#A 7x15 am AU

[lilacmoon83]

Clarity

Also on Fanfiction.net and A03

Chapter 46: The Debate, Pt 2

"And as for being an outsider…I actually have a connection to Storybrooke," Narcissa said.

"Really? You have family in Storybrooke?" Archie asked. Narcissa smirked and looked Snow dead in the eyes.

"Yes…my dear niece, Mary Margaret Blanchard…" she announced, shocking the entire room.

"What…what is she doing?" Snow whispered to her husband, clearly in shock by her deranged Aunt's latest move.

"When I heard what a mess of her life she had made, I knew I had to come help. Unfortunately, she won't have me," Narcissa said.

"That's a lie…I never knew about you and you know it," Snow replied, as she stood up from her seat.

"And we've done nothing wrong," David added, as he stood up beside her. Narcissa smirked.

"You left your wife for her…you cheated on poor Kathryn," Narcissa replied. And since the curse wasn't yet broken, he couldn't claim that Kathryn was never really his wife and that Snow was his one and only.

"My marriage to Kathryn was over years ago and I think even she realizes that now. I'm in love with Mary Margaret and we made a few mistakes. But we need nothing from you," David said, as he looked around the room.

"This woman isn't what she seems and Regina has made a lot of mistakes herself. But I assure you that the changes Ms. Blake will make won't be in favor of the citizens of Storybrooke," David announced, as he sat down next to Snow and she clutched his arm, as her Aunt glared daggers at them.

"And implore the people of Storybrooke to vote for me and I promise to prove Deputy Nolan wrong," Narcissa said, as Snow stood up.

"My mother threw you out of her life for a reason. It was because she feared for my life. My Aunt isn't one that likes when she's not the center of attention. You might want to consider that when voting, because you'll be voting for someone that only cares about herself," she said, as Narcissa looked like she wanted to kill her niece.

"At least with Regina, for all her faults, we know she loves her son and wants a good place for him to grow up; for all children to grow up. She will get better too…she just needs a second chance," Snow implored. There were rumblings of talk among the people and David looked hopeful, as he put his arms around her.

"You still have the ability to give people hope," he said. She smiled.

"Only because you give me hope," she replied.

"Regina Mills…is a murderer!" a man called, as he drew the attention of the entire room.

"Who is that?" Emma asked.

"I don't know…I've never seen him before," Regina whispered back.

"He seems to know you," Rumple commented.

"Regina Mills…killed my father!" he claimed.

"I have no idea what he's talking about. I have never met you before," Regina claimed, as she stood up to defend herself.

"You don't remember me…it was a long time ago, when I was just a little boy," he claimed, as a shudder rippled down Regina's spine.

"That's…that's not possible. I am not that old…I wouldn't have been Mayor when you were a boy," she answered. He smirked.

"Oh…I think we all know that you're older than you look and that you've been Mayor as long as anyone here can remember," he stated.

"Crap…" Emma muttered.

"This woman tried to make me and my father stay in town and when he refused, she had him arrested by the former Sheriff. I ran into the woods to escape and could never find this town again or my father. She killed him!" Greg claimed.

"That's insane…" Regina claimed, but the looks she was getting weren't good.

"Please tell me that you didn't kill his father and that you can prove it," Emma hissed, but Regina was silent.

"Oh my God…is he right? Did you do this?" David hissed.

"It was a long time ago…we had just gotten here and they were in the woods when the town appeared. He was going to tell everyone about us," Regina whispered back. He rolled his eyes and Snow looked at her in disbelief.

"We are so screwed," Neal muttered and Narcissa smirked.

"That's right…Greg came into my employ and when he told me his story, I remembered the little town that my sister whisked her daughter away to and realized how lousy with corruption this place was. That's when I knew I had to intervene to help him and my niece, even though she clearly wants none of it," Narcissa said.

"Your Mayor is a murderer. This town needs new blood and serious cleaning. With me, you will have that," Narcissa stated, as the debate ended with an uproar of commotion and people lined up to vote.

"I can't believe this…she's trying to use the moral high ground on us and make our love seem like it's something ugly," Snow fretted, as he held her close and they were all too aware of some of the judgmental looks they were getting from some of the people. Since his pseudo divorce from Kathryn, most people had forgotten mostly about their affair, but now that Narcissa had dragged it up and through the mud again, they could feel the judgment again.

"It's not…and people will know that again when the curse is broken," he said. He knew that didn't help them tonight though.

"If she wins…the breaking of the curse may not matter," she realized and he knew she was right.

"Then we start planning our counter offensive," Rumple interjected.

"Long ago, when you told us the final battle would begin once the curse was broken, I always thought you meant against Regina," David mentioned.

"So did I, dearie…but those visions are always vague at best," Rumple said.

"The people elected you, Emma…not even the Mayor can fire you," Snow replied.

"She's right…and she likes a fight. We'll still have control of the Sheriff's station," Merryweather said. Henry looked between all of them and then back at Narcissa across the room. The curse breaking at this point might have been their only hope. He just wished he knew how to break it. Emma believed…so what were they missing?

"There's nothing more we can do here tonight. We need to all go home and wait for the news," Rumple suggested. They didn't argue with that and once they cast their votes for Regina, they parted ways for their respective homes.

~*~

"You were excellent…" Narcissa mentioned, as they watched people vote. Greg smirked.

"I just can't wait to see her lose everything," he replied.

"And she will now…thanks to you. I have big plans for this town," she said, as she prepared to relish her victory.

"In a town this size…I'd say we'll be popping the champagne by midnight," Greg said.

"What about the Sheriff and Deputy? I'm assuming the Sheriff hired him, but the people elected her. You can't exactly fire her. Not without cause anyway," Greg mentioned. Narcissa smirked.

"No…but that wouldn't be any fun anyway. I'll enjoy making them answer to me though," she said.

"Is that woman really your niece?" he asked.

"She is…and I look forward to making the little bitch's life hell," Narcissa replied.

"What did she do to make you hate her?" Greg asked.

"She was born," Narcissa answered.

~*~

Emma lay awake in bed that night, waiting for the results of the election. There was no use sleeping and she found herself texting with Neal. She smiled, as he reminded her of a few happier times they had together and she found her heart longing for him once more. She sighed. She swore at one time she was over him and would never open her heart again to anyone, least of all him. But she had. She had finally found her parents and she didn't hate them. In fact, she loved them now, even if she hadn't told them yet. She loved them, she loved Henry…she loved Neal, yet the curse still hadn't been broken. And now there was someone intent on destroying her parents and might very well gain the power to do so. At least with Regina, they knew what to expect. But Narcissa was almost certifiable, which made her completely unpredictable. In the past, her first instinct was to run. She was still fighting that instinct, actually. Just not in the same way. Now she wanted to put her parents, her son, Neal, his father, Belle, Merryweather…and now even Regina in a van and drive out of town forever. But she knew that wasn't the answer, even if she could convince them all to leave. They had to stay and fight. Breaking the curse would help and she looked at the book that her son had left her. She opened and began reading it again, this time in earnest, and intended to do so from cover to cover.

~*~

Neither of them could sleep when they came home, so it was no surprise that they distracted themselves with amorous activities. Snow was beside herself, as he made love to her and she lay writhing beneath him, as he pinned her arms above her head and took her to the stars.

"Charming…" she cried out, as they reached climax and then slowly came down. He fell onto his back and she cuddled against him, as he put his arm around her bare waist. She rested atop his chest and felt him kiss her hair. They were both worried and knew that distracting themselves from what was possibly facing them was temporary. She still shivered at the cold looks her Aunt had given her during the debate. She remembered the looks of judgment from many that returned. Most had forgotten about their manufactured transgressions, but reminding them told her that many had never forgiven them. Not that she needed it or cared to have it. She and David belonged together in a way few did and she could care less about their opinions. But being used to lie to an entire population and sway a vote made her angry.

"She's going to win, isn't she?" Snow asked. He kissed her forehead.

"You have no idea how much I want to tell you that she won't…but that's not what my gut is telling me," he replied.

"But I'm never going to let her hurt you," he added.

"It's not me I'm worried about…" she said, as she looked up at him.

"She killed a woman in cold blood for the sole purpose of framing our daughter for murder. Next, she'll come after you, because she knows hurting you and Emma is truly the way to hurt me," she replied. He gently caressed her face and kissed her lips tenderly.

"We'll get through this and we will beat her. Emma will break the curse and then whatever battle is ahead of us…we'll fight it together," he said. She smiled.

"Together," she agreed, as their lips met again and their love consumed them once again…

#Snowing #SnowxCharming #Charming family #Emma Swan #Neal Cassidy #Henry Mills #Regina Mills #Mr. Gold #Belle #romance #adventure #AU #family #Clarity #A 7x15 am AU

[godsprettiestprincess]

Sorry if you've answered this before but samifer fanfic recs por favor? 🥺🥺🥺👉🏻👈🏻

BOY DID YOU COME TO THE RIGHT PERSON

But I am aware a giant list like that is overwhelming so have my personal favorites under the cut <333

Inseparable, 76k, E, | Thanks to a well-meaning minor demon, Sam and Lucifer are bound together. Case fic, canon divergent from 5x11.

How to Fall, 41k, M | Bobby, Sam, and Dean cast a spell that will either make Lucifer human, or bring him right to Sam. Very good mix of funny and profound

You’ve Got to Pay For What You Break, 165k, M | Lucifer takes a bet he shouldn’t have and Sam gets surprisingly attached to a man he just met. Surprisingly sweet, but fair warning for late chapter, misunderstanding-based angst

Devour, 12k, E | Lucifer finds Sam during 5x14 and offers him his blood instead

The Knight, 50k, M | Lucifer, a disgraced noble-turned fighter, has a master plan to get hired by and then seduce Prince Sam Winchester, thereby giving him enough power to tear down his older brother

Tangible, 28k, M, 🧡 | AU post 7x15 where Hallucifer isn’t all he seems.

There Will Come a Reckoning, 5.8k, M | Western AU, in which a captured Sam makes a deal with the devil

#most of these are lighthearted BUT devour is fairly bleak jsyk #asks #samifer #text rainbow for reasons

[sunnydaleherald]

The Sunnydale Herald Newsletter - Monday, December 9th

Wesley: "Well. Now we know one thing for certain." Cordy: "Yup. It's not that vampires don't photograph, it's just that they don't photograph *well*."

~~Are You Now or Have You Ever Been~~

[Drabbles & Short Fiction]

Maggie (G) by jjscm

Tea and Crumbling (Spike & Willow, T) by Gabrielle

Eye of the Beholder (Yakuza crossover, Andrew, T) by madimpossibledreamer

Prey (Spike, K) by nikkixsensei

A Fire In the Blood (Dark Angel crossover, Angel, FR15) by frogfarm

[Chaptered Fiction]

Speranta Lumii Chapter 39 (Buffy/Spike, T) by Irishrose

Monster, How Should I Feel? Chapter 8 (Buffy/Spike, T) by OkamiShadou98

Thorns of Rosenberg Chapter 7 (Willow & Spike, NR) by Kyzaiah

Stranger, Take My Helping Hand Chapter 9 (Buffy/Spike, M) by Hannah

It Came Upon a Midnight Clear Chapter 1 (Buffy/Spike, E) by HollyDB

Down Chapter 3 (Buffy/Spike, NR) by wolf_shadoe

Keen Appetites Chapter 4 (Buffy/Spike, M) by TheRealFailWhale

All in the Family Chapter 2 (Buffy/Spike, T) by spikes_heart

Here I am Chapter 11 (Buffy/Spike, NC17) by Axell

Death is your Gift Chapter 3 (Buffy/Spike, NC17) by Its all fluffy

Midway of Speech and Thought Chapter 10 (Buffy/Spike, PG13) by TheHousekeeper

The Immortality Clause Chapter 46 (Buffy/Spike, R) by DauntlessGrace

Down Chapter 3 (Buffy/Spike, R) by Twinkles

Ashes to Ashes Chapter 11 (Buffy/Spike, NC17) by Loup Noir

[Images, Audio & Video]

Poster: Becoming Part 2. That's it for this year. Happy xmas! by swallowedshark

Comic: Buffyverse femslash month week 1 (again): Holiday shopping is not for the faint of heart by artsying-ifer

Artwork: buffy femslash month | week 2: touch (willow x buffy) by tarastheory

[Reviews & Recaps]

A Buffy rewatch 7x15 Get It Done by ettadunham

PODCAST: The Killer In Me/Salvage by Once More With Commentary

[Recs]

Buffy Summer’s Character Study Fanvid Recs by 1967chevyimpalaatbakerstreet

[Community Announcements]

The Buffy Favorite Episode Bracket Day 16

[Fandom Discussions]

Discussion of 4.03 "The Harsh Light of Day" by Buffy Summers

How did Giles not know... by orphanofquinn

Why did Cordelia give snide remarks to Buffy in Season 3 after the affair in "Lovers Walk"? by jdpm1991

Could Buffy have kept Angel from being seduced by Wolfram & Hart + Darla? by jdpm1991

Could Cordelia have gotten into Columbia? by champollion00000

Bay City Rollers - REALLY? by rtwigg89

Should Angel have felt more like a man out of time? by Moon_Logic

How was it when the show was on air? by BuffytVS96

AU inspiration: Anthony Head in Lillie (1978) by a-case-of-the-wiggins

#btvs #ats #buffy the vampire slayer

[drsilverfish]

Spunk of an Archangel...? (13x21)

Gabe wants to extract his grace on his own,  alone in Dean’s room, “in private”,  Cas tells us, with air-quotes, at the start of 13x21 Beat the Devil. To which Dean makes an, “Ugh he’s jerking off in my room” type face. 

Gabe emerges with a small vial of his grace which he refers to as “Jet fuelled divine emissions”. Sam doesn’t look impressed by the size of the sample:

In case we are not getting it - Bobo is working very *very* hard on a grace = spunk equivalence here.

Of course, this is just a silly joke on one level - Gabe’s “angel blade” droops in shot when the portal spell craps out on them. We’ve had “angel blade” as a penis metaphor before on the show - notably when Cas said he had his “angel blade” for protection during sex with April in the infamous 9x03. 

Here is droopy Gabriel’s “angel blade” in 13x21...

As the portal, opened by Gabriel’s “inadequate” grace, droops and closes, Rowena pointedly refers to the spell as “premature” (ejaculation). 

What is the deal with all this heavy-handed grace = spunk metaphor anyway, Bobo?

I think there are serious purposes in there, as well as the joke. 

Firstly, it fits with the reminder that we are given in the cold-open, that Sam was once possessed by Lucifer in Hell. Grace-as-spunk reminds us that this possession was always, always subtextually depicted as Lucifer’s rape of Sam (”The rapier wit, the wittier rape” - Hallucifer in 7x15 Repo Man). Thus we are additionally reminded of the true horror of Sam’s torment by Lucifer, which he is about to revisit significantly in the episode, being once more at the Devil’s mercy. 

Now, of course, having made this link, we can also see the double entendre in the title of the episode itself, Beat the Devil.

Because it is Lucifer’s grace (spunk), drained on a continuous basis, which Team Free Will plus Rowena use to keep the portal open (effectively ”beating off” the Devil).

Secondly, there is another subtextual strand to this grace = spunk equivalence.

The portal spell ingredients Rowena mentions at the start of 13x21 are the fruit from the Tree of Life (which Cas obtained, we know, by technically marrying a Djinn Queen), the blood of a righteous man, and the grace of an archangel. The Seal of Solomon (an originally mentioned ingredient) appears absent, or is not mentioned out loud here. 

This isn’t Bobo being sloppy. He’s being pointed. Because it is these three ingredients in particular (not the Seal of Solomon) which play to the Destiel subtextual meaning of the spell, which I’ve already discussed at length here:

http://drsilverfish.tumblr.com/post/171497031244/13x14-good-intentions-aka-the-road-to-hell

http://drsilverfish.tumblr.com/post/171757066019/the-symbolism-of-the-portal-spell-continued-in 

http://drsilverfish.tumblr.com/post/172422985979/castiels-forbidden-fruit-13x16 

That subtext - the union of Dean and Cas, as symbolised by the union of the blood of a righteous man and the grace of an angel, together with a “forbidden fruit” (such passion being seen as a mortal sin by the angels) is highlighted even further in 13x21, when Rowena plucks a hair from Dean’s head specifically (as something which has been to the AU world and back) to add to the spell, just to underline that Dean = Righteous Man here. And now, that union is given an even more pointed (subtextual) sexual/ passionate character, through the grace = spunk metaphor.

Behold the alchemy of Destiel in a bowl:

Incidentally, this revival of the reference to Dean as a “righteous man” is also very pointed, narratively speaking, because it was in the context of Dean breaking in Hell and thus breaking the first of the seals which would eventually free Lucifer from the cage, that Dean was referred to as the “righteous man”, by Alastair back in 4x16 On the Head of a Pin:

“And it is written that the first seal shall be broken when a righteous man sheds blood in Hell. As he breaks, so shall it break.”

If you believe, as I am inclined to, that Dean is going to (in desperation, to save Sam and Cas and Mary and the world) end the season by saying “Yes” to AU Michael, then this “righteous man” reference is important. Dean probably still blames himself, deep down, for Lucifer possessing Sam in the first place, because he was the one who broke the first seal. And now that he’s just seen Sammy die again, right before his eyes, he is primed to do anything, anything, to stop that from happening again. 

So, another angel-grace-inserted-into-human is also, perhaps, being foreshadowed here, in Bobo’s grace = spunk subtext - that of (potentially)* Michael!Dean.

*I’m not certain here - this is just spec.

#Supernatural #13x21 #Beat the Devil #SPN meta #Meta #Destiel #CW: 9x03 #CW: rape #Sam/ Lucifer #Still subtext #Robert Berens

[deschanelswifts]

What are your top 3 castle episodes in each season?

ohhhhhh this is fun wow ok!!!! i haven’t watched an episode of castle since it ended, so my memory is a little fuzzy but let’s see if i can think of my favorites :)

season 1:1x01: flowers for your grave - how can people not absolutely love the pilot of their fave shows1x05: a chill goes through her veins - we saw more to kate beckett and i loved it omfg1x06: always buy retail - meredith KILLED me omg i loved this episodeseason 2:2x13: sucker punch - this was the first episode i ever saw and wow. just. wow. 2x17: tick tick tick…2x18: boom! - this two-parter freaking blew me away holy shit

season 3:3x06: 3XK - the triple killer storyline was one of my favorites and the HAND HOLDING3x13: knockdown - FIRST KISS!!!!3x24: knockout - CASTLE TELLS HER HE LOVES HER RIP

season 4:4x07: cops & robbers - beckett is such a badass first of all and second of all the look she and castle share omfg4x09: killshot - some of stana’s best acting was during this episode, i love it so so so so much4x19: 47 seconds // 4x23: always - these two episodes (and the ones in between) were so incredible. i love them too much, i just can’t pick one. season 4 was spectacular. 

season 5:5x01: after the storm - my babies are finally a couple!!!! the morning after!!!! castle hiding beckett in a closet!!!! beckett confronting bracken!!!! holy shit this episode!!!!! so good!!!!!!5x05: probable cause - 3xk is back bless!!5x22: still - omfg i love this episode with everything i havehonorable mentions (because how can i pick only three episodes from this season honestly): recoil, target, hunt, the lives of others

season 6:6x09: disciple - this episode gave me chills holy shit6x11: under fire - my boys!!!!! :(6x17: in the belly of the beast - sweet lord this episode was incredible i love stana so much 

season 7:7x06: the time of our lives - this au episode was so freakin cool and finally my babies got married and holy shit their vows made me sob and then IN MY VEINS PLAYING rip7x08: kill switch - esposito-centric episode!!!!! this was so incredible!!!!7x14 & 7x15: resurrection & reckoning - this two-parter was absolutely insane and so beyond creepy and so good i loved it so much

season 8 (i didn’t watch half of this season because it’s just not the same without milmar tbh):8x01: XY 8x02: XX8x22: crossfire- even though the reason for this being the last episode is complete and utter garbage, i still loved this episode so much. it was the perfect ending. i am so freaking happy that there wasn’t a season 9 because we all know beckett would have died on the kitchen floor and then they never would have gotten their three kids. this was the best ending i could have ever hoped for.

p.s. doing this made me so nostalgic and i might whip out my dvds and rewatch this show soon because wow i miss it

#this was so fun #castle #caskett #text #mine #replies

[chronicallycal]

Hi Callie! No worries about your delay, you have the right to be busy and do other things! As a matter of fact I’m late too today. About Esposito I agree that in 7x01, he was really quick to jump on conclusions and not trust Castle after he saw the footage, while Castle himself taught the team to look beyond the obvious. And then it comes to mind that in the beginning of season 8 there was this whole complicated Ryan/Espo phase designed to lead to the one-on-one discussions of 8x07. (NSA)

“It may have started with Ryan not passing the sergeant’s exam, but yeah, Espo may be the most to blame for it. Indeed, he held a grudge for a while about that bullet, and showed this suspicious behavior when Ryan had his accident with the cane. Ryan was mainly confused, and when he was angry it was essentially in reaction to Esposito’s attitude. Idk if it’s not also sometimes caused by the bad execution of a usually funny trope. (NSA)

Many people already talked about Castle getting laughed at (7x05), it may be the same with Ryan and Espo’s bickering. I would need a rewatch in order not to misinterpret things, and to catch other moments like these, but I think I understand the gist at least. About 8x22, I never completed trusted Vikram, but he stayed with the good guys in the end. I could imagine adding a scene where Beckett comes out of the bedroom with a positive pregnancy test, followed by the time jump. (NSA)

But then why would she do that before they get some rest, and would she even be able to think about the test at the moment? Otherwise I guess they could have stopped at the moment where Castle turns on the stove, starting breakfast, and shift to seven years later with an actual breakfast with the kids. I’m already long so I’m going to list you my “unoriginal” favorite eps now and leave the underrated/unpopular episodes for tomorrow. (NSA)

There it goes: A-list: Always, 4x07, Still, FFYG, 1x05, 2x17/2x18, 3x13, 3x22, 3x24, 4x01, 4x09, 5x19, 6x22, 7x06, 7x15, 7x23, 8x07, 8x12, 8x15. B-list: 1x08, 2x13, 2x14, 4x10, 5x01, 5x04, 6x15, maybe 8x01/8x02??(except for the break up), 8x10. I enjoyed the whole PI arc in season 7 as well, even if I unfortunately didn’t feel the same about his PI gig in season 8. I guess I really do love a lot of episodes! Did I miss a popular favorite of yours, or do you personally disagree on some? (NSA)”

As always, response under the cut.

NSA, I am so sorry for the delay in responding. I promise it was not my attention. I’ve been off my computer for a few days and just now regained my ability to type. My greatest apologies for not getting to this sooner.

Yeah, that’s mostly my thing with Esposito. I feel like they wanted to add tension within the team, especially between the boys, but in the process kinda made Esposito come off as a misunderstanding jerk sometimes. It’s not that he was totally ruined for me (although ngl, Esposito was always my least favorite of the main characters, besides, like, Vikram), but it did diminish my liking of him as a character to a certain extent.

I didn’t trust Vikram either. I kept waiting for him to be a bad guy, and even super antagonized him in my S8 AU story (Rebirth) by making him a huge asshole. I honestly still kinda wish he was a bad guy, because as much as the scene of integrating him to the team at the end of 8x22 would have been touching, I feel like the LokSat wrap up would have been more thrilling had there been a twist with a character we were actually given a shot to care about. Like, Mason was a twist but we’d only seen him once, and Caleb wasn’t really a twist because they thought he was bad from the beginning, so I think it would have been interesting if Vikram had been a plant by LokSat and Caleb actually ended up good (or dead) or something like that. (Idk if this actually makes sense oops.) But I do still think the ep as a whole was great, even if LokSat’s identity was disappointing. The scene with Castle and the truth serum is one of the most intense of the whole series, imo.

I think her taking a pregnancy test could have worked. It could have been, like, she’d suspected but was too scared to know for sure while they were in the midst of taking down LokSat, so when they did get him in custody she finally allowed herself to know, and took the test, but they probably would have needed to plant seeds for that during the rest of the episode. Honestly, I would have been happy with any cute/domestic/fluffy scene instead of the emotional whiplash we got. It could have been interesting to end the “present day” with them going into the bedroom and start the “7 years later” with them and the kids coming out.

(Wow rambles I’m so sorry. This is how my brain works, just imagining various scenarios and how they’d work out. Oops.)

All those eps are awesome. I love them all lol. Uh, idk if you missed any because idk what’s on your underrated list, but one that sticks out as a favorite of mine that isn’t on your list is the season three premiere. I just love their kinda flirty, kinda still “I want to be with you and this summer still hurts” and falling back into place vibe, and her throwing the bet is such a great moment.

Callie xx

#Anon: NSA #callie rambles #a lot #Anonymous

[lilacmoon83]

Clarity

Also on Fanfiction.net and A03

Chapter 65: Powerful Magic

Walsh came out of the diner after breakfast that afternoon and checked his phone, seeing a missed call from Aleister. He called him back, unaware that his phone call was being overheard.

"Good morning, Mr. Bolt," he said.

"Good morning, Walsh…I just wanted to tell you that your feature on Pinocchio last night was wildly successful and I have your next feature assignment," Aleister said.

"Of course, Sir…who is the next subject?" he asked.

"Why…your partner in crime, Ms. Lily Paige," Bolt replied.

"Lily?" he asked.

"Yes…her mother is a Dragon, which makes her one and one flick of my wand can initiate her transformation. She'll enact terror near the end of the ball and create a situation that requires Prince Charming to display his skills for the world again to save his precious family," Aleister replied.

"But…what if Lily is hurt or worse?" Walsh asked.

"It is of no consequence. She is but a pawn. You don't have a problem with this, do you?" Aleister question.

"Of course not, Sir…I am in this for the story. If Lily is the next spectacle in line, then I'll be there to cover the details, gore and all," Walsh replied.

"Excellent…" he said, as Walsh hung up and went on with his day, unaware that Lily had overheard everything.

~*~

"Wow…" Henry said, as his mother came out of the bathroom. They had been staying at Granny's Inn after Narcissa forced them out of the mansion and admittedly, he missed his home. He hoped everything worked out tonight and they ousted all this trouble from Storybrooke. He wanted the curse broken and never had wanted them exposed to the world.

"Is it too scary?" she asked, as she wore a gown that was typical of the Evil Queen.

"You're not evil anymore…but I think it's appropriate for tonight. Scaring them a little is probably needed," Henry replied. She smiled.

"You look very handsome," she said.

"Thanks Mom…I like that it looks like something Gramps would wear," he replied. She sighed.

"You really love them, don't you?" she asked.

"Yes…and they love me, Mom. They can love you too…" Henry replied.

"I don't know about that, Henry," she said.

"I do…just give it a chance. We can all be a family," he replied.

"I hope you're right," she said.

"We should go," she added, as she watched him grab a wooden sword and secure it to his belt.

"A wooden sword?" she asked.

"Yeah…gramps is teaching me to sword fight, but he says I won't be able to use a real one until I'm closer to being an adult," he replied.

"Well…we agree there," Regina said, as they exited their room and found Neal waiting for them, along with his father and Belle. Gold looked a little uncomfortable in the formal blue coat, rather than his signature black color, but she imagined it had been Belle's idea, as she wore what was considered her iconic gold dress.

"How are you going to get past the feds that will surely be at the door?" Regina asked.

"I'm not…I'm sneaking in the back way. Emma and I did a quick scope earlier and they don't guard the kitchen well," Neal replied.

"Let's just get this whole thing over with and get that wand," Regina said, as they prepared to get in their cars. But they were surprised to see several horse drawn carriages along Main Street.

"I guess Aleister Bolt is going for the authentic look," Red mentioned, as she and Granny prepared to get in one.

"The sooner that wack job is done…the better," Granny said, as she started to get in, but was stopped by one of the guards.

"Sorry ma'am…no weapons are permitted inside the mansion," he said, referring to her signature crossbow.

"Yeah…I suppose that would be bad for your boss, because if I had a shot tonight, I'd take it," she said.

"Granny…" Red chided. It wouldn't do them any good if they couldn't get in.

"Fine…" she said, as she ditched the weapon back inside the diner, before getting in.

"At least they're not doing pat downs," Neal muttered, as they got in the carriage.

"Would they have found something?" Belle asked.

"Maybe," he said with a smirk, as the carriage started moving.

~*~

"This is soooo slow…how did you guys stand this?" Emma complained, as the carriage took them across town to Aleister's oversized and bloated mansion. Snow and David smiled at each other, wondering if this was what it would have been like when she was a kid.

"Impatience…definitely not from me," he mentioned.

"Oh…you just love bringing that one up, don't you?" she commented. He pecked her on the lips.

"I do…but I find your impatience adorable and endearing," he replied. She bit her bottom lip and cuddled against him.

"We didn't always use carriages, Em. Most of the time, we preferred to ride horses ourselves. But in formal situations, this was kind of the limo treatment that they have in this world," he explained. She huffed.

"Is this where you tell me about how far you had to walk for water and to the market?" Emma asked in a bored tone. He chuckled.

"No…I won't tell you about all the times I made the three day walk to Longbourne," he teased, as they arrived at the mansion. The cameras were already flashing and they were blinded once they got out of the carriage. They were also hit with a broad spectrum of comments that ranged from inappropriate to snide to mean to intrusive to a stalker type level. They pushed their way through the press and noticed the federal agents there too. That made her wonder how Neal had gotten in and if she knew him like she thought she did, he probably had sneaked in through the kitchen.

"There's Aunt Psychopath," Emma muttered to them, as they entered and saw her conversing with Marina Bolt. She had a healthy glare for them and Snow scoffed.

"Yep…my Aunt that wants to throw acid in my face and make me hideous," Snow said.

"Hey…you could never be hideous, but I'm not going to let her hurt you," David replied. She smiled, knowing he would do everything in his power to protect them both.

"Heads up…he's definitely noticed you," Merryweather warned, as Aleister called attention to them.

"Ah…wonderful, the most Charming family has joined us and I must say, your dressing the part is delightful," he said, as he noticed the sapling that Snow was holding.

"And what is this curious item?" he asked. His eyes were alight with greed already, as the magical glow of the sapling enticed the creepy connoisseur.

"It's a true love sapling…" Snow announced, as he moved closer with guards surrounding him.

"A true love sapling?" he asked.

"Yes…it was created from the first spark of our true love," David replied. His eyes were wide with wonder.

"True love's magic…like your child," he muttered.

"Take it from a fairy…it is just as magical as that wand in your hand. Both are from the same source of magic, after all," Merryweather said, further enticing him.

"Indeed…how intriguing," he said, as stood face to face with them now.

"My, my…you truly are the fairest one of all, aren't you?" he asked, as he gazed adoringly at Snow, while David clenched his fist. The guards seemed to know that this would elicit a reaction from him and they quickly surrounded him.

"I've taken on better trained guards than you and snapped their necks when needed," he warned. The lead guard smirked.

"All your training…and you still can't stop a bullet," he said, motioning to the sidearm holstered at his hip. Aleister smirked.

"So entertaining…don't worry, Charming. As alluring as she is…she's all yours. I'm just an admirer," he said, as he retreated to the center of the room, likely to make more of a spectacle.

"Dammit…" David cursed.

"We need something to distract those guards," Emma said, as she saw Neal peer in from the kitchen.

"Hang on…I have an idea," she said, as she made her way over to him.

"We need a distraction for his guards…you think we can come up with something?" she asked.

"Uh…yeah, it's kind of nuts though," Neal replied.

"Of course it is…what do you have in mind?" she asked. He smirked and stole a quick kiss, surprising her.

"You'll see," he said cryptically, as he slipped back out through the kitchen. She took a moment to think about what he had just done and gingerly touched her lips. She had been in denial for a while about her renewed feelings for him, but maybe if they got out of this in one piece…then it was time to face their feelings.

A bit of shouting roused her from her thoughts and she saw that her Aunt had moved toward her mother.

"Shit…" she cursed, as she hurried back over there.

"You weave such a spell…don't you?" Narcissa hissed, as she approached her niece.

"Excuse me?" Snow questioned curtly.

"You heard me…even Aleister is drooling over you," she hissed.

"Trust me, if you want Aleister and all this attention, you can have it. I never wanted any of it," Snow snapped. Narcissa's lip curled, as she seethed at just the sight of her nemesis.

"Yet you take all of it…you've stolen everything from me your entire life, but that ends today," she said, as she held a small container. Snow gasped, knowing what was inside of it.

"SNOW!" David called, as the guards blocked him, so he drew his sword, cutting them down to get through. This thrilled Aleister, as his crew began filming again and the cameras mobbed him.

"Get out of the way!" he shouted, as he pushed through them.

"I'm taking back my title…and everyone is still going to stare at you, but for a very different reason!" Narcissa growled, as she opened the canister in her hand. Snow gasped, as she tried to get away, but it was too late.

"SNOW!" David cried, as he rushed to her.

"MOM!" Emma cried, as she did too. But it was too late, as the acid splashed toward her. The sapling in her hand glowed brightly and the drops of harmful liquid were stopped by a shield that was suddenly now protecting Snow. The acid hit the impenetrable, magical shield and Narcissa cried out, as her own attack splashed back in her face.

The blonde looked at her hands in horror and cried out in pain, as she felt the acid burning her skin. She saw herself in a nearby mirror and screamed in horror, as David and Emma reached Snow and quickly flanked her.

"My…my beauty…look at what you've done to me!" she screamed, as she turned to them and gasps of horror and disgust reverberated through the room. Narcissa's crazed eyes darted around the room, as she noticed all the attention, including the cameras, were on her. But not in the way she wanted. She looked at herself in the mirror again and cried out in anguish. She was scarred and hideous now.

"You did this to me!" she cried, as her eyes bled rage toward Snow.

"You did this to yourself," David growled, as Emma tossed him a pair of cuffs and he arrested her.

"I daresay I couldn't have created a better spectacle myself," Aleister mused, as he was thoroughly enjoying the show.

"Acid in my Mom's face, huh? Just for that, I'm going to make sure your tiny little jail cell has all kinds of mirrors in it," Emma said.

"I hate you!" Narcissa screamed, as she sobbed.

"I need a Doctor!" she cried, looking toward Sarah.

"I'm a nurse…we can send Whale to help you," the peridot fairy said. Narcissa screamed in rage, as she wrenched herself away from Emma and started to run.

"If you think you've won…you're sadly mistaken!" she cried, as she looked at Aleister.

"Aleister…please, you must use your wand to heal me," she pleaded. He smirked.

"I could…but this is so much more fun and you've become quite unhinged, dear. I think I'll be hiring a new CEO for your company. The board is quite done with your antics and will likely be firing you," Aleister said. She growled and started toward Snow again, but a huge crash startled them all, as the yellow Bug crashed through the mansion and hit Narcissa, throwing her several feet away. She landed hard and Neal winced.

"Oooh…that had to hurt. Glad it was her," he said, as people scattered in the chaos.

"That's our cue!" Emma called, as they pushed their way through the confusion and David tackled Aleister. The man cried out in horror, as the Prince punched him, even as he clutched the wand tightly. He used it and sent David flying back into a wall.

"David!" Snow cried, as she went to make sure he was okay. Neal started toward him too, but Aleister used magic to send him back too. Emma tackled him for that and the wand went flying out of his hand.

"No…my magic!" he cried, as the wand rolled to the floor and rested at someone's feet. Regina bent down and picked up the wand. The entire room stopped, as her lip curled into a smile that was reminiscent of her time as the Evil Queen.

"Regina…" Snow uttered.

"I guess the magic is mine now…" she said, as she looked around and strolled to the center of the room.

"I have power again…and I can do whatever I want to all of you again," she said, as she looked at her stepdaughter.

"With a flick of this wand, I can restore everything to how it was before your daughter came to Storybrooke," she said.

"Mom…please," Henry pleaded. Her smile softened into one they were more familiar with as of late.

"But I won't," she said.

"I can't make up for what I've done in the past…but this should tell you where I stand now and with any luck, cement my path to redemption," she said, as she looked at her son.

"I regret nothing I did…because it got me you, Henry, but now I do this to make you happy," she said, as the guards moved toward her, but they disappeared with the flick of her wand.

"That is mine…" Aleister growled.

"No…it's not. They made the magic in it and if it were in Snow's hands, I'm sure she'd show you mercy and let you return to your normal life without any memory of this place. It's admirable, really…but naïve," Regina said.

"Unfortunately, for you, I'm not her…and I'm going to spare the rest of the world of you and your allies by making sure you remember all of this, but taking your power and money," Regina said, as the wand glowed and she employed the full power of it. The entire room glowed and everyone disappeared…

~*~

Emma opened her eyes and sat up in bed, almost in alarm, as she remembered everything that had just happened. She quickly stumbled out of bed and ran downstairs, relieved to find that her parents were waking up in their bed too.

"Emma?" Snow asked, with a bit of trepidation. She remembered everything, but wasn't sure if that was true of everyone.

"Mom…" she uttered.

"Dad…" she added, as she rushed toward them and they enveloped her in a hug with relief. They were all dressed in their regular, everyday clothing and quickly got their coats. They had their memories, so that made them confident that everyone else did too. But the question of what reversals Regina had made still remained and they hurried out with Wilby trotting alongside them. Once they got outside, they saw their baby true love sapling had been planted in the garden just outside the apartment building as the first noticeable change.

"The casino…it's gone," David said, as they smiled at each other.

"Let's find Neal," Emma replied, as they trekked down Main Street and saw that most things seemed to be returned to normal. The press and the federal agents were all gone, giving them a sense of returned security.

"She really did it…she got rid of the dangers," Snow said. He smiled at her.

"Guess you were right to believe in her all along," David replied, as he kissed her tenderly.

"Hey…have you seen the station yet?" Neal asked.

"No…why?" Emma recalled.

"Come see for yourselves," he said, as they followed him. When they got there, they saw Gold, Belle, and Regina already there with Henry. In addition to the Sheriff's station, there was a new brick building behind it.

"Storybrooke Municipal Prison," Emma said, reading the shiny placard on the building.

"I figured it was time for a permanent prison for the worst people and I think you'll all be pleased by the residents here, including our friends from the reservation," Regina said, as Billy and Mathias arrived as well. They all went inside and the first cell held Aleister Bolt and next to him was his sister.

"You have no right to keep us here!" Aleister hissed.

"He's right…we've broken no laws!" Marina added.

"Oh, that's far from true. But we don't want you here and you'll be gone from here momentarily, left with the memory of this place and your handy defeat," Regina said. Aleister smirked.

"Then you are a fool…we will find a way back in," he replied, the Queen matched his smirk.

"No…you won't, because when you return to your lives in the outside world, you'll find no money or mansion to return to," she replied. His face fell.

"What do you mean?" he asked.

"I mean I've taken the liberty of donating all your money and assets to charity. I have someone going to take care of it all," Regina replied, as Lily approached her mother.

"Lily…you've betrayed me?" he asked.

"I betrayed you? I heard everything that Walsh said. You were planning on using me in another one of your staged productions and I'm tired of being your pawn," Lily replied, as she looked at her mother.

"My mother was right…and now I'm where I belong," she added. Emma smiled and nodded at her.

"And you'll be going back to your world, homeless, penniless, and most importantly, powerless to ever hurt anyone again," Regina said, as she smirked at them.

"Enjoy that," she said, as she waved the wand and they disappeared. They moved to the next cell and saw Greg Mendell glaring at them.

"I guess, unlike Lily, you haven't seen the light yet," Emma deduced.

"And I never will…" he growled.

"Owen…please, we have a chance at a new beginning if you could just let go of your hate," Kurt said, as he arrived.

"Never…" he hissed.

"Then I guess we should do what's best for you both," Snow said, as she looked at her stepmother.

"Are you sure? I can alter his memories, but I can't guarantee they'll never come back," Regina said.

"It's not like they will be able to get back in this time," David reasoned. She nodded and looked at Kurt.

"I'm sorry for everything and this can't make up for it, but it is a second chance," she said. He nodded.

"Thank you," he said, as she used the wand to alter Greg's memories, removing his trauma and the two disappeared back to the Land Without Magic where they belonged.

Mathias and Billy peered into the next cell, where Lucian was now contained.

"You think you have won…but nothing contains me for long," he warned.

"Oh, but this will. We're not banishing you off to another realm this time," Billy said.

"He's right…you'll stay here and rot," Mathias added, as they moved past Walsh's cell.

"Hey…what about me? I was just doing the job Aleister hired me to do," he argued.

"Oh, I know all about you and your exploits, dearie. You should have stayed in Oz…and now you'll stay here in prison," Rumple said, as they arrived at the final cell and it was almost a pitiful sight. If she wasn't an irredeemable psychopath, one might have felt sorry for her.

"Mirror, Mirror…please tell me I'm the fairest," she pleaded. But the mirror in front of her was an ordinary one.

"The mirror won't speak to me…" she cried, as she looked at them and they winced at her scarred face.

"Okay...maybe giving her a mirror is a little cruel?" Emma asked.

"I thought that too, but it actually calmed her down. Watch," Regina replied, as the mirror disappeared and it sent Narcissa into a raging fit.

"You…you did this to me! I'll kill you!" the blonde screamed at Snow and made a grab for her neck. David gently pulled her back into his arms.

"Okay…bring the mirror back," Emma said. The mirror appeared again and the disturbed woman was appeased by it.

"Okay…so the wack job needs to be a padded cell," Emma said.

"I'm sure Dr. Hopper will be interested in evaluating her, but I don't think there is much hope for her, so here she'll stay," Regina replied.

"What about the wand?" Gold questioned.

"It's too much power for one person…" Neal said, giving both Regina and his father a look.

"As long as the prisoners can be contained, then maybe it should belong to the town," Snow suggested.

"For that…all we must do is drop the wand in the well to return what has been lost to the town," Rumple said. Regina gave him a pointed look and then relinquished the wand to him.

"Then you should do the honors," she said. He nodded and took possession of the wand. He and Belle disappeared and moments later, as the rest of them exited the prison, they saw the pink cloud brewing and watched, as it swept over them and the town.

"I'm proud of you, Mom," Henry said, smiling up at her and she hugged him.

"Thanks Henry," she said.

"We're going to have breakfast at Granny's…as a family. Are you coming?" Emma asked, as Snow and David smiled at her. She smiled back.

"Of course," she replied, as they headed off to the diner. Neal joined them and he and Emma noticeably joined hands. It was definitely the beginning of something wonderful for everyone.

~*~

After breakfast, they went to the town line with Tony and Tia. The pair of siblings were leaving for Witch Mountain, to travel the realms.

"Are you sure you're set on leaving?" Snow asked. They nodded.

"Yeah…but it won't be forever. Storybrooke will always be home now," Tony said, as they shared hugs.

"Here," Regina said, as she handed a case with twin stars on it.

"My star case…I thought this was lost forever?" she asked.

"Not so lost when you have magic to recover things and it's enchanted now. It will allow you both to pass through the protective barrier we're going to put up around the town to keep the rest of the world out," Regina replied. They nodded.

"Thanks," Tia replied, as the two of them got into the car they had acquired and safely drove over the town line.

"Ready?" Gold asked. Regina nodded, as the two of them used their magic to create a new magical protective barrier at the town line.

"Guess everything's going back to normal, huh?" Henry asked. Emma smiled.

"Guess so kid. Think you'll get bored?" she asked. He scoffed.

"Normal in Storybrooke is not the same as normal out there, Mom," he replied. She chuckled.

"Yeah…it's never gonna be normal, normal around here," she agreed, as she looked back to see her parents trailing behind them toward her dad's truck, hand in hand.

~*~

"You okay?" he asked, noticing she was deep in thought. She smiled at him.

"Yeah…I've just been trying to think of creative or fun ways to tell you something and I think I just need to tell you before I burst," she said. He smiled.

"Tell me what?" he asked.

"How would you feel about moving to a bigger house?" she asked. He smiled.

"You want to move?" he asked. She nodded.

"I think we're going to need to…because we have to build another nursery and that's going to be really hard to do in the loft," she replied. His face fell into a look of sheer wonder and he looked at her stomach, before up at her again.

"Really?" he asked. She nodded.

"I still need to ask Sarah to run an official test, but I'm pretty positive," she replied, as he scooped her up into a fierce hug and their lips met in a passionate kiss.

"I love you…" he said.

"I love you too, Charming," she replied, as they shared another kiss, before going home for the day.

~*~

"You can't do this…" Blue protested, as she stood defiantly before Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather.

"Oh we can…and we did. The rest of the fairies have spoken and you've been ousted," Merryweather replied.

"Flora was always the rightful head fairy and while you'll always be a part of us, you're not fit to lead," Fauna said.

"This won't stand…" Blue insisted, as she stormed out, but by this point, she was mostly harmless. She wasn't the head fairy anymore and few actually trusted her anymore.

"Guess that is that," Merryweather said, as she ventured off.

"Where are you going?" Fauna asked.

"Snow and David have asked me to dinner. They think I don't know about the baby already so I have to act surprised," Merryweather gushed, as she shrank herself and flew off to be with the family she had become a part of.

~*~

August walked into his father's shop, fully renewed and human again.

"My boy…" Geppetto uttered. He smiled.

"Blue isn't the head fairy anymore…so Flora made me human again. Without any conditions this time. Guess Blue could have done it all along if she wanted to," August said.

"I'm sorry…I'm so ashamed. I should have never put such responsibility on you or expected perfection from you when none of us can be," Geppetto apologized.

"I've forgiven you, father. It's time for all of us to start fresh, so how about dinner at Granny's?" he asked. Geppetto smiled.

"That sounds wonderful," he agreed.

~*~

"I'm so happy for you," Merryweather gushed, as she reacted to Snow's news.

"You know already, don't you?" Snow asked. She winced.

"Sorry, but don't blame Sarah. She just had to tell me," Merryweather replied. Snow smiled.

"I don't…and you're all family, but David and I both want you to be this little one's Godmother since you didn't get to be mine or Emma's," Snow said.

"Oh honey…nothing would give me more pleasure," she replied, as they hugged again.

"So…I guess this means a lot of changes," Merryweather said. David nodded.

"We think we know the house we want. Regina clued us in on a two story farmhouse on the edge of town. I'll be staying on as a part time deputy at the station with Neal and Emma," David said.

"And you?" Merryweather asked.

"Regina said my job is mine again if I want it…so I'll be going back to teaching. David is going to be at home with the baby during the day after early patrol," Snow replied.

"Emma says that I can help out with paperwork from home too as needed," David said.

"I'm so happy for you both…for all of us. All of this could have gone very differently," Merryweather replied.

"We know…and we're so grateful. Looks like everyone is getting their happy ending, after all," David said, as they shared a kiss. Emma and Neal were together again and on board with co-parenting Henry with Regina. Rumple and Belle were together too and though he was still the Dark One, he had found a way to have magic and a family, after all. Families had been restored and friendships mended, for the most part, though Snow and David were unsure if they would ever be close with the dwarves again, but that was okay, because their new friends and family were all around them. Peace had settled over Storybrooke through the powerful magic and clarity that was true love.

The End.

#Snowing #SnowxCharming #Charming family #AU #Regina Mills #Emma Swan #Henry Mills #Mr. Gold #Belle #Neal Cassidy #romance #adventure #family #Clarity #A 7x15 am AU

[lilacmoon83]

Clarity

Also on Fanfiction.net and A03

Chapter 64: In the Shadows of the Troll Bridge

After managing to dodge reporters by going the backway through the woods, they finally arrived at the Toll Bridge.

"It always seems to come back to this place," Snow mentioned, as they stood before it, hands joined.

"It makes sense. We fell in love here…you found me after I wandered away from the hospital here. It makes sense that a physical symbol of our love might be somewhere around here," David said.

"The question is where," Emma replied.

"We better get to looking," Merryweather said, as they began to trudge in the woods and brush around the bridge.

"We've come so far from the time when you were sleeping out there near the bridge in a tent," Snow mentioned. He smiled.

"Yeah…it seems like a lifetime ago. We were so desperate to be together, yet willing to be apart for Emma," he recalled. She smiled and stepped on some soft ground. She yelped, as she lost her balance and he was quick to catch her, before she hit the ground. She looked up at him and smiled.

"There you are…always catching me," she said in a dreamy tone. He smiled and kissed her tenderly.

"And I always will," he said.

"Guys…I love you, but if you start making out, I'm leaving," Emma complained. They shared an amused smile and he started to stand up with her when something caught his eye.

"Charming?" she asked, as she noticed his stare.

"There's a cave," he replied, as he set her on her feet and crouched beneath the bridge, before brushing some overgrowth out of the way, revealing a cave.

"Well, look at that," Merryweather said, as they exchanged looks and then entered the cave.

"It's a weird place for a cave," Emma mentioned.

"Which probably means something," David said.

"Yeah…like that," Snow replied, as she pointed at the green glow ahead of them. They followed her and entered the mouth of the cavern, where a baby sapling rested in all its glory before them.

"Wow…it is real," Emma said in amazement.

"It's beautiful…but how do we use it?" Snow asked, as they touched it together and all the memories of their time together, including that first meeting they were previously unaware of, flashed in their minds. They shared a smile and then an idea occurred to Emma.

"I think I know how we can use this to our advantage," she said, as all attention turned to her.

"Aleister Bolt is drawn to all things rare and obviously wants to exploit us to the world, so taking the sapling with us and presenting it to him would spark his undivided attention," Emma said.

"Which could get us really close to him without as many guards," David replied.

"It's as good as any plan we can probably come up with, because short of this, Aleister will make sure he keeps his distance, while the media mobs us," Merryeweather said.

"Perfect…now we just need to get back to the apartment with this," Snow replied, as they began the trek back to town through the woods and in the back way.

Once they got up to the loft door though, they found Regina waiting for them.

"It's about time. Where have you been?" she asked, as she noticed the glowing green sapling in Snow's hands.

"And what's that?" she asked.

"Nice to see you too…what do you want?" Emma replied. Regina rolled her eyes and looked at Snow.

"We need to talk about your psychotic Aunt," Regina said, as David unlocked the door and Regina went into the apartment.

"Please…come right in," he said sarcastically, as they followed her in.

"I'm in no mood, Charming…and you're about to thank me for what I'm about to tell you," Regina replied. He snorted.

"This should be good," he muttered, as Snow gave him a nudge with her elbow.

"Okay…what's so urgent?" Merryweather asked.

"I went to see her at my…her office and she's planning something tomorrow night. Something to hurt you," she said, looking at her step-daughter. Emma raised an eyebrow.

"And she just told you that?" Emma asked.

"No…I pretended that I was interested in helping her with a plan to hurt you," Regina replied. David rolled his eyes.

"Of course you did," he said.

"I was playing her…ask Henry. He has an operation name for it and everything," she replied.

"Operation Mongoose," she added. Emma smirked.

"Sounds like Henry," she said.

"Anyway…Aleister gave her another magic mirror and she went right back to asking the same question she always asks and got the same answer," Regina replied.

"I don't understand her…I never asked for that title," Snow said.

"Maybe not…but she wants it and just killing you isn't good enough for her. She wants to do something to mar your beauty," Regina replied.

"Like what?" Merryweather asked.

"I don't for sure, but she mentioned acid. I think she plans to throw something like it in your face tomorrow night and she thinks I'm on her side," Regina replied.

"But you're not, because she and everyone she's brought to town is the bigger enemy," Emma surmised. She nodded.

"Yes…and I'm trying, for Henry and for me," she replied, which made Snow smile a little.

"So we need to make sure you are as far away from her as possible," David said.

"Yes…and the sapling should be a good distraction for the whole evening," Merryweather replied.

"Sapling?" Regina asked.

"Apparently, Snow and I encountered each other before we knew it. I rescued her from the Woodcutter and never saw her face back in our land, before we met," David explained. Snow smiled.

"There was the first spark of true love when our hands brushed and it created this sapling. Merryweather told us about it and we found it," she continued.

"And what do you plan to do with this?" Regina asked.

"Aleister loves rare things. We figure he'll be enthralled by something so rare and magical. We think it can get us close enough to him without his guards and that's when we'll make a grab for the wand," Emma replied. Regina was stunned and pleasantly surprised.

"That's…actually a decent plan," she said.

"Don't sound so surprised," David replied sarcastically.

"So we can count on you tomorrow night?" Emma asked. She nodded.

"Even if it is only for Henry's sake now…you are no longer my enemies," Regina replied.

"If we can get that wand…we can get rid of these outsiders, that stupid Casino, and anything that threatens our lives in the blink of an eye," she added.

"The question is what do we do with the wand after we seal Storybrooke off with a new barrier. It's too much power for one person," Snow interjected.

"It's a wand…Blue will make her case as head fairy that she should have it and that cannot happen. The magic in it was made by your love. We either vanquish it or release the magic from it and give it to the whole town," Merryweather said.

"Like Gold originally intended," David replied.

"Do you trust him?" Regina asked.

"A few months ago I would have said hell no…but since Neal came along, he's definitely trying to be better. Like you, I suppose," David replied.

"Let's focus on getting it first…then we can decide how to deal with that power," Emma suggested. They agreed on that for now and Regina left, as did Merryweather. Emma sighed and plopped down on the couch.

"How about some cocoa?" David asked.

"That would be great," Snow replied, as she sat down beside their daughter, who turned on the television. But that would not yield anything good, as what they saw shocked them. David heard them gasp and quickly came over to see what they were seeing. It was on the local channel and it was August, having been strung up on actual puppet strings, while Walsh narrated his sordid story.

"And if you're just joining us, this is a new segment I like to call Fairy Tale theater, where you'll be treated to the real story behind a different subject each evening and tonight, we've regaled the real story about none other than Pinocchio, whom, as you can see, did not remain a real boy. Probably because he became a lying thief, but don't worry, we've seen that he's returned to his rightful place," Walsh said.

"Crap…not even August deserves this," Emma commented.

"Agreed…and any of us could be next," David said.

"No…we'll get that wand," Snow said, as she looked at them with determination.

"We have to."

~*~

Narcissa stormed into the Casino and looked around at all the new tourists, enjoying it. She saw Lucian at the center of the Casino floor, wining and dining some people in suits. Investors most likely and she approached.

"Ahh…Ms. Blake, so nice of you to visit us. These are some potential investors that have come to see our humble little town," he boasted.

"Gentlemen, this is Narcissa Blake, our new Mayor and the namesake behind Blake Fashions," he said.

"A pleasure, I'm sure," she said, as she looked at him.

"I need to speak to you now," she said. He smirked.

"Please have a look around and I will be right back," he said, as they walked away.

"Do you have what I asked for?" she questioned.

"You mean the vat of acid you plan to throw in your niece's face tomorrow night?" he asked.

"Yes…" she hissed.

"It's not something easily transported, but I had some put into a small canister that you can bring with you. It's being delivered to your office. You'll only have one shot to get her," he said.

"I only need one…and once I do, my status as the fairest will be restored," she replied.

"My dear…you are quite unhinged. You have control of this entire town and your niece is but a spectacle. You should take my advice…and quit while you're ahead. Snow White has proven to be a force to be reckoned with. If you force her hand, I fear it is you that will be ruined," he warned.

"Save your advice…she has to suffer. When I'm done, people will gasp at the sight of her scarred and deformed face and she'll hide in shame. Even her precious Charming will have trouble looking at her," she said. Lucian rolled his eyes.

"If you say so…enjoy your revenge then and hope it doesn't backfire in your own face," he said, as she stormed out and he returned to his investors.

"Can we see your reservation?" one of them asked. He smirked.

"Of course…as the new Chief, I have already made significant upgrades to the quality of life on the rez," he said, as he gestured toward the exit.

~*~

"Don't worry…we'll be ready for anything and to assist with your plan," Billy said, as he hung up the phone and looked at Mathias.

"Do you really think we can succeed in obtaining the wand?" he asked.

"David seems to be confident. He said they discovered something today that may be enough distraction to make a move," Billy replied.

"And?" Mathias asked, knowing there was more.

"Narcissa Blake also has devised a plot to throw acid in Snow White's face. The Queen is acting as a double agent and informed them of her plan. It would seem your instincts were correct about her," Billy replied. Mathias smiled.

"A storm between light and dark has been warring inside the Queen for a very long time. But as it always does, love is winning," he said wisely.

"I just can't wait until these outsiders are gone and we can vanquish Lucian once again. He's already started up the drug trade here and the prostitution, not to mention the gambling. We're going to lose young people if he continues as Chief," he said.

"Do not fear, brother…the spirits are clear in this. True love will win the Final Battle," Mathias replied and that gave great comfort to Billy.

~*~

That evening, there was a knock at the Gold residence and Belle stood up to look out the peephole. What she saw made her gasp.

"Belle?" Gold asked.

"It's two men with FBI insignia," she said. Neal sighed.

"Feds…they're here for me," he replied.

"They're not getting you," Gold insisted.

"And without magic, there's not much we can do to stop them. They've probably got a warrant and they'll search the whole place," Neal said, as they knocked again.

"Maybe not…the basement has a panic room beneath the floorboard. The entrance looks like the floor and isn't easily identified," Gold said.

"Go…I'll stall them," Belle replied, as they headed downstairs. She took a deep breath and opened the door.

"Can I help you?" she asked.

"Federal agents ma'am…we have a warrant to search the premises for Neal Cassidy. He's wanted in two states for Grand Larceny. In light of his status as a longtime fugitive, this case has become a federal matter," one of the agents said.

"Oh…well, Neal isn't here," she replied.

"We still have to search the house," the other agent said, as they barged their way in. Gold returned from the basement and stood by, seething, as they turned the house upside down.

"Nothing…" one agent said.

"Then the basement," the other replied, as they went down there and flipped on the lights. They shined their flashlights around too, as the lighting wasn't the best, but saw nothing.

"Clear," one said, as they headed back upstairs.

"If you have contact with Neal Cassidy…you should contact us immediately," one agent said, as he tried to hand his card to Gold, but he remained stoic and refused. The agent placed his card on the coffee table and the two agents left. Belle sighed in relief and closed the door, before locking the deadbolt.

"They're gone," she called into the basement and Neal emerged.

"Yeah…so we need to get that wand and this is coming from someone who hates magic," he said.

"We will," Gold replied with determination.

~*~

David and Emma managed to patrol the next morning, even as reporters trailed them and followed them around.

"I fail to find what they think is so fascinating," David grumbled, as they came out of Granny's with a couple of coffees and got back into the patrol car. Emma sighed.

"Yeah…I can't wait until tonight so we can get that damned wand," she said, as her phone rang.

"Hey Neal…where have you been? I was worried when you weren't returning my texts," Emma said.

"Sorry…I've been laying low. The Feds searched my Dad's place last night. They have a warrant out on me. A Federal one," he said.

"Oh my God…how did they not find you?" she asked.

"Thankfully, my dad has a very well hidden and inconspicuous panic room he had put in the basement. Probably from all the times back in our land that the soldiers came and took young boys away to send them to war back in our land," he explained.

"Well…that means you can't come tonight. You need to stay in hiding," she said.

"No…I'm going to be there. I'm going to be where you and my son are. I'll stay in the shadows until it's time to make our move for the wand," Neal replied.

"Okay…just be careful," Emma said.

"You too…I'll see you later," Neal replied, as she hung up the phone.

"That didn't sound good," David said.

"The Feds have a warrant out on Neal. They tossed Gold's place last night. Fortunately, they didn't find him, but that won't hold long," she replied.

"No…we'll get the wand and this will be over. It's the only way," David said, as Emma froze and was looking at something.

"Speaking of the Feds…" she said, as he turned to his window and found an agent there. He signed and rolled the window down.

"We need to speak with you, Mr. Nolan…and you Ms. Swan," the agent said.

"It's Deputy Nolan and Sheriff Swan. We're law enforcement too," David responded.

"Not according to the United States government. You're lucky that Congress is still debating on what to do with this town. Some would have the military in here already and all the citizens of Storybrooke detained. Some aren't in favor of such extremes, but make no mistake, neither of you have any authority in this situation," the agent said. David clenched his fists and glared back at the agent.

"If we're not recognized as law enforcement…then why the hell would you think we'd abide by any of your laws?" David retorted.

"If you don't answer our questions, we'll be forced to arrest you and lock you up in your own jail," the agent countered and Emma put a hand on her father's arm.

"Dad…" she whispered. He sighed.

"Fine…what do you want to know?" he asked.

"Have you seen Neal Cassidy recently?" the agent asked.

"Can't say that I have," David answered.

"And you Ms. Swan?" the agent asked.

"No," she answered.

"And you expect us to believe that?" the agent asked.

"We don't really care what you believe. We answered your questions and now we'll be going," David replied, as he put the car in gear and they drove away.

"This is getting scary…" Emma admitted. David looked over at her and then reached for her hand to give it a reassuring squeeze,"

"We'll get that wand…" he said.

"And if we don't?" she asked. He looked ahead, as he drove them home.

"Then we get everyone we can and escape town," he replied.

"Witch Mountain?" she asked. He nodded.

"It's the last resort…but it's still on the table," David replied, as they parked and sneaked into the building through the back and up to the loft. Once they entered, Emma went up to the loft to get ready, while David went behind the current to get ready himself. He stopped though and was stunned by the vision before him. Snow turned to him and smiled.

"What do you think?" she asked, as he saw her in her white ball gown, which had a good overlay and accents, which would compliment the embellishments on his attire.

"Wow…I know you don't like that phrase, but you really are the fairest, most beautiful woman in all the realms," he said. She smiled coyly.

"I don't mind it so much when it comes from my handsome husband," she replied, as he took her in his arms and kissed her passionately.

"I just wish this ball was a happy occasion," he said. She smiled.

"It will be when we win and we'll celebrate with a family dinner at Granny's once this is all over," she replied. He smiled and kissed her tenderly again.

"Guess I better get ready," he said, as he went to change and she put a hand to her stomach.

"And that family will soon be plus one," she said quietly to herself. She wanted to tell him right away…but she knew their focus had to be on tonight's mission.

"We'll tell him after this is over, little one…" she whispered.

#Snowing #SnowxCharming #Charming family #Emma Swan #Regina Mills #Henry Mills #Neal Cassidy #Mr. Gold #Belle French #romance #adventure #family #AU #Clarity #A 7x15 am AU

[lilacmoon83]

Clarity

Also on Fanfiction.net and A03

Chapter 63: Smoke and Mirrors

Snow examined the wounds on her husband's back once they left the Bolt mansion.

"Baby…we need to get you to the hospital," she said. He sighed.

"I'm fine Snow…and I'm in no mood to deal with Whale," he replied sourly. She gave him a look and Emma chuckled, as she watched him relent.

"I'm sure Fauna can patch you up and we can bypass Whale completely," Merryweather offered. He nodded.

"Okay…just as long as I don't have to look at Whale's punchable face," he grumbled. Snow smiled and slipped her arms around his and leaned against his arm, as they walked away from the mansion.

What should have been a quick drive back to the main part of town and the hospital took a lot longer than expected. It had started. Storybrooke was already being inundated with traffic from the outside world, including civilians and a plethora of media vans. They saw Lucian talking to some of the media, probably advertising his hotel for lodging purposes. But what concerned them the most was they saw a few black SUV's that were likely government vehicles, which meant they possibly had federal law enforcement present as well.

"This is a nightmare," Emma said, as they finally got through the traffic and arrived at the hospital. Cameras started flashing, as the three of them got out of the truck. The others had followed in Gold's car and they joined them.

"Emma Swan…can you speak to the peculiar events that Aleister Bolt has claimed are real and feature you?" one reporter asked.

"Are you actors in his elaborate attempt to blur the lines between fantasy and reality?" another shouted. So not everyone was buying this after all. It made sense that some might think this whole thing was a hoax.

"Do you really expect people to believe that this couple are your long lost parents?" the same reporter continued and she stopped to look at him. The malice in his voice was evident. He clearly thought she was either looking for attention or crazy.

"I've done my homework on you, Miss Swan. You're an orphan and a convict. Your parents abandoned you on the side of the road. Are the three of you in on some con or are you delusional and this couple is just humoring you?" he asked. David wanted to throttle him right there for suggesting their daughter was crazy, but Emma held his arm.

"Dad…don't. He wants us to react," she warned. He sighed and gave the man a cold glare, as they hurried away from the mob of people and into the hospital.

"This is nuts," Neal commented.

"Yeah…they did their homework on me. Guess I should have expected that," Emma said.

"Yeah…which means me too. Probably explains the Feds," Neal replied. Her head shot up and she looked at him.

"What do you mean?" she asked. He shrugged.

"I never went to jail for all the stealing I did back in the day," he replied.

"Then you need to go into hiding," David suggested.

"He's right," Rumple agreed.

"No…" Neal refused.

"You getting arrested and taken away from our son does none of us any good," Emma said.

"I have no intention of letting them arrest me, but I'm also not running again," he said, as he took a chance and took her hand.

"I ran last time and let you take the fall. It was the biggest mistake of my life," he confessed. Snow smiled and put a hand to her heart. She remembered the day that she stopped running. It was when she realized she had found her home; her home in Charming.

"Okay…guess we have experience dodging cops," she agreed, as they made their way to the nurse's station.

"Fauna…" Merryweather called.

"Oh thank goodness…I keep hearing things and people keep saying the town is being invaded," she said.

"Unfortunately, that's a fairly accurate description," Rumple stated.

"And Aleister decided to put us through more trauma for his entertainment. Charming took the worst of it," Snow said.

"Snow…I'm fine," he said, as he grimaced slightly from the pain in his back.

"Oh honey…this is not fine, but I should be able to patch you up," Fauna said, as she led him and Snow to an exam room.

"Thanks…we really don't want to deal with Whale right now," Snow said. Fauna smiled.

"No worries…he's probably drunk somewhere anyway," the peridot fairy answered.

"That's surprising…I thought someone like him would be out in front of the cameras, trying to lap up the attention," David mentioned.

"He probably would be, except someone already let them in on the fact that he's actually Dr. Frankenstein and they're not exactly giving him the kind of attention he likes," Fauna replied. David smirked.

"I'm not going to say I feel bad about that," he said, as he shed his shirt so his wounds could be treated.

"Be nice," Snow chided. He hissed a bit, as Fauna cleaned his lacerations.

"Is it bad?" Snow asked with concern.

"He's lucky…any deeper and he would need stitches. Fortunately, I think we can just bandage and then you'll just need to clean with antiseptic twice a day to prevent infection. I'll give you some antibiotic cream too," she replied. Snow sighed in relief.

"I told you I'm okay," he promised, as he gently kissed her forehead.

~*~

Emma waited for her parents and then noticed Lily coming in with a tape recorder in hand.

"Lily…" Emma said. The dark haired girl smirked.

"Long time, no see…" Lily replied.

"I'm actually glad I ran into you…I need to talk to you about your Mom," Emma said.

"You can save all that stuff about family, Emma…it's not for me," Lily replied. Emma opened her mouth, but Lily continued.

"Remember? I had one and they sucked," she added.

"But they weren't your real family. You were stolen from your real Mom, just like I was from my parents. You by Cruella and me by the curse," Emma reasoned.

"Like I said…not interested. After you dumped me as your best friend, I found Tamara and she took me under her wing. She helped me get rid of my adopted family and showed me how lucky I was to be spared from this insanity," Lily said.

"Then why are you here?" Emma asked.

"To expose it all to the world, of course and the dangers of unchecked magic," Lily replied.

"Your boss is the only one with magic right now," Emma argued.

"You're right…but I've heard all the stories. Magic went unchecked and atrocities happened…you can't deny that," Lily replied.

"Maybe…but atrocities happen in this world too and we don't blame anyone except the person that committed it. Why don't my parents and the other innocent people get the same treatment?" Emma asked.

"I'm not here to blame them, Emma…I just want an interview with the people that threw their daughter in a wardrobe and abandoned her. You remember, don't you? You were quite the talk of this area in 1983," Lily said, as she held up an old newspaper about her.

"You're not getting anywhere near my parents," Emma growled. Lily smirked and walked away.

"We'll see," she said.

"Was that Lily?" Snow asked, as they came out of the exam room.

"Yeah…and I hate it, but she's just as brainwashed as Greg. Apparently Tamara had the same effect on her," Emma replied.

"You tried…that's all anyone can ask," David said, as they hugged her between them.

"He's right…I just feel bad for Maleficent. We got really lucky that you don't hate us and want nothing to do with us. I know it could have been very different," Snow said. Emma shook her head.

"We all got cheated. I know now that you never wanted to give me up and it doesn't change that my childhood sucked, but we're all victims in this whole thing," she said, as they walked toward the exit and saw that it was still mobbed by reporters.

"I'm not supposed to, but I can take you out the employee exit. You can bypass the mob that way," Fauna offered. They smiled.

"Thanks," Emma said, as they followed her.

~*~

Narcissa positioned her new enchanted mirror and looked at the golden trim. She had asked Aleister for one and he obliged as a reward for her part in exposing Storybrooke.

She took a deep breath and then asked her question.

"Mirror, Mirror, on the wall…who is the fairest one of all?" she asked. The new entity in her mirror appeared and looked much the same as the last one.

"Snow White is the fairest in all the lands," it answered and she clenched her fists, before letting out a yell of frustration.

"I take it you're still not getting the results you want," Regina said, as she stood in the doorway of her normal office. The wall to wall mirrors were unsettling, to say the least.

"What do you want?" Narcissa asked with a glare.

"Despite how much I despise the fact you've brought the world to Storybrooke, you and I still have a common enemy," Regina replied. Narcissa's gaze narrowed.

"And what? You want to team up with me to destroy my niece? I could never trust you," the blonde answered. Regina smirked.

"You don't need to. We've both failed to destroy Snow on our own. But maybe we can get it done if we work together," she suggested.

"I don't want to just kill her…that's not enough. She needs to suffer for all the pain she's caused," Narcissa said. Regina suppressed an eye roll and instead nodded in agreement.

"We agree on that, but in order for your mirror to give you the answer you want, she has to die," Regina said. Narcissa's eyes lit up with a devious glint.

"Or…we destroy her beauty. We scar her pretty face beyond recognition and she loses everything!" she said.

"And how do you plan on scarring her?" Regina questioned.

"I don't know…acid would do the trick and be incredibly painful. You can distract her at the ball and I can throw it in her face in front of everyone," Narcissa said.

"Sounds like a devious plan," Regina replied.

"But if I help you…then you have to do something for me," she added.

"You and your son will be off limits and outside law enforcement will deal with Neal Cassidy," Narcissa said.

"And Emma?" Regina asked.

"She'll be too busy with her mother and Aleister can buy any Judge," Narcissa answered.

"You've thought of everything. It's a deal," Regina said, as she walked out of the office and then outside the Courthouse where Henry was waiting for her.

"You were right…she's insane," Regina said.

"Then she has a plan to hurt Grams?" Henry asked.

"Yes…at the ball, which means now that we know about it, I can double-cross her and stop her," Regina replied, as Henry gave her a long gaze.

"What?" she asked.

"It's just…there was a time that you wanted to hurt Grams, but you've changed," Henry replied.

"I'm trying…you were always right. It feels much better doing something good than evil," Regina said.

"I'm proud of you, Mom," Henry replied. She gave him a genuine smile.

"Well…we have to get you ready for your first ball, though I think we'd all prefer dinner at Granny's instead," she said.

"Definitely, but if everything goes right, we can get that wand and fix everything," he replied. She nodded and they headed off to the shop that was providing evening wear for the upcoming ball.

~*~

"Here is he, boss," as two large men dragged August into the Bolt mansion.

"Ah…welcome Pinocchio," he greeted, as he stood up to observe what his hired hands had brought to him.

"Remarkable…" he said, as he marveled at what he was seeing.

"So…you turned back to wood, because you're a thief and a liar?" Walsh questioned, as he flipped through the book.

"Well…his father did dump him in this world with a baby at age seven. That's pretty messed up," Lily commented.

"What do you want with me?" August asked.

"We're going to display you for all to see at the ball. You'll be a highlight of our next video," Aleister replied.

"You can't just make people do what you want!" August cried, as he struggled against the brutes that were holding him. Aleister smirked and waved his wand. August disappeared and reappeared on a stage. He was now attached to some strings and he looked horrified.

"Can't I?" he asked, as he waved the wand and made the strings move, leaving August completely at the mercy of his every whim.

~*~

"Oh Emma…" Snow said, as she looked at her daughter in the ball gown. Snow had taken the liberty of calling the shop ahead and picking out their attire, since Emma had no idea how to do any of this.

"And you wore this kind of thing all the time back in our land?" Emma asked, as she looked at the soft baby blue material with uncertainty.

"Well…this wouldn't have been an everyday dress, but we often had to dress the part. Getting dressed in this land is definitely less hassle and more comfortable," Snow said.

"So you'll be wearing something like this too?" Emma asked.

"Yes…though my gown is white. Your father loves the color on me," she mentioned. Snow noticed that calling him that no longer made Emma uncomfortable and she reflected on how far they had come.

"Okay…well, at least it's only for a night and hopefully after that, we have that wand and everything can go back to normal," Emma said. Snow gave her a look and she rolled her eyes.

"Or as normal as Storybrooke gets anyway," she added. Snow smiled and made her way downstairs to check on David, who was trying on his attire for the ball. She felt desire curl in her, as she spotted her husband in the red leather doublet, with velvet sleeves and black leather pants. It brought back a ton of memories and she admired how good he looked, especially his posterior in those pants.

"Are you checking me out?" he asked, with a note of amusement in his voice. She smirked and raised her chin with a sly look on her face.

"I'm always checking you out, handsome. It's hard not to. I can only imagine how crazy you're driving all those women on the Internet. And probably some men too," she mentioned. He shook his head and pulled her into his arms.

"Not interested and I'm always doing plenty of admiring myself, my beautiful wife," he said in a husky tone, as their lips met. It quickly turned heated and passionate, as hands roamed and she pressed her forehead against his when their lips parted. She remembered the wounds on his back and what they were facing and her features showed it.

"I'm okay…" he reminded her.

"I know…but you keep getting hurt protecting us," she replied.

"I'll endure all the scars if it means you and Emma are safe. Good always wins, like you say," he assured her, as there was a knock at the door.

"Oh…that's probably Merryweather. She said she had something she wanted to tell us," Snow said. He smiled and pecked her on the lips.

"I'm going to change back into my regular clothes and I'll be out," he said. She nodded and answered the door.

"Hi honey…" Merryweather said, as they hugged and Snow let her in.

"Would you like some coffee or tea?" she asked.

"Thanks, but I'm fine," Merryweather replied, as they sat down, just as Emma came down and David came out from behind the curtain.

"What did you want to talk to us about?" Snow asked.

"I know that you probably haven't had a chance to talk about it with everything going on, but I know that you remember Wilby from back in our land," Merryweather replied, as she referred to their dog, who was sleeping in his dog bed nearby.

"Wait…how would you know Wilby?" David asked. Snow remembered the morning that Emma had him with her and told them she found him. It seemed like it was so long ago, since everything had been so crazy since.

"Do you remember when you helped that person locked in the prison carriage by the woodcutter?" she asked. She watched the gears turn in her husband's head for a moment and his gaze narrow.

"How…how did you know about that? It was before we met," he replied, as she watched his eyes widen then.

"It was you?" he asked. She nodded.

"I didn't know it until I saw Wilby. I recognized him from earlier when the Woodcutter captured me," she explained.

"Wait…you two met before that day in the forest when you stole Dad's ring?" Emma asked in confusion. Snow shook her head.

"No…he helped kill the Woodcutter and unlocked the carriage, but I wouldn't let him see my face. I knew anyone that helped me would have a target on their back, since I was still on the run from the Queen," she explained.

"And you rewarded him with gold to save his farm. Your hands brushed that day and it was then that your love was actually born. It would only be realized later in the shadows of the Troll bridge," Merryweather said.

"How do you know that?" David asked. She sighed.

"I was always watching you, Snow…I longed to go to you and save you myself. But getting myself banished or worse by Blue wouldn't have done you any good either," she replied.

"But there is a reason I'm telling you this. Something happened that day when your hands brushed. The spark of true love, a very remarkable thing and even more remarkable since you hadn't even truly met yet," she continued. David smiled at his wife.

"We've always known what we have is really special…but even as powerful as our love is, how does that help with our situation now?" he asked. Merryweather smiled.

"I'm glad you asked, because there is a tiny chance there is something that can, though it's a huge gamble, because it may not do anything without magic here," the fairy said.

"And what is it that we're talking about?" Emma asked.

"When your parents' hands brushed that first time they met, it created a spark, which then created a baby sapling. The sapling has the immense power of light magic, just like you," Merryweather replied.

"But I don't have magic in a place without," Emma said.

"To a point, you don't…but you still broke the curse with magic and you've always had breakthrough occasions. I'm sure you're aware of the flickering lights and exploding light bulbs around you throughout your life, specifically in emotional times," she said.

"Yeah…I guess I never thought about it, but you're right," Emma replied.

"But the sapling was created in the Enchanted Forest. Do we know if it even came over with the curse?" David asked. Merryweather nodded.

"It's possible…Longbourne was part of Misthaven and came as well. We just need to find it," she replied.

"Where do we even start though?" Snow asked.

"Well…that's the tricky part, but if I had to guess, it would be in a place that's very special to you both," Merryweather replied. Their eyes widened.

"The Toll Bridge," they said simultaneously. Emma and Merryweather smiled, appreciating the synchronicity.

"Let's go," David said, as they got their coats and hurried out.

#Snowing #SnowxCharming #Charming family #Emma Swan #Neal Cassidy #Regina Mills #Henry Mills #Mr. Gold #AU #romance #family #adventure #Clarity #A 7x15 am AU

[lilacmoon83]

Clarity

Also on Fanfiction.net and A03

Chapter 62: Higher Ground

Walsh practically had stars in his eyes, as he read the comments feeds on his various social media accounts. The Internet was an inferno of response to their production. As usual, the Internet was a mixed bag of belief, disbelief, immediate claims of fakery and hoaxes, praise, and hate.

"Well…it's been a few hours. What is the response to my invitation to the ball?" Aleister asked.

"Overwhelmingly positive. It seems many want to come here to see it for themselves and many more are interested in the live stream you've planned," Walsh said.

"People are quite fascinated it seems with the Prince and his real life Snow White," he added.

"Hmmm…perhaps it's time to give them another taste of Prince Charming's heroics," Aleister said.

"What do you have in mind?" Walsh asked. Aleister smirked.

"All in due time," he answered cryptically and both were unaware that Kurt had overheard them. He carefully made his way out through the back to warn the others, missing

what happened next.

"Let me go!" Tia cried, as the hired brutes pushed her and Tony along into the new Bolt mansion that Aleister had just created with his magic.

"Ah…just in time for tea," Aleister said, as he was served by his staff and Greg smirked, as he joined him.

"We don't want your tea and didn't come here by choice," Tony hissed.

"You were right about those black cuffs. They worked even on these two. No more powers for them," Greg said.

"Yes…I hire only the best scientists," Aleister replied.

"What do you want with us?" Tia asked. Aleister smirked.

"An excellent question," he said, as he rose from his seat.

"Soon…the world will come to Storybrooke and be enamored by this magical place and its people. But we know, from the book, that there are many more realms full of fantastical places. After all, the curse only brought Misthaven here," Aleister said. Tony and Tia's blood ran cold.

"That's where you two come in," he said.

"We'll never show you how Witch Mountain works," Tony refuted.

"Yes…you will," Aleister said, as one of his brutes grabbed Tia and held a gun to her head.

"I only need one of you to tell me…" he warned.

"Don't Tony…" she cried, as the gun was cocked.

"Fine…we'll tell you," Tony replied.

"Excellent…until the time is right, show our guests to their new accommodations," he said.

"In the cellar," he added.

"You can't keep us against our will!?" Tony cried, as they were led away.

"Oh now I think you know there is nothing I cannot do. I will realize the dream of capturing the power of Witch Mountain that my father wanted so badly and you two are the

key. Once the world knows they can leave this world for another, at my discretion, of course, there will be no one more powerful than I," he announced.

Tony and Tia were locked in a cell and Tony angrily kicked the stone wall.

"How long do you think it will take for someone to come looking for us?" he asked. She saw a little bluebird on the small barred window above them.

"Not long at all. Give me a boost," she said, as he did so and she looked at the bird.

"Find Snow White…tell her that Tony and Tia are in trouble and we're locked in Bolt's cellar," she requested. The little bird chirped and flew away.

"You think that will work?" he asked.

"Yes…you know that animals will never let us down and neither will Emma's parents," she replied.

~*~

"And if you're just joining us, we are discussing the video that has gone mega viral today," the newscaster said, as a clip from the video was shown.

"People have long debated on whether or not aliens and bigfoot are real, but those still remain a mystery. Instead, we have now been presented evidence that fairy tales are, in fact, real," the newscaster continued. The disdain could be heard in his voice.

"The footage easily looks as though it could be a movie or embellished with CGI, but experts have confirmed that the video is real and there are no digital altercations. The video comes to us from global billionaire and philanthropist Aleister Bolt," the newscaster continued.

"The Bolt family is well known for their fascination with rare items, unusual phenomena and the occult. Mr. Bolt has made such fantastic claims that there is very much reason to doubt, but he has invited the world to this little town of fairy tales, aptly named, Storybrooke, for all to see for themselves. He claims it's a town sequestered away in the deep woods of Maine and is nothing short of magical," the newscaster said.

"Apparently, everything ties to this book that the billionaire cited in an interview," he added, as they cut to a clip of the interview.

"This book tells the whole story and I plan to share it with the world, as one of my publishing companies is already mass producing copies as we speak. But don't just read the book. Come see for yourself. I promise even the most staunch skeptics will be convinced," Bolt promised.

"Mr. Bolt is throwing, of all things, a grand fairy tale-esque ball and this station plans to attend to see if his claims are valid. In the video, he claims the people are Snow White and Prince Charming, in which the latter slays what appears to be a vicious Werewolf. The video has enthralled the Internet and we expect the town to soon be flooded with anyone able to make the trip,"

The newscaster droned on, but Emma turned it off, before turning to her parents.

"So…it's the nightmare we thought it would be," she fretted.

"Maybe it won't be so bad? I mean, how interested in us could they be? We're just people," David reasoned.

"Dad…you just killed a Werewolf. You're not just anything," Emma said.

"Storybrooke is not normal, even without magic. I knew that, even before I believed. The people here are different…and the thought of sharing it with possibly the worst scum of this world makes my skin crawl. Especially sharing you guys," she said.

"Why us?" Snow asked.

"Because you're my parents," Emma answered, which touched Snow and David more than she would ever know.

"I just got you guys…I'm not sharing," she added. They smiled.

"And you don't have to. That's why we need a plan," David said.

"How good of an actor are you?" Neal asked.

"With his lack of tact? Not great," Rumple answered. David rolled his eyes.

"Yeah…when he's right he's right though," he agreed.

"You're a straight shooter…it was a compliment," Rumple assured him.

"But if you and Snow could stomach it, maybe you could warm up to him and convince him that you've decided to bask in your new celebrity," Neal suggested.

"I think my stomach just churned," Snow said in disgust.

"I know Mom…but he might be right. Getting close to that wand is only going to happen if you let him make a spectacle of you guys at this stupid ball. I hate it…but I'll endure it too if it means we get that wand and fix this," Emma replied. David sighed.

"I guess it's a good plan. If I get close enough, taking on any guards he has around him shouldn't be too tough. We've taken on legions of black Knights before so a few thugs shouldn't be too bad," David said.

"Thugs with guns, Dad," she reminded him. David smirked.

"Dragon Slayer, daughter," he joked and she smiled at him.

"Touche," she agreed, as there was a knock at the door. David answered it and Kurt ducked in.

"Were you followed?" he asked.

"No…I made sure, just like you taught me," he promised.

"I overheard a conversation between Aleister and Walsh. I'm not sure what exactly he's going to do, but the response to the video is so overwhelmingly good that he plans to do something that will give the people another show," Kurt said.

"You mean another monster my husband has to fight and risk his life to defeat?" Snow asked. He nodded regrettably.

"I'm sorry…he's a psychopath and it's all a game to him. My son is the same…I can't get through to him. He idolizes Aleister," Kurt lamented.

"He's brainwashed…I just don't know how to get through to him," he added.

"We may not be able to," Emma said bluntly. Kurt looked horrified.

"I'm sorry…I know that's harsh. But getting rid of Aleister may only make him angrier. We're going to have to arrest him once we do, but at least then, he'll be a captive audience," she added. Kurt sighed, knowing she was right.

"Emma's right…and it might take years to undo the brainwashing, but it is possible," Snow said.

"I hope you're right," Kurt said, as she saw a bluebird land on the windowsill.

"Hello…" she said, as she held her hand out and the bird landed on her hand. It was something that still amazed Emma and she was sure it always would. She watched her mother's features change to a frown though, before she grabbed a pinch of birdseed she kept by the window and rewarded the tiny creature, before it flew off.

"We have a problem," she said.

"What did he say?" David asked.

"It's Aleister…he's locked Tony and Tia in his cellar," Snow answered.

"Witch Mountain…that's his next step. A portal to all the realms," Rumple deduced. David grabbed his holster and put it on, before grabbing his jack, while Emma did the same.

"I'm coming with you," Snow said.

"Me too…he has half of our new Police force," Neal agreed.

"You need to lay low. The bird may have told us about Tony and Tia, but we don't want them to suspect anything," David said. Kurt nodded and followed them out, as did Rumple, who was coming along as well.

~*~

August finished helping Marco with the latest repair and the older man smiled.

"It's perfect…just like old times. You haven't lost the skills I taught you," he said. August tried to smile, but it was very stiff and he missed his flesh more than he could put into words.

"Thanks Papa…it's good to spend time with you again," he replied.

"We will find a way to make you into a real boy again," Marco promised.

"Except that I'm a man now, Papa…one with a lot of issues," August admitted.

"Now that you're home…things will be better again, just like the old times," Marco insisted. August sighed.

"Except they will never be the way they were, Papa. That's what I'm trying to tell you. I know you were trying to protect me, but you have no idea what it was like out there. I was homeless for half of my life and I had to steal to feed myself sometimes," August lamented.

"I know…it wasn't supposed to be like this. Why didn't you stay with Emma like I told you to?" Marco asked. If August had been able to muster the expression, he would have blanched.

"Papa…I was seven and had no idea what to do. This world was so different and scary. It's not like Storybrooke out there. Emma was right…no one can be selfless, brave, and true all of the time!" August snapped, as he got up and started to stumble out of the shop.

"Where…where are you going!?" Marco called.

"Anywhere but here," August answered, as he started walking toward Main Street. A van pulled up alongside him and a couple of men got out of the sliding door. August tried to stumble away, but he was grabbed by them and tossed into the van.

"Hey Pinocchio…Mr. Bolt is very interested in meeting you for a featured video. You'll be a nice spectacle for the people to poke and ridicule," Greg said smugly.

"You know the public…they love plot twists. In this version, Pinocchio is a liar and a thief, so the real boy turned back into wood. Tamara told me all about your little meeting in Hong Kong. Aleister found it fascinating," he added.

"I may be a liar and thief, but at least I wasn't brainwashed by a cult," August spat in return.

"Shut up…let's go," he ordered, as the driver sped off.

~*~

The others flanked David and Emma, as they strode confidently toward the newly magicked mansion of the Bolt family and naturally found guards in their way. Emma flashed her badge, but that didn't seem to move them.

"Sheriff's Department…we need to see Aleister Bolt," she said.

"That's not happening…you need an appointment to see Mr. Bolt," one of the guard's said.

"Then I'm making an appointment now," David said, as the two guards moved in on him to intimidate him. David responded by sweeping one's legs out from under and drawing his sword faster than anyone could see and leveling it at the throat of the other.

"I'll…I'll take you to see Mr. Bolt right away," the guard said, as he led the group inside the spacious atrium.

"Ah…what a pleasant surprise. Welcome Charmings to my lovely new home," Aleister said grandly.

"We're here on Police business," Emma said, holding up her badge.

"Of course…what can I do for you and your heroic Deputy, Sheriff?" he asked.

"A little bird mentioned to us that you've abducted our newest deputies and we're here to demand you release Tony and Tia or you're under arrest," David said. Aleister cackled at that.

"You don't really think you can arrest me, do you, Your Highness?" Aleister questioned smugly, as he waved his wand, releasing a spark of magic. David flicked his wrist and swept his blade, deflecting the spark harmlessly to the ceiling, surprising the man.

"How exciting…you are a true warrior Prince," he said gleefully.

"How about a challenge?" he asked.

"No…no games or challenges," David growled, as he began his search of the property. But Aleister waved his wand and their scenery changed, at least for him, Snow, and Emma. Snow cried out, as they were suddenly surrounded by rocky outcroppings, floating in a river of lava. She screamed, as she came face to face with what looked like a half burnt, decaying corpse, which screeched in her face. David swiped at the creature and it turned to ash once his blade touched it. He pulled Snow close and she buried her face in his chest, as he folded her into his arms.

"What the hell…" Emma cried, as David inched her closer as well. Aleister could be heard cackling above them, high up, from what appeared to be a floating throne made of bones.

"I'm nothing if not a showman," he said smugly.

"The world was enthralled by your battle with the Werewolf, so I decided to really give them something to watch this time," he added, as more corpses arose before them.

"What are they!?" Emma cried, as the site was alarming.

"Hell furies if I have to venture a guess," David answered.

"You know your creatures, Your Highness," Aleister called.

"What do you want!?" Snow cried. He smirked, as she and Emma disappeared too. David looked around in alarm and soon saw them above with Aleister.

"Defeat the hell furies and you can have them back…and your friends," he said, as he saw the floating outcroppings slowly led up to him. He watched, burning with loathing, as Aleister caressed his wife's face and she cringed away.

"She really is the fairest of them all," he said, as he waved his wand and they disappeared and reappeared on a platform above him with Tony and Tia. He saw that the outcroppings led up to them. He growled and leapt to the next platform, after which, columns of fire shot up around him. The hell furies descended upon him and exploded to ash when they met his blade, but the amount of them soon became overwhelming.

"Charming!" Snow cried in fear. She saw him jump out from the swarm of them and to the next platform, where he rolled and steadied himself, as more furies tried to devour him. He fought his way through the hordes of furies, platform by platform, until he was finally close and that's when they began to swarm him again. He looked up at the worried faces of his crying wife and daughter and with determination, he fought through the furies, even as their claws tried to rip him to shreds. He fought his way to the final platform, as Tony and Emma put their hands down to help him. He prepared to jump to them, but a furry swiped at his back. He cried out in pain, as it completely shredded his shirt and wounded him with lacerations on his back.

"Charming!" Snow cried. He turned and kicked the furry away, before jumping to them. Tony and Emma helped him up and everything around them disappeared again.

They all fell to their knees, as they were now back in Aleister's atrium, reunited with Neal and Rumple.

"What the hell?" Neal asked, as he helped Emma up.

"David…" Snow cried, as she looked at his wounds and more tears fell.

"I'm okay…I promise it's worse than it looks," he said, as he pulled her into his arms. She knew Aleister was still recording everything, but she couldn't help herself and kissed him passionately. He pressed his forehead against hers for a moment, as they simply relished their closeness. When her tear filled emerald eyes opened again though, they filled with fury and she started to launch herself at the monster before that seemed amused by everything.

"You foul, evil, vindictive monster! You tried to kill my husband!" she cried, as he gently pulled her back.

"Oh come now, Princess…you knew that your heroic Prince would slay the beasts and rescue you as he always does and what an incredible, adrenaline filled adventure it was for our audience," he said.

"You sick bastard…this isn't a game for us. My father is injured, because of your sick, twisted need for some show!" Emma cried, as she looked at Walsh and approached him and his cameraman.

"You want the real story?" she asked, speaking to the camera and thus the spectators that would watch this.

"Aleister Bolt is a monster and a cult leader. Yeah, magic and fairy tales…it's all real, but we're people! We're not circus performers for your entertainment and what you just saw wasn't some movie. It was real and my father's wounds are real. The trauma is real and if you have any shred of humanity, you'll condemn this man and stop watching his Hunger Games rip-offs!" she cried.

"She's beautiful, isn't she, folks?" Walsh asked smugly.

"Daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming, but she's more like you than you think. She lived among us for most of her life, as you'll soon read. Mr. Bolt wants you to know the wonder of this and every world, while they would rather hide away and keep their secrets, while the rest of us remain ignorant. It begs the question on what you're trying to hide, Ms. Swan," he said.

"I'm not trying to hide anything. We just don't want our lives exposed to everyone and put in life endangering situations to entertain the masses!" she cried.

"Sorry Ms. Swan…but the public is enthralled by all of this and do make sure you and your wonderful parents attend my ball tomorrow night. It will be the event of the century and you will attend. Come willingly, because I'd hate to imply force," Aleister said.

"We'll be there," David said simply, as they left with Tony and Tia.

"We need to get that wand…tomorrow night," Rumple said.

"Yeah…or he'll make us show him the secret to Witch Mountain. Then no one is safe. If he gets access…others, including Governments of the world will as well," Tia replied.

"Then tomorrow night, we'll make our own show," David said.

"And we'll fix this," she replied.

#Snowing #SnowxCharming #Charming family #AU #Emma Swan #Neal Cassidy #Regina Mills #Mr. Gold #Henry Mills #romance #family #adventure #Clarity #A 7x15 am AU

[lilacmoon83]

Clarity

Also on Fanfiction.net and A03

Chapter 61: Only Human

"Sheriff's Department…open up," she called, but heard no one respond so she knocked again.

"Sheriff's department…" she called again and this time, she heard a voice croak a response.

"It's open…" he said, clearly male in tone. She opened it up and stepped inside.

"Hello?" she called, as she scanned the inside and finally saw someone laying on a seat inside.

"Hello Emma…" August, who was now very much completely wooden, said.

"August…" she uttered. The corners of his wooden mouth turned upward slightly.

"I'd say in the flesh…but yeah, there's none of that left," he replied.

"What happened?" she asked.

"I turned back to wood…completely," he stated.

"But I broke the curse…I thought that was supposed to fix you?" she asked. He struggled, but managed to sit up.

"Me too…but the opposite happened when the rainbow wave washed over me. I guess…I haven't been selfless, brave, and true. The Blue Fairy warned me I had to be or I would turn back to wood," he said.

"That's crap…no one can be selfless, brave, and true all the time. Flaws are what make us human and if she doesn't get that, then she knows nothing about what it means to be human," Emma replied. He smiled.

"She is a Fairy…and strives for perfection," he said.

"Well, she lied to my parents so she falls just as short as the rest of us in the perfection department," she replied, as he got up.

"We need to get you back to town," she said.

"I can't go back there, Emma," he replied.

"You have to…do you have any idea what's happened since the curse broke?" she asked.

"No…I haven't kept up," he replied. Emma huffed and sat down.

"Then get ready for a crash course and then we're going back to town," she said, as she proceeded to explain recent events.

~*~

Snow and David approached Granny's hand in hand, with Red following them and saw the gathering there that consisted of everyone that George had managed to whip into a frenzy.

"Well…there you are. The reason we're here at all and have been splashed all over the television and Internet for all to see," George said. Snow glanced at Granny, who nodded.

"They're breaking the story right now. That rich prick was true to his word and has some reporter showing the videos they have. With context," she explained.

"We're about to become a tourist trap and we'll be lucky if we don't all end up in a government facility somewhere," George spat.

"And it's her fault that we're here in the first place," he added, as rumbles of agreement spread through the crowd.

"Wrong…we're here, because of Regina and her curse," David retorted.

"Yet the Queen walks free, because once again, Snow White is reluctant to punish her stepmother for her crimes. She's as unfit to lead as you are, shepherd," George said.

"You mean lead like you did? Before I came along, you led your Kingdom into bankruptcy," David reminded.

"Your coffers were empty so you sacrificed your son, my brother, for gold and when he died, I took his place and you tried to marry me off to fill your coffers," he added, as he saw some of the people exchange glances. Snow placed a hand on his arm.

"We couldn't stop the curse…but we gave up everything to ensure there was an end to the curse and there was, thanks to our daughter," he added.

"What about the Queen?!" Whale shouted.

"She is free, because we have a common enemy and that's Narcissa Blake. She's the reason these interlopers have found their way into town. Only if we all unite can we stand against the danger that these outsiders pose," David said strongly.

"You can't herd us like sheep, shepherd. Why should we follow you, a lowly peasant?" George questioned smugly.

"Because I am just like the people you're pandering to. I know what it is to come from nothing," he said, as he looked to the people.

"He's manipulating you to turn on us. He's always looking to place blame on anyone but himself in a grab for power. He used to be allied with Regina, but as soon as she was out of power, he quickly sided with Narcissa. It's all he cares about, but my wife is different," he announced, as he looked at her.

"She gave up our child to make sure her people would someday get their lives back and their identities. She's your true leader," David said.

"The Blue Fairy has expressed her reluctance to follow you two again. You two are unwilling to punish the wicked and villainous," George countered. David smirked.

"Lucky for you or we would have executed you back in our land instead of just taking your Kingdom," he said, as there was agreement in the crowd with that. George frowned.

"And the Blue Fairy has proven that she may not be the best council. She lied to us about the wardrobe and it jeopardized our daughter's life. She should have had us or at least her mother to guide her, but she was alone in this world, abandoned and it haunts us every day," Snow said, as she looked at Marco and Archie, as she spotted them in the back.

"But this Blue Fairy and her sisters have proven to be far more trustworthy than Reul Ghorm," Snow added, as she smiled at Merryweather.

"I'm disappointed in you, Snow…" Blue chided, in an attempt to shame her.

"Likewise," David retorted coldly.

"She lied…because of me. I asked her to," Marco said.

"She didn't have to do as you asked," David replied.

"You would do anything for your daughter! I would do anything for my son! I was desperate! You have your daughter now…I have no son," Marco said.

"That's not true, Papa…" a voice said, as heads turned to find Emma there with a wooden August. Snow gasped and exchanged a glance with her husband.

"My…my boy…" Marco uttered, as he went to him, as Emma joined her parents, who hugged her between them, with her father cradling her head.

"It's good to finally see you, papa," August said.

"But…what happened?" he asked.

"I guess I wasn't selfless, brave, and true. The curse broke and I turned back to wood," he replied.

"I'm sorry August…but this was the price of magic," Blue said.

"You set him up for failure from the beginning!" Emma exclaimed, as all eyes turned to her again.

"No one is selfless, brave and true all the time. Being human means making mistakes and hopefully learning from them. You told him he had to be perfect, ensuring that he was doomed to fail, as any of us would, from the start," she added.

"Emma…you don't understand," Blue started to lecture.

"Oh I understand perfectly. We've heard about all the "help" you've given to others or rather all the people you've screwed over, including me and my parents," Emma said.

"She's right…and I'm just one in your long line of victims," Neal added, as he arrived with his father, who was enjoying seeing Blue be called out so publicly.

"Magic always has a price…ask the Dark One," Blue retorted.

"Yes…it does, but it always seems a bit steeper than it needs to be with you, dearie," Gold hissed.

"I know everything you've been up to…things that no one else knows," he added, as she looked a little worried.

"And I know things about you too, Dark One…" she challenged, as they stared each other down.

"Another reason not to trust the Charmings…they side with the Dark One!" George announced, creating commotion among the crowd.

"Things are never that black and white," David said.

"The scrutiny that's about to be on you and your wife will cause untold consequences, thanks to your theatrics in killing that beast," George countered.

"I fought Malachi to save my wife and anyone else that might get in his way. Have you ever picked up a sword to defend anyone but yourself? Or are you content just to send your soldiers to die for you? Including my brother," David replied. George growled and grabbed David by the collar, but Charming was far stronger and easily broke away from his hold.

"Ladies and Gentlemen…you can follow true leaders in Snow and Charming or you can follow this snake, who cares only for himself and his own power. Trust me…I'm a fairy too and know all about the disgraceful King George," Merryweather said, as she looked at Blue.

"And if you follow Reul Ghorm, she'll eventually betray you too," she added.

"Careful Merryweather…there is no magic here now, but if there ever is, it's talk like that which will give me cause to take your wings," Blue warned. But Merryweather smirked.

"Go right ahead, honey…this is a new world, as if you haven't noticed. I never should have obeyed you then when you ordered me away from Snow, but I won't make that mistake again. This family and this town will be protected by me and my sisters…especially from the likes of you," she announced.

"Well…I guess lines have been drawn. We'll see which side comes out on top," George said, as he walked away, taking a portion of the crowd with him, but a significant amount did not follow. It wasn't a complete win and meant division in the town, but Emma knew they were on the right side and they would eventually win over most.

"So…how bad do you think the world is freaking out right now?" Ruby asked the blonde. Emma sighed.

"It's hard to say. I mean…to be honest, there's a lot of people that don't believe in anything, even when it's right in front of them. I know, I used to be one of them," she said.

"So you think that they might think it's all fake?" Snow asked, with hope in her voice.

"Yeah…probably. I mean, the internet is full of fake stuff and CGI videos," Emma replied.

"I hate to rain on your optimism, but Aleister plans to open this place up as a tourist attraction. Some are going to see up close and personal. And probably soon," Neal said.

"Then we hope our little plan that's in the works soon pays off," David said.

"We need a back up if it doesn't," Gold reasoned.

"Witch Mountain…it can get us all out of this," Neal said.

"Except getting everyone there without being stopped is a long shot," Emma replied.

"So we make this place seem as normal as possible," Neal said. Emma looked at him incredulously.

"Uh…how the hell are we going to do that with Mr. Wizard over there using his wand like he's in some twisted version of Fantasia?" Emma questioned. He smirked.

"He's the only one with magic right now. He can put on his shows for the popcorn brigade, but we know that most people have the attention span of a goldfish," he said.

"Once they see that, despite the fancy magic shows at the shiny new Casino, the rest of the town is pretty normal and small, they'll lose interest," Neal said.

"I don't know…" Emma said skeptically.

"Come on…the town itself is still stuck in the eighties, including most of the technology. Our one screen movie theater is still showing Return of the Jedi, for crying out loud," he replied, making her snicker.

"Yeah…the Casino is still a problem though. It's going to attract people and he's going to keep growing and updating things around here," Emma said. He sighed, knowing she was right.

"We're forgetting something else too," Merryweather interjected.

"What's that?" Snow asked.

"This town has existed outside the country's government for twenty-eight years now. In addition to tourists, we may soon have the federal government here as well," she warned.

"Great…we are all going to end up in a government facility somewhere," David replied.

"Witch Mountain is our escape then…we have to figure it out, unless we get that wand," Snow said.

"If we can get this wand, we can cloak the town and expel the outsiders for good. We'd never be able to leave…but it's the best solution," Gold replied.

"Yeah…because the Internet is blowing up and people on social media are saying they're already planning to make their way here to see it in person," Red added, as she scrolled her phone.

"Seriously?" Emma asked.

"The video of David fighting the werewolf already has twenty millions views in just thirty minutes. This thing is going nuclear," Red replied.

"We need that wand…or you two won't be able to go outside without being mobbed," Gold warned, as he looked at the pair of true loves. Snow leaned her head against his arm. All that attention and scrutiny on her husband worried her for his safety greatly.

"Then we need a plan…and we need a good one," David said, as Maleficent approached.

"I want to help," she said.

"Oh you helped…" David retorted. She paused for a moment.

"I know…I made a mistake and that a lot of this is my fault," she said.

"You're right about that, dearie," Gold hissed.

"Lily…rejected me. She considers the Bolts her family and wants nothing to do with me. They've brainwashed her too," Maleficent said, as she looked at Emma.

"But maybe you can get through to her," she added.

"Me?" Emma asked. She nodded.

"You were best friends…she might listen if you try to make amends," Maleficent replied.

"I can try…but I brushed her off pretty harshly back then and if she decides that this is her revenge on me, I don't know if she'll listen to anything I have to say," Emma replied, as Maleficent's eyes pleaded with her. She sighed.

"But I'll give it a shot," she relented.

"Thank you," she said.

"For now…we should go eat. It might be the last time we can be in public for a while," Emma said sourly.

"Except we're going to have to still police the town," David added.

"No more foot patrols alone, Dad. It's going to be too risky for you," Emma said. He sighed.

"Em, I've slayed dragons and fought Black Knights," he protested.

"And let me tell you that rabid fans are way worse than both," she countered.

"Agree," Snow said, as he looked at her indignantly.

"Then we are going to need a couple more deputies if we're going to patrol in pairs," David said.

"I'm up for it," Neal said.

"Us too," Tony said, as he and Tia joined them.

"Welcome aboard then," Emma replied, as they went into the diner. Snow stopped him though and he turned back to her.

"Snow?" he asked, as she slipped her arms around his neck.

"I'm worried…about there being so much attention on you," she said. He smiled gently and pulled her close.

"I'll be fine, I promise…" he assured her.

"I know…I guess I'm just fighting that old instinct to run. Part of me wants to take you, Emma, Henry and everyone close to us and run for Witch Mountain," she admitted.

"Who could blame us? We gave up…a lot for people that don't seem to be very grateful," he said, as she rested her head against his shoulder and he kissed her hair.

"Ah…if it isn't my stars," Aleister said, as he arrived with Greg and a man they didn't recognize. Kurt followed them, looking none too happy.

"Go to hell," David spat.

"Oh…now that is not a very nice greeting to the man that has just made Prince Charming an action hero and a household name," he goaded.

"I don't want your fame and attention. Leave us alone," David spat, as they went into Granny's.

"You should check the Internet. They love you," he commented, as they followed them in. Greg seemed to follow his boss and when neither were paying attention, David leaned toward Kurt.

"We need that wand," he whispered.

"It's almost impossible with all his guards. But I heard something that might give us an opportunity," Kurt whispered.

"What is it?" Snow asked.

"Aleister said he wants to throw a grand ball, like the ones you had back in your land and invite everyone. Now, I know you would normally refuse to go to something like that and no one could blame you. But…it could be just the opportunity we need," Kurt answered.

"He's right…getting near him without guards would be impossible, but if he lets us right into the same room with him, we might have a shot," David said. Kurt nodded.

"Thanks for the heads up. We'll just have to surprise him and accept that invitation," he added. Kurt nodded and joined his son, before they could notice they were talking.

"The thought of going to a party thrown by that man is unappealing at best…but this could be it," Snow said. He nodded.

"We get that wand and we don't have to be the ones to leave our new home. We can get that wand to Merryweather and she can fix everything," he replied, as the man that they didn't recognize, started taking photos of them. Emma saw him and approached.

"Who the hell are you?" she asked. He smirked.

"Walsh…nice to meet you, beautiful," he replied.

"My name is Emma and you're going to delete those pictures of my parents while I watch you do it," she demanded.

"Sorry Emma…but there's no law against taking photos of my surroundings and this will be a great follow up to the groundbreaking broadcast I just reported on," he said.

"So you're the reporter…" she said.

"And so much more…maybe we can get a drink sometime," he offered.

"When monkeys fly," she spat in return.

"Granny…can we get that order to go?" she called.

"Already on it," the old woman replied, as it came up and she grabbed it.

"Let's go back to the loft," she said, as she turned to Gold and Neal.

"Are you coming?" she asked. Neal smiled and nodded, as they followed. Things had changed drastically in just a few moments and she didn't like it at all. They needed to fix this and they needed to fix it soon…

#Snowing #SnowxCharming #Charming family #AU #Emma Swan #Neal Cassidy #Mr. Gold #Regina Mills #Henry Mills #romance #family #adventure #Clarity #A 7x15 am AU

[lilacmoon83]

Clarity

Also on Fanfiction.net and A03

Chapter 60: Aftermath, Pt 2

Maleficent smiled at her daughter with tears in her eyes, as the young woman just stared blankly at her.

"Lily…" she uttered.

"So…you're my mother," she stated, in a matter of fact tone. Maleficent was surprised by this.

"You…you know?" she asked. Lily shrugged.

"Aleister told me everything…when he found me," she replied.

"Found you? I thought you were adopted by a family? That's what Emma told me," Maleficent said. Lily scoffed.

"Emma Swan…yeah, she decided to stop being friends with me when she found out that I had a family. A rich family and I guess I did lie to her, but it's not like I wanted to be with them," she said.

"They never understood me and now I know why. Thankfully, Aleister found me after my so-called adopted father had me arrested for stealing from him and that was that. No more family…just disownment," she added.

"Lily…I'm so sorry that happened to you, but you must know that you were stolen from me. I never wanted to give you up," Maleficent said.

"Yeah…I get that, but it doesn't change the fact that I was stolen, thanks to Cruella. Aleister helped me though. He bailed me out and told me everything, with proof," Lily replied, as she showed her mother her tattoo.

"But now we can be a family," Maleficent said.

"Mmm…I don't think so. I have found a family with the Bolts and they've made me see everything that this town can be," Lily replied.

"What do you mean?" Maleficent asked.

"I mean…that I'm a part of his grand plan to expose all of this to the world, including you. Can you imagine the world's reaction when they find out dragons are real? Among other things," Lily replied.

"But you're one of us," Maleficent argued.

"Not really…like Emma, I didn't grow up there and while she's all into this having a family thing, it's not for me. Tried it and it was definitely not a good fit. Plus, as a bonus, I get a tiny bit of revenge on Emma for dumping me as her friend and almost ruining my life," Lily said, as she walked away.

"Lily! Lily!" Maleficent called, but her pleas fell on deaf ears and her daughter walked away, leaving Maleficent heartbroken.

~*~

David ran patrol as usual and despite the new scenery in town, so far, there were no anomalies. But as he made his way to the station, he saw the dwarves waiting outside for him and he sighed. Their conversation with Emma and Merryweather the previous evening played in his mind. He wanted to count on the dwarves loyalty, but he wasn't sure he could and it seemed that he was about to find out where they stood.

"Long time no see," he stated evenly, as he unlocked the station and went inside, while the seven brothers followed him inside.

"What can I do for you?" David asked, as he unlocked his desk drawer.

"We were wondering why you haven't arrested the Queen yet," Grumpy replied.

"Because despite everything, we have bigger fish to fry and now share a common enemy," David answered.

"Yeah…we noticed," Happy mentioned.

"And let me guess…you have opinions," David drawled. The dwarves exchanged glances

"We just…want to know what you're going to do about all this?" Doc asked.

"I have a plan…I can't discuss the details, because it could jeopardize everything. But I can assure you, we're doing everything we can to neutralize these outsiders," David answered, as they exchanged glances again.

"If you have something to say…you should just say it," David said. Grumpy sighed.

"Look…we've always been loyal to Snow, but the fact is that we're all here, because of her," he stated.

"You're also not cursed anymore, because we gave up our daughter so she could break the curse," David reminded him.

"We…we just think that it's hard to ignore that there wouldn't have been a curse if not for Snow and now she has this crazy Aunt coming after her, with the rest of us in the crosshairs again," Happy added. David's jaw clenched and it took everything he had not to launch himself at the normally jovial dwarf.

"I see," he said in a measured tone.

"Look…we just want you to be aware that there's lots of people thinking like this. We're not against her…but a lot of people are. They think she's responsible for all the trouble," Grumpy explained.

"But you don't disagree with them," David countered and they were all uncomfortably silent.

"Good to know," he said, as his phone rang and he excused himself to Emma's office.

"That went well," Doc muttered.

"It was harsh…but it's the truth. This town is days away from having tour buses driving up and down Main Street," Grumpy said, as Dopey made some hand signals.

"Sorry Dopey…it kind of is Snow's fault. She didn't mean for any of it to happen…but it did, because of her," Happy answered him and he lowered his head sadly.

"But…are we really going to stop standing with Snow and her prince?" Bashful asked uncertainty.

"We have to look out for ourselves now. Snow and Charming aren't really in power anymore," Grumpy said.

"And the Blue Fairy said that they've aligned with those other fairies against her," Sleepy mentioned. Dopey made more hand signals.

"Look…we know you love Snow. We do too…but this town is out of control and I'm not ending up in some lab somewhere or in a circus show," Grumpy said.

"I'm with Grumpy," Happy agreed.

"Me too," Doc said, as they left. Sleepy and Sneezy followed in agreement, but Dopey and Bashful seemed reluctant.

"Come on," Grumpy ordered, as they finally followed under peer pressure. David returned a few moments later and left on a call.

~*~

Snow smiled, as she saw her class on the playground outside school, waiting for it to open that morning. She had missed it, but didn't realize just how much until they had gotten here this morning.

"You really like being a teacher, huh?" Emma asked.

"I guess I do…I don't think Regina intended that," Snow replied thoughtfully.

"She probably intended to have you surrounded by kids without being able to have any," Emma said. Snow tilted her head and then nodded.

"Yes…I remember thinking about wanting kids during the curse and feeling sad that I probably never would," she realized, as she looked at her daughter.

"That was my curse…losing you and your father. She may not have counted on me liking my job, but I was alone without those I love. That was her plan," she added.

"Well…she failed and you like this job, so let's get it back," Emma said. They shared a smile and went inside, finding their way to the main office.

They went in and the secretary smiled at them.

"Miss Blanchard…" she said.

"Hi Evelyn…I was hoping to speak to Principal Randall," she replied.

"What can I do for you, Miss Blanchard?" Principal Randall said, as she came in behind them.

"Principal Randall…I was hoping to speak to you about my teaching job. Now that the curse is broken and Regina isn't in power anymore, I'm asking to be reinstated," Snow said.

"Yeah…especially since she was unjustly let go in the first place. You're pretty lucky we're in Storybrooke, because out in the real world, the school could be facing a lawsuit for wrongful termination," Emma added.

"Your threats are not appreciated, Sheriff and I'm afraid your position has already been permanently filled, Miss Blanchard," the principal said.

"That's crap…she should have never been fired in the first place," Emma insisted.

"I'm sorry…there's nothing I can do," the Principal replied.

"You mean there is nothing you want to do," Snow countered, as the man stopped in his tracks and turned around.

"Since you're pressing the issue…the school's decision to part ways with you stands firm. Your life is a constant state of chaos and you're responsible for all the interlopers in town, not to mention the reason for the curse at all," she said.

"Who the hell do you think you are?" Emma shouted.

"Sheriff…you will lower your voice in my school and to answer your question, I cannot risk exposing the student body to the chaos that surrounds your mother," Randall said.

"But the reason you originally fired me had nothing to do with anything going on now. I was wrongfully terminated, because everyone thought I had an affair with a married man. But the reality is that man is my husband," Snow said.

"Maybe in our former world…but not in this one," the principal muttered.

"What?" Snow questioned sharply. She sighed and adjusted her glasses.

"You and your Prince were married in our land…but here, you have no license or proof of marriage. His marriage license to Kathryn may have been a forgery, but you don't have one with him either," she pointed out, which stunned Snow for a moment.

"It doesn't matter…he is my husband. We don't need a piece of paper," she refuted.

"In this world…you do. But that's not the issue anyway. Your job is no longer available and the school has no desire to hire you back. You have your hands full and you can't devote your time to your students," the Principal said, as she went to her office. Snow was stunned and realized how frighteningly true their conversation from the night before was.

Snow hurried out of the office and outside, with Emma hurrying after her.

"Mom…this isn't fair. We need to fight this…when Merryweather hears about this, she's going to go on a tirade and slap them with a huge lawsuit," Emma said. But Snow shook her head.

"No…I don't want that," she said.

"Why? They deserve it," Emma replied.

"Maybe…but I'm clearly not wanted and I don't want to be somewhere I'm not wanted," Snow said sadly, as she gave her daughter a heartbroken look. This is what she had given up her daughter for. These were the people she had sacrificed her family for and they not only didn't care, but were spitting on her efforts.

"I'm so sorry Emma…" she said.

"For what?" Emma asked, as tears slipped down her mother's cheeks.

"For all of it…I gave you up for this and it was a huge mistake. I'm sorry…" Snow said, as she started to walk away.

"Where are you going?" Emma asked.

"I…I just need some time alone," Snow replied, as she hurried off, but Emma was certain it was the last thing she needed so she took out her phone.

"Dad…it didn't go well and Mom is really upset. She said she wants to be alone…but I don't think she should be," Emma said.

"I'll find her…thanks Em. I got a call though about an abandoned trailer in the woods though and was on my way there," he replied.

"Text me the location and I'll take care of that," Emma said, as she hung up her phone and then headed off to the location.

~*~

Ruby set the orders down at the table and listened to the conversation. It was Abigail, Frederick, Midas and Mitchell Herman, also known as King Christopher back in their land. She had gone back to Granny obviously once her memories were restored and their conversation was unnerving to say the least.

"I don't believe what I'm hearing…" Abigail said.

"I agree…Thomas and Ella won't go for it either. Snow and Charming are the reason they're even together," Mitchell agreed.

"It's not personal…but they're also the reason we're here and in this situation and they haven't even bothered to lock up the Queen yet! I'm telling you…Snow White has probably forgiven her already. Meanwhile, we have the outside world ready to pounce on us," Midas said.

"That may be true, but I hardly see how banishing Snow White from Storybrooke solves that problem," Frederick said.

"Not to mention that it isn't legal. We may have done things like that back in the Enchanted Forest, but you can't banish someone now, especially since no crime has been committed," Mitchell added.

"I'm telling you that George doesn't care. He's whipping people into a frenzy and banishing them might actually be safer for them. He is going to lead a mob with pitchforks after them if he can convince enough people that they're the reason for our misfortune," Midas said.

"Which is why we must make them realize that it's not true," Abigail replied.

"Except that won't be easy to do either," Frederick said.

"Frederick…we're only together and you're only alive, because of David," she chided.

"I know that sweetheart and I'm forever grateful, but we were cursed, because of Snow," he said.

"No!" Ruby shouted from the counter, drawing their attention, because she couldn't take it anymore.

"We're here, because Regina was miserable and wanted to make everyone else miserable too!" Ruby said.

"This is none of your business," Midas said gruffly.

"It is my business…she's my best friend and she gave up her family to make sure there would be an end to the curse!" Ruby replied.

"We know that and we are grateful for that. But Midas makes a good point and George is going to use all this to lead a campaign against them. Not to mention that we have yet another Queen with a hatred for Snow and the rest of us do not want to be collateral damage in another war," Mitchell reasoned.

"Narcissa is a delusional psycho that Snow didn't even know about. Snow isn't responsible for anything she's done," Ruby countered.

"I agree with Ruby and we must stand with Snow and Charming. George will do what he always does and fail," Abigail said.

"She is right there…siding with George is foolish. He's a power hungry tyrant and you know it," Frederick replied. Midas couldn't disagree there.

"Red…" Granny called, as she went back to the counter.

"You can't interject yourselves into other people's conversations," she chided.

"You heard what they were saying!" she protested. Granny nodded.

"And anyone that sides with that foolish, greedy King deserves whatever they get," she added. Ruby sighed.

"They need to know what's brewing," she said.

"I know…go," Granny replied.

"Are you sure?" she asked. She smiled.

"Of course…this isn't the curse anymore and the lunch rush is over. Go…they're going to need you on their side and they'll have me too," Granny said. Ruby smiled and hugged her, before hurrying out.

~*~

Snow heard a car door and looked up from where she sat on the Toll Bridge, only to see her husband there.

"Emma called you?" she asked.

"Of course," he replied.

"I didn't tell her where I was going," she said. He smirked and sat down beside her.

"She didn't need to…you know I'll always find you," he replied, as she leaned into him and he took her in his arms, before dropping a kiss onto her head.

"We made a terrible mistake, Charming…" she said.

"We were doing what we thought was best. We thought the people wanted to be free of Regina and George, so we fought with them and took back the Kingdoms," he said.

"Sometimes loyalty is easily bought though and if they're promised peace and a good life for turning against us…I'm afraid many will do it," he added.

"Do…do you remember when we woke up ten years after the curse was cast by accident?" she asked.

"Of course I do…it was when we saw Emma as a little girl. I don't say anything…but I think about it all the time," he replied.

"You were right…you wanted to walk through that door and we should have. We should have left then," she lamented.

"No…you were right. You understood this world a lot better than me. If we had just appeared in her closet, she would have freaked out and we probably would have ended up in jail," he said.

"Maybe," she replied glumly.

"We still haven't told Emma that we had a chance to get to her when she was ten and we didn't take it," she added.

"It might have been a chance…or it could have ended up in us never finding her or each other again," he said.

"Doesn't change the fact that we gave up our chance to raise Emma for people don't seem very grateful," Snow replied.

"I know…this sure isn't what I imagined it being like when the curse broke," David said.

"What are we going to do?" Snow asked, but a different voice answered for him.

"We fight them…like we always have," Red interjected, as they saw her on the road above them.

"Red," Snow said, as they stood up and trekked up to join her.

"What's going on?" David asked.

"I overheard people at the diner talking. George is whipping everyone he can into a frenzy and trying to convince everyone that you two are the reason we're here and about to be invaded by outsiders," Red replied. David sighed.

"Of course he is…he never stops," he said.

"Then we need to confront him and stop him head on," Snow said. He nodded and kissed her tenderly. Red smiled at them and they headed back to town.

~*~

"Well…that should do it. It's a quick editing job, but honestly, I didn't have to do much. There's no need for special effects when you catch actual magic on video," Greg said. Aleister smirked deviously.

"Excellent…now, Mr. Ozman, it's time for you to debut this in prime time," he said.

"You were right…it's all real. This is world changing…I'm just not sure I can convince my bosses at the network that this is legit. They are going to think it's a movie or CGI," he replied.

"You won't need to…I fired your bosses this morning when I bought your network. Bolt Studious is absorbing the entire operation as we speak and you're going to step in front of the camera with Ms. Paige to break the story. You'll have everything you need at your new studio here in Storybrooke, including a crew," he added. Walsh smirked.

"Then I better get to my new dressing room for makeup. I'm about to become famous," he said.

~*~

Emma trekked into the woods in the location her father had given her and spotted the abandoned trailer. No one owned the woods, but it was an eyesore and the parks and recreation department had reported it to the Sheriff's department this morning, requesting removal. Emma approached and knocked.

"Sheriff's Department…open up," she called, but heard no one respond so she knocked again.

"Sheriff's department…" she called again and this time, she heard a voice croak a response.

"It's open…" he said, clearly male in tone. She opened it up and stepped inside.

"Hello?" she called, as she scanned the inside and finally saw someone laying on a seat inside.

"Hello Emma…" August, who was now very much completely wooden, said.

"August…" she uttered…

#Snowing #SnowxCharming #Charming family #AU #Emma Swan #Regina Mills #Neal Cassidy #Mr. Gold #Henry Mills #romance #adventure #family #Clarity #A 7x15 am AU

[lilacmoon83]

Clarity

Also on Fanfiction.net and A03

Chapter 58: Blood Moon, Pt 2

"Dammit…he's pissed!" Emma hissed, as they ran through the darkness.

"Yep…and we need to figure out how to kill a werewolf. Trust me, it's not easy to do during a full moon," David called, as he took them around a corner and stopped for a moment.

"Dad…we have to keep moving," Emma said impatiently.

"I know Em…but I need to figure out where the air is coming from, because without the sun, I have no idea which direction we're going," he said, as he licked his finger and held it up to feel the flow of air.

"I can't believe that actually works," Emma said. Snow smiled.

"If your father can see the sun, he can tell you what time it is, roughly anyway," Snow replied.

"Really?" Emma asked. He smiled back at them.

"The perks of growing up on a farm," he said, as he started leading them to the left.

"This way…" he said.

"Not that I'm doubting you, but I hope you're right. He can't be far behind. I mean, he probably has night vision," Emma complained.

"Maybe…but he's relying on his smell more than anything," Snow said, as they rounded another corner and noticed rail tracks. Snow smiled.

"The mines…we're in the mines now. You did it," she said.

"It shouldn't be much further," he replied, as a growl pierced the air and Snow yelped, as Malachi caught up to them. David grabbed their hands again, as they ran for their lives.

"Go…" David said, as he spotted a dwarf pickaxe and grabbed it, before chucking it end over end. Malachi growled and evaded it, as David picked up another pickaxe, just as they made it to the mouth of one of the caves. He growled and David blocked his lunge with the pickaxe, before kicking him away, just as they ran out of the cave and found they had an audience.

"What's going on?" Snow asked.

"A huge problem…Maleficent got impatient and he knows where her daughter is. In exchange for getting her here, she gave him the potion," Merryweather said, as Malachi growled and stumbled out of the cave and back into the direct rays of the moonlight.

"Stay back!" Merryweather said, as she pulled Snow away, while David put himself between them again.

"Yes…let's make this more interesting for our video reveal to the world," Aleister said, as he used the wand to zap Malachi, allowing him to fully transform into his wolf form. Greg smirked, as he rolled the small camera in his hand.

"Prince Charming versus the werewolf…my money is on the wolf," he said, as Kurt looked at him in horror.

"Owen…" he hissed, which earned him a side eye.

"Greg…we need to stop this. These people haven't done anything to you. The Prince helped you find me, for God's sake!" he hissed.

"They shouldn't be here in the first place, Dad…this town ruined my life. And now I'm going to ruin it," Greg said with malice in his voice.

"Holy hell…" Emma said, as she saw her father poise his sword in ready position.

"Charming…" she heard her mother whimper, as he looked back at them.

"I love you…" he said, as his eyes drank in his wife and then shifted to their daughter.

"And you," he added, as the wolf roared and charged. David charged in return, sword ready.

"A werewolf in a full moon…can it be killed?" Neal asked his father.

"If Charming can drive his blade into the heart and I mean, directly in or to the head, then it can be killed. Short of that…a silver tipped arrow or silver bullet is the only way,"

"Do you have either?" Emma asked.

"In the shop, but the only archer good enough to get him with an arrow is currently in no mental state to do so," Gold replied, as she noticed her mother was nearly hysterical.

"Then we need the bullets," she said.

"I'll go…" he said, but was cut off when Aleister trapped them all in a bubble he created with his wand.

"No one is going anywhere…let the battle begin," he said, as David circled the wolf and then dodged his snapping jaws.

"Regular fights do bonkers in sales…fairytale fights are going to make millions," Greg said. Aleister smirked.

"You have an enterprising mind, Mr. Mendell," he agreed.

"How dare you!?" Snow cried, as she got right in their faces and Greg filmed her.

"That's my husband and you're here thinking about the money you'll make from charging people to watch him fight for us!?" she cried.

"My, my…Narcissa said you were the fairest in all the lands. She was right and right to be so jealous," he said, as he snatched her hand, intending to kiss it. But Merryweather smacked his hand away.

"You won't dare touch her with your lips if you want to keep them," she warned. He laughed.

"This is the most fun I've had in a long time," he said gleefully. Marina rolled her eyes.

"I honestly don't see the appeal of any of this. I think after this little debacle, I'll go back to New York and let you have fun in your new playground," she replied.

"This isn't a playground! We're real people with real lives, you psychopaths!" Emma growled, as her mother watched her husband fight a monster. He had slain dragons before, but in some ways, werewolves were worse. David was very agile, but so was the wolf and he couldn't go on the offense with his expert swordsman skills when he was constantly dodging the wolf's claws and jaws.

"Prince Charming versus the Big Bad Wolf…now that is a fairy tale I can't wait to tell. Or rather sell," Aleister said.

"More like how the Big Bad Wolf killed Snow White's Prince," Greg quipped and a choked sob was heard from Snow. Kurt Flynn was appalled by his son's malice and apathy to the woman's pain.

"Greg…that man led you to me. He could have just arrested you and thrown you in prison to rot. Where is your compassion?" Kurt asked.

"It disappeared with you," he retorted, as he continued filming. David dodged its snapping jaws again and landed a strike, as his blade made a clean swipe on the wolf's chest. It roared in pain and David cried out, as it headbutted him. He flew back into a tree, impacting hard, before rolling to the ground.

"Charming!" Snow cried, as she tried to go to him, but the ferocious wolf stood in her way. David groaned and started to get to his feet, as the wolf loomed above him. He raised a claw, intending to finish the prince off and David rolled away from what would have been a lethal blow. Instead of the wolf shredding him, he only grazed him. David still cried out in immense pain though, as his shirt was shredded and an angry swipe across his back could be seen. Snow screamed for him, as blood started to seep through his torn shirt.

"David…" she cried, as he looked at her.

"It's just a graze…promise," he called to her, though the pain in his voice could be heard. Greg snorted.

"Just a graze will probably be your last words. You're done, Charming…and next he'll sink his teeth into your beloved, perhaps in more ways than one," Aleister said deviously. Snow started toward the man, intending to deck him, but her husband called to her.

"Snow…" he said, as he held her in his gaze and they shared a very long, tender look. Emma looked between them with bated breath, wondering what they were doing. Later, she would understand that her parents had an unspoken communication that was remarkable and further showed how deep and true their love was.

The wolf growled and stared David down, preparing to charge and likely finish the job he had started. David readied his blade and poised to strike, but his wife's voice stopped them again.

"Wait!" she cried, as the wolf turned his head.

"Spare him…and I'll go with you," she pleaded. He growled angrily and she shook her head.

"No tricks this time…I just want him to live," she begged. The wolf's eyes narrowed and slowly walked toward her. He nudged her forward to walk and she did so, as he stalked behind her.

"Mom…what are you doing?" Emma cried.

"Saving you and your father…it's going to be okay," Snow said, with a sniff. He growled and she started walking away and Emma looked at her father, wondering why he wasn't trying to stop this. But he only gave her a look and held his hand out to stall her. She stayed where she was and could only watch, as her father charged toward the wolf.

"Malachi!" Lucian cried to warn him, even as Billy and Mathias held him back from interfering. Malachi growled and turned to attack, but it was too late. David jumped into the air and landed on the wolf's back, right between his shoulder blades. The wolf growled and tried to violently buck him off, but David kept his footing and drove his blade into the wolf's head. Malachi dropped instantly to the ground, dead, as David rolled off him, before getting to his feet, his blade stained with blood and brain matter. There was a hush of awe and surprise over all of them, before Snow sprinted toward him and he caught her in his arms. Her feet dangled off the ground, as he held her with one arm and their lips met in a passionate kiss.

"That wasn't how this was supposed to go," Greg said nervously, as he glanced at his boss.

"No…but this is better," Aleister said.

"Sir?" he asked.

"Don't you see? A hero defending his family against a ferocious monster. That sells even better," he replied. Greg smirked.

"Yeah, romance, suspense, action…that pulls in a wide variety of audiences," he agreed.

"Indeed…and this is just the beginning," he said, motioning him to keep filming.

"Dad!" Emma cried, as she threw her arms around him and he groaned a little, but gladly hugged her back, as he cupped her head in his hands. Then Emma's eyes widened, as she remembered his injuries.

"Oh God…I'm sorry, you must be in a ton of pain," she said. He smiled at her concern.

"I'm fine…I've had worse," he assured her.

"Still…we need to get you to the hospital, baby," Snow urged.

"Ugh…that means Whale," he complained.

"It looks like mostly flesh tears…Fauna can probably treat you. Whale would just send a nurse to do it anyway," Merryweather offered.

"Offer accepted," he said, as they intended to head to the hospital.

"Mom…did you know he was going to do that?" Emma asked. She nodded.

"Of course…I knew I had to give him the right distraction," she replied.

"And you just knew?" Neal asked. David smirked.

"We're pretty good at reading each other," he said.

"That wasn't reading each other. That was like…telepathy or something," Emma said.

"So…my blade has silver in it. Did you do that on purpose?" he asked, as Rumple smirked beside him.

"No idea what you're talking about, Your Highness. I had nothing to do with that," the Dark One mused.

"Please…you were always making sure they won and defeated me," Regina quipped.

"I needed them alive…and procreating," he replied.

"Seriously?" Emma complained, making Neal chuckle.

"Shut up…this is your fault," she joked.

"Probably," Neal agreed, as they were confronted by Lucian.

"You…you killed him!?" he cried.

"Save your outrage, old man. That wolf came after my mother," Emma snapped.

"She's right...besides," he said, as he motioned to the new scenery he noticed in the background.

"Looks like your boss gave you what you wanted. You got your filthy casino, so leave my family the hell alone and your brothers or you'll meet the same fate as your friend," David warned. Lucian smirked.

"My brothers are banished from the reservation anyhow. I am the new Chief and I had better not find any of you on sacred reservation land," he replied, as he turned and walked away.

"You did us all a great service today. Malachi was a true monster and would have preyed on many young women," Billy mentioned.

"Perhaps…but we still have a very big problem," he said, as he looked back at their new adversaries.

"That's an understatement, Charming…" Regina quipped.

"What exactly are we going to do about them?" Neal asked.

"Resist…until we can figure out how to get rid of them, if that's even possible," Snow said.

"Snow's right…we led a resistance once. We can do it again," David agreed.

"We need magic, which is now in the hands of only one, or our chances are not good," Rumple said.

"You made a potion from us and bottled it once. Can you do it again?" David asked.

"It's not that easy, dearie. I bottled the magic from you both back in our land where there was magic. I don't know if it will work the same here," Gold replied.

"There is another option…but it's drastic and the coordination it would take would be hard to pull off," Tia mentioned, as they turned their attention to her.

"What is it?" Snow asked.

"Witch Mountain…" she answered.

"You…you mean leave this realm?" Regina asked. She nodded.

"Like I said, getting everyone out and to the mountain, let alone through the portal, would be almost impossible without being caught by Aliester. His resources are endless," Tia mentioned.

"Maybe it doesn't have to be everyone," Tony suggested.

"I could never leave our people behind," Snow refuted.

"I don't mean permanently. I mean a team could use the mountain to return to the Enchanted Forest. There's magic there and you could make another potion," Tony replied.

"That is an idea…but it's still risky and would involve us leaving Storybrooke behind for a while," Snow said with uncertainty.

"She's right…and we're not leaving Emma again," David replied.

"Then you better come up with a better plan, Charming," Regina said.

"Why not just get the wand from him? Doesn't that solve everything?" he asked.

"It does…but that's not going to be easy either. He's very well protected," Tia warned.

"You just killed a werewolf…think you can get through some guards and whatever magical horrors he throws at us?" Emma asked. David smirked.

"I think it's worth a shot. We just need to wait for the right opportunity," he replied.

"And until then?" Neal asked.

"We endure…together," Snow replied. They agreed and they and their allies continued on to the hospital.

~*~

"Are you just going to let them leave after that?" Greg asked. Aleister smirked.

"Of course…they were victorious today against an evil wolf. They are but the mice in my cage now and I am the ever watchful feline. Besides, we have a video to edit and present to the world," he said.

"Everything is a game to you, Aleister," Marina chided.

"You always had more of a knack for the business side, dear sister and that allows me to indulge in these projects and this one is by far the most incredible endeavor," he said.

"This video…it's going to change the world," Greg said.

"Indeed…and there is a very generous bonus in it for you if you have that video ready to release soon," he said. Greg smirked.

"Consider it done," he said, as Maleficent stalked up to them.

"You promised me my daughter if you got what you wanted…now where is she?" she demanded to know.

"She should be arriving in town by morning," he replied.

"She had better or not even magic will save you from my wrath," Maleficent warned, as she stalked off.

"Well…the new lavish hotel awaits us," he said, as they headed off.

"Dad…are you coming?" Greg asked. Kurt nodded.

"Actually…I'll catch up with you. There's something I need to do," he said. Greg watched him go, wondering if he should be concerned, but decided to follow his boss.

~*~

"Mmm…onion rings are so good," Emma mumbled, as she polished hers off. David chuckled, as he pushed his plate away too. After Fauna patched him up at the hospital, they had come to Granny's, because they were all starving.

"Battling dragons and trolls, or in this case, werewolves, tends to work up an appetite," he said.

"So trolls too? Like the ones on the bridge in the book?" she asked.

"Yeah…bridge trolls are probably the worst. They're as nasty as they are smelly," Snow replied.

"Okay…so the Toll bridge. That really was the troll bridge?" she wondered.

"As far as we can tell. We seem drawn to it, anyway," David said. Snow gave him a dreamy smile.

"It's where our love was born," she agreed, as they shared a tender kiss.

"Yes…and now that crazy billionaire is going to splash all our stories all over the world," Regina replied.

"Maybe it won't be so bad…I mean, who is really going to care?" Snow asked.

"You are so naive," Regina muttered, which made Snow bristle.

"I guess we'll find out soon enough," she said.

"I'm ready to go I think," she told him. He nodded and kissed her hair, before going up to pay the check. Emma watched them closely, as she did now most days. It all still amazed her at times. She had seen many horrible examples of relationships before in the foster homes, but never really anything like her parents. There was so much love, attentiveness, and trust between them and neither of them had to even speak a word. She got up to get her coat.

"So…I was hoping I could come by and say goodnight to Henry," Emma said. Regina glanced at her and then nodded.

"He'd like that," she agreed.

"I'll see you guys at home," Emma said, as she hugged them and passed by Kurt Flynn, as he walked into the diner.

"Uh…Deputy…uh," he stammered and David took pity on him.

"Deputy Nolan…Nolan is my given surname in this world," David said. He nodded.

"Ma'am," he said, politely to Snow.

"Is there something we can help you with, Mr. Flynn?" David asked.

"Yes…but I really have no right to ask, because it's not for me. It's Owen…" he replied, looking lost.

"I tried to get through to him, but he won't let it go. He wants revenge and not just on the Queen. He wants it on the whole town…that's why he's doing all this," Kurt said.

"We're aware…but I'm not sure what we can do about it. We'd like to help…but if he isn't listening to you, he'll never listen to people like us," David replied.

"I know…I guess I was just hoping for some advice, father to father," Kurt said.

"From me?" David asked, a little surprised by that.

"Of course…you missed years with your daughter, just like me and it was caused by the same woman. But your daughter seems to have come around. How…how did you get through?" he asked.

"I hate to tell you this…but it was patience and it was rough for a while. Emma had every reason to hate the cursed David Nolan she first met. But after I got my memories back, I gave her space and time to see who I really was," David explained, as his wife smiled at him.

"Greg has been brainwashed…and I don't know what to do," Kurt said.

"We're sorry…Regina should have never done what she did," Snow replied.

"Yet you two are letting her walk free," he snapped.

"If I recall…we made a deal for you and your son to leave, but you didn't do that. I probably should lock Regina up, but if I go by the book, then I have to lock up your son too," David retorted. Kurt sighed.

"I know better than anyone that Regina has ruined lives, but believe it or not, we're facing a much bigger enemy in my Aunt Narcissa and your son's boss. Regina is working with us for Henry's sake to take back our town. You could join us," Snow said.

"Or maybe there is something else you could do…to save your son," David said, as they both looked at him.

"What is it?" Kurt asked.

"Be our man on the inside," David replied.

"You mean spy?" Kurt asked. David nodded.

"If you're feeding us intel, our chances are better," he said, as he motioned them into the hallway.

"If you help us find a way to get that wand from Aleister Bolt…then it's game over for him. Once your son is free of their influence, maybe you have a shot at getting through to him," David whispered. Kurt thought for a moment. It wouldn't be easy…but he hated these people that had brainwashed his son and he could tell that all that the couple only wanted to protect their family and their town.

"O…okay, you've got your double agent. I'll find out what I can," he said.

"Good…we can figure out a regular meeting place for check-ins a couple times a week," David said, as they took the time to exchange phone numbers, before Kurt made his way out.

"Well…that was unexpected," Snow said, as they left a few minutes later and drove home to the loft.

"Definitely…I guess we have lost children in common though," he said, a bit sadly. Snow squeezed his hand.

"Yes…but Emma loves us. She finally came around and I can particularly tell how much she loves her daddy. I always knew you two would be two peas in a pod," she said fondly. He smiled.

"She loves her Mom too…a lot," he said.

"Oh I know…" she replied, as they headed upstairs together, hand in hand.

"What a day," he said, as they shed their coats and he watched her open the curtain around the bed.

"No cocoa tonight?" he asked, as her eyes beckoned him.

"Not tonight. All I want tonight is you, Charming," she replied, as he closed the distance between them and kissed her passionately. As their lips parted and she took a starved breath of air, she looked at him and he pressed his forehead against hers.

"I thought I was going to lose you…" she said.

"Never…" he promised, as he kissed her again, making her lightheaded.

"The whole world is about to see what you can do though…" she said.

"That man…he's seen what you can do and he made a game out of it. He's going to do it again…he'll create more monsters for you to fight, just for the sake of exhibition, not caring if you're hurt or worse…" she lamented.

"I'll fight anyone and anything to protect my family, my love…and with a man on the inside, I'll get that wand. Then we'll use it to fix all this and lock the world out again," he promised. She kissed him again at that and it soon became feverish, as she pulled him toward the bed.

"I need you…" she breathed, as she fumbled with the buttons on his shirt. He shed it easily and kissed her again, as she felt the bandages on her back, reminding her again of how much worse it could have been.

"I'm fine, my love…I promise," he said, sensing her thoughts and she let her thoughts quiet and her senses free, as he trailed kisses down her neck and lifted her blouse over her head. It became a puddle on the floor next to his shirt, as he continued his conquest and her hands undid his belt. Their breathing came in impassioned gasps, as they fully undressed each other, between smoldering kisses and she took comfort and pride in knowing one thing. The whole world might soon see her husband for the incredible man and warrior that he was…but none of them would ever see him like she did. He would always be hers and by her side, no matter what. Their lips parted and he gently caressed her beautiful face, as candlelight by the bedside was their only light. His smoldering gaze made her knees weak, but she didn't fall, for he held her flush against him. She felt his arousal and he would soon feel hers, as he kissed her again, with long, feverish locks and she yelped a little in excitement, as he lifted her up effortlessly, before sliding her onto the bed.

"Charming…" she breathed, as their passion and lovemaking consumed them…

#Snowing #SnowxCharming #Charming family #Emma Swan #Regina Mills #Mr. Gold #Neal Cassidy #romance #adventure #family #AU #Clarity #A 7x15 am AU

[lilacmoon83]

Clarity

Also on Fanfiction.net and A03

Chapter 57: Blood Moon, Pt 1

"Welcome to the Wolf's Den," Lucian said, opening his arms grandly, as his new guests entered. Some of the regulars raised an eyebrow or two at two of the newcomers, who stood out like sore thumbs in their obvious expensive clothing and the elitist air about them.

"How quaint," Marina said, as she wrinkled her nose.

"It's not much to look at, but it's a good headquarters for the magnificence that is to come," Lucian said.

"Yes…if all goes according to plan, we'll have what we want before you know it. I suppose this will do for now, though I'm a bit miffed there is no four star hotel yet," Aleister replied.

"Perhaps not, but don't let appearances deceive you. This town is quite unique. You'll be swimming in money once the public realizes what a magical little treasure we have here," Lucian said.

"If you say so…" Marina said, as Narcissa entered the bar and signaled to Lucian.

"Ah…the usual, Ms. Blake?" he asked.

"It's a little late in the day for a bloody Mary, though I enjoy the pretense of the name. I'd like to buy your finest bottle of red wine in honor of our guests," she replied.

"Coming right up," he said.

"Ah…Ms. Blake, I suppose it is thanks to you that we found this little jewel," Aleister said, as he kissed the back of her hand. Marina rolled her eyes.

"I think the word jewel is an exaggeration. Your new location here in Storybrooke has yet to turn a profit," Marina mentioned. Narcissa clenched her teeth.

"Which will change once the Casino and resort open. The people of Storybrooke may not recognize fine fashions, but the rest of the world will when they come. I even have a new line that may be a great interest once the world realizes exactly what is here," Narcissa replied.

"Do tell?" Aleister requested, but before he could say more, the door to the bar burst open and almost off its hinges.

"You…" Maleficent growled.

"Where is my daughter?" she demanded to know.

"Excuse me? I don't even know who you are," Narcissa replied flippantly, but then screamed when Maleficent grabbed her by the hair and dragged her out of the bar and into the streets. This roused everyone's attention, as they went out to witness the spectacle, just as Snow and David arrived with the others.

"Where is Lily?!" Maleficent roared.

"I don't know who Lily is!" Narcissa hissed back, as she glared at her niece.

"What have you done, you little bitch?" she growled.

"Snow didn't do anything to you. Cruella stole Maleficent's daughter and Emma knew her. We tracked her most recent whereabouts to one of your dress shops in Portland!" David growled back, as he slipped his arm around his wife.

"Like I'm supposed to know everyone that works in my shops?" Narcissa questioned.

"I don't care if you do or not…you're going to look into your employment records and give me any information you have," Maleficent warned.

"Or what?" Narcissa challenged, as she saw Maleficent's eyes start to glow.

"You're about to find out," she hissed, just as they heard a scream come from Monica. Her father pulled her back, as Malachi stumbled toward them, his eyes glassy and his chest heaving.

"What the hell is wrong with him?" Emma wondered, as she started toward him, but Merryweather held her back.

"Don't…it's a full moon and while he can't fully change into a wolf, he's definitely having a reaction," the fairy warned, as Malachi's eyes became set on Snow. He started toward her and Charming pulled his sword to keep him at bay.

"Back off…" David growled, as he looked at Merryweather.

"What the hell is wrong with him? Red isn't having this problem," he said.

"I know…something else is going on," Merryweather replied and their questions would be answered.

"How right you are, dahling…I'm the something that's going on," Cruella interjected, as she approached, wearing her usual gaudy fur coat, tacky jewelry and a cigarette in hand.

"Cruella…" Snow uttered.

"That's right…I see you're still the fairest of them all. That must irk you something terrible, you poor dahling," Cruella goaded, as she directed that statement to Narcissa.

"You stole Maleficent's daughter…so why don't you tell us where she is," David demanded and Cruella looked at him like he was something to eat.

"Oh how I have missed you, chisel chin…mummy's been around with many men, but none of them were ever as delicious as you. I suppose it's too much to ask though for the rich ones to look like you," she said.

"But for the record, handsome, I can easily tell you where she is if our Dragon mummy here would just give me that little potion," she added.

"You obviously still have your powers…why would you even need that potion?" Merryweather replied.

"You know why…you winged demon," Cruella hissed.

"Why?" Emma asked.

"Because her ability to kill was taken away from her, because with it, she would be a mass murdering psychopath," Maleficent revealed.

"Well okay…definitely no magic for the puppy skinner," Emma said.

"Back to this guy though…" she added, as they saw Malachi holding his head in his hands, like he was struggling against something.

"This is not the time for carnage…" Lucian warned.

"Which means you must need Malachi for something or you wouldn't care how many were slaughtered," Mathias countered. Lucian smirked.

"Well…it will be a little hard to reveal to the world just how real myths and fairytales are if there's nothing but a trail of blood left," he said.

"So that's your plan…same as your old man's. Profiting off of those of us with powers or that are different," Tony snapped.

"Careful how you speak of my father, boy…" Aleister warned.

"A living zoo…that's your plan," Tia said.

"Not at all…more of an inclusive resort and vacation spot. If Snow White and Prince Charming are their hosts and they experience all the wonders of the Enchanted Forest, it will quickly become the vacation destination of the northeast," Lucian boasted.

"We want no part of anything you have planned," David said.

"You say that like you have a choice," Lucian challenged.

"Sorry Lucian…but I'm afraid no one gets to meet Snow White, because she'll be dead," Narcissa interjected, turning all attention to her.

"Like hell she will," David growled, as Malachi's eyes became fixated on Snow.

"Get her out of here…" Merryweather said.

"Call him off now!" Emma demanded.

"Sorry dahling…I made a deal and it means putting Snow White back in a glass coffin," Cruella said.

"You…" Emma growled, as she looked at Narcissa.

"You'd really kill for vanity?" she asked. The other blonde rolled her eyes.

"I tried to poison her when she was a baby…and yes, if it meant being rid of her. She's been the bane of my existence since she was in my sister's womb. But once she's gone, I'll be the fairest again…" Narcissa replied.

"You're insane," David said, as he leveled his sword at Malachi

"Get on with it," Narcissa snapped. Cruella rolled her eyes and blew some of her green magic on him.

"How is she doing that!? There's no magic here!" Emma said.

"The same way I can do this…it's a different kind of ability," Tia replied, as she started pelting him with rocks that she was lifting telepathically.

"Let's see if he can stop a bullet," Emma growled, as she pulled her gun, but he rushed her and grabbed the gun. A bullet went off in the air, as he crushed it in his hand. Emma backed away and David pulled her toward him. He looked up at the moon and his eyes widened.

"I have an idea…" he said.

"I'm all ears," Emma replied, as he growled and charged toward them. Snow yelped in fright, as he seemed entranced by her scent.

"He wants you, Snow White…your scent has hypnotized him. He won't stop until he tastes you," Lucian warned.

"Run," David said, as he pushed them forward and then followed them.

"What's your plan, Dad?" Emma called.

"Library…you'll see," he called back, as he pulled Snow along. They arrived at the library and burst inside.

"If we can lure him down the cavern below…it will cut him off from the moonlight. Then we can fight him and trap him down there," David suggested.

"That's brilliant," Snow said, as she looked at her husband in awe.

"But this place is still a mess since the trigger ripped through it," Emma said, referring to the shambles that was still the library.

"The elevator is destroyed too," Snow realized.

"Then we get creative…he'll follow us," David said, as he grabbed two of the cables from the elevator that still remained.

"They're still intact…we just need to climb down," he said. Emma nodded and grabbed one, while he grabbed the other. He swept Snow into his arms and they began lowering themselves into the cavern, just as they heard Malachi growl from above.

"Where are you!?" he cried.

"Down here dog breath!" Emma called, as he grabbed the cables and started down them, just as they got to the bottom. He jumped down the shaft and growled, as Emma shined her cell phone flashlight in his face. They waited a beat and saw the glassiness in his eyes start to clear.

"Where…where am I?" he asked.

"Cruella was controlling you and there's a full moon. They wanted you to kill my mother," Emma told him. At that, they watched Malachi take a very deep breath and then hold his head.

"Then why did you bring her?! Do you know what it's like to be afflicted with this curse!?" he cried.

"No…and nor do I care. You're the monster that preys on young women and you'd do the same to my wife and daughter if you could. But it's not gonna happen," David said, as he flicked his wrist and brought his sword up in a defensive stance.

"I can easily rip you apart, Charming…and take what I want," he growled.

"You're away from the rays of the moon and Cruella's influence," Emma said.

"I'm still cursed with this affliction and haven't been able to satiate my hunger in a very long time," he said, as he stepped toward them.

"Stay back…" David warned.

"You can't stop me, Charming…it's a blood moon. Even without magic…I need to feast, in both blood and pleasure of the flesh," he growled.

"Emma…run. Get your mother out of here," David said.

"Charming…I'm not leaving you," Snow refuted. But he shook his head and kissed her tenderly, as he held her face in his hands.

"You have to go…" he insisted, as he looked at their daughter.

"This underground cavern probably connects to the mines. If you make it back through the mines, you can get to safety and then hopefully I'll be right behind you," he said. But Emma didn't buy it.

"No…you're doing it again. You're sacrificing yourself for us again," she said.

"Emma…" he protested.

"No…you did this for me when I was a baby and Mom found you in a pool of blood. We're not doing that again," Emma argued.

"She's right…it's my turn. It's me he wants…so it's me he can have," she said, as she looked at him.

"As long as they're not harmed," she said.

"I don't care about them," he replied. She nodded, but David didn't let go of her arm and she turned to him.

"I'm not letting you do this…he's a monster. He's going to violate and kill you," he said in horror. Tears filled her eyes.

"But I'm the reason for all of this…I'm the reason Narcissa spiraled into a sociopath. I'm the reason Regina slaughtered villages," she confessed, as tears slipped down her cheeks.

"You're not responsible for her murdering rampages or Narcissa's twisted vanity!" David insisted. She sniffed again.

"Maybe not…but I had chances to stop Regina and I didn't. The people that died after I stayed her execution…that's blood on my hands," she cried.

"No…you showed mercy and gave her a second chance and we know Gold had a hand in egging her revenge on," Emma replied.

"She's right…listen to our daughter," David implored.

"If he doesn't get me, then he hunts for someone else and I can't let anyone else die, because of me," Snow sobbed.

"Very selfless and noble," Malachi said.

"Shut up," David growled through clenched teeth.

"Mom…this is insane. I just got you both and I'm not losing either of you, especially not like this," Emma protested.

"The clock is ticking, Snow White…I will have what I want. Whether or not I go through your family to get to you is up to you," Malachi said.

~*~

"Maleficent…I need that potion. I need my wand to save Snow," Merryweather pleaded. But she glared at her.

"Do not think my alliance with the Charmings extends to you. You're worked against me time and again with Aurora and Briar Rose," Maleficent hissed.

"The Charmings can't help you find Lily if they're dead! Besides, it would only be me with magic if I ingest only a drop," Merryweather said.

"That's absurd," Rumple hissed.

"If we drop the potion into the well…then magic returns for all and I can save them with a flick of my wrist," he said. Neal sighed.

"I hate it…but it might be our best bet. I can't lose Emma…and I can't let my son lose her and his grandparents," he implored.

"Neal honey…if we return magic to all, then Malachi transforms into his full wolf form under that moon. He could slaughter dozens, even if we have magic to stop him," Merryweather warned.

"Dammit…look, we'll find Lily, but we need a solution to save Emma and her parents now," Neal said.

"Tony and I'll go…our powers aren't reliant on that kind of magic," Tia suggested.

"Pelting him with some rocks isn't going to work," Rumple countered.

"Or you can give that potion to me…and I'll tell you where Lily Paige is," Aliester chimed in and they all looked at him.

"You know where my daughter is?" Maleficent asked. He smirked.

"She works for me and I can bring her here…if I get what I want," he replied.

"Don't make any deals with this snake," Tony growled.

"Pay no attention to the boy…my father was enamored by him and his sister. But what they can do is small compared to you and others in this town. The world truly deserves to see the splendor," he said.

"Yeah…while you charge admission," Neal growled, but he was ignored.

"You can take me to Lily?" Maleficent asked.

"Better…I can ask her to come here," he answered, as she pulled the potion out of her cloak.

"Maleficent…don't," Regina pleaded.

"You would…you'd do anything to save your child!" Maleficent hissed.

"You're right…I'd burn the world to save Henry. But Snow and Charming wouldn't. They always find another way to save everyone. They even gave up their daughter to save everyone from my curse…I'm seeing that now. We can save them and find your daughter," Regina replied.

"Since when do you give a damn about Snow White? And maybe they shouldn't have put this town first. It was noble, but where are all these people they saved? I don't see them. They owe everything to Snow and Charming…yet they are absent when their Saviors are in need," she said.

"Quite ungrateful, if you ask me and certainly not worth the price of their child. I'm putting Lily first," she replied, as she handed the potion to Aleister. He looked at it in wonder.

"Magic in a bottle…" he said with greed in his eyes.

"True love in a bottle…" Rumple corrected.

"That's even better…think of the selling point of that. Lucian…you need to stop Malachi though. I can't sell fairy tale romance when the source ends up dead," Aliester said.

"He didn't listen to me…he's quite mad since he hasn't hunted in years. I'm not sure what I can do," Lucian replied.

"Spoken like a true fraudulent Chief that you are," Billy sneered.

"We must go help them. A few well placed silver tipped arrows may run him off until we can construct something to hold him," Mathias said.

"If they went down below the library…it connects to the mines," Belle said, as she hurried up to them with a book.

"I'm coming with you," Neal said, as he followed the brothers.

"You don't even know how to properly utilize that potion in your hand," Rumple hissed. Aleister smirked.

"I know more than you think, Dark One," he said, as a car pulled up and a man got out. He looked to be Asian and wore traditional Chinese robes.

"I see you finally have it," the man said.

"Who the hell are you?" Regina questioned. He smirked.

"I am simply known as the Dragon here in this land. I was banished from ancient China long ago, by the great Nehza when I tried to usurp his rule. Here in this land, I was rendered nearly powerless in this land, as my wand no longer worked," he said, as they saw the wand in his hand.

"Great…so you're an evil wizard," Regina said.

"Correct and though I've been able to impress the mortals with cheap parlor tricks and basic potions, my real power was lost to me. Until now," he replied.

"You remember our deal," Aleister said.

"Of course…I have no desire for this town and back in my land, a new wand is easily crafted with the abundance of magic there. They won't see my coming and I'll finish what I started," he said, as they watched him use the true love potion and merge it with the wand, which now glowed with magic. A sparkling orange portal opened with a flick of the wizard's wrist and he handed the wand to Aleister Bolt.

"A deal is a deal…good luck," he said, as the Dragon left through the portal and Aleister wielded the wand.

"At last…everything we've waited for," he said.

"If only father were here to see it," Marina mentioned.

"Well…I think I'll be going now," Cruella said, as she tried to sneak away, but Aleister zapped her with magic and she became a vulture, as she flew away. The siblings laughed.

"I was going to say turn her into a snake, but a vulture is just as satisfying," Marina said.

"Now for the real fun," he said, as there was a bright flash before all their eyes. When the light cleared, they were shocked to see that all the damage to the town was repaired, but that wasn't a gesture of goodwill.

"Look…" Belle said, as she pointed in the distance. Where much of the woods surrounding the town used to be, there was now a cluster of giant buildings.

"Excellent…now that's what I call breaking ground," he said, as he observed his new resort.

"He did it…Storybrooke is about to be flooded with normies," Regina said.

"Snow and David are still in danger," Belle replied worriedly.

"You have what you want…now I want my daughter," Maleficent demanded.

"I'll make the call now," Aleister said.

"And what do you plan to do with the rest of us?" Regina questioned.

"Nothing at all," he claimed.

"You'll continue to live your comfortable lives…until it's time for you to entertain the tourists," he said.

"We're not a circus…we're not entertaining anyone," Tony protested.

"Oh…well, then I guess you'll find yourself imprisoned until it's time to perform, because a circus of freaks is exactly what you are. Your behavior will determine your amount of freedom. I do hope you all make the right choice or you might end up locked away in a cage while tourists parade by you, gawking and poking while my wand uses you to entertain them," he threatened.

"Screw this!" Tony hissed.

"Tony no!" Tia cried, as Aleister waved his wand and her brother went rigidly still and Aleister's smile was cruel, as Tony's limbs moved with the wand, before he released him from his brief trance.

"That's just a taste if any of you think of stepping out of line. Now to make a call," he said.

"You've sold us all into servitude," Rumple hissed, but Maleficent clearly didn't regret it.

"I need my daughter…we'll find another way out of this," she insisted.

"You hope or you're going to perform like a dragon shaped puppet for their entertainment," Regina warned.

~*~

"Emma's right…you can't do this," David said, as he held her in his arms.

"If I don't, he'll kill you and Emma and get to me anyway. If I can prevent anyone else from getting hurt because of me…then I have no choice," she replied, as she kissed him passionately.

"I love you…" she cried, as he kissed her again.

"I've loved you since the moment I saw you," he said, as he pressed his forehead against hers.

"And I'll love you until my last," she promised, as she turned to their daughter.

"Mom…" she uttered, as they hugged.

"I'm growing impatient and if you don't want me to rip through your daughter first, you'll come with me now," Malachi demanded. Snow sniffed and was about to leave them to save their lives when the ground beneath them rumbled violently.

"What the hell was that?" Emma wondered, but David saw the opportunity he had been waiting for. Malachi stumbled off balance from the shaking and David charged, kicking him over, before pulling the dagger from his belt. Malachi started to get up with intent to maul him, but David shoved the dagger into the monster's neck. He roared in rage and stumbled after them. David hurried away and grabbed his wife and daughter's hands, as they ran away, further into the cavern, in search of their escape through the mines.

"You're dead…you're all dead!" Malachi screamed, as he stumbled after them, even as blood leaked from his wound…

#Snowing #SnowxCharming #Charming family #Emma Swan #Neal Cassidy #Regina Mills #Henry Mills #Mr. Gold #Belle #romance #adventure #family #Clarity #AU #A 7x15 am AU

[lilacmoon83]

Clarity

Also on Fanfiction.net and A03

Chapter 55: New Alliance

Kurt looked around the lavish mansion, as they entered the atrium. He had never seen it, but his wife had told him about her brother's employer and his lavish estate. And about the man that was her father and later brother's employer. The man that had started all this was Aristotle Bolt. He had come from very old money and an elite bloodline. The Bolt family had always had a fascination with the paranormal and the occult, but Aristotle had taken it to a whole new level. Collecting ancient artifacts was one thing, but this Bolt had taken it to a whole new level. According to his late wife, Aristotle Bolt had tried to collect people he believed had supernatural abilities. And her father, Lucas Dernanian, had eagerly helped him. When she found that out, she cut all ties with him and then with her brother once he had gone to work for the Bolt family.

The large portrait of the man was an unsettling sight upon entering. He had not been a young man by any means, so Kurt assumed he was long gone. However, as two people came down the stairs to meet them, he could only surmise that these were the offspring of this man. He hated that Greg had been sucked into this family cult with his Uncle and he was at a loss as to how he was going to get his son away from all this.

"Welcome back, Mr. Mendell," the woman said.

"Your name isn't Mendell," Kurt whispered.

"I'm afraid it is now, Dad. When I joined the cause, I left my old identity behind for a new one," Greg said.

"The Cause?" Kurt asked.

"So you found your father, after all. It's surprising the Queen you told us about didn't kill him," the man said.

"She just locked him up in a mental ward for thirty years instead," Greg said.

"This is my father Kurt Flynn," he added.

"It's a pleasure. I am Aleister Bolt and this is my sister Marina. We are the heirs to the Bolt family empire," he said in a cultured voice.

"What kind of cult have you sucked my son into?" Kurt asked bluntly.

"Dad…" Greg hissed, but the pair of siblings only chuckled.

"It's okay Greg…many that don't understand our cause call us a cult. But we prefer to operate under an unassumed name of the Home Office," Marina replied. He raised an eyebrow.

"And what exactly does your Home Office do?" Kurt asked.

"We look for supernatural and magical places like the one you were in for thirty years and we look for the people too. We are very much eager to see this place now that it has magically appeared again," Aleister said.

"Yes…and you can tell us all about it at dinner. I'm sure you are all famished," Marina said, as they led them to the dining room. Kurt reluctantly followed.

~*~

Snow and David walked hand in hand back to town, with Regina and Merryweather following them. Once they hit town proper and Main Street, they spotted Chief Firebird and his brother, as well as young Monica and Tigerlily. Monica saw them and ran up to them.

"I was right…you are a princess!" she called. Snow smiled and hugged her.

"You were right," she agreed. David smiled at the little girl, as she took his wife's hand and led her over to her family. She was enamored with Snow and he understood it perfectly. He was and always would be enamored with her too.

"Thank you for meeting us again," Billy Truheart said.

"Of course…I'm guessing that Lucian is causing trouble," David replied.

"Yes…even more so now that we have our memories. He had exiled our families, even though my brother is the true Chief of our tribe," Billy said. Mathias nodded curtly.

"We usually do not seek outside help in matters concerning our tribe, but Billy and Monica seem to trust your wife and by extension, you. From what I have seen, they are right to do so. My daughter Tigerlily says your daughter is the Savior," Mathias replied. They exchanged a glance.

"She is…she broke the curse and we share the same goal. That is ousting Lucian and Narcissa from power. Neither has good intentions for any of us," David said.

"Finally…something we agree on. I'm Mayor and the people would have never voted me out if they had known about Narcissa," Regina said. As she said that, however, a mob of people rounded the corner and started shouting. They were being led by Dr. Whale.

"There she is! The Queen!" they shouted.

"Sure about that?" David asked. Regina was alarmed, as the angry mob seemed to descend upon them.

"Hold it Whale…" David warned, as he stood in their path.

"Are you seriously protecting the Queen!? You should hate her more than us! She's the reason we're all here!" he shouted.

"Believe me…I'm her least biggest fan, but this town still has laws and I will enforce them. We will not descend into lawlessness!" David announced to the mob.

"Then lock her up!" Grumpy said gruffly.

"She will face justice…but I'm afraid Regina is not our biggest problem. Narcissa Blake and Lucian Blackwater are a far bigger threat to all of us," Snow called over the crowd.

"Then what do you plan to do?" Doc questioned.

"We'll explore our legal options, since Narcissa was elected under false pretenses," Emma interjected, as she arrived with Neal, Henry, Gold and Belle.

"Henry…" Regina called, but she didn't receive a warm welcome from her son, who stayed beside Neal and refused to go to her.

"Henry please…" she pleaded, but it fell on deaf ears.

"Legal options!? You're the Sheriff…just arrest her! Arrest them all!" Whale shouted.

"On what grounds, Doctor? Are you an expert on the law? Maybe that would fly back in your land, but it doesn't fly in this one," Emma responded.

"Screw the law…we'll get our justice, even if we have to go through you," he growled. But quick as lightning, David drew his sword and leveled it at the doctor's neck.

"Wrong…you'll have to go through me first to get to her and I've been itching to kick your ass, Whale. Give me a reason," the prince growled.

"You're not my Prince," Whale hissed back.

"But I am Deputy and my daughter is your Sheriff. Back off now or you're the one going to jail," David warned. Whale smirked.

"I'm the only doctor in this stupid town…you can't lock me up. At least, not for long," he goaded.

"That doesn't give you a license to be a belligerent ass or to go around exacting your own brand of justice," Emma warned.

"Emma is right…you're a doctor, but you're acting like a lunatic," Snow said. His gaze darted to her incredulously.

"No…the lunatic came into my hospital and started shooting, while your husband and daughter proceeded to lead him down into the mental ward to retrieve a patient and here they stand, refusing to arrest the woman that put that man down there in the first place!" he shouted and a few in the crowd agreed with him.

"Arresting Regina doesn't help our situation against Narcissa. Believe me when I tell you, Narcissa is worse and I hate them both for trying to hurt Snow. But Narcissa and Lucian are far worse," Merryweather warned.

"Who the hell are you?" Whale questioned.

"She's my fairy Godmother," Snow responded. He rolled his eyes.

"Of course she is…" he deadpanned.

"Look Whale…riling up a mob of people and fighting amongst ourselves is the last thing we should be doing right now. Because I can guarantee that Lucian and Narcissa are working together against all of us," David said.

"So you say…but we both know that you just hate my guts no matter what I do, because I slept with your wife during the curse," he said smugly. David clenched his fist and instinctively, he knew Whale was trying to bait him into attacking. Snow did too and put her hand on his arm.

"Which was a terrible night for me and I would have never consented to it with my memories. It was a night I regret and wish never happened," Snow said.

"It's not your fault…we were both cursed," David replied. But Whale seemed intent on goading them further.

"I don't remember it being regrettable at all for either of us," he boasted to the crowd.

"It was awful and I faked it," Snow said bluntly. Emma nearly choked back her laughter and the others in the crowd snickered in amusement, as Whale and his ego deflated. David didn't hide his smugness, as she slid her arms around him and rested her head against his arm.

"Now that all the hot air has been expelled, we need to get back to discussing the problem of Lucian and Narcissa," Gold interjected, as most of the mob dispersed and Dr. Whale quickly made himself scarce.

"We may be able to help you with that," another voice interjected and Emma recognized them as the siblings they had freed from the basement.

"Hey…it's you. You two ran off before we could ask you any questions," Emma said.

"Sorry about that…we just needed to get our bearings and find some information. We did so and I'm afraid letting Greg Mendell go may have been a mistake," the man said.

"I told you," Regina said, but she was ignored.

"Okay…so who are you?" Snow asked.

"My name is Tia and this is my brother Tony. We're from a realm that is different entirely from this one and the Enchanted Forest," she explained.

"So how did you end up here and locked up in Regina's dungeon?" David asked.

"I've never seen these two in my life!" Regina replied in protest.

"She's right…and that's another long story. Firstly though, we should tell you about what may be coming to Storybrooke," Tony said.

"So Greg isn't going to heed our warning, I take it?" David asked.

"No…he's confident the leaders of his cause and Narcissa can protect him," Tia replied.

"His cause?" Snow asked.

"The cause is what they call it, but it's more like a cult," Tony replied.

"Tamara was in this cult too, wasn't she?" Neal asked. They nodded.

"I'm afraid so. They use the generic name of the Home Office, but they are really followers of the wealthy Bolt family empire," Tia said. Emma's eyes widened.

"The Bolt family?" she exclaimed.

"You know them?" David asked.

"Not personally, but everyone knows about the Bolt family. They're one of the richest families in the world. They own like everything in half the country," Emma replied.

"Try half the world and that includes all of Lucian's Casinos, his reservations out west, and Blake Fashions," Tia replied.

"My Aunt is in league with them?" Snow asked.

"I'm afraid so. They found her after she came to this world. You see, the Bolt family is obsessed with magic and the supernatural. They collect anything and anyone with powers or ties to other worlds," Tony replied.

"But Greg hates magic…why would he work with these people?" Emma asked.

"They found Greg when he was a lost little boy after he was separated from his father," Tia said, looking at Regina, who looked away.

"They brainwash people to their cause and get them to fear what they don't understand. They are led to help the Bolt's find magical things and people so those things and people can be controlled. The Bolt's have no intention of destroying magic. They have every intention of possessing it…and anyone that has it," Tony said gravely. Snow and David recoiled slightly.

"You mean Emma?" Snow asked in surprise.

"If you're asking if they know about her…then yes, they do. They even tried to scoop her up out of the foster system when she was a teenager. Narcissa told them about you," Tia replied.

"Oh my God…" Snow cried, as David pulled her into his arms.

"What did they want her for and how did they fail? They don't seem like they lack resources," David questioned.

"You're right…but they knew Narcissa couldn't be trusted not to hurt Emma based on her hatred of Snow. They knew of her magic and lineage and just kept tabs on her. I think they realized she would eventually lead them to this place," Tia replied.

"But I don't have magic," Emma said.

"Really? So lightbulbs didn't explode around you or electronics didn't go haywire when you were emotional?" Tony asked. Emma was stunned into silence. She had never made that connection.

"You're the product of the truest love in your land…you are magic, Emma," Tia added.

"How do you know so much about magic?" Regina questioned curiously.

"Because we have powers too…but in our land, they don't come from true love and aren't exactly the type of magic you're familiar with," Tony replied.

"Then what exactly are your powers?" Gold asked.

"They work in lands with and without magic. They are learned and all our people are born with telepathy and telekinesis. Tia didn't talk until we were almost nine, because most of our people communicate telepathically," Tony explained. They were amazed when Tia demonstrated by floating a few rocks on the ground into the air.

"And where are the rest of your people?" Belle asked in fascination.

"I'm afraid they are all gone. That's how we ended up in this land in the late 1970's. Our parents put us in a vessel that could cross realms. It was similar to what you might see as a submarine. The waters connect all the realms and if you have the right magic or technology, you can cross them in that vessel," Tony explained.

"It was only big enough for two and we were barely toddlers, thrust into this unfamiliar and at times harsh world," Tia said.

"I was angry at them for a long time, because being in the system sucked. I wished they had just kept us with them, even if it meant dying," he explained.

"But I came to realize that they sent us away to save us; to give us our best chance," he added, looking at Emma, who sucked in a breath at that.

"So…you encountered the Bolt family when you came here?" Neal asked.

"Yes…they got wind of our possible abilities. We were the weird kids in our ground home and probably should have been more careful with our powers. But to us, we didn't see why we had to hide who we were," Tia replied.

"Aristotle Bolt, who is long dead now thankfully, sent his attorney Lucas Deranian and basically adopted us. At first, it wasn't so bad. He took us to the Bolt mansion and all the sudden, we had all this stuff," Tony explained.

"Unfortunately, what we didn't have was freedom and we soon realized that it was our powers we were interested in. We think Bolt wanted to use them for his own gain," Tia continued.

"But if Bolt is dead…who is still running things?" Emma asked.

"That's why we ran off to find information. Thanks to the advance technology has had, it was easy and quick to find on a computer now. Bolt's children are and they've grown his Empire. It seems they are just as bad, if not worse," Tia replied.

"She's right…and Greg Mendell is in this deep. We didn't realize it until now, but he's related to Deranian. His Uncle is the child of Lucas Deranian. He's also a formal federal agent," Tony said.

"Great…the hits keep coming," Emma replied.

"How did you two end up in Storybrooke anyway? I was sure that I knew everyone in my town, at least until all these outsiders came," Regina said.

"We were on the run from the Bolts. Our only chance was a portal to somewhere else and fortunately, there's an old mountain where we came through that is a portal to other words, if you have the powers to find it," Tia said.

"It's in the Blue Ridge Mountains somewhere in Pennsylvania and it's been dubbed Witch Mountain, because the legends around it are that people go missing there," Tony added.

"But they're not going missing…they're just falling through portals," Belle surmised. He nodded.

"We found it and escaped to the Enchanted Forest. We assume Bolt and Deranian gave up when they couldn't find the portal. But it looks like they passed their obsession onto their kids," Tia replied.

"So you got caught up in the curse?" Snow asked. They nodded.

"We don't know why we got locked up as a curse. It's possible the spell didn't know what to do with anomalies so it automatically locked us away," Tony reasoned.

"Then we can be reasonably certain Greg is going to return with his leaders and if they're connected to Lucian and Narcissa, then we all must work together to defeat all of them," David said.

"Lucian wasted no time in banishing us and he plans to break ground on his Casino complex as soon as possible. If one pops up, Storybrooke will become a tourist trap in no time," Billy said.

"And that would risk people finding out our secrets," Gold added.

"If Bolt is pouring the money in…it might be too late to stop it," Tia said.

"We have to try. In the meantime, we'll take all of you to Granny's. She'll give you rooms for free if we ask," David replied.

"Thank you," Mathias said gratefully.

"Looks like our friend is back," Emma mentioned, as Maleficent flew overhead.

"If we can get that potion, I can end all of this," Gold said, as she landed and transformed into her human form.

"So you figured out how to change in this land, dearie," Gold said.

"I have and no…you can't have the potion," she replied. He clenched his teeth.

"We need it…the survival of the town could depend on it," he hissed.

"And I know you and her," Maleficent said, as her eyes flicked to Regina.

"Neither of you have learned anything and bringing magic here will only make things worse, trust me," Maleficent.

"Then why are you here?" Regina asked.

"I'm looking for them," she said, as she looked at Snow, Charming, and Emma.

"I need their help to find someone," Maleficent answered.

"Who?" Emma asked.

"My daughter," Maleficent answered.

#Snowing #SnowxCharming #Charming Family #Emma Swan #Regina Mills #Henry Mills #Neal Cassidy #Mr. Gold #Belle French #romance #adventure #family #AU #Clarity #A 7x15 am AU

[lilacmoon83]

Clarity

Also on Fanfiction.net and A03

Chapter 54: Broken, Pt 2

Merryweather watched the young woman, who she had watched over from afar, with a bit of concern. Her sisters had gone to check on the situation at the Convent. She should have gone with them, as she knew that Blue would be quick to campaign to maintain her stronghold on power, but her sisters insisted that she stay with Snow while the Prince dealt with things at the hospital. She easily agreed. With the curse broken, there was no telling what moves Narcissa would make now. But Snow seemed a little down.

"Honey…what's going on? I thought you'd be happy that the curse is broken finally," she mentioned.

"Oh…I am, really. I guess…it's stupid," Snow lamented.

"Your feelings are never stupid," Merryweather said. She smiled.

"That's what Charming always tells me," she said. Merryweather smiled.

"Well, that makes him handsome and right, then," she teased.

"It's just hard to forget how we were treated after we woke up and David divorced Kathryn. They weren't even really married…that's just curse stuff. And I don't want to be…but I guess I'm a little bitter," Snow said and then sighed.

"Which is wrong…" she added.

"It's not wrong, honey. You gave up everything and I mean everything for the people of this town and so far, the only apologies you've received have been from Granny. Red believed in you all along, thankfully," Merryweather said.

"So…you don't think I'm a terrible person for having bitter feelings?" Snow asked.

"Of course not…you're the best person I've ever known and I'm very old, honey. I don't look it, but I assure you I am," Merryweather replied, as they shared a hug, just as David came in the door.

"Is everything okay at the hospital?" she asked, as he hugged her.

"Yes…turns out that Greg or Owen's father was alive. We freed him and some other people she had locked down there," he replied.

"In exchange, Emma promised to let him go if he and his father left town for good and if he told us where Regina was. He agreed and said she's at the Cannery. I just came by to get you if you're up for it," he said. She nodded.

"Mind if I tag along?" Merryweather asked.

"Of course not," he replied, as he surprised Snow then by kissing her, which made her practically melt in his arms.

"Not that I'm complaining…but what was that for?" she asked. He smiled.

"Just sensed that you needed it," he replied, as he took her by the hand and led her out. Merryweather smiled and shook her head at the dreamy and dazed look on Snow's face.

~*~

It was only a couple of hours to Portland and the agreed meeting place once he had gotten ahold of his Uncle. He knew his father was a bit uneasy about this and wanted to let it go. But Greg couldn't. They deserved revenge and he was convinced that his Uncle might be able to help.

He was former law enforcement, but had left that a long time ago to work as private security for a very wealthy philanthropist whose family had long been obsessed with the paranormal and the occult. Years ago, when he had told his Uncle about his encounter in Storybrooke, he was very interested in finding this place for his employer. But despite leading them to the spot, he could never find the town again, until just very recently.

"Son…getting your Uncle involved in this may not be the best idea," Kurt warned. He knew who his late wife's brother worked for and the multi-millionaire was not above doing shady things to get whatever he decided that he wanted.

"No…it's exactly what we need to do," Greg disagreed. His Uncle's father was an attorney and had also worked for this same family during the time that Kurt went missing. At the time, his Uncle was in law enforcement and became employed by this family shortly after Kurt's disappearance. At the same time, his Uncle's original employer, who had been very intrigued by his tale of Storybrooke, was gone too and his business was now taken over in equal ownership by his children. But they shared the same intrigue when it came to the supernatural.

Greg parked next to a black Sedan and a man in a suit exited the vehicle. Kurt recognized him as his brother-in-law, who seemed to be doing very well these days. If he didn't know better, he would say Edward Deranian looked every bit the part of his late father, high powered attorney to a multi-million dollar familial empire, Lucas Deranian. But he knew his brother-in-law's skills in the law provided the Bolt family with the expertise of a former federal agent practically turned bodyguard, mercenary, or whatever other task they needed carried out that would expand their wealth and Empire.

"So it's true…" Edward uttered in disbelief, as he stared at Kurt.

"It is…I found it again, finally, after all these years and made them tell me where he was," Greg said, as Eddie smiled at his nephew with pride. Kurt immediately didn't like it, for it seemed that it was his late wife's brother that had been molding his son into this man he barely recognized over the years.

"And the town…it's still there?" Eddie asked. Greg nodded.

"I have the whole story this time. What is there…and who is there. They made me promise to leave with my father and never return or they would arrest me. But their threats won't hold if we return with the right resources," Greg said.

"Son…we shouldn't go back there. We have a new lease on life now," Kurt interjected.

"They locked you away for thirty years…and you don't want to seek revenge?" Eddie asked. Kurt sighed.

"No…and those that finally freed me are victims of the same woman that locked me away in the first place," he said.

"Father…" Greg interrupted.

"No son…punishing an entire population for the actions of one is wrong," Kurt said sternly.

"Easy Kurt…we have no intention of harming anyone. We would only go to observe and interact. But first, you should tell me and my employers everything. I'll call ahead and there will be a hot meal waiting for us as well," he said, as he ushered them toward the large sedan, which had a driver.

"Owen…let's just go home," Kurt pleaded.

"I had no home when you disappeared, Dad. Uncle made sure I was taken care of and told me we would find out what happened to you. He clothed me, saw to it that I had a place to live, and an education. His employers specialize in things we don't understand in this world and I am Greg now," he said. Kurt was horrified, but was silent. He knew how dangerous Eddie could be and how ruthless his employers were. It was why his late wife had broken away from her brother and had little to do with him. When he had told Owen to run and find his Uncle when they faced separation, he had been talking about his own brother. But instead, his son had run straight to his wife's brother and been sucked into his supernatural and occult obsessed cult.

If he kept quiet for now and went along, there was still a chance he could get through to his son. If he didn't, then his fate would be more bleak than being locked up in a cell.

"Dad…are you coming?" Greg asked. Kurt deflated and then nodded.

"Of course, son," he answered, as he cast a wary gaze at Eddie, before getting into the sedan. Once they were all inside, it drove away.

~*~

"How do you even know how to use one of these things?" the man asked his sister, as she sat at a screen with a keyboard.

"We may have been locked up since the 80's, but I still know what a computer is and judging by how slow this thing is, it's probably from the 80's, just with a better monitor," she commented. He scoffed. Her brother was all action and never had much time for her softer, quieter approach.

"He's dead…" she mentioned. That peaked his interest.

"Bolt is dead?" he asked, with hope in his voice. She nodded.

"Deranian too…but it looks like what they started is bigger than ever," she said gravely, as she scanned articles about the Bolt family and their Empire. Most articles mentioned their fascination with the occult and supernatural things. Then there were articles that outright called them a cult, but those were seen as conspiratorial. After all, how could such an affluent family, which donated billions to charities and had their hands in almost everything, be a bad thing?

"So his kids are running things now…when did he have kids?" the young man asked.

"We weren't there long enough to know much about him, Tony. Plus, that was more than thirty years ago," she reminded him.

"I guess…so what now, Tia?" he asked.

"That man who the Savior and her father apprehended is connected to Deranian. If they let him go…it was a mistake," she replied.

"Then we better tell them everything," he said, as she got up from the computer and they made their way out.

~*~

The white sedan pulled up and Narcissa got out of it, before telling her driver to wait. She approached Lucian, who was standing in front of a blank field, just beyond the reservation. It used to be farmland, but the workers he had hired had cleared it all away, preparing it for the construction workers that would soon break ground.

"I see you're wasting no time at all," she mentioned. He smirked.

"The tribe is mine again and my brothers are running to your niece for help," he said. Narcissa scoffed.

"That's a fool's errand, because I plan to crush her to dust beneath my stiletto," she mentioned.

"Perhaps, but do not underestimate the heroes. She is formidable and draws people to her like moths to a flame. Her husband and her daughter are warriors as well, but the challenge will be exhilarating," he said.

"If you say so," she said flippantly.

"Did you persuade your business associates to invest in our little gem of a town?" he asked. She smirked.

"Oh, there won't be much persuasion needed. Mr. Mendell is telling them everything about Storybrooke as we speak. They will be very interested in visiting and annexing us into their Empire. Your Casino will be built and running before you know it. Not to mention, all the other plans for this place," she said.

"Once the world finds out about this fairy tale paradise, it will become the number one attraction in the country. Maybe the world," she added.

"They will fight us," Lucian warned.

"Like you said, that just makes it more fun," she said, as she turned to leave.

"Care to join me back at your bar? I could go for your finest bottle of champagne," she replied.

"I just imported some. Shall we?" he asked, as he followed her to her car and they left for town.

~*~

Maleficent, now in her human form, stood on a cliff overlooking Storybrooke. In her hand, she held the golden egg that Prince Charming had once placed between her dragon gills to hold. At Rumpelstiltskin's instruction, of course. There was magic inside it…she could feel it. It was also probably why she was able to transform, once she had finally gained the presence of mind to will it so. She knew he had once said he was going to make a true love potion and it made sense that he had done so by using hairs from Snow White and Prince Charming.

"Give the potion to me and I can give you what you want," a voice said. Maleficent glared at the fur clad woman, as she turned around.

"You are the reason I lost my egg in the first place," she said, glaring at her. Cruella smirked.

"Oh dahling, I was hoping Snow and her delicious Charming would unknowingly do it for me, but even putting fear in them about their own child's destiny wasn't enough to get them to commit an atrocity. They failed, but mummy made sure your little dragon escaped to the Land Without Magic with me," she said.

"All for a potion?" Maleficent asked tearfully.

"I need my powers back…I need to kill. You have no idea the humiliation I've been through. Few have interest in my brilliant designs. Not many want to wear fur. Fortunately, I married into money. He was dripping with wealth and even more of a detestable human being than me," she replied.

"That's hard to believe," Maleficent commented sourly. Cruella smirked.

"Yes…and now that he's gone, I'm a very rich woman, though I'm still fighting his brats for my piece of the business. But that potion…is my way to supreme rule," she said.

"You're truly insane if you believe I'll give this to you," Maleficent hissed. Cruella smirked.

"I know where your daughter is…you'll give it to me and once I consume it, I will be the one and only with magic," she replied.

"No…I'll find help from someone else to find her. They'll help me and they won't ask for anything in return," Maleficent said. Cruella burst out laughing.

"You mean the Charmings?" she asked.

"Yes…they're heroes and finding people is what they do. They'll find my Lily and we'll make sure you never have your powers returned to you," she replied, as she turned back into her dragon form, consuming the egg to keep it safe again, and flying off. Cruella smirked smugly.

"We'll see, dahling," she said.

~*~

Snow and Charming hurried into the cannery, hand in hand, with Merryweather following. They were about to make their way up to the rafters to find Regina when Max Waters, better known as Knight Rivers, who ran the cannery these days, got in their way.

"What the hell do you think you two are doing?" he asked. David's jaw clenched, as did his fist.

"We're here looking for Regina. We have information that she was brought here against her will. Now move," David replied.

"Who's going to make me? You, Prince Charming?" he questioned in a sing-song voice, getting the laughs he desired from his buddies.

"Don't you work for Regina? She's in danger," Snow said.

"Not anymore, Princess…I'm employed by Lucian Blackwater these days," he answered.

"Figures…scum always finds scum," David said. He expected Rivers to throw a punch after that and was ready, as he caught the Knight's fist and easily twisted his arm, getting him in a headlock. He had his arm in a primed position so that with one twist, he could break it. Not that he would, but the other man was completely stunned and immobilized, not to mention embarrassed in front of his friends now.

"Dang…you went soft during your curse days. Been bending your arm with beers instead of weights these days, huh?" David joked.

"Screw you…" Rivers growled.

"No thanks…you're not my type and you're going to jail for attempting to assault an officer," David said, as he cuffed him to a pole.

"Anyone else want to go to jail today?" he asked. None of the others said a word and avoided the Prince's gaze. Snow hooked her hand on his elbow, as they continued on upstairs.

"Do you have any idea how much I want to be alone with you right now?" she whispered. He smirked.

"Feeling is mutual…you're my one and only type, after all," he whispered back.

"Oh, I'm going to rip all your clothes off when we get home," she promised. He chuckled.

"I'll hold you to that," he said.

"I can hear you both," Merryweather commented and then laughed, as Snow's face went red.

"Oops…" she said.

"Well…at least Emma didn't hear us. She'd be trying to put her head in the oven if she did," he reasoned, as they finally got upstairs and saw the room where Regina was lying. They rushed in and started undoing the restraints.

"Are you okay?" Snow asked.

"I'm fine…where is he?" she asked.

"Gone…we helped him find his father and made them leave. No jail if they promised never to return," David replied.

"You idiots let them go!?" she cried.

"Oh I'm sorry…would you rather us have just forgotten about you and let you starve to death on this table?" David retorted.

"He's right…they made a deal so he would tell us where you were. You owe them your life…again," Merryweather snapped and she glared at the Queen.

"Oh look…another cheerleader in Snow White's corner. That's new," Regina said sarcastically.

"You are unbelievable!" David raged.

"No one in this entire town would have lifted a finger to save you, but we did, because it was the right thing to do," he added.

"Congratulations…you're a hero," she replied sarcastically.

"Oh I'm about to be when I lock you up in a jail cell and the whole town cheers," he retorted.

"David…stop," Snow pleaded and he pulled back for her sake. Regina smirked.

"Nice to know you're still on a short leash, Charming," she commented.

"You stop too!" Snow snapped, surprising her step-mother.

"He is not on a leash. He loves and supports me, not that you would know what that looks like," she added, making Regina feel a bit sheepish.

"You should be in prison for all the things you've done to everyone in this town, but we're letting you go home to Henry, so once in your life, just be grateful and hope the rest of the town doesn't come after you with pitchforks!" Snow said, silencing her, just as a bluebird flew in a window and landed on her shoulder. David recognized that look and waited, as she listened.

"What is it?" he asked, once the bird flew away.

"It's from Chief Firebird and his brother. They said they need to meet urgently with us," she said. He took her hand.

"Let's go," he said, as Merryweather and Regina followed them.

#Snowing #SnowxCharming #Charming family #Emma Swan #Henry Mills #Regina Mills #Mr. Gold #Belle French #Neal Cassidy #AU #romance #family #adventure #Clarity #A 7x15 am AU