Chapter 30: Powerful Magic
Emma helped Charming down the side of the volcano. Once at the bottom she helped him strip off his armor and then she striped off her own cumbersome protective clothing. Then she poured some water on a piece of cloth and handed it to her father.
"Try wiping the blood from your eyes. Maybe it will help your sight to return faster."
She helped him find his eyes. She saw movement in the trees, which didn't surprise her because she had felt like someone had been following them all morning. Now with her father in vulnerable state she was not about to let anyone led a sneak attack.
She eased her father down onto the ground and handed him the water bottle.
"Stay here." She ordered as she drew her sword and headed for the woods.
"Emma, wait!" He called after her. All he could see was darkness and it made him want to pound his fists against the ground in frustration. He tried to stand up, but with his sense of sight compromised he found that his sense of direction was also lost.
Emma approached the woods with caution and was surprised to see Jefferson crouching in the brush. He gave her a wide eyed look of fear.
"We have to leave now!" He insisted with urgency in his voice.
"What did you do? I told you not to waste that pardon I got you for Oz." She replied seething with anger. Her parents were right, he was crazy and that was never going to change.
"Not Oz, I am being chased by pirates from Neverland!" He protested out of breath.
"But, you are still banned in Neverland!" Emma pointed out excitedly.
"This is why we have to leave now!" He exclaimed. "I never thought they would chase me across the border."
"We can't leave, David got dragons blood in his eyes and he is blind. I have to get him back to the palace and see if anyone knows of a way to help him regain his sight." Emma stated firmly.
"I'm leaving with or without you." Jefferson volleyed back with equal firmness.
Emma gave him a shocked look. "You can't leave us here. The rules of the hat require the same number of people to go back through as came through the first time." She reminded him unnecessarily.
Jefferson shrugged. "That is the theory. I have never tested it."
Emma did the math in her head. They had one portal ring that would get one of them home. If Jefferson left by himself and they were forced to use the ring one of them would have to be left behind. She couldn't send her father by himself in his condition and she couldn't leave him behind either.
"Emma, we all have to leave now." Her father called from the edge of the woods. He had done the math as well and come up with the same answer.
"It's not like we have much choice." Emma sighed as she went over to help her father stand. "Besides maybe Gold will be able to find some way to help you regain your sight."
"Will he help us though? He is pretty angry at us right now." Charming reminded her.
"As long as we control the dagger he has to help us." She replied simply.
Before they followed Jefferson back to the edge of Oz and the portal that would take them home, Emma placed an envelope addressed to her grandmother on top of the pile of armor. As they walked away she saw one of the soldiers from the palace emerge from the forest and scoop up the pile. She had suspected that Ruth had sent men along in secret. Now that those suspicions had been confirmed, Emma also knew that her grandmother loved them and was concerned for their wellbeing. Emma gave a sigh of relief and hoped the envelope would make it safely into her grandmother's hands. It contained one of the remaining 98 ultrasound photos of the baby Snow was carrying. It might be the only glimpse of her grandson that Ruth would ever see.
Emma hoped it wasn't true and that they would one day return to Oz as a family the way that Ruth wanted. For one thing, Emma was pretty sure that the cure for her father's blindness could only be found in that land.
She was holding him by the elbow and leading him back to the hat.
"Are you sure this is the right thing to do? I really think we need to look for a way to counteract the dragon blood before we leave Oz." Emma pointed out as she led her father around a rock in the path.
"As you pointed out, we really don't have much choice at the moment. Now is not the time for Jefferson to be experimenting with the laws of portal travel." Her father stated in a matter of fact tone. It reminded him of something he had been meaning to ask the hatter for a while.
"Jefferson, how did Regina get her hands on the apple that she used for the turnover she gave to Emma?" He asked.
"What makes you think that I would know where she got the apple?" He answered in a calm voice.
"I don't think she brought it with her and I have asked Red and a few other people if they remember seeing it when they found Snow in the Enchanted Forest. No one remembers seeing it that day." Charming informed him.
Emma gave him a wounded look. "You helped Regina to poison me by going back to the Enchanted Forest and getting the apple that cursed my mother?" She asked with bitterness in her voice.
"I had no idea that Regina meant to use the apple on you." He protested.
"Henry almost died from that turnover." She stated angrily. "Why would you take Regina back for the apple?"
"She promised me I could be with Grace if I helped her. Besides, there was not enough magic in that world to actually go back. She was only able reach through for the apple."
"So it is possible to go back to the Enchanted Forest given enough magic?" Charming asked.
Jefferson thought about this for a moment. "From what I understand, our world is closed off kind of like a book where you can only visit the pages that have already been written. It would take some pretty powerful magic to change that." He told them truthfully. "Even the evil queen and the dark one are that powerful."
Emma wondered if he wasn't approaching the problem the wrong way around. Her parents were always saying that love was the most powerful magic of all. True love had made her the savior and true love no doubt would make her brother powerful in some way as well. She had already voiced her feelings on the subject and now was not the best time to bring up the subject. However, it did give her food for thought.
"You can take us to a past event though?" Charming asked.
"Yes, I have visited some of the happy times that I shared with my daughter. You can interact with the people in small ways, but you can't make big changes." Jefferson informed them.
"That was all I needed to know." Charming stated simply. "I want you to take us back to probably what is one of the saddest days of Snow's life."
Emma rolled her eyes. "Please tell me that we are not going to go back to the day I was born so you can make me watch you sword fight with me in your arms. You are a hero and you saved my life. I get that now. I don't have to see it in person!" She stated excitedly.
Her father gave her an enigmatic smile. "That is a good idea, but we can save that field trip for another day. I want to Jefferson to take us to the day your grandfather King Leopold was buried." Charming stated with feeling.
Emma gave her father a worried look, which of course he couldn't see.
"Why would you want to go back to a day like that?" She asked with surprise in her voice.
"I hadn't met your mother at the time that her father died. I know it was one of the hardest days of her life, second only to the day she had to give you up. When you love someone as much as I love her you want to be there for them always, but especially at the times in their life that are the hardest. If I can go back to that day and make it easier for her in any way, I have to try." The feeling in his voice moved Emma greatly and she was about to respond when they reached the area where they had entered Oz.
"I'll take you anywhere that doesn't have Neverland Pirates!" Jefferson exclaimed as he jumped through the portal.
"Did you see any pirates?" Charming asked.
"No, I didn't see pirates, but Jefferson seems genuinely frightened. So, he has gotten on someone's bad side. You and I are going to jump through the hat on the count of three." She grabbed on to his hand and counted down before they jumped through.
Ruth studied the ultra sound picture that Emma had left for her.
"Is it magic?" Merlin asked.
"I don't think so. Apparently they have things in that realm that are far more advanced than we can ever imagine. Could you feel the magic in Emma though? It runs strong in her father's side of the family. If she has it, her brother more than likely will have it as well." Ruth stated in a matter of fact tone.
"Have you been holding out on me my dear?" Merlin asked, slightly teasing.
"Not me. My husband's side of the family dabbled in magic. It skipped both of my sons, mercifully. You and I both know that strong magic is both a curse and a blessing. I am going across the border." She stated.
"Are you going to see Hook?" The wizard asked.
Ruth made a disgusted face. "Not if I can help it. You know I can only stand his company twice a year at best. I have other business there."
"Well, if you do happen upon my never do well brother please ask him to keep his riff raff on his side of the border. There are reports of pirate's in Oz." Merlin shook his head in disgust.
Ruth tucked the picture in a pocket of her dress and kissed Merlin on the cheek.
Jefferson, Charming and Emma stood in a clearing and watched the funeral procession of King Leopold.
Emma gasped when she saw her mother hanging on to the arm of the wicked queen. Snow looked so young and innocent. She was dressed in black with a black veil covering her long ebony hair. Emma had never seen her mother as a princess in the flesh. She had seen pictures in the story book, but they had failed to do her mother justice.
"You see her." It was not a question that her father was asking.
"Yes," Emma replied. "She looks so…" Emma couldn't find the words to describe what she saw.
"Sad?" Jefferson asked.
"Beautiful." Her father offered with feeling in his voice.
"Yes." Emma replied. Both were true. She was sad and beautiful.
"She is hauntingly beautiful." Charming added wistfully.
Emma looked at her father with hope written on her face.
"Can you see? Has your vision come back?" She asked excitedly.
"No, but I know how your mother would look when she talked about this day." He sighed. "Is she alone?"
Emma looked towards her mother and saw that she was surrounded by people, but she was very much alone. Even Regina had wandered off somewhere else.
"She is alone." Emma replied forlornly.
"There should be daisies growing nearby. There always were wildflowers growing near Leopold's castle. Will you pick some for me and we will leave them for your mother?" He asked.
Emma started to gather up the flowers. "You really think it is that simple? Give her some flowers and they will cheer her up." Emma asked in disbelief.
"Nothing is ever simple." Her father replied. "Leave this with the flowers." He handed Emma the note he had written the night before.
"What is that?" Jefferson demanded. "I've told you that you can't change history!" He insisted
Emma stopped in her tracks and looked down at the note suspiciously.
"This isn't warning her about the Curse is it?" She asked in an accusing tone.
Charming shook his head in the negative. "Of course it isn't warning her about anything! It is a note letting her know that she isn't alone."
Emma left the flowers and the note where she thought Snow could not miss them, especially since the note had her name written on the outside. Sure enough, as the group of mourners broke up, Snow bent down and pick up the bunch of flowers. With a puzzled look on her face she opened the note. Her mood was instantly lightened and her face glowed. For one brief moment she radiated happiness. Emma felt warmth wash over her. It was the same feeling she had when she revived Henry in the hospital after he had eaten the apple turnover. For the second time in her life Emma understood how love could be the most powerful magic. She looked over at her father and wondered how he had done it. How could he have changed the mood of a woman he had yet to meet?
"I can't believe I am doing this." Emma whispered under her breath. She took out her phone and took several pictures of her mother, knowing full well it was the only way she would be able to explain to her father how happy he had made her mother. Emma had taken several photos when she saw Regina walk up to Snow and whisper something to the princess. The pall of grief fell once more and Snow was led away by her step mother. She held tightly to the flowers and the note. Emma wiped a tear from her eye. Jefferson frowned at her, but he did not actively stop her from taking the pictures.
"Did she find the flowers?" Charming asked.
"She found the flowers." Emma replied.
"Did they make a difference?" He asked.
Emma scrolled through the pictures in her phone.
"Yes, the flowers made a big difference and someday soon I hope I can show you how much of a difference you made." Emma happily informed him. "Now we need to get you back home and see what gold can do about your eyesight." She took her father's arm and led him away.
"That is the best idea I have heard all day." Jefferson added.
Emma scowled at him. "Do you always have to get the last word?" She asked.
"When you travel by my hat you travel by my rules!" He insisted.
Ruth carefully made her way aboard a boat anchored in one of the many lakes that surrounded Nerverland. She made her way to a cabin where she knew she would find the two men she sought. Sure enough they were there playing cards. The stakes had to be low because Hook always claimed that the main things that caused discord among men were booze, women and gambling. He tried to keep control of all three. She stood on the threshold of the room.
"Emma was here." She causally informed the men seated at the table. "She is gone now, but she will probably be back at some point."
One of the men lifted a dismissive hand and waved it around. "We could care less where she goes." He replied.
Ruth rolled her eyes. "You always were a terrible liar, Pinocchio." She scoffed.
The other man laughed. "She is right!" He proclaimed.
The man known most recently as August W Booth threw his cards on the table and stormed out of the room past Ruth. He yelled back at the other man. "Shut up, Balefire. Talk about the pot calling the kettle black!"
The other man got up as well and followed him out.
"Don't call me that! I go by Neal now!" He replied with anger in his voice.
Ruth watched the two men with concern on her face.
Charming and Emma walked towards Gold's shop.
"Maybe we should have stopped by the station and picked up the dagger." Emma said.
"Let's give him a chance to do the right thing before we break out the remote control." Charming sighed.
Emma held on to his arm and led him safely down the street. They entered the shop and Gold did not even look up.
"What do you want?" He asked angrily. Then he looked up and the anger melted away and he an insincere smile spread across his face.
"I thought you were someone else. Please come in and tell me how I can assist the two of you." The eerie smile grew larger.
Emma's jaw dropped open and she stood in place stunned for several seconds.
"We don't have the dagger on us at the moment." She admitted, believing fear to be the source of his pleasantries.
Unable to see the expression on Gold's face, Charming got straight to the point.
"What do you know about dragon's blood and temporary blindness?" Charming asked.
Gold shook his head and peered at Charming. "I see or rather you can't see. There is no such thing as temporary blindness where dragon's blood is concerned. I am afraid that it is most permanent, Dearie!"
Emma tried not to look defeated. "Is there really nothing you can do to help?" She asked.
He thought for a moment and then reached under the counter and brought out a small, rectangle box.
"This might help." He stated as he opened the box with a flourish.
"What is it?" her father asked.
"It's a pair of Sunglasses!" Emma proclaimed in disgust.
Gold was bouncing on the balls of his feet like a proud little boy. Emma grabbed them before leading her father out the door.
"Come back soon! You are always welcome." Gold called happily after them.
Emma handed her father the sun glasses and helped him put them on.
"Why was he being so nice?" Charming asked with suspicion in his voice.
"I have no idea, but frankly I find it unnerving." Emma admitted.
"Actually, the glasses seem to be helping." Her father admitted.
Emma gave him a surprised look.
"You mean they are magic glasses?" She asked with wonderment.
Her father laughed. "Nothing like that, but I think they are blocking out some of the light and I can make out shapes."
"Any improvement is better than nothing." Emma shrugged. "What do you want to do next?" She asked.
"We need to go pick up Henry and then we are going to start looking for your mother." He stated firmly.
They had stopped in front of City Hall. Regina came running down the steps followed by a man that Emma knew was from the Storybrooke Mirror.
"Where have you two been?" Regina demanded.
Emma was about to answer when the reporter interrupted. "Can I get a quote from Mayor Nolan and photograph of the new mayor with the old mayor?" He looked between Regina and Charming.
Regina frowned. Emma saw Ruby and Henry running down the street towards them.
"Gramps you won the election!" Henry stated, his voice overflowing with excitement. "You're the new mayor." He hugged Charming tightly and nearly knocked him over.
Emma looked at a smiling Ruby for confirmation.
"It's true," Ruby added. "You won the election by a landslide!"
It was almost too much for Charming to absorb.
"How long have we been gone?" Emma asked.
"The election was a week ago." Henry frowned.
"There is something you need to see." Ruby informed them and pulled them both over to a table.
The reporter was waiting for a comment but even he realized that he was being ignored and slinked off. Regina had gone back into city hall.
They sat down at a picnic table in the town square. Ruby pulled two pieces of mail out of her pocket and placed them on the table. One was a post card from Boston and the other was a letter addressed to Mary Margaret.
"What is it?" Charming asked.
Ruby turned the postcard over so that Emma could read the simple phrase, "Find us," written in her mother's hand writing.
"It is a postcard and a letter. Both were mailed from Boston and they are in Mary Margaret's handwriting. They are in Boston!" She happily exclaimed as she hugged her father.
"Well, you read the postcard. Let's go find them!" Her father said with a healthy grin on his face. "Let's go bring home your mother and brother."