Crocodile's Daughter - Magic is Coming

1 - Broken

When the smoke cleared, I wondered what it was. I slipped out the back door, heading to the well, where I went to clear my head. When I got there, I saw Belle and my father...kissing. Then Belle rested her head on my father's shoulder, and he looked up. Then he froze, and Belle turned around.

"Rae? Is that really you?" He asked in disbelief. "Papa!" I exclaimed, running up to him. He wrapped me in a hug, squeezing me. "I thought you hated me," He said. "I could never hate you," I said, then turned to Belle.

 "What?" She asked. "Oh, did I forget to mention my family history? Belle, I am the daughter of Rumplestiltskin, and currently powerless because someone put a cuff on me to take away my magic," I said, shooting my father a look. He sighed and motioned for my hand. I extended it, and he pulled off the cuff. I felt a surge of warmth.

We went back to the shop. "You, uh...you wait here, Belle. I'm gonna find you something to wear. You've spent enough time in these rags," He said. "Thank you," She said. He went into the back, and I went to the casing behind the counter, pulling out the case I had found the day Graham died. I pulled out the dagger with a smirk, then tucked it into the inside pocket of my shirt.

"What's that?" Belle asked. "Oh, just an old family heirloom," I lied.  "Then why are you hiding it?" She pressed. "You remember the day where we went to town to fetch straw for my father, and you asked me how it was possible I was old as I was, and I told you I was immortal but there were ways for me to die? Yeah, this is one of them," I said, patting where the dagger was. "Oh," She said.

We got word that Regina had been locked up, so my father went down to the police station. I cast a protection spell on the shop. "What are you doing?" Belle asked. "After Regina, my papa and I are highest on the list of people hated in this town," I said. "Why do people hate you?" She asked.

"My job as the Nightingale is to keep the Dark One in control. But I need magic to do that, and when the cuff was put on, I lost my magic. By then, people knew who I was, but when they say me not doing anything to stop my father from ruining lives, they thought I didn't want to, and I was just as twisted as he was," I said. My father was pouring tea as Belle was changing when the Charming family walked in. "What can we do for you?" He asked. "What you can do is tell us what you did," Emma said. "I'm sorry. You're gonna have to be more specific," He said.

"You know damn well what we're talking about," Charming snarled. "You double-crossed Emma, you, uh, took your potion from her..." Snow said. "And did who knows what to this town," Charming said. "And worst of all, you risked Henry's life," Emma said. "Well, that is quite a litany of grievances, now isn't it?" He asked.

"Maybe I don't need answers. Maybe I just need to punch you in the face," Emma snapped. "Oh. Really, dearie? Allow me to answer your questions with some of my own. All right? Did your dear boy Henry survive?" He asked, laughing. "Yeah," Emma said, crossing her arms. "Is the curse broken? And let's see, uh, Ms. Swan, how long have you been searching for your parents? Looks like you're reunited. Seems like rather a punch in the face, I deserve a thank-you," He said. "Twist my words all you want. What was the purple haze that you brought?" She asked.

"You know...magic," I said. "Why?" Snow asked. "Not telling," He said. There was a rumble, and car alarms started going off outside. "What the hell was that?" Emma asked as we all ran to the door. 

Outside, there was a roar as the electric boxes sparked and crackled. "That is my gift to you. That is gonna take care of Regina," He said, and there was another shake, more sparking and another roar. "Emma, come on," Snow said. "We need to go take care of this," Charming said. "We're not done," Emma told my father.

"Oh, I know. You still owe me a favor," He said. I knelt down, cast a spell to take away my limp, put down my cane, and followed them out. "Reagen, do you know what that is?" Emma asked. "A wraith. A soul sucker. He must have branded her," I said. "How do we stop it?" She asked.