I don't own any characters from Once Upon a Time.

Thank you so much to everyone who read/favorited/followed my story and for the great response to the last chapter. Keeping my fingers crossed for some more reviews on this one. (-:)

Chapter 11

The dark sky was heavy with the promise of rain. A day that started out with the sun peeking out from behind fluffy white clouds had turned blustery and gray. A large group of people hurried through the doors and into the warmth of the stately building in the middle of town. Only a few days ago Albert Spencer was placed under arrest, absolving Ruby, or in this case her wolf self, of any connection to the murder of Billy, the town mechanic. Ruby still grieved for her friend but at least now she could be sure that the wolf she turned into every full moon had nothing to do with the crime.

"I wonder what Renik wants now?" Gold caught up to Snow and Charming on the steps leading to the meeting room at City Hall.

"From what I heard of Renik, he was the patron wizard of the Farini people, wasn't he?" Snow turned to Gold. "Large empire, wealthy, but like Midas' realm, they mostly kept to themselves. The only other thing I know about them is that at one time they helped quite a few other realms in their battles against the Ogres?"

"Just be happy you don't know the man. I don't think you would have liked crossing paths with him." Gold looked straight ahead as he continued on his way to take his usual seat in the council room.

Charming and Snow had just joined the large crowd in the room when Renik walked up to the podium on stage. He wore a dark sports jacket over a dress shirt and pants and projected the goodwill and impeccable manners one might expect from a college professor addressing a room full of students. However, behind the bonhomie, everyone could detect a sense of absolute authority.

"Let me start by offering my apologies for taking up everyone's time and asking them to come here today for what will be a very brief announcement on my part. I simply wanted to avoid any town-wide scare and warn everyone that in the next several days they may see a dragon flying over the town." At this point Renik stopped speaking as a collective gasp was heard from his audience. He waved his hands in a calming gesture and continued speaking.

"Now, now, please everyone calm down. I am here to tell you that the dragon will not cause harm to any person or property. You should simply ignore her and go on about your business. She is not there to hurt anyone; she is a sorceress trying to heal from the damage that her dragon form sustained during these past years. "

Charming could not believe his eyes when several people in the room nodded and began to get up from their seats to leave the room.

"Now, wait a minute, Mr. Ward. Is this Maleficent you are talking about? I am quite familiar with her dragon form and can assure you that not causing harm is not in her nature." Charming got up with his hand at his side as if searching for the hilt of a sword. Snow and Emma stood up on each side of him; the fierce expressions on their faces signaled their readiness to protect the town.

"I know that the dragon will not cause anyone any harm because I asked her not to and my dear Charming, I do apologize. It seems that I have allowed you to labor under a great misconception." And the wizard's voice became deeper, all trace of amusement gone. The man who spoke now would brook no disobedience. The man who spoke now was the man who could destroy anyone standing in his way with a thought.

"I have not called this meeting to seek your approval, nor have I called it to ask for your permission. I called this meeting to let you know that should you see a dragon flying in the sky, please do not panic, simply continue to go about your business, or watch the dragon if you are so inclined. That is all." With that Renik stepped off the stage and walked out of the room with Marina and Lee at his side.

As people started to leave and Charming looked like he was about to run after Renik to argue with him again, Gold brushed past the Prince.

"See, now you are beginning to know him, Charming. Makes you think you may have imprisoned the wrong wizard back in our world, doesn't it?" With his trademark smirk firmly in place, Gold could not help laughing at the shocked look on the Prince's face. "Take my advice and don't try to put him behind bars. I assure you, you will not enjoy the consequences."

" And by the way, Charming, there is another matter I wish to discuss with you," Gold began with a sarcastic lilt to his voice that Charming did not think boded well for him although he could not figure out what he had done to make Gold angry. On this point he became enlightened quite quickly.

"Would you mind telling me why you discussed Red's problem with my wife?"

"Oh." Here Charming had the grace to look a little sheepish. "I needed her help tracking Red in her wolf form?"

"Ah, and were none of the royal dwarfs available for this task?" At this point Charming began to look a little pale.

"They couldn't follow o…r …oofs" He coughed into his hand.

"I am sorry, you will have to speak up dearie. What couldn't they do?" Gold took a few steps closer to Charming.

The man looked like he was gathering every bit of the considerable courage he possessed. "They couldn't follow Red in her wolf form over roofs with a tranquilizer gun in case something went wrong."

"Am I to understand that you asked my wife to follow a werewolf, who only the night before may have committed a brutal murder, over roofs?" Gold placed his cane on the ground in front of him and Charming noticed that he now held it in a white-knuckled grip.

"It was her idea, actually. She said it would be easier to shoot Red with a tranquilizer gun this way in case she attacked me when I tried to talk her down." The truth was the only answer Charming could come up with as another thought flashed through his mind. "Besides, is she?"

"Is she what?" Gold gritted through his teeth.

"Is Lee still your wife? When I talked to her she said she was staying at Granny's."

"Let's just say our situation is a little complicated at the moment. That, however, does not give you the right to ever put her life in danger again. Is that understood?"

"Fine." Charming quickly moved toward the door and almost ran out into the street.

A group of people huddled at the bottom of the steps to City Hall discussing Renik's announcement. As Gold walked past them, the sound of screeching breaks made everyone's heard turn. Lee's black SUV stood horizontally in the middle of the road. As Gold hurried over to the car he saw her get out and walk to the passenger side of the vehicle. The next thing he heard was her asking someone if they were OK. The moment he came around the car he saw a woman in a long old-style blue gown lying on the ground. His world seemed to stop and start to move again in slow motion. He watched as Lee walked over to where Cora lay and stretched out her hand to the woman. At this point he sincerely hoped that Renik had enough foresight to cloak Lee in one of his protection spells as a purple cloud of his own magic started to swirl around his hand. But before he could send a blast of power to stop whatever curse the sorceress planned to inflict on his wife, Cora reached up and gave Lee her hand. She stood up, shook off her dress, and stared at Lee for a few seconds.

"I am sorry, I am still a little new to this town, haven't quite gotten the hang of these horseless carriages I am afraid."

"Are you sure you are OK?" He heard Lee's concerned voice speak to the cruelest monster that ever lived.

"Yes, quite sure, I am fine."

"In that case I'll give you a little advice about horseless carriages. They are actually quite a bit faster and more powerful than the kind you are familiar with. So, the sidewalk is for walking," Lee pointed in the direction of the shop windows on her right, "the road is for cars, the white lines across the road are the crossing to the other side of the street." Lee then smiled at the woman in front of her.

"Yes, thank you, I'll remember." Cora actually smiled back, stared after Lee for a few more seconds as she walked back to her car, and disappeared in a puff of blue smoke.

Gold's phone began to beep indicating an incoming text.

"Cora and Hook are in town. His ship is in the harbor. It's cloaked and invisible. Suggest we move now."

"Will be at you house in a few minutes." Gold texted Renik back as he hurried into his shop.

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