Chapter 2
"Any idea where they could have gone?" David asks as they walk along Storybrook's main road.
"No and I don't think we have time to look either. She said they would enact their plan tonight."
Snow eyes widen in horror and pain. "Maybe we should ask Gold for a locator spell."
"Do you have anything of Emma's with you?" Belle asks.
Snow digs through her pocket and presents Emma's knit hat. "She let me borrow this when I was cold. I hadn't gotten it back to her yet."
"That will work."
The three of the run down the street past Granny's and into Gold's shop.
"Gold!" David yells.
"Rumple!" Belle shouts.
Gold emerges from the back room.
"Yes Belle?"
"We need your help."
"We have to help Emma. We know you gave her and Regina Excalibur. There has to be another way. We need to find her quickly." Snow pleaded.
"Not sure how I can help."
Snow puts Emma's cap on the counter. "This is hers. Put a tracking spell on it."
Gold sighs. "You're lucky I still have some left. I'm no longer the Dark One. My supply of magic will run dry soon."
He goes to the back and returns with a small box. He places it on the counter and opens it taking one of the vials out and sprinkling it on the cap. The cap suddenly moves and flies out the door. Snow and David chasing after it.
"You're welcome" Gold mumbles irritated.
"Thank you my love. You are a good man." Belle smiles.
_~~
Emma approaches Killian who struggles to move but can't.
"You deceived me again. I can't believe I ever loved you."
"You don't mean that." A tear rolled down Emma's cheek.
"I do." Killian hissed.
"I'm so sorry. I'm going to fix everything now. It'll be okay." Emma placed her hand on his cheek and rested her forehead on his. She wanted to kiss him…leaned into kiss him but pulled away walking backwards never leaving his gaze.
"Emma we have to do this now. The squid ink won't hold him much longer." Regina breathed.
"I'm ready. I love you Killian."
Regina approached Emma. "I…"
"It's okay." Emma reassures Regina taking her hand.
Regina takes a deep breath in and when she lets it out she stabs Emma through the stomach with Excalibur. Killian's eyes grow wide, confused as the darkness leaves Emma and binding itself to the blade. Regina reaches into Emma's chest and pulls out her heart and Emma falls to the ground. Emma's heart glows an intense gold color. Regina drops the sword and quickly walks to Killian.
"What do you think you are going to do with that? Get away from me or you shall pay dearly." Killian spits out.
Regina looks him dead in the eyes. It's a glare that's also full of pain and sorrow and apology. She takes out Hook's heart and replaces it with Emma's and puts Hook's into Emma's dying body.
Emma smiles as a flash of light explodes around Killian. He falls to the ground. No longer a Dark One. Emma's hat falls down next to her and she hears her parents scream "Emma!" and Killian "No!" and she closes her eyes and dies.
"David we're too late." Snow begins to sob into David's chest. Killian sits starting at Emma, broken and unable to process what has just happened and what is happening around him unaware that anyone is present but himself and Emma.
David stares at Regina unsure of what emotion he is feeling and what to say to the woman who just killed his only daughter. Regina stares at Emma and a few tears begin to fall.
After a very long silence Snow turns to Regina and asks her what happened.
Regina tells them of Emma's plan and her reluctance but knew there was no other way. Emma or Killian had to die and Emma refused to do anything to harm him.
David wipes the tears from his face. "That is our stubborn daughter."
Snow mixed with pain, sorrow, and gratitude for her daughter's action saving them all finally said, "Even if there was no other way, I wish she would have come to us, talked to us."
Suddenly a strong wind blows and whistles around them and Emma and Excalibur vanish.
For the first time Killian snaps into reality. "What happened? Where is she?"
"I…I… I don't know." Regina Stammered
Regina and Belle sat at a table in the library going through old books that looked like they hadn't been touched in decades.
"I don't understand. She shouldn't have disappeared. Her family deserve to be able to bury her." Regina was very frustrated and slammed another book shut.
"Don't worry. I'm sure we will find something." Belle reached over and touched Regina's hand. "How's Henry?"
"He's devastated. But proud of his mom for being a hero even as the Dark One. He's with the Charmings. Wanted to be with blood for a little while."
"Makes sense."
"I can't do this right now." Regina gets up suddenly and goes to look out the window onto the dark deserted street.
"Go be with Robin. I'll come back early in the morning and will let you know if I find anything."
Regina nods and leaves.
Belle turns a few pages then goes back a page. "Interesting. That's the symbol that's on the well. A symbol for sacrifice. Why is that in a book on the darkness?"
~~~
Killian sat on a bench staring out at the sea. He was numb. All he could think about was how Emma had tricked him, but done so to save him and the entire town. She had sacrificed herself. His true love was gone. He was incapable of processing anything else. The sea, once a calming place for him did nothing.
Some while later Robin came and sat down next to him. Regina had fallen asleep after she told him what had happened and he had come to find his best friend now that he was back to being himself.
The two men sat in silence and watched the sun rise.
Eventually Robin's phone rang.
"Hello darling…yes…alright…we'll be there soon." He hung up. "Come. Regina's made breakfast and I'm sure you need to eat something. Apparently cooking is therapeutic for her"
Killian came to at the mention of Regina. "You want me to come over and have breakfast with the woman that killed my swan?"
"Hook, she only did what Emma asked of her. To save everyone. Please do not blame this on Regina."
Killian hesitated. Clearly debating the situation but finally deciding that he was not willing to forget what she had done or be happy about it, but he knew Emma and he knew that if it hadn't happened he would have destroyed everything. He just wish Emma had been willing to kill him instead of sacrificing herself. He nodded at Robin and the two walked away to have breakfast at Regina's.
