Love and Mischief Chapter 8
"Mom, Violet and I are going to walk back to the house." Henry said to Regina, as he walked toward the door of Granny's.
"Okay." Regina smiled "Be careful."
"We will."
Regina and Robin had treated their kids and Violet to movie and dinner at Granny's. At three and a half Grace was finally old enough to sit through a short movie. Regina figured out one that would be entertaining for Roland, Hope and Grace but not too childish for adults. It had gone well, so Robin and Regina figured they could add this in as an occasional treat for the kids.
"You got more fries than me" Hope pouted and pointed to Roland's plate. Regina and Robin had let the kids get whatever they wanted for tonight, and once Roland had chosen chili and fries both Hope and Grace did too."
"Did not. We all got the same." Roland countered.
Regina and Robin sighed; Hope was at the age now where she would start squabbles with her siblings, sometimes Grace, but most often Roland. Regina had spoken to Archie about this. "This isn't because her mother was Zelena, is it?"
"No, it's perfectly normal. Just typical sibling rivalry. She sees Roland getting to do more things by himself now and is jealous of that. She'll likely extend that to feeling all adults, other than perhaps Henry and Violet, favor Roland over her."
"But I can't let her do those things yet, she's only four, Roland's ten."
"Exactly, but she's too young to understand that yet."
"So what do I do?"
"Explain to her that she'll be able to do those things when she's his age."
"But she seems to understand that about Henry. She never squabbles with him, unless he teases her and provokes her temper."
"Henry has always been almost an adult to her. Other than when he's acting like a typical sibling to her, she idolizes him. Roland, though, even though he's six years older and goes to school, had otherwise been treated pretty similarly to her. But recently he's been treated as more grown up than her."
"But Grace doesn't do this. She'll join in when Hope starts it, but she doesn't start the bickering."
"She's not quite mature enough yet. Plus to her, its Hope she compares herself to, not Roland..."
"Roland is more to her what Henry is to Hope?"
"Yes."
Regina nodded. Grace had just recently started to act more like a child than a toddler. To her Henry would always be an adult. Where Roland was the big brother she, mostly, idolized. Hope had done that to a degree as well when she was younger, but now he was just her brother who got to do more things than her.
Before the squabble could escalate more, Leroy burst into the diner yelling "Giant!"
"What's going on?" Emma stood up from a booth on the other side of the dinner.
Regina hadn't noticed Emma and Hook at the booth when they all had trooped in a half hour ago. But Roland, Hope and Grace were all pretty wired up from the movie and being allowed to pick out whatever they wanted to eat… too preoccupied herding their rambunctious "kittens" to a booth to notice anyone else.
Regina and Robin both stood up as well. Grace and Hope moved in close to Robin and Regina like they'd been told to do if danger approached. Roland said worriedly "Henry and Violet are out there."
Regina looked down and nodded, she was ready to run and find them. She didn't have to.
A breathless Henry and Violet ran back into the diner. Henry took a deep breath and said anxiously "Moms! There's a big guy down the street yelling words I can't understand and throwing and breaking stuff."
"Please don't tell he's green and in ripped pants" Emma muttered.
"Green?" Killian looked confused.
"Comic book superhero, Bruce Banner, also known as the Hulk. Please don't tell me we will now have superheroes tearing up Storybrooke." Regina said irritated.
"No, it's not the Hulk, moms. He's blonde and dressed in Enchanted Forest type clothes."
Both women looked relieved.
"The guy is real strong though. He threw a car."
"Was anyone hurt?"
"Not yet."
"Well then, we stop him before he does." Regina said.
Leroy ran out the door "That way!" He pointed down the street.
Regina and Emma ran. Hook ran after them.
Robin held back Henry and Violet from following. "Stay back here. If you go Roland will want to follow."
They nodded.
Granny came out to the doorway "What the hell is happening now?"
"Big guy, not a giant, but really strong, is throwing stuff down the street."
"Better not come here." Granny patted the crossbow she'd armed herself with.
"My moms will stop him."
Robin walked a short way down the street, then looked back at the kids. "I can see what's going on now. Stay back there. Emma and Regina are there now."
Well he isn't quite a giant, at least, Regina thought. But definitely, as Henry said, a big man. Regina immobilized him so he couldn't do any more property damage. She stayed behind him while Emma ran to the front of him. The spell angered him even more.
Emma winced at the volume of the large blond haired man's yells. "Stop! We aren't going to hurt you!" Emma screamed back.
The man glared and shouted with rage.
"What's he yelling? I can't understand it either." Emma shouted over to Regina.
"It's an old language, dead even in the Enchanted Forest. "
"You know it though?"
"Yes."
"So what's he saying?"
"What I expected. We've got another abducted person." Regina wasn't going to mention most of the words since Emma confronted him were insults about her parentage and other rude comments...
"Person? So is he a god?" Emma looked worried.
"Don't think so. I think I might have an idea who he is. I think I saw him once."
"When?" Emma did a spell that silenced the large man's shouting, and just in case, his hearing as well. If Regina knew him he probably understood what people were saying.
"Just a few years ago, on Avalon."
"Thank goodness. I thought-"
"He might be someone I hurt when I was the Evil Queen, right?"
"Well yeah." Emma shrugged
"Understood." Regina said neutrally. Okay, let me try talking to him. Will you go tell Robin, Henry and everyone what's going on?"
"Sure. Hey, Killian stay here, we don't know how this guy might react."
He nodded and Emma ran back to Robin.
Regina broke Emma's spell, but kept her own still holding him in place. His loud shouts filled the air again. Regina stepped into the large man's line of sight. "Fionn McCool?"
The man stopped yelling and looked at her with relief.
Regina broke the immobilization spell.
He nodded, then spoke rapidly in the same language.
"Bit too fast, I only caught part of it. Do you remember how to speak English?"
Fionn looked embarrassed "My apologies for the damages I caused, Lady Regina. Do you know how I came to be here in your land?"
"Just Regina is fine. We have an idea. Someone has been abducting people and just dropping them here, causing all kinds of chaos. The other two are gods, but it looks like they're changing their tactics now."
"Abducting someone from Avalon takes a great deal of power. It's also a high magical crime." Fionn said calmly, but with a tinge of anger.
"Wow, so there's an actual criminal law in magic?" Emma said as she returned with Robin. Henry, Violet, Roland, Hope and Grace stopped behind them.
"In the oldest magics, yes. Avalon is still ruled by those laws. Abducting someone from Avalon unbalances magic between the realms; that is why it's a high crime."
"High crime, does that mean a death penalty?" Emma asked, concerned.
"No. But if the magic can indeed be traced to a person or persons the punishment is severe. No one has even tried for nearly a thousand years."
"We think we know who is doing this, but they're using magic to hide themselves. We haven't caught them." Regina said.
At the same time on Avalon.
"We found him, Brigid." Mout pointed to the image in the reflecting pool.
"That's the place called Storybrooke." Brigid said.
"Yes. I think I can give a bit more power to the spell so we can hear them." Morgan said.
"Thank you, mother."
The spell activated in time to hear the conversation between Regina, Fionn and Emma.
"I think one of us could go through. There's enough magic to spare. They need help finding who is doing this. Fionn's magic is too minimal."
"I'll go, mother."
"There's possibility you may be stuck there, at least for a while."
"All the better it's me then. Fionn is my chosen partner, my true love."
Morgan looked at her daughter, then at Mout.
Mout nodded. "She's the best choice."
Morgan thought of the last time she'd voluntarily let her daughter leave Avalon. Brigid had fallen in love with a handsome young man visiting Avalon. With some hesitation she allowed them to marry and leave Avalon. While Bres had been considerate to Brigid and a good father, he had been a harsh king to the people of his country. Warfare broke out between a neighboring country when their three boys were young men. Bres and their eldest child were killed. A grieving heartbroken Brigid returned to Avalon with her two younger sons. The neighboring kingdom won the war and the people preferred the ruler of the other kingdom. They'd been allowed to leave safely but could never return. Brigid's sons chaffed at the peaceful life on Avalon and left after a few months. They had eventually met the same fate as their father and brother, dying in battle. Morgan had feared this when Brigid had left years earlier. She had hoped that Brigid's feelings would have been just a passing attraction, as had happened to her with Brigid's father.
Dagda had been a braggart but charming. Even taller than Fionn, a brawny man with bright red hair, startling green eyes and a ready laugh. Time had eased the horrors of Morgan's youth, she and Mout had been partners for some years. She adored Mout's children and began to wish to have one as well. She spoke to Mout about it. Mout smiled and said "I could tell. We will watch for those that come here. Watch for one that is kind and will not try to hold control over the child."
A few years later Dagda had come to Avalon on a quest for knowledge. While Morgan helped him look through their records she inexplicably began to like the silly man. When she broached the question he had grinned "Of course I'll help! Aren't you helping me?" He had agreed to having no claim over the child, but hoped she'd let him visit from time to time.
Mout had shaken her head in bemusement when Morgan told her just who she had chosen. "My dear, you are tiny, and he is a rather large man. The child could take after him. This will be your first child."
"So you think I should tell him I've changed my mind?'
"Only if you don't feel ready to deal with possibly giving birth to a big baby. He clearly is a kindhearted man and only wishes what we'd readily grant."
Morgan decided she would risk it. Dagda had been as kind, gentle and playful as a lover as he'd been otherwise. Once Morgan was certain she was pregnant and Dagda had found the information he'd needed, he left. Morgan did somewhat regret he'd been such a large man, when indeed Brigid had taken after him, being a large a sturdy girl since even before she was born. Once Brigid was born though, none of that mattered. Dagda had visited from time to time as Brigid grew up, thoroughly charming his daughter each time. He seemed quite proud of Brigid's sharp mind, laughing that she'd got that from her mother, not him! Brigid took after Dagda not only in stature but in looks, his light skin, bright green eyes, and hair a warm chestnut. Dagda died a warrior's death not long after Brigid reached adulthood. They held a memorial ceremony for him on Avalon. Her daughter had lost so much, her partner Fionn had a similar tale of loss, which had been what drew them together. She couldn't cause her daughter more pain by refusing her plea,
"Both of you are right." Morgan sighed.
"Thank you mother. I'm also the best at spell tracing. I'll find who took Fionn."
Brigid stepped through the portal onto the main street of Storybrooke, not far from where Fionn was still speaking with Regina and the others.
Fionn spotted her. "Brigid! He shouted. "Did they bring you here too?"
She smiled and ran to embrace him. "No, mother and everyone made a portal spell."
"That would use a lot of energy… "
"They'll be okay, mother said so. But it may be a while before they can open the portal again."
"At least we're together."
"Yes. But I came here for another reason, one that I must do right away. I can trace the spell that brought you here and find the ones responsible."
Fionn nodded and stepped slightly away. Brigid pointed her finger at him and traced a small circle. A saffron beam of light went from Fionn to a point off in the distance. Regina immediately ran in the direction the beam lead. Emma, Inari, and Maya followed behind her. Maleficent and Tinkerbelle transformed and followed the light beam from the air.
"Damn! She's moved!" Emma shouted.
"I know! But the light's still tracking her, that way!" Regina yelled back
Tinkerbelle flew down in her fairy form. "Maleficent found them! They're at the old mine!"
"Thanks!" Regina stopped and quickly poofed herself there. Just in time too. Regina didn't know where this new level of magic had come from, but the blue fairy was winning against Maleficent. Mal had transformed back to human form and was clearly tiring. Regina threw an immobilization spell at the fairy. When it struck successfully Regina ran to Maleficent "Are you okay?"
She laughed. "No, but not badly hurt. That spell won't last long."
"I know. Hopefully long enough!"
Emma, Inari and Maya ran into clearing.
Regina sighed with relief.
Tinkerbelle landed beside her. "I don't know what she's done, but she's stronger than she ever was. I'd have no chance fighting her. Sorry."
"It's fine. See that other line?"
"The one going in the mine?"
"Yes. That has to be whoever was working with her, probably Isaac. Whatever magic he might have can't be much."
Tinkerbelle nodded.
"While we're fighting her, go get Isaac. We can definitely catch him. I'm betting she needs him for this. If we have him..."
"We've got a bargaining chip! Okay!" Tinkerbelle transformed and quickly flew past Blue into the mine.
Regina saw her spell was fading "Get ready to fight, everyone."
Inari whispered to Maya, then replied to Regina. "We have an idea. Something that uses both Maya and my illusion and dream magics."
"Whatever it is, you better do it now!" Emma exclaimed as the Blue Fairy broke Regina's spell.
"Don't know how strong this will be, hopefully strong enough!" Inari cried out as he threw what looked like foxfire at the fairy.
The Blue fairy jerked as the light engulfed her.
"You got her!" Maya grinned at Inari. "My turn now!" A fuchsia glow surrounded the Blue Fairy and she fell to the ground. "Tinkerbelle helped me change it just a bit more." Maya pointed to the Blue Fairy "Now she gets the dreams."
Tinkerbelle walked out of the mine with a dazed, stumbling Isaac in tow. "Half dose of the sleep dust." She shoved his shoulders down and he flopped to the ground, landing on his ass. Emma hurried over and slapped handcuffs on him. Isaac muttered incoherently at her.
"Good! You've caught them!" Brigid shouted as she and Fionn arrived at the mine entrance.
"She's very powerful, she's broken everything we've tried to hold her with so far." Regina replied.
"Yes, she's breaking that one now. Let me try. This will be a battle though."
Emma saw some townspeople had followed. "Everyone, stay back."
"You might want to as well." Brigid said as the Blue Fairy broke the spell and sent a blast of magic their way. Brigid blocked that one with ease, but she knew the fairy was just testing her limits.
Everyone else moved back. Tinkerbelle helped Maleficent back to the cover of the trees.
Emma led a mumbling, staggering Isaac back to her father, then walked partly back to where she had been. Ready to back up Brigid if need be.
Regina ran into Robin's embrace, at the clearings edge. "Henry and Violet are staying in the SUV with Roland and the girls." He told her.
"Good. This is no place for children."
"You think the fairy would hurt the children?"
"No, not deliberately. She's not that far gone. I think. But she's going to be throwing powerful magic around and it could injure by accident anyone nearby." Then she stepped away from Robin and spoke with volume and authority "No one that's not a strong magic user" She looked at Maleficent "that still has most of their strength, should be anywhere near the mine entrance. Everyone else should go back to town for their own safety."
"You heard the mayor" David said in his commanding leader voice.
Most turned back to town but Killian, Leroy, Granny, Robin, Rebecka and Mulan stayed, as did Fionn.
"Not leaving." Leroy held his miners axe.
Me either." Granny patted her crossbow.
"Aye, same with me." Killian looked toward Emma. "Besides," he grinned "I have this" He waved his hook.
"If someone else gets injured I can heal them. I need to stay." Rebecka said firmly.
"And since Rebecka is staying so am I." Mulan rested her hand on her sword pommel.
"I'll be staying as well, Regina." Robin looked her in the eyes. "Not leaving your side, not when we know how dangerous this is."
"Alright. You all can stay, but stay back in the trees." Regina stepped back to the clearing but remained closer to them than Emma.
Fionn walked over and stood beside Regina. "Got my orders too." He grinned. "I have some magic, but it's mainly strength. This is a magic against magic fight."
"I read the stories. Was your life as tragic as in the tales?"
"Depends on what ones you read. You had a lot a tragedy too I heard."
"Yes. And that woman" Regina pointed at the Blue Fairy "was the cause of some of them."
"So this is the fairy that altered your story?"
"Yes."
"How you must hate her."
"I did when I found out what she did. But I managed to overcome the damage she'd done and recover the best parts of my lost story." Regina smiled back toward Robin. "I knew that aggravated her, so I got some small measure of justice."
"Yes, your soulmate. I remember your visits to Avalon. Brigid and I were on the other side of the island when you arrived, but we were back before you left. We also attended your wedding on our island."
"That's my fondest memory of Avalon. Someday I'd like to take the girls back there for a visit. Hope was just a baby and Grace wasn't born yet. I imagine Roland would beg to go and Robin certainly would want to come too."
"And your oldest?"
"So you remember Henry?"
"I saw him with Robin and Roland wandering through our island's woods. I didn't stop to speak with them, the children were avidly taking in everything your husband was saying. I wouldn't intrude on such a happy family moment. I saw Henry at the wedding as well."
"Henry's grown up now. He has a girlfriend. They are in love. I'm pretty sure they'll get married soon."
"So he'll be a bit too preoccupied." Fionn smiled.
Before Regina could reply Brigid cursed "Damn! What magic did you steal to have nearly my power?" Keeping her eyes on the fairy but speaking to everyone else she said "I can hold my own, but this is going to be a standoff."
Emma sent a blast of magic toward the fairy, but she merely deflected it and sent it back. Emma ducked and the blast smashed into a tree, sending a branch flying in Regina's direction.
"Regina!" Robin cried out.
She hit the dirt and the large branch zipped over her head, slamming to the ground nearby with a crash.
"It's no good trying that, she's using her full power!" Brigid yelled.
Regina nodded as she got back to her feet. She grimaced and brushed off the dirt from her clothes as she moved back next to Robin.
He hugged her tight. "You got down fast enough? Okay?"
"Yeah."
Emma growled in frustration and stomped back next to Killian. "Even I can't do anything!"
"Love, the fairy's in a standoff with a goddess, and a powerful one at that. She's been hiding just how strong she is from all of us for years."
"Brigid said she stole that kind of power from somewhere. It must have been a hell of a strong whatever."
"Aye. Hope Brigid can wear the fairy down."
The fight showed no signs of ending a half hour later.
"I can see the start of fatigue in the Blue Fairy, but she's still got a lot of reserves." Rebecka noted.
"What about Brigid, is she okay?" Fionn asked
"Gods and Goddess are a bit hard for me to read, but from what I can tell no fatigue yet."
Granny grumbled "Well, think I'll go back to the diner, probably need me there more than here." She headed back toward town.
"I'm staying." Leroy glared at the others. "Want to see that fairy get hers, what she did to Nova and me... Don't care if I have to wait all night."
"Nobody's saying you have to leave." Emma said "That woman screwed up most of our lives in some way."
"Yeah. She ain't apologized for any of that either, unlike the mayor, here, did for what she did. Stuff that only happened because of what that plague did to her story."
And that, Regina thought, was the closest Leroy would ever express as forgiving and showing sympathy for her. It was more than she ever expected from the dwarf, actually. "Thank you Leroy."
He shrugged, "It's the truth."
"It is." Robin said softly and gently pulled Regina closer again. Regina relaxed against Robin's chest.
The earth began to shake slightly beneath their feet, then a gust of wind driven mist blanketed the area.
"What the hell?" Emma exclaimed.
David and Snow came running toward them "What's going on?" David yelled.
Inari and Maya were right behind them. "That's not an illusion spell, it's real." Maya said.
"It's not from them." Rebecka pointed toward the two women still fighting, although the Blue fairy seemed more distracted than Brigid by the abrupt natural events.
Then there was a blinding flash of light, when it cleared everyone was locked in place. A woman with ebony colored skin and a multicolored ankle length tunic dress strode toward them with a stern look. She glanced at Regina, Robin and their friends and a brief smile crossed her face.
"It's the great mother goddess" Regina said with surprise and awe.
"That's her? The one that brought Robin back to life?" Emma said with surprise.
"I did not bring him back alone, even I do not have that power. Regina and Robin himself along with me brought him back to life." The great mother said as she turned toward the two immobile combatants.
"Did they call you here like with the others?" Robin asked.
The goddess laughed mockingly. "They could not. I came here to bring magic back in balance. They have caused magical damage across all the realms." The great mother glared at the Blue fairy. "They have committed a magical crime so severe that I must address it."
The Blue fairy looked defiant but her eyes showed fear.
The great mother released everyone but the blue fairy from the spell.
Brigid relaxed then bowed to the first goddess. "Thank you great mother."
"You are quite welcome, child."
Fionn hurried over to Brigid and then also bowed to the great mother goddess. He then took Brigid's hand and they walked back to the others.
"Should I go get Isaac from the jail?" David asked.
"No need." With just a movement of her little finger Isaac appeared in the clearing. He was still immobile like the blue fairy. Unlike the fairy though, Isaac's eyes were terrified.
"It was all her idea;" Isaac looked toward the fairy. "I just did it because she said I'd have some magic back if I did!" Isaac frantically lied.
"If that was the truth it would make your crime even worse." The goddess said with deadly calmness. "The truth is you both acted out of rage that your power to manipulate others had been taken away or lessened. You wanted to punish those that had taken this away from you. What you did though not only was wrong but it unbalanced magic across all the realms. This is the worst of the magical crimes, because it could have so severely damaged every realm, even this one with the strongest protections on it's magic. It's not a "land without magic" but the land of protected magic, magic in this realm is intimately connected with the wellbeing of the planet itself."
"My curse that brought us here, created Storybrooke, did it cause damage?" Regina asked worriedly.
The great mother looked back at Regina and smiled gently. "No. It not only takes from the ley line, but gives back."
Emma laughed "An ecofriendly curse, only you could have done that Regina."
"And now we know why so many of the children are showing healing magic. Light magic healers give back to our magical source even more than we take." Rebecka said.
"Moms!" Henry cried out in anxiety as he crested the hill.
"We're fine Henry." Regina said reassuredly.
Roland was right behind him and made a beeline to her and Robin, closely followed by Hope and Grace.
Violet brought up the rear of the group with Belle and her daughter. Violet joined Henry and said "I told you they'd be okay." she said with a smile.
"Yeah." Henry smiled back at her, then they walked over to Regina and Robin.
The goddess had turned back toward the Blue fairy and Isaac.
With a wave of her hand Isaac disappeared.
"What happened to him?" Emma asked.
"The most severe punishment that can be done to an author."
"Complete insanity." Regina responded.
Snow looked shocked for a moment, then remembered from reading Regina and Robin's quest story, "Like the author that cursed the women of Regina's family…"
"Uh. you aren't leaving him to wander crazy alone out there?" Robin asked.
"No. I can be compassionate. He is in what this world calls a "mental institution". I have slightly altered his life story. A relative had him committed some time ago, when he began to, as they say, 'exhibit signs of severe schizophrenia', so severe he was unable to care for himself."
"What about her?" Inari asked with an edge of anger, pointing at the Blue Fairy.
"Her punishment will be different. In addition to what she did with Isaac she also drained all the magic out of a ley line in this realm."
"That's how you got all that power! Do you realize how serious the damage that causes?" Brigid was livid with anger.
"The Dark One has done the same thing." the Blue Fairy said defiantly.
"No, he hasn't, not yet, at least." The great mother goddess responded coolly.
"So Rumple has been doing something with them though?" Belle said, dismayed.
"Yes, but he has been wiser. He has taken small amounts of energy from many ley lines. While this is not a violation and will not cause damage, it is considered unethical and those that protect the magic of this realm are keeping watch."
"I think I know one of those guys." Emma said "Neal met him."
The great mother chuckled. "Most are women. But yes, he is one of the guardians."
"You know who I'm talking about?"
"Yes, the man known as the Dragon."
Mulan gasped. "The Dragon exists in this realm?"
"Yes. He is the guardian spirit of your clan, correct?"
"Yes!"
"Perhaps you and Rebecka should meet him then."
"I'd like that."
"I believe Emma can help you locate him. " She then held out a small medallion with a dragon inscribed on it.
Mulan took it and said softly "We had a larger one in the family shrine that looked just like this."
"Wear it when you meet him. He will already know who you are, but this will be proof."
"Thank you." Mulan bowed deeply to the goddess then returned to Rebecka's side with a bright smile.
Rebecka took her hand and gave it a warm squeeze. That is the happiest I've ever seen her, she thought.
The great mother goddess then returned her attention to the Blue Fairy. "You have committed two of the most serious magical crimes. You have also committed other serious magical crimes, asking the author to rewrite Regina's story to suit your selfish and destructive aims, unjustly punishing Tinkerbelle for trying to fulfil part of her fate, despite what you had already done to Regina's story, cruelly punishing Nova and Leroy for something that should never have been punished, collaborating in a scheme with Gepetto that lead to Emma being brought here as a helpless newborn without her mother, something that would not have to had happened if you hadn't changed Regina story. And centuries before that you interfered in Baelfire's story, you gave him the magical bean that you knew would separate the Dark One from his son-"
"The Dark One was not suitable to raise a child."
"That was not your decision to make. Your irresponsible action then triggered the sequence of events that you further manipulated."
"Funny how you let Regina be raised by a mother far more unsuitable than Gold was a father, and even blocked me from being her fairy godmother." Tinkerbelle snapped at the Blue Fairy.
The Blue fairy made no reply, pursing her lips in contempt.
"You will lose all your magic. This will restore most of the power you stole from the ley line. You will be sent back to the Enchanted Forest, to Avalon, in fairy size, where they can decide if further payment is needed for your crimes." The great mother goddess intoned
"No!"
The great mother goddess pointed at the Blue Fairy, in a flash of light she disappeared.
Inari grinned, he could feel his all his magic was back. He playfully made a visible fox tail appear and let it lightly thump the side of Maya's hip. The dreamcaster goddess rolled her eyes. but a hint of a smile crossed her face. She quickly reached down and grabbed the tail. Inari smirked, then they both laughed.
"The portals to your realms are open to you now. You can leave whenever you wish." The great mother glanced toward Inari and Maya, then Brigid and Fionn.
Brigid and Fionn bowed to her again, Inari and Maya quickly followed the gesture.
The great mother then walked over to Regina, Robin and their family. She picked up Grace. "So little one, do you remember me? We met before you were born."
Grace's eyes went wide, and she solemnly nodded.
"I thought you would." Then she smiled down at Hope.
Hope gazed up in awe. "You've got lots of magic and are really old."
The goddess laughed. "Indeed I am. I am from the first tales, before there were books."
"Wow!" Roland exclaimed.
The goddess smiled at him. "You have a good magic to lead others, like your father. Use it wisely."
Roland nodded his head vigorously "I will!"
"Maybe I could write your story, so people will know you now." Henry said.
"You were a good choice for the new author. I believe you will be the one for many years. If the pen directs you, you should write this story. Perhaps someday you will get the whole tale."
Henry nodded. "I hope so."
She then looked at Violet. "Power comes in many forms, not all are meant to be fighters. It doesn't make you less."
"I want to be like Rebecka, a healer." Violet replied.
"And your magic and skills with herbs is already indispensable, with your pharmacy degree, that much more." Rebecka said.
Maya walked up to the elder goddess "I want to change my fate, is it possible?"
"If you can think of changing your fate, it is."
"I still could be the aspect, but I don't want to be alone anymore."
"Then you shouldn't be. "
"I want to help Inari."
"I think that would be good for both of you. "
"You do?"
"You want to help others have a happier life, but as a part of their lives, not just an observer. "
"Yes!"
"Look how much happier you are, even now. Now think about how much happier you would be if you could have free choice on where you go."
Maya nodded and walked back to Inari.
The great mother goddess turned to Regina and Robin and smiled warmly. "You are content now."
"We are." they answered together, then laughed.
"I cannot stay much longer. I was able to cross here because it had become so unbalanced it threatened all the realms. I have reset the balance, so I must return home now."
"Wait." Belle pleaded, holding her daughter's hand. "You said Rumple was using the powers of many ley lines. Do you know what he's doing?"
The goddess walked over to Belle and smiled down at Bae. Then she looked solemnly at Belle. "I cannot tell what he is planning, I only feel the disruption."
"The curse, it must have-"
"Yes, but because of its nature, although it was a massive disruption, it was brief. Magic was able to adjust to the new realm. The Blue Fairy and this dark one were also cunning enough to make sure the range was limited and came nowhere near Avalon."
"So you're saying the Blue Fairy created the curse?" Emma shook her head incredulously.
"Yes. Gold stole it and tinkered with it to suit his aims. Then manipulated Regina into casting it. Regina's small additions actually lessened the damage dramatically."
"Must have been my suppressed light magic side unconsciously influencing me." Regina smiled lopsidedly. "I was so far gone into dark madness..."
"But it ended up being a good thing, not just for you, but us too," Snow said joining the group, David and little Neal following her.
"In the long run." Regina countered.
"Yes, in the long run, but it still was." Then Snow asked the goddess "Rebecka was able to help Neal a bit, but can you give him back what Zelena stole from him?"
"I don't think you should've asked her that, Snow."
"It's fine for her to ask. I cannot give back what was taken, but I can do more than what Rebecka could. If you want this Neal?"
"Yes!" The young boy nodded his head vigorously.
"Hmm, probably feels like you're missing something."
"Yeah."
"What I can do is to fully heal the damaged pathways. That will open you up to potentially being as strong as you should have been. But it will take work. "
"Can you see what element type he is? The pathways were too damaged for me to tell even after I did what I could." Rebecka asked.
"Yes, there's no magic aura, yet, but there will be once I finish. Neal is an air element."
"Oh, like Roberta." Robin said.
Neal looked around and saw the older girl talking with Maleficent and Tinkerbelle. He liked her, she would play with him sometimes when she came with her mom or dad to pick up baby Cedric from daycare.
"Yes. Perhaps she could help him when his magic ability activates in a few years." the goddess said. Then she spoke to Neal again. "This will hurt a little bit, do you still want to do it?"
Neal nodded.
David started to object, but Snow pulled on his arm. When he looked at her she shook her head no and said "No David, it's his choice, we have to let him. It's very important to him."
A soft multicolor glow surrounded Neal. Neal grimaced but did not cry out. After a few minutes the light faded. The goddess bent down and gave the young boy a kiss on the forehead. "You are a very brave boy." Then she stepped back.
Snow swept in and hugged her son tightly, then let David do the same.
Emma looked on with mixed feelings, happy for him, a bit envious, and ashamed of the later.
"Shame same couldn't be done for you, love." Killian said
"It's okay. I don't need an element. I'm strong without one. And I know my parents love me too. Neal had a lot more damage done to him magically than I did."
Snow and David looked over at Emma then and smiled at her.
Neal ran over to her and tackle hugged her.
"Hey kiddo." Emma laughed. She looked over at Killian. "It's fine."
"Aye, it is."
Shortly after the great mother goddess returned to her home. But not before one last bit of warning. "Although I cannot see exactly what Gold is planning with the ley line energy it feels like something dangerous."
Belle nodded. "We're all worried. And it might involve using Bae's magic in some way. Maya's dream warned me of that."
"Yes. Guard the child as best you can."
"We should go back to Avalon now." Brigid said and Fionn nodded.
"We should head to my realm as well." Inari said smiling down at Maya.
"Perhaps you could stay voluntarily one more day? Tomorrow is our summer harbor festival. A lot of people in town would like to thank you for your help; that would give them a chance." Regina said.
"The great mother did say the portals would be open to us any time we wanted to leave." Fionn nodded. "I'd like to stay for this festival."
Brigid laughed. "Just say the word festival and Fionn's there."
"I suppose we can stay one more day as well." Maya smiled.
"Lots of food, dancing?" Inari asked excitedly.
"Oh, I like dancing too." Maya looked at Inari with amusement and a bit of something else.
"Yes to both" Regina replied then looked at Robin with a smirk. Maya had actually given Inari a flirtatious glance. Their guess had proven correct.
Granny spoke up then "Just so happens I've got one empty room for tonight and tomorrow."
"We'll take it Brigid said.
'