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"Okay! Uh, room keys are on the counter," David began towards the crowd, "Fresh clothes are by the jukebox-"

"What's a jukebox?" A man in the crowd wondered aloud as others nodded in agreement.

"Lunches are by the front door," David added.

Regina stepped inside of the diner with Henry and Robin as Hook spoke up, "Your Majesty, it's about time. The rabble are getting restless."

Regina simply stepped over to the counter next to Snow and David, cleared her throat, and dropped the storybook on the counter a bit loudly, gaining the people's attentions.

"As mayor, I would like to officially welcome you to Storybrooke." The firmer Evil Queen spoke up, "You fled to the Land of Untold Stories because you were afraid that whatever was in this book is going to play out. But now that you're here, I'm sure you're scared it will. But what you don't realize is... I'm just like you. I'm also getting a fresh start, and I don't know what the future holds either. But I do know one thing."

Regina continued, "We don't have to be afraid of anything. Because whatever comes next, we're going to face it, together."

The crowd applauded at her just as Astrid walked into Granny's when she noticed a bunch of new people standing around the diner while Zephyr held his mother's hand in his.

Emma noticed her sister and began curiously yet in slight concern, "Hey... Where were you yesterday?"

Astrid smiled some, "We, uh, spent the night in our treehouse yesterday. I just needed some time away to... clear my head after Peter..."

Emma nodded in understanding as she glanced over at Hook who spoke up, "Well, we were worried, lass."

Astrid sighed somewhat, "I know. I'm sorry." She smirked a little, "But hey, at least I didn't take off for like a week this time."

Hook threw a fatherly arm around the girl's shoulders and pulled her close, "Aye, that's true. Saved us the trouble of bringing you back, kiddo."

Astrid laughed slightly and twisted the pirate's arm off of her and grinned, "Hilarious, Dad."

Hook kept his smile just as Belle entered inside of the diner who started, "Hey, does anyone know-"

Emma looked over at her in slight shock, "Belle, you're here, and awake."

Belle nodded, "Yeah... and I need a place to stay."

Hook shared a look with Astrid as he started, "What about the Crocodile?"

"We're, uh, we're not together at the moment. So I thought maybe Granny would have a room." Belle explained.

"Oh," Emma replied, "I would not wish those mattresses on my worst enemy. We'll find you something better."

Astrid nodded in agreement as Hook added, "Aye, I know just the place. What do you say, AJ, Swan?"

"Oh, I... I have an appointment with Archie," Emma sheepishly admitted.

"Ah, you're still gonna see the cricket? I'm impressed," Hook nodded in surprise.

"Did you think I was gonna back out?" Emma replied.

Which made Astrid comment, "No, but you know, being vulnerable isn't exactly your strong suit... One of the things we have in common."

Emma gave her twin a sympathetic smile, "You're right. We've been through a lot. Can't hurt to talk about it."

"We're glad to hear it, love," Hook told her and glanced over at Belle, "Right. This lady needs to find some accommodation. Right this way."

Zephyr stepped back over to his mother and held her hand as he, Astrid, Hook, and Belle walked out of the diner.

Astrid and Peter appeared in a familiar village known as Berk after she had changed Isaac's plans and saved the town.

Astrid felt her family back home safe for the moment and sighed in relief yet sadness.

She already missed them.

Peter moved his hand over his fiancé's hand and squeezed it in reassurance, "They'll be okay, love."

Astrid nodded, her eyes watery still, as she moved into his comforting embrace.

The two of them then began to walk down the street just as a familiar Viking stopped them, "Astrid Hofferson... Aren't you a sight for sore eyes?"

Astrid looked over at the raven haired teenage guy and replied, "Snotlout... Where's Ruffnut and Tuffnut and Fishlegs?"

Snotlout smiled and hugged her in a bone crushing hug, "They're around here somewhere. Come on, let's go find them."

"Oh," Astrid let out after his hug and glanced over at her love with a light shrug.

Snotlout began to lead them to where their friends were as he asked, "So, why'd you come home finally? What happened? I thought you were with your family in your Storybrooke?"

Astrid sighed, "I changed their fate that this mad villain who wanted the villains to get their happy endings and heroes to lose theirs. My price was I could never bloody see my family again, so now, I'm here again."

Snotlout smiled, "Well, welcome home."

"What? This is where you two want me to stay?" Belle started as the four of them stood on the pirate's ship, "The Jolly Roger? Yeah, I'm sorry. I-I can't stay here. If Rumple finds you harboring me..."

"His wrath will be an added bonus," Hook remarked.

Belle sighed and smiled a little, "I don't understand. Why would you risk your life for me?"

Astrid simply shrugged, "Well, you are my friend, and I'd do anything for my friends and family."

Hook nodded, adding, "And long ago, I... I tried to kill you in the Queen's castle once. I failed. But along the way, I did something I can... live with no longer. I laid a hand on you. And there's the matter of my shooting you at the town line."

Zephyr was currently pretending to steer the ship as he stood on his tiptoes at the wheel.

"Yeah, well, you've changed since all that." Belle assured the pirate.

"Maybe," Hook sighed, "I have a long road to travel before I can be someone I can be proud of. Despite the forgiveness of others... I must forgive myself, and I'm not there yet."

Astrid placed a light hand over her adopted father's arm in comfort.

"Well, then I accept," Belle replied, "You're not the only one trying to make up for past mistakes. I spent way too long trying to make things work with Rumple just because I wanted them to. Now I've got to do what's best for my son."

Astrid nodded in understanding and glanced over at her son who continued to pretend to be captain of the ship.

***

Astrid appeared next to her unconscious parents on the docks and withdrew one of her swords and blocked the Count's sword.

"Listen to me. You don't have to do this." Astrid started as their swords formed an 'x', "I know the Evil Queen has your heart. You can fight this."

Edmond pushed her back and pointed his sword, "I've tried to fight! I can't!"

The two of them fluidly blocked each of their sword movements until she held hers against his, both close against one another.

Regina, Robin, and Henry then raced over to the docks and stopped a few feet away, watching the two continue to fight.

Astrid swept her leg behind his and flipped him over her as the Count fell on the ground.

She then held him pinned, the tip of her sword at his neck, "I may not know you personally, but I will save you, Edmond Dantès."

The Count sighed, "I truly hope you do."

He then kicked her hand holding her sword away and wrapped his legs around hers and flipped her over onto the ground as well.

Astrid rolled into a backflip and onto her feet again just as the Count also stood back up.

She pinned him in place magically where was unable to move.

"I will get your heart back." Astrid assured the young man in front of her.

David and Snow groaned and woke up, sitting up off the ground as they looked over at them in slight confusion.

"Edmond," David let out.

"We'll help him," Astrid told her parents, Regina, Robin, and Henry in assurance.

Abruptly, they all heard a familiar voice speak up, "No, that's not true."

The six of them glanced over at the Evil Queen just as Edmond was unfrozen but currently stopped fighting.

Snow and David stood back up as Snow started, "She is back."

The Evil Queen smirked and held up an enchanted heart in her hand as she glanced at Astrid, "Looking for this?"

"No," Astrid sarcastically smiled at her as she held up her hand which the heart then appeared in, "Because I already have it."

"What!? How the hell did you do that?" The Evil Queen glared at the immortal girl.

Astrid now smirked, saying, "Oh, don't you know? I'm Artemis and also known as the Creator. This is my game, Queenie."

Her family proudly grinned at Astrid's power as the Evil Queen spoke up, "No matter. You may have won this fight, but I'll win the war."

The Evil Queen added, "Oh, and I'm not the one who's going to destroy your happy endings. Not this time."

"Then who is?" Regina questioned her doppelgänger who looked at her and replied, "You. You're going to destroy everyone's happy endings... And Astrid won't be around to save you guys forever."

"You won't divide this family," Snow commented.

"Oh, I won't have to. The people from the Land of Untold Stories aren't the only ones with tales they don't want told. And when your stories finally play out..." The Evil Queen said and chuckled, "I'll just sit back and watch you-" She finished in a sing-songy tone, "-tear yourselves apart."

The Evil Queen laughed in amusement and vanished in a cloud of purple smoke.

Astrid turned and faced Edmond, his heart still in her hand, "Ready to have this back where it belongs?"

The Count nodded, "You have no idea."

Astrid pushed his heart back inside his chest as he gasped and let out gratefully, "Thank you. You saved my life. I owe you."

"No big deal. That's my job as protector of the people." Astrid shrugged, adding, "Now, you can start a new story."

Edmond smiled, "Thank you-- again."

***

Emma knocked on the door of Archie's office and entered inside, "Archie, I'm sorry if I was out of line this morning. I think you're right. I think I probably should tell my family about the visions or dreams or whatever."

"Well, I'm glad to hear that," Archie started.

"But I can't. At least not yet." Emma added, holding her jacket in her hands somewhat anxiously.

Archie looked at her in confusion, "Does this have anything to do with the arrival of the Evil Queen?"

"You heard?" She inquired.

"Yeah, Bashful was my 4:00, and he likes to talk about current events before diving in." Archie admitted, removing his glasses.

"She said she was gonna tear us all apart." Emma started, "She's already tried to blacken Regina's heart, and threatened my sister."

Archie nodded and moved his glasses back on his face, "Are you worried that she's gonna succeed?"

Emma warily began, "I'm worried about... who might be in the hood. In my dream. I'm worried about who might kill me."

"Wh-Who, Emma?" He started in slight confusion, "Who's gonna kill you?"

Emma admitted, "The one person who wasn't with my family in the vision... Astrid."

Archie furrowed his eyebrows and inquired, "Are you worried about your sister or the Evil Queen?"

"I don't know." Emma murmured in angst.

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