AN: Trigger warnings to many things are present in this story. Don't like don't read.

I do not Once Upon a Time.

There are my own Original Characters in this at times.

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Emma stood leaning against the doorway to the stables, her heart throbbing painfully in her chest. The sun was beginning to set, the orange and red painted sky seeming like the scene of a battle to her tired eyes. Bloodshed was something she had too much of as the Dark One, seeing and hearing too much. While growing up as an orphan she had been through her own share of horror, but she thought she had outrun that life, had out run the horrors that one child should never have to witness. Instead, she ran headfirst into horrors that no one should ever have to see in her life.

A hand rested gently on her shoulder, "You can't blame yourself Emma. You had no choice."

She shook her head, tears blurring her vision, "Did I?" She turned to face Daniel, "I had plenty of choices. Instead, I allowed Killian to take a random villager's heart."

Daniel shook his head, "What other choice did you have? Think back. Cora wanted nothing more than to hurt Regina."

A smooth voice came from behind them, one that sent a shiver down Emma's spine, "I didn't have my heart, Emma. Regina never could have pleased me." Cora stopped beside her, red and black ballgown making her look as regal as Regina had ever looked, "It's because of you that I have my heart, that I'm alive and was able to track Daniel down."

Emma shook her head, a sob getting free uncontrollably, "She's going to hate me. Killing me, I'll gladly accept but I don't know if I can handle her hating me."

Cora's hand came up to rub gentle circles on her back, "She won't hate you. When you brought me back from the underworld, you said I deserved a second chance. So do you."

Emma shook her head, turning back to the sunset, "I had too many already. Everything I did was for Regina, but I never guessed the changes that would come of it."

Nimue appeared in front of her, "Because you never think before you act. That is why Regina could never love you. You are an idiot. A Queen deserves better."

Tears slid down Emma's face, her heart clenching in pain. She didn't want to believe Nimue but what else did she have. Regina deserved so much better. She deserved the world at her feet, Evil Queen aside, but she couldn't take back what she did. She couldn't take back the pain that Regina had suffered, though Emma made sure to deliver the final blow to that worthless garbage that was her grandfather.

Emma shook her head, "Having a hand in my grandfather's death is something I don't think Snow will ever forgive me for."

Cora scoffed, "Snow can hold a grudge just as well as my daughter." She pursed her lips, "I should know. I killed her mother."

Emma snorted, "I guess I'm more like you than her."

Cora nodded, "You are, but we can apologize and forgive ourselves for what we have done. That's something that Regina has struggled with since the curse."

Emma shook her head, "I'll never forgive myself for hurting her."

Cora rolled her eyes, "And just like Regina, you are more stubborn than anyone I have ever met."

Daniel chuckled, "Not everyone can be the Queen of Hearts Cora. If you've forgotten you mostly just called off with their heads."

Cora swatted his shoulder playfully, "You hush. Times have changed."

Daniel laughed as he shook his head, drawing Emma's attention to him. "See this Emma? You did this. The woman who wanted to kill me is standing right here with me, after tracking me down."

Cora rolled her eyes again, sighing exaggeratingly, "Don't get me started on how tedious it was to find him."

Daniel grimaced at the Queen, shoulder bumping her lightly, "You know you enjoyed letting your hair down on that trek." Cora scoffed, unable to keep the small smirk off her face. Daniel turned back to Emma, "I love Regina. I always will. She has a special piece of my heart."

Emma turned to him finally, "But?"

He grinned, "But, my wife is my true love, Emma. Thanks to what you did, I found my true love and we have a beautiful family. I have four children that I adore and would do anything for. I have my first grandchild on the way too."

Cora smiled at Daniel, "They are the spitting image of you and Merida."

Emma frowned, "I ripped Merida's heart out."

Daniel chuckled, "That's in the past Emma. You were in the past at the time. She has forgiven you, she told you so herself."

Emma shook her head, "I've lived so many lifetimes in the past year." She turned back to the disappearing sun, "How can I ever explain all that to anyone. Regina will never forgive me once she finds out."

Cora wrapped her arm around her waist, standing beside her, "If my daughter can forgive me for what I did to her. She will forgive you for saving her first love from the hands of her Evil mother."

Emma wasn't convinced and Nimue reappeared, crossing her arms over her chest, "As lovely as that is, you and I know that is not how Regina works. You not only took Robin Hood from her, but now you took the one person that started her reign as the Evil Queen. It's because of you that she was forced into the marriage to the king. It's because of you that she resorted to giving into the Darkness. It's all your fault and you know it."

Merlin appeared beside Nimue, "Emma you know that everything you did was for the greater good. Everything you did had to be done to right other wrongs that were worse than that. It was the only way to defeat the Darkness."

Nimue scoffed, "If you had just given into the Darkness, you wouldn't be in this mess. You wouldn't be harboring the darkest of secrets from the woman you love. What do you think Regina is going to do to you when she finds out that not only did you bring her mother back from the Underworld, but that Daniel is alive and all that death and destruction she caused was for nothing?"

Emma's body shook, her knees buckling before she could stop it. Her knees hit the hard wooden floor as a sob ripped from her chest. She could hear Cora and Daniel's voices, but it sounded muffled. Her head was underwater, and she was drowning. Her own emotions were going to kill her before Regina ever got to her. She couldn't stop the emotions from swirling through her entire body. Her soul felt as if it was trying to rip apart at the seams, the pain so excruciating that it felt as if she couldn't draw air into her lungs.

Daniel knelt in front of her as Cora's arms wrapped around her trembling body, "Emma, look at me." Emma brought her head up far enough to look into Daniel's blue worried eyes, "Look right at me. Take a slow deep breath. In…" he nodded at her as she inhaled deeply, "Out." He forced himself to do the same, to get her to follow along with his inhale and exhales.

Slowly Emma felt herself calming, the emotions that were surging through her body slowly receding once more. Exhaustion pulled at her mind, her eyes growing heavy as she struggled to keep them open.

Cora held her tighter, "We need to get her somewhere safe to sleep. She can't return to Regina's like this."

Daniel nodded, quickly pulling Emma into his arms, "We can use the loft." His eyes darted up before he frowned at the Queen, "Do you really thing Regina would hate Emma for this?"

Cora shook her head, her hand brushing a stray strand of hair from Emma's pale face, "No. I think she'll be thrilled you're alive, but I do think she'll give Emma a piece of her mind."

Daniel snorted, "A piece?"

Cora smirked, "Well, you know…" she waved her hand dismissively in the air, encasing them in purple smoke.

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Regina frowned as she glanced at the clock for the thousandth time that night. It was well after two in the morning and Emma had been gone all day and they hadn't heard a word from her. Zelena was pacing in front of the fireplace, her brows furrowed in thought, "Where the hell could she be?" She turned to Regina, "You're sure Robin didn't hurt her in anyway?"

Regina frowned, "He claimed after they talked, she disappeared. He said she was upset about something, but she didn't give him a chance to stop her."

Snow frowned, rocking gently back and forth, clutching Neal to her chest as she rubbed his back, "Where would Emma go when upset? She always goes to you, Regina. Where would she go if you weren't available?"

Regina hesitated before frowning, "I was always available. When she called, I always dropped everything to meet her."

Zelena nodded, "Which means she doesn't have a place to go right now because apparently you are the one she's trying to get away from."

Regina shook her head, "Why? Would she be running from me now, after all this time?"

Violet smoke encased the room, putting everyone instantly on edge. Charming backed Snow into a corner, protecting her and their son as Regina and Zelena stood side by side ready for anything. When the smoke cleared, everyone's eyes widened, mouths dropping open in shock.

Cora raised an eyebrow at her daughters, "It's so nice to see you all getting along."

"Cora…" Snow's voice was soft, just above a whisper but sounded so much louder in the silent room.

Cora nodded, a small smile pulling at the corner of her lips, "Snow, so good to see you again. No hard feelings by the way." She turned back to Regina, "Actually I'm here for a more important matter."

Regina frowned, "How… When…" She couldn't get her thoughts together. The last she had seen her mother was in the underworld.

Cora grinned, "Trade secret, but suffice it to say that Emma needs help."

Regina's body tensed, anger flaring in her eyes like the fireball that appeared in her hand, "What did you do to her?"

Cora raised her hands, "Nothing. We found her that's all."

Zelena frowned, "We?"

Cora hesitated, a grimace appearing on her face, "It's complicated and really something that Emma should be the one to explain. She's having a hard time with the guilt."

Regina frowned, fireball disappearing in sizzle, "Guilt for what?"

Cora sighed, "It's a very long story but right now Emma is what's important."

Regina glanced at Zelena, not sure if she could trust her mother, "Where is she?"

Cora cocked her head at Regina, "I understand that trust is going to have to be rebuilt, but it goes both ways. Emma is in a fragile state and while I'm sure you all have seen it, how can I be sure you won't turn on her?"

Snow moved forward, handing Neal to Charming, "Emma is my daughter Cora."

Cora nodded, eyes narrowing at the shorter woman, "Yes and she has been suffering for months, long before she was no longer the Dark One. She secluded herself away on that ship. She was alone and you didn't attempt to help her."

Regina frowned, "Both Henry and I checked the Jolly Roger multiple times."

Cora turned soft eyes on her daughter, "Yes but Emma knew the ends and outs of that ship. You did not. There are many secrets that Hook built into that ship. Emma knows them all, including the hiding spots."

Regina frowned, sadness lacing every word, "We should have looked harder."

Cora shook her head, "You were the only ones to keep calling, to keep pressure on her. The only ones that cared enough to force yourselves into her life." She turned a glare back to Snow, "You gave up after the first week. You called the station once a week and stopped calling her cell phone."

Snow frowned, "She didn't want to talk to us. She's been pushing us away long before she became the Dark One."

Cora snapped, fury radiating from her very being, "What did you expect Snow? You put her in a box just so the Evil Queen couldn't get to her. I may have done horrible things to my daughter but at least I was there, in her life, until she shoved me through the looking glass. I didn't let her go and while I held her too tight at least I held her. You abandoned her to a world you know nothing about. You choose your people, your kingdom over your own daughter. At least what I did was for my daughter. You gave Emma up without a thought of how she would survive, of how she would feel at that knowledge."

Regina and Zelena shared a glance, feeling as if they were all being scolded even though it wasn't directed at them. Regina knew all the blame couldn't be placed on Snow and Charming, but she was grateful that all of it wasn't exactly on her either. Which begged the question, why was her mother going to bat so hard for Emma? What had Emma done? Was it solely because Emma saved her from the Underworld? Or was there more to the story? What had her mother meant when she said Emma had been suffering longer? She had been so consumed with trying to find a way to save Emma from the Darkness. Did she miss the signs? What happened in the time that Emma was the Dark One. Emma had been missing for weeks before they finally made it to the Enchanted Forest to find her. What had Emma been through? What had she done in that time?

Severely chastised, Snow backed into Charming, turning her face into his shoulder as she cried. Zelena raised an eyebrow, "Well now that that's finished, where's Swan?"

Cora shook her head, "I came here," she turned to Regina, "to tell you she's safe for the time being."

Regina frowned, "What do you mean, for the time being?"

Cora's brows pulled together, "Her guilt is growing the longer she keeps her secrets. I'm asking you to forgive her. To never hate her. I'm begging you Regina, just hear her out before you cast judgement on her."

Anxiety began to grow, a tight ball weighing heavily in her stomach, "I could never hate her."

Cora nodded, "She's afraid you will when she tells you the truth. It took me a while to come to terms with it as well, which is why I wasn't around. I was in Wonderland searching…" She glanced out the window, "But that's a story for another time. Get some sleep, we'll bring Emma around in the morning." without waiting for a response Cora disappeared in a plume of smoke.

Zelena frowned, glancing at her sister, "What could Swan possibly be keeping from you that has her descending into madness?"

Regina moved towards the window, staring out at the star filled sky. She had no idea what Emma would be so worried about, but something inside her heart said she was going to have to breath before reacting. Which was something she had never been good at. Which begged the question, was there anything that Emma could do that would destroy their relationship before it even got started?

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A loud roar echoed through the forest, sending Emma straight to her feet sweat dripping from her face. The nightmare had been more horrific than ever before this time. Another roar ripped through the trees closer to where she was, and she crossed to the mow, double doors, that sat open allowing a cool breeze through the loft. While she was grateful to be out of the nightmare she wasn't thrilled for the reason.

Daniel appeared beside her, "I think something came through the portal with Cora and I."

Emma grimaced, "Of course it did. Where's Cora?"

Daniel frowned, "She went to Regina, to let her know that you were safe."

A large tree crashed down, shaking the entire stable as the large beast stomped towards them. Emma sighed, "Stay here. Trolls are easy to handle." She disappeared in a billow of grey smoke and reappeared behind the troll, "Why must everything always end up in Storybrooke?"

Nimue snorted, "Because you're here."

Emma glared at her, even as she launched a bolt of magic at the Troll's back, "Not the time."

Merlin leaned against a tree as the wind began whip around them, "It's the truth Emma. You are the Savior."

She glared at him, ignoring the advancing Troll, "Why do you two always appear when I don't want you too?"

Nimue smirked at her, crossing her arms over her chest, "Because that's when you are in your head the most. You think too much."

The wind rushed through her ears, her long hair wrapping around her face in stinging slaps, "It's all I can do lately."

Nimue nodded, "It's eating you alive and the Darkness will take advantage of that. It's still inside you Swan. It always will be. No matter what you do, it will still be there."

Merlin shook his head, "But that doesn't mean you have to give into it. You can decide for yourself if you want to accept it or not. Everything you've been through Emma, is nothing but something to make you stronger. You know that."

Emma frowned as she shook her head, finally noticing the Troll. She focused on her magic, raising her hands and allowing it to flow through her palms. The heat warmed her body but soon it turned to a burn in her palms. She frowned, realizing that she was losing control again.

Merlin frowned, taking a step towards her, "Your emotions are too wild Emma. Stop."

The wind swirled around her, dark clouds covering the moon and leaving her in a pitch-black loneliness. Stifling as it was, she hadn't felt this free since she had become the Dark One. Nimue's voice was loud in her ear, the sound of the wind no longer reaching her, the woman's chin on her shoulder as she grinned darkly up at her, "Embrace the Darkness. Let it give you the freedom you so desperately need."

Merlin appeared on her other side, his frown heavy and eyes filled with worry, "Don't do this Emma. You are stronger than the Darkness. You have love on your side. You have a family that needs you, that loves you."

Nimue scoffed, hand sliding down Emma's shoulder, across her arm, cupping the back of her hand, "They always need something from you. They always want something but never give you anything in return. Snow and Charming are so preoccupied with your little brother, never having time for you. That's why they stopped trying to reach out to you."

Emma's magic pulsed with the anger that began to rush through her veins. She could feel the Darkness gripping her chest as it had when she had plunged the dagger into it, coating her mind in relief. Wrapping her entire being in satisfaction.

Merlin shook his head, stepping closer to Emma's side, "That's not true and you know it. They were trying to give you the space you wanted. They have always tried to do as you needed because they still feel guilty for what they did. They love you, Emma."

She felt her magic surge once more before slowly receding, her hands on fire, the flames growing as she struggled with her magic.

Nimue snarled angrily, "What about the fact that Regina and Robin seem to be closer than ever? Why else would she have willingly let you go with him after claiming to want to keep you at the mansion? Do you really think he was just going to step out of the way? Let you slip in and steal his girlfriend? Regina is playing with you, hoping to help you while lying so you'll do what she wants. She doesn't love you and never will once she learns of Daniel, when she finds out what you and Hook did. Don't kid yourself Swan. Don't let the daydreams, the wishful thinking, the…" She leaned in closer, lips pressing against Emma cold ear, "Hope… Don't let Snow White's naiveite corrupt what you know to be true."

Emma's eyes rose to the troll in front of her as the anger burst to life inside her. Her chest tightened, magic circling her body with a surge of power. She felt the scream roll up her chest, ripping from her throat as her magic exploded from her entire body. The blast tore at the flesh of the troll, its roar of pain piercing every part of Emma's psyche.

Merlin growled, anger flaring in his eyes, "It's not Snow White's naiveite Emma. It's all you. You want this, you want to believe in your family. In the love that Regina has in her heart. You want to believe that she could love you. This isn't what others are telling you, it isn't what others want. It's what you want! Don't let your fears cloud what you believe in your heart. For once in your life let your heart lead you to what you want. For once in your life, believe in your heart over your head."

The taste of blood-filled Emma's mouth, her throat raw and on fire as the scream died away. The wind slowly faded to a soft breeze. The smoking pile of ash in front of her all that was left of the troll that had been the focus of her anger. Her body shook, her magic no longer pulsing inside her but barley there, a simple thrum that she knew was a bad sign. Her head ached, the pain searing through her brain as her vision blurred. She focused on the stable, seeing two figures running towards her, but her body was too weak to take a step. She glanced around, finding herself alone once more. Nimue and Merlin no where to be found.

Daniel's and Cora's yells reached her ears, but she couldn't answer, her throat swelling slightly with the scream she had released. Oddly enough she felt better, emotionally. Maybe screaming out frustrations was a way to go for her. She felt her body falling, unable to stop it in her weakened state.

Daniel's arms wrapped around her, catching her before she hit the ground, "What's happening?"

Cora frowned, cupping Emma's face in her hands, "She's drained herself. All her magic is nearly gone, and she tapped into her life force to do it. We need to get to Regina's. NOW." She gripped Emma's arm, before glancing up at Daniel, "This is going to be a messy morning. Stay focused, I'll need ingredients to make a potion. Emma needs us now more than ever."

Daniel nodded, "We'll deal with Regina later. Let's do this." Cora nodded, taking a deep breath before whisking them away to the mansion she had left not too long ago.

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Regina turned to Zelena, "There were a few weeks that it took to find a way to Emma. So much could have happened in that time."

Zelena nodded, "Alright but what specifically would you think? Mother was adamant that Swan would think you would hate her."

Snow frowned as she wiped her face of tears, "Daniel?"

Regina frowned at her, "That was you Snow."

Snow shook her head, "I know that but what in your life was more important than him? You did all of this, trying to kill me, cursing the entire kingdom, all for him."

Regina shook her head, "It wasn't just him Snow. Everything started with him, but other things compounded to turn me into the Evil Queen."

Snow frowned, "What else but the thing that started it all?"

Regina shook her head, "I put that behind me the moment you became my friend Snow."

Snow's eyes teared again, widening in shock, "We're friends?"

Regina narrowed her eyes at the annoyingly emotional woman, "I'm beginning to rethink it."

Snow shook her head, a smile pulling at her lips, "Nope, you said it. Now you can't take it back."

Zelena rolled her eyes, "I'm going to vomit."

Regina shook her head, "Let's get back to the problem at hand." She wracked her memories, trying to find something that her mother could be referring to, but she came up empty. Silence descended on the mansion once again. She was thankful that Henry had long gone to bed, but Charming still had a sleeping Neal against his chest. She sighed heavily, "Let's pick this up in the morning. We're all tired and he needs to sleep in a bed."

"Let us know as soon as Emma returns," Snow spoke gently, smiling warmly at her.

Regina nodded, "Of Cour-" Her words were cut off as a plume of violet smoke swirled into the air.

Cora's voice was firm, a slight rush to the words, tone hard and slightly panicked, "We have to get her upstairs. She's already fading."

Regina's eyes widened, jaw dropping open in horrified shock. Snow's eyes were round saucers, jaw hanging open. Hearts pounding in their chests, war drums to their ears. Tones different but the word that escaped them both in a huff of breath was the same, "Daniel?"