"At least she learned how to love," Jimmy shrugged, trying to see the positive side of the hopeless situation.

"That won't do us any good if it isn't returned," Darcy replied with a huff, "and considering that Y/N's gone..."

Wanda was about to say something when gallops were heard in the distance, drawing the attention of Tommy and Billy.

"She came back, I knew it!" Tommy shouted, running to the window with Billy. Everyone else followed, but the sight, however, was not what was expected.

"Invaders!" Monica screamed, flying away from the window, ready to warn the others and draw up a quick battle plan, leaving the room with the rest.

Darcy stood looking out the window for a few more seconds, "and there you go! So much for true love."

In a few seconds the door was already being hit by a log several times, being held back by some of the objects, but it was clear that they would not hold on for long.

Monica then flied off to the castle tower, where Agatha would undoubtedly be.

And she really was there, watching silently as the villagers tried to knock the door down. If she wanted, with a wave of her hand, she could turn everyone to dust. It would be so simple, but she wouldn't do it.

"My lady, they are invading the castle, soon they will be here," Monica warned her, trying to get Agatha to react.

But all she got in response was, "let them come, it doesn't matter anymore."

And there Agatha remained, knowing that there was no hope.

Y/N would not come back.
"I have to go back, papa, I have to get out of here," you almost whined, looking out of the carriage windows, "I need to warn her, this is my fault!"

Tony then frowned, "warn her? You barely escaped and want to go back there?!"

You looked back at him, holding his hands, "I didn't escape, she freed me to save you."

"I do not understand..."

"Please, papa, you have to help me save her now, you have to help me get out of here," you pleaded with tears in your eyes.

Your father shook his head, "it's too dangerous, Y/N."

"Yes, it is," you nodded. But your father knew it wouldn't stop you.

Sometimes he wished you were less like him.

"I'll help you," he sighed, before looking at the door lock through the bars, "after all, this is just machinery, springs and gears... but I would need something thin, that fits..."

You then handed him one of the clips that held your hairstyle, making your father raise his eyebrows, "like that, exactly."

Soon the lock was unlocked and the iron doors opened, making you gasp in relief.

There was still time to save Agatha. You wouldn't waste another second.

Meanwhile, the castle doors were opened with a loud BOOM, throwing pieces of wood all over the place. Strangely, after that, there was only silence.

John led the pack into the castle, which was completely dark. Lemar then reached for the candelabra to light it, when it suddently moved and shouted, "ATTACK!"

From one moment to the next, the room was already drowned in chaos, people being knocked over by lamps, hit by books and plates, punched by chairs and burned by pots and hot tea. The perfect distraction scenario for John to continue up the stairs, leaving them behind. It wouldn't matter what happened to them, in the end those who were left would see him become their king.

And John would be the king, as soon as he put an end to the beast that awaited him at the top of the castle, as the enchanted mirror showed him.

All of a sudden, the screams and the noise of the fight died out. John assumed that the fight was won, of course, some cursed objects would never win over all of the people.

But when you finally went through the gate, you could see what was really going on. All the villagers were retreating, fleeing the place with expressions of fear and defeat, even though they appeared to be in one piece.

John was not among them. Of course he wouldn't be.

Instead, John reached the top of the tower, finding the woman who didn't even turn to look at the man.

"Just look at that, the beast of the castle... you know, when Y/N told me about you, I almost didn't believe it," he said with a sadistic smile, causing Agatha to look at him just like he wanted, just so he could see the sadness completely clouding her expression.

John gave a cynical chuckle, "did you really think someone like Y/N would want a monster like you?"

Agatha was unable to tell what echoed louder in her mind, that question or the noise of the shot, which propelled her forward with force and threw her out of the tower.

The adrenaline barely let her feel the burning from the wound, but she definitely felt the shock when she hit the concrete balcony a few feet below. Everything hurt, but at the same time inside it remained numb.

Agatha thought it was over, that the man would finally let her die in peace, but then steps behind her made her understand that he really wanted to make sure the job was done.

It was the scene you encountered when you entered the place: Agatha bleeding on the floor while John continued to point the gun at her. It was like everything was in slow motion, your heart pounding wildly in your ears.

You couldn't stop the cry that came out of your throat, "please, don't!"

This alerted the two of them of your presence, Agatha being the first to react, murmuring weakly, "you are back."

And you were about to answer that yes, you had come back to her, to hold her in your arms and take care of her the same way you had in the night of the wolves. But as soon as you took the first step, John cocked the hammer of the gun towards you, causing you to freeze on the spot.

"Y/N, stay away and let me kill this beast once and for all!" He shouted, still pointing the gun at you.

That was the last straw for Agatha. She was willing to die without you, but she wouldn't let you die for her. The sorceress felt that as well as her life force, her magic was not stable, but she would try anything to save you.

You could only watch, frozen in place as the scene happened right in front of you. Her eyes shone and a purple haze clutched John's neck, levitating him off the balcony. Agatha got up with some difficulty, staring at the man who choked on words that begged for mercy.

But somehow she couldn't drink from the sweet nectar of revenge, not after finding out how much sweeter your voice was, your touches, your laughter. She knew she would lose all of that if she decided to kill the man.

No, this time she would be better than that.

Agatha then brought him back to the edge of the balcony, casting you a look over her shoulder.

A second of carelessness, that was enough for John to raise his gun and pull the trigger, another bullet hitting her body. But he couldn't even see the blood stain Agatha's shirt, because the explosion of the weapon caused John to be thrown backwards, losing his balance and falling with a scream that only stopped when his body hit the cold, hard ground.

But you didn't care, not when Agatha fell right into your arms, almost lifeless.