Author's Notes: I do not own Once Upon A Time which is a show on ABC where I'm really starting to question why Rumple didn't just cut off his hand and save everyone a lot of trouble? I mean, I get character development and everything, but if you look at some of the previews... Okay, thanks for the reads and reviews and hi to the new followers. I appreciate you all and I have not gotten back to any of you reviewers. Probably something to do with my two day migraine. Sorry. Please let me know what you think and happy reading!
The Duke walked back to where Belle and Catherine sat in the palace suite given to them for their use.
"Where is Reinette?"
"She said she had something she wanted to see in the King's library," said Belle.
"What was in the message?," asked Catherine.
The Duke shook his head. "Terrible, terrible news."
"What is it, Grandfather?," asked Belle.
The Duke sat next to his wife. "Ian sent word that King Leopold has been murdered."
"Gods..." said Catherine.
"Well, what happened?," asked Belle.
"The bite of some sort of viper and as wretched as that is, Snow White is now accused of murdering her father."
"What?!," exclaimed Belle. "It couldn't be. Snow never would."
"The Queen has put a price on her head. She's fled. No one knows where she's gone."
"Do you think we ought to alter our plans?," asked Catherine. "Our path tomorrow takes us through that kingdom."
"It's too late to alter our course," said the Duke.
"How can you two be concerned about getting to the next ball when Snow White is in danger?," asked Belle.
Catherine turned to her. "You haven't met Queen Regina, have you?"
"No..."
"They say she is a powerful sorceress," said Catherine.
"They say she's trained by the-"
Catherine shot her husband a look, cutting him off.
He shrugged. "Well, they say she's trained by someone..."
"Subtle," whispered Catherine. She turned back to Belle. "We can't involve ourselves and more than that if the Queen has any sense she will look to Snow White's friends and certainly someone she has known since her infancy. If Snow White has any sense, she will lay low and not make contact with anyone she knows. If you try to help her now, you may as well sign her death warrant."
"Belle?," asked the Duke.
She nodded. "I understand, Grandfather."
"You say you understand, but you have that look on your face."
"What look?"
Catherine answered. "The one that says you aren't going to listen to anyone."
"I finally got Merlin," said Belle, walking into the kitchen. She took a glass of orange juice off the counter. "He's going to meet us."
"Oh, how kind of him now that we've played host to his mother," said Gold.
"She's not very much trouble," said Belle.
"Belle, sweetheart, a goddess has arrived at our home unannounced," said Gold.
"I didn't know she was coming. Neither did Merlin from the sound of it."
"Your family gets more complicated with each passing day," said Gold. "What are we going to find out next?"
"Yes, because your family has been no trouble..." Belle teased.
That seemed to put him off balance. "What do you mean?," asked Gold.
Belle smiled. "The Charmings and Regina, of course."
"Right." He turned back to the stove top. "Though really, I ought to have known."
"Known what?"
"Granddaughter to the goddess of love and beauty. It should have been obvious to anyone with eyes," he said pushing her hair to the side of her face. He leaned forward to kiss her.
"You guys, I haven't even eaten yet," said Beatrice as she walked in and sat at her customary stool.
They broke apart. Gold went back to cooking. Belle turned to Beatrice.
"Do you remember how most of your classmates in Manhattan had parents who were divorced or incredibly unhappy?"
Beatrice rolled her eyes. "Really, I don't want to know what you people do."
"How very generous of you," said Gold, handing her a plate of pancakes.
"Yeah, well, I got to looking at my great-grandmother's Wikipedia page," said Beatrice. "I found some disturbing things on there."
"Hello, everyone," said Venus as she entered wearing a precariously short skirt.
Gold caught Beatrice's glance as she looked from Venus' short skirt to Belle's just slightly longer short skirt. She looked back at him and he rolled his eyes at her. Since he had caught Whale looking at Granny's he had noticed that others looked and thus had begun a campaign to get Beatrice to change short skirts, which had mixed success.
Venus looked over at Beatrice's breakfast. "What are those?"
"Pancakes..."
"Are they good?"
"Yeah..."
"Not just a pretty face, are you? I'll take some of those, handsome," Venus said sitting next to Beatrice.
Gold looked to Belle.
"Right, Grandmother," said Belle choking a little on the word as Gold and Beatrice smirked, "you mentioned the Blue Fairy."
"Yes, little Viv. Merlin sent for someone to pass judgment on her and Zeus decided to send me."
"There's a Zeus, too..." said Beatrice.
"Now, first things first, I need to know who's running the show around here."
"Well, Snow White and the Prince, I suppose," said Belle.
"Or so they think," said Gold.
"I need to meet with them," said Venus.
"I'll call them," said Belle, walking out.
"I'll come with," said Venus, following her back into the living room.
"And now your comment," Gold said once they were safely gone.
"Her skirt is even shorter than Mom's."
"I've told you before I'm not her father and I am definitely not Venus' father. I am your father."
The next day the party rode on the path to their next destination.
"The weather's turning," the Duke observed out the window of the carriage. "A storm is coming."
"It was clear a moment ago," said Reinette.
Catherine scooted over to look. "Alec, what would your mother say?"
"What?," he asked.
"It's not a storm. It's a tempest," said Catherine.
"A tempest?," asked Belle.
"A storm born of magic," she explained. Catherine looked pointedly at her husband. "So glad we could make our way through Queen Regina's kingdom."
"Well, it's not so bad..."
As the words came from his mouth, the carriage was pounded by huge pieces of hail.
"Right," he said. "Perhaps we ought to stop at the next lodgings."
"Perhaps," said Catherine.
They went to the auditorium in city hall where town meetings were held.
"Seriously, is this it?," asked Venus as she strode in. She looked back at Gold, Belle and Beatrice. "Julius Caesar had a much better set up. Those were the days."
"Yeah, just one of the many differences between Storybrooke and Ancient Rome. That and I think there were probably less storybook characters running around there," said Beatrice. "At least I hope so."
The door opened. David, Mary Margaret and Emma came in.
"Who are they?," asked Venus. She looked at Belle. "Real names, not this curse crap."
"This is Snow White and the Prince and their daughter, Emma," said Belle.
"What's happening?," asked Mary Margaret.
"Consider yourself fortunate. You're in the presence of the gods," said Venus. The Charmings stared blankly at the goddess. She looked at Beatrice. "They're in charge, right? Why aren't they saying anything?"
"I guess," Beatrice shrugged. "Like seriously, I don't know who voted for them."
The Charmings stared at her. Gold just smirked from his spot on the bench.
"I'm just saying, nobody voted for you. Regina's somehow mayor but nobody voted for her. Emma's the only one anybody elected," said Beatrice. "Why do I have to be the only one to point this stuff out?"
"Your point is noted," said Venus. "First things first, why don't I have a temple?"
"A temple?," asked Snow White.
"Yeah, columns, statues, an altar? Have you heard of it?"
"We didn't really build the town," Mary Margaret said apologetically.
"Well, could you get on that?"
The door opened. Merlin entered.
"Oh, there's my baby." She held her arms out. "Come to Mama."
Merlin walked over, trying to ignore the Charmings' looks of outright confusion and Gold's smirk.
"Do you suppose for the first time in a few millennia we could try to conduct ourselves with just a little dignity?"
"Have you been eating?," asked Venus, she pinched his arm. "You look too skinny."
He groaned. "Could we just get to the point?"
"Right, well, I'm here for the reason that my son hopefully explained to you. Then again if he didn't, that's just typical. I have been sent on the authority of my realm to pass judgment on Viviane or as you know her the Blue Fairy."
"What realm?," asked David.
"She's a goddess. Take a guess," said Merlin.
"Olympus," said Venus.
"I'm sorry," said Mary Margaret, "and I don't mean any offense at all, but whatever crimes the Blue Fairy committed were in my kingdom and I should be the one to pass judgment over them."
Venus put her hand on her hip and leaned. "Huh."
"I don't understand," said Mary Margaret.
"You see, usually when I show up someplace and say I'm in charge, people do what I want."
"That's not how we do things," said Mary Margaret.
"The way you do things nearly got my granddaughter and great-granddaughter killed," said Venus. "Not to mention the death of Belle's mother so I thought you would gladly welcome my guidance and judgment on this great matter. If you continue to oppose me, I am afraid that I must insist. You will not like when I insist. Am I understood?"
Venus didn't wait for Mary Margaret to answer. She looked at Emma. "You're the sheriff?"
"Yeah?"
"I want to speak with the fairies in turn."
"All of them?," asked Emma.
"What? Did you have plans?"
Emma shrugged. "Guess not."
"I also want to speak to anyone else with a complaint regarding the Blue Fairy."
"We don't really have a file for that."
"Well, I'll start with the people in this room and work through the rest of the town," said Venus. "I'm certain you can turn up something."
"Okay, but how are you going to try her if she can't remember who she is?"
"Don't worry about that." She looked from the Golds to the Charmings. "I'm sensing some tension in the room."
"Some?," Gold scoffed.
"Does somebody want to fill me in?"
"It's not important," said Mary Margaret.
"Did you get the Blue Fairy to cast that protection spell on the field?," asked Belle.
"Belle..."
Belle shook her head. "You did, didn't you? Is that how she got her wand back to curse Beatrice? You needed Rumple to make Tiny human-sized, but you needed her to make certain we never knew about the field of magic beans."
Merlin groaned. "Not bloody magic beans again."
"We have magic beans now?," asked Beatrice.
"No, I have magic beans," said Gold.
"They weren't yours," said David.
"They are now, dearie."
"Her first act probably would have been to throw Beatrice into a portal since that's what she loves to do," said Belle.
"I wouldn't have let that happen," said Mary Margaret.
"Because you're so good at stopping her?," Belle asked. "You know everything she's done and you continue to work with her."
"You're one to talk," said Mary Margaret.
Belle turned and faced Mary Margaret. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Oh, you know what it means."
"Something you want to say, dearie?," asked Gold.
"Yes, please, don't spare our feelings," said Belle.
"So I was right about the tension," said Venus.
There was a coaching inn not far off. The innkeeper and his family fell over themselves to make accommodations ready for the Duke and Duchess of Padua. The quick run from the coach to the front door of the inn had Belle soaked. As she took her cloak off, she spotted a wanted poster with Snow White's likeness on it.
"Belle?," said the Duke.
"It's so awful," she said.
"It is," he replied. "You should go up. The maids will take care of you. Go warm yourself up."
Belle nodded and went up to the rooms that had been rented. She took the bath that had been drawn, drank her tea and got in her trunk to find a book. She was a few chapters in when she heard the door open.
"I don't need anything else, thank you," she said without looking up from the page.
"Belle?"
She turned around and was staggered to see Snow White standing inside the doorway, drenched and terrified.
"Fun times," said Venus. She looked at Beatrice. "Is that how they always are?"
"Not always," said Beatrice. "Usually it's just like 'Hey, Gold, save us all from this horrible thing' and then Dad's like 'Why would I do that, dearie?' Then Mom's like 'Rumple, you have to help them.' Then he does and it's all 'No, don't do that, Gold!' Then sometimes we just eat dinner."
"Families are complicated," said Venus. She motioned at the bulletin board. "What's this?"
Beatrice looked at the hand-drawn flyers. "Oh, after the Curse broke everyone started looking for people. They put these up. There used to be way more."
Venus motioned at one in colored pencil, done by a child of a little boy. "'Missing: My Stupid Brother,'" she read. "No name."
"Well, everyone got a different name in the Curse, maybe they didn't think there was a point," said Beatrice.
"That would be very smart of him." Venus took the flyer off the board. "Mike Foley. Do you know him?"
"I think he's in Henry's class," said Beatrice. "His mom does the book group at the library."
She paused.
"Did you start a war because someone else said she was prettier?," asked Beatrice.
"That bitch was jealous," said Venus. She then spotted Merlin. "Ah, sweetheart, you can take me to lunch."
"Grand," said Merlin.
Merlin took her to Granny's.
"You didn't ask about your siblings," chided Venus.
"How many are we up to?"
Venus sighed. "I haven't seen you in a very long time. You could play at being nice."
"Why did Zeus send you?"
"Because he did," said Venus. "Is this still about Adonis?"
Merlin shook his head. "I would gladly give my right foot to never hear that man's name again."
"I like Rumplestiltskin. He's very good to them."
Ruby edged up nervously. "Here's your food, your, um-"
Venus smiled. "You can just put it down. Thank you."
Ruby did and backed away.
"Beatrice was worth the wait, wasn't she?," asked Venus.
Merlin ignored her and pretended to be interested in the lasagna.
"You have to produce her tomorrow," said Venus.
"What?"
"Whatever you're doing to her, it's clearly not working," said Venus. "I'll bring her memory back and she'll be prepared for trial."
"Trial? You're actually doing that?"
Venus nodded. "These people deserve to know what sort of fairy has been leading them. Besides, once the full extent of her crimes is unveiled, things will be much easier for your Dark Princess, won't they?"
Merlin didn't answer.
He hated when she was right.
"And who will play prosecutor?"
"That is a conundrum, mainly since your Viviane-"
"She's not my Viviane."
"Mainly since your Viviane has so many victims. Speaking of which, I would love if you could find Pinocchio."
"Do you have any idea what he must look like by now?"
"Yes, that's why I think he would make a great witness."
Snow White shook her head. Belle had given her tea and a blanket to stop her shivering. "I just don't understand why she's doing this. I don't know what I ever did to her."
Belle shrugged. "I don't know."
The door opened. "Belle? We're all waiting."
The Duke stepped in and his face dropped. He quickly shut the door behind him.
"Your Grace," said Snow White.
"Grandfather, I didn't know-" Belle stammered. "She only just arrived."
"Yes, that is a problem," said the Duke. He turned to Snow. "The Queen's Black Knights have just arrived to inspect the inn. I said you were indisposed at the moment, but that will only buy us minutes."
"I should leave," said Snow White.
"The inn is surrounded."
Belle looked at her trunk.
"I see you have an idea, my dear," said the Duke.
Belle looked up as the door to the library opened. Seeing it was Mary Margaret, she went back to loading the cart of returns.
"Belle, I need to talk to you."
Belle continued. "If you would like to borrow a book, I can help you. Otherwise..."
"I can't let this trial against Mother Superior go forward."
"Then perhaps you ought to just get a magic bean and send her away," said Belle.
"We were going to tell you eventually..."
"When? Were you going to leave a note when you went back to the Enchanted Forest?"
"Do you have any idea what it was like for me there? To have Regina trying to destroy my happiness?"
"Right. What would I ever understand about Regina trying to destroy my happiness?"
"You know what I meant and you know Rumplestiltskin was a menace."
"And your husband is a dolt."
"Belle!," Mary Margaret exclaimed in innocent shock.
"Has no one ever said that before?"
"This trial will be hard on everyone."
"Hard on you, you mean."
"I don't know what you mean-"
"You're not innocent anymore, Snow," said Belle, letting herself slip into the usage of her friend's old name. "You knew what she had done and every time after that you asked for her help, you were complicit in her actions."
"You're mad I didn't take your side."
"No, I'm mad you won't own it. See, that's the thing about Rumple. When he screws up, he at least admits it."
"I had no idea the trade the Blue Fairy had made with Regina. I was trying to save everyone-"
"Fine. The trial is still on."
"Belle..."
They heard a clamor down the hall as Belle draped a blanket over the trunk. She positioned herself on top of her trunk with a book in hand.
"This really is completely uncalled for," said Catherine. "Do you know who you are treating in such a manner?"
"It's alright, my lady, these men are just doing their jobs," said Alec as the Black Knights strode in.
Catherine shot him a look.
"I'm sorry, I was just reading," said Belle.
"Reading?," scoffed the leader. "What were you reading, girl?"
"A Political History of the Maritime Kingdoms," she said displaying the cover.
The Black Knights found this hilarious. Belle steeled herself. Catherine rolled her eyes.
"As you can see, we're not hiding a rogue princess in here," said the Duke. "Just one very bookish girl."
"Yes, I see that..." the leader laughed.
"Permit me to buy you and your men some drinks," said the Duke. "You must be thirsty after such hard travels."
"You're too kind, Your Grace."
The Knights left. Catherine turned to the Duke as Belle jumped off her trunk.
"Why are we buying them drinks?," she asked.
"In a moment, my dear," said Alec, hurrying to help Belle with the lock and the trunk lid. Once it was open, they lifted the gowns and Catherine watched in amazement as they helped Snow White out.
Emma entered the town meeting room to see Regina. On the other side was Kathryn Nolan.
"Regina, what are you doing here?," asked Emma.
"I was requested," she said.
"Oh, good," said Venus, striding into the room like it was her own runway. "We're all here. I assume you all know each other?"
"Yes," said Regina.
"Now, I need a prosecutor and a defender for this trial," said Venus. "Regina. Kathryn. Congratulations."
"I won't defend that winged freak," said Regina.
"Of course not. That would be the fox guarding the hen house," said Venus. "You're prosecuting."
"How does that make sense?," asked Emma.
"You doubt me," said Venus. "Allow me to share the wisdom of the gods, then. The only lawyers you seem to have in this town are one guy who tried to frame a werewolf, an injury attorney who likes to cry wolf and the other is Rumplestiltskin. Everyone else I tried is afraid of the Blue Fairy or beholden to her. Regina is neither. I know she doesn't have the best reputation, but at the least everyone knows who she is."
"What about me?," asked Kathryn. "I'm not a lawyer. I wanted to go to law school, but the Curse..."
"You know the laws of the gods, don't you? The Blue Fairy was your godmother so you must have some loyalty to her no matter your personal opinions. All you have to do is tell the Blue Fairy's side of the story. Do you think you can do that?"
"Yes," said Kathryn.
"Very good. As soon as I restore her memory, you may begin your pre-trial interviews to determine the scope and breadth of the matter. Emma has been gathering evidence and she will be sharing that with both of you."
Regina stood. "This should be fun."
She and Kathryn bowed slightly. Venus nodded and they left.
Emma turned to Venus. "Are you sure about Regina?"
"Do you dare question the judgment of your goddess?"
Emma paused.
"Maybe..."
Venus eyed her.
She shrugged. "Give me a break. I'm new to this."
"Do you know a boy named Mike Foley?"
"Yeah, he's in my kid's class."
"I wonder if you might arrange for me to speak with him."
"Why?"
"To bestow my blessing. Come now. I believe my son has something for us."
"You're too kind," said Snow White. She shook her head. "When I saw your carriage, I knew you would help me. I still don't understand what I ever did to Regina."
Catherine shook her head. "Undoubtedly she has some deep black hole in her heart she's trying to fill."
"My lady has some experience in these matters," said the Duke.
"We can help Snow, can't we?," asked Belle. "I know you said not to get involved, but we're already involved and we're almost out of the kingdom."
The Duke and Catherine exchanged looks.
Catherine turned to face Snow White. "Your Highness, I have no doubt we can help you. There is one thing I want to make perfectly clear, though. Are you listening?"
"Yes, your ladyship."
"If you leave this kingdom now, make no mistake you are running away. You will not be able to return ever and the best you can hope for is a marriage to a prince in a sympathetic kingdom, which does not seem likely."
"What?," asked Snow.
"You have nothing to offer," said Catherine. "It would be safer for you to leave public life altogether. The Queen has power and money and men..."
"And magic learned from the..." the Duke began. Catherine shot him a glare. He shook his head. "I forget the name."
Catherine turned back to Snow. "So unless you are willing to fight, to raise an army, to defend your throne-"
Snow White shook her head. "I can't do that."
"Why not?," asked Belle.
Snow White laughed nervously. "Have you seen me? Have you seen her?"
"You could try," said Belle. "If something's worth fighting for, you never stop."
"Belle," said the Duke, "I know you dream of heroics, but I am afraid this will not be among them if I have to drag you back to Padua by your ear. This is Snow White's decision and hers alone."
"If you leave now, you're giving up," said Catherine. "And you're abandoning your people."
Merlin sat on the desk in the sheriff's office as Emma led Venus in. Mother Superior sat handcuffed to a desk.
"Sheriff Swan, this madman abducted me. What do you intend to do about it?"
"You're in one piece, are you not?," asked Merlin.
"Swan," said Hook, "you haven't introduced me to your lovely friend."
"Venus," she answered for herself.
"Indeed you are," said Hook.
"Aw, thanks..."
"Are you falling for that?," asked Emma.
"It would be rude to not say anything."
"Could we just not?," asked Merlin.
Venus looked at Merlin. "I'll see you for breakfast."
Merlin cast a look over at Hook. "I will give you to Rumplestiltskin for a chew toy."
He left.
Venus shrugged. "He's sensitive."
"So, how are you going to do this?," asked Emma. "A potion. A spell?"
Venus snapped her fingers.
"Viviane, wake up!"
Mother Superior's head shook, as if casting off a deep fog. She looked up. "Goddess Venus..."
"Yeah," said Venus. "I think it's about time we discussed some things, don't you?"
Belle awoke the next morning to find that her friend had gone. She was sullen as they breakfasted and got in the carriage to their next destination.
"Belle..." said Reinette.
"Why wouldn't you let me help her?," Belle demanded.
"It's not your fight," said the Duke.
"I'm so glad you can tell me how to run my life," said Belle.
"To be fair, it didn't seem as if her highness had her heart in that fight, either," said Catherine. "You were more invested than she. Obviously, you take after our side of the family."
Belle turned to the carriage window and stared out.
"Our next stop is Edelweiss, is it not?," asked Reinette.
"Yes," said the Duke.
"They have rather a fine library. I should like to have a look around it," said Reinette.
"I don't see why not," said the Duke. "Any particular interest in the library?"
Reinette shrugged. "There's only something I wish to look up."
