《Artemis || OUAT》42. Kansas
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Peter rushed into the hospital with Astrid beside him, their hands linked; Astrid noticed her sister and Regina standing outside of the room that David and Snow was already inside.
Emma smiled, saying, "Glad you could make it."
"My parents and sister needed me," Astrid replied with a quick rub of her eyes sleepily, "What do you need us to do?"
Regina spoke up, "You and Pan can help Emma and I put up a protection spell around this area of the hospital."
Peter kissed his love on her forehead before he went on one side of the hallway with Regina and began performing the spell.
Astrid stepped beside Emma who looked a bit nervous as Astrid softly smiled, taking her twin's hand in her own which began to glow by their magic being combined. The teenager assured, "You got this, Em."
"We got this, A," Emma corrected her and both began to use their light magic to put up a protection spell in unison.
"You really think this protection spell will be enough to hold her off?" Emma started and glanced behind her and Astrid at Regina and Peter.
Peter spoke up, "It depends if your brand of magic is stronger than hers. If it is, no one wielding dark magic will be able to get in here."
"That doesn't sound like a vote of confidence," Emma replied.
"It isn't," Regina sighed, "But we're out of options." She stepped away from them.
"Swan," Hook spoke up and stepped over to Emma and Astrid, offering a smile, "I heard the little royal was on his way."
Astrid smiled some but frowned in confusion when Emma commented, "I don't think it's a good idea for you to be here right now."
"He can help, though-" Astrid began with Hook nodding in agreement and saying, "It's true."
"If you really want to help, you would have told me when Zelena cursed your lips," Emma replied.
"I had no choice," Hook argued, "She threatened you and your family. I... was trying to help."
"Telling me what was going on would have been help," Emma pointed out.
"And a death sentence for your boy," Hook also pointed out.
"Henry's safety is my concern, not yours," Emma commented, "Which is why I'm taking this fight to Zelena." Hook let out a small sigh. "This ends today. And Astrid can't leave with you, yet, either, because I need her help with Zelena."
"I don't approve of her being that bloody close to Zelena, especially after being tortured by that witch," Hook pointed out.
"I don't-" Astrid started but was cut off by Emma saying, "She's alright. This is Astrid we're talking about. She can handle anything. Right, A?"
They both looked over at Astrid who sighed and nodded, letting out, "Right. Because I do everything for family." She forced a smile that seemed convincing.
Emma turned around and began walking away until David stepped out of the room, stopping her, "Emma, wait. You don't have to do this alone."
Emma sighed, "I'm not. Astrid's going with me. And you need to stay with Mary Margaret."
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David nodded and pointed out, "Yeah, I know. But you need help. And Astrid can't be that help right now. I mean, really look at her. She's completely exhausted."
The two of them glanced over at Astrid who began to fall over and was steadied by Hook; Astrid straightened up and yawned somewhat.
"She still can fight pretty amazing," Emma pointed out, "And her light magic also defeats Zelena, too."
"Take Hook," David replied, "Astrid will stay here and help us if Zelena shows up."
"Are you insane?" Emma remarked.
"He's going with you," David repeated first to Emma and then faced Astrid and Hook, "You're going with her, Hook. Astrid, you're staying here."
"Hm. I thought you didn't trust me, mate," Hook remarked.
David sighed and commented, "Zelena backed you into a corner. You did the best you could. Besides, Astrid trusts you, so I do too."
"See? Even your father gets it," Hook pointed out to Emma.
"Yeah, because he knows about keeping secrets from loved ones, even Astrid does," Emma remarked.
"Hey," Astrid and David simultaneously replied in offense.
"I'm sorry," Emma said, "I'd rather do this with my sister, and maybe even Peter."
"No, you're not. This isn't about you. It's about all of us." David told her, "Astrid needs to stay here."
"Dad. I'm fine, really-" Astrid began but stopped when both Hook and David gave her a pointed look that only parents give when they disapprove something their child says or does.
"What is he gonna do? I have magic. He's got one hand," Emma commented.
"You know, I'm good in a fight." "You know, he's good in a fight." Both Hook and Astrid replied simultaneously.
"At the very least, he can draw fire," David added.
"What, now I'm cannon fodder?" Hook remarked with Astrid snorting somewhat as Hook nudged her some.
"Fine," Emma gave in, "He can come. But only if Astrid comes."
"No, absolutely not," David and Hook shot the last part down with Hook adding, "She's safer away from the witch."
"I think it should be Astrid's choice," Emma pointed out as all three adults glanced over at the girl.
"I'm gonna stick this one out, Em," Astrid spoke up, "I feel like I can protect them more here than out there. I'm sorry."
"Okay. Fine," Emma sighed.
Astrid glanced over at Hook and let out, "You two, be careful. And come back. I cannot lose you or my sister."
Hook nodded, saying, "We will. You have to be careful as well, AJ. Be safe." The girl nodded also as her and David entered the room where the others were at.
***
Peter stood beside Regina while they heard swords clashing and loud, pained groans. Regina faced Henry, saying, "Henry, go with Dr. Hopper. Find a closet and lock yourselves inside. You don't want to see this. It won't be pretty."
Henry nodded but grabbed Peter's arm first as the green eyed boy looked down at him, Henry letting out, "Don't let her take the baby or Astrid."
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Peter nodded in assurance before Archie pulled Henry away and rushed him down the hallway.
Zelena stepped in front of the two with a smirk on her face with Gold behind her as she let out, "Where's your precious Astrid?"
"Wouldn't you like to know," Peter remarked before tossing his little brother a small glance.
Regina moved an arm out in front of Peter to stop him from moving closer to them, her telling the Wicked Witch, "Take another step and I'll roast you."
"Oh please," Zelena sneered in doubt as she simply tossed Regina across the hall by her magic, making Regina hit her head and now unconscious.
Peter was still standing- and so is Astrid who happens to be their last defense, other than Peter himself.
Zelena tried doing the same to Peter who smirked while her eyes widened and her demanding, "How are you still standing?"
"One, do you not know who I am?" Peter remarked, keeping his smirk on his face, "I'm Peter. Peter Pan. Oh, and, by the way, you pissed someone else off. Her name is Astrid."
Zelena narrowed her eyes in confusion until the said girl appeared from behind her and tackled her to the ground. Astrid smirked, saying, "Element of surprise, green bean."
Zelena struggled to stand back up but Astrid continued to pin her down; The red haired woman looked over at Gold in desperation, letting out, "Don't just stand there. Get her off of me!"
"And what would you like me to do, dearie?" Gold remarked in amusement, "My brother is older than me and more powerful than me. And Astrid has light magic, was raised by Vikings and a pirate-- and also his true love."
"Just do something!" Zelena exclaimed.
Astrid swiftly grabbed a dagger from the inside of her jacket sleeve and plunged the blade into Zelena's shoulder deeply as the woman let out a pained gasp. "That's for torturing me." Astrid remarked before punching her in the face, "That's for messing with my family." Astrid punched her again in the face and added, "And that's for trying to destroy them, especially getting me to do that job."
Zelena grunted in pain and finally managed to throw the girl off of her; Peter helped Astrid to her feet and quickly looked her over for any broken bones.
"I've had enough of this game," Zelena muttered, "I came here for that baby, and I'm gonna get it. No one is going to stop me."
Zelena blasted Astrid backwards by her magic as Peter rushed over to his love and knelt by her side in concern.
The Wicked Witch moved inside of the room and froze David in his place after knocking out Dr. Whale; She then made the baby disappear from Snow's arms and into her own.
Astrid stood up and ran inside of the room to see Zelena freeze Snow by her magic; Astrid spoke up, "Stop!"
A wave of magic shot out from Astrid's body and hands, making everything and everyone in the whole town freeze in place- except for herself.
"Bloody hell," Astrid let out and stepped around Zelena to face her. She noticed her baby brother still in the Wicked Witch's arms and carefully took him from her.
Astrid now held her brother in her arms, one hand on the back of his head supportingly.
Astrid then took Zelena's pendant away from her- which cuts the witch off her powers.
Astrid then moved to stand in between her parents and inhaled sharply before speaking up, "Go." A wave of magic washed over all of them, unfreezing the whole town now.
Zelena looked down at her empty arms in confusion and then noticed Astrid's arms as the girl held the baby in her arms. "How is that possible!?"
Astrid smirked, saying, "Don't know. But you're also powerless, considering I have your necklace also."
Zelena moved her hand to her neck to find that the necklace was indeed gone. "Give that back now!"
"Peter," Astrid called out, "Do it."
Peter smirked from behind the Wicked Witch, letting out, "With pleasure." He took the Dark One's dagger from her after restraining the woman by his magic and glanced over at Gold, "Care to do the honors, little brother?"
Gold simply smirked back while taking his dagger from Peter and twirling it once in his hand before jamming it into Zelena's chest.
Zelena widened her eyes as she hardened into a porcelain doll; Peter barely tapped the woman on the shoulder as she toppled over and fell to the ground into pieces.
Astrid kissed her baby brother's forehead and smiled down at him, murmuring, "Don't worry. You're safe. Your big sister, Astrid, got your back. I promise."
David and Snow let out relieved sighs as Astrid gently handed the baby over to her mother; David wrapped an arm around their teenager and kissed the top of her head, saying, "Thank you, Kid. You just saved his life."
"It's not a big deal. You know, I'd do anything for you guys," Astrid shrugged before stepping over to her boyfriend who kissed her.
She noticed Hook standing in the doorway, watching David, Snow, Emma, and Henry happily bond over the newborn, while Astrid stepped over to the pirate who smiled a little at her.
"You okay?" Astrid started.
"Aye. You, AJ?" Hook replied with a nod. Astrid glanced over at her family and back at the one handed pirate and nodded a bit, admitting, "For now, yeah. Still sleepy but okay."
Hook wrapped one arm around her shoulders and then pulled a black captain's hat with feathers on it, him letting out, "I found this at the Dark One's shop. You remember it?"
Astrid grinned and took the hat into her hands, saying, "I do. You gave it to me when I was thirteen after I told you I wanted to be a captain just like you."
Hook chuckled with a nod and replied, "You wore that all the time on the Jolly Roger." Astrid smiled up at him and put on the hat proudly.
Peter stepped over to the two, smirked a little, and pointed the hat out, "Nice hat, Captain Charming."
Astrid grinned and moved closer to the boy and remarked, "Hurhurrrr!" Peter laughed while glancing down at the floor as Astrid turned and walked out of the room proudly.
"That's my girl," Peter said in amusement as Hook chuckled somewhat and nodded slightly.
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