《Artemis || OUAT》55. Smash the Mirror: Pt.2
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Astrid and Hook ran towards the steps of the large mansion, having seen Emma's yellow bug parked in front of the gate. "Swan!" The said pirate exclaimed in worry along with Astrid yelling for her sister, "Emma!"
"Watch your step, Astrid, Captain," Gold spoke up as he stopped the two from moving up the steps, "The terrain's a little rough around here."
"Get out of my way, Stiltskin," Astrid remarked, nodding over at her father figure, "We'll die fighting before we let you use that bloody hat on Emma."
"Aye, it's true," Hook nodded in agreement just as Gold slung the man back with his magic and pinned him against the fence, strong and sturdy ropes wrapped around him securely.
"It seems my dearly departed brother casted some protection spell on you, dearie, so magic, including mine, won't work on you, sadly," Gold pointed out to Astrid who smirked.
"Let Hook go," She commented, her hands now glowing while the girl glared at the Dark One in front of them.
"AJ, go stop Emma. Don't worry about me." Hook let out as he struggled against the restraints on him, "Save your sister."
Astrid reluctantly nodded and ran up the stairs and approached the front door, entering inside of the large house. "EMMA!"
The teenager took off running through the different rooms and then stopped when she noticed Emma standing in front of two closed doors that held a bright light inside. "No, Emma!"
"Astrid?" Emma let out while quickly turning around and facing her twin, truly afraid of what's fixing to happen. "You have to leave."
"No. I'm not leaving my sister." Astrid began with a shake of her head and stepping closer to the woman in front of her, "I'm not giving up on you. Ever."
"I have to do this. I don't want to hurt anyone else anymore. My magic is too unpredictable, too unstable." Emma pleaded, her eyes watery as her hands began to spark and glow some more. "There isn't any other way. A, just go. Please!"
Astrid stepped forward towards her sister again, her hands up in slight surrender, as she continued, "No. Because I know how scary it is hurting someone you love, but giving up your magic- the thing that makes you special- is not the bloody answer. There's another way. Please believe me, Em."
"But there isn't," Emma sighed, "Not this time." She turned her back on the girl and faced the double doors again as the light inside grew and shook them.
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"Emma." Astrid tried again, her eyes watery as well, "Look at me. Really look at me. I learned to control my magic, and I also hurt the ones I love— Peter, recently. Don't let me lose my twin, too. I-I need you, okay?"
Emma glanced over at the teenager as a tear fell down her face, Astrid desperately adding, "This is what Gold wants. He doesn't want to bloody help you. He just wants your magic. He wants more power."
"How did you learn to control it, especially after everything that has happened to you in your life?" Emma questioned. "How? How do you make this stop? What would you do?"
Astrid continued to step closer to her sister and admitted, "Accept who you are... Accept the power that's running through you, the good and the bad. The only bloody way to ever be truly in control over your powers is to embrace them."
The said teenager then held out her hand towards Emma who gave her a puzzled look and inquired, her voice cracking, "What- What are you doing, Astrid?"
Astrid inhaled deeply before answering her, "It's time to stop being afraid and live up to who you're truly meant to be."
Emma shook her head quickly, eyes wide with tears, as she began, "Why are you doing this? This could kill you. I can't lose you."
"I know. And I'll take that risk if you will." Astrid replied, still holding out her hand to the woman in front of her, "But I'm not afraid. I know who I am... and I know who you are. You're not just the Savior. You're my twin sister. You're my family."
She offered Emma a smile as the said woman slowly took her hand in hers, all of the lights suddenly stopping flickering on and off when a wave of pure magic filled the room.
Emma's eyes widened as she grinned and happily cried out, instantly pulling her sister into a tight, relieved hug. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!"
"It was all you, Em. I knew you could do it. You embraced yourself," Astrid grinned.
"Thank you for reminding me who I was," Emma replied and sniffled some, "You're the best sister I could have ever hoped for."
"You're not so bad yourself," Astrid smirked once the two parted from their hug.
Elsa suddenly ran inside of the room and exclaimed in worry, "Emma, Astrid! You two alright?"
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"We are now," Emma nodded as Astrid assured the white haired woman next to them, "She didn't do it. She didn't take away her magic."
"SWAN! AJ!" Hook also let out once he ran into the room and buried the two said people in a tight relieved hug. "You're okay."
"Wow, I've never seen people so happy about me not doing something," Emma remarked.
"We'll find another way to defeat the Snow Queen-- together," Hook told his love with a glance towards Astrid who nodded as he then kissed Emma deeply who softly chuckled and replied, "Easy, tiger, we've got company. I didn't know you were such a fan of my magic."
"Why would you say that, Swan?" Hook grinned, "I'm a fan of every part of you."
"Are you all right?" Emma started in somewhat concern towards the pirate as she still remained slightly in his arms.
"Of course, love. Why wouldn't I be?" He shrugged as Emma commented, "If you look at me any harder, you're gonna drill a hole in my head."
"I'm just relieved," Hook sighed, "You should go outside. I have a feeling there are a lot of worried people who will be glad to see you."
He led Emma towards the door as Elsa followed while Astrid remained behind, knowing her father figure was hiding something and she was going to find out what and why.
Once both Emma and Elsa left, Hook turned and faced his daughter who watched him with narrowed eyes. "What is it, AJ?"
Astrid simply stepped to his side again and remarked lightly, "I could ask you the same. What happened with Gold?"
Hook swallowed nervously and simply shrugged, saying, "I took care of him while you saved Emma. Good job, lass."
Astrid clicked her tongue and let out curiously, "Hm. Why don't you just tell me what it is you're hiding? I know you, Hook... Dad."
The said pirate glanced down at the floor, his jaw flexing some, as he looked back over at the teenager beside him. "I'm sorry, Kid. I can't."
"We tell each other everything, do everything together. You're the one who taught me I don't have to do things alone." Astrid started with furrowed eyebrows, "Just tell me. Let me help."
"No. I said no. I can't bloody let you get hurt because of what mess I'm in." Hook told the girl, "Now, let this go."
"Never." Astrid shook her head stubbornly, making the man sigh and start, "AJ-"
Astrid then realized what it was and nodded her head, saying, "It's Gold. He let you go after taking your heart out and making you do something for him. What is it? And why?"
"Kid, if you don't stop trying to figure this out, he'll make me hurt you, and I don't want to do that at all." Hook began without answering any of her concerned questions.
Astrid lifted an eyebrow and tried again, "Please. For me. Ignore what Gold said and just tell me. You know I'm going to bloody find out. I always do."
"I'm here to do his bidding." Hook only admitted and proceeded to step into the room to find a black case with the magical hat inside of it on the floor.
Astrid beat him to it and picked it up in her hands carefully, saying, "Not on my watch. I know he's got your heart, so I guess that means I'll be your heart for now, Dad... until we get yours back."
Hook shook his head, saying, "I don't want to hurt you-"
"And you won't. You saved me over and over again. Don't you think I wouldn't do the same? Because I would." Astrid cut him off, "Always."
"What am I supposed to tell him about that box and how I don't have it?" Hook began in worry.
Astrid smirked, admitting, "The truth. Tell him that I have it. You heard what he said. Magic can't hurt me. Peter made sure of it by casting one final protection spell on me as his last act."
The pirate still looked unsure as Astrid assured, "We are in this together now. We'll find a way around this."
Hook nodded with a light smile, repeating what his adopted daughter tells them, "We always do. Come on, lass, let's go join your family."
Astrid nodded and walked by his side after tucking the box underneath her jacket as he wrapped a fatherly arm around her shoulders, both joining her family outside of the house.
The two of them noticed worried looks across her family's faces as Astrid spoke up first, "Now, what's going on?"
"The Snow Queen," Emma simply answered her sister as Hook and Astrid noticed the yellow glowing bracelets on Emma's and Elsa's wrists. "Something's happening."
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