Sorry this one is soooo long...
Holly's POV
24 hours ago, I don't think I would be saying what I'm saying. Let alone seeing what I saw. Maybe this is how people wind up in straitjackets. Or I'm dreaming. Or someone slipped me Ecstasy in my Pepsi. Those are the only things that can explain what happened to me.
I had no time to think or question what the purple light was that was coming out of my hands, all I had time to do was to continue to run towards that disgusting little man named Gold and his dumb dragons to try and save Regina. (Did I just say what I just said?) I ran as fast as I could and as fast as my heart would let me. I aimed my hands first at the imp and then at the dragons.
Before I could get any closer the imp disappeared and the two dragons were on the ground and beginning to regain their strength, in the midst of it all I saw a thirddragon swoop in and take out the other dragon standing guard. It was like watch a Godzilla movie in 3D. I had no clue where this dragon was from, and frankly I was not in a position to ask.
I was in panic. I was looking for Regina(or anything that even looked normal, frankly), the new dragon back handed me,(back winged me? Don't ask...there will not be any explaining this) and I felt as if every bone in my spine shattered with the force of the wall against my back. I was laying on the ground trying to catch my breath and trying to get all the blood out of my mouth when the dragon turned into a woman.
And a beautiful one at that. Long curly blond hair, full lips. A that can stop an oncoming train. Or an on coming dragon. Or, right now, what's left of my heart...
"What the hell? Who are you?" I panted out...
"For right now, let's go with Mallie, ok? By the way, thanks for your help with those dragons."
"Umm... you're welcome." As I was replying I caught a figure in the background who was seemed to be staring in our direction and that is when my "oh-fuck-more-deepshit" Spider-sense went off.
I did finally see Regina passed-out on the side of one of the alley walls. But there was a man who approaching her. Pretty much everything started to seem like slow-motion. Brown hair. beard. Trenchcoat. and he was looking at Regina with a lean-and-hungry look...
"Mallie? Who is that?" I managed to ask weakly and point in the strangers direction
"No, it can't be….." Right then a shocked Mallie's thoughts drifted off as the Marines came to the rescue: Ruby, Emma, Snow, James and Maddie came rushing in.
The strange figure began to shape shift into what appeared to be a wolf! And he...or it...was aiming right for Regina when Ruby flung her cape off and while jumping in mid air transformed herself into a wolf and began to fight the stranger.
The term freaking-out was being given a new meaning, and I was just screaming "What the hell's going on here?"
"I have no idea...so just stay back." Emma replied
Ok...Ruby's now a wolf. That makes sense. I think. But...
"Who is the other wolf?"
"Before he shifted, it looked like Graham."
"Graham? Who. in. the. hell...?"But before Emma could answer the fight seemed to be over and Red was back to her human form as was the stranger.
Everyone gazed at the sight of the two near nude bodies. Snow knelt down and covered them with Red's cloak.
"Graham?...You're...dead!," a shocked Emma said as she slowly engaged this Graham guy.
"Do I look dead to you Miss Swan?" Graham replied (Not to me, from where I stood)
Emma looked as white as a sheet..."You died in my arms, Graham. You. Died. In. My. God. Damn. Arms! Now you're a WOLF? What the HELL'S going ON?
It was Ruby, who was holding the man who answered: "The only wolves I know are in my family blood line. Ruby hesitated. then continued. "He's my brother."
That didn't seem to faze anyone still standing. And I barely was. Then the man spoke. The voice was raspy, and sounded like one of those guys in an Irish Spring commercial...
"Yes, I'm her brother. The only difference is she were raised by Granny..." He coughed. "...and Iwas raised by wolves in the woods." Graham replied in a disgusted tone.
"So...why were you going after Regina?" I intervened
"The bitch crushed my heart well thought she did and she deserves to die. I want justice not only for myself but for the other's that she has hurt like Mary Margaret and David."
"I am so confused...and I don't' feel good at all" I replied
Suddenly, Emma was looking towards towards the north and pointing. "Oh shit!"
It was a cloud. A huge cloud. Purple. The thickest cloud I had ever seen. From the small opening I saw, It seemed to swallow everything in its path. And it was slowly coming toward us all.
I just quietly said to myself, "Fuck. A. Duck..."
"Holly have you been able to tap into any that magic stuff you were doing?" Emma asked in a panicking tone
"I guess, I don't know. The imp said there was a purple cloud coming from me and I think I saw it too. Then there was this purple light coming from my hands when I went after the dragons."
"Okay Holly I need your help." Emma said staring into my eyes.
"We need to put up a shield I am going to help but I can't do it alone, I will teach you fast," Just then we heard a bunch of squealing we turned in the direction of the noise and saw the wings beating fast coming in at us from the south. "Holly, we need to do this quickly I need you to think real hard with putting a giant plastic non penetrable tent around the building to protect us. Got it?"
"I think so." I replied rather nervously
"Okay think real hard now!" Emma yelled and grabbed my hand
I did what Emma said. I pictured a big plastic tent protecting us but it wasn't working. Nothing was happening and I could feel Emma squeezing my hand to encourage me to try harder, but I felt weak and useless. This wasn't going to work.
"Auntie please try harder! They're getting closer!" Maddie yelled
I opened my eyes and looked over at my little niece who looked absolutely terrified and I knew right then and there that I had to try harder for no one else other than Maddie. She was my world and I wanted her to be safe. I closed my eyes and dug down deep.
The smoke was now in the alley forming around us...We could not see past whatever I put up. Nothing but swirling purple smoke. Surrounding this invisible block I've put up around us. My heart...or what's left of it was going crazy. And I may wind up dead by by heart before I die of this smoke.
Then , as suddenly as it appeared, it thinned out and and seem to settle on an opposite wall. By now, I was starting to get used to things turning into people. So I was probably not that shocked when the smoke settled and formed into what appeared to be a Black man with wavy hair. black T-shirt and jeans.
Emma and Snow moved in front of the man, he looked up...Emma said "Sidney?..." or something.
And then if that was not all, Charming...James...I was so confused at that point...called all of us (who were still visible and upright) us over to the end of the alleyway.
I looked up...around. No clouds. It was a beautiful night. No smoke. The fires had stopped. In fact it...no dragons. Everything looked back to normal
"We did it. Look Boston is safe, we are safe! Thanks!" Emma said to me gently.
I barely had time to realize all that happened. Snow, Charming and Red were smiling, Emma was running back to Regina to try and revive her, and Mallie was just staring at me. The Sidney guy was still out like a light.
"Auntie! YOU did it!" Maddy yelled as she jumped into my arms.
"I did kiddo...I guess. Just don't know how.. I love you chicken!"
"I love you more!"
"Holly...you okay?" Snow asked as she put a hand on my shoulder.
"I'll be fine." I replied as I coughed up some more blood. I lie good. "How's Regina?"
"I don't know.." Snow gently said and began to lead the way over to where Regina was sitting.
"Gina! Gina! ….. Can you hear me? Gina!" Emma was yelling as she was shaking the unconscious brunette.
"The shaking can't be good for Regina if she is unconscious." I mumbled to Maddie...who just did a quiet giggle in acknowledgment that I was probably right.
Then I saw the prettiest pair of brown eyes I ever saw flutter open...
"Emma?" Regina's voice was low, ragged. But she was alive. That was all that mattered to me...or anyone.
"Oh Thank God! You scared me!" Emma shouted and the rest of the group gave small sighs of relief. I walked closer to Regina to make sure she was okay. She was looking around making sure she was seeing things clearly. She was dazed and confused.
"Welcome back to the land of the living, love!" I said enthusiastically with the biggest smile I could manage
"Miss Mills, you missed it…. You missed the whole thing!" Maddie shouted.
I looked at Regina with caution, she had a look on her face that she couldn't believe what she was seeing so I backed away and let her take it all in.
Regina's POV
"So that's...everything?"
"That's it. We still don't know how Boston got back to normal...I am just glad you are okay, honey." Emma replied as she leaned in and gave me another kiss on the cheek.
Of course, I had a theory. If the smoke was purple it may have been like the smoke that broke part of the curse. I know that a genie's power is immense...so much that they only use it when granting wishes most times. So unless there was a wish...could Sidney have done it on his own? And why? I looked over and I saw him out like a light. Either he's drunk...if so,, how did he get here?...or I'm right...and I know that can take a lot out of anyone...I'll have to ask him when he comes to...
I could hear Holly coughing in the background and it sounded terrible.
"Holly, are you okay?" That cough had me worried.
"I'll be fine. This happens all the time." Holly replied
Maddie's eyes were watery when she tried to explain the situation. "Miss Mills it's why Auntie needs a new heart but I haven't seen her this bad before." Just then Holly started to cough up large amounts of blood and before I could suggest to sit down she collapsed and I barely had enough time to catch her. Her niece was hysterical...
"Auntie! NO!"
Storybrooke
There was much confusion in the Mills mansion. Granny was not able to reach any one...not by phone, skype, or even mirror. Henry came down, understandably worried...now word from practically his entire family. He had not been this worried since Emma and Snow went in that portal over a year ago. Meanwhile, Blue had been pretty mum about Maleficent's disappearing act. And now, apparently there were two other missing people...namely Astrid and Leroy. Even though both she and Astrid gave up their nuns habits for being civilians, Blue still worried about her young charge. After all, even with all her clumsiness..Astrid...aka Nova...was the person she trusted to take over if anything ever happened to her. She just had one weakness.
She rolled her eyes up to the heaven and simply said "...hmmm...Leroy..."
And indeed, outside, the two would-be lovebirds were stealing a quiet moment.
Leroy followed Astrid outside. The sky was starting to get dark, and evening shadows started to creep...
"Do you think we can relax now, Grumpy?"
"I think we can for a little bit..." Then Grumpy raised his eyebrows flirtatiously: "..come here., babe.." Then pulled Nova closer into scruffy dwarf and embraced her tightly, pulled her face up to him and gently kissed the young fairy under the moonlight in the Mayor's back yard.
And if Nova could read the thought bubble in the dwarf's head, it would probably say, "I never thought we would get to this point again..."
"Grumpy? Can we start calling you Dreamy again?" Nova asked girlishly as their kiss broke.
"Nova...you can call me Grumpy..Dreamy...Seinfeld...anything you want. honey, as long as you don't leave me..."
"I won't leave you Dreamy."
"I love you Nova."
"I love you too Dreamy." Nova replied and again the dwarf embraced her with everything he had and was kissing her passionately.
But they didn't see the evening shadows form into a menacing, human-like mass. Creeping up the mansion wall. Surrounding the windows on the top floor. One window in particular...
"My God! Nova! The shadows! They're making their way to Henry's room...!"
The shadow people, they called them in the realm. Worse even than wraiths. Wraiths simply sucked the soul out of you. Shadow people just simply took the damned body.
Both Leroy and and the young fairy knew the dangers. As Grumpy, he even tangled with one before Storybrooke. And as the shadows crept up the wall, both knew the shadows great fear...light.
"Dreamy help him!"
"Look, I'lll go find the others!" Leroy ran into the house to get help.
But that proved a costly mistake...for Henry was not the target. Just a decoy.
For just as Leroy ran in the sliding doors, he heard a heart-stopping shriek...
"DREAMMMMMYYYYYYYY..."
Blue ran out of the house, followed by Granny and Kathryn. Leroy stood paralyzed as the showed quickly slid down the house and ran of with their prey, as Nova screamed into the night.
And then silence.
The shadows were gone. SO was Nova.
And Grumpy, in anger, pain, and loss, fell on his knees, screamed "Noooooooooo!" and wept uncontrollably in his hands...
BOSTON/Regina's POV
"Regina! What happened is she okay?", Emma asked as the others looked on in disbelief as Holly slumped to the ground.
"I don't know! I don't know!" I yelled. I was flustered I didn't know what to do told me I had to save her and fix her for she was the one to help me, and after all this she did save my life and her poor niece was so scared.
"Regina, can you fix her?" Emma asked
"I can't think!" I yelled. No pulse...nothing. One shot I can think of...but I've only destroyed them... I've never fixedthem.
"I'm taking it out!"
Maddie...poor kid...turned ghost white. I told Snow to take the young girl away from view. Pulling out a heart is not for the faint of...never mind...
I didn't know if it would help...or if my powers worked this well outside of Storybrooke. I mean thiswell...
I dug down deep inside to find the courage to be able to rip a heart out and fix it instead of destroying it. My hands hovered over her chest and when I was ready, I reached in and clutched it. When Holly's heart was out of her chest and in my hands it looked as if it was a dark purple, dead tissue but instead of being black it was a deep purple, like all the magic she used today sucked all of her heart muscle away. There was nothing I could do.
There was no noise other than Maddie who was crying into Emma's arms uncontrollably.
I couldn't speak. I tried to do the right thing, but I couldn't. I looked down her lifeless body. She was brave and amazing. Only three people I know were like that. I was a mother to one, I love another, and the other I will marry. I just wish I knew her better. Before...
I felt hopeless and knew I had to put her heart back in her body so it would be there for the autopsy. I gave it a quick kiss and placed it in her chest.
"Maddie, sweetheart I am so sorry." I said tearfully to the heartbroken little girl. "What am I going to do without her?" Maddie cried. "She was all the family I had..."
"Oh sweetie I don't know but we will all be here for you." I said
"Uh Regina….." Red said slowly and was pointing to Holly's body.
Holly's body was now floating off the ground...
Storybrooke/Gold's Pawn Shop
"I couldn't believe that I was fooled by that girl! How could I have been so foolish...?" To say the proprietor of Gold's Pawn Shop was upset would have put it mildly. He had abandoned Graham and used his abilities to materialize inside the shop.
Not that he had a right to be pleased. After all , he accomplished most of the goals he was given.
"Yes, you should have!" A voice replied he quickly turned around. The voice belonged to Mr. Spencer, or as he knew him, King George.
"Mr. District Attorney, what brings you here to my shop today?"
"I will ask the questions. Let me introduce you to some of my friends, shall I?"
"Oh I know who they are. Cora how are you? It has been so long dearie...and Mr. White, it's strange seeing you here." the suited imp replied "Sadly my shop is closed as you can see by the sign that says 'closed' on the door. Now would you be so kind as to come back when the shop is open." Gold gestured towards the door.
"We are not here to shop Gold!" Cora said in what could be described as an evil tone.
"I figured, dearie." Just then, from behind, Gold heard another voice...not belonging to the others, but one that sent massive shivers down his spine.
"Good evening...crocodile..."
Those were the last words he heard when everything went black.
Boston.
They watched as Holly's lifeless body, aloft in the air, began to regain color, her fingers and toes began to move and then there was her purple cloud of magical smoke. Holly's body slowly came back to the ground and landed softly on the ground. Those who were still conscious (rushed over and formed a circle around her.
"Regina, you saved her." Snow said
"I don't know how." Regina was telling the truth on that. Holly's niece Maddie ran over to her Aunt and put her head on her chest. "Well Maddie, is it beating?" I asked.
"Yes! Yes!" Maddie replied with tears streaming down her cheeks.
Holly was awakening slowly from her imposed slumber. The first thing she saw was the smiling, tear-stained face of her dark-haired, 12 year old niece. "Maddie? I had the strangest dream..."
"Welcome back to the land of the living!" Regina Mills was basically returning the favor that Holly gave her when the Mayor herself woke up not too long ago...
"Thanks Regina. I heard what you said when you were saving me." Holly said and then all of a sudden she leaned in and kissed Regina, hard. Jaws were dropping amongst the assembled multitude. Then as Emma came over to check things out (possible fueled by a certain green eyed monster, Holly grabbed the back of Emma's head and gave HER a mighty lip lock. Eyes were rolling, Maddie was giggling, soaking up blackmail material.
And at that moment, a rather groggy newspaper stumbled over to the celebrating mob. "What'd I missed?" The real question was who had more explaining to do...Sidney Glass or everyone else.
Storybrooke
Another night. Another lonely night for Belle French. There were nights that she sat staring at a TV blazing brightly in her eyes, but not caring what was on. And nights like tonight, when she just sat on the sofa, and stared at the wall. Dead silence.
This is what lonely feels like.
Suddenly...three loud bangs. Not knocks...bangs.
Belle went to the door, looked out the peephole. No one there. But hole looke covered in what seemed to be blood. She opened the door, and found out why.
Ian Gold, battered, stabbed. and cut severely on on wrist, fell forward into Belle's apartment house. Belle was overcome with fear and emotion as she knelt down and put Gold's upper body in her arms. With whatever strength he had left. he looked in Belle's eyes...
"Belle...my...Belle...So...sorr...ry..."
It was if all life left his body afterwards.
TBC...yes I intend to...
A/N: First, to those who are still with me, thank you. And thank you for your comments. I warned you when I started this I was not a good writer. Even with hollz2283's help, I realize I created a mess. But I did it out of love. I love Regina and Emma, Snow and Charming, Granny and Red, Belle and Rumple. I even understand Sidney a lot. I miss Maleficent and the Blind WItch. All of these wonderful characters that I love so much. I have tried to stay true and tried to honor them all as much as possible. I may have failed but I tried. I just have a strong feeling they may all be worthy of redemption. Even Cora. And really that is the main thrust of all this.
And it saddens me that the TV show seems hellbent on trying to not only keep Regina from redemption, but also keep Regina from the one we believe is her TRUE love. Maybe it will happen, if ABC has the courage.
I know, there are a lot of questions you want answered (like why the hell are you still writing). Most of them will be answered come next edition (as for the last...therapy)
OUAT is owned by Disney/ABC.