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I do not own Once Upon a Time, the characters, dialogue, or events in the episodes.
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"No! She can't have her! I refuse to allow it!" The vitriol in her voice only emphasized by the flickering green shadows cast by the fire across her face, reinforcing the anger and disgust displayed on her features.
"It's not like any of us want her to find her happy ending dearie but that's what the prophesy states…" Rumple grimaced before being promptly cut off.
"No! I will not sit idly by and watch as she corrupts my daughter." Snow slammed her fist on the table.
"You did say there was another way," the Blue Fairy glanced at the imp while rubbing Snow White's arm in an attempt to calm her angered charge. "That is why we are here, is it not?"
"Well, there is," he paused, "but it …"
"Comes with a price. Yes, yes, we are all aware of your rules of engagement." The Blue Fairy waived her hand at him to continue.
"Actually dearie," Gold sneered at her impertinence, "while it is true that all Magic comes with a price, this particular… magic… comes with a far higher cost." Turning his attention to Snow White, he gazed pointedly at her. "You do realize that if we proceed, your daughter will never have her happily ever after either."
Snow White inhaled sharply, "I hadn't thought… I mean that I never considered…" she looked questioningly at the Blue Fairy, for the first time second guessing herself and wondering if what they were doing was in fact the right course of action. "Are we doing the right thing? It almost killed me being without David all those years. Do I really want that for Emma?"
"Don't forget who caused you to be apart," Blue countered, causing Gold to raise an eyebrow.
It often amazed the Dark One how people continued to believe the Blue Fairy to be a source for good. She was almost always entwined in some form of cruelty. This here was yet another perfect example.
"It was all due to Regina." The fairy continued, oblivious to Rumple's musings. "Her heart is black. Do you really think her capable of loving anything or anyone?"
Snow felt the familiar anger rise within her. The Evil Queen had kept Snow from her true love. She and her stepmother had battled far too long; and Snow couldn't bear the thought of leaving her daughter's happiness in the Evil Queen's hands. "Ugh! I don't want to hurt my daughter but I can't bear the thought of Regina winning after all she's put us through. We can't let her have a happily ever after. Villains aren't supposed to get happy endings!"
The Dark One sneered at the comment as his thoughts swirled on a certain beauty and his own shortcomings.
"Well, maybe there is a way to do both?" Blue patted Snow's hand and glanced at Gold testing the waters. "We could include in this …spell… another to step in and take that place for Emma, a pseudo true love as it were…"
"Aye, but how do we keep the real one away from Emma?" Rumple asked following the fairy's train of thought. Contingencies were something he knew they would need to consider in going up against the Evil Queen. "If we haven't been repeatedly hit over the head with anything it's that true love always finds a way."
"Well, perhaps we will have to settle for a distraction for Regina as well." Blue offered.
"A distraction?" Snow questioned tilting her head to the side as she tried to understand the implication.
"Well, if she is tied up with her own 'pseudo-romance,' then we can keep her adequately away from Emma and prevent her from breaking the cur… (cough) spell." Blue caught herself before slipping. "While not ideal, perhaps a small consolation to Regina will at least keep her from truly being happy."
"To prevent Regina from finding her happily ever after, we give her a fake true love too? That hardly seems like she loses anything." Snow countered not following why they would want to benefit her nemesis at all.
"Like I said it's a consolation. It doesn't have to be another true love though, fake or otherwise, but someone who would adequately distract the Evil Queen long enough for Emma to meet her pseudo true love thus preventing Regina from ensnaring your daughter." The blue fairy looked to the imp for support.
"What could possibly distract her from her true love?" Snow whined.
The fairy racked her brain at the question. "I am not sure, perhaps a kindred spirit or a soul partner, something along those lines."
"It is possible, dearie, and it doesn't have to be forever, just long enough until Emma is suitably paired off. It comes down to the details in the timing. We make it so that another will take the place of her true love…" pulling a notebook from the pocket in the inner lining of his jacket, he quickly flipped the pages of his notes. "… ah yes, here it is, the mention of the tattoo. The closer we keep the details to the actual prophesy the stronger the magic."
"So you can do it?" Blue pushed earning her a sneer in response.
"Aye."
"But who would we pick for such a thing? It would be horrible to align someone to the Evil Queen and all the more so without their knowledge" Snow shuddered at the thought.
"Perhaps someone who needs to serve their time in payment for the crimes they have already committed would be best in the capacity of the Evil Queen's consort. Consider it a just punishment." The fairy offered.
"I think I know just the thief. Uh-uh, dearie," the Dark One quickly waives away Snow's question before she can even utter the inquiry. "The less you know the better."
Snow and Blue exchange a look, causing Snow White for once to briefly hold her tongue. But her reticence is interrupted as another question tumbles from her lips. "What of Emma? What man would we even consider worthy to be my daughter's pseudo true love?"
Showing some decorum by not giving voice to Snow's presumption of choosing a male partner, especially given what the prophesy implied, he instead focused on figuring out a potential pairing for the princess. Who would be best to fall in love with a woman who could never really love him back. An evil smile graced his features. "Hmmm, I know a certain rogue who is all too keen on stealing hearts. It would be most fitting to see him hooked by your princess." He laughed shrilly causing both women to shudder.
"But is he worthy." Snow but her lip in concern.
"More so than the Evil Queen I expect dearie." The imp giggled, increasing the unease of the two women.
"The magic will take care of that, I am sure." Blue gently assured Snow White with a hand on her shoulder. Tilting her head toward the Dark One for acknowledgment he snorted but nodded his agreement.
"And how do you suggest we bind it?" Blue inquired..
"How else, dearie," Rumple eyed her, the condescension evident in his tone, "but with a song in her heart." He snarled his disgust at the concept while waving his hand through the air for dramatic effect.
Interceding before Snow could ask more questions, the fairy clasped her hands together. "Good, then that is all settled. Shall we begin?" She gestured at the table of ingredients in front of them.
"If you're sure," Rumple once again eyed Snow White, "No going back once we've begun…"
"Why are you stalling? It would seem as if you wanted the Evil Queen to win?" Blue interrupted pretentiously, glaring at the imp.
"I hate her just as much as you do, if not more for what she's done to me!" Gold countered loudly getting into the fairy's personal space.
"Enough! Fighting each other is not why we are here. We all know Regina doesn't deserve a happily ever after." Snow looked at both of them until they backed down.
Satisfied, she turned to Rumple and addressed him directly, "You can do this? You can give my daughter a better ending than this ridiculous prophesy and prevent the Evil Queen's eternal happiness?"
"Aye."
"Then do it."