Finding You Always

Falling Slowly

Chapter 87: Falling Slowly

Xander finished night patrol, offering to take it to give everyone else the night off. He was on his way back to the station when he saw Cassim in the diner window and popped in.

"Xander," Esme greeted. She was working for Granny now and seemed much happier these days.

"Hello Esme. Could I get a black coffee?" Xander asked.

"Coming right up," she replied, as he slid into the booth across from his friend.

"You know, Snow and David wouldn't have minded if you stayed at the house to look through this thing," Xander mentioned.

"I know...but I thought it better to let them enjoy an evening without worrying about any of this," Cassim replied, as Esme brought his coffee and refilled Cassim's.

"Thanks," he told her

"Any luck?" Xander asked.

"Not yet...but I'm just passing the R's," he replied, as he started a new page with S's.

"Well, if there's anything I can do to help..." Xander started to say. But he was cut off.

"I don't believe it," Cassim uttered.

"What is it?" Xander questioned.

"It can't be...he's here. He's been here the whole time," Cassim exclaimed.

"Aladdin is in Storybrooke?" Xander asked in disbelief.

"Clayton...that bastard," Cassim growled.

"It says his curse identity was...Aldin Samar," Xander said, recognition in his eyes.

"You know him?" Cassim asked.

"Emma and David arrested him this afternoon for robbing the pharmacy," Xander explained.

"You mean he's at the station?" Cassim asked. Xander nodded.

"Let's go," he said, as he tossed down a twenty-dollar bill to cover the coffee and a tip, as they rushed out to the cruiser.

The three witches appeared at the base of the strange, conical shaped mountain. The ground around the mountain was burnt and charred, making the whole place like a barren wasteland.

"Why in Zeus' name would you bring us here?" Zelena asked.

"There is something we need to retrieve and take with us. Come on...it's inside the mountain," Ursula said, as they traipsed up the narrow path and with a wave of the Sorcerer's wand, Ursula revealed a gateway at the base of the monolith

Inside the circular cavern, a vat of dark matter churned beneath the platform where they stood.

"What is that?" Zelena asked.

"What remains of one of the most evil titans ever to exist," Cruella replied.

"And this helps us how?" the redhead asked.

"We need to bring this with us," Ursula said, as she pulled a spherical object from her bag. Stars adorned the lid and Zelena could feel the power emanating from it.

"And what pray tell is that?" she asked curiously, as Ursula handed the wand to her.

"I'm not powerful enough to open it. But you are. This is the only thing that can control and revive the Chernabog," Ursula reveled. Zelena smirked.

"Now we're getting somewhere," she said, as she took the wand and wave it over the box. The stars swirled and it transformed into a glowing sorcerer's hat. Ursula used the hat and sucked up all the dark matter inside the pit. Zelena waved the wand and the hat returned to its closed state.