Serendipity

Chapter 14: Best Laid Plans

"How the hell is The Author trapped inside the book?"Regina began to question Emma while Henry and Hope took a stand between the two.

"Don't ask me. You're the magic expert."

"Mom."

Henry attempted to  get Regina's attention but she just went on talking. "Well, this is insane. What are we supposed to do, draw a key?"

"What we need to do is figure it out before Gold does."

"I got this..."Hope reassured her brother while grasping for Regina's attention again."Oh Moms! There's something wrong with August."

"August? August? We need to get him help."

They knew if anyone could tell them what was happening to August, it would be the blue fairy so that's where the four went to next."He's been through a lot. Well, he's been changed by magic many times. For him to survive this, he will have to be very strong."

Regina sighed. "Then we have a bigger problem. Gold and these other witches are expecting me. They sent me on a mission to get that page from the book. And if I return empty-handed, whatever suspicions they have of me will be confirmed."

"Then give them this." Emma conjures a duplicate of the page with the door on it and hands it to Regina.
"I've been practicing."

"A forgery? This is Gold we're talking about." Regina proceeds to sigh. "We still don't know what they're up to. It's a bigger risk not to know. Maybe what we need is a different kind of copy.  Hopefully, this photo will keep them on their wild goose chase around town. I've got to get going. Bye, Henry. Bye Hope. Not sure if... When I'll be back to see you. But don't worry. I'll be fine."

Emma, Hope, and Henry return to Mary Margaret. Hook is already there when they arrive."Hey. Kill, what's wrong?"

"Before Ursula left, she told me what the villains have planned."Hook began to explain."To get their happy endings, they intend to darken your heart, love, to turn you into a villain so you'll no longer be the savior."

"Wait, what?"Henry asked.

"Pfft." Hope tries not to laugh."Oh come on! You can't just un-savior the savior."

Hook shrugged,"Ursula said Gold has a way. He can use The Author to do it."

"That's insane. If that's what their plan is, stop worrying. It's ridiculous. Author or no author, I am not going dark. No one... not Rumplestiltskin or some author... gets to decide who I am."

How was he? The wooden man-child... how was he? You care for him?

"Oh, Kill. Now's not the time to be jealous. He's just a friend. Well, you remember that video I showed you from the foster home? Lily. Her name was Lily. She was my first and best friend, and I pushed her away forever. And after that, I just... I wasn't great at making friends. August was the rare exception. That's why this is so important to me. There's nothing else going on, really."

Mary Margret answers,"Oh, Hope! Hope, are you okay? Where... where are you?

"Yeah, I'm at The Sorcerer's mansion with Henry. When everyone fell asleep, I figured the bad guys were up to something and I'd better get the page somewhere safe.

Mary Margret: Hope, don't do anything. We are on our way. As long as you have that page, you're in danger. Just sit tight, okay? We're heading your way now. Let's cut around the harbor, it'll be faster. David... David?"

"Hang on."David answered as Mary Margaret hung up the phone."I think there's a way we can put a stop to all this. I think... I think we should... destroy the page. If we destroy it, Gold can never free The Author and use him to turn Emma dark. We've gone too far down this path. We have to protect Emma."

SCENE: Storybrooke. Present time. Sorcerer's mansion. Henry:"Hope, wait up!" Henry called after his sister who continued to run in the opposite direction as the rest of them.

"No way! Grandma, grandpa, you won't believe what I just... Mom. What are you doing here?"

"You lay a hand on my daughter, and I'll end you."Regina glares at Maleficent and Cruella who sat at the edge of the room.

"You won't have to do anything as long as she cooperates,"Maleficent said.

"Hope Elizabeth Mills! You will do as I say. Now give me the page." Regina muttered and Hope agreed. "As promised. Now, let's find Gold and set this author free."

"Hope? Hope?!"Mary Margaret called.

"Hope!"David called.

"Hope ran this way, come on!" Henry hollered."Oh! Come on. The villains have to be on their way."

"Already been here. Then Mom just gave me a look, and I knew exactly what she meant. It said let's give them the forged page Emma made. There's something else. I've found the key. We can free The Author."

"Hope, it's too dangerous! Go! You too Henry."David ushered the kids out of the room.

"So, now we're lying to Henry. If we keep this up, we're no different than Gold. Alright genius, so what are we going to tell the kids? More lies. I can't do this. I gave Hope that book to give her hope...some sort of faith for her and her brother... and now I'm gonna lie and take it away? And what about Regina? She's finally becoming a friend. I went to her for help with Emma, with our secret. She's kept it. She's risked her life for us. And we're gonna repay her by destroying her chance at a happy ending?

No, David! When Regina showed me my heart after Cora... after I killed Cora... My heart was dark. And Regina thought it was because of what I did to her mother. But that darkness started long ago. We... have to tell Emma the truth. Because heroes do what's right, not what's easy."

At the house, Mary Margaret and David sit down with Emma to talk. Hook is there too."So this whole time, I was right. You were lying. I wanted to believe you. I wanted to believe in you. I've got to go."The Door closes. Crickets are chirping and Hook sits down quietly beside Emma on the dock bench. "I'm just gonna need some time. Why did my parents send you?"

"They didn't have too cuz I offered. Plus, they didn't think you'd listen to them anyways,"Hook said.

"They were right."