A/N Thanks for all the follows and favourites – I've been writing like a mad person for the last twenty-four hours. Anyhow, let the interesting occurrences begin!

Chapter 12: The Culmination

For reasons unbeknownst to Emma, she was drawn to the forest on the outskirts of Storybrooke. When she had reached the town, which was eerily quiet for a weekday, she felt a kind of pull in the direction she was now headed. Emma, unable to determine what was going on and why Hook had been so adamant about keeping her disposed for nine hours, simply followed her gut.

Pulling back branches to avoid being hit in the face by the shrubbery, she thought she could hear voices in the distance. The pull was strong now and the saviour could almost feel her muscles moving without permission. She was inexplicably drawn to whatever was going on.

The voices were slowly becoming louder and louder and Emma knew she was just metres from the situation. Through the trees she identified two individuals on either side of a small clearing. Sneaking up to hide behind a log that was a short distance from the exchange, the blonde listened intently and tried to gather what was happening and why she had unknowingly landed upon it.

"I thought we had a truce, an agreement." A female voice announced accusingly, Emma recognised it but couldn't pinpoint it as the person opposite spoke.

"I don't recall making any agreements, dearie. I've only ever broken one deal in my life and it definitely wasn't this one," A male voice retorted, and yet it was strangely high-pitched. She had never heard the voice before but at the use of a moniker, she swore she knew who it was.

The female voice spoke again, angrier this time.

"It was an unspoken truce, Gold!" Emma's suspicion was confirmed and realised the female voice belonged to Regina. What the hell could those two be arguing about, out here? the saviour asked herself.

"There is no such thing. Now, I believe I brought you here for a reason," Gold said in mock wondering. From behind the log, she recognised the tone of voice because he had taunted her many times in the past year.

"Gold, whatever you need of me – Henry doesn't need to be involved." Henry. Without hesitation, the blonde stood at the sound of her son's name and entered the clearing. It took the two people in front of her a moment to recognise another presence in the clearing but their reactions were quick.

Gold's mocking expression rapidly changed into a glare filled with fury and hate. Emma had never seen Gold look so loathing towards anyone other than Hook. For some reason, it made her shiver slightly as she stepped sideways to stand with Regina who looked almost relieved at her presence.

"After I'm finished here, the captain will wish he'd been killed with his beloved." They only just heard Gold mumble under his breath.

"What's going on?" Emma asked, looking from Regina's determined face to the pawnbroker's loathing one.

"The town has gone into lockdown, Gold took Henry from school and we can't contact Mary Margaret and David and I couldn't contact you," Regina said, her gaze never straying from Gold's form. He smiled cruelly and watched as Emma's fury intensified.

"Where is he?" she yelled, the commanding voice rearing its intimidating head. He didn't even flinch, just laughed in the maniacal cackle she was unused to.

"I haven't laid a finger on him; I simply wished to reprimand Regina for having locked Belle away for twenty-eight years. I'm terribly sorry if you're feelings are wounded in the process." Gold made a motion with his hand and a small shape emerged from the tree line behind him. Henry was conscious but immobilised as his figure drifted forward.

Emma's eyes scanned the young boy for injury; Gold hadn't appeared to have hurt him. Both Regina and her gave Henry a reassuring look before turning back to Gold. The two women were livid and it was the blonde who broke the silence with all the intimidation she could muster.

"Remember when I got back from Fairy tale Land after defeating Cora? You said to remind you never to bet against me in the future. This is me reminding you. Give Henry to us or I'll make you remember why you should never bet against me." Emma's words were menacing. From her peripheral vision, she thought she saw a triumphant smile play around Regina's lips. The maternal instincts of the two of them combined with their anger and power, Gold was as easy as dead.

Before he could speak again, a figure crashed into the clearing, panting rapidly. All three pairs of eyes landed on Hook, who looked up and met Emma's eyes with indignation. Suddenly, his face contorted into one of acute pain and he dropped to the ground. Emma looked around for the cause and was suddenly aware of the concentration splayed on Gold's face. He was torturing Hook with magic. The pirate's cries pierced the air and she felt her stomach contract in anger and fear.

As Emma's temper toppled over, she advanced on Gold. The concentration it took to cause such pain was enough that he never saw the blonde coming. The two collided and fell as she essentially rugby-tackled the small man. Hook's cries stopped and Emma saw Regina use her magic to whip Henry towards her and to safety.

Relief flooded her for a moment before she snapped back to her own situation. The wiry man was desperately trying to rid Emma of him but the saviour was physically stronger and punched him. A scream escaped Gold's lips and she stopped in confusion. The scream was high-pitched but it was also one she recognised. One that didn't belong to Gold.

Before Emma's eyes, Gold began to morph as purple smoke hazed her view of the man. She stood, coughing as the thick cloud attacked her lungs. As the purple flumes disappeared, Emma heard Regina gasp loudly in shock.

Somehow, Cora stood before them.

"How did you even get here?" Emma asked, watching the witch's actions warily.

"You didn't think there was only one way to get here did you?" Cora queried, venom etched into her tone as she regarded the woman carefully.

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Regina gripped Henry's arms firmly and looked into his eyes as she spoke.

"Henry, run into town and get help."

"No, I want to stay and help."

"Henry. Listen to me, the best thing you can do to help us is to run back to town and spread the word that Cora is here!" Regina said authoritatively.

"No! I'm not going to run away, I'm sick of being the helpless one!" Henry said and Regina's voice lowered to a more pleading tone.

"Please, Henry. Emma and I can't deal with this with you compromised – go!" Regina was desperate and had started all but shoving Henry towards the forest. At the sound of swords clashing, Regina whipped around to check on Emma but momentarily let her grip on Henry slip. Always a kid to use his advantage, Henry suddenly dodged Regina's hand and rand at the trouble. Picking up a large tree branch on his way, he ran headlong at the witch.

Hook and Emma were suddenly blasted back and Henry could hear his adoptive mother fall back from the blast. It didn't affect him though, and he continued forward as the witch smiled and pulled her hand back in preparation for what seemed to be a knockout punch.

Henry had just reached the witch when her hand shot forward, towards his chest.

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Emma pulled out the sword she had taken from Hook's ship and held it high. Cora laughed and swiftly sent a rough ball of black magic at her. Not missing a beat, she ducked and army rolled to the side, just as Cora screamed in fury.

For a second, Emma thought the older woman was angry because she had avoided her attack. Looking up, the blonde saw Hook bound out of the witch's clutches. She had a deep gash in her arm and the pirate's sword held blood. She stood quickly and nodded at him in thanks, before the two began fighting Cora. She was dodging the majority of their attacks, disappearing and then reappearing several times. Unwavering, they continued to swipe at her.

From behind her, Emma suddenly heard Regina's blood-curdling scream, "Henry, no!"

The sound of small feet hitting the ground behind her made both Emma and Hook both turn to see little Henry striding towards them, a branch raised defensively in his hands. Cora chuckled darkly and sent a wave of magic out, it knocked the small boy's mother off her feet and she saw Hook fly backwards as well.

However, the kid just kept running forward – as if unaffected by the blast. The auburn haired witch strode forward to meet the boy in between Hook and Emma's dazed bodies. Her eyes widened in horror as she saw Cora pull her arm back in a motion she recognised immediately. Henry was but a metre from Cora when she threw herself before her child.

She hadn't even known she'd had the energy, let alone the speed to reach them in time. Adrenaline and maternal instincts paired were essentially unstoppable.

"Emma!" Hook screamed and she felt Henry rush backwards in a recognizable use of magic.

Cora's hand slid easily through Emma's ribcage and her breathing quickened as she felt the cold hand clasp her heart. The witch laughed viciously and squeezed slightly, causing the blonde to groan at the sudden pain. Her heart contracted as she heard Henry begin to scream and cry her name in an effort to reach her. Regina was holding him back, and for once Emma felt grateful that Henry had the Evil Queen. Even though he would be angry at her, at least he would be alive.

She smiled inwardly and waited for death to come. Her jaw set and eyes unwavering, Emma stared the witch down. Cora returned the gaze with cruel humour.

"Have my lessons gone unnoticed? Love is weakness." Cora prepared her arm to pull the heart out and the blonde kept her eyes trained on the witch. She would never give her the satisfaction of doing this easily. She would stare her down with fury until her very last breath. As Cora's muscles tensed, Emma prepared herself mentally for the oncoming pain. With a sudden jerk, she felt her chest heave forward.

Confused, Emma looked down to where the witch's arm lay unmoved, still protruding from her chest. Cora sneered and tried to wrench her arm back again, but the saviour's body simply jerked forward – her heart immovable.

Before Cora could growl, she was suddenly screaming in a mixture of pain and fury. Emma fell back as the grip on her heart diminished and the witch staggered backwards. As she did, Hook sidestepped away from her path and started moving in the fallen saviour's direction. Emma could just make out the sword that was embedded deep in Cora's back.

Before he could reach Emma, Cora swept him back with a fresh wave of magic. While physically weak, her passionate emotions were lending her a new source of power. Hook was sent flying and landed roughly on the ground, grunting loudly as his body slapped the hard earth.

Emma watched as she pulled the sword from her back, holding it as she walked forward. Emma tried to scuttle backwards, still breathless after her heart encounter. Cora reached her before she could get away and pressed her foot on the saviour's chest. She heaved under the weight but was unable to move it.

Looking down through seemingly red vision, Cora whispered viciously, "There's more than one way to take a heart!"

The auburn-haired woman raised the sword high over her victim, and Emma could hear Henry desperately trying to reach her and she could see Hook trying to get up. Looking back into Cora's emotionless eyes, Emma could see pure evil. She could see death.

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The second the saviour had pushed Henry away, Regina had snatched him back with magic. Gripping his arms tight, the woman held Henry as he screamed and cried. He was desperate to reach Emma, so desperate he was kicking and scratching at Regina's hands.

"Let me go! Mum! Mum!" Henry's frantic screams were enough to make Regina cry. She watched as her mother prepared to take Emma's heart when something amazing happened. Emma's body jerked forward in response and the realisation dawned on Regina: her heart couldn't be taken. Cora tried and failed again before wailing in pain. The pirate had stabbed her.

Relieved, Regina felt Henry slacken a bit but he was still trying to get to Emma.

"Henry, stop! She's okay, it's okay!" she said soothingly, pulling Henry against her. Before she could blink twice, Cora had pulled the sword from her back and was advancing on Emma. Henry was quick to notice and his desperation resurfaced, along with the piercing screams.

Cora raised the sword over the blonde, pushing her into the dirt with her boot. Henry reached a new level of hysteria and Regina was having a hard time controlling him.

Rage began to cloud the young witch's vision. Cora had taken Daniel's heart and countless others'. She had forced Regina to become the person she was, going so far as to kill her own father. She had tried to kill Henry. And now, she was trying to tear him away from his birthmother. Even though Regina and Emma had their differences, she never doubted for one second that the blonde was important to Henry, and in some small way that made her untouchable.

Henry didn't deserve this.

Mustering up all the power that she didn't even recall possessing, Regina produced a ball of black crackling magic. Her mother prepared to drop the sword and Regina, without the slightest hesitation, sent it flying in her direction. The ball of power hit Cora squarely in the chest and pushed her back slightly – enabling Emma the chance to move backwards further. Out of danger's reach, the saviour stood up and moved rapidly back to where Regina and Henry were watching Cora's body.

As the shadowy magic started to spread through Cora's body, her face became blank. The magic crackled and sparked as it encased the witch's entire form. Regina felt no guilt as the darkness receded again until the black ball disappeared, and the witch's lifeless body fell to the ground with a resounding thud.

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Emma and Henry quickly embraced as Regina walked slowly over to her mother's body to verify that she was dead. After checking her pulse, she stood and nodded in solemn confirmation. The young boy hugged his mother tightly, crying into her jacket out of sheer relief.

Regina reached them and Henry released Emma to hug his adoptive mother tightly. The usually stoic woman smiled slightly at his gesture of love and gratitude.

"Thank you," Emma said sincerely, in the warmest tone she had ever used with the woman before her. Regina nodded and patted Henry's hair as he disengaged from her. The three started to walk back towards Storybrooke. Before the trio entered the tree line, Emma glanced back at Hook who was watching them, as he caught her eye he looked down and left the clearing. She hastily resumed her straightforward gaze but couldn't help but wonder why he might ever want to save her; especially after having just tried to take her hostage.

Next chapter will explain more of what Cora's plan was – as for Emma finding them, what do you guys think prompted her to that particular spot? Theories? And how do you guys feel about dear old Killian saving his swan? (P.S. I already know the answers to these questions; I just want to know what you guys are thinking)