The next day soon came as everyone tried to relax. There were reports of various missing children all over town and many people suspected that The Wicked Witch had something to do with it. The parents who still had their children with them did what they could to keep their children safe and sound from the threats in their Fairy Tale town. Carla was still hanging around Dude, Jay, Enid, and Carlos as she was getting her hair brushed by Enid until eventually, something strange happened.
"There you go, Carla, all done." Enid smiled.
"Thanks, Enid," Carla smiled back. "You're the best."
"By the way, I have a question." Enid then said as she noticed a certain strand of the younger girl's hair.
"Sure." Carla nodded as she was about to get up from the chair.
"Did you have your hair dyed?" Enid asked curiously.
"No. Why?" Carla replied, wondering why she would ask that question.
"You have a section of hair that the roots are growing in white." Enid explained.
"Huh... weird..." Carla said with a shrug.
"Do you want your hair in a certain style today?" Enid asked.
"No, that's okay, you can leave it down," Carla said before noticing some of the white in her black hair, making her feel rather curious about it. "I just wonder how my hair got this way? I don't remember it being like this."
"Well, I wouldn't worry about it," Enid said as she put her arm around Carla in comfort. "You look very beautiful either way."
"Thanks, Enid. You're a good friend." Carla smiled.
"I try." Enid smiled back.
Soon, the two girls went to come downstairs as Lotus appeared to be waiting by the door along with Jay and Carlos, the latter of whom was holding onto Dude in his arms.
"There you two are." Lotus greeted.
"Oh. Have you been calling for us?" Carla asked curiously.
"Not really, but we all decided to go out to eat at Granny's for breakfast this morning." Jay explained.
"Also that way, we can all get to know each other better." Lotus added as Carlos looked at Carla's hair curiously.
"Over what food we eat for breakfast?" Enid asked with a smirk.
"Well, there's that among other things," Lotus chuckled. "Besides, I thought you kids could use a treat after all you've been through until I have to open the shop with Mr. French later today." she then added.
"Is it safe to go outside with those Flying Monkeys on the loose?" Carla asked out of slight concern.
"Don't worry; I know I don't look like much, but I'll protect you all the very best I can." Lotus promised them as she took out her keys.
"And I'll protect you too." Jay added to Enid as he flexed his arms for her.
Enid cupped her mouth before giggling and blushing at that a little.
"I'll try to protect you, Carla." Carlos said.
"Thanks, Carlos," Carla smiled. "You're so sweet."
"What can I say? You're like a sister to me." Carlos smiled back.
Dude soon barked and panted eagerly.
"I think Dude wants to protect you too." Carlos chuckled at that.
"Either that or he wants extra bacon off our plates if we don't eat it first." Jay smirked.
Everyone then shared a laugh at that as Dude looked around them as they left the flower shop and went to visit Granny's Diner together.
Meanwhile, at the Mills' mansion, Regina and Evie were both getting ready for the day.
"Mom, you never told me why you have issues with Mr. Hood," Evie spoke up to her mother. "Is this because you lost my father all those years ago?"
"Evie, it's complicated right now," Regina sighed to her daughter. "I promise that we'll talk about it someday, especially more about your father, but it's just going by too fast right now."
"Okay, Mom, but you owe me," Evie sighed. "After all, Tinkerbell just wanted to help you back then." she then added.
"I know, dear. I know." Regina sighed as she began to put her earrings in while looking in the downstairs mirror.
Suddenly, the doorbell rang, making the mother and daughter face each other suddenly.
"Is your friend Doug coming over today?" Regina asked her daughter.
"No, Mom, I would've told you." Evie reassured her mother.
"Then who could that be?" Regina wondered as she came to open the door and then came back in, looking confused as she came back with a basket filled with a certain fruit.
"Green apples?" Evie wondered as she took a look along with her mother.
"A gift," A familiar voice taunted before suddenly the source was shown to be in the living room. "From sister to sister."
"Aunt Zelena!" Evie glared.
"What are you doing here?" Regina demanded.
"I saw your tree and I thought you could use something better," Zelena explained and smirked as she picked one of the red apples from off the table. "Red apples are so sickly sweet, don't you think? People tend to like something... a little sharper." she then added.
"And green apples are just... bitter." Regina retorted.
"Not to mention sour," Evie added. "Aunt Zelena, what are you doing here? Nothing here belongs to you."
"Story of my life." Zelena scoffed as she picked up a decoration.
"Why are you here?" Regina glared.
"Oh, sisterly concerns, sisterly advice, you know," Zelena replied as she walked over to the living room. "I wanted to make sure you were all right after our little showdown especially checking in on my favorite niece I never really got to bond with."
"We're fine. Are you?" Regina retorted.
"Getting there," Zelena smirked as she examined the room and took a seat on the sofa. "This is nice. So luxurious. You really don't appreciate what you have, do you?" she then added.
"Right. Because I got everything and you have nothing," Regina scoffed. "If you want your superpower to be envy, go right ahead."
"'Envy' is just another word for 'ambition'." Zelena smirked.
"Surely that isn't true." Evie replied.
"You see, I strive for things. I work," Zelena scoffed in reply. "Your mother cast a curse that was just a fancy form of running away," she then added before facing her half-sister. "With every advantage, you still turn your back on every opportunity for happiness. You, Regina... you just don't take risks, you don't live your life! It's such a waste!" she then added before she stood up and began to admire the mantle. "I can see why our mother was so disappointed in you."
"Disappointed in me? She gave you away." Regina huffed.
Evie winced slightly, though it was true, that still had to sting in some way.
"You have no idea what really happened and neither does your daughter," Zelena smirked. "That's exactly what's going to hurt you both."
"You didn't come here to give me 'sisterly advice'," Regina laughed mockingly. "Why are you really here?"
"So perceptive," Zelena smirked. "I'm here, Regina because I wanted to make sure you weren't someplace else so I can take what I need. Or rather, the Dark One could. Do you feel it, Sis? He's taken your heart." she then added smugly.
Regina felt enraged enough to pick up a knife and throw it at Zelena. However, Zelena disappeared in green smoke before she could get hit.
"Boy, that sure looked familiar." Evie commented.
"Hm?" Regina blinked as she glanced at her daughter.
"Like when you were at Snow White's wedding and Prince Charming tried to throw a sword at you, but you poofed away before it could hit you." Evie elaborated.
"Ah, okay," Regina nodded. "Yes, that sword followed me home after that."
"So, Mom, what do we do now?" Evie wondered.
"I don't know for sure, but I'm going to need something at a certain place." Regina replied.
Evie paused to think about it. "Mr. Gold's shop?" she then guessed about the place that her mother would need to visit.
"Exactly," Regina nodded. "Let's go right now."
"Oh. Well, okay," Evie said, blinking at how sudden that sounded. "It's not like I have any plans of my own today, Mom."
"Saving the world is a family business, my evil-ette in training," Regina reminded her daughter. "Whatever you have to do with your little friends today, saving our world is more important."
"Yes, Mom." Evie said with a sharp sigh.
"Very good," Regina nodded. "Now come along."
Soon, Regina and Evie left home together to go straight for Mr. Gold's shop. However, they made an unexpected detour on the way over there.
In the Merry Men's camp in the woods near the edge of town, a certain man was standing in front of Robin Hood and the Merry Men, all with their weapons ready. Even Mulan and Lonnie were both their with their warrior swords ready if necessary.
"Stop right there," Robin reminded the former imp as he had his bow and arrow ready. "You know this arrow never misses its mark."
"If I could stand down, I would. Heed me. Give me the heart," Rumple retorted until he saw a certain young boy who came by, carrying firewood, and catching The Dark One's attention. "And who is this?" he then smirked.
"No..." Mulan gasped and frowned, looking worried for the boy.
"Roland! Go back!" Robin called out to the boy.
"Come here, little boy~" Rumple demanded eerily.
"Don't! Please!" Lonnie begged.
"I don't want to. I really don't," Rumple told the others before he magically forced the child forward. "Come closer, little boy~" he then demanded.
"Daddy!" Roland cried out as he was walking forward against his will.
"And... stop." Rumple then said as he used his magic to push the boy into the ground.
"Daddy! Help!" Roland cried out.
"You vile, cruel beast." Mulan glared.
"I'd watch your tone, Warrior Woman or your spawn will be next," Rumple advised coldly. "After all, I'm far worse than when you faced Shan Yu and saved The Northern Wei Empire for your father."
Mulan narrowed her eyes and snarled a little.
"I didn't want to do this either." Robin glared at Rumple before shooting his arrow; only for Rumple to magically catch it in mid-air.
He then magically turns the arrow in Roland's direction.)
"It never misses its target," Rumple reminded Robin as he then magically turned the arrow in Roland's direction. "And I've just changed the target. If I drop my finger..." he then added with sinister temptation.
"NO!" Robin cried out.
Mulan and the other Merry Men attempted to come forward, only for Rumple to freeze them into place.
"Mom!" Lonnie yelped.
"Wait! Wait." Robin soon urged before he walked up to a tree and came over to take out a certain small pouch that contained a secret ingredient.
"Thank you. And I am sorry~" Rumple replied as he then sent the arrow flying until it was inches from Roland before it dropped and he then disappeared.
"Oh, my God..." Lonnie muttered as she sighed and shook her head. "I think my bunny slippers just ran for cover."
"Don't worry, little warrior; he won't hurt you." Mulan promised her daughter.
Robin then approached Roland, and father and son embrace. "It's okay. It's okay, boy. You're safe," he then coaxed his son before seeing Regina and Evie come along. "Go to Friar Tuck."
Roland obeyed as Regina and Evie approached the outlaw of Sherwood Forest.
"Are you okay, Mr. Hood?" Evie asked. "You don't look so good."
"Good day, my dear Evie," Robin replied. "I'll be fine. Thankfully we all will be. Down, Mulan." he then advised the warrior woman who was an honorary member of his team.
Mulan nodded as she stepped back, keeping her distance from Regina for now.
"What happened?" Regina soon asked.
"I'm sorry. It's gone." Robin told her in sorrow.
"Was anyone hurt?" Evie asked as she looked around. "And what's gone? My mother's heart?"
"Yes, to your mother's heart and luckily no, no one was hurt," Robin explained as he glanced in the direction of his son playing with Friar Tuck as he turned back to respond to Evie and Regina. "Again, I must apologize. You trusted me, and I let you down." he then added.
"No, you didn't. Nothing's worth the loss of a child, but now we have a problem," Regina reassured him. "I'm alive."
"I don't follow." Robin replied out of confusion.
"She has my heart," Regina explained. "Gold's taken it for her, and since she hasn't crushed it and killed me, that means she needs it for something far worse."
"Worse than murder?" Robin frowned. "What is she planning?"
"It doesn't matter," Regina replied. "Because I'm going to stop her."
"And I'm gonna help." Evie added.
"Right, Evie is going to help." Regina then nodded.
"Just be careful out there, both of you," Robin advised. "Especially you, Prince-erm... Evie. You'll definitely need it what with what's become of your peers and this Flying Monkey issue."
"Tell me about it," Evie nodded. "What about your sister, Goldilocks? Has she...?" she then began to ask, hoping she wouldn't have to finish that sentence.
"No, Goldie is fine, just keeping to herself a lot these days," Robin explained. "I've seen her here and there, mostly discussing the annoyance of being called Goldfish by The Little Mermaid, but she's at least comfortable at the Bed & Breakfast you all have recommended. I'm just hoping to see more of her soon because we haven't really bonded ever since we were children and she ended up missing in Neverland."
"I'm sorry you guys had to go through that," Evie frowned. "I missed Henry a lot too in Neverland."
"Well, at least he had a shorter time there than my sister," Robin replied. "If you happen to see her, just let her know her big brother misses her, okay?" he then added.
"You have my word as a princess." Evie vowed as she curtsied to him.
"Thank you, Evie." Robin smiled warmly.
"No problem, Mr. Hood." Evie smiled back.
"Come on, Evie, we better get going right now." Regina advised.
"Uh, yes, of course, Mom." Evie nodded in response.
Soon the mother-and-daughter duo made it into the pawnshop.
Regina was rummaging through the items, looking for something to help her with the situation. "This is all useless crap!" she then complained. "Evie, have you found anything useful?"
"No, I'm afraid not, Mom." Evie frowned.
Ben soon heard the clattering and came into the room with a broom. "Hey! Hey, hey! Stop! Stop it!" he then called out. "Stand back!"
"Oh, my gosh! He's gonna sweep us to death!" Evie gasped at the sight of the broom.
Ben scoffed and rolled his eyes slightly. "Very funny, Evie." he then muttered.
"Sorry, Ben~" Evie smiled bashfully.
"What's going on?" Ben demanded. "What are you guys looking for?"
"I need to destroy my sister," Regina explained. "She has my heart."
"Whoa... don't sugarcoat it, Aunt Regina." Ben winced as his expression suddenly became nervous.
"Oh, relax. She can't control me with it. I protected it from that," Regina scoffed. "The problem is, I don't know what she's planning on using it for, which is why I need to take her out!" she then added until she suddenly had a realization. "That's why I need your help. What do you have here?" she then asked. "Where's your mother? Is she going to help out?"
"No, I don't think she's gonna wanna help you out, ma'am, no offense," Ben replied before he began to sound angry for his mother. "I mean, you imprisoned my mother in an asylum for 28 years when she was in a tower in YOUR castle and you've been torturing her mentally and physically ever since you've known her and making her life into a living Hell without me ever being able to know her or meet her, especially when girls give me confusing emotions!"
"Huh. Golden Boy's got teeth." Regina noted with a smirk.
"I think you should leave." Ben said firmly, but not aggressively.
"Ben, please, I know what my mother did to your mother, but the past is in the past and she needs help to defeat The Wicked Witch who's manipulating your father," Evie spoke up as she stepped forward. "Ben, we've known each other since we were little kids. I'm sorry about what happened to your mother and how you never got to grow up with her, but if you don't help my mom out, then you may never see your father again."
Ben faced Evie and Regina before sighing as he quelled his anger. "Okay, well, my mom's at the library doing research at the moment, so I'm in charge until she gets back." he soon explained.
"Ingredients?" Evie wondered.
"Yeah, for The Wicked Witch's spell," Ben explained before shrugging. "We just can't figure out why she would want Aunt Regina's heart."
"That's a good question," Evie remarked before she faced her mother. "Does she just want it because you're sisters, or-" she then began to ask.
"I have no idea," Regina replied until she was hit by realization. "The candle. Where's the candle?" she then said and asked.
"Uh..." Ben paused and blinked before he went to pick up a candelabra that appeared to be next to a Christmas tree angel topper. "Here?" he then asked.
"Not that that, Liberace," Regina shook her head and rolled her eyes. "The two-sided candle Snow used to kill my mother. Where's that?" she then asked and clarified.
"Oh, that one, I don't think it'll be much use, but I remember where it was put," Ben explained before he opened a cabinet to reveal the enchanted candle. "Its power's gone now. It's just a relic." he then added.
"Yes. That's it," Regina said as she suddenly grabbed the candle away from the brunette boy. "This isn't about how my mother died. This is about how she lived."
"So, what?" Ben spoke up. "Are you gonna talk to the dead then?"
"Yes, of course," Regina nodded. "Once we can figure out how to do it."
Evie and Ben looked thoughtful before glancing at each other with small smirks.
"What?" Regina demanded. "What do you two know?"
"Well... we might actually know someone from school." Evie began to say innocently.
"And, uh, let's just say, she's spiritually nonconformist, even before The Dark Curse broke." Ben added in the same tone of voice as his childhood best friend.
"So you know someone who can talk to the dead when I don't?" Regina asked, raising her eyebrow unimpressed with the two teenagers at first.
"Well, let's just say we'll ask this friend of ours for a favor in exchange that Minister Gringore not finding out about her eccentric hobbies." Evie replied innocently and vaguely.
Regina then paused to think about it until her eyes widened once she thought about who the two were talking about. "Oh, you mean that girl Claudine who was raised by the convent and Minister Gringore wasn't a fairy himself?" she then asked.
"Yes~" Ben and Evie grinned and nodded in response.
"Well, if you think she can help, then by all means." Regina nodded.
"Just as long as you promise that he doesn't find out," Ben said with great emphasis. "Claudine's talents are gratefully overlooked and unappreciated by her father."
"Besides, who even was he back in The Enchanted Forest?" Evie wondered.
"I'm not sure, but we'll figure that out at another time and place," Regina shook her head. "Meet me at the Charmings when you find your friend."
"Why the Charmings?" Ben wondered.
"Because I said so, young man, now don't question my authority," Regina demanded. "I was once your godmother."
"Yeesh... yes, ma'am." Ben winced and nodded at Regina's sudden shift in tone.
"Good~" Regina smirked and nodded at that.
"See ya soon, Mom." Evie said.
"See you soon, my dear," Regina nodded. "And you have my word that that mean old nasty minister won't find out what you're up to."
"Thanks!" Ben and Evie beamed, appreciating that as they went off together to go and find the weird goth girl from school.
Regina watched them go before she smirked a little to herself.
Ben and Evie went to wander down the streets of Storybrooke together. They began to talk with each other like it was the good old days when they were kids and had endless adventures together until they began to grow apart sometime after becoming teenagers. They reminisced about some times they shared together such as using Mr. Gold's old walkie-talkies to try to sneak cookies from the cookie jar or take the mail, pretending that they were secret plans from a mad scientist and they were spies in loose in his laboratory. After a while, they found the person they were looking for as she appeared to be sitting alone in the cemetery, staring off into space. They soon talked for a moment and explained what had to be done and why they were asking her for help.
"I think I know what to do." Claudine droned before she flipped her ebony hair in the air.
"Thanks, Claudine!" Ben beamed.
"If there's any way we can thank you, just let us know." Evie added out of excitement.
"Stop smiling so much before you make me puke rainbows and cry butterflies." Claudine demanded coldly.
"Erm... Right... Sure..." Evie said nervously and nodded.
"You got it." Ben added.
"I'll go get my book." Claudine said as she stood up and darted away suddenly.
"Sheesh. That's quite a bleak atmosphere," Evie remarked. "And I thought Mal was an issue."
Ben gave her a bit of a look.
"Oh, Ben, I didn't mean it like that with her being the daughter of Maleficent." Evie then covered up nervously as she hoped she didn't offend her childhood best friend.
"Oh, it's okay, Evie, it's not that," Ben reassured her. "I just hope Mal is okay wherever she is."
"I'm sure she is, Ben," Evie replied as she took his hand. "I even guarantee that we'll see her again someway and somehow."
Ben looked emotional before he shook his head and wiped his eye.
"Are you crying?" Evie asked him with concern in her voice.
"I'm fine, I guess I just have dust in my eye." Ben replied with a small sniffle.
"Sure, Ben. Whatever you say." Evie just nodded at that even if she had a sneaking suspicion.
"Hey," A voice said behind the two, startling them instantly before they turned around to see that it was only Claudine. "I found my book."
"Oh... Okay, good..." Ben sighed as he put his hand on his chest while Evie panted a little. "You ever think of wearing a bell around your neck so people know when you're coming?" he then suggested.
"Nope." Claudine smirked.
"Reminds me of your dad." Evie teased Ben.
"Reminds me of your mom." Ben retorted.
"Touché, my friend, touché." Evie nodded.
"Can we move this along?" Claudine complained. "I don't wanna get caught."
MEANWHILE...
Killian looked at a green apple in his good hand while everyone continued to wait patiently for what they were summoned for in the Mills mansion.
"I'd watch out for the apples in this house." Emma advised as she came into the room suddenly.
"Aye." Killian nodded as that sounded like rather good advice.
"It was a joke. Where's your sense of humor?" Emma said to him and explained, confused at why he took that so seriously.
"It left, when the witch arrived." Killian defended and reminded her.
"Well, we're gonna take care of that," Emma reassured him. "Regina said she has a plan."
"I'm sure she does" Killian replied as he sat down with her.
"Emma, will you please tell your mother that we're not gonna name your brother 'Leopold'?" David asked his daughter out of exasperation as he and Mary Margaret were already sitting.
"Uh, why not?" Mary Margaret out of defense. "It was my father's name."
"People will make fun of him." David defended.
"My father was a king." Mary Margaret retorted.
"Which is why, nobody made fun of him." David countered.
"Okay, what about 'Eva' after my mother?" Mary Margaret then suggested.
"Won't that just add confusion with Evie?" David asked.
"She can take it as a compliment and blessing," Mary Margaret smirked. "After all, Evie is our family too."
David sighed at that before trying to think of a comeback. "I don't know how Eva will work with a boy."
"It might not be a boy~" Mary Margaret smirked smugly.
David frowned at her briefly.
Soon, Regina came in, carrying a tray as Ben, Evie, and Claudine also came in after. "Sorry to keep you waiting. I was making this special tea and Evie and her friends just got here." she apologized while serving each of her guests and herself a cup.
Claudine then took out a salt shaker and began to make a circle all around the room ingrained with the substance. David then took his cup, intending to taste the tea.
"No, don't drink it!" Regina yelped as she stopped him right away. "It's a deadly poison summoning the Dark Vortex."
"I prefer Earl Grey." David snarked.
"The dark what?" Emma asked Regina curiously.
"It's all in the book." Claudine said right behind Emma, startling the blonde woman suddenly.
"Don't do that!" Emma complained.
"No, I don't think I will." Claudine grinned creepily in response.
Evie just rolled her eyes at that and shook her head while Ben chuckled quietly behind his hand.
"Trust me, you'll get used to that eventually. Zelena came by this morning. While the Dark One was stealing my heart, she was here gloating," Regina soon explained to the blonde woman after brushing off Claudine's behavior. "She said that my weakness was that I don't know enough of her past. So, I have decided to summon someone who does. We have to talk to my mother."
Everyone else began to look at each other in shock.
"You're involving the young ones in this?" Killian asked incredulously.
"I was invited here for my special skills, Captain Guyliner. Take it or leave it." Claudine retorted.
"Ooh. I like this one~" Regina smirked at the goth girl's sassiness.
"Excuse me." Killian muttered as he backed up a bit from Claudine.
"Uh, hey... who are you exactly?" Emma asked Claudine.
"My name is Claudine or Creepy Claudine as they call me in school," Claudine rolled her eyes as she began to introduce herself to the blonde woman. "During The Dark Curse, I had a taste and interest in finding my own magic because I felt like this town wasn't like any other. I don't know why or how, I just knew. Then I turned my back on my father because he forbids me to have any interest in magic... especially gypsy magic." she then added as she shook her fist in vengeance and resentment.
"Well, interesting to know..." Emma admitted with wide eyes.
"Yes, it's a hard life, but I'm living in it in this endless void of pointlessness if my own father can't accept me like the other adults accept their descendants," Claudine admitted emotionally before sighing wearily. "It's tough being different sometimes. What's the point of being yourself if you get ignored for it?"
"Sorry to hear that, kid." Emma commented.
"So that's why it's best he doesn't know what I'm up to around here," Claudine said as she helped Regina prepare for what had to be done. "Don't break the circle of salt. It's our only protection." she then warned everyone else once she was done using the salt.
"From what?" Evie asked curiously.
"The other side. It's taken possession of your grandmother," Claudine explained before bellowing in an over-the-top voice. "And it must be VISITED!"
"It's a fairly simple ritual, but not often performed." Regina reassured the others.
"If it's easy to talk to the dead, why don't do it more?" Emma wondered.
"Because to do it, you need the murder weapon and the murderer," Claudine explained. "By the way, sorry, Ms. Blanchard."
Mary Margaret winced nervously at that.
"Mayor Mills, if you would..." Claudine soon prompted the woman.
"Already on it, dear." Regina nodded as she began to light the enchanted candle.
"What do we need to do?" Emma wondered.
"Join hands." Claudine demonstrated and began to say.
Everyone then grabbed their hands together in their own hold.
"I meant with each other." Claudine defined and deadpanned.
The others murmured and nodded as they soon did that, though of course Killian had a hook and a hand which would count.
"Focus on Cora. All of you." Claudine then said as they soon did that while Regina took Emma's hand while Ben and Evie took each other's hands in a friendly way.
"Welcoming thoughts?" Killian wondered.
"Whatever you've got." Regina replied as Claudine nodded.
"Oh, Cora... speak to us... Come to us right now... O Spirit..." Claudine soon began to pray calmly before she glared in impatience. "Come on, lady! You gonna answer or what? Answer your daughter and granddaughter if not me!" she then demanded.
It seemed to take a while until Claudine closed her eyes and hummed a song to herself as nothing seemed to be happening.
"...what's that?" Ben whispered nervously as he leaned in.
"I'm on hold." Claudine explained, opening one eye before she closed that eye and continued to hum for a few more moments.
Regina rolled her eyes at that, but she did her best to be patient for her own good.
"Is it...?" Emma wondered until Regina bid her to be quiet.
After a moment, a portal opened above them.
"We did it." Mary Margaret said out of excitement.
"Queen Cora, are you there?" Claudine demanded.
"Mother, can you hear us?" Regina added.
"Cora, give us a sign." Claudine then said.
The open portal swirled, but no one emerged from it as Claudine began to glow like the portal with her birthright jewel that she wore as a decorative necklace.
"Do not ignore me now, Mother," Regina glared. "Please, you owe me this."
"Calling Queen Cora... Earth to Queen Cora..." Claudine demanded, until...
The table rocked slightly. Startled, Mary Margaret let go of David's hand, causing the portal to suddenly close.
"Great..." Claudine grumbled before she glared across the table. "Okay, who's the comedian?" she then demanded.
"Sorry, luv. That was me," Killian replied bashfully. "I crossed my legs and bumped the table."
Regina sighed at that and just decided to blow out the enchanted candle.
"Mom, don't give up," Evie urged. "Maybe we can try this again?"
"No, there's no point. It worked. The portal opened, but nothing came from it," Regina sighed and shook her head. "She doesn't wanna talk to me. Guess, whatever secrets lie in her past, she wants to keep buried there." she then added.
"Also... don't tell anyone that I was here today, Mayor Mills?" Claudine added hopefully.
"Yes, of course, my dear," Regina nodded. "Your secret is safe with me."
"If I had a heart, it would be swelling right now." Claudine replied.
Everyone then gawked at her with wide eyes out of concern about that joke.
"What?" Claudine shrugged. "Is that the wrong expression to use in a world where we can rip each other's hearts out?"
"Yes, it is!" The others complained to her in unison and agreement.
"Well, ex-CUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUSE me!" Claudine rolled her eyes before she got up and left along with her book before she flipped through the pages. "By the way, Ben? Evie? No refunds." she then added.
"Refunds?" Evie asked out of confusion. "But we didn't pay you."
"Maybe you didn't, but your friend did." Claudine retorted.
"Ben?!" Evie asked as she glanced at him.
"I felt bad for her, I thought she could use a proper allowance." Ben grinned sheepishly with a shrug.
Evie sighed and shook her head before they soon left the room for the time being along with everyone else.
"Maybe Belle will have more luck," David suggested as they walked off together. "There has to be something that can help us."
"Right, my magic gets more powerful every day," Emma added. "By the time, this all goes down, I'll be ready."
"Make sure you are." Regina sighed as she joined them in melancholy.
"Come on, let's go." Emma said as she, David, and Killian soon left the house as Claudine began to hurry back home.
"You wanna come hang out, Evie?" Ben offered before he would leave.
"Thanks, Ben, but I think I should stay here with my mom." Evie replied.
"Okay. Well, see ya later then?" Ben then shrugged.
"Yeah, see you later." Evie nodded and smiled.
Ben smiled back and soon also left the house.
"You know what? I'm gonna stay and talk to Regina," Mary Margaret then decided for herself as she came to see her formerly wicked step-mother. "I'll help clean up."
"I'm not in the mood for a heart-to-heart." Regina huffed as she turned around, ready to leave the room.
"I'm not sure that's physically possible right now." Mary Margaret said bashfully.
Regina chuckled as that actually endeared her. "You can help with the tea cups." she then suggested.
Both of them soon entered the kitchen as Evie got ready to join them. They were both blissfully unaware that due to an unknown spell, the front door vanished. Evie shook a chill down her spine before looking around, then shrugged as she continued to follow after her mother and former schoolteacher.
Regina had her back turned to Mary Margaret and Evie who were sitting at the table.
"I wanna apologize, Regina," Mary Margaret frowned emotionally. "For Cora. For-"
"Murdering her?" Regina interrupted sternly.
"Mother." Evie whispered firmly.
"No, she's right. Yeah," Mary Margaret reassured Evie. "I don't take it lightly. I think about it every day." she then added to Regina.
"So do I," Regina said before she turned around to face the two in front of her. "And when I do think about it, I remember that she did kill your mother. So, I'll admit that it's complicated." she then shrugged.
"Thank you," Mary Margaret said softly. "I'm sure you had some things you wanted to say to her."
"Yes. Well, I'm realizing that my mother walled off a lot of her life from me," Regina scoffed. "She wasn't the warmest mother, but at least I thought I occupied a singular spot in her heat. A sister. Zelena. Why would she give her up?" she then added with a sigh. "Why would she make us strangers to one another?"
Mary Margaret was about to say something until she suddenly heard a sound. "What's that?" she then wondered.
"I have no idea." Regina replied.
"It sounds like it came from upstairs." Evie suggested.
Soon, the three left the kitchen and began to head upstairs. They looked around until they followed the sound closer and they heard it coming from a certain door and soon approached it with caution.
"It's in there. There isn't anything in this room," Regina pointed out in confusion. "It's..." she then added, but before she could open the door, it suddenly shattered.
Claudine appeared to be wearing a hooded cloak and was sitting on a stool and using a spinning wheel.
"Claudine? What're you doing here?" Evie asked. "I thought you were going home."
"There is no Claudine... Only The Miller's Daughter." Claudine retorted as she spun her head around in an almost Exorcist fashion and her eyes appeared to be graying and bluing with a bit of a ghostly aura surrounding her.
"Mother...?" Regina murmured in wonder.
"She's heeeeeeeeeeere~" Claudine answered with a demented look on her face.
"Uh, hello, Miss Ghost... welcome to our-" Evie said with a nervous smile.
"Who dares to call me in the afterlife?!" Claudine demanded before she shifted back into her normal tone of voice. "It's for you." she then droned to Regina.
"This can't be," Regina said, sounding stunned. "The spell opened a limited portal for… talking."
"Maybe there's an outside force?" Evie suggested.
"It's me. I killed Cora," Mary Margaret realized in horror. "She sensed my presence and found a way to bleed through into our world."
Claudine soon began to try to lunge out at Mary Margaret as Cora's soul controlled her body.
"Watch out!" Regina warned her step-mother before she glared at the spirit of her mother. "Back down, Mother. You will answer my questions. Now, tell me what did you do to Zelena?"
"Get out of my way!" Claudine sneered as she pushed Regina away and soon tried to get to Mary Margaret again.
Evie soon thought quickly and whooshed herself, Mary Margaret, and Regina all downstairs.
While that was effective, Claudine chased them downstairs, appearing through a wall due to Cora's ghostly aura, but Regina tried to hold her off with her magic.
"You're holding her off." Mary Margaret realized.
"But I can't hold her forever." Regina replied as she used her magic as best as she could.
"If only I could use my own magic to talk to her." Evie frowned.
"Your magic?" Mary Margaret wondered.
"Yes, somehow my magic allows me to see in the eyes of the past of whoever I grab, but I don't know how I can do that since Grandmother's ghost is inside Claudine." Evie explained as best as she could.
"Maybe you could try to grab onto Claudine since Cora is controlling her?" Mary Margaret suggested.
"I'll see what I can do." Evie replied thoughtfully.
"I don't know how much longer I can hold her off!" Regina strained.
"She's here for you, Ms. Blanchard!" Claudine cried out before her head shook rapidly and her eyes glowed in a blue/gray aura again. "You did this to me, Snow White. You have yourself to blame. Regina, let me go, this is between me and the Snow Bitch."
"Cora, I'm sorry!" Mary Margaret gasped. "Please forgive me!"
"Save your breath. Your mother was nothing like my mother. She only understands power and weakness," Regina countered. "But if she wants to kill you, she's gonna have to go through me! This isn't about you. This is about her and me," she then added before stopping using her powers. "It's time for answers, Mother. What did you do to Zelena?" she then demanded.
Claudine soon knocked Regina down and came to go toward Mary Margaret. Evie then dove in the way before her eyes widened as she seemed to be absorbed by Cora's ghost after Claudine's pupils disappeared and she fell flat on the floor suddenly.
Suddenly, Evie opened her eyes and looked around as she appeared to be in an old fairy tale castle. "Grandma?" she then muttered as she looked down to a young gorgeous woman who was with a young man who looked quite charming.
"My love, you've frightened me." Young Cora said to the man before kissing him.
"What are you doing in the great hall at this hour?" The man wondered.
"Who's that guy?" Evie wondered.
"Well, a wedding won't plan itself, and there's endless amounts of work to be done," Young Cora defended until she sensed something wrong in his eyes. "Is something wrong?" she then asked.
"Word has spread throughout the castle that you are with child." The man explained.
"My love, I am so sorry for the terrible trouble that this has brought upon you." Young Cora frowned in concern.
"Gossip means nothing to me," The man shook his head. "I've pledged to marry you, dear Cora, and I will keep that pledge as long as I know I can trust you." he then added.
"There is no baby," Young Cora said as strongly as she could. "Only my love for you."
"You only love yourself." Another young woman hissed as she came by suddenly.
"What is she doing here?" Young Cora wondered.
Evie was wondering the same thing and who this woman was until the man suddenly said her name, making her very shocked at the reveal.
"Princess Eva is here because she overheard your rendezvous in the garden yesterday." The man explained to Cora.
"And just as I said, the miller's daughter is a worthless liar." Princess Eva added smugly.
"You awful child," Young Cora glared at her. "Yes, I was in the garden yesterday. There was a man roaming the grounds. I feared he might steal something so I made him leave. Whatever else Eva has told you is the invention of a gallous brat who would say anything to marry you." she then added as strongly as possible.
"Check her pockets." Princess Eva suggested.
Young Cora and the man stared each other down for a while. Princess Eva stood by and smirked smugly as she waited to see what would happen next. Soon, the young man reached into Young Cora's pockets and then took out what looked like a priceless trinket.
"No." Young Cora frowned in dismay.
"There's nothing left to say." The man said as he stepped away from Cora snidely.
"You deserve better than her lies." Princess Eva added tauntingly as she went to follow him.
"Leopold! Don't let me go!" Young Cora cried out as a couple of guards arrived to escort her away.
"Leopold? Eva?" Evie muttered until her eyes widened and she gasped. "Snow White's parents!"
"Come, Eva," Leopold said to the princess next to him. "Help me break this terrible news to the king."
"Today your heart aches, Your Highness, but I promise a more worthy wife will give you the child that you deserve," Princess Eva told Leopold softly before she smiled hopefully for both of them. "One that will be pure. Pure as snow."
Evie gasped at that, wishing she could do something until she suddenly heard something else from the outside.
"GET OUT OF MY DAUGHTER!"
"Mom?" Evie muttered before everything suddenly faded away and all she could see was pure darkness.
Evie was soon violently shaking as Cora's ghost was possessing her at the moment. Mary Margaret looked really scared and worried for the bluenette girl.
"Hold on. I won't let you go!" Regina told Evie before she soon pulled her mother's spirit out of her daughter with her magic and sent the ghost away just as everyone else came back.
"What the hell was that?" Emma asked as she and the others suddenly came in.
"Cora." Mary Margaret replied as David came beside her in comfort.
"Is Evie gonna be okay?" Ben wondered.
"We're not sure," Regina replied as she came to check on her daughter. "Evie? It's Mommy... can you hear me?" she then asked.
"Grandma… not what we thought," Evie stated wearily. "She's trying to communicate."
"She was?" Regina asked urgently. "What'd she say?"
"King Leopold... Princess Eva..." Evie murmured in reply.
"My parents." Mary Margaret realized.
"Shhh. Evie, relax~" Regina said as she tried to comfort her daughter.
"She's not making any sense," Emma remarked. "We need to call a doctor."
"If she knows something that could help us-" Regina began to say.
"Mayor Mills, I think it will have to wait." Claudine said as she slowly stood up and regained consciousness while rubbing her head.
"It can't wait!" Regina urged. "If we wanna stop Zelena, we have to know what the hell she's doing and why!"
"My mom might have the solution to that." Ben piped up.
"What?" Regina asked.
"We saw her in the diner earlier and she figured out Zelena's plan," Ben explained. "She's planning on going back. Back in time."
"Are you certain?" Regina asked him.
Ben nodded in response.
"No one's ever been able to cast a spell to go back in time." Regina pointed out.
"Well, clearly she thinks she can succeed and my mom told me it comes with a certain list of ingredients," Ben explained. "She has the brain, courage, a heart, a desire to go back home, and Mom told me that those are ingredients in every time-travel spell she ever found in her library."
"Why go back in time?" David wondered. "I mean we have no idea what she's trying to accomplish."
"I think I do," Evie spoke up wearily. "She-she didn't…"
"Don't push yourself." Mary Margaret coaxed.
"She didn't want to give up Aunt Zelena," Evie insisted as strongly as she could. "She was forced to by Princess Eva... she told a secret."
"My mother told a secret..." Mary Margaret realized before her eyes widened. "Just like I did."
"Wait. I thought our family was the good guys." Emma spoke up.
"Life is too messy for it to ever be that simple." Regina advised.
"You're saying if it wasn't for Snow's mother, Cora would have never given up Zelena?" David guessed.
"That's what it sounds like to me." Claudine commented from the side.
"She would have been tutored by my dad." Ben realized.
"All if it weren't for this Princess Eva?" Killian wondered.
"So that means…" Emma began to say.
"Zelena's going back to kill my mother." Mary Margaret finished in horror.
"You'll have never been born." Regina added with a gasp.
"I'm guessing this is where my help ends?" Claudine wondered.
"Now, think it through, young lady," Regina advised. "This means Emma will have never been born, and neither will Henry."
"And on this different path, Regina, you may not be, either." Mary Margaret added.
"It's a good thing no one has ever succeeded with this time-travel nonsense." Killian scoffed to himself.
David looked concerned then. "The baby." he then realized.
"What?" Killian asked.
"That's what's missing. That's why none have succeeded," David said. "Somehow, some way, our baby is the key. Zelena went to a lot of effort to get close to our unborn child. That's what she's after. She tried to go to Mary Margaret, but Evie stopped her."
"What is she going to do to with-" Mary Margaret began to ask only to get cut off.
"It doesn't matter. She's not gonna get it. We're gonna stop her," David interrupted and reassured her. "Since our baby's not born, she's stuck, and we have what we need time."
"Just not very much of it." Mary Margaret replied softly.
"I don't feel so good, Mommy..." Evie murmured softly.
"Oh, my poor baby," Regina cooed softly. "Come on, let's get you into bed."
Evie nodded as that sounded good right now.
"Let's get you in bed." Regina suggested.
Claudine then began to collect her book which appeared to be a dark spell book while everyone else started to leave. The group began to ponder about Goldie since she seemed to randomly disappear for hours at a time with no one knowing where she was, especially after helping out in certain cases. They decided not to worry about it for now and just decided to worry about Zelena right now since she was the biggest task at hand right now. Evie soon tossed and turned in her bed as she began to have one of her very meaningful dreams right now.
"One more. Big one." A woman said in a cottage as Cora appeared to be in labor right now. "Push!"
Cora groaned and soon squealed as she gave birth. Before the baby could be named or found out to be a boy or a girl, Evie's dream suddenly shifted deep into the woods as Cora wore a cloak and was carrying a basket with her newborn child inside of it.
"Poor babe. Life is cruel and full of betrayal. That is my only lesson for you. Now I must give you away," Cora said to the baby who cried and cooed at her. "To give me MY best chance. As long as I have you, I can never be anything more than a miller's daughter." she then added before she stood up and walked away suddenly.
The baby soon started crying as a violent gust of wind began to grab the baby and take them away. There appeared to be a green cyclone and the baby was absorbed in it, leaving Misthaven and soon ended up in a different land that not many have seen.
The basket soon dropped down on a yellow brick road and in the distance, a beautiful green city could be seen. A woodcutter and his wife appeared to be walking along the road until they suddenly heard a baby wailing.
"Did you hear that?" The woodcutter's wife wondered.
"Nothing. Stick to the road." The woodcutter dismissed.
His wife didn't heed his suggestion and soon discovered the basket. "Oh, where did it come from?" she then wondered.
"The cyclone must have dropped it," The woodcutter guessed until he saw his wife picking up the bundle inside the basket. "Dear, what are you doing?"
"What do you expect me to do? Leave the poor thing to the wolves?" The woodcutter's wife huffed as she picked up the baby. "She's beautiful."
Suddenly, a branch was close to breaking overhead. The woodcutter looked alarmed until he noticed the baby raising a finger and magically changed the branch's direction; causing no harm as it fell to the ground some yards away. However, his wife remained oblivious.
"She did that. She knocked that tree away." The woodcutter noticed nervously.
"Calm your nerves, dear. It was just the wind. She's only a babe and she needs our help," The woodcutter's wife cooed. "Can we keep her?" she then added hopefully.
"That's not a good idea. Didn't you see what she did?" The woodcutter shook his head. "She's not like us."
"You're right, she's not. She's alone and we're going to take care of her," The woodcutter's wife replied. "Now, stick to the road or we'll never make it to the Emerald City before dawn." she then added before walking on again.
The woodcutter sighed in defeat seeing that he couldn't argue with his wife. "What should we call her?" he then asked.
The woodcutter's wife paused, looking at the pretty city ahead of them and the color of it which inspired her to give the baby a very unique and beautiful name. "What about Zelena?" she then suggested. "She's going to be the happiest baby in all of Oz."
The woodcutter looked unsure about that and continued to follow his wife down the yellow brick road along with their new daughter.
"No... Grandma... stop... no... AH!" Evie grunted and squealed before she cried out and shot up in her bed suddenly and broke out into a cold sweat.
"It's okay, Evie, it was just a dream." Ben said as he was sitting beside his childhood best friend's bed.
"Huh? Ben?" Evie murmured and looked over. "What are you doing here?"
"I thought I'd check on you and make sure you were okay," Ben explained. "You were asleep for four days."
"Four days?!" Evie repeated with wide eyes.
"Nah, more like four hours..." Ben then said with a smirk and chuckle.
"That's not funny, Benny Gold." Evie narrowed her eyes.
"Sorry..." Ben said sheepishly. "Dr. Whale was checking on you, he just left. Apparently, the human body has a surprising tolerance for ghost possession." he then added sincerely.
"Well, that's good to know for the future, I guess." Evie shrugged.
"I'll say," Ben nodded. "Your mother and Ms. Blanchard were talking about their parents too, I just hope this doesn't end in disaster for all of our sakes."
"I hope so too." Evie replied before she saw a cup of warm tea left for her along with a slice of apple pie, then she took the tea and decided to drink it.
"If you want, I can go right now," Ben offered. "I'm sure you wanna stay here and rest."
"Actually, Ben, do you mind spending the night?" Evie asked softly. "We haven't had a sleepover just you and me in a long time."
"Well, okay, sure," Ben said with a small smile. "I just have to stay in the guest room since we're both teenagers now."
"Nothing is gonna happen," Evie rolled her eyes. "You're like my brother."
"I know, but you know how parents get," Ben reminded his childhood best friend. "Maybe we can watch a movie together or something."
"I think I'd like that, Ben," Evie nodded. "Is Mom still here?"
"She'll be back later, she wanted to go see Mr. Hood and was worried about leaving you here alone, so I told her and my mom that I'd hang out here with you to keep an eye on you." Ben explained.
"Thanks, Ben," Evie smiled. "No wonder all the girls love how charming and sweet you are."
"Well, what can I say? There's a man behind the beast," Ben chuckled warmly. "What do you think you wanna watch tonight?" he then asked.
"Remember how we used to watch The Wizard of Oz at your place?" Evie asked him.
Ben nodded in response. "You want me to get that for us?" he then asked.
"I think I could use it right about now." Evie replied.
"Then of course," Ben said to him. "It'll be just like old times only with you on bed rest."
"Does that mean you're my servant boy?" Evie smirked playfully.
"Watch it, Wicked Princess." Ben smirked back.
"Not wicked, Ben. Evil." Evie playfully retorted.
"Same thing." Ben rolled his eyes playfully as he got up and left the room suddenly.
Evie laughed a little as she watched him go while sipping more tea before looking out the window with a small sigh. "Oh, Aunt Zelena... if only we could help you somehow." she then whispered to herself as she continued to rest up until Ben would come back.
MEANWHILE...
"We can't hide forever, you know," Goldie said as she came over to Neal with a take-out box from Granny's, sitting next to him on the bed. "I wanna help you, Neal... I really care about you, but the others have to know what happened to you."
"I know, Goldie... I just wanna wait until The Wicked Witch is gone," Neal replied softly. "Don't you think I miss Emma? My papa? My Henry?"
"I understand," Goldie nodded as she opened the container for him. "Eat up though, you need some strength. It's a lot of work coming back from the dead."
"Don't I know it?" Neal smirked at that before he looked into the box. "Double cheeseburger with some cheese fries."
"You looked like you could use one." Goldie agreed.
"You're so good to me, Goldie," Neal said softly. "No wonder you were able to bring me back when no one else could."
"What can I say? There's more to Goldilocks than just taking people's porridge or breaking and entering." Goldie smirked at that.
"I can relate actually..." Neal said, softly. "I'm just glad Bluebeard stopped stalking you. Any word on whatever happened to him?" he then wondered.
"I don't know, but I'm just glad he's gone," Goldie said to him. "You're my knight in shining armor and he's the scary monster who got what was coming to him."
"Aw, shucks..." Neal blushed a little.
Goldie also blushed before she took out another container and ate her own cheeseburger as they continued to sit and relax in their room at Granny's Inn together until further notice with no one knowing that he was still alive after all. But only one could wonder how long this charade could possibly last.
