Chapter Nineteen: The Return
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"How's your leg?" Henry asked August while they ate their breakfast at Granny's.
August grimaced. "Won't last much longer. Maybe a few more months. When is the curse going to break?"
"May or June I think," Henry said shrugging. "I don't really remember. Belle's baby is going to be born around the same time."
"It's February now," August groaned. "That's less than four months away."
"Isn't there a way to slow it down?" Henry asked. He took a long drink from his hot chocolate (with cinnamon or course!).
August smiled at Henry. "Nope. I mess myself up twenty eight years ago when I abandoned Emma. There's no going back now. The only one that might be able to help is Cobra. He's the one that gave me that book."
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Enchanted Forest, Many Years into the Future's Past
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Henry held up the author's pen to eye level. He sighed.
"What do I write about? There's nothing but peace. Ever since we came back to the forest everything has been calm."
The Apprentice was long since dead, killed over two years ago when he tried to contain the Dark One in the hat. Merlin was dead. Also killed two years ago, but by his own mother no less. Yes, she had been the Dark One at that time and was unable to control it, but with the Apprentice dead, Merlin was the only one who would know what to do about the pen.
"Hey." Emma opened the door and peaked in. She stepped in all the way after finding Henry. Emma was wearing a plain pale pink gown that was no doubt forced upon her by her parents. After over a year living in the forest, Emma was still more comfortable in her jeans and red leather jacket, but Snow and Charming refused to let her wear clothes meant for the "other world" in the Enchanted Forest.
"Hey, mom," Henry said, trying to sound cheerful.
Emma crossed the room to sit on the bed next to him. "I know that look. What's wrong?"
Henry sighed and showed her the pen. "I don't know what I'm suppose to write about. It's all peace and happiness here. No new stories needed."
"So write about old stories," Emma suggested. "About Storybrooke. Put them in a new book. The old book is about the time before Storybrooke. The new one can be about what happened in Storybrooke."
Henry grinned. "Thanks, mom." He gave her a big hug. "See you at dinner."
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Storybrooke, Present Day
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At the hospital, Kathryn was awake and being assessed by Dr. Whale when Emma arrived.
Dr. Whale nodded at her. "Emma. Come on in. Look who's awake."
Emma gave Kathryn a tight smile. "Kathryn, hi. Listen, I don't want to take a lot of your time. But, do you remember what happened? After the car accident?"
Kathryn furrowed her brow, trying to remember. "I don't know much. Um, I remember the airbag going off. And the next thing I knew, I was in the dark, in some basement. I didn't see anyone, but there was food and water." She sighed. "I woke up in a field, walked to Granny's, collapsed. That's when you found me. I guess I was drugged both times."
"Yeah. We're still trying to flush that out of your system," Dr. Whale informed her.
"I'm sorry. I wish I could help," Kathryn said sadly.
Emma placed a hand on her shoulder. "It's fine for now. I think I know who might have done this. Which field and where?"
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Enchanted Forest, Many Years into the Future's Past
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The doors flew open and in rushed a panting Emma who plopped down next to Killian.
"Late again, Miss Swan," Regina noted. Regina had been one hundred percent fine with wearing Enchanted Forest clothing, and took great delight in wearing her dresses and outfits from her days as the Evil Queen. Had Emma not know Regina had become a changed person, she would have no problem flinging a ball or magic at her.
Emma rolled her eyes at Regina. "Like you haven't been late before, Your Majesty. I was checking on Henry. He's in a bit of a dilemma about the pen."
"Why?" Killian asked.
"Peace, peace, and more peace," Emma said taking a bite from a breadstick. "Nothing worth sharing. Told him to write about Storybrooke. That's interesting enough to, yeah?"
Snow nodded. "I think we can all agree that the other land was quite the experience."
Emma's heart clenched painfully. Snow, Charming, Regina, Robin, Killian, and Henry seemed to take to the Enchanted Forest much better than she had. It was hard to leave that world behind. She grew up and had a life there. Maybe it wasn't perfect, but with Killian and Henry and finding her parents, it had gotten much better. Hearing her world referred to as "the other land" was quite irritating.
"Do you think we'll ever go back?" Emma asked uncertainly. "To Storybrooke?"
Snow and Charming laughed. "Hopefully not."
"No one should be casting curses to send us there anymore," Regina agreed.
"I think she means to visit," Robin corrected. He smiled warmly at Emma. "I think a visit would be quite lovely. It's been a while since we last saw the town."
Emma shot him a grateful smile. That was exactly what she meant.
Regina shook her head. "Not possible. If we could, I'd have kept a portal open between the two realms. It's just impossible to keep the town in place when we aren't cursed to live in that realm."
Henry paused at the doorway as he listened to the conversation. "The impossible is just something no one's done before," he whispered.
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Storybrooke, Present Day
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Cobra watched. Waiting.
"Belle's baby is going to be born around the same time," he mimicked. "How convenient is that? Then Emma's baby will be born two months later." Cobra glanced across the street at August who was siting on a bench, rubbing his woodening legs.
"Not much longer, August," Cobra whispered. "Emma is going to break the curse very soon. Much sooner than she realizes."
"Are you sure you can do this, Cobra?" A girl, no more than nine or ten, with a slight British accent asked from behind Cobra.
Cobra spun around and frowned at the girl. "Lucy. I thought you were going to stay in your realm."
Lucy grinned childishly. "You really should know by now that I have my own means of realm jumping. I thought I ought to let you know, though. It's about two or three more years until my brothers and sister are captured by her. How has your realm been fairing?"
Cobra smirked. "Subject change, nice. But it's been slow moving. They don't want to change anything."
"Is it time?" Lucy asked.
Cobra nodded gravely. "Indeed, but enough of this now, you should be getting home. Say hi to Ed for me."
Lucy nodded serenely and opened the wooden doorway that seemingly materialized out of nowhere.
"Oh, and remember I have a score to settle with Jadis," Cobra called to Lucy. "She nearly killed my mom. I want to help make her pay."
Lucy's eyes hardened. "Indeed." As soon as she closed the door behind her, the doorway disappeared. The last image Cobra had of it was the gleaming lion head.
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Sidney was drinking coffee at Granny's Diner. Emma entered, and sat across from him.
Emma raised her eyebrows. "Hey, Sidney. You wouldn't happen to know about what happened to Kathryn would you?"
"She disappeared," Sidney said evenly. "Nothing else."
Emma glared. "Oh, for God sakes, Sidney. Drop it. You kidnapped her. I don't know how or why, but what I do know is it was you. There is a DNA trail in a basement of some house out there, and I'm going to find it."
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"Henry?"
Henry spun around. "Hook?" He said, heart thumping. "You scared me."
"My apologies, lad, but Emma's looking for you," Killian explained. "You didn't come home after school and you weren't at Regina's."
Henry shrugged. "Went for a walk. I should have told mom." He set off towards their house. "Why's she worried? No one wants to hurt me...yet."
Killian sighed. "We don't have any memories of what happened from the boat till when we came back. That's dangerous. Someone could have followed us back. Someone who wants to hurt you."
"Big whoop," Henry snorted. "Nothing new for us, right? Besides, mom and mom can take 'em."
"I can believe that," Killian said, "but they just want to keep you safe. They don't want to have to take out bad guys who threaten you."
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"I'm pregnant," Emma blurted during dinner.
Snow and Regina beamed and smirked respectfully, while David dropped his fork and glanced between Emma and Killian.
"About four months," Emma mumbled. "I figured I should start talking."
"You aren't even married yet," David said with a glare aimed at Killian.
Emma held up her hands. "But we will be. Look, whether you like it or not, I will have a baby. A baby which I will not give up. I learned that the hard way with Henry."
"Besides, I want a little sister," Henry said innocently as he continued to eat.
"It's not a girl," Emma protested. "Well, I don't know if it is or isn't. I want it to be a surprise."
"Well that's wonderful news," Regina said sweetly. "Can we finish eating?"
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Enchanted Forest, Many Years into the Future's Past
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"Peace," Emma murmured. "I don't even know the word anymore."
"Now you do," Killian told her. They were siting in their bedroom with papers scattered everywhere.
Emma fell back on the bed and groaned. "I think I'd rather plan this wedding while Zelena was terrorizing us in Storybrooke, or when there was the threat of Gideon, or even while we were trying to rescue Henry from Pan. I don't do peace."
"Yet you suggested we wait when Gideon was a threat," Killian pointed out.
"That was a minor lapse of judgement," Emma defended herself. She sighed. "You know, we haven't talked about kids. Do... Do we want any?" At Killain's alarmed look, Emma quickly added, "I'm not pregnant. I just saw how good you were with Alexandria and Henry already sees you as his stepfather and-"
"Swan," Killian interrupted her, "I think, we should focus on the actual getting married part, then think about kids." He had an odd smile when he said kids.
Emma saw this and laughed. "I think you want a little girl to spoil, huh?" She laughed at the halfhearted glare on Killian's face.
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Enchanted Forest, Present Day
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It was becoming rather boring. For about six months, Robin Hood had been living in the Enchanted Forest, though he could have sworn he boarded a boat to the Underworld, not the past. He had ditched the Merry Men ages ago. Roland, however, stayed with Robin.
"Daddy, where are we going?" Roland asked. "I'm tired."
Robin sighed in relief when he saw a village by a port. "We'll stop here, Roland."
"-hasn't been seen in ages!"
"Good riddance that-"
"What if she-?"
"She won't find out."
Robin pulled Roland closer and walked up to a man. "What are they talking about?"
"Captain Hook," the man whispered. "He disappeared a while back. Cora's furious."
Robin's heart thumped. "Where did he go?"
The man shrugged. "No one knows. Here one day, gone the next." The man lowered his voice. "Hardly missed. Did all of Cora's dirty work that pirate did."
Robin nodded his thanks and walked off to rest under the shade of trees.
"Daddy, why were you asking about that man?" Roland asked.
Robin sighed. "Curiosity."
A young girl, about nine, approached Robin. She had red hair and clothes that befitted someone of more royal stature. "Robin Hood?"
Robin nodded cautiously. "And you?"
The girl smiled. "Lucy. I've come to take you to a new world."
"What does that mean, daddy?" Roland said.
Lucy wrinkled her nose. "I liked you better as an eight year old. Four year old? Eh, not so much."
Robin was on guard. "A new world? You mean outside of the Enchanted Forest?"
Lucy nodded. "My siblings and I are gifted with realm jumping. All I need do is conjure a nice simple wardrobe." She waved her hand and behind the cover of trees, a wooden wardrobe with a blue and green sphere for a handle appeared. "This will take you to the Land Without Magic. Only you and Roland can see it, and it will disappear once the both of you go through. You should arrive in Storybrooke, but beware, the curse may not be broken yet. That's the thing with realm jumping, time passes differently in each realm." She waved as she stepped into a different wardrobe, one with a gleaming lion head. It disappeared the second the door swung shut.
"Storybrooke," Robin whispered. "Regina." He pulled Roland over to the wardrobe. "Okay, Roland, you have to trust me," he said seriously. "This is going to take us to a new land. Ready?"
Together, they opened the door, and walked into the wardrobe.
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Storybrooke, Present Day
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Emma arrived at the station, where she found Regina waiting for her.
Regina smirked. "Congratulations, Sheriff Swan. There's about to be a big break in your case. You just got yourself a confession. But, I want you to listen to the whole explanation, so you understand why this happened." She cleared her throat. "Sidney. You can come in now." Once Sidney entered, Regina addressed him. "Tell her what you told me."
Sidney looked defeated. "It was me. I abducted Kathryn, and I held her in the basement of an abandoned summer home by the lake."
Emma nodded slowly. "And why did you do this?"
Sidney shrugged. "I was going to find her after the conviction, be a hero. Then, get the inside track on the biggest story to ever hit this town. I'd get my job back. Plus, a novel, and a movie, and… I don't know. It sounds crazy now. I thought it might prove you incompetent as a sheriff." He quickly added, "I have maps to where the house is. You'll find chains in the basement. Lots of fingerprints, I'm sure – hers and mine. But, I didn't hurt her."
Regina grinned at Emma from behind Sidney. "The man has obviously suffered some kind of mental break," she said seriously. "He clearly hasn't been himself for a while."
Emma nodded. "Agreed. Alright, thank you, Sidney, Regina. Just lock him in a cell for now. I'll have David drive him over to the hospital to be kept in the mental wards until further notice."
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A/N: Okay, so due to Season Six putting AU Robin with Evil Queen, AU Robin can't come back. Therefore, I put a slight twist into the story. Don't worry, I'll explain how Robin came back to the past when he should be dead.
Belle is 6 months pregnant, and Emma is 4 months. Belle's baby will be born around the time the curse is broken. Speaking of, shall baby Rumbelle be a boy or a girl? And baby Captain Swan? And names! Names! Names! Names!
Anyway, we are almost done. Three more chapters left! Yay! Then it's on to Season Two. I think that will be a new story itself, so I need new title ideas.
I'm going to do a small Q&A:
Q: Who's Cobra? Lucy? Jadis? Ed?
A: Cobra is actually not that hard to figure out. No confirmation yet, but definitely once the group figures out how they really time traveled. Lucy is also very obvious if you catch all the hints I've given. Jadis is the villain that's coming up. She's part of the reason the group time traveled. Ed is not the boy's full name. He's related to Lucy though.
Q: How will they break the curse?
A: Good question. As of yet, I don't know. They have to figure out and accept the reality and their mission.
Q: Why are the storybook pages so ex machina?
A: Thank you CinemaSins, now I know what ex machina is! Um, well think about it this way. Henry is the author, yes? So he "writes" the pages. He does not know what's important, but when something is brought up that is related to a storybook page, Henry is ready to whip out the book. At this point, we've gotten into all the Land of Untold Stories huzzaz, so nothing much pertains to the actual plot. Once Gideon appears in the pages, yeah, things are going to get intense.
Q: Swanfire?
A: Hell naw! Uh, hardcore Captain Swan shipper here! Speaking of which, I'm so angry with Gideon for sinking the submarine. Anyway, no Swanfire, but yes, Neal will come into the picture in Season Two.
And onto the next chapter.
Chapter Twenty: The Stranger; future, pregnancy progressions (Belle 8 months, Emma 6 months), August and his Pinocchio issue, name games, Robin, and more of Lucy.