The polished, red-brown coffin was lowered into the muddy hole that was dug for it in the forests of Storybrooke. There were tears in Emma's eyes. Elena could only stare, watching as it was sprayed with dirt, covering the shell which held Neal over. Henry stood on one side of Elena, forlorn but not nearly as touched as he could've been. It wasn't his fault. He didn't remember.
Elena glanced to her right, trying to understand Pan's expression. It seemed indifferent, serious and thoughtful, but she knew that there was a lot he could hide behind his usual demeanour. He had known Neal, or Bae, for years, right when he'd run off to find where the music was coming from, out of the old house of his father, Rumple.
Emma took Elena's hand when the shovel was passed to them, and Elena looked up, letting Emma lead her over as they dug up some of the mud together, letting it fall down below. Peter watched silently, before deciding to do the same, his face just as indecipherable as before. It earned him a nod of some kind of acceptance from David, and Pan nodded back, wrapping an arm around Elena as she leaned against him, biting her lip hard.
Most of the group made their way back to the diner, Henry sitting with David and Mary Margeret, Emma throwing darts, her expression tight.
"That looks fun," Elena commented, and Emma smiled slightly, handing her one.
"Perhaps I should paint a bull's eye on the Wicked Witch's back," Hook said from behind them, and neither one looked around.
"She'll get more than a dart when I find her," Emma muttered.
"I know you're both hurting. But there are better ways to grieve Baelfire's death than letting anger overcome you."
"Let me guess, rum?"
"Never hurts," Hook shrugged.
"I'll stick with anger. At least, until I deal with Zelena."
"What are you gonna do to her?" Elena questioned, as Peter came to stand beside them with watchful, green eyes. "Kill her?"
"Vengeance isn't the thing that's gonna make you feel better," Hook added.
"It's gonna make this town safer," Emma pointed out.
"What would you do, Elena?" Peter asked her, as Emma and Killian kept talking. "Say, you find this Wicked Witch, just you and her. What would you do?"
"I don't know-"
"You're learning how to defend yourself," he continued, his hands resting on her shoulders, making her meet his eye properly. "But you're nowhere near ready to face someone... well, Wicked. But you're forgetting something."
"What am I forgetting?" Elena asked, noticing the dark gleam in his eyes and looking back in apprehension.
"I am much worse."
Elena opened her mouth to speak, but just then, a loud woosh of wind threw the door open, and she jumped. Pan's gaze snapped to the woman in the doorway, not a scowl on his face, but a familiar, dangerous stare, looking her up and down slowly, his body positioned in front of Ella in a protective, easy stance.
"My condolences," Zelena started, with a faux sadness that made Elena clench her jaw in anger, "I'm so sorry I missed the funeral. I could never pass up a wake. Oh- did I miss the speeches? Shall I make one? I mean, I am, after all, responsible."
Emma lunged into action, but was stopped by her mother.
"Emma, no," Mary warned her quietly, "too many people will get hurt."
"Listen to your mother," the Witch said condescendingly, "she's right. Anyone who tries to interfere with my plan is gonna have to deal with the Dark One."
"Don't come any closer," Charming warned, his voice raising as he put a hand in front of Mary Margeret's stomach. Elena moved to help him, giving the Witch a silent, venom-filled glare, and Zelena observed, amused
"Don't worry," Zelena shook her head, "I'm not here for your baby. Or for Elena, for that matter. Not today, anyway."
Emma looked at Elena, then at the Witch with narrowed eyes, and Pan pulled the girl back behind him, keeping his fingers laced with hers.
"Now that my cover's blown, I can finally pay a visit to my little sister."
"Who the hell are you talking about?" Regina asked with a scoff, and Elena looked between them warily over Peter's shoulder.
"Why, you, of course, Regina."
"What?!" Emma exclaimed in bewilderment, as frowns took over the faces of those in the diner.
"I'm an only child," Regina told her.
"Cora lied to you, Regina. I'm your sister. Half, if you want to get technical."
"Why should I believe anything you say?"
"Oh, well, you shouldn't. It's a lot to swallow. Which is why I've brought a gift to help."
"I don't want a gift from you," Regina mocked her.
"But you shall have it," the Wicked Witch hissed. "You see, my gift to you is this sad, sad day. Use it to dig into our past, Regina. You need to learn the truth and you must believe it. And then, meet me on Main Street tonight. Say, sundown?"
"And then what?"
"Then, I'll destroy you," Zelena snarled, and Regina's glare challenged her just as fiercely.
"This isn't the Wild West."
"No, dear. It's the Wicked West. And I want everyone to be there," she went on, wandering around the area, "to see the Evil Queen lose."
"I don't lose," Regina shot at her.
"Neither do I. One of us is about to make history. See you tonight, sis."
Then the woman left the door sweeping closed behind her as her figure disappeared outside.
"What was she talking about?" Elena said, looking up at Emma in shock. "What does she want with me? Or the baby?"
"Okay, you two need to go somewhere safe," David said, and Elena's brows furrowed.
"But I want to help you."
"First, I'm going to do a little work," Peter told her, "and until I come back with what I need, you're staying. Okay?"
"What? No!"
"Yes," he insisted, a hint of desperation in his tone as he gripped her hand tighter. "I promised I'd protect you, Ella, and I keep my word. Stay inside. Please. There's still a lot for you to process, too."
Elena sighed, shrugging and nodding, and Mary smiled weakly at her, putting a hand on her shoulder.
It was a sad day. But, somehow, Elena didn't feel sad anymore. She didn't feel love. It was as if she was feeling anger flickering to life inside her.
She smiled back at Mary Margeret half-heartedly. She wouldn't let it win. She couldn't.
YOU ARE READING
Saviour || OUAT Peter Pan x OC
Fanfiction(BOOK TWO) (SLOW UPDATES 😅) It's been exactly a year since Elena had to flee Storybrooke along with Emma and Henry, due to the curse Peter Pan caused. But now he's back with Hook, keeping his forgotten promise - but now in need of her help more tha...
