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
New Face Claims:
Lucian Blackwater: Graham Greene
Malachi Wolfe: Scott Adkins
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:
Jennifer Baratta: Yep, these new people are trouble for sure! Glad you're enjoying it!
Ghostwriter: Yep, lots of friction and it's only going to get worse. Regina does have a fight on her hands, but you know Regina. You can't count her out. Glad you're enjoying!
Grace5231973: Yeah, I know, poor Leroy. Hopefully she can. Yeah, I hope David can shut it down, but as usual, things will probably get more complicated. Glad you're enjoying!
Number Ten: He may have been the next one, as he was Zoso's apprentice. But Rumple beat him to it. I would say he probably could be Rumple's equal in knowledge. Yeah, it's not a reference, but I get why it would remind you of Harry Potter. Yep, two Queens are about to clash. Glad you're enjoying it!
AnonSnowing: Yep, good always wins. Yeah, I wish Narcissa and her cronies would go away too, but then it wouldn't be very interesting. Yes, I would say Lucian is more dangerous than Gold. Gold has family he cares about and gives his humanity back that he might not have as the Dark One. Yep, Narcissa is way worse than Regina. You're welcome, glad you enjoyed it!
Sexystarwarslover: Yep, Narcissa is way worse than Regina could ever be. At least we know Regina was once good. Narcissa was always what she is. Yeah, some father and son time for Neal and Henry. Yep, Henry's right. David is Prince Charming and he'll never let Emma be taken away again. Yep, Regina is getting all kinds of bad news and has no idea who Greg really is. I know, poor Graham. Yep, Malachi and Lucian have some sinister plans it seems. Yeah, that was rude of them to kick Leroy out. Yep, Snow and David have gone to a few taverns before. This should be interesting. Glad you're enjoying it!
Clarity
Chapter 40: Friction, Pt 2
Regina stormed into her vault that evening and opened her potions cabinet, scouring it for anything. But most of what she had brought with her was gone or used up. Not that she had brought much to begin with. There was no magic here for the most part, though she had found that in the right circumstances, certain things did work, like Graham's heart. She looked at her vault, which was full of beating hearts and she considered that for a moment. If only she could still rip hearts. She'd do it to all her enemies and be done with it. But she could no longer do that here. She picked up an empty vial and the memories washed over her. It was the vial of poison she had used on the apple that put Snow in the sleeping curse. Oh, how she relished that moment…only for it to be quickly quashed by her Prince and true love's kiss. She considered the rest of the apple. With a portal, she could reach through and get the apple. Jefferson could provide the portal and with the apple, if she could somehow get Emma to bite into it, just like her mother, then no one could ever break the curse.
But somehow, Emma Swan wasn't the biggest threat anymore. Narcissa Blake planned to challenge her for control of the town, regardless of Emma's presence or a curse that was intact or not. Add to that, Snow and Charming were awake and they would go on the warpath if she did something happened to their daughter. Normally, she wouldn't fear that. Even without magic, she would be ready to go head to head with them. But Narcissa and her mysterious cohorts were definitely a bigger threat than Snow and Charming right now. The thought then occurred to her. If they were awake, then they too were likely aware of the danger in these interlopers. She frowned and sighed in disgust. Even the thought of becoming allies with Snow and David against these intruders made her nauseous. But if there was one thing they all had in common…it was Henry. As much as she hated it, her little boy was their blood and they loved him too. Even then though, they'd never agree to help keep her in power, knowing that she'd double cross them in the end. And she would, of course. But keeping Narcissa out of power was also in their best interest. She smirked and closed her potions cabinet. So needing the apple was out, which was probably for the best. After using Jefferson to do his dirty work and kidnap Mary Margaret, he'd never trust her to come through on a promise again.
She needed a new plan of action and teaming up with the Charmings seemed to be the only way. She'd testify to David that Narcissa was Tamara's true murderer and get him to arrest her. It would let Emma off the hook, but with Narcissa out of the way, she'd then find a way to get rid of the rest of her enemies after that. And if that meant doing something drastic, like destroying Storybrooke and leaving with Henry, then she knew exactly how to do it.
Snow finished her latest batch of filing and walked up to the nurse's desk to grab another stack.
"Well…here's more, but I still think we're severely underutilizing you here," Nurse Sarah said. Snow smiled.
"Thanks, but it's okay. I may not be doing what I love right now…but I'm with the love of my life. That's more than enough for me," she said. Sarah smiled.
"That's wonderful…it must be wonderful to have someone," she said wistfully. Snow felt for her, for she knew that Sarah had sisters she didn't even know about. But she took heart in knowing that she soon would. Somehow, the curse would be broken.
"Miss Blanchard…this hospital does not pay you to stand around and chat at the nurse's station," the nurse they all referred to as Nurse Ratched said.
"I'm not…I finished the stack I had and I was just getting another one," Snow replied.
"Such a mouth you have lately, Miss Blanchard. But I guess I shouldn't expect less from a tramp," she hissed.
"Oh no you don't, you ornery witch," Solana interjected, as they turned to see that she had arrived.
"Excuse me?" Ratched challenged.
"You heard me, you bitter hag. You may terrorize everyone else in this hospital, but you're not going to do it to this one anymore or I'll slap this hospital with a hostile workplace suit so fast, they'll be firing you before the glue on your fake eyebrows dries," Solana announced. It was loud and followed by several snickers from onlookers.
"You have no idea who you're dealing with," Ratched growled.
"Oh no…that's the other way around. They keep you down in the basement for a reason," Solana retorted.
"What is going on here!?" Whale exclaimed, as he arrived at the nurse's station.
"This woman is interfering with the daily operation of our hospital and once again, Miss Blanchard has been insubordinate," Ratchet said.
"Oh no, this woman constantly berates Mary Margaret and I'm finally calling her on it. She thinks she can do whatever she wants, because she's friends with Mayor Mills, but that's no longer going to save her. You reign her in, Doctor Whale, or a workplace harassment suit is coming at this hospital," Solana said.
"I'm not sure that's necessary…I'm fine," Snow whispered to her.
"Oh no honey…it's necessary," Solana replied.
"Dr. Whale…you should ban this rude woman from our hospital and fire Miss Blanchard for insubordination," Ratchet said.
"Oh, then I'll add wrongful termination to that suit," Solana retorted.
"Nurse Gollum…please return to your post. The last thing this hospital needs is a lawsuit. I'll be having the hospital administrator discuss your behavior with you later," Whale replied. Ratched looked surprised and then lifted her chin, as she stalked away.
"I've never seen her disciplined before," Snow mentioned.
"Mmmhmm…that's what you call a tide that is turning, honey. The curse is weakening and Regina's grip is slipping. Now that things are changing, so are people. This hospital has a ton of complaints piling up about Ratched and Whale's drinking and flirting," she whispered. Snow smiled.
"So that's why he's on his best behavior today," she realized. Solana smiled.
"Mmmhmm…and since no one is living the same day any longer, word is quickly spreading around the nursing staff about Dr. Whale and his ways," she said.
"Well, it's about time. Believe me, there's nothing I regret more than that night," she lamented. Merryweather hugged her close.
"Oh honey…you and David would have never made those mistakes without the curse. Regina violated you both in that way, even if indirectly. But you're good now, right?" she asked. Snow nodded.
"We are…we got past that. David still hates Whale and always will, but that's to be expected. I made sure he knows that Whale was nothing compared to him though," she said.
"Oh I'll bet…someone like Whale that brags about it so much is definitely overcompensating for something," Merryweather mentioned. Snow snickered.
"Oh, you have no idea how right you are," she blurted out and then realized that she had said it out loud. Merryweather looked at her and then laughed heartily, as she hugged her again.
Snow saw David come off the elevator and he smiled when he saw her. She closed the distance between them and they hugged and shared a tender kiss.
"Hey…what are you doing here?" she asked.
"Well, I know you're off soon so I thought I'd come to get you and then we'd go home and change and go for a drink at a place called the Wolf's Den," he replied.
"The Wolf's Den?" she asked.
"I know…not exactly a place that sounds like something we'd like, but it used to be the Rabbit Hole and if Leroy is right, we have two more strangers in town," he replied.
"More strangers?" Solana asked. He nodded.
"You think they're connected to Narcissa?" Snow asked.
"I'm not sure, but going in there with a badge is no way to find out any information so I thought we'd go on a date there instead. I'm sure they'll still know who I am, but it's worth a try," he replied. She smiled.
"I love that idea…date night it is, handsome," she said, as she kissed his cheek.
"And then there is this…" he said, as he showed her the flier. Her mouth dropped open and she turned to show Merryweather.
"I can't believe it…Regina must have flipped out when she saw this," Snow said.
"Mmmhmm…she's making her move. I'm not surprised. Narcissa will do anything for power," Merryweather said.
"But she would be worse than Regina," Snow said.
"Oh honey…you got that right. If she gets control of this town, she'll use everything in her power to hurt you, not that Regina has ever been kind. But Narcissa won't go after your job or reputation. She'll go after you and anyone in the way," Merryweather replied.
"She'll never get through me…but we need to figure out how to stop her from winning this election," he said.
"And who are these two newbies? You two let me in on what you find out?" Merryweather said.
"We will," Snow replied, as she hugged her and then hooked her hand on his elbow. They headed for the elevator and the door slid closed.
"This is the best day," Henry said, as he polished off a hot fudge sundae at Granny's following pizza and more video games with his real parents. Emma and Neal smiled at him and then awkwardly at each other.
"Glad you think so, kid…because your Mom is going to kill us all for filling you with all that sugar and junk food," Emma said. He shrugged.
"She's too preoccupied to pay any attention to me," Henry replied.
"Why do you say that?" Neal asked. Henry fished a flier out of his backpack and handed it to them.
"Whoa…Narcissa Blake is running for Mayor?" Emma asked.
"Yeah…who is she anyway?" Henry asked.
"Someone worse than the Evil Queen, that's for sure," Neal replied.
"And who hates your grandmother just as much if not more," Emma added.
"Do you think your parents know about this yet?" Neal asked.
"Probably not…we should tell them. Come on, kid, we need to get you home before your mother has an aneurysm and then go talk to your grandparents," Emma said.
"Why can't I come?" Henry whined.
"Because it's a school night and it's getting late," Neal replied, as they paid the check and left to take him home.
Snow and David arrived at the Wolf's Den shortly after going home to change and Snow observed the obvious changes already.
"You know, the Rabbit Hole was a dive, but somehow, it seems creepier now," Snow said.
"Yeah…you sure you want to do this? I know it's not exactly how we like to spend our evenings," he replied. She smiled and kissed him tenderly.
"You know I love anything we do together," she replied, as they stepped inside and found the place to be a bit brighter than the dark bar it had been before. It seemed a little classier too, but the décor was still a little off putting, at least to Snow. She noticed a lot of red and it seemed sinister somehow. They found a table and he removed his jacket, before helping her with hers, enjoying how beautiful she looked in a white, lacy mini dress and he also noticed all the other eyes on her. He wasn't surprised, for she wasn't referred to as the fairest in all the lands for no reason. But it was the bartender's stare that made him most on edge and he wasn't sure why. The waitress came over and took their drink order, as they sat close and became engrossed in each other.
"So…the Sheriff has come to scope out our little den I see," Lucian mentioned, as he came out from the back office. He noticed his friend's demeanor and smirked. Malachi was more than just a wolf. Early in his life, Malachi had been bitten by an enchanted, shape shifter in her serpent form after he rejected her advances in disgust, for a wolf would never mate with a reptilian. Feeling scorned, the witch gave him a terrible curse. Apparently, the witch gave off pheromones that attracted human men to her like moths to a flame and she had never experienced the sting of rejection, so when she did, she lashed out at him. Now Malachi possessed the same pheromones that usually attracted females to him in the same way, only he was twice attracted to many human females, desiring both sex and blood from them. It led him to cavort with females that weren't wolves and got him kicked out of his pack. In his anger at losing his place as Alpha of his pack, he took it out on the human females that always cast their spell on him by using them and then killing them for their blood in revenge for making him lose control of himself. In his pack, he was raised to believe being with something other than his own kind was defilement so it was a constant torment. But the smell of human female blood was always too much for him.
His senses had become dulled in the Land Without Magic, but he still had an appetite that he quenched on a regular basis in the pleasures of the flesh. His control was better in this land, but his senses were suddenly sent into overdrive in a way that he had not felt in a very long time and his knuckles were white, as he gripped the bar. Lucian watched him and followed his gaze to the couple at the table.
"Her blood calls to you," he realized.
"We don't need the Sheriff sniffing around our business," Malachi mentioned.
"Then why don't you distract him by propositioning his lovely companion? And then we can watch the look on his face when she leaves him for you, thanks to your pheromones," Lucian suggested. Malachi gave him a rare smirk.
"That might be fun…"