PS—at the time I am writing this, season 2 episode 7 just came out. That's why stuff may be different. Anyways. Carry on.
Emma clutched the locket in her hand and stared out at the forest, shivering.
Just a few hours earlier Aurora had awoken, taking in air with short, shallow gasps. Snow was always by her side, soothing her and holding her hand while she relayed Henry's messages. This night, however, when she awoke a necklace was clutched in her hand—a tiny, silver heart with a simple curlique design and a thin chain.
"What is this?" Snow had reached for it, puzzled, but Aurora pulled it back, her frantic eyes searching until they found Emma.
"He said it was for you," She whispered, holding it out.
Mulan narrowed her eyes. "How could an object pass through the dream?"
Snow's eyes widened. "Maybe this means—"
Aurora shook her head vehemently, still looking at Emma imploringly. "Only this could travel through realms. It's from…Mr. Gold."
Snow and Emma stiffened, staring at the locket apprehensively.
"Please, just take it." Aurora's face was scrunched with pain, and Emma felt a pang of sympathy—she couldn't imagine what it would feel like to have to return to that fiery room every night.
Emma leaned down and held her hand out for the necklace, Snow looking on warily, and Aurora leaned forward to whisper.
"He said to open it when you're alone."
Emma raised an eyebrow but gave a small nod, and the locket tumbled into her palm.
Now, she raised it in front of her, watching the moonlight glance off of the silver edges. She wouldn't dream of putting it on, and she didn't for a moment mistake it for a gift.
Everything comes with a price.
Glancing around to be entirely sure that everyone was asleep in the clearing a few feet away, Emma looked back down at the locket, slid one fingernail under the clasp, and clicked it open.
Mr. Gold's voice echoed inside her head, and for a moment Emma saw both of his faces—one as she had known him in Storybrooke, and a fleeting glimpse of the cursed Rumplestiltskin. But both faces faded away when his message began.
You still owe me a favor, dearie
Emma shivered again. How could she forget?
And the time has come for you to pay the price
Emma stared at the locket, daring it to demand something outrageous.
Your boy Henry has told us of your encounter with a certain pirate captain. Perhaps you will remember a man with a hook for a hand?
Emma's next shiver had nothing to do with the cold.
You'll do well to keep him close, Ms. Swan. This man is out for revenge, and we both know how dangerous that can be.
This is my favor, then—you must keep him by your side, until, how do I put this…you can charm him out of any foolish ideas?
You mustn't take this the wrong way, Ms. Swan, but understand this—you cannot use force with this man. In fact, the only way to keep him from his self-destructive quest for vengeance will be to convince him it fulfills his best interests to act otherwise. And so you see, persuasion is the obvious route.
I am sure that you will have no trouble fulfilling this request…
Mr. Gold's voice faded away, and Emma stared at the locket, dumbfounded.
She laughed out loud.
"What an idiot," She muttered, shaking her head and closing her fist around the locket again. She turned to head back to the camp, but a sudden burn on her palm made her yelp and open her hand again—the necklace was gone.
She felt a tugging around her throat and reached up to feel the thin chain of the locket wound around her neck. She tried to find a clasp, and failing that, began to tug it over her head, but Mr. Gold's voice whispered in her mind once more.
I forgot to mention, dearie, that should you fail to complete this favor…the consequences would be…dire.
The locket suddenly constricted around her throat, and Emma fell to the ground, gasping for air. Her fingers clutched at the chain, trying to pry it from her skin but she couldn't breathe.
Finally, the necklace loosened, and she lay on the grassy forest floor, gasping. She looked down at the locket, giving it a death stare.
"Stupid favor," She muttered, pushing herself off the ground. She made her way back to the clearing where the princesses slept and tilted her head back, looking at the sky in all directions. To the west, she could just make out the beanstalk, towering above the forest and disappearing into ominous black clouds.
Emma spared one last glance down at her mother, who was sleeping peacefully next to Aurora, who didn't look so peaceful. Mulan was a little ways away, curled up in her cape with her hand next to the sword beside her head.
Emma took a deep breath.
"Be right back," She murmured, clutching the locket and hoping it was true.