Yay! Finally...there's an update!

Summary of the Previous Chapter: After she ran away from him, Killian vowed to search for Emma on his way back to Storybrooke while Emma runs into the Snow Queen.

Sorry that I haven't posted anything (for this story) in a while BUT I'm here now :)

To my all guest comments: Thanks! I'm glad that you all like it! :)

*To the GUEST who posted on 11/24 about a Fic where David comforts Emma: It'll be in this series. Hang tight!

Enjoy!

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Chapter Three: Hard Choices

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"I told you already that I'm not interested," Emma replied, taking a step back from the approaching Snow Queen, who seemed bent on getting closer to her. In the hopes of scaring the other woman, Emma then raised both of her hands up and pointed them into her direction before speaking again, her words noticeably emphasized. "Stay…back."

"Oh, Emma," she responded, her face passive but her eyes reasonably unaffected. Slowing her movements down, just a bit, so that she wouldn't provoke her, she then tilted her head off to one side and softened her voice. "You're not going to hurt me. We both know it. You're inability to control your gifts proves as much, but that isn't your fault…You simply need the proper and necessary training to make yourself stronger, my dear."

Extending out a friendly hand, the Snow Queen continued, attempting to appease her. "Come on, let's go. We can start a new life together…as a true family. You, Elsa and I belong together."

"That seems to be your only opinion…"

"No," she replied. "I know it to be true."

Hands still up, Emma inhaled, sharply. "Sure you do," she stated, trying to ignore the minor twitching her wrists were doing under the weight of her conflicting emotions. All she could think about, thanks to the unnecessary reminder, was what happened back in Storybrooke with the jail cell, her dad and…Killian—both in the town and in the woods for the latter. "And how would you know that? Did a talking snow man make a prophecy about me?"

"Not a snow man, no…"

Blinking rapidly, Emma slightly lowered her limbs. "But there was a prophecy?"

"In a way," the Snow Queen replied, evenly. "Yes, there was." Taking back her hand because it wasn't accepted, she instead offered her a pleasant smile. "I will tell you anything that you wish to know but only when you're ready and fully willing to accept the truth. Right now, dear, you're beyond stressed and in need of serious guidance." Gesturing to her makeshift home, she then added to her statement. "Let's get you settled in and we can perhaps begin to restore the bond that we once had so many years ago."

"Stop telling me what to do," Emma argued, lifting her hands back to where they were. "Just stop..."

The thing that was affecting her the most wasn't the fact that she was being successfully cornered by a witch, who had far more magical experience than her; it was that she was telling the truth. All that she had just said was sincerely honest, which was scary. For her sanity's sake, Emma decided that she was going to take it from another perspective. Maybe she just really, really really believes in whatever she had been told...

Suddenly feeling mentally drained, not to mention emotionally trapped, Emma felt her hands begin to heat up, once again, with the same hot bundle of energy that had been plaguing her for a few hours now. And as soon as they began to glow that familiar reddish hue, Emma's thoughts instantly jumbled and collided together, making it difficult for her to concentrate on anything remotely positive. Then, in a breathless rush, she found herself rationalizing aloud the only valuable idea, she could see, in her congested head. "I'm not going anywhere with you...the-the only place I-I want to go, have to go to, is Gold's shop..."

Frowning, the Snow Queen's voice dropped. "Why would you go there?"

With wide eyes, Emma looked over her shoulder for a possible exit strategy but, unfortunately, the best way to leave seemed to be in the direction she had come in from. With a harsh tone, she then replied back. "Don't worry about it. I'm not your concern."

"Emma," the older woman of two began; her voice firm. "Whatever you're planning, you have to know that you can't put your faith and trust in that man. He's devious and is perfectly willing to do anything for a deal, so long as the ends justify his means." Eyes beaming with unspoken feelings, she lifted a hand and boldly took a step. "You can't trust him—"

"—But I should trust you?"

"You can't see it now but I know what's best for you…I was there when your parents weren't," she pushed, her voice cracking. "I-I've been more of a mother to you than your real one has!"

"That's not true!" Emma screamed, visibly increasing the slight twitching she had been experiencing to a severe trembling motion simply through her emotional outburst. A collective buildup then began to form in the middle of her hands, stemming from her inability to control herself, and as provoked images of her parents (some with her brother and some without) started to overtake and crowd her mind, the glow transformed into powerful rods of electricity. The sheer force of the currents buzzed and tickled around her fingertips, making Emma gasp out in shock. "Son of a bitch," she mumbled; flattening her hands out before her, giving them a useless, but quick, inspection.

Inhaling loudly, the Snow Queen cleared her throat, her voice calm and expressive. "Breathe, just breathe."

Not knowing what else to do, Emma listened, but taking in huge, deep gulps of air didn't seem to be working all that well for her. Freaking out further when it only increased, she looked up and noticed that the Snow Queen was fully and unapologetically making her way over to her with an outstretched hand. Emma shook her head and told her to stop, but when she didn't, something inside of her snapped.

The glow suddenly intensified till it shined and burst from her, its length long and hot when it cut through the air and struck the other woman in the shoulder; forcing her off of the ground and onto her back a few paces away.

Surprised and concerned, Emma's eyes widened. She thought about going over there to make sure that she wasn't…well, dead…but because of all the things that she had been through that day, which were mainly caused through the acts of said woman, she stopped herself. Why should I help her? She contemplated silently, watching the Snow Queen's struggle to get into a sitting position while, simultaneously, clutching at her upper arm. Seeing this as her big opportunity to make a clean getaway, Emma bit at her bottom lip and clasped her hands together before sprinting back into the direction she had come in from, which took her past the recovering woman, who she looked at briefly on her way out.

"Wait…" the Snow Queen stated weakly, slightly grunting from her low position. Gently pushing away some of her white decorated cape, she called out again, her features in genuine shock. "Wait, come back!"

Ignoring the plea, Emma kept running, trying to put as much distance in-between them as humanly possible, all the while praying that the she wouldn't use any of her magic to just teleport somewhere around or in front of her. Since her legs were already sore from her previous excursion, Emma could feel the grip of fatigue begin to claw at her, effectively making her stumble and trip about a couple times, especially whenever she stepped on a rock or tried to move around a tree.

Breathing raggedly, she eventually slowed down to a stop, but only after she had glanced over her shoulder for any kind of evidence that she had been followed. When she found no trace of the Snow Queen, she brushed some of her hair back and slowly lowered herself into a squat, desperately needing to take a small break. With one hand on the ground for balance, she then placed the other onto her chest, manually trying to stabilize her breathing, which was coming out in wheezy gasps. Despite being incredibly tired, she knew that she couldn't stay there long, especially since she had accidentally let it slip about what she had planned on doing next, so, with a heavy groan, Emma forced herself into a standing position. Wobbling slightly, she found the strength in her to lightly pound her hands against the length of her thighs, purposefully attempting to loosen them up, before gradually jogging her way out of the woods and into one of the streets of Storybrooke.

With her head down and tucked between her hunched shoulders, Emma managed to sneak onto a pathway that led her directly to the front door of the Pawn Shop, without being seen; however, still paranoid, she continued to look about even when she had closed in on her target. Gently placing a hand onto the long handle, she was about to open it when she happened to peer through one of the square windows before her. Her blood turned cold and her mouth dropped open at the unexpected sight, which made it entirely difficult for her to remove her hand in order to escape.

Inside, with their backs facing her, she saw her parents and Killian talking to a less than enthusiastic Gold, who stood behind his table with his hands out in front of him.

Panicking, Emma ducked down before, soundlessly, managing to pry all of her fingers from around the knob, doing her best to eliminate any evidence of her being out there. Almost tripping over her own two feet, she then rounded the building in search for the back entrance, still determined to do what she believed to be necessary, despite the new and terrifying delay. Thankfully...the door was unlocked, and as she snuck inside, she was able to hear some of what they were talking about, which—not to her surprise—happened to be about her. Gently maneuvering around the numerous objects in the immediate connecting room, Emma tried to avoid the open door as she closed in to hear more.

Listening in on their conversation was probably a bad idea but she couldn't help herself.

She wanted to know if they were okay, if her dad was okay, and judging from what she had seen only briefly, and a few moments ago, he appeared to be. He was out of the hospital, which was great, but… Looks can be deceiving, Emma sadly thought to herself as she leaned her body up against the wall that separated her from them. Shaking her head and biting her lower lip, she pressed her left shoulder further into the divider and perked up her ears, quietly hoping that her decision to eavesdrop wasn't going to end with her heart breaking further.

"I've already told you," Gold said, his voice both exasperated and annoyed. "I have no way of knowing where your daughter is unless you have something of hers to offer for a tracking spell…"

Mary Margaret first looked at David before addressing Gold, her voice soft. "We can always go home and get something…"

"Better do so quickly, dearie," Gold quickly followed. "I have business to take care of in a few minutes."

"More adventures to indulge in, crocodile?" Killian asked with a deadly sneer, unable to hide his contemptuous feelings for the man, especially if he planned on leaving in the middle of a crisis. His Swan was missing and all he could think about was carrying on with his villainous dealings? Taking a shuddering but deep breath, he did his best not to take his frustrations out on Gold when he shifted his empty gaze onto him.

"What I do in my spare time is no concern of yours, Captain."

"If it takes your focus away from more important matters," Killian easily responded, his jaw contracting in silent anger. "Then it becomes my business." Knowing that Rumple would catch the double meaning in his words, he held his gaze with his own, doing his best to rattle the Dark One's cage in order to spur him into some type of beneficial action.

"Please, Gold," David suddenly said, breaking the tense moment with his input. Taking a step forward, he pulled the older man's attention away from Killian and onto himself. "There must be something that you can do."

"As I said, I have business matters to attend to, but if you can bring me something within ten minutes," he paused with a head nod. "You will have what you want."

"Deal," David said before turning to his wife, his tone somber. "I'm going to head over to the Sheriff's Station. Emma usually has some things there."

"I'll go with you, mate," Killian volunteered, slightly gesturing with his hook. Originally, he had intended on going back to the forest alone, in order to search for his love, but if they were going to have a magical tracking potion, he'd rather spend his time doing simple tasks for that then running around aimlessly in the woods. Deeply regretting not going after her when he had the chance, his voice became raspy and thick. "I can't stand by and do nothing when's Emma missing…"

David accepted his help before turning to face Mary Margaret again. "Do you want to wait here till we come back?"

"I should go to the loft and check in on Neal, Henry, Belle and Elsa," she explained with a small, sad smile. "But call me when you get something."

Instantly noticing her expression, David stepped closer to her, lovingly cupping her face. "I know that you're worried about Emma but we're going to find her. It's what we do…"

"I know but," she trailed off, her eyes welling up with tears. "I just feel so bad…I-I failed her…I'm the one who made her believe that it was her fault…that everything that is happening around us is her fault!"

As she listened next to the wall, Emma closed her eyes tight. The trembling in her mom's voice told her that she was telling the truth but even though she knew that Mary Margaret didn't mean to flinch away from her earlier or to scold her by simply calling out her name…it still hurt. It's because of my powers, she thought again to herself. Opening her eyes, she brought her shaky hands up, near her eye level. It's because of my magic that I'll never be happy…that I'll never be normal…I'm a monster because of them…

Then, as if sparked from her negative feelings, the inside portion of her hands suddenly grew warm, causing the unbearable tingling sensation to prick at her sensitive skin again. Electricity then shot out from around her fingertips with such heated force that it began to blister and scorch the air around them, making sizzling and popping sounds that only Emma was able to hear. As the tremors steadily increased, she cursed silently to herself before, decisively, taking a couple of steps back.

Growing flustered and breathing heavily, she tried to close her hands but found them to be incredibly stiff. "No," she whispered to herself, looking around in a desperate effort to calm down, but when she heard the tone of her mom's voice again, her magic reacted violently. Separating her fingers, the voltage flared a few inches out and away from her, creating a massive electrical disturbance in the shop when all of the lights began to flicker on and off.

"What's going on?" her dad asked somebody in obvious concern.

Gold's eyebrow rose when he surveyed the strange occurrence. Turning to his right, he visually followed what appeared to be the origin of the unknown energy, but when he was about to inspect, his gut told him not to. The source isn't mechanical, he mused. It's magical…

A knowing gleam bounced around in his eyes when he turned back to his surprised guests. Lifting his hands, he gave them a shrug. "It's nothing," he lied. "Anyway, all of you should be on your way if you want my immediate services."

Absentmindedly nodding, all three of the visitors headed for the front entrance and as soon as the married couple stepped away and into the street, Killian turned back around to face the shop. Narrowing his eyes, he lingered for only a few seconds before heading to the station with a waiting David, shifting his focus on finding Emma and bringing her home.

He didn't exactly know what was going on but his suspicions were definitely roused and stirring.

When everybody had left, Gold wasted no time in gathering all of the necessary ingredients he would need for the spell from the various shelves and cabinets he had placed them on. With a solemn expression, he returned to his desk where he carefully laid out all of the needed tools, vials and small pouches before grabbing one of the large wooden bowls he kept off to one side. He worked in silence for a few minutes, steadily opening each container with steady and nimble fingers, before clearing his throat, effortlessly projecting his voice so that it would fill every corner of the room.

"You may come out now, Ms. Swan..."

From her position, Emma froze. Damn, she thought when she pushed herself away from the wall. Exhaling loudly, she slowly shuffled to the connecting door, feeling guilty. "This may be a stupid question," she began when she appeared in the frame, staring at the floor in front of her. "But how did you know that I was here?"

Still working on the potion, he answered her. "You mean besides the fact that I caught a glimpse of you outside my front entrance? ...I heard the back door open and after that…I heard some minor footsteps…Both of which pales in comparison to the lights suddenly flickering about…I simply put the pieces together, dearie."

"How…acutely thorough of you…"

"I don't mean to brag but paying attention to the small details is one of my specialties. On that note," he said, grabbing a purplish vial and pouring a teaspoon of the contents into the bowl. "I assume that you heard what your parents and…boyfriend demanded of me?"

Glancing at the door, as if hoping they wouldn't return at the mere mention of them being there, Emma then moved around the edge of the desk to see his face. Stopping directly in front of him, she looked at her hands, which had, at that moment, surprisingly lost its supernatural glow. Swallowing hard, she stuttered. "I did, but I, uh, I…I came here for something else."

"A favor I presume?"

She nodded her head. "A big one..."

"Well, spit it out, dearie," he ordered, glancing up at her momentarily. "It seems that everybody has something to ask of me today, whether or not I'm willing to hear them out. So, you may as well make your contribution." Mixing the brew with a long spoon, he then added with a humorless grin. "Doesn't mean that I'll grant it though…"

Not really knowing how else to say it, she let it roll off of her tongue, similar to the fashion she had used earlier with the Snow Queen. "I want you to take my powers away. I don't want them anymore."

The circular motion Gold was in the midst of doing instantly screeched to a halt at her words. Propping the spoon's length carefully against the inside of the bowl, he fully looked at her, his expression unreadable before it melted into his usual smirk.

"I think I may have a way of getting rid of your troubles, Ms. Swan…"

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Please stay tuned!