A/N: Thank You. I can proudly say that I am not the same person that started this fic, but that is for the better. I have seen myself go through some of the best and worst times in my life as I wrote my way through this fic. More has happened in my life for the last three years than in the last six. This story of mine that I have wanted to share is my own celebration of the series that has become a large part of my life. I was looking through old notes I had made mere weeks after these episodes of Once Season 4 had aired, and saw how angry I was in my real life to reflect it. Asgeir actually spat on Ingrid in the first draft I had made and forgotten about three years ago. But as I did my research, played the games through again and again, and made my own conclusions on what it all meant, a much greater understanding came forth that I wanted to finally reflect in this new chapter. What started off as something my uncle got for Christmas for his Playstation eight years ago that he lent me later, turned into the series that has driven me in my ideals and philosophies as much as Bioshock (another amazing game series).
I can still remember hearing that Creed for the first time. How could Nothing be True? If Everything is Permitted, why do we have laws? I understand now as I heard the explanations from the likes of Altair, Ezio, Connor, and even Arno. The Creed is the first step in mutual understandings between all faiths and cultures. And needless to say, that's something this world very much needs.
Ten years of this series, and it's always been the one that I have looked forward to each year. It stands among some of my favorite games alongside Batman Arkham, Uncharted, Dishonored, The Elder Scrolls and many more.
However, it has had its hiccups. I realize that I never gave a review for the Assassin's Creed movie last year. All I feel I need to say about this is that Fassbender and Irons did decent enough jobs for their acting skills, but a horrible script and lack of emotional investment from a lot of fronts is what the movie really suffered from. The dialogue was written to hold the hands of viewers who hadn't played the games, even though I can say for certain that in the theater of only 6 people that I was in (with me and the friend I saw the movie with included), every one of them had played the games. All of Coultiard's lines were horrid exposition, and I got very close to leaving the theater twice. I saw it again when it dropped on Netflix, and realized that it would have done a much better job if it was the entire plot of AC2 made into a Netflix series. I would binge that over a weekend if it meant that I could see a promising reenactment of the legend in a much more appropriate length of 13 episodes. That was another thing the movie suffered from: it was too short. The events of the past would have likely only made up four missions if it was a game. Overall, it was a disappointment, and best left forgotten. I give the Assassin's Creed movie a 4/10 in this long overdue review.
I have yet to play Origins, but I expect it under my tree on the 25th! I will give a shining review of it when I play, considering I already know I will love it.
This A/N is only to serve as a big thank you for everything that you have done for me. I would have given up on this story long ago if it weren't for the support of you, my readers. Some have even stood out to me in their overwhelming support, and I would be remiss not to mention them by name. Voight01, 64thVanSull, Kara, Queen Awinita, and the biggest ever thank you to Mastermind4892, whose messages and reviews never failed to reach me these three years. There has been so much that has happened, and so much left to do.
Yes, Asgeir's story is nowhere near done. This has been a decision of mine since the Frozen arc ended. Because I hated how it ended. And from there on, the writers began to make so many mistakes in their ongoing run that made me angrily quit the show before it flung itself off a cliff. This chapter will greatly diverge from the current continuity/timeline, but I hope for the best.
To have Elsa and Anna simply take back the kingdom from Hans made no sense to what the writers were building up to. Hans and his brothers are Templars in this story. They have an agenda for Arendelle, and one that will change the face of the kingdom forever. His influence to the people of Arendelle should be felt through, and not just tossed aside. There would be a legitimate conflict as Elsa and Hans fight to claim/reclaim the throne. Some I can even say with confidence they might prefer Hans, someone who is not magical, to sit on the throne instead of Elsa. This conflict is one that I can say Asgeir would play a huge part in. So here it comes: Faith is getting a full sequel here. You can expect it sometime in the new year, so please hit that follow/favorite button to surely be notified when it arrives.
Asgeir leads the Assassins to war in Arendelle. Against Hans, his brothers, and the Templars, this kingdom will face the largest war in its entire history. We see the war unfold in the eyes of Asgeir, Zar, Troy, and several other new faces. Heroes will rise. The King will fall. And Arendelle will never be the same again…
Assassin's Creed: Resurrection. Coming January-February 2018
Chapter 44: A Larger World
Smoke filled the cold, humid air around us. The snow from the night before had begun to melt, but was still far from its end. Every pyre had been set up, lined in the sandy snow on the beach. Every one of them would pass the fire on from one to the next, and to the next with the chain we had set up. Historically, it would always be the present Mentor to lower the torch onto a fallen brother's pyre.
But Matthew did not hold the torch in the morning light. Instead, as the sun began to peek over the waves of the Atlantic Ocean, I held the torch, clicking my lighter shut after lighting it. I kept my expression as solid as I could as I looked down at the first pyre, stacked closest to me. It took all my energy not to let it all loose. It seemed all I had done for the last thirty years was fight the enemy and mourn the dead.
Jason had been dressed back up in his Assassin robes from Arendelle instead of his hoodie. The whole lot of the dead were, as all of them came from either Arendelle, or the Enchanted Forest. But it didn't change anything. Just more traditions to follow. I myself opted to wear the Reaper armor; It would soon become a symbol of terror for our enemies. I still felt cold and some other dark presence emanating from the armor, which I understood to be the influence of Hades. All of these poor souls to be thrown into the River Styx, or wherever they would go.
Anna and Elsa stood off to the side. Anna had barely known Jason, but she could not stop crying. Elsa, however, had known him much better, but nevertheless, held her face stern and cold. I gave her a nod of understanding; she was only putting her "Queen face" on.
From beside my sisters, Matthew and Keaton stood at the head. Every one of us wore our hoods from the Land of Magic as we honored our dead. Too many lost in the span of five minutes. I had taken the justice for their deaths, though. One death to satisfy forty other souls. My scythe was still wet with Ingrid's blood, but it didn't ease my spirit. It swung lightly against my belt, folded up as the sun kept rising above the sea.
Looking down on my best friend's face, his eyes closed, I dropped the torch onto his body.
"You have earned your rest, Min Bror. Hvil I Fred."
Jason's pyre caught, and lit up, followed by the next man. Then the next. And the next. I only stood by, with anger still thick in my chest. Emma said last night of how Ingrid sacrificed herself to save this town, but she had murdered so many of my brothers a day before that. No one forced her to do that, not even an act of self-defense. She killed them all on her own accord. So, who really saved this town in those last seconds of her life? It wasn't the Snow Queen.
It was not even ten o'clock in the morning, but nevertheless, pints were passed around in the pub for a small wake. It had more or less been cleaned up, the broken furniture piled up to serve as wood for the pyres. I myself sat at the bar with Elsa and Anna, silent as the grave.
Anna wasn't much of a drinker. I had seen her try wine a few times; it wasn't her thing. But then Kevan came around as he usually did, the bartender of Cormac's.
"Anything for you ladies?" He said as he went down the bar.
I placed my hand over my still-full pint, staring straight ahead.
Anna glanced over at me, then over at Kevan
"I'll have what he's having."
Kevan raised an eyebrow, and then grabbed a fresh glass from behind him, filling it. Several of the taps were smashed in the attack, but a few were still working.
Anna wrinkled her nose at the black ale with thick foam at the top as Kevan laid down a napkin and placed it in front of her.
"Your Highness." He added, leaning back, and crossing his arms with a grin. He just had to see her reaction.
Elsa looked over at her sister. "You don't have to drink it if you don't want to, Anna."
"No, it's okay." She said. "Asgeir drinks this stuff all the time. I wonder what I've been missing."
I turned my gaze over to her as she raised the glass to her lips, and took a sip. Five seconds later, she grimaced and coughed.
Kevan and Elsa could not stop laughing as Anna kept coughing. I still felt the weight of Ingrid and Jason's deaths on my shoulders, but even I could give a bit of a smile. Anna even noticed it on my face, but said nothing as Matthew came up.
"Your Majesty. Your Highness." He nodded to the two. "Mentor."
I leaned back on the bar stool as Matthew went on.
"David called." He said. "We'll be needing Elsa's help in taking down the wall."
"Fair enough." She said. "Let's get going."
The chill from the wall filled the air all around. I ran my hands through my hair, back to black. I had changed back into my hoodie along with Matthew. He, Elsa, Anna, Kristoff, Snow, Emma, Henry, and Hook stood beside me as my sister stepped forwards.
"Wow, that is a lot of ice." Anna said, astonished.
"And it's time for it to come down." Elsa replied.
She raised her hands, the magic shooting out. The pillars of ice crumbled and cracked, leaving itself in pieces within seconds. The red line that marked the borders of the town on the pavement was all that was left.
"Okay. Now can we go back home?" Anna asked.
She began to skip forwards. But it couldn't be that easy. It never was.
"Anna, DON'T!" I cried.
My sister immediately froze.
"Stop! Don't take another step." Emma agreed, running forwards. "That's the town line."
"Right." Anna said, turning back towards us. "But I wanna leave the town. Didn't I just say that?"
"The wall may be down, but I sense that some of Ingrid's magic remains."
Emma reached her hand forwards. A pulse of energy appeared from where she touched the air in front of her.
"Yeah." She said, turning around. "Leaving this town has never been simple. And Ingrid? She didn't change things. She wanted to be here alone with you and me. She wanted to make Storybrooke her ice castle, and clearly she wanted to protect it."
"So how do we get back home?" Anna said.
"Walking wouldn't get us there, anyway." Elsa replied. "We're in a different realm."
"We need to find a portal." Emma said. "Or magic beans, or something."
That got my ear. Magic beans. We had some. The Assassins carried the plant we harvested it from and hid it in the Bunker. There was also still a handful left from what I brought with me to Storybrooke. But I said nothing. Emma had lost all of my trust in the last month, even if it was I who did unspeakable things.
"Then let's get moving." Anna said. "We have to hurry."
"No, we don't need to rush. We need to be careful." Elsa said, not noticing me or Matthew exchange knowing looks. "Arendelle will still be there, Anna."
But I didn't like the look on Anna's face. Something had happened on her way here.
"It might not." She said. Then realization hit her face. "Did we forget to tell them?" She said to her fiancé.
"A lot of stuff was going on." He replied.
"Why? What happened?" I said.
Anna grimaced. "Arendelle's been conquered. By Hans and his brothers."
I felt my heart sink. "You have to be fucking joking…"
Elsa glanced at Emma, horror filling her eyes. "Emma. We need to leave…now."
The plan was set. The Arendelle Assassins were finished here in Storybrooke. With Hans and the Templars invading our home, we had to hurry back and strike. Without Elsa to lead her people, the kingdom would be brought to ruin.
The conference room was empty when we came back to Cormac's. So, while everyone began to gather all of their things, I sat down in my new seat, at the head of the table. Matthew filled that seat for the last fifty years of my life, while I stood at his left hand. But now it was all mine…
All mine, and without my best friend to take my old place…
I pulled out the Eagles baseball cap, hanging it on the back of his seat at my right hand at the table. I never knew where Jason got it. Only that he wore it all the time here in Storybrooke. A green one with the logo of that American football team. But it meant something a lot different to him. Now he was gone…
"You should be standing by my side." I whispered. "Coming back to Arendelle to help us free it from Hans and his shite brothers. In all honesty, I was the Reaper, but you were the Soldier. You never once wavered in your loyalty, and every direct order, you obeyed without question. You were my best friend all these years." I felt mist come into my eyes as my sinuses stung. "It's a cruel world we live in, where the good are punished for their honor, and the evil take what they please. Even if we as Assassins are neither good, nor evil, you were always someone who could inspire hope to the helpless. I could always count on you if I knew you were on the roof above, watching over me, or the others."
Pulling the hat off the seat, I turned it over in my hands. "I loved you, Jason. And I'm sure gonna miss you." I whispered, putting it back into my pack.
Back in my room, I began throwing my things into two piles. There was a knock at the door.
"Asgeir?" It was Zar.
"It's open." I called back.
The door opened, and my old friend came in. He closed it behind him as he came in.
"Matthew was telling me we have until sunset to gather our things." He said.
"Yeah." I replied. "Because those are my orders. We need to get back to Arendelle. Quick. We have the magic beans, but we are not to tell anyone outside Cormac's. I don't know who to trust anymore."
"Yeah, I heard. Hans and the Templars have taken over." He paused. "Asgeir, there's something you should know."
I turned around. "What?"
Zar uneasily looked back to the closed door, then came towards me, leaning inwards a little close. "There's a traitor in our ranks."
It was the word that was tossed around so often, and yet this time, it threw me for the biggest loop I was capable of feeling after all of this. A traitor. In Cormac's.
"…Who?" I growled, even if I could feel the answer coming. Zar wouldn't have been purposely vague; he was always a direct person.
"No idea." Zar said. "Rory, Jason and I were the only ones who knew before Ingrid's attack. We found out when we were doing recon on George's shipments. Otso Berg was in town. He brought a whole group of Templars with him, and they executed George and his cooks before leaving. He mentioned that there was a mole they had installed sending updates to Abstergo."
It was all coming at me, fast and hard. I had heard many stories about Otso Berg for the last few years. What little I could find out from Abstergo in the news back in Kamloops told me he was rising fast as a large part of their security. He was taking Maloy's place. The arsehole had been in town, and killed King George.
"Was the traitor killed when Ingrid attacked us?" I asked.
"I have no clue." Zar said. "But if he wasn't, we need to tell Keaton about it in case we leave him with the mole."
The gears began to turn in my head. I had a better idea. There might be a way to draw him out, and take care of another issue that had been itching at the back of my head since crawling out of the time portal.
I reached over my bed, taking my notebook out, and ripped a page from it.
"What are you doing?" Zar said.
I ignored him, and wrote down a list. A long one.
"Zar, do you trust me?"
He looked uneasily at me, running a hand over his ear.
"I didn't trust you for weeks, man." He said. "You nearly cost us years of fighting just to satisfy your insane need to murder Ingrid. Jason stood by you when Ingrid tried to turn all of us on you, but I don't think I can say the same if it was me in that position. But now that I can see that you're back to the way that you were before all of this… yeah. Yeah, I trust you."
"Alright." I said, handing him the list. "Have Matthew and Keaton gather everyone at Cormac's on this list by three this afternoon." Then I pointed to one of the names near the top. "And have him leave his son at camp."
Zar looked puzzled at the names on the list, but nodded. "It will be done… Mentor." He shrugged. "Geez, that's gonna take some getting used to."
I nodded. "Agreed."
I expected Zar to leave to gather up the people on the list, but instead, he stood there, and kept on talking.
"Asgeir, there's one more thing." He said. "Anna told me what happened after they got thawed out. Troy and Rabbit were with them."
I looked up. Those two could never die, no matter how much trouble they got themselves into. "They survived?"
"Yeah. They brought Anna and Kristoff down to the town on the border. Molrum, I think it's called. That's where they got ambushed by Hans. Seems Blackbeard's under his coin."
While this Blackbeard was not the same Ed Thatch that worked with Kenway in the Caribbean, he was one of several. I'd heard stories about him, as well. That's what happens with the most brutal of brutes. He was not a pirate roaming free throughout the seas. He was pure evil.
"Ugh… shit." I groaned. "Are they still with us?"
"Alive, you mean? Anna has no idea." Zar said. "But it gives us another reason we need to hurry back."
"Agreed." I said. "Have Matthew pack my armor. I'll find what else I have here that can be taken. Who else is coming with us?"
Zar began counting on his fingers, deep in thought. "Uh… You, me, Matthew. Elsa, Anna, Kristoff. Ja-" He stopped. "Sorry. Kevan, Keif, Rory, Torren. There's ten of us."
"I thought we had six novices at our branch on their way to getting their hoods."
"Yeah, Asgeir." Zar said. "We had them. And now they're dead. We have a full count for those Ingrid killed. Only three novices survived her attack, none of whom belonged to our branch. There's twenty-three of us left at Cormac's, not counting the Merry Men."
"And Torren? He's not even part of our branch." I said.
"No, but he spoke with Keaton this morning. He wants to earn his hood by your judgement. The kid sees something in you, Asgeir."
That did feel a bit surprising. What could he possibly see in me that everyone else had not? He barely knew me. Everyone's faith in me was now on the most unstable of foundations. I got so close to the noose after all of this, and they were letting me off the hook. I had a lot of climbing to get out of the hole I had dug. In that moment, I was finally starting to understand another old saying: the one about two graves.
"See that everyone on this list is brought to Cormac's." I repeated, ignoring what Zar said.
Zar pointed at one name. "Marian was frozen by Ingrid, last I checked."
"Then it's more than likely she's freed from that prison with the Snow Queen dead." I said. "Find Robin, at least. I'm sure he'll bring her."
Bags and parcels were piled in a corner in the pub at Cormac's. Anna and Elsa were out in the town, helping Zar gather the people before our final goodbyes. The girls had no clue about the beans, but I had instructed them to be here for 6 PM, right before sunset. I had drunk plenty of beer since morning, but I kept going, regardless; I was not short a single reason today.
Keif came out from the kitchen, standing in front of me at the bar.
"Keaton's been able to spare about a crate of weapons for us to take back to Arendelle." He said. "But it'll take a long time for his branch to bounce back from this. With the rest of us gone, it leaves barely over a dozen people under this roof."
"Alright." I said. "What about the girl Marc brought in?"
"Susie? Hmm." He looked over at the corner. She and Willis were sharing a plate of wings as we spoke. "Marc never wanted her to join up with us. But she might have a thing to say about that if he's no longer with us."
"Talk it over with Keaton before we offer it to her. He's gonna need all the help he can get." I said. "Maybe Robin can spare a few Merry Men as well."
Keif nodded, turning and heading for the kitchen into The Bunker.
The smashed open doorway of Cormac's was filled. A wide, but short figure walked through it, and came up to the bar, sitting at the stool beside me.
I glanced over, then took a gulp of Guinness. "Dreamy." I nodded.
He returned my greeting with the usual grouchy glare. "Reaper."
I shuffled in my seat, the both of us in silence for a few minutes. We had both said we had our differences to sort out after all of this, but now that I was free of the curse, and we were both alive, it felt like it didn't matter as much.
"Whatever happened with you and the fairy, eh?" I asked. "You told me that you could never be with her or her wings would get clipped. But magic's quite strange here."
Grumpy's expression softened a bit. She must have been very beautiful to make him smile like that. Even if it was only a little bit.
"Things didn't change after that." He said. "She's a nun, here. All the fairies are nuns. There was a festival a few years back. Before Emma broke the First Curse. I met her there when I was Leroy."
"So, whatever stopped you from trying to see her again?" I said.
Grumpy glared at me, as though I should have known. "Nothing has changed here. She's a fairy. I'm a dwarf."
"Yeah. You punch like one, too, if I remember correctly." I said. "But if you wanted a happy ending, why didn't you try to find one when the Curse ended? I'll bet that a day hasn't gone by where she hasn't thought of you, Dreamy." I turned in my seat. "I had a happy ending, once. She and I were both Assassins. But I didn't see that I had all that I could ever want after everything that I had gone through. Not until she left me, and I was forced by the Templars to watch her die in front of me.
"I am an Assassin, Dreamy. That means most of us don't get happy endings. It's in the nature of our lives. But you still have a chance. You still have time to find that happy ending with her, even if it isn't the one you would have truly wanted to have with her."
He eyed me with suspicion. "So, I should defy what everyone else says, and just go with her? What about her dream? She wanted to be a fairy godmother."
"No, Dreamy." I said. "I'm not saying you do what you want and damn the consequences. But if you truly love this fairy, and she loves you, then life will find a way to make all those dreams come true."
Grumpy shifted in his seat as I saw two more people enter the pub. Women this time.
"Anything else you order is on me." I said to him as I got up.
Cindy and Red stood before me as I walked out from the bar.
"You called for us?" Red said.
"Yeah." I replied. "Let's talk."
I led the girls from the pub to the conference room between the pub and the inn. The bulletin board had been abandoned for weeks, but it looked like someone had touched it since this morning; Ingrid's photo now had a single slash across it with a red Sharpie.
Red and Cindy both took seats at the table, leaving the seat at the head, and the two adjacent to it, empty. They were previously taken before, with Jason in the seat at Matthew's right, and myself at the left. But their eyes grew in size as I instead took the seat at the head of the table. They both knew what it meant.
"You're Mentor, now?" Cindy said.
"That's right." I replied. "The Arendelle Assassins are now my responsibility. Which means that I gotta start working. Working to right a lot of wrongs I did during my exile.
"Cindy, you and I have been good friends for a long time. I got really close to killing Tremaine, but you had me spare her for reasons I'll never fully understand."
She nodded, glancing at Red as I continued.
"You and Thomas will always have a place here at Cormac's, no matter where I, or any other Arendelle Assassin is. You both, and your daughter."
"Thank you."
"And Red. Jason told me the other night that you defended me and Elsa while I was locked up. You knew what I was going through with what Ingrid did to me. For that, I thank you."
"Of course." She said, firmly. "Family doesn't give up on each other."
"Exactly." I pointed my finger at them. "Family. You both are family to me, and to my sisters. Which is why I have to confess something."
Red was confused for a moment as I put my hands together, and sighing deeply. This would go very bad, or atrociously bad.
"Over two months ago, when you approached me with the intent to go back to the Enchanted Forest, I lied to you, Red. I told you that there are Assassin branches in our world that are made of werewolves. People like you. But the truth is that I don't know if they still exist."
Red was breathless as I went on.
"Granted, my father told me that they truly did exist when I was younger, but he never told me where they were, or if they still were living in the dark as we do. It was the only thing I could think of to convince you to stay. If I were to bring you to these clans, if they still existed. I was desperate to have you stay."
"So, you… you lied to me." She whispered.
"Cowards would say that I did it to protect you. But in truth, I just could not stand the thought of another person close to me, leaving. I don't know if what I said was a lie, or the truth. It was simply a statement to make you stay."
Red nodded, but with a scowl. As though she was accepting what I was saying, but not being any less angry over the idea of what I did to her.
"You know Elsa. If I had to guess, I'd say you girls still had plenty to talk about after they threw me in the hole. Have you met Anna yet?"
Red shook her head. "Yeah, Elsa and I kept seeing each other after everything. She's a good girl, Asgeir. Haven't met the other sister yet."
"Then you'd know that they're… they were…" I corrected myself. "the one thing that I care about most in this world. And they can be again, once it truly comes back to me that they are alive and well. Tell you the truth, I saw so many horrors both real and unreal that I have to ask myself every day if I am here in Storybrooke, and not still rotting in The Gates."
"So why are you telling me about why you lied to me, Asgeir?"
"Because we're leaving." I said.
Cindy gasped. "Leaving… Storybrooke?"
"There's a problem we have to solve." I said. "This Templar, Prince Hans took over Arendelle while Elsa and I were away. He's likely seized the crown already, and he has a whole armada backing his claim up. Add to the fact that we have two other Assassins still there, likely in prison. Elsa and Anna are going back to Arendelle, and I'm taking the rest of the Assassins with me to save our friends Troy and Rabbit. I don't think we're ever going to come back to Storybrooke. I'm tying up every loose end I have left, and then I'm leaving. Then I'm going to find that smug, redheaded, sideburned arsehole, and shove my blade down his throat."
Cindy nodded. "You're never coming back… but we will see each other again, I hope."
"I hope so, too. If Emma really is the Savior, then one day, we'll all be where we truly belong at the end of this story. Finally, at peace from all the misery we have endured."
Cindy got up from her seat. "You want forgiveness, Asgeir." She said. "You want to atone from what the curse did to you all these years. What the Snow Queen did to control you, turning you onto us. I felt nothing but hate that night after I barricaded Alex in her nursery. If you spent the last thirty years with that anger, I can only imagine what it would have done to you beneath the surface."
She walked over, placing a hand on my shoulder. "No one is truly beyond redemption. They just need to accept that second chance, and make it count. So, do that when you leave here. Make every choice count to defeat this Templar and his brothers."
I gazed up at her into her eyes. Everyone lost and regained their faith in me. She was right: I had to make all of this count in the days to come. The weeks. The months… However long this struggle that would be brought upon against Hans and his brothers, I would do everything I could to destroy them, and save Arendelle with my sisters by my side.
"And you won't be alone." Red said. "Because I'm coming, too."
Cindy spun around, myself shooting my gaze over to the smiling brunette.
"You owe me, Asgeir." She said. "So, if these werewolf clans really do exist, then I will be staying by your side until you bring me to them. And I'll be helping you and Elsa take back the throne from this jackass."
I chuckled. "This isn't going to be a negotiation, Red. You do realize that?"
"I know. I also know that times have changed, here. Long ago, I told my mother as she died in front of us that I am no killer. She killed people who did not share our gift. What do you kill for?"
"Justice. Freedom. Protecting those who can't protect themselves. So many others in the world will gladly take away everything from their people. They think themselves above us." I looked over at the board, tangles of red string and crossed out photos covering it. Not a single target on the board was left alive, now. It was all finished. But the slate would begin anew with Hans and his brothers, now. "When I was still an Assassin who followed the Creed, I did it to protect others. When I lost my mind, and with it, my way, I did it for vengeance."
"Would you show me the right way?" Red asked.
I thought about it. She had the will to become one of us. She had the conviction. Could she truly have the stomach for murder? It seemed unusual. But as she said, times had changed. And we would need all the help we could get.
"I will think about it." I replied as a knock came at the door.
Cindy went over and opened it. Zar, Rory, Matthew and Kevan filed in.
"If you'll excuse us, ladies." I said. "Please help yourself to refreshments in the pub. There's to be a meeting soon."
Red and Cindy looked back at me, and then obliged, heading out into the pub while Matthew closed the door behind us, our final plan about to begin.
The entire pub of Cormac's was filled with voices as we came out. With our men, The Merry Men, and a few others within the vicinity, we were all set to say our goodbyes. Snow and David would be a bit later, though.
Zar, Rory, Matthew, Kevan and I came out from the conference room.
"Follow my lead, and do not hesitate." I whispered as we walked out.
"Understood." Matthew said, clearly settling with me and him now switched places, respectively.
The five of us walked out to the pub. A few Merry Men noticed me, and quieted down as I walked up to the front of the pub, and sat up on the bar table. Anna and Elsa were absent, out in the town looking for the portal.
"Afternoon, everyone!" I called out.
It got their attention. Everyone silenced themselves.
"Well, I guess we shall be clearing a few things out. After a long discussion with Matthew, he has formally passed the title of Mentor onto me."
There was a bit of applause, but only so much; there was still some mistrust directed at me for good reason. I saw Robin at the front with Marian, their son Roland absent, as I had requested. He didn't need to see what was going to happen.
"Yes, thank you. But this is a time for grieving, as well. We lost a lot of good men and women the other night, during the assault on Cormac's. They gave their lives to protecting the freedom of humanity as Assassins. For that we have, and will continue to honor their sacrifice."
Grim murmurs of "Aye" and "Yeah" filled the pub.
I gestured to the bowl in the center of the room as I dropped down, standing back up. Filled with hot coal, and the familiar pincers warming in the pit. Very few knew what I was about to do with it, but it was well past time that I did. It would be my first choice as Mentor. Hopefully the second would not be a mistake.
"I want to call our Novice Torren up front." I said, coming up to the bowl.
The kid looked up in surprise, then eagerly walked up, standing as straight as he could. A few people in the crowd chuckled as he did so, but I smiled kindly and raised my hand.
"At ease, soldier." I said as he came up to the bowl with me. "I was told that you asked Keaton to be transferred to our branch."
"Yes, Mentor."
I still felt shaken by what he said. I was Mentor now, and I was about to fully induct this kid before me.
"We've had you as a Novice for a long time. I've only known you since I arrived here in Storybrooke, but in that time, you have shown great courage, conviction, and loyalty to the Creed. Even greater than most Novices from what I have seen. You fill the shoes of an Assassin well, even if you have yet to be one."
I placed a hand on his shoulder. He was a scrawny kid, which made me all the more unsure how in the world he could hold up that minigun during the attack on the hospital. Or the flamethrower during the battle against Marshmallow. But he was exactly who we needed.
I looked out to the crowd, and raised both my hands. I wore my hoodie like everyone else here, but it made no difference. An Assassin was to be initiated here and now.
"Laa shay'a waqi'un moutlaq bale kouloun moumkine. These are the words that lay at the heart of our Creed. The words that are spoken by our ancestors."
I spoke these words, feeling that I myself would have to relearn these words in the war to come against Hans. We needed full-fledged soldiers to refill our ranks, and I saw the first one in our army with Torren.
"Where other men blindly follow the truth, remember…"
"Nothing is True." The Assassins replied.
"And where other men are bound by morality and law, remember…"
"Everything is Permitted."
I looked back to Torren. "Torren, you have proven yourself worthy to wear the hood and wield the blade of an Assassin. Yet, I offer you not a command, but the choice to join us. If you wish to take the hood, recite the tenets to us. If you wish to walk away, you may do so. No one will stop you, I assure you-"
"Stay my blade from the flesh of an innocent." He said, no hesitation in his voice.
I nodded, understanding that he wanted nothing else but to fight for us. Good. He had courage and conviction. We would need that.
To stay the blade means to show restraint, I remembered. We take lives not to destroy our enemies, but to protect the lives of the innocent.
"Hide in plain sight."
We draw our strength from the shadows. To hide in plain sight is to disappear. The Templars call us cowards for it. In reality, it's just being smart.
"Never compromise the Brotherhood."
We stand for an idea that must endure through all of our lives. There is no other course of action if we find ourselves captured or killed. None outside our circle can know that we exist.
I broke all three of these tenets in the last ten years. But Jason died to protect me. And Matthew believed in me enough to pass the mantle onto me. Torren would learn them as I would relearn them. I promised.
"Nothing is True. Everything is Permitted." I said. "What does that mean to you? What does it truly mean?"
Torren took a beat before giving me his version. "I was told for my life what was true and what wasn't. My family was a religious one, regardless of how we lived. My father prayed every day of his life. But I could never be sure that the gods we worshipped were really there. I don't think they are, now. My truth is the truth. And the same can be said for everyone else. That is why Nothing is True.
"But that does not mean that my truth is the only truth. Everything is Permitted. If Nothing is True, then I can decide what I can do with my life. But I have to remain conscious of the choices that I make, and live with every one of them."
I nodded, remembering the four dead bodies I sat in, days before I was sent to The Gates. Those were my choices, and my own consequences. "Very good. Hold out your left hand."
Torren did as he was told, as I took the pincers from the bowl, and slowly clamped them on his finger.
No one before Torren screamed with pain the way that he did. But it was only for a brief moment, and as I took the pincers off, and someone took a bucket of water up for him to place his hand in, he gasped and winced with pain.
"You alright?" I asked.
"Yeah, I'll be fine." He said.
After a few moments in the bucket, he pulled his hand out, still gasping and grunting with pain. Then he placed his fist over his heart.
"Nothing is True. Everything is Permitted." The whole pub recited.
Torren returned to where he had been standing in the crowd, a number of Assassins patting him on the back, congratulating their newly inducted brother. I still had much more to address, but the doorway was suddenly filled by someone that turned every head in the room.
"Sorry." Regina said, noticing all the faces looking in her direction. "Am I interrupting?"
"Not at all, Your Majesty." I said. "I see you got my message."
"Yes, of course." She said, clearing her throat as she noticed Robin and Marian. Deliberately avoiding eye contact with either of them, she stood off to the side. "It will be a shame to see most of you go, so soon."
"Ah, I hope you don't mean that." I chuckled.
"No, I don't." She joked, a few chuckles coming out from the crowd.
I nodded, then looked back out. "Next, can I get Keaton, Susie, and Red to come up?"
The Enchanted Forest's Mentor and the two girls came up. The girls would make good fits for us. I spotted Granny and the look of concern filling her face as Keaton took his spot beside me.
"Keaton, I know I am only the Mentor of the Arendelle branch, but if I may, I would suggest you take Susie in."
The blonde's eyebrows shot up as Keaton glanced at me.
"The girl? Are you-?"
"As sure as I can be. With everything that has happened with the attack, your branch will need all the help we can get. I've seen her around here. Marc had her stay here for the lockdown, and in that time, she seems to have her own ideas for what we stand for. I think she might want to learn our ways for real." I looked at her. She still wore her black t-shirt with Edward Kenway's flag printed on it. She wore a maroon t-shirt with long sleeves under that. "Am I wrong?"
"No." She said. "Marc meant for me to join you guys one day when it was safe enough. He said every day that he did not want to let me join, but I knew he wanted to, eventually. I now see that it will never be truly safe. But I still want to join up."
Keaton clicked his tongue. "Hhmm. Indeed." He turned to me. "I will see to it. And Ruby?"
I looked at her. "I owe her. She's coming back with us."
Granny coughed, clearly expressing her distain for this choice. But Red glanced back.
"I'll be able to find my people back home, Granny." She said. "Other people like me."
"It's a hard life, Red." She said, walking up. "My father and brothers swore to uphold those beliefs. Can you really say that you want to live that same life?"
"She won't be making that call yet, Granny. But I promised her months back that I would take her to find people with the same gifts as hers. It will be her choice to become an Assassin if she ever wants to make that call."
Red looked back at me. "And I will be holding you to that promise when we get back to our world." She said.
I nodded. "Alright. Guess there's one last thing we need to do." I said. "We say our goodbyes. Arendelle Assassins."
The others that would be going back to Arendelle all straightened up. I glanced at Robin. I would hope that in this moment, I would not fail him as I did so many others in the last few weeks.
I walked out, placing both hands on his shoulders.
"I'll be missing you dearly, old friend."
"As will I." He said. "You're Mentor, now. The Assassins will need your help, here."
"Maybe. But, so does Arendelle. And under Hans, they'll need our help more than ever. That's where I'm needed the most."
I looked over at Marian for a moment, before turning back to Robin.
"No matter what, I've always been your friend, Robin. Remember that." I murmured.
I raised my hand, and suddenly clenched my fingers into a fist.
Zar, Rory, and Matthew quickly pulled out Tasers from their hoodies. All three of them took aim at Marian, opening fire. The cartridge pieces spilled across the floor as the wires shot out, zapping and crackling with energy. Assassins everywhere in the pub jumped in shock, and I heard someone scream. Regina suddenly conjured a fireball in her hand in surprise. Chaos ensued as those Assassins who were not warned jumped for their guns and swords.
"MARIAN!" Robin screamed.
"Guns on her, now!" I commanded.
The woman screamed and convulsed as the electricity shot through her body. But it wasn't hurting her as much as I expected. And I suspected why.
I saw Geoff hesitate for a second, but I wasn't having it.
"I am your Mentor!" I roared, the voice of my father suddenly pouring out. "Take aim at her!"
Robin tried to lunge for me, but Kevan and Keif were on him, holding him down.
"What the bloody hell are you doing, ASGEIR?!" He screamed. "That is my wife!"
"Are you sure?" I asked, pulling my revolver out. I spun the chamber, the whizz sounding through the air among the cries and convulsing from the woman in Marian's form.
The woman started to raise her hand, but a loud bang made her jump back as she fell to the floor.
"Ah, ah!" I snapped. "I wouldn't do that if I were you!"
I pointed the revolver directly at her head. Was this how my father felt when he had the gun pointed directly at Ingrid? I was taking a huge gamble by making this move, but I had a reason for it. Suspicions that were still uneasy and jangled. Please let my hunch be true, I said to myself. I could not afford to make one more mistake with the Assassins.
The whispers. The whispers that had been rattling my brain for the last two months. They started when Emma and Hook came out of the time portal with Marian. They hadn't stopped since. I thought they were because of the curse. I realized soon enough as I branded Torren, that they were not.
If I wasn't Mentor right now, I would have been gunned down by every Assassin in this room. But Matthew did as I said a few minutes ago, and said it would be at least worth to confirm the suspicions that had struck me when we spoke in the conference room.
I saw a light glow reflecting in the woman's eyes. They came from the barrel of my gun.
"The Bullets of Eden." I said. "If you try to stop them, it'll make the pain that much worse. And I think you've stopped a few shots before, haven't you?"
I wasted one to get her to stand still. This better be worth it.
"MARIAN!" Robin cried.
I walked forwards to the woman on the ground, extending my blade. I spotted what I was looking for with the golden chain on her neck. It peeked out from under the collar of her gown. I planted the blade right under the chain, and yanked it upwards.
It was a charm necklace she was wearing. But one that had a real enchantment on it. It held a glass vial with a jeweled clover. I recognized it at once.
"That's the-" Robin exclaimed.
"You think Robin never told me about the Six Leafed Clover? Newsflash, woman: It can't fool The Sight." I snarled.
I shot my hand upwards, cutting the chain, and pulling it off her neck. The woman's hair lightened along with her skin, and I then saw the ginger hair and bright green eyes of…
"Zelena!" Regina exclaimed.
I sighed with relief. I was right all along. It was just a guess, but luckily, it was the right one.
Zelena, meanwhile, was still shaking and thrashing with the Tasers. And now, every Assassin in the room held their guns towards her, with Regina with her fireball. I could even spot the source of her magic she kept hidden away: her bright green pendant, glittering in the light.
"Tell us what happened to the real Marian, Greenie." I snapped.
Zelena gasped, still with pain shooting through as the Tasers still kept shooting electricity through her. "Go soak your head, bastard."
I replied with a shot to her thigh. She screamed with pain as I pulled the hammer back again, the revolver clicking loudly.
"That was only one shot." I said. "I've felt the effects of getting shot with this kind of Bullet. It should be more painful than anything you've ever felt in your entire miserable life. I had over a dozen brought with me to Storybrooke, and now they are all aimed at you. I have only one left in this gun, and the rest are locked and loaded randomly into almost every gun in this room. You have no escape anymore. SO, TALK!"
Zelena glared at her half-sister. "Rumplestiltskin tried to kill me after you imprisoned me. The Dagger he gave Belle was a fake. The Dark One is just as corrupt and evil as the rest of us are."
"What?" Regina cried.
"But it wasn't enough to kill me." She chuckled, going on. "I followed Emma and her one-handed lover into the time portal. I saw them make a lifetime's worth of mistakes, and then try to correct them. I even saw you, bastard, help them both escape Regina's dungeon. And then when I heard that they were planning on bringing her back to the present with her, well, it was so obvious what I could do." She smirked at Regina. "It was worth it to dispose of that miserable girl, so I could ruin all your happiness with dear old Robin."
Robin was astounded. How could this have happened? This woman was supposed to be his wife, and now he learned that he had lost her again. I knew it was too good to be true.
"My wife is really dead?"
"Yes." She cackled. "And it was all so sweet to take away everything that you desired, Regina."
"Not anymore." I replied, placing my foot on her chest. "Rory!"
The Irishman stepped forth, extending his blade. "Aye?"
"I believe you owe this woman for turning you into a monkey. We both owe her for Neil."
"Aye." He said. "That we do."
He knelt down, holding the Witch to the ground by her shoulders. Pulling my stick off my belt, I clicked the button twice, feeling it extend with ease and the blade unfold. I raised it high, and struck it straight downwards into her chest.
"What did you hope to achieve of killing me, bastard?" Zelena sneered up at me, blood gushing out of her wound. Rory remained kneeling over her. "There is nothing left here for you. You are leaving to go back to your precious Arendelle."
"I still have people I care for, here." I replied. "And Robin needed to know the truth. He and Regina deserve their happy ending."
"No, they don't!" She screamed. "I deserve mine! It's my happiness, not hers!"
"Jaysus, lady." Rory sighed. "Envy's brought only pain and misery in the lives of everyone that it's touched. And you let it eat you up inside so much. That's just sad."
It was sad. I could feel little less than pity as I stood there, Zelena dying before the two of us. She fought this long and hard over something so childish and stupid. She could have found her happy ending if she didn't spend so much time trying to steal Regina's away. What a pitiful waste…
Zelena's face began to soften. Her life was fading away. "I saw this. When you and I touched the Apple so many years ago, I saw this before me. The vision that kept me up at night. How I would meet my end at your hands."
I remembered the face she made when I pulled away from her. She and I were very much alike in how both our half-sisters were royalty. Nobility. Yet, we were not. But I found a better calling than that of envy. I could find something even better than that with redemption.
I knelt down, and ripped her pendant off. It was not the same as the Templar rings I took from all of my targets, but it was still what I would call it: a trophy.
"I hope you rot in hell!" Zelena sneered out as she closed her eyes. "Just as I hope that boy, Baelfire, is too!"
Rory took a white eagle feather out of his pocket, speckled with dots of red. I had never seen him kill a target before, but now I knew; His branch followed the old tradition of the Levantines. "Sos Sa Tsíocháin..." He whispered as he wiped it over her throat.
I placed my fist over my heart. "You fed your envy to the point of no return. It fed on you in return. Hvil I Fred."
Regina stomped over and kicked Zelena's corpse. "Evil witch!"
I stepped back. "Don't." I said.
"Why not? She tried to take everything from me! She almost did! She was an evil witch!"
And then, with a voice a thousand years old, I said something I never thought I could say. I was taking my first steps.
"But she was still a human." I replied.
Regina scowled. "Bold words for someone who hated the Snow Queen even more than she hated me. Who are you to talk about forgiving someone so easily?"
I nodded. "I know."
I turned to the crowd. "I took a gamble with this move, Assassins. I could not be certain that this wasn't really Marian until I saw this." I held up the Six Leafed Clover. "This contains a glamour enchantment." I said. "This was how Zelena fooled every one of us. Can I be certain in saying that those of us who have The Sight were not fooled by this?"
Contrary to what most people seemed to think, very few Assassins carried the ability of The Sight. Jason may have had it, but I didn't remember in that moment if he did.
A few people raised their hands. Willis and Keaton were among them.
"I heard the whispers." Keaton said. "But I wasn't sure where they were coming from. I could have assumed they were from her." He pointed at Regina.
She shook her head. "I no longer consider the Assassins to be an enemy of the state. I can only assume I wouldn't trip your 'radar' off anymore."
I tossed the Clover to Rory. "We could use this." I said. "Might be worth keeping."
"Aye." Rory replied. "Especially considering where we're going."
Regina pointed to the other trophy in my hands. "That was in my Vault, before." She said. "I took that from her."
"Yeah." I said. "But it's not going back in there. I need to be sure that Zelena can't come back with this pendant, so I'm taking it, this time."
Regina was about to protest, but then sighed. "Fair enough. One less headache for us to deal with, here."
I turned to Robin. "You going to be okay?"
"My son… Marian is dead… she was dead all along and I had no idea that it was Zelena." He said with horror. "How will I explain this to Roland?"
"He's still a young boy, Robin. When the time is right, you will tell him the story of the Maid in her castle, and how she and her husband robbed from the rich and gave to the poor." I said. "But as for now, she had to go with us. Grown-up business."
Robin threw his arms around me, bursting into tears. I had never heard or seen the man cry before, but he held his arms tightly around me.
"I doubted you in that moment." He said. "I thought that you truly had lost your mind, but you were protecting me and my son."
He looked down at Zelena's body. "What's to be done with her?"
"I'll leave that decision to her only family left." I said, glancing at Regina. "She's all yours."
Regina looked down at her, anger and shame filling her eyes. She closed them, her face clenching tight. She despised her for what she had tried to do to us only months ago, but I could at least be thankful that I killed her before she could do any more damage. I could read the conflict on her face. Despite being an evil witch, Zelena was still her family. Her whole family was filled with complicated people. Even her mother, Cora as I had seen with Grandfather Norik's memories.
"Thank you. I thought my happy ending was all but gone with her still alive."
I nodded, getting up from my embrace with Robin. "Zelena could not hide from me or my Sight, Assassins. So, I will only give the traitor among us twenty seconds to step forwards." I said.
There were sounds of confusion that erupted from the crowd. A traitor? At Cormac's? Unthinkable! How could it be so? Now, I was talking nonsense.
"You see me now, standing before you. My mind is sure as it ever was after thirty years of madness. So, I will begin counting." I looked up at the clock on the wall…
But someone did step forwards. Someone that shocked me to my core.
Keaton spluttered. "Willis?! No!"
Willis raised his hands as Assassins from all over the pub began to raise their guns at him. Cocks and clicking raised from every rifle, every pistol as the man stepped up.
"No!" I cried. "Not just yet." I held my hand up, beckoning them to stop. "He will get a chance to explain himself. He deserves that as much."
Willis kept his hands raised, shaking his head. "I wasn't the traitor, Asgeir." He explained. "But I know who it was. It was Marc."
I cocked my head. "Marc?"
"He's dead, now. I don't think Abstergo counted on Ingrid killing their mole, here. But it happened, and they'll find out soon enough."
"Why?" I snarled. "Why would he betray us? I spoke with Marc enough times to know that he really cared for us. He never once tripped my Sight off."
"Maybe it's because he truly never wanted to sell us out. He told me as much."
"Wait, he told you but not us?" Matthew said. "Neither me, nor Keaton?"
Willis shook his head. "He wanted to. But Abstergo had bugged him. If you hadn't burned his body already in the pyres, you'd have found a micro implant tracking chip injected in his arm."
He turned and pointed at Susie. "She was hit by them, too. But for a different reason."
Every head turned towards the blonde, but she looked just as surprised as us. "Wait, what?"
"Do you remember anything that happened the night of March 1st?" He said. "Think really hard about it."
But Susie didn't need to. She didn't deny anything. She straight up skipped the denial and went right to accepting what had happened to her. She rolled up her sleeves. "It's in my arm? Let's get it out and prove he's telling the truth."
Keaton raised his hand. "That won't be necessary, yet."
Willis shook his head. "Yes, it will. Because her tracker has a C4 charge in it."
Gasps raised throughout the bar as I began to walk up to the girl.
"It was the threat Abstergo gave Marc if he didn't help them. They drugged her and kidnapped her right from her apartment after they sent a covert team to infiltrate this town. Told Marc that if she had any chance of living, he had to send regular reports to them by email. How much hardware we had, if we were going to turn our focus to George, how much we knew. And they also wanted reports on Asgeir." He glanced at me. "Subject 11 they kept calling him. Now we know why they were interested in you, Master Cormac."
I understood. They wanted to bring me back. To torture me more, or take more of my genes. That was why Marc brought Susie to Cormac's. It wasn't to protect her from Ingrid. It was to protect her from the bomb planted in her that she had no idea was there. To keep her within arm's reach
He pulled a crumpled piece of paper from his pocket. "He pulled me aside last week, and confessed everything to me by writing it all down. Abstergo could hear everything he was saying, but not what he was writing down. I have his email and password and everything else he used to send the reports to Abstergo. Since Marc is dead, it'll only be a matter of time before they realize he's not sending the reports. If they don't realize he's dead, Susie might be by tonight."
Keaton turned to Geoff. "Get her to the hospital." He ordered. "Have them find the chip and destroy it."
Susie rolled her sleeves back. "Let's do this. I'm not becoming Abstergo's hostage, here!"
I nodded. "Take her."
As Keaton, Geoff, and Willis led her out the door, I walked back to the bar, and sat back up on a stool.
"Well, this has been quite the assembly." I sighed. I rubbed my eyes, trying to process it all. It was as I pulled my hand away that I realized everyone was still there.
I chuckled. "Ah… I'm sorry. Yeah, this assembly is dismissed. Go on. Get."
The pub returned to it's usual hustle and bustle as I jumped off the stool. Over the corner of my eye, I spotted Regina. But she was not smiling. She looked disturbed.
"What is it?" I asked.
"Did you hear what Zelena said in her last moments? She said Rumplestiltskin tried to kill her. The Dagger Belle had was a fake!"
I remembered that I figured that out, months back. I had also warned him in my curse induced anger that if he didn't stay out of my way in my path to kill Ingrid, I would kill Belle. But so far, he hadn't done anything I could have seen that I would have done that for.
Emma, David, Elsa, Anna and Kristoff suddenly came into the doorway, where they saw the pub up and chatting, and two Assassins dropping Zelena's dead body onto a table by the window.
"Um, what's going on?" Emma asked me.
"Long story, Swan." I replied. "Regina'll fill you in, later. What's going on?"
She was about to say so, until Anna interrupted her.
"We found the portal to Arendelle!" She cried with glee. "Or, I mean, Emma did. No wait, that guy in the leather jacket found it. So, we can go home, now! Come on!"
"Anna." Elsa said, smiling. "Calm down."
"So, who found it?" I asked. "Where is it?"
"Gold found it at the mansion by the lake." Emma said. "So, if you Assassins are ready, we can get going."
I stopped. "Wait, hang on." I said. "You're telling me Gold found the portal?"
Emma nodded. "Yeah. What's wrong?"
Anna nodded. "Yeah, is there something the matter, Asgeir?" She asked. "Who is this Mr. Gold who found the portal? We should say thank you. Was he a-"
"Anna, he's Rumplestiltskin!" I said.
That shut her up.
Emma noticed the reaction on my youngest sister's face. "Wait, you know him, Anna? He said specifically that he had no idea who you were."
"That's bullshit, Emma." I said. "And if he was the one who found the portal back to our world, I'd be more than willing to bet it'll kill us if we step through."
"But that's impossible." David said. "Even if he wanted to kill you four, Belle has his Dagger."
Regina shook her head. "No, she doesn't." She pointed to the dead body. "Zelena just told us, before she died."
Emma and David both were completely confused at what was going on. Whether from Rumplestiltskin having the real Dagger, or Zelena coming back from the dead only to be killed by me.
"But it was Hook who told us where the portal was." Emma said. "Unless…" Horror filled her face as she turned to the door.
The whole lot of us ran outside to the front of Cormac's, looking inland down Main Street. From where we stood on the little seaside hill the inn sat on, we could see the clock tower. And from around, we saw unmistakable pulsing lights.
I drew my scythe. "Assassins!" I called. "To me!"
Emma and I kicked the doors to the library open, running headlong to the elevator. I spent so much time in this bloody town focused on killing Ingrid, I should have warned everyone else about the Dark One while I was at it. I was such a fool for believing a threat like what I made to him would have made him submit to me. Instead, it only made him angry.
The woman who stood beside me in the elevator likely had a different idea than what I had. I wasn't sure if I was ready to kill the Dark One, though, either. Not because he deserved it, because heaven knew he did. But because killing him would turn me into the new Dark One. And I had only just started my climb back up from the pit.
The doors slid open, and we headed out. On the metal balcony above within the clock tower, we saw Rumplestiltskin and Hook. The ceiling looked to be glowing with the light of a thousand stars, and I saw the Crocodile holding a heart. Hook's heart.
"Gold! Stop!" Emma cried.
He only looked down, chuckling at his victory. Whatever he was going to do, it may have been too late.
"I'm sorry, but I can't." He laughed. "I've waited too long for this. And I'm too close."
"Duck!" I hollered.
Emma and I jumped out of the way as Rumplestiltskin raised his hand. But we got out of the way just in time.
"This what it's come to, Dark One?!" I called. "You have everything you could have wanted!"
"No, what I really want, I've never really had." He said. "To be free of the Dagger. How ironic about this Piece, eh? You're an Assassin; you should know about them. Every other Piece can make other, lesser souls submit to the one it belongs to. But this… it only makes the Dark One submit. Oh, to be free of this thing…"
I understood, but kept cover. "So that's where the fairies went." I called. "You needed their magic for this plot."
"Indeed. And of course, the Hat." He chuckled. "The one you and your mouthy little sister stole from me all those years ago. I think I'll finish her off when I'm through with you."
I looked out from the cover. He just threatened my family, again. That was his mistake. But then I looked out too far, giving him enough to see me. That was my mistake. I suddenly felt every muscle in my body tense up, frozen in space.
All I had against the Dark One was my scythe. But not the Reaper armor. It may have been able to protect me from him, but there was no way to find out.
This was the end. And so soon after killing Ingrid and Zelena…
I heard the elevator doors open as Rumplestiltskin turned to Hook.
"Well, maybe not everything has gone according to my plan." He shrugged, grinning. "But this next part, I'm really going to enjoy."
I could only watch with Emma in horror as I saw Hook begin to scream with pain. Rumplestiltskin's grip on the pirate's heart tensed more and more… but he was not dying.
The Dark One looked down in confusion at the heart. "I don't understand it…" He muttered. "Why can't I-?"
Someone came up from behind him, holding something up. "Because I commanded you not to!"
My eyes widened. I couldn't see it properly at the angle that I was at, but I knew it was Belle!
"Drop the heart." She ordered.
He unwillingly obliged, still attached to the damned Piece.
"Now, release everyone."
I felt the air return to my chest, the grip around my entire body melting away. I began to walk up the stairs to the Dark One, but Emma grabbed my wrist.
"Hang on." She whispered.
The stars in the air of the room dissolved, funneling back down into the old cylindrical object I remembered to be the box the Hat was carried in. Gods, it felt like a lifetime ago when I first saw it…
"And now?" Belle continued. "Now, you can take us to the town line." She ordered. "Because we need to be alone for what comes next."
His will bent to the Dagger, Rumplestiltskin raised his hand, the two of them vanishing in scarlet smoke.
If it had been me when the Curse was still within my tortured mind, I would have screamed with anger at how the Dark One escaped me once again. But instead, I felt my body relax as I saw Emma run for Hook, the two of them embracing. Whatever Belle was going to do to Rumplestiltskin, it was going to end with him being banished from the town, never to return.
Turning for the elevator, I pulled out my two way.
"Threat neutralized." I said as I hit the button.
The town square was soon gathered with many of the townsfolk as the Assassins from Cormac's walked down from the pub to the center of this little town. All the bags and crates we were taking with us to Arendelle were piled up right in the center as I sat by, watching Elsa and Anna give their goodbyes to Emma.
"It's all over, huh?"
I looked up to see David and Snow before me, their baby in her arms.
I sighed. "That it is." I replied.
David looked a little solemn. "Emma told me what happened with Ingrid, Asgeir. Whatever she did to you all those years ago, I hope you can find peace after the fact."
I nodded. "I appreciate that, Shepherd." I said. "All honesty, I somehow don't think I'll ever find peace." I chuckled. "But that's not something I say with misery. Rather, I say it with acceptance. It's the life of an Assassin. The life that I have chosen. I may know no other."
Snow nodded. "Regina tells us that Zelena was here, earlier."
I nodded. "She was Marian the whole time. Her pendant somehow brought her back."
David shook his head. "I can safely assume that you were the one who killed her?"
"As I said, 'tis the life." I replied.
Snow placed Neil into David's arms. "We understand. Doesn't mean we accept it, persay." Then she threw her arms around me. "Oh, Asgeir. We're going to miss you, so much."
I sniffed, holding back a few tears. "As will I, Snow." I replied.
David chuckled. "You certain you're never going to come back?"
I pulled away from Snow, looking around the town square. I could see the clock tower. I could see the Sheriff's Station. Granny's, the old Cannery, everywhere. And right in the distance towards the water, a little Irish pub on a seaside hill. Everything that I had fought for, all the roads that I had travelled had led to this strange town. One of fairy tales. One of heroes and villains, and me, walking an ever-precarious tightrope between the two. I had seen myself slip, and I had seen myself fall. Now, I had begun my climb back up, to see Arendelle's Assassins return home. And I would do whatever it took to save my home.
"My place is to the North." I whispered, to no one in particular.
Emma suddenly came up with Elsa and Anna.
"Asgeir?" She asked. "How are you guys even going to get home? If not the portal that Gold tried to lead you into, then what?"
I reached into my pocket, taking out a handful of…
"Magic beans." David exclaimed. "How did you get those?"
"Assassin trade secret, Shepherd." I said. "We'll be leaving in just a minute."
I saw the familiar brunette walking into the town square, tears streaming down her face. I gave her a brief nod, understanding that she had other things on her mind than saying goodbye to me. I couldn't help but feel shame towards her. I threatened to kill her if Rumplestiltskin didn't play nice with me. What kind of a monster had I become?
Matthew was saying his goodbyes to Keaton and Geoff when I came over.
"I will tell you this, Matthew. It'll be a damn shame seeing you all going so soon before I get to see how this boy leads you."
"I think I'll be just fine." I said, grabbing a duffle bag from the pile of luggage. I had it marked to be brought down specially for this. I handed it to Keaton without blinking.
"What's this?" He asked, looking down at it as he took it.
"Twenty thousand American dollars, a few mementos I would like you to keep safe, and the keys to my pickup." I replied, grinning.
Keaton chuckled. "I suppose you wouldn't be needing American dollars or a Dodge in Arendelle."
I shook my head. "Ain't gonna get us that far." I agreed. "Let's get going."
I turned around cupping my hands over my mouth. "Assassins! We are leaving!"
I saw the whole lot of us begin to line up beside the baggage. I passed beans out to Matthew, Zar, Elsa, Rory, and Keif. With me holding my own, it would be enough to take us and all of our baggage to Arendelle. Only eleven of us, four of which weren't even Assassins. All against the might of Hans, his father King Elias, his brothers, and the whole Templar army backing them. But as I had learned my whole life, odds meant nothing to the Assassins. Our very fight defies the machine that the Templars trap the people of the world into. People like Altair, Ezio, Connor, and so many others fought against odds that would send lesser men to the ground.
Zar was the first to drop his bean. He and Kevan jumped in along with several packs. Elsa, Anna, Kristoff and Red took their own with just them. Rory grabbed a load of bags meant to be carried by three, and dropped the bean to the ground, falling through with them. Keif grabbed half of what baggage remained, beckoning Torren to help him with the rest. Matthew gave a brief wave to the whole town before dropping his bean to the ground, and falling through.
As for me, I waited for a moment. I gave it a thought, and then realized I was not completely finished here. And luckily, I had everything I needed to finish the job.
With a wave, I dropped my bean, falling through the portal.
Darkness filled the woods all around me as I climbed out of the portal. Mere feet in front of me was the road, and to my left, I could see the bright red line that had been sprayed onto the pavement. Looking past the line, I could see him. Hobbling away to wherever he planned to scurry back towards. Magic was strange in this world. It existed only within these walls, and now he was outside those walls. What could that mean for his life? Could it mean that he could be killed?
I looked back. The road led back into the town I spent so many months in. He could not return anymore. And the second I passed that line, I knew that I would not be able to, either. Not unless I found more beans. And I was down to my last one.
With no other thought, I turned, and walked straight past the line.
His back was still towards me. He had no idea he was being stalked in that moment. He was only limping very dramatically, doing all he could to stay standing upright. He could have done that, but only if he had magic. All that magic and all that power that he loved so much, it drove his own wife to banish him from this town, where he was weak. Where he was vulnerable.
Then he turned. I assumed it was just to look behind at the road into town he could no longer see. But I knew that he was not expecting to see the White Reaper of Arendelle, stalking right towards him. Nor did he likely expect to see me drawing my scythe.
"NO!" He screamed, beginning to run away. But it was no use. His bum leg was worthless if he meant to run away from me. He fell right to the pavement as I got closer and closer towards him. He wildly looked up in terror to me.
"You have a debt to pay, Dark One." I snarled.
My thumbs drummed against the stick as I pressed the button, extending the staff and unfolding the blade. Rumplestiltskin began to scream.
"PLEASE! PLEASE, NO!"
"Gold, just shut up!" I snapped, raising my scythe.
I could feel flashes through my mind. Asgeir the First, with the scythe raised as he was about to murder Shay. It was a perfect reflection of what was happening right now as the Dark One was crawling away from me in desperation.
"Please!" He cried. "You have everything you've ever wanted back in your hands! Both your sisters! Ingrid is now dead! What more could you possibly want?!"
"Your life!" I hollered.
"No!"
I slammed the scythe into the damp pavement, not even a foot from where he sat as he kept backing away in fear. The metal that made the blade of the scythe was sharper than any steel I had ever seen before. It punched holes right into the pavement with the edge it carried, sparks flying up into the air.
"I had a List for so long. King George. Zelena. The Duke of Weasel-Town. Daniel Cross, Warren Vidic, Christian Maloy." I growled the next name out. "Ingrid. And… you, Dark One. You did unspeakable things to my mother and aunts by giving them the urn that drove one of them insane. And then you used Anna in your scheming by manipulating her with that old man." I raised the scythe again, and slammed it into the pavement, forcing the Dark One to back away even further in terror. "Every person I just named is dead. They are all dead. Zelena mere hours ago. All that's left is you!"
"Please, Assassin! Mercy, please! I'm begging you!"
"You're begging me?" I roared. "Are you serious?! After all you've done to everyone else, what you've done to me and my family! You think you even have the right to beg for mercy?!"
I clutched my scythe tighter than ever before. How could he beg for mercy after everything he had done? When he held the power, he schemed and manipulated others. And now he had the nerve… the nerve to beg mercy of me when he had shown me none before.
"I have wanted for so long to kill you for everything you've done." I said, raising the scythe above my head. I hoped I wouldn't regret what I was about to do.
Resigning to his faith, Rumplestiltskin closed his eyes.
I held the scythe tightly, and then pressed the button. The blade folded up and the staff collapsed.
"But I won't." I replied.
Wildly, the Dark One… no… Mr. Gold opened his eyes.
"I can see the futility of that, now." I said, amazingly calm after so much screaming, ten seconds ago. "It's not about what I want. It's about what needs to happen. And you don't need to die. Because what would be gained from killing you, when you can't return to Storybrooke, and see your precious Belle again? I threatened to kill her if you stepped out of line, and in the end, it was your greed and lust for power that drove her away. It's always driven away everyone you cared about." I knelt down, getting to his eye level. "In there, you were Rumplestiltskin. The Dark One. Baddest of the bad. Out here, you're only Mr. Gold. Storybrooke's wealthiest man, with no way to come back to Storybrooke. Not a place in the world." I chuckled. "You're nothing. Just the dirt on the ground."
Gold was still gasping for air in disbelief. I spared him. I spared him.
"So, what happens next, White Reaper?" He finally said.
I shrugged. "I return to Arendelle. Kill Hans and all the rest of the Templars and destroy their Order completely in our world. Complete genocide before he brings Arendelle to ruins. Then hopefully, we'll all live Happily Ever After, as those pricks used to write."
I sat down on the pavement next to him, pulling out my lighter and a cigarette. I was gonna have to quit when I returned to Arendelle, but there would be no harm in one right here and now.
"I have nowhere to go, now." Gold sobbed as I took a drag.
"And I wish I could say that you ever will." I replied. "But you spat on every chance you got in living a modest life without power. Ever since that damn Seer foretold your doom."
I stood up. "If you weren't such a coward, such a snake who schemed and conspired at every turn to cause chaos and discord with everyone else. With your deals and conditions, I'd feel sorry for you." I sighed. "Oh, what am I saying? I do feel sorry for you."
Gold glared up at me. "I don't want your pity!" He snarled.
"Fine, then. Don't take it. We're all done here, 'Rumple'." I knelt down. "These months in this town made me see things for the better, now. I can at least be glad that all this time, all the lessons, did what should have been done all along, and made me into the Mentor my father would have wanted me to be. And I have you to thank for that, among so many others."
I pulled my fist out of my pocket, feeling the last bean that I had. I backed away a few steps, making sure he would not go with me. The bean would only open a portal for one person. No matter what, he would not go home with me.
"Goodbye, Rumplestiltskin." I said as I dropped the bean, feeling the ground give way for me. The vortex swallowed me up, and then I vanished from the Land Without Magic.
I was an Assassin by birth. Raised to fight for the good of all humankind. I was stripped of my hood after doing unspeakable things. But now I am an Assassin by choice. It's the life that I lead, and have taken, knowing full well what always awaits me. For every plot that I end, for every villain I put down, another rises in their place to ensure that I spend the rest of my days fighting. I may never find peace, but I take peace in knowing just that. In some ways, the saying was wrong: He that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow. Does it mean that those who learn understand that they are only mortal? How can one find sorrow in that? To be mortal means every minute we spend on this earth must count. Every minute.
The kingdom I was born in has now been taken over by the Templars, and I will have to pass every test they throw at me if I am to survive this war. I am the White Reaper of Arendelle. I am the Royal Protector and Spymaster of Arendelle. I am the Mentor of the Assassins.
My name is Asgeir Daniel Cormac. Like my father and grandfather before me, I am an Assassin.
I am an Assassin…
I AM an Assassin…
…
…
A/N: Thank You. Last update comes either tonight or tomorrow.