Operation: Apple Tree

Chapter 4: Operation Mongoose

"Where do we start?" Robin asked. Roland jumped for joy while Regina and Henry gave him bright smiles.

"Well, the Sorcerer's Mansion had a bunch of books like this, but blank. So I think we have to talk to Mother Superior." Regina said.

"Aren't they still trapped in that hat?" Robin asked her.

"Yes, but Hook and Belle are currently working on a way to get them out." Regina added, remembering that Hook had trapped the fairies in the Sorcerer's Hat when Gold had his heart.

"Once they're free, Operation Mongoose begins." Henry said like an announcement. Robin had a perplexed look on his face. Regina noticed this and gave a small laugh.

"It's a thing with him." Regina said, smiling. Robin smiled back. "How about lunch at Granny's?" Regina suggested.

"Yes!" Henry and Roland exclaimed, heading for the door. The boys and Robin grabbed their jackets. On the way out the door, Robin and Regina kissed and followed the boys as they started walking to Granny's.

At the Library...
    Killian and Belle had been working nonstop for weeks, trying to figure out how to release the fairies from the hat. Killian was reviewing the bulletin board that they had made, but he was getting very frustrated. In a burst of anger he hit the board, making it fall to the ground.

"Hm, so you still have a temper." Belle said with a sarcastic tone from behind the library's desk.

"It's been weeks. Weeks! And there is still no clue about how to release the fairies from that bloody hat!" Killian grunted, as he picked the board back up. He wasn't proud for what he had done. Even though the crocodile had his heart, he was still felt very guilty about what he did.

"We just have to keep looking, and these inscriptions are not easy. However, I have reached out to a professor from Oxford. He'll get back to us." Belle reassured him.

"If those magic boxes are all we have left, then I'd say all hope is lost." Killian grunted.

"It's called the Internet." Belle retorted, "We just need to be patient." She then grabbed the book cart and pushed it towards the shelves to restock the books that they didn't need. "Once we free the fairies, then they can free that poor old man that you trapped in there."

"All because I let myself get tricked by the crocodile. How could I have been so weak?" Killian said, ashamed.

"Your not the only one he tricked. I mean you're right you should have been stronger, but I should've been too." Belle said. Killian walked over to her, in order to help her. "I should've known he was up to something."

"You were blinded by love. What's my excuse?" Killian said. Belle sighed,

"The same reason... just for someone else."

"I was right, love is a weapon. It can be just as dangerous as magic." Killian said.

"Yeah." she mumbled.

"Hey." he said, getting her attention, "As big a bastard as he was, he did love you." he said reassuringly. Belle nodded.

"Yes but, now he's gone. I just wish that love was more powerful than his hate." Belle said, her eyes becoming glassy.

At Granny's...
Emma walked into Granny's for her lunch break. David and her didn't have to worry about crimes but they still had tons of paperwork to do. As she ordered, she looked around Granny's after she ordered she noticed Henry was sitting with Robin, Regina and Roland. Emma could not do anything but smile as she walked over to her son.

"Hey kid." Emma said, causing the group to look at her.

"Hey, mom."  Henry greeted to her. He stood up and gave his mom a hug.

"Hi Emma." Regina said, smiling. Henry was happy that his mothers were getting along considering they were at each others' throats when they first met.

"Hey Regina, Robin." Emma greeted them, "Hi Roland." They all greeted back.

"How are things at the station?" Henry asked.

"Tons of paperwork kid." she said, "Hopefully something comes up to drag me away from it. Suddenly, the door to Granny's opened to reveal Belle and Killian rushing in.

"There's a way to free the fairies." Killian informed them.

"Impeccable timing." Emma said.

"I found a spell that was written in an ancient tongue that I had never seen before." Belle said.

"Which made translation difficult but..." Killian started.

"I reached out to an Oxford professor of linguistics and he just emailed me the translation." Belle finished, "It's an incantation. It's a ceremony, you just have to enact it." she informed them, as she handed Regina a piece of paper. Regina took it and read over it.

"A Ceremony? So Madame Mayor, would you like to pronounce today Free The Fairies Day?" Emma asked Regina. Regina smiled back as did Robin.

"Let's start celebrating."

A/N: Hi Guys! I am so sorry I haven't updated in SO LONG! I had no WiFi and nothing was working. I hope this long chapter can make up for it. I plan to up date ,y other story as soon as possible. I hope you enjoy this chapter! Thank you to everyone who had read, voted and commented! Leave comments please! Love you all!
-@ShineBright03