work?
There was a knock that rang through the house. Causing both Regina an dHenry to look up and out the bedroom door.
"I'll be right back. "She got up and rushed down the stairs, egure to see who it would be. When she opened the door David stepped into her house with a raised sword and Snow behind him with Neal strapped to her chest and a bow and arrow in her hands. They came for Henry.
"We want to see him, Regina!" Snow demanded as her husband raised his sword to the Queens' neck as she got closer to them.
All she could hear was Henry telling her he didn't want to be like her, he didn't want it this way. "Henry! Come down here!" His sword was still planted on her neck, "you won't be needing those." She flicked her wrist making their weapons disappear.
"Whatever you conjure Regina, we can fight it off, we always do," Snow told the women. She was tired of fighting, even if she had a ten year break she was still fighting Regina while cursed.
When Henry walked down the stairs he looked sad but as soon as he planted his eyes on his grandparents those sad green orbs of his brightened up with happpiness. But he was too scared to run to them, he didn't know what Regina wanted.
She cupp d th boys cheeks, looking him in th euand s with a smile, she was going to do something for once. "Henry, you're going to go home with your grandparents."
"Really?" Henry didn't believe it, Regina just told him he was trapped here until he loved her.
Regina nodded, "really, I shouldn't have brought you here, I was...I don't know how to love Beth well, and I was only thinking about me. I wasn't vaptanle of it for a very long time, but I learned that if you hold onto someone to hard, that doesn't make them love you, I'm sorry for everything I've don't to you, but I want you to be here because you want to be here, not because of magic, I want to redeem myself."
Snow smiled softly when she heard that Regina wanted to redeem herself, she always wanted to her to also. "then you should do it, if not for yourself, then for Daniel."
Regina spin around with flare in her eyes, what did she just say? "Excuse me? Everything I've done was for Daniel!" She snapped, stomping over to the women.
Snow knew right away she said the wrong thing, "Regina...I just think that maybe Daniel wouldn't like what you've become..."
"You have no right to say that! How would you know what Daniel wants and doesn't want! You're the reason he's dead!" Regina snapped, raising her hand, she was going to chill this women. She had no right to be saying this.
"Stop! You said you wanted to redeem yourself!" Henry shouted. He watched as Regina stared deep into Snows eyes, wanting to strangle her, but she fought as hard as she could and didn't.
"Come on, we should go" David said as he led his family out of the house. He hoped what Snow had said didn't cause a rage inside Regina that made her go after them again.
They all walked into the diner. After a long and tiring day, they were finally able to just relax and have dinner as a family...sort of. They just needed to relax and think positive, Emma was their daughter and she was with Captain Hook if anybody was able to make it. Ack to a land that shouldn't exist it would be them.
Jefferson was sitting at the back, watching Tubt work, admiring her, she was beautiful to him, but he didn't deserve her. He didn't deserve anybody in his life, not even his own daughter, which made him heartbroken. He was on his way to see her, to take her in his arms and tell her he was sorry, but then the thought that he abandoned her, she wouldn't forgive him.
He watched as the young boy, Henry looked over an older man, Marco. He whispered something in his ear that made the old mans face turn into some what of joy. It wasn't long until that man thanked Henry and got up from his seat and rushed to the back of the diner towards the INN.
"Hey, can I get you something? You've been sitting here for a while."
Looking up he noticed the red streaked hair and flawless features, it was Ruby. He hesitated, he didn't know what to say to her. The last time he saw her she was cursed and flirting with him through his cell. "I...um...I..."
"Are you alright?" This was the first somebody talks to her like this.
Jefferson just nodded, "I-I'm fine, thank you" he managed to get out in one breath. He looked like a loser, he felt like one too, he couldn't even go tell his daughter the truth.
Marco walked to the room Henry told him that his boy was staying inside. He knocked and then opened the door immediately, too anxious to wait for a response. He was finally able to see his boy again but when he looked around, the room was empty, but somebody was clearly here before. Paper lay on the desk, clothes draped over furniture. But the one thing that caught his eye was the hat sitting on the dresser. It was the hat he wore when he first made him into a puppet.
When he had it in his hands he held it close to his heart, his boy was okay, he was here, and he was going to find him.
Another chapter finally done! You wont believe the trouble I had to write this, I would force myself awake just to write a portion of this after a long day at work when all I wanted to do was sleep. When I would finish writing a portion of the story the site would crash and I'd lose everything I wrote causing me to write it all over again. But finally I was able to finish!
At the beginning we see Emma was in pain and something felt off to her, what do you think that is? How do you think they'll get back if the compass is destroyed? Tell me what you think.
Remember to review, follow and favourite.
Next time: Chapter 20 Back Home.