Chapter 2

Storybrooke, Maine

Present

"Good morning, My Dear Swan. I hope you slept well." Regina said, as Emma descended the stairs, joining her in the kitchen.

"Like the dead!" Emma laughed, taking a seat across the table from the Queen.

"We made the front page!" Regina laughed, handing Emma the copy of the Storybrooke Daily Mirror, showing a picture of both the Dark One and the Evil Queen. The headline read "The Dark One and The Evil Queen Kidnap School Teacher, Threaten to Terrorize Town."

"News really does travel fast." Emma laughed, tossing the newspaper aside. "So, Your Majesty, what shall we do today? Oh! Can we kill someone?" Emma asked, her eyes wide with excitement.

"Not today, My Dear Swan. Before we kill anyone, I think our new pet might be lonely down in the dungeon all alone. Perhaps we should procure her a companion. But who should it be?" Regina asked, sarcastically.

"I think I have a pretty good idea!" Emma smirked, raising her hand, Regina stopping her before she could "poof" herself away.

"Wait. Eat first. You have to keep up your strength." Regina said. As she waved her hand, a large spread of breakfast food appeared on the table.

"You're always looking out for my well being." Emma smiled, as she picked up a piece of bacon.

After their breakfast feast was long gone, Emma stood up, making her way over to Regina, extending a hand to escort the Queen into the other room.

"What do you say, Your Majesty? Is it time to add to our collection?" Emma asked, walking with Regina towards the door to the basement.

"Yes, I think the time is right!" Regina answered, as they waved their hands over the lock, the door swinging open on its own.

"I'll go this time. I'll meet you downstairs." Emma said, releasing Regina's arm.

"Do be quick. You know I hate waiting." Regina smiled, making her way downstairs as Emma disappeared in a cloud of black smoke.

Charming and Henry sat at the kitchen counter in Snow's loft, eating stale cereal with questionable milk. Neither one had slept much, worrying about the three missing women. Half the town was working hard figuring out a way to stop Emma and Regina from wreaking havoc. While not causing them harm, and saving Snow's life. So far, no course of action had been discovered that didn't result in at least one of the women losing their lives. The hair on the back of their necks stood up suddenly, seconds before a cloud of black smoke appeared in the middle of the room.

"Mom?" Henry asked, as he turned around to find his mother standing behind him.

"Dad! I need your help! It's urgent!" Emma said, sounding like herself again, not the harsh deep tone of the Dark One.

"Emma? What is it?" Charming asked, sliding off the stool.

"It's Regina. I think she's going to kill Mom. I need you to come with me right now. We need to stop her!" Emma pleaded.

"Of course!" Charming said, moving closer to Emma.

"What should I do?" Henry asked, scared.

"Stay here. It's not safe for you. We'll come back when we can." Emma said, taking Charming's arm, waving her other hand, summoning the black cloud. When the smoke cleared, Emma and Charming were gone, leaving Henry alone in the loft.

Charming appeared in the basement, in a cell identical to Snow's, a row of bars separating him from his wife, still chained to the wall.

"What? What's going on?" He asked, confused, when he saw his daughter appear next to Regina, an evil smile stretching across both their faces.

"That was too easy." Emma laughed, causing Regina to laugh along with her.

"He was always quite gullible. It's good to see some things never change." Regina laughed.

"Let me out of here!" Charming screamed, shaking the bars in front of him, before turning around suddenly to see Snow in the cell next to him. "SNOW! LET US OUT OF HERE!" Charming screamed, rushing over to reach out towards Snow.

"That is very disrespectful, don't you think, Your Majesty? Here we are, offering him free accommodations, and he's screaming at us, demanding to be released. Sounds very disrespectful to me." Emma said, coldly.

"I have to agree, My Dear Swan." Regina answered.

"This is unacceptable behavior." Emma said. With a wave of her hand, Charming was suddenly chained to the wall like Snow, his mouth gagged as well. "Now, that's better." Emma smiled.

"Come now." Regina said, reaching to lightly touch Emma's back. "I think these two need to think about what they've done. Before the fun begins." Regina said, leading the way back towards the stairs, Emma following behind her.

Just before the door closed behind them, the torches on the wall were suddenly extinguished, leaving Snow and Charming in complete darkness, as they heard the sound of the door closed and the locks sliding back into place.


The Enchanted Forest

Six weeks ago

It felt like they walked for days. Henry stayed glued to Emma's side, oftentimes with his arms around her waist. Killian always made sure to keep his one hand on Emma at all times, as if they were both afraid she might disappear if they let go. Regina was always close by, keeping an eye on Emma. Charming and Snow stayed a little farther behind, trying not to make it obvious they now feared their daughter's new magic a little.

With every step closer to Camelot the more challenging it became for Emma to resist the Darkness. The sheer pain of resistance eventually became unbearable and Emma needed to rest. Detangling herself from the clutches of Henry and Killian, she quickly tried to separate herself from the group, only to have Killian follow.

"Killian, please. I just need a few minutes." Emma urged, pushing him away slightly.

"I'm just worried about you, Love." Killian said, trying to keep Emma close to him.

"I'm fine." She said, storming off, while the rest of the group rested. When Emma didn't return after fifteen minutes, Regina quietly slipped away, searching the surrounding forest for any signs of the blonde.

"Emma?" She asked, quietly, when she discovered Emma near the water, doubled over in pain, sobbing, the pain too great. "Emma!" She called, running over to the blonde, holding the woman tightly.

"It hurts so much, Regina!" Emma cried, burying her face in Regina's neck.

"I know." Regina said, running her hand up and down Emma's back. "Just hang on a little longer. The worst of it will pass soon." Regina whispered, attempting to reassure the blonde. She could feel the Darkness surrounding Emma. She could also feel the familiar pain in her chest, as she attempted to resist the same Darkness as Emma. Years of experience made it easier and less painful for Regina. Emma shook in Regina's arms, as she cried in pain. "You can do this, Emma." Regina whispered, as Emma held onto her tighter.

A few moments later, Emma's shaking began to subside, the pull of the Darkness fading significantly, but not completely.

"How do you feel?" Regina asked, as Emma pulled away from the brunette.

"Better. The pain is still there, but it's bearable." Emma answered, wiping the tears from her face. "Is it always like that? Resisting the Darkness?" Emma asked.

"Pretty much." Regina answered, wishing she had better news.

"I know you can feel it too. The Darkness. I can tell. It's like it keeps reaching out for you, to bring you down with me." Emma said, locking her now darker eyes with Regina's.

"I can feel it too." Regina answered. "We need to get the Darkness out of you as soon as we can…for both our sakes." Regina added.

"How do you do it? Resist it for so long?" Emma asked.

"It's a constant struggle. Every day." Regina said, tears welling in her eyes. "But when I reach the edge, just before the Darkness consumes me completely, I think about Henry, and the people who matter most to me, and I realize how much I would lose if I went dark again, and it gives me the strength to keep fighting." Regina explained, smiling slightly at Emma. "It gets easier over time, but the pain is always there. It helps that for twenty-eight years I was without magic." She laughed, causing Emma to chuckle slightly.

"We better get back to the group before they think I killed you." Emma laughed, standing up.

"As if you would stand a chance against me." Regina laughed, following Emma back to the group.

A few hours later, they arrived at the city of Camelot, tired, hungry and in pain. Snow immediately started grabbing each passing citizen, demanding they tell her where Merlin could be found. Eventually, they were told where they could find the mysterious Wizard. As they approached the hut just outside the city walls, a young man walked out, greeting the group as if they were old friends.

"Emma Swan. I've been expecting you." Merlin said, as Emma approached him, followed by a very productive Killian.

"You knew I was coming?" Emma asked, shocked.

"Of course. You don't become an all powerful Wizard without gaining a few perks." Merlin laughed, extending his hand to shake Emma's. "You come seeking a way to rid yourself of the Darkness associated with becoming the Dark One, is that correct?" He asked, scanning the faces of the group.

"Can you help us?" Emma asked, defeated.

"You're in luck. I can help." Merlin said, smiling. "Come back here tonight, just after sundown. Now go. Rest and eat. It's been a long journey, and you are all exhausted." Merlin said, turning around and returning inside, leaving the group to make their way back to Camelot, a new found hope buzzing between them.


Storybrooke, Maine

Present

"So what shall we do today, Your Majesty?" Emma asked, as she flipped through the latest edition of The Storybrooke Mirror, the newest headline reading, "The Dark One and The Evil Queen Still at Large, Town Praying For The Safe Return of David Nolan and Mary Margaret Blanchard."

"Our guests have been here a few days now, perhaps it's time to have some fun." Regina answered, smiling as she took a sip of her coffee.

"Today is going to be a good day!" Emma said, sipping her coffee as well.

"Eat up. We're going to need our strength!" Regina said, stabbing a strawberry with her fork, eating it slowly.

An hour later, the duo made their way back downstairs, lighting the torches as they entered the dungeon, light filling the room for the first time in two days. Snow and Charming sat up, their minds fuzzy from exhaustion and starvation. With a wave of their hands, Snow and Charming were transported to the middle of their cells, arms suspended above their heads. They struggled to keep their eyes open as the doors on the cells unlocked, swinging open.

"Who should we start with?" Emma asked, as she stepped into Snow's cell. "Would you like the honors, Your Majesty?" Emma asked, turning towards Regina, who was walking into Charming's cell.

"I could never take that pleasure from you, My Dear Swan. They are, after all, your parents." Regina answered, smiling at Emma.

"Thank you." Emma said, smiling wide, as she swiftly took a step towards her mother suspended from the ceiling, punching her hard in the face, no doubt breaking her nose instantly, as blood oozed out.

"Open your eyes, Charming! You need to watch this!" Regina said softly, forcing Charming's face towards Snow.

"You ruined her life, do you know that?" Emma growled, her eyes black with rage, as she punched Snow square in the stomach, causing the woman to double over as much as her chains would allow. "Because of you, the love of her life died!" Emma yelled, punching Snow in the face again, splitting open the skin under her left eye. "She was forced to marry a man twice her age because of you!" Emma screamed, punching Snow in the face a few more times with both hands, so hard the skin on her knuckles split open, blood dripping down her sleeves.

"Are you enjoying the show?" Regina whispered in Charming's ear, as they both watched Emma take a step back, attempting to regain composure, before punching Snow once again in the stomach. As the woman groaned in pain, Emma slipped the gag away from her face, holding her head up.

"What do you have to say for yourself, Snow White?" Emma asked, the rage and anger building back up.

"I'm…I'm so sorry." Snow whispered, unable to speak any louder.

"I'm sorry? That's all you have to say?" Emma asked, reaching up and snapping back one of Snow's fingers, causing the woman to scream again. "I'm done with this one." Emma said calmly, shoving Snow, causing her to sway slightly.

"Did you hear that, Charming? It's my turn!" Regina whispered, stepping away from Charming.

"You're going to want to watch this, Mother." Emma whispered, forcing Snow's face towards Charming's cell, just in time to watch Regina land a few punches to Charming's stomach.

"You put your daughter into a magical wardrobe." Regina said, calmly, her fist making contact with Charming's face. "You tossed her away like she didn't matter. Sending her away to an unknown world all alone." Regina said, making contact with Charming's nose this time, breaking it like his Wife's. "The horrors she had to endure growing up in the foster system. The abuse. The mental anguish. It was all because of you!" Regina yelled, using Charming's stomach as a punching bag, making it hard for Charming to breathe. "How could you toss away your only child? Like she was nothing?" Regina screamed, kneeing Charming in the crotch, hard. "Answer me!" She screamed, ripping the gag from Charming's mouth.

"To give…her…her best…chance…" Charming managed to say, doubled over in pain.

"Not good enough!" Regina yelled, her knee once again making contact with Charming's crotch.

"You should make it even, Your Majesty." Emma laughed, still forcing her mother's face towards the abuse.

"Oh yes, of course!" Regina smiled, reaching up and snapping back one of Charming's fingers, to match his Wife's. "That's quite enough for today, don't you think?" Regina asked, stepping out of Charming's cell, pulling the door closed behind her.

"Yes. Wouldn't want to overdo it on the first day." Emma said, following suit, pulling the cell door closed behind her. With a wave of her hand, both cells locked with a loud click. "Should we let them rest? They've had a hard day after all." Emma added, looking at Regina.

"Yes, I think they would appreciate it." Regina said, waving her hand. The chains tethering them to the ceiling disappeared, and they both fell to the ground with a loud thump. "I don't think they will be attempting any escapes anytime soon. If they know what's good for them." Regina added.

"We should leave them to their rest." Emma said, turning towards Regina.

"My Dear Swan, look at your hands." Regina said, reaching to take Emma's bloody hands. "Let's get these wounds taken care of." Regina said, leading Emma upstairs, snuffing out the torches as they made their way upstairs, locking the door behind them.

"Please be more careful next time, My Dear Swan." Regina said, gently wiping the blood from Emma's knuckles, revealing the wound underneath. "I can not have you hurting yourself again." Regina added, her eyes bright as she gazed into Emma's, a sweet smile reaching both their faces.

"I promise, Your Majesty." Emma said, her black eyes turning a dark green suddenly.


The Enchanted Forest, City of Camelot

Six weeks ago

"We're going with you, Emma." Charming said, as they sat around the table, eating.

"No. It's too dangerous. I have no idea what Merlin has in store for me." Emma answered, picking at her dinner.

"Someone has to go with you, Emma. Someone has to be there…just in case." Snow said, looking at Killian for support.

"She's right, Swan. I'll go with you." Killian said, taking a sip of ale.

"Fine. But not you." Emma said, turning towards Regina. "I want Regina to come with me." Emma said.

"Seriously? Her?" Killian said, clearly offended by Emma's choice of companion.

"Yes." Emma said, a fierceness in her eyes. "Regina, you in?"

"Of course." Regina answered, discreetly checking her jacket pocket to make sure Emma's dagger was still safely tucked away inside.

As the sun began to set, Emma and Regina left the group, making their way back to Merlin's hut. Their nerves already shot. Merlin was already seated outside, shadows dancing over his face from the large fire burning in the pit in front of him.

"Did you bring the Dark One dagger?" Merlin asked as they approached the fire.

"Yes." Emma said, turning towards Regina to make sure she still had the dagger, receiving a small nod in response.

"Good. Give it here." He said, holding his hand out.

"I think not." Regina said, taking a step back. "I'll be holding on to it, thank you."

"If things go wrong, are you willing to take drastic measures against your friend?" Merlin asked, still holding his hand out towards Regina.

"I'm willing to do whatever is necessary to ensure everyone's safety." Regina answered.

"Fine, as long as you are aware of your part." Merlin said, turning towards Emma. "Are you ready?" He asked.

"Yes! I'm ready for this to all be over." Emma answered, turning towards Regina.

"This will not be an easy task." Merlin said, stepping towards Emma, carrying a small wooden bowl. "The Darkness will fight for control of your body. You must fight it with all your might. You must resist or the Darkness will consume you completely. Do you understand?" Merlin asked.

"I understand. Darkness bad, fight good." Emma said, causing Regina to laugh quietly.

"You must drink this." Merlin said, handing Emma the wooden bowl. "It will begin a few moments after."

"Regina, step back. Don't get too close, please. I don't want it to take you down with me." Emma said, looking at Regina. There was something in Emma's eyes that Regina had no time to question, as Emma quickly drank the liquid contained in the wooden bowl.

Regina could instantly feel the Darkness surrounding Emma increase, causing her to run until she could no longer feel the Darkness reaching for her. Emma immediately doubled over in pain, screaming, as she tried to fight the pull of the Darkness. She wanted to run to the woman, to take her in her arms again and give her the strength to fight. However, it only took a single step in Emma's direction for Regina to feel the Darkness reaching for her, causing her to retreat instantly.

"Keep fighting, Emma." Merlin said, calmly, as Emma continued to scream in pain.

"I can't do this." Emma screamed, falling to her knees.

"You must keep fighting." Merlin said again, his eyes fixed on Emma.

"I CAN'T!" Emma screamed.

"YES YOU CAN, EMMA!" Regina screamed, causing Emma to turn her attention to her. "YOU CAN DO THIS!"

"REGINA! I CAN'T DO THIS! I'M NOT STRONG ENOUGH!" Emma screamed, tears streaming down her face.

"YES YOU CAN! YOU CAN DO THIS!" Regina screamed back. "YOU'RE STRONGER THAN THIS!"

"I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!" Emma said, as she stood back up, walking towards Merlin, as if no longer in control of her body.

"EMMA!" Regina screamed, as she watched Emma plunge her hand deep into Merlin's chest, pulling out his glowing heart. "EMMA! DON'T!"

"I'm so sorry Regina." Emma said, her fingers tightening around Merlin's heart. "I failed you." She said, as Merlin's heart turned into ash in Emma's hand. As the ashes of Merlin's heart slipped through Emma's fingers, a black cloud of smoke engulfed her.

When the smoke cleared, Emma looked completely different. Her long white robes were replaced with tight black leather, her long blonde hair now completely white, pulled back in a tight bun at the back of her head, her lips blood red and her eyes completely black.

Emma Swan had been completely consumed by the Darkness.

"I'm so sorry." She whispered, throwing her hands in the air, disappearing in a cloud of black smoke.