Untitled Pt 1

Back From Beyond

"Emma, have you seen Henry?" Regina called as she burst through the door.
"No, why?"
"He wasn't in his bed this morning. I've looked everywhere."
"Did you try his cell phone?"
"He's not answering." Regina was starting to panic. Emma's heart began to race. Henry missing? The morning after Carmen went to the Underworld? Emma remembered Carmen saying something about there being two others going on the journey. A knot quickly formed in her stomach. She had a bad feeling she knew where Henry had run off to. But she knew she couldn't say anything. She would have to play it off for now.
"I'm sure he's fine. He's probably at Granny's, and just forgot his phone."
"Yeah. Yeah, that's probably it."
"Relax. Everything's going to be fine."
"So everyone keeps telling me." Regina sighed.

∞

"You alright there, Henry?"
"Yep."
"Rhydian?"
"All good here."
"Good. And there he is, right on time." Carmen smiled. The three were standing across the street from Granny's, watching as King Arthur made is way to the door. With him was his squire, the one he had poisoned when he was still alive in Storybrooke.
"That's our target. Let's move out."
"Carmen?" a voice spoke. The group whirled around to see a man standing behind them, a sheriff's badge pinned on his chest. His wavy brown hair, soft expression and vivid blue eyes brought tears to Carmen's.
"Papa."

∞

"Carmen? Carmen." Rhydian's voice sliced through Carmen's daze like a hot knife through butter.
"I can't do this, Rhydian. I miss him so much."
"I know you miss him, Carm. But we need you to lead us."
"How can I, Rhydian?" Carmen sighed, staring out over the Hidden Valley. The entire countryside was dotted with hundreds of campsites: the home of the rebellion.
"I don't know. But we'll figure it out. Together."
"But where do we start? I don't know the first thing about leading."
"Yes you do. You're the High Queen of Everglade. Leadership is in your blood. If anyone can lead a rebellion to save the kingdom, it's you."

∞

"Papa." Carmen gasped, rushing into his arms.
"Carmen, my puella. What are you doing here?"
"Conan. He invaded the new realm, and he's trying to get to the queen. He's already starting to spread his lies."
"We're here to revive her love." Rhydian added. "So we can convince her to join our side."
"How do you plan on doing that?"
"By sacrificing someone into the River of Lost Souls."
"We could do it to you! Bring you back, take you home." Carmen cried suddenly.
"Carmen, how could you even think that? That is brutal!" Andre absconded his daughter. Her stared deep into her eyes and was met with hurt and fear. He sighed and softened his tone. "You can't just trick someone into throwing their soul away. I thought I taught you better than that."
Carmen bowed her head. Suddenly, it snapped up again, and instead of the sweet, innocent girl he had raised, he was met with the eyes of a battle-hardened warrior. A fighter. A Queen.
"You did." She began. Her voice had deepened, her face was now hard as stone. "But you also taught me that a leader has to make the hard choices. At the end of the day, someone has to win, someone has to lose, and it's the leader's job to decide who. Papa, if we don't' do this, then it's not just Storybrooke that will be in trouble. The whole world will be at Conan's mercy. We don't have a choice."
Andre couldn't help the smile that spread across his face as his hand came to his daughter's cheek. His heart was overflowing with pride as he stared at the woman before him.
"What a queen you've become." He sighed, pulling his daughter into a tight embrace. "I'm so proud of you."
Suddenly, one of the side doors on the building closest creaked open, revealing a blinding light on the other side. Andre looked up, and a smile creeped across his previously frightened features. His feet, with a mind of their own, began taking him closer and closer to the strange light.
"Papa?" Carmen called. "Papa!"
"Carmen. He resolved his unfinished business. He's going to a better place." Henry whispered, grabbing her arm.
"It's alright, my puella. Go. Help your family. We'll see each other again." He smiled, hugging his daughter once last time.
"I know, papa." She choked as he pulled away. Then he turned to the light and was gone.