Chapter 3

Neal, Aurora, Phillip and Mulan are walking along the road to the nearest village to find a doctor for Neal when Aurora suddenly stops in her tracks.

"Aurora, what is it?"

"I recognise this tree, this one right here"

"It looks like all the other trees in the forest"

"But it's not, look, here, there are 5 letters carved into the wood"

"So there are, two F's, an M, a B and an R

"What do you suppose it stands for?" asks Mulan.

"Flora, Fauna, Merryweather and Briar Rose"

"The fairies, from the story, the ones that took you in to keep you safe" says Neal

"What story?"

"I'll explain later"

"Let's go, I know they can help you Neal, follow me"

"Whatever you say"

A few minutes later after trekking trough bramble, grass and weeds, weaving in and out of trees, they arrive at a clearing where they see a cottage.

"What is this place?"

"Home" answers Aurora, "Come on, they should be in"

Following Aurora inside the cottage they all tentatively look around, feeling as though they have intruded.

"Hello, it's me, I know you're there, come out" calls Aurora.

Then two shimmering lights appear, one pinks and one green, they stop right infront of Aurora, who sees two of her 'aunts' Flora and Fauna, who upon stopping infront of their old charge transform themselves into human sized fairies.

"Aurora, is that you?"

"Yes"

The three women then hug, and afterwards the two fairies turn to Phillip and Flora says "Hello again Prince Phillip"

"Hello, it's been a long time"

"Thank you for awakening our Briar Rose, oh, sorry, Aurora"

"It's fine, but where is Merryweather?"

"After you had been out to sleep shall we say, she went off, too distraught to return, we think that she got hit by the curse"

"Oh no"

"It's fine, trust me, if she got hit by the curse she'll be in Storybrooke, it's a good place"

"And who are you?" asks Fauna.

"Now, now Aunt Fauna, this is Neal, he got hurt, he needs your help, and if I remember correctly you are quite good at medicine"

"Okay, Aurora, be a dear and help him up to Merryweather's old room would you?"

"Of course"

Ten minutes later everyone is gathered around the bed, watching Flora and Fauna examine Neal.

"I have never seen a wound like it"

"You have to heal him, he has a son to get back to"

"Neal, do you object to the use of a little magic to help heal the wound?"

"Yes, no magic, it's only ever caused me pain in the past, I've done my best to escape it"

"Neal, listen to them, they know what they are doing, trust me, they can help"

"Okay, just please help me, I have to get home"

"What's your son called?" asks Fauna as she begins cleaning the wound in preparation for the magic to be used to close it up.

"His name is Henry"

"A fine name, it means Home-Ruler you know"

Moments later, the wound has been prepared for the magic to close it to take place.

"Are you ready for this?"

"Yes, just get on with it, please"

Flora then reaches inside a small pouch and pulls out a small handful of fairy dust which she sprinkles over Neal's wound while uttering a spell and seconds later the hole where the bullet pierced him is closed.

"Thank you"

"You're welcome, now if you don't mind me saying, Neal is a strange name"

"It is not the one I was born with"

"And what is that one?"

"...Baelfire, I was called Baelfire"

"Aunts, Neal here, is the son of Rumplestiltskin"

"WHAT! WE'VE BEEN HELPING THE SON OF RUMPLESTILISKIN. YOU MUST LEAVE, NOW!"

"No, hold on a second, I'm not anything like my father, he practically threw me through a portal when I was still a young boy, I have resented him all of my life, he was once a kind and generous man, but when he became the Dark One all he cared about was magic and the power it could bring, so ever since I fell through the portal I have done my best to escape magic and make myself hidden from him, should he ever find me. Please believe me"

"We do?"

"Aunt Flora"

"Yes my dear, could I ask you something?"

"Of course, Neal wants to get back to a place called Storybrooke, it's a town in a land without magic, which is where everyone who was hit by the curse was sent, so, do you know where we can get a portal bean or two"

"Oh yes, follow us"

Flora and Fauna then walk out of the room and the others follow them.

End of Chapter