#'He caused the fall of Camelot!' have you considered Guinevere and him wanted each other desperately and with a heart wrenching longing?

[longagoitwastuesday]

One thing about me is that I will stand by basically every bad deed of my favourite characters fully aware of them being bad deeds. I just don't care

[yellowmagicalgirl]

So I recently binge-read the Anarchy Dreamers webcomic, which is about a world where often when kids (and maybe some adults? I can't remember) die, they come back from the dead with supernatural powers and/or physical changes (but their nightmares can wreak havoc on the world). Those who come back from the dead are called both dreamers and dreamwalkers, though occasionally death isn’t neccessary. And now I kind of want to write an AU about it, so...

AU where the Reckless Club+Darci all got Saturday detention with Senor Uhl... however, there was a fire that would later be blamed on faulty electrical. Only Senor Uhl and Shannon made it out alive. The other seven students all made it out undead. Now, five of them are illegally fighting nightmares.

(Warning: below the cut there are mild Wizards spoilers)

Reckless Dreamers

Jim

Physical changes: he basically became troll!Jim but the changes are almost entirely cosmetic.

Powers: He can manifest armor and weapons.

Jim is one of the first of the seven of them to start fighting nightmares.

Claire

Physical changes: her blue streak turned white, and her irises turned purple. When she feels intense anger or fear, her hair turns fully white, her sclera turn black, and her pupils turn pale purple.

Powers: She can control shadows so they take other shapes. In addition, she (and up to two other people; she has to hold their hand) can use shadows to travel from one place to another.

Claire holds off on fighting nightmares for a while because of her mom, but when her own nightmare threatens Enrique she is able to fight back against it - something incredibly rare for dreamwalkers... then again, there could be an outside influence affecting her.

Toby

Physical changes: his teeth are now orange crystals; at least he no longer needs braces!

Powers: Gravity manipulation

Toby finds out that Jim is fighting nightmares, alone, and immediately decides that he needs to help his best friend.

Steve

Physical changes: he has small horns that probably look like either Draal’s or Gunmar’s

Powers: not much beyond enhanced physical strength

Steve started fighting nightmares soon after Jim and Toby started, but it was a while before he and Eli teamed up with Jim, Toby, and Claire.

Eli

Physical changes: if you shine a light at his eyes, his pupils will reflect green light

Powers: mild telekinesis, enhanced reflexes and dexterity

He has theories about the fire and the nature of nightmares, and he’s going to get answers, dammit!

Darci

Physical changes: Pink mole ears

Powers: Unknown

Darci doesn’t fight nightmares because it’s illegal and there’s people with actual training who are doing so, but she also won’t snitch on the others to her dad because she knows they’re trying to do the right thing

Mary

Physical changes: her hair is now more of a really dark red than a true black

Powers: Invisibility

Mary chooses not to fight, but she does casually help the others avoid detection

Other Dreamers

Blinky

Powers: He can make things combust

Physical changes: Four arms, six eyes.

Blinky is the school guidance counselor, and he’s been trying to get the Reckless Dreamers into his office to try and help them cope with their changes. He’s also trying to monitor Shannon to see if she manifests dreamwalker traits. Unfortunately, there are only so many hours of the day. He lives with his husband Arghamount in Trollmarket, a suburb of Arcadia Oaks where a large percentage of the population is dreamers.

Strickler

Powers: knife summoning

Physical changes: wings, horns

Strickler is the only other adult dreamwalker at Arcadia Oaks High (not counting the occasional 18-year-old who is about to graduate). He is secretly a member of the Janus Order, a political group that believes dreamwalkers are better than most humans (but does not advocate for the deaths of normal humans, unlike more extreme dreamwalker supremacist groups)

Aja & Krel

Physical changes: They now have four arms each and cyan blood. Their eyes are now the same as their Akiridion eyes. Aja was shorter than Krel before they died; now she’s taller.

Powers: They both have light manipulation, which allows them to look like their living forms. Aja is able to create hard light weaponry/shoot lasers. Krel can create portals.

The Tarron siblings really are a pair of human twins (Aja will not shut up about being four minutes older) who escaped the violent coup of their home country of Cantaloupia. Varvatos was supposed to get the two of them and their parents to America, where they would live with Fialkov’s eccentric second cousin (Lucy) and her husband (Ricky). All four Tarrons were gunned down as they escaped via a truck. Aja and Krel came back from the dead; Fialkov and Coranda did not.

Merlin

Physical changes: honestly he’s so old and the changes were so subtle that he no longer remembers

Powers: longevity, among other things

Merlin helped to start Camelot LLC with Arthur’s grandfather, Aurelius Pendragon. As the years have gone on, Merlin has been slowly locked out of Camelot LLC. He has a license to fight nightmares internationally.

Morgana

Physical changes: Five tiny gold horns have formed along her brow. Her nails also naturally grow in as gold claws.

Powers: levitation, shadow manipulation, low-level telepathy

Morgana died when she was sixteen, due to a camping accident gone wrong. She also lost her left hand in this accident. No one’s sure, but it’s suspected that Guinevere’s death was caused by Morgana’s nightmare. Morgana is secretly channeling Camelot LLC funds into the Janus Order. She’s going to take interest in Claire’s abilities sooner or later.

Douxie

Physical changes: His bangs are naturally blue. When he feels intense emotions his eyes glow blue.

Powers: part of his soul effectively split off into a talking dragon-cat; though Archie might actually be the result of a nightmare. Douxie might have other powers as well.

Douxie became a dreamwalker as a homeless orphaned five-year-old, and his circumstances didn’t get better until three years later, when Merlin rescued Douxie from his own nightmare, adopted him, and brought him back with him to California. Merlin has encouraged Douxie to fight against nightmares, even though it’s not legal. Now that Douxie is nearly an adult, Merlin often leaves him alone with Archie in their Arcadia Oaks apartment for days at a time. Morgana will often check up on Douxie, if she’s visiting the Janus Order. It’s technically neglect, but Douxie doesn’t see anything wrong with this considering his life before Merlin.

Zoe

Physical changes: gills, fins, and scales as seen in this post where I illustrate them

Powers: lightning control

Zoe drowned in a swimming pool when she was twelve. She’s one of the few dreamers at Arcadia Oaks Academy other than Douxie.

Seamus

Physical changes: he gained swirling tattoos across his upper back. They faintly glow when he uses his powers.

Powers: Density control

Seamus died of a bad case of food poisoning when he was eleven. He joined the Junior Dreamer Guard (it’s like JROTC) in hopes that it’ll help him get a scholarship.

Araceli Conrad

Physical changes: her bones are now crystalline in nature

Powers: magnetism (if she teamed up with Zoe they could use light manipulation)

Conrad was crushed by falling furniture when she was 14. The only people allowed to call her by her first name are her grandmother and her girlfriend, Shannon, but that doesn’t mean that everyone respects this.

Nana

Physical changes: Her eyes are a brighter shade of green than they were prior to becoming a dreamer

Powers: Longevity

Nancy became a dreamer in World War One

The Living

Shannon

Has survivor’s guilt. She’s looking into the fire, to see if there was anything suspicious about it.

Arthur

Known for being the CEO of the company Camelot LLC, and also having anti-dreamer political policies despite his sister and one of the company founders both being dreamers. His politics have become harsher ever since Guinevere died under mysterious circumstances.

Kubritz

Military; she’s been experimenting on ways to fight nightmares while not involving dreamers. She’s also conducting illegal experiments on dreamers.

[swanqueeneverafter]

Sins of the Past Pt.6

Camelot. Past. Forest. Night. (With the help of Arthur, Morgana and Mordred have successfully escaped the castle grounds. After riding a short distance, they meet the Druids in the woods.) Iseldir: “We are forever indebted to you, Morgana Pendragon, for returning the boy to us.” Morgana: “You must not let it be known that it was I who brought him to you.” Iseldir: “We will tell no one. You have my word.” (The Druids turn to leave.) Morgana: “Wait, please! I need your help. There have been incidents… I fear I may have…“ (Morgana is unable to say the words.) Mordred: (Telepathically to Iseldir:) "She is like us. She holds great power.” Morgana: “Did you hear that? (To Mordred:) How did you do that?” Iseldir: “We don’t always need words to speak to one another.” Mordred: (Looks to Iseldir, who nods. Holds out his hand to Morgana:) “Now I can take care of you, like you did me.” (Taking the boy’s hand, Morgana allows herself to be lead deeper into the woods, towards the Druid’s camp.) Storybrooke. Swan-Mills House. Present. (Emma prepares breakfast in the kitchen when her phone rings.) Emma: (Answering:) “Hey, Lily. What? Seriously? No, of course I’ll cover you. (Disappointed:) Yeah, I’m coming in. Bye. (Hangs up:) Dammit.” Bedroom. (Placing the food-laden tray on the bed, Emma walks over to the bathroom and opens the door.) Emma: (Calling out:) “Gina, I’ve got to go in to work. Lily’s been called to Arendelle.” Regina: (From the shower:) “What?! (Turns off the water:) Today’s your day off.” Emma: “I know, but Lily’s covered plenty for me since the baby and- (Regina pulls back the glass partition to glare at Emma in all her naked, wet glory:) Oh, Jesus.” Regina: “Get Hook to cover you. God knows he likes playing cops and robbers lately.” Emma: (Averting her gaze:) “They can’t find him. Lily thinks he went on some drunken bender with Rumple.” Regina: (Muttering:) “I knew those two becoming best pals would bite me in the ass someday.” Emma: (Glancing at her wife then quickly closing her eyes:) “I’m sorry. (Backing out of the room:) I’ll try to be back as soon as I can.” Regina: (In a softer tone:) “Emma, look at me.” Emma: (Opening one eye slowly:) “Oh, you don’t play fair.” Regina: (Pressing herself up against the glass:) “Are you sure you have to go?” Emma: (Her mouth suddenly extremely dry:) “Yes. (Closing her eyes tightly shut again:) Yes. I’ve got to, I’m sorry. (Emma turns and leaves the bathroom, immediately stubbing her toe on the armoire, which causes the sheriff to hop on one foot. Losing her balance, Emma falls backwards, making just enough contact with the bed before hitting the floor to send the food tray toppling over on top of her:) Great. Just great.”

Storybrooke Free Public Library. (Mulan gently deposits Merida on a makeshift cot at the back of the library.) Belle: "Wouldn’t the hospital be a better place to take her?” Mulan: (Shaking her head:) “You know how delicate the political landscape in Dun Broch is. If anyone gets word that Merida is sick, there’ll be a power struggle.” Belle: “So you brought her here?” Mulan: (Holding up the petal:) “This was in the goblet she drank from. Anhora claims to have no knowledge of how it got there, but I know you’ll have a better idea than Whale of what flower this came from.” Alice: (Feeling Merida’s forehead:) “She’s burning up.” Belle: (Taking the petal from Mulan:) “Fetch Alice some water and a towel.” (Mulan nods and does as she’s told while Belle pulls out a book.) Alice: “Is she going to be alright?” Belle: “I won’t know until I can identify the poison.” Alice: “Her brow’s on fire.” Mulan: (Returning:) “Here. Keep her cool; it’ll help control her fever.” Wonderland. Morning. (Will is asleep against a tree as the sounds of chopping can be heard.) Will: (Jumping awake as a branch lands on him:) “What the bloody hell!” Ella: “Oh good, you’re up.” Will: “What are you doing?” Ella: (Continues practicing her swordplay on a defenseless tree:) “I’m getting ready. I’m a bit rusty.” Will: (As another tree limb goes flying:) “There. Now you’ve gone and hurt the tree. Happy?” Ella: “I’ll be happy once we find my mother. We need to get moving. We’ve been in Wonderland for too long. Our enemies know we’re here.” Will: “Our enemies? Who would they be?” Ella: “Excellent question. (Holds out her hand:) Come on. (Pulls Will to his feet:) I have a plan, Will.” Will: “Of course you do.” Ella: “Our biggest problem is we don’t know where my mother is. She could be trapped somewhere, or captured.” Will: “Look, is there any chance of a coffee? I can’t really think until-” Ella: (Continues:) “But then I realized we don’t need to know where she is.” Will: “Oh, we don’t?” Ella: “Because we know something. Something nobody else does.” Will: “I’m not sure you’re clear on what the word ‘we’ means.” Ella: “Come on, Will. Time to get going.” Storybrooke. Dragon’s Lair. (While Xena sits picking the olives off her pizza, Henry sits talking with Gabrielle about writing.)

Gabrielle: “The best advice I can give you is to write what you know.” Henry: “But that’s just it. I’ve already written everything I know. I was ‘The Author’. I’ve written three storybooks. I even wrote my own happy ending and still…” Gabrielle: (Nods:) “Retirement not turning out to be all it’s cracked up to be huh?” Henry: (Scoffs:) “I’m working more now than I ever have.” Gabrielle: “Some would argue that’s not a bad thing. For the longest time traveling with Xena, all I wanted was for her to find a sense of peace. For us to settle down somewhere and grow old together. But now, since coming to this land where everyone seems to have found their place in the world… I don’t know how to put it into words. It’s like-” Xena: “It’s god-damn irritating is what it is.” Henry: (Turning towards her:) “Thank you! (Xena nods before devouring her pizza:) Everyone around here seems so settled and happy. Meanwhile Ella and I are still struggling. I mean, don’t get me wrong, it’s great that everyone’s together and at peace but-” Gabrielle: “You feel like you’re playing catch up to everyone else’s happiness?” Henry: “Honestly, sometimes? Yeah.” Wonderland. (Ella and Will travel through the forest. Ella uses her sword to cut through the tree branches as Will follows a short distance behind.) Ella: “Keep up, would you? We’re making good time.” Will: “You’re thinking about what happens if we find her?” Ella: “When. When we find her.” Will: “What if it’s nothing like you thought?” Ella: “Meaning?” Will: “Well I just think to protect yourself, you should consider the possibility that things may be different. You’ve been apart a long time.” Ella: “My mother is waiting for me. She needs me.” Will: “Then why hasn’t she contacted you?” Ella: “The only reason she hasn’t contacted me is because she must be in trouble. That’s why we need to pick up the pace.” Will: “Or she’s moved on.” Ella: “Not a chance. Nothing will get in the way of us being together. (They finally come to the end of the tree line:) Except possibly this. (A large lake sits before them:) I suppose we could swim across.” Will: “No, we can’t.” Ella: “If you’re afraid of dangers lurking beneath the surface, I can handle-” Will: “I can’t swim.” Ella: “How have you lived your whole life and never -” Will: “I was doing other things.” Ella: “Like what?” Will: “Like being afraid of water. When Alice almost drowned in that frozen lake, it was the last time I got anywhere near the water.” Ella: “Fine. We’ll just have to wait for the ferry.” Will: “How do you know about the ferry?” Ella: “Alice told me.” Will: “Hm. Or better idea, we walk around it.” Ella: “Walk around the entire thing? That would take two days at least. We’re taking the ferry.” (Ella walks onto the beach and begins to clap.) Will: (When Ella glares back at him:) “Oh, for…” (Will joins her on the beach and together they begin clapping. In no time at all, Ella spots something in the distance and waves.) Ella: “There she is. Over here, Fairy.” Silvermist: (Landing before them:) “I am the fairy Silvermist. Where may I… I.” Will: “Heya, Silv. (She slaps him:) How’s it going? (She slaps him again:) There it is.” Ella: “I take it you two know each other?”

Silvermist: (To Will:) “Awfully bold of you to show your face in this part of Wonderland. Do you know how many people are looking for you?” Will: “Might be easier to figure out how many aren’t.” Silvermist: “You think you’re funny?” Will: “I think I’m buggered no matter what I say right now.” Ella: “Perhaps you two might continue reminiscing while we make our way across the lake.” Will: (Whispers:) “I think we have to walk.” Silvermist: (Composing herself, to Ella:) “Not at all. I’m happy to take you.” Ella: “The both of us? Are you sure?” Silvermist: “Of course. It’s my job, and I’m a professional. I don’t let feelings get in the way of my work, especially old feelings that I’ve completely moved on from.” Ella: “Okay. Thank you very much.” (Ella nudges Will in the side.) Will: “Yeah, thank you very much.” Ella: “Excellent.” Silvermist: “Don’t worry. You can trust me. I’m here to help.” (Waving her wand and showering them both with fairy dust, Silvermist turns and heads over the water, Will and Ella flying through the sky behind her.) Camelot. Past. Morgana’s Chambers. Day. (Servants clean up the burnt fragments and glass scattered across Morgana’s floor.) Guinevere: “I came back in with some extra blankets. There was a candle, but I put it out.” Uther: “Are you sure?” Guinevere: “I blew it out, I swear.” Uther: “She could’ve been burnt alive.” Arthur: “Lightning struck the castle roof last night, that could’ve started the fire.” Uther: “No, this was no accident.” Arthur: “What other explanation is there, My Lord?” Uther: “Last night my daughter attempted to return the druid boy to his people and this morning I find her window broken and the curtains torched. The answer is simple. The Druids saw Morgana as easy prey. They used their powers to break into the castle, retrieve the boy and take my daughter hostage. (To Arthur:) We’ve long suspected that the Druids are hiding in the forest of Essetir. Take no prisoners. It’s time we rid ourselves of these Druids once and for all.” (Uther leaves. Guinevere starts to protest when Arthur stops her.) Arthur: “Listen to me. You must leave, find Morgana and warn the Druids. I cannot go against Uther’s orders. I’ve done all that I can. It’s now down to you to save them, Guinevere.” Druid Camp, Morgana’s Tent. (The Druid leader Aglain enters.) Aglain: “I trust you slept well?” Morgana: “Better than I’ve done in days.” Aglain: “Here, this might make you feel more at home.” (Aglain hands her a druid cloak.) Forest. (Leading the King’s soldiers, Arthur pursues Morgana’s trail with dogs.) Druid Camp. (Aglain walks with Morgana.) Aglain: “They are surprised to see you here, if not a little afraid. Your father would have us killed.” Morgana: “They have nothing to fear from me. I do not share Uther’s hatred of magic.” Aglain: “No. I imagine you wouldn’t. These forests are dangerous. What brings you so far from Camelot?” Morgana: “I’m searching for answers. I hope the Druids might be able to give them to me.” Aglain: “Come.” (Aglain ushers her into his tent.)

Aglain’s Tent. (Guinevere sneaks into the Druid camp and listens in on Aglain’s conversation with Morgana.) Aglain: “What would you like to know?” Morgana: “Why I can see the future in my dreams. Why I’m able to start fires with my mind.” Aglain: “People who are able to do this are few and far between. You have a gift.” Morgana: “Is it magic?” Aglain: “Of a kind, yes. But it will be many years before you’re able to understand it fully, let alone use it. This isn’t something to be afraid of.” Morgana: “It is if you have Uther as your father. If he found out, lord only knows what he’d do.” Aglain: “He won’t.” Morgana: “But if he did…” Aglain: “We won’t let that happen. You’re safe here. You shouldn’t be scared of Uther. You should pity him.” Morgana: “Pity? Why?” Aglain: “Because he’s a broken man, consumed by fear. His hatred of magic has driven goodness from his heart.” Morgana: “I’ve always been taught that magic is evil, that it corrupts your soul.” Aglain: “Uther told you this. Just because he decrees it, doesn’t make it so. In time you will learn that magic isn’t a dark art that must be shrouded in secrecy. It can be a force for good.” Storybrooke. Present. (Emma pulls into a seemingly abandoned alleyway in a police cruiser. Getting out of the car, she looks around before reaching through the window for the radio.) Emma: "Sheriff Swan calling base, there’s nobody here, are you sure this is the right place.” Regina: (Stepping out from around the corner:) “Oh, I’m sure, Sheriff.” Emma: “Nevermind. (Replaces radio:) We got an anonymous tip there was a ‘street walker’ down this alley. I’m guessing that was you?” Regina: (Smirks:) “You didn’t think there would be an actual street walker in my town, did you, Sheriff?” Emma: “Well, now that you mention it… where’s Maria?” Regina: (Leaning against a chain-link fence:) “I got a call moments after you ran out of the house this morning from Anna of all people. She apologised for messing up our plans and offered to take Maria for a few hours.” Emma: “And you let her?” Regina: “She said I would be doing her a favour. It seems her ice-farming husband needs a little warming up to the idea of having kids of their own.” Emma: “Speaking of warming up. (Stares at Regina:) You look incredible.” Regina: (Smiles:) “Seeing as you were so eager to go to work, I’d thought I’d stop by and make sure you do your job.” Emma: “Do my job? (Regina nods:) Well as far as I know, there’s no law against looking sexy in a public place, Madam Mayor.” Regina: “No? (Running her hands down her sides, slowly draws up the bottom of her dress to reveal her black stocking tops before drawing a familiar pair of red panties down over her thighs and stepping out of them, much to the Sheriff’s delight. Holding them up:) How about now?” Emma: “Is that my underwear?” Regina: “Mmhmm. By my count that’s theft and indecent exposure.” Emma: “Oh I see nothing indecent here and since we’re married, what’s mine is yours anyway.” Regina: “Is that right? Hm, well I guess... (Begins to climb on to the hood of the car:) I’ll just have to get more creative.” Emma: “So you want me to arrest you, is that it?” Regina: (Nods:) “Mmhmm.” (Regina turns her body so that she is now sitting on the hood of the car, allowing Emma to stand between her legs.) Emma: “In that case, you have the right to remain silent. (Regina wraps her legs around her waist:) Although I really wouldn’t object to you screaming just a little bit. (They begin to make out:) Anything you say, (Kiss:) can be held against you.” Regina: “Mm you promise?” (Regina’s hands travel to Emma’s jeans and unbuckles them, lowering them to her knees.) Emma: (Feeling Regina’s hands running over her body:) “Oh God, we can’t do this here. Hold on to me.” Regina: (Now sucking Emma’s neck:) “Not a problem, Sheriff.” (With some difficulty, Emma lifts Regina into her arms and walks, or rather waddles, towards the back of the car. Somehow opening the door, she manages to gently deposit Regina in the back seat and close the door. Pulling up her jeans as she hurries around to the front of the car. Emma gets behind the wheel and turns on the engine.) Emma: “I’ll radio ahead and tell everyone at the station to take an early lunch. (Looking to see Regina perform a few more public indecencies in the back seat:) Good God woman, control yourself! Better let people know to get out of my way. (Flicks on the siren:) We’re coming in hot!”

Storybrooke Free Public Library. (With Ruby having now joined them, Alice & Mulan continue to care for Merida while Belle searches for a cure.) Belle: (Finding something:) “Ah. The petal comes from the Mortaeus flower. It says here that someone poisoned by the Mortaeus can only be saved by a potion made from the leaf of the very same flower. It can only be found in the caves deep beneath the Forest of Balor. The flower grows on the roots of the Mortaeus tree.” Alice: (Pointing to a picture of something:) “That’s not particularly friendly.” Belle: “A Cockatrice. It guards the forest. Its venom is potent. A single drop would mean certain death. Few who have crossed the Mountains of Isgaard in search of the Mortaeus flower have made it back alive.” Mulan: (Intrigued:) “Sounds like fun.” Ruby: “Mulan, it’s too dangerous.” Mulan: (To Belle:) “If I don’t get the antidote, what happens to Merida?” Belle: (Reading:) “The Mortaeus induces a slow and painful death. She may hold out for four, maybe five days, but not for much longer. Eventually she will die.” Mulan: “I won’t fail, I promise you.” Ruby: “Well you’re not going alone no matter what you think. Look what happens when I let you have all the fun.” Mulan: (Smiles, to Belle:) “We’ll find the antidote and bring it back.” Camelot. Past. Forest. (Arthur and the guards reach the woods near the Druid camp and see the smoke from their fires.) Arthur: “Remember the King’s orders! (Hesitantly:) No prisoners!” Druid Camp. Morgana’s Tent. (Guinevere enters.) Morgana: “Guin! What are you doing here?” Guinevere: “I’ve come to take you back to Camelot.” Morgana: “Then I’m afraid you’ve had a wasted journey. I’m never going back.” Guinevere: “I’m sorry, but you have to.” Morgana: “Why? You’re the one who said I should seek out the Druids.” Guinevere: “I never realised what the repercussions would be.” Morgana: “What repercussions?” Guinevere: “The King thinks you’ve been kidnapped. He won’t stop until you’re found. He’s arrested dozens of people. He’s gonna execute them all.” Morgana: “If I return, the same fate awaits me.” Guinevere: “Uther doesn’t need to know about this. I won’t tell a soul.” (Arthur and guards approach the camp.) Morgana: “I’m sorry. I’m never going back. These are my people. They’re like me. I don’t feel so alone here. Do you understand?” Aglain: (Enters:) “Morgana, we must go. Who are you?” Morgana: “I–it’s alright, she’s a friend. What’s wrong?” Aglain: “Arthur and his men are coming. Your friend has led him straight to us.”

(The Druids run, trying to escape Arthur and the guards. Arthur sees Mordred and Aglain helping Morgana run away.) Arthur: “This way!” (Guinevere runs with Mordred, Morgana, and Aglain through a rock valley.) Aglain: “We’ve got to keep moving!” Morgana: “My ankle, I think it’s twisted. It’s too painful!” Guinevere: “I’ll try to create a diversion.” Morgana: “No, Guin, you can’t!” Guinevere: “You carry on! It’s my fault they’re here! Go! Go!” Morgana: “I’ll never forget this.” (Guinevere picks up a large tree branch and uses it to dislodge some precariously positioned rocks, causing a blockage in the path. Pulling up her hood, Guinevere runs.) Arthur: “There!” (Arthur pursues the hooded figure. Guinevere jumps and hides under a protruding rock. Arthur and his men jump right over her. Guinevere runs back. Guards spot Morgana’s party anyway.) Guard: “Over there!” (Morgana slumps to the ground.) Morgana: “I can’t go on.” Aglain: “We’re not leaving you behind.” Morgana: “Please.” (Morgana faints.) Mordred: “They’re coming!” (Aglain is shot with a crossbow. Mordred runs.) Guard: “Arthur! We have the Lady Morgana!” (Mordred runs, but is surrounded by guards. Guinevere stops running and watches Mordred use his powers to throw three guards backwards then run off into the distance.) Storybrooke. Present. Sheriff’s Station. (Anna, with baby Maria in her arms, enters the station.) Anna: “We’re back, Emma. You can call Regina now and tell her you’re coming-” Lily: (Entering the room:) “I think she already knows.” (Directing her attention towards the cells, Lily smirks as Anna gasps and covers the baby’s eyes.) Anna: “-Home.” Emma: (Emerging from a jail cell, sheepishly:) “Hey. Did you guys have any luck?” Lily: (Peeking around Emma to get a look at her cell mate:) “Not as much as you it seems.” Emma: (Standing to block her view:) “I meant did you manage to find a singer for Elsa’s party?” Lily: “Yep, and by mutual agreement, which is rare for us.” Anna: “Not that rare. I mean okay we don’t agree on everything, but neither do me and Elsa and she’s been my sister a lot longer than you have.” Emma: “Not officially.” Lily: “Cool it, Emma.” Regina: (Stepping out of the cell with a handcuff dangling from one wrist:) “We’re glad we could help.” Anna: (Staring at Regina’s bare legs, catches herself:) “Ah, yeah. Well this is yours. (Awkwardly hands Maria to Emma:) And we should be going.” Emma: “Oh no, you guys stay, we’ll go. (Over her shoulder to Regina:) You got everything?” Regina: “And then some. (Smiling to Lily and Anna:) Feel free to call us, anytime.” (With a wave of her hand, Regina poofs herself, Emma and Maria out of the station, leaving a blushing Anna and a very amused Lily in their wake.)

[waitineedaname]

For the ask game: Jon, Martin, Mordred, and/or Jonny D'ville?? (sorry thats a lot of characters GHDSKJFHDS)

dfjlskj that is a lot but I’ll do all of them!! under the cut bc it’ll be long

Jon

Sexuality Headcanon: CANON BI/PANROMANTIC ASEXUAL BABEY!!!! I also like demiromantic Jon because I can’t stop rubbing my grubby little aro hands all over everything

Gender Headcanon: nonbinary!! He doesn’t think about gender much but when he does, it’s just a series of question marks. I may be projecting my own gender issues onto him, but I feel like he probably goes about his day not really thinking about his gender and he presents in whatever way makes him comfortable, but the moment he is Perceived The Wrong Way he’s like ah. I would like to be consumed by the earth now.

A ship I have with said character: you already KNOW. Jonmartin Good. I love them so much. they deserve good things. I’m also fond of Jon/Georgie in a pre-canon context because I think they’re sweet but what I love even more is “couple who broke up but are still friends”

A BROTP I have with said character: SEASON ONE ARCHIVAL ASSISTANTS. I miss them so bad. Also Georgie and Daisy, and tbh I wish he’d gotten more of a chance to actually befriend Melanie because their bickering was amusing. I Just Want Him To Have Friends

A NOTP I have with said character: any of the gross ones, like Jon/Elias or Jon/Peter. pls don’t ship him with his awful old bosses.

A random headcanon: this bad boy can fit so much neurodivergency in him! I tend to go with autistic Jon bc I just Like It.

General Opinion over said character: he’s doing his BEST and I LOVE HIM. I will Not shut up about the character arcs in this show and his is FASCINATING as he becomes more of a monster while also becoming kinder to the people around him and ahh it’s so interesting

Martin

Sexuality Headcanon: gay! I could also be persuaded of gray-aro Martin if you catch me in a “everyone is arospec” mood

Gender Headcanon: trans man!! I love how popular this headcanon is holy shit

A ship I have with said character: jonmartin!!!!! ah!!!! pining FOOLS

A BROTP I have with said character: ALSO the s1 archival staff!! I just want the four of them to get into minor shenanigans and have board game nights and gossip!! is that too much to ask!!

A NOTP I have with said character: again, pls no awful old men. Martin/Elias and Martin/Peter are a big No Thanks from me

A random headcanon: in an “apocalypse didn’t happen” scenario, he goes back to school to complete his education and actually pursues his interests as opposed to just trying to get by. I think he goes into English, and he and Jon make up the same bickering English major duo that my roommate and I do, where one is really into the Old As Fuck Literature and Shakespeare (me and Jon), while the other is into the Romantics and modern literature and poetry (my roommate and Martin)

General Opinion over said character: I CARE HIM..... when people were first trying to get me into tma, everyone told me “you’ll love Martin, he’s exactly your type of character” and you know what? THEY WERE RIGHT. “sweetheart with good intentions but also a lot of anxiety that can be kind of bitchy but everyone kind of brushes it off” is somehow a character trope my faves keep falling into

Mordred

Sexuality Headcanon: hmm I haven’t really thought of one for Mordred!! I’m gonna say aroace because I can do what I want

Gender Headcanon: CANON TRANS MAN BABEY!!!

A ship I have with said character: considering the only other characters in the album are his dad, his dad’s wife, his dad’s husband, a dude who in Arthurian canon was both his cousin and half-brother (gross), and a crazed preacher, I’m going to say this doesn’t apply sdlkfjlksdjf

A BROTP I have with said character: I think he should hang out with Guinevere and Lancelot!! I don’t know if either of them are his birth parents but they’re still sort of his parents and I think they should get along

A NOTP I have with said character: see above sldjfklsdjf

A random headcanon: I think he probably tried a million different ways to subtly convince Arthur he was his son, and just about everyone figured it out except Arthur. this would be even funnier if he Looked A Lot Like Arthur and he still didn’t figure it out

General Opinion over said character: I can’t BELIEVE High Noon Over Camelot took this absolute Bastard, awful awful incest child whose primary goal is to Cause Problems On Purpose, and then made a version of him that I love dearly and made me cry. @ the Mechanisms, how do you do it. He just wanted peace and I respect him

Jonny D’Ville

Sexuality Headcanon: I have now decided on a whim that Jonny D’Ville is aroace. or maybe pan ace. I don’t know irl Jonny’s sexuality, but I’ve decided his characters are not allowed to fuck.

Gender Headcanon: bastard idk I haven’t really thought about it much! probably cis, though tbh I feel like if you’re immortal and chaotic, gender ceases to hold much meaning

A ship I have with said character: not to be a homestuck, but I think pitch Jonny and Tim would be hilarious. can you imagine a kismesissitude where you can kill each other with no repercussions. good lord.

A BROTP I have with said character: allll of the Mechs? I specifically enjoy him and Nastya being Kind Of Like Siblings, and I like his dynamic with Ashes and Tim bc I feel like the three of them are the ones who are best equipped to deal with his bullshit

A NOTP I have with said character: I don’t think I have one? Nastya I guess, considering she’s a lesbian and I like thinking of her being an adopted sister to him

A random headcanon: Jonny D’Ville would HATE Jon D’Archivist. all Jon’s anxiety about morals would be exhausting to him and Jonny would just shoot him as a scientific experiment to see How Immortal Is The Archivist

General Opinion over said character: bastard. awful little man. I love him so much, he’s so entertaining

[whitequeenasitbgan]

The House of Smoke and Fog

Cap. 2

Crawley sat silently by the tree, listening to his friend.

Blake started recalling his childhood, his teenage days, in every happy memory she was there.

Erin. The smartest, most elegant and charming girl he had ever seen. She wasn’t just pretty. Indeed, there were prettier girls than her in Limmeridge, the village where they grew up. But all these girls didn’t have Erin’s bright mind, her genuine enthusiasm for life, her kind of... magic. That’s what made her the most beautiful girl in the world for Blake. He couldn’t bear to spend a single day without listening to her voice. She was supportive. She had faith in him. She believed in their future. ‘We will rebuild Camelot’ she used to say. They had been playing that game since grammar school. He was King Arthur. She was Guinevere.

On Christmas’ Eve 1913, they went to Church together, at night. The Mess was crowded, too crowded for their family to notice they weren’t attending it. They were by the river, under the falling snow, exchanging their Christmas presents. They could hear the choir echoing from the Church. It felt like a dream.

She gave him a bracelet: nothing luxurious, she wasn’t allowed to spend much. She was just 16 and had to rely on her parents for everything. Her father was a postman, she was an onlychild, she had everything a girl could wish for, but she felt guilty asking for their money. She wanted to be independent. To have her own money, from her own job. But girls weren’t allowed to work in Limmeridge, nor to vote. The bracelet was just a simple tag, with a chain. But Blake loved it. He gave her a pendant. He made it himself. A galloping horse. She loved horses. Her father didn’t want her to ride: his sister died in a horse riding accident, but Erin was born for it. They used to go out on Tom’s horse: there was a wide clearing in the forest near the Blake’s farm, and she would ride there, as Tom laid down by a tree, watching her, her happiness bewitching him body and soul. He couldn’t get his eyes away from her. He usually brought a book, cause she worried he might get bored. He had never read a single page. The Stendhal sindrome people experienced in front of a work of art was nothing compared to what he felt. He tied the pendant to her neck with a ribbon on that Christmas’ Eve.

-I wanted to buy you a real one, but I’m afraid your father would’ve killed me.

-for sure. I love it, Tom.

-it’s just a bit of tin.

-no! It’s much more than that.

-you had a silver bracelet made for me!

-out of an unpaired tea spoon from my late Aunt Mary’s belongings, which is technically part of my dowry, it was mine to give to whom I will... like my heart.

She said those last words in a whisper. He almost didn’t hear it. But as soon as he did, he kissed her. He just pressed her lips to hers at first. He didn’t know what to do. His brother was no help with girls. He used to say “you’ll know what to do, just be gentle”. She stood still. She didn’t know what too either. Their lips parted, they looked at each other in the dark, so close they could feel the warmth of their bodies in the cold, and breathe the same air. She placed a hand on his cheek, he wrapped one arm around her waist, the other reached for her hand on his chest.

-I love you-he said. They kissed again, she answered this time.

They stayed like this for almost an hour, missing the track of time. The Christmas melodies from the Church has ended. The Mess was about to end. It was time to go home

-I want to stay like this forever- Tom said.

-I hate even the idea of coming back. Of behaving as if what we just did never happened for the sake of female propriety- Erin replied, her face buried in Tom’s neck

-I hate being two years older than you. Just three more years, we’ll wait for your 18th birthday, then I’ll ask for your hand.

-you won’t last for three years. You’ll get tired of me by 1916.

-not an option. How could I breathe without you.

-with your lungs- she teased him.

-No, I will wait, and when you’ll be my wife I’ll cover you in horses

-will you let me go to college?

-better, I’ll go with you. I’m considering law school. My brother says he’ll help me so that dad won’t have to pay for everything.

-It’s gonna be a wonderful adventure.

-and of course I’ll give you a pendant like that, but made of gold, as soon as I’ll earn some money.

-no way!

-as I said, it’s just a bit of tin, I want only gold for my wife.

-your wife will be content with tin, cause you made it with your own hands and I wouldn’t change this, not even for a Fabergé Egg, never.

-for the last time. It’s just a bit of tin.

-for the last time, it’s not. It’s got a ribbon on it

Cap. 3

[profgandalf]

Gender Differences: What a Great Idea!

Applying the concept of gender dynamics to our understanding of Literature.

Note: to be clear, this discussion functions with the binary concept of gender.  I know that homosexuals are real as are individuals who are bi, but they still fit into one of the two.  If you are a gay guy, you’re a guy, and if you’re a gay girl, you’re a girl. “Sorry Tumblr”

"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him;

male and female created he them."

Genesis 1: 27 (English-KJV)

"And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and

 he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;

And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman,

 and brought her unto the man.

And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall

be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man."

Genesis 2: 21-13 (English-KJV)

". . .neither was man created for woman, but woman for man."

1 Corinthians 11:9  (English NIV)

EMILIA

'Tis not a year or two shows us a man:

 They are all but stomachs, and we all but food;

 To eat us hungerly, and when they are full,

 They belch us.  

OTHELLO

       Why did I marry?. . .curse of marriage,

       That we can call these delicate creatures ours,

       And not their appetites!            

DESDEMONA

EMILIA            

       But I do think it is their husbands' faults

       If wives do fall: say that they slack their duties,

       And pour our treasures into foreign laps,

       Or else break out in peevish jealousies,

       Throwing restraint upon us; or say they strike us,

       Or scant our former having in despite;

       Why, we have galls, and though we have some grace,

       Yet have we some revenge. Let husbands know

       Their wives have sense like them. . .

       Then let them use us well: else let them know,

       The ills we do, their ills instruct us so        

I would note that I consider this speech by Shakespeare one of his best examples of negative capability and that it matches the famous speech by Shylock in Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice.Act 3 Scene 1 Lines 49–61

Introduction

Humans have always been fascinated by the fact that there are two kinds of us: female and male.  We are alike in so many important ways, and yet it is our differences which constantly confound us.

The Cause of Tension  

"The woman whom thou gavest to be with me. . ."

"Ew!  You actually LIKE Girls?!"  This raw response of a seven year old boy to a friend who has been "consorting with the enemy" reveals the underlining hostility which seems to permeate the relationship between the two genders.  Oh, we may change our tune when we get older.  Biological attractions overcome boyish disdain, but it must be admitted that on some level many men never get over their boyish opinion of women.  Thus, the term misogynist (one who hates women) has been in our vocabulary for quite some time.  The question we might want to consider is "why?"

Duh! For One Thing, We're Different!

This Image taken from 10 Things Men Never Want to Hear Their Women Say

One of the central reasons why men and women frustrate one another is that in some ways we are just plain different.  For a light-hearted look at this check out Matt  Groening’s “Women speak in estrogen and men listen in  testosterone.” Whenever I teach this section I ask the students (just as I asked you) what differences exist between men and women.  Here are some of the typical responses

Men

Rational                                                       Practical (Concrete or Bone headed)                        

Insensitive

Steady

Communicative Challenged

Physically Stronger

Single Minded and

Hierarchical in tasks

Primarily interested in act of procreation

Women

Emotional

Abstract (Transcendent or Nebulous)

Empathetic

Uneven (cycles)

Communication Addicted

Physically Weaker (but able to handle pain better)

Simultaneous Multiple Perspectives on Tasks

Primarily interested in the emotional nest (romance) needed to maintain the products of procreation (children).

Please let me state here that I do not stand behind this list as an absolute definition.  At best these are but generalities.  My mother is a former math teacher whose rational skills have navigated us through many a map and have left me checkmated more often than not.  In my own marriage my wife is far better with math (and money) than I am.  And when we were joined, she was the one who brought all the practical power tools to the marriage.  I brought books.  What this list does do is show at least the perceptions of differences between the sexes.

The question which often confounds scholars is how much of this difference is artificially created by culture and how much is biological innate to our beings.

The debate is pretty heated about this.  The only true biological differences with which most agree is that women have the equipment to bear children and men, in general, have more upper body strength.  These differences are enough to lead into the next question of abuse since lack of strength and the connection to domestic work has left women often at the mercy of men.

Abused Power = Breakdown in Communication

It is a sad fact that among humans whenever there is an imbalance of power there is the potential for abuse.  It happens between grownups and children.  But historically it has especially occurred between men and women.   When such abuse takes place communication and understanding break down.  (One does not usually want to understand those whom one subjugates.)  So in many households there have been two adults living under the same roof with two different agendas.    How the weaker has achieved her ends has caused for an even greater division between the genders.

Some may claim that the subservience of women is God's Law.  This is a debatable point with Christians arguing on either side.  However, what some might call God's ranking system--which never condoned the abuse of women--can not explain the world-wide existence of female inequality.  There are so many social expectations around the world which violate Judeo-Christian expectations.  Thus, to claim God's law is responsible for male female inequality ignores the simple fact that even in places where God's will is barely known, women are still kept at a lower station then men.  Thus I conclude that Male dominance is not based in God's will: the cause must the use or abuse of power.

Let's face it, if all women were as strong as this young lady (Shelley Beattie) on the left appears to be, the number of domestic disturbances would probably go waaaay down. But most women are matched with men who are physically stronger than they. 

(Note: Please don’t fuss about how attractive you do or do not find Shelley; the fact is that this kind of conditioning involves training, a lot more than what most women and most men want to put in each day.  The point is that most women do not have this kind of physical strength.  Sadly I just learned that In 2008, Ms. Beattie committed suicide.  Very sorry.  According to the Wikipedia article about her, after her retirement Shelley not only starred in the TV show American Gladiators, but she worked with people with physical impairments (she suffered herself from deafness), made drums and jewelry, and worked as a personal trainer, clearly a special person lost).

Thus, women have lacked the power to achieve their goals directly.  When conflict interests occurs they have found other means to reach their ends than direct conflict.  See the lecture on   The Taming of the Shrew  specifically   Shakespeare's Good /Bad and Bad /Good Women. to see both methods examined as part of the analysis of the play.  Briefly women have two choices:

Confront the oppressive patriarchy directly–and be     branded a shrew (or in modern evangelical circles “a feminist”) or…

Submit and give verbal support that the male should be dominant and then subvert that power via manipulation be it sexual or psychological.

The Depiction of the Tension

The study of literature reveals the importance of the tension between genders.  Unfortunately until recently most of the canon has been determined and created by men.  So there are few female forces through history to help give alternative perspectives about the nature of, forgive the cliché, "the battle of the sexes."  (Note, the existence of this cliché shows how old the problem is.)

The Anti-feminist Tradition

Medieval literature abounds especially with antifeminist themes which they based on certain scriptures.  In a civilization which looked to scriptural narrative to explain who the world worked as it did, women were often blamed for the fall of humanity because Eve first gave in to the serpent.  Because they are weaker than men, women are often shown using guile and deceit to bring about the ruin of their opponents.  In some of the Arthur legends they play the role of enchantress and temptress.  And it is no small matter that Queen Guinevere love for Lancelot eventually brings Camelot down.

There exists also a long tradition negatively portraying women who contradict their husbands directly.  These developed into a "stock character" often called a shrew.  Such characters usually were only two dimensional and lacked development beyond just a joke.  One of the most famous examples of this appears in medieval mystery plays involving Noah's wife who insisting on her right to gossip with her friends even while poor Noah is attempting to get her safely on the ark.

These shrews also are portrayed as sexually overt.  Thus in The Roman De La Rose (the Romance of the Rose) there is an old woman who gives advice to a young bride on how to abuse her husband sexually.

The Wife of Bath in Feminist Tradition

Chaucer's Wife of Bath is both an affirmation of the medieval concept of the shrew as well as a rebuttal of it as the poet engages in a tour de force of the male imagination in "negative capability" (Keats).  He may start with a stock character-- a stereotype based on male fears-- but he then continues to reveal and develop her personality and examines her first from the outer qualities people see, then to her own experiences as framed by her testimony in her prologue (the longest in the Canterbury Tales) and finally to her own tale in which elements of her personality may come through without her overt knowledge. 

This is strong psychoanalysis for what is in essence a figment of an artists imagination and yet, in a very real sense, Chaucer shows a woman first physically, then through her mind and finally through her heart.  For more of this go to Chaucer's Multiple Levels of Revelation of The Wife of Bath

Shakespeare's View in Taming of the Shrew

Meanwhile, in Shakespeare's play The Taming of the Shrew he presents a wonderful study in contrast between two types of women (two sisters) with two different ways to deal with a oppressive patriarchy.  Bianca is all sweetness and all the men love her.  However, as the play progresses she is shown to be manipulative and not nearly so honest as her older sister.  Katrina meanwhile, confronts directly the male dominated society she finds herself in, but she also finds herself trapped in the cage of rage.  She is branded a Shrew and in fact fulfills that nature. This will be developed further in another lecture Shakespeare's Good /Bad and Bad /Good Women.

The Modern Feminist Tradition

Writers within this tradition embrace a wide variety of approaches to the question of women's place and power in culture and society.  Most of these approaches are allied by their critical analysis of patriarchal (male0dominated) and phallocentric (male-centered) institutions and practices.  Furthermore works may be analyzed by their interests in promoting women's issues and concerns.  These concerns rise to the forfront of literary concerns with the late 18th and early 19th century and have continued on to the present.  Among our readings the short story "A Jury by Her Peers" (written in the first part of the 20th century) is especially notable since it was written by a woman (Susan Gadspell). responding in a subversive way to the domineering and condescending attitudes of men 

The social parameters clearly shape the course of action that Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters.  At first glance "Roman Fever" written by another woman,   Edith Wharton, a little later than the first (1934) does not at first seem to fit the Feminist tradition.  However, part of the difficulties these two women share is that in their world, affluent New Yorkers, they are defined by only their roles as wives and mothers.   In "A Rose for Emily" this same gender tension (complicated still further by the roles of a daughter to a domineering father) is at the root of the problems Faulkner depicts the aristocratic Emily Grierson.  Finally the struggle between sexes over what will happen to a woman's body finds a critical analysis in  "Hills Like White Elephants" by Earnest Hemingway

 Conclusion

Thus gender tensions should be kept in mind while reading our selections of literature.  Don't be afraid to object to what may be an inaccurate assumption by an author about the nature of a gender.  Also ask yourself whether negative capability actually exists which allows the author to transcend the limitations of his or her gender perspective.  Consider also the roles of the sexes in today's world and compare them with the times being depicted.  Even stories based in the 1930s find a world different than our own.  Consider the classic film A Christmas Story (Ralphie wants a bee bee gun).  The entire controversy over the leg-lamp could only occur in a house hold in which the wife did not feel she had the power to object honestly and overtly.

[swanqueeneverafter]

The Once & Future Queen Pt.5

Storybrooke. Present. (Xena and Gabrielle sit down with the Reporter ahead of their journey to the Isle of the Blessed.) Reporter: "Xena. Gabrielle. Thanks for sitting down with me today." Xena: "No problem." Gabrielle: "We're pleased to be here." Reporter: "Good. Xena, first to you. Why have you volunteered to go on this journey to the Isle of the Blessed?" Xena: "Well, if you'd seen the carnage left in the village of Howden, you'd understand." Reporter: "Yes, your history of heroics is well documented by none other than your constant companion, Gabrielle, of course." Xena: (Smiles:) "What can I say? She writes me well." Reporter: "Indeed, but is it not also true that this mission will have dire consequences for one of your group? There have been many volunteers for this journey, including the knights of Camelot and Lancelot himself. Why did you feel compelled to add your name to that list?" Xena: "Well I've already said-" Reporter: (Cutting in:) "Was the necessity of a blood sacrifice a deciding factor for you? After all, you do have a history of falling on your sword in the name of the Greater Good." Xena: "Now wait a minute-" Gabrielle: "Xena and I are well aware of the risks involved in this mission. The veil between two worlds has been ripped open. No one is safe from the Dorocha's attacks." Reporter: "So when the time comes and the opportunity to mend the veil presents itself?" Xena: "If that time comes then-" Gabrielle: "Xena will not be the one to sacrifice herself. (Xena looks back at her:) She and I will do whatever it takes to aid the knights quest to mend the veil, but the days of Xena sacrificing herself to rid our world of evil spirits are over." Xena: "Gabri-" Gabrielle: "Over my dead body, Xena. You got that?" (Xena looks into Gabrielle's eyes and knows that her soulmate is deathly serious.) Xena: (To the Reporter:) "You heard the lady."

Camelot. Agravaine’s Chambers. (Guinevere hands Agravaine a ring.) Guinevere: “You have to take this. It bears the royal seal. In my absence, responsibility to the kingdom rests with you.” Agravaine: “What about you. Surely Lancelot is capable of succeeding without you risking your own life?” Guinevere: “Should the moment come where there is no choice but to sacrifice himself, I wish to be with him. If neither of us return, you’re to assume the throne.” Agravaine: “Your Majesty-” Guinevere: “You’re the only person I can trust, Agravaine. You know Camelot and its people.” Agravaine: “I beg of you, for the sake of the kingdom, there must be another way.” (Agravaine presses the ring back into Guinevere’s hand.) Guinevere: “My mind’s made up. I’m just grateful you’re here.” (Guinevere leaves Agravaine with the ring.)

Storybrooke. Zelena's Farmhouse. (With a small bag over his shoulder and a bundle of clothes under his arm, Robin Hood sneaks out of the farmhouse and down the steps.) Woods. (Walking through the forest, Robin turns quickly around at the sound of a twig snapping behind him.) Will: "Well, this is a bit of a turnaround isn't it?" Robin Hood: "What are you talking about?" Will: (Slaps his forehead with his palm:) "There I go again you see. Confusing you with the other Robin." Robin Hood: (Scoffs:) "You appear to be the only one who makes that mistake." (Turns and continues walking.) Will: (Jogging to catch up:) "What I meant, you see, was that back in the day, the other Robin caught me sneaking away while everyone was sleeping." Robin Hood: (Uninterested:) "Did he really?" Will: "Yeah, cause he'd just caught me lying to him. I used him for my own personal agenda. I endangered his life and the lives of his merry men." Robin Hood: "It was probably something to do with getting back to your sister, no doubt?" Will: "Yes, actually." Robin Hood: "Well then, your motives were pure." Will: (Stops and considers this. Then catches up with Robin again:) "It's not as simple as that though." Robin Hood: "Seems perfectly simple to me. You got something you wanted and Robin got screwed. It's the way of the world." Will: "You're really not like the other Robin, are you?" Robin Hood: (Turns to face him, walking backwards:) "Finally he gets it." (Turns back around.) Will: "Yeah, well my point is I can't let you do this, mate." Robin Hood: "Let me do what?" Will: "Let you sneak off on some suicide mission. (Robin stops walking:) That is what you're planning to do, right?" Robin Hood: (Sighs:) "You don't understand, Will. Good or bad, you are who you are. There's only one Will Scarlett, but for me I will always be living in my counterpart's shadow." Will: "So you're going to prove to everyone you can be a hero, is that it?" Robin Hood: "Well it sure beats staying around here and seeing that disappointed look on everyone's face when they realise I'm not him." Will: "All right, I get that. But the thing is, mate, lately I've been on this kind of redemption kick. See, I did the other Robin wrong and never got to make it up to him. Somehow that doesn't sit right with me, so I'm going to do right by you." Robin Hood: "Will, what-" Will: "I'm coming with you to this Blessed Isle and if the opportunity comes up, I'm going to make things even between us." Robin Hood: "You mean between you and the other Robin?" Will: "Exactly." Robin Hood: (Shaking his head:) "I suppose there's some logic to that somewhere." Will: (Patting Robin on the back:) "Good lad. You know it makes sense." Enchanted Forest. Past. Bazaar. (Emma catches up with the others in the marketplace.) Emma: (Laughing, hugs Tinker Bell:) "Tink, that was amazing!" Tinker Bell: (Beams:) "Thanks." Emma: (Looking around:) "Wow, you even brought the whole bazaar here. I'm very impressed." Tinker Bell: "After you described what you wanted, I figured why do things halfway eh?" Tiger Lily: "Well, bringing the bazaar here is one thing, now can you send it back?"

(Before Tinker Bell can reply, a young man rushes past them as he is pursued by three guards.) Guard 1: "After him!" Guard 2: "Riff raff!" Guard 3: "Street rat!" Guards: "Scoundrel!" Mulan: "Was that...?" Emma: "Aladdin. Come on, let's go." (They follow after the guards, hoping to get to Aladdin before any harm can come to him.) Elsewhere. (A shopkeeper is eating his lunch when there is a knock at his door.) Farzeen: “Can I help you?” Jafar: “We shall soon find out. (The shopkeeper stands and opens the door:) You are Farzeen Shahmed? You work in the marketplace selling scarves.” Farzeen: “Yes. Uh would you like one?” Jafar: “May I? (Farzeen steps aside to allow him entry. Jafar surveys his surroundings:) Oh. You earn very little income, and yet your home is well- appointed.” Farzeen: “Thank you.” Jafar: “It was not a compliment, but an observation. You have a bounty of fresh vegetables in your garden, and I couldn't help noticing you have two camels outside. Few men in Agrabah can afford even one. And yet here you are with two.” Farzeen: “I have been very fortunate.” Jafar: “Indeed. It seems you have everything a man could possibly wish for. (Moves closer to Farzeen:) Perhaps you've met someone who could grant them. Wishes.” Farzeen: “I am not sure what you mean. (Walks away from him:) My good fortune is due to a family investment that has finally begun to pay off.” Jafar: “Is that so?” Farzeen: “Yes. I can explain further, if you'll allow me to turn off the stove.” Jafar: “Yes. Yes. We wouldn't want you to overcook water. Go on.” (Farzeen bows and enters the back room. Rushing to a cupboard, he pulls out a lamp and rubs it. A red cloud of smoke emerges along with an oddly dressed, bearded man.) Farzeen: (Whispered:) “Genie.” Genie: “Master mine, my will is thine.”

Morgana’s Hovel. Present. Night. (Still wearing her healing bracelet, Morgana has a prophetic dream. Red and black banners lie strewn on a battlefield with knight’s corpses. A raven sitting on a helmet takes flight. Merlin walks onto the field, looking down at Morgana.) Morgana: “Help me, Merlin. Please.” (Morgana’s hand reaches up to Merlin from her position on the ground.) Merlin: “Is this really what you wanted, Morgana?” Morgana: “Please…” (Morgana wakes in her bed. At first she seems afraid, then angry.) Morgana: “Merlin.” Enchanted Forest. Past. Continued. Farzeen: “He's here! The one you spoke of. The man with the serpent staff.” Genie: “Steady. It's not you he's after.” Farzeen: “My third wish! I want it now.” (Farzeen pushes the lamp into the Genie’s hands.) Genie: “Have patience. I can help you.” Farzeen: “I wish you gone!” Genie: “Don't!” Farzeen: “As far from Agrabah as the Earth from the Sun!” (Jafar bursts into the room and reaches for the lamp which swiftly disappears.) Jafar: “No! (Using his powers, he lifts Farzeen into the air:) Where did you send him?” Farzeen: “I don't know! Please!” Jafar: (Calmly:) “What is it you desire?” Farzeen: “Just mercy!” Jafar: “Well, then. It seems neither of us are going to get what we want today.” (Jafar closes his fist and Farzeen screams in agony. Standing outside, having stopped to rest, Aladdin hears the poor man’s screams before he takes off running.)

(Rounding the corner, he sees the guards charging towards him once more. Stepping on a stooped man's back, Aladdin propels himself up onto some overhead beams and maneuvers around them to evade capture. Unfortunately, four more guards appear where he lands.) Aladdin: (Hands raised:) "Let's not be too hasty, we can talk about this." Guard: "The time for talking is over." Mulan: (Standing behind the guards:) "I agree. (The men turn and stare at Mulan as she draws her sword. The four guards burst out laughing at the sight and Mulan gives them a pleasant smile, long used to this kind of reaction from men:) Are you finished? Then let's begin." (Twirling her sword, Mulan makes quick work of the four guards, disarming them and sending them flying into each other to land sprawled in a heap on the ground.) Emma: (Holding her hand out to Aladdin:) "There's sure to be more on the way, so it's up to you if you want to take your chances with them or come with us?" Aladdin: "Who are you?" Emma: "A friend." Aladdin: (Looks her up and down:) "A friend like you I'd remember." Emma: "Fella, you ain't never had a friend like me. Come on! (Aladdin hesitates a moment longer before taking Emma's hand:) Tink, now!" Tinker Bell: "Right!" (With a wave of her wand, Tink, Mulan, Tiger Lily, Emma and Aladdin are enveloped in a cloud of smoke.) Crumbling Fortress. Present. Dusk. (Guinevere, Lancelot, Xena, Gabrielle and the knights arrive amongst the ruins.) Xena: “Pair off. Find any wood you can. Get the fires burning.” (The knights collect firewood while carrying torches. One of the knights hears a man’s scream and drops his firewood. The knights gather together as screams start to surround them. A Dorocha launches at them and Xena wards it off with a torch.) Gabrielle: “Let’s go!” Sir Bedivere: “We haven’t got enough!” Xena: “Go!” (The knights are back at the fire pit with Guinvere and Lancelot. Lancelot attempts to use the flint to light the fire to no avail. Taking the flint from him, Xena strikes and the fire lights instantly. Lancelot looks at her. Xena shrugs. Gabrielle grins in amusement. The knights stand around the fire with torches. Bedivere looks at the fire, then at Lancelot.) Sir Bedivere: “It won’t get us through the night.” Lancelot: “It will keep the area safe for a while.” (Later, Gwaine throws a log on the fire.) Sir Gwaine: “The last one. Maybe we should draw lots, see who gets some more.” Guinevere: (Stands:) “I’ll go.” Lancelot: “You’ll need help. I’ll go with you. (At Guinevere’s look:) Well, since when have you known how to collect firewood?” Guinevere: (Smiles:) “I wasn’t always Queen, you know.” (The knights chuckle. Xena watches as they walk off.)

(Lancelot collects firewood while Guinevere stands guard with a torch. A Dorocha charges them from behind.) Guinevere: “Lancelot! (Guinevere drops the torch to tackle Lancelot out of the way:) Let’s go!” (They rush through some passages and close a door behind them. The Dorocha seems to lose them. The knights back at the fire pit shuffle around anxiously.) Xena: “They should’ve been back by now.” Gabrielle: “Someone needs to go and look for them.” Sir Bedivere: “We’ve only got one torch between us.” (Xena grabs the torch and starts walking off.) Gabrielle: “Who’s coming with us?” (Elyan follows, then the other knights. Gwaine grabs his sword belt and puts it on while following.) Enchanted Forest. Past. (Sitting around the campfire, Aladdin tries to understand what's going on.) Aladdin: "So you mean to tell me that I'm not in Agrabah anymore?" Mulan: "The lush green forest tipped you off, huh?" Tiger Lily: (Smiles:) "No, Aladdin, you're not in Agrabah, this is the Enchanted Forest. But we can drop you back home easily enough." Aladdin: "Oh, well that's all right then. I mean there's no rush, probably best to let things calm down back home first." Mulan: "Good idea." Aladdin: "And I should thank you ladies for saving my neck. (They all look at him expectantly:) Thank you." Mulan: "You're welcome." Aladdin: "I've never seen a woman fight as well as you." Mulan: "Luckily those palace guards hadn't either. Otherwise things might've been different." Aladdin: "Those guys? Nah, palace guards are notoriously easy to get by." Regina: (Stepping out of the shadows:) "I can certainly vouch for that." Emma: "Regina!" Regina: "That was you, wasn't it? The parade?" Emma: (Smiles:) "That depends. Did you like it?" Regina: "Like it? (Walking towards her:) That was the most wonderful birthday gift anyone has ever given me. I loved it."

Tinker Bell: (Beaming:) "You're welcome." Regina: "You're a terrific fairy, Tinker Bell. Don't ever let anyone tell you differently." (Tink blushes and flutters her wings.) Regina: (Looks to Emma and then back at Tink:) "Do you think you could arrange somewhere private where Emma and I could talk? (Now looking at Emma:) I'd like to thank her for my gift." Tinker Bell: "That shouldn't be a problem." (With a wave of Tink's wand, a small tent like structure appears on the small hill, a dozen yards or so away from camp.) Emma: "Regina... are you sure?" Regina: (Leans in and kisses her:) "I've never been more sure of anything." (Regina takes her hand and leads Emma towards the tent.) Emma: (To the others:) "Uh... don't wait up." Elsewhere. (Out in the woods Snow White wanders and scans the stars in the sky.) Snow White: “Is that the star? Or is it that one?” Blue Fairy: “Worry not, Snow White. I have found you.” Snow White: (Spins around:) “Blue.” Blue Fairy: "What's troubling you, Snow?" Snow White: "You're joking, right? You saw the parade today, didn't you?" Blue Fairy: "I heard about it." Snow White: "Clearly magic was involved. Powerful magic." Blue Fairy: "What are you implying?" Snow White: "I'm asking if you knew anything about it." Blue Fairy: "I'm sorry, but no I don't." Snow White: "Well find out! Someone is trying to seduce my step-mother while my father is visiting Midas' kingdom." Blue Fairy: (Smiles:) "How do you know your father wasn't behind the parade? Perhaps he arranged it knowing he'd be away for Regina's birthday?" Snow White: "No! I am telling you this was someone else and they had magical help." Blue Fairy: "I'm sorry, Snow, but you can't expect me to-" Snow White: "I expect Fairies to know their place in my father's kingdom! Need I remind you the King often visits Camelot, a place where all magic is prohibited. King Uther is always warning my father of the dangers magic can bring. It wouldn’t take much to convince him that Uther is right. Just think of what that would mean for your kind." Blue Fairy: "Of course. I-I will find out who was behind today's parade and make sure they are reprimanded." Snow White: (Stamping her feet:) "I want them stopped permanently! Incapable of performing magic ever again. Do I make myself clear?" Blue Fairy: (Taken aback:) "Y-yes, Snow White." Snow White: "Good. I would hate to make my father aware of this." (Snow turns and walks away.) Daelbeth. Present. Continued. (Guinevere and Lancelot hide behind a corner in one of the fortress rooms. Guinevere ties a cloth around Lancelot’s injured arm. Guinevere looks uncomfortable and Lancelot gives her a questioning look.) Guinevere: “It’s cold.” Lancelot: “Right.” Guinevere: “You’re not feeling it?” (Lancelot shrugs his shoulders and shakes his head.) Guinevere: “Men.” (Back in the passages, Xena leads the knights through the fortress, warding off Dorochas with the torch. Back in the hiding chamber, Guinevere and Lancelot listen to the screaming spirits.) Lancelot: “All the things I’ve faced…I never worried about dying.” Guinevere: “We will defeat the Dorocha. We will, Lancelot, together.” (In the passages, Xena, Gabrielle and the knights continue the search. Back in the hiding chamber, Guinevere and Lancelot wait.) Lancelot: “They say the darkest hour is just before the dawn.” Guinevere: “Feels pretty dark right now.” Lancelot: “Well, it can’t be long then. (The Dorocha finds them and sweeps through the door. Lancelot starts to rush out from around the corner, but Guinevere pulls him back and stands up herself, running straight for the Dorocha:) Guin, no!” (Bursting through the door, Robin Hood arrives out of nowhere.) Robin Hood: “Get down, Your Majesty!” (Robin stands in front of Guinevere, bracing himself for the worst when he too is knocked out of the way. Will stumbles and turns to face the Dorocha. It catches Will in the chest, and throws him back against the stone wall. Xena and the others enter, warding off the Dorocha with the torch. Xena then hands the torch to Gabrielle and turns to Robin.) Xena: “What happened?” (Robin goes to Will. Turning him over, Robin sees that Will is frozen, much like the corpses found in the village.)