Chapter 3: No One to Tell
Crystal sighs in heavy frustration. She's completely immobilized and she knows who did it. Clearly, her dad wanted to keep her from ruining his plans... whatever they might be. She tries to concentrate on the energy within herself, creating a barrier between her father's spell and her body. She shuts her eyes and takes a deep breath. She can only hope that Elsa saves Emma before whatever's in the mansion gets to her first.
She hears noises coming from in front of the house. It sounds like talking. She knows one of them is her father because he's the one who froze her, but the other... She pushes herself to focus on the unknown voice. It's definitely another male and it's heavily accented... which could still mean any number of Storybrooke patrons. She wants to know what is going on inside and outside of this place.
Suddenly, one of the voices screams out in pain. It's familiar, but she still can't quite place it. This sends her mind into overdrive and desperation. Her father had attacked someone and she had to help them and Emma. She begins straining herself, trying to fight against the spell's grip. She knows she doesn't have enough power to fight the Dark One's magic alone, even though on multiple occasions she has been able to overpower him. She realizes what she's going to have to do. The only thing powerful enough to break the spell's hold.
She shuts her eyes and takes a deep breath. She begins thinking about Mason and how angry and confused she still was with him. He broke up with her via text message, the most impersonal way you could do it. Surely their relationship meant more for him to at least do it in person. But the big question remained... why? Yes, they did have their ups and downs, but the two were working together, he helped her discover her past and they had even said "I love you." Then he vanishes completely with no explanation, leaving her heartbroken. She can feel the rage building up inside of her, how none of this made any sense and that the man she loved had left her. It feels as if her body is shaking a little bit from the fury inside.
Her veins begin to burn with emotion, the power building up inside of her. She feels upset, her body wants to respond accordingly, but she can't cry because of the stupid spell. She knows she'll have to bring out the big gun in order to break her father's hold over her and release the energy. She thinks about that night... the night that still haunted her dreams. The night she lost everything important to her, the night she almost became truly evil. The night she killed her mother.
You are a murderer... the voice says, manifesting itself in her mind again. Inwardly, she groans, convincing herself that this is necessary in order to help.
Your mother could never love you after that. You became a broken girl that night... an orphan. You destroyed the one thing that gave you hope.
The conflict within Crystal grows, she tries to fight the voices, arguing inside that they weren't true...
You embraced the darkness and blood had to be spilled.
It's not true, it was an accident! she thinks.
It was a night I was truly proud of you... the voice chuckles.
That's the final straw and the energy explodes outwards in a seismic wave. There is a definitive boom as the plants surrounding the mansion garden blow sideways with the energy and some flowers are completely decapitated from their stems. The night air is briefly filled with the echo of the daughter of the Dark One's emotional energy expanding outwards, breaking her father's spell. Crystal manages to move her limbs again and she stretches out, happy to be free.
Unbeknownst to her, the wave of power entered the mansion and ended up closing the Sorcerer's hat. Elsa and Emma felt it but assumed that it was the Saviour, finally accepting her magic, creating a wave of relief. Rumple and Hook felt it as well. The Dark One was grasping the pirate's beating heart with the intention of using it to free himself from the dagger's control and nearly crushed it due to the power. Hook gasped out in pain. Rumple knew what this meant... his daughter was coming to confront him. He also realized that Emma has not been sucked into the hat, meaning he had to find another way to charge it. The imp shut down Killian's belief that his plans had been foiled of sucking Emma into the hat, then gave the pirate captain his parting words before teleporting away, allowing Killian to free himself from the fence and go find Emma.
Crystal immediately goes towards the front of the house, where the cry of pain came from. She can see that the bright source of energy is gone. She wants to go and see if Emma and Elsa are okay, but she had to find her father first.
She sees the remains of the garden hose that held Killian to the fence and she can feel her father's dark energy still lingering in the air. She looks at the remains before going to find her friends.
To her surprise, the trio exit the front door.
"Is everything okay?" Crystal asks, just as Emma, Hook and Elsa exit the Apprentice's mansion.
"Everything is fine," Emma smiles, having her arms linked with Killian. She lays her head on his shoulder.
"So, no more freakouts?" Rumpel's daughter asks.
"Not anymore."
"And you're keeping the powers?"
"Elsa made me realize that I need self-acceptance, not just love to control them."
"I could've told you that back in the woods, but you kind of drove away before I could."
"I'm sorry Crystal, but you can understand how I was feeling..."
"Of course."
"I was being stupid and impulsive, I wasn't thinking clearly. I should've listened to the people who had been where I was. I thought I could handle it on my own."
"We live and learn Emma," Crystal says before embracing her friend. She then looks over at Killian and Elsa.
"What happened to you, Crystal?" Elsa asks. "I thought we were going to tell her together."
"I got sidetracked," she explains. "Something distracted me, but it seems like you did a pretty good job on your own."
"Indeed," the queen of Arendelle nods.
The two women begin trying to explain to Crystal what happened, but she's tuned them out. Her gaze lands on the one-handed pirate of the group. Immediately she senses that something is wrong. He seems phased and distracted. He must've been the one screaming... He's the one who confronted her father... the two do have a very rough history, to say the least, but why would Killian scream? He looked okay, no wounds or maybe...
Crystal lets her vision take over. She can see that his heart is missing, there is a black hole where his heart should be. She can also see that powerful source of energy within his pocket. However, she's more concerned about the fact that Captain Hook's heart is gone.
She opens her mouth to say something when Mary Margret, David, Regina, and Henry all come up the path of the mansion.
"Emma thank god we were so worried," her mother says, embracing her daughter tightly.
"Are you okay?" her father asks, joining the hug.
"I'm fine now," the Saviour says. She then goes to her son and holds him tightly.
Crystal feels a bit frustrated. Obviously, they think that this little dramatic episode has a happy ending, but Emma's boyfriend has no heart and it's obvious to her that her father has it. Her mind is racing, trying to figure out why Rumpelstiltskin needs Captain Hook's heart.
As the others reunite with hugs and apologies, the daughter of the Dark One continues to stare at Killian. Eventually, his bright blue eyes meet hers. She expresses her concern without words. He looks at her almost desperately, but suddenly he grimaces. No doubt, his heart is being squeezed. She tries to say something, but then her phone buzzes in her pocket.
Hesitantly, she opens the message.
It's from her father.
I'm sorry I had to restrain you earlier, but I can't have you ruining my plans. I hope you will not be too angry. I cannot tell you what my plans are, but I guarantee that they will benefit our family for the better. I didn't realize until now that you would figure it out much quicker due to your ability. Think of this as a warning, you breathe one word of this to the Saviour, Belle, or anyone else and the pirate suffers. I will make sure his remaining existence on this earth is painful. I know you insist on caring for him and all the others like they are your family but keep in mind, I am the one who gave you life. I do have paternal feelings toward you and as your parent, I can punish you how I see fit. The consequence for talking will end the pirate's life, I will punish you by punishing him. I'll see you at home later, Goodnight.
Crystal swallows very hard, fighting back tears. Her father just threatened her... She cannot believe it. She wanted to believe Belle when she'd said her father had changed for the better, but this text message told the complete opposite. He was bullying her into silence, using the excuse that he was still her father, so she had to obey him. She couldn't believe he'd stoop so low. It's worse than a serial killer forcing his children to participate in the murders or they'll be grounded. She's extremely angry, but then again, he was Rumpelstiltskin, she should expect this type of thing from the Dark One.
Her heart pounds in her ears as she looks at Killian. She can tell he's as scared as she is, but she can't let him suffer. He's basically her father's puppet now and she's helpless to stop it. He doesn't meet her eyes anymore, and she swallows a lump of guilt in her throat.
She turns her attention back to her friends as Regina asks for the real locator potion back.
"I'm sorry Regina," she says, handing the bottle back.
"It's all right, just don't pull tricks like that when they can have serious consequences, we're lucky nobody got hurt or killed in this incident."
Almost... she thinks to herself.
Emma's hands begin to glow with white light and Crystal looks up as the Saviour creates fireworks and conjures up Northern Lights into the night sky. She is showing the beauty that her powers had. Like Elsa and her ice castle, good can come from such powers.
Crystal wasn't sure if her abilities could be as beautiful, after all, they mostly came from the darkness. She did have her moments when her hands glowed a lilac colour and the orbs she created were pretty great, but all she can really do is create destruction and snuff out the light... it's what darkness does. The evil energy that she shares with her demonic father.
Despite the amazing show, her mind is elsewhere, trying desperately to figure out a way to stop her father's plan without getting Killian killed in the process. She can't tell anyone, she is on her own...
Once the show is over, everyone decides it's time to head home. Crystal and Regina bring up the rear. The young woman doesn't want to go to her apartment tonight, no doubt her father will be watching her. She doesn't feel safe in her home anymore.
"Hey Regina," she asks casually. "Do you mind if I crash at your place tonight?"