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────── ★★★ ──────

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝟐𝟎
𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐅𝐈𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑

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"Mom! I knew you'd still be here!" Henry exclaimed after they entered the log that Regina and Katherine called home. Even though Henry wasn't surprised to find the duo there, Everly was. She thought they'd be out of the realm by now. But then again, it was Isaac's story and no hero got a happy ending.

"You again?" Regina responded without even bothering to hide the annoyance in her voice, "listen, we don't have time for stories. We need to hit the road before the Evil Queen has my head."

"Wait, I brought someone else this time," the Mills boy explained as Emma walked into the log, "maybe you'll listen to her."

While Emma and Regina just stared at each other in silence, Everly walked out of the log and into the forest. She was already having a hard time wrapping her head around everything and the small space wasn't helping. The Jones girl felt her breathing quicken as more tears threatened to escape. She knew she needed to get herself together to help Emma and Henry, but she didn't think she could. Not after losing Killian and Sam.

"Do you guys ever give up?" a voice asked her, causing Everly to turn around to find Katherine walking toward her. When the Jones girl didn't respond, the archer let out a long sigh and continued speaking. "Why are you so desperate?"

"Why am I so desperate?" Everly repeated without bothering to hide the anger and sadness in her voice, something that took the redheaded girl off guard. The Jones girl let the silence surround them for a moment as she did her best to calm her emotions. But it wasn't long before she felt her feelings get the better of her as she opened her mouth to speak. "I'm 'desperate' because I just lost the first two people I ever considered family! I couldn't do anything to help them! And the worst part is that my father and friend were the ones that killed them! That's why I'm so 'desperate,' Katherine!"

All the emotion faded from the Scott girl's face as she stared at the girl in front of her. "How do you know that name?"

"Because I know you!" Everly exclaimed, tired of the messed up world that Isaac dragged them into, "you are part of my family! And I'm getting pretty sick and tired of this reality!"

Before their conversation could continue, they heard a rustling in the bushes. Everly and Katherine didn't hesitate to draw our bows and aim their arrows at the rustling bushes. It wasn't long after that when a familiar boy came out of the bushes with his hands raised in the air.

Shock replaced all other emotions in the Jones girl's body as she slowly lowered her bow. "Pierce?"

"What do you want, Hood?" Katherine hissed without bothering to hide the annoyance in her voice as she lowered her bow.

Everly's astonishment did nothing but grow as she continued to stare at the boy in front of her. "Hood?"

"Yes, Hood. Son of the one and only Robin Hood," Pierce responded with pride in his voice.

"What about Roland?" the Jones girl asked, worried for the boy she cared about with every bone in her body.

"That's my little brother," Pierce told her, his smile replaced by a confused look, "how do you know about him?"

"What do you want?" Katherine repeated, drawing Pierce's attention back to her.

"My father sent me to see if you and Regina are attending his wedding."

"Robin wants us at the wedding?" a new voice questioned, causing them to turn around to find Regina and Emma walking toward them.

"My father would be honored if you'd attend."

"We should go, Regina," Emma said after looking over at the Mills woman.

Regina didn't respond as she looked to the ground, deep in thought. What felt like an eternity passed before she finally looked back up at them with a determined look on her face.

"Let's go."

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Everly was surprised by how happy she felt after spending time with the Saved boys. It was as if she was never in her slump in the first place. But no matter how happy she felt, she would be thinking about Harry in the back of her mind. And the Jones girl knew that was how things would be from now on.

But for now, she was enjoying the moment. And at that moment, she was up in her tree with Felix for the first time in what felt like forever. They were talking and laughing as if they weren't trapped on a magical island. Everything felt normal, and that's how it always was when they were together.

"What's the funniest thing that's ever happened to you?" Everly asked while keeping her eyes on the clouds and her head on his shoulder.

Felix let out a playful scoff as a smirk appeared on his lips. "Not telling."

"Come on. Please?" the Jones girl pleaded after looking up at him with wide eyes.

"Fine. When I first got here, some of the older Lost Boys caught me in a net and hung me in a tree."

"Like you did to me!"

"Yeah, except they left me there all night and Pan had to come get me down because I was crying too loud."

"I wish I could've seen that," Everly said while laughing so hard that she almost fell out of the tree, Felix being the only thing keeping her from doing so, "or at least the look on your face when Pan had to get you down."

"You should have seen Pan's!" the Thorne boy exclaimed as he began to laugh along with the girl sitting next to him, "it was like this."

After the Lost Boy mimicked his leader's expression, they both laughed so hard that they had to hold onto the trunk to make sure they didn't fall. That lasted for another moment before they managed to calm themselves down. They let a comfortable silence settle around them before Felix broke it. "This is the best time I've had in years."

"Really?" Everly questioned, trying to hide the sadness she felt after hearing his words. After earning a nod in response from the boy next to her, she continued speaking. "Then we should do this more often."

They looked into each other's eyes for what felt like an eternity before sharing a gentle kiss. At that moment, all of Everly's worries left her. All she could think about was him. All she wanted to think about was him. Felix completed her.

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They ran through the forest as fast as they could as they followed Pierce through the forest. That lasted for what felt like a lifetime before they finally arrived at the church. To Everly's dismay, she heard the wedding starting inside. Now their only hope truly was Regina stopping the wedding and the Jones girl wasn't sure how she felt about that. If it was their world's Regina, she wouldn't be as worried. But this wasn't their Regina and they had no idea if she was going to follow through.

"We haven't heard the wedding bells yet. There's still time," Henry announced with hope in his voice as he stared up at the large bell.

"Why does that matter?" Pierce questioned without even attempting to hide the confusion in his voice.

Everly hesitated for a moment before looking over at the boy standing next to her. "We're here to stop the wedding."

"You are?"

"Yeah. Are you gonna stop us?" Katherine asked as she reached for an arrow, only for Pierce to shake his head in response.

"No way," the Kai boy told them as a hint of annoyance formed in his eyes, "I hate Zelena. There is no way she will make my father happy and she definitely doesn't care about Roland and me. What can I do to help?"

The Jones girl just stared at him for a moment before sending him a shrug in response. It wasn't long after that when the three of them looked over at Emma and Regina.

"I don't even know what to say to him," Regina admitted while turning her attention toward Emma.

"I think, in this case, actions speak louder than words," Emma announced after looking away from the church to meet the Mills woman's gaze.

"Once you and Robin share true love's kiss, everything should be great again," Henry explained with a large smile on his face, wanting nothing more than for the world to return to normal.

"And Sam will be with me again," Everly whispered under her breath, unaware that the girl next to her heard what she said.

"Sam? Sam Jones?" Katherine questioned, drawing the blonde girl's attention toward her before the latter sent her a small nod in response, "how do you know him?"

"I, uh, we met him a few hours ago," the Purest Heart responded, hoping she sounded more convincing than she thought, "how do you know him?"

"I met him a few days ago. We were gonna meet up later tonight."

After listening to her words, Everly felt her heart break for the millionth time that day. It wasn't long after that when she looked over at Henry, only to find the same look she wore plastered onto his face. That was all it took for Katherine to figure out what had happened, causing tears to form in her eyes before she looked to the ground.

"I'm afraid none of you are crashing this wedding, dearies," a new voice said, causing everyone to look back toward the church to find Rumplestiltskin standing in their path. It wasn't long before he drew his sword, forcing Emma to copy his actions. Everly, Katherine, and Pierce soon loaded their bows and placed themselves between the powerful man and Henry and Regina.

"Go. We've got the Dark One," the Swan woman declared while keeping her eyes glued to the man in front of her.

"Dark One?" Rumplestiltskin questioned as he and Emma began circling each other, "I'm afraid you've got the wrong name, dearie."

"We'll see about that," Emma muttered under her breath, "Regina, go!"

That was all it took for the Mills woman to sprint toward the church. Not even a second after that passed when Emma and Rumplestiltskin's swords began clashing together. While Everly continued to guard her nephew, she spotted Regina reach the church out of the corner of her eye. The Savior swung her sword at the Dark One's chest, only for him to easily block it and push it away. The force sent Emma stumbling back before Rumplestiltskin used his magic to throw the Swan woman into a cart of flour, knocking her unconscious.

"Mom!" Henry shouted before pushing past the three archers before they could even think about stopping him. The next thing anyone knew, the Mills boy picked up his mother's fallen sword and turned to face Rumplestiltskin.

"Out of my way, boy," the powerful man told Henry with determination in his voice.

"You have to go through me to get to her," Henry declared as Rumplestiltskin began walking toward him. The Mills boy matched his steps backward before shouting over his shoulder at Regina. "Go! You have to stop that wedding!"

What happened next occurred so fast that no one had a chance to stop it. Rumplestiltskin knocked Henry's sword out of his hand in one swift movement before aiming his sword at his neck. Everly instantly took a step forward to help her nephew, only for him to hold up a hand to stop her. After sharing a look with his aunt, Henry's attention returned to the man standing in front of him. "You won't hurt me. You're supposed to be a hero here."

The Dark One hesitated for a moment as he stared at Henry. The look on his face was enough to tell everyone that he had a million thoughts bouncing around in his head. What felt like an eternity passed before Rumplestiltskin opened his mouth to respond. "And that's exactly why I must do this. To ensure I remain one."

"No!" Everly shouted as she watched the Dark One bring his sword back and swing it at Henry. But before it could make contact with the Mills boy, Regina stepped in front of him, causing the sword to slice across her stomach.

A shocked expression instantly appeared on Rumplestiltskin's face as he watched the Mills woman crumple to the ground. He muttered something inaudible under his breath before vanishing into thin air. Not even a second after that passed everyone rushed to Regina's side, soon followed by Emma after she came around from her forced slumber.

"Mom, why didn't you go into the church?" Henry asked while tears began forming in his eyes.

"I...I couldn't let you die," the Mills woman said through the pain as the ringing of the church bells filled the air.

"We're at the end of the book," Everly announced while staring at the bell swinging in the tower, "we're not going to be able to change anything now."

Laughter soon mixed with the bells as the church doors swung open to reveal a smiling crowd walking out. But as soon as they saw the scene in front of them, they stopped in their tracks. Their eyes scanned over the people in the clearing as their smiles slowly fell.

"Regina?" Robin questioned after his attention landed on the woman lying on the ground. It wasn't long after that when he began sprinting toward them with everyone else right behind him. "Regina!"

"Robin?" Zelena called out after stopping next to the woman on the ground and looking down at the Hood man, "what's going on? Oh no! Now I've got blood on my dress!"

Pierce couldn't help but roll his eyes at the redheaded woman's comment as Robin looked up at her with annoyance in his eyes. "Can't you see she's injured?!"

"This is supposed to be my day!" Zelena complained before gesturing toward Regina, "and she's ruined it!"

That was all it took for the Wicked Witch's hand to start turning green, which only Everly and Katherine seemed to notice. It didn't take much longer for Zelena to realize what was happening before she turned and sprinted back into the church. The Jones girl watched the redheaded woman until she was out of sight before her attention landed on a familiar face in the crowd. Her eyes instantly widened as she stared at the man in silence for a moment longer. That was until his name passed over her lips without thinking.

"Will?"

The Scarlet man instantly turned toward her before a confused look appeared on his face. "Do I know you?"

"Uh, no. Sorry."

But all Everly's words did was make his confusion grow as he turned his attention back to Regina. Everly just stared at him for a moment longer before she looked back at Robin and Regina, who were having a hushed conversation.

"Too little, too late," a familiar voice said, causing anger and annoyance to flow through Everly's veins. When she turned toward the source of the sound, she found Isaac standing a few feet away with a smirk on his face.

Emma didn't hesitate to punch the Author across the face. The force caused him to stumble back while his bag fell to the ground, spilling the contents inside. Not even a second after that passed when Everly drew her bow and aimed the arrow at Isaac's chest.

"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't release this!" the Jones girl shouted, completely ignoring the shocked looks she was receiving from everyone around her. When she was greeted by nothing but silence from the Author, Everly continued speaking. "Sam and Killian are dead because of you!"

All the color seemed to fade from Isaac's face as she stared at Everly with no emotion in his eyes. "Sam's dead? My son is dead?"

A wave of shock washed over the Jones girl after hearing his words, surprised that he knew the truth about Sam. But she quickly shook it off and focused back on the situation at hand. The next thing she knew, a hand was placed on her shoulder before Emma's voice greeted her ears. "Everly, he's not worth it."

"He took Sam and Killian from me," Everly said as she pulled further back on her bowstring, "it's worth it."

"Is it really?"

The sound of his voice was enough to make the Jones girl's blood run cold. It wasn't long after that when she felt a new presence beside her. She didn't need to look to know who it was. Despite the confusion within him, Will knew he needed to help Everly and that was exactly what he was going to do.

"I may not know much about you, Everly, but I can tell you're not a killer," the Scarlet man said while the Purest Heart kept her eyes glued to the Author, "don't let this man turn you into one. He's not worth it."

A moment of silence surrounded them as Everly continued to stare at the terrified man in front of her. It wasn't long before the Knave of Hearts placed his hand on her shoulder, sending a wave of warmth over the Jones girl. "Lower the bow and help your friends."

Everly just stood there for what felt like an eternity before slowly lowering her bow. She had to force herself to turn away from Isaac, allowing Emma to step forward to interrogate him. It wasn't long after that when she looked up at Will, only to find him smiling down at her.

"I'm glad that worked," the Scarlet man said after letting out a long sigh.

The corner of Everly's mouth twitched as she placed the arrow back in her quiver. "You didn't think it would?"

"Nope. I've never had to talk a person out of killing someone."

The Jones girl couldn't help but laugh before turning her attention back to the situation at hand. To her surprise, Henry was walking toward the Author's fallen bag to pick up the pen. As soon as his fingers were wrapped around it, the pen brightly glowed blue.

"No," Isaac muttered under his breath after watching the Mills boy pick up the pen and his journal, "he's the next Author."

What felt like an eternity passed before the pen's glow faded and a small smile formed on Henry's lips. "I can feel it."

"Henry, fix it," Emma told her son with a hint of pride in her eyes, "write everything the way it was."

"Without ink, he's not writing anything," Isaac declared while looking between the heroes in front of him.

Emma glared at the former Author before bending down to pick up her fallen sword. It wasn't long after that when she placed the cool metal against her hand. "My blood. It was supposed to work last time."

"Yes, when mixed with darkness. But you're not the Savior here. Because of him," Henry explained after grabbing his mother's hand to stop her, causing a smirk to form on Isaac's face. But what the Heller man didn't expect was for the Truest Believer's attention to land on Regina. "But that doesn't mean we didn't find one. And in this world, we don't need a dark Savior. We need a light one."

Isaac's smirk instantly fell as he watched Henry kneel next to Regina. He instantly took a step forward, only for Everly and Emma to hold him back.

"No! Don't!"

"Henry, do it!"

While the sisters continued to keep the former Author away from Henry, the Mills boy dipped the pen into the red liquid on Regina's hands. Not even a second after that passed when Henry began writing in Isaac's notebook.

"'Thanks to the Hero Regina's sacrifice, Isaac's villainous work was undone.'"

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