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 awesomethe 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:
Naomi Blue: I love Hades too, he is very fun to write. Yep, things come to a head with Pan in this chapter. And I don't think it will disappoint.
Saberius Prime: No, it won't be easy. But the final showdown with Pan is in this chapter. :)
Grace5231973: Yep, Hook is not always thinking things through. Hopefully, now he is on the road to a better path. Yep, Rumple is on board with the heroes in this. :)
Jennifer Baratta: Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it! Yep, Pan is definitely going down.
Number Ten: Yep, for now I've kind of written Hook out, but it's for a good reason so Alice can come into existence. He'll be back eventually. And since there's no wish Hook here, things may definitely go differently for him. I loved David's fight with Blackbeard too. Yeah, I know, trolls are the worst. They think they can bully people, but I'm not someone that can be bullied. Some say don't respond to them, but I am not able to let people like that get a free pass with their trash. Thanks for the support. :)
Guest: Glad you enjoyed it, because the heroes take on Pan in a final bout in this chapter. I did miss that opportunity for a 12% joke. Darn it. :)
Beth1980: You made it before the next update! Yeah, I can get pretty sassy when I want to. I'm am not someone that can be bullied and if they'regoing to come at me with that nonsense, I'm going to tell them off. Yes, Eli is going to much happier as just dad and grandpa than he ever was as King. He's come a long way with Snow. I think it's smart for them to merge the Kingdoms too and include the common people too. The portal may backfire, but for now it will be an asset. Hook was helpful and I'm writing him out for now with good reason. He'll be back and a better man. Yeah, Pan ruling everyone would be horrific. Yep, he's after the baby so he can become immortal. I wouldn't either. Rumple is way better than his father. Yes, he's really working with the heroes this time. He doesn't want Pan to succeed either. Glad you enjoyed the fight with Blackbeard. It was entertaining. :)
Dreaming Out Loud
Chapter 114: One Less Problem
They had run out of daylight when they initially found the skull, but the two men returned first thing the next morning. Over the course of the day, a complete excavation site was set up, as they took to digging in earnest. It was hard painstaking work, but they had recovered many bones and they were now all spread out on a tarp. They didn't have them all and likely never would. It had been in the ground for twenty-eight years, but they had recovered the large bones. The skull obviously, along with parts of the rib cage, a humerus bone, and part of the pelvic bone, as well as several other small fragments that were either parts of larger bones or smaller ones entirely.
Landon proceeded to take photos of the bones they had collected with his phone and Greg waited impatiently.
"Did you send them?" he asked impatiently.
"Sent...now we just wait to hear back, but I'd be surprised if this doesn't draw at least some attention from the feds," Landon replied. Greg sighed and covered up the bones to protect them, before they trekked back to town. As they neared, they began to hear screams of panic and terror.
"What the hell is going on now?" Landon wondered.
"In this town...that's hard to say," Greg replied, as they hurried to find out what the commotion was.
"Get your camera ready though. If the feds need more convincing...then this might be it," he added.
Snow strolled along Main street, pushing the stroller, while Emma walked beside her. They were window shopping and slowly making their way toward Granny's for some cocoa.
"Thanks for coming with me, honey…" Snow said. Emma put her arm around her mother.
"Are you kidding? You know I love spending time together and especially with my new baby brother. We don't get to do it often enough," Emma mentioned.
"I still think we should get Xander a baby leather jacket though," she added. Snow chuckled.
"As cute as that is...he is going to outgrow all his clothes in a matter of weeks at this point. But maybe when he's a little older. I do like the idea of dressing him up to look like his daddy and big sister," Snow replied.
"Hear that kid? You have a future in leather," Emma joked. Snow giggled.
"Oh can you just imagine him in a tiny leather jacket following his daddy and sister around?" she gushed and Emma chuckled again.
"Yeah...our tiniest detective," she joked and Snow gasped.
"Oh...you could get him a little Sheriff star to wear!" she gushed. Emma shook her head.
"Yeah...I'll work on that," her daughter answered. Suddenly, they heard screams and braced themselves, as Pan loomed above them in the sky.
"Here we go...he took the bait," Emma muttered. Snow swallowed thickly and prepared herself for what was to come. The demon did as expected and dove down toward the stroller. Snow blocked him from the stroller, but surprisingly, he grabbed her instead and put a dagger to her throat.
"Did you really think I was going to fall for this, Princess?" he hissed, as he kicked the stroller and tipped it over. A doll came tumbling out of it, as Persephone, Hades, Emma, Eli, and David moved in.
"Let her go…" David growled, as he brandished his sword.
"You idiots really think you could outsmart Pan?" he countered, as he started backing away with Snow.
"You know...her soul would make a very nice addition to my road to immortality. Daughter of Persephone and all," he said.
"And making your husband watch me rip your shadow from your body will be a bonus," he added, as he glared at David.
"Let. Her. Go." David hissed.
"You have a choice, Prince Charming. Your wife or your son…" Pan warned.
"I refuse to accept those are my only two choices," he hissed, as he slowly stepped forward and Pan recoiled with Snow, as he used his powers to start tearing her shadow away. She screamed in pain, as he did so.
"One more step and she dies…" he growled, which made him stop in fear that he would hurt her.
"Let my daughter go…" Persephone demanded, as she and Hades moved in.
"If this was your plan, then you really have lost your touch," Pan said, looking at Hades.
"Have I?" Hades challenged. Pan smirked.
"You absolutely have…" the demon said, as he tossed an object at their feet. He waved his hand and it opened, sucking both Gods inside it. Snow cried out, as her mother and step-father disappeared and the box closed. Pan chuckled.
"Pandora's box...not even Gods can escape it. Now...where were we? Oh yes...her or the child?" he questioned.
"How about a third option? Like sending you to hell," David countered, which made Pan chuckle arrogantly.
"And you think you can actually accomplish that?" Pan questioned.
"I'll admit, your duel with Blackbeard and the beating of him was impressive...but that pirate is nothing compared to my power," he added, as he sensed something behind him and caught a fireball in his hand.
"Betrayal runs thick in our veins, son...I anticipated you selling out to the bleeding hearts here, but I thought you were smart enough not to cross me," Pan growled, as he nullified Rumple's fireball and continued to hold Snow hostage. She choked, as she struggled to breathe in his vice-like grip.
"Charming…" she rasped.
"Let her go, you son of a bitch!" David cried, as he grew desperate to free his wife.
"Temper, temper...Your Majesty," Pan chided, as Eli stood beside David, his eyes fixated on his little girl.
"The time for stalling is at an end," Pan said, as he wrapped a hand around Snow's neck and lifted her off the ground. She gasped for air and flailed, as she slowly choked to death.
"NOOO!" David screamed, as he charged, only to be blown back by a blast of Pan's magic. It knocked him head over heels and he landed painfully on the ground.
"Dad!" Emma cried and then turned back to Pan.
"Mom!" she cried again, as her mother was slowly fading away.
"What will it be, Emma? Baby brother of mommy dearest?" Pan goaded.
"Still neither, you psychopath," Persephone hissed and Pan's head snapped to the side, as he found Hades and Persephone standing there, much to his shock.
"How? I trapped you!" he roared.
"Yeah...in a fake Pandora's box. We disappeared in a puff of smoke to fool you," she retorted. Hades smirked.
"And for dramatic effect. I do love my theatrics," Hades quipped.
"As much as you love your daughter? Because I'm about to snap her neck," Pan threatened.
"Not unless...you want to be trapped in the real Pandora's box…" Snow rasped. Pan's eyes widened, as he spied the box in her hands and immediately tossed her away. She gasped for air, as Emma and Eli helped her to her feet.
"You really think you've won?!" Pan cried, as he glared at his son.
"I expected more of you, son. You side with these so called heroes over me?" he questioned.
"In a heartbeat," Rumple retorted.
"And now it's time to end you for good," he added, but Pan chuckled.
"Every time you go up against me, Rumple...you lose," the demon warned.
"Not this time," Rumple growled, as he opened the vial in his hand and sent the squid ink inside splashing toward him. But Pan smirked and stopped the ink in midair, before tossing it back onto Rumple and Belle.
"Like I said, Rumple...when you go against me...you lose," Pan hissed.
"I know...that's why I'm not delivering the final blow," Rumple replied. Pan's brow furrowed and turned to the two Gods, figuring they were the true threat now. Persephone unleashed a beam of magic and he countered with his.
"Not even you can defeat me, Goddess…" Pan boasted.
"Well...we'll never really know, now will we?" she asked, as her smug smirk was unnerving to him.
"What…" he started to say, until he heard something behind him. He turned to find David there with a peculiar looking bottle. He had lost sight of the Prince and didn't consider him to be a threat. Pan barely had time to scream, as David smashed the bottle at his feet and then scrambled to Snow and Emma to get them away from the blast zone.
"NOOO!" Pan screamed, as the hellfire exploded in his face and overtook his body, burning him beyond recognition, while they could only watch on in horror and awe.
"Whoa…" Emma uttered.
"Ohhh…" Snow cried, as she had to turn away from the gruesome sight of someone burning alive. David held her and looked on, as she buried her face in his chest. Pan screamed in rage and agony, causing Belle to recoil as well against Rumple. But the latter watched with satisfaction, as Pan finally got what he deserved and his screams ceased, as the flames squelched and his ashes floated to the ground. There was a collective sigh of relief, as the looming threat of Peter Pan was neutralized.
"It's over, my darling…" David whispered to her.
"Oh Charming...you did it…" she gushed, as she tackled him in a hug and their lips met passionately.
"He'll never threaten to take our baby...or our daughter again," he promised her. She smiled at him and then kissed him again.
"Okay guys...save it for home," Emma complained. Their lips parted and they smiled, as they hugged their daughter between them.
"That was one hell of a plan," David complimented his step-father-in-law. Hades shrugged.
"It was," he boasted.
"I knew he'd be so focused on us as the true threat that he'd never see you coming," he added. David kissed Snow's forehead and then examined her neck.
"I don't like that you got caught in it though. That wasn't part of it," he said.
"I'm fine...promise," Snow replied. David looked at his mother-in-law and she smiled, as she came to examine her daughter's neck. Her hands glowed purple and the marks on her daughter's skin disappeared.
"Thanks Mom…" she said, as they shared a hug.
"So...any chance what we just did will work on the Chernabog?" David asked.
"Unfortunately no...the hellfire we just used to turn Pan to ash will only contain the Chernabog. Remember...he's a titan and he earned the title of black god for a reason," Hades responded.
"Then there's no way to kill it?" Neal asked.
"None that we know of. We created Bald Mountain for that reason. As containment," Persephone replied.
"And now it's worse...because he's merged with Frollo," Eli surmised.
"Much worse…" Hades agreed.
"For now though...we should go home. One crisis averted is definitely still a win," Persephone said. They agreed and decided that a trip to Granny's was in order, especially since they had to go there to get the baby and Henry.
"What the hell was all that?" Landon questioned, as they came out from the place they had been observing from.
"That was magic and the general insanity that defines this town," Greg replied.
"The fairy tale and mythology thing again?" Landon asked with disdain.
"Seeing is believing as they say," Greg replied.
"If I tell my friend about this, he'll laugh and then hang up on me again," Landon said.
"Then don't tell him. The bones should be enough to get him here. Then he can see for himself," Greg purported, as the other man's phone rang.
"Zach...did you get the photos I sent?" the former detective asked.
"Yeah...I got them," he confirmed.
"Great...so are you coming with a team?" Landon questioned.
"Based on what? A picture of some old bones? You know we can't allocate a team for a cold case without DNA confirmation that those bones belong to an actual unsolved murder or missing persons case," Zach responded. Landon sighed in frustration.
"But this is a murder case I have here...I know it!" Landon exclaimed.
"Then send me the bones. I'll get them off to the lab for DNA identification. But you know that without a fresh sample...the chances of getting a match are slim," Zach warned.
"And if I happen to have access to a blood relative to send a fresh sample?" Landon asked.
"Then your chances are a lot better. Send the sample in with the remains and we might know something in a few months, if we're lucky," Zach replied.
"A few months?!" Landon exclaimed.
"At best...you know the FBI lab is backed up and they work the fresh cases first. It's the best I can do," Zach said. Landon sighed and hung up.
"They're not coming?" Greg questioned.
"No...we need to send them the bones and a sample of your DNA. And then it could be a few months or even a year or so before we get anywhere," Landon said.
"That's crap!" Greg raged, as he clenched his fists.
"Look...you've waited this long for justice. What is another year or so? This might not be so bad," Landon purported.
"How the hell do you figure that?" Greg hissed.
"Because it will give us time to video tape the hell out of this place. No one that's not seeing it will believe it. But if we get a real account of what this place is and not just random snippets that could be explained away as CGI technology...then we could blow this place wide open to the world!" Landon said, which made Greg think about that for a moment.
"You'd have the FBI, Homeland, reporters, Hollywood and random people from all over the world crawling in these woods. We could sell these stories to the highest bidder," Landon said.
"I'm want justice for my father...not money," Greg spat.
"You can get both. Think about it...fairy tales are real? Greek Gods aren't just myths? You can name your price and demand anything you want when this finally blows up," Landon tempted. Greg looked at him and then relented.
"You really think we can do this?" he asked. He nodded.
"Done right? Yes...but that takes time, which we apparently have. Firstly though...we need to get your father's remains and your DNA sample shipped to my friend at the bureau," Landon replied, as they started walking toward Granny's and he happened to notice a package on the doorstep of a business.
"How the hell does this place get mail and packages anyway?" he inquired curiously. Greg shrugged.
"They have a post office and there must be some kind of magic that transports the mail in and out," he answered.
"Then that won't be a problem...but you still didn't tell me how you get people in this place if it's invisible," Landon said.
"That's tricky, but not impossible. When the time is right...we'll let the world in," Greg replied.
"It's so good to see you…" Snow gushed, as she hugged Lancelot. They had enjoyed dinner together as a family at Granny's and then returned home to the castle, only to find that Lancelot had come for a visit.
"It's good to see you both too…" he agreed, as he and David shook hands.
"And congratulations," he added, as he beamed at the baby in her arms. They grinned back.
"Thanks…" Snow said.
"So...what brings you by?" she asked.
"Well...I returned to Camelot to see what the state of my home Kingdom was and I'm afraid I am still banished," he replied. Snow frowned.
"But...what about Guinevere? She loves you," she said.
"I'm afraid she has told me otherwise and remains loyal to Arthur. I betrayed the crown and am banished from Camelot...indefinitely," he replied regrettably.
"I'm so sorry…" Snow said sadly.
"And you're sure? I know she probably feels bound by duty to her Kingdom and there was a time when I felt those pressures. I'm not saying that it wasn't messy, but in the end, true love was worth fighting for," David advised.
"I agree...but I'm afraid she made it quite clear that my love is unrequited," he replied.
"I once told Charming the same thing…" Snow reminded. He sighed.
"I'm afraid it doesn't matter though. The decision of my banishment stands and Guinevere wants to stay with Arthur," he said.
"Well...you may be banned from Camelot, but you have a home here," Snow offered.
"Thank you Snow...I was hoping to offer my services and if I'm completely candid, I thought perhaps there is another King that might find my particular skills of use to him," Lancelot responded. David smiled.
"Oh that is an offer I will not pass up. I need a Knight like you to help me train new Knights and police all this. It's a lot bigger than Storybrooke now," he agreed. Lancelot nodded gratefully.
"I will be glad to serve you both again," he said.
Arthur looked out over his Kingdom with his usual trepidation. To his people and the outside Kingdoms, things appeared to be perfectly normal and whole in his Kingdom. And it was all thanks to him...their King. He had fulfilled his destiny when he pulled the legendary Excalibur from its resting place inside a stone and became Camelot's Savior.
At least...that was how it was supposed to go. Merlin had foretold the prophecy that he would be King of Camelot and save it from ruin, even as he himself remained trapped in a tree of all things. But in the moment of his ultimate glory when he finally extracted the sword, his hopes and dreams were dashed when it was revealed that Excalibur was broken. It was the cruelest of jokes and over the years, he had grown bitter at his predicament. If the people knew he was ruling them with a broken sword and the illusion of their completeness was false, then his Kingdom would descend into chaos. He had utilized the mists of Avalon to create the illusion of a whole Camelot to his people and outside Kingdoms. And before, they remained quite isolated from outsiders. But now that they were part of the United Realms, they had many Kingdoms that were very close now. And he was worried that this could threaten the illusion. He didn't worry about Guinevere or Percival revealing his secret and even though Lancelot was of some concern, he still had some honor and would not speak of it either unless provoked.
Then there were the Gods. So far, they had not interfered, but he didn't know how long that would last.
"You're worried…" Guinevere mentioned.
"We must quietly continue our research to make Excalibur whole. It is now more vital than ever," he responded.
"Do you think the Gods will reveal our deception to the other Kingdoms?" she questioned.
"I don't know...we can hope for the best and that they leave us be. But we will prepare for the worst," he responded, as they gazed out over their Kingdom together.
Ravenna gazed out over the United Realms, as the hour grew very late. Another day in the United Realms was done and she was no closer to ruling over all of it. But then she knew her revenge wouldn't come to fruition over night. Hans slipped into her room and waited for her to acknowledge him.
"Did you do what I asked?" she inquired.
"I took inventory of that state of our army…" he confirmed.
"And?" she asked.
"Queen Snow and King David's army is twice the size and rumor has it that they are to be led by King David himself and Lancelot," Hans responded.
"Lancelot...of the Round Table?" she asked.
"Apparently not anymore," he replied. She growled in frustration.
"That little retch gets everything!" she complained.
"Why do you hate her so much?" Hans questioned, but regretted it when she glared at him.
"Do you have any idea what it was like being married to Eli and having to put up with that little brat?" she questioned.
"She was...is everything to him. You know, I didn't want to marry him anymore than he wanted to marry me!" she ranted.
"But father forced the deal and I tried to make the best of it. But he could barely stand to be in the same room as me!" she continued.
"He looked at me with indifference at best. But for her...he just lit up like a lantern in the sky," she lamented.
"She is his child," he reminded.
"I know that, you idiot!" she snapped.
"I tried everything to win his affection and when I could not, I tried to endear myself to the peasants. But they hated me too," she complained.
"Well...maybe because you refer to them as peasants," he admonishd. But she didn't hear him.
"But not Snow White! No...they adored her and fell all over themselves around her. Even the filthy little woodland critters flocked to be in her glorious presence," she raved.
"Careful...or you might turn green like the wicked witch," he quipped. That time she heard him and it earned him another frigid glare.
"You don't get it…" she accused.
"You're right...not that it matters. She's the daughter of Persephone. She might as well be untouchable. Pursing any kind of revenge against her would be to court death," he warned. But she cackled in amusement and the look in her eye could only be described as crazed. It gave him great pause, for he was seriously starting to question her sanity.
"Oh...but I will pursue it, dear brother! Revenge is the only thing that will satiate me and I will not stop until Snow White lay dead at my feet!" she said.
"But I am not stupid...I know it will have to be handled delicately. My revenge may take a very long time to reach fruition...but I will see it through," she added.
"I will find the perfect way to end her. And when I do...not even Hades and Persephone will be able to stop me. Because I have control of the one thing they could not kill…" she said. His brow furrowed and then his eyes widened, as Frollo appeared in the room.
"You called me, my Queen?" Frollo questioned, as his tone clearly indicated that he was not her slave by choice.
"You will maintain your firm handed rule in Paris and not let on that you answer to me to anyone, Chernabog," she ordered.
"Of course, my Queen," he said reluctantly.
"In the meantime, you will use your cauldron and search for a way to give me my revenge on Snow White," she added.
"Yes, My Queen," he answered obediently.
"But how…" Hans uttered in disbelief and she smirked, as she held up a glowing talisman.
"As it turns out...the black god can be controlled, just like the Dark One. Not even Hades and Persephone were aware of it. Only one God knew of this fail safe," she said, as Hermes appeared.
"And in exchange for this information...I expect to be rewarded when you get what you want," he said.
"Of course, dear Hermes...you have earned whatever you desire. By giving me the Promethean flame and thus control of the Chernabog...you will have your own revenge," she said.
"Lord Cronus and Circe will also support our efforts to dethrone Persephone and Hades as well...when the time comes," Hermes added. She smirked.
"Excellent...it may take years to realize, but the end result will be well worth it," Ravenna stated, as she glared out over the ocean at Snow and Charming's castle.
"Enjoy your peace, my ex-step-daughter, because I will eventually destroy your happiness...if it's the last thing I do," she growled.
Snow gently put the baby down in his bassinet and welcomed her husband's arms around her, as they stared out over their new Kingdom. She was dressed in a lovely, flowing white nightgown and he was dressed only in sleep pants, leaving him shirtless, which she enjoyed very much.
"You know...I know there are still threats out there, but I feel so much more at ease now that Pan is gone. Like this is a new beginning," she mentioned. He kissed her hair.
"I know what you mean…" he agreed, as she turned and slipped her arms around his neck.
"And it's all thanks to you, my love," she gushed, as she kissed him tenderly.
"Well...I can't take all the credit, but I was willing to do whatever it took to make sure Pan couldn't harm our children or our grandson," he replied.
"And you did…" she said, as she gazed at him dreamily.
"You've always been my hero and I know you're their hero too," she said, as she kissed him again.
"I love you so much…" he rasped, as he kissed her forehead. She smiled and her eyes sparkled with love.
"I love you too…" she said, as she slid her hands down his bare torso and her eyes rested on the waistband of his pants. She bit her bottom lip and looked up at him. He stared at her and their lips crashed together, as the passion that had been building between them was unleashed. He slipped her nightgown down her body and stopped so he could drink her in for a moment, before he kissed her again.
"Oh Charming…" she rasped, as his hands on her and his lips kissing down her neck, before he momentarily pulled back.
"What is it?" she asked.
"Can we do this yet? I mean...you just had a baby," he reminded. She smiled.
"And my mother healed me," she reminded back. He smiled and she yelped in surprise, as he swept her into his arms and carried her to their bed where their ever prevalent passion was unleashed. They knew that there was still dangers out there, but they truly felt that peace was on the horizon. They didn't know how long it would last and they knew they would not allow it to make them complacent. They would relish the peaceful times if they were blessed enough to receive them, but they would always be ready to protect and defend the people they loved...
In the next chapter...three years have passed.