Sabrina's POV:

A knock sounded at the door, and Mom rushed to open it, clearly knowing who it was.

"It's about time," she muttered under her breath.

"I called them late," Dad said sheepishly. "I kind of forgot when I found Jake and Briar..." He gestured vaguely to the two, who were hanging onto each other and giggling quietly.

"Called who?" I asked, confused.

"While you were on your little... escapade...," Mom sternly eyed me, Puck, and Pin, "I mentioned that we should call Snow and Charming. It's time we make a move and put an end to all this, once and for all."

"Woah, woah, woah." Dad moved his hands in a "hold up" gesture. "We need to talk first! What was happening when I walked in?"

Mom unlocked the many locks on the door and waved in Snow and Charming. "I guess that's a story worth telling."

Puck snorted from next to me. "Oh, it's worth telling, all right."

"Where are Granny and Tobias?" I asked suddenly, realizing I hadn't seen them in a while.

"Upstairs," Mom answered. "Tobias is nailing the windows shut again—better safe than sorry. And last I heard, Granny was distracting Elvis because he found some sausage and tried to get it."

"Huh."

"But now that I think about it," Mom continued, "they should hear this story too."

"What story?!" Dad asked in exasperation.

"An interesting one," Puck supplied.

"That doesn't tell me anything!"

Puck shrugged. "You snooze, you lose."

Dad glared at him fiercely and Mom laughed nervously. "Okay, I think it's time to actually tell that story."

***

Telling the said story was rough going. Dad and Charming kept interrupting to ask unnecessary questions, while everyone else kept up poker faces until the end. It made us uneasy.

"So how many times have you lied to us in the past few days?" Dad asked eventually, and the three of us simultaneously scratched the backs of our necks, sheepish.

"That in itself speaks volumes," Mom said, rolling her eyes. "But really, I'm just glad you're all safe. This has been a crazy couple of days... weeks."

"We're not all safe," Pin mumbled, bringing up the thought of Daphne. And Red. And Morgan and Mordred.

"It's Daphne's birthday tomorrow," I reminded everyone quietly.

"We're gonna get her back by then," Puck said confidently. "We have to."

No one mentioned the fact that we might not.

***

I walked into the kitchen. Briar was there, leaning against the counter. She was staring at the floor.

"Hey," I said gently, and she startled. "We... we never really got to talk. How... how have you been? It must be crazy."

Briar smiled, but it was strained. "Yeah. It's hard. I miss all of you so much, and it's weird because at the same time it feels like I've been here the whole time. Like I haven't missed a day. But there's this awareness in me that knows this wasn't supposed to happen."

"Wasn't supposed to happen? As in... Dark magic?" I asked tentatively.

She shook her head, her green eyes thoughtful. "No. Definitely not. It's kind of comforting, really. I just know that whoever's up there"—she stared upwards—"wasn't planning for this to happen. But I don't think... I don't think it's bad."

I thought that over. "Okay. Makes sense. Kind of. A bit. So... how about that engagement ring?"

Briar blushed. "I don't know. It's hard to tell where Jacob and I are at the moment. It's... it's been a while."

"Would you say yes, though?"

Briar smiled softly. "Of course."

Snow's POV:

I watched Sabrina head into the kitchen. It was a good thing that she was going to talk to Briar. The two of us were some of the best friends, along with Cindy and Punzie, before... that had happened.

I didn't really know where we stood at the moment. Everything was so confusing. So, so confusing. But one of my dearest friends was back. We had no idea under what circumstances, but... she was back.

That made my lips tilt up in an involuntary smile. This was real. Things were getting better, if ever so slowly. They were.

I glanced over at Billy, who was sitting next to me at the table. He was paying close attention to what the rest of the adults (plus Pinocchio and Puck) were saying—for once. I felt a sense of pride.

He and Briar had had a somewhat awkward reunion. It had been funny to watch. I watched him speak and offer suggestions, but I didn't hear anything. Just saw him.

Maybe I'll propose one day.

Daphne's POV:

"I feel like something's going to happen really soon," I mumbled worriedly, biting my nails. "Something big."

Ember nodded, looking up from shuffling her stack of Uno cards. "I know. We can't do much until Erift tells me... well, anything. He's been weird lately."

"He's a shapeshifter that posed as one of my best friends in my own house for days without us knowing," I deadpanned. "He's always weird."

Ember rolled her eyes. "Well, duh, but I mean... he usually tells me things, and he's been radio silent for ages and ages."

"It's only been a few days."

"But it feels like years. I think he's planning."

"Then why isn't he letting you in on it?" I wondered, taking the stack from her and looking through the cards randomly. I kind of wish these were the BTS version...

Brain, this is not the time.

Ember shrugged. "That's what's worrying me. He usually tells me everything. When I switched to your side, he didn't have a full plan made up. It was just bits and pieces. But now that he's so quiet..."

"What do you know about it?" I put the cards down and held on to Celeste's necklace form. It was a nervous habit I'd developed—hooking my thumb over the string and enclosing the alicorn charm in my hand.

"Not much." Ember looked miserable. "Something huge with the Master. Which I have suspicions on..." She rubbed the back of her neck.

"What?" I frowned. "Who?"

"You're not going to like it," she warned. When I gestured that I'd kill her if she didn't continue, she sighed. "I think it's the Wolf. Which is why he showed up and took over. I don't know how much he's seen through Red's eyes."

I mulled it over and tried to hide my hands' shaking. "That... that makes sense. It does. Um... Okay. We... we r-really need to get her back."

Ember smiled sadly. "I know. And we will. I have a plan."

"Really? What is it?"

"It's not much of one. I'll... I'll tell you when I've decided on it." She wouldn't meet my eyes and picked up the deck of cards again.

Something about her tone of voice confused me, but I let it slide. I'd learned to trust Ember. She'd come through.

Right?

***

A couple hours later, it was around one in the afternoon. I paced my small room. Back and forth, back and forth, back and forth.

We need to talk to Erift.

He must trust me at least a little by now, right?

Why hasn't he asked for any information from me? Isn't that what would prove loyalty?

He hasn't even asked to see me, for all this time. I've only seen him once.

What's he planning?

Should I talk to Morgan again? Did they get the letter? Is everyone okay?

Honestly, how long has it even been now?

And... doesn't the Wolf know our plans now? Doesn't he know everything that we'll do?

I paused.

He doesn't know about Ember. Red wouldn't let him. She'd keep that from him. Ember is our only advantage.

What else... we never mentioned exactly when we're going to infiltrate this place, so... And he couldn't have heard anything about Celeste. He was dormant, right?

My mind strayed to chicken nuggets for a few confusing moments, but I guessed that was called for since I hadn't had Granny's lilac chicken nuggets in so long.

I really miss them.

The chicken nuggets and my family.

I sighed, flopping back on my bed. What was the point of being here if there was no way I could get to Erift, or the Wolf, or Red?

Was the Wolf really here? Somewhere in these tunnels, just waiting to run loose again? I remembered when it had eaten Atticus, and shuddered.

The Wolf was terrifying. Now that he was with the Scarlet Hand's side and not neutral... I didn't even want to think about it.

"I need to lighten up," I whispered to myself, reaching up to hold onto Celeste again. "How about..."

My thoughts raced.

"A game of Truth or Dare?"

A/N:
So... yeah. The explanation for why I haven't been updating in SO LONG is on my account, like under the "conversations" thing, you know? Yeah. We're back!!! (Finally ugh) I've missed this.

(Also I just wanna remind everyone that in this fic, Cindy never grew old. The Scarlet Hand killed Tom, and that's why she hates them so much.)

~Shadow