Reflecting himself
Brittany asked for a oneshot of…a read and see story. *mid-season finale spoilers!*
It took some convincing, what with the situation between him and Snow, but Charming managed to convince Regina to change her plan slightly. Instead of Regina going to wherever Emma was, it would be him. Emma was his daughter, it was his job to bring her home safely.
It didn't take Charming long to realise he was in the Enchanted Forest. Well, at least some version of it. He came across a statue in the middle of the woods that celebrated his and Snow's victory over the Evil Queen. A victory that never officially occurred. Not to him, anyway. No, this wasn't the Enchanted Forest Charming remembered. This was a different one. Henry had once explained what parallel universes were in his comic books. Charming figured this was something like that. Now he just had to find the very real Emma and bring her home, where she belonged.
He started heading along the path that would bring him to the palace when he heard horses' hooves. He figured people from this version of his homeland might be able to assist him with finding Emma. He waited by the side of the road. It became apparent it was a group of knights by their armour and helmets. He flagged them down.
"Please," He begged. "It is urgent I get to the main village of Misthaven." Charming told them. "Are you the palace guards? Do you have space for one poor traveller?" Silence. Charming didn't know what else he could say to plead his case. Then, the head knight removed his helmet. Charming gasped. He felt like he'd been punched in the gut. This was no knight. This was a member of the royal family itself. This was him. An older version of him. His older self looked just as perplexed as Charming felt. He dismounted his horse and took a closer look at Charming. Charming stayed silent, not sure what to say.
"What sorcery is this?" His older self demanded.
"Please, Your Highness, there is no sorcery involved here. If you take me back to the palace I can explain…"
"Oh we'll be taking you to the palace alright, to the dungeon." His older self warned. He then tried to grab hold of Charming, but he was too fast. Charming wasn't getting thrown in that dungeon. Not when he had to save Emma.
"Please." Charming pleaded once more as some of the knights began to dismount as well. "It's Emma! She's in grave danger! I'm here to rescue her!" Charming hoped this version of himself would love his daughter as greatly as he did. Unfortunately for Charming, he did. And there was no way he was letting a stranger who was enchanted to look like his younger self anywhere near Emma.
"You're getting nowhere near my daughter." The older Charming growled. "Seize him!" The knights now pounced on Charming. He did his best to fight back, but he was vastly outnumbered. There was nothing he could do when one of the knights used the end of his sword to clobber him over the back of the head. Then Charming saw black.
"Search him first, he may have magic on him that would help him escape." Older Charming ordered. Charming was then searched. Older Charming was glad he had made this call. There was a strange sort of magic want in his pocket that glowed brightly and seemed to reflect frozen images. It was clearly a younger version of his wife holding a baby. Were they here somewhere too? Were they trying to hurt Emma as well? They also found some strange, weapon like object. Both were immediately destroyed and the younger Charming tossed on the back of a horse to be dragged to the dungeon. Older Charming would never risk anybody hurting his daughter. Ever since he could remember, protecting Emma had been his sole priority.
