Kieran's eyes popped open. She thrust out her hand on instinct and grabbed the person around their neck. She rose into an upright position and squeezed, eyes unseeing and panicked.
"It- me-"
Kieran's vision cleared, and she released Alex immediately. The redhead fell to the ground and gasped for air. Kieran jumped down from the bed and hovered over Alex, hands unsure and shaking.
"I am so, so sorry!"
Alex waved her off and took several deep breaths before saying hoarsely, "Sam warned me you would react like that, but I got worried about your temperature."
"My temperature?"
"Your body dropped below freezing," Alex grunted. "Fuck, you're stronger than you look."
"That will bruise, so can you tell Supergirl and Kelly not to kill me?"
"You have nothing to worry about."
"If you say so." Kieran looked around. "What happened? Where am I?" she asked.
Alex pulled herself to her feet and massaged her throat. She gestured around the room and said, "Right now, you are in a med-room at the DEO. I'm the only one with access to it, and the security system has been temporarily disabled to ensure your privacy. As for what happened," Alex shrugged, "I have no idea. Ruby showed up at your house this morning. When you didn't answer, she used her spare key and found you passed out in your bedroom. Kara heard her scream and brought you straight to me with explicit warnings not to run any experiments while you were unconscious. Kelly stayed with Ruby until Sam arrived."
Kieran scratched at her nose and asked, "How mad is Sam?"
"She was scared you were on your way to glory."
"How long have I been unconscious?"
"Give or take ten hours from when Kara brought you here."
Kieran remembered why she fainted, and she asked, "Did Kara happen to find-
"A notebook, a box no one can open, and a letter from someone named Rumpelstiltskin?" Alex said wryly. "No, why do you ask?"
"Alex, this is serious. I need them."
"Would your reasoning have anything to do with why James said you are from another universe and fed us some big story about how you are a threat to our world like Lex? Or is it about what Sam caved and told us because you came in here with red lines pulsing under your skin?"
"If I wanted to destroy the world, I would've done it already. And that depends on what Sam told you."
"How about I ask three questions, and you give me the honest answer to match what she said?" Alex retrieved the box, journal, and letter. She passed them to her. "Do we have a deal?"
"What is the point in having a secret if everyone wants to know it?"
"Then maybe try not having a secret that most people want to know."
"Well, when you put it that way," Kieran muttered, unfolding the letter. In a louder voice, she said, "We have a deal."
"Great. What's your real name?"
Kieran tossed the letter, realizing it didn't give anything more than what she already remembered from the first time, and she put the box in her lap. It wasn't heavy, but it had considerable weight. Kieran ran her fingers over it, memorizing and cataloging every dent and indentation on the top and sides. Alex's question registered in her mind moments later, and she sat up straight.
"My name is Princess Lena Kieran Mills from the Enchanted Forest. I prefer being called Kieran, so keep that in mind."
"You know, when Sam said it, it sounded silly. Even J'onn laughed, but we soon realized she wasn't kidding."
"And how does it sound now?"
"Utterly ridiculous. I can't believe you're an actual Princess from the Enchanted Forest."
"The fictional characters that you grew up watching on television were real people that I interacted with for the first fourteen years of my life."
"And your mother is the Evil Queen."
"Indeed."
"So, Snow White-
"-is not someone I am willing to talk about," Kieran interrupted.
"That sounds like a fairytale I'd like to hear."
"Sam didn't tell you?"
"When the topic of Snow White came up, she shut down and told us it was personal."
"How did she explain my arrival?"
"She said you were pushed into a portal and crash-landed in the Luthor's living room."
"That is the extent of it, yes."
"Okay, then. Next question-
"You do know you have exceeded your three-question limit?"
"Those were follow-up questions to my initial one."
"If that is the game we are playing, I'm not sure I want to continue."
"Kieran."
"Oh, wow. Was that as weird for you as it was for me?"
"Extremely. Anyway, can I ask my second question now?" Kieran waved her hand, and Alex asked, "Why are you so cold?"
"My insides are partially made of ice."
"Again, much less silly when you say it."
Kieran snorted and read the inscription on the box. It was in Elvish, so it took a little longer to translate it as she hadn't read Elvish in over a decade. Kieran mouthed the words slowly and traced them with her finger. Alex cleared her throat, and Kieran realized she'd been asked a question.
"What did you say?"
"Are you in love with my sister?"
"Not yet, but one day, who knows? We talked about it, sort of. I planned on mentioning it again last night, but she never showed up. So I kind of assumed the conversation would be tabled."
"We found an alien fight club, and Supergirl ended up becoming the star attraction."
"How odd."
"You have no idea. I have never seen my sister win so much money by punching someone."
"Let me guess, she donated it to charity?"
"The moment we arrived back at the DEO," Alex huffed. "She didn't even want to consider saving it."
Kieran grinned and finally figured out what the box said: Hell's Gold will reveal what you need to know. Hell's Gold? Why did that sound so familiar? Kieran touched the circular depression in the center of the box and racked her brain. That's when it hit her. But her ring was back at her apartment because she never put it on after her shower. Kieran groaned and put the box on the bed.
"Be right back."
"Where are you-
Kieran disappeared in a cloud of red smoke. She showed up in her bedroom and checked the drawer for her ring. Once she found it, Kieran returned to the DEO and sat back down.
"-going," Alex finished lamely.
Kieran smirked and placed the ring in the spot indicated on the box. She pressed down, and the top popped open. Kieran shifted to the side for Alex to see, and inside was a vial of black liquid, a folded flag, and a phone. Alex grabbed the flag and unfurled it.
"Who do you know in Maine?"
"No one."
Alex shrugged and folded the flag back. Kieran hesitated when she saw the phone and picked it up. She knew it was an iPhone, but she had never used that particular kind. Her experience with phones was touch and go for almost three years. There were several instances where she crushed the screens or overloaded the system when she got excited. Technology was not her friend for a long time, which was ironic considering what she did for a living.
"No way! I haven't seen one of those in years," Alex said.
"Which generation is this? I know it's an iPhone, but… I didn't use technology a lot when I was younger."
"Don't you run a company that-
"Yes, yes, I get the irony. Can you tell me or not?" Kieran huffed.
"It's the first-generation, and nine times out of ten, it's dead. I would be surprised if it still worked."
"No, it works. The person who gave it to me-
"Rumpelstiltskin-
"-wants me to use it, so he would ensure it would work."
"I can't believe you know Rumplestiltskin."
"He's known in my old world as the Dark One."
"That does not sound like a person you should accept gifts from."
"Considering this is the first piece of information from my world in over a decade, my options are limited."
"Fine, but don't do anything without me. Winn should have a charger in his ancient box or whatever."
"His what?"
"Nothing, a stupid name with an even stupider story. Give it here."
Kieran handed her the phone, and Alex went over to a trunk in the corner. Kieran grabbed the vial and popped it open. She sniffed it and gagged immediately. Now that, she remembered. Memoria Nectarii was a powerful potion, and the Dark One wouldn't send it unless necessary. Kieran glanced at Alex, whose back was turned, and she quickly drank the black liquid. Alex stood and looked back at Kieran.
"I found…." Alex trailed off. She glanced at the empty vial and Kieran's face, and she pinched the bridge of her nose. "What did I just say about doing things without me?" she sighed.
"It is a harmless potion known as Memoria Nectarii," Kieran explained.
Alex grunted and made her way back to Kieran.
"What does it do?"
"It's a potion created from someone's blood that allows an individual to view that person's memories."
"You drank a vial of blood from a stranger?"
"Blood is the least disgusting thing I have put in my mouth."
Alex narrowed her eyes and said, "I sincerely hope you are not about to die because I would hate for your last memory of me to be me punching you in the face."
Kieran gave a wry grin and said, "Please make sure that phone is charged once I wake up?"
"Yes, your Highness," Alex scoffed.
"That was-" Kieran wavered a little bit and grabbed Alex's arms. "Whoa," she muttered.
"Okay, your nose is bleeding. Is that normal?"
"Yes," Kieran said, her word slurring a bit.
"What the actual fuck?" Alex helped Kieran lie on the bed. "Why did you- hold on, okay?"
Alex shouted something in the background, but Kieran couldn't hear her. Her eyes glazed over, and she sank into the depths of her subconscious.
Kara entered the room and glanced at her sister.
"I heard you in space. What happened?"
"Your girlfriend is an idiot," Alex grumbled.
"Not my girlfriend, but- oh, hey, she got the box open!"
"Yeah, and drank the blood of someone called the Dark One."
Kara paused and scrunched her face.
"Well, no, I can't be grossed out. I ate a live snake once."
"That is not even in the same category," Alex hissed.
"Whatever. I dropped Sam and Ruby off at L-Corp," she said.
"And that other thing?"
Kara's face darkened, and she said, "Nothing."
Alex looked down at Kieran and sighed.
"Damn."
Kieran found herself in a bathroom next to the Dark One in front of a mirror. There was a window that overlooked a lot of trees and a bunch of buildings. She saw a Town Hall, a hospital, and a police station. Kieran looked back at the Dark One and frowned. He seemed different. Her last memory was of him being scaly and wearing a cloak that brushed against the grass. It was a fleeting interaction, one that Kieran would barely count as a meeting. Regardless, the version beside her wore a tailored suit and had slicked-back hair.
"I apologize for the location, but there needs to be a reflective surface for this work. I'm not sure which child is watching this, but I am sure you are wary of my presence. I cannot fault you, but I am here as an ally. I wish I had positive news, but I am afraid there is no good way to say this. Your mother is dying."
Kieran's breath caught in her chest.
"There is truth to the broken heart theory and death. They walk hand in hand, even when life aches to be chosen. Regina's magic is the only thing keeping her alive. She is unaware of this, caught up in her routine that she has missed the warning signs, so I intervened. I am giving you this memory to ask for your help. Please, you and your siblings are the only things that can repair your mother's heart. She has people here who can keep her going, but only you all can get her to live again. You can find her using the journal, and the flag is your starting point. But you should know that your mother cast a curse that brought many people from the Enchanted Forest to the Land Without Magic. The curse hides us from the rest of the world."
Kieran read about Land Without Magic in the castle library. She knew it wasn't her realm, as magic users were more common than people knew, so it had to be another one.
"Lastly, the magic needed to have cross-universe communication was tricky to navigate, but I did enough to ensure you get one call on that phone. Just one, and there is only one number saved in it. Use your time wisely as I cannot promise longer than a minute. Please heed my warning, child. I fear your mother – my friend – has less than a year left."
The memory ended, and Kieran was thrown back into her body. She gasped and rolled over to her side, expelling the potion from her system. Hands moved her hair away from her face, but the Dark One's words echoed in her mind.
She lost control of her magic.
Alex hid in the alcove with Winn and J'onn. The entire DEO shook and rumbled as if it was two seconds away from collapsing.
"Fuck," Alex said, clutching the box to her chest.
"Sam undersold the whole magic thing," Winn added.
Kara came around the corner and took the box from Alex. A nail was jammed into the hinges that kept it open, and she put a note in the journal before putting it back in the box. Alex took it back from her.
"Are you sure about this?" J'onn asked.
"No, but we have no other choice."
Kieran was stuck in a never-ending loop of hearing Rumple warn her that her mother was dying when her eyes popped open. The sky passed by her at a rapid speed, and she never got the chance to scream before Kara swept her into her arms. She sucked in large breaths and clutched at Kara's shoulders. They hovered over National City.
"I apologize, Miss Luthor. You were about to destroy the DEO, and I had to resort to extreme measures to shock you out of your trance. Are you stable enough to return?"
"Yes, but what's going on? Why are you talking like that?"
Kara said nothing and returned to the DEO. She flew through the opening and placed Kieran on the ground. Kieran looked up and found every agent in the building with their guns pointed at her. She turned to Kara, who took on her Supergirl persona.
"Lena Luthor," she said. "By order of the DEO, you are under arrest for destruction of government property, assaulting a federal agent, and terrorism."
"What! But I didn't-
"Director Danvers, she's all yours."
"Wait, no! I didn't- it was an accident!"
Alex pushed her way through the crowd and cuffed Kieran. Kieran squirmed and fought Alex's grip as she was dragged from the atrium. Just when she was about to break free and make a run for it, Alex undid the cuffs and hurried them down a hallway to a back stairway.
"What are you-
"Shut up, and listen," Alex interrupted. "Everything you had is with Sam and Ruby, and they are waiting for you in the garage to take you to L-Corp. You will have one hour to erase anything dealing with non-research-related things before agents show up to arrest you."
"Alex, what are you-
Kieran yelped as she was pushed into the stairwell. She caught herself before she fell, and Alex locked the door from the other side. She put her hand against the glass in apology before running back the way she came.
Kieran ran after Sam as she and Ruby practically jogged to Jess' desk. No one was telling her anything, and it felt like she was out of the loop.
"I already deleted everything from my computer and the main computer in the office. The laptops have been packed and wiped clean," Jess said. "I ordered a full wipe for the entire building, and I announced it to the rest of the labs. All employees evacuated, and everything paper or non-electronic went to the incinerator. I have security watching to make sure that everything is destroyed."
"Can someone please tell me what the hell is going on?" Kieran exclaimed.
"Ruby, stay with Jess, for me?"
"Okay."
Sam grabbed Kieran by the arm and dragged her into the office.
"Look, I know this is happening fast, but we had ten hours to prepare for it while you were passed out. I spoke with Supergirl's friends while you were unconscious. During our conversation, Lex escaped from prison and went underground. Your power surge at the DEO will reach his ears, and he will come for you. If he can't get to you, he'll come for us. So, we made an executive decision. As of right now, Ruby, Jess, and I no longer exist. Winn erased us from National City and Metropolis. Winn sent letters to Ruby's school that she was withdrawing for personal reasons. Jess emptied our bank accounts and transferred the funds to an untraceable account. From you, I will hear no arguing. So shut up, do what you need to do, and be ready to go in twenty minutes."
Sam kissed her on the cheek before leaving the office. Kieran placed a hand to her stomach and tried to digest everything. Lex was free. That was why Alex said they were forced to make a public stand against her. Kieran released a shaky breath. She hated that her best friends were uprooting their life for her, but Sam was right. Lex would come after all of them, and they would be safer together.
Kieran went to her private workspace. She gathered her paperwork, folders, and equations into one massive pile and placed it in a box in the corner. Kieran hesitated before typing in a code, and flames from the machine destroyed everything Kieran ever worked on. She went outside to her main office when she remembered she didn't have the box from the Dark One but found it on her desk. Kieran was glad someone stuck a nail in the hinges to keep it open. She removed the phone and ring but left the journal and flag inside. Kieran slipped the ring on her finger and sat down at her desk.
The phone was connected to a power block to keep it from dying, and Kieran was glad it was unlocked. She went to the contacts, and as the Dark One said, there was only one number saved. Kieran recognized the area code as the one for Maine, which explained the flag, and she hit the number before she could talk herself out of it. Kieran placed the call on speaker and waited. It kept ringing, and ringing, and ringing until she heard-
"Hi, this is Regina Mills. I am unable to come to the phone right now, but if you leave a message, I will get back to you as soon as possible."
Kieran was relieved and disappointed it was the voicemail, her heart soaring at the sound of her mother's voice. But she remembered the Dark One's warning. She had one minute to make it count. When the beep sounded, Kieran started speaking.
"Mom, it's me, Kieran. I know this is weird, and honestly, I wish I could explain it better, but the Dark One gave me your number. Ask him what happened because we don't have much time on my end. I'll explain when I see you again, okay? But it's been twelve years here in my realm. I'm currently in National City, California, but I'll be leaving soon, and I'll be out of contact. Today's date is September 22nd, 2019." Kieran's voice cracked, and she let out a tearful laugh. "I have so much I want to say to you, but I can't. Just know that I'm coming, Mom, I promise. We're going to put our family back together again, so hold on for me a little longer. I love you!"
No sooner than Kieran stopped speaking, the phone went dark.
"Fuck!"
Kieran threw the phone against the wall.
"Hey-
Kieran stood and pushed Kara in the chest. Kara didn't move, and Kieran wasn't stupid enough to try again. Kara pretended it didn't happen, and she grabbed Kieran by the shoulders. She brushed a stray tear away with her thumb and cupped her cheek.
"I'm sorry about before, but-
"Lex escaped. You did what you had to do."
"Kieran, I- look, Sam, Ruby, and Jess have gone downstairs with your driver who's going to take you to the airport. Your happiness and safety are more important than anything else to me right now. So I'm sending Brainy with you all because he knows more about the multiverse than anyone. If anyone can help you, it's him." Kara dropped her forehead to hers, and her hands trembled as she held Kieran's face. "He's been ordered not to tell anyone his location while he works on a way home for you. Not even me. Once you leave National City, you'll be gone, okay? But I swear I'm going to take care of Lex and Lillian for good so you can live with your real family in peace."
Kieran heard what Kara wasn't saying, what she was leaving out, and she mourned something she never had. Kara brushed their lips together, giving Kieran the chance to move away. But Kieran kissed Kara back, pouring everything she would probably never be able to say into the kiss. Kieran wanted more time, but it was between saving her mother and leaving behind the love that would never get the chance to grow. Kieran didn't know which hurt more. She opened her eyes and found herself in the garage, and Kara vanished and reappeared with the box. Kara gave it to Kieran and then reached under her suit to remove a necklace with the House of El crest. She slipped it around Kieran's neck and kissed her again. It felt final, and Kieran's heart physically rejected the idea. She clutched at Kara's suit, ready to beg her to come with her, and the superhero gently pried her fingers away.
"Goodbye, Princess."
There was a gust of wind, and Kara was gone. Sam pulled Kieran into the car. She kept one arm around her as she closed the door, and Kieran felt an uncomfortable tug in her stomach. It grew stronger the further Frank drove away from L-Corp. When they arrived at the airport, Kieran waved off Sam and Jess and walked onto the plane by herself, sitting down in the seat near the back. She saw Brainy try to approach her, but Sam grabbed his arm and whispered something into his ear. He nodded and went into the cockpit. Ruby sat beside her and held her hand. Kieran could barely muster a smile at her goddaughter before looking out of the window. Frank was already gone, and the plane lurched forward. It felt like they were in the air and over National City in a matter of seconds. When there was nothing but clouds, everything hit Kieran at once. Ruby's tiny arms went around her, and Kieran released deep sobs that were almost twelve years overdue.
Kara watched the plane and fought every urge in her body to go after it. The comm in her ear came to life, and Alex's voice came over the line.
"We received word Lex was spotted with Lillian across town. Do you have a lead on Lena?"
The question was intentional, a recorded confirmation of what they'd just done, and Kara said, "No, I cannot sense her anywhere in the city. Are the employees giving you anything?"
"No, nothing. The NCPD found the driver's car ditched near the train station, but no driver. We're at a dead-end."
"What's our next move?"
"For now, you are free to return to base, Supergirl."
"Copy that, Director Danvers."
Kara removed the comm from her ear and crushed it. J'onn flew to her like that night not even a week ago.
"Good idea ditching the car at the train station, Frank."
"I know that was hard, Kara, but we did the right thing."
"Amazing what we can do in ten hours even though we just broke a dozen federal crimes."
"Our job at the DEO is to protect aliens of all kinds, even those from another realm. Kieran was a lost soul in a world that was never on her side, and I hate that I never got to know her."
Kara flinched and touched the spot where her necklace used to rest. J'onn stared at her curiously.
"You loved her."
Kara laughed humorlessly and said, "No, but I could have. And that's the worst part."