Disclaimer: Don't own Once.

A/N: Very random, very speculative, and very quickly written. But if this were to happen, like holy shit.


The skies were darkening, the winds catching her hair, spinning, spinning, spinning.. Her eyes flickered to the lights in the street exploding with the rage from Rumplestiltskin's magic, overpowering anything electric, anything with energy. Regina covered her face as another light burst, momentarily blinding her. But she caught a glimpse of blonde hair running through the streets. Emma.

The Savior, gun in hand, a mission in mind, and anger on her face, poured from the street, locking eyes with Rumplestiltskin. "Put the dagger down, Gold." She raises her gun at him.

Regina moves towards her, forgetting that she's supposed to be on "his side". The last few days had been chaotic, what with trying to assuage Gold of his doubt towards her allegiance, and trying to meet up with the Charming's behind his back. She had almost been called out twice. This "mission" was getting too dangerous, and Gold had the dagger now, which meant that he could destroy them at any moment without hesitation, because god only knows that he doesn't really need her. What is she to him anyway? Barely even baggage.

Regina places a hand on Emma's shoulder, ignoring Gold's smug look when she does so; and the Savior turns towards her, also forgetting the asshole with a knife. "Regina," she warns.

But Regina shakes her head. "Emma, please. Don't be reckless."

The blonde catches her name, instead of the moniker usually addressed to her, and for a moment she pauses in thought, a quick and intrusive happiness flow through her. Lately, her and Regina had gotten closer, almost to a point where they could consider each other friends. Emma would be an idiot to deny that she didn't love it, because it was slowly becoming the best part of her days – talking to Regina, bickering with Regina, planning with Regina, just everything…but with Regina. And although Henry gave them sideways glances, a knowing look in his eyes, she brushed it off, because they were friends. And she has Hook. Charming, brave, masculine, Hook.

Emma huffed, not dropping her aim on Rumplestiltskin's head. "I got this, Regina."

The former Queen cocked an eyebrow, remembering when she had left those three words on her screen for Emma. She frowns, a resounding sadness creeping into her stomach, and she drops her hand, turning towards the Dark One.

Gold watches them, his mission flashing before his eyes, his one goal slowly becoming harder and harder to reach. He needed to darken the Savior's heart if he is to get his happiness, but Regina seemed to be her saving grace. He had figured the pirate would sweetly lead Emma into a darkness of his own, but with the Mayor around, the Savior was always reminded of hope, and love, and all the pure things of this world. How awkward. For them.

Emma begins walking towards him and he retreats a half step, raising his dagger. "I will shoot you Gold, don't give me a reason to. Just drop the damn dagger," she says deeply, her voice echoing through the empty streets. The fluctuation of her tone causes a chill to run down Regina's spine in the sweetest way, and she looks at Emma, determination set in her bones. She would not let Emma get hurt if it was the last she could do in this godforsaken world.

The brunette glares at Gold, igniting a ball of fire within her palm, the flames building every second, needing to impact, needing to burn.

Emma smirks when Gold hesitates, the realization that it's now him against the Savior and the Queen. But he summons down lightning, connecting the stream of electricity to the tip of his dagger, proving that he is ultimately more powerful.

But before Regina could react, before Gold could look back at them with a grin, Emma had already moved towards him. She had already threw her hands in the air, summoning her own Light magic, had already pushed an invisible force from her fingertips, the edges of it reaching out towards the dagger.

Regina couldn't react, it happened too fast. The dagger was out of Rumple's hand, completely ripped from him without hesitation. His face slowly contorted into rage as the dagger flew through the air, Emma's lips turning up in accomplishment, the cool hilt of the blade touching her palm.

Gold found his voice, "Emm—"

"No," the Savior's voice spoke. "You don't get to speak. You only get to kneel."

Reigna's eyes widened, the blonde's demeanor completely changing, morphing into something more dominant, more regal. She knew that Emma has always struggled with the darkness, a constant war always raging in her mind. She had seen this look in her eyes before, when they first met, when she was a but an orphan still searching for a home. But those green eyes looked different now. They had more knowledge, more understanding – more power.

Emma walked towards the kneeling imp, her head tilting to the side in amusement. "You are powerless now."

Rumplestiltskin glared up at her, his hands squeezing in anger. But as he stared daggers into those radiant green eyes, he paused. "Ah.. Looks as if someone found her dark side."

Emma laughed, shaking her head. "I am nothing like you. My darkness was taken from me, banished, and that makes me everything you aren't."

Regina heard the sincerity, the complete belief that Emma believed what she was saying. And it occurred to her that the Savior only did reckless things, and always wanted everyone to be happy before herself. Regina watched the scene with terror. Her feet began moving, her heart pounding. "Emma, wait!"

But it was too late.

The Dark One gasped, the cold blade piercing his heart, blood pooling down his chest. Emma gripped the hilt, giving it one last turn to finish the deed.

Rumple's name slowly disappeared as he fell to the pavement, each letter erased with the last slow beats of his wicked, wicked heart.

The former Evil Queen watched in agony as four letters appeared in his name's place, a lone tear slipping down her cheek.

Emma.