Chapter 36: Tiny
January 2, 2012
ISC Storybrooke Facility
Mr. Gold knocked on the door as Faith and Emma answered it.
"Ready to go, Your Highness…Miss Swan?" Gold asked.
"Almost," Emma answered as Gold stepped through the door.
Henry came down the stairs with a suitcase and his coat. "Do you think we'll be cold where we're going, or warm?" he asked.
"I think layers are always a good idea," Emma said.
Gold looked at the two women before him. "I thought the terms of our agreement were quite clear. You owe me a favor…I made an exception for Miss White to allow Miss Leha…
"Mills-White," Faith corrected.
"Mills-White to come in her place," Gold continued. "But the original deals were for you two alone."
"I'm not leaving Henry here with Cora lurking about, so either we both go, or we both stay," Emma's tone showed there was no room for argument.
Gold let out a defeated sigh leaning against his cane. "Then, we'll have to purchase another plane ticket, won't we?" he said as Mary Margaret walked up to Henry and helped her grandson on with his coat.
Emma, Henry and Faith all focused on the man at the mention of flying. "Wait. We're flying?" Faith asked.
"Don't worry, I'm covering expenses. Even the new ones." Gold let his face relax looking less angry than before.
David who had overheard to conversation came down the stairs. "You're a real gentleman, aren't you?" he said as he stopped in front of Gold, towering over the older man. "Alright, Gold, you're going out there with my family." He looked at Faith. "Yes, that includes you, Faith. You are after all Mary Margaret's sister. Which means you along with Buffy and Dawn are part of my family as well." He looked back at Gold. "Just know, if anything happens to them…"
"Then you'll what?" Gold interrupted. "Cross the town line? And David Nolan will hunt me down in his animal rescue van?"
"How about you will have two pissed off Slayers who can cross the town line," Buffy said as she and Dawn came up beside their brother-in-law. "Hot on your trail. So, I highly suggest you take care of our family."
"I promise no harm will come to your family," Gold said looking at Buffy. "After all, we have a deal."
"Rumpelstiltskin," Faith said. "I have a question real quick." She looked at Buffy having decided to reveal to her last remaining sister what she had dreamed. She looked back at Gold. "I've been having strange dreams. Do you know why that would be?"
"And you are certain they are not the result of Pinocchio's spell?" Gold asked as Faith nodded. "Or the Slayer side of the three of you?" Again, Faith nodded. "Let me take a wild stab in the dark then. Your seeing yourself talking about or being in relationships with your sisters who aren't your sisters, unknown males in your life and other things?"
"Yes," Faith answered.
Gold nodded as he looked at Dawn. "Your responsible, my dear." He looked back at Faith. "When I sent the three of you into this world. I utilized the multiversal energy of your sister's powers. What you have been seeing are alternate versions of yourself from a few alternate realities." He looked at Buffy and Dawn. "You two will likely have these dreams as well. But remember what you see there has no bearing here."
"Okay, two questions," Dawn said. "You're saying I've had the Key since birth?"
"Yes," he answered as he looked at Buffy and Dawn. "The monks told you two many lies to protect the Key. I have my suspicions on how they found out, but they did know about it. Personally, I would never trust a monk or a fairy, like the Blue Fairy. A Vengeance demon on the other hand, I would trust, because they know how to get things done. I expect when you are at full strength, Your Highness, your Key powers will possibly make you more powerful than even I am."
"The other question," Dawn continued. "Why in other universes would we be so different? I mean wouldn't we be sisters in every universe?"
"No one truly knows, why each universe is the way it is. Some are close to our own, others are radically different," Gold said. "I personally think there could be something on the horizon, a multiversal shattering event. And some possibly higher being is seeing what might work to prevent it. Hence why each of your lives in each universe does not exactly match your lives in this one. But that is just speculation on my part. I have no proof that is the case."
Road out of Storybrooke
Once in the car Faith and Emma exchanged a look wondering when the man was planning on cluing them in on where they were going. Just as one of them was about to ask Henry beat them to the punch. "So…Where are we going?"
"Logan International Airport," Gold stated like it was obvious.
"That's convenient," Faith said as Gold looked in the rearview mirror at her. "I needed to make a stop either to or from our destination in Boston anyways."
"What for?" Gold wondered.
"I just received an inheritance from someone I loved very much," Faith answered as she looked at Emma. "It won't take long. I just need to check on the state of the house and how much is in my bank account."
Gold thought about it for a moment. "A quick stop."
The car went back into silence for a few more moments until Emma noticed the man tense as they neared the town line. "You really think that shawl's going to work?"
"Well, if it doesn't, and I revert to my cursed self, we're all going to have some problems," his voice was cold enough to send a shiver down Emma and Henry's spines. "It'll work."
Everyone held their breath as they crossed over the town line waiting to see what their fate would be. Gold stayed silent his face giving nothing away.
"So?" Faith asked.
After another moment of silence, the man looked in the rearview mirror at Faith with a smirk. "My name is Rumpelstiltskin. And we're going find my son."
ISC Storybrooke Facility
Mary Margaret sat in the kitchen as David joined her wearing two gun holsters. "You like the holster, huh?" she asked.
"I miss carrying a sword," David said. "Hmm…Do you think Buffy would let me carry the scythe?"
"I doubt it," Mary Margaret said. "After all it's a Slayer's weapon."
"True, but she let Emma carry it before she and Emma gave Faith and Henry true love's kiss," David reminded his wife.
"True," Mary Margaret said. "You would have to ask her. Anyways it looks good on you."
David nodded. "Come on. Buffy and Dawn have Leroy and the dwarves on Cora watch. They've got eyes everywhere, but they could use our help."
"Really?" Mary Margaret said. "How hard can it be to find a powerful sorceress in a small town?"
"Difficult," Joyce told her niece as she walked into the kitchen. "Even though I am back to full powers, Snow. I am having trouble sensing either Regina or Cora's energies. They could be cloaking themselves."
They walked out of the kitchen and through the mansion to the front door. As Joyce opened the door to lead the way out, they found Regina standing in front of them preparing to knock.
"Not as hard as you thought, Joyce," David said.
"Regina," Joyce said as she glared at her former sister-in-law.
"I know you think I'm responsible for poor Dr. Hopper's death," Regina told them.
"He's…Alive," David told her.
"What?" Regina said in mock surprise.
"You were framed." Mary Margaret said.
"Who would do that?" Regina wondered.
"Cora," Joyce answered. "She's here."
"But…But that's…That's…Not possible," Regina stuttered.
"When we found a way back, so did she," Mary Margaret explained. "We were wrong…And we're so sorry."
"I know," Regina said with a nod. "But, if Cora's here, then we're all in danger. Please, you have to let me see my children. I can protect Elizabeth, Faith, Dawn and Henry."
"You are not the only one who can protect them from your mother," Joyce said.
"Anyways they're not here," Mary Margaret said.
"What?" Regina asked in surprise.
"Mr. Gold asked Emma and Lizzie to help him find his son," Mary Margaret explained. "Lizzie couldn't go because of her duties as Sheriff. So, Faith offered and he accepted. They left town about an hour ago with Henry."
"And Buffy and Dawn are out looking for you and Cora," Joyce added.
"And no one told me?" Regina asked fuming.
"You were cloaked. I've tried finding your magical energies. So, did, Dawn. Neither of us have been able to," Joyce told the woman. "We didn't know where you were."
Regina looked at her daughter's adopted mother and realized that Dawn had not told them about seeing her with Cora. She wondered why.
"And as far as Henry is concerned, to be honest, Regina," Mary Margaret said. "I don't think Emma has to run anything by you."
"Neither do Buffy, Dawn or Faith," Joyce added. "After all they are all grown women."
"No, I suppose they don't," Regina reluctantly agreed as she turned and headed down the walk as Joyce closed the door.
"That went well," Mary Margaret said.
"Better than you think," Joyce agreed. "We better join Buffy and Dawn, and help them find Cora."
Storybrooke Docks
Buffy, Dawn, Joyce, David, Mary Margaret and Hook stood looking for Hook's ship.
"You didn't even ask me about my recovery," Hook said, walking with an obvious limp.
"How are you feeling, Hook?" Mary Margaret asked.
"Come closer and feel for yourself," he replied.
"You want to lose the other hand?" David asked after he knocked Hook to the ground.
"Where's the ship?" Buffy asked. "We know it's here, Faith told me."
Joyce closed her eyes and sent out her magical senses. "I can feel that it is cloaked nearby," she said. She opened her eyes and looked at Buffy and Dawn. "By Cora. With time I could find it." She looked at Hook. "It will be faster since you already would know where it is."
Hook nodded as he looked at the sorceress. "Follow me," he told them. "I don't know what you expect to find. Cora won't be there."
"Well, maybe she left something behind that will tell us where she went," Dawn suggested, who with Emma's absence was once again Acting Deputy. "Let's go."
They soon arrived at the pier where the ship was anchored. Hook walked up the invisible gangway and disappeared as everyone else followed.
"I'm just curious," Dawn said. "Could you sail back?"
"To the Enchanted Forest?" Hook questioned as Dawn nodded. "No. To travel between lands, we would need a portal. Care to open one?"
"I don't have enough control over my magic to do that yet," Dawn said reluctantly. "I'm not at full strength."
"And if Rumpelstiltskin is correct about you being stronger magically than even, he is," Joyce added looking at her youngest daughter. "It could be some time before you're at full strength. Maybe even years."
"What do you know about Cora's plans?" David asked.
"Cora's not the most communicative of lasses," Hook admitted. "I will tell you this – whatever malice she has in mind, her weapon of choice is in here." He gestured toward a tarp covered box.
Buffy and Dawn pulled back the tarp, revealing a cage. Inside, was the giant that Faith had faced in the Enchanted Forest, shrunken and asleep.
"Who's that?" Mary Margaret asked.
"The giant," Hook replied looking at Mary Margaret and Buffy pointedly. "The one…"
"Faith faced," Buffy and Mary Margaret said in realization.
"Whatever she intends to do with him, it's important," Hook told them.
"Oh, I think you know exactly what she intends," David said looking at the pirate. "You're holding out."
"Well, either have your lovely wife or your sisters-in-law torture it out of me, which I promise will be fun for all—" Hook told the prince.
David grabbed Hook by the throat and shoved him against the wall. No one threatened his family. Not his wife or her sisters. He knew the devastating effect it would have on Mary Margaret if Buffy, Dawn or Faith would be hurt. "Why don't you and I have some fun?" he asked.
"Is he being protective of me and Buffy?" Dawn whispered. The question was for Mary Margaret but she said it to both of her sisters.
"I believe," Mary Margaret said. "That he does not want to see me hurt. And he probably surmises what would happen if I lost the two of you and Faith again." She looked at her sisters. "It took me awhile to get over your abduction the first time. Of course, part of that was a result of Regina blaming me for it."
"I don't know what she's planning. Why don't you wake the bloody giant and ask him yourself?" Hook said as he extended the key to the cage.
Buffy took the key and unlocked the cage. She crouched down and touched the giant on the shoulder and gently shook him awake. "Hey…It's alright. You're safe now," she told him as he crawled out of the cage. "What's your name? I'm Buffy White."
"Anton," Anton replied. "Where's that witch?"
"Gone," Joyce replied.
"What did she do?" Anton said looking first at the group around him and then at himself. "She made me small."
"Come on. Let's get you out of here." David offered.
"You," Anton said looking at David.
"Me?" David asked confused.
"You!" Anton punched David in the face, sending him flying backwards.
"David!" Mary Margaret cried.
"Hey!" Buffy and Dawn said as they stepped between Anton and their family.
Anton lunged at the Slayers. He then noticed on Dawn's hip was a gun. Buffy followed his gaze. "Dawn, why are you?" she asked her sister.
"We're cops, Buffy," Dawn said as Anton circled her and Buffy. "I'm not going to shoot anyone. I don't like them anymore than you do. But they are useful to get people's attention."
"I guess you have a point," Buffy agreed as Mary Margaret shot an arrow past Anton's head.
"Step away from my sisters!" Mary Margaret cried.
"You may have me outnumbered, but this isn't over," Anton said looking at David. "You think I forgot what you did? I didn't. You'll pay for your evil. I promise! You'll pay!" He turned and fled the ship.
Storybrooke Hospital
Belle sat watching television in a common room as Willow and Ruby walked through the door carrying a basket.
"Hey," Ruby said as she smiled at Belle. "You don't remember me, do you?"
Belle shook her head. "Sorry, no, I…I don't."
Ruby smiled. "I'm Ruby and this is my adopted daughter, Willow," she said introducing them. "You used to come into our Granny's diner a lot. Before."
"We thought you could use some comforts from home," Willow added.
"You were always telling me about Jules Verne, so I brought you my favorite–The Mysterious Island," Ruby concluded.
"Thank you," Belle said accepting the items. "Were…were we really friends?"
"Yeah, we were," Ruby answered.
"I've only known you for a couple weeks," Willow admitted. "But mom, she's known you for a lot longer. She actually introduced you to me."
"Then tell me the truth," Belle pleaded. "Before I was brought here, I was hurt. I was bleeding, and then this man came. And he…he healed me. Then, I saw him hold a ball of fire in his hands. How… How is that possible?"
Ruby glanced at Willow and shook her head, indicating it would be better not tell Belle, not yet. She looked back at Belle and smiled. "The nurse said that the tranquilizers can give you wicked nightmares."
"No," Belle countered. "I know what I saw. And I don't need any more tranquilizers or—"
"Belle…" Ruby started.
"Mom, don't," Willow said. "You didn't want me telling her about magic so it wouldn't freak her out. And now you just freaked her way out by using a name she doesn't remember."
"Why does everyone keep calling me that?" Belle asked as a nurse entered the room to restrain her. "I don't… I'm telling you, I don't…"
"Take it easy. Take it easy," the nurse said as she sat Belle down in a chair and injected a sedative into Belle's arm.
"Has she been like this the whole time?" Ruby asked.
The nurse nodded reluctantly. "More or less. We've had to keep her heavily sedated. Okay, let's get you back to bed."
"No…" Belle sobbed.
"Here we go. There," the nurse said as he escorted Belle out of the room.
"I feel bad for her," Willow said with a sigh. "To lose her entire memories."
"I know, so do I," Ruby said.
"Everything okay in here?"
Mother and Daughter turned and saw Greg had entered the room unobserved. "Everything's fine, Mr. Mendell," Ruby said. "She's alright. How are you?"
Greg smiled. "Much improved."
"Well, then, rest up," Ruby said. "The sooner you're better, the sooner you can be out of our quiet little town."
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
"Is that what you thought about me, before you bit me, Mom?" Willow asked. "Someone you didn't want in town?"
Ruby sighed as she and Willow walked out of the hospital. "As much as I hate to say it, Willow, yes. But you have to remember, I didn't know you back then as anything other than Dawn's friend. The only reason I even agreed to let you watch me that night was because Dawn vouched for you and explained about Oz. But now, Willow, you are my daughter. And after everything your birth parents did, I'm not leaving you. Wherever I am, you will always have a home with me."
Willow smiled as she pulled Ruby into her arms and held her. "Thanks, Mom," she said.
Granny's Diner
"David," Mary Margaret said as she, Joyce, David and Dawn sat in the booth having lunch. Not far from them sat Buffy alone, she was waiting for Mulan to show up. "Did that giant just say he'll make you pay? For what?"
David shrugged. "I have no idea," he admitted. "I've never seen that guy before."
"He knows you though, Charming," Dawn said.
David shook his head. "No. It's not about me. He just thinks it is."
"The question then is why," Joyce said.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
Mulan smiled as she sat opposite Buffy. "Hello, Buffy," she said.
"Hey," Buffy said as she leaned across the table and kissed her girlfriend. Using a little bit of the magic that Joyce had taught her, she conjured a bouquet of roses behind her back. She brought them out and smiled. "Roses for a beautiful woman," she said.
Mulan took the offered bouquet of a dozen red roses with a single white one in the middle. "They're beautiful, Buffy."
Out of the corner of her eye, Buffy saw Dawn give her a thumbs up. "Well only the best for you," she told her girlfriend.
It was uncharacteristic for her, but Mulan knew she was misty eyed. She tried to compose herself, to regain the warrior she was. But ever since she and Buffy had started dating, she had found herself finding it easier and easier to let down her hair, so to speak. She noticed an elegant box with a red bow sat next to Buffy. "What's that?"
Buffy smiled as she opened the box to reveal a dessert. She scooped a spoonful of the dessert, stood up right in front of her and fed Mulan, her creation. Since their first date just five days earlier she had been taking cooking lessons from Granny and Ruby. She looked deep in Mulan's eyes trying to gauge her girlfriend's reaction. Mulan moaned as she swallowed and opened her mouth for a second bite. "Is it good? I made it for you."
Mulan smiled at Buffy. "It's perfect," she said. "Just like you."
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
"Your brother," Mary Margaret said in surprise at hearing David's suggestion on who Anton thought he was. "That's who he thinks you are."
David nodded. "It's the only thing that makes sense. Come on," he said as he stood up holding his hand out to his wife.
"Where are we going?" Mary Margaret asked as David stood her up.
"To find out just what kind of trouble my brother got himself into," David answered.
"Mom," Dawn said. "Why don't you go with Charming and Snow. I will find Grumpy and the dwarves, see if they can't keep an eye out for Anton." She looked at her sister and brother-in-law. "Once Buffy's done with her date, she and I will join you three."
Logan International Airport, Boston
Faith looked at the deed in her hand. On their way back from finding Gold's son she intended to start the paperwork that would change her legal name. She stowed the deed in her purse as they approached the counter. She, Gold, Emma and Henry picked up their boarding passes from the woman at the counter and then entered the line to go through security.
As they made their way through the line Henry was pretty much bursting with excitement unable to stand still. "Have you ever been outside of Storybrooke before, Mr. Gold?"
"No," Gold growled.
"Are you nervous?" Henry continued his questioning completely unfazed.
"No," the man's voice was even harsher than before trying to get his point across.
"Are you worried about meeting your son?" Faith winced at Henrys last question knowing he had pushed it too far.
"No, Henry, I'm fine," Gold snapped once more this time earning Emma's attention.
"How about we talk about all this later, kid? We're next," Emma intervened.
"Nice save," Faith whispered as they moved to the front of the line.
"It must be really hard not to use magic–being like everyone else," Henry continued as he, Faith and Emma started to take off their shoes.
"You've got to put your shoes in," Emma told the older man who looked at her in disgust.
"How terribly uncivilized," he moaned as he took off his shoes.
"Well that's the way it is," Faith said as Henry went through the metal detector. "Has been for a decade regretfully." She sighed. "Ever since 9-11."
"Uh, scarf and the cane go in the basket," the security agent commented before Gold could walk through the metal detector.
"What?" there was slight panic in Gold's voice.
"Scarf and cane go in the basket," the man repeated.
"I can't," Gold looked at Emma and Faith but they didn't have a solution.
"You have to," Emma shrugged her shoulders.
"It isn't rocket science, buddy. You ever been on a plane before?" A voice from behind them snapped.
"Have you ever been impaled upon a cane before?" Gold barked.
"Our… father's a little nervous. We're headed to a family reunion. Sorry," Faith apologized.
'Father?' Gold questioned clearly not impressed.
"What would you expect me to say?" Faith whispered in his ear. "It would look suspicious two women traveling with an older man."
"Just put your shawl in the bin. I'll help you get through," Emma grabbed the shawl.
"If I let this go, I could forget who I am," the man seemed broken something neither Faith or Emma had seen from him before.
"Despite, how much I don't like you," Faith said. "We're not going to let that happen. Right, Emma?"
"Right, Faith," Emma agreed with confidence but Gold still looked uneasy.
"Okay," Gold finally gave in quickly putting the shawl in the box. The trio quickly raced through the metal detector Faith grabbing the object and placing it back around the man's neck. After a moment, Gold gave a slight nod causing both Faith and Emma to give a sigh of relief.
"Guys, there's a Cinnabons here!" Henry exclaimed running off.
Storybrooke Docks
Hook entered a deserted alley and placed a Queen of Hearts playing card on the ground. When he turned around, he found Regina behind him.
"Hello, Hook," Regina said.
"Regina," Hook said, surprised to see Regina there.
"Expecting my mother?" she asked. "The one you were supposed to kill?"
"Oh, that," he sighed. "Well, I didn't want to deprive you of a happy reunion."
"Well, it's your lucky day," she told him as she smiled. "She and I have made amends."
"And you're here to thank me?" Hook asked hopeful. "How sweet."
"She wants to know if they've found the ship," Regina told him with a smile.
"Well, you can tell her, she can ask me herself," Hook countered.
"She decided it wouldn't be prudent for her to be out and about," she explained.
Hook frowned. "Well, then it is my lucky day. And you can tell her they, including your daughters, found the ship."
"Well, did you get her things off it?" Regina asked, ignoring the fact he said that Buffy and Dawn were onboard when they found Anton.
Hook frowned. "I've been tied up in bed – not in the good way."
"She needs her things," she reminded him.
Hook scoffed. "Oh, I'll bet she does," he said. "Well, there's good news, then. A giant got loose from the hold."
"You lost a giant?" she asked in confusion.
"Well, a shrunken giant," he corrected.
"How is that good news?" Regina asked a tad bit angrily.
"Because, when he got free, he took one look at the Prince, and became extremely murderous," Hook replied. "The only reason he wasn't able to finish him off, was because of your daughters and their sister."
"Hm," Regina said as she drummed her fingers against her cheek. "A giant in town who wants to kill the Prince. This is just the distraction we need."
"That it is, dear," he agreed.
Woods
Anton sat on a log and looking forlornly at the river as Regina approached him. "Get away from me!" he yelled at her.
"I'm here to help you," Regina explained.
Anton shook his head; he didn't believe her one bit. "No. You're human. I hate humans," he said as Regina continued to walk toward him. "Don't come any closer! Or I'll kill you."
"Look, I hear you're in town because you want to kill someone," Regina told him. "I can help. I have no love for this Prince, either, and if you want to destroy this town to get to him… Well, I'm happy to do my part." She held out a mushroom. "This will make you bigger. It will return you to your former glory."
He took the proffered mushroom and took a bite and in a puff of smoke he was once again his former size.
"Now, get to work!" Regina said as she smirked. "As I'm sure you're aware, that mushroom won't last forever."
Logan International Airport, Boston
After finally calming down all the group could do now was wait to board their plane. Emma, Faith and Henry sat on the hard-plastic chairs while Gold paced in front of them. "Do you want something to eat?" Emma tried to get the man's attention.
"No," Gold brushed her off.
"Is something wrong?" Faith knew there was something eating away at the man but she couldn't put her finger on it.
"Stop asking me that!" Gold snapped everyone's gaze turning to them. As if noticing the attention on him Gold stalked away, "I'll be right back."
"Now that he's gone," Faith said. "There are a couple things I want to do. First, I want to thank you letting me come with you. I know it was Buffy and you who owed Rumpelstiltskin the favor."
Emma smiled. "You don't need to thank me, Aunt Faith. I'm happy to have you. To tell the truth, it looked like you needed out of there anyways. What exactly was mom wanting anyways? I mean I understand the rest of it, the prison shrink suggesting you tell…but…"
"I think she was wanting to know about Boston," Faith said with a sigh. She looked at Henry.
"Henry, would you mind checking on Mr. Gold," Emma asked her son.
"Sure," Henry said as he went off after Gold.
"Thanks," Faith said. "A little while back your mom saw the marks on my back."
"Oh, no," Emma said in realization.
"Yeah," Faith replied with a sigh. "Anyways when Gold came and called in his favor from you and Buffy. I…"
"You offered to go in Buffy's place, because your scared of my mom," Emma replied.
"Yes," Faith said. "I love my big sister. But Snow, she likes to push people to tell her things like our lives in Los Angeles and Sunnydale without realizing how hard it was for me. I was hesitant when she asked and grateful for Gold's distraction. When we get back, she's going to want me to tell her about Boston." She looked at Emma for a long moment. "Emma, you know I think you should tell her about the metal abuse you suffered."
Emma looked at Faith with wide eyes. "How did you know?"
"I could tell," Faith answered. "Snow probably doesn't think I remember being so young but I remember when she watched over Buffy and I when we were kids in the Enchanted Forest. And I've noticed she does it in Storybrooke as well."
"How do u know she does it in Storybrooke?" Emma asked.
Faith gave Emma a secretive smile. "Slayers, can get by on as little as three hours sleep," she told her niece. "When I'm not exceptionally tired, I pretend to sleep, till I do actually fall asleep. I've caught Snow, when she thinks I'm asleep, watching me. Even though, Buffy, Dawn and I are all grown up now. I think she still sees us as her little sisters."
Emma nodded in understanding. "Which means she sees me as her baby daughter," she said. "Because of the time you, me, Aunt Lizzie and Aunt Dawn were lost to her." She looked at her aunt. "Aunt Faith, I can tell there is something bothering you. Can I ask what it is?"
Faith sighed. "While reading the files the Watcher's Council had on me, I found out something. I know that mom is divorced from Hank and that both Buffy and Dawn are estranged from him. But I found out that he was a council operative."
"How is that possible?" Emma asked. "Wasn't he and Aunt Joyce married before your arrival?"
"Yes," Faith said. "Supposedly there was a prophecy about Aunt Joyce and Buffy, Dawn and my arrival. I have the DVDs on it at the mansion. I've never really watched them so I have no idea what it says. But with the fact he worked for the Council. I don't want to tell them, especially Buffy and Dawn about him, they hold some good memories after all. What do I do?"
"Well first, I really hope mom, Aunt Lizzie and Aunt Dawn don't go snooping through your room, that's the wrong way for them to find out," Emma said. "Second, I know you don't want to break their hearts. But I think you should tell them when we get back to Storybrooke."
Streets of Storybrooke
Buffy, Dawn, Joyce, Mary Margaret and David watch from a distance as Anton terrorized the town.
"That's right! Run! Run!" Anton yelled as he picked up a car and threw it in their direction before continuing on his path of destruction. The citizens of Storybrooke scramble for safety as the sisters, Joyce and David followed Anton.
"Head to the town hall!" Buffy called out.
"Bring anyone you find on the way!" Dawn added.
"Somebody get Leroy!" David called out.
"Guess we found our giant," Mary Margaret said as she looked around. "I just didn't think he would be so…"
"Giant?" Dawn asked.
"My mistake," Mary Margaret replied with a sigh.
"Snow," Buffy said as she looked at her elder sister. "Please tell me you have stopped one before."
"I can't, Lizzie," Mary Margaret said reluctantly.
David sighed. "Well… Here's to new firsts." He turned to the giant. "Wait!" he yelled trying to get Anton's attention. "You don't have to do this!"
"Yeah, I do," Anton roared. "You destroyed everything in my life. Now you're going to know what that feels like."
"The man who hurt you?" David yelled. "That wasn't me. That was my twin brother James. We were separated at birth. He was raised by a… A ruthless King."
"You're not James?" Anton asked.
"He's not," Buffy said. "His name is David."
"Then where is he?" Anton asked.
"He paid the ultimate price for his arrogance. He's dead!" David answered. "There is nothing more you can do to him."
"We're on your side, Anton! We're good!" Mary Margaret told the giant.
"We're here because of you," Buffy added. "You know our sister Faith. You gave her the magic compass."
"Faith?" Anton said looking around for Buffy's twin. "Let me talk to her. She says you're okay, then I'll stop."
"She is out of town," Buffy said as Leroy arrived.
"Really?" the giant asked.
Dawn nodded. "Slayer's honor," she said. "And when she gets back, I know she'll really want to talk to you."
"How convenient," Anton said. "Everyone I'm looking for isn't around! All you humans do is lie, and cheat, and kill, and I'm sick of it!" He charged at him.
"Dawn, do you know Willow's spell, the one she used on Glory?" Buffy asked as they turned and ran down the street away from Anton.
"The binding spell?" Dawn asked as Buffy nodded. "No." She looked at Joyce. "What about you mom, your back at full strength."
"With time I could bind him," Joyce said. "But not while we're on the run."
"So, let me get this straight," Leroy interjected as he looked at David. "You got a twin brother?"
David nodded. "Yeah."
"His name is James?" the dwarf asked.
"Right," David agreed.
Leroy looked at the prince in confusion. "Well, your name is James."
"It's not," Dawn said as Leroy looked at her. "David told me, Buffy and Faith the story."
"Then it's Charming, then?" Leroy asked looking back at David.
"No, that's the nickname I gave him," Mary Margaret said.
"A nickname that Dawn, Faith and I all picked up on," Buffy added. "Kind of like how my name in the Enchanted Forest is Elizabeth, my nickname given to me by Snow and picked up by father is Lizzie and, in this world, I go by Buffy."
"So, what is your name then?" Leroy asked his confusion growing.
"David," David answered.
"Your curse name?" the dwarf said trying to understand.
"No that's the name he was born with," Dawn said. "Its kind of confusing. He was born David, nicknamed Charming by Snow, and Regina gave him the cursed name of David."
"I would love to actually see the curse," Joyce said. "Just to see how its worded and this all came into being."
"You know what?" Leroy said with a sigh. "I'm going to call you whatever I damn well please! Is that okay?!"
David smiled. "Sure, Leroy."
"So, what's the plan?" Leroy asked.
"Lead the giant away from here, so he can't hurt anyone," Buffy said.
"Wait. If we keep heading in this direction, we're going to hit the town line," Mary Margaret reminded her sisters, aunt and husband.
"We need another plan," Joyce said as they stopped near the docks.
"What are you doing?" Mary Margaret asked as David approached the giant.
"Giving him what he wants," David answered. "Anton! How about we make a deal?"
"I don't make deals with humans," Anton replied.
"You did with Faith," Buffy reminded the giant.
"Just hear me out," David said. "I'll surrender myself to you, if you spare the lives of everyone in Storybrooke.
"Lizzie…Dawn, you can't let him do this," Mary Margaret cried looking at her sisters.
"As much as I don't want to see you hurt, Snow," Joyce said looking at her niece. "If he doesn't…the whole town will suffer."
"And I can't allow that," David added. "Well, what do you say?"
"Deal." Anton said as he lunged toward David and tried to jump on him.
Buffy reached behind her back and unholstered the Slayer scythe as Dawn pulled David out of the way.
Anton ended up jumping straight through the ground. He found himself stuck as the mushroom's effects wore off and he disappeared in a puff of blue smoke. All that's left was a large hole in the ground.
"Where did he go?" Mary Margaret asked.
"He's right where he was," Buffy said as she led her family to the hole. They Anton hanging on to an underground pipe. "Dawn, grab hold of me."
Mary Margaret kissed David. "Most people would let that giant die after what he's done," she said.
"You wouldn't," David said.
Dawn looked at her sister and grabbed hold of Buffy's belt. "David, Snow," she called to her sister and brother-in-law.
They formed a human chain with Mary Margaret holding on to Dawn, Joyce holding onto Mary Margaret and David holding onto Joyce with Leroy watching from next to David. They slowly lowered Buffy down to Anton. "Take hold," she told the giant as she extended the scythe the stake end out.
"No!" Anton objected.
"No?" Buffy said quizzically.
"I don't want to go back up there," Anton said. "I should just let go!"
"You'll die," David called down.
"Maybe death hurts less than life," Anton said.
"I know what it feels like to die," Buffy said. "Believe me when I say if you really wanted to die, you would have let go already. Now take my hand!"
Anton grabbed the scythe and slowly the chain worked its way back out of the hole.
"Come on," Leroy said.
"Almost! A little more!" Mary Margaret said as she watched Dawn pull Buffy and Anton out of the whole. She looked at her family with pride.
"You saved my life," Anton said looking at the group in surprise.
"That's what we do," Buffy, Dawn and David all said simultaneously.
"Thank you," Anton said as he smiled at them.
"You're welcome," Leroy replied.
"We're not all the same, Anton," David said. "I don't know what my brother did to you, but… That's not us."
"You have no idea," Anton sighed.
Granny's Diner
"This is Granny's," Leroy said as he led Anton into the diner. "She makes a mean lasagna and runs an inn, so I'm sure we can set you up with a room till you find a place."
"Thanks, but I think I'll set up camp in the woods," Anton replied.
"The woods?" Dawn asked.
Anton nodded. "Yeah, I'm better off alone. I'm not too good at fitting in."
"You're in the right place," Leroy said. "Storybrooke's got all kinds – dwarves, fairies, werewolves, you name it." He looked toward Ruby and Willow and smiled. "Ruby…Willow, beers all around!"
"We all miss our land, Anton," Mary Margaret said. "But this is our home now."
"You never think about going back?" the giant asked.
"Some of us do," Mary Margaret said. She was forever town between staying in Storybrooke and returning home if there was a way to return to the Enchanted Forest. She knew Buffy, Dawn and Faith had a duty in this world as well as friends here. And that her sisters would likely want remain for both reasons. And she knew that Joyce would likely remain as well. She sighed; it wasn't worth thinking about though because there was no way to return to the Enchanted Forest. "But it's just not possible."
"We have no way to get there," David added.
"How's the farmland here?" Anton asked.
"Pretty good. Why?" David replied.
Anton smiled as he took out a vial with a piece of beanstalk. "The stem is from a beanstalk. If I plant it, it should be able to grow some magic beans. And then, you just may have a way."
Buffy and Dawn looked at each other and slowly made their way out of the diner.
"Lizzie? Dawn?" Mary Margaret said as she came running up behind them just as they were about to get into Buffy's squad car. "What's wrong?"
"If you can go home," Buffy said. "We'll miss you."
"But this is our world now," Dawn added. "And with the fact we're Slayers…well…"
"I figured you two and Faith would want to stay," Mary Margaret told her sisters. "And too tell the truth I'm torn. I don't want to lose you two or Faith again, but I also want to go home."
"If you get the chance you should go, Snow," Dawn said. "And who knows…" she smiled, "…when my magic is finally at full strength, we can come to visit."
"Don't stay because of us," Buffy added. "After all you have a husband, daughter and grandson to think about as well. And if I know Emma and Henry they will want to be with you and Charming."
Field
Mary Margaret, David and the dwarves stood in in a field as Anton checked the soil.
"Well, what's the verdict?" David asked.
"Soil's got a nice loamy feel. Lot of minerals," Anton replied. "The beans should grow well here. Only one problem."
"What's that?" Mary Margaret asked.
"Cora," Anton replied. "This is why she brought me. She wanted me to grow beans. So, whatever she plans to do with them… Can't be good."
"Then we won't let her get to them," Mary Margaret said with conviction.
"No one touches our crop," Leroy agreed.
"Your crop?" Anton said looking at the dwarves. "I thought you guys were miners?"
Leroy shrugged. "Work is work. It's what we do. So, what do you say? You up for some help?"
"Okay," the giant replied as he smiled at the dwarves.
"Happy!" Leroy called and Happy handed a pick axe to Anton. "Here. To help break up the earth."
Anton looked down, and the name 'Tiny' appeared on the handle. "'Tiny.' My brothers used to call me that."
Leroy chuckled. "Axe never lies."
"Wait a second. I did my time in the mines," David pouted. "How come I didn't get one of those?"
"Cause you ain't a dwarf. Welcome aboard, brother," Leroy answered as the dwarves and Anton began to hack away at the earth.
ISC Storybrooke Facility
David walked into the living room carrying several cops of coffee. He handed one each to Mary Margaret, Buffy, Dawn, Joyce, Willow and Ruby. "Here's to not getting squashed by a giant," he said.
"I'll drink to that," Mary Margaret said as they all took a drink.
"Sometimes I wonder how things would've turned out if I had been the one raised by King George instead of my brother," David said looking at everyone. "You know, would I have been…corrupt like him?"
"Never," Mary Margaret said.
"I have to agree with my sister," Dawn added as she smiled at her brother-in-law.
"Same blood ran through our veins," David reminded them.
"That means nothing," Buffy said.
"Lizzie's right," Mary Margaret agreed. "Your hearts are different. You may not believe it, but trust me–I know you, Charming. I had a lot of fun today."
"Fun?" Buffy, Dawn, Joyce and David said in unison.
Mary Margaret nodded. "Uh-huh."
"Almost getting killed is not fun," Buffy said. "Believe me, I know that better than anyone since I've died twice."
"Lizzie, I missed our adventures," Mary Margaret told her sister.
"Me, too. It was kind of fun," David agreed. "You know, we could do this all the time. When the beans grow, we could go back. Everyone could go home."
Mary Margaret looked at her sisters and aunt. Then she looked at Willow and Ruby. "I don't know," she said.
"What do you mean, Snow?" Joyce asked.
"Home is where our family is," Mary Margaret explained. "And that's here. I don't know if Emma would come with us." She looked at her sisters. "I know you two won't. After all you have a world to protect." She looked back at David. "And I am not going to be separated from our daughter, my sisters…" she looked at Joyce, "or my aunt again."
David looked at his sisters-in-law for a long moment and then nodded. He knew he wasn't going to chance his wife's mind. Especially when it concerned her sisters. He knew how their loss had affected his wife. And he also knew one thing Mary Margaret had dreamt of just about every single night was their return. And now that his wife had been reunited with her sisters.
"Then we'll stay, Snow," he said. "We'll get the crop ready for anyone who wants to go back. But we'll stay. As much as I want to return home, I want to be with you more. So, we'll make this our home."
"Thank you, Charming," Mary Margaret said as she smiled at her husband.
"Are you both sure about that?" Buffy asked.
"We are, Buffy," David said. "There is one thing Snow has always desired, to be reunited with you two and Faith. And I know there is nothing that would change her mind now that you have returned. So, if this will make my wife happy, I am willing to stay."
"What about you, mom?" Willow said looking at Ruby.
"For you," Ruby said as she smiled at her adopted daughter. "I too will stay."
Logan International Airport, Boston
Once on the plane Henry stared out the window amazed by everything he saw. "You good kid?" Emma asked noticing the boy could barely stay in his seat.
"You kidding? A trip with you and Aunt Faith, first plane ride, and we're going on a quest like in the book. The only thing that could make this day better? Is more frosting," he looked at the cinnabon causing Emma to smile at his excitement.
With her son content Emma turned her attention Faith and Gold. 'It's going to be alright," she told Gold. "We're going to find your son."
"Emma's right," Faith agreed.
"I know," Gold replied but he kept his gaze straight ahead. He had no doubt they would find his son it was whether his son could ever forgive him that made him feel sick inside.
ISC Storybrooke Facility
Dawn walked into Faith's bedroom. Since finding out that Regina was working with Cora, she had begun for some odd reason to miss Faith more and more. "What am I going to do, Faith? I can't tell you and Buffy about Regina working with Cora, because I don't want to hurt either of you," she said as she looked around the room. "But this secret is eating me up inside."
She opened one of Faith's dresser drawers intending to get one of Faith's sweaters to hold onto as a security blanket when she spotted several DVDs hidden in the clothing within the drawer. She took them out looking at them. "Why would you hide these, Faith?" She walked over to her sister's TV and DVD player and inserted one of the DVDs.
A woman appeared on the TV screen looking directly at the camera. "The coven has uncovered a prophecy," she said. "According to the prophecy a woman from another realm will come across the breach between worlds to ours to hide from an evil queen. In time three children will also come across the breach. Their supposed to be her nieces, two of them, fraternal twins, will be six-years-old and the third a newborn infant. There is mention of a forgotten Slayer line. The prophecy states the twins must be split up."
Dawn listened realizing the prophecy was talking about her, Buffy and Faith. "It's talking about us and mom." She ejected the DVD and put in another.
Quentin Travers appeared on the TV screen. "In reference to the prophecy discovered by the coven," he said. "Hank Summers, Council Operative 135, has been placed undercover with Joyce White as a romantic interest. To uncover exactly how she fits into the prophecy."
"Dad?" Dawn said in complete surprise. "He worked for the Watcher's Council?"
The DVD skips ahead, according to the time stamp it is several years later as once again Travers appeared on the TV screen. "The children are now in the care of Hank Summers and his newly married wife, Joyce. They crossed the breach a little over a week ago. According to the prophecy the twins must be separated. Therefor Hank Summers will perform a spell that erases Faith Summers (nee White) from the minds of her family."
The DVD skips ahead again, the time stamp shows it's a year later. This time Hank Summers appeared on the screen. "There have been two small glitches. The first is that Joyce remembers Faith. I believe the pendant that she wears could be the culprit. I have told her I will help her to find Faith and reverse the magic that stole her from us. I will of course give her incorrect locations. The other glitch is that Elizabeth does remember her sister, but only as an imaginary friend. In time she should hopefully forget Faith entirely. I have removed all evidence magically of Faith from pictures to further help Elizabeth to forget. And Dawn, because of her age shouldn't remember Faith at all with or without the spell. I also believe I understand the meaning behind the line in the prophecy talking about the forgotten Slayer line. All three children are Potentials."
"Buffy!" Dawn called out. "Mom! Snow!"
