Finding You Always
Also on Fanfiction.net and A03
Chapter 231: Wicked Game, Pt 1
Fandral and Zorro arrived at the apartment that belonged to Hiram Flaversham and his daughter Olivia. And what they found definitely suggested foul play.
"What a mess," Zorro mentioned, as the place was in complete shambles.
"Hyde was right...it seems they have been abducted by someone," Fandral said, as he knelt down and noticed the peculiar spots of mud scattered haphazardly around the place.
"This certainly doesn't look like someone's shoes though. So who or what tracked this mud in?" Zorro wondered and a thought struck Fandral.
"Someone missing a leg…" he said.
"What? You think you know who did this?" Zorro asked.
"I think I may know who was hired to do this. He's a foul, stupid, degenerate, but he is also an efficient hand for hire," Fandral replied, as he made a call.
"Emma...it's Fandral. I believe we have a crime scene. Can you send Bashful with a forensics team to 1897 Baker Street. It's the Basil Estates apartment building, apartment 2F," Fandral said.
"Sure...I'll send him right away. Homicide?" she asked.
"Fortunately, no. It looks like an abduction. Hyde came to Rose and I and asked me to investigate the disappearance of one of his colleagues. An engineer by the name of Hiram Flaversham and his daughter Olivia. They're missing and their apartment shows definite signs of a struggle," Fandral reported.
"I'll let Bashful know and send him right away. I'll pull profiles on our victims too," she said.
"There is one other thing...a hunch, but there is a lot of mud that has been tracked in and it doesn't look like someone that has two legs, but rather one that's missing one. Maybe someone that even has a peg leg," Fandral said.
"I think I know exactly who you mean. I'll pull his file too and issue a BOLO," Emma replied.
"Thanks Emma...I'll see you soon," Fandral said, as hung up.
"So...who is this peg legged fiend?" Zorro asked, as Fandral's phone chimed and he showed him a photo of a greasy, shady looking character.
"Lester Batting...but better known as Fidget," Fandral replied.
"Cute nickname," Zorro joked.
"He earned it well during the Final Battle with the Black Fairy. He tangled with Snow and she fought him off with a dagger to his femoral artery. Since Whale, Paul, and Eva were with us, their side lacked proper medical training and his leg was amputated," Fandral said.
"Sounds like he deserved it," Zorro said.
"He did and served twenty years in prison for his seditious behavior. He was released just before Seth's curse and joined all his scummy friends on Pleasure Island," Fandral replied.
"You think that's where he took Mr. Flaversham and his daughter?" Zorro asked.
"Most likely, but we still don't know why or who hired him. Fidget is an efficient hired hand, like I said to Emma, but he's never the brains of anything," Fandral replied.
"So someone hired him to abduct an engineer and his daughter," Zorro deduced.
"Hyde said that Hiram is a very gifted engineer and there is only one man I can think of that would have use for his skills," Fandral said.
"Jekyll," they said together.
"And his little girl is insurance to make sure he does whatever Jekyll wants him to," Zorro realized.
"Exactly," Fandral said.
"Are you really thinking about going to Pleasure Island?" Zorro asked.
"Yes...but I assure you I am the perfect option to take this one on. It may be resistant to magic, but my Asgardian strength does not rely on magic," Fandral replied.
"That still doesn't mean that Jekyll won't have some monstrous way to subvert you," Zorro warned.
"I know...but if this man and his young one are in danger, then I must try to save them," he replied.
"Be that as it may, you need some backup," Zorro said.
"I cannot ask you to take such a risk," Fandral replied.
"You're not...I'm offering," Zorro said.
"And so am I…" Hyde added from the doorway.
"Well, I won't say no to the help of my right hand or someone that knows Jekyll as well as you, not to mention has strength that rivals my own," Fandral conceded.
"Then let's see if we can charter a ride on the Jolly Roger from our good Captain," Zorro said, as they headed out to the station.
~*~
The swirling portal opened and they stepped through. They weren't far from the National Mall, but had found a fairly secluded place to arrive. They arrived at the Smithsonian Museum and observed the grand event, complete with dozens of exhibits. Unfortunately, most, including the press recognized all of them and the camera flashes were already blinding them. Thankfully though, it seemed they were leery of their known power, so they kept their distance.
"I am never going to get used to that," Snow murmured to him.
"Me either...I'll be happy when all this is over and we don't have to leave home," David agreed.
"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen and welcome to the Smithsonian and tonight's exciting and exhilarating exhibition!" a man announced.
"I am Bruce Carlson, your host for the evening and one of the curators of this amazing collection!" he said, as he motioned to the exhibits.
"Okay...what the hell is this? This stuff is fake," David said.
"Yeah...we know that Mjolnir from our realm is in the Underworld and the one from Fandral's realm was destroyed," James replied.
"And we know that's not the real Holy Grail or Excalibur, because they are actually the same thing and in Storybrooke," Snow agreed.
"Aphrodite's Magic Girdle?" James asked curiously.
"Do I even want to know what a girdle is?" Bobby asked his nana.
"An unfortunate and uncomfortable thing women used to have to wear in the past that has thankfully long become obsolete," Regina answered.
"Very true and I can assure you that I've never owned a magic girdle," Aphrodite replied.
"Okay...so if most of this stuff is crap, then why the fuss?" David asked.
"Unless we're the real exhibit," Rumple surmised.
"And there may also be a jewel among the junk," Regina suggested.
"That could be...and that item would now be magically activated in the presence of the Chalice," Aphrodite agreed.
"Then let's find the real item and keep it out of the wrong hands," David said, as they made their way into the exhibition.
~*~
Summer stood next to JJ at the burial site. It had been a small, intimate service, as JJ was her only family. But Summer was by his side the whole time, despite her dislike for Nora. Despite that, she would have never wished this on her .
"I'm so sorry again," she offered.
"Thanks," he replied, as he tossed the flowers on her grave.
"Do you think Goldie will ever pay for what she did?" he asked.
"I know she will. My dad and my sister will bring her to justice," Summer promised.
"My parents may not be able to stop all the bad stuff, but they do stop a lot of it and right a lot of wrongs. They won't let such an injustice go unpunished, nor will they allow someone as unhinged as Goldie go free," she added. He smiled and leaned down to kiss her cheek.
"Thank you," he said, as she blushed a bit.
"Do you have to get home soon?" he asked.
"No…I was actually thinking about going to the reserve to ride Sparkle. You up for it?" she asked. He smiled.
"I'd really like that," he agreed, as he gently took her hand. She smiled and felt warm all over, as she looked up at him and they ventured back to his car.
~*~
Fandral and Zorro arrived at the station and Rose ran to them. He had called her and told her what he planned, so he shouldn't have been surprised to see her there waiting for him. She ran to him and he caught her in his arms, as he pulled her flush against him and their lips met in a passionate kiss.
"I do not like this...it's so dangerous. That monster would love to take you from me…" Rose fretted.
"I know, my angel...but with the welfare of this man and his innocent child hanging in the balance, I cannot refuse the call to help," Fandral said. She nodded and knew she could not ask him to either.
"But Hyde...he is going with you for backup?" she asked. He nodded.
"Yes...he is meeting us here. He said he had to retrieve something from his lab," he replied, as Emma approached.
"I still think I should be going with you," Emma said.
"No...your parents would have a collective aneurysm and magic cannot be relied on there. My skills as a warrior and superior strength can though. Trust me, I've been to worse places than Pleasure Island," Fandral replied. She sighed.
"Okay...still hate the idea, but since two innocent lives hang in the balance, I'm not going to stop you," Emma said, as her phone chimed and she read the message.
"You were right...Bashful just ran the prints they found at the Flaversham apartment and they matched the ones we have in the system for Lester Batting, also known as Fidget," Emma replied.
"If we can grab the greasy little character while we're there, we will," Zorro assured her.
"Just be careful. We know what Jekyll can do, but more importantly, Rodmilla has magic now that isn't impeded there and then there is Runeard as well," Emma replied. They nodded, as Hyde came into the station, carrying a long case.
"What is this?" Fandral asked, as the other man set it on the desk and opened it, revealing a brilliant looking sword.
"Something I have been working on for a while," Hyde said.
"For me?" Fandral asked in surprise.
"You are the master swordsman and this is no ordinary sword. I was inspired by your story of the crafting of weapons from the stories you told on Nidavellir and the strong metal that was found on the other earth," Hyde said.
"Hiram and I have been developing what we believe is a metal that is just as strong as that metal. I was also inspired by the story of a weapon that can return to the wielder with a thought or feeling. Much like your friend Thor or even David's chalice sword," he continued, as Fandral picked up the magnificent weapon.
"Thank you…" Rose said.
"Yours and the children's safety is still of the utmost importance to me and with this weapon, you'll have even more of an edge against Jekyll. Like the Chalice sword, only you, Rose, or someone of your bloodline can wield it and it will recall to your hand at will," Hyde said.
"I have dubbed it Storm Surge," he added.
"Thank you...truly," Fandral said, as he exchanged his current sword and replaced it in his sheath with the new one. Rose turned to him and hugged him tightly.
"Please be careful," she implored.
"I will, my angel...and I will return to you soon," he promised, as they shared another passion filled kiss. Killian was waiting in the doorway. He would be taking the three of them to Pleasure Island aboard the Jolly Roger and waiting at the Harbor to make a quick getaway once they had retrieved the abductees.
~*~
"And now that we have had a word from our sponsors, we can begin tonight's video broadcast here on the Golden Pulse with more video evidence that there is a very real and present danger posed to the world by yet another mysterious villain," Goldie revealed, as she looked to Grimm in the background. He gave her a thumbs up, ensuring that he was broadcasting on all platforms, including their accounts on the muggle versions of social media.
"A new villain, calling himself Void, can now control the weather here in the United Realms. And the only one that can seemingly stop this menace is a fourteen-year-old boy," Goldie said, as Grimm cut to the video footage of the snowstorm in Arendelle and the thunderstorm in Misthaven.
"Now these storms are not natural. This new villain has caused the elements to go haywire and once again, the Charmings are at the center of it. They have been tasked to stop this horror, but not before it buried one Kingdom in snow and flooded another," she added.
"And the fact that our fate may yet again rest upon a boy who's still navigating puberty is not lost on any of us. What are the Charmings doing about this menace, you may be asking?" she questioned, as the video cut to an image of Snow and David in Washington DC.
"That's right, Snow White and her Prince Charming are attending yet another fancy party in Washington DC. Catastrophe follows these two wherever they go so I hope you have insurance, Washington," Goldie said, as the video cut to another sponsor ad.
"Well?" Goldie asked, as she looked at him. He smirked.
"Over three thousand views already and climbing. This thing is going to go viral if we play that footage of them fixing the problem," he said.
"Do it," she said, as he streamed the video as it came back from the ad spot.
~*~
"I think...everyone needs to channel their elements into me and then I can stop this. Then we'll have to clean it all up," Bobby said.
"You're the boss in this one," Eva replied, as she put her hand on his shoulder and his eyes glowed pink.
"I just hope I don't shock us both to the moon," Leo joked, as he put his hand on his brother's back. Bobby's eyes glowed cobalt and the electricity swirling around Leo ceased. Summer was next and her little brother's eyes glowed lavender and finally Emma put her hand on his back, making his eyes glow white.
"Now Mom and Dad...your element is love and kind of the reason we can do any of this," Bobby said. Snow and David smiled at them and each other, before placing their hands on Bobby's shoulders. His eyes glowed rainbow at that point and a large pulse of pure power exited and there was a rumble beneath them, as the power traveled beneath the ground. They all watched in awe, as the power lit up the ground in a display of multi-colored light, before steam began to rise from the ground and when the billowy steam finally cleared, all the snow was melted. Elsa looked at her hands in awe, realizing that her powers were under control again too.
"One more pulse should do it on that cloud, kid," Emma said. He nodded and they produced another pulse of rainbow colored magic, this time hitting the dark, ominous cloud over Arendelle that was dispelling the cloud that was showering the Kingdom with snow.
~*~
"Yes...that was the footage of a boy and his family fixing a snowstorm. Unfortunately, when you're dealing with a villain that can not only cause storms, but suck the life out of people...that's when things get serious," Goldie said, as they cut to the footage of the two guards that Void had killed.
"I apologize for the gruesomeness of those images, but people need to know what is happening. People need to be prepared, lest they become collateral damage in this war the Charmings seem to both be fighting...and waging," she claimed, as they cut to more footage of Snow and David in Washington.
"Especially when Mommy and Daddy are away and attract as much mayhem as these two. Buckle up, Land Without Magic...because I assure that this pair is going to bring you more than just stories of true love. The insanity that surrounds them will come to you too," Goldie said, as she continued to report on the events, while the Internet went crazy with this new information.
"This video is going to go viral for sure," Grimm said.
"But that's not enough. It's time to make my debut in the Land Without Magic," she replied.
"What exactly do you have in mind?" he asked, as she produced something from her desk drawer and handed one to him.
"Press passes...I like it," he replied.
"Time for me to get an up close and personal exclusive with Snow White and her prince," she said, as she held up a bean and they prepared to take their own trip.
~*~
Snow, David, and the others endured the tour, as the curator rambled on about his fake exhibits and fake artifacts. None of it made any sense, so they were all on guard, waiting for the other shoe to drop.
"You know...the regular Smithsonian exhibits would be far more interesting than this fake stuff. Our Atlantis museum back home blows all this away," Snow mentioned to him quietly, as they were pretending to listen to Mr. Carlson tell a fake story about the Holy Grail and how it was found.
"I know what you mean," he agreed, as he stood beside her with his arm wrapped firmly around her waist.
"At least there is one treasure in this room though and she happens to be in my arms," he said, as he looked at her and kissed her cheek.
"Charming...you are too good to be true, my love," she gushed, as she leaned her head against his shoulder.
"If I am...it's because of you, my darling," he whispered to her, as they shared a passionate kiss. They were both unaware of the eyes on them from the shadows.
~*~
"It's happening...at last," the man of Asian descent said, as an object began to glow in the dark.
"Has that ever happened?" Mr. Ozman asked.
"Not in my lifetime," the man replied.
"Do you even know what's inside of this peculiar jar, Mr. Li? Not even your ancestor could open it. In fact, he was a traitor," Ms. Reeves said.
"Indeed he was. Tao Xang Li sided with the children of the sun and gave the prized power source of the Mu people over to them. And they never opened it. No one really knows what is does or what's inside," Mr. Li said.
"But that is about to change," Li assured them, as he emerged from the shadows and set his sights on the pair. The new children of the sun...or truest loves, as they preferred. He didn't care what they were called; he was just intent on using them to get what he wanted and rectify his ancestor's failure to fortify the Li legacy.
It was true...he was the descendant of the Dragon's King's trusted advisor, Tao Xang Li, the only full blooded of the Mu people to ever leave their island. But his descendant, Ichiro Suun Li, had been haunted by the prospect of possible unlimited power within his grasp, but yet no way of harnessing it. His family had become corrupted a few generations ago when the promise of such power was continually denied to them and promised to those with no blood attachment to his lineage.
Is the distraction ready?" Li asked.
"Yes…" Mr. Ozman replied.
"Excellent...it's time to proceed," he said.
~*~
"And here we come to the enchanting necklace of Harmonia," the curator said, as a bejeweled necklace sat on display behind glass.
"Fake?" James asked.
"So fake...I bet the jewels aren't even real. It's tacky costume jewelry at best," Aphrodite replied.
"Do you know where the real one is?" Snow asked.
"In my shop...it's quite a story, but that's for another time," Gold replied, as they snickered.
"I'm sorry...but my entire presentation has been met with your snickering and whispering. Do you have an issue with my magnificent collection?" Mr. Carlson questioned.
"Well, since you mentioned it, yes...yes we do," Aphrodite replied, as all eyes were suddenly on them.
"So much for keeping a low profile," David joked.
"That's not our style anyway," Snow said.
"Almost everything in this exhibit is fake," Aphrodite replied.
"And she would know, since most of it is her heritage," James added.
"There is no way the Smithsonian would ever endorse such a fraud, which means this whole thing can't be about this exhibit," David said.
"Well…I suppose you would know all about being a fraud, wouldn't you, Prince Charming?" Goldie asked, as she made her presence known, with Grimm trailing behind her.
"How the hell did you two get in here?" Regina asked, as they held up the press passes around their necks.
"We're the press and this is a public event," Goldie said.
"Did you just call my husband a fraud?" Snow asked dangerously, as she got in Goldie's face. The blonde smirked.
"Well...he is the one that posed as his brother and fooled an entire Kingdom," she replied.
"My husband proved he's a true leader and became the people's prince," Snow argued.
"True...and left his own twin brother to live in the shadow of the legendary Prince Charming," Goldie goaded.
"If you're trying to get us to turn against each other, David and I are long past any animosity," James countered.
"He's right...and I may have had humble beginnings. Probably a lot like you, but at least I decided to use my life to do good things. You're just a bitter, jealous, washed up reporter," David said. She smirked, as she stepped closer to him.
"I bet you're a real tiger in the sack, chisel chin," she leered.
"You'll never know," Snow commented.
"What I wouldn't give to wrap my hands around that pretty little neck," Goldie retorted.
"I'd love to see that fight," Grimm commented.
"No you wouldn't. My Mom would decimate her," Bobby quipped.
"Look, I'm tired of this little vendetta you have against my wife. She's not responsible for your terrible life!" David exclaimed, as the spectators were much more interested in the spectacle playing out before them then they were the exhibits.
"Enough!" a voice said, as they turned to find a man of Asian descent before them.
"Who the hell are you?" David asked.
"My name is Ichiro Suun Li and since all the artifacts before you are not to your liking, I believe I have one that will be," he replied.
"Li?" Aphrodite asked curiously.
"Yes Goddess...I am of that Li bloodline and I present to you the sacred jar of my people. The Mu…" he said, as the spectators marveled at the glowing jar.
"Don't let him fool you...he's not the good man his ancestor may have been," Patricia warned.
"I am simply a man that wants the secrets to his heritage unlocked and I believe it is within this jar. Now...the children of the sun will open it for me," he said.
"Truest loves," Snow corrected.
"And what if we don't?" David asked. He smirked.
"Then the blood of every person in this room will be on your hands…" he threatened...
~*~
The Jolly Roger docked at Pleasure Island and Killian deployed the gangplank.
"I'm sure I don't have to tell you...but be on your guard, mates. This place was rough back in the day and that was before it housed a myriad of super villains," Killian mentioned.
"Thank you, Captain. Hopefully, we'll return shortly with our abductees," Fandral said, as the warrior was flanked by his companions for this mission.
"Well...that is definitely a new attraction since we were here last," Fandral said, as they observed the extravagant castle in the distance.
"Rodmilla Tremaine is definitely at home in this place," Zorro agreed, as they approached the infamous watering hole that they knew was run by Grimm. Going in there would alert the entire island to their presence, so they quickly concealed themselves in the alleyway behind the bar.
"What if our gimpy friend decides not to frequent the bar tonight?" Zorro asked.
"Then we tear this island apart until we find them. But I don't think we're going to need to," Hyde said, as he pointed ahead of them and they noticed Fidget limping toward another man at one of the nearby kiosks.
"Poppy dust...with an injury like his, we should have guessed he was an addict," Fandral said, as they moved on once he pocketed the bag of narcotics and the greasy character nearly leapt out of his skin at the sight of Fandral.
"Scream and I crush your larynx," Hyde threatened, as he put his hand around the shifty man's throat. Zorro fished out the bag of drugs and confiscated them.
"I need those…" he pleaded.
"Yes…I imagine that your permanent injury is painful at times, but narcotics are never the solution," Fandral replied.
"Easy for you to say and what's the difference? The version prescribed in your fancy hospital are just as addictive as poppy dust," he seethed.
"Perhaps that's true…" Fandral relented.
"Or maybe you're just a scumbag," Zorro added bluntly.
"That is likely also true," Fandral agreed.
"Hey…I don't see the two of you walking around with a bum leg!" Fidget hissed.
"Yes...well, maybe you shouldn't have tried to assault Snow White and you might not be in this position," Fandral said.
"That little wench...she caused this!" he said.
"No...shoddy medical practices caused this. The Black Fairy or Yzma could have repaired your leg easily with magic, but they did not care. You were just a minion...a foot soldier. This is how they treat their help," Fandral corrected, as he produced a pair of cuffs and put them on the greasy man.
"Now...you're going back to prison, but the amount of time you do in the abduction of Hiram Flaversham and his daughter will all depend upon you telling us where Jekyll is. We know he has them," Fandral said.
"If I tell you...I'm dead meat," Fidget said.
"You're dead if you don't. Tell us and you'll have a fighting chance in prison," Hyde threatened, as he put his hand around the man's neck again.
"Okay...it's that warehouse there," he said, pointing to the large building at the end of the block.
"Walk…" Fandral urged, as they followed him and arrived at the warehouse and they rushed in when they heard screaming…
~*~
Hiram Flaversham had worked diligently through the night and the day for his impatient captor. So when Jekyll finished his daily watching of Snow White via in his intrusive spying devices, he turned his attention to Hiram.
"I do hope you have been successful. With Snow and Charming away, this would be the perfect opportunity to sneak up on young Summer and obtain her star gem...and perhaps even Eva's," he said.
"Emma and Leo would be more challenging, but with their parents and Nana gone...the youngest girl would be prime for the picking, so that glove had better work," he added, as the device was unveiled.
"Your craftsmanship is exquisite…" he complimented, as he observed a golden pair of gloves, similar to the magic wielding ones he had created for Rodmilla, though hers were black.
"They will allow you to rip hearts and seamlessly extract star gems from the hearts without damaging them," Hiram said. The look in Jekyll's eyes was one of pure derangement, as he moved to the other side of his lab and revealed another device. It looked like a staff of some sort.
"I've done what you have asked...now please release me and my daughter," Hiram requested.
"Oh, but don't you want to know what you have helped facilitate?" Jekyll asked, as he picked up the golden staff.
"Seven slots...seven star gems and control of everything will be mine," he revealed, as a cold chill went down Hiram's spine. Jekyll smirked.
"That's right...seven Charmings and all their power will be harnessed by me. Charming will be under my control and lead his children in complete destruction of subjugation of the world for me, while the lovely Snow will be by my side as my Queen," he added.
"Then you have what you want...now please let us go," Hiram pleaded.
"Oh, but we have not tested your device yet," Jekyll said, as young Olivia was led into the room by one of the guards.
"Goldilocks was very disappointed in her skills as an assistant, so she returned her, hoping that I may have better use of her," Jekyll said, with a smirk that made Hiram want to vomit.
"And I do," he said, as he raised his hand and prepared to rip the heart from the young girl.
"No...please! Test it on me!" Hiram offered.
"A nice offer...but she will be our guinea pig," Jekyll said, as his hand thrust forward and the girl winced, waiting for the pain to come. But an arm caught his before it could go through her chest and she looked up to find Hyde in between the two of them.
"Not today, doctor…" he hissed, as he shoved him away and then picked Olivia up to carry her to Hiram.
"Hyde...get them back to the Jolly Roger. We'll be right behind you," Fandral said, as he circled the doctor.
"Don't count on it, Asgardian. With these gloves...I can rip even your heart out and once I do...I will go to Rose Red and make her watch me crush it to dust!" Jekyll growled.
"Spoken like a true psychopath…" Fandral countered, as he drew his new weapon.
"A shiny new sword won't even help you against me," the doctor warned, as he slashed at him with his fire whips. Zorro and Fandral dodged the flaming extensions of his arms and he aspirated and reappeared directly in front of Zorro.
"I will have a test subject," he growled, as he prepared to take Zorro's heart. Thinking quickly, Fandral picked Fidget up by the shirt and tossed the now screaming minion in between the path of Jekyll's glove and Zorro. Fidget was speared by Jekyll's hand and the mad scientist extracted his heart, which barely glowed at all, considering it was heavily blackened, thanks to all the evil deeds he had done in his life. Jekyll growled maniacally and the heart in his hand exploded to dust in his fury, killing the crippled henchman.
"I may hate Charming the most...but you are very high on my list, Asgardian," Jekyll said.
"Sounds like something to take pride in," Fandral quipped, as the madman unleashed a fire blast in his rage, causing a chain reaction of small explosions all over the warehouse, due to all the chemicals he had around.
"This whole place is going to go up...he's insane," Zorro warned.
"Yes he is…" Fandral agreed and then cried out, as one of Jekyll's fiery whips wrapped around him.
"Time to burn…" he threatened, but the seasoned warrior maneuvered his sword and shocked the doctor, as it passed through his forearms, cutting his hands off. He cried out in raged agony, as Fandral was freed from his grip.
"You think you've won!? I am made of demon fire now! I will regrow my limbs with ease, just like last time!" he claimed, as he willed his power to the surface, but frowned when nothing happened.
"I don't think it will be so easy this time, demon. This is no ordinary blade anymore. It seems Hyde has taken a page from your book and developed a metal that can defeat you with science," Fandral boasted.
"And when he merges his technology with the magic of Snow and David's chalice into their weapons...you will not stand a ghost of chance," the warrior added, as he and Zorro slipped out of the warehouse, just as Jekyll screamed in maniacal rage and the entire building exploded. He was still alive, of course, but he had been dealt a serious defeat.
~*~
Killian saw the explosion and was about to venture to find them when he saw Hyde running toward the Harbor with a girl and the man he assumed was her father, Mr. Flaversham.
"Bloody hell...are Fandral and Zorro okay?" he asked, as he helped their rescued people aboard.
"Yes...they should be right behind us," Hyde said, as they saw the two warriors running toward them as fast as they could.
"Did you kill the bastard?" Killian asked, as they hopped on board.
"We wish...but we at least dealt him a serious defeat," Zorro replied.
"Yes...he has destroyed his own lab in his anger," Fandral said.
"At least we managed to destroy that contraption that Mr. Flaversham created," Zorro said, regarding the inventor.
"What contraption?" Killian asked.
"Gloves that will give Jekyll the ability to rip hearts and extract star gems from them," Fandral replied.
"Emma and her siblings...he's going after them," he realized.
"Yes...but thankfully those gloves and the staff he built to harness the power of them have gone up in smoke," Zorro said, as Killian set sail for the mainland.
"Unfortunately, that may not be the end of it," Hiram offered.
"What do you mean?" Fandral asked.
"I'm afraid my designs were stored in his database. He'll be able to recall the blueprints and rebuild them...without my assistance," Hiram replied.
"Then we must warn Snow and David the moment they return," Zorro said.
"We will tell Emma once we dock. If he got his hands on even one star gem, he could use them to destroy everything. All he would need to bring us all down would be if he got his hands on Emma's or Bobby's. Their magic is by far the strongest," Killian feared.
"He wants Snow and David's too. If he got his hands on the power of the chalice through Snow and David...not to mention Bobby, then the entire United Realms and beyond would be doomed," Fandral realized, giving them all a sense of pure dread.
"Do you think we can stop him, uncle?" Olivia asked, as she looked up at Hyde. He hugged her gently.
"Yes...we will stop him, young one. We must," he said, as he shared a wary look with the others.
~*~
Once the flames were put out, Jekyll emerged from the building, his body covered almost entirely in burns. Thanks to his demon powers, he would heal from those quickly, but the damage had been done to his hands. He could not regrow them and when Rodmilla arrived, even his gruesome appearance shocked her. Following closely behind were her lead guard, Rivers and her jester, Lucifer.
"Rebuild my lab…" he growled, as she watched the sickening process of him shedding the burned skin and emerging anew.
"I gave you those powers...and you will now use them to assist me. If you do not...I will roast you the same way I roasted this entire building!" he shouted, as his eyes bled with fire.
"No need for threats, Doctor…" she said, as she got a healthy dose of practice with her magical gloves and remade his lab. She noticed burnt mass on the floor though and her nose wrinkled at the absolute foul smell.
"What is that?" she asked.
"That...was Fidget. Get rid of it," he growled, as she waved her hand and disappeared the gruesome mass of ash and burnt flesh.
"What happened here?" Runeard asked.
"Fandral the Dashing happened and I fully intend to make sure he pays for everything he just did," Jekyll said.
"What is wrong with your hands?" Rodmilla asked.
"I underestimated Hyde's ingenuity, but that won't happen again," he said, as he pressed a button on his console with his elbow and a panel on the floor opened up. A box emerged from the floor and he kicked it over to Runeard.
"Open it…" he ordered.
"I am a King...I do not take orders, especially from an unhinged doctor, who is obviously an amateur," Runeard said derisively.
"You had better watch your tongue, Void...for if you think your little trick is a match for me...you'd be sadly mistaken," Jekyll said, as he grabbed the man's wrist and Runeard was shocked to see that his touch had no effect on the doctor.
"I am still a demon and there is no life to drain from me," he said, as the King hissed in pain and pulled his wrist away, finding a burn mark there.
"But I can burn you to ash. However, I find your ability intriguing and would prefer it to work for me. Make no mistake though, if you inhibit my path to the lovely Snow White, I will reduce you to smoldering embers," Jekyll warned.
Runeard reluctantly did so and took out a metal case. He placed it on the console and opened it, revealing a second pair of gloves, much like Rodmilla's.
"These will suffice until we can obtain Snow and Charming's mixed blood. With it, Grimm can give me my flesh hands back. For now, these will work and help channel my power," Jekyll said, as he was fitted with the gloves. The Doctor flexed his artificial hands.
"Now get out...I have much work to do and a revenge to craft," he hissed, as they left the psychotic doctor to do his work.
"I'd hate to be the Dashings or the Charmings when he gets done with them. I hope he lets me watch the carnage," Lucifer mentioned. Rivers smirked.
"Me too...it will be entertaining for sure," he agreed.
2 notes
·
View notes