Descendants 11

Chapter 11

Episode 6a

It was a quiet morning in Storybrooke. The sun shined over the small town. The ocean shimmered from the sunlight.
Over that motel, on the top floor, inside room 404, Lena woke up and saw the note Maryann left behind. She got up and yawned as she went over to towards the bathroom. On the large dresser by the bathroom door, Lena saw the note. She picked it up and read it partially then looked at who wrote it.

"Hey," Lena called. She clapped her hands and shook their mattresses. "Get up. Something's happened!"

Lyra and Melody stretched and also what was going on.

"Maryanne's gone!" Lena stressed. She waved the note in front of them.

"What does it say?" Melody asked.

Lena held the note in her hands and read it aloud.

"'Descendants.' Descendants?" Lena asked.

"Nevermind," Lyra said. "Go on."

"'I haven't been completely honest with you. The real reason I came here was to find a resident, Will Scarlet' I do remember that," Lena commented. "'And return him to Wonderland. That was my Operation Falcon.
"'I'm not like Lena or Lyra. I don't live in your land. You are all surrounded by magic. It's a daily commodity. I don't have that but I would love too. I know all magic come with a price but I have learned how to be responsible with such matters. That's why I'm leaving now, before any real damage can be done.' What's that supposed to mean?"

"Is that a note or an essay?" Lyra asked.

"'I will see you all again when you return to your home. Until then, this is goodbye. - Maryanne'"
Melody made an expression, like she was hurt, and looked down at the floor.

Flashback: The sun's rays shimmer into the sea water. Several kinds of fish swam around. A school of pretty blue fish swam by along with a bottle nose dolphin. Several fish and other sea creatures swam away as Melody swam through the sea. She was wearing her day clothes and holding a bag. Her dark hair was pulled back into a ponytail. She swam up for a gasp of air, then quickly submerged herself back into the large body of water. She opened her eyes under the water and looked around for anything to catch her attention. She grabbed a few rocks and swam to the shore. She sneaked behind the buildings back to the castle and to her room.

As soon as she sat down in her chair, Sebastian, a lean and short servant, entered the room. "Melody, there you are. You are behind schedule. If you want to look presentable for your subjects you have to get dressed, do your hair," he touched her hair, "Ugh, it's wet and dirty. You went into the sea again didn't you?"

Melody sighed, "Oh Sebastian, don't freak out. The ball isn't until tonight. I still have plenty of time to get ready."

"Miss, you know the rules. You are not allowed in the sea. You could drown." He said.

"Not likely." Melody said.

"You could get eaten by sharks."

"You do realize how rare that actually is, right?"

"Rare but no impossible," He said.

Melody rolled her eyes at him.

"You better hurry and clean your hair before your mother sees you like that."

"She'll chew your ass not mine."

"Hey! That's no way to talk. To anyone."

Melody glared at him.

"Now get ready." Sebastian ordered.

"When you work for me, I'll make your life a nightmare."

"When you're queen, I'll quit." He teased.

Melody smiled as she closed the bathroom door. Sebastian laughed internally back.

Flashback continued: Melody got dressed and cleaned up for the ball. She wore a poofy pink dress with a less than pleased expression on her face.

She put on a fake smile when her mom entered her room. "How are doing honey?" Ariel asked.

"I'm really excited for this party," she pretended.

"That's good. But you might want to wear your tiara before you go out there," Ariel grabbed it and placed it on her daughter's head. "Little miss I'm a teenager now," she played.

Melody gave a small laugh.

Ariel stepped aside as Eric entered the room. He gasped, "You look beautiful. Both of you," he kissed Ariel. Melody nodded once.

Eric escorted the two women to the ballroom where the party took place.

Melody walked down the steps as an announced declared, "Presenting our quest of honor: Melody Fisher." She smiled and observed the room. Over a hundred people were there, not counting the staff. There were many adults there and only about a quarter of the guests were around Melody's age. A band played traditional music. There was a tall triple Decker cake with Melody's name on it. The cake topper was a girl in a pink dress and a tiara. Melody made a face at the topper and moved on.

Melody found a group of tweens and tried making conversation with them but they were too different from her. She moved to another group, but they wouldn't let her in their circle. Melody went over to a girl sitting alone at a table, but she creeped out Melody.

Before Melody could feel any more out of place, Eric started making a speech about what tonight means. He mentioned a union, business, and wealth to all. He did not mention Melody or her birthday.

Melody scoffed when her father said it was time for the first dance of the evening. Eric stood in the center extending his arm out to Melody across the room. She folded her arms so he gave her a look and she smirked at him. His expression changed to desperation so Melody obliged. She walked over to him and their dance started. The slow music began and all the guests watched them.

"You know, I met your nothing in this room," Eric reflected.

"I know. You've told be a hundred times." Melody said.

"I'm sensing some hostility from our birthday girl." He said.

"Oh now you notice me."

"What are talking about?"

"This isn't my party. Most the guest are your businessmen and their children. I don't have any friends here."

"Well if we knew your friends we would invite them."

"You misunderstood. I don't have any human friends."

Eric sighed, "Can we just enjoy this dance,?"

"Why so you can look good in front of your friends?"

"Melody."

"You want to know why I don't have any human friends? It's because they're all mean or weird. And I never get to socialize with them anyway."

"You can socialized with them now. Here, at your party. I thought you would like being with people your own age."

"Now you think you know my thoughts?"

"Melody," He grew stern.

"I'm done dancing," Melody pulled away and left hurriedly out of the room.

"Melody!" Eric called.

*title scene*

Presently, Lena walked up to Lyra from the tier side of the room. "Maryanne lied to us." She walked over to Melody. "She lied. She's gone. She could have told us. If she wants to help it Will, fine. But she didn't have to leave."

"I think she was scared to stay," Melody said.

"Scared of what?" Lena asked, raising her voice.

"Need I remind you," Lyra said, "there are hidden cameras in here!?"

Lena stood in the middle of the room and screamed quickly. She moved the books off the bookshelf and found the first camera. She stomped on it and threw it across the room, breaking in into several pieces.

"That won't help out case," Lyra said.

Lena looked around the room and found the second camera on top of the windowsill and tossed a pillowcase over it. "There!"

"They can still hear us," Lyra held her arms out.

"Ugh!" Lena said.

Melody backed away from both girls.

At the loft, Henry went downstairs quickly holding his Storybrooke. The smell of bacon filled the apartment but that didn't distract Henry.

"Henry?" Mary Margaret was over by her son Neal in his crib. "You look look like you didn't sleep at all."

David poured a cup of coffee in a small mug. "I think you might need this." He offered it to his grandson.

"I need to tell you guys something." Henry said.

Mary Margaret and David looked at each other, concerned.

"Lena lied to us. She's not in the book. None of them are." Henry said.

"I knew we couldn't trust them," Mary Margaret said. "You should check the footage," she told David quietly.

"What else could they be lying about? Are they even from the Enchanted Forest?" Henry said. "Why don't you look more shocked?

"This wasn't the first time they've lied," David said. "It appears they have staged a break in or two."

"And they've been sneaking around the town." Mary Margaret added. "I'm really sorry Henry."

Henry grabbed the cup of black coffee and took a huge gulp. After which he made a disgusted look.

In room 404, the three girls started arguing about the operation. Or Lyra and Lena were arguing as Melody backed away from them.

"Mary was the one person I could count on during this mission," Lena said.

"Really? I'm your family," Lyra said. "I've known you the longest."

"You keep trying to ruin this!" Lena shouted. "If she was lying, who can I trust?"

"Would you relax," Lyra said. "We have a way back home. We've found Zelena. We just have to hang around here for 3 more days. We're so close."

Melody backed up further away from them. She was getting closer and clsoer to the door.

"What does Operation Falcon mean to you" Lena asked.

"You're really going to ask me that?" Lyra said.

Melody backed away getting closer to the front door of the room. She put her hands behind her back bad fleet for their door nob. She opened the door and left the room.

Flashback: Melody ran around the corner where three tweens were pouring an odd vile into their drinks.

"Hey look it's the princess," One said.

"I seen you in the streets. You stink," Another laughed.

"You're drunk," Melody said.

"Yep," the third said and the three laughed.

Melody shook her head and walked passed them.

Ariel came into Melody's room a few minutes later. "Melody are you alright?"

Melody lied stretched out on her bed, changed into her pajamas, quiet.

"Oh sweetie, I'm sorry if this was too overwhelming for you." Ariel sat on the bed next to Melody.

"That's not it. I wasn't having any fun." Melody said, still staring up at the ceiling.

"That doesn't mean you can just leave the party. You need to be respectful of our guests."

Melody was quiet again.

"Everyone is dancing now. It wouldn't be awkward if you showed up again. Then we can cut the cake. It's your favorite, blue velvet." Ariel smiled. Melody was still quiet. "And there are plenty of presents for you just waiting to be opened." No response. "If you don't go back down there to your party you're not getting any of it." Still nothing. "Are you listening to me?" Melody blinked twice. Ariel grunted, "Don't you take anything seriously?"

Melody sat up, "Of course I do. I seriously love going out into the sea-"

"You know you're not allowed out there."

"But why?"

"Ugh, it's dangerous," Ariel pointed out. "Sharks, jellyfish, the water itself."

"I've never even seen jellyfish out there."

"Then you haven't swan far enough," Ariel put her hand and Melody's shoulder, "thank goodness."

"There's more to it than that. You have very explicit reasons I can and can't do things. You let me scale the balcony-" Melody said.

"As an emergency escape," Ariel said.

"-and use the real knives for eating meat-"

"You're old enough to know how to use a knife propery," Ariel said.

"take showers-"

"You can't drown in a shower. And there's no fish."

"eat food off the floor"

"No, you do that when I tell you not to."

"Five second rule." Melody shrugged.

"Melody, the sea is not safe."

"What if I took a boat out there?"

"The sea is off limits!"

"Mom," Melody leaned, "Come on."

"That's the rule. It's not going to change! Ever!"

Melody shook her head and got off the bed. She went to her closet door and locked herself inside.

Eric came into her room after the party furious, "Melody, how dare you disgrace me like that in front of my businessmen. I lost two deals. Now we won't get a sea-salt ice cream shop or the silk warehouse."

Melody walked out of her closet and faced her father. "It was supposed to be my party."

"Oh will you shut up about that! This was a big deal to me. To all of us. And you ruined it! Why-no how could you do this to me? Don't you get that parties and even weddings aren't about celebrating any one person. They're about business opportunity. When you're a royal, that's how it is."

"So now my wedding will be business too?"

"Oh please, you're 13 and there haven't been any offers since you were a baby. You should be getting more as you get older. No one wants a shrew as a wife."

Melody gasped. "Maybe I would be a bit nicer if I had some freedom in my life!"

"Freedom to choose how many kids you want."

Melody turned around but Eric pulled her arm back. "You are going to apologize to everyone. In person."

"How's this: "I'm sorry I was so mean. I was under the impression that this was my party since my name was on the cake with you all seem to have enjoyed and the presents which you all graciously provided. Now I'm sorry you were invited at all and that my father didn't have the decency to think of me before you lot." Melody said.

Eric glared viciously and lifted her arm. He slapped her across the face. Melody stayed in place, paralyzed by what had happened. She finally grabbed her cheek and looked at her father, betrayed.

Eric's face fell, realizing what he had just done. "No no no." He reached for her but she ran out to the balcony and scaled down it. "Melody!" He called after her, "I'm sorry."

Back in the present, Ruby tapped her fingers in the counter in the lobby of the motel. She looked up eagerly as someone came down the steps.

"Melody," Ruby said, "I need to talk to you girls. It's important."

"Not now," Melody said. "Not me. I have nothing to do with it."

Confused, Ruby walked with Melody. "Oh no, you're not in trouble or anything. I just have to tell you something."

Melody kept walking out of the motel.

"There are hidden cameras in your room." Ruby said.

"Like we didn't already know that," Melody said. She pushed open the front door of the motel and left.

Flashback: Sebastian showed up in Melody's room and said, "Perhaps I should talk to her."

"If you can find her," Eric said.

Ariel entered the room behind Sebastian. "What do you mean?"

Melody ran all the way to the beach, out of the main streets to avoid being seen. She stood on the soft dray sand into the cold wet sand. Her bare feet left footprints as she walked along the shore to the nearest canoe/sailboat/surf board shack. She grabbed a canoe and paddle and pushed them into the sea. She jumped in and paddled away from her home, in the darkness.

Upstairs in room 404 of Granny's bed and breakfast, Lyra and Lena continued to argue.

"Melody left and we didn't even see her go," Lyra said.

"She's probably off doing whatever the hell Operation Falcon means in her mind." Lena said.

"They can hear us!" Lyra said. She pointed to the camera.

"Oh," Lena played, "but I thought you wanted them to know everything."

Lyra's facial expression read as annoyed.

"Tell me, have you made contact with your parents since you've been here?" Lena asked.

"One of them," Lyra said.

"Right," Lena said. She looked like she made a mistake.

"Have you?" Lyra asked.

"This isn't about me. We were talking about you."

"Were we?" Lyra teased. "I was talking about Mel and how-"

"What is with you and Melody?" Lena asked. "Why are you two so close?"

Lyra shifted her stance and looked at the carpet.

Flashback: She sailed for over an hour getting father away from island where her home is, when she realized there was a storm coming. The clouds were close together she heard thunder in the distance. She continued to sail as the waves got bigger. Drops of water landed on Melody and water got in the canoe from the waves. One wave soaked Melody and she gasped. She looked back and tried to sail back, but the waves were pulling her deeper into the sea. "Ahh!" Melody screamed in panic. Another huge wave approached Melody. This wave was taller that her. Melody looked at the wave in fear as it rose up higher and over her. The wave ambushed her, sending Melody spiraling under the water. She didn't know which way the surface. She swan in one direction, eyes open but not seeing much through the darkness. As the world began to fade, something grabbed Melody.

As Melody walked down the street of Storybrooke, a few residents watched her. Unaware of their judgments, Melody kept on walking.

"You didn't even know Mary," Lena said. They were both still in their room.

"And apparently you didn't either." Lyra said.

"She would not have lied to me like this. You did something. You knew didn't you?" Lena said.

"I didn't know anything until yesterday!"

"But you still knew. And you didn't tell me."

"You're too controlling." Lyra pointed at her.

"I am trying my best to save everyone!" Lena yelled.

Lyra shook her head. "This isn't healthy."

"What are you talking about?" Lena asked.

Lyra walked out of the room and Lena chased after her.

"Don't you walk away from me. I am am your Tia." Lena said. She followed her down the hall.

"But I am still older than you," Lyra said.

Lyra pushed the front doors open and walked around the corner just outside of the diner. Lena chased her outside and pulled her arm.

"Hey!" Lena said.

The minors were outside the diner sitting at the tables. They looked up at the girls when Lena shouted.

"I am not done talking to you." Lena said.

Lyra looked around. "Maryanne is not my fault."

"Just answer the question." Lena said.

David and Mary Margaret came out of the diner along with Ruby and Astrid.

"Which is what?" Lyra asked.

"What is your plan?" Lena asked.

Lyra opened her mouth. "You can't trust that I'm here to help you?"

Lena moved her jaw.

"Yeah, I wouldn't believe it either." Lyra laughed to herself. "I see we have an audience," she spun around with her arms extended out.

Belle had just walked up. Everyone in the diner had cleared out and was watching the argument outside.

"Tell me what you're doing here." Lena stepped closer to Lyra, standing a few inches away from her.

"You want me to get arrested," Lyra said. "You want me to get caught so you can do this all on your own." She spoke quietly.

"Don't be ridiculous. I need you for this mission."

Lyra tucked her lips inside her mouth and back out. Then she shoved Lena away.

The crowd surrounding them gasped.

Lyra shoved Lena again. "Come on, fight me," Lyra said.

Lena shook her head while glaring at Lyra. "Stop this."

Lyra grabbed Lena's leg and tripped her. Lyra straggled her and held her arms down. "You need to accept reality. You can't just kill an innocent to save another innocent."

"He is not innocent." Lena said. A vein on her forehead was visible. "Get off," she rolled over and stood up.

Lyra stood up too. "They find out why I'm here, they'll call me a hero! They find out why you're here, you get locked up."

Everyone was watching attentively. David reached for his handcuffs. Ruby tried to stop the fight but was pulled back. Astrid was praying.

"You don't know what you're talking about," Lena said. "You're here for your own agenda."

"And you have no idea what it is." Lyra smiled.

Lena smacked Lyra across the face and held her shoulders.

Lyra blasted her back with magic. The whole town gasped and stepped back.

Lena looked at Lyra with a face that says, "I won."

Lyra stepped back seeing the scared looked on everyone's faces. Lyra held her right arm up horizontally just above chest level, hand closed, and moved it to the right.

Everyone watched as Lyra faded from view.

The whole town was quiet for a few minutes. Finally Mary Margaret said, "She has magic."

"Where did she go?" Leroy asked.

"I don't know," Lena said.

David went over to Lena and took out his handcuffs. The crowd watched as the sheriff handcuffed Lena and put her in his car. Astrid stood next to Leroy. Belle and Archie shared a sad expression. Mary Margaret watched Lena with a glare. Henry walked by and saw Lena being arrested from across the street as he held the candy story. Ruby and Granny held each other's hand. Lena got in the back of the car and leaned back. She looked at the car door as David closed it.