Defying Gravity: 6/??
Title: Defying Gravity
Fandom: Once Upon A Time/Once Upon A Time In Wonderland
Characters: Jafar and Rumplestiltskin in this chapter, more to follow but no spoilers here, dearies.
Rating: PG
Warnings: Spoilers for all of OUATIW and OUAT up to S4 but goes AU for S5.
Notes: For eternal_moonie - I couldn't have done this one without you. Chapter titles are all Defying Gravity lyrics.
Summary: What happened when Jafar's lamp was brought to Storybrooke in the curse, ended up in Gold's shop and Zelena accidentally let him out? In this chapter, Jafar and Rumplestiltskin finally fix on a plan of action to manipulate Zelena into wishing Regina back into existence.
Chapter 1 is here: I'm Through With Playing By The Rules Of Someone Else's Game
Chapter 2 is here: Dreams, The Way We Planned'em, If We Work In Tandem
Chapter 3 is here: I Really Hope You Get It, And You Don't Live To Regret It
Chapter 4 is here: You Can Still Be With The Wizard, What You've Worked And Waited For
Chapter 5 is here: No Wizard That There Is Or Was Is Ever Gonna Bring Me Down
“Did you think that was going to work?” Jafar asked.
“Well, I didn’t think Zelena would have saved Snow of her own accord,” Rumplestiltskin admitted, “but I thought Cora might do something to make her do it. So that’s why I had to ask you to step in. And it did work, Zelena won’t be marrying King Leopold. We put a stop to that.”
“But she’s no closer to wishing Regina back into existence,” Jafar glared at him. “At the moment she thinks things are going great because without Regina, she’s going to be the one to cast your curse. If you didn’t want that, then why the hell are you teaching her magic again?”
“Well, I’m not teaching her anything she doesn’t already know,” Rumplestiltskin glared so ferociously that Jafar took a step back. He had never thought he would miss that irritating giggle until now when he was faced with Rumplestiltskin in this mood. “She remembers everything I taught her before, and I remember teaching her, so these lessons are pointless. And she also remembers everything that ever happened between us in the previous timeline. Last time I taught her, I wouldn’t allow her to perform the curse, because it requires the heart of the one you love the most. And for Zelena, at the time, that was me. But now, Zelena remembers everything that happened in the past. She doesn’t love me now, so I don’t think I can use that to prevent her from casting the curse.”
“So if she no longer loves you, then whose heart do you think she would use instead?” Jafar asked. “Not the fool Robin, considering her reaction when she found out that in this timeline she was with him. And as far as I can see Zelena loves no one else. Possibly Cora, since although they are not close in this timeline I know it was what she wished for.” And more because he wanted to see the look on Rumple’s face than because he genuinely believed it, he went on “Or you never know, while you’re training her, Zelena could fall for you again and need to use your heart.”
The reaction he received was exactly what he was looking for. Rumplestiltskin shuddered. “She cannot be allowed to perform the curse,” he replied. “We must find another way.”
Jafar thought for a moment. “So is there anyone you know that could cast the curse instead?” He would have offered himself purely to shaft Zelena, but even if he still had his own magic rather than being bound to the confines of the lamp, the same stumbling block remained: he did not know whose heart he would use to cast the curse. The closest he had ever felt to love had been Amara, and she, of course, was long dead, as was his father. And out of all the people in Jafar’s life now - Zelena, Cora, Rumple himself - yes, he would gladly rip out the hearts of any one of them, but for the purposes of the curse they would be useless.
“There is only one person I have ever known who would ever have been powerful enough to cast that curse, dearie,” Rumplestiltskin began. “And that was Cora. But Cora stopped using her magic after she was cast aside by both Prince Leopold and Prince Henry. Well, apart from what she did to the latter and his father, who will never be the same again.” He giggled again, and Jafar knew in that moment that he never wanted to know what Rumple was referring to.
“Now I think I can work with her,” Rumple went on, “to persuade her to use her magic again and get her to be powerful enough to cast the curse. But we have the same problem. Cora would need to use the heart of the person she loves most. But she removed her heart not long before what should have been her marriage to Prince Henry, and ever since then she has been unable to love.”
“I think I see where you are going with this,” Jafar raised his eyebrows. “So if Cora were trained again, and she had her heart restored to her body, she could in theory be the one to cast the curse instead of Zelena.”
“I’m glad you understand now, dearie,” Rumplestiltskin smiled. “I’ll train Cora in magic again, so she can perform the curse. But you have to do your part too. You have to find out where Cora is keeping her heart, and get her heart back in her body.”
Jafar frowned. “But you won’t be using her to actually perform the curse? When you first came to me, you told me that Regina needed to be returned to existence in order for it to go your way.”
“That’s true, dearie,” Rumplestiltskin giggled. “And it will go my way. Regina will perform the curse. All we need is for Zelena to think that I intend to use Cora.”
“Because once Cora has her heart back, the thing she loves most will be Zelena.” Jafar understood now. “So if Zelena thinks she is to be the sacrifice, then that will push her to wish Regina back into existence.” He smirked. “I like the way you think, Rumplestiltskin. So we’re agreed. You teach Cora magic again, I find her heart. And to make it all the sweeter, I will ensure that Zelena is the one to return Cora’s heart to her body. I do believe we have a deal, Rumple.”
To be continued...
Fandom: Once Upon A Time/Once Upon A Time In Wonderland
Characters: Jafar and Rumplestiltskin in this chapter, more to follow but no spoilers here, dearies.
Rating: PG
Warnings: Spoilers for all of OUATIW and OUAT up to S4 but goes AU for S5.
Notes: For eternal_moonie - I couldn't have done this one without you. Chapter titles are all Defying Gravity lyrics.
Summary: What happened when Jafar's lamp was brought to Storybrooke in the curse, ended up in Gold's shop and Zelena accidentally let him out? In this chapter, Jafar and Rumplestiltskin finally fix on a plan of action to manipulate Zelena into wishing Regina back into existence.
Chapter 1 is here: I'm Through With Playing By The Rules Of Someone Else's Game
Chapter 2 is here: Dreams, The Way We Planned'em, If We Work In Tandem
Chapter 3 is here: I Really Hope You Get It, And You Don't Live To Regret It
Chapter 4 is here: You Can Still Be With The Wizard, What You've Worked And Waited For
Chapter 5 is here: No Wizard That There Is Or Was Is Ever Gonna Bring Me Down
“Did you think that was going to work?” Jafar asked.
“Well, I didn’t think Zelena would have saved Snow of her own accord,” Rumplestiltskin admitted, “but I thought Cora might do something to make her do it. So that’s why I had to ask you to step in. And it did work, Zelena won’t be marrying King Leopold. We put a stop to that.”
“But she’s no closer to wishing Regina back into existence,” Jafar glared at him. “At the moment she thinks things are going great because without Regina, she’s going to be the one to cast your curse. If you didn’t want that, then why the hell are you teaching her magic again?”
“Well, I’m not teaching her anything she doesn’t already know,” Rumplestiltskin glared so ferociously that Jafar took a step back. He had never thought he would miss that irritating giggle until now when he was faced with Rumplestiltskin in this mood. “She remembers everything I taught her before, and I remember teaching her, so these lessons are pointless. And she also remembers everything that ever happened between us in the previous timeline. Last time I taught her, I wouldn’t allow her to perform the curse, because it requires the heart of the one you love the most. And for Zelena, at the time, that was me. But now, Zelena remembers everything that happened in the past. She doesn’t love me now, so I don’t think I can use that to prevent her from casting the curse.”
“So if she no longer loves you, then whose heart do you think she would use instead?” Jafar asked. “Not the fool Robin, considering her reaction when she found out that in this timeline she was with him. And as far as I can see Zelena loves no one else. Possibly Cora, since although they are not close in this timeline I know it was what she wished for.” And more because he wanted to see the look on Rumple’s face than because he genuinely believed it, he went on “Or you never know, while you’re training her, Zelena could fall for you again and need to use your heart.”
The reaction he received was exactly what he was looking for. Rumplestiltskin shuddered. “She cannot be allowed to perform the curse,” he replied. “We must find another way.”
Jafar thought for a moment. “So is there anyone you know that could cast the curse instead?” He would have offered himself purely to shaft Zelena, but even if he still had his own magic rather than being bound to the confines of the lamp, the same stumbling block remained: he did not know whose heart he would use to cast the curse. The closest he had ever felt to love had been Amara, and she, of course, was long dead, as was his father. And out of all the people in Jafar’s life now - Zelena, Cora, Rumple himself - yes, he would gladly rip out the hearts of any one of them, but for the purposes of the curse they would be useless.
“There is only one person I have ever known who would ever have been powerful enough to cast that curse, dearie,” Rumplestiltskin began. “And that was Cora. But Cora stopped using her magic after she was cast aside by both Prince Leopold and Prince Henry. Well, apart from what she did to the latter and his father, who will never be the same again.” He giggled again, and Jafar knew in that moment that he never wanted to know what Rumple was referring to.
“Now I think I can work with her,” Rumple went on, “to persuade her to use her magic again and get her to be powerful enough to cast the curse. But we have the same problem. Cora would need to use the heart of the person she loves most. But she removed her heart not long before what should have been her marriage to Prince Henry, and ever since then she has been unable to love.”
“I think I see where you are going with this,” Jafar raised his eyebrows. “So if Cora were trained again, and she had her heart restored to her body, she could in theory be the one to cast the curse instead of Zelena.”
“I’m glad you understand now, dearie,” Rumplestiltskin smiled. “I’ll train Cora in magic again, so she can perform the curse. But you have to do your part too. You have to find out where Cora is keeping her heart, and get her heart back in her body.”
Jafar frowned. “But you won’t be using her to actually perform the curse? When you first came to me, you told me that Regina needed to be returned to existence in order for it to go your way.”
“That’s true, dearie,” Rumplestiltskin giggled. “And it will go my way. Regina will perform the curse. All we need is for Zelena to think that I intend to use Cora.”
“Because once Cora has her heart back, the thing she loves most will be Zelena.” Jafar understood now. “So if Zelena thinks she is to be the sacrifice, then that will push her to wish Regina back into existence.” He smirked. “I like the way you think, Rumplestiltskin. So we’re agreed. You teach Cora magic again, I find her heart. And to make it all the sweeter, I will ensure that Zelena is the one to return Cora’s heart to her body. I do believe we have a deal, Rumple.”
To be continued...