Chapter Two: The Wizard and I
AN: After this chapter, we will be in Storybrooke again. Enjoy!
~Once~
Aria's Perspective:
It took us four days to complete the two-day journey to Regina's castle. I got sick on the second morning and Peter stopped the whole procession until I felt better. The dwarves grumbled the entire time but stayed with us even though they could have gone ahead. Yet considering how we were traveling through treacherous terrain it's probably because it was safer for them rather than that they actually wanted to hang out with a bunch of teenagers.
I saw the castle hours before we came upon it. It stood above everything else emitting power and demanding to be noticed. Just like Regina. Once we got closer, I wanted to ride ahead to see her, but Peter wouldn't allow it. As unhappy as he was with our circumstances, he had become overly protective. You know, if Peter could actually get even more protective of me.
As we arrived at the gate to the palace, we saw Regina and the Charmings coming out to greet us. I looked to Peter who nodded, and I dismounted from my horse. As soon as my feet touched the ground, I ran to the woman who I had called mother for thirty years. She held her arms open wide to me and I ran into her arms.
"Mom!"
"Mel!"
"I've missed you," I say into her shoulder.
"And I you. Now let me look at you." She says pulling back to get a good look at me. She reaches up and touches my hair, "It's gotten longer."
"I thought I'd grow it out like it was when I was younger."
"It looks nice. And I see you have changed your style of clothing. I have to admit this is much more stylish than those green rags you were wearing on Neverland. "
"Thanks, Mom," I said sarcastically. She smiles and kisses my forehead.
She was right though. My outfit was significantly different than my Neverland clothes. I still wore leggings and pants but gone were the forest greens and browns, they had been replaced by dark blues and black, only occasionally did the brown resurface. Overall, it was more reminiscent of my style in Storybrooke.
"Come, I've had a tea prepared for us." She says coming along beside me and looping her arm through mine. I look over my shoulder to look at Peter, who had finally arrived. He gave me a questioning look.
"Regina and I are going to have tea; will you be okay on your own?" I ask him cheekily. He gives me an unamused look but nodded in acquiesces.
"I'll see you inside, play nice," I tell him. He rolls his eyes and looks towards Lucas and Nibs and nods his head in my direction. They nod back and walk towards me and Regina. Lucas comes up alongside me and grabs my other hand while Nibs stays a few paces behind us.
"Bodyguards?"
"Bodyguard. Lucas just likes to stick close to me." I say smiling down at the younger Lost Boy.
"More the merrier I guess," Regina says, with a slightly strained smile. I, however, was used to the intrusion of Lost Boys and was not perturbed having them close.
Lucas was one of our newer recruits, from what we can tell he had been on his own for a while by the time we picked him up. We assumed he's about 7 years old, but we were not sure as Lucas has yet to say a word. He started following me around because he saw Tootles do it. Physically they are about the same age, and I guess Lucas thought well if Tootles thinks I'm okay, maybe I'm not as "scary" as the others. Sadly, he had a nasty habit of always being underfoot when the boys were working on something, so he was often sent to me to keep him out of the way.
And since moving to the Hundred Acre Wood, Peter put Nibs in charge of my security, when Felix was unavailable. Before Papa kidnapped me, my backup guard was Eric and when I asked why Peter made the change he walked off grumbling about fighting rings. So, I chose not to bother him again about the subject. Nibs turned out to be a good fit for me. He's more stoic like Felix and will let me ramble on and just nod in the right places. Though he is more talkative than my brother, so I'm not always the one doing the talking.
Regina led the three of us to her solar, on the balcony sat a table laid out with a small feast. Lucas let go of my hand and shot off for the table.
"Lucas!" I call out, stopping him dead in his tracks. He turns sheepishly to look at me, "Wait for everyone else."
He nods and walks back over to me and takes my hand again. I give him a soft smile.
"Everything looks lovely, Regina," I say as we come up next to the table.
"Thank-you. I've had all your favorites made."
"Marble cake?"
Regina smiles and lifts one of the lids off the trays to reveal a few pieces of my favorite cake. I give her a huge smile and take a seat. Regina conjures two extra seats for my Lost Boys, before taking her own seat next to mine.
"Have a much as you want." She told us. We all share a grin and grab some food to put on our plates.
"We were surprised to hear Pan agreed to help with our pest problem," Regina said as she poured tea for her and me.
"Yes, well we've had dealings with her in the past and Peter is not one to forget a transgression," I answered.
"What happened between them?"
"I think Peter should be the one to tell that story."
"Okay, then." She responded with suspicion prevalent in her voice, "Then how about we talk about what you have been up to these past months."
I thought about telling her I really did, but if I say the word out loud then it becomes real. I can't do it; I can't say it. I don't even believe it. How can I be a mot…, if my own abandoned me? What do I know about taking care of a b-? So instead, I told her about the Hundred Acre Wood, the talking tiger I befriended, our new Boys, anything but the…
~Once~
Peter's Perspective:
Aria was antsy the closer we got to the Evil Queen's Palace, more than once she cast pleading looks at me. She wanted permission to ride ahead to see Regina, but I didn't give in until the gate was in sight. She took off and dismounted once she got the gate and ran into the arms of the Evil Queen. I didn't even try to fight the sneer that came to my face when I spotted Regina. I don't care how much she means to Aria; she will always be the woman who separated me from Aria for 28 years. I do not forgive people easily when Aria is involved.
My men and I made it to the gate moments after Aria did. Her eyes immediately searched me out, but I was disappointed to learn it was only because she wanted to go have tea with Regina. I gave her my permission and sent Nibs and Lucas after her. They would keep her safe and Nibs would report to me anything the Evil Queen might let slip in conversation with my Aria.
The Prince came to greet me after I dismounted with his wife close behind him.
"We were beginning to think you weren't coming." He says trying to sound lighthearted, but I could hear the suspicion and hostility behind it.
"We were delayed," I replied. The prince nods in understanding.
"We've had rooms prepared for you and your men. I think they shall meet your needs."
"We would prefer to camp in the forest that borders your grounds. I think that it is best we keep our distance."
"Fair enough." The prince replied, "Take the night to settle in and we'll meet after breakfast."
I nod and turn to Felix who had stuck close to me during the exchange. He whistles to get the Boys' attention and directs them to the woods.
"Please have Aria returned to me, by sunset. I don't want her out after dark." I told the Prince and his wife.
"I will escort her myself." The prince assures me. I nod in thanks and turn to follow after my men. I've only been here five minutes and I already hated it.
~Once~
The echoing of bird calls heralded Aria's return to camp. I lifted the flap of our tent to see her walking towards the fire carrying two baskets. Lucas and Nibs followed after her also carrying some baskets. Aria placed the baskets around the fire and lifted the cloths that had covered them to reveal food. The Lost Boys let out a loud whoop before descending upon the gifts from the Palace. An obvious goodwill gesture from the Charmings. She grabbed a few pieces and wrapped them up before looking around for someone. When she spotted me, she smiled happily at me, she hadn't looked that happy in months. And I was angry knowing that it wasn't me that made her that happy.
She started to walk over to me only to be stopped by Lucas who grabbed her hand. The boy had certainly grown attached to her. I hope that doesn't grow into a problem when he is older like it did with some of the other boys who dared to fancy her. One Lost Boy, in particular, came to mind, one who not only desired my Aria but marred her in a swordfight, I scowled and scanned the crowd for him. He was shoving food in his mouth and curled away from Nibs who had taken the seat next to him. The two boys had never been particularly close, but they usually got along. However, since I replaced Eric with Nibs as Aria's guard, Eric was hostile in his dealings with the other Lost Boy. Nibs knew why the Lost Boy was sore and wasn't above putting himself in positions that would aggravate him. Overall, I've been more pleased with Nibs as Aria's guard than I had ever been with Eric in the past. Eric would often give into Aria when she pleaded with him to do something that they both knew I wouldn't be pleased with, but Nibs will tell her no or at least consult Felix before deciding something. Nibs is a lot more like Felix- stoic in nature, loyal not just to me but Aria as she was the one who had him recruited. He was also a clever strategist and could get Aria and himself out of hairy situations. Aria seems pleased with him and lets him follow her around wherever she goes without a fuss. But the best thing about Nibs being her guard is he had no romantic designs on Aria. Nor is he stupid enough to challenge her in a sword fight.
Aria detached herself from the small boy and pointed towards Tootles. Lucas smiled and ran after his friend. Aria watched them both for a moment before continuing her trek to our tent. Her lips upturned into a smile when she saw me watching her.
"Like what you see, Lost Boy?" She asked cheekily. I couldn't stop the grin that came to my face.
"Your body will do, but I've never been a fan of redheads." I tease her. She sauntered up to me and pressed her body against mine.
"Your loss, Boy, redheads are legendary for being great in bed." She said standing on the tips of her toes to whisper her seductions in my ear, "And I do my best to live up to the legend."
My breath caught in my throat. She could be quite the siren when she wanted to be. There's many a reason why men fell into the sea chasing after the alluring temptresses of the sea. Like right now, Aria's body was against mine in a way that I felt every curve of her body. But then with a smirk, she was gone and had ducked into the tent.
"Hungry? I know I am." She asked teasingly. "The Charmings sent bread, cheese, and some fruit with us."
"Pass, I'm in the mood for something much sweeter than fruit," I tell her grabbing her waist and pulling her close. I move her hair to the side and kiss the joint between her neck and shoulder.
"And what would that be?" She asked her voice uneven. I smirked at the effect I had on her.
"You," I whisper in her ear. I turn her around and capture her lips. She wraps her arms around my neck and pulls me down a little to be able to kiss me better. I decide to make things easier and pick her up. Her legs wrap around my waist automatically and I walk us over to our bedrolls. I maneuver us down to the floor gently, only breaking the kiss to whisper something in her ear.
"I hope you're well-rested love, because I'm starved."
I look at her and her eyes flash with lust. She pulls me down for a kiss and I oblige her. We might as well break in our temporary home.
~Once~
After three rounds, we laid contently in each other's arms. I was drawing lazy patterns on Aria's hip and her eyes were beginning to shut.
"How was your visit with Regina?" I asked trying to keep the hostility out of my tone.
"I had a nice time," she said, before turning her head to look at me, "Thank you for letting me go. I know you were not pleased with the idea."
I just nod.
"What did you two talk about?" I asked wondering if she told the Evil Queen about the….
"Just about what we've been up to since we had seen her last."
"Oh?"
Aria sighed.
"I didn't tell her."
"Oh."
"We're going to have to talk about it sometime, Peter." She said quietly.
"Yes, but not now. Get some sleep, Aria."
"Goodnight, Peter." She said kissing my shoulder before snuggling down against my side. I smiled at how content she looked. I kissed the top of her head.
"Goodnight, love."
I snapped my fingers to extinguish the candles before curling against Aria and falling asleep.
~Once~
The Charming's (Third Person) Perspective:
Regina stood on the balcony that overlooked the forest waiting for sight of her daughter and Pan. Her wait was not long as the pair along with some of Pan's Lost Boys came out of the forest soon after she began her vigil. Pan held Aria's hand as they walked and would wait patiently as she bent down to pick up some flower or another. At some point, Aria shook loose so she could weave the flowers she had picked into a crown. Regina watched as Peter laughed at her and took the finished product and put it on Aria's head. He swept into a low bow, which caused her to laugh at him. When he straightened up, he took her hand and twirled her around. Regina was struck once again by how different Pan was with Aria than anyone else. The usually well-guarded boy was more open and acted like the teenage boy he was physically. And it was clear to even a blind person how much that boy adored Aria. Regina had to believe he had other good qualities that attracted Aria to him. She didn't want to deal with the idea that Aria had been willing lured in by a monster.
The group finally reached the palace and Regina left her post to alert the others of Pan's arrival. She walked across the long hall to the war room on the opposite side of the castle.
"They're here." She said greeting the room. David nodded and turned to Doc.
"Will you go down and meet them?"
"Yes, your highness." The dwarf said before heading out of the room.
"Now, I know Pan was not our first choice to ask for help, but with Rumpelstiltskin still missing he was the only person we could ask. So please try to put your personal feelings about Pan aside for a moment and remember why we are doing this. To rid our kingdom of the Wicked Witch." David told everyone in attendance.
Noises of agreement and grumbling echoed throughout the group that had gathered. The Prince knew the decision to ask for Pan's help was an unpopular one. Even he was against it, but Snow thought he would help because Aria would ask him to. And she was sure that Aria could make Pan behave while they worked together. Since Aria hadn't been able to stop him so much from taking Henry's heart as much as she deterred it, so David had his doubts.
However, he had to let it go for the moment as Pan and his party had just come through the door. Aria immediately detached herself from Pan and went to Regina. The two women embraced. David saw Pan's face grow tense at the sight of the Evil Queen but allowed Aria to greet the woman. Felix and another boy, that David didn't know, broke from the group and moved closer to their own Queen.
"Pan." The Prince greeted his old foe.
"Your highnesses." Pan greeted sarcastically.
"Thank you for coming."
"I can't resist a good witch hunt," Peter answered.
"Regina mentioned that you had a history with the Wicked Witch."
Pan cast a look in Aria's direction. She didn't notice as she was deep in a discussion with Regina.
"Yes, she and I have dealings before."
"Care to elaborate?" Charming asked edgily. Pan sighed.
"When I was searching for the Heart of the Truest Believer, I came upon her kingdom in Oz. She was intrigued by my powers and their sources. She tried to take them from me, but her plan backfired, and I was able to defeat her. After licking her wounds, she crossed realms into Neverland and tried again. As we were in my realm, she stood less of a chance than she did in our first encounter. However, when she left, she took something very important to me…Aria. She took her Oz and I nearly destroyed both realms to get her back. Once I finally got her back, I closed off the portals from Oz to Neverland. I was never going to let that witch touch my Aria ever again."
"So, you can defeat her?" Snow asked.
"I can at least keep her at bay. After facing defeat by my hand, she should be hesitant about coming around here again."
"Any assistance you can provide will be greatly appreciated," Charming said to him.
"And any chance to kill the Wicked Bitch of the West is greatly appreciated by me," Peter said deviously sharing a look with Felix. The pair smirked darkly, and the Prince was struck again with idea that this…team-up was not going to end well.
~Once~
Three months later…
War Room
Aria's Perspective:
My current condition was starting to greatly impede on my life. My ankles were swollen, I'm hungry all the time, and my emotions are all over the place. I'm beginning to question this glow of preg-. Peter had cloaked me with a spell that keeps the signs of my condition from the others. Having other people know would just make matters even more difficult, especially when Peter and I have continuously avoided talking about what was happening. Besides knowing the troubles Snow and Charming were having conceiving I really didn't want to be on display.
The last three months have been calmish. We have had a few flying monkey sightings on the edges of the kingdom, but the Wicked Bitch seems to have kept her nose clean in the months past. It put Peter on edge. He just wanted her to do what she was going to do so he could kick her ass back to Oz. This waiting game was driving him close to madness. Today, though, all of us were meeting in the war room as the monkey sightings were beginning to increase in the past few days. It has led us to believe she was about to make her move on us.
"If we move men to the west our forces closer to home will be weakened but they should hold if we are attacked. Or hold on long enough for the scouting forces to get back from the west." Charming said over the large map of the kingdom.
"We'll go." Peter said, "That way you are still strong on all fronts, and I get the first shot at the Witch if she is coming that way."
"Alright." David said giving in, "And then we…"
He was cut off by the large doors banging open.
"Belle?" Mary Margret exclaimed.
"Are you okay?" The Prince inquired, "When you and Neal disappeared, we feared the worst."
"We went off to see if we could find Rumpelstiltskin."
"What happened? Did you find him?"
"Neal and I were able to locate him, but he was not quite himself and he attacked Neal."
"Is he okay?" Snow asked.
"He was wounded pretty badly, he almost died. Rumple snapped out of whatever it was and when he saw that Neal was dying, he…he…absorbed him. And uh…Zelena got a hold of the dagger. "
"So now the Wicked Witch is my brother's puppet master?" Peter asked. Belle nodded.
"Great!" Regina exclaimed, "Well what are we going to do now?"
As soon as Regina said that a huge gust of window blew in from the balcony throwing open the divider between the room and the outside. We all turned to look to see what had caused the wind and saw a green and black speck appear in the distance coming closer and closer. Zelena! I move over to Peter and gripped his arm. He stood protectively in front of me as Zelena flew inside.
"Hello darlings!" she greets as she lands, "Oh Peter, dear, how lovely to see you again. And you brought the beautiful Aria. You look a lot different out of your cage."
Peter lunged at her, but she only raised her hand freezing us all. She walks past Peter and comes over to me.
"Stay away from her witch," Peter warns.
"What are you going to do? Stare me to death?" She taunted. She then turned back to me and smiled, "You seemed to be hiding something, my pretty. I've never been good at keeping secrets. I have a nasty habit of revealing them."
With that she waves her hand over me, breaking the cloaking spell and revealing my condition to everyone.
"Well look at that." She said. She then placed her hands on my stomach, "Yes, this child shall do quite nicely. So, take good care of it for me. Don't forget to eat well and get lots of rest. I will be back for your happy day. And what's yours…will be mine."
She then walked back to where her broom was floating and took off. As she took off, we were all released from the spell that held us captive. Peter rushed to the balcony, but she was long gone.
"Peter?' I called out, he turns and comes back to me catching me as I nearly fall over, "What could she possibly want with our…"
"I don't know." He answered, "What I do know is she won't get it."
~Once~
"Pregnant!" Regina ranted. Peter had taken me back to camp after the witch had left. A few hours later Regina had come storming into the camp, demanding to see me. "You're pregnant. How did this even happen? I thought the last thing Pan would want to be a father."
"We've never had to worry about contraceptives before, nothing happened on Neverland without Peter's say so, including me getting pregnant."
"Yes, but you spent the last 28 years in Storybrooke, surely you learned something in your time there."
"Look I'm sorry. We screwed up and now we are paying for it!" I yell back at her.
"You're damn right you screwed up."
"I didn't ask for this. I never wanted to be a mother." I lash out, "Until today I've never even said the word 'pregnant', let alone 'baby'. I just told Peter we had a situation. I don't want to be a mother. I can't be one. I don't know how to be one."
Regina's angry face slipped into one of sympathy. She took a seat next to me on the settee had set up in our tent.
"I'm sorry, Aria. I won't lie to you, motherhood will be difficult, but I think you will make a fine mother."
"She abandoned me, did I ever tell you that?" I tell Regina, "One day my mother was there, and the next day she was gone. No explanation. She just left me. With that kind of example…how can I be a good mother? What if I end up doing the same thing? What if it's some instinct I won't be able to control and I just leave my child, Peter, Felix, and the Lost Boys with no explanation? I mean Snow and Emma did the same thing to their children, what if I do it too?"
"I think this fear is exactly why you won't leave. You don't want to be your mother? Then don't leave, show her what a real parent does." Regina said. I look at her, I had never thought about it that way. Maybe it was that simple. If I didn't want to be like my mother, then don't be.
"Thank you, Regina," I say to her. She smiles and kisses my forehead.
"As much as I hate to admit it, the Witch was right you should get some rest. I'll see you in the morning." She says getting up. I nod and get up to walk her out. As she exits the tent, something occurs to me.
"Hey, Regina," I call out. She turns to look at me, "I was wrong. I do have a model for a good mother."
She gave me a soft but pleased smile before continuing on her way.
~Once~
"What are we going to do, Peter?" I asked as we were lying next to each other that night.
"I told you I will not let the bitch get her hands on it." He answered with a growl.
"Peter, I never doubted you about that, I meant it's real now, we are having a baby. What are we going to do?"
"I don't know. I never had any desire to be a father. "
"And I have never wanted to be a mother. But we are now, so what are we going to do Peter? I need you to tell me what we're going to do?"
"That's one answer I don't have for you, love."
"So, we are going in blind? That should be an adventure." I tease, trying to ignore the rising panic I was feeling.
"Yes, like an adventure," Peter replied. He kisses the side of my head, "Get some sleep, love."
"Goodnight, love." I returned. Peter wrapped his arm around me tighter.
"Goodnight," Peter says, he snaps his fingers, and the candles extinguish plunging us into darkness. I snuggle closer to Peter using his shoulder as a pillow and drifted off to sleep.
~Once~
Two Months later…
Peter's Perspective:
The revelation of our impending parenthood sent the heroes into action more than anything else had. Snow White in particular has attached herself to Aria in the past few months. She either visits the camp or invites Aria over every day, always at the ready to make sure Aria has everything she could want or what she would want if she was pregnant. Aria told me that the royal couple has been trying for a child of their own unsuccessfully. So Aria believes Snow White is trying to live vicariously through her. Aria also mentioned this situation probably hits close to home for Snow, as this is what happened to her when she was expecting the Savior, an evil sorceress trying to ruin people's lives.
After two months of planning the best idea anyone had come up with was to find my brother and ask him how to defeat the Wicked Witch. Which is what we are doing now, we are off to see the Wizard, the Wonderful Wizard of the Enchanted Forest. Aria had made this comment at the meeting, everyone but me and Belle, seemed to find it amusing. It must be one of those references from Storybrooke. That seemed to be the only involvement she wanted in this enterprise. She didn't fight me to come along like I assumed she would. It was a strange experience; I almost wished she did fight me on it.
After some discussion, it was decided that The Charmings, the Evil Queen, Belle, Robin Hood, Felix, and I would make the journey to see the Dark One. It did not take us long to get to my brother's home. It was half a day's journey away, but the roads to it were easily accessible. Getting into the castle itself was more difficult. We had no idea where and when Zelena would turn up so we had to follow Robin Hood in, through a secret path he found when he took over the Castle in Rumple's absence. Once we reached the main hall Regina headed straight for a large ornate door.
"I wouldn't your majesty." The thief warned her, as she reached for the knob. She sent him a baleful look and continued to reach for the knob. Robin Hood rolled his eyes and shot an arrow at the door. A large flaming wall covered the door. Regina spins around and glares at him.
"That arrow almost took off my head!"
"Well, that door almost took off your arm." He served back, "Where I come from a simple, 'Thank-you', would suffice."
"Where you come from people bathe in the river and use pinecones for money." The Evil Queen sneered. I couldn't help the upturn of my mouth; it was amusing watching these two.
"Come on, let's go!" Snow intervened. Regina huffed and turned around and used magic to open the door. We went into the main room, where my brother sat in the middle of the floor spinning his wheel in a cage.
"Well, Rumple, I see you've got your looks back," I say to my brother who had yet to acknowledge our presence.
"Rumple, Bumple, isn't here." He said with a giggle, "Rumple, Bumple, is gone, my dear."
"So it's true the Dark One is mad," Felix said.
"On the contrary!" Rumple shouted startling us all, "Now I have two, two minds. Mining time, digging deeper in the grime."
"What is she doing to him?" Belle asked.
"Nothing that can't be undone," Snow answered, "Rumpelstiltskin we need your help. How do we stop Zelena?"
"Round and round the circle of time, racing towards the finish line."
"This is pointless," Regina says.
"Let me try," Belle says stepping forward towards the cage, "Hey. Hey. Rumple."
She grabs his hand to stop him from spinning, he jerks startled but doesn't let go of her hand.
"Hey. Hey. I know you're in there. I know you can hear me. How do we stop Zelena?"
"Light." He answers.
"What?"
"Light. Magic. The Good Witch of the South…Glinda."
"Glinda. But South of what, Oz?"
"No. Banished. Here." Rumple asserted, "The Good Witch of the South was banished North-of the Dark Forest."
He flung Belle's hand away and we could see the clarity he had for the last few moments begin to disappear.
"How do we find her?" I asked, but I could see him getting worse, "Rumple! Where in the Dark Forest is she!"
"Through the door, step inside, if pure of heart then she won't hide." He said in a sing-song voice. He giggled and then went back to his spinning, forgetting we were all there. What am I supposed to do with that? That doesn't help me protect Aria or my chi-. I storm out of the room, with Felix close on my heels.
~Once~
It was decided that the Charmings, Regina, and I would head on to the Dark Forest and see if Rumple's sing-song riddle had any merit. I sent Felix back to the Palace to inform Aria what was going on and why I would not be returning this evening as I had planned.
The trek to the Dark Forest was more treacherous than the journey to my brother's castle. The forest was on a mountain and the climb was a long one. As we reached the edge of the forest the Prince leaned down to pick a flower and presented it to his wife. She looked pleased with the gesture but the Queen and I were not amused.
"What?" she asked Regina.
"We're at the edge of the Dark Forest, trying to find the one person that could stop our imminent doom and save my daughter's unborn child. And you two stop to smell the roses?"
I chuckled at the Queen's speech, over the past few months I've started to like Regina and her smart remarks.
"Snowbells." Snow White says innocently.
"I don't care if they are dancing daffodils. I need to destroy my sister and so do you."
"I'm going to have to agree with the Evil Queen here," I added.
"Thank you," Regina said to me, "And if that babbling madman sent us on a wild goose chase, I swe-."
Regina stops short and we all turn to see what has stopped her rant. It was a door in the middle of the forest.
"Well, well, maybe Rumple isn't crazy after all," I say.
"It's a door," Snow White says coming forward. Her husband inspects and looks to see what's on the other side.
"That leads to nowhere." He informs us.
"Through the door, step inside, if pure of heart then she won't hide." Snow White repeated my brother's riddle, "it's Rumple's riddle. It's Glinda."
With that, she strides forward opens the door, and walks inside.
"No!" the Prince shouts when she disappears into nothing. He then sighs and follows after his wife.
"A portal with a cheap cloaking spell." Regina scoffs before walking after them. But she doesn't disappear she just makes it to the other side. She stops and turns around with a scowl before coming back through and slamming the door.
"I guess we just wait out here then. Neither you nor I am exactly pure of heart."
"Yes, that appears to be the case." She responded angrily. We stand in silence for a while waiting for the heroes to return.
"How did you make Aria fall in love with you?" Regina asked all of the sudden. I looked up in confusion, what does she mean by make?
"I didn't make Aria fall in love with me," I said.
"Semantics, just why you of all people? "
"You mean me and not one of the other Lost Boys like Felix or Nibs?
"Yes.
"I suppose to answer that question I have to pose a question of my own. Why Aria? Out of all the women I have known and been with, why was she the one that made me stay? She's just Aria and there has never been anyone like her. I can't tell you the exact moment I realized I cared for her, it exhibited itself as possessiveness at first. She was my prize, my carrot to dangle over the Captain's head, my guest, my friend, my mermaid, my Aria. I didn't think anyone else was good enough to take care of her not even Felix.
And the one day I realized that I loved her, that the only person in all the realms for me was her. I was her prize, her carrot, her guest, her friend, her Lost Boy, her Peter. I was the one wrapped around her finger and not the other way around. I realized then even when she was a child I would have done anything for her, she always had me right where she wanted me. Whether if it was as a protector, a friend, or a lover. I chose her because I loved her, as for why she chose me I've never quite figured that out. I'm not pure of heart. I've manipulated her, her father, the Lost Boys. I've killed, lied, cheated. Besides a few magic tricks, what do I have to offer her? But for some reason she chose me, she thought I was worth caring for. And I've spent every day trying to show her she didn't make a mistake."
Regina just nodded before asking another question.
"And how are you dealing with your impeding fatherhood?"
"I won't abandon the pair of them if that's what you asking, but I'm not particularly pleased with becoming a father. Neither Aria nor I have ever desired to be parents. But whether we want it or not, they will be here soon and we will deal with it as we deal with everything else."
Regina opens her mouth to speak but she's cut off by the return of the Charmings, show proceed to inform us what Glinda had told them. In order to defeat Zelena, we needed to get Emma.
"Even if I believe this Glinda," Regina said after they had finished, "which I don't, to even cast the dark curse I'd have to destroy the heart of the thing I love most, which for me, is Henry."
"There has to be another way to enact it." Snow White said.
"If there were, do you think I would have killed my own father?"
"What about a magic bean?" The Prince asked, "If we had one, we could open a portal or Jefferson's hat."
"There are no portals. Not for us…" Regina told him, "Not for anyone the curse brought back. When undid the first curse to end the one coming for us, to bring us here it divided the realms. It placed a wall between them."
"So the Dark Curse is the only way," I said.
"Haven't you been listening? I can't cast it!" Regina exclaimed frustrated.
"But someone else can."
"Who?" Snow asked.
"You," the Prince responded, surprising us all, "it's the only way. You can use my heart to cast the curse."
"But I need you. Emma and Henry need you. We'll find another way. We always find another way." Snow asserts.
"I think, Your Highness, you may need to prepare for the time when that is no longer true," I tell her.
~Once~
The Charming's (Third Person) Perspective:
After a week of debating the only option, they had to get to Emma was the Dark Curse. To say Snow was unhappy with this plan was an understatement. She kept hoping that she would find another option, but now as she stared into the boiling pot full of ingredients for the Dark Curse, she knew that this was happening. Charming held her tightly and Aria was holding her hand. Aria had kept close to Snow all week, Snow knew the younger girl felt like it was her fault that all of this was happening. And all for a child, she wasn't even too sure she even wanted. That was something Snow couldn't understand how someone couldn't want a baby, but she had noticed Aria's attitude about the child has improved over the past two months.
"It's ready!" Regina said breaking Snow's musing.
"No!" Snow White said panicking," There had to be another way to get to Emma."
"There isn't. You know if there were, I'd have gone back to Henry." Regina says to her, "This is it. This…sacrifice."
Snow continued to shake her head.
"Snow, we have to do this" David said, pulling her aside. Aria released her hand and went over to Peter, "You have to do this."
"I can't. I can't crush your heart. I can't lose you."
"You could never lose me." David assures her, "But this is our only chance. Think of the kingdom, think of our people, think of Emma and Henry, Aria and her baby. You have to do this."
"But we won't have you."
"You will always have me. We've always shared one heart. I will always live within you. I will always be there when you need me."
Snow took her husband's face in her hands.
"I've loved you from the first moment I saw you."
"And I'll love you until my last," David responded.
The pair share one last kiss, as the others look away to give them a moment of privacy.
"Okay," the Prince said pulling away and turning towards Regina, "Do it."
"I won't lie to you," Regina said to him, "This will hurt. But it will work."
David nods at her and Regina plunges her hand into his chest and pulls out his heart. The Prince gasps at the intrusion.
"Charming?" Snow says,
"Don't say goodbye." He told his wife.
"I love you. I love you more than anything."
"Which is why you have to crush it." He tells her. Regina places his heart in her hand. Snow doesn't even look at it, she keeps her eyes on Charming as she holds his heart over the cauldron and crushes it. The prince gives her a soft smile before crumpling to the floor. He was gone. Snow remains stunned for a moment as the dust from her husband's heart falls into the potion. She then regains herself and runs to her husband's side.
"This won't be in vain," Regina said trying to comfort her step-daughter, "We will get to Storybrooke."
"And we will defeat the W-"Peter starts to say but is caught off guard by the appearance of the devil herself. She flies over the cauldron and drops green dust into the Dark Curse.
"Zelena," Regina says with a sneer.
"Did you really think you could enact Rumple's Dark Curse, and I wouldn't know about it?" Zelena inquired.
"No, but I didn't really care," Regina told her.
"You're too late, Witch," Peter told her smugly.
"Actually I'm not." She told him before turning to Snow, "I'm afraid you sacrificed your charming husband for nothing."
"Regina!" Snow exclaimed, "He can't die in vain."
"She's bluffing," Regina assures her, "Once the curse is enacted, it can't be stopped."
"I may not be able to stop it, but that doesn't mean I can't spice it up a little. How does a forgetting potion sound?"
Thunder begins to crackly from the cauldron as the curse begins to rise.
"Mmm…sorry. Did you need your memories in the new land?" Zelena taunted, "Were you planning on stopping me, or…or for that matter recognizing me?"
"We'll find a way." Snow promises.
"Without knowing any of this, I doubt it. You'll be too busy looking for your husband. You won't even know about his sacrifice. Just endlessly wondering, where he could be, always fearing the worst," Zelena taunted, "Pay attention sis, this is how you take away a happy ending. And Aria darling, do be careful I'm going to need your baby nice and healthy for what I have planned."
She then hops on her broom and flies off. Snow places her head down on her husband's chest in defeat. She is unsure how long she had been there when an idea came to her.
"Regina, I need you to rip out my heart." She said, "Charming's right. We have been of one heart since he woke me from the sleeping curse. If you split my heart in half, we can both survive."
"Snow," Regina said in a calming voice, "I know your love is strong, but this isn't like plucking a flower. How do you know it will work?"
"Faith! Belief! I believe! I believe my heart is strong enough for the both of us!"
"But if you're wrong you will die."
"Please. Please, Regina." Snow begged, 'Do it."
The sincerity in Snow's voice convinced Regina to give in. She kneels down in front of Snow and turns her head to Peter.
"Can this work?" she asked him.
"It's not out of the realm of possibility." He answered. She nodded and turned back to Snow. Snow smiled eagerly at her and placed both hands on Regina's shoulders, bracing herself for the pain of getting her heart ripped out. Regina reaches in her Snow's chest and pulls it out. Snow slowly moves back to lie next to her husband. Regina hesitantly breaks the heart in half. She places one half in each of their chests. Snow and Regina turn to Charming and wait. All of a sudden he gasps and sits up.
"Snow! Snow, what's happening?" he asks.
"You're okay." She replied.
"Huh?"
"We're both okay."
The pair share a kiss as Regina looks on fondly. The curse then rises up and swallows them taking them to the new land.
~Once~
Storybrooke
"We're back!" Snow exclaimed, "But how?"
"I don't know," Regina said, edgily. She didn't like not knowing what was going on.
"Peter!" Aria screamed. Everyone turned to look to see what had the mermaid so upset. Regina gasped.
"Aria, you're…" She stuttered.
"Pregnant." Snow finished.
"What's happening?" Aria demanded.
~Once~
From here and out, things will be a little different than the original version of this book.