Work Text
"Once Upon A Time
There was a man and woman, they had a love that was true.
The man was a normal mine worker, but the woman came from a long family line of magical people who called themselves "
Flower Enchanters' '
. The man embraced his love of magic and abilities to harness nature's magic. It was a love so rare that when they married they ran away from everyone they knew so that no one would come after them to try and take the magical power or their love away from them. You see, the Flower Enchanters held one of the strongest sources of magic in their hearts because they use the magic from nature. In order to be a Flower Enchanter one must have a pure heart, or else nature's magic will not work. The man and wife also had the magic of true love. When they married they had a magic so rare and powerful that many people wanted to use it for selfish purposes. So the two ran and made a home in the forest, making a new life for the both of them. After a few years they made their family bigger with twin children. A boy and girl. Their names were Azalea and Alexander. Together the four lived peacefully in the forest. Growing flowers and selling them to people in need of their magic for spells. Their daughter Azalea was born with the magic of a Flower Enchantress like her mother, and once the word got out that a young Flower Enchantress held magical powers of both pure love and nature, she was wanted by many who wanted to use the magic for evil purposes. She was the only of her kind, a magic so rare that her parents feared for her safety often. The family would travel often to help those in need with their magic, but they kept their home a secret place, so that no one could try to steal the couple's precious child. Azalea's brother, Alex, was appointed to be her protector as they grew older. He was born without magic, but he and Azalea were connected by blood. So Alex was to act as her guardian, to make sure she was protected at all times.
The family was able to live a wonderful life, helping people from many different places. But one day that would all change."
-Enchanted Forest-
"Mom, what magic does this flower hold?" the excited six year old Azalea asked, pointing to a white flowers in front of her as her mother sat behind her in their flower garden in their backyard. Her mother looked to the flower that her daughter was pointing at, then looked to the Flower Book that she used to keep track of her spells, plants magical properties, and everything a Flower Enchantress needed to know. "That flower holds the magic of sleep, it can make anyone fall into a deep sleep instantly with one little touch of this flowers crushed powder." She said, watching as her daughter examined the flower in childlike wonder. Azalea soaked in all the information of the flowers with eagerness, training to be just like her mother when she grew up. The two continued their lessons on the flowers until a powerful gust of wind blew by them, knocking some of Azalea's flowers from her flower crown that her mother had braided in earlier that morning. "Seems as if we have a visitor." Her mother said nervously standing up and taking her daughter's hand, walking into the back door of their house. She could sense a powerful dark magic in the air, and from the way that her daughter was gripping her hand she could tell that Azalea felt it as well. "Go get your father and brother from the common room." Azalea nodded and ran to do as her mother told. While the mother went to the front door and looked through the peeping hole. She gasped and stepped back, fear pumping through her veins at who was visiting them. She jumped again when she felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned ready to attack, but sighed in relief when she saw it was her husband "Who is it?" The husband asked as the two children stood behind them, suddenly wary of who was visiting them from their mothers fearful eyes. "It's Rumple." She whispered to her husband, but not loudly enough for the children to hear. "Okay kids, go to the shed in the backyard and don't come out till we get you." Their father said, guiding them to the back door. "Wait, who is at the door? Why do we have to hide?" Alex asked, watching as their mother quickly grabbed a magical flower crown and placed it on her son's head. She also grabbed her Flower Book and placed it in her daughter's arms. "It matters not who it is. We will explain later, for now be a good brother and protect your sister. Don't take the flower crown off. It has a protection spell on it that nothing can penetrate." the kids mother said, putting on a brave face for her kids. The two twins looked at each other before doing as their father said.
As the kids walked out of the back door the front door banged open loudly. "Why hello, long time no see." Rumpelstiltskin said, skipping through the now broken doorway. "My how you've grown, you were but a child the last time I saw you dearie." Rumple said, looking at the mother. "What do you want Rumple?" She asked as her husband put a protective arm around her waist, pulling her behind him. "Ohhhh is our relationship that dry, can't I come to say hi, maybe see the kids you have been hiding from me?" The husband stepped up to Rumple, not scared to get in the evil creature's personal space. "How do you know about them?" He asked with a growl as Rumple's grin only grew, not intimidated by the man standing over him at all. "Oh I know everything dearie! You two were foolish to think that you could get away from the deal that you made with me- "We made no such deal! That was my mother not me." The mother said. "Oh but a deal is a deal....and no one breaks deals with me!" The parents looked at each other hopelessly. "We can just give you whatever you need! No charge of anything, just leave our kids alone." The husband pleaded. "I'm afraid that won't do. You see along with the flowers you grow, the potion also calls for the hearts of twins, a boy and girl. It is sad that it has come to this but years before you two were even born your mother made the deal that I could have her grandchildren in exchange for her husbands sick free lungs. Not really fair for you but I guess the world isn't fair. Your mother made a deal that I could have her grandchildren, unfortunately your children...but what can you do? Oh yes! Nothing!" The husband growled as he pushed Rumple back, the green man stumbled a few steps before gathering his footing. "The only way you are getting my children is if you pry them from my dead hands." The father said. "If you insists!" Rumple said, smiling. A morbid grin, as he reached into the man's chest.
"AHHHHHH!"
Alex and Azalea both froze from inside the shed, hearing their father's scream. Their blood runs cold with fear. "Whoever is out there is hurting our father!" Alex said with anger, ready to leave the shed. But Azalea grabbed his hand. "He told us not to leave till they came back for us." Azalea warned her brother. "But that thing is hurting our parents!" Alex cried out. Suddenly more banging was heard and the twins ran to the shed window, peaking out to see the creature that had entered their home walking out of the back door. They both watched as the creature calmly walked around the garden, with a grin on his face as he ran a towel over his hands. "What is he doing?" Alex asked, watching as he bent down and picked a dark green flower. "Those are locator flowers, they are used in potions to find lost people '' Azalea said remembering the lessons her mother taught her. Alex gasped in shock looking closer to the towel in the man's hands. "There is blood on his hands....we need to find mother and father!" Alex said, jumping down from the window with Azalea following him to the door of the shed. Alex threw the door open and started running to the house. "There you are! about time you came from your hiding place kiddos." The scary creature said, waving his hand up in the air, magically, sending a gust of wind at Alex so strong that the flowers in his hair all blew out from the force of it. Azalea hid by the shed door as she watched in fear, holding her flower crown on her head. "Now that those pesky protection spell flowers are out of your hair I can get what I need." The creature said, walking over to Alex. He grabbed the child by his clothing and pushed him onto the ground and pressed his foot on the boy's chest, pinning him down to where he couldn't move. "ALEX!" Azalea shouted as the boy screamed, the creature pushing his hand into her brother's chest and coming back with his heart. Azalea was frozen in horror, watching her brother's heart beat in the monster's hand. "Now, it's your turn." The monster said looking up at Azalea. She screamed again and shut the door to the shed, locking it and hiding in the corner. Azalea's hands shook in fear as she tried to think of a way to get away from the monster, but she was trapped. "Come out dearie!" The creature shouted from outside the shed. Azalea's mind was racing, trying to think of a way to escape, suddenly she thought of something and got up, running over to the desk and picking up her mothers Flower Book . She opened it and flipped through until she found what she was looking for. "Little piggy little piggy let me in!" The man sang as the front door started to shake violently. Azalea quickly found the spell she was looking for and took a few flowers from her own hair and crushed them together into a powder using the crusher in the shed. The door opened with a loud bang that made Azalea jump from fear. Rumple smiled down to the child. "I win. My name is Rumpelstiltskin...and I always win." He smirked walking closer to her. Azalea took the powder from the crusher and threw it on Rumple who seemed surprised, if not annoyed as the powder covered him. "What is this you pest?!" He yelled at her before he started disappearing with the dust in the air. Azalea sighed with relief, the spell had worked. Rumple was furious as he went away with the powder in the air. "Don't think this is over dearie! I will find you!" He shouted before he completely disappeared. Azalea leaned against the desk, exhaustion washed over her as her heart raced in her chest. She felt a pit in her chest as she looked out the door, the relief washed away by a wave of panic and worry. "Alex..." She whispered before running out into the backyard and collapsing on her knees beside his body. "Don't be dead - please don't be dead!" She cried laying her head on his chest, but he laid unmoved on the ground. Azalea sobbed, struggling to breath as she stood on shaken legs. "MOM! DAD! Alex is hurt! HELP!" She shouted running into the house, stopping in her tracks when she saw blood on the floor. The room had a heavy dark magic in it that weighed the young girl down, and her parents laying in the middle of the room...lifeless. Azalea held onto the side of the wall, feeling like she was going to throw up as she looked at her parents bodies, mutilated and cold, covered in their own blood. Her legs failed her and she felt herself falling, her eyes fluttered as she felt the hole in her chest grow bigger, darkness taking over her vision. Praying for this all to be some kind of nightmare, she hoped that she would wake up to her mother's comforting smile, her dad's strong arms wrapped around her, or even her brother teasing her. But she would never feel any of those things, ever again.
- Years later, in Storybrooke-
Azalea closed the door to her flower shop and sighed, pulling her backpack up on her back before beginning her walk home. She pulled the sleeves of her sweater over her cold fingers and held them to her mouth, blowing hot air on them, watching as her breath turned white in the cold air. She looked up to the stars that were shining on Storybrooke below and she couldn't help but let her thoughts wonder as they usually tended to do in the boring, small town. She pulled the flower crown on her head up a bit as she looked at the stars. Her thoughts stopped when she looked at the clock tower and noticed the hands were moving, she stopped walking and looked at her phone for the time.
'I guess someone finally fixed the clock tower'
she thought to herself before continuing her walk back to her apartment. She lived by herself, after her entire family was murdered when she was a child, but she lived beside Mary Margret who insisted on checking up on the fifteen year old girl a few times a week, making her a few meals a week, and just keeping the quiet teen company. In turn Azalea helped the teacher, Ms. Blanchard, take care of the flowers in her classroom and apartment. She also helped Granny with her garden in front of Granny's diner, and Dr.Hopper with his flowers in his office that he used to help some of his patients feel more comfortable... Basically anyone who owned a garden or flowers in Storybrooke would ask the girl for help, and she enjoyed helping others with their gardening needs. She loved flowers! She couldn't quite place why she loved them so much, but it was like the flowers were a part of her soul in a way. Anytime she saw a healthy beautiful flower her heart would glow with pride and joy. It probably stemmed from the Flower Book, the only thing from her mother that she had left. Azalea climbed up the steps to her apartment room, walking by Mary Margret's, and pulled out the key, opening her door and shutting it behind her. She put her school bag on the table and started to make a warm cup of tea to accompany her with her homework for the night. She looked out the window one last time at the clock tower as the hands continued to tick away, and she wondered what had made it start working after all this time.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
-Azalea's apartment-
Azalea put the last of her dishes in the sink as she pulled her school's uniform jacket on, made sure she had her flower shop keys, checked to make sure the flower crown in her hair was straight, and grabbed her travel mug full of tea as she left her apartment. "Hello Azalea, I love your flowers today. Did you notice the clock tower is working again?" Mary Margret asked as she also stepped out of her apartment. Azalea nodded to her neighbor with a shy smile, wondering for the millionth time if the teacher watched at her door till Azalea came out every morning. Because every time she left her apartment for school Mary was there waiting for her. "I wonder who fixed it." Mary said with a cheerful voice as the two walked down the stairs together and headed to school.
-Storybrooke School-
Children were shouting playfully as Azalea and Mary walked into the school courtyard. "I knew you believed me!" Henry shouted as he ran into the school yard with a woman Azalea had never seen before. "I never said I did!" The blonde woman around Mary’s age shouted back to him. "Why else would you be here?" Henry asked with a smirk while running past Azalea and Mary into the school. Mary looked to the woman with a smile. "Who is that?" Azalea asked, her voice a whisper. "It's Henry's birth mother." Mary answered before walking over to her, Azalea followed behind Mary, curiosity getting the best of her. No one new ever showed up in Storybrooke, the teen was sure that Henry's birth mother was getting lots of attention from the town. "It's good to see a smile on his face." Mary told the lady. "I didn't do anything." She said stuffing her hands into her red leather jacket. "I'm Emma by the way, Henry's birth mother...nice flowers." Emma said, turning to Azalea, and looking at the purple lavender flowers that decorated her hair today. Azalea stuck her own hand out, "Azalea." She said quietly, but politely. Mary considered it a win, even though the teen was standing slightly behind her. "So does the mayor know your still here?" Mary asked with a smirk. "Oh she knows - what is her deal?" Emma asked, sounding annoyed. "She has been mayor for as long as I can remember. No one has been brave enough to run against her. I fear I only made things worse giving Henry that Story Book." Mary said "Yea, he is going a bit wild on the whole '
fairy tail idea
'. Who does he think you two are?" Emma asked, refering to Henry's theory that we were all fairy tail creatures. "Oh! it's silly, he thinks Azalea is a Flower Enchantress and that I'm Snow White." Azalea watched as Emma seemed a bit surprised by the statement. "Who does he think you are?" Mary asked her. "Oh...I'm not in the book." The warning bell rang for school and Azalea sighed. "Go on girl, I'm not covering for you if your late to class." Mary teased. The teenager pouted as she walked to the front doors of the school before disappearing from the womens sight. "Is she your kid?" Emma asked Mary. "Oh no! She lives in the apartment next to mine...she has been an orphan most of her life, no family to speak of what so ever." Mary said with a frown. "Really? No social service junk with that to mess with?" Emma asked, being an orphan herself she knew that the foster care system was crazy. And she had never heard of a case where teenagers could live without an adult in the same house. The whole thing sounded strange to Emma. "I suppose not, I've never heard anything. And the Sheriff never asks any questions so I just assumed everything legal was taken care of." Mary said with a shrug. Emma frowned, finding Mary's lack of concern a bit...odd. But she put it in the back of her mind to come back to and focused on her actual child, Henry, "Okay, so I have a question about Henry's therapist." Emma said with determination.
-class-
Azalea curved one of the petals of the flowers in her drawing as she let her mind wander, the teacher droned on about some civil war. She honestly could bring herself to really care, she hated the idea of violence. War was nothing but destruction and death to her, and she couldn't understand why some people felt the need to solve their issues with violence. She looked up from her doodle as the bell rang and she calmly started to put her stuff in her bag as the rest of her peers seemed to be racing to the front door. By the time Azelea made it to the front door of the classroom Mary was waiting there for her with Henry. "My mom is in jail!" Henry said before Mary could say anything. "Regina is?" Azalea asked, very confused as to how the mayor was in jail. "No! My real mom, Emma." Henry said as if he were talking to a first grader. Azalea tilted her head in confusion and turned to Mary for an explanation. "Do you care to go with us to the sheriff's office? Just in case I get busy and can't watch Henry?" Mary asked Azalea with pleading eyes. Azalea sighed, she had to go to her Flower Shop. She looked at the time on her watch and did some quick math in her head. "Fine...as long as I get to the shop by four." She said and the three headed to the sheriff's office.
-Sheriff's office-
"You know the therapist is lying about me breaking into his office right?" Emma asked as she stood in front of the camera. It flashed and Emma blinked away the white spots. "To the right please, and why would he lie?" the Sheriff asked standing behind the camera. "The Mayor, she must have something on him! He is terrified of her just like everyone else in this town." Emma said as the camera flashed again. "Left," Emma turned again and the camera flashed. "Regina may be a touch intimidating - but I don't think she would go as far as a frame job." The Sheriff said taking the polaroid pictures of Emma as they printed from the old camera. "How far would she go, what else does Regina have her hands in?" Emma asked. "Well she's the mayor, she has her hands in everything." The Sheriff replied. "Even the police force?" Emma asked, raising an eyebrow as the Sheriff frowned at her. The front door to the Sheriff station opened, cutting off their conversation. "Hey!" Henry said running in with Mary and Azalea behind him. "Henry! What are you doing here?" The Sheriff asked. "His mother told him what happened." Mary explained. "Of course she did." Emma said with sarcasm, giving the police officer another look that said
'I told you so'
"Henry I don't know what she said about me but- "You're a genius." Henry interrupted Emma's sentence. "I know what you were up to, you were gathering information for operation Cobra." He said giving Emma a wink. "Sorry, I'm a bit lost." the Sheriff said. "It's need to know, and all you need to know is that Ms.Blanchard is going to bail Emma out." Henry said folding his arms across his chest. Emma looked up at Mary. "You are? Why?" Emma asked surprised. "I trust you." Mary said getting her wallet out. "Well, if you could take these handcuffs off I have something to do." Emma said turning to the Sheriff. As Azalea stood back with Henry and waited for Emma to be released she couldn't help but watch Emma with interest, she was shaking things up in town, that was certain. But was it for better or worse? Azalea didn't want to see Henry hurt by his birth mom, but his adoptive mother wasn't always the best either. She held onto Henry's shoulder with her hand, hoping that whatever quarrel the women were having wouldn't have too much of a negative impact on the young boy.
-Azalea's Flower Shop-
"What do you plan on doing?" Mary asked Emma as the four walked into Azalea's Flower Shop together. Henry and Azalea walked into the store, while Emma and Mary stayed by the door so they wouldn't be overheard. "I'm just going to pay a little visit to the mayor. Show her what she is up against." Emma said with a smirk, her eyes following Azalea as the teen checked up on all the flowers around the shop. "She's a bit crazy about these plants isn't she?" Emma asked. "It's her passion. Flowers are the only thing I know that can really make her smile." Mary gestured to the girl and Emma watched as the teenager smiled over a bundle of yellow and red flowers by a sunny window. "Even her name is a flower, the Azalea....she is the last living flower Enchantress from my Storybook." Henry whispered, walking over to Emma as Mary went to look at some of the girl's flowers. "Sure she is kid." Emma said, patting Henry's back and walking deeper into the store to check things out.
-Azalea's apartment, later that night-
Azalea frowned at her empty mug, it had already been a long day and she was ready to just do her homework and go to bed. But she had run out of her favorite tea bags, and she couldn't focus without her tea...she really needed to do her homework tonight or she would fall behind in her studies. She could either go to the market and get some (
which seemed like a chore now that she was in her pj’s
) or go next door and ask Mary for one (
which would involve human interaction...
). Azalea didn't know why she was so resistant to the nice ladies' offer of friendship. But Mary was slowly becoming like a mother to her, and for some reason when she thought of that she felt so lonely. She finally picked up her empty tea cup and walked out of her own room, going to the door beside her and giving it a few knocks. When the door opened she was surprised to see Emma. "Oh! Hey, um Mary is making hot chocolate in the kitchen." Emma said before moving out of the doorway, Azalea stepped inside
'just my luck, the one day I'm out of tea and Mary has company.'
She thought as Mary smiled from the sink. "Azalea! What are you doing in here?" Mary asked, sounding excited to see the teen. "I'm um- I ran out of tea bags and-" Azalea awkwardly shrugged her shoulders, holding her empty tea cup in her hands and Mary's smile only grew as she reached into a cabinet and took a tea bag out and tossed it to the shy girl. Azalea easily caught the tea bag in her cup, "Why don't you stay a little bit? We were just talking." Emma said, taking a seat at the kitchen table. Azalea was about to protest but Mary took the cup from her hands and filled it with warm water. "okay," Azalea finally said, taking a seat across from Emma and Mary handed the girl her full cup as she sat beside Emma. Azalea folded her legs in front of her chest and made herself as small as possible in the kitchen seat as she held the warm cup in her hands, letting it warm up her fingers. Mary handed Emma hot chocolate and Emma took a sip. "Cinnamon?" She asked, looking at the cup. "Oh! I'm sorry I should have asked, I love cinnamon in my hot chocolate. Do you mind?" Mary asked, looking at her own cup. "Not at all." Emma said with a grin as the three women got settled. "When you bailed me out you said that you trusted me...why?" Emma asked Mary. "It's strange, since you got here I can't shake the feeling that we have met before, I feel that way with a few people actually, like Azalea, and other random people." Mary said with a shrug, as if it were normal to feel such connections with strangers. Azalea drank her tea, thinking that she felt the same way with certain people in the town too, but she wasn't brave enough to voice her thoughts. "And for what it's worth I think your innocent." Mary said as Emma sipped her drink. "Of breaking and entering or just in general?" Emma asked with a smirk. "Whatever makes you feel better." Mary said with a matching smirk. "Well it doesn't really matter anyway, because I'm leaving tomorrow. Thank you for everything you both have done. It's for the best...if I stay Henry will only keep getting hurt." Emma said, more trying to convince herself more than the other women. "What happens if you go? He will only be alone again." Azalea said, looking into her tea cup. Emma ran a hand through her hair, both of the girls knowing all too well the pain of being alone. "I think that your trying to run away, the reason you want to leave should be the very reason you stay." Mary said "You care about Henry." Azalea couldn't help but agree, seeing the way that Emma cared for Henry's feelings. She knew that she could trust Emma.
The three girls talked for a bit longer before Emma left to go talk to Henry. Azalea helped Mary clean up the dishes. "What do you think of Emma?" Mary asked as she walked Azalea to the front door of her apartment. "I'm not sure...I feel like I can trust her, but I don't know much about her." Azalea said honestly. "I think she is going to change a lot of things around here." Mary said thoughtfully. Azalea nodded, agreeing, and Mary sighed. "Oh Azalea, you know you're welcome here anytime. I always have an open bed." Azalea looked down at her now empty cup. "Thank you," She said without making eye contact with the teacher. "See you tomorrow alright?" Mary said, opening the door. "As usual." Azalea said before we went to her own apartment. She shut her own apartment door and turned the lights on. It was quiet as Azalea got ready for bed, deciding that homework and paperwork could wait till tomorrow after all. As she lay in her bed she looked out the window. Thinking about Mary's words, about Emma and Henry, maybe things would start getting interesting around Storybrooke soon.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
-Enchanted Forest -
Azalea walked through the trees beside the Enchanted forest path. It had been three years since she went into hiding from Rumple. Years since she lost her whole family, years since she has felt safe, comfort, or even love. The now nine year old flower girl's only concern was living, never letting Rumple (or anyone else hunting her) steal her heart. She didn't care what evil spell the monster needed it for, what he had done to her family was unforgivable. Azalea would not let Rumple ever complete his spell. Azalea was taken away from her wandering thoughts when she heard the sound of a whip and horses running down the path beside her, she quickly pulled her hood over her head, covering her flower crown stuck in her hair that held her mothers protection spell in them, and hid behind a tree from view. A white carriage rolled up on the path with guards and horses surrounding it. As it passed by Azalea looked into the carriage and saw a beautiful blonde woman and a handsome man. ' They must be some kind of royalty.' she thought as it passed, before she stepped out of her hiding place. She was about to turn the other way and continue on her way, when she heard the horses stopping and the guards talking. She jumped back behind the tree, not wanting to be spotted by anyone. Azalea watched as the charming looking man got out of the carriage. Curiosity got the best of Azalea yet again as she stayed hidden, but went up the path to see what was occurring, ducking into some bushes beside the carriage. "Worry not, but is a fallen tree." The man called as he looked over a large tree that had fallen directly across the path, and Azalea watched as they started to try and move it out of the way so the royal carriage could pass by. She heard a thump from beside her and looked to the carriage, only to see a hooded woman standing on top of it! Azalea gasped, watching as the mystery woman went into the carriage and took something out of it. "AHH- ahhh! Help!" The royal woman screamed as the mysterious figure began to run. Azalea had to jump back as the woman jumped into the same bush she was hiding in. The woman was shocked and confused when she saw Azalea hiding in the bush as well. "Who are you? What are you doing here?!" The woman asked, her voice a whisper. "I could ask you the same thing." Azalea whispered. The young girl tried to hide it, but she was frightened by the thief. Would she try to hurt her now that she knew where she was hiding? "Darn it, if they find the both of us they will think you were my partner...Come on we need to run!" She said taking Azalea's hand, both of them jumping out of the bush together and getting on a horse that belonged to one of the guards. "Stop right there!" A man shouted as the two ladies galloped away. "Oh no you don't." The blonde man said getting on another horse, chasing after the two. Azalea held onto the thief as they sped down the path on their stolen horse. "Why are you protecting me?" Azalea asked as the man was quickly catching up to them on his own horse. "It's not your fault I got you in trouble." The thief said with a shrug of her shoulders, before turning the horses direction off the path in an attempt to lose the man chasing them. But he was also a skilled horse rider and was able to follow them through the woods around the trees. Azalea thought about using her magic to help make a quick getaway, but then she would be exposing herself...she was in hiding for a reason, and using magic while running away from a royal man was not the way to stay in hiding. "He is catching up!" Azalea called out looking over her shoulder as the man got beside them. He jumped off of his horse and knocked the woman off of hers as well, Azalea was able to hang onto the horse and stay on, stopping the horses as the two wrestled on the ground. The man was able to get on top of the thief. "Show your face you coward." The man said in frustration pulling off the hood of the thief. "Wait....you're a girl." The man said, in shock. Azalea saw the opportunity and picked up a rock on the side of the road, sneaking up behind the royal man. "I'm a woman," The thief said with a smirk before Azalea hit the man over the head, knocking him over. He was knocked out cold by the blow and the thief didn't waste any time getting out from under him and standing up. "Good work for a rookie." The woman said, taking Azalea's hand and getting back on the horse they had stolen, riding away. Azalea was partly worried about leaving the man where he was, but she knew that his men were close by, and that he would be fine. "Who are you?" Azalea asked, holding onto the woman as they made their get away. "I'm Snow White, and you are?" She asked looking back at her. Azalea, surprised to be in Snow White's presence, pulled her own hood down, revealing her head, the flowers decorating her hair and face. "Azalea...Flower Enchantress." Snow gasped as the finally slowed down, the horse walking at a steady pace through the woods. "The last one in existence...everyone thinks you are either dead or in another realm." She said looking at the young girl. A look of pity crossed Snow’s face. "That's what I want people to think. I'm hiding from the monster who killed my family." She explained. "You're all on your own?" Snow asked, a thoughtful look in her eyes. Azalea nodded, her cheeks blushing. "No need to be embarrassed - I'm also alone...How do you feel about tagging along with me for a while, we can be alone together." -Storybrooke, Hospital-Azalea pushed her cart full of flowers into the hospital, making sure to go slow so as to not knock any of the flower vases over. "There you are sweetie. It is so kind of you to donate these flowers to the hospital." The receptionist said with a smile. Azalea nodded, feeling her face heat up from the attention and stood in silence for a few seconds too long before the receptionist pointed her to the room where Mary's school students were. Azalea walked the cart down and spotted Mary helping a few of her students make get well cards. "There you are! Thank you so much for bringing these. The kids will love giving them to the patients." Mary said, greeting Azalea with a cheerful grin. Azalea nodded again, feeling her cheeks flush red and adjusted her flower crown before going into the hospital room and handing out small flower vases to the kids. She looked for Henry, wanting to give him some flowers to pass out but he wasn't with the other students. She looked around a bit more before her eyes landed on the special ward room. "Mary, is Henry supposed to be in John Doe's room?" Azalea asked, seeing Henry sitting beside the mystery man's bed. Mary shook her head and the two walked into John Doe's room where Henry was staring at him. "Want to help with the decorations?" Mary asked Henry. "Is Mr.Doe going to be okay Ms.Blanchard?" Henry asked, turning in his seat to face the two ladies. "His name isn't John honey, that's just what people are called when there is no ID available." Mary explained. "Do you know who he is?" Henry asked. "No, I just bring him flowers on my rounds." Mary said as Azalea placed a fresh vase of dark green flowers on his desk beside the bed, taking the old empty vase away. The teen had lost count of how many times she had left flowers at the man's bedside table. She couldn't blame Henry for being curious. No one knew who this man was, and he had never woken up from his coma. It was sad to think that he spent every day like that. "So no one knows who he is?" Henry asked. "No one has claimed him." Mary said with a sad sigh. "That's sad." Henry said, looking at the man. "Yes, it is." Mary said before taking Henry out of the room. Azalea took one last look at the sleeping man before shutting the door and returning to the other students. -Later that Night-Azalea was walking around her apartment pulling her pj’s on, but she paused in front of the window that was in front of the clock tower and watched the clock tick for a few moments, before leaving her room and walking next door to Mary's. Azalea didn't bother to knock as she walked right in and sat at the kitchen table, a cup of hot chocolate placed in front of her before she was even fully in the seat. The teen was no longer nervous around Mary and Emma, and felt comfortable in their home. Azalea took a sip and sighed in contentment before really focusing on what Mary and Emma were talking about. "You want me to read to a coma patient?" Mary asked Emma. "Henry thinks he is your prince charming." Emma explained. "That boy has such an active imagination." Mary said, shaking her head. "And that's the point, I can't talk him out of this belief he has. So we need to show him." Emma said "Play along with the story in his head?" Azalea asked. "Yes, we play along and show him that these fairy tales really aren't real." Mary said, thinking about it. "Well this plan is rather genius, we get him to the truth without hurting him." She decided before drinking from her mug. "I told him that we would all have breakfast at Granny's - and that you would be ready with a full report." Emma said, giving Mary the Story book. Azalea looked at the book closely as Mary held it in her hands, she had never really looked at the famous 'storybook' up close, or even opened it. "Well, I suppose I better get ready for my date. I think I'll be doing all the talking." Mary said. Azalea smiled, stuffing a laugh with a sip of her drink. Emma smirked, patting the girls back. "Thank you Mary. Soon enough Henry will see that all this 'fairy-tale stuff' isn't real at all." - Enchanted Forest- "Is it clear?" Snow asked. "Yes," Azalea said as the ex-princess climbed out of the Warlock's home. Over the time that Snow While and Azalea had spent together they had grown very close, and while Azalea had mixed feelings about helping Snow with her thieving, she had to admit that the ex-princess had really grown on her. Plus after hearing the whole story of what happened to her with her step mother, well she would side with Snow White over the current evil queen any day. "Did you get everything?" Azalea asked as she helped Snow out of the Warlock's small door. "Yep, all the jewels and then some." Snow said with a grin as the two started to depart. A whooshing sounds filled the two girls' ears and they felt themselves being pulled from the ground. They both screamed until they felt the rush of movement stop suddenly. They quickly gathered their sense's back and saw that they had been trapped in a net, about thirty feet from the ground. "What the?! Who's net is this?!" Snow cried out in anger. The two kicked and rolled around,trying to free themselves till they heard laughter from below them. "I told you I would find you." Snow glared as a man emerged from behind a tree. "It's the royal man from when we met." Azalea whispered as he walked up to the two trapped girls. "Is this the only way for you to catch women?" Snow with a growl. She was laid out on her back with Azalea stuck in her lap. It was a bit of an awkward position in a net, but Snow didn't mind. She preferred the young girl to be as close to her as possible anyhow being trapped and all. "It's the best way to catch thieving scum." The man said. "Aren't you a real prince charming?" Snow asked sarcastically. "I have a name you know." He said, folding his arms. "Don't care, charming suits you. Now cut us down!" Snow demanded. Azalea rolled her eyes, the two were in no situation to be demanding yet somehow Snow willed herself to do just that. "I will release you when you return the leather pouch you stole from me awhile ago with my jewels in it." The man said. "We're not the jewelry type are we Azalea?" Snow asked her comrade. The girl shook her head shyly, refusing to talk to the man who trapped them. "Yea, you don't really seem the type." He said. "What? are you insulting us?" Snow asked. "Oh how dare I insult the thieves who stole from me? Now tell me where they are." He said forcefully. "I sold them." Snow said with a smirk. "What?" The man asked, looking very upset. "What do you care? Don't you have a palace of treasure somewhere?" She asked. "It had my proposal ring in it." He said. "The nag with a bad attitude in the carriage? Dude we did you a favor taking that ring." Snow said. Azalea noticed that Snows comments weren't helping the two get out of the situation they were in, and Snow almost seemed to be enjoying taunting the royal man. "She is my fiancé." The man said. "Ohhh, good luck with that. You must be getting something good to have agreed to that union." Snow said with a smirk. "True love doesn't exist, it's all about business transactions and trades. isn't that right charming?" The mans' frown grew deeper and Azalea couldn't help but feel bad for the man. "Let me guess, she is the bargaining tool for two kingdoms to get along. You two are stopping a war of some sorts." The prince seemed angry at Snows accusation. "It's a merging! of two kingdoms. And quite frankly it isn't any of your business! Now this is what is going to happen." Snow nodded along, humming (With a bit of sarcasm) occasionally to show she was paying attention as the prince told the two his demands. "I'm going to cut you two down, take me to whoever has my jewels, and you're going to get my ring back." He said. "Hmm, and why would we do that?" Snow asked. "Because you don't want me to tell anyone who you really are." The prince said pulling a wanted poster out of his jacket pocket with Snow White's picture on it. "Now, Snow White , help me get my ring back or I will turn you, and your friend over to the queen's forces. And I'm pretty sure the queen isn't as....charming as I am." He said Snow frowned looking at Azalea who seemed at a loss of what to do. Snow couldn't go back to the evil queen, she would be killed. And Azalea was hiding from Rumple, if she was taken to the evil queen everyone would know who she was. The stupid royal man didn't even know that she was the last Flower Enchantress. "Just help him Snow, get the ring back then we will never see him again." The flower girl whispered. "Well," Snow said loudly enough for the prince to hear. "I wouldn't want to stand in the way of you getting your true love." The Prince smiled, celebrating his small victory and pulled his sword out, cutting the rope holding the two girls up. They both screamed as they fell to the ground. -Storybrooke, Granny's Diner-Henry and Emma sat at Granny's waiting for Azalea and Mary. Henry was bouncing in his seat with excitement. "I wonder what happened, I wonder if the prince woke up?" Henry kept asking. "Don't get your hopes up okay? We don't know if the whole reading to him thing even would work." Emma said as Mary and Azalea finally walked through the front doors. Azalea was dressed in her school uniform, nervously tugging on her jacket sleeve. Emma noted that Mary and Azalea both looked pretty shaken up. "There they are!" Henry said as the two women took a seat in front of them. "He woke up," Mary said, Emma frowned and Azalea looked at Henry as he smiled. "What?" Emma asked, shocked. "I knew it." Henry said. "I mean he didn't actually like, open his eyes wake up. But he grabbed my hand." Mary said looking more concerned then happy about the news. "Because he is remembering." Henry said with a huge grin. "What did the doctor say?" Emma asked Azalea. "He said that I imagined it but I know what happened, I'm not crazy. We have to go back." Mary said, not letting the teen speak in her excitement. "You have to read to him again." Henry said. "Let's go." Mary said as the two stood up. "Emma I'm sorry, Ive been trying to talk some since into her the whole way here. But she's dead set on this. She really thinks she's helping the John Doe guy." Azalea whispered. "Wait. Wait." Emma said as she and Azalea stood up from the table, stopping Mary and Henry. "You don't honestly believe that he is prince charming do you?" Emma asked Mary. "Or course not! But I made some kind of connection with the man. If I can help him wake up in any way...I'm sorry the plan didn't work." Mary said before the two left. "Are you okay?" Azalea asked Emma, knowing that she was upset the plan didn't work. If anything Henry probably believed in his fantasy more now then ever. "Yea, this town is just crazy." Emma said with bitterness in her voice before the two followed Mary and Henry out of the Diner. -Hospital-"See! He is waking up!" Henry said as they walked up to the room where John Doe was, except the room was full of people, nurses, and even the Sheriff. "Henry you should stay back." The Sheriff said stopping the boy from fully entering the room. "What happened? is John Doe okay?" Mary asked. "He went missing." the Sheriff said grimly. "What the hell are you doing here?" Regina walked out of the room John Doe used to be in and folded her arms looking at Henry. "I though you were at the arcade." She said sounding annoyed. "Now your lying to me?" She asked him. "What happened to John Doe, did someone take him?" Mary asked distracting Regina from her assault on her son. "We're not sure yet, his IV's were ripped out but there is no sign of a struggle." the Sheriff said. "What did you do?" Henry asked Regina. "You think I had something to do with this?" Regina asked Henry. "It is curious that the mayor is here." Emma said. "I'm John Doe's emergency contact." Regina explained. "You know him?" Mary asked. "I brought him here when I found him on the side of the road with no ID." Regina said glaring at Emma. "Is he going to be okay missing like this?" Mary asked the Doctor. "The man has been on feeding tubes for years and hasn't moved. If we don't find him soon he could be in danger." The doctor said. "Then we should start looking." Emma said. "You will do nothing of the sort. You need to learn to stay out of other peoples business. And since it seems like I can't keep you away from my son, I will have to keep him away from you." Regina said taking Henry's hand. "Sheriff! Find the John Doe soon, like the doctor said, time is precious." The mayor said before leaving with Henry. "When was the last time you saw the John Doe?" the Sheriff asked Mary after a brief moment of awkward silence. Azalea walked by Mary Margret, leaving the conversation as she entered the room John Doe was in. Her eyes landed on the flowers that she had left for him the day before. She picked up the flowers, and gasped when they started to faintly glow. 'What in the world?' She thought to herself. "Azalea, come on, we're going to the security room." Mary said getting the girls attention. Azalea nodded to Mary, and turned back to the vase of flowers. She looked over her shoulder to make sure that no one was looking before she pulled one of the flowers out of the vase and took it with her. -Security room, Hospital-"And you're sure you saw nothing?" The Sheriff asked the security guards. "We would have told you if we did." the grumpy one said. Emma looked closer at the tape. "We're not looking at the right one, this isn't the right tape." The Sheriff looked closer and nodded. "The decorations the kids left up would still be there, where is the real tape?" He asked the security guards. The guards looked around the room at the tape names confused for a few seconds before one of them pulled out another tape from their desk. "Here it is, I don't know how they got switched." The security guy said, honestly confused. The group watched as the tape played, and John Doe got out of his bed, and walked out one of the side doors. "This happened about four hours ago." Emma said. "Where does the door lead?" Mary asked. "The woods." the security guard said, folding his arms. "So he is somewhere out in the woods by himself." Mary said, sounding very concerned. "Come on then, we need to hurry and start looking." the Sheriff said. Azalea waited until everyone else had left the security room, before stepping up to the computer and rewinding the footage. She watched the screen in front of her, no one else had noticed (thank goodness) because the screen was blurring in and out...but Azalea saw it. She watched the tape as the flowers beside John Doe's bed started to glow. They glowed for a few minutes, then they started to fade, that's when the man got up. Azalea pulled the flower that she had hidden in her pocket out and it was still glowing. "What is happening?!" She asked herself.
-Enchanted Forest-
Snow White, Azalea, and Prince Charming walked along the path in silence as they made their way to the bridge where the Trolls were. Snow grasped onto the end of her necklace looking around as they walked. "What is that? I though you weren't the jewelry type?" The prince asked. "It's nothing." Snow said letting it go, before she could stop him the prince reached over and grabbed the necklace, tearing it from her neck. "No! It's a weapon!" Snow shouted as the prince held it. He took a closer look at it and saw that it was a heart shaped jar with some kind of dust in it. "Really? what kind of weapon is dust?" He asked. "Fairy dust," Snow said. "I though that was a good thing." The prince said. "From a good fairy yes, this stuff is deadly. It can turn any enemy into a bug." Mary explained. "Then why didn't you use it on me?" The prince asked. "Your not worth it." She said simply as he put the necklace in his jacket pocket. Azalea pulled her hood over her head, fearful that the nosey prince would try to take her flowers next. "That stuff is hard to come by, I'm saving it." Snow said. "Ohh the queen. You have a lot of anger towards her don't you?" The prince asked. "The charges on the wanted posters are lies, it didn't stop her huntsmen from trying to rip out my heart." Snow said. Azalea frowned, knowing the full story. "What happened?" the prince asked. "Not everyone is a soulless royal. He took pity on me and let me go." Snow said folding her arms. "Ever since I have been living in the forest, trying to make enough money to get away from this place. Where I can never get hurt." She said. "Sounds lonely." The prince commented. "It was, but then that fateful day I stole from your carriage I found myself a very good companion." Snow said before walking on ahead. Azalea passed the prince, she could feel him looking at her but she didn't acknowledge it. "Wait. What did Snow mean by that? I thought you two knew each other, you two robbed me as a team right?" The prince asked the girl. Azalea didn't answer, only looked at the prince before walking up to Snow. "She doesn't talk to people she can't trust." Snow said, speaking for Azalea. "Then why would she ever talk to you?" The prince asked with a smirk. "Because on the day we met we saved each other, from you." Snow said.
-Storybrooke-Azalea, Mary, Emma, and the Sheriff walked through the dark forest looking for John Doe. "I lost his trail." The Sheriff said with a sigh, standing up from where he was looking on the forest grounds. "Now what?" Emma asked. "Give me a minute and let me see if I can find it again." He said before wondering around. "Have you found anything? finding people is your job isn't it?" Mary asked Emma. "Yes, but usually my people don't run to the middle of the woods...it's usually places like Vegas." Emma admitted. Azalea took a few steps away from the ladies, and made sure they weren't paying attention before she pulled out the flower she had taken from the hospital. It was glowing stronger now in the woods then when it was in the hospital. 'I must be going crazy, there is no way I am doing this.' Azalea though to herself before wondering away from the group, watching the flower as the light grew dimmer and brighter. She would make her turns according to the glow. The stronger it light got she would go in that direction, if the light dimmed she would turn her direction until it shined brighter. She stopped when she saw something laying on the ground. "oh no," she said putting the flower in her pocket and leaning down. "Azalea! there you are! you can't run away like that you had me worried..." Snow said with Emma, Henry, and the sheriff behind her as the group ran up to the teenager. "What did you find?" The Sheriff asked leaning beside her. "Is that - " Mary asked in horror. They all looked at the hospital band that was on the ground, covered with blood. "It says John Doe, it's his. What happened to him?" Emma asked looking around the forest. "I-I just stumbled upon it." Azalea said standing up. "Really? you just found it?" Henry asked, sounding like he didn't believe me. "What are you even doing here? Your mom is going to kill you...and us." Azalea said. "I ran away. I know what John Doe is looking for." Henry said. "And what is that?" Emma asked, sounding suspicious. "Her." Henry said, pointing to Mary. "Henry, this isn't a time for fairy-tale stuff okay? This is a serious situation." Emma said, taking the boy's hands in hers. Azalea stepped back from the group again, holding her hand in her pocket, hiding the glowing flower there.
-Enchanted Forest, Troll Bridge-
Snow, The prince, and Azalea walked up to a bridge and stopped. "Is this it?" The prince asked. "Yes, now stay behind me, and keep quiet." Snow said before the three walked onto the bridge. "Let me do all the talking. Trolls can be hard to talk to sometimes." Snow said to the prince. "Where are they?" The prince asked as they walked onto the bridge. "Oh they wont come out until we give them something." Snow said, leaving a few gold coins on the wall of the bridge. It was silent at first, but then scraping noises were heard and suddenly Trolls were surrounding them, climbing up the side of the broken bridge and surrounding the group. "I thought we were done Snow, we bought your jewels." one of the Trolls growled. "I want to make another trade." Snow said. "Not with him here, who is this guy?" Another Troll asked to get into the prince's space. "He is with us, no one important. Look, I want to buy back the jewels I sold you." Snow said, skipping the small talk. "Who is he?!" The troll shouted pointing to the prince, he put his hands up to show he was peaceful while Snow stepped in front of him. "Like I said he is no one, now look I will give you back all the money you gave me, if you just give me the ring back. You can keep everything else. How does that sound?" She asked the Trolls. The leader Troll nodded and he pulled out a ring from his pocket. "How can you deny a deal like that?" the Troll asked. "Thank you we-" Before the prince could finish his sentence the Troll wrapped his arm around Snow's neck and pulled out a blade. "It's a setup! He is a royal!" The Trolls shouted"Let her go!" The prince shouted as he and the Trolls all pulled out weapons. Azalea jumped onto the side of the bridge and ran down the side to where the troll was holding Snow. "No! you can trust us, you can. Don't hurt us." Snow said, trying to calm everyone down. "The time for dealing is done, search him....and you, pull down your hood." The Troll said, looking at Azalea. She did as told and he growled when he saw the flowers in her hair. "Still have those protection spell flowers on you? That means we cannot harm her. Keep guard, make sure she doesn't move from her spot." Two Trolls stood in front of Azalea, blocking her from getting off the wall as two more Trolls started to search the prince. They pulled the wanted poster of Snow White from his jacket and started to laugh. "Looks like we have quite the reward for your head...take her." The Troll said, pushing Snow into the arms of another Troll, holding her in place with a blade to the neck. "Let her go!" Azalea shouted jumping on the Trolls back from the wall of the bridge. He let go of Snow and she was able to pick up the sword he dropped from the shock of Azalea's attack, throwing it to the prince. The Troll threw Azalea off of him and she hit the ground, rolling a few times before stopping herself. She groaned as she slowly sat up, struggling to catch her breath. She watched for a few moments as the prince and Snow fought the Trolls. "Azalea watch out!" the prince shouted, she turned just in time to roll out of the way of a sword attack from another Troll, she jumped up and ran to Snow, helping her up before the two ran to the end of the bridge. "Let's go Charming!" Snow shouted before turning around and seeing that he was surrounded by Trolls. "We can't let him die like this." She said before running back to the bridge. Azalea stood back, calling out "Charming throw the fairy dust! hurry!" The prince reached into his pocket, taking out the dust and throwing it onto the ground, the Trolls screamed before shrinking into tiny bugs. "We won," The prince said, looking around in shock. "Yea, sorry about the ring." Snow said, picking it up, broken in pieces in her palm. "It's fine, I'm sorry about your dust." He said as Azalea ran onto the bridge to join them. "I will find another way to get rid of the evil queen." Snow said with a frown. "I'm sure you two will." The prince said, looking at Azalea. "How come the trolls didn't touch you?" He asked. "Her flowers have a protection spell on them, anyone who tries to touch her with intention to hurt her gets shocked, trust me I've seen how much it can hurt someone." Snow said. "Thank you guys, for coming back for me." The prince said. "How could we let prince charming die?" Snow asked. "I have a name you know, it's James." He said with a grin. "Nice to meet you James, we should go. There could be more Trolls coming." Snow said as the group gathered their things and left the bridge.
-Storybrooke-"Where is he? Can anyone see him?" Mary asked as the group made it to the lake that ran through the forest. There was a broken bridge near them as they shined their flashlights, looking for the lost John Doe. "The trail dies at the waterline." the Sheriff said with a sigh. Azalea took the flower back out of her pocket, the glow so strong now it looked like a flashlight of its own. She held it out and turned, watching as it grew brighter. She quickly walked along the waterline, the flower suddenly stopped glowing, going limp in her hand. "Wait - No! Where is he?" Azalea asked, looking around. She took her actual flashlight back out and pointed it at the ground around her frantically. She gasped as the light landed on a body in the water. "I found him!" She shouted pointing a few feet in the river. "I need help!" She called running to him. "Ohmygod! hurry!" Mary called as she, Emma, and the Sheriff ran out to help the teenager pull the John Doe from the water. Henry watched from the side with fear in his eyes. "I need an ambulance out by the old toll bridge ASAP!" the Sheriff called on his walkie-talkie as they all carried John Doe to shore. "Is he okay?!" Henry asked, sounding scared. "Henry, don't look." Emma said running to the boy and turning him away from the scene. "Come back to us, come back." Mary said feeling for a pulse. "He isn't breathing." the Sheriff said. "We need to start CPR." Mary said as Azalea put shaky hands on the man's chest, She counted out loud 20 times before Mary bent down to do mouth to mouth. The two repeated this a few times, suddenly the man coughed, spitting up water and Azalea pulled back with the sheriff to give him room as MAry helped the man turn onto his side and coughed up more water. The man opened his eyes and looked up at Mary Margret, who seemed frozen with shock as she held him in her arms. "You saved me." The man whispered, in awe. "She woke him up, she did it." Henry said, smiling to Emma. "Yea she did kid." Emma said, shocked. "Who are you?" Mary asked the man. "I-I don't know." the man said, sounding hopeless. "It's okay. You're going to be okay." Mary said, holding onto his hand as the sound of sirens started to grow in the distance. Azalea started to shiver as the adrenaline stopped pumping through her veins, leaving behind the feeling of the cold water on her clothes from digging up the man from the water. The Sheriff took off his jacket and went to hand it to her, but she took the offered jacket and layed it over the man's body. So many thoughts and questions filled the teens head, as the sound of sirens filled her ears. -Hospital-Everyone ran down the hospital hallway as John Doe was rushed into a room. "Is he going to be okay?" the Sheriff asked the Doctor. "We can't be sure of anything right now. But if it weren't for you guys he might not have made it back at all." He said before going into the room to assist the nurses. Azalea leaned against the wall as everyone stood around, not knowing what to do next. A few moments passed of silence, until a woman shouting got everyone's attention. "David! Where is he?" A blonde woman came into the hallway followed by Regina. The woman ran into the room, passing everyone. "Who is that?" Mary asked in confusion. "His wife," Regina said, folding her arms and smirking at us. Everyone gave each other confused looks as Azalea turned to look through the window of the room, watching the blonde woman cry with joy over John Doe...no, David.
-Enchanted Forest-
The trio walked through the enchanted forest, the further they got from the Troll bridge the more their spirits lifted. Azalea picked flowers off the side of the trail as they walked along. Giving the two behind her some alone time to talk and such. Azalea would occasionally look behind her, seeing Snow and James smile. She looked down at the flower crowns in her hands she had been creating as they walked. It had been awhile since she had made a flower crown, there was no one to make one for. She would make them all the time with her mother...Now after all these years, maybe she had found someone to call at least a companion. "Come on Azalea, we're leaving." Snow called, She turned and walked up to the two and gave the prince a shy smile, handing him a purple and yellow flower crown. "For me? Why is it a crown almost as honorary as a royal one." He said putting it on top of his head. "As if, Azalea's are much better than a royal crown. Goodbye charming." Snow said. "Goodbye Snow White. And like I said, the name is James." He said. "Na, I still like charming better." Snow said before the two girls turned and took an opposite path then the prince. "you better have one of those for me as well." Snow said, a hint of jealousy in her voice, smiling at Azalea. The girl simply handed her the one she made and Snow smiled, putting it on her head. "Do you like him…the prince?" Azalea asked. "He is charming. I'll give him that. But it would never work out, he is royalty, and I'm running away from royalty." The two walked on and continued their journey together. But Azalea couldn't help but wonder if this was the last time they would run into Prince Charming. The way that the two talked to each other, reminded her of how her mother and father would talk to each other.
-Hospital-"His name is David Nolan, and that's his wife Kathryn." Regina explained as Mary watched the woman talk to David outside of the room, no longer needing to be named John Doe. "And the joy on her face, well it has put me in quite the forgiving mood." Regina said looking to Emma. "We will talk about how you ran away from me again later." Regina said looking at Henry. The woman, David's wife, walked out of the room, taking one last look at David. "Thank you, for saving my David." She said looking to Mary Margret and Azalea. "I- uh don't understand. You didn't know he was here in a coma?" Mary asked. "A few years ago David and I were not getting along. It was my fault I know that now. I was difficult and un-supportive, I told him if he didn't like things then he could leave. He did and I didn't stop him, it was the worst mistake I ever made." The woman said, here eyes filling with tears as she looked down at her hands. "You didn't go looking for him?" Emma asked. "I assumed he had left town all this time. I had no idea what had happened, and now I can do what I've wanted to do for a long time. Say 'I'm sorry' Now we get a second chance." She said looking into the room at David. "That's...wonderful." Mary said with a sad grin, Azalea didn't miss the water gathering in her friends eyes. The doctor came out of the room and looked at the small crowd. "It is something of a miracle. He is okay physically, but his memory is gone, if not forever. But you can never be sure on that kind of stuff." He said. "Can I see him?" The blonde lady asked. "Sure," the doctor said leading her back into the room. "How did you all find him anyway?" Regina asked. "Azalea did," Mary said turning to the teenager. Azalea could swear that Regina was glaring at her as she explained herself. "I was just walking along the lake edge, trying to see if I saw anything." She said quietly, before looking down. Unable to keep eye contact with someone as intimidating as the Mayor. "I see...lets go Henry." Regina said, walking past the teenager, knocking into her a bit with her shoulder, taking Henry's hand and leaving. Emma got up and followed them, looking angry. Azalea put her hand in her pocket to get the flower that had been glowing oddly (and how somehow helped her find David) but it wasn't in her pocket. Azalea looked alarmed as she checked all of her school uniform pockets - but it was gone. "What are you looking for?" Mary asked. "Um-nothing. nothing important." She said, her face flushing. "It's been a long day...let's go home." Mary said, looking into the room with sadness. Watching the woman talking to David with such a big smile on her face. Azalea couldn't stand to see Mary look sad, she took her hand and gently pulled her away from the room and down the hospital hallway. ' The flower is gone...was it really ever there? Am I going insane?!' Azalea thought to herself as the two left David in the Hospital with his wife. -Mayor's office, later that night-Regina was sitting in her office, a single limp flower right in the middle of her office desk. She had 'accidentally' knocked herself into Azalea's side long enough to swipe the flower she had in her pocket from her. "How did you manage to use a locator spell without even knowing it miss Azalea?" Regina asked herself, running her hand over the flower. It glowed brightly before turning to dust. Regina growled. It should be impossible, there is no magic in this dark place. "But somehow that annoying little flower girl used it to find Mr.Charming. Now I have to make sure she doesn't learn about any other magic tricks." Regina said to herself, standing up and putting the dust of the flower into a trash can.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
-Storybrooke, Flower Shop-
Azalea walked around her flower shop, checking up on all her plants to make sure they were healthy. She held a flower petal between her fingers, so gently, with the most care her hands could muster. She touched the flowers in her own hair, yellow and red today, woven with her braid. After the craziness of what had happened with the glowing flower that had helped find David....Azalea found peace in her shop. She was surrounded by her favorite things. She had no explanation for what had happened with the glowing flower, she looked through all her flower books, checked over all the flowers that were the same one she had used to actually find him, and she had even googled 'glowing flowers finding lost people', but she couldn't find an answer. It had been in the back of her mind since that fateful night David woke up. She had been avoiding the found man with amnesia all together, scared for some odd reason of what he would say to her. The bell to her door chimed and Azalea was pulled from her thoughts. "Hello Dearie." Azalea turned to the to see none other than Mr.Gold walking in with his cane. Azalea nodded to him and walked over to the counter, opening the cash register and pulling out the money she owed him for the month's rent. Not even Azalea could get away from Mr.Gold's taxes on all the shops in Storybrooke. "How are you today, flower girl?" Mr.Gold asked as he took the money from her. "Good," Azalea said quietly, folding her hands in front of her and avoiding eye contact with the man. "It would seem so, tell me if the rumors around town are true... you helped in finding David the other day correct?" He asked with a grin. "I-I was just looking at the sheriff, Emma, and Mary." Azalea said, shifting nervously. "ohh, but I heard that you were the one who actually got an eye of him first....if I may ask, how did you find him?" He asked Azalea, who was blushing. "I just saw him. We -uh, were looking and I saw him in the water." Azalea said, her shoulders locked and her feet frozen to the floor in some odd fear she couldn't name as she finally looked Mr.Gold in the eye. The man smiled, but it didn't comfort Azalea at all. "I see, well I thank you for the rent money. Have a swell day." He said, taking his cane and walking to the door. Azalea's shoulders relaxed as he got further away from her. "Oh my!" He said, stopping by the display of dark green flowers beside the door. "These are quite pretty, they are the ones you took to the hospital correct?" Mr.Gold asked. Azalea nodded, watching as he plucked one from the display. He looked over the flower, as if he were examining it. "So these were in David's room when he woke up? What a lovely sight to wake up to...I must be going, but I hope you don't mind if I keep this - just in case I ever have to find anyone." Mr.Gold opened the door and left the shop. Azalea let herself breath again as the fear fully left her body. It was as if he knew everything! He knew about the glowing flower, about how she found David with it. How could he know?! Azalea hadn't told anyone, if she did no one would believe her. What would happen if others found out? Would they think she was crazy? "Maybe I am going a bit insane." Azalea said to herself looking at the dark green flowers. She sighed and pulled a book out from under the counter and set it beside the register. She smiled, letting her fingers run over the cover of the old book. It read "Flower Book '' from what she had been told this was the last thing she ever had from her mother. It was just a children's book full of made up spells and potions made from flowers. But it always made Azalea feel better, no matter how many times she flipped through the pages. She started to look over the hand drawn pictures with flowers and magical words. She stopped when she got to a new page in the book. "How can that be? I've looked through this book a million times...I've never seen this page though." Azalea asked herself, the picture of the flower was dark green. Just like the flowers that she had left for David, and Mr.Gold had peeked interest in. Azalea read the title of the page. 'Locator spell: Find people using this flower's glow.' Azalea shut the book quickly, the echo of the pages smacking together echoed in her ears. "I'm actually losing my mind." Azalea said, shoving the book back under the counter and busying herself with the flowers around the shop, trying to forget what she had just seen.
-Mary's Apartment-
"I'm so glad my stuff is here." Emma said as Mary walked over with two cups of tea. The two had finally started moving Emma into Mary's apartment and they both seemed pretty happy about it. "So this is all your stuff?" Mary asked looking at the few boxes around Emma. "What do you mean?" Emma asked. "Is the rest in storage?" Mary asked. "No this is all of it...I'm not sentimental." Emma said looking at her small pile. The door opened and Azalea walked in wearing her school uniform, flower pot in hand. "Oh thank you so much, I have been needing something new for my window." Mary said taking it and looking at the flowers, Azalea blushed as Mary praised the arraignment. "Moving in?" Azalea asked Emma, looking over the boxes in Mary's living room. "Uh, yea I am." Emma said, after a few seconds. The girl had not said anything directly to Emma yet without Mary suggesting something in conversation. Emma was happy about the progress of her relationship with the shy teenager. "I was just about to make breakfast! Would you like to help Azalea?" Mary asked, Azalea walked into the kitchen when a knock on the front door rang through the room. "Who could that be at this time?" Mary asked walking to the door. She opened the door too see none other than Mr.Gold. "Ms.Blanchard, is Ms.Swan here?" He asked. Azalea looked away form Mr.Gold, feeling that same anxiety she had felt in her Flower Shop as Mary called for Emma. "Hello, my name is Mr.Gold, we met briefly on your arrival." He said introducing himself to Emma. "I remember," Emma said. "Good. I have a proposition for you Ms.Swan. I uh, need your help. I'm looking for someone." Emma looked surprised. "Oh really?" She asked. Mr.Gold looked over at Azalea and she felt a chill run up her back. "Why don't we go finish breakfast while you two talk?" Mary said taking Azalea's hand and leading her to the kitchen. "Seemed a bit awkward with us there," Mary whispered with a smile. Azalea nodded and looked down at the sink. "Hey, are you okay? You look kind of pale." Mary said, pressing her hand on Azalea's forehead. "I'm fine, I'm just naturally this color you know." Azalea said, trying to joke a bit. Mary smiled and the two started breakfast. Azalea tried to shake the feeling of deja-vu she had gotten from the spine chilling fear. She didn't understand, it was just Mr.Gold, sure he held a lot of power but he had no reason to strike such fear with her...He had never really scared her like that before. Azalea tried to push the thoughts into the back of her mind as she and Mary cooked breakfast.
-Enchanted Forest-
"Cinderella is going to love these flowers. What is their magic property?" James asked as Azalea walked between him and Snow holding the flower pot in her hands. The three were walking into the castle together and it was crowded, people all around them. Azalea looked around at all the people, decorations, and food with wide child like eyes that Snow had never seen in the young flower enchantress before, it was very adorable. "I think this is a bit overwhelming for her." Snow said with a grin as Azalea snapped out of her trance. "This place is beautiful! Are you sure it is okay for me to be here?" Azalea asked, looking around nervously, her hand holding James tightly. The palace was full of royals and rich people. They were all here to celebrate Cinderella's wedding. Azalea couldn’t help but feel out of place, even with her ball gown that Snow has let her borrow from her childhood. "For the thousandth time, yes, you are Snow and I plus one. Now, what magic do these flowers hold?" James asked again with father-like patience. "They are called White Lily's. They are known for their ability to predict when there will be a shooting start to wish on. They glow when a shooting star is nearby." Azalea said gently, holding one of the petals in-between her fingers, smiling as she talked about the flowers. The fireworks started going off in the sky as Cinderella and her Prince came down the stairs of their castle. Everyone clapped and cheered as the couple waved to everyone. "Come on," Snow said, taking Azalea's hand and pulling her over to the beautiful princess. Azalea suddenly got very nervous as she stood in front of two royal women. "Snow! I'm so glad you could come." Cinderella said hugging Snow, the two princes shook hands and Azalea stood by them, feeling awkward as she held the flower pot in her hands. "And this must be Azalea, I have heard much about you." Cinderella said after pulling away from Snow's hug and looking at the girl. Azalea nodded and held out the flowers to her. "It's a wedding gift, she is a flower enchantress. She grew these just for you two." Snow said for the shy girl as Cinderella smiled and took the gift. "They are wonderful. Thank you so much." Cinderella said with a smile, before passing the gift to one of her servants who took it away from the group. Probably to put the flowers with all the other gifts the royal couple would be receiving tonight. Azalea gave Cinderella a shy smile before looking around at everything around her again. Not particularly interested in what the royal men and women were chatting about. She felt very out of her element, but as James took her hand in his again she felt herself relax, just a little. James pulled her into his side, and she sighed with relief, relaxing into the man's side and letting his warmth act as a protective blanket of sorts. James couldn’t help but grin as he talked to the newly married prince, noting Azalea’s hand clutching his shirt.
-Later that Night-
"You don't look like you're having much fun," James said standing beside Azalea as she watched everyone dancing to the music filling the air by the wall. "I'm not very good at dancing," Azalea admitted, looking down at her dress. "Then let me teach you, I have nothing better to do. My date is chatting with the other princesses too much." James said, smiling across the room to Snow as she talked to some of the ladies. "You don't have to entertain me, I'm having a great time James." Azalea said, looking around the room. Something caught her eye and she felt her whole world freeze in fear. Her breath caught in her throat as she laid her eyes on Rumpelstiltskin. She blinked, then blinked again. But he was still there, standing in the middle of the ballroom, looking right at her. He looked older, but it was him. "Azalea, what's wrong? You look pale." James said, placing a gentle hand on the frozen girl's shoulder. Azalea didn’t even hear him, and she watched as Rumple smirked, and started to move through the crowd further from her, towards the exit. Azalea gasped a breath of air before launching herself off of the wall, chasing after him. "Azalea! Where are you going!?" James shouted after her, but she couldn't lose Rumple, not now. She had been running for so long, Rumple had finally found her and he was running away. And she wouldn't accept that, not from him. Not after all that he had done to her. Azalea kicked off her shoes to gain speed as she chased the Dark One out the ballroom and into an empty hallway. She paused, sensing Rumple’s dark magic before running as fast as she could down the hall, there was nowhere else for him to go besides the door at the end of the hallway. She reached it and caught her breath, her hands shaking as she pushed the door open. The cold air of the night hit her as she stepped through the door onto the castle walls. Rumple facing her, waiting for her. "Hello dearie! Long time no see." He said with a smirk as she glared at him. "Still have nothing to say to me after all of these years, my you have grown so much. No longer the young defenseless child...now your just a defenseless teenage girl." He said taking a few steps closer to her, Azalea stood her ground, clenching her fist together to try and stop the shaking, what was her plan here? She had chased down Rumple on pure instinct...but she didn't think of what she would do once she got to him. The wind blew harshly as the two stood in silence. "I see that you still keep those protection spell flowers in your hair...if it weren't for those my locator spell would have been completed years ago. But the protection spell you were wearing when you were a child was made by your mother...a powerful flower enchantress. I would bet that you made your own protection spell flowers to protect yourself from me...but guess what?! You are not your mother! And now there is no one to protect you from me." He said pointing to Azalea. "And there is nothing stopping me from getting your heart now! My magic is stronger than yours!" He shouted going to attack her. Azalea screamed and covered her face, knowing that she was too weak to fight the Dark One. Paralized with fear. Instead of feeling pain, she heard a scream of pain. She looked up and saw Rumple clutching his hand, smoke coming from it. Her flower crown had protected her from him! He looked up at her with a glare. "So you do have some talent in you after all. Who would have known you could make a protection spell strong enough to hurt me?...interesting." He said looking down at his burnt hand. "Get away from her Rumple!" Azalea gasped as she felt someone pull her back. She turned and saw Snow holding onto her with a death grip, James stepping in front of the two ladies holding his sword at Rumple’s neck. "I don't know why you're here but you better leave before I make you." James said glaring at Rumple, the tip of his sword digging against the man's scaly skin. "Calm down prince boy...I only came to have a word with the newly wed, but I had the honor of running into an old acquaintance as well...trust me Azalea, I will be seeing you again." Rumple said, looking past the prince to the flower enchantress. Azalea felt Snow hold her tighter in her arms as Rumple laughed, before disappearing in a gust of black magic. "Are you alright?!" Snow asked, taking Azalea's face into her hands, looking over her frantically for injuries. "Yes," Azalea said, her voice breaking as James walked over to them. "What did he mean by he will be seeing you again?" He asked. Azalea took a shaky breath in looking at the couple. "I think-he still wants my heart...after all these years he still wants to kill me for some 'locator spell' he has been trying to complete...but who is he looking for?" She asked, clutching her chest in fear.
-Storybrooke-
Azalea gasped sitting up in her bed, waking up from her sleep suddenly. She sucked in deep breaths as she double checked her surroundings. "Again," She sighed, falling back into her comforter. As long as she could remember she had been having nightmares, luckily she doesn't remember them when she wakes up. But they sucked when they woke her up in the middle of the night leaving her breathless. Knowing she couldn't fall back asleep she got up and checked the time "5:47, what now?" She asked herself looking around her seemingly empty apartment. She sat by her window with a cup of tea looking up at the stars and the ticking clock tower as she tried, once again, to remember what nightmare kept her up at night.
-Enchanted Forest-
"Why are we down here?" Cinderella asked as she, her husband, Grumpy, James, and Azalea walked through the dungeons of their palace where all the prisoners went. "We need a place to keep Rumpelstiltskin, he's the most dangerous man to walk the Enchanted forest. He needs his own special prison." James said as Azalea walked beside him holding onto the box in her hands with attentiveness. "How do you all plan to capture him? He has alluded to all our forces." Cinderella said, looking concerned, her hands resting on top of her extended belly. Azalea glanced at the pregnant princess, her hands nervously running over the box she held so dearly "His strength is also his weakness...his deals. He can't resist them, and we already know what he wants next...you." Grumpy said as the group stopped walking, Cinderella looked at the tiny prison carved into the walls meant for Rumple. It did seem sturdy, but could it really hold such a powerful man like Rumple? "We sent word with one of Snow's blue birds. He has accepted a meeting with you. You're going to tell him you're having twins. And if he wants both- "Which he will." Azalea interrupted the guys, holding the box to her chest looking at the prison. "You propose a new deal." James continued, putting a hand on Azalea's shoulder, trying to comfort the poor girl. James nodded to Azalea, glancing at the box in her hands. Azalea turned to face Cinderella and opened the box to show a feathered quill. "A quill? I don't understand what this is for." Cinderella said, looking at Azalea. "Azalea has been able to cast a spell on it using squid ink, whoever signs their name with this pen will be frozen. Their magic is unusable." Grumpy explained. "All you must do is get him to sign the contract." James said, looking at Cinderella. "You are doing the entire land a service by putting him away." He said as Cinderella shook her head. "Should we be using magic? All magic comes with a price! What if this magic has a price as well? I'm already paying the price for the magic I used that night I met Prince Thomas." Cinderella said. "I already paid the price." Azalea said, closing the box gently and handing it to Cinderella. "And if there is anymore to pay then I will pay it, I will do anything to save you and our child." Cinderella's husband, Thomas, said, hugging her close. "What price did you pay on my behalf?" Cinderella asked Azalea. "Don't be concerned about what I have done...I want Rumple to be put away. I was willing to pay the price I did." She said looking down. Cinderella gasped, seeing the flower crown that usually decorated her hair wasn't there. "Where is the flower crown I see you wearing everyday?" She asked. "I gave it up for the magic of making this pen. I have others, but the one I usually wear was the one I made from my mothers flower garden the day Rumple killed her and the rest of my family...please Cinderella, bring justice to the land and to my family." Azalea said, taking Cinderella's hands into her own. "Please, I know I have no right asking you...If I would have let him have my heart all those years ago, he wouldn't be after your child's." Azalea said, looking down at her feet in shame. Tears in the girl's eyes. Cinderella pulled the flower enchantress to her chest in a tight hug. "Don't you dare speak like that...Rumple may have taken your brother's heart, but he wont have yours. Or my child's. I will do whatever I need to do, for my family, and in honor of the last flower enchantress's family." Cinderella said as Azalea hid her face in Jame's chest, his arms wrapping around her. He held onto her tightly as Azalea quietly cried. "You can do this Ella." Thomas said, kissing Cinderella's forehead. "Okay," Cinderella nodded. "Let's get Rumpelstiltskin."
-Storybrooke, Flower Shop-
Azalea watched as people walked by her store. Some people would stop every few moments, looking at the flower displays in the window of her store. Azalea sighed and walked around the store, checking to see if each of her flowers were blooming well and growing healthy. It was a slow day in her flower shop, usually she didn't mind the slow days. But she would have rather had a busy day to distract her from her thoughts and worries. The bell rang and she looked up, her body locked up with anxiety as she saw Mr.Gold standing at the door. "Hello again, don't worry I'm not here for any money. I am actually in need of some flowers....you see the maid from Granny's bed and breakfast just went into labor. I'm going to stop by and congratulate her! Would you recommend any flowers?" He asked the teenager to walk over. Azalea nodded and walked over to some white lily's and gathered some, showing them to Mr.Gold. "Why, what a lovely choice. I'll take them." He said walking over to the register with an odd grin. "How did you get so good at growing these fine flowers?" Mr.Gold asked as Azalea rang him up for the flowers. "My mother taught me." She said with a slight smile. Mr.Gold paid her and gave her his change. She got a plastic vase to set the flowers in before putting the flowers into Mr.Gold's awaiting hands. "You know I have never heard of what happened to your family....if you don't mind my asking?" Mr.Gold asked. Azalea gave him a confused look, everyone knew what happened to her family. Did he really not know? And if he did, why did he wait till this moment to ask? It all seemed so random to the girl. "They were murdered." Azalea said, her voice weak. "My, I'm so sorry. Who on earth could be so evil? I'm sorry for your loss but I must be on my way to the hospital. I am very excited about the baby, I can't wait to see what kind of heart it has." Mr.Gold said looking at the flowers. "If we're lucky it will have one like yours…so pure." He said before leaving the shop. Azalea's shoulders relaxed and she rubbed her hands together nervously. Mr.Gold had been acting strangely ever since Emma arrived, well everyone had been acting differently since Emma showed up in Storybrooke.
-Enchanted Forest-
Azalea sat with James as they watched from a distance as Cinderella waited for Rumple to show up for their meeting. They had arranged to meet in Cinderella's garden. The Dwarfs, Thomas, James, and Azalea were all hiding around the garden. Azalea and James were hiding in a bush together. "You know that without you this plan would have never worked, thank you for all your hard work." James said, looking at Azalea. "I just want Rumple to be away from people...all he does is hurt, and I just want it to stop." She said, right before Rumple appeared out of the dark. "There he is." James said as the monster and Cinderella started to talk. They were too far away from Azalea and James for them to hear, but they watched as Cinderella pulled out the quill and contract for Rumple to sign and for a few seconds Azalea forgot how to breathe. They talked a few more moments before Rumple took the paper and quill. James took Azalea's shaking hand as Rumple signed the paper. A whooshing sound filled her ears as a blue aura grew around Rumple, freezing him! The squid ink had worked! "THOMAS!" Cinderella shouted as James pulled himself and Azalea out of the bushes. "No one breaks deals with me dearie!" Rumple said as Thomas brought the cage to put Rumple in with Grumpy. James and Azalea ran over as Thomas checked over Cinderella to make sure she was okay. "You...you flower enchantress BRAT! You must be strong to have made that quill." Rumple said spotting Azalea. Grumpy stood in front of her protectively as Azalea glared at Rumple. The teenager knew that Rumple couldn't hurt her while trapped with the squid ink magic. "Let's put Rumple in the cage and take him to his new prison." James said with a smirk. “I knew you were powerful dearie but this is quite the surprise!" Rumple said ignoring everyone else around him as his eyes (the only part of his body that could move) stayed glued to Azalea. "Do you know why I wanted Cinderella's baby? Because babies have pure hearts. And I only need one more to finish my location potion. But you, flower enchantress, you are special! You have a pure heart, and you will always have it. Most good hearts can be corrupted by evil. But yours cannot! You were born with a rare pure heart from your parents true love. I needed two pure hearts, but I only got one on that day I visited your family home. Do you remember?! How I ripped your brother's heart from his chest! AND I WILL GET YOU! YOU CANNOT GET AWAY FROM ME! I WILL FIND YOU-GET YOUR HEART-AND FINISH MY POTION IF IT IS THE LAST THING I DO!" Rumple was in hysterics by the time the guards had put him in the cage. "He will never get you, I will always make sure of that." James said, pulling Azalea into his arms. Azalea was shaking with fear. She felt so scared, like nothing could protect her from Rumple's wrath. He would never stop chasing her, till she was dead like her brother. "We will never let him get you." James promised as the girl held onto James like a lifeline.
-Storybrooke-
"How was your day Azalea?" Mary asked as the two girls sat together in Mary's apartment with cups of tea in their Pj's. "Mine was fine, how are you and David doing?" Azalea asked with a playful smirk. "Oh nothing is happening there, nothing can happen. He's happily married." Mary said, looking upset. "You never know...you could be a homewrecker." Azalea teased with a grin as Emma walked into the apartment. "Hey guys. Guess who is a new deputy?" She asked, pointing to herself. "Really? That's amazing! I'm sure Henry will be thrilled." Mary said, getting up and hugging Emma. Azalea smiled, she was glad Emma was staying in Storybrooke. The three girls continued to talk and hang out, but Azalea couldn't get Mr.Gold out of her mind. She suddenly felt so anxious around him, but she couldn't place why. Azalea looked out the window as Emma and Mary chatted, watching the clock tick. Azalea didn't know much, but she did know that something strange was going on in Storybrooke.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
-Storybrooke-
Azalea sat in class, playing with the flower crown on her head. She really didn't like school. She had a job, she was financially stable. She knew she needed education but she couldn't help but feel like sometimes it was a waste of her time. The bell finally rang and she stood up, gathering her books as the rest of the teenagers around her rushed out of the classroom. "Azalea, can I talk to you for a minute?" Her teacher asked, sitting at her desk. Azalea nodded and slowly walked to the front of the room. "Azalea, how are things for you?" The teacher asked. Azalea blinked, thrown off by the question. "Um-yes?- um good." She said holding onto her books in her arms. She just wanted to hurry and get to her flower shop. "I'm only asking because you seem more quiet than usual...I'm concerned." The teacher said, folding her hands on her desk. "I'm fine. Nothing has really changed." Azalea lied with a shrug of her shoulders. There was an awkward silence that fell between the teacher and student, Azalea refused to look into the teachers eyes as she stared at the girl. "Look, I can only imagine how hard it is for a girl to live on her own at such a young age...if you ever need anything. Please. Don't bother to ask, there is no shame in needing help." The teacher said getting up from her seat. Azalea took a step back from the teacher's advance and looked to the door. Her teacher sighed. "That is all, your free to go." Azalea nodded politely before walking out of the door and down the school hall. She exited the school and started her usual walk to her flower shop. 'Have I been acting so differently that I have started to get attention from people?' She wondered to herself. She was lost in her thoughts till the earth shook under her feet, almost knocking her over. She grabbed onto the stop sign pole close to her so she could hold herself up until the shaking stopped. "Are you alright Azalea?!" She turned and saw Dr.Hopper running to her from down the street with his dog Pongo. "I'm alright." She said standing up straight and looking around as the townspeople checked on each other around the street. "That was a crazy earthquake wasn't it? I have never witnessed one before." Dr.Hopper said, amazed as a group of people started to wander down the street. "Let's go see what this is all about shall we?" He asked the teenager. Azalea thought about it, by the looks of things most of Storybrooke was going to the same place anyway so there would be no one at her shop. She nodded and the doctor smiled as the two made their way to follow the group, and see what had caused that earthquake.
-Abandoned Mines-
"Everyone step back please!" Regina called as she pushed through the group of people surrounding the abandoned mines area. Azalea and Dr.Hopper watched from a distance as people looked around and chatted with one another. "It seems like one of the old mines has collapsed or something." Dr.Hopper said as he observed what was happening. "I guess that they will just close all the entrances to the mines or bury them...Probably the safest thing to do." He said looking down at Azalea. "I guess," She said before turning away "I need to go open the shop now." Azalea said, losing interest in whatever had happened. "Alright, I may come by later and get some new flowers for my office. My pacients love the smell of your flowers." He said before Azalea left to go to the comfort of her flower shop, but not before giving Pongo a few pats on the head.
-The Next Day-
Azalea walked up the steps to her apartment and went to open her door, but stopped with her hand on the door knob and looked over to Mary's door. Would Mary mind if she came over again? Wouldn't Mary get sick of her constant presence? Azalea blinked before going to get the keys out of her purse, ready to enter her own apartment. "Hey Azalea! I was just getting back from the Sheriff's office. Wanna come over?" Emma asked, coming up behind her from the apartment steps. Azalea looked over her shoulder, smiling before she dropped the keys back in her bag. Emma smiled and put her arm over Azalea's shoulder, pulling the girl into her and Mary's apartment before Azalea could even change out of her school uniform. "Where is Mary?" Azalea asked as she looked around the empty apartment. "Where do you think?" Emma asked with sarcasm.
-The Hospital-
"Is it M?" Mary asked, looking up at David. "Nope, and you lose." David said with a grin taking the paper away from Mary. "How are you so good at hangman?" Mary asked with a grin as David wrote on the paper. "When you have nothing else to do you get pretty good at one of the only games you can play." David said, folding the paper up. "So…that girl, what is her name? The one with the flower crowns?" David asked. "Azalea, she is my neighbor. What about her?" Mary asked, surprised about the sudden topic change. "She hasn't come to see me since she found me that night, I wandered from the hospital. I just wanted to thank her but I can't leave..." David said. "She probably won't come by, she is just really shy and it's hard to get past the wall she puts up around strangers." Mary explained sympathetically. "I think she has trust issues, her family was...well, they were murdered when she was younger and she has lived on her own ever since. It just takes awhile for her to talk to people and trust them." Mary said, looking down. "That is really sad. Hopefully I will be able to thank her, just another reason I want to be out of this hospital." David said, sounding annoyed. "I'm glad you're here to volunteer. Makes the days go by quicker." He said with a grin to Mary before the door opened to his room. "David!" His wife smiled walking in and Mary's smile shrank in itself. Cathrine walked over and Mary stood up awkwardly. "I need to be going actually, hope you two have a good day." Mary said before quickly excusing herself. '
What am I even doing here? David is a married man!
' Mary thought as she quickly left the hospital.
-Mary's Apartment-
"I'm the worst person in the world." Mary said, taking the toasted marshmallow she had been heating up over her stove and setting it on the cracker, before handing it to Azalea. The three girls were sitting in Mary's apartment, enjoying the afternoon with smores. "Really? In the whole world?" Emma asked, raising her eyebrow to her dramatic friend. "If Catherine were horrible it would be easier…but she's soooo - nice." Mary said like it pained her to say it. "And what exactly would be easier?" Emma asked, standing behind Azalea as she ate her smore. "Nothing...nothing would be easier." Mary said after thinking for a few seconds. "Nothing is a good answer." Emma agreed as a knock sounded from the door. "I'll get it." Emma said leaving Azalea to open the door only to see Henry with tears running down his face. "Kid! What happened?!" Emma asked getting on her knees to be level with Henry. He didn't answer, just wrapped his arms around Emma as she carried him inside and shut the door. "He
-sob-
said I was crazy! Dr.Hopper thinks I'm crazy." Henry struggled to say as he cried. Emma's face hardened and she stood up, marching out of the apartment. Leaving an upset Henry with Azalea and Mary. "You stay here with him...I'm going to stop Emma from murdering Dr.Hopper." Mary whispered to Azalea before running out of the apartment after Emma. Azalea walked over to Henry and hugged him, holding him as he cried. She couldn’t believe Dr.Hopper would ever say anything to make anyone cry. She was so confused.
-Flower Shop-
The next day Azalea was sitting in her flower shop, thinking about the whole situation with Henry, how apparently Dr.Hopper had told him that his fairy-tale delusion was just that, a delusion. Emma had been upset and practically told off the therapist in his office. She didn't know what happened after that, but hoped that everything was okay. "Hello dearie." Azalea turned to see Mr.Gold standing in front of the register. Did she miss the bell going off when he opened the front door? Was she that lost in her thoughts? "Sorry to scare you, but I was wondering if you knew what as happening at the mines at this moment?" He asked as he walked over to the dark green flowers that had become his personal favorite since Azalea used them to find David (not that the teen believed this). "They are going to fill the mines in aren't they?" Azalea asked, confused by Mr.Gold's presence. "Oh, so you haven't heard? It seems that Henry has wandered into the mines, probably playing some kind of kid game or something. Archie went after him and now they are both trapped by knocked over debris blocking the entrance. No one can seem to find where they are in the tunnel." Azalea was alarmed as she circled around the register table and walked up to Mr.Gold. "Does anyone know if their alright?!" She asked. "Nope, but it sure seems like the rescue team could use some extra help in finding where they are in the mines. And we have an expert on finding people right here in town." Mr.Gold said, picking one of the dark green flowers with his fingers from the display. "Why don't you show me your little magic trick? Like you did with David." Mr.Gold said, handing the flower to Azalea. "I-I don't know what your talking about." Azalea said looking at the flower in her hand, it was shaking as she looked back up to the man. "Oh I think you do, I think that you seem to have some kind of special...talent. And when your friends need it the most you are going to hide in your little flower shop instead of saving them - a bit cowardly isn't it?" Mr.Gold said, getting up in the girl's face. "I don't know what you're saying...I don't know how I did it. I didn't do anything!" Azalea said, stepping back. "Do what feels best, the worst thing you can do is take a flower to the tunnels and nothing happens, or you could find the two boys who need you most right now." Mr.Gold said before walking out of the shop. Azalea looked down at the flower in shock and took a deep breath. "I'm really going crazy." She said to herself before taking her keys, locking the door to her flower shop before sprinting down the sidewalk to the abandoned tunnels, flower in hand. Mr.Gold watched from the alley next to the shop as Azalea ran down the sidewalk, with a smirk on his face before turning and walking the other way. "With Emma in town your magic is waking up flower enchantress...soon enough your heart will be mine."
-Abandoned Mines-
The ground started shaking as Azalea ran up to the group of people standing around the mines. "What the hell was that?" Regina asked with worry. Azalea watched as the mayor angrily stomped around as the teen caught her breath from running all the way from the flower shop. "What are you doing here Azalea?" Emma asked, walking over to her. "I heard about Henry and Dr.Hopper." she said, holding the flower behind her back. Emma nodded "I understand that you're worried, but try to stay out of the way while we try to find where they are trapped." she said before she was pulled away by the sheriff. Azalea looked around, making sure no one saw her as she pulled the flower out from behind her back and held it in both of her hands. '
Please, I'm not sure how but I think you can help my friends...please.
' she thought holding the flower tightly, it started to faintly glow and she gasped. '
It's really working,
' she thought, starting the walk around watching as the light grew brighter. She jumped when she heard a bark and turned to see Dr.Hoppers dog in one of the fire trucks. Azalea got an idea in her head and ran over to the fire truck, opening the door and taking Pongo by his collar. The dog started to bark loudly and Azalea walked with him, following the glow of the flower as it got stronger. "It's Pongo! I think he is picking up a scent" Emma said, running up to Azalea and Pongo. Azalea tucked the flower into her pocket, holding Pongo and pulling the dog with her as it glowed brighter and brighter. Azalea was followed by everyone who said that the dog was guiding her, but she was guiding the dog until the flower suddenly went limp in her pocket, like it had when she had found David. "He stopped here." Azalea called out as Emma, the Sheriff, Regina, and some mine workers caught up to her. "He found something." Emma said as the dog started to wine and paw at the ground. The sheriff and a few men started to brush the leaves and twigs away as Azalea pulled the Pongo back. "What is that?" Regina asked as the leaves got cleared away, Bars were under it and they covered a hole going into the ground. "It's an air shaft!" The sheriff said. "Good job boy." Emma said petting the dog. "Azalea, can you take him away so he isn't in the way?" Emma asked. Azalea nodded, taking the dog's collar. She started to walk away with the dog but stopped when she felt someone staring at her. She turned and saw Regina glaring at her. Azalea quickly turned away and tried to ignore the chills she had running down her spine. She stood back with the crowd and watched as Emma went down the hole, and came back up with Henry and Archie. Everyone cheered, and Pongo got out of her grip and ran straight to his owner. Archie accepted his licks all over the face with a smile. Everyone celebrated the victory as a group. Regina kept Henry to her side, refusing to let him go away from her. Regina looked over the crowd as Azalea talked to Emma. She frowned as the two talked. Regina was not going to let some pathetic flower enchantress ruin her happy ending. She had been the one to find where Henry and Dr.Hopper were in the mines, she had cleverly used the dog as a cover, but the mayor saw right through her trick. Regina turned back to Henry, letting the anger go as she felt her boy safe in her arms. Regina tried to celebrate the fact that Henry and Dr.Hopper were safe, but she couldn't get her mind off of Azalea who was now a threat to her happy ending. Azalea had to be stopped, somehow she was using her magic in this world. Regina didn't think anyone could have any use of their power here....but apparently she was wrong after all. '
No matter, all I have to do is get rid of the problem.
' Regina thought with a smirk. "Listen!" Henry said with a smile. Everyone grew silent and the sounds of high pitched chirps could be heard. "Crickets." Dr.Hopper said with a smile. "See things are changing." Henry said, looking at Emma. '
Not for long there not.
' Regina thought to herself, glaring at Azalea and Emma as they blissfully smiled, listening to the crickets chirping.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
-Storybrooke, David's House-
Azalea stood with Henry and Emma as everyone talked and enjoyed each other's presence at David's welcome home party. He had been released from the hospital and his wife had decided to throw a little party with all his old friends. "Do you know why he doesn't remember? The curse isn't working on him yet." Henry said watching as David talked to a few people, it was easy to see that he was uncomfortable with so many strangers around him. Azalea could relate to his unease as she stayed close to Emma's side. "Henry, David has amnesia." Emma said with a sigh. "Which is preventing the curse from replacing his memories with fake thoughts from the curse." Henry said it like it was the simplest thing in the world. "Riiight, because everyone has fake memories that are preventing them from remembering who they really are." Emma said, connecting the dots. "Right! And now is our chance to help him. We just have to get David to remember that he is Prince Charming." Henry said, looking at David again from across the room. "Henry, let's just try to have a good time tonight alright? We don’t want any theories stressing David out." Emma said as Azalea looked down at her flower arrangement she was holding. She chose a blue and purple pattern, she didn't know why she chose those colors. But it just felt right. "Hey," The group looked up as David walked over to them. "You're the people who saved me right?" He asked with a grin. "I-I guess so." Emma said, shaking his hand. "And, you're also the only people I know here." He said looking around at the crowd. "You can hide with us, this one is especially good at hiding in a crowd." Emma said, putting her hand on Azalea's back and pushing her forward. David chuckled as the girl frowned at Emma, her cheeks turning red. "So, have you ever used a sword?" Henry asked. David chucked again, "I'm sorry?" He asked, confused by the question. Emma blew off the question with a joke and David laughed before looking at the flowers Azalea held in her hands. "Those are very pretty," David said looking at them. "Those are my two favorite colors actually." He said with amazement in his voice as Azalea blushed. "Good, she made them for you and your wife. She isn't going to say it though." Emma said as Azalea's cheeks grew a dark red tent as she held the flowers to David. "You saved my life and you got me flowers? The irony, but thank you, they are beautiful." He said before taking them from Azalea. "So, you live with Mary Margret right?" David asked Emma. "Do you know if she is coming tonight?" He asked. "She isn't, I'm sorry." Emma said David nodded with a sad frown and looked at the flowers.He excused himself to take care of the flowers. He took the flowers into the kitchen to put them on a table with a few other gifts others had brought, looking at them in wonder. '
I had forgotten my favorite colors till now,
' He thought '
Azalea must be a lucky guesser.
' He touched one of the flowers. He gasped as a flash of vision flooded his eyes like a blinding light.
He was in a forest, calling for someone. He was searching for someone.
"Azalea!" David shouted as he walked through the forest. People were walking around him with their flashlights, calling the teens name as they spread out in search for the girl. David stopped walking and sighed, looking around the dark forest. "Azalea!"
David let go of the flower, the vision left as soon as it came. Was that a memory? Which one? Who was he looking for in the forest so earnestly?! He couldn't remember the name he was shouting. "Something with an A?" David asked himself, lost in his thoughts. The vision had been so clear, but it had come and gone. He couldn't remember what he had seen. "You seem troubled David." He jumped at the sudden presence and turned to see Regina standing behind him. "Oh no, just- a lot of people, a bit overwhelming I guess." He said looking around at the party guest. "Why don't you go find your wife?" Regina suggested, putting a hand on his shoulder. David nodded before leaving Regina by herself. Regina's smile turned to a frown once David was gone. She looked down at the flowers, taking one of them from the bundle and tucking it into her pocket. She was going to get to the bottom of this enchantress's magic if it was the last thing she did.
-Later that Night-
Azalea looked around her, she was lost. She was strapped to a chair. She heard a laughter that sent a chill down her spine. She struggled to get out of the chair she was tied to, she kept looking behind her, seeing a dark shadow getting closer and closer to her. She was tugging as hard as she could, but it was like she was stuck going in slow motion. "You lost to me the first time, then you beat me the second time, but I promise dearie I will have your heart. I will have your heart. I Will Have Your Heart. I WILL HAVE YOUR HEART IWILLHAVEYOURHEARTIWILLHAVEYOURHEARTIWILLHAVEYOURHEART"
Azalea jumped up, she heard a screaming. Then stopped when she realized it was her. She was gasping for air. She felt like she had really been trapped by that monster. She had sweat on her forehead as she heard a frantic knocking on her door. She quickly got out of her bed, turned on the lights and ran to her door, opening it to see a worried looking Emma and Mary. Both in their Pj's. "Azalea! Was that you screaming? Are you okay?!" Mary asked, pulling the girl into a hug. "I'm fine," Azalea said, quickly pushing the teacher away. "It was just a nightmare. Sorry to bother you." Azalea said, looking down at the ground from embarrassment. "Azalea," Emma sighed. "Nightmares are nothing to be ashamed of, and don't feel bad for waking us up either." Mary said, putting her hand on the girl's shoulder. The teenager refused to look at the two. "Are you sure you're alright? You don't want to come to our place for the night?" Emma asked. Azalea shook her head and the two looked at each other unsure of what to do. "Okay, please. Just remember we're here for you okay?" Mary said, going for a hug, then deciding against it before they let Azalea shut the door. The girl wrapped her arms around herself, leaning against the closed door. Her heart beating in her chest. What was that nightmare? It was different from all the others. She could tell it was, but she still couldn’t remember anything.
-Storybrooke-
Days passed, and each night Azalea would wake to the same nightmare. She could only see a dark figure when she tried to remember. But she knew in her nightmare it was truly something terrible. Something in that nightmare wanted her dead. But the most puzzling part was why now? Why after so long could she finally start to remember her nightmare that had been haunting her as long as she could remember? What has changed? As she walked into her flower shop and looked around she sighed knowing the answer to her own question. The flowers had changed. Never before had she been able to do these strange things with the flowers. She couldn't deny that she had used a flower to find David, Henry and Dr.Hopper. But now that she could it seemed like everything was changing. Azalea was honestly scared. The bell to her flower shop door rang, signaling that someone had entered and she turned to see David. "Hey! um, I was wondering how much your bundles cost?" He asked, walking over. "3.50 for a regular size, what are they for?" Azalea asked, walking him over to the display of different kinds of bundles she could make for him. "Um, I'm actually meeting Mary Margret later tonight...hopefully." He said as he pointed to what flowers he wanted. "So these are for Mary?" Azalea asked. He nodded and Azalea put the flowers he had picked back. "These are her favorites." Azalea said, picking out the pink, dark red, and light yellow flowers. "I guess I should have asked. I forgot that you two live next to each other." David said as Azalea put them together. "Here you go, keep the change. It can be a tip for helping me." David said, handing her the money for the flowers. Azalea nodded and gave him the flowers. "Good luck," She said as he left. "Thank you," He said with that charming grin before shutting the door to her shop. Azalea sighed and looked out the window of her shop watching him leave, He was the start of this. When she found him with her flower. But she never felt fearful around him, quite the opposite actually. David had a calming effect on her...she felt safe around him. "I'm going insane," she said resting her forehead on her register. She rubbed the sleepy feeling from her eyes as she stood back up seconds later. "Oh well, I've got a shop to run." She said, looking over her precious flowers.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
-Storybrooke-
Azalea checked her hair in the mirror, making sure the flowers in her hair and her school uniform looked alright before getting her bags and shop key. She stepped out of her apartment and instead of going straight down the stairs she walked to the next door over. Azalea didn't bother knocking, the door was already unlocked for her as she stepped in and immediately went to help Mary with breakfast. Mary smiled, trying to not show how happy she was that Azalea finally felt so comfortable in her home. Azalea spotted one of her bouquets of flowers on the kitchen table from her flower shop. She remembered making that the other day for one of the doctors from the hospital...why was it here? Realization struck Azalea as Emma walked down the stairs and rolled her eyes when they landed on the flowers. "If Gram thinks that flowers are going to be enough of an apology he is wrong." She said marching over and picking them up. "Oh wait-what are you doing?" Mary asked, as Emma threw them into the trash can. Azalea couldn't help but feel a bit hurt for her flowers as Mary pulled them from the trash, checking over them. "They were for me actually." Mary explained to Emma. "Oh, from who?" Emma asked. "That doctor from the hospital right?" Azalea asked. Mary turned to her, her face red. "How did you know?!" She asked, looking embarrassed. "She does own the only flower shop in Storybrooke..." Emma quipped with a smirk. "But are you serious? With the doctor giving you flowers?" Azalea asked. "I know it's a disaster!" Mary said, putting them back on the table. "No. That's good, your getting over David." Emma said, sitting down at the table and looking over the flowers. "First of all there was nothing to get over, and second it was just a one night stand with the doctor." Mary said, frowning. Azalea stirred the pancake mix that Mary had abandoned on the kitchen counter, listening as the two girls gossiped about boys like two high school teenagers. "Not according to those flowers." Emma said. "Yea, maybe I shouldn't have called him." Mary said. "Oh my God, you called him? That is
not
a one night stand!" Emma said with a grin as Mary looked ashamed. "Well okay I'm still learning. This was my first one..." She said getting the plates out. "It's okay Mary. It's not like it's a bad thing. I have one night stands’ all the time." Emma said. "Yea but your-you." Mary said. "What does that mean?" Emma asked, looking a bit offended. Azalea tried to blend into the background as much as she could. It was easy to tell the two were about to have a...not pleasant conversation. "Well Emma, you don't let yourself go past a one night stand. You have this wall that is built up around you and it may keep out the pain of a broken heart, but it keeps everything else out too. Like love, and compassion." Mary said, setting everything on the table. Azalea brought the food over as everyone took a seat. "I do not have a wall...I just like being careful." Emma said, folding her arms. "And being careful is okay to a point, but you have to be able to let yourself be loved. Or you will never have it." Mary said "Why do I feel like this talk should be about Azalea and not me?" Emma asked, looking at the teenage girl as she looked up from her plate. "Me?" Azalea asked, pointing to herself in confusion. Both Mary and Emma rolled their eyes at Azalea's confusion. "It's pointed to the both of you, just in different ways." Mary said before everyone started eating. Azalea frowned as she ate, she didn't purposefully block people out of her life...she just did it. Like she felt like she needed to be in hiding. She couldn't explain it. Plus she had a lot on her mind as of late with the strange glowing flowers, Mr.Gold seemingly knowing about it, and with the whole mine thing and finding David, Henry, and Dr.Hopper.
-Storybrooke Forest-
Azalea was walking through the forest. After school had ended she went to the forest to see how the pear trees she had planted a while ago were growing. She had so much on her mind, when she felt like she was being suffocated by her thoughts she always went to the forest to relax. How could anyone not feel comforted being surrounded by so much nature? She was walking along the trail, headed back into town to her flower shop when she saw a wolf walking across the trail ahead of her. The teenager froze in her spot and watched at the wolf walked around, sniffing the ground. As if it were looking for something. The wolf looked up suddenly, making eye contact with Azalea. It's eyes were beautiful, one light red, and the other a dark black. Before Azalea could react the wolf had run off the trail and was gone. "I didn't know we had wolfs in this forest." She said to herself, walking along the trail again. She was surprised when she saw the Sheriff running up the trail, he also looked like he was looking for something. His eyes were rubbed raw and sweat was sticking to his forehead. He looked sick. "Hello Sheriff." She called out, shocking the man as he turned to face her. "Sorry if I startled you." Azalea said, nervously pulling the flower crown on her head. "S-sorry. I thought...you were a wolf." Gram said, looking around anxiously. "What - what are you doing out here?" Gram asked the teenager. "I was checking on my pear trees...you said you were looking for a wolf?" She asked. Gram shook his head. "You'll think I'm crazy..." Gram said. "Well I saw one wondering up the trail just a bit, so I don't think your crazy." Azalea said as Gram looked shocked. "Really?! It's eyes...what color were they?" He asked. "Black and red." Azalea explained. "That's him! That's the wolf I've...I need to find it." The Sheriff said running past the girl up the trail. "Sheriff! Are you sure you are okay to be out here alone?" Azalea asked, she didn’t know what to do with his odd behavior. "I'm fine. Now get out of the forest. I don't want you to run into the wolf." He said before running off. Azalea watched him go, she was worried. But Gram was a grown man, and he seemed dead set on not accepting help. And she needed to get to the flower shop. So she continued her walk down the trail, the wolf's eyes burned in her memory.
-Flower Shop-
Azalea went to unlock her flower shop after leaving the woods to find that the handle to the front door was broken, and the door cracked open. She paused, looking around (or course no one was around) before trying to see in the window. Had someone broken in? Should she go see if anyone was still in there? She could get hurt. Maybe she should call the police. She went to pull her cellphone out of her bag then paused. "Crap," She whispered to herself. Her phone wasn't there. Had she left it at school? It didn't matter right now. She couldn't go find someone, if the person who broke into her shop was still in the shop they could hurt the flowers. She didn't care about the money, or the building. But she couldn't let anyone hurt her plants. Azalea made a decision. Taking a deep breath she pushed the door open and walked in. She looked around quickly while walking, stepping lightly. Maybe the robber was gone already? Had they taken anything at all? Everything looked normal. She went up to her register and opened the door below it to show the safe. She put her code in and opened the door. But everything was there. No money or papers were missing. "What the heck?" She asked herself, before feeling a sharp pressure on the back of her head. Then feeling nothing.
-Henry's House-
Gram knocked on the front door, taking a step back as Henry answered. "Hey sheriff...my mom isn't here." He said looking up at him. "Um actually Henry...I'm here to see you." He said, looking nervously around him. Henry noted that the Sheriff looked paranoid, like he was in danger. "I thought you could help me." He said. "With what?" Henry asked. "It's about your book...am I in it?" The man asked. Henry looked surprised at first, then grinned, pulling the sheriff into his home.
-The Flower Shop-
"Azalea. Your teacher said you left your cell phone on your school desk. She asked if I could bring it to you." Mary called, as she walked into the flower shop. She stopped in her tracks when she looked up from her bag to see the devastation the flower shop was in. Pots were knocked around everywhere. The floor was covered in dirt, broken vase glasses, and plants. "Azalea! Where are you?!" Mary shouted, dropping her things and running around looking for the girl. By the time Mary spotted the girl laying on the ground behind the desk she was in hysterics. "Azalea! Ohh no, please be okay!" Mary said, running over to her. Mary called for help with shaky hands as she pulled the unconscious girl into her lap. Azalea's body was limp as Mary cradled the girl in her arms. "Yes, there has been a break in or something at the flower shop, the owner is unconscious and needs help!" Mary said into the phone as she looked around her at the mess of flowers laying around the ground. "Please hurry! She's hurt." Mary said, tears running down her face when she saw a spot of dried blood on the back of the girl's head. Mary was in such hysterics she didn't notice that Azalea's flower crown was gone.
-Henry's House-
"So when did you start seeing these visions of the wolf and stuff?" Henry asked as he and the sheriff sat on his bed with the story book on his lap. "Right after I kissed Emma." Gram admitted. "Ew, you kissed my mom? Never mind, what did you see after you kissed my mom?" Henry asked quickly getting over the kissing part. "I saw a wolf...I had a knife in my hand and Mary Margret was there." Gram explained. "Were you about to hurt her?" Henry asked. "Yes, how do you know that?" The sheriff asked. "Because Mary Margret is Snow White." Henry said turning the pages in his book. "Which makes you the Huntsmen." Henry said turning to a page with a picture of a man holding a knife above Snow White. "So you think I could really be another person?" Gram asked. "It makes since, you were raised by wolfs. That's why you keep seeing one. It's your friend. Your guide." Henry explained. "And I'm remembering this because I kissed your mother?" Gram asked. "Well you two do have a special connection. You had the choice to kill Snow White and you didn't. Saving her and her children, So in a way you saved the savior." Henry though out loud. Gram sat in silence, looking shell shocked as Henry looked over the book. Gram's phone started ringing and he jumped. Gram stood up and sighed picking his phone out of his pocket and answering it. "Hello, this is the sheriff...what? Emma slow down...I'm on my way now! You stay there with her." He hung up the phone and ran down Henry's stairs grabbing his jacket. "Wait! what's happening?!" Henry asked chasing after the Sheriff. "Azalea is at the hospital. She got hurt during a robbery!" He quickly explained before running out of Henry's house to his cop car.
-Hospital-
"I'm sorry...I don't remember. I was looking around the shop, and I went behind the register. Then nothing. I woke up here...I didn't see anyone." Azalea said, looking down at her hands. She was on a hospital bed, bandages wrapped around her head. "Luckily you only suffered a mild head injury. Whoever robbed your store didn't want to really hurt you, they just wanted you out of the way." The doctor looked over some papers while talking. "That was so scary, I didn't know what to think when I found you." Mary said, refusing to move from beside the teenager's bed, keeping herself busy by moving the blankets in the teens bed up and down, and fluffing the pillows every thirty seconds. "Thank you, for everything." The girl said looking up at Mary. Mary tried to push her tears back as she pulled the girl into another hug. The door opened and Gram rushed in, breathing hard and his face was flush. "Are you alright?" He asked Azalea. "I'm okay, I just got hit on the head." She said fiddling with her fingers. "But the shop is ruined. All the flowers were killed..." She said, looking away from everyone, clearly upset. "You can grow more flowers, we can't grow another you." Mary said, putting her hand in Azalea's. "I'm going to make sure that whoever did this to you pays." Gram said with a firm hold on the girl's shoulder. "Emma is already at the shop looking around for clues." Mary told Gram before he left. Leaving the two girls alone in the hospital room. Azalea watched the man leave, he honestly didn't look any better than he had when she ran into him in the forest. He looked worse, but he had gone before she had a chance to ask about the wolf.
-Flower Shop-
"I can't believe this even happened." Emma said to Gram as walked into the flower shop. "Whoever got in here really did a number on it didn't they?" Gram asked, looking at the dirt, glass, and flowers scattered around the floor. "Yea they really did, it was almost like it was done in anger. Most of the money is gone. But I don't know if whoever did this took anything else." Emma said with a frown. Gram sighed looking around. He stopped when he looked out the front door. Seeing the wolf looking right at him. The same one that had seemed to be following him around, with the miss matched eyes. "Gram, what is it?" Emma asked. "Do you not see that wolf?!" Gram asked not taking his eyes away from the animal. "What wolf?" Emma asked, seriously concerned for the Sheriff. The wolf took off, running down the road and Gram made a rash decision, chasing after it with Emma calling his name running behind him.
-Later that Day-
Azalea was released from the hospital. She was ready to go back to her home, take a shower, change into some PJ's, and sleep for a week. Mary was helping the girl finish the last of her paperwork she had to feel out when shouting and clanging sounds started to get louder down the hallway. Both the girls looked and saw doctors pushing Gram on a bed, running past them as one of the doctors sat on top of Gram giving him chest compressions. "Gram?!" Mary called as the crowd of doctors went through the surgery wing doors disappearing from their sight. The two girls looked at each other then saw Emma running up the hallway with tears in her eyes. "What happened?!" Mary asked, catching Emma in her arms before she could try to run through the surgery doors. "I-I don't know! He ran out of the flower shop, talking all crazy about some wolf! We went to the police station after I calmed him down, talking about the case, and us, and him. We kissed, then he was talking about how he remembered…and all of a sudden he just grabbed his chest like he was in pain and fell on the ground and-and-
I don't know
!" Emma said in a panicked state. Mary sat her down in a chair and Azalea looked to the door where they had pushed Gram through. What was happening in this town? Why was everything going wrong all of a sudden? Was Gram going to be okay? The questions swarmed her head and she ran her fingers through her hair. She paused and pulled her hand back through her hair, her flowers were gone. Usually she couldn't function without her flowers, she never knew why. It was just like the flowers made her feel safe. But she had gone almost a full day without realizing she didn't have any in her hair. It had been a crazy day sure, but she always felt like she needed her flowers. Azalea heard Emma start to cry and she shook her head, there was no time to worry about her flower crowns right now. She turned back to Emma and Mary, sitting down with them to help calm Emma down.
-Mayor's office-
Regina stood at her sink, washing off the last of the dust from the huntsmen's heart that she had crushed. She smirked as she walked out of the bathroom and into her office. She sat at her desk and smiled at the flower crown sitting at the edge of her desk. The flowers all were holding the flower girls magic in them. She pulled out a pot of flowers that she had taken from the flower shop and held the flower crown above them. The flowers all glowed, and Regain watched as the magic from the flower crown was sucked away into her new desk flowers.Regina was the one who had broken into the shop and sucked the magic out of Azalea and into her flower crown. Regina didn't even know how Azalea had started to grow magic in her heart again. It had been years since she enacted the curse... Azalea's magic had been dormant, until Emma showed up. Regina smirked as she got up from her desk and walked over to her fireplace. "You will not be interrupting my happy ending anymore, Flower Enchantress." She said before tossing the flower crown into the flames, watching as it burned to ashes.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
"Do any of you guys know anything about Mr.Golds family?" Emma asked, walking into Azalea's flower shop. There were new flower pots all around, flower seeds and construction tools on tables as Emma walked up to Mary and Azalea who were standing behind her register. "No, I don't think I know anything about his family." Mary said thoughtfully. "Why are you asking about Mr.Gold?" Azalea asked. "He owned Gram's apartment and he had some of his stuff, gave me some of his walkies and said to play with Henry with them. He got really nostalgic. Like he lost his own kid or something." Emma said, looking around the shop. Mary shrugged. No one in town really knows a lot about Mr.Gold, everyone is too scared of him." Mary admitted. Emma sighed, before looking around the shop. "It's looking better around here. Soon enough you will be up and running again." Emma said to Azalea as she flipped through some papers and bills. "I hope so." Azalea said, not looking up from her work. Mary gave Emma a sad smile before the two ladies started working on rebuilding and repairing. The teenager had been in a rut since the robbery in her store and death of Gram. Luckily whoever robbed her didn't think to check for a backup safe with most of the shop's money in it. It was the only positive thing about the whole mess. Azalea had been working for two weeks, since Grams funeral, on getting the shop back up and running. But she had been acting differently. For one she hadn't worn any flower crowns in her hair since the attack. She just didn't feel the need for them anymore. Like whatever feeling in her heart that felt better with the flowers in her hair had been ripped out. The empty hole Azalea had felt in her heart was only growing bigger as the shop got closer and closer to being reopened. Azalea looked up from the papers she had in front of her and watched as Emma and Mary worked on the building. She tried to smile, but it felt sad. At least she had some people in her corner.
-Days later, Mary's apartment-
Heavy metal music blasted from behind Mary's door as her and Azalea walked up the steps in their apartment building. They looked to each other before Mary opened the door, seeing Emma hitting the toaster with a screwdriver. "Is it broken?" Azalea asked as she and Mary entered the apartment. "Not when I started with it…it might be now." Emma admitted, setting it down . Mary turned the music off and sat down at the table as Emma poured herself another glass of Scotch. "I just needed to hit something." Emma said. "What's going on?" Mary asked. "Regina fired me so she could put one of her puppets in as sheriff...that was my job." Emma said, sticking the screwdriver into the toaster. "I've never heard you so passionate about this before." Mary said getting stuff out to start dinner as Azalea went to the back room to change out of her school uniform. There was a knock on the door and the two ladies looked at each other. "Maybe...I just want to beat Regina for once." Emma said, walking over to the door. Mr.Gold stood waiting on the other end of it. "Sorry Miss Swan, I'm intruding but there is something I would like to discuss with you." He said. The two looked to Mary as it took the woman a few seconds to get their message "ohh...I'll let you two talk - alone." Mary said before walking into the back room where Azalea was folding up her uniform, now in a more casual outfit. "Who was at the door?" Azalea asked. "Mr.Gold. Probably wanting to talk to Emma about the rest of Gram's belongings...while they are talking let's have a discussion of our own." Mary said sitting down on a couch, she tried (and failed) to make it sound casual. Azalea gave Mary a suspicious glance before sitting beside her friend. "Look Azalea, we know that your nightmares are getting worse. We can hear you screaming every night. It takes everything in Emma's willpower to not walk over and check on you every night...We're not angry with you, we're worried." Azalea folded her hands together nervously and felt her face turn red. She had been having nightmares, but she didn't know she was waking her neighbors up with them every night. "Since the robbery, and Gram’s death you have been going back to your old ways of not talking to anyone and living in your own bubble." Mary said, holding the girl's hands in her own. "We just want you to feel better. We had a talk with Dr.Hopper and he says that he can pull some money from organizations for you to have two sessions a week for free." Azalea pulled her hands away from Mary, looking hurt. "You think I'm sick." Azalea said, looking away. "No no no! Your not sick, and this isn’t something to be ashamed of. We think that something terrible happened to you, something that should never happen to a girl your age. It's traumatizing to be attacked like that for anyone, but especially for someone your age. You have so many responsibilities and duties. And on top of that your dealing with grief from Gram’s passing…We just want you to be happy again...Just think about the Dr.Hoppers offer for free therapy sessions okay? It wouldn't be for the rest of your life, you may only need to go a handful of times to get help, but even if it takes longer to heal from the attack - that's okay too." Mary said. Azalea nodded and Mary patted her on the back before standing up to go back and check on Emma and Mr.Gold. Leaving Azalea alone to think.
-Mayor's office-
Regina sat at her office desk in her office, she looked at the flowers that were in a small vase and smirked. '
Now that I broke into that flower enchantress's shop and absorbed the magic from her flowers she will no longer be a danger to my curse.
' She thought to herself, watching as the flowers glowed like a light for a few seconds before dimming back down. The magic trapped in the flower was trying to find its way back to Azalea.
-A few days later, Dr.Hoppers office-
"So explain to me what happens in these nightmares." Dr.Hopper asked, leaning back casually. Like him asking Azalea to describe her haunting nightmares to him was like casual tea time talk or something. "Uh, It's hard to remember the specifics." Azalea said, looking down, nervously picking at her nails. "Well try one that you can remember well, or a more recent nightmare." Azalea nodded, thinking for a few seconds before her skin crawled, a shiver ran down her spine as she took a deep breath.
Azalea ran down the hallway of a beautiful castle. Like one from a fairy tale. She was in a dress and flowers decorated her hair as she frantically kept turning to look behind her, trying to not trip over her feet as she tried to see if whatever was chasing her was getting closer. She had something in her arms, she was holding it with care and gentleness as she tried to get away from her attacker. "RUN AZALEA! GET THE BABY TO THE PRINCE!” someone shouted, the voice sounded familiar but Azalea couldn't place who it was. She felt the ground shake under her feet and she fell forward, the bundle in her arms rolling on the floor away from her grasp. It started to cry, it was a baby! The prince ran up the hallway and picked the baby up, looking at Azalea with sadness in his eyes. He looked so familiar, but Azalea couldn't remember him. "RUN!" Azalea shouted. The prince nodded, a tear running down his face before turning and running away with the baby."tsk tsk, I told you I would win in the end. Now that your flowers have failed you I can win. We each won a battle...but I'm about to win the war!" Azalea tried to get up, but she was pinned down to the ground and turned over. A monster with scaly wet skin smiled down at her, his teeth were sharp and his eyes were a bright yellow. They were looking deep into her soul. "Now before the curse takes us away I need to get your heart." He said, reaching down, putting his hand on the girl's chest. Suddenly gray and purple clouds flooded her vision. "NOOOO! NOT NOW! I ALMOST HAD HER HEART! I ALMOST HAD IT."
Azalea exhaled and shook her head. "I...don't remember." She said looking up at Dr.Hopper. And it was true, every time she tried to think of what could possibly be keeping her up at night she just got fuzz. "Azalea, the only way for me to be able to help you is if you are completely honest with me. Can you do that?" Dr.Hopper asked her. "I really don't remember my nightmare...but sometimes I feel this hole in my chest. Like something is missing." Azalea said, holding her shaking hands over her beating heart. If she couldn't tell him about the nightmares she might as well tell him something she did know. "That's a good start..." Dr.Hopper said writing something in his tiny notebook.
-The Next Night-
Everyone was gathered around the Mayor's office. A fire had started and news was spreading that Emma rescued Regina from the flames. The whole town was there as fire trucks rolled up."Did Emma really save my mom?" Henry asked a firefighter. Azalea ran up with Mary as a crowd formed around the burning Mayor's office building. "Yeah, she did kid." The man said before leaving him to take care of the smoking building "You really did it, good finally won." Henry said, hugging Emma. Azalea watched as the two had a moment. "We should see if they have a picture of you saving her anywhere for posters. There is no way you can lose to Sydney now!" Mary said with a smile as she went to go find a photo. "I'm glad you're okay." Azalea said as Henry ran off to see his mother, Regina. "I am too, that was a close call." Emma said, looking around at the crowd. "How did the fire start?" Azalea asked. "I'm not sure, the fire crew will find out soon enough." Emma said, putting her arm around Azalea's shoulder. "We better catch up with Mary." She said before the two pushed their way through the crowd. There seemed to never be a dull moment with Emma around.
-A few days later, Flower Shop-
"The shop is finally open again." Mary said as Azalea walked around, looking at the freshly planted flowers with a grin. She ran right over to the shop as soon as school got out for the shops grand reopening! "Yea, it's about time." Azalea said, holding one of the sun flowers in her hands with the familiar gentle touch. "Maybe things will start going back to normal with Emma as sheriff again, you with your flower shop. I think things are maybe getting back in order." Mary said, putting her hand on Azalea's shoulder. "I hope so." Azalea said with hope. She still felt that pain of emptiness in her chest from time to time, and she still hadn't worn a single flower crown since her shop had been broken into...but Azalea had hope that things would start to get better. They just has to.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
-Mary's Apartment-
"Do you know them?" Emma asked Mary. The two stood beside each other watching the two little kids setting the table. "They said they go to your school." Emma whispered. "I've seen them, but I had no idea they didn't have parents. I don't think anyone knew about their situation." Mary said as the boy and girl ate together, looking up at the two grown ups every few seconds, looking nervous. Emma opened up a file with the children's last name on it that she got from the Sheriffs office and started to look through. "Ava and Nicholas Zimmer. It says their mother was Dorrie Zimmer...she died few years ago." Emma said. Mary shook her head, not remembering anything about a mother. "What about the father?" Mary asked. "There isn't one, or at least the kid's don't know one." Emma said, sounding more upset as she read. "What does, uh, what does social services say?" Mary asked folding her arms. Emma gave her a guilty look. "you didn't report them?" Mary asked. "I can't report them. If I do I can't help them because they will go into the system." Emma said. "The system that is supposed to help." Mary reminded her. "Yea, says the woman that wasn't in it for sixteen years." Emma said looking over at the kids as they ate. "Do you know what happens in foster care? They get thrown into homes where they are a meal tickets, nothing more. These families get paid for these kids and as soon as their to much work, they get tossed out and it starts all over again." Emma said looking at Mary. "They aren't all like that." Mary said shaking her head. "All the ones that I was in." Emma said. "So what? We're just going to adopt them? Emma we already are trying to get Azalea to open up to us. You know I'm trying to get her to live with us instead of next door. Having two more kids with us isn't going to help that. The apartment only allows so many people to a space." Mary said. "No, I know we can't take them. But I'm going to look for their father." Emma said. "They don't know him." Mary said. "He may not know they exist." Emma said. "And what makes you think that he will want them when he finds out?" Mary asked. "I'm not sure." Emma said, shrugging her shoulders. "But I do know that it is hard enough to find a family to take one kid that isn't theirs let alone two. It's their best shot or- "Were going to be separated?" Both the women turned around to see Ava standing behind them with tears in her eyes. "No, that's not going to happen." Emma said. "Please, don't let it." Ava said, looking over to her worried brother.
-Granny's Diner-
"Thank you so much for helping me darling." Granny said as Azalea stood up and dusted the dirt off her clothes. "No problem, you bought these flowers from my shop, might as well help keep them alive and well." She said helping Granny stand up from the ground. Granny had started planting flowers in front of her shop again and while Azalea was walking home Granny had called her to help with planting. She offered Azalea a quick free meal for the help but she told her that she had to be home soon. Azalea left Granny's and walked back to the apartment, dropping her stuff off in her own home before going next door to Mary's and Emma's where the two orphans were sitting in Mary's kitchen. "Your back!" Ava said, getting up and greeting the teen. "Yea, I was thinking about making some cookies! Would you like to help?" Both of the kids said yes so Azalea got the ingredients out and the three started baking. Normally Azalea wasn't this outgoing with people, but she had a soft spot for children.``How do you live on your own? Aren't you in foster care?" Ava asked as she stirred the batter. "I'm not a part of the foster system, but I am an orphan. I'm not sure how I avoided getting pulled into the foster system. I've just always been in my apartment beside Mary's. For as long as I can remember all the legal stuff has just been taken care of." Azalea said with a shrug, trying to remember any time she had to fill out any paperwork or anything related to her living on her own and being an orphan as a teenager. "The oven is ready." Nicholas called from across the kitchen. Ava carefully got the cookies on a pan and put it in the oven. "Now all we do is wait." Azalea said with a grin. "Maybe there is a way for us to live on our own like you do." Ava said as the cookie baked. "I hope not, I don’t know how bad the foster system can be, but it is hard to grow up so fast and be on your own. I wouldn't wish that on anyone." Azalea said, giving the girl a sad smile. About twenty minutes later the three were enjoying warm cookies when Emma ran down the steps with something in her hands. "I want to show you guys something." She said looking at the two children. Emma held a blanket up to the kids. "What's that?" Nicholas asked. "It's my baby blanket. I have held onto it my whole life. It's the only thing I have from my parents...I spent a lot of time with kids in your situation. And all of them...all of us, we held onto stuff. I want to find your father. Is there anything of his that you held onto?" Emma asked them. Azalea looked at the white blanket in Emma's hands with her name sewed in purple thread on the side. Something seemed familiar about it but she couldn't put her finger on it. "I might have something." Ava said. "But if we give it to you, do you promise that we will stay together?" her brother asked Emma. Emma nodded, before Ava pulled something out of her pocket. She handed it to Emma and she looked at it. "A compass?" Emma asked. "Our mom kept it, she said it was our dads." Ava explained. "Thank you." Emma said. "Did you find them?" Ava asked her. "Who?" Emma asked. "Your parents?" Emma looked down, "Not yet. But I'm going to find yours." She said looking at both of them. Azalea dusted cookie crumbs off her fingers before touching Emma's baby blanket. She had never seen it before in her life, but she felt so nostalgic looking at it. The feeling of Deja-vu washing over her.
Azalea was running down the castle hallway. Her dress flowing behind her as she held the same baby tightly to her chest. She knew that she had to get the baby to safety. She heard the sounds of war all around her. Swords clashing, people crying, screams of terror, but she couldn't stop. The baby in her arms was going to be their savior. She had to get her out of here before the Evil Queen's curse hit the castle. Snow White had told her to run with the baby, Azalea was the only one that no one could attack, with her flower protection spell working around her. "Were almost there darling, don't cry." Azalea murmured to the newborn wrapped in a white blanket. "Not so fast enchantress." Azalea suddenly felt the ground below her shake and she fell over, protecting the baby from the hard floor. She fell on her back and hit her head, the bundle falling out of her arms and rolling across the floor. "Seems like I have finally found a way around your little protection spell." Azalea quickly sat up, reaching for the baby. Rumpelstiltskin was standing in front of her, holding a staff out in front of him, he waved it in front of him and the ground shook again so violently that Azalea was thrown to the ground again, the baby crying. "No!" She screamed trying to get to the baby, but she was pinned to the ground and my Rumples foot pressed to her back. He pushed his foot into her spine as she cried out in pain. Azalea looked up to the baby and saw James picking her up. He looked to Azalea and held up his sword to fight Rumple. "RUN! forget me! Save the baby it's the only way to defeat the Evil Queen!" Azalea cried out. James looked heart broken, a tear running down his face before he turned and ran down the hall with the baby in his arms. Azalea watched them run, looking at the baby, seeing the blanket it was wrapped up in. A white blanket with Emma sewed on the side in purple thread.
Azalea gasped, sitting up in her bed. She ran her hand through her hair in frustration. Why couldn't she remember the nightmares? The nightmares have only gotten worse since the robbery of her store happened. It was like the robbery had transformed her, or changed her in some way. She couldn't tell how, but things just felt...different. Azalea stood up and got a glass of water from her kitchen. She sipped on the water slowly, trying to remember her nightmare when her eyes landed on her mothers flower book sitting on the table. She walked over to it and picked it up. "We all hold onto stuff huh?" Azalea whispered, remembering Emma's words from earlier when she talked to the kids. "I guess keeping this old kids book is my way of holding onto you mom." Azalea said to herself, before putting the book down. She sighed, remembering the flowers that had glowed, and the so-called 'locator spell' that was in the kids book. But she hadn't been able to make the flowers glow again like she had for David, Henry, and Dr.Hopper. "It's all in my head. It's my way of holding onto what I can't have anymore." Azalea said, it made since, she missed her family. So she had imagined that she could make flowers glow to help people. She felt a bit silly, but also relieved that she had finally figured it out. Maybe going to Dr.Hopper was helping her after all. Azalea finished her glass of water, before going back to bed. Leaving the fairy tales behind her.
-The Next Day, Mary's apartment-
"So the dad stepped up after all?" Mary asked as Emma finished her story on the two kids and their father. Her, Mary, and Azalea sat around the kitchen table. "They found their dad after all." Azalea said with a grin. "I wonder what that would be like." Emma wondered out loud. "Maybe you will find out. You can't give up." Mary said. "I don't know. I kinda think giving up might be the best plan. I think I need to let go of the idea of ever finding my parents." Emma said. "No you don't." Mary said. "Really? If they wanted to know me they wouldn't make it so hard to look." Emma said with a shrug. "Maybe, but maybe there's other reasons. Maybe there is an explanation." Mary said with a hopeful smile. "I think that if I had the option I would never give up." Azalea said looking at Emma. The woman frowned for the teenager, knowing she was truly an orphan. "Well if there is a reason it is something crazy, even crazier that Henry's theory." Emma said with a grin. "What's that?" Mary asked. "Well, that my parents put me in a magical wardrobe and sent me to this world to save them." Emma said with a grin. "Oh! aha, and who does he think they are?" Mary asked. "Well...he thinks your my mom," Emma said. "Me?" Mary asked, sounding amused. "Well, Snow White." Emma clarified. "Snow White has a kid?" Azalea asked, sounding amused. "It seems like that book you gave him doesn't follow tradition." Emma said. "Me? Having a kid...you would think I would remember that." Mary said with a smile. "You do kind of have my chin." Emma said jokingly. The three laughed together and Mary stood up walking over to the sink, passing Emma's baby blanket. "This is pretty, I really like it." Mary said looking at it. "Thanks, I need to head back to the station to finish some paperwork." Emma said getting up and getting her jacket. Azalea said goodbye to the woman, as Emma bent down and pressed a kiss to the girl's forehead. "I'll leave you some leftovers in the oven." Mary said, waving as Emma left. Mary put some food in the oven and on her way back to the table where Azalea was waiting on her she picked up the blanket and looked at the name sewed into the side. “Emma.” Mary said with a sigh. She shook her head and put it back down as Azalea called her name. "Coming!" Mary called, looking at the blanket one last time before walking over to the teenager.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
The thunder rolled on the cloudy day as Azalea pulled on her uniform sweater, walking along the sidewalk to school. She hated that her school uniform sweater was so thin. It wasn't very helpful in the fall weather. "Hello there." Azalea stopped her pace and saw a man standing next to a motorcycle. He had a thin beard and leather jacket on. A box was latched onto the back of his bike as he stood up from it and walked over to the confused teenager. "Are you new around here?" Azalea asked, taking a step back when the stranger got too close for her comfort. Which in the man's defense wasn't that close "Yes, yes I am. Nice to meet you, miss..." The man waited for her to give a name but when he came up with nothing he sighed and stuck out his hand for a handshake. "It doesn't seem like this town gets a lot of visitors." He said looking around. More thunder rolled and Azalea looked up to the cloudy sky, ignoring the extended hand. "I need to get to school before it starts raining." She said, beginning to walk down the sidewalk again. "It was nice to meet you, Azalea. I might stop by your flower shop later." The mystery man called out. Azalea stopped walking and slowly turned around. Only to see the man putting on his helmet and driving away on his motorcycle. '
how the hell did he know all that about me?
' the girl wondered. At that moment she had kind of wished she had left the apartment early with Mary Margret, but it seemed that she wanted to head out early on her own. Emma and the teenager weren't blind. They both knew she was wandering off early to meet with David. But they had both decided it was better to let their little love fantasy play out, Mary was a grown woman who could make her own choices. So Azalea continued her walk to school alone, hoping she made it before the rain started and without any more creepy men.
-Enchanted forest-
The sun shined brightly as Snow hunted through the enchanted forest, she stayed in the tree line next to an open field where a family of deer were grazing. She aimed her spear above her head and was about to throw it when Red and Azalea emerged from the tree line, scaring the deer away. "Good job guys!" Snow called with sarcasm as Azalea jumped from the sudden voice behind her, Red on the other hand simply turned around. Probably able to smell Snow from a mile away with her wolf powers. "Sorry, we were looking everywhere for you!" Red said as Snow climbed out of her hiding place. "I wasn't expecting you for a month Red." Snow said as she went to greet her old friend. "Seems like Azalea found you first." Snow said as Azalea blushed, knowing she had been caught. "You know you aren't supposed to wander around the woods alone without me." Snow said to the girl. Don't go punishing Azalea. She was planting in her garden right outside the house when I arrived, and I offered to bring her along with me to find you. Red said with a smirk, more than used to Snow's protectiveness over the Flower Enchantress as she handed Snow her basket full of fruit and bread she delivered every month. "And it has been a month." Azalea reminded the ex-princess. "Has it?" Snow asked. "Your really taking well to the solitude, aren't you?" Red asked. "It's fine, it's exactly what I wanted. To be out here, away. And it's even better knowing it's the safest place for Azalea to hide from the Dark One and start replanting her magical flowers." Snow said smiling to the girl as she looked through the basket of fresh foods. "And that you are," Red said. "So...how are things back in the world?" Snow asked. "Come on, ask what you really want." Red said, folding her hands together. "I don't know what you mean." Snow said, looking away. "Prince James is getting married," Red said anyway, knowing her friend really was curious. "He's marrying the king's daughter." Red said as Azalea looked up at Snow, she was trying her best. But both Red and Azalea could tell that she was upset with the news. "In two days time...are you okay?" Red asked Snow. "I just thought the longer I was out here the easier it would be to forget him...instead all I do is think about him." Snow admitted. "I'm sorry." Azalea said. "I wish there was a way to get him out of my head." Snow commented looking through the basket of food herself. Red got a thoughtful look on her face and Snow stopped. "What? Is there?" Snow asked. Red looked away, the look on her face deepening. "What do you know Red?" Snow asked again. Red was silent and Snow took her hand. "Come on Red, I helped you when no one else would." Snow said, looking into the woman's eyes. "Well-there are whispers. Whispers of a man who can achieve the most unholy of requests." Red said, looking at Azalea. "A man who can do whatever you ask." Snow nodded. "Who is this man?" She asked. "Red please-not him." Azalea said, stepping up. "You know who this is?" Snow was surprised that Azalea had kept this from her as well. "It’s Rumple. He is pure evil. He's the one who killed Azalea's family." Red said. "He can make any desire come true, but at costs far too great. Take it from me, all magic comes with a price." Azalea begged Snow. "I won’t. You don’t need to worry Azalea.” Snow said, turning to the girl. “Now go on ahead and take the basket back to the house. Red can help me hunt since she scared off my deer.” Red rolled her eyes playfully as the young girl said her goodbyes to the women and started walking through the forest. Once she was far enough Snow turned to Red and said, “Tell me everything you know about Rumple…my pain is too great to bear. But I don’t want Azalea to be anywhere near him.”
-Storybrooke, the forest-
Azalea was walking through the forest, trying to find the right kind of filtered dirt to use for planting some miniature trees for her shop. She was looking around till she heard a chirping sound. She stopped and looked around, listening carefully as the sound came again. She walked towards the sound slowly, looking around for the animal that seemed to be crying out. "Oh, hey little bird." Azalea said, finding the bird trapped in some kind of wire laying on the ground. "It's okay, don't move." She whispered to the bird, even though it couldn't possibly understand. She bent down and the bird surprisingly didn't move as she tried to free it from the wire. "Come on, how did you manage to do this?" She asked gently, picking it up in her hands once the bird was free of it's trap. The bird didn't fuss. Only looked up at the teenager as she pulled out her phone and delicately held the bird against her chest as she took the trail back to town. "Hey Mary...yea I'm fine, but I need your help with something." Azalea said into the phone as she cradled the bird.
-Vets office-
"Well good news is that there are no broken bones, little bird just needed some water and care." The vet said as he held the bird in his hands. Mary and Azalea both smiled as the vet and David stood behind the counter. "I'm glad we brought it here then." Mary said, pulling Azalea into her side. "And that you found the poor thing." She said, ``The bad news is that this is a North Atlantic dove, it's a migrating species. The breed she comes from is probably leaving this area soon if not already." The vet said with a frown. "If I don't get her back to her flock she will be alone." Snow said, looking at the poor bird. "She will heal but she won't be happy here." The vet said putting her back into a cage. Azalea watched the bird hop around the cage until her phone vibrated. "Shoot, I'm supposed to open the shop soon. Mary I'm sorry to leave you." Azalea said, gathering her stuff. "Don't worry about it. I will watch the bird, you go." Mary said, hugging the girl, kissing her on the forehead. Azalea blushed, Mary’s motherly gestures always managed to embarrass the girl. Azalea left the vet, and as she walked down the street she rubbed the tip of her fingers on her forehead where Mary had kissed her. A feeling of Deja-vu washed over the teenager as thunder clapped over her head. Azalea sighed in frustration before rushing to her flower shop, hoping to avoid the rain.
-Enchanted Forest-
"Back already?" Azalea asked sarcastically, not looking up from the flower crown she was weaving together as Snow walked through Red's front door. Mary had asked if Azalea could stay with Red while she went on a weekend long hunting trip. Snow frowned at the girl's attitude. “I am what of it?” Snow asked. Azalea put the flower crown down and looked up to Snow. “I know that you went to see Rumple…Red snitched on you.” Snow frowned, knowing how upset the young girl must be. "Yes I did...I'm sorry! I'm just hurting so much. I need to forget about James!" Snow said, showing the girl the bottle filled with a sparkling liquid the Dark One gave to her. "Please I beg you Snow. You cannot be willing to use magic to forget love." Azalea said standing up and walking over to Snow. No matter how upset Azalea was with Snow, she couldn't let Rumple hurt anyone else she cared for. "I'm sorry Azalea, but this is something I have to choose." Snow said, taking the lid off the bottle. Suddenly a bird flew in through the window and landed on Snow's hand. "A dove." Azalea said, looking surprised. "A messenger bird." Snow corrected by taking the tiny note attached to the bird's foot and folding it open. Reading to herself. Snow smiled, tears in her eyes. "Who sent it?" Azalea asked after a few moments passed. "James, he wants me to come to him." Snow said with happiness in her eyes.
-A Few Hours Later-
"Please let me go with you." Azalea begged as she and Snow got closer to the castle where Prince James was waiting for her. They had started traveling as soon as Snow had gotten the note from James, hours later they were outside the castle. "I can't, this is for me. And I would kill myself if you got hurt." Snow stopped. Azalea held the basket of flowers in her hands tightly. "Go over the plan one more time, for my comfort." Azalea said. "I will go into the castle saying that the flowers are a gift from another kingdom. The guards will believe me since you put a spell on the flowers to make them believe whatever I say, I go in, find the Prince, and live happily ever after." Snow said with a grin. "Hopefully so," Azalea said with a frown, handing the princess the basket. "Hey, I will be just fine. We have gone up against worse." Snow assured, holding the girl's chin in her hand. "Then why can I not come with you this time? If we work so well as a team?" Azalea asked. "Because if I get caught and have to fight my way out I don't want you to be in harm's way." Snow said, pulling the girl in for a hug. "I swear I will come back for you." Snow whispered. Azalea didn't reply but only hugged her friend closer to her before watching her walk down the trail and into the castle. "And now we wait." Azalea whispered to herself, knowing no one was around to hear.
-Storybrooke-
Azalea watched the rain fall from her window in the flower shop. It seemed like she would be stuck in her little shop a bit longer than usual. She usually closed at 6:30, it was 6:24 and it didn't look like the storm was going to let up anytime soon. Azalea sighed and turned away from the storm outside, and instead walked around the store, tending to her flowers. Her mind wandered as the rain outside made for a peaceful feeling inside her small shop. Her mind wandered to the two orphans who had recently left to live with their father, their question of how she was allowed to live on her own out of the foster system, if they were okay with their father now, how Emma had found their dad, what Emma had said to the kids...how every orphan has something with them that they keep from their parents. A keepsake. Azalea stopped what she was doing and walked over to her desk, opening the bottom drawer and pulling out her mothers book. Azalea didn't remember much about it from her childhood, but she knew that it belonged to her mother, and that she had been the receiver of it after her family passed. She opened the book, flipping through the pages of make believe potions and spells that could be made from different flowers. Even if it were just a cute children's book it was very precious to her. She sat down at the desk and flipped through the pages, reading as the rain continued to pour outside. It wasn't like she was going to try and walk home with the heavy rain.
-Enchanted Forest-
So maybe Snow's plan to go in and just be able to take James away with her and run wasn't the best idea she has ever had. Snow had gotten caught, and now she was trapped in the castle with the King, James' father. "So you're the one," The king said, frowning at Snow like she was a bug. Snow was tied up and was standing in front of him as the king walked around her. "First you poison his heart, and now his marriage." The king said glaring at Snow ``And the whole kingdom. All because of your feelings." Snow looked right back at him. "I wish feelings could be helped, but they can't." She said, trying to defend herself. "But they can, love is a disease. And diseases can be fixed in one of two ways-a cure or death. Do you know where your beloved is right now?" The king asked me. "He is right down the hall from us, packing for his new life." The king answered his own question. "And he will never know I'm here." Snow said with a sigh. "Oh yes he will, you are going to walk down that hallway. And you Snow White are going to sneak in, tell him you received the letter. And you are going to tell him why you are here." Snow looked at the king with confusion. "You will tell him that you don't love him, it will break his heart. And that will cure him." The king said, smirking. "And if I don't you will kill me?" Snow asked, not scared of the man's threats. "Oh no, I will kill James. A cure or death is the only way to get rid of a disease. Either you cure him by breaking his heart, or I kill him."
-Storybrooke-
There was a little girl, running through a field of flowers. She had a book in her hands, and flowers in her hair. "Mom!" She called. "Have you been digging through my books again flower girl?" the woman asked with a grin as her daughter finally made it to her. The girl took a seat in her mothers lap as she planted flowers, "Yes, but I love this book. This is the one that is going to teach me to be a flower enchantress !" She said opening it. "Yes it will. You will be given the book when I can no longer perform magic with the flowers or when I think you are finally ready...and I know that one day, you will be so incredible. All you have to do is love the flowers with all your heart. And they will love you back." The girl's mother said, kissing the young girl on her forehead.
Azalea opened her eyes, she heard a knocking from somewhere and she sat up, the pages from the book she had fallen asleep on rustling. She quickly got out of her chair and ran over to the door of her flower shop, opening it for Dr.Hopper. "Sorry, you were late for our meeting and I got worried. It's the last one for me today so I figured I would close up my shop early and come to yours." He said, shaking the rain from his umbrella as he walked in. "I'm so sorry Dr.Hopper! I usually don't lose track of time like that sir." Azalea said, trying to cover her blush as she walked back to her desk, getting a seat for her guest. "I bet you usually don't fall asleep at your desk during a shift either....are you getting enough sleep?" He asked Azalea, sounding concerned. "Most nights, but sometimes those dreams I have keep me awake, some are scary and others aren't. But they always wake me up. And I can never remember them..." Azalea said looking over at the book she had fallen asleep over. "Sometimes you can't remember the dreams because your brain doesn't let you. Let's try to see if we can figure out what's going on." Dr.Hopper said, pulling out a tiny notepad from his jacket. Azalea nodded, closing the book she had fallen asleep over before turning her full attention to her therapist.
-Enchanted Forest-
"Snow!" Azalea called. She stood up and ran after her friend as she walked up the trail towards her. "What happened? Where is James?" Azalea asked, looking over Snow's shoulder. Snow only shook her head and kept walking. Azalea saw lights behind her and turned to see dwarfs behind them. Walking up the path behind Snow. "Azalea! It's been awhile." Doc said as the other dwarfs greeted her. "Doc! What are you guys doing here?" Azalea asked sounding very confused, she had a past with the dwarfs. But it had been so long since she had seen them. "We had to get Grumpy out of the castle, the guards had been holding him captive." Sneezey said. "Who is Grumpy?" Azalea asked, not remembering that dwarf name. "That's me sister, the name isn't Dreamy anymore." Grumpy said walking past the confused girl. "You okay sister?" Grumpy asked Snow. "Not even close." Snow said wiping her tears. The group kept walking along the path, away from the castle. Azalea sticking to Snow's side, worried about her friend. She was confused, but answers could wait until Snow felt like explaining. "You didn't find James?" Grumpy asked. "Worse, I lost him." Snow said looking at the ground. "Come on with us." Grumpy said, grabbing Snow's hand and walking down the path. "Where are you taking us?" Snow asked. "Home, we all lost someone today too." Grumpy said. "We should have listened to you and gone to the stairs but stealthy was a long time friend. Now he is gone, I would be too if you hadn't have saved me." Grumpy confessed. "Now were seven dwarfs." one said, pushing his glasses up his nose. "Your coming home with us and were going to protect you, and I'm guessing that you two are a package deal of sorts." Grumpy said looking to the shy girl, hiding in Snows side. "It will be helpful to have a flower enchanteress around with us again, it's been so long since we worked together. We would be helping each other." one of the dwarfs said. "The only thing that needed protecting was destroyed...my heart." Snow confessed.
-A Few Days Later, dwarfs house-
"Snow! Where are you Snow!?" Grumpy called as he and Azalea ran into the dwarfs house together, excitement buzzing off of them.``Snow! The kingdom is going crazy. The wedding was called off!" Azalea called out, looking for her friend. The other dwarfs cheered with happiness as the two friends ran into Snow's bedroom. "Snow!? James left Abigail! The wedding is off!" Snow looked up from her quilting with a confused look. "Did you hear me? Your prince charming isn't getting married." Grumpy said. "Who?" Snow asked.Everyone's shock at Snow's silence made the room go quiet. Azalea gasped, realizing what Snow had done. "No...you didn't - Snow, where is it?" Azalea asked, looking through the room. "Where is what?" Grumpy asked with anger and confusion. Azalea opened a drawer and sighed. She picked up the empty bottle that the Evil One had given Snow to make her forget about James, she had taken it. "This." Azalea answered, looking at Snow's confused glance. Snow had fallen under the pressure of her broken heart, moments too soon.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
-Storybrooke-
Azalea watered her sunflowers with care as she looked out the window of her flower shop. She smiled as she moved the pots around. Making sure that each of her flowers were in the warm sun rays to grow healthy and strong. She heard the bell ring and she looked up to see the mystery man who had been wandering town walk in. "Hello again, I have heard a lot of good things about your shop. I thought I would take a look." He said walking around. Azalea didn't answer as she watched him out of the corner of her eye. Finishing the watering before going behind her desk. "Now why is everyone in this town so wary of me? It's like you guys never get any travelers through here. But you obviously do. The sheriff, she just came a few months ago right?" He asked. "Why do you ask so many questions?" Azalea asked instead of answering the man. The man smirked, "Because I'm a writer. And it seems like this town is full of stories. I'm just trying to find some inspiration." Azalea was silent for a moment before nodding. "Okay, what would you like to know?" she asked, "That's more like it." the man said, taking a seat in front of her desk, pulling out a notepad. "So what's your name?" He asked. "You already know my name. And you knew I worked here. You told me so the other day." Azalea said, folding her hands together. "Oh yes that's right. I didn't mean to seem scary, the granny from Granny's Diner was just telling me about some of the local shops around here...so why don't we skip the formal stuff like your name and such and get down to some interesting things." He said. "Like what?" Azalea asked. "Like why you don't wear your flower crowns anymore, someone told me that your shop was broken into. Would that be the reason?" He asked. "I don't feel a need for the flowers anymore. And yes my shop got broken into but it's okay now. Business is going well." Azalea said she tried to relax, but something was off about this man. "What is that?" The man asked, pointing to the book on Azalea's desk. "It was my mothers. It's a kids book full of make believe spells and potions using flowers. Some kind of daily tail book…It's the only thing left I have of my family." She said pulling it close to her . "That's interesting. Have you ever tried one of the spells in that book?" He asked. "No, magic isn't real. It would just be a waste of my flowers." Azalea said "Of course, I meant when you were a child. Did you ever try it when you were a kid?" The man asked. Azalea tried to remember. "I'm not sure. My childhood is a bit of a blur…people say it’s because of the trauma." She said, shrugging her shoulders. "Well that's unfortunate. I won't ask anymore today. But if you don't mind I would like to talk again. Maybe take a look at that book." The man said standing up. He went to the door as Azalea stood behind the desk. "By the way, my name is August." He said before leaving the shop. The girls atched him through the windows of her shop and looked down at the book in her hands. The mystery many seemed like he was more interested in her book then he was in her. “How odd.” She said, before going back to taking care of the flowers.
As August walked down the street after leaving the flower shop he opened up his notepad and wrote down notes as he went to his motorbike.
Azalea=Flower Maiden: Memory: none Magic: none (taken by Evil Queen or Rumple possibly?) Same name as in Enchanted forest (How?) Partly affected by curse. May remember with help.
He put his notepad away and strapped his helmet on before driving down the road. So far Azalea had been the only person he found who had a chance of remembering everything without the savior breaking the curse. But it probably had to do with her pure heart. He would have to keep an eye on her to make sure the evil queen or Rumple didn't do anything to her.
-Mary's Apartment-
"So Henry lost his book?" Azalea asked. "Yea, the story blew it away, who knows if anyone will find it." Emma said, drinking her hot chocolate. "I'm sure someone will find it eventually." Mary said as she sat beside Azalea and her math homework. "Thanks for helping me with this. It's really confusing to me." She said looking down at her papers. "It's okay dear, no one is good at everything. We all have a weakness." Mary said, trying to cheer the teenager up. "Yeah, except Regina. She doesn't seem to have a weakness anywhere!" Emma said, folding her arms. "Why are you and the reporter trying to frame her again?" Mary asked "Were not trying to frame her, Sydney just said that there is some dirt on her. And I want to get it...I'm sick of losing to her." Emma said, looking through files scattered all over the table. "I'm sure that Regina will get her kick of karma soon enough. I just hope that nothing bad comes from you and Sydney trying to frame her." Mary said before turning her full attention to Azalea and her math homework.
-Enchanted Forest-
Azalea walked through the garden that surrounded Snow and James’s Castle. Snow had asked her to plant magical flowers around their sleeping chambers to insure that no one would be able to sneak in during the night and try to harm the baby Snow carried inside her, namely the Evil Queen or Rumple. There had been a lot of flowers and magic used in the past few days and honestly the flower enchantress was starting to feel her energy flee, but she wouldn't rest until she was sure that the Charming's baby was safe. The two had protected her from Rumple for so long she felt like this was the least she could do for the royal couple. "How's it going flower girl?" Grumpy asked, walking into the garden with a grin. Azalea rolled her eyes at the name Grumpy had given her to tease her with. "It's going well, I should be done in a few more days." She said standing up to stretch her legs. "I wish the dwarfs could be of assistance in your planting. With the seven of us the work would be done much quicker." Grumpy said. "I do as well, but I must plant each and every one of these darlings. If I don't then their magic won't work." She said getting back down onto her knees and digging into the dirt. "I know that Snow sent you to check on me, tell her I'm fine." Azalea said, looking at the dwarf. "Alright, don't work yourself to hard alright?" He said, patting the girls back. Grumpy would never admit it, but the flower maiden had become like a little sister to the dwarf, he cared deeply for her like Snow and his brotherly dwarfs. He went to relay the message to Snow as Azalea wiped more sweat from her brow and continued her work.
-Storybrooke-
Henry was sitting at Granny's diner, drawing pictures of the characters from his book and writing their names beside them. "What are you working on Henry?" Azalea asked as she walked into the Diner and sat beside him. "I'm writing down the characters and who they are from the story book before I forget." He explained, not looking up from his paper. "What is this?" Another voice asked, sitting to the other side of Henry. "No time to talk, I have to finish it all before I forget." Henry said not bothering to look up at August, Azalea hid her smirk as August looked over Henry's shoulder. "Yea, I hate it when great idea's escape me." He said. "They're not my idea. They are people from a book that I lost." Henry explained. "Must be a hell of a book." The man said. "What's it about?" He asked. "Stuff," Henry said as Azalea scooted closer to the boy, still not fully trusting the new visitor of their town. "Sounds exciting." August said with sarcasm. "You seem really interested in me and my book." Henry said finally looking up at August. "What are you doing in Storybrooke?" Henry asked. "I'm a writer." August said. "You can write anywhere, what are you really doing here?" Henry asked. Azalea watched as the man's frown dissipated for a second. "Stuff." August said before getting up. "Good luck with the stories...nice seeing you again Azalea." He said before leaving. "I don't trust that guy." Henry said. "Yea, I'm not sure I do either." Azalea said honestly, putting her arm over Henry’s shoulders as the man left the Diner.
-Enchanted Forest-
"It's getting dark, don't you think you should stop for the night?" Azalea looked up from her flowers to see James standing behind her. "I'm almost done with this row. Then I will stop for the night." She said, turning back to her flowers. She heard some rustling behind her and saw James sitting down behind her. "What are you doing?" She asked. "Well I can't let you just sit out here by yourself in the cold while you work hard to protect my unborn child." He said taking off his fur jacket and putting it on Azalea's shoulders. "You don't have to stay out here, I'm sure Snow would love your company." She said, know what James was trying to do. "She would, but we both want to make sure that you're not pushing yourself too much. We know how much work and magic it takes to plant these flowers, and you have been out here almost a week." He said. "And I'm also almost done. You both have just done so much for me, I want to be able to do something for you in return…I may not be able to fight like the dwarfs, Granny, Red, Snow, or you, or use my magic to fight like Geppetto or the Blue fairy. But this is something I can do." She said digging into the dirt. It was silent as Azalea put another flower into the ground, watching it glow for a few seconds, the magic settling into it before going dim. "Azalea, you have done so much for Snow and I...you are not weak, your magic is just as useful as the blue fairies and Geppetto's. Honestly we wouldn't have been able to get the kingdom back without any of you guys yourself included." James said gently, turning Azalea to face him. "I know...sometimes I just wish I was stronger, like you, maybe then I would have been able to protect my own family." Azalea admitted looking down, not really sure where this sudden sadness was coming from. "I was too young when my biological family was killed. Now I'm stronger. Now I can protect you all. I can protect your baby." She said, looking up at James. "You were just a child, and Rumple will pay one day for what he did to your family, but now you have us as a family. Snow, the dwarfs, everyone on the council, and me…the baby in Snow's belly is not just our baby. She is your sister." James said, taking the small shovel out of Azalea's hand. "Why don't we go back inside and I can start a fire. Snow can make some warm milk for you to drink." James said, pulling the girl up to a standing position. "I'm not a child you know…but that does sound nice." She admitted as the two walked back inside together. James pulled the girl under his arm.
-Mary's Apartment-
Azalea climbed back up the steps to her apartment, getting back from school, and looked over to Snow and Emma's door, before opening her own and walking into her home. She would have to stop depending on Mary and Emma. She didn't need to burden them with her presence. Azalea put her stuff down and took off her school uniform jacket and put a pot for dinner on the stove, she sat down in her chair and pulled the book of flower spells out of her bag. She enjoyed reading the book, it made her feel closer to her mother somehow. She couldn't really remember her, but the book made it feel like she maybe could one day.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Azalea stood outside of her flower shop, helping Mr.French unload some flowers she had ordered. "Thank you for delivering these in such short notice. With Valentines coming up soon it's getting busy." Azalea admitted, not letting her shy nature ruin her professionalism with the delivery man. "It's not a problem, you scratch my back I scratch yours right?" Mr.French said with a kind smile. "Well this is just perfect." Azalea felt a chill run down her spine from the familiar voice behind them. The two turned to see Mr.Gold and one of his 'workers' standing behind them. "I've been looking for you Mr.French." He said as the man handed the teen a delivery box in his hands. "Why don't you go inside and organize everything a bit." Mr.French said to Azalea. She wanted to argue but the older man gently pushed her to the door. Mr.Gold watching with a smirk as she opened the door and hesitantly went inside her shop. "I'll have your money next week." Mr.French said looking at Mr.Gold as his worker walked to the back of the delivery van and started unloading everything left in it. "The terms of the loan were very specific...take the van." Mr.Gold said to the man as he walked back up and opened the door to the driver seat. "Wait. no..." Mr.French said, shock written all over his face. Azalea watched from inside her shop, feeling hopeless in the whole situation. She watched as the guy drove off with Mr.French's van Mr.Gold and Mr.French sharing a few more heated words before Mr.Gold walked down the street the way he had come. Azalea opened the door back up and walked up to Mr.French. "I don't know what to say..." She said looking at Mr.French. "It will be alright. Mr.Gold is the lowest of the low, that is no way to do business." He said looking at the rest of Azalea's shipment on the ground, thankful that Mr.Golds worker didn't' drive away with that as well. "Let's get the rest of your stuff shall we?" He asked. Azalea didn't say anything at first, feeling pity for the poor man. Finally she nodded and the two each picked up some delivery boxes and carried them into the shop.
-Enchanted Forest-
"We are so sorry to hear about your daughter Belle." James said as he and Snow had dinner with the king of their neighboring land. It was a formal Royalty event, to show the two kingdoms that their royals were getting along and there was no need for wars. "After her mother passed she was the only light in this world I had....and now she is also gone. Taken by the Dark One." The king said, his own food untouched. "It seems that all of us have had a bad past experience with trying to get something from the Dark One...at least your wants were of noble desire." Snow said, thinking back to her own deal with Rumple, and how it had also turned sour. "I just wish there was something I could do - something to bring my bundle of light back into my life, my safe arms." The king said. James' thoughts sparked with an idea. He stood up with excitement. "We may have something to help!" He said, looking at the king. "Have you heard of the Flower Enchantress Azalea?" He asked the king, Mary looked confused as to why James was bringing her up. Surly James wasn't planning on Azalea getting anywhere near Rumple. "Yes, all through the land people speak of her powerful magic. But she never uses it to hurt another. She only uses it to heal and...and to find lost people!" The king said, also standing up with excitement. "Maybe she can help! But how do we get into contact with her?" He asked. "Luckily for you we have a pretty close connection." Snow said with a smirk. Azalea had been living with Snow and James in the castle after they got it back from Regina. The couple had agreed to keep Azalea's location under wraps, with Rumple still being after her heart and all. The public knew that she was safe and in hiding, they just didn't know she was hiding inside the castle.
-Storybrooke-
Azalea heard the bell go off to her flower shop door and she turned to see Emma walking in. There were a few customers walking around, mostly guys. A sure sign that Valentine's day was getting closer and closer. "Hey," She called walking up to the sheriff. "Hey, can I ask you something." Emma asked, using her sheriff voice. "Yea sure." Azalea said, tucking her hands behind her back. "Earlier today, when Mr.French and Mr.Gold had that argument in front of your shop...did you hear any threats of any kind?" Emma asked. "No! No not at all. Mr.French seemed angry, but that's only to be expected. He sent me inside of the shop shortly after Mr.Gold showed up, so I didn't hear a majority of the conversation." Azalea admitted. "Why are you asking?" The girl asked Emma with a raised eyebrow. "Well...it seems that Mr.French took matters into his own hands and robbed Mr.Gold. I went through his house and got most of the stuff back but Mr.Gold said there was something still missing and that he was going to find him himself." Emma explained. "Oh, Mr.French doesn't seem like that type to rob anyone. Even the likes of Mr.Gold." Azalea said worried for the business associate. "Well money issues can bring out the worst in people. If you see either of them can you call me?" Emma asked. "Yea sure...good luck." Azalea said as Emma left the shop. Azalea herself wasn't left much time to worry as her attention was caught by a customer asking about the roses.
-Enchanted Forest-
"Are you sure this will work," The king asked again as Azalea crushed a few more flower seeds into powder, she nodded and poured all the ingredients into the small vase. She was standing in front of a table covered with flower potions and different planes and liquids. She picked up a needle and took the king's hand. "May I?" She asked. The king nodded, Snow and James watched from the side of the table as Azalea pricked the king's finger, a drop of blood dripping into the mix. "Now it is ready, if your daughter wishes to be found it will show us where she is." Azalea explained. She adjusted the flower crown on her head before taking the potion and pouring it into a wide bowl. The King, Snow, James, and Azalea all peered into the bowl. Small whips of purple smoke floated up into the air as the magic located Belle. A picture started to show up in the liquid. "There! Belle!" The king said, suddenly a spark lit up the room and the potion exploded, everyone jumped back covering their faces and screaming. "What was that?! Did it not work?" The King asked with worry, turning to Azalea who was waving her hands through the smoke to clear it. "I'm sorry, but the potion only works if the person it is looking for wants to be found...it would seem that Belle is content in her new place." Azalea said with a frown. "What? My Belle? No -no!" The king said before running out of the chamber, clearly upset. Azalea looked down at her feet, disappointment raising like bile in her chest. "This isn't your fault. Don't feel bad." Snow whispered into the Enchantress' ear, pulling the girl into a comforting embrace as James ran after the king to comfort him.
-Mary's Apartment-
"Some Valentine's night this turned out to be." Mary sighed as she got a blanket from the closet. "I arrested Mr.Gold, that is a good enough Valentines present to myself." Emma said as she mixed some hot chocolate, smiling from the kitchen. "And it seems that Azalea worked herself pretty hard." She said, watching as Mary put a blanket over the sleeping girl on their couch. She had come home from the shop exhausted, falling asleep after about five minutes on the couch. "It's always the busiest time of the year for her." Mary said with a frown. "You seem upset...run into David?" Emma asked. "More like he ran into me...and the conversation wasn't all that pleasant." Mary admitted as the two women sat at the table with their sweet warm drinks. "To love," Mary said bitterly holding up her cup, "And to Mr.Gold being in the jail cell." Emma said with glee as the two clicked their mugs together.
-The Next Day-
"Sheriff Swan." Regina walked into the sheriff station with Henry in front of her. "I'm giving you thirty minutes with Henry. Take him out to get Ice Cream or something." She said as Emma gave her a suspicious glare. Mr.Gold glared at Regina as Emma had an eternal battle. She couldn't possibly leave the town mayor alone with Mr.Gold. She was still trying to figure out why he had beaten Mr.French so terribly. But thirty minutes with Henry..."twenty nine in a half minutes." Regina said looking right at Mr.Gold. Emma nodded, taking her jacket and Henry's hand. With smiles the two left Regina and Mr.Gold alone. "Bring me back a cone." Mr.Gold called to the mom and child. Regina walked up to the jail cell bars as Mr.Gold sat on the bed. "You really want a little chat don't you? Must really want to talk if you're willing to let your son have quality time with your mortal enemy." Mr.Gold said. "Apparently this was the only way to get a chat in with you." Regina said folding her arms. "Now when two people both want something that one person has, a deal can always be struck...but first I must know, do you have what I want?" Mr.Gold said folding his hands. "Yes," Regina said with a grin. "So you did put it up to Mr.French then." Gold said. "I merely suggested that strong men take what they need." Regina said with a smirk. "Oh yea, and you told him exactly what to take didn't you?" Gold asked bitterly. "We used to know each other so well Mr.Gold. Does it really have to come down to this?" Regina asked. "It seems that it has, but you know what I want...what is it that
you
want?" He asked. "I want you to answer one question, and to answer it simply." Regina said taking a few steps forward. "What's your name?" She asked, their eyes locked and Gold stood up, walking to the bars to be face to face with the woman on the other side. He smiled. "It's Mr.Gold." He whispered. "What's your real name?" Regina asked, frowning. "Every moment I have spent on this Earth, that's been my name." Mr.Gold said. "But what about moments spent elsewhere?" Regina asked, Mr.Gold looked confused as she smirked. "What are you asking me?" He finally asked. "I think you know, and if you want what's yours returned to you, you will tell me your name." Regina demanded. It was silent as the mans confused frown turned to a smile. He chuckled and said "Rumpelstiltskin." Regina smirked pulling the chipped teacup from her purse. "Thank you, your Majesty." He said sarcastically, reaching through the bars and taking the cup into his hands. "So, now that were being honest with each other, let's remember how things used to be shall we?" He said with a smirk of his own. "and don't let these bars fool you. I'm the one with the power here...you can't suck it out of me like you did with the flower enchantress." He said. "I had to do it. Azalea had somehow started harnessing magic in this land, where there is supposed to be none! I couldn't let her keep doing it or she would have remembered everything." Regina said. "Oh I know, but just because you took the magic out of her doesn't mean she still wont remember. The cards are stacked up against you. First the savior arrives, then the Flower enchantress suddenly starts using her magic again... the magic comes from her pure heart. Why do you think so many people want to harness her power? Eventually you will have to cut her from the picture all together if you want the savior to stay dormant." Mr.Gold said. "You don't think I know that? I have a plan, one that you don't need to worry yourself with." Regina said. "Oh, but it will be a problem if I don't get that girls heart." Mr.Gold growled. "That's your problem, not mine." Regina said before walking out of the room. Mr.Gold frowned as he held the tea cup gently in his hands. "You may have plans...but I have plans of my own. Azalea's heart shall be mine."
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
-Flowershop-
Azalea carefully tied the last two stems together, pulling them into one tight knot. She smiled as she picked up the flower crown off of her desk and examined the white petals with a smile. It had been so long since she had worn one of her home-made flower crowns. Even since the robbery she had only made them to sell to the little girls who came into the shop. She couldn't quite place why she had the sudden urge to wear one again, but she was glad she did. She braided her hair through the crown so that it would stay in place and her smile grew. Something in her just felt so right when she wore the flower crowns. She honestly had no idea why he had stopped, maybe it was like Dr.Hopper was saying in their sessions. She needed time to recover, to deal with what had happened. Now she was ready to move on, to be happy again. The bell to her shop rang and she looked up to see David walking in. "Oh hey, I like your flowers." He said, gesturing to the crown on her head. "Thank you, how are you?" Azalea asked, trying to not act so shy in front of the man she had practically saved (aside from Mary's breath of life). "Everything is good. Getting flowers for the miss." He said looking around. "Which one?" Azalea asked. David froze and looked at the teenager. "How do you know about Mary?" He asked. "Don't worry. I only know about you and Mary because I live next door to her. I'm just asking so I can help with picking out the flowers." She quickly said, not wanting to worry the man. How he lived his life was his choice. She wasn't about to judge him because of it. "oh...right, okay. Um, Kathryn. Do you know what she likes?" He asked. Azalea nodded and got one of her white and red mixes of roses. "She looks at these every time she passes by the shop." Azalea noted as David got his money out for them. "Thank you so much...for everything." He said with a nod before leaving the shop. Azalea sighed and pulled on her skirt nervously. If it wasn't one thing it was another in this small town.
-The Next Day, School-
Azalea tapped her pencil against the notebook. Watching the hands of the clock tick down to the last minute of school. She wanted to stop by Granny's to get some coffee and talk to Ruby a bit before she went to open the flower shop. Finally after what seemed like a lifetime the bell rang, not per usual behavior Azalea jumped up from her desk and gathered all of her books into her backpack before exiting the classroom quickly. "Dude! I heard two ladies got into a fight!" She heard a boy shout, she rolled her eyes at the usual school drama as she continued down the hallway. "I hear Ms.Blanchard just got slapped!" Now that one gets her attention. "Where?" She asked one of the girls in her class who was talking about the latest gossip. "Down the main hallway." Azalea quickly made her way to the main hall. She ran until she found Mary and Kathrine standing in front of each other, surrounded by students and teachers alike."
You didn't lie
?!" Kathryn shouted, as the teacher looked frightened. "You snuck around, you broke up my marriage with a pack of lies!" She shouted. Azalea wanted to somehow help her friend, but what could she do? What could anyone do? "With some crap about not being able to connect? David didn't have any trouble connecting to you!" Kathryn said, tears in her eyes. Mary looked confused at her words. "David didn't tell you about us?" Mary asked, her voice broken. "No of course not, that would have been the honorable thing to do." Kathryn said. "But he said he would tell you." Mary said, sounding so sad. "Well I guess he lied to both of us then...good luck making it work. You two deserve each other." Kathrine spat out before storming out of the school. Azalea ran up to Mary and took her arm. "Everyone saw, didn't they?" Mary asked, her eyes watering up. Mary had a red mark on her cheek. Azalea didn't answer Mary's question, but took hand and led her out of the school.
-Later That Day, Granny's Diner-
The sound of a revving engine filled Azalea's ears as she looked up from the flowers she and Granny were planting in front of the Diner. Ruby, Emma, and Granny all watched as August rolled up on his motorcycle, stopping in front of the diner as Emma walked up to him. "You're gonna come in? I thought you wanted that drink." Emma asked him. "I do, but not here. Hop on." August said getting a helmet from the back of his bike. Azalea stood up from the flowers and dusted her hands off. "You want me to get on the back of that bike?" Emma asked August as if she were talking to a crazy person. "That's what '
hop on
' means." August said with a smirk. "Come on Emma, take a leap of faith." He said holding the helmet out to her. "If you don't I will!" Granny called, Azalea covered her mouth to stop the laughter as Emma grabbed the helmet and got on. "Nice seeing you again ladies...nice flower crown Azalea, it suits you." August said smiling to the teenager before the two rode off together. "Oh well, he was to old for me anyway." Granny said getting back to work on the flowers. Azalea stood for a second, why had August seemed so excited about her wearing flower crowns again? "You better get back down here and help me plant these flowers, or you will have to pay for your dinner." Granny teased. Azalea smiled, trying to forget August as she started helping Granny again. There was something about that man that Azalea couldn't shake.
August smirked as he drove down the road with Emma holding onto him. The spell the Evil Queen had cast was starting to weaken under the magic of Azalea's pure heart. Soon enough Azalea would remember everything. Emma's presence was bringing magic back into Storybrooke. Soon enough Regina's curse would be broken, things were just starting to get interesting.
-Regina's Office-
"Thank you so much for helping me. I had gotten these to brighten up the office and I just can't seem to keep them alive." Regina said, watching as Azalea gently watered the plant. "I don't mind at all. Anything to help these flowers live a full life." The teenager said, flowers decorating her braid as she moved the vase of flowers next to the window. "They need at least four hours of sunlight a day. And watered twice, once in the morning and evening." She said, turning to Regina. "Is there anything else you need?" She asked politely. "No that's all, I have a guest coming over soon. Kathryn." I said watching the girl stiffen. "Oh okay, I'll be on my way then." She said getting her stuff and exciting Regina's office. The mayor smirked and walked over to the flowers. She waved her hands over the flowers Azalea had just brought in, waiting to see what would happen. The flowers began to glow and Regina's smile turned to a frown. '
How did she get her magic back so quickly? It shouldn't be possible, I sucked the very last bit out of her...I guess I will have to go to plan B after all.
' Regina thought to herself, picking up the vase and tilting it down, pouring the water, dirt, and oh so precious flowers into the trash can. Where they belonged.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
-Storybrooke-
Azalea huffed as she quickly walked around her store. It was almost closing time and she hadn't been able to do a count for the flowers she would need for Minors Day this year. Every year she would donate an amount of flowers for the nuns to sell for their fundraising. She always had to work at least a month in advance to make sure all the flowers were properly grown and ready to sell. The Nuns were some of her best customers, and her donations each year helped with her business. She also had to make a number of flower crowns to give away to the kids, and that always took a few days. So the teenager was basically up to her neck in work. Being the only flower shop in town had its advantages, as many as its disadvantages. But she was happy, she loved growing flowers. It seemed that after everything that had happened she was finally in a good place. She adjusted the crown in her hair as it tried to slip down her forehead as she continued to work.
-Enchanted Forest-
"Did you hear about what the Dark One did?!" The eight dwarfs were working, just like any other day in the mines when Doc came running through, his pickaxe forgotten. "What's got you so ruffled up Doc?" Stealthy asked. "It's the Flower Enchanting family! Something terrible happened!" Dreamy looked up from his mining spot, besides the Dwarfs getting the fairy dust from the mines the Flower Enchanters were the only group of people that could grow natural magic from the Enchanted Forest. There was only one family of Enchanters left so they fled to hide in the forest and grow their magical flowers. "What happened to them then?" Bashful asked. "The Dark One found them...he-he murdered the whole family except their daughter. She was barely able to get away. She's in hiding right now!" Doc said. Everyone was shocked. "How?-but why?!" Dreamy finally asked. "No one knows, apparently the Dark One was trying to create an evil potion but the family couldn't give him what he wanted...so he took it instead, killing them when they tried to stop him." Doc said. "Even their son?...damn he would have killed the daughter if she hadn't gotten away. How is she?" Dreamy asked. "No one knows, she has disappeared." Doc said, looking down. "I knew the Dark One was evil but this - is just unforgivable." Stealthy said. "So I see you have heard the news." The Dwarfs boss came up behind our group with a grim look on his face. "The news that is spreading throughout the Enchanted Forest is true, the last Flower Enchanting family has been murdered, and until we find the child we can only assume that we are the last resort for natural magic made from the Enchanted Forest. There are people looking for the girl and the Dark One. But our job now is to work harder than ever before. So that the fairies can get the magic they need to keep everything in order. Is that understood? Make sure you keep an eye out though. The Dwarfs and Flower Enchanters have a close relationship. The lost child may come to us for help." the eight dwarfs stood straight and saluted "Sir yes sir!" The Dwarfs went back to work, with the tragic news weighing down their spirits.
-Minors day, Storybrooke-
"Buy your very own Minors day candles here! Made by our very own nuns!" Mary's smile turned to a frown as everyone passed her and Leroy's candle stand. "This isn't working." Mary said, looking hopeless. "Your right, maybe we should move over next to Azalea and her flowers. They seem to be selling pretty well." Leroy said looking at Azalea's crowded flower stand. Customers everywhere. "It's not because of where we are, it's because of who we are." Mary said with a frown. "Well we have to think of something or the nuns don't have enough money to pay for their home." Leroy said, looking as grumpy as usual. "What do you suggest?" Mary asked, annoyed with the complaining. "I think I got one idea that might work." Leroy said, picking up a box of candles. "What is your plan?" Mary asked. "Go door to door, if they won't pay for us to help the nuns they may pay for us to just leave their houses." Leroy said before walking away from the stand. Mary quickly got a box of her own before following the short man.
-Enchanted Forest-
A young girl walked into the mines. Dreamy looked up from the rocks he was chipping and stopped whistling. Any time a girl walked into the mines it was a fairy to collect fairy dust, but this little girl clearly wasn't a fairy at all. "Hello?" He called, the girl's head snapped up and Dreamy gasped. She had flowers in her hair, and blood down the front of her clothes. Her cheeks were thinned out and she was covered in dirt. She couldn’t be any older than six or seven years old. She kept her arms wrapped around herself as she looked at the dwarf in fear. "It's okay...I won't hurt you." Dreamy said, suddenly wishing that the other dwarfs would hurry and get back from their break soon. He didn't know what to do with this random girl. Honestly the blood covering her wasn't helping anything either. The girl didn't say anything, only looked at Dreamy for a few more seconds before climbing down the mines to get closer to him. "Is-is this the Dwarfs mines?" She asked, her voice scratched and she coughed into her arm. It was obvious that the girl was ill, among other things. "Yes, who are you? How did you find this place? Only fairies and Flower Enchanters are supposed to be able to enter here." Right after the words came from his mouth he figured out who this girl was. "Wait! Your the Flower Enchantress that got away from the Dark One!" The girl quickly jumped and covered the dwarfs mouth. "NO! no no no, don't say his name! He will find me-he wants my heart! He will kill me too!" The little girl panicked as Dreamy removed her hands from his mouth. "Don't worry, you're safe now. He can't enter here." Dreamy said, whistling was heard from behind them and the girl looked over Dreamy's shoulder in fear. "Don't be scared, those are my other dwarf brothers...I have a friend named Doc that can take a look at you and make sure your okay." The girl's eyes filled with tears and Dreamy pulled her into his arms. "Dreamy! Who is this? "Is she a fairy?" "What's going on?" "Why is she crying?" The other dwarfs swarmed the two and Dreamy ignored all their questions. "She is the Flower Enchantress that got away from the Dark One. Doc, let's take her to the medic bay." Doc nodded and took the girl's arms, leading her back down the mines. "She is alive! She must have been looking for us. She has been missing for a week and a half. She has been out there in the woods by herself. all this time" The dwarfs boss said in despair. Dreamy wandered away from the rest of the conversation, that poor girl was all alone in the world now. And it was up to him and his brothers to keep her safe.
-Storybrooke-
Emma rolled her neck as she took a break from looking at Kathryn's phone records. This seemed like quite the mess. Kathryn had been missing for 33 hours by now. Her car was wrecked and abandoned at the sign that said '
now leaving Storybrooke
' Emma needed some kind of lead, anything to get her closer to the truth. She feared that she was going to have to bring in David for questioning. And with everything that had happened between him, Kathryn, and Mary Margret...well it just wasn't looking good at all for anyone involved. "Hi Emma!" She looked up to see Azalea walking in with a flower crown in her hands. "I'm sorry your missing the fun from the first part of Miners Day." The teen said, handing over the crown. "You can have this one on the house." She said Emma was very surprised by this odd behavior from the usually shy teen. "Okay...what's up? You are acting odd." Emma said, taking the flower crown out of the teens hand and putting it on the table. Azalea's smile fell and she sighed. "I'm worried about Kathryn...and Mary, David too. What's going to happen?" She asked. Emma gave her own sigh, walking over to the girl. "Right now, I'm not sure. But I'm trying as hard as I can. I promise." Emma said, looking into Azalea's eyes. Emma blinked, she didn't remember the girl's eyes being so...bright. She didn't want all of this drama and Kathrine's case to bring the girl down in the dumps again. "Why don't you focus on your stand for Minors Day. Try to not think about all this....I swear I will protect Mary and David with all the power I have." Emma promised.
-Enchanted Forest-
"Are you leaving?" The Dwarfs were all shocked. Azalea had only been with them for a week, she was fully recovered physically. But they all knew that the little girl wasn't ready to go out in the woods all by herself so soon. "I have to, part of my magic comes from the sun. Just like my flowers...I can't let the Dark One take away my magic." She paused and looked down. "That's all I have left of my family." The dwarfs all circled her. "We understand, if you ever need anything...please come to us." The boss said. Azalea nodded, she gathered her things and the eight dwarfs took her to the end of the mines. "Thank you, for everything." the girl said, turning to the dwarfs. Dreamy stepped up and hugged her, the two had grown close in the time she had been in the mines. "Dreamy...don't be scared to leave the mines." She whispered. He wanted to ask her what she meant, but as the fairy he had fallen in love with came back to his mind he knew exactly what the flower enchantress was telling him. "I don't think I am scared." He said with a grin. Azalea smiled, before walking out of the mines into the light of day. "Alright dwarfs, back to work!" The boss walked back into the mines, followed by the other dwarfs. Their whistles filled each other's ears as they got back to what dwarfs did best.
-Storybrooke-
Azalea looked around, it was the last part of Minors day and everyone was carrying candles. The lights had gone out 'mysteriously' and the candles were a fun way to bring light back to the fun. Azalea had sold out of all of her flowers, she was watching as everyone had a good time. "I see that your sales went as well as the candles did." Mary said, walking up. "Yes, it seems so. Seems like things are finally coming back around for us." Azalea smiled. The two sat together at the booth, Azalea got a crown she had saved for Mary and was putting it in her hair when Emma's cop car pulled up. "Emma made it! I was hoping she wouldn't miss all of the fun tonight." Mary said with a grin as she stood up, but Mary stopped in her tracks when Emma found David. The two met and talked for a few seconds. "What's happening?" Azalea asked as David followed Emma to the cop car. Everyone started noticing the Sheriff and David, watching as David was put into the back of Emma's cop car. She drove off, Mary looked shocked as everyone started to whisper. It seemed that things were only starting to unfold themselves in Storybrooke.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
-Storybrooke-
Azalea knocked on David's door. She felt extremely awkward, but she did want to help the man for some reason. Maybe it was because she had been the one to find him so long ago when he wandered out of the hospital. But Azalea couldn't quite place why David had such an affect on her heart, maybe it was just his charming ways. The door opened and David gave a grim smile to the teenager. "Is this a bad time?" Azalea asked, seeing the bags under the man's eyes. "No, just didn't get a lot of sleep...come in?" He asked opening the door further open for her to step through. The house looked a bit different, some things gone. They probably belonged to Kathryn before she left. Azalea handed the vase with flowers over to David. "For me?" He asked. Azalea nodded, ducking her head as David gave a real smile. "Thank you, but can I ask what for?" He said as he walked into the living room setting them down. "I just wanted to give you something, to say that...um to show that your not alone." Azalea said blushing at the choice of words she used. But David didn't seem to mind as he patted the girl's hair, being mindful of the flowers in her hair. "Thank you, I remember these. They are the same kind you got for me when I came back from the hospital." He said looking at the deep colors. "You said they were your favorite." Azalea said. "Yea, that was my first real memory I got back..." It was peacefully silent for a few moments before Azalea's phone alarm went off. "Oh! I need to get back to work." Azalea said before David showed her out. David sighed, watching Azalea leave as his house became empty again. So much was going on he felt like his head was going to explode. Kathryn being missing, Emma finding the odd phone call he never made, he sighed and sat down at the couch. He looked up at the flowers and pulled one of them from the bundle. It felt smooth between his fingers. His vision suddenly got blurry as the petal in his finger glowed.
"Where is she?!" James asked, running into the room "She is with Azalea! She took her to the wardrobe." Snow said, panting as Doc cleaned up the bed around her. The curse from Regina was coming quickly, James didn’t have time to dote over his wife who had just given birth. "I'm going to find them," James said before kissing Snow's forehead. "Please, keep my babies safe." Snow whispered. James nodded, before running out of the room and down the hallway. He had to hurry and find Azalea and his newborn baby. He trusted Azalea completely, but with the curse on it's way...everyone was in danger. James kept running down halls, getting closer to the room that held the wardrobe, he heard a cry that turned his blood to ice. It was a baby's cry, his babies cry. He ran faster, turning down yet another hall to find Azalea, but she was pinned under Rumple, Emma was wrapped in her blanket on the floor a few feet away. "Looks like I won dearie!" Rumple shouted. "No you don't!" James shouted, he picked up the baby and held it to his chest, pointing his sword at Rumple. "Let Azalea go!" He commanded. "Oh I don't think so Charming...the curse is only moments away, and the wardrobe is so far away. If I were you I would worry more about your kingdom and less about this child." Rumple pushed the sole of his foot against Azalea's back. She groaned and looked at James. "Run! Hurry and get Emma away," She coughed. James looked at the baby in his arms, he knew what he had to do. Even if it broke his heart. "I will come back for you," He said with a tear running down his face before he turned away from the two and ran down the hall. Emma pressed to his chest. Azalea crying out in pain behind him.
-Town Line, Storybrooke-
Mary didn't know why she was driving to the town's edge. But maybe if she found a clue, something to help find Kathryn. She would be safe, and so would David. Mary parked her car next to the leaving Storybrooke sign on the road and got out. She walked into the woods beside the road. Mary didn't know what she was looking for, or if she would even find anything. But it was killing her to just sit at home and do nothing. She heard a twig snap and looked around, thinking it was just an animal. Moments passed and nothing happened, so she went back to looking. But a rustle from behind her startled Mary as she turned to look for what was in the woods. She heard footsteps and saw David come out from behind some trees. Mary sighed and walked over to him. "I-its you...you okay?" Mary asked, David looked around. He didn't meet Mary's glance. "I'm looking," He said. "You're looking for Kathryn? Or clues to help find her?" Mary asked. He didn't say anything as he kept looking around the woods, like he was lost. "She knows you didn't do anything. Emma I mean, she can tell when people are lying so...she knows. And I will stand with you and tell people this isn't possible." Mary said, trying to comfort David. But he still looked lost, something in his eyes didn't seem right. "I'm looking...I have to find her - I told her I would come back for her." He said again, as if he didn't hear anything Mary had just said. "David?" She asked, trying to get him to look at her. He backed up and kept looking around the forest. "David!" Mary called out but he kept walking, frantically looking around the forest, something was wrong with him.
-Sheriff Station, Storybrooke-
"You could be a bike messenger." Henry said looking through job openings for Ruby. "What is that?" Ruby asked. "It's where you deliver things to people on a bike with a basket." He said looking to her. "I'm not very good with bikes." Ruby admitted. "How about on foot? With a little basket?" Henry asked, a bit of a smirk on his lips. Azalea smiled, knowing exactly what Henry as thinking. Ruby seemed a bit to old for the role of little Red Riding Hood, but she could see where Henry made that connection with Ruby and the fairy-tale character. "Not my thing, let's keep looking." Ruby said looking at the list of job openings in the newspaper. Ruby and Granny had gotten into some kind of fight, so right now Ruby was staying with Mary and Emma. Azalea sat back and started looking over her English homework, knowing that she couldn't avoid it forever. a little while later Emma walked in with Mary and they both looked worried. Azalea sat up as the two women walked over to them. "What's wrong?" Henry asked. The two ladies looked like they weren't going to say anything, then Emma seemed to think of something and looked at Azalea. "You went by David's house earlier today right? To drop off flowers?" She asked. "Yea, how come?" Azalea asked, worried. "Did he seem a bit off to you in anyway, like you would try to talk to him and he wouldn't answer?" Mary asked. "Um no, he seemed like his usual normal self, besides seeming super bummed. But that was expected." Azalea said. Emma sighed and Mary shook her head. " I saw him in the woods a little while ago, something was wrong. It was like he was looking right through me when I tried to talk to him." Mary said looking upset. "Whatever is up we are going to find out, let's go find him." Emma said grabbing her police radio. "Can we help?" Ruby asked standing up from the table. "Right now we need all the help we can get." Emma admitted.
-Flower Shop, Storybrooke-
Emma, Ruby, and Mary went to go look for David, it was just like before. David was lost. Azalea opened up her shop door and went inside. She went right to the green flower section and picked up the same type of flower that she had given to David when he was in the hospital, when she had somehow found him with it. Maybe, just maybe she could do it again. Azalea sighed and pocketed the flower. She left the shop and ran to the woods around the area where Emma and Ruby were looking.It took awhile but she finally found the group looking for David in the woods. "Any luck?" Azalea called to the two. "No, how about you?" Emma asked. "I'm sorry, but no." Azalea said putting her hand in her pocket and grasping the flower. Emma and Ruby kept on going down the trail and Azalea took the out of her pocket...it was glowing, not bright, but it was glowing. It was working again! Azalea didn't have time to think about how it was even possible as she followed the two girls, making sure to keep the glowing flower out of their sight. "Do you hear that?" Ruby asked. "Hear what?" Emma asked. "I think I can hear David, can't you hear him?" Ruby asked, suddenly running down the path. Emma didn't have time to answer, only to follow. Azalea ran with her, the glow of the flower getting brighter. "Here he is!" Ruby shouted, Emma and Azalea ran up and the flower went limp like it did when Azalea had found David the first time. David was laying on the ground, unconscious. "Oh God, David! Get up, come on." Emma said getting on her knees beside him. There was a cut on his forehead, Emma shook him and his eyes blinked open. "Emma, Ruby..." He whispered. "Do you know where you are?" Emma asked. "No I, what the hell?" David asked looking over at Azalea, he blinked a few times. His vision blurred when he saw Azalea. Before it lifted and he sat up. "I-I was in my house, Azalea had brought me flowers. Did you bring me here?" He asked. "N-no." Azalea said getting on her knees as next to him, she had an odd feeling about all of this. David reached his hand out and before Azalea could even think her own hand grabbed his. That familiar feeling of Deje-vu washed over Azalea as David started to calm down, his grip on Azalea's hand strong. "You don't remember anything since this being at your house?!" Emma asked, that was almost twenty four hours ago. "No-I don't...I was looking for someone." David said looking scared. Ruby and Azalea looked to each other as the group helped the man stand up, he had to lean a bit on Emma to even walk out of the forest. They all left the forest, David's hand never leaving Azalea. He didn't know what had happened, but he felt like he had completed what he was trying to do. He didn't know who he was looking for, but he didn't feel like he had to look anymore.
-A Few Hours Later, The Hospital-
"Well he is a bit scratched up, a bit bruised, and a little dehydrated. Everything is fine physically. But I'm going to recommend that you get an appointment with Dr.Hopper. What is happening to you isn't because of anything physical." The doctor said to David. After the group had found David they took him to the hospital to get checked up. "We will figure it out." Emma said, looking at David. "It's so strange, I can't even believe it happened." David said, sounding shocked. "What could he do during one of these episodes?" Emma asked. "Well for David it seems as if he is just as functional during this state that you saw as he is awake." The doctor said, "Oh God, what if I did something to Kathryn...what if I don't remember?" David asked, his head falling into his hands. "No one is saying that." Emma said calmly, trying to calm the man down as her own heart started to race.Azalea watched through the glass walls as the group talked, she wasn't allowed in. So she was forced to wait outside. "What are you doing here?" She turned and saw Regina with her arms folded. "I was helping Emma look for David earlier." She explained, honestly a bit scared of the glare Regina was sending her way. "And how did you find him?" She asked. "I-I didn't, Ruby did this time." Azalea said, leaving out the part that she had also used a glowing flower to help find David. Regina stepped closer to her. What was up with her? She was acting odd. Regina looked her right in the eye, if looks could kill...Regina looked at the girl's flower crown before addressing Azalea. "Stay out here," She demanded before opening the door and walking inside David's room. "Like I have a choice." Azalea said sarcastically.
-Later, Police Station-
"Mary was arrested?!" Henry asked. "Yes, there was nothing else I could do. I'm sorry." Emma said, looking put aside herself. "Someone has to be framing her. Mary would never kill Kathryn, and she would never ever do something like putting her heart in a box and burying it!" Azalea said. "I know, but her fingerprints were in the box...I had.no.choice." Emma said before looking away. "No, this isn't possible." Azalea said, tears gathering in her eyes. She ran out of the door to the police station before Emma could stop her and ran down the street. Mary was the kindest person she knew, she took Azalea in when she was alone, she never once gave up on her. Now it was Azalea's turn to never give up on Mary. Azalea wiped tears from her eyes as she ran up to her flower shop and opened it. She ran to the desk and pulled out the flower book her mother had left her. "I must be going crazy. I have to be crazy to try this." Azalea whispered to herself. She opened the book and pulled the flower from her pocket she had used to help find David. She flipped through a few pages till she found what she was looking for. On the page was a drawn picture of the exact flower Azalea held in her hand. On top of the page it read "Locator flower spell." Azalea took a shaky breath. Something was going on, something had been going on her whole life here in Storybrooke. She had some kind of power...or according to this book, magic. And if it was real, if she wasn't losing it...she knew that she had to use whatever it was that she had to help. To help Emma, to help David, to help Mary...maybe to help every person in this town.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
-Enchanted Forest-
Azalea was tending to the flowers. It was almost dinnertime for her, the dwarfs, and Snow. But it seemed that tonight was finally going to be an intervention of sorts. Snow had gotten worse after she drank the potion the Dark One had given her to forget David. Her heart was turning to the darkness and Azalea had expressed to the dwarfs how quickly the group had needed to try and get the old Snow back. Azalea called on an old friend of hers to try and help Snow see what was going on. Hopefully it will all work out. There was a banging from inside the dwarf house and Azalea turned to see a bluebird fly out of the window, before Snow stood at it, smirking as the bird flew off. Azalea sighed, usually Snow had been so well with animals. But as of late it seemed that Snow thought all animals were 'pests'. Azalea stood up, gathering her things and picking up the flower book from her mother. She held it to her chest as she went inside the house, just as Grumpy was pulling Snow into the kitchen where everyone was waiting for her. "Somebody die?" Snow asked as all eyes were on her. "Snow, why don't you have a seat?" Jiminy, the cricket, asked, flying onto the table. "Oh! Why is there a dirty cricket in here?!" Snow said, swatting at Jiminy. Azalea ran over to the table and grabbed Jiminy, protecting him from Snow's wrath. "Snow! This is my friend." Azalea explained, upset that she would attack Jiminy like he was some common bug. "Yes Snow, Azalea has asked me to be here tonight. All your friends are concerned about you and have something they would like to say." Jiminy said, not leaving the protection of Azalea's hands. "Grumpy, why don't you start?" Jiminy asked, sitting down in the Flower Enchanters hands. Grumpy cleared his throat and pulled out a crumpled paper from his pocket. "Snow White, you've changed. You've become angry, irritable, and down right mean. You broke our tea pot for crying out loud!" He read from the paper. "Changed, and who are you to tell me I have changed?" Snow asked, glaring at Grumpy. "Snow! Please, these are your friends. And we're all here because we care about you." Jiminy said flying out of Azalea's hands to stand on the table. "Can't you see what that potion you took is doing to you?" Azalea asked Snow. "You haven't been the same since you drank it." Grumpy said folding his arms. "That potion helped me forget, who ever, or what ever, I needed to forget about. And I'm obviously better off without them." Snow said with anger. "That potion was the solution, not the problem...my only problem now is the Evil Queen. She is the one who started all of this by killing my father and banishing me from the kingdom!" Snow said in anger. "Snow, your anger to the queen is understandable. But you are letting it control you and push you away from those who love you most." Jiminy said gesturing around him to the Dwarfs and Azalea. Snow looked around, her eye brows raised in realization. "Your right." She sighed. Azalea smiled, had they finally gotten through to Snow? "I need to take it out on the Evil Queen." Snow said. Azalea frowned, apparently not. "No wait, revenge is not the answer! No, it will change you into something darker than you can imagine you don't want to go there!" Jiminy said. Snow looked around as the cricket talked till she found an empty mason jar. She quickly trapped the poor bug in it and Azalea gasped. "Snow! Stop it this is my friend." She said picking up the jar and freeing Jiminy. "You can quit your complaining about me now. Because I'm leaving." Snow said glaring at everyone in the room. "I have more important things to do." She said. "Wait! don't go please!" Azalea said, following Snow as she went to leave the house. "Snow-where are you going?" Grumpy asked as she stopped at the door to pick up an axe. "To kill the queen." Snow answered, before leaving.
-Storybrooke, Flower Shop-
"I'm insane." Azalea kept repeating to herself. "I have to be some kind of crazy to even be doing this." She whispered to herself. Azalea had the flower book open to the page on a locator spell. There was no way that she believed that she could hold some kind of magical power. But every time Azalea touched this book, every time she touched the flowers...she felt something. At first, Azalea thought it was just love...and love was a part of what she felt. But something else was starting to grow, something that seemed...powerful. Like Azalea had some kind of power in her. That feeling brought her to what she was doing now, reading over the locator spell chapter of the book that she used to think was just made believe spells, and part of her still did think that. But if Azalea's gut feeling was right, and she wasn't going insane, and she can actually make this spell and find Kathryn...it would fix everything. Mary wouldn't be a suspect, David would be relieved. Emma wouldn't have to worry about protecting everyone and her own job. Azalea took a red flower from one of the vases and went back behind her desk, she took the cruncher and started to crush the flower into a powder substance. She heard the bell ring and jumped, looking up to see Dr.Hopper. "Hello Azalea, you missed our meeting again today." He said looking at her desk. Azalea looked around as well, seeing the different cups and flowers she had laying around, with water and dirt covering her arms, and the book laying out by her side. "What are you up to?" He asked, Azalea could see the worry in his eyes, he probably thought she was insane. "Nothing-I mean something...I mean..." She said looking around before letting out a deep sigh. "I'm sorry, I just - I don't want- " She tried to explain herself again. Dr.Hopper gave her a calming smile, walking over to her and looking around. "It's okay, you can tell me anything. I won't judge you...my job is to help you." He whispered, putting a gentle hand on her shoulder. Azalea nodded and pushed the book over to where he could see it. "I don't really know why I tried, I know magic isn't real...I just felt helpless watching everything happening to Mary and David. I wanted to help." Azalea admitted, looking away from him as her hands shook on the table top. She was so embarrassed. "That's okay. It would be a bit heartless if you didn't want to help...and the last thing you are is heartless." He said looking at everything. "Why don't we keep working on this?" He asked, picking up a cup and looking at the powder Azalea had made from some roses. "W-why?" She asked, surprised. "Well I think that it will be good for you. You used to do this with your mother when you were a child right?" He asked. "Yea...the memory is fuzzy. But we were both sitting in a flower garden, and were picking flowers and looking at this book together." Azalea said, looking over the flower book, remembering something about her family for the first time. "Then let's see if we can't get some more of those memories of your childhood back with this... experiment. It isn't really hurting anyone, and it can be a bit of a distraction from everything that is going on with Mary." Dr.Hopper shrugged his jacket off. Azalea nodded and picked the book up. "Thank you." She said, "It's my job after all, now let's get to work." He said looking at the book himself, pushing his glasses up his nose.
-Enchanted Forest-
Azalea ran through the forest, the flower in her hand glowing brighter and brighter as she ran over the snow covered ground. The locator flower was working, and she hoped that it was finding the right person. Grumpy had run off to find Snow and help her, but Azalea knew that there was only one person that could help Snow now. And by the looks of the flowers glow she was getting close to him. "She was crazy! She had a pickaxe and she was going to kill me!" She heard someone shout. She ran through some trees and found who she was looking for, the flower went limp in her hand as she spotted Prince James...with a naked guy. "Oh gosh!" Azalea said in shock. Covering her eyes. Both men turned and the naked man wrapped the blanket James had given him tighter around his body as James looked happily at the flower enchantress. "Azalea! I found you, I have been looking for you and Snow for ages." He said running over to her. "She is the one I'm talking about! The one who attacked me and took my palace clothes!" the man said. "No...oh no Snow." Azalea said with dread. "She said she wanted to kill the queen." the poor naked guy said. "No, she is not bloodthirsty. Snow is not a killer I know her." James said. "No James, I have to explain things to you quickly...we need to hurry to the Palace and stop Snow from doing something she will forever regret." Azalea said, taking the prince's arm. "What's happened to Snow?" James asked with worry in his eyes. "Something terrible." Azalea answered.
-Dr.Hopper's Office, Storybrooke-
David knocked on the door and Dr.Hopper opened it, looking surprised to see the man. "Hello David, how can I help you?" He asked politely. "I need your help, you see I have been having these blackouts and I need to remember what I did during them." David said, rubbing his hands together nervously. "How come?" Dr.Hopper asked. "I think I may be able to help Mary Margret if I do." David admitted, looking away from him. Dr.Hopped gave a nervous nod before letting David into his office and shutting the door behind him. Dr.Hopper wanted to help the man, if only because he knew that if he could help David, he would also be helping Azalea. Most of the girls' worries were centered around David and Mary anyway.
-Enchanted Forest-
"Where are we going?" James asked as he and Azalea walked down a path through the forest. "While I went looking for you Grumpy went after Snow, my job was to find you while he was to find Snow. We agreed on a meeting place where we would all meet up." Azalea explained. "So Snow is where we are going?" James asked. "If Grumpy got lucky." Azalea said. They kept walking until they made it to the meeting place. "Grumpy!" James called. "Over here..." He called walking over to them. "Where is Snow?" James asked. "She-she went to Rumple looking for a way to kill the Evil Queen...and he gave it to her. He gave her a map and bow and arrow that is supposed to be able to even kill the Evil Queen." Grumpy said. Azalea frowned. "We have to stop her! Do you know where she went?" James asked. "Yes, but it isn't going to be easy to stop her..." Grumpy said. "I will never give up on her - she is not evil and I will not let her go down that road." James said. "Alright, I'm with you." Grumpy said. Azalea nodded and the three started running down the trail to try and get to Snow before she got to the Evil Queen.
-Storybrooke, Flower Shop-
"Hello!" Azalea looked up from my book and flower powders as the bell rang and August walked into the shop. "Can I help you?" She asked, looking with suspicion at August. "Yes, you can actually...what is this?" He asked, pointing to the powders on the desk. "They are nothing...just some experiments." She answered, trying to act natural. "Really? Well I'm sure whatever
magical
kind of experiments you're working on are going to be amazing." He said with a grin. Azalea looked to August with fear in her eyes. "What are you saying?" She asked. This man could not be implying that he thought Azalea's book was actually magical...that she was magical. "Whatever you are scared of me thinking. Don't be scared, it is all true. You could be the one to fix it all if someone else I know doesn't do it first." Was all he said before leaving the shop. Azalea took a deep breath in and out. Was he talking about Azalea fixing the problems with Mary and David? Finding Kathryn? What made him even think she could? Azalea looked at the book and to the flowers around the shop. "Okay, let's keep working." She said to herself looking at the next step of the spell.
-Enchanted Forest-
"There she is." Grumpy whispered. The three hid behind some trees as they watched Snow practice shooting the bow Rumple had given her. "What do we do?" Azalea asked. "Let me handle this." James said before walking out of their hiding place. He walked up to Snow and grabbed her from behind, she started to panic as he turned her around. "What are you doing?! Who are you?!" She asked him with anger. "Let me show you who I am." David said before kissing her. She looked shocked as he kissed her. "I hope this works or we're dead." Grumpy whispered. Azalea’s head falling into her hands. Snow pulled away, looking at the prince in shock for a few seconds before swinging her right fist and knocking him out cold. "Now what?!" Grumpy whispered. "Now it's your turn." Snow said with a smirk walking over to where the other two were hidden. "Come out, come out, wherever you are...I know that this charming fellow didn't come on his own. Come out!" Snow yelled as Azalea and Grumpy stayed in their hiding place. Azalea silently waved to Grumpy to run, he looked desperate as Snow got closer. He knew he had to run. If Snow caught all of them they wouldn't be able to help her. Grumpy took off into the shadows of the trees. Azalea shut her eyes and tried to stay in the shadows as Snow came closer to her hiding place. "Found you." Azalea opened her eyes just as Snow slammed the handle of the pickaxe at her temple, knocking her out cold.
-Later-
James groaned as he opened his eyes, his vision blurry for a few seconds before he saw Snow looking at him. "Snow- what are you doing?" He asked, he looked around and saw that he was tied to a tree, unable to move. "I assume you're the one that Rumple helped me to forget." Snow said watching him struggle for a few seconds before walking over to the tree beside him and fixing the knots around Azalea's hands where she was tied up as well, still out cold. "What's your name again?" She asked James, finally pulling the man's attention away from the unconscious girl. "It's me-Charming." He said. "Charming? Now I'm seeing why I wanted to forget you." Snow said. Snow looked at the child she had tied to the tree for a few seconds before deciding she was well trapped before moving back over to James. "You got lucky, your other dwarf friend got away. But it doesn't matter. You're not going to be able to stop me." Snow said. "This doesn't make any sense, true love's kiss should have broken the spell on you." James said, tugging against the rope that trapped him. "It's not true love, because I don't love you." Snow said, picking up her bow and arrow. "Yes you do, you just don't remember." James said. "Words, that's all love is. And words are nothing. Do you know what something is...action! I am going to take action right now by killing the queen." She said picking up her other bags and throwing them over her shoulder. "Snow! Listen to me! You can't do this. This is not you, you can't kill the Queen." James pleaded. "Really?" Snow asked. "Watch me."
-Storybrooke, Mary's Apartment-
"How are you feeling?" Emma asked, setting a cup of tea down next to Azalea as she worked on homework. "I've been better," She said, rubbing her eyes. "How are you?" She asked. "I think we have all felt better than we feel right now...but you look pretty worn out." Emma said looking at the teens' dark rings under her eyes. Azalea yawned. "I've just had trouble sleeping with everything happening." She admitted shutting her text book. "I understand, but this homework isn't going to get done with you snoozing over it. Why don't you take a break and nap on the couch...I'll wake you up later." Emma suggested, she had promised Mary that while she was stuck in the prison that she would watch over Azalea. The teen could only spend so much time per day with Mary at the Sheriff's office, and Mary was worried about her. "Okay, how is the case going?" Azalea asked as she walked over to the couch. "I had a bit of a breakthrough today with the help of Henry believe it or not. Something that may be able to help solve everything that's going on." Emma said, handing the girl a blanket. "I hope so," Azalea said, looking at Emma. "Yeah, me too. Get some rest." Emma told the girl before leaving her in peace, going to her own bedroom to look over the files of the case...again.
-Enchanted Forest-
James pulled the ropes, trying to free himself of the trap Snow had him in, but nothing was working. And with Azalea still knocked out it didn't seem like there was much hope. A buzzing sound entered James ears and he turned to see a cricket in his face. "Get out of here..." He mumbled. "You must be James." The bug said. "You can talk?!" James asked taking a closer look at the bug, seeing that he was wearing a hat and suit...what the heck? "Yea, and you can listen. Names Jiminy." The bug said flying over the rope. "When Snow started acting differently Azalea asked me to help...but I didn't' get much done." Jiminy admitted. "Yea, me either." James said still marveling that he was talking to a bug. "Can you get me out of here, I have to stop Snow. And I need to get Azalea out of this mess...she is the one who helped me find her." James said looking at the trapped girl. "I sure can try." Jiminy said before flying over the rope and started chewing on it, with his sharp teeth he was able to start thinning the rope. "What is your plan?" He asked the prince. "I don't know, I tried everything...even kissing her! But nothing worked." James said watching as the rope got weaker. "Give it a tug now." Jiminy instructed once the rope was thinner. James pulled on the road with all his might. It snapped and James smiled, getting his pocket knife out and cutting at the other ropes holding him to the tree. "It seems like you are going at this the wrong way. How can Snow remember who you are when she has lost sight of who she is?" Jiminy asked as James freed himself. The two went over to Azalea and James started to cut the rope. "Your right," James said as he cut the rope and pulled Azalea into his arms. "Come on wake up for me." James said shaking her gently. Azalea groaned before her eyes blinked open. "Ow, what's happened? - Jiminy? When did you get here?" She asked sitting up, holding her head in her hand. "No time to explain. I have a new plan to help Snow. And we need to act fast." James said. They all went to stand up, but Azalea fell over again as soon as she was on her feet. "She's really hurt. I'll get the dwarfs and bring them here. That way you can have more backup to help Snow." Jiminy said before flying off. James kneeled beside the dizzy teen and helped her sit up. "I'm sorry - I've gone and slowed you down with my injury." Azalea said. "No. You've helped more than you know. Can you give me a spell that I can use to help find Snow?" Azalea nodded, pulling some ingredients out of her potion bag to make a locator spell James could use. "You go get Snow, and you bring her back to us."
-Storybrooke, Mary's apartment-
Azalea groaned as she opened her eyes, the fog of sleep leaving her mind as she sat up on the couch. It was dark outside and she looked at the clock to see it was around three in the morning. "Great, so much for a nap." She sighed before getting up and walking over to the kitchen. She looked at her math book for a few seconds before deciding it wasn't worth it. She opted out for a cup of hot chocolate instead. looking out the window at the stars as the town of Storybrooke slept. She looked over to see Emma slumped over the table, sleeping over Mary's case files. "Looks like I'm not the only one having trouble sleeping." Azalea whispered before going to wake the poor woman up before she could get a sore back from sleeping in such a terrible position.
-Enchanted Forest, Days later-
Snow walked back into the dwarf house. The seven dwarfs stopped eating and looked at her with worry and anger. She pulled a tea pot out of her bag and set it on the table. "We don't care about the pot." Grumpy said. "It was the only thing I broke that I could replace." Snow said looking around. "I'm sorry, that's all I can say." She said with tears in her eyes. The dwarfs looked up at her with smiles on their faces. "It's you." Grumpy said. "It's me. I'm back." Snow said. The dwarfs cheered as they all captured Snow into a group hug. "Thank you, thank you." Snow said over again as they all hugged. "Wait...where is Azalea?" Snow asked, worried. The last time she had seen the girl she had knocked her out. "She is in her room, the hit she took ended up being a nasty concussion so Doc. put her on bed rest." Grumpy explained. Snow nodded, guilt weighing her down as she walked past the dwarfs to the bedroom, slowly opening the door and sighing when she saw the girl sleeping peacefully in the bed, a bandage around her head. "Oh Azalea," Snow sighed walking in and sitting next to her bed. "I swear, I will never, ever hurt you again." She said kissing the girls bandage. "You can have your room back you know," Grumpy said walking in behind her. "I can't stay..." Snow said. "Where are you going?" Grumpy asked. "King George took James. I have to get him back." Snow said. "No Snow you can't," Grumpy said. "I can't let the king kill him, James came back for me. It doesn't matter what happens to me now." Snow said looking determined. "That's not what Grumpy meant." Snow turned to see Azalea awake, looking at Snow with heavy lidded eyes. "You should be resting." Snow said. "Hard to do when you all are in here talking." She said turning to Snow in the bed. "But Azalea is right, what I meant was that you can't go on your own." Grumpy said. "But you don't have to, let's show that king what Snow white, the seven dwarfs, and the flower enchantress can really do." Grumpy said. Snow smiled, she had a new hope. Hope for her happy ending. All she had to do was get James.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
-Sheriffs Station, 9:00pm-
Emma, Mr.Gold, and Azalea walked into the sheriffs office. Mr.Gold had business to discuss with Mary since he was now her acting lawyer. Azalea had just wanted to come to see her friend after closing the flower shop. To make sure Mary was okay...well as okay as she could be. "Henry? What are you doing here?" Emma asked seeing Henry sitting outside her office. "I came to congratulate you!" Henry said. "For what?" Emma asked. "Your genius plan." Henry said with a smile. "And what plan is that Henry?" Mr.Gold asked. Henry looked down and Mr.Gold shrugged, seeing that Henry didn't want to talk about it in front of him. "Right." He said before walking ahead of the group and into the office. "Sorry, I though Mr.Gold was in on it. Now that he is Ms.Blanchard's lawyer." He explained. "In on what?" Azalea asked. "The escape plan." Henry said as if it was obvious. "Ms.Swan you might want to see this." Mr.Gold called from inside the office. Emma looked scared as she and the kids followed her into the room. The jail cell was empty and open. Mary was gone. "Henry, what did you do?" Emma asked. "Nothing! She was gone when I got here!" the boy swore. "If she doesn't show up at our arrangements tomorrow for statements she will be arrested all over again." Mr.Gold said. "She is a fugitive, doesn't matter if she killed Kathryn or not." Emma said looking panicked. "What can we do to help?" Henry asked. "Go home, see if you can do anything to distract your mother from coming on time tomorrow." Emma said before sending him off. "Can I do anything to help?" Azalea asked. "I'm sorry but it will be faster for me to look on my own. Look around town and see if she is hiding anywhere you can find, but don't make it obvious your looking for her. I'll call you as soon as I know something." Emma said before getting her stuff and leaving. It was silent in the office as Azalea looked at the empty jail cell with dread. What was Mary thinking?! "Now you and I both know that you are quite the expert at finding lost people...to bad Emma doesn't seem to remember how you found David in the woods." Azalea turned to face Mr.Gold who had a smirk on his face. "That was a one time thing." She said, ``Or when you found Henry and Mr.Hopper in the abandoned mines." He continued. "That was his dog, Pongo, he smelled Dr.Hopper through the air shafts." Azalea said feeling scared as the man stared at her. "Is that the story you're sticking to? I guess I can't argue with that...I mean it would seem a bit crazy to think that you could do something so...what's the word? Oh! I know the perfect one...magical." He said. "Magic isn't real." Azalea said, her voice shaking. "I do believe we both know that isn't true. And we can keep having this conversation. Or you can hurry along to your shop and do what you do best...find the missing person. Before it's to late."
-Mayor's Office, 9:30pm-
Regina was sitting at her desk, doing some late night work, when the flowers that she had captured Azalea's magic in started to glow. "That troubling girl. I will have to take her out sooner than I thought." Regina said, standing up and looking at the flower as they started to shake in the vase. "No," Regina said, picking it up. "She can't break through the spell I put around it, there is no way." Regina said before the flower's light seemed to grow out of it and float around in the air, before flying through the window out of Regina's grasp. "Much sooner that I expected indeed." Regina said before grabbing her coat and running out of her office.
-Flower Shop, 10:00pm-
"Come on work, you have worked every other time. Why not now?" Azalea asked the flower as she held it in her hand. It was the same flower she had used to find David, Henry, and Dr.Hopper. Before it had been so easy she just held the flower and thought of who she wanted to find. But it wasn't working this time...why? "What am I doing wrong?...or am I really just going completely insane?" Azalea asked herself, she took a deep breath and walked over to her mothers flower book, flipping through the pages till she got to the spell she was working on with Dr.Hopper. It was a locator spell, supposed to be more powerful than the glowing flower she used to locate people. It was almost done, it only needed a few more ingredients. "I need to hurry," Azalea said to herself before getting to work. Emma and Mary weren't back yet, which meant that time was running out quickly.
Mr.Gold was watching Azalea in her flower shop from across the street. "It seems that the flower enchantresses time has run out." He said to himself, watching as the girl's pure magic flew through the air, invisible to the eyes of everyone still under Regina's curse. Azalea trying to do a spell had caused the magic Regina had taken from her to activate. The magic was trying to get to Azalea so she could use it. It would seem that Azalea was about to break free of the curse. "Your heart is mine now." Mr.Gold said with an evil grin.
"It's working...." Azalea said in awe. The flower powders were all in the bowl, Azalea mixed them and purple smoke started to form. "What was happening? How was this happening? Am I really magical?..Was Henry right?!" Azalea saw a picture of Mary in the magical smoke, she was tied to a chair and Emma was with her. But so was a man, he was holding a funny looking hat and yelling at the both of them. "Where are they?" Azalea asked, looking at the picture. Trying to find a clue as to where they were. "Doesn't matter." Azalea gasped and turned to see Mr.Gold standing in front of her desk, the bell hadn't rang at the door. "It seems as if you finally figured it all out. Your magic is about to return." He said looking above him. Azalea's breath stopped when she saw a bright light above her, where had it come from?! What was going on?! Azalea backed up as it got closer to her, but instead of feeling fear, terror, or anything bad. She felt a sort of peace, like this light was a part of her in some way or another. "What is this?" Azalea asked in amazement. "It's you. Your magic from your pure heart." Mr.Gold said leaning on his cane, watching the magic glow with an evil looking grin. The magic got closer to Azalea but she didn't run. She couldn't run, and she didn't want to run. She felt an unfamiliar sense of hope as the magic floated over her chest, slowly growing dimmer until the light wasn't visible...but it wasn't gone. It was inside Azalea. In her heart.....her pure heart. Visions started to flash in her mind.
"MOM! DAD! ALEX! NO!" She cried out as a child, crying over their dead bodies.
"I will get your pure heart dearie! Don't you worry!" Rumple growled
"My name is Snow White, we will make a good team."
"You're the last Flower Enchanter in the whole enchanted forest. We all need you to live. You need to keep making magic from the flowers!"
"You're a part of the Charming family now Azalea, we will never leave you."
"You killed my first family! Then you try and hurt my second one! I will not let you take them away from me!" Azalea shouted at Rumple.
"The baby, take the baby to the wardrobe. You're the only one who can keep it safe with the flower protection spell!" Snow said, crying as she handed Azalea her baby...Emma.
"Run James! You need to get the Savior out of here! She is our only hope." Azalea shouted Rumple pinning her to the ground with his foot as James ran away with baby Emma in his arms.
"NO! I ALMOST HAD IT! I ALMOST HAD HER HEART!" Rumple shouted as the magic fog from Regina's curse washed over them, right before Rumple could take Azalea's heart out of her chest.
Azalea gasped and blinked the visions away - no, not visions. They were memories! Azalea remembered everything. She held her hand up to her cheek, wiping away the tears that she hadn't even noticed. "Now that you are all together again...we have unfinished business." Mr.Gold said. "Rumpelstiltskin." Azalea said, looking at the man with fear. "In the flesh. Remember the last time we were together like this? I was standing above you, I was so close. All I had to do was push my hand into your chest and grasp that wonderfully pure heart in my hands. Then I would have everything I needed for my potion." He said walking closer to Azalea. She looked around, this wasn't good. No one else could remember anything. Azalea would just be thrown in an insane asylum if she even tried to explain to anyone...she had to get away from Rumple. She had to find Snow - Mary? David! Emma! Azalea looked Rumple up and down, smirking at the cane he held in his hand. "You're weaker here. You have to use a cane." she said, looking at the man's leg. "You know how it is. All magic comes with a price." He said before suddenly jumping over the counter, but Azalea was too fast and ducked out of the way, running around him as he stood up. Azalea picked up the bowl of powder from the potion she was trying to use. "What is that supposed to do to me?" Rumple asked with a smirk. "Nothing too magical." Azalea said before throwing the bowl in the man's face, he cried as the powder got into his nostrils and eyes. Blinding him long enough for Azalea to grab her mothers book and run out of the flower shop. She started running down the street, turning to look behind her every few seconds to see if Rumple was following her. She turned a corner and stopped to catch her breath in an alley, hiding from Rumple. Azalea held the book tightly to her chest. Her thoughts were racing just as fast as her heart, but she couldn't slow down now. She needed to find her family. Azalea started to run again down the alley, trying to find a back way out to avoid Rumple. She screamed when she felt hands grabbing her from behind. "Let me go!" Azalea shouted, trying to turn and see who had a hold of her. Something was put over my mouth and eyes, blocking her vision. Some kind of thick cloth with a nasty smell. Azalea screamed again, hoping someone would hear her and come to help. Whatever was in the cloth covering Azalea's face made her dizzy, she lost her footing. She fell to the ground and her vision was blurry. "Help," pleaded, before passing out.
-Sheriff Station 8:00am / The next morning-
Mary and Emma made it back just in time to get Mary back into the prison cell and make it seem casual enough when Regina strolled into the police office for the morning meeting. "Madam Mayor." Mary said, looking at Regina. "Good morning." Regina said with a frown. "I'm sorry but my client won't be talking to any visitors." Mr.Gold said, walking up beside the mayor. "Of course not...you alright, your eyes look a bit red." Regina then said with a smirk, looking at Mr.Gold. "Allergies." Mr.Gold quipped a bit too quickly. "You would know about those wouldn't you...dearie." He said before guiding Regina out of the room.
"Where is she?!" Mr.Gold whispered as he walked out of the room with Regina. "Who are you talking about?" Regina asked, sounding innocent enough. But Mr.Gold wasn't falling for it. "You and I both know who I'm talking about. I looked all around last night and couldn't find the flower enchantress. If I find out that you have interfered with my plans on getting the girl's heart in any way - there will be hell to pay." He growled. "Is that a threat sir?" Regina asked. "No, not a threat. A promise." He said before storming back into the police office.
-Storybrooke school yard-
"Did you find Mary?" Henry asked as Emma walked up to him at the school yard. She wasn't allowed to take Henry to school, but they would always meet up before school started. "Yep, she's okay." Emma said as the two took a seat on a bench. "Hi Henry." a girl around Henry's age said as she walked by, Henry said hello back polity. "Who is that?" Emma asked with a smirk. "Her name is Paige, she is in my class." Henry said and I nodded. "Henry...can I see your book for a second?" Emma asked, flipping through the pages when he gave it to her. "What is it?" He asked. "Nothing...just - can I keep this for a while?" Emma asked. "No problem! I have to go in before the warning bell rings. Do you know where Azalea is? I haven't seen her since last night." Henry said, looking around. "You haven't seen her come to school yet? I'll stop by the flower shop on the way back and see if I find her. She might still be looking for Mary. Things got pretty crazy last night and I forgot to update her on what happened." Emma said, taking the book and giving Henry a hug goodbye before he went into the school. Emma walked away from the school, thinking back to the man that had captured Mary and Emma in the woods, he said his daughters 'fake' or 'storybook' name was Paige. Her supposed real name was Grace. But he had to be crazy right? There was no way that everyone here was a story book character like Henry though. But it couldn't hurt to read the book, see how much Henry had connected to the real world from this storybook. Maybe Azalea was playing hooky from school, Emma couldn't blame her. Maybe they could read it together once Emma caught up with her.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
-Azalea's Apartment-
The door opened with a bang, Emma huffed and looked at the broken knob that lay on the floor. She would have to pay for a new one for Azalea's door, as soon as she was found . Emma, along with Henry, walked into the empty apartment. "It doesn't look like she is here either." Henry said, holding onto Emma's hand with his own, sounding worried. Emma gently let go of the boy and started walking through the different rooms of the small apartment. There was no sign of the missing girl. The lights were off, everything was nice and neat. "Are you sure she didn't show up at school?" Emma asked Henry again. "I'm positive! Where would she go?" Henry asked. "I'm not sure, she isn't missing yet. I'm sure she is just wandering somewhere...I'll go ask Dr. Hopper if she has been by his office." Emma said exiting the apartment. Awkwardly sticking the knob back into the door. Trying to make it at least look like it wasn't broken. "What can I do?" Henry asked. "Check at Granny's for me. If anyone knows anything let me know okay?" Emma said before the two went their separate ways. Emma walked out of the building and pulled out her phone calling Azalea's number again for what felt like the thousandth time. Everything seemed to be falling apart, Kathryn was missing, Mary was being framed, and now Azalea was also missing. What the heck was happening in this town?!
-Unknown location-
"What the hell?" Azalea sat up, drowsiness making her vision fuzzy as she tried to stand up but her hands were tied behind her back. She looked around the tiny, and cold room she was in. There was only one door, a small window too far up the wall for her to reach, and a toilet. "Where am I?!" She called out, seeing if anyone could hear her as she rolled over on the dirty ground and pushed herself up to a standing position. She walked over to the door that had a small window in it, but the glass was gone, leaving it an open hole with a few bars, much like a prison door. "Where am I?!" She shouted through the small window, hoping someone heard her. She knew she was in big trouble. Sure, she had her magic and memories back. But that seemed to be the only good thing about the situation as she tried to see into the hallway of wherever her capture was holding her hostage. "I'm not going to tell you exactly where you are, but if you want to give it a name you can call it your cage." Azalea jumped back, watching as Regina came to the door with a smirk on her lips. "Your insane." Azalea sighed, standing in front of the door, tugging on the ties around her hands. "It's your fault everyone thinks Mary is a murderer isn't it?!" The teen asked in anger. "Frankly speaking yes. Even though our old friend Rumple had a bit of a hand in it as well." Regina said. "And-and Kathryn?" Azalea asked, fearful of the answer she might get. "Don't worry, she isn't dead. Just put out of the situation until she is needed again." Regina explained, shrugging her shoulders. "And what about me? I'm a minor, and in this world people take missing minors as a serious issue. Plus Emma and Sno-Mary will be looking for me." Azalea said. "Don't worry, I have been planning for this a long while, truth be told I wasn't expecting for you to be powerful enough to have your magic in this world. But I guess it's wherever mother nature is or something cheesy like that. Once you started showing signs of getting your magic back I knew that I would have to get rid of you eventually." Azalea felt a chill run down her spine at the phrase '
get rid of
'. Regina's smirk only grew as she watched the flower enchantress shiver. "Before I can get rid of you Rumple will have to get your 'pure heart' and I am betting that I can get him to do a trade of sorts for it...So try not to use too much energy trying to use your magic. This room doesn't even have enough dirt under it for you to grow a weed." Regina said before stepping back away from the door. "You won't get away with this! The savior is already here! You lost this battle the second Emma entered Storybrooke! How do you think I started to get my magic back?" Regina's smile went away and she slammed her fist against the door, Azalea jumped back in fear and Regina glared at the trapped teen. "We will see who has the last words." was all Regina said before leaving Azalea alone again, trapped.
-Granny's Diner-
Emma stomped out of Granny's Diner. Turns out Henry was right when he told her no one knew anything about where Azalea could be. "Emma, hey!" David called running across the street to her. "David, I don't have time." She said walking over to her car, David followed her. "No I-I understand. It's Mary, how is she doing?" David asked. "How do you think she is doing?" Emma asked. "Look, this situation has been confusing and horrible for everyone involved. But Emma, I don't think she is guilty. I need her to know that." David said as Emma opened her car door. "Can I see her?" He asked. "She doesn't want visitors. And I'm too busy looking for Azalea to accompany you to the station." She said, "Looking for Azalea?" David asked with worry. "Yea, she has been missing for seventeen hours now. No one knows anything." Emma said looking defeated. "I have to get back on Mary's case and look through some stuff but I can't stop looking for Azalea either...there's too much going on for me to keep up with." She admitted. "I can look for Azalea, or keep looking while you work on Mary's case." David offered. "Look David I'm sure your heart is in the right place but it's my job to find her." Emma said. "I owe Azalea, she saved my life by finding me when I wandered out of the hospital after waking up from the coma...just let me do this. Please." David begged. Emma thought for a few seconds. Before nodding. "You find anything at all you call me. And I'll be done with Mary's stuff in less than two hours and we can look together." Emma said before getting in the car and driving off.
-Unknown location-
"Is anyone else out there?" Azalea called out. She lost track of time, well she never really had it actually. But she was quickly feeling restless from the boredom of the small cell. "I'm here." a weak voice called back. Azalea jumped up from her spot on the floor and ran to the door, looking into the hall. From the small barred window of her door she could only see two more doors from across the hallway. "What's your name?" Azalea called out. It was silent for a few seconds before she heard a sob. "I'm not sure." a broken voice replied. "Do you remember anything from the enchanted forest?" Azalea asked. "Where?- no, no I don't remember anything at all." Azalea frowned, the spell must have messed with the woman's mind. If this were a woman, it sounded like it was, a bit of a different accent...like from the northern kingdoms of the enchanted forest. Something clicked in Azalea's mind and she gasped. "Belle! is that you?!" Azalea called out. "I'm not sure if I know that name." the voice called back, sounding even more confused and scared then before. Azalea thought for a few moments. "Do you have brown hair? Long? Is your skin a light color? What color are your eyes?" She asked, trying to remember what Belle looked like before she gave herself up to Rumple to save her kingdom. "I-I know my hair is brown, and my skin looks pale...I'm not sure what my eye color is." the girl said, sounding more upset. "That's okay, I just think that I remember you." Azalea assured. And if she was right, then Rumple was going to be extremely upset with the Evil queen when he found out what she had done to Belle. Azalea looked to the other door across the hall. She knew who was behind one of the doors, but was there anyone behind the other one?
-Storybrooke-
Emma looked through Henry's book. In all honesty it was freaking her out a bit, the characters pictures looked so much like the 'real life' people in Storybrooke. Emma knew that it couldn't be real, there was no way. But something odd has been going on in this town and it seemed like whatever was happening had something to do with this book. "What are you doing?" Emma looked up from the book and saw August approaching the bench she was sat on. He got an odd look on his face when he saw that Emma was reading the story book. "Grasping at straws." Emma admitted, shutting the book and standing up. "Still trying to find a way to prove your friends been framed?" He asked. "Yea, and trying to find Azalea." Emma added. "What do you mean?" August asked. "She's missing, has been for almost forty eight hours...I've looked everywhere and checked every store. If she were still in Storybrooke she would have been found by now." Emma said looking upset. "So you think she's run away?" August asked, worry in his voice as he seemed deep in though. "That's the only explanation I have, everyone is looking for her, there isn't a single stone that hasn't already been turned over." Emma sighed. "I'm sure the girl can take care of herself, she is stronger than she seems. But hopefully you do find her soon." August said handing Emma something. It was the newspaper, Mary's face on the front of it...again. "Every time I go down a path that I think leads somewhere it ends up being a dead end." Emma said, honestly starting to feel a bit hopeless. "I used to think I had these great instincts...super power I don't know." Emma said putting the newspaper back in August hands. "Sounds like you got a bit of writers block." He said. "Only without the whole writing part." Emma smirked at his joke. "You know, when I get struck with a bit of a block I usually re-read what I've written. Rather than plow ahead blindly. Sometimes I find that I left a bit of inspiration in what I had previously written." He said. "You mean you start over?" Emma asked. "Not so much that, something just changes in the middle of writing." He explained. "So your perspective changes." Emma asked him. "When you started the investigation it was about a missing person, then it turned into a murder. Then a cover-up...if you knew that in the beginning you may have changed what you were doing." He said looking at Henry's book. Something clicked in Emma's head and she grabbed her bag and started walking. "Where are you going?" August asked. "The scene of the crime." Emma answered. "I'll drive." He said. "no, I'm fine." Emma said. "Let's be honest, when you're not working on Mary's case, you're looking for Azalea. Have you slept at all since the girl went missing?" August asked. Emma rolled her eyes, but didn't answer him. "You could use some help. I'm coming." August said, the both of them walking to his motorbike together.
-Regina's House-
"How is your homework coming along?" Regina asked Henry as he sat at the table. "Almost done. How was your day?" Henry asked her as she dug through the cabinets. "Hectic as usual, being the mayor isn't easy even for a small town like this." She said pulling out a cup. "Have you heard anything about Azalea?" Henry asked. He didn't want to think that the evil queen ,aka his adoptive mother, had done anything to harm his friend. But he knew in his heart that Azalea was in trouble. "No, and I told you I would let you know if I did...It's not surprising that she ran away. Growing up all on her own. She probably didn't want to be here anymore." Regina said. "But she had friends here, she had Mary, and my mom-" Regina turned to Henry with a glare. "I'm your mother." She said with a frown before walking over to the table and sitting down beside Henry. "I know that you loved Azalea very much, but I don't want to lie to you either. I'm not sure if she will ever be back here. I just don't want you to get your hopes up." She said, "Did you do anything to her?" Henry asked. "Henry please, when are you going to believe that I am not actually an evil queen from your story book? I'm your mother! I would never do anything to hurt someone you care about." She said, patting his hair down. "Now hurry up and finish so you can get a shower before bed." She said before going back to what she was doing before. Henry sighed and looked at his textbook, finding it harder and harder to focus on the words in front of him.
-Unknown location-
"Is your plan to starve me to death? Because it would probably be quicker and less messy if you just poisoned me with one of your apples." Azalea said, sitting on the floor against the door. It was freezing, the girl's clothes not doing much to keep her warm. At least her hands weren't tied around her back anymore. Azalea had heard Regina come in earlier and talk to Kathryn, who was behind the other door. Azalea had tried to talk to Kathryn after Regina left, but she had done something to Kathryn's mind. Some kind of dark magic affects her, making her slow and confused. The sounds of a door opening could be heard and Azalea sat up, listening as someone opened a door. She heard it shut, and muffled voices started to fill the air. Azalea sighed as she listened to Regina talk to Kathryn. "Can I at least have some water?" Azalea called. Silence followed and a sudden bang to her door made her jump back. "You sure have grown a mouth on you since coming to this world. I don't recall you enjoying partaking in conversation this much." Regina said, before throwing a water bottle at Azalea through the window. Azalea picked it up and downed half the bottle. She tucked the rest of it into the corner of the room, saving it for later. "I'm not scared of you. The savior is here now, and when everyone gets their memories back Snow and Charming will come to find us, Rumple will find Belle. Then you will pay for what you've done." Azalea said, walking over to the door. "You seem so confident in Emma. But did you forget that she is Snow's and Charming's first born child? Before Emma you were like a child to the two sickeningly sweet couple...but now if they will have Emma back they wont need you - they may even forget you existed." Regina said with a smirk. "They won't." Azalea said. "You better hope they won't. Since the rest of your family is six feet in the ground they are all you have left." Regina smirked as Azalea backed away from the door and sat back down in the middle of the floor. The teen wished for a blanket of sorts, something to keep her warm in this cold cage. She wrapped her arms around herself, trying to get some warmth. Regina left shortly after their conversation was over. Azalea felt something small in her pocket as she rubbed her hands up and down her sides. She looked into her pocket and saw a few seeds that she had left in there from her flower shop. "Yes!" She cried standing up. She could get out, all she had to do was place the seeds in the lock of the door and she could grow the seeds with her magic and break it. Azalea was free! She stuffed a seed into the lock of her door and focused her magic on the seed. She watched as the roots grew out of it, the sound of breaking metal filled her ears and Azalea smiled pushing the door open. "Kathryn!" Azalea called, checking the doors across the hallway. Azalea saw her through the window, Kathryn was covered in dirt and looked like she hadn't rested in a long time. Her eyes were unfocused as she stared blankly at the wall across from her. "I'm getting you out." Azalea whispered before stuffing another seed into the lock. The roots grew and soon Azalea was opening the door and pulling Kathryn out. "Where are we?" Kathryn looked dazed as the two walked down the hall. "It doesn't matter, we're going to be out of here soon." Azalea whispered looking for an exit. She hated to leave Belle behind, but Azalea couldn't handle two mentally confused ladies at the same time and hoped to get away from Regina, and Azalea knew that she needed to get Kathryn to Emma as soon as possible to free Mary. "Stop right there!" Regina shouted from behind them. "Run!" Azalea shouted, pushing Kathryn down the hall and she turned around the corner. Hopefully Kathryn could find a way out on her own. "You have gotten in the way for the LAST TIME!" Regina shouted running down the hallway towards Azalea. She threw the last seed she had at the ground in front of her, making it explode with a heavy fog when the seed hit the ground with her magic. Azalea covered her mouth with her hand as the fog quickly filled up the hallway, making both her and Regina blind. Azalea had to get out of the hallway. She felt for a wall, anything to help guide her out. But a fist flew from the fog and hit Azalea on the side of the head. She fell to the ground and groaned. The dizzy teen tried to stand up, but her limbs weren't working with her injured brain. "You little runt! You're going to pay for this." Regina said, stumbling over to Azalea through the fog, pulling her up by her hair. "Good luck with that." Azalea said as she pushed Regina back into another small room. identical to the one she had been trapped in before. The two wrestled for dominance, but Regina had the upper hand. Soon she had Azalea pinned to the ground. The fog cleared as Regina checked Azalea's pockets and patted her down. Looking for anything else the teen could have been hiding. Azalea tried to push her hands away, but her mind was feeling foggy, like everything around her was in slow motion. "You may have been able to help Kathryn get away, but at least I got to punch you in the head." Regina growled, before pulling her fist back and hitting Azalea again, pain exploded as Azalea cried out going limp after another hit and Regina dropped her to the ground. Regina slowly stood up and dusted off her clothes, before walking to the door and slamming it shut, locking Azalea in.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
-Storybrooke, Granny's Diner-
Emma walked out of her car in front of Granny's Diner. August stood by the door as Ruby walked by the both of them with a few trash bags. August ignored the wink Ruby sent his way as she walked behind Granny's. "Any luck?" Emma asked, standing in front of him. "None, Azalea is nowhere to be found. How about you with Mary?" August asked. "Also nothing...what if everything is just hopeless?" Emma asked. "Hey you can't say that." August was about to continue to encourage Emma when they both heard Ruby screaming from behind the restaurant in terror. They both ran to the back of Granny's Diner and saw Ruby, pale as a ghost freaking out. "What happened?!" Emma asked as August helped the girl stand straight. "I-there, but she-" Ruby couldn't even talk, she was so freaked out. August kept on trying to calm Ruby down as Emma followed where she had pointed behind the dumpster. She saw someone laying on their front and her heart sank. Were they dead? Emma ran over and turned the person over with shaking hands. Emma gasped as she was met with Kathryn, the woman blinked a few times obviously out of it as she looked around with fright. "Where am I?" She asked, looking scared and confused.
-Storybrooke, Hospital-
"So they found Kathryn, did they?" Mr.Gold asked, he was currently walking behind Regina as the both of them headed over to the hospital where said person was being checked over. "Yes, she has." Regina said, obviously angry, and a bit worried. "You wouldn't know anything about how she was able to find her way back here now would you?" He asked the mayor. "Nope." Her answer was curt and short. "I see, it is a bit odd- find one, and lose another..." Mr.Gold grabbed Regina's arm stopping her in her tracks and she glared at him. "Let me go right now!" She pulled, but he kept his tight grip. "I swear Regina. If you are keeping that Flower Enchantress away from me, you will pay." He said before letting her arm go. "You know that I need her for certain purposes yet you seem to not care...we will see if that changes as things progress." Mr.Gold said before walking past her, making his own way to the hospital.
Emma opened the door to the hospital room, Kathryn looked up at her as the doctor looked over her the charts. "Look who's awake." He said to Emma as she walked into the room. "Kathryn hi, listen I don't want to take a lot of your time - but do you remember what happened?" Emma asked her. "I don't know much, I was in a car accident. um, I remember the air bags going off...next thing I know I was in the dark, in some kind of basement or cage thing. There was food and water, I remember people being there, but I only saw a few of them, and...it's all blurry. I remember them telling me to run." She said obviously thinking really hard, trying to remember. "Don't try to hard to remember, you were heavily drugged. Were trying to flush that out of your system." The doctor explained. "I remember waking up in an ally and I started walking...that's all I know." Kathryn admitted. Emma sighed and looked away. "I'm sorry Kathryn, you were helpful...it's just, no nothing. You don't need to worry about it. Get some rest." Emma said thanking her. "No, thank you....you guys though I was dead right?" Kathryn asked. "Yea, we found a heart that matched your DNA results." Emma explained. "Why would someone do that?" She asked. "We think someone is trying to frame Mary Margret." Emma told her. "But why, I mean who would do something like that?" Kathryn asked. "I'm not sure...." Emma said shrugging her shoulders. why would someone frame Mary, why would Azalea go missing? Why would someone do this to Kathryn?
-Mary's Apartment-
"This just all seems wrong." Mary said she was finally back in her house. No one though she was a murderer anymore. She was free from prison, but nothing was better. "I can't believe you didn't tell me about Azalea being missing!" Mary told Emma as everyone talked. She literally felt sick with worry. Decorations were set up, people were happily talking and having a good time. Yet Azalea had been missing for days. "You had enough on your plate as it was, I didn't want you to worry when you were stuck in the cell." Emma calmly explained. "Yea but what about you, you were taking care of me, trying to solve the case, and find Azalea all on your own." Mary said. "Now two out of three are done. You're safe, Kathryn is alive..." Emma said, taking Mary's hand in hers. "We will find Azalea, no matter what." Emma said, looking Mary in the eye. Everyone was celebrating around them, but Mary felt no victory in her heart with Azalea gone.
The party kept going, soon it was time for Henry to go back to his house before Regina found out he was with the group. "Hard to let him go isn't it?" Mr.Gold asked as Emma shut the front door after he left. "Yea, pretty much the hardest thing. Speaking of something we weren't supposed to talk about...was it you?" Emma asked him. "Was that me?" He asked. "Did you suddenly make Kathryn go away, because it certainly worked well for me. Was that the so-called magic you were going to work, because if you had anything to do with the kidnapping of that poor innocent woman just to let her go." Emma said. "Are you proposing that I'm working with Regina or against her?" Mr.Gold asked. "I don't know, maybe both." Emma said. "Well you keep working on that." He said, about to leave, but Emma stepped in front of him. "Before you go let me make something clear...if I find out that you are in any way connected to Kathryn being kidnapped or Azalea's disappearance I will personally make sure your butt is in jail for the rest of your life." She said before finally letting Mr.Gold pass her. "I'm sure you will. I can assure you. I have nothing to do with those women going on missions." Was his response before he left, as he walked out of the apartment he only wished that he was involved with Azalea's disappearance.
-Unknown location-
It was cold, Azalea had never felt so cold before. She pulled another flower from my flower crown, they were slowly dying, it hurt so much. To see them withering and not being able to do anything about it. Azalea had to hand it to Regina, she knew what she was doing when she put her in this room. She knew that Azalea needed sunlight, water, and magic from the dirt of the earth to keep her magic in full health. But Regina has had Azalea trapped in this god forsaken room for so long, Azalea couldn't remember the days. It was too hard to keep count. Azalea could feel the magic weakening inside her. She coughed into her elbow, another shiver running through her, making the goosebumps grow as the coldness seeped deeper through Azalea's skin. "Please" She said out loud, knowing no one could hear her, she hoped that the savior would come, that Emma would break the curse and save everyone. "...save us."
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
-Mr.Gold's Pawn Shop-
August stepped into Mr.Gold shop, as each day passed the window of opportunity for finding Azalea kept closing more and more. With no one else besides August, Mr.Gold, and the Evil Queen knowing about the curse...well August had his hunch at who the missing flower enchantress was being held by. "Nice to see you again...August." My Gold said as the bell rang from the door. "Let's skip the formalities." He said getting straight to the point. "Yes, let's...You claim to be the only person who can make Ms.Swan believe. That you could get her to do exactly what she was brought here to do and yet, for a man who is running out of time. You don't seem to be in much of a hurry to awaken the savior." Mr.Gold said as August walked up to his desk. "It's not me slowing anything down. It's her, all she can think about right now is getting custody of Henry, and Azalea, the girl who has been missing for almost two weeks now." He said leaning against the desk. "So I suggest that if you have the girl...it would be best to let her go." August said. "You think that if I had the flower enchantress she would still be alive? I need her heart to finish a very important potion. So yes even if I would love to have gotten to her first it didn't work out that way. Sorry but I cannot be of any help." Mr.Gold said. "So you have no idea where she is at all?" August asked, not really believing him. "No I actually don't. She was able to get her magic back, along with her memories. And when she did I went after her. She...well she was able to get away from me, I went after her but I haven't seen her since she went running from me." He admitted. "So she is hiding from you?" August asked. "Possibly, or someone else took her while she was running, or the Evil Queen got to her. Regina was the one who took her magic from so long ago, and the one who broke into her flower shop...now I'm not saying that Regina has kidnapped the poor girl, but if she hasn't then no one knows where she is." Silence fell over the shop and August sighed. "Fine, but trust me when I say that when I get Emma to believe and she finds that you kidnapped Azalea -if you have her- there will be a lot to pay." August threatened before stomping out of the shop.
-Enchanted Forest-
"There has to be something I can do to help besides planting flowers." Azalea said walking down the path with Grumpy and Prince Charming. "Trust us when we say that you are contributing greatly to the cause of protecting Mary and I's unborn child...your sister." the Prince said as he patted the flower enchantresses back. "Yea, sure we can fight and all that. But you are the only one in the whole kingdom who can make a protection spell to keep evil magic out of the kingdom." Grumpy said, watching as Azalea stopped and dug into the ground with her small shovel, planting another bundle of white flowers into the ground. They glowed brightly for a few seconds before returning to looking like normal flowers. "But you guys are putting your lives on the line every day. Pinocchio and his father are building the wardrobe to take Snow and the baby to the other world. Yet all I can do is plant a bunch of flowers, and I can't even do that alone without guards." Azalea said, looking down at the ground as she stood up. "You need guards because you are a powerful person, and we don't know when Rumple could try to come and take your heart again...you are being very helpful. Even if it doesn't seem like it to you right now." The Prince said getting on his knees in front of the girl. "Some of the biggest gifts come in small packages, yea?" He said, forcing a smile from the girl. "Come on, the faster you plant these flowers the faster we get back to the castle." Grumpy said, taking the lead in the small group. "And the faster we get you back into a safe place." the Prince said, pulling Azalea along. The girl rolled her eyes, yes she understood that it was important to keep herself safe. But the castle was feeling more and more like a prison and less like a home, especially since Regina had threatened with the curse and Rumple had been captured by Cinderella and the magic quill. Azalea knew her job, and pulled the bundle of flowers closer to her chest as she walked down the path with Charming and Grumpy. Keeping her complaints to herself.
-Unknown location-
Azalea gasped as she woke up
,
a painful coldness woke her up as she wrapped her arms even tighter around her waist. She felt like there was nothing left inside of her to keep her warm. All she wanted to do was sleep but every time she tried the cold would wake her up, or her nightmares...or what she used to think were nightmares. Now she knew, it was the magic in her heart, giving her memories trying to get her to remember everything before the curse. Now the only help they were giving her was keeping her awake when all she really wanted was rest. "Please help me, please remember, help me...Emma you're the savior. Please save me." Azalea had taken to talking to herself the longer she stayed trapped in this room by the evil queen. She heard her stomach growl, trying her best to ignore how hungry she was. And how much everything hurts.
-Enchanted Forest-
"Did you get the tree?" Azalea asked. The blue fairy and Geppetto turned to see the girl running down the palace hallway towards them. Geppetto gave the blue fairy a wary glance, he was worried the flower enchantress would find out his secret deal he made with the blue fairy. The deal to take his son in the wardrobe and tell everyone that it only had enough magic to take one person. "We did get the tree!" The blue fairy said flying over to the girl, so that she couldn't get too close to the room where royal guards were unloading the trunk of the magic tree that they had cut down. "Might I see it? I want to be able to help you all in preparing it for Mary and the baby." Azalea said with a grin. "No! No, I must do this with just my son Pinocchio. The carving that has to be done to make the trunk a magical wardrobe is very detailed..." Geppetto said, looking nervous. "Oh, okay. I understand." Azalea said, trying to hide that she was hurt by Geppetto's words. "Oh don't be disappointed young child. It is not that I doubt your abilities." Geppetto said, walking down the hall to comfort her. "It's just that...I have a very particular way of doing my carving, and with this being such an important project -" Azalea nodded, "I understand. Thank you for helping us by making this. Your amazing Geppetto." Azalea said with a grin. "I deserve no thanks. I only wish to help those...closest to me." Geppetto said, taking his son's hand into his own, holding it tightly. "Why don't you go on and see if you can help anyone else?" blue fairy suggested to Azalea. "Okay. I don't want to distract you anymore Geppetto. Good luck." She said before turning and walking back down the hallway, away from the magical tree trunk. "Don't leave the palace without guards!" Blue called out to Azalea, who rolled her eyes as she turned the corner, leaving their sight.
-Emma's Car, Leaving Storybrooke-
"
You do know that if my mom catches me out with you she will be really mad." Henry said as he sat in the yellow car with Emma. "Yea, Henry I need to ask you something really important...do you want to leave Regina, and do you want me to be your mom?" Emma asked. "More than anything." Henry said with a grin. "Then buckle up, we're leaving." Emma said as she started the car. Henry got a shocked look on his face, quickly pulling the seat belt on when he felt the car jerk as Emma drove down the road.
-Enchanted Forest-
Azalea held the shining yellow flower in front of her (much like a flashlight) as she walked around the palace walls. She knew that if anyone found her wondering on her own she would get in trouble, but she was just so sick of having to be watched like a child. Rumple had literally ruined most of her life. She wasn't going to let him be in control of everything she did.
"This is all I wanted.
" She thought to herself as she tucked the shining flower into her hair, using it as a light in the darkness as she walked around. '
Some fresh air and peace.'
The peace of the night was broken when she heard shouting from the front of the gate. It sounded like a fight was breaking out. She quickly hid within some bushes and tucked the shining flower into her jacket, hiding herself in the shadows of the night. "That was easy, now all I have to do is track down my little flower girl." A chill ran down Azalea's spine. Who was after her now? Rumple had been trapped away, so it couldn't be him. Who else would be powerful enough to be able to get past the castle guards "STOP RIGHT THERE!" Azalea felt a rush of relief when she heard Charming's voice. "Why stop now? I already got all the way into the castle grounds. I'm so close to finding the flower enchantress I can almost smell her." Azalea begged him to only be kidding about the smelling part, being a flower enchantress did make her smell like flowers...so the person trying to get her probably didn't know just how accurate his statement was. "The person you're looking for is safely inside the palace, you will have to get through us to get to her." Grumpy's voice as he said holding up a sword. Azalea dared to peek through the leaves of the bush, fear making her stop when she saw the leg of the person who had broken in to come take her right in front of the bush. Charming and the dwarfs were standing in front of the door to the castle. If the man found her in her hiding place she was doomed. She had to think of something. "I suggest you move out of my way, I am being paid a heavy price to bring the girl back with me." The man said, pulling out two swords and pointing them at Charming and the Dwarfs. One of the branches from the bush started to shake and Azalea smiled. She put her hands on the ground below her, she closed her eyes and focused on the branches around her. ``Help
me, my friends.
' she thought as her hands started to glow, the branches shifting and moving more. Suddenly they all shot out from the bush, wrapping themselves around the intruder until he was trapped, the branches wrapping themselves around his legs and arms. "What's happening?!" Doc shouted from the group. "Don't worry! It's only me." Azalea called as she climbed out of the bush to where everyone could see her. "Azalea! I thought you were safe inside." Charming said, running over to her. "I came out to take a walk and get some fresh air, then this man showed up and I hid." Azalea explained as the man fought to get out of the twist of the branches, to no avail. "You know that your supposed to stay inside after it gets dark." Charming said, holding the girl in his arms. "I know, and I'm sorry...but I'm trapped in the castle all the time, and I have no freedom...I just wanted to walk around, without an escort and without feeling like a burden." She said, unable to look James in the eye. Charming sighed. "You are the furthest thing from a burden." He said pulling the girl into a hug. "I understand your frustration, and tomorrow we will find a way to maybe help the castle feel less like a prison and more like a home...but you need to understand just how important you are, you're the last flower enchantress in the land. You are the only person with a pure heart. Now that you carry the last inheritance of the powers of a flower enchanter you have a giant target on your back. And I wouldn't be able to live with myself if anything happened to you under my watch." James said Azalea hugged him. "I'm sorry," She said as the Dwarfs worked on moving the new prisoner to the cells down below. "Let's get you back inside, I'm sure Snow is worried to death not knowing where you are." He said before pulling her inside.
-Azalea's Apartment-
Mary walked around Azalea's apartment. Emma told her that she had already looked for clues multiple times, but Mary couldn't just sit around and do nothing while Azalea was missing. Mary was worried to death. There was a vase of roses on Azalea's kitchen table, slowly dying from neglect. Mary frowned as she picked the vase up and took it to her apartment. Mary had never seen Azalea's flowers ever die. It couldn't be a good sign at all.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
-Storybrooke-
Henry looked around as Emma drove down the road. He was confused, what was his mother up to? He looked into the back of the car and saw some suitcases and boxes. "What is all that?" He asked Emma. "All my stuff, all I need." She said. "Wait, were leaving Storybrooke now?" Henry asked. "Uh-huh, I'm getting you away from all of this. Away from Regina." Emma said looking at the road. "No! No, stop the car. You can't leave Storybrooke! You have to break the curse." Henry said. "No I don't, I have to help you." Emma said, refusing to look at her son, keeping her eyes on the road. "But your the hero, you can't run...you have to help find Azalea she's still missing." He said. "Henry I know it's hard for you to see, but Azalea has left town. She's not the first kid from foster care to do it and she wont be the last...there's nothing I can do to help her now. I'm doing what's best for you. That's what you wanted when you brought me to Storybrooke." Emma said driving further and further towards the road that lead out of town. "But the curse- your the only chance everyone has at their happy endings." Henry was desperately trying to talk his mother out of the crazy plan she had formed. He saw the sign that said leaving Storybrooke and he panicked. Henry grabbed the steering wheel and jerked it sideways, the tires screeched as the car swerved across the road. They both screamed as Emma slammed on her breaks going off the road. The car stopped and Emma grabbed Henry's shoulders. "What were you doing?! You could have gotten us killed!" She said. "PLEASE! Don't make me go!" Henry cried. "We can't go! Everything is here! Me, your parents, your family...please Emma they need you! Your family needs you...Azalea needs you, you can't give up on her!"
-Mr.Gold Workshop-
Regina stormed into Mr.Golds shop. "I need to have a word." She said walking up to him as he stood behind his desk. "What do I owe the pleasure, my fair queen?" Mr.Gold said with a smirk. "My tree is dying," Regina said holding up a rotten apple in her hand. "Why?" She asked him. "Bad soil?" Mr.Gold said polishing something in his hands as he looked up at the angry mayor. "Fine, pretend like you don't know. I know that it is a sign of the curse weakening because of Emma." Regina said. Mr.Gold nodded, as if agreeing with her. "Why aren't you more alarmed about this?" Regina asked. "If the curse breaks everyone will be just as mad at you as they will be me..." She said folding her arms. "That's not the only thing your worried about is it?" Mr.Gold asked her. "Come on, get everything off your chest while you can." He said putting down the things in his hands and walking to the front of the desk. Regina scoffed and looked at him. "I don't know what your talking about." She said. "Henry," Mr.Gold said. "Ms.Swan wants Henry." Mr.Gold said as Regina rolled her eyes. "She will have that boy over my dead body." Regina said. "The curse was meant to take away Snow White and Prince Charming's happiness. Perhaps you giving up Henry is just the prince to pay to keep the curse un-broken." Mr.Gold said with a shrug "I think I would just rather get rid of Emma." Regina said mater of factually. "Well well, you are going to have to be quite creative. We both know the reproductions if killing Ms.Swan...the curse would be broken." Mr.Gold said. "That's because you designed it that way. Undo it." Regina demanded getting in Mr.Gold's face. "You know, even if I wanted to I couldn't, because I don't have any magic in this realm. Unless you would happen to have a flower enchantress sitting around somewhere that has magic I have no way of doing what you want me to do." Mr.Gold said. "For the last time I don't have Azalea, she is either hiding or dead." Regina said smirking at Mr.Gold. "But- if I did happen to know her location...I would be willing to strike up a deal." Regina said as Mr.Gold's smirk turned to a frown. It was silent as Mr. Gold seemed to think deeply. "Unfortunately I'm not interested." He finally said. "What? Not interested?! That girl has been on the top of your interest list since you shoved your son down a portal!" Mr.Gold exhaled sharply before replying. "Sorry to say that you don't have anything that I am interested in at the moment, but I will give you some advice free of charge...I would start planning a trip away. Because once people start waking up and see what you have done to them. They are going to be looking for blood."
-Mary's Apartment-
Emma opened the door to the apartment, Mary looked up at her as she took off her jacket and shut the door. "Oh! I though you had left...all your stuff was gone." Mary said refusing to look Emma in the eye, sounding angry. "Mary Margr-" Emma started, before being interrupted by Mary. "But I couldn't tell for sure because you didn't even bother to say goodbye." Mary continued. "Do you remember when I left? When I ran? What you said to me? You said, we have to stick together...that were like family." Mary said finally looking at Emma, anger in her eyes. "Yea- I'm sorry I shouldn't have left." Emma said sounding defeated. "Your right! You shouldn't have. So why? After everything did you just go?! Why did you leave when there is still an open investigation on Azalea's disappearance!" Mary asked. "I don't want to be sheriff anymore! I don't want people relying on me. I don't want this, any of it." Emma admitted. "What about Henry? What about Azalea?! She is still missing! What happened to finding her no matter what?" Mary asked in anger. Emma felt guilt as she remembered the promise she had made to Mary, the promise she had forgotten. " I took Henry with me..." She said, not saying anything about Azalea. She had no excuse for that. "You kidnapped him?" Mary asked. "Maybe-" Emma said. "So you don't want people to rely on you but you want a son?" Mary asked her. "Now that sounds like a stable home for him." Mary spat. "And you were willing to just give up on Azalea? Just like that? Leave and try your best to forget her?" Mary asked. "Mary, you and I both know that Azalea has just left town. A lot of foster kids run away from homes. There has been a lot going on here, who knows which one of the terrible things that has happened in the past few weeks was the trigger, but one of them was." Mary frowned. "Azalea would never leave, not without telling me why." She said. "Your reverting into the person you were before Emma. The person you were before you got here and I though you had changed." Mary said. "You though wrong." Emma said looking at the ground. "Well regardless you have to do whats right for Henry now. And what's right for Azalea." Mary said. "What's that?" Emma asked. "I don't know. Your Henry's mother. And as Sheriff it's your job to help people. You can believe whatever you like about Azalea, but I know her. And I know she wouldn't just leave Storybrooke without talking to me."
-Enchanted Forest-
"If we are going to get Charming out of the hands of the Evil Queen we are going to have to get over the castle wall, fight our way through the guards, and find where the Evil Queen is holding Charming hostage." Snow White said as she looked through a scope at the castle. She, the dwarfs, Azalea, Granny, and Red were all surrounding her. as they stood outside of Regina's castle in the woods, hidden in the shadows of the night. Ready to rescue Prince Charming from the Evil Queen. "This has to be some kind of trap, the Evil Queen wants you to come rescue him." Azalea said. "I know, it doesn't matter. I can't stop now." Snow said. "I'll understand if any of you want to turn back." She said turning to everyone. Each person protested and Snow nodded. "Then we have no time to lose." Everyone nodded and ran through the forest to the castle. The plan was ready and everyone knew what they had to do. "Why is the Queen doing this to you?" Red asked as the group ran. "I destroyed the queen's happiness. And now she wants to destroy mine." Snow said. Azalea turned to split up from the group and go to the back of the castle, but Snow stopped her. "Please be careful, if you see any sign of anyone trying to harm you, run." Snow told the girl. "But I can fight, I want to help you and Charming." Azalea said. "I know. You are so brave, just please…be careful." Snow said one last time before Azalea ran into the dark of the night. Ready to rescue Charming.
-Regina's office-
Regina was looking out of her office window at her dying apple tree when the sound of her office door opening filled her ears. Regain smiled, turning to watch as her old friend, Jefferson, walked in. "So you got my message." She said as Jefferson frowned at her. "How could I miss it? You know I watch her." He said holding up the rabbit card, the one Regina had left on his child's bike at her school. "It must be painful, your daughter Paige being so near. And not being able to see her." Regina said. "Her name is Grace." Jefferson said as she walked behind her desk. "What do you want?" Jefferson asked. "Your help, I have a way for both of us to get what we want." She said before bending behind her desk and picking up a box, setting it on the table. She opened it and gestured for him to take a look inside it. He did and he froze. "My hat." He breathed. "I want you to use it again." Regina said. "I can't make it work, no one can. Not here, not without magic." Jefferson said not looking away from the hat. "Well then you are in luck because I happen to have some. It's not a lot, but there should be enough for one last journey." Regina said picking up the hat in her hands. "Where would this journey be taking us?" Jefferson asked. "Back to our land. where there is a solution to a very sensitive problem I have...how to get rid of the one person who could break my curse." She said. "Emma," Jefferson guessed. "And why shouldn't I just let her break the curse?" He asked, a smile forming on his face. "End the madness and go home." He said. "My problem is the same as yours, family. We both want our children back, and we both can get them. If we work together." Regain proposed. "Why should I trust you now?" Jefferson asked. "You shouldn't. But it's the only option you have." Regain said. "After we are done I will wake up your dear Grace so she can remember you." Regina said. "No!-remembering is the worst curse. Two lives in her head like me?...I want to forget. I want you to write us a new story. A fresh start." He said. "Then you will have just that." Regina said, walking past him to her window. "This magic- where have you found it?" Jefferson asked. "Let's just say I have a certain flower girl who has just enough to help us." Regina said with a smirk.
-Enchanted Forest-
The rest of the group had gone to charge the front gate, the fairies were attacking from above, while Azalea was to go through the back and knock out as many guards as she could with her sleeping powder. Azalea held the little powder bomb in her bags as she ran through the shadows. Keeping on her toes to make sure no one saw her. Azalea heard Red howl as a wolf and knew that was her call to go in. Azalea made it to the back gates and took a steady breath before throwing two small orbs over the top of it. She heard them pop and people shouting in surprise...then silence. Azalea quickly climbed up the side of the back door and jumped over it into the castle area, the dust from her orbs were dissolving and everyone was asleep on the ground around her. Azalea heard the sounds of fighting from the front and knew that the battle had started. She pulled a few more orbs from her bag before going in search of more guards to put to sleep. Snow had said her job was to knock out as many people as she could, the less fighting the better in this rescue mission. The sound of fighting grew louder as Azalea knocked out more soldiers, she was making her way to the front of the castle where everyone else was. She found a door into the castle and was able to break it down with one of the swords from a soldier. Azalea slowly opened it and took another breath. "You can do this Azalea, be brave." She whispered to herself before going in. Someone had to find Charming as fast as they could, whoever was to find him first was to get him out of the castle as soon as possible. Azalea kept the sword that she had taken from the guard with her, knowing Charming would be happy to have it if she were to find him.
-Unknown location-
"Hello there." Regina said, walking into Azalea's holding cell. She had a bottle of water and a package of food in her hands. She also pulled a blanket inside and draped it over Azalea as she sat shivering on the floor. "W-why are you doing this? I thought you wanted me d-dead." Azalea said. "I wanted you weak, so that when I gave you over to Mr.Gold you wouldn't be able to fight back like you did when Kathryn got away. But plans have changed and I need you in top condition. So eat and drink up." Regina said standing up after putting Azalea's food and water down. "Wh-what's the new plan?" She asked Regina. "That's for me to know, and for you to find out. Now hurry up, we are on a time schedule."
-Enchanted Forest-
"You can't do this." Grumpy said as Snow put all the weapons on her person on the table. The evasion had been a success. The castle was Snow's again. But the Queen had left with Charming before they could get to him, so no one felt like they had won at all. "At least keep a knife on you!" Grumpy said as she left every last weapon on the table. "I promised I would come alone and UN-armed." Snow said. "You are too noble for your own good." Red said. "I'm not, but you all have risked your lives enough for something that is between the Queen and I. I will not let anyone else get hurt because of me." Snow said. "Except yourself, this meeting is insane. You know the Evil Queen is going to try and kill you." Granny protested. "Thank you for your concern, but this ends today." Snow said headed to the door to leave. "Thank you for your support. I love each and every one of you, but this is something I have to do. Alone." Snow said as she opened the door. "Wait," Snow turned at the voice of her quite companion. Azalea stood behind her, a flower crown in her hands. "It isn't a weapon. Please wear it...for me?" She said holding up the crown to Snow. Snow smiled and took the crown, putting it into her hair. "Perfect fit." She said before tightly hugging Azalea. She pulled away and looked at Granny "Take care of her." Snow said and walked out the door. Everyone stood in silence as they watched Snow leave. "I don't like this, I don't trust that Queen one bit." Red said. "Me either." Azalea said turning to the group. "If Snow keeps that crown on I will be able to track where she goes with my magic...she isn't going to be alone." Everyone smiled as Azalea turned back to the door where Snow had left them. "I won't let the Evil Queen hurt you Snow...I promise."
-Regina's Vault-
Regina pushed Azalea down the steps in her underground vault with Jefferson and the hat behind her. Regina had the girl's hands tied up and tape over her mouth, Jefferson put the hat on the ground in front of the group and stepped back. "Now, if you were able to break the curse on yourself you should have more than enough magic in you to make a portal." Regina said as Jefferson drew a circle around the hat with white chalk. "Now just put her inside the circle with the hat, and the hat should absorb all the magic Azalea has." Jefferson said. Regina did as told and shoved Azalea into the drawn circle. The girl tried to yell from behind the tape but it was useless as she started to feel the hat drain her of her magic. Glowing magic came out of Azalea's chest and went into the hat. It started to spin and shake as Azalea fell to her knees, dizziness washing over the teen. It felt like the hat was draining her of every bit of magic in her. "It's not going to work." Jefferson said. "Give it a little more time, it hasn't taken all the magic from Azalea." Regina said. "But the girl will die if we leave her much longer." Jefferson warned. Regina didn't say anything as Azalea fell onto her side, unable to even help herself up. The glowing stopped and it was quiet as the hat kept spinning. The hat started to grow bigger and a portal appeared inside of it. "It's working!" Jefferson said as he reached his arm inside the portal. "Think in your mind of what you want me to get Regina!" Jefferson commanded. Regina closed her eyes, thinking of the one thing she needed. The hat stopped spinning and Jefferson pulled his arm out, an apple in his hand. "This is what you wanted?" He asked. Regina gasped and took the apple from his hand, looking at the bite mark that Snow had left so long ago when she ate from the very same apple. Jefferson looked down at Azalea, checking over her. She was still breathing, but she really didn't look good at all. "You could have killed her. The last flower enchantress." He said looking up at Regina with anger. "I'm going to have to kill her anyway to keep my curse from breaking. She managed to live through this ordeal, but I'll end her soon enough." Regina said, tucking the apple into her bag. "And my daughter? My Grace?" Jefferson asked. "First things first. The deal isn't done, not until I solve my next conundrum...how to get the savior to take my forbidden fruit." Regina said with a grin, before pulling Jefferson out of the vault with her. "Are you leaving the flower enchantress in there?" Jefferson asked. "Yes, yes I am." Regina said, locking the door to her vault. "And she will stay there till I deal with the savior, then I will come and finish her off...after I give you Grace of course."
-Enchanted Forest-
"Snow was here, I can feel it." Azalea said as she, Red, Granny, and the dwarfs ran through some woods coming to an open field. There was a small stable in the clearing, but the rest was just empty land. "I can smell her." Red said, taking the front of the pack as they all raced to find Snow. They all spread out and searched around the valley. Looking for their friend. "Snow!" Granny called as she, Red, and Azalea checked inside the stable. "She's over here!" Grumpy shouted. The three ran over to the group of dwarfs at the top of a hill. They surrounded Snow as she lay on the ground, asleep. "I found her laying here like this, is she okay?" Grumpy said as Granny and Azalea leaned over her. "She has no breath." Granny said. "I feel a strong magic on her, strong enough to kill her." Azalea said, tears running down her face. "She's gone." Red gasped. "She sacrificed herself for true love." Red said as the dwarfs took off their hats. "She sacrificed herself for all of us." Grumpy said. Azalea took the flower crown on Snow's head and gently took it off. Holding it into her hands as tears ran down her face. "I'm so sorry Snow. I couldn't save you." She whispered. "This wasn't your fault, we wouldn't even know where she was if it weren't for you." Grumpy said. A sob escaped the flower girl's mouth as she cried, holding onto Grumpy as the whole group surrounded Snow's body.
-Mary's Apartment-
Emma invited Henry over to her house, she was leaving. But she had to tell him first, about the deal that Regina and her had made. That she had talked to Regina and that she would be able to come back sometimes...but Emma couldn't stay in Storybrooke. When Henry came and Emma explained everything he didn't except it. "Your leaving?! You haven't found Azalea yet! And you can't leave me!" He stormed into the kitchen as he argued with Emma. "Where did you get that?" Henry asked looking at the apple turnover that was sitting on the kitchen counter. "Regina gave it to me." Emma said "No! This is the trick. She wants you to eat this it's poison! it has apple in it!" Henry said turning to Emma. "She wants to get rid of the savior." He said. "Why would she do that when I just told her I was leaving?" Emma asked him. "Because as long as your alive your a threat to the curse." Henry said. "Henry, you have to top thinking like this." Emma told him. "But it's the truth! And you leaving isn't going to change that!" He said. "Here I'll prove that this isn't poison." Emma said going to pick up the treat. "NO!" Henry shouted picking it up before Emma could. "Henry...what are you doing?" Emma asked him, sounding annoyed, as he ran to the end of the table, so Emma couldn't reach him "I'm sorry it had to come to this. You may not believe in the curse, or me. But I believe in you." He said before taking a bit out of the treat. He chewed it and looked up at Emma, nothing happened to him. A few moments passed before Emma said, "See? Want me to get you some ice-cream to eat with it?" Henry swallowed the bite and his eyes glazed over. He fell and Emma gasped. "Henry?" She called running over to him "Henry? HENRY?!"
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
-Storybrooke, Hospital-
"Do you remember anything at all about what happened before Henry collapsed? He isn't responding to anything and we are having trouble keeping him stable at the moment." The doctor said as Emma stood beside Henry's hospital bed. "I already told you what happened! He ate this thing, this apple turnover, and he just dropped to the floor!" Emma repeated for what felt like the thousandth time. "Well if you can think of anything else just tell us. We have no idea what is happening to him, it's like-" The doctor stopped talking and shook his head before going back to looking over Henry. Emma watched as the nurses and doctor moved around the still boy on the hospital bed. "It's like magic." Emma whispered to herself. She ran over to the table where they were keeping Henry's clothes and bag. She dug through the bag till she pulled out the story book that Henry held so dear to him.
Snow White was holding Emma in her arms. The baby was crying, the curse was coming.
"Goodbye Emma."
Azalea was running down the castle hallway with Emma in her arms. Rumple caused her to fall and Emma fell out of her grasp.
"GO JAMES! Run! Emma is the only one who can save us now."
James was holding Emma as he fought guards. He put her in the wardrobe.
"Find us Emma."
Emma gasped as she was pulled out of the vision. She looked down at the book. She knew, now she knew. "It's all real." She said out loud.
-Regina's Vault-
Azalea groaned, feeling a pounding in her head as she sat up. Her vision cleared and she saw that she was in some kind of basement. There were drawers everywhere, full of items from the enchanted forest. Azalea slowly remembered what had happened before, putting the pieces of her memory together as the fog lifted from her mind. "Regina, always using magic to get what she wants...even when there is no magic to use." she said to herself. Azalea stood up slowly and checked over herself. Technically she should be dead. The magical hat had drained every last bit of her magic. Azalea ran her hands over her face. "Then how am I alive? Unless...Emma! She's starting to believe." Azalea started to look around, Regina had trapped her in here herself, Azalea might as well take advantage and look around for something to get her out of this place. Azalea had to find Emma, find Mary, David, Ruby, Leroy, anyone! She started digging through any drawer she could open, any cabinet she could find. Most of the things that Regina had brought with her were either useless to a Flower Enchantress or the world that Regina had sent everyone to had drained the magic out of it. Azalea started walking around, hopelessly looking for anything for her to be able to escape with. She found a closet in the corner of the vault and opened it, digging through the boxes and shelves. She opened one particularly dusty box and covered her mouth and nose as she dug through it. She got to the very bottom and was losing hope when she felt her fingers run over something that felt very familiar. "Finally." Azalea said, pulling out a few apple seeds with a grin. "Time to get out of here."
-Mr.Gold Pawn Shop-
Emma and Regina stomped into Mr.Golds pawn shop and he smirked. "Why do my eyes decisive me or am I looking at a believer?" He asked as Emma put her hands on the desk he was standing behind. "We need your help." Emma said. "It seems you do, it is quite tragic what has happened to your son." He said turning to Regina. "I told you all magic comes with a price." He said as if he were talking to a child. "Henry shouldn't have to pay it." Regina said. "No you should, but alas we are where we are." Mr.Gold said. "Can you help us?" Emma asked, not caring so much about the two and their argument as much as she cared for Henry. "Of course." Mr.Gold said turning back to the blonde. "True love- Ms.Swan is the only magic powerful enough to transcend realms if it isn't living inside a human body. The only person we have here who can do that is playing a bit of a disappearing act on us and keeping in the shadows. Luckily for you I happen to have some bottled up magic for just a moment like so." He said. "You did?" Regina asked. "Oh yes, from strands of your parents hair." Mr.Gold said pointing to Emma. "I made the most powerful potion in all the realm. So powerful that when I created the dark curse I placed a single drop on the parchment...just a little safety valve." He said looking at Emma. "That's why I'm the savior...that's why only I can break the curse." She said. "Now your getting it." Mr.Gold said with a grin. "I don't care about breaking the curse, all I care about it saving Henry." Emma said. "Which is why it's your lucky day. I didn't use all of the potion. I saved some of it for a rainy day." He admitted. "Well it's storming like a bitch, now where is it?" Emma asked him. "Where it is isn't the problem, getting it is what should worry you." He said. "Enough riddles, what do we do?" Regina asked with anger. "You do nothing. It has to be Ms.Swan." Mr.Gold said. "He is my son I should do it." Regina said. "All due respect, it's her son. It has to be her." Mr.Gold said smirking at Regina. "She is the product of magic. She must be the one to find it." He said, turning back to Emma. "Don't trust him." Regina said. "We have no choice." Emma said not sounding too happy about it either. "Emma is right, and by the way is our friend still in your basement?" Mr.Gold said, turning to Regina. Emma turned to Regain with confusion. "Oh you twisted little imp!" Regina said with a frown. "You hid it with her?!" She asked. "No not with her...in her." He said. "Who is her?" Emma asked. "Someone you should prepare for." Mr.Gold said before turning to pull a box out of the drawer behind him, he sat it down on the table and opened it revealing a sword. "What is that?" Emma asked. "Your fathers sword." Mr.Gold said. "Who are we going after exactly?" Emma asked. "You know her by one name...Maleficent."
-Regina's Vault-
Azalea found the exit door to wherever she had been trapped. "Okay," She said to herself, taking a few apple tree seeds from the small bag and putting them in the palms of her hands. She sat criss-cross in front of the door and took a deep breath. "Just focus." She told herself as she started to breathe in deeply and slowly. It had been such a long time since she had meditated to become one with the nature around her...and she was very unfamiliar with the nature of this realm. But this was the only shot she had at getting out of here and helping Emma and the rest of her family and friends. She closed her eyes and held her hands out to her sides, reaching deep inside herself where her magic lay. Where her connection with the spirit of nature and her pure heart that contained it all lay. She went deep into her meditation, hoping that she would be able to find the magic she needed to get out quickly. The apple seeds in her hands started to glow dimly with magic.
-Enchanted Forest, Maleficent's Castle-
The dragon Maleficent roared as Charming ran through the pillars, dodging the fire that was shot at him from the Queen. He held the container that he was supposed to force the dragon to eat close to his chest as he hid in the shadows. The dragon growled as she looked for her new prey. "DUCK JAMES!" he recognized the voice of Azalea immediately and jumped to the ground as an explosion rang in his ears. The dragons roared again and he felt himself being pulled up. He looked to see Azalea dragging him away from the dragon as it tried to recover from whatever Azalea had attacked her with. "What are you doing here?!" Charming asked the young girl. "I have been using my location spell to find you for days now! After what happened to Snow...I knew I had to find you. And when I do find you, your off fighting Maleficent in her own castle?!" Azalea said as the two kept on running, the girl holding her flower crown to her head to keep it on. "I was trying to find Snow and you guys! Rumple told me he would be able to save Snow if I did him a favor." The two hid behind some rubble as the dragon blew fire, obviously angry after the random attack out of nowhere from Azalea. "It always favors with him! You shouldn’t even trust him." She whispered. "I have no other choice. It's either that or giving up on Snow...and I will never give up on Snow." He said. Azalea didn't say anything for a few seconds before giving an angry sigh. "Fine. what do you have to do then?" She asked. "I have to get this container inside of the dragons belly." James said, holding out the odd shaped container. "Then why didn't you try making a cake and putting that in the middle?" Azalea asked with sarcasm. The dragon roared louder, shaking the building. "I have a plan," Charming said. "You distract her and I will jump on it, then throw it into the dragons gills." Azalea nodded, before running out from the hiding place and pulling a few magical orbs from her bag. The dragon spotted her and started flying after her, Azalea ran as fast as her feet would carry her, throwing the orbs at the dragon. James ran around the two, avoiding the dragon till he was able to climb up the side of a wall. He made sure Azalea was far enough away from the dragon before jumping and landing on the back of the dragon's neck. Azalea ran for cover as he was swung around by the beast before bravely shoved the container into the dragon's gills. Maleficent screeched as Charming was thrown off of her and Azalea ran over to him, helping him stand. "Now what?!" She asked as the dragon started running toward the two. "My job is done. Now we run." He said, taking Azalea's hand as they both ran to the window of the old castle. Jumping through before the dragon could catch them. They fell into the ocean below. Charming made it back to the surface of the water first, taking in a deep breath of air before going back and helping Azalea swim back to the top. She took in a deep breath of air as Charming held her above water. She looked around frantically before spotting her flower crown and putting it back on her head, dripping with water. "We did it." Azalea said breathlessly. "Now let's hope Rumple keeps his end of the bargain." Charming said as the two began their swim back to shore. " I hope that was worth whatever Rumple is giving you to save Snow." Azalea said as the two swam together.
-Storybrooke, Under the library-
Emma ran from the dragon. She held her fathers sword in her hands as she hid from its fire. How was she supposed to beat this thing? If her gun didn't work on the dragon how was a sword supposed to? A roar from the dragon shook the ground below her and she gripped the sword tightly before jumping out from behind the rock and throwing it at the chest of the dragon. It screamed in pain and started to dissolve into dust, smoke and fire flying out of it as it dissipated into a pile of dust. Emma ran her hands through the dust and picked up a container...the one that Rumple had wanted her to get. She did it. She beat the dragon...now she had to save Henry.
-Regina's Vault-
Azalea was deep in meditation, she could feel nature's magic starting to connect with her heart. The apple seeds in her hands glowed and little twigs started to grow from them. They slowly continued to grow and reach the door. The twigs started to grow around the door, breaking the door. Azalea continued to focus her magic into the seeds and gave them more and more until they were strong enough to break the door completely. The door busted open after a few more moments passed, Azalea gasped, standing up and walking out of the door. She was free, finally. Regina's vault was in the graveyard. She looked down at herself and sighed, she looked like a mess, her clothes covered in dirt, and a bit of blood from her head injury left on her hands, head, and neck. She was honestly exhausted after everything she had done...but she couldn't rest yet, she had to find help. She had to find Emma to help her break the curse. To save everyone in the town. But Rumple was out there...looking for her. She looked back at the secret vault that Regina had hidden and took a deep breath, before sprinting through the graveyard toward the town to find her family.
-Hospital-
Emma and Regina both ran to the hospital room where Henry was. The doctor and Sister nun were standing outside the door, blocking them. "We did all we could." The doctor said with a frown. "I'm sorry." The nun said as the two mothers froze. "You're too late." Emma felt her heart drop from her chest as she slowly opened the door to the room and entered. Seeing Henry laying on the bed. Lifeless. Regina gasped. "No," She said, choking back sobs. Emma walked to the bedside and pulled his hair back from his face. Tears ran down Emma's face. "I love you Henry.." She said, kissing his forehead. A whooshing sound filled the air and a colorful ring of magic flew out from the two. Wind gusted around them and Emma pulled back confused. Henry gasped, taking a deep breath in and opening his eyes. "I love you too." He said, smiling up at Emma. "You saved me." He said as Emma pulled him into a hug. The colorful ring that came from Emma and Henry broke the curse as it went around the whole town. Wind gusting everywhere as Everyone was hit with it, suddenly remembering. Memories rushing back into their heads like a movie.
Emma looked around as everyone in the hospital came running to the room, looking at Emma like she wasn't even there. Amazed. "What's going on?" Emma asked as everyone looked around at each other, and Regina started to back away from the growing group of people. "The curse, I think you broke it." Henry said, looking up at Emma. "It was a true love's kiss." The nun said, walking up to them. "No, no no." Regina said. "Your Majesty...I would find a place to hide." The doctor said Regina looked around the room, afraid of filling her. "Henry...remember that no matter what anyone says...I love you." She said before running out of the hospital.
David walked through the streets of Storybrooke looking for his family. Mary. Snow, his wife. He needed to find her. When he finally spotted her she seemed to be looking for someone as well. "Snow!" He yelled. They made eye contact and ran from the sidewalks to the middle of the road, to each other. "Charming." She said. He pulled her into his arms and they looked into each others eyes. "You found me." She said. "Did you even doubt I would?" He asked. The two kissed right in the middle of the road as people started to gather, remembering themselves and their friends. "Wait, Emma did it! She broke the curse." David said. "Were all back! Azalea...she couldn't have just run away. What happened to her? Where is she?!" Snow asked, panicked as she looked around at the people. "What if someone kidnapped her? Someone who knew about her powers?!" David grabbed her hand, ready to go looking for the missing teen when they heard their names being called. They both turned to the other side of the road and saw her. Azalea was running to them, a giant smile on her face. Her hair and clothes were a mess and she was covered in dirt, a bit of blood on her, and her shoes had mud covering them. "Azalea!" Snow gasped as the couple opened up their arms to the girl. They pulled her into a bone crushing hug. "You're okay?! I thought you were gone. But then the curse broke and I though Rumple had killed you, where have you been?!" Snow asked the girl brushing her dirty hair out of her face. "Regina-The evil queen, she took me after I was able to use my magic to break the curse on myself. She used my magic to get the apple that she used to poison you from the enchanted forest to use on Emma. I was able to escape. I was going to find Emma and help her break the curse, but I guess Emma already broke it." Azalea said, leaning into the comfort of her family's arms. Snow kissed the top of her head as James took his jacket off and wrapped it around the shivering teen. "It's okay now. Emma broke the curse. We're all going to be together now."
-Hospital-
Emma looked around the room with confusion as Henry pulled his shirt on. "Henry...what's wrong? If the curse is broken why hasn't everyone gone back to the enchanted forest?" Emma asked him. "I don't know." He said, shrugging his shoulders. "Look out there." one of the nurses said looking out the window. Emma and Henry both walked up to the window and saw a sea of purple fog coming to the city through the forest. "What is that?" Emma asked. "Something bad." Henry said.
The purple fog ran over the town, people tried to run away from it but it was too fast. "What is that?!" David shouted over the roar of it. "It's Magic! I can feel it." Azalea yelled as it came closer and closer to them. Mary and David hugged each other, using themselves to cover Azalea and each other as the purple fog ran over them. Blinding them.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
The purple fog that ran over the town slowly dissipated. David and Mary looked around with worry as Azalea pulled the jacket around her tighter. "What's happening?" Mary asked. "Let's find out." David said with determination. The purple haze completely vanished as the three heard the commotion of people being reunited and remembering around them. The three started looking for friends, trying to find people. "Snow?!" Ruby and Granny came running up to us. "Oh! Azalea!" Granny said pulling the teenager into her strong arms. Mary and Ruby hugged, crying as Granny went to hug David. Azalea watched everyone when she heard her name being called by another familiar voice. "Grumpy! - or is it Leroy?" she called running over to her friends the dwarfs. They all hugged her asking if she were okay and where she had been. When the dwarfs saw Snow they all turned to her. "Your highness." Leroy said as all the dwarfs bowed. Mary pulled them all into a giant hug. "The curse? It's broken." Leroy said. "It would appear so," David said. "So what do we do now?" Ruby asked as she pulled Azalea into her arms. Smelling the teen. "I'm fine Ruby." She whispered, knowing her friend was checking her for any more injuries. "Now I find my daughter." Mary said with a nervous grin. "So it's true." Mary and everyone quickly turned around to see Emma and Henry standing behind them. Her face showing both fear and excitement. Mary and David slowly walked up to Emma. Looking at her like they had only seen her for the first time. Everyone was. Mary pulled her into a hug, tears forming in her eyes. "You found us." She said. David joined the hug, pulling Emma into him. The two parents were crying, but Emma only seemed to grow more confused and uncomfortable with the sudden affection. Henry stood behind Emma, watching. "Grandpa?" He asked looking at David. David chuckled and pulled Henry into the huddle. "Yea kid, I suppose so." He said. "Azalea! Your alright." Emma said running over to the teen and hugging her. Emma sighed with a grin as she looked over the slightly dirty and very exhausted teen. "Because of you." Azalea said. As David and Mary hugged Emma again Azalea couldn't help but remember what Regina had said to her when she had kidnapped her.
"You seem so confident in Emma. But did you forget that she is Snow and Charming's child? Before Emma you were like a child to the sickeningly sweet couple...but now that they will soon have Emma back they wont need you- they may forget about you all together."
Azalea shook the though from her head. She would not let Regina and her words get to her. "She did it, she saved us." Henry said looking up at Emma. "She saved all of us." Mary said with pride. "Uh, then why are we still here?" Leroy asked. "That my friend is an excellent question." David said pulling away from the huddle of his family. "What was that smoke?" Another dwarf asked. "It was magic. I felt it." She said. "She is correct." The Blue fairy walked up to the group and was greeted with a hug from Mary. "Magic here? In Storybrooke? If that's true can't you use magic now?" Henry asked. "It's not that simple Henry." She said. "No wand, no fairy dust, things are complicated now. Azalea, you can still harness the power correct?" The fairy asked. Everyone turned to Azalea and she blushed, nodding yes before looking down at her hands. "Let's go to the person responsible for bringing magic into this world...the queen." Leroy said folding his arms. Everyone seemed to be agreeing until Emma said no. "It wasn't Regina who brought magic here." she said. "Then who did?" Ruby asked. Azalea suddenly shivered and she tightened the jacket around her again. "We need to get you cleaned up." Mary said looking over at the teen. "How long has it been since you ate? Slept? Do you feel like your hurt anywhere?" David asked looking over Azalea. "I'm okay, I'm not the main focus right now." Azalea said as a blush crossed her cheeks. "The focus should be on Rumple, he is the one that made the weird purple fog thingy happen. We need to find him." Emma said. The whole group started walking down the road. After a few silent moments Mary turned to Emma. "Is there anything you want to ask us? You must have questions." She said. "The only questions I have is for Mr.Gold. Why he double crossed me and what did he do to this town?" Emma said looking forward. "Uh- shouldn't we talk about uh, it first?" Mary asked looking to David for approval. "What?" Emma asked. "Us? Your life? Everything?" Mary listed. "Can we do everything later? Like with a glass of wine?" Emma asked. "We don't want to push you, but we have been waiting for this for so long." David said. "Yea so have I! I have thought about this my entire life. Who you might be, but I would have never imagined this! You two being...I just need time that's all." Emma finally said. Sounds of a crowd shouting could be heard over the awkward silence after Emma said that. A crowd was shouting and running as Archie ran down to the us, almost tripping over his own umbrella. "There you are! I need your help, Dr.Whale whipped everyone into a frenzy. They are going to Regina's house to kill her." He said. "Great, let's watch." Leroy said before looking over at Azalea, the anger he already had burning a bit harder in his chest seeing her in such a state. "No! No, we cannot stoop down to her level. No matter who she is or what she has done. Killing her is wrong." Archie said. "He's right, please she's still my mom." Henry said, looking at Emma. "If the blue fairy and Azalea are right and magic is back Regina could have some of it...that group could be walking into a slaughter." David said. With that the group all started running after the angry mob. Not sure of what they would find.
-Regina's House-
"Let her go!" Emma shouted as she and the group ran through the crowd in front of Regina's house. Dr.Whale was pushed away from where he had Regina pinned against her front door. "Why should I listen to you?" He asked Emma. "Because I am still sheriff of this town." She said. "And because she saved you, all of you." David said. "And no matter what Regina did it does not justify this!" Mary shouted over the crowd. "We are not murderers here." Emma said looking at Dr.Whale. "Well we are not from this world." He said. "Yea, well your in it now. So you follow by this worlds rules." Emma said not backing down. "Okay Whale we're done," David said stepping up and shoving him away from Regina and Emma. "Your not my prince." Dr.Whale spat as he stepped away. "Who are you Whale?" David asked with curiosity. "That's my business." He said. "Well my business is making sure this town doesn't go to hell and this is not the way to do it." David said. "And Regina's death wont get us any answers." Mary said stepping up. "She needs to be locked up, for her own safety and more importantly ours." Regina smirked and looked over the crowd, not a single drop of fear in her face. "You got out," Regina said looking at Azalea. Granny pulled Azalea closer to her as the queen made eye contact with the enchantress. "You must have strong magic here to have survived what I did to you." She said before David walked up behind her. "Your really not helping yourself here." He growled before taking Emma's cuffs and putting them around her wrists behind her back. "What did Regina do to you?" Mary asked, walking up to Azalea. "She kidnapped me once I broke the curse on myself. She used the Mad Hatters hat to drain me or my magic so she could make a portal...I only lived because Emma was starting to weaken the curse." Azalea said, before David roughly pushed Regina through the crowd of angry people. Emma walked up to Azalea. "I'm so sorry I didn't find you sooner." She said, pulling Azalea into her arms. "You didn't know what was happening. I was trapped with Kathryn and Belle. I was able to help Kathryn escape, but not Belle." Regina turned to her. "I wouldn't bother worrying about Belle, I let her go. She should be with her beast by now." Azalea frowned, turning to Regina. "I have my magic Regina...where is yours? Or do you not have what it takes to use it in this world?" Regina frowned as the flower enchantress taunted her. Azalea would never do such a thing usually, but when she thought of what Regina had done to Belle and Kathryn, it made her so angry.
-Hospital-
"Your vitals are all good. You just need rest and some nutrition to feel one hundred percent again." The nurse said as she wrote some things down on some paper. Mary nodded as she took the papers and Azalea stood up from the hospital bed. The two left, Mary's hand not leaving Azalea's as they came back into the waiting room. "Everything check out?" David asked as he stood up from beside Emma and Henry. "Yep, she just needs to clean up and get some sleep and food." Mary said. "Well we can help with that now can't we?" Granny said walking over with Ruby. "Yes, and we can do that while you guys track down Mr.Gold- or Rumple. I'm not sure who to call who in this land." Ruby said. "Let's tackle one problem at a time. Thank you two for helping Azalea for us, and for watching Henry." Emma said as He walked over to the ladies. "We will be back soon okay." Emma said, hugging Henry. "I hate to leave you right after we found you." Mary said, hugging Azalea. "It's fine, your job never stops. I'll be waiting." She said, ``And you will be resting," David said with a stern voice giving the teen a hug. The royal couple and their daughter left the group to go find Gold and Granny cleared her throat. "Okay, let's go. Granny's Diner can't run itself. Let's stop by your place and get you cleaned up and into some fresh clothes." She said turning to Azalea and looking at the teens' dirty and slightly bloody clothes. Azalea smiled, she had never been more happy to take a shower.
-Azalea Pov-
Azalea was in the palace hallway, it was empty and she could see the stars from outside. She climbed up onto the frame of one of the windows, letting the cold night air hit her exposed skin as she admired the palace garden below her. "What are you doing up so late?" She turned to see Snow standing behind her. "I couldn't sleep, I was thinking about everything. The curse, Regina, your baby Emma." She admitted as Snow came to stand beside her. "Me either, ever since I heard about the curse It hasn't left my mind. But we will be okay. I'm sure of it." She said, "I wish I had your optimism." Azalea said, looking back to the sky. "If anyone should be confident it would be you. You're so powerful, I only could see your own potential." Snow said. When Azalea didn't reply she patted the girl on the back. "Come on, if we are going to be up all night let's at least entertain ourselves." Snow said, pulling the girl from the window. The two walked through the castle together, and as Snow let Azalea rest her hand on her pregnant belly, the flower enchantress wondered what would happen to baby Emma.
-Storybrooke, City Hall-
"Are you sure you are okay to do this?" David asked, noting the black rings still under Azalea's usually bright eyes. She nodded as she, Emma, David, Mary ,and Regina walked into the City Hall, David handing out brooms to use as torches. "Just like...before in my vault, channel your magic into the hat and we should be able to suck the creature into it." Regina said, handing the girl Jefferson's magic hat. "It's nice that I'm doing this by choice this time." Azalea said, frowning at Regina. She couldn't believe she was trying to help the Evil Queen. She knew deep in her head that she couldn't let her die from this Wraith, but it was a nice thought. The lights started to flicker, showing that the Wraith was close, and the others backed up as Azalea got on her knees and held the hat in her hands. "You can do it Azalea, I know you can." Mary said from behind her as they lighted the brooms making a bright flame. The teen nodded and adjusted the flower crown. A roar filled the room and Azalea spun the hat on the ground, holding her hands above it. "She won't be able to do it. There isn't enough time." Regina said. "She is the only person here who can even help so I wouldn't be too quick to judge." David snapped at her. The doors flew open and a gust of wind blew at them as the beast came in. David ran up trying to keep the beast at bay as Azalea focused on the hat. "Hurry," Regina told the teen as sparks started to spin the hat on it's own, taking the magic she was feeding it. The Wraith roared as it tried to pass the flames. "What's the problem?" Emma asked. "It's the magic, she hasn't been able to get a good hold on it yet. The hat took too much magic the first time we used it. She doesn't have enough yet." Regina said as the hat slowly started to turn itself more and more. The creature roared again as David had to dodge an attack. "Now would be a good time for it to work!" He called. Emma put her hands on Azalea's shoulders and Azalea gasped as she felt a spark of magic leave her body. Azalea felt Emma's magic flow into her. Emma pulled back as she watched the hat drain Azalea of the magic she had. The hat spinning and making a portal. "She did it, the portal is open!" Emma called. The beast flew over David's head and Regina jumped out of the way of it's attack, sending the beast into the portal. The Wraith reached it's hand out and grabbed Emma being dragged into the portal by the creature. "NO! I'm not losing her again!" Mary shouted before jumping into the portal herself after her daughter. David tried to follow them, jumping to enter the portal as well, but it closed itself and David landed on the hat, hitting the floor. The last of the magic it took to closer the portal was sucked from Azalea before she fell on her side beside David, unconscious. "No," David said sitting up and looking at the torn hat. He looked over at Azalea and stood up. "Where are they?" He shouted at Regina, anger filling his blood. "I have no idea." Regina said. "Are they dead?!" David shouted at her. " I don't know!" Regina said taking a step back. Honestly never seeing the prince so angry before. "I should have killed you myself." He said. "Then what's stopping you?" She asked pushing him back, before she held out her hand and he was pushed to the wall, magic trapping him there. "I should have killed you when I had the chance so long ago, now I can." She said. "Mom?!" Regina turned away from David and saw Henry at the door with Ruby. "Henry, what are you doing here?" Regina asked. Her voice losing all it's fire it had before. "What are you doing to David?" He asked. "It's okay, your safe now." She said walking over to him. She released him from her hold and he fell from the wall onto the floor. Ruby ran over to him to help him stand. "Where is my mom and Mary? What did you do to Azalea?" He asked seeing her laying on the floor. "Azalea is okay, just...resting. Your mom and Mary are gone. They fell through a portal. They...Henry I'm sorry." She said, "No you're not! You really are the evil queen." Henry said, backing away from her. "No, I love you!" Regina said. "Then prove it, get Mary and my mom back...but until then don't come near me and stop hurting my friends!" Henry shouted. "Who will you stay with?" Regina asked him. "With me." David said, walking up to them with Azalea in his arms with gentle care. Henry nodded to him before he, David, and Ruby left her alone.
-Mary's apartment-
"She will be okay. The magic was just all drained from her at one time and it was a bit too much." David said as Henry watched him put Azalea into Mary's bed, tucking her into the covers. They were back at Mary and Emma's apartment. Trying to figure out their next move. "Don't worry, they are alive." David said, turning to Henry. "How do you know?" He asked. "I have faith." David answered. "But..." Henry said looking over at a picture of Mary and Emma together. "Henry come here, I will find them." He said getting on his knees in front of the boy. "I will always find them."
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
-Storybrooke, Town Hall-
Azalea walked through the town, it was a mess. Cars wrecked on the side of the road, trash everywhere, broken windows and torn up buildings. People were going on riot, trying to escape the town, and just down right panicking. The teen held her notebook and pen to her chest as she walked up to the Town Hall where everyone was ordered to come to by David. "If you are looking for a family member, come to the front table where Azalea will be taking names. If you need emotional help Dr.Hopper has a sign up sheet." Ruby called out over the muttering of the crowd as she walked through the people, carrying blankets around the crowd of people that had gathered after the attack of the wraith. "If the attack damaged your homes there is a place set up in the high school for everyone to stay." Azalea zoned out Ruby's talking to the crowd as she found the table where a dozen people were waiting for her. She quickly set up, "Who's first?" She asked looking up to see Geppetto. "Please, my son. His name is Pinocchio...I don't know his name in this world. I haven't seen him at all." The fathers eyes started to water and Azalea took his hand into hers. "If he is here, I will find him. My location spell never fails." She said, hoping to give some hope to Geppetto. "I can only pray that he is here..." Geppetto said before walking away. Azalea signed and wrote the boy's name down on her sheet of paper before calling, "Next!" The list of missing people only got longer, hours later Dr.Hopper joined her at her table. "This is getting out of hand, people are in a panic and don't know what to do." Dr.Hopper said as he looked over the list of missing people. "It's okay. We just need everyone to remain calm." Azalea said, turning to face him. "And are you sure that you will be able to find some of these people with your location spell?" He asked. Azalea bit her lip and stood from her table bringing Dr.Hopper close to her so prying ears couldn't overhear. "They need some kind of hope, I'll try my best but I'm not sure." Azalea whispered in his ear. He nodded, agreeing before walking away. Azalea turned back to the line of people who had missing family members or friends and took a deep breath, adjusting her flower crown before getting back to work. Hopefully Charming was getting more results in his search for answers about Mary and Emma then she was here.
-Regina's house-
Regina heard a loud banging on her door. She hesitantly pulled it open and Charming marched through into her home. "Tell me about this." He said, holding out the torn magic hat in his hands. "Surprised you didn't bring the dwarfs with you." Regina said. "Don't need them, we both know that if you take one step outside there is a line a mile long of people wanting your head." He said. "Who's going to risk coming at me?" She asked, threateningly. "Take your chances then. But I think that the little '
sticking me to the wall trick'
you pulled at City Hall was an anomaly. If you had your magic back this town would be burned down by now. Azalea said she was only able to open the portal through the hat when Emma touched her, she thinks that Emma inherited magic through Mary and I's true love. Azalea say's that if she doesn't have a good grasp on the magic in this world then you definitely don't...is she wrong?" Charming asked with a smirk. When Regina didn't answer, Charming continued. "The only thing that is keeping you alive right now is that Henry wishes for it...now let's talk about the hat." He said holding it up for Regina to see. "It's the thing that pulled your family away." Regina said, stepping past the prince into the kitchen. "Where did you get it?" Charming asked. "It's been so long, I forget...Maybe you should be less concerned with hats and more concerned with taking care of my son." She said as he followed her. "Oh because you took such great care of him." Charming challenged. "I will not take child care lectures from a man who put his daughter in a box and sent her to another world." Regina spat back. "Look there is magic here now. There has to be a way to follow them, to find them." Charming said. "Follow them where? Into an airless sucking void? And good luck with trying to get magic to work. Because right now the only person who is even able to begin comprehending magic in this land is all run out. The hat took every last bit of Azalea's magic. She will need a few days to fully recover after using the magical hat twice in two days. And when she does she won't even be able to help. If she gets the hat to work again you will just be jumping into an empty void like your precious daughter and wife did." Regina said. David didn't let the Evil Queens words get to him, he took a steady breath and smirked. "Ah, frustrated aren't you? That Azalea can have control of magic here and you can't? You earned every bit of this." He said. "Keep on baiting me Charming, right now I don't have magic and I don't have my son. But when I get one, I get the other. You don't want to be around when that happens." Regina threatened. "If you have to use magic to keep your son, then you don't really have him...before I go, I believe you have something that belongs to Azalea." Charming said. Regina looked confused for a few seconds before a smirk grew. She walked over to her living room and stood in front of her bookshelf. She pulled out a book from it and walked back to David, shoving the book into his hands. "Not like I have any use for it anyway. Only she can use the potions from this book." Regina said as David stormed out of the house, the torn hat, and Azalea's flower book in his hands.
-Town Hall-
"How is the list coming along?" Ruby asked as Azalea finally started to take down the table. The crowd had thinned, the day getting late. "Three pages long." She said handing the list to Ruby for her to look over. Ruby looked more and more distressed as she looked over the list. "This is a lot of people." Ruby said, looking at the teen. "Are you sure you can take this on? It's a lot to handle, we could get some people to help you." She suggested. "I'm the only person who can perform a location spell...It will be a few days before I can even begin to use the location spell anyway. We can take the list and start looking for people the old fashion way while I connect with the nature here." She said taking the list back. "TERRIBLE NEWS!" Everyone at Town Hall turned as the dwarfs came running up to the crowd with Charming and Blue running behind them. "We were out at the town limits." Grumpy said as he pulled Sneezy up to the front of the group. "Tell 'em who you think you are Sneezy." Grumpy told the dwarf. "Will you stop calling me that? You know who I am. I'm Tom Clark I own the Dark Star Pharmacy in town." He said, looking both annoyed and confused at everyone's reaction. "Whats going on here?" He asked, looking at everyone. "If you cross the town line you lose your memory all over again." Grumpy said. "Coming back didn't fix it?" Dr.Hopper asked. "If it did would I have come here yelling terrible news?!" Grumpy asked sarcastically. "If we leave Storybrooke our cursed selves become our only selves.'' The whole crowd was silent, before panic settled in. Everyone was asking questions, some started to cry. Azalea looked around her as the madness unfolded. Charming was crowded by people asking him questions, not giving him time to answer, as were Ruby, Dr.Hopper, and Blue. A few people even started to gather around Azalea like she would have any answer to fix all this. "PEOPLE!" Charming shouted quieting the crowd. "Everyone, come back in two hours. I'll tell you my plan to fix everything." He shouted to everyone before walking away. Ruby and Azalea ran up behind him as the rest of the crowd stayed behind. "What's the plan?" Ruby asked. "I don't know, but I got two hours to figure it out." David said.
-Mr.Gold Pawn Shop-
The bell rang as Mr.Gold stood at his desk. "It seems that when I bought the closed sign I was throwing away my money." He said before turning to see Charming standing at the door. "Looks like it." David said before walking inside. "Sorry to hear about your wife and daughter. If your looking for a retrieval I'm sorry to say that portal jumping is out of my range." Mr.Gold said. "Of course it is." Charming said, sounding annoyed. "What's the commotion outside about" Mr.Gold asked, hearing the murmuring from the streets. "A little stir at the border of the town, having trouble crossing the line." Charming said. "Do tell," Mr.Gold said sounding interested. "Actually I'm here to buy something. A way to find someone. Azalea can't right now because of the magical hat taking all of her magic." Charming said. "What like a map?" Mr.Gold asked. "Something with a bit more kick." Charming said. "Who are you following?" Mr.Gold asked. "Not telling." Charming said, almost challenging the man to ask him. But Mr.Gold didn't bite the bate, "So do you have something that belongs to this person?" He asked. Charming nodded yes, "Can I see it?" Mr.Gold asked. "No." Charming said folding his hands together. Mr.Gold chuckled before turning behind his desk and pulling out a box, he opened it and pulled out a jar with sparkling blue powder. "Pour this on the object then follow it." Mr.Gold said handing the bottle over. "What do you want in return?" David asked. "Peace," Mr.Gold said. "After you spent most of your existence trying to murder Azalea? Someone whom the royal family considers their own?" David asked. "I had a chance when she was able to break the curse on herself to get her heart and use it for my own gain. But I didn't." Mr.Gold said with a shrug of his shoulders. "Because Regina got to her first. Who knows what you would have done to her." David spat. "This is a whole new world Charming, I want a guarantee that we stay out of each others way. And I'll even keep a good distance between the flower enchantress and I at all times to make you feel better." Mr.Gold looked at the bottle with a raised eyebrow before Charming nodded, taking the bottle from him. He went to leave when Mr.Gold asked him one final question. "What happens when you cross the border?" Charming turned to face him. "You lose your memory all over again, looks like we're stuck here." He said before leaving the shop. Moments passed as Mr.Gold felt the anger burn in him. He threw his cane, the sounds of glass breaking went unheard in his burning ears. All of his hard work, and now he was stuck here?! "Poor delusional Charming. If you think I'm done with Azalea, you've got a big storm coming."
-Storybrooke Forest-
Azalea sat crossed legged in the middle of the forest, she could hear the plants growing around her. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. She needed to get the magic back. There was magic here before Mr.Gold brought it. She needed to be in balance with both, the magic of the far away land that Mr.Gold pulled through and the magic from this planet. She knew that she could do it, she had before. Now the town needed her to. If Regina got her magic back there was no way to protect anyone, unless she had magic of her own. So she started to meditate, her fingers running through the grass under her. Connecting with mother nature.
-Enchanted Forest, Years ago-
"How come you don't help those people who came the other day?" Azalea asked as mother pulled some kind of yellow flowers from the ground. The family was all together in their hidden home. The mother and daughter were out in the garden like usual. "Because they wanted me to help them win a war between them and another kingdom." She said not looking up at her child, her focus on the flowers in front of her. "Why wouldn't you help? You could have stopped a war." Azalea said, very confused. Her mom stopped picking the flowers and looked up at Azalea, the child was standing behind her mom, holding the basket of flowers she had gathered. Her mom sighed and dusted her hands, before pulling Azalea into her lap. "Do you know the kind of magic we use?" She asked the child. "Yes, it's the earth's magic." Azalea said by memory. "That's right, and it is a very rare magic. It can only come from someone who has an enchantress's heart. And you also have to have the magic of a pure heart because of your father and I's love. People with pure hearts do not have the darkness in their hearts to fight in wars. To keep our magic pure we must never use our magic to hurt others or the nature around us. It must always be for good." Azalea thought about it for a few seconds before smiling. That made sense. "BOO haha!" Alex, Azalea's brother, jumped up from behind the two. Azalea jumped and her mother laughed as Azalea got up from her lap to chase her brother across the flower field. Azalea learned an important lesson that day, and she vowed later on to never use her magic to hurt anyone, or anything.
"Azalea!" The teen felt herself getting pulled out of her meditative state and opened her eyes. Ruby was standing above her, looking worried. "We need to hurry, David needs our help. People are panicking and trying to leave Storybrooke. Azalea nodded and stood from the ground. The memory of her family before they were all killed stayed in her head as she and Ruby ran through the forest. Now Azalea's decision was clear. She would protect the people of Storybrooke the best she could with her magic. But she would never hurt anyone with her magic either. She was better than that, she was better than Regina and Mr.Gold.
-Storybrooke Town Line-
Charming honked his horn as he sped past the line of cars headed to the town line. Azalea and Ruby held onto the car seat as he swerved in front of the line of cars leaving Storybrooke. The tires screeched as he blocked the road. The three got out of his car. "Get out of the way! We have a right to go." Someone yelled as the people got out of their cars. "If you cross that line you are going to be lost. Everyone who loves you will lose you. But there is something even worse than that. You will lose yourself." Charming stepped onto the back of his truck so that everyone could see him. Everyone got out of their cars and listened. Some looked angry for being blocked, others just looked scared. "Look I get wanting to leave here, I do! I get that it is easier to let go of bad memories but even bad memories are a part of us...David, Storybrooke David was...is weak, confused. And he hurt the woman I love. I wouldn't give up Charming just to be him. But I wouldn't make the other trade either. Because that David reminds me of not only who I've lost, but of who I want to be. My weaknesses and my strengths." Everyone was listening to him, Azalea looked down the road to see everyone in the crowd smiling to him, looking at him with hope. "David and Prince Charming. I am both. Just like you all, you are both. The town is both and we are both. Stay here and every choice is up to you. Live in the woods, hell live in a shoe if you want...let's open back the schools and the shops and get back to work. I will protect you, Regina will never hurt any of us. Not as long as I'm alive. As long as we come together. As we did before the curse and as we will do again." Everyone was still, Azalea looked at Ruby as she smiled up at Charming nervously. People started to get in their cars. If they went past the town line it was no longer up to Charming-or David to stop them. But none of them did. Every car turned around and went back to town.
-Flower Shop-
A few days later Azalea twisted the key into her door, it slowly opened and she walked inside. The aroma of flowers makes her smile wide. She walked by each plant, making sure that they weren't too dehydrated before going behind her counter and digging through her stuff. She held her mothers book tightly in her hands. David had gone by Regina's house to get Henry, and Regina had surprisingly returned the book to him to give to Azalea. Now that she knew what she was doing. She could really start to work on the flowers in her shop, grow them to work on spells and potions. She could start on location spells to look for missing people, hopefully finding them all. She was ready now, to put her all into protecting this town and helping Charming any way she could to get Mary and Emma back.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
-Storybrooke-
"Why do I have to go to school? I should be helping with the search for missing people." Azalea said as she and Henry were being walked to the bus by David, dressed in their school uniforms. "Yea! I wanna help you find my mom and Mary." Henry chipped in as David held in a sigh of frustration. "Henry, I don't want you near all this magic. It always comes with a price, and Azalea, you can't over-work yourself trying to find everyone. You have already found five missing people wandering the forest... we still live in this world, and in this world people your age legally have to go to school." David said, folding his arms and looking at the two. "So I'm taking a break from work by going to school?" Azalea asked, folding her arms and raising an eyebrow at David. He nodded, smirking at Azalea as she sighed in her own frustration. David knew that the girl didn't particularly like school, but his hands were tied on this one. Plus he knew where both of his kids would be at all times, giving him some much needed relief as he focused on trying to find a way to get Mary and Emma back. "Where is the logic in this?" Azalea asked before turning and walking over to the bus stop where other students were waiting for the school bus. "Henry, I promise I will find your mom and Mary, but I also need to know that you and your...aunt are safe. The best way to do that is by making sure you and Azalea go to school." David said. Henry nodded, then turned to look at Azalea who was adjusting her flower crown. "How will you know that Azalea is safe? Now that everyone knows who she is again, aren't you worried about Mr.Gold? Or other evil people trying to use her magic for evil?" he asked. "...If you kept an eye on her during school that would be very helpful to me." David said, knowing that Henry would be less likely to sneak out of school if he gave the boy an 'important job'. He also knew that there were many adults at the school who now knew that there were two royal children in their building. David had instructed that there be guards set up around the school, and everyone knew that David expected Henry and Azalea to be protected in his absence at the school building. It was a bit of the reason that David was being so persistent on sending his kids to school, he knew they would be protected there. He knew that if Mr.Gold didn't hold up to what he said and tried to get to Azalea, she would be protected. David sent the boy over to the bus stop. He watched as his two kids stood together with a few more students in school uniforms and smiled, before going to work at finding a way to get his wife and daughter back.
-Enchanted Forest, Granny's house-
"Snow has sent word for you." Azalea looked up from Granny's garden as the woman walked over to her. "She has? Has something changed with the war to get the kingdom back?" Azalea asked standing up. "It seems so, I can't tell if it is good or bad. But Snow and Charming want you delivered at Charming's mother's house in three days time. We're getting guards ready to escort you now." Granny said as the two walked into her house. Azalea had been hiding out with Granny and a few guards ever since the war started against Regina on taking back the kingdom. Azalea was such a target that Charming and Snow thought it was best to keep her hidden with Granny till the war was won...or over. "Why do you think I'm being sent there?" Azalea asked Granny as she started to quickly pack up some things in her bag. "I'm not sure, but Snow said it was urgent." Granny said with a shrug of her shoulders. Azalea simply nodded before continuing to get ready for the journey. Part of her was excited to finally be able to leave Granny's home, she had been there for so long. Another part was worried about what Snow needed her for, and hoped that no one was hurt.
-Storybrooke, School-
Azalea sighed, her chin rested in the palm of her hand as she looked out the window. It used to be normal to sit in this boring classroom. Now, knowing who she really is, everything about school just seemed boring and unneeded. Azalea looked up at the teacher and saw him writing a math problem on the board. She slowly slipped out the flower book from her backpack onto the desk and opened it in her lap, pushing the math book up a bit so that it covered the teacher's view. She looked down at the book and flipped to the chapter her mother had written on location spells. The one that she was using now was working just fine, but maybe she could find a way to locate more than one person at a time, maybe channel her magic into more than one flower. The town could have a team of people searching the forest for missing people. That's what Mary would do...Azalea bit her lip, she missed Mary. They had just found each other and now she was gone again. Azalea knew that she was only so focused on finding people to distract herself from her own sadness and worry over Mary and Emma. As long as she was helping, it didn't matter. "What do you think the answer is Azalea?" Her head snapped up as the teacher looked at her with folded arms from the front of the classroom. "Um....." She said, a blush burning her cheeks as a few classmates snickered around her. "Try being a little more focused okay. Every student in this classroom is a student before their identity from the Enchanted forest got it?" The teacher asked, addressing the whole class. Azalea nodded along with the other students, her blush burning her cheeks as class continued.
-Enchanted Forest-
Azalea was sitting on the back of the wagon as Snow and Charming walked on either side of it, a man in armor named Lancelot was guiding the horse in front that was pulling the wagon. "How is she?" Charming asked leaning over the side of the wagon to look at his mother. "The pain remedy I was able to make seems to be taking most of the pain away." Azalea said as she dipped the towel into a small bowl that the remedy was in, before pressing it back onto the wounded area of Charming's mother's injury. Azalea made sure that she was gentle, she had wished to meet Charming's mother in better circumstances. But she was happy to help Snow and Charming in any way she could. "Thank you for coming down here on such short notice, we didn't know if you knew of anyway to take the poison out of her." Snow said to the flower enchantress. "I will do anything I can to help your mother, it's the least I can do...I just hope that my plan to use the water from Lake Nostos works." Azalea said. "We should probably go scout ahead a bit, I won't take too long." Lancelot said, stopping the horse and pulling the wagon to the side of the trail. "I'll go with you, will you three be okay?" Charming asked Snow. "Don't worry, we can watch over ourselves for a while." Snow said before sending the two boys off ahead on the trail. Charming's mother groaned and her breath labored as Azalea moved the towel again. "I'm sorry, it will only be a few moments." Azalea said in a gentle voice as she cleaned the towel and got more medication on it. Snow took another towel and wiped the sweat from his mothers brow. "Thank you girls." Charming's mother said with a weak voice. "It's the least we can do, are you comfortable?" Snow asked. "No...but that's alright, for giving my son something to believe in, all he's ever dreamed about was having a wife, and a son. Fret not, it could be a daughter but trust me. All it matters is that it's healthy." She said as Snow looked away, guilt on her face. Azalea was confused, Snow had talked about having children with Charming and always seemed so excited. Why would she look guilty when Charming's mother brought it up? "Let me show you something," his mom said pulling her necklace from her neck with Azalea's help. "My mother gave this to me when I was pregnant, she said it was spelled by a gypsy to predict the sex of your firstborn. Even before you were with child." She said holding the necklace to Snow. "And it works?" Snow asked, sounding scared. "It did with my boys, if it swings north and south it's a boy, east and west and your having a girl." She said with a grin. "Shall we? Just between us girls?" She asked. Snow shook her head. Azalea sat up. "Oh I don't think that's a good idea." Snow said looking away. "Indulge an old woman." His mom said. "It will help take my mind off...everything." She whispered. Snow nodded slowly, taking the necklace. She held it up, but it didn't swing. Snow closed her eyes, before looking to the ground. "Don't worry Snow, gypsy magic is very unpredictable." Azalea said, trying to comfort Snow. The woman didn't say anything as she tried to blink her tears away. "What's wrong child?" Charming's mom asked, she took Snow's hand and looked her in the eyes. "You can tell me anything child." She said. "It's the king, when he captured me...he cursed me. So...so that I can never have children." Snow admitted. It was silent as the other two took in the new information, shocked. "Snow, why didn't you tell me this before? I might have been able to help you!...Worry not, if the water from Lake Nostos can heal Charming's mom it can also heal you." Azalea said taking Snow's other hand. "Do you really think so?" Snow asked, with hope. "I know so." Azalea said. "You are going to be a wonderful mother." Charming's mom said with a grin.
-Storybrooke, Flowershop-
"Well hello Dearie." Azalea jumped, startled at the sound of Mr.Gold's voice behind her. "I had the door locked." Azalea said, putting the key in her bag, sounding annoyed. "Don't be so childish, you know now that locks might as well be useless with magic back in Storybrooke." He said walking up to her with his cane. "You can't do anything to me...You would have the town after you if anything happened to me." Azalea said backing up from Mr.Gold, ready to make a run for it if she had to. "Oh you don't need to worry. I am not ready for your heart...yet. I will need it eventually. You see, I need the pure magic from your enchanted heart to get past the magic wall that surrounds this town. When I am ready to leave and go after what I came here for, then you will be hearing from me." Mr.Gold gave her a friendly smile, sending a chill up the girl's spine. "All will be revealed to you later, but I just wanted to stop by, make sure you were keeping up with your magic and learning how to use it here...I'm going to need it." He said as he walked by her and out the door. Azalea took in a deep breath and leaned against the wall of her shop. Her legs shaking from the fear. "Fine," She whispered to herself, after a few silent moments passed. "I can take care of myself." she said before shutting the door to her shop and turning the sign around to "Open!" She took off her school uniform jacket and looked around her shop with a heavy smile. She knew that Mr.Gold had wanted her heart for so long. The question now was, what was he looking for in this world? What was so important that he needed to get Regina to use a curse to send us all here? And how would her heart help Mr.Gold find what he was looking for?
-Enchanted Forest, Lake Nostos-
"Wheres the lake?" Snow as asked she walked up behind Lancelot and Charming. "Were looking at it." Charming said with sadness in his voice as the three looked over the dried out hole in the ground. "It's gone." He said, sounding heart broken. The three walked out onto the dried out lake while Azalea brought the wagon holding Charming's mom over. Guilt weighing her down. "Don't worry just wait, I was raised by a lake. There may be water here...we just need to look around a bit." Lancelot said. The two guys started looking around as Snow and Azalea stayed by the wagon with Charming's mother. Azalea got her magic book from he mother out, looking for any answer to help if they didn't find any water. She would never forgive herself if she couldn't help Charming's mother. "I found some! It's not a lot but it's enough for one more sip." Lancelot said holding up a sea shell, water filled the inside of it. The two guys started to get the water ready and Charming's mother took Azalea's hands. Snow ran over to Charming and Lancelot. "I want Snow to have that last sip of water." She whispered to Azalea. "No, no I couldn't do that." Azalea said. "That water can lift Snow's curse, allow Snow and my son to have a child." She said. "But you will die, I won't let you give your life for this. Snow wouldn't allow it." Azalea said. "That's what parents do, they put their children first." Charming and Lancelot came running. "Here you are mother, your saved." Charming said handing her a flask. Charming's mother smiled as he helped her drink the water. "Don't worry about me." Snow whispered to Charming's mother as the two men hugged. "We will find another way." Azalea looked around the lake, seeing how dry it was. Hopefully, they would find another way to break the curse on Snow. "Why isn't it working?" Charming asked as his mom struggled for breath. "It should take some time." Lancelot said. "No, the water from this lake it supposed to work instantly." Azalea said looking up from her book. "It wasn't enough, we need more." Charming said. "Son, stop." His mom said. "There's no m-more magic here." She said looking at her son. "And I don't want to spend my last moments this way." She said. Charming looked away. "This is all my fault, I'm so sorry." He said. "For what? Being happy, or finding your true love? For your happiness I would gladly give my life." She said as a tear ran down her face. "My only regret is that I wont get to see you marry Snow." She said. Charming shh'd her. Snow leaned over. "Yes you will," She said. "Lancelot, does a disgraced member of the round table still have the power to perform a wedding?" She asked him. "It would be my honor." He said with a smile. Azalea looked down at Charming's mother as she smiled. "Let's get things ready quickly. Watch my mother Azalea." Charming said before the other three dispersed. Azalea waited until the three couldn't hear them and she turned to Charming's mother. "That water should have healed you instantly. It would have only not worked if your heart wasn't beating." Azalea whispered to the woman. "This is my last wish, please don't tell them..." She said as tears gathered in her eyes, handing Azalea the flask. "Give this to Snow. Please." She asked the girl. "As you wish." Azalea whispered, she didn't like being told to keep a secret, but she knew that this was Charming's mother's wish before she was to die, it was not in her power to make a decision for her. She wiped a tear away as Charming and Snow made their way back to the wagon, Azalea put the flask in her bag, knowing what she had to do.
A while later Charming and Snow were standing facing each other in front of Lancelot, Azalea stood beside the wagon with Charming's mother in it as Lancelot performed the ceremony. "In my Kingdom, there is a legend of a cup. That has the power to grant eternal life, and so that love that is between you all may always stay strong, true, and eternal." He poured the water into the cup and handed it to Snow, she drank from the cup, then handed it to Charming who also drank. The two then kissed one another as Lancelot and Azalea clapped. Azalea turned to Charming's mother and took her hand, she knew that she was gone. her magic had sparked when her spirit left her body, a shift in nature. Charming walked over with Snow and put some flowers on his mother's chest. "Goodbye mother," he said, his voice cracking.
Later that day Azalea and Lancelot walked over to Snow and Charming, they were both beside the grave they had dug up for his mom. "I'm so sorry, she was the only family you had left." Snow said. "No, I still have you." He said pulling Snow into a hug. "I love you Snow, and together we can start a new family." Snow sighed and took his hands in hers. "Here, this belonged to her." Charming said pulling his mothers necklace out of his pocket. "She wanted you to have it, she said it could predict what gender our child will be." He said. "Please don't," Snow said. "There's some thing I need to tell you." She looked down. "What is it?" Charming asked. Snow looked at the necklace in his hands, and gasped. It was dangling over her hand. Moving east to west. "W-were going to have a child?!" She said with a grin. "What?" Charming asked, looking confused. "Is there something I need to know?" He asked. "Were going to have a kid someday!" Snow said, sounding excited. "Of coarse we are!" Charming said with a smile. "What does east to west mean? That's a boy right?" He asked. The two kissed and Charming went to prepare the wagon to travel. Snow looked questionably at Lancelot as he and Azalea stood together behind them. "This is because of you isn't it?" She asked looking at the two. Azalea looked away as Lancelot pretended to be confused. "She only pretended to drink the water...She had you put it in the wedding cup so I would drink it, that's how the curse was broken?" She asked. "I have no idea what your talking about." He said with a knowing grin. "So...is it a boy or girl?" Azalea asked with a grin. Snow gave her a look as Charming walked back over with the horse and wagon and whispered. "A girl."
-Storybrooke, flowershop-
Azalea heard her bell ding before two voices and noise of playing filled her ears. She walked out from the back of her shop to see David and Henry fighting with wooden play swords. "Please don't knock over my vases." She said with a grin as the two turned to her. "No promises," David said jokingly as he walked over, Henry exploring the shop, checking out the new flowers. "Everything going well?" David asked as he stood in front of her desk. "Yes, you don't need to worry about me, just focus on your mission...get Mary and Emma back." She said, giving the royal man her best smile. "You know how I worry, but I'm glad you're feeling safe. About time right?" He asked. Azalea only nodded, before Henry tried to pull a sneak attack on David. The two continued to fight it out as Azalea watched with a smile from behind the desk, maybe Snow and Emma were still missing, and there was a lot to worry about. But for now she just wanted to relax. To enjoy the good her life was giving her now. She had faith in David, in the town, that they would never give up until their family was together again.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
-Storybrooke, Mines-
"Keep swinging dwarfs...and David." Leroy said walking down the line of axe swingers. Azalea and Ruby walked through the tunnels underground as the men worked trying to find fairy dust. David gave a friendly wave to the two ladies before swinging his axe against a rock. Azalea pulled her flower crown down on her head more as she and Ruby stood by Henry holding the baskets of food, the young boy was sat on top of a large rock, watching the men work with excitement in his eyes. Swinging their axe's in hope of striking fairy dust. "Have they found any fairy dust yet?" Ruby asked Henry. "No, not yet. But they will. When they do, we will figure out a way to get Mary and my mom back." Henry said with a smile. Henry took the basket of food from Ruby and Azalea frowned, watching the men swing their axes. The men were working so hard down in the mines. She couldn't help but think that she wasn't doing enough. She had only found a handful of people with her location spell. There were still people missing and she felt helpless. "I'll be back later with lunch." Ruby said as Henry pulled out a muffin. "Come on Azalea, let's get you back to your shop." She said, taking the girl's shoulder. "I'm sure you will find a way to help if we can't find any dust." She said with reassurance. The teen nodded, giving Ruby a hopeful smile. And as the two left the men to their hard work Azalea hoped with all her heart that she could find a way to help. A way to get Mary and Emma back.
-A few hours later, Granny's Diner-
"Ruby I really should be at my shop." Azalea said as Ruby pulled her into Granny's Diner. "No, you are going to work yourself to death. Everyone is working really hard, but we don't want to ask to much of someone to the point where they can't stay awake in your shop because they have spent the past three nights finding lost people." Ruby said as Azalea blushed. "I'm trying to help." the teen said, looking down. Ruby sighed and put her hands on the girl's shoulders. "I know, we all know. But Mary wouldn't want you to work yourself too hard...so just take a break for the evening. I just took the men their lunch in the mines, and you can come with me when I take their dinner in four hours. Until then you can hang out here, I'll make you a cup of coffee." Ruby said, walking behind the counter. Azalea walked over to the bar table and pulled out her mothers book, Ruby sat the coffee down beside her and Azalea thanked her before looking down at the worn out pages. She had read this book so many times she probably didn't even need the book. But it was more of a way for Azalea to remember the good times she had with her family before Rumple...before he killed them all.
"Mother! Alex took my crown!" Azalea and Alex's mother rolled her eyes as she and her husband stood on the back porch of their small home in the middle of the woods. The twins came running up the steps Alex with his tongue out and a flower crown on his head, Azalea behind him with a pout on her face. "Now Alex, you know better. And close your mouth or you will catch bugs." Their father said walking over to the five year old twins. "Azalea, why don't you teach your brother how to make his own flower crowns? Then he won't need to take any of yours." Their mother said with a smile. "Can you teach me?! I really want to know!" Alex said, turning to his sister. "Okay, but you have to listen and not be annoying." Azalea said, taking her own crown off of her brother's head and putting it on her own. The two ran off the porch and their mother smiled. "I swear that little girl will be making flower crowns for her brother the rest of their lives." She said, “I hope so, she should be proud of who she is. A flower enchantress with a pure heart...Alex too, the brother who will always be by her side to protect her." Her husband said, wrapping his arms around his wife's waist. "Thanks to our love for another."
"Are you okay?" Azalea looked up from her book and turned to see Ruby talking to a woman with brown hair who was sat at one of the tables. A sense of de-ja-vu washed over Azalea. "That's your third iced tea today. Wouldn't want to have to call you a cab." Ruby said with a chuckle. "No, It's just that I've never had it iced before. It's delicious." The woman said with a strong accent, Ruby smiled. "I've never seen you in here before." Ruby said leaning against the table. "Well-I've been a kept woman till recently." Azalea hated spying, but she couldn't help but to listen as Ruby took a seat next to the woman. Azalea leaned out of her chair a bit, she could only see the back of the woman's head. "Let me guess, bad breakup?" Ruby asked, "I think it may be headed there." The woman admitted. "Do you have a place to stay? Any family here?" Ruby asked. "I-I'm still looking...but I'm on my own for now." She said. "I think I may know someone who can help." Ruby said. Azalea quickly turned around in her seat, just as Ruby turned to the girl. "Azalea! can you come here for a second?" Ruby asked. "Oh, yea sure." Azalea said, getting down from her seat and walking over. "Hi-wait, do I know you?" The woman asked looking at the girl. Azalea looked and paused, she knew that she knew this woman from somewhere..."I was about to ask the same thing." Azalea said. "Azalea is the flower enchantress. She has been finding people. Maybe she can help find your family?" Ruby asked looking at Azalea. She nodded and smiled to the woman. "And until she finds your family I can ask Granny about having a room for you." Ruby said. "Really? Wow, thank you...what's your name?" She woman asked. "I'm Ruby, and you're?" The woman smiled. "I'm Belle." Azalea tilted her head, the name rang a bell (no pun intended) Then it suddenly hit her. "Your Belle! The woman that Regina had hidden with Kathryn and I." Azalea said, finally putting the pieces together. "Wha-what are you talking about?" Belle asked. "When Regina kidnapped me...there was another woman with your accent in another cell. I thought that it might be you but I wasn't sure. I-I wanted to help you but I had to get Kathryn to safety to help break the curse...I-I'm so sorry I never came back for you." Azalea said, sitting next to Belle. "Oh, I think I remember...Regina really messed with my memories. But I remember you talking to me. She let me go once the curse broke. From the rumors I have heard you were a bit busy yourself, I don't blame you. I know that you would have come for me if you could have." Belle said with a smile. A few moments passed, the elephant in the room (aka Mr.Gold) went unspoken. Ruby was the one to break the silence. "Let me help you find your family...it's the least I can do for you." Azalea said, taking Belle's hand. "Thank you."
-Mary's Apartment-
David sighed as he took a moment to relax in Mary's apartment. Between taking over the Sheriff's duties and looking for fairy dust in the mines with the dwarfs the man was running himself thin. He heard a knock on the door and stood up from the couch, walked over and opened the door to find Mr.Gold. "May I have a word-" Mr.Gold looked down at the badge on David's shirt. "Sheriff." Mr.Gold looked back up to David. "Acting Sheriff, and I'm already late for another busy day cleaning up the mess you made." David said, trying to step past the man. "My apologies, bringing back magic into Storybrooke was a moment of poor judgment on my part." Mr.Gold said, stepping through the door, blocking David. "And it's not lost on me that I am now coming to you for help." He said to David. "Then it shouldn't surprise you when I say no." David shot back. He wanted Mr.Gold gone, Azalea was going to be coming back from her flower shop soon and David didn't want Mr.Gold anywhere near her. "Hear me out first, I'm here to report a missing person." Mr.Gold said, handing David a folded piece of paper. He sighed and took the paper. "She left my home early this morning, her name is Belle." David unfolded the paper to see a drawing of a woman with long brown hair and bright blue eyes. "Back in our land you mentioned that you loved someone once-is this her?" David asked. "Yep," Mr.Gold said, looking away from David. "You also said that she died." David pointed out, shutting the door and locking it. Something was going on and he needed to find out what, but David didn't want Azalea walking into Mary's apartment with Mr.Gold here. "I thought she had died." Mr.Gold admitted. "Why don't you just use a tracking spell?" David asked him. He could see where this conversation was headed and he didn't like it. "I don't have anything that belongs to her to use a tracking spell with. Azalea is the only person who can perform a location spell without the person's property." Mr.Gold said. "And how do you know that this person hasn't just run away from you?" David asked Mr.Gold. "Look, I know that most of the people here are not sympathetic to me because of my past...but you know what I'm going through don't you? Won't you help me? Wouldn't your dear wife help me in this time?" Mr.Gold asked, pointing to the picture of Mary and Emma sitting on the kitchen table. Before David could think of an answer the lock turned on the door and Azalea walked in, a key in her hand.
'Probably should have remembered that Mary gave you a spare key.'
David thought to himself as Azalea saw me and Mr.Gold, stopping in her tracks. "What's going on?" She asked, clearly confused. "Yes David, what is going on?" Mr.Gold asked, turning to the man. David glared at him before turning to Azalea. "Can I ask you to do something, to help find someone?" David asked. "Who?" Azalea asked, looking at Mr.Gold as she stepped into the apartment. "Her name is Belle." Mr.Gold said as David handed Azalea the picture Mr.Gold had given him. "She's missing? I saw her just a few hours ago...at Granny's Diner. She said she was going to check out the library for a job. opportunity while I made a locator spell to find her father." Azalea said with a frown. "I was just at the library...she wasn't there. I'm scared something has happened to Belle. Please - help me, and if not me then help Belle." Mr.Gold said to David and Azalea. David frowned, turning to Azalea. If Azalea said no then he would side with her, but David knew Azalea's heart. He knew that if anyone needed her help she would. "Okay. I'll make a location spell to find her." Azalea said.
-hours later-
Azalea held the location spell flower in her hand as she walked down one of the streets leading to the underground tunnels. "This can't be right." Azalea said as she pulled out her phone. She called David. "
Azalea! Please tell me you were able to get a point on Belle
." He said. "Yes, but it's odd the flower spell is directing me to the mines. Why would Belle be down in the mines?" Azalea asked. "Wait...That's good! Her father is sending Belle over the line so she will forget Mr.Gold. They must be planning on sending her under the line through the tunnels underground! where are you?" David asked. Azalea told him and he said that they were on their way. Azalea hung up the phone and continued to follow the flower. She had to try and hurry and get to Belle before she was sent over the line and forced to forget everything. Part of her wondered why she was putting so much effort into saving someone Mr.Gold cared for, but the thought went away as soon as it appeared. Azalea knew that her mother would want her to help, to keep her heart pure by always doing the right thing. With that thought in mind Azalea ran into the mines, following the flowers glow as she got closer to Belle.
-Underground Mines-
"What are you doing?" Belle asked as she was cuffed to one of the carts in the mining tunnels by Smee. "I'm sending you on a little ride over the town line. Once you cross you will forget who you were in the other realm and who you loved." William explained. Belle pulled at the cuffs, trying to get her hand out. "This should help you find the key once you go under the line. I left it at the bottom of the cart so it shouldn't be to hard for you to find once you forget." The man who was helping Belle's father said, handing Belle a flashlight, before he walked behind the cart. "No! William! Please don't do this!" Belle shouted as he pushed the cart, it started to roll on the tracks and soon it was moving without him pushing. "I'm sorry, it's what your father wants." the man called before running off, leaving Belle to ride over the town line. Belle tried to pull her hand out of the cuffs again as the cart continued to roll down the tracks. She tried to find the key but the cart was shaking so much, she couldn't move around enough to search for the key. The cart suddenly jerked to a stop and Belle looked around with panic as it started to move backwards. "What's happening?!" She yelled. The mine cart was glowing, magic wrapped around it. As the cart was pulled back Belle turned to see Azalea was where William once stood, her hands put out in front of her, magic coming from them as she used it to pull the cart back. David, Mr.Gold and Belle's father ran up behind her as Belle was pulled up to the group. Azalea stopped the cart and David ran over, using a rock from the ground to break the cuffs on Belle's hands and helping her out of the cart. "Belle! Are you alright?!" Mr.Gold called as she walked over to him. "Yes, I'm okay." She said, “Do you still remember everything?" Mr.Gold asked. "Yes-yes I do. Thank you all." Belle said, turning to David and Azalea. "Mr.Gold, thank you...but I can't let this change how I feel about you lying to me...and Dad, how could you even try such a thing to your own daughter?! The only two people who helped me just now were two complete strangers! If either of you cared about me you would have listened. I don't want to see either of you ever again." Belle said, walking past the two men. Azalea followed close behind Belle, to help show her the way out of the tunnels and make sure she wasn't hurt. "Thank you, for everything. I know it couldn't have been easy for you to help me." Belle said as Azalea took her hand. "No, it was easy. I'll always help people in need. You are not a bad person for loving Mr.Gold." Azalea said, trying to comfort Belle. David watched the two leave and turned to Mr.Gold. "I'll remember how we came to your aid today Mr.Gold . I may need to make a deal soon." David said before also walking past Mr.Gold and Belle's dad.
-A Few Days Later, Storybrooke Library-
"I'm really glad the library is open again." Henry said as he walked over with a few books, he and Azalea were sitting at a table with a stack of books on them. It was the opening day of the library and Belle was smiling as she walked around, helping children with books and chatting with everyone as they came in. "Are you finding any more information on travel between worlds?" Ruby asked as she sat on the other side of Azalea. "Not yet," The teen said, not looking up from the book she read. "I'm sure you will find something, and if you don't someone will...we will get them back here." Ruby said as she patted the teens shoulder before walking off. Henry started reading a book beside Azalea as she flipped through book after book on spells and potions. Apparently this world had a lot of different things to say about magic then the one she came from. Azalea was filled with a new determination. She was going to find a way to get Mary and Emma back. And with the library open she had new information to read on just how to do that.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
-Storybrooke, Dr.Hopper's office-
"I really appreciate that you still come by, I know it can be hard to open up. Especially with everything that is going on." Dr.Hopper said as he and Azalea finished another session. "You must keep yourself busy now with everyone coming in." Azalea said as she got all her stuff together. "Oh yes, It's a bit of culture shock for all of us being in this world, but I think things are going rather smoothly considering the circumstances, as are our sessions. Just remember what I said earlier. Don't put everything on your shoulders. We care and we want to help you and David anyway we can." Dr.Hopper said. Azalea opened the door. She jumped back and grabbed onto Dr.Hopper who was standing behind her. "Azalea, what's wrong?" He asked looking up from the panicked girl's face to see Regina standing at the other side of the door. "Oh," He said. "Are you here to see me?" He asked Regina, pulling the teenager behind him. "I've been trying to keep my promise to Henry, but it's been difficult." Regina said, looking up from the teenager hiding behind Dr.Hopper. "To not use magic?" Dr.Hopper asked. "It's been two days." Regina admitted. "That's an excellent start." Dr.Hopper said with a smile. "Here Azalea, you can go now." He said, stepping aside. Regina also stepped out of the doorway, her hands behind her back. Azalea looked confused, and a bit frightened. But she straightened the flowers in her hair before she jumped through the doorway like a scared kitten past Regina. She gave Dr.Hopper a short wave goodbye before exiting the hallway as quickly as possible. Dr.Hopper then gestured to Regina to enter. "Come on in."
-The Next Day-
David parked his truck next to the horses stable. "Hop out," He said, opening his door. Azalea opened the other and hopped out, Henry followed her and they both walked up behind David as he entered the barn Henry stifled a yawn as they walked through the stable. "Oh come on Henry, this isn't school it's supposed to be fun!" David said with a grin. "Yea, I just couldn't sleep last night." Henry admitted. "Hey, I miss Mary and Emma too. But imagine how happy they will be when they get back and see that you-" David paused as he opened a stable door to reveal a horse. "I have learned how to ride a horse!" He said. Azalea smiled and walked up to one of the horses, petting it's ears down as the horse stood perfectly still for her. "Say hi to your steed." David said with a smile as Henry failed to contain his excitement. "Is he mine?!" He asked, walking up beside Azalea. "That one belongs to me, the one beside this one is yours." David said, guiding Henry to the horse next to his. The two boys talked about training Henry to ride his own horse as Azalea pulled a few apple seeds from her bag, they glowed in the palm of her hand till they grew into ripe red apples. She fed David's horse one of the apples with a smile, kissing the horse's head. Then went to the stall where Henry and David were looking over Henry's horse. "Azalea knows how to care for the horses well. She will help you make a bond with your horse." David said as she handed Henry an apple to feed to the horse. "And when will that be?" Henry asked. "When the horse tells you." Azalea said, petting Henry's horse. "I'm going to check on the dwarfs. I'll come get you two later." David said before kissing both of them on the forehead then leaving them to the horses. "So," Henry said, turning to the horse. "Anything you want to tell me?" Henry asked. The horse nickered and shook his head and the two laughed before getting to work. Azalea knew that David was trying to distract her and Henry while he looked for a way to find Mary and Emma. She was thankful that he cared so much, but she also wanted to help any way she could. She turned to the horse and smiled as Henry started talking to it. Remembering that Mary would talk to her horses the same way...
-Enchanted forest, Years ago-
"You take such good care of the horses." Snow said walking into the Castles stables within the kingdom with her horse beside her. "Thank you, how was your ride?" Azalea asked as she stepped down from a stool beside one of the many horses in the stable. She was too short to reach the tops of the horses heads to brush their mains. "It was good, my horse is in good shape thanks to you." Snow said, putting it back into its stable. "Also thanks to you. You have the bond, I just make sure it is healthy and well." Azalea said, growing an apple in her hand and feeding it to Snow's horse. Snow smiled at the pre-teen as she fed the horse. "You amaze me, you know that?" Snow asked. "Me? It's an honor for the new
queen
to say such a thing." Azalea said with a grin. Snow and Charming had only won their kingdom back a few months ago. Azalea was still getting used to living in the castle with the couple. "You know that it would have been impossible to take my kingdom back from Regina without you? You helped me stay on the right path. You always looked out for me, your pure heart always contagious to those around you." Snow said, putting her arm around Azalea. "Thank you, I'm just glad that you have accepted me into your castle." The girl said. "I wouldn't have it any other way. You are apart of our family now." Snow said kissing the girl's forehead, she took one of the flowers braided into her hair and put it behind her own ear. Azalea smiled and hugged Snow, before the woman pulled her out of the stable and back into their home.
-Later that Day-
Azalea smiled at the memory of her and Snow as Henry stood on a step stool, brushing his horses main. "How am I doing?" He asked her. "I think your doing really well, the horse seems comfortable with you already." She complimented Henry. "Gramp's says that you will tell me when you're ready for me to ride you...sooo anytime." Henry said to the horse. Azalea giggled as Henry talked to his new friend. Suddenly the horse nickered loudly and kicked its front legs up. "What's wrong buddy?" Henry asked, trying to calm him down. Azalea walked over, trying to calm the horse. Suddenly the whole stable filled with the sounds of all the other horses nickering and wheezing. "Somethings happening. They feel something." Azalea said, pulling Henry away from the horse. The horse kicked it's legs and knocked both Henry and Azalea over before running out of the stable. Azalea helped Henry sit up as someone walked into the stable, he was wearing clothes from the Enchanted forest and had a deep frown on his face. "Who are you?" Azalea asked, helping Henry stand. She didn't recognize him from any missing persons who had been reported. "You-you gotta stop. Your scaring the horses." Henry told the man. He didn't say anything, only stared at the two with an empty look in his eyes. The horses continued to nicker in the background as Azalea tried to find a way to escape the stable, but the man was blocking the only exit. He didn't look like he wanted to have a friendly talk. Henry noticed the blood on his hands. "Are you hurt? do-do you need help?" Henry asked. The man looked at his hand with fear and jumped to attack Henry, Azalea pushed him out of the way and was tackled to the ground by the mystery man. "Run Henry! Get help!" Azalea shouted, now that Henry was behind the man he could escape. "Daniel!" Regina shouted as she and David ran up to the stable door. David pulled Henry away from him and Regina ran into the stable. "Let her go!" She shouted, Daniel turned away from attacking Azalea and froze when he saw Regina. David quietly walked by him and helped Azalea stand up before pulling her out of the stable as well. "Are you two okay?!" David asked, he ran his fingers lightly over the cut that was now over Azalea's eyebrow. "Yea," The both said. "Go! Run!" He said pushing the two away. They both ran out of the stable and David turned back to Regina. "It's true, your really here." She said looking at Daniel with love in her eyes. Daniel didn't say anything back as he walked up to her, he growled and David quickly pulled Regina out of the stable and shut the door. Daniel started to bang on the door and David turned to Regina. "Is there any magic you can use to subdue him?" David asked. "What? No! I won't use magic on him." She said. "Henry went to get help," Azalea said running back to the stable. "Azalea, can you use magic to subdue this guy?" David asked as he held the door in place, the banging getting louder as Daniel tried to force his way out. "...No- no I can't." She said with a frown. "Why?" David asked. "Whoever that Daniel guy is he isn't alive, I can only use magic on living things. It's apart of my magic being connected to nature you know that." Azalea said. "No, he is alive didn't you see him? Please let me talk to him." Regina said. "He has no soul, whatever that man is-it isn't living." Azalea told Regina. "You have to at least give me a chance." Regina said. "Out of the way!" David said pushing Regina out of the way of the door. "I can't let you go in there! He will kill you." David told Regina. Azalea backed up as Regina ran back to the door. "Please, just let me talk to my fiance." She whispered. "Okay," David said stepping back. He looked over at Azalea and she gave David a look. "It's her choice, not ours." He said before taking her under his arm. The two leaving Regina to whatever she wanted from the poor body that used to be a man in the stables.
-Granny's Diner, later that night-
"One of these days you will get through a whole week without getting hurt." Granny said as she put the last bit of medical tape over the cut on Azalea's forehead. "Let's hope that will be next week, and all the weeks after that one." David said with a sigh, sitting down beside the teenager as Henry sat on her other side. "Three hot chocolates coming right up." Ruby said, walking behind the counter. "I'm sorry," David said looking at Azalea and Henry. "For what?" They both asked. "I wasn't able to make it to the stables in time to stop you two from getting hurt. It's my job to protect you." David said, his finger running over Azalea's cut. "And it's also your job to find a way to get Mary and Emma back, and run the town, and be sheriff, and take care of everyone here...David you're doing the best you can. Which is a lot better than most people could do here." Henry said with a grin. David smiled at the two. "What would I do without you guys?" He asked. "Hard to tell, you probably wouldn't have cool code names for your operations." Henry said as Ruby walked over with hot chocolates. The three laughed and enjoyed their drinks together, waiting for the next day, seeing what it would bring.