The streets were chaos. Panicked voices filled the air and bodies slammed into each other as everyone tried to run to safety. Except, of course, for a select few.

Darkness slithered through the streets, feeling around as though it were alive. It's source stood in the middle of town, looking around at the disturbance she had caused. She seemed on edge, pursing her lips and clenching her jaw. Her eyes roamed the crowd, seeming to look for someone.

Emma began to walk towards the clock tower, causing the street lamps she passed to explode in a burst of sparks and light. Her eyes still searched wildly as she strode forward. Suddenly, she came to a stop. A voice rose above the yells.

"SWAN!"


"Sorcerer, what are you doing with the Dark One's dagger?"

The man rubbed his hands together nervously. He stared frantically at the crowd racing around outside.

"What I should have done a long time ago, my apprentice," Merlin muttered. He carefully set the blade on the table before him. "It's time I corrected the wrong I've done in the past." He waved his dark hand over the dagger and it glowed red.

"Wha- We don't have time for amendments! Emma Swan knows you're her. She knows you're trying to take her powers!" The apprentice stumbled back, reaching into his coat as the power flickered in the shop.

"Unfortunately, plans have changed. The hat has already proven to buckle under the weight of so much Dark magic. It would be too dangerous to try and take Ms. Swan's magic," Merlin paused to wave his hand over the dagger again. "No amount of light magic can stop so much darkness. Not even mine. No, this time we must fight fire with fire."

The apprentice looked at him suspiciously. "You mean to use… dark magic?"

"The darkest," Merlin said grimly. "A spell that requires the ultimate sacrifice." His companion continued to stare at him.

"Exactly what do you plan to do? What is the spell you just cast?"

Merlin gazed sadly at the blade before him. "Whatever I do to myself with this dagger, the same will happen to the current Dark One." He looked up to a blank stare. "There is no other way to stop her. I was foolish to hope for anything else."

The apprentice's eyes lit up with understanding, then distress. "But, you promised her family-her son… the author…"

"I promised to set things right. And this will do that." Merlin picked up the dagger.

"I must kill Emma swan by killing myself."


"SWAN!"

Hook tried to push through the crowd. Mary Margaret and David weren't far behind.

"Emma!" Mary Margaret yelled, but was drowned out by Hook.

"EMMA! Please don't do this!" Hook shoved aside one of the dwarves. The crowd began to thin as everyone made their way to shelter. Emma held her back to her family.

"Snow," David grabbed his wife by the arm, making her halt. "Do you have it?"

"David I don't feel right about-" she began.

"This is one of the rare moments when I agree with Regina. Arthur agrees with her, and you know you do too. So, do you have it?" David looked her straight in the eye. Mary nodded, and pulled out a dagger with her daughter's name.

"It's only until the sorcerer arrives. Arthur told us he had a way to get rid of the darkness," David reassured her. She nodded grimly and they both ran to catch up with Hook.

Emma had resumed her stride towards the tower. Hook was only a few yards away now.

"Emma! I know how you must be feeling right now, but you don't have to do this love," he yelled. She turned abruptly and held her hand up. Silence fell over the town. Even the wind stilled.

"You can't possibly know what I'm feeling," she said in a low tone, yet her voice carried. "I know you spoke with Merlin. I know what you planned to do." Hook paused mid-stride. His expression was pained.

"I know you were planning to use that hat and sword against me," she said coldly. Hook seemed to wake up from a trance.

"No. No! You don't understand love-" he began.

"Yeah, actually. I do understand. I'm the villain of this story now. I'm the monster. And you all are the heroes." Emma's eyes grew dark as she spoke. As her emotions grew out of control, the darkness began to close in on all rational thoughts. "It's your job to try and stop me. And that's why I have to do this. There's no hope for me. This is who I am. The only way for me to be around you is if you're monsters too."

Before either Hook or Emma could react to her words, Snow rushed forward.

"DARK ONE I COMMAND THEE TO STOP," she screamed, holding up the dagger. Her eyes shone with tears. Emma merely stared at her with disbelief. She seemed to be lost for words.

"No," she finally said. With a flick of her wrist, the dagger was in her hand. Mary Margaret gasped at its sudden absence. David ran up and wrapped his arms around her. Emma examined the blade she held.

"What the bloody hell do you two thing you're doing!" Hook yelled at them. "Why is that not safe with Regina? You can't possibly be insane enough to think that would work!"

"It might have if this was the right one," Emma muttered. "If this is fake, where is the real dagger?"


"Young man, what do you think you're doing?"

Regina's voice rang through the dark room. Before Henry could even turn around, the door was yanked out of his hand and shut on its own. Regina flipped on the lights of the mansion and clicked across the wood floors toward her son. Without turning around, Henry spoke.

"I have to go out there. Mom's in trouble. She needs me," he spoke barely above a whisper. Regina put her hand gently on his shoulder, but he turned his head away, determined not to look at her.

"Henry… I know you think you can help, but I'm afraid there isn't anything you can do right now. It's out of both of our hands," Regina said softly.

"I'm the author. It's my job-" he began.

"It's your job to record the stories around you. Not to interfere. You saw the result of the last author," she interrupted before he could continue. "I know you want to help, but I can't allow you to go and risk your life." She smoothed his hair while she spoke.

"I wouldn't be risking my life. She's my mom. She would never hurt me," he began again.

"Henry, don't you remember the last time Emma lost control of her powers? She hurt you. Now that she is the Dark One, she's even more unpredictable. It's better that you stay here where it's safe." Regina grabbed his chin and forced him to look at her. "Let the others hand this. Please. I can't lose you too." He stayed quite, but a tear ran down his cheek. She pulled him into a hug, and they stayed that way for a moment. Robin walked in just as they broke apart.

"Regina, I need to speak with you, now. Alone if that's okay," Robin said, looking uncertain. Regina straightened her blouse and stepped away from her son.

"Of course. Henry, go to your room. Please. Emma will be fine without you there. You've done so much already by helping find Merlin." She kissed his forehead and watched him walk reluctantly to the stairs. Once he was out of earshot, Robin spoke again.

"It's the dagger. Where is it?" He looked worried. She stared at him, her lips pursed.

"What do you mean 'Where is it'? It's in the room I enchanted. You know that," she finally said. He ran his fingers through his hair, making it stick up in different directions.

"I just looked in there. The case is empty. I was hoping maybe you had given it to David or Mary Margaret…" he trailed off as her face contorted.

"Those two idiots with their daughter's dagger in a time like this? Who knows what 'heroic' deed they would try to accomplish and screw everything up. I never even told them where it was. The only person I told…" she trailed off. She turned abruptly and began to walk towards the stairs.

"Only told who? Regina?" Robin hurried after her.

"I don't think the sorcerer is telling us all of his plan. I need to make sure he didn't say anything suspicious to Henry," she said as she made her way to the bedroom. She flung the door open but stopped immediately, causing Robin to nearly run into her.

"Wha-?" He looked inside Henry's room. "Oh."

Curtains swayed in front of the open window.