The Dark Princess [ A Once Upon A Time Fan-fic]

Chapter 8: Operation Mongoose

Henry was so frustrated, he couldn't understand where the Author was. He found the key, but where's the door for the key?! He screamed of frustration in the secret library.

-Come on, you can't give up.- Raven said.- I'm just as confused and frustrated as you are, but we have to keep trying.

-I know! But where's the door?! There has to be one somewhere.

-Maybe it's not a where, but a what it is in.

-What do you mean?

-I've known magic for so long that I know almost all the tricks and jiblebobs....

-I love when you say that.- Henry hugged her from the back. They both smiled.

-As I was saying... I know enough to sense that there is something we're missing, something that might just be under our noses.- Raven looked at the story book.

-You think the Author is trapped inside of the book?

-Maybe, it's just a theory.- Raven was heading to the exit.- I have some stuff to do but I'll see you later ok, Knight?

-Of course Hummingbird, see you at ten?

-Yeah.- Raven left the library and head over to the forest to talk to Gold and the other witches.

-I thought you were being neutral, deary.- Gold said behind her and she turned around to look at him.

-I am.- Probably the first lie she has ever said.-Where are Maleficent and the others?

-No where of your business right now, you can see them with your powers if you like. But you're on Henry's side, and he's with the heroes. He is a hero.

-No, not yet. He is neutral and I am too, at least for now.

-You won't help us get a happy ending? I thought you might want one.

-I do want one, but I believe that there can be other ways to get it than with your... Methods.

-Methods? What kind of methods are you talking about?

-The "I get what I want and I don't care about anyone else who isn't in my plan" Method. I believe there is a way where everyone gets what they deserve. Even if it's harder and it takes longer to accomplish.

-Deserve? What a weird way to say "want"

-No, Rumple. Deserve, your father for example didn't deserve a happy ending, Zelena didn't deserve a happy ending, My mother didn't deserve a happy ending. Snow and Charming earned their happy ending because they fought for it. Regina deserves a happy ending, the question is, do we deserve one, Gold?

-Of course we do. Raven, you and I just like Regina deserve one after everything we have been through, after all the inner struggles, the exterior ones, all the loss and pain. We deserve one just like any hero does.

-But now it's up to us. That Author doomed us to make terrible decisions, he's the one that made you decide power over Bae and Belle, he's the one who made me decide to kill and torture all those people and he's the one who took Christian away! Not you, him. He's the real villain, he's the one who doesn't deserve to have a happy ending. And you going to let him?

-In exchange of finding happiness forever, yes, I believe it's a fair deal. Don't you?

-Not if it ruins other people's lives....- Raven knew he would never understand.-Just don't mess with me or Henry and I will leave you alone. Deal?- Raven extended her hand to seal the thing officially.

-Deal.- Said Gold shaking her hand.- But if you step in my way, I won't hesitate to take you out of it.

-Good thing we think the same way then.- They let go their hands and went their own separate ways.- Oh, and Rumple, I'll keep an eye on you.

-I know you will, I always have known you are watching me.- After that Raven wanted to talk to Emma and Regina but she didn't want to be wandering around like an idiot talking to everyone in town so she headed to her apartment where surprisingly Maleficent was waiting for her by her door.

-You won't help us?.- Raven could see she had tears in her eyes, Maleficent had lost her child and she just wanted it back. What she didn't know is that her child would come back with Emma by her side.

-It's not personal.-Raven took out her key and opened the door.

-Why? For that... Boy?!

-That "boy" has gone through hell, he has done so much for me and has helped me in ways you can't even imagine. What have you done for me lately, Maleficent?

-I've gone through hell just as anyone has, the only difference is I'm a villain. Does that mean I don't deserve a happy ending? You're a villain too Raven, you understand.

-What I understand is that everyone has a story, everyone has suffered one way or another. The only difference is that some people make terrible choices to deal with their suffering. It's not that I'm trying to ruin your plan...I just want to find an alternative, something where everyone gets what they deserve. You deserve a happy ending Maleficent, not everyone deserves one but you do.

-You have grown so much since I last saw you.

-I know, I just hope I don't go back to being 11 again.- They both laughed a little.

-I always saw you almost like a daughter, I taught you fire powers, remember?

-Yeah, but they extinguished a long time ago. I'm sorry.

-It's ok, I didn't expect you to use them too much anyways. So this plan that you talk about, the one where I get the happy ending with my lost child. How are you and this boy Henry going to accomplish it if Rumple is going to be on your tail every time?

-I am clever, and I have almost all of my moves planned perfectly. But if the Author does anything unexpected and stops me, there is nothing Henry and I can do to reverse it.

-And how do you call this plan? If I may ask.

-We call it Operation Mongoose.