CHAPTER EIGHT —
( You got that kind of look in your eyes as if no one knows anything but us. )

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        The following day, Luna burst into Mr. Gold's pawnshop, catching the man behind the counter off guard. Without hesitation, she confronted the man, who, as usual, was meticulously polishing one of his artifacts to make it appear timeless. "I know you," Luna asserted, fixing her gaze on the man before her.

Mr. Gold paused and dropped the object. "I'm sorry?"

Luna advanced. "Rumplestiltskin, I know it's you."

Mr. Gold shook his head. "I'm sorry, dearie, but I believe you are mistaken."

Luna pulled out the small dragon pin he had dropped in her store and thrust it forward for the man to see. "Don't try to deceive me, Dark One. I know who raised me."

Mr Gold gazed at the pin and then circled the counter. "So, you remember?"

Luna chuckled lightly. "I knew it," she proclaimed, taking a deep breath. "You always told me I was powerful. I just didn't realise the full extent of it."

Mr. Gold paused in front of Luna and rested both hands on top of his walking stick. "When did you start remembering?"

Luna glanced around the shop, recalling small details about Rumplestiltskin's castle. "It all started when Emma arrived in town, and Daisy started pestering me about that book Henry has, containing all our life stories."

He nodded. "Emma," he mused. "Remember when I asked Snow White for the name of her unborn child? I knew it would wake me up from the curse."

"So, Emma really is the saviour?"

"That she is," Mr. Gold said. "But you can't tell her. She must believe it herself for everyone else to remember."

Luna sighed, and her eyes lingered on a necklace with a golden shell. "It's hard to understand why I'm the only one who can recall my life in the Enchanted Forest, apart from you. Why no one else?"

Mr. Gold smirked. "I always told you you were powerful, and everyone knew that besides you."

Luna looked towards a small figurine she hadn't remembered seeing before. "Surely I can't be that powerful if I don't remember my whole life."

"It will come in time." Luna continued to look around the shop before her gaze stopped on a little chipped teacup. "Little things will spark your memory, whether that be a book, a person, or a teacup."

As Cordelia confidently strolled through Rumplestiltskin's castle, her youngest dragon soared just above her head, with the other two perched on the front lawn outside. She entered his main room, where he practised his craft of spinning straw into gold. Without hesitation, she called out, "Rumple, I'm back!" However, her confidence wavered as she laid eyes on a woman cleaning one of Rumplestiltskin's many glass cabinets. "Oh, hello," she greeted uncertainly.

The woman stopped cleaning and wiped her hands down the front of her dress. "Hi. I'm Belle."

"Cordelia?" A voice asked.

Cordelia spun around and locked eyes with the scaly-looking man, now casually seated in one of his oversized chairs. "Rumplestiltskin," she acknowledged. "How long has it been?"

"Thirty years," he replied, pointing at the small dragon that perched itself on Cordelia's shoulder. "I see you have three dragons now."

"This is Kayda," Cordelia introduced. "My second one, Dratini, hatched shortly after I left you. Kayda came while I was travelling across kingdoms." As she strode into the room and glimpsed at Rumplestiltskin's new possessions, she nodded towards the woman observing their encounter. "I see you have someone staying with you now."

Rumplestiltskin gestured towards the woman. "This is Belle, she's my help."

Cordelia lightly smiled at the woman. "Hi, Belle."

Belle frowned. "Were you the previous help?"

Cordelia chuckled softly. "Heavens no," she proclaimed. "No matter how much that man attempted to make me clean the castle and assist him with his tasks, I never complied, and he never dared to punish me for it."

She furrowed her brow. "Then who are..." Her eyes suddenly widened. "You're Cordelia, aren't you? The Queen of Dragons?"

Cordelia smirked. "What gave that away? The dragon perched on my shoulder?" She shook her head. "I don't understand why they're always so afraid of me."

Rumplestiltskin suddenly appeared before Cordelia and held his hand out towards Kayda. "Because of your association with dragons and myself." He handed the dragon a small piece of meat, which Kayda gladly accepted.

Cordelia raised her eyebrows. "Not everyone knows you raised me."

He giggled. "Through stories, people do."

Belle stepped forward and pointed her finger at the woman. "You're Rumplestiltskin's child?"

Cordelia laughed lightly. "No, that's Baelfire. My mother traded me to Rumple for magic," she told her. "And you?"

"I went to live with Rumplestiltskin so that he could save my kingdom from the ogre war," she explained.

Cordelia smiled at the woman. "That's quite brave of you, willingly letting yourself live with the Dark One so that your friends, family, and kingdom would be saved."

Belle smiled bashfully. "That's not as brave as the stories I've heard about you, saving hundreds of people from the Queen's wrath and anyone you come along who's in trouble."

"Looks like both of us have had to confront darkness in order to save people," Cordelia stated.

Rumplestiltskin gasped and placed a hand on his heart. "Excuse me."

Belle chuckled softly. "I suppose we both have.

"Belle," Luna said quietly, staring at the chipped teacup.

Mr. Gold nodded. "Indeed."

She turned back around. "Do you know who Daisy is?"

He smirked. "I thought you'd recognise your own child."

"Daisy's my beautiful baby Kayda?" Luna asked with wide, hopeful eyes. He nodded in response. "And Aella? She's...?" Luna continued, prompting Mr Gold to confirm that Aella is indeed Dratini, which he did with another nod. "What about Ladon?"

Gold looked down. "Didn't he pass when the curse was struck?"

Luna, feeling overwhelmed, stated, "I just need time to process things," and then turned around and headed for the door.

"Luna, if you ever need someone to talk to, just know I'm here for you," Mr. Gold's voice echoed from behind. Luna gently pushed the door open and stepped into the cool night air. "And most importantly, remember not to let Regina find out. You know what happened to Graham, don't you?"

Luna paused and turned back, her brow furrowed in concern. "He remembered who he was."

Mr. Gold nodded gravely. "Yes, he did. And for that, she took his life. Take care, child."

-ˋˏ ༻♥༺ ˎˊ-

Luna approached Mary Margaret with a big smile on her face, holding out a container full of cupcakes. It was announced that she didn't murder Kathryn, David's ex-wife, and a small get-together was organized in Mary Margaret's apartment. "Congratulations, Mary Margaret!" Luna said cheerfully, handing the pixie-haired woman the container. "I baked lemon cupcakes for you."

Mary Margaret took the container and gave Luna a grateful smile. "Thank you for believing in me when almost no one else did."

"I didn't think you killed anyone!" Daisy said brightly, causing the woman to smile down at her.

"I know, you didn't, Daisy," she told her, and the young girl ran towards Henry.

Luna smiled at her. "Not for a single moment did I think you killed her because I know who you are, Mary Margaret, and I know how kind and true you are."

Mary Margaret glanced around her flat. "I just didn't feel like anyone here believed in me."

Luna looked around at them. "Yeah, well, they just didn't know what to believe; the evidence was piling up against you. But they were your friends beforehand. They know you're innocent now and are on your side, just like Emma and me."

Mary Margaret sighed. "Yeah, I guess."

Cordelia was flying overhead on Ladon, Dratini flying just behind them, and Kayda on Cordelia's shoulder. She looked down at the forest below for anyone in trouble, and that's when she noticed someone surrounded by the Queen's guards. The men all pointed their large swords at the person, ten onto one. Cordelia patted Ladon, and the dragon swooped toward the person in trouble and landed with a loud thud just behind the group.

"Guards, what is the meaning of this?" Cordelia called out. All the guards immediately pointed their swords towards the woman and her dragons, some trembling in fear.

"W-we're here to arrest Snow White," the one at the front stuttered out.

"Is that true?" Cordelia asked, her gaze shifting to Snow White, who remained in the circle's centre. "Is it Snow White?"

"Unfortunately, yes," she replied.

Cordelia glanced back at the soldiers. She knew Snow White was innocent; she was familiar with every tale in the land. Having also encountered the Queen, Cordelia chose who to believe between Snow White and Queen Regina, which was a no-brainer. "You have ten seconds," she declared.

The guards exchanged uncertain glances. "Ten seconds for what?" they inquired.

"For you to depart from Snow White and save your own lives," she informed them. When they hesitated, Cordelia sighed. "Ten. Nine. Eight..." They swiftly turned and fled from Cordelia and Snow White, racing back toward the castle. "Well, that was easy."

Snow White gazed in the direction the guards had hurried off in and then up at Cordelia. "I don't know how to thank you..."

"Cordelia. Queen of Dragons," she responded.

"Cordelia," she repeated. "I'm Snow White, and I am forever in your debt."

Cordelia shook her head and said, "It's fine. You have no debt to repay. I've been saving people from Regina and her guards for quite some time now."

Snow pointed towards her with a surprised expression. "That was you? I've been hearing about someone saving the people of my kingdom."

Cordelia nonchalantly shrugged. "Yeah, well, these people don't deserve to die, and I don't believe you do as well." Snow smiled gratefully at the woman before Cordelia patted Ladon's neck. The dragon bowed his head and extended his front leg. "Will you fly with me?"

Snow blinked for a moment and then stepped forward. "Okay, yes, I will."

Luna blinked momentarily and then noticed Mr. Gold standing alone in the next room. "Um, excuse me," she told Mary Margaret before entering the next room. "Gold. I see you've decided to join the party."

He looked at her. "I have to see Snow White's victory for myself, don't I?"

Luna crossed her arms and said, "You did this, didn't you?"

Mr Gold hummed and replied, "Perhaps I did find the woman, but I'm not going to tell anyone else that."

"I know who you are, Rumple," she said as she narrowed her eyes. "You stacked everything against Regina as well, didn't you?"

"Maybe," he smiled lightly. "You probably shouldn't be seen speaking to me, child. Everyone would think that you work for me."

Luna scoffed, "Work for you? I didn't even do that in the Enchanted Forest."

He smirked and said, "You've remembered a little more."

She nodded. "Yes, and I've been reading Henry's book. Our life stories really are in there. Well, part of them, anyway," she said. "I've been remembering things that aren't in the book, things that not even you know about."

Mr. Gold raised his eyebrows. "Like what?"

Luna narrowed her eyes. "Like I'd ever tell you." 

In the castle of Snow White and Prince David, Cordelia accompanied the two royals to visit a man she hadn't seen in over a year. A guard led the way as they walked through the cave underground, with a pregnant Snow White nervously rubbing her stomach. "When we reach the cell, stay out of the light, and whatever you do, do not let him know your name. If he knows your name, he will have power over you," the guard cautioned.

Cordelia couldn't help but chuckle. "That won't work. He'll already know who we are before we even turn this corner."

As they turned the corner, they faced his cell, and the guard held his torch. "Rumplestiltskin. Rumplestiltskin! I have a question for you."

Rumplestiltskin came into the light. "No, you don't. They do. Snow White and Prince Charming!" He giggled loudly and then gasped. "My sweet Cordelia... Child, is that you as well?"

"Yes, of course, it's me," Cordelia responded as she approached the man. "Lovely seeing you again."

"You know these bars can't hold me," he whispered to her.

"Of course, I know that. But they don't," she responded before facing the two royals.

"You insult me," he said, looking towards Snow and David. "Step into the light and take off those ridiculous robes." The two took off their robes and stepped forward to stand beside Cordelia. "That's much better."

David stepped in front of Snow. "We've come to ask you about the—"

"Yes, yes, I know why you're here!" Rumplestiltskin said. "You want to know about the Queen's threat."

"Tell us what you know," Snow said.

Rumplestiltskin giggled. "Ohh! Tense, aren't we? Fear not, for I can ease your mind! But it's going to cost you something in return."

David scoffed and turned around. "No. This is a waste of time."

Cordelia sighed. "David."

"What do you want?" Snow asked.

Rumplestiltskin grinned. "Oh, the name of your unborn child?"

"Absolutely not!" David snapped.

"Deal!" Snow said over him. "Now, what do you know?"

Rumplestiltskin hummed. "The Queen has created a powerful curse. And it's coming. Soon you'll all be in a prison, just like me, only worse! Your prison—all of our prisons—will be time. And time will stop. And we will be trapped someplace horrible where everything we hold dear, everything we love will be ripped from us while we suffer for all eternity, while the Queen celebrates victorious at last! No more happy endings." Cordelia frowned and looked at the ring around her finger, turning it as she thought about the possibility of never seeing Killian Jones again.

"What can we do?" Snow asked.

Rumplestiltskin grinned. "We can't do anything!"

"Who can?"

Rumplestiltskin reached his hand through the bars of his cell and pointed towards Snow's baby bump. "That little thing growing inside your belly."

David pulled out his sword and smacked Rumplestiltskin's hand with it. "Next time, I cut it off," he threatened.

"A baby?" Cordelia questioned.

"The infant is our only hope," he continued. "Get the child to safety. Get the child to safety, and on its...twenty-eighth birthday, the child will return. The child will find you and the final battle will begin!"

David shook his head and grabbed Snow's arm, turning around to walk away. "Heard enough. We're leaving."

Cordelia turned around when she heard a bang on the bars behind her. "Hey! No! We made a deal! I want her name! We had a deal—I. Need. Her. Name! I want her name!" Rumplestiltskin yelled at them. "Cordelia, tell them, child! They need to give me her name! It was a deal!"

David scoffed. "Her? It's a boy."

Rumplestiltskin grinned. "Missy, missy, you know I'm right. Tell me. What's her name?"

Snow White sighed and turned back to stare at the man. "Emma. Her name is Emma."

Rumplestiltskin grinned and gave a content sigh. "Emma."

Later that night, Cordelia found herself sitting at a round table with Prince David, Snow White, Red, Granny, Grumpy, Doc, Geppetto, Pinocchio, several guards, and Jiminy Cricket. Cordelia's youngest, Kayda, was lying down behind her because she was now too big to rest on her mother's shoulder.

"I say we fight!" David yelled as he slammed his fists on the table.

"You're always looking for a reason to start a fight," Cordelia remarked casually as she sat up straighter; Kayda released a soft sound of agreement.

"Fighting is a bad idea. Giving in to one's dark side never accomplishes anything," Jiminy Cricket told him.

"And how many wars has a clear conscience won?" David asked. "We need to take the Queen out before she can inflict her curse."

"Can we even trust Rumplestiltskin?" Doc asked.

Everyone turned towards Cordelia. "You can. He never lies after he strikes a deal, especially if what he got was your child's name."

"I've sent my men into the forest. The animals are abuzz with the Queen's plan," David said. "This is going to happen unless we do something."

"There's no point," Snow shook her head. "The future is written."

"No. I refuse to believe that," David said. "Good can't just lose!"

Snow White sighed. "Maybe it can."

David grabbed onto Snow's hand. "No. Not as long as we have each other. If you believe him about the curse, then you must believe him about our child. She will be the saviour." The Blue Fairy suddenly flew into the room with two soldiers carrying a tree trunk. "What the hell is this?"

"Our only hope of saving that child," The Blue Fairy said.

"A tree? Our fate rests on a tree?" Grumpy scoffed and turned back to David. "Let's get back to the fighting thing."

"The tree is enchanted," the Blue Fairy told them. "If fashioned into a vessel, it can ward off any curse."

"She's right," Cordelia exclaimed, leaning in as she sensed a powerful force enveloping her. "I can sense its power from here."

The Blue Fairy turned to Geppetto. "Geppetto, can you build such a thing?"

Geppetto nodded and ruffled Pinocchio's hair. "Me and my boy. We can do it."

The Blue Fairy turned back to Snow and David. "This will work. We all must have faith." The two royals grinned at each other and held each other's hands. "There is, however, a catch. The enchantment is indeed powerful, but all power has its limits. And this tree can protect only one..."