CHAPTER THIRTEE : witch hunt

¸¸♬·¯·♪·¯·♫¸¸ 𝓣𝓸𝓭𝓪𝔂 𝔀𝓪𝓼 𝓪 𝓯𝓪𝓲𝓻𝔂𝓽𝓪𝓵𝓮¸¸♫·¯·♪¸♩·¯·♬¸¸

EROS WHITE WALKED ALONGSIDE HIS FRIENDS AND FAMILY. Hook was walking by Eros's side. Eros had been surprised that Hook hadn't left with Alister. He didn't know why he stayed. Then again, according to Hook, Alister and he have spent the last two hundred years together.

And Snow and himself had been separately for twenty-eight years. Even though they were in the same town, the only time they had ever spent other whole under the curse. It was when Mary was looking for volunteers to sell the candles.

Or when Snow used the sleeping curse and almost died.

So, he couldn't think of leaving his sister or David.

"Seems like old times, doesn't it?" Red suddenly asked. "Except, not running from Regina, but with her."

"She's changed. I have to believe for the better."

"I hope it sticks. But regardless, she doesn't look too good. If she hadn't tried to hurt us so many times, I might be worried about her."

"I'll talk to her," Snow tells the other girl before she walks away and approaches the Evil Queen. "You're ready to make camp soon, Regina?"

But she hasn't received an answer.

"Jason?" Hook asked.

"Huh?" Eros turned his head to the pirate.

"Where did you go, love?"

Eros gestured his head to where Snow was talking to Regina. "I'd say you have to be crazy to break into the Queen's palace, but I did it, " he admits. It's just who could break down Regina's protection spell. To put up their own?"

His head snapped up when a shrieking was heard. In the distance, they saw a flying creature. As it began to get closer, sharp claws swiped at their heads. They all dunked as the twins pulled out their arrows, and Charming pulled out his sword.

It was a flying monkey.

"Incoming!" Neal yells. The monkey pushes him out of its path and flies towards Roland.

"Papa!" Roland yelled out.

"Roland!" Robin Hood yelled, trying to push past everyone

Eros had put a regular arrow into the bowstring, aiming at the monkey. The Queen ran in front of the boy, gently pushing him away from the creature as Roland ran over to his father.

Hook pulled Eros back.

"Not so fast." Regina waved a hand and transformed the monkey into a stuffed animal. She picked it up before walking over to Ronald, smiling as she handed it over. "See, not so scary. Now you have a new toy."

"Thank you," Robin tells her.

"I don't think I'd want the stuffed animal of something that was going to kill me," Eros tells Hook. "I mean. Maybe to burn it."
¸¸♬·¯·♪·¯·♫¸¸ 𝓣𝓸𝓭𝓪𝔂 𝔀𝓪𝓼 𝓪 𝓯𝓪𝓲𝓻𝔂𝓽𝓪𝓵𝓮¸¸♫·¯·♪¸♩·¯·♬¸¸

"Okay, Henry is asleep," Emma tells her parents and uncle. If he wakes up, you three are helping me with the case. So, what the hell happened here? I mean, besides the obvious." She gestures toward a pregnant Mary Margaret.

"We don't know. We watched you drive over the town line with Henry. Regina started to cast her spell to take us all back to the Enchanted Forest, and then...everything went black." Mary answered.

"And the next thing we remember is waking up in our beds like it was any other morning in Storybrooke," David says.

"Except it clearly wasn't," Mary puts a protective hand over her belly.

"Almost harvest time, and you can't remember the planting. That's bad luck, mate," Hook commented.

"Clearly, a year's passed. I was in New York. I know that it did," Emma spoke.

"And we don't know where the hell we were. We don't even know if we left Storybrooke." Jason says.

"Aye, you did. I was with you." Alister says.

"In the Enchanted Forest?"

"Regina's spell brought us back. We've spent a brief time with a prince and princess named Phillip and Aurora. But I wasn't feeling the community spirit, so I ventured of on my own. The last I saw of you lot, you were making your way to Regina's castle." Alister says.

"Wait, so, if that's true, why was Hook here?" Jason asked.

"He stayed in the Enchanted Forest," Alister says.

Jason pulled a puzzled face. "Why would he stay?"

"Come on, mate," Alister spoke, sighing in an over-dramatically manner, before throwing his head back. "He is joking?"

Emma shook her head. "And now you're cursed. Why doesn't that surprise me?"

Mary Margaret shakes her head. "Regina seems as clueless as the rest of us. I'm not quite sure she was involved in this."

"So she says."

David turns to Alister. "I don't understand: If you left the Enchanted Forest before the curse, how did you know to find Emma and come to Storybrooke?"

"As I was sailing the realms, a bird landed on my ship's wheel with a note instructing me to retrieve Emma and bring her back here. There was a small vial of memory potion tied to its leg." Alister informed.

"Who sent it?" Mary asked.

"I assumed you did."

"A message via bird—that does sound like you," David tells his wife.

When a knock comes at the door, causing for all to turn their attention towards it.  Immediately, the door opens, and Leroy and Happy enter the room.

"What is it?" David asked.

"We lost another one. We're down to five now." Leroy tells him.

"Four, actually. Bashful's not answering." Happy says, phone in hand.

"Wait. What is going on?" Emma asked.

"Thank god you're back, sister." Leroy says.

"It's not just our memories that are missing. Ever since we woke up, people have begun disappearing." Mary tells her daughter.

"Whoever cursed us is picking us off, one by one." Leroy says.

"Who's exactly missing?"

"Four of the dwarfs, we had thought Alister was missing, but, clearly not the case.  But, we're still figuring it out. There's been a lot of confusion over the past few days. It's been hard to keep track of everyone." He paused, seeing the loo in her face. "We haven't found Neal."

"So he might have been taken, too."  Emma's look sadden.

"Smart money is on yes." Leroy quick says.

"Leroy!" Mary says in a scolding tone.

"He'll turn up, Swan. He always does." Alister speaks up.

"Some folks have set up camp in the woods at the edge of town. Neal might be there." David spoke.

"Or he may not have got swept up in the curse at all." Mary suggested.

"There's only one way we gonna figure all this out. We have to get your memories back."  Emma stands up.

"How are we going to do that?" Mary asked.

"By figuring out who took them in the first place."
¸¸♬·¯·♪·¯·♫¸¸ 𝓣𝓸𝓭𝓪𝔂 𝔀𝓪𝓼 𝓪 𝓯𝓪𝓲𝓻𝔂𝓽𝓪𝓵𝓮¸¸♫·¯·♪¸♩·¯·♬¸¸

"What the hell was that thing?"  Prince Charming asked.

"The same kind of monster that attacked us on our journey here."  Snow White answered.

"If I didn't know better, I'd say it looked an awful lot like a monkey."  Grumpy spoke.

"A monkey with wings?" David asked.

"Yes, that's exactly what it is."  Regina says in anger.

"Okay, you're acting like that's normal." Neal announces.

"Actually, it is. But not here. There's only one land that has creatures like that. I've read about it -- Oz." Belle speaks up.

"Oz? That's a real place?" Snow asked.

"You know what? Not surprised," Eros waved a hand.

"The bookworm's right." Regina spoke. "It's quite real. If our simian friend is any indication, then I think we know exactly who's taken up residence in our castle. The Wicked Witch."

"We talking East or West?" Grumpy asks.

"Does it matter? Neither one sounds good," Eros spoke.

"One you drop a house on. The other one you toss a bucket of water at." Grumpy replied.

"Point taken."

"So, Regina, what exactly are we up against besides green skin and a pointy hat? What did you do to her?" David asked.

"This time? Nothing. Never met her."

Prince Charming looked surprised. "This isn't a personal vendetta? Shocking. Okay then, Oz aside, we stick to the original plan. Arm up, then attack." He turned to Regina. "Assuming you can get the shield down."

"You don't need to worry about me." She starts walking away.

"I'm coming with you." Snow shifted her arrow.

"No, this is a one-woman job."

"What? Against the Wicked Witch? She has flying monkeys—who knows what else."

"I don't care if the Lollipop Guild is protecting her. I can lower that shield on my own."

"Then we'll be waiting for you on the other side." Snow nods.

"That's not the point-" Eros begins.
¸¸♬·¯·♪·¯·♫¸¸ 𝓣𝓸𝓭𝓪𝔂 𝔀𝓪𝓼 𝓪 𝓯𝓪𝓲𝓻𝔂𝓽𝓪𝓵𝓮¸¸♫·¯·♪¸♩·¯·♬¸¸

The three walked into Granny's Dinner, turning to look for Emma and Henry.  Once entering, they heard Emma's voice.  "Oh, Henry, this this is David, Jason, and Mary Margaret."

"Are you helping my mom with the case?" Henry asked before he leans over the table, taking on a whisper tone. "Or are they the ones who jumped the jail?"

Emma stands up. "No, they are- They are just old friends."

"Friends? From where?" Henry asked.

"Phoenix." Mary answered.
"Here." Emma says, but, once registering Mary's answer added; "Well, Phoenix and here."

"But I thought you were only in Phoenix for being in... that place." Henry hesitated

"Right. We were cellmates." Mary says.

Jason shakes his head.

"Really? What were you in for?" Henry asked, excitedly

"Banditry." Mary answered as she sits down. "People make mistakes. The important thing is to find a way to keep moving on."

"Did you know my dad?" Henry asked.

This caused for the four adults to turn to each other. As they shared a look before David spoke up;  "Should we order? Let's order."

Jason tilted his head, examining Henry in thought. And it feels like they forgot something. Something that was important. Is important.  His thoughts are interrupted at the sound of a something shattering. They all turn to see Regina staring at Henry, a shattered mug at her feet.

He stares blankly back.

"Oh, uh, I'm-- I'm sorry. I didn't mean to startle you." Regina managed to let out, the look of shock never leaving her face.

Henry shrugs, then returns to his cocoa. "Oh, that's okay."

Emma stands up, sliding past the chair that Mary sat in and as she walked up to the Mayor. "Regina. Regina, we need to talk. Come on."

"So, Henry," Jason speaks up. "You like to read?"

¸¸♬·¯·♪·¯·♫¸¸ 𝓣𝓸𝓭𝓪𝔂 𝔀𝓪𝓼 𝓪 𝓯𝓪𝓲𝓻𝔂𝓽𝓪𝓵𝓮¸¸♫·¯·♪¸♩·¯·♬¸¸

Jason had believed that the Jones brothers would want some time to catch up. Or, as Alister had put it when they all left, for Killian to lecture him.

"So, you stayed with Jason?" Alister questioned, his voice taking in a teasing tone as he wiggled his eyebrows.

Killian rolled his eyes, reaching his hand out and shoving Alister. Alister just laughed as he tumbled into the wall. "Finally! I thought you'd never say anything!"

"Have you told Emma?" Killian shot back.

"Oh, someone woke up in the wrong side of the bed," he smiled again. "What? Does Jason take up the entire bed to himself-"

Killian removed his hook, and aimed to throw it at Alister.

¸¸♬·¯·♪·¯·♫¸¸ 𝓣𝓸𝓭𝓪𝔂 𝔀𝓪𝓼 𝓪 𝓯𝓪𝓲𝓻𝔂𝓽𝓪𝓵𝓮¸¸♫·¯·♪¸♩·¯·♬¸¸

They all has been called to the town line, apparently, John had been taken, flown over the town line, by an odd, furry creature. Jason drove both Jones brothers.  While, Emma and David took separate cars.

"This is where he was taken," Robin Hood tells them, advancing toward the town line.

"I wouldn't step over that line, if I were you." Emma quickly says.

"You think Little John was carried away because he attempted to cross that line?"

"Makes sense. The dwarves were out checking the line to see if anyone was coming or going when they disappeared. What exactly took Little John?" David asked .

"We didn't get a good look. Some manner of a beast with wings." Robin tells them.

"That sounds a lot like the monster who attacked me in New York."

"You were attacked?" Jason asked.

"The monster you were gonna marry?" Alister questioned.

"You were going to marry someone?" David inquired of, a look of disbelief.

"Did you just miss the part where I said "monster"?" Alister asked

"We need to find Little John." Robin speaks.

"It may lead us to those who've gone missing. David, take him and the rest of his-" Emma paused.

"Merry Men."

"Right. Them. Run a search grid and see if you can find any sign of their missing guy."

"Are you not joining us, Swan?" Alister asked.

"Not yet. Regina was right. I'm not gonna figure out who's behind this curse by talking to people one by one." Emma begins to walk away.

"What are you gonna do?"

"I'm gonna talk to everybody."
¸¸♬·¯·♪·¯·♫¸¸ 𝓣𝓸𝓭𝓪𝔂 𝔀𝓪𝓼 𝓪 𝓯𝓪𝓲𝓻𝔂𝓽𝓪𝓵𝓮¸¸♫·¯·♪¸♩·¯·♬¸¸

They were searching the woods, looking for clues as to where John may have been taken.

"Guys!" David called out, which lead for them to go by his side and examine what he held.

It was a leaf, that was covered in blood.

"He was dragged." Robin says, as he begins to follow a path. "He's there!"

A injured Little John is lying on the ground. He's unconscious and suffers from a shoulder wounds.

"Is he alive?" Hook asked.

"Barely." Robin begins to shake the other man, trying to awake him. "John, I'm here. We've got you."

"I've never seen bite like that before."  Hook says.

"Me neither."  Both david and Jason speaks.

"Okay, help me get him up. We gonna get him some help." Robin says, which lead to high himself and David beginning to pull the other up.

¸¸♬·¯·♪·¯·♫¸¸ 𝓣𝓸𝓭𝓪𝔂 𝔀𝓪𝓼 𝓪 𝓯𝓪𝓲𝓻𝔂𝓽𝓪𝓵𝓮¸¸♫·¯·♪¸♩·¯·♬¸¸

They had brought John to the hospital, walking thing him as he was lead into the building in a gurney.

"He's bradycardic. BP dropping fast," the nurse says.

"What did this to him?" Dr. Whale asked.

"We don't know," David answered.

But the questioning had been stopped as the nurse called out;  "He's going into shock."

Little John was violently shaking, seizing.

"We need to sedate him. Fifteen mg of propofol," Dr. whale says, as he takes a needle, to give to Little John. But, it is difficult with just how badly John was shaking. He screamed, pained. When suddenly a tail lashed out, seemingly growing from John. The tail knocked over a few people, including Dr. Whale

"John, John!" Robin yelled out, moving forwards to try and hold some his friend before he too was knocked down.

Hook dunked in time before it hit him. "Bloody hell!"

"John!"

"How are we gonna-" Jason began, but stoped as everyone had bene knocked to the side, away from the gurney. And watched as there stood a monkey with wings. "What the hell?"

The flying monkey stood up, still in the gurney, and spread its wings.

"Okay, I didn't see that coming."

The flying monkey crouched down, screeching at them. And began to fly in the air, before pushing open the doors and leaping out window, shattering the glass.

"What the hell was that thing?" David asked, staring at the broken window.

"Don't look at me. I'm a doctor not a vet."

"Clearly not a comedian either," Jason snapped. "No one was looking at you."

¸¸♬·¯·♪·¯·♫¸¸ 𝓣𝓸𝓭𝓪𝔂 𝔀𝓪𝓼 𝓪 𝓯𝓪𝓲𝓻𝔂𝓽𝓪𝓵𝓮¸¸♫·¯·♪¸♩·¯·♬¸¸

Eros had been making more arrows for Snow and himself, as they all gathered to as many world as they would, and gather as many people as they could.

"It's down!" Grumpy called out, as Regina had managed to thing some the force fields surrounding her old castle.

"We move on the castle," Prince Charming speaks. "Now!"

Everyone picked up their weapons. And made their way towards the end of the woods, to head towards the castle.
¸¸♬·¯·♪·¯·♫¸¸ 𝓣𝓸𝓭𝓪𝔂 𝔀𝓪𝓼 𝓪 𝓯𝓪𝓲𝓻𝔂𝓽𝓪𝓵𝓮¸¸♫·¯·♪¸♩·¯·♬¸¸

Jason, Alister, Hook and David all quickly made their way back to Mary Margaret's place. Or, as quick as they could, considering they had paused to make sure no one had been injured when John turned into a flying monkey. 

David opened the door. "We need to talk."

Emma paused, quickly looking back at Henry. "Uh, outside."
¸¸♬·¯·♪·¯·♫¸¸ 𝓣𝓸𝓭𝓪𝔂 𝔀𝓪𝓼 𝓪 𝓯𝓪𝓲𝓻𝔂𝓽𝓪𝓵𝓮¸¸♫·¯·♪¸♩·¯·♬¸¸

"They're being turned into flying monkeys?" Mary asked in a whisper tone.

"Yes. He took on simian form, with the added bonus of wings," Hook explained.

"Do you think that's what happened to the missing dwarfs, too?" Mary asked.

"Let's hope so," Jason replied.

"Hope?" Emma asked.

"Well between finding them as flying monkeys, or dead, I'd prefer to find them as flying monkeys."

"It would explain why we haven't found any trace of them," David says. "The them turning into monkeys part."

"And Neal?" Emma asked.

"No sigh of him either. So, yeah, it's possible."

"Wouldn't be the first flying monkey I've dated," Emma muttered.

"The person who escaped our trap disappeared in a could of green smoke," Regina spoke. "And now there are flying monkeys in this town. I think we know exactly who curse us."

"The Wicked Witch of the West?" Emma asked, mockingly. Then when she didn't get a look of annoyance or anyone denying her. "Seriously? She's real too?"

"Says the daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming,"   Hook remarked.

"I don't get it. It's not like we're in Kansas. Why would the Wicked Witch of the West wanna come to Storybrooke?"  Emma asked.

"What did you do to her?" Jason asked, trying to Regina.

"This time? Nothing. I never met her," Regina says.

Jason tilts his head. "Nothing you can remember. If we stayed in the enchanted forest longer then we thought, considering we can't recall it, it's possible that-"

"Why's it always my fault?"

"Says the mass murderer," Jason sarcastically replied. "On multiple accounts. And had you let me finish speaking; one of us had caused for her to do this to us."

"We caused for her to do this to us?" Mary asked in disbelief.

"You know what I mean," Jaso waved a hand in a dismissing manner. "Like, imprisoned someone she's loved," he gestures to Charming and Snow. "Killed someone she loved," gesture to Regina. "Or, just severely injured herself or someone she cares for."

David had gestured to Jason at the end if his sentence.
¸¸♬·¯·♪·¯·♫¸¸ 𝓣𝓸𝓭𝓪𝔂 𝔀𝓪𝓼 𝓪 𝓯𝓪𝓲𝓻𝔂𝓽𝓪𝓵𝓮¸¸♫·¯·♪¸♩·¯·♬¸¸

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