"Arsealen?... That's your name?" Clara looked up to Ruby who held a plate in her hand.
"Yes... Yes that's my real name... But I can't say it..." Clara sat there a moment before jumping up. "Ruby! You can say it!?" Ruby chuckled
"Yes, I just did"
"Please, Come with me to Mr. Gold, tell him my name." Clara clasped her hands around Ruby's free one.
"Clara... Maybe you should wait..." Clara gave a confused look
"Wait..?" Clara tilted her head looking severely disheartened.
"Move up" Ruby shuffled down next to her pushing the plate in front of her. "Mr. Gold threw you out right? So clearly he's a bit angry, give him some time to you know, cool off then we'll go round, that way he'll be much more... Open to actually acknowledging you there." Clara nodded slowly as Ruby handed her a fork.
"Alright I guess... Yeah.. That makes sense" Ruby smiled giving her shoulder a comforting squeeze. "Eat up. You look famished. It's good I promise you" Ruby shifted up getting back to work. Clara turned her nose up at the food before loading up her fork, she hesitated before she took her first mouthful, double taking and staring wide eyed at the plate.
"That is fucking amazing..." Clara glanced around a moment only to see Granny smirking towards her. She blushed lightly before tucking into the lasagne. She was almost tempted to lick the plate clean. She couldn't really remember the last time she had eaten well.
"You look like you enjoyed that." Clara lifted her head up towards Granny who lifted her plate.
"Oh I did, so much so.. Thank you... I don't know how I'll repay such kindness but I promise you I shall." Clara smiled happily towards Granny.
"I think just seeing you smile like that is payment enough" Clara looked down towards the table before flickering her eyes back up towards Granny, staring at her piercingly.
"Mhn, no... I owe you a favour. You have shown me kindness when many others would not. I will settle this debt with you. As learnt by my master. I honour my agreements" Granny blinked gently staring at the girl.
"Well Clara, if you feel that strongly about it..." Granny turned from her hurrying the plate away into the kitchen. Clara's violent blue eyes slowly graced over the other occupants of the diner, she recognised most of them. Most of them had dealt with the dark one and his companion. Deep in thought Clara wrapped her hands tightly around the mug of hot chocolate that was still partially unfinished, she shot a look off to the side when a thought crossed her mind. Regina had come to her once in the forest, she knew exactly who Clara was.
"That She-Devil!" Clara slammed her cup down upon the table causing many to turn and look at her. Clara sneered before throwing herself out the door.
"Go after her Ruby, she may do something she regrets" Granny looked hurriedly to Ruby who nodded and rushed after the girl.
"Clara!" Clara ignored the call behind her, whirling around for some kind of instinct or sign as to where Regina may be, turning towards the pier she caught a shot of her and another woman, who she recognised to be Emma Swan, the sheriff from earlier. Clara shot off before Ruby could reach her. Clara broke into a run as Emma entered Mr. Gold's shop, Regina paused turning and noticing Clara before turning to her waiting patiently with a large smile on her face.
"YOU!" Clara brought herself to a stop, her face inches from the queens as she snarled. "You tricky, little she-devil..." Emma turned from inside the shop.
"Clara..? Regina come on we don't have time for this." Emma reached forward to grab Regina's shoulder though her efforts were in vain as Clara growled viciously towards her, the sheer primal, animalistic-ness of the growl causing the sheriff to jolt back in slight shock.
"Figured it out have you, mutt?" Regina gave a dark smirk, not noticing Mr. Gold coming up towards the pair remaining just behind Emma.
"You're the reason I can't speak these words, why I cannot explain who I am!" Clara snarled.
"Of course it's me, you little tramp. Did you think I'd let you get off oh so easily and run back to the dark one? He's a bit more... Friendly without you by his side biting peoples ankles" Mr. Gold knitted his brow together.
"How, DARE YOU!" Clara grabbed fistfuls of Regina's clothing slamming her harshly into the lamppost behind her.
"How dare I? How dare you! Take your hands off your queen!" Regina glared with the utmost hatred.
"You are not my queen, She-devil! You're nothing to me, still pissy over that little bite are we? HUH?" Clara growled harshly, a small change flickering around her mouth and nose almost threatening to revert to her dog form.
"Getting so pissed you're nearly pushing past the curses form? Oh I'm impressed... Did you think I'd let you get away with biting me, Mutt? If the smallest thing I can do to you is keep you away from your precious master then I'll do so, you wear a collar of magic around your throat sweet heart, you ever manage to say your name it'll choke you to death! I'm actually impressed you manage to speak at all" Clara reared back ready to hit the woman, who gave a well timed shove throwing Clara to the floor. "Poor little Arsealen can't even get sympathy from her dear master." Mr. Gold's eyes shot wide for a moment in realisation, pushing forwards he strode passed Emma.
"Arsealen?" Clara looked to Mr. Gold as did Regina who's face was filled with immediate regret. "You brought my dog here... You brought her here and forced her into the woods..." Mr. Gold's face flashed with anger towards Regina before he held his hand out towards Clara. "Oh Clara... Arsealen, I'm sorry pup. Had I known... Go get your collar dearie. You know where it is, you were right the first time." Clara took his hand pausing a moment to nuzzle into his shoulder before striding into the shop.
"Okay, So Clara's a dog. Good, now that's sorted, can we PLEASE do what we came here for!" Emma glared.
"Of course..." Mr. Gold lead them both into his shop rounding his counter to stand by Clara who had opened the ornate box from earlier, lifting a large metal collar from within. Made purely of golden rope strands woven together, clasped at both ends by large silver flattened circles, Clara smiled at the artefact before snapping it nicely into place around her throat a rush of magic leaving her form before being soaked up by the collar.
"The collar's enchanted..." Regina almost cursed under her breath.
"Now then..." Mr. Gold ignored Regina's comment looking to them both, before focusing on Emma. "Do my eyes deceive me, or is that the look of a believer?"
"We need your help." Emma wasted no more time.
"Indeed, you do. It seems quite the tragic ailment has befallen our young friend. I told you, magic comes with a price." Mr. Gold looked towards Regina
"Henry shouldn't have to pay it." Regina snapped
"No, you should, but alas, we are where we are." Clara gave a snort of amusement earning herself a glare from the queen.
"Can you help us?" Emma questioned.
"Of course. True love, Miss Swan… The only magic powerful enough to transcend realms and break any curse. Luckily for you, I happen to have bottled some." Mr. Gold said rather smugly.
"You did?" Regina looked to him in surprise.
"Oh, yes. From strands of your parents' hair, I made the most powerful potion in all the realm. So powerful, that when I created the dark curse, I placed a single drop on the parchment. Just a little safety valve." Mr. Gold smirked towards Emma rather proudly.
"That's why I'm the saviour. That's why I can break the curse." Emma nodded gently voicing her theory
"Now you're getting it." Mr. Gold chuckled darkly.
"I don't care about breaking the curse. All I care about is saving Henry." Emma said hardly
"Which is why it's your lucky day. I didn't use all the potion. I saved some… For a rainy day." Mr. Gold turned to look at Clara "You know what to get sweetheart" Clara nodded before walking off into the shop
"Well, it's storming like a bitch. Where is it?" Emma's eyes followed Clara a moment before looking back to Mr. Gold
"Where it is isn't the problem. Getting it is what should worry you." Mr. Gold said matter of factly.
"Enough riddles. What do we do?" Regina huffed impatiently.
"You do nothing. It has to be Miss Swan." Mr. Gold pointed towards Emma.
"He's my son. It should be me." The queen quipped, glaring towards Mr. Gold.
"All due respect, but it's her son, and it has to be her. She's the product of the magic. She must be the one to find it." Mr. Gold looked between the both of them as Clara returned to his side handing him a rather large wooden case.
"I can do it." Emma said strongly as if to reassure herself.
"Don't trust him." Regina quipped towards her.
"What choice do we have?" Emma turned to Regina giving her a firm look
"That's right, dearie. What choice do you have?" Mr. Gold said smugly.
"Where is this magic?" Mr. Gold directed his attention towards Regina.
"Tell me, Your Majesty, is our friend still in the basement?" Mr. Gold smirked as Regina's expression dropped
"Oh, you twisted little imp. You hid it with her?" Regina unfolded her arms taking a small step forward, keeping an eye on Clara who matched her movements.
"Oh, no, no. Not with her. In her. I knew you couldn't resist bringing her over." Mr. Gold lifted a hand to Clara nudging her back slightly.
"Who is 'her'?" Emma asked confused
"Someone you should be prepared for. Where you're going, you're going to need this." Mr. Gold pushed the wooden case Clara had given him onto the counter, flicking open the clasps and opening it up to her, revealing the sheathed sword inside it.
"What is that?" Emma stared at it.
"Your father's sword." Emma gently took the sword from the case before looking to Mr. Gold "Now I suggest you hurry off before I change my mind and let Arsealen here tear you apart" Mr. Golds expression bore into Regina as the pair turned and left. "It seems I owe you an apology..." Mr. Gold looked down before turning to Clara fully. "I promised to be better to you after the first incident, and clearly I haven't managed to succeed there." Clara smiled gently approaching Mr. Gold before pushing open his arms, burying herself against his chest, holding onto him tightly.
"You had no way of knowing. The she-devil made sure of it." Mr. Gold remained still, he lifted no hand to return her embrace.
"Yes well. You're the only thing with magic at the minute Arsealen. The box your collar travelled in seemed to have contained it's magic. If you would please leave this form at once." Clara released her hold on Mr. Gold taking a few steps back from him.
"Of course sir... It will be done as you wish it... As always..." Clara glanced up once more giving Mr. Gold the most sincere, loving smile she could muster before she accessed what little magic she could stored within her collar. Her form very slowly reverted, her skin flaking away, being replaced with thick masses of black fur, as she took on her true canine form. Standing before him as the Arsealen he knew. The dog before him shook itself free of the dress it was wearing and moved to sit by his feet. Dropping to one knee, Mr. Gold placed both his hands upon her, stroking her fur gently before resting his forehead upon the top of her head.
"I'm glad you were brought here Arsealen." Mr. Gold lifted back up into place "You look much better as a dog, though you do make a pretty woman..." Mr. Gold chuckled gently looking down at the dog with piercing blue eyes which tilted it's head. "C'mon girl... We have a lot of work to do" Mr. Gold strode out of his shop, Arsealen trotting along happily behind him.