Chapter 2
All Magic Comes With A Price
The dwarves sped towards the town line with the stone Sneezy. They were all hesitant to cross, but Leroy told them one of them had to. They all said "not it" when Leroy turned to Dopey he had written not it on a notepad but Leroy pretended not to see it. "I take your silence as bravery go over".
As Dopey was about to cross Mary-Margret cried "stop"
Leroy replied "sorry sister but we can't stay in Storybrooke as long as Emma's the dark one, Pan, Snow Queen, Queens Of Darkness we can handle villains like that. But Emma, she was one of us, she knows how we beat bad guys, she beat most of them for us, did most of the work, how do we stand a chance against her".
Regina said "if you're stupid enough to cross that line be my guest".
Leroy asked "who's gonna protect us if we stay, you"? He turned to Dopey "go on, do it"
Hesitantly he stepped over the town line and everything seemed fine. He turned around with his thumbs up.
Leroy said "now if you'll excuse us".
Before they could cross leaves encircled Dopey and he turned into a tree Regina commented "well that's new".
In Camelot King Arthur introduced them to Guinevere. She said "we've been awaiting your arrival since we heard Merlin's prophesy".
David said "I hope you haven't been waiting that long".
"Only a decade or two" King Arthur replied. "But I wager it's been worth the wait. It's given us enough time to prepare a ball in your honour".
Tally's face lit up at the thought of going to her first ball. While everyone else liked the idea Hook was concerned. "Excuse me" Hook said "but when do we begin the quest to find Merlin".
King Arthur said "we don't need to find him, we know exactly where he is".
Emma replied "but when we said we'd heard he's been missing you confirmed it".
King Arthur explained "our way to be reunited with him is missing".
Tally asked "if you know where he is why do you need us to be reunited with him".
King Arthur said "perhaps it would be easier to show you".
In the courtyard King Arthur led them to a tree and said "meet Merlin".
Hook commented "the most powerful sorcerer in the realm is stuck inside a tree".
King Arthur said "I said the exact same thing the first time I stood there".
Emma mentioned "and you think we can get him out".
King Arthur replied "I don't think I know, Merlin's prophesies are never wrong. Why so eager to free him"?
David replied "our home is being threatened by... it's called the Dark One"?
King Arthur said "The Dark One, that is bad, we're familiar with that demon".
Neal replied "really, shocking"
Belle mentioned "he came here a few years before the first curse, he left with the gauntlet that leads you to anyone's greatest weakness".
King Arthur asked "how do you know"?
Belle answered "I was his maid at the time. I remember asking him how his trip to Camelot was and he said "good for me, not so good for Camelot" than he threw the gauntlet at me and told me to clean it" But I've been out of his employ for a long time now".
"It must have been a relief to be free of him" replied King Arthur. "Talking of freeing, now we can free Merlin. It is said one of you is the saviour"?
On the way back to Granny's Neal had warned the more his father had used magic the darker he got so Emma should only use her magis for the more extreme circumstances. If King Arthur knew Emma was the saviour he would want her to use her powers to free Merlin. Emma was about to tell him when Regina touched the dagger inside her coat to stop her and said "I am the Saviour, I am the one who is going to free Merlin from that tree and then we can take care of the Dark One and go home".
Henry and Tally were at the docks, Henry said "we have to, we might be the only ones she'll listen to".
Tally said "I guess".
Henry said "together on three. One, two, three"
They both said "Emma Swan-Cassidy, Emma Swan-Cassidy, Emma Swan-Cassidy"
"Hi kids" Emma appeared behind them. She wasn't wearing the leather jacket but she was still in all black. As she reached out they flinched "you don't need to be afraid".
Tally asked "how did this happen to you"?
Emma said "something bad happened and when I tried to fix it, it tipped the scales".
Henry said "whatever happened, we're sorry we failed you".
Emma replied "you and Tally did nothing wrong, you two are the only ones who didn't".
Regina saw them and came over saying "get away from my son".
When they saw her Emma said "well, this sounds familiar, but I thought we'd moved past it."
"I moved past it with Emma, not the dark one".
"Why, are you afraid what MY children might learn".
"If that's so important to you why did erase our memories"?
"It's a curse".
"I know, what I can't understand is why" Regina replied.
"If I wanted you to know I wouldn't have erased your memories"
"You know we won't stop until we get them back".
"I wouldn't if I were you, I took them away for a reason, a good one."
"Well we'll find a way, we always have"
"With me but I made this curse without the one thing you need to break it, a saviour. Now you're on your own".
Henry said to Regina "you can do it, you can be the saviour".
Emma laughed and replied "her, that's not going to happen".
Regina said "I can protect this town and everyone in it".
Emma asked "are you sure? Because something is on its way, something only a saviour can defeat. And if you're wrong you'll lose something precious to you".
It turned out when Emma brought them back she also brought others too. When King Arthur was brought to the Mayor's Office. He asked how he got here Regina told him "a curse that brought us here and erased the last six weeks from you memory".
King Arthur asked "who would do such a thing".
David replied "we weren't completely honest with you"
Mary-Margaret added "our daughter Emma, she's the dark one".
King Arthur said "you lied, you let me lead the darkest of souls into the heart of my kingdom".
David said "we had hoped Merlin could destroy the Darkness inside her".
King Arthur replied "well apparently that didn't work out. Where is the Dark One now".
Mary-Margaret said "Emma, she's here in Storybrooke".
King Arthur said "then there's only one way to defeat her, the Dark One dagger".
Neal yelled "no, no, not in a million years".
David said "plus, she has the dagger".
Robin Hood came in and said "it would seem you and your knights aren't the only ones Emma dragged here. Little John said he found some of your subjects in the forest. We've accommodating as many as we can".
King Arthur asked "are they alright"?
Robin Hood said "other than being confused and shaken up they're fine. There might still be some other lost so I'm rounding up the merry men and search the west side of the woods".
David said "me and dwarves will search the east. Neal you go with Robin, Arthur you're with me".
As Robin Hood left with David, Neal and King Arthur. When Mary-Margaret noticed the worried look on Regina's face she asked "is something wrong"?
Regina said "these tin soliders, I could kill them with on wave of my hand".
"Regina".
"That doesn't mean I will, they can't be what Emma was talking about. She said something was coming only a saviour could defeat. Something else is coming, I just wish I knew what? What happened in Camelot"?
Later when they were setting up camp for the citizens of Camelot and people got reunited. They realised King Arthurs sword had gone missing when they arrived here. While Robin Hood and Roland was collecting wood a skeletal creature with tattered insect like wings appeared. It grabbed Robin Hood and took him away. A number chased after it Regina teleported right in front of it and it dropped Robin Hood. Regina tried to fight the creature with her fireballs but it tossed her away like she was nothing and flew off with Robin. When Mary-Margaret insisted she go to the hospital and get looked over she thought that meant they didn't believe she could protect the town like Emma said.
Robin and Regina looked at the tree Merlin was inside of when a knight approached them. He held a box out and "a gift for the saviour from the King".
Inside the box was a purple necklace. Carefully holding it up Regina said "it's beautiful".
Robin took it and fastened it around Regina's neck "the knight said "I look forward to a dance later".
Robin said "he's not the only one looking forward to a dance with the saviour". And suddenly Regina felt full of dread.
Later that night while everyone was getting ready Tally was throwing a tantrum "but I want to go".
Emma said "I'm sorry but for the thousandth time no".
"But Henry's going".
"But Henry's older".
Neal stepped in "Sugar Plum, balls sound like a lot of fun but not for kids. Teenagers, possibly but not little kids".
Tally stamped her foot "how do you know? When was the first time you went to a ball"? True neither Neal nor Emma had gone to ball before their trip to the fast when Emma was 30.
They took her to David and Mary-Margaret's room, and where surprised to find Doc and Regina in there. Neal asked "Regina what are you doing in here".
Mary-Margaret explained "she doesn't want to go"?
Emma asked "why not"?
Regina said "I...don't know how to dance".
Mary-Margaret said "that can't be possible, we went to dozens of balls together".
Regina said "quick question, who did you dance with".
"My father"
"And who danced with me"?
Mary-Margret realised with her father dancing with her no one danced with Regina. "Well...I'm sure Robin won't care if you can't dance too well".
"It's not just about Robin. How can I convince them I can free Merlin when I don't even know how to dance"?
"Maybe all you need is a quick lesson, Doc" Mary-Margaret said and gestured to a nearby music box. Regina and David were about to dance when Mary-Margaret said "wait, first thing my mother taught me about dancing is you need to learn how to move in a dress, not a sensible pant suit.
Emma remembered why she came in and asked "by the way we came in to ask how old you were when you went to your first ball"?
Mary-Margaret answered "eight"
Tally whined "but it's only two years".
Emma replied "sorry, but you're still too young". As she about to leave she said "by the way enjoy your dance lesson".
As the ball started Emma and Mary-Margaret appeared at the top of the stair case. The herald said "presenting Queen Mary-Margaret and Princess Emma. They were lead down the staircase and curtsied to the husband as they bowed to them. Then Regina appeared at the top of the staircase and the herald said "presenting the saviour".
Regina went to Gold's shop to find out what the creature was. Belle looked through her books and found it. "The creature you described is a fury. It appears for the price of unpaid magic".
Regina realised "someone used magic in Camelot and didn't pay".
Belle said "and unfortunately the fury only comes when the price is a life".
"So that creature is here to take Robin's life".
"Good news is the fury can only take the life when the moon hits the zenith so you have sometime. Bad news the only way to save Robin is like the two sided candle, a life for a life".
At the ball everyone was enjoying dancing when Emma and Neal noticed Henry was looking at a girl around his age. Neal said "looks like it's time for the talk. I'll be right back". Neal went straight to Henry and commented "you know you could talk to her".
"What would I say"?
Neal said "still have you ipod Regina got you"
"Yeah".
"When I met your mother I played her the song Only You and she fell for me". A servant came by with drinks and Neal takes two and gives them to Henry. "Here's your reason to go up to her".
"Henry took a deep breath and walked over to her and offers one cup to the girl. "You look thirsty".
The girl said "bored is more like it, there are loads of balls, nearly every night in Camelot".
"My parents wouldn't let my sister come because they thought it would be boring for her".
"But they let you come".
"The difference between me and my sister is I'm 13 and she's 6".
Then there was and an awkward silence so Henry decided to take his dad's advice and took out his ipod.
"What's that"?
"A gift from... from the saviour".
"A gift from the saviour"
"Well, actually it's more like a token of appreciation for saving everyone when they were trapped in an alternate reality".
"How brave, are you a knight"?
"Better I'm a writer. This is called an ipod and it's plays music through these and he held up his earphones. You just need to put it in your ear and you can hear music. He gave one earphone to the girl and put the other on his ear and put on 'Only You'.
She liked the girl held out her hand and said "my name is Violet".
He took her hand and said "mines Henry".
As Neal and Emma watched on Emma said "good work". Emma glanced towards the top of the stairs and said "now can you handle your other child at the top of the stairs".
Neal looked and there was Tally in her night dress watching everyone dance. He replied "don't worry, I got it".
Neal came up and it didn't Tally long to see him, when she saw the expression on his face. She said quietly "hi daddy".
Neal replied "you should be in bed young lady".
"You and mommy said I couldn't come but I wanted to at least watch".
Neal took her hand and lead her back to bed "there's as a reason mommy and I wouldn't let you come".
Tally replied "it didn't look so boring to me. The dancing looked like it might be fun".
Neal thought maybe if she had one dance she wouldn't kick up a fuss going to bed. He bowed and said "then may I have this dance Sugar Plum"?
Tally curtsied and Neal took her hand and they danced in the bedroom. Suddenly they heard a commotion coming from downstairs and ran down to see Robin on the floor and Regina over him.
As people gather around Neal asked "what happened"?
Emma told him "he threatened Regina, Robin stopped him".
Tally asked "is Robin going to be okay".
Neal said "he's going to be just fine" then he turned to Henry. "Henry would you take your sister back to bed while we try to help Robin".
Regina stormed into Emma's new house. Regina said "I have an impossible choice, I'm no saviour".
Emma replied "tell me something I don't already know, which... for you is very limited".
"I know the only way to stop the fury is to pay it's price".
"Then why are you here instead of paying it"?
"Because I know what the price is, a life. I can't sacrifice someone else to save Robin".
"Oh so now the life of another is precious to you"?
"Emma, this isn't you. You are strong and smart and courageous, that's the real you, the good you and I know that goodness is somewhere deep inside you".
"Regina you of all people know no one is all good or all bad. I am just me".
"Then call off your fury".
"You think that fury is mine".
"Would I be here otherwise. You didn't pay the price of magic"
"Looking at wrong culprit, try looking in the mirror".
Regina turned towards the mirror and asked "who did you put in there"?
Emma answered "no one. There was a ball, everyone was so happy. One of the knights knew who you were, the Evil Queen. He tried to kill you but Robin saved you and got fatally injured. The knight had enchanted his sword to kill you so you couldn't save him. So you asked me, you begged me. I did remind you all magic comes with a price and you said you would pay it but you didn't. Now if you want to save Robin, if you want to be the saviour then step up and do what's needed to be done".
Robin was moved to another room and was lay down on a table. Regina, Mary-Margaret, David, Emma and Neal came into the room to help him. Regina tried to heal his injury but because she had been the sword had been enchanted to kill Regina her magic wasn't working. She turned to Emma and asked her to save Robin but everyone else didn't like the idea. Emma said "I don't know what will happen if I use magic again. If I can even control it".
Regina mentioned "I could use that dagger to make you do this but I'm not. I'm asking you please. I lost love before and we all saw what happened because of that. I'm not sure losing love again will stop the Evil Queen from coming out."
Emma stepped forward to heal the wound when she saw the illusion of Rumplstiltskin again "that's it, let out the magic"?
"What are you doing here"? To everyone else it looked like Emma was talking to a chair but they knew she was talking to a past dark one.
Rumplstiltskin said "I told you I'm your guide and am here to help you embrace the magic but as I've said many times all magic comes with a price".
"I won't take one to save someone. I'm not like you".
"Asking for a payment wasn't a business it was what was needed. Those are the rules".
"Fine I'll pay it".
"It's not that simple" he pointed at Regina "she asked for the magic she needs to pay".
Emma came back to everyone and said "remember all magic comes with a price".
Neal said "you haven't fully embraced the darkness so you still have saviour magic and that doesn't require a price".
Emma placed her hands over Robin wound and it healed. Regina hugged him and Emma kissed Neal and said "I feel woozy, probably had a glass of champagne too many. I'm going to go sit down and she left the room. She was halfway down the hall when the apparition appeared again "the power, it feels good doesn't it"?
"I was helping someone" Emma argued.
He pointed at her hand and asked "then why didn't the kiss stop that"? Emma looked at her hand and saw it getting paler.
Regina Mary-Margaret, David, Leroy and Arthur came to the edge of a pond where the fury had dropped Robin and as the moon was at its highest point Charon who ferried the souls of the dead to the underworld arrived. As everyone tried to save him the fury knocked them down and started pulling Robins soul from his body. Regina knew what she had to do, if she wanted to be a saviour she had to save him. She ran up to where Robin was and said "if you want a life take mine".
The fury changed its victim and started taking Regina's soul. Mary-Margaret cried "Regina, what are you doing"?
Regina replied "what I should have done in Camelot".
Mary-Margaret came up to her and said "you don't have to do this alone" she took Regina's hand and forming a link. David took Regina's other hand, Leroy took Mary-Margaret's and Arthur took David's also forming a link. The five souls was too much for the fury blasting it back and as the moon started going down Charon got pulled back.
Regina went to check on Robin and as he opened his eyes he said "I think you found a few believers".
Regina turned towards the others and asked "how did you know that would work"?
Mary-Margaret replied "we didn't, but you know me, I'm an optimist".
David said "and we weren't just gonna let you go".
Leroy added "standing up to that beast and risking your own life proves if anyone is going to save this town it's you".
That night as everyone was in Granny's Henry re-met Violet, Regina turned Sneezy back, and a few others worried about Emma. Meanwhile in Emma's new house the apparition returned "what's wrong feeling left out"?
Emma asked "what are you doing here, I already embraced the darkness"?
He replied "yes but more work is required. As long as the dark ones have existed something has always held us from fulfilling our truest dark potential. Although my persona did come very close."
"What is it that holds us back"?
"The pull of the family that we're so desperate to protect. The friendships that remind us of who we used to be. The magic that threatens to undo our most evil deeds. Worst of all the love that refuses to give up on us". Emma went into her basement as he continued "the light tries to pull us back but you can change that. It is after all why you brought that sword". Emma stood in front of Excalibur back in the stone. The designs on the sword were similar to the ones on the dagger because they used to be one in the same. "You can make the sword whole again and use it to snuff out the light forever".
As she attempted to pull the sword out she was pushed back for even though she was of royal descent things had changed. Now to take out the sword she needed a true hero.
Who should the other dark one be
Neal - 1
Anyone Else - 0