Hello, here comes chapter 8! The global thing was written by my friend, but the lost of edits needed were done by me.
Disclamer: I own nothing, non profit. OUAT goes to Adam Horowitz and Edward Kitsis; SM goes to Naoko Takeuchi/Toei.
Moon unleashed. A new wind awakens.
Kansas, 2004
Cecilia was playing in the woods, close by her foster home. For some reasons, it always was an appealing place for her to play in. Suddenly, she stopped dead in her tracks, as she suddenly saw a wolf. The girl couldn't make any move, and she just continued to stare at the wolf, which was staring back at her. After a moment, Cecilia started to slowly approach it. She knew that the wolves were normally dangerous, but something told inside her that it wouldn't harm her. As she was very close to the wolf, she slowly put her hand on its head and started to stoke it, as if it was a dog. The wolf relaxed, and give the girl the freedom pet it.
"I never thought you wolves would be tolerant to humans…" – Cecilia said with a grin.
Suddenly, she heard one of her foster parents call out for her. She sighed in sadness, knowing she had to go back. She turned around and said to herself:
"Well, I guess I have to return inside… Goodbye, wo…"
But as she turned back at where the wolf was, but she saw that the wolf was no longer there. Cecilia got a bit confused by this and after a moment, she started to walk back.
Storybrooke
The Seven Dwarves counterparts were working hard in the mines, in order to get the fairy dust. Suddenly, Leroy crashed through a wall, discovering the diamonds; the kind that can be refined into fairy dust. David Nolan, Mary Margaret, Alexandra, Cecilia, Emily, Lux, and Athena were quickly informed about this, and they were very elated that they may finally have the magical power needed to get Jefferson's portal hat working again, and so rescue Emma, Danielle and Rosalie. Everybody went in the Granny's Diner, to celebrate this. But the celebration got disrupted when Albert Spencer entered the Diner, intending to speak with David.
"What do you want?" – David asked, unhappy to see him.
"You managed to defy me in our world. But here, I'm afraid we're about to have another dispute." – Albert Spencer warned him.
"Whenever you want." – David replied, unimpressed.
"This is a great event for you, isn't it..?" – Albert asked – "You're about to bring you daughter back."
"Yes. It must be difficult for you to see how the good wins." – David commented.
"The good? What a self-esteem… I know the truth. You are still a shepherd, pretending to be a prince. You were not worthy to rule over a kingdom, and you definitely don't fit to lead this town. Soon, everybody around will see it, see who you truly are."
Alexandra, Cecilia and Emily, who were standing close, approached them, in order to defend their prince.
"Well, good luck with that." – Alex said.
"We have the support of the citizens." – Cecilia added – "And we are on David's side. If we trust him, the whole town will."
"And David is the best candidate to be a leader of Storybrooke." – Emily said – "He may have been a shepherd, but he's the Knight of the light."
Her both friends nodded to that. They knew him well, since in their past life, he used to be the knight of their former kingdom, and they always could trust him. Albert looked at those three girls with an unimpressed and despising look.
"I wouldn't be that sure about that, if I were you. Why would the town heed your opinion?" – he asked them.
"They saved this town, that's why." – David answered with determination.
"Oh really?" – Albert said – "They are useless, barely could be named heroes. They couldn't even have kept the half of their team stay in this world, they barely did a thing against some dead person and it was Regina who took some action."
Cecilia, Emily and Alex glanced at him, they really didn't like how he judged them, how he just humiliated their work. Albert Spencer added:
"You three should really be put in prison, for vigilantes. Or… concerning you…" – he looked at Cecilia – "… it could be in the dog pound."
Cecilia understood he was referring to the fact her mother, Ruby, was a werewolf. She got really mad, she was about to make a step forward, and say a few words to this man, but she couldn't do so, because both Emily and Alexandra held her back. After that, Albert Spencer just went away, as David gave him an unpleasant glance. He didn't like when somebody insulted the Guardians. He then turned to the girls and said:
"Just don't pay attention to him. Who cares what he thinks?"
At that same moment, Ruby was doing her usual waitress work. Suddenly, she heard someone say:
"A mouse."
"What, where?!" – Ruby exclaimed.
"No…" – Billy said, approaching Ruby.
Billy was one of the mechanics of the town, and Ruby used to talk to him (even sometimes going to flirt with him) during the Dark Curse.
"I was talking about me." – Billy pursued – "I was a mouse. My name was Gus, I lived in Cinderella's pantry, I was eating cheese, nibbling wood… but I preferred cheese."
Ruby smiled a bit to this, and she asked:
"Why are you telling me all of this?"
"Well… we hadn't a chance to talk, after… everything changed." – Billy explained – "I just wanted you to know who I used to be… then."
"And… can I keep calling you 'Billy'?" – Ruby asked with a smile.
"You can call me however you want, if you agree to have a drink with me later. I already know Ruby well… now, I would like to know Red."
Ruby was stunned a moment by the proposition. But she knew she couldn't accept his offer, at least not today. She started sadly:
"Um… Today is not possible… because…"
At that moment, Belle approached Ruby, and pursued:
"We have plans for tonight. We have a girl's night out, with both our daughters."
"Yes, with Cecilia and Emily." – Ruby added.
"Alright… maybe another time." – Billy said, before walking away.
Ruby turned to Belle, and said with a grateful smile:
"Thank you."
"I see when a girl needs help." – Belle stated – "But… he seems to be a nice guy…?"
Ruby looked at the clock, indicating 8:20 pm, and she then said to Belle:
"It's… complicated."
Ruby then walked away, under Belle's interrogative look. Emily approached her mother, asking in confusion:
"Is there something wrong with Ruby…?"
"Don't know…" – Belle replied confused too – "She's acting strange this evening…"
Meanwhile, Ruby and Granny were working hard in the freezer of the Diner. David and Cecilia walked in, and David got confused by their actions. He asked:
"What… what's going on here..?"
"We are making a cage." – Granny replied.
"Today's the first full moon since the curse was broken." – Ruby explained – "It's my first wolf's time since then…"
"But you said you learned control the wolf long years ago…?" – Cecilia asked confused.
"True, but it has been fourteen years since I transformed into the wolf. I might have lost my shape." – Ruby replied – "I'm not sure that I can control my wolf anymore, and I… I don't want a tragedy to happen tonight…"
Cecilia nodded, but then David asked:
"And what about your magical cloak, which prevent you from transforming?"
"I searched for it everywhere… but it's missing. Maybe it wasn't taken by the curse."
David and Cecilia tried to convince her that she should not be locked in the freezer, because they believe she still can control the wolf, as Snow White always believed in her too. But Ruby protested, she didn't want take any risks. Then, Ruby got sealed up in the freezer.
Enchanted Forest
Red Riding Hood and Snow White were running away from the Evil Queen's men, but one of them ripped Red's hood in process. Both young women finally managed to hide from the guards. It was only then that Red noticed that her cloak was ripped.
"You cannot stay with me..!" – she said to her friend – "It's the full moon today, the wolf's time starts. Only this cloak can prevent my transformation."
"It's ripped a little bit, I'm sure it still works." – Snow White said.
"But what if it doesn't?" – Red protested – "You saw what I did to Peter… I cannot control the wolf, it's terrible. For your safety, we should split up."
"Alright… But only tonight." – Snow said – "We'll meet each other in the morning, near the river. And then, we'll find a safe place for both of us. Perhaps a house in the woods…"
Red looked at her friend a moment, after what she finally asked:
"Why are you doing this…? Why are you so… nice to me? You saw what I'm capable of when I'm a wolf… you saw what I am."
"I know you're actually not like that." – Snow reassured her friend with a smile – "We are together until the end, Red."
After that, they went in different directions, and Red was unaware that some man was observing her from behind a tree.
Storybrooke
The next morning, Granny arrived at the Diner, only to find out that Ruby was gone, the freezer wasn't resistant enough to prevent her from escaping. David, Cecilia, Mary Margaret and Granny went searching for her, and after a while, they found Ruby asleep in the woods. As they woke her up, she asked in confusion:
"Why am I here…? Didn't you put me in the cage yesterday?"
"When I arrived in the Diner this morning, the freezer was ravaged…" – Granny explained carefully.
Now, Ruby got alarmed, but David and Mary Margaret tried to calm her down.
"Ruby, everything's okay…" – David said.
"No, it's not!" – Ruby protested, starting to panic – "I don't remember a thing from the last night, and that's what I feared! Oh God, did I do something…?"
"What we are sure of, is that you escaped from the cage and you ran into the woods." – Mary Margaret said, putting her hands on her friend's shoulder.
"There are no reasons to suppose the worse." – Cecilia added.
Ruby was still upset by the situation. Then, David's phone rang, and he got informed about something. Alarmed, Ruby hurried to ask what it was about. David calmed her, saying that somebody abandoned his vehicle at the docks.
"Ruby… everything's going to be okay." – Cecilia said once again, in a reassuring way, as others nodded in agreement.
Ruby looked at everyone and thought that maybe she overreacted and that nothing wrong was done during the night after all.
Enchanted Forest
In the morning, Red awoke in the forest. She sighed in relief that the hood worked. She walked to the river and as she was about to drink a bit, suddenly her hood was grabbed by a young man.
"Hey!" – Red shouted, and immediately ran pursuing the man.
At first, she thought that she lost him, clearly upset. But suddenly, she heard a voice behind her saying:
"Looking for that?"
She saw that he held her hood in one hand, but in his other, there was a torch. He was about to burn it, but Ruby stopped him:
"No! Please, don't… I need it!"
"This old thing? Why would you need it? Unless it… protects you from something?"
"What are you talking about?" – Ruby asked, feigning ignorance.
"Do you think I won't recognize a wolf when I see one?" – the man asked with a grin.
Ruby pushed him on the ground and shouted:
"How do you know about me?!"
The young man pushed rolled Red on the ground on his turn, and he answered:
"I know how recognize a child of the moon."
As he said that, his eyes turned gold into one moment. Red asked:
"You… you're like me…"
"My name is Quinn. I smelled you last night." – he replied – "Nobody talked about that with you, right? Nobody explained who you are?"
"My parents were killed by hunters when I was a kid, I was raised by my grandmother…"
"…who hid the truth from you." – Quinn finished for her – "She forced you to wear this."
Red hurried to grab her precious cloak. Quinn pursued:
"You still black out? You still don't control yourself? And maybe you even kill people. I know how it is… I went through the same thing. But it's not how it's supposed to be."
"What do you mean..?" – Red asked.
"What if I told you there's a way to control the wolf? That you don't have to worry about doing something wrong anymore?"
"That's possible?" – Red asked with an excited smile.
"Follow me."
Quinn led Red into a lair. As they entered here, Red saw that several people lived there. Quinn said that the place used to be the main hall of a castle, but now it belonged to them, the werewolves. Then, Quinn introduced a woman, named Anita.
"Good job, Quinn." – Anita said – "You finally found her. You have so grown up…"
"Do you know me?" – Red asked.
"I am your mother." – Anita replied, to Red's surprise.
Storybrooke
David and others went back to the town, they found out that the vehicle was Billy's tow truck. Red suddenly said:
"I can smell blood…"
A moment later, they found Billy's mutilated body, torn apart in a dumpster. Ruby couldn't help but scream in horror.
"It was the wolf…! It was me…!" – she said between sobs.
A bit later, when the ambulance arrived to take Billy's body, David and Mary Margaret tried to reassure Ruby.
"There are no proofs that it was the wolf's doings." – David said.
"We know you, Ruby. I still believe in you, like I always did." – Mary Margaret added.
But Ruby shook her head, still in tears. It was hard for her to believe that someone else could have killed Billy like that, during the night of the full moon. Cecilia then noticed that there were a few people approaching the crime scene. She made a sign with her head to Granny, making her notice too. The old lady said:
"Maybe it's not the best place for this conversation…"
"We should talk somewhere in private." – Cecilia added.
"It's okay, I will defend her…" – David reassured them.
He was about to walk to the people who were staying a bit further, but Ruby prevented him from doing so.
"No! You should lock me up! Maybe, at least the prison cell will retain me…" – Ruby asked with tears – "It's not me you must defend from people, David, but defend the people from me!"
Granny and Cecilia grabbed Ruby's hands in reassurance, as they, followed by David and Mary Margaret, walked to the Sheriff's Station.
Enchanted Forest
"Granny lied to me…" – Red said, still shocked by finding out her mother was actually very much alive – "She told me you were killed by hunters…"
"She lied to you since the moment she kidnapped you from me, when you were still a baby." – Anita replied.
"Why did she do this…?" – Red asked.
"She didn't want you to find out about who you truly are." – Anita explained – "She saw the wolf as a monster to be ashamed of. But I see it in a different way."
Anita had a proud smile as she said those words, as she looked everyone sitting in the room. She then looked back at Red, and pursued:
"People want that we think about ourselves as monsters. But as soon as you believe them, you'll become one."
Red looked at her mother, with sadness and some distress evident on her face. Anita put her hand on Red's shoulder, saying:
"You're not the first to find out about yourself due to a tragedy. Lots of us spend their lives, trying to conceal the wolf, they didn't know how to control it."
Red lowered her head, because what Anita said was exactly how she was actually feeling since the day she killed Peter. But Anita added with a smile:
"But they just needed some help, to accept their true nature. You can control the wolf, only if you accept it as a part of yourself."
"Can you teach me?" – Red asked.
"Of course I can." – Anita answered, smiling – "First, start by getting rid of this."
Anita was talking about the cloak. At first, Red wasn't sure about this. This cloak always protected her from doing something horrible, and the idea of stopping wear this was a bit frightening. After a moment of hesitation, she finally removed the cloak. As she did, she felt a relief, and she immediately hugged her mother, with tears in her eyes and a smile of happiness.
Storybrooke
At the Sheriff's Station, David locked Ruby in a cell, even though he didn't think it was a necessary precaution, since he still believed Ruby wasn't guilty in Billy's murder.
"You'll be safe here." – David said, as he turned the key of the cell.
"Thank you, David." – Ruby said to her friend.
"You'll thank me in the morning. Meantime, I will find the real killer."
"You already found."
David looked up, and saw that it was Albert Spencer, who just arrived there.
"It's that thing, the wolf." – Albert said cruelly, looking at Ruby.
"Get out of there! Whatever happened between us in the past, don't bring her into this! There's no evidence it was her!" – David said in anger.
"I believe your judgment is submitted to your emotions…" – Albert commented.
Ruby stood up from her bed, and she shouted at the prosecutor:
"Leave him alone!"
But Albert Spencer ignored her words, pursuing:
"You're protecting her out of friendship, putting everyone else in danger. I knew you would make a wrong step, shepherd. It was just a question of time."
David had really enough of those conversations, and asked the former king what he wanted. Albert replied that he wanted justice, that he gives Ruby to him, and that the town eventually decides her fate. David refused, since he knew what kind of "justice" Albert meant.
"I will start telling the people that you're putting their lives in danger, for your own interests. And a mob will rise."
"We'll see that." – David replied, unimpressed and determinate – "To get her, you'll have to deal with me."
"I'm waiting forward to this." – Albert replied, before exiting the Sheriff's Station.
David and Ruby exchange a worried and sad look, and after a minute of silence, Ruby finally dared to speak.
"Maybe he's not that wrong after all…" – she started – "…I should see the consequences of the murder…"
"Ruby, we already talked about this." – David protested again – "I know you are not the murderer."
"But what if in the end, you're wrong? I cannot let you risk your reputation, or the safety of the town!" – Ruby replied in distress – "I… I cannot let the Peter tragedy repeat itself… I ate him, David! Because I had no control over the wolf, and… and it's because of me that Cecilia has no father…"
Suddenly, they heard a gasp. David turned around, and both he and Ruby saw that Cecilia had just entered the Sheriff's Station. She wore an expression of shock on her face. The girl finally managed to ask:
"You… you killed my father, Ruby…?"
Ruby was silent a moment. She knew that she couldn't hide the truth anymore, and it was a pain for her heart and soul to tell this to her daughter. Ruby finally nodded in confirmation, tears streaming from her eyes.
"No… no, you…" – Cecilia shook her head, refusing to believe this.
"Cecilia… I'm so sorry…" – Ruby managed to say.
Cecilia got very hurt, by learning that painful truth. Without saying a word, she ran off the Sheriff's Station, with tears in her eyes.
Enchanted Forest
Anita was teaching Red to gain control over the wolf. During the night of full moon, Red, under her wolf's form, was running on the side of the other wolves. As she was running, Red was keeping in mind what her mother learned her earlier.
"It will be like nothing you ever felt before. The pines in the underfoot… the air rushing through your fur… your brothers and your sisters on your side... Your mind won't want to believe it. It will tell you that the wolf is in your body, trying to take over. If you believe that, for even a moment, you'll black out, and lose control. Like you have every night you turned, but… if you give into the wolf, you'll realize the truth: you are the wolf. And when you accept that, you'll finally be in control."
In the morning, as Red awoke in the lair, where lived all werewolves, Anita asked her:
"What do you remember?"
After a short moment of thinking, Red answered:
"Everything."
"You finally became the wolf." – Anita said.
"I don't have to be afraid anymore…" – Red said, with a expression of happiness on her face, since she was finally able to control her actions during the wolf's time.
Storybrooke
Spencer, who was standing in front of the Sheriff's Station, was leading a mob.
"We won't tremble in fear in front of this creature anymore. We know who she is, where she is hiding. Why is she still alive? Because someone protects her: David Nolan! And he's helped by the Sailor Guardians! How much people must die, before our prince takes some action?! Those Guardians, who are supposed to protect our world from danger, give a care for a monster, thus keeping the danger for this town active! Our so called heroes are traitors! If David or his Guardians don't protect you, so it will be me!"
Albert Spencer, helped by the mob, broke the chains which were keeping the door of the Sheriff's Station close, walked to the prison cell with intentions to seize Ruby. But the whole mob got surprised to see that Ruby was gone.
Meanwhile, David, Emily, Alexandra and Granny have brought Ruby to Belle, who has agreed to hide her in the library.
"Thank you for letting her to hide there. It's not safe in the Sheriff's Station." – David thanked Belle.
"That was a surprise to learn that Ruby is a werewolf…" – Belle replied – "But I couldn't have done otherwise, she's the mother of my daughter's friend. I could tell a family."
Ruby shook her head in sadness. Her mood only worsened when Cecilia got deceived, horrified by her actions of the past.
"By the way, did you warn Cecilia about the mob?" – Granny asked to Emily and Alex.
"Not yet… I don't know where she went." – Alex replied.
"Let me take care of that." – Emily said – "I will search for her. Good luck here."
At those words, Emily ran out of the library, intending to find her friend.
"We can stop the mob only if we prove that Ruby has nothing to do with Billy's death." – David stated – "I'll need your help. Belle, if the mob comes here, call for us."
David, Granny and Alexandra exited the library on their turn, leaving Ruby in company of Belle, and the distress in her heart.
At that same time, Cecilia was sitting next to the wishing well, in the woods. It was the only location she thought of, where she could be in calm. Cecilia couldn't believe that Ruby, her newly found mother, actually killed her father, which she never knew. She never imagined she could have done something horrible. Well, she knew Ruby was a werewolf, but the thought that she actually could have killed somebody never crossed her mind. She should have known better. Suddenly, she heard a familiar voice say:
"Hey, Cecilia… Alex and I were looking for you everywhere…"
"Go away, Emily…" – Cecilia said – "I'm not in the mood to talk with anyone…"
"You're in distress, and I believe that a friend's role is to be around in that kind of situations." – Emily replied, sitting next to Cecilia – "Look, I know what you learned today upset you, but I know what you're going through."
"I believe you don't have a parent who killed another." – Cecilia commented.
"No, I don't. But… I have a parent who has done a so high number of wrong doings, that it's impossible to count them all."
Cecilia this time looked at Emily, remembering that she indeed wasn't pleased to find out that her own father was actually the Dark One.
"You witnessed how hard for me it was, going through this… to accept." – Emily reminded – "I almost surrendered to the darkness, inherited from Gold. But I found the strength to overcome it. And I believe you can forgive Ruby too."
"Maybe…" – Cecilia said, lowering her head again – "It's very shocking, you know… she literally ate her beloved one, my father… I could have known him… But I never will, because of her."
"She ate your father, while she hadn't control of the wolf… and if she couldn't control him for a while, it was because she couldn't accept herself for what she is." – Emily pointed out – "Maybe it's time for you to accept her too, this is all the help she needs. And it will prevent tragedies like that."
Cecilia nodded, wondering if Emily wasn't wrong after all. She was very smart, so she guessed it was better to follow her advice.
"Alright… I guess I should forgive her…"
"Well, I think it was about time, 'cause…" – Emily started, hesitating about how she should tell her friend about the last news.
Cecilia looked at her with an interrogative look, as well as a small alert.
"I… actually came to warn you. Albert Spencer raised a mob; they intend to kill the wolf." – Emily finally informed her friend.
"They're about to kill Ruby…" – Cecilia whispered horrified.
She suddenly stood up, and ran in the direction of the town, followed by Emily. No, she wouldn't let the Storybrooke citizens kill her; they had to deal with her first!
Enchanted Forest
The pack of werewolves was sleeping in the former castle hall, as suddenly they awoke, sensing someone coming down to them. They hurried to hide, thinking it were hunters. But it was actually Snow White. As she entered the room, Quinn attacked her, trying to struggle her. Seeing that it was her friend, Red shouted:
"No, don't! She won't do us any harm!"
"And for what else people come in our lair?!" – Quinn replied, not letting Snow go.
"She's my friend! She stayed on my side, even after she found out the truth, after I killed a person! Without her, I would never escape the village alive!"
"Let her go." – Anita then said.
As Quinn did, Red knelt to her friend, apologizing for his actions. Snow White explained:
"You didn't come to the river this morning… I thought the Queen's guards killed you."
Then, Snow looked around her, and she asked:
"Who are your friends…?"
"We are her pack." – Quinn answered.
"They are just like me. But you shouldn't be afraid of them." – Red added.
"Of course not…" – Snow White said.
"How did you find us?" – Anita asked, suspicious.
"I followed the wolf's tracks." – Snow answered, then turning to Red – "Just like you learned me."
"You could have been seized by the Queen's soldiers." – Red stated.
"I didn't want to go without you. Let's go search for a house in the woods as planned, okay?" – Snow White asked.
She was about to go out, but she then noticed that her friend didn't move from where she was standing. Snow approached her again, asking:
"You… don't intend to go with me...?"
"Here, I can be not ashamed of what I am…" – Red explained – "I found a new home… I found my mother."
"But I thought…" – Snow said, confused.
"Granny lied. I'm sorry, Snow. I know, you risked your life to get to me…"
"No, I understand… I would have done anything to see my mother again."
"I know, we wanted to escape the kingdom together…" – Red started, her apologetic tone evident.
"I'm going to be okay. You learned me a lot yet. I can take care of me." - Snow White said, before giving her friend a goodbye hug – "Goodbye, Red. And thank you."
"No… thank you." – Red replied.
But their goodbyes got interrupted, as an arrow suddenly shot at Quinn, after what the man fell on the ground.
"They found me…" – Snow said.
Several of the Queen's soldiers burst in, hunting for Snow White. The werewolves defeated them all, but unfortunately, Quinn died due to his injury.
Storybrooke
"You should go now." – Ruby said to Belle – "The moon shall rise soon."
"Will the chain resist?" – Belle asked.
"I hope so."
"In that case, I'm staying." – Belle declared, putting her hands on her friend's shoulders, smiling – "Consider this as our girl's night out."
But Ruby walked a step back, and she protested:
"I know, David wants to believe in the best. But I killed before, and I'll do this again. People are right to be afraid of me."
"But I am not."
"You should be."
"Whatever you did in the past, David sees the good in you. And it tells one thing: that it's still there. If we can see it, why you can't?"
Ruby looked at Belle a moment, before answering:
"But Cecilia does not see it. I killed her father, and she believes I'm a monster."
"She's just under shock. Just give her some time, Ruby. I know what I'm talking about, because it took time for Emily to accept give Rumple a chance." - Belle replied – "And I'm sure it will be the same for you and Cecilia."
"Maybe you're right…" – Ruby said, after what she chained up Belle, instead of herself – "But the town is right too. I am a monster. And that's why I must do everything to not harm anybody."
"What are you about to do…?" – Belle asked confused and worried at the same time.
"I'm going to let them stop me. The mob needs a wolf, and I'll give them a wolf." – Ruby explained – "I must pay for my crimes."
"But they'll kill you!" – Belle protested, upset.
"Isn't it what I deserve?"
At those words, Ruby exited the library, leaving Belle alone, and full of worry for her new friend.
Meanwhile, David, Granny and Alex tracked down a suspicious car and they discovered blood in the trunk, along with a hatchet and Ruby's cloak.
"It's not the wolf who killed Billy." – David said – "She was forced to turn into the wolf… So, the one who killed him could frame Ruby!"
"Who would have a grudge against my Ruby..?" – Granny asked upset and confused.
David breaks into the car, to discover who it belonged to. As David did, he said:
"It's not about Ruby… it's about me. It's Spencer's car."
"The King George?" – Granny asked in disbelief.
"Why did he do this…?" – Alexandra asked, confused as well.
"He needed an occasion to take my power away, and he created it!" – David exclaimed in anger.
"This whole thing is a revenge plot against you…" – Alex whispered as she understood, before exclaiming – "What a hateful person!"
Suddenly, they heard a wolf's howl. Granny exclaimed:
"She escaped!"
"The mob… they will kill her!" – David exclaimed on his turn, after what he rushed in the direction of the sound, followed by Granny and Alexandra.
Enchanted Forest
Anita blames Snow White for Quinn's death and thus she ordered other werewolves to bind the princess to a column.
"When the moon will rise, we'll feast the princess." – Anita said.
"What are you doing?" – Ruby asked horrified.
"She'll pay for the life we lost."
"Mother, this is madness…!" – Ruby protested.
"You already made your choice, Red. You're one of us now. You must act as you should!" – Anita replied, before she approached her daughter and added – "Kill her."
"No… I won't kill my friend."
"So, I'll do it myself."
"No, mother, wait…!"
"Sorry, my daughter, but it's what it means, to be a wolf." – Anita said sternly.
Anita turned into her wolf's form, and approached her victim. Snow White begged her for not doing this, but it did nothing. Anita was about to attack, but she was stopped by Red, who couldn't stand and watch her friend being devoured. The mother and the daughter, in their wolf forms, were fighting. This ended by Anita accidentally being impaled. Snow White untied herself and quickly placed the red cloak on Red, changing her back into her human form. Red approached her mother, with tears in her eyes.
"I didn't mean to do this… I'm sorry, mother…"
"You chose her…" – Anita managed to say.
"No. I chose me! I am not a murderer!" – Red protested.
Short after that, Anita died, and Red started to cry.
Later that night, as the other werewolves dispersed, Red and Snow White buried Anita. Snow hugged her friend, before saying:
"I'm so sorry… I know how it is, to lose a family…"
"I didn't lose my family today. I protected it."
"Thank you." – Snow White replied with a smile.
"My mother wanted me to choose between being a wolf or a human. Granny wanted it too. You're the only person who always thought I can be both."
"Because that's true." – Snow said, as both of the women wiped their tears away – "Come on, let's find a house."
After that, they both walked away, searching for a house in the woods.
Storybrooke
Spencer led the mob to Ruby in her wolf form. As they saw her, Albert Spencer made a step forward and pointed his gun to the wolf. But before he could shoot, David, Granny and Alex reached them just in time. Some people got scandalized that David was defending her, and started shouting, commenting that they weren't cheeps, and didn't need a shepherd. But David didn't pay attention and spoke:
"Listen here! Ruby didn't kill Spencer! It was him!"
David turned to Spencer, as he said the latter sentence. He pursued:
"He stole her cloak, and he coldly murdered Billy, to make you think it was the wolf, and that I'm unfit to lead!"
At those words, the mob wanted to attack once more, and as David tried to prevent them doing so, Albert used this occasion to shoot at Ruby.
"No!" – was heard a female voice.
It was Cecilia. She returned just in time, to shield her mother and got shot instead! At that moment, everything went silent, the mob stopped. Everybody watched how the girl fell on the ground. David quickly ran to Ruby, and he laid her cloak over her, changing her back to human form. Ruby ran to her daughter, horrified:
"Cecilia… no…"
"Ruby, it's… it's okay…" – Cecilia answered, as her mother hugged her.
The moment after, they saw the bullet fall, and Cecilia understood.
"It didn't hit me… it hit just at the place my pen was..!" – she said, pulling her pen out of her front pocket.
"Wow…" – Ruby had a relieved smile – "But… can you still transform..?"
"Of course I can." – Cecilia replied in a reassuring way – "Look, the pen is magical; it can't be damaged by a bullet."
Then, they heard some agitation in the crowd. David, Ruby and Cecilia ran to them, and they saw Granny lying on the ground, with Mary Margaret, helping her standing up.
"Where's Spencer?" – David asked.
"He ran away…" – Granny replied.
"We'll go to his pursue." – Mary Margaret said, exchanging a nod with her husband.
Cecilia, Alex and Emily didn't waste time to transform into Sailor Wind, Sailor Aqua and Sailor Lighting, after what they, along with David, Mary Margaret and Ruby, went in Spencer's pursue. They tracked him to a nearby beach, where they found him standing beside a fire.
"Do you really think you can hide from a wolf?" – Ruby asked – "Or from the Guardians?"
"I was not hiding." – Albert Spencer replied.
"You killed an innocent person!" – Mary Margaret said to him.
"He was only a mouse." – Spencer commented.
"He was thousands times better than you are." – Ruby commented.
"She is right." – Cecilia added – "Your act is unforgiveable!"
"And don't you think we'll let that go easily!" – Alex said.
"Not only you killed a person, but you also tried to frame another one for this! Be sure you'll be punished!" – Emily said on her turn.
"I don't care about what you're about to do." – Spencer replied calmly – "Especially when I have this."
Spencer showed the damaged Jefferson's hat, after what the team gasped. Mary Margaret walked forward, saying:
"This is the way to bring Emma and others back!"
"Give it back to us!" – David shouted.
"You had to be more careful with such a precious thing to you. Now, you'll never see your daughter again." – Spencer said – "And you, you'll lose your friends."
At his words, before anyone could stop him, Spencer threw the remains of Jefferson's hat into the flames.
"No!" – Mary Margaret yelled.
David punched Spencer on his face, making him fall on the ground. The three Guardians gasped, and as Cecilia saw the hat burning, something happened inside her. She felt her powers grow, as a new one was unleashed. Without thinking twice, she shouted:
"Aria Breeze!"
In less than a moment, the hat was blown from the flames, and the Guardian of the wind quickly grabbed the burnt hat, after what gave it to David.
"Cecilia… Thank you…" – David said, as his wife nodded and sighed in relief.
Ruby then approached her daughter and said:
"Cecilia… Thank you for protecting me earlier. You didn't have to, especially after…"
"Ruby, I had to. You're my family, no matter what." – Cecilia protested.
"Maybe, but… I hurt you earlier… I am really sorry about what happened to Peter. I wanted to tell you before, but I… I just didn't know how. And I was scared to lose you too. Sorry you had to find out in the way you did…" – Ruby apologized.
"It's okay. Let's leave the past in the past." – Cecilia said with a reassuring smile – "So, how are you about to spend the rest of your wolf's time?"
"I'll do something I didn't do for a while… running." – Ruby said with an excited grin – "Do you… do you want to join me? Running on my side?"
"I'd love to!" – Cecilia grinned back – "I'm maybe not a wolf, but I love the woods."
"That's because you still have a wolf's blood in your veins." – Ruby said, before she turned to Emily – "Err… I sort of… unchained Belle in the library… you should free her."
"I'm already going. David, the keys, please." – Emily said, after what David obliged to her request.
Then, Ruby removed her cloak, which she gave to Mary Margaret, and after she transformed, she and Cecilia, headed to the woods, their mother and daughter bond stronger than ever. As David and Mary Margaret looked them run, Alexandra suddenly asked, indicating Spencer:
"And what do we do about him?"
Everybody turned to Spencer. After a moment, David said:
"Tomorrow, everybody will learn what he did. Nobody will ever follow him. There's no even need to put him in jail, well, at least not forever. Retreat his prosecutor function will do just fine."
"Lots of people saw that he almost killed Cecilia, one of their heroes." – Mary Margaret added – "This could be called a crime against Heavens."
Alexandra nodded in agreement and stared at Albert Spencer with an unpleasant look in her eyes. The man glanced at them with hate, even though he knew he definitely could do nothing against them.
Meanwhile, Regina was sitting at the mansion, giving a look at her calendar. Since the night Danielle got sucked into the portal, Regina counted the days. The Mayor was pulled out of her thoughts, as she heard a voice.
"Hello can anyone hear me?" - the voice said.
Regina quickly tried to find where the voice was coming from, and as she looked at the mirror hanging on one of the walls, she gasped in surprise and shock. Instead of reflecting herself and the room, the mirror was showing Danielle's face! Regina approached the mirror slowly and then she finally managed to say:
"Danielle… You're safe…!" - Regina exclaimed, with joy in her voice.
The teen smiled back a moment, but then she said, with urgency in her tone:
"We're trying to find a way back with the compass, and to protect the Eternal Crystal from C-"
Then, the communication cut, the mirror showing only Regina's reflection again. Regina just stood here a moment. It was very short, and she couldn't explain herself how did that happen, but at least, she knew that Danielle was okay. Well, she seemed to be. Regina then realized that Danielle warned her about somebody after the Eternal Crystal. But who could it be…?
Enchanted Forest, present day
As the communication cut, Danielle ran to her friends, who were sleeping a bit further. Aurora was sitting right next to them and Mulan was keeping a look on the fire.
"Emma! Rosalie!"
Hearing their friend's voice through their sleep, both girls opened their eyes. Emma asked:
"Danielle…? What's going on?"
"Why did you wake us up…?" – Rosalie asked.
" Girls… I… I found a way to make contact with Storybrooke…" - Danielle announced, after what Emma and Rosalie looked at her, then at each other in shock.
A/N: My friend suggested to add a closure to Spencer's story, so I did. I know, it's very little and simple, but at least, closure there is. And it's efficient (sort of). :) The conversation between Emily and Cecilia was by me too (which wasn't even mentioned). And lots of dialogues actually in this chapter (like usual). My friend lost confidence about writing, that's why the chapter was originally very short. And I'll have to write chapter completely on my own (not couting his providing ideas) for a while now.
And yay, a Ruby and Cecilia chapter! Cecilia deserves more show time, don't you agree?
Reviews would be a very nice thing to do.