A/N: Ok guys so here's the idea for this fic: Alternate timeline in which Emma stays in the past and works on her magic until she becomes supremely powerful with the help of some of our old friends from the enchanted forest. Basically "what if the plot for season 4 was actually character driven with major developments that don't involve complete breaks in character". Hold on guys this is gonna be a long one.
Season 3 finale: Emma, under the guise of Princess Leia, finds herself locked in a prison cell deep underneath the Evil Queens castle. Upon finding that her spoon is held together with a bit of wire; she attempts to pick the lock. Meanwhile Hook, Charming, Snow and Red are on their way to try and save her.
"It's all about the tumblers" Emma said as the lock clicked open.
"You did it!" Marian exclaimed as Emma opened her prison gate as well. Emma's thoughts bounced around her head quicker than she could rationalize them.
"I can't let her go"
"She doesn't deserve to die"
"If she told Regina where Snow was I wouldn't even be alive"
"What if she affects the time line? What then?"
"Are you alright?" Marian asked seeing the concern on Emma's face.
"I'm fine, just concentrating." As plainly as she said it, she knew Marian could tell she was lying. Mothers have that super power too. "Look when we get out of here we need to go find my friends ok? We'll look after you."
"Thank you, but I really should find my family" Marian said almost out of breath as the two ran through corridors looking for an exit. They made right turns then left; the palace began to resemble a labyrinth of interlocking paths that seemed to lead nowhere.
"Look, I don't have time to explain but you really have to come with me when we get out of this castle" Emma spit the last word out with irritation.
"This place is huge" Emma thought spitefully.
"Leia, I have a son at home I can't abandon him."
"Ok fine let's just focus on getting out of h-" Emma stopped short. The two looked out of a large window in a hall that looked out on a court yard. They saw a large pyre with a wooden pillar in the center. "I...thought you said executions where tomorrow."
"They are. Whoever that is for must be special enough to warrant a public execution." As Marian spoke, a woman was walked across the courtyard by black knights. "It's Snow White!"
The words dropped from Marian's mouth as Emma's stomach rose to her throat. "Wait-no we have to save her!" Emma started pounding on the glass frantically. "We have to save her she can't die!"
Marian grabbed her arms "Leia you can't! The Knights will hear you! There is no way we can get to the courtyard in time!"
Emma thrashed against Marians grip, her eyes welled. "You don't understand she can't die! I can't let her die!" Her throat swelled closed as Emma started gasping. Across the glass Regina threw a fireball onto the pyre. "NO!" Emma yelled crumbling to the floor.
As Emma sobbed she began to glow with a golden light. "no no no no no no"Before Marian could fully comprehend what was happening she witnessed Emma's blond hair turn black. Her simple tunic was replaced with that of a huntress and finally she stopped shaking and stood up. It was Snow White.
In a different part of the castle; watching the same helpless scene Prince Charming, Red, and Hook watched as the woman being burned alive transformed from one with long ebony hair to one with golden locks. The realization of what was happening dawned on Hook faster than he could gasp.
"It's Leia!" Charming exclaimed.
"No no NO NO" Hook banged on the glass. "EMMA" He looked on helplessly as Emma Swan burst into flames.
A/N: I feel like that went rather well. There will be more soon introducing some old characters that we haven't heard from in a while. After I finish the rewriting and get into the new story the chapters will get longer and more fleshed out. As for now this AU could go anywhere so I look forward to hearing your thoughts and suggestions in reviews.