A/N: Sooooooooo we're in the final bend here! I estimate either one or two more chapters left. So sad! This has been one heck of a story to write and create and I'm excited in the future to later go back and read it. Anyway…onto Chapter 21!

Emma:

Emma took a deep breath. They had arrived to the Temple of Genetrix Natura. It had been where exactly as the crocodile described. They had walked straight and arrived.

Emma sent men to grab the elements she need. Which brought them to their current state. Standing outside the temple with a pail of water, grass and wheat tied together, and rocks, debating what to do next.

Emma wanted to go by herself, but she didn't trust her crew around Chelsea who was finally awake and breathing. She had a limp, and a bruised face, but nothing a few days couldn't heal. Not that they had a few days.

And besides, Chelsea and Killian would never let Emma go in there by herself.

"So what now?"

Chelsea's voice broke the silent tension that had been building in the open air as they stood in front of a magnificent, gold temple surround by a forest of trees with a stream seeming to come out of the temple and spread into the forest. There was a slight breeze that tickled Emma's face and a heavenly scent filled the air.

"Alright men listen up. I am going in with the prince and Smee. You will stay here and guard. Who knows what is in these forests and what could be searching for the same thing as us. So stay and keep a watchful eye out. Understood?"

There were nods and grunts and that made Emma smile. She turned towards Chelsea and Killian and took a deep breath.

"Let's pack up and get going. Who knows how long this will take."

Killian nodded and began to grab the needed elements.

"What about that sacrifice?"

Emma turned to face Chelsea and stared at those blue eyes that matched Killian's perfectly. It was still a hard concept to understand that they were brother and sister, but Emma wasn't one to dwell on things that didn't involve her. It still was startling to see his eyes on her face though as those eyes made Emma's knees go weak every time.

"I'm not sure."

"Emma…you've wanted this for a long time. I'll help you. You know I will."

"I can't ask you to do that."

"I know. But I owe you."

"To give up your life? I could just go find the queen on my own. Without these stones."

"You and I both know that is a ridiculous option. If getting you what you want means…sacrificing myself. I'll do it. This is for you, getting your son back."

"And your family?"

"Will survive without me. They've been doing it for years."

"Chelsea you need the chance…"

"No. I don't. You need to get your son back from that woman. Promise me that whatever happens in there…you'll do anything to get back to your son."

Emma gulped and looked Chelsea in the eye. "I promise."

Chelsea nodded and quickly gave Emma a hug.

"I'll always love you Emma."

Emma nodded, unable to say anything back.

"Captain and Chelsea! Are you coming?"

The girls pulled back, looking at one another, tears beginning to form in the other's eyes.

"Yeah, we're coming." said Chelsea as she began to head over to where Killian was at the entrance of the temple. Emma watched Chelsea run up to Killian and saw them converse in a silent way. The connection. That made Emma think of what Killian would do if Chelsea died. He'd be devastated.

And despite what Emma tried so hard to hide, to refuse, she believed herself to be letting feelings grow for Killian. His eyes, his laugh, his manners, his will, just…him.

There was no chance she was in love with him, of that she was certain. And he would never be interested in her, the infamous pirate captain. She was the villain in every fairytale. And he was the prince who swept the princess off her feet. And Emma was certainly no princess.

And even if they did get together…which they weren't going to ever, she couldn't live that royal life. She tried being the lady her mother always wanted…but she can't be held down. The sea is Emma's blood, as her father once said to her.

"You can never be tied down Emma. The sea calls you, a lone soul for another. It calms you…it helps to break that icy heart of yours. It offers companionship when you need it most. You're a lost soul Emma Swan…but you'll find your way."

Emma wondered if this is what her father meant by "finding her way." Searching and chasing after revenge. And fighting for her son. Was this her path? Had she always been destined for this road?

Probably not. Knowing her she probably screwed up somewhere along the way and this was karma coming back to get her.

It didn't matter anyway because in no way was her future destined to be with Killian's despite what that prophecy had said not so long ago. Emma just couldn't believe something like that. It was such an absurd though! Such a…fairytale.

Killian probably had millions of women waiting for him back home. Women more beautiful, richer, and more ladylike that would be perfect for him. Not some pirate.

Emma sighed and headed over to the entrance to the temple, where Killian and Chelsea waited.

…

Killian:

Killian took a deep breath as he stared at the solid gold doors to the temple. He faintly outlined the design on the door with one hand while the other was crossed underneath his other elbow. He concentrated, his hand moving away from the door to scratch his chin. Rather than hitting smooth skin though, it hit fuzz. Quite a bit of fuzz.

Killian knew he had been growing out his chin hair but he didn't believe it to be that much. In fact, now that he thought about it, his appearance had change completely.

He was positive he was taller, and he had the facial hair. His hair had grown out a bit too but his hair always took so long to grow so it wasn't that long but still, it had grown enough to be noticeable.

His clothing had changed too. Yes he still had the red jacket but it had been torn, several times, and turned into a completely different jacket, curiosity of Emma. He knew he didn't look a prince anymore. What his parents will say when they seem him? Killian really didn't care. Because they had hidden the fact he had a sister. They had no right to be angry. None at all. His eyes were still that penetrating blue though. That would certainly never change.

Killian pulled his hands through his hair, noting how greasy it was. He needed to bathe.

"Killian."

Killian turned around to see Chelsea coming up the steps towards him.

Chelsea?

Here. You okay? You seemed lost.

I'm fine. Just thinking about how different everything's become.

I bet. You certainly don't look that same. You look older, more mature.

You think?

Definitely.

Maybe Mom and Dad will take me more seriously then.

What about the King and Queen?

Our parents never let me leave the castle for leisure if they did, one of them was always escorting me. They referred to it as family time. I called it being on a leash.

Over protective parents for…how old are you?

Twenty three.

Wow. That's…

Completely an immature and irresponsible decision?

Sure. We'll go with that.

I just. I never understood it you know?

Well I'm sure you'll figure it out. Or you know. You could just ask them.

And have then chop off my head? No thank you.

You're judging them before giving them a chance. They're your parents Killian. I'm sure they had good intentions.

And you being kept away?

I'm not sure about that so much. We'll see.

Why aren't we talking to each other face to face?

I…I don't know. I guess the connection just makes us…well connect instead of actually conversing face to face.

"Well I'm done using the connection for now. It does take a bit of a toll."

"I can't argue there. It hurts my brain after a while."

Killian nodded and the noticed Emma coming up to them.

"Ready to go?"

The pair nodded and Emma strode forth and opened the doors. Immediately a breeze drifted inside the temple.

"Well we've got air covered."

The trio peeked inside the temple before actually entering. It was pitch black except the faint light that glowed at the end. But the light was far off, extremely far.

"I guess we go to the light at the end of the tunnel."

Killian picked up the pail of water, and the rocks, and the grass/wheat and looked over at Emma to see if she was ready to head on in.

Emma herself took a deep breath and moved into the temple with Killian and Chelsea following behind.

…

Chelsea:

Chelsea's head hurt. It had been a dull ache outside but now the ache was growing into a pounding in her head. She clutched it, begging the pain to disappear. It faded, but just a bit. It was dull enough to let her at as if it wasn't there. Chelsea refused to make more of it. She had more important things to worry about.

The hall was pitch black with no light. It had a cold breeze that seemed to cling to your skin. It was depressing and Cheslea hated the feeling. There was no light here, no love.

It was as if nothing was supposed to exist here. Only things that made you miserable. Chelsea shook the feeling away and slowly entered the temple.

Immediately, as if recognizing a friend, two torches lit up, gold flames ablaze. The further Chelsea moved into the temple, the more torches lit up.

And it didn't work this way for Killian and Emma who were ahead of her by a few paces. They slowed down though when they realized Chelsea was producing light.

"Is that you Chelsea?"

"No. I have no idea why the light up for me."

"Must be the magic you have."

"You think so?"

"It seems to be the only explanation. That or it somehow recognizes you."

"Recognizes me? How can it? I've never been here before."

"It wouldn't recognize you Chelsea, it would recognize your magic."

Chelsea turned to face Killian who had brought on a whole new light to the situation.

"So you're saying that because of the magic that I possess…the temple…obeys me?"

"Not obeys. Recognizes and welcomes. In the Fates book, it mentioned that Mother Nature was the founder of magic. She created it to be pure and to gift those who needed and deserved good things.. But with all magic comes a price. With good magic came bad. It destroyed homes, lives and manipulated. It was like disease spreading through the world like wildfire."

"People began to hunt those who had magic, good or bad. Mother Nature, seeing that her creation was being destroyed, created a safe haven, this temple, to hide those who had magic in them. It was a last effort to show save her gift. But later she realized it was a curse and she restored balance to the world."

"My guess is that it sees Chelsea has having magic, but also in trouble."

"How am I in trouble?"

"We don't know. You seem fine. Do you feel fine?"

Chelsea paused for a moment, debating if she should answer truthfully. She decided not to. "I'm fine."

"As much as this is helpful, we've got a lot more ground to cover."

Killian and Chelsea nodded and moved to catch up with Emma. They walked further down the hall/tunnel, their footsteps echoing across the open path and their breathing being the only sound heard.

…

Emma:

Around what seemed to be two hours later the trio was still walking the hall.

"Does this thing never end?"

"I'm sure we will get there soon."

Chelsea froze. "Do you guys hear that?"

Emma and Killian turned to face her, and then strained their ears to hear what she was hearing.

"I don't hear anything."

"Me neither."

"No listen. There's noise."

Emma concentrated really hard and soon she heard a bunch of sounds but they were quiet, faint.

"I hear it!"

"Killian?"

"Aye. I hear it."

Emma looked around but couldn't see anything.

"We need to follow that noise."

And so Emma headed off into the direction the sound was coming. Soon she noticed a door up ahead. It was wooden, with gold carved into it. There was a light peeking out underneath and the noise was evidently behind the door.

Emma looked cautiously back at Killian and Chelsea who both nodded for her to continue. She put her hand on the door, and got her hook up in the air ready for an attack. With that she pushed the door open and began to walk inside.

…

Light blinded them trio immediately. Emma covered her eyes with her hook but that didn't help her situation. All of the sudden, Emma heard a voice.

"Who are you?"

Emma slowly lowered her hook and walked in the room, hearing Chelsea and Killian behind her. She gasped at what she saw.

A room decorated in gold and ivory. Marble columns stood tall and proud around the room. It was a hexagonal room, with thrones in each corner. Each section of the corner was a different colour, one to represent the element who sat on that throne. It was a big room, open, and in the middle sat a fountain. But it did not bring out water, it brought out light. Pure, gold light.

And around that fountain were six people. Six interesting people with wine, food, everything needed for a good time.

Emma was dumbfounded, words unable to form.

"I will ask again, who are you?"

The room was silent as anything, no one said a word as they six strangers waited for a response from the trio. But the thing was is that they were all speechless. These people were far from normal as their skin wasn't even a proper colour.

The person who had spoken to Emma was a male, with pale skin, practically white, and platinum blonde hair. The bangs just dusted over his eyes and he had the angles of the highest aristocrat. An angel almost. His eyes were silver and he held his chin up high. He wore a white collared shirt, something Emma had never seen before and gray slacks while being barefoot.

"Glacies leave them be. They are but mere mortals that happened to fall into a bad place. We shall simply let them go."

Glacies turned sharply to face the woman who spoke to him. She had crimson skin with orange eyes that lit up when she spoke. She wore a cherry red dress that clung tightly to her, but was modest, covering the breasts and butt. The sleeves hung loosely, and were off shoulder. Her hair was brown, and fell into waves behind her back and on top of her head laid a copper tiara with a ruby stone in the center point of it.

"Ignis I do not remember asking for you opinion."

"You never do. But you ought to listen."

"You are too compassionate."

"And you are too cold."

The duo stared daggers at one another, as if having a silent conversation with their eyes. Glacies snarled, and Ignis simply laughed a melody, her voice practically twinkling, if that was possible.

A woman with green skin appeared and pushed the two apart. Her hair was brown as well, but a lighter brown, almost dirty blonde but not quite. Her eyes were a soft chocolate brown and she was rather plump compared to Ignis who was a stunning being. But this woman obviously had no concern for you could tell she was kind soul and had inner beauty that rivaled the most beautiful. Her skirt was that of a dark forest green silk that sparkled. Her top was grass with a corset of twigs covering it. Her hair was up in a bun and a crown of flowers rested around it.

"Terrae no one wanted you to butt in."

"And you two were going to handle yourselves properly? I think not."

"We would have been fine."

"You two are like children. Never knowing how to act."

"I beg your pardon?"

"Oh Glacies shut your trap. No one cares."

The man that spoke that time was of an interesting sort. He had chestnut brown skin but black, obsidian eyes. His hair was raven black as well and stretched down to his back. He did not wear a shirt, which showed off his incredible chest (eight pack anyone?). He wore tight, black leather kaprees and had feathers braided into his lush hair.

"Oh sod off Petrae."

Petrae smirked. "Only you would say that."

"Oh dear please. Don't tempt him anymore."

That voice was melodic and came from a woman with pink skin and green hair. Her eyes were green and she wore a short green dress with pink swirls designed into it. And the whole thing sparkled. A lot. She word arm bands of a pearly pink on her wrists and the upper arm. She had a circlet around her head of the same metal as the arm bands with a green gem in the front, hanging down onto her forehead.

"A'ris you know I love you but I cannot have you interfering with my decisions!"

"Petrae get over yourself. I complete you. I make you better."

A scoff was heard in the corner.

"Oh Aqua what do you know?"

A man then appeared from behind the fountain with blue skin of lapis lazuli and blue eyes of a pale turquoise. His hair was short, spiked, and seemed to be a mixture of sea foam green, and some pale sky blue. He wore a blue vest with jean shorts and a pair of sneakers.

Emma was dumbstruck. She didn't know what to say. The group of six seemed to be in their own world, completely ignoring the trio. They moved further into the room, and the six still remained unaware. They seemed to be arguing over something. Well in reality they were all watching Glacies and Ignis arguing.

"I can't believe you'd even think of doing that!"

"How can I not? I thought I was cold?"

"Of course you are! YOU'RE ICE!"

"WELL AT LEAST I DON'T "LET LOOSE"."

"WHAT THE HELL DOES THAT MEAN?"

"OH YOU KNOW WHAT IT MEANS. DON'T THINK I DIDN'T SEE YOU AND AQUA GETTING DOWN AND DIRTY A COUPLE WEEKS AGO."

"DOWN AN DIRTY? THAT'S HOW YOU DESCRIBE DANCING?"

"THAT WASN'T DANCING! THAT WAS…WAS…IT WASN'T DANCING!"

"YOU ARE SUCH AN IDIOT! HOW DO I PUT UP WITH YOU?"

"WELL, THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU HAVE A HEART OF ICE!"

"Oh pish posh. Why you two haven't confessed your undying love for each other, I'll never know." said Terrae.

"Oh shut it why don't you?" Glacies and Ignis spoke at the same time. They glared and huffed and turned away from one another.

"Uh guys…we still have mortals to deal with. The six turned and face the trio again.

"Let's just let them out. They'll do no harm."

The rest of the six nodded and began to usher them out the door. Emma growled and tried to be static in her movements.

"Wait. Do you sense that?" said Glacies.

Emma gulped and looked around. She didn't sense anything.

"I do. It's pure…and yet dark." Said terrae as she looked around sniffing the air, trying to sense where it could be coming from.

"Magic of the purest form, yet tainted." spoke Petrae. He began to wander closer to the trio, examining each one closely. Finally he grabbed Chelsea's arm and yanked her from the group and threw her forward.

"This one."

The six came around Chelsea, poking and prodding as if she were a new toy they had just discovered and had yet to be opened.

"Get off of me. Vultures."

"I resent that!" spoke A'ris.

"Watch how you speak to those superior to you." said Glacies.

Emma was beginning to piece together the puzzle of the six. They were the elements…in human or god like form. They considered themselves gods. That would be a weakness of theirs. Vainty at it's finest.

"Look. I'm not here for you to prod and study Smee. I'm here for one thing, and one thing only. The stones."

The six froze and slowly turned their heads to face Emma.

"And what makes you think you're worthy of gaining these…stones?"

Emma gulped. She hadn't thought of that. "I need my son back from someone of pure evil."

"We don't need to hear your petty problems mortal."

"My petty problems? I beg to differ. They aren't petty. They matter. Have you no soul?"

"No Glacies doesn't but I do. Tell me about your boy."

Emma turned to the Ignis and faced her and took a breath and began.

"He left when he was just a babe. Stolen from me by my lover. He had the sweetest, soft brown eyes. His hair was brown, simply wisps upon his head. He was so small, I barely had any time with him. I was called unfit. My piracy led me to be a awful mother. I never even got a chance. And now that my son is with someone who is so evil and despised, I will do anything to get him back."

"A charming tale to be for sure but alas, I have no interest in your…problems. I have my own darling. Like how to rid myself of pesky mortals who interfere when they shouldn't be. I think you need to be taught your place."

Emma began to back up as Ignis began to walk forward, her eyes beginning to light up. In fact the group of six seemed to glow their respective colours and the atmosphere became tense and hot. Emma looked around frantically, trying to figure out a plan of escape. Ignis cackled.

"Sorry sweetheart. There's no escape from people like us. We are powerful. The creators."

"Creators of what?"

"This world."

"No you're not. That's Mother Nature. She created you."

"That old hag? Ha! She's been gone for thousands of years. She doesn't exist. Not anymore."

No wonder the six had gone off the bend. When they were young they must have loved her. She was probably around teaching them to master their powers but now she was gone and they'd become arrogant, believing themselves to be immortal. Where had she gone? What exactly happened?

"Now us six are going to put an end to you meddlesome trio. Say your goodbyes lovelies."

Emma lowered her stance to a crouch. She pulled out her sword and got her hook ready. She heard Killian do the same.

"I'm not going without those stones."

"Then you're fighting a losing battle."

Emma realized now that Rumplestlikin had sent her to her doom. He knew what was waiting in there and knew that Emma and her crew stood little to no chance. Well if she was going down, she was going down with a fight."

"Bring it on."

A/N: OMG THIS CHAPTER WAS INSANE! And it's only going to get crazier. Next chapter is going to be intense so prepare yourselves readers! Many things are going to happen.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter as much as I did! I loved it! Definetly I think the best chapter so far and by far my favourite! Twelve pages! Whoo! What a fun time.

And I'm not kidding when I say this story writes itself. It really does. Does anyone else find that happens a lot?

Anyway, your tibit for next chapter:

The light became brighter and brighter, glowing a beautiful white. A blast occurred, shaking the very foundation of the temple. Someone screamed ande Emma scrambled to get up from the floor, wiping her bloody lip. Then it all went pitch black and a loud, booming voice entered the room and echoed, "WHO GOES THERE?!"

As always read and review.

Stay calm and ship Captain Swan

Fungumunguss