It was a late night on a bus headed for Boston Massachusetts. On the bus was a ten year old boy, one who was reading a large, leatherbound book. The book was a unique collection of classical fairy tales simply titled "Once Upon a Time". He had read the book several times since he'd gotten it and knew most of the stories by heart, and at the moment, he was reading about his favorite fairy tale couple of all: Snow White and Prince Charming. The sleeping curse on Snow had just been broken, their kingdoms restored to glory, and they were all set for their happily ever after.
Just as he got to that part, the bus had come to a stop, forcing the boy to close his book, stuff it into his backpack. He hopped off the bus, then began looking around. He spotted a nearby taxi cab and walked over to it. He knocked on the window and the cabby rolled the window down.
"Excuse me, do you take credit?" the boy asked.
"Sure kid, where's your mom and dad?"
"Don't have a dad, and as for my mom, that's where I'm headed."
"Gotcha. Just point the way, chief."
…
Meanwhile across town, a woman by the name of Emma Swan had just returned home. She had a small box in her hand containing a single cupcake. She passed by a pair of boxes containing all of her earthly possessions, setting down the cupcake before letting out a sigh. It was her 28th birthday, and another year of her being completely alone. She lit the candle and just stared at the cupcake for a moment, silently wishing that just this once, she wouldn't have to spend her birthday alone.
The second she blew out the single candle, there was a knock on the door. Perking up, she went to answer it, initially seeing no one there.
"Down here."
Emma looked down, seeing the boy from the bus. He looked up as her, smiling innocently as he adjusted his backpack.
"Are you Emma Swan?"
"Yeah… who's asking?"
"My name's Henry Mills. I'm your son. Can I come in?"
Before Emma could react, Henry ducked under her arm and made his way inside.
"Whoa, hey! Kid!" Emma let out, trying to stop the kid. "What are you doing? First off, that's trespassing, and second, I don't have a son."
"Yes you do. 10 years ago, you gave a baby up for adoption. That was me." Henry began looking around curiously. "You got any juice?"
Emma was left speechless for a moment.
"In the fridge… I… I need a moment."
As Henry raided Emma's fridge, she ducked into her bathroom, gripping the sink counter as she tried to get her thoughts in order. After a moment or two, she came back out, seeing Henry sitting at her kitchen counter, a cup of orange juice in his hands. He polished it off as she approached.
"Why did you come here?" she finally asked.
"To get your help," Henry answered. "It's been 28 years and its finally time for you to fulfill your destiny."
"Destiny? What are you talking about?"
"I'll explain on the way."
"On the way where?"
"My home. Storybrooke Maine. You have to come with me, everyone's counting on you."
"Storybrooke? Seriously?"
"Please Mom, you have to-"
"Okay, okay, first off, I'm not your mom. I may have given birth to you, but I am nowhere near qualified to be called your mom. Second, I am not going to Storybrooke Maine. What I'm doing is calling the police."
"If you do, I'll tell them you kidnapped me."
That made Emma pause, letting out a small sigh.
"And they'll believe you because I'm your birth mother," she realized before giving Henry a look. "But, you're not gonna do that."
"You sure about that?"
Emma paused, then turned to Henry with a small smirk.
"Alright kid, I'm gonna let you in on a little secret. There's not a lot I'm great at in life, but I do have one skill. Call it a superpower. I can tell when people are lying. And you kid, are."
She pulled a cellphone from her pocket and prepared to dial the non-emergency number, but Henry grabbed her hand, looking at her with a pleading expression.
"Please..." he begged. "Just come home with me."
Emma looked down at Henry, seeing the desperation in his eyes. Seeing no other way out of it, she sighed in response.
"Alright, kid. Let's get you back to Storybrooke."
…
The unlikely duo found themselves on the New England highway, Emma's old yellow VW bug loaded up with her few possessions, as well as Henry's. He was currently sitting in her passenger seat, his large book in his lap as he read over it. Emma glanced over, mildly surprised.
"Y'know, most kids your age are usually playing video games to pass the time, or texting on their phones."
"I don't have a phone, and I left my nintendo back in Storybrooke. All I needed was this."
"Right, cause who needs video games when you have a book of fairytales."
"These aren't just fairy tales, not like the ones your used to."
"Oh? How so?"
Henry considered what to say for a moment.
"Well, for starters, they're not separate tales. They're a large, interwoven story. At the center of it is Snow White and Prince Charming."
"I see. Interesting. Still, probably follows the same basic plot. Evil Queen poisons Snow White for being prettier than her and a random prince kisses her and frees her."
"You'd think that, but the story's much more. And the kiss isn't even the final part."
"Huh? But what about their Happily Ever After?"
"In this story, the Happily Ever After is just the beginning."
Snow White and Prince Charming stood before the Bishop, surrounded by all of their friends and allies. Princes and Princesses, peasants, dwarves, fairies and mages all watched at the couple with the truest of True Love finally said their wedding vows.
"No matter what we may face, or whatever forces try to keep us apart," Charming declared. "I will always find you."
"Our love has gotten us through so much," Snow announced. "And now, after all this time, we will finally be together."
Everyone was smiling, even Grumpy, who wiped a tear from his eye at the sight.
"I now pronounce you Husband and Wife," the Bishop proclaimed. "You may now kiss the bride."
The two wasted no time pulling each other into a loving kiss, eliciting a cheer from everyone present. The celebration was soon short lived when the doors to the chapel were thrown open. Everyone gasped, turning to see a figure in all black approaching the pair. It was a middle aged woman with long back hair and a malicious smirk on her face.
"It's the Evil Queen!" Doc exclaimed.
"We have nothing to fear from her!" Charming insisted. "She cannot harm us anymore, and she is no longer Queen."
"You're right," Snow agreed, clutching onto Charming's tunic as he held her close. "She's nothing more than a bitter witch now."
"My, such brazen words," the Queen sneered. "I had hoped you were raised better than that."
Snow growled and nearly launched herself at the Queen, but Charming quickly tightened his grip on her, keeping her from doing so.
"No, don't! Don't stoop down to her level!"
"Don't worry, I won't be long," the Queen assured the couple. "I've merely come to deliver my gift to the 'happy couple'."
"We want nothing from you!" Snow insisted.
"Oh, but you shall have it. My gift to you is this happy, happy day. For tomorrow, my real work begins. You've made your vows, now I make mine. Soon, everything you love, everything all of you love, will be taken from you." She gestured to everyone in the audience, her smile malicious and cruel. "Forever. And out of your suffering will rise my victory. I shall destroy your happiness, if it is the last thing I do."
The Queen then turned to leave, prompting Charming to draw his sword from his belt. He threw it at her and she vanished into a puff of purple smoke, taking the blade with her. Snow's anger gave way to fear as she clung to her husband.
After a few hours' drive, Emma and Henry finally arrived in Storybrooke. It was a very small coastal town that was surrounded by forests and didn't even appear on Emma's GPS. As Emma drove down the street, she started searching for any sign of a residential area.
"Alright kid, where's your house? It's getting late, it's-"
She paused, seeing that the clock said it was 8:15, despite it clearly being later. She checked her phone and found that the clock was glitching out.
"What the-? What's going on?"
"Time's frozen here," Henry explained.
Emma blinked before turning back to Henry.
"Excuse me?"
"The clocks don't work because time is frozen. No one ages or changes, every day is basically the same."
"If that were true, why do you age?"
"Because I was born outside of Storybrooke. The Curse doesn't affect me."
Now Emma was even more confused.
"The curse?"
"The one the Evil Queen put them all under. They're all stuck here frozen in time, and they can't remember who they are."
"The Evil Queen? What, from your story book?"
"Exactly. She used a powerful curse to take away everyone's happy endings, stranding them here in our world."
"So, an Evil Queen dumped a bunch of fairytale characters here in Storybrooke Maine, and now they're frozen in time. That's what you're going with?"
"It's true. I know you don't believe me yet, but it's true. And you're the one who's supposed to save everyone. You're the Savior."
Emma scoffed in response.
"I'm no savior, kid. I'm the furthest thing from it."
"Maybe now, but you'll see. I believe in you, Mom."
"Speaking of mom's, I should really get you back to yours. What's your address?"
Henry seemed to panic.
"No, please, don't take me home. You have no idea what it's like with her."
"Come on, she can't be that bad."
"She is."
She began looking around for someone to help her, which is when she spotted two people walking down the street. One was an older, balding man with red hair and glasses carrying an umbrella and walking a dalmatian. The other was a young, fair-skinned woman with long golden hair wearing a turtleneck with a poncho that graduated from red to yellow. They were just talking and hadn't seemed to notice the pair yet.
"Excuse me!" Emma called out, getting their attention.
The man and woman turned, the former going wide-eyed when he spotted Henry.
"Henry!" he let out. "Where have you been? Are you alright?"
"I'm fine, Archie," Henry insists.
"Dr. Hopper has every reason to be worried," the woman insisted. "The Mayor's been on a warpath looking for you."
Emma raised an eyebrow.
"You're the Mayor's kid?" she asked.
"Yeah, maybe," Henry answered dismissively.
The woman took notice of Emma, looking surprised.
"You're new here..." she let out in a thick, english accent. "Who are you?"
"Just someone trying to give him a ride home," Emma answered.
"She's my mom," Henry chimed in.
That made both the woman and Archie blink in surprise. The woman observed Emma for a moment, her golden eyes sparkling as she did. Emma was somewhat unnerved, so she turned her attention to Archie.
"You know where he lives?" she asked.
"Oh. Yeah, sure, just uh, right up on Mifflin Street; the Mayor's house is the biggest one on the block."
"Figures."
Archie then turned back to Henry, looking concerned.
"Is this why you missed our session? Did you forget to tell your mother where you were going?"
"She must have forgotten I was going today," Henry supplied.
The woman chuckled, shaking her head. Archie looked mildly disappointed, crouching down so he was face to face with Henry.
"Henry, what'd I tell you about lying? Giving into one's dark side never accomplishes anything."
"Dr Hopper," the woman prompted. "Perhaps we should let this lovely woman take Henry home before it gets any later."
"Right. Have a good night, and uh, you be good Henry."
The two then walked off, leaving Emma and Henry alone once more.
"So, he's your shrink?" Emma inquired.
"I'm not crazy," Henry said defensively.
"Never said you were. Just… he doesn't seem cursed to me. Maybe he's just trying to help you."
"I know he is, but he's the one who needs help. All of them do."
"Because they don't remember they're fairytale characters?"
"Exactly!"
Emma gave a nod as the two of them got back in the car, preparing to drive off.
"Alright, I'll bite. Who's he supposed to be?"
"Jiminy Cricket."
"Right, because of the lying thing. Thought your nose grew a little."
"I'm not Pinocchio."
"Of course not. Cause that would be ridiculous. What about her?"
"You mean Miss Flemming? Honestly, I don't know."
At an old tower out in the heart of the Enchanted Forest, Snow White and Prince Charming arrived via horseback. They hopped off, pulling down their cloaks to look at the tower.
"Snow, I don't think we should do this," Charming insisted.
"We have to do this. He's the only one who can know what is going to happen. I tried to ignore the Queen's words, but with our child on the way..." Snow put a hand on her belly, her free hand clenching. "I have to know."
"He's locked up for a reason, and the Alchemist won't let anyone see him."
"She'll let us in. Trust me."
The two then approached the tower, knocking on the front door. It creaked open as the golden-haired woman came out to greet them. She was dressed in a bronze tunic with a golden cloak draped over her shoulder, a hood resting gently on her head. She had tan breeches and an amber colored skirt held up by a belt. Several potions lined the belt, as well as a small knife and a few scrolls in a satchel. Her most noticeable feature was a large medallion with a golden stone in the center, one that seemed to pulsate with power.
"Your majesties," she greeted, rising to her feet. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"
"We need to speak to the Dark One," Snow insisted.
The Alchemist looked concerned, then turned away.
"I cannot allow that. It took too long to contain him, and allowing visitors will only embolden him."
"Please," Snow pleaded. "The future of our child is at stake."
"Your highness-"
"Nicolette," Snow begged. "As your friend… please."
The Alchemist hesitated once again, then sighed.
"Alright… Just this once."
The two nodded in response as Nicolette let them into the tower. The entire place was filled with books and scrolls, various ingredients for potions hanging on the walls and from the ceiling. She walked over to a trap door hidden beneath her work table, opening it to reveal a long ladder down into the darkness.
"Watch your step, and be careful."
The three made their way downwards into an old mining tunnel dotted with sconces and torches. Nicolette grabbed one as Charming did the same, lighting their way down the tunnel.
"I don't need to warn you about his crafty nature, nor the folly of making a deal with him. Just be careful, watch what you say, and don't approach the bars."
Snow and Charming both nodded as a single cell came into view. It was a fair-sized cell with bars that looked like jagged teeth. Inside was a single man, clinging to the bars upside down . He had skin that looked like it belonged on a crocodile, crooked, jagged teeth, and greasy hair that hung in curls clumps across his face.
"Rumplestiltskin," Nicolette greeted. "You have visitors."
"So it seems," the creature replied, dropping to the ground. "Step into the light… and take off those ridiculous hoods."
The two royals exchanged uneasy looks, then did just that. Rumplestiltskin seemed to giggle in delight at the sight of the Charmings.
"Why, if it isn't the power couple of the Enchanted Forest, Snow White, and her Prince Charming. To what do I owe this rare pleasure?"
"The Queen's threat," Charming explained.
"Ah, yes. Heard about that. Nasty business if you don't mind my saying so."
"Then you know what she plans to do?" Snow asked, stepping forward in desperation, only to be reined in by the Alchemist.
"Oh, I do. And I can tell you… but it's gonna cost you."
"No," Nicolette snapped. "No deals. You're not getting anything from them, Dark One."
"But you haven't even heard my price. I assure you, you won't get a better bargain."
"You heard the Alchemist," Charming insisted. "We won't-"
"What's your price?" Snow interjected.
"Oh, nothing really. Just… the name of your unborn child."
"No!" Charming exclaimed.
"Absolutely not!" Nicolette agreed.
"Done," Snow overruled. "Tell us what you know."
"I believe," Rumplestiltskin spoke, turning to the Alchemist. "You know exactly what the Queen is planning."
Nicolette looked confused for a brief moment, then a look of horror washed over her.
"The Dark Curse..." she whispered.
"Dark Curse?" Charming repeated. "What does that mean? What does she mean?"
"The Queen has, in her possession, a powerful curse," Rumplestiltskin explained. "Soon you'll all be in a prison, just like me, only worse! Your prison, all of our prisons… will be time. And time will stop. And we will be trapped, someplace horrible, where everything we hold dear, everything we love will be ripped from us while we suffer for all eternity, while the Queen celebrates, victorious at last!" He leaned against the bars, pressing his face between them and grinning like a maniac, "No more happy endings."
"What can we do?" Snow asked in desperation.
"'We' can't do anything!" Rumple replied.
"Then who can?" Charming demanded. "The Alchemist?"
Rumple then let out a maniacal laugh in response.
"Her?! You must be joking! No, no, not her," he reached out towards Snow, "that little thing growing inside your belly."
The Alchemist yanked Snow back as Charming drew his sword.
"Touch her again and I'll cut it off!"
Rumplestiltskin pulled his hand back, tutting slightly as he looked on at his visitors. As he did, Snow turned to Nicolette.
"Are you sure we can trust what he says?" she asked.
"Rumplestiltskin would not lie about something like this," the Alchemist answered. "I may not know what the Queen's plans are for the Curse, but I know the Dark One."
"Then you should know that the infant is our only hope," he insisted. "You must get the child to safety, and then on its… twenty-eighth birthday, the child will seek you out. And then the final battle can begin!"
"And I do believe visiting hours are over," the Alchemist declared.
"Agreed," Charming nodded, taking Snow by the arm. "We're leaving."
As he ushered his wife out, Rumple suddenly threw himself against the bars, screeching in maddening fury.
"Hey! No! We made a deal! I want her name! We had a deal! I. Need. Her. Name! I want her name!"
"Her?" Charming replied in confusion. "It's a boy."
"My dear Snow White, you know I'm right." Snow White paused, looking back at Rumple as he met her eyes. "So tell me… what. Is her name?"
Snow hesitated for a moment before responding.
"Emma. Her name is Emma."
Nicolette ushered the Charmings out as Rumplestiltskin grinned to himself.
"Emma..."
...
Later, the three met with their friends and allies in the palace war room to discuss their plans to fight the curse. Charming started off the debate, slamming his fist on the table.
"I say we fight!"
"Fighting is a bad idea," Jiminy Cricket insisted, speaking into both a small translator on his lapel, and a megaphone. "Giving in to one's dark side never accomplishes anything."
"And how many wars has a clear conscience won?" Charming shot back. "We need to take the Queen out before she can inflict her curse:
"Can we even trust Rumplestiltskin?" Doc insisted.
"If you don't trust him, then trust me," Nicolette insisted. "I have heard tale of this curse and I know of its power. It will do exactly what Rumplestiltskin promises."
"So that's it?" Snow let out. "The future is written?"
"No, I refuse to believe that," Charming shot down. "Good can't just lose!"
"Maybe it can…" Snow lamented.
"Don't give into despair, Snow White," Nicolette insisted. "What Rumplestiltskin said about the curse is true, as is what he said about your baby. As such, I had an old friend procure something that may be able to help us."
As if on cue, the doors to the war room opened and the Blue Fairy and some soldiers entered, carrying a massive tree trunk on a cart.
"What the hell is this?" Charming asked.
"Our only hope of saving that child," The Blue Fairy explained.
"A tree?" Grumpy questioned. "Our fate rests on a tree? Let's get back to the fighting back thing.
"The tree is an enchanted one," The Alchemist clarified. "If fashioned into a vessel, it can ward off any curse."
"Geppetto," Blue called out, getting the attention of an old man sitting with his young son in his lap. "Can you build such a thing?"
"Me and my boy. We can do it," he promised, ruffling his son's hair.
"This will work," Blue insisted. "We all must have faith."
"There is, however, a catch," The Alchemist admitted. "The enchantment is indeed powerful, but all power has its limits. And this tree... can protect only one."
Snow and Charming looked at each other in concern.
The Mayor's house was a large estate, one with a beautifully landscaped yard and a large red apple tree. Emma began walking up the front walk, Henry trailing behind her.
Please don't take me back there," Henry insisted.
"C'mon, kid," Emma insisted. "I'm sure your parents are worried sick about you
"I don't have parents. I just have a mom, and she's evil."
"Evil." Emma raised an eyebrow. "That's a bit extreme, isn't it?"
"No, it's not. She doesn't love me; she only pretends to."
"I'm sure that's not true."
Just then, the door opened up, revealing a middle aged woman with black hair and a slight scar on her upper lip. She was the spitting image of the Evil Queen, but with a more tasteful, modern outfit and shorter hair. With her was a man with sandy brown hair, a beard, and a sheriff's coat on over a basic uniform. The second the woman saw Henry, she gasped in relief, running to him as fast as she could in a pair of heels.
"Henry?" She let out before running up to him. "Henry!" She reached out and hugged him, holding him for a good minute before pulling back and looking him over. "Are you okay? Where have you been? What happened?
"I found my real mom!" Henry responded.
He then yanked himself free of her grip before running into the house. The woman watched him go before turning back to Emma.
"You're Henry's birth mother?" she questioned.
"Hi," Emma greeted casually, yet awkwardly.
"I'll.. just.. go check the lad, make sure he's okay," the Sheriff offered, slipping inside.
The two women stood awkwardly on the stoop, as if unsure of what to make of one another. After a moment, the woman cleared her throat.
"I'm Regina Mills, Mayor of Storybrooke."
"Emma Swan, a bail bondsperson from Boston."
Regina gave a small nod.
"How'd you like a glass of the best apple cider you ever tasted?" she offered.
Emma let out a mixture of a breath and a laugh.
"Got anything stronger?" She requested.
…
Once inside, Regina got two glasses from her kitchen and prepared to pour both of them glasses of scotch. She prepared the glasses by a crystal decanter as Emma looked around.
"So, how did he find me?" Emma questioned.
"No idea," Regina replied, "When I adopted him, he was only three weeks old. Records were sealed, I was told the birth mother didn't want to have any contact."
"You were told right."
"And the father?"
"There was one."
Regina approached with the glasses, looking skeptical.
"Do I need to be worried about him?"
Emma took one of the glasses.
"Nope. Doesn't even know."
"Do I need to be worried about you, Miss Swan?"
"Absolutely not."
"Madam Mayor, you can relax," The sheriff called out as he descended the stairs. "Other than being a tired little boy, Henry's fine."
"Thank you, Sheriff Graham," Regina told him as he left, allowing her and Emma to retire to the sitting room. "I'm sorry he dragged you out of your life. I really don't know what's gotten into him."
"Kid's having a rough time. Happens."
"You have to understand, ever since I became mayor, balancing things has been tricky. I imagine it's the same for you and your job."
Emma took a long drink from her cup.
"Uh, I keep busy. Yeah."
"Imagine having another one on top of it. That's being a single mom. So I push forward. Am I strict? I suppose. But I do it for his own good. I want Henry to excel in life. I don't think that makes me evil, do you?"
"I'm...sure he's just saying that because of the fairytale thing."
Regina did a double take for a second.
"What fairytale thing?"
"Oh, you know, his book. How he thinks everyone's a cartoon character from it. Like his shrink is Jiminy Cricket."
"I'm sorry, I-really have no idea what you're talking about.
Emma looked surprised for a minute, but quickly elected to wash her hands of the matter.
"You know what?" She set down her glass, standing up. "It's none of my business. He's your kid. And I really should be heading back."
"Of course," Regina replied as Emma turned to leave.
Emma walked out of the house, pulling her keys from her pocket before glancing back at the house. From the second story corner window, she could see Henry watching her. Still, she turned away and drove off.
...
Emma drove out of town, finding herself somewhat anxious and jittery after her encounter with Regina. He didn't know why, but something about her encounter just set her off. She took a breath to settle her nerves, then caught a glimpse of something in the seat next to her. She glanced over, mildly surprised to see Henry's book.
"Sneaky bastard."
Looking up, Emma suddenly saw a wolf standing in the road. She gasped an swerved, the car spinning out of control and crashing into the "Welcome to Storybrooke" sign. Emma's head hit the steering wheel and she fell unconscious. In the middle of the road, the wolf howled. The storybook, having fallen to the floor, flipped pages with the breeze before coming to rest upon a picture of Geppetto carving the enchanted tree trunk.
At Snow White and Prince Charming's castle, Gepetto and Pinochio worked tirelessly to get the Enchanted Wardrobe ready. Watching from her window, Snow couldn't help but feel concerned and worried. She rubbed her stomach, now heavy with child.
"I don't want to do this," She decided, turning to Charming.
"It has to be you," Charming insisted.
"I'm not leaving you!"
"It's the only way," Charming reassured, holding her close. "You'll go in there, and you'll be safe from the curse."
"But what about you? We finally have our happy ending, we finally have each other, and we're losing it all over again."
"We'll find each other again, we always do."
"Not for twenty eight years!"
"What's twenty eight years when you have true love. I have faith you will save me, just as I did you."
They instantly kissed, before Snow suddenly pulled away.
"What's wrong?" Charming asked as Snow gasped in pain.
"The baby…" She looked up in horror as she clutched her stomach. "she's coming..."
…
On the castle parapet, Grumpy and Sleepy were on guard duty, keeping a sharp eye out for any threats. As Grumpy took a swig from his flask, he looked out and saw something.
"Wake up," he said to Sleepy, kicking him in the leg. "Wake up!"
Sleepy quickly woke up and looked out with Grumpy, seeing a massive cloud of darkness moving towards them.
"The curse!" Grumpy cried out, ringing a nearby bell. "It's here!"
Emma's head was pounding as her senses returned to her. She groaned and sat up, hearing whistling coming from next to her. As her eyes opened up, she found herself laying on a cot in a holding cell. In the cell next to her was a man identical to Grumpy, but a bit taller and a smaller nose.
"What are you lookin at, sister?" he asked in a condescending tone.
"Easy there Leroy," an elderly man similar to Gepetto insisted as he was working on a cabinet. "We have a guest."
Emma sat up and saw the elderly man work.
"So, you're Henry's mother," he recognized. "How lovely for him to have you in his life."
"Actually, I was just dropping him off," Emma explained.
"Can't say I blame ya," Leroy remarked. "They're all brats. Who needs em?"
"Not everyone thinks that," the old man insisted. "What I wouldn't give for a child of my own. Me and my wife, we tried, but… it was not meant to be."
"Well I think you'd be a great father, Marco," the golden woman from last night spoke, entering the room. "Maybe one day, you'll be able to see that dream come true."
"That is very kind of you to say Eve," Marco replied.
"Yeah," Leroy responded. "It's so sweet, it's making me sick."
The woman, Eve, shook her head, smiling as she rolled her eyes.
"There was a time you didn't, Leroy."
"Yeah, right."
"Now, now, Leroy," Sheriff Graham spoke up as he exited his office, twirling a set of keys on his finger. "If I'm going to let you out of here, you need to behave. Now put on a smile, and stay out of trouble.
Graham unlocked the cell door and opened it up, Leroy giving him a clearly fake smile as he walked out of the office. He purposely bumped into Eve as he left, who just sighed and straightened her jacket.
"I can't wait for the day he lightens up."
"I'm afraid you'll have to be waiting for a long time," Graham remarked as he went over and unlocked Emma's cell.
"You're letting me go?" Emma questioned. "And I don't even know what I was charged with."
"Let's just say Regina's drinks are a little stronger than we thought. Don't worry, Miss Flemming was nice enough to post your bail."
"Thanks…" Emma replied suspiciously. "Although I wasn't drunk. There was a wolf standing in the middle of the road."
Eve looked surprised.
"A wolf? Is that so?"
"Graham!" Regina's voice called out. "Henry's run away again! We have to-"
She was cut off when she entered the room and saw Emma standing with Eve and the Sheriff.
"What is she doing here?" she demanded as she approached. "Do you know where he is?"
"I was here all night," Emma answered. "And I have a pretty good alibi."
"It's true," Eve spoke up. "I literally just bailed her out."
"Well, he wasn't in his room this morning," Regina replied.
"Did you try his friends?" Emma suggested.
"He doesn't really have any. He's a bit of a loner."
"Every kid has friends. Did you check his computer? If he was close to someone, he'd be emailing them."
"And you know this, how?"
"Finding people is what I do. Here's an idea, you guys let me out, and I'll help you find him."
"It couldn't hurt to have another set of eyes on this," Eve reasoned.
Regina looked at the two of them, weighing her options.
…
Finally relenting, Regina allowed Emma to help search for Henry. Following on her advice, they checked out his computer, Regina and Eve looking over her shoulder.
"Smart kid," Emma commended. "Cleared his inbox."
"Must have gotten it from his mother," Eve mused.
"So what now?" Regina demanded.
"Fortunately, I'm smart too," Emma replied, pulling a device out of her pocket. "A little hard disk recovery utility I like to use."
"Not bad," Eve commended.
"I'm a bit more old school than that," Graham admitted. "Pounding pavement, knocking on doors, that sort of thing."
"Yeah, well you're on salary," Emma replied. "I charge by delivery. Pounding the pavement is not a luxury I have."
After a few seconds, Henry's inbox returned, with Emma noting a particular email.
"Looks like there's a receipt from a website, ' '. It's pretty expensive. He have a credit card?"
"He's ten," Regina replied in a 'as a matter of fact' tone.
"It's not yours either, Madame Mayor," Eve spoke up, pointing. "Apparently the card belongs to Mary Margaret Blanchard."
"Who's Mary Margaret Blanchard?" Emma asked.
"A school teacher," Eve answered.
"Henry's teacher," Regina clarified, barely suppressed anger in her voice.
…
At the Storybrooke K-12 school, Mary Margaret Blanchard was in the midst of her latest lesson. All of her students were working with wooden birdhouses, painting them and personalizing them. Even so, they were enraptured by their teacher, a short-haired version of none other than Snow White.
"As we build our birdhouses, remember, what you're making is a home. Not a cage. A bird is free, and will do what it will. This is for them, not us. They're loyal creatures," she released a small bluebird out the classroom window, where it immediately perched on a birdhouse, "and if you love them and they love you, they will always find you."
Just then, the school bell began ringing, signaling the students to leave their desks and head for the door.
"We'll pick this up after recess," she said as they left. "No running!"
As the students left, one of them ran up to Mary Margret and handed her a pear, which she eagerly accepted.
"Why thank you!" she replied as Regina and the others entered, her cheerful demeanor becoming somewhat forced at the sight of the mayor. "Miss Mills, what are you doing here?"
"Where's my son?" she demanded.
"Henry? I…I just assumed he was home sick with you."
"If he was, do you think I'd be here looking for him?"
"Well… no, I-"
"Did you give him your credit card?
"What?"
"So that he could find…" Regina replied, gesturing to Emma. "Her."
"I'm sorry, who are you?" Mary Margaret asked.
"Emma Swan," Emma introduced. "I'm Henry's… biological mother."
"I see…" Mary Margaret replied, grabbing her purse and sifting through it.
"You don't know anything about this, do you?" Emma surmised.
To answer, Mary Margaret just reached into her wallet, opening it to reveal a distinct lack of a credit card.
"Clever boy," she remarked. "I should have never given him that book."
"Book?" Emma repeated.
"What book?!" Regina demanded.
"Just a book of old stories I gave him," Mary Margaret answered, turning to Eve. "The one you gave me."
Regina turned to Eve with a look of anger, demanding an explanation. Eve just held up her hands.
"It's something I've had in the shop for awhile, a book of fairytales. Mary Margaret told me about a troubled student and I gave her the book, figuring something lighthearted and full of hope would help said student cope."
"Henry doesn't need some storybook to cope," Regina dismissed. "What he needs is a dose of reality. And this is a waste of time."
Regina walked off, casually knocking some books over as she passed Eve and Emma.
"Have a nice trip back to Boston."
As Regina left, Eve and Emma went over to Mary Margaret, helping her pick up the books.
"Sorry about that," Emma told her.
"Don't be," Eve insisted. "Regina's had it out for Mary Margaret for a very long time." She gave the school teacher a remorseful look. "Still, my giving you that book didn't help anything."
"It's alright," Mary Margaret replied dismissively. "You were trying to help, and so was I."
"How exactly is a story book supposed to help?" Emma wondered.
"What do you think those stories are for?" Mary Margaret proposed as she put the books down on a shelf. "There's a reason these stories are so well known. They're a way for us to deal with this world. A world that doesn't always make sense."
"They provide hope," Eve added. "People who read the stories see what the heroes go through, the odds they overcome, and it inspires them to rise above their own adversities."
"And Henry…" Mary Margaret continued. "Well, he hasn't had the easiest time lately."
"With a mother like Regina, it's hard not to see why," Emma noted.
"It's not just her," Mary Margaret responded. "He's like any adopted child. He wrestles with that most basic question they all inevitably face, 'why would anyone give me away'."
Eve let out a small cough, which quickly reminded Mary Margaret of just who Emma was. She went pale and she quickly tried to recover.
"I am so sorry!" Mary Margaret pleaded. "I wasn't trying to judge you-"
"It's alright," Emma reassured.
"I just wanted Henry to have that hope Eve was talking about. The possibility of having a happy ending is a very powerful thing."
"You wouldn't happen to know where he is, would you?"
"I… you should check his castle."
Inside the castle, Snow cried out in pain as she struggled to try not to give birth.
"I can't have this baby now!" she cried out.
"Doc, do something!" Charming demanded of the dwarf before turning to his wife. "It's gonna be ok. The Wardrobe is almost finished. Just… just hold on."
"No!" Snow let out before letting out another scream.
At that moment, Gepetto came rushing into the room.
"The Wardrobe. It's ready."
"Let's hurry," Charming decided as he was about to pick her up.
"No!" Doc shot down. "We can't move her. Not now."
With that knowledge, he set his wife down and took her hand. He squeezed it, turning to Doc and nodding, urging him to continue. After one last push, their baby girl was brought into the world. Wrapping her in a special blanket, Snow and Charming gazed upon their newborn with love and trepidation.
"The wardrobe…" Snow realized. "It only takes one…"
"Then we failed," Charming dreaded.
"Maybe not..." the strained voice of Nicolette came from the door.
The Charmings turned, seeing the Alchemist leaning against the door. She had a large bump on her head, and was clearly left of center, but was otherwise unharmed.
"You need to put her in the wardrobe," she insisted. "She'll escape the curse, and will be safe."
"What?!" Charming let out. "No, we can't. She-"
"She's right," Snow realized. "It's the only way she'll be safe."
"But she won't know us."
"We have to have faith that she'll come back for us. We have to give her her best chance."
"Listen to Snow," Nicolette insisted. "This is the only way she will live to save us all."
Charming seemed uncertain for a moment, but finally nodded in agreement. He then went over to his daughter, planting a kiss on her forehead.
"Goodbye, Emma," Snow gently said.
Finally, Charming took hold of Emma and rushed towards the wardrobe, with Nicolette following close behind. As they rounded the corner, a trio of Black Knights moved to block their way. The Alchemist threw back her cloak, golden light gathering in her hands as her eyes flashed. Charming drew his sword as well, prompting the Black Knights to charge at them.
Charming clashed with one Knight as the Alchemist fired a golden blast at another, knocking him back. As the fight continued, Charming was able to stop a sword swing from hitting Emma, shoving the Knight away in the process. A spray of golden light cleared the path, Nicolette giving him a nod.
"Go!" she shouted.
Charming nodded as he made a break for the nursery. He quickly kicked down the door and dashed towards the Wardrobe. He opened it up and gently placed Emma inside before planting a kiss on her forehead.
"Find us," he said, closing the Wardrobe and locking it.
Just as he did, two more Black Knights entered the room, forcing Charming to fight them off as best he could. While blocking the strike from one Knight, the other managed to stab him in the stomach, much to Nicolette's horror.
"Your highness!"
She quickly blasted one Knight as the other busted open the doors to the Wardrobe. As he did so, he found that there was no sign of Emma inside, much to the Prince's relief. The Alchemist waved her hand over him, a golden light creating a shimmering shield around him just before the knight took her out, and the world went black.
As Mary Margaret had predicted, Emma found Henry in a run down play castle near the wharf. She carefully climbed up it and sat down next to Henry, his book in hand.
"You left this in my car," she told him.
Henry wordlessly took it as he continued to look at the clock tower just on the horizon.
"Still hasn't moved, huh?" Emma noted.
"I thought when I brought you back, things would change," Henry lamented. "That the final battle would begin."
"I'm not fighting any battles, kid."
"Yes, you are. It's your destiny. You're gonna bring back the happy endings!"
"Can you cut it with the book crap?!" Emma pleaded.
"You don't have to be hostile," Henry replied in a cheeky manner. "I know you like me, I can tell."
Emma looked back at Henry a little dumbfounded.
"You're just pushing me away because I make you feel guilty. It's ok, I know why you gave me away."
"You do?" Emma inquired.
"You wanted to give me my best chance. It's the same reason Snow White gave you away."
Emma sighed in response.
"Look kid, I'm not in any book. I'm no savior. I'm just a person. You are right though, I did want to give you your best chance, but it's not with me. Come on, i'm taking you back to your mother."
"But you're my mother!" Henry pleaded.
"No, I'm not… I'm sorry Henry, but I can't-... I'm not meant to be a mother."
"But you can't send me back there! You have no idea what my life is like with her. My life sucks right now!"
"Kid, you have no idea what sucking is like. My parents? They couldn't even bother to drop me off at a hospital. They abandoned me on the side of a freeway!" Emma's voice started giving way to her pent up emotions. "I ended up in the foster system, and I had a family until I was three. Then they had a kid of their own, and I was sent back…" she paused for a moment to collect herself. "Look, your mom is trying her best. I know it's hard, and I know it feels like she doesn't love you at times, but at least she wants you."
"Your parents didn't leave you on the side of the freeway. That's just where you came through."
"What?"
"The Wardrobe. They put you in the Wardrobe, and you ended up on the side of the street. That's how you escaped the curse."
"Yeah, sure kid."
As Emma and Henry walked off, they were being observed from a distance by Eve, who looked more than a little worried. She turned away, adjusting her jacket before walking off in the opposite direction.
"I have my work cut out for me..." she muttered.
In the aftermath of the fight, Snow came rushing into the room, seeing Charming unconscious on the floor, Nicholette in a similar state next to him.
"No!" she let out, rushing towards him. "No, please. Don't leave me."
As she held Charming in her arms, she could feel a small hum of magic, a barely perceivable golden field surrounding the downed prince.
"You're alive…" she let out, feeling immense relief.
"It won't matter," Regina's voice declared as the Evil Queen sauntered into the room. "In a few moments, you won't even remember who he is."
Snow clung to Charming, looking up at her step mother in misery.
"Why are you doing this?" she sobbed.
"Because this is 'my' happy ending," Regina declared as two more soldiers entered the room.
"The child appears to be gone, your highness," one soldier reported.
Regina's fists clenched as Snow's face brightened.
"She got away… you're going to lose. Good will triumph over evil."
"We'll see about that."
With that, thunder shook the castle as the thick clouds of the curse came rolling in. it tore through the windows, creating a swirling rain of glass that blanketed everyone. Snow buried her face in Charming's chest as the Evil Queen spread her arms, awaiting the curse to take her.
"Where are we going?!" Snow demanded.
"Somewhere horrible…" Regina promised as the cloud began to overtake them. "Somewhere where the only happy ending… will be mine."
Emma led Henry back to Regina's house, the mayor watching the pair with more than a little trepidation. Henry instantly ran past Regina and up the stairs to his room.
"Thank you," Regina said reluctantly.
"Just doing my job," Emma replied.
"Well, he's certainly taken a shine to you."
"Yeah," Emma replied, chuckling a little. "You know, it's funny. It was my birthday yesterday, and when I blew out this little candle I got for myself… I made a wish. That I didn't have to be alone on my birthday. And then, Henry showed up…"
A flicker of something dark crossed Regina's face as she crossed her arms.
"Miss Swan, let me make something clear," she insisted, her tone cold and cruel. "you made a decision ten years ago. And in the last decade, while you've been…" She paused, then let out a dismissive snort. "Well, who knows what you've been doing, I've changed every diaper, soothed every fever, endured every tantrum. You may have given birth to him, but he is my son."
"Hey, I wasn't-"
"No! You don't get to speak. You don't get to do anything. You gave up that right when you tossed him away."
Emma was quickly taken aback by Regina's abruptness towards the situation.
"Do you know what a closed adoption is, Miss Swan? It's what you asked for. You have no legal right to Henry, and you're going to be held to that."
Regina then stalked forward, speaking low and in a threatening tone.
"Now, I suggest you get in your car, and leave this town, because if you don't, I will destroy you if it is the last thing I do." She stared down Emma for a good minute before turning back to the house. "Goodbye, Miss Swan."
"... do you love him?" Emma called back, causing Regina to stop in her tracks.
"What?"
"Do you love him?"
Regina looked back at Emma, her expression and tone never changing.
"Of course I do."
Regina then went back into the house, leaving Emma outside. With a huff, she turned to leave, barely reaching her car when a familiar face walked up.
"Miss Swan," Eve greeted. "I see you got Henry home safely."
"Uh, yeah," Emma replied. "What are you doing here?"
"Just passing by. The night air is something I've always enjoyed, when the world is quiet and the noise of life just… fades." She let out a small sigh, then turned back to Emma. "But, I'm certain you have bigger concerns, like trying to find a place to stay for the night. I fear the Sheriff's station won't be so accommodating this time."
"Actually, I was just gonna head back to Boston. It's clear I'm not wanted here."
"Maybe not wanted, but clearly needed," Eve nudged. "Henry… I haven't seen him smile in a very long time. Regina would bring him into my hobby shop for crafts and DIY toys, but his smile always seemed forced. That is… until you brought him here. That was the first genuine smile I think he's ever had."
"Really?" Emma replied with genuine interest.
"Yes. Look, I'm not trying to tell you what to do. I'm just suggesting you stick around for a bit. Perhaps… a week? Get to know Henry. See if you can make that smile stick around."
Emma pondered that for a moment, before coming to a decision.
"You wouldn't happen to know of a hotel I could stay in."
"Well, there's Granny's bed and breakfast just down the road. It's a quaint place with inexpensive rooms."
"Thanks," Emma replied, getting into her car.
As she drove off, Eve watched with a small smile and a spark of hope in her eyes.
…
As night fell on Storybrooke, Henry laid in his bed as Regina slipped in, careful not to wake him before taking his book. She carried it out of the room, walking down the stairs and catching her reflection in a mirror. She stood there, watching herself hold it for a moment, worried about what was transpiring.
...
At Storybrooke General Hospital, Mary Margaret placed some flowers by an anonymous patient's bedside, holding his hand and offering him some words of encouragement. She then slipped into the ICU, where a John Doe who looked identical to Prince Charming lay in a coma. She gave him flowers before quickly heading out.
…
Back in his house, Henry stared out his window at the Storybrooke Clock Tower. It read 8:15, as it had every day for as long as he could remember.
…
Meanwhile, Emma made her way to Granny's Bed and Breakfast, coming on a heated argument between an elderly woman and a rather promiscuously dressed teen.
"You're out all night!" the older woman, clearly 'Granny', let out. "And now, you're going out again!"
"I should have moved to Boston!" the teen shouted back as they both walked downstairs.
"I'm sorry that my heart attack interfered with your plans to sleep your way down the Eastern Seaboard!"
"Excuse me!" Emma called, drawing the attention of the pair. "I'd… like a room?"
The two remained silent for a moment.
"Really?" Granny responded before heading to the front desk. "Would you like a forest view or a square view? Normally, there's an upgrade fee for the square view, but as the rent is due, I'll wave it."
"Square's fine," Emma replied.
"Excellent, and your name?"
"Uh, Emma. Emma Swan."
"Emma," a new voice let out.
Emma turned to see the spitting image of Rumplestiltskin in a business suit and with a cane in hand standing before her. He lacked the vile complexion that the imp had, but the look in his eyes was of a man who had power and was more than willing to use it.
"What a lovely name."
"Thanks…" Emma replied reluctantly.
The man then walked past Emma towards the front desk, where Granny pulled out a wad of cash from the register.
"It's all here!"
The man took the money without even bothering to count it.
"Of course it is. Thank you, my dear." He turned and began to walk out, but not before giving Emma a once over, his eyes sparkling like Eve's did, but with a more malicious intent. "Enjoy your stay… Emma."
As the door closed behind him, Emma glanced back at Granny with a worried look.
"Who was that?" she asked.
"Mr. Gold," the teen replied, watching him leave through the curtain. "He owns the place."
"The inn?"
"The town," Granny corrected. "Almost every building he owns, aside from town hall, the mayor's house, and Intrinsic Things."
"Intrinsic Things?" Emma asked.
"The hobby shop," the teen clarified.
"Anyways," Granny interjected, steering the topic away from Gold. "How long will you be staying?"
"Uh, a week. Just a week."
"Great," Granny replied, grabbing a key and handing it to Emma. "Welcome to Storybrooke."
…
Henry kept watching the clock tower from his window, starting to lose hope. Before he could leave, the clock tower moved forward a minute, eliciting a massive grin on his face.