Identity Crisis
A woman with red hair was annoyed. So far everything was taking way too long. She was lucky that she had just enough magic for her plan and to keep the ship in which she and the pirate resided invisible to the people of (in her opinion) sad pathetic town, but as what she had told Hook, magic can only last for so long with nothing sustaining it…like the Swan girl for example.
Cora sighed in aggravation, she had sent Hook out hours ago to once again try to get to the woman, but so far she had not heard back from him. Just as she was debating on going to look for the pirate, she heard fast footsteps on the dock. Curiosity getting the best of her, she goes over to get a view as to who was out there and is shocked to see Emma Swan, who was violently pacing and then suddenly collapsed on her knees, held herself around the middle of her stomach as if trying to hold herself together, and then started gasping for air. As Cora watched the scene, a new plan started to form in her mind. She didn't need that stupid pirate…she had what she wanted right here in front of her on a silver platter. Smirking she decided to just go for the kill and got off the ship.
Emma at first had all intentions on going back to Granny's after her confrontation with Killian. However once she realized that she had said everything in a diner full of people, Henry included, she bolted and ran. She did not know where she was going, but she did not care. Her breathing was coming up short and it felt like her heart was being ripped out and that is how she found herself on the dock where all the boats were being held. She had begun to pace, not knowing what to do or where to go and that is when everything came crashing down on her and she collapsed, "Oh you poor thing." She heard a female voice and a soft touch on her shoulder.
Looking up she sees a woman with red hair and kind looking brown eyes, "Who are you?" Emma chokes out and wipes her eyes.
"A friend, now come child, allow me to help you." Emma watches as the woman gets up from her kneeling position and holds out her hand. Just then a voice comes to her, 'Emma. No…' the voice is familiar somehow to her as she continued to stares at the hand in front of her.
"I am sorry, but I still-" Emma starts to say.
"My name is Cora dear, please let me get you out of the cold," Cora says still having her hand out.
'Don't talk to her…don't trust her…' The same voice says in Emma's mind and for some reason a dungeon like place flashes through her mind. Shaking her head she takes the older woman's hand, "There you go dear." Cora says gently helping Emma up.
"Thank you and my name is Emma." Emma says gratefully as Cora starts to lead her to a house boat, "Is this where you live?"
Cora looks at the small house boat in front of them, "Yes dear. Ever since my late husband passed on, I could not bear to part with it…and my daughter…well she and I drifted you could say," Cora says sadly leading Emma on to the small vessel.
Emma looked at the woman sadly, "I am so sorry to hear that."
"Yea…kids what are you going to do?" Cora shrugged knowing that she had Emma where she wanted her as she led the blonde into a sitting area, "Make yourself at home."
Emma nodded as her host went into a small kitchenette and sat down on the small love seat and looked around. It was a small area with not much furniture and had few pictures of an older man with a woman with black hair which she recognized, "Regina is your daughter?" Emma blurted out.
"Yes I am, but do not worry child, I will not let her know anything about this; since well we had a falling out." Cora stated coming back with two hot cups of tea.
Handing the cup to Emma she saw her confused look and explained, "Regina was closer to her father than she was to me. You see I pushed for order when she was growing up, but Henry; her father, was a little less strict. After his passing Regina took it really hard and I had to keep her on track. I was a single mother after all, it for her own good," Emma watched as the older woman let out a shaky breath. Her heart ached for her, after all how many times did she wish she had a mother who would watch out for her like this woman? Hell even she would take strict and orderly even if that meant her mother would push her to be the very best she could possibly be.
Emma nodded her head, beckoning the woman to continue, "I did not want her to start falling apart, because I wanted her to excel in life. But I guess she did not see it that way and her parting words were that I was an evil witch," Cora looked at the frame that Emma was now holding, "I don't think that makes me evil, do you?" She asked eventually.
Emma put the frame down, "No I don't think so…"
Cora smiled and took a sip of her tea, "Tell me Emma, what brought you out here?"
Suddenly not knowing why, Emma told the strange woman everything that happened. She did not know what made her do it, but she found herself going into her life story with the older woman in front of her up until waking up in the hospital with no recollection of what lead her to this town. Then after some more encouragement, she told about the events of the past four days. After she was done, she once again found Cora sitting next to her with an arm draped over her shoulder, "There…there dear. I am sure everything will come back with time," Cora said softly.
"I am not too sure, but it is like I know Mary and David know something. I see it when I am talking to them. Henry too! It is like everyone is purposely keeping something from me!" Emma exclaimed, "Why would they lie?"
"Maybe they are trying to protect you." Cora suggested, pouring Emma another cup of tea.
Emma takes the cup and starts to feel odd the more she drinks the tea. After a moment of silent thinking she asks, "From what though?" She asks as she feels herself starting to become weak and numb, "Wow this is odd." She says as her speech is becoming slurred.
"Are you ok?" Cora asked as she catches the cup just as it slips from the blonde's grasp.
"Just dizzy," Emma says as she reaches out to touch her forehead and found herself sinking lower into the couch, "What is happening?" she asked as her eyes started to close.
Cora got up and smirked, "This is what they were trying to protect you from," Leaning in close she said as Emma felt herself slipping into unconsciousness, "Me." With that Cora watched as Emma closed her eyes and was out.
Cora stands over Emma with triumph on her face. She could not believe how easy this was. All of a sudden her hears footsteps outside and the door to the cabin swung open, "Cora we have-" Cora turned to see Hook in the room as it slowly transformed back into his cabin and he saw Emma on the couch, "What the bloody hell? What did you do to her?" He asked going over to Emma and placing a gentle hand on her forehead.
"Nothing deadly I assure you. Now bring her below deck ," She orders as she exits the cabin as Hook stares after her, "we have work to do."
Hook just watched as Cora now fully left the cabin and he felt a warm sensation up his arm. He watched as his fake hand disappeared, and in a small cloud of smoke, his hook returned. He sighed as he looked to the blonde, who was currently still unconscious. In fact if it was not the slight movement of her chest, he was sure she was…no! He shook his head and picked her up. She was not…nor will ever be; not if he had anything to say about it. None the less though carried her below deck, "I am sorry love." He said softly, knowing that in some part of his mind he would never be able to say those words to her, "Truly I am."
Emma's POV-
It was dark; too dark for my eyes to see anything. The feelings of the place, wherever I was, were dread and pain, "Hello?" I yell and started to walk, the heel of my boots clicking as I moved.
"Emma!" I turned and saw Mary, David, and Henry. The darkness lifted and I saw we were in a forest.
"Henry! Mary! David!" I ran toward them but they disappeared, "Guys?" I called out again.
I heard a maniacal laugh and I ran. I had to find them. I don't know why, but I had this sudden panic attack when I lost sight of them. Sure Henry was my son, but who were Mary and David to me?
I kept calling out to them, but as I was doing so different people started to appear before me. People that I knew from my short stay at Storybrooke; each time I opened my mouth to call out to them they disappeared. It wasn't until I started to slow down that I felt a force field surrounding me. I pounded on the hard like glass trying to break it that I realized it was useless, "Help!" I called out, "Someone! Help!" I begged.
The forest changed into meadow like field with a castle in the background. The sun's rays were shining on it, and I saw Mary, David, and Henry playing around in the field, "Hey! Help me!" I yelled again and started to punch the field that was holding me. I started crying now as my fists became sore then numb.
The pain in my heart increased as I watched them laughing and having fun. I slid down to my knees and began to cry, "What a pity, they are having fun, while you are here…forgotten and tossed away like garbage." I spun my head to see Cora standing next to me watching sorrowfully as my friends and son were rolling on the grass, then she looked at me.
"To think you saved them from the curse and risked your life trying to get them back together and yet this is how they repay you?" She continued pointing out the different towns people coming over to them.
I watched as David and Mary interact with everyone, and then how Henry starts to play with the other kids, "The curse?" I asked shaking my head, "I do not understand."
Cora sighs and the scene changes, "You asked me what secret they were keeping from you. This is that secret."
I watched as a great big greenish cloud consumes the castle, I watched as David puts a baby in the wardrobe and closes it. I hear no sound, but I watch as he is struck down by a guard and as Mary comes into the room a few minutes later and starts crying…not seeming to care about what just happened. Then I see another woman, Regina, coming in and now I hear as a swarming dark cloud descends upon them, "A place where the only happy ending will be mine…"
"Wait," I breathed out, "You are saying that-"
"You are the daughter of Prince James and Snow White dear, your job was to bring back the happy endings." Cora states smugly.
I then flash to the night that I was on the beach with Henry, "You are the savior! You were sent here to bring back the happy endings!"
"So it's true…?" I asked.
Cora looked at me with pity, "I am afraid so dear. See they saved you for their own selfish gain."
I looked away and again for some reason I see flashes: Mary's smile, Henry's grin, David's laughter…what she is saying…it doesn't seem right so I voiced this to her, "No, they couldn't have…they wouldn't…" But even as I said the last words it wasn't convincing.
"They left you alone in a harsh cruel world dear!" Cora yelled and now flashes of my childhood appeared before us. I saw myself in every worst possible situation growing up. Even as I tried turning my back to the images, I couldn't escape them, "Emma, look around child," Cora waved her hand and the scene changed once more to my time on the streets, in jail, and then in Boston, "They never loved you. No one has and no one ever will!"
"No…no! Please!" I yelled back thrashing on the glass like a wild animal, "You are lying!"
"Really? Is that so? Then why didn't one of them go with you through that damn wardrobe?" She challenged.
"Because they were told it could only take one!" I yelled. I didn't know where I had gotten that information from, but for some reason I had it and I said it.
She laughed as once again the area darkened and she waved her hand. The force field vanished and I fell to the ground. She stood in front of me as I crawled to my knees. She then lifted her hand up and I felt my throat constrict as I was pulled to my feet, "It took two,"
I felt relief as my airway opened back up, "What?" I choked out.
"That is right. It could have taken two." Cora stated.
"But why-"
"They chose to stay together as my daughter enacted the curse. They cared more for their love than anything else." She explained, "Why do you think you got into that accident in the first place?"
"You mean-" Cora pointed behind me and I saw the moment everything changed:
"I want you to move out." Mary stated crossing her arms.
I watched as David stood behind her, "You have over stayed your welcome."
"What I thought we were a family?" I heard myself gasp out.
"We are no family," Mary's voice was hard just as her eyes were unfeeling. It brought back memories of when the foster 'parents' would tell me that I was going back to the orphanage.
David stood close to her as he spoke his opinion, "We no long wish to see you again."
"What about Hen-"
"We will treat him like the child we never had. You are unfit to be a parent. Now leave," Mary stated as she literally pushed me out the door.
There was another flash as we were now in the car and I was driving out of Storybrooke, the roads were slick as I watched as my car spun out and hit the tree, "No more." I said quietly, "Please no more."
"Do you remember now child?" She asked softly.
I could not respond as other images filled my head…I did remember…I remembered the moments of being used, lied to, the pain, and above all else abandoned. Mary is right, I am unfit to take care of my son, "I am nothing to them," I whispered, "Nothing…"
"What do you intend on doing about it?" She asked.
"What can I do?" I countered.
"Fight back. They started all of this, why would you not want to fight?"
I started to pace, "But what can I do?"
"Use magic. You do remember you have magic right?" She asked smiling, "That is part of the reason you were being sent away. They were afraid you would hurt them."
I thought hard and then something did come to me…I felt a shift from within me as a warm feeling started to surround me, "Yes, but I do not know how to control it."
"I can teach you easily and in almost no time..." She said.
I looked at her, and despite all that she has shown me something did not sit right, "What is the catch?"
"You and I want the same thing dear," Cora stated, "Revenge."
"But I don't-"
"Yes you do. They abandoned you when you were minutes old, they put you through hell. Face it Emma, I have seen your heart…I know what it is like. Look at it like this: if they did care for you, why did they not run after you when you left the diner? Why would they try to keep this as one big secret? Why would they lie about what happened? All they care about is having their happy ending, and they figured that if you did not remember what happened, eventually you would move on and just go away without any issues."
She made a point and I muttered, "You are right…" And she was right. I am nothing to them…I know nothing…I am alone…so much alone…I give up…there was nothing for me. Numbness filled me as I became detached from my emotions as the truth started to settle in around me.
"Now then child, are you ready to show them you are sick of their deceitfulness? Are you ready to unveil your true potential?" Cora asked again holding her hand out.
I looked at her and once again asked, "What do you get out of this?"
"The pleasure of helping out a worthy cause," The response was as her hand was still extended.
Looking at her extended hand I hesitantly reached for it and grasped it. As soon as I grasped it, she vanished. I sighed as the images once again appeared and I continued watching the different scenes as I now realized the people were my family said hurtful tings to me while I idly sat back and took every minute of it. The more I watched the more I felt my memories dimming once more as hate and anger started to fill my being. It was then I realized I never felt this angry in a long time. As the shadows began to dim, two faces stayed fresh and clear: Prince James and Snow White, my so called Father and Mother. They were the cause of all of this…and for a long time I wished to make them pay…now I will finally get the opportunity.
No POV-
Hook sat in a chair as he watched Cora's eyes fly open. He didn't even get a chance to ask about her trip into the mind of one, Emma Swan. She started muttering spells and throwing some kind of powder over the blonde's still form, although as he got up to watch he could see her eyelids fluttering a bit and her face going from calm and serene to anger. He was almost now afraid to ask as to what was happening to her.
"She is awakening her personal darkness that has built up." Cora stated suddenly.
"You didn't penetrate my mind did you?" Hook asked slightly startled at her.
Cora smirked as she continued to rapidly move around, "We have been together for a long time Hook, I can tell when you an inquiry about a situation."
Hook nodded as he continued to watch her movements, "So what happens when she wakes up?"
"She will remember everything that happened when I was with her. I will have to work with her a bit, when it comes to her magic, then we can enact the final part." Cora explained.
Hook nodded understanding. Of course Swan would need a bit of training when it came to magic, but then he thought of something, "But then wouldn't that mean the croc and your daughter have magic?"
"No, I saw part of her actual memories and even though Rumpelstiltskin brought magic to this land, Regina did not have her powers until Swan connected with her through touch." Cora said as she then muttered a final spell. Hook watched as Emma started glowing so brightly he had to turn away and shield his eyes. Once the light dimmed he turned back around and saw a dark sinister looking cloud enter her body, "There, she should start waking up soon." Cora stated satisfied.
Deciding he would rather not know of the magical steps Cora took to whatever she was trying to accomplish, he instead asked, "So are you hoping that Emma will give you some of your powers back through touch and the croc and Regina will not have theirs?"
Cora turned to look at the pirate, "If I did not have my powers, I would not have been able to suppress Miss. Swan's actual memories."
Hook was confused even further now, now he changed his mind about these magical steps Cora had done, "What did you do to her?"
Cora smiled evilly now, "Well I had to make sure there was enough darkness for her to thrive in, so I created some room."
"Cora what-" Hook started to growl at the witch until he felt his throat constrict.
"My dear Captain, do not try and tell me you are having second thoughts about backing out are you? Because it is already too late for that; the ship has sailed as the term goes." Cora stated sweetly. Hook tried to shake his head but found that he could not move it.
Although reading his eyes Cora saw that he indeed did not intend on backing out…but that did not mean she missed the intent of what he was driving at. Releasing her hold on him Cora started to walk to the upper deck, "Emma will be fine, so long as you do not double cross me or try and restore her true memories. Now keep an eye on her, as I mentioned before she should be waking soon." He watched as she left and then looked back to Emma and all he could think about is: what had he agreed to?