For those asking me about my other stories I am truly sorry and would love to finish them! Sometimes I get a block and steer away and sometimes I finish. I will be going over my past stories and hopefully set up a chapter for some on certain days. (Fingers crossed!) thanks for all the support!
Chapter 1
Knocking the bell off its hook as the door to the pawn shop is pushed open, the small group of people pause within the doorway to find Rumplestilskin laid out on the floor visibly weak as he is consoled by Belle. Staring in shock, the blonde saviour shares a look with the former Queen. "What the hell happened?"
Managing to clear his throat, the former imp responds. "..the darkness..is gone..its out there..."
Frowning with a sense of fear, Regina steps closer, wary after their last encounter in which Rumple killed her through an alternate reality and bends to lift the juiceless dagger. "How are you still alive?"
Inhaling sharply, Rumple tilts his head to face his former student. "The dark one...may be gone..but Rumplestilskin..is still here.."
"So what? The darkness is just...out there somewhere?" Emma tries to wrap her head around all that is being said.
"We better go look before it destroys the town.." David cuts in as his shares an understanding look with his wife.
"You mean, before it tethers itself to someone?" The Mayor explains as the blonde beside her reaches for her arm.
"We better check Henry is safe.."
Nodding in agreement, Regina gestures towards the door as the group leave the shop. Coming to a halt in the road beside the clock tower, the former Queen looks up at the sky then around the town as she grips the metal blade in her hand tightly with worry. "Can you feel that?"
Also stopping, the two Charmings frown confused as their daughter also looks up. "Yes..is that.."
"It's in the air. It's searching for someone..but I can't quite make out.." Glancing around once again, Regina's eyes widen as she sees a gust of black wind sweep it's way towards the group and directing itself straight at the woman beside her. "Emma!"
Turning her head towards the brunette, the blonde then stumbles back as she is hit with full force by the shadowed curse.
"Emma!" Feeling her husband grab hold of her, Snow looks on helpless.
Watching in horror, the former Queen swallows hard as she looks down to her hand wielding the dagger.
"..no...don't..you...Regina don't.."
Meeting the blondes gaze, the brunette takes a deep breath before shaking her head and charging over towards the woman. "I have to.." Lifting the dagger up quickly, the Mayor pushes it into the darkness and inhales sharply at feeling the power begin to travel through her veins. Falling away, Emma bends over coughing to gain her breath back then stares at the brunette being engulfed in the black suffocating liquid. Rushing to her daughter's side, Snow wraps her arms around the blonde to prevent her from involving herself any further.
"Mom, get off me!" Struggling as her father comes to the opposite side to help, Emma stops in defeat and watches teary as the woman she loves is taken over. "Regina, fight it please!"
Closing her eyes through the pain, the former Queen then looks directly at the saviour. "This..isn't..it...take care of..Henry.."
Staring as the darkness completely takes over, Emma bites down on her trembling lip as the woman before her disappears into the air leaving the dagger to fall, crashing against the concrete. "..where...where did she go?..."
"I don't know..." Looking towards her lost daughter, the short haired woman keeps a tight hold of her while rubbing her hand up and down the blondes arm for some form of reassurance.
Taking in the empty space, David looks down not wanting to confess to his daughter what it all means. "..the darkness has got her..Regina..she's now the dark one"
Managing to release herself from her mother's grip, Emma steps towards the space in which the brunette previously stood. Crouching down, she lifts the dagger and stares at the inscription muttering it quietly. "..Regina Mills.." Bowing her head, the sheriff sniffles before she begins to let it all out and sob at the possibility of what could happen next. Sensing her parents draw close, Emma collects herself and stands quickly, taking the dagger with her. "I need to speak to Gold..can you go and check on Henry please..he's still at the diner, but don't tell him about Regina. Not yet"
"But-"
Giving her mother a pleading look, the blonde then watches as both parents nod with Snow reaching for her daughter's hand before walking away.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Storming into the pawn shop for a second time that night, Emma makes her way out the back before stopping at the foot of a make shift cot in which Gold is laying upon. Noticing the warning movement of Belle, the blonde shakes her head to reassure the woman she is not there to fight. Finding her voice, Emma holds the dagger up. "What happens..when you become the dark one?..."
Standing up slowly from his position, the former imp takes hold of Belles hand and guides the woman to stand behind him in protection.
Blinking, the sheriff once again shakes her head. "It's not me. It..did get me but..Regina..she's gone"
Staring in shock, Rumple clears his throat as Belle grips his arm to steady him from the information shared. "..Regina's the dark one?.."
Nodding, Emma holds out the dagger to show him. "She just..disappeared and I don't know what to do. I need to know what to do. For Henry"
Hearing the desperate crack within the blondes voice, the former imp appears conflicted. Yes he has had somewhat of an awkward past with the former Queen but being without the darkness now has made him realise that he would not wish the burden of it on anyone. "Have you tried summoning her?"
"No...I can't..I don't.." Shoving the dagger into Rumples hand, Emma backs up in fear of seeing Regina in pain like she had moments earlier.
Sighing, Rumple grips the dagger then gives Belle a warning stare to back away. Raising the dagger up, the former imp swallows hard as it feels strange summoning someone other than people summoning him. "..dark one..I summon thee!" Exhaling sharply in frustration at the lack of response, Rumple tries again. "Regina! If you hear me, get here now!"
Shuffling on her feet nervously, Emma looks down sadly as the brunette is no where to be seen. "She doesn't want to-"
"It's not that she doesn't want to Miss Swan, it's more of the case that she is not here. In this world"
Frowning, the blonde lifts her head. "Then how do I reach her?"
"You have to be patient..when you first become to dark one..it's like being reborn. She would have been taken to where it all began..where the first dark one was born, if like you said the darkness done its job" handing the dagger back, Rumple sits himself down feeling weak. "I know you Miss Swan and I know Regina, you never give up on a fight. She has spent many years trying to clear her name of the Evil Queen, she won't let the dark one stop her"
"I hope you're right.."
"She has to much to live for" the former imp confesses.
"I hope that is also right.." The blonde states sadly. "..thanks for the help.." Turning on her heel, Emma makes her way back through the shop and out onto Main Street.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Messaging her parents on the way to Regina's mansion to take care of Henry, Emma strolls in a daze as the reality of everything comes crushing down on her. Opening the mansion door quietly as she always does when she knows the brunette would be sleeping already after the sheriff's late shift, the blonde steps inside the eerily quiet place. Taking in her surroundings, Emma closes the door behind her then slides down the wood, drawing her knees up close and allowing the dagger to rest beside her. Resting her chin onto her knee as her lip trembles, the sheriff stares ahead at the dark, silent house. "..Regina..if you can hear me. Please come back to me. We need you..I can't..I can't lose you now.." Sniffling, the blonde allows a few tears to fall down her cheek before reaching inside the top of her cream jumper and pulling a long chain from its hiding place. Glancing down to the thin piece of metal, Emma takes hold of the white gold band attached to it. Bringing it to her lips, the blonde kisses the band then takes a deep breath as she composes herself. Rising quickly, the sheriff grabs the dagger and heads towards the study in determination.
A/N: cont?