The next act is here already! This time, it's Lux and Athena centric! The two supernatural cats deserve some spotlight sometimes, don't you think? :) The flashbacks are very different from the canon tv show, just like the Storybrooke parts. The whole chapter was written by me. Enjoy!

Disclamer: I own nothing, all rights go to their respective owners. Non profit fanfiction.

A mysterious foe. Lux is in danger.

Hong Kong, 2009

Two crystals, lying next to each other, suddenly broke and two cats awoke from their stasis state. At first, they looked around confused, but then, as their gazes met, Lux whispered:

"We did it Athena… we escaped the Dark Curse."

"Yes… but we're alone. I guess the six babies were sent in different places."

"Seems like fate doesn't want make it easy for us." – Lux commented, before he stood on his four paths and added – "Let's go. We must find someone who can help us."

Athena nodded and soon, the two cats were walking through the very dense populated streets. The cats thought it was a curious place. But they also noticed that this was the kind of world where magic wasn't something common.

"Maybe we'll have better luck if we go to different directions." – Athena then suggested.

"But we could get lost forever!" – Lux exclaimed – "And we're not really sure what we're looking for."

"There's no world which would lack magic completely." – Athena replied – "I am sure if we open our eyes widely, we can see magic even here."

"So, if one of us finds something, he'll inform the other." – Lux stated, seeing that Athena's plan was the best they could have.

As they nodded to each other, they suddenly saw a little boy staring at them; his mouth dropped open and wide eyes. Seconds after, he ran away, calling for his mother. Lux sighed. It wasn't going to be easy.

Storybrooke

Emma was eating her breakfast, as Lux jumped on the table and sat next to her. The girls didn't react at first, but after a moment of awkward silence, she turned to the black cat and asked:

"When did you plan to tell me?"

"I beg your pardon…?" – Lux asked.

"Oh, don't play the innocent…! To tell me about how you asked my boyfriend to break up with me." – Emma said boldly.

"Emma, please, I…" – Lux started, but Emma didn't let him speak.

"I thought we were friends, Lux. So, you asked Neal to leave me, and all this time, you didn't say a word to me?" – Emma asked.

"It's not something I'm very proud of…" – Lux said, before getting interrupted once more by his obviously upset mistress.

"You damn better not be."

"I'm not! But, it was the only way to bring you back on your right path. Only this way I could bring you, and girls, back to your home." – Lux explained himself – "Please, believe me when I say that I meant no wrong."

Emma sighed and she put her dish in the sink, not very gently, expressing her exasperation. She then took her coat and opened the front door. Lux ran and stood in front of her.

"You don't believe me?"

"I know you meant no wrong." – Emma stated – "But you caused my heart to be in pain nonetheless."

"My move wasn't pretty, I admit… it was the only way I found back then, but… but I'm very sorry, Emma." – Lux said, his eyes never leaving hers, wanting to show her that his apology was genuine.

Emma just stared at him a moment, then she shook her head and said:

"Just save it, Lux…"

And she was gone, closing loudly the door. Lux sat, his ears went down and his gaze found interest in his own paths. He then heard Little Em say:

"Did you break something? Was it Emma's cup?"

"No, I broke nothing." – Lux replied.

"But why do you look guilty?" – Little Em asked, surprised.

The only reason the little girl thought cats could feel guilty for was when they break something. But Lux didn't really satisfy her curiosity.

"It's complicated, Little Em."

The cat then went out through the open window, as Little Em looked at him with a questioning gaze. "A cup can at least be repaired with glue…" – the cat thought sadly.

Meantime, at Granny's Diner, Greg Mendell entered to order a sandwich, as a snack for his walk in the forest.

"You go to… a walk…?" – Cecilia asked surprised, as she was serving the clients.

"Yes, Dr Whale says walks would do me good." – Greg answered to the young waitress – "Plus, I am a nature photograph."

Ruby approached him and wordlessly gave him his order.

"I thought you already were home, in Pennsylvania." – Cecilia said.

"Your town is nice." – Greg said with a small smile, before he paid for his sandwich and he walked out the Diner.

Ruby and Cecilia looked at him with worry. When would he finally leave? Then, they saw Neal and Emily enter to make their own order.

"Hi, how are you guys?" – Cecilia asked.

"We're doing well." – Neal replied, then he turned to Ruby and said – "One cup of coffee, one cup of cocoa and two iced donuts please."

"Here it goes." – Ruby answered with a smile, before going to prepare his order.

"What are you two planning for today?" – a voice asked from behind.

Neal and Emily turned around to see that Emma was in the Diner. She gave a smile, which was half friendly (for Emily) and half awkward (to Neal). She really couldn't get used to see Neal that often. But Emma guessed she had no choice but accept her ex-boyfriend's presence. She had to do it for her friend.

"Nothing special…" – Neal replied evasively.

"We were about to go in the library. I wanted know more about Neal's past. The best way to do it is to compare the known stories with what he really lived." – Emily answered with more honesty.

Emma looked partially amused at Neal, who said awkwardly:

"Yes… that was the plan."

Emily and Emma exchanged a glance. This situation was both amusing and annoying. Emma then said:

"Well, I… I suppose I should leave you now. Besides, I promised I would go to the playground with Little Em."

"Wait Emma, you should know this… Tamara has been in my apartment…" – Neal began – "She took bags from my cupboard, Hook wasn't there."

"That's a good luck." – Emma commented.

"Yes, but now he's free." – Neal noted.

"I suppose he can't harm us, right…?" – Emily said, quickly exchanging a glance with Emma.

Neal knew nothing about the guardians' travel in the future. Only the six girls and their parents were aware about that. Emma unnoticeably nodded to her friend. Hook wouldn't harm them, because Emma was supposed to marry him someday. So, neither Emma nor Emily were worried about his freedom.

"No, of course he won't." – Emma added with a quick nod.

"But what you should know… the reason Tamara needed my bags is that she's coming here." – Neal announced.

"Here…?" – Emily and Emma asked in unison.

"Yes. Within minutes she'll be in the Diner."

"What were you thinking?!" – Emma exclaimed.

"What will happen when she'll see in the streets a giant, or let's say a werewolf…?" – Emily added, as worried about this as Emma was.

"First, Greg Mendell with his love for local food, now your fiancée… It's not a town, but an amusing park…!" - Emma pursued expressing her worries.

"Alright, I maybe didn't think about it, but I need her…" – Neal said in defense.

But then, he realized that he perhaps said the wrong thing. He began to apologize:

"I'm sorry, I didn't want to…"

"Why are you apologizing? It's not me you're lying to." – Emma stated.

"What do you mean?"

"Does she know about you and where you're from?" – Emily asked.

"You better tell her everything before she finds it out by accident." – Emma advised.

Neal then got a text, which said that Tamara would be in Storybrooke in ten minutes. To Emma's surprise, Neal offered Emma to stay and meet Tamara properly. The young man thought it would be best if they knew each other better and it could somewhat lessen the awkwardness. Despite she wanted to avoid this, Emma accepted anyway.

Hong Kong, 2009

A couple of weeks passed since Lux and Athena parted. The black cat constantly wondered if Athena was doing well and if she had found something. He didn't find any person or object related to magic yet. But his researches weren't completely vain, because he started to know the Land Without Magic better. It was necessary to know the environment, if you were about to stay in it for quite some time. Lux admitted that the Land Without Magic was in its own manner special, but he couldn't help but to feel homesick about the Celestial Kingdom in Heavens. Because of his two stasis sleeps, it felt like his home was destroyed about a couple of months ago. The Enchanted Forest has been a closer to what his former home was like, but it was taken away by the Dark Curse. Athena was all what was left from the Celestial Kingdom. It made her twice more special to him. But even without that point, Lux accorded a lot of importance to the white cat. She has been his friend during long years and he also wondered if she was really only a friend to him. Lux shook his head, preferring chase this thought away for the moment. He then got a thought for the six babies. Lux couldn't help but wonder how gentle the fate had been to them. He hoped that it hadn't been too cruel.

"Lux…! Lux!"

The black cat turned around and was so happy to see that it was Athena. She was running to him and she seemed very enthusiastic. Lux was glad to see that, because both of them needed good news after what they went through.

"Athena! Are you doing well…? Did you find something?"

"Yes, Lux! There is one person in Hong Kong who can help us…! He can heal the diseases which can't be cured by science." – Athena said.

"But… how a healer can help us…?" – Lux asked.

"This man knows magic!" – Athena exclaimed in joy – "He's probably from another world… who knows, maybe from the Enchanted Forest? But the point is that only magic can help us, Lux. And if he can't help, no one can."

"I suppose we should visit him." – Lux concluded – "What's his name."

"People call him… the Dragon." – Athena answered.

Storybrooke

Neal, Emma, Emily and Tamara were sitting in Granny's hotel and eating breakfast. Awkwardness could be sensed in the air. Emily then thought that she should ask something which could put Neal and Tamara at ease.

"How did you two met?"

Neal gave a brief look in Emma's direction, not sure if she could bear listen to this story. But Tamara said:

"Well… I was very late for my job, and I was running very fast, a coffee cup in my hand. And this guy bumped into me."

Tamara said the last sentence while pushing Neal playfully and the two lovers exchanged a smile. Tamara pursued her story:

"The coffee spread on my blouse. I had no time to change my clothes, and Neal gave me his scarf to hide the smudges. He said that I could keep it, or to call him if I wanted to give it back."

Tamara and Neal looked at each other with a smile again.

"I decided to call him, and we're together since then."

Emily smiled, thinking that the story was cute. Emma said, with a smile and a not unpleasant tone, but still with a small hint of irony:

"It's like destiny."

It was clear that hearing the story of how her ex-boyfriend met his new love wasn't the most pleasant thing for Emma. The girl then stood up and said that she had to go away, since it was time for her to pick Little Em and play with her outside. Emily said that she had things to do too and before she left, said:

"It was a pleasure to meet you, Tamara."

"It was mine too." – she replied with a smile.

When the two girls went out, Tamara said to Neal:

"Emily is a nice girl. And I can clearly see that you two are siblings."

"You think…?" – Neal asked, clearly pleased to hear that he had good family bonds with his half-sister.

Tamara nodded. Then, Neal said seriously:

"There's something I must tell you…"

"I already know you dated Emma." – Tamara half joked.

"It's not about her. I'm… not from here."

Tamara frown her brows, not sure of what he meant. Neal pursued:

"I'm from a place called the Enchanted Forest. It's a place where fairytales are real. And I'm from one of those. And Storybrooke… this town is particular, its habitants are all fairytale characters too. Even Sailor R moved in here."

"What the hell are you doing?" – Tamara asked, seemingly not amused at all.

"I'm trying to be honest with you."

But Tamara stood up irritated, and said:

"If you had tried to be honest, you would have told me what's going on. Is it this blonde, Emma Swan?"

"Tamara…"

"I'm not stupid, Neal. I saw how you two looked at each other."

"No, no, it's not like this…"

"I think it is." – Tamara protested – "That's why you almost hid under the table when Emily asked how we met. You didn't want her to hear that. If you want to be with her, you could have told me directly, instead of inventing things about fairytales to make me go away."

"No, I don't want make you go away…!" – Neal tried to stop Tamara who had already put her coat on.

"When you'll be ready to talk honestly, about you and your feelings, we'll see each other." – Tamara said sternly before walking away.

Meanwhile, Lux and Athena were talking nearby the hotel. Lux explained what happened in the morning with Emma. Athena reassured, telling that he should leave her some time and that she'll eventually forgive him.

"Emma is sometimes difficult, but… when she cares for someone, she does deeply." – Athena stated – "So, she won't keep a grudge very long against you. I'm sure of that."

"I hope you're right… My fault can't be repaired, but I hope she'll forgive me." – Lux sighed with sadness.

A moment after, Lux and Athena saw Tamara exit the hotel. As the young girl passed next to them, Lux looked at her with an intensive gaze. Once she was far enough, Athena asked:

"Lux…? Something's wrong?"

"I don't know… I have the feeling that I already saw her somewhere…" – Lux replied.

Hong Kong, 2009

Athena and Lux decided that first one of them should see the Dragon, in order to check out that he really was what they thought he was. Then, the other would go see him too. After a short debate, it was decided that Athena would go first. The white cat would request the Dragon to show her to way to Princess Aurora's daughter, Rosalie. Athena had promised that she would be there for her, so she had to keep it, and find the girl. Lux, on the other hand would ask about Princess Selene. As Lux was pacing in someone's garden, he was wondering what took Athena so long. But as soon as the white cat showed up, Lux's nervousness calmed down. Lux ran to his friend and he asked:

"So? How did it go? Can I trust him?"

"Yes, Lux. He really knows magic." – Athena nodded with a small smile – "He showed me where I shall find Rosalie."

"So… you're going away soon…?" – Lux asked, feeling sadness regain him.

"I'm afraid, yes… I'm going to a place named "Michigan". That's where Rosalie is." – Athena explained.

"I see… wait, where's your collar?"

Athena used to always wear a collar with a star, which was made by Queen Serenita when the two used to be kittens. Lux on the other hand never was into accessories. But the point was that the black cat noticed that the collar wasn't around his friend's neck anymore. Athena explained:

"I had to give it to the Dragon. It was my payment. I had to give something very important to me."

"I see… but tell me, how long were we under stasis?" – Lux asked.

"According to how old Rosalie is, we slept during around twelve years."

"Twelve years… which means we won't see each other during two years. It was predicted that the Dark Curse would be broken fourteen years after being casted."

"Bravo, you're good at maths." – Athena joked, but seeing that her friend was actually sad, she couldn't ignore the fact she was sad as well – "Don't worry, I'll find a way to communicate with you."

Both cats felt tears in their eyes, ready to flow. Athena thought it would be best to end their goodbyes right now, in order to not break. She kissed her friend on his cheek and she said, very quickly:

"Goodbye, Lux… you're my dearest friend!"

Before Lux could even react, Athena ran away. Lux at first considered following her, but then he understood that it would make it even more difficult.

The next evening, Lux went to the Dragon's address and he waited outside. He preferred all his clients to be gone before making his own entrance. Since it was very late, he hadn't had to wait very long. The last person he saw exit the Dragon's home was an Afro-American young girl.

Storybrooke

Regina Mills entered Granny's Diner, where she saw Greg Mendell sitting at a table and eating his lunch. She approached him and she asked:

"You're the man who had an accident at the town line, am I right? Greg Mendell…?"

"Yes, that's indeed me." – the man answered.

"I am Regina Mills, the Mayor of Storybrooke." – Regina introduced herself – "I wanted to see if you had good time around. Besides your time in hospital, I mean."

"It's nice to meet you. And I like your town, Mayor Mills."

Regina sat face to face with Greg and after a moment, she said with a smile:

"You know… I'm very sure we never met before, but… you seem familiar to me."

"I don't think it's possible, unless you lived in Pennsylvania." – Greg suggested.

"No, I never lived there." – Regina smiled – "Well, if you ever need anything while you're here, don't hesitate to ask me."

With those words, Regina left the Diner. The mayor then saw Lux and Athena walking side by side, talking about something. For a moment, she thought she saw worry in them, but then she thought that cats had their own business and decided to forget about the two. But Regina was wrong; Lux was worried about something actually important.

"I'm telling you, Athena. She seems dangerously familiar to me."

"But how is that possible…? You never saw her before, did you?" – Athena asked.

"I'm not sure. Outside Storybrooke, I spoke to no human. Well, besides Neal and Emma…" – Lux said – "I kept my distances with people, but for some reason, this particular girl reminds me someone."

"But in any case, she doesn't know about your ability to talk." – Athena stated.

"Exactly. And that's a good thing… in case she's dangerous." – Lux pointed out – "Really, I must find out who she really is, besides being Neal's girlfriend."

Hong Kong, 2009

Lux entered the Dragon's room. Even if the man was sitting his back turned to the cat, he seemed have guessed who it was.

"Don't worry, talking cat. There are no people around to hear you."

"You… you know who I am…?" – Lux said, approaching the Asian man.

"Of course I do. Plus, your sweetheart warned me you would come to see me." – the Dragon said, turning around to face Lux.

"Sweetheart…? No, no, no, you got it wrong." – Lux said, feeling his cheeks flush (good thing his fur didn't make it obvious) – "She's my best friend."

"For now, that is." – the Dragon said, but more like to himself rather to Lux, before starting the topic of Lux's visit – "Now, you came here to ask me some information."

"Yes. I'm here to ask about a girl. She's a princess, and…" – Lux began.

"…she's the heir of the throne of Heavens." – the Dragon finished for the cat – "You're looking for Princess Selene."

Lux just nodded. Now, he was clearly impressed and he knew that the Dragon would help him. The man pursued:

"You might know that she got reincarnated as Snow White and Prince Charming's daughter. She was sent to this world twelve years ago, and now you need me to locate her."

"That's it… She needs me to guide her; I must show her the right path which would lead her to her destiny." – Lux explained.

"I can locate Selene for you, Lux. Now, let's talk about payment."

"Uh… we cats don't have money…" – Lux began, feeling awkward – "And unfortunately, I don't have accessories like Athena…"

"What you'll have to give away is something non material. It's something important to you." – the Dragon stated.

"I'm not sure to understand…" – Lux said.

"After I'll show you the girl, I'll retrieve… or block a piece of your memories." – the Dragon said – "You shall forget that the girl you're looking for, Sailor Light, is actually the princess of Heavens."

"What…? You mean, I'll know she's a guardian, but I won't remember that she and Princess Selene is the same person?"

The Dragon just nodded. Lux thought about this a moment. He at first considered leaving and trying to find someone else who could help, but he knew that magic was very rare in this world. Then he thought about it again, and the cat realized that he could accomplish his mission without the memory.

"Alright… I accept the deal." – Lux said.

"But don't worry. Once she'll awake, your memories shall be automatically restored." – the Dragon reassured the cat and gave him a small smile – "Now, let's see where she is."

The Dragon then took a plate filled with water and a lotus flower he put on the middle. After making several movements with his hands, the lotus disappeared to be replaced by an image in the water. Lux looked at it and he immediately recognized the princess. It was her! She hadn't changed at all!

"Selene…" – Lux whispered.

"In this life, her name is Emma Swan." – the Dragon said – "She's currently in the United Sates, but I prefer to warn you: keep her track shall be a difficult task."

"That's a challenge. But life is full of it." – Lux replied.

"Good point. Now that I showed her to you, I must block your memories."

Lux nodded and he closed his eyes, waiting for the Dragon to do it. The old man used magic once more and a second after, Lux didn't remember Princess Selene's face anymore. All he knew now was that he had to look for Emma Swan, who was Sailor Light, and together, they would save the world from evil and find the princess of Heavens.

Storybrooke

Greg Mendell entered his hotel room and he got almost surprised to see Mayor Mills in there. He said:

"You know, I have enough bath towels, if that's why you're here… I use a hair dryer."

"I'm here because I understand now why you seem familiar to me." – Regina said – "We already met before, didn't we? Owen."

When she said Greg's actual name, the man had a half smile. Regina took the green and red keychain out of her pocket, saying:

"I kept it all those years, as a reminder of our meeting. You were a kid when you gave it to me. And now, look at you… you're all grown up. No matter I hadn't recognized you."

Regina wanted to caress Greg's cheek, but he stepped back from her.

"But I did recognize you." – Greg stated seriously – "Because you look exactly the same, Regina. It's like time stopped for you."

"I clean my organism every month. It has good influence on the skin." – Regina smiled as she invented the excuse – "You could have came to me Owen, and tell why you're here."

"I think you know why I'm here."

"To be honest, I don't."

"I'm looking for my father." – Greg finally said.

"Your father? He left not long after you, and I never saw him again."

"I don't believe you." – Greg said with a serious tone, approached Regina – "People don't disappear just like that, Regina."

"Scared little boys can have exaggerated imagination." – Regina said impassively.

"But I'm not a scared little boy anymore, Madam Mayor. It took me very long to arrive here. And I won't leave without my father."

"I'm afraid you'll have to, because he's not here." – Regina replied with a polite smile.

Regina then walked to the door and then she said:

"I'll tell Granny that you'll free the room tomorrow."

"And what if I don't?" – Greg asked, not ready to give up.

Regina approached him once more and she said:

"Whatever you might think, people can just disappear."

Meantime, Lux was following Tamara. He noticed that she didn't seem to leave the town just yet. Athena and him first thought she would leave within minutes, according to the fact she had an argument with Neal, but she did not. She was walking through Storybrooke streets and Lux wondered what she was up to. Athena at first told him that she probably just needed fresh air, like any girl would after an argument with her boyfriend. But Lux wasn't buying it at all. He followed her anyway and he was surprised to see that she was going straight in the woods. He hid behind a tree as he saw her take her phone and talk with someone, who obviously wasn't Neal.

"So, she told you nothing, huh?" – Tamara was saying – "Huh-uh… we couldn't have expected differently. On my part, everything is going perfectly."

Lux felt like something bad was going to happen. And his intuition told him right, because after a pause, Tamara said:

"I pretended to be upset, after Neal said about fairytales, Sailor R and stuff… But I have the feeling that the right occasion will come very soon. Maybe today, who knows?"

Then, Lux saw something that shocked him, more than her words did: on her right wrist, she was wearing Athena's star collar! The same collar she gave up two years ago. And so, the cat remembered where he had seen her!

Hong Kong, 2009

The Dragon was standing next to his balcony, as a person entered the room. He didn't need to face her to know who it was.

"Your photo is on the table." – he said, without facing her – "Don't forget it when you'll go away."

The person, who was Tamara, replied:

"I'm not going anywhere, until I find out the truth."

The Dragon turned around and he said:

"It's strange to hear this word from the one who lied about her sickness."

"You're right. I don't have cancer." – Tamara said with a small smile.

"And yet, you looked for me."

"I was looking for a man like you a for a long time now." – Tamara stated.

"For magic."

"It's very rare in this world. It's so rare that people think about it as fiction."

"But not you."

"Not me." – Tamara agreed – "But find it wasn't easy. I saw charlatans around the world, until I found you."

Tamara then took out of her pocket a flask with red glowing liquid inside. It was the cure the Dragon gave her two days ago. She pursued:

"I analyzed the content of the flask with the most complex technologies. Do you know what I found? Nothing."

"This means I'm a charlatan too?" – the Dragon asked, very calm.

"No. Literally nothing. The liquid in this flask contents no element known in this world. Can you explain that?"

"What I give isn't from this world, because people who need my help suffer from illnesses that science can't heal." – the Dragon explained.

After a moment, Tamara spoke again, her tone serious and determinate:

"Now that I have found you and that I have the flask, I can't take the risk that someone else finds you. It was nice to meet you."

With those words, she took out of her pocket a taser. But what she saw next surprised her. The Dragon got surrounded by red smoke and he literally flew to her and he said:

"You don't know me. At least, not the real me."

Then, he levitated. Before he could do anything, Tamara used her weapon on him and after a moment, he fell dead on the floor. Tamara was about to leave, but her eye got caught by a pretty bracelet with a star, lying on the table. Without thinking twice, Tamara took it and put it around her wrist, as a reward to herself for what she has just accomplished.

Storybrooke

Seeing Athena's collar as a bracelet on Tamara's wrist, Lux understood (more or less) what was going on. When Tamara stopped the phone conversation and when she was about to quit the woods, Lux stood in front of her and he shouted:

"Who are you?! What are you doing in Storybrooke?!"

"A… a talking cat…?" – the girl faked surprise.

"Don't play the innocent! You know about magic, don't you? I tried to remember where I saw you once, and now I know! You were one of the Dragon's patients!"

"Bravo, talking cat. I actually know about dragons and magic." – Tamara grinned – "But I always did my job to be discreet perfectly, how did you find out?"

"That's simple. You have my friend's collar around your wrist!" – Lux said – "Athena is a dear friend of mine, and since her collar meant a lot to her, I once returned to see the Dragon, so I could negotiate the collar back. But when I arrived, I saw that the old man was dead. And the collar was nowhere in sight. So, it only makes sense that you're the murderer, Tamara."

Tamara laughed a little and she made a couple of steps ahead. Lux didn't move, he was a brave cat.

"Congrats, you're a smart one, cat." – Tamara said – "But do you know why I did it?"

"For some reason, you're after magic." – Lux said, looking straight in her eyes – "You want to destroy it."

"Indeed. You know too much now, and I can't permit you to go inform everyone."

Before Lux even had the time to blink, Tamara kicked him violently against a tree! The cat had a short cry of pain, and he started to get up with difficulty, due to pain.

"You won't… get rid of… me… that… easily…" – Lux said.

"Let's give it a test." – Tamara said, before kicking him once more.

Lux's nose was now bleeding, but he managed to look up at his tormentor. Tamara said with an evil grin:

"You should have been mute, like all cats are. So, I have to make your little mouth shut."

She kicked him once more; this time was more violent than the previous two times. Lux shouted in pain.

Athena, who was sitting at the roof of "Granny's Bed and Breakfast", heard a cry of pain. Since she was a cat, she could hear things from a further distance than people. It didn't take long for her to recognize the voice.

"Lux…!" – she shouted, and she began to run in the direction of his voice.

She felt scared when she heard his cry, but she felt even more scared due to the fact she didn't hear him anymore. What if…? "No! Lux is alive!" – she thought with determination – "He's alive and I'll save him!" Within minutes, she arrived at where he was. He was lying under a tree, his breath difficult.

"Lux! Lux, answer me! Who did this to you?!" – Athena exclaimed as she ran to him.

"She…" – Lux breathed before he collapsed.

"Lux, wake up!"

Seeing that she couldn't do much for him, Athena thought that she had to hurry and warn the Sailor Guardians. She whispered in Lux's ear:

"I'll leave you here for a moment… help will come soon…"

Then, with tears in her eyes, she ran back to the town. She was lucky to have found Emma and Little Em first.

"Athena? What's going on? You look distressed…" – Emma asked.

"Emma, hurry! Follow me in the woods! It's Lux…! Someone has beaten him very violently and he's badly injured!" – Athena almost cried.

"What…?!" – Emma exclaimed, before following the white cat.

"I'll come with you! Maybe I can help…!" – Little Em said, as she followed them too.

Emma quickly sent a text to Alexandra, saying that she needed her urgently at the hotel. Emma and Little Em gasped in horror as they saw in which state her cat was. She knelt to him and she was relieved that he still breathed. Emma gently took him in her arms and she whispered:

"Hold on, Lux… hold on…"

Emma, Little Em and Athena ran back to the hotel, while the teen was holding Lux tight to her chest. She didn't care that her coat had now spots of blood; neither did she care about her anger towards the cat. She was ready to forgive him instantly if it would keep him alive. Neal saw Emma with the injured Lux in her arms, and he asked alarmed:

"What happened…?"

"I have no clue, and it doesn't matter for now. We must save him!"

Neal nodded and he freed the couch he was sitting on. Emma laid Lux on the couch and she, as well as Athena, sat next to him. Little Em then shouted:

"Lux T shapeshift!"

Her ball-like toy instantly transformed into a first aid kit and gave it to Emma. Emma nodded in a "thank you" manner and she began to disinfect Lux's wounds and put bandages over them. Emma, Athena, Neal and Little Em got relieved to see that Lux stopped bleeding.

"Come on, Alex… where are you…" – Athena was saying nervously, seeing how weak her black furred friend was.

"Just here!" – Alex said, as she entered the hotel, followed by Mother Superior.

"I came just in case…" – Mother Superior explained, after what Emma nodded.

Alexandra then shouted her phrase:

"Aqua Element Power!"

Within seconds, she turned into Sailor Aqua. She then knelt to Lux and she began to use her "Aquatic Heal". As she began to heal Lux, Tamara entered the hotel hall too, looking surprised by the scene. Neal saw her and he gently put an arm around her.

"Neal, is this…?" – she asked.

"The girl is a guardian like Sailor R. And what she's doing is magic." – Neal answered.

After a moment, Lux's injuries disappeared and all the internal damages got healed too. Emma sighed in relief and she began to stroke Lux's head.

"Lux…? How are you feeling? Lux, open your eyes…"

But the cat could do this request only partially. He opened his eyes a couple of seconds, before closing them again, making one small mewl as a word.

"What's going on…?" – Emma wondered.

"Emma, look… the star on his forehead is injured." – Athena said as she finally noticed a scratch over the symbol.

"Did the cat just talk…?" – Tamara asked to Neal, who only nodded.

Emma then remembered that the star mark was particular. If it was destroyed or damaged, the cat would weaken and even lose his capacity to talk. After examining the star a little, Mother Superior said:

"I see… the star is special, it's a result of very complex magic. It will need a couple of days to heal properly. For that kind of injury, Lux will need fairy dust. I shall take him to the convent, and the sisters and I will take care of him."

"No…! I must be on his side! He should stay with me." – Emma said, as she put her arms around Lux in a protective manner.

"Emma, you might feel guilty for this morning, but right now Lux's better chance is with the fairies." – Athena stated.

After a short moment, Emma nodded. She then gently took Lux in her arms and then gave him to Mother Superior.

"Don't worry, Emma. He'll be between good hands. Lux will be cured within a week." – the Mother Superior said with a gentle smile.

Tamara didn't miss this phrase. She then thought that she'll have to execute her plans quickly, before the cat would heal and tell to the Sailor Guardians what he knows. Mother Superior, Emma, Little Em, Alex and Athena left the hotel soon, leaving Neal and Tamara alone. The young man looked at his fiancée and he said:

"If you want to return to New York… I'll understand."

"But I love you." – Tamara said with a smile, giving him the clue that she's going to stay.

"I'm so lucky I met you…" – Neal smiled back.

"We're bock lucky." – Tamara replied.

New York, 2011

Tamara was observing Neal from afar. When she thought the moment was right, she began to walk straight in his direction, holding a cup of coffee in her hand. As Neal turned at the last moment, it was too late to avoid her and they bumped into each other, the coffee spread all over Tamara's shirt.

"Oh, I'm so sorry…! Are you alright..?" – Neal apologized.

"It's my fault, I'm late for work…" – Tamara replied.

"You know, take my scarf, it'll hide the smudge." – Neal said, giving her his scarf.

With a smile, she put it around her neck and she said:

"Wonderful… thank you. My name is Tamara."

Storybrooke

Greg was in his hotel room and suddenly his phone rang. He answered the call, by saying:

"Hi, why didn't you call me back? Where are you?"

A knock on the door was heard. Greg opened the door, revealing it was Tamara.

"I'm right here." – she answered to the question he asked her through the phone – "Sorry I'm late, it was a hard day. Neal's in the shower, I have only a couple of minutes."

"So, let's waste it properly." – Greg replied.

The two began to kiss passionately and Greg closed the door behind them.

A/N: So... review please?