𝑳𝑶𝑽𝑬𝑳𝒀 - Rumplestiltskin [2]

eleven

11|curse

The small group rushed towards Regina's vault, trying to get into contact with her as Pan was really with her.

"Regina's still not answering." Emma sighed with frustration as she held her phone to her ear.

"When we find Pan, remember, he's still in my body." Henry said to Rumpel. "So if you have to throw a fireball or something, at least avoid the face."

"I'll do my best." Rumpel reassured him while Celeste snickered to herself.

"Henry? Is it really you?" Neal stared at the boy, meeting them at the entrance of the vault with Tinker Bell and Hook.

"Dad." Henry ran forwards excitedly, embracing the man.

"Did you find the Shadow?" Charming directed his question to Hook and Tink.

"Not yet." Tink answered him before looking at Hook.

"But we'll be ready for when we do." Hook added, lifting the coconut.

"It's Pan we should be concerned about now. Why are we still up here?" Rumpel questioned the group, stepping forwards.

"It's locked up tight." Neal gestured to the vault doors.

"Really?" He lifted his hand, trying to open the doors.

"Yeah, well, told ya."

"Fair enough. This is gonna take some time." Rumpel sighed, lifting his hand and concentrating on lifting the spell.

"Celeste." Celeste introduced herself to the fairy, realising she has not properly met the woman. "Sorry for not introducing myself earlier."

"Tink." Tink smiled at the woman, shaking her hand and admiring the wedding ring on her finger. She quickly connected the dots.

The door creaked open, everyone's attention turning to the vault eagerly.

"Shall we?" Rumpel led the way, taking Celeste's hand and dragging her with him.

They found Regina unconscious on the floor, the room seeming ransacked. Celeste ran forwards, checking on the woman and breathing out when she found a pulse.

"We're clear down here!" Emma called for the others to come further into the vault.

Celeste stepped back and allowed Rumpel to use magic to awake the woman.

"What?" Regina inhaled sharply, sitting up and looking around. "What happened?"

"It's Henry. Somehow, Pan switched bodies with him." Emma caught the woman up.

"And I fell for it." The woman sighed in defeat. "I wanted to believe what he was saying so badly, I missed all the signs."

"We all did."

"I just wanted to believe that he still needed me to be his mother." Regina stood up with Celeste's help, silently thanking the woman.

"I still do." Henry appeared behind Emma, hearing everything.

"Henry?" She gasped, surprised to see him, especially as Pan. The pair quickly embraced, Regina happy to have her son.

"So what exactly did Pan come down here to get?" Charming asked, changing the topic. Rumpel waved his hand over a box, jumping back in fright. "What?"

"Please tell me you didn't keep it down here." Rumpel sighed and glanced at Regina.

"Where else would I keep it?" Regina asked back in shock, realising what was missing.

"Some context, please." Celeste furrowed her brows with confusion.

"What is it? What did Pan take?" Emma questioned at the same time, looking just as confused.

"The curse." Rumpel answered them with a serious tone.

"Why would Pan even want the curse?" Regina demanded. "I already cast it."

"And I broke it." Emma added on.

"Well, that doesn't mean he can't cast it again." Rumpel reminded them, beginning to pace with worry. "And this time, without your parents true love woven in, even you would be powerless to break it."

"I don't understand. We're already in this land." Charming tried to understand what he was saying.

"What exactly would casting the curse in Storybrooke do now?" Snow added with concern.

"Everyone will forget who they are. Time will stand still." Celeste spoke up, realising the problem. She reached out and grabbed her husband's hand, squeezing it as she realised if they failed then they would never see each other again. They all slowly left the vault to meet up outside.

"Another curse. This is all happening again?" Snow White sighed in annoyance, holding on to her husband.

"Gold, this curse, is it going to work like the last one?" Emma asked the man.

"The last one was created to service the Queen's wishes." Rumpel explained to them, leaning on his cane while holding his wife. "This will be done per Pan's desire. I would count on something hellish."

"The curse was built to be unstoppable." Regina added on to his explanation. "There's nothing that can be done."

"Well, it is possible to stop it."

"What?"

"By using the scroll itself." He informed her. "It can only be undone by the person who used the scroll. That's you, Regina."

"What do I have to do?" She questioned, feeling determined to save her son.

"You must destroy the scroll." Rumpel stated casually. "And both your curse and his shall be ended. But know this, there will be a price. A steep one."

"What do you suggest?"

"Instead of going to him, bring him to us with a spell." He began to inform them all of his plan. "One that will return Pan and Henry to their own bodies."