A.N.: I am well aware that today isn't Friday but we got our tech schedule and I'm going to have no time on Sunday to post the last chapter so I'm pushing everything forward :) So tomorrow will be the last chapter of this part! Then I got to finish writing and editing part two...I promise it won't take a year of three rewrites (maybe more like a few months of one rewrite). As always please read and review!

Chapter Twenty-One

Lila wandered through the forest, searching for a Fireflower. The juice could cure any ailment and she needed it for her healing herb stores. It would make a nice addition to the Gardens too. As Starshine moved behind her, wolves howled in the distance. Lila glanced up at the full moon and prayed they were in the territory of a pack that was in control of their transformation.

The leather of her coat swished as she walked, her sword held before and cutting through the underbrush when it was too thick. She suddenly felt a change in the air and noted that Dark Magic was close. Rumple wouldn't dare come so close to her castle but who else could it be?

The answer had to be Cora. Lila hid behind a tree as she saw her mother for the first time. When Lila went to live with Rumple in the Dark Castle, he had a sketch of the woman. He never explained why but Lila didn't care. He wasn't joking when he said Lila looked just like her mother. The young woman before her was almost a mirror image except for her brown eyes.

Lila's eyes flashed when she saw what the woman was doing. In her hand was a bunch of fur and lying on the ground before her was a man. Lila put two and two together, judging from the howls nearby, and realized the man had to be a werewolf. Soon other wolves were in the clearing and were at the mercy of this witch. Within seconds, she had killed five, fist fulls of fur safe in her grasp.

"Just a few more," She hissed," And then I can create the potion I need. Regina will have magical powers."

Lila tilted her head to the side. Had Cora another child? Rumplestiltskin had never mentioned it before. Lila could see this woman was a dark soul and she felt pity for her and whoever Regina was. The child would have quite the difficult life with a mother who had ripped her own heart out and let Dark Magic fill the void. Without thinking twice, Lila threw the woman into a tree.

"Where did you come from?" She snarled at the Snow Queen.

"You're trespassing on my kingdom," Lila raised a crystal orb, "I don't take kindly to anyone killing anything. That includes these werewolves you are killing."

Cora smirked and caused vines to shoot up and snatch Lila from the ground. She raised her dagger to the queen's throat but Lila had the upper hand. This was her forest after all. The vines released her and went after Cora. The dagger fell to the ground with a thud.

"Never underestimate the Snow Queen, Witch," Lila spat, "I was taught by a powerful man."

"And who was this mentor of yours, hmm?" Cora said as she caused the vines to light on fire and drop her.

"Rumplestiltskin," Lila smirked as she flung an ice ball at the witch. Cora whirled around and dodged it just in time and sent fire at Lila. It was all too easy for Lila to stop it from hitting her.

"You have a lot to learn, Witch," Lila chuckled, "I have a few centuries easily on you. I've been taught by the Lilac Fairy since I was able to walk and then continued studying with the Dark One. Do you really think you can beat me?"

Cora stopped conjuring whatever spell she had next and stared. Lila knew instantly she understood who she was now. The woman moved towards her with large eyes.

"How are you still alive?" She hissed before sending Lila into a tree. Starshine suddenly jumped in front of her mistress and stood on her hind legs, threatening to stomp on Cora. The witch fell backwards and landed on the ground. Lila crouched before her with a smirk.

"Leave now," She spoke, "Without causing any more bloodshed in my kingdom."

Lila mounted her white mare and gazed down at the bodies before waving her hand to bury them. She looked pointedly at Cora.

"I'll know if you don't leave right away and if you harm anyone in my land," She said slowly, "You best prepare yourself. We'll be meeting again one day."

Lila rode off, hearing Cora cursing after her. The Fireflower could wait. The Snow Queen had to send word to Rumplestiltskin that she had finally met her mother and that she wasn't as intimidating as he had made her out to be. Defeating the woman had been too easy.

Lila entered the square the same time Killian and David did. She caught sight of the pirate's pouch in the prince's hand and felt a sigh of relief that they had a way home after all. She turned to Emma and Regina and felt her heart drop. She was too late; they already knew.

"We have the bean," David said as he got closer. Lila went to Regina's side while Snow stood by Emma. David instantly picked up on something being wrong.

"Henry," Emma breathed, "Tamara and Greg took Henry."

"I don't understand," David said as he knelt before his daughter, "What do they want with him?"

Lila suddenly felt sick. It would have been one thing for Cora to get Henry but Tamara and Greg taking him was another matter. Cora wanted Henry for a fresh start. The Gods only knew what Tamara and Greg wanted with the boy.

"They still have some of the beans," Killian suddenly said. Lila's ears perked up and she turned to him. She recalled the Prophecy Hall in her Snow Palace and one particular prophecy. Henry was not just predicted to be the Dark One's undoing.

"Where would they be taking him?" Regina's hand squeezed Lila's as she stood.

"I think I might know," Lila swallowed and avoided looking everyone in the eyes, "We don't have enough time. We need to get everyone back to the Enchanted Forest."

"But my son-" Emma moved towards the Snow Queen.

"Emma, listen to me, if we are to save Henry" Lila interrupted, "We have to get everyone home first.Once everyone is safe, we can go after Tamara and Greg. Henry's a brave resourceful boy. He will be fine long enough for us to save the town."

The silence that followed was only interjected by the shaking of the earth under their feet. In just an hour or so, the town would be sucked back into the forest. Storybrooke would be erased from existence.

"So Cora is going back to the Enchanted Forest?" Snow glanced nervously at her stepmother.

"Yeah, she plans to live in the Dark Palace," Lila paused, "And I'm going after her."

"What?" Everyone spoke at once.

"If we let her go, there is no telling what she will do," The Snow Queen glanced at everyone, "We've got more than enough beans. I take one and use it to follow Cora while you use one to get everyone out of this town and then another one to go save Henry."

"I don't wish to sound like I have no faith in you, dearie," Rumple finally spoke, leaning against his cane, "But you barely survived the last fight with her."

Lila didn't say a word in response but the look on her face told everyone there was no talking her out of the plan. This way everyone would get home, Cora would be taken care of, and Henry would be saved from Tamara and Greg. There really was no other option. Lila held her hand out to David for the pouch; which he slowly and reluctantly gave.

"And what if she does kill you?" Killian finally said, "All she has to do is tear your heart out-"

"It's a chance I'll have to take," Lila turned to him fiercely, "She's ruined enough lives and I'm not about to let her destroy more. It's gone on for long enough. It needs to end."

"Well, if you're going, then so are we," Snow stood up with Emma, "We're family now. We have to help each other."

"You'll only slow me down," Lila turned towards her, "Fae move much faster than humans."

"Who says we have to run?" Snow raised an eyebrow, "Regina and Rumple have teleported before. So have you. Why can't you get us all there in time?"

"Because Cora knows I'm coming after her," Lila snapped, "And the moment she figures out I'm not coming alone, that'll be it; she'll disappear again. I don't have to tell you how hard it'll be to find her if she does so."

Lila was grasping at straws and she knew it. These people were heroes, willing to do what it took to save others. Killian slowly moved around behind the group watching her intently. He couldn't say whether he felt hurt or angry over the fact that she was once again recklessly putting herself in danger. It seemed to be a nasty habit of hers.

"All you have to do is focus on finding her," Rumple stepped forward, "You've done it before. And just like Regina, Cora is family. You found your sister without your magic. You can find your mother the same way."

The ground gave such a shake that everyone staggered and some fell to the ground. Lila stood up with the help of Regina and she looked at her sister; realizing that Snow and Rumple were both right. But she couldn't let everyone else die.

"You'd all be better off letting me do this on my own," She spoke quickly, "Trust me."

"It doesn't matter what you say, Lila," Regina straightened up, "Letting you go after Cora by yourself is an easy thing to do."

"And it's a mistake," Snow added, "We need to take the hard path; the road less certain."

"And what about Henry? Weren't you all just a minute ago saying how you had to save him immediately?" Lila swallowed back tears.

"Like you said," David spoke up, "He's a good kid. We'll have enough time to help you stop Cora and then go after him."

Killian looked between the group before turning around and heading for his ship. Lila was quicker and stopped him. He shoved his arm away from her.

"You're all mad," He scoffed, "You should all just get everyone home. Isn't that what you sent her to do, Crocodile?"

"Why do you suddenly care so much?" Rumplestiltskin growled.

"Killian, just let it go," Lila tried to reason.

"No! I won't!" He turned on her, "You insist on going after Cora alone but maybe Snow is right. Maybe you will need help with this one."

"I've fought her before," Lila crossed her arms, "And I've won. What's the worst that could happen?"

"You do this, you could die!"

"And if I don't, everyone else could," Lila's words started another pause, "One life to save thousands, Killian. That's how Althea raised me; to be selfless till the day I die. This is what I am supposed to do. I have to end this with Cora before she hurts anyone else."

Killian stared at Lila, trying to find the words to make her change her mind but he realized it wasn't possible. She thought she was being selfless but the act itself, not yielding to anyone's pleas to not fight Cora, was more selfish than she could ever imagine. Without another word, he grabbed the pouch from the woman and started stalking off. Everyone looked at Lila to stop him; to get their one chance at life back but Lila couldn't move. She shouldn't have been, yet she was shocked at what he had done. She understood his anger and frustration but she no longer had the strength to keep up the fight; to make him understand. Killian couldn't wait to get back to the ocean and forget everything that had happened the past few weeks. It was Emma who moved to stand in front of him, pushing him back.

"You and I – we get each other," She said, "You look out for yourself and you don't get hurt, right? That only works so far. One day you'll wake up and realize how alone you are and wish you didn't push people away."

She looked pointedly over his shoulder and he turned and saw Lila handing her bag to a dwarf for safe keeping, explaining that something fragile was in it. How had he let his heart wear on his sleeve so easily? That woman had known him when he was simply Killian Jones and when Captain Hook took over, she stood up to him and brought Killian back out. And yet, she acted as if everything she did in life was all in a day's work and was no big deal. It cut him to the core and when he had told her he loved her, she had said nothing; even changed the subject. Emma was giving him false hope just like her father had. The Snow Queen would never love anyone especially a pirate like him.

"So you can either help us or be alone forever," Emma finished. Killian swallowed and handed the pouch back over.

"Quite passionate, Miss Swan," He said before brushing by her to his ship. He didn't see Lila watch him go. She had hoped he would try to be the hero once again. After a few minutes of making sure everyone understood the plan and battling with the earthquakes, Lila rejoined her family. Storybrooke was starting to become one with the forest again.

"Emma! The beans!" Lila pointed at the pouch.

"But what about Cora?" Snow asked as Emma opened the leather pouch.

"Fine," Lila gave in, "Here's the deal. If you want to come, you can but I make all the calls. None else dies today."

"So how do we go about this?" Rumple called as the wind picked up and roared loudly.

"Emma will give August one of the beans and everyone will go through," Lila explained, "We take one of the other beans and follow Cora straight to the Dark Palace. The third will be used once we know where Tamara and Greg have taken Henry."

Everyone ducked as a sign flew overhead and bounced on the pavement. Lila looked where it had landed and then looked up and stared at the horizon.

"Oh you coward," She hissed under her breath. She turned and looked as everyone else noticed. Emma held up the pouch to Lila.

"He took the beans," She gasped. Panic started spreading through the townspeople. Lila started pacing as the ground shook more. Her hand found its way into her pocket once more and she found the thimble lying there. She swallowed before taking the acorn off and slipping the thimble into the hole the fated arrow had made centuries ago.

"What are you doing?" Rumple said as he watched.

"Getting everyone home," She answered simply as she wrapped the necklace around her sword's hilt. The items glowed dimly and Lila swallowed back the knowledge of what that meant. There was no way she and Killian were True Love. It was Peter and Wendy who were true; not the broken pirate and stone cold queen they had become.