Disclaimer: I do not own Once Upon a Time or it's Characters, they belong to their respective owners. I do, however, own Storm and her alter ego as well as Striker and his alter ego and their story line. This has come from the haunted, depraved, tortured darkness that is my mind.

Savysnape7: Thank you, I will try and keep it up.

nicksmom3612: Here is my update, late since the site was being a pain with the log in page but none the less it is now here.

Ubiquitous literacy: Thank you and I hope you continue to read, I will try and keep it interesting.

A Deal is a Deal

=Storm's P.O.V=

I glanced around the darkened forest and idly scratched Striker's forehead before narrowing my eyes towards the woman that approached. "Why did you send for me?" I growled lowly stalling my scratching of Striker's forehead.

The Evil queen chuckled lightly waving her hand dismissively. "I didn't come to kill you, the map means nothing anyway, I came to enlist in your help"

"My help comes with a price" I stated picking at my nails before looking up at her.

"Of course," She smirked lightly. "And what would your price be?"

I thoughts for a few minutes before looking to Striker and patting his cheek. "In this next world, the one this curse is going to take us too," I started before watching her smirk falter. "Yes I know all about what this curse does so hear me out or I leave now," I stated. "Striker must be there with me," I stated before thinking of how easy I could make my life with a few simple words. "I want a store, some place filled with music; I want a comfortable home for Striker and I, large stables and a pasture for him to run free in; I don't want to thieve to survive, I want to be able to take care of Striker and I," I stated stroking Striker's cheek as he rested his head over my shoulder. "And most of all I don't want to be everyone's little errand bitch anymore"

"Done," The queen nodded. "You'll have it all, everything you want"

I nodded lightly. "Then what do you require from me?"

"Information," She stated taking a step forward. "The curse failed, I need you to find out if Rumpelstiltskin knows how to make it work"

I smirked lightly. "Is that all?"

She nodded. "Yes, I will await your answer at my castle"

I gave a nod and turned to Striker. "Then Striker and I will make haste with your answer once we have it" I stated placing my foot into the stirrup and swung up onto Striker's saddle before seating myself and turning him sharply with a light nudge in the ribs before urging him on towards the abandoned mines where the 'Bane of our lands' was kept.

I slowed Striker and slid down from his saddle before patting his cheek lightly. "I need to go on foot from here, stick close" I murmured placing a kiss to his thick cheek as I tied his reins around the top of his neck so they wouldn't get tangled in his legs. Striker snorted and whinnied softly nudging my chest before walking off to graze.

I turned back towards the mines entrance and sighed adjusting my hood before touching the star hidden around my neck and headed towards the two guards.

"Halt, who goes there?"

"None of your concern but what is your concern is that I need to speak with Rumpelstiltskin"

"Why?"

"That is really none of your concern"

"We cannot permit anyone to enter"

"Then I'll find another way in" I growled taking a threatening step forward.

"Step back"

I rolled my eyes before drawing my dagger and slamming the guard back against the wall faster than either of them could react to, I pressed the sharpened side against his exposed throat and smirked. "I have no qualms about slitting you or your friend's throats so either let me in or die" I snapped viciously pressing the blade harder against his throat drawing a thin line of blood as he swallowed roughly.

"Just let her through, it's not worth your life" The other said his voice quivering slightly.

"So we are in agreement then? You let me through and I'll let you live?"

The guard held under my dagger nodded quickly as I released the blade from his throat. I smirked lightly sheathing my dagger and turned pushing open the gate behind them before venturing through the torch lit dirt halls towards the cell that caged Rumpelstiltskin, the man who made a deal with just about everyone and always honored that deal even if the other party didn't.

I wrapped my fingers around my necklace and smiled lightly, he had been the one to fashion the star into a necklace and in return he'd learn my true name, my birth name, the name very few other people knew.

I turned my head slightly listening to the guards shut the gate before turning and heading deeper into the mines.

I pushed open the rickety door that led into the holding area and headed towards the cell at the end of the hallway, his gleeful laughter rebounded off the dirt walls filling the entire cavern with his almost neurotic laughter.

"I have a visitor, how quaint"

I rolled my eyes lightly and stepped towards the cell. "Save it my love, I came here to get an answer for that royal pain in the ass"

"Yes, yes, everyone's messenger as usual," He chuckled lightly. "You know it hurts that you don't visit me more often," He stated pressing against the bars of his cage. "But the queen, she wants to know why the curse didn't work and how to get it to work doesn't she"

I grinned softly before nodding. "But she only asked me to find out if you knew how to make it work, she never asked me to find out how to make it work"

He chuckled insanely for a moment. "You are the little trickster still aren't you?"

I shrugged lightly. "I am only doing as she asked, nothing more" I stated picking idly at my fingernails cleaning the dirt from underneath them.

"Well now dearie, you know all my help comes with a price"

"I do, I do," I murmured lightly before looking up at him. "And what would you have in return from me?"

He tapped a long discoloured finger on his chin before grinning and sticking it upright. "I know, a song"

"A song? Now why would want a song?"

"Because I've heard you sing before and you, dearie, have a lovely voice"

I shook my head. "I have not sung in years"

"Now that is a lie," He pointed an accusatory finger towards me through the cage. "I've heard you sing to that darling little steed of yours"

"Striker appreciates my songs"

He feigned hurt. "And you think I wouldn't?"

"I have not sung for anyone other than Striker since I was in King George's court"

"Ah yes," He pressed himself against the bars on the cage gripping them tightly. "The days of when you used to sing for all those prim and proper nobles," He chuckled pressing his forehead against the bars of the cage watching the small flakes of dust as they floated down to the ground, his eyes fixed on them as he remained silent. "Do you remember what I used to call you?" His voice was almost inaudible as he spoke just above a whisper.

"You used to call me your Songbird" I smiled softly remembering the days before I had ventured into the outlands.

Rumpelstiltskin's lips quirked in a lopsided smile as he nodded. "You still remember"

"Of course I do," I chuckled softly. "You used to get so jealous," I stepped forward towards the cage and rested my hands over his. "Did you really expect me to forget all the nights we spent together?" I smirked lightly running my fingers lightly over his scarred knuckles. "Now tell me what I need to know or so help me I will break into this wretched cage they forced you into"

He looked towards our hands before clenching the bars tighter. "If you won't sing me a little song then at least let me see your face dearie, it's been so long since I've seen it" He grinned manically his laughter almost the same.

I uncurled one of my hands from his and tugged the hood of my shirt down letting the light hit my skin and smiled lightly. "Better?"

"Much," He grinned reaching out to touch the healing bruise across my cheek bone. "I do indeed know how to make the curse work"

I gave a light nod before grinned softly. "Then I shall make haste and tell her that" I stated turning to leave.

"Wait!"

I stalled and turned back to the caged man and raised an eyebrow slightly. "What?"

"Come back" He sounded almost pitiful.

"Come back?"

He nodded. "After you've told that old hag what she wants to know," He motioned to the darkness to the left of the cell. "Spend the rest of the night after she leave," He lowered his tone, his hand slipping from the rusted bar in front of him sending a whirlwind of red flakes to the ground. "I haven't had any proper company worth my time in months"

I thought it over for a moment before nodding. "I'll come back" I promised before crossing the ground quickly back towards his cell and pressed a kiss to his lips through the bars before turning and heading out.

I nudged Striker on, his hooves flying over the ground as he chewed up the dirt road carved around the edge of the forest, he snorted letting out a joyous whinny and stretched out his neck and back adding extra power to his dead on gallop before giving a leap of faith as we came to the cliff's edge. I gripped his barrel and urged him on through the air, sometimes the direct route to the Evil queen's castle was always the best route, it saved a good half hour of riding along the road wedged between the cliffs shear drop and the forest's edge.

I braced for Striker's landing, his hooves clattering on the dark cobblestones in the courtyard as he came to a noisy stop. I turned my head towards the queen as she burst out of the castle, her steps quick and with purpose.

"You're here so you must have my answer"

"I do" I nodded in confirmation.

"Well then?" She was growing more and more impatient by the second.

"Rumpelstiltskin does know how make the curse work"

She looked expectantly at me. "Well? Is that it?" She snapped.

"That's all you asked me to do, you never wanted to me find out what you needed"

She looked towards me glaring. "What was the point in sending you if I now must go myself?" She snapped hotly before turning away to go back into her castle.

"Remember our deal," I yelled after her. "And if you try and cheat me out of it I will remember" I stated before reigning Striker round to head back to the mines as I said I would.

Yes, another chap done and my other stories have been updated too after the spaziness of the log in page which hasn't let me log in at all today until now.