❃
|The Underworld|
❃

Hades was pacing back and forth in front of his throne when Tisiphone appeared. "You sent for me?"

Hades stopped and turned to fave his fury. "Yes. I need you to go to Storybrooke and get the Firebird back."

"Cleo?" Tisiphone asked, confused. "What do you want with her?"

"Well for starters, I don't want her helping the self-claimed 'heroes'."

Tsisphone opened her mouth to reply when a man with a blue design painted on his face appeared in the Throne Room, holding a rolled up piece of parchment. "I think I have an offer you will find much more satisfying."

Hades waved his hand and Tisiphone vanished. He turned his attention to the man. "And who are you?"

"Where I come from, they call me the Healer. And I struck a deal with the Dark One long before he was dark. I would like to get what I deserve now that he has a lovely daughter in Storybrooke."

"Oh?" Hades raised an eyebrow. He plucked the scroll from the Healer's hand and read through the contract. "I do have to agree. These results will be much more satisfying."

❃
|Storybrooke|
❃

Regina was holding Merlin's wand in her hand, her knuckles turning white because of how tightly she was holding onto it.

"Are you sure you're okay to do this?" Robin asked, wrapping his hand around Regina's and removing the wand from her grasp. "If you don't want to risk it, we can wait."

Regina shook her head. "No, I'll be fine." She took the wand back from Robin. "Let's head to the docks; they're waiting for us.

❃

Almost everyone from Camelot was already aboard the Jolly Roger when Regina and Robin arrived. Arthur had obviously elected to stay in Storybrooke with Zelena and gave up his crown to Guinevere and Lancelot. Mulan and a few others were heading back to the Enchanted Forest, but Ruby had chosen to stay behind in Storybrooke with Granny and her definitely-not-boyfriend, Doctor Whale.

Mulan, Violet, Sir Morgen, Merida, Hercules, Cleo, Ashley, Prince Thomas, and their daughter were the only ones not aboard the Jolly Roger when Regina and Robin arrived.

"Thank goodness you two are here," Emma sighed. "I was afraid something had happened. Killian was able to part with his ship when I pointed out that he was living with me now, and one of the people from Camelot know how to steer it. So once the last few get on, you can open the portal."

Regina nodded. "Alright."

❃

Merida was holding Evelyn in her arms. During the past few months, Merida had been helping the Golds out with Evelyn whenever they needed it. "I'm going to miss you both," Merida muttered, "but DunBroch needs me."

"I'm sure you will make a wonderful Queen," Belle smiled. "You took charge of the merry men, and that can't be an easy task."

Merida laughed. "I just scared them into listening to me."

"They listened because you're a natural leader," Belle corrected, "and because you stay loyal and stand by your morals. DunBroch is lucky to have you as their Queen."

Merida handed Evelyn to Gold and pulled Belle into a hug. "Thank you."

"And thank you for being there for me while everyone else was in the Underworld."

❃

Henry was trying to keep his mind off of Violet and the fact that she was leaving when he felt a tap on his shoulder. "Henry?"

Henry turned around to see Violet. "Hi," he gave her a small smile.

"I almost wish I could stay," Violet confessed, "but my dad wants me to go back to Camelot with everyone else, so..." she shrugged, "I guess this is goodbye."

Henry decided that if this was, indeed, the last time he was going to see Violet, there was not much he could do to put a damper on their relationship, so he pulled her into a hug. "I'm going to miss you."

"And I you," Violet replied softly. She pulled back from the hug and looked Henry in the eyes. "Be safe, Author. You're going to be a great hero someday. Greater than you already are." Violet placed a gentle kiss on Henry's cheek before walking back to her father. Henry watched as they followed Merida aboard the Jolly Roger.

❃

Hercules was trying to get Cleo to calm down and board the ship when Meg approached him.

"Is there something you need?" Hercules asked, almost afraid of the answer.

Meg shook her head. "I just wanted to say goodbye. And thank you for taking Cleo. I'm sure she's in good hands," Meg smiled at the Firebird, who waved back timidly.

"I will keep her safe," Hercules promised. "And you should stay safe yourself."

Meg smiled. "I think I can do that. Now go, complete your labors so you can go back to Olympus." Meg planted a kiss on Hercules' cheek. "Maybe I'll be willing to talk to you again if you prove you can keep Cleo safe."

Hercules nodded. "I will see you again, Megara."

"You'd better, Wonder Boy."

❃

Mulan was the last one to board Killian's ship. After saying a heartfelt goodbye to Ruby, she turned to face Aurora. Before she could say anything, the redhead pulled Mulan into a hug. "Mulan..."

"Don't," Mulan whispered. "Everything you're about to say, I already know. Please don't do this now."

"Okay," Aurora replied in a voice that was equally as quiet. "I'm glad I got to see you again, even if just for a little while."

"With our luck, we'll get swept up by another Dark Curse."

Aurora laughed. "Fair enough. ...You should get going."

Mulan waved a final goodbye to Aurora before climbing onto the Jolly Roger. Regina stepped away from Robin, Henry, and Meg, and raised the wand. In a flash, a portal to Camelot opened in the water. The Jolly Roger began moving towards the portal and soon, it vanished from sight. Regina closed the portal and the wand dropped onto the ground. Regina stumbled and Robin rushed over and steadied her. "Regina!"

"I'm fine," Regina insisted even though her vision was blurry and she knew she definitely would not be standing if Robin wasn't supporting her. "Just...tired."

"With great power comes great need to take a nap," Emma muttered.

Regina nodded in agreement, not really registering Emma's words. But a nap sounded nice.

"That's not how it goes," Belle murmured.

Emma shrugged. "Close enough. Now, let's head back home. I think Regina should take a nap. Meg, Henry, you want to come back to my place?"

"Sure," Meg replied and Henry nodded absentmindedly.

❃
|The Enchanted Forest|
❃

The Jolly Roger emerged from the portal not far from land. Once they reached solid ground, Merida and Mulan arranged a system for getting everyone off and to the correct place. Guinevere led the kingdom of Camelot back to their home and Merida promised to send Lancelot back once she arrived in DunBroch. Mulan led Hercules, Cleo, Ashley, and the others who chose to return to the Enchanted Forest back to their home.

When Merida arrived in DunBroch, the people of her kingdom rejoiced. Merida's mother and the lords had been doing what they could, but it was clear DunBroch needed its Queen back. Merida pulled Lancelot aside at the first chance she got and told him that Guinevere was waiting for him in Camelot and that Regina had cured her of the magic dust after they returned from the Underworld. Lancelot thanked Merida and left for Camelot the next morning.

In the Enchanted Forest, Cleo preferred to stay in her Firebird form, so Hercules went about searching for the Nemean Lion with a bird that looked to be made of fire flying over him.

When Camelot was restored, Violet found that more people wanted to be friends with her now that she was in a long distance relationship of sorts with the Author. But Violet found that she would rather be with Henry and his friends from Storybrooke than those in Camelot. In the end, Violet had to move on from Storybrooke because there was no way Sir Morgan would let her leave Camelot again.

Ashley and Thomas worked to restore the Enchanted Forest with the help of Mulan. Queen Cinderella became ruler over most of Misthaven because everyone knew both Regina and Snow had found their homes in Storybrooke.

Mulan never stayed in one place for too long. She went from Camelot to DunBroch to Arendelle and back to the Enchanted Forest again, trying to forget about Ruby and Aurora both.

❃
|Emma's House|
❃

Henry and Meg were in Henry's bedroom, laying on the floor in the place where Meg's air mattress had sat before Regina's memories were restored.

"I hate being in love," Meg said. "It sucks."

"Agreed."

"I hate Hercules and how he managed to capture my heart and how he still has it thousands of years later."

"My moms always tell me that the course of true love never runs smooth." Henry wasn't sure if he said that for Meg's sake or for his own.

"Well then true love can leave me alone."

"I hate it as much as you do, but once you've got it, there's no way to escape."

"I know," Meg's voice got quiet. "I know."

❃
|Locksley Manor|
❃

Regina woke up to the sound of thunder. She hurried down the stairs to find Roland in Robin's arms. Meg and Henry were still at Emma's.

"I didn't think it was supposed to storm today," Regina muttered.

"It wasn't." Regina and Robin both looked over to see Hades. "My bad, sorry."

"Hope you aren't here for the Firebird, because she's long gone," Regina said. "And by long, I mean like an hour, but you won't find her either way."

"Oh, I've discovered something much more valuable than the Firebird," Hades smirked. "Tell your little family to meet in Granny's." Hades turned to leave, but stopped, "On second thought, I'll do it myself." With a wave of Hades' hand, all of the Charmin-Locksley-Gold-Jones-etc family was in Granny's.

"What's going on?" Meg asked. "Is it about Cleo?"

"No, no, this is about a deal somebody made long ago," Hades corrected. Everyone turned to look at Gold, who took a small step backwards.