Ultimate sacrifice
A guest asked for a oneshot of Emma being killed by Maleficent in season 1, breaking the curse. Trigger warning for main character death.
Really, they all should have seen it coming. After all, although Regina cast the curse, the whole thing had been because Rumplestiltskin was pulling her strings. All he wanted was for a chance to get to the world without magic so he could find his son. He didn't care what casualties arose from him getting that. Actually, the less powerful people who were in town to get in his way, the better. Yes, the boy would be an unfortunate casualty in all this, but Rumplestiltskin was always willing to make sacrifices. Obviously, if he knew Henry was his grandson that might have changed things, but as it stood he didn't. Then there was the Evil Queen to think about. Even if the curse broke, she would still be in charge of town. Plus the Saviour. She couldn't keep her nose out. Putting magic inside Maleficent's belly killed so many birds with one stone.
One: Emma. She would not survive a fight with the dragon, no matter how tough she was. She'd never fought with a sword before, let alone fighting a dragon. Her death was inevitable which would lead to the next phase. Two: when Emma died the curse would be broken and Regina would also die. Three: Rumplestiltskin knew how to retrieve the magic himself. With magic in town, Rumple was confident he would be able to get out and find Bae.
His plan had worked. Emma and Regina fell for it hook, line and sinker. Emma went down into the mines with her usual arrogance and met her match in the form of a dragon. She was no match for such a great beast and was quickly taken out. Upon her death, and the curse's break, Maleficent was turned back into her human form. She looked over Emma's corpse, emotionless.
"Oh dear." She said, not a hint of remorse. "What a terrible mess." She made her way out of the mine and found Regina, slumped against the chair. "Now that is a bit of a waste." She sighed. Regina had been a source of great power. As she made her way onto the unfamiliar Main Street, she found a most sickening sight: happy people. They were rejoicing in the curse being broken. Even as a dragon Maleficent knew about the curse. She had retained her memories from the Enchanted Forest, she knew what Regina had done. If Regina had died upon the curse's break, that could only mean one thing: the puny human she had broken in the mines had been the Saviour. That made Maleficent's face break out into a grin. She knew who the Saviour was. She had finally got her revenge. So when she saw the delightful Charmings surrounded by their friends in Main Street, she just knew she had to be the ones to break the news.
"Now I find my daughter." She heard Snow say.
"Oh, I think I can help with that." Maleficent said happily. The group recoiled slightly upon her appearance.
"What do you mean?" Charming asked. Maleficent could tell behind his boldness there was both guilt and fear. They knew what they'd done to her child.
"Well, a debt has finally been repaid." Maleficent announced. "The curse has been broken, through the valiant sacrifice of the Saviour. How terribly tragic." Maleficent said, mocking them.
"No." Snow said. "No, you're lying!" Maleficent laughed. "Go to the abandoned mines if you want your proof. You'll find your stepmother on the way. A double family funeral." Maleficent said as the Charmings ran off.
"You evil, vile woman." Happy said, in a voice that was anything but happy. "How could you do this?" Maleficent laughed, turning to them.
"Be careful how you address me, dwarf. I don't like bad manners." She warned.
"It's not worth it." Bashful said, pulling his friend back as Maleficent stride down Main Street. Storybrooke needed a new ruler: and here she was.
Meanwhile, Snow and David had made there way towards the mines. Seeing Regina's body sent their hearts plummeting. Maleficent hadn't lied about that. Could it be? Was their daughter dead before they found her? Then they travelled down through the mine and saw Emma lying, cold and alone. Together, they crouched by her lifeless body, crying bitter tears for their daughter. No true love's kiss could bring back the dead. Emma wasn't cursed, she was just gone.
