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 lot and any feedback you can give is much appreciated. Unless you're a troll.
I have also made the decision that this story will be going to bi-weekly updates as well. I want to try and finish up other verses and I really want to start working on something original in 2020. My original work will have a lot of Once vibes though and Snowing vibes, with a lot of my original concepts in this story and Finding You Always being incorporated. I am only in the outlining stages of this though and will provide more information as I have it.
There may be updates on opposite Wednesdays in other verses, but no concrete schedule. I'm going to leave it pretty open. In January, there is also going to be a Snowing week that I will be participating in as well, so expect some pretty great Snowing stuff during that week too. :)
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
Here are individual responses:
Saberius Prime: Yep, things have gone sideways. We're headed for the final battle. :)
Grace5231973: Yes, it was a huge warning and you'll see that in this chapter and some other stuff I've been building to, as well as something I think is a big twist. :)
Naomi Blue: Yep, Cronus going out like that was definitely a surprise and I think I have a few more in store. :)
Jennifer Baratta: Yes, let's hope Zelena and Arthur's days are numbered.
Number Ten: Yep, everything is a mess, but I'm building to a final battle that begins in this chapter. Yeah, Deimos is definitely worse than Cronus and there is another twist coming in this chapter. :)
Dreaming Out Loud
Chapter 129: Baptism of Fire, Pt 1
Snow kissed their small ones once more, as they prepared to depart for Camelot that morning. They were dressed in the formal attire of visiting dignitaries. She wore a white/gold gown and an understated tiara on the crown of her head, while his tunic matched her dress in color and paired with his black leather pants.
"We shouldn't be gone long...at least we hope and with any luck, we'll return with Merlin," David said, he kissed the baby's head and then Alexander's as well.
"Just be careful, please...nothing seems to go as planned lately and with that witch out there…" Ruth lamented, as Seraphina put her arm around her.
"We are so worried...but we know why you both must do this," she assured, as she hugged them both.
"I couldn't love you both more than if you were my own…" she gushed.
"We love you too, Mama Sera and we'll be back," David assured.
"Just be careful...when dealing with a King, any King, take my experience to heart. You must anticipate treachery," James warned.
"If I didn't know any better, I'd say you're worried about me," David replied.
"Hardly...but I'll never hear the end of it if you die," James retorted, but they shared a knowing smirk between them. David turned and saw the pensive look on his wife's face.
"Hey...everything is going to be okay," he assured, as he offered his arm to her. She hooked her hand on his elbow and he leaned down to press his lips to hers.
"I can't lose you…" she whispered, as he pressed his forehead against hers.
"And you won't…" he assured, as Emma joined them. Hades, Persephone, and Van Helsing followed them as well.
"Are you sure bringing him along is a good idea? He's a loose canon," Hades complained.
"Ha...you're one to talk, blue hair," Van Helsing retorted.
"Yes, we may need him if things go awry and we have to force our way to the tree to free Merlin and you behave," she said, in a scolding manner.
"I'm on my best behavior," Van Helsing claimer.
"Uh huh...I know you. No instigating a fight unless there is no other choice," she warned.
"You have nothing to worry about from me, My Queen. And your husband isn't quite the menace he used to be," he assured.
"I loathe you," Hades complained.
"And I adore pissing you off," he replied, as they got into the car waiting for them.
"Well...at least we'll get there faster than we would have by carriage," David quipped, as they got in and began the journey to Camelot.
The people of Transylvania looked up at the sky with both wonder and fear, as a strange flying contraption loomed in their skies. None were more interested perhaps than Dracula though and he watched the machine land before his castle with great intrigue. He watched curiously, as a man exited the flying contraption and regarded him with scrutiny. He seemed human, but there was something off about him, both in the way he carried himself and his scent. Smell was very important to a vampire and he could smell flesh and blood over a mile away. But while this man was definitely mortal...there was something very different about him and it was more than just the severe burns he had sustained.
"That is quite a technical marvel you have there," Dracula said with interest. Hyde smirked.
"Yes...and it can travel to any realm you desire," he prompted.
"Most intriguing...but may I inquire why you would want to travel to a place such as this one?" Dracula questioned. Hyde looked around. It was quite dreary and damn right dreadful, to be honest and not at all brimming with life like most realms. It was repeatedly sucked dry by these vultures, faster than the mortals could reproduce their numbers.
"A simple detour on my way to revenge. An acquaintance of mine suggested that I may require a stronger stock of individuals to test my experiments on," Hyde responded.
"I see...you must be seeking an immortal to test upon," Dracula surmised.
"All my live subjects expire under the stressful conditions of my serum. He suggested that someone that is already dead may be a sturdier lab rat," Hyde said.
"Interesting. And what exactly does this serum do?" Dracula inquired.
"It will separate me from my other half. The poor, deluded doctor that I am unfortunate enough to be half the time wishes to be rid of me...his darkness and I would love nothing more than to be rid of the bumbling, canting fool as well," Hyde explained.
"Interesting...have you considered that there may be another way to achieve what you desire?" Dracula questioned.
"I assume you mean through some other way that does not involve science," Hyde deduced. Dracula gestured with his hands grandly.
"Why separate yourself from your other half, who despite his denial seems to have plenty of useful darkness, if you could just remain as you are now," Dracula proposed. Hyde looked extremely intrigued.
"And how could this be accomplished? How can I keep the doctor from surfacing again and keep muddling in my plans?" Hyde asked. Dracula smirked.
"You could become like us and you would never change from how you appear now," he suggested.
"Become an un-dead?" Hyde questioned.
"We prefer immortal," Dracula corrected.
"A worthy proposal, but what do you require in return for the venom that would make me one of you?" he questioned. Dracula smirked.
"Look around...this is a dead land that I have been banished to. My wives and I can barely keep ourselves fed here and we require far more sustenance than available. Plus...if you were to take us to a certain land, then I could get my revenge for this banishment and the denial of the flesh I truly wish to sink my teeth into," Dracula replied.
"Let me guess...you would like to go to a little place called Storybrooke," Hyde surmised. He smirked.
"Then you know of it," Dracula said.
"Quite. These burns were given to me by a nice little family that I would like to repay ten fold," Hyde hissed.
"A family...let me guess. A man with the Promethean fire, his love, the Demi-Goddess daughter of Persephone, and their daughter the Savior?" Dracula questioned.
"Then you have encountered them as well?" Hyde asked with great interest.
"Oh yes...it is Persephone, her husband, and their damned monster hunter, Van Helsing that banished me here to waste away!" he ranted.
"But then they denied me the sweet, succulent morsel that would have been their daughter. Demi-Goddess blood to someone like me is a special treat. And then...there is the blood that courses through her husband and daughter's veins. They can kill us with their Promethean fire...they must die…" he growled.
"Then we want the same things. Revenge and the United Realms can then be our feeding ground," Hyde said, as he looked at the Dirigible.
"In exchange for the gift to make me like you...I will grant you passage aboard the Dirigible," Hyde agreed. Dracula smirked and snapped his fingers, summoning his three wives. Two of his previous wives had been killed in his first encounter with Persephone's family, but he easily replaced them and barely noticed a difference. Like mortals, his subordinate vampires were a cheap commodity.
"Then we have an accord," he agreed, as they shook hands. Dracula gripped Hyde's hand and turned his wrist. The blonde female vampire sank her teeth into his wrist and then pulled away.
"He does not taste like a mortal...his blood is bitter," she commented in disgust.
"Which is of no consequence as he is to become one of us. Our feast awaits us in a new land and he is our means of getting there," Dracula explained, as Hyde fell to his knees and started to scream in agony, as he went through the change.
Frollo finished installing the chains that he had reforged in the trap that they had ready to spring.
"Everything is ready, Your Majesty," Frollo assured.
"Excellent...now conceal yourself before our guests arrive. They must not know of your involvement prematurely," Arthur stated. He bowed and made himself scarce, until the plan was in motion. Arthur would get what he wanted and so would he.
The palace doors swung open, as Queen Snow and King David entered, arm in arm, with their daughter beside them and Hades and Persephone behind them.
"Welcome Your Majesties...I've been expecting you," Arthur said from his Throne. Snow and David stepped forward and bowed curtly, as was the minimal act for the sake of diplomacy and then stood strong before him.
"We won't take up much of your time," Snow stated.
"As you know, the Wicked witch of Oz has returned. She is in possession of the Olympian crystal and stolen all the magic," David continued.
"Yes...we have heard this. Except you and your daughter...how convenient," he said evenly. David clamped down his emotions and met the other King's cold stare.
"Apparently Promethean fire doesn't play by the same rules as conventional power and Emma still has hers, because she was born with her magic. But we cannot put the fight with Zelena all on her shoulders," he stated.
"Why not? Isn't that what she was born to do? Be the Savior?" Gawain asked, as he gestured grandly. David had to root his feet into the floor to keep from pummeling this man and truthfully, Snow wanted to put an arrow in him for it too.
"Our daughter was born, because we wanted her and we love her. She was born with magic, because of our true love and unfortunately, she has had to use in the past to save us," Snow said.
"But we never intended for her to be the only one to stand against evil and we all stand with her. That will be easier to do though if we can get the Olympian crystal away from Zelena and return magic to the realms," David added.
"It seems that, no matter what, your family has the rest of us at a great disadvantage," Arthur claimed.
"It's not like that. We will protect the realms...all of them, including Camelot. But Merlin is the only way that Emma and I can learn to unleash the full potential of our power in order to defeat Zelena," David said sternly.
"I am no fool, Your Majesty," Arthur spat.
"You held my sword once, but you will not steal my Throne from me," he hissed.
"Dammit...I don't want your Throne!" David snapped, as he advanced. Arthur's Knights drew their blades, even though David stopped.
"Kingdoms are already falling to Zelena. We don't want your Throne, but she does. We can protect it with Merlin's help," he insisted.
"If Merlin is released...then my secret will be exposed," Arthur refuted.
"If you refuse, then Zelena might expose it anyway or she'll just take over and it won't matter!" Snow insisted.
"Save your bluster, Queen Snow...we will not be allowing you to release Merlin under any circumstances," Arthur refuted.
"Then I'm afraid we are done asking," Van Helsing said, as he fired his crossbow at the guards and barreled his way toward the doors that led to the garden.
"Stop him!" Arthur bellowed, as his Knights descended on the monster hunter. David stepped into the path and his blade lit with flames, as he began to duel the Knights of the Roundtable. Snow threaded an arrow and assisted her husband, as Emma, Hades, and Persephone joined the fight as well, just as Camelot's army stormed into the Throne room.
"This is an act of war!" Arthur declared.
"It doesn't have to be!" David refuted. The King smirked.
"You have brought this upon yourself, King David. Remember that," he said cryptically and before David could do anything else, chains that seemed like they were alive slithered toward him from Arthur's Throne. The moment they made contact with his ankles, he was in excruciating pain and crashed to his knees.
"Dad!" Emma cried, but in his last moment of freedom, he shoved his daughter out of the path of these bindings.
"Run Emma!" he cried through the pain.
"Dad!" she screamed.
"Go!" he cried, as Van Helsing grabbed her arm and pulled her along, intending to take her to the tree where Merlin was trapped.
"NO...my parents!" she cried.
"They're dead if you don't free Merlin!" he snapped, as he hurried her into the garden.
"Snow!" Persephone cried, as she and Hades were captured by the Knights and could only watch their daughter try to save her husband.
"CHARMING!" Snow screamed, as she reached her husband, as the glowing chains now bound him completely by the ankles, wrists, torso, and neck. Just like in her nightmare. She fell to her knees beside him and cupped his face in her hands, as he struggled with the chains, even through the immense pain.
"Let him go now!" she demanded tearfully.
"I'm sorry, Your Majesty...but I am afraid that you and your husband pose too great a threat to my Kingdom. My people can never find out that Excalibur is broken and that your husband and daughter can wield my birth rite," Arthur stated.
"We don't want your stupid birth rite!" Snow cried, as the chains constricted him tighter and he howled in pain.
"Please! Stop this now!" Snow begged.
"Take him to the dungeon," Arthur ordered. Snow threaded an arrow and guarded her beloved, even as tears slipped down her cheeks.
"You won't take him from me," she said fiercely.
"Please Your Majesty...we can do this the easy way or the hard way," Gawain leered, as he and Tristan approached, with the intent of pulling her away.
"Snow…" David rasped.
"I won't let them take you, my love," she sniffed.
"I know...fight fire with fire…" he said through his pain. She looked at him and saw the tiny flame he had mustered in his palm. She swallowed thickly and lit the tip of her arrow with it, before turning back and firing with expert precision. Knight Tristan heard the thwacking sound of the arrow hit him in the gut. He had suffered worse wounds with an arrow though and growled in pain, as he prepared to pull it out. But what happened next was something no one, even Snow, expected. He was suddenly engulfed in flames and panic erupted in the Throne room. The Knights struggled to put the other Knight out, as he screamed in agony, but the fire was reluctant to die and by the time they put him out, it was too late.
"He's dead…" Knight Kay uttered.
"You...little bitch…" Gawain hissed.
"Don't blame her...I did this and you're next if you touch one hair on her head," David warned, as Snow put her arms around his neck, steadfastly refusing to let go.
"Snow...be careful. I don't want to burn you…" he rasped, his voice still thick with pain. She smiled at him and caressed his handsome face, while gently using one of her dress gloves to wipe the sweat from his brow. She put her hand to the tiny flame in his palm and he watched incredulously, as it did not burn her.
"You'd never hurt me...and neither will your flame," she replied.
"I love you…" he breathed, as her touch somehow eased his pain, if only a little, like a guardian angel.
"But that's why you have to go...you have to run. They can't get you...our babies need you," he rasped.
"They need us both and I will never leave you," she refused.
"That's a promise you won't be keeping, Snow White," Gawain hissed, as he advanced, but flames cut him off, as they shot up around them. David growled, as he tried pulling at the chains with all his might, despite the excruciating pain.
"He's...he's doing it! He's breaking through the chains," Hades said in awe, even as he and Persephone were still being restrained.
"How? It was Hercules that freed Prometheus from his bonds," Hades uttered, but she only smiled.
"Their true love knows no bounds, so Snow will free him," she said proudly.
Emma was frantic, as she and the monster hunter fought their way to Merlin's tree, which rested in the palace garden.
"I have to go back for my parents! I can't lose them!" she cried.
"If you don't free Merlin...you will lose them!" he snapped, as they arrived at the tree.
"What now?" Emma asked.
"Summon the flame…" he instructed, as she trued to summon it, but there were only sparks.
"Focus Emma...you must do this for your parents and your family!" he stressed. Emma took a deep breath and the flame appeared in her hands. She got control of it and prepared to wield it.
"Stop right there, Savior…" one of the Knights said, as they were surrounded. She put her hands up, but not before releasing the flame and torching the tree. She cried out in horror.
"Is that what was supposed to happen?!" she exclaimed. He shrugged.
"No idea," he said non nonchalantly.
"What do you mean, no idea?!" she yelled.
"Hey...no need to yell at me! I've never freed a wizard from a tree before," he yelled back.
"Oh my God…" Emma feared and the Knights chuckled.
"Looks like you just killed the old buzzard instead of freeing him," the lead Knight said, as he pointed his sword at them. But then he became very puzzled, as it disappeared from his hand.
"What the…" he said in confusion.
"Hmm...average craftsmanship and a bit off-balance," a man said, as he examined the sword.
"What…" he uttered, as he and all his men suddenly lost consciousness.
"I would have liked to have a bit more fun with them, but I sense we do not have much time," the man said, as Emma looked at him, mouth gaping open.
"You…" she uttered. He smiled.
"Hello again, Emma," he responded.
"You're Merlin?" she asked.
"Then you remember me," he replied fondly, as she flashed back to a moment when she was just seven-years-old.
"No...give it back! Give it back!" Emma cried, as tears filled her eyes. The boy laughed and dangled the piece of paper just out of her reach.
"Get this guys...Emma drew her parents. Snow White and Prince Charming!" he said, as he and the other kids poked fun at her.
"Wow...we knew you were a twat, Swan...but seriously? Fairy tale characters are your parents?" one mean girl asked.
"Yeah...and of all the fairy tale characters you can pick and you pick the lamest ones," another girl said with an eye roll.
"It fits though...lame Emma Swan and her lame fairy tale parents," the first girl said, as they laughed.
"That's quite enough from all of you," a new voice said, as an adult man stood there. Emma had never seen him before, but a lot of people passed through the school. The other kids dispersed and the man snatched Emma's drawing out of his hand, giving it back to her. Emma sniffed.
"Who are you?" she asked. He smiled.
"A friend...a friend that wants to make sure you always believe," he replied, as he pointed at the drawing. She looked at him strangely and he gave her another smile. She looked down at the drawing of her parents and then back up again, shocked that he was gone.
Seven-year-old Emma giggled, as her father swept her up into his arms. She was in the dreamscape again and Mommy wasn't asleep yet, so it was just the two of them.
"I found you again, princess, but you're getting very good at hiding," Charming said, as he kissed her head.
"Daddy...how come people think you and mommy are just a fairy tale?" Emma asked.
"I don't know, princess...for some reason, we're just silly stories in this strange land. This isn't at all the life that Mommy and I had planned for you," he answered.
"Can you tell me again what life you did have planned?" she asked. He smiled and kissed her head.
"Well...we built you a nursery and I remember the day we started it. Mommy laughed at me, because I kept buying you so many toys every time we went into the village. Then we had your special mobile made," he replied.
"With the unicorns?" she asked. He nodded.
"Mommy always craved cinnamon too when she was pregnant with you and some nights, when you were restless and moving around in her belly too much, only my singing of a lullaby would calm you both," he replied.
"Can you sing it to me again?" Emma asked. He smiled.
"Of course, princess," he replied, as he began singing to her. Some of those mean kids might have thought her parents were lame, but Emma loved them and she was going to believe, just like the stranger had told her to.
"That was you that day...at school. You told me to believe," she said.
"And it would appear that you listened," Merlin replied.
"For a while...I had a rough time in my teen years, but they never gave up on me, even with all the grief I gave them," she said. He smiled.
"I have no doubts. Your parents are unique and special, just as you are," Merlin replied.
"My dad...they trapped him with Promethean chains...I have to save them!" she cried.
"And we will. It is time that Arthur is dealt with and Camelot is freed from his deception," Merlin agreed, as they hurried back to the palace.
Hans gaped in horror, as his remaining brothers lay dead at the demon's feet. Most of their army had easily fallen to Deimos as well and he looked on in fear.
"Please…" he pleaded.
"Your brothers refused to pledge their loyalty to Queen Zelena...but I have a feeling you're a bit more shrewd than your idiot brothers," Deimos said. Hans got to his knees and bowed his head.
"I would love nothing more than to ally myself to the great Queen Zelena," he said. Deimos smirked.
"You remind me of Hermes. Slimy as they come and willing to do anything to save your own skin," Deimos said.
"But I'll let you live for now and let Zelena decide your fate," he said, as he looked over the new Kingdom he had acquired in a matter of hours.
"I must move on to the next Kingdom. Tell me what you know about Arendelle...and I'll tell Zelena that you'll make a good figure head for this Throne," Deimos offered.
"Arendelle is rich with resources and without magic, quite vulnerable. I wouldn't consider invading it if magic was still a thing, but without it, nothing would give me greater pleasure than to see it fall," Hans stated. Deimos smirked.
"Enjoy your new Throne, King Hans and be ready to answer to your supreme Queen when she arrives. I would suggest you have your staff clean up this mess," Deimos said, referring to the bodies of his brothers. Deimos moved out to the harbor and observed the Kingdoms that still stood before him. He was about to board a ship to sail to Arendelle for its assimilation, but Zelena appeared before him.
"The Southern Isles is yours, my Queen," he stated.
"Fine, fine...but Arendelle will have to wait. There is trouble in Camelot," she growled, as her lackey stood with her.
"Let me guess...Charmings," he replied.
"As long as they live...none of the Kingdoms will truly be mine. They inspire hope...it bleeds from their very essence and I want it quashed once and for all!" she said with vehemence. He smirked.
"Finally...and with Persephone and Hades powerless, nothing will stop me from decimating them all," he said.
"Let's go…" Zelena said, as she looked at Liz.
"Except you...go back to Storybrooke and find that pen. Don't bother coming back until you do!" she ordered, as Liz bowed to her.
"Yes, my Queen…" she said, as she boarded a ship as well, intending to use the waterways to get back to Storybrooke, while Zelena and Deimos disappeared in puffs of green smoke.
Regina paced the gardens and Rumple rolled his eyes.
"Stop…" he said.
"I can't help it! They've been gone too long and Snow said she would send a bird back," Regina complained. He smirked.
"Oh how the times have changed, dearie...you worried about the fates of the Charmings," he teased.
"Shut up...you're worried too. You're just better at hiding it," she retorted. He sighed.
"She's right Rumple...we need to go," Belle pleaded.
"Belle...without magic, there is very little we can do," he reminded.
"We have to try!" she insisted.
"She's right...I can't just sit around her anymore," James said. Regina stopped and looked at Annie and her brother.
"I want you two to go back to Storybrooke...and take Henry with you," she requested.
"But Mom...I want to come!" Henry begged.
"No way kid...she's right," Neal agreed, as he tossed them some keys.
"Take the bug...it's parked behind the stables," he said. They nodded.
"Come on kid…" Adrian said, as they left in a hurry. Rumple hobbled to the window and looked out over the horizon.
"This is probably suicide," he warned.
"No...there's always hope," Belle disagreed.
"Not if Zelena has her way," he reminded.
"Then we don't let her have her way," Regina said, as they prepared to depart for Camelot...