Chapter 16: Forward, Always Forward
In which a young man joins the militia and Emma tries to persuade her parents
The interview had gone well and the man had been hired. The man had a criminal past, one which he attempted to hide during the interview but eventually owned up to, only to discover that it provided him with more credit rather than less. His life experiences, his street-wise knowledge of the boundaries of the law, in other words: what can one reasonably get away with, would be helpful in building a militia and his smooth talking as well as his weapons' expertise was very useful. Ralph is quite content with this Neal Cassidy.
But not quite as much as Neal Cassidiy is with this new opportunity. He had just managed to escape a robbery gone awry and had been on the run for a few weeks. Trusting others had been the biggest mistake, yet again… Like his father, one of the men had been a coward and had informed the police of their coming heist. The only reason he was breathing the fresh forest air, was that he had been the driver of the get-away car, being the most reckless driver of the bunch. It was a good thing they did not know why he was : a man with nothing to lose could be as reckless as he wanted, after all.
He and Ralph get along pretty well. The both of them form a good team. They despise the authority of others, follow their own paths, keep their pasts to themselves. The UOE thrives and Ralphs political aspirations take off as well. Neal knows how to smooth-talk them out of dangerous insinuations or how to dodge difficult questions. Neal could get used to this life. Perhaps it is time to grow some roots once more…..
Belle and Daniel are spending so much time together that Rumple is becoming jealous. "Just because he wants to get back there, doesn't mean you should put so much time into it!" "I'm only helping him to get away from her!" "She is not as bad as you two make her out to be. She's finding her way." Belle laughs derisively: "Oh, really? In your dreams!" "Belle," Rumple begins, slightly threateningly, "you don't want to go back to the Enchanted Forest, now do you?" Belle is shocked. "Of course not! Is that what you think of me? How about a little trust, but wait, that's too much to ask, isn't it?" "I trust you fine. It's him I don't trust…" "You let me worry about that, now, you should not trust her!"
Yet another confrontation between Emma and Blue had led to broken windows all throughout Main Street. The two did not trust each other and their increasing powers did not help. Emma had wanted to search the convent; she had managed to procure a warrant, with the mayor's help and blessing, but Blue didn't allow her entry. The showdown had been on Main Street, like a pale reflection of the typical western, with Blue waving her wand and Emma using her inner strength and abilities. Fortunately for them, and the rest of Story Brooke, the nuns and Emma's parents had stopped them, before any more harm was done.
"Emma, this really has to stop." David sounds stern but he cannot reach her. His constant cough doesn't aid his cause. Emma looks defiantly up at him. "There is no place for the both of us in this town." "Emma!" Mary Margaret is appalled. "How can you even say that?" "It's true, though. She is hiding things in plain sight, and you all simply trust her, like, like she is God or something…" Emma sighs. "You're like trusting little children, but she won't fool me. I will not bite the bait and that is the real problem here. I am ready to call her out and she can't stand that." "Emma, perhaps you've never learnt to trust like that?" "What unconditionally? And who's responsible for that, I wonder?" "Emma, what can we do to make you trust us at least?" "How can I, when you trust her above everyone else? Ultimately she is responsible for sending me away…." "For making you the saviour, for keeping you safe." Mary Margaret's soothing voice doesn't have the desired effect. "The saviour is something I am, or not, that has nothing to do with her. That's because of this true love stuff…" "If we hadn't sent you away, you wouldn't have been able to break the curse. We been over this again and again, Emma." "You don't know that. You only believe that! Because she has said so, I might add." Frustration reaches another high as Emma storms out of the apartment.