Once Upon A Time ~ Book 1

Chapter 15 - Operation Cobra Begins......

Henry sat in Archies office, holding an umbrella.
"Are you sure you don't want to talk about it?" said Archie, sitting opposite him. "You know, that umbrella is kind of my good luck charm. Is that why you think I'm Jiminy Cricket?"
"I don't think you're anybody." said Henry and he pit the umbrella on the table.
Suddenly the door opened and Emma walked in holding sone rowled up papers. Archie stood up and walked over to her.
"Miss. Swan, I can explain. The Mayor forced me to......" he started.
"I know. Don't worry about it. I get it." she said. "Henry, I'm sorry." she said walking over to him.
"I don't want to talk to you."
"Miss. Swan, if she knew you were here......" started Archie.
"To hell with her." said Emma and she sat down in Archies seat. "Henry, there is one simple reason I stayed here..... You......a I wanted to get to know you."
"You think I am crazy." said Henry.
"No, I think the curse is crazy...... And it is." Emma sighed and looked up at Archie for a second. "But that doesn't mean that it isn't true....... It is a lot to ask anyone to believe in...... But there are a lot of crazy things in this world...... So what do I know? Maybe it is true."
"But you told my mom......." Henry started.
"What she needed to hear..... What I do know is that if the curse is real, the only way to break it is by tricking the Evil Queen......."
Henry looked up at Emma.
"......into thinking that we are nonebelievers..... Cause that way, she's not on to us....... Isn't that what Operation Cobra was all about?"
Archie smiled as a smile grew on Henry's face.
"Throwing her off the trail?"
Henry sat up. "Brilliant!" he said, happily.
"I read the pages." she held up the rowled up papers. "And Henry, you were right. They are dangerous...... And there's only one way to make sure that she never sees them."
She stood up and walked towards the stove in Archies office. She bent down and placed the sheets into the flames. The pages curled up and turned around. Emma stood up.
"Now we have the advantage." she said.
Henry stood up and walked quickly over to Emma and gave her a big hug.
Emma sighed and wrapped her arms around him.
"I knew you were here to help me." said Henry.
"That's right, kid. I am."
Henry let go of her.
"And nothing, not even a curse, is gonna stop that." she held his shoulders.
Henry smiled up at he happily, and gave her another hug.

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The Evil Queen stood in the clearance of the Forbidden Forest once again. The flames burning. In her arms was a box. She opened it and took from it another heart. She kneeled down, hesitated and threw the heart into the flames. She then stood up.
The flames expanded and swerled into dark, blue smoke. Thunder crashed and lighting shot. The smoke expanded and swerled up onto the sky.
The queen looked up at it, happily, her victory had begun.

The evil queen walked towards a tome stone. Written on it was Henry Beloved Father. A blood, red rose in her hand. She bent down and placed the rose on the grave.
"I love you, Daddy." she said.

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Henry and Emma rushed out onto the main street, gleefully, smiling happily, side by side.

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Regina stood on her garden once again, clearing the broken branches from the tree. It was evening, but the garden was lit up by some little lights in the garden and the lights from the houses.
A man walked into the garden.
"What a mess." said Mr. Gold.
"Not for long." said Regina. "What can I do for you, Mr. Gold?"
"I was just in the neighbourhood, thought I'd pop by. Lovely to see you in such high spirits." he walked around the garden.
Regina laughed. "It's been a good day...... I just rid the town of an unwanted newsance."
"Emma Swan? Really?"
"Yes. I imagine she's halfway to Boston by now."
Mr. Gold took an apple from the beautiful tree. He chuckled a little. "I won't bet on that."
Emma stared at him.
"I've just seen her strolling down the street with your boy. Thick as thiefs they looked."
"What?"
"Perhaps you should've come to me. If Miss. Swan is a problem you can't fix, I'm only too happy to help. For a price of course."
Regina chuckled. "I'm not on the business of making deals with you any more." she turned back to her tree.
"To which deal are you referring to?" he said examining the apple.
"You know what deal." she turned her head to him.
"Oh, right, yeah... The boy I procured for you. Henry. Did I ever tell you what a lovely name that was?...... However did you pick it?"
Reginas eyes widened as she faced the tree.
"Did you what her to come to town?" she started walking towards him. "You wanted all this to happen, didn't you?..... Your finding Henry wasn't an accident, was it?"
"Whatever do you mean?"
"Where did you get him?..... Do you know something?"
"I have no idea what you're implying."
"I think you do."
Mr. Gold smirked.
"Who is this woman? His mother. This Emma Swan."
"I would say you think you know exactly who she is."
Regina breathed heavily.
"Now, I really must be going." he turned and started to walk away. Regina stood in front of him. "Tell me what you know about her."
"I am not going to awnser you, dear. So I suggest you excuse me. please." he emphasised on the last word. He took a bite from the apple and walked away.
Regina turned to watch him go, in shock.
Mr. Gold walked out of the garden, throwing the apple behind him.