A/N: I've been wondering how things would have played out if Emma actually gave in to the Darkness at the first opportunity. So here's where I'm channeling all my leftover angst from that midseason finale C': Thanks for reading !

"She has to die."

"Listen to your words. It's not you speaking, Emma. We can find another way together. Look at us... heroes and villains together for you, because of you. And if we can overcome it... if we can overcome our demons..."

The tears spilled over and ran tracks across Merida's cheeks.

"Then so can you."

Her fingers faltered against the warmth of the heart in her palm. She felt the enormity of the moment, the precipice she was balancing on. There was an earnestness in Killian's eyes, a tenderness and faith that were painful to bear.

And the weight of her magic—her power—was ravening through her body, and she felt its teeth in every fiber of her being. She'd never felt so in control, so capable, so safe.

And she wanted more.

"If you don't get that wisp, we'll eat them up whole." She didn't dare look back at the expression on Rumplestiltskin's face.

"Not today. It's too important." She answered Killian in a whisper as she closed her fist. All the bravery was wrenched out of Merida in a ragged sob.

"No!" Assorted cries broke out in a stricken hymn. Emma let the ashes fall to the twigs and leaves of the forest floor, dragging her fingertips through their remnants on her hand. She smiled, slow and at peace.

Rumplestiltskin's cackle jarred her. "There's our girl. Ten out of ten. Good form."

She felt her lips, drew them across the smile that couldn't be her own. Suddenly she was hyper-aware of the horrified looks on her friends' faces, and hot pinpricks went up her spine. She couldn't have done that. She didn't do that. Her brows drew.

"No." She whispered. "No. No, no, no." She ran her palms over her face, then held herself as her murmurs became louder.

"Oh my god." Someone uttered.

"Emma." Mary Margaret swallowed, voice drawing Emma's eyes up. "Dark One." Her hand shook with the dagger. She opened her mouth, but couldn't go on.

Regina could. She snatched the dagger out of her mother's trembling hand. "Dark One, cease. No more magic."

The weight of the command settled over her, but it was an easy one to bear. Emma couldn't have gone anywhere. She was rooted, with Merida's body at her feet. Her eyes were still open, glassed over with tears, mouth parted in shock. There was no remnant of the brash woman in that expression. There was only fear. She looked down at her hand, trying to process how it could have done that and also be a part of her.

Before her gaze, glitter spread like a virus across her palm, a burst outward from the stain of the ashes, until her whole hand up to an uneven border above her wrist was tinted a decayed gold.

Just like Rumplestiltskin.

Emma crumpled to her knees.

"Mom!"

"Emma!"

The flurry of voices rose again, and it was too much.

She closed her eyes and begged a different kind of darkness to take her.

It did.