#and then one gust of magic light and whoosh there it goes

[warlordfelwinter]

[Call him by his name.]

[lixiepeach]

Red Moon Drabble Series - Part 9

Summary: Another one of the original ideas I had, but this one is probably the most different from what the finished story turned out to be. 

Warnings: Magical stuff, blood, injury

These all relate back to the original story. It helps to have read the story before reading through the drabbles. The story can be found on the Masterlist.

MASTERLIST

Hana is falling. The ground has been swept out from under her feet, like the first drop of a roller coaster her stomach is somewhere above her having been left behind. But there’s no endorphins with this fall. Hana feels as if she’s being pulled in two. It’s not just her stomach that she’s left behind, half of her very soul has been ripped away, split apart and left floating somewhere above her as she plummets to Earth. 

The stark reality of her situation hits her all at once, the dark clouds above her snapping away in an instant, replaced instead with blue sky hidden in the dense trees above her. She hits the ground hard, a ragged gasp leaving her as the wind is knocked from her lungs. She’s bleeding. She can feel the warmth soaking her shirt. Her strength is fading, the trees spinning above her. A hand appears in her vision. It’s her own, lifting to the sky in her mind’s last attempt, using the last of her strength to send out the distress signal, whooshing through the trees like a gust of wind in all directions. Her body goes limp, fading into darkness. 

*******

The feeling hits Changbin like a ton of bricks, making him stumble in his light run around the perimeter of their land. He feels drawn back in the direction he’d come, all of his senses suddenly focusing on one point too far for him to see. His paws are moving before he can make his decision, sprinting towards the source of the feeling, every instinct driving him to this one spot. 

He slides to a stop, panting as he catches sight of the figure on the ground. The harsh scent of blood meets his nose, making him snort in surprise. He steps closer, the figure unmoving except for a small lift of her chest with each labored breath. He feels his feet moving him closer, head buzzing as he nears the small female on the ground. She’s human, or at least seems that way. Her scent is off, but he can hardly smell more than the coppery tang of blood in the air. He’s shifted back before he even realizes it, bones snapping painfully back into place. He’s kneeling beside her, uncaring of his naked state as he reaches towards her arm. 

Something erupts in him as his fingers meet her skin. The feeling jolts through him, lighting up his very nerve endings, shooting up his brain stem, blinding him for a moment. His ears are ringing, tasting copper in his own mouth as he comes back to, hunched over the body on the ground. Her breaths are raspy, uneven. Loud to his ears as his hearing comes back. He feels urges he can’t understand, body moving on its own accord as he lifts the female into his arms, ignoring the wetness on her back as he runs through the trees. 

He breaches the treeline faster than he’d ever ran, even in his wolf form. Jisung is on the porch, giving him a look as he approaches with the body in his arms. Her breaths are uneven, body cold against his skin. He moves past Jisung and into the house, stopping at the sight of his alpha standing in the entryway. 

“Changbin?” 

“I found her in the woods. I-I don’t know...” 

“You felt it too?” Changbin gives Chan a confused look. “We all felt it. The boys went out to try and find where it came from. Come on, she needs help.” 

Chan directs Changbin to the dining room, clearing the table with a swipe of his arm before having Changbin lay the girl on the table. Chan directs Jisung to grab blankets as he heads up the stairs quickly to put pants on. He can hear his pack mates returning as he pulls on a pair of sweats, heading back down the stairs quickly. 

Chan looks like he’s seen a ghost when Changbin makes it back to the kitchen. He’s standing hunched over the girl, hands on either side of her face. His packmates don’t look much better, all of them looking like they just touched a live wire. There’s an audible snap outside, all eight heads turning to look out the big windows. Two figures materialize in the yard, Seungmin closest to the door announcing their visitors. 

“It’s JB and BamBam.” 

“Go bring them in.” Chan says, dabbing a wet towel across the girl’s face. 

The six wolves in the living room all bow out of respect as the older alpha and his emissary enter the house. They beeline right for the figure on the table, BamBam giving the girl a once over. 

“Was it her?” JB asks, staying a couple steps back. Chan and his pack were well familiar with JB and his, the packs sharing a border to the East. 

“Yes.” BamBam says. “She must have been in great distress to send out a signal that strong.” 

Chan begins to put pieces together, stepping back from the table to allow BamBam a closer look. “She’s a witch?” 

“Yes.” BamBam says, hovering a hand over her head. “Or, she was. I need to get a closer look.” He looks at JB, the alpha nodding once. 

BamBam closes his eyes, reaching a hand out before touching the girl’s. He feels as if the ground is yanked out from under his feet as he’s snapped into the magic realm. The courtyard is open, dark clouds greying the sky, blocking out the sunlight. There’s a figure lying motionless at the center of the tile floor, two wolves pacing restlessly around it. BamBam chances a few steps forward, the wolves snapping their gazes at him. They bare their teeth, low growls leaving them. BamBam puts his hands up, taking a breath before forcing himself back into his body. 

“She’s dying.” BamBam says, turning to Chan “We need to do this now. The shock of it might be enough to at least bring her back on this end.” 

Chan frowns. “I don’t understand.” 

“You’ve found your emissary, Chan. But she’s injured. Deeply. I can heal her on this end, but I’m going to need your help to do it.” 

Chan swallows thickly. “What do you need?” 

“We need your pack around the table.” 

The eight wolves move on command, placing themselves around the table. BamBam stands at the head of the table so he’s looking down at the girl’s face. 

“I need everyone but Chan to put your hand on her. Make sure you’re touching her skin.” The seven wolves do as they are told, eyes watching BamBam in confusion. “Chan, we have to time this perfectly. On the count of three I need you to touch her. One.” BamBam hovers his hands on either side of the girl’s head. “Two.” He can feel his fingertips buzzing channelling his magic. “Three.” 

The result is instantaneous, the girl’s body jolting like she’d just been shocked, back arching for a moment as a gasp leaves her mouth. Her eyes have snapped open, chest heaving as she breathes. She’s shaking, hand gripping on to Chan’s like he’s her lifeline. BamBam supposes he is now. 

He brushes the hair off her forehead. “It’s alright. You’re safe now.” 

The six wolves at the end of the table are disgruntled, leaning heavily on each other or the table as they recover from the sudden shock, Chan and Changbin being the only two unaffected. 

“What the hell was that?” Minho asks, rubbing his head. 

“You’ve just bonded with your emissary.” BamBam says, helping the girl sit up. Chan is right there, holding her up as she gets her bearings. “Usually it’s not quite such a shocking process, but we had to force it.” He stares at the blood on the table and the girl’s back. Part of him already knows what happened, but he wants to know for sure. “We need to have a discussion. I need to know what happened.” 

*******

The girl holds the tea cup between her hands, letting it warm her. She’d been changed into one of Chan’s sweatshirts, swimming in the fabric but it was better than her blood soaked shirt. The table had been cleaned, the scent of bleach stinging the sensitive noses of the three wolves in the room. Chan had taken the head of the table, the girl to his left, his second in command Changbin, BamBam and JB to his right. 

“You’re not from this area.” BamBam says, starting the conversation.

“No,” The girl says. The first words she’d spoken since she’d woken up. “I’m not even sure where ‘here’ is.” 

“What’s the last thing you remember?” 

“I was in Ettavar. The Chancellor pulled me in out of nowhere. She was making all these claims. I was using dark magic, using illegal spells to strengthen my powers too fast. She never even gave me a chance to speak. I’ve never seen or felt magic like that before. She...She attacked me, hit me with a spell...I wanted to get out but I felt like I was being torn in half. I transported myself to the first place I could think of.” 

BamBam nods. “Your instincts brought you to your pack. You were vulnerable, afraid. It led you to a place it knew you would be safe.” 

“I knew I was dying. I don’t even remember sending out the distress spell.” 

“It was a strong one. We felt it almost 30 miles away.” BamBam says.

“I feel...empty.” 

BamBam nods. “I tracked you in Ettavar. Part of you is still there.” 

The girl looks down at the table, a small sound leaving her throat. Chan shifts, wanting to reach out to her but he fights that instinct, not wanting to scare her. “I can’t feel it anymore. I can’t...I can’t feel anything.” 

“Whatever the Chancellor hit you with, it separated you from your magic. She wanted you vulnerable, but your instincts were stronger than she thought. The wolves are there now, the pieces of them now attached to you are protecting you. I put a shield up. She won’t have an easy time finding you. Not in either realm.” 

“Can I get it back?” 

“Yes.” BamBam nods, meeting the girl’s gaze. “That part of you is still alive. You can’t kill one side without killing the other too. But it will take work. A lot of work. It will be like starting from the beginning.” 

“Years of practice, and now it’s all gone.” 

“It’s not gone forever. With time and work it will be back. Your wolves can help you. Drawing energy from them and strengthening that connection with them will help. We will fix this.” 

[oaken-evenshade]

Horrific Visions: Roots From the Deep

“ Akenna and Oaken, I write this for you. Learn this lesson from the tallest trees. If you truly want to grow upward, don’t grow in one direction alone. Remember that the trees you see above the ground are the products of roots that have branched in many different directions underneath.” - Excerpt from a letter written by Gaura Evenshade. 

On Stormwind Keep, the lion face of the Alliance banner thrashed and curled with each beating of the void dragon’s wings. Gusts of strong wind ricocheted off the ground, sending debris stored between loose cobblestone scattering across the Keep’s courtyard.

Oaken’s eyes felt dry from the wind but he could not tear his gaze away. Next to him Kyndolin stood her ground, white hair whipping in the air. Not far off in the distance, Ellnara wisely remained hidden behind a tree.

They had found a way to re-enter the Vision in order to find their friend, Grant Goldsteed, who had been trapped inside for days.

Kyndolin turned her face from the void dragon and its mysterious rider. Shouting to be heard over the din of flapping wings, she called out, “What do we do?!”

A stream of options rushed through Oaken’s mind in a matter of seconds.

Option 1: Lie down, belly up. Option 2: Start a conversation with the rider, may be pleasant. Option 3: Point at Ellnara and hope the dragon goes for her instead. Bleeding thumbs, that’s not an option. Option 4: Lie down belly up, no that’s option 1. Option 5: Run, find cover, reassess.

Oaken opened his mouth to answer, a croak came out instead. Clearing his throat, he shouted “Run! Find cover!” He glanced behind to see a large statue standing over a fountain. “King Wrynn’s statue!”

In sync, the two flipped around and made for the edge of the fountain. Feet pounded over stone. As the edge loomed near, Oaken leapt and fell 15 feet to the shallow water below. A jarring pain shot through his legs and paralyzed him for a moment.

Pushing himself behind the curtain of falling water, he glanced over to see Kyndolin had done the same. They brushed back wet hair from their faces and froze at the sound of a heavy landing upon King Wrynn’s statue. Bits of stone fell from the sculpture and landed in the fountain with a splash.

The voice was cold and hollow that called out, “You cannot remain hidden.”

I think I will remain hidden. Though the sheet of falling water would not keep back a bird, let alone, a dragon, Oaken dared not leave its shelter. His eyes found Kyndolin. Something different was written in her face. A strong focus and determination shone through her one exposed eye. The eye of someone who will not remain hidden. In that moment, Oaken felt a mixture of frustration and admiration. A blend of emotions he’d felt rarely since Akenna.

Stone crumbled from the statue as the void dragon shifted.

Kyndolin glanced up. “We need to get the rider away from their dragon.”

Clenching trembling hands, Oaken scraped up some courage. “If we could get away from this stone, get to bare ground. We could work together. Find the oldest and deepest roots, turn the odds in our favor.”

They nodded at each other.

Kyndolin shifted into a runner’s position. “I’ll lead the way.” She glanced at Oaken. “Ready?” Without waiting for a reply, she broke through the curtain of water and dashed off in a sprint.

Oaken yelped and followed.

The sound of whooshing wind announced the dragon’s flight. They’d been spotted. Don’t look back, keep running. Cold stone turned to soft grass.

Out of the corner of his eye, Oaken saw Kyndolin kneel to the ground. He fell to his own knees.

As he pressed his palms into the ground he felt a pulse of life deep in the earth. It was a small sensation at first, like an unhatched robin weakly pecking at the inside of its egg.

He also felt Kyndolin’s power in the ground. Her energy charged through roots, lighting the way for Oaken in a manner he hadn’t experienced before. The blood in his veins surged, the water in the roots surged with it. Where he ended and the roots began became blurred. In a blinding moment, his life was pulled away from him as he felt himself winding through the twisted paths of roots below.

The raw energy of nature’s magic tore through Oaken. He did not see the maws of the dragon opening as it dove towards them. 

Something deep and old was charging through layers of soil.

Bursting through the ground in a spray of soil, roots that had snaked their way deep into the ground over hundreds of years, shot through the sky towards the rider and his beast. Gnarled fingers laced around each other and impaled the maw of the void dragon.

The beast swayed from side to side, roots jutting through its head. It began to lower to the ground as the beating of its wings slowed. Then it fell altogether with a loud crash. The rider cried out, venom in his voice.

The battle continued on for some time after that. Blood was drawn, shields were thrown, books were tossed, and a meteor shower even took place.

At the end of it all, Kyndolin, Ellnara and Oaken found a familiar face hidden underneath the helmet of the mysterious rider. Grant Goldsteed had been in the vision for too long. N’Zoth had made the soldier his puppet. Though Grant seemed far from being who he once was, there was hope that he could one day own his own mind again.

With the void dragon defeated and Grant Goldsteed found again, the four companions rested for a moment underneath a tree. They had entered the Vision of their own free will. Now how to leave it?

[brighteyesillusionist]

Seeking Solace

Obadiah really should have checked the tower before he decided to lock Tony in it.

He gets it, he really does. After his parents died, Obie was left to take care of the Kingdom and Tony with it. The Kingdom wasn't really doing well after the attack, and the war that it ignited. It took a lot of Obie's attention and planning and Tony just got in the way. He was a nuisance, bratty and much to young to help. It was easier to lock him away and forget about him. One less thing to worry about and take attention away from the important business of the war and weapons for the army.

Where better to keep a troublesome prince than a tower, right?

Unless that tower had been previously inhabited by a Wizard, that is.

It took Tony less than a day to find the 'secret' stash of grimoires, magic tomes, ingredient stores, and enchanted objects. It's like the old Wizard didn't even really try to hide them. The Cauldron of Plenty was useful though.

His name had been Strange, apparently. Tony still got a kick out of that.

The books were a convenient way to distract himself from his boredom. Some of them were easier to follow than others and it wasn't too long before Tony was casting simple spells and enchanting items.

His first enchanted helper was a broomstick. He knows it's cliche, but honestly the tower was getting dusty and Tony did NOT want to clean it himself. The thing did a pretty crappy job, but it did keep the worst of the dust off the floor at least, even if it kept screwing up Tony's experiments.

He named it Dum-E.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

A few years later, the tower was hardly recognizable. A fire demon had taken a liking to Tony and decided to reside in the tower's hearth, giving Tony some much needed companionship. Jarvis was also quite knowledgeable in the Arcane and Tony loved soaking up everything he was willing to teach. The demon had integrated himself so deeply into the tower by that point, that the very stone of it was soaked with his magic.

Dum-E, the idiot, had been joined by two new little helpers. A bucket that kept sloshing water across the floor that Tony called Butterfingers, and a lantern that wouldn't answer to anything other than U. They did their best, really, but they messed it up most of the time. Still, they were some of the first things Tony had attempted to enchant and he loved them.

He spent most of his time reading and working on different things. Some spells gave him more trouble than others, naturally, but he thought he'd finally gotten the hang of the potion he'd been working on when there was an incredibly loud knock on the door.

Tony frowned. He didn't get visitors, really. Obie only came to the tower when he needed something, and that only happened every few months at most, and he had the keys so there was no need to knock.

“Hey, Jarvis?” Tony called. “Do you know who is at the door?”

Jarvis' voice hummed from the stones around him. “I do not, sir.”

Tony's eyebrows rose. “You don't know?”

“It appears that, whoever they are, they carry an item with them that makes it difficult to discern anything about them.” Jarvis' tone was irritable. It wasn't often that Tony asked something he didn't have a specific answer to.

“I guess I should go check it out then.” Tony walked out of his laboratory and shut the hidden doorway behind him. He stepped up to the window placed conveniently above the front door and opened it to look down.

It was raining heavily outside, and there was a single man standing in front of the door, a large staff held in his hand. His clothing was soaked and darkened by the rain so Tony could hardly tell the color of it.

“Hello!” Tony called down. “Can I help you?”

The man looked up, squinting as water poured into his face. “Greetings! I'm afraid I was caught in this dreadful weather unprepared. My mount was startled by the thunder and has run off. I would chase after it, but what with the dark and the rain I'm afraid I would be unsuccessful. Might you have space where I could wait out the storm?”

Tony frowned and looked out at the sky. It really was awful out there, and he wouldn't want to leave someone out in the rain, especially not where there wasn't another shelter for miles. Technically the tower was locked, but Tony had figured out how to open it years ago. A gust of wind blew into his face and the cold water quickly chilled his skin. He wiped off his face quickly and made up his mind. It was utterly miserable out there and he wouldn't leave someone to it if he could help it.

“Of course!” He called down. “Allow me to just come down and unlock the door.”

“Bless you, sir!” The man called up as Tony fastened the window closed once more. He made his way down the tower's spiraling staircase and to the front door.

It was a beautifully wrought entrance, the dark wood carved with grand designs and symbols, etched in silver. He threw his hands out and muttered an ancient spell to release the locks embedded in the design. The silver metal glowed slightly as the doors swung outward to admit Tony's guest.

He sighed and lowered his hands with a smile. “Welcome to my humble abode.”

The man walked through the entrance and grinned. “It is my pleasure.” Tony turned slightly to show the man to the small guest room, but out of the corner of his eye he saw his guest angle his staff to point at him. The tip of it started to glow with a sickly yellow light.

Tony turned to face him and tried to reach for his own power, but the other man released his energy before he had gathered more than a weak shield.

The energy blast hit him square in the chest and Tony was thrown back. He landed against the stone steps with a crack, pain registering from both his front and his back. He leaned back with a groan, his vision already growing black at the edges. His breath was stuck in his lungs and they wouldn't respond to his desperate need for more air.

He saw the man start to walk towards him with a small smile on his face and a dagger in his hand.

“A parting gift, from his majesty.” The man said, leaning over him slightly. “Goodbye, dear prince.”

Tony's eyes widened as the knife was brought to hover directly over him. The blackness was encroaching further and there was nothing he could do to stop the man from plunging it directly into his sternum.

The pain was agonizing and even with the little air left to him, he screamed.

The scream must have alerted his little helpers, or Jarvis had called them, because just as the man was moving to stand up, a little bucket hit him over the head with a resounding crack.

The man swayed for a moment before shaking his head a little and looking around. While his back was turned, Dum-E let loose another crack against his skull with his handle.

The bucket and broom took turns whacking the man over the head before he finally got his hands around Dum-E's handle. Tony watched, frozen, as the man brought the boom up and prepared to bring it down over his knee. Just as he started to bring his arms down, U tipped himself over his head from above, drenching the already soaked man with oil.

He dropped Dum-E to the floor in favor of reaching up to wipe the oil from his face. His eyes were blood-shot and full of anger as he reached for the staff he'd abandoned on the floor.

From up the stairs, Tony heard a whooshing sound. Out of the corner of his eye he saw a wall of flame rushing down the stairs above him. It washed over his form with a tender warmth before it raced forward to engulf the man.

His oil soaked hair and clothing lit immediately and he started screaming. He dropped his staff and ran for the door and the pouring rain outside. As soon as he crossed the threshold, the door slammed shut and glowed again to re-engage the locks.

Tony grinned and reached up to grab at the knife embedded in his chest. He was barely able to suck enough breath into his lungs to offer a small grin.

“Thanks... guys...” He panted. The pain was becoming unbearable now. Liquid fire was burning it's way through his veins and the blackness had almost engulfed his vision. In the final seconds before he closed his eyes, he saw a burning humanoid shape approaching him. The fire reached out to touch his hands and Tony felt a fresh wave of pain overcome him and he allowed himself to fall into blessed oblivion.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Tony was surprised when he actually woke up to familiar surroundings.

He was laying on the small cot he kept in his lab, but it had been pushed up right next to the main hearth where Jarvis resided. He looked around, confused.

“What happened?” He groaned and sat up.

“Please, Sir. Be careful.” Jarvis' voice came from the hearth, but it was much weaker than normal. “I can hardly hold back the curse as it is.”

“Curse? Jarvis, what happened? I thought I was.. didn't I?”

“You were dying, Sir.” The quiet response was disconcerting. “Your guest left quite the package for you I'm afraid. It is a combination of an ancient evil that was present in the blighted dagger and the direct curse that striked you before. I can only hold it back for so long.” The last admittance was quieter than the others.

“That's okay, J.” Tony responded equally softly. “Thanks for the save back there, I owe  you one, okay? I can't go till I pay that back, alright?”

Jarvis laughed softly. “It will be a short time for the both of us. In order to delay the magic I tied my essence to your own. When the curse takes you, my own existence will cease as well.”

Tony shook his head. “Okay, yeah. Nope! Neither of us is dying. I just decided right now.” He levered himself painfully up from the cot. “Back to the lab! We're going to fix this Jarvis, okay? You just watch me!”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

A few months later, another knock sounded at Tony's door. He looked down from the window again, much more cautiously this time, but with an extra confidence that came directly from the soft blue glow emitting from his chest though it was hidden under his clothing.

“Who goes there!” He called down.

A tall man with blond hair and a brightly painted shield with a star in the center looked back up at him.

“Are you the prince of the tower?!” He called back up.

“Depends on who is asking!”

The man gestured to the motley group surrounding him, “We're called the Avengers! We heard you needed rescuing!”

Tony laughed. “No such thing, I'm quite happy up here!”

The man looked surprised. “Really?”

“Yes! No rescuing necessary!”

“Oh, well alright then.” The man frowned slightly. “Is there anything else we can assist you with then?”

Tony grinned. “Well if you'd like to help me take back my kingdom and do some rescuing myself I wouldn't say no. I was about to head out anyway!”

“Sounds like an adventure.”

[swanqueeneverafter]

22. Tallahassee, Pt.1

Storybrooke. Present. Blanchard Loft's Door. (Mr. Gold knocks on the door with his cane. Emma Swan opens the door.) Mr. Gold: “Ready to go, Miss Swan?” Emma: “Almost.” (Henry Mills approaches.) Henry: “Do you think it will be cold where we're going or warm?” Emma: “I think layers are always a good idea.” Mr. Gold: “I thought the terms of our agreement were quite clear. You owe me a favor - you alone.” Emma: “I'm not leaving Henry here with Cora lurking around, so either we both go or we both stay.” (Mr. Gold thinks.) Mr. Gold: “Then we'll have to purchase another plane ticket, won't we?” Emma: (Taken aback:) “Wait. We're flying?” Mr. Gold: “Don't worry, I'm covering expenses, even the new ones.” (Mary Margaret Blanchard approaches Henry and helps him with his jacket.) David Nolan: (Coming down the stairs:) “You're a real gentleman, aren't you? (David gives a bag to Emma and walks over to Gold:) All right, Gold. You're going out there with my family. Just know if anything happens to them—” Mr. Gold: “Then you'll what? Cross the town line? And David Nolan will hunt me down in his animal rescue van?” David: “I'll be devastated. This isn't a threat. It's a request. Take care of them.” Mr. Gold: “I promise no harm will come to your family. After all... we have a deal.”

Storybrooke. Present. (Inside a car, Mr. Gold is driving out of town.) Henry: “So, where are we going?” Mr. Gold: “Logan International Airport.” Emma: “I think he meant after that.” Mr. Gold: “Let's just take things one step at a time shall we?” Emma: “Do you really think that shawl's gonna work?” Mr. Gold: “Well, if it doesn't, and I revert to my cursed self, we're all gonna have some problems. It'll work.” (Mr. Gold's car crosses the town line, and a blue light shimmers over him.) Emma: “So?” Mr. Gold: “My name is Rumplestiltskin. And we're gonna find my son.” The Land Without Magic. Past. Portland, Oregon. (Emma exits a building, checks to see if anybody is watching her, breaks into a car and steals it. As she drives away a man pops up from the backseat of the car.) Man: “Impressive. (Emma screams:) But really, you could've just asked me for the keys. (Smiles:) Just drive. It's fine.” Emma: “I just stole your car. Your life could be in danger.” Man: “Neal Cassidy.” Emma: “Yeah, I'm not telling you my name.” Neal: “No, I don't need it to have you arrested when the robbery's in progress.” Emma: “Emma. Swan.” Neal: “Good name.” Emma: “So do you just live in here, or are you just waiting for the car to be stolen?” Neal: “Why don't I tell you over drinks?” Emma: “Excuse me?” (Turns to look at him and unknowingly runs a stop sign.) Neal: “Hey! Eyes on the road.” Emma: “I am not having drinks with you. You might be a pervert.” Neal: “I might be a pervert, but you're definitely a car thief.” Emma: “I said I was sorry.” Neal: “You didn't, actually.” (Police sirens.) Neal: “Oh.” Emma: “Damn it.” Neal: “That's why I said, ‘eyes on the road.’”

(Emma pulls over the car.) Neal: “Screwdriver.” (Emma gives him the screwdriver and he puts in the keys, climbing into the passenger seat.) Police Officer: “License and registration.” Emma: “Hi.” Neal: “Terribly sorry, officer, but this is actually my car. I'm... I'm trying to, uh, teach my girlfriend how to drive stick.” Police Officer: “She's got a lot to learn.” Neal: “I know. But, you know... women.” (Emma looks at him.) Police Officer: “All right, I hear you. It's a warning... this time.” Neal: “Yeah. Thank you so much.” (As the police officer leaves, Emma turns to Neal.) Emma: “What are you, some sort of a misogynist?” Neal: “You're welcome. Go, go. We got lucky.” Emma: “ ‘We’? This isn't your car either, is it?” Neal: “Hmm?” Emma: “I stole a stolen car?” Neal: “Now how about that drink?” (Smiles.) The Storybrooke Dock. Present. (David, Mary Margaret and Leroy have just released Hook from the hospital.) Hook: “You didn't even ask me about my recovery.” Mary Margaret: “How are you feeling, Hook?” Hook: “Come closer and feel for yourself.” David: (Pushes Hook backwards:) “You wanna lose the other hand? Where's the ship? Come on. Archie told us; it's shielded somehow, isn't it... mate?” Hook: “Aye. That it is. Follow me. I don't know what you expect to find. Cora won't be there.” David: “Maybe she left something behind that will tell us where she went. Let's go.” (David pushes Hook forward) Leroy: “No funny business. I'm watching you, pirate.” Hook: “Yes, dwarf. That should deter me from any malfeasance.” Mary Margaret: “Oh, don't worry, Leroy. He'll help us.” Hook: “What makes you so sure?” Mary Margaret: “Because you're a pirate. You know which way the wind blows, and right now, it is gusting towards us.” Hook: “Oh, I see where your daughter got her gumption. (Looks at David and smirks:) Follow me.” (He pushes Leroy aside and climbs the invisible stairs that lead to his ship.) Hook's Ship. Present. (David is climbing down the stairs that lead onto the main deck.) Leroy: “You sailed this ship from our land. Can you sail it back?” Hook: “My ship? She's a marvel. Made from enchanted wood. We weathered many a storm together, seeing many strange glittering shores. But to travel between lands, she must go through a portal.” David: “Yeah. What do you know about Cora's plans?” Hook: “Cora's not the most communicative of lasses. But let me tell you this: whatever malice she has in mind, her weapon of choice is in here.” (He taps on something that is covered by a cloth. Leroy removes the cloth from the object to reveal a cage. He looks inside to see the Giant, Anton.) Mary Margaret: “Who's that?”

Hook: “Remember the giant at the top of the beanstalk? Cora used magic to make him travel-sized. Whatever she intends to do with him, it's important.” David: “Oh, I think you know exactly what she intends. You're holding out.” Hook: “Well, either have your lovely wife torture it out of me, which I promise will be fun for both—” (David grabs Hook by the throat.) David: “Why don't you and I have some fun?” Hook: “I don't know what she's planning. (Holds up a key:) Why don't you wake the bloody giant and ask him yourself?” (Mary Margaret takes the key to the cage from Hook. She opens the cage.) Mary Margaret: “Hey. (Anton wakes up; startled:) It's all right. You're safe now. (Anton climbs out of the cage:) What's your name?” Anton: “Anton. Where's that witch?” Mary Margaret: “She's gone.” Anton: “What did she do? She made me small.” David: (Grabbing Anton's shoulder to turn him around:) “Come on. Let's get you outta here.” Anton: “You.” David: “Me?” Anton: “You! Uhh!” (He uppercuts David. David goes flying backwards over a railing on deck.) Mary Margaret: “David!” Leroy: (Running toward Anton) “Hey! Hey, over here, you big—” Anton: “Aah!” (He throws Leroy down the stairs of the ship; causing him to hit his head. Anton walks down the stairs. David pulls a gun from his holster, but Anton kicks it away. An arrow whooshes by Anton's shoulder and grabs his attention. He turns to see Mary Margaret pointing a loaded bow at him.) Mary Margaret: “Step away from my husband.” Anton: “You may have me outnumbered, but this isn't over. (To David:) You think I forgot what you did? I didn't. You'll pay for your evil. I promise you'll pay!” (Anton runs off the ship.) Storybrooke General Hospital. Present. (Belle is sitting in a chair watching television.) Bill Godwin: (On television:) “Hey there, folks. Bill Godwin here. Be sure to tune in to ‘Good Morning, Storybrooke’ every day at 7:00 AM. And now back to ‘Expose.’” (Ruby enters, carrying a basket.) Ruby: “Hey.” (Belle turns toward Ruby. There's a period of silence as Belle wonders what she wants.) Ruby: “You don't remember me, do you?” Belle: “Um... sorry, no I... I don't.” Ruby: (She sets down her basket and sits in a chair next to Belle:) “I'm Ruby. (She turns off the TV:) You used to come into my granny's diner a lot before. Anyway, I... thought you could use some comforts from home. (She reaches into her basket and pulls out a book:) You were always telling me about Jules Verne, so I brought you my favorite—’The Mysterious Island.’” Belle: (Belle takes the book:) “Thank you. Well... were we really friends?” Ruby: “Yeah, we were.” Belle: “Then tell me the truth. Before I was brought here, I was hurt. I was bleeding, and then this man came. And he... he healed me. Then I saw him hold a ball of fire in his hands. How? How is that possible?” Ruby: “The nurse said that the tranquilizers can give you wicked nightmares.” Belle: “No, I know what I saw. And I don't need any more tranquilizers or—” Ruby: “Belle—” Belle: “Don't call me that. Why does everyone keep calling me that? I don't— (Belle is grabbed by the severe nurse who tries to restrain her:) I'm fine, I don't—” (King George/Albert Spencer enters in the background; unseen by the others. He stands silently watching the struggle.) Severe Nurse: “Take it easy. Take it easy.” (She finally gets Belle back in her chair.) Ruby: “Has she been like this the whole time?” Severe Nurse: (She injects Belle with a tranquilizer:) “More or less. We've had to keep her heavily sedated. Okay, let's get you back to bed. Now here we go. (She gets Belle to stand:) There.” (She begins to lead Belle back to her room.)

Albert: (Making his presence known:) “Everything all right in here?” Ruby: “Everything's fine, Mr. Spencer. Since when do you care?” Albert: “Oh, I don’t. Just enjoying the suffering of others is all.” Ruby: “Well, that sounds more like the man we all know and despise.” Albert: “Charming as ever, wolf. When you’ve lost everything like I have, you’ll know exactly how it feels.” Ruby: “You lost everything because you wouldn’t let Snow and Charming live their lives. Reveling in the misery of others is no way to live.” Albert: “Perhaps you’re right. But then again, misery does love company.” Land Without Magic. Logan International Airport. (Emma, Henry, and Mr. Gold are going through security.) Henry: “Have you ever been outside of Storybrooke before, Mr. Gold?” Mr. Gold: “No.” Henry: “Are you nervous?” Mr. Gold: (Holding back anger:) “No.” Henry: “Are you worried about meeting you son?” Mr. Gold: (Explodes:) “No, Henry, I'm fine.” Emma: “How about we talk about this later, kid? We're next.” Henry: “It must be really hard not to use magic, being like everyone else.” Emma: (To Mr. Gold:) “You've gotta put your shoes in.” Mr. Gold: “How terribly uncivilized.” (Henry goes through the metal detector. Mr. Gold puts his shoes in the x-ray machine bin.) Security Officer: “Uh, scarf and the cane go in the basket.” Mr. Gold: “What?” Security Officer: “Scarf and the cane go in the basket.” Mr. Gold: (To Emma:) “I can't.” Emma: “You have to.” Man Waiting in Line: “It ain't rocket science, buddy. You ever been on a plane before?” Mr. Gold: “Have you ever been impaled upon a cane before?” Emma: “My... father's a little nervous. We're headed to a family reunion. Sorry.” Mr. Gold: “Your father?” Emma: (In a lowered voice:) “Just put your shawl in the bin. I'll help you get through.” Mr. Gold: “If I let this go, I could forget who I am.” Emma: “I'm not gonna let that happen.” Mr. Gold: (After pausing for a moment to consider what Emma has just said, Mr. Gold let's out a sigh:) “Okay.” (He puts his cane and shawl in the bin. Immediately, he feels pounding in his head and becomes physically unstable. He manages to make it through the metal detector with Emma close behind. She quickly pulls the shawl from Mr. Gold's bin and places it back around his neck. Emma stares at him with a concerned look; seeking reassurance that he is all right. Though winded, Mr. Gold nods.) Henry: (Unaware of the situation:) “Guys, there's a Cinnabon's here!” (Henry runs off as Mr. Gold composes himself.)

[isaacathom]

 jesus christ the more i think about them fighting the more difficult the scenario becomes to actually justify

though i can roughly track the idea. after the first failed attempt to ‘rescue’ Seora, which was a small team led primarily by the Captain (on a boner quest), the light kingdom sets up an army to full on storm the castle where she is being kept. the captain bursts down the door. Seora and Esther are waiting together in the main room, and probably with one or two more Warrior Maidens. It’s a last chance to negotiate. somewhat inevitably, it doesnt succeed. he has backup in the form of at least one Ritual Maiden (and someone that Seora knows personally). he also has A Gun. when he draws it, either Seora knocks it out of his hand and sends it flying across the room, OR redirects the bullet he fires and THEN knocks it out. the captains pretty peeved by this. of course he is. he wants to stick his assholish little peepee in this bitch and shes clearly been tainted by ~The Darkness~ so time to sort that out. a minor melee ensues wherein the goal is for one of the two sides to grab Seora and drag her back. Esther rushes in with sword raised and power ready to fuck up the Captain, so the two of them end up in their own tango. the Captains backup attempt to tackle Seora to the ground so she cant interfere (and also to recover her, i guess) while the Warrior Maidens attempt to protect her. She’s also protecting herself. In this complete chaos, the Ritual Maiden who was brought on this mission is left further back and proceeds to deflect Esther’s magic, leaving her to rely on her swordsmanship instead.

it then likely proceeds mostly as a straight up sword fight between the two, surrounded by complete chaos as both sides fight over Seora and Seora tries to get away so she can help Esther. At some point she is likely nabbed with some form of magic cancellation (which earlier on took the form of magic handcuffs that Esther used, but this time probably takes the form of like, a specially crafted gauntlet with the same properties. if shes ‘contained’ by such an item, she cant use magic. this is the advantage that the kingdom has, because all of their troops have stuff that cancels magic. it doesnt /work/ as protections, per se, but it works as PREVENTION. proactive, not reactive. like handcuffs dont stop bullets but they stop a guy from grabbing his gun) which prevents her from really protecting herself because her sole skill is magic. she has no training in self defence, or certainly not enough to be impactful to a great degree. 

at some point, that Ritual Maiden up back works out that Esther is focussing on the swordfight aspect and not the magic, and so starts using her magic to actively hinder her ability to proceed. Blinding light (which also hurts the Captain soooo oops), gusts of wind, making her blade slippery and hard to hold. its not anywhere near as effective as the Maiden might like, because Esther is a fucking professional, but it definitely puts her on the defensive rather than the offensive.

what probably cinches the deal for the Captain is Seora probably gets actually dogpiled as some point. like this guard is clutching her wrist p tight to prevent her magic and then in attempt to get him the Fuck off she backs up but then like tackling ensues??? it doesnt go great. she topples to the floor and its a notably /thud/. mostly because of the knights tripping on her dress but also like, yknow, 3 full people fell on the fucking floor. its a notable ENOUGH thud that Esther gets distracted. and because Seora stands out QUITE a bit in that chaos over yonder, its VERY obvious that she isnt there. as in, not standing up. she’s like 6′3 and pale blue with like plat blonde hair amidst a pile of sweaty knights of various heights but notably wider and all human coloured, and a pile of dark blue maidens with blue-white hair who aren’t anywhere near as tall. she’s the tallest fucker in the room. so her not being upright is immediately noticeable. she wouldnt necessarily be visible on the floor depending on where the guards are relative to her. Esther would lose her cool. even if just for a second, the fact she cant see Seora immediately disconnects her from the swordfight. from there, its a one two and the captain is holding her throat with his off hand and preparing his blade with the other. she lost the advantage.

its at this point that the Ritual Maiden backing up the captain likely loses her cool. Ritual Maidens, unlike their Warrior counterparts, arent military. they have very little connection to the military. her presence here basically came about because the Captain forced her to do it and managed to convince everyone it was necessary. she’s not a fighter, and she’s not comfortable with war. this whole scenario has been pretty upsetting for her. now, seeing the Captain preparing to murder Esther, she’s not taking it well. Neither is Seora, who can see whats happening between peoples feet.

in the tumble, whoever had a grip on Seora let go. she’s magically unrestrained, and seeing her friend battered and bruised and at the mercy of a guy she’s always thought was a Cunt, she probably fucking wind explodes. bwoosh. everyone in the crowd flies back. the captain wobbles but does not fall, and retains his grip on Esther throat, blocking Esther’s magic. the Ritual Maiden up back probably falls over and bursts into tears, completely removing any protections she had placed on the Captain (which had likely prevented him falling). Esther’s still on the ground desperately tryna claw his hand off but has probably briefly halted out of sheer ‘oh fuc’ which is reasonable but probably not the best choice she could have made. 

then  uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. yea. im not positive from there. if seora is sufficiently pissed and has time she’d just immediately blast the Captain off and then try to kill him. but she doesnt have time. so how does that occur? he has to stop her from taking direct action against him. for instance, by using Esther as a shield. Drop the blade, take both hands, pick her up and hold her by her neck in front of him, probably then grabbing one of her own daggers to use as the direct threat. you raise a finger, she dies. Seora, who has now gotten up off the floor, can’t directly react. she cant move him, because he’ll react by immediately drawing the blade. she’s short on time, because yknow, Esther is getting choked tf out. at best, she can stall for time by like. putting extra air around esther for her to get while she figures out a plan. that plan likely being to play off of the Captain’s superstition that she’s been tricked or possessed or something of that ilk by Esther. So if she can time a sorta heel-face turn properly, she can lull the Captain into genuinely thinking that her prior behavior was linked directly to Esther, and that Esther is now no longer an issue. its difficult to time, because it basically requires Esther to pass out, which is pretty dangerous. yknow, for obvious reasons. but if Seora can time it (perhaps pretending to partially lapse as Esther starts fading off and then ‘full lapsing’  BEFORE Esther actually passes out), then the Captain will drop Esther. Probably flinging her in the direction of her battered and bruised Warrior comrades (at least some of whom were probably killed in the chaos, as the same on the other side) and accepting Seora back.

The warrior maidens are absolutely furious. a) because they also think that the Captain just killed Esther, which is A HUGE ISSUE and b) that Seora was fucking with them the whole time. which is an issue, because of a lot of Seora’s time in the dark kingdom was spent with her and Esther convincing the other warrior maidens that Seora planned to help them. So Seora pulling a heel-face (or face-heel, in the eyes of the Warriors) is a complete betrayal of trust. a few of them might vaguely suspect its an act, but the whole group are very confused and very angry. for the most part, nursing their injuries (both from the fight AND from being flung willy nilly by Seora) they resolve to simply grab Esther and hang back. the Captain’s men start celebrating. at least one of them goes to comfort the absolutely distraught Ritual Maiden, who likely only got more upset when Esther was flung aside because UHMMM IS THAT AN ACTUAL DEAD BODY???? shes losing her poor mind. poor dear. today was not a good day.

the Captain, being that he is on a Boner Quest™, moves to claim his prize. Seora doesn’t fucking want it, you bet your fucking ass, but this is part of the plan. they kiss. the Captain is probably an awful kisser also, just to make that less fun. the light side cheer. the dark side wail. noones really paying attention as the Captain’s discard sword gently floats directly up into the air and then moves gently into Seora’s open hand. noone notices as she pulls her arm back and orients the blade. noone except the Ritual Maiden, perhaps, who sees it through her tears and attempts to warn someone, anyone. but the guards attending to her assume that she’s referring to past events.

shick. the dark side stop wailing abruptly. there a brief moment of silence as the light side also abruptly stop cheering, with the only noise being the Ritual Maiden’s wails. then Seora kicks the Captain away. he stumbles. before he can fall, she says some slick one line (while probably also spitting because odds are solid her mouth is full of his gross saliva and possibly his blood, nasty) and with windy magic, blasts his backwards through the wall. whoosh. there he. fucking goes. theres still quiet as everyone processes what the fuck just occured. Seora probably tosses the Captain’s bloodied sword to the floor (because what amateur would leave the blade in the wound? this is stylin) and thennn????? im not completely sure how she resolves that. because like, make no mistake, the Captain is dead. the Ritual Maiden is in complete distress and theres no way she can heal him in this state. Seora won’t. the dark side wont. even if he were collected and promptly rushed to the nearest willing AND able maiden, it’d be too late. everyone knows it. Everyone knows thats why she blasted him through the wall. he’s dead. Seora, nominal leader of the Ritual Maidens of the Kingdom of Light, just killed the Captain of Kingdom of Light Military. in their hearts, the light side all knew she was potentially capable of it. she’d attacked him the last time they’d come to get her, though to a far lesser extent. bruised in body and in pride, he’d survived. but they’d all bought into the Captain’s belief, because they had to. they couldnt believe that such a figure could kill without some tainting influence. they had to believe their superstitions, because the reality of the matter - that Seora had chosen her own side and was going to stand for it - was terrifying. it was a sort of moral quandary the kingdom of light hadnt been forced to wrestle with since the civil war.

but there she was. wild.

odds are solid the light side wouldnt retaliate. how could they? how could they attempt to harm the person theyd come to rescue? how could they fight her, when she had just killed their leader and had the power to kill them, too? the upper hand, psychologically, and in timing. she would see them move. she would react. she could preemptively attack.

the light side stood their ground and screamed. someone hesitantly began to move over to the hole in the wall, constantly stopping and looking at a motionless Seora, expecting her to stop them. when she did not, they gestured for someone else to come with and rushed through the hole. how could they not? they had to attend to the captain, no matter what.

its likely then that what brought Seora out of her brief ‘state’, if you will, is an involuntary sob from the dark side. after all, they’re still upset about Esther. and Seora is too. and its that sound, a sob from behind her, that snaps her out of her brief moment of contemplation. probably spits one last time (for now, at least - bet your fucking ass she washes her mouth out once this is all over as many times as necessary to feel like shes cleaned it) and then rushes to Esther’s side. everyones basically gonna stick to their sides for a while as the light rush to the Captain and the dark huddle around Esther and Seora. Esther is fine. she’s injured, but she’s fine. Seora is well equipped to help her recover, at least as a result of her wind magic being able to help Esther breathe. what with the choking and such. 

the first one to probably break the tense quiet is probably one of the Warriors. the defacto leader since Esther’s not really up for that right this second. its basically just something fairly simple - ‘i think perhaps its time for proper negotiation?’. one of the fighters gets up (leaving their weapons down) and approaches with an open hand. the defacto leader gets up and shakes their hand. the deal is set. everyone present in this castle will return to the border of the two kingdoms and negotiations will be had. the dark kingdoms creeping darkness will finally, finally, be dealt with. Esther bursts into absolutely delighted tears. its basically been her life’s work to get the two countries to work together. The Warriors, satisfied that Esther is fine and safe with Seora, come slowly over to the light side to help them tend to their wounds. everyone sorta mingles a little. the fighters who’d attempted to tend to the captain return from the other room and also help. esther and seora embrace a/o kiss. curtains close.

then the negotiations come and a solid chunk of it is arguing what should actually be done with Seora. because the light wanted her back, she WANTS to be with the dark, pluuusss she killed one of the military leaders straight out. noone can (or would) argue that it was some sort of crossfire incident. it was very deliberate. admittedly the only real witness is the traumatised Ritual Maiden who, understandably, really doesnt want to talk about it. so, yknow. it’s a tough negotiation. Seora is only allowed to take part as though she were on trial, basically explaining that the Captain has always been a dick and that yea, she doesnt deny killing him. like at no point does she deny it. she even explains - in detail if pressed - the moment she formulated a plan to attack him with intent to badly harm if not kill, and how she tricked him and used her magic to get his sword. the entire negotiating committee agree yea, she’s guilty, we get it. but what to do with that? Seora is probably willing to go to light kingdom prison provided the darkness cleanse goes ahead. so it’s possible her fate would be left up to the end of the negotiations once the plan of ‘attack’ has been agreed upon. its a big mess. she’s completely up for prison, but Esther is Very Adamant that this not be the course of action. im not actually sure how it could resolve without anger. potentially the dark kingdom offer to put her to work as the darkness cleanser. part of a grand metaphor to ‘absolve herself of sin in the eyes of your patron deity’. which could actually work. the light kingdom love that sorta shit. so if the dark kingdom said ‘hey, ok, an idea - we take her into our custody. we- im not done, hold on - we put her to work primarily in our agreed upon darkness cleaning groups. especially in the city, where the darkness is most concentrated. it’ll be hard work, we’ve established that, mmn? and, and, as she cleans away the darkness, she can clean away this mark upon her soul, dont you think? then hopefully when she is done - when the kingdom is clean - she’ll be capable of being forgiven. how does that sound?’. the only hitch would be ensuring she works. Esther is forbidden from saying a fucking word by the second in command, who is.... a bit more diplomatic on this specific front. Seora will be assigned to a group of assorted Dusk Maidens who will watch her 24/7. she will stay with them. if she doesnt work, punishment will ensue. if she doesnt work for a period of time - a few weeks, maybe - then the dark kingdom agrees to hand over Seora to the light kingdom to face a more.... judicial form of justice.

its uh. good fun. i’ve been here for three hours.

uh, tldr; Seora disarms the Captain, who orders his men to capture Seora. Esther goes to fight the Captain, while the dusk maidens and light army start fighting over a Very Unhappy Seora, who defends herself. Esther and the Captain fight with swords, with a Ritual Maiden backing up the captain and sabotaging Esther. just as Esther starts having to go on the defensive due to the Ritual meddling, Seora gets her magic blocked by a light army soldier who manages to grab her arm to stop her from fighting back or aiding Esther. in attempting to wriggle free, she falls back, followed by that soldier and possibly a few other people. Esther, being distracted by her gfs shenanigans, is quickly disarmed and pinned to the ground by the Captain, who starts choking her (cancelling magic) and prepares to run her through with his blade. Seora, on the ground and free of the soldiers grasp (and they had let go during the fall) basically explodes w/ the Windy Magic, sending the group blasting back. the Captain remains crouched where he is over Esther in part due to the Ritual Maiden, who falls over and starts crying. Before a completely unrestrained and pissed Seora can get up and prepare to fuck with the Captain, he drops his sword, picks up Esther, and positions her between him and Seora, and still choking her. Seora, thinking ~fast~, decides to play to the Captains superstition that she’s being controlled, and pretends that Esther’s control over her has lapsed, just as Esther starts proper passing out from the whole lack of air deal. Captain chucks Esther aside into the waiting arms of an absolutely distraught group of Warrior Maidens, and prepares to “claim his prize”. light kingdom cheers, dark kingdom boos and swears revenge (since they think Seora was pretending to be on their side the whole time) and ritual maiden keeps crying. then seora uses her magic to grab the captains sword (or maybe Esther’s sword, both are good) and uses it to run him the fuck through, before blasting him through at least one wall (holding onto the blade).

everyone freaks, she rushes to Esther’s side and uses magic (and/or cpr what the fuck do you want from me im way too gay for that to NOT possibly happen) to help her recover. eventually the two groups come to an agreement and start tending to their wounded and dead (including the captain who is straight up deceased fuck that guy).

then in the negotiations the big Issue (beyond the whole ‘cleaning the tainted darkness’ thing) is What the Fuck to do abou Seora. who absolutely and undeniably murdered a guy. the end result is more than likely that she is placed into direct Dusk Maiden servitude, ‘forced’ to cleanse the darkness under constant supervision. of course, what the light kingdom dont know or dont really comprehend is that she’s gonna get put into a squad including her basically gf Esther and a bunch of other Warrior Maidens who think she’s the bees knees, AND a bunch of other dusk maidens who have heard alllllll about her and adore her. she’s basically gonna get pampered as fuck. it’s gonna be great. she’s going to have a great time. she basically gets to do exactly what she’s wanted to do since a little after she was first kidnapped, AND gets to hang with a bunch of folk she thinks are pretty cool even if they probably tried to kill her or torture her at some point. she gets it.... to a point. there a few she doesnt hang with. everyones cool about it. 

tl;tl;dr;dr esther gets beat and then seora kills a man but then seora and esther get to be happy and gay so frankly it all works out Pretty Well