Joan's heart was pounding within her chest as she ran behind Stiles throughout La Iglesia. Her hand gripped her bow staff tightly, the blades out on each end and ready to be used. Joan quickly looked over her shoulder, her eyes connecting with Liam's for a brief moment.

          "Okay, everyone stop, stop, stop!" Peter hollered, causing the teens to stagger to a stop. Joan looked at Peter in confusion, breathing heavily as she tried to control her nerves. "We gotta figure out where we are, then we have to figure out how to find Scott and Kira."

          Peter opened his mouth once more to continue when the sound of a cellphone ringing met their ears. Everyone turned to look at Stiles, glaring at him harshly. "How do I even have service..." Stiles mumbled incredulously, quickly grabbing his cellphone from his back pocket.

          "Hi, Dad... Okay, Dad, I know you're angry," Stiles tried to ease his father, looking over at Joan as he took several steps ahead of the group for some privacy.

          "Oh, I'm beyond angry," the Sheriff growled. "I've reached a level of fury that you could not possibly comprehend."

          Stiles winced, "Okay, well, when I get back you can ground me."

          The Sheriff shook his head in annoyance, looking out the windows in front of his office to see both Bethany and Charles Arcs sitting together fearfully. "Ground you? Ground you?! I'm going to hobble you! I have the Arcs' here wondering where the hell their daughter is and telling me that you were going to be with her!"

           Stiles gaped, looking over at Joan with guilt. The Arcs girl arched an eyebrow at Stiles in confusion, wondering why he was looking at her while talking to his father. 

          The Sheriff sighed, running his free hand over his face in exhaustion, "Now, please, tell me you're all right. Tell me that you and Joan are safe."

          "You want me to lie?" Stiles mumbled, looking away from Joan anxiously.

          "Oh God," the Sheriff said nervously, his mind racing with thousands of dangerous scenarios. "Okay. Tell me– tell me what I can do. How can I help?"

          "Find Lydia?" Stiles asked, his hands shaking. "She was at the school when we called Mason to look for her, but now we're not hearing back from either of them." Stiles sighed, running his fingers through his hair as he turned to look over at Joan once more. "I don't know, Dad, I don't know what I'm doin'. You know, I'm just... I'm trying to save my friends."

          The Sheriff nodded, a sad smile gracing his lips, "Okay. I'll find Lydia and Mason. You get Scott and Kira. Save your friends."

         "What about her parents?" Stiles asked, looking down at his shoes.

         "I'll talk to them. Everything will be fine," the Sheriff reassured, trying to come up with a believable lie.

           Stiles sighed in relief, thankful that his father was willing to help him, "Thank you, Dad. Also, if it's one of the Berserkers at the school, you're gonna need firepower. A lot." With a final goodbye Stiles ended the call and pocketed his phone.

         Joan walked over to Stiles quickly, looking at him with concern, "Is everything okay?"

          "It's your parents. They're at the police station," Stiles answered sympathetically.

          Joan groaned, shaking her head. She knew her parents were protective, but she didn't think they were that protective. Though, they did have the right to be worried since she was their daughter. Joan couldn't help but feel guilty. She quickly shook her head, turning to look at the rest of the group while pushing her guilt to the back of her head, "Okay. What do we do now?"

          "Duck!" Malia called, pulling herself and Liam down as a Berserker slammed its fist into the wall, right where their heads once were.

          "Go, go, go!" Peter yelled, forcing the teenagers to run in the opposite direction of the Berserker. Their feet pounded against the dirt floor as they weaved through the halls of La Iglesia. Peter skidded to a halt once they made it to what seemed to be the center of the church. Joan looked around her, inwardly sighing when she didn't see the Berserker. 

          Joan noticed the eroded columns and fallen debris, but what truly caught her eye was the alter near the front of the room. The alter seemed to be the most important part of the room seeing as the moon light seemed to be directed towards it from the large, broken window frame on the opposite wall. Bones decorated the top of the alter, seeming to outline some type of figure if one were to lie on it.

          "Go find Kira and Scott," Malia ordered, forcing Kira's katana into Stiles' hand. Stiles shook his head rapidly in disagreement, remaining in front of the were-coyote. "Go!" 

          Stiles jumped at Malia's sudden tone before nodding. He quickly turned on his heels and began to run out of the room. Once he notice that Joan wasn't following him, he swiftly looked over his shoulder to look at the brunette in confusion. "Joan, come on!"

         "No, I'm staying here," Joan insisted sternly, raising her staff slightly. "I didn't bring this thing to only use against Liam. Go, Stiles. I'll be fine."

          "I'm not leaving you here!" Stiles argued, stepping in front of Joan.

          Joan chuckled shaking her head, "Yeah, well, you're going to have to. I've got Liam and Malia to back me up too. Go find Scott and Kira." With that, Joan pressed her lips against Stiles', not know if this would be the last time she kissed him.

          The two melted in the kiss, holding each other the best they could while holding the sharp weapons within their hands. Their lips moved in perfect harmony, the kiss full of passion and love. Stiles slowly pulled away, his free hand pushing Joan's bangs out of her face. "Be safe, okay? Don't do something I wouldn't do."

         "Of course," Joan grinned, taking a small step backwards. "Now go find them. Be my Batman."

          Stiles nodded, sending Joan a small smile before sprinting out of the room to find their missing friends. Joan sighed, twisting her staff as though it were a baton. "You ready?" Joan asked the remaining members of the group. They nodded in response, flicking their wrists to activate their claws.

          When the Berserker found them it felt as if all of Joan's fears evaporated. Her only focus was survival. Adrenaline pumped through her veins as she fought against the Berserker along side Malia and Liam. 

          Her blade nicked the Berserker's arm, her eyes squinting at the darkened lines that circled its bicep. Her thoughts left her mind immediately once she notice the Berserker beginning to swing its fist towards her. Joan quickly ducked, pointing her staff up and stabbing it towards the Berserker's chest, leading the Berserker to stumble back towards Peter.

           Peter slammed his fist against the Berserker's face, making it to stumble once more. "Take him. Aim for the skull!" Peter called, handing Malia the Berserker's discarded bone blade. Liam and Peter took each of the Berserker's arms and pushed him against one of the columns. Joan pressed her staff against the Berserker's neck as she stood next to Liam, holding the Berserker's head in place.

         "Kill it," Peter ordered, struggling to hold the Berserker. "Kill it now!"

          Time seemed to slow down as Malia bared her fangs and began to lunge towards the Berserker. The sound of muffled screams met Joan's ears causing her to turn her head. Stiles and Kira quickly ran towards them, panic written over their faces.

          "It's Scott!" Stiles yelled as Kira cut the bone blade in half with her katana before Malia could impale the Berserker's skull. "It's Scott!"

          Joan quickly removed her staff from Scott's neck, her eyes wide. Everything seemed to make sense. The tattoo on his arm and his short stature compared to the other Berserkers. It was Scott. Kate turned Scott into a Berserker and they were about to kill him. Joan almost helped end one of her best friend's life.

          Scott pushed off Liam and Peter's hold growling at the people in front of him, his best friends. Without hesitation he grabbed Liam by the throat and began to push him across the room. Liam gasped, clawing at Scott's tight hold.

          Stiles quickly stood in front of Scott, blocking his path. "Scott, it's me," Stiles hopefully said, looking into his best friend's eyes through the animal skull that masked his face. Scott growled, slamming his fist into Stiles' face without any form of sympathy. 

          Joan sprinted over towards Stiles, dropping her staff beside her. Her hands caressed his face, looking at the bruise beginning to form upon his face. "I'm fine," Stiles insisted, lifting himself up into a seated position. The two watched Scott in horror, guilt eating them alive. Their best friend was gone and there was nothing they could do to bring him back.

          "Scott?" Kira pleaded, trying to get through to the true alpha as he pushed Liam upon a column forcefully and began to lift him up into the air. "Scott, don't!"

         Liam gasped, feeling Scott's hand tightening around his throat. "Scott," he croaked, looking into his alpha's eyes.  "Scott– Scott, listen. Listen! You're not a monster! You're a werewolf... Like me." Liam watched Scott closely, his heart pounded against his chest as Scott began to slowly put him down. Scott blinked rapidly, holding his head in pain as he began to realize what he was doing.

         One by one, Scott began to pull off the pieces of leather and bone off his body. His hands reached up to the skull mask plastered upon his face. He grabbed each side of it and began to pull. The mask began to crack, a glowing light forming along the long crack forming across the front. A roar escaped Scott's lips as he broke the mask into two, dropping it upon the ground. He was completely wolfed-out, his eyes a deep, blood red color.

          "You," he spits, staring directly at Peter. "The only one who knew as much as Argent about Berserkers. About the Nagual. You taught Kate. You helped her. All for power."

         Peter cackled, shaking his head, "For my family's power. To be rightfully inherited by me! Not usurped by some idiot teenage boy, so incorruptible, he won't shed the blood of his enemies even when justified." Peter sneered at Scott, his eyes glowing a bright, icy, blue hue. "You don't deserve your power. Not power like this." His face contorted and shifted completely to his wolf form. 

          Malia growled, glaring her neon blue eyes at Peter and baring her fangs. With her claws extended she sprinted towards Peter, prepared to attack him when he easily pushed her back. Malia's head slammed into the stone wall, causing her to gasp as the air was forced out of her lungs from the sudden impact.

          "Oh, sorry, sweetheart," Peter mockingly cooed, turning his attention back towards Scott, "we'll talk about this later."

         Kira swung her sword, preparing to run and fight Peter. "Kira!" Scott roared, causing the kitsune to stop and stand still. 

          Joan grabbed her staff wanting nothing more than to step in and help, but this wasn't her fight and Scott made that perfectly clear. This was a fight between him and Peter only. It was the battle of all battles. True alpha versus former alpha.

          "You were my Beta first, Scott," Peter growled, his words slightly muffled thanks to his large fangs. "It was my bite that changed your life. And my bite that can end it."

          Scott shook his head, unfazed by Peter's threat, "Then end it, Peter. Because you won't get another chance." Scott sprinted towards Peter, slamming his fist against his former alpha's face. Peter barely seemed to flinch, throwing a punch at Scott.

          Stiles slowly pulled Joan back behind one of the columns to keep her from getting hurt. Her hand intertwined with his as they watched the fight unfold. She flinched once more when Scott was thrown to the ground. Peter continued to hit Scott with no mercy. 

          "Come on, Scott. Come on!" Peter roared, slamming his fist against Scott's jaw once more. "Fight like an Alpha, Scott." Peter grabbed Scott by the collar and threw him across the room. Scott landed in a heap, his chest rising and falling quickly as he tried to regain his breathing.

         Peter cackled, looking down at Scott's weak form with pride, "You want to defeat me? You're going to have to kill me!"

         Liam slowly moved out from hiding, the urge to protect his alpha strong. "Liam!" Joan screeched, wanting the young beta to go back behind his pillar. Liam ignore Joan, glaring at Peter. 

          The former alpha chuckled, not intimidated by Liam's appearance. He swiftly grabbed a piece of debris and threw it at Liam causing him to duck. The debris broke into pieces as it smashed into the stone pillar beside Liam. 

          Scott slowly heaved himself onto his feet, his heart pounding against his chest as he glared at Peter harshly. Anger was coursing through him as he took a menacing step towards Peter. The former alpha growled, turning his attention back towards Scott. Peter immediately threw a punch at Scott, the true alpha immediately blocking it. One after the other, Scott continued to block Peter's punches and began pushing him towards the alter with ease.

         Scott easily grabbed Peter's wrist mid-punch and threw him over the alter as if he was as  light as a feather. Scott jumped on top of the alter, his eyes trained on Peter. "You were never an Alpha, Peter," Scott sneered. "But you were always a monster." Before Peter could lunge up and attack Scott once more, Scott slammed his fist against Peter's jaw, successfully knocking him unconscious. 

         He'd done it. Scott had won. It was finally over.

»

          The sun began to rise above the Mexican ruins. The pack stood together, dirt and blood covering them from head to toe. The powerful adrenaline that once pumped through their veins had died down, leaving them exhausted.

          Joan stood between Stiles and Liam, watching as Scott and Argent spoke briefly about Peter and why he was going with the Calaveras instead of coming back to Beacon Hills. "I made a deal with the Calaveras weeks ago," Argent explained, looking at the group of teenagers in front of him. "They'll leave you alone. All of you. But only if I help them catch Kate."

         "What if you can't?" Kira asked, her voice filled with concern.

         Argent didn't seem discouraged by her question, his face remaining stern, "I'll find her. Someone has to." He slowly turned on his heels, beginning to walk towards the Calaveras.

          "Argent!" Joan called, running up to the man that she looked up to. "Thank you for this, and for believing in me." Joan lifted up her compacted bow staff, a sad smile spread across her face.

          Argent nodded, his gaze softening, "I'll always believe in you. You have the determination and skill to do great things, Joan, you just have to believe in yourself. If you ever need anything just email me."

          Joan nodded, pulling Argent into a tight hug. "Allison would be proud of you," Argent whispered. "She is proud of you." Joan stood, stunned by what Argent had just said. Deep down that's all she really wanted, to make her friends proud, to be like Joan of Arc. She wasn't the Joan of Arc, but she was her own Joan. She didn't need to have the same name to be like the strong French woman, she just needed to believe in herself no matter how cheesy or cliché it seemed.

           Joan stepped back, mock saluting to Argent. He chuckled lightly before saluting back and walking towards the Calaveras. Joan turned on her heels and made her way back to Stiles, accepting his embrace. She watched silently as Argent left, Derek soon following after. She smiled at the newly evolved werewolf, happy that he had kept his promise. The two nodded towards each other before Derek climbed into his car with Braedon.

          The group stood still, watching as their friends drove away. All that was left for them was to go home and hope that the supernatural world would leave them alone for awhile. It felt weird to think that it was over, that they didn't have to deal with the Dead Pool, Peter, Kate, or the Berserkers, but they weren't complaining

         "How 'bout we get out of here?" Joan suggested, clearing throat. "We could listen to Take Me to Church by Hoizer?"

»

          The ride home was silent and relaxing, something Joan didn't think she'd ever experience again. Kira had ended up falling asleep next to Scott, who was slowly dozing off beside her. Liam had his head rested upon Joan's shoulder, light snores leaving his lips. Malia on the other hand sat in front of them, her head lolling to the side as she tried to sleep even though she was supposed to be watching over Peter's unconscious body. 

          Stiles stared down at Joan, the brunette playing with Stiles' fingers. They were the only ones completely awake, besides Parrish who was driving the van.  "You alright?" Stiles asked quietly, trying not to wake up the other people inside the van. Joan looked up at Stiles, nodding her head rapidly, "Yeah, yeah. I'm fine. I'm great!"

          Stiles tilted his head at Joan, a small smile gracing his lips, "Joan, I can tell you're not. You can talk to me."

          "I just... I almost helped kill Scott, we thought Derek was dead, and who knows when we'll see Argent again. For a victory it sure doesn't feel like it," Joan mumbled, her eyes casting back down to Stiles' hand. 

          They may have won, but they still lost so much. So may people lost their lives to the Dead Pool even though they stopped it. It was becoming harder and harder for them to except a victory because of the constant lose of people. Joan wondered if the world was against them, if this was some form of payback. She just hoped that they wouldn't be stuck in this hell forever.

          Stiles intertwined their finger, squeezing Joan's hand reassuringly, "It wasn't your fault. You didn't know, and Scott didn't die! He's sitting right over there, alive and well. As for Derek, the same thing. For Argent... Well... I don't know, but we'll see him again. I know it."

         Joan sighed, smiling softly at their intertwined hands, "You're not to bad at doing pep talks y'know. You should do them more often."

          Stiles chuckled, resting his check against Joan's head. "Yeah, well, it helps that I know the girl I love and the type of person she is."

          Silence enveloped the two, both stunned with what Stiles had just said. Joan's eyes widened, her mouth falling agape. "You– you love me?"

          Stiles' eyes popped out of his head, his cheeks turning a deep red color as embarrassment flooded him. "Uh, yeah, yeah. Well, if you want me to! If things are going to fast– I mean I don't want to make you uncomfortable," Stiles stuttered, looking at anything and everything besides Joan.

          "I love you too," Joan replied, grinning from ear to ear. She turned her head to look up at Stiles and quickly planted a light kiss on his cheek. 

          "Really?"

          Joan nodded, her heart fluttering within her chest, "I love you to the moon and back."

          "I love you to infinity and beyond," Stiles countered, laughing lightly.

          "No! Don't quote Toy Story! Don't make me take back what I said!"

          Stiles shook his head, his grin never fading, "You already said it and you can't take it back, so deal with it!"

»

          "Mom–" Joan croaked out, trying to free herself from her mother's tight embrace. "You're gonna squeeze me to death!" The pack had finally made it back to Beacon Hills, Parrish dropping off each child, besides Joan and Stiles, at their respect homes. Right as Joan entered the Police Station her parents tackled her into a hug.

          Bethany scoffed, shaking her head before squeezing Joan one more time before letting her go. "I have ever right to squeeze you to death! You just left for Mexico even when we told you you couldn't!" Bethany quickly wiped away her tears, smiling down at Joan as if she had done a complete one-eight, "I'm so glad you're okay..."

          "I'm sorry, mom," Joan squeaked, tears beginning to well up in her eyes as well. "I didn't want to worry you and dad, but I had to go."

          "Are you gonna tell us why now?" Charles asked, crossing his arms over his chest. Joan sighed, slowly nodding her head, "Yeah, but I'm gonna need some help if that's okay?" Bethany and Charles nodded, following Joan as she entered the Sheriff's office. Stiles and his father looked up at the Arcs, sending them a knowing smile.

           "You really want to do this?" Stiles asked Joan, not wanting her to regret this in the future. 

          Joan nodded, quickly locking the door behind her parents before turning to look at them. "Okay, um, this is gonna be a bit hard to comprehend at first, but it's all true. You just have to trust me okay? We're gonna try and explain this as best as possible."

          "What are you talking about?" Bethany asked, concern visible on her face. Charles nodded in agreement, "We trust you, honey."

          Joan sighed, exhaling softly before speaking, "The supernatural is real. Werewolves, banshees, wendigos, all of those are real... And they live in Beacon Hills."