The Shadow's compass (Killian Jones)

Gotta be a prince

...I am afraid to hope again

°•▪︎♤▪︎•°

          'They are scared of me.'

Talya stared down at her hands as she spoke. She was currently in David's truck with the prince himself, driving to the town's border.

         'Grumpy said he is glad we have someone with actual power on our side. So, even if they might fear you a little they at least know you are on our side, they trust you.' He reassured her.

  Talya turned her head to look at him, his hands were placed on the wheel, his eyes on the road. He looked normal and yet at the same time royal. 

       'Oh, yes, a hero's endless optimism.' Talya threw her hands up in annoyance.

 He always had to see the good part in everything. Couldn't just let her complain and be pessimistic for once.

      'The hell...' David's smile fell.

 As soon as the words left his mouth Talya's attention snapped back to the road ahead of them. A long line of cars blocked their view, all intending to leave town. David pressed his foot hard on the speed pedal and then suddenly hit the breaks. The vehicle turned right blocking the first car from going over the border. The truck stopped and they both quickly jumped out.

          'Well, you better have more of that optimism 'cause you will need hell of a good speech to get us out of this one.' Talya told the prince.

 People exited their cars as well, yelling at Charming and demanding to be allowed to get through. Ruby came to stand next to Talya while their prince climbed onto the truck so everyone to see him. The thief noticed since she saved her life the woman close to her seemed to follow her everywhere.

              'Listen to me! Listen!' David looked down at Talya who nodded in reassurance. 'If you cross that line you will be lost forever. Everyone who loves you will lose you. But there's something worse, you will lose yourself.'

 People seemed to calm down a little. They stop yelling and moving, their eyes glued on their prince. The reactions he got made David gain confidence.

            'Look, I get wanting to leave. And I get that is easier to let go of the bad memories, but even bad memories are 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.' He took a deep breath before continuing. 'But you know what? I wouldn't make the other trade either because that David reminds me not only of whom I lost but of who I want to be, my weaknesses and my strengths.'

   Talya had to look away in order to stop her mind from wondering. He had the gift of not having to bare the memories from the life before, they all had. She was the one who, every day, had to suffer, long for a home she thought was forever gone. All those years being Isabelle she would have given anything to forget Talya Hood.

         'David and the Prince...I am both just like you, you are both. The town is both, we are both. Stay here and every choice is open to you. Live in the woods if you want, hell, live in a shoe if you want. Or eat frozen burritos and write softwares. Let's open Granny's and the school and get back to work.' The prince averted his eyes to Talya for a second before speaking again. 'I will protect you. You have a living shadow to protect you. She won't be able to hurt any of us, not as long as we come together...as we did before...as we shall do again.'

   The people of Storybrooke cheered, smiling and clapping. David's little speech seemed to make it's way into their heart and fill them with hope and faith. One by one they left to heading back to where they knew now to belong.

           'What now?' Ruby asked.

 Charming smiled at the two women, the light that had left his eyes the moment Snow and Emma vanished was back.

            'Now we get my grandson back.' He pointed to himself and Talya.

 The thief shook her head.

            'You do that, I gotta go see Mr. Gold.' She explained.