《Artemis || OUAT》75. Souls of the Departed
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Peter stood right behind the Charon on the boat next to his brother as the two watched them approach a dock.
Zephyr was clinging to the back of his father's legs as he looked over at his aunt and grandparents.
Emma had suddenly stirred awake and sat up as her parents instantly moved over to her to check on her.
"Emma, are you okay?" Snow began with David also adding, "Yeah, you passed out."
Emma nodded, "Yeah, I'm fine."
"Good." Gold spoke up as he glanced behind him and over at them, "Because we're here."
They finally pulled up to the dock and stepped out of the boat and walked on the small boardwalk; Zephyr was lifted up onto his Grandpa Robin's back as the archer now carried him.
The group suddenly stepped out of the fog and arrived on Main Street of a ruined version of Storybrooke. "What the bloody hell?" Hook let out as they continued to glance around the place.
Regina nodded slowly, saying, "I don't think we're in Maine anymore."
"How is this possible?" Emma also questioned, "How does the Underworld look like Storybrooke?"
Peter rolled his eyes while Gold answered, "Your questions are pointless. All that matters is, all these people in this Underworld are dead and trapped because they have unfinished business."
They heard an engine rev and then noticed Cruella's car driving past them and down the road. "Cruella..." Emma began.
"That's right. And she's here because of you." Gold added, "And I imagine there are many here because of all of us. Let's not lollygag."
"Split up. We'll cover more ground." Peter spoke up as he glanced over at his son to keep a check on him.
"Agreed. The sooner we get out of here, the better." Regina remarked as she glanced once more around them.
***
Emma, Peter who held his five year old's hand as the boy walked beside him, and Gold all stepped into the version of Granny's diner. "Mom. Dad. You find anything?" Emma began.
"Uh... there's no sign of her at the park or the town hall." Snow replied.
"This is hopeless. We don't even know if Astrid's here. What if she has no unfinished business?" Emma sighed.
"She died with all that darkness, Miss Swan. Trust me, she's here." Gold assured.
"My brother's right. She's here." Peter spoke up, "I can tell that much, but I just don't know where."
Zephyr let go of his father's hand and ran over to his Grandpa David and clung to his leg as David smiled down at the boy, placing a hand on top of his head lovingly.
"Look, I'm finished being a team player." Gold sighed, "If you want things done, let me do them mine and my brother's way. I may have something down here that can help us."
Snow assured Peter who looked reluctant on leaving his son, "We'll watch him and won't let anything harm him."
Peter nodded and followed Gold out of the diner after he had kissed the top of his son's head in assurance.
The two of them moved down the street and stopped at the entrance of Gold's shop and looked up at the worn sign above them.
Peter shared a look with Gold before both of them entered the shop, the bell above the door ringing, as they noticed the spinning wheel spin around and around as if moving by magic.
Peter walked further in the store while glancing behind him at his little yet older-looking brother gaze down at a chipped teacup.
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The two brothers suddenly noticed a white straw doll with a blue vest on it and froze somewhat.
Gold moved behind the counter and over to the picture on the wall and opened it to reveal his hidden safe.
Peter continued to look around the store in suspicion, having a feeling that he knew who took up residence in his brother's shop.
"Looking for something?" A familiar man spoke up as both of them faced him to see Malcolm a few feet from them.
"Malcolm. We certainly wasn't looking for you." Peter remarked with a scowl on his face as he watched their father carefully.
"Oh, come on, son," Malcolm replied, "Don't be like that. Aren't you glad to see your dear old father?"
"Just because you, uh, sired us, that doesn't make you our father." Gold pointed out as he stepped over to Peter and now stood by his side. "I mean, my big brother was more of a father to me than you ever was."
Peter lifted an eyebrow and added, "Now... step aside."
Their father did as told and moved to the side, saying, "Keep looking for as long as you like. But down here, this is my shop. And you won't find anything unless I want you to."
"Be careful with your threats." Peter told Malcolm, his jaw flexing some as he glared at the said man while Gold continued to look for what they came for.
"Or what? Rumple will kill me again?" Malcolm smirked.
"Oh, I've got some ideas that's far worse than death." Peter also smirked his way.
Malcolm sighed and commented, "Maybe it's time to put the past behind us. This is what you two are looking for, right?" He held up a vial and set it down on the pedestal next to the straw doll. "Go on. Take it."
"How generous." Gold spoke up, sharing a look with his brother, "How many strings are attached?"
"No strings. Rumple, Peter, I meant what I said before I died." Malcolm replied, "I-- I do want to start over."
"Never gonna happen." Peter started as Gold added, "I sent you here for a reason."
"I miss the world above-- the tastes, the smells." Malcolm began.
"Sorry. You can't go back." Gold simply commented.
"Not unless I trade places with a living soul." Malcolm remarked, "And those people you two came down with... They are not your friends. And they are living... for now. Maybe one of them doesn't make the trip back, but your dear old dad does."
"We're not interested." Peter stated as he picked up the vial. "I'm only here for one person, and that's not you."
"Not yet..." Malcolm replied, nodding to the vial in his oldest son's hand, "But that one's on the house for today. A gesture of goodwill... from a father to his sons.
Both Gold and Peter turned and walked back over to the door but stopped when Malcolm added, "And Peter, I do hope you find Astrid. I liked her. She had a certain spark in her."
Peter glared over at the man while Gold held him back and shook his head at him. "No. Not yet, Peter."
The two of them then exited out of the store and walked down the street to Granny's and entered the back entrance.
They could hear part of the family's argument as Emma pointed out, "It's dangerous here."
"Which is why we're not leaving you or even Peter alone." Snow also pointed out.
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Peter suddenly spoke up, still carrying the vial in his hand, "Perhaps I can cut through this little family's squabble." He held up the potion to show them.
Zephyr jumped down from the stool at the counter and ran over to his father, now hugging his legs as he glanced up at him.
Peter moved his empty hand on top of the kid's curly haired head while Hook questioned in confusion first, "What the bloody hell is that?"
"This is the way to find your deceased Viking/pirate. The Ale of Seonaidh from the land of DunBroch." Gold answered for his brother.
"That's a mouthful," Regina remarked.
"It lets you communicate with the dead." Peter further explained to them. "Pour this over Astrid's grave, and we can stop guessing where she is and simply ask her."
"You're saying Astrid has a grave here in the Underworld?" David inquired in slight shock after sharing a look with Emma.
"Everyone down here has a grave. You'll find the cemetery right where you remember it." Gold simply stated.
"Well, if this works, we could find Astrid before the boat leaves. We could all get out of here together." Snow commented.
"A fine idea. I suggest you all get moving." Gold nodded.
"No way, brother." Peter spoke up, "You're coming with us, too."
"You can do this part on your own." Gold simply told him, "There's a boat that's leaving soon. You want to find Astrid? Fine. But I have no interest in exploring this world further. You can meet me there. But that's entirely up to you."
Emma wanted to argue with the man but Peter held his hand out in front of her to stop her. "There's no time in arguing about it. If there's even a chance that this'll work, we have to risk it."
"Let's go see my mommy!" Zephyr spoke up, his hazel eyes watery. He just wanted to be with his mother again and missed her terribly.
***
The group, excluding Gold, now stood in front of a gravestone that read 'Astrid Jones-Hood' in the center.
Peter was standing closer to the grave than the others who stood back; Zephyr was standing in between Hook and Emma who both had their arms in front of the boy.
They didn't even question the last name that had magically appeared on the stone. Both Hook and Robin had took her in as part of their family and was like fathers to her growing up to even now.
"You okay?" David started in concern for his son-in law who clutched the potion in his hand and admitted, "I just hope she is."
Peter then poured some of the ale on the grave and waited a few seconds just as Astrid appeared in front of them but she kept flashing in and out and was battered, bruised, and bloodied.
"Bloody hell." Hook murmured as he and Emma simultaneously covered Zephyr so that the boy wouldn't have to see her like this while Robin and Regina also did the same for Henry.
"Astrid... Love, we're here to help you. We just can't find you." Peter began, "Where are you?"
Astrid's eyes lagged some as she began to flash in and out. "Peter... The spell's not steady. She can't hear you." Regina began.
"Just tell us where you are, love..." The nineteen year old also started back to his wife.
"Something's happening," Robin spoke up as Astrid continued to flicker before their eyes.
"It's not holding." Hook also added.
Astrid suddenly let out in a hoarse voice, "Had-" But before she could finish, she suddenly disappeared again but for good this time.
"Astrid!" Peter let out and dropped his head and closed his eyes, just wanting his wife to be with him again.
"Hey, we will find her." Snow assured as she stepped over to him, moving a hand over his shoulder.
"Will we?" Peter began, angry that someone was hurting and torturing his wife and that he couldn't do anything about it. "Did you not just bloody see that? She's in pain. She's suffering."
"Not to mention, this place. We have half an hour. You have half an hour." Emma also spoke up, "Cora has a boat coming. You have to take it, or we might all be stuck here."
"If she can arrange a way out, so can we... after we find Astrid." David spoke up, glancing from Peter to Emma, "We are not giving up on you."
Emma faced Regina and began, "Regina, they're staying, but you should go..."
"No, I-I..." The former Evil Queen let out but was stopped by Peter agreeing with Emma, saying, "Take Robin, Henry, and Zephyr for me..."
"Because if you don't, whatever your father is going to face..." Emma tried to finish.
Regina nodded slowly in agreement and reluctantly said, "It probably looks a lot like what... Astrid is facing."
Peter nodded, saying, "So, it's settled. Get them out of here. Get yourself out of here... Take care of my boy, please."
***
Regina and Henry walked up to the group on Main Street at night; Snow was the first to ask the raven haired woman, "Tell me your father's okay."
"He's better than okay. He's in a better place now." Regina replied as Robin placed a hand on Henry's shoulder who smiled a bit at the archer.
Peter was carrying Zephyr in his arms, the small boy's arms wrapped around his neck loosely as he was watched his family.
"Wait. That means everyone here..." Snow began with David finishing for her, "Can be saved."
"Every soul in this town has unfinished business." Hook spoke up, "And chances are, for a lot of them, we're that bloody business."
"You're all deluded yourself if you think these people are worth your time." Gold also spoke up, "They're not the dearly departed. They are dead, wretched souls, and I want no part of it."
"What you want doesn't matter." Emma remarked towards the man, "I wasn't bluffing-- I'm happy to tell Belle about your return to Dark One-ness."
"Our agreement was to find your sister and get the hell out of here." Gold shot back at her, "If you want to distract yourself with this other asinine pursuit, be my guest. I'm out."
Gold began to walk away just as Zephyr piped up from his father's arms, saying, "So... who-who's ready for Operation Firebird?"
Everyone softly laughed as Regina commented to the five year old with a light grin on her face, "Is that what we're calling it?"
"Henry helped me pick out the name," Zephyr grinned back at the raven haired woman. "I like it. It fits."
Emma glanced over at her son and inquired curiously, "You referring to the mythological bird or the muscle car?" She then wrapped an arm around his shoulders and held Hook's hand in her other hand as everyone began to walk down the street.
Regina glanced behind her at the broken clock next to her and noticed the black hands move one time, meaning things were already changing.
She smiled at that and caught up with Robin and then rest of them.
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