The pale moon hung low in the sky casting a shadowy glow on the dark water of the pond. Mr Gold appeared in a puff of red smoke on the grassy bank near the waters edge with his hands in his pockets. He leaned back on his heels waiting patiently staring ahead at the darkness within the park.
A little while later voices and the sound of shoes on the gravel path could be heard coming closer. Mr Gold squared his shoulders and prepared himself for what was to come. Emma came into view seconds later followed by the Charming's, Regina, Robin, Zelena and Henry in tow. "I didn't realise this was a family thing". Mr Gold turned towards the group a sneer on his face at the other guests not expecting a crowd.
"Yeah well there's been a change of plan". Emma crossed her arms over her chest resisting the urge to glare at the dark one.
"Very well shall we get on with this?" She nodded feeling a hand land on her shoulder at the comfort of her mother. Henry stepped up beside her slipping his hand into hers showing his support. Mr Gold brought his hands out of the pockets of the suit jacket revealing the dark ones dagger.
He muttered a couple of words raising the dagger up and pointing it towards the dark sky. Immediately silence filled the air everybody holding their breath and waiting nervously for something. The wind blew through the trees causing them to rustle and the leaves to flutter to the ground.
A thick mist started to form along the surface of the pond shielding the light of the moon. "It actually worked?" Regina's baffled voice cut through the silence as they all stared ahead.
"Are you questioning my abilities as the dark one?" Mr Gold sneered stepping closer to the waters edge ready, the handle of the blade gripped in his hand. She resisted the urge to reply with a sarcastic comment but thinking better of it not the time to start arguments. They were interrupted by the sudden movement of the mist parting revealing a small wooden boat with a cloaked figure perched on the back.
"Its time". Mr Gold muttered turning his head and glancing behind him at the group of people waiting for a response. The boat glided across the water coming to a stop a little way off the grassy bank, waiting patiently for them to descent. Emma took a deep breath dropping Henry's hand and moving forward wondering what they were actually getting themselves into.
Now that all this was happening she hadn't really time to stop and think about the consequences or what was actually ahead. "Do we have the choice of changing our minds?" Zelena frowned looking at her sister wondering why they were dragging her along on this expedition. Especially when it meant leaving her newborn daughter after everything she had been through.
Regina glared at the other woman placing her hand on Henry's shoulder just encase plus she wanted him close. Emma stepped off the bank into the shallow water feeling it slush around her boots as she walked further into the pond. She reacted up her hand and caught hold of the chain hanging around her neck seeking comfort.
"I will find you, I will always find you". She muttered the words her parents so often used in hard times were there was little hope. She could hear the sound of her parents and the others footsteps in the water behind her. Emma effortlessly climbed into the wooden boat and took a seat on one of the benches trying her hardest not to stare at the cloaked figure with skeleton hands. David carefully helped his wife inside along with the other ladies before climbing in himself and taking a seat on the only space left.
Charon bowed his head and tightened his bony fingers around the wooden oar letting it glide through the clear water manoeuvring the boat backwards into the mist. The air quickly turned cold as the mist passed over their faces sending a chill down each of their spines.
Everybody held their breaths afraid of something going horrible wrong all the possibilities running through their heads. Mary Margaret lifted her hand from her lap and gently placed it on her daughters shaking hand offering comfort without words. The surroundings soon changed within a blink of an eye to a very dreary dark place with dark water that moaned and swirled in an unnatural way.
Emma closed her eyes for a couple of minutes not wanting to think about the horrors that lay beneath that water. She tried her hardest to tune out of the moaning focusing on other things that troubled her mind at the minute. What kind of state would they find Killian in? Would he still be alive in the sense? All these questions bombarded her mind and made her feel sick to the stomach not wanting to know the answers or perhaps not ready.
"Mom". A small voice speaking from the left hand side pulled her away from her many thoughts brining her quickly back to the present.
"What's up kid?" She smiled softly turning her full attention to her son.
"Do you think dad will be there?" Henry whispered afraid of the answer his big brown eyes full of sadness. Emma could tell this had been on his mind for quite awhile now possibly the reason for him wanting to come along.
"I really don't know I'm sorry kid". Emma spoke truthfully lifting her arm and wrapping it around him hoping to stem any sadness even if she wasn't much of a help. Henry nodded moved closer into his mothers embrace resting his head on his shoulder. She gently rubbing the palm of her hand up and down his arm trying to hold back the tears. Suddenly a skeleton like hand shot out of the water the fingers closing and opening as if wanting to grab something.
"Is this boat safe?" Zelena voiced her concern peering over the edge wearily and sliding further onto the bench nudging her sister slightly.
"I'm sure if they desire the dead can capsize this boat in an instant". Regina sneered straightening her back and stared ahead not at all effected by the strange hands coming up out of the water. Zelena glared at her sister biting her lip nervously and shuffling uncomfortably on the bench.
The ride across the dark river seemed longer then it actually was finally coming to a stop near some wooden stairs leading onto a wooden platform. Charon lifted the owe out of the water and positioned it between his legs awaiting their departure patiently. David stood along with Robin and helped the ladies carefully off the boat and onto the stairs.
Henry scurried up the steps safely after both mothers and aunt was on the wooden platform. The sight that greeted them wasn't pretty it was quite the opposite all the land was charged with trees thin burnt sticks. "Onwards and upwards?" Regina strode forward her heels clicking against the wooden boards until she came to a stop near the solid dirt ground.
Emma made her way down the wooden platform stepping onto the dirt path and taking a deep breath. It was nothing like she had expected not sure what to think exactly. Mr Gold took the lead unfazed by the surroundings or the what ifs. He lead them through the charred earth with a great confidence not fazed by anything.
A couple of crumbled temples came into view giving the sense of what looked to be a town. "Do you think we should split up we might be able to cover more ground". David came to a stop near one of the crumbling walls keeping his eyes open for any signs of trouble.
"Is that wise in a place like this?" Regina frowned glancing around the group for anymore hesitation or doubts on the matter.
"I think it would be better". Emma chipped in not paying much attention to the others too eager to carry on searching. Mary Margaret shot a worried look at her husband feeling quite concerned for her daughters growing reckless behaviour.
"I'll go". Regina moved passed the Charming's trying to catch up to the determine saviour and perhaps form some kind of plan rather then jumping in head first. Henry moved to follow but Mary Margaret grabbed his arm shaking her head, it was one thing her daughter wanted to be reckless there was no way her grandson was following the same footsteps. Nobody had seemed to notice Mr Gold had slunk off into the shadows with intentions of his own.
"Where do we start?" Mary Margaret looked around seeing her daughter Regina and Zelena quickly disappearing into the distance.
"In this temple?" David patted Henry on the back and ducked into the doorway of the ruined temple.
"I don't see the good in that". Henry frowned crossing his arms and stopping in the arched doorway not even bothering to enter. He sighed and turned away from the darkness of the temple scanning the surrounding area spotting something moving in the distance.
Henry squinted unsure if he should inform his grandparents of the new development. He decided against it waiting to see what would happen, wanting to be brave and prove that he could be a hero too. The shapes moved forward quickly gaining speed and coming into focus more clearer now.
"Hi". Henry took a step closer shooting a quick look over his shoulder to see if his grandparents were near enough to hear. Two boys appeared one small and plump and the other tall and thin with a evil sneer playing across his lips.
"Can you help us? We've lost somebody". The plump boy dressed in a long tunic and tattered sandals spoke up confidentially.
"Sure". Henry grinned eager to help somebody instead of being in the shadows all the time.
"This way". The tall boy shouted turning and sprinting off in the direction they came.
"Wait up". Henry raced off trying to keep up with the pair of boys and not fall behind. The two boys skidded to a stop near another temple scared at what lay ahead.
"In there". They both pointed grabbing hold of one another and shaking violently. "A monster?" Henry questioned panting slightly from the excretion placing both of his hands on his knees.
"Yeah but only the brave can defeat it". The plump boy shivered gripping the other boy tighter. He nodded straightening up his back and marching forward into the darkness of the new temple. What he didn't see was the grins of the two boys from trapping another innocent soul.