Premise: Season 2 AU. Regina and Emma are unable to stop the trigger and it explodes, destroying Storybrooke. However, instead of perishing, most of the citizens of Storybrooke are scattered, ending up with new lives and memories in New York. Except Rumpelstiltskin, who is discovered by the NSA.
After three years in a government facility, the NSA makes a deal with him to help them combat the residual consequences of the trigger's explosion. The others are recruited and awakened. The deal is they form a taskforce and help fight the magical entities that have been unleashed on the world and keep their freedom as a reward.
Thanks for the reviews. Please consider leaving reviews. It seems engagement has really dropped, so if you're reading and you like what you're reading, please review. Feedback is very much appreciated. Here are responses to individual reviews:
Ghostwriter: Thanks, glad you're enjoying!
Grace5231973: Yeah, looks like a portal that isn't closing. It could definitely be causing some havoc. Yeah, sometimes I feel bad for Greg, but he really became a monster. Yeah, the publicity will definitely make them easier to find. Glad you're enjoying it!
Sammii16: Yep, he is definitely not telling them everything. Glad you're enjoying!
The Grey Jedi 2020: Yeah, typical government. Yeah, I thought a Banshee might be interesting. Yeah, keeping their identities secret is pretty much over now. Yeah, Greg kind of became a monster in his own right. I wouldn't be so sure about the locked up thing. Remember the magic cuffs. They never get the whole story, just like we never get the fully story. No, the trigger was always designed to erase Storybrooke and return everything to as it was before the curse. Yeah, it will be interesting when they find out Neal is alive. Glad you enjoyed it.
sweetreader: I know, Neal is very confused right now, but will probably head for New York. Yeah, but it's the government so you know they'll try it. I know, Greg and Tamara are the worst. Glad you're enjoying.
Sexystarwarslover: Yep, the trigger swallowed the town and reversed it back to as it was before the curse. Yeah, the portal seems to not be closing. Yeah, a fire in the middle of a busy neighborhood would definitely draw attention. Yep, David in battle pose is hot. Yeah, Tamara, Greg and their new boss are the worst. Yes, sadly they survived. Gald you're enjoying it!
Operation Castle
Chapter 7: Exposed, Pt 1
"Oof…definitely need to work on my landings," he joked, though no one was around to hear him. He looked around, trying to figure out where he was, but he instantly saw something he recognized. He smiled and saw the well, before he hurried through the woods and when he emerged from the edge of the woods, expecting to see the familiar site of the clocktower, his smile quickly faded to a frown. He found there was a small clearing, but then more woods where Storybrooke should have been.
"What the hell happened?" he wondered, as fear gripped him. Storybrooke was gone…and so was his family. A million things ran through his mind, as he wondered how an entire town could just disappear like it never existed. Before he could completely freak out though, he heard a vehicle coming along what was once Main Street, but now just the highway and dodged behind a tree. It was a black SUV and it came to a stop in the center of the road. He looked around the tree to see three people get out and they all looked like Feds, except one. Typical black clothes and sunglasses. The other wore a white lab coat and Neal deduced he was probably a scientist or doctor employed by the Feds. He watched them carefully trek along the road and to a spot up a little further and it was right about where he estimated the clocktower used to be. Quietly, he hopped behind a few more trees and then crept into the brush, straining to hear what they were saying. He saw the man in the white lab coat using some kind of device and heard it making a static-type noise.
"Well?" one of the agents asked.
"It's the same as it is each month we check. Since the trigger implosion, the radiation has only increased the rift here," the man in the white coat said.
"And there's nothing you can do to stop it?" the female agent asked. He sighed.
"We're talking about magical radiation that has created a rift, which means volcanic activity. Nothing can stop it. By my estimates and calculations, a full fledged rift of volcanic activity will emerge right here in the middle of Maine within the next six months," he said.
"And the other hot spots?" another agent asked.
"Since they're not at ground zero, it may take more time, but the rifts will soon happen at those as well," the scientist answered.
"We better report back. This is not what the Director will want to hear," the one that seemed like the lead agent said, as they got back in the vehicle and sped away in the other direction. Neal crept toward the spot where they just were and knelt down. The concrete in the place they had been examining was cracked and the pavement was starting to protrude upward. He placed a hand on it and recoiled in shock. It was very warm; almost hot to the touch and with it being late fall in Maine, that was definitely not normal.
"Trigger implosion?" Neal wondered, having no idea what they meant or what it had to do with the disappearance of the town and its people, including his family.
If the town was somehow destroyed…then did that mean his family was too?
"No…Emma would have gotten everyone out somehow. There were no beans though, so there was no way out of this realm if something had destroyed the town.
"The library in New York…" he said. Years ago, he had discovered a very old collection of books in one of the oldest public libraries in New York that had information about people of other lands. It was exactly like Henry's book, but he might find clues there.
"It's a start," Neal said. He had no idea how long he would have to walk to find a bus station, but he knew he had better get started and so he began walking west of where Storybrooke used to be.
"Looks like they survived too," Snow said.
"Yeah…but since when are they reporters?" Emma asked, as they listened to them breakdown the entire incident that had just happened and they had obviously been watching, because they now had close up footage of them.
"I thought you said we wouldn't have to worry about being identified by the public and your clean up crews would make this all go away," David said. Casey clenched his teeth.
"Looks like things have changed," he said.
"We have no confirmation yet, but we believe these two are definitely working for our rogue agent," Shaw said.
"That makes sense…these two hate magic and us by association," Regina replied.
"I say we bring them in and see what they know," Killian suggested.
"No…we are not to engage yet," Shaw said.
"Why the hell not?" David questioned.
"If we let them operate for now, they will slip up and eventually lead us to whoever is behind this," Shaw said.
"In the meantime, more of our people might be killed," Snow said. He looked at her and paused for a moment.
"I'm afraid that there is always collateral damage in a war," he said.
"So now my people are collateral damage!?" Snow cried, as David gently put his hands on her shoulders.
"Your orders are clear, Mrs. Nolan…" Shaw said sternly, as the transmission winked out.
"I hate this…" Snow sniffed, she turned in his arms and he hugged her tightly, tucking her head beneath his chin.
"Come on…let's go pick up Bobby and go home," he whispered to her, as he kissed her hair and they started toward the stairs.
"Hey Henry," a voice said, as he shut his locker and he looked at his three friends that he hung out with the most. He had been in such a fog since he woke up that he had almost forgotten that Paige, Nick, and Ava were really Grace, Hansel, and Gretel. Somehow, even in a big place like New York City, they had ended up in the same school. If he recalled, Nick and Ava lived with their single dad, who worked and made good money at a local mechanic shop. Paige also spoke of her quirky, yet loving single dad, who she lived with. Henry assumed it was Jefferson, based on the fact that her father owned a small haberdashery, which sold men's accessories, including hats.
"Hey guys," he said numbly. They all were happy and had good lives here, so he felt a little guilty that he wanted them to be awake like him.
"Dude…I have to talk to you about something I saw the other night," Nick said urgently. Ava rolled her eyes.
"The superhero thing again, Nick? That was just a hoax…the news said so," Ava complained.
"The news is full of shit, Ava," he snapped back, as he pulled Henry along to the lunchroom to show him something on his laptop. Ava sighed and Paige smiled.
"Boys," she said, with a shrug, as they followed.
"Everyone else said this is CGI or a hoax, but I'm telling you, Swan…this was real. I watched it out my bedroom window," he said. Henry's eyes widened, as he showed him the battle with the Troll. He looked at his friends and then back at the screen.
"Well?" he asked.
"Yeah…definitely not a hoax," he replied. Nick hadn't met his Mom yet actually or surely he would have identified Emma right away.
"See…I told you it was real. Henry knows," Nick declared.
"Henry…you can't be serious," Ava replied.
"I am…and I think you guys might be able to help," Henry said.
"Help how?" Paige asked, clearly intrigued.
"Nick…how would you feel about doing some serious hacking?" Henry asked. The other boy's face lit up.
"Are you kidding? Where do I sign?" he asked. Henry smiled.
"And Paige, do you remember a few weeks ago when you were saying that you were following a bunch of podcasts about that weird explosion that was felt in Maine a few years ago?" he asked.
"Of course…I'm still following them. The research is crazy and they're totally burying it, because there's been fissures happening all over the place. But according to the guy I listen to…when the government shows up, everything goes dark and people just stop talking about it," she said. Ava sighed.
"I need new friends," she complained.
"They probably pay them to go away…or else, if you get my drift," Nick said. Henry wondered if Grandpa Gold figured out magic if he could awaken his friends without the General or their handlers knowing about it. That was a later conversation though. He would never get them into Castle undetected, but a couple high powered laptops might be enough to dig.
"Okay…come over to my house tonight. My Mom will be fine with it and I'll tell you more," he said, as the bell rang and they returned to their classes.
Snow's heart fluttered, as they peered into their son's crib and she got chills, as she always did, as she listened to her husband gently serenade their little boy until he was fast asleep. She tucked the blanket around him tightly and gently caressed his tiny face.
"Good night sweetheart," she whispered, as her husband held her from behind. He gently pressed a kiss to her hair and she turned in his arms, so she could give him a smoldering kiss. She slipped her arms around his neck and he pulled her flush against his hard body. She pulled her lips from his, but only long enough to lead them next door to their bedroom. Once the door was closed, their lips crashed together again and hands roamed. She began quickly unbuttoning his shirt and he shrugged out it. Her hands were busied with his belt and he slipped his hands beneath her blouse. He was about to remove it when the doorbell rang. Their lips parted and their breathing was ragged, as they attempted to cool things between them.
"I...I'll go see who that is," he said, as he started buttoning his shirt and took a breath. She smiled.
"I'll see who it is and give you a minute to calm down," she said, with a sly smile and a kiss to his cheek. The doorbell rang again and she hurried to answer it. She was pleasantly surprised to see that it was Emma and Henry.
"Hey…sorry it's kind of late. I hope you guys weren't in bed," the blonde said, as she let them in.
"No…we just put the baby down," Snow said, as Henry hugged her and she smiled, as she returned the hug, just as David came down the stairs. He had a smile for them both and returned his grandson's hug.
"We were going to wait, but this one is too excited to tell you what he found," Emma replied.
"I think I found someone to help us dig for information online," he said.
"Really?" David asked, as they sat down.
"I didn't even think about it earlier, but my three closest friends just happen to be from Storybrooke too," he revealed.
"That's lucky," Snow said.
"That's what I said. For New York, it doesn't seem like we were scattered too far," Emma replied.
"Paige is Grace and I met her dad once. It was definitely Jefferson. Anyway, she's really into science and loves geology. She's always collecting rocks and following people that track seismic activity," Henry said.
"Seismic activity? This part of the country doesn't have a lot of earthquakes," Snow mentioned.
"No…but if you remember we had one in Storybrooke. It just happened to be a mine collapse," Emma reminded her.
"Are you saying there's seismic activity and it's being caused by the trigger? Even three years later?" David asked. The boy nodded.
"Yeah…Paige is obsessed with the original anomaly that happened three years ago…in Maine. Since then, there's been all kinds of weird geologic activity," Henry explained.
"She can explain it better I think. It was all a bit Greek to me too," Emma mentioned.
"Does she really think the trigger is causing seismic activity?" Snow asked. He nodded.
"She seems to think so…" Henry replied, as David noticed the pensive look on her face.
"What is it?" he asked. She looked up at him.
"Probably just my overactive imagination…but the trigger was supposed to destroy Storybrooke," Snow replied.
"Which it seemed like it did or so they told us," Emma replied.
"What if…what if it's destroying more than that?" Snow asked, as they all looked at her and then each other for a long pause.
"I know…it sounds stupid," Snow said.
"Actually it doesn't…" Emma replied.
"She's right…obviously that trigger did more damage than Regina thought it would. It swallowed Storybrooke whole if the town really was destroyed as they're saying," David said.
"You think it might be swallowing the world?" Emma asked, as Henry showed them one of Grace's maps on his laptop.
"Grace…or Paige says that the people she follows on this stuff said it's not like regular seismic activity. It's just in pockets beneath the earth's crust," Henry said.
"Wait…so the radiation is in the ground?" Snow asked.
"That's what it seems like," Henry replied.
"Magical radiation…" Emma muttered.
"It's underground…the magic is underground," David realized, as he caught her train of thought.
"Then if we find one of these pockets…" Snow said.
"Regina, Gold, and…you might be able to access magic. That's why it's not everywhere," David replied, as he looked at their daughter.
"Wait…if the magic is underground and it's causing these anomalies, that still doesn't explain how creatures are popping up from it," Emma said. They exchanged a glance and were silent again.
"It doesn't…but if we found one of these pockets, then we might be able to figure out why and how the creatures are manifesting," David said. Emma nodded, as she watched him pull out his phone.
"What are you doing?" she asked.
"Well…I was going to text Killian and Gold and tell them we should meet here before going to Castle in the morning, but I bet they have our phones bugged," David replied.
"Probably…we can't take that chance. We better hope they haven't bugged our houses too," Emma said. Snow started to look around, suddenly uneasy that there was a possibility they were listening.
"Ruby's…we can meet for dinner there. If we're late in the morning to Castle, it will be more suspicious," Emma suggested. He nodded and made the calls.
"Dammit…" Emma cursed, as she turned away and Snow approached, seeing that Henry was occupied.
"Are you okay?" she asked. Emma turned to her.
"I'm sorry…" the blonde said.
"For what honey?" Snow asked.
"I've blamed you guys for so long…I didn't get it. I didn't get what she was like and why you gave me up. I thought that even if I was cursed with you that at least we would have been together," Emma replied. Snow recalled that hurtful moment after the curse had broken where Emma had suggested that, which led to Snow questioning every decision she had ever made.
"No…you had a point. Maybe it would have been okay. I mean you would have been in Storybrooke at least," Snow said.
"You don't have to do that…don't sugar coat it. I didn't get it then…but I do now," Emma replied.
"I'm not sure what you mean," Snow said.
"She would have killed me. You…you and Dad knew that. That's why you made him put me in the wardrobe. She set off a trigger that swallowed an entire town and was intended to kill us all. I didn't see it before…but I do now," Emma replied.
"There is good in her…" Snow offered, as they looked at Henry.
"Maybe…" Emma replied.
"But I was unfair to you…Mom," she confessed. A few tears slipped down her cheeks, as they hugged. David shared a smile with his grandson and put his hand on the boy's shoulder.
"We're meeting at Ruby's for dinner after Castle tomorrow," he said. Emma nodded.
"Okay kid…we better get home and get to bed," she told him, as he packed up his laptop. Emma paused for a moment and surprised David with a hug.
"Goodnight Dad," she said, as the two of them watched them go in awe.
"Did…did that just happen?" he asked. Snow sniffed and nodded, as more tears came.
"She called me Mom again," she replied, as they embraced in a tight, joyful hug.
"You were right…she just needed time," Snow said. He smiled at her with tears in his eyes, as he held her face in his hands and they shared a passionate kiss.
Neal had been walking for what felt like forever and as dusk set in, he finally came upon a structure. It looked like a small diner and he remembered August's story about coming through the wardrobe. This small diner matched his description and he approached, hoping he could get some information. He wasn't prepared for what he saw on the television though and he stood there, mouth agape, as he listened to the broadcast.
"These seemingly supernatural occurrences have been followed by the appearance of several individuals, who show up to handle the problem, before absconding with little explanation and quite a mess in their wake," Tamara said.
"There is much speculation that this small group of people may actually be perpetuating these hoaxes and showing up to deal with them. Others of a conspiratorial nature suggest that the appearance of these monsters, such as this one, are authentic, but they are considered on the fringe," Greg added, as the footage was shown.
"A bridge troll…" Neal uttered, as he saw Emma, her parents, Regina, Belle, Hook, and finally his father on the screen.
"What the hell is going on?" he wondered.
"Can I get you anything?" the waitress asked.
"Uh…yeah, some water would be great," he replied. She smiled and nodded.
"Crazy huh? I mean, I knew New York was a crazy place, but monsters are a little nuts even for it," the waitress said.
"New York…" he uttered.
"Listen, I'm kind of stranded and I actually need to get to New York. Is there a bus station nearby?" he asked.
"We're pretty out of the way up here, but there is a bus that stops here every morning. There's not a lot of jobs in this small spot, so most commute to Augusta. It's about forty miles. You can catch a bus to New York from there I think," she said. He nodded.
"Thanks," he said, as he accepted the water. It wasn't ideal, but he could sleep in the woods for the night and then catch a bus in the morning. He had to get to New York as soon as possible…