All hell breaks loose in Sherwood Clinic. Only days old, but the new village is at war! But it's not the usual bunch of heroes stepping in this time!
[Author Note: The next two chapters are quite a departure from those that preceded it, but necessary for the eventual outcome. I hope you like them. Again, thanks for all the messages and PMs I received. Mostly positive and constructive, I'll reply when I can. I'm trying to keep the chapters a little shorter, but this one has a lot to get through. I particularly like Regina's opinions on sloppy ellipsis and grammar in the last chapter. My dad used to lecture me about it and it's only when I went to university I realised he was right, dammit!]
Granny's Diner
Emma had been in the diner waiting for her breakfast when she received Regina's message, still slowly recovering from her late night out with Robin.
She sipped her third black coffee of the morning, having just ordered pancakes and syrup from Kathleen, one of the younger girls Ruby had recently hired.
She looked up at the departing waitress's back. I'm sure Henry dated her for a couple of weeks? She thought, before looking at the other waitress on duty. Grace, Jefferson's daughter, was now serving an elderly couple she didn't recognize. She remembered Henry having his first crush on Grace, and over the years the girl had blossomed. Looking at her now, Emma couldn't help feeling a hint of jealousy. God, just look at her? Tall, slim, tits like rocks, that face, and the hair, and a figure to die for? Although having just turned forty, all the stresses of her home life and raising children made her feel her age.
Where the hell did that go?
But she was brought out of her melancholy by Regina's text:
'Spencer has taken hostages. We need to meet, IMMEDIATELY…'
Then another message, immediately after it:
'Everyone with magic come to Sherwood Clinic. NOW!'
Emma nearly choked on her coffee. "What the fuck?" she gasped, as several other diners' phones went off simultaneously.
Ruby, standing at the counter looking down at her own phone in surprise, lifted her head to find Emma standing, throwing a bill down to cover the drinks. "Emma, wait? I don't think..." The wolf shouted, but it was too late, as a mist surrounded her, teleporting her away, "…it's Regina!"
The text definitely looked suspicious, yet it seemed Emma wasn't going to waste time asking questions!
Sherwood
Moments later, she apparated onto the neat lawn outside the front of the new Earl of Locksley, as she gathered her thoughts, taking in her surroundings.
The first thing she noticed was the silence; no one around, apart from a couple of guys hanging around outside the front doors of the new clinic. Seeing the former sheriff appear, one of the men, Derek? Dave? - she'd seen his face before, but it didn't matter now, appeared to stiffen noticeably.
"They've gone inside!" he croaked, waving his thumb behind him. Without hesitating, she strode into the building, determined.
Like everyone before her, she was flabbergasted as the small entrance opened up to a vast reception area completely out of proportion with the view from outside. But before she could even take in her changed surroundings, she felt a hard jab of metal against her ribs.
"Hello, Saviour! We've been expecting you!'
She turned to see Clive Thomas, one of Keith Nottingham's former deputies, sporting a weird smirk as he held a pistol against her side. Forgetting where she was and her anger rising, she attempted raising a simple spell to incapacitate the man. Nothing! She groaned, remembering all magic had been neutralized in this place. That's a fucking smart idea!
Thomas? What the hell are you doing?"
"As I've been asked, Saviour, as I've been asked! And as you can see, we're all equal now. There's no magic in here."
"So someone asked you to stick a gun in my ribs? Where the fuck's Regina, Thomas?" she growled. As she looked around, she noticed about six other armed men in the reception area, covering various unfortunate members of the public as they knelt or lay down. Another man darted in from a side door with a sly expression on his face, whispering to a colleague.
"All in good time! First, I've been told to tie you up, then take you in to see Nottingham." He nodded towards a room another other man had just left. "Your missus is in there, with him."
Emma now realised the danger she was in. Without magic, if I let this asshole tie me up, I'm fucked. Better do it the old-fashioned way then? So, without any further warning, the blonde span aside, pushing the gun away from her rib with her left hand, while swinging her right fist up to connect with his jaw. The satisfying thump against bone was immediately followed by a ferocious pain in her knuckles, reminding her how using magic always shielded her from it.
"AARGH!" yelled Thomas, reacting to the punch, momentarily disorientated. He felt the woman grab his wrist, to wrest the gun away. But no sooner had Emma seized the weapon, then she felt a huge blow to the side of her head, as another of the men slammed the end of his rifle butt into her.
"FUUUCK!" As she spun in pain, the blow was immediately followed by a massive punch from Thomas, delivered directly onto her nose, almost certainly breaking it, as she went down, unconscious, within seconds.
"Let's see how you like it, you cunt?"
~oOo~
In the adjoining auditorium, Regina now knelt on the hardwood floor, hands tightly bound behind her back, facing the lectern.
She could feel the entire left side of her face swelling up from the blow as the pain came. Beside her, Caroline Locksley, barely conscious, also knelt, her head bowed, as blood started pouring from her nose.
"You bastards! You know you can't possibly get away with this?" Regina screeched, scowling at the former Mayor.
"Oh, do shut up you stupid woman? We've all heard quite enough from you. You really imagine any of us care what you think anymore? We've put up with so much crap from you and your family over the years. You, White and that insufferable arse I once treated like a son! You've only managed to control everything, and everyone, because you had magic! But we're fixing that little issue today!"
If looks could kill, Spencer would be ashes. Despite increasing pain throbbing across her face, she snarled, ready to unleash another barb, when the door from the reception area burst open. Two armed men dragged a lifeless body in by the arms. Recognising who it was by her hair and clothes, Regina's face turned from red, to white in horror!
"EMMA?" She screamed, struggling against the ropes that held her, desperate to get to her fallen wife. "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO HER?"
Clive Thomas, face bruised but no longer afraid of the bloodied woman before him, cackled. "No more than she deserves! That bitch punched me in the face a couple of years back, and just now. So as she hasn't any magic to help her out this time, I guess I've given her a little taste of her own medicine, your most gracious majesty?" He sneered, pulling the body to the foot of the stage. Regina was relieved to hear a loud groan coming from her wife.
At least she's still alive!
"EMMA!" She cried, desperate to comfort her.
The two soldiers roughly bound the Saviour's hands behind her back, leaving her lying prone. As they stood, the door again opened to another man, a smaller, squat figure, who headed straight to Spencer. "You have news, Colonel Smith?"
"Aye, sir! several fairies came and all have been held in one of the wards, though we've seen no sign of the Dark One, the Sorcerer, the Blue Fairy or Hood yet! It appears Hook is still on board his ship. Either he's got no phone, or out of range to read the queen's message yet." Smith reported, looking down at Regina.
"Ha!" Spencer smiled. "I hardly think Hook's going to waste his time with her anymore!" He sneered, nodding at Emma's body, now moving up onto her knees with difficulty. "Discovering his old girlfriend's now a raving dyke, shacked up with one of the most evil bitches around, would put most men off."
Regina was too busy trying to shuffle across to Emma when her ears pricked up. The Queen's message? That's why he took my phone?
Spencer saw her trying to put two and two together. "Yes, Regina, you heard right. Your message sent from your phone! You've told everyone you need help and get here immediately, so I'm sure your cavalry is on its way. Let's just say I've a small reception planned for them? Just like your bitch wife."
"You're a fucking idiot, Spencer!" Groaned a voice from the floor. Emma, now presumably having heard the conversation. Regina's breath hitched when she saw the clearly broken nose and purple bruising now coming out over her eyes. "Can you imagine what we're going to do to you, when we get out of here? Once we're out…" she stopped when she saw him smirk, completely unconcerned. Regina knew that look.
"That's it, isn't it? That's your plan! You're not going to let us leave, are you?" she snarled.
Spencer smiled, nastily. "Got it in one! I just need everyone who has magic in here, a place where you can't use it to control us. It's perfect! A real level playing field!"
"Then what? You kill us? Take control? Use armed force instead of magic?" growled Regina. "It'll never work, Albert! It only takes one of us." She yelped as Spencer leant forward, slapping the non-injured side of her face.
"Enough! Any more and we'll gag you. Kneel quietly now, with your…girlfriend." He said the last word with clear disgust.
"I'm her WIFE, not her girlfriend, you gormless shit!" Emma yelled, before being delivered a swift punch on the jaw from Smith, knocking her onto her back again, her hands still tied behind her.
"Nobody cares anyway, you dirty old dyke! You'll be dead soon enough."
Albert Spencer looked down at the pitiful pair, now both battered and bruised. Emma's right eye had now puffed up painfully, already turning black as the blood across her nose and face congealed. Regina's left cheek had similar swelling now, distorting one eye socket. The pair gazed at each other, both silently crying out to offer the other woman some sort of silent comfort, before Spencer again started shouting at his minions.
"Mason, check the latest arrivals! Phone around! We need the Dark One, Merlin and Locksley in here, as soon as they arrive! Say anything. Just get them into Reception somehow and put those magic cuffs on them from the station just to be sure. Then you can shoot 'em, beat 'em, kill 'em as far as I'm concerned, just get them in here! Anyone else just bind and gag them. Don't bother about the sprogs yet. We'll deal with the two Mills kids later, before school ends. Who else has magic out there?"
"Well Sir, the Wicked Witch ain't got magic no more, so I don't think she'll be over anytime soon. The Blue Fairy has it, but hasn't arrived yet. The Hatter hasn't been seen for ages, so I think he's gone."
Emma looked at her wife hesitantly. He hadn't mentioned Henry. So, there was a chance he'd be overlooked. Just pray to god he speaks to Gold, before he does something stupid like trying to mount a one-man rescue mission?
Regina looked at Mason, whose face she vaguely remembered from long ago.
"How could you do this? What have we ever done to harm you? You've no idea what this man is capable of."
"How could I? You have no idea who I am, do you?" He yelled at her, his voice low and angry, and his face inches from hers. "My name's Jeffrey Mason…Your Majesty!" He almost spat the title out. "You murdered my father on his wedding day! For the terrible crime of trying to get married to my mother on the edge of your lands without your permission? You drew up in that ridiculous carriage, with that pathetic father of yours in tow, just as we were getting started. You told us we were trespassing, and just murdered him right in front of us! Murdered him! My mother was expecting at the time, and miscarried because of what you did! She was so broken, she killed herself a month later! So, don't you DARE ask me why, you vile, obnoxious, self-important piece of filth! Oh, what the hell…" and with that diatribe, the man raised his boot to slam Regina hard under the chin, causing a loud crack in her jaw as she fell back, now completely unconscious.
'"REGINA!" Emma cried out, distraught at the brutal attack, too devastated to respond, knowing if she did the situation could get even worse. Mason looked down at her, no longer with fear, but contempt.
"And you? Call yourself a fucking Saviour? When did you save someone who wasn't in your family? The rest of us could go hang, provided your own little gang was taken care of. Never mind the rest of us poor bastards! You're a fucking disgrace. No wonder Hook gave up on you!"
Emma looked at his wild, angry eyes. There was no point trying to calm him or make him see reason. Best to stay silent and hope, no, pray, for the best. Her mind went to how on earth they were going to get out of this. They were tied up in a room with armed men ready to kill them, and no magic. For the first time in a very long time, she felt hopeless and very, very, scared.
Then she thought of Killian, the man who'd saved her life in the past. He wouldn't care now. The moment he realized she'd moved on, so did he. She thought of Gold. If Belle had been in the room with her, he would have found a way in, a loophole, to get past the magic barrier and slaughter every one of Spencer's men. Neil would have approved of that! Then she thought of Robin, the man who had built the bloody place. With his new powers, perhaps he could do something? Anything?
Outside...
Robin and Merlin apparated into a small copse, a few hundred yards from the front of the clinic.
"Still need to get used to doing that!" whispered Robin, orientating himself.
"No need to whisper, Robin, we're in a magical cage - they can't see or hear us," Merlin assured him. "Now, let's not waste time! People without magic are going to start coming here soon, now they've got Regina's message. We need to stop them, before…" as he spoke, a nearby magical swirl heralded two new arrivals. Henry and Gold? Anxious for them not to be seen, Merlin twirled his fingers, to collect the pair into his magical shroud, before the mist had even cleared.
"WHOAH!" yelled Henry. "What the hell just happened?"
"Sorry gentlemen, I was trying to stop you being seen! Here, you're now invisible to others."
Gold merely nodded, as though this was all an everyday event for him. "Good day Professor. Mr. Locksley."
"Hello Mr. Gold, I'm assuming you also saw the message purporting to come from Mrs. Swan-Mills?"
"Henry was with me when it arrived. We both realized it was a crude hoax."
"Well we believe Regina may be being held in there, along with my daughter and who knows how many people. After all, it's the perfect place to capture anyone with magic. My Annabelle was also working there this morning, and isn't responding to my calls. Until we get inside, we have no way of knowing what's going on."
"I think my other mum may be in there too! She poofed out of Granny's almost as soon as she got the message!" Henry looked seriously worried. "I tried calling both of them, but nothing. Grandpa, I've an idea! If you go in there, you lose your magic advantage, right? But can't you control anyone before they go in there, then get them to do what you want?"
Gold smiled down on his grandson, mischievously. "Indeed, we can my boy. You sound more like your father every day!" However, his admiration was interrupted by two guards leaving the building opposite, clearly on an mission. Rumple recognized the smaller, squat man.
"That's Captain Thomas, previously one of George's most loyal soldiers. I guess he's as good a source as any." Then, with a small twirl of his fingers, the man apparated from beside his colleague, in a short mist, from the front of the clinic to be unceremoniously dumped in front of Rumple, within Merlin's sound cage.
"WHAT THE FUCK!" he yelled from the ground, as he saw The Dark One looking down on him. Seeing the angry faces of Gold and Robin, Thomas started to panic, realizing he was in serious trouble.
"Right. You!" Robin grabbed the man by his shirt, hoisting him onto his legs. "What's happening in there? Speak now, and speak clearly!"
But Thomas was a tough old bird. "I'm sayin' nothin' to you, thief! You wanna know? Go find out for yourself!"
Gold didn't waste any more time. "Wrong answer!" He growled, forcing his fist into the man's chest. He pulled out the heart in a smooth, brutal movement, Thomas screaming in agony at the contact as Gold instantly transformed himself into the scaly, gold features of The Dark One.
"Now, dearie, you know how this works, don't you? Answer the question Mr. Locksley has asked, or I crush this little organ of yours, and you're history. Decide now!" Rumple gave the beating organ a little squeeze, earning a painful groan from the former guard, who slumped to his knees, knowing the game was up.
"It's King George. He's got the Queen, the Saviour and a bunch of others at gunpoint in one room, and others elsewhere."
Robin's worst fears were confirmed. "Are they okay? Where are they holding them? Is anyone hurt?"
Thomas refused to look anywhere but down on the ground, clearly trying to avoid the question. Robin grabbed his hair brutally, forcing his head back to meet his eyes. "ANSWER ME! Or on my son's life, I will take your heart from the Dark One and crush it in front of you myself!" Rumple gave the heart an extra squeeze for good measure.
"Aargh, yes!" he flinched, "The Saviour took a beating. She's tied up."
"And Regina? Tell me!"
"She's unconscious, and…tied up too."
At that, Robin's hand went to the man's throat, squeezing tightly as he lifted him. With his free hand he lifted the beating heart from Rumple's palm, squeezing it firmly and bringing a loud scream of pain from their captive.
"Why-is-she-unconscious? Who did it?"
Merlin, having been silent till now, calmly stepped forward, placing a gentle hand on the archer's shoulder to stop him going any further.
"Robin, I understand your anger, but we'll gain nothing if this man loses conscious? Here, allow me?" With a flick of his fingers, a large dream catcher appeared in front of them. A light blue wave of light emanated from it towards Thomas's head, directed by Merlin, which within seconds started to fill the screen with images from the man's very recent memory.
Robin, Rumple and Henry looked on, horrified with what they saw, from the man's view, the commotion that had just taken place inside the building. Robin's anger grew as he witnessed Emma receive a rifle butt to the head, followed by Clive Thomas himself punching her in the face! As his rage increased, so did his grip on the heart and Thomas slipped into unconsciousness. Fortunately, the dream catcher continued to play out recent events as Merlin eased the heart out of Robin's hands, fearful the Outlaw might turn it to dust in his tightening fist.
Seeing Geoffrey Mason kick Regina in the head was the last straw! Robin almost wept with barely-controlled fury as he saw her slump to the ground.
"I'll fucking kill him! I'll rip his lungs out, the bastard!"
Seeing him like this, Merlin was glad he's had the foresight to remove the heart from his hand. "Robin, you MUST calm yourself! We need to plan our next steps carefully."
"CALM? After what that swine did?"
"Yes, even after what he did. Robin, that man in the dream catcher said it himself. The Evil Queen murdered his father, caused his mother to miscarry, and she went on to commit suicide. That's three members of one family dead, due to her actions."
"SHE'S NOT THAT WOMAN ANY MORE!"
"True, but the affects of her past actions live on! While she's now Regina, a loving mother to your children, people like that man had their whole lives ruined by what she was. For them there's no respite, no recovery! Their families are gone. Forever. Robin, I'm not justifying what he did, but you must understand the hatred he feels? So he deserves to be punished for harming her, but he doesn't deserve to die!"
Robin sighed angrily, knowing he was right. He continued to watch silently as the scene played out. Seeing his cousin Carrie, her face covered in heavy bruises made him want to vomit. She and Emma were now kneeling either side of Regina's body, all with hands bound behind their backs, as the former King George strutted around the room, firing orders at all staff as other innocent bystanders knelt or lay nearby.
Merlin turned to Henry, who was now shaking in silent rage, teary-eyed having just witnessed his mothers' battered faces and suffering. He held him by the shoulders.
"Henry, I know this is hard for you, but we need your help. You probably still have many Storybrooke contacts on your phone?"
"Of course. Why?"
"I need you to send everyone a message, telling them to ignore your mother's earlier message. Tell them that people are being held hostage in the clinic and to avoid the area completely. Tell them Spencer has illegally armed men on site and it's too dangerous. Tell them to stay away until further notice."
"But won't Spencer see it? He has mum's phone!"
"Yes, that's the point. He'll then know that we know; but it will keep them contained inside. Nobody else will step outside while we figure out what to do!" As he spoke, both Merlin and Robin's new phones buzzed as a new text arrived.
[David Nolan: CHARMING]
Recognising the safe word agreed with Emma's father, Robin immediately rang the former sheriff.
"David, is everyone safe over there?"
"Kind of. Philip's called out the militia, and some of them are guarding the school, as we speak. So the kids are safe. Mulan and Aurora have secured the town hall and the sheriff's office, and they're letting everyone know what's happening. Dorothy said Ruby went straight into the forest once she got the message. So she may possibly be in there. What's going on?"
Robin didn't want to tell David about his daughter but knew he had to.
"Spencer's definitely holding hostages, including Emma and Regina." He could hear the gasp at the other end. Typical father.
"I'm coming over. Robin, poof me over there, now."
"I will David, but give us a chance to plan this right? They're being held under heavy armed guard, so we need to be careful. There's no magic in there, remember? First, we need to keep everyone else away, and make sure the bastard doesn't have anybody else causing problems elsewhere. Can you help with that?"
"Philip's already onto it. Robin, if Emma's in danger, I need to be there! Have you heard anything from inside?"
How do you tell a father his daughter's been beaten senseless?
"David, I'll let you know as soon as I have any more news. But I need to go now, someone's coming!" With that, he ended the call, so Emma's father didn't keep insisting on coming over. The less people here the better.
~oOo~
As Merlin knelt down to place the unconscious man's heart back in his body, Rumple, seeing his shaking grandson, stepped forward.
"Henry my boy, it's time for us to do something useful. Let's assess the situation out there properly; especially how many people Spencer has? How about I show you how to do your very own aerial survey?"
"Aerial? You mean we can fly?" That earned a badly-timed giggle from his magical tutor.
"In a manner of speaking. You'll still be under an invisibility cloak, but yes, we will float above. Here, let me show you?" He held his right hand, and in a matter of moments, a familiar dark-grey mist engulfed them, leaving a smiling Merlin and Robin behind.
"Impressive young man, that!" said Robin.
"I agree. Most impressive, and with an astonishing future to come, I assure you!"
Inside the auditorium, Regina remained unconscious, her badly-swollen face now joined by bruising from her broken jaw, itself the result of Mason's kick.
Emma leaned across to get closer, her hands still tightly tied behind her back. "Come on Gina? Wake up?" She pleaded.
The adjoining door to the reception swung open once again, as two of Spencer's men dragged another struggling victim into the room. Emma's breath hitched when she realized who it was.
"Ruby?"
The café owner looked up, revealing a large, deeply-blackened right eye, swollen to a mere slit. "Emma? What the hell did they do to you?" She groaned, earning a hard cuff around the side of her head from one of her captors, making her growl loudly. If I could just change, that fucker would pay! When she saw Emma's blood-spattered face, as she lay still next to Regina, she realised their situation was even worse than she imagined!
"Put Lucas over there!" Spencer pointed to the opposite side of the stage. "I don't want them even talking to each other. Put a gag on her, if need be!"
The two burly men lifted Ruby under her shoulders, dragging her across the floor before unceremoniously dumping her on her knees.
"You heard the Mayor, now shut it, if you know what's good for you."
Emma scanned the room, trying to think of any way to get out. This was bad. Really bad! From what she could see, there was no way Spencer and Nottingham were going to get away with this. If they threatened to kill everyone inside, everyone with magic outside would probably get them eventually. Rumpelstiltskin would almost certainly kill them. And Henry? He's just come into his magic. If he lost control at the thought of his mothers, he could go and do something stupid, even kill Spencer himself! So why are they doing this? They can't possibly win…unless… That's when she realised the plan!
Unless they have no intention of letting anyone leave here alive? That's it! They just capture everyone with magic inside, kill them, then wait for more victims to come in and do the same again! Without any magicians, they can go back to controlling everyone!
~oOo~
A good thirty minutes after leaving, Rumple and Henry apparated back behind Merlin's invisible shield. "Grandpa, that was bloody awesome!" said the young man, still excited. "Robin, we were floating all over the top of this place! We could see everything!"
"That's great Henry, but did you find out anything useful?"
Rumple answered for him. "We counted around twenty-five armed men in a small gulley, about a quarter mile from here, mostly armed, plus a few on the perimeter a few hundred yards away. Several were wearing that ridiculous checkered uniform of King George's royal guard."
"Plus, a couple were on phones. They're clearly coordinating with some of them inside." Henry elaborated.
Merlin sighed. "Very well. Mr. Gold, would you kindly incapacitate them? I suggest a short sleeping spell for a day or so, rather than actually killing them?"
"Spoilsport!" the Dark One gave him a mischievous smirk, enjoying the adventure.
"Thank you. Now then, while you were gone, Mr. Locksley also been busy with his Merry Men. Fortunately, most of them were further away from the clinic when Spencer struck. Robin, would you kindly explain your plan?"
~oOo~
Everything kicked off about fifteen minutes later.
In the clinic's large reception area, Nottingham surveyed the captives. Lying or sitting on the carpet in front of the main desk, lay around thirty frightened villagers, huddled together for comfort. Surrounding them, with their backs to the wall, stood six armed men, rifles pointed threateningly at the group. Nottingham addressed them, with a nasty leer.
"Ladies and gentlemen. My apologies for the interruption to your day, but it has unfortunately been necessary for us to take action to arrest the ringleaders of the recent coup at the Mayor's office! As you're aware, Mr. Spencer was illegally thrown out of the town hall the other day. myself was also forcibly removed as sheriff. We're seeking to rectify this by arresting those responsible! Several of the collaborators have been taken into custody already. Anybody who does not possess magic has nothing to fear. So all we ask is that you sit quietly until we've finished? But I have to warn you, that anyone seeking to resist us will be dealt with harshly. So please, sit still, be quiet and things should hopefully soon be over." He then addressed his men, lowering his voice a little, though they could all still hear.
"Gentlemen, kill anyone who resists."
As he turned to head back into the main auditorium, loud knocking was heard from the main doors, a sequence of three followed by two strikes, as agreed in advance. Two of Spencer's men slowly opened the doors, yelling out, "Who goes there? Identify yourself!" Yelled Nottingham.
"Captain Thomas! Reporting back with more prisoners, sir!" a familiar voice yelled back.
"Open the doors!" Nottingham ordered. As the doors opened, he was met with the sight of Thomas standing in front of three men, their hands tied in front of them, escorted by two of Spencer's guards immediately behind. Nottingham recognized them immediately. Will Scarlet, Little John, in the middle, and Alan-A-Dale.
"Ah, some of the so-called Merry Men, I see? Well done, Captain! A fine prize indeed. I have a score or two to settle with these particular gentlemen. Perhaps Mr. Hood would like to try and rescue them?"
"Aye, sir, a prize indeed," said Thomas, trying not to wince in pain.
"Bring them in. We'll take them straight in to see the Mayor."
~oOo~
The doors opened wide, the prisoners and escorts stepping into the main reception area, about to walk into the auditorium.
Nottingham turned to face them. "I'm sure Mr. Spencer will be-"
The enormous bang cut him off mid-sentence, a piercing white flash taking everyone by surprise, apart from the three captives. As eyes had been on the largest man in the middle, Little John, the guards had totally missed Alan-a-Dale's shrugging off the faked ties around his wrists, to reach behind his head into his hood, pulling out Rumpelstiltskin's primed thunder-flash, and slamming it into the floor.
Alan, Will & John closed their eyes tightly, as instructed, though the piercing white from the small grenade which temporarily blinded everyone else in the room, was felt even under their closed eyelids! The enormous bang that followed it, shook the room, giving all three captives their chance!
Within seconds, John stepped across to two of the guards closest to the door, his enormous hands gripping the back of one man's head, pulling him sideways before slamming his skull hard into that of a second man, the two falling unconscious almost immediately. Swiping a rifle from one, and a sword from the other's scabbard, John turned to face a third guard, raising his rifle, and pressing it into the man's throat as he started to react to events by raising his weapon.
"I wouldn't, pal? Drop it, before I drop's ye!"
The man, a young former officer in George's guard, looked down the barrel pointing into his throat and surprisingly, smirked. The safety catch was on! "Not used to handling guns, are you, fatso?"
John responded to his arrogance by swiftly pulling the barrel point from his throat and swinging the butt hard into the man's head, making him silently collapse to the floor.
"You're right. Guns was never my thing."
Having been the one to set off the flash, Alan was more prepared than any of them. He stepped swiftly towards one guard who, temporarily blinded, had nonetheless pulled a pistol from its holder in self-defence. Alan calmly pushed the gun down before slamming his head hard into the man's face, hearing a satisfying crunch of cartilage. He went down to the floor almost instantly. Alan then stepped nimbly across to another dazed guard, raising his right leg, spinning his entire body backwards to deliver an almighty thump to the soldier's face with his heel. The victim started collapsing, but not before a follow up kick was delivered to the side of his head. Down he went, and Alan was silently grateful he'd remembered Mulan's excellent training. She's a bloody genius, that one! He thought. Wish she was here now!
Will's task was to secure the inner doors and recover the reception area. He did so by charging towards the armed man standing next to the auditorium entrance, raising his entire body into the air to deliver a tremendously hard kick to his head. The man scrambled back, dazed but still able to fight. Without hesitating, Will punched him hard on the nose, breaking it instantly. He went down.
Now, the only one standing was Nottingham!
Keith Nottingham couldn't understand why Thomas and the men who brought them in were just standing there, not fighting? Then he realised. Someone got to them first! His anger instant at being fooled so easily, he pulled his short sword from its scabbard, racing back to the nearest outlaw to plunge it into his back.
At least that was the plan.
However, as the tip was about to drive in between Will Scarlet's shoulder blades, A zipping noise was heard as something flew through the air. Nottingham felt his sword hand pushed backwards, glancing up to see that an arrow had pierced deep into his wrist! Moments later, he felt the pain, and it was excruciating! Looking up to see where it had come from, he paled as he saw the chief outlaw himself walking into the entrance, side-by-side with the Sorcerer, arrow-cocked, ready to fire again.
Seeing his men had already secured the room sooner than expected, Robin walked over to Nottingham. The former sheriff had a gun by his side, cocked and ready to use, although the pain coming from his right wrist now took all his attention. Until Robin reached him. The outlaw lowered his bow, ignoring the arrow imbedded in the man's wrist as he grasped Nottingham firmly by the throat, squeezing hard.
"You had your chance. Now, you WILL pay!" Robin withdrew his grip before fisting the hand and slamming it hard into the former Sheriff of Nottingham's throat, forcing his Adam's Apple back. Nottingham collapsed to his knees instantly, his throat too constricted to even choke. He tried drawing breath, but it was way too painful. Then a harsh right foot on the back of his head rendered him unconscious.
The outlaw walked to the centre, where the traumatized villagers lay or knelt, some clutching each other in shock following the enormous flash and bang. "Sorry everyone! Now, I must ask you to leave very, very quietly? John, help them please?"
Little John nodded, lifting one of the traumatized villagers to leave the room, while Will and Alan stripped the unconscious guards of their weapons. "Could some of you good folks help us tie up and drag these 'ere villains outside? I'm sure the Dark One can take good care of 'em from there?" said John. A small group instantly formed to help.
"Now then," Merlin walked around to the reception desk, pulling the small microphone to him. Pressing the little button at the base, everyone inside the building heard the distinctive clack of the loudspeaker system.
"Ladies and Gentlemen. This is Merlin!" He used his most imperious voice, usually reserved for errant medical students. "This is a message for Albert Spencer and all those currently holding hostages or captives."
Collective gasps were heard throughout the hospital. Perhaps this wasn't going to end so badly, after all?
"Mr. Spencer, all your armed colleagues outside the clinic have now been incapacitated. Furthermore, Nottingham and others are under arrest and will be tried in due course. I must insist you lay down your weapons and walk slowly outside with your arms in the air? We are full
aware of Mr. Spencer's murderous little plan, and I can assure you he will not be allowed to succeed. Now is the time to give yourself up. You will be dealt with fairly, if you surrender quietly and calmly."
By now, more of Robin's men had entered the reception area. Noises were heard from the floor above, as people started to walk down the stairs, some with their arms in the air as Merlin instructed. Some of the former hostages now surrounding them, using their former captors' own weapons to contain them. Annabelle suddenly appeared on the landing, yelling down as soon as she saw her father in the foyer.
"Dad! Dad! We need you up here? Quickly!"
Merlin, greatly relieved to see his daughter safe and sound, called up. "Anna? What is it? What's wrong?"
"There's been a few stabbings, and someone's been shot! Victor's doing all he can, but we're short-handed in theatre! Carrie Locksley's in the building too, but she's not answering her phone…"
Robin froze. "I saw Carrie in your dream catcher. She's in there, injured."
Carrie? He only just got her back yesterday from her trip with Whale to New York! "I'll try and find her. Will, Alan, please organize the men to clear the place, room by room? But stay away from that door - it goes to the auditorium and we think that's where Regina and Emma are being held hostage. Spencer's probably holed up in there too, so that's where they'll keep the best fighters and the most guns. So, go to it!"
"Got it, boss!" called Alan, really getting to enjoy this rescuing stuff after such a long time.
"John, could you go ask Gold for another of those thunder-flash things?"
As the large man turned, the Dark One himself walked into the room, barely containing a most devious smile. "Ahead of you, as always, dearie!" he cackled, before handing a round device, larger than the previous thunder-flash, to the outlaw. "Now, go steady with that, Locksley. And for heaven's sake, don't drop it accidentally! It's about five times louder than the first and you'll definitely need the earplugs again for this one. And when you slam it down, keep your eyes tightly shut!"
~oOo~
Within a few minutes Alan and Will reported back. Most rooms had been cleared but a few pockets of resistance remained. However, Will had disturbing news.
'Rob, young Henry's been taken hostage down in the cellars! Seems he tried to get in through the back, thinking Spencer's mob wouldn't be covering it. He thought wrong. I think there's a least two of them holding him? One of them says they won't come out without some sort of guarantee, or Spencer telling them to let him go!"
"Dammit!" Robin growled. While the young man's bravery impressed him, he knew not to go off plan. Contain them, reduce the number, and only fight when you absolutely have to! However, before he even formulated a plan, Rumpelstiltskin stepped forward to the desk, looking to the microphone.
"May I?"
~oOo~
Back in the auditorium, Emma squinted through heavily swollen eyes at Albert Spencer. The former king and mayor was pacing angrily, unsure of his next move. The six armed men in the room also looked to each other, nervous. That lifted her spirits. If Merlin's here, there's a fair chance we'll get out of this alive? Although it made her feel better, bile lodged in her throat as she looked at the state of Regina's face, her beautiful features wholly distorted from the swelling. But at least she was awake, trying to smile comfortingly at her wife. Difficult with a broken jaw! Neither of them were ready for the next announcement over the tannoy system:
"Good afternoon to you all! This is Rumpelstiltskin. Though most of you may know me as the Dark One?"
Emma and Regina, though battered, shared a look. Where was this going now HE was involved?
"The Sorcerer has been most patient with those of you causing us problems today, and has asked you to surrender quietly. Now, most of you have given yourselves up and are outside, safe and sound. Some of you will sleep safe in jail beds tonight! However, there are a few of you who insist on keeping people hostage in this building? As you're aware, the Dark One always keeps his promises. I do not have Merlin's kind heart, or Mr. Locksley's sense of justice. But I do know how to keep a promise! So here is my promise. If you surrender yourselves immediately, leaving all weapons behind, I promise not to execute you the moment you finally leave these premises!"
Emma tried to laugh, but the pain made it too difficult. However, the Dark One wasn't finished:
"I also have a special message for the two armed gentlemen currently holding Mr. Henry Mills at gunpoint, in the annex of this building."
Emma and Regina thought the same thing - Shit, they've got Henry!
"You will immediately hand over your weapons to Master Mills, and allow him to escort you into the Reception area. If you fail to do so within the next five minutes, or ANY harm befalls my grandson whatsoever, I swear here and now to skin you both alive, repair your flesh and skin you again and again until you beg me for death! That is all. Five minutes, gentlemen."
Close by, Robin tried to stifle a laugh, as Merlin smirked. "You think he's bluffing?"
"Probably not," said Robin. "I was half expecting him to finish with "Have a nice day?"
~oOo~
It took just over a minute before doors were heard opening, and two very ashen-faced men, their hands held behind their heads in defeat, slowly walked from a side room, and down the staircase, followed closely by Henry Mills, carefully carrying a selection of guns, rifles and a side sword. He seemed to be limping slightly, but smiled when he saw his paternal grandfather below, before shouting to the two in front.
"Keep moving! These are starting to get bloody heavy!"
Arriving at the reception desk, Henry dropped the weapons and stepped up to Rumple, pulling him into a broad hug.
"Thanks Gramps!" Rumple reciprocated, quietly relieved the young man was unharmed. John led the two silent captors away, as Henry continued. "That was awesome! When you threatened them, they almost shit themselves! I've never seen anyone look so scared."
"That was no threat Henry, that was a promise."
Which earned a quizzical look from his grandson. "You'd really do that? Skin them?"
"To anyone hurting Bae's boy? In a heartbeat!"
~oOo~
Down in the auditorium a few minutes later, Ruby Lucas, her right eye completely closed with all the bruising, was able to collect her thoughts.
Seeing her two magical friends battered and bruised close by, made her heart sink. She'd been in awkward situations before, but had never seen the two most powerful women she'd ever known in such a vulnerable state? A twitchy, trigger-happy Albert Spencer had left the stage and was now in close discussions with his remaining thugs. There was no doubt the Dark One's threats had spooked them, and they were frantically trying to develop a plan.
For the first time since she'd been dragged into the room, she was in a position to whisper to the women, hopefully without getting caught and beaten again. She leaned across to Emma.
"Psst! Em?" She whispered. "You still have magic, right? Some way of getting us out of here?"
Emma, whose own bloody face now resembled a car wreck, tried to whisper from the side of her mouth. "No. No magic here. It's useless. Just pray Merlin and Gold can do something? These guys are panicking, and could do something stupid. And Gina's in a bad way. I'll be honest, Rubes, I'm…I'm scared!"
Ruby looked at the hunched body of the former Evil Queen. Her face was completely distorted, and she looked like she was barely conscious. Ruby knew they were in real shit, but still tried to comfort her friend.
"Emma, now you look at me! You're strong, but right now you need to be like your mum. I know you think she's ditzy sometimes, but I'll tell you, I've spent years on the run with Snow White, and she's the most awesome-fucking-woman I've ever known! You're like her, my girl! Have her faith! We'll get through this."
Emma croaked. "I'll try, alright? I'm just -" she stopped when the tannoy crackled into life again.
"This is Robin Locksley. I have a message for Albert Spencer. Albert…"
Spencer flinched. He hated people using his first name. I'm a former fucking king for god's sake!
"Albert, you'll be delighted to know that Henry Mills is now safe and sound, your men having very sensibly decided to surrender to him peacefully. So now everyone, apart from those good people you currently have in the auditorium, have left the building and they are all safe and well, apart from those needing treatment."
Regina and Emma both heaved a huge sigh of relief. Henry's safe! Plus, Robin's calm, reassuring voice somehow seemed to ease them a little, despite the situation they were still in.
"However, I know that you and the rest of your men are holed up in there. Mr. Gold and Professor Sage have offered you the chance to come out alive if you all surrender peacefully? Now, I'm a little more benevolent. Albert, I know how much you pride yourself on being a king, a true leader of men? And as you know, true leaders always lead from the front. So, my proposition is quite simple. I challenge you to a duel. Just you and me? There's no magic in here, so we're equal. What do you say, Albert? Are you going to prove to your men that you're a real king? By leading your men from the front? Or are you going to continue to be the snivelling little coward I've always thought? The man who takes innocent women and children hostage, and hides behind braver men."
Spencer was furious, his eyes bulging in anger, a vein throbbing in his temple. How dare he? How dare that bastard call me a coward! He walked across the room to face the now locked door which led to reception, lifting a semi-automatic assault rifle to his shoulder, which he now pointed at the door, ready to instantly kill the first person to cross the doorway.
"LOCKSLEY?" He roared, loud enough to be heard the other side. "BIG WORDS FOR A THIEF! WITHOUT MAGIC YOU'RE NOTHING! I ACCEPT BUT ON MY TERMS! THIS DOOR WILL BE UNBOLTED SHORTLY, THEN YOU COME INSIDE! ONLY YOU, YOU HEAR ME?!"
Emma crouched down closer to Regina. Why the hell was Robin winding him up?
Ruby, also with her hands tied behind her, shuffled closer, trying not to draw attention away from the scene near the door.
"Em? Em?" She whispered, desperate not to be overheard, "He knows how my hearing works and he's talking to me! He's telling me something's about to happen. We need to keep low, keep our heads down and for god's sake keep your eyes tight shut when we hear the door go! You need to pass it on to Regina!"
Emma nodded, turning and shuffling closer to her wife, now laying on her side closer to Carrie's still unconscious body. "Gina? She whispered as the wolf had done. "Help's on the way! Something's about to happen, but you must keep your eyes tight shut!"
As Regina nodded, she looked back to the door. It was obvious the cowardly bastard had no intention of fighting Robin. He was going to shoot him the moment he came through that door! She had to do something, but what? She was tied up by the legs and hands, and he was on the opposite side of the room. As she thought what she could do, the tannoy crackled into life again:
"Good, Albert, good! I'm delighted you accept my challenge. Now, as a sign of good faith, how about you letting a few of those hostages go? Perhaps the most injured ones? It'll make no difference to you, and it'll show your troops what a marvellous, considerate leader you really are!"
~oOo~