1459 Words this Chapter.
Chapter Thirty-Six, Alive
"Is that it?" asked Regina. "Are we done?"
"No," said Killian. "I for one, am not done. Thanks to my Swan."
Emma smiled. She looked around. "Where's Gilly?"
"Where is who?" asked Killian. "Why on earth do ask for her?"
Emma laughed. "She helped me see that...well, we have magic between us."
He cocked his head and smirked. "I knew that well, Swan."
"Yeah, but you were momentarily speechless. It was Gilly who pushed me to...hope."
Killian said nothing but softly smiled at her. "You would have found the strength to do it without her, I'm quite confident."
"I hope so," she said, "But I didn't."
"That stupid voice too," said Mary-Margaret. "It was back. It tried to stop you."
Emma nodded.
"Well, the two troublesome objects are...stabilized," said Gold. "Perhaps we should see to the damage?"
They looked around, going to the shops, making sure everyone was alright. The inanimate objects had lost their controller, so no one was under attack.
Thankfully, no one had been harmed.
"I repeat, are we done?" asked Regina as Robin laughed.
The voice that answered her was casual and laid back. "Not quite, I would say, but nearly," said Text. He was adding finishing touches to a painting. It showed the grand battle they had just won.
He pointed to an image to the left of the battle. He smirked. "I did not see this until the last moment."
It was Killian in stone, Emma reaching up to kiss him.
Emma smiled and looked at Killian. He gave her a soft smile in return.
"Oh, I finished the one you seemed interested in the other day," said Text. He retrieved a canvas. As Emma looked, she recognized it as the painting with the pot. "There is at least one thing left for you all to do," he said. "According to this, that is."
It had indeed been a magic ritual depicted. The pot was center, with Regina behind, tossing in several hairs. She smiled at the person beside her, Henry. He was looking inside the pot with interest.
"We still have a spell to cast," said Regina.
David glanced back to the street and the limp bodies of Dag and Steel. "The sooner the better."
"Yes," said Killian. "Then I want to recreate this part of the painting." He looked and smirked at Emma.
In the painting, behind the pot, Regina, and Henry were two much smaller figures sitting on a bench. They were clearly Emma and Killian. He was kissing her neck, making her giggle and turn red.
"I, um, didn't see that part last time," Emma said, blushing.
"That's my favorite bit," said Killian. "It is certainly much more preferable than my condition in the last depiction."
Emma laughed and nodded.
Gold shook his head. "I for one do not need a lasting memento of those disgusting moments."
David nodded in agreement.
"Don't blame me. I only create what I see," said Text.
Regina sighed. "The savior and her pirate ruined a good painting. I do not want to know what you two do behind my back. Yuck." Killian smirked while Emma blushed. "I'm going to get my mind off it by readying the spell," Regina said.
"We'll cast it in my shop," said Gold. "I have all we need, save the hair."
"We still don't have Gilly," said Killian.
"She's in the diner," said Tip. "Little John?"
"He's with Marian and Roland in my office," said Regina.
"Oh, I wanted to say goodbye."
"Perhaps," said Robin, "Since you and the other Arrows are no danger to me, we could wait to cast your spell."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, Regina, dear. I have nothing to fear."
She nodded. "I'm not sure where Appleseed is anyway."
"He's still at our place," said Mary-Margaret. "He loves Henry's x-box."
"Well, I'll let him play. We can wait."
"Not on these too, though," said Gold. "We should change the dagger and the sword back. Now."
"The Jolly too."
"Killian, I don't think she's a danger any longer," said Emma. "She helped me save you."
"She tried to kill you Swan."
"She won't try it now. What's a few more minutes?"
"It could be your life."
"It could have been yours," she said. "When you were...under the spell, Gilly still encouraged me to try to save you, despite the possibility that maybe she was free if you stayed stone. She still cared."
Killian said nothing.
She sighed. "I want you to talk to her first. I don't fear her, Killian, not any longer."
Killian frowned. "I do not know, Emma. It would take a lot to face her now."
Gold rolled his eyes. "Well, you two decide about the lovesick ship. I'm casting the spell for myself and the prince."
David nodded.
"What about Text?" asked Regina.
"I think we should keep him a bit longer," said Gold.
"Seriously?" asked Emma in disbelief. "No, I don't think so."
Regina nodded. "Henry isn't truly safe until Text is a book again."
"I understand," said Gold. "However, according to one painting, we are not done yet. Astaroth."
Everyone sighed. "I forgot about him," said Emma. "Damn it."
"Text is no danger now," said Gold. "There is only one side for him to join: ours."
"If I may allay your fears," said the book in question. "I do not see any visions of harm to the boy. I do not care of course what you do. However, I sense that Henry is out of danger. At least, specifically."
"What does that mean?" asked Mary-Margaret.
Emma should her head. "I don't like it. I say we change him back. No offense."
Text chuckled. "I never take any."
Regina sighed and looked at the paintings. "Astaroth is still an unknown factor. Perhaps...we could wait." Emma shook her head as Regina glared at text. "But I'm watching you!"
He smiled.
They took hair from Steel and Dag and cast the spell. Dave felt a tingle and shivered. He saw the look of concern on Mary-Margaret. He smiled at her. "I'm fine. Don't worry."
"That feeling only means it is working," said Gold. "I feel it as well."
They watched. "It's working faster," said Emma.
"I've amended the spell," said Gold with a smile.
David felt a flutter. "I feel that."
"Yes."
There was a glow and a bright mist and Dag and Steel disappeared, revealing two shapes: a dagger and a sword.
"Now, that's much better," said God.
He bent down to grab his dagger.
There was a flash, black lighting, and storm clouds appeared.
"Now what?" asked Regina to the sky.
Emma shook her head. "Really?"
A swirl of black magic appeared. Regina grabbed onto Henry. Emma stood closer to Killian. Granny handed Neal back to Mary-Margaret.
Then the magic faded, revealing a man dressed as a dandy.
"You!" cried Belle.
"Yes, it is I, Astaroth."
"Stay back," hissed David.
He laughed. "I'm sorry for the...distraction," he said with an airy whisper.
"It was you!' cried Mary-Margaret, "you're the voice."
"Why?" asked Killian.
He shrugged. "The first time, I was actually helping you, the second..." He looked at Emma. "I don't trust you. You're magic is...unpredictable. I had hoped the stone pirate would keep you and your magic on edge."
"I'll show you an edge!" cried Killian brandishing his sword.
"Don't," said Emma, with a hand on him.
"Good move, Savior. Don't challenge me, Pirate."
He looked at Gold and threw a blast of air at him.
"Rumple!"
Gold flew back, away from the dagger.
Astaroth lunged, his fingers inches from the dagger. He was about to grab it when Emma stopped him. She threw her own magic at him. It caused a buzz of electricity to course through him. "As I said, you're unpredictable."
She glared at him. "You should leave. For good."
He laughed. "When I have what I came for."
He then threw magic toward Emma. She ducked, but a tree behind her burst into flame.
"You villain!" cried Killian.
Astaroth laughed.
"So you like fire, huh?" asked Regina. Then she hurled a fire ball at him.
He easily melted it with a magical wave. "This is all you can do?" he asked, jeering at them.
"Not really," said Emma, throwing a lighting bolt.
He smiled and caught the sucker. Emma's eyes grew wide as he threw it back at her.
"Emma!" screamed Killian as the white blast aimed straight for her...
And hit.
End of Chapter Thirty-Six