The Enchanted Forest – A time of Great Upheaval
Lucy and Jack walked through the morning dew as they returned to their home to what had happened. Anya and Henry were nowhere in sight and just about everything they owned as thrown out around the forest outside their hovel's entrance.
Lucy set down the Storybook and picked up the sword belonging to her father. She started to cry and Jack put his arm around her. "It's alright cousin," Jack said softly to her. "They'll be alright."
"How can you be sure?" Lucy sniffled.
"Because I can feel it." Jack placed his hand over his heart to show her what he meant. Out of the corner of his eye he spotted something on the ground. Jack crouched down and picked up the carved bird pendant that belonged to his mother. He picked it up and placed it around his neck before going back to Lucy who was still in tears.
A moment later Jack heard something and instantly drew his bow to take aim.
"Do not fear, it is I," Tiger Lily answered as she joined them.
"Tiger Lily," Lucy greeted, "What happened here? Where is father and Aunt Anya?"
Tiger Lily looked around. "I do not know, but I do know that it's clear they fought valiantly so you both could escape."
"We never should have left," Jack added in with frustrated regret. "We should have stayed with them! Fought with them!"
Lucy nodded in agreement.
Tiger Lily had to disagree. "No. You were right to follow their instructions. Because you did, the Book and Jack's Heart is safe." Tiger Lily picked up the Storybook from the ground. Looking to Lucy she said, "We need to take it to your mother now. She'll be waiting."
"But what about father?" Lucy asked, wishing she were with him now.
"You'll be reunited one day, just as Jack will reunite with his mother," Tiger Lily assured. "I promise. The Fairies have foreseen it."
"They have?" Jack asked and Lucy picked up from there, "We're going to be okay?"
Tiger Lily was quiet for a moment. "The future is cloudy but you will all be reunited. After that…" She looked away – either not wanting to say or not being able to.
Jack didn't like this and he had to ask, "What about my father? Any news of him?"
Tiger Lily shook her head. "No, Jack, I'm sorry. We still do not know what happened to him." At the expressions on his and Lucy's faces, she handed the Book back to Lucy. "You just need to learn the lesson imparted by this Book. Never lose hope."
Jack wrapped his arm around his cousin and they both looked at each other in silent agreement to make sure that neither of them did.
Anya started twirling a dagger around in her hand as she paced back and forth in the Cauldron room within the Castle, trying to come up with something that could keep their impending doom at bay.
"You're going to wear a hole through the floor if you keep going at it like that," Robin pointed out from his seat on one of the ingredients chests.
"I'm thinking," Anya answered, "and well aware of how many steps it'll take to wear through the floor."
Robin was curious about that but let it go. "For argument's sake, let's say we were in your Realm. How would you get out of this?"
"Run for the hills," Anya answered then stopped and sighed, "but I already did that and my family paid for it."
"So…" Robin egged her on.
"So I would fight. The problem is," Anya threw her hand out at the impending doom, "I don't know how to fight that – that thing! I don't know how to keep it away from us long enough to get to Emma and help her."
"I think I found a way," Hook said as he entered the room then proceeded to explain how he and David found the Magic Bean, the Beanstalk falling, and how Snow found him but she stayed behind to find David.
"You left Snow behind?" Regina asked incredulously.
"But I have the Bean," Hook countered, "that's the priority – getting back home to Emma, to Henry. She's find David. She always does." He handed the Bean over to Regina as Anya asked,
"How does a Bean help us?" Anya wasn't familiar with Magic Beans in her Realm.
"This Bean will open a portal to anywhere we wish to go," Regina answered then got a look at how shriveled it was.
"Or not," Robin interjected at the sight of it.
"What the devil happened to it?" Hook wanted to know.
"Emma," Regina explained. "Her lack of belief – It's sapping the magic from everything there."
"Well can't you fix it?" Hook demanded. "Make it work?"
"I can't," Regina sighed, "I –I don't have enough power."
"You're not alone," Anya interjected. "You have me and my magic and Other-Other-Mom." She was referring to Queenie there. "These Other Others are going to give me a headache." When Robin chuckled at that, she narrowed her eyes at him, "Of course, you'd find that amusing. Nice to know that hasn't changed."
The darkness was getting closer, and Queenie was filled in on what was needed in regards to the Bean. When they were about to take the next step, the Mirror activated and Henry's image appeared saying,
"So, uh, I'm not sure if any of you on the other side are listening, but if you are, I'm sorry. I tried my best to keep Emma from losing belief, but it wasn't good enough. But that doesn't mean I'm going down without a fight."
They watched as Henry opened up a case and pulled out a sword, saying, "If Emma's not around to take on the Black Fairy, then I will." And with that, he walked out of view of the Mirror.
"He's going alone." Regina couldn't believe it and she started to worry. "But how could he win against her if Emma couldn't?"
"He's good," Anya answered, remembering her Henry. "Always doing the right thing…even if it means sacrificing himself." She swallowed hard. "But not this time." She turned to Queenie saying, "We need to get that – that Bean thing working, now."
Queenie looked at her regrettably, "I'm sorry, but even with all our combined magics, it's going to take time."
"We don't have time," Regina worriedly pointed out.
The Charmings joined them and David said, "It's on the outskirts of the Forest now and moving fast."
"That magic is almost here," Snow added in.
"That's a bit of an understatement," Robin replied as he looked out. The dark magic was closing in on them.
"Let's round everyone up and get them to safety," David said to the others and they went off to do that. All but Queenie and Robin.
When Anya and Regina saw this, they stopped and Regina demanded to know, "What the hell are you doing?"
"I'm going to hold it off as long as I can," Queenie answered and Robin added in, "And I am not leaving her side."
"You'll die," Anya emotionally said to them.
Queenie turned around and went over to them. "It'll give you a chance to get to the Courtyard. Go to the center of the Castle. You can survive long enough there to get the Bean to work. You just need time. Let me give that to you." She put the Bean in Regina's hand.
"Mom..." Anya began to say and Queenie said, "Go."
Regina didn't want to leave them, but she did and Anya started to follow but went back to them. She hugged Robin and Queenie then placed her hands over their hearts, letting a flow of Light Magic leave her and flow into them.
"What are you doing?" Robin asked, seeing how his bow and arrows started to glow with Light Magic.
"Sharing my Light with you. If you're going to stay behind then I'm going to make damn sure you have a fighting chance." Anya stepped back saying, "I love you both," before taking off after Regina and the others.
As a result of Anya sharing her Light like this, Robin and Queenie shared flashes of memories of the Robin and Regina of Anya's Realm raising her – living their life with her in it. Because of this, Robin looked at Queenie saying, "We did good with that one."
Queenie smiled proudly as they faced the darkness. "Yes we did." And in that moment she let out her imbued magic as Robin fired his enchanted arrows that seemed to be in an unlimited supply.
Anya ran into the Courtyard saying, "Everyone in the center and get as close as you can."
"Are you alright?" Regina asked, worried that the loss of Queenie and Robin would break her heart.
"I will be once we get that Bean going," Anya answered and they both started to try and revive the Bean.
They didn't get very far before the ground around them rumbled and the dark magic started to surround them. "No!" Anya shouted and shot out her hands, letting her Light Magic shoot from them – streams of white light and not her normal red. "Keep trying the Bean!"
Regina didn't know how long Anya could last but she was going to try her best.
Anya could feel the dark magic trying to get closer, to break beyond her Light but she was determined not to let it pass. "I have lost too much!" She shouted, pushing her arms out straighter, keeping the magic at bay but it kept pushing closer. Images of those she lost filtered through her mind and instead of breaking her, it strengthened her because after those she lost she saw the Others who were still alive. And that – that gave her hope.
Anya kept it up as much as she could but finally she couldn't keep it up any longer and she cried out in anguish before dropping to her knees. The dark magic swirled all around them at a quick pace and just as she whispered, "I'm sorry…" the magic stopped.
"Anya," Regina gasped and helped her to her feet. "Are you alright?"
"I think so…but…" Anya looked around at the emptiness surrounding their circle of the Courtyard – all that was left of the Enchanted Forest. "…this wasn't me."
Snow looked into the nothingness and knew. "Emma. She's back!"
Anya closed her eyes and laughed and continued to do so until Zelena asked her, "What the devil are you laughing about?"
"She's stronger than me," Anya answered, not sure why herself why she was laughing and finally she stopped. "Emma is stronger than me."
A moment later, a pulse of magic was felt by them all and a swirl of it engulfed them – sending them back to Storybrooke.
When they arrived back in Storybrooke the sun had set. In the middle of town was where they found Henry and Emma. "You're alive!" Anya cried out and ran right over to Henry, hugging him tight.
"I'm your annoying little brother," Henry answered happily, "You can't get rid of me that easily."
"Good," Anya grinned and let out a breath of relief to see Emma living and breathing. It was one thing to know it, but another to see it.
After their reunions, Henry said, "The Black Fairy left Gideon with one last command." He looked at Emma, "Kill you no matter what."
"Well, then we'll kill him," Hook answered firmly.
"No," Regina interjected. "It's a trap. If Gideon kills Emma, then Light will be destroyed. And if Emma kills him then she'll darken herself and Light will be destroyed anyway."
"You don't have to kill him," Snow countered with an idea. "Just hold him off until Gold gets his heart."
"Well, there's no holding him off," Emma replied, "but she's right. It's a trap and it's perfect – no matter what, darkness wins."
"I'm not telling you to give up. You can't." Regina made that very clear. "Emma, you should know better than anyone, there's always a third way."
And Anya thought she knew exactly what that was. She thought about it as Regina pulled Emma aside to talk to her and didn't stop thinking about it even as Gideon appeared behind Snow with a sword to her throat.
"I got this," Emma assured them all and approached them. "Let her go," she demanded and when Gideon did, she took her stance and started to circle him.
"No one's going to save you," Gideon said to her and swung his sword only to meet thin air.
Anya had sent Emma into the clock tower and took her place. She picked up the sword Emma dropped and stood ready to fight. "Someone will."
"Anya!" Regina exclaimed and tried to get to her but stopped when Anya shouted back, "Trust me!"
"What are you doing?" Gideon demanded to know. "Where is the Savior!"
"Somewhere only I know," Anya answered, swinging the sword around in her hand. "You want to kill her, you have to get through me first."
"I'm not going to kill you," Gideon firmly replied. "Now tell me where she is."
"No matter what, Gideon. Wasn't that right?" Anya asked him. "You have to kill the Savior no matter what? Well, to get to her you have to get through me. I've seen her die once before and I will not stand my and see it happen again."
"It didn't have to be this way," Gideon said to her, pain filling his eyes.
"Yes, it did," Anya countered and made the first strike.
The echoes of their swords clanging against one another filled the town. Gideon pressed his down upon hers saying, "You are not the Savior. You will not win."
"Perhaps," Anya groaned to say before shooting her magic at him, throwing him back a ways. "But I fight for what she fights for. I stand for what she stands for! Family, love, hope, light!" Anya shouted those words with every strike. "I ran from Darkness when everyone I loved died by it. No more!"
They fought a little longer but finally Gideon managed to get his own magic in there and threw her back, making Anya lose her sword in the process. "I'm sorry," he said and drove the blade forward but didn't hit Anya…he hit Emma instead.
Emma had gotten out of the Clock Tower and reached Anya right before Gideon's sword could harm her. She knew what Anya's Heart meant and even if her Heart wasn't the Source of Light, she would have done the same thing.
"No!" Anya screamed out as a burst of bright light shot out of Emma just like it did when she sacrificed herself the first time. Gideon disappeared as the Light faded and Anya dropped to her knees beside Emma. "No…wake up…please! Emma! Wake up!"
When the others came over, she sobbed, "I tried to stop it from happening again. I – I tried. I tried…" She leaned into Regina who came over to hold her and continued to cry, feeling the cracks in her heart grow deep once more.
Henry looked down at Emma and said softly, "I love you," before kissing her forehead and a burst of colored magic shot out of them – True Love's magic.
Emma awoke with a gasp, looking at Henry. "I love you, too." She sat up and hugged him. "I love you, too."
When Emma got to her feet, she went over to Anya and hugged her tight. "You're insane, you know that?"
Anya laughed as she hugged Emma in return, feeling such relief wash over her. "I got it from the Other you."
Emma smiled tearfully then joined the rest of her family, feeling so much joy and love as they all embraced one another.
Even though the Storybook was burned during the curse, it reconstituted itself nearby. Anya saw this, picked it up and said, "I think this belongs to you, little brother," as he handed it to him.
Henry took the Book and saw it looked better than ever before opening its pages to the ending. "When Good and Evil both did the right thing, faith was restored. The Final Battle was won." He closed the book with a soft chuckle. "That's it."
"That's all?" Emma asked incredulously. "No 'The End'?"
"Course not," Snow interjected with a smile. "Because this isn't the end. I mean, maybe of this Book, but the end – end."
"So, what now?" Regina asked, looking around to the group.
Anya leaned her head on her shoulder with a smile. "Now we get to see what's next."
As the Clock Tower's hand moved for the new minute, all the realms of story were restored and all those lost within them were too restored. From Agrabah to Arendelle, Neverland to Wonderland, and all realms in between. Those who were lost to the darkness were back again and all was as it should be.
The Charmings started their own farm, Snow continued teaching, Emma returned to Sherriff's duties with Hook as her new deputy, Regina resumed duties as Mayor – as Queen, Henry went back to school like a normal teenager, Gideon was returned to infancy with Rumple and Belle to raise him. Back in the Enchanted Forest, Robin and Queenie were engaged to be married, and Anya…she started to find her place in Storybrooke but still felt as if something was missing. Little did she know, it was right around the corner...
The Charmings, friends, and family started having weekly dinners together at Granny's. Anya was helping with the setting up and moving of tables when Belle and Rumple came in with baby Gideon. She gasped happily and went over to greet them. "Hello, you," Anya cooed down at Gideon. "I'm going to spoil you rotten."
Belle and Rumple chuckled at this before Belle said, "I haven't said 'I'm sorry' yet for what happened."
Anya had no idea what she was talking about and asked normally, "Sorry for what?"
Rumple picked up from there, saying, "Gideon. He was your True Love in your Realm and he's a baby here. We're sorry you won't be able to be with him."
"Gideon wasn't my True Love," Anya explained. "I'm sorry if I made you think he was. I love Gideon, very much, but he wasn't my True Love."
"Who was?" Regina asked, walking over to them. "I'm sorry if that's intrusive, but we've been wondering."
Everyone listened to hear what Anya had to say and she smiled, thinking about him. "His name was Pinocchio."
Anya was back to playing with Gideon that she missed the expressions being exchanged by everyone present and right at that moment, August walked in saying, "Sorry, I'm late. Papa needed help with some boxes."
"Actually," Regina said as she and Zelena guided him over to Anya, "You're right on time."
Belle and Rumple casually walked away to watch what happened next.
Regina introduced the confused looking August to her daughter. "August, this is my daughter, Anya. Anya, this is…"
When Anya looked into his eyes she gasped, "Pinocchio!"
August chuckled at her reaction, not noticing how both Zelena and Regina slowly back away to give them some space, and smiled because he felt like he'd seen her before. Hell, he felt like he'd known her all his life. "Yes, that's also my name. Have – have we met before?"
Anya laughed lightly with laughter because his eyes were the same as her Pinocchio's – it was the same soul. "Not in this Dimension."
"Well then," he smiled, holding out his hand in greeting, "it's lovely to meet you."
"You, as well." Anya smiled back and placed her hand in his. When their skin touched, she gasped because a surge of True Love's magic radiated out of them and she felt every one of the cracks of her Heart healing. This made her lose her balance a little.
"Are you alright?" August asked as he steadied Anya, not once taking his eyes off her.
Anya locked her eyes on his and answered with pure love in her voice, "Yes," as August looked at her in the way her voice sounded.
Everyone in the room knew what this was for Anya and August – the first step towards their Happy Ending…
Seattle – Years Later
Anya sat in Henry's apartment eating from a Chinese take-out container as she called out, "You know, little brother, we should just pool our money and get the two bedroom down the hall. We're over at each other places so much as it is – being in the same building and all."
"Actually," Henry countered as he sat down on the couch beside her with sodas in his hands, "you're over here all the time. I rarely go to your place."
"Well, yeah," she replied, grinning as she took a cola from him, "you have the better TV."
Henry was about to say something but there was a knock at the door. "Stay tuned for a witty remark."
Anya saluted at him with a laugh and continued to watch the TV but muted it when she heard Henry say to whoever was at the door, "I don't have a daughter." This intrigued her. "What's going on?" she asked, pulling the door wider to see a young girl standing there and an older boy join them.
"No one's answering there," the boy said then saw Anya standing there. "Mom, there you are!"
"Mom?" Anya and Henry said in unison. Henry turned to her asking, "When did you have a kid and not tell me?"
Anya turned the question back on him "When did you have a kid and not tell me?"
"I don't have a kid," was his answer to that.
"Well, neither do I." Anya placed her hand on Henry, saying, "It's plausible for you not to know but…" she then placed her hands on herself saying, "I think I'd remember having a kid."
Jack sighed then looking down at his cousin Lucy, saying, "This just got complicated..."
THE END
A/N: Hey, Readers! Hope you enjoyed reading Across the Divide! I'm calling this 'The End' because I'm not certain if I will continue with this story or not, but if I do it will be it's separate story with a different title, etc. Anywho, thanks for reading!