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Astrid gasped out and coughed somewhat while sitting up and looking around the dim dungeon cell, her hands and feet shackled in chains.

She was sore and aching all over with bruises covering her body from her getting beat by some Vikings who had found her after she had escaped Berk during her execution.

Now, Astrid was locked up in a dungeon cell by the King. And she didn't know what was going to happen next.

"Hey," A female voice spoke on the other side of the cell. The blonde looked over to see a familiar brown haired girl also shackled in chains like herself.

"Riley?" Astrid let out in confusion, "What are-- Why are you here? What did you do?"

Riley sighed and began, "After my brother, Hiccup, died- and later discovering that it was you who sent that Wraith on him- I snapped and, um, killed some people..."

The brunette continued while looking down at the floor, "Now, I'm just waiting for my execution day to get here."

Astrid furrowed her eyebrows, inquiring, "Why?"

Riley looked up at her and began, "Dying is simple. It all just stops. You're dead."

Riley looked away and started back up, "But the people around you dying? That's the hard part. Because you keep living, knowing that they're gone, and you're still here."

"R-Riles-"

Riley sighed, "And I know you didn't kill Hiccup. I believe you. That's why I'm going to tell them that it was me- of it- because you are destined for greater things than to just be killed. You've got more to do in life. I believe in you. Always."

Astrid shook her head and began, "Okay, but those stories that we tell that keep us going and sometimes they blind us, they take us to dark places. Once you touch that bloody darkness, it goes away..."

Riley watched Astrid now as the said blonde swallowed and continued, "Now the truth is, I'm past saving. I know how my story ends. It's at the edge of a blade or some other weapon."

"My job is to keep you and all of my other friends and family safe. I had one bloody job, and I screwed it up. And for that, I'm sorry." Astrid sighed, a single tear slipping down her face, "I guess that's what I do. I let down the people I love. How can I? How am I supposed to bloody live with that?"

Riley's brown eyes watered as Astrid let out, "You said it yourself that no matter what we do, they're gone. And they're never bloody coming back. I tried, Riles, I really did try. But I can't keep pretending that everything's alright. Because it's not, and it's never going to be."

"Astrid-"

Astrid sniffled somewhat and finished, "The people close to me gets hurt or worse. I can't live with that guilt. So, have to be the one to live, Riles. They're gonna bloody execute me for the lives that I took."

Riley shook her head slowly, saying, "But Astrid-"

Astrid cut her off with a small, sad smile, saying, "I already made my mind up. Why do you think I let them beat me so bloody easily? is how my story ends now."

Astrid sat up and gasped softly, shivering terribly because of the icy room that she was in, her wrists and ankles bound by magical chains.

Astrid struggled in the chains just as a female voice spoke up, "You'll find those to be hard to break because of your fear, my child."

The girl looked over to find the Snow Queen sitting in a white chair, saying, "Fear is but a demon. I am not afraid."

"Well, if you truly weren't, then you'd already be free of those chains," The Snow Queen smirked, "Who's fooling who?"

Astrid struggled again just as the chains tightened on her, making her stumble some on her knees.

The said girl shook her head and closed her eyes, exhaling deeply, "I am not afraid." The chains suddenly broke in pieces as Astrid shot up to her feet and readied herself defensively.

"Very good, Artemis. You're becoming like your fearless self you used to be again." The Snow Queen commented while still sitting, "Okay, that's all for now. You're free to go, dear."

Before Astrid could react, the white haired woman made Astrid disappear in a cloud of white smoke.

Astrid blinked and found herself now in the center of the Blanchard loft with her family looking over at her in surprise, letting out, "Astrid!"

Snow and David quickly hugged the teenager in their arms, David's hand on the back of her head in assurance. "You're safe," The parents breathed out in relief.

"How'd you know I was gone?" Astrid wondered aloud.

"Peter told us-" Snow replied while stepping aside to show the girl's fiance leaning against the side of the counter, his right arm lightly wrapped around his ribs.

Peter wanted so badly to run over there and hold her in his arms, but the curse prevented him in doing that. "God, it's good to see you, love." He let out softly.

Astrid smiled some and had to make herself not to run into his arms because she doesn't want him to be in pain-- more than he already is, that is. "I hate this bloody curse." She sadly laughed.

"Me too, love," Peter smiled sadly. He sighed and stepped slowly towards her, murmuring, "Screw the pain."

Peter then rushed over to Astrid who remained where she was, feeling his pain triple. "I love you, A, and I don't know what I would do if you weren't here..." He whispered.

Astrid nodded, saying, "I love you, too." He kissed her on the lips as she kissed him back, but then another wave of dark magic pushed the two back, sending both to the floor a few feet away.

"Astrid-" Snow and David started while both running over to their daughter and kneeling beside her while sitting her up slowly.

"P-Peter..." Astrid stammered while seeing her love not move an inch several feet from them on the floor; She groaned out, feeling the massively, immense amount of excruciating pain that he was in and could feel his pulse drop. "No..."

Astrid pushed out of her parents' arms and moved over to the green eyed boy who then coughed up blood and was struggling to breathe.

"Pe-Peter?" She knelt beside him, immediately moving him into her arms.

"It's- It's okay, l-love... Maybe this-this is for the b-best..." Peter breathed out, holding her hands that was on top of his chest in his, "There-There wasn't a-a cure for this... I'm just-- I'm just glad that it was y-you who- who you know..."

"I can't bloody live without you, Peter... I don't want to. Please don't leave me." Astrid began to cry.

"I will-- I will always be with you, A. F-Forever and always..." Peter gasped some.

"Always and forever," Astrid sobbed, clinging to him even tighter.

Peter smiled, a single tear slipping down his face as he murmured, "I-I love you- you more than anything. Al-Always h-have. Always w-will..."

Peter's green eyes then dimmed and was lifeless as his body fell limp in Astrid's arms which tightened around him even more.

"No. No, no, no... Come back to me. Please." Astrid desperately began and kissed him on the lips, looking at him for a second to see nothing changed. "Please. I love you." She kissed him on the lips again but a little bit longer before looking back up at him.

Nothing happened, though.

"No..." Astrid cried.

David and Snow slowly approached both sides of their daughter holding her now dead fiancée and knelt beside her. "Astrid, baby-" Snow began lightly.

"He can't be gone." Astrid cut her off, "He just can't be. Not like this. Not after everything..."

"Astrid, he loved you. And this was a better way to die than most deaths-- in the arms of the person they love-" David started, trying to comfort their daughter.

"No. If only one of us can live, it has to be him because I- I- No..." Astrid murmured just as her veins darkened and she began to glow a pure form of magic.

"Astrid, bringing him back to life will literally kill you. You can't do this. He wouldn't want you to." Snow spoke up again.

"We can't lose you, too, A," David added.

"You said it yourself. True love isn't easy. But once you find it, it can never be replaced," Astrid commented.

"I know what I said, but you shouldn't do this..." David began, "Think about it. He will live, knowing that you gave up your life for him and will have to find a way to live with that guilt forever. You don't want that for him, right?"

Astrid stopped her magic and collapsed into her father's arms, now crying uncontrollably. "I just- I just... I can't... He doesn't deserve to die..."

"I know. I know, A. It's gonna get better. Trust me." David began to assure, one hand on the back of his daughter's head as he held her in a tight hug.

Snow then joined in the hug and also assured, "You still have all of us, baby. You are not alone."

Astrid looked up to find the cell door opening as five guards stepped inside, the head guard speaking up, "Astrid Hofferson and Riley Haddock, you are now being executed for your crimes."

The guards moved over to Astrid first and lifted her off of the ground just as the said girl kicked him in his private parts and grabbed his sword in her handcuffed hands.

Astrid swung the sword towards a guard and stabbed him, stabbing him in the chest. "Riley of the Haddock House is to be pardoned of her crimes. All of it was doing. She's an innocent." She stated towards the other guards.

"Astrid-" Riley began desperately with a small shake of her head.

Astrid narrowed her eyes at the remaining four guards and threatened lightly, "Choose. Either her life or your lives and she walks out of here free."

A guard swung his sword towards Astrid who swiftly blocked it and moved out of the way of the blade and stabbed him in his heart, withdrawing the sword. "Two down, three more."

"Let the Haddock girl go. Astrid has already confessed to both of their crimes as her doing." The third guard spoke up, undoing Riley's handcuffs and yanking the brunette off of the stone floor while pushing her towards the door.

"But Astrid-" Riley started reluctantly, tears in her eyes.

"Go. Save yourself, Riles. You don't deserve to be killed. Your life still matters..." Astrid muttered, "Your day isn't today."

Riley sighed and ran out of the dungeon and left while the remaining three guards escorted Astrid to the Block, tying her to the post and blindfolded her.

The King watched from where he sat in his chair above and shouted at the archers, "Ready? Aim!"

The archers lit their arrows on fire and notched them in their bows, pulling their drawstrings back, readying their shots.

"FIRE!"

However, before the archers could release their arrows, they was knocked down by a pirate and his crew.

The still tied teenager waited in anticipation for the arrows to hit her, not knowing what was currently happening.

"Let the kid go." A familiar male voice spoke up as he quickly moved in front of Astrid who recognized the voice instantly.

He removed the blindfold as Astrid saw Hook untying her from the post; She glared at the one handed man and commented, "Why the bloody hell are here? I don't want to see you."

"Yeah, well, I wasn't about to let you die. I couldn't." Hook replied with a sigh, knowing she still hates him after Neverland.

"Funny. Considering you left me to die on that bloody island." Astrid remarked as both of them took off running away from the guards.

"I know." Hook simply said while pulling her into an alleyway as guards passed them.

Astrid caught her breath before she let out after sitting down on the ground, "I was supposed to die. You were supposed to let me die."

"AJ, your day isn't today- nor should it be soon." Hook replied, "So, get up, Astrid. Your fight's not over yet."

Astrid scoffed, saying, "Every time I keep on fighting, living, I lose someone I care about. What's the point?"

Hook knelt on one knee beside the girl and placed a hand on her arm in assurance before remarking, "Because that's who you are. You're a fighter, a warrior. You protect the people, keep them safe. You're a real hero, lass. And you're also a survivor, like myself."

Astrid stood up quickly and folded her arms across her chest, stubbornly pointing out, "This doesn't mean I haven't stopped hating you. I'm not through yet."

Hook laughed, "Yeah. You never are." He smiled some and replied, "I'll see you around, Kiddo."

"Whatever," Astrid commented with a small smirk and went the opposite direction that the pirate went.

Hook glanced back at his adopted teenager before continuing to walk away with a light smile, knowing that she would be okay-- and if she wasn't, he would be there.

Always.

Astrid held a shovel in her hands that held some dirt on it; She was trying very hard to hold back the tears as she emptied the dirt off of the shovel and down into the grave and onto the coffin.

Astrid watched Gold, Belle, Snow, David, and Henry do the same with the shovel and dirt like she did.

Regina and Emma was currently on a trail that leads to the Snow Queen with Elsa, and Hook hadn't arrived to the funeral yet.

Astrid stuffed her hands in her front pockets and looked away from the coffin that her love was inside.

She then noticed the now one-handed pirate a few feet from the others and herself as he noticed her as well and held his arms out.

Astrid ran towards him and buried herself in his tight embrace, his hand moving to the back of her head as a reassurance.

That's when she finally started to cry hard, the realization hitting her that her true love was gone and wasn't coming back.

"It's gonna be alright, AJ," Hook murmured in assurance, "I'm still here. Your family's still here. You won't lose everyone, Kid."

Astrid looked up at him as if asking how he knew what she was thinking. Hook sadly chuckled, saying, "I know you, Kiddo. That's one of your fears-- losing the people you love."

"It bloody hurts so bad, Dad..." Astrid sobbed into his chest as his arms tightened around her with him answering, "I know it does. But the hurt will eventually not hurt as bad."

Astrid didn't say anything back but continued to cry into her adopted father's chest. She finally looked back up at him and let out, "Thanks... for being there for me."

Hook smiled softly, promising, "Always." Astrid glanced back over at the coffin lowering down into the ground. "You okay?"

"No, I'm not," Astrid admitted, "Actually, I'm pretty far from okay. But that doesn't matter right now because the person who casted that bloody curse is still out there, and I'm gonna find out who."

Hook watched his daughter in front of him carefully as her blue eyes darkened some while she added, "And then I'm gonna kill them."

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Don't worry, loves, Peter Pan definitelyreturn in this book. Trust me. All of this is for a purpose. 💕

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