Chapter 25

It was nighttime and everyone was hanging out at Granny's diner for Robin's wake. 


Henry, Naomi and Nicholas sat together at the counter, Nicholas walked away to the door when he saw his sister walking in.


"Nicholas," Violet said and they hugged, "I was so worried."


Nicholas exhaled deeply, "I'm sorry I didn't... I didn't plan to leave, how is our father?" Nicholas asked.


"He knew you'd be okay," They pulled away from each other, "I'm just glad he was right," Violet said.


Nicholas smiled softly and looked at Henry and Naomi, he looked back at Violet, "I think he might need you," Nicholas said.


Naomi looked at them then nudged Henry gently, "Someone's here to see you," Naomi said.


Henry turned to see Violet walking to him as Nicholas walked back to his seat, beside Naomi.


"Violet," Henry said.


"Henry... Naomi," Naomi looked at her, "I'm sorry about Robin," Violet said.


"Thank you," Naomi and Henry said then Naomi looked away.


"When I heard you went to the Underworld, I was afraid I was never gonna see you again," Violet said as she grabbed Henry's hand.


"You were?" Violet nodded, "Me, too," Henry said.


Naomi and Nicholas glanced at each other before they chuckled slightly, then walked away from the pair to Belle and Leroy.


"How are you doing, Naomi?" Leroy asked.


"I'm okay... Hmm... We saw Stealthy," The dwarfs looked at her shocked and rushed over, interested, "He misses you all and I'm sure, he's now found peace," Naomi said with a smile.


"Thank you, Naomi," Doc said.


"You're welcome," Naomi said and looked at Granny, asking for a cup of cocoa.


"Will you be waking Calista?" Naomi looked at Leroy, "We, uh, we just worry about what the Dark One will do if you don't," Leroy said.


"Hades is gone... I think I will wake my Mama but know my Papa he's found a loophole and won't need me," Naomi said.


At the clock tower, Mr Gold was walking to the top with Pandora's Box in his hand. When he reached the top of the tower, he set the box on the floor in front of them.


"Calista, since our daughter refused to wake you, I'm gonna have to find another way, and I will. It's not just you that I have to worry about now. It's our family, our second unborn child. There's only one way I can free you both," Mr Gold took out the piece of the Olympian Crystal that he took from Hades's ashes, "I need more power," Mr Gold said.


Back at the diner, Naomi was drinking her coffee when her wrist began to burn. She put the cup down instantly and quickly removed the gold bracelet to see burn marks around her wrist.


"What on earth?" Belle said as she examined the burn marks.


At the clock-tower, Mr Gold made the piece of Olympian Crystal float up into the air, it started glowing blue and everything began to shake, "I need all of it... Even hers," Mr Gold said.



Back at the diner, Emma walked in as Belle and Nicholas looked at Naomi's burnt wrist.


"It's not a normal burn," Belle said as the burn mark bubbled.


Naomi tried not to scream in pain and suddenly, blue beams shot down from the sky making the whole town shake.


"What the hell was that?" Emma asked.


"Naomi?" Belle said.


Naomi's eyes were white, everyone looked at her shock. Naomi tilted her head back then screamed as her magic was forced out of her body, pink smoke came out of her mouth as she screamed. Henry and Violet ran over to her, as Nicholas held her steady.


At that moment, Killian ran in, "Swan! Is everything okay?" Killian said.


Everyone looked at him in shocked, "Uncle... Killian," Naomi said as she panted and she slowly walked to him.


"Naomi?" Nicholas said.


Naomi fell into her uncle's arm who caught her instantly, Naomi hugged him as she sobbed into him, "He's taken it... He's taken all of it..." Naomi whispered.


"What the bloody hell's the pirate doing here?" Zelena asked.


"We thought we left you in the Underworld," David said, letting the uncle and niece hug it out.


"Aye, you did, but now I'm back," Killian looked at Naomi, "What do you mean he took it all?" Killian asked.


"My magic... It's gone... Because I wouldn't wake her," Naomi said.


"Delicate, as always," Regina said as she looked at Emma.


"Regina..." Emma said.


"I'm used to suffering, Swan and I'm used to others getting their way. Right now, neither one of our feelings matter. Given that blast of magic and Naomi's loss of hers," Naomi and Killian looked at her, "There's only one person not present who's powerful enough for something like that," Regina said.


Zelena held the bracelet, "This is how he found you... My magic worked but he needed his own... He's taken your magic for his own," Zelena said.


"Naomi, stay behind," David said.


"No... I'm okay," Naomi said stubbornly.


"Are you sure?" Killian asked.


"Yeah," Naomi said and walked out of the diner, gripping the door and bannister to get down the stairs.


Minutes later, they all went to the clock-tower where there was a medium hole at the top.


Zelena waved her hand under the gap as Regina and Emma stood at the top, "Gold. He's got the Olympian Crystal, or part of it, anyway. Some of it must have survived. I can still feel the aura from it," Zelena said.


"He used it to cast a tethering spell," Naomi said.


"Tethering spell? What was Gold attaching the crystal and your magic to?" Emma asked.


"Storybrooke's magic. That's why he cast a spell here," Regina said.


"With that crystal, he can harness all of this town's magic for his own purpose," Zelena said.


"Gold already has the power of all the Dark Ones. Why does he need more?" David asked.


"To wake Mama. True Love's Kiss didn't work for him as she doesn't want to be with him and we won't wake her," Naomi said as she gestured between her and Killian.


"Aye, and once the Crocodile wakes Cali, do you think he'll stop there? Do you think he'll just turn the bloody crystal, all of its power with Naomi's magic, over to us?" Killian said.


"He's right, Let's go get that crystal," Emma said.


Snow, David, Zelena, Killian and Naomi walked out of the clocktower.


"Are you sure you want to be doing this?" Snow asked Naomi.


"I'm sure, he's my dad..." Naomi said.


"I want you to stay out of this," Killian said.


"But..." Naomi said.


"No, buts, I want you out of this. You've just lost all of your magic," Naomi looked at Zelena, "And when it's taken the way that it was, you need to rest," Zelena said.


Naomi sighed brushed her hand through her hair, "No," Naomi said.


"What would your mother want?" Killian asked.


"Me to rest..." Naomi said defeatedly.


"Then go rest," Killian said.


"But I'm just as stubborn as she is," Naomi said.


Henry walked out and walked to them, "Naomi, come on," Henry said.


Naomi looked at Henry and sighed, "Fine," Naomi said, Henry took her hand and they walked away, "What's the plan?" Naomi whispered.


"This is why you're my best friend before my aunt," Henry said.


"Oh, I know," Naomi said.


"I'll text Violet and Nicholas," Henry said as he took out his phone and they turned a corner as he was typing on the secret.


Soon, Naomi and Henry walked into the pawnshop, "We're going to stop your dad... We're going to get rid of magic," Henry said.


"I'm happy with that," Naomi said and they walked to the safe and Naomi unlocked it, taking money from her father's secret stash.


Naomi heard the doorbell jingle as Violet and Nicholas walked in, "Henry, Naomi. What's... What's going on? We got your texts," Violet said.


"It's my Papa," Naomi turned to them as she put the money into her bag, "He's stolen my magic and now he's trying to steel Storybrooke's magic," Naomi said.


"It's made us realise how bad it is, it's always magic, always," Naomi said.


"Magic turned out mum's into the Dark One's," Naomi said.


"It took away the man my other mom loved, and now... Now, I think it's gonna tear my parents apart. I used to think there was light and dark magic, but it's all bad. Look around this shop. These..." Henry walked up to a pair of puppets on the counters, "These are Geppetto's parents," Henry said.


"My dad tried giving them to me as new dolls," Naomi said and rolled her eyes.


Henry picked up a needle that was on a shelf, "This needle has put dozens of people under a curse they can't wake from, and this," Henry picked up a snowglobe, "An entire village is frozen I'm there. It's hurt so many people," Henry said.


"Our mother..." Nicholas put his hand on Violet's shoulder, "That's how she died...Magic," Nicholas said.


"Come with us on a road trip," Naomi said, they looked confused.


"It's like a quest, but on a bus... Which is like a horse, but with wheels and seats. J-Just... Just come with us," Henry said.


Violet chuckled, "What do you both say?" Naomi asked.


"I think we can fix this," Henry said.


"Our father would probably kill us, then me again. But, yeah..." Violet looked up at Nicholas and nodded, they looked at Henry and Naomi, "Of course, we'll come," Nicholas said.


"Great. Great. We'll call it Operation Mixtape," Henry said and Violet laughed.


"Excuse me?" Nicholas asked.


"It's his thing," Naomi said as she waved Henry's comment off.


Henry walked behind the counter where Naomi was, "There's just one more thing we're going to need," Henry picked up his Author's pen and Naomi handed him a blank index card, "I promised I'd never use this pen to do anything besides record what happens, but what we're about to do is for the greater for," Henry said as he wrote down "The Olympian Crystal appeared in the Author's hand," then seconds later the crystal appeared in Henry's hand.


Violet gasped, "What's that?" Violet said.


"The crystal my grandpa tethered Storybrooke's magic to," Henry said as he put the crystal into his backpack.


"Wait, I-I-I don't understand. You said magic is bad. Why are we going to take it out of Storybrooke?" Violet asked.


"To destroy it. Once and for all," Henry said.


"But what about Naomi's magic?" Nicholas asked.


"If magic can ruin my parents, I don't want it... Before we were here, he loved his power, yeah, but... He wasn't like this and I don't want to risk becoming like him," Naomi told said.



The next day at the Charming's loft, "So far, no sign of Gold, which means we need to expand our search perimeter to include the woods," Emma said.


Regina walked in, "Where is he?" Regina asked.


"I told you. We got this. We'll find Gold," Emma said.


"Not Gold. Henry," Regina took out her phone and read off a text, "Mom, there's only one way to fix everything that's tearing us apart. I have to destroy..." Regina said.


"The source of all our problems... I got the same text," Emma said.


Belle ran inside, "Have you guys seen Naomi?" Belle asked and Killian looked at her instantly.


Regina and Emma looked at her, then Regina showed her Henry's text, "Naomi's with him, probably," Regina said.


"What does he mean? What is the source of all of our problems? What is he going to destr..." Snow said.


Mr Gold walked in, "Well, I think I can answer that," Everyone looked at him, "The Olympian Crystal and all the magic tethered to it. It would appear my grandson has outsmarted us all, used his authorial power to steel the crystal right out from under my nose," Mr Gold looked around, "Where's Naomi?" He asked.


"Haven't you taken enough from her, first you drive my sister to go under the sleeping curse and then you take away my niece's magic? She's not here and she will never go near you again, I'll bloody make sure of that, Crocodile," Killian said.


"Would Henry or Naomi even do that... Destroy magic?" Snow looked at Killian, "Magic is apart of Naomi... Well... Was..." Snow said.


"Oh, she would... Because it's what's destroying my sister from the inside, because of that bastard right there," Killian said.


"We'd better hope they don't... But if my daughter is anything like her mother, she'll stop at nothing to do it," Mr Gold said.


"Why? What happens if Henry and Naomi succeed?" Regina asked.


"Considering this town was built with magic, what do you think will happen?" Mr Gold said.


"Henry and Naomi would never destroy magic if they knew it could hurt us," Emma said.


"I'll be sure to tell them that right before I take the crystal back," Mr Gold said.


"Don't you dare go near my son," Regina said.


"You can't threaten your own daughter! If you want Cali back this surely is not that way to go about it, Gold!" Belle said.


"Sorry, dearies, but they're threatening me now," Mr Gold said before he disappeared in purple smoke.



Later, with Henry, Naomi, Violet and Nicholas were on a bus, Naomi was sat beside Nicholas as Henry and Violet sat together.


Naomi looked at Henry, "Do you think it'll work? Putting your phone on the other bus?" Naomi asked.


Henry looked at her, "Yeah, my mom she always uses a GPS tracker to find me, we'll be fine," Henry said.


Naomi nodded and the bus stopped, "Is this us?" Naomi asked.


"Yeah, it is," Henry said and he got up then got off the bus with Naomi, Violet and Nicholas after him.


"Wow... This is so much different than Boston," Naomi said as she looked around.


Nicholas watched her amused and he guided her towards Henry and Violet as both Violet and Naomi looked around in awe.



"I thought the spires of Camelot were tall," Violet said.


"Welcome to New York City," Henry said and Violet chuckled.


"New York? My brother lived here right?" Naomi asked.


"Yeah," Henry told her with a nod and a smile then they all started walking away.


Meanwhile, Mr Gold drove up to the toll booth at New York, he had Pandora's box in the passenger seat.



"Welcome to New York. It'll be $15," The Security Guard said.


Mr Gold waved his hand and placed the Security Guard under a chokehold until the guard pushed the button to allow him into the city. The gate opened, Mr Gold released the guard and drove into New York.



Back with Henry, Violet, Naomi and Nicholas, they were eating pizza as they walked down the streets of New York.


"I can't imagine living here, it's overwhelming," Violet said.


"We thought the same thing when we first went to Camelot... Until you both showed us around," Henry said.


"Well, I want to see this place, Henry, truly, but, uh..." Violet said.


"What does this New York City have to do with destroying magic?" Nicholas asked.


"It's got to do with my dad," Henry said.


"Big brother Baelfire..." Nicholas and Violet looked at her as Henry nodded, "Magic has been tearing his family apart for over two centuries when our dad first became the Dark One," Naomi said.


"And did he want to destroy magic, too?" Violet asked.


"The truth is, my dad did... For a really long time. No one else knows this, not even my moms or grandma. He made me promise not to tell anyone, even Naomi," Henry said.


"He should've known I would've been okay with it..." Naomi said slightly disappointed.


"It's safe with us, we promise," Violet said and Nicholas nodded.


"See, that's why he was in New York. He was trying to find a way to protect himself in case his dad found him," Henry said.


"Right, and he thought the best way of doing that was by destroying magic?" Nicholas asked and Henry nodded.


"Did he ever figure it out?" Violet asked.


"He died before he could, but I know he got close. He kept everything he found in a journal. It's got to be in my dad's apartment. Come on," Henry said and led them to the apartment building where Neal used to live. 



Later, after they had been to Neal's apartment and found out where their next stop was, which was Midtown Library.


Naomi was talking to the librarian, "Hello, can you lead us to the Rare Reading Room, please?" Naomi asked.


"You want to go to the Rare Reading Room? Really?" The Librarian said surprised.


"Yes please," Naomi said sweetly.


"It's a bit old for you," The Librarian said.


"Please, we all have a term paper, and I know that the Rare Reading Room will help us perfectly with that, also we're running really late with it, please help us, I promise we'll behave," Naomi said.


The Librarian nodded, "This way," The Librarian led them into the Rare Reading Room, "Well, here we are. No one's been back here in ages. Most folks just come for the Y.A. stuff," The Librarian chuckled as Nicholas looked at Naomi confused, "Well, good luck with your term paper," The Librarian said.


"Thank you very much," Naomi said sweetly and watched the librarian leaving the room. Naomi sighed heavily and turned away, "My cheeks hurt..." Naomi said and Nicholas chuckled.


"You got us in... Thanks," Henry nudged her playfully, "My dad's journal said he had an appointment here. Whatever he was looking for to destroy magic must be in this room," He handed them a book each, "Start with these. Read every page and then re-read it. Because watched my dad was looking for, he never found it," Henry said.


"And you really think we can?" Nicholas asked as Naomi started to read.


"We have to," Henry spotted someone in one of the bookshelves, "That's impossible," Henry said.


"Henry, w-what did you find?" Violet said.


Naomi walked over to Henry and saw what he was looking at, "Seriously?" Naomi said as Henry picked up a set of storybooks identical to Henry's storybooks and placed them on the table.


"These books, they all look exactly like my storybook. They're magic, what are they doing in New York?" Henry said.


"Let's look through these," Naomi said and they all agreed before they picked a book each and opened to see they were new stories.


"I've never seen these characters in my book," He pointed to the pages, "Look at this. There are so many stories," Henry said.



"Wait, Henry, Naomi, you both told me that all the stories in the book are real," Violet said.


"Yeah," Henry said.


"So, maybe... These are real, too?" Violet said.


"That... That could be true... I mean, Wonderland is real," They looked at Henry, "Dr Frankenstein is real... Oz is real... Why not more?" Henry said.


"Yeah, fairytales for this world can't be the only one's that are real," Naomi said.


"So, do we continue looking through these books first or the others?" Nicholas asked.


Henry looked at Naomi, "What wold Belle suggest?" Henry asked her.


"We split up... Two looks through the storybooks and another two look through the others... I suggest, Henry with storybooks and I'll go with the others... Nic, Violet, it's up to the two of you which you choose to do," Naomi said.


"Violet, you help Henry, I'll help Naomi," Nicholas said.


"Alright," Violet nodded, "What are we looking for in the books?" Violet asked.


"Anything that stands out about destroying magic, each storybook Author hid stuff inside... Kinda like... Hidden gems, clues, hints, anything like that, even if you're unsure, anything is better than nothing," Naomi said and walked over to a table with Nicholas.


Henry and Violet looked through the storybooks as Naomi and Nicholas looked through the books Henry originally gave them.



Later the small group were still in the Rare Reading Room, trying to find answers to destroy magic.


Henry slammed a book shut, "Now, I see why my dad gave up. There's nothing in here about destroying magic. We came all this way for nothing," Henry said.


"No, Henry, not for nothing, never for nothing. We'll figure this out, together," Naomi said.


Violet spotted something in a glass cabinet, "Henry! Henry, I know why your dad never finished his quest," They all walked over to the cabinet, "It's because he never visited Camelot. Back in Camelot, our tutor used to show us paintings of the Holy Grail. He said it was the source of all magic and it looked like that," Violet said as she pointed to the Dark Grail. 



"But the Grail turned into Excalibur. That can't be it," Henry said.


"Not, the Grailw as always silver, but... This looks kind of like it... Like it's its twin and if the Grail really was the beginning of all magic then this might be the end of it," Nicholas said.


"Yeah," Violet said.


"Wouldn't surprise me if it was... It's the best lead we've got," Naomi said.


"Alright, stand back," Henry said.


"Why? What are you gonna..." Violet said as they all stood back.


Henry cut Violet off as he smashed the glass with a book then pulled out the Dark Grail. Henry put the Dark Grail on a table then placed the crystal piece next to it and within second the magic from the crystal began to get sucked into the Dark Grail.


"You were right. This will destroy magic," Henry said as he grabbed the crystal.


"So, what happens next?" Nicholas asked.


"Whatever it is, it's not safe to do here," Henry said as he quickly packed the Dark Grail into his backpack and they began to leave the room.


When Naomi opened the door, she stopped when she came to face with her father, "Hello, sweetheart... Henry," Mr Gold said.


"Nic, Henry, Violet, behind me," Violet got behind Naomi but Henry and Nicholas didn't move, "You're not getting it, not without a fight Papa," Naomi said.


"So, like your mother, but sweetheart, if you fight me you will lose, you don't have your magic anymore," Mr Gold said.


"Who said I need it... As you've said before, I'm more like my mother than you," Naomi said.


"Yes, but you'd need it to defend yourself from this," Mr Gold waved his hand, making the four of them fall unconscious on the ground. Mr Gold picked up the crystal from Henry's hand and smiled, he looked Naomi and his smiled turned from being proud to a saddened before he walked out.


Minutes later, Emma, Belle and Regina came running in to see them on the ground. Emma had used the GPS tracker and was originally heading to Boston until they found Henry's phone on the bus he planted it on. 


"Naomi!" Belle said as rushed over to her.


"Henry! Are you okay?" Emma said as she and Regina ran over to him.


Naomi woke up and she sat up, looking around confused. Henry woke up, "Moms, where's Violet?" He asked as he sat up.


Violet sat up, "I'm right here. I'm alright... Nicholas?" Violet said.


Nicholas was sat up rubbing his head, "Yeah, I think I knocked my head..." Nicholas said.


"What happened to you four?" Belle asked.


"Grandpa... He's got the crystal now," Henry said.


"Henry, what were you thinking? Why would you try to destroy magic?" Regina looked at Naomi, "You know you need magic to wake Calista, why?" Regina asked.


"I'd rather my mama be asleep than become broken because of my father... I already knew if we'd destroy magic I may never see her again and I was prepared for that," Naomi said as they all stood up.


"You really have to ask why we'd destroy magic? You finally had a chance to be happy and then magic took it away from you, just like with Daniel," Henry said as he stood up.


"Henry, the Evil Queen is never coming back. You don't have to worry about me," Regina said.


"I don't, because my other mom is doing that for me," Henry looked at Emma, "You thought she was gonna go all Evil Queen again," Henry said.


"I'm sorry, I should have trusted Regina," Emma said.


"But you didn't! Because you know how it goes for us. Every time it looks like we could be happy, magic just comes in and wrecks it," Henry said and Naomi nodded, agreeing.


"Is that what you both really think?" Belle asked.


"Yeah. In case you three forgot, magic took away my dad, took away Violet's and Nicholas's mom and it's been ruining my step-grandma's marriage for years. And I don't know what I would do if it took away one of you," Henry said.


"Henry," Emma said as he reached out to him.


Henry backed away, "Don't! Just don't," Henry said.


"Henry, Naomi, what were you guys doing down here?" Regina asked.


"Following my brother's trail to figure out how to destroy magic, but we didn't find anything. It was just a waste of time," Naomi said.


"So, what do we do now? Because grandpa has the crystal," Henry said.


"Well, we have to find him," Emma said.


Regina took out a map and put it on the table then looked at Naomi, "Give me your hand," Regina said.


Naomi walked over to her and gave her, her hand, "Is this really gonna help find him?" Naomi asked.


Regina pricked Naomi's finger and droplets of blood fell onto the map, "This will tell us if he's still in New York," Regina said and she waved her hand over the droplets of blood but nothing happened.


"Why isn't it working?" Emma asked.


"Our magic, it's gone," Regina said.


"The crystal. Rumpel must have done something to it," Belle said.


Meanwhile, Mr Gold walked into a hotel in New York City.


Back at the library, "What the hell is he doing?" Regina asked.


"He's not gonna give that magic back to anyone... He's gonna keep it all for himself," Naomi exhaled sharply before pushing books off a table forcefully, "Dammit!" Naomi said and Belle rushed over to try and calm her down.


"Well, we're gonna have to do it the old-fashioned way," Emma said.


Meanwhile, Mr Gold checked into the hotel and had gone to the top floor where his room was and he began to set everything up to wake Calista. 


He put the piece of the Olympian Crystal on the counter and Pandora's Box on the bed, he looked at the box, "Now, when I wake you, I think you'll finally understand that everything I've done, I've done for you and our children... I know you and Naomi will be angry that I've taken our daughter's magic, but she couldn't control it, once you've both calmed down and listened to me, then I'm gonna give you both what you've always wanted, Calista. I'm gonna show you both the world," Mr Gold said.


Just as Mr Gold walked about to let Calista out of the box the whole room started to rumble, "A portal," Mr Gold said.


Mr Gold picked up the crystal, leaving Pandora's Box where Calista was still inside. The portal opened up underneath eh box and it fell right through, closing up instantly.


"No!" He gasped, "Cali!" Mr Gold began feeling around the bed in a panic, "Calista? Calista!" Oh, no! Oh, no!" Mr Gold said.



Pandora's Box fell through the portal into someone's hand, Mr Hyde's hand, and the portal closed.


"I don't understand. How id this box gonna help us find a home?" A man asked.


"It's not the box that's important. It's what's inside it. Or rather, who. If the Dark One ever wishes to see his wife again. He'll have to do exactly as I say," Mr Hyde said.


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