❃
|Camelot|
❃

After the trip back to the palace, Dorothy made an announcement to the kingdoms; "The Author has found his quill and ink and can end this battle for good! In the morning, you can all go back to your homes. But thank you for all your help. We never could have survived without you."

Henry took that as his cue to take Dorothy's place, quill in hand. He held the quill above the paper and spoke the words aloud as he wrote them.

"Hades' army of the undead returns to the Underworld, and the damage that came to Camelot is undone."

Henry touched the quill to the paper and a wave of magic shot out, washing over Camelot. The remaining zombies were destroyed and the once again broken kingdom rose to its full glory right before their eyes.

A wolf trotted up to Henry and the Author knew it was Ruby because she held a tattered piece of red fabric in her mouth. Henry took the shredded cloak and touched the quill to his paper again.

"Ruby's red cloak is fixed and retains all of its magical properties."

The cloak shimmered and suddenly, it looked brand new again. Henry placed it on top of Ruby, and the wolf transformed back into a human.

"Thank you," Ruby smiled at Henry. "Violet and Jane wanted to talk to you."

"Okay. Thanks, Ruby!"

Ruby nodded and Henry rushed off to find Violet and Jane.

When Henry found them, Jane was arguing with Violet's dad, Sir Morgan, while Regina paced back and forth, cutting Violet off from the argument. Violet was sitting in the grass, picking apart clovers.

"Hey," Henry sat down next to her.

"Hi," Violet muttered without looking up.

"What's going on?"

Violet shrugged hopelessly. "Dunno. No one will tell me."

Robin and Akira walked into view and Regina rushed over to her husband. "Robin!" She pulled him into a hug while Akira looked over at Jane and Sir Morgan, as if trying to deduce what they were arguing about.

Finally Jane snapped out an, "I'm telling her!" and began walking straight for Violet. Violet stood up and Jane took a deep breath. "Violet, listen. Your dad, Sir Morgan, he didn't tell you the truth about your mother. She didn't die, she was forced away from you. She and your dad were young, and your mother...she felt terrible for leaving you. But your dad sent her away and she had no choice but to flee."

"My mother...she's not dead?" Violet asked, as if trying to comprehend what Jane was saying.

Jane shook her head. "No. No, she's not."

"Well then where is she?"

"I'm right here."

Violet took a step back. "Wh-What? No."

"Violet, please--"

"Why didn't you say anything?!" Violet shouted. "You were training me for months! You helped me get over leaving Storybrooke! You could have just said something!"

"Violet--"

"I just-- I need a moment." Violet turned and stormed away.

"Violet!" Jane and Henry both shouted, ready to run after her.

"Wait." Regina placed a hand on Henry's shoulder. She looked over at Jane. "Give her a few minutes, and then let me talk to her."

"How will that help?" Akira asked, throwing far too much sarcasm into her voice for Robin's liking. "What, did you lie to your kids about their parents too?"

Regina stumbled backwards, surprised at the sudden outburst from Robin's sister. "No, that's not--"

"Well that's a shocker, considering you're the Evil Queen!"

"KIRA!" Robin snapped, turning on his sister. "You do not insult my wife or children, do you understand?"

"Her mother killed me!"

"Do you understand?!"

Akira didn't back down. "Oh, so you're choosing her over me, is that it?"

"Mom and Dad raised us to not judge someone just by what people have said. Regina is not a villain and she is the best mother I know, even when raising kids she didn't give birth to. I love her, and if you can't at least respect her, then you can leave." Robin's voice was steely calm.

"Robin!" Akira exclaimed.

Robin opened his mouth to reply, but stopped when he felt a hand on his arm. The thief turned to face Regina.

"Don't do this," Regina pleaded. "You've finally found your sister again. Don't ruin it like I did. I know you want to stand up for me but please not at the expense of ruining reconnecting with Kira."

"Regina, she--"

"I know," Regina interrupted. "But she is not the first one and she will not be the last. I love you and I know you just want to stand up for me, but please take my advice. I'm going to go find Violet now because I was lied to about my parents too." Regina pulled Robin into a kiss. "Don't make the same mistakes I made with Zelena."

Robin watched Regina as she turned away and walked off to find Violet, one hand absentmindedly rubbing her stomach. Robin let out a breath he didn't realize he had been holding and turned to face Akira. "I'm sorry."

"It's my fault," Akira quietly replied. "I don't know what came over me. I guess I was just jealous of her. Growing up, all we had was each other and now you've got a family and I've got no one."

"You will always have me, Kira," Robin promised. "And like it or not, you've got the biggest family imaginable now. That is, if you want to come back to Storybrooke with us?"

Akira nodded. "Yeah. I'd like that."

Robin pulled his sister into a hug. "I'm never letting you go again."

"And I you."

❃

"Violet?" Regina asked gently when she found the girl sitting on the ground, knees pulled up to her chest.

"Go away."

Regina sat down next to the teenager. "I know how you're feeling."

"She could have just told me."

"I know. Trust me, I know. My mom spent her entire life lying to me about my dad because she wanted power."

Violet looked up at Regina. "Really?"

Regina nodded. "She lied to everyone about him. I just found out the truth when we were in the Underworld last year."

"What did you do?"

"I hated her at first," Regina admitted. "I had just watched Robin die and I thought he was gone forever when she told me the truth. But Henry and his dad stood by me, and I got through it. It was hard, because I thought...I thought my parents were the reason I was destined to lose my happy ending. But you just have to fight for who you love, and in the end, they'll fight for you. My mom saved me in the end. I would have died with Robin if not for her. And I guess, now that I look at it, my parents only wanted what was best for me. They just didn't know how to love me. Jane - your mother - only ever wanted the best for you, Violet. I can assure you of at least that much."

Violet smiled. "Thank you. Maybe...maybe I should go talk to her."

"I think that's a good idea."

Violet and Regina stood up and headed back to the others.

❃

Violet rushed over to Jane once she and Regina returned. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have run off. It's just a lot to take in right now."

"And I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner." Jane turned to face Sir Morgan, wrapping an arm around Violet. "I'm taking Violet back to Storybrooke with me."

Sir Morgan just nodded silently.

❃
|The Next Morning|
❃

Because of everyone who needed to leave for Storybrooke, Merida's funeral was held in the morning. Emma and Meg created black clothes for those from Storybrooke to wear out of respect.

Queen Elinor and Merida's brothers journeyed from DunBroch for the funeral and all of DunBroch's army attended as well.

Mulan trued to speak, but it seemed to be the one time the warrior gave up. So Ruby took Mulan's index cards and stepped up next to the casket.

"'I first met Queen Merida while helping her train for a war against Camelot, and I can't help but think of the irony that she died defending the kingdom she once wanted to defeat. Merida was always honorable and she was the best friend I could ever ask for. She helped me out of my darkest time after my biggest heartbreak, and I could never thank her enough for all she's done. I know she'll be treated as a hero in the Underworld because that's all she ever was; a hero. The bravest hero I have ever had the pleasure of meeting.'" Ruby wiped her tears before handing the index cards back to Mulan and starting her own speech.

"Mulan pretty much nailed it, but..." Ruby sniffled, "Merida was amazing. She was fierce, she was loyal, she was strong, she was kind, and above all, she was brave. May her bravery never be forgotten." Ruby placed an arrow with a rose tied to it on Merida's coffin and stepped back into the crowd. One by one, all who were attending Merida's funeral did the same. Mulan placed her arrow down last, tears running down her cheeks.

"I love you," she whispered so that no one could hear it. But she hoped that maybe somewhere out there, Merida could.

❃

Everyone headed back to Storybrooke gathered outside of the castle after the funeral. Once everyone was back home, the final plan to defeat Hades forever would go into play. Regina, Zelena, Emma, and Meg would stay behind in the Enchanted Forest and lure Hades to the lake of fire using the portal Cerverus had been guarding. From there, Emma or Meg would use their magic to push Hades into the fiery lake and his eternal defeat.

Regina pulled Henry into a hug. "I love you."

"I love you too, Mom." Henry smiled up at his mother.

"Remember, you'll be staying with the Charmings until we get back, and if--"

"I know, I know," Henry interrupted. "If you're not back by nightfall, Robin will be at your house so I can get pajamas and stuff."

Regina sighed. "I'm just worried."

"You're always worried, Mom. I'm sure it'll be fine."

❃

Dorothy and Akira were the last ones to go through the portal. Once they were through, it sealed shut and only those headed to the Underworld remained.

"You know, I'm surprised you thought I wouldn't figure out your plan."

Four bodies turned to see Hades standing across from them.

"I suppose since you four have figured out my weakness, I have no choice but to kill you." Hades waved his hand and dark grey smoke surrounded the group, taking them somewhere unknown.