I apologize for the tardiness and the brevity of this update - last week my book launched and life has been a whirlwind. I'll try to get another mini-update up in the next day or two to round this out. In the meantime, accept my apologies and let's see where we're going next. . .
"We're going to find her," David said, taking Emma's hands in his own. "I swear to you. We'll find her."
"This is the Black Fairy, mate," Killian reminded him, as his arm tightened around Emma's shoulders. "I'll be going this one alone. You have a baby of your own to stay safe for."
"I'm not going to let you go off by yourself-"
"And I remember what it cost you to leave Neal behind when you came after me," Killian said grimly. "I appreciate your offer, but you're needed here. Your curse still hasn't broken, and your child needs you half of every day."
"You can't do this alone!" David protested.
"He won't be alone." Emma pulled her hands from her father's, running them up and down her body from knees to shoulders and back again. A warm, purple light trailed behind her fingers, fading as she drew in a deep breath and pushed herself to her feet.
"There." She looked over at Killian. "Let's go."
"Emma-" David started to protest again.
"I'm healed up. And I'm going after my daughter."
"Our daughter," Killian said, taking her hand. "Regina - you have a way of tracing her?"
"Snow gave me the hair from the harpy's head just before she went down for the night," Regina replied. "With this, we can find her anywhere."
"And with the globe, we've got a good idea where to start," Emma said. "Let's get over to Gold's."
"You're sure you're all right?" Killian put a gentle hand to her belly.
"No, I'm far from all right," Emma said. "But I'm physically fine. Let's go."
Rumplestiltskin looked up as Emma, Killian and Regina filed in the door.
"I was wondering when I'd see you," he said. "Am I to assume she got the baby?"
"She got the baby." Emma's voice was flat, emotionless.
"We need to know where she is," Killian growled. "And you're going to give us that bloody globe so we can find her."
"The globe isn't going to help you. She's no doubt sequestered in a realm beyond your reach by now."
"I refuse to believe that," Emma snapped. "If she's somewhere, we can get to her."
"That's the problem," Rumple said. "She's nowhere. The dark realm isn't a place that exists as we know it. The rules are different there. Even I can't get there, and I'm as dark as it gets around here."
"You're saying The Dark One can't travel to a place of darkness?" Killian asked incredulously.
"I'm dark," Rumple replied with a flourish of his hand. "But she's darker. Much, much darker."
Killian reached across the counter, wrapping his fist in Rumple's shirt and pulling him forward by it. "You're going to tell us how to get there, and you're going to do it now."
Rumple gave him an annoyed look. "At the risk of sounding repetitive, it can't be done. Once she's said the child's name, she can take her anywhere her blackened little heart desires. And I'd be wary of wrinkling this shirt. It's hard to steer a ship when you've lost both hands," he finished coldly.
"Wait a minute - what do you mean "said the child's name," Regina said, stepping forward. She gave Killian a nod and he released Rumple, curling his fingers into a fist.
"Just what I said," Rumple replied, giving Killian a glare as he smoothed out the front of his shirt. "Names are a specialty of mine - and as we all know, names can be powerful things. Once the Black Fairy has learned your child's name, there's no hope of rescue."
"But we haven't named her yet," Emma said.
"You've picked out a name," Killian said. "She must've overheard it."
Emma shook her head. "But that wasn't official. I wasn't going to use it, anyway."
"So the baby hasn't been named?" Regina asked. Emma shook her head again, and Regina turned back to Rumple. "What does that mean?"
"It means she cannot take the baby to the dark realm," he admitted. "But that doesn't mean the child is out of danger."
"Why does she want our baby in the first place?" Emma demanded. "What have we ever done to her?"
"Oh, it's not what you've done, Miss Swan," Rumple replied. "Rather, it's what you are. What you both are. And were."
"Meaning . . ?"
"Meaning we both used to be Dark Ones," Killian filled in.
"Precisely." Rumple's eyes slid to Killian. "And as much as it strains credulity, Mr. Jones is apparently capable of True Love. This child was born of souls touched by darkness, yet conceived in True Love. And that makes for a very, very powerful mix."
"And what exactly is she going to do with my daughter?" Emma demanded.
Regina sucked in a breath. "I've told you - there's no shortage of spells that use baby parts. And magically powerful baby parts make for powerful and terrible spells."
"How do we kill her?" Killian asked. "There's got to be a way."
"White magic," Emma said. "I can counter her. Blow her apart."
"As powerful a thing as you possess, Miss Swan, it won't be enough." Rumple reached into a curio cabinet on the wall behind him. "You won't be able to kill her, but you may be able to vanquish her. With this."
He turned around, and in his hand was a tiny vial. Regina's eyes widened. "Black Fairy dust?"
"Won't that just turn her into a cockroach, or something?" Emma asked.
"If it were anyone else, yes," Rumple said. "But this is the Black Fairy. The creator of this particular piece of magic. Use this on her, and it's the equivalent of two negative forces meeting, and repelling. She'll be sucked into a void and trapped there. Theoretically."
"What do you mean, theoretically?" Regina demanded. "Either it'll work or it won't."
He gave her a sharp look. "It's a theory because no one has ever gotten close enough to try it. The Black Fairy is not easily trifled with. Her penchant for subterfuge is extreme, as are her powers."
"Yeah, we're aware of that," Emma said grimly. "So where's the globe?"
Emma started to reach for the dust, but Killian stayed her hand. "Wait." He gave Rumple a wary look. "What's the price?"
"Not much."
Rumple's voice was quiet, but Regina reacted with a loud scoffing sound.
"Not much? With you, that could cost us a limb."
"Not this time, I'm afraid," he said, with a forced smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "The stakes are entirely too high. If she harnesses the power inside that child, no one will ever be safe again. I know too well the darkness she commands."
"As do we," Killian said with a grimace. "Now name your price."
"A lock of your daughter's hair will do."
"Done." Emma overruled Killian, who was just opening his mouth to object. "I need my baby, Killian. It's a small price to pay."
"Aye," Killian finally agreed reluctantly. "But I want his vow that it won't be used for nefarious purposes."
"You're hardly in a position to bargain," Rumple said. "And 'nefarious' is in the eye of the beholder."
"She was conceived with True Love," Regina said. "He can't hurt anyone with what he's asking. That doesn't mean he can't use it to his advantage, but he can't work anything dark with it."
"She's quite correct, Miss Swan." Rumple reached under the counter and propped the globe up on the top of the case. "Now, if you'll both do the honors. . ."
"It takes more than one of us?" Emma asked.
"It'll be more accurate. You have more than one child," Rumple reminded her. "And it's quite possible the pirate has sired an entire fleet-"
Killian's hand shot out, and his hook came to rest at Rumple's throat. "You mind your tongue," he seethed. "I've avoided fatherhood precisely because of the darkness in my soul. I chose to become a better man before I brought a child into the world."
Emma pulled his hook away from Rumple's throat. "You don't need to prove anything to him," she reminded him. "I chose you to be the baby's father because of the man you are, not in spite of it."
She reached out and pricked her finger, then Killian did the same. Together, they each squeezed a drop of blood onto the globe. It swirled and coalesced, solidifying into a glowing marker, outlined by a patch of land.
"Where is that?" Emma asked, her brow wrinkling in confusion.
"You've got to be kidding," Regina said, glancing over Emma's shoulder.
"Lovely." Killian's voice was heavy with sarcasm.
"What am I missing? Where is that?" Emma asked again.
"The Black Fairy has apparently taken up residence at my castle," Rumple said.
"So we have to go back to the Enchanted Forest?"
"We have to go back," Regina said. "And she's got access to a whole lot of mayhem."
"Charming." Killian reached for the vial of black fairy dust. "Let's go."