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delightfully-difficult-pirate · 4 years

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Freaky Friday the 14th (CSRR) (2/3)

AN: I intended to post the finale of this fic today, but I haven’t had the time to finish editing it all. So instead of not posting, I’m posting what I have as part 2 and next week I’ll get the rest of it posted as part 3. Sorry! Another thanks to @mariakov81 for her wonderful art that served as inspiration and has tested my writing abilities. And of course to @csrolereversal for organizing this event.

Rating: PG-13

Part 1 (art)

AO3: Ch1 Ch2

~*~

*BEEP*BEEP*BEEP*

Emma hated Killian’s alarm clock. It was an actual, physical alarm clock, and an ancient one at that. Well, ancient may be too strong of a word, but it was old. So old that she couldn’t plug her phone into it so that it played something other than the annoying buzzer as the alarm.

Buried beneath the covers, Emma reached out one arm and clumsily slapped the alarm clock until the sound ceased. She slowly lifted her arm and squinted at the clock.

7:15am.

So absorbed as she was trying to figure out why Killian had set the alarm for so early on a weekend, it took her a couple of moments until she realized that the arm holding the blankets up was not her own.

Except it was.

It was the arm that moved when she instinctively jerked it back in shock.

Freaked out, Emma tried to unbury herself from the bedcovers, but only tangled herself further. She continued to fight against them until she tumbled off the bed and onto the floor. Finally, she fought free, but when she tried to stand, she found it difficult. Her body felt disjoined and heavy and her head was pounding. Confused, she looked down at herself.

Emma was greeted with the sight of a bare, hairy chest that she was intimately acquainted with. Killian’s chest. She pulled on the waistband of the grey lounge pants. Definitely Killian’s penis.

“What the fuck?”

Killian’s sleep rough voice came from her… his… mouth.

How was this possible?

This had to be some freaky, weird dream.

People couldn’t just… switch bodies.

So what happened?

~*~

Killian woke slowly, confused. He could have sworn that he’d remembered to set his alarm the night before, but the light filtering through the closed blinds told him it was later than he normally woke up. His confusion deepened as he realized that he was in Emma’s apartment. He’d gone home last night, after the disastrous dinner. How had he ended up at Emma’s apartment, in Emma’s bed?

And why was everything blurry?

Killian roughly rubbed a hand across his face to help wake himself up and was shocked to not feel his signature scruff against his palm. Had he decided to shave last night, for some odd reason? He’d had a few more drinks after getting home and had defiantly been drunk by the time he’d gone to bed, but surely it hadn’t been enough for him to not remember shaving? And apparently make his way to his girlfriend’s apartment? It had been a long time since he’d been blackout drunk, but that would also explain why he still couldn’t see properly.

“Bloody hell,” he murmured in a voice not his own.

That woke Killian up and he shot straight up. He quickly scrambled out of bed and promptly fell flat onto the floor, his limbs not obeying. He heaved himself back up and stumbled his way toward the bathroom.

He was… Emma.

And he looked exhausted.

The underside of his… her… eyes were puffy, as if he’d… she’d… been crying.

The realization that Emma must have cried sometime after returning home from dinner was like a knife in his heart. That was his fault. Him and his stupid, ill-timed proposition.

Killian dropped his head forward.

“What have I done?”

Before he could spiral too far down that depressing line of thought, he heard Emma’s phone start to ring. He clumsily left the bathroom and spotted Emma’s cellphone on the bedside table, which showed a picture of himself relaxing on Emma’s bed and his name on the screen.

If he was in Emma’s body… she must be in his!

Killian scrambled across the bed and swiped across the screen to answer the call.

“Emma? Are you alright?” He inquired frantically.

The line was silent for a moment before he heard his own voice answer in reply.

“Killian, are you… me?”

He answered in the affirmative before repeating his question about how she was.

“I’m confused as fuck. What is going on?” She asked.

“I don’t know, Emma. But we are going to figure it out,” he told her, “I promise you, we will get this sorted.”

Emma’s voice quaked when she asked, “How?”

“I’m not sure yet,” he answered honestly. “Stay put. I’m going to head over there and we can figure this out, together.”

He could hear Emma breathing heavily on the other end of the call. Eventually, she replied, “Okay. That sounds good. I’ll get the coffee started. I feel like we’re going to need lot of it.”

~*~

Four hours later, Emma and Killian were in his living room doing research on how they could have swapped bodies. Killian was on the floor, surrounded by piles of books on mythology and legends. Most were from his own shelves, history nerd that he was, but some he had grabbed from the library on his way over.

It was weird, seeing herself from the outside, especially looking so academic. He was wearing her glasses, unwilling to risk any damage to her eyes by trying to put contact lenses in he’d said. They kept slipping down his nose due to a broken nose pad, which reminded her that she needed to get a new pair.

While Killian was in his element with the books, she was using her rusty internet sleuthing skills and was hunting down information online using keywords and search terms Killian suggested. Something that was frustratingly difficult with only one hand. Did they not make laptops or keyboards that were easier for one-handed individuals to use?

When another term brought her to a page about yet another mythological trickster, she asked, “Does every mythology have some sort of trickster god?”

Killian looked up from the book he was skimming, face thoughtful. “I believe so. Some even have multiple, in a way, with many entities representing different mischievous attributes. Pan would probably be the trickster of Greek mythology, but there is also Eris, the Goddess of discord. And Dionysis could be considered a bit of a trickster, being the deity of madness.”

Emma couldn’t help but smile at Killian’s thorough answer. Even though mythology wasn’t his area of study, he was a historian and always tried to give the most complete answer possible.

After answering, Killian looked contemplative. “Do you think we have been cursed by some sort of trickster?” He asked slowly.

Emma’s eyebrows shot up. “Do you?”

Killian scratched behind his ear, clearly embarrassed, but all Emma could concentrate on was how surreal it was to see her own body display Killian’s tick.

“We are obviously looking at some type of supernatural cause, as impossible as that seems, so it’s as good as an answer as any,” he eventually admitted.

Just as Emma was about to answer, her phone buzzed. It was her calendar app reminding her that she and Killian were supposed to meet Mary-Margaret and David for dinner and drinks that evening. She showed the notification to Killian, who blinked owlishly at it.

“We have to reschedule,” he simply stated.

Emma was shaking her head before he even finished. “Both of us can’t cancel.

They’ll know something is up and we’ll never hear the end of it until we tell them.”

“We could claim one of us isn’t feeling well,” he suggested hopefully.

“And Mary-Margaret will be over with soup within the hour,” she countered. After a moment, she continued, “Research is more you’re area, so I’ll go and make-up something to explain your absence.”

“Such as?”

She shrugged, her eyes on the website in front of her. “Maybe that we fought last night and you… well, me, technically… are not currently in the mood to see me, or rather you. The best lies are those with some basis in the truth, after all.”

The room was silent in the wake of her suggestion. Emma looked up from her computer to find Killian staring at her.

“Is that how this day would have gone, if we weren’t in this… unusual situation?” He asked, his voice soft.

Uncomfortable being under her own gaze, Emma shifted on the couch. “Possibly,” she admitted. “I probably would have called Mary-Margaret at some point. Asked for her advice on the situation.”

Killian continued to study her.

“And you?” She eventually asked. “I already know that you came home and drank half the bottle of rum David gave you for Christmas, so would you have just spent the day nursing the hangover?”

The hangover that she was still coping with, even after a substantial amount of water and numerous cups of coffee.

“Ah… yes. Sorry about that,” he apologized. “I was planning to invite you to Granny’s for breakfast, actually.”

“Really?”

Killian nodded solemnly. “I guess it would have been a fool’s hope that you would have been willing to meet after last night.”

Emma’s heart clenched painfully.

“Killian, I…” she started but her phone rang just as she did.

She was about to answer it before she remembered that she currently wasn’t herself and neither of them were in the habit of answering the other’s phones. She passed it to Killian, who grabbed it as if it were a snake about to bite him.

“Just… act like me?” She suggested hopefully.

Killian rolled his eyes before answering the call and putting it on speaker phone.

“Emma!” Mary-Margaret’s excited voice filled the room. “How are you this morning?”

“I’m fine, M. You?”

“I’m having a lovely day. Are you and Killian still meeting David and me tonight?”

“That was the plan.” Killian did a rather good job imitating her more succinct pattern of speech, Emma noted. Much better than she was at his.

“Excellent. Would 5:30pm work for the two of you?”

Killian looked at her for guidance. Emma signaled for him to answer, hoping he could come up with some reasonable explanation for his… her… absence.

“Actually, I’m feeling a bit tired today. I was thinking…” He started before being interrupted by their friend.

“Are you sick? Do you need me to bring you anything? I have some chicken noodle soup I made on Saturday.” Mary-Margaret was true to form, immediately offering all the comforts she could provide to a sick friend.

Killian looked startled and he struggled to interrupt Mary-Margaret. “No, I’m not sick,” he insisted. “I just didn’t sleep well, that is all.”

“Are you sure? It will only take thirty minutes or so for me to warm up some of the soup and bring it over,” Mary-Margaret insisted.

Killian stumbled over his words as he replied, “No, I really am fine, truly. 5:30pm works great. We’ll meet you at Granny’s.”

“Ok, great! See you both then!” After that, the call disconnected but Killian continued to stare at the phone.

“That didn’t go like I had hoped,” he eventually said.

Emma tried to remember if Killian had ever had the full force of Mary-Margaret’s protective nature turned on him before. She didn’t think so.

“Don’t worry about it. If we can’t find a solution to our… problem before dinner, we can just get them drunk enough that they won’t notice if anything is different about us.”

Killian looked dubious at her suggestion, but he couldn’t offer any other alternative plan. Now with a time limit, they both dove back into their research.

~*~

See you next week!

#Captain Swan AU #Captain Swan role reversal #CSRR #FFt14 #Lee writes

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lilacmoon83 · 4 years

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Finding You Always

Also on Fanfiction.net or A03

Chapter 208: Battle Cry, Pt 1

Winter stepped away from the common room, where many of them were glued to the screen, taking in the events that were happening in Boston.

"My darling Winter…" Charming called, as he took her in his arms.

"They're coming home...Bobby and Summer will be home soon," she said, though she still looked a bit sad.

"And right into danger," he said.

"There is that...but you know what it also means. Rumpelstiltskin's vision was clear. We are not there. We will have to be rejoined with Snow and David," she replied. He sighed.

"I know...but we must do this for our children," he said sadly. She nodded.

"I know...and we'll still be us, just the smaller voice again," she replied.

"Perhaps our lighter halves have learned not to push us away so much…" he suggested.

"Perhaps...and we are them, even if my lighter half is far too forgiving," Winter said, with slight annoyance.

"But I know you, my darling...you will give up revenge to have Summer and Bobby back. I shall too," he said. She nodded with a smile, as they shared a passionate kiss. Their lips parted though when they felt a whoosh of air. They opened their eyes and found themselves in the meadow beneath the tree they had created from their true love that once was merely a sapling.

"Why are we here?" Winter asked.

"You have accepted that you must rejoin your lighter halves; that the truest loves cannot be separated any longer," Bobby said.

"Bobby!" Winter cried, as she enveloped their son in her arms and kissed his cheek.

"I'm okay, Mom," he promised.

"How are you here?" Charming asked, as he hugged him too. He shrugged.

"I don't know...I just got done talking to Apollo and Artemis. They helped me awaken all the elements in me and I need to help you awaken yours so that it's done when you rejoin with your lighter halves," he said.

"But sweetie...we don't wield any elements," Snow replied. He smiled.

"Yes you do…" he replied, as they looked at him with questions in their eyes.

"True love...that's your element," he clarified.

"But...we've had true love's kiss before. It breaks curses, but won't do much to fight Seth," Charming said.

"But it will this time...once you're reunited with the lighter halves of mom and dad. Because this is the curse to end all curses. Trust me...you'll know when the time comes exactly what needs to be done. Mom and Dad are about to kiss me awake in Boston, but as long as there is separation between all of you, the curse isn't fully broken yet," Bobby replied, as he turned to leave.

"The curse to end all curses..." Charming muttered. Bobby nodded.

"Like I said, you'll know what it means and how to achieve that when the time comes," he said.

"We love you so much…" Winter gushed, as they hugged him again, with Charming cradling his head.

"I love you guys too and we're about to all be together again," he promised, as they faded from that place and returned to the physical plane. Their eyes locked and they shared another hug. The time for the epic battle between Seth was very near and once again, it would all come down to their family...and their love.

~*~

After a quick discussion, David thanked Patricia for the offer of a private jet to get them back to Maine, but they quickly determined that such wouldn't be feasible. There was no place to land a plane in the woods around the United Realms and a water landing would be difficult as well. Fortunately, the Jolly Roger would be just as fast as a plane and give them a Harbor entrance into the United Realms.

Unfortunately, it didn't allow them the anonymity that a private military airfield would have and they were stunned to see that reporters, news vans, and even civilians had gathered at the Harbor when they arrived.

"How the hell did they find out where we were going?" Patricia grumbled and then eyed Nora.

"I didn't tell you where we were going," she said in an accusatory tone.

"No...but I tweeted my direction and posted the video of that little freak making earthquakes. The Internet did the rest and this is the only Harbor in the direction I tweeted. They deduced the rest," Nora replied, as people tried to move in on them, like a mob, volleying intrusive questions and embarrassing claims. Fortunately, Patricia's officers kept them at a safe distance.

"My son is not a freak! How dare you?!" Snow cried, as she grabbed the other woman's phone and tossed it to the ground, before stomping on it. This, of course, gave the onlookers the spectacle they were looking for, but Snow didn't care.

"You really are a crazy bitch! No wonder you were in a mental hospital!" Nora growled, as she picked up her broken device.

"My wife is not crazy...our son was just taken from us. But I shouldn't be surprised...another heartless reporter!" David spat, as he held a nearly inconsolable Snow in his arms.

"Nora...what the hell?!" JJ exclaimed, as he pulled his cousin away. The people and reporters were looked on, snapping photos and recording the entire thing, ensuring that their situation was blowing up all over the world in a way they could have never imagined.

"Relax JJ...this thing is already out there. I'm just one person that's on the front lines to report it all," Nora replied.

"Too bad this is where we part ways then, Ms…" Patricia said, prompting her for her name.

"Bradley. Nora Bradley...what do you mean?" she questioned.

"Did you really think we're going to take you with us?" she asked, as they approached the gangplank of the Jolly Roger.

"Wait...you're letting my cousin go, but leaving me behind?" she asked, as she looked at him.

"JJ!" she exclaimed.

"You did this to yourself, Nora," he replied.

"So that's it? Wow...sweet cheeks really got under your skin fast! You're abandoning your own family for her!" she accused.

"This is bigger than us, Nora! You may want to report on it, but I just want to help," he claimed. She snorted derisively.

"Right...and this has nothing to do with her," she accused, as she glared at Summer.

"Do you even care at all right now that my brother is in mortal danger?" Summer asked.

"Of course I care...I'm trying to tell the story!" she responded and JJ rolled his eyes.

"Sorry...she's actually a nice person when she's not being a reporter, but all this has brought out the worst in her," JJ told her and she nodded in understanding, as they walked up the gangplank with her parents.

"You have a choice, Ms. Bradley," Patricia said.

"And what choice is that?" Nora asked.

"You report the facts and not your spin, like the garbage I'm reading that you already put out there," Patricia replied.

"And if I don't want to do it your way?" Nora asked. Patricia smirked.

"Federal prison," she replied. Nora frowned and then plastered a fake smile on her face.

"Then I guess I'll be doing things your way, but since that crazy bitch…" she started to say, but Patricia gave her a warning look.

"Since the Princess broke my phone, I have no way to do my work," she said, with very fake sweetness.

"I'll provide you with all you need, but piss me off and you'll end up in a very bad place," the Major promised. Nora was fuming and practically boiling in her skin. She'd play by the Major's rules for now, but the first chance she got...she'd make her regret her threats.

They boarded the Jolly Roger and Killian took to the wheel. Nora looked around with scrutiny.

"There's no motor...it will take forever to get anywhere on this boat," Nora complained.

"Ship...she's a ship and deserves your respect," Killian snapped, as he removed his fake hand.

"What the hell…" she uttered and watched in horror, as he replaced it with his hook.

"Welcome aboard the Jolly Roger," he said.

"He's...he's Captain Hook?" JJ asked in disbelief.

"He is...but he's not bad and he's my oldest sister's husband," Summer told him. Killian brought them out into the open water and saw a Coastguard ship closing in on them.

"Dammit...I tried calling them off, but there is some in fighting and they want custody of this ship pretty badly," the Major said.

"Not to worry...a little help, mate?" he called to David. He nodded and left Snow's side momentarily to climb the mast to let the sails out. Killian spun the wheel and they quickly pulled away from the coastguard.

"How are we outrunning a Coastguard class A vessel?" JJ asked. Summer winced and looked at him.

"Magic?" she offered and he shook his head.

"Of course," he replied. David climbed back down from the mast and took Snow in his arms again. She slipped her arms around his neck and sniffed, as she rested her head against his chest.

"We'll find him, Snow…" he promised in a whisper, before pressing a kiss to her hair.

"But he's going to hurt our baby before we do," she choked out.

"Hey...Bobby is strong, my love. He'll hold his own until we get there," he assured, as he pressed his forehead against hers.

"I want him to pay…" she admitted.

"He will," he assured.

"No mercy this time...not for him," she said.

"No...he's pure evil and we won't hesitate. He won't stand a chance against this family," he replied.

"What about our darker counterparts?" she asked.

"We'll convince them that the only way to save our children is to become whole again. They may not have believed that two years ago...but something tells me that they do now," he replied. She believed that too and let his love slowly ebb away what might have been a full blow panic attack. But she wasn't going to give into that this time. She was too focused on saving their children and their people. Nothing would stand in their way of seeing to Seth's demise this time.

~*~

Mephisto dropped Bobby unceremoniously at the feet of his Lord and Master and the boy looked up at the God.

"Welcome young one…" he said, in a pleased tone, as Mephisto's three charges flanked him and he looked around.

"Hmm...Mount Olympus used to be nice. It figures you'd turn it into a dark crap hole," Bobby commented.

"You will not speak to Lord Seth in such a manner, you snot nosed brat!" Mephisto hissed, as he moved in to physically reprimand the boy, but his hand stilled when Bobby looked at him. His eyes glowed with a myriad of rainbow colors and Seth looked intrigued by that.

"The elements are alive in you…" he realized, as he walked closer.

"A great battle is coming between us, young one. One that you and your family will not survive," he warned.

"Funny...because I'm pretty sure you don't stand a chance against us," Bobby retorted. Seth smirked.

"Oh, but it will not be just us fighting…" he said, as he motioned a transparent screen in front of them.

"The Land outside the United Realms. This Land Without Magic is quite intriguing. It boasts that its people are evolved and adhere to laws, yet they quarrel with each other over religion and politics. They let their murderers and rapists walk free. Yet they believe myths and magic are silly. They need order," he said.

"Yes, my Lord...they need you to make them conform to a just rule. They need a true God!" Mephisto agreed.

"And now it seems, due to your own carelessness with your magic and the idiot Dr. Jekyll's obsession with your fair mother...that they are about to know all about us," Seth stated.

"What is thy bidding, My Lord?" Mephisto questioned.

"There is much evil in this land...much more than there will ever be here in the United Realms. I need soldiers...I need the worst of humanity to join our ranks for the coming war," he said. Mephisto smirked deviously.

"And you shall have it," Mephisto said, as he and two of his charges disappeared.

"You have your orders, Dr. Jekyll," Seth said.

"And I shall deliver, My Lord...but I ask in the coming war that you spare Snow White for me," he requested.

"You're not getting your hands on my mother, you disgusting pig!" Bobby snapped hotly.

"Children should be seen and not heard," Jekyll chided, but then held his head in agony.

"You will obey my orders. Snow White is no longer your concern," Seth said. Jekyll clearly was not happy about that, but was silent and disappeared to carry out his tasks. Unfortunately, it was Bobby holding his head in agony for a moment, until the God ceased.

"Come child...it's time for you to see the place you shall die," Seth said, as they disappeared and then reappeared on a piece of land.

"Where...where are we?" Bobby asked, as he looked around at the desolate space that was surrounded by rocky outcroppings and a filmy red sky.

"Welcome to Nephilim, the realm of the fallen, where you will die and your bones will remain for eternity," Seth declared.

"Do not fear though...the entire world will be witnessing our battle and the rise of my coming army. They will see their future and worship me as I rise and sweep away my enemies," he continued.

"I won't be alone...my parents are coming," Bobby warned. Seth smirked.

"The Chalice is no longer at full power. I am now well aware of your parent's treachery and without the full power...they cannot enter this realm. No one can," Seth informed him. Bobby frowned and swallowed thickly, before putting on a brave front.

"Fine...you want a fight? Then you're gonna get one," he agreed, as his eyes glowed and the ground beneath him began to shake. He magicked a sword into his hand and his ripped up clothes changed into a leather jerkin and pants; an ensemble similar to one his father had often worn in the Enchanted Forest. And with no more delay, they charged each other…

~*~

A few moments ago, another bout of training had commenced, as they were aware that they were in the eleventh hour. But now, that was painfully clear, as the screen just appeared before them like magic, showing Bobby in Nephilim facing Seth. Alone.

"Oh my God...oh my God!" Regina cried, as they watched the fight begin.

"Bobby…" Eva cried.

"Where are Mom and Dad?" Leo uttered.

"They have to be on the way," Eva insisted.

"Or they're dead like my parents," Carina said sadly.

"They're not dead...and we don't know that your parents are either," Leo admonished.

"He's right...they're strong like our parents and they have a friend in Thor. If anyone can save them, it's him," Eva assured.

"Even so...I must lead Andresia's army in my father's place," Carina said bravely, as the twins stood beside her.

"None of that matters," the Evil Queen snapped.

"You heard him...we can't get to him! He's in Nephilim and he's broadcasting this whole thing to the muggles out there!" she ranted, just as a swirling orange portal appeared.

"No...he said that we can't get to him without the full power of the chalice," a voice said, as Snow and David emerged, hand in hand from the portal.

"Mom! Dad!" the twins cried, as they rushed to them and they swept the twins into hugs. Emma, Killian, Summer, and the rest of the people with them filed through the portal.

"Nana!" Summer called, as she rushed to Regina, who swept her into a crushing hug.

"Oh...I missed you so much," Regina cried, as tears slipped down her cheeks. She sniffed and then hugged Robin.

"Papa Robin…" she gushed and then she shocked the Evil Queen by hugging her too.

"I missed you too," she said.

"You...you did?" the Queen asked. She nodded and swiped a tear away.

"Of course I did...you're a part of my Nana and I know you won't be happy until you're whole again. Until you're able to be with your family again. Please Nana…" she pleaded. The Queen looked at Regina and she nodded. She then looked at Robin, who nodded too.

"I know you think I only love Regina and not the Queen, but you know it's not true. I fell in love with you when you were still struggling in the darkness. I love all of you...please come back to us," he pleaded, as Hyde stepped forward with the antidote. She nodded and he gave her the injection. Regina's eyes widened, as the Queen was absorbed back into Regina and she smiled brightly. Robin, Summer, Jade and Roland all hugged her tightly.

Snow and David approached Winter and Charming, while Hyde stood by.

"You know the only way to save Bobby is to become one again," David stated.

"We know...and for him, we'll do it," Charming agreed. Snow looked at her counterpart.

"I know you don't think so, but you have both taught us a lot. I won't ignore you anymore or push you away," Snow promised. She nodded.

"Let's save our baby," Winter agreed reluctantly. They knew it might have been harder to convince them if not for the mortal danger to their son, but just as Snow and David would do anything for one of their children, so would Charming and Winter. Hyde moved in at that point and gave each of them an injection. There was a very bright glow, as Winter and Charming were rejoined with Snow and David. The Chalice rejoined as well and floated between them, glowing in all its full glory. Snow and David opened their eyes and grinned brightly at each other, as they closed the distance with a passionate kiss.

"Okay you two...we have work to do," Regina admonished.

"Yeah...and who the hell are they and why is she here?" Leo asked, referring to the Major and the other people with her.

"Long story...we'll explain later. But for now...we need to get into Nephilim," Snow said.

"Which is easy for you two with the Chalice, but not so much for the rest of us," Rumple reminded them.

"I think I may have an idea," David said.

"Daddy…" Eva interrupted him and directed their attention to the screen.

"Holy hell…" Leo uttered, as they saw the return of Mephisto and his minions, along with a new army of freshly created demonic minions.

"He was busy," Rumple said.

"We're going to need our own armies," David said, as he turned to Tiny.

"Tiny...how is our bean supply?" he asked.

"We have dozens, fortunately," the giant replied.

"Good...we need to enchant them with the chalice," he said and Snow smiled.

"That's a really good idea," she said, as they joined hands and stood before the heads of the other Kingdoms.

"We need you all to gather your armies and then use one of these enchanted beans to portal into Nephilim," David instructed, as a bean was given to Lancelot, Phillip, Eric, Mulan, Jasmine, Midas, Elsa, and Glinda. Snow stepped toward Carina and hugged her.

"No word from them?" she asked and she shook her head, as she took the beans.

"No...but we will lead Andresia into battle in our father's place," she said, as the twins stood beside her.

"He would be proud," David said, as he gave a bean to Tinkerbell next.

"Can you gather the fairies?" he asked. She nodded with a smile.

"Consider it done," she agreed, before kissing Neal and leaving the confines of Bald Mountain. David handed out the rest of the beans to their immediate family, including a couple for Leo.

"One to get into the reserve and then one to get to Nephilim," he said. Leo nodded.

"Wait!" Hermes cried suddenly.

"What is it?" Aphrodite asked, as the other Goddess grinned and waved her hand. A hologram of Fandral and Rose appeared before them.

~*~

Rose and Fandral arrived at Thor's residence with Sif that evening and saw that Dr. Selvig was there with a strange looking device and another woman, dressed in a cat-like bodysuit.

"Is this the doctor you mentioned that could help? Dr. Banner?" Rose asked. The redhead smiled in amusement.

"No...my name is Natasha Romanoff. I'm a...colleague of Dr. Banner's I suppose you could say," she said.

"The Black Widow...Thor has mentioned you in his tales he had told us and our children," Fandral recalled. She nodded.

"Dr. Banner is staying sequestered for a while. He's undergone an interesting transformation recently that he's not quite ready to reveal to the world. However, the kind of technology you need wasn't exactly his area of expertise," she explained.

"Fortunately...I'm in contact with all the people that would have what you need," Natasha explained.

"This Mr. Stark you mentioned?" Rose asked.

"He could probably do it, but he's also not making himself available. However, Captain Steve Rogers made the trip to a place called Wakanda and got what we needed from his allies there. The hardware anyway," Eric said.

"Yes...to make the inter dimensional contact part work, we contacted someone with the ability to get access to the frequencies we needed to tune the machine to. Carol Danvers was happy to send me what you need," Natasha said.

"You did this all for us?" Fandral asked in surprise and Thor clapped him on the shoulder.

"You are one of my oldest friends and I am just glad I can help you get back home to your children. Maybe you can save your world in a way I could not," Thor said.

"Are you ready?" Natasha asked. They nodded. Dr. Selvig typed away on the keyboard and the machine whirred to life. The frequency was fuzzy at first and then focused in on a landscape.

"Is this it?" Eric asked and they gasped, as they saw several Kingdoms on fire.

"Yes...that was Snow and David's castle!" Rose exclaimed.

"It would seem that Seth is already destroying Kingdoms," Fandral said.

"Wait...can you focus on that cone shaped mountain in the distance?"! Rose asked, as she pointed to the desolate area around the odd shaped mountain.

"Yes...Bald Mountain seems to still be untouched, which means he hasn't gotten in yet," Fandral said, as the inside of the mountain appeared on the screen.

"Yes...that's it! Everyone is still safe," Rose said, as a smile came to her face.

"The children...they're okay," Fandral said, as they breathed a sigh of relief, as the screen focused on Carina and the twins.

"Hermes!" they called, hoping she would hear them.

"You're alive!" Snow cried in relief.

"We are...thanks to Thor," Fandral replied.

"Mom! Dad!" Carina and the twins cried tearfully.

"We're coming home soon, my loves," Rose promised.

"Fandral...do you think Thor can portal you and Rose directly into Nephilim with the bi-frost, despite Seth's restrictions?" David asked. Fandral looked at his friend and he nodded.

"It should be well within the power of the bi-frost," he said. David smiled.

"Good...standby for my signal," he said, as he and Snow turned to the others.

"Major...this thing is open to the world now. You want our cooperation after this...then you need to help us save your world too," David said, as he handed two beans to her.

"Don't make me regret this," he said.

"It will be a long, awkward road ahead in introducing our worlds to each other, but I am your ally in this," she promised.

"Clayton once told me that too and even helped us for a while. Then we ended up as prisoners. Try it...and we'll use the power of the chalice to its full extent to not only seal the United Realms away again, but make sure we take back everything you've gained from Clayton's stolen items," he promised. She smirked.

"Duly noted and you don't have to believe me, but you're the best detective I've ever worked with. I want you as an asset...not an enemy," she assured.

"We'll see," he replied, as he turned back to his family and noticed Summer with the young paramedic that had examined Bobby after his episode and heard his daughter talking to him.

"This is going to get pretty rough...I understand if you want to stay here," Summer told him. But he shook his head.

"No…I want to help or I wouldn't be here," he assured.

"JJ...this is insane. You need to watch from a distance with me," Nora insisted.

"Stay out of this Nora," he said.

"You want to help?" David asked and the young man looked at Summer's father, not able to find his voice for a moment.

"Uh...yes Sir," he answered.

"Any weapons experience?" he asked.

"I've...I've handled a gun a few times," JJ replied and he looked at his eldest. Emma smirked and waved her hand. He was astonished to see two large guns appear in his hands. They looked like regular guns, but he had a feeling they weren't.

"Bullets won't do you much good on this battlefield. These shoot fireballs instead," Emma said. Summer smiled at her older sister.

"Thanks," JJ replied.

"Is everyone ready?" he called and received affirmations in response, before the heads of state began to portal out to gather their armies and any people that could fight. David took Snow's hand and they shared a tender, passionate kiss.

"We're going to win and we'll save Bobby," he promised. She smiled and nodded.

"I know...I have faith in our love," she agreed, as they used one bean to portal out and gather who they could.

~*~

Dr. Jekyll burned his way into Hyde's lab. The school was mostly empty, which was good, since he wouldn't have hesitated to burn through anyone in his way. He had his orders from Mephisto, but that didn't suit him at all. Fortunately, two years ago, before the curse was enacted, he had been working on a way to keep his new, demonic powers and break the chains of servitude that tied to him to his Master. And he hid it in Hyde's lab where he knew it would neither be found nor disturbed. He ripped the cabinet doors away and searched for the small velvet pouch that he had hidden his concoction in and smirked, as he pulled out the vial of sickly green liquid. He downed the liquid and felt his power flare for a moment, as Mephisto's fiery chains appeared on his wrists and then melted away. He was free and still retained the powers bestowed upon him.

He was no fool though. He knew if he joined the battle that was raging, he would likely be destroyed. Instead, he had a different plan. He had done his research and knew of one place in the United Realms where crime was still rampant and it was easy for the wanted to hide. He would go there and set up his lab. He would bide his time; he was a very patient man, after all. He would plot the perfect revenge and build an empire in this new place. He would continue his research into ways for science to overcome magic and when the time was right...he would have his revenge and take what he wanted.

"Fear not, my lovely Snow...we will meet again one day," he promised. Pleasure Island awaited him.

~*~

Bobby dodged the Titan, as he charged him and blocked his blows. The force of their fists connecting blew them both back and the evil Seth launched a stream of fire at the boy. Bobby countered with a wall of water to wash out his attack and then followed that up with a lightning attack. Seth took a direct hit and seethed angrily, as he used his mind meld. Bobby held his head in agony for several moments, until he managed to summon all his power. His eyes filled with a multicolored glow and he negated Seth's mind attack, stunning him.

"You are formidable…" Seth hissed, as his eyes twitched with double eyelids like that of a serpent and his olive toned skin became scaly.

"Perhaps squeezing the life out of you is the only way to go…" he hissed, as his limbs extended and coiled around Bobby. He gasped, as the wind was knocked out of him and he choked for air.

"Poor child...I will relish your mother's scream when I drop your mangled corpse at her feet, just before I crush her skull and burn your father alive for his betrayal!" Seth hissed.

"Stop thinking…" a voice said.

"Mr. Gold…" he rasped.

"Yes...stop thinking and give into your power. It comes from light. Nothing bad can come from being consumed by it," Rumple instructed.

"Didn't know you were telepathic," Bobby rasped.

"Talking to yourself...the lack of oxygen has already sent you into madness," Seth goaded.

"Magic, my boy...it can do anything, but yours even more than mine. Yours is boundless," Rumple said, as Bobby opened his eyes and they almost blinded Seth. The ground beneath him began to shake violently and Seth's coils were lit ablaze. He retracted his coils and transformed them back into arms, which were now badly burnt and singed. Bobby dropped to the ground and gasped for air.

"That was a very lethal mistake, young one," Seth warned.

"Says the loser," Bobby retorted, as he watched fire sprout up from all the cracks in the ground. Seth smirked.

"My army has arrived…" he said. Bobby gulped, as he watched hundreds of demons appear, including Arthur, Gawain, and Mephisto. To his horror, Seth did not stop there, as the God summoned hundreds of hell furies, gorgons, banshee's from Tartarus itself. The other remaining beings that had resided in Nephilim also joined them. Among them was Fafnir the mighty dragon, several frost giants, the Horned King, and Shan Yu, along with his undead army of Huns.

"You are vastly outnumbered, young one. Not even with all your power can you defeat us alone," Seth hissed, as he used his magic to shove Bobby back and he went rolling to the ground. But the boy refused to give up and pulled himself to his feet.

"Who says he's alone?" a female voice said and his eyes widened, as he looked around.

"Emma?" he called and then heard a sparking behind him. He turned to find an orange portal swirling before him and his oldest sister walked through it in her familiar red leather jacket and armed with their father's old sword.

"If you really thought that whatever barrier you put around this place was going to keep our parents out...then you really haven't got a clue," Emma commented.

"I am not scared of your parents, Savior...nor you. My army and I will crush your family," Seth boasted. Emma smirked.

"We'll see…" she said, as Bobby saw another portal appear in the sky and was stunned to see his brother fly through it on Pegasus with his Phoenix following him. Another portal opened behind Emma, as Eva carried herself and Paul through the portal with her wind powers. She landed next to her little brother and with a burst of magic, she healed him of any wounds with a loving smile. Bobby smiled and got to his feet, as he watched in wonder, as more portals continued to open around them. Through the three in front of them, Killian walked through with Alice and Jade. They were followed by another one, as Regina, Summer, and her new friend JJ arrived. Robin came through another one beside them with Roland and the Merry men and then another opened, as Rumple, Belle, and Gideon arrived. Henry and Jacinda were next through a portal, having left Lucy with Frankie and Joe, who were also caring for Hope. And finally, beside them, James and Aphrodite arrived, along with Hermes.

In the near distance, more large portals opened, as the armies of the United Realms filed through. Lancelot and Guinevere led the warriors from Camelot. Phillip and Aurora led their army. Eric and Ariel appeared next with the Maritime Kingdom's soldiers. The portals that appeared next hailed the armies from Midas' Kingdom with Abigail and Frederick leading the way. Next, Mulan arrived with the army of China, and Aladdin and Jasmine led Agrabah's soldiers through another portal. Tiana and Naveen led Starcomb's army through another portal, while Elsa, Anna, and Kristoff appeared with soldiers from Arendelle.

And finally, Carina, Ben, and Ari led Andresia's army as well.

More portals in the dozens opened in the sky all around them, as all the fairies arrived, surrounding them with their light magic, ready to unleash it on the darkness. Then, probably most surprising of all, the Major came through and arrived with help from the Land Without Magic. She was lending the military might in the form of fighter jets, tanks, and soldiers that were entering a world they didn't even know existed thirty minutes ago.

Bobby looked around in wonder and was surprised to see a beam of light strike the ground beside them. The light faded, revealing Rose and Fandral's return, via the bi-frost.

"So...you're alive…" Seth growled.

"A God much more powerful than you saved us and I assure you that you will pay for what you've done," Fandral promised. Bobby turned and saw a final portal open behind him. Granny and Red, in her wolf form stepped through, followed by all seven dwarves, and finally his parents, hand in hand, dressed in their warrior clothing.

Seth looked around, trying to hide his nervousness, at what he was now facing.

"If your plan really hinged on the fact that you thought we wouldn't reunite with our darker halves to save our son from you...then you are more of a fool than we thought," Snow declared boldly.

"Just for that...I think I'll kill you first Snow White and make your husband watch!" Seth growled, as he tried his mind meld, but was shocked when it didn't work. The Chalice glowed between them, but he was confused. Even at full power, the Chalice shouldn't have protected them from his mind meld.

"How...how are you doing this?!" he demanded to know.

"True love," David replied in a simple manner. Snow smiled at him.

"Truest love," she agreed.

"Oh and a little bonding to our elements," Leo added, as his eyes glowed dark blue. Eva's glowed pink, Summer's glowed lavender, and Emma's glowed white.

"All the magic and power in all the realms failed to defeat you...but true love won't," Snow declared, as the chalice separated into their respective weapons, his sword and her arrow shooting gauntlets.

"Nothing can defeat me...and certainly not something like your pathetic true love," Seth seethed, as he signaled his demonic army. David raised his sword to signal their allies.

"This is the United Realms and it's our home!" he shouted.

"And we will purge you and your demons from it!" Snow added, as both sides charged into a battle that would decide the fate of the United Realms...and the world.

#Snowing #SnowxCharming #Charming family #OC Charmings #AU #The United Realms #original season 8 storyline #Rose Red #Fandral the Dashing #dashing rose #OQ #CS #Rumbelle #romance #adventure #family #finding you always #the epic continues #truest love

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