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Dark Astrid abruptly moved her dagger across her palm as blood seeped through the cut; She then held it over the lake as her blood dropped into the water.

This caused a ripple in the water which soon glowed as fog began to fill the air in front of her and a rowboat with a cloaked figure approached her.

Dark Astrid helped Nimue off the boat and onto the land as she remarked, "Welcome to Storybrooke, o Dark One."

Nimue smirked, saying, "You're no ordinary Dark One... Who are you?"

"I'm just the Creator's darkness who now has Captain Hook and Emma Swan's Dark One selves in me." Dark Astrid shrugged, "I'm Astrid."

"Ah, yes. You're Emma's sister. Astrid was a real pure-hearted, true, hero." Nimue commented, "Makes sense that her darkness is almost twice as powerful as herself."

"Aye." Dark Astrid nodded and smirked when all of the other Dark Ones appeared around the two of them. "You know what to do. It's time to snuff out the bloody light."

***

Hook, Regina, Emma, Henry, David, Snow, and Robin all followed behind Peter who was currently walking down the street at night.

"Peter, slow down. We need to talk about this." David began, "We need a plan."

"The plan is to find my wife." Peter simply replied, "She doesn't even know what's bloody going on. Her dark self is planning on resurrecting every one of the Dark Ones, and we thought dealing with one was bad enough."

"There's more than one Dark One!?" Leroy suddenly spoke up as he and the other four dwarves ran up to the group.

"It's a long story," David sighed.

"Well, no matter. There's seven of us." Leroy commented to which Happy remarked, "Six. Dopey's still a tree."

"We may be down a dwarf, but we're ready to fight." Leroy pointed out.

"We won't have to. I'm going to take care of this." Emma spoke up. "This is my fault."

"If you're looking for someone to disagree, it's not coming from me." Peter remarked but was simply elbowed in the arm by Hook who corrected him, "Astrid knew what she was doing. It was her choice."

"We need to split up and find her." Regina spoke up, "Astrid might not know what she's doing, but her dark double does."

***

"Love!" Peter let out as he ran over to his wife who looked over at him. "Are you all right?"

"Oh, I am, but you won't be." Dark Astrid remarked just as Nimue appeared behind her husband who quickly faced the Dark One.

Nimue simply smirked and walked right through him before vanishing again. Peter felt something burn on his wrist as he noticed a familiar symbol now on it.

Peter ignored it for the time being and focused on Dark Astrid again. "Bring her back. Now."

"Oh, but the fun's just started. Why would I do that?" She commented, running her finger up his wrist and his arm slowly as her signature smirk stayed on her face.

Peter began, cupping both sides of her face in his hands, "I will never let you go. I'm with you until the end, love."

Dark Astrid grinned in amusement and nodded as he still held onto her, saying, "I know, that's why I saved you for last. Again." Peter lifted an eyebrow just as she blasted him so hard that he fell to the ground a few feet away.

"I'm not going to leave you-" Peter let out desperately, "You can do whatever but I still love you. You're my wife, my best friend, my home."

Dark Astrid now stood over him and then punched him in his face again and again repeatedly just as he added breathlessly and after he grunted some, "I'm here, Charming, it's me. It's really me, love..."

She hit him again as he continued with tears in his now bruised eyes, "I am not going to fight you-" She punched him again as Peter breathlessly continued in pain, "It's okay, it's okay... I love you. Always and forever..."

Dark Astrid went to hit him with her fist raised but stopped, a familiar gleam suddenly appearing in her blue eyes once more as she stared at the green eyed boy.

Tears welled up in her eyes as she fell to her knees and then wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly.

"I'm so sorry," Astrid wept, "I- She's trapped now, Peter. I have her... I'm so, so sorry..."

Peter breathed out in relief and held his love in his arms before pulling the girl in a tearful, hard kiss and murmured, "It's not your fault, A. I got you, you're safe now."

Their lips brushed against one another's a few times, breath fanning across each other's faces as one waits for the other to make a move.

"How did you bring me back?" Astrid let out softly.

Peter kissed her forehead lightly before he murmured, "I told you your love definitely proves to be stronger than your darkness."

"I love you," Astrid finally whispered with a soft smile and kissed him on the lips again and then traced his soft lips with her thumb while she gazed into his eyes.

"And I love you, love." Peter whispered back as she smiled and murmured, "Forever and always..."

Astrid then healed him of his bruises and remained in his arms a little bit longer. "What do we do?"

"We stop this from happening," Peter sighed as the two of them glanced down at the symbol on his wrist.

***

Regina demanded towards Emma and Gold, What just happened to us!?" She looked over her son to make sure he wasn't harmed.

"I think I may have the answer to that." Peter spoke up as he and Astrid appeared in front of them, the two holding hands. "Check your wrists."

Everyone then checked their wrists to find the same symbol that was also on Peter's own wrist. Emma questioned him in confusion, "What is that?"

"That... is the Mark of Charon." Gold answered for his big brother as he now stood on his other side.

Henry furrowed his brow and looked over at his aunt and then Peter and Gold. "Charon? He was the ferryman in the old myths. He navigated a boat... to the Underworld."

"Smart kid." Peter nodded, impressed with his great nephew.

"You see, the Dark Ones only have a... a temporary pass into this world, like a tourist visa-" Gold started.

"The only way for them to stay... is to trade places with living souls..." Astrid added with a sad nod.

"Meaning us?" David let out.

Peter sighed, "Exactly." He then gestured to himself and the group before them and added, "And when the moon reaches its peak, the ferry from the Underworld will arrive... and drag us down there."

David shook his head, saying, "That doesn't sound good."

Astrid moved her hands over the hilts of her swords at her hips as she replied, "Speaking as one who's died and been there, it's not."

Regina began, "So, how do we stop it?"

Gold then shook his head and answered, "We can't. The Underworld is worse than you can possibly imagine. It's gonna make you wish the old stories of fire and brimstone were true. It's gonna make you wish you were dead. And then the realization will hit... that death has already come, and this fresh torture is all that's left."

"Gold, you're scaring Henry." Emma let out as she moved a hand over her son's shoulder in assurance.

"Good, because we should all be scared. This is death itself. This is a fight we cannot win." Gold sighed.

Astrid shook her head and argued, "No, no. I'm not marked. I am not going to bloody give up. There has to be something we can do."

Peter moved an assuring arm around the small of her back and pulled her close to him while Gold commented, "You're right. There is something. Use this time wisely. Use it to say goodbye."

***

Snow, David, Peter, Emma, Henry, Regina, and Astrid was inside of Regina's vault, going through different books to find a way to stop this.

"Gold has to be missing something, right? There has to be a way to escape this mark." Henry began.

"Maybe Gold's right." Snow sighed, "Maybe this is a fight we can't win."

"Mom, you're Snow White. You don't know how to give up." Emma spoke up, "Hope is in your blood."

"And I do hope, Emma, but... I don't want to spend what could be my last moments with my nose stuck in a book." Snow replied, "I want to make the most of my moments with my family."

David nodded in agreement with his wife and spoke up, "Yeah. Dinner at Granny's. That's a great idea."

Astrid glanced down her baby brother in her mother's arms and thought about her own son as she spoke up sadly, "What about Neal? He'll be left here all alone... And Zephyr won't have any of his family but myself and Roland..."

Snow looked over at her eighteen year old and sadly smiled, saying, "They won't be left alone. They'll have you, A."

Astrid shook her head and let out, "No, I will not give up on my own family. I never have, and I'm not going to bloody start now."

Emma nodded in agreement with her sister and added, tears in her eyes, "Me too. I can't, either."

Snow handed Neal over to David and looked back over at her daughters with tears in her own eyes. "Girls, we're almost out of time. And time is what's most important... time with those we love. I know you two won't stop trying. And I hope you succeed, but... promise me that you two will... come meet us at Granny's, come say goodbye."

Emma glanced down at her own mark on her wrist and looked over at Astrid, saying, "We promise."

Snow then pulled both of them into a tearful hug, letting out, "I love you, Emma, Astrid."

"I love you, too," Both Astrid and Emma murmured back at her in the tight embrace.

Peter stayed behind while David, Snow, and Henry left out of the vault. "Love, I'm going to go spend my final moments with our son. I'll see you in a little bit. Okay?"

Astrid nodded and was kissed on her forehead by her husband who then reluctantly left out of the vault and followed after her parents and nephew.

Regina then walked back into the room and spoke up, "So, I hear we're giving up."

"The hell I am. Not tonight. Not ever." Emma replied, "If I can destroy the Dark Ones, no souls will be owed, and we'll be spared."

Regina looked puzzled now and asked, "How?"

"Do you remember the promise you made in Camelot... to do whatever was necessary to get rid of the darkness?" Emma began towards the raven haired woman.

Regina raised an eyebrow her way, saying, "I don't like where this is going."

"I need you to keep that promise now. And I need both of you to swear not to tell anyone else." Emma commented as she glanced over at her twin.

"But to get rid of the darkness, you still have to put it in someone... and sacrifice them. Who?" Regina warily started.

Astrid suddenly spoke up, "Me."

"No, I can't let you do that, A. I started this, and I already let you take my darkness and Hook's-" Emma began.

Astrid cut her off, now facing her, "Emma, let me do this. I let you down in Camelot by not healing him to begin with. Plus, I already have two Dark Ones' darknesses in me- not to mention my own. It should be me."

More tears fell down Emma's face as she then pulled her sister into another hug, letting out sadly, "I can't lose you. Again. We need you."

"And I don't lose any of you. I have do this. It's the only way." Astrid murmured in their embrace.

***

Regina, Emma, and Astrid stepped inside of Gold's shop just as the said man spoke up, "We're closed. Please, go away."

Regina shook her head and replied, "No. We're not going down without a fight. I bet there are a lot of people in the Underworld who would be thrilled to see you and me."

"We deserve it. And it doesn't matter. There is no alternative." Gold muttered.

"There might be, but I will need Excalibur." Astrid spoke up, her hands folded in front of herself.

"The only possible way Excalibur would be of any use would be if-" Gold began but stopped as he realized what they were planning.

"If Astrid takes all the darkness into herself- like she did with Emma and Hook... And uses the sword to destroy it." Regina finished for him.

"And herself." Gold let out as Astrid slowly nodded, her jaw flexing some. He then walked into the back room and returned back over to them with the said sword in hand. "Excalibur was always destined... for the hands of a true hero."

"That's my sister, definitely," Emma quietly let out. Astrid was then handed the sword as she took it reluctantly and now held it firmly in her left hand. "That's it? You don't want to make a deal or something?"

Gold shook his head, admitting, "No... My brother will probably kill me for going along with this plan that involves sacrificing his wife, my sister-in law."

Astrid smiled a little at him admitting that the two of them were also family. He then added, "You're a brave woman, Astrid... But it might not work."

Emma replied for her in confusion, "What? Why?"

"Well, that blade... It chooses who it finds worthy." Gold explained what he meant, "And it chooses its miracles."

"It chose Astrid as worthy. She pulled it from the stone." Regina pointed out, "Maybe we'll get a miracle out of this for her sake."

"It doesn't matter." Astrid let out, "Right now, all that matters is... I need to be with my family while I can be. Em, Reg, come to Granny's with me?"

Regina shook her head, saying, "No, I can't. Robin and I need to protect Roland and the baby from Zelena. I'll catch up with you later."

Emma moved her hand and now held Astrid's right hand in hers and commented, "Let's go."

***

Astrid and Emma now stood in the very back of Granny's a few feet from the jukebox as they watched Hook, Henry, Snow, David, and baby Neal at a table, spending their supposed final moment together.

"You ready to see them one last time, Astro?" Emma began softly, a sadness in her eyes as she thought about losing her twin again.

Astrid sighed and pulled out an envelope that had 'for my family' on the front of it. "I can't. I need you to do this for me."

Emma shook her head, knowing exactly what what she meant, tears now in her eyes. "N-No. Astrid, sis..."

Astrid continued to hold out the envelope towards her, letting out, "Em, please. If I go in there, they'll stop me from doing this, and it has to be done."

Emma continued to shake her head as a tear fell down her face. "I thought I would have more time before I'd have to say goodbye to you..."

Astrid sadly smiled at her, saying, "I love you, bitch." A single tear fell down her face then.

Emma sadly laughed, another tear falling down her face, "I love you, too, punk."

"Promise me you'll take good care of them. Peter... He's going to be a mess when I'm gone. Be there for him. He is, after all, technically your brother-in law." Astrid started, "He's family."

"I promise to take good care of all them." Emma quietly sobbed and hugged her again, "Thank you for everything, Astro. You're the best twin I could ever ask for."

Astrid sadly laughed, "I know... Tell them I'll forever love them and that I'm sorry."

Emma sniffled and stepped back before assuring, "I will."

Astrid kept a smile on her face as she then vanished in a cloud of white smoke and appeared at the lake.

Suddenly, all of the past Dark Ones appeared everywhere around her, all of them wearing black cloaks.

Nimue was standing beside Dark Astrid as they now stood in front of Astrid who tightened Excalibur in her hand.

"Astrid, don't do this." Her dark double warned, "You'll destroy yourself in the process of doing this."

"I will bloody protect my family, even if it means I have to sacrifice my own self and happy ending." Astrid simply remarked as she held up the sword which began to glow.

One by one, the Dark Ones turned into darkness and was then sucked inside of the sword.

"ASTRID!" She heard as she glanced over to her left to find Hook, Emma, Peter, David, Snow, Regina, Robin, Gold, and Henry racing over to where she was while she continued to absorb every bit of the darkness.

"Love, don't do this." Peter began, tears in his green eyes as he approached his wife first.

"I have to... This is the only way to save all of you..." Astrid let out and grunted in pain while taking on even more darkness.

The marks on the sword were now glowing red as Hook spoke up, "AJ, kid, you can't do this

"There's no other way, Dad... We have to hurry." Astrid began, tears falling down her face as she groaned in pain, "The darkness won't stay trapped in Excalibur much longer. Peter."

Peter shook his head desperately as Astrid added sorrowfully, "You have to help me. I can't do this by myself. Take it."

"But- But we need you, love. Your family needs you. If anyone deserves to go to the Underworld, it's me-" Peter started, moving his hand over Astrid's that was holding onto the shaking sword.

"No. Let me right my wrong. Let me be the hero my family deserves at least one more time." Astrid pleaded, another tear falling down her face.

Peter breathed out, "I can't lose you. Not again. Zephyr can't lose his mother."

Astrid continued to fight the darkness and asp breathed out, "And I don't lose you guys, either! But you have to let me go. Let me die a hero. That's the kind of person I want you to remember. Please..."

Peter hesitantly took the sword from his wife and kissed her fervently one last time, letting out, "I love you. Forever and always."

"I love you. Always and forever." Astrid whispered, kissing her husband once more.

Peter aimed the sword at her chest as she assured, "It's okay." He then stabbed her in the chest, both crying.

He then moved her into his arms, placing a hand on her cheek trying to comfort her as she grew weaker. He then removed the sword as it disintegrated quickly.

Astrid collapsed onto the ground while Peter moved her into his arms, her head on his chest as her heart no longer beat.

She was dead.

Behind the couple, her family was crying also, saddened at the loss of the girl but also proud to have known such a true hero.

They were going to miss Astrid.

***

Astrid was now on a stretcher as the paramedics were getting ready to take her body away.

Emma was now clutching onto her sister's hand, not wanting to let go just yet.

Though, Peter was trying to hold it together as best he could. He felt like a part of him was now gone and like he wouldn't ever be whole again. But he had to keep fighting for their son.

As the paramedics began to wheel away Astrid's body, Emma let her hand go and was now in her parents' arms comfortingly.

Hook placed a hand over Peter's shoulder as the two shared a look.

The pirate knew how it felt to lose the love of your life, and he was also hurting because he lost a daughter, one of the few people who has always believed in him.