《Artemis || OUAT》90. Street Rats
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Astrid stood in between her mother and sister next to David behind the one-way mirror inside of the station as they watched a tanned, raven haired woman wait inside of the interrogation room.
"I guess Shirin was after more than just a fulfilling career in education," Snow remarked,
"If that's even her real name." Astrid smirked as her mother glanced over at her in agreement.
Emma sighed, "Let's go find out." She and David both walked inside of the room while Astrid remained behind the mirror next to Snow, watching the interrogation.
"So, let's talk. Who are you really, Shirin?" Emma began, "What are you doing here? Let us help you. Tell us who you are."
"I... I can't tell you," Shirin stammered, "I've had to keep my true self secret for many years. In the Land of Untold Stories, Hyde... he could use this against me."
David has his arms folded across his chest as Emma looked up at him, sharing a look, before she leaned back and folded her arms across her chest.
"Hyde's dead," David informed the woman.
Shirin's eyes widened as she let out, "Really?"
"Yeah, he's gone," Emma further explained, "You don't have to be afraid of him."
Shirin looked from her to David and down at her cuffed hand on the table before she admitted, "I'm Princess Jasmine of Agrabah. And I swear to you, I am innocent of this crime."
Astrid shared a look with Snow as the two glanced back at the three people in the room in front of them.
"I believe you," Emma assured.
"Really?" Jasmine froze in slight disbelief.
"I have, kind of, a superpower," Emma shrugged as David asked, "So, if it wasn't you, who was it?"
"I have no idea," Jasmine admitted, "That girl, she was my friend. She was helping me find a man who I cared about a long, long time ago."
"Aladdin?" Emma inquired.
Jasmine leaned forward in her seat and asked in surprise, "You know him?"
Emma shook her head, "No, I just saw the movie. It's a this-world thing. But where is he?"
"I wish I knew," The princess sighed and marveled, "He was quite special. He was... the Savior."
Everyone's jaws dropped at that as both Emma and David let out in shock, "What?"
Emma added in her confusion, "What about the Creator? Is there another one from where you're from?"
Jasmine nodded slowly, adding, "There was stories of this Creator, too, but... they say his powers became so great that he gave them up, which was passed down from generation to generation until a worthy person could wield that much power for all of eternity."
Astrid clicked her tongue somewhat, saying, "Well, I am already immortal and I've already embraced my power. I know my Creator responsibilities, duties, and weaknesses."
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Snow glanced over at her daughter before she moved her hand over hers and squeezed it in comfort.
***
Emma walked inside of the Blanchard apartment to find everyone standing around the table, "What's wrong?"
David moved his hands over his hips, "We just hit a dead end trying to find Aladdin."
"We tried a locator spell," Snow added, "It didn't work."
Astrid nodded, her hands over the bolts of swords strapped on her hips, adding, "Nothing belonged to him. Everything he had, he stole."
"And we're giving up?" Emma inquired.
"We're not giving up exactly, but it doesn't look good," David sighed as Jasmine spoke up, "So, we may not find Aladdin."
"Which means you're running out of excuses, Emma," Archie suddenly spoke up as he entered the home behind her.
"Did you follow me here?" Emma suspiciously questioned.
"Yes," Archie nodded, "I mean, look, I couldn't leave knowing that you were gonna continue to lie to yourself, and to your family."
Emma folded her arms across her chest just as Astrid spoke up, "Okay. What the bloody hell is going on?"
"Emma has a secret." Archie started as Emma stopped him, "Archie."
Hook placed a hand on his love's arm, "No. Continue."
"Killian..." Emma began.
"Emma, if he thinks it can help. Cricket's always been on your side." Hook continued as Henry spoke up, "Mom, please."
Emma took a deep breath, "I... I've been having visions of what I think is my future. I've been shaking. In the vision... I die. According to Hyde, all Saviors die. Aladdin was also a Savior, so I thought if I found him, if I found him alive... that he could help me avoid my fate."
Archie discreetly stepped out of the house while Hook began, "So, you lied to us?"
"Do you not trust us?" Snow added as David also started, "We're your family..."
Snow continued to what she started to say, "Emma, you don't keep secrets from your family."
Simultaneously, both Henry and Astrid questioned in unison, "And you die?"
"Who kills you?" Hook also asked.
After Emma explains the full vision in detail, Astrid suddenly spoke up, "So, I'm not there?"
"The figure in the hood kills me while I protect everyone, but no, you're not there." Emma admitted as she warily glanced over at her sister.
Astrid folded her arms across her chest, "Well, where do you think I am?" She noticed her sister's look, "Dead?" But then she noticed Emma glance over at Hook as she realized, "Or am I the figure under the hood?"
"Now, Astrid, don't be angry. This is a vision. It's not a dream." Emma started, "It's not like it's my subconscious at work."
Astrid sighed, "I'm not mad. I'm gonna find another way to track down Aladdin. If I can't be of bloody help in the future, I sure as hell better do my part now."
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Emma started to step towards her but stopped herself from doing so, "Astro-"
"Just give me a minute. Let me think." Astrid cut her off, "I've got this." She walked upstairs to her bedroom as they could hear her door slightly slam.
Jasmine stepped over to Emma and reluctantly asked, "Is it true?"
"What?" Emma began.
"Is Aladdin dead?" Jasmine sadly questioned as Emma murmured, "I don't know."
***
Astrid was sitting Indian-style in the middle of her bedroom floor, her eyes closed, as she channeled her magic in finding the location of Aladdin.
"Astrid-?" Emma lightly knocked on her door but stopped as she noticed her twin open her now glowing eyes, "Whoa..."
Astrid stood up and moved over to the door, now walking down the hall with purpose.
"Hey, where are you going-?" Emma started but received no answer from her twin who continued to walk down the stairs and over to the door.
"Mom, Dad, Hook, I think Astrid found him." Emma told her parents and her love as she reached the bottom stair.
Hook reached out and held his daughter's arm as she stopped but didn't glance over at him and kept her gaze focused on the door.
"Why is her eyes glowing? Why isn't she answering us?" Hook began, glancing from Astrid to Emma.
"I don't know. It's her magic. I think she channeled herself into finding Aladdin's location." Emma answered.
"With Astrid and her power, anything is possible," Regina remarked.
"Let's go," Jasmine spoke up just as the pirate released Astrid who continued out of the loft with everyone following her.
***
Astrid led them further into the woods as Emma spoke up, "We're getting close. It's-- It's like we're connected now but through my sister..."
Astrid abruptly stopped in her tracks and sharply gasped, her glowing eyes dimming to her regular blue color.
"AJ?" "Astrid?"
The said immortal girl glanced behind her at them and ahead, "It's this way."
They were led into a cave but more like a crypt as Astrid spoke up, "This is the place. He's here."
"Here? We're directly under a cemetery in..." Regina spoke up as she glanced around, "-some kind of forgotten..."
"Crypt," Jasmine finished and looked over at Astrid, "This is a crypt. Aladdin can't be here. You must've made some kind of mistake."
Astrid shook her head at that, "I don't think so."
Hook shared a look with Emma before speaking up towards the princess, "Why don't we wait outside while the others look around?"
"No. Give me one of those torches." Jasmine told Henry who handed her a flashlight as she began to look at the different skeletons.
Jasmine froze when she noticed something on one of the corpses as Emma let out, "Jasmine?"
The said princess sobbed, "She's right. He is here."
"Are you... Are you sure that's Aladdin?" Regina began in concern.
Jasmine nodded and showed them a royal scarab, "Yes."
"I am so sorry," Regina murmured and moved an arm around her and led her out of the crypt.
"Mom, does this mean..." Henry started towards Emma who glanced over at Regina and Astrid and replied, "I-I don't know. I think I need to be alone for a minute."
Everyone began to leave out of the cave except for Astrid who glanced back at her sister and sighed before also leaving her alone.
***
Astrid sat next to Hook at the table as did Emma and Henry while Regina held up the golden shears, "Pair of scissors? Why does magic always have to be so literal?"
The front door opened as David and Snow stepped inside with David speaking up, "We came as soon as we could."
"Still no sign of Archie," Snow added and noticed the magical item in Regina's hands, "Are those...?"
"Aye," Hook sighed and shared a look with his adopted daughter, "They are."
"Look, I brought those here because I'm done with secrets, but I do not want to use them." Emma informed them.
"Emma-" Snow murmured.
"Just hear me out." Emma continued, "Aladdin didn't trust the people he loved, and that's why he failed. But I believe in us to find a third way-"
Astrid nodded, "It's kind of what we do."
David placed a fatherly hand on the immortal girl's shoulder as Emma added, "But if we don't and my magic does come with a price... I will pay it. The Savior is what I am, but I am also part of a family."
Snow held out the shears to Emma who took them, "Well, I choose to believe in us, too."
"We all do," David replied and placed a fatherly hand on Emma's arm in assurance, "We can protect you, and we can protect this town."
Hook sighed, "If that's what you want, I'm with you, Swan."
"Hey," Emma placed her hand on top of the pirate's and murmured, "I'm sorry. I'm sorry I didn't trust you. No more secrets. Take them."
Hook reluctantly took the shears as Emma added, "I don't want them used as a weapon if they fell into the wrong hands. We need to be sure to be rid of them."
Astrid folded her hands in front of her on top of the table, "Well, I've never said this before-" She briefly glanced from Hook to Emma and slightly pointed at her sister, "-but you have my attention."
Emma smiled some and stood up from the table as did Hook, "We'll see you guys later."
Astrid nodded and also stood up, stopping her sister, saying, "And, Em, I'm with you always."
Emma nodded, "I know." She then hugged her twin who let out in the embrace, "Bitch."
Emma laughed and murmured, "Punk," before stepping back and held up her hand at her, "You and me."
Astrid smirked and clasped her hand in Emma's, "Me and you until the end. Come whatever."
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