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/characters, see previous chapters:
Gal Gadot as Persephone
Robert Downey Jr. as Hades
Ben Affleck as Prince Eli
Drew Barrymore as former Queen Serafina
Note: Three years have now passed since the previous chapter's events.
Thanks for awesome 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 and they're down lately. Unless you're a troll. Troll comments will be deleted.
Here are individual responses:
Saberius Prime: Evil? Well, I wouldn't say Mushu is really full blow evil. He's doing some bad things and the Dragon has always been shady. But yeah, he is definitely a villain now. Yeah, I don't know how much I'll do with a more Tangledversion of Rapunzel, but she's there. :)
Grace5231973: Yep, a lot of crazy stuff is going to go down. Me too, I was kind of shocked with what they did to Arthur in the show. I am sullying him too, but I may have a few different motivations for him and a couple twists. Yep, Mushu is up to no good and you're right, the author will end up being craftier than him. :)
Naomi Blue: Glad you like it. The Grimm storyline with the author will be interesting. I wanted to do something with the author thing, but not like they did it in the show. Yep, Ravenna probably isn't getting out of this alive or unscathed anyway. Yeah, I think they will always be wary of Hans. He's behaving to save his own skin basically.
Number Ten: Could be. Nikolai probably has his own ambitions, much like Hans, but probably knows that if he acts on any of that, he'll end up in prison next to Arawn. Doesn't mean he won't try to be sneaky, but only time will tell on that. Isaac was awful and that whole thing actually did not flesh Snow and David out. It went against their character. It was character assassination. The only reason those scenes are watchable is because Josh and Ginny carried them so well and have such good chemistry. Cause the writing is the worst. I believe that fear did make them go against all their morals and beliefs, but it could have been done better and without assassinating their characters. :)
Jennifer Baratta: yep, big trouble is coming in this chapter. Glad you're enjoying it!
Dreaming Out Loud
Chapter 119: We've Always Shared One Heart, Pt. 1
Snow sighed, as she held her baby girl for a few quiet moments. They were just minutes away from the emergency meeting getting underway and she took a few minutes of solace in her babies.
"You're making the right decision, you know," Serafina offered her daughter-in-law. Snow nodded.
"I know...I think I will just feel better when we manage to arrest Ravenna and Frollo," she responded.
"Yeah...I don't much like not knowing what they're doing out there unchecked," David agreed, as he sat with Alexander on his knee.
"You both are wonderful rulers...truly. What you're doing will avoid a war and more suffering," Ruth agreed.
"I'm afraid it's time...everyone is here," Eli informed them, as he came into the nursery and gently placed a kiss on his granddaughter's head.
"Okay...go see grandpa sweetheart," she cooed, as she kissed Iris' little head. Eli took the baby, while Robert lifted his grandson up.
"Okay big guy...come here," he said, as David kissed his head and then the baby's, before offering his arm to his wife. Snow hooked her hand on his elbow, as they made their way toward the meeting arena. Eli kissed Iris' head again, before handing her over to Ruth. As their roles as Queen Mother to James' Kingdom and retired King of Snow's, they would be watching above in the gallery of the meeting room, as Snow and David prepared to crown Nikolai as the new King of the Southern Isles, while simultaneously issuing an official warrant for Ravenna and Frollo's arrest.
"Do you have a way to contain Frollo?" David asked, as Hades arrived beside them.
"I took one of those cuffs we confiscated years ago when we arrested Circe and her minions. I modified it and strengthened it with the most powerful binding potion that I know of. If it doesn't work...I'm not sure what will," Hades replied.
"We have to hope it will," Snow responded, as they arrived in the meeting chamber.
"There's more. Just before all of this...Neal and Emma arrested Percival and an old witch from Dunbroch," Hades told them.
"Percival? One of the Knights of the Roundtable?" David questioned. Hades nodded.
"What were they doing?" Snow asked.
"Nothing good and I'm afraid it's time to confront Arthur with what we know about his past. But we can deal with him after we deal with naming Nikolai as King. I just hope he does better than his predecessors," Hades replied.
"He will if he's smart. He knows how closely we'll be watching," David said, as they took their seats and the meeting was brought to order.
As they passed the Welcome to Storybrooke sign, Annie could hardly believe it. They were really here. She had penned some of the most extraordinary times in the magical history of the people that lived here. But seeing it all before her was almost overwhelming. She sucked in a breath, as they parked right on Main Street and were prodded out of the vehicle. She almost felt like crying in joy at being here, but then the reason why they were here was painfully clear.
"Now Author...you'll help me by releasing my daughter," Mushu stated.
"I'm not helping you do anything of the sort. I will not violate my role as the author," Annie argued. He sighed.
"Do we really need to go over what will happen if you refuse again?" he warned, as she saw them holding weapons to her brother. She pursed her lips and then opened the book to make an entry. But they were interrupted.
"So this is the author?" Greg asked, as he and Landon approached.
"How do you know about the author?" the Dragon asked suspiciously.
"Tamara used to talk about the author. I never put too much stalk in it, untiI I saw all this," he said.
"And what could you want with the author?" Mushu questioned.
"We just heard back from the FBI finally. After three years...they finally identified the remains we sent them as my father. They want to conduct an investigation and I need her to get them into this town," Greg stated. Annie exchanged a glance with Adrian and chose that moment to use the pen.
"And while these idiots argued about how to bring about destruction to Storybrooke and the United Realms, the author and her brother escaped to warn Snow White and Prince Charming," she wrote the words and punctuated her sentence with a period.
"No!" Mushu cried, as the two disappeared in a wink of light and he growled in frustration.
"You might have just ruined everything!" he cried, as he grabbed Greg by the collar.
"Don't you just need a magical object to get past the barrier?" Landon questioned and they looked at him, realizing he was right.
"He's right...there is another book and the boy has it," Greg answered.
"You have just taken away my chance to free my daughter! You two aren't going anywhere," the Dragon growled, as his followers pointed their weapons at the two men.
"Wait...we all want the same thing and that is to expose this place! We can still have all of that!" Greg argued.
"With the Feds coming in here...they'll be so distracted with trying to explain castles and magic away that you'll be able to almost move freely," he continued.
"It would allow us the distractions we need to plant all the magic absorbing devices around town," one of Mushu's subordinates interjected. The Dragon took a sobering breath.
"It's a start...but we still need the author. Only she can write us all new stories," he said, as they made an agreement to work together toward a common goal and that was the destruction of everything the heroes held dear.
"Thank you all for gathering on such short notice," Persephone said, as she called the meeting to order.
"As many of you know by now, we very nearly avoided a civil war in the Southern Isles," she continued.
"It wouldn't have come to that if your daughter and son-in-law hadn't interfered. My army could have easily quelled the uproar made by the people," Midas interjected.
"Slaughtering the people who have legitimate concerns is not the answer," Snow refuted.
"She's right...Ravenna's neglect and mishandling of her duties as Queen can no longer be ignored. That is why we are issuing a formal warrant for her arrest, as well as Claude Frollo's," Persephone announced, causing commotion in the chamber.
"Who will succeed Ravenna?" Elsa asked with great interest.
"Prince Nikolai is next in line for the Throne to the Southern Isles. He has been firmly informed that this will be family's final chance to prove they can justly rule their Kingdom and no more infractions from their family will be tolerated," Hades responded, as Nikolai stepped forward.
"And I will take this opportunity to try and repair my family's image with my people, as well as with the other Kingdoms," he pledged.
"See that you do, King Nickolai," Persephone declared.
"Well, if this meeting is concluded, then we'll be going," Midas said.
"I'm afraid that is not all we're here to discuss," Hades interjected, as he motioned to Emma and Neal.
"He's right. Today, we arrested Sir Percival and a witch from Dunbroch," she announced and Hades watched Arthur, as he suddenly looked extremely nervous.
"The witch was attempting to barter these items to the Knight and we can only assume this Knight was there on behalf of his King," Neal added, as he presented the items.
"That's my father's helm!" Merida exclaimed, as she came out of her seat.
"We gathered that, but we're still in the dark on what this stuff is," Emma said.
"Care to explain, Your Majesty?" Hades questioned, as all attention turned to Arthur.
"I...I assure you that is not for anything nefarious," the King offered.
"Oh, you better have a better explanation than that, dearie...because this is one secret I'm almost dying to unearth for you," Rumple interjected.
"Rumple...what do you know?" Belle questioned.
"The whole story, as usual...but we decided to let bygones be bygones as long as the esteemed King Arthur didn't make a power grab," he responded.
"With a helm and a vial of dust?" David asked, not quite making the connection.
"Oh, but this is no ordinary helm," the witch said, as she entered the chamber, escorted by the dwarves.
"Oh so now you've loosened your tongue?" Neal questioned.
"Neither of you said the right things...but when Lord Hades himself promised to expose King Arthur's treachery without consequence to me, it was an offer I could not refuse," she responded.
"This is an ambush!" Arthur cried in protest.
"The last time I saw my father with that helm...he was killed! Why do you want it?" Merida demanded to know.
"Because he killed your father for it and had it for a time...but when the wicked witch employed her time spell, certain things were undone and the helm returned to me when we were brought to this land. I created it at King Fergus' behest, after all," the witch informed them.
"What in blazes does this have to do with anything?" Midas bellowed, but no one paid him any mind.
"You commissioned it? My father would never come to you for anything," Merida refuted.
"Oh, but he did, my dear...for you," the witch informed.
"For me?" Merida asked.
"Yes...this helm is enchanted and the wearer can inspire the masses to follow," the witch revealed, causing more commotion.
"Lies!" Merida exclaimed.
"My father didn't need an enchanted helm to inspire the clans to follow him!" she added.
"Oh, you are correct. He commissioned the helm as a test for you and as a way to ensure the longevity of his Kingdom and when he realized it would be in capable hands...he returned the helm to me," the witch claimed.
"Then the one he was wearing that day…" she uttered.
"Wasn't the enchanted helm, which is why his killer was unsatisfied with his acquisition," she revealed, as all eyes were cast to Arthur.
"You...you're the Knight that killed my father?!" she exclaimed, as she grabbed her bow and aimed an arrow at him. But Persephone raised her hand, even as Arthur attempted to look for a way out. But all the exits were blocked and there was no escape.
"You don't understand...I needed that helm to ensure the survival of my Kingdom!" he claimed.
"So you're go to was murder?" David questioned.
"You of all people should understand what it's like!" Arthur shouted.
"Why me?" David asked.
"Because you came from nothing like me! You weren't born royal and neither was I! But we proved our worthiness to rule!" he answered.
"My husband has more than proved himself, but I'd say there is little to be compared between the two of you," Snow interjected.
"And before you tout your worthiness, why don't you show us that proof. Show us Excalibur in its full glory," Persephone said in a measured tone. Arthur's fury quickly dissipated and he shrank back.
"I'm afraid...I cannot do that," he refused. Snow and David exchanged a curious look. But Merida was furious and stormed out of her seat and toward his.
"You murdered my father and it's time you answer for it!" she demanded, but unfortunately, before anyone could do anything else, the chamber doors burst open in flames, thanks to the Chernabog and Ravenna, who strode into the chamber, while her monster ally perched himself upon a rafter in the vaulted ceiling of the chamber.
"Hmmm...sorry, I'm late," she mused.
"You weren't invited and you are no longer Queen," Snow said, as she stood up.
"She's right...you're under arrest. You and him," David warned, as he drew his sword and made his way down from his seat and toward her. Emma and Neal flanked him for back up, ready with cuffs for her and the special binder they had constructed for the Chernabog.
"Oh...I don't think so, Your Majesty," Ravenna growled, as she opened her palm and revealed a glowing flame; the first time she had ever dared to reveal her secret weapon.
"What the hell is that?" Emma demanded to know.
"It can't be…" Persephone uttered.
"Where the hell did you get that?" Hades demanded to know and she smirked.
"A little messenger gave it to me," Ravenna mused.
"You mean a worm…" Hades hissed, as he looked around.
"Hermes...show yourself, you gutless snake!" he demanded, as the shifty messenger God finally appeared.
"You gave her the Promethean flame?!" he raged, as he barreled toward him and grabbed him by his collar.
"I promised that I'd make you both pay for treating me like a nothing and a peon," Hermes said smugly.
"What is the Promethean flame?" Snow asked, as she stepped down from her Throne and Ravenna knew this was her moment.
"It is the sacred flame that Prometheus gifted to mortals and the very gift that Zeus punished him for. It's very powerful...it forged Excalibur and any weapon that it touches immediately is reforged into a powerful, legendary weapon...if the wielder is deemed worthy," Persephone explained.
"Yes...it forged Excalibur, because Merlin was deemed worthy of such power and when he put it in the stone for Arthur, he was also worthy...at the time," Hades added.
"Oh, but that's not all it does," Ravenna interjected, as she whispered to the flame.
"Chernabog...you will attack now," she said, as the flame glowed and it obeyed. Their eyes widened.
"She's controlling it?" Emma exclaimed, as his fire rained down in the chamber.
"Everyone out!" David called, as he shielded Snow from the falling embers. But all the exits were blocked and the dignitaries from various Kingdoms were forced to take cover where they could. They could only watch the incredible events unfold below. Elsa stepped forward and started using her powers to squelch the flames with her ice. This angered the Chernabog and he blasted her balcony, sending her, Anna, and Kristoff tumbling from above. Thankfully, Elsa used her ice to create a slide, allowing them to slide safely to the ground level, where they quickly found cover.
Snow, David, Emma, and Neal stepped forward with their bow and swords ready, while Rumple, Hades, and Persephone joined them, hands ready with magic. Unfortunately, this was exactly what Ravenna wanted, knowing that this was her chance.
"All this time...there's been a way to control the Chernabog," Hades growled.
"I suppose you have to give him credit. Hermes had to play a really long game to keep that ace up his sleeve," Persephone quipped, as the monster charged them. Persephone leaped up first and struck him with a lightning bolt. The creature cried out in pain and breathed fire down upon them. Hades conjured a shield over all of them to protect from his fire, while Snow fired arrows at the Chernabog as fast as she could. Ravenna lurked nearby and approached her and from the balcony, Eli felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up.
"Snow…" he uttered, as he fled the balcony and hurried down the stairs.
Snow turned to find the woman there before her and pointed an arrow at her.
"Oh Snow...I so wish we could end this ugliness between us," Ravenna pleaded. Snow looked at her skeptically.
"If you really want that...then you'll call off this monster!" she pleaded in return.
"A call for peace? Is that really what you want?" Ravenna asked.
"Yes...of course," Snow replied, as she heard a noise behind her. She turned to point her arrow, but found Hermes' behind her and he caught her arrow, before snapping it in half and tossing it away. She smacked him away with her bow and then found herself face to face with Ravenna again.
"I told you that I'd destroy you if it was the last thing I do...and now I finally can," she hissed.
"SNOW!" Eli cried, as he came running toward her, as the Queen revealed the vial of greenish/yellow poison in her palm.
"Ravenna...no!" Persephone cried.
"SNOW!" David called, as he rushed toward her, but the Queen thrust the potion into her former step-daughter's chest without warning. Snow stumbled back and held a hand to her heart, as she felt the poison invade her body. She looked at Ravenna in anguish, before she collapsed, though David made it in time to catch her before she hit the floor.
"Snow!" he cried, as she looked up at him with glassy green eyes.
"WHAT DID YOU DO?!" he screamed in anguish and the Queen cackled in victory, as Frollo landed next to her, taking his human form once again.
"I poisoned her heart...she has mere moments left and she will soon take her final breath," Ravenna celebrated.
"No...no...no…" Persephone cried, as tears escaped her eyes and she tried to heal her daughter. But found it to be impossible.
"Where did you get this poison?!" she raged at the woman. Ravenna smirked.
"Oh I think you know...and nothing, not even the all powerful magic of Persephone, can save her from this! She finally dies today…" Ravenna boasted.
"Tell me she's lying...please tell me she's lying!" David screamed in anguish, as he cradled his fading wife. Persephone broke down in uncontrollable tears, as she cried over her beloved daughter.
"She's not...this poison came from Gothel. It was created from Gaia herself...there's nothing I can do! There's nothing anyone can do!" she screamed in unimaginable grief.
"No...no!" Emma cried, as she crashed beside her father and he put his arm around her.
"Mom!" the blonde cried helplessly, as she cried with her father.
"Finally...justice has been served," Hermes said smugly and Hades, his face twisted by grief and rage jumped up and blasted the other God with magic, surprising him, as he was turned into exactly what he was; a worm. Eli savagely stepped on the slithering creature, effectively ending the messenger God for this grievous offense.
"There has to be something...there has to be…" David pleaded, as they all gathered around to grieve the loss.
"Charming…" Snow uttered softly, as she reached up with what little strength she had left and caressed his face.
"It's okay…" she promised, but he shook his head.
"I can't lose you, my darling...I can't…" he sobbed.
"I love you...so much. And our babies…" Snow said weakly, as she looked at Emma.
"Mom…" Emma sobbed. But Snow's eyes rolled back in her head and her body went limp, causing the most anguished cry of agony from David that anyone had ever heard.
"No...please Snow...please! I need you...I need you…" he pleaded, as he cradled her lifeless body in his arms and kissed her forehead.
"You're my heart…" he cried and then he sobered at that, realizing what he had just said. Hades, Eli, and Persephone were too distraught to think clearly though, so his eyes rested on Rumple.
"My heart…" he uttered, as he looked his friend dead in the eyes.
"We've always shared one heart…" he said. The Dark One looked a tad skeptical.
"I don't know if that will work," he warned.
"Yes it will...if it will for anyone, it would be us," he argued. Rumple was weary, but did what he wanted. His hand went into Snow's chest, as he pulled out her poisoned heart, which crumbled to dust.
"What...what are you doing?" Eli questioned in horror, as he cried over his little girl. But he didn't answer and Emma gasped, as his hand then went into her father's chest and pulled out his healthy, glowing heart. He looked back at David and his friend, the first friend he had ever really had, nodded. Belle watched in tearful amazement, as her husband split David's heart in half, before putting half of it back in his chest and half of it in Snow's chest.
"What are you doing?!" Ravenna screamed, as she advanced, but Hades blasted her back, as Frollo transformed back into the Chernabog and he and Persephone resumed fighting him to keep him at bay.
The others watched Snow with bated breath and the more seconds that passed where she didn't open her eyes, the more hope dwindled. David started to cry again, when Snow took a starved breath of air and her emerald eyes snapped open. His grief instantly turned to joy, as she looked up at him in surprise and wonder. The color returned to her face and he almost crushed her against his chest in a hug.
"Charming…" she uttered, as she looked at him in disbelief.
"It's okay...you're okay…" he said, relief in his voice, as his tears were now that of joy.
"Mom…" Emma cried, as she hugged her too.
"But how?" she asked, as she looked at them both.
"Gold...he split my heart. You have half and I have half," he explained simply, as he held her close. Her eyes glistened with tears and then their lips crashed together with unrelenting passion.
"No...no!" Ravenna snarled, as she started toward them, but Emma's hands became alive with magic.
"Give me a reason, bitch," she goaded, as she stood protectively in front of her parents.
"I killed her! I finally did it and even then, it wasn't enough!" Ravenna cried in rage, as she let out a terrible howl.
"She's losing her mind…" Rumple warned, as David slowly helped Snow to her feet and then held her protectively, as Ravenna had a complete meltdown.
"You were finally dead! I finally did it...why won't you just die?!" Ravenna screamed at the top of her lungs, her eyes crazed beyond anything they had ever seen.
"Chernabog...kill them all!" she demanded. David guarded Snow, as he positioned his sword for battle and the monster swooped down on them, as the raging battle resumed…
"This is it…" Annie said, as they finally arrived at the gates to the palace of Queen Snow White and King David. At that moment though, she felt her hand tingling and retrieved her pen from her pocket.
"Something's happening…" she said, as she opened the book and the pen glowed, as words and illustrations began to appear on the next blank page.
"Oh my God...she did it. Ravenna killed Snow White…" he uttered. Annie frowned.
"No...no that can't be!" she exclaimed, as the pen kept guiding her hand and they watched the events unfold in the pages as they were happening. Neither of them realized the breath they had been holding, as they witnessed Snow's miraculous resurrection.
"A heart split...that's a twist I didn't see coming," he mentioned. Annie smiled.
"Come on...we need to warn them of the danger the Dragon poses," she said, as they hurried to the gate.
"Halt!" one of the guards bellowed.
"Please...it's imperative that we see Queen Snow and King David," she pleaded.
"Impossible," the guard refuted.
"Please...we have information about danger to all the realms," Adrian begged.
"Sir Lancelot will decide if your threat is credible and if you can have an audience with them," the guard decided, as they were led inside. They only hoped that Lancelot found their tale plausible.