The Dark Savior
Dark One Emma travels back in time to kill Regina moments before casting the Dark Curse. Her magic takes her to the wrong time and she watches and becomes fascinated with Regina as she grows up. As time goes by Emma becomes Regina's protector and friend. Originally planned as a one shot, maybe a three-chapter.
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The Darkness consumed Emma, in a way nothing had. It crept into her soul. It controlled every aspect of who she was and now her only focus was on destroying the person she blamed most. Hook had been unable to save her with a kiss. Regina had promised to be her savior but failed miserably. Emma had sacrificed everything repeatedly for Regina's happiness. She even saved Regina's hobo and for what, nothing. She lost her chance at a happy ending the moment she meet that woman. Now Emma's only thoughts focused on ending the woman who ruined her life for the last time.
The plan was simple enough, go back in time and kill Regina moments before the dark curse hit. Then she could still have Henry. Still save her family, maybe have a second chance at happiness before the darkness had stolen it all, a life without ever having to meet Regina Mills was all she wanted. Fate of course, had other plans.
She cast her spell and opened up a portal to the past. Her goal was to land a few days before the dark curse hit. Emma had never cast her own time travel spell before; she thought the Dark One's power would be enough, it wasn't. She landed in time just after Baelfire had fallen into his portal. She cloaked herself so the Rumble could not see or feel her presence. At first, she wanted to try again, but watching Rumble was fascinating and almost kept the voices in her head at bay. Emma ended up staying because she was intrigued. It could take a lifetime and she would not care. She was the Dark One, she had eternity. She could wait for revenge if she must.
Surprisingly time went by quickly observing Gold weave his master plan. She witnessed as Cora and Rumpelstiltskin played their power game. Was it love or was it lust. She could not say. At the end of the affair, Cora no longer had her heart. They made a deal with a child conceived in the end, to become Rumble's puppet and his monster.
Emma watched the loveless marriage and Cora's stomach swelled. Emma was almost giddy with excitement. She had waited so long for sweet revenge. Time just stood still the day Regina came. This was the moment, Emma waited for since she went back in time. Years had passed like seconds for her. Finally getting to see the baby, made everything suddenly, go in slow motion.
She wanted to hate the child, but the baby would just coo and smile. When no one was around Emma would show herself to baby Regina. It was the first time in years human eyes had seen the blonde Dark One. The baby would always smiled and clap. Emma would cast little spells to make Regina's animals on her mobile come alive. Regina loved the unicorn most. Every night Emma would have, the animals dance for the child. The baby would just giggle and play with them. Emma almost lost herself in the child's bliss. Regina surprisingly grounded her in a way that not even hook could. Being in the child's presence, made Emma feel like less of a monster. It felt like the darkness left whenever she was close to the baby. She reasoned with herself, what harm could be done if she gave the baby a few moments of happiness.
Time passed and Emma watched as Regina grew. Slowly Emma stopped showing herself to the little girl. She knew Regina could have no memory of her, if she did her plan would fail. Everything was going according to plan until one faithful day. On Regina's fifth birthday she was running around outside and playing in the mud. Regina, Emma noted was always happiest outside in the dirt and playing with animals. Her hair was messy and matted her expressive white gown was filthy.
This was the first time Emma had seen Cora interact with the child. For most of Regina's earlier years, her father took on all the responsibilities. Cora's rage surprised her and she was the Dark One. Cora hit the little raven-haired girl so hard her lip spilt open. Blood trickled down her face and covered her already dirty dress. Emma froze Cora where she stood. Regina ran to her room in tears. If Cora had a heart Emma would have crushed it, her plans be damned. Instead, she ran to the scared child hiding under the bed. It had been years since Emma metalized in front of the girl. Looking down she couldn't just let the child cry.
Emma appeared to Regina who was hiding under the bed. "It's okay, little one. Come here and let me have a look." Regina looked up tears still streaming down her checks. "I won't hurt you I promise." The little raven-haired girl crawled into her lap. Emma waved her hand in front of Regina's face. The cut healed instantly but a scar was still visible. Emma always wondered where it came from. Emma rocked Regina in her arms until the child stopped crying.
"It will be okay, little one. I will never let her hurt you again." Emma waved her hand again and put up a protection spell over the little girl. Emma sat there holding the child, wondering why she still felt so compelled to help her after all this time. She is just a helpless child, Emma reasoned with herself. She knew all too well about being abused in the system. Emma shook her head, surprised for a moment. It had been so long since she thought of her former life. What was this child doing to her, Emma thought.
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As time went on Emma waited for Regina to fall in love with the Stable Boy but she never did. Emma was growing more concerned as the days tricked by. Regina's eighteenth birthday came and went and still the young woman showed no interest in Daniel. Emma was beside herself she couldn't understand why Regina suddenly had no interest in him. His death stated Regina on her dark path, but she showed no hint of longing or even desire for him. She would only smile kindly whenever he helped her.
Emma never realized how she affected the person Regina was to become. She was braver and she stood up to her mother. Never allowing Cora to abuse or use her because she always knew someone was looking out for her. One day when riding Rocinante, Regina decided to be a bit daring and tried jumping a fallen tree. Something she had done a hundred times. Only Regina didn't see the viper. The horse reared instead of jumping, and bucked Regina off. The raven-haired girl fell hard against a tree. Rocinante ran off back to the Castle.
Emma growled when she saw blood leaking out from under Regina's riding coat and her foot badly mangled. Appearing in front of the young woman, she quickly waved her hand over Regina's stomach. "Why are you riding so far away from the castle? Do you have any idea how dangerous it is out here?" Her hands then went to her leg. "This may hurt." The blonde said before twisting and pulling on Regina's leg to the realign the bone. The blonde waved her hand over the injury. Emma put her hand out to pull the brunette up to her feet. Regina stood easily on the newly healed leg. Emma was content with the knowledge, that the girl wouldn't suffer any permeant damages.
"It's too dangerous in this part of the woods you shouldn't be here."
"I am not afraid of anything, because you're always there…" Regina paused then looked up at Emma "You're my Savior. You always have been." Emma took a step back and shook her head. No one had called her that in many years and hearing it from Regina was jarring.
"I need to go." Emma waved her hand and disappeared again.
"You're just going to leave me here. I have waited my whole life for you." Regina yelled into the air. "I finally get to see you for real and you just leave." Emma reappeared in front of Regina.
"How could you possibly know I was here?" Emma hadn't shown herself to the girl since she was a small child. No way could she remember.
"I always knew you were with me." Regina smiled up at Emma. "You were there when I was eight and fell from a tree you caught me. When I was fourteen you were there when I fell into a river and nearly drown. I saw your face when the water knocked the wind out of me. You were over me and suddenly disappeared. You watch me as I sleep. You have always been here." Regina's eyes sparkled in a way Emma had not seen since she was a little girl.
"How?" Emma said surprised. "How could you possibly know that?"
"Cinnamon, I smell it and I know you are there. I know you will never let anything happen to me." Regina touched her lip and thought for a moment. "When I was a little girl, you did something so I didn't feel pain when my mother struck me. Why?"
"You remember that," Emma stood shocked. "You were just a child."
"Yes," Regina smiled. Then stepped forward and tried to touch Emma. Emma transported herself yards away into a tree branch. "Come back down here. Don't be afraid I will not hurt you." Emma started to laugh.
"It is you who should be afraid."
"Why would I be afraid of the Savior?" Regina crossed her arms, cocked her head to the side and looked up at Emma in the tree.
"I am no Savior." Emma hissed then reappeared in front of Regina. "I am the Dark One."
"You don't look like a Dark One." Regina stood and studied Emma's face for a moment. "Even if you are I don't care."
"You should, I am monster. Why didn't I take you away from your mother? I knew about all the horrible things she did to you…" Emma got closer. "I let it happen. If I am your Savior, why didn't I take you away? Give you a good life. Maybe I wanted you to suffer." Emma snapped her finger and the Dark One dagger appeared. Emma stepped closer to Regina and held the dagger inches from the raven-haired woman's face. Regina's eyes lowered and focused onto the blade then shot back up at Emma. "Maybe I enjoy your pain."
"I don't believe that, not for a second. Maybe I am meant for more. Like the stories in the book you left." Emma's mind flashed back to Regina's eighth birthday. Regina was crying because he mother said she was too old for presents. Cora broke everything her father got her. Emma left the book on her pillow that night clocked in a spell so only Regina could see it. Regina would spend hours reading the silly thing, just like Henry used to. To Emma's surprise, her favorite character in the books was Snow White.
"You are not Cinderella and I am not your fairy godmother."
"You would never hurt me." Regina walked closer to Emma pressing herself into the blade. Regina's eyes focusing on Emma's eyes. The brunette felt the blade pierce her skin but didn't look down. She bit her lip trying hard not to wince at the pain. Emma's eyes grew wide when she seen the blood trickling down her fingers. Instantly the dagger was gone and Emma's hand waved over Regina's neck. In seconds, the small cut healed. Emma grabbed the girl and examined her closely making sure she had no further injuries.
"I knew you wouldn't hurt me," Regina smiled.
"You are such a stupid child." Emma hissed then disappeared. Regina stood in the forest waiting for hours for Emma to reappear but she never did.
Cora was enraged when Regina arrived home way past dark. Not only was Regina late but her outfit was ruined. Cora had not been physically able to hurt her but she could locked her in her room and starve her.
On her third day trapped in her room with no food. Emma appeared and threw her an apple. "Eat you are far too thin." Regina easily caught it and took a bite.
"Miss me,"
"No."
"When I was little you would just leave them on my pillow." Regina giggled then wiped her mouth clean from the juice with her sleeve. "So why are you here?" Emma shrugged and walked around the room refusing to look at Regina.
"Why do you not spend more time with the stable boy? He is handsome enough, don't you think."
"Who… Daniel?"
"Yes."
"That is an odd question; I thought you weren't my fairy god mother, Savior. Why the sudden interest in my love life."
"Answer the question," Emma hissed.
"He never really interested me much."
"Why." The boy you loved so much; you completely lost yourself for.
"I suppose my heart belongs to someone else." Regina said while taking the last bite of the Apple. "Can I have another. I am still hungry." Emma looked down at the girl's tiny frame. Then snapped her fingers and a plate of bread, meat, cheese and nuts appeared.
"You need to eat more than apples." Emma said in almost a whisper.
"Okay, but only if you will you eat with me?" Regina said slicing the bread.
"I don't eat."
"Ever?" Regina looked up with a raised brow.
"Never, no need." Emma shrugged.
"Here take a bite it is delicious." Regina held up a slice of meat. Emma shook her head. Regina stood and walked toward Emma, meat in hand. She held the meat up to Emma's lips. "Just one bite, please."
"I have eaten before; I wasn't always the Dark One." Emma pushed Regina's hand down and stepped to the side. Regina looked a bit disheartened and sat back on the bed. "Food does nothing for me in this form."
"Okay." Regina let out a dejected groan.
"Eat." Emma demanded.
"Sit with me at least." Emma stood arms folded. "Please," Regina whispered, moving the food around the plate without actually taking a bite. Without out any protest Emma did just that and sat with the raven-haired girl as she devoured her dinner.
Emma sat looking at her nails pretending not to stare at the girl in front of her. It had been almost twenty years and she still had a hard time believing this girl would someday turn into the Evil Queen and then into her Regina. The brunette's was gentle and kind even after years of abuse. Her laughter was pure and her heart was virtuous. This girl was so different from the woman Henry had dragged her to meet that one faithful birthday. Her Regina, she had to hold back a laugh. The blonde had been with this one for so long, she was her Regina now Emma mused.
"Why are you smiling?" The brunette asked while licking her fingers.
"I wasn't…I don't smile." Emma rubbed her neck.
"You were thinking and you smile."
"What were you thinking about?"
"Someone that I used to know."
"A lover?"
"NO…nothing like that just a good friend," Emma spoke the words and they did not even feel like a lie. The blonde let out a breath she didn't even know she was even holding. "I was thinking of the person, I become the Dark One for. It was before you were born." Or should I say after, this time thing is so confusing.
Emma rubbed her temple. "I am not sure how to explain it. The Darkness was going to consume her and I just could not let it. It feels so long ago. It was surrounding her and it wanted her light. The Darkness liked the way she tasted. It began to consume her, sucking out all the light inside of her all the good. I step forward, I had too. Reg…My friend pleaded with me not to, I remember that now. Odd time to remember something like that. Emma thought and continued with her story.
"Once she was an evil Queen. Her heart was black and bitter. One day she made a choice to be a better person and day by day the light came back. I could not let her go back to who she once was. She worked too hard to lose her happy ending and the darkness consumed me instead. Turning me into this. It was a long time since Emma thought of that night with such clarity.
Whenever she used to think of that night, it filled her with such rage. Looking at the younger version Regina seemed to settle the anger inside her and silence the Dark One's voice. Maybe it was the way brunette smiled at her. Or way her eyes shined every time Emma appeared. Or how relaxed the girl was around her. Maybe it was the affect Regina always had on the blonde's heart even after all this time.
"That sounds a lot like love," Regina said in a low whispery voice sounding a little upset.
"It's complicated."
"Love usually is."
"I promised to give my friend her happy ending, and it cost me everything."
"I wish I was there I would never have let you. I'd have taken it instead." Emma had to hold back a laugh.
"You're okay kid," Emma said patting Regina on the leg.
"I am not a goat."
"No, where I come from it means child."
"That is the second time you have referred to me as a child. I have you know I am a woman fully grown and I will not have you treat me as anything less."
"It was a term of endearment. Besides I am almost 50."
"You wanted to say something endearing to me?" Regina smiled and blushed. "I don't think you look much older than me,"
"Becoming the Dark One made me immortal."
"So you will always be this young and beautiful." Regina put her hand up attempting to touch Emma's face, but Emma pulled away.
"On that note I should be going." Emma stumbled to her feet and Regina grabbed her arm.
"Please stay, please. I have been alone for far too long. Besides, we both know you really won't go anywhere. You will just stop letting me see you. You were here the las three day. I know because I could smell you more now than ever before."
"I should never have appeared."
"Please stay." Regina's sparkling eye started to cloud with tears. Even after all this time. Emma still couldn't say no to her. Emma let out a deep breath and sat on the bed next to the brunette.
"Fine, I will stay."
"Forever?"
"For now," Emma stated and Regina nodded.
"I can live with that. You never told me your name."
"I told you, Dark One." Emma said in a mock deep voice, making Regina giggled.
"No your real name."
"Swan."
"Swan, like the bird," Emma tried not to smile.
"Yes like the bird."
"There has to be more."
"For now call me Swan."
"Do you have any more stories about you, before you were an immortal Dark One?" Regina said in the same deep mock voice.
Emma smiled and starched the back of her head. "I don't know…"
"Please."
"How about I tell you the story of a Savior and Mayor."
"Like a horse." Regina's brow furled looked and she confused.
"No." Emma couldn't hold back a laugh. "A Mayor is Kind of like a Queen but not."
"Once Upon a Time there was a girl named Emma who made a wish on her birthday and it took her on one hell of an adventure."