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.
Sorry for the delay on this. Real life has been crazy lately.
Thanks for the reviews. Please consider leaving reviews. Feedback is very much appreciated. Here are responses to individual reviews:
Ghostwriter: Yep, the trigger was much more than they thought. Glad you're enjoying!
cschallert: Yep, Emma has accepted her parents. I won't be pitting Neal against Killian though. I like Neal and I don't see him as bad. Glad you're enjoying it.
Sammii16: You're welcome.
Grace5231973: Me too. Neal is just as untrusting of people as Emma is. It's fun finally adding him into the mix. Glad you're enjoying! :)
sweetreader: I know, August is always in a pickle and I wish I could say it gets better for him, but it doesn't as you'll find out. Yeah, they are unaware that the Enchanted Forest could be just as dangerous right now. Glad you like Emma's acceptance and Neal's return. I do too. I'm not sure how things will go pairing wise with Emma yet, but we will see. Glad you're enjoying!
Sexystarwarslover: Yep, Neal has been reunited with his family and will definitely be an asset. Yeah, Arthur coming to the Land Without Magic could be disastrous. Yeah, August is usually out for himself. He can't help himself. Yeah, they are not letting anything separate them from either of their children this time. Glad you're enjoying it!
The Grey Jedi 2020: Yeah, finally a family reunion and they have seen unbelievable things, but Alivia is still a skeptic looking for a logical explanation. Maybe, I haven't decided on Emma pairings yet. It's never really my focus. You'll be able to discern if Isaac is dead in this chapter, though I don't mention him by name. Yep, off to the library to create more questions than answers. Glad you're enjoying it.
Operation Castle
Chapter 11: The Library
"It's just a bunch of books about other lands and fairy tales," Alivia said in a condescending tone.
"This one is all about Oz…and this one is about Camelot, except King Arthur is not exactly as noble as we thought," she said, as she put the books on the General's desk.
"And then there's a whole row of these that are completely blank," she added.
"And your point?" General Shaw asked. She looked at him incredulously, like the answer was obvious.
"It means all this is pointless. I don't know what any of it means," Alivia exclaimed.
"But they do…and the blank ones may be more valuable than you think," the General responded. She threw up her hands.
"How?" she asked.
"Because all the ones that are written have been written with a single pen. A pen that chooses only someone deemed worthy of recording the history of these other places," he replied. She rolled her eyes.
"A pen chose someone to write these?" she deadpanned.
"Obviously there is someone behind the pen, but essentially yes. I know where the pen is…and soon it's going to lead us to someone worthy," he replied.
"If you know where it is…then why not just take it?" she asked, but then realized the answer.
"You don't think it will choose you?" she asked, with a bit of smugness.
"Of course not," he snapped.
"And the person that has it can't use it either, no matter how much he wishes he could. His situation doesn't change for the better unless he finds someone that can use it and he'll do whatever he has to in order to find that person and beg them to improve his situation," the General said.
"And that's when we step in," she surmised.
"Exactly. And we still have leverage over our team. When they discover how this magic works in this land, we can make them fix our problem. Once things are back to normal, they can live out their lives in a compound with maximum security," he explained.
"So freedom was never really on the table?" she asked. He shook his head.
"It's too risky. We have to let them use their magic to prevent the total destruction of this world and then we have to lock them away in a magic dampening facility so they can't turn on us in the end," he replied. She blew out a breath.
"I know they're not like us…but they're still people and most of them haven't done anything wrong," she pointed out. He smirked.
"Read the book. Some of them have done plenty. As for the ones they haven't, it is unfortunate, but for the greater good," he said. She sighed and picked up the book, before walking out.
"Wait…so there's a library here in New York with a book like Henry's?" Emma asked.
"Not exactly like Henry's as far as content, but they look like his. They're all stories of other places in our realm and other realms," Neal replied.
"And you think this can help us?" Snow asked. He shrugged.
"I don't know…last time I was there, I was looking for something specific and didn't pay much attention beyond the subject I wanted to know more about," Neal replied.
"And what subject was that, mate?" Killian interjected, as their eyes met. He sighed.
"It was after August told me about the curse. I was looking for a way to destroy magic…or keep you from finding me," Neal admitted, as he looked at his father with clear regret.
"You had every reason to react like that," Rumple confirmed.
"It's worth taking a look," David suggested.
"I'd really like to see this collection," Belle said.
"I can bring some of it to you and Dad tomorrow. There's lore about the Dark One there that I never really could make sense of," Neal replied.
"We can cover at Castle," David agreed.
"I just wish there was a way to wake everyone up," Snow lamented, as he squeezed her hip gently.
"Me too…I just don't think this is a curse this time," David said.
"And even if it was…this one doesn't have the failsafe that I added to the first one," Rumple said.
"Your true love. I'm not sure there is a Savior this time," he added.
"Then we have to save ourselves," Emma interjected. They nodded and decided to disperse for the evening.
Together, they put Bobby down for the night and stood over his crib, arms around each other, just watching him in silence for a while. He kissed her hair and she finally turned in his arms. She slipped her arms around his neck and rested her head on his shoulder. He pressed another kiss to her hair and then led her out of the baby's room, grabbing the monitor on the way. He watched her closely, as she sat down at her vanity and brushed her hair, which now reached just past her shoulders. He was often fascinated by her and loved watching her, but he could see the barely hidden terror behind her green eyes. Gently, he put his hands on her shoulders and as always, she leaned into his touch. He knelt down beside her and pressed his lips to her cheek and then her neck lovingly. A single tear slipped down her cheek and he immediately swept it away with his thumb on instinct.
"I wish I could promise you that they won't find out about his powers…but I can't," he whispered. She nodded.
"I know…" she answered.
"But I can promise you that I'll die before I let them touch our son…our daughter…our grandson…or you," he promised. Another tear slipped down her other cheek and she turned to face him.
"That's what I'm afraid of," she confessed.
"I know the lengths you'll go for us…and they could take you away. I might never see you again," she lamented.
"You'd find me…just as I've always found you," he insisted. She sniffed.
"Maybe in our World…but this one is so different, Charming. We found each other and were together against all odds. True love prevailed…at least for a little while," she said.
"It prevailed in the end…which was in this world," he reminded her.
"Maybe…but Storybrooke was still different than it is out here. We were still isolated, for the most part and it was when Greg and Tamara came along that things really spiraled out of control," she said.
"No one believes in anything in this world…let alone true love!" she exclaimed, as she got up and paced a bit.
"Do you know how many of my teaching colleagues had happy marriages? How many were either divorced or married, but cheating on their spouse?" she asked. He sighed.
"Probably about as many of my fellow cops," he confessed sadly.
"I stuck out like a sore thumb among them and I know you did among yours, save for Killian. Even his former ways probably pale in comparison to some," she added. He snorted.
"Yeah…I can think of a few names. But not even this world can dull our love. That's not possible," he said, as he cupped her cheek with his hand and she again leaned into his touch.
"I know our love will never fade. But if we're separated…breaking you out of a prison in this land will be even harder than breaking you out of the Evil Queen's prison," she said. He smiled slightly.
"I know…and I'm going to play by their rules as long as possible so we can stay together. But magic adds a new level to this. With Emma figuring it out, it won't be long until Regina and Gold do too. Then maybe we can set all this right," he suggested.
"I miss Storybrooke…" she said. He kissed her forehead.
"Me too," he replied, as he swayed with her. She smiled, as they danced, even with no music. They had never really needed music anyway and were very good at making their own.
"Trying to distract me by romancing me, Prince Charming?" she teased. He smirked.
"Is it working?" he asked. She smiled.
"It always works with you," she replied, as their lips met in a passionate kiss. He gently swept her into his arms and carried her toward the bed.
"Have faith…our love can beat all the odds, break curses, and change the world," he assured her and she melted into him with those words…
The next morning, Emma and Neal stood in front of the large, very old library that Neal had spoken of the night before. Henry had tagged along, since he was so curious and they didn't anticipate any danger in this mission.
"So…how do stories about our land and other lands end up in a library in the Land Without Magic?" Emma asked.
"No idea really…though some of the texts speak of an author. No idea who it is, but if they're here…maybe he or she is from here too," he suggested.
"So an author that writes all the stories?" she asked.
"History," Henry chimed in. Neal smiled.
"He's right…the author is recording history and some other authors in this land must know of the history. Enough have made their own version of many of the stories in the book," he said. She snorted.
"Yeah…with my Mom singing to birds and being completely unable to defend herself," Emma said.
"Well…yeah, they got that one way wrong. I think your parents' official story is better," he replied.
"Way better," Henry agreed, as they went inside. Slipping past the one employee was easy. She looked overworked and the place was clearly understaffed and they arrived at the room.
"Wow…" Henry said in awe, as he picked a book and began to leaf through it.
"It's about King Arthur," he said.
"Yeah…Camelot. It's in our realm, but you have to cross the Caspian sea, manage to make it through Nottingham and across the Avalon River to get there. It's weeks to get to the Caspian sea and months on horseback after that," Neal explained, as Emma picked a book.
"Whoa…it's Oz," she said.
"Now that one is not in our realm," he replied.
"It's real too…" she uttered and he gave her a look. She rolled her eyes.
"Yeah, yeah, daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming. I get it," she said, making him smile in amusement.
"Hey…what are these?" Henry asked.
"I've never been sure," Neal replied, as they took out some dusty scrolls from the bottom shelf.
"What language is this?" Emma asked.
"No language known in this realm…but if one person might have an idea, it would be my Dad," Neal replied.
"You think we can smuggle these out of here?" she asked.
"Shouldn't be too hard," Neal said, as he grabbed Henry's backpack and put a few of the scrolls in it.
"No one suspects a kid," he said, as he ruffled his son's hair. Henry smiled and put his backpack on, just as Emma's phone rang.
"Dad?" she asked, as she answered it. Neal smiled at how natural that seemed for her now.
"Crap…okay, we're on our way," she said, as she hung up.
"Problem?" he asked.
"Yeah…a really big one in Central Park," Emma replied, as they hurried out.
Killian dueled in a practice spar with David that morning in one of the training rooms in Castle. He found himself on his back for the third time and sighed. David was in rare form this morning and playing for keeps.
"You do know this is training, yeah mate?" he asked, as the blonde helped him up.
"Sorry…" David said, sighing, as he took a drink from his water bottle.
"It's just…it feels like a house of cards. They find out about…you know and all this changes really quickly. Snow is terrified," he whispered, but Killian could hear the fear behind his voice as well.
"Mate…the tiny one is very important to us all, especially me. I may have memories of my previous life, but it doesn't erase the last three years. They won't have an easy time getting to him," Killian promised. David smiled.
"Thanks," he said, as they heard the alert coming from the main war room and hurried out to see what was going on.
"What is it?" Killian asked.
"It's coming from Central Park," Casey said, as he put the visual on screen.
"Bloody hell…" Killian uttered.
"What the hell is that?" Casey asked.
"A giant?" Alivia asked.
"Worse," Snow replied.
"Much worse…that's an ogre," Rumple said.
"What's the difference?" Alivia asked in annoyance.
"Giants are just giant. Ogres are true monsters and blind as bats. But their hearing is ten times that of a human and with all the people and screaming, sneaking up on it won't be possible," David answered.
"This is really bad…ogres hate humans. People are going to get hurt," Snow said.
"Let's go…" Casey said, as he cocked his gun.
"No guns…it's too loud. It will just piss it off," David said. Casey growled and grabbed a sword with a bit of uncertainty. The rest of them grabbed their weapons, as David called Emma on their way out…
August sighed, as he walked with purpose toward his destination. The guilt of what he had just done ate at him, almost ravenously. But he needed answers and when he ran across a peculiar shop earlier in the day, he knew he had to inquire about his answers from there. It was the same man; he was certain. The Dragon from Hong Kong, now operating a shop in lower Manhattan, filled with herbs and trinkets alike, claiming he could offer holistic cures and alternatives to modern medicine. Usually someone like him would be regarded as a kook and his methods as pure hocum, but August had seen the fruits of his labor. He was the real deal, albeit a crook that profited off those needing magic where medicine had failed.
It was absolutely abhorrent, but he had knocked off a local bodega with relative ease during the lunch rush. The owner wouldn't have discovered the theft until he was long gone with the bank bag he had not hidden well enough behind the counter. He only hoped his deplorable actions would lead to a way to save him and his people.
He entered the shop and eyed the old man behind the counter.
"Well, well…long time no see," the Dragon said, without turning to face him. August was surprised, but probably shouldn't have been. He had no clue who this old mage was back in their land, but clearly he had been a powerful Sorcerer.
"I need answers," he demanded. The Dragon smirked and opened his arms.
"Answers I have…but there is always a price for my wisdom," he said.
"Your wisdom could help people and yet you fleece good people of all their money," August replied.
"I am just a man trying to make a living in this world…and I hardly think you are one to judge, Pinocchio," he countered.
"I have money…but first, you're going to give me answers," August said, as he took something from his pocket.
"About this," he said. The Dragon's eyes immediately filled with greed at the item and he made a move to hold the pen. But August was quick and pulled it away.
"You get money, not the pen and I get answers," he said, as he opened the bank bag and showed him the stack of cash. The Dragon smirked.
"Ill gotten gains and you dare to judge me?" he chided.
"Look, you and I both know that whatever that trigger did, it's probably going to slowly destroy this world, so unless you want to die with the rest of us, you need to tell me what you know and how I find the person that can use this thing," August said. The Dragon smirked.
"Ah…then the pen has rejected you and I'm sure it would reject me as well. Neither of us can use it and the last lost the right by betraying his duties," the Dragon said.
"So the man I found that night…" he uttered. The old mage nodded.
"The disgraced author cast back to this land after he tried to write his own story and destroy the most valiant of heroes. He failed though and they remained on the path of light," the Dragon explained.
"He would have faced the Sorcerer and been stripped of the pen and his freedom…but he became a victim of the vicious streets of this world," he added.
"So…that was the author I took this from and now the Sorcerer can't find the pen?" he asked. The Dragon nodded and smirked.
"Oh he will find you…or rather his Apprentice will eventually. You had better find a worthy host for that pen before he finds you," the old man warned.
"Then help me!" August pleaded.
"Even I don't know who the next author could be…they must be someone that will always do the right thing. A true believer…which is quite scarce in this world," he said. That struck August for a moment and he looked at him.
"A true believer?" he asked, as the Dragon smirked and nodded.
"I see you have someone in mind," he said, as he extended his hand. August tossed the bank bag at him and ran out of the shop.
"Just the truest believer there is," he said, as he rounded the corner and heard some sirens. Cops flew out of the car and he pocketed the pen, as he put his hands up. If he couldn't get the pen to the next author…then they were all doomed.
"You're under arrest," the officer said, as he was placed in handcuffs and hauled into the police car.