A/N: Okay, for those who don't know, it is no longer a mystery who Lily's dad is. I personally loved the news. Although the show told us who he is, it didn't tell us how Lily found that out. So I kinda worked with that. I hope you all have a nice reading!
(Storybrooke General Hospital - Psychiatric Ward)
Knowing fairy tales as the next person, Lily prepared herself for crude jokes, a smiling cat, a little girl and card games, but apparently, the Mad Hatter—Jefferson—was not in town anymore, so her hopes on meeting him were crashed as soon she entered the place.
After a quick chat with the receptionist, Lily and August were led to a secluded cell where a man in his early forties was trapped—no straitjacket—just sitting up in bed with an expression of complete boredom.
To see his cell open, he stood up quickly, "By the shiny badge, I can tell you're the new Sheriff." He pointed at August. "The Saviour was deposed then. Good. Couldn't have the new Dark One as the justice's arm here, could you?"
The receptionist offered Isaac an annoyed look, and Lily soon learned that this strange man had already caused trouble—he was there because he caused trouble.
"He's your problem," the receptionist told August before walking out into the hall.
Lily looked between the man and August, confused.
"Lily, this is the Author—Isaac."
Well, shit.
There's a long silence where Lily just stared at Isaac, eyes widening in realization and then anger.
The same happened to Isaac—with fear instead of anger.
"Oh fuck—!"
He was shut down when Lily launched herself at him, grabbing him by the collar of his shirt and throwing him through the open door of his cell, to the far side of the corridor. His back hit the wall and he fell on his hand and knees, groaning. He didn't have enough time to recover as Lily practically run to tower over him and grab him by his neck, smashing his head against the wall in a fury wave.
"Lily, no!"
She ignored August, and pressed Isaac further into the wall with her arm blocking his throat, and raised a fist.
"Stop!"
Lily did but for a moment, snarling three seconds later to punch the wall behind Isaac instead, opening a hole.
"Lily, release him now!"
The young dragon gritted her teeth, "Give me a fucking reason." Her eyes flashed golden shades, and she pulled her fist from the wall, "He—" She didn't even spare August a glance as the darkness spoke. "—was supposed to record stories—" She increased the strength on her hand and now Isaac couldn't breathe. His skin was losing all colour and Lily felt herself smirking at that. She was just as ready to send him to a no turn away back journey. "—but he decided to play God—" Her face was dangerously closer to Isaac's now. "—and wrote out the un-Charmings as self serving idiots who took me from my mother before I was even born!"
Second by second, Isaac's struggling became weaker and weaker. Unsatisfied, Lily raised her fist again, trembling, thirsty for blood.
She only noticed August standing right by her side when his voice was very close to her ear, speaking into her conscience.
"He's not worth dying by your hand." He touched her wrist, having no trouble to lower it down to her side. "Lily…" He insisted on using her name, as in trying to get her to look at him. "Let him go."
Lily breathed slowly, counting down to ten as her mother had taught her numeral times, feeling her blood burn in her veins as her heartbeat settled to a normal rate.
Finally, she relaxed, and Isaac fell to the floor brutally, gasping desperately for air. August waited a minute for Lily to cold down before putting a reassuring hand on her arm.
"It's going to be okay." His voice was soft and kind and it made Lily sigh tiredly. "You're better than this—than him." He pointed out and Lily huffed, not saying anything just yet. She stared down at Isaac on the floor, only to get him staring wide eyed at her.
She frowned.
"I can talk to him if you want." August suggested.
Lily shook her head, "It's not your call." She murmured.
"I've made it mine." August almost whispered and Lily turned to look at him.
He swallowed. Her eyes were still wore many shades of gold, as if bathed in the glow of dawn and August was nearly overwhelmed with how wild and beautiful she looked, still flushed in anger.
Oh, he had it bad.
"D-damn it..."
The warmth of the spell between them trailed off as their surroundings turned cold and dark once more. They both looked at Isaac, who had his back rested against the wall, and was glaring at them.
Feeling Lily trembling at his side, August grabbed her hand, and she closed her eyes, walking a few steps away to lean her arms and head against the wall, not trusting herself to any judgement right now.
August waited for her to stop and whisper a weak "fine"—in acknowledgement of his place on her mission—to approach Isaac, kneeling down before him.
The former Author eyed him strangely, "W-what—"
"I'm not your friend." August made sure of getting things clear. "We came here so you would help us, and you're going to help us. Do I make myself clear?"
Isaac grunted and coughed, breathing heavily, "…what in h-hell…d-do you want?"
"Her father's location." August pointed at Lily over his shoulder. She had her eyes closed and forehead pressed to the wall, only listening to their conversation. Isaac opened his mouth to comment on that but August cut in, "You're the Author. If anyone knows who he is, and where he is, it's you."
Isaac's eyes found Lily again, weary and almost offended.
"You wanna an advice?" August could read the stupid plans on Isaac's mind. "Be nice and we'll be nice. If not, trust me that she's not the dragon I'll be giving you out."
The very thought of the Mistress of All Evil would make anyone run in fear. Having written about her tales once, Isaac happily agreed, "R-right." He cleaned his throat forcefully. "S-so uh, what…w-what do you know about dragons?"
August was almost losing his patience, "Do you know who he is, yes or no?"
"Of course I do!" Isaac barked, wincing when the sudden movement made his neck pulse. He coughed, massaging the area filled with the mark of fingers. "Why heroes have to be so—"
"Don't push your luck." August warned once. "Either emend what you did by helping her or die by her mother's hands. Your choice."
Isaac sighed dramatically, "Look, I don't know where he is, okay? I was locked up before the Dark Curse happened, so you can't expect me to know what happened to him."
Lily's voice echoed through the building, "Just like everyone."
August and Isaac turned to her.
"What—"
Isaac was cut in as a hand grabbed him by the collar again, and surprisingly putting him on his feet. The Author blinked once, twice, frowning at the young dragon woman that wished his head just a few minutes ago.
"…thanks?"
Lily's now hazel eyes narrowed dangerously at him, reminding him so much of her mother that he asked himself why couldn't had him just chose an easier villain to mess up?
He watched as she pulled out a little something from her pocket—a necklace, which pendant took the shape of a crescent moon.
"Piece of my eggshell." Lily explained quickly, noting Isaac's confusion. "Can't use it in a tracking spell, though. And believe me, I've tried."
Isaac gave her an incredulous look, "Well, I most certainly don't know how."
"You aren't suppose to." Lily's voice sounded oddly calm. Not even herself recognized where it came from but a sense of pride took over her heart and her always sharp nature was long gone. "Your job is to record stories, not to be a part of them." That was one painful truth that felt like a slap in Isaac's face. Lily knew that by the angry look he now wore. She ignored it and continued, "Did you record how my parents met?"
Isaac's jaw tightened, but he played cool, "This is ridiculous." Or, he tried to. "Because it was really ridiculous how things happened. Plus, you're not going to believe me anyway so why the hell—" This time, August grabbed Isaac by his collar, making him rethink of his words and start shuttering, "I–I mean—"
"You have ten seconds." August said in crippled tones.
Isaac nodded eagerly, "Alright, alright, alright! I'll tell you everything! Just… just make sure to keep her away from me, okay? It's not my fault how things happened! Not at this anyway!"
(Convent of Sisters of Saint Meissa)
If anyone dared to tell Blue that one day the Mistress of All Evil would redeem herself by building her own family, she would've dared to hope for such words to be a possibility, no matter how unlikely it sounded or how the universe seemed to play against it.
If anyone dared to tell Blue that one day she would be having a civil conversation with said Mistress of All Evil, she would've laughed—as the Maleficent she once met hated her with a passion.
But then again, if anyone dared to tell Blue that one day she would actually love Regina's apple pie, she would call them mad.
And yet, here she was.
"She left."
And at the information, Maleficent nodded, not needing to know see whomever was with her child at the moment.
"She knows I know."
The fairy smiled at the simplicity of the answer, "And you won't object?"
"She's with her twin flame."
Blue's eyes widened, "…August and…oh. Are they aware?"
"He might be. She doesn't want to see it."
"And you're not against it?"
"I don't have a say on that." Blue looked bemused and Maleficent snorted, "You must feel rather proud. Seeing the Mistress of All Evil reduced to—"
"It did you good." The fairy admitted. "A heart can be filled with good intentions despise being surrounded by great darkness. Your Lily is the fruit of True Love. One cannot expect from her any less."
Maleficent hummed her acknowledgement. Ever since they met, Lily had had a hard time accepting situations she had no control over. Some would say that no one would feel comfortable with the unknown, but the way Lily lost control was disturbing, indicating a past that made Maleficent want to kill anyone whoever mistreated her little girl.
August was the current problem she was facing, and Maleficent could hear her child's heart beat so faster when near him. She teased, once and twice, and Lily denied, not ready yet to acknowledge anything.
Maleficent wouldn't insist much, not wanting to make her child to feel weird and even more insecure than she already was. Lily was a dragon, but she didn't trust easily.
And for that man being capable of convincing her leaving her mother behind, something strong was happening between them.
Not that Maleficent minded. She loved her child, and wanted her to be happy—to find love, have her own family—as life would naturally demand of her. So, although she could already imagine where her child was now, having listened carefully to the conversation she had with the man who had been so eager to help her, Maleficent also knew there was no need to fear for her child's life.
Twin flames were just like that, taking care of each other, always willing to help and listen, always willing to trust.
Her little girl would be just fine.
"What do you know of them?" Maleficent decided to continue the conversation she was having with the Blue Fairy, her thoughts on her child and her new friend wandering off as she convinced herself that her child was happier with that man than waiting alone for said conversation to finish itself. "I hadn't feel their magic."
"They're living in the countryside, own a flowers delivery business. Everyone adores them."
Maleficent didn't look surprised, "They told Aurora of me and her mother."
"Of that and your incident, as well. It's good there are people still willing to use their minds instead of their hearts. If you were true to yourself, you would have your revenge." Stopping for a moment, she smiled slightly at the dragon. "You've changed, Maleficent. I wish I could say the same about the others."
Maleficent did not care what other people thought of her, though it was gratifying to have a civilized conversation.
"Do they know how I was…killed?"
"I felt compelled to tell them. They mourned your death for about two years, then reopened their floriculture under another name: May Flowers. You must be familiar with it."
Oh?
As a child, Maleficent—born Bethany, the only child of a healer that had been burned on a stake as an evil witch—used to go to the village near the forest where she lived with her aunts to simply attend the flower festival that took place on May, which is the month in which lilies are born.
"Where do I find them?"
"Take the east road. You and your…associates were not very subtle, so the news of your return probably reached them."
"Good. And thank you."
A wave of her hand, and she disappeared in a purple curtain of smoke.
Blue rubbed her temples, feelings the beginning of a headache.
(Storybrooke General Hospital - Psychiatric Ward)
Isaac watched as Lily's impatience face changed into a very surprised one.
Then—"I told you were not going to believe me."
Lily too perplexed to say a word, to think, to breathe—to live.
She had been so hopeful. She wanted so much to find this missing part of her past, and she sometimes pictured how it would be like to share the same ideals, the same mannerisms, to form an unbreakable bond—the friendship between of blood.
She remembered James Paige, and how he had been kind while never actually trying to understand her. It was him who choose her name, it was him who paid for her riding and fencing lessons, it was him who taught her how to play the piano, but he wasn't there to wipe her tears away when two girls had her hair cut after a fight, he wasn't there to hug her after a night of nightmares, he didn't even attend to any of her school plays or when she won five medals on a fencing championship. Because he had gave more importance to work than to his family. Having a smart daughter was a matter of pride, not love. He did provide her anything a little girl would want, but never what little Lily wanted—a father to his daughter.
Lily didn't know if she missed him or not. She just knew she wanted to meet her biological father. Knowing who he was was reinvigorating, surprising, filling her heart with happiness and hope.
And frustration.
Because, really?
The why he hadn't he shown up yet was…unsettling. Sure the city wasn't small, and Lily made a point of getting everyone's attention by flying over the city, spitting fire—there was even a photo of her dragon form on Storybrooke's Diary front page, for God's sake—so of course he would know about her existence by now.
When questioned by her mother, Lily said that maybe if she literally screamed to the four winds that she was a dragon, maybe her father would face them. Maleficent laughed for almost a minute before she hugged her daughter and kissed her on the cheek, "You're amazing. You know that, don't you?" Lily had shook her head and Maleficent gave her an open smile while her eyes said something else—the sadness was evident, and the weariness as well.
Lily feared what her mother's reaction to the news might be.
Maleficent hadn't said anything about the matter—she knew how to be very discreet when she wanted to, but Lily suspected that she had already done a search on her own.
By the looks of it, she didn't find anything either.
And it made her angry.
"…Lily?"
August sounded worried.
"I'm fine." She lied. She didn't need neither wanted August to fuss about her. He had done too much already. So she swallowed her fears and insecurities and doubts, composing her proud demeanour once more. Staring down at Isaac, she commanded him directly, "Tell me everything."
The former Author snorted, "What is there to say about a hero anyway? That he was brave, selfless, cunning and good humoured? He definitely had the hero syndrome. Also, a difficult sort. I actually had to paid more attention to him than to others in order to write something people might be willing to read. His childhood was the sadness thing I ever wrote—and I got why he was a man of two faces, learning to survive all those obstacles and with all that drama. He was shy too, mainly around pretty women despise all the Casanova persona. Very complicated to understand. Never let out his feelings easily. I suppose you can understand."
Too much, actually.
"What's his real name?" Lily asked.
"Don Diego de La Vega—a nobleman, who became an a vigilante after he returned to Los Angeles in California to fight a tyrant jerk—Captain Enrique Monastario."
"Aren't vigilantes seen as outlaws?" August was the one to ask.
"He was well loved by the people. He fought corruption, and it was thanks to him that things got better. But many others followed Monastario's views, so either he would fight bandits or other villains who dared to cross him. But his story was more about his heart than his fights."
Lily pursed her lips, "Because...?"
Isaac sighed, "His problems actually began after he fell in love with Lolita Pulido, an impoverished noblewoman. At first, both Don Diego and El Zorro romanced her. But you know the Superman and Lois Lane complex, with Lois being unimpressed with Clark Kent, but attracted to the dashing Superman? Here is the same. Then, there is Captain Ramon, who also has his eyes on Lolita. Aka, a terrible love triangle."
Lily felt like a mountain of crazy theories had fell over her head. She was so leaving this out of her mother's reach.
"Did he win?"
"As if heroes ever lose. Nah, eventually he defeated the villain and got to be with Lolita, who later tried to have him killed. Not going to lie—even I wasn't expecting that."
Lily tried to imagine the situation—motivation, scenery and circumstances. She could picture the bitch—and the darkness was to enlist news ways of torturing people to dead. How dare she leave a man like her father?
Then again, if she hadn't, Lily wouldn't exist.
Which was great news, I tell you, because Lily didn't even need to add another person to her 'kill for days and with fire and lots of pain' list.
"Why would she do that?" August, however, was surprised.
"He wasn't honest with her about his double life, so when she found out about it through Captain Ramon, let's say more drama was added to what seemed to be a telenovela. At first, I thought it was some kinda of crazy test, but she was just really trying to kill her lover. She didn't get it to do it, of course, and Diego was just…Well, Lolita really made sure him feel like he wasn't worth at all. On the next day, he was back at work as vigilante—just different. And stupid. No sleep, two meals a days and as many scars a hero might have—not to mention all the new accessories. A whip, a pistol, a parrying dagger, and a rapier. Got down a bandit every night—or whenever he felt like."
"He lost himself in his duty." August concluded.
"And that was rather frustrating, to be honest."
August felt compelled to ask, "You speak as Author or as fan?"
Isaac let ou a dry chuckle, "Believe it or not, El Zorro was one of my favourites tales as a kid. It was interesting how he pretended to be an arrogant scholar who could seen mainly as a useless and lazy clown, and by night, he dons his mask, cape and sword to avenge the helpless, to punish cruel politicians, to aid the oppressed along his friend Tornado."
Lily frowned at the name, "Tornado?"
Isaac rolled his eyes at the lack of information, "His horse—a very fast and very intelligent black stallion. Always knew when his master needed him."
Oh.
Lily tried to prevent the shiver running down her spine at the revelation. But was of any use to lie at this stage? Her father was a good man, and if someone as selfish as the Author praised him for his deeds, then Don Diego de La Vega was one of the bravest men to ever walk on Earth.
And she carried his blood through her veins.
Which didn't make sense, by the way.
How could El Zorro be her father?
Still, she got why she loved horses so much.
"He was a hero then."
"A vigilante—big difference, though the main concept is basically the same." Now, Isaac sounded really frustrated, "I will never understand. He literally had everything. He got money, respect, and all the women he could wish for. Then a girl betrays him and he is suddenly lost. I didn't get it." He finished his phrase with a sigh, which didn't go unnoticed by August.
"You sound disappointed." He commented.
Isaac sighed again, "When you're in this job, you expect people to act like the say they will. I write about an incredible hero that wants to help his people, and then it takes having his heart broken and he's turned into a little boy who cries every night."
"He wanted to love and to be loved." August argued. "That's not wrong."
"He forgot about his duties. How is he any better than an irresponsible brat?"
"Didn't you do the same as Author?"
Ouch.
Isaac swallowed, clearly uncomfortable, "Well, he swore to never give up. And he failed. But you know the old saying: Never meet your idols. It only leads to disappointment."
Lily prevented herself from cursing out loud. She wouldn't give Isaac the satisfaction on knowing she didn't want to hear more— didn't need to destroy the hope of her heart more than it was already, but the truth was something that life (and Isaac) owed her, so she kept going, her chin high, "How did he turn into a dragon?" She asked.
The answer was, "Rumpelstiltskin."
(Los Angeles, 19th-century, California, Mexican rule)
The Dark One had plans of his own for pretty much everything and everyone he crossed paths with. Opportunities could appear out of thin air if one was willing to see them and make them work out, and Rumpelstiltskin wouldn't be foolish to let them pass.
So when he heard of El Zorro and his adventures, he proposed a deal.
If the hero wasn't too drunk to listen, then perhaps, just perhaps, things would've been kinder to his life.
Not that Rumpelstiltskin cared anyway.
One night, he found the very depressed hero fallen on a very dark and dirty alley. He took him to la mansion De La Vega, where the servants had not noticed their master's absence, though some whispered about his self-destructive behaviour.
"No para de beber," said a servant woman. "Y ya no come más. Solo quiere saber de beber y luchar. Ni siquiera mujeres le son interesantes. Ya no es ese hombre lleno de orgullo que un día conocíamos."
Rumpelstiltskin listened to the conversation as his eyes didn't leave the nobleman snoring on a large bed placed on the centre of a very large master room. The smell of the cheapest ale was very strong, and certainly incoherent with a man of such social status.
But Don Diego snored louder, and his mind had no dreams.
Rumpelstiltskin walked around the room to distract himself. The man would not wake up until the next three hours and nothing would make him wake up sooner.
Opening the closet, he saw the various copies of his vigilante clothes. He noted the diversity of weapons and accessories, long a hat and many masks.
A loud snore made him leap, and he scoffed the man's condition.
Love was a weakness, and it was the love of a woman who turned the famous El Zorro into a drunk imbecile. Rumpelstiltskin would kill him if he was not so necessary to his plans.
But the Saviour needed to be pure of intentions, and only the one with the blood of a dragon could withstand darkness so dense.
And if Maleficent couldn't even recognize her twin flame, then Rumpelstiltskin would turn him into the dragon she longed for.
The price would be paid by their daughter.
(Storybrooke General Hospital - Psychiatric Ward)
"He made a deal."
Which was no surprise at all considering who they were talking about. But the anger would not go away because Lily finally saw herself as just a pawn in the middle of a chess game played by a maniac who decided to destroy the lives of thousands of people simply to find a son who would die shortly thereafter.
"Your mother is very demanding when it comes to, well, everything. She wouldn't just choose a random guy to share her life with. She even couldn't anyway—dragon twin flame and all."
Lily hated having him talking so freely about her mother...or dragons, for the matter. He had no such right, he had no honour. He was nothing more than a filthy little mother fucker that didn't even heart had a heart. Only pride in deeds that were not his, and envy of people who would surely always be better than him.
"How did my mother found him?"
Isaac smirked, "The Blue Fairy."
August almost jumped, "Blue? Really?"
Isaac raised an eyebrow at Lily, "You mother sure kept many things from you, didn't she?"
"She told me enough." The dragon spat.
"But not enough to satisfy your need."
Nothing that Maleficent said would satisfy her need to know the truth.
"Reul Ghorm came to her one night...when she made a wish upon a star."
(The Enchanted Forest - MANY YEARS AGO)
The Blue Fairy always knew she was only able to grant the wish of someone with a pure heart.
So you might wonder her surprised when one night she was called to the Forbidden Fortress.
"There must be a mistake." She told herself in a murmur.
The night was cold, though it was not yet winter, and the fairyland was silent if it were not for the humming of the crickets. The Blue Fairy was already getting ready to sleep when she saw the light shining in the sky.
In a quick spell she got dressed and followed the magic of the pure heart that made a wish that seemed so simple.
But upon seeing the Forbidden Fortress, she concluded that it must a prisoner, a lost soul who had the bad luck of being captured by the Mistress of All Evil.
The Blue Fairy had never crossed paths with Maleficent, but she knew of her story and had great respect for those who had raised her. In any case, she could not ignore her cruel deeds, less her diabolical curse, and always instructed the other fairies not to approach the lair of one of the Queens of Darkness.
She flew to the dungeons and nothing there was found that was not drunk guards, laughing as they played cards. Some fought, others slept, and purity lacked.
The small village a few miles from there gave her no answers either. Even though the bandits had plundered the place, the pure soul who made the wish upon a was not there, and the Blue Fairy was slow to notice that the further she flew from the fortress, the more the light shining in the sky diminished.
So she flew back to the fortress, and finally sighted, standing on the balcony of the highest tower, the solitary figure of a woman whose past was full of crimes and sins, and whose heart, by a miracle or madness, had found purity enough for a wish.
When she addressed the sorceress, the Blue Fairy noticed her own indignation, for stars were not mistaken. But how could Maleficent have a pure heart to wish for a child?
"You know better than I there is no one here but me."
The sorceress realized the fairy's presence before her arrival. She did not bother, nor did she even address her, keeping her gaze focused on the stars in the sky, waiting for a miracle.
"I can only be summoned by those who own a pure heart."
The Blue Fairy hovered next to the sorceress, noticing for the first time how the star in the sky blinked, such was its light. She had found the one with a pure heart.
It only remained for her to accept this.
"Briar Rose took that from me a long time ago."
All the fairies knew of her tragic history, the betrayal of Briar Rose, the loss of the connection to her twin flame, the origin of her curse. It was not, and it would never be, a justification for her actions against anyone, but to know was to understand her hatred.
"I can't cure your condition, Maleficent."
The sorceress let out a short laugh, accompanied by a long sigh. She put her hands on the stone railing on the balcony, her voice growing harsh and low, "Then why are you here?"
The Blue Fairy cleaned her throat, "Apparently your heart was pure when you made your wish."
Maleficent turned to face her, "A wish you surely aren't willing to grant, as well you didn't grant Regina a chance to find her soul mate."
The Blue Fairy would never admit her mistake, "The Evil Queen had no will to leave her past behind."
"And I do?"
"You tell me."
The sorceress closed her eyes, and her rigid posture fell apart, giving way to the broken-hearted woman she had always been.
"You don't understand, do you?" she asked in a pathetic whisper, "I lost my twin flame" and the tears formed in her eyes, "...the bound is gone." and her voice broke, "I can never find him..." and her breath became fast in despair, "...I've lost the chance of becoming a mother."
The Blue Fairy said nothing, because nothing could be said to comfort the woman. For what she had lost had been too much, had been the result of cowardice by a selfish princess, taking advantage of the innocence of the apprentice of a dragon healer, poisoning her wine in order to steal her connection, and thus find her own soul mate while young Bethany lost hers.
Maleficent never recovered—for she was in mourning for what she never had. The light that shone in the sky gave her hope as small as the mustard seed, and it would have turned into a gigantic tree in case there was rain to make life sprout out of a lifeless heart.
She burst into tears, holding her hand to her mouth to suppress sobs, her eyes closed so tightly that the tears bathed her now reddened cheeks. The rest of her body trembled, not from cold, but from anguish and fear.
She was drunk in her own solitude.
(Storybrooke General Hospital - Psychiatric Ward)
Lily was sitting next to Isaac by now, eyes fixed on nothingness. The former author kept looking at her every five seconds, unsure of her actions to be. But the young woman did not even move, just tried at all costs to organize everything she was told.
August stood worried and distressed, watching Lily closely.
"Did the Blue Fairy find my father?" She asked suddenly, not seeming to realize what she had done.
Isaac scoffed, "She played matchmaker. And I know," He looked at August, "It's creepy."
Lily's eyes did not leave the asylum's dark floor as her brows drew together and she asked, "How?"
The actual question was why.
"Pixie dust." Isaac replied. "Tinkerbell did the same to Regina once. Blue was pissed. But she's the boss, so the rules don't exactly work for her. She's the 'do things my way or else' type. Plus, she owned your mother a wish."
"But it didn't work." Lily concluded.
"Not in the way you may think."
(The Enchanted Forest - MANY YEARS AGO)
"Why are you following me?"
Maleficent woke up with an unbearable migraine hammering her head. It was not the consequence of all the alcohol she'd ingested, though that was enough cause, but a combination of the toxicity of hallucinogenic mushrooms, seawater and a drop of her sleeping curse.
The pain was throbbing, coming in waves that lasted for long seconds till disappearing for a moment and then coming back even stronger. All her senses became more sensitive—any noise stabbed her ears, tastes were bitter, her skin burned at the mere touch of her robes, her eyes could not stand the light of the fireplace, and the smell of food became unbearable.
But nothing was worse than the sense of loss, the emptiness in her chest, and her mind was creative in reminding her that she would always be alone. Madness did not come because dragons were immune to this—and so she mourned, for perhaps she if lost her mind amid delusions, only perhaps, her body might rest amid the dreams of a disturbed soul.
It was all in vain—a selfish desire, to want to throw a life of efforts and studies by the loss of a love that she never had. But it was by this love that all the effort was made—so that what purpose her powers had if her goal would not be fulfilled?
Maleficent knew who she was—young Regina reminded her of it. She helped her to get her revenge.
But to what point? How much uselessness. For to know who you are means to understand what you want from now on, and the only thing Maleficent ever wanted to have was the only thing she could not have. Which made all of her revenge against Briar Rose something totally stupid.
Her enemies suffered, and she still felt the same emptiness in her heart, for to see her enemies suffer would not bring back what they took from her.
She felt depressed again, and alone.
Sometimes she did not sleep. She would look at the stars, or fly across the skies. At other times, she would lie on the couch near the fireplace because it was the warmest place in her castle. Then, she would get up late in the afternoon, her stomach complaining loudly, and she fed on the fruits she grew in her gardens.
Bathing in a river was the time of day that she liked best. The cold water allayed her aching joints, and she even smiled remembering the times when she jumped in the river, to the despair of her aunts, who feared she would drown. But it was so natural that she cared little for their complains.
Whenever she felt alone, she would lay next to the river, the tall grass hiding her naked body from glances, and her gaze was lost in blue of the sky, and she wondered if her twin flame was also seeing a rabbit in the clouds, or a horse, or a sword.
Now, instead of clouds, her eyes were lost in the night sky, knowing that yes, her twin flame also could see the same constellations.
He just did not know the falling stars were her tears.
"You made a wish."
She was on her way home when the Blue Fairy found her. She was tired and hungry, with no patience for tricks, and no hope that things would change.
"A wish you can't fulfil."
Maleficent could only have the children of her twin flame. But Briar Rose poisoned her, stealing her connection, and thus making her loss any hopes of ever finding her twin flame, or of him finding her.
"But you do want to find him, yes?"
The sorceress sighed. The taste of her mouth was bitter, because maybe she vomited a few times. Maybe she was sick. Maybe it was all this and a little more.
She would not admit anything.
"I want a child," she said. "Not a relationship."
"And ignore that he is destined to love you." The Blue Fairy flew close, and it was when Maleficent noticed a small porch in her hands. She could feel the magic inside it, and frowned, surprised by the fairy's attitude. "How is that any fair?"
"I won't be dictated to be with him."
"This is about fate." The Blue Fairy said. "And is destined to love you as you are destined to love him."
Maleficent was silent. Inside her heart, she knew that the main reason because she didn't relationships was because she wouldn't take the heartbreak lightly. She never took things lightly. And she knew that, if she got involved with someone, she would have to tell him the truth about her past sooner or later, and she feared, yes, that her twin flame would abandon her to discover the horrible things she'd done. Because she could not undo the curse she imposed on Aurora even if she wanted to, and nothing in the world would make her turn back on her decision.
Also, she knew she could love that way only if someone taught her. If his twin flame was a good man, he would not want to be with her. If he was a villain, he would lead them both to a path of destruction. Maleficent just wanted peace—a happy ending. She just wanted her twin flame so they could have a child. He was a means to an end. Dragons were lonely anyway. She didn't own him anything. They didn't need to be together. Just to have children together.
The Blue Fairy understood her point of view, and did not approve of it.
"Also, there is the matter of your child."
"My children shall have all chances to be with their father." she promised—after all, it would be her who would not have contact with him. To avoid a broken heart.
The Blue Fairy sighed, "You won't make this easier, won't you?"
"I do not want him." She convinced herself of this from the moment Briar Rose cut of her connection with her twin flame. Because it was easier to believe she didn't want him than falling in love to later lose him.
The Blue Fairy was exasperated, "That only complicates matters unnecessarily."
Maleficent returned to her walk, "Was that all?"
The Blue Fairy stopped right in front of her, interrupting her walk. She opened the purse in her hands, "Pixie dust does not dictate anything. It just shows possibilities. Now, be still."
The fairy a pinch of pixie dust and threw all over Maleficent's body. The sorceress stood watching as a trail of dust rose to the heavens, forming a a golden path. She frowned as she realized that the trail stopped just a few feet away from her, and her heart stopped with the possibility of her twin flame being so close.
"He—"
"In another realm, I fear." Maleficent quickly turned to the fairy, not helping looking anxious and hopeful. The Blue Fairy smiled softly, feeling sympathetic, "You know as well as I do that there are several realms, in which time runs differently. It seems to me that your soul mate is in one of them."
Maleficent's heart broke, to soon after recover as an idea formed in her head. She might know how to travel between realms, but she knew someone who had a metal machine that could ease her work. The only problem was that the number of realms was very diverse, she would spend some time looking for and certainly there was not enough pixie dust for that.
"I'm going to need more pixie dust." The Blue Fairy looked at her uncertainly, and the sorceress explained her plan, "Cruella has a machine that can travel between realms. A gift from an admirer. I can throw the pixie dust on it, and it will take me to the realm where my twin flame is."
It could also make the car fly, but pixie dust works in different ways depending on the intent of the person who uses it.
"Very well," Agreeing to the plan, the Blue Fairy deposited some pixie dust on the sorceress' hands, "Good luck."
Maleficent was smiling before she realized, "Thank you."
The Blue Fairy frowned, "Oh, I still think you should consider giving this relationship a try. A soul bound is a sacred connection and so rare. Besides, the wish of a pure heart deserves to be completely fulfilled."
And then, she disappeared, leaving Maleficent alone in the middle of a forest of pines.
The sorceress did not hesitate to leave her fortress behind to follow the well known path to a land of clocks and cars and fur cloaks.
She found Cruella as the mistress of a landlord. She was sewing a new fur coat—bear cubs—because winter was at door and Dalmatians would not do.
"I need a favour."
Cruella took a shot of her cigarette and continued to sew, "And why do you think I would help you, darling?"
Maleficent smirked, "I might have something that can make you live forever."
The noise from the sewing machine ceased.
(Storybrooke General Hospital - Psychiatric Ward)
Lily nearly face palmed. It was one thing to admit that her mother was a difficult person—and that would not be difficult to understand, for she was stubborn, and too much—but it was another thing to admit that all that complexity of intertwined stories had only happened because she was proud too much to admit that her future was not what she wanted.
Taking into account her past, little or no guilt could be found in her actions. Fear was something that made people foolish.
Honestly, Lily felt like even laughing.
Because it was STUPID.
Then again, her life had never been simple, so why did she think that her parents were?
She did take after them.
"Then they met?" She turned to face Isaac, no longer wanting to waste the time her parents insisted on creating.
"There was a mask ball, a courtesy of Don Diego himself. Your mother attended. They were…smitten to each other from moment one. They talked little, danced and flirted a lot. Very Cinderella like, because she refused to give him a name and refused to know his."
"And till she didn't know he was her twin flame?" August asked.
Isaac shook his head, "Nope. But he felt the connection. And if you think that Lolita broke Don Diego's heart, pff, know that Maleficent established a new pattern for that. She didn't give a damn—"
His head hit the wall again, making a loud noise, and he was dizzy. Lily was fisting his hair, practically shattering his soul. Her jaw tightened hard, and the veins in her neck jumped. This time, August did not stop her. He owed Isaac no kindness, "What. Happened. Next." She gritted her teeth, words sounding like the hiss of a serpent.
An irony which did not go unnoticed by the Author, who struggled to move against the hold on his hair, "He met your mother as El Zorro!" He said desperately, "She saved him, in fact. Then he was really in love. Powerful women were always his type." He wanted to sound funny, but the way Lily's glare fell upon him, attempt to kill him, made his smile disappear and he cleaned his throat, "Anyway, she saved him from a group of men. An interesting battle, I might add. Maleficent was a very good strategist. I was quite impressed. Then, she left. Again."
Lily let go of him again, frowning, "Just like that?"
Isaac was massaging the back of his head, "He was human, so she didn't want anything to do with him. He didn't impress her. Naturally, Don Diego was devastated."
Lily was silent.
"You weren't expecting your father to be a romantic, were you?"
Was she really?
"What next?"
"As you may already conclude, another broken heart messed up his mind for real. Then the Dark One happened." He looked at Lily, "They made a deal: Becoming a dragon for one night so he would be with her. It did not take long for your mother to understand that the black-scaled dragon was the guy she'd been looking all her life for, but she's always had a terrible fear of men, so she asked him to be away till you were born." Lily was staring at him with wide eyes, obviously not aware of the supposed story behind this fear of humans. Isaac soon fixed his words, "There is no trauma behind it, really, beside Briar Rose's betrayal. Plus, she was afraid for you."
Lily's eyes narrowed, "For me?"
Whatever for?
"Didn't want to lose you."
Lily opened her mouth to retort something meaningless, but nothing came as she realized the incoherence her response would have, and she had to pause and force herself to think of something better.
The author's reasoning would have been logical if her mother had not sounded so passionate when she spoke of her father's figure. If her eyes had not shone in such a clear blue hue, if her smile from happy memories had not dissolved in the face before the truth that the one who guarded her heart was not by her side.
Yet— "She regretted it all."
She fell in love, but was too afraid to admit it.
"Bingo, she solved the riddle," Isaac remarked sarcastically. "She was a bit paranoid when she became pregnant with you. So much that she decided to resurrect ancient traditions no one followed anymore. Not even dragons."
Lily sighed, holding her head on her hands, "By making him staying away from her." She concluded.
Isaac felt almost sorry for her, "Dragons, or at least those that are left, do not do that anymore. It's stupid, anyway. The female becomes more vulnerable, and this—"
"—attracts trouble." Lily interrupted him sharply. She did not want to start thinking about what could have been avoided if her mother had not been so proud. "She said that dragons have isolated lives."
"Well, yes, but that ends when they find their twin flame. Your mother denied this out of fear."
Lily hated that Isaac knew more about her mother than herself, but it was understandable that he knew, having written her story…and then ruining it all at once.
"He sent gifts through his men…" The memory came aloud. "Then Diablo—"
"Yeah, he thought a unicorn would be more useful than a horse, since dragons live too long, and a horse would not stand a chance. He even sent the suggestion of a name on a note. He knew your mother was supposedly evil, so Diablo it was. It means Devil in Spanish."
Well, fuck.
"Then what?"
Lily was becoming exasperated. She just couldn't believe her birth was reduced to some melodramatic soap opera.
"He literally did everything he could to impress her. But he knew she wanted a dragon, so he kept pretending he was one. Then, the nuptial flight happened and you, the miracle of True Love, were created. And—ugh, that's the actual words on the book."
Oh?
"This is written on the book?" August asked. "I didn't find anything about it."
Isaac offered him a pointed look, "You may find different books for everyone. I wouldn't wrote about your mother and Briar Rose on the same book I wrote about Rumpelstiltskin and Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, so you won't find about your parents on the same book I wrote about Snow White and Prince Charming." Isaac smiled not so modestly, quite proud of his deeds. "As Author, I naturally witnessed it all. One of the most traumatic fairy tales I've ever seen. It has the essential tones of drama, betrayal and revenge. A bestseller if written properly. But villains, you know how they are like—it's all about power, revenge and the death of my enemies! They never seem to grasp good opportunities, even if throw at their faces. Your father agreed to stay away so he would have time to prepare territory for the big reveal—that he has been lying about his true nature all the time. And no, I didn't create that part out of nowhere, although I have to admit that selfish heroes do make excellent stories."
Of course he would say that.
"How did he managed to send gifts through realms?"
"That was Rumpelstiltskin again."
And now Lily lost her patience, "And why would the Dark One help my Dad?"
It was but a moment before all blood left Isaac's face.
"I...I know nothing about that."
Lily and August shared a look.
"You mean you don't want to tell me." said the young woman.
Isaac raised his hands in self defence, "Look, just listen to me okay?" Neither of them said a thing, which he took as a sign to speak out, "Since I got this job, I learned that magic doesn't work with coincidences. Which means, there is not. Fate plays with us and we all end up doing what we were supposed to be. I don't know if your parents were meant to be together. But you were meant to be born, and if you are what brought them together, then surprise, surprise—you might do it again. Honestly, I wish fairy tales weren't that predictable."
The true was: Rumpelstiltskin needed a vessel to the Saviour's darkness and Lily was the perfect candidate, and talked Isaac into doing what he wanted. But there was no way Isaac was telling Lily this. He feared too much for his life.
"Was my father cursed too?" Lily finally asked.
"I can't say what happened later, cause, well, I was trapped, as you now know. A waste, really. I wish I had—"
"Shut the fuck up."
Isaac was offended by the young dragon's lack of manners. But Lily owed him nothing, and all the help he offered her through free and spontaneous pressure and an obligation that would not at all compensate for all the evil he had done to her.
As for Dark One, she would deal with him later.
Right now, she would run to Granny's and ask for the most valuable information of her life.
She felt herself smiling like a fool, and forced herself to stop, crossing her arms over chest and lowering her head. August's touch on her arm made her look up. He was looking at her curiously.
"Are you alright?" He asked, and she really felt like kissing him senseless. It was not a new impulse, since she had always been driven by unscrupulous thoughts, but as the few beautiful things in her life, especially since she knew it was something mutual.
Lily smiled softly at him, "Now I am."
And August's eyes grew even bluer and gentler, and Lily was drawn to his warmth.
She hoped time would only strengthen their connection.
"Well, now—" Isaac's voice again broke the magical atmosphere between them, and the couple glanced back at him, "—that you know everything, I suppose you can get me out of here."
Lily laughed without thinking.
"I don't think so."
Quickly, she took him by the arm and tossed him back into his cell, closing the door with a spell. When he realized that he was locked, Isaac ran to the door, hitting on it with both hands, shouting, "We had a deal!"
Lily walked down the hallway when she said, "I don't remember promising you anything about your freedom."
('May Flowers' floriculture, near Storybrooke's northwest border)
Everything was going well as it always was in the fields of flowers of the May sisters. The shop opened early, and several people stopped by, charmed by the bouquets arranged by Flora.
Around noon, Fauna prepared lunch in the kitchen, humming to herself as she sliced two chicken breasts into a large plate.
Setting the table for herself and her sisters, she grew impatient as the youngest wouldn't just show up to eat, "Forget that dress already, sister!"
But Merryweather was stubborn and easily distracted, so when she heard a bell ringing, she ran out to answer whomever it was at their door, hands still clutching the dress she was trying to fix.
As she opened the door, her hands grew dumb, and everything fell to the floor.
"Oh, my goodness!"
A tall, blonde woman forced a smile, "Hello, Aunt Merryweather."
A/N: So yeah, it's Zorro. Not going to lie here, I loved that. #SpanishDragon shipper!
Small spoiler? Yes, Don Diego IS in Storybrooke! And he is a sweetie!