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INDIANA JONES
xlvi. METHOD ACTING

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1983
STORYBROOKE

REGINA MILLS CONTENTLY STROLLED throughout Storybrooke, admiring what her gruesome curse had done to everyone living in the Enchanted Forest. She glanced over to see the werewolf arguing with her grandmother, which was something that wouldn't change no matter what.

"I can't believe you put me on the early shift!" Ruby exclaimed angrily. Her outfit was provocative and she had red streaks running through her hair. Regina hardly recognized her.

"Yeah, well, that's what you get for staying out all night," Granny responded to her granddaughter, adjusting the sign outside the Diner. "When I said over-easy, I was talking about the eggs."

Regina would've laughed if she weren't so excited about her newest creation. She looked straight ahead to see a man walking his Dalmatian. "Good morning, Madam Mayor," Doctor Archie Hopper greeted.

"Good morning, Crick—Dr. Hopper," Regina replied happily as he walked past her, Pongo tugging him excitedly. Then, she noticed a familiar brunette wearing running shorts and a tank top with her hair tied up.

"Oh! Uh, hello, Mayor Mills," the brunette greeted, jogging in place before the Mayor. Regina nearly did a double take when she realized who this girl was. "It's a, er, beautiful day out, isn't it?"

"Yes, it is," Regina agreed. "I see you're out for your daily run, Anna."

"Yep! Always on the run!" Anna James confirmed with a smile. "You have a good one, alright?"

Then, Anna James ran past the Mayor. Regina sighed happily. "If that's what become of Indiana Jones, then this really is heaven," Regina breathed joyfully.

➖➖➖

PRESENT
STORYBROOKE

"Anything?" Emma Swan asked her father and Indiana from within the apartment while Indiana placed a stack of pancakes in front of Henry.

"Not a single bite," Indiana answered with a hushed voice. "Which is so weird. She eats everything I make. Including that time I attempted to make Chimera, which was downright vile."

Henry glanced over at Snow White, who was laying in bed sadly. "What's wrong with her?" Henry queried.

"She's just... uh, feeling a bit sick," Emma explained.

Henry glanced between his Nanny, his biological mother, and his biological grandfather. "You guys are lying to me, aren't you?" Henry questioned suspiciously.

"No one's lying," Emma assured her son as Indiana and David went back to cooking. It was the only time the two weren't at each other's throats. They found peace in the kitchen.

"You are," Henry accused. "Just like you did about my dad." Indiana shot David a worried look.

"Henry..." Emma trailed off while reaching out to him, but Henry had pulled away. David and Indiana looked back at the Savior. "He's right. No more lying."

"Emma..." David began, walking over to his daughter.

"No... Emma's right. He deserves to know," Indiana agreed with a soft voice. "Henry..." she trailed off, walking over to face him directly. "Cora's death... Snow may have been partially responsible... That's why she's so upset."

"No... No, no... She couldn't," Henry told them, looking between Indiana and Emma as someone pounded on the door.

"She was trying to protect us," Emma added.

"But she's Snow White," Henry argued as David went to the door. "She wouldn't hurt anybody."

"Get out," David's voice sternly demanded. They all looked back to see him facing Rumplestiltskin.

"I think you're gonna wanna hear what I have to say..." Rumplestiltskin started. "...for her sake."

"What are you talking about?" Emma demanded as the trio joined David at the door.

"Regina. She's planning to strike back against your mother," Rumplestiltskin warned.

"What is she gonna do to her?" Henry asked as Emma pulled her son close to her.

"Oh, she didn't say," Rumplestiltskin answered.

"No. You don't get to come in here and just drop a bomb like that. You're gonna figure this out," David declared angrily. "And you're gonna help us."

"And why should I?" Rumplestiltskin queried.

"Because aside from us being family now, Mary Margaret saved your life," David spat. "Now, you owe her a debt. And you always pay your debts, don't you? You're gonna help us stop Regina."

➖➖➖

Shining his flashlight, David Nolan led Rumplestiltskin and Indiana Jones into Regina's chamber. As they walked throughout the chambers, they came upon a small corridor. It looked as though someone had just recently been rummaging through everything.

"Well, it appears we just missed our dear Queen," Rumplestiltskin told the two as Indiana began to look around.

"What is this?" David asked in confusion.

"These are Cora's belongings," Indiana realized, holding a familiar purple cloak in her hands. "You think Regina's planning to use one of her spells on Snow?"

"It's a possibility," David responded, looking down at the girl. She sat on the floor, holding the cloak. "You know, it's a bit weird that you're holding a dead woman's cloak."

Indiana shot him a look. "Cora was my friend. She took me in when the world shut me out," Indiana informatively said. "I never got my chance to mourn, even if it's best that she's dead."

"Something's missing," Rumplestiltskin called out. The two looked over to see him looking into a small box. "Chimera Blood... Viper's Eye..."

"What kind of curse do you need those for?" David asked.

Rumplestiltskin was silent for a moment as he thought. "It's the Curse of the Empty-Hearted," he realized.

➖➖➖

"And what the hell does that do?" Emma Swan demanded once everyone met up in the apartment again.

"In theory, it has the power to make someone love you," Rumplestiltskin explained.

"Doesn't that break... magic laws?" Emma stammered. "You can't bring someone back to life, you can't force someone to love you."

"Yeah, but this particular spell can make someone think that they love you," Rumplestiltskin confirmed. "And if you're as desperate for love as Regina appears to be, you might just believe it."

"She's gonna use it on me, isn't she?" Henry's voice called out as he walked down the stairs.

David immediately went to his side. "Hey, buddy, why don't you go back upstairs?" he suggested. "Let us handle this."

"No!" Henry argued, pushing David back and running toward his mother. "Emma, you said you were gonna be honest with me. Now, why is Regina using this curse?"

Emma opened her mouth, but Rumplestiltskin beat her to whatever she was going to say. "Because it's the only way she can get everything she wants, that she can get you," Rumplestiltskin explained.

"But if she wants me..."

"Your mother is a complicated woman," Rumplestiltskin added on. "She wants your love, of course, but she also wants vengeance on Mary Margaret."

"How does the curse give her both?" Indiana wondered.

"Because the last ingredient she needs to ignite the curse is the heart of the person she hates the most," Rumplestiltskin told her.

Emma's eyes widened. "You have to stop her," the blonde said.

Rumplestiltskin scoffed. "No, I don't have to do anything," Rumplestiltskin counteracted. "On the contrary, I believe warning you fulfills my debt."

"Not even close! This is my wife's life we're talking about!" David argued.

"Not to mention your grandson's!" Emma mentioned.

"Well, wars have costs," Rumplestiltskin pointed out.

"Nice," Emma sarcastically complimented.

"Well, this is a blood feud, dearie—one that goes back a very, very long time," Rumplestiltskin said. "And the only way you could end a blood feud is by the spilling of more blood. That is the only way I know to eliminate your Regina problem."

"By what, killing her?" David snapped.

Upon hearing this, Henry looked up at his mom. "Is there no other option?" Emma asked.

"I'm afraid not," Rumplestiltskin confirmed.

"Stop!" Henry yelled, walking forward. "Listen to yourselves. You're talking about killing my mom. You used to be heroes! What happened to you?"

As Henry ran off, Emma called out, "Henry!" She walked toward the door as he ran down the hall. She began to pull her coat on. "No matter how this plays out, we need to keep him as far away from it as possible."

Then, Emma left to run after Henry. "She's right," Indiana admitted for the second time that day. "Cora was dangerous because she was without heart. Regina's more dangerous because she actually has one."

➖➖➖

1983
STORYBROOKE

A man and his son walked hand-in-hand as they made their way toward a familiar brown-haired teenager. Anna James took a sip of her coffee while sitting at one of the booths in Granny's Diner. She had been making pleasant conversation with Ruby until the father and son had walked over to them.

"Excuse me. Sorry, you're the only person that doesn't seem off or weird," the father greeted. "I'm Kurt Flynn. This is my son, Owen."

Anna smiled at them warmly. "Anna James," she responded, putting the book she was supposed to be reading for school down. Anna glanced down at Owen. "Oh, my gosh, you're so cute!"

Owen beamed and said, "Well, lady, I tend to have that effect on people." He made a horrible attempt to wink at her, but the kind-hearted teenager merely laughed it off.

"You'll have to excuse him. His manners are a bit rough around the edges," Kurt apologized. "I was hoping if you could point me in the direction of the Mayor's Office? My son and I are leaving town today and we just wanted to thank her for letting us stay."

Anna raised her eyebrows, not familiar with a lot of visitors hanging around Storybrooke. Still, she continued to smile at them. "Of course, of course," Anna told them. "You're gonna take a right out of here, then a left and the Town Hall should be on your right."

Kurt thanked her before taking Owen out of the Diner.

Anna looked over at Ruby. "You think he was married?" Ruby wondered.

Anna shook her head and sighed at her friend before continuing to read her book.

➖➖➖

PRESENT
STORYBROOKE

Indiana Jones was beginning to find herself hiding out in the woods more and more often. Though it wasn't the Enchanted Forest or Neverland, she felt as though this was the closest she would get to either of those places. She felt as if the forest was her personal safe haven.

However, that wasn't the only reason Indiana wanted to spend more time with nature. Ever since she saw that Shadow, she had to know if it was here to tell her something. Peter wouldn't just send his Shadow without reason, right? Then again, wouldn't he have wanted to take her back by now? Sure, they left on bad conditions, but Indiana was sure he still loved her.

There had to be some reason that Pan's Shadow was lurking around Storybrooke. The catch was that only Indiana had been able to see it, just like the whole situation with Frankie, except she was more aware now. However, why would the Shadow conceal itself from the others? Why would it reveal itself to Indiana?

There were so many questions that Indiana wanted someone to answer. There was too much going on for her to be worrying about the people of her past. Indiana was in the real world now. She was far, far away from Neverland. Indiana would have to get over that.

A crackling noise coming from a few feet ahead pulled the brunette out of her thoughts. Her ears perked up, almost like a canine's would. Indiana froze, waiting. She didn't seem to have her weapons on her, which was a rookie mistake. Indiana usually never left home without it. This time, she did.

Reaching down to grab a nearby rock, Indiana gripped it tightly as she prepared to throw it. Surely enough, the Shadow appeared from around a tree. "What do you want!?" Indiana exclaimed loudly.

The Shadow merely stared at her before a new voice spoke out. It didn't belong to the Shadow, who she had only heard speak once or twice in her entire life. "Hello? Ma'am, are you okay?" an unfamiliar voice called out.

Indiana reflexively spun around and cranked her arm back to throw the rock, but she stopped herself when she realized it was Greg Mendell. "Oh! Mr. Mendell," Indiana greeted, lowering the rock. "What are you doing out here? I thought Dr. Whale put you on strict bed-rest."

Greg walked toward her. "He said some physical activity would be good for me," Greg explained. "So I'm hiking and I'm—I'm taking pictures of Maine's scenic beauty."

'This guy is so weird,' Indiana thought to herself while forcing a smile.

"Oh, alright! Sorry if I scared you," Indiana apologized. "I've been working on method acting. I'm rehearsing a scene for one of my classes." She paused. "Uh, also, the Hiking Trail's that way." She pointed to a direction behind her.

"Huh. Okay, thanks," Greg awkwardly said, almost acting as though he recognized the brunette from somewhere. "I'm sorry, I never got your name."

She nodded. "Indiana," she introduced. "Like the state. Um, you take care now."

Greg nodded at her before walking away.

It was then when she got a text (on her new phone since she had destroyed her previous one) that made her sprint off deeper into the woods. What did it say?

Annoying Blonde
Henry's trying to destroy magic.
Meet at well near White Pine trail.

By the time she got there, Regina Mills had a ball of fire in her hands, David had his gun cocked, and Henry was standing in the middle of all of this.

"Henry, get out of the way!" Neal shouted.

"Not until someone helps me destroy magic!" Henry shouted.

"There's no way to get rid of it. You can't just... blow it out of existence," Indiana spoke out.

"Magic isn't the problem, kid," Emma said, extending her arm for Henry to take her hand. "It's her."

"It's not just her! It's everyone," Henry retorted. "Look what magic did to Mary Margaret." He looked behind at his adoptive mother. "Look at what it did to you. It's ruining everything. It makes good people do terrible things."

"And bad people," Emma continued.

Henry stared at his mother before turning to Regina. "Please. It's gonna destroy my family. Help me get rid of it," Henry pleaded.

"I can't do that, Henry," Regina softly told her son. "But there is something I can do." She held up the small scroll that contained the Curse of the Empty-Hearted before dropping it into the ball of fire. Then, she extinguished the flames.

Henry looked up at her and said, "Thank you."

David lowered his gun and together, the four walked away from a saddened Regina Mills. All she wanted was for her son to go back home with her, but Regina knew that wasn't going to happen. Ever.