𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐕𝐀𝐋 ★ 𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐮𝐩𝐨𝐧 𝐚 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 ⁷

•Chapter 9: Pure•

When the feeling of solid ground greets me, I slowly open my eyes to find myself on the floor of the loft with Felix and Austin in a dog pile on top of me. A sigh of relief at the feeling of safety escapes my lips as the two boys get to their feet before helping me to mine. As soon as I regain my bearings, a force hits me from behind, causing me to stumble forward a bit before I look down to see Roland staring up at me with joyful eyes. Laughter surrounds the two of us as I turn towards the boy before pulling the boy into my arms.

"So you're the hero I have to thank for that rescue," I say to the smiling boy, only for him to grin in response before he takes the cuff off my wrists then throws it across the room, "I don't think I would make it in this world without my brave Merry Man."

The two of us share another laugh before we turn our attention back to everyone else before making eye contact with Killian. We stare at each other for a silent moment before he gestures to the pocket of his coat, causing realization to flow through every inch of me before a smile forms on my face. After sending the pirate a small nod, I go with my group to the couches on the other side of the loft to give the two of them their private moment.

As soon as I reach the furniture, my eyes land on my parents fast asleep in their bed. Before I can fully process everything around me, I leave everyone at the couch and rush over to where Henry and Regina are looking over Snow and David. When I reach them, my eyes scan the two of them before coming to the conclusion that they're too sound asleep for it to be a simple nap.

"Regina," I say so quietly that I think she doesn't hear me, only for my thoughts to be proven wrong when I see the woman look at me out of the corner of my eye, "what happened? Why are they like this?"

"After getting the message you sent with Roland, they decided to go into a sleeping curse so that Emma could save all of you," the former Evil Queen explains to me while I keep my eyes glues to the couple on the bed. A silent moment passes between us as I continue to stare at the Charmings before I feel a hand placed on top of mine. My eyes study the pair one last time before I turn my attention to Regina, who's staring back at with a hint of hope in her eyes. "There might be another way to break it, but it's risky."

"Tell me what I need to do, and I'll do it," I declare as I stare into her brown eyes while a wave of determination makes its way through every inch of my body.

After telling everyone to gather everyone in town and meet us at the Mayor's office in an hour, Felix and I go with Regina back to her family's mausoleum. As soon as we reach the area of the small building where she keeps all her magical items, the former Evil Queen explains her plans of using my light magic to dilute the dark magic within the sleeping curse her evil twin used to cast the spell on my parents.

"Okay, I know we haven't known each other personally for very long, but since when did you have an evil twin?" Felix questions, only for Regina to ignore his question as she turns to face me.

"It's risky. The effects of the curse can backfire if you don't do it right. That's why I asked Felix to come along in case he has to wake you up," the brunette explains as she studies the look on my face for a long moment before meeting my eyes once again, "are you up for this, Everly?"

"They've done a lot for me in the last few years. I think it's time for me to return the favor," I respond as I shake my hands out before letting out a long sigh, "just tell me when to start."

Regina sends me a nod in response before she turns and begins to take a few things off the shelves that surround us. Felix and I carefully watch her get a determined look on her face as she pours potions and places objects into a small cup in the center of the table. As soon as she finishes pouring one last small bottle into the chalice, a tiny puff of purple smoke emits from it before it evaporates into the air around us. My ears pick up the shaky breath that escapes Regina before she reaches her hand out to me. After meeting her eyes for a moment, I place mine into her palm before she turns it face down before moving it above the silver cup.