AN: See chapter 1 for story notes and summaries.
Ships: Snowing, Rumbelle, Swan Believer, eventual Swanfire, and a delightful Golden Mad Charming BroT3. :)
Please consider leaving a review. Feedback is much appreciated.
Also, feel free to follow me on Tumblr lilacmoon83. In an effort to grow my Snowing fanfiction blog on Tumblr and get more visibility for my writing, I invite anyone following my stories here on to follow me on Tumblr. I have a sizable following here on , but that hasn't really transferred over to Tumblr. I've been considering doing face claims for all original characters in this story too. So if you're interested, give me a follow on Tumblr and help my stories get a bit more visibility through reblogs and shares!
For one face claim reveal, I will tell that I chose Gal Gadot as the face claim for Persephone...cause she's perfect as Persephone!
Thanks for awesome the reviews. Here are individual responses:
Barratta Jennifer: Thanks! Don't worry, Jefferson will be rescued. :)
Saberius Prime: Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it! Yes, Deimos is awake and soon to be imprisoned. As for permanent, one can hope, but I wouldn't put money on it. Yes, Regina is going to have to lay low for a while and Maleficent is alive! I hate 4B, except Cruella. I don't know where I'm going to go with it yet, but it won't be anything like 4B. I'm not super invested in season 7 without Snowing, though I enjoy KnightRook and CuriousArcher, but I will miss it when it's gone. I'm far from done with the fanfiction though. :)
ragsweas: Yes, magic has come, dearie so buckle up! I know, it feels like it's taken forever. I honestly never imagined it would take me almost 40 chapters to break the curse when I started this. But it's been fun and will continue to be fun. Wednesday is here so update is here! Enjoy!
BooksinmyDreams: Glad you enjoyed it!
Beth1980: Yep, Regina needs to hide! Yes, Emma is a little less in the middle in this. She's had Snow and Charming her whole life in the dreamscape. She's seen their pain up close and her own, knowing they really weren't the true cause of it. As for Jefferson, yes he will be rescued. Snow did take to Persephone very well. There will be some backpedal moments for them, but with Snow knowing that she gave her up to save her life, plus gave them the dreamscape makes a huge difference here. Yes, Ariel will also be rescued. And I will be continuing the Snow and Belle friendship. :)
Number Ten: Yep, magic is here. Buckle up!
Guest: So glad you like it! I'm excited for Snow/Persephone interaction too. Things are definitely going to go differently in this universe. Thank you so much for the nice compliment!
Cassie: Yep, season 1 is over and now we get to all the fun of season 2! Persephone's presence will change the dynamics a bit and it's going to be good! Glad you like the Snow and Persephone interaction. I know it's been a long time coming, but since you mentioned Neal, I can tell you appears for the first time in this chapter! Glad you liked the changes with Maleficent too! It was fairly easy to get the golden egg. That's probably the only easy break they'll get though. ;)
izzpirelli: Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it! I liked the mini reunions and bit of confusion too. The Maleficent back story will definitely not be anything like 4B. As for the dreamscape, now that the curse is broken, there is nothing hindering memories anymore. Yeah, Snow took initiative here and approached Persephone, realizing the truth. Snow is very overwhelmed by all the things Persephone did for her, the same as she's always overwhelmed when it's Charming and we will see that. Deimos will only stew in his cell as long as he has to. You're right, he's one that's going to fight his way out. Glad you're enjoying!
Paulaa90: I love Persephone too! Yeah, I wish Deimos was afraid of her too, but he's unfortunately not. Glad you liked the twist with Maleficent and her egg. I can't handle 4B and the nonsense. Persephone's magic will be enough...for now. But you know it's never that simple in Once. Buckle up for things to come! :)
Sara K M: Thanks! Glad you liked that Maleficent became an ally. I can't handle the nonsense that is 4B most of the time. I always thought she might have had to have some control, especially later when we see her able to phase willingly. Glad you liked the reunions and reveals too! I kind of feel bad for Regina. I just think sometimes they make it out like no one was justified in their anger toward her. Some even suggest that the curse was a blessing and "not really that bad". I know, there were some magic feels with Persephone giving up her bough for the chains. Yeah, I never got that either. Clearly Snowing love each other just as much as they love Emma, especially since it's two different kinds of love. I get irritated with this fandom sometimes though, lol. :)
Dreaming Out Loud
Chapter 40: Broken
Belle held Rumple's hand, as they trekked up the hill to the well. Soon, he would no longer need this blasted cane and magic would help him find his son.
"Rumple…" Belle uttered, stopping them in their trek.
"What is it?" he asked.
"These past few months...you've made real friendships and I want you to know how happy that makes me for you," she replied.
"But?" he asked.
"But I know what magic does to you...I know it's like a drug for you," she added.
"It is...but I need it, Belle. Not just to find my son, but to protect us," he insisted.
"From what? What is coming?" she asked.
"I can't say for sure...but there will be danger that comes to our town when it becomes a place of magic. But I have no choice. I have to take these risks to find my son," he replied.
"Just promise me that you won't betray the people that have helped you get here. They're trusting you too," she reminded.
"Some would say they are foolish for doing so. I manipulated many people and events to see the that the curse would be cast," he admitted. She gave him a stern look.
"But I will strive to be the man I know you want me to be. The man I failed to be for my son," he promised. Belle took his hand and they continued the rest of the way to the well. Gold popped the cork on the bottle and then dropped it into the well. He couldn't hide the delight on his face, as pinkish purple smoke began to billow from the well and slowly drifted toward town in a thick cloud.
"Magic is power, Belle. Everything will fall into place now," he assured, as they started back to town. Belle still looked uncertain. Magic always caused problems and it never made things simple. She would never deny him the means to find his son, but she couldn't shake the feeling that bringing magic to Storybrooke would also invite a plethora of trouble.
When Regina arrived home, she had immediately went to Henry's room and collapsed on his bed. She held one of his pillows to her, as she cried. She knew instinctively that she had no one but herself to blame for losing him. But that didn't make it any easier to accept. Her curse was broken and everyone was awake now. But she didn't care about any of that, for the one person she actually cared about wanted nothing to do with her at the moment. The look of betrayal on his cherub face when he heard her admit that everything about the curse was true was devastating. But it was even worse to watch him grab the apple out of Emma's hand and bite into it, knowing full well what it was. She had been so focused on getting rid of Emma and her parents that she had never entertained the possibility that Henry could be caught in the crossfire. She sniffed and happened to look up. She noticed a pinkish purple cloud on the horizon and put the pillow down, before going to the window. She knew what that cloud was...what it meant. She should have known this was Rumpelstiltskin's plan all along. Magic...it was coming and it could be her answer to everything. She smirked deviously, as she watched it sweep through her town.
They heard the rattling of the bars, as they entered the station, as Deimos angrily tried to break through them. Persephone knew if she wasn't quick when the magic swept over them that he would do just that.
"If you really think you can keep me bound...then you have no idea who you are dealing with!" he growled.
"Oh...I know exactly who I am dealing with and trust me, I've went to great lengths to acquire what I need to lock you up indefinitely," she assured. He rattled the bars again and glanced at Emma, who glared daggers at him.
"Take care of Mommy and Daddy while you have them, Miss Swan," he hissed. Emma advanced and stared at him face to face through the bars.
"You better hope you don't escape...because if you ever touch either of them again, I'll find a way to kill you and for good this time," Emma threatened. Gingerly, Persephone put a hand on her shoulder and pulled her back.
"You can't kill me...I've proven that to be impossible," Deimos reminded.
"The only reason you are alive is Hades sacrificed your twin brother's life to bring you back. Believe me, there is no way I will ever let such happen again," Persephone replied. Emma looked at her.
"It's a long story...I'll explain it later to you and your parents," she promised. Emma happened to look out the window and saw the pinkish cloud blanketing the town.
"Yes...I can already feel the magic in the air," Deimos hissed, as the steel bars began to bend ever so slightly. The pink cloud swept by the window and Persephone's hands glowed once again with lavender colored magic and her eyes flashed the same color. Deimos' eyes flashed blood red and he started to bend the bars. But a strand of glowing silver chains appeared in one of the Goddess' hands, while she used to her other to poof them to a new location.
They reappeared down in the mines, much to Emma's surprise. Deimos was trying in vain to climb his way out of a hole deep in the wall that she had created.
"You won't imprison me!" he screeched, as she tossed the chains over the opening and then outstretched her hands, even as he screamed murderously.
Persephone's hands glowed brightly, as she molded the chains over the opening and sealed it with her magic. The chains kept their glow even once her magic faded and Deimos growled in frustration.
"This will not hold me forever, Persephone! And then you will pay...you'll all pay!" he promised.
"How permanent is this? Prometheus got out apparently, so he could too?" Emma asked.
"There are ways...but trust me, Zeus has no interest in seeing him free," Persephone replied.
"Then Hades...what's keeping him from coming here and finding a way?" Emma asked seriously.
"I wish I could promise he won't find a way here, but I won't let him hurt this family. Leaving the Underworld is risky for him. He has more power there. Here...it's a level playing ground and that's why you'll need to learn to use your magic too," she revealed. Her eyes widened.
"But I don't have magic," Emma refuted.
"Yes...you do. You're the Savior, Emma. Your parents make magic between them...you," Persephone replied.
"I know it's a lot to take in," she added.
"So if I can learn magic from you...I can protect them and Henry?" she asked. Persephone nodded.
"As much as I wish it wasn't a burden you needed to bare...yes," she answered.
"If it means protecting my parents and my son...then I'm in," she agreed. Persephone smiled thinly and cast one more glance at the imprisoned God of Terror, before poofing them back to town.
The pinkish smoke cleared from their vision and David and Snow looked around. There were no visible changes, but they saw the dwarves, Red, and Granny ahead of them.
"Snow!" Red called, as they shared another hug, while David hugged Granny, before switching with Snow to hug Red. David shared a handshake with Grumpy.
"So I guess it's broken now?" he asked. David nodded and slipped his arm around Snow's waist.
"Yes...Emma broke the curse, just as we knew she always would," he said, as they shared a smile.
"Uh...then why didn't we go back?" Grumpy countered. Snow and David exchanged a glance.
"From what I know...the whole reason we're in this land is so Gold can find his son. I'm not sure going back was ever apart of any plan," David answered.
"Your Prince is correct," Gold interjected, as he and Belle arrived. Grumpy was about to lash out at the Dark One, but then recognized the woman with him.
"Belle?" he asked.
"Dreamy," she called, as she hugged him fondly.
"Uh...yeah, it's Grumpy now...I guess," he grumbled.
"You two know each other?" Snow asked in surprise.
"I met her before I met you...when I was still Dreamy," Grumpy replied.
"Dreamy?" David asked with curious amusement.
"Watch it, handsome," the dwarf warned. He shared an amused look with Snow.
"Oh...thank goodness, there you are!" Archie cried, as he rushed up to them.
"What's going on?" Emma asked, as she and Persephone appeared.
"It's Whale...he's whipped everyone into a frenzy. They're headed for Regina's house...they're gonna kill her," he warned.
"Good...let's watch," Grumpy grumbled. But Henry's eyes were alight with fear.
"But she's still my Mom…" he pleaded.
"He's right…" Emma agreed.
"But she might have her magic back...they could be walking into a slaughter," David interjected.
"Not on my watch," Persephone replied, as they started to hurry toward Regina's house.
The mob of people rounded the corner and made a beeline for the Mayor's mansion.
"Open up!" Whale shouted, as he banged on the door.
"Open up or we're coming in!" he shouted again, as he kept banging on the door, which opened suddenly to a Regina, with a patronizing look on her face.
"Can I help you?" she questioned to the virtual mob on her porch.
"That smirk isn't gonna last forever, Regina. You took everything from us. And now…" Whale spat.
"What? Now you're going to kill me?" the Queen challenged.
"Eventually. But first...you need to suffer," he retorted. Regina scoffed and stepped outside, shoving past the doctor.
"Listening to you has been enough suffering for all of us," Regina said, as she turned to the crowd.
"That's right. You wanted to see your Queen? Well, my dears...here she is!" Regina hissed, as she raised her arms, flinging her hands over the crowd. The people cowered, expecting magic. But the shock marring Regina's face was palpable, as her attempt to summon any magic failed.
"She's powerless!" one person shouted from the crowd.
"How is this happening…" Regina uttered, as she stared at her hands like they had betrayed her.
"Get her!" another man shouted, as they closed in on her. Whale shoved her up against one of the columns on the porch, as he put his hand around her neck.
"Let her go!" Emma commanded, as she grabbed Whale's arm and shoved him away. David was only too happy to grab the doctor and keep him from advancing on them.
"Why should I listen to you?" Whale hissed.
"Because I am still the Sheriff," Emma retorted.
"And she saved you. All of you!" David added, directing that statement at the crowd.
"And because no matter what Regina did...it does not justify this. We are not like her, at least I didn't think we were," Snow continued, addressing the angry mob.
"We are not murderers here," Emma agreed.
"Well, we're not from this world," Whale argued, as he got in Emma's face.
"Well, you're in it now," Emma retorted. David did not like the doctor's obvious malevolence toward his daughter and put himself between them.
"You're done here, Whale," David growled, as he grabbed him by the collar of the shirt.
"Back off! You're not my Prince!" Whale growled back. David eyed him with scrutiny.
"Who are you?" he asked.
"That's my business," Whale answered.
"Well, it's my business in making sure this town doesn't go to hell. I may not be your Prince, but I am Deputy. Emma is your Sheriff and we have a lot to figure out. But this isn't the way to do it," David stated.
"Regina's death won't provide any answers. She needs to be locked up. For her safety and ours," Snow added.
"You really think we're going to listen you? You're the reason for all this...the curse," Whale hissed at her. David shoved him back.
"I don't know who you are, but you stay the hell away from her or Regina is going to be the least of your worries," the Prince growled. Whale hadn't been anywhere close to as bad as Damon had been about harassing Mary Margaret during the curse. But he had been known to make her just as uncomfortable and attempted a few times to prey on her loneliness. It was enough to make David want to rip him apart.
"Or what Deputy? Are you going to use your fists on me like you did Damon Tromera? Or perhaps push me into a fire?" Whale goaded. David would have pummeled him if Emma and Snow hadn't been there to reign him in.
"Dad...he's not worth it," Emma admonished.
"Charming...please, she's right," Snow agreed.
"Just leave, before I toss you in a cell," Emma threatened. Whale threw his hands up.
"Then you'll have to throw us all in a cell, Sheriff," he called, rallying the mob to his cause.
"That is quite enough from you, Dr. Frankenstein," Persephone said commandingly, as she parted the crowd down the middle.
"Dr. Frankenstein? Seriously?" Emma asked in disbelief.
"So that's why he's not in the book," Henry reasoned.
"And just who the hell are you to tell me when it's enough? Especially after what she did to us!" Whale hissed.
"I don't need you to tell me what she has done!" she snapped.
"And as for who I am...you're not too far off with hell," she warned, as she raised her hand and a pair of cuffs appeared on Regina's wrists.
"I am Persephone...and I'm not having any problems with my magic," she warned. Whale swallowed and started to back away, as did the rest of the crowd. He spared a glance at Snow again.
"I can't believe you're going to let the Queen get away with what she did. I thought Snow White wasn't the meek little waif that Mary Margaret was. But it seems that she's the same. It's too bad I never got a chance at you...maybe I could have brought out a little tiger in you," he leered.
"Oh that's it...I'm gonna rip you head off, Whale!" David growled, but Snow would beat him to it, as she decked the doctor. One punch perfectly aimed at his nose sent him tumbling down the steps, head over heels, and flat on his back.
"Whoa...nice one Mom," Emma complimented.
"Wow…" Henry said, looking at his grandmother in awe. Sure, he had read about how fierce a warrior she was in the book. But seeing it first hand was even more amazing. Snow shook her hand, as David put his arms around her and then kissed her bruised knuckle, all while gazing at her in awe. After that display, the mob quickly dissipated and Whale left with a busted nose and a bruised ego. And knowing him, the latter was probably more painful than the nose.
"So that's it...you're just going to lock me away and throw away the key?" Regina asked, as they marched her toward the station.
"Did you really expect to go free after what you've done?" David countered. She turned to him sharply.
"What I've done?" she snapped, as she glared at Snow.
"She never did anything to you," Emma snapped back, getting in front of her parents.
"You don't know, Miss Swan...she ruined my life!" Regina shouted.
"No...she didn't. And you're wrong, I know all about it! Despite the fact that you tried to ruin my life by taking my parents away, I knew them, if only in my dreams," Emma revealed.
"You...you've been together?" she asked, suddenly realizing how much she actually didn't know.
"That's right...I spent twenty-eight years in a dreamscape while I was in a coma. I had Snow and Emma with me when they slept. We had that at least, even though we had to watch our daughter struggle growing up alone in this land," David replied. Regina looked at the Goddess.
"You did this, didn't you?" she questioned.
"I do not have power over dreams, but Morpheus does. He granted mine and my mother's request and gifted the dreamscape to them," Persephone revealed, as they put Regina in the cell.
"You keep trying to blame my daughter for Daniel's death, because you refuse to face the reality of what your own mother did to you," the Goddess continued.
"If she had just kept her big mouth shut...then…" Regina growled.
"Then what?" Persephone cut her off.
"Your Mother would have just let you and Daniel run away together?" she questioned.
"Open your eyes, Regina! I know for a fact that your Mother already knew of your plans to leave and marry Daniel. She just wanted to make sure she ruined your relationship with Snow before it even got started," Persephone replied. Regina was silent.
"From my vantage point in the Underworld, there were times that all I could do was watch. And your Mother...I've watched her and others do a great many injustices to you and my little girl. I told you once that you and I are not so different," Persephone continued.
"We both know what it's like to be forced to marry men that we didn't love," the Goddess said, as their eyes locked.
"Cora and Leopold forced you into that situation, but Snow was never at fault for any of it!" she ranted.
"Please Mom...she's right. Grams never wanted to hurt you," Henry pleaded, as he went up to the bars.
"Henry...you don't understand," Regina replied.
"No...I do!" he countered.
"I'm ten and I'm not a baby anymore!" he cried, as Emma pulled him back.
"Hey kid...why don't we go get you something to eat," the blonde suggested.
"Regina...I'm so sorry. I didn't know what Cora was like then. I was just a child," Snow tried to apologize.
"I will never accept that," Regina refused. David glowered at her and pulled his wife away gently.
"Leave me," she ordered.
"Just one more thing before I do," Persephone replied, as she turned back.
"Suppose it had been Henry that told your secret. Would you have blamed him for Daniel's death? Would you have secretly loathed him for years and then hunted him like an animal? Would you have tried to kill him and all those he loves multiple times?" she asked.
"Of course not...but that's different. Henry is a child!" the Queen spat. Persephone smiled pitifully.
"Henry is the same age my Snow was when she told that secret," she reminded. Regina took a sharp breath, but attempted to keep her expression unchanged.
"I think you've forgotten that or you wanted to forget it maybe. I suppose it would make it easier to think of Snow as a monster rather than the child she was," the Goddess stated. The tears forming in Regina's eyes were undeniable.
"I really was counting on you, you know, at first...when Eva died. I was really hoping you'd be there for my sweet little girl when I could not. She adored you...idolized you even. Just one more thing that Cora ruined," Persephone said distastefully, as she strode out of the station to follow her family.
New York City
A man dressed in a nice suit, carrying a backpack stepped off the subway and milled his way through the crowded New York City streets to his apartment building. As per usual, he checked his mailbox in the lobby of his building and found a postcard inside.
Written on the blank side, there was a single world. "Broken". The man turned the postcard over and gazed at the picturesque photo of a clock tower and the words "Greetings From Storybrooke" scrawled on it. The man seemed frozen for a moment, as if contemplating his next move. New York City was a very big place and he no longer carried a recognizable name. The chances of being found here in one of the biggest cities in the world were astronomically small. Still...perhaps relocation should be a consideration. He promised himself if there was ever any chance of him being found that he would flee. The problem was that he didn't know at that time that he would one day put down roots in one place and actually build a life. He didn't know there would ever be more than himself to consider and it left him wondering what his next move should be. For now, he stuffed the postcard in his bag and went up to his apartment. Despite telling himself that he had moved on...his mind kept drifting to a blonde woman he hadn't seen in over ten years, but was never far from his mind. And suddenly, he found himself not so eager to run...
After leaving the station, Persephone expressed her need to go to the hospital, telling them that Ariel had been locked up there by Regina. Snow was very eager to free and see her friend, so the five of them headed to the hospital.
"I'm sorry...but Regina is still the Mayor. Without her permission, I cannot release any patients from the psychiatric ward," Nurse Ratchet declared, as she blocked their entrance.
"No...you see that's not going to work for me. I know Ariel was put down here against her will and for no other reason than Regina's need to punish anyone who was either awake or fond of my daughter," Persephone replied sternly. Nurse Ratchet rolled her eyes.
"Miss Kore…" she started to say.
"Oh...you haven't heard. Miss Kore is my "curse" identity. I'm actually Persephone, Queen of the Underworld. And Regina being in charge is seriously in question. Whatever cushy privileges you've enjoyed under her or favors you've received by being one of her cronies are done now," she said.
"So you're stepping in as our new Queen?" the Nurse questioned.
"No...that would be my daughter," Persephone snapped back, as she indicated Snow. Nurse Ratchet practically burst out laughing.
"Miss Blanchard?" she asked.
"Snow White," Persephone shot back. The Nurse frowned and she cleared her throat.
"I have seen no official election, but since you've brought the Sheriff's department too, I suppose there is nothing stopping you...for now," she said, as she finally let them pass.
"Man...she was a piece of work," Emma commented, as her father agreed with an exasperated nod.
"Um...about what you said. I'm not Queen," Snow admonished.
"You are the rightful heir to the Throne, sweetheart," Persephone corrected.
"Am I?" Snow asked, as they stopped in the hallway.
"I mean...they weren't my real parents," Snow said sadly, still trying to wrap her mind around it.
"But your father, your real father, was Queen Eva's younger brother," Persephone revealed.
"But she never told me about a brother," Snow said. Persephone looked down sadly.
"When Hades became determined to kill you upon your birth, my mother Demeter, took actions to make sure we could hide you. All memory of Prince Elijah was erased from the Kingdom by Morpheus and we used a potion to strip you of your immortality. It was the only way to hide you," she revealed. David put his arm around his wife, as those facts sank in. Snow's head was still spinning, but she felt comfort in her husband's arms.
"Snow?" a voice called. The raven haired beauty rushed to the cell and saw Ariel inside.
"Ariel!" she cried, as Emma unlocked the cell and she hugged the redhead.
"It's so good to see you," Snow said.
"David...is that you?" another voice called.
"Jefferson?" David called, as he took the keys and unlocked his cell too.
"I should have known she put you here when we couldn't find you," David said, as he let him out.
"I'm sorry...I did something…" he started to say, but David put his hand up.
"Easy...we can all go to the diner and talk. And whatever it was...the curse is over now. This is the time where we all take back our lives," David said, as he spoke to all of them. It was a speech they would likely have to make to others, as everyone tried to figure out what their lives, post curse, were going to look like.