Next day. At Granny's.
I walked over to the booth Snow and Charming were with the new baby. they haven't decided on a name yet but here we are throwing a baby party. Great.
Henry was reading from the book "" as the Pince chased the thief on horseback through the treacherous forest-!""
I breathed out annoyed "This story again? Why don't you guys start working on a name instead of repeating old history"
Charming "Well, my son should know where he comes from. "
Me "Well, your so should know his name first rather than other stories"
Emma walked to us " you sure you want the first thing he knows to be that his parents fell in love during an armed robbery?"
Snow shook her head, offended "i wasn't armed"
Ruby "Except with a rock"
Charming nodded "i still have the scar"
Snow "which healed"
Then she spoke in a baby voice to the little baby "but that's just how we met. it's not how we fell in love"
Charming nodded "Yeah, that was a bit more complicated"
Then he flipped the page in the book and looked at me "See, there were Black knights when i saved your sister's life"
Snow flipped a page "oh. And the attack on the Troll Bridge when i saved his."
Charming flipped another page "but it wasn't until i saw my mother's ring on her finger that i knew in my heart, there was no other woman i would ever love"
I put a hand on my stomach and grimaced "I'm gonna throw up"
Snow smiled at him "i wish you had told me then. We would have saved so much time"
Charming smiled "how could i? i had to get to my wedding?"
Hook asked confused "Sorry. Have i missed something? you were previously betrothed, mate?"
Ruby "to Kathryn, though she was Princess Abigail back then"
Hook raised his eyebrows, impressed King Midas' daughter, the man who can turn anything into gold?"
Charming nodded.
Hook asked confused "why would you leave that opportunity?"
I slapped his arm "Hook! Behave!"
He just shot me a wink.
Charming smiled at Snow "my heart was destined for another"
Ruby "you just had to find her first"
Charming chuckled.
I nodded "yeah, my life wasn't peachy either"
Ruby nodded "she ran away and was living on a farm"
I nodded "amazing time. Leave everyone and everything behind"
Ruby nodded "the both of you did. both sisters"
Hook nodded "like sister, like sister"
He took a sip of his beer.
I shot him a look "Hook"
Henry asked confused "what is he talking about?"
I shook my head "nothing. Keep reading stories"
Regina and Robin showed up.
Regina "actually i wanna know what the pirate is talking about"
I shook my head "actually you don't"
Regina "are you planning on going back to New York?"
Henry asked confused "why would we go back to New York?"
Regina "You're not. Right, sis? "
I sighed "it is complicated"
Henry asked confused "why would we leave? This is our home"
I sighed "it's complicated"
Regina "it's not"
I nodded "It is, Regina"
Then i walked out.
In a park.
I was sitting on a bench. My phone was ringing. Charming was calling but i ignored it.
Suddenly i heard "you're making a mistake"
Hook walked over to me.
I shook my head "i don't wanna talk about this. And definitely not with you"
Hook "Don't listen to me. Listen to your great nephew. He thought this might remind you of what you're leaving behind"
He showed me the book.
I looked at the book "i don't need to read about my history, Hook, i lived it"
Hook "then tell me why you would want go go?"
I shook my head "it's not safe here"
Hook "you defeated the bloody Wicked Witch. You defeated Pan, twice. but you keep running? what are you looking for?"
I looked at my hands that were in my lap.
Hook "Echo, answer me"
I looked at him "home"
Hook "and that's in New York?"
He shook his head "that wasn't real"
Me "the last year was real. It was real for me"
Hook "they were false memories. It was based on magical nonsense. "
Me "now we have our memories back. Now we can make it real"
Hook asked confused "why can't you do that here with your entire family?"
I grabbed the book "Because of this, Hook. I ran, okay? I had my reasons to make a deal with Gold to leave the enchanted forest. I wanted to leave it so badly...how can you think that i would ever want to go back living there?"
Hook "you could be a part of this. Storybrook. ""
Me "Home is the place, when you leave, you just miss it. You know who told me that?"
He looked at me confused "who?"
Me "Bealfire did"
He froze.
I shook my head "And i didn't miss home"
Hook asked irritated "so you're just gonna leave your family ? do you even care about them ? or anyone in this town?"
Me "of course i care, Hook. But -"
Suddenly i saw something in the sky.
My jaw dropped "what the hell is that?"
Hook turned around and froze "i have no idea"
Me "I'm checking this out"
I ran over to it.
Night.At the farm house.
It was the farm house. The portal had reopened but thank god the doors were still shut. But not for long.
Hook "whatever is in there is not good"
Me "It's Zelena's time portal. David left a message. Somehow she died and triggered it"
I went to opened the doors but Hook spun me around "wait. We have to get out of here!"
I shook my head ""We need to find a way to close it"
Hook raised his eyebrows"have you got you magic back?"
I shook my head "no"
Hook "Then we're not bloody well messing with any of this! Let's go"
Suddenly the doors swung open and we got vacuumed over to the portal.
I was about to be sucked into the portal but Hook grabbed my hand and supported us with his hook.
Me "Hook, please don't let go of me"
Hook groaned "hold on"
Suddenly i slipped from his sleeve and got sucked into the portal.
In the enchanted forest. Day. In the woods.
I groaned and sat up. I looked around and stretched myself.
Hook looked around "it appears we're back in the enchanted forest"
I groaned annoyed "but when?"
Then i looked around and my jaw dropped.
Hook asked confused "Love?"
Me "i have a really good idea"
There was a WANTED paper pinned to a tree. Snow was wanted.
I looked at Hook.
Hook "i supposed we're lucky we wound up in this time. We could've appeared in the middle of the Ogre Wars. Or smack dab in the belly of the whale"
I said irritated "Hook. We are trapped in the past! This is exactly why i wanna go back to New York. stuff like this doesn't happen there"
Hook "boring. So, any ideas how to get back?"
Me "We need someone with enough magic to bring us back. Like..Like..Rumpelstiltskin"
Suddenly we heard horses.
Hook "Black Knights"
Then he pressed me against a tree and i saw Black Knights ride by.
They were followed by a horse carriage. Oh no. Regina
---
Hook and i were hiding behind bushes. Regina, the evil Queen, got out of the carriage and walked over to the folks that was living in the village.
Regina "Listen to me very carefully, Whatever squalor and despair, your pathetic little lives have been able to tolerate until this point, is nothing compared to the pain and misery i can inflict if i leave here unhappy. "
I sighed "The evil Queen"
Regina "you will help me"
Marco stepped forward with Pinocchio hiding behind him "Please, your majesty, we are a peaceful village. What do you want from us?"
Me "Marco"
Regina "Justice. If i find out anyone in this village has helped the bandit Snow White they will suffer dearly. Here is what helping Snow White looks like"
The knight took a bag off a woman's head.
The woman screamed "Help me! She's going to kill me!"
Regina looked around "who wants to be next?"
The woman pleaded "please!"
I shook my head "we can't let her die"
Hook sighed "i know but we can't change the past. You know what"
Me "We need to find Rumple. The sooner we get out of there, the better"
Hook nodded "i agree but..."
Me "but what..?"
Hook eyed me "But there's one thing we need to do first"
---
Hook "come on, princess. Let's get a look"
I walked out behind the trunk and sighed. Hook made me dress into a normal dress with a coat around my shoulders.
Hook smirked and glanced at my cleavage which was showing thanks to the corset "oh...that's much better"
I smiled a little "Shut up! I used to wear silk robes covered in diamonds....now look at me"
Hook "Well, what would you've done if Regina had seen you back there?"
Me "Pretend to be me since i usually stayed at the castle when Regina went out to hunt Snow "
Hook "and if she asked the you in this time lime and realizes that there are two of you?"
I looked down.
Hook nodded "exactly. Nothing compared to what might happen if we affect the time line, which means proceeding with all caution"
Then he walked closer to me "You are the throne princess, Echo, do you have any idea what might happen if people recognize you while we try to get out of here? "
I sighed "Hook-"
He put a hand on my cheek "i don't want anything bad happen to you. I won't let that happen, i promise"
I looked him in the eyes.
Then put the hood of the coat over my head "things must happen as they always did"
I nodded and we started walking.
---
We stopped when we heard horses.
Hook "Could be the Queen again"
The carriage showed up and stopped.
Charming got out of the carriage and walked over to the fallen tree that was blocking the way "Worry not, it's a fallen tree. "
Me "Charming"
Hook "We should go"
I looked up and saw Snow in the trees. of course she was hiding there.
I accidentally made a loud crack which caught Snow off guard and she fell from the tree. She looked at me shocked before running away.
Charming got back into the carriage and they rid away.
My jaw dropped "oh boy."
Hook asked scared "what did we do?"
Me "That bandit was Snow White. This was the moment they first met. "
Hook "and because of us, now they didn't"
I nodded.
At a clearing.
I sighed when i saw The Dark One's Castle.
Hook "The Dark One's Castle. Might be best if i stay back. The Dark One and i have a rather complicated past. I'd wager he'd want to kill me on sight"
I nodded "Same here. This was before Neverland"
Suddenly we heard behind us "oh, well, well, well. I can't tell you how long i've been looking forward to this. ohh, i suppose i just did"
He started to choke Hook with his magic.
Hook gasped "Echo"
Me "Stop"
Rumpelstiltskin "why would i?"
Me"Because if you don't you'll never see your son again!"
He let go of Hook and looked at me.
Me "You're planning to enact a curse in hopes of reuniting with him. "
Rumpelstiltskin "You are no seer, your highness"
I shook my head "And I'm not. But i am the one that finds him and brings him to you"
Rumpelstiltskin "that's a lie."
Me "You will succeed your plan"
Rumpelstiltskin froze "if that's true then that means.."
Hook "We're from the future, mate"
Rumpelstiltskin shook his head "but time travel hasn't been done, mate"
Me "Well, someone's cracked that code. We need your help"
Rumpelstiltskin asked amused "help?"
He chuckled "you need my help? then answer me one question. Do i find my son?"
I nodded "yes."
Rumpelstiltskin's eyes went soft "Bae. I find Bae. How?"
I shook my head "i can't tell you"
Rumpelstiltskin "you're right. If i succeed i don't want anything in my head that might throw it off"
I grimaced "it might already kind of be thrown off"
Rumpelstiltskin said annoyed "You've changed things. What have you done?"
Me "We interrupted my sister's and her soulmate's meeting"
Inside the castle.
Me "Thanks for believing us"
Rumpelstiltskin "why haven't i killed him?"
He gestured to Hook.
Hook "if it makes you feel any better, it wasn't for lack of effort. Let's just say we buried the hatchet"
Rumpelstiltskin nodded "yes. But why not in your skull?"
Suddenly Belle walked inside "oh, Rumpelstiltskin, you're back"
We turned to her.
Belle "do you need anything?"
I smiled "Belle"
Belle looked at me confused "Sorry...do we know each other?"
I shook my head "no. the Dark One told me about you"
Belle's face lit up "did he?"
Rumpelstiltskin grimaced "no. Go away and read a book. Or whatever it is you like to do. Come back and clean later"
Belle pouted "you could ask nicely"
Rumple "i could also turn you into a toad"
I muttered under my breath "How the hell did you two fell in love with each other?"
Rumpelstiltskin grimaced "What? i mean, first you tell me i let the pirate live. Now you're telling me i fall for the help?"
Hook nodded "Yes. She's a stage sense of humor, but let's go back to her sister and her in-law"
Rumpelstiltskin nodded "right. Who are they?"
Me "Snow White and Prince Charming"
Rumpelstiltskin "Prince Charming? "
Me "his real name is Prince James"
Rumple sat down in his seat "King George's son?"
I nodded.
Rumple "Whose wedding i've just arranged?"
I breathed out annoyed "That's what i'm trying to tell you. That marriage isn't supposed to happen, because the ring he was going to give her gets stolen by Snow"
Rumpelstiltskin "That's quite a tale you're spinning"
Me "Then let me show you"
I looked at Hook who took the book out.
Then I gave it Rumpelstiltskin and opened it.
The pages were blank, empty.
I asked confused "What?"
Hook "it's all gone"
I looked at him.
Hook "anything that was supposed to happen after they met has disappeared."
Rumpelstiltskin "the ripple effect. Once you chance something int he past, anything from that point forward becomes uncertain. The future at you can see, is a blank page"
Me "wee need to get Snow to steal that ring so we can put their story back on track"
Rumpelstiltskin "you're in luck. There's a ball tonight at King Midas' castle. Prince James will be there and so will his ring"
Me "And how do we get Snow there? We don't even know where she is"
Rumpelstiltskin "allow me"
We walked over to a crystal ball and Rumple did some magic.
I saw Snow in a tavern with a pirate.
Me "there she is"
Hook "she's with Black Beard. She's trying to secure passage on his ship"
Black Beard stood up and left.
Rumpelstiltskin "and it appears, failing. "
Me "she can't escape Regina without the money she's supposed to get for the ring. Can you help us?"
Rumple "help you? I can work on getting your portal to the future open again, but getting your sister and in-law together? you made that mess, dearie. Only you know what you did. now, go undo it"
Hook "if she's looking for passage out of town, i might know a ship's captain who can help us"
I asked confused "who?"
Hook smiled "Me"
I froze.