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
Drew Barrymore as former Queen Serafina
Hugh Jackman as Van Helsing
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. Unless you're a troll. Troll comments will be deleted.
Here are individual responses:
Saberius Prime: Yep, The FBI is on the way. Things might get really dicey. Glad you're enjoying it! :)
mrhawkprime: I'm not really going off the book version where Van Helsing was a professor. I'm more going off the version of the movie with Hugh Jackman. So he's a monster hunter and has hunted them in the past. You'll pretty much need to disregard the novel as I'll be kind of doing my own thing with the characters.
Grace5231973: Yeah, it should be in the Land Without Color and there will be a back story to explain why it was separated. Glad you like the concept, but yeah, the people there have a pretty miserable existence. I liked the idea of Van Helsing working for Hades. They did have a falling out, but it was in the original time line. In the modified time line, they didn't so they have memories of both. Yes, it's a good thing that Rumple stayed behind and his plan to run interference is discussed in this chapter. I know, they assumed he did something, because usually he has his hands in everything. This is just one time he doesn't and the later interactions with Van Helsing will be funny since he comes to town and gets irritated when Snow tells him he can't hunt Rumple or Maleficent or Red, because they're good. Van Helsing has trouble with the concept of "good monsters" as he will put it. :)
Naomi Blue: Yep, his face claim is Hugh Jackman, because that's who I see too and a lot of the back story on him will be based on that movie, but with a lot more flesh. I loved his interaction with little Snow too. Nope, the FBI are on their way and it's not good at all. Glad you're enjoying. :)
Number Ten: Yeah, it's probably going to be too much for people from the Land Without Magic to fathom. A definite yes to Dracula as you'll see in this chapter. There is more monsters and a back story as to why Transylvania was separated from the Land Without Color, so Whale will come into play here. Yep, Jekyll and Hyde will feature here as monsters as well. Yeah, Snowing should have listened, but then they wouldn't be Snowing, lol. :)
Beth1980: Yeah, I definitely agree. Jekyll and Hyde belongs in the horror genre. Yeah, David is definitely on top of his game. Yeah, Greg has a point and that was my intent. I don't blame Snowing too much though. They were damned if they did and damned if they didn't. Any time they made a move against Regina, like in 2x10, they were harshly criticized for not "believing in her", as if she ever gave them a reason. But then when they were merciful, they were criticized too. Yep, Jekyll is ever creepier here if that's possible. In this instance, Hydra refers to the mythical creature, which is a serpent with many heads. Think of the animated Hercules movie. He fights a Hydra that keeps sprouting heads every time he cuts one off. Yep, Transylvania is really bad. Yeah, Rumple is best sitting this one out, though there will be some fun interactions when Van Helsing comes to town. Yep, Jekyll and Hyde are way creepier here. I'm glad you liked the flashback. Yep, more outsiders and Hades and Persephone really didn't want to bring them for good reason. But you know Snowing. I'm not sure I'll be bringing Tink into this. I like her, but I've really got too many story lines going. And remember, there is two time lines now so she may have insisted that Robin was her soul mate in one, but not in the other, so things get muddled. I can't say that it won't come into play, but not at this time. Happy Thanksgiving to you too. :)
Dreaming Out Loud
Chapter 123: Quest for the Key, Pt 2
After seeing the others off to Transylvania, of all places, Regina and James had returned to their castle. She always enjoyed watching Snow's children playing in the garden with the other children that James' parents and Eli were watching, but today, her smile didn't reach her eyes.
"Mom?" Henry called, as she turned to him.
"Is everything okay?" she asked.
"That was kind of my question to you," he replied and she smiled at him, before hugging him close. At almost fourteen now, he was growing far too tall for her liking.
"I'm fine…" she fibbed.
"That's a lie," James commented, as he entered the room.
"You hush," she scolded.
"You're worried about all that stuff Greg said, aren't you?" Henry asked.
"Maybe a little," she replied.
"Mom...you've earned your happy ending. Both of you have. Grandma was right. He could choose to find his own happiness if he gave up revenge, but he won't," Henry argued.
"I was the same as him for a very long time, Henry. I missed out on my own happiness until I finally let go of revenge," she reminded.
"Which is why he's an idiot for not following your example," James chimed in.
"What he said," Henry agreed. She sighed.
"I appreciate your faith and confidence in me, but there was no mistaking that many of the people were in agreement with him. I destroyed so many lives. What right do I have to the happiness I've found?" she questioned.
"You can't think like that, Mom. You have earned your second chance," Henry insisted.
"Maybe so honey...but we may still have a problem if that footage is on the Internet now. Even if it gets popular, most people are still going to think it's some kind of movie trailer or something," James reasoned.
"You better hope so," another voice interjected, as Rumple and Belle approached with Gideon in tow. Belle put their son down to play with the other little ones and then stood up.
"The video that retired detective made has gone viral," Belle said, as she showed them the video and there were already thousands of comments.
"And even if some do think it's some kind of movie or something, that rat bastard narrated the whole thing and even told them roughly where we are in Maine," Eli added, as he was scrolling through comments on his own tablet.
"There is already groups of people planning trips to Maine," Rumple added.
"But...they still can't get in, right?" James asked.
"As far as we know...no, but that might not hold," Belle answered.
"What do you mean?" Robert asked, as he took his attention away from the children for a moment.
"I'm afraid that the Dragon...or Mushu has capitalized on this. Not everyone is believing him, but he now has quite an online following and he claims he can lead everyone in," Belle said, as she showed him what she had found on her tablet.
"This could get bad...really bad," Regina said.
"Especially if the authorities do take an interest," Rumple reminded.
"Then you think the FBI might be on their way too," she said. He nodded.
"Greg and his new friend probably gave them coordinates. Even if they decided not to send someone to investigate this without this video out there, it won't take them long to realize that it's the same location that a supposed murder happened. We may be facing a full exposure to the world," he said gravely.
"No...we have to fix this! We have to...because I'll be damned if I let them take my wife to some prison!" James shouted and she put her hands on his arm to soothe him.
"Not to mention that there is no telling what they'll make of all this. It could go so many ways and none of them are good. I've been reading up on the government and it's not going to be good," Belle said.
"Then we need a fix and we need one fast," Eli replied.
"What if you and me brew a massive amount of memory erasing potions? I mean, it would take a ton of time to brew that much, but it could work," Regina said, directing her question at Rumple.
"It's a possibility, though finding a way to administer it to the masses that may come with Mushu is another issue. But that still doesn't solve the problem of that video being out there," he answered. So she turned her attention to Neal.
"Neal...you've been in this world longer than us. Can that video still be destroyed?" she asked. He shook his head.
"No...it's out there on the Internet. There's no taking it back once it's on the Internet, short of an act of the Gods maybe. Even then, I'm not sure Persephone would even have that kind of power, especially out there. There's no magic," he replied.
"But it could be possible to discredit it, right?" Belle asked. He shrugged.
"I suppose...I can go talk to Annie and Adrian. I mean, if their family has been keeping up the illusion that our world is just stories for centuries, then they may know something of how to keep people in the dark or subvert them," he replied. They nodded.
"It's worth a shot. I can go with you," Eli offered and he nodded.
"Can I come?" Henry asked with interest.
"Sure kid," Neal replied, as he saw no possibility of danger in this task.
"There has to be a way to put this genie back in the bottle," James lamented, as he started to pace and Regina grabbed his hands, clasping them in her own.
"There might not be and we have to face that," she said bravely.
"We might have to face the very real possibility of my incarceration," she said, as she swallowed thickly, but he shook his head with vehement.
"No...no there has to be a way. If I've learned one thing from my twin brother it's that you fight for love and you never give up. I won't give you up...not happening," he said. She nearly crumbled at that, as he hugged her fiercely and held her tightly.
"When Persephone gets back...we can ask her if she knows anything that help fix this. As Supreme Goddess, she may have insight that we do not," Belle reasoned Rumple nodded curtly in agreement.
"Until then...we must prepare for outsiders, possibly in staggering numbers and with our supreme Sheriff and Storybrooke's Sheriff temporarily gone, it falls to you and my son to lead that front," Rumple said, as he looked at James.
"I'll do whatever I have to in order to protect us in my brother's absence. But they better get back soon, because unlike my brother, I don't have Promethean fire to keep everyone in line," he said.
"I doubt they'll be spending anymore time in Transylvania than necessary. Let's just hope they get back soon and hope that the author may have some insight," Belle agreed.
They barely had any time to understand what was happening when the roof to the tavern was literally ripped off and winged monsters dove on them with blood curdling screams. It was quickly seen that these winged creatures were humanoid and judging by the fangs they were sporting, it was clear they were a variety of vampires.
"Great...vampires that fly…" Emma complained, as she swiped at them.
"Well, you don't really think they glitter, do you?" Van Helsing quipped and Emma balked at the that, surprised that he even knew that reference.
"Yeah...I frequent the Land Without Magic occasionally," he added, as he speared one of the female creatures in the chest with a silver spike. She screeched an awful sound, before she slowly turned to ash.
Snow fired several arrows at a very persistent one and finally succeeded in killing her with an arrow between her eyes, just as she dived toward her and the ash fell upon them. Snow shuddered and shook the ash off, before returning to firing arrows.
Hades blue fire consumed three of the oncoming minions, but he knew these were just the underlings they were dealing with and the real threat was still on its way.
David sliced through several of the oncoming minions, as they truly seemed frenzied and almost in a mindless state hunger.
"Are we really making them this crazy or they just like this all the time?" he asked.
"A bit of both," Van Helsing offered, as he fired his crossbow in rapid succession.
"That's why we were reluctant to bring the three of you," Persephone said, as her lavender magic filled the sky and obliterated a dozen at a time. But it didn't seem to matter, for their seemed to be no end to the stream of blood sucking minions.
"This isn't working…" she said.
"I told you...they smelled these three the minute they got here!" Van Helsing scolded, as he sensed a powerful entity coming at them.
"Get them out of here now...he's coming," he snapped to Hades.
"Who is he talking about?" Emma asked.
"The King of vampires himself...I thought you killed him during the last siege!" Hades shouted to the monster hunter.
"If the Gods can't kill that bloody bastard...do you really think I can?" Van Helsing snapped back.
"No matter what I do...that monster doesn't die," he said.
"Are we really talking Dracula here?" Emma questioned, as she swiped through another flying monstrosity.
"Yes...but forget pretty much everything you know about him from pop culture," Persephone warned.
"Yes...he's not some caricature or just a monster with a funny accent," Hades added.
"He's a ruthless, blood sucking demon that for all intents and purposes is quite possibly the worst plague to ever inflict humanity," Van Helsing added.
"He makes Deimos and the Chernabog seem tame," Hades said, making Snow shudder.
"Okay...but if I remember from movies and stuff, can't a werewolf kill him? Like Ruby?" Emma asked.
"In theory...yes, but he's slain every werewolf to ever try before they can even attempt to tear him apart. I've lost hope that even a werewolf can kill him," Van Helsing said, as he shot several more.
"No...but that's what we thought about the Black God...turns out we were wrong," Hades said, as he took pot shots with blue fire at several in the sky, enjoying watching them explode like clay pigeons.
"Wait...you killed the Chernabog?" Van Helsing asked with great interest.
"Not us...our son-in-law," Persephone replied.
"Turns out Promethean fire could kill it all along, a nice little nugget of information that Hermes kept from us," Hades said.
"Wow...can't believe he managed to keep that from you for so long," Van Helsing replied.
"In our defense, Prometheus is picky and his fire hasn't ever chosen a champion. But David and Emma meet his high standards," Persephone said.
"They both seem like natural warriors," he agreed, as they continued to battle the creatures.
"So...you think Promethean fire…" Van Helsing started to say, but Persephone cut him off.
"No...they are not fighting him," she snapped.
"As bad as the Chernabog was, you know how vicious and evil the King of Vampires is," she added.
"Are you really going to lecture me about that demon?" Van Helsing growled.
"I am the one stuck in this endless loop of fighting a monster that won't die!" he hissed.
"I manage to keep him from decimating the population, but that's it. Clearly, I'm not the one meant to kill him or I would have done it already," he added.
"We're not here to fight your battles. We just need the key and we'll be on our way," Hades said.
"Yeah...not with the King out and about. He stays in the castle mostly and you're going to help me at least put him back there or no deal," Van Helsing growled, as the minions in the sky cleared, as four figures appeared in the sky.
"Dammit...they're here," he said, as he gripped his silver sword.
"They?" Emma asked.
"The monster himself and his three wives," he replied.
"Three wives? Seriously?" Emma quipped, as the three figures descended from the sky and landed before them. Honestly, they were a lot more frightening than she imagined, but she supposed she should have expected that. Movies had, for all intents and purposes, glorified vampires recently. But it was very clear that the beings before them weren't misunderstood creatures or even people that might have been good at one time. They were demonic monsters, their soulless, glowing red eyes said that alone. Vampire lore had also gotten the pale skin correct, though it wasn't beautifully fair like her mother's skin or her own, which had the beautiful glow of life behind it with the blood coursing through their veins. But this pale skin was almost transparent and difficult to look at, for no blood of life coursed in the veins of these monsters. The fangs were much more pronounced than she expected as well, doing nothing to hide what they really were and their sunken eyes and cheeks almost made them look frail, but she knew nothing could be further from the truth.
The three females, one blonde, one brunette, and a redhead probably were aesthetically pleasing at one time. But their pale skin that didn't hide the veins or bone beneath their thin, almost leathery skin made them difficult to look at without cringing. Their eyes and fangs marred their probably once attractive faces though and added to their frightening appearance.
But he was even scarier to witness, as his eyes seemed to almost literally be bleeding. His fangs were more pronounced, but retracted momentarily, as he touched down on the ground. His skin was much like the others, almost transparent and hard to look at and he oozed evil in a way she had never experienced. And considering all that they had seen, that was saying something.
"My my...it seems we have very esteemed guests," he said in a tone that was regal and that seemed foreign coming from one such as him, considering his savagery.
"Lord Hades…" he greeted.
"If you enjoy your immortal existence...then you would be wise to stand down," he warned. Dracula chuckled.
"You could not even challenge your brother for his Throne and it was he that banished Transylvania away from the other realms, because even he feared me," he drawled.
"Banishing was one of Zeus' best moves...but he is dead. I am Supreme Goddess," Persephone announced. The demon seemed surprised by that and a smile spread across his face.
"Queen Persephone...you are a vision as always. But do you really expect me to believe you unseated Zeus?" he questioned.
"Believe it or don't...she did and she is far more powerful than my stupid brother ever was," Hades snapped. Dracula chuckled.
"Yet still not powerful enough to destroy me," he said, as his attention turned to the other three with him and a very hungry gleam passed over his features.
"Hybrids…" he breathed.
"Such lovely little morsels...their scent entranced me the moment they stepped into this realm," he said, as he looked at David.
"And this one...not a hybrid, but there is something quite different about him. No ordinary mortal this one…" he added.
"He makes our mouths water like no other, husband," the redhead whispered to him.
"May we share him?" the brunette asked, making Snow gasp and clutch her husband's arm. The blonde one was silent, but her scrutinizing stare on David was unsettling to say the least.
Persephone and Hades stepped in front of them and she put her arms out.
"They are mine…" she said fiercely.
"You touch even one hair on any of their heads and a thousand lightning bolts will reign down upon this realm," she growled. He chuckled.
"Hybrids...the raven haired one. She is the child you conceived with a mortal. The fairest of them all," he guessed, surprising Snow that he knew any of that.
"She must be...it is the only thing that would make you threaten to kill all the mortals in an entire realm," he said.
"These people are just food to you...I'd be doing them a favor and without a food source, trapped in this fallen realm with no blood to drink...that might be the thing to finally end you," she threatened. He chuckled.
"You won't do it...you don't have the gumption," he challenged.
"Try me...because there is nothing I will not do to protect my family," she countered. He started to cackle again and his fangs extended.
"Then start protecting...because I am going to feast on Demi-Goddess blood before the night is out," he hissed, as the four of them attacked.
Quantico
Since the mysterious video had gone viral, claiming that everything people thought was just fiction was actually real and existed in Maine of all places, police stations across the nation and the FBI had been fielding all kinds of calls. People were going crazy over the video and already flocking to the woods in Maine. It had caused such an uproar on the Internet that the FBI already had their analysts working around the clock to poke holes in the supposed authenticity. It should have been easy. The video was ridiculous in its claims, with footage of magic and dragons, fairy tale characters, and Greek Gods of all things.
"No Sir...dragons aren't real. Please go about your normal life. The video is just a hoax," the supervisor said, before she slammed the phone down on the cradle.
"I want confirmation that this damn thing is just some kind of movie trailer and I want it now!" she bellowed.
"None of the Hollywood studios are claiming responsibility, but they're all jealous of the special effects," one of her agents informed, as he hung up the phone.
"Ma'am...didn't you send agents O'Bryan and Quinn to Maine?" another agent asked.
"I did, agent Cade, what's your point?" she snapped.
"I'm just looking over the original case file on the Kurt Flynn case. According to his eight-year-old son at the time, they encountered a small town with magic and the woman that took his father was holding a heart in her hand," agent Cade said, as she read from the original report.
"Which is obviously complete nonsense from the imagination of a traumatized eight-year-old with an overactive imagination," she dismissed.
"But supposedly the disappearance of Kurt Flynn happened in the same place as being advertised in this crazy video. This...Storybrooke. It's the same town that little Owen said they were staying in when his father disappeared over thirty-years-ago," agent Cade argued. Her superior sighed.
"I'm not saying that I believe anything in this video, but it's curious that the video and this thirty-year-old murder are naming the same town. Maybe we should join agents Quinn and O'Bryan," Cade suggested.
"Okay Agent Cade, you make a good point. Wheels up in thirty, team," she called, as she and four other agents prepared for a trip to Maine.
Mushu felt himself be lifted off the ground and choked, as Hyde wrapped a firm hand around the man's neck. And in a Land Without Magic, there was little he could do to thwart the super strength of Edward Hyde.
"This situation does not bode well for our operation, lizard," Hyde said, as he finally dropped the ancient being to the floor.
"I did not think such a video would entrance the masses so...but I assure you that the authorities will find a way to convince the majority of society that this is a hoax. The Order of the Jackal has people on the inside," Mushu stressed.
"They have gone through great lengths over the years to convince the masses that anything supernatural is pure fiction. We have not worked this hard to keep down the threat of the supernatural to fail now," he added.
"Yes...and how is it that you came to be involved with this sect?" Hyde inquired.
"I mean...you're from there and to these people, they may consider you to be one of the monsters they seek to keep down, much like me. Yet here we are...leading them. Some might say it leaves their values and tenets...much to be desired," he continued.
"You're right...I'm from a land of mystical wonders and magic," the Dragon said.
"I was a revered guardian to a long line of heroes. But those heroes tossed me out like trash the moment I made a mistake," he continued.
"And then I conceived a powerful child with a Goddess and instead of rewarding me with the Immortality and worship I deserved, they cast me out too and banished my daughter to this wretched world," he said.
"It always comes back to revenge, doesn't it?" Hyde drawled.
"I received some satisfaction when Zeus was wiped from existence, but my daughter and I still remain outcasts and they imprison her out of fear," he replied.
"Well, if the authorities in this land do not keep their noses out of the magical realms, then your revenge may go up in smoke," Hyde warned.
"These insignificant mortals cannot begin to understand magic. For now, Persephone and her precious bloodline rule. But when we discover what my ancestor hid in this world...I will take power," Mushu said.
"Then I will be a God and rule all the realms. I will have the author's pen...and I will control the narrative," he added.
"Then I will never be cast out or mocked again. I will never have to resort to living in this wretched, magic-less world, selling magical cures and parlor tricks to make ends meet," he said.
"Just make sure you find me some stronger test subjects. The weak people of this realm have all failed and I'm still bound to the tedious, insufferable Dr. Jekyll. I cannot risk traveling to the United Realms with Persephone in power," Hyde reminded. The Dragon smirked.
"I am a man of my word. When I left Storybrooke a few days ago, I brought a gift with me," he said, as he motioned to two subordinates that dragged two people forward.
"Who are they?" Hyde asked.
"Just some simple villagers. One from Arendelle and another from Oz. I think you'll find their hearts are a bit stronger than your typical mortals of this land," the Dragon replied.
"Excellent…" Hyde said, as he felt an oncoming headache.
"I must return to the Land of Untold Stories now," he said, as he used his key to open a door and shoved the two frightened and bound people through the gateway, before following himself.
"Welcome to the Asylum," he told them, as he forced them to walk toward the dreary building before them; a place that would likely be the last place they would ever see...