"So, you and the Black Fairy grew up together? You guys were basically best friends?" Emma asked for clarity.
"That's right," Ciana simply answered.
Regina then remarked, "Based on the fact that you, your daughter, and Alena sent the Black Fairy to who knows where, I'm guessing you two had grown apart."
"It wasn't always that way," Ciana began, "Though we had very different personalities, we always got along fairly well."
"What changed?" Snow then asked.
"I tried to stop her from doing what she believed was the right thing, and she never forgave me for the aftermath," Ciana explained. She then paused and surmised, "I suppose it's time for that story. Are you all ready to hear it?"
There were nods among the group, and Ciana took a deep breath before she started, "Many years ago…"
"Oh, he's so precious," Ciana admired her godson as her best friend was looking through a book of fairy lore.
"Which is why I'll do everything to protect him," Fiona commented without looking up.
"Protect him from what?" Tiger Lily questioned as she poofed into the room.
"The great evil that is destined to destroy my son," Fiona began. She then took a breath and exasperatedly continued, "I haven't been able to eat or sleep since I found out the truth."
Tiger Lily offered a sympathetic look before she replied, "I'm sorry. I never should have given you the book of prophecy."
"But you did because a mother deserves the truth. So now I know that a great evil is coming for my son, and in the Final Battle, he will be killed," Fiona apprehensively spoke.
"I'm sure we'll find the answers some way," Ciana assured her friend before placing the baby in his crib.
Fiona simply nodded before she addressed Tiger Lily, "Do you have those books?"
Tiger Lily responded by placing the bag of books on the table. She then smiled and slightly teased, "At this point, you've read more fairy lore than most fairies."
Fiona picked up a book before she made a reply, "And I'll continue reading until I find this great evil. I know that it will be born in same winter as my son, with a scar like a crescent moon," with determination in her voice.
Tiger Lily then snatched the book from Fiona's hand and scolded, "It is a fairy's job to protect him. Your job is to raise him. What I can do, no mere human can."
Ciana added, "She's right, Fiona. The answer you're looking for may be simply allowing Tiger Lily to do as she is meant to."
Fiona looked back and forth between her friend and her son's fairy godmother, a serious expression on her face.
She then dropped her gaze and walked over to her baby boy. As she picked him up, she spoke, "It's terrifying how much this little thing changes you, makes you soft and sharp all at once."
The proud mother then walked the few steps until she was standing in front of the fairy. Fiona then asked, "Would you like to hold him?"
"Oh. I'd love to," Tiger Lily answered with a smile. She placed her wand on the table before taking the baby in her arms.
As soon as he was settled, Fiona grabbed the wand and pointed it at Tiger Lily.
"What are you doing?" Tiger Lily questioned, a look of confusion spreading over her features.
"As you said, it's a fairy's job to protect him," Fiona stated.
Tiger Lily pointed out, "But you're not a fairy."
"A small and temporary problem," Fiona refuted, a bit of condescension in her tone.
She then began to raise the hand holding the wand when she felt her best friend's hand on her arm.
"Whatever you're about to do, I can guarantee it won't end well," Ciana cautioned.
"Sorry, dearie, but in this case, you're wrong," Fiona spoke. She snatched her arm away before she raised it and recited, "Le sgiathan cumhachd draoidheil."
A moment later, Fiona transformed into a fairy. With a combination of awe and disbelief, Tiger Lily remarked, "That's not possible."
"I assure you that it is," Fiona practically barked out. She then continued, "And now you – both of you – are going to help me track down this great evil."
"What do I have to do with this?" Ciana questioned.
"Because, Ciana, you've always been rather resourceful," Fiona stated matter-of-factly.
"And what makes you think we'll help you? I suspect this quest of yours will have an ill-fated end," Tiger Lily cautioned.
Fiona huffed before she told them, "Whether or not you want to acknowledge it, our goals are perfectly aligned, and I know you two wish to protect my son."
Neither Tiger Lily nor Ciana could argue. At the very least, they could stop Fiona from doing something rash and regrettable. So, both women simply nodded their agreement to Fiona's plan.
After weeks and weeks of searching, there was no sign of the great evil. Fiona, however, was both resilient and determined. It was these reasons she and her childhood friend ended up in the vault of the fairies.
"What are you even looking for?" Ciana questioned as she surveyed the various bottles as she stood next to her friend.
"Wolfsbane. It's the last ingredient," Fiona simply answered without looking up.
Wolfsbane? Isn't that dangerous?" Ciana asked with worry in her voice. When Fiona didn't reply, Ciana continued, "What kind of spell is this anyway?"
She then picked up the scroll that was with the other ingredients. She gasped when she read it.
"I may not possess magic, but I know enough about it to know that this is a curse."
"Call it what you will. It will protect my child," Fiona defended. She then grabbed a bottle from the shelf and spoke, "I found what I need. It will all be over soon."
Ciana then took the scroll and told her friend, "I can't let you cast this."
"You are my best friend – you're his godmother. Why won't you let me save him?" Fiona begin to plead.
"The cost isn't worth it, Fiona. You're trying to create something that should never be – a terrible and dark curse," Ciana tried to explain.
It fell on deaf ears, however, as Fiona continued, "It will save my son. It will send the child destined to destroy him far away, to a land without magic."
"It will send every child away! Is that really what you want to do?"
"It's the only way to be sure. Please, I have to save him. I thought you wanted to protect him."
"I do, but I can't let you sacrifice so many lives. Your son is destined to be a great hero – the Savior. You can't take that away from him."
"Savior or not, I won't let my child die," Fiona firmly stated. She then ripped Ciana's heart from her chest and continued, "And if I have to kill my own best friend to protect my son, that's exactly what I'll do."
As Fiona began to squeeze the heart, she transformed into the Black Fairy.
Ciana then spotted a distinct mark on her friend's wrist and gasped, "The crescent. Evil wasn't born this winter. It was made."
"That's not possible," Fiona spoke in disbelief. Ciana then stated, "Fiona, you're the great evil that is destined to destroy your son."
The Black Fairy shook her head in disbelief before she loosened her grip on her friend's heart, but she did not let go of it.
As she moved over to her son, who was peacefully sleeping in a bassinet, Ciana pleaded once more, "Please don't do this, Fiona. We can find another way, together."
"We already tried that and failed," Fiona seethed before she began squeezing the heart once more.
The Blue Fairy then marched in and intervened, "Enough! No one will be crushing any hearts today." She then took back Ciana's heart by using magic and returned it to its owner.
"Thank you," Ciana breathed out. Blue simply nodded before they both heard Fiona's voice, "So, you both want the same thing – to see my son die at my hand?"
Blue took a deep and calming breath before she spoke to Fiona, "Tiger Lily warned me that she worried about you taking matters into your own hands. But, she offered a solution, and I hope you'll take it."
Fiona offered the other fairy a look that was both intrigued and perplexed. She and Ciana watched as Blue walked over to the spell cabinet and pulled something from a drawer.
Blue then pulled what resembled scissors from a pouch and explained, "These shears can sever your fate. Sacrifice your powers and you will no longer be the great evil."
Ciana then added, "That means you won't be responsible for your son's death. I believe this is the answer we've all been looking for, Fiona."
The Black Fairy looked down at her son before she looked back and forth between the two women.
She then defended, "No. I need my power. If I sever his fate, we can be together, and I will be strong enough to protect him."
She then poofed the shears into her hands. As she began to use the shears, Blue tried to reason, "Fiona, no. Don't do this. There could be great consequences for your son's fate if you proceed."
"She's right. Furthermore, you do not need that power," Ciana continued.
"Don't tell me what I need," Fiona seethed before she cut her baby boy from his fate. Blue then opened a portal and Ciana ran to grab the baby.
"Aah!" Fiona screamed. She then looked at her son and promised, "I will spend every moment getting back to you," her voice cracking. She then set her gaze on Ciana and quickly turned furious, "I will never forgive you!" Fiona then disappeared into the portal.
CSCSCSCSCSCSCS
Years passed, and Ciana found herself married with a child on the way. Though she no longer harbored guilt over what happened with her best friend and her godson, she still feared that the Black Fairy would retaliate.
Ciana's husband shared her fears and once their child was born – a little girl whom they named Dawn – they sought assistance from the Blue Fairy.
Blue conceded that Ciana acted nobly and with the best interest, so she agreed to help find a way to protect Dawn and find a way to vanquish the Black Fairy.
Ciana, Blue, and a four-year-old Dawn were currently in the vault of the fairies.
"All of these books basically lead to one conclusion: the best way to protect Dawn is to forge a protection spell with true love," Ciana stated.
Blue sighed before she nodded her agreement. She then cautioned, "The only way that is possible is if Aaron or yourself cast the spell. But neither one of you possesses magic."
"There is a solution to that," Ciana offered. Before Blue could ask, Ciana had taken her wand.
With tears in her eyes, Ciana apologized, "I'm so sorry, Blue. I know this is what led to my best friend's downfall, as well as the destruction of our friendship, but I must protect my little girl. But I promise you I won't make her mistakes."
Blue sighed before she spoke with genuine sympathy, "I understand why you must do this. Fiona won't hesitate to come after your precious little girl." Blue's expression then softened, and she continued with a small smile, "Dawn is a product of true love – the pure love that you and Aaron share. Your heart is pure, and so is your daughter's. It's the reason she's destined to be the Savior."
"And that is why I must keep her safe," Ciana added. Blue nodded and stepped back as Ciana began using the wand. She recited the same words that Fiona had all those ago.
When she transformed, Dawn, who had been occupied with her toys, ran over and exclaimed, "Mommy! You're a fairy!"
Ciana bent down on her daughter's level and smiled as she responded, "Yes, sweetie. I have to do everything I can to keep my precious girl safe."
Dawn nodded in understanding before she said, "I love you, Mommy."
"I love you, too, Dawn," Ciana replied before she stood back up. A moment later, she began casting the protection spell.
Before Ciana could even finish, the Black Fairy appeared.
"Well, dearie, you've clearly underestimated the power of vengeance if you think your little spell will stop me."
"You will not harm my daughter," Ciana threatened.
"You will know the pain of being separated from your child," Fiona seethed. She then raised her hands and began shooting a wave of deadly magic toward the little girl.
"No!" Ciana screamed before diving back in front of Dawn.
The Black Fairy's magic was deflected by a bright white light that engulfed Ciana. When it faded, Ciana's dress and wings had been transformed from violet to white.
"No!" the Black Fairy exclaimed in disbelief. Outraged, she steadied her hands once more and shot a wave of dark magic directly at her former friend. Ciana responded with a wave of light magic.
However, she soon could feel her strength draining and realized there was only one option. She quickly turned her head to Blue and pleaded, "Send both of us to the Void."
"Are you sure about this? You know that realm is inescapable," Blue pointed out, reluctance in her voice.
"I know. But it's the only way," Ciana spoke, her voice cracking with every word she spoke.
Blue nodded before she opened a portal. With a promise that this wasn't over, the Black Fairy was pulled through the portal.
The White Fairy knew her time was short, so she quickly bent down in front of Dawn, who was standing there with a confused expression.
"Mommy, what's wrong? You look sad."
Ciana brushed back her daughter's hair from her forehead as she gently told her, "I have to go away, sweetie." She couldn't help the tears as she continued, "And even though I won't see you grow up, I will always be in your heart."
At this point, Dawn began to cry. She then said, "I'll miss you, Mommy."
"I'll miss you, too. You and your daddy – but he'll take such good care of you."
Dawn nodded before wrapping her mother in a hug. Ciana tightly hugged her back and could feel her heart breaking.
When they pulled apart, Ciana wiped her little girl's eyes and told her, "I know you feel bad now, but I promise it'll get better. You are so strong and brave, and I want you to always be that way, okay?"
"Okay, Mommy," Dawn replied.
Ciana smiled before she heard Blue clear her throat. The White Fairy nodded her understanding before looking back at her daughter.
"Mommy has to go now, but I want you to always remember how much I love you. Next to Daddy, you are my whole world, and I will see you again. I don't know how or where, but I promise all of us will be together again."
Dawn simply nodded and waved goodbye before she was pulled away by Blue. The fairy then poofed both of them away.
Ciana couldn't fight the steady flow of tears as she was pulled through the portal.
Present-Day Storybrooke
"The Black Fairy was able to escape the Void because her time outside of the Dark Realm was complete. She was only able to break through long enough to steal children," the White Fairy finished.
"But now she's in the Void permanently – it's impossible to escape," Snow clarified.
"That's right. She'll live out the rest of her days in that realm of nothingness," Ciana answered.
"Forgive me if I'm missing something, but how is that you escaped the Void?" Robin questioned.
The White Fairy furrowed her eyebrows before she realized Robin was right. She then explained, "My sacrifice was one of selflessness. Because of that, I was able to go to the Light Realm. A portal appeared, and I was able to walk through it."
She then faced Emma and Killian and continued, "I'm sure you're wondering how Alena fits into all of this."
"Yes, actually," Emma admitted with a slight chuckle.
Ciana smiled before she took Alena's hand in hers and spoke, "I spent my days in the Light Realm searching for a way to bring down Fiona, and I realized that Alena – being the product of true love – could help. More importantly, she was family, and I couldn't stand by and watch Fiona destroy any more lives. Those reasons are precisely why I took Alena from the Black Fairy when she kidnapped her and Gideon from the Blue Fairy."
"And now, thanks to you, we can all be together," David happily added.
Everyone smiled in response before the White Fairy declared, "And no one will ever break our family apart again. I made sure of it."
"Someone is a force to be reckoned with," Zelena quipped as she rocked Robyn back to sleep.
Emma then asked Ciana, "What exactly do you mean?" with curiosity in her tone.
"Though I wasn't able to successfully cast the protection spell over my daughter, there was enough True Love's magic imbed for Blue to finish casting it. That particular spell passes over to every member of the bloodline, as well as the next Saviors. Those under the spell are – that is, were – immune to the Black Fairy's power," Ciana explained.
It took a few minutes for the information to digest before Emma asked, "So, what you're saying is that the Black Fairy wouldn't have been able to hurt me?"
The White Fairy shook her head before Alena added, "That's why she stole Gideon's heart and made him do her dirty work," with slight fire behind her words.
"Well, now Gideon is with Belle and Rumple, and we don't have to deal with the twisted mother of the Dark One," Regina remarked with a smile gracing her features.
"I'll drink to that, Your Majesty," Killian spoke before she took a sip of his rum.
The rest of the family then toasted before Emma addressed Ciana once more, "I'm not sure Killian and I will ever be able to thank you for taking care of Alena. And for all you've done for us – for all of us," as she looked over at her mother and son.
The White Fairy smiled as she spoke, "It's like I told you earlier, that's what family is for. I'm just happy you all can be together and that the strength that I instilled in my little girl runs deep in our blood."
"And we couldn't be happier than to have met you, Ciana. You are a testament to our family," Snow responded.
The White Fairy smiled before Henry asked, "What are you gonna do now that the Black Fairy's been defeated?"
"Well, I think it's time I kept my promise to Dawn. I told her that our family would all be together again – I think it's time I join her and my husband," Ciana answered with a smile.
"Do you mean…" David began but trailed off.
Ciana offered an understanding look before she assured, "No, it's perfectly alright. I have lived a very long time, and I've experienced more than most people. I aided in the defeat of what could be considered the origin of evil, and I got to see our family's legacy carried out. I couldn't ask for more," finishing with a bright smile.
Her smile was returned by all before their gazes moved to a portal, which was shroud in white light, as it appeared at the back of Granny's.
The White Fairy then exchanged goodbyes with everyone, and she hugged her family before she moved toward the portal. With one last wave, she stepped through, and the portal disappeared.
From across from her, Emma heard Henry sigh, and she asked, "Hey, kid, everything okay?"
"It's the end of the book. I don't know what we're supposed to do now," he complained.
"Don't see it as the end, Henry. See it as the beginning of a new story – a story where we all get to live out our happy endings," Snow told him.
"Snow is actually right. I think perhaps we should take a page from Ciana's book and just enjoy our family and that we get to be together," Regina added.
Henry smiled at his grandmother and mother's words before turning his attention to Alena and told her, "So, sis, I think your initiation into our world should be watching Star Wars," with a wide grin.
Alena's eyebrows furrowed before she asked, "Why would stars be in a war?"
Henry only shook his head while everyone else chuckled before Emma teased, "Well, Killian, she's definitely yours."
Both Killian and Alena rolled their eyes in response.
Everyone then began heading from Granny's. They all went their separate ways yet somehow still feeling the bond that tied them all together.
While it's true that their happy endings are quite different than what the heroes – and villains – envisioned for themselves, it no doubt turned out better than they could have imagined.