Okay people..
Sorry Merlin is not here yet.. As I said I lead you up to that moment.. It's not there just yet..
A reviewer asked about Baelfire and Aurora. To all readers.. Remember this is right after season 3 episode 18. Balefire aka Neal is deceased. Or is he? - That is the question.. We will just have to wait and see..
For SanSon23.. I have added Aurora and Phillip in the story for you..
Enjoy everyone..
In the apartment above the library.
Snow White tears felled down onto her cheeks of relief after Rumbella nodded and left in a poof of blue smoke from the living room. She turned to Henry who was in process of getting on his feet with the help of Robin lending a hand.
"Where do you think you are going?" She demanded to the teenager. She can understand he wanted to help but he was young and didn't have the experience of magical battles. Although she knew Rumbella was young but she was clearly been trained by the best. She couldn't allow Henry to get hurt.
Henry stood in front of Robin with an angry expression on his face. For good reasons was due to Robin had a grip on the boy's shoulders after pulling him up and not letting him go. Robin had felt his young partner teleporting out of the room to join the battle. Looking into the boy's face and taking control of the situation he held the boy back.
"Let me go," Henry said angrily to Robin and struggling to get free.
"No," His voice firmed and continued, " You are not ready and need to stay here."
"My moms," he cried with frustration in front of Robin who was holding him. Robin could see the man who Henry will become. Jumping into a hero's path no matter what to assist his family. He took a deep breath to talk some sense with the boy. Before he began to talk they was interrupted by Snow voice.
"Henry," Snow called to him. He glanced over his shoulder at her voice.
"You promised them to stay here to protect us," Snow White softly saying with a concern look on her face. "I'm sure you don't want to break that to them," she finally stated to him.
His shoulders and head bowed down remembering the promise he made. As he turned to apologize to his grandmother of his rudeness in trying to leave the room. Behind her in the window he could see debris flying in the wind and hearing. He caught his breath and leaped to her side with his hands on the window to look out onto the street. Snow turned with him to look as well.
"My god," Robin said behind them as they continued to look out the window.
They saw the figure of Rumbella glowing in the dark like a shining star standing in the center of town facing Zelena as she orchestra the entire battle. As the minutes passed watching in awe of the commotion from her. Their thoughts were the same. Amazing power and enlightenment of graceful ability to handle her magic. It was the purest light magic that they ever saw and even thou they were far away the could feel the strong energy radiated from where they were positioned. Finally when they saw the monkeys and Zelena in the cages a sigh of relief escaped from their mouths. None of them realized they were holding their breath.
Snow reached over to grasp Henry's shoulder and pointed towards Regina getting up of the ground with the help of Emma. His smile beamed and finally his shoulders relaxed as the tension was released. He turned to his grandmother.
"Sorry for getting mad, " he apologized as he peer at her. She squeezed his shoulder and turned to speak to Robin. She only saw his back as he exited out the door going downstairs. She smiled knowing he was heading towards Regina. She looked back out the window down below and could see her intuition was correct. He was striding over to her. She continued to watch as he reached her to pull her into his arms and holding her closely.
Crash was the only sound they heard behind them. Both Henry and Snow turned to the sound. A figure was getting up from the floor in the kitchen. The figure was a man in the early thirties with long brown hair around his face. He had on a simple white cotton pants and a shirt with a red robe thrown over him. He was trying to get his bearings holding onto the kitchen table with his hands with his head held down.
Snow reached and pulled the bag to her containing the book and the wand on the floor next to her. She held it to her chest to protect it from the intruder. She opened the bag to see if anything inside can be used against this figure. She saw a wizard's wand in the bag. Slipping it out and slowly touching Henry's back. Gaining his attention from the gesture. She placed the wand into his hands. Hoping since he had magic and possible he can channel it against the man in the kitchen.
Henry held onto the wand and slowly stepped to the person with the wand held high in his hand pointing at the man. He asked firmly, " Who are you?"
Lumiere was wobbly on his feet standing near the kitchen table. Coming out of the enchantment of being a candle for the last couple hundred years can do that to you. What a headache he had. Rubbing the back of his head of the knot that was forming from the crash. Glancing up from his position. He saw the young truest believer pointing a wand at him. "Damn," he said to himself, "the child had his wand."
He answered with his deep French accent, "Lower the wand child. I am not an enemy." Waving his hand on the table. He continued, "You can see that the candle is no longer on the table. The spell broke of my entrapment and only way that can be done if your gatekeeper had taken the magic from Zelena."
Henry looked closely at his face now that he was looking at them directly. He lowered the wand seeing the features of the man. It was the same face reflecting back at him from the flames earlier when Rumbella talked to him.
A small voice emerged in the silence of the room to Henry's left.
"Hello," Roland muttered with curiosity. He had woken up from the sound of the crash and wanted to see what is going on. He saw the tall man in front of Henry. Closer inspection he could see the face of the man from his dreams. He never told anyone of his imaginary friend who visited him. He didn't think anyone would believe him.
Lumiere turned to the sound of Roland. Seeing his young friend in his pajamas holding the stuffed blue monkey in his arms. A smile cracked his face from the grimace of the headache pounding in his head. He sputtered, "Hello their young Roland."
The child beamed with a toothy smile and could see a missing tooth in his smile. He answered cheerfully, "Are you here to play with me?"
A chuckle sounded out of the man's chest. "Not tonight my young friend, " he answered, " I am here to help everyone like the hero stories I told you about."
"Ok," Roland stated with a yawn and turned to go back to the couch. He crawled up onto the couch with his monkey and finally went back to sleep.
Henry was leery of the exchange he saw between them which caused him to raise the wand once again. How did this man know of Roland? What stories did he tell this kid? Where and how did he meet Roland?
"How do you know Roland?" he questioning the man.
Lumiere took a moment to look at the teenager before answering, "The wand you hold is my wand. Long ago it was taken from Zelena and it somehow landed in your grandfather's possession. It is the same one that his father stole from Rumpelstiltskin to save his mother and him. Since it was used. I have had since his birth connected to him through my magic." He stated that last part with a smile merging on his face.
Henry lowered the wand completely of his confession. He read the story of Robin Hood many times from the book of fairy tales. Being it's his favorite hero very few knew how he came in possession of the wand and why he stole it from his grandfather.
Seeing the wand coming down from Henry's hand. He sighed with a deep relief. He knew if this is the guide of the gatekeeper as he suspects. He would have been hurt real bad from his own wand. Gesturing with his hand to a chair. "Do you mind?" he asked. With the nod from Henry. He sat down to stretch out his arms and legs. Ah freedom at last.
Snow White had watched the entire episode from where she sat. Her guard went down as Roland had spoken to Lumiere. She turned back to the window to check on everyone. Her breath caught again of seeing Rumbella using magic once again with Belle and Rumpelstiltskin inside a white bubble of magic. She had to close her eyes of the bright light emerging. A gasp merged from her lips.
Henry heard the gasped and turned around to face his grandmother. "Grandmom?" he asked with concern.
Snow waved her hand to him saying, " It's okay. Just that Rumbella is using her magic on Rumpelstiltskin and it's so bright."
Lumiere looked up at her from that comment and then felt the magic in the air. He smiled knowing finally the curse is ending for the dark one and the new era for the gatekeepers will be born once again. It will be good to see his master after all these years. With that thought in mind he glanced at the teenager who is now back at the window looking out. How to get his wand back? Might as well ask then.
"Truest believer?" he called.
Henry turned at the chosen name given to him.
"May I have my wand back?" Lumiere with a courteous voice.
Henry looked at the wand and then at Snow who had turned to him at the question. He gave a question look approval from his grandmother. She nodded to him of his answer. He turned back to the gentleman then walked to him to hand him the wand.
"Thank you," Lumiere with a thankful voice. Clasping his wand and feeling all of his powers returning at full strength. What a relief after all this time. I won't be as naive like in the past. It was a lesson well learned. Should have listened when his master told him he would be locked up. Oh my over the 400 hundred years of waiting he forgot about that little information till the day Zelena had entrap him into the candle.
"Grandmom, can I go outside now?" Henry inquired with a rush. He wanted to see his mothers and hold them.
"I don't see why not," Snow answered after checking everything from the window.
As Henry went to proceed to leave. He tripped over the bag left behind by Robin in his rush to leave the apartment. Picking up the bag he continued of placing it on the kitchen table. As he was about to leave he felt a bad feeling from the bag. Being curious he opened the bag. He found his grandfather's broken sword and a box. He placed the sword aside but the box gave a bad vibe to him. He slowly opened the box and saw a solid black heart. He knew it was suppose to be his mom's heart but it didn't feel right.
"Grandmom," he called to her. Snow got up and walked where Henry was staring into a box. She looked and saw the heart.
"This can't be my mom's heart," he voiced, " It should have some red in it due to she broke the curse. Right?"
Snow listened to him and she agreed with his statement for she saw Regina's heart long ago after she had killed Cora and again when they left last year to go back to the Enchanted Forest. Regina's heart was half red and other half black.
"I'm not sure Henry," Snow answered with concern and grabbed Henry's shoulders to pull him back from the hideous darken heart.
Lumiere was lost in his thoughts but hearing the comment he turned in his chair. He proceeded in getting up to look at this heart they was talking about. Concentration on his face as he looked at the darken heart. The boy already showing having good instincts and he was right. This can't be Regina's heart. True love's kiss can be broken by anyone who has a pure love in their heart and this thing could not be it. His breath caught of the two words in his mind. He prayed it was not what he thinks it is. No one had the ability to handle this except Merlin. Even he didn't know if his master was awake or not. Let alone know how to find them.
Snow was watching Lumiere as his face from concentration to full horror was shown. He knows something we don't. Well he better answer us.
"Well Lumiere?" she commanded.
His head turned to her voice. With sad eyes he croaked out the two words of horror, " Soul Magic."
Zelena who was sitting in her cage soaking wet in the dark cold night withering in pain from her wrist caused by the gatekeeper. She glanced back at her pets in the cage behind her and could see that her magic fading away as the flying monkeys turned back to the Enchanted Forest people. Many of them she could see was distorted but awareness was coming back.
She grimaced from the pain but was still seething her hatred at the young teenager across the way. Where did this gatekeeper come from? Who sent her here to stop her of her plans? Most important is how can I get her powers? Without her pendent she was completely powerless. Well not completely she smiled wickedly. She exchanged her heart with Regina's back at the farmhouse as a precaution. These fools don't know during her journey for power she ran across the magic of the soul. A powerful magic to be reckoned with. Taking the heart of another witch and placing it in your body not only gave her the ability to control that person but enable her share some of her powers. Only problem was she never found the weakness of the power. Nether less these too goodie two shoes surrounding her probably don't either know about the power. Especially even the powerful Rumpelstiltskin. I will give them a chance for a little bit then strike like I want to with her plans. She gazed at her sister who was standing within the arms of the thief a few feet away from her. You will learn real soon sister of mine. Your happiness will not last. I guarantee it.
Turning her eyes once again on the gatekeeper who was sitting with the couple. She saw the curse leaving Rumpelstiltskin's body but she couldn't figure out the rest of the magic glowing over him. Going to need answers and for that teenager I will get you my pretty if it's the last thing I do.
A question in his eyes. Rumbella came into view of his vision over Belle's shoulder. She grins saying finally, "Hello Papa."
He reaches up with his hand and Rumbella grabs it into hers.
Rumbella pulls him up in a sitting position to sit next to Belle. He didn't let go of her hand during the exchange.
He glared at her with a commanding voice stating, "You my dearie have a lot to answer for."
"Rumple really," Belle frowning with a disapproval voice. He ignored her remark as if he hadn't heard her. Still casting a stern look at the teenager in front of him.
Rumbella could only duck her head down for a brief moment to hide her smile from her parents. Seeing them bicker over her was something she always wanted to see. With confidence learned of dealing with Regina she peeked up at her father from under her lashes with a grin. "It had to be done," she said with pride.
He grunted at her answer but it could be seen a smirk was coming onto his face. Belle was still glaring at him. "Alright love," he answered with a loving look to Belle. She only grabbed his face with her hands to give him an apology kiss.
A voice with some sass behind them. "Not again you two," Regina remarked with a smile to her face, "Save that for later."
The threesome turned around to see Regina standing next to Robin. The evil queen looked awful from her normal appearance of blood pouring down her forehead with dirt on her clothes and was being held up by Robin. Everyone could see she was trying to stand up on her on without his help but losing miserably.
"You okay Aunt Regina?" Rumbella asked with concern on her face.
Regina just waved her hand. "Just a little skirmish," she stated, "I will be fine."
Rumpelstiltskin face turned into a frown hearing the Aunt Regina part. Aunt Regina? He mutters to himself. No child of mine will be calling her that. No way.
Feeling the animosity from her father Rumbella turned to him with an eyebrow raised.
"Aunt Regina?" he implied to her.
"Well when you and mom was gone it was her who raised and trained me," she gleefully remarked to him with laughter in her eyes. She knew her father always had problems with his apprentice.
However when the time came to ensure of her training. Regina was chosen above all other teachers to train her and when her mom last words before she died was to go to aunt's palace for safety. Funny of how mistakes were made and a favor was returned. No one thought it was right in the beginning but her mom stood firm that her daughter learn from Regina. Her aunt was humbled as she remembered of given that honor and died in the process of her promise she kept to her mom.
I can still see her face that horrible last day in the Enchanted Forest. We had just lost Robin, Roland and her daughter Isa. We were all together me, Neal, Henry and her trying to fight the horrible creatures attacking the castle. When we couldn't hold them off any longer. She was yelling at me to open the portal holding the barrier in the throne room. Which I did and sent Henry and Neal ahead of me but when I turned for her. She just stated with a calm voice, "Make me and your parents proud!" Then hit me with a bolt of her light magic pushing me into the portal. I was shocked at the unexpected magic hitting me and watched as she was closing the portal with tears running down her face. I knew that would be the last time I would see her.
Rumpelstiltskin was watching his daughter after she said those words. One minute it was laughter and then complete sadness in her eyes. He didn't know what happened but he could clearly guess that Regina sacrificed herself to protect her. Turning to look up at Regina who had a soft look at the girl sitting on the street. At that moment he was proud of Regina but he wouldn't tell her that. No dearie never in a million years.
His only answer was a Humph at that answer from Rumbella with a sour look on his face.
Regina was in a good mood to see her old mentor finally being out done by his daughter with words. Especially about her raising and training the kid. I bet he never thought that would happen. Laughing to herself for a brief moment. Seriously thou if it was bad in the Enchanted Forest as the girl had advised us then I know I would be proud of her cause what mentor wouldn't be to see their apprentice demonstrate what she did today..
"Excuse me everyone," Charming interrupted, "We need to get the people out of the cages. Some assistance is needed."
"Oh," Rumbella scrambling up from the ground and continuing saying, "Since I locked them up. I can help you with that problem."
As she walked away from her parents to the cage of people yelling wanting to get out. Rumpelstiltskin got his first real look of the damage done to the street surrounding the two cages. He could see the street was damaged with deep holes around the two cages. Some spectators were standing by trying to figure out of how to get the people out. The cage itself held them in secure with no escape. Amazing he shook his head at the scene.
"Need a hand getting up mate?" Hook asked from where he stood coming up next to Robin and Regina.
Rumpelstiltskin glared at him from where he sat. Snarling, "Not from you pirate."
"Okay crocodile," Hook remarked back with a smirk.
Emma heard the exchange as she limped over to them. Shaking her head and elbowed him to move aside and extended her hand down to Rumpelstiltskin. She could see he didn't want to take the hand at first but with a push from Belle behind to get up. He grabbed her hand and she assisted of pulling him to a standing position.
He muttered, "Thank you Miss Swan."
She replied back, "You're welcome."
He was already turning from her proceeding to help Belle the same way from the ground.
Emma glanced at the witch in the cage who was just staring at them with hatred in her gaze. She turned to the group holding the bag with the pendant inside.
"I have her pendant in the bag," she stated to the group holding the bag in front of them, "Where can I put this for safe keeping?"
Regina was about to say put in Rumpelstiltskin's store for safe keeping but then a though entered into her mind to take the pendant for herself and put it in her vault.
"I can take it and put it in my vault for safe keeping," she replied with a rush voice.
Rumpelstiltskin looked at her and felt a bad vibe at that moment. Not sure but he trusted his instincts. Something was not right.
As Emma was giving the bag to Regina. He stepped forward halting the exchange by taking the bag.
"I will put this in my shop for safe keeping," he replied, "Any objections?"
Emma shook her head no and released the bag into his hand. He turned and placed the bag into Belle's hand behind him.
Belle had felt the tension in his arm and the vibe from him of Regina's remark. She glanced at Regina as the bag was given to her. She thought she saw a strange light in Regina's gaze and then it was gone. How creepy must be a flicker of the light above them in the dark.
"Now what do we do with her?" Emma pointing at the witch sitting in the cage.
Rumpelstiltskin turned to face the cage across the street. With a menacing frosty voice, "That my dear Ms. Swan I will handle with pleasure."
Belle hearing that voice knew he was out to kill Zelena who had tricked them in releasing him but costing Bae's life. She regretted they never got to use the frozen potion to save Bae's life. If they had their memories that could have been stopped in time. From what she was told if they had known he would be alive now. We can't change time. However she was not going to let Rumple go back to his dark ways now that he was a gatekeeper. She knew he could do light and dark magic but it has to be a balance. All magic has a price to be paid.
Belle stepped in front of him. Grabbing his hair to pull his gaze on her. She whispered, "No!"
He froze looking at her in shock. He argued with anger in his voice, "Belle she killed Bae and I won't condone that. Justice will be served for my boy."
"I know," her voice raising matching his tone of voice to her. With a clear voice to reason with him, "Justice will be served but not at the expense of your soul. I also know you won't do this especially in front of our daughter." She placed his hand on her belly. At last saying, " She needs us."
His face full of anger of not dealing the justice for his son. His body rigid to the touch. Yet he felt the light magic from his hand sending out love to him. His eyes closed of the pain all over again of losing Bae. When his eyes opened he saw the love in Belle's eyes and looking over her shoulder he could see his daughter using light magic to build an opening to release the people from their cage. Remembering her look saying after he and Belle died. He didn't want to see that look again in any child of his.
"Promise me you won't kill Zelena," she asked. His look still menacing over her shoulder glaring at the witch.
She then pulled his shoulders down whispering in his left ear, "Unless you have to."
With the final four words said to him. He knew Belle was finally giving him permission in event if it went bad for everyone. He pulled back in a little surprise at her for stating something like that to him. Searching her eyes with his question in his look.
"Our daughter will not grow up without us," she said softly to him for his ears only.
He nodded an understanding. With that understanding he pulled and wrapped her in his arms. She knew him to well. Searching over 300 years for his son and when finally getting him back. He loses him again. His daughter was a different matter. Belle was protective of him and any child of hers will get the same attention.
Belle held onto him in her arms. She would never send him to do something unless it's a danger to them. She could only guess of why Rumbella came back to this time period. The sadness on her child's face only moments ago said what ever happened was horrific. She will be damned to have her face that alone. She will have her parents beside her. Closing her eyes hoping she didn't regret those words to Rumple. She prayed the time line has changed now that Zelena has been defeated.
Rumbella was working with her magic to build a bridge of dirt in the hole before eliminating the one side of the cage walls to allow the people out. She started getting a headache listening to the 20 people in the cage screaming to get out. She was hurrying as fast as she could due to one voice inside the cage was yelling his wife was in labor and needed a doctor.
"Charming tell her to hurry up," yelled Prince Phillip with panic in his voice, "Aurora is in labor and I don't want to have my child delivered in this cage."
"Calm down Phillip," Charming shouted back him. To the rest of the people he was facing to the cage. "People relax we will get you out in a few."
Charming turned to her leaning down whispering in her ears, "Almost done?"
She nodded and with burst of magic she tore down the one wall of the cage and swung it away to land it down onto the street away from everyone.
People were lining up to help the people from the cage. You could see Archie, Ruby, Grumpy and his brothers there with hands to assist the people exiting the cage.
Rumbella was looking down the semi dark street seeing bright lights heading their way with a loud sound. Never seeing something like it before. Yet it came straight for them at a fast pace. Out of reflex her hands lifted up to blast the offending vehicle heading towards them.
Charming seeing her defense gesture. Standing next to her he grabbed her shoulder and told her with a calm voice, "It's okay it's an ambulance to take Aurora to the hospital."
Hearing this she put her hands down relaxing her shoulders and a sigh of relief to see it was being handled for the woman in labor. Another good deed tonight.
Charming rubbing the back of his neck and shaking his head of the chaos surrounding them. Finally he took command and directing a few people. He was telling Archie to go with Phillip and Aurora who had concern faces being uploaded into the ambulance. To Ruby to prepare the diner so people could get fed. Their responses were automatic. Archie was seen going into the ambulance talking calmly to Phillip and Aurora. Ruby had run to the diner to let her grandmother to expect a lot of hungry people coming her way.
In the distance as the ambulance was leaving hurrying to the hospital. Dawn was slowly approaching with a yellowish-red color to shine onto the town of Storybrooke.
Charming turned to the teenager standing next to him. He could see her brown braid down her back had come loose in some ends but what caught his eye was the serene smile on her face with her eyes shining lifted up looking at the sun as it came into view of the new day.
"Another bright new day," He said to her.
She glanced at him with a beaming smile answering, "Yes and the best I ever seen."
He chuckled at that response. Looking over her shoulder he had a view of Zelena in the cage who was staring at his daughter with Belle, Rumpelstiltskin, Hook, Robin and Regina. Well he could see the witch was wet and in pain holding her hand to her chest. He could not feel sympathetic either of her plight. After all she wanted his newborn child and he will be damned if she gets near his and Snow's child.
Deciding to go see Snow in the apartment to see if she was okay. He didn't take no more than two steps and froze of the scene in front of him. He saw Henry running out of the library yelling for his moms with a strange robed man walking behind him with a wand. It wasn't the man he was concerned about it was Regina. Regina had a fireball in her hand aiming at Belle from behind her.
Well fans did I say the war was over yet.
Nope..
Stay tuned..