Storybrooke, Maine
Twenty-nine days prior to the Double Eclipse
Fifty-nine days prior to the Final Eclipse
Though Regina had no magic as far as they knew, the town was still in chaos. Many people had their homes destroyed by the Wraith, some were looking for lost family members and others were struggling with two sets of memories. They were looking to David to lead them now that Snow and Emma were missing and presumed dead but the only thoughts on the former prince's mind were protecting his grandson from Regina and getting his wife and daughter back.
Blue and her fellow fae along with Ruby and Archie were trying their best to aid their fellow townspeople. Archie had a sign up sheet for counseling he'd written the night before but even his mind was occupied with trying to find a way to get back to the OZ. The double eclipse would darken the Ozian skies in twenty-nine days and Dorothia's magic and memories needed to be unlocked if she were to be of any use to her sister.
"My boy. My poor boy." Geppetto sobbed, hanging up a drawing of Pinocchio on the wall of missing people. Farther down on the wall was a drawing of Belle posted by her father.
"If you are looking for a family member, come to the front table. If you need counseling, Dr. Hopper has a signup sheet. If the wraith damaged your house, there are cots at the school." Ruby announced.
"This is getting out of hand. People are in a panic. They don't know what to do," Blue sighed.
"It's okay. It'll be fine. We just need everyone to remain calm. I have a feeling our prince is working on something right now."
"I certainly hope so."
Unfortunately for them their prince was as confused as everyone else and the news the dwarves brought back from their mission at the town line brought little relief. Anyone who crossed lost their memories of their true selves and became their cursed selves, the dwarf Sneezy having reverted back to his cursed self during their experiment. And if Regina regained her powers the town wad still in danger.
"Ruby, I'll be right back," Archie said, grabbing his car keys off the table after Charming left. "Call me on my cell if I get any appointments."
"Okay Archie. Where are you going?"
"There's something I need to do," he said evasively.
He drove down to Mifflin Street and spotted Regina coming out of her house.
"Regina. I thought you might want to talk," he said as Regina was about to get in her Mercedes.
"Oh, right, the conscience thing."
"It's what I do."
"I'm in no mood."
"It's too bad, 'cause...'Cause I think talking about your pain might be very helpful, might help you learn who you truly are."
"I know who I am."
"Do you? Because I don't think you do. I think you're still trying to become the person you want to be. Think about it. My door is always open if you want to talk."
"Oh, just go away!" she snapped and got in the car, slamming the door. She started the engine, the tires squealing on the pavement when she floored the accelerator and threw the car in reverse, barely missing Archie's feet while she was backing up. He stared after her, sighing heavily.
"You really do NOT want to do this hard way!" he growled and returned to his own car and slammed the door.
At the pawn shop Rumple and Belle were in the backroom having spent most of the morning perusing all of his books. Along with their mission to break the Dark Curse, Rumple was eager to begin his search for Baelfire.
"This seeing globe you tried to obtain from Oz, is is possible it might be here?" Belle asked him, sliding the book she was reading over to him. "Or is there a way you can recreate it?"
"No. Cora has it, I'm certain of that. But," Rumple smiled. "Miss Swan still owes me that favor and I'll be ready to collect. Finding people is what she does." They heard the bell above the front door tinkle. "Belle, stay here," he commanded softly. She nodded and picked up another book. Rumple walked out to the salesfloor to see Regina looking through his books.
"The library's beneath the clock tower. You closed it, remember? When you still had power."
"I need the book. I need to get my son back."
"Which book? Ah. So, it's come down to that, eh? You need your mommy's help?"
"Give me the book."
"Do you really need the smell of the written word to get the magic flowing again, love? Maybe if you relaxed, it would just happen."
"I don't have time. It worked once, I know I can do it. I just… I just need a shortcut back."
"Yeah, well, I don't have time, either. Leave. Please."
To his surprise, she didn't obey as she had in the past.
"Well, how about that. Your 'pleases' have lost their punch."
"Well, the fact remains, jumpstarting your magic is not in my best interest."
"You know what else isn't in your best interest? Having everyone know the Enchanted Forest still exists. Knowing that, you and I, are keeping that little secret. You're up to something. And it doesn't involve going back home."
Regina eyed the chest containing some of Rumple's potions and scrolls. The last thing he wanted was the witch getting her greedly little hands on those. He gestured and Cora's spellbook appeared in his hand.
"Careful, dearie. These are straight up spells. Rough in the system."
"I don't care if they turn me green. I'm getting my son back."
I can only hope, he thought bitterly.
She snatched the book out of his hand and walked over to the door.
"Oh my…"
"What?"
"It's just, holding that… I told you once you didn't look like her, but now… Now I can see it."
She gasped and hurried out the door. Belle waited until she was certain the queen was gone before she came out of the backroom. "Rumple, why did you do that? Rumple?" She paused when she realized he was once again in a Seer's trance. He shook his head to clear it. "What did you see?"
"Regina must have her magic back. That is the will."
"The will of what?"
"The will of the OZ," he murmured.
"I do hope you're right," she said and returned to the backroom to resume her reading.
Back at the loft, Charming was making a desperate attempt to compose a speech that he thought would help ease the minds of his fellow townspeople. He'd asked them to meet him at the town hall in two hours but time was running out. Oh, how he wished Snow were there. She always knew what to say. He was a better fighter than a motivational speaker.
"People of Storybrooke, I know we're trapped again and things look... bleak... But... they're not."
"No. Keep going. You were on to something," Henry encouraged.
"No, I wasn't. I did the fighting. Snow did the talking." He set Jefferson's ruined hat on the table.
"Can I see that?"
"Yeah."
"I think I know what this is. It's the Mad Hatter's hat. It's a portal between worlds."
"Mad Hatter."
"You've heard of him?"
"No. I mean, yeah. I mean, the prince-me doesn't know him, but David had memories of reading "Alice In Wonderland" in school. I need to get it to work again. Who is he? I mean, who is he here?"
"I don't know. Maybe he'll check in at the crisis, we could check after the thing."
"What thing?"
"The meeting where you tell us all your plan? Remember the speech you were doing?"
"Right. I'll be back for that."
"Gramps, you gotta use me. Come on! The curse was broken 'cause of me! Let me help! Or not."
But David was already out the door before he could say anything more.
Rumple and Belle were still no closer to a solution to their problems when they heard a door close outside. "Belle, I am so sorry. Keep reading." She nodded silently.
"It appears when I bought that "closed" sign, I was just throwing my money away," he grouched when he went back out to the main floor to see Charming waiting for him.
"Looks like it."
"Sorry to hear about your wife and daughter. If you're looking for a retrieval, I'm afraid portal-jumping is just outside my purview."
"Of course it is."
"So what's the commotion outside?"
"A little stir at the border. A problem crossing the line."
"Do tell."
"Actually, I'm here to buy something... a way to find someone."
"What, like a map?"
"Something with a bit more kick, like the ring you gave me to find Snow."
"Oh, yeah. Magic. Whom are you following?"
"Not telling."
Ass. Alright, Prince, we'll play.
"So do you have something of theirs, this missing person?"
"Yes."
"May I see it?"
"No."
"Pour this on the object and then follow it. So simple, even David Nolan could do it."
"What do you want?"
"Peace. Leave me alone."
"What do you care what David Nolan does?"
"No. No. It's... it's Charming I worry about. I'd like a little... non-interference guarantee."
"Fine. If you give me the same. You and I... we stay out of each other's way."
"Thank you for your business. So, uh, what happens – when you try and cross the border?"
"You lose your memory of everything of our old lives. Looks like we're stuck here," Charming announced and left. Furious, Rumple grabbed his cane and began swinging it at anything and everything he could find. Belle ran out of the backroom and snatched it out of his hands.
"Rumple, Rumple, STOP!"
"We can't cross the town line!' He sobbed. "My boy...my boy! I'll never see him again!"
"What do you mean we can't cross?"
"We'll lose our memories, Belle. Our cursed memories will be all we have. I'll never see Bae!"
"No, no! We'll find a way around it. I'm not giving up and neither should you. Please!" she begged. He threw his arms around her.
"I don't know what I would do without you Belle."
She smiled and kissed him. "It's going to take a lot more than curses to keep me away from you now. There has to be something here we haven't tried, haven't read. And aren't you the king of loopholes?"
"Why don't we take a break for a bit and have lunch?"
"What did you have in mind?"
He grinned. "I'll surprise you."
Two hours later a large crowd had gathered at the town hall but there was no sign of Charming, Henry's calls to him unanswered.
"Come on, Gramps. Pick up. Come on…"
"Please, everyone. Just be patient. I'm sure he's going to be here any second," Ruby said in an attempt to soothe the restless crowd.
Her grandmother paced the floor, her crossbow in her hands.
"Granny, do you really need that?"
"We've got a lawless town, Ruby. Damn right I need it."
"Try calling him again," Ruby pleaded.
"He's not picking up."
"Just keep trying."
"My... What a nice turnout. No need for a fuss. It's just little old me." Regina said when she breezed into the town hall.
"Regina, think about what you're doing," Archie pleaded.
"Bug!" Regina sneered and sent him flying with her magic.
"What do you want?!" Ruby demanded angrily.
"Me. She wants me. Okay, I'll come with you. Just... leave them alone." Henry pleaded.
"That's my boy." She took his hand and led him out of the town hall.
"Are you alright, my friend?" Geppetto was asking as he attempted to help Archie to his feet.
"She is not going to do this!" He picked up his umbrella and stood up, his blood boiling.
"Archie, be careful!" Ruby called out. "Wait for Charming."
"There's no time!" He stormed out of the town hall and waved his hand, casting a temporary locking spell on the doors. "All right Your Majesty. It looks like we're gonna do this the hard way."
He spotted Regina getting ready to get into her Mercedes, a distraught Henry in the passenger seat.
"I'm sorry Henry." He waved his hand and the child slumped over in the seat, fast asleep.
"You're not going anywhere Regina."
Regina turned around, smirking. "Do you think you can stop me, bug? I'll incinerate you."
"I warned you had NO idea who you're dealing with. But you're about to find out and mark my words, this will be the LAST TIME you try to tango with me lady because I've fought far worse than you!"
She threw back her head and laughed. Archie glared at her and gestured, slamming her against the side of the town hall. His eyes had a meancing dark green tinge as he approached her.
"What…what ARE you?" she cried.
"The person who is going to make sure you never hurt Henry, hurt ANYONE else again! I tried, I tried so hard to anchor you back to your humanity but that's not possible for you. You don't care about anyone but yourself…and you don't deserve to have a child! He's not a child to you…he's just another possession and if Emma doesn't want to raise him then I will!"
"Over my dead body," Regina hissed, attempting to blast him back but found that she could no longer use her magic and she could see a white mist emitting from her mouth, watching with horror while her skin began to wither and age.
He's an Ozian Guardian! she thought fearfully. And he was taking her life force, a power only an Ozian Guardian possessed.
"Archie, no! You can't surrender now…I need you! I can't fight Bastinda alone. Please! If you kill her you'll be lost to me forever." he heard Az's voice pleading. "She can change…we all can if we are loved enough and Henry does love her. You can't take his mother away from him. Don't give him the pain that is ours without Amber! I love you Archie. Come back to me…"
Archie released his grip on Regina and sank to his knees, sobbing brokenly. He was expecting her to simply finish him off but instead she merely stood there.
"You're a Ozian Guardian."
He stood up and wiped the tears from his eyes. "I'm also a father Regina. A father who never got the chance to hold his child because she was taken from me before she took her first breath and murdered…MURDERED by a soul as dark as yours will become if you keep going the way you are. Listen to your son. Maybe he can reach you where I can't."
"I don't understand...how...how can you be a father?"
"I haven't been here for the entire curse Regina, only part of it."
"That's impossible! I saw you here the day I cast it!"
"No, you saw a construct created to look like me. I've only been here ten years. When you cast your curse I was sent to the OZ where I trained as a Guardian and I am the Heart of the North Guardian. Now that you know who and what I am, I'm going to warn you one last time: I was sent here to protect Henry and I will continue to do so...even if I have to protect him from you."
"What is Henry to you?" she demanded.
"He's important to all of us, Regina."
"Why are you trusting me with your secret? I assume no one else knows who you really are?"
"They don't, but they will eventually. Listen to your son Regina. Let him help you find the person you used to be, before you gave in to your darkness. And remember...if you hurt him, you deal with with me. It was by my suggestion that you be executed back in the Enchanted Forest but Snow granted you mercy. I will not hesitate to rip the life force out of you a second time if that is the will of the OZ."
He spun on his heel and walked back to the town hall, releasing the spell on the doors. An anxious Ruby and Geppetto waited for him inside.
"She took him, didn't she?" Ruby asked. "Archie, are you okay?"
"She won't hurt him Ruby."
"No but she'll hurt the rest of us. You know that."
"She won't. Because of Henry."
"How can you be so sure!"
"Because he's the only person in this town she gives a damn about and if hurting us hurts him, she won't do it."
"Well I dunno about any of you but I'd rather live as my cursed self anywhere else but here with her!" Happy cried.
"Yeah, me too!"
"And me!"
Soon nearly everyone in the town was in agreement.
"I'm going to get David. We have to do something!" Ruby exclaimed and ran out of the town hall.
"Are you going to leave, Archie?" Geppetto asked him.
"I don't know."
"I have to stay. For my boy."
"I know and I give you my word; we will find him. Let's go back to my office. We need to talk."
"Mind if I join you?" they heard Blue ask.
"Mother Superior...Blue...I...Of course," Archie said quickly, yet he didn't dare refuse her. They drove to his office in silence and once they were seated on his sofa, Blue gazed up at him, her eyes wide with shock as the suspicions she had at the town hall after sensing the presence of an Ozian Guardian were confirmed. "You are an Ozian Guardian and a Talon of the Dragon. How is this possible?"
"I didn't come here with the curse. I arrived just before Henry was brought to Storybrooke." Archie unbuttoned his shirt and turned his back to them, baring his shoulder and arm to expose his sword and dragon markings.
"How did you escape the curse?"
He glanced over at Geppetto. "We were trying to find a way to get to Pinocchio without using the wardrobe again and I was given an Ozian travel storm token right before the curse hit."
"Where did you get it?"
"Ozmalita."
"Ozmalita Diosa, the servant angel of Lurline?"
He nodded. "In her human form as Adora Cain. She altered it so that the portal would only take me and it took me to the OZ, to the Temple of Lurline. Mistress Alana took me in once she saw my markings she sent me to General Lannot to train as a Talon. Dellia and Jeb Mysticos helped me learn my magic but Dellia bound my powers before she activated the storm that brought me here. I can't stay here Blue. I have to go back. She needs me. I promised her. I promised our daughter…"
"Your daughter?!" Gepetto and Blue asked in unison. "You have a child."
"I had a child," Archie confessed, his eyes filled with tears. "Bastinda had her murdered as soon she was born. They strangled our child right in front of me and I couldn't stop them!" His blue eyes blazed with fury and he pulled his charm out from underneath his shirt. "This is all I have left of her! A lock of hair!"
"I'm so sorry Archie."
"I need your help Blue. The double eclipse is coming and I need to be back in the OZ. Dellia can't fight Bastinda alone and her sister isn't strong enough yet. She needs me."
"You may still be able to help her without needing a portal."
"Astral projection? I haven't tried that in a long time."
"But you remember how?"
"I do now."
"When you perform magic your aura will be visible to the others, including the Dark One. He may try to stop you."
"Regina already knows. And the Dark One is a she," he corrected. "What I'm about to say is not to go any further than this room. Rumplestilskin is more than just the Dark One."
"What do you mean Archie?"
"He, his son Baelfire and Henry are the last of the Strogoff bloodline."
"What? How…how is that possible?"
"His mother was Lilliana Strogoff, a descendant of Lurline and Aramon. He is the West Guardian and Henry is the East." He sighed. "And Rumple's father is Peter Pan, a descendant of the McDermott clan, a family of Scots-Irish witches and warlocks burned during the hunts for using light and dark magic. Rumple doesn't know any of this because he isn't meant to…at least not yet. Alemedia's hold on his soul is too strong right now. Finding his son and reuniting them is the key to freeing him from Alemedia's curse just as my returning to Dellia is what she needs to free herself from Bastinda. The four guardians must be reunited and their bonds completed within sixty days or there'll be no preventing the final eclipse."
"What's that Archie?" Geppetto asked him.
Blue sighed deeply. "A prophecy no one dares to speak of because they fear it so."
"And Bastinda and Alemedia were planning for it before Dellia sent me here," Archie added. "Bastinda was tearing the realms apart searching for both emeralds and Aramon's Talisman."
"But the only ones she could use are Lurline's emeralds. The Strogoff emerald and Aramon's Talisman can only be used by Rumplestiltskin or his heirs." Blue pointed out.
"There are only four people in the mortal realm who know where all the stones are hidden; Dellia, Lavinia, me, and DG but Lavinia cloaked DG's memories in case Bastinda attempted to use a Viewer on her. Dellia and I used the same spell on ourselves."
"What is this prophecy you're afraid of?" Geppetto demanded.
"The complete destruction of our world," Blue answered gravely. "The god Aramon predicted that our world be destroyed through the actions of his own descendants. And so far, every event that he has forseen has come true: two of his descendants have become the Dark One, many of the Strogoff and Ozopov heirs were murdered by one of their own and the most powerful servant of the dark goddess would be released from Ephesis. How did that happen Archie?"
"I rarely left Dellia's side from the day I arrived at the palace but that day I completed my final trial as a Talon apprentice and challenged Jeb Mysticos to grant me the rank of Master. I thought the girls would stay at the summer palace with their mother but she decided she was going to have another one of her rendezvous with the royal advisor Ambrose Benu. I found out they were lovers months before and confronted them with it." He snorted. "They tried to convince me it was over but I had my doubts. The girls wandered into the woods alone and discovered the cave with the seal to Bastinda's prison. Everyone assumes Dellia was lured to that seal by Bastinda's siren call but it was DG. Dellia cast a protection spell over them but when DG let go of her hand, she couldn't hold it and Bastinda took possession of her soul. Now she is using Dellia's body and her magic to destroy the OZ. If the OZ falls, the rest of our world will follow."
"H…How…?" Geppetto paled.
"One of the emeralds holds Lurline's life force. If it's destroyed, she dies and so does everyone left behind in our world when the Dark Curse was cast. Every disaster movie we've ever seen in this world is what the people in the OZ, the Enchanted Forest, Wonderland and Agrabah will endure…until there's nothing left…." Archie's eyes met his friend's. "In fifty-nine days. And we'll not just see it…we'll feel it…we'll feel their pain and terror….the price of our survival."
"How does Regina know you have magic?" Blue asked him.
"Because I attacked her with it after she took Henry." He lowered his head. "I almost took her life force."
Blue gasped.
"Regina regaining her magic is the will of the OZ. She is the Heart of the East Guardian."
"That's not possible...the heart is supposed to be the lover of the Guardian as well as their protector."
"Not in Henry's case, Blue. His bond is unique because the bond between a parent and a child is stronger than the bonds of lovers. But Regina has to earn the right to become Henry's guardian. That's why I let her take him. He is her only anchor to her humanity she has to learn that she can earn his love without using magic and trying to change." He went into the kitchen to brew some tea, Geppetto following him.
"I know what you want to ask me Geppetto and the answer is yes. I will do my best to use my powers to find your son. All I ask is that you be patient."
"I understand. This town line problem...does it affect you?"
"I don't know but I'd better find out. The sooner the better. I have to go to Kansas to find my sister-in-law, free my wife and then we need to find your son. Will you wait here in Storybrooke til I get back?"
"Yes," Blue said and sipped her tea.
"I'll wait," Geppetto replied. Archie went into his bedroom and packed several suitcases. "If this works, I need to get to Kansas right away. I'll call you as soon as I can." He picked up his suitcase and went outside to see many of his neighbors packing their cars too. He didn't blame them for wanting to leave but he was hoping Charming would be able to convince them otherwise. It was what Snow would do.
"How long am I in prison? Till I grow up?" Henry asked his mother coldly, furious that his attempt to escape had been thwarted by her magic.
"Henry, I rescued you because I love you."
"So, I'm a prisoner because you love me. That's not fair."
"You know where I come from. That was really not fair. Of all the places I've seen, this is the fairest of them all."
"You ruined lives. You sent away Mary Margaret and Emma."
"That was an accident."
"The way you treated me wasn't an accident. You made it so no one believed me. You made me feel like I was crazy."
"But that's all going to change, now. Henry, you can know all the secrets. You can live in a house with magic. Look what I could do." She conjured a large cupcake and held it out to him.
'And I can teach you. You can do this and so much more. You can have all the friends you want come over any time, and you can show them everything in your book."
"No one's going to want to come over here. They're scared of you."
"You can make them not be scared. You can make them love you."
"I don't want that. I don't want to be you."
Those words chilled her to the bone. Charming had been right after all. No amount of magic would ever make her son love her again.
In a panic, nearly everyone in town began packing their things and loaded them into their vehicles feeling that living as their cursed selves outside the town would be a far better fate than staying within its boundaries at the mercy of the Evil Queen. Charming slammed on the brakes of his truck and stopped a few feet from the line, blocking the road.
"Get out of the way! We have a right to go!" Archie yelled from his car at the front of the line.
"Listen to me! Listen. If you cross that line, you're gonna be lost. Everyone who loves you will lose you. But there's something worse. You'll lose yourself. Look, I get wanting to leave here. I do. And I get that it's easier to let go of bad memories, but... even bad memories are part of us. David, Storybrooke David was... is ... weak... confused... and he hurt the woman I love. I wouldn't give up being Charming just to be him. But you know what? I wouldn't make the other trade either, because that David reminds me not only of whom I lost... But of who I want to be my weaknesses and my strengths. David and The Prince. I am both... Just like you. You are both. The town is both. We are both. Stay here, and every choice is open to you. Live in the woods if you want. Hell, live in a shoe if you want. Or eat frozen burritos and write software. Let's open Granny's and the school and get back to work. I will protect you. She won't be able to hurt any of us, not as long as I'm alive. Not as long as we all come together... As we did before... As we shall do again!"
Archie smiled as the crowd began to disperse. He waited until everyone was gone before he approached the town line, holding his breath. He took one step forward, his body trembling. "I am Archie Hopper. I am..." His limbs tingled from the assault of dark magic as he continued to cross.
"I am Jiminy Ozopov!" he declared triumphantly.
His memories were intact. He stepped back over the town line.
The Tower
Oz (The Outer Zone)
Twenty-nine days prior to the Double Eclipse
"The barrier will not affect you. The dream realm Archie. It's the only realm the darkness cannot breach. Find me there." Az said softly as she watched him through the mirror. "DG has already made contact with Wyatt through it."
"She has? Then there's hope after all!"
"He won't remember her."
"He will in time. But you and I both know that their pasts as Dorothy and Nick are gonna complicate things. I need to find her Dellia. I need to find her and bring her back to the OZ. I..."
Jiminy, where the hell are you! Talk to me, dammit!
"Archie, what's wrong?" Az asked worriedly, sensing his distress.
"It's Jasper. "
"Oh thank the goddess. He has his memories back!"
"Yeah but something's wrong from the sound of it. You'd better listen in." He conjured a mirror, willing it to show him his brother. His twin's image appeared on the mirror, a police badge in a black leather pouch hanging from a chain around his neck.
"Jasper?"
"It's Molk. My cursed name is David Molk."
"You're a cop?"
"Homicide. SFPD. Where the hell have you been Jiminy? I've been trying to contact you since this damn curse broke. We've got a problem down here and I need your help!"
"My cursed name is Archie Hopper. I'm a therapist. What's going on David?"
"Can you come here. It would look and sound too weird if I kept talkin to you like this."
"It's worth a try Archie," Az said.
"I don't know if teleporting in this land will actually work."
"Try. Your brother needs you."
He closed his eyes, reopening his telepathic link with his brother and was given an image of the apartment building David lived in. His brother was pacing nervously in his living room. Archie gestured and vanished in a puff of green smoke.
San Francisco
David Molk's eyes widened when a cloud of green smoke appeared in the living room revealing his brother, a sword in his hand.
"What...how the hell did you do that?"
"Magic."
"You have magic?"
"I do now. I'll tell you how later." He threw his arms around him. "You don't know how glad I am to see you! Once the curse broke I was worried about what happened to you...and Rose."
David grinned.
"What?"
"You wanna come out here, Sleeping Beauty?" he called out.
A door opened and petite brunette in her late thirties came out carrying a baby in her arms. "Jiminy!" she cried.
Archie gaped at her. "R...Rose!?"
"My name is Elizabeth now...Elizabeth Molk."
"What? You mean...you mean...you and David are...?"
"Married," his twin finished. "Yeah, imagine that. The smart mouthed little girl that was in my charge grew into a beautiful young woman that I fell head over heels in love with after she kept showing up at my crime scenes looking for a scoop for the Chronicle."
"I was not a smart mouth, David Andrew Molk!"
Archie burst out laughing. "Looks like we have a lot more in common than just blood and looks David. I fell head over heels in love with the girl I was protecting in the OZ."
"You got sent to Oz? Why?"
"I'll tell you soon. Her parents know about this?"
David frowned. "They're not where you are?"
"No. I've been in Storybrooke ten years and don't remember seeing them."
David snorted. "Maleficent probably kept them in the Enchanted Forest."
"If it still exists. We're still trying to find that out but Regina isn't cooperating."
"You may have an even bigger threat than the Evil Queen coming your way. That's why I kept trying to contact you. Puss and I, well his cursed name is Edgar Navarro, have been investigating two murders that have occurred within the last few weeks. The first victim was dressed like Cinderella and stabbed through the heart with the heel of a glass slipper."
"Cosplaying?"
"That's what we thought. Then we had another victim. This one was dressed like Snow White. Killed by ingesting cyanide through an apple." David handed his brother a stack of photos. "Right after the Cinderella murder I got a call from a man who sounds like us. He said his name was Isaac Wallace and he was from the NSA and he told me my Cinderella and Snow White aren't the only victims. There have been dozens of killings like this across the US and he's claiming they're the work of a cult called the 'Home Office'."
"Isaac told us this cult is killing people from our world and others like it," Beth added. "He's been tracking them for years. David's victims are a Snow White and Cinderella from another Enchanted Forest and Isaac is you from one of them too. That's why you all sound alike. And you look alike. David and I did a little digging and we found out this cult dates back to Victorian England and it's purpose is to destroy magic. Their website boasts that they've killed hundreds of people and destroyed at least fifty magical communities."
"They have a website?"
"Beth hacked into it," David replied. "Oh, it's disguised as a roleplaying site but Beth and Isaac are damn good hackers and got around all the protections on it. Storybrooke is listed as one of their targets along with a list of everyone who lives there."
"Someone inside Storybrooke is working for them!" Archie said angrily. "That's the only way they could've gotten all our cursed names."
"Regina?"
"I hope not because this cult threatens her son."
"What's his name?"
"Henry Mills."
His brother and sister-in-law exchanged worried glances.
"What?"
"That name was on the list and Isaac sent me this." David took a sheet of paper out of a file folder and handed it to Archie. "He took it off one of the cult members."
"This is a sketch of Henry!" he exclaimed, holding it out to them. "Where is this person? I want to question them myself!"
"Dead. Bastard somehow snuck a cyanide pill in and took it after Isaac got the sketch off him but the guy said the Office wanted the boy for something."
"Dammit!" Archie cursed. Throw pillows flew off the sofa and struck the wall and David and Beth's son awoke and started crying. "Ah, David I'm sorry! I didn't mean to scare him. My...my magic responds to my emotions. Do you think this Isaac can tell us anything else?"
"I don't know but it's worth a shot," David said while Beth began to rock their son back to sleep.
Archie took out his phone. "Geppetto...it's me. I've crossed the town line but something's come up and I had to go to San Francisco."
"How did you get there? Did you use magic?"
"Yes. And I've found my brother and Rose!"
"That's wonderful! Are they all right?"
Archie smiled. "They are...and married."
"Married! Congratulations to them."
"To each other. I'm going to try to send one of my constructs to you. I need you and Blue to make everyone think it's still me."
"All right but be careful Archie."
"I will. Now, where do we find this Isaac Wallace?" he demanded of his brother after Geppetto hung up.
"The NSA is in Maryland."
"Then it looks like we're going to Maryland. I need to know more about this 'Home Office' and how to stop them."
"Archie I'm sorry I dragged you into all this...but I don't want these people coming after Beth and Jasper."
"Jasper? You named your son after you?" he chuckled.
"I didn't know it at the time! We were cursed!"
"Still a good name for my little nephew." He picked the baby up, tears brimming in his eyes as he thought of his own daughter, a a daughter he'd never gotten the chance to hold. "I'm gonna do everything in my power to make sure nothing happens to you," he murmured. "I'll sit with him while you get packed."
Dellia, forgive me, but I can't go to Kansas yet.
It's all right Archie. Mother must've had a plan for bringing DG to the OZ. Find out what these people are up to and stop them. If they kill Henry...
The circle would be broken and there would be no stopping the prophecy from coming true. He rocked his nephew in his arms and began singing to him.
"When you wish upon a star
Makes no difference who you are
Anything your heart desires will come to you
If your heart is in your dream
No request is too extreme
When you wish upon a star..."
Jasper lay his head on his uncle's chest and drifted off to sleep. Beth and David came out of their bedroom a few minutes later carrying their luggage. Archie handed his sleeping nephew to his father and closed his eyes, chanting in Ozian.
"What are you doing?"
"Shhh...he's concentrating!" Beth cautioned.
Archie opened his eyes a few minutes later.
"I booked us on the first flight out," David informed him. "And called Wallace. He's expecting us."
"Good because I want this Home Office taken down before they reach Storybrooke."
Storybrooke
Blue and Geppetto were still waiting at the apartment when Archie's construct returned, the pair stunned by how lifelike it appeared. "Archie is going to be away for a while," it said. "But he wanted me to tell you everything that happened to him in OZ so you have a better understanding of how he became what he is."
"It's strange...even I would think you were real if I weren't told otherwise."
"But he will come and take my place when he's ready to come back just as he did before."
"What's going on with his brother? Is everything okay?" Geppetto asked worriedly.
"His brother is fine. That's all he wants me to tell you for now."
Watch Regina. Make sure she doesn't hurt Henry or anyone else.
I will.
You know your mission. Prepare her to become Henry's Guardian until I return.
Blue and Geppetto left the office an hour later. The construct brewed himself a cup of tea and sat down on the sofa to read a book. MOments later he heard a knock on the door.
"Mr Gold! Uh..hello. What can I do for you?"
"Can I trust you to be discreet, Doctor?"
"Of course. Come in."
Gold gestured and to the construct's surprise a young woman he recognized from Archie's memories as Belle Lavalliere appeared at his side.
"Her name is Belle and I'd like you to help her with some issues she's had."
"Rumple, I'm fine..." Belle protested.
"No, sweetheart, you're not. You're waking up with the nightmares. I can only do so much but I think Doctor Hopper might be able to help you with the rest. Regina kept her in the asylum and her father..." Rumple's eyes narrowed to slits. "He had her examined by the clerics!"
"I'll be happy to help in any way I can. Belle, would you prefer if we talked in private?"
"No, I want Rumple here." Belle took his hand in hers.
The construct smiled. "Facing this issue you have together is a huge step."
"That's how we want to face all our troubles. Together," Belle said determinedly.
"Nothing can hurt you as long as you're together," Archie murmured, observing the session while he slept during the flight that would take him to Maryland and he hoped to some answers.