Here's my contribution for Day one of EC week (a day later, sorry). I hope you enjoy.
Day 1:David becomes the Dark One instead of Emma
Maybe he shouldn't have done that.
It was the first thought that crossed the Prince's mind as he faced what he'd done. He was the Dark One. The most powerful practitioner of magic of all time. The most feared as well. And as he felt the magic run through his veins, mixing with his blood, as he felt its darkness, its power...its taste, he realized just as true that latest must be.
He let his hand fall back, the limb shaking around the burning dagger. It was a good kind of burn, the kind that hurt but that made you feel strong. A strength he hadn't felt for a long time; a strength he'd been hoping to find his way back to for a while now without admitting it to his loved ones or himself.
His loved ones.
The man blinked, snapping back to reality. He looked around. They were all watching him, wary. Emma was standing next to Hook, her mouth and eyes wide open, a hand stretched towards him. Snow was next to them. She didn't look much different in her features than their daughter save maybe the tear rolling down her cheek. Regina was on the other side with Robin. She seemed more poised than the others but he could read her. The vein on her forehead was showing and the way she glanced up and down between his face and the dagger… She was as scared as them just better at hiding it. They were all scared of him.
The realization hit him and maybe it was weird but he wasn't hurt by it. He understood. He'd be fearing as well if he was in their shoes, he supposed.
The man suddenly paused in his thoughts and he closed his eyes. The power never ceased to grown inside of him and there was a sudden feeling, something inside his head -the desire… No! The need to hurt someone. It was as if his fingertips were burning with poison and the only way to rid them of it, was by reaching through someone's heart, rip it out and watch his victim fall before his satisfied eyes.
He opened his eyes back and let them fall on Regina. At that very moment, he'd never understood her better.
"Find me."
It was a whisper but it was deep, so deep that he didn't even recognize his own voice and it almost startled him. Unfortunately, there was no time to waste or else he could put them all at risk. With a wave of his hand and a spell that came to his mind as if he'd known it his entire life, he engulfed himself into a dark green cloud and disappeared.
…
Find me.
"He's funny", Regina hissed silently as she tromped hastily, following one of David's shirt, enchanted by a location spell.
The Charmings, the other Charmings, were looking for the Apprentice with Hook and Robin and although it'd been tough to convince Snow and Emma to let her deal with David for now, the women had finally agreed when Regina had explained that he was probably scared to hurt them. So, they were now heading to Gold's shop while she was trekking through the wood to wherever the Prince had decided to hide.
She found him within a half hour maybe. He was by the river, the Toll Bridge more precisely and she let out a empathetic sigh at the sight. He was shaking and she knew all too well what he must be feeling.
"I can't make them stop," the man growled under his breath, his back still facing her.
"What?" she asked quietly, waving a hand to envelop the shirt and make it disappear.
"The voices. They're everywhere, whispering in my ears."
The brunette bit her lower lip, nodding. She walked up to him and sat beside him.
"You need to fight it David," she said earnestly and he glared at her, his eyes deep and vicious.
It took all her will power not to look too scared but she sat still, holding his gaze defiantly.
"And how should I do that, your Majesty?" he spat with scorn.
"By focusing on those you love and remembering that your actions could cost you to lose them," she replied, not missing a beat.
She stayed silent for a moment then carried on.
"Do you remember that time...after Daniel -when I had to let him go. You found me afterwards and I was angry and using magic."
"You mean that time we fucked."
"Irrelevant to the situation," she said rolling her eyes. "You remember what you told me? To pull it together or else I'd lose Henry. The same applies to you. We'll find a way to help you get rid of the darkness and to lock that thing away once and for all but in the meantime, you have to be strong."
A small pause settled between them.
"Do you ever think about it?" David then asked, looking at her.
"About what?"
"The time we fucked."
"Whatever do you mean?"
"You know what I mean. I think about it sometimes. I don't regret it, you know. I mean, of course I regret having betrayed Snow but the rest -I don't. I think we both needed it at the time."
"You're probably right but whatever those voices in your head are telling you, don't you dare mention it to anyone or you being the Dark One will be the least of your worries," she warned, looking at him pointedly. "Now come on," she said, standing up.
He looked at her, unsure before finally humoring her. The brunette put both her hands on his shoulders and looked at him in the eyes.
"You'll be alright. You have a family who won't let you down. You'll be alright."
"I can't be with them now. I don't want to risk hurting them."
"As you wish. You can stay in my vault if you want but I swear if you touch one thing, I'll end you."
"I'm the Dark One," he said, unimpressed.
"You're still a common shepherd who may now have power but a power he doesn't even know how to use. Trust me, you don't scare me."
He chuckled. It was an odd sound to his ears but it was a welcomed one.
"Will you help -me?" He looked up at her hesitantly and she scoffed on a smirk.
"Don't worry, Charming," she let out, heading towards the cemetery. "Lucky for you, I've been feeling generous lately."
He rolled his eyes at her smugness but he felt a huge weight being lifted from his shoulders at the knowledge that she'd help him control his new acquired powers.
He watched her, walking ahead of him and a smirk graced his face. He waved a hand and appeared right before her but all hope of startling her disappeared at the sight of her face.
Her brows were raised and she had crossed her arms over her chest.
"Not impressed," she said simply.
The Prince bit his lip and watched walk past him with an amused scoff.
"I'll have to try harder then," he said. "Thank you, Regina," he added after a while, once he had caught up to her. "Truly."
She didn't look at him but he saw her nod.
"Don't mention it."