AN: See chapter 1 for story notes and summaries.
Ships: Snowing, Rumbelle, Swan Believer, eventual Swanfire, and a delightful Golden Mad Charming BroT3. :)
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I was asked to give a rough estimate of exactly what month/year it is, like I do with Finding You Always. So since it's estimated that the curse was broken in late February 2012 and it's been a few weeks since, it is now early April 2012
Special note:
Here are the main face claims I have chosen for the Gods/original characters. See previous chapters for more face claims with the Gods:
Gal Gadot as Persephone
Robert Downey Jr. as Hades
Ernie Hudson as Poseidon
Vincent Irizarry as Deimos
Maggie Smith as Hecate
Ben Affleck as Prince Eli
Thanks for awesome the reviews. Again, please consider leaving feedback. It is very much appreciated and reviews have dropped a bit lately. I love writing this story, but a lot of hard work in my free time goes into getting weekly chapters up, so reviews are really gratifying. :)
Here are individual responses:
Saberuis Prime: Yep, she actually pulled it off. Time will tell if it's really going to be what she was hoping for though. By rushing things, she may have caused a few problems. It's going to be very interesting. :)
randa180: There will be a way to reverse it and details on how are revealed in this chapter. It will be very interesting.
Grace5231973: I know, she actually did it! On one hand, I'm going to have so much fun exploring this as you'll start to read. The way to get out of this mess is actually revealed in this chapter. It presents a bit of a conundrum though. That's all I'll say. :)
Naomi Blue: Yep, Zelena did it and it will be interesting to explore. There will be a way to reverse it, but as with all magic, there's no telling what kind of conditions or what price will come with it. :)
Number Ten: In a way, it seems like hell. But you might find that, in this chapter, things seem like they're not so bad. There will be a way to reverse everything, but it may not be an easy decision after all. Zelena got the brain from Rumple in the show too when she had him as a prisoner.
Baratta Jennifer: Yeah, it was a pretty shocking chapter. Glad you're enjoying!
Theinferno1536: It's similar to what Isaac did, but there are some key differences and you'll see why. She did turn back time, so there may be consequences in leaving things as they are in the new reality and reversing the spell. The question will be which set of consequences will be the lesser of the two evils. And yes, if the spell is reversed, they'll seemingly return to how things were the moment they left. On the surface anyway. Can't say more than that for now. :)
Beth1980: Glad you liked the family moments between Emma and her parents. And Persephone's moments with them too. Thanks, I put quite a bit of thought into the color schemes. You're right about Zelena. She's going to learn that it might not work the way she thinks. Yeah, he came clean out of desperation in those final moments. And technically Zelena did succeed, but will it be what she wants? That remains to be seen. True and they probably did dance, but Emma is still nervous, because there's a difference in doing in the dreamscape and then at an actual ball. Glad you still enjoyed it anyhow. And Happy Easter to you too. :)
Dreaming Out Loud
Chapter 92: Over the Rainbow
Circe and her followers marched through the quiet town that evening. Everyone was attending the ball that night and they intended to crash it. They may have stolen magic, but as far as she could tell, they had not released it back into the town. That meant they had a small window where taking over would be possible. They were all armed with high-tech plasma weapons and it was time for a reckoning. Little could they know, the reckoning was happening without them.
"Madam Circe...look!" Captain Channing said, as he pointed at Cronus palace and they watched the roof be torn off.
"What is that?" one of her other followers asked.
"Magic…" she growled, as they suddenly watched the entire palace disappear. Next, the clock tower disappeared, then Granny's, and everything on Main Street. The magic swept around them and when it was gone, there was nothing but woods around them, like there had never been a town there in the first place.
"What the hell just happened?" Channing asked. But even Circe had no answers. Storybrooke was gone, without a trace or explanation to offer. And with it, gone was her revenge, leaving her with nothing.
The Enchanted Forest
29 Years Before the Dark Curse
Zelena stared down at the body of Princess Eva. It had been incredibly easy. A quick snap of her neck and it was over. They would probably think she fell or had an accident, but now her mother's secret would be safe and she would marry Leopold. She looked at her hands, noticing that they were suddenly transparent.
"What's happening?" she wondered.
"This is what you wanted," a voice said, as the witch turned to see the Goddess Athena standing there, looking ethereal.
"You've changed your fate and since you'll soon be born, this version of you is going to cease to exist for now," Athena informed.
"But...will I have my memories?" she asked.
"I think you know that it doesn't work that way. Hades tried to warn you...and he was right. But this is what you wanted. You'll be raised as a Princess," Athena replied, as she faded away. Zelena was to be born to Cora any day now and without Eva in the way, she would marry Leopold and become Queen. What the ramifications of that would be could not be determined yet and only time would tell now.
The Goddess looked around and it seemed that she would be the only retain any memory of how all of this had happened. So it was up to her to try and fix it. Which meant she had to find the Savior...before she was born, for once that happened, there would be no turning back.
The Enchanted Forest
29 Years Before the Dark Curse
"Then you know…" Persephone said hesitantly.
"That you're married to Hades," she replied stiffly.
"Hades is good to me...but I'm not in love with him," she confessed.
"I know," Eli assured.
"Then I hope what I have to tell you next won't anger you either," she said.
"I love you...no matter what it is," he assured.
"I'm pregnant," she revealed. His eyes widened in surprise.
"How...far along?" he asked.
"Four months," she replied.
"Then it is…" he uttered.
"She's yours," Persephone said. Eli smiled and hugged her.
"This is wonderful!" he exclaimed, but noticed her sadness.
"Isn't it?" he asked.
"She will be born in the winter," she replied fearfully and he frowned.
"When you're in the Underworld," he replied, as he watched her shoulders rack with sobs.
"Then you cannot go back there," Eli pleaded.
"You know that's not possible. At the first snowfall, I must return to the Underworld," she reminded.
"I'll not abandon you or our child," he insisted, as he started to dress.
"Where are you going?" Persephone asked.
"To tell my sister. She may have married for the good of her Kingdom, but I am going to be with the one I love. I'm sure that Princess from the Southern Isles can find another Prince," he said, as he kissed her passionately.
"Then I'll return in a day's time and we will figure all of this out," he promised. Persephone watched him ride off on his horse and put a hand to her belly, before hurrying off to find her mother. She knew she had to tell Hades what she had done. She knew he would be angry about her affair, but probably not surprised. He had become angry as of late and the usual ease of their relationship had been strained. Still...she scared that this would only make him more angry and though she had once known that he would never harm a child, she feared that this would only exacerbate his anger and dissatisfaction that had settled in his being. That's why she felt that she needed her mother to help her.
Hades observed his wife from the Underworld and blue flames licked at his being, threatening to explode with rage. He knew she had been having an affair...and now there was a child. It broke him a bit, but he knew he shouldn't be surprised that she had sought comfort in another man. He had not been the husband he should have been in recent years. His anger and dissatisfaction with ruling the Underworld had been quite consuming and he had regrettably taken his frustration out on her. His first instinct was to make her pay for what she had done. He could kill this man that had taken what was his and rip her child away, but doing that would only further fracture their relationship. And he was afraid of losing her completely. He was afraid that, without her, his anger and rage would swallow him whole and he would truly become the demonic monster many claimed he was.
"I will see you soon, my dear Persephone," he said, as he struggled not to give into his anger and rage at the situation. Little could he know, things were about to change in a very big way.
The next day, when Eli and Persephone met again, things had changed and she could see the clear change on his face.
"What's happened?" she asked.
"My sister...she's dead," Eli replied.
"What?" Persephone exclaimed.
"They think she fell and broke her neck...but now my Kingdom is without a ruler," he stated.
"And you must step up and take over," she replied, quickly understanding where this was going, maybe better than him.
"I do...but you can be my Queen and we'll raise our daughter together as the Princess she is," he implored. She looked at him sadly and took his hands in her own.
"Do you really think your parents and their court will accept me and our child?" she asked.
"They won't have a choice," he replied indignantly.
"You know that it doesn't work that way. You know that they will not allow me to be their Queen, even if I am a Goddess and you know how they will treat our daughter if they consider her an illegitimate heir," she reminded. He sighed.
"I'm not saying that it will be an easy sell, but come with me and we will plead our case to them," he begged. She looked at him and then heard someone else call her name.
"Persephone…" Hades said, as he appeared.
"You…" Eli growled, but she held him back.
"Hades…" she said, as she turned to face him. She saw anger and hurt marring his features. She also saw some rage, as well as sorrow there and that wasn't something she was prepared at all to see. He looked at the ground and she saw the myriad of anger and hurt pass over his features.
"It's out of my power to release you from your Underworld commitment…" he said, as he swallowed thickly.
"But if you want to be with him...I won't interfere," he said softly, though she could tell that it was killing him. She approached him and hugged him.
"I'm sorry…" she said.
"I know...I don't deserve you, but if you need me, I'll be there," he replied.
"I'm having another man's child," she reminded. He swallowed thickly.
"She's part of you though...and I know that things have been strained between us. And that's my fault...I haven't been a good husband," he confessed. Honestly, she was shocked that he was admitting any of this and she didn't know what had happened to revert him back to the man she had once known to be aloof and cold at times, but never mean or cruel as he had been in recent years.
"But I want you to be happy...go," he urged. She knew it was killing him, but she went that day and would soon realize that all her fears about how Eli's family would receive her and her unborn daughter would be confirmed.
Emma opened her eyes and looked around, realizing quickly that she was in the dreamscape. She smiled and ventured into the mist, finding the structure and meadow where she had grown up with her parents before her.
"Mom?" she called, but received no answer.
"Dad?" she tried, but again there was silence.
"They're not here yet," Athena told her, as she appeared.
"What do you mean?" Emma asked, as the Goddess of Wisdom gave her a sympathetic gaze.
"It's now twenty-nine years before the Dark Curse again," Athena told her. Emma was stunned.
"Then...how the hell am I here?" she asked.
"You are the Savior and you were used for the spell, which put you in the state of perpetual limbo...for now," Athena replied.
"What do you mean for now?" Emma asked, as a crystal globe appeared and she was shown two different scenes. One with Persephone and Eli in the woods and another on a small farm with a man and a woman.
"Persephone is pregnant with your mother right now. And your grandmother Ruth with will soon discover that she is also pregnant with twin boys. Your father and your uncle," Athena explained.
"Wait...this seems different. Hades didn't kill Eli," she replied. Athena nodded.
"No...he didn't. Things are already vastly different and it's uncertain of exactly how things will unfold now. Eva is dead. Leopold will marry Cora and pass Zelena off as his own. Eli has no choice but to ascend to the Throne now. Running away with Persephone isn't an option and I'm afraid that his Kingdom may not accept your mother as a viable heir," Athena told her.
"What does that mean for my mother?" Emma asked.
"I'm uncertain...all we can do for now is watch their lives unfold. Your parents will meet, Emma, you need not fear that they won't. Their love is written in the stars," Athena said, as she gestured to the sky.
"I sense there is a catch coming," Emma replied. The Goddess nodded.
"Zelena has disrupted the natural flow of time, not unlike the curse did, but worse. Curses are well within the laws of magic, but time travel is not. As you might know, time travel violates the laws of magic and it is a very serious grievance," she regaled.
"Does that mean she'll be punished?" Emma asked.
"That depends, though she has already faded away since she has been born as King Leopold and Queen Cora's daughter. She has no memories of what she did as a result," Athena replied.
"Bet she didn't count on that," Emma commented. Athena smiled thinly.
"No...she didn't, but she's already a wicked child," the Goddess responded.
"Well...she is Regina's sister," Emma responded and then frowned.
"Wait…Regina doesn't exist now, does she?" the blonde asked.
"I'm afraid not...but that's not the only dilemma that will face you. A choice must be made and you are the one that must make it, Emma. You are the Savior and like you broke the curse, you can fix all of this if you want to," Athena replied.
"Well...of course I want to," Emma replied.
"Even if it means your parents might never have to give you up?" Athena asked, which made the blonde pause.
"That's what's going to happen?" Emma asked. Athena shrugged.
"I don't know...it's hard to say how things will turn out this time and that's what I implore that you let things play out before you make your decision. At the last moment, you will have a choice to make," she explained.
"Last moment?" Emma asked.
"Once your mother becomes pregnant, you have until your birth to decide if you want to live whatever life it is that your parents may be living in this changed world. Or if you will it...with your magic, you will have the power to reverse everything and cancel Zelena's spell. You'll appear back in Storybrooke, like you never left," Athena responded.
"How can I expect to make such a decision? This decision affects thousands of lives!" Emma exclaimed.
"I know...it's not fair. But once again, the fate of all rests in the Savior's hands. All I can tell you is that either decision does come with consequences. What those will be in either case are unknown. I'll be here to counsel you in this decision," she offered. Emma nodded, as she turned back to the globe. And she became enthralled, as she got to watch her parent's lives play out before her…
The Enchanted Forest
19 Years Before the Dark Curse
A jealous Queen stared down into the palace garden at the young girl below with hateful contempt. She was Queen Ravenna, once Princess Ravenna of the Southern Isles. As a woman with thirteen brothers, her only hope of being a Queen was to marry into the Throne. Her father had made a match for her with Prince Elijah of the Northern Kingdom and she had indeed become Queen. But it was not the ideal situation she had hoped for.
Before their union, Eli had a dalliance with the Goddess Persephone, Queen of the Underworld, and the affair had produced a bastard child. Needless to say, Eli's father and his court had been livid. Had the child of this union been an ordinary child, she was certain it would have been sold off at its birth or worse, despite anything the Prince did to protect his sire. But this was no ordinary little girl. This was the daughter of Persephone and to knowingly try to harm this child would incite, not only the wrath of Persephone, but that of Demeter, Artemis, and Athena as well. It was said that even Poseidon adored his great niece and that even Hades himself would promise eternal damnation if harm came to his beloved step-daughter.
But Eli's father the King was still a stubborn man and refused to recognize his grandchild, Snow White, as the true heir. He insisted on the union between Eli and Ravenna, stating that Eli could raise Snow in the palace during the time when Persephone was in the Underworld and that she would be treated as a Princess, but only if Eli agreed to marry Ravenna and produce a viable heir.
But things had not gone as planned. Despite their attempts, Ravenna had yet to become pregnant in the ten years since they wed. Rumors that the Queen was barren began to fly and some very dark emotions had settled in Ravenna. She became bitter, angry, and jealous of her step-daughter, especially since everyone, save for most royals and nobles, adored Eli's little bastard daughter. Despite the fact that most had been livid at the time of her birth, the little retch had somehow captured the hearts of many, particularly the palace staff and servants. She was adored and often found helping the servants with their chores or in the kitchen, learning with the cooks. It was the most unbecoming behavior for a Princess. But worst of all, she could often be found in the gardens, cavorting with woodland creatures, talking to birds, and playing in the flowers and dirt. It's was blasphemous behavior for a Princess in her opinion and she never missed an opportunity to scold Snow for it. She was jealous of the attention her husband showered upon his little girl, of the attention everyone seemed to shower upon Persephone's precious little snowdrop.
Everyone was always going on and on about the daughter of Persephone. How fair and kind she was. But Ravenna was at least certain of one thing. Snow White was still a bastard child and Ravenna was the Queen. And even if she couldn't produce an heir, she planned to keep it that way, by any means necessary.
Snow was a point of contention with them and she noticed the time of day that it was. Persephone would be there soon to get her daughter and as usual, Ravenna would be doing her best to give the Goddess reason to take her away from Eli. Ravenna wanted to be rid of the little urchin, but she wasn't stupid enough to lay a hand on her with so many Gods protecting her. But she had other ways of doing so. She was determined that no one, certainly not that insipid little Princess, was going to usurp her Throne or her beauty.
Eli swiped a hand over his tired face, as he had just finished a laborious meeting concerning the issues facing their Kingdom. His wife was known for frivolous spending and not at all concerned with the growing poverty in their Kingdom. Add to that, many of the men in the nobility were unhappy that he had not produced a viable heir for the Throne. Moreover, they were expected at a ball in Leopold's Kingdom that evening and the invitation could not be refused. But even with all that, the stress melted away, as he arrived in the garden to see his little girl playing with birds and the woodland creatures. She was thought to be odd by the nobility, but Eli considered it to be a gift. It reminded him of Persephone, of course, and also made him sad in a way, for a life with Snow's mother had been lost, because of duty and responsibility.
"Snow…" he called out and she turned to him with a smile.
"Hello Daddy," she called back, as the blue bird on her finger flew off, while the baby fawn nuzzled her cheek and she giggled. He sighed.
"Snowdrop...there is a ball in just a few hours. Johanna is going to have a fit with at how dirty you are," he chided. Snow sighed.
"Do I have to go? None of the other children like me," she complained. He sighed. Sometimes he did wonder if Snow would have been better off being raised away from the palace. She was often shunned by the other royals and other royal children.
"They're just jealous of you, my little one," he replied.
"Why?" Snow asked. He sighed and knelt down before her.
"Because you're special and different. Sometimes that makes others jealous," Eli told her. But Snow wasn't sure she understood that.
"Don't lie to her, Eli. They don't like her, because she's out here playing in the dirt and cavorting with critters. It's very unbecoming of a Princess," Ravenna snapped.
"Easy Ravenna…" he scolded and she rolled her eyes.
"Eli...when are you going to realize that she must be disciplined? How do you ever expect her to become a proper part of the court?" she argued.
"Well, considering they tell me she'll never be accepted, I'd say that is rather moot, wouldn't you?" he argued in return.
"If you allow me to mold her into a proper Princess, I can see to it that she finds a suitable Prince when she comes of age. Don't you want that for her? You won't be able to see that she is taken care of forever. You know what happens to bastard royals in our circle...even if she is a Demi-Goddess," Ravenna reminded.
"If you call my daughter that in front of her ever again, I'll make sure you're the Underworld's newest resident," Persephone warned, as she appeared. Ravenna smirked, knowing that this was going to cause a fight between her and Eli.
"Mama!" Snow called excitedly and Persephone scooped her up, hugging her fiercely.
"Oh, I've missed you so, my little snowdrop," she cooed. Ravenna gave the Queen of the Underworld a mock bow
"Forgive me, Your Majesty, I am only trying to look out for Snow. I don't want to see something terrible happen to her. You know that are those out there that would like to get their hands on a child such as Snow," she warned.
"I'm well aware of the dangers, Ravenna. Now...if you please, I need to speak to Eli," Persephone said. Ravenna bowed again and turned to leave, with an evil smirk on her face.
"Baby...why don't you go have Johanna pack your things," she suggested.
"Then I don't have to go to the ball?" she asked excitedly. Persephone smiled.
"No, my love…" she assured, as Snow went inside to get her things.
"Persephone…" Eli started to say.
"Give me one good reason why I should ever return Snow here?" the Goddess snapped.
"Because she's my daughter and I love her!" he snapped back.
"The woman you are married to hates my daughter and the people she is referring to? She's the one telling them about Snow. If she thought she could get away with selling our daughter off into servitude to get rid of her, she would have already done it!" she lamented.
"I don't like it anymore than you do! She's just under a tremendous amount of pressure to produce an heir and I'm doing my best, Persephone. You know I love Snow," he implored. She sighed.
"I know you do...but I fear she's not safe here, Eli," Persephone worried.
"Oh and she'd be safer with you and your demon husband?!" he said angrily.
"As a matter of fact...she would! The Underworld isn't the pit of fire and damnation you think it is! And Hades adores her, you know that. Snow is revered there. No one would ever think of laying a hand on her," she retorted.
"What will you have me do?" Eli questioned.
"I want you to protect our daughter! Put your foot down with your stuffy, self absorbed court and your selfish wife! Be a King and stand up to them," she requested.
"I am trying! There is just no getting through to them! But they would never hurt her," he assured. But Persephone would never believe that. Her and her husband's wrath was the only thing holding them back from hurting Snow.
"Fine...then I'll make the warning myself upon our return in six months. For now, I'm not going to allow this mar my time with her," she replied.
Snow carried the travel case that Johanna had packed for her and made her way back toward the gardens. She saw two women, one she recognized as a duchess and another noblewoman nearby and they didn't notice her.
"At least the Goddess is here to get her retch and we won't have to put up with her at the ball," the duchess mentioned.
"Honestly, I do not know why the King does not send her off with her mother and be done with her," the other woman said. Snow lowered her head, as a few tears slipped down her cheeks and started to wonder if Daddy really did want to send her off. She certainly seemed to cause him a lot of problems. Before she could lament that further, she heard a noise that got her attention and she followed it into the gardens. She followed the whistling and looked up to see her step-father there, with a smile for her.
At one time, Hades had been unable to leave the Underworld, but when Eli had married Ravenna, her mother had returned to Hades. The God of the dead accepted Snow without question and he and Persephone grew closer than ever. And then, beyond all odds, Persephone fell in love with him and restarted his heart with true love's kiss. He was now able to leave the Underworld again, but always returned, as he had taken to ruling justly and seriously, finally accepting his place now that he had love in his life.
"Papa Hades!" Snow called, as she rushed to him and he scooped her up.
"Why are there tears, Princess?" he asked.
"I heard some of the women from Daddy's court talking. They say I cause him a lot of trouble and am a bother. And I'm embarrassing cause I talk to birds," she replied sadly.
"Sounds like a lot of nonsense to me. You are not bother, sweet pea. You are our greatest joy," Hades responded.
"And you can talk to birds, which makes you very special. That's magic that you got from your Mama," he added, as he carried her through the gardens and saw the two women she was talking about eye him wearily. He had half a mind to light his hair up just to frighten them out of spite, but knew Persephone would scold him. So he decided to use another tactic that would get the job done, but was a bit more subtle.
The two hens proceeded to whisper about them, until one felt something crawl over her foot. She looked down and screamed bloody murder, as she saw that it was a snake. The other screamed in horror, as they ran back inside. Hades chuckled and Snow couldn't help but do the same.
"See? You talk to birds and I talk to snakes. That just makes us special," he told her.
"Hades…" Persephone said in a chiding voice.
"What?" he asked innocently. She rolled her eyes.
"You know what," she scolded.
"They deserved it," he argued and she smirked.
"Be that as it may...we do not sink to their level," she replied.
"Yes dear," he teased, as he picked up Snow's travel case and they prepared to leave. And Eli watched on with guilt and envy. They were the family that he was supposed to have been a part of, instead of Hades. He tried to make Snow happy when she was with him, but it was not made easy by the people around him. He knew she was happier with them and it broke his heart...