Chapter 11
Present
"The Sword of Twenty Five Hunters. That is what it is called." said Regina as she places the open book beside the sword. Both items are laying on Snow White's dining room table. Everyone looks at the page. All doubts vanishes as they see the pictures and compare it to the actual sword.
Matthew Donovan realized something has changed after Abraham Van Helsing left the hospital that day. Within the day, all of his injuries were healed. Every broken bones, every bruises and every cuts were magically healed. It caught the eyes of one of the doctors, who kept insisting on running more test. Knowing full well, that this phenomena had to be a sign of something bigger, Matt declined the offer of getting more tests. When Emma Swann came in after getting a call from Lilly, Matt told her everything what had happened. Since she explained everything about the town, Matt felt that he should at least do the same. Since there was no magical tattoos on his body, Matt wondered what could have changed him.
Lilly did pointed out that the new thing in Matt's life: The sword.
After being released from the hospital, Emma took Matt back to an apartment, where a nice lady and her husband welcome him. Even on how young they looked, it did not suprised him that they said that they were Emma's parents. When they said that they were Snow White and Prince Charming, Matt tried to keep his composure. After all, they were Caroline Forbes' favorite fairy tale couple after Cinderella and her prince.
When Regina and her son came into carrying a big stack of books, Emma explained that if Matt felt that something had changed, they would help him find out what that was before he left this town.
After a couple hours of looking through various old books, Regina found the answer.
"Wow." said David aka Prince Charming as he looks at the sword, resisting the urge to touch it.
"How bad is it?" ask Snow White as she looks at the page.
"For every magical being in Storybrooke, it is bad." said Regina.
"What do you mean? asks Emma. Regina picks up the book.
"Since this sword was created by Hephaestus, it can kill anything. And still that is not what makes this sword dangerous." said Regina as David takes a few steps away from the sword. "According to his book, selected hunters have actual powers."
"What kind of powers?" ask Prince Charming
"Powers they may need to hunt." said Regina. "We are not talking about hunters that go after deer. We are talking about hunters that are after witches, vampires, and other monsters. The catch is that the powers are not interchangeable. You can't have powers that could beat a werewolf one day and have powers to beat vampires the next day."
"Meaning that the hunters are specialists." said Snow White.
"Exactly." confirms Regina.
"How come we never heard of them? I mean if we knew about them, things might have been different." said Snow, wondering if she would have gotten one to deal with Regina when she was evil.
"Because they don't exist everywhere. By everywhere, I mean dimensions." said Regina. "There is only twenty five of them and they only exist if there is a dire need in the place. For us, we live in a place that had knights, heroes and other good magical beings. Not to mentioned, we had the Dark One in the Enchanted Forest. Pretty sure, the Dark One may have something to do with that. This book..."
Regina holds the book up in the air.
"It is part of the Rumplestiltskin's private collection." said Regina.
"So,what is the deal with the sword?" asks David trying to keeping the conversation focus.
"Like I said, Hunters' powers are separated based on their speciality."
"One hunter deals with vampires, another hunter deal with witches." said Matt out loud.
"Exactly. The catch is that the powers are energy. It has to be directed. It has to be maintain. This sword is what maintains that flow. As a result, the owner of the sword gets all of those powers. When Van Helsing gave the sword to Matt, he got those powers."
"Ok. There has to be a catch. After all, it's magic." points out Snow White.
"According to this book, there are a couple. One of the catches is that the person has to use the sword if it is out." said Regina.
"When you mean use…"
"They have to destroy the thing that they are fighting. Dragon, witch, vampire, immortal, god."
"Don't draw it out unless you are going to put them down." said Matt as he shakes his head. It made sense. Once Jeremy had his powers, he saw every vampires as a target as opposed to a person. It took a while for Jeremy to recognize a friendly vampire from a hostile one. Still, the obsession that he did have was intense.
"Exactly. According to the book, you will get into a bloodlust. You will be compel to kill the thing that you are fighting. Lucky for you, you have all the powers of every type of hunter within you whether the sword is out or not. Super strength. Resistance to magic. Healing power. Those are just a few things that you are going to get. You might not have to worry about using that sword. But you were right. You are changing." explains Regina.
"But, I can't practice with the sword, in case I have to use it." state Matt. "Sword fighting was not part of Mystic Fall high school curriculum.
"Sword lessons wouldn't be a problem. I can teach you." said David to Matt. "I have a few swords that we can practice with and even use."
"Thanks." said Matt.
"Beside you still have to get used to the powers." said Emma. "Take it from me. Going from normal to magical does take some getting used to. We can help you with that."
"Up to a point." said Regina. She looked at Matt. She would wait to tell him about the fact that he will never be able to move on after he died. Not to mentions that he is now stuck with powers and responsibilities of being a Hunter. That was another price for this magic. Regina simply did not want to spoil the moment.
"Thank." said Matt as he looks around at the group. "I don't know what to say."
"Well, I would like you to say yes to Regina's job offer." said Snow White. "I kinda of like to see my husband more often."
"Thank." said David with smile.
"I hate to say it, but we need the help. Even without the magical problems, we just got more people in our little town. No matter what, we are going to need actual help. Let's not forget, you haven't left this town like a bat out of hell after getting kidnapped and seeing a dragon. I would second that motion in hiring you here." said Emma.
"You heard them. What do you say?" ask Regina.
Matt looks around at the group and smiles.
"I do have one condition." said Matt.
Lilly is standing beside a bus stop bench as Matt slowly approaches the woman. Matt makes some noise to give her some warning that he is approaching her. Based on several hits on the arm that he received in the past, Matt always like to give some warning as opposed scaring someone.
"What are you doing?" ask Matt as he approaches Lilly.
"I am deciding whether to leave Storybrooke." said Lilly.
"What?" The statement throws Matt off just based on what he had observed in the short time he has been in the town.
"I'm not." reassure Lilly. "At least not today."
"So, why are you staring at the bench?"
"I come here to think. I know that I have to leave this town. I don't have a job. I don't have any friends here. I am not getting any younger. Sooner or later, I am going to have to leave and actually get my life straighten out. Let's be honest: I really don't belong here."
"What about your mom?" ask Matt.
"Sooner or later, she will leave."
"That is depressing." comments Matt.
"Not like that. She is a dragon. We kinda have that wander lust. Right now, she is kinda of stuck in StoryBrooke. If it was not for me, she would have gone stir crazy or gone back to the Enchanted Forest. I don't want to keep her here longer than she has to. I want her to be happy."
"That is nice of you." said Matt as he take a seat on the bench.
"For now, me being here is making her happy. Heck, it is making me happy." said Lilly as she joins Matt on the bench.
"Be thankful for that...not all of us has a mom that wants to see her kids." said Matt. Lilly turn to see a familiar expression on his face.
"So, what are you doing here?" ask Lilly, hoping the change in conversation would get that expression off his face. He smiles a little bit.
"Honestly. I am here to offer you another reason to stay." said Matt.
"I just met you. I am not going to marry you." jokes Lilly.
"What?" Lilly smiles, hoping that he get the fact that she is joking with him.
"Seriously, I don't know you enough to marry you. So put that ring away." Lilly couldn't help herself. Matt had that face that you had to mess with.
"I am not proposing to you." said Matt, realizing that she is messing with him. "I am here to offer you a job."
"What?" Lilly did not want to see her reaction to that statement. That put a bigger smile on his face.
"Yeah. I am taking the sheriff position."
"What the hell did Regina offer you to make you say yes?"
"I told her that I am going to need a deputy. If she is going to take the sheriff away to save the world or secret missions, I am going to need someone to watch my back while I watches the town. I said that I need you." explains Matt, hoping the explanation help.
"Why the hell do you want me?" Lilly stands up from the bench, not knowing if she should run away or hug him.
"If I am going to deal with crazed lunatics with magical powers again, I want to make sure that I have a big gun with me. I have been in the position when it was just me. It was not fun. In fact, I hated it. I need someone."
"No offense, but I am cursed. Everything I touch turn to crap." explains Lilly.
"Who said?"
"Destiny." Lilly cannot believe that she was using that as a way to explain herself. It was too complicated to explain why she can't take this job.
"Screw destiny. You know how many times I had to hear that? Way too many times. Screw that crap." said Matt, not realizing that he is getting slightly red in the face. "Fate is not going to decide what we are going to be."
"Hit a nerve." asks Lilly.
"You have no idea." said Matt. "Look. Here is the way I see it: One, you saved my butt. Two, you have some experience with law enforcement even if it is on the other side of things."
"Emma told you about my past." said a frustrated Lilly.
"Just enough to try and talk me out of this."
"Why didn't it?"
"Because if the Evil Queen can be Mayor of this town, why can't you be in law enforcement?"
"Good point."
"Let's not forget the most important part. You are a bad ass scary dragon." said Matt with a smile. "Who will want to mess with a town that has a dragon?"
Lilly looks at the man who will be sheriff. This was a bad idea in so many ways. She had no reason to say yes. Everything she has done, except her new relationship with mom, has gone to crap. There is no reason why this would not be the same.
She look directly at Matt, looking to see if he was joking.
"Fine...I will take the job. If I am going to be a deputy, I am not working with William Charming, David Nolan or whatever he is calling himself. I am still angry at him and Snow White for kidnapping me." said Lilly..
"What?"
"You don't know?" ask Lilly.
"No."
"Buy me a drink and I will tell you the story."
"Deal." said Matt.
"Besides, I will feel a little guilty if you died." said Lilly.
"Just a little."
"Only a little. I don't know you that well."
"Alright, Let's get that drink. Just remember you can't sleep with me." said Matt as he stands up and start walking to the diner for a drink.
"Never in this lifetime." said Lilly, knowing that he is messing with her.
"I don't believe you. I have noticed how you have been checking me out."
"I have not checked you out." said Lilly "Emma, on the other hand…"
One year from now
"Imagine going back into time." said Lilly as she take another drink from her beer.
"I would love to see the Wright Brothers make that first flight" said David as he takes another drink from his coke.
"I would love to see the future." said Emma as she sips her beer. She had a taste of time travel when she was able to go back into time. Seeing her parents in the beginning stages of their lives gave her insight that she did not know that she needed at that time. The allure of time travel is still there.
"Time travel is definitely something we all would love to do, but there is a reason why it is not something to be done. Too many things can go wrong. It is still forbidden." said Regina as she twirl the wine in her glass.
"That is true." agrees Emma.
Lilly, Emma, David, Regina, and Matt are sitting at Granny's diner on the bar counter. The jukebox is blazing in the diner. For the five people sitting in the chair by the counter, they just want to have a drink to celebrate their small victory. For Matt and Prince Charming, coke are in their hands. The women had after hour drinks.
Matt is keeping his ear on the conversation as he observes as Tinkerbell walks over to the jukebox. She places a quarter in the box and hit two buttons. Matt smiles as he looks away from her. He recognizes the first two notes of the song that starts playing on the jukebox.
I see the bad moon arising
I see trouble on the way
I see earthquakes and lightnin'
I see those bad times today
Matt takes a deep breath, accept the fact that the relationship with Tinkerbell is not going anywhere and places his focus back on the conversation happening beside him. He did not notices that Tinkerbell take a quick glance to see him as she walks back to her table. She had been with Mother Superior having a late dinner.
"Still, the man did listen to reason. He going to help us take the machine apart safely." said Matt.
Don't go around tonight,
Well it's bound to take your life,
There's a bad moon on the rise
"I still do not see how Hyde is able to convince these people to go along with his plans." said David.
"I don't know how and I don't care. We got bigger fish to worry about." said Regina.
"The Evil Queen." said Emma.
Regina nods her head, remembering her shock in seeing her doppelganger.
"Have you guys made up a plan in dealing with that issue?" ask Matt.
"Not yet." said Emma. "I had to cancel tonight's meeting to help you move the machine. I guess now is a good time."
I hear hurricanes a blowing
I know the end is coming soon
I fear rivers over flowing
I hear the voice of rage and ruin
"Yesterday would have been a better time." said Matt.
"Two Regina...I don't think that was in my worst nightmares." said Emma as she take another drink.
"Hey!" said Regina.
"Trust me. We need something now. She could make life very bad around here. I saw it first hand." said Matt.
"Seriously."
"Oh yeah. The doppelganger I had to deal with was also a vampire, so everyone's lives was extra fun because of her." said Matt as he remembers Katherine Pierce.
Well don't go around tonight,
Well it's bound to take your life,
There's a bad moon on the rise, oh right
"So, want to get a bottle and hammer the details out. Hook is securing the Jolly Rogers from Rumplestiltskin tonight." asks Emma to Regina.
"Considering that it could affect Henry in the worst way possible, yes." said Regina as she pick up her glass of wine and walks over to an empty booth.
Granny places a brown paper bag in front of Matt. Matt reach in his pocket and take out a twenty. Granny smiles and nod. Getting the late shift means no place is open after midnight. It means that he had to be prepare in eating in his car. Since he is already at Granny, Matt figures it is the smart play in getting lunch for later.
Hope you got your things together
Hope you are quite prepared to die
Looks like we're in for nasty weather
One eye is taken for an eye
"I am out. I got to get back to work." said Matt as he finishes up his soda. Matt gets up from his chair. David finishes up his drink and put down his money to pay his tab.
"I got to go too." said David. "Snow has papers to grade and wants to actually have time to do that tonight. Neal has been acting up."
"Hold on a minute, Dad. I got to ask you something." said Emma to David.
"Sure." said David as he follow his daughter to the booth that Regina is sitting at.
Well don't go around tonight,
Well it's bound to take your life,
There's a bad moon on the rise
"Please don't leave me. I really don't want to deal with people by myself tonight." said Lilly.
"You can take my spot." said Matt as he takes the brown paper bag.
"No. Sorry. I am not that desperate." said Lilly as she finishes up her beer.
"You know you suck."
"Cry me a river." said Lilly as she gives Matt the universal response to his whine. Matt smile as he get up from chair.
"Tell them I am patrolling the town." said Matt as he lay down some bills to pay for Lilly's drinks. She smiles. He turns around and heads toward the door.
"Sure." nods Lilly as she move the money forward so that Granny can see it. "By the way, welcome back."
"Thanks." said Matt as he walks out the door.
Don't come around tonight,
Well it's bound to take your life,
There's a bad moon on the rise
Lilly watches Matt. She can hear someone sitting behind her. She tenses up. Lilly really did not want to speak to her right now.
"So, should I worry about you eating me?" ask Tinkerbell as she motions to Granny for two more drinks.
"Nope." answer Lilly.
"Are you sure because you have been giving me death stares ever since you got here."
"Trust me, Pixie. You will know if you have to worry about me. I will tell you." said Lilly as Granny put down a glass of beer in front of Lilly.
"So, what is your deal?"
"You broke up with Matt. I am just simply fulfilling my best friend's duty." Lilly takes a drink from the new glass of beer.
"Really?"
"Yeah. Choosing your job over Matt. Dumb move."
"So, he told you." said Tinkerbell.
"Not everything. I know he didn't tell me everything but enough." reply Lilly.
"Look. We agree to this."
"Really? I know your story. I know what you tried to do with Regina. Guess what? You are doing the same thing that she did." comments Lilly, knowing that Tinkerbell is a big advocate for true love.
Granny puts two drink in front of Tinkerbell.
"Lilly, I am a fairy. That is what I am. If I am not a fairy, what am I?"
"We'll never know." said Lilly. Tinkerbell pick up the two drinks.
"You just don't understand." said Tinkerbell as she walks away.
"Guess not." said Lilly.
"If it makes you feel better, I completely agree with you." said Granny. "I have seen those two together having lunch. There is something there. Tinkerbell is making a big mistake in not going out with Matt."
Lilly smiles. She shakes her head at the thought that Matt is right. It will take time for people to see her as Lilly the deputy.
Lilly's phone buzz. She reach in her pocket to take it out. When she hears the buzzing over everyone's phone. Lilly's heart skip.
Everyone's conversations stop.
She looks at the phone. After reading the text message, Lilly get off the chair and walks over to the diner's door and lock it. She looks outside through the door's window. She could see her partner with three other people.
"Emma!" yell out Lilly. "We got three baddies out there with Matt."
"Everyone!" yell out Emma. Everyone in the diner looks at Emma. Lilly could see the scared look at their faces. Regina is standing beside Emma while her father is standing on the other side of Emma. Granny take out the shotgun from behind the counter.
"This is not a drill. Grab what you need and approaches the center of the diner. Regina and I will take everyone out of the diner and to a safe place."
"We can help." said Mother Superior. Tinkerbell nods. Emma takes her phone and starts to text.
"Take them to my house. They will be safe there."said Regina to Mother Superior. She nods.
"I am locking the backdoor." said David as he walks away from her.
"We need to search every building in a five block radius once we get everyone out of the diner." said Regina. "Once clears, we put up a temporary force field around the area until it is over. Emma will tell you where to station yourself at."
"Understand." said Tinkerbell.
"I just texted Hook. He is securing the docks." said Emma.
"What can I do?" ask Lilly. She haven't learned any magic yet. She is feeling useless right now.
"Simple. Help your partner. He is out there alone." said Emma. Lilly looks at Emma and nod. "Take the back door."
Lilly start to walk toward the back door of the diner. She glances at Tinkerbell, who did look worry about Matt. Lilly simply nods to Tinkerbell.
"Lilly." said Regina. Lilly stops and looks at the Mayor. She toss something toward Lilly. She catch it with her right hand. She open up her hand to look at the object.
It was a necklace with a small medallion.
"Wear it." said Regina. "You are going to need it for what is out there."
Lilly nods and walk out to help her partner, not know what Regina is referring to.
