I caught Covid, but I'm doing better now. Can't taste or smell anything so I guess that's a small blessing, yeah?
2
"The clock tower is still working," Artura muttered to herself before checking her pocket watch.
It was working like normal again, and she smiled slightly. The curse truly was the strangest thing she had ever encountered. She finished her cup of tea and picked up her newspaper as Ruby came by and refilled her cup. It wasn't the local paper; no, it was one that she got delivered to her from England. She liked staying up to date with events in her little…community. She heard the door open and soon the entire diner was filled with patrons. She blinked lethargically before shaking her head. She would never understand other people, curse or no. Emma plopped down across her and a cup of coffee was pushed towards her. A grunt was a sign of gratitude.
"Anything interesting?" Emma questioned motioning towards the paper in her friend's hand.
"Just that most of the town seems to move like clockwork," Artura answered before frowning, hoping her deflection worked for the most part, "it's a bit unnerving really."
"You would say that," Emma muttered before shaking her head in thought, "oh god, what does she want?"
Artura wondered who she was before seeing Regina walking up to the table, a basket of apples hanging from her arm. That was quite odd, she hadn't known that apple trees could grow in Maine. She learnt something new every day it seemed. She picked up her cup of tea and took a slow sip of it as Regina stopped at their table.
"Did you know the honeycrisp tree is the most vigorous and hardy of all apple trees?" Regina asked them and the two shared a look, "It can survive temperatures as low as forty below and keep growing, as well as weather any storm."
"Mayor Mills, may I inquire as to the relevance?" Artura asked and she winced slightly, "That was rude, and I apologise, I am thankful for the information on honeycrisp apples."
"It is because I have a tree that I have tended to since I was a little girl and it's fruit is more delicious than any other," Regina answered, seemingly hiding her surprise at being apologized to.
"I can keep plants alive, that's the extent of my green thumb, I commend you," Artura stated before picking up her cup of tea and giving a small toast.
Regina placed the basket on the table and Artura eyed the red fruit. If Henry was right, and she was beginning to think he really was, then those very apples could be dangerous. She'd have to take one and test it for poison when the opportunity presented itself.
"Thanks," Emma said as she looked at the apples.
"I'm sure you'll enjoy them on your drive home," Regina said, nodding at both women.
"Actually, I'm going to stay for a while," Emma revealed.
"I might just enjoy my retirement out here, it's quiet and peaceful," Artura stated.
Emma had a feeling that was the case. Great, she'd have a viable reason for visiting in the future. She wanted to shake her head in disbelief but refrained from doing so as her friend put her tea down. Regina gave the two of them a sharp look.
"I'm not sure that's such a good idea," Regina said, more towards Emma than Artura, "Henry has enough issues, he doesn't need you two confusing him."
"All due respect, Madame Mayor, the fact that you've threatened me twice in the last twelve hours makes me wanna stay more," Emma pointed out.
"At least she isn't pressing charges or asking for a restraining order," Artura commented, looking at her tea in thought, "especially in Maine where it's a criminal offense."
"Since when we're apples a threat?" Regina questioned frowning.
"We can read between the lines," Emma answered, "I just want to make sure Henry is all right."
"I hope the lads doing all right, he was such a sweet boy," Artura muttered to herself with a fond smile.
"He's fine, dear," Regina stated, a strained smile on her face, "any problems he has are being taken care of."
"What does that mean?" Emma questioned, her eyes narrowing at the dark-haired woman.
"It means I have him in therapy, it's all under control," Regina answered and Artura caught the tone of her voice, noting that it was darkening, "take my advice, Miss Swan, only one of us knows what's best for Henry."
"Yeah. I'm starting to think you're right about that," Emma stated.
"It's time for you to go," Regina informed her.
"Or what?" Emma questioned and Artura raised her brows.
She would rather not be apart of the pissing contest between the two of them. She picked up her newspaper and went back to reading it. She found that the atmosphere in the diner had been ruined by the two women. Artura wondered if they were aware of how uncomfortable they had made everything. It was highly unlikely. She peeked over the top of her newspaper as Regina leaned forward and placed her hands on the tabletop.
"Don't underestimate me, Miss Swan," Regina said in a low tone, "you have no idea what I'm capable of."
With those words she left the two of them. Artura shared a look with Emma and gave a slight shrug. She didn't even know what was going on with the other woman. It was like she felt threatened by the appearance of Emma. Whish was ridiculous, she was making herself seem abusive and suspicious. It made Emma want to stay and figure out what was really going on. She picked up her cup of tea and took a small sip as a mug of hot chocolate, topped with whipped cream and cinnamon, was placed in front of Emma.
"Wow, someone knows you," Artura teased.
"It's from an admirer," Ruby winked with a grin and Artura motioned towards a booth.
Emma gave them a slightly annoyed look before putting her newspaper down and heading over to the man. Ruby shared a slight grin with Artura and the brit let out a low snicker. It was fun to finally mess with her friend the way she could. It had been years since she messed with someone like that. She put her newspaper down and folded it up before slowly sliding from her booth and over to her friend. She had to show solidarity, after all she was placed in the house of the brave and loyal.
"So, you decided to stay?" The sheriff asked Emma.
"Observant, important for a cop," Emma dryly commented.
"That's good news for our tourist business, bad for our local signage," The Sheriff joked, and Artura pursed her lips in amusement as Emma sent him a look, "It's…It's a joke, because you ran over our sign."
"I've decided on listening in, and not getting involved," Artura quietly said to Ruby, "she's got one hell of a right hook and I don't feel like being hit."
"Has she hit you before?" Ruby asked with a raised brow.
"No, but I've seen it in action," Artura admitted, "and listening for teasing material is great."
Ruby shook her head and Artura let her smile drop for a few seconds as she listened in on the conversation. She liked hearing local gossip and knowing things. It was the quickest way to get someone to do something she needed them to. She sighed quietly and looked at the newspaper in her hand. Yeah, quickest way of getting someone to do something.
"Look, the cocoa was a nice gesture, and I'm impressed that you guessed that I like cinnamon in my chocolate, 'cause most people don't, but I am not here to flirt," Emma informed the Sheriff, and it was obvious the man was completely floored, "so, thank you, but no thank you."
"I didn't send it," The Sheriff stated.
"I did, I like cinnamon, too," Henry stated as he sat up in his booth.
"Look at you, all sneaky," Artura greeted him with a ruffle of the hair, "you were able to sneak past me, nicely done."
"Don't," Emma informed Artura and the blonde shook her head before sharing a smile with Henry, "and you, don't you have school?"
"Duh, I'm ten," Henry stated as he got out of his booth with his backpack slung over his shoulder, "walk me."
"Not a word," Emma sighed as a grinning Artura.
"I wasn't going to say anything," The Blonde stated as she picked up her briefcase from their booth, "I am just enjoying the fact that he somehow has the same ability that I do to be cheeky."
"I think you enjoy it because it's not sent your way," Emma pointed out.
Artura would have to agree with her. They stood next to Henry on opposite sides of him and the ten-year-old seemed to beam up at them. He would be surprised at how fast the British woman was with her limp, but he was used to Mr. Gold. That man could probably move faster than she could, and she was half his age. He felt a sudden warmth around his neck and looked down to see a scarf being placed around it.
"Honestly, it's going to be cold tonight," Artura muttered, and he burrowed into the fabric, it smelt like tea and cinnamon.
"So, what's the deal with you and your mom?" Emma asked.
"It's not about us, it's about her curse," Henry answered, "we have to break it. Luckily, I have a plan. Step one, identification. I call it, "operation cobra"."
"Cobra? That has nothing to do with fairytales," Emma pointed out.
"It works as a codename," Artura nodded, "but I'm curious as to how identification plays a part into this."
"Everyone here is a fairytale character," Henry said, and Artura nodded showing that she was following along, "they just don't know it. That's the curse! Time's been frozen until you got here."
"Make sense," Artura muttered in thought.
"Why do you believe me?" Henry quietly asked as Emma brought out one of the apples.
"Tell you later," Artura whispered back, winking slightly, "might want to stop Emma from eating that apple."
"Hey! Where'd you get that?" Henry asked as he finally noticed the apple.
"Your mom," Emma answered in slight confusion.
"Don't eat that!" Henry exclaimed and Artura watched as the apple bounced out of sight.
"Nice," Artura complimented.
"All right," Emma sighed, "What about their pasts?"
"They don't know," Henry answered glad they were back on the topic of the curse, "it's a haze to them. Ask anyone anything and you'll see."
"So, for decades, people have been walking around, in a haze, not aging, with screwed up memories, stuck in a cursed town that kept them oblivious?" Emma asked.
"See, you're getting it!" Henry grinned as Artura began to think about certain curses where that can happen, "That's why I need you, you're the only one who can stop her curse."
"Because I'm the daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming?" Emma dryly asked.
"Oh…" It clicked for Artura, "Oh….that makes sense actually."
"Why would that make sense?" Emma questioned her friend.
"If we're going by the laws of fairytales, then that would make you the product of true love," Artura answered, "that's some of the strongest magic in fairytales."
"Why do you know this?" Emma couldn't help but question as Henry made a look of complete understanding.
"Mythology was one of my core classes, I remember having to do a paper on this topic," Artura answered, it was skirting around the question but it seemed to work.
Henry then proceeded to show them to removed pages from his book and handed them to Emma. Artura looked over her shoulder and her lips became a thin line. She recognized her friends baby blanket, the pure white one with the stitching of her name in purple. But, it would take more than this to make Emma believe. She'd have to help Henry out with operation Cobra.
"I know the never believe at first, if they did it wouldn't be a very good story," Henry informed Emma, "if you need proof, take them, read them, but whatever you do, don't let her see these pages. They're dangerous, if she finds out who you are then it would be bad."
"I think we've reached our destination," Artura quietly informed Henry, she opened her briefcase and brought out a small notebook, "here, it might just surprise you."
Her scarf had protective charms sewn into it and would keep him safe and warm. That note book would allow him to communicate with her, and was untraceable by outside magic. It was all things she had created to stay safe during the war, and now she'd use it to help Henry out. Henry accepted it and gave it a curious glance before hugging her around the waist. She awkwardly brought a hand up and patted his back. He released her before running to catch up with the other students.
"You ever want to be a mom?" Emma teased.
"Surprisingly, yes," Artura admitted, "never found the right partner."
"It's good to see his smile back," A soft spoken woman said as she stepped up to the two.
"I didn't do anything," Emma stated.
"You stayed," The soft spoken woman countered before tilting her head in thought, "does the Mayor know you're here?"
"She does, and she even threatened us with apples," Artura commented smiling politely, "Artura Pendragon, pleasure to meet you."
"Mary Margaret Blanchard," The soft spoken woman introduced shaking the other woman's hand.
"What's the mayor's deal?" Emma asked, "She's not a great people person, how did she get elected?"
"She's been the mayor for as long as I can remember," Mary Margaret said, frowning slightly as she tried to remember just how long that was, "no one's ever been brave enough to run against her. She inspires quite a bit of…well, fear. I'm afraid I only made things worse by giving Henry that book, and now he thinks she's the Evil Queen."
"I think you did the right thing," Artura admitted, "all children deserve a healthy understanding of fairytales."
"Who does he think you are?" Emma asked, slightly elbowing her friend.
"It's silly…" Mary Margaret trailed off.
"We just got five minutes of silly," Emma pointed out, "lay it on me."
"Snow White," Mary Margaret answered and Emma froze in surprise, "who does he think you are?"
"I'm starting to think he's thinking I'm King Arthur or Merlin," Artura admitted.
"I'm not in the book…" Emma lied, "Can I ask you a favour? Regina mentioned the kids in therapy; do you know where I can find the doctor?"
"While your doing that, I'm going to look into a place to live," Artura informed her smiling slightly, "shouldn't take too long on either of our ends. I'll send you a message with the address on it."
"You two are such an odd pair," Mary Margaret said before realising how that sounded, "I'm sorry."
"Don't be, we know we are," Emma shrugged.
Mary Margaret simply smiled at the two before directing the blondes where they needed to go. Artura looked up at the pawnshop sign and shook her head. She slowly opened the door and noted that the owner was nowhere to be seen. She was sure that the sign said the store was open. Artura double checked and sure enough, it said it was open. How peculiar. She moved through the store, her limp echoing through it as she walked. She felt a strange pull and moved towards a wall. A sword was hanging from a plaque and she couldn't help but find it familiar. A ruby was on the hilt towards the back and she could tell that it helped balance the sword a bit. It's blade was jagged, as though it had seen battle. Where had it come from?
"May I help you?" The soft Glasgow accent startled her and she held in a wince as her leg throbbed in pain.
"Sorry about that," She apologised as she turned to face the owner of the shop, "I was told that you might have property for sale."
"You've come to the right place, dearie," The owner stated.
"It's a pawn shop," Artura dryly pointed out, "most property is for purchase by a realtor."
She wasn't going to apologise for that one. She was right, it was strange that a pawnshop owner was selling property. He gave her a lopsided smirk and she felt the back of her neck heat up before moving closer to the counter as he brought out a large, black binder. He opened it to a specific page and turned it so she could easily see it.
"You must have good instincts when it comes to customers," Artura commented as she looked at the two story house, "because that's exactly what I was looking for."
"Sometimes you can tell by a person," The man said, "I'm afraid I didn't get your name."
"Artura Pendrgaon, I didn't get yours either," Artura said, giving a polite nod of her head.
"Just Mr. Gold," He said, and she felt cheated by that.
"All right, Mr. Gold," Artura started as she brought out an odd chequebook covered by a strange leather that seemed iridescent in the light, "what do I owe you for the house?"
"Three hundred thousand, and eight hundred," Mr. Gold answered.
He watched as she did some mental math before writing the number out on a cheque. Artura wondered about Henry's theory about all the citizens of storybrooke. Just who was Mr. Gold? He had to be someone important, or powerful. How he came to be in possession of so much land, she felt as though she'd never find out. She finished signing the cheque and watched as the red ink slowly dried. Blood, it was one of the few ways he could cash in that cheque and have it work. She wasn't going to say anything about what it was. Not many people understood the importance of blood in magic.
"Thank you," Artura said as she handed the cheque over, "have a pleasant day, Mr. Gold."
"Of course, Miss Pendragon." Mr. Gold stated as he held out some keys.
Artura gave him a strange look before taking the keys and limping out of the shop. She pulled out her phone and quickly sent Emma a message about where the house was. It didn't take her long to get a reply. She moved towards an alleyway and vanished from the spot. It had been silent, and no one was the wiser.
Artura let out a strangled sound as she landed roughly on her bad leg. It had been far too long since she teleported like that. She took in a deep breath before grabbing the key she needed and unlocking the front door. It was freezing inside the house. And filthy. In fact, she wanted to crawl into a bathtub and never come out due to how filthy it was. She closed the door behind her before clicking her fingers together and watching as the dust, and various animal droppings, vanished. She needed to make it a bit more homey before Emma got there. She put her briefcase on the kitchen counters, noting that they had once been a bright pink but had faded to be a dull coral colour. She opened the case with a click and brought a long stick out from under her sleeve. With a flick of it, a dining room table and ten chairs came flying out of it, and a gold lace table cloth. She'd have to do manual work on the paint, or do it while Emma was out. But that would still be too noticeable.
"It's filthy," Emma's voice informed her as she quickly hid her wand and headed out to the foyer.
"But, it's mine," Artura stated, "and a place for you as well, it's got a couple rooms upstairs."
"It'll save me money in the long run," Emma muttered before heading to the dining room to sit at the table, "that shrink was acting like he was hiding something."
"To be fair, you are asking him to break patient confidentiality," Artura pointed out as she checked her fridge and noticed it was lacking, "anything in particular you want for dinner? Because I do need to get some shopping done."
"Yeah, how good of a burger can you make?" Emma asked, and she saw the challenging glint in her friends eyes.
It was a quiet two hours where Emma read the doctors notes while Artura moved about upstairs. She was getting two rooms ready for them and it hadn't taken her long to add silencing charms on both. Those charms would end if there was an emergency. She finished Emma's room, it was in creams and deep reds matching her jacket, before hurrying back to hers and making sure it was how she wanted it. Her doorbell creaking to life caused her to flinch. She headed down the stairs and opened the door to see the Sheriff standing there.
"Can I help you?" Artura questioned.
"May I speak to Emma?" He asked.
"If it's about the do not disturb signs it wasn't me," Emma stated.
"I'm actually here about Dr. Archibald Hopper," The Sheriff stated, "He mentioned you got into a bit of a row with him earlier?"
"No." Emma denied.
"I'm more inclined to believe Emma," Artura stated, "what's the proof?"
"He says you demanded to see Henry's files and when he refused you came back and stole them," The Sheriff sighed.
"He gave them to me," Emma stated, frowning.
"He's telling a different tale, may I check the premises?" The Sheriff questioned, "or do I need to get a search warrant."
"This what ya lookin' for?" Emma questioned as she watched her friend get ready to say come back with a warrant.
"Well, you're very accommodating, but I'm afraid you're under arrest, again," The sheriff stated.
"I'll come with," Artura muttered, "I'll post bail."
The car ride to the police station was awkward. Artura and Emma sat in the back of the squad car. Emma was looking outside the window while Artura stared directly at the sheriff. He would never admit that it scared him a bit. It was the stony indifference of someone that had seen too much. They entered the police ration and Artura flicked her hair back from her eyes, it was starting to get shaggy. She'd have to see about getting it cut soon. Emma was being taken to have her mug shot done and Artura stood to the side. A quiet chime of a bell caught her attention and she dug around her pea coat pocket. She brought out a little black book and gave a slight smile. She find her fountain pen and opened the book.
Can a bird carry a coconut?
Artura would have to show a Henry a Monty Python movie eventually. She bit the inside of her mouth in humour before writing something down. It was going to shock Henry, but it would be worth it. If he could use the journal and have the writing show up on her end, then she had been correct in assuming he shared the same secondary magic she did. She found herself an apprentice and godson.
A swallow can't, too small for that, but a larger bird such as an Eagle can.
Magic is real?!
Congrats, Henry, you're a wizard.
"You do realise this is a set up, right?" Artura asked the Sheriff as she closed her book.
"And whom, may I ask, is setting her up?" He questioned as he had Emma turn to the side.
"Allegedly? The mayor," Artura commented in a dry tone, "Y'know I think she's going to be fairly surprised when someone runs against her in the upcoming elections for that seat."
"You think you could win?" He asked and she gave him a secretive smile before turning to Emma.
"I'm surprised the Doctor lied about this, he seemed pretty against the idea of such a thing," Artura stated, ignoring the question completely.
"That woman has the whole town afraid of her," Emma grumbled as she put down the mug shot sign, "she has to have something on him, like she does for everyone else."
"Except us," Artura stated before frowning, "for now."
"Don't jinx us," Emma warned and the Sheriff was bemused by the two friends.
"Regina May be a touch intimidating, but I don't think she's go as far as a frame-job," He informed them, "it would be easy to connect her to it."
"What doesn't she have her hands in?" Emma questioned as she was allowed to put her jacket back on.
"Well, she's the Mayor," He answered and Artura rolled her eyes at that, "she has her hands in everything."
"Someone who has their hands in everything soon find that their focus should've been elsewhere," Artura stated, her voice was slightly ominous.
"Reminded of someone?" The Sheriff questioned.
"Just an old Headmaster of mine, man held too many positions and lost sight of what was important," Artura truthfully answered, "he never did repent."
"Sounds like he was interesting," He muttered before turning towards Emma.
"Hey!" Henry's shout startled everyone and Artura greeted him with a wave.
She got a stomach of energetic kid before he quickly change to hug his mom. Emma grunted quietly before awkwardly placing her hand on his head. He had been worried since Artura hadn't communicated past telling him he was a wizard.
"Henry? What are you doing here?" The Sheriff questioned.
"His mother told him what happened," Mary Margaret said as she hurried into the room, she sounded out of breath.
"Of course she did," Emma sighed before turning to Henry, "Henry, I don't know what she said-"
"You're a genius!" Henry cut her off with a grin.
"What?" Emma and Artura asked in unison.
"I know what you were up to," Henry said before lowering his voice, "for operation cobra."
"I'm sorry, I'm a bit lost," The Sheriff stated, frowning at the group.
"Don't worry about it," Artura informed him, "I believe I need to settle bail for my friend, lead the way."
He did and she limped behind him. The sheriff was nervous about the woman, he knew to trust those instincts. They screamed at him that she was a mix of Gold and Regina, but had a moral compass. He cleared his throat before letting her know the bail amount. She took out a chequebook from her pocket and a pen with deep red ink that he suspected was blood. He…he didn't want to know.
"Why did you come here?" Emma asked Mary Margaret.
"I…I trust you," The kind woman answered frowning slightly as she helped to remove the handcuffs.
"Okay," Emma said, not knowing how to move past that, "can I ask a small favour?"
"Sure," Mary Margaret nodded.
Artura gathered that Emma went to deal with Regina and left her with Mary Margaret. It was strange paint shopping with a woman she barely knew, but she'd move past it. After all, this was her bests friends cursed mother. It was such an odd predicament. And incredibly awkward as they both looked at different colours.
"Do you see anything in particular you like?" Mary Margaret awkwardly asked.
"I mean…I sort of like this powdered blue," Artura admitted, "but I also like the different dark reds, what about you?"
"Me?" Mary Margaret asked, her brows raising in surprise.
"Yeah, sometimes a second or third opinion is always welcomed," Artura confirmed, smiling slightly.
"I'd go with the blue if you want a nice sitting room, but the reds would work well in a study," Mary Margaret said in thought, "you could always do a cream colour for a kitchen, or an even lighter blue."
"I like how you think," Artura said and Mary Margaret smiled in response.
They got the paint and Mary Margaret was welcomed into the house. She looked around with a smile and spotted a picture that was sitting up on the mantle in a separate room. She walked up to it and looked at it. Artura stood amongst a group of teenagers wearing smiles. It was the oddest thing, but it looked as though they were carrying instruments. Ones she wasn't fully familiar with. In front of the teenagers was a man so short he had to stand on a box to be seen. She heard the semi-familiar limping gait pass by her and couldn't help but want to ask something.
"Who are these people?"
Artura paused for a few seconds and she could see the gears in her head turning. A sad expression appeared on the younger woman's face as she slowly limped over and looked at the picture. Mary Margaret couldn't see it moving, the curse being what it was, but she could. The figures in the photograph perked up and waved at her, a younger version of herself grinned as well.
"Old classmates," Artura finally said, her voice barely above a whisper, "most of them are gone now, the professor and two other people are all that's left of us."
"What happened?" Mary Margaret asked, she heard a quiet sigh.
"There was an attack on the school I went to, some kind of riot," Artura said, using the story that her community had come up with, "a lot of lives had been lost that day…but best not to dwell on it."
"You're a lot like Emma," Mary Margaret noticed and Artura nodded her agreement.
"We're both loners, guess that's why we clicked so well," Artura stated before turning her attention towards the kitchen, "does Granny's do delivery?"
Mary Margaret smiled at that and soon they had food on the way. Emma came into the house with a frown on her face and Artura gave her a raised brow in response. It wasn't everyday that Emma was angry enough for it to show on her face. It had to be the work of one evil Queen.
"Let me guess, Regina?" Artura asked, "Anything a cup of tea can help?"
"Got anything stronger?" Emma asked as she plopped down at the dining table.
"I think I've got an old bottle of whiskey an old colleague gave me years ago," Artura smiled, "I'll be back, you want anything, Mary Margaret?"
"Tea's fine," Mary Margaret smiled.
Artura spared the picture on the mantle one last glance before heading up to her room where her briefcase was. She had work to do, and she didn't know if she had enough time to do it. There was a small window of opportunity, and she was slowly losing it. She found the bottle of whiskey and shook it, there was plenty left for her friend. She'd have to order more. That caused her to think. Would owl orders even work because of the curse? The newspaper was easily delivered, but would heavier packages be doable? She'd have to try.
"It's going to be like old times," Artura muttered before standing up and limping downstairs.
Artura would have to be a bit more careful than she usually was. Everything could go to shit if she wasn't. Now, she needed to get Gold on their side. He would be a much better person to have in their corner when it came to going against Regina. She inwardly smiled, yes she could figure that out. The only issue was Emma accepting a job for her. Since when did she want to be part of the police force? It didn't matter, she could still move about with ease.