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.
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Special note:
Here are the main face claims that we're dealing with right now. For other minor Gods/Goddesses/characters, see previous chapters:
Gal Gadot as Persephone
Robert Downey Jr. as Hades
Ben Affleck as Prince Eli
Rami Malek as Apollo
Drew Barrymore as former Queen Serafina
Note: Three years have now passed since the previous chapter's events.
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. Unless you're a troll. Troll comments will be deleted.
Here are individual responses:
XxThe-Crest-of-AnubisxX: We will see a few Swanfire moments eventually. I'm glad you are enjoying it.
Grace5231973: Yes, happiness for everyone is refreshing for a change and I had fun introducing all the new babies. But yep, trouble is brewing again for our heroes. :)
Naomi Blue: Yep, I decided to take a gamble and do a rare pair with James and Regina. Yep, Swanfire is together and introducing all the new babies was fun. There are more clues about this new realm in this chapter and the answer should become apparent.
Saberius Prime: Glad you enjoyed it. Yep, it's nice seeing everyone happy for a while, even if trouble is coming.
Number Ten: Yeah, I wanted to go for a rare pair and I've wanted to explore a possible James/Regina pairing since they have a lot in common. Ha, yep gotta get those Frozen references in where I can. Yeah, I really like the name Iris and it's a name from mythology, so I decided to use it to stick with that theme. Yep, trouble is brewing again.
Jennifer Baratta: Yep, Ravenna is insane and her kingdom is trouble, which gets pointed out to her in this chapter. But she's not going to listen. Glad you're enjoying. :)
Beth1980: I feel a little sorry for him too, but he's about to carry things way too far so I'm sure that pity will fade really quick. Landon is not that bright at all. At this point, he's out to make a name for himself and a quick buck, thus why he's a failed, dirty cop that got drummed out of work. I can't really see them stopping at two either and I love Snowing babies. It's part of the reason I chose Iris. I also just really like the name and it's also a Greek Mythology name so it seemed appropriate. I liked the idea of James and Regina too. They're a lot alike and both had sucky upbringings. I love the name Tallie for a Swanfire baby too. Ha, I might reveal where the dirty diapers go one of these days, lol. Ravenna has lost it and that becomes more apparent in this chapter. Yes, there will be flashbacks. Serafina is Queen Mother and Regina had the option of being Queen Mother in Snow's Kingdom, but since she married James, she's just Queen of his now. Serafina can attend council meetings if she chooses to with James, but she opts most of the time to spend time with the babies instead. As far as "doing nothing", it's not quite that simple and you'll see why at the Council meeting. Everyone rules their own Kingdoms like they are separate countries. And it's a Republic so there are still checks and balances that prevent hostile takeover, even if the rulers deserve it. But they have to have just cause to oust a ruler and the proper channels would have to be followed. Persephone oversees all Kingdoms, but doesn't rule them, because it would cease to be a Republic if she did. :)
Dreaming Out Loud
Chapter 116: Calm Before the Storm
Emma parked the squad car and James pulled up in his behind her. They got out and went into the Rabbit Hole, straight into an all out brawl.
"Oh crap…" Emma complained.
"Well...you first," James told his twin.
"Why me?" David asked.
"Well...you're the famed dragon slayer and the man that's been boasted as the one that easily defeated Blackbeard to rise to glory. This is right up your alley," James replied.
"You're never going to let that glory thing go, are you?" David argued. James smirked.
"Nope...get in there, baby brother," he joked.
"We're twins," David reminded.
"I'm seven and a half minutes older than you, according to mother," James argued.
"Seriously?" David argued back.
"Dad...we don't really have all day. Just be careful though. You know how much Mom will fuss if I take you back to her all scraped up," Emma said. David gave his daughter an incredulous look and she shrugged.
"He's not wrong. You have the reputation of the best swordsman in all the United Realms," she reminded. He rolled his eyes and unsheathed his sword, before jumping into the fray.
"You know...you're a good swordsman too. You could help," Emma told him.
"Nah, this is more fun," James retorted and she shook her head.
"You're terrible to him sometimes, you know that right?" she asked.
"I have twenty some years of giving him a hard time to make up for," he replied. The drunks stupidly tried to swing at David, some even with knifes, but they were no match for his skills, even if they had been sober. He grabbed the first one by the arm and tossed him into a table, while another picked up a chair in an attempt to hit him with it. He was obviously too drunk to realize what kind of sentence that attempting to assault a King would come with, but David was quick to duck and tossed him onto the now broken table with the other man. The pile of drunken thugs continued to grow, as David made quick work of them and soon had them all lined up, ready to be cuffed, which Emma and James proceeded to do.
"Oh...are you actually going to help for a change?" David asked, as he sheathed his sword.
"That's what we employ Knights for," James retorted, as Lancelot and several other Knights arrived to take them to the Sheriff's station, which was much larger now, to process them. Shortly after Snow and David took their Thrones, they decided that Storybrooke's Sheriff's station was now much too small to handle the justice system of the United Realms. But they wanted it to remain the hub of criminal defense in the United Realms, so they allocated the funds to build an addition to it, as well as an actual prison next door. Up until then, long term prisoners had been housed in the basement level of the hospital, which would not suffice any longer.
The Knights that David, James, and Lancelot had trained in the last three years were extremely impressive and noticed by all the other Kingdoms. There was talk that the Knights they had trained were even more impressive than King Arthur's famed Knights of the roundtable, something Lancelot personally knew would be a point of contention for his former liege. Arthur had remained fairly silent though. He attended the United Realms council meetings and participated in a minimal capacity, while largely remaining mysterious to mostly everyone. Lancelot knew the reasons, but since Arthur had not made any aggressive movements, the Knight had chosen to let him keep his secret, until the time that changed.
"A little above your pay grade, don't you think?" Lancelot teased David, as his Knights marched the drunks responsible for the brawl. David shrugged.
"Emma got the call and you know I can't help myself," he joked. Lancelot smiled.
"You never put yourself above the people. That's why you are the leader you are," the Knight said, as he left to take care of those they had placed under arrest. David was always humbled by Lancelot's respect for him and was well aware of his falling out with his former King. Arthur had done much to let Lancelot down it seemed, though David had no inkling of what exactly had happened between them, other than it involved Queen Guinevere. But by the ever present tension between them, it was clear that it went beyond that. David never pried though and Lancelot never offered details. With them, Lancelot had a new start and they allowed him that.
"My bar is in shambles!" the owner complained.
"And you know the procedure. Submit the damages to the United Realms insurance bureau and the damages will be covered," David offered to appease him.
"Yeah...and maybe consider some new security tactics or watering down your booze. This place seems to be a constant source of trouble," Emma added.
"Oh, I don't know...I find it a perfectly fine place, but then a girl like me is always drawn to chaos," a voice purred. They turned and found Cruella De Vil sitting at a booth, sipping a cocktail.
"You always get a show here...and then I can always count on a very attractive line of men to come in to rectify the situation," she added, as she looked the twin brothers with a feral gleam.
"Oh yes...now that is a such a pretty sandwich that I'd love to be in between," she purred, as she licked her lips.
"Oh my God…" Emma complained at her blatant sexual innuendo.
"Oh yes Dahlings...the fun we could have," she continued, as her eyes undressed them both.
"Hard pass," David retorted, as he started to leave.
"It's too bad...I knew he'd never go for it. But I had hope for you when I first learned you were back. The bad twin...think of all the fun we could have had and the chaos we could have created. A pity you've gone soft," Cruella purred in his ear.
"You're not my type," James refuted. She cackled at that.
"Oh, but I used to be…" she reminded.
"I've changed, as has my wife...but not that much. Hands off or she'll fry you and this monstrosity you're wearing," he warned, but that just seemed to thrill her more.
"Do you like it? I just had it made and I'm already scouting for my next," she boasted.
"Poaching is illegal and if we catch you killing innocent creatures just to use their pelts, I throw you in prison myself," James warned. She pretended to pout.
"It would almost be worth it to be put in handcuffs by you," she leered.
"I mean it, Cruella…" he warned again, as he followed his niece and his brother out. There was a time that Cruella's lust and praise of him would have been very attractive, but he had come a long way in three years. He still had moments where he felt inferior to David and his twin had the golden reputation and glory he had thought he wanted and still sometimes did. But he had come to love his brother, as well and their parents. He had the family he had always wanted, deep down, and would never throw love away to be with someone like Cruella; a woman he was certain was incapable of love. He had love now, with a woman that was much like him. They had both wanted to be good and had been molded into monsters; him by his abusive adopted father and Regina by her mother. But they had sought redemption and walked the difficult path back to the light. Together, they had found love and neither of them was letting it go for anything.
"This meeting of the Council of the United Realms will come to order," Persephone announced.
David heard those words, as he, Emma and James entered the chamber just in time, as the meeting was brought to order. He took his seat next to Snow and kissed her cheek, as he sat down.
"Let's get this meeting underway then. No one wants to sit here and watch you two and your incessant public displays of affection," Ravenna snapped in irritation.
"Well, then why don't you start us off, Queen Ravenna. What efforts have you made in the last month to improve the lives of your people?" Persephone questioned.
"Oh you're going to love that, aren't you? Because my Kingdom is struggling and your daughter's is thriving, you make it your mission to point it out every single time," Ravenna complained.
"Your Kingdom is struggling, because your people are being unfairly taxed, yet your treasury is empty," Persephone stated.
"Which would warrant an investigation into your Kingdom's finances, because it screams fraud," Regina added.
"The only fraud here is this joke of Council! I have never been treated fairly and it's because of her," Ravenna claimed, as she glared at Snow.
"Your perception is not reality, Queen Ravenna. While you claim unfair treatment, you turn a deaf ear to your people cries for help. You must improve the state of your Kingdom or you will force others to step in," Persephone warned.
"Such would be an act of war!" Ravenna claimed.
"No...it would be an act of mercy on your people at this point. You're staring down the barrel of a full revolt in your Kingdom if you do not make changes," James argued.
"Says the Prince that was raised to be a tyrant," Ravenna retorted.
"With the difference being that my brother changed and rose above that raising. All you can seem to focus on is your hatred for my wife," David snapped.
"And I always will," Ravenna promised, as she glared at them.
"As usual, this is getting us no where. Queen Ravenna...you've been warned about the condition of your Kingdom. Now to move on to other matters," Persephone announced, while Ravenna silently seethed.
"If we're going to discuss monetary matters, then perhaps we should discuss all the funds that are constantly eaten up by all the advancement in Storybrooke," Midas interjected. Abigail sighed.
"Father…" she chided.
"It's okay Abigail...we have put a lot of our joint Kingdom's funding into the ongoing projects in Storybrooke. The community center has been finished for a year now and it's a huge asset the entire United Realms. And the University is on schedule to be ready for fall semester in just a few months time," Snow announced proudly.
"The education reform of this is unprecedented. I've already had many approach me about enrollment," Elsa confirmed.
"And the community center classes and events are always fully booked," Anna added.
"Yes...and the Community Center also offers counseling for addiction, victims of crime or abuse, and many other topics. It's giving battered women and their children a place to go as well," Snow added.
"Yes...you've been on quite a crusade to shut down my business, but I assure you that it won't happen now that I've moved it to Lord Cronus' Kingdom," Deimos interjected, as he sat beside King Cronus.
"Only because he has chosen not to outlaw brothels," Snow retorted distastefully. Deimos smirked.
"And many other Kingdoms still have them as well. I'm now just one in a sea of many and while you may have outlawed them in your Kingdom and Storybrooke, fairest Snow...you do not have the pull to do so in any others," he retorted.
"You exploit young women," she spat.
"I employ them," he argued.
"You make me sick," she hissed, but he only smirked.
"And you're still as fiery as ever. It's too bad I never got the opportunity to tame you," he leered, causing David to nearly launch himself across the room.
"Enough…" Hades bellowed.
"Lord Cronus...if your right hand insists on speaking to our daughter in such a manner then he will be banned from this and any future meetings," he warned, as his father glared at him.
"Of course...Lord Hades. It won't happen again," Cronus assured.
"Well, as usual, the financials are a point of contention. Perhaps we'll do better in discussing defense," Persephone stated.
"Crime in our Kingdoms and Storybrooke is down forty percent," David reported.
"Yes, which is impressive. Your methods and training techniques are being adopted by many Kingdoms," she stated.
"That's nothing...crime is almost non-existent in Paris," Frollo boasted.
"And your prisons are filled with innocent people," David interjected, as he glared at the unjust ruler.
"Then by all means, King Charming, why don't you come blazing in to liberate the souls you say are innocent and take them to your Kingdom. I'm sure that will keep crime low," he retorted. David seethed and glared at the bigot, but took the high road, as he felt Snow put her hand on his.
"I won't need to. The harsher you rule your people, the angrier they will become and when they revolt...you'll get some of that justice you're always spouting about," he warned.
"You and yours have made it quite clear that you disapprove of my rule, but there is money in my treasury and food in the stomachs of my people. There is more than one way to rule," he retorted.
"However, if you want to speak of a spike in crime...then perhaps you should look to Camelot," he interjected, as the attention turned to Arthur and his Queen.
"Camelot is secure...I'll admit that there has been a spike in crime, but the Knights of the Roundtable, the most valiant Knights in the United Realms are working to quell the increase in violence," Arthur stated sternly.
"Word has it that the Knights of the Roundtable is a dying order. If anything, King Charming's Knights are far superior to yours these days," Frollo argued, as he attempted to stir the pot, as usual.
"Misthaven has no quarrel with Camelot. Crime happens everywhere and I assume this small spike is just one of those things. Am I right, Your Majesty?" David questioned. Arthur looked nervous, but the other King didn't let on like he noticed and it made the wielder of Excalibur wonder what, if anything, his father-in-law might have told him about his Kingdom.
"It would appear so, King David and the situation is being handled," Arthur confirmed, as they thankfully moved on, as a few other matters were discussed, until Persephone finally dismissed the weekly meeting. Ravenna stormed out, while Frollo casually followed her.
"This trip we're about to take better yield results," she hissed to him.
"It is a promising endeavor, I assure you," he replied.
"It better be!" she snapped.
"Because I want that little brat to suffer at my hand and there to be nothing her stupid mother can do to stop her demise," Ravenna growled.
"Then we had better be on our way to the Harbor," he responded.
"Well...that wasn't very productive, but I guess I knew what to expect," Snow mentioned, as he led her out with his arm around her.
"Perhaps not...but you're a tough act to live up to," he mused. She smiled.
"So are you...saying you and your Knights are superior to even the Knights of the Roundtable. David...that's incredible," she gushed. He kissed her hair.
"I want my family to have the best protection and our people deserve the same as well," he agreed humbly.
"Do you need to get back to the station right away?" she asked. He smirked.
"I think Emma and Lancelot can handle things for a while and my parents have the babies. I'd say you and I could enjoy a romantic walk," he replied, as he offered her his elbow and she hook her hand on it, as he led her out.
Killian Jones hurriedly made his way to the Harbor, spotting his ship or rather the ship he had given up to Mr. Smee three years ago. Upon arrival in this new magical forest, he had sought an item he had heard could be used to trap someone. He had planned to find this item and then return to Storybrooke in order to use it on his nemesis: the crocodile.
Upon reaching the tower where this golden flower was rumored to be, he instead found a young woman trapped there. Entranced by her beauty, he promised to free her and they slept together. But when he awoke that morning, he discovered that the young woman was not what she appeared to be and rather was an evil sorceress that had used him to conceive a child. With her magic, she had accelerated the pregnancy and gave birth, allowing the baby to take her place in the enchanted tower. He was shocked and appalled that the witch, whom called herself Gothel, abandoned the baby without a thought. But he could not do that. Despite the terrible deeds that littered his past, he could never leave his own child to suffer. His own father had done so to him and he would be damned if he did so to her. So he stayed and took care of his daughter, as suddenly he had something more important than revenge. She became everything to him and was his pride and joy, allowing him to finally let his revenge go. Alice was his world now and so when the witch return to try and poison his heart to take her away, he had managed to trick her and escape. He knew she would be after him, but he knew if he could get to Storybrooke, that he could ask for protection. He knew he had done a lot of things they didn't like, but he was positive that Snow and David would help him for the sake of his child.
"Mr. Smee…" Hook called and the portly man looked up in surprise.
"Captain!" Smee said, pleasantly surprised.
"I need a ride to Storybrooke, post haste. Care to help your former Captain out?" he asked. Smee smiled.
"Of course Captain...of course. Whose the kid?" he asked. Killian smiled.
"She's my daughter, Mr. Smee," he announced proudly, as the three-year-old in his arms looked shy and buried her face in her father's shoulder.
"Your daughter?" Smee asked in surprise.
"Much has changed, Mr. Smee and it is not safe here for us any longer. I'm taking her to Storybrooke," Killian replied.
"Of course...we'll set sail right away," Smee agreed, as they boarded the ship and set off across the ocean.
Greg sighed in frustration, as they watched Henry at school.
"We've been watching this kid all day...he's never alone. This is impossible," Greg complained.
"Then maybe we need a different target," Landon responded.
"Like who?" Greg asked.
"What about the blonde Sheriff?" Landon replied. Greg's eyes widened.
"Emma Swan? Queen Snow and King Charming's daughter? That blonde Sheriff?" Greg asked, looking at him like he had grown three heads.
"Why not? What better target to cause panic and lure all the of the major players out of Storybrooke?" Landon questioned.
"Think about it. We get Emma Swan and we for sure will lure her parents and Regina out since the former Evil Queen is not married to her Uncle. We get her husband, which means we'll get Rumpelstiltskin as well. And we'll likely get Hades and Persephone as well," he continued.
"But there is magic here...and Emma Swan has a ton of it," Greg reminded.
"But we have this," Landon reminded, as he held up the cuff. Greg smirked.
"You're right and once we lure them all outside...there's no magic for any of them to use. Not even Persephone and Hades will have power in New York," he agreed.
"Exactly. We take her there and introduce her to all the interested parties on the dark web that went wild over our video and then the rest of them will walk right into the thick of it," Landon said.
"Okay...but getting Emma Swan won't be easy either," he warned.
"Easier than getting the kid though. The next time she responds to a call alone...we'll be waiting to ambush her," Landon said. Greg nodded. This was it. Once he lured them all out of Storybrooke, they would get a confession out of Regina and get the attention of the FBI. Then any fringe groups that had believed their video would surely pay them handsomely for the rest of them.
"There's my babies…" Snow cooed, as she and David met his parents outside Granny's that evening.
"Mommy!" Xander called, as he toddled to her. She scooped him up and they both kissed his head, as their baby reached for David upon seeing him.
"And there's my tiny angel," he cooed to her, as he took her in his arms and kissed her head. Snow leaned over to kiss her as well. It may have only been a few hours since they had seen them, but they missed their babies fiercely.
"Did you have fun with Grandpa Robert and Nanas Ruth and Sera?" Snow cooed.
"Uh huh," Xander answered. The three of them smiled.
"As usual, they kept us on our toes," Sera said fondly.
"But we love every minute of it," Ruth added.
"Yeah...I'd say we definitely have the best job in all the United Realms," Robert agreed, as Emma arrived with Neal, Henry, and baby Tallie. Snow's three parents gathered with them next and finally Gold and Belle arrived with Gideon, as they planned to go into Granny's. Neal happened to turn and see someone that none of them had seen in three years in the street though.
"Hook?" he questioned, a bit apprehensively at first. He then relaxed as he spotted the little girl in his arms.
"Hello mate...it seems I'm not the only one that things have changed for," he replied.
"Is she yours?" Snow asked curiously. Killian smiled at the blonde child in his arms.
"She is. This is Alice and I've come back here to make a life for her. It's a bit of a long story, but I think Storybrooke is the ideal place to raise her...unless I'm unwelcome," he replied.
"That depends...you still out for revenge on my father?" Neal asked.
"I gave up revenge when she was born. Has he?" Hook replied, as he looked at Gold.
"It seems we have both embraced a second chance," Rumple stated firmly. Snow looked at her husband and David looked at his father. Robert nodded, signaling that he had mostly put what Hook had done behind him as well. He had his second chance as well and wasn't going to deny such to another father.
"Then why don't you and your daughter join us for dinner. She will definitely have plenty of playmates," Snow stated. Hook nodded.
"Thank you," he agreed, as he followed them into the diner. The saying that time healed wounds may have been a myth, for it was love that healed those wounds and it seemed that Hook was now an example of how children changed everything for the better...