7:15 AM AU - Things go a bit differently in the cabin during 7:15 AM. With memories returned, how will this change things?
Face Claim for Narcissa: Eileen Davidson
Face Claims for the three good fairies:
Flora: Maggie Smith
Fauna: Linsey Godfrey
Merryweather: Jackee Harry
Thanks for the amazing response to this story. It's a lot of fun. I'm glad everyone is enjoying the twists and turns. Season 1 can be very fun to play with. Enjoy this latest and keep reviewing! Here are individual responses to reviews:
Ghostwriter: Ha yep, Narcissa is incredibly crazy. Regina will probably realize that too late. Yeah, at least Regina's reason, though wrong, is plausible. Narcissa's reason is just nonsense. But then that's the point. Glad you're enjoying it! :)
Jennifer Baratta: Thanks! Yep, lots of trouble coming. Glad you're enjoying it!
Grace5231973: Yeah, Regina thinks her revenge is less petty, but we know it's not. Emma is smart and tough and makes a bit of progress in this chapter. Hopefully, she'll smell the crazy on Narcissa, lol. :)
Number Ten: Yep, if Narcissa is unhinged, which she is, no one is safe. But Regina can't see past her revenge at this point. Yep, Narcissa won't care if Henry is collateral damage. I love Maggie Smith too. Glad you're enjoying it! :)
Sexystarwarslover: I know, this is a dangerous team up. Yeah, she went to Graham's grave and it's clear that she's still healing. Yep, she found a dog. Yes, some Snowing taco time! Yep, Snow is taking satisfaction that Regina is alone and she's in bed with her husband. Yep, Narcissa is planning to poison Eva's tea. Hopefully, she will be stopped. Snow's alive so we know she will be. Glad you liked my portrayal of Merryweather. David would make a great security guard, but he might get a better offer in this chapter. Yep, that's a lot of mirrors. She is very vain and very dangerous, especially to Snow. I know, Narcissa is ridiculous. Glad you're enjoying!
AnonSnowing: Thanks! Glad you like the face claims. Yeah, Emma misses Graham and she's still healing. I think she is afraid to let them in, only to lose them again somehow. Yep, a stray dog. It might be, lol. Ha, yep, it's Snowing time. He is gorgeous indeed. I love how they look at each other too. Yep, Snow is no longer alone and Regina is. But yeah, it will make her more dangerous, unfortunately. Emma will come around. She actually makes a little bit of progress in this chapter.
Yes, Narcissa is a horrible Queen. Yep, Snow has some good fairies looking out for her already. Naricissa is insane. Yep, I think they will find jobs. Yeah, that's a lot of mirrors. She and Regina have that in common, along with their irrational hatred of Snow. Yep, they're going to go after the Charmings. Glad you enjoyed it!
Clarity
Chapter 21: Taking Chances
Emma stepped out of the Inn this morning in a dejected manner. Granny had told her in no uncertain terms that she could not keep the dog at the Inn. She had barely had him for a night and was already attached though. Sadly, she would probably have to take him to the shelter later, but she wasn't ready yet. She had picked up some dog food for him last night and his belly was happily full. So after he took care of business, they set off for the station. She noticed the new clothing store on her way, but before she could consider anything about that, she bumped into a fairly huffy Tamara.
"Oh sorry…" Emma said. The other woman huffed and brushed past her.
"Is there a problem?" she asked. Tamara stopped and then turned to her.
"As a matter of fact there is...you," Tamara replied.
"Me?" Emma asked.
"Did you know that Neal has decided that he's moving here and not coming back to New York?" she questioned.
"Actually no...he hadn't told me that, but you certainly seem to think it's my fault!" Emma retorted.
"It is...none of this would be happening if he had never run into you again," Tamara accused.
"Oh trust me...he's the last person I wanted to run into!" Emma retorted.
"Look...he's not moving here because of me. It's Henry," the blonde said.
"If you guys win custody, then why can't you just move Henry back to New York?" she asked.
"Because...it's complicated. I have a life here," she replied.
"Yeah, he said you have family here, which doesn't make any sense, since he told me that you were an orphan!" Tamara said. She narrowed her gaze.
"He told you that?" Emma asked.
"Yeah...he told me that, but I guess it doesn't matter what I want to him anymore," Tamara replied.
"So...what are you going to do?" Emma asked.
"I'm going to try to convince him that moving back to New York with Henry is what is for the best," Tamara replied and a stab of fear spread through Emma at that.
"You can't do that," Emma protested. Tamara looked at her in disbelief.
"And why the hell not?" she questioned.
"Because...Henry is happy here! And we're not cruel, unlike Regina. If we do win, we're not going to take him away completely," Emma exclaimed. Tamara huffed.
"So...if I do convince him to move back, are you going to stop us?" she challenged.
"Yeah...as a matter of fact, I am," Emma responded.
"That sounds like a threat," Tamara said.
"Take it however you want," Emma replied, as the other woman stalked off. Emma turned and nearly collided with another woman.
"Oh dear…" Narcissa said.
"Sorry," Emma apologized.
"No worries...that seemed intense," Narcissa commented.
"Uh yeah…" she said, as she watched the woman go into the new store. She was about to question her, as a new store was kind of a big thing in a town like Storybrooke, but she heard Mary Margaret call to her next.
"Good morning Emma," she said.
"Uh hey guys…" she said.
"Oh...whose dog is this?" Mary Margaret asked, suddenly noticing how familiar the dog seemed.
"It's uh...a stray," she answered.
"Wilby?" David asked in disbelief, as he knelt down and the dog went to him instantly.
"You know this dog?" Emma asked.
"He...he was mine, back in our land. We...we had to trade him for food the winter before I had to pretend to be my brother. It nearly killed me," David replied.
"Wait...he's yours?" Snow asked, as she watched a bright smile spread across her husband's face.
"Yeah…Emma, you found Wilby!" he exclaimed and then hugged her without thinking. Suddenly, he realized what he was doing and pulled back.
"I'm sorry...I didn't mean to...make you uncomfortable," he stammered, as he looked at her stunned face.
"It's...okay," she assured him, as he and Mary Margaret pet him.
"Listen…Granny won't let me keep him at the Inn. I have to take him to the shelter...unless…" she said.
"Yeah...we can take him, right?" he asked his wife. She smiled at him.
"Of course," she said, as she realized exactly what this meant. She knew this dog and was stunned by what that meant, but the time to tell him was not now.
"So…I better go. I need to post a listing in the Mirror for a deputy," she mentioned.
"Wait...you're hiring a deputy?" Snow asked.
"Uh yeah...the workload without Graham is getting to be a bit much. Why? Do you know anyone?" Emma replied.
"Absolutely...you should hire David!" she said.
"Oh Snow...I'm not sure that's a good idea," David chided. She frowned.
"Why not? There is no one better for this job. You were a Knight!" Snow replied.
"I know...but Emma needs someone that she completely trusts and is comfortable with," he said, getting a bit sad.
"I'm not sure that's me," he added.
"But…" Snow started to protest.
"Do you think you're qualified to be a cop?" Emma asked skeptically. He shrugged.
"What are you looking for?" he asked.
"Well...there's a lot of paperwork for one thing," Emma replied.
"Oh come on, Emma...paperwork?" Mary Margaret questioned. David smiled at her.
"It's okay," he told her, as he looked back at Emma.
"I did a lot of paperwork at the shelter," he replied.
"Okay…I'm looking for someone that is physically fit," Emma said.
"Oh, he is very fit, I assure you," Snow blurted out. David looked at her in amusement and Emma rolled her eyes. Snow looked at them sheepishly.
"I'll be quiet now," she said.
"I was a Knight, like Snow said. And I don't think I'm getting soft, nor do I plan to," he answered.
"Fine...what about weapons? Have you ever even held a gun?" she asked.
"It's curse memories, but yes," he replied. She un-holstered her weapon and handed it to him by the butt of the gun. He took it, took the clip out, un-cocked it, re-inserted the clip and put the safety on, before handing it back to her. Emma looked at him skeptically.
"Emma...I know I said I'd be quiet, but he jumped in and saved you from that crazy drunk. He's been putting his life on the line for you since you were a baby, he's saved my life more times than you know and many of our friends...there is no one better," Snow said, making the case for her husband.
"And…Wilby is a really well trained bloodhound. He'd be an excellent K-9 cop. In fact, you can take him to the station with you while we get breakfast," David added.
"Okay...if the dog is part of the deal, you're hired. Be at the station in an hour," she said, as she walked away. He smiled and Snow couldn't wait for Emma to be out of earshot, before she squealed in delight and hugged him in excitement. He chuckled, as she placed kisses all over his face.
"Wait...she didn't just hire you because of the dog, right?" Snow asked. He smiled.
"No...but she needs to think that she did right now," he replied.
"But why?" Snow asked.
"She's not ready to let anyone in. I get it...I was kind of a loner before you. She is too," he replied.
"But you're not anymore," she said.
"No...and she'll get there too," he assured her.
"How can you be sure?" she asked and he gave her a look.
"Because she's just like you...how did I not see that?" she asked. He smiled and kissed her tenderly.
"Because I was never a loner or standoffish with you. Any walls I had...you crashed through them on day one," he replied.
"When I hit you with a rock?" she asked with uncertainty.
"Oh yeah…I was in love from that moment on," he replied, as he slung his arm around her.
"You were not," she protested.
"Okay...maybe not then, but certainly later that day the moment you put my mother's ring on your finger," he said. She cuddled against him.
"I like that part of our story," she replied. He kissed her hair.
"Me too...come on, let's get some pancakes and then I have to go to work," he said. She gave him an excited smile at that, before they headed to the diner, unaware that Narcissa had witnessed the entire exchange envy burning off her in waves.
Regina sipped at her coffee, as the waitress took her plate. She had listened to Narcissa's entire story and while she thought her reasons for hating Snow were ridiculous, she didn't care if it meant making her pay. An ally that hated Snow as much as she did was exactly what she needed. Her plan wasn't much different than the one Regina originally had. She had planned to out Mary Margaret as the town tramp and then kill Kathryn to frame the murder on her nemesis. Once she was convicted, she would see that she made her way to a prison outside Storybrooke, never to darken her life again. There was no happily ever after or true love if she went to prison for life. Not even her Charming could save her from that. It was perfect...until they woke up and David divorced Kathryn to be with Mary Margaret. Then the murder plot was no longer plausible. But now...there was a new possibility. Narcissa had just texted her about an argument she had witnessed between Emma and Tamara, Neal's fiance. It was almost too perfect. Narcissa assured her that Tamara was expendable and pinning her murder on Emma was perfect. Sending their daughter and the Savior to prison would destroy Snow and Charming, ensure that her curse was never broken, and make sure her son wasn't taken away. Regina smirked deviously, as the bell rang and she saw the two idiots, blissfully embroiled in their own little sappy love bubble, walk in.
"Enjoy your happiness, because I will destroy it...if it's the last thing I do," Regina said darkly.
Many Years Ago
Narcissa watched her sister, as the tea was delivered and stood up when she saw Eva was distracted in a conversation with Johanna, the new nursemaid she had hired for her brat. With this many people around, she knew she'd be caught so she improvised. She took a sip of the tea and faked a gagging noise.
"Oh...that's horrid!" she exclaimed.
"Is something wrong with the tea, Your Majesty?" one of the servants asked.
"Yes...it's bitter! How dare you serve us this swill!" Narcissa exclaimed.
"I am terribly sorry, Your Majesty," the girl apologized. Narcissa was about to continue her tirade, but Eva intervened.
"Narcissa...there is no need to be upset or scream at the staff," Eva chided. Narcissa pretended to deflate.
"You're right...but I think I will make your tea, my dear sister. You must be careful what you ingest with my little niece inside you," she said sweetly.
"You've never made tea in your life," Eva reminded her.
"I know...but I want to. You should let me pamper you since you're the one carrying such precious cargo," Narcissa said, as she headed off to the kitchen.
Once she arrived, she found another pot of tea brewing and smirked, before walking toward it.
"You don't want to do that, Your Majesty," a voice said. Narcissa turned to find a red fairy before her, flanked by a peridot green, and dark blue one.
"What is the meaning of this?" she demanded to know.
"We're here to stop you...from hurting that little Princess!" Merryweather said.
"That little Princess is about to be the bane of my existence!" Narcissa hissed.
"Your vanity has clouded your judgement, Your Majesty...it is doing you a great disservice," Flora admonished.
"She is to be the fairest! She is going to steal my place!" Narcissa claimed tearfully.
"Oh stars no...your niece will be a great gift! She will do so much good for the people," Fauna claimed.
"Who cares about the people? What about me?! I am the fairest in all the realms! But my mirror says it will soon be her!" Narcissa said.
"She will be very fair...but her beauty will also come from within and that is something you are solely missing, Your Majesty. But you can change your ways and I am going to give you the chance to meet her," Flora said, as the potion disappeared from her hand.
"No...I need that!" Narcissa pleaded.
"Do not attempt to harm the baby or I will oust you to your sister and tell her exactly what your intentions for her child are," Flora warned.
"Meet her...you'll see how good and wonderful she will be. You will love her," Fauna urged.
"Never," Narcissa refuted.
"Well...the Kingdom will certainly love her. She'll be good, kind, and beautiful," Merryweather said.
"Merryweather...please, you are not making it better," Flora chided.
"Well, it's the truth. You may be beautiful on the outside, Queen Narcissa, but you are hideous inside!" Merryweather accused.
"Merryweather!" Flora snapped.
"Heed my warning, Your Majesty. Do not force my hand to stop you," the red fairy warned, as they shrank to their fairy size and flew away from the enraged Queen.
"Can we return when she's born? I want to meet her now," Merryweather said.
"Oh yes...we will return for her Christening," Flora assured.
"Then maybe I can give her a gift...something in blue," Merryweather said.
"Oh no...something in pink will be much more suitable," Flora replied.
"It will be neither," Fauna said.
"Oh? And I suppose you think she should be in green?" Merryweather challenged. Fauna smirked.
"Peridot...and there will be something very special in Peridot in her future. But no...this one's color is most certainly as pure as her. She will be in white and all the animals will love her," Fauna said proudly.
"Well...white is better than pink I guess," Merryweather grumbled.
"Hmm...better than blue too," Flora agreed. Fauna shook her head at their antics, as they returned home.