↬Chapter Twenty Four-Lady Of The Lake↬

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I only own Jade/Camilla and my ideas.

Jade stood opposite Charming as they spoke about their plans against the king within the tent of which held the normal group.

"King George's men are here on this ridge-" Charming began before getting cut off by Red who ran in saying, "-We have to move camp. They're coming for us."

"No! We will not run! We said we were gonna take the kingdom back, and we can't do that with our tails between our legs." Charming protested.

Jade and Red gave him a look as they realised what the man had said.

Charming looked at the two confused at first before realising what he had said. He turned his head towards Red before saying, "No offense."

"But matters have worsened. The King has a new general." Red told.

"Who is he?" Snow asked, getting into the conversation. Jade's head snapped towards Red in interest on who the new general could be.

"They call him the Leviathan. They say he attacks like a monster striking from the depths of the sea. You never see him coming, and you never survive." Red explained to the group, both Jade and Snow shared a look as a smirk grew on her face.

"We'll see about that." Charming muttered.

"I'd like to see him try and get past me." Jade smirked slightly.

"How close is his army?" Snow asked as an arrow shot into the camp's table.

"I'd say pretty close." Charming mumbled as the group all walked out of the tent.

"We should split up. Divide them." Snow suggested.

"Exactly." Charming agreed before demanding, "Go! Go! Go."

Snow goes to run before turning back, "Aren't you coming?"

"He's after me." Charming responded.

"You'll have a better chance of escaping on your own." Snow protested.

"Don't worry. Meet me in two days' time at the cabin." Charming told.

"The cabin? Where she is? Are you sure?" Snow asked in confusion.

"We're engaged. I think it's about time you met my mother." Charming told as the two of them kiss, "Go. Go." Snow turned on her heels and began to run as Jade goes to go after her, Charming places his hand on her, "she'll be safe, we need you here."

With that being said, Jade nods and turned on her heels before getting her hunting knives out and spinning them on her fingers; she ran straight towards King George's knights.

As Snow ran, she had got knocked down by an unknown person, she looked up "Ah! What kind of general hides behind a mask? Who are you really, Leviathan?"

"'Leviathan'? That's what they're calling me?" Leviathan asked before he uncloaked himself, "Name's Lancelot."

Snow's eyebrows knitted together, "Lancelot? Of the Round Table?"

"Not anymore." Lancelot shook his head before he captured Snow.

Within the Safe Haven of The Enchanted Forest, Cora tried to tend an unconscious Mary Margaret while Emma and Camilla watched in the pit where they were being held.

Camilla stood there trying to rid of the pain as well as keeping an eye on Cora. If she had to be honest, she didn't trust Cora one bit, Camilla had a feeling that Cora was familiar like she recognised her but she didn't know where from.

"You sure she's gonna be okay?" Emma asked.

"Don't worry. She'll be fine." Cora responded.

"What is this place? Where are we?" Emma questioned.

"It's a little island our captors like to think of as their haven." The familiar woman spoke.

"Haven? From what?" Camilla piped in, her eyebrows knitted together in slight confusion. She thought that once the curse hit, it would be safe.

"The world's dangerous. What's left of it, anyway." Cora responded.

Emma folded her arms, "Well, they can't keep us down here. We didn't do anything wrong."

"Neither did I." Cora said.

"Then why are you here?" Emma asked, both Emma and Camilla shared a look.

"I'm here because of something my daughter did. The curse that ravaged this land? She cast it, with help from the Dark One's child." Cora explained. Camilla's eyes widened as Emma stared at the Hopper child.

"Regina? You're Regina's mother?" Emma asked.

"I-I...what?" Camilla asked in confusion, "I helped your daughter." Cora looked at the Hopper girl with a small look, "I thought I recognised you."

"Yes. But you've nothing to fear from me. The apple fell very far from the tree." Cora told, "You're from over there, aren't you? How'd you get back?"

"Emma, Camilla. No..." Mary Margaret mumbled, implying that she had woken up.

"Oh, Snow, you're awake. I'm so relieved." Cora beamed.

"As bad as you think Regina is, this woman is worse." Mary Margaret told as she stood defensive over Emma, Camilla stood to the side of Mary Margaret as she stared at the woman.

"Oh, Snow. Sweet Snow, please believe me. Whatever she told you isn't true. I just want to help you." Cora responded.

"Let's hear her out." Emma suggested.

"Seriously?" Camilla questioned as she shot the blonde a look.

"Emma." Mary Margaret said.

"Okay. Right now, we're at the bottom of a hole with no other options. And Henry is back in Storybrooke with Regina." Emma pointed out.

"Who's Henry?" Cora asked as she shot the three women a look.

"My son." Emma responded, "I kind of share him with Regina. It's complicated."

"Don't talk to her!" Mary Margaret hissed.

"Enough!" A man yelled down, "Our leader requests an audience."

David walked down the street of Storybrooke with Henry by his side as they walked to the school bus.

"So what's on the agenda for Operation Scorpion?" Henry asked the older man beside him.

"What's Operation Scorpion?" David retorted in slight confusion.

"The code name for our mission to find Emma, Snow, and Camilla. Do you prefer Viper? That was my second choice." Henry responded.

"Henry, we need to talk." David told with a sigh.

Henry ignored what his grandpa was saying, "Yeah, Scorpion's better."

"No, it's not that. It's..." David started before getting cut off by Henry saying, "I'm not coming with you? But I-I thought we were gonna find Jefferson."

"I already did." David responded to the small child.

"What? Is he gonna help us?" Henry questioned.

"No. No, Henry, he's not." David responded as he shook his head.

Henry's eyebrows knitted together in confusion, "But why didn't you tell me you talked to him?"

"Because I didn't want to disappoint you. I know you want to find your mom, but Jefferson can't help us. I need to find a way to restore the hat." David explained to the small boy.

"So, why can't I help you look?" Henry asked the man.

"It'll require magic, Henry, and magic..." David began before getting cut off by Henry, "Always comes with a price. I've read the book, you know?"

"I'm sorry," David said as he gave the small boy a small smile, "but I just can't let you anywhere near this stuff. If you really want to help me, you'll go to school where I know you'll be safe. Okay?"

"Okay." Henry nodded before he went towards the school bus and David walked away, knowing his grandson had left to go to school. Henry looked back and ran away from the bus.

Emma, Mary Margaret and Camilla walked through the camp of the Safe Haven.

"Why can't you just listen to me?" Mary Margaret questioned her daughter.

"Why couldn't you have trusted me? I was just trying to find a way to get us home. I could've handled her." Emma told them.

"Cora? Don't be so sure." Camilla retorted.

"We've lived here, Emma. We know this world and its dangers." Mary Margaret pointed out.

"Wait here." The man ordered to the three.

"Is that why you came through the portal? Because you thought I was helpless here?" Emma asked.

"No. I came through to be with you." Mary Margaret corrected.

Emma gave Camilla a look as if she was about to ask the same question to her, Camilla simply responded with, "I tried to save your ass, don't even start."

Ignoring what Camilla had said, Mary Margaret looked at the a male of which walked out of a tent of which Mary Margaret said, "Lancelot?"

"Snow?" Lancelot asked. At the sound of his voice, Camilla's head shot round to the voice.

"Oh! Oh!" Mary Margaret muttered as she hugged the male soldier.

"If I had known that you were the prisoners Mulan had brought back, I never would've locked you away." Lancelot explained, "Please, forgive me."

"Of course." Mary Margaret responded.

"Lancelot? Really?" Emma asked.

"Yes, really. Keep up." Camilla said as she rolled her eyes.

"He's an old friend. We can trust him." Mary Margaret told, "This is Emma."

The three hugged as both Aurora and Mulan watched from afar.

"Why is he embracing them?" Aurora asked, "They were responsible for Phillip's death."

"You're new here, Aurora. Phillip trusted Lancelot. So must we." Mulan explained to the princess.

"I want justice." Aurora bluntly told.

"Tread carefully. It's dangerous to confuse vengeance with justice." Mulan warned, "Do you understand me? Do you understand me?"

"Yes." Aurora said with a small nod. Mulan left the princess as she drew out a concealed dagger and looked back at Emma, Mary Margaret and Camilla.

Emma, Mary Margaret and Camilla sat at a table where they were received a comprehensive meal.

"What the hell is that?" Emma questioned as she looked at the meat confused.

"That is Chimera. An acquired taste, but all our hunting party could bring back. One part lion, one part serpent, one part goat." Lancelot explained.

"Like turducken?" Emma questioned.

"I don't understand. We were told this land didn't even exist anymore. How did you all escape the curse?" Mary Margaret asked.

"I'd like to know that as well." Camilla said as she rose her hand innocently.

"It is a mystery. The curse struck, and when the smoke cleared, most of us had been torn from this land." Lancelot explained, "But some of us here, in this particular region, were left behind. We don't know how and we don't know why. Finding this safe haven wasn't easy. It took some spilt blood. But, worry not, you're safe here."

"We can't stay. My husband's back there. Emma's son, my grandson. We have to get back to them. Can you help us find a portal?" Mary Margaret asked.

"No, leaving is unwise. The Enchanted Forest is not as you remember it. The Ogres have returned." Lancelot explained to the small group. At the sound of the word, 'Ogres', Camilla's eyes widened, her mind went back to when she actually nineteen.

"Ogres? Like, as in "Fee-Fi-Fo-Fum"?" Emma asked.

"Those would be giants." Camilla corrected.

"Ogres are far worse. That's why we live here, on this island, where it's safe." Lancelot explained, "Please, Snow, stay here. There are no more portals left."

"I might know of one." Mary Margaret told.

"You do?" Emma asked as Lancelot asked, "Where?"

"Cora's near. I don't feel comfortable voicing my plans. She's powerful." Mary Margaret commented.

"Not any more. The curse stripped her of her powers. But given her reputation, we've kept her locked up as a precaution." Lancelot explained. Camilla gave him a small look, for some reason he seemed different from when they met the first time.

"Nevertheless, I'm not taking chances. Just trust me, I may have a way. Let us go." Mary Margaret pleaded.

"I'll allow it. I just wish our friend was here." Lancelot said with a sigh and a small smirk grew on Camilla's face, "but, alas, she was taken away in the curse. She was protective over you quite a bit, Snow, that is until, it, happened."

"Actually, I'd personally say that I'm still protective over people. As for the entire it situation, I had reason." Camilla commented as she leaned forwards a bit.

Lancelot was taken aback for a moment, "Well if it isn't The Jade Stiltskin...in less navy and without your mask." The two stood as they clapped arms with each other.

"But, anyway, on one condition. Take my bravest warrior with you. Allow Mulan to defend you." Lancelot told as Camilla gave a look.

"We can defend ourselves." Emma spoke as Mulan came walking over.

"What do you mean take Mulan? We can protect ourselves, we don't need her." Camilla spoke as her voice had a hint of annoyance in it. Lancelot shot her a look and in return all she done was a shrug.

Mary Margaret ignored the two's comment as she said, "Deal. Thank you, Lancelot. For always looking out for me."

"Choose wisely." Mulan told as she opened up a box of which contained multiple weapons, "We must be vigilant if we hope to survive the journey."

"Where's my daggers?" Camilla questioned as Emma asked, "Where's my gun? I want it back."

Mulan walked off as she picked up four of Camilla's daggers in one hand and Emma's gun in the other, she passed Camilla her daggers and as she did, she noticed the initials 'JS' written on the the blade. Mulan shrugged to her self as she looked at the gun asking, "Is it magic?"

"Depends on who's pulling the trigger." Emma responded as she took back her gun.

"Follow my lead, step where I step, do exactly as I say, and we might survive." Mulan warned.

"'And we might survive' yeah I though you helped a prince and last time I checked we are able to look after ourselves, Mulan, but considering you have to come with us, I'm going to tell you one thing; stay out my way." Camilla warned before walking off.

Mulan turned towards Mary Margaret, "what's her deal?"

"I dunno, she's always been sarcastic. Jade Stiltskin, the sarcastic warrior." Mary Margaret told with a sigh, "Just make sure that you stay out her way, only go to her if she wants to talk to you."

"Wait, Jade Stiltskin? As in the Jade Stiltskin, the Dark One's unwanted child?" Mulan asked as she rose her eyebrow.

"Yep. But I wouldn't say that around her. She doesn't like anyone mentioning her father." Mary Margaret explained.

Emma rolled her eyes at the conversation about the female before turning her attention back to what Mulan has previously said, as she told, "Thanks for the pep talk, but I think we're okay. I just killed a dragon last week."

Mulan looked at the blonde as she asked, "Have you ever seen an ogre?"

"Pretty sure I've dated a few." Emma muttered.

"Legend has it that when they kill you," Mulan began before Camilla joined in saying, "the last thing you see is yourself dying in the reflection in their eyes."

"Can you please be quiet," Mulan pleaded as Camilla rose her hands up innocently, "Let's walk. It'll be dark soon."

"Don't let her rattle you. I won't let anything happen to us. Stick to the plan." Mary Margaret told as they all walked behind Mulan.

"What is the plan? You haven't told me anything. What's going on?" Emma questioned.

"The wardrobe." Mary Margaret simply responded.

"Wardrobe? The wardrobe? Like, the wardrobe that sent little baby me to Maine?" Emma asked.

"No the one that sent you to Hogwarts," Camilla sarcastically responded, "yes, that wardrobe."

"You think it could get us back to Storybrooke?" Emma questioned as Camilla rolled her eyes.

"I don't know." Mary Margaret told with a shrug, "First we have to see if it survived the curse, then we'll worry about making it work."

"Where is it?" Emma asked.

"My place. You wanna see where you're from, Emma?" Mary Margaret asked, "That's right. We're going home."

Within the town of Storybrooke, Henry had found Jefferson sitting by the docks of the town.

"Jefferson. Right? The mad hatter. I need your help." Henry told, getting to the point.

"Look, I already told your grandfather... I can't do anything." Jefferson responded, already knowing what the small boy was going to ask.

"I know, but there must be something we can do." Henry said.

"I'm the wrong person to talk to, kid. Magic's not my thing." Jefferson told, "Try your mother. Maybe she's got something in that vault of hers she can help you with."

Henry looked at the older man as he asked, "Vault? Her vault is here? In Storybrooke?"

"It's none of my business. Talk to her." Jefferson stated.

Henry's eyes caught what the Hatter was fiddling with, "What's that? Your daughter's looking for you, isn't she?"

Jefferson's attention snapped towards the ten year old, "What do you know about it?"

"I've read your story. I know how the two of you were separated." Henry explained, "Why are you here? She's at school."

"I gotta go home, kid." Jefferson told as he stood up.

"She probably wants to see you." Henry suggested as he stood in the Hatters way.

"Get out of my way. Get out of my way." Jefferson demanded.

"Why aren't you going to find her?" Henry asked.

"Because I left her! And she'll hate me." Jefferson snapped.

"How do you know that?" The small boy questioned.

"I was on my way, but fate reminded me I shouldn't." The Hatter responded.

"You should. I've been left, too. Anything's better than nothing. She'll spend her whole life wondering why you left her. Not knowing is the worst." Henry countered.

Regina stood in her office as she packed the things of which laid within the office, she stopped when she received a call from Henry. Regina answered the phone as she said, "Henry. I'm just packing up the office. I've been asked to leave." She waited as she heard what Henry had to say, "No, of course it can wait. I'd love to have lunch with you. Granny's, ten minutes." With that she hang up her phone and made her way out of the office and her way straight to the Diner.

When the coast was clear, Henry made his way out of the air vent and grabbed hold of his mothers keys. As he made his way back to the air vent, he made sure that no one had heard him enter and leave.

Mulan, Emma, Camilla and Mary Margaret had stopped within the Enchanted Forest.

Mulan spoke up as she looked around the open area, "This will do. We'll make camp here for the night. We just need to find water, collect some firewood."

"Doesn't seem as if we walked far." Camilla muttered with a shrug.

"Uh, if we're hiding from ogres, shouldn't we maybe, I don't know, not start a fire?" Emma asked in a rather confused or sarcastic tone.

"Ogres are blind. They hunt by sound alone." Mary Margaret responded.

Camilla felt a sharp pain radiating throughout her arm and through her chest, she clutched onto a tree branch as she rested her head onto the bark of the tree and took deep breaths.

After a few moments as she looked up towards Mulan as she mouthed, "Are you okay?"

Camilla nodded at the woman saying, "I'm perfect."

"Right. Because that's something everyone would know about ogres." Emma said sarcastically.

"Look... I know you're out of your element..." Mary Margaret began before getting cut off by Emma saying, "-I'm fine."

"I know, but maybe you should just stay here while we get wood and water, guard the campsite." Mary Margaret suggested.

"You mean the big, empty clearing?" Emma retorted as she rose a brow.

"It's the safest place. We'll be right back." Mary Margaret responded.

Snow White walked through the Enchanted Forest as she soon came to realisation that she was being pursued. She took a step back before she ambushed Lancelot.

"Aah! Uhh!" Snow yelled as she knocked Lancelot of his horse, "Ya!" Snow yelled as she went to ride off.

"Wait!" Lancelot calked out, "I've come to help."

"After what you did to me?" Snow spat.

"After what the King did to you. I still do have a small shred of honor left." Lancelot explained.

"Do you really think I'm that naive?" Snow sarcastically asked, "You're going to earn my trust so I can lead you straight..."

Lancelot cut Snow off by continuing her sentence saying, "To the cabin where your prince is hiding his mother?"

Snow looked at the man in confusion to how the man knew, "How did you know?"

"Because George knows where it is. He sent men there to kill your man's mother." Lancelot explained to the bandit.

"Charming's at the cabin, too." Snow said, "and Jade."

Meanwhile both Jade and Charming walked towards the cabin of which held the prince's mother.

"Mother, the place looks beautiful." Charming commented, "Will you come inside?"

Ruth turned her attention towards her son, "I'm sorry if I want things to be perfect when I meet the girl... My son is going to marry."

Jade's head snapped round towards the forest as she asked, "Wait. Did you hear that?"

Charming's head snapped towards his mother, "Go in. Bolt the door. Whatever happens, stay inside. Go."

"What? That's it?" Jade scoffed as she looked at the Kings guards.

Both Charming and Jade gave each other a look as the female smirked.

Two men shot arrows towards the two, Charming ducked and let the arrow hit another soldier while Jade caught the arrow before running towards one of the soldiers and impaled in into the the chest of the soldier.

The soldiers ran for both, her and Charming. Jade took a step back, letting two swordsmen run into each other, successfully impaling and killing each other.

Jade and Charming had the rest of the soldiers killed - Well Jade was the one doing the killing while Charming simply knocked them out.

"Son," The two heard from behind them.

Jade dropped one soldier that she had just finished slicing his throat, she turned, seeing Charming's mother with an arrow in her chest.

They both ran towards her as Charming caught hold of his mother right as she fell back, "I told you to stay inside," Charming said desperately as he held onto his mother.

"I know, but I heard you. I thought you were hurt. I'm sorry." Ruth told as she looked up towards her son.

"No. You're gonna be okay. Okay? Everything's gonna be okay." Charming whispered.

Snow White came running towards the three followed by Lancelot as she said, "I'm so sorry. We came as quickly as we could."

"Is this... Snow?" Ruth asked as she looked between both Charming and Snow.

At their camp, Mary Margaret was making a fire, when Aurora appeared with a knife and attempted to kill her.

She remember what Camilla had told her before she flipped Aurora over as the two start to fight.

"Don't move. Phillip's gone because of you." Aurora hissed towards the mother.

Mary Margaret rolled over as she spoke, "You listen to me, princess! You think I don't know what it's like to be separated from the people that I love? What happened to Phillip was not our fault. So I suggest you find another way to channel your anger."

"Don't talk to her like that." Mulan told as she pulled Mary Margaret off of Aurora.

"She tried to kill me." Mary Margaret countered.

"I will deal with her." Mulan told as a gunshot echoed throughout the area. All eyes went towards the blonde as she stood with her gun in the air.

"You've gotta be kidding be." Camilla sighed with wide eyes.

"Emma, what are you doing?" Mary Margaret asked as she stared at her daughter.

"Protecting you." Emma responded, "Drop the weapon!"

"Do you have any idea what you've just done, you idiot?" Camilla asked as she gave Emma a look.

"Ogres?" The blonde questioned.

"RUN!" Mary Margaret yelled.

"Aurora. This way. Come on!" Mulan called out towards the previous sleeping princess.

"Split up!" Mary Margaret yelled as her, Camilla, and Emma went one way.

"Come on!" Mulan calked as her and Aurora went another.

"Over there." Mary Margaret pointed out as Emma tripped over a log branch. The ogre approached her, she tries to shoot it but the beast crushes her gun as it roared in her face.

"Seriously?" Emma questioned

Mary Margaret whistles as she caught the attention of the ogre, "Back away from my daughter!" The mother loaded her bow and arrow before shooting the beast within its eye, "You have to shoot them in the eye."

"When was the last time you shot an arrow?" Emma questioned as Mary Margaret helped her up.

"28 years ago. Guess it's like riding a bike." Mary Margaret told with a shrug.

"Yeah, but how did you know you could hit that?" Emma asked.

Mary Margaret shrugged, "I didn't." She looked towards Emma saying, "Next time, listen to me. That kind of thing isn't gonna work here."

Emma nodded, "Yeah."

"We should get going." Mary Margaret told as the two began to walk.

Prince Charming and Lancelot were talking about the arrow to one side as both Jade and Snow tended towards the slowly dying mother.

"It's poisoned." Lancelot told them.

"Can we find an antidote?" Charming asked the knight.

"Or the fairies." Snow suggested, "They can help us."

"Yeah, they normally do." Jade said agreeing with her best friend.

"No. I'm afraid this is gonna take something stronger than fairy dust." Lancelot explained.

"Lake Nostos..." Charming trailed off as both him and Jade shared a small look, "I've been there before. Its waters have powerful magical properties. I've seen them turn a man from solid gold back into flesh."

"We've both been there, if it's waters are able to save a golden statue than it'll help save your mother, Charming." Jade calmly told.

"Yeah, it isn't far. A day's journey at most." Charming said as his attention went towards Lancelot as the man said, "I'll prepare a wagon."

The two men walked towards a wagon as they prepared it for their travels.

"Must be a curious tale." Charming bluntly stated.

Lancelot gave Charming a confused look as he asked, "What?"

"Well, how a knight of the round table ended up a sword for hire." Charming explained.

"You mean how did I fall from grace?" Lancelot asked as Charming nodded, "The same way you ended up running from King George. A woman."

Charming proceeded the information before turning towards Snow, Ruth and Jade telling them, "We're gonna scout ahead. We won't be long." Jade nodded at the man before he walked ahead with Lancelot by his side.

"Thank you." Ruth said weakly.

"Oh. It's the least I can do." Snow responded, "Are you comfortable?"

"No." Ruth simply said as both Jade and Snow shared a slight confused look, "For giving my son something to believe in. All he's ever dreamt of was having a wife and a son. Fret not. It could be a daughter. But trust me, all that matters is that it's healthy. Let me show you something." Ruth pulled out a necklace of which held an amulet on it as she proceeded to explain, "My mother gave this to me when I was pregnant. She said it was spelled by a gypsy to predict the sex of your firstborn even before you are with child."

"And it works?" Snow questioned.

"It did with my boys. If it swings North to South, it's a boy. East to West, it's a girl." Ruth explained.

"Mm." Snow nodded.

"Shall we? Just between us?" Ruth asked as she looked towards the two women though it seemed as if Jade wasn't really paying attention and if the Stiltskin child had to be honest, she wasn't.

"Oh, I don't think that's a good idea." Snow said, disregarding the suggestion.

"Indulge an old woman. It'll help take my mind off the... well, you know. Here." Ruth took hold of Snow's hand as she placed the amulet over the former Princess's hand, though the amulet doesn't spin, Snow's face dropped.

"Don't worry. It's just... a silly superstition." Ruth said with a small smile, "What's wrong, child? You can tell me anything, Snow."

Snow released a small sigh before explaining, "It's the King. When he captured me, he cursed me, so... so that I can never have children."

"Worry not. If the water from Lake Nostos can heal me, it should be able to do the same for you." Ruth told with determination though she was dying.

"Do you really think so?" Snow questioned.

"You are going to be a wonderful mother." Ruth told with a smile towards the bandit.

As the group proceeded throughout the Enchanted Forest, they soon approached the castle of which Snow called Home.

"We're getting close." Mary Margaret stated.

"Aurora, you've gotta keep up." Mulan told the former sleeping princess.

Aurora released a small sigh as she held onto a part of her dress as she said, "Sorry, but I'm not exactly dressed for the woods. It's cold out here."

"Then maybe you should've listened to me and stayed back." Mulan spoke as Emma had passed the sleeping princess her jacket saying, "Here."

Aurora shot Emma a confused look, "But I tried to kill your friend."

"Actually, she's my mom and I have a feeling she can take care of herself. And I get it. You're not the only one who's been screwing up lately." Emma told her as she walked in front of her.

Aurora held up Emma's red leather jacket in confusion of what it was, "What kind of corset is this?"

"It's a jacket, from our world, princess." Camilla told as she rolled her eyes before walking round her and walking in front of her just as Mulan called out, "Up here!"

"Is that it?" Emma asked as in the distance was the castle of which brought back not so good memories.

All that Camilla could think about was her last ever memory of which she had of being Jade Stiltskin. The place of which she stabbed her friend and revealed that she was the traitor of them - though - Camilla had always thought that Snow knew that it was her all along but who knows?

She stared at the castle of which was in the distance as her mind wandered back to when the purple smoke filled the room of Emma's old room of which would never of been in use, because of her.

Camilla blames herself for what had happened and if she had the opportunity she would willingly turn back time and redo all the mistakes of which she had done towards her friends.

"Yeah. That's our home." Mary Margaret responded with a small smile though it seemed to fade when she noticed Camilla's sad look in her eyes knowing what she was thinking.

The group had made their way to Lake Nostos, though they came to find that the lake was bone dry. No water of the lake in sight. All that was there was skeletons and relics of which seemed to be laying on the ground.

"Now that's unexpected." Jade muttered with wide eyes.

"Where's the lake?" Snow asked.

"You're looking at it. It's gone." Charming responded with a small sigh.

Henry had managed to break into Regina's vault, if it wasn't for Camilla's help when it came to breaking and entering then the small boy probably wouldn't have known what to do. As Henry walked down the corridor of the vault, he passed shelves of which contained hearts of which thumped as he passed them. He stumbled onto a box, but upon opening it, Agrabahn Viper spring out in attack. Henry stumbled back a little before the lid slammed shut by David.

"Maybe we should've gone with Operation Viper." David spoke, "You all right?"

"Yeah." Henry nodded before asking, "How'd you know I was down here?"

"Your mom said you asked her to lunch, and when you stood her up, she checked her office, saw her keys missing, figured out the rest. She would've come herself, but she didn't think you'd go with her." David explained before releasing a small sigh, "Henry, what were you thinking?"

"I just want them back. It wasn't supposed to be this way. I should be over there with them, riding horses, learning how to sword fight." Henry responded, all he wanted was his sister, his mother and his teacher of which so happened to be his grandma.

"I know. I know. It's okay, because we are gonna do this together." David told, "Come on now. You gotta get to school... and I gotta make sure no one else finds this place."

At the lake, Lancelot searched the lake bed trying to find any water that remained within the emptiness of the lake.

"This is my fault. The siren who lived here... I killed her. That's why the lake is dry." Charming sighed.

"Correction; we killed it." Jade pointed out as she rolled her eyes.

"You needn't worry. My mother raised me by a lake. There may yet be water. You just... need to know where to look." Lancelot spoke just as he found a seashell of which only had enough for one sip, "God in his mercy, lend her grace."

"You found it?" Charming asked.

"It's all that's left. Just enough for one sip." Lancelot spoke.

Charming smiled, "Enough to heal my mother."

"We shall find out." Lancelot said with a smile.

Ruth looked up towards Snow, "I want you to have it. That last sip of water... I want you to drink it."

"No. No, I couldn't." Snow said as she shook her head.

"That water can lift your curse, allow you and my son to have a child." Ruth protested.

"But you'll die. I won't let you give your life for this." Snow countered, all that Snow cared about was if her true love was able to have his mother.

"That's what parents do. They put their children first. Someday you will understand." Ruth told.

"No. Maybe it's for the best. I was raised without a mother. I wouldn't even know how to be one. This water was meant for you." Snow spoke with concern.

"Mother." Charming spoke as he neared his dying mother, "Mother. Our prayers are answered. There is magic in this lake yet. Here. Drink."

Ruth took the drink, "Have faith, Snow. We'll find another way."

Within the Royal Castle, Emma and Mary Margaret enter Emma's nursery as Camilla stood outside, she didn't want to go in no matter how much Mary Margaret asked her to come in, she wasn't exactly in the best of minds to go into the room of which brought the worst memories.

"Oh, my God. I recognize this from Henry's book." Emma sighed with a small smile.

"Come. We'll stand watch at the gate." Mulan said to Aurora.

"Mulan, ask Camilla if she'd go with you." Emma told as Mulan nodded. Though Emma didn't really feel comfortable around Camilla, she wanted to know how she's doing.

Mulan walked out of the nursery, as she did, she noticed how Camilla sat on the floor with her back against the wall, "Camilla, do you want to come with? We're going to watch the gate."

Camilla looked at the female soldier as she shook her head, "I'd rather stay put, if I move anywhere I'd probably have an attack of some sort."

Mulan shrugged as both her and Aurora walked off, as the did, Camilla was able to listen into both Mary Margaret's and Emma's conversation.

"-I was going to teach you how to walk in here, how to talk, how to dress for your first ball. You never got to do any of it. We never got to be a family." Mary Margaret told with sadness in her voice b

"We have a family... in Storybrooke and right now they need us to get back there." Emma pointed out, "So... how do we get this to work?"

Prince Charming stood frustrated due to that his mother was still dying, he had thought that he waters would've healed her by now.

"Why isn't it working?" Charming growled.

"Wounds take time to heal." Lancelot pointed out.

"No. No. I used this magic before. It worked instantly." Charming said, "There wasn't enough water. We need more."

As Charming went to walk off, Ruth called out, weakly, "Son... stop. There's no m-more magic here, and I don't want to spend my last moments this way."

Charming came closer to his mother as he spoke, "This is all my fault. I am so sorry."

"F... for what? For being happy? For finding your true love?" Ruth rhetorically asked, "For your happiness, I would gladly give my life. My only regret is that I won't live to see you marry Snow."

"Shh." Charming hushed as Snow said, "Yes, you will." Her attention went towards Lancelot, "Lancelot, does a disgraced member of the round table still have the power to perform a wedding?"

"It would be my honor." Lancelot responded with a smile, both Snow and Charming stood in front of Lancelot as the three of them stood at a distance from the wagon of which held Ruth, "In my kingdom, there is legend of a cup that has the power to grant eternal life. And so may the love between you always be strong, true, and eternal."

Ruth watched on as Snow and Charming marry, she had held onto Jade's hand. As the two women watched both Snow and Charming kiss, Jade felt Ruth's hand slip from her grip, implying that she had died.

"Good-bye, mother." Charming whispered as he noticed his mothers dead expressions.

Emma looked at the wardrobe, "Where's the on switch?"

"It's more complicated than that. We'll have to get it back to the island." Mary Margaret told, "Hopefully, someone there has access to enough magic to make it work again."

"How are we gonna carry this thing?" Emma asked.

"With the help of an old friend." Lancelot responded. At the sound of his voice, Camilla had shot up from where she sat, not even noticing how he passed her.

"Lancelot. What are you doing here?" Mary Margaret asked the male.

"Yeah I'd like to know that too, I'd also like to know how you passed me without me hearing you." Camilla stated as she looked at the man.

"We heard about the ogre attack, and I had to make sure you were alright." Lancelot explained.

"Oh. Where are Mulan and Aurora?" Mary Margaret questioned.

"I sent them to find food. Tonight we'll make camp, and in the morning, we'll head back." Lancelot told, "So... this is it... the portal you were after."

"The same one Emma went through. It's how she escaped the curse." Mary Margaret told, her eyes went to Camilla, who appeared to be in pain. Though Camilla tried to hide it but within the twenty-eight year curse she wasn't as good at hiding her pain as she could.

"Remarkable." Lancelot muttered.

"Geppetto carved it from an enchanted tree, but... there's no magic left." Camilla told trying to distract her mind from the pain though Mary Margaret shot her confused look to how she know but then again the former princess wasn't surprised, Camilla knew everything.

"A portal this powerful... there must be another way to recharge it." Lancelot pointed out.

"Why are you so interested in the wardrobe?" Mary Margaret asked the man.

"Well, I just want you to get home to your husband and son. Henry. They must miss you." Lancelot told, both Camilla and Mary Margaret pulled out their swords - though Camilla pulled out her daggers and pointed them towards the man.

"Stay away from him, Emma. He is not who he says he is." Mary Margaret told.

"What are you talking about? Who the hell is he?" Emma asked, confused.

"There is only one person you told Henry's name." Camilla pointed out as Emma said, "Cora."

Lancelot's body was covered in purple smoke before revealing Cora as she spoke, "Clever girl."

"Where's Lancelot?" Mary Margaret asked her.

"He's dead. I killed him a long time ago." Cora spoke. As that was said, Camilla felt a tingling feeling rushing through her arms as she held up her daggers, in all of her years fighting her arms never tingled.

"And you've been posing as him ever since." Mary Margaret said, the tingling grew to pins and needles throughout Camilla's arms.

"Well, they'd never listen to me. And besides, every kingdom needs a hero, don't you think?" Cora asked as Mary Margaret tried to attack but Cora pushed her against the wall with magic, with that being done, Camilla went to attack but instantly fell onto her hands and knees in nothing but pain.

All that Camilla could feel was pain, it felt as if her body was being set alight.

"Thank you, Snow. I've been looking for a way over for so long." Cora spoke, ignoring Camilla and her cries of pain though Emma tried to attack Cora yet again Cora uses magic to stall her, "I never thought the person to help me find it... would be you."

"Why? Why are you doing this?" Mary Margaret asked, "and what are you doing to Cam?"

"I want to see my daughter. It's been too long. And you know, I would love to meet my grandson Henry." Cora told, "as for Jade, a little taste of what she caused others." A smirk grew on her face.

"No, you won't!" Emma called out as she created a fire using gunpowder which torched the wardrobe, Cora yelled, "NO!"

"Mulan!" Aurora yelled as Mulan ran in front of Cora who held a fireball within the palm of her hand, though at Mulan's jump, it distracted Cora enough for the fireball to go.

"We're not done." Cora hissed as she disappeared.

Mary Margaret fell to the floor with an, "Oh!"

"You okay?" Emma asked.

As their conversation continued, Mulan walked over towards the female who was still on her hands and knees, hunched over as her hands were in fists.

"Jay, are you okay?" Mulan asked the female in concern.

"I-I don't know, anymore," Camilla spoke as the pain seemed to disappear from her body, she leaned back so she was sitting on her knees.

Camilla looked towards the wardrobe as all she could think was how it's going to be a long time till they get home and she hopes that it's sooner rather than later.

Prince Charming was burning a candle at his mother's memory. Jade stood at a distance as she left both Charming and Snow to talk.

"I'm so sorry. She was all the family you had left." Snow told with sadness.

"No. I still have you. I love you, Snow. And together, we can start a new family. Here." Charming spoke as he brung out the amulet, "This belonged to her. She would've wanted you to have it. She said that it could tell you what your child would be." He tried to put it in Snow's hand but she resists his grasp.

"Please don't." Snow mumbled as she gave him a look.

"It's just a superstition." Charming countered.

Snow released a sigh, "There's something I need to tell you."

"What is it? What's wrong?" Charming questioned.

"Wh..." Snow began before pausing for a moment as the amulet swung east to west, as a smile grew on her face, "we're going to have a child."

"What?" Charming questioned.

"We're going to have a child." Snow repeated happily.

"Is there something I need to know?" Charming asked, confused and worried.

Snow rolled her eyes slightly, "I mean someday."

"Well, of course, we are. What's it say it's gonna be? It's gonna be a boy, right? I can never remember which direction means what." Charming rambled.

"It's a surprise." Snow spoke.

"I'll send the signal for the army to regroup. We are gonna take back the kingdom, Snow, and we are going to do it as a family." Charming told as he walked off.

"This is because of you, isn't it? Ruth only pretended to drink the water. She had you put it in the wedding chalice so I would drink it. That's how King George's curse was broken, wasn't it?" Snow questioned the soldier.

"I have no idea what you're talking about." Lancelot responded all innocently, "So... what's your child gonna be?"

"A girl." Snow told with a smile.

The group stood within the nursery of the Royal Castle, though Camilla stood a bit away from the group. She was confused by the pain, she didn't understand it at all.

"Lancelot was one of the noblest knights I ever knew." Mary Margaret said with a small sigh.

"How could I be so blind? How could I not see that it was Cora?" Mulan questioned in annoyance.

"Well, to be fair, the whole shape-shifting thing threw me, too," Emma told the warrior.

"What are we going to tell the people on the island?" Mulan asked.

"The truth... that Lancelot was cut down by a terrible villain. He died an honourable death." Mary Margaret responded to the female fighter.

"Cora's still out there. We need to find her. We need to defend what's left of the kingdom." Mulan pointed out.

"Who's going to lead us? You?" Aurora asked in disbelief.

"No." Mulan told as she turned her attention to Mary Margaret, "Her."

"I'm honoured, but Emma, Camilla and I still have to find a way back to Storybrooke." Mary Margaret told.

"We'll help you." Mulan said, "We'll find a way, won't we?" Mulan looked towards the former sleeping princess.

"Yes." Aurora told with a nod, "Perhaps it'll help me channel my anger."

Mulan looked towards both Camilla and Aurora as she said, "Come."

The three walked out of the room though they just waited outside of the nursery as they waited for both Mary Margaret and Emma to finish their conversation.

A few moments had passed before the two walked out of the nursery but what shocked Camilla the most was that Mary Margaret willingly pulled her into a hug as she cried.

She knew that Mary Margaret regretted putting Emma in the wardrobe but if it wasn't for her then they would still be here and Mary Margaret would've been able to watch her daughter grow up.

Mary Margaret pulled away from their hug as they went to walk out of the castle.

Camilla turned towards Mary Margaret as she said, "I'm going to look round the castle, I want to check to see if it's safe in here."

"Do you want me to come?" Mary Margaret offered.

Camilla shook her head at the idea, "I'll do it myself."

As the Hopper child was about to walk off, Mary Margaret called out, "Are you okay?"

"Yeah I'm okay, why'd you ask?" Camilla shot back at her.

"Because, in the amount of time that I've known you, you've never dropped to your hands and knees in pain and you've never dropped your weapon." Mary Margaret pointed out.

Camilla let out a sigh, "Yeah, I'm fine. Perfect actually." She showed a small smile at Mary Margaret before walking away from her.

When she got a good distance from the group, she placed her hand on a pillar just to stretch her arm. As she went to move her arm, it felt as if she couldn't.

Camilla looked towards her hand to see that it was completely stone, she closed her eyes before shaking her head, she reopened her eyes to see that her hand was no longer stone.

She moved her hand towards her face as she examined it, "What?" For one, she didn't know what was going on with her. She pulled up her jacket sleeve to see a light grey spreading across her forearm. A small cough escaped of which Camilla noticed to be dust.

The Hopper girl's eyes widened, "I'm..turning to stone." She didn't understand how she was turning to it. She has always said that she's got a stone cold heart but she didn't mean literally.

She thought back to what Cora had said, "as for Jade, a little taste of what she caused others." Maybe this is her curse, maybe the pain of which she's inflicted onto others has finally caught up to her. Maybe this is what she deserves.

I won't get missed by that many people, my dad has always wanted me gone, maybe this is for the best, this is playing through Camilla's mind continually, maybe it is for the best.

"No more me, no more pain," Camilla muttered with a sigh.

Back in Storybrooke, Jefferson stood as he waited for Paige at the school bus stop.

"Grace," Jefferson called out as he noticed her getting off the bus. The child turned to see her father standing there.

"Papa! You found me. I knew you would." Grace said as the two of them hugged.

Henry watched Jefferson and Grace from inside his birth mothers yellow bug.

David noticed be the small boy in the car as he said, "I've been thinking, if you're gonna start helping me, we gotta make sure we do this right. So I picked these up on my way home." David showed Henry two wooden swords as the small boy got out of the car.

"Seriously?" Henry asked as he looked up towards his grandpa.

"Yeah, you're the grandson of a prince. I think it's about time you learned how to use a sword." David told with a small smile, "Henry, I can't get 'em back without you. So? What do you say? You with me?"

"Can you teach me how to fight a dragon?" Henry questioned, "We'll work our way up to it."

"My Liege. En garde." David bowed before the two broke out in a sword fight, "Hey. Come over here. Up top." By this time David was standing on a bench, Henry ended up getting on it as well, "Ah, you wanna fight on the same level."

"Yep!" Henry said as they continued to sword fight.

↬↬↬

Well here's a new chapter after almost a month I think. I'm sorry for not posting but I'm now on my summer holidays so I'll be posting a lot more chapters for this book during the time I'm off.

Hope that you enjoyed this chapter, happy reading :)