Chapter Text
The story curse watches as the ballad of the archer and his fox begins to draw to a tragic close. In this reality, Jacks and his misguided motives have won the battle over his and Evangeline’s hope of a happily ever after. This time, Evangeline had attempted to prevent Jacks from turning back time, rather than going with chaos into the valory arch to free herself of the mirror curse. The story curse drowned in the hopelessness of it all as it watched the star crossed lovers’ happily ever fade into a never after as this reality floated away, as though it could all be a dream…
The world around them began to dissolve into ash, it has been burnt by the golden flame that flows from Jacks’ hands. He had his back turned to Evangeline. How could be expected to watch as she disappeared, while knowing that he is the cause? He flinched when he felt her warm hand reach out to touch his back. He continued to stare at straight ahead while tears of blood raced across his cheeks.
Evangeline could feel this reality slipping from beneath her feet and dragging her away, but she was not yet done with Jacks. She never would be, but he had to hear her last plea. Time had granted her this final moment with him so she must make it count.
“You may not owe me your heart or any of you secrets, but you do owe me a favour for allowing you to leave me.” Jacks took in a harsh breath but did not dare to interrupt her. He closed his eyes and focused every ounce of his power onto etching her final words into his soul. His last piece of his sweet Evangeline.
“When you return to the past, I ask that you find me and tell me about your new life with her, the house you may live in, if you have any pets or-or the names of your children-“ A broken sob cuts her off. “I just need to know about your new life. Most importantly, I need to know how happy it will make you. I need to know that all of this pain, writhing in my chest, is all for something. As long as you are truly happy I can let go of you Jacks, but just know that I can never loose you because I love-“ her final rushed words came out stained by her sobs and unfinished.
Jacks’ head violently spun around to where she was just standing. ‘Maybe if he could grab hold of her before she was completely gone perhaps he could take her with him’ his thoughts reasoned. However, when he turned he was not met by Evangeline’s wide eyes, but a garden filled with hundreds of blooming flowers and a glittery night sky. A warm hand then reached out for him again but it was not as soft nor as comforting as Evangeline’s had been. Buckets of ice cold water rushed over his skin, waking him from his trance. It allowed him to swiftly turn his head back so he could view what lie ahead of him. More garden, more stars and perfectly curled blonde tendrils of hair framing an angels face.
“Jacks? Where are we going?” Tella innocently questioned. Her eyes were pouring into his as though they were her only light in the darkness. This is the exact moment where it had gone wrong. Last time he had taken Tella through the palace gardens and straight to the water separating Valenda and the Magnificent North. He now has the benefit of hindsight and knows that if he were to repeat this Legend would soon catch up, so he uses his new plan he had created when he first began to hunt for the stones.
“We are going to our new home” He knew there was a person who owned a quaint bungalow in the satine district. Legend would never have expected them to hide right under his nose in Valenda, it would be impossible for each house to be thoroughly searched. After a week’s time they would be safe to leave and travel elsewhere but for now they would be hidden. “Let’s go” he tugs her hand and leads her away from the palace and leaves the memories of his past reality behind.
Later that night in the palace…
A door is slammed close, creating a crash so powerful it could have been mistaken as a strike of thunder. Legend had returned from his search for Tella with nothing but a soaked jacket and a knot in his chest. Rain had begun to pour from the sky as though it shared his feelings of despair, which prevented his pursuit across the sea shore.
“Did you find them?” Scarlett asked hopefully as she tore down the grand staircase to the doors of the castle. She had taken control of the palace mere hours ago yet she already portrays the perfect image of a royal.
“Funny you should ask, I did but I thought that it would be best to leave her out in the rain for a while. We wouldn’t want her in here safe from the evil, psychotic fate that kidnapped her.” He spits in a patronising tone. It seems that his control of his emotions has snapped when he booms. “NO! Obviously I haven’t found her. If I had she would be here with me! But and I’m sorry to be a buzzkill but she isn’t and she’s still out there, somewhere with that bastard!” His voice has become so loud the staff surrounding them had fled to the other side of the palace in fear.
Scarlett’s eyes are red rimmed from tears, she cannot bear the thought of her sister, taken by an evil fate. There is no need for Legend to add to her pain with his words just because he is also in a panic. She opened her mouth to defend herself but remains silent when an arm is thrown defensively in front of her torso.
“There’s no need to be so aggressive.” Julian spoke calmly but the fury in his gaze revealed the rage he is holding back. He stood behind Scarlett so he was towering above his brother “It’s not as though it’s Scarlett who took Tella. We understand that you are worried, but you have to understand it isn’t just you that wants to find Tella. You can’t shut yourself off to people anymore because we need to come up with an effective plan fast, if we have any hope of getting her back.”
Legend felt his face drop, he is furious at himself for lashing out at the people who are only trying to help, again. “I’m sorry Scarlett” he apologises while staring at the marble floor lost in his thoughts. The couple descend down the staircase and Legend follows when they move into the sitting room. The room is cleared of any staff and doors are locked so that they can plan a rescue, without risk of eavesdroppers.
“Let’s begin by searching the streets and doing a full sweep of Jacks gambling den. We will need to place palace guards at every passage way leading out of Valenda. Although, I doubt they would still be here as Jacks would most likely plan to take her North” Legend begins
“Can we be so sure they have left?” Julian questions as she peers out of the window “It would be quite a task to cross the waters with weather like this”
“I’m not sure if kidnappers do give much care about the weather” Legend retorts
“Don’t be so dismissive. He has a point, it would be easy to disappear and hide in someone else’s home. Perhaps somewhere in the spice quarter where many of Jacks’ associates live.” Scarlett said. They bickered for hours but were not closer to any sort of plan at all, they were beginning to lose focus but were interrupted.
“No that would never work” Julian argued. Scarlett tuned herself out when she felt a shiver race through her as though there was an unnatural chill. She peered into the corner of the room where she could swear something was moving in the shadows. She flinched in surprise when she heard a voice speak.
“I wondered how long it would take for one of you to finally notice me” The Assassin said as he stepped out of the shadows in his mysterious cloak. Silent shock fell across the room.
“We thought you had left now that the fallen star is dead.” Scarlett said in disbelief.
“I had left, but I something got in the way. Usually it is forbidden for me to speak of accidental altercations in the timeline but this was no accident” The Assassin explained. “The Valory stones were used to turn back time so that reality would revert back, to this night.”
“I thought those stones were well hidden in the North” Legend exclaimed while Scarlett and Julian shared a look of confusion.
“I’m afraid not” the assassin commiserated
“Hold on, what are the Valory stones and who has reversed time?” Julian demanded
“There are four stones that once united held the power to turn back time. They are supposed to have been used to turn back only an hour, the timeline never predicted that she would change her mind and allow him to use the stones to erase so much-“ The Assassin began to rush as though he were in a panic
“Who are you talking about?” Legend asked suspiciously. His gut knew but he had to get confirmation.
“The prince of hearts”
The room fell so silent that Scarlett could hear the flutter of her eyelashes against her cheeks. She rapidly blinked hoping that perhaps there was something in her vision that could contradict this as it simply can’t be true. Then again it is not that far fetched, she had also travelled back in time, but never with the intention to change the past.
“He was not supposed to have actually used them to go back so far, so we have to find him and solve this.” The assassin declared
“Where do we go?” Julian stood in support now that he understood the urgency of the situation.
“The Satine Distict” Legend stood and wordlessly marched out of the room while the rest of them trailed behind.