The Hunt Continues

A short time later, David, Emma and Giselle rushed into Neal's room at the hospital. Belle and Hook were there with him, "Neal. You're here. What happened?" asked Emma.

"I… I don't know," said Neal, "I remember seeing the yellow bug cross the town line and next thing I know, I'm running around a forest back in Storybrooke, where, apparently, has been a whole lot going on."

"Are you gonna tell him, or shall I?" asked Hook.

"Tell me what?" asked Neal.

"Neal, we think your dad's back," said Giselle.

"Back? I just watched him die. What do you mean he's back?"

"Take it easy," said Emma. Emma saw something on the palm of his right hand. She took a closer look and saw it was a scar in the form a triangle with small waves under each side, "What the hell is that?"

David took a picture of it with Emma's phone, "No idea. It was there when I woke up," said Neal.

Emma looked at Belle, "Belle, can you do some more research?"

"Yeah, sure. Absolutely," she said.

"I'll send you the picture."

"Okay."

"Guys, can we have a minute?" said Neal.

"Yeah, of course," said David.

Then, everyone left Emma and Neal alone.

A little while later, Emma, Giselle and David headed into the woods to start looking for Gold.

"So, how was Neal?" asked Giselle.

"It was hard," said Emma, "Henry makes it complicated. It's not just about me. He's hoping Gold can help bring his memories back."

"That would be an added bonus to finding him," said David.

"Would it? A couple of days ago I would have thought that was true, but now…"

"Now what?" asked David, "How's he gonna stay in Storybrooke without them?" Emma didn't answer her father. "Unless, you're not planning to. You think, you'll go back to New York after we break the curse?"

"A week ago, Henry and I were playing video games and eating Fruit Roll-Ups. Now, I'm chasing after the Dark One, hoping he can help me find the Wicked Witch of the West."

Just then they heard a man screaming. The three of them ran off into the woods in the sound of the moaning. They found Gold, keeling on the ground with his head in both hands and groaning in pain. Emma ran up and crouched down beside him, "Gold, are you alright?" asked Emma.

"No! No! Not alright. Not alright," said Gold in a panic, "I can't quiet the voices."

"We know that you were held captive by the witch. Do you know where she is?" asked Emma.

Mr. Gold nodded, "Yeah, she is…" Then the pain hit him again, "There's no room. No room. There's too many voices. Too many voices!"

"We got to get him out of here," said Giselle. Just then there was a shriek from a flying monkey. It flew toward them and David hit it with his sword knocking it to the ground.

Gold got up and started to run, "Gold!" shouted Emma.

"He's getting away," said David. He looked at the others, "I'll hold it off. Go!" Emma and Giselle took off after Gold.

As Emma and Giselle searched for Gold, Emma saw a figure walking behind some trees, "Gold!" she called out.

"Emma!" called Neal.

Neal went up to them, "Neal, what the hell are you doing here?" Emma asked.

"You expect me to stay in bed while you're looking for my dad?" he asked.

"Right. I forgot, who I was dealing with."

"You got a bead on him?"

"We just saw him, but he took off again," said Giselle.

"So, it's true? He's alive?" asked Neal.

"Yeah, he is," said Emma

"How he'd seem?"

"I don't know what that witch did to him, but he seems a little crazy," said Giselle, "When Emma asked him about her, it was like he wanted to tell us, but he couldn't."

"Well, he can't be far. Come on," said Neal. Emma gave Neal a look, "You wanna waste time dragging me back to the hospital? `Cause that's the only way you gonna get me there."

"Fine. Let's go."

Emma and Neal walked through the woods. Giselle walked a few steps behind them so Emma and Neal could talk, "So, New York, huh?" asked Neal.

"I liked the pizza," said Emma.

"Did Henry like it?"

"He loves pizza."

"I meant living there in the city."

"Oh, yeah. I did, too. Finally had time to do all the things we normally couldn't."

"Like what?"

"Go to the park, see a movie, go to the zoo, just do nothing. Life was good. Really good."

"It didn't get lonely? Just the two of you?"

"Henry had tons of friends in school and I... had someone. Sorry."

"Why are you sorry? Of course you did. It's not like we were… or you even remembered..." said Neal. Emma chucked then Neal asked, "Was it serious?"

"He proposed."

"Wow."

"And then he turned into a flying monkey."

"Sounds intense," Neal chuckled.

Emma smiled and laughed little, "Go ahead and laugh. I almost married a monster from Oz. It's hilarious."

"I almost married a minion of my evil grandfather Peter Pan," said Neal. Emma laughed then Neal said, "So, I know what you're saying." They walked for a while then Neal said, "Hey, I'm sorry it didn't work out."

"Really?" asked Emma.

"I care about you, Emma. Always will. I just want you to be happy. Even, if it isn't with me."

"We were happy. Once."

"We never found Tallahassee."

Just then they heard a cellphone ring. It was Emma's phone. She took it out of her pocket as Giselle caught up with them, "Belle... What did you find?"

"The symbol on Neal's hand. It's from an ancient talisman," said Belle over the phone, "A key, that opens the Vault of the Dark One. I think, he may have used it. To resurrect Rumple. Back, when we were in the Enchanted Forest."

"Wait, so he brought Gold back?" asked Emma.

Neal and Giselle looked at each other. Then, Belle said to Emma, "That's where it gets unclear. The vault will only restore the Dark One in exchange for another life."

"Whoa. Hang on a minute. What?" asked Emma.

"It's a one-for-one trade," said Belle, "If Neal used that key, he should be dead right now."

Emma looked at Neal. "What's going on?" asked Giselle. But before Emma could answer. Neal screamed in pain and collapsed to his knees. "Neal? Neal!" said Emma as knelt down, "Neal, what did you do?" Emma took his hand and looked at the mark on it.

Neal groaned in pain and then looked up at Emma and Giselle. Neal's face morphed back into Gold's face for a moment and then back to his own face then back to Gold's then his own, "What's going on?" asked Giselle.

Neal continued to groan in pain, "I think Gold is inside him," said Emma, "I think that's how he's still alive."

"Still alive?"

"To resurrect Gold, Neal had to sacrifice his life for Gold's."

"What?"

"I heard my father's voice in my head," said Neal, "He's in there. He's in me."

"He said, there was no room," said Giselle. She looked at Neal, "He meant you."

Neal looked at Emma, "I need you to help me, Emma," he panted, "Use your magic. Separate me and my father."

"Are you kidding? Then you'll die."

"I know, but you need my dad more than me to figure out who the witch is... To save the town. You need to do this."

"I've never done anything like that before. Not that big."

"Do it. To save you and Henry. Do it, please," Emma took Neal's hands and closed her eyes. She concentrated and in a flash of white light, Gold was where Neal was and Neal collapsed on the ground beside them.

Emma and Giselle just stared in shock at Gold. Then Emma looked and saw Neal laying on the ground. "Neal? Neal, are you okay?" said Emma as she rushed to Neal's side and supported him.

"What have you done?" asked Gold.

"It's okay, Papa," said Neal, weakly, "I told her to."

"But why?"

"So, you can tell her, who the witch is. So, you can defeat her."

Gold kept looking at Neal as he said, "Zelena."

"What?" asked Emma.

"Zelena."

"She's the witch?" asked Giselle, "What does she want?"

"What she doesn't have," said Gold

"There has to be some way you can save him, right?" asked Emma.

Gold just shook his head as he stood.

"It's too late, Emma," said Neal.

Emma started to cry. Gold turned away. Giselle wiped a tear away as she knelt next to Emma. "Just hang in there, please," said Emma through her tears, "You never even had a chance to see Henry. For him to remember you."

Neal started to find it hard to breath, "He doesn't need to. He just needs to know that, in the end, I was a good father." Gold turned back around and saw Neal reach into his jacket pocket, "I saved this for you to give to you again," said Neal. As he handed Emma a simple silver necklace with a simple silver pendant." Take it. Go find Tallahassee. Even, if it's without me."

"Neal."

"Hey, I'll be watching over you guys from somewhere. Promise me… just promise… Promise me, you'll both be happy."

"I promise. I promise," then she hugged Neal.

"No," said Gold, as he knelt back down beside Neal, "No, no. I can fix this."

"No, you can't. You can't," said Neal, "Thank you, Papa. For showing me, what it is to make a true sacrifice. It's about saving the ones that you love."

"No."

"It's my turn, now."

"No, I don't want to let you go."

"I need you to. Please, let go."

"I love you, son."

"I... I love you, Papa," Then, Neal passed away. Gold raised his son's hand to his lips. Then, he reached out and carefully closed Neal's eyes.

A little while later, David, Giselle and Emma stormed into the loft. Emma had her gun drawn. Mary Margaret was sitting at the table and was startled by them coming in, "David, what's going on?" she asked.

"Where's Zelena?" asked Emma.

"In the bathroom. Why?" Mary Margaret. David and Giselle pulled out their swords, David went to one door, while Emma and Giselle went to the other. Then, David and Giselle kicked the doors in and found the bathroom empty.

"She had to know we were coming," said Giselle.

"I'll call Regina," said Emma, "We need to get a protection spell around this apartment right away."

"Does anyone want to tell me what's going on?" asked Mary Margaret.

David went up to Mary Margaret, "I'm just glad, you're safe."

"Of course, I'm safe. Why wouldn't I be safe?"

"It's Zelena.".

"She's the Wicked Witch," said Giselle.

"What?" asked Mary Margaret, "How do you know?"

"Gold told us," said Emma, "Neal brought him back before…"

Mary Margaret walked up to Emma, "Before what, Emma? What happened?"

"Neal's dead."

"Emma, I'm so sorry." Then Mary Margaret hugged her.

AN: If you like this story, and you haven't done so yet, Favorite and Follow. Also, give me a Review and let me know what you think of this. It gives me motivation to keep going.