You are your own worst enemy

Dark. Dark and cold. And still. So still you think you could cease to exist any second.

Then suddenly she felt as if she was under water. She didn't know which way was up or down, she couldn't open her eyes or feel anything.

Desperately trying to hold onto something, she tried to focus on one strong feeling so she wouldn't fade away. But as time passed it became harder and harder to concentrate. She had thoughts in her mind but they were just words, she couldn't understand them. It was all blurry and hazy. Fear, the most basic form of fear took root in her thoughts. The fear of death.

But a strange, yet familiar feeling made her realize that it wasn't the strongest kind of dismay she'd ever felt.

This simple sparkle was enough for her to suddenly grasp the idea she was trying so hard to reach.

Emma. My daughter. No. NO! Emma!

There's only one fear stronger than being afraid for you own life. It's the fear for your child. The terrifying thought of them getting hurt. It's so overwhelming that you forget about worrying about yourself and your whole world revolves around one thought.

Emma!

But the dark underworld Snow was trapped in wouldn't let her go, not matter how desperately she wanted to get out of there.

Almost none of her senses worked; she could only rely on her hearing, which wasn't as easy as it seemed. Snow couldn't hear things properly, this underwater state she was in made everything blurry. It was like waves were crashing against her ears and there were only a few seconds after each to grasp and use her hearing. It didn't make sense.

"... just sit down..."

Wave.

"... mama bear..."

Wave.

Snow felt like her head was about to explode - assuming she had a head, because she couldn't feel her body at all.

In this difficult situation she knew she couldn't focus on two things at the same time, so she shut her ears as much as she could. To her surprise, she succeeded. She was in complete silence.

She tried to think things through.

What happened?

I was sitting next to Emma, then... what?

She couldn't remember. But when she tried to look back in her memory to find some sort of explanation she felt a finger touching her forehead. It wasn't real, it was in her memory.

"When the time comes, choose wisely! One half with the other. You will need both."

Merlin's words neither made any sense back then, nor now. But Snow knew it was important. Somehow she made herself remember and she knew that the time had come to use them, to make the right decision with their help.

A decision. But what the hell could I decide here? I don't even know where I am!

She knew this wasn't leading to any answers, so she decided to concentrate on the other half now. When she tried to use her ears again, it surprised her how much clearer the things she heard became.

She could hear whole sentences now and the strangest thing she'd ever heard.

Herself talking.

"Okay, that's it. You know what?" Mary Margaret stood up and threw the sweater she was holding at the astonished man. "I'm done listening to you! Your words are not making any sense! I don't know who you are, but I won't let you make a fool of me!"

And with that she stormed out of the kitchen.

Mary Margaret couldn't imagine why she became so angry - at the man in the white suit for being so annoying, at Emma for leaving her there and at this whole situation where she didn't understand anything to begin with -, but it scared her. She'd never felt an emotion this powerful like the one she was filled with now. She didn't know how to control it. Like a part of her that she didn't know tried to take over her.

Whatever it was it scared the hell out of her and made her rush through the corridors and rooms like she was being chased.

She didn't pay attention to where she was going - running from the madness or rushing torwards something comforting. Yet she kept going, deep in her thoughts, until she opened into a rather large salon.

Emma and the raven-tressed woman jumped a little when they heard the door shut.

"Mom!" Emma let the word slip through her lips without thinking it through.

"No..." The brunette stepped closer to them, speaking with disbelief in her voice. "Not you too! What's wrong with everyone here? I'm not your mother for God's sake!"

But she could see the hurt in Emma's eyes which made part of her anger fade away. "Sorry. I know that was harsh. But... Emma, please, explain what's happening here!" She begged the blonde. "I don't know where we are, I don't know how we got here, I don't know these people, I don't understand a damn thing!" She yelled desperately. "And this! I'm not used to being angry like this! What the hell happened to me?"

Emma put her hands on her shoulders and looked in her eyes. "It's okay. You don't remember quite a lot of things, but it'll be alright, I promise." She glanced back at the other woman, who nodded as if approving of something.

Before Mary Margaret could voice her concerns even more, Emma made an unexpected move. She leaned in an gave a tender kiss on her forehead.

Mary Margaret froze as she stood. A weird feeling rushed through her, she was almost able to comprehend what it was, but before she could grasp it, the moment passed.

Emma backed away, tears glittering in her eyes and on her face, smiling like a little girl who's found something very precious to her.

The brunette stayed where she was, but asked. "What the hell was that for?"

Her confused look made Emma's eyes widen. She turned to the raven-tressed woman and yelled at her. "You said this would work! You said true love's kiss would bring her back! Look!" She pointed back at the astonished woman. "She's still not here! What's the problem?!"

"I... I don't know." The woman clearly became scared of Emma's harsh tone. "Or maybe..."

"What?" Mary Margaret had never seen Emma this rude before. She focused on the conversation, not wanting to bother with true love's kiss or mom.

"Well... She doesn't remember. She doesn't love you like she should. You're just her friend now..." She whispered, staring at the ground.

"Great!" Emma rolled her eyes. "Then what the hell do we do now?"

However, before she could answer her, Mary Margaret interrupted. She could feel her mouth moving, the words coming out of it, but she didn't understand how. She wasn't talking. "Emma... Emma help!"

They both turned to face her as she grabbed her throat and stared at them with a terrified look. "Emma! It's Snow! I'm in here!"

Emma rushed to the horrified brunette and gently peeled her hands off her throat. "I'm here. Don't worry, I'm here." She said this while looking deep in Mary Margaret's eyes, yet she had the feeling the blonde wasn't talking to her. "Are you okay? What the hell is going on?!"

The brunette couldn't do anything, the words came from her and she couldn't stop them. "Merlin! Remember what Merlin said! One half with the other! I have to make peace..." She became silent for a few seconds. "I can't stay long. She's fighting me. Tell her! The Mary Margaret part of me! Tell her who the Snow-part is and make her make peace with it! Then she'll remember both, we'll become one. I already have, I remember everything..." Another pause and Mary Margaret felt tears running down her face. "Emma, hurry! Please..."

Mary Margaret didn't know what was happening but she did know one thing - she wanted it to stop. She wanted to be able to control her own body again.

Stop it! Get out of my head! I said... OUT!

She collapsed on the ground. Emma kneeled next to her and helped her sit. "Are you okay?" Mary Margaret heard real concern in her voice, yet she pulled away.

"What the... Okay. You." She pointed at the blonde with a shaking finger, still hyperventilating. "Explain. Now."

Phew. Sorry for the late update. My life has been a crazy mess this few weeks and I couldn't write much lately.

First I was a little afraid with this concept - Snow talking while MM is in charge -, but I'm pretty satisfied with the result and the next chapter will be a lot of fun for me to write. Or at least I think so.

Just to make things clear - MM and Snow are not two separate people. They have different personalities, that's true, but essentially what makes them different for me are their memories. I'll explain this in the next chapter as well.

oldmcpiper deserves a huge thank you again, I cannot tell how grateful I am for your help C: