AN: See chapter 1 for story notes and summaries.
Ships: Snowing, Rumbelle, Swan Believer, Swanfire, Daddy Charming, Mama Snow, HadesxPersephone, Mama Persephone, and a delightful Golden Mad Charming BroT3. :)
Please consider leaving a review. Feedback is much appreciated and vital. Reviews have dropped a bit, but any feedback you can give is much appreciated.
Also, feel free to follow me on Tumblr lilacmoon83.
Special note:
Here are the main face claims that we're dealing with right now. For other minor Gods/Goddesses, see previous chapters:
Gal Gadot as Persephone
Robert Downey Jr. as Hades
Vincent Irizarry as Deimos
Ben Affleck as Prince Eli
Rami Malek as Apollo
Drew Barrymore as former Queen Serafina
Idris Elba as Hephaestus
Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Phobos
Thanks for awesome the reviews. Again, please consider leaving feedback. 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. Reviews have really dropped lately, so please leave a comment. :)
Here are individual responses:
Saberius Prime: Yeah, it's definitely a lot to process. And I think there will be some twists and turns ahead. :)
Naomi Blue: Yeah, the way I figure it...Hans is reluctant to cross the Gods, as well he should be. He's not a good guy, but I think he's probably more concerned with staying alive than revenge. Glad you like James' progress. He is definitely growing into a better person. Greg and Landon are both serious bad news. It will be interesting to see where that goes. :)
Grace5231973: Yep, there is a plan in place to take down Pan! I love how Belle can get her way too. And I loved the part where he has to tell her it's supposed to be a gloomy garden and she's just having none of it, lol. I really enjoyed the trip down memory lane too. Huh, yeah Ravenna should be grateful to be alive and on her Throne at all. But her type can never just leave it alone. I do feel for Greg too. Regina put him on the path he's on and he's lost. I think they would help him if he asked, but he's choosing to the wrong path still.
Guest: No, Emma is the Savior, because she's the product of true love, just like in the show. I've done something quite different with Pan. He consumes souls to stay young. Children are ideal, but children with magic could get him to immortality. Henry is still the truest believer. He could give Pan immortality, but so can the baby, because he's a baby born of true love. I'm not really following canon on Pan, so don't get too hung up on canon.
Jennifer Baratta: Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it!
Number Ten: Glad you liked the flashbacks. Yep, Ravenna should be feared, because she's unhinged. Glad you think it's nice James' has his parents around him. He's a bit more damaged than David and I figured he needs them more than David. I had one reviewer disagree and accuse me of favoring James, which is so stupid and they're a dumb troll, so whatever to them. I loved Belle having Rumple wrapped around her finger too. Yeah, the FBI thing is big trouble. Yeah, the troll is back and they were even nastier with this chapter. Thank you for the sentiments. I appreciate the support and solidarity from true fans. :)
Guest: Yep, Hades is blessed here with the same wit as RDJ since that's his face claim. I love Tony Stark and Hades' personality here definitely borrows from him. :)
Beth1980: Ha, yeah, get ready to laugh harder, because that rude guest was even nastier, which means I'm about to get even more sarcastic and growly with them, especially since their perception of this story is so off and delusional.
Yeah, I think Hans is more concerned about staying alive than revenge, so he'd rather Ravenna just leave it alone. But we know she won't. Glad you liked the trip down memory lane. I felt it was most appropriate for Snow to experience it too. Yep, we know whose really in charge at the Dark Castle and it ain't Rumple. Lol. Not that he'd have it any other way. Yeah, the FBI thing could go really bad for Regina. Yes, James and George had a confrontation a while back, just before Zelena's spell so somewhere back in the 90's chapters. James did not give him a warm hello if you want to skip back to those chapters and find it. I'll try to remember and PM you later with which chapter it is. I thought it was more fitting to have James' three parents live with him. I got accused of favoring James for it, which is really stupid. But David has a wife and kids. He needs them a bit less than James I thought. But whatever. That other reviewer is a stupid troll. Yes, this chapter is the build up to the plan of outsmarting Pan. So it should be interesting. No, I haven't covered the Tiny and James thing yet. I'll have to work that in, but there's been so much going on. Emma is still Sheriff of Storybrooke. Her dad kind of got promoted to Sheriff of all the United Realms as you'll find out in this chapter, but they'll still be working together. David is like King and Sheriff now. Or head Knight? He's going to wear a lot of hats. But don't you know I totally hate him? At least according to the troll. Yes, I'm being sarcastic. It's pretty ludicrous that they accuse me of hating Josh/Charming. Like...what? I love him so much that it's painfully obvious, but I guess you need a brain to tell that. And trolls don't have brains. I'm totally the one trolling this person now though. But they're still the coward, because they hide behind anonymous reviews. Hear that troll? I know you're reading this. Lol, okay I'm done. Promise. Glad you're still enjoying. :)
Rude Guest: And here we are. I saved you for last. Which is ironic, since you were actually the first to review last week's chapter. Hmm...I find that really interesting, because for someone who thinks this story is so terrible, you certainly were eager to read the update. I timed it even, cause yeah I'm that bitch. I had to go into my deleted items to find it though since yeah, I deleted your anonymous trash from. I posted last week's chapter at 9:14 pm and you reviewed at 9:23 pm. That's effing fast. I know how long it takes me to read through one of my 4,000 word chapters and it's more than freaking nine minutes. But sure...let's say you actually read the whole thing and aren't trolling, which you are, but let's pretend!
Okay psycho...his parents didn't pick James. They don't choose between their children. That's stupid, but it's you so that says it all. James needs them more, smart one. David's married with kids and not quite as damaged as his twin. But sure, whatever. The fact that you said Snow should dump David is so fucking offensive to me that I can't even with that. You're a piece of crap for saying it and just seriously go F yourself. Uh...David has a home with Snow. The castle is theirs, stupid. They're married. It's a union. That's what marriage is, idiot. Yours, mine and ours? Ever heard of that? No? Too complicated for your tiny, miniscule brain? Nope, they're not living with Persephone, cause Persephone doesn't live in Eli's palace. But you're a bitch that jumps to conclusions and didn't wait for this chapter to break down everything even more. But you're the stupid troll who assumes they know what I'm going to do and write, which I can assure you right here and now, bitch, you have no fucking clue. Now be a good little troll and go to hell.
Dreaming Out Loud
Chapter 113: The Duelists
"Are you sure about this?" Snow asked nervously, as she held the baby and rocked him gently and he started to fuss. Eli smiled at his little girl and put his hands on her shoulders.
"Yes...I'm sure. I'll be right there with you, but you are my heir. It's time for you and David to rule in my stead. You both are amazing leaders and you are the strong rulers that this Kingdom deserves," Eli said. Snow sighed and straightened her dress. It wasn't a ball gown and as formal as it might have been in their old land. They had decided that they would only continue to use Enchanted Forest fashions for balls, coronations, and very formal events. They had decided that the clothing native to the Land Without Magic made much more sense for their busy lives as rulers and parents. David was ruling beside her, but still continuing to police the town and now all the realms with Emma.
While Emma was Sheriff of Storybrooke, David's official title would now be King, as well as Supreme Knight and charged with protecting their Kingdom and James' as well, since they had announced that the northern Kingdom would be ruling their people jointly with David's Kingdom that they had returned to James, since David wanted to rule with Snow and take on a more active role in their protection, which didn't surprise anyone. David loved working with their daughter and was the perfect person for this role. He wore semi-formal attire beside his wife for this matter of state, but would trade it for his leather jacket and jeans, alongside Emma, when it came to policing the Kingdoms.
This morning though, Eli had invited many heads of state for this announcement, though the official coronation would come later.
"He's right sweetie...you and David are the leaders this Kingdom needs," Persephone agreed, as they watched a sparkling orange portal appear and Hades step through.
"It works…" he told his wife.
"What works?" David asked.
"Well, as you know, we still want to be close to you...but I need to rule from Olympus now," Persephone answered.
"So, I created a system of portals with a spell that will connect Olympus, this castle, and James'," Hades continued.
"Isn't that kind of dangerous?" David asked wearily.
"The portals are only accessible by the hairs of the people I used in the spell. I included those of us here, David's parents and brother, Regina, Henry, Demeter, Artemis, Apollo, Neal, Rumple, Belle, and Jefferson," Hades explained.
"That way we can still be very close by at all times and you can access Olympus whenever you need or want to," Persephone added.
"That's wonderful, mother," Snow said, as they shared a hug.
"I'm still not sure about this though," she fretted. Eli hugged her briefly and then stepped up in front of the Throne to address the nobles that were gathering. They had dismissed most of his original court when they had taken back the Kingdom. He had taken great pleasure in dismissing those that had treated his little girl so horribly. But unfortunately, dismissing them didn't mean they weren't still the nobility of his Kingdom and many of them were present. James was also present with his and David's parents, since they'd also be announcing the Kingdom merger.
"Thank you all for coming," Eli began, as he brought the attention of the room to him.
"Today, I've gathered my Kingdom together to make a very special announcement. As your King, I have made the decision that it is time for me to step down and crown my heir as your ruler," he announced, which created much commotion.
"The official coronation will come later, but my daughter and son-in-law are this Kingdom's new King and Queen, as I step down into an advisory role," he continued.
"Your daughter is an illegitimate heir!" the Duke protested.
"According to you perhaps, but there has never been a more legitimate heir than my daughter and my son-in-law is the perfect person to rule with her. I may have had to bend under your protests when I was married to Ravenna, but now as sole ruler of my Kingdom, you no longer have any power and she can no longer threaten this Kingdom with war!" he stated firmly.
"My daughter is the rightful Queen of this Kingdom and her husband will be her King," he announced.
"As our first decree as this Kingdom's rulers…" Snow began to say, as she and David joined hands.
"We're announcing that our Kingdom will merge with King James'," Snow announced.
"And the union of these two Kingdoms is blessed by the Gods," Persephone decreed.
"We know that this merger will be benefit the people. No longer will the nobility be the deal makers in your Kingdom. This is a new land and a new era where democracy will rule and the people will prosper," David said, as he spoke directly to the common person. Snow smiled at him.
"My husband is right. The days of your rulers over taxing you are over and we promise to always do what is best for the majority and not just the few that are wealthy," she promised, as the meeting dispersed. The nobility was obviously very unhappy by all of this, but others had received their announcement very well and seemed to trust their new leaders, a testament to Snow and David's reputation.
David felt his phone vibrate and answered it.
"Hello?" he asked.
"Hello there mate…" came an accented voice.
"Hook?" he asked in confusion
"You know these bloody phone things are pretty handy...a nice bit of magic in a land that's not supposed to have any," Killian commented.
"What do you want, Hook?" David questioned.
"I'm just passing on a bit of interesting information that I think you may want to investigate," he said.
"Really? And what's in it for you?" David questioned.
"Touche...but I think you'll be interested to know that I saw that bloody demon Pan conversing with Blackbeard himself," Hook informed.
"Blackbeard?" David asked skeptically.
"Yes...and as bad as I've been at times, I have nothing on Blackbeard. But don't go spreading that around. If those two are talking...it's never good and nothing would give me greater pleasure than to see those two go down," Hook replied.
"Thanks for the tip, seriously...I'll look into it right away," David said, as he hung up the phone and found Hades on the other end of the room.
"Hook just called me and said he spied Pan talking to Blackbeard. He suggested that it can't be good," David mentioned.
"Blackbeard...another one of the Underworld's biggest customers. He's right...one snake is bad enough, but two like them is much worse," Hades agreed.
"Fortunately...this might be exactly what we need to get rid of Pan," he added.
"Then I'm in...whatever you need. I want to make sure that demon can't get anywhere near my son," David said eagerly.
"Then I think I have the perfect plan," Hades replied.
"Look alive slags!" Hook ordered. Upon the uniting of the realms, Killian Jones found that his crew had returned and was without a Captain. They had returned to him, though now that all the realms were in one place, he wasn't sure what kind of future he had here. He had informed the Prince about Blackbeard's dealings with Pan, simply because he hated them both and with them out of the way, it would make controlling the seas a lot easier. But with all the realms now so close together and being ruled by Persephone, it made his need for revenge against the Crocodile even more risky. The bloody Dark One was actually friends with the Prince...now a King, which still blew his mind. Charming and the Crocodile as friends still sounded like an oxymoron to him, but then he had learned since that David had very humble beginnings, not unlike Rumpelstiltskin.
"You still seek revenge, Killian Jones, but are even more uncertain how to achieve that in this new land," Claude Frollo stated, as he appeared.
"Yes...but I assure you that I do not need the likes of you to help me find my way," Hook retorted, as he moved about his ship.
"Even if I knew of something with the ability to trap someone...anyone in a place or status. A flower that can confine even an immortal and allow them to be killed," he responded. Hook paused and turned to him.
"I've lived for more than three hundred years and know just about every flower or root in the Enchanted Forest and Neverland. No such thing exists, except perhaps Dreamshade. But the Crocodile would never fall for that. He knows its dangers too," Hook replied.
"I am not talking about dreamshade. The flower I am referring to does not have a special name. It is just a simple, rare golden flower that exists in another Enchanted forest that used to be out of reach, but that is no longer the case," Frollo responded.
"That territory beyond Neverland," Hook surmised, as he looked at this new magical forest that was now in the midst.
"Yes...if this flower's golden dust were to be combined with the power of my cauldron, I would be the God ruling the United Realms," Frollo offered.
"Hmm...exchanging the benevolent rule of Persephone for one of terror in yours…" Hook said, pretending to think about it.
"Pass…" he said.
"You'll regret this. If you will not retrieve it for me, then I will make a deal with Blackbeard. Think carefully…" Frollo warned.
"Make your deal with Blackbeard if you must. I have honor and good form. Blackbeard would betray his own mother. No deal," Hook refuted, as Frollo disappeared in a puff of smoke, quite agitated by his refusal. Hook smirked.
"You may make a deal with Blackbeard, but it won't do you any good if I get this flower first," he muttered.
"Mr. Smee!" he bellowed.
"Yes Captain?" his first mate answered.
"Prepare us to set sail," he ordered.
"What is the destination, Captain?" Smee questioned.
"That new magical forest...it's time to see what it has to offer me," Hook replied.
The bell on the shop rang and Rumple instantly felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end.
"You have three seconds to get out…" he hissed.
"That's not a very good way to greet your father, Rum…"
"You are no father…" he hissed.
"Perhaps not...but I could be. Think about it...if we make the right moves, we can rule the United Realms. Together," Pan offered.
"I have no interest in ruling anything with you, especially not a town and Kingdoms full of zombies, which is what this place will be if you're allowed to keep eating souls," Rumple answered.
"Ah, but we both know one way that I can have the sustenance I need to join you in immortality. If I have consume a product of true love...then I will no longer need ordinary souls to sustain me," Pan explained, with a smirk.
"Think about it...there are three options for me. Emma is less desirable. Though she is powerful...her innocence is long gone. She'd give me hundreds of years for sure...but wouldn't quite get me where I need to be," he said.
"And then there is my great grandson. The grandson of the two most powerful bloodlines in existence. The lightest and the darkest. Not to mention...we both know that he has the heart of the truest believer. If I take that heart and consume his soul...I'd achieve my immortality," Pan continued.
"If you think we will let you harm our grandson…" Rumple started to say.
"Relax Rumple...as tempting as Henry is, he is also my blood," Pan responded.
"Like that has ever stopped or bothered you before," the Dark One retorted.
"True...but there is now an option that doesn't involve Henry," Pan purported.
"The baby…" Rumple muttered.
"Yes...young Alexander Nolan Charming. Another product of true love; a love written in the stars by Athena. A child born with incredible magic like his sister, but as innocent as...well a baby," Pan mused.
"You are not eating that child's soul. Believe it or not...having you in any kind of powerful position is the last thing I want," Rumple refuted. Pan frowned.
"You want to side with me, Rumple...you do not want to be my enemy," he warned.
"Besides...it's not like those two idiots won't pop out more magical babies. They gave you the one you needed for the curse and now they can give me the one I need to live," he hissed.
"Do not compare us!" the Dark One hissed, but then sobered when he saw that his father was not backing down.
"And if I refuse?" Rumple questioned.
"I'll kill them...they're souls will be nice additions," Pan threatened. Rumple glowered at him and clenched his teeth, knowing that he was referring to Bae and Belle.
"What do you need from me?" he growled. Pan smirked victoriously.
"I can handle the two idiots and even their daughter. But I need a way to neutralize Hades and Persephone," he said. Rumple sighed painfully and opened his safe, before taking out a small box and sliding it over to him on the counter.
"Pandora's box. You have to get quite close to them when you activate it, but it can trap anyone, even Gods," Rumple said. Pan smirked.
"Thank you son...you won't regret this," he said, as he disappeared in a puff of smoke. Once he did, Belle came out from the back room.
"No...I won't," Rumple said, with a smirk.
"Do you think he bought it?" she asked. He nodded.
"Of course he did. I am the Dark One, after all. He expects me to betray the heroes and family alike...because that's exactly what he would do," he replied. She smiled and kissed his cheek.
"But you're nothing like him," she said.
"Let's go...we don't want to miss the show and by that I mean...Pan's demise," he replied, as he took her hand and they left through the back of the shop.
David arrived at the docks that afternoon to follow up on Hook's tip and he spotted the pirate Blackbeard on his ship, the Queen Anne's Revenge. Naturally, he had heard of this pirate. He was a ruthless man, evil and nearly without conscious. While Hook had done some deplorable things, he knew the other pirate was the way he was because he had suffered loss in his life. It didn't excuse anything he had done, including murdering his father, but he started out as a good person. The same could not be said for Blackbeard. He did evil things and killed without a second thought, for riches or sometimes just because he felt like it. He controlled much of the seas back home, but David was determined that this wouldn't be the case here in the United Realms.
"No one is permitted aboard the ship without the Captain's permission," one of the deckhand's hissed, as he leveled his sword at David.
"This is the United Realms and the rules have changed," David said, as he flashed his badge and pushed passed the man, before making his way onto the deck.
"Well, well, it's not everyday that my humble ship is visited by a royal. And a King at that," Blackbeard announced to his crew mockingly.
"Oh believe me, I don't want to be here anymore than you want me here. But since you were spotted conspiring with an enemy to my Kingdom earlier...I'm here to investigate," David said, as he noticed the pirates began to surround him.
"Really? Conspiring with an enemy. That is a very serious charge," Blackbeard replied.
"Yeah...and you're going to tell me everything you know about what Pan is up to," David said, as he noticed the pirates drew their swords.
"Am I?" Blackbeard goaded.
"And what will you do if I don't, Prince Charming?" he questioned.
"Well, for starters, I'll take down your entire crew if they try to attack me and then you and I will duel, if you're really intent on resisting. After that, I'll cuff all of you and you'll have a nice new home in the dungeon of my castle," David said, as Blackbeard and his crew all had a good laugh at that.
"Even the illustrious Prince Charming can't take us all on," Blackbeard stated.
"But it will be fun watching you try," he added.
"Last chance...I just want to know what Pan is planning and then I'll be on my way," David warned. But they didn't heed his warning and a couple of pirates moved in. With lightning quick reflexes, David unsheathed his sword and parried their attacks.
"Stand down...I didn't hurt you on purpose. But next time, you won't be so lucky," he warned. But they ignored his warning again and he dispatched them with ease.
"Well...the stories are true. We're in the presence of a real genuine dragon slayer, men," Blackbeard boasted.
"That's right...I've slayed dragons and they smelled better than you and your crew," David retorted, making the pirate Captain chuckle.
"Fighting dragons is much different than fighting pirates. I've slayed many a royal with far more training and experience than you," Blackbeard warned.
"So you say...and I doubt they've had my training," David countered. Blackbeard smirked.
"First one to get me his head so I can present it to his Queen gets half our next haul of gold," he announced to his men. But David was ready, as the pirates attacked and he took them all on. With fluid skill and perfect technique, David did something that not many ever did and that was shock the infamous pirate, as none of his crew was left standing after a short bout against the newly minted King of Misthaven. He wore a deep frown at that and drew his own cutlass.
"I warned you...and I'll ask one more time. Tell me what Pan is up to and I'll forget that your crew attacked me. I am a father that just wants to protect his children from that demon," David stated.
"Not even I cross Pan, Your Majesty...and you'd do well not to cross him either, unless you'd like those children to be fatherless," Blackbeard warned.
"I'll take my chances," David snapped in return.
"You are as brave as the legends boast...but not even a dragon slayer quite possesses your level of skill. I'm curious as to who your instructor was," Blackbeard inquired curiously. David smirked.
"He doesn't take over the hill pirates on as students," the blonde quipped in return. Blackbeard's frown deepened into a snarl, as they engaged in an all out duel.
David maneuvered defensively and parried the pirate's blade, as he came at him with vicious strikes. As he predicted, Blackbeard had a very aggressive style that made his necessary defensive moves elaborate and thus tiring. He wasn't surprised that this was Blackbeard's style. His aggressive movements were tiring too, but he likely banked on tiring his opponent out before he himself exhausted. And David suspected that this strategy often worked. His name wasn't infamous for no reason, after all. However, David was no ordinary opponent. In one life, Anna had trained him and trained him well. His original skills were impressive enough as it was and he could match even the fiercest opponent. But in his other life, his training with Eli and Hades had only further enhanced and honed his skills. Even against such an aggressive style, David was able to maintain a complete defense without tiring too much. Hades had rigorously trained him for this type of fight as he himself had a rather aggressive style.
"You can't keep dodging me forever, boy...I'll have you shadowboxing soon," Blackbeard warned.
"You're probably right," David confirmed.
"Your pretty head will be a boast worthy prize though and I imagine your fair Queen will be quite inconsolable," he continued to boast.
"No...she'll be just fine, because I'll be going home to her like I always do and she'll be in my arms tonight, while your evening will be spent in your new home. Our dungeon," David countered. Blackbeard chuckled.
"You admitted yourself that this is not a pace you can continue," Blackbeard shot back.
"And you were right about that...which means it's time to go on the offensive," David retorted, as David's footing shifted and he came at the pirate with fell swoops and sharp angles. The pirate was forced to backpedal on his own ship and growled, as he tried to beat him back. But the smirk remained on David's face, as he matched the pirate blow for blow. Blackbeard yelled in frustration, as he brought his blade up, intending to beat his opponent down with the hilt if he had to, but his anger made him sloppy and David capitalized on the moment of error. He stopped Blackbeard's blade in a high arc and with a flick of his wrist, he split his defenses and sliced the pirate's hand. It was a minor wound, but enough to disarm him and David caught his cutlass before it could clatter to the deck. He held both weapons to the pirate's neck, forcing him to yield.
"I haven't enjoyed a dual that much in years," Hades said, as the pirate looked up to find the former God of the Underworld in the crow's nest. He jumped down easily and landed on his feet.
"Those were some nice moves. Who taught you those? Oh wait...it was me," Hades boasted, as he waved his hands and Blackbeard found himself in shackles.
"Eli deserves some credit too," David admonished.
"I suppose," the former God of the Underworld amitted, before turning his attention to the defeated pirate.
"Tell us what Pan is planning," Hades demanded to know.
"I thought you knew...he's after your brat," Blackbeard hissed, as he looked at David.
"But he wouldn't need to talk to you if he didn't need to make a deal of some sort. Tell me...or the ship burns," Hades warned, as a blue fireball appeared in his hand. Blackbeard was silent and the former God of the dead was true to his word, as he lit the mast ablaze.
"Damn you...all right! Stop! The bloody demon wanted me to create a problem big enough to distract you and your wife. He plans to take the two of you out so getting the child will be an easy play," Blackbeard confessed.
"He promised I could have its parents and ransom them to the highest bidder. He figures Frollo and Ravenna would fight over who gets their heads. Or perhaps Leopold will pay for your wife...and I think he wants more than her head," Blackbeard goaded, as he looked at David. The former Prince and now King angrily swept the pirate's legs out from under him. He hit the deck on his back and David poised his sword at his throat.
"Talk about her like that again...and we'll skip the dungeon," he warned.
"And the fates will not be kind in their judgement of you in the Underworld," Hades added.
"You have what you want...now leave me," Blackbeard hissed.
"Oh no, you're still going to a rat infested dungeon," Hades said, as he waved his hand and the pirates all disappeared.
"You were right...he's making his move today," David said worriedly.
"Don't worry...our plan is in place. This will work," Hades assured. David nodded, hoping he was right and followed his father-in-law back onto the dock. They headed for Storybrooke, where, if Hades was right, Pan was getting ready to make his move. The bait was set and the trap was ready to be sprung.