*Emma's POV*
I knew I was destined to die young. It was inevitable really. What could I do to stop it? My biological parents dumped me on the side of the road. My adoptive parents abused me until the day I ran to Storybrooke. Even in Storybrooke things were constantly at the edge of my vision, looming like a dark cloud I could never escape. Until one day when I noticed the cloud over the people that had grown to become my family. I learned quickly that I alone could stop the clouds, could make them forever leave my newfound loved ones alone. But nothing lasts forever, no matter how much you want it to.
I had to save my family, whatever the cost, but no one could have foreseen the price of saving them. I felt the weight of this realization hit me and I almost buckled over with the force of it. I walked forward a step before hesitating at the threshold of the castle ruins. My breath was coming in short pants and I knew I was on the verge of hyperventilation but I couldn't stop. I heard a chuckle and I looked up and into the eyes of the Dark One.
"You knew you couldn't avoid me forever Emma. Just think though, as soon as you give up, the ones you love will be safe. Isn't that what you want? Or are you too scared? I would understand if you just couldn't give up, Emma, no one would blame you." she said in a slightly mocking tone. I sucked in a shaky breath before starting my rebuttal.
"I can't allow you to kill them. If I go with you, if I give up, will you really leave them be? You'll stop trying kill them? Taking me will pay for my mother's debt?" I asked as tears welled in my eyes.
Regina smirked an evil grin, "Of course dear. You have my word."
"Then you wouldn't mind signing a document, a promise if you will?" I said trying to sound braver than I felt.
"Of course. Whatever appeases you." she said with slotted eyes. I gulped before signaling my comrade to step forward. She hissed in displeasure when he comes into view and I can't help the shot of pleasure that spreads through my veins. "What is this? How dare you bring him here! You repulsive girl!"
"If you really meant what you said then you won't have a problem signing a document with him now will you?" I felt my legs tremble under her glare, but thankfully Rumplestilskin stepped forward. His snakelike eyes sparkled with delight at her discomfort as he snapped a document into existence. "Now be a dearie and sign so the little one will be happy. We wouldn't want to upset her with violence between the two of us now would we?" he said holding a quill to her.
She glared at him before snatching the pen and signing. "There you little snake. Now get out. The girl is mine." I turned towards Rumplestilskin and he met my eyes sadly. "Thank you for everything. You've been a great friend. Make sure Mary-Margaret knows she was... Tell her she was like family." I said before hugging him and walking across the threshold and into the waiting hands of the Dark One.
*Mary-Margaret's POV*
I was worried. I almost always was ever since Emma came to Storybrooke, and I didn't know why. I was constantly worrying about where she was and why she was out so late. I felt protective of her, maybe unnecessarily but I just couldn't stop the feelings that kept surfacing.
I stood in the living room waiting for her to come home, biting my lower lip. Where could she be? I turned to her box that still sat upon the table in the living room and picked up the beautiful baby blanket embroidered with her name. It looked so familiar, but so foreign at the same time. I sighed, hugging the blanket to my chest and inhaling it's scent before images flashed into my head, leaving me gasping. Emma was mine. She was my daughter, just like Henry said; just like she said. I remembered everything and I felt sick as I remembered all the things Regina had put Emma through since she arrived in town. At first it was because she was threatened at the thought of losing Henry; but then it was because of me. Because she knew Emma was my daughter, the one destined to bring about her downfall. Tears welled in my eyes at the thought of everything Emma had done trying to get me to remember who I was. She had tried desperately to get my memory to return, to get James -well David- and I back together. To jog one of our memories, to get a family. All this time I had been talking about her family with her and I was her family. My heart clenched at the thought of all she had been hiding. I was going to make up for that as soon as she got home.
My thoughts were interrupted as someone began frantically knocking on my door. The worst immediately flashed into my mind as I walked to the door. What if Emma were hurt? What if Regina did something to her while she was trying to come home? I opened my door to none other then Rumplestilskin, and my eyebrows furrowed in confusion.
"What are you doing here Rumplestilskin? Where's Emma?" I was scared, the fear made my voice crack and I silently cursed myself.
"The little one is gone. She has joined the Dark One, surrendered so that all of you might live, your highness." he said with a bow, but not the sarcastic one he usually addressed Regina with.
"No! She... She can't. I just remembered... I can't lose her before I really have her back. We have to do something..." I said as tears fell from my eyes. I couldn't imagine sweet Emma alone with Regina if her powers were truly restored. Emma was so strong, but Regina and her powers... I knew the kind of damage they could do to a human. And Emma was so frail, so tiny; she wasn't half as big as she thought she was. "Rumplestilskin, please where did she go? Where did she take my daughter?" I was sounding desperate, but I still couldn't shake the scenarios of what Regina could do to Emma.
"Your highness. I was sent here to tell you sometime for the little one. She wishes you to know that you, well Mary-Margaret, were like her family. I'm not supposed to tell you where she is until it is too late for you to stop what must happen. The little one made me swear it." he said with a pained and guilty expression.
I felt anger swell within my chest. How was it possible that she had thought of every possible thing? Her decision had been rash, but her actions surrounding it were so precise and careful? It wasn't right! "When will it be too late?" I asked, fear making itself a known knot in my stomach.
He looked down at his watch before replying, "Right about now."