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:
Ghostwriter: Me too, I love Snowing too. Yeah, Snow can see the good in her and for Snow and Henry, David is able to as well. Yep, Greg is being used as usual. Yep, I guess every town has those. Glad you're enjoying it!
Jennifer Baratta: Yep, Lucian is dangerous and Greg is a pawn. Narcissa may be delusional, but she's very dangerous too. Glad you're enjoying it
Number Ten: Yep, we know a little more about Lucian now and things are beginning to fall into place. And now we see that Storybrooke has a reservation of sorts and changes definitely need to continue. Glad you're enjoying!
Sexystarwarslover: Yep, Snowing still has a lot of time to make up for. Yep, it's a similar vibe to Xizor from Forever Destined. That is the dynamic here. Yeah, Regina likely hid the information about Greg's father. Yep, with Lucian and Malachi that can only mean trouble. Yep, Lucian made sure most of his tribe, including Tigerlily was cursed too and now he wants to wrestle control from his brothers. Yeah, the dwarves were a bit annoying. Glad you're enjoying!
The Grey Jedi 2020: Yep, welcome to the Clarity universe. Most of what you need to know about 7:15 am I included in the first chapters. It goes AU after that. Yeah, the first curse really screwed things up. The whack to the head combined with the kiss was enough to restore her memories. It's possible. Yes, he was going to leave Kathryn so Regina made sure he got fake memories inserted in 1x6 to keep him and Snow apart. He remembered Kathryn and went back to her. But now that he's awake, he'll be causing waves by leaving her. But we know he belongs with Mary Margaret/Snow.
Yeah, they're back together, but it will be problematic for a while. She's not oblivious. Kathryn definitely noticed the way David looked at Mary Margaret compared to her. She was hurt so yeah, she slapped him in the heat of the moment. Glad you're interested in the story. I'm glad you're liking it so far. Yeah, but Emma is really good at denial. She keeps it up for a while after this. Yep, doing a DNA test would have made things a bit easier, but might have raised more questions too that couldn't be answered until the curse was broken. August showed up around this time. It was just in the background here. It makes sense later. Yep, if looks could kill, Regina would be six feet under.
Yeah, I forgot about Henry senior, but he didn't really meet him until that time in the Underworld. Yeah, it's a pretty crazy family tree. No, Tamara is not working for Pan here. Going a different direction. Yeah, Emma's first instinct is to run. It will take time to get over that. I like AU too and playing around with things. Yep, there's a lot different here, but that's what makes it fun.
Yep, the blonde is Narcissa and she's arrived in Storybrooke. Yep, it had to be Snowing's true love. It's different than other true loves. Yeah, things aren't making sense to Kathryn and Regina is losing control. Yeah, Narcissa's motives are a play on the motives of the original Evil Queen. Pure vanity. Glad you're enjoying it so far.
Clarity
Chapter 44: The Lesser of Two Evils
Albert Spencer looked over the paperwork and David couldn't hide his smugness, as he could tell the old man was trying to figure out how this had happened.
"Madam Mayor…are you certain of these events?" he asked.
"Are you questioning me, Mr. District Attorney?" Regina asked.
"N…no Madam Mayor, but we had a solid case against Ms. Swan. We had her fingerprints on the murder weapon and she had no alibi," he argued.
"Yes…and as much as it pains me to admit it, I know for a fact that Ms. Swan did not kill the victim. Narcissa Blake confessed her plot to frame Emma to me personally. In order to serve justice accordingly, I couldn't let an innocent woman go to prison," Regina said. David snorted and caught a glare from her, but he said nothing else and George signed off on the statement.
"Then the charges against Ms. Swan are dropped," he said with reluctance.
"Sheriff Swan…" David corrected and their eyes met in a cold gaze.
"Of course…Deputy," he said coolly.
"Now that this is taken care of, we need an arrest warrant for Narcissa Blake," David said.
"I'm afraid that we don't have enough evidence for that yet, Deputy," Spencer refuted.
"Regina just told you about he conversation she had with Ms. Blake," Emma argued.
"And it's all hearsay. We need much more than that. Like motive, lack of alibi, and evidence. None of which you have. I'd say you both have some work to do if you're going to make a case against Ms. Blake," he said.
"I am the Mayor and my word should give you the probable cause you need to issue at least a search warrant of her business and her home," Regina snapped.
"I'm afraid it doesn't, Madam Mayor…and with the debate tonight, you may not be our Mayor much longer," he said, with a small smirk. Regina clenched her teeth.
"She got to you…" she realized.
"How much did she buy your smarmy hide for, you greedy bastard?" Regina asked, as her lip curled in anger. He kept smirking.
"The District Attorney's office is not for sale, Madam Mayor," he said smugly.
"But you are…not that I'm surprised," David said.
"I'd watch your tongue, deputy," he warned.
"Or what, old man?" David challenged and Emma was almost taken aback by the malice that passed between the two. George wasn't even awake yet, but clearly his hatred was bleeding through and no one could blame David for hating this man either once you knew the history. Which she had managed to acquaint herself with, thanks to the book. The image of her father almost being beheaded flashed in her mind and actually made her shudder.
"Enough…" Regina interjected, as George backed away from the younger man subtly.
"If there is nothing else, then kindly see yourselves out of my office. If you want to make a true case for justice, then you can make it tonight at the debate, Madam Mayor," he said.
"You wouldn't know justice if it hit you in the face," David responded, as they exited his office.
"Well…that didn't go exactly as planned," Emma said.
"Arresting her was a fool proof way in making sure her campaign for office was all but over," Regina hissed.
"Yeah…but if we do it now without the backing of the DA's office, it will blow up in our faces. People already think you abuse your authority, so ordering us to arrest her only works in Narcissa's favor," Emma argued.
"I don't abuse my power," Regina refuted.
"Yes…you do, like threatening the Principal to fire my wife from her job," David said. Regina glared at him, but was silent.
"So what now?" she asked.
"You need to debate her tonight and until then, make a few gestures of goodwill. Get my mother her job back. Appeal to the working class. Narcissa's a rich prick…she can't relate to people like us," Emma said.
"What? Poor people?" Regina asked. David rolled his eyes.
"Yeah…and neither can you. Snow could beat you both if she ran against you, because she cares about her people, Regina," he said. She scoffed.
"But if Snow is right about you…then you used to care too. Dig deep…do what you have to, but you need to start appealing to those who can't afford your kind of life or one of Narcissa's fashions," he said, as he and Emma walked away, leaving her with a lot to think about.
Snow finished her filing and started her rounds, bringing flowers to the patients. This was her favorite part of her day, as she hoped to bring a little joy to the sick. She noticed a new patient in one of the rooms and saw that it was a little girl. The father looked a bit guarded when she came into the room, but seemed to relax a bit. She guessed that it was probably because he realized she wasn't a doctor or nurse.
"Hello…" she said kindly, as she placed the small vase of flowers on the bedside table.
"Hi…" the little girl said shyly.
"It's not much, but hopefully this little flower can brighten your day a little," she said.
"I like tulips," she replied. Snow smiled.
"Me too…but I think my favorites are snowdrops," she said, as she noticed the blue bird on the windowsill and smiled. The man in the room seemed to take notice of that, especially when a few other birds flocked to the window as well. He looked back at her.
"You have a gift with the birds," he mentioned. She was taken aback at first and wondered if he was awake. It was an astute observation for a cursed person. She smiled.
"Ever since I was a little girl…they always find me," she said.
"Are you a Princess?" the little girl asked and Snow was even more taken aback. She didn't want to lie, but couldn't exactly tell the truth either.
"Oh…I don't think so. Maybe in another life I was," she answered instead.
"My name is Mary Margaret. What's yours?" she asked.
"Monica Rainwater," she replied.
"That's a beautiful name…" she said, as she looked at the man.
"I am Will Rainwater…Monica is having her tonsils out," he said.
"Oh…well, then I guess you'll get to eat a lot of ice cream," she replied, as she smiled. Snow missed teaching so much and the kids.
"Is it gonna hurt?" Monica asked.
"Probably a little…but you'll heal fast," Snow promised, as Whale came in.
"Okay…Mr. Rainwater, we'll be taking your daughter down to prepare her for surgery soon. Nurse Faun will be assisting me," he said. Sarah smiled kindly.
"You'll be in good hands…she's my friend," Snow whispered to the little girl, seeming to ease the little girl's fears, which didn't go unnoticed by her father. The little girl was wheeled down and Snow stepped out of the room, only to run right into Narcissa Blake, face to face and alone for the first time.
"Well…at last we officially meet, dear niece," she said.
"I guess so…and even though you've never met me face to face, you hated me even before I was born," Snow replied.
"You're right…you've been the bane of my existence," Narcissa said.
"You escaped banishment and the curse and really made a name for yourself. You've done very well for yourself, yet you hold a silly grudge against me for something a mirror told you," Snow replied.
"You can act as sweet and innocent as you want, you little monster…but you destroyed my life. I was Queen and the fairest in all the land," Narcissa said.
"You ruled carelessly and impoverished an entire population, while obsessing about your appearance in the mirror. I had nothing to do with your madness. I was just your catalyst," Snow retorted. Narcissa's hand moved toward her neck, wanting nothing more to strangle the beauty before her, but she was shoved back.
"Oh no you don't, you evil witch…" Solana growled, as she stepped in. Narcissa smirked.
"The fairy Godmother returns…" she goaded.
"You damn right…I protected her from you before and I'll do it again. Banishment was Flora's idea, trust me. I wanted to send you to Hades last time you tried to hurt her and I'll follow through this time if I have to," Merryweather warned.
"Careful…that sounded like a threat and against the future Mayor of Storybrooke," Narcissa retorted.
"You haven't won yet and as much as it pains me, I'll vote for Regina over you. I'll hate it, but she's the lesser of two evils," Merryweather said. They were unaware that Mr. Rainwater was observing the entire exchange. He didn't normally interact or converse with others in the town and they kept to their own kind on the makeshift reservation that had been neglected and forgotten in town. But his encounter with this Mary Margaret Blanchard had intrigued him and he saw something in her that was inspiring. She was kind to everyone, even those that weren't kind to her. The birds and he suspected the animals alike flocked to her. His people didn't follow anyone but his brother, as he was their leader, but they both understood that they didn't have the power to make their people's lives better. There was something about this woman though that told him that she could be a leader for all, despite class or race.
"I guess we'll see…because when I win, I will make sure that I destroy you this time, Snow White…" she hissed, before she walked off.
"Do you think she can win?" Snow asked.
"I'm not sure, but I know she won't risk losing. She'll fix the race if she has to and the debate will certainly be interesting tonight," Merryweather replied.
"Did you find anything about those two men in your research?" Snow asked.
"Oh yes…I remember why they seemed familiar now and that history book refreshed my memory. That's why I'm here…we need to meet everyone else at the shop," she said, as they headed for the elevator.
Belle idly thumbed through some of the books in Rumple's collection, trying to familiarize herself with this new world.
"It certainly is different…and vast," she mentioned.
"It is…and there is much to see. Perhaps someday we can see it," he said.
"Then you've been out there?" she asked curiously.
"Briefly. Regina tried to have Snow done away with to separate her and Charming. Them waking up before the curse wasn't a part of anyone's plan…but it worked out more perfectly than anything I could have orchestrated," he replied. She smiled.
"You finally found your son," she said.
"Yes…and he has given me a grandson," he said.
"And you didn't know that Henry was Neal and Emma's when you arranged for Regina to adopt him?" she asked curiously.
"Oh…I knew he was Emma's and that the boy would somehow be key to bringing her here. That much I saw…but I had no idea that my son was his father. That was all fate," Rumple replied.
"So…why hasn't the curse broken yet? Emma is here…she believes. What else is there?" Belle asked.
"I wish I knew…everything has changed now though. Magic has always been my solution, but now it may just add complications," Rumple replied.
"Still…if the curse was broken, then people would know the truth and no one would want to vote for either candidate," Belle said.
"Yes…Regina is the evil we know. Narcissa is definitely worse," Rumple replied, as the shop door chimed.
"You can say that again," Emma said.
"I take it that you have not been able to arrest her?" Rumple asked.
"No…you were right. She definitely paid off Albert Spencer already. He won't issue a warrant without hard evidence, though I have a feeling he wouldn't even if we had her on tape admitting to the murder," David replied.
"Then we have to prepare for the real possibility that she will defeat Regina and become our new Mayor," Rumple said.
"We still don't know enough about her partners in crime either," Emma said.
"We do now," Merryweather said, as she and Snow arrived, with the former carrying the large book she had borrowed from Rumple's shop. Snow hugged her husband and they shared a short, tender kiss.
"You okay?" he asked. She nodded.
"Better now though," she replied, as he put his arms around her waist.
"Should we wait for Regina?" Emma asked.
"She's probably preparing for the debate. We can fill her in later," Merryweather replied.
"Okay…so you know who these guys are?" David asked.
"Mmmhmm…because they were both banished by fairies, just like Narcissa," she revealed…