Hi, everyone! My name is C.M. Singer, and I am somewhat new to the OUAT fandom, but hope to become more acquainted as the story progresses. This is an idea I've had for awhile, and after the S6 finale and rewatching some of the earlier seasons, I just had to write this. There are a few things you should know before starting. First and foremost, this story begins at the end of S4 Episode 22, so there will be some slight spoilers. The first couple of chapters (1 and 2 specifically) will be canon to the show with my spin. Beyond that, while there will be some elements of S5, it will mostly be a new interpretation. There will be some angst and small elements of torture/violence throughout this story, which is why this is rated T. If you have ever have any questions, please PM me and I will be happy to answer them. If you like this chapter, please do me a favor and let me know what you think! Helpful critique, suggestions, and comments are encouraged and welcomed (plus, they make me super happy). I want to do my best to capture the essence of OUAT. Also, don't forget to favorite and/or follow this story! Thank you for your support. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: Sadly, OUAT is not mine to claim. All of the characters belong to Adam Horowitz, Eddy Kitsis, ABC, and their rightful owners.
For Cassidy
Takes Place Immediately After Emma and Killian's Conversation On Her Bed (S4 Episode 22)
Chapter 1
I love you.
It is one of the most commonly used phrases in the entirety of the English language, yet the only one Emma Swan can't bring herself to say to Killian Jones.
Even after their many ordeals involving time travel, ice walls, and alternate realities, she chokes each time she manages to gather her courage. Emma's never experienced feelings this strong for anyone before. She guards herself, never letting anyone under her skin. For many years, her poker face was her mask. That was until Henry brought her to Storybrooke, a quaint town in Maine. Finding her family and beginning a relationship with Hook causes her walls to crumble slowly.
He told her he traded his ship for her; he told her he did not intend to let her down, and that she was his happy ending. Though she feels the same, why can't she say those three words? Why can't she tell him she dreads the idea of not being with him? All she has to say is, "I love you" and he would know. He could rest assured that nothing comes between them. Yet, even now, after his traumatizing death in the alternate reality, she still cannot coerce those three words to come from her lips.
She hates seeing the hint of disappointment in Killian's eyes. He doesn't say anything; he only grins and jovially embraces her. And yet, he always knows when to give her space. She only needs more time. But for what? That is the one thing she can't quite answer. However, she hopes that after having time to breathe, she'll be able to express her feelings honestly.
When they finally manage to untangle themselves from the bed and return downstairs, Mary Margaret and David await them.
Her mother's eyes of jade fill with tears. She feels overcome with relief and joy at the sight of her daughter. Her father beams and appears relieved at the sight of the pirate. Emma senses that her family couldn't be happier when her father draws open his brawny arms to envelop his daughter.
Relief washes over the Savior that she finally reconciles with her parents. During their quarrel, she missed the way her father drapes his shoulder over her, the way her parents wait up for her after every date with Killian, and the way their encouraging words always restore her soul. In this moment, Emma feels grateful for family.
After nearly squeezing her insides, Mary Margaret also bestows a hug onto the pirate.
"It's good to see you alive, Hook," she states, her dimples rooting through.
"Aye, love," he replies. "It's good to be back."
"Henry just called and said that everyone is on their way to Granny's for a celebratory dinner," David informs the couple. "Are you two coming?"
"Yes," Emma answers. "We'll be there."
The next moment, David gets a call from Leroy about some folks still missing after being brought back from the alternate reality. Once he assures Leroy that he's on his way, Hook volunteers to go with him. As he heads out the door, he plants a kiss on Mary Margaret's cheek and takes off with the pirate to find the missing residents.
"See you later, Swan," Killian whispers, squeezing her hand.
"Bye, Killian," she says with a small grin on her face.
Though her stomach coils into knots, she feels a slight sense of relief when she sees that smolder on his face. She cannot prevent losing herself every time she meets his eyes of sparkling blue. Even though they were only apart for a short time, she missed the warmth of his hand.
After the door closes, Mary Margaret and her daughter's eyes meet.
"Do you want to tell me what that was about?"
"What?" Emma shrugs, trying to brush off her mother's glare. Even though she only found her mother about two years ago, the former princess perfectly detects when something seems amiss. Though Emma tries to hide her feelings, her mother's scowl tells her that she does so poorly.
"You seemed to be distant from Hook, even though we just got back. What's wrong?"
"Nothing," Emma answers. "I guess— I guess I'm just tired. It's been a rough few days."
"It has been for all of us." Mary Margaret's eyes trail the floor. "The last thing I expected was to become the Evil Queen."
"Yeah, that was awkward," her daughter agrees, a slight chuckle in her voice.
Ever since she arrived in Storybrooke, Emma teaches herself to believe in and process more about fairytales, fantasy, and folklore than she ever thought possible. However, seeing her mother act like Regina before the curse was the last thing she thought she would witness.
"Well, listen, why don't you go upstairs and change into something nice? I'll make a tray of food for Granny's and finish changing your brother."
Realizing the time, the Savior nods and climbs up the stairs to change. As she reaches the top of the railing, a thousand thoughts race through her head. In this moment, she feels like the type of person who puts out one fire after another. Being the savior is a tough job, one that she never applied for.
Gazing at her reflection in the mirror, Emma decides to jump into the shower. Though it is only a few minutes, Emma treasures the quiet moment that it gives her. She finds that quiet moments don't happen quite often. When she's not saving the day or playing sheriff, the Savior spends her rare free time helping her mom with Neal, taking Henry out for lunch or ice cream, and spending time at the docks with Killian. As the water streams down her face, she scrubs the dirt and grime from the strands her honey blond hair and fingernails. No matter what she tries, no water or magic washes away her ordeal. Though she no longer dwells in the alternate universe, Emma remains plagued by the nightmares of Isaac's twisted reality.
She remembers the feeling of being locked up in that tower. Even if it was only for a day of two, to Emma, it was a living hell. Feelings of loneliness, abandonment, and hopelessness resurface in her mind. Painful memories from her time in the foster system flood her thoughts. All she ever wanted was a family, but she only attained a life of pain on the streets. The alternate reality damages her, causing her to realize that she cannot protect the those that she loves. In Storybrooke, she is the savior, but in Isaac's story, he left her absolutely powerless.
Her heart beats faster than a drum as she desperately tries to calm her anxiety. Everyone is okay, she reminds herself. The people that she loves and cares about are all back in one piece. While promising everyone their happy endings is one thing, receiving them is another.
She leans against the cold tile, pausing and taking a breath. How she wishes she wasn't so distant. Emma's pale skin glows red by the time she decides her quiet moment is over. As she twists the faucet and wraps her body in one's of Mary Margaret's pastel pink towels, Emma reminds herself to focus on the present. Storybrooke and its problems must wait until morning. For now, Emma wants to forget her emotions while she enjoys an evening with her loved ones and a couple of shots of rum.
While Emma hears Mary Margaret getting Neal ready to leave, she finds her undergarments and changes into something warm. It is a chilly night in Storybrooke, but Emma doesn't want to wear leather. Glancing at the red leather jacket on the bed, she takes it and places it next to the other jackets in her wardrobe.
Deciding to go for a softer look, she digs through her chest of drawers and manages to settle on a cream-colored sweater that complements her go-to pair of jeans. It is simple, but fancy enough to coincide with her idea of celebratory attire. She skewers her box of jewelry to find a bracelet to match before she laces up her boots.
When she switches the dryer off, Emma brushes her golden tresses until they feel sleek and smooth. She only applies a minimal amount of makeup, but the powders and eye shadow soften her high cheek bones and the rim of her vivid eyes. As she stares at her reflection, her narrow features brighten and her emerald orbs sparkle. Her heart flutters, knowing that Killian always enjoys seeing her more natural complexion.
Before long, the Savior finally decides she's dressed up enough to leave. She tramples down the stairs before meeting Mary Margaret at the door.
"Oh Emma, you look beautiful," her mother smiles.
"Thanks, Mom."
With a click of the door, Emma locks up the apartment and joins her mother and Neal as the three of them saunter to Granny's. When she walks outside, she notices a thousand stars illuminating the town. Their lights make Storybrooke seem so vast, yet also so quaint. A cool zephyr dances across Emma's face, reminding her of how much she enjoys this type of weather. It is a perfect night for a celebration.
The bell of Granny's front door chimes and catches everyone's attention. Cheers of celebration and greetings erupt. Henry is the first person to find his mother and give her a warm embrace.
"Hey, kid," she says.
"Happy to be back?" he asks with his signature smirk.
"More than you know."
With a smile she watches Henry collect his usual order of hot cocoa with cinnamon sprinkled on top before he heads over to a booth to reread some stories from the book. After Regina joins him, Emma orders two shots of rum to help take off the edge. As the crisp drink meets her lips, the bell chimes again and David and her dashing pirate come strolling in.
"I see you've started the party without us, Swan."
"Not quite," she chuckles, sliding the other shot of rum to the end of the counter. The Savior knows if there's one thing Killian never goes without, it's rum. She downs the refreshing liquid in seconds and though it was nearly a day ago, she finds her mouth still punctured by the horrific taste of Killian's goat's milk.
"Did you two find the missing people?" Mary Margaret asks when she helps herself to a glass of punch.
"Yes, everyone's safe and sound," David replies, wrapping his arm around his wife.
"What about Isaac?" Emma inquires.
"Nothing to fear, love," Killian assures her. "Regina's got him locked up next to Zelena. It looks like they'll be away for a long time."
"Maybe now we can all finally get back to a sense of normal," her mother declares. "I, for one, would love to start teaching again.
"Well, we still have to make sure everyone is alright," Emma reminds her. "And I have some words for Gold."
Mary Margaret nods before they all disperse to visit with the other guests. During that time, Emma exchanges some short banter with Granny, Regina, and Leroy, but eventually finds herself in the back of the diner, staring at the jukebox. Studying the columns filled with classics, she feels a mild level of disappointment when she finds no spare quarter inside her pocket. If she had one, the quarter would start the one song on her mind: "Only You."
The song is a favorite of Henry's, just like it was one of his father's. Most days, Emma's heart aches because Neal isn't here to see their son grow up. She knows he would be proud of Henry for becoming the Author and a hero who saved everyone. Before long, she finds a warm hand on her shoulder.
"Hello, love," Killian whispers. Emma turns around and melts into his chest, inhaling his scent of salt mixed with spiced rum. "Are you alright, Swan?"
Emma clinches Killian's collection of leather tighter than she cares to say. Her emotions swell in her chest. More than anything, she wants to tell him the truth—that she does love him. She wants him to know how much pain he caused her when he died, even though he always said that he was a survivor.
"Yeah, I'm okay," Emma says, solidifying her features in a final ditch effort to hide her inward torment. "It's just—a lot has happened."
"Like what?" Killian questions, his eyes intertwining with hers. "Is this about what happened in the alternate reality?"
The Savior doesn't reply. She tries, but knows that with her lack of eagerness, Killian already has his answer.
"Emma, what happened in the alternate reality isn't real," he says, his hand caressing her cheek. "I'm here. I am alright, and Henry is fine. You don't need to worry about me, love. I'm a survivor."
The Savior nods and sighs, letting Killian stroke her back, comforting her. She hates that her somber mood crashes the party, but remains grateful that her pirate stays by her side to comfort and offer his listening ear.
"Swan, come with me," Killian croons softly, a few moments later.
Snaking her hand in his, the couple saunters out the back door and finds their way to Emma's yellow bug across the street. After helping her into the passenger seat, Killian swipes the keys from the Savior's pocket and settles into his place behind the steering wheel.
"Killian, where are we going?"
"Just wait and see, love. I've got a surprise."
As the engine starts and the pirate drives the car onto Main Street, Emma doesn't ask any other questions. She lays her head back as they leave downtown travel in the direction of the docks. A slight fog rolls in, but Emma's mind remains preoccupied and impressed by her captain's driving skills.
Knowing that pirate ships do not get someone far on land, she tried to teach Killian how to drive the bug a couple of weeks ago. Driving one-handed does not come easy to the pirate, and there have been many sudden stops, near misses, and traffic violations. When Cruella, Ursula, and Gold returned, the driving lessons ended. Now, Emma watches in amazement as Killian maintains control of the vehicle and she miraculously does not fly out of her seat.
"We're getting close," he says. "Close your eyes. No peeking."
Obediently, Emma honors his request and shuts her eyes. Before long, the car stops and the pirate helps her out. As her feet hit the pavement, she discerns that they are not in the woods or on the Jolly Roger.
When Killian stops her right where he wants her, he places his arms on her shoulders and whispers into her ear, "Alright, open your eyes."
Her emerald eyes flutter open and Emma's mouth drops. In front of her stands a huge mansion. Several windows adorn its gray trim and huge porch, perfect for a pair of rocking chairs. Mist dancing through the air embroiders the edges of the shiplap. Just across the street, Emma views the peaceful harbor, glistening in the moonlight. As she touches the gate of the white picket fence, every piece begins to fall into place.
"Oh, Killian—"
"Now just one moment, Swan," he stops her. "Let me explain. You told me a few weeks ago how much you wanted to get your own place, so I found you one. I was going to wait until tomorrow, but I thought you should see it now. The place is yours if you want it. I know this is a lot to take in, but I want you to understand. You can take all the time that you need to get settled. Whenever you're ready, we can move in together and spend our nights gazing o'er the sea."
Emma turns around and plants a gentle kiss on Hook's lips. "It's beautiful."
"Well, I'm glad you like it. Henry helped me pick it out."
"He did?"
"Aye, the lad thought you could use a place of your own. Though I did prefer you have a place with a view of the sea."
"It's the perfect spot," the Savior smiles as she observes the calming horizon.
For the next minute, she rests her head on Killian's chest, soaking in his warmth and hearing his heartbeat. For a moment, she forgets about all of her troubles, savoring the peaceful quiet for as long as possible.
"Emma," the pirate whispers. "I know that Isaac's reality took its toll on you. But I want you to know that you don't have to be scared."
"I'm not scared."
"Yes, you are," he replies, easily seeing through her deception. "Swan, you know that when we met, all I wanted was my revenge. But thanks to you, I left the darkness behind. You saved me. And I promise you that as long as I am alive, I will always protect you. Even the Savior needs someone to save her from time to time."
Emma wraps her arms around Killian's neck and leans in to meet his lips. As his mouth dances against hers, she loses herself in oblivion. This is the type of home she wants. Life is not perfect, but for the first time in her life, she finds a place, a family, and a person she doesn't want to run away from. Yet, something lingers that she cannot let go of. It gnaws away at her heart strings, but she isn't quite sure what it is.
In this seemingly perfect moment, Emma can't express the three words she wants to say. She guards her heart, let down by people in her past who promised to love her and be there for her, only to always disappoint her. She feels hurt, damaged, and betrayed by every man she ever gave her heart to. Neal let her go to prison, Walsh tried to kill her, and even Graham's death crushed her spirit. Over time, her past experiences build her walls higher and make her armor stronger. Only Killian, a pirate, and the last person on earth she would've ever considered, manages to bring down her walls and chisel away her pain and grief.
Emma and Killian's lips only break apart when her pocket vibrates. She answers her phone to hear Henry's voice asking her where she is.
"Killian took me on a little excursion. We'll be on our way back to Granny's in a minute."
"Did he show you the house?" Henry asks to Emma's surprise.
"Yes," she smiles. "He showed me the house."
"Now you know about 'Operation: Rattlesnake'."
"Operation: Rattlesnake?" she questions. "Is that what you two called it?"
"Hey, I think it's a better name than 'Operation: Find A House.'"
"You've got a point there, kid."
"You better hurry back," Henry states. "Your grilled cheese and onion rings are getting cold."
"We're on our way," Emma answers. "Love you, kid."
"I love you too, Mom."
As Emma puts her phone down, Killian insists, "We'll come back tomorrow morning, and I'll give you a personal tour."
"Looking forward it," she replies, taking Killian's hand.
They return to the bug and begin the short ride back to Granny's. When they arrive, the Savior finds more residents join in on the celebration. Her plate of food sits near the end of the counter. As she chooses a stool, Granny sets down an identical plate of food and a shot of rum for Killian.
"You know me too well, m'lady," the pirate chuckles.
"How can I not?" she snorts. "It's all you ever seem to order here unless you're eating breakfast."
Emma laughs and she digs into her greasy treats. While enjoying her food, she bounces ideas back and forth with Killian about plans to furnish and remodel parts of the mansion. As he tells her about his idea to decorate the master bedroom, David and Mary Margaret call them over to talk.
"What's up, Mom and Dad?"
"Well, after you left," her mother remarks, "We realized that we never got to really talk about what happened."
"Mom—"
"Emma, hold on," her father interrupts, turning towards Hook. "I just wanted to say that I didn't mean to kill you. Though, to be fair, I didn't have a heart."
Snow's mouth gapes open. "So it's my fault then?" she rejoins before saying, "What I think he means is—we are sorry."
As the Savior leans against Killian's shoulder, he responds, "Well, you don't need to be sorry. Although, I do plan to hold it above your heads for a very long time."
"I think," Emma interjects. "We both know that what happened in that world is not real. Although, seeing you guys as real villains made me sorry for holding a grudge against you for so long."
As Mary Margaret envelops her, Emma struggles with her feelings. On the one hand, she believes every word she tells her parents. The alternate reality was not real. Even so, the pain and grief linger.
Emma becomes temporarily distracted when she glances over her shoulder to the bar top and finds a familiar face sitting there.
"Hey, give me a second," she whispers. When the pirate and her parents nod, Emma ambles back over to Lily.
Though a glass of wine is sits next to her, a somber tone decorates Lily's countenance.
"Hey, what's up? Something wrong?"
Lily stares down, holding her moon-shaped necklace. "Do you remember this?"
"Yeah, I nearly got hepatitis stealing it back from your boyfriend's rat-infested place."
"It's a piece of the egg I hatched from. It's also the only clue I have as to who my father is."
"Have you asked your mother?"
"She doesn't know either," Lily answers. "It's a dragon thing. That happened in dragon form."
"So you want to find him?"
"Mind if I stick around Storybrooke and look?"
"I think that would be great," Emma nods.
Suddenly, Granny's bell chimes once again and Belle races in.
"Rumple," she stutters, out of breath. "His heart—he says it's almost gone. And uh—he said we're in danger."
Several alarms go off in Emma's head. She knows if Gold dies, he plunges Storybrooke into disaster. She imagines what that kind of darkness within him could do to the town if unleashed. Before Emma says anything, her family springs into action. David and Mary Margaret follow Belle out the door and Killian hurries over to her.
"Henry, find the Apprentice," she orders. "Tell him to bring the hat."
Henry nods at his mother and immediately heads out into night.
"Ready, love?" Killian asks.
"Yeah. Let's go handle this."
Gold's condition worsens by the minute when Henry and the Apprentice arrive at the pawnbroker's shop.
"He tried to use the hat to free himself from the dagger," Killian explains as the old man surveys the situation to come up with a solution.
"This is not unlike that," he states, setting the hat down next to Gold. "We're pulling the darkness from him and containing it."
"Does that mean that his heart will be healed?" Belle asks. Tears line the brim of her eyes. Emma knows that Gold and Belle's relationship often hangs by a thread. Regardless, it seems that Belle still cares about him.
"Perhaps if the strength is there," the Apprentice answers. "This is more dark power than the hat has ever been asked to contain."
Panic rises in Emma's throat, but she tries to keep a straight face and stay calm. Her mind travels to the thought of Gold intended this darkness to be for her. The Dark one almost succeeded in destroying her light her had Regina not stopped her from killing Lily. If the Apprentice's plan fails, Emma knows she may be the only one who can stop it.
"Do what you need to do," Emma tells the wizard.
With the Savior's consent, the Apprentice nods and begins his spell. "Purest evil, blackest bloom, darkness, too, can find its doom." Seconds later, he pulls Gold's heart out of his chest. It is the darkest heart Emma lays her eyes on. Only a flicker of the color red—the color of goodness—remains.
"Never dying," the old man continues. "But contained, bound inside the falcon's chamber, shorn of anger, thornless danger, there forever to remain."
Instantly, large strands of darkness pour out of Gold's heart and stream into the hat. The Apprentice and the hat tremble at the immense power of darkness that he holds. Emma watches as a shining light erases Rumpelstiltskin's name from the Dark One's dagger. In moments, Gold's heart transforms into glowing pallid white.
When he finishes his the spell, the Apprentice sets the hat down and returns Gold's heart to its rightful place. Everyone waits to see a change in Gold's condition, but find no immediate improvement.
"He's barely breathing," Belle notes, hunching over his chest.
"Rumpelstiltskin was the Dark One for centuries," the Apprentice replies. "His return to the man he used to be will not be easy." As the old man rises from the ground, he waves a flow of magic over Gold's body. "This will preserve him until we discern if we can help him."
"If?" Belle asks.
Before anyone answers Belle's question, the hat begins to shake violently. Emma's heart plummets to the bottom of her chest as she gets a terrifying notion about what comes next.
"Everybody, step back!" she yells. Only a moment later, the darkness breaks out of the hat and begins to ravage the Apprentice's body.
No! Emma thinks. She cannot afford to let the darkness take the Apprentice. Not only would the darkness make him dangerously powerful, but it also kills their only known chance of stopping it. Frantically, the Savior throws the most powerful dose of light magic she can conjure directly at the Apprentice.
An intense pain pulses through her body. Her heart races and the pain she feels compares to nothing she ever experienced before. Emma's strength weakens, leaving her almost powerless compared to the darkness. After depleting nearly all of her strength and magic, the darkness finally shoots out of the Apprentice like a cannon. It rushes past everyone and escapes through the front door headed for Main Street.
The Apprentice collapses onto the ground, and the ordeal leaves Emma shaken. With no time to entertain or comprehend what she just battled, the Savior starts giving orders.
"Mom and Dad, go after it! Go! I'll be right there." With a nod, David and Mary Margaret run out into the street as Killian and Henry race towards her.
"Help me make him comfortable," she says. Together, the three of them move the Apprentice off of the ground and situate him on Gold's bed.
The old man gasps for air. He is weak and barely moves, much less speaks. With hasty observation, Emma discerns that there is little hope for him to recover.
"What was that?" she asks, hoping he holds the answer that will help her stop the evil force.
"Long before your stories began," the Apprentice rasps, "the Sorcerer battled the darkness. He was able to keep it from consuming the realms. He tethered it to a human soul that could be controlled with a dagger."
"The Dark One," she mutters, understanding why Dark Ones exist.
"The sorcerer is the only one with the power to destroy the darkness once and for all before it destroys everything." The Apprentice's life fades, and it takes more effort from his lungs to give Emma the vital information.
"Where is he?" the Savior inquires. "Who is he?"
"He's far, far from here," the Apprentice replies. "Find him. His name is—Merlin. You must stop—the darkness. Find—Merlin."
The old man loses consciousness as Emma tries to remember how to breathe. She knows Merlin is a wizard from King Arthur, but she remembers neither her parents or Regina ever mentioning him. For now, she knows that the darkness must be stopped and that if the pain in her chest is any indication, she cannot fight it and win.
When Belle agrees to stay with the dying man, Emma ignores the pain and follows Hook and Henry as they race out of Gold's shop and onto the street. Her fears vanish momentarily when she surveys the town and sees that nothing appears out of the ordinary. There is no damaged property. Her relief, however, stays short lived.
"Where is it?!" she shouts, catching up with David and Mary Margaret.
"We don't know," her father responds.
"It just disappeared into the night."
Suddenly, Emma spots Regina and Robin strolling up to them.
"Hey, what's going on?" the mayor asks with a tone of concern.
"The Dark One," Killian answers. "It's no longer tethered to the Crocodile."
Regina's eyebrows stand straight up. "What?! Where the hell is it?"
Everyone scans the horizon. Where could it have gone? Had it left to go after Isaac? Emma assures herself that she would've received a call from the hospital if it attacked Isaac or Zelena. Suddenly, her lungs constrict, and her heart rate soars. The crippling pain she felt when used her powers on the Apprentice returns. It suffocating, scorching her insides. It only takes a second for the Savior to have Regina's answer.
"It hasn't gone anywhere. The darkness—it's surrounding us."
With a flash of light, the darkness emerges from the shadows and pounces on Regina. A fierce wind blows and it sweeps Regina into the middle of the street to engulf her body.
"Regina!" Robin screams in horror, barely given enough time to comprehend what just happened. "What's it doing?!"
Emma finally understands. The darkness chooses its perfect victim. It preys on the fraction of light within someone who harbors a dark past.
"What darkness does," she tells the thief. "Snuffing out the light."
"Well, I'm not gonna let it," Robin responds. Desperate to save the woman he loves, he charges the darkness head on, but it throws him back and tosses him back onto the concrete like a rag doll.
"That's not gonna work on this thing!" Emma shouts. "The Apprentice told me we have to do what the sorcerer did! We have to tether it to a person to contain it!"
The Savior knows what must be done. Magic will not stop the darkness from obtaining its goal. Even if the darkness leaves Regina, she knows it aims to attack another person, with possibly even more force and strength. Emma fears what will happen when her magic runs out and she cannot fight the darkness anymore. When she steals a glance at Henry, she refuses to let him lose Regina.
There is only one person Emma knows will fight the darkness and with a chance to survive. Isaac made her powerless in the alternate reality, but not here. She holds the Dark One's dagger in her hand, and while she couldn't save her family in Isaac's story, she will now. With the weapon in her hand, Emma sprints toward the vortex of darkness.
"Emma!" her mother shouts.
"No!" Regina wheezes, stopping the Savior in her tracks. "There has to be another way!"
"There isn't," she decides. "You've worked too hard to have your happiness destroyed." Closing her eyes, Emma prepares herself to endure the horrific pain and unknown.
"No!" David clamors.
His daughter opens her eyes and turns to face her parents. "You figured out how to take the darkness out of me once, and you can do it again—as heroes."
"Emma! Emma, please!" Killian shouts, running up to her. "No, I won't let you do this."
"Killian, there's no time and no other way!"
Emma's eyes fill with tears as Killian's hand caresses her face. When she sees his eyes proclaim the heartbreak he feels, she hesitates. Nothing will ever be the same if she does this. By sacrificing herself to the darkness, she loses the chance— her chance—for a happy ending with Killian. Being the Savior is a job she never asked for—but she knows it is the only one her familys counts on to save them now.
In the milliseconds she has, she tries to savor the moment. No matter what happens, she wants to remember the color of Killian's eyes, the sound of his voice, anything that will draw her towards the light. When he rests his head against hers, she takes a final moment to soak in his touch. But to her surprise, the pirate closes his eyes and whispers something that is only audible to her.
"Yes, there is."
Before Emma can say a word, Killian pulls the dagger out of her hand and shoves her to the ground. She collides with the concrete, full of confusion and tears.
"Killian, what are you doing?"
Instantly a flash of lightning blinds her. When she opens her eyes, Emma observes the sight before her, stunned. The darkness no longer surrounds Regina as Robin protectively envelops her in arms. They look on frozen with terror and shock.
"Killian!" Emma screams.
She wants to tell him everything on her mind. She wants Killian to know that she trusts him, that she believes everything he ever told her, that she is ready to be his happy ending. But most importantly, she's finally ready to say, "I love you."
But she's too late.
The vortex disappears, and the flashing lights fade from existence. The sound of something clanging against the asphalt echos through the streets. Emma rushes over to find that the Dark One's dagger is no longer blank, no longer empty. With tears swelling in her eyes, she reads the name.
Killian Jones
A/N: Thank you for reading! I know that the end of the chapter was pretty similar to the episode, but the plot and dialogue will be different as we go on. Any reviews and critique are really appreciated and welcomed. Also, if you have any ideas for this story that you would like to see me incorporate, feel free to let me know. I always love hearing from my readers. Don't forget to favorite and/or follow this story to see updates! Until next time!
- C.M. Singer :)