Random Neko Book

Captain Swan, Once Upon a Time (Pt. 1)

⚠ language ⚠

-Emma's POV-

I was in Mr. Gold's shop looking for something Henry forgot after his shift, but I ended up getting a little.. Nosey. Mr. Gold has so many different things in his shop, it's fascinating really.

I came across a shelf of potions, picking one up out of curiosity. It was a lime yellow color.
"I wouldn't touch that if I were you, dearie." I jump and turn around quickly, getting about half the potion all over my shirt. I gasp and sigh in surprise as it twinkles softly for a moment.

"Mr. Gold, I'm so sorry; I didn't mean to-" I start, but then notice he's wincing nervously. "Don't apologize to me, dearie, it wasn't that important a potion... But now I'd worry about you. I was still trying to study its affects, and well.."

I sigh. "Well, at least I'm not dead..." I mutter, setting what's left of the potion down. I would need to go home and dry off; it soaked through my shirt and got on my skin, and it's uncomfortable. Kind of gel-like in texture despite being a liquid..

"It's not supposed to cause death, Swan, it's supposed to, uh, transform something. I've only ever used it on objects, but now, I-i'm afraid I don't know what's going to happen to you, dearie." Mr. Gold says with a nervously confused expression.

"I'm- I'm sorry. I'll help clean the mess if you want-" I offer, but he waves his hand dismissively. "I'll handle it, you go home and change; I don't reckon a wet shirt is all too comfortable."
"Thank you, I-i'm sorry-" I say, walking out and heading to my parent's house.

When I open the door, I'm greeted by my parents, and Henry too. "Emma! How's your day b-" mom started, but my dad looked at me with a puzzled frown.
"What's on your shirt?" he asks. "Oh, uh.. While I was looking for something of Henry's, I came across this... This potion and-"

"You spilled an unknown potion on yourself?!" my mom says with worry. "I- it was an accident, and it didn't kill me!" I responded.
"Yet! Emma, we don't know what that potion could do- just, go change, please." dad says.

I was going to anyway.

- Snow's POV-

After Emma went to her room to change, I look at my husband. "David, this is bad..." I whisper. "I know, well keep a close eye on her." he says.
"Well, what if it doesn't do anything bad? What if it.. I dunno, makes her smarter or something?" Henry says.

"Well, I doubt that." I hear Mr. Gold say at the door. "It was a transfiguration potion, for items. Not meant to be used on people; I have no idea what the effect will be, but if nothing happens within the next 24 hours, I'd wager she's safe." he says.

"If something does happen, is there anything you could do?" I ask him. "Oh, without a doubt. But the antidote would have to be based on what happens, so contact me if anything changes." he says before looking back to his shop.

- Third Person POV-

<next day>

Emma woke up with a small groan, rubbing her eyes awake. Everything seemed so loud, it was already giving her a headache..
She could smell her mom cooking breakfast though, it smelled good; like bacon, eggs and toast.

Emma got out of bed and stretched before heading to the kitchen. "Morning Mom, Dad." she greets. The two turn around.
"Good morn- oh my god-" Snow says, dropping the spatula and covering her mouth in slight shock. "What? W-what's wrong, you're scaring me!" Emma panics.

"Emma, are you- feeling okay?" David asks, looking worriedly nervous. "I'm fine, dad just a small headache; what's wrong?!"
"M-mom?" Henry says behind her. "Henry, you too? What?! What is scaring all... Of.." Emma trails off, seeing a white tail and grabbing it in disbelief.

She pulled one of her classic 'oh shit' faces. "Don't tell me-" she mutters, looking at her parents who only could nod, confirming her suspicions.

She had ears, too.

"Mom, i-it's okay, we'll tell Mr. Gold, and he'll get an antidote-" Henry says. Emma sighs. "Y-yeah, thanks.. I-i need- I need to talk to Killian.." she says, walking out back.

-Killian's POV-

I was overlooking the sea when the talking phone Emma gave me started to sound. I hit the answer button.
"Morning, love." I say with a small smile. Emma had that affect on me. "Killian, something happened; y-you need to come over like, right now."

The panic in her voice caused my smile to drop faster than an anchor in the ocean. "Swan, what's wrong?" I ask more seriously. "Y-you'll see when you get here, just hurry, please!" she says.

"I'm on my way." I responded before ending the call and heading to her place as fast as I could.

I knock on the door and Henry answers. Before I could even say anything, he tells me, "She's out back." I nod. "Thank you, lad." I say before heading to the back yard.
"Swan, are you here?" I say. "Killian!" I hear her say in a breathless, almost scared way.

I turn around and examine her closely. "Love, are- are those... Cat ears atop your head?" I ask. I then look down. "And.. A tail?" She closes her eyes shamefully. "Yeah," she breathes out. "Yeah they are.."
"How in the seven seas did this happen?" I ask her. "I-i was looking for something in Mr. Gold's shop for Henry a-and I spilled one of his potions on me, then when I woke up today..."

"You.. We're half cat." I finish for her. "Actually, the technical term is.. Is 'neko'." I hear Henry say, standing at the back door holding a book.
"Oh god, Henry, don't phrase it like that.." Emma says, seemingly embarrassed. "That's the term, mom! It doesn't mean anything bad!.." Henry says defensively.

I notice the slight grimace after he says that, implying he's left some information out. "...But?" I egg on. He looks at me, seeming to understand what I was asking him to tell us.

"... But, the.. Affects of being a neko... Can be.. Less than ideal." he says, a small blush upon his face as he hands me the book. "You'll need it; Mr. Gold says the antidote will be hard to make as he needs rare ingredients or something.."

"Why did you hand me this book, lad? What good will it do me?" I ask. "Just read it, trust me, y-you need it more than I do. I regret reading it. I asked Belle to find something about cat people in the library... I-i just thought it could help me... Uh, help my mom." he says before walking inside.

I look at the book, then at Emma. "Your lad was blushing, Swan. That tells me that whatever's in this book isn't for young ones." I tell her. "Oh my god, my kid got traumatized trying to help me-" she says, proceeded by a small huffed laugh.

"Well, what's in it, Killian?" she asks me. "Well, I'd have to read it, but it seems he's marked the chapter he seems important for me to read with this small piece of colored parchment." I say, setting the book on the ground and sitting down.

When I open to where Henry marked, Emma took one look at the title before her face flushed brightly. "Hoh my god-" she whispers, turning her head away. I was a bit confused by this.

"'Heat?' I thought we were reading about cat people, not physics." I say. "Killian, read it; I'm not explaining.." she says, hiding her face for a moment.

-Emma's POV-

Now I know why Henry had that blush on his face. He read this. Oh my god.

Killian, still looking slightly confused, started reading. I couldn't help but watch; I am in love with him afterall. I notice his cheeks grow a little pink before he nods and shuts the book, looking at me.

"I can.. I can see why that would be an embarrassing topic." he says. I closed my eyes in embarrassment and nod.

Eventually, we head inside. "Okay, thank you." I hear my mom say before hanging up the phone. "Emma, I have some bad news..." she starts.
"Please don't tell me this is perminant..." I sigh. "No, but.. Mr. Gold said it could be a month, at least, before he's able to gather everything..."

"A month?!" I say, soon after feeling Killian's arms around me. "It'll be alright, love. Well get through it, it'll be okay." he assure me.

He says that now, but will it be..?

To be continued...