Chapter Twenty: The Stranger
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At his room at the inn, August sat at his desk and stared at a small hat. He picked up the phone and dialed a number.
"Emma? We need to meet. There's a...problem." August hung up the phone and pulled up his pant leg to look at a leg that is turning to wood.
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Enchanted Forest, Many Years into the Future's Past
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Knock, knock. A noise that would otherwise be ignored if not for one simple purpose. All the doors in the room were wide open, and though servants would not walk right in, they announced themselves rather than knocking.
"I think it came from that wardrobe," Henry said quietly.
Emma and Regina nodded at each other and crept to either side of the wardrobe.
"Hello?" A feminine voice called from inside the wardrobe. "Is someone there? Please, let me out!"
Emma yanked the door wide open. "Who the hell are you?"
A young girl with curled red hair that reached a few inches past her shoulders stepped out. She couldn't be more than twelve.
"I'm Lucy," she said softly. Lucy gave a little curtsy. "Queen Lucy of Narnia. Who are you? And where am I?"
"The Enchanted Forest," Snow answered. "This is the White Castle. I'm Snow White. This is my husband-"
"David," Charming finished. "I usually go by Charming though."
"Emma Jones," Emma said. "I'm their daughter."
"Killian Jones, though if we are going by nicknames, Hook will suffice," Killian smirked.
"I'm Henry," Henry told Lucy. "Emma's my biological mom and Killian's my stepdad, but Regina's my adoptive mother and Robin's my adoptive stepdad." He pointed at Regina and Robin.
"Regina Hood," Regina said stiffly. "Did you say-"
"I'm Robin Hood," Robin cut in.
"That's all of us," Emma said with a grand flourish. "I mean, Neal, Roland, Belle, and Gold aren't here right now, but I'm sure we can introduce you to them later."
"Did you say Narnia?" Regina asked, finishing her question.
Lucy nodded eagerly. "Have you heard of it?"
Emma held up her hands. "Hang on. Narnia as in the Lion, Witch, and Wardrobe? Prince Caspian? Voyage of the Dawn Treader? Silver Chair?"
Lucy frowned. "Um, I've never heard of those. We do have a lion and a wardrobe. The witch was defeated years ago, but..." Lucy took a deep breath. "Jadis, the witch, kidnapped my sister Susan and my two brothers Peter and Edmund. I need to find them."
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Storybrooke, Present Day
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August entered Mr. Gold's Pawn Shop. Marco was there discussing a clock with Mr. Gold.
Mr. Gold smirked. "Ah, Mr. Booth. I'll be with you in a moment. On second thought, tell me – as one admirer of antiquities to another – do you think it's worth my while having this clock repaired?"
"You tell me," August fired back.
"I suppose there is some value in it still," Gold continued as if he hadn't heard August.
Marco sighed. "You know, I'm very busy right now. And, uh, I'm just a one-man shop. But, uh, I'll get to the clock as fast as I can."
Gold smiled eerily. "I wouldn't ask for anything more."
Marco picked up the clock and went to leave. "Good day," he said to August, nodding as he went.
"First time seeing dear old dad since you arrived at Storybrooke?" Gold asked once Marco had left.
"I'm sorry, but Emma said to meet here?" August said firmly.
"That she did," Gold nodded. "However, she called me to request a potion be made for your...illness."
Hope flew into August's chest. "You have it?"
"No," Gold answered. "The only way you're going to be saved is if this curse is broken within a few weeks. That is highly improbable given the circumstances. Time is a fragile thing. Should the timeline stray too far from the original timeline, who knows what the future will hold for us. This curse will break in a month. For you to last that long, that's sadly out of the question."
"Hey," Emma said entering the shop. At six months, she was still insisting she didn't need any help doing part of her job as sheriff and helping out with the situation of time travel.
Belle followed Emma. She, however, was eight months along and didn't resist a little help now and then. "Hello, Rumple, August."
"So can you make one?" Emma asked Gold. "At least to slow down the Pinocchio effects?"
"Miss Swan, you may forget, at this time, magic does not exist in Storybrooke," Gold replied. "Until such, I can do nothing for him. And before you say anything, the magic Regina, yourself, and myself possess currently does nothing for what Pinocchio requires."
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Robin and Roland stepped out of the wardrobe and into a library. A brown haired woman was putting books back onto shelves.
"Excuse me," Robin said. "My son and I are quite lost..." He trailed off as she turned around. "Belle?"
Belle backed up into a bookshelf and placed her hands over her obviously pregnant stomach. "We are closed. How did you get in here? Tell me before I call the sheriff!"
"Look, I'm sorry, truly, I am," Robin said. He pulled Roland behind him. "I don't really understand it myself how I got here. You probably wouldn't believe me if I told you anyway."
Belle seemed to calm down slightly. "Try me."
"A magical wardrobe," Robin said matter-of-factly.
Belle gasped, hand on her mouth. "Robin? Do-do you, um, do you remember? Everything?"
"I remember that I met you in the Enchanted Forest at Rumplestiltskin's Castle," Robin said. "You spared my life. The second time I saw you was over thirty years later. We found out Zelena had taken over while you and others were in a different realm. Lost our memories of the past year and ended up in Storybrooke. Found the author, Emma became the Dark One. Last thing I remembered before waking up in the Forest was boarding a boat to the Underworld."
Belle smiled tearfully. "I remember the same. Obviously not boarding the boat, but the gist of what you said. If you, uh, if you wait, I'll just finish shelving the last few books then lock up behind us. Five new people in eight months is a little suspicious."
"Five new people? Who else is new?" Robin asked.
Belle placed a brown book on a shelf. "Emma and Killian arrived in Storybrooke eight months ago. Emma one night, Killian the next day. Emma and Regina sprung me from the Asylum not long after that. Now, months later, a man and his son appear? Even more suspicious, Emma and Killian knew a bunch of people including the mayor, I talk to and hang out with them and the people they know, had breakfast with Mr. Gold then turn up pregnant? Also, now Emma's pregnant, but she's engaged so it's not overly suspicious. You'll know all of us...this town doesn't get visitors, let alone visitors that know each other.
"Wait," Robin said, holding up a hand. "Emma? Pregnant?"
"About six months," Belle told him. She picked up the last book. "Her Handsome Hero," she read. "I keep meaning to buy one for myself and one for Emma. But anyway, I'm done here. I think I know where you can stay for tonight."
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Enchanted Forest, Many Years into the Future's Past
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"Her Handsome Hero," Emma read.
"My mother read it to me when I was a little girl," Belle explained. "It's my favorite and I thought you might like to read it to any kids you have."
Emma smiled. "Thanks, Belle. This is really sweet."
"Does he want any?" Belle asked.
Emma laughed. "He says whatever I want is fine with him, but I can totally tell he wants a little girl. It doesn't help that my mother has cleaned up the nursery and preserved it the way it was suppose to be for me."
Belle giggled. "So Snow wants a granddaughter, Killian wants a daughter-"
"Henry wants a sister," Emma continued, "and I want to focus on the wedding first."
"Reasonable," Belle nodded.
"What about you and Gold?" Emma asked. "Any more?"
Belle sighed. "I don't know. I mean, I failed with Gideon. I don't think I can do it."
"You didn't fail," Emma told her. "He failed you. Besides, the Belle I know would never give up this easily."
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Storybrooke, Present Day
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Belle walked up the steps to Emma and Killian's house.
"I really hope they aren't asleep yet," she murmured, casting a look at the dark sky.
"Who exactly lives here?" Robin asked curiously, hand gripping Roland's hand tightly.
Belle smiled back at Robin. "A really nice couple. Trust me, you'll be fine." She rang the doorbell.
Emma appeared behind the door. She opened it wider and her jaw dropped. Killian's head popped up behind Emma. Like Emma, his jaw dropped.
"Emma, Killian," Belle said, "I was hoping you had a spare room."
"Yeah, yeah," Emma said in disbelief. "How...? We thought..."
"Time travel apparently," Robin said quietly so Roland didn't hear him. "It's good to see you alive, Killian."
"You as well," Killian replied, still shocked. "Erm, Roland can use Henry's room and Robin, you can use the guest room."
"Thanks," Belle said gratefully. She turned to walk back down the steps, but turned back. "Oh, I'll let the others know to come over to your house tomorrow?"
Emma nodded. "Yeah, that'd be great, Belle." Once Belle had disappeared down the sidewalk, Emma smiled at Robin. "I'll show Roland to Henry's room. Killian can show you where the guest room is."
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The next morning, Emma and Killian sat at the table eating breakfast.
"So," Emma began, "we haven't thought of any names. Do you have a favorite? Um, girl first."
"Marina," Killian said. "I dunno, Swan. Something sea related."
Emma cocked her head. "Marina Jones. No way. Emily."
"Dawn."
"Isabella."
"Stephanie."
"This is pointless," Emma sighed. "We aren't getting anywhere."
"Why don't we write a bunch of names on paper," Killian suggested. "Then you can close your eyes and point at one. Whichever one you pick will be the name if it a girl."
Emma blinked. 'Where? I'll tell you where. Close your eyes and point. Whatever spot you pick, that's our home.' She shook her head. "No. I-I think I know what our girl name is. If it's a girl, then Tallahassee is going to be her name. We can use Talli for short."
"And if it's a boy?" Killian asked.
Emma stared blankly at him. "I thought that was obvious. If it's a boy, I thought maybe, Liam?"
Killian sat very still for a moment before pulling Emma closer and kissing her.
"That's quite the greeting," a smirking Robin said as he walked to the table.
Emma shot him a glare. "We just picked out some nice names that I think are a little emotional for the both of us." She stood up. "Hurry up and eat. The others will be here soon."
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Storybrooke, Many Years into the Future's Past
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Henry walked into Granny's carrying a book. "Just finished signing in the last of the newcomers," he said to Emma and Killian. "I had everyone write down who they were traveling with so we can add up who's still out there."
Emma glanced at the book. "Huh."
Killian looked impressed. "Clever boy."
"Emma! Hi!" Ashley called. She walked over. Alexandra was resting on Ashley's hip.
Emma smiled. "Ashley, hi! Hey, Alexandra! How are you? You guys want to sit down and join us?"
Ashley shook her head. "Oh, no, thank you. Thomas is just getting us some food to go, and I don't want to take up your time. I know you're busy, but with all these new people, I just... I thought that I should help somehow, and since I'm running the daycare, I figured why not offer them free babysitting. Anyway, I was hoping to maybe get a look at that list just to see who brought kids," she added hopefully.
"Well, if you can understand these scribbles," Killian said, sliding the book over towards her, "then be our guest."
Ashley beamed. "Great."
A woman walked into Granny's looking lost.
"Someone new," Henry noticed. "Mom, want to come help?" He asked Emma.
Emma followed him out of the booth. "That's what I do, kid. I'll be right back," she told Killian.
Ashley sat down in the booth across from Killian after dropping Alexandra next to the pirate. "Hey, would you mind distracting Alexandra while I take a look at this?" She asked without waiting for an answer.
"I have no idea w..." Killian said, trailing off. He stared at the small girl. "What's your doggy's name?" He asked her. "Hey. You have to tell me about your doggy." Alexandra babbled as Killian stuck some whipped cream on the end of his nose. "Whoop! Blblblblblblblb! Ruff, ruff, ruff!" After wiping it off, Killian faced Ashley. "That's quite the little charmer you've got there."
Ashley nodded. "Yeah, thanks to Emma. If it weren't for her, I wouldn't have any of this," she sighed happily. "What about the two of you, anyway? Any chance of a fairy-tale ending?"
Killian glanced over at Emma. "Uh, we're taking things slow. Quite slow, actually. I'm still sleeping on a cot on a pirate ship near a pregnant woman who likes to snore," he said with a laugh.
"I have a good feeling about you and Emma," Ashley told him. "Believe me... if I can get a happy ending, anyone can."
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Storybrooke, Present Day
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"So, good news all around," Emma began.
"Let me guess," Regina said sarcastically. "You and Belle both have names picked out."
Emma rolled her eyes. "While half of that statement may be true, Belle kindly asked Killian and I to host a special guest last night and we'd like to introduce this guest."
"Oh, great," Regina huffed, leaning back against her seat.
"You can come down now," Emma called.
Heavy footsteps raced down the stairs. Robin jumped the last three steps to get to the bottom quicker. Regina's eyes widened.
"Robin?" She whispered.
Robin grinned. "Regina! You remember me? All of you?"
Regina blinked furiously to keep from crying. "I thought he was dead." She looked at Henry. "You said he died, you wrote the story. How?"
Henry shrugged. "I don't know everything. I mean, Zeus apparently sent Hook back to life. Who's to say he didn't do the same for Robin?"
"Sorry to break up this very interesting debate," Robin interrupted, "but I want to know exactly what was so emotional about those names from earlier."
Killian shot Robin an exasperated look. "Why don't you join us rather than stand at the bottom of the stairs?" He snapped.
"We also have to figure out where you'll live," Belle stated. "I mean, I'm sure Emma and Killian won't mind you and Roland crashing here for a while, but it's less than ideal."
While they talked about Robin's living arrangements, the word Tallahassee rang in Emma's head. 'Close your eyes and point' 'Go find Tallahassee...even if it's without me...'
"Emma?" Snow asked concerned. "Emma?"
"Swan? Swan, are you alright?" Killian.
Emma shook herself out of the past. "Yeah, yeah. I'm fine."
"Are you sure?" David asked. "You looked like you were going to faint or cry...or both."
"I'm fine," Emma insisted. "Where were we?"
"Names, Miss Swan," Gold informed her.
Emma swallowed. "Right. Okay." She didn't say anything.
"So if it's a girl?" Regina prompted.
Tallahassee. It reverberated in Emma's head. She felt her breathing increase.
"Swan! Swan, you've got to calm down!"
"Emma, slow breaths. Deep, slow breaths."
Finally, Emma calmed herself down.
"That's not fine," David pointed out.
"What does Tallahassee mean to you, Swan?" Killian asked seriously.
"Tallahassee?" Belle asked curiously. "Isn't that a city in Florida?"
"The Capitol, yes," Gold answered. "I would also like to know what it means."
Emma took a deep breath. "Tallahassee was suppose to be my home. My first real home. After eighteen years of foster homes and parents, stealing, running away, I was suppose to have a real home in Tallahassee." She sniffed. "I know it's stupid, but the thought just came to me when we started talking about names and I don't know how to pick a name..."
"It's not stupid, Emma," Snow said softly. "Lots of people pick names due to sentimental reasons. What about if it's a boy?" She asked, changing the subject.
"Liam," Emma answered instantly. "So...Liam or...Tallahassee."
"What about you?" Killian asked Belle.
Belle flushed. "Oh, I actually haven't thought about names. Um, yeah, I really don't know. I want something that means strong or brave. Something like that."
"Chantal or Chantelle means tough like stone," Snow volunteered. "It was one of the names David and I looked at after Zelena's curse. Well, our curse, but Zelena's memory curse. Is it a girl or boy?"
"I caved," Belle sighed. "I asked the last time I went. It's a girl!"
Snow squealed. "That's amazing, Belle! Congrats! Oh, you too, Gold."
"Dior means golden," Emma snickered.
Belle cocked her head. "Chantal Gold, Chantelle Gold, Dior Gold..."
"Golden Gold?" Robin scoffed. "That's a bit much?"
"No, I actually like it," Belle said softly. "Dior or Chantelle. I've always like Rochelle too."
The door bell rang. Emma opened the door to reveal August.
"What?" Emma asked.
August grimaced. "How soon does the curse break? Or how soon can you break it?"
"Your legs...?" Henry asked trailing off.
August knocked on his upper thigh. A wooden sound knocked back. "Almost all the way. Nearly at my joints. I won't be able to walk in a few days." He blinked, noticing Robin. "Didn't you say-"
"Not important," Regina snapped.
Emma sighed. "I don't know when it'll be broken. We don't even know how to break it."
August shook his head, chucking quietly. "We? Or you, Emma? I think you know exactly how to break the curse."
"True loves kiss," Emma answered. "But that's happened at least a thousand times. Belle and Gold, Snow and David, Killian and me. I mean, even Regina and I have kissed Henry at least twenty times by now."
"But you didn't have him before," August said pointing at Robin.
"Hold on," Killian said holding up his hands. "We don't know if they're even true loves. Robin is suppose to be dead. Regina could have found someone else for all we know."
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Enchanted Forest, Many Years into the Future's Past
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"Emma!" Belle called. "Regina! I think I found something."
Emma and Regina quickly ran over to Belle.
"About the Olympian Crystal?" Regina asked frantically.
Belle nodded. "There isn't much, but it's what I managed to find in the Royal Library. I think it's mostly based of fiction though. Anyway, according to this book, the Olympian Crystal is the weapon of Kronos, the King Titan. It was suppose to be passed onto Zeus, but Hades killed Kronos and took the Crystal for his own. Supposedly Zeus and Poseidon banded together to defeat Hades. Now, according to this fairytale, Hades used the Crystal to send his enemies to the Dark Realm where the Black Fairy could torture them or send them to Pleasure Island, which is mostly where the children go."
"So what you're saying is-" Emma started.
"Robin could be alive?" Regina cut in hopefully. She started pacing. "We've got to save him! He could be in danger."
Belle bit her lip. "It's not that simple. The Dark Realm...you know what it's like."
"I know what it's going to become after we go save Robin," Regina said, grinning evilly. "A pathetic waste of space."
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Storybrooke, Many Years into the Future's Past
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"We need a way back to the Enchanted Forest," Snow said determinedly. "And we bring Emma and Henry with us this time." She glanced at Regina and Gold.
Gold lifted his hands. "What you you propose we do then? More power than what any of us currently posses is needed to travel between realms without great sacrifice."
"Magic beans, Jefferson's hat, curses that destroy what you love most," Emma murmured. "What else is there?"
"I can help you," a girl's voice said.
They spun around to see a girl about twelve. She had red hair and spoke with a British accent.
"In exchange for help when the time comes," she added. "My name is Lucy, and I can offer passage between the realms. I'm a portal jumper, creator, finder. Whichever you prefer. I'm not choosy." Lucy frowned. "However, you will not remember this until I let you. I can't have you meeting me sooner than necessary. You will remember Rumplestiltskin opening the door to Arendelle. You sailed to Misthaven, or the Enchanted Forest. Discuss if you wish." She walked some distance away, then waited.
"How incredibly convenient," Regina muttered. "We are talking about crossing realms and then someone who knows how just appears?"
"It's because I told her," Henry said quietly. "Mom and Hook have been whispering about it. How to get to the Forest. Her name is Lucy. More specifically, Queen Lucy of Narnia. The ones with the wardrobe."
"Narnia's real too?" Emma asked exasperatedly. "And you've been eavesdropping on us?" She directed at Henry.
"Call it what you will," Henry shrugged. "I think we should go with it. How else will we get to the Forest?"
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Storybrooke, Present Day
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"Why do you all think I'm dead?" Robin asked Regina the moment Roland closed the door to his new temporary bedroom.
Regina flinched. "Henry's storybook has been filling in a lot of blanks," she said. "One page quite bluntly explains it. Hades ends you with the Olympian Crystal. Once again I lose my happy ending." She walked down the stairs determinedly.
Robin followed her. "For what it's worth, I apologize."
Regina laughed. "For what? It's not your fault. You couldn't help it. Well, you could have by letting me die instead. I suppose I should thank you for saving me." Regina turned back towards the kitchen and walked over to the wine bottles.
"We can keep doing this, Regina," Robin called. He hurried over and pulled her shoulders so that she was facing him. "We are dancing around each other and we have been ever since New York."
"There's a really good reason why," Regina whispered. "We can't go back to before, Robin. There's no way possible. I'm not saying we can't happen, just that we can't jump right in and expect everything to work like before. Things are different now." She poured two glasses of wine and handed one to Robin. "Cheers."
They clanked glasses.
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A/N: Yeah, so I need to wait and watch how OUAT Season Six deals with the Black Fairy and the Dark Realm before actually inserting the rescuing Robin scenes into the storyline, but what Belle, Emma, and Regina discussed is a general explanation of how they save Robin. Who knows, maybe that's exactly how they save him for real! Assuming they bring him back for real. Still totally annoyed that they played with us about Robins return.
Anyway, so as the next two chapters are the season finale, they are the same day/week/month (whatever, you get what I mean), so that means it's one month later and Belle is nine months. Baby Rumbelle will arrive in the next chapters.
Chapter Twenty-One: An Apple as Red as Blood; Regina and Robin, Emma and Killian, Belle and Rumple, August leaves the scene, Gold gets smart, baby Rumbelle gets ready to come (maybe), future Enchanted Forest and Storybrooke, Cobra, Lucy, Jadis, Narnia.