𝑶𝑪𝑬𝑨𝑵 𝑬𝒀𝑬𝑺 - Rumplestiltskin [1]

FIFTY NINE

59|RETURN

"And yet she seemed lost, beyond hope, beyond saving. The end as she gave up on her conquest to find her true love." Henry read her story aloud, the Princess tearing up as she heard how her story ended.

"Thank you, Henry." She thanked him, wiping away the stray tear as the sound of the bell disturbed them.

"Where are they?" Red stormed into the room with the six dwarves close behind. "Where are they? Regina and Gold?"

"What's going on?" Celeste questioned, staring at all the people in the store.

"All the magic has been drained from the mines." The wolf explained the the pair.

"They stole it?" Henry asked, furrowing his brows with confusion.

"They snuck in after our shift and took everything." Leroy grumbled, shouting at the young boy. "Nobody steals from a dwarf!"

"Watch you tone!" Celeste snapped at him. "You're acting like Henry shit in your cereal. Excuse my language, Henry."

"Except the Queen."

"And Rumpelstiltskin."

"If they're not helping Emma and Mary Margaret, that means my mom lied to me." Henry said innocently, closing the book on his lap.

"I'm sorry, Henry." Red kneeled down to face the boy.

"We need to find her. We need to stop them." He said with determination. "We need to help Emma and Mary Margaret."

"Why didn't you stop them?" They all looked at Celeste with accusing eyes.

"I did try but I'm not magical." She defended herself, raising her hands innocently.

~•~

Lightening lit up the sky, thunder crashing, all above the well in the woods where Celeste found Rumpelstiltskin allowing magic back into Storybrooke.

"Mom?" Henry announced their presence as they neared the pair. "You're not helping Emma and Mary Margaret, are you?"

"I'm helping you, Henry." Regina stated, trying to lie to herself.

"What are you talking about?"

"You're gonna kill them." Celeste cried, raising her hand to her mouth in shock as she thought about her two best friends dying.

"Sorry, love, but this is for your safety." Rumpel apologised to her and raised his hand, her voice suddenly disappearing.

"Mom, what are you doing?"

"We can't let Cora come through the portal." Regina informed her son with worry. "You have no idea what she would do to us."

"Emma and Mary Margaret are going to defeat her." Henry said, full of determination which filled Celeste's heart with pride as she glared at her husband. "They're the ones that are gonna come through."

"Henry, your mother's right. It's gonna be Cora." Rumpelstiltskin defended the woman, glancing at his wife with sympathetic eyes.

"No, it won't. Good always defeats evil." He argued against the two powerful adults. "You should know that more than anyone."

"What I know is my mother will destroy everything I love." Regina growled, pain filling her voice as she stared down at her son. "And that means you. And I can't let that happen."

"They're going to make it through!" Henry yelled, fighting against his mother's hold. "We have to turn it off! You're gonna kill them!"

Celeste best her fists against Rumpels chest, silently screaming at him to stop the madness. He held her hands, stopping her as she fought against the tears.

"Henry." Regina grabbed her son, stopping him from trying to touch the curse. "What are you doing?"

"Emma and Mary Margaret are going to come through. I know it!" Henry begged his mother. "You said you wanted to change, to be better. This is how. You want me to have faith in you? Have faith in me."

A stray tear fell down Regina's cheek as she stepped back from her son and walked up to the well. Ignoring Rumpels yells, she removed the curse from the well, her body shaking as the curse almost killed her. Regina fell to the ground, Celeste running over to check on the woman.

"No!" Henry cried as he realised nobody was coming through the well meaning they were already dead.

"I'm sorry, Henry." Regina apologised to her son, leaning her weight on to Celeste. "I'm sorry."

Suddenly Emma appeared out the well, climbing out the old concrete monument, Snow White close behind her daughter.

"Mom?"

"Henry!"

"My voice!" Celeste mouthed to Rumpel, gesturing to her throat. The man waved his hand, seeming to be in a daze as he watched Emma and Snow. "Regina? Are you okay?"

"I'm fine." Regina replied, flinching when she felt Celeste embrace her gratefully.

"I have to go kill my husband." She helped Regina to her feet and followed after the limping man. "Can't even stay for a family reunion, coward?"

"Celeste." He sighed, walking deeper into the woods to get them away from everyone. "You have to understand why I did it."

"I don't care." Celeste stopped him from giving her a half hearted apology. "I'm currently trying to talk myself from stepping over the line to forget you. You have hurt me repeatedly in one fucking day. I don't understand why we're married when all you do is ignore me when I beg you to listen."

"I'm sorry, Cel."

"That's not enough." She sighed and began to walk away, only stopping to glance over her shoulder. "If you need me I'll be at my apartment with my family."