Y'all know the drill. we don't own any OUAT characters. Also, since this is her chapter, Amy had something to say to y'all
Hello Readers, this is Amy. I'm going to apologize in advance for the confusion. I did my best to explain the different illusions and where they originated from in the moment but, if you have any questions, please leave a comment and I will do my best to explain further as long as it doesn't infringe on the person's privacy. Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoy as I fall further into insanity!
As always, if you have a comment or question for Amy I will pass it on.
"…No, the Master would prefer the red roses. It's tradition." Cogsworth guarded the vase of red roses placed in the center of the table.
"Yes, but sometimes the Master is too stiff. A change would do him good. Yellow roses are much better." Lumiere shuffled around the wide clock burning him as he did so to put the roses in the vase.
"Ow! No. Do you want the Master to be mad? He'll melt you and put you in a vase of your own and me…" The clock trailed off shuddering. "Lumiere! Don't you!"
"What's wrong with Yellow?" Zach asked, sitting at the end of the table playing cards with Helena.
"What's wrong with Yellow, Master Blake, is that it is completely against…" Cogsworth waved his hands to fight off Lumiere's yellow flowers, the petals fell everywhere, "against the Master's way of decorating. He's very particular."
"And cross. He needs a change to lighten him up a little bit." Lumiere summoned more yellow roses, hopping around the vase to exchange the floral decor.
Helena played her card and commented, "Or it will make him crosser."
"Exactly!" Cogsworth huffed, crossing his arms, satisfied as he removed the yellow roses.
"Helena?" Chip hopped onto the table, "Why can't they have both roses? Or two bouquets?"
"Yes, that would be the smarter option. Answer is they're petty." Helena responded to the cup. Helena won the hand and took her winnings. Zach didn't really care, he was being thoroughly entertained by these two magical antiques.
"I'm not petty!" Cogsworth said indignantly, "It's that oaf who's petty!"
"I'd be very happy to compromise if you weren't so stiff." Lumiere argued.
Cogsworth's face became red from anger, "If I wasn't so stiff! Please! You the one who-"
He was cut off by Mrs. Potts' shrill whistle. Helena and Zach covered their ears. Mrs. Potts hopped onto the table and over to an ashamed clock and candle, "That's enough from you two! You have been arguing over that vase for the past hour! My children and guests should not have to listen to the two of you! How about no flowers and you two can go to separate wings of the castle. I don't want to see your faces for the rest of the day! Go!"
Cogsworth glared at Lumiere, "This is all your fault!"
Lumiere stuck his tongue out at him and hopped off the table. Both of them left the dining room sulkily.
"Awww! But that was my entertainment." Zach complained, leaning back in his chair.
"Find a new one. Also, I won." Helena told him. She turned to Mrs. Potts, "Do you need any help in the kitchen?"
"Certainly, dear! But, have you seen the Mistress? She hasn't gotten her breakfast yet." Mrs. Potts told her.
"No, I haven't. Knowing her, she's probably asleep. I can wake her up." Helena offered.
Mrs. Potts shook her spout, "No. Let the dear sleep. She's had a few restless nights."
Helena nodded, "I understand that. Zach, do something useful. Get some flowers or something." She ordered her brother then followed her into the kitchen.
Amy was reading a novel sitting on her bed to give her brain a break from the more heavy research books. She hadn't slept in a few days but she was not going to tell anyone why. She preferred to keep that to herself, for now. As of recently, she definitely felt like a burden. Although, Belle apparently noticed her absence, because she entered the room, "Rosette, darling. I've been looking for you."
"Sorry… I was just getting away from the noise for a while." Amy replied, hoping that would be enough.
Belle knew better, "Really? Is that all? You look exhausted, sweetheart."
Amy subconsciously cringed at the 'sweetheart', not because of Belle, but because it was what Dylan had called her at one point typically when she was in the most trouble with him, like when she called him while driving, and it would send her into a fit of rebellious giggles every time. Looking back she was disgusted at it. She honestly was still disgusted with herself when she found herself giggling over Zach. But currently, other thoughts were preoccupying her mind, Why do I always need someone to talk to? I'm FINE! Absolutely fine! 'No, you aren't.' Helena, please, you're downstairs. Also, yes I am fine. 'You of all people need social interaction, you can hardly stand ten minutes without it.' Yes, but now you get a break. You're welcome! I will get my social time with the characters in this book. 'Or, you know Belle's here. Your Mom.' Yes… fine. 'Great! Tell her about the nightmares.' NO! 'Amy….tell her.' But… 'Tell her.'
Amy sighed in resignation, receiving a confused and slightly concerned look from Belle. "Are you sure you're okay? Here, talk to me." Belle sat on the edge of her bed, placing her hand on Amy's leg to comfort her and allow her to open up.
"So… I've been having nightmares… of Papa… again." Amy stuttered, "He's there, over and over again with that… knife… dagger… thing… and he's yelling. But, then he changes and he's nicer but there's still a hint of condescension." She paused in thought, choking on her words, Does he even love me? "Mama?"
"I'm here." Belle reassured her, "It's okay."
"I feel broken." Amy whispered under her breath. She stared past her feet at the floor. Only a name slipped out of her shaking breath, "John? John?"
"I'm right here." John entered the room wearing his gray hooded jacket, jeans, and work boots. His red hair and blue-green eyes, were vibrant against the gray. He opened his arms to her.
Amy jumped off the bed into his arms, sobbing, "I'm sorry, John. I'm so sorry." She breathed in his scent, calming herself, "You're here. You're really here." He held her tight, not ready to let go, not yet.
Once Amy had calmed herself, he released her but they each gripped their forearms, "There's no need to be sorry, Amy."
Amy nodded, "I know, but I left you with her. I… You are so creative and brilliant and she… please, don't let her take that from you. And after everything you've done for me, I'm sorry, I couldn't protect you."
John looked her in the eyes and gave her a reassuring smile, "Amy, it was my decision. If I wanted to fight her, I could have. But, I couldn't put you or me through that. You've been through enough. Anyhow, we lived in different states. It wasn't going to work out."
"I know. You're right. But, I've missed you!" Amy told him and smiled.
"I've missed you too." They stood there in a calm silence for a few minutes, "How's the book coming?"
"Great!" Amy told him, clapping ecstatically, "Finished it a few months ago! Maria and Jonathon are happily engaged. Charles is finally gone, happily killed him off."
John rolled his eyes, "Of course you did."
"Duh!" Amy laughed then playfully saluted, "So Captain, how's life treating you? Gotten anywhere in your book? Or wait, have you published your poetry? Please say yes!" Amy jumped up and down giddily.
"Well, Wanda…" John was about to begin using his nickname for her but was cut off by someone knocking at the door.
"Sorry, John. One second. Come in!" Amy yelled.
Elizabeth entered, "Amy! I've been at the door for ages! My hubby had to let me in." She referred to Helena.
"Elizabeth!" Amy hugged her closest friend, "I'm so sorry! I'm kind of a few floors up."
"Yes, and Rumple's daughter? Really? I mean, it was bad when you had that crush on him but seriously? Why? Killian would have been better." Elizabeth complained. She and Amy sat on the bed. John busied himself in his drawings or poems, crisscrossed on the floor.
Amy thought first of her current father, then the hot Irish pirate, "One, don't remind me of that stage. Ugh! But, yes, I agree. Definitely agree! But, here we are. Dark One's daughter at your service."
"Uh huh! Girl! Your room is amazing and the books! Books! I need to see the library NOW! Like ASAP." Elizabeth got hyper over books and had ever since Amy met her. She was Belle and Hermione in every group ever. The funny thing to Amy was her current friend group thought that she was Hermione but, by comparison to Elizabeth, she was Ron.
"Alright! Let's go!" Amy drug her friend to the door and then turned to John, "Want to come?"
"Sure! Let me just pick this up." John put his paper back into his folder and stood up ready to go.
"Great!" Amy and Elizabeth ran to the library, John right behind them.
Elizabeth squealed, "Books! All the beautiful books! I could spend hours here! And oh look!" She pointed out the window, "Pretty sky!"
Amy laughed at her friend's outburst. Elizabeth ran from shelf to shelf gathering a collection of books to read. Amy sat on the couch next to John, watching him draw as he geeked out about it. Elizabeth called her attention, "Amy!"
Amy enjoyed her friend's enthusiasm as she was carrying way too many books that threatened to fall, "What?"
"I can't believe, I didn't realize this!" Elizabeth's face lit up, "I don't have to buy any of them!"
She laughed, "No, you don't!" Amy turned back to John's drawing. "Is that?"
"Loki and his wolf son, Fenrir." John told her as she gave him a quizzical look. He rolled his eyes, laughing, "Yes, also the werewolf that bit Remus."
"That's awesome!" Amy told him, "You still owe me that Loki helmet, by the way."
"And you owe me fudge." John counteracted, handing her the picture.
"Fine fair." Amy surveyed the skillfulness of her friend. The picture portrayed Loki perfectly. It could have been Hiddleston's replica. The black wolf was life-like and very detailed. The strokes were lightly drawn and shaded to make it so. Amy stared at the picture in awe, "Wow! It's beautiful!"
"Thanks." John smiled. Amy handed the picture back to him and he put it in his folder, "Glad you like it."
"I like that you gave the wolf green eyes. That was a cool addition and makes sense." Amy commented, enjoying his happiness. He always seemed to underplay his work and in that, they were similar, which made it all the better when he would appreciate it and laugh about it too.
John laughed, "Well, it's Loki's son of course he has green eyes. Oh! What if I gave him a gold collar? Like a necklace. He's got to have Loki's sense of style right?"
"Definitely!" Amy agreed as she watched him sketch the collar on with a gold pencil.
"What about my children?" Loki appeared next to John with a book which he closed, "I only have two. And you, sir, are sitting next to one of them." Good to know this is the father Loki and not the fiance/husband. Amy recalled the two separate imaginary worlds with her two different relationships with Loki.
"Loki?" John asked as both he and Amy moved down the couch. "She's not your daughter. I think she's currently Rumple's daughter. But, from my world, she's Mr. Kelly's daughter."
Loki raised an eyebrow at him. But they both paused when a stack of books fell, "I'm good! It's fine! Everything's fine!" Elizabeth peaked over her books, "What is Loki doing here?"
"I am here, mortal, to retrieve my daughter and take her back to New Asgard. Where I am king." Loki told her. Right, Thor gave him the throne after he went to marry Jane. 'Really? He just gave him the throne?' Yes! Thor didn't want it. Loki repented and he had me as his stand-in queen. So yes! Thor handed him the throne. 'Alright. Whatever. Continue.' When Amy exited her thoughts she found that Loki had turned to John, scepter in hand, "Now, you have a heart?"
"No!" Amy blasted him across the room with her ice magic… or Natasha's ice magic, her character as Loki's daughter… and he crashed into the bookshelf. There was a thundering noise as the books fell on him.
"NO! Not the books!" Elizabeth screamed in horror at the pile of books.
"Under no circumstances are you putting him under mind control!" Amy moved to protect John.
"Are you defying me? My own daughter?" Loki asked as he magically removed the books. When did Natasha not fight back?
"...Yes." Amy replied hesitatingly, Coward, definitely Loki's daughter. Not Sif's though.
Loki advanced on her menacingly. Amy gulped, "Hehe… Hi Father." Run! Amy listened to the voice in her head and ran out of the library with Loki chasing her. Or at least she thought he was until she ran into his chest. Dang it! He transported.
"We're going home." Loki decided.
"You're not taking my wife anywhere!" A man with black, curly hair and blue eyes dressed in a white and blue suit very similar to Charming's in style.
"Neal?" Amy asked him and herself. She whispered under her breath so the other men couldn't hear, "So, that's what you look like. Good to know."
"She's my daughter, you mortal scum! She was never wed to you." Loki exclaimed, "Come, Freya." 'What's with the sudden name change?' It was my Asgardian name. 'Ah…'
"Maria!" Neal yelled, referring to Maria Charming nee. Gold, "You'll be okay."
Amy nodded, trying to loosen Loki's grip. Loki placed her behind him to deal with Neal. Amy took a moment to look at her delicate surroundings of artifacts and paintings. I hope we don't break anything in this corridor. Papa will kill me.
Loki attacked Neal and Neal defended. Neal yelled, "Maria! Get to safety!"
I'm Maria Gold. Don't I have like four superpowers? Why would I leave? Amy created a wave that sprayed all its force at Loki knocking him down for a second. Loki got up and turned to her. Amy created a fireball and threw it at him. She prepared another one, but Loki lowered his weapon and put his hands up. "If you do not want to leave with me, I will leave you in peace. I will not force you to return. I was just trying to protect you."
"I want to stay with him, but you may stay with us. If you'd wish, father." Amy offered, lowering her guard.
Loki nodded, "I will stay."
"You want him to stay with us?" Neal asked her from his position on the floor.
"After having Rumplestiltskin as your father-in-law, he can't be that bad." Amy reasoned with Neal.
Neal got up and approached Amy, "Anything for my wife." He pulled her close by the waist and kissed her.
For a moment, it suddenly got very dark, but then the light shone through again, "Odd, do you think Papa returned?" Amy asked Neal.
Neal shook his head, "I don't know. That doesn't seem right." Amy felt a sudden headache come on and reached for her forehead. "Darling, are you alright?"
"Yes. I'm fine." Amy replied.
"Maria!" Sabrina came running to them followed by Anthony. Neal and Amy turned towards them. "Maria, we did it!"
"Did what?" Amy asked, confused, her headache increasing.
"Zach. We broke his curse!" Sabrina told her.
"Zach." Amy breathed. Neal looked at her confused. Amy felt her world swirl, "Wonderful!"
"We're going to celebrate! Helena's making a cake!" Anthony told her.
"Great! I'll be right there! I just need a moment." Amy felt herself become lightheaded. The room behind Neal began to blur. She blinked repeatedly to regain her focused vision but it barely worked. I need to be alone. Sleep.
"Do you want me to stay with you?" Neal asked.
"No, I'm okay. Go ahead. I'm just… I think I left something in my cell. I'll be back."
Neal nodded and went with Anthony, Sabrina, Elizabeth, John, and Loki. Amy found herself descending the stairs as she did so she felt her headache slowly pass, to be replaced with a buckling weight of emotion. She leaned against the wall and wept. Why am I crying? All my friends are here.
"Hello?! Hello! Is someone else here?" A man's voice yelled. Amy neared the voice, it was coming from inside a cell. "Hello! Someone? Anyone? My wife, she's about to give birth to a child! I need to get out of here! Please!"
"Yes, I'm here." Amy said, peering in through the peephole. She found the other Prince Charming, Thomas, in the cell.
"Thank you! Thank you!" He relaxed a little bit, "Please, let me out."
Amy felt a tear fall down her face, "I'm sorry, I- I can't. I'm just as trapped as you. I might anger him."
"Anger? Anger who?" Thomas asked, "The Dark One? He's trapped. He can't hurt you. Not anymore. Please, just let me out. I can help you."
"No. You can't. We can't escape. The castle. Its powers brought you here. We can't pass its borders. I'm sorry! I'm sorry, Thomas!"
"Maria! Are you coming?" Neal yelled.
"Coming!" Amy yelled back, "I'm sorry. I can't help you." She turned and fled up the dungeon stairs.
"No! Maria! Come back! My baby! My wife! They need me! Haven't you heard? A curse is coming! Maria!" Thomas yelled after her.
I can't. I can't save them. Amy forced aside her oncoming tears to join the party. Everything's fine. I'm safe.