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CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
ENTER THE DRAGON
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TERESA WOKE THE NEXT MORNING TO LOUD KNOCKING AT HER DOOR. She groaned and threw the covers off her body. Throwing her her legs over the mattress, she then began to walk over to her door. She opened it to find an irritated looking Granny.

"What can I do you for?" she tiredly asked the gray haired woman.

Granny put her hands on her hips. "You didn't lock up last night and now all my liquor is gone."

"Yes I did. I lock up every single night, that's our deal. What do you mean someone drank all your liquor?"

Granny sighed. "Those witches and Regina drank the diner dry last night."

"Well, I can assue you that I did lock up. They have magic, they can easily unlock a door," Teresa replied. Her sleepy eyes then widened. "Hold up, did you just say Regina?"

"Yes," Granny called over her shoulder as she turned and left to head back to her diner.

Teresa's eyebrows furrowed. "Since when was Regina hanging out with them?" she muttered.

Teresa then closed her door and hurriedly got dressed so she could find out just what the hell was going on.

After combing her hair and throwing into a hair tie, Teresa locked up her room and shoved her keys into her pocket. In the hallway, she bumped into Hook.

"Woah!" Teresa said, barely dodging the hook. "You should really walk with that thing pointed down."

Hook rolled his eyes. "Perhaps you shouldn't run in small hallways."

Teresa began walking toward the diner, and Hook followed. "Have you seen Regina?" he asked her. "Apparently she's went undercover last night and hasn't returned."

"No, but Granny came knocking on my door wondering why I didn't lock up. Which I did, by the way. Apparently she, Ursula, Cruella and a fourth one came in and drank the diner dry of its liquor."

When they got the the Diner, Teresa stopped short. A table was on its side and burnt, and broken bottles were scattered all over the place. "Woah..." Teresa muttered.

The pair then exited the building and found a panic-looking Emma jumping out of her car.

"Find anything in there?" Emma asked, her eyes on Hook.

"Well, a burned table, broken bottles, uh, and a very irate Granny," Hook replied

"Apparently, Regina and the witches drank the place dry," Teresa said, folding her arms over her chest. "I'd say she won them over."

"Unless that's exactly what they wanted her to think."

"Look," Hook sighed. "I know you're worried, but we don't even know what happened yet."

"That's what's worrying me. She's not at home. She's not in her office. My parents are gonna check her vault, but..."

"And you fear the worst," Teresa finished for her.

"I can't help but think, if the undercover thing worked, if she's got the situation under control, then why the hell isn't she back yet?"

"Sometimes when you go undercover you can't come back and check in, Emma. They're probably busy and Regina can't leave. She'll check in, don't worry so much over it."

"The young lass right Emma," Hook said. "Worrying will only make it worse. Regina can handle this."

Teresa then sighed. "Look, if it'll make you feel better, I'll check the woods. I happen to be an excellent tracker."

"Alright, yea, that would be great," Emma nodded. She then dug into her pocket. "Uh, my mom got this for you, use it if you find anything."

Teresa caught the cell phone in her hand and stared at it in confusion. "I don't know how to use thing!"

"Neither did I, but it is actually quite easy." Hook snatched the phone from the teenager and opened it. "Just press this button and click the green button when you're over Emma's name."

"Uh, alright."

➳

Teresa wondered through the woods, arrows on her back and bow in hand. Yes she had magic, but whenever she was in woods, she felt a need to bring her bow.

As she climbed over a fallen branch, her eyes caught sight of tire tracks. She furrowed her eyebrows, wondering who would be driving around in woods. Knowing it must be the new villians in town, Teresa began to follow the tracks.

Soon, she came to a cabin.

Teresa stealthily walked up to the cabin and when she got to one of the windows, she peered inside. Her eyes widened as she found the Dark One inside, poking around at the fire place.

She reached for her cell phone to use it to call Emma, when suddenly it and her bow disappeared from her hands. She whipped around and found a blonde haired woman now holding them, a smirk on her lips.

"Well, well, if it isn't the best archer in all the land."

Teresa thrust her hand forward, throwing the woman back with a burst of magic. Before she could do anything else, a thick tentacle wrapped around her body, forcing her hands at down at her sides.

"So the famous Teresa Holmes has magic," Ursula smirked.

No other words were said as they forced Teresa inside the cabin. Gold turned on his spot and his eyes widened slightly at the sight of Teresa.

"What is she doing here? And where the hell have you been all night?" he asked.

"Don't be nasty," the blonde snapped. "Regina came to find us. We had some catching up to do."

"Regina? What was she after?" Gold asked.

"She was sniffing around for information, just like Miss Holmes was sniffing around outside."

"I assume you didn't tell her I'm what you're hiding."

"Oh, we were careful, darling. She doesn't know a thing," Cruella reassured him.

Gold stepped toward Teresa, who was still wrapped tightly by the tentacle of Ursula. "And what were you doing in the woods?"

Teresa rolled her eyes. "Like you've all said, I'm an archer. I was hunting, when I discovered tire tracks. I thought it was odd so I followed them. And I'm glad I did." She finished with a glare. "Aren't you supposed to be in New York? How the hell did you get back into town?"

"Oh, I had a little help from your mother's scroll."

"Hold up," the blonde said. "This is the Snow Queens daughter? I must say, I wasn't expecting that."

Teresa rolled her eyes.

Gold stepped closer to the archer with narrowed his eyes, not fully believing her. "Is someone with you?"

"I'm alone," Teresa replied, and then, of course, her phone rang. She breiftly closed her eyes as she let out a sigh.

Ursula reached into Teresa's pocket and pulled out the teenagers cell phone. "It's Emma Swan," she announced, as she then tossed the phone to Gold.

Gold smirked. "Now why would Emma be calling you? Perhaps...you lost her in the woods?"

"How the hell would I know?"

Gold exhaled. "You see, I'm having trouble believing you, dearie. So you leave me no choice." Gold thrust his hand into Teresa's chest.

Teresa let out a cry of pain as he now held her heart within his palm. "What were you doing in the woods? And don't lie."

"I — " Teresa gasped as he squeezed her heart. The tentacle that was wrapped around her body released her, allowing her to fall to her knees on the floor. "I was looking for Regina."

"Why's that?" Gold questioned.

"B-Because she's undercover. Ah!" Teresa clutched at her chest. "She's acting bad to get their trust!"

"I knew it!" Cruella said, a victorious smirk on her smug face.

"Now, now," the blonde smirked. "Just because she was so-called faking it, doesn't mean she didn't actually have some fun. I know Regina, and I know she's still bad."

Gold released the squeeze he hand on Teresa's heart, allowing her to breath properly. "Don't even think about leaving or using your magic, stay put," he ordered. "Or I'll crush your heart."

Teresa glared at him.

"Very interesting plan, bringing us all together," the blonde then said.

"My plan's just beginning. But Regina does present an intriguing possibility."

"Do you really think she'll help us? I mean, after what the archer said, I don't she'll continue her act."

"Heartbreak turned her into a monster once. And now her heart's been broken a new. She's lost another love and is in great pain."

Gold turned to stare at the newly resurrected blonde as she spoke, "As you and I both know, pain always makes you stronger."

"Indeed it does," Gold nodded. "When war hits Storybrooke, everyone's gonna have to pick a side, including Regina."

"And what war is that?"

"Oh, the one we're about to start. And tonight...we're gonna throw the first punch."

Teresa's phone then rang once again. Gold lifted his hand and looked at it. "It's Emma, again. This time, you will answer it." Gold answered it the phone called and put it on speaker. He then placed the phone in Cruella's hand and moved to the other side of the room.

"Finally! Teresa, I've been trying to get ahold of you. Are you alright?"

"I'm fine," Gold said into her heart.

"I'm fine," Teresa echoed.

"I was having trouble figuring out how to answer this thing."

"I was having trouble figuring out how to answer this thing."

"It's fine," Emma sighed. "Have you found Regina yet?"

"Not yet."

"Not yet," Teresa, yet again, echoed, while glaring at Gold.

"Alright, well let me know if you find anything, kid."

"I will."

"I will."

Cruella then slammed the phone shut, leaving Teresa to mentally smirk. She hoped due to Gold not having her correct Emma for calling her kid that Emma would catch it and figure out something was wrong.

She really hoped.

"Tell me, why are we keeping her? Can't we just make her forget and send her on her way?" Cruella asked.

"Because she could be useful," Gold said. "No one will try and get in our way if they know we have her heart."

➳

"You know, I can see why your wife threw you over that town line, you're a real ass."

Her words earned her immense pain. Teresa gasped and clutched at her heart, crying out from the pain Gold was forcing upon her. Cruella smirked from where she sat in the corner.

"Don't talk about my wife," Gold sneered, anger in his eyes.

Teresa looked up from the ground and met his gaze. She gave a tired smirk, "Your wife seems to be pretty cozy with Mr. Scarlet. Not that I blame her — "

"Enough!" Gold shouted. He rose from the rocking chair in the corner and gave her heart a tight squeeze. Teresa let out another cry of pain.

"Easy, Rumple, we wouldn't want to kill our leverage early," Ursula said.

Gold glared down at the mouthy archer before moving back over to his seat.

"You've got quite the mouth on you, young one. Why so determined to die so quickly?" Cruella finished with a smirk.

"I-I'm — " Teresa let out a painful breath. "I'm not."

Cruella hummed laugh. "Doesn't seem like that to me. You haven't stopped being obnoxiously irritating since you've arrived."

Teresa sent the black and white woman a sharp glare. "Yeah, I'm obnoxious. I feel sorry for all those who have to hear that dreadful voice, or stare at those wonderful eyebrows you have."

Cruella's smirk dropped as she glared a the young archer's smirking face. "Make your pet archer shut up, Rumple, or I will."

Gold held her heart up for her to see, and cleared his throat to get her attention. "No more talking. Sit there and be quiet."

Teresa opened her mouth to give a response, when she found she couldn't speak. She glared at him.

Ursula sighed in relief. "Finally! She talks so much."

➳

That night, Emma walked into the town library with Hook and her parents to visit Regina, who would have the latest on her uncover business.

As soon as they walked in David whispered, "Hey, we're here.

Regina came out from behind the shelf and rolled her eyes when she seen not only Snow and David, but Emma and Hook as well. "I said we needed to meet covertly. Now I see you brought the entire Charming softball team and their pirate mascot?"

"We were worried about you," Snow said.

"Well, then worry quickly. I can't be seen with all of you."

"Sorry we took so long," David apologized. "We can't find Teresa, so we've been looking in the woods."

"What do you mean you can't find Teresa?" Regina asked with furrowed eyebrows.

"She went out searching for you this morning in the woods and hasn't come back since," Emma said.

"You don't think...?"

David nodded. "Oh, we think."

"Why else would the young lass go missing?" Hook said.

Regina sighed. "I'll see what I can find out about Teresa."

"Regina, listen to me. This is a bad idea," Emma said, stepping toward her. "This woman, this dragon, she's dangerous, and you don't know the first thing about going undercover."

"I'm a quick study, and Maleficent already told me why they're here. Apparently, they're after the author, too. I simply want him to change my fate."

"What do they want?"

"They want to shift the entire balance so that villains win and heroes lose. They feel the only way to get their happy ending is to destroy yours."

"Do you think they can find the author?" Emma asked.

"They have a lead, we don't. And tonight, they want me to help them steal it...whatever it is."

"I'm telling you, these things never end well."

"I understand your concern, but I'm in," Regina said.

Emma nodded. "Okay, well, then I'm in too."

"What?"

"I'm gonna stick by you. I'm gonna get your back while you do this."

Regina shook her head. "No. It's too dangerous."

"I said I was a part of Operation Mongoose. I am a part of it. You wanted my help...now you're gonna get it No matter what it means for both of us. Whatever she has planned tonight, I'll be there."

➳

Teresa laid on the floor of Gold's cabin with her arms behind her head, staring silently up at the ceiling. She was still under Gold's order to not speak, and was hating it. She had so many snarky comments just waiting to come out.

Suddenly, the door to the cabin opened and in walked Maleficent and Regina. Regina's eyes met hers as Teresa jumped to her feet. "Teresa?"

Maleficent smirked. "Yes, we found the little archer wondering about outside the cabin. We couldn't just let her wonder free, now could we?"

"I suppose not," Regina muttered.

Teresa allowed her eyes to widen at this, playing her own act by acting surprised by her words. She knew by the look in Regina's eyes that she was still undercover, so Teresa going to do her best by acting surprised by Regina's actions that would soon be playing out.

"So, Gold's cabin?" Regina then asked. "What are we doing here?"

"We needed someplace out of the way to hang our headdresses and hide our kidnapped puppets, and this little hovel became available to us."

"No. Your dark magic...it's not a spell or an object. It's..."

Maleficent smirked and glanced over Regina's shoulder as Gold walked in from the next room with a smirk plastered on his face. "That's right, dearie. It's me. You didn't really think I'd stay banished for long, now, did you?"

"No. I didn't," Regina admitted.

"I learned quite a bit about myself on my little journey outside Storybrooke. You were right, Regina. Sometimes the teacher needs to learn from the student. And sometimes...you need to fall very far...to finally see the light."

"Well, then you've finally accepted the same truth I have," Regina smirked. "You can't get your happy ending without finding the author. I suppose that puts us on the same side."

"I suppose it does."

Teresa stared between them before the door opened once again, only this time it was Cruella and Ursula who walked in. But they weren't alone.

Teresa's eyes widened as she reconized the little red-haired, freckled boy named Pinocchio that lay unconcious in Cruella's arms.

"And now, with the help of the real boy you've acquired, we can take our first steps."

"What are you going to do?" Regina asked.

"Step aside, and I'll show you," Gold said. "Or have you gone soft?"

Regina gave a laugh. "Never."

"What a relief. You see, we're not gonna ask young Pinocchio here to remember anything...because he can't. No amount of torture will work on him. But it will succeed on the man he used to be." Gold waved the Dark One's dagger over the young boy's body and suddenly, he was a grown man with dark hair and facial hair. Teresa's eyes widened.

"Welcome back, August. Now...shall we begin?"