A Dark Choice
Camelot was a beautiful realm in and of itself, but the castle the Storybrooke citizens entered was quite impressive, at least to the others. Piper hardly bat an eye at it, she had lived in and been mistress of the Dark One's castle. This, to her, paled in comparison.
"Wow," Henry breathed from beside her, having walked there between her and Emma, Snow White and Charming leading the way with Hook just behind them, but nearer to Emma.
"Wow is right," Charming remarked, looking around as they crossed the bridge into the courtyard to fanfare and cheers.
"I am so not dressed for this," Snow White murmured, seeing the lovely gowns the women were wearing as they passed.
"His Royal Highness, King Arthur," a page announced.
Arthur grinned, bowing to his people before holding out a hand to a lovely woman nearby, leading her over to their new guests, "And now allow me to introduce the loveliest creature in all of Camelot...my Queen, Guinevere."
"Your Majesty," Snow dropped into a curtsey, sans dress, leading the others to bow and do the same, though Piper remained standing, looking around at the castle with a frown.
"The pleasure is ours," Guinevere smiled at them, studiously ignoring the insult in Piper's refusal to bow or greet them, "We have been awaiting your arrival from the moment we heard Merlin's prophecy."
"Well, we hope you haven't been waiting too long," Charming tried to joke.
"Only a decade or so," Arthur laughed, waving off Charming's wince, "I'll wager it's been worth the wait. And, as a bonus, it's given us more than enough time to prepare a ball in your honor tonight."
Cheers went up from Arthur's people, even those of Storybrooke seemed eager and excited for that old piece of normal they were used to. Piper was not quite so thrilled, for she was certain, as soon as the excitement wore off, someone of Storybrooke would inevitably remember...
"I think it would be best if you sit this one out," Charming spoke, sending a narrow-eyed look at Piper as he and Snow glanced at her, using the commotion around them for a somewhat private few words.
That she was a half-Siren who thrived on music and not wish her to be anywhere near something musical.
Piper merely turned to him, an eyebrow raised, "And who shall stop me?"
"David has a point..." Snow began.
"The only point he has ever had is the tip of his sword," Piper remarked, "If I do not attend, you shall have to explain to your hosts why..."
"You have a headache," Charming cut in, "You suddenly had a really bad migraine, didn't you?"
"That's not fair," Henry appeared at her side, having stepped away a moment for more of a look at the castle, frowning at his grandfather, "They invited everyone, Aunt P too."
"Henry..." Snow tried.
"You defended Cinderella going when all eligible women were invited, you have to let Aunt P go, too."
"Ella wasn't a..."
"Villain?" Piper supplied with a smile on her face, finding she was actually enjoying this more than she thought she would. It hadn't been often she would stand against her cousin so blatantly, instead trying to speak to her, reason with her. So often she would be too concerned about how Snow would feel or what might bring harm to her, but now? Now she felt nothing, no remorse for making the woman so uncomfortable and putting her in this position. It was entertaining if she was being honest, "Monster? Creature? I have heard far worse, Snow White," she stepped forward, looking into Snow's eyes, her smile gone now, her voice dropping, "And I can do far worse before this ball even begins."
Truly, she didn't even really want to go to the ball, but being told not to attend, and by the Charmings no less, set her on the wrong side.
"Push me," she looked between the two of them, "And I will take control of this castle and burn it to the ground."
"Let's not go that far," Emma spoke, moving over to Piper's side, having been momentarily distracted by Hook's less than pleased reaction to the news but spotting her parents confronting her aunt and moved back to them, putting a hand on Piper's arm even as she spoke to her parents next, "She's going."
"Emma," Charming sighed.
"She goes or I don't," Emma said, knowing from something Snow White had said a long time ago that the woman had thought of all the firsts she could have with her daughter and missed due to the Curse, preparing her for a ball was one of them.
"Or me," Henry agreed.
Piper smirked at their defense, "Leave me to my devices, and I shall not touch my pipe all evening," she said, turning to Henry, "Is that not a reasonable bargain?"
Henry nodded and turned to his grandparents expectantly, they could do nothing but sigh and look away, leaving them to take that as acceptance. Piper chose not to remind them she didn't exactly need her pipe to cause havoc, just her voice and her words could be enough, but let them think they were safe from her magic for that night. If Emma and Henry would be there, the chances of her doing anything that could result in their harm would be slim to begin with.
Hook, who had been lurking about beside Emma, huffed once the dispute was settled, grumbling, "We don't have time to waste on a bloody dance!"
Emma gave him an odd look, "I'm not going to go dark in one night."
And, really, a night of festivities, of happiness and cheer…she would have thought those would be things they'd want her to focus on and be surrounded by.
Hook though, shook his head, "I'm not willing to take that chance," and hurried over to Arthur, "Your Majesty...when are we gonna start our quest to find Merlin?"
"Find him?" Arthur seemed bemused by the question, "We don't need to find him. We know exactly where he is," he gestured for them to follow him on, Hook right behind him.
Piper moved to Emma's side, catching the girl's gaze in the corner of her eye as they, too, followed, "Alright?" she inquired, having noticed the frown that had grown on Emma's face just after Hook stormed off.
"Yeah," Emma shook her head, "Yeah, I just…"
She let out a breath, not really sure what just happened. Hook had just been saying an hour ago that it had to be her choice whether to use the Dark One's magic, that he trusted her to make the right choice…and now he was acting like she was going to snap at any moment. Where had the faith gone?
…and why was he so determined?
She understood, she did, that the Darkness wasn't meant for her and needed to be released back to Gold. She got that no one there wanted her to be the Dark One, hell she didn't want to be the Dark One either. It wasn't like she'd gone out there intent to kill Gold, or that she craved the power, or that she'd just been so desperate from some crisis that it was her only option. She hadn't planned this, it hadn't been intentional. And now…a part of her was wondering what Hook would do if they failed, if she really did become the Dark One. Would he hate her like he did Gold? Would he try to stop her? Did he hate Gold or literally the Darkness currently inside her?
He was acting like they had to get it out of her now or else.
Had Hook had any faith in her at all or was what he said in the woods just a show to gain her trust and get her to give Merida her heart back? Was he spinning words he thought she wanted to hear? Did he mean any of it? Because he sure as hell wasn't acting like he did.
…and what if she had instantly turned into the Dark One?
Would he think she'd go on a rampage or something? Go evil? Cause destruction and death and hurt? Or would he still trust that her heart was good, that she was good, even with a darkness in her? Did he only love her because she was noting but light?
Her thoughts were cut off when they came to a stop before a very large tree.
"This…" Arthur sighed, "This is Merlin, the prison he has been kept in. One we have failed to free him of, until now."
Piper snorted at that beside Emma, who elbowed her lightly in the arm to be quiet.
For once Piper was in agreement with Hook's rather unimpressed expression.
"So, the most powerful sorcerer in all the realms is stuck inside a bloody tree?" Hook scoffed, seeming to be honestly questioning just how 'powerful' Merlin was if that happened.
Arthur chuckled, "I said the same exact thing the first time I stood there."
"And you think we can get him out?" Emma eyed the size of it.
"Oh, we don't think," he smiled, "We know. Merlin's prophecies are never wrong."
"Why are you so eager to free him?" one of the knights that had gone with Arthur to get them asked, eyeing them all critically.
Piper crossed her arms, curious to see what excuse the heroes would use, how much they would lie to get what they wanted. She was less inclined to fault them this time, Camelot was not known for its love of the Dark One, at least as far as she knew, and for Emma to have that power inside her, it could put Emma in danger if it was revealed she was the Dark One.
Snow and Charming exchanged a look before he spoke, one king to another, "Our home is being threatened by...it's called the Dark One."
"The Dark One," Arthur straightened, nodding, grim, "Yes, we're well aware of that demon."
Emma had to elbow Piper in the arm again when the woman began to smirk at the mention of Gold being described in such a way, knowing she was pleased to hear the note of fear and seriousness in the man's voice. Rumpelstiltskin had gone to Camelot a time or two, she had never had the pleasure to join him, sadly.
"That is bad," Arthur agreed, "Well, I pray Merlin can help. But, first, we must free him from his prison. It is said one of you is the Savior. So which of you is it?"
Emma sighed, "I..."
Before her voice cut out and she fell silent, her eyes wide and startled as to why she suddenly couldn't speak.
Only for Regina to step forward, her hand on the Dagger that was strapped to her side, "I am the Savior," she declared, "I'm the one who's going to free Merlin from that tree, and then we can take care of the Dark One. And all go home."
Emma's eyes fell to the Dagger in Regina's grip, narrowing her eyes at it and the hand resting on it, before she felt someone touch her back and turned to see Piper beside her, grim, and with a resignation that told Emma she had been hoping to avoid something, before she turned to look at her, apology in her eyes. Emma swallowed hard, knowing she couldn't say more now or ask what the look was for, not with her voice bound by Regina's control of the Dagger, nor with the crowd around them.
~8~
Emma was fuming as she stood in Merlin's tower with Regina, the 'Savior' having been shown there by Arthur himself and given free reign to use anything she needed if it would help free the man.
"Merlin's Tower," Regina looked around, "There must be something in here to help get him out of the tree."
Emma reached out and grabbed her arm, "Never do that to me again," she threatened.
"Oh," Regina scoffed, "Now you're talking to me?" She'd asked Emma before to come with her to the tower and the woman had just glared and followed her, ignoring any question posed to her along the way, it had taken her halfway there before she realized she hadn't undone the last silent command she'd given the Dagger to shut her up.
"I don't know...am I allowed to?"
Regina rolled her eyes, holding up the Dagger, "YOU gave this to me."
"To protect me, not use against me!" Emma swallowed hard at that, looking away, realizing now what Piper meant by saying to only give the Dagger to someone you trusted, why Piper had given her that look in the courtyard too. It wasn't just about controlling herself, or about someone willing to do what it took to stop her…it was about finding someone who wouldn't abuse the power of it and the control it gave. It may seem like a small thing now, being silenced, but Regina had done it so quickly, so without thought, with little consideration of her that...it just...it was so EASY for someone to make her do anything.
It was terrifying that someone could have that much control over her.
Even Piper, she knew, her magic needed time to take hold, to be worked into a state of obedience, it wasn't often instant unless she used specific commands and that took a lot out of her to do, it wasn't EASY to do it.
"I saved your life," Regina argued.
"By pretending to be me?"
"Oh, shut up and listen."
Emma glared at her again, trying to speak and point out what Regina had just done, giving her a command like that, but it was almost like her lips were stuck shut. She was being forced to shut up and listen now.
Regina smirked, "Oh. I can get used to this."
Emma's hands clenched into fists at her sides, regretting, so much, that she had given Regina the Dagger and not Henry or Piper like part of her wanted to. At the time, she'd thought it would be best, keep Piper from being a target of the other heroes, that the 'dark creature' could now control the Dark One just because she wasn't Gold. If Regina was going to keep doing this…
She didn't like it, she didn't like not having any control over herself, to be so at the mercy of someone's whims…
She finally understood the reason why Gold only trusted Piper with the Dagger, she was careful, she was so careful, to not use it against him, for anything. With Piper, Gold had the most freedom from the Dagger, it was almost like he'd been cleaved of it when Piper was in possession of it. It was why he'd worked so hard to really free himself from its hold, incase someone else got ahold of it.
You never realized how much freedom you had till someone else could take it away.
"Look," Regina kept on, "If you told Arthur you were the Savior, he would have asked you to free Merlin. You would have had to use magic...dark magic. Do you remember what happened last time you dabbled in that?"
Emma tried to move her lips now that Regina had asked her a question with the intention to have an answer, and found she could speak, "I lost control."
She hadn't though, not really, but the others thought she had, and it was that assumption that had sparked something in her mind just now.
"And you gave me this Dagger so that wouldn't happen again. But I wasn't lying. I don't care what Merlin's prophecy says. I'm gonna figure out how I can get that wizard out so you won't ever have to use dark magic again. So, really, Swan, you should be thanking me."
"Thank you," Emma said instantly, glaring at her once more for the next round of commands.
Part of her knew intention was part of magic, Piper had said it enough for her to know that, on some level, Regina WANTED to command her, wanted her to do as she was told, as Regina said. Even if she hadn't meant it to be a command, the Dagger was picking up on the fact that Regina wanted it.
"Whatever," Regina scoffed.
Emma just shook her head at her and turned to stride out of the room, needing to find Piper once more. The sooner they could talk, the easier this would be.
~8~
Piper idly made her way along the walls of the ballroom in Camelot, glancing more at the food lining the tables than the people gathered around. She had been given a room, supplied a handful of dresses by the queen, and selected one that wouldn't require any alterations or reveal her pregnant state too notably. It was a dark green gown that hung off her shoulders, tight in just that area but flowing everywhere else. With loose sleeves in a bell shape, and golden hems. There were black laces in the sleeves and it reminded her quite a bit of the outfits she would wear in the Dark Castle, only in gown form. She had her boots on, her pipe in the leg of one. Just because she had promised not to cause havoc that night did not mean she was unprepared.
She did look over when she heard Emma being introduced, had done so with Henry, too, both looked wonderful. Henry in his tunic and breeches, Emma in her white and flowing gown, with a flower crown atop her head. She snorted when Regina appeared, having not seen the woman in such a light colored gown in many, many years, not since before Leopold died.
It bothered her a great deal, Regina claiming to be the Savior when she was not. It felt both like the woman wanted her change to be seen as good by people around her instead of actually working for it, and like she wanted the credit of being Savior instead of Evil Queen. One could not simply erase their past and whatever excuse she was sure she had given Emma to ensure the ruse continued, it likely wasn't the full reason.
Truly she was regretting being there, almost wishing she had been given a reason not to attend than just to spite Charming. She had never been a fan of balls, when one's gift was music, others became very leery around you when it was involved in any form, even if it was not her own. And, as she watched the dancing from the side, it only served to remind her of the one man she wanted to dance with not being there.
She rested both her hands on her stomach, taking care to make it seem like she was just standing in a typical female poised pose, taking in and letting out a deep breath, reminding herself that Gold was safe, he was alive, he had to be. Henry had told her that August promised to keep the man safe and she trusted her son. But...being separated like this…it was never good and she prayed that she would not reach the point where she would be so careless as she had been with Bae.
The only enjoyment she got was smiling at Emma being able to dance at her first ball as herself and not in disguise, at noticing Henry's attention turned to a young girl, his first crush if she had to guess by the faint blush on his face. The music was bearable, but not wonderful, not like the symphonies Rummy would let her play for him on any instrument she wanted. Then again, she doubted the people here would appreciate a concerto formulated from the notes she'd heard in the screams of his dungeons.
Though…speaking of screams…
Her gaze drifted across the men and women dancing about, to the knight that had spoken before Merlin's tree, Percival if she recalled correctly, dancing with Regina. Songs did not often change, but they could pitch high or grow low depending on the emotion of the person it belonged to, usually only when the emotion was very, very strong. Someone was quite angry…
Piper smirked, anticipating some havoc that was not her own, crossing her arms as she watched the statement in Regina's eyes, the glare on Percival's face…
Finally, something interesting was about to happen.
And indeed it did, Percival drew his sword and moved to slash at Regina, but Robin Hood had been watching his lady love, and dove in front of it, moving to fight the man away, struggling till they fell to the ground, wrestling for control of the sword.
"No, Swan!" Piper heard Hook shout and looked over to see he'd grabbed Emma's hand, just starting to shimmer with the familiar energy of the Dark One, clearly intent to stop the fighting, "You can't use dark magic," Hook added, more quietly, but Piper could still hear him.
Charming ran forward, his sword drawn, and stabbed Percival through the chest…but he was too late to stop the man getting Robin in the side first.
"Robin!" Regina screamed, rushing to his side, "Robin! No! No! No, no, no! No!" she dropped to her knees and tried to heal him with her magic, but nothing happened, "No…"
~8~
Between Hook and Charming, they were able to carry Robin Hood to the tower room, to Merlin's Tower, where Regina was frantically looking for a way, for something, anything, she could use to save the man now bleeding out on the bed. Emma stood off to the side, Henry in her arms, with Piper in the doorway, her back to the closed door to ensure no one disturbed them or interrupted the 'healing' those of Camelot assumed would be happening. Truly the Siren was more curious to see what would happen than willing to help Regina perpetuate her ruse.
She had a very good guess, knowing heroes as well as she did, knowing what came of desperation like the one Regina was reeking.
A part of her, though, truly and dearly wished she could be wrong, for it was not a position she would wish Emma to ever find herself in, and if this happened as she feared it would, someone had to be there to make them aware of the consequences they were asking to be brought upon them.
Not for the heroes' sake, but for Emma and Henry's.
She had sworn to always protect her family, it was in her nature, and even when her own cousin, her blood, had turned against her, she had never thought she would need to worry about needing to protect Emma or Henry from the heroic side of their family. Until Maleficent, until Lily, until the Darkness began to seep into Emma.
The girl was truly about to see the hypocrisy of heroes in action, and it pained her heart to know this would be a shattering moment for Emma, and Henry as well, to witness.
Someone had to be there for them, for she doubted the heroes would even realize what they'd done.
"Can you heal him?" Snow asked, when Regina hurried back to Robin's side, her hands glowing purple as Robin gasped in pain.
But the wound remained.
"Why didn't it work?" Charming frowned.
Piper rolled her eyes, trust heroes to be willing to turn to magic when it suited them but not have any understanding of it at all. Anyone intent to kill a magical being had best make sure the being can't use magic against them, or to benefit themselves in the interim. If she was going to attack a powerful magic-user, which Percival seemed to have been preparing for for quite some time, she would do as the man had clearly done and use an enchanted weapon designed to prevent said magic user from using magic. It was obvious.
Truly, how many times had Charming been hit on the head in battle that he was not seeing this? THEY had done the same to Regina, once upon a time, used magic to prevent her from being able to harm them either physically or with magic. It was much the same.
"The sword was enchanted to kill me," Regina explained, confirming Piper's thoughts, "My magic can't heal him…"
Piper stiffened, seeing the realization dawning on Regina's face a moment before she turned to Emma.
"But maybe yours can!"
"No," Hook shook his head, taking a step in front of Emma.
"Surprisingly," Piper spoke up, "I am of agreement with the pirate."
"You?" Emma looked at her, surprised, knowing full well her dislike of Hook.
"I shall guess for vastly different reasons."
Hook glared at her, "We can't let her use dark magic."
Piper nodded, "Vastly different reasons," she confirmed.
"Aunt P…" Henry frowned, more confused by her words than at the idea that she didn't want Robin Hood saved.
"Using dark magic will strengthen the Darkness," Piper agreed, "But there is far more at stake than that."
Snow White eyed Piper a moment, unable to think of anything worse than Emma succumbing to the Dark One's Darkness, and turned to Regina, "Regina, this was the whole point of you pretending to be the Savior."
Regina glared at her, "The whole point was not for Robin to die!" she snapped, "And I'm not asking you. I'm asking..." she took a breath and turned to Emma, "I'm asking her."
Emma shifted, looking around the room as the others stared at her…the fact that her parents weren't completely against it spoke volumes of their true thoughts on her healing Robin, but Piper's words about there being something else at stake echoed in her ears, "I don't know what will happen if I use my powers again."
"I can use that Dagger to make you do this," Regina warned, "But I'm not. I'm asking you. I've lost love before, and I won't again. Please. Save him."
"You do this and you condemn someone to death," Piper spoke up before Emma could agree, for she could see the girl about to give in.
"We don't do this and Robin WILL die," Regina glared at her.
"Let him," Piper crossed her arms.
"Rose!" Snow White gaped at her, horrified.
"He is on the brink of death," Piper pointed out, gesturing at the man, "To save him now is to take a life away from death, a debt will be owed and death will come to claim it," she looked over at Emma, "You were lucky with Marian, that it was Zelena who took her place and not the true woman you saved. You avoided the cost, but this?" she shook her head, "Death will want the life it is owed and it can be anyone," she looked around the room, "You must choose someone to take his place or anyone's life will be forfeit."
"That's ridiculous," Charming glared at her, "He's not dead yet!" he pointed at Robin, "If he can be healed before then, then he never died and death doesn't need anything."
"Is that a chance you are willing to take?" Piper challenged, "Would you risk Neal's life on that?"
Snow flinched back at the thought, but squared her shoulders, firm and resolved, "Saving lives is what heroes do."
Piper's lip quirked up, not quite a smirk or smile, but more a mocking exasperation, of course Snow White would say such a thing, "Then so be it," Piper shrugged, "But the price shall be on your own heads. I warn you now, do NOT turn to Emma to save you from YOUR choices after."
"Fine," Regina huffed, before turning to look at Emma pleadingly, "Emma?"
Emma looked at Piper, shifting more, recalling the words the woman had once spoken to her in anger after she and Hook changed the past and saved Marian. She'd had a point then, too, their actions could have meant death for someone in Storybrooke, Neal's, Henry's, anyone. They HAD been lucky in the sense that it wasn't who they thought it was, Marian wasn't who they thought she was. But this…this was different. This was her parents, the heroes, knowingly asking her to risk someone else dying for Robin.
But…but if Robin wasn't dead then, then death wouldn't come right? Her father was right about that, wasn't he?
…should she really risk it?
And what about the dark magic? Her parents weren't forbidding it, they sounded like they were condoning it now…it would save a life…
"Emma, please," Regina begged.
Emma too a breath, looking at her parents now as they nodded, with small, encouraging smiles, like they were telling her she could do this, they believed in her, it would be ok.
"Alright, I'll try," Emma moved to the bed.
"Attagirl," a familiar voice spoke, and Emma could see the apparition of Rumpelstiltskin standing by the bed.
She glanced to the others, unwilling to risk speaking to him in front of the heroes, but, lucky for her, he was in her head, he knew her questions without her vocally needing to ask why he was there.
"I'm here to help you embrace the darkness," the apparition stated.
"I can do this," Emma murmured to herself, kneeling at the side of the bed, moving to hold her hands out over Robin's wound…but she truly didn't know what to do or how to do it…
"First, you must take a price for the magic," the apparition spoke beside her, and she stiffened, realizing Piper had been right, the Dark One's knowledge was telling her if she did this, there would be a price, Robin truly was that far gone...but she took a breath, the hero in her willing to pay it herself. The apparition giggled, seeing that in her mind, "It doesn't work that way. She asked for the magic," he looked at Regina, standing back with Henry, wringing her hands as she watched on, "SHE has to pay it."
Emma glanced over at Regina, who nodded, and to her parents, both watching on, proud of her for trying to save a life, and then to Piper, who was stoic, with a resignation and regret in her eyes, and down to Robin. Her hands had clenched into fists as the apparition spoke to her, shaking with an anger she hadn't realized had been mounting inside her since Regina first turned to her, since Hook had tried to make the choice for her.
Hook didn't want her to do this, because of the dark magic, the temptation of it. Not because of the price to other people, but to HER. Piper, she knew, didn't care about who else this could affect, but she had never claimed to be a hero or to change. She cared more about how this price would come to effect her niece once it was paid, the knowledge that SHE had brought this on an unsuspecting person.
Her parents were encouraging this, Regina was encouraging it…Henry and Piper weren't, or she assumed Henry wasn't as he hadn't gone on a spiel about heroes doing the right thing, so…something about what Piper said had resonated with her son too.
Her jaw clenched, her hands shaking as the anger mounted into rage.
The heroes wouldn't be expecting anything, she realized.
They went on about how she shouldn't use the dark magic, but gave in now when they wanted her to help them. They ignored the warning that a price would be called upon, and she knew they would blame someone else when it eventually happened. For she was sure now that it would happen. They would blame anyone but themselves for using this magic, blame the caster…
If it hadn't been HER.
She closed her eyes tightly. How many times had they gone to Gold for help and then stormed back in when the help they wanted hadn't been what they expected? How many times had they blamed him even after he'd warned them about something and they just hadn't listened? WHY did heroes fight the bad things they themselves brought to light and get praised for it while the villains were blamed?
How much of the anger she was feeling was her own and how much of it was the Darkness projecting what would happen?
"Emma?" Hook's voice cut through her spiraling thoughts.
She opened her eyes, her gaze going immediately to Piper, not him.
She understood now, the regret and resignation in her eyes, because she knew this would happen. She knew the heroes would do this, she knew this would be the outcome…and she knew no one would believe her or listen to her even when she tried to warn them.
And she knew, Emma would realize it too.
Emma looked down at Robin, feeling how little life he had left in him.
She could refuse, she could claim she tried but the enchantment on the sword was too powerful and perhaps Merlin had something to do with it and not even the Dark One could heal the man. She could let the balance be restored, let death take the man as it was trying to do. She could let this slip…and a part of her, she found, was surprisingly ok with it. Maybe it was her anger, maybe it was her own magic sensing the danger, maybe it was the Darkness settling in her that wanted to cause pain to those that would use it...she didn't know.
She could let Robin die...
Instead, her hands began to glow and the wound on Robin's side began to close, the man gasping awake.
Emma quickly moved back as Regina hurried to his side with a cry of, "Robin!" the man embracing her as soon as she was near.
Emma looked across the room to Piper. All the others were beaming and happy and relieved, but Piper was eyeing her as though she had seen something puzzling she wasn't fully sure about. She tried to convey to her aunt that she understood now, that she got it, that she had done this for a reason, to trust her.
She knew the price would need to be paid, she believed it would come, and she had done this anyway.
She had helped the heroes when they wanted it, and now? Now she had the excuse not to help them when that time came.
They agreed to pay the price, let them. They agreed with Piper's warning that she be left out of this when that time came. And when it did? She would remind them of all this, she would remind them that they brought it on themselves. She wanted no part in cleaning up the mess they forced her to make.
"Emma?" Hook spoke from beside her, reaching out to touch her arm and pull her back to the moment, Henry had gone to hug Regina in happiness, though Hook was eyeing her warily, "You alright?"
"I'm fine," Emma said, though even to her ears her voice sound too calm, "I feel a little woozy. I think I'll lie down for a bit," she turned and moved out of the room, her hands clenched in fists as soon as she was out of it.
She had to leave, for as calm as her voice was, the fury inside her had reached an unbearable peak. The heroes got what they wanted, and not a single simple word of thanks. The heroes got what they wanted and damn the consequences to anyone else. The heroes would need to pay the price, and they would try to find a way around it or make it seem like they were the victims in all this.
The heroes were hypocrites and if she had to spend another moment around them she was sure the dark magic would react and she didn't want to hurt Henry or Piper with her anger. She needed to cool down…because she knew Piper had sensed the shift in her, she had to talk to the woman, but if she was angry when she did it…Piper might not agree to her plan. She had to calm down.
"You liked the power, didn't you?" the apparition appeared beside her as she walked down the hall.
"No," she spoke aloud, now that no one was there to hear her, "I just did what had to be done."
And it was true, she hadn't felt much of anything when she healed Robin. It was just magic, like anything else, light or dark what did it matter when the intent behind it was the same?
Rumpelstiltskin giggled, seeing something unfolding in her mind, "Best hide that then, dearie," he nodded to Emma's hand, "Wouldn't want the others to get the 'wrong idea,' would we?"
Emma held her hand up, blinking when she saw a faint shimmering gold dusting her skin, not quite the same as the skin Rumpelstiltskin had in the Forest, but enough that she knew it was part of the Dark One's effect and not hers.
She took a breath and continued on, shaking out her hand as she went. He was right about one thing…if anyone else saw it, they would truly get the wrong idea.
~8~
Emma stood just outside the door to a tower chamber a few hours later, listening to the conversation going on within. Her parents were there, Regina as well, with Arthur…but she wasn't invited in, despite being the one who saved Robin Hood, no one would know. They said it was because 'dark magic' was involved and if anyone found out SHE used it, they'd know she was the Dark One.
But she didn't understand.
Because Regina was sitting in there, having claimed that she saved Robin, the implication being that it was light magic that had done so. So why couldn't they just say that Emma had healed him, and let them think it was light magic? Sure, fine, let people think Regina was the Savior, they could have been honest and say the sword was enchanted to prevent Regina from saving Robin, but that Emma was her apprentice or something, or had just enough magic with Regina's guidance to heal the man since HER magic wasn't being blocked by the enchantment.
There were other reasons and excuses they could have used, but even her parents agreed to let Regina take the credit and she didn't care, she really didn't, if someone else said they did what SHE had done. She wouldn't have done it for notoriety or praise anyway, it was just…she was getting a sinking feeling in her stomach, her thoughts drifting to all the times they had gone to Gold for help and…had they ever told anyone else it was HIS magic that assisted them? Had they ever announced that they succeeded due to help from the Dark One? Had they ever actually thanked him?
She couldn't remember.
Gold never really got mad about it, so long as he got paid he didn't seem to care who got credit, but still, just thinking about all those times…
"I hope you'll accept my apology," Arthur was saying, "We don't normally try and kill our guests in Camelot. Percival's actions were inexcusable."
"But he was right," Regina sighed, "I am the Evil Queen."
Arthur gave her a smile, "Camelot is a place of second chances. Who you were doesn't matter, just who you are. And if you were able to save him with your magic, then you really are the Savior Merlin prophesied."
"Thank you," Regina spoke, not a hint of regret or worry in her voice.
And, as Emma listened on through the door, it was that that reminded her again about what she had done for Regina and Robin Hood, and why it infuriated her more than Regina taking credit for it. She grit her teeth and turned to stride off through the halls, in search of the one person there, the one villain among heroes, who she could be angry around without them jumping to the conclusion that she was going 'dark.'
And to the one villain who could help her work out if she was just angry about the situation…or finally seeing the truth in the double standards of heroes.
~8~
Piper looked over at the door to her room from where she'd been sitting at the window, gazing out at the moon, to face Emma when she strode into the chambers, "You have seen it then?" she asked her niece, having expected this moment ever since Robin Hood was healed.
Emma was pacing and furious, "Is this how it always goes?" she demanded.
"Balls?" Piper asked, "You dress up, you dance, I am afraid it is quite typical. Being skewered during one, not quite so much."
"No, not…" Emma let out a breath, stopping her pacing to turn to Piper, her hands on her hips, "Heroes."
"I need a bit more specification, Emma," Piper smirked, getting up to take Emma's hands, only to glance down at them when she caught sight of a faint gold there.
Emma watched her lift the hand and look at the skin, which had started to shimmer like Gold's used to when he was in full Dark One power, but instead of shying away from it or calling it crocodile skin like Hook would do for Gold, she merely clasped the hand in both of hers and looked at Emma for an answer. Emma nearly sagged, just at that move, just at that casual acceptance. There was no reprimand, no question, not outrage, just a calm understanding.
"I…I don't understand," Emma said, "Everyone, from the moment they found us, has been telling me, asking me, begging me, ordering me, NOT to use the Dark One's magic, because the more I do the more it becomes part of me."
"That is how it works," Piper nodded, an almost rueful smile on her face as Emma pieced together what 'always' seemed to happen, "And now, something happened where only the Dark One could fix it, and suddenly it is not so bad for you to use that magic?"
"Yeah," Emma huffed, shaking her head, looking away a moment and back to her, "Is that how it always is?"
Piper let out a sigh and moved to the edge of her bed where a chest was resting, guiding Emma to sit beside her, "I will not lie and say it always is, but…part of it is. Heroes…" she began, trying to think of a way to phrase it, "When one has power of any sort, Emma, there is no shortage of people willing to use it to their advantage. The only difference is that heroes will do so and claim it just and good. Villains use it for what it is, a tool, and do not try to claim it one way or the other."
"I had the power to save Robin Hood, and I wanted to," Emma remarked, "I did, but everyone kept saying not to use that power because it was dark and evil…but it saved his life."
"Many people forget the distinction between dark and evil," Piper lamented, "I use my music to cause chaos, yes, to harm and torture when I wish. But I have also used it to lull a child to sleep when nightmares plagued him, to dull pain when it is too much, to soothe when emotions are too high. The Dark One can end a life as easily as he can save one."
"So dark magic CAN be used to do good things," Emma murmured.
"Or terrible things, yes," Piper nodded, "There are limits to things with light magic, areas it will not go, a reach it cannot make. Dark magic does not have that qualm, but the price to wield it is higher as a result. In more ways than one."
"What do you mean?"
"You saved Robin Hood," Piper looked at her, "And none of Camelot know you possess the Dark One's magic. They undoubtedly see your act as wonderful and light and amazing because a life was saved. Imagine how they would react if they knew it was the Dark One's magic that did so."
"They'd still be happy," Emma tried to argue, but a part of her knew what Piper meant, "They'd be scared of me," she admitted, "They'd be looking at me like I was TOO powerful."
"Funny, is it not? How, if the Savior had done such a thing, she is truly a powerful and good witch here to help. But if the Dark One does so, they are too powerful and must be stopped."
Emma couldn't help how her thoughts drifted back to Regina using the Dagger so easily, keeping her from speaking, forcing her to do things. The woman hadn't meant for it to be literal orders, most of the time, but she'd still been compelled to obey. How the Dagger was the only thing that could stop her.
"And yet, at the same time, they cannot be destroyed, for what if the heroes have need of a great magic, of great power?" Piper sighed, "When they see fit to use it, they do. They will hate to do so, but it will not stop them, and they will feel entitled to be helped, because they are good."
Emma eyed Piper a moment, "People did that to Gold a lot, didn't they?" she guessed, knowing it had to have happened more than when SHE would ask Gold for help herself. Piper's expression was too contemplative to not be thinking of times where just that happened.
Piper snorted, "The number of times your father strode into a room and all but demanded the Dark One help him," she commented, "He will look at me and think I tortured him at those moments for sport, and yes, at times it was, but other times it was…"
"A lesson?" Emma offered.
"Yes," she nodded, "That he had no right to demand favors of Rummy just because he was a hero. If a villain had done the same, stormed into a castle and demanded the king or queen help them with something or give them something…"
"People would be getting their pitchforks and torches ready," Emma finished, nodding, "Yeah, I can imagine it."
"It was one reason Rummy always insisted on a deal," Piper mused, "If others were going to use him for their gain, why should he not return the favor? Why do them a task and have nothing be repaid? Do something for them only to continue being seen as a monster? He would not allow any to take advantage of his magic. HE would be the one paying the price for casting their spells or enchanting their charms, he ought get something out of it himself."
"Wish I'd thought of that," Emma muttered, though there was no real push in her words. She would have happily saved Robin Hood without anyone else pushing her to if it had been her own magic, she wouldn't have asked for a deal or something in return…but she could see how easily that could lead to being taken advantage of.
She risked herself, risked becoming more one with the Dark One's magic by doing what she did. SHE was the one who paid the price for helping Robin Hood, even if she was sure Piper would argue the true price was yet to come.
Piper eyed her a long while, "Why do I sense that was not the main cause of your anger?" she asked Emma.
Emma glanced at her, twisting her hands in her lap, "There was something I wanted to ask you," she began, "Before the ball, before what happened, but I'm not sure if now is the best time."
"Why not?"
"I don't want you to think I'm saying it just because I'm angry with the heroes," Emma said, not even realizing she'd defined the others as heroes as though she herself were not one of them.
"Try me."
"You sure?"
"I raised August," she reminded Emma, "I am quite capable of telling whether something was plotted in anger or actually thought out."
Emma took a breath, reaching out to take Piper's hand, turning to her and looking her in the eyes so she'd know she was serious when she said her next words, words that she knew would change everything.
"I want to become the Dark One."
A/N: Oooohhhh O.O Well that's certainly a new tune for Emma }:)
A lot of what Piper says and how she views heroes, their double standard and hypocrisy, is based in her own POV, and her perspective is largely from how a villain would see it. While the average person, or another hero, would see certain acts and decisions and choices heroes make as good and right and just, villains have a different outlook, which is what we will be seeing in a majority of Piper or Gold's views on them. So what she says to Emma, it's important, because Emma HAS been so surrounded by heroes and goodness and light, her own magic had had it's potential darkness ripped out, she's been raised on fairytales like anyone else and believed so much in heroes and being a hero. Piper is offering her the alternate perspective, what a villain sees, how a villain interprets it.
That's not to say Emma is going to believe everything, or that she's suddenly going to completely turn on heroes on everything, she has her own mind. Is she angry right now? Yes. Is she frustrated with the double standard? Yes. Is part of the Darkness maybe influencing her? Probably. She's going to make her own decisions and come to her own conclusions, and we'll see very soon that she's not just going to fall into a rabbit hole of evil and believe in everything Piper or Gold do. She has her own limits, her own views of right and wrong and where the line between light and dark blurs. All Piper really does when she goes off on her interpretation of things, is show Emma another way to see it, so Emma is more aware of some choices she makes or how her interactions with others went about ;)
Piper is also much more against the heroes now than she used to be. She would sort of tolerate them, for Snow's sake, because Snow was the greatest hero, and because so many heroes were Snow's friends or people or important to her. Now it's literally just Henry, Emma, and August (and Neal but he's a baby). So she has much less tolerance for them and their shenanigans than she would have.
It was something that bothered me in this episode in particular. The heroes were so against Emma using the dark magic, but as soon as it was something they wanted, or somethin they believed was for 'the right thing to do,' that tune changed :/ It wasn't fair to Emma and it was sort of something that made me think of their past interactions with Gold. They kept going to the Dark One for help, then decide he's too dangerous and lock him up in a cell, after using him and his magic over and over, after being angry with him for his deals and tricks. I kept thinking of times Charming would just burst into a room and demand help, like he should just be given it :/ The heroes had no problem using dark magic when it suited them but condemning it every other time, and I felt that with Regina and Emma. I would of course want Robin Hood saved, but after making such a big show, Regina herself, about not wanting Emma to use that magic and then turn on that the second it's something that could help them or get them what they wanted was wrong :/ And I feel like that would be something Piper would be all too familiar with herself. People want her magic to help their towns, then try to shortchange her in payment, then try to call her a demon, then try to go back on their word after she's upheld her end of the bargain :/ They turn to her and Gold when they are desperate, then get angry when there's a hesitation to help them, when the people helping might actually know MORE than them about what's being asked and the effects it will have, then get holier-than-thou after the help is given, like they're still somehow better than the villains aid because they're heroes. -takes breath- Sorry for the mini rant lol, it was just something I kept thinking of ;)
But for Emma now...in the show she was very much about getting the darkness out of her at the start, and even when she began to question it and be tempted, there were things to pull her out of that and remind her why she wanted to be light again. NOW though...now Emma clearly has a different mentality when it comes to everything and she WANTS to be the Dark One? O.O
Puts a bit of a different spin to some events of the last couple chapters doesn't it? }:) Emma is CHOOSING this now, it's not just an accident any longer, it's not just a situation she got caught in, right now...she's fully intending to become the Dark One.
...but what will Piper think of that? We see her accepting of it in Storybrooke, but HOW does she get to that point, when it's her blood-family affected? When it's her mate's magic (or what she feels is his magic and darkness) on the line? When she's been very much about getting the darkness out of Emma and back into Gold from the start?
I guess we'll find out what this is all about, because there is much more to Emma's decision here that we have yet to see };)
Some notes on reviews...
We'll have to wait and see what happens in Lyssa's tale, I can say I have quite a few twists in mind for that one ;)
I can say that I have it mapped out who will end up the Dark One in the AU, we'll just have to wait a bit to get there ;)
Perspective is one of my favorite things to explore, because there's so many of them :) Emma's definitely going to end up more well rounded and more aware by the end of this story, no doubts, she's going to have a lot of things she's not going to allow to keep happening ;) The heroes and their problems was my favorite part of this chapter. Emma has this one moment of realizing, before the actual event that causes it, that SOMETHING is going to happen, that a problem IS going to come out of the magic she's being asked to use, she KNOWS it. And she knows it's going to cause problems for the heroes and they are going to need/want/demand help to stop it. And she knowingly and consciously decides to use the magic anyway, because she's determined NOT to help them this time. She has that moment of realizing THEY are making this choice, and they were warned of the consequences, and it is on THEIR heads whatever comes from it. She is washing her hands of it and stepping back to let them handle it for once. It takes till Storybrooke for it to happen, but there's almost a just desserts feel to it, that they can't even remember what they did that caused it and now they can't prepare for it and have to actually be hit full force with the entire responsibility of what they've done ;)
I can say Emma and Piper have a plan in mind more than we see in the show ;) A small part of it IS keeping Hook from remembering, but it won't be their entire focus. In the show, I got the impression that Emma was trying to make it up as she went and not actively trying to make herself seem like the new enemy to face, that it was just a result of her Being the Dark One that made others just sort of worry about what she's doing. Here she's going to actively be doing that, she's going to take actions meant to alarm the heroes and make them concerned. She wants them to know she's the Dark One and that she means business. There's more to her plan than that, some psychological warfare thrown in for fun lol, but she has her own agenda and Hook sort of ends up being a side result of it than her entire focus ;) I'm not very big on the Captain Swan ship either, I think it ends up bleeding into Piper's take on it a little too much lol. There were just some things that Hook did and said, the way he acted, that just didn't sit right with me either. To me it was a bit too close to rape culture, and I don't say that lightly. He toned it down a lot near the end, but I still feel like he was too manipulating of Emma and her emotions as it went. He was trying to change for Emma, but it felt more like he did it because she wouldn't be with a villain and not that he actually wanted to be a hero. Regina started to change for Henry, to be a mother others would trust with him, but as she went I feel like she began to change for more than him and then for herself. Hook, for a very long time, still feels like he's only doing it for Emma and not himself :/ It's why I'm sort of looking forward to when this series is complete, because Lyssa and the AU are going to be largely Swanfire or non-Hook/Emma so I can get a bit of a break from trying to write their relationship lol ;)
I'm glad you're enjoying the differing POVs :) This story in particular might be a bit heavy on the villain side of things, Dark Swan makes it a bit hard to go easy on the heroes lol. But things will balance out and we'll start to see some changing views and resolutions starting ;)
If all goes to plan, I'm aiming to get the next story for CBTS up around the beginning of October ;) It's mostly that far into the year because I didn't want to do another OUAT story right after Pipers and I had 2 DW stories and 1 Big Bang Theory story I wanted to work into the year so I tried to space them out more ;)
Emma will definitely learn some lessons about villains and relationships with them ;) The shunning aspect is going to be something Emma is going to be very firm about changing when all this is over ;) As for Hook, there's going to be some moments of guilt that may drive her forward than genuine deep love. It'll probably be more of a wanting to have opportunities back and give something a chance, wanting to be proven right or wrong before moving to another stage of things. Emma, to me, in this story, will more be of the mind that she wants to TRY with Hook and see where it goes but she'll be very aware of some things he's going to need to work on about himself before she's ready to really commit to anything ;) Piper is going to have an opinion, but there may come a moment of stepping back and letting Emma make her own opinions without her saying what she thinks, so that if things don't work out with Hook, he can't use 'well Piper got in your head' as an excuse...not that Piper will have much confidence he'll succeed ;)