The Girl and the Nutcracker ~ A Once Upon a Time Story

2x18: Selfless, Brave and True

Emma gave her a fake smile before standing up, "Sounds like fate. I've gotta drop Henry off with his grandpa. Thanks for the bagel."

"It was nice meeting you, Tamara." Henry said as he stood up to go with Emma, and Tamara smiled, "You, too."

Neal grabbed the storybook Henry had handed over him earlier, "Here you go, man." Henry gave him a smirk, "Why don't you hold on to that?"

"Okay. See you." Neal said as he kept the book in his hands, and Henry waved at him, "See you later."

Henry and Emma left the room, and Clara stood up from her chair, "I need to go as well. I promised Marco to help out with some of his projects, since you know... his son isn't here to do so."

"Yeah, sure." Neal responded, "Be safe out there."

"You too." Clara replied with a smile, "And welcome to Storybrooke, Tamara. I'm sure you'll... find yourself accustomed soon enough."

Tamara nodded and smiled, "Thank you."

_____

While Clara was working in Marco's shop, she got a text from Mary Margaret saying she should come to Granny's with Marco and Emma.

Clara and Marco immediately headed over there, and saw Emma as well before heading in, "Hey, do you know what this is about?"

"I've got no idea." 

Together, they waited at Granny's until Mary Margaret arrived. When she did, she walked over to them hastily, "It's August. I found him."

"My boy?" Marco asked with hope, "He's alive?"

Mary Margaret nodded, "Yes, but... he's completely wooden. He's been living in an abandoned trailer down near the toll bridge."

"So what now?" Clara asked and Emma looked at her mother, "Can we do something to help him?"

"No." Mary Margaret responded, "But I know someone who might be able to. Mother Superior."

Marco nodded, "Yes. Yes, the Blue Fairy. She helped once, she can help again. She must!"

Marco immediately headed out of the diner, with Emma and Mary Margaret in tow. Clara sighed to herself, "This better work..."

The group headed to the convent where the sisters live, and Mary Margaret explained to Blue what happened to August and how she found him. Blue, however, just sighed, "I know about August. He came to me shortly after the curse broke and asked if I would return him to what he was."

"Why didn't you?" Emma asked and Blue shrugged, "Because what he was is what he is."

Blue looked over to Marco, "Do you remember the morning I found you on that beach all those years ago? The day I turned your son into a real boy?"

"Yes." Marco nodded with a smile, "It was the happiest day of my life."

"I told Pinocchio so long as he remained brave, truthful, and unselfish, he would stay a real boy. But I'm afraid he didn't." Blue explained, "That is why he changed back, and that's why there's nothing I can do for him."

"He's made some mistakes here, like every other person has. That doesn't mean he cannot get changed back." Clara argued and Mary Margaret nodded along with her, "Shouldn't he have another chance?"

Blue sighed, "If there's still a path of redemption for August, it is one that he must travel on his own. No one can force him, or it will not be true."

Mary Margaret patted Marco in comfort, "Don't despair, Marco. I know there's still hope for your son. There has to be."

They walked out of the building, and headed towards the forest. Clara walked next to Mary Margaret, "Why is it that you want August to be himself again so badly? Is it because of the thing with Cora?"