Chapter 33: Dragon Slayers
There were so many things going through Emma Swan-Potter's mind right now it wasn't even funny. She shook her head as she looked at the blueprints of the basement of the town hall that Harry somehow managed to have in his possession.
Harry/Ford/Rumpelstiltskin she didn't know what to call her estranged husband/lover at the moment and that was the least of her worries.
She put her hand on her baby bump. Her daughter was no longer and was frozen in time because Emma was stupid enough to drink that tea. Grant it, she was having tea with Belle and it wasn't like she expected his—well, whatever Belle was to him—to keep poison in her pantry.
God knows, she felt so much guilty.
How stupid was she?
She wasn't even going to answer that. She needed focus on the task at hand that would save her daughter, which was apparently defeating the big dragon that Harry suspected was locked at the bottom of the town hall.
"It's either here or the library," Harry summarized. "These are the only two buildings that are large enough and I doubt she'd put her in the library. It lacks the security features that town hall has. Especially since Belle and I live there now. She wouldn't put a dragon near me."
Emma frowned, "A dragon. A real life dragon? You think Regina kept her as a pet?"
Harumple (as she was calling him in her head) laughed. "No, not exactly."
Again, a cryptic non-answer. If they were going to have any kind of relationship he needed to give her a straight answer.
She didn't even know if she wanted a relationship with the man.
The whole thing was fucked up beyond belief, and even though she was trying her best not to think about it because—hello, saving the baby came first—it still reared its ugly head constantly.
As if reading her mind, Harry said. "I know you're angry."
"Angry doesn't even describe it," She said as she tried to focus on the blueprints. "I think it's best if we table our relationship issues for now, like you said."
"I agree, but you're giving me that look." He pointed out.
"What look?" He was being ridiculous. She wasn't giving him any sort of look.
"The one you gave me when I was acting like a dick when I first recovered my memories."
"Recovered your memories?" She gave him an odd look.
He nodded as he explained to her the circumstances of his amnesia. They were not like hers. In fact, they made the magic tampering that had been done on her mind almost seem normal.
Regina had killed him that was what he told her now. She had killed him and that's why she had reacted so strongly to Ford Gold coming to town. Harumple had been reborn as Harry Potter.
"I need a drink." She said frowning as she looked at the bulge on her stomach. "Can I even drink with a frozen baby?"
"Probably," Harry said, "Since she is in suspension it won't effect her development. But—"
"Better safe than sorry," Emma said as she looked at her frozen womb. "We have to get that potion. I have to defeat that dragon."
He gave her a look. "I still don't like this."
She didn't either. While she was usually an adventurous person—or as adventurous as a criminal lawyer who knew self-defense and liked to rock climb could be—she could usually fight her own battles. The fact that she had a perpetual baby bump on her figure and was worried about injuring said baby made it even more harrowing.
And normally fighting a dragon would be considered pretty harrowing.
"Well, we don't have much of a choice." She said, "Since Prince Charming is MIA and you're pretty much useless."
He glared at her, "Any other dragon, love, and I'd slay it myself."
She glared at him, "Really, Harumple, I'm to believe you fought a dragon?"
"Actually," He said with a wry smile. "I did back when I fourteen. Though a Hungarian Horntail is probably far easier to defeat than Maleficent. It's too bad there's nothing in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them about defeating an dragon shifting witch."
"But you said she can't shift back into a witch in this world."
Harry nodded. "It's Regina's idea of imprisonment. Plus, I can imagine she'd want to have her own personal dragon around. They can be decent for potion goods and if you need an enemy smoted."
The magic talk hurt her head. She had known it had been real for months now, but still hearing it just seemed so wrong.
"Right? But she can be defeated with a sword?"
"Well, it has been prophesized by yours truly that she will." He said, "Only thing, love, is I didn't know you were going to be the Savior at the time."
"And that makes a difference because…."
"I actually give a damn about you." He stated before he began strategizing.
Dragons were supposed to be in castles, not basements at the bottom of an evil despot's headquarters Emma thought as she looked at the deserted city hall frowning about the task she was about to embark on.
Or they since Harumple decided to come in for the ride and claimed her was going to do most of the leg work, and allow Emma to do the final kill since it was prophesized and all.
Emma shook her head at this remark; she still didn't know how all of this was going to work. Her fighting a dragon with a pretty well rounded baby bump. But Harumple said to trust him. Not that she was exactly sure if she could do that given all the crap she found out about him in last few hours, but she was pretty sure he knew this magic stuff.
Emma frowned as she looked at the elevator and saw the basement button. "Surely, it's not that simple."
Harumple laughed. "You would be right. Don't push the button, love."
"Why?" She said.
He rolled his eyes waving his hand as a poof of purple smoke emerge. "Compulsion charm. You push it; you'll instantly want to go away from the place. Probably do some of Regina's bidding. It's a nice little booby trap, but pushing an elevator button isn't exactly going to get us down there."
"Then how—"
It turned out that Regina's office had a secret underground lair to it that led to the basement. The whole thing sounded so bizarre. Like out of a bad movie, but Emma really wasn't in the mood to make biting remarks. She was more concentrated on the task at hand.
She was surprised that Regina's office seemed relatively untouched.
"Are you?" Harumple asked rolling his eyes—they were Harry's eyes. He was in his Harry form since he said it would give them an edge on Maleficent since the beast didn't know Harry Potter.
"Only hope I don't smell the same," He said. "I reckon I don't, since this is technically a new base form and all. But I really know nothing about the nostrils of dragon witches."
Again nonsense. Pure nonsense. That was one thing she should've picked up to realize that Ford Gold and Harry Potter were the same person. There were lots of things that should've clued her in.
Emma felt like such a dope.
"What?" He asked.
"You smell different," She asked.
"I imagine I do." He said, "Wait, does Ford and Harry smell the same?"
She laughed. They actually did, which wasn't surprising since he used the same shampoo, soap, and cologne that smelt a bit like oranges and cloves.
Though, funny she didn't remember him putting on that cologne. She told him as much and he frowned.
"I don't wear cologne."
"Then you might smell the same." She said, "Which means your plan is going to suck big time."
He glared at her. The eyes looked the same too, she thought. Sure as Harry they were a deep color of green and Ford's were gold, but there were the same shape. They narrowed the same way and even the flecks of gold and green that were Ford and Harry's respectively. God, how dense could she be?
"My plans don't suck, love." He snapped. "I do prepare."
And he pulled out a bottle.
Emma frowned when she looked at what he was holding. It was a dark brown potion. Harry frowned as he looked at Regina's desk and pulled out a hairbrush.
Yes, Regina was the type who kept a hairbrush in her office and a big vanity mirror. She had no idea that mayor's spent so much time doing their hair. Or why she didn't clean up her hairbrush since there was a big wad of dark hair in it.
A wad which Harumple just picked up.
Emma gave him a look.
"Yeah, I know, disgusting." He said, "But I need her hair, love."
"Why?" Emma asked as she watched Harry throw a strand of the surely dyed black hair into the brown liquid. The brown liquid started bubbling for a second before turning a molasses color.
Harry looked at her, "You should be aware that after I drink this I'll look like a Regina duplicate."
"What?" Emma asked.
"It's polyjuice potion," He explained. "It was Plan B."
"Plan B," Emma said. "You didn't tell me about Plan B."
"Because I didn't think you'd want to picture me looking and smelling like Regina. In fact, I think it would kill any sort of feelings you had for me."
She gave him a look. Though he did have a point. "You'll change back won't you?" She asked.
"Of course," He said. "The juice only lasts an hour. Normally I'd just shift into the Evil Queen myself, but polyjuice actually changes your chemical makeup so that I'll smell different."
"Would it be better for—" She pointed to her stomach.
He shook his head. "No, it still be just as dangerous for you. Probably more dangerous, Maleficent has a grudge against Regina."
"Which will make you perfect bait." Emma said.
He nodded. "It's actually better than the original plan. She'll probably notice Regina more, which will allow you to slip in. Just one more thing."
"What?" She said.
He waved his hand around her womb and she soon found it was no longer descended. In fact, Harry's quidditch jersey now swallowed her where before it barely fitted her bloated form.
"Where's?"
"The baby?" He asked, "She's still there. I just put a very strong glamour on your appearance. Just in case Maleficent does sees you, I don't want her seeing that you're pregnant. She might be in the form of dragon, but she's still malevolent enough to know where to attack first."
Emma shuddered. It had been an odd odd twenty or so minutes ago; she was trying to get over the fact that until they found a cure she'd be perpetually pregnant. Now though, she missed her bump.
"It's not really gone, she's just hidden. In a compact form." He said. "If she—if she was still kicking you'd feel her."
Emma nodded, but it still didn't make her feel better. It felt more or less like her child was gone.
Harumple sighed heavily as he looked at the Regina juice. "God, this is going to taste bad. Probably like apples. Anyways, bottom's up."
"Why do you hate apples?" Emma found herself asking, "I thought you were only were allergic to strawberries."
He didn't say anything mostly because he was drowning Regina juice, but the look on his face for a brief look at his eyes met said it all until he began to shift. Shift into Regina.
It was sort of horrifying to watch. It looked like his skin was boiling over and then his form slowly shifted. His shoulders narrowed as he shrunk. His hair grew longer. Strong features became softer and his beautiful eyes turned a cold color of brown. His smell even faded now, instead he smelt almost like the sicking sweet smell of apples that Regina smelt like. The same smell that caused Emma's throat to start closing.
"Another memory?" He finally said but it wasn't in his voice but Regina's.
Emma felt herself flinching. After all, Regina had only tried to kill her half a dozen times before. Though she did look a bit silly in Harumple's suit which was hanging loosely on her.
Yes, suit.
The man was still wearing a suit and had been prepared to fight battle in said suit, Emma had asked off hand if that was his usual battle gear and Harumple mentioned something about leathers.
Leathers!
That in itself made Emma's libido raise, though any raise in libido was now gone seeing Regina in one of her husband's suits.
"I'm going to have to burn this one. Pity. It was Armani, and I was quite found of it." Regina—no, Harumple said.
She blinked.
"It is still me, Emma." He said, "Are you okay?"
"How long does that stuff last?" She asked.
"An hour," He said. "Normally. I sort of adjusted the concentration to last a little longer, it's not permanent thank God."
"Thank God," Emma said. "You should change and we'll be on our way."
"Right," He said waving his hand and then frowning as nothing occurred.
"What?" Emma asked.
"It appears I gave Regina too much credit," He said, "She didn't get her magic back after all."
"Which means we're screwed," Emma said. "You can't subdue her long enough for me to stab her."
"Just because I'm currently not tapped into my powers, doesn't mean I can't act like a distraction for Maleficent."
"You can't protect yourself," Emma said.
"I'm the Dark One." He said, "That's protection enough."
"Besides, you're the Savior. You'll save me if I need it."
Emma shook her head, "I don't like this."
"Really, Emma, I'll be fine. Maleficent won't hurt me. At least permanently. Now let's change neither of us are fit to face a fashion conscious dragon"
Harumple was a liar. Maleficent did indeed hurt him, so much that Emma was glad that the witch exploded upon impact. Otherwise, she probably would've stabbed her multiple times.
Harumple might as well be dead.
The thought of it made Emma dry heaved onto the ground of the town hall's basement as she looked at the prone form of Harumple who still looked like Regina.
He wasn't breathing.
Damn it.
Emma winced as she realized she might have to do mouth to mouth on her husband—or she guessed Regina since that was the form he was currently in.
And people thought Swan Queen would never kiss.
She shook her head as she began the chest compressions as she thought about what happened.
After changing their clothes into clothes that respectively fit them, they went down to the basement which elevator was hidden in a secret door in the office just like Harumple said. Emma was a little struck at how far down the Town Hall went.
And that Harumple seemed unbothered by it. Or maybe that's not what bothered her about Harumple, maybe it was that he was wearing Regina's face and one of Regina's spare suits—yes, apparently the woman kept spare suits in her office.
Which was what Emma was wearing too—well, a pair of Regina's pants which fit far better than her now too loose maternity yoga pants she had been wearing. She refused to take off Harry's jersey though. There was no way she was wearing one of Regina's blazers especially since Harumple was wearing an identical looking suit.
"Do you think it's too difficult for her to buy suits that look a little different?" She had asked him
"It's laziness not difficulty." Harumple said. "And she doesn't even have these properly tailored. Right off the rack. The shame."
"Okay," Emma said not wanting this to go into women's fashions that much as they waited for the elevator to pop open and reveal what—
"I suspect there will be some sort of safety gate or something protecting the elevator." Rumple said if reading her mind.
"And you don't have magic." Emma pointed out.
"But I did bring Regina's blood," He said. "Blood wards really don't take that much active magic just blood. And Regina bleeds like a stuck pig."
"Anyway, put on the cloak I gave you before the door opens. The notice me not charms I put on you before I took the potion should hold. But the cloak will give you more protection."
Emma nodded as she took out the silver colored cloak that Harumple had given her earlier. An invisibility cloak. She was supposed to wear it at all times In fact, he had spelled it where it couldn't' be taken off by anyone but Emma.
Sure, enough there was a gate with a blood ward. Beneath the gate Emma already saw the first glimpse of the dragon, or it's tail.
It was large. With black and purple scales, it was nothing like Emma had ever seen and it was only part of its tail.
"That's Maleficent." She whispered to Harumple.
He nodded. "Keep the cloak on. When I give you an opening throw the sucker at her. The glamour charm I put on you should make you relatively invisible. But again, dragon senses. I don't think you should talk again."
And she didn't. Not until the dragon had grabbed Harumple and started flinging her. Whatever Harumple had said or did upset her. And Emma had a feeling it was intentional.
She had witnessed the whole thing. Harumple walking in a taunting the beast. Emma saw the creature's large eyes. They were green, but unlike Harry's green, they were a loud acid like color.
Full of hatred, indignity. It looked like the beast wanted to kill Regina, and who could blame her. Trapped for over the past twenty years in a basement in an animal form. It obviously hadn't been fun.
And obviously, she wasn't a fan of Regina.
"I get it, I get it." Harumple said in Regina's nasally voice. "You're mad, Mal. The rats haven't been decent enough food source."
The dragon roared.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah. You're wondering why I'm here. It's simple enough. I thought I'd talk things over with you make a fresh start. And if you're good I'd even consider releasing you from your prison. Maybe have the civilians for lunch."
One thing about it, he sounded enough like Regina to buy it. Civilians for lunch? She could just imagine Regina saying that. The dragon could too since she literally licked her lips.
Harumple smiled, "So, you do understand me. And to think I thought being a beast for twenty some odd years ruined any sort of humanity in you."
This seemed to be the wrong thing to say, since the dragon at that moment since the dragon tale whipped around and held Harumple up in the air.
And that's when she started screaming.
Of course, had she seen Harumple she would've seen Regina's face wince. Emma was supposed to be silent. The dragon turned around as if trying to find Emma as she held onto her prey.
"Now," Harumple yelled. "Now—"
Then it happened. It should've been a big ordeal, slaying the dragon. But really it was simple. Harumple had spelled the sword before so it would hit its target when Emma was in range. And it did all Emma had to do was throw it.
Still, she felt her hands shake. Not exactly how someone who was going to slay a dragon should be acting. Then she threw it. At first she thought she was going to miss her mark, but as Harumple promised the sword went straight to the beast's heart.
For a moment there Emma didn't know if she succeeded. The dragon had at that point thrown Harumple in the air and proceeded to toss him around like he was some sort of toy and then she threw him one last time towards her mouth when suddenly—well, she exploded and Harumple fell on the floor.
Not breathing.
She didn't even notice the small golden egg like container that fell from the beast as she turned into the ashes. Instead, she was focused on the prone form of Regina—or Harumple.
Harumple who Emma was now performing CPR on Harumple—well, technically Regina.
"Breathe, damn you, breathe."
She was going to cry. He was not responding to chest compressions. This was not how things were supposed to end for them. She was supposed to be mad at him, find some way to resolve it, and God knows that wasn't going to happen now.
She leaned down to perform mouth to mouth and as her lips touched his—something she never thought she ever do when he was in Regina form—but desperate times called for desperate measures. And she guessed all the Swan Queen shippers could get their feels, if only for seconds as her lips touched Harumple's and then it hit her. It hit her fast and hard.
Memories.
All of them.
Every single one of them. From the moment she met Harumple—who she knew as Harry then— to the moment that she was in that hospital. When that nurse took her memories. All those flashes, everything made sense.
And it made seeing Harumple like how he was.
"Emma?"
She turned around Harumple was blinking awake now. He, or the Regina version of him looked like a fright, but he was still alive.
"You're alive!" She pointed out.
"Of course," He said rolling Regina's eyes. "I'm taking it you defeated the witch."
"Yes, but, but you're hurt."
"I'll be fine when the polyjuice wears off," He said. "Hurts like a bitch though. Guess Maleficent got tired of eating rats. Can't exactly blame her for that."
"You weren't breathing." Emma said, "I had to perform mouth to mouth."
"Swan Queen got action then," Harumple said.
"Haurmple." She snapped.
"Don't call me that," He said. "Ford or Harry, or even Rumple or Gold. But Harumple that's not my name."
"Fine then," Emma hissed. "You almost died. You could've died. You still could die. I wouldn't be surprised if you blded out before you changed back."
"Dark One's aren't easy to kill, dearie." He said, "Besides, no pain no gain."
"You know I hate it when you call me 'dearie'." She said.
He frowned, "Sorry, 'urts."
He—or should she say Regina looked ridiculously pale.
"This is ridiculous," Emma stated. "We're calling an ambulance. You're going to bleed out if we don't get you some help."
"I'll be fine, love." He said, "Really, I just have to snap my fingers and everything will be better."
"You don't have magic," Emma said. "You won't until you change back."
"Which would be now." He said as his features shifted. It was worse this time around. With the blood and gore that had already been oozing from his form, it hurt just a little bit more seeing those features shift into his.
But he was right, no sooner than he was himself again did he have his powers and he waved his hand and all of those injuries he had were gone.
It was amazing.
And slightly creepy.
He smiled at her as he walked up to where the golden egg was. "Good work, Emma. I think you have the potion."
"We can save our baby then." She said.
"We can save our baby," He said with a smile as he picked up the egg. "Now that we have the most important ingredient.
She thought about telling him she knew on the elevator ride up. A part of her thought she should tell him the truth, that she remembered their life together. But she was still mad at him. Emma remembered everything, and the fact that secrets had almost tore them up before. The fact he was still repeating the same self-destructive behavior in the past, made her blood boil. But at the same time, she couldn't help but be relieved that he was alive. Wondering if they could have another chance.
Oddly enough, the elevator ride on the way back up played music. Emma didn't remember it before and made a remark about it.
"Really, that's what you're going to talk about?" Harry asked as "Vogue" played in the background.
"Really, Madonna?" Emma said ignoring him. "She chose Madonna to play of all things."
He ignored her remarks and instead said, "You're not going to talk about the fact that there was a dragon down there and that you just killed it and saved my life."
"I don't want to remember exploding dragon," She said. "And I'm trying to get my mind off of things.
"By talking about Regina's penchant for Madonna."
"It's something else besides the weirdness of our life. It's something else where I don't have to think about our own too weird problems." Emma said.
"But really, talking about Regina's music choices?"
"It's the least contentious thing I can discuss right now," She said with a heavy sigh. "Are you sure, you're okay?"
"I'm fine," He said. "A little worn, but fine. I expect my energy levels will rebound soon enough."
"You should've died." She stated. "That dragon should've killed you with the way she was bopping you around."
"I'm the Dark One." Harry said as if that explained everything.
Emma shook her head.
"You know, being Harry Potter wasn't an act." He said, "Regina did "kill me" before but I came back."
"You mentioned that already."
"I'm just saying Dark Ones don't die." Harry said, "Even if they're hearts are pulled out and crumpled to dust. A little wallop by Maleficent, is just likw cardio for me."
"It didn't look like cardio for you a minute ago," Emma said.
"That's because I was in Regina's form." He said rolling his eyes.
"Don't do that ever again." Emma said.
"What? The almost dying or being in Regina's form?" He asked.
"Both," Emma said as the elevator opened which lead them to a large wolf staring at them.