《Artemis || OUAT》38. It's Not Easy Being Green
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Peter stood next to Astrid in front of Neal's grave as everyone began scooping shovels of dirt onto the coffin.
The green eyed boy didn't want to come but had to, being that Neal is his nephew and Rumplestiltskin wasn't there. He didn't know how to react to grieving over family and didn't know what to say or to think.
Astrid glanced over at him and moved her hand and now held his in hers, squeezing it in reassurance.
He looked over at her and moved his arm, wrapping it around the small of her back and pulled her close to him.
Astrid then glanced over at Emma with a small, sad smile as her sister returned it with a little nod also.
***
Astrid and Peter both sat at the counter at Granny's diner, Peter drinking a cup of coffee while Astrid simply chose water.
"I'm actually gonna miss Bae," Astrid admitted quietly as Peter moved his hand on top of hers and squeezed it.
Before Peter could say anything, he was cut off by Robin Hood approaching them and placing a hand on his girlfriend's shoulder as the archer smiled at them.
"Astrid, it's good to see you again," Robin started, "I haven't seen you in a long time. Roland misses his big sister-"
"Hey, for all we know, we already reunited in the Enchanted Forest that year," Astrid cut him off with a light smile, "It's good to see you too."
Robin dropped his hand and was hesitant on leaving the young couple but began to leave anyway.
Until Astrid stood up and hugged him, her arms wrapped around his waist; Robin also wrapped his arms around the girl who was more like a daughter to him, a small smile on his face.
"I heard you were in town.... I just— I couldn't bring myself to visit," Astrid admitted quietly, "Not after leaving you guys behind like that. I'm sorry."
Robin made her look up at him as he assured, "That was a lifetime ago, Kid. Besides, you have nothing to apologize for... You were afraid of getting too close and you wanted to find your family, which you did, and you seem happy with them. That's all I ever want for you-- for you to be happy."
Astrid pushed a strand of blonde hair out of her face and nodded, saying, "You and Roland are my family, too. I just- I was afraid that I would end up destroying your family, like I somehow always manage to do. I still am bloody afraid, but I'm learning to face that fear."
"Whatever happens to us or them, it's not your fault, A," Robin reassured, "You don't destroy anything. If anything, you create things, bring people together, and connect them with everyone to where they're basically family."
Astrid slowly nodded as Robin added, "I mean, you made a cold-hearted, one-handed pirate love someone other than himself, you made the villain Peter Pan love you, and even the Dark One cared about you... You are a force to be reckoned with, Artemis."
Astrid softly laughed somewhat and hugged him again, this time a bit more quicker as she stepped back and sat on the stool beside her boyfriend.
"And I found this in the woods," Robin replied while removing a bow from around his shoulders. It was a wooden bow with the name 'Artemis' engraved on it. "Figured it got lost somewhere when that curse happened."
Astrid took the bow into her hands and move her fingers across the cursive letters, saying, "Yeah, during the time when Zelena had me... Thank you." Robin smiled a little sadly with a nod and stepped away; Peter moved his hand and squeezed it in reassurance.
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Then the diner door swung open with a whoosh as Zelena stepped inside while holding the Dark One's dagger; Peter and Astrid immediately stood up from their seats while Peter held a protective arm in front of Astrid who held his outstretched arm in her hand lightly.
"My condolences," Zelena began, "I'm so sorry I missed the funeral, but I could never pass up a wake. Oh, did I miss the speeches? Shall I make one? I mean, I am, after all, responsible."
Emma started to go after the red haired woman until Snow grabbed her wrist and stopped her, saying, "Emma, no. Too many people will get hurt."
"Listen to your mother." Zelena smirked and added, "Anyone who tries to interfere with my plan is gonna have to deal with the Dark One... And Astrid."
Everyone tossed glances over at Astrid who furrowed her eyebrows in slight confusion; Robin quickly moved over on her other side protectively then.
"You're not going anywhere near her again," Peter told the Wicked Witch, stepping a little more in front of his girlfriend.
"I don't have to because she's already under my control still," Zelena smirked.
"No, I'm not," Astrid spoke up.
"Maybe not you but your darkness," Zelena shrugged, saying, "Same thing." She turned and stepped towards David, Emma, and Snow.
Snow held her hands to her pregnant stomach as David also moved a hand to her belly protectively, him saying, "Don't come any closer."
"Don't worry. I'm not here for your baby," Zelena commented, "Not today, anyway."
"Then why are you here?" Regina spoke up as Zelena turned and faced her and answered, "Now that my cover's blown, I can finally pay a visit to my little sister. And get Astrid back."
"You're not going anywhere near her. And who the hell are you talking about?" Regina replied.
"Why, you, of course, Regina," Zelena revealed as shocked murmurs in the crowd began with Emma saying, "What?"
"I'm an only child." Regina stated with Zelena correcting her, "Cora lied to you, Regina. I'm your sister. Half, if you want to get technical."
"Why should I believe anything you say?" Regina questioned.
Zelena shrugged, saying, "Oh, well, you shouldn't. It's a lot to swallow, which is why I've brought a gift to help."
Regina chuckled, "I don't want a gift from you."
"Oh, but you shall have it," Zelena started, "You see, my gift to you is this sad, sad day. Use it to dig into our past, Regina. You need to learn the truth, and you must believe it. And then meet me on Main Street tonight say... sundown."
"And then what?" Regina inquired in amusement with Zelena confidently saying, "Then I'll destroy you."
"This isn't the Wild West," Regina remarked.
"No, dear," Zelena replied, "It's the Wicked West." She then turned and faced everyone before adding, "And I want everyone to be there to see the Evil Queen lose."
Regina smirked, saying, "I don't lose."
Zelena chuckled, "Neither do I. One of us is about to make history. See you tonight, Sis." She laughed some and started to walk to the door before stopping and glancing over at Astrid, "You, come."
"No," Astrid scoffed, "I'm not bloody going anywhere, especially with you."
Zelena smirked and waved her hand just as the two vanished in a cloud of green smoke, the girl's family exclaiming, "Astrid!"
***
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Zelena gripped the teenager's arm in her hand roughly as Astrid held back a wince, letting out, "Let me go."
"No. You are going to return back to my side whether you like it or not," Zelena commented, slamming the blonde girl into a metal chair while making straps tightly wrap around her magically, restraining the girl from moving or escaping.
Astrid struggled as she attempted to break the leather straps against her arms, torso, and legs, saying with a slight confident smirk, "What're you planning on doing? She's locked up in my mind-- and won't be getting out anytime soon."
Zelena also smirked, placing her hand over a dial on a machine beside them, saying, "We shall see, dear. She will show herself, even if I have to torture you."
Astrid narrowed her eyes and struggled again, failing to break or loosen the straps; Zelena finished hooking up the wires against the side of the teenager's head and near her collarbone.
The red haired woman then turned the dial on the machine somewhat, which sent out volts of electricity to Astrid as she held back pained screams.
Zelena simply turned the dial even more, making the volts even stronger as Astrid then released a scream, pain and agony throughout her body while powerful electricity surged through it.
"Let her out, Astrid, and it will all be over with," Zelena smirked while moving the dial even more as it made even stronger and more powerful volts of electricity hit the teenager.
"No..." Astrid groaned out breathlessly, "Never..." The electricity hit her again as she let out another pained scream, struggling to free herself from the restraints.
***
"If we position someone there, there, and there, we'll have the whole street covered," David pointed out while walking down Main Street in between Belle and Peter with Tinkerbell on Peter's other side as they made plans for the fight between Regina and Zelena.
Tinkerbell nodded, saying, "I'll talk to Blue, see if we can get reinforcements-"
Emma, who walked up to them beside Snow, cut her off, "No! You heard Zelena. She said no interference. She might order Gold to level half the block, and if she did gain control over Astrid, then might make her kill these people if we try something before she has a crack at her sister."
"So they really are sisters?" Tinkerbell inquired with Snow nodding and answering her, "She found a letter in her vault confirming it."
"Where is she? Regina?" Peter spoke up, noticing the lack of a certain ex-Evil Queen. Snow shrugged and replied, "She disappeared. Something in the letter upset her."
"Should we try to find her?" Tinkerbell asked, "And what about Astrid? Aren't we going to try and help her?"
Emma shook her head, saying, "Regina was pretty clear she didn't want any help with this one." Emma then sighed and added, "And I just have to hope that my sister can hold out just long enough for us to find her."
"You're gonna let her walk into this fight alone?" The fairy asked, talking about Regina.
"No, she's gonna get help whether she wants it or not," Emma replied.
"But you just said we can't interfere," Belle said in slight confusion.
Emma nodded, pointing out, "Zelena has Gold and possibly Astrid on her side. We need to remove them both from the equation. It's the only way Regina has a fighting chance. We need to get Gold's dagger."
"You saw how she was," Snow spoke up, "She practically has it glued to her hand."
Emma sighed and commented, "Then we need to find out how she plans on getting Astrid under her control."
Just as she said that, pain overwhelmed Peter as he stumbled back breathlessly, letting out, "Astrid..."
David moved his hand over the boy's shoulder to steady him and asked in concern, "What is it?"
"Astrid's in pain... I think she's being tortured..." Peter panted.
"You can feel her pain like she can everyone else's?" Emma curiously asked but concerned for her twin sister.
"Of course I can," Peter let out, his jaw flexing some as he gritted his teeth at the idea of his girlfriend being tortured. "And I can use that. I know where she is now."
"Where?" The five of them asked Peter simultaneously, "Where is she?" The green eyed boy vanished in a cloud of green smoke and then appeared in a dim room with one light over a metal chair that held a semi-conscious Astrid in it, restrained.
"Astrid!" Peter yelled in a whispered tone, his voice thick with worry and concern. He rushed over to her, cupping one hand on one side of her neck with the other hand holding her shoulder gently. "Oh. What did she do?"
Astrid groggily moved her head slightly up to look at him and panted, tears in her eyes, "Peter. Leave."
"Not without you, love," Peter murmured, swiftly undoing the straps on the girl as she let him take her into his embrace.
"N-No... She is going to gain back control over myself..." Astrid weakly started, "My-My evil self..."
"I will always bring you back, remember? Just like you do for me. There's nothing I wouldn't do for you." Peter assured, "You are stronger than her. Keep fighting, A."
Astrid grunted some while squeezing her eyes shut with a shudder, Peter holding her in his arms even tighter. "I got you, I got you..." He whispered softly, kissing the top of her head.
Astrid slowly nodded, murmuring, "And I got her trapped..." She looked him in the eyes and let out a sigh of relief, "You found me."
"I always will." Peter smiled and teleported the two of them away from the place and appeared where her family was still at.
"Astrid!" Snow and David both started and immediately hugged her tightly, David moving a hand behind his teenager's head in reassurance.
"You're safe now," David softly assured his daughter who was still in their embrace as she murmured, "I know. Peter saved me- again."
David and Snow looked over at the boy and pulled him into a hug also, Snow saying, "Thank you."
Astrid watched with a small, fond smile as Peter nodded and stepped back and now stood by his love's side, instantly taking her hand into his own.
***
"We're clear! There's no sign of Zelena! It looks like she's still keeping Gold in the cellar!" Emma announced as she, David, and Tinkerbell ran out of the farmhouse while Astrid, Peter, and Belle waited beside the cellar doors.
Belle quickly turned and opened the doors, stepping into the cellar and moved down the stairs.
Astrid removed her swords from her belt and twirled them in her hands once as David and Emma readied their pistols.
"Get ready," Astrid muttered, earning small concerned looks from her father and sister, "Here comes the Wicked Witch."
"How do you-? The place has no sign of her-" Emma began in slight confusion.
Though, Emma stopped herself when she noticed Belle come up the stairs in a panicky way. "Belle?" David also added, "Over here!"
"It was a trick!" Belle cried, "She was toying with us." She ran to Tinkerbell who hugged her in reassurance.
Gold stepped out of the cellar, saying, "Zelena sends a message. She will face Regina without interference! She already wants to kill all of you for taking Astrid back, so the next time you try to stop her, I will kill you."
Peter reached a protective arm out in front of his girlfriend as he watched his brother carefully.
***
Astrid moved behind her parents, sister, Peter, and Tinkerbell, as she heard Emma ask, "Have you seen Regina?"
"Not since the vault," Snow admitted.
"If she doesn't get here soon, that witch could take it out on all of us," Tinkerbell added.
"Let's get everybody out of here before that happens," David spoke up as he stepped in front of the three and stopped in the center of the crowd, "All right, listen up! We need you to get back to your homes-"
"No ones going anywhere," Zelena cut him off, the crowd gasping. Gold walked behind the red haired woman as she added, "This show needs an audience."
Sneezy was the only one who hadn't stepped back as Zelena remarked, "Out of my way, munchkin."
"I'm a dwarf-" Happy began.
"That's even worse," Zelena cut him off and stepped closer to the group, "Where is she? Hm? Don't tell me- She's a coward. Well, this isn't good... for any of you. If my sister's not here in five minutes, I'm going to let the Dark One off his leash."
Astrid shared a look with Peter and moved to stand in between her parents who glanced down at her and back at Zelena.
After five minutes passed, the Wicked Witch looked at the clock on the tower and moved over to Gold, saying, "Time's up. Who do you want to kill first, Rumple?"
Emma stepped forward and spoke up, "He's not killing anyone. If you want to fight someone, Zelena, fight me."
"Sorry, dear," Zelena remarked, "I don't dance with amateurs."
"I'm not an amateur. I'm the savior." Emma commented with Zelena saying, "Mm. Appears someone's got an inflated sense of self worth."
Astrid quickly stepped in front of her twin and moved her hands in front of her body, light magic surrounding her hands now; She placed a shield in front of them just as Gold's magic backfired and slung him and Zelena backwards a few feet.
"Thanks, A," Emma let out breathlessly, in awe and surprised by her sister.
"Hey, no one gets to hurt my sister but me," Astrid smirked, her hands on her hips now. She looked over at Zelena and commented, "You and me, Zelena. I'm taking Regina's place. Winner gets the Dark One... Unless, you're scared that I'm gonna win."
Zelena lifted an eyebrow and smirked, stepping over to the girl, saying, "But if you lose, you join me- do every command of mine."
Astrid glanced over at her parents who were shaking their heads at her as she looked back at the witch and was fixing to accept until Regina spoke up, "No deal."
Everyone turned to look over at the raven haired woman who confidently walked over to her half-sister, saying, "Didn't anyone tell you? Black is my color."
Zelena chuckled, "But it looks so much better on me. I was beginning to think you weren't going to show up."
"I couldn't let my sister off that easily," Regina shrugged.
Zelena smirked, "Oh, so you finally accepted me into the family?"
Regina gave her a look before replying, "I've accepted that we shared a mother, but yes. But I still have one question- What the hell did I ever do to you?"
Zelena slightly glared, saying, "Isn't it obvious? You were born."
Regina slapped Zelena who smirked and wiped the blood off her lip; Regina gave her a smile and commented, "I've been waiting to do that all day."
Astrid stumbled behind the crowd as she moved her head in her hands, trying to keep her darkness contained.
"Astrid. Let me out," Dark Astrid spoke up in front of the girl, "This would be way much funner with me here."
"If by funner, you mean more bloody destructive, then no." Astrid muttered, noticing her hands starting to spark and glow some as she tried to control her magic but was failing.
"You say that like it's a bad thing... But you can't control both me and your powerful magic," Her dark double smirked, "Just let me free. If you want, I'll kill Pan last, so that you'll have more time with him."
Astrid noticed Zelena tossing Regina into the clock on the tower as the Wicked Witch disappeared and appeared where Regina was now at.
"Bloody hell. Why can't you just leave? I mean, I'm not dying anymore!" Astrid snapped at her dark self, "I don't need you. Just go."
"Oh, sister, I'm not going anywhere," Dark Astrid remarked confidently, "Except out of your mind and out here to destroy you and your precious family."
***
Snow, David, and Peter stepped into the Blanchard loft, concerned for Astrid who had disappeared from that fight and worried that Zelena had took her again.
"We have to find her," Peter started, sliding his jacket off and hanging it on the coat rack.
"We will," Snow assured.
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