Visiting the Dark One
avc.382 asked for a oneshot of *season 6 mid-season finale spoilers!* Emma trying to sneak out in the dream world to ask Rumple about her dream. However, her parents find out and they're not happy about it because she knows it's forbidden to go near him. I'm going to pretend for this that Regina didn't kidnap Snowing right away, but gave Emma 24 hours to figure it out.
Lady Allana Solo: Sorry, but I still haven't seen the Decedents. It's on my list!
I have been DYING to get these requests out all week! So glad I finally can. Please keep requests coming in, even though I'm a bit slower writing them just now. Not long till we get new episodes guys!
Emma knew her parents would never have let her leave the palace if she'd asked to do this. Anyone visiting Rumplestiltskin was forbidden. It had been since…well, since Emma could remember. Emma wasn't so much as allowed to leave the palace grounds unescorted. There was no chance they would allow her to talk alone with the most dangerous man in the realm. Well, if he could still be called a man. Emma loved both her parents dearly. They had always been good to her. She was a princess, she'd never went without, but it came at a cost. Deep down, Emma knew her parents were overly protective with her. She was a grown woman who would take over the kingdom when they passed. She had a child of her own who was old enough to have been knighted himself. When would they allow her to step out on her own too? Emma knew something was holding her back from getting the freedom she needed. After the threats made by the Evil Queen at Henry's knighthood ceremony, Emma knew she had to be the one to save her parents, and she figured if anyone knew what she was supposed to do, it was the Dark One himself.
Knowing that she would never be allowed to leave on such a mission, Emma had waited until long after nightfall before she changed back into her riding clothes and began to prepare. She took her bedsheets off and took more out of her linen closet. She tied the sheets together in sturdy knots. It was just as Emma was tying one end of the makeshift rope to her balcony when her door creaked open. Emma jumped. She tried her best to look like she was just getting some fresh night air from the balcony.
"I will return to my bed momentarily." Emma said coolly to her night guard. "I just wanted some fresh air."
"Was the fresh air you wanted in the garden? Otherwise, I fail to see why you need a rope." Emma turned. It wasn't her guard at all; it was her mother. Snow approached the balcony. She untied Emma's handiwork and brought all the sheets back up. Snow looked at her daughter, worried.
"What were you about to do, sweetheart?" Snow asked her. Emma stayed silent. She had never lied to her mother, or her father. She couldn't start now. She just couldn't bring herself to do it. "Emma." Snow prompted her. When Emma still stayed silent, Snow slipped her hand into her fully grown daughter's and brought her back inside. She closed the door to Emma's balcony and took her back to the now bare mattress. She sat down with Emma by her side.
"Was this anything to do with what the Evil Queen said? Because if it is, you don't have to be frightened, sweetheart. We've beaten her once, we'll beat her again…"
"I think she made it very clear it can't be you or daddy that defeat her this time." Emma sighed. "It has to be me." Snow placed her hand against Emma's cheek, stroking her thumb along it.
"We would never let that happen." Snow told her gently. "We vowed we would never let that evil woman near you. We fought so that you never had to. What were you sneaking off to do?" Emma bit her lip.
"I wanted to visit Rumplestiltskin in his cell." She admitted. "I thought he would have the answers." Snow's hand froze against Emma's face.
"Emma." Snow said quietly. "You know anyone visiting him is forbidden. He is far too dangerous for visitors to be allowed."
"I know, but he's the only one who must know how I can defeat her, how I can save you both." Emma tried desperately to explain. Snow reached forward and kissed her daughter's forehead.
"Rumplestiltskin may have answers, but they always come at a price. He never reveals anything without making a deal, and I'm simply not allowing you to make a deal with that imp. Your father and I will defeat Regina, Emma. You don't need to worry about any of it. Ignore her empty threats. She's just trying to get inside our heads. In fact, by running off in the middle of the night, you're playing right into her hands. Doing something like that is exactly what she wants. That way you're vulnerable. No, you stay right here, Emma. Let your father and I deal with this." Come on, let's get your bed made back up." Snow then helped Emma untie all the knots and make the bed back up. Once Emma reluctantly got back under her duvet, Snow kissed her on the forehead once more and bid her goodnight. Just after she left, Emma heard her mother whispering something to her night guard. Emma was quite certain she was telling him to fetch some of the other night guards and have them posted outside her balcony, just to be safe. Emma was feeling a whole range of emotions. She knew a big part of her desperately wanted to visit Rumplestiltskin and see if he could help her, but she also knew a part of her was scared something drastic would happen if she did. Deep down, Emma couldn't help but feel that it was this part of her that was controlling everything. That it caused her mother to come in and stop her from leaving. Deep down, Emma knew this wasn't real.
