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𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝟐𝟔
𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐔𝐍𝐄𝐗𝐏𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐄𝐃 𝐕𝐈𝐒𝐈𝐓𝐎𝐑

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A million thoughts swam through Everly's head as she walked through the police station. Her eyes were skimming over a file they had on the "Candy Killer" case. It wasn't much but enough to make the Purest Heart's hair stand on end. What was worse was the mystery behind it all. They had no leads and no witnesses. All they knew was what they found at the crime scenes, and that was barely anything. And all Everly could think about as she read through the pages was Cassie. They didn't know how the culprit picked his targets or why. They only knew that they had magic in the New Enchanted Forest. They were witches with unique magic that could help or hurt those around them. Just like Felix and Everly's eldest daughter.

After letting out a long sigh, Everly closed the folder in her hands and walked into Rumplestiltskin's office. She was surprised to find him sitting at his desk using glue to fix a shattered object. The Thorne woman couldn't help but smile as she leaned against the wall behind her.

"Never thought I'd see the day you used glue instead of magic," Everly announced, drawing the man's attention to her. It wasn't long after that when she noticed what the broken item was, causing her smile to fade. The blonde woman just stared at the teacup for another moment before her eyes moved back up to meet the Dark One's. "When did you find that?"

"I didn't. Tilly did," Rumplestiltskin responded before he went back to what he was doing before Everly walked into the room.

It wasn't long after that when approaching footsteps greeted their ears. The Dark One kept his eyes glued to the teacup as Everly looked in the direction of the sound to find Hook and Sam walking towards them. As soon as the blonde man saw what Rumplestiltskin was doing at his desk, he couldn't help but smile. "I wouldn't have taken you for an antiques kind of guy."

"That's what I was just saying," Everly announced before laughing at the irritated look on Rumplestiltskin's face.

Hook simply rolled his eyes at the younger pair then he turned his attention back to the man at the desk. "Hey, do you wanna order some food and maybe work on the 'Candy Killer' case?"

Rumplestiltskin hesitated for a moment before finally looking up at the three of them. "You're not really calling it that, are you?"

"Well, no not me. Not me," Hook chuckled while gesturing towards the officers on the other side of the glass windows surrounding them, "the boys in the bullpen."

"I'm calling it that," Everly stated, causing all three men to look over at her with blank expressions on their faces before she simply shrugged, "what? It catches on fast and you can't deny that it makes sense."

"I will deny it," Rumplestiltskin responded as he turned his attention back to the teacup in his hands, "and no, I think we all need a break. As my wife used to say, wandering another path often leads us to where we need to go. Hence the teacup."

"Well, in that case, I guess my path is leading me to the market," Hook announced after placing the files in his hands on Rumplestiltskin's desk, "since Tilly moved in, I've been going through a lot of jam."

"I think I'll join you. Zach sure does eat a lot more than Cassie does," Everly responded, earning a laugh from Hook before her gaze moved to Sam, "wanna come?"

"I don't see why not. I have nothing better to do," the blonde man shugged as a smile appeared on his face.

"Enjoy your time," Rumplestiltskin said before the three of them walked out of his office.

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Later that night, Everly was at home cooking dinner with Felix while their kids and Jasper watched a movie on the couch. The two of them couldn't help but laugh as they talked about everything they could think of. Unknown to them, Zach, Cassie, and the twins were listening in with small smiles on their faces. It had been a long time since they heard their parents laugh like that and they missed it. They knew both Everly and Felix deserved to be happy after everything they'd gone through, which made the four of them even more determined to help get their lives back to where they should be.

On top of the Thorne family getting back to a somewhat normal life, Jasper had finally adapted to living with them. It had taken quite a while, especially since he was terrified that Gothel would show up at any second. But after a week of Everly and Felix convincing the Tremaine boy that he was safe and Cassie using her magic to keep the nightmares away, Jasper was able to relax for the first time in a long time.

But all of the joy everyone was feeling paused when they heard a knock at the door. They all exchanged a confused look, not knowing who would show up at their door this late at night. After letting out a long sigh, Everly tossed the towel in her hand onto the counter and walked over to see who was on the other side of the door. When the Purest Heart pulled it open, her blood ran cold. The last person she expected to see was Drizella. Without thinking twice, Everly pushed the Tremaine woman out into the hall before closing the door behind her.

"You shouldn't be here," the blonde woman stated as she thought about how Jasper would react if he knew his sister was there.

"It's about the killer. He came for me," Drizella whispered, causing all the anger within Everly to fade, "if not for the heel on my stiletto, I would be dead right now."

The Thorne woman stared at the woman in front of her for a long moment before finally finding the right words to form a response. "If you want my help, you need to bring me something to cure the poison in Henry's heart."

I don't have one. If I did, I swear, I would give it to you," Drizella responded as panic continued to course through her veins. When the Purest Heart turned to go back inside, the Tremaine woman grabbed her arm and forced Everly to face her once again. "Please! I'm powerless here. I need magic. Have you found any way at all to glean some from this world?"

Everly's thoughts instantly went to her family's enchanted jewelry and Cassie's magic. But despite what was going on in her head, the Throne woman kept a blank look on her face. "You set the Curse up so no one had magic."

"I'm so stupid. I built a trap around myself. And the irony is I was going to find Anastasia and Jasper. I wanted to make amends with both of them and then fate held a knife to my throat. Literally held a knife to my throat," Drizella ranted with tears in her eyes while running her fingers through her hair. When she focused her gaze back on Everly, she couldn't help but chuckle at the blank look still on the Thorne woman's face. "Yeah, I wouldn't save me, either."

The Throne woman stared at Drizella for a moment longer before letting out a long sigh and pulling out her phone. "Alright. You did the right thing coming to me. I'll text Regina and Rumplestiltskin."

"Thank you," the Tremaine woman said after a relieved smile appeared on her face.

"Don't thank me just yet," Everly stated as she slid her phone back into her pocket and looked up at Drizella, "Regina's only gonna help so she can kill you herself."

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After leaving Drizella in the safety of Roni's, Everly and Felix set out with Regina to find Rumplestiltskin. The Dark One was ignoring all of the women's calls, driving both of them insane. Felix decided to join them at the very last second after hearing that the "Candy Killer" was involved. Just like Everly, the Thorne man had been having a hard time sleeping at night with the culprit out there. But unlike the Purest Heart, he wasn't only worried about his daughter but his wife too. Everly had been putting herself in the line of fire since they arrived in Hyperion Heights and it was driving him crazy. So now he found himself walking behind Regina and Everly into a dark and mysterious warehouse.

The Thorne man walked beside Everly and behind Regina as the three of them used their flashlights to look around the place. It wasn't long before they found Rumplestiltskin standing below a chandelier that looked as though it could fall at any second.

"Wow. So that little girl's magic did all this?" Regina asked no one in particular as she continued to look around at the building.

After glancing back at the three newcomers, Rumplestilskin let out a long sigh and turned back around to study the damage. "You know, you'd think ignoring someone's phone calls would be a big enough hint that you didn't wanna chat."

"And you'd think you'd know me well enough by now to know I don't take hints," Everly announced, causing Felix to laugh while the Dark One sent the couple an annoyed look.

"Look, we weren't inviting you over for tea. Drizella paid Everly a visit. She was attacked by the killer," Regina declared, causing Rumplestiltskin to spin around to face the former Evil Queen before she continued speaking, "and while I was filing your voicemail, my bar-back saw her leave with someone."

"With Gothel?" the Dark One questioned, only to receive silence in response from the raven-haired woman. Another second passed before a look of realization appeared on Rumplestiltskin's face. "Or do you mean your clandestine boyfriend?"

"Your what?" Felix questioned with a hint of confusion in his eyes.

"That means secret," Everly clarified for her husband even though she was still in shock by the new piece of information.

After staring at the surprised look on Regina's face for a moment longer, the Dark one opened his mouth to continue speaking. "Don't tell me you've forgotten it's my business to collect secrets. And the question really is, when were you gonna tell me about Facilier's desire for my dagger?"

"I'm sorry...what?!" Everly exclaimed while Felix's eyes widened to the size of small planets, only to go ignored by the two people standing in front of her.

"I was hoping I could change his mind," the Mills woman responded before hesitating for a moment and letting out a long sigh, "like Belle did for you."

"Well, he clearly hasn't changed his mind!" Rumplestiltskin exclaimed while waving his flashlight around in the air, "and if he succeeds, I might never get back to Belle. If he gets his hands on Anastasia-"

"I know what terrible things he can do with that magic. It's why I've come to you," Regina interrupted, tired of the lecture she was receiving from the Dark One. Rumplestiltskin just stared at her for a long moment before letting out a sigh and crossing his arms over his chest.

"So, what do we do now?" Felix questioned, drawing all attention to him before he added, "well, other than telling Everly and me the whole story."

"Quite simply," Rumplestiltskin said before letting out a long sigh, "we have to get to Anastasia before Drizella does."

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After feeling a powerful surge of magic wash over Hyperion Heights, the four of them raced through the city and toward the source of power. When they finally arrived at Belfrey Towers, they found exactly what they left behind at the warehouse. Destruction. Everly's eyes scanned over every inch of what used to be Lady Tremaine's office, unable to believe the sight before her. That was until her eyes landed on a few trinkets that were unknown to her but she had a feeling she knew where they came from.

"What happened here?" Regina questioned after taking in every inch of the destruction.

"Your good-hearted boyfriend," the Dark One responded after glancing down at the objects on the floor.

It wasn't long after that when Everly spotted Drizella sitting on the couch with Anastasia in her arms. The Purest Heart just stared at them for a moment before letting out a sigh and walking towards the Tremaine sisters.

"You okay?" the Throne woman asked, only to receive a small nod in response from Drizella, "why couldn't you have just stayed at Roni's?"

"I know. I know," the Tremaine woman sighed as she got to her feet and approached Everly, "you were right."

"You know you would've left, too," Felix added while Rumplestiltskin and Regina went over to make sure Anastasia was unharmed.

After staring at her sister for another silent moment, Drizella turned to look back at Everly and Felix. She studied the two of them before letting out a long sigh. "I should've taken a page out of your book. Both of you repeatedly put yourselves in harm's way to save your family. To save each other. The only person I've ever tried to keep safe is myself."

"Yeah, well," Everly hesitated for a moment as she looked up at Felix before her attention settled back on Drizella, "it wasn't always that way."

"I always thought family and love would just weaken my magic. But I get it now," the Tremaine woman stated before looking over to where Anastasia was sitting, "that's where the strongest magic comes from."

"It sounds like you're saying goodbye," a new voice said, causing everyone to turn around to find Jasper walking into the room until he was standing beside Everly and Felix. Drizella just stared at her brother in shock for a moment before he chuckled. "They picked me up on their way over here. They thought I could snap you out of whatever vengeful mood you were in."

The Tremaine woman couldn't help but laugh before she looked over at Regina, who was staring at the woman with hatred in her eyes. "I know I'm leaving behind a big mess, and I cast the Curse. And you're probably angry with me."

"Angry? Not only did you poison Henry's heart, but Everly's as well. Angry is quite the understatement," the Mills woman said as she got to her feet and walked toward Drizella until she was standing a few feet away. The Thorne woman couldn't help but suck in a breath when she felt Felix tense beside her. It wasn't until that moment that she forgot to tell him how she was able to come to Hyperion Heights with them. She almost forgot herself. But before either of them could say a word, Regina continued to speak. "But I also know that you didn't do this alone. Gothel manipulated you. And if Gothel's after your sister, the sooner she's safe and out of reach, the better it is for all of us. So...go. We're gonna be okay. Trust me. We've broken curses before. We won't stop fighting until we break this one."

"So, um, do you forgive me?" Drizella questioned as she looked between the people standing in front of her.

"Hm, let's just say I understand you," Regina clarified with a fake smile on her face, "my gift to you...is what I always wanted...someone to believe I can change."

"Thank you. I don't even know what I'm going to say to Ella," the Tremaine woman said before her attention fell on her brother, "are you coming with us?"

Jasper hesitated for a moment as he stared at his sisters, who were now standing side by side after Anastasia decided it was time to join them. His memories of the good times he spent with his sisters were instantly overpowered by the ones when they forgot about him. Then they were soon replaced by the good times he shared with Ella. It was long before he thought back to Will, who made Jasper feel an emotion he couldn't describe. Even though there was a part of the Tremaine boy who wanted to start over with his sisters, deep down he knew going with them wasn't part of his story.

"Not this time," he finally said with a hint of sadness in his voice, only to receive glum yet understanding smiles from his sisters in response, "and don't worry about Ella. When the time is right, I'll tell her everything."

After the Tremaine siblings shared a very long hug, the sisters stepped away from their brother for the last time. Anastasia soon held her hands out to Drizella, who gladly took them without a second thought. Not even a second after that passed when their hands began to glow. Smiles instantly appeared on their faces as their fingers became even brighter. The next thing anyone knew, Drizella pulled the magic bean from her palm and threw it on the ground. A portal appeared soon after that, revealing the realm they were forced to leave behind.

The sisters interlocked their fingers before looking back at their brother one last time. After the three of them shared a smile, Anastasia and Drizella walked through the portal. As soon as they were through, the portal sealed itself shut, leaving behind a dark room.

"So," Felix said as he turned Everly so she was forced to look into his eyes, "when were you gonna tell me about your heart?"

The Purest Heart couldn't help but smile at her husband, even though her eyes were filled with sorrow. It wasn't long after that when she pulled him in for a tight hug and whispered two words into his ear. "I wasn't."

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