Hello, guys! Here begins a new adventure for our guardians, the second arc of season 2. The chapter was basically written by my friend. I edited the Storybrooke parts and wrote the EF parts myself.
D.N.S Akina: You said you didn't really liked the end. Well, I guess a fanfic can disappoint the reader sometimes. But here's what I'll say: even though this arc will be based on the SM R arc, it's not really an exact copy of it. There are some changes. The arc is actually a good opportunity to develop at some point the relationship between Emma and her parents, which couldn't really have been done in our fanfic. I hope you'll continue read the story anyway, and find some good in your "disliked" arc. ^-^
Guest: Sorry, no Henry. I think you'll guess very soon (if you already didn't) why he does not exist in this fanfic. And don't worry, I don't like the anime Chibiusa either. The girl is much more like the manga version, in fact she's basically just a scared child and not a brat.
Disclamer: I own nothing, it's non profit. OUAT goes to Adam Horowitz and Edward Kitsis. SM goes to Naoko Takeuchi/Toei.
The new threat. The mysterious child.
Storybrooke
"Now, once more: hand over the Eternal Crystal." - the girl said, aiming the arrow at Emma.
"Why would a kid want the Eternal Crystal?" - Emma asked, as she began frightening.
Not giving an answer, the girl shot the arrow. But Emma quickly dodged the arrow, and so it hit an electrical pylon, causing a huge blackout in Storybrooke. The little girl grabbed the toy ball, which was resembling Lux, and quickly ran off.
"Hey, wait kid!" - Emma called after her, just at the moment her friends, Mary Margaret and Charming left the diner.
"Emma, are you alright?" - Alexandra asked a bit worried.
"I just saw a girl…" Emma replied.
She then explaining about all what happened since the moment she exited the diner and until the power outage. As she finished, everyone got worried.
"But why would a kid want the Eternal Crystal?" - Danielle asked, the story making not much sense to her.
"I don't know, but we have to find her." - Emma suggested.
Everyone agreed, and they went in different directions, in order to search for the little girl.
Unknown location
"So, we finally arrived to Storybrooke." – a man said, smiling evilly.
"So it's time to search what were looking for, Brunh?" - a woman asked, with a hissing in her speech.
"Exactly. It's time we hunt down the Duckling, my dear Ara." - Brunh replied, while their prince was staying calm.
"Tell us about the Eternal Crystal, and about what would it do, Wiseman." – that same prince ordered.
A hooded person with an orb didn't take long to appear after the man's order. Then, Wiseman said:
"The Eternal Crystal has unlimited powers, which can be used for good or evil. Seizing it will give us the power to bring all ruin to the mortals, and they will be forced to serve you, my prince Ernest."
At those words, Wiseman disappeared.
"The Crystal shall be ours, and no one could stop us." - Prince Ernest commented with conviction.
Another man, who was sitting next to Prince Ernest, responded:
"I already sent the Twili sisters to locate the Duckling and the Eternal Crystal, my dear brother." After that, Prince Ernest got up from his throne and commented:
"Soon, the reign of the Dark Star Clan shall rule."
Enchanted Forest
Snow White, who was between 14 and 15 years, was at her castle, attending her father's birthday ceremony. After King Leopold got his gifts from his subjects, he began his speech.
"My dear subjects, to celebrate this special day, I don't need any gifts. Because the world doesn't get brighter, without my greatest of gifts: my daughter."
Everyone in the room applauded, while Queen Regina was sitting afar. Snow White smiled, feeling a bit embarrassed. She hugged her father and said:
"Father… you're making me blush…!"
"Every day, seeing your face… reminds me your dear late mother…" – King Leopold pursued – "Just like you, she was… the fairest from them all."
The princess got emotional with her father's words, and she hugged her father once more, under the subjects' applauses. Snow White (nor anyone else) noticed Regina getting upset. Then, the queen left the room. The king or his daughter didn't either notice that the Genie, which the king freed from the lamp days ago, left the hall too, going in the same direction as Regina went.
Storybrooke
The search for the little girl was continuing. Mary Margaret, who was walking along the beach, she saw the girl with a ball-like toy sitting at the playground castle. The woman calmly walked to her. Seeing her approaching, the child got scared, and she instinctively clutched at her toy. Mary Margaret noticed this, and gave her a reassuring smile and spoke in a soft voice, to show that she meant her no harm.
"It's okay… No need to be scared."
The girl's grip on her toy relaxed a bit, but Mary Margaret could see that she was still nervous. She gave all the signs of a scared, alarmed kid. The woman didn't conclude it only from her experience with little kids (being a primary school teacher), but because of her own experience she went through long ago. She gently tended her hand to the child, and after a short moment of hesitation, the girl carefully grabbed it.
"See, there's no reason to be scared." – Mary Margaret commented, and after a short pause, she asked carefully – "Is there a reason you came to Storybrooke, and need the crystal…?"
The girl lowered her eyes. Mary Margaret thought she wouldn't reply, but then she looked up at her and she said in a lowly:
"I wanted to save my mommy… and I hope that Sailor Light would help me to save her."
Mary Margaret sighed a little. There surely was more in her story, but that was already something. She decided that she wouldn't pressure to get answers right now; they could get it later, when the girl would be ready. Mary Margaret said with a reassuring voice:
"Maybe we all could help you, Little Em."
"Little Em?" – the child asked, confuse at the name.
"Well, Emma told me you have the same name as her. I decided to call you Little Em, to know which one I'm speaking to. But I'm okay if the name isn't good." – Mary Margaret said.
"I like it!" - Little Em replied happily.
Mary Margaret was glad to see that Little Em smiled. Then, they both left the playground castle in the direction of her loft.
Enchanted Forest
"I did it!" – the Genie exclaimed as he entered the Queen's room – "You are free, my love! Finally, we are free to be together."
But Queen Regina was staring at the mirror, looking upset. The genie took her hand and asked:
"Don't you hear? Your time of being locked is over."
"You didn't hear the news…" – Regina replied – "The guards found a snake… they knew it's from your land. They know you killed the king."
The genie got very silent, while the queen pursued:
"You'll be caught; it's only a question of time. You'll be executed."
Those words shocked the genie. Queen Regina added:
"I'm sorry… We can't be together. Let's go, I hired a boat, which will permit you escape in all security."
After a short moment of silence, the genie commented:
"The Agrabah snake… Of all the snakes of the world, you chose this one. You wanted me to get charged for the murder. You tricked me… you never loved me."
The queen turned around to face the man, saying in a stern tone:
"Loved? I wanted the king to be killed, and you killed him. I don't need you anymore. You rather thank me, for helping you escape! And now, leave the kingdom and never come back!"
The genie protested, saying that he couldn't live without Regina. But the queen shouted that she doesn't love him and that they would never ever be together. The genie then announced that the day Leopold freed him, he let the third wish for himself.
"I wish to be with you forever." – the genie pronounced his wish – "Always looking at your face and never leave you."
But wishes had consequences. As soon as the wish was made, the genie disappeared, getting trapped inside the mirror. Regina grinned at it, commenting that he would indeed be with her forever. But her joy got interrupted as she heard a small sob behind her back. She turned around and saw the princess Snow White, standing at the doors of her room. Snow had tears in her eyes, obviously hearing everything.
"What are you doing here? Now, you listen my conversations?" – Regina asked sternly.
"No. I was walking there; I wanted to see how you were doing, with my father's death… But it seems like you're doing just fine."
"How much did you hear?" – the queen asked dangerously.
"I know you planned my father's murder… You did this…!" – Snow White exclaimed, her voice cracking – "How could you…?"
Regina understood that her opportunity to get rid of her stepdaughter, to get her revenge, came sooner than she expected. She shouted:
"Guards! Grab the princess! She's a murderer!"
Snow White got shocked. How could this happen? How could her world be fall apart in a so short time? Understanding she had no choice, she ran away, making sure not to get caught by the royal guards.
Storybrooke
Emma, tired from researches, entered her mother's apartment. At least, her mother found that troublesome girl. She asked Mary Margaret:
"So, you found her? Where is she?"
"Shh…" – her mother hissed – "She's sleeping right here…"
Emma looked at the couch and saw Little Em sleeping there, under a blanked David just put over her. She then turned to her parents, asking quietly:
"So… did you learn anything from her?"
"She says that she wants Sailor Light, which means you, save her mother." – Mary Margaret replied quietly.
Emma raised an eyebrow. David approached them and pursued:
"Her mother is like in danger, that's why she arrived to Storybrooke."
"But that makes no sense… why didn't she explain the situation directly, after falling on me?" – Emma asked confused.
"Maybe she's doesn't really know what she's doing…" – Mary Margaret sighed – "It's obvious that she's scared and lost. I'm sure there's a big story behind her arrival here... It seems like she lost her home, because… if it was not the case, she could have asked help from anyone of her family, or friends, instead of searching for Sailor Light."
Emma gave a strange look at her mother. Then, she asked:
"Okay, so… was it all she said? Only that her mother is in danger?"
Mary Margaret nodded to that. Emma then went up the stairs to her room and fell on her bed. What a crazy night! Then, she turned to Lux, who was sitting on the other side of the bed, and she mumbled:
"You know… that girl's toy has exactly your face."
Enchanted Forest
Snow White was running, breathing hardly. She managed to exit the castle, and now she was in the woods. For now, those were the ones she knew, but what would happen when she'll reach the unknown to her area? Snow suddenly tripped and fell on her belly. Tears escaped her face. How did this even happen? Days ago, she was the happiest girl in the world. She had a lovely father and her kingdom was prosperous. She did her best to be a good princess, like her mother always taught her to be. But now, her father was murdered, by her stepmother Regina. She should have known better. The queen claimed that she found happiness and love, the day when she was trying her wedding dress. But Snow could feel that there was something bothering Regina. She could understand now that Regina was clearly unhappy, and now, she wanted to kill her too.
"She hates me… I ruined her life, that's why she wants to kill me…"
The princess' thoughts got interrupted as she heard someone approach behind her. Slowly, she turned on her side, and saw that it was one of the queen's guards. He pulled off his cask, revealing his face. Snow White said, her voice trembling a bit:
"I know you… the queen hired you days ago…"
"That's right. And I guess you know why she hired me for." – the man replied.
"She hired you to kill me… when the time would be right." – the princess said.
The man, who was actually a hunter, grabbed his knife. But the princess begged him:
"Please, don't…! Not now. Let me just…"
Snow White took a piece of parchment and began writing a letter. As she was done, she tended it to the hunter, saying:
"After you kill me… please, give it to the queen."
"Your tricks won't work with me." – the hunter commented.
"It's not a trick. Please, tell her each word is honest."
The hunter took the letter and read it. After what seemed long moments for Snow, the hunter was done reading and put the letter under his belt. Then, he grabbed his knife, ready to hit the princess. Snow White looked up, tears rolling from her eyes. In one moment, everything would be over. And who knew, maybe she would join her mother and father… So, why was it so sad to die? Snow White felt like there were so many things she hadn't done yet in her life. She expected the knife pierce her, but it never came. She looked at the hunter, confused.
"I don't understand… You won't kill me…?"
"Run." – was the single word the hunter said.
Snow White stood up and ran away, further into the woods. Tears streaming down her face, the girl understood that her life would never be the same. Her home and family was lost forever, and from now, she had to deal with that, on her own.
Storybrooke
The next morning, everything seemed calm in Storybrooke. But walking out of the diner, Cecilia felt a dark presence in the wind, coming from the church.
"What's going on…? Is there new evil in the town? Might it have something to do with the last night event…?" – she thought.
She began to run, and Ruby called after her, wondering what was wrong:
"Cecilia…! Cecilia, where are you going?!"
But Cecilia didn't reply and she was far away. She ran to the curch as fast as she could, and as she arrived there, she saw a mysterious person with hooded nuns standing around her. The actual nuns were lying unconscious on the floor, including Mother Superior.
"Wind Star Power!" – Cecilia shouted.
She transformed into Sailor Wind, and confronted the mysterious person.
"Who are you?! And what did you do to the nuns? I am Sailor Wind! If you intend to create evil and trouble around, I shall punish you, in the name of the winds!"
The woman only laughed, and then she replied:
"My name is Coronade, the second of the Twili sisters. I know that you and your friends are protecting the Duckling, and the Eternal Crystal. Surrender both to me, and you won't be hurt."
But Cecilia stood in a ready-to-fight position, making clear that she would never give up.
"Never!" – the guardian of wind exclaimed – "You won't get it, not without a fight against me!"
"Fine then…" – Coronade said, before she ordered to the hooded nuns – "Get rid of her!"
The moment after, the nuns revealed themselves to be droids. Cecilia got a bit shocked, but she didn't let it disturb herself. Without waiting long, she began to fight the droids, using the several wind attacks she had. But every time she sent an attack against them, harder it was becoming to avoid their attacks. Having hard time to defend herself, Cecilia got really exhausted, and she fell down on her knees. The droids jumped, preparing their attack to defeat her.
"Divine Thunderbolt!"
A bolt struck the droids, destroying them as the other guardians arrived. Cecilia smiled; relieved to see her friends arrive. But her joy did not last long.
"Looks like I should even the battle." - Coronade said, creating a powerful wind like barrier orb around Cecilia .
"Don't you hurt her! Flaming Arrow!" - Danielle yelled, shooting the arrow straight at Coronade, injuring her.
"Release her now! Oceanic Purity Ball!" - Alexandra yelled, shooting small multiple versions of her attack injuring Coronade.
"Give us back our friend! Love Roses Chain!" - Rosalie shouted, binding Coronade with her magical pink belt.
While Coronade was trying to free herself from the chain, Emma summoned the Nebula Wand.
"Heavens Princess Kiss!" - she yelled.
A powerful light went out of the wand, and it destroyed Coronade within seconds. The guardian watched how her body vanished in the air, as did her scream of pain. But they then noticed that the barrier around Cecilia was still intact.
"Are you alright? We all heard an explosion!" – Mary Margaret asked, as she arrived at the church, with David and Little Em on her side.
Ruby arrived there too, sensing that Cecilia was in danger.
"Cecilia!" – Ruby exclaimed, seeing her girl trapped – "What happened to her?"
"We defeated the enemy, but the prison didn't break…" – Emily explained – "We must find a way…"
Before they could think of a way to free their friend, they heard a chilling laugh. Seconds after, Brunh appeared. Little Em hid behind Mary Margaret's back as soon as she saw him.
"So, these are the Sailor Guardians… impressive." – the man said, before he approached the imprisoned Cecilia – "I'll just take your friend here, until you surrender, and handover the Duckling and the crystal to the Dark Star Clan!"
At those words, Brunh teleported himself, along with Cecilia, to the hideout of the Dark Star clan. Everyone looked shocked, and Ruby shouted:
"Cecilia…! No…! Where did he take her…?"
Ruby began to sob, as Mary Margaret tried to comfort her, telling that they would bring her back. Little Em was looking down, filled with guilt.
Enchanted Forest
Months had passed since the day the hunter saved Snow White. The princess was now living in the woods, moving constantly from place to place, getting help from some villagers. Snow even managed to make more comfortable clothes out from her dress, thanks to some people, who provided her the necessary materials. The princess was still learning, but she began to get more independent. Recently, some people taught her how to hunt. Snow White was progressing every day and she was grateful to those people who risked themselves by helping her. But Snow White was also very worried for them, for her kingdom. The subjects began to live in terror, their queen obsessed to catch Snow White, to finally get her revenge. Today was one of the days Snow could witness her stepmother's evil doings from afar. Once again, she arrived at a village, ordering them to tell where the princess was. That same princess, who watched the scene, looked horrified as the queen killed one of the villagers for not telling. She then heard the queen shout:
"Consider this as a warning!"
Snow put her face in her hands, trying to suppress tears, with no success. What she was supposed to do? She wasn't ready to face Regina, but she couldn't let more people die. "They do so much for me… I must help them somehow… but what could I do…?" – she was thinking. Suddenly, something got her attention. From the depth of the woods, she saw a light. Curious, she went in the direction of that light. The woods were quite dark at this hour… Snow kept walking, until she finally reached the place. It was a ball of light, floating in the air. "What is it…?" – Snow mused – "I don't know why, but this light is quite reassuring… It brings peace to my soul…" It was with a smile that the princess tended her hand to that mysterious light.
Storybrooke
Everybody walked out the church, still under shock. Where was Cecilia now? How could they find out? Ruby had dried tears on her cheeks. She trusted the guardians; she knew that they would bring her daughter back. But how long would this take? And in which state would they find her.
"Ruby, we'll find her as soon as possible." – David said, trying to reassure her – "It's not for the first time we deal with something like that. Girls are strong, you know…"
Ruby only nodded, not finding the force to talk.
"I could begin make some researches in the library…" – Emily suggested – "Maybe I could find what kind of enemies we are dealing with."
"That's a good idea." – Danielle said – "And when the nuns feel better, we could go ask them about this. Perhaps, Mother Superior or others remember something, any little detail could be important."
Everyone just nodded in agreement. Emily and Rosalie went to the library, while Alexandra and Danielle went back in the church, in order to help the nuns, the former fairies, to recover from the attack. Ruby slowly walked back in her granny's diner, followed by David, who thought should would need a company of a friend. Little Em, clutching at her toy, lowered her head, as trying to not cry. But it didn't help much. She spoke, after what seemed a long moment:
"It's all my fault…"
Mary Margaret saw that she had tears in her eyes. She then knelt to the little girl and spoke softly:
"No, Little Em, it's not your fault…"
"But it's me they are after." – Little Em protested, tears falling now – "And now, they captured your friend."
"But we will get her back, safe and sound." – Mary Margaret said, giving a small smile – "We all must hope. Hope is a very powerful thing. It's all we can have in situations like this. You lost your home, didn't you?"
Little Em looked in Mary Margaret's eyes. After a moment, she just nodded. So, the woman pursued:
"I know how it is, because I lost my home too, when I was young."
Little Em got a bit surprised by this. Emma, who was standing aside, stared at her mother too, wondering what kind of experience she did have.
"In one day, everything I knew ceased to exist. The happiness and love around was lost. My father got killed and I could have been too." – Mary Margaret said seriously – "I had to run away, to leave my home and live in woods. You have no idea how scared I was the first months. I barely knew what I had to do, who to turn to."
Emma guessed that Mary Margaret was referring to the part of her life when Regina decided to kill her, to get her revenge. She got even more surprised to hear that she was a teen when this happened.
"I was reaching my fifteen years back then…" – the woman pursued her story – "It took me long years to get back my home… and to get a new family. Hope was all I had, to help me survive, and helping others around as well. It took time to find peace in me. And I promise you will too."
They went silent for a while. Little Em looked down again, and this time she let tears fall freely. She exclaimed her voice cracking:
"But you got your home back! My home is lost and my mummy is in danger, all because of me…!"
With those words, she just ran off with her ball-like toy in her arms, before even Mary Margaret could stop her.
A/N: The part when Emma goes back home while Little Em is asleep was written by me too. You might be confused at why Snow White was 14-15 when her father died and she had to run away, but someday this point will be explained. But I warn you it will take some time before this point is explored.