Chapter 7: Through the Magic Portal
Jack awoke to a strange sight in the hub. He saw Rumplestiltskin, Ianto, and Regina standing next to three Daleks while Gwen typed in the proper code on the rift manipulator, the first step in opening the dangerous Cardiff rift.
"Gwen!" Jack yelled as he got to his feet.
"Silence!" The Daleks ordered.
Ianto walked over to Jack and whispered to him.
"It's all part of the plan. Gwen opens the rift for a few moments, then Rumplestiltskin will open a portal somewhere so far away from Neverland that the Daleks will never get there." Ianto said.
"How do we know we can trust him?" Jack asked.
"He said he hates Peter Pan." Ianto said. "He knows that whatever Pan's planning with the Daleks and the two diamonds is dangerous."
"Let's hope this plan of yours works." Jack said.
"Why is the rift not open?" The Daleks yelled.
"It takes a few minutes." Gwen replied.
After a few more minutes of waiting, all of Cardiff suddenly began to shake as though a benign earthquake had just run through the city.
"It's done." Ianto said.
"The rift is open." Jack said.
Regina and Rumplestiltskin could both feel the magic returning to them. The Dark One did not waste any time. He concentrated his magic and soon, a swirling green portal opened on the ground, similar to the portals created by magic beans.
"Go ahead dearies." Rumplestiltskin said.
It was at this moment, that the TARDIS started to materialize in the corner of the room. However, the Daleks were far too focused on the portal to notice and soon the first Dalek levitated and descended down the portal into another world. Then, the TARDIS fully materialized and Mickey Smith stepped out with his gun to see the second Dalek enter the portal. Gwen looked at him and gave him a wink that reassured him of the sight he'd just seen. Then, the Doctor stepped out of the TARDIS to witness the third Dalek descend into the portal.
"No!" The Doctor yelled. "What have you done!"
The Time Lord then ran hastily back into his time machine. Jack Harkness, noting that the Doctor was unaware of their plan, ran over to the TARDIS to fully explain to the Time Lord that the three Daleks had not actually entered the portal to Neverland. Jack ran through the TARDIS doors and found Hook, Clara, Rose, and Martha standing around the TARDIS console while the Doctor was pulling levers and pressing buttons.
"Doctor!" Jack yelled.
"I can't believe you let this happen Jack!" The Doctor yelled.
"If you'd just listen to me for one second!" Jack yelled.
"No time." The Doctor said.
Suddenly, the entire TARDIS began to shake, a familiar sensation to all the companions. Outside the time machine, Gwen, Regina, Ianto, Rumplestiltskin, and Mickey watched as the Doctor's big blue box levitated off the ground, flew over to the portal, and descended inside. Then, the swirling green portal closed.
"Jack!" Gwen yelled.
"Bring them back." Ianto ordered the Dark One.
"I can't." Rumplestiltskin said. "That's not how magic works."
"Even magic has rules?" Mickey questioned.
"Magic has laws." Rumplestiltskin said. "Laws that can never be broken dearie."
"You have to at least try." Gwen said. "What about your deal with the Doctor?"
"I have fulfilled my end of the deal." The Dark One said. "I promised to help him stop the Daleks and I did. I sent them far away."
"Where?" Mickey asked. "Where is my wife?"
"I'm surprised you still care for her without your heart." The Dark One said.
"Let's go now." Regina said to Rumplestiltskin. "I have matters of my own to tend to."
"You're not leaving until I get my heart back." Mickey said.
"I have magic now." Regina said as two magic fireballs appeared on her palms. "I don't have to listen to you anymore."
Mickey then raised his special laser gun and aimed it at Regina.
"Let's see your magic defend against this." Mickey said.
Regina remembered how those weapons were able to destroy almost every Dalek that entered the hub and knew she could not save herself from such a blast. The fireballs disappeared and Mickey's heart appeared in puff of magic smoke in Regina's hand. She walked up to Mickey and looked him in the eyes.
"This might hurt." She warned before she shoved the heart back into Mickey's chest.
"Thank you." Mickey replied as he suddenly realized that his wife was trapped on some far away world. "Now bring them back."
"I told you I can't." Rumplestiltskin said. "The Doctor has the TARDIS. Once he realizes what happened, he'll bring your little friends back here. I do have to be going now, but I must remember to thank the Doctor for this opportunity to see this new land. This land without magic."
"You just used magic." Ianto said.
"Only because of the rift. I have matters on this world to tend to, but I need magic to do it. Once I leave Cardiff, my magic will also leave me. I'll be back soon enough." The Dark One said and then opened another swirling green portal back to the Enchanted Forest. "I'll miss the power the rift has given me to just open portals at will."
"At least tell us where you sent the Daleks before you go." Ianto said.
"A world full of magic and danger." Rumple said.
"Which world specifically?" Gwen asked.
"Wonderland." The Dark One said.
"Like as in Alice?" Mickey asked.
"I'm not sure what you mean." Rumple said.
"You sent them to Wonderland?" Regina asked.
"Yes dearie." Rumple replied.
"What if she finds them?" Regina asked. "Did you think about what would happen if she ever got a hold of the Daleks?"
"She doesn't have the red and blue diamonds. No magic can save her from them." Rumple said.
"She'll find a way. She always does." Regina said.
"Who are you two talking about?" Ianto asked.
"My mother." Regina said. "The Queen of Hearts."
"You must be joking." Gwen said. "The Queen of Hearts is the Evil Queen's mother. I never heard that part."
"Well it's true." Regina said. "And she's more evil than I could ever be."
"Let's go dearie." Rumple said. "The Doctor can take care of himself."
Rumplestiltskin and Regina jumped through the green portal back to the Enchanted Forest as it closed behind them.
"I don't believe it." Mickey said.
"I'm sure Martha's alright." Gwen said.
"Maybe for now. What about when the Daleks and the Queen of Hearts find her?"
"They won't." Ianto said. "The Doctor will realize his mistake and come right back here."
"I hope you're right." Mickey said.
(to be continued in "Once Upon a Time Machine 1-8: TARDIS in Wonderland)