At the clock tower, Rumple looked up at the dome to see the moon and soon started the spell to release himself from the dagger. "It's time." he then told his pirate rival. He then set the dagger down and picked up Yen Sid's hat along with the pirate's heart until the hat started flying up in the air after the moon and stars. He soon smirked as the heart exploded and the room was filled with stars and skies that matched the night sky outside and Yen Sid's hat.
Killian was visibly dreading this as energy shot from the hat and began to hit Rumple so he could finally be free of the dagger's power over him.
Suddenly, Emma and Mary Margaret rushed in.
"Gold! Stop!" Emma called out as she and her mother rushed into the clock tower to stop this.
"I'm sorry. I can't," Rumple retorted as he waved his hand and froze the mother and daughter in place. "I've waited too long for this. And I'm too close. Well, maybe not everything has gone to plan, but this next part... I'm really gonna enjoy." he then added to Killian before squeezing the man's heart.
The adult pirate screamed and fell to the floor as that very much hurt.
Rumple tried to squeeze harder and even do the crushing to kill Killian once and for all, but he found himself unable to do so. "I don't understand. Why can't I-" he then frowned in defeat.
"Because I commanded you not to," A familiar voice replied firmly, causing Rumple to turn around to see Belle along with Gabrielle. "Drop the heart. Now release everyone."
Rumple had no choice but to drop Killian's heart into the pirate's hand and soon Emma and Mary Margaret were unfrozen.
"And now? Now you can take us to the town line because we need to be alone for what comes next," Belle continued. "Two young men wish to have a word with you as well."
Gabrielle nodded firmly in agreement to that. Suddenly, the spell of Yen Sid was stopped as Rumple and Belle disappeared from the clock tower and were suddenly by the town line which everyone in town knew to avoid if they wanted to keep their memories and identities intact.
"Belle, what are you doing?" Rumple asked wearily.
"Finally facing the truth," Belle countered. "The four of us are."
"Four? I only see two." Rumple remarked.
Suddenly, Ben and Neal came out from opposite sides of the road together and looked at their father in disappointment.
"Benjamin... Bae..." Rumple murmured at them and then saw where they were and what was going on. "No, please put the dagger down and let me explain." he then begged, fearing about what was about to happen next.
"No! It's my turn to talk," Belle retorted bravely. "Do you remember the first time you saved my life? You traded for me. I thought I saw something in you, something good. Well, I found that gauntlet today."
"Is that what that glove thing was?" Gabrielle asked.
"Yes, it's from a land known as Camelot," Belle nodded. "I used to visit there at times with my father to see my cousin Kayley. Anyway, that's when I finally realized that all the signs I'd been seeing were correct," she then added to Rumple firmly. "You'd never give up power for us, Rumple. You never have. You never will."
"Y-Y-You don't understand..." Rumple frowned.
"No. You told me that gauntlet could lead you to someone's weakness, to the thing they loved the most. Well, you know where it led me, Rumple?" Belle continued. "To the real dagger. Your true love is your power."
"I like the power, but there's nothing wrong with power, not when it means that... That I... That we... That we can have it all." Rumple tried to explain, but he knew that he wasn't going to win this time.
"I just wanted you. I wanted to be chosen, not... I tried to be everything for you, Rumple," Belle explained, on the verge of tears and even sniffled a little. "But I wasn't. And I-I lost my way trying to help you find yourself. Not anymore."
"Please, Belle. I-I-I'll make it up to you," Rumple begged. "I-I-I've changed once before. I can do it again."
"You've never changed," Ben said firmly. "It's this sort of thing that drove Mal away from Storybrooke in the first place."
"Please." Rumple pleaded his family.
"No! It's too late. Once I-I saw the man behind the beast," Belle said as she handed the dagger over to the two brothers. "Now there's only a beast."
"Should I do the honors?" Neal wondered.
"Probably." Ben suggested since his mother was a mess right now.
Belle hugged him tenderly with a small sniffle.
"Rumplestiltskin, we command you... To leave Storybrooke." Neal soon uttered out.
"Bae, no..." Rumple frowned.
"I told you once and I'm telling you again, my name is Neal," Neal corrected sharply. "NEAL CASSIDY."
"Please. I won't be able to come back." Rumple begged as he was slowly backing up.
"We know, Dad." Ben replied.
"I-I-I don't want to lose any of you." Rumple frowned.
"You already have." Neal retorted coldly.
"Belle, please. I'm afraid. Belle! Belle!" Rumple begged as he backed away and went over the town line as it began to work its magic on him. "No! Belle! Belle, please!"
"Goodbye, Dad..." Ben murmured lowly before he went back home with Belle and Neal.
"Bye, Papa." Neal added in the same way.
'Lonnie's party was going well for the most part. It was a beautiful sunny day with Melody and Piper deejaying, offering to let Lonnie have her moment like at the Neon Lights Ball, but she reassured everyone that it would be better off if she didn't, mostly because she was stressed out at the moment. Most people were either dancing or sitting at tables under some tents, there were some outdoor games like Cornhole, croquet, or in Dude and Carlos' case, a game of fetch while trying to be careful around the chocolate fountain. While some people, especially Melody, even went swimming occasionally. Lonnie opened goodbye gifts from her friends, enjoying them very much and was thankful to have met the nicer descendants of Storybrooke with Jay giving her the most love and support, but not in a romantic way.
"I love how green everything is especially after the random snow and being in Neverland for so long," Gil commented as he had come to the party along with plenty of others. "You have leaves on your trees! And what are those color things in the bushes?"
"Uh... flowers?" Jay replied.
"Flowers are pretty," Gil smiled until he saw some fruit that caught his eye. "Cantaloupe?! Mm. Mmmm." he then added and ate it up right away.
Jay glanced at him a bit strangely.
"There wasn't a lot of fresh fruit on Neverland." Gil clarified to justify his behavior.
Jay looked a little soft and understood what it was like to barely have many luxuries like the other descendants were able to have in Storybrooke, whether good or bad since he didn't know his own story. He then found a bowl of grapes and decided to let Gil have some.
"Mmm. Thank you." Gil beamed at that.
"They're grapes." Jay told him.
"Grapes," Gil said before he ate up quite a bit. "Love grapes~" he then gushed.
"Not like? Love?" Kiara giggled as she walked by.
"Yeah, love grapes." Gil agreed and chuckled.
"Never took you to be one to dig fruit, Gil." Jay commented.
"Well, I prefer boiled eggs, I used to eat a lot of boiled eggs every day in Neverland to help myself stay large," Gil explained. "Pan said if we could believe in it, we could eat it... like all of the candy and cake you can eat for days, maybe even months!"
"Months of candy and cake?" Jay asked. "Doesn't that give you a stomach aches?'
"Stomach aches don't exist in Neverland," Gil reassured nonchalantly until he looked concerned. "...Oh, wait, they might exist over here, maybe I should take it easy on the fruit."
Jay smirked warmly with a soft chuckle before glancing over at Lonnie.
"Whoa, dude, are you checking out Lonnie?" Gil asked curiously.
"Well, yeah, she's my friend." Jay replied.
"You mean she's your girlfriend?" Gil then asked.
"Oh! Gil, wait a second, it's not like-" Jay tried to say suddenly.
"Ooh, Jay and Lonnie sitting in a tree, K-I-" Gil started to sing, much to the annoyance and frustration to the other boy.
"No, Gil, lemme explain," Jay sighed softly as he put his hand on the blonde boy's shoulder. "I do like Lonnie, but as like a sister or a sparring partner. She takes a lot after her mother and I respect that, especially since she gets to be a hero and deserves it like when her mother saved China, but I'm not in love with Lonnie."
"Ohhh..." Gil said slowly with a nod.
"So knock off that boyfriend/girlfriend stuff, especially when Elwin comes here." Jay suggested.
"Well, I think you should still go and talk to her right now." Gil suggested.
"What? And ask her to dance?" Jay scoffed, thinking that Gil still didn't quite get it.
"No, she just looks a little sad and lonely right now at her own party and it seems like a bit of a bummer." Gil suggested as he gestured to the girl who sat with girls like Jane, Amalie, and Audrey trying to put on a brave smile, but the smile wasn't as bright or cheerful as most smiles at a party.
"Oh... yeah, I guess that's a good point," Jay admitted and nodded once he took a closer look at Lonnie, then went over to that table. "Excuse me a moment."
"Sure." Gil nodded as he was about to eat more cantaloupe until he pouted. "Hey!"
Dude beamed and licked up the fruit eagerly, seeming to enjoy it.
"You're lucky you're cute." Gil smirked playfully at the dog.
Dude looked up at Gil and licked the boy's fingertips, making the blonde boy chuckle warmly.
"Uh, pardon me, ladies?" Jay spoke up as he approached the table.
"Hi, Jay~" The girls smiled and grinned at him while Lonnie merely glanced over.
"You think I could have a moment alone with Lonnie?" Jay asked them.
"Uh, okay, Jay, we can talk," Lonnie replied. "We'll have to make it quick because The Stone Dragon should be here any minute now."
"Sure, I understand, you just look like you could use a friend to talk to." Jay nodded and explained.
"Uh, excuse me, then who are we?" Audrey scoffed at what he said.
"Come on, Audrey, this sounds serious." Jane suddenly suggested.
"But!" Audrey pouted.
"See ya later, guys!" Amalie said as she and Jane carried Audrey away from the table by the arms suddenly.
"I'm still eating that piece of cake!" Audrey ranted as she was dragged off suddenly.
"You can get it later!" Jane told her.
"Hmph." Audrey firmly pouted at that.
"Um, hey, Lonnie." Jay greeted the warrior descendant with a friendly smile.
"Jay, I'm not going to be your girlfriend," Lonnie said with a weary sigh. "I know you're a bit of a ladies man and we hang out together all the time, but-"
"No, no, it's not that, really," Jay reassured her. "It's just that you look kinda down at your own party."
"Well... yeah..." Lonnie sighed softly. "I was hoping that Elwin would be here to at least say goodbye, I know he's been busy with his family and finding out that he's the son of Queen Elsa of Arendelle and Jack Frost, but... why isn't he here? Where is Elwin?"
"Hey, I know Elwin cares about you, we all do," Jay told Lonnie in a friendly/big brother way. "We'll all miss you very much and I know Elwin will try to find some way to reconnect with you."
"Thanks, Jay," Lonnie said with a small smile. "You're such a good friend and you've been like a brother to me, especially since I've been away from my own for a long time."
"No problem, Lonnie," Jay smiled back. "And I know your mother will be very proud of you for having her strength, bravery, and fighting skills."
Lonnie beamed and then gave him a quick, friendly hug. Eventually, there was a bright light coming from the distance and everyone looked over and a door appeared, having a dark design with a golden symbol with a dragon on it. The door then slowly opened and out came a dragon that made Chad scream right away and he ran away only to slip and fall into the water, splashing making Audrey sigh and bury her face into her hand, shaking her head at that behavior. There also came a young man who seemed a bit older than Lonnie who had crimson hair as he stepped out.
"Who's that?" Carlos wondered.
"Don't know." Enid shrugged.
"My name is Mushu and I come from The Land of Dragons," The young man told everyone. "I represent the Fa family and their ancestors above the great Fa Zhou, the father of Mulan, who fell ill and she replaced him and risked facing the penalty of death if exposed as a woman. I have come for her descendant."
"That would be me," Lonnie said as she stepped forward and put her hands together. "Mushu, it's me. Do you recognize me?" she then asked softly.
"Of course I do..." Mushu nodded as he gave a small smile. "You remind me of when I first met your mother with my father."
Lonnie cracked a small smile at that as she collected her presents from her friends.
"Come, young warrior," Mushu told the warrior girl. "It's time."
"Bye, Jay... Goodbye, everyone..." Lonnie said softly as she looked back at them all one last time and soon walked through a door to go down a special path and midway through, she transported to a more familiar spot and looked around, finding her parents by her sides as they were now in a kingdom.
Elwin was soon rushing over, going to meet his parents and The Guardians a little later so they could get to where they needed to go to save Arendelle. He was now on his way to Lonnie's party and he thought about the words of encouragement the Guardians told him on the way since this was a very important mission for the young Snow Prince.
"Elwin, where are you going?" Jack asked his estranged son. "We have a deadline."
"This won't take long, Dad," Elwin reassured. "I'm gonna go see a girl I really like and care about because she needs me right now."
"All right!" Tooth cheered.
"Go, kid!" Bunnymund encouraged.
"Good for you." Sandy said kindly.
Elwin beamed and soon came over to the party with an eager smile. "Hey, Lonnie!" he then announced until he saw that the party was all gone and everyone was starting to head home either by walking or getting picked up by their parents. "Oh, no... No." he then whispered as he saw that Lonnie wasn't even there which told him one thing.
"The Stone Dragon came and... that was it," Enid said as she came to explain to Elwin about what happened. "I'm sorry, Elwin, but... Lonnie's back home now."
"But... I didn't get to see her..." Elwin said, trying to fight back tears. "I didn't even get to say goodbye..."
Enid frowned in empathy, wishing she could say or do something to help make him feel better, but alas, it was beyond her own control.
"Did she say anything?" Elwin asked tenderly as the party was starting to get cleaned up while Carlos was chasing after the chocolate fountain just as it was being packed up.
"She just said... 'Where's Elwin?'." Enid explained softly.
Elwin looked and felt so guilty as he clutched his heart and fell to his knees, setting the present down beside him and cupped his face.
Enid looked very soft and then came to hug Elwin in comfort and he hugged her back, feeling very emotionally crushed since Lonnie was gone and he may never see her again. "You know, you could still maybe give your present to her?" she then suggested.
"How can I do that though?" Elwin wondered. "She's gone. Gone forever."
"Well, don't your parents know Santa Claus?" Enid replied. "Surely he can help deliver the present for you anywhere, anytime, anyplace."
"...You might have something there," Elwin said as he rubbed his eye. "I just wish... I just wish..."
"...You really wanted to say goodbye?" Enid guessed softly.
Elwin nodded and sighed. "I should've been here a lot sooner," then said softly. "Thank you, Enid, for everything."
"Of course, Elwin," Enid smiled as she put her arm around him in a friendly way. "You and I can be best friends forever, no matter wherever you go."
Elwin smiled back a bit sadly, though he sighed as he held onto the present he had for Lonnie, but couldn't give it to her in person.
Elwin sighed softly as a lone tear rolled down his cheek and he wiped his eye while riding in a sleigh through the door portal that they had come from so that Anna and Elsa could return back home at long last while Lonnie was also going back home.
"Very sorry about that, boy," North said softly. "She'll love her gift though."
"I really hope she does, sir..." Elwin nodded. "I never really had time to say goodbye."
"She'll know you said goodbye with your gift," Tooth reassured him as she put her hand on his shoulder. "You really do love and care about her, don't you?"
"I do, I really do..." Elwin admitted as he stared at his feet a bit. "I just feel like we may never see each other again."
"It's going to be all right, kiddo," Holly reassured him. "It might take a while to recover, but sooner or later, you'll find yourself feeling better from this whole experience."
"Well, I hope it is sooner than later." Elwin replied.
The Guardians all looked at him and looked very soft. Jack then came over and hugged his estranged son. Elwin looked up at him tearfully and hugged him right back since this was a lot right now.
"Arendelle, dead ahead!" Bunnymund announced.
"This is it then, HYAH, BOYS! HYAH!" North said softly before commanding his reindeer as he slapped the reins to have them land down there.
"Goodbye, Lonnie the Warrior Girl..." Elwin whispered softly. "Until we meet again."
Meanwhile, back in Arendelle, peace was restored after Hans of the Southern Isles surrendered along with his 12 older brothers as it was something they could all agree on for once. Elwin was a great help too and he was soon getting dressed in an icy blue outfit with a cape and special shoes that his mother had made for him a long time ago and helped him grow into it with magic and thought it would be nice for today. Elsa was looking at the old family portrait of Ingrid along with her sisters before she looked over and beamed.
"I'm not sure if this outfit is really my style." Elwin said bashfully to her, trying not to hurt his mother's feelings of course.
"You look so cute in it though~" Elsa cooed as she hugged him and squeezed him as their cheeks touched. "My little Snow Prince."
"Aw, jeez, Mom..." Elwin blushed with a small smile. "What're you doing in here anyway?" he then asked once they got out of the tight hug.
"I was just looking at this portrait," Elsa explained as she showed it to him and pointed the girls out. "I'm sure you know who the one in the middle is."
"Yes... Aunt Ingrid, I know that smirk anywhere..." Elwin chuckled softly and nodded.
"Yes, and do you know who this is?" Elsa rhetorically asked as she pointed to the youngest at the end. "That's your grandmother."
Elwin gasped and faced her softly. "Grandmother Gerda?" he then asked tenderly.
"Yes," Elsa nodded and then pointed to the final sister. "And this is our other aunt, Helga."
"...I did hear a few things here and there..." Elwin said softly.
"I'm sure..." Elsa nodded as she put her hands together. "Oh, I really wish Mama and Papa could be here to see this, but you know what makes it better?"
"What's that, Mom?" Elwin asked softly.
"That your Aunt Anna and I at least can experience this moment with you and your father." Elsa said to him tenderly.
Elwin blinked and sniffled with a small smile. "Yes, Mom, it's great..." he then said with a heavy voice as he felt very emotional for a number of reasons.
Elsa smiled back until suddenly, they had extra company.
"Isn't it beautiful? I found it hidden in the east wing," Anna said as she saw Elsa looking at the portrait until her older sister made a strange look. "What? Is it my hair? You're right. I should have worn the braids."
"Erm... Anna..." Elsa murmured and gestured a little while Elwin looked wide-eyed at his aunt.
Anna glanced at her sister, confused at first until her eyes glanced towards the teenage boy in the room, causing her to feel startled at the sight of him. "Oh, Elwin!" she then gasped and rushed over to hide away from her nephew. "It's bad luck to see a bride before the wedding!"
"Isn't that just for the groom?" Elwin asked his aunt.
"Maybe you should go check on your Uncle Kristoff and father, Elwin," Elsa suggested. "I think I need a moment alone with your Aunt Anna anyway."
"Oh, well, okay then," Elwin shrugged. "Do I have to talk to that reindeer too though?"
"Oh, Elwin, Sven is part of the family," Anna reminded her nephew while she hid away. "You know that."
"Yeah, but did he have to be the best man over me?" Elwin replied on his way out the door.
Elsa and Anna lightly chuckled at that.
"See you guys out there." Elwin told his mother and aunt with a wave.
"See you later, Elwin." Elsa and Anna replied warmly.
Elwin smiled back and soon went to go see his father and future uncle.
"Anna, you look absolutely perfect." Elsa told her younger sister proudly.
"I wouldn't say perfect. Did you see these bruises?" Anna shrugged bashfully.
"Have you seen Hans' eye?" Elsa countered with a small smirk.
"Yeah. Totally worth it," Anna admitted with a small chuckle. "Okay. Let's get this wedding on the road. I mean 'on the aisle'."
"Anna, why did you do it?" Elsa wondered. "Why did you postpone your whole wedding just to find out the truth?"
"Elsa. You're my sister," Anna softly said. "I couldn't walk down this aisle unless you were as happy as I was."
"Anna, I'm... Very happy." Elsa reassured her younger sister.
Anna beamed and soon, she and Elsa shared a tender and sisterly hug together. "What is that amazing smell?" the younger sister wondered after the hug.
The two sisters took a deep inhale together at an intoxicating aroma that was just outside the door. "Chocolate!" they then gushed and beamed at the scent once they realized what it was.
"You ready?" Elsa asked her younger sister.
"Ready." Anna nodded to her older sister.
The two sisters smiled warmly at each other and soon headed off to the wedding which was going to be one to remember for everyone involved, especially young Elwin, though something was still sort of nagging at him. He glanced at the empty seat beside him that his father was about to sit in, though he sighed softly as he just wished that Lonnie could be here with him to see this and he hoped he could maybe see her again if they were both lucky. Somehow though, it felt like it would be impossible due to what happened before they left Storybrooke and said their final goodbye to each other.
Emma and Killian were facing each other at Granny's Diner as she held a certain muscle in her hand to help the adult pirate.
"Just be gent-Ohh!" Killian said to her before grunting and yelping as she suddenly shoved his heart right back into his chest.
"Sorry. I just thought if I did it quickly, it'd be like ripping off a-" Emma said sheepishly, a little sorry that she had to hurt him like that and she was suddenly met with a passionate kiss on the lips and was being pinned against the wall, but she kissed him back since she enjoyed it very much.
"I told you, Swan," Killian smirked warmly. "I'm a survivor."
"Um, hi, Dad." A young voice suddenly said.
Emma and Killian then looked over and saw a certain teen boy looking at both of them, but mostly Killian.
"Ah, Harry," Killian greeted his son. "I'm so glad to see you."
"I'm glad to see you too, Dad, I missed you," Harry said softly as he came to hug his father. "Ben's dad isn't going to control you anymore, is he?"
"No, son, I promise," Killian nodded. "We're all going to be okay."
"Well, I'm glad to hear that because... I was hoping to talk to you about something." Harry said before he blushed a little.
"Oh?" Killian wondered.
Harry glanced between his father and the blonde woman. "...It's kind of a secret." he then said softly.
"This looks important, I'll leave you two alone," Emma said to the pirate father and son. "See you later, Hook?" she then asked Killian.
"Aye." Harry and Killian both answered since the teen boy thought maybe she was talking about him since he desired to be the next Captain Hook.
Emma chuckled at that and soon stepped away to give the two some privacy before seeing Regina, so that motivated her to go and talk to the woman anyway.
"All right, Harry, what's this about?" Killian asked his son tenderly as they had a moment alone together.
"It's about a... Girl..." Harry said before he turned a bit more red in the face.
"Oh? Does my little Harry have a little girlfriend now?" Killian smirked. "You have those Jones genetics after all."
"Dad, please~" Harry hissed, but blushed as he stared at the floor before he looked back up into his father's icy blue eyes. "But... yes... there is a girl."
"Would it be that girl that we had that double date with when I was with Miss Swan?" Killian guessed.
"...Aye," Harry admitted as he rubbed his arm. "What do you, uh, what do you think of her?"
"She seems like a very lovely young lass," Killian nodded. "What was her name again though? Chloe? Charlotte? Kitty?"
"Carla." Harry simply stated.
"Carla, that was it," Killian then nodded again and smiled. "Do you fancy her, son?"
"Uh... A little bit..." Harry said sheepishly.
"Sounds more like a little bit to me, son," Killian smirked. "You look redder than the Crimson Isles we once visited where we met Red Jessica and Zarina."
"Carla's not anything like Zarina, I think Carla is a lot more interesting and sweet," Harry admitted and explained. "She might not be a pirate, but I believe she has looted my heart if that doesn't sound corny."
"That's love, son," Killian nodded. "I feel the same way around Miss Swan and I hope that you're okay with that, of course, no one will ever replace your mother."
"I barely remember my mother." Harry admitted.
"I know, son... It was hard letting her go, but she at least gave me something that makes me happier than all of the gold in the land from the mightiest of treasures from Captain Smollett, Captain Ahab, or maybe even Captain Silver." Killian replied.
"What's that, Dad?" Harry wondered.
"You have her smile and I remember that smile vividly even if I haven't seen her in many, many, many voyages on The Seven Seas." Killian explained fondly.
Harry beamed as it felt nice to hear a bit more about his mother, especially since Killian almost never talked about her. "Did she love me?" he then wondered.
"Of course she did," Killian reassured him. "Your mother loved you very much and I love you more than all of the gold doubloons I could ever get my hook on."
"We're gonna be just fine, Dad." Harry smiled.
"That we are, just as we always were, especially when you got lost in Neverland and that nasty Rufio almost did away with you," Killian nodded. "I hate that I had to kill a child, but it was definitely you or him and I know that you will always be the right choice and the most important person in my life."
"Even if you're with Miss Emma?" Harry guessed.
"Even then." Killian reassured his son with a warm smile.
"Thanks, Dad," Harry smiled back. "Can you help me try to maybe ask out Carla? I mean... if you don't mind if I see her again."
"Of course you can see her again and I hope to see her sometimes too," Killian said as he put his arm around his son. "Whatya say we have some rum cake while we're in this galley, huh?"
"Ooh! Can I have my own bottle of rum too?" Harry asked hopefully as his eyes lit up.
"One dream at a time, son." Killian chuckled and smirked as he walked with Harry outside of the back area of the diner.
Regina stared down at the table, glancing over as Evie and Doug seemed to be bonding a lot more with each other. She sighed softly and then looked slightly annoyed once Emma came to join her side. "I'm not in the mood for a hope speech, Emma." she then suddenly told the blonde woman.
"You're mistaking me for my mother," Emma quipped. "Besides, you don't need a speech. You need a drinking buddy. Shots?" she then offered.
Regina looked surprised, but then nodded. "Sure. Why not?"
"Two shots for you both?" Ruby asked the two women.
"Yes, thank you, Ruby," Emma nodded and soon the waitress went to go and do that. "You know you did the right thing today." she then told Regina in reassurance.
"There it is... A hope speech," Regina remarked. "I thought we were drinking."
"It's not a speech. It's a compliment." Emma clarified.
"Well, I don't need your validation. I know I did the right thing. I know because I'm miserable... Again," Regina replied softly. "But I can at least take in comfort knowing that Evie will be happy with her friends." she then added with a glance towards Doug and Evie until Jay, Gil, and Enid came to see them along with Lotus.
"Here you go, Emma. Two shots." Ruby said as she brought the cups over.
"Thanks," Emma said to the friendly waitress. "Well, if it makes you feel any better, so is Gold." she then added to Regina.
"It does." Regina admitted as they clinked their glasses together.
Suddenly, Henry and Dee Dee barged right into the diner, looking very urgent and sudden.
"Whoa, kid! Slow down." Emma said as Henry nearly tripped against the bar table.
"Interesting news! Interesting news!" Dee Dee announced almost like Leroy as she rushed in along with Henry.
"Mom! Mom! We found something big!" Henry alerted. "You're gonna wanna see this."
"What's going on over here?" Evie asked as she saw her little brother and his best friend.
"Interesting news, Evie, you might wanna see this too," Dee Dee replied. "Dougie, maybe you should come too." she then added to her cousin.
"Erm, uh, well, okay..." Doug replied bashfully because of how sudden this was.
And so, everyone came over to the mansion where Sophie was on her own, but was hiding from everyone else since she was out of sorts recently.
"After you guys left, we stayed behind to look around, and we found something." Henry explained on the way inside the mansion.
"What could it be?" Doug wondered.
"Right this way." Dee Dee said as she helped lead the way along with Henry.
Soon, they came up a set of stairs and Henry pulled down a lamp on the wall to open a secret door behind the wall. Everyone then came inside the room and looked around, seeing several books on shelves that told them all one thing.
"A library!" Regina gasped in amazement.
"This looks bigger than the school library and the clock tower library rolled into one." Evie remarked.
"Not just any library. Look." Dee Dee said as she picked out one of the books and showed them all.
"That looks like Henry's book." Doug remarked.
"Only it's blank," Henry nodded. "They all are."
"Also these books that seem to have stories on everyone's legacy from your parents, to your stories, and then down to your descendants," Dee Dee added as she showed other books that had red round symbols with a golden D in the center for some reason. "Such as how Queen Cora was the daughter of the miller who met Rumplestiltskin and then eventually you were born, Ms. Mills while she became the evil queen of Wonderland as you became the evil queen of Misthaven, and it mentions Evie and a man named Daniel."
Evie looked wide-eyed. "My father..." she then whispered and realized.
"And if this place is full of potential storybooks..." Henry then prompted the others about his and Dee Dee's discovery.
"Then maybe this is the author's house," Regina added, amazed before she hugged the boy. "Henry, Dee Dee, you did it!"
"Oh, Dee Dee, that's incredible!" Doug beamed as he hugged the blonde girl. "I have always had a fascination with our stories and where we stood in the line of legacy as Fairy Tale Descendants, but maybe this can now answer some questions." he then added.
"Yeah. Maybe." Dee Dee replied and giggled.
"Did what? What's going on?" Emma asked out of slight confusion.
"Well, uh, we were looking for the author," Regina explained. "I was hoping he could write me a happier story, though it's hard to say with that legendary storybook that Dee Dee found."
"We called that 'Operation: Mongoose'." Henry added.
"I like it. It's got style. I'm in." Emma approved as she put her hand on Henry's shoulder kindly.
"You are?" Regina asked, surprised to hear that.
"I made you a promise I intend to keep," Emma reassured and explained with a smile. "Everyone deserves their happy ending."
Regina smiled back as that made her very hopeful about what might come from all of this.
