"The Land of Untold Stories?" Snow White had never heard of it. Their reluctant host, a scribe named Isaac Heller, had been living there for the past few years and it was his house that the portal had landed them in. "What's that?"

"The only place where I can write what I want and not be harassed by that old fool who has as much appreciation for creativity as a dead fish," grumbled Isaac. He crumpled the paper he had taken from Snow and tossed it away with a scowl. "But he still gets his ounce of blood out of me, so to speak. That was the deal."

"What deal?" David loomed over the man. "Are you in league with the Dark One?"

Isaac snorted. "The Dark One didn't invent deals, you idiot. He's a pain in the ass, but he's no match for me. I mean that I renegotiated the terms of my service to Mr. Bushy-beard."

"He saved our baby from darkness," Snow White told him. She didn't trust this Isaac. He had a slyly arrogant air to him, like a commoner who sneered at his betters behind their backs while secretly fomenting rebellion. "I believe he's a good man."

"Ah." Isaac smiled, and Snow didn't trust that either. "If that's what you believe, that means you chose to sacrifice someone else's baby... Curious choice for two people who consider themselves heroes."

"Listen, you..." David began angrily.

"We had to do it," Snow interrupted, pulling David back. "It wasn't a baby, no matter what it looked like. It would have grown up to be a monster."

Isaac smirked. "Keep telling yourself that. Was it worth it?"

"It made our child good." How could it not be worth it? Snow didn't care what Isaac thought. He was clearly no hero himself. "You wouldn't understand."

Isaac laughed. "I was the one who wrote the scenario! What's not to understand?"

David frowned. "Wait, are you saying... you wrote it before it happened?"

"Of course. I've written many like it, dozens of alternatives and possibilities, seeing how the characters play out. I'm an author. That's what I do," said Isaac. "Though it was Mr. Bushy-beard who decided to flip this page into reality."

"You mean we were forced by magic to..." Snow covered her abdomen protectively. Had they been tricked into harming their child? Snow wondered queasily.

"No, the magic just set up the scenario. It would have no power if it wasn't your choice," Isaac explained.

"But... why? Why would you do that?" asked David.

Isaac shot him a contemptuous look. "It's called literature. Characters need to be tested. It's their choices that illuminate them." Then he sighed and slumped back. "Not that the old geezer has any appreciation for art. He signed me up to be his personal voyeur, spying on all the doings worth doing in the Enchanted Forest, until I told him to shove it..."

"Shove what?" Snow blinked at the man's strange turn of speech, barely comprehending half of what he was babbling about.

Isaac rolled his eyes. "Let's just say I got my creative freedom back, in exchange for allowing him to pluck a few selected pages to use to his own ends."

"He seemed a good man," said David.

"Yeah, if you believe his wise old man act," sneered Isaac. "If he helped you, be sure he got something out of it. Heroes! You think everything in the world revolves around you. Let me tell you, there's a lot more stories out there than the ones about Snow White and her Prince Charming." He gestured at the study around them. The tables and shelves were full of books and loose papers. "Take a look if you don't believe me."

Isaac grudgingly allowed Snow White and David to stay in his guest room until they had found their feet in this new realm. During their stay, they took up his offer to browse through his writings, in hope of coming across something that might help them against the Evil Queen.

"Look, Charming, this one is about Rumplestiltskin and that poor girl." Snow White looked at the frontispiece, a full color painting depicting the Dark One and the girl, Belle, leaning together and smiling in the foreground with the Dark Castle in the distance behind them. A boy and two griffons frolicked off to one side. She flicked through the pages, then stopped. "It mentions us..."

David came over to read over her shoulder. He sounded uneasy as he asked, "It does? Do you think it's a true story?"

"I don't know." Snow White frowned, turning back to read from the beginning. As she read on, her doubts grew. "No, no, no, this can't be right. The three trials? But that's for heroes, not villains..."

David shifted his weight uncertainly next to her. "Maybe she defeats him in the end... we shouldn't have just left her there..."

"It says she's in love with him," said Snow in disbelief. "That can't be right. This must be another of Isaac's 'alternatives', where he turns the villains into heroes and the heroes into villains. Look, it has Gaston as a murderer and worse... And look here, Isaac turned the beggars into knights. Or maybe the knights into beggars."

"Huh."

"No, that was Rumplestiltskin who did that." Isaac stood in the doorway, watching them. "A bit of cultural appropriation there, don't you think? Never mind." He nodded at the book. "That one's nonfiction. I still have to record those, as per my instructions. Not that those will ever see the light of day. 'Star Publishing', my ass. What a crock."

"I have no idea what you're talking about," said Snow White. She closed the book and shoved it back onto the shelf. "But you clearly don't, either, if you think this nonsense you wrote is true."

Isaac scowled. "I should have known better than to expect constructive criticism from Snow White."

Perhaps they had overstayed their welcome. David must have known what she was thinking, because he firmly thanked Isaac for his hospitality, making it clear that there was no further need for it.

The city outside Isaac's doors was larger and noisier than anything Snow White had ever seen before, but beyond the city the farmland was not so different from home. The two of them, with no guild connections or family here, could only find menial jobs at first, but it was enough to buy them food and lodgings. Not being known was also an advantage, since it meant no one was out to kill or capture them.

The Land of Untold Stories was as safe as the Infinite Forest, but far more comfortable to live in. Safe, but also a dead end.

"We can't stay here." Three months passed, but Snow's pregnancy had not progressed since their arrival in this realm. "Our baby will never be born."

David nodded slowly. By his expression, he had realized it too, but had waited for Snow to broach the subject first. "I know. We have to go home."

Dearest Mama,

The Book of Hours is lovely. You must have commissioned it specially — how did you slip those ancient songs and blessings past the clerics? Surely I recognized the hand of Brother Quintus in the illuminations. Thank you so much for the gift.

I am glad to hear that you are well, and Papa also, and wish you both the best. How swiftly flow the currents of time. A year already! Marceline is with child? Blessings on her, of course, but Mama, you know it is different with them. Michel did not bring children already born into their marriage. Please be patient with us, as we must be patient with these foundlings that Rumple's parents left behind.

(Speaking of whom, we have not heard from them, but Rumple assures me that they have come to no harm. He is a Seer, not to mention handy with a crystal ball, so I do not doubt his word.)

Belle continued on, leaving out the darker and more dubious magic Rumple was experimenting with, not wanting to upset her mother. After a few light-hearted anecdotes, she concluded the letter,

Your affectionate daughter,
Belle

"Auntie Belle, Auntie Belle!" Dani called out, all the more enthusiastic for only recently learning to say the name. The seven-year-old repeated it a few more times for good measure as she trotted up the stairs to Belle's tower. "Auntie Belle, Auntie Belle."

"What, what?" Belle put the letter away to dry and smiled at the girl.

"It's time to good bye," Dani explained.

"Yes, of course."

Over the last few months, the Beggars Clan had placed the various lost children of Neverland and the dark fairy realm with families or apprenticeships throughout Schlaraffenland. Even with the knowledge to traverse the shortcuts through the Infinite Forest, it was a lot of walking and riding back and forth. Dani was one of the younger ones and one of the last to be adopted.

"Auntie Belle, Auntie Belle." The novelty apparently hadn't worn off yet. These words came directly from Dani, unlike other, more complex utterances which she still needed help with. Belle could sense the aura of the shade that haunted the child guiding her speech.

Rumplestiltskin had learned from his experimental spell binding Adele and the Blue Fairy together. These ghosts were chosen more carefully and were less intrusive, as he explained it. They shared 'affiliation' and 'alignment' with their hosts, not so much haunting them as serving as undead guardians. Those children, like Dani, who had difficulties beyond the scope of a healing spell, benefited from their guardian spirit's experience and knowledge.

Belle wasn't sure she approved of how Rumple had acquired so many souls, but she had to consider the alternatives. Those who called upon the Dark One were desperate — was it better not to help them? But once the Dark One was invoked, that help was magical in nature, and all magic came with a price. But desperate people tended to be most desperate when they had the least, and those who could easily spare the gold found that very ease meant it held little magical value. That was where the trading in first-borns came in, and where the selling of souls was the alternative. At which point, Rumple argued, wasn't it better to sell oneself rather than one's child? And who would know better than the man who had paid both prices before?

The clerics of her homeland would never agree, but Belle found herself swayed by her husband's arguments. If that was evil and corrupt, so be it. He had done vile things before, Belle knew, but if he could do better now and atone for his sins, she would support him. She recognized the guilt behind the Dark One's mask, remembered what Bae had told her of the mute maid his father had murdered. There was no undoing that death, but hearing Dani speak and be understood for the first time had brought a tiny bit of light to Rumple's eyes.

"Auntie Belle, Auntie Belle, you'll visit us?"

Belle smiled and bent down to hug the child. "Of course, Dani. And when you're old enough, I think you'll come back to the Dark Castle for the Winter School."

The Winter School had been set up many years ago by Rumplestiltskin to teach magic to gifted children. Classes were held in winter while the fields lay fallow, hence the name. Belle had little doubt that Dani would return as a student. Time in Neverland or the dark fairy realm had left its mark on all the foundlings.

Belle walked hand in hand with Dani to where her new family was waiting outside the castle gate with a horse-drawn cart, ready to take the child to her new home. She watched wistfully as they drove slowly away.

What would it be like to have a child of her own? She broached the subject cautiously with Rumple and Bae. The last thing she wanted was for Bae to feel resentful towards a baby that he might see as taking his place in the family, but it seemed that Belle wasn't the only one to enjoy the taste of having a big family with all the Lost Boys and changelings.

"Whatever you want, sweetheart," was Rumple's answer to her question, but she could see the hope lurking deep in his eyes. Of course he would love any child they had with all his heart.

And so would she.

"So what was that all about?" Belle poured a cup of tea for her husband, who had just returned after an unexpected summons before breakfast. Baelfire had already eaten and left, called away by his own duties.

"I bring tidings of great joy," Rumple trilled with a roll of his eyes. A furtive gesture of his hand reheated the eggs, which had gone cold in the meantime. "Peace at last! The Evil Queen has been vanquished, her kingdom liberated by the forces of King George and King Midas. Eat, eat. Don't starve yourself on my account — you know how long-winded my clients can be."

"I don't mind waiting." Belle smiled. "So, good news, then."

"That remains to be seen." Rumple nibbled on a piece of bread as he circled the table under the pavilion, the canopy flapping overhead. They were outside this morning on their favorite terrace, taking advantage of the good weather. "At any rate, Midas called for me. We've had dealings before. He's tolerable, as kings go. This time it's a bit of mop-up they need my services for, which I'm happy to provide..."

"...for a price," Belle finished. "Nothing too onerous, I hope."

"Only his eternal soul!" Rumple cackled. At Belle's look, he sighed. "A quip. He's trading me some interesting items he bought from an Agraban trader."

Belle nodded. "What did he need from you, then?"

"It seems the Evil Queen picked up a few bad habits from her mother, by which I mean she had a vault filled with the living hearts of her enemies."

Belle grimaced. "That's awful."

Rumple fluttered a hand in the air. "Well, I taught her the trick, so it's only fair that I should return them to their original owners. But Regina was not exactly diligent in the matter of labeling her collection, so it will take me some time to finish the job."

"How many were there?"

"Once it's over a hundred, it's fair to say it's too many. I've summoned them to court to present themselves in three weeks." Rumple cocked his head and peered at Belle. "There's to be a trial. Did you wish to attend?"

Belle wrinkled her nose. "Why would I want to?"

Rumple straightened and announced grandly, "Article 29!"

"...?"

"Charges of assault and kidnapping." Rumple wagged a finger at her. "You may have forgotten your enforced holiday in her dismal ruin by the sea but the Dark One isn't so forgiving. I made sure Midas included it in their rather extensive list of Regina's crimes."

"I don't want anyone to die on my account, not even the Evil Queen!" Belle said, alarmed. She knew how bloodthirsty the Dark One could get. No matter how kind or generous the man underneath the darkness, that darkness could turn his protectiveness towards his loved ones into blind possessive rage.

Rumple snorted. "Not to worry. As a condition for her surrender, her magic mirror bargained to preserve her life. I must say, he did rather well out of his little betrayal... the rumor is that he'll be granted high office under the new regime."

"Meaning the White Kingdom will be carved up to feed Prydania and Yrkandos?"

Rumple nodded. "Abigail of Yrkandos becomes Grand Duchess of East White, with the magic mirror as her chancellor."

"And the other half is what, the Grand Duchy of West White?"

"Indeed. A reward for Sir Lancelot — Georgie's best general and the mastermind of his campaign against Regina."

"I hope it's an improvement. I'd say anything was better than the Evil Queen, but, well, I know that's not actually true." Belle knew what power and the struggle to keep it could do to even honorable or well-intentioned people. Her own family was no different. Belle had met Abigail briefly at Aurora and Phillip's wedding, and had an impression of gentle determination, practicality hidden behind a regal reserve. "Abigail seems wise enough not to be easily corrupted. What's Lancelot like?"

"He was a knight of Camelot before he came to our realm. Decent enough chap, too honest for King Arthur, though perhaps the years have seasoned him," Rumple said, his tone contemplative. "He traded a magical gauntlet to me once, but he isn't magical himself. I suspect it was a gift from his mother, the Lady of the Lake, who is magical and possibly a demigod."

"And the other one, Abigail's chancellor? Betrayal doesn't sound very honest," said Belle.

"The magic mirror was once a genie, not as cruel as some and not as wise as others. He had the bad luck to fall in love with dear Regina and cursed himself into becoming her eternal lackey." Rumple looked at Belle shyly. "I suppose I can understand the impulse... Sadly, Regina didn't return his feelings. So."

Belle nodded. She could understand it, too.

"He served her loyally for a long time, but his conscience got the better of him in the end. Either that, or she dashed his hopes one too many times."

"I wonder..." Curiosity got the better of her, and Belle decided, "All right, I'll go. It's not that often I have the chance to see history being made."

In the aftermath of the war, two victorious armies converged on the royal castle of the White Kingdom, spilling out into the town and the fields beyond the walls. The third army, the defeated one, was imprisoned behind newly excavated ditches and dirt ramparts in crowded camps. Those considered more dangerous or valuable filled the dungeons.

From the top of the south tower, Belle was spared most of the noise and smell of of the various encampments, while the view was better than at ground level. No wonder Rumple had transported them there instead of directly into the castle. It gave them a moment to assess the situation before plunging in.

"Ah, there they are." Rumplestiltskin nodded down at the courtyard below, the one he had arranged to gather the heartless victims of the Evil Queen. Most of them were in chains and shackles, guarded by soldiers of the liberating armies.

"Those are her own people!" Belle was surprised, though on second thought she knew she shouldn't have been.

"Regina liked having a bit of extra leverage over them."

"So it seems." It still felt wrong to her, but it also meant that maybe these people weren't really the villains their enemies took them for. "Do you think they'll let them go free after you give their hearts back?"

"Not my business," said Rumple, which Belle found annoyingly callous, but this was the Dark One as mercenary sorcerer, and any personal feelings were hidden behind a cold facade. He waved a hand, sending them into the courtyard. Cabinets rattled and landed nearby with a thump.

Belle stared at the rows and rows of unlabeled drawers. "That's... those are the hearts?"

Rumple nodded slightly, even as he turned his gaze to the Yrkandan captain in charge of the prisoners. To his credit, the man didn't quail at being confronted with the sorcerer, and was only warily courteous, not making the sign against evil behind his back or clutching at holy symbols. Well, Rumple had said he had dealings with Midas before, so perhaps this wasn't the first time this captain had met the Dark One.

One by one, Rumplestiltskin took out a heart, called the owner to step forward from the line-up, then shoved the faintly glowing, pulsating object into the victim's chest.

As it turned out, the victors made a show of magnanimity and declared an amnesty for most of the prisoners in return for fealty to the new regime. Most, but not all. There remained a line of the most heavily shackled prisoners, shuffling back to the dungeons to the dismal clank of chains and curses from the spectators.

Just before the last in the line left the courtyard, he turned and looked straight at Rumplestiltskin, calling out hoarsely, "Dark One! A blood price is owed us. Will you not honor the debt?"

The guard closest to the man growled and prodded him with a long dagger. "Shut up and move. All debts will be wiped clean soon enough, scum."

Then they were gone. The rest of the crowd dissipated more slowly, castle servants moving to put away the now-empty cabinets, then disassembling the wooden platform where Rumplestiltskin had made a show of returning the hearts and where King Midas's herald had read the edict of amnesty.

Belle glanced at Rumple as he joined her in the alcove from which she had watched the proceedings. "What did he mean, that last prisoner?"

Rumple answered obliquely, "That guard had a silver dagger, did you see?"

Belle blinked. Silver? Why silver? Silver was used in some magical rituals, but steel was generally better in practical terms. Unless... "Wait, are you saying that the prisoner is a... a werewolf?"

Rumple nodded. "The Children of the Moon, they call them here."

Belle didn't remember meeting any in Schlaraffenland, and said as much to Rumple.

"For one thing, they don't get on with the ogres." He shrugged. "And maybe more importantly, they prefer the freedom of the Infinite Forest."

Belle sighed. "I can understand that. But that man didn't look terribly free, all chained up like that."

Rumple scoffed. "He'll be free soon enough. They don't practive necromancy in this kingdom any more than they do in Midas or George's kingdoms."

"What does necromancy have to do with—" Belle gasped. "You mean they're going to execute him?"

"The whole line-up, from what I hear. I hope they have a silver axe handy!"

"But they let everyone else go," protested Belle. "How can they kill prisoners in cold blood, knowing that the Evil Queen was controlling them? Don't they at least get a trial? Even Regina is getting a trial!"

Rumple's face darkened. "You forget. Trials are for men and women, not for monsters."

Belle knew he counted himself in the latter category, and knew that if the Dark One was ever captured, he wouldn't get a trial, either. Belle burned with the injustice of it all. "We can't let them do that. Rumple, he said you owed him a debt..."

"Who owes him a debt? He never said it was me, and I owe him nothing." Rumple turned up his nose stubbornly at the very idea.

Thinking back carefully, Belle realized he was right. "That means he's as clever with his words as you are, Rumple. We have to save him!"

Rumple snorted and glanced at Belle out of the corner of his eye, and she saw his mouth twitch. "Well, he may not be a complete loss..."

The guards were reluctant to allow them into the dungeon to talk to the prisoners, but they were even more reluctant to openly defy the Dark One, especially when he was there at the behest of King Midas.

The man they had come to see was chained to the back wall of his cell by his ankles. He met them at the farthest reach of the chains, just short of the bars. "Rumplestiltskin."

Rumplestiltskin acknowledged him with a nod. "Gwion."

The prisoner frowned in momentary confusion, then his expression cleared. "You read the name from my heart?"

"Not so ignorant as some," said Rumple. "And certainly not ignorant enough to claim a debt where none exists."

"You have the blood of wolves on your hands," hissed Gwion. "Ice turned to silver... have your forgotten the dead you left behind in the snow?"

Rumple snarled suddenly, raising a hand. On the other side of the bars, the prisoner was jerked off his feet and hung suspended in the air, choking for breath. "I haven't forgotten how wolves slaughtered an innocent girl, or how they were complicit in the kidnapping of my wife. I owe no debt if they were foolish enough to break their teeth on the Dark One!"

Alarmed, Belle reached for Rumple's arm. "Stop, stop it. They were being controlled, remember?"

Rumple's eyes narrowed as he continued glaring at the prisoner. Then he let out his breath in a huff and lowered his hand. Gwion dropped to the floor, chains rattling. "I remember Cruella holding the leash that time. If you seek vengeance for your kin, seek it from her!"

"She was just the knife in the queen's hand." Gwion rubbed at his throat. "We tried to take the blood price from Regina..."

"Your mistake, but it looks like you found that out for yourself!"

"She had more than one knife," Gwion agreed. "Which you put in her hand. Everyone knows the Evil Queen was the Dark One's student."

"Not anymore," Rumple said airily. "You and your poor dead kinfolk can take comfort that Regina is defeated, about to receive her, what do they call it? Ah yes, her comeuppance!"

"Not much comfort when you said she's to live, and they're all going to die!" Belle looked at Rumple. Surely he couldn't agree with that? "You know that's not right. Everyone deserves justice. Being a werewolf doesn't change that!"

"Doesn't it? People, human people, are afraid. That's justification enough, in their minds..." Rumple twirled, his voice going high and mocking as he flung up his hands in his trademark flourish, "'Oh, but think of the children! We must protect our children from the big bad wolf!'"

Belle had to admit that no, no one wanted to endanger their children, but did it have to come to that? "Can't you... can't you make a deal, so they don't attack people?" She looked at Gwion pleadingly. "Would you and the others agree to that?"

Rumple turned to look at him as well. "That rather depends on how desperate they are. Are you that desperate, dearie?"

Gwion stared back defiantly. "We won't be slaves again, if that's what you're asking."

Rumple went still, and he said in a low voice, "No. Not that. But if I arrange for your lives and your freedom, you owe a favor, each one that takes my deal."

"A favor?" Gwion sounded uncertain. "We'll each owe you a favor?"

"No," Rumple corrected. "You'll owe her a favor." He nodded at Belle.

"Me?" Belle was taken aback. "I'm not sure I'm persuasive enough to convince Midas, much less George, to release them."

Rumple shrugged. "You persuaded me, and I'm sure that between us, we'll get our two kings to do the right thing."

Easy to say, not so easy to do. In the end, it was agreed that the prisoners would be banished and never set foot in the kingdoms of White, Prydania, and Yrkandos. The wolves would return to the Infinite Forest, but be as welcome in Schlaraffenland as any other visitor as long as they respected Schlaraffenland laws. In return, Rumple promised trade concessions to Prydania, which had been locked out for the past decade for reasons Rumple played off as the Dark One's whimsy. For Midas, the Dark One waived his fee for restoring the stolen hearts.

There was one more prisoner, who was no shifter at all but rather a human raised by the pack: the Queen's Huntsman.

"Always he is drawn to his own kind," Gwion explained to Belle. "Sometimes he has betrayed us, and sometimes we have betrayed him, but in the end it came to nothing: we were all betrayed by the Evil Queen."

Unlike the werewolves, Graham agreed to be resettled in Schlaraffenland and bind himself as a full citizen.

"They won't mind the wolf that runs with him," said Rumple. "People have seen plenty of stranger things in Schlaraffenland. As long as he keeps his teeth out of their sheep!"

"We hunt wilder game," was Graham's quiet response. "We should never have strayed from our proper prey."

The next night, freed of their chains, they found their way into the Infinite Forest. Graham would continue on to Schlaraffenland with a letter of introduction to the Archon of the Snowcaps, that being the wildest of the territories of Schlaraffenland.

"Look what she's done to him!" Zelena was disgusted. She waved a hand over the crystal ball to banish the sickening scene. "Cavorting with furballs, I shouldn't wonder he ends up with fleas!"

"Aye, it's a disgrace," agreed her Rumple. He wrapped his arms around her from behind and nuzzled her hair. "No need to distress yourself looking at idiots, darling."

Zelena turned away, pulling Rumple's hands down to caress her abdomen. "You're right. They'll never be have what we have — our own little impling!"

The pregnancy was barely showing, and it was too early to feel the baby move, but Zelena could already sense the strong magic growing inside her.

"All I want is for you and our child to be happy." Rumple's voice was filled with true devotion.

Zelena smiled. Everything was perfect. She had known it would be. All it took was a little effort on her part, but it was worth it. Why hadn't Nevethe chosen her in the first place? It must have been jealousy, Zelena thought. She and Rumple were too perfect. The Queen of the Wood was fading away, but didn't want her memory to be overshadowed. Once the baby was born, all those fools who worshipped the old bitch queen would see their mistake and acknowledge Zelena's rightful place as their new leader.

Soon enough, the power of all the true love in all the realms would be in Zelena's hands.

But to Zelena's chagrin, the Queen of the Timers had no sense of timing. One moment Zelena was at the market running her fingers through a sample of soft green fabric, admiring the brightness of the dye and imagining her sweet pea dressed in a tiny dress — the next moment, claws ripped the cloth from her hands and a fall of shadows wrenched her out of reality to drop her into a desolate barren wasteland littered with old bones.

A Timer shaped itself out of the shadows and grinned at Zelena with a mouth full of sharp, sharp teeth.

"You!" Zelena blanched, recognizing the Timer as the one called Schwertkraft and the place as his infamous killing ground, Knochenhof. "Nevethe's favorite assassin..." Then she saw three more shapes appear in the corners of her eyes, surrounding her. Zelena laughed lightly to cover her shock. "She sent four of you? All for little old me? I'm flattered!"

"What you have done is an abomination." The Timer to her left spoke with a dry, withered voice as she delivered her queen's condemnation. It was Metla, who had never had the slightest drop of warmth in her voice even to the child she had helped raise. "What you have done cannot be undone..."

"Miserable old broom." Zelena hated her even more than she hated the Queen. It was on Metla's advice that Zelena had been scooped up as an infant to be brought up in the Wood Beyond, yet once the infant was grown, Metla had no more use for her, passing over Zelena in favor of some blue-blooded princess to match against their Dark One. "You'll find some mistakes aren't so easily swept under the rug!"

The other two Timers said nothing. Periwinkle and Buckets. Zelena had never quarrelled with them, had even liked them, yet here they were, their eyes just as hateful and judgemental as Metla's.

Metla continued on as if Zelena's outburst meant nothing. "To preserve the future, the line is drawn here. You are to be eliminated."

"Eliminated!" Zelene's voice rose into a hysterical shriek before she could stop herself. She had initially taken this ambush for a warning, but now— "That's it? No chance to speak in my own defense before sentence is passed?"

"Your actions speak louder than any words," said Metla.

The others continued in silence. Zelena had trained with them, had once thought herself one of them, so she wasn't fooled by their tricks. She knew Metla's empty talk was meant to buy the others time to weave a trap around her. "You're meant to be defenders of love! How can you look me in the eye and..." Then, without no change or hesitation in her voice, she said, "Rumplestiltskin."

Metla was taken aback for a moment, then she scoffed. "That won't work. He can't hear you. We've made sure of that."

Zelena laughed wickedly, but her heart beat wildly. This had to work. It had to. He was Rumplestiltskin. Chosen because he understood that— "True love is the most powerful magic in the realms. You who call yourselves its servants cannot stop it!"

"What you have is nothing like true love!" Metla's eyes glowed with rage, magic gathering around her.

From behind her, Zelena sensed a sharp wind of deadly intent. She spun around, throwing up a barrier just in time to deflect a spear of lightning aimed straight at her heart. Then the others joined in, setting up an overwhelming barrage of magic.

My baby! Zelena's energy was already drained from the pregnancy, leaving her nothing to fight back with. It was all she could do to counter the attacks flying in at her, drawing on her last reserves to protect them both. She drew breath for a last desperate scream, "Rumple! They're killing our child!"

Then the edges of her vision darkened, and Zelena struggled to hold onto consciousness. Just before she collapsed, she felt a storm of magic coalesce around her. An impish giggle pierced the darkness, and never had it been more welcome. A hand pressed into her back, keeping her upright.

"Four of you," snarled Rumple from behind her. The wind whipped ever more violently, nearly drowning his voice even here in the eye of the storm as he drew deep into the darkness. "And yet not enough to finish the job!"

Zelena shuddered, a thrill of danger rushing through her blood even as her bones ached from the excruciating pressure of magical overload. Her vision and hearing dissolved into meaningless static.

Too much, too much! screamed her instincts, but she grabbed blindly for the Dark One dagger, forcing numb fingers to close around the hilt. Its power anchored her, keeping her and the life she bore from shattering into dust.

After an eternity of tooth-rattling madness, the storm gradually abated, leaving her head pounding. She lowered the dagger and lifted her head, blinking eyes open that had gummed shut. At first all she could see was a dazzle of light and shadow.

Then she saw the four fresh skeletons half-sunk into the ground in a circle around her. Timer skeletons. Zelena cleared her throat a few times, then managed to croak, "You did it! To be honest, I wasn't sure..."

Rumplestiltskin chuckled, a sound that filled her with unreasoning unease. "Oh, it was my pleasure, my dear."

Zelena turned to meet eyes that were no longer the reptilian amber she was accustomed to, but pure black, all expression swallowed up by the darkness. The power he had drawn upon lingered, hanging about him like a shroud. "Rumple..."

"It won't end here," he said, his voice thick with glee and violent intentions, his lips twisting in anticipation. "They won't stop at four."

Zelena nodded. So what if he was a tiny bit darker than before? The power was undeniably seductive, and it was all she could do to hold herself back from jumping him on the spot. "No, they won't — and neither will we. If they want a war, they'll get one..."

But as it turned out, there was a drawback to the Dark One's descent into deeper darkness — the pathway to Nevethe would no longer open for them.

"That's easily fixed," Zelena told him. "All we need is a bit of light magic to balance the dark, and I know just where we can find it."

Author's note: Taking liberties with canon as far as the werewolves are concerned. Snow and Red are still friends, and the same thing happened with Red's mother and her pack, but as far as other werewolves ending up in Regina's service, it didn't happen the same way as it did in the OUAT graphic novel.