With all the talk about Emma and Hook's wedding, Anya couldn't help but think about how she was likely to never have anything like that. Her True Love was lost and she didn't feel as if she would ever feel any kind of love that even came close to that.
Anya could have looked for him in Storybrooke, she knew this, but if he was with another, dead, or nothing like the one she knew…it would be heartbreaking – quite literally. This didn't stop her from thinking about him and the possibility of crossing paths with the Other him someday.
As Anya held onto the wooden bird pendant he made for her, she thought back to the first time they met….
It was Anya's eleventh birthday and she happily ran through the Enchanted Forest with the new bow and quiver her mother and father had given her. After arriving to her favorite practice area, she notched an arrow and let it fly. She hit the target perfectly so she did it again and again. It wasn't until something distracted her that she missed it completely.
Anya just about jumped out of her skin when she heard a young boy's voice call out, "What was that for?"
She gasped, believing she'd just injured someone and ran straight for them. When Anya found the boy all she saw – all she was focuses on, was his eyes and the arrow sticking out of his abdomen. "I'm so sorry! I'll heal you!"
"Don't bother," he laughed and pulled the arrow out of him. "No harm done." His wooden hand tapped on his wooden body in emphasis. "I'm a puppet!"
Anya was pulled from this memory when Regina came over to her and asked, "Are you alright?"
Anya was looking out the window in Emma's house but now turned to face her mother. "Just thinking."
Regina had a feeling that she was thinking about her True Love and gave her shoulder a supportive squeeze just before Snow walked into the house with a dress box.
"I have it!" Snow exclaimed happily and set the box down so Emma could see the dress she wore at her wedding.
Emma pulled it out and gasped at its beauty. "Oh, Mom! It's beautiful." She held it in front of her and swooshed a bit until the dress started to turn pitch black. Emma didn't know what was going on and looked to Snow. "Mom?"
The Black Fairy appeared in the house at that moment, saying, "I never was a fan of white weddings."
"No…" Anya said quietly and felt like she was going to faint but Regina and Zelena – who was also there – stayed right by her side.
"How are you still here?" Emma wanted to know.
"Did you really think you could turn my own son against me?" The Black Fairy shot back.
"What are you doing here?" Snow fiercely demanded to know. "Why are you crashing my daughter's wedding day?"
The Black Fairy's answer was simple enough. "Because Emma and I are destined to fight. Light and Dark must have their reckoning." She smiled a bit wickedly, "Unless of course…you give me your heart now and save us both the trouble of having to fight the Final Battle."
"Like hell," Anya seethed and tried to storm over there but her mother and aunt kept her from doing so.
"You think I'll just surrender to you?" Emma asked incredulously.
The Black Fairy answered, "I know think you're strong, but I've spent centuries collecting orphans just like the two of you. And we both know that deep down, you're still the lonely little girl you always were."
Emma wasn't fazed by this. "I hate to break it to you, but I've grown up."
"Have you?" The Black Fairy then said with a bit of force, "Go to the Clock Tower. Then you'll know what you're up against. The Final Battle is coming whether you want it or not." The Black Fairy then laughed as she used her magic to teleport herself away.
"I can't believe I trusted the Dark One!" Anya exclaimed, wanting to break something.
"Don't be hard on yourself," Regina said as she rubbed her daughter's back lightly, "We all did."
To find out what the Black Fairy was talking about, the group of them went up to the Clock Tower. Floating above them as they walked off the lift from the Library was a large, clear orb filled with Black Fairy Dust.
Emma's eyes widened when she saw this. "Is that all…"
"Black Fairy Dust," Regina answered, in awe at the amount of it all. "Enough to curse Storybrooke ten times over."
"It didn't even take this much to drain all Light Magic from my Realm," Anya added in, feeling dread. "What does this Black Fairy intend to do with it all?"
"This is how she plans to win the Final Battle," Snow interjected. "By separating us with a Curse."
Regina held up her hand and it started to glow purple as she used her magic to get a sense of the Dust orb. "It's tied to the Clock Tower." She lowered her hand and the magic stopped. "The moment it strikes six, it'll be released."
"That's when Hook and I are getting married." Emma couldn't believe this was happening – that day of all days. And yet, it was completely in her realm of belief.
Zelena couldn't help herself but to say, "Well, you've got to admit, she's got a flair for the dramatic."
"That isn't different," Anya muttered to herself. "Weddings here, birthdays in my Realm – any event that will cause the most heartbreak." Her face hardened with determination. "Well, not this time."
Regina turned to face her daughter because the tone in her voice made her worry. "Anya, what are you planning?"
"Don't worry about me," Anya answered. "You and Aunt Zel figure out a way to get rid of this thing. I have something I need to take care of."
"You're not going after the Black Fairy, are you?" Snow asked her, also worried. "That's not your fight."
"Right family tree," Anya answered and added in right before using her magic to disappear, "Wrong branch."
"Do we need to worry about her?" Zelena asked those others present.
"She's feeling anger instead of heartbreak," Emma answered, knowing that Regina would know what she was referring to exactly. "I say, we let her go for it."
Regina was inclined to agree. After all, it was progress.
Anya went to Regina's house to retrieve her bow and arrows. After enchanting a few with Light Magic she made her way towards Gold's Shop. On her way there, she passed Geppetto as he exited the market, who stopped her with a worried expression upon his face.
"Now, Miss Anya, you look as if you are headed for battle. Are you alright?" he set one of the bags down beside him in case she needed anything.
Ever since Anya discovered that Geppetto was here, she'd tried to avoid him but now it seemed she had no choice but to speak to him. He was after all the only thing standing between her and her destination at the moment and she would never push him aside. Anya had far too much love and respect for her Geppetto to behave towards him in that manner.
"I simply have a score to settle," Anya answered, hoping he wouldn't ask any more questions – but like her own Geppetto from her Realm, he wasn't quite done yet.
"That is what I am afraid of," he replied, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Do you need anything? I could get my son to…"
Anya answered very quickly. "No. Please don't." She composed herself to say, "I was lied to recently and that is not something I appreciate. My bow is simply present to make my point to never lie to me again. I won't use it unless I have to."
Geppetto felt like there was something more going on beneath the surface but he didn't press her any further. "Alright, but my offer still stands. You are not alone here." By now, everyone knew Anya's story of how she traveled here from another Realm and everyone she knew there that crossed paths with her in Storybrooke felt connected to her. Geppetto was no different.
"I appreciate that." Anya bowed her head with a smile and went on her way, hurrying along as she did.
"That girl holds too much weight in her heart," Geppetto said to himself with a sigh.
"Who does, Papa?" August asked as he approached and took the bags from him.
"Miss Anya," Geppetto answered as they headed back towards home. "She carries the weight of her Realm every day. I can see it in her eyes."
"Anya?" August said curiously, "I don't think I've met her yet."
Geppetto patted August's shoulder, saying, "You should. She could use another in her corner."
August just smiled at that and proceeded to walk home with his papa.
Anya burst into Gold's shop and shouted, "Show yourself, Rumplestiltskin!"
"I believe we have this discussion about your tone before," Rumple replied as he walked out of the back room.
Anya notched her arrow and aimed it at him with swift grace. "You betrayed me. You betrayed all of us. I trusted you!"
"I did what was necessary to keep my family together," he replied. "You of all people should understand that."
Anya tried not to let his words get to her, but they did. She did her best not to let it show, however. "Where is Gideon?" she demanded to know.
"He's safe," Rumple answered honestly. "With his mother." He took a step towards her, doubting that she would even attempt to fire that arrow – enchanted or not. "Gideon cares for you, you know. He would not wish for anything to happen to you. So why don't you put that weapon away and let us talk sensibly."
"Darkness killed my family – everyone I have ever known. I will not let the Dark Fairy do it again," Anya countered and fired the arrow only to have it disappear right before hitting him.
Rumple sighed. "I swore to my son that no harm would come to you and I shall keep that vow as long as possible. But don't tempt me, child. Emma and my mother will fight the Final Battle and if you have any sense in that head of yours – you will stay out of it."
Anya's face hardened a little – ever so slightly – as she said, "I did stay out of it – once. I don't care for how that turned out. I don't intend to make the same decision twice." Knowing there was nothing she could do here – for now – she waved her hand and disappeared in a swirl of red smoke, just moments before Hook, too, stormed into the Shop to confront the Dark One.
Anya reappeared in the Sheriff's station, looking for Emma. Instead, she found Henry there. "Where's your mother?"
"She's going after the Black Fairy," he answered, sounding really worried about her. "I think she's going to give the Black Fairy her heart."
Anya couldn't let this happen. "Why? Why would she sacrifice herself like this? Why won't she fight?!" Suddenly, it hit her – metaphorically speaking. "Does she feel alone?"
Henry wasn't sure what that had to do with anything. "What?"
"Does she feel alone?" Anya repeated, needing to know.
Henry nodded his head. "The Black Fairy froze our entire family. Yeah…she feels alone."
"I know better than anyone that feeling alone makes you weak," Anya replied before walking out of the station.
"Where are you going?" Henry asked, following after her.
"To make sure that Emma has all the strength she needs to win this fight," Anya answered with conviction, "I've watched her die once. I'm not about to let that happen again."
In the Mayor's Office, The Black Fairy reached into Emma's chest and yanked out her heart. She squeezed it as Emma dropped to her knees, but nothing happened. "No," she seethed. "Why won't you die?!" Emma's heart sizzled in her hand, making her hiss from the pain and drop it to the floor.
"Because she's stronger than you think," Anya answered and went right over to Emma, crouching beside her. "Emma, you listen to me. You are not alone. You never have been. Your family has always been with you – their love, their hope, their light has been with you from the very beginning. That is something no one can ever take away from you."
Henry moved to the other side of Emma and as Anya turned to the Fairy and spoke with conviction, "Not even the Black Fairy can take that away."
Emma felt Anya's words deep in her very core as tears streamed down her face. She felt what Anya said to be true and her strength increased because of it. She took Henry's and Anya's hands in hers as she looked to the Black Fairy. "She's right. You can't take that away from me. It's mine."
The Black Fairy shot out her Dark Magic but like with Anya before, she hit a defense of pure Light Magic. Only this time, it didn't come from Anya's love but Emma's.
Emma rose to her feet and confronted the Black Fairy. "My parents gave me up because I am the one to save the world from beings like you! Their love is in my heart and that is far more powerful than you." With a wave of her hand, a strong surge of Light Magic was cast upon the frozen members of her family.
"Keep going, Mom," Henry said encouragingly. "You can do it."
"Of course she can," Anya agreed, not taking her eyes off the Black Fairy. "Because she is Light, Love, and Hope. Always has been and always will be."
Emma looked at Anya when she finally turned to face her and there was a flash through her mind in that moment of her Other self in Anya's Realm and how the Other Emma sacrificed herself to save Anya's heart by giving her all her Light, Love, and Hope. When the memory flash ended, a burst of Light Magic radiated out of her and broke the spell cast upon her family. Emma understood now why Anya had behaved towards her in that way before – she was keeping her at arm's length to keep her safe. And now, it was Emma's turn.
"Looks like I'm not alone anymore," Emma stated firmly and with Henry's help, put her heart back into her chest.
The Black Fairy seethed, "You should have done this the easy way because my Curse is still coming. And the Final Battle is going to be worse than you could possibly imagine." With nothing else to say, she waved her hand and disappeared in a swirl of Dark Magic.
Emma went over to Anya first to say, "I saw why you kept pushing me away. I saw the Other me."
"I'm so sorry," Anya cried and hugged her. "I never wanted you to see that."
Emma hugged her tight. "I'm glad I did." When she pulled back she smiled with teary eyes. "Because it made me understand what you were trying to tell me." She wiped away Anya's tears as she said, "I hope you realize it, too."
Anya didn't know what she was talking about. "Realize what?"
"That you're not alone either," was Emma's reply.
Anya looked at Regina and Zelena with a loving smile. "I know." After giving Emma another quick hug she went over to her mother and Aunt, so glad they were both alright. As she hugged them both, she said, "I'll never feel alone again." And with those words, she felt another crack in her heart feel less deep. Like Emma from her Realm told her – Love would heal it.
It was time for Emma and Hook's wedding. Anya sat with her mother and Zelena and watched Emma walk down the aisle. Seeing this made Anya think back to her Realm and to the one she wanted to marry…
It was Anya's eighteenth birthday and after the celebrations, she went searching for the one she wanted there the most but he didn't attend. Anya found him outside his cottage chopping wood. "This is an ironic sight," Anya teased as she sat on one of the logs. "Do you ever accidentally chop off a part of yourself?"
"If I do, my father will mend me," he answered without looking at her.
Anya watched him as he chopped. He stood as tall as a young man would at his age, but he was still a puppet. She didn't care about that or what anyone else thought. It was his soul she loved and that was the important thing.
"You didn't come to my party," Anya stated as she kicked a pebble beneath her feet. "Why?"
"I had packing to attend to," he answered, stacking the wood.
"What?" this was the first she's heard of it. "Why?" Anya got to her feet and moved to him now. "Are you leaving?"
"Yes." He tried to avoid her gaze but she wouldn't let him.
"Why?" Anya pleaded to know.
He looked right into her eyes as he said, "So you can be free to find love and to marry. You will not be able to find it if I am here. I am in the way."
Anya reached out and took his hand to keep him from going anywhere. "If you leave then you will be taking my love with you." At his shocked expression, she held onto the bird pendant he carved for her, asking, "Did you really not know?"
"I – I'm simply a puppet," he stammered, feeling as if he wasn't good enough for her.
"I don't care," Anya answered lovingly and before he could do or say another thing, she reached up and kissed him. This kiss sent a surge of magic through them both and Anya could feel him change beneath her touch. When they parted, Anya gasped because he was now a real, live, human young man.
"I'm real again," he chuckled happily. "I'm real again!" He cheered and scooped up Anya from her feet and spun her around before setting her back down again. "I love you, so much."
"And I love you," Anya smiled, looking deep into his eyes and seeing the same soul she had been in love with for as long as she could remember. "And now there is nothing that can keep us apart."
Anya stopped the memory there because she didn't want to remember the heartbreak that followed and turned her focus back upon the happy union. After their 'I dos', Anya clapped with all the others and smiled at her sister, baby Robin, as she helped her do the same.
All worry about the Curse and Final Battle had been wiped from their minds and they enjoyed the time they had all together. Anya danced at the Reception with Henry and Regina, even Leroy, and everyone felt the love all around them. And then…the Clock Tower started to strike.
Anya stood with Regina, holding onto her hand with determination to stay with her no matter what happened.
As the final strike of the hour echoed through Storybrooke the orb shattered, releasing the Black Fairy's Curse.
"Where do you think it's taking us?" Hook asked as he held onto Emma.
"Doesn't matter," she replied. "Wherever we end up, we're gonna win."
End Episode 6