Darkness Rising
"I don't understand," Snow said as she paced between Emma and Gold's unconscious bodies.
Once they had entered the back part if the store, Killian had placed Emma on the couch while Neal and Belle had laid Gold on a bed that the Queen had summoned. Then Regina had used her magic to ensure that neither Emma nor Gold suffered any after effects from their heavy magic usage. After that was completed, Regina had then attempted to explain the type of magic that was used between the two powerful individuals.
Regina sighed, "This magic, that Gold and Emma did is complicated. In fact it was deemed as a myth in our world."
"A myth?" Henry asked looking at her from his spot next to Emma.
"Yes," Regina said as she nodded, "the only way I know of this is from my mother's story that she once told me when I was younger."
"What exactly was this tale?" Hook asked from his position against the wall.
Her eyes narrowed on the pirate, "I do not remember exactly. Just that there were once multiple kingdoms and there was a battle between some dark entity and the rulers of those kingdoms who created the powerful magic that had defeated the dark entity."
David shook his head, "That is not much to go by. However I do not care about that," before he could be reprimanded by Snow, he straightened and said, "what I want to know is why my daughter felt the need to go to Gold to learn magic, then why she felt the need to kill him."
Everyone was quiet at the prince's words as they looked at the people of discussion. As Belle fingered through Rumple's hair she said slowly, "Maybe we can find out."
"How? If they weren't planning on telling anything to us when they were conscious, what makes you think they will talk now?" Neal asked her with his eyebrow cocked and raised as he motioned to the bodies.
Belle smirked, "Easy, conjure a dream catcher and collect the memories."
"Brilliant idea!" Snow exclaimed, "Just like Gold did with Pongo." Belle nodded at Snow's words, apparently pleased that someone caught on to her reference.
"But that didn't exactly work remember?" David commented slowly.
Snow shook her head, "Yes it did David; Cora impersonated Regina that is who Pongo saw, besides neither Gold nor Emma is conscious to modify their memories." Turning to Regina who looked deep in thought, she asked, "Can you do it?"
Without taking her eyes off of the bodies, Regina said slowly, "I can yes..."
"But?"Neal asked sensing the hesitation.
"But I do not know what to expect." She looked at Snow and David, "Are you sure you want-"
"Yes, otherwise they won't tell us anything, you know that." David answered.
Henry moved towards Hook as Regina stood between Gold and Emma. She waved her hands and in a puff of purple smoke, a dream catcher appeared, "Do you want Gold's or-"
"Emma's." They all answered as Regina began to ask.
Regina nodded and just as the ends of the dream catcher touched her forehead there was a flash of white light and everyone covered their eyes as they felt the room spin around them. Once they opened their eyes, they looked around the area and saw they were standing by the sheriff station, "What happened?" Henry asked as he looked around.
"I do not know kid," Neal responded, but before he could continue Hook's voice came out of nowhere.
"No, not until you hear what I have to say," they watched in awe as Hook and Emma were talking in front of the station and looked to be in a heated argument.
"Oh bloody hell," Killian groaned as he watched himself, "not this again."
"Shush!"Everyone said to him as they approached to listen closely to the conversation.
"What you just described to me, that scenario? It sounds more like love. And since when had I ever pulled that damn trigger?" Everyone watched as Emma's eyes widened slightly as she tried to remain expressionless as Hook continued, "Now I have no idea what is going on, however whatever it is I will find out."
Seeing Emma recover they heard her say, "Good luck Captain."
"Good luck Swan." Then the scene blurred out leaving the group to stand in a void like setting glaring at the pirate in front of them.
"What the hell was that about?" David asked as he motioned around them, "What happened between you and Emma just now?"
Killian raised his hand and hook in defense, "Just like I told you in the diner mate, we were talking and your daughter started to be her pleasant stubborn self."
David growled and got ready to punch him when Snow closed her hand on his fist, "Stop it. Instead of fighting with Hook, we should be figuring out why we are in her memory instead of seeing it through the dream catcher." Seeing her husband shake his head, he freed himself from her grip as she turned her focus on the Queen, "Regina?"
Regina shook her head as well, "I have no idea; if I had to guess-"
"Wait you do not know?" Belle asked feeling a bit uneasy at being in the memories of someone she does not know that well.
Regina shook her head, "No I do not know. The only thing that makes sense is that Emma either wanted us to see this or the more plausible explanation is that her magic is beginning to work differently than mine."
"So then is it possible that we are going to see more memories like on the ship?" Henry asked quietly.
"I do not know," Regina said gently looking at him then giving Snow and David a look as she said again, "I do not know."
Before anyone could speak the darkness lifted and they saw that they were in the Pawnshop and Emma had just walked in, "Gold?" Emma called out as she entered.
"You are late dearie," Gold answered in a way of greeting her, "I am in the back. Just switch the sign to close would you?"
Emma sighed and did as she was told and they followed her into the back of the shop, "I know and I am sorry. Hook came and we got-"
"I do not care what you and the pirate did dearie. I do not like my time being wasted." Gold said with his back toward her, in a tone of an impatient teacher who was talking to a delinquent student.
Emma raised her hands in surrender, "Ok sheesh. I am here now so-"
"So we are going to begin. Sit." Gold commanded as he pointed to a chair still with his back toward her.
"Why is she listening to him?" Killian asked as Emma rolled her eyes and sat quietly in the chair.
"That is what I want to know," David said as Gold turned around to face Emma fully with a wand in her hand.
Snow knew something was not quite right as Gold eyed her daughter and apparently so did Emma because she asked, "A stick? We are going to be training with sticks?"
Gold giggled a bit and he limped a bit closer to her with the wand in his hand, "This dearie is not just a stick. It is a wand."
"A wand?" Emma laughed a bit as everyone else shared an uneasy look, "So what is the core of that one? Phoenix tail feather? Dragon heartstring? Oh wait I know; Unicorn hair right?"
"No, no dearie not even close," Gold sighed in an exasperated tone, "this is nothing like those books that woman wrote. Wands could only be used by fairy godmothers or some high ranking fairies."
"So then how do you have it?" Emma asked now a bit wary as to what is going to happen.
Gold smirked, "I obtained this particular wand from a fairy godmother who is now deceased but enough about that; it is time to begin your lesson my dear."
"Going to teach me how to use a wand?" Emma asked as she was about to get up, but then suddenly Gold waved his hand and Emma found her arms and legs suddenly being restrained, "What the hell Gold?!" Emma yelled as she tried to pull herself free.
"EMMA!" Everyone shouted as they watched the scene unfold.
Gold sighed as he got closer to her, "Please stop fighting, it will only get tighter. Oh and do not try and use magic, because you want to save your energy for what is about to come."
Emma stopped fighting and glared at her mentor, "Oh really? What is coming?"
"The invasion of your mind," before she could interrupt he plowed through, "you see dearie as I told you many times, your magic is linked to your emotions. The angrier you are the darker the magic. Happier you are the more lighter the magic is. In the case of Pan and the problems you are currently experiencing, you are swinging towards the darker aspects and that is going to easier for Pan to get a hold of you and we will be right back at square one, like on the ship."
"So what? You going to try to invade my mind?"
Hook frowned and said, "Wait did he just say that Pan is going to return?"
"That sounds like it." Regina said just as slowly as she was still trying to comprehend as to what was occurring.
Neal's face paled, "No, he cannot come here." His mind flashed to his time in Neverland that he long thought he buried.
Sensing his father's discomfort, Henry grasped his hand and said, "Mom defeated him. There is no way he can come back."
Snow and David did not know what to say to that as they watched Rumpelstiltskin played with the wand and talked to Emma. By the sounds of the conversation both Emma and Gold sounded as if Pan was indeed on the verge of returning. Belle looked confused as she watched Gold, to anyone else it looked like he was enjoying the blonde's slight discomfort, but to her it looked like he really believed that this was the best option for her, "So you see dearie if you can block me or fight me mentally, then you could fight Pan or anyone else that tries to invade your mind."
"Yea that is not happening. Before was a fluke, I never meant for you or anyone see my past." Emma growled out, "Now let me go!"
"Sorry dearie, but that is not happening. Now brace yourself;" Gold stood back and before anyone could say anything he waved the wand and a jet of bright light shot from it and everyone had to shield their eyes as the light suddenly exploded around them.
Once the light dimmed they found themselves in front of a brick building with a little girl sitting on the stoop with a suitcase next to her, "Mom." Henry gasped as he remembered seeing his mother in the very first memory.
Hook noticed the sign on the building, "Angel's Paradise." He read as they looked at the girl.
Neal's eyes widened as he approached the girl and he swallowed a lump in his throat. Before anyone could comment the door opened and a boy with sandy blonde hair walked out and just sat down next to her. Emma did not even look at him as she said, "I am not coming in. My mom and dad will be back. You'll see."
Everyone cautiously approached as the boy responded, "I am not here to convince you of anything kid. I was just merely going to suggest that you put a coat on since it is getting a bit chilly."
"I am fine." Emma said still not looking at him, although the slight shiver she gave suggested otherwise.
Belle looked at Neal, Henry, Snow, David, Regina, and Hook who was all giving the girl slight looks of pity. She wondered if she dare ask, when Hook said, "The people who she called parents gave her up. This must be the aftermath of that decision."
She looked back at the two kids on the step when the boy said, "Those shivers suggest otherwise kid." He leaned back and waited for Emma to comment, but he let out a chuckle when she did not move nor respond, "You kid are a stubborn one aren't you."
"Emma." Emma spoke up firmly now fixing her green eyes on him, "My name is Emma…not kid."
The boy smiled and said, "Well Emma, my name is Benjamin…but everyone calls me Ben." He held his hand out and Emma hesitantly shook it.
Once she let go she looked back at the road and said, "My mom and dad are coming back. It was just a mistake. They are coming back for me."
Snow and David held each other. No matter what has just transpired, they could see their little girl's heartbreaking at the sight of the hope that is still shining in her eyes. Belle looked at Neal who was hugging Henry and she joined in giving the smaller boy some sort of comfort. Regina recognized the same hope that had shown in Snow's eyes when she was younger and could not help but feel remorseful for the blonde as she watched the scene. Hook shook his head as Ben spoke after the moment of silence, "Look kid, I am-"
"No," Emma said firmly (or as about as firmly a three year old could sound), "they are coming back. I just have to have hope. Mommy always said that having hope is the most powerful thing anyone could have." When Emma tore her eyes away from the road, her eyes were shining brightly with unshed tears, "That believing in something like a happy ending is a very powerful thing."
Snow could vaguely recall the words that she had once explained to Emma when she first arrived in Storybrooke in search for Henry. Back then as Mary-Margret, she could not understand why Emma looked so guarded when it came to those words, or why even now believing in such things as a happy ending was something that was always a touchy subject, but watching everything became clearer, "Kid listen to me," Ben said firmly as he got up and sat in front of Emma, "how old do you think I am?"
Emma looked at him and said, "Well you are older than me."
"Yes I am," He said, "you are three right?"
"Yes, my birthday was last month." Emma said happily, "Mommy and Daddy gave me a picture book, see!" Emma reached into her suitcase and pulled out what Henry recognized as a fairytale book, "My favorite story is Snow White! Look!" Emma flipped the pages and showed him the story.
Ben smiled sadly just like Snow and David did as they watched as Emma show him all the pictures in the book. Regina watched at the pure innocence the blonde had possessed and Henry smiled when Emma looked up at the boy, "I can read parts of it! Mommy was teaching me how to read a bit."
"Really?" Ben asked looking both sad and amused.
"I am not that good yet," Emma paused and concentrated hard on the page where Snow White was dancing with one of the dwarves, "Hey Ben?"
"Yea?" He asked.
"Can you read this to me?" She asked handing him the book.
Ben took the book slowly out of her hands and flipped to the beginning of the story, and he started with, "Once Upon a Time…"
His voice trailed off as the on lookers watched the scene sadly. Hook could feel his heartbreaking as he watched Emma beginning to cry as the reality of what just happened to her set in as the younger boy read to her. Neal just held Belle and Henry tightly as they too began to get teary eyed. Snow and David just listened quietly, neither one of them expressing any sort of emotion. Regina just turned away from them, "This is not your fault," Hook said quietly, "not directly at least."
"I destroyed an innocent child's life." Regina muttered, "My step-granddaughter's life and you claim-"
"Look Rumpelstiltskin used all of us." Snow said slowly hearing the conversation and at her words Belle, Henry, and Neal looked at the pair, "I do not blame you Regina. We do not blame you." David nodded slowly at his wife's words.
Before anyone could say anything Ben's voice came to a halt just as he was reading the part when Snow bit into the apple as Emma asked, "They are not coming are they?"
There was a moment of silence as he said, "No, I am sorry. They are not coming back."
Emma nodded as she slipped the book out of his hands and placed it in her suitcase, "What about your mommy and daddy? Are they coming back for you?"
"Kid I am eight years old. I have been here for five years." He explained, "Come on, it is getting dark and Ms. Wilder wants to show you your bed."
He and Emma stood up and Ben grabbed her suitcase, but as he was walking up the steps he turned to see Emma still staring at the road. She then turned back to him and asked, "This is my home now?"
"For now," Ben said simply looking at her.
Emma paused and still looked at him, "Does that make you like my brother?"
"I can be." He said slowly as if unsure.
Emma bit her lip, "Will you ever leave me?"
Ben came back down the stairs and held his hand out towards her, "Never."
"Never ever?" Emma asked looking at his hand.
He smiled and just took her hand and led her into the house. Before anyone could comment there was a bright light that engulfed them and they were back in the Pawnshop.
Emma's face was sweaty and red as she was panting almost like a mile a minute. Gold was standing in the same spot not looking at all phased. When Emma looked up at him she gasped out, "Did you see everything I saw?" She was almost unsure whether she wanted to hear the answer.
Gold smirked with his lip curling, "What did happen to that book dearie? I am oh so interested to see how it ended."
"I got rid of it," Emma muttered with full hatred.
"Pity," Gold said casually not even feeling the least bit apologetic.
"That bastard," David and Hook growled out completely forgetting that Neal and Belle were in the room with them.
Neal shook his head, "Papa please-"
"Well, for a first attempt that was not as poor as it might have been," said Gold, raising his wand once more.
"No, he is not really going to try that again," Belle gasped out seeing Emma's eyes widening.
"You did manage to stop me eventually, though you wasted time and energy by fidgeting and shouting. You must remain focused. Repel me with your brain." Gold instructed getting ready once more.
"I'm trying," said Emma angrily as she tried to stand, but then remembered she was strapped down in the chair, "but you're not telling me how!"
"Manners, Ms. Swan," said Gold dangerously. "Now, I want you to close your eyes."
Snow and David were proud at the filthy look Emma sent him before doing as she was told. She did not like the idea of sitting there with her eyes shut while Gold faced her, carrying a wand, "Clear your mind," said Gold's cold voice. "Let go of all emotion…"
Neal scoffed, "After you've just made her angry, how do you expect Emma to clear her mind and let go of her emotions now?" He actually walked over to his father as he continued to instruct Emma on how to clear her mind, "Listen to me Papa! This is not the way to do this!"
"He cannot hear you," Regina said just as outraged, "This is a memory."
Neal let out a growl of frustration as Henry observed his mother who he could see was really tense and angry. Emma's anger at Gold continued to pound through her veins like venom. Let go of her anger? At the moment she could as easily detach her legs…
"You're not doing it, Ms. Swan…you will need more discipline than this… focus, now…" After a moment Gold's voice returned, "Let's go again…"
"Wait! She clearly is not ready!" Belle said as Emma's eyes flew open.
Snow, David, and Henry watched as Emma's breathing quickened, "No, please…" She begged.
Gold did not hear her as he started to count, "One - two - three-!" Once again he waved the wand and another light filled the room.
The on lookers saw flashes of people swimming before them. They could hear voices and laughter; they could also hear crying and screams of anger. They saw fights that Emma was in and they heard threats that the different families gave her for fighting and finally the images slowed as they saw Emma on the same steps of the orphanage with the woman, "Emma I am still going to have to punish you for fighting. This is the fourth time you were sent back for this. You cannot keep doing this. Those were nice-"
"Do not lie to me!" Emma yelled again as she stamped her foot, "I am sick of your lies! If they were 'good'" Emma made the air quotes with her fingers as she continued, "people, they would not have returned me like some cheap Christmas gift that you get at K-mart! Or like some hand-me down, rag tag, ugly, sweater from the nineteen seventies!" Emma was heading back inside and she reached the door before turning back to the woman, "Just proves my point: You can't trust anyone, but yourself in this world. There are no happy endings, they just don't exist!" With that she slammed the door leaving the older woman alone on the stoop.
"Oh my god," Belle said facing them, "Did that actually happen?"
"Yes," Snow said as David pulled her into a hug, "this family she was describing sent her back for defending herself."
"That is horrible." Belle responded.
"Wait you saw most of these already?" Neal asked as he was trying to remember what Henry told him after they got home.
Hook shook his head, "The ones we are seeing now are new to us, but we know the background story to this particular one and the one before that." Neal nodded as they were now inside the building as they followed Emma up the stairs and into a bed room where there was a tall older boy standing over a bag. He was shocked as Emma pummeled into him, "Ben!" She cried.
"Emma?!" He asked in shock as he looked down at her, "What are you doing here?"
She began to tell the whole tale as to what happened. Henry watched as the boy comforted her and he remembered that she was eleven, his age, when this happened. He could feel sympathy for his mother as the boy tried to calm her down, "Hey kid, it is ok." Ben said softly.
Emma sniffled, "It was not my fault. I told them to stop. Why?" She asked.
"Why what?" He asked back.
"Why is the world against me? What did I do to deserve this?" She asked pulling away from him and going over to the window.
Ben swallowed as the on lookers watched the scene, "You did nothing kid. I tried asking myself that same question for years and you know what?"
"What?"
"There is no answer, because you did nothing." He replied softly.
Emma turned and looked at him with a smile, until she noticed the suitcase on the bed, "Did you get adopted?" She asked motioning toward the bag.
Ben scratched the back of his head and then picked her up and sat her on his lap on the bed, "Do you know what toady is kid?"
Looking on the calendar on the far wall she could see a drawing of a birthday cake, and it clicked, "Yea it is your birthday!" She said happily.
He smiled softly, "Yup. I am sixteen."
"And I am eleven!" Emma said giving him a hug.
"Yes that you are kid," he coughed and began again; "do you know what happens at sixteen?"
"No, what?" she tilted her head to the side looking at him with curious eyes.
He paused and looked unsure on how to answer the question as he now slid Emma off of his lap and stood up, going over to the window, "Well at sixteen you are considered free."
"Oh he isn't…" Neal trailed off as he watched the boy in front of him.
"Wait what?" Henry asked as his mother asked, "Free?"
Snow and David looked at Neal then at the boy as comprehension dawned on them, "Yes free. You see Emmy…I am leaving."
"Leaving?!" Emma cried, "You can't leave!"
"Shush!" Ben said quickly as he ran to close the door, "Yes I am leaving. I have to go Em…I cannot stay here anymore. What are the odds of me getting 'adopted' at this age? No one wants a teenager…they want someone like you."
Emma bit her lip and Hook can tell that tears were starting to form in her eyes, but then as quick as it came it left and she smiled, "Well take me with you." Neal's heart began to break as he remembered the same look in her eyes when he told her about the watches.
"Emma I cannot take you with me." Ben said kneeling so his bright blue eyes were boring into her green ones, "The first rule is never let anything slow you down and kid, you will only slow me down."
"Please take me with you. If you do not belong here, then I do not belong here either. Please, I promise I will not slow you down." She was full out begging.
Regina watched as the boy looked torn until he bit his lip, "Fine. We leave tonight at eleven. Meet in the kitchen, by the backdoor."
Emma jumped up and down and gave him a hug, "I will get ready then."
The scene dimmed out, "That was too easy." David said slowly, "I do not remember her running away at eleven…"
"Well we did not see the whole memory," Snow said slowly, "maybe they ran away but got caught."
"No," Neal said shaking his head as everyone looked him, "she ran away at sixteen. She told me so herself."
"So then-" Henry was about to ask when the scene lightened up and they saw Emma sitting in the kitchen with her suitcase next to her and in the other hand was her blanket.
"I know this is wrong. Especially since I did not apologize to Ms. Wilder about what I said…but I left her a note," She allowed her face to be hidden in the blanket and then pulled away from it, "but somehow after thinking about it, perhaps my happy ending is out there…with Ben. Maybe we will find you."
Snow and David placed hands over their hearts as they watched their little girl, "Maybe we can find his too and then we can both be happy." Emma said to herself, "Yea! That would work. Our families could be happy together!"
"This is really sad." Belle said slowly as Neal placed a hand around her, "Why is Rumpelstiltskin doing this to her?"
"I do not know," he responded as he watched the little girl get up and turn her focus to the microwave.
"Where is he?" Emma asked as she paced the linoleum floor, "He said eleven and now it is eleven fifteen…" She sighed as she began to sneak out of the kitchen and crept up the stairs.
The onlookers followed until she reached the bedroom door, and quietly opened the door to find no one inside, but the window open and sheets tried around the edge of the bed which was pushed closer to the window, with the sheets hanging out the window. Emma ran over and looked outside to see no one there.
"Oh Emma," Snow whispered as she watched her daughter's face crumple in sheer disappointment and slight agony.
"That bastard," Killian growled out as he watched Emma reach for a small envelope that was lying on the pillow. With shaking hands she tore it open and began to read. There was a moment of silence before everyone jumped at the sound of her angry yell and she began throwing stuff around the room.
Suddenly there was a whole bunch of commotion in the once quiet house as different kids ran into the room to find Emma standing in the middle of the room with her arm stretched out and shards from the lamp scattered on the floor. Ms. Wilder pulled the kids apart and everyone shook uncomfortably as the woman ran through them to the blonde, "Emma what is the meaning of this?" she asked in disbelief, "Where is Benjamin?"
Emma glared at the woman and gave her the letter, "Gone. Just like everyone else in my life." With that final word she walked out of the room.
There was a much larger flash of light as the backroom of the Pawnshop and Rumpelstiltskin came into focus now. They turned to see Emma with tear marks on her cheeks and her eyes squinting. Rumpelstiltskin waved his hands and released her hands and they watched as she quickly buried her face into them.
After a few moments he said, "Alight enough dearie." Emma looked up and sent another glare his way, "You are not trying, and are making no effort. You are allowing me access to memories that are filled with pain and hate…in other words, your weaknesses."
"I - am - making - an - effort," she said through clenched teeth and Henry could swear he saw the vein in her head throb as he looked into her red puffy eyes.
"I told you to empty yourself of emotion!" Gold yelled.
"Yeah? Well, I'm finding that hard at the moment," Emma snarled as she looked down at her feet, "Release my feet now."
"No I will not," He waved his hands once more and bounded her hands back up, "If this is what you call effort, then you will find yourself easy prey for the dark forces that is bound to come!" said Gold savagely. "Fools who wear their hearts proudly on their sleeves, who cannot control their emotions, who wallow in sad memories and allow themselves to be provoked so easily - weak people, in other words - they stand no chance against the darkness."
"Well, you're not exactly doing a great job hiding your emotions yourself," said David angrily at the Pawnbroker's attitude toward his daughter.
"Well at least he is not beating around the bush," Regina stated as heads snapped toward her, "whatever they are talking about and how whatever is about to come, he is definitely preparing her for it."
"But there are lines," Snow said, "lines that he should not be crossing right now."
Regina looked at her and nodded, "Yes that is true as well I suppose."
Henry watched as his mother's eyes turned defiant, "I am not weak," she said in a low voice, fury now pumping through her so that she thought she might attack Gold in a moment.
"Then prove it! Master yourself!" Spat Gold, "Control your anger, and discipline your mind! We shall try again! Get ready…" He raised his wand.
"That would be good advice if he didn't sound so angry," remarked Henry as he shook his head. No one could comment back because there was a flash of light and they were once again pulled into another set of memories.
They watched as Emma transformed from the eleven year old girl who still had a twinge of hope, to an adolescent who was fighting against the world. They watched as she started to hang out with the wrong crowed and started to get into all kinds of fights and all kinds of trouble. Then it slowed down to what looked like to be a back of a school. They saw that Emma had dark eye shadow around her eyes and bright red lipstick; she was wearing a white t-shirt and a black leather jacket along with tight skinny jeans with a tear in at the knee, and high heeled boots, "Here Swan, want one?" The guy that was with her was slightly older and he was holding out a cigarette.
"What?!" Snow demanded as she watched her daughter smile and take the offending object as another girl held out the lighter, "She cannot be any older than fourteen DAVID!"
David did not know how to comfort his wife as he watched his daughter laugh and flirt shamelessly, "Thanks again Harley." Emma said as she took a drag.
"Hey not a problem kid," The older boy said as he paced around her.
Emma glared, "I am fourteen. Not a kid." She spat out the word.
Everyone smiled and a girl said, "Well you are really a baby compared to us."
"You are all like sixteen and seventeen Cindy," Emma pointed out, "but anyway thank you for-"
"Don't mention it," Harley said slowly, "although to be with us there is one thing you need to do…" He held his hand out and one of the other guys placed a bat in his hand.
Emma snuffed out the cigarette with the heel of her boot, "What is that for?"
"It is for this…" He placed an arm around Emma's shoulder and led her over to a motorcycle, "Turner's bike. He obviously takes really good care of it. Not a scratch on it…just look how it shines." Emma smiled as everyone nodded in agreement, "It really is a real thing of beauty, shame what is about to happen to it."
Everyone laughed in agreement as Emma laughed along and then paused, "What is about to happen to it?"
"You are my friend." He said as he handed her the bat, "Some advice? Don't hit a homerun. Just make contact."
Emma swallowed and walked to the front as another boy said, "Go for the headlights. Good noise, broken glass, a real crowd pleaser."
Emma took a deep breath, "No Emma, do not do it." Snow muttered.
"Swan…" Hook said as he watched her pull the bat back.
"No mom," Henry muttered as she swung the bat, but she missed on purpose.
"Can I take a few practice swings first?" She asked slowly with a small smile.
Harley looked less than impressed, "Come on Swan now is the moment to prove yourself; see if you are really one of us." Emma eyed the bike in front of her as Harley continued talking, "Think about how everyone treated you. Like you are worthless; how much of a nobody you are…especially the way he called you out earlier. Just one little swing…is all it takes." Leaning in to her ear he whispered, "Just one little swing and you will have the respect you want…you deserve."
Emma's glare hardened and she took the swing and just as the bat was making contact with the headlights of the bike the scene slowed and suddenly it fast forwarded to Emma being taken away to the principal's office, back to the orphanage, to her and Ms. Wilder arguing, ending with her office trashed and Emma storming out, and then finally it was dark out and Emma was walking in the direction of the orphanage.
Just as she was snuffing out the cigarette she had an ambulance whizzed right by her and stopped in front of it. Everyone watched as they saw her face pale drastically and she picked up the pace and ran just in time to see a woman being wheeled out in a stretcher, "No…" Emma breathed, "No!"
One of the men that was there held on to her as she started to fight him off, "NO!" Emma yelled again. Then the scene flashed forward and they were at a funeral and then they watched as Emma ran off and now watched as she was running through a wooded area until she made it to a bridge. They were still in the memory as Gold's voice filtered to her, "Ah so that is what happened…"
"No…" They heard Emma's voice.
"Yes dearie I see now…you have death on your hands…"
No one spoke as they watched the teenage Emma start to stand on the rail of the bridge as the cars were speeding passed below, "All it would have taken just one little jump then dearie…" Gold's voice came to her.
"No…that is not me…it was not my fault."
"You gave her a heart-attack, it was your fault."
"No!" They heard Emma yell and then all of a sudden there was a flash just as they saw and heard sirens in the distance and they were back in the backroom with Emma out of her bindings and instead on her hands and knees. She was panting and tears were rolling down her face. Snow and David, both acting on instinct, ran over to her along with Henry to try and offer some type of comfort. Hook, Belle, and Neal were glaring at Gold who looked impassive. Regina on the other hand tried knew there was something more to this than just that memory.
"No?" Gold asked looking down at her while leaning on his cane, "No what?"
"It was not my fault." Emma gulped out while trying to breathe, "It was not my fault." She repeated.
"Oh of course dearie, just like it was not your fault that you got Graham killed?"
Emma looked up sharply and everyone inhaled a moment with the exception of Neal and Belle who looked confused, "That was not my fault either!" Emma yelled as she struggled to stand.
"Sorry mate," Hook said looking at Neal, "the crocodile is getting skinned for this."
Neal looked at Hook then back at his father. Belle did not even say a word as Gold raised his wand, "Then prove it. Let's have a look as to what happened that night then dearie."
There was a flash and they were in the cemetery, although it was not as clear and sharp as the others had been, "What is happening? Why is it blurry?" Henry asked speaking for the first time in a while.
"She is trying to fight it, Gold's invasion." Regina said slowly not looking at him. Everything that night is going to be revealed and she did not want to see anyone's reactions to it. Snow looked over at her and noticed her step-mother's change in behavior.
They watched as Emma and Graham enter the crypt. There's a sarcophagus in the center with several urns on shelves lining the walls, "It's got to be in here. Somewhere." Graham said as he searched the crypt.
"What is he looking for?" Neal asked not comprehending any of this.
"His heart." Henry muttered, "He started to remember after he kissed mom…"
Neal looked sharply at his son, "Emma?" Henry nodded sadly instead of speaking, knowing that the curse would have or possibly could have broken sooner. Killian saw how sad Henry looked and draped an arm over the boy's shoulder.
"There's got to be a hidden door. A lever." Graham said as everyone remained quiet as he started to get desperate. He opens up one of the urns, "Something."
They see Emma searching, but then slowly giving up as she looks helplessly to him, "Graham. Hey. Graham, there's nothing in here."
"There has to be. If there isn't, then-"
Emma starts to pull him away from the urns and said, "It's okay. It's going to be okay."
Just then they see Regina coming up to the crypt, "What the hell do you think you're doing?"
As Emma and Graham exit the crypt, Emma counters, "What are you doing here?"
The Regina that is with the group winces as she feels the looks she is getting, as her past self answers, "Bringing flowers to my father's grave like I do every Wednesday."
Graham, seeing the glare on the Mayor tries to ease the tension, "Don't blame her. It's my fault. I wanted to look in there."
Regina looks at him in surprise, "Really? Why? What were you looking for?"
David watches the exchange as he sees Emma trying to stay out of it. It was clear to him the man who had saved not only himself and his wife, but now his daughter, was indeed a good man. He wished that he was able to meet up with him more, perhaps tried and return the favor to save the Huntsman from the Queen. Snow saw David's discomfort and tried to reassure him like he had been doing to her. Belle was confused until it dawned on her, "I know him…I remember him."
"Really how?" Neal asked, "I thought you were-"
"I was," Belle said knowing where the question was headed, "but when I was in the Queen's dungeon, he would bring me extra food or water sometimes."
Regina looked away as Graham had said to her past self, "It has nothing to do with her. You know, I've realized that I don't feel anything, Regina. And I know now it's not me – it's you."
"So, you're leaving me for her?"
"I'm leaving you for me." He responded firmly.
"Graham, you're not thinking straight." She should have known it was useless, trying to argue with him like this. From the start she knew that the curse was weakening. She internally cursed herself for her pasted actions…
"Actually, for the first time, I am. I'd rather have nothing than settle for less. Nothing? Is better than what we have. I need to feel something, Regina, and the only way to do that is to give myself a chance." Graham said. Hook kept a close eye on Emma as she stood awkwardly to the side. He could read her like a book, and he seemed to guess that she was starting to feel extremely uncomfortable with the situation.
"Graham-" Regina started to say.
"I'm sorry. It's over."
Regina now turned her attention to Emma, "I don't know what I ever did to you, Miss Swan, to deserve this. To have you keep coming after everything I hold dear."
"Oh no you did not just say that to her!" Snow said momentarily forgetting that this was in the past as she looked at her step-mother, "It is not her fault!"
"I told you – it's not her." Graham tried to say.
Everyone now glared at Regina when she said, "None of this happened until she got here."
Hook saw Emma step closer to the duo looking thoroughly fed up, "I'm sorry. Did you ever stop to think that maybe the problem isn't with me, but with you?"
Regina winced, knowing what is about to come next as she heard herself say, "Excuse me?"
"Henry came and found me. Graham kissed me. Both were miserable. Maybe, Madam Mayor, you need to take a good hard look in the mirror and ask yourself why that is. Why is everyone running away from you?" Emma finished and then after a moment Regina punched Emma in the face, who then falls into Graham.
"Regina!" Everyone shouted. Regina winced and does not meet anyone's gaze…but she feels some hold her hand and sees that the owner is Henry who gave her a look of pity.
They turn their focus back to the scene as Emma recovers from the attack and punches Regina back in the face. Emma then grabs Regina and pushes her against the side of the crypt. Which internally David, Neal, and Hook are cheering for Emma as Graham also gets up and tries to split them up, "Stop! Stop! Stop!"
Graham pulls Emma away from Regina. Emma gives Regina a one over look and says, "Not worth it." And they watch as Emma starts to leave, walking away from Graham and Regina as the scene suddenly dims and they are in the Pawnshop. No one had time to comment on anything when Gold spoke, "Well not your fault hmmm…" Emma was leaning on the chair as he continued, "Well that seemed to prove otherwise."
"Shut up," Emma said as her eyes were darkening into a dull red color, "Shut up."
"Well now here is that rather charming temper. You might want to control it dearie," He raised his wand, but just as he was about to wave it Emma summoned a shield and the light bounced off of it and on the onlookers were in the Enchanted Forest.
No one spoke as flashes appeared before them. They were of Rumpelstiltskin and a woman, "Milah," Hook said just as Neal gasped, "Mother." Belle gripped Neal's hand seeing him tense up.
Rumpel sounded thrilled as he said, "Milah… My weaving days are behind us. I've been called to the front."
He unrolls the piece of paper and holds it in front of Milah and she reads it out loud, "Rumplestiltskin. You have been drafted into the King's army'." She pauses as she gasps out, "The Ogres War."
Rumpelstiltskin looks pleased as he says, "I report for training in the morning."
"No. Rumpel, I've heard stories. The front – it's a brutal place." She says trying to sway his mind.
"Oh, Milah… I-I know, I know. I… I can't say that I… I won't be frightened. But…but this is the chance I've been waiting for…all my life. You know, I've lived under the shadow of my father's actions for too long now." He says imploring her to understand.
"Just because your father was a coward, it doesn't mean you are."
Rumpelstiltskin approaches her as he says, "Oh, I know that. As do you. But to the world? Fighting in this war finally gives me the chance to prove that to everyone else."
Milah nods to him and says, "Go. Be brave. Fight honourably."
"Oh, God, I love you." He says bringing her close to him. Belle feels a twinge of pity and jealously as she watches this. She steals a look at Hook who is wearing an expressionless mask as he watches the scene. Then turning her gaze she looks at Neal, who is also expressionless as he watches. Then before anyone could speak the scene switches violently.
They on the front and they see Rumpelstiltskin draws closer to a crate, when a child-like voice calls out to him, "Rumpelstiltskin."
Confused, they watch as he pulls back the tarp. Inside the cage, there is a young girl with her eyes sewn shut, "You're a child." He gasps out seeing her.
She points to a nearby bucket of water, "Please. I haven't had a sip in days."
"How do you know my name?" He asks as he ignores her pleas for water.
"I'm a seer. I see all." The girl responds. Henry lets out a shiver as he hears the tone of her voice. He senses something in the air…some tension as he looks at the adults, who are not liking the conversation one bit.
"He shouldn't have responded to her," David said, "this is not going to be well."
"I agree for once," Regina said as she watched the girl hold up her hands, revealing eyes on the palms.
Rumpelstiltskin backed away from her as he said, "No, no, no. That's… That's not possible. You must have overheard someone speak."
Seer's voice became firm and clearer as she said, "Rumpelstiltskin, the son of a coward. Raised by spinsters. Scared of ending up just like his father," lowering her hands she asked, "did I overhear that? I told you. I see all, even what has yet to pass."
Rumpelstiltskin shook his head, "You mean the future? You can see the future?"
"Indeed I can… Including yours."
As Neal watched he felt a sense of forbidding happening, "No Papa, get away from her." He pleaded uselessly as the Seer and his father talked. He looked away and tried to block out the rest of the conversation until he heard his father ask, "I'm to be a father?"
His head turned sharply as the Seer responded, "Your wife will bear you a son, but your actions on the battlefield tomorrow will leave him fatherless."
Rumpelstiltskin looked aghast, "I'm going to die? No, no, no. You… Y-you must tell me how I can stop that happening."
"You can't." The Seer said simply.
"Then I'm done helping you." He said as he grabs the water from her hand.
"For now. Someday, you'll help me again." The Seer said knowingly.
They watched as Rumpelstilskin began to pace violently, "I'll bet Milah isn't even pregnant. You just said that so I would give you water, and now you're trying to trick me into deserting."
Seer raised her hands and said, "You shall see. Tomorrow, when you see the army ride cows into battle, you will know I speak the truth."
Rumpelstiltskin scoffed, "Cows? And who's going to man the catapults? Milk maids? I have had enough with your fiendish lies."
Seer didn't even look phased, "There is no escaping it. You will have a son, and your actions will leave him fatherless." Spooked, Rumpelstiltskin quickly pulls the tarp back over the cage and the scene changes.
Neal watches horrified as the flashes occur faster this time. He watches as his mother falls into a depression after his father returns home, he watches as she abandons them. Then he sees his father on the Jolly Roger with Hook, begging him to release his mother. More flashes come as they watch a castle burning and Rumpelstiltskin stealing the dagger. They watch as he becomes the Dark One…and then it slows. They are in a hut and Neal's face pales drastically as he hears himself say, "Papa… If I find a way for you to get rid of the power… A way that doesn't kill you or hurt me… Would you do it?"
Snow sees Neal stiffen and gently places a hand on his shoulder as they hear Rumpelstiltskin say, "It's not possible."
Baelfire is instant and Henry watches as his younger father pummel through, "If it was, would you do it? Don't you miss how it was?"
They all watch as Rumpelstiltskin frowns towards his son and asks concerned, "Are you really that unhappy, Bae? I can conjure anything you desire. Name it. What do you want?"
"I want my father." Neal says at the same time his past-self responds just as desperately. Hook starts to feel pity towards the boy, after all that is all she ever talked about. Making Bae happy, having a family…clearly the crocodile wanted the same thing.
Rumpelstiltskin kneels down so he is at eye level with his son who is sitting in the chair and says earnestly, "All I want is your happiness, Bae. If you find a way, I'll do it."
Neal shook his head, "Good." Lies, he thought, it was all a big huge lie. Everyone watches as Baelfire extends his hand and they shake on it, "The deal is struck." Baelfire says satisfied.
"Struck." Rumpel replies.
The scene starts to dissolve and they are in the woods with Baelfire and Rumpel. They see that Bae is holding a bean in his hand as Rumpelstiltskin asks, "Where are we going, boy? What kind of world is this we're going to? What kind of world is without magic?"
Baelfire responds, "A better one."
"It used to be," Neal says countering himself bitterly. Everyone gives him a concerned look as Regina puts the pieces together.
Just then a swirling green vortex forms in the ground when Bae tosses the bean, "My gods, boy! It's like a tornado!"
Neal closes his eyes, trying to desperately close out the memory surrounding him, "We have to go through it!"
Snow and Belle place a hand over their mouths as they watch father and say go back and forth until suddenly, Baelfire gets pulled down towards the vortex and Rumpelstiltskin hangs on to him, "Papa! We have to go through! What are you doing? Papa! It won't stay open long! Let go!"
"I can't! I can't!"
"Papa, please!" Henry looks at his father who is shaking. Whether in sadness or in anger he does not know. But then something changes within the memory and the scene splits. They gasp as on one side they are watching Rumple's memory and then on the other it is Emma and Neal over another swirling green vortex, "She is projecting the same type of memory…" Regina said slowly before anyone could comment.
"NEAL!" Emma yells holding on tightly to him.
"EMMA!" He yells.
"No Dad," Henry says as he watches his mother trying to fight to hold on to them. Upon hearing his son's plea, Neal opens his eyes and sees what is happening. He places a hand on Henry's shoulder as a way of comfort.
"You coward! You promised! Don't break our deal!" Baelfire yells to his father.
"I have to!" Rumpel says panicking.
They turn back to Emma as she yells, "I am not letting go of you!"
"You have to! It'll take both of us!" He yells back.
"Neal you are shot! You will no matter what world you land in!" Emma yells over the roar of the vortex.
"I know, but Henry needs you Emma. He cannot lose both of us," Neal watches himself say, "Don't let him grow up the way we did."
"Papa!" They turn just as Rumpelstiltskin can no longer hang on, and Baelfire gets sucked into the vortex. The vortex disappears, leaving only a hole in the ground behind.
Then they look back at Emma's memory and they see Neal letting go of Emma's hand and him getting pulled into the vortex, "NEAL!" Emma yells as the vortex disappears leaving only a hole. Her memory fades out as they watch her fall toward the ground.
Rumpelstiltskin, after getting over the shock of what just happened starts to yell, "Bae? Bae! No, no, no, no, no. No, no, Bae. I'm sorry, Bae!" He starts to dig into the dirt, "I want to come with you! I want to come with you, Bae! I want to come with you! Bae! Bae! Bae!"
Then more flashes start to come and they watch as he starts working to create the dark curse. They see him training Cora, obtaining the wand, deceiving Ella, meeting Snow and David, helping Regina. Then as they are being pulled out of the memory they hear his voice, "The Queen has created a powerful curse. And it's coming. Soon, you'll all be in a prison. Just like me, only worse. Your prison, all of our prisons, will be time. Time will stop, and we will be trapped. Someplace horrible, where everything we hold dear, everything we love, will be ripped from us while we suffer for all eternity. While the Queen celebrates, victorious at last. No more happy endings."
Snow and David's face pales, as they hear her ask, "What can we do?" The scene in his dungeon comes into focus as the imp responds, "We can't do anything."
Snow White asks as the present Snow bows her head, "Who can?"
"That little thing, growing inside your belly." Rumpelstiltskin gestures to Snow White's pregnant belly. The prince slashes his hand away with a sword.
"Next time, I cut it off." He threatens. David grips Snow's hand and also bows his head…all of this, he shakes it, just to get his son back and go to this cursed land.
Rumpelstiltskin shakes his head, "Tsk tsk. The infant is our only hope. Get the child to safety. Get the child to safety and on its twenty-eighth birthday, the child will return. The child will find you and a final battle will begin."
Prince Charming sneers at the imp and says, "We heard enough. We're leaving." They watch as the duo start to head for the dungeon's exit.
Rumpelstiltskin starts to become angry as he thrashs against the cage, "Hey! No! We made a deal! I want her name! We had a deal! I need her name! I want her name!"
Prince Charming turns and looks at him, "Her? It's a boy."
Rumpelstiltskin shakes his head again, "Missy… Missy… You know I'm right. Tell me, what's her name?"
Snow White turns and says slowly, "Emma. Her name is Emma."
Rumpelstiltskin looks gleeful as he purred, "Emma…"
Then it too dissolves as another scene in the same dungeon appears and the Evil Queen speaks, "That curse you gave me – it's not working."
Belle looks sharply at the Queen that is with them as he responds, "Oh so worried. So, so worried. Like Snow and her lovely new husband."
"What?" She deadpanned.
"They paid me a visit, as well. They were very anxious…about you and the curse." He states offhandedly.
Snow and David looked at the Queen, "You couldn't get the curse to work originally?" David asks.
"No," Regina said her voice expressionless, "no I could not."
"Why not?" Hook asks, but Regina did not answer.
Henry looks at his adoptive mother, knowing what she ended up doing in order for the curse to be enacted, "He did all of this…just to get to me?" Neal asks still not getting over the fact that this was his father's doing. Of course he knew that the man would do anything, but to this extent…no wonder Emma ended up being so mad.
"You need to sacrifice a heart." Rumpelstiltskin responded.
Evil Queen scoffed, "I sacrificed my prized steed."
Rumpelstiltskin was suddenly furious, "A horse? This is the curse to end all curses. You think a horse is going to do? Great power requires great sacrifice. The heart you need must come from something far more precious."
"Tell me what will suffice." Regina winced at her tone that she used…looking back on everything, she shook her head…how did she ever allow her mother to corrupt her this badly?
Rumpelstiltskin tsked at her, "The heart of the thing you love most."
Evil Queen glared at the imp, "What I love most died because of Snow White." The present Snow winced.
Rumpelstiltskin giggled at this as he responded, "Ooh. Is there no one else you truly love? This curse isn't going to be easy. Vengeance never is, dearie. You have to ask yourself the simple question. How far are you willing to go?"
"As far as it takes."
Rumpelstiltskin shrugged as he said, "Then please don't waste everyone's time and just do it. You know what you love. Now go kill it."
"ENOUGH!" They heard a thunderous voice and then they were pulled out of the memory and landed harshly back in the Pawnshop where Rumpelstiltskin and Emma were both on their knees. Emma was panting and Rumpelstiltskin was looking furious, "That dearie is quiet enough."
"Not even close!" Emma yelled struggling to stand, "You lied to me you filthy bastard!"
"Are we seriously back to this again?" he asked as he reached for his cane but Emma was quicker and waved her hand allowing the cane to come to her so he was still struggling to stand, "Give me my cane dearie." He demanded.
"No! You-" Emma lost all words as she turned and swung the cane at the nearest object which was a vase. Their mouths dropped as they watched her turn back to Gold, "You said you did not use me. Just took advantage as to what I was…the almighty true love."
"And you are. And yes I did," Gold said as he found his footing, "But I fail to see-"
"You destroyed everything! You knew I would make that deal with you by helping Ashley with that baby! You knew or saw what happened once I gave Henry up! You knew that I would never want anyone to go through what I went through!" Emma yelled and then she turned back around and swung the cane into the wooden cabinet.
Gold did not say anything as Emma started going off again, "You took advantage of Regina's pain and who the hell knows, you played Cora as well! You knew what she had gone through and would not want that to happen to her daughter! And my mother and father," Snow and David winced harshly at this, "All of this because you knew that they would have the toughest of lives and that their true love would be more powerful than anyone else's love in that damn realm!"
"It is true, yes." Gold said not even bothering to deny it.
Emma threw the cane down at his feet and he reached down to pick it up, "So you needed everything exactly in the right alignment to create the curse. You played fate."
Gold did not look at her as he admitted, "I played fate, destiny, I played the past, present, and I set up the future."
Emma was silent until she said, "Then tell me," He now looked at her, "Did you see this coming?"
Before he could ask Emma waved her hand and sent him flying into the other room as there was shattering of glass flying all around them, "Emma you need to regain-"
"Do not tell me what I do and do not need to do." Emma growled out, "I am so sick of being a damn fucking puppet! Now face me Dark One!"
"You do not want to play this game." Gold said struggling to stand.
Emma waved her hand once more and then everything went black as the on lookers felt a pull in their stomachs. They were all panting as they looked around. They were inside the newly fixed backroom of the shop and Emma and Gold were still unconscious. They all just gave each other a look as they tried to digest as to what had just happened. Regina noticed the dream catcher on the ground and bent over to pick it up, but it turned to ash in her hand, "It wasn't supposed to do that right?" Neal asked motioning to the pile trying to break the silence.
"No," she said, "it wasn't." They all gave each other a wary look as they just stared at the pile of ash on the ground.
