I Know The End || Killian Jones

𝟶𝟿 - 𝚋𝚛𝚘𝚔𝚎𝚗 𝚋𝚎𝚐𝚒𝚗𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜

the enchanted forest, 28 years ago

— THE SOUND OF THE WARNING HORN ECHOED THROUGH THE WOODS, LOUD AND CLEAR, REACHING THE PALACE EASILY. As Ajatri watched the approaching curse from where she was camped in the woods just beyond the home of Prince Charming and Snow White, she suddenly wished with all her heart that she could be back home. Her hand locked around the pendant around her neck. Or that perhaps she had a piece of it with her more than Akela's tooth.

She had agreed to do all she could to aid her friends against the Evil Queen's curse, to be an advance guard to the castle, an advance warning for the approach of the curse... but her pack would remain far away. They would remain in the Jungle Kingdom, where she hoped with all her heart they might be safe. The Jungle emitted its own magical energy; one created by the animals themselves, living in a balance and harmony that was unheard of thanks to Akela and Aja, his successor.

She hoped beyond hope that that magic would keep her family safe as she watched the curse boil towards her like a tsunami. From a distance, they both seemed so slow that it was agonising to force oneself to do nothing but wait. But you just knew that there was no escaping it. Because in truth it was too fast to flee from. And in this case, far too malevolent.

When Aja suddenly heard the cracking of a twitch behind her, she whirled, poised down on one knee with an arrow knocked and aimed at whoever may have been trying to sneak up on her. "Show yourself." She growled warningly. Then the offending creature emerged, a small, frightened-looking bundle of Grey fur that crept towards her with apologetic eyes. Aja's own eyes widened as she put her weapon away. "Grey!"

He yipped, galloping over to her.

'What are you doing here??' She asked desperately. 'You can't be here!'

'But...' He protested softly. 'We always stick together. I wanted to prove I could do it – the tracking and the sneaking.'

"Oh," The word caught in her throat as she scooped him into her lap, painfully aware that there was no escape for her dear little brother now. "You did." Tears gathered in her eyes as she nodded. 'You're incredible, Grey.'

He whimpered softly. 'And... I didn't want you to be alone.'

A soft sob escaped her at that, and an enormous wave of guilt came crashing down over her, as if her wishing for a piece of home was what had brought him here. Now she had a piece of home, and Grey would suffer the consequences for her selfish prayers. A few tears leaked down her cheeks, as she pulled him into her chest, curling around him with eyes squeezed shut, as if the shield that was her body could protect him. And then the Dark Curse swallowed them up, as if they'd never been there at all.

storybrooke, maine, now

— GREY AND AJATRI FROZE AS THE PURE LOVE MAGIC ROLLED OVER THEM, LEAVING THEM STUNNED IN ITS WAKE. all around them on the street, the other people of the town seemed to be in a similar state as their haze was broken, their memories restored and their true selves returned to them.

For a moment, the duality of the clarity and overwhelmedness that had overcome Aja was dizzying. She remembered everything. The Jungle. The pack. Her family, her friends. Grey. And then the second her eyes locked with his, every worry seemed to melt away, the tension in her chest evaporating.

"Aja!" Then he was running at her full speed, and she scooped him up easily into a hug when he reached her, hugging him tightly with a laugh. "What happened??" He asked, blinking in confusion.

"I think Emma broke the curse." Aja realised.

His eyes widened. "Do you think that means Henry's okay too?? Do you think she woke him up??"