Author's Note: I know this is short, but it's only the prolog. Depending on how it's received will determine if I continue. So, please let me know.
Prolog
"Henry, I can't do this!"
"You have to! You're the product of their love!"
"Yeah, and look where that's gotten us! Everyone we love is dead! I couldn't save them! You're all I have left, Henry! I can't lose you too!"
"And you won't I promise! You have to trust me! I believe in you!"
"But they won't know me! It should be you! You're the Author!"
"That's exactly why I can't go! The Apprentice will strip the younger me of my position once he sees me making this impossible later! Author's aren't supposed to write their own happy endings, and we both know what that is! My being in the past will be a huge indicator of my intent, and no matter the cause the Apprentice would stop me!"
"Won't he stop me as well?"
"No, you'll have time to establish a connection with everyone! By the tie the Apprentice wakes up he will have to kill everyone to get to you!"
"What about the book? Can't I at least take it with me? They aren't going to believe me without it!"
"You can't take it with you! It'll become blank the moment you step through that portal! Here place your hand on the cover and concentrate! You can take all the stories with you as a memory! I know you can do it!"
"Okay!"
Henry smiled as he watched the teenager do as she was instructed. He knew first hand how hard it was going to be to convince everyone who she was. But he had faith in her. He knew she would succeed. "Good, now concentrate!"
The storybook in his hand began to glow with her concentration. Henry's smile widened at the power the girl contained. Excellent, it's working, he thought as the book glowed brighter in his shaking hand. It was hard to hold on to both the book and the light pole.
If anyone could succeed in this operation it would be her. He nodded his head and wrapped his hand around the light pole once the book vanished. Now there was no way for the Apprentice to stop her. She had everything she needed to prevail."
"Now you must let go before the portal closes!"
The girl opened her emerald green eyes and took a deep breath. Henry was right. This was something only she could accomplish. "How do I get there?"
"Think of Storybrooke, but not our Storybrooke! You need to focus on the Storybrooke of the past! Focus on me at age fourteen!"
"What do I do when I get there?"
"Pray Grandpa doesn't shoot first and ask questions later!"
"Their alive!"
"Yes, why do you think I'm sending you to that exact moment in time?"
"But I haven't even been conceived yet! I'll cease to exist if I screw this up!"
"You won't! It's up to you to save us all! Let go!"
"I love you, Henry!"
"I love you too." Henry watched the girl let go and slip through the portal.
"Where did she go, Henry?!"
Henry released his hold on the light pole and turned around. He knew who he'd see standing there. His mother Emma Swan...no, now she was the Dark One. He had been running and hiding from her for sixteen years losing everyone in the process. His mom, grandma, grandpa, Belle,Rumplestilskin, and even Killian were all killed by the woman in front of him. It was time for him to stop running and face her.
"She's gone, Mom. I sent her far away so you wouldn't hurt her."
"Like this..."
Henry jumped as Emma vanished and reappeared directly in front of him. He took a breath only to push it out in an anguished cry. Clearly the Dark One's powers were stronger than Regina's. His eyes slammed shut against the pain of his heart being ripped out of his chest. "I still won't tell you," he panted as beads of sweat sprung up on his forehead.
"I know you won't. You're stronger than that." Emma smirked up at Henry as she crushed his heart into dust. "That's why I'm not asking again. You had your chance and you didn't take it. I'll find her on my own." Emma vanished never seeing Henry's body crumple to the cold asphalt.
The girl hit the cold asphalt feet first before curling her body into a ball to absorb the impact. Once she had her feet under her she slowly stood up. Henry was right about everyone being alive. He was also right about grandpa and his gun. She slowly raised her hands to show she wasn't a threat. A good first impression was going to be key if Operation Scorpion was going to work.
"Who the bloody hell are you, where did you come from?"
She glanced at each person in front of her until her green eyes stopped on the one person she'd been waiting her whole life to meet. "My name is Alexis Emma Jones, and I'm your daughter."
