Chapter 5

Swan

Emma woke up next to a warm, soft body. She furrowed deeper into the warmth, ejoying the delicious smell, her favorite smell.

Apples.

She sighed as her arm snaked around the small waist and her head rested against the other woman's chest.

"Gina," Whispered Emma hugging the Evil Queen closer to her, but the woman did not react. She moved away, slightly, not wanting to be touched by Emma.

She was indifferent to the girl, cold.

Emma didn't mind her hostility and held onto her. She wanted the queen to talk to her, to tell her something. She didn't quite understand the Queen's behavior. She wanted Regina, the woman that appeared in her dreams. The young, raven haired woman she so constantly shared a bed with. Where the Queen was bare of clothes and bare of the coloring that made her eyes look cruel.

Emma pressed her lips to the woman's chest, right above her heart and yet, she had no response.

"Regina, please." Emma said in a broken whisper. She wanted to cry desperately, but instead she got out of the bed and ran, her surroundings changing suddenly. Like magic. She ran through the woods, seeking something. What? She did not know.

And yet she heard the Queen's voice tell her "Love is weakness," over and over like a prayer…or a curse.

She felt a rush run through her veins, like ice cold water. It was then that her anger became sadness and her feet became weak. She could run no more.

"Love is weakness, my little ducky. Love is weakness." She heard as her lungs burned inside her and she fell to her knees. "Goodbye." Whispered her Queen's voice.

Emma woke with a start, clutching her chest and gasping for air.

"Mama?" She called, wishing her mama were home so she could hug her and reassure her, but she knew better. Her mama and papa were away, working for their daily bread.

She wiped the tears off her face and got up. She knew going out while her parents were not home was forbidden, but she needed to see her friend. And she would not get caught; she knew they were always back just after noon and before sundown.

Emma dressed and took a piece of bread, which she ate as she made her way to the closest village. The memories of the dream came back to her as she walked deeper into the woods. The warmth, apples, the rejection…the Evil Queen's voice…tears stung in her eyes and she began to run.

Surely her friend would make her feel better.

"Goldie! I was just about to go see you." Lilith, her best friend said, the smile on her face falling as she took in Emma's expression.

Lilith was the daughter of Maleficent, another well-known villain around here, but Emma and her had been friends for a long time. No matter what, they were always there for each other. It was almost as if they had had a connection since before birth. Lilith was dark where Emma was light; Their hair, their eyes, their complexion…even their thoughts. There had always been something about darkness that intrigued Emma. She wondered why that was and always came up with one thought: the Evil Queen. The one thought she pushed away as hard as she could.

Emma hugged her friend with such force, the other girl stumbled backwards.

"Lilith, promise to never leave me, okay? I care about you so much….You're part of my family." Emma said, making Lilith return the embrace just as fiercely.

"Come on you, Gold. You know we are in this together, " Lilith said, pulling away and smiling reassuringly. "Whatever this is." She said gesturing to their surroundings. Emma used her hands to dry her tears and smiled as her friend bumped her fist against.

"Thank you….I've just been having these really weird dreams," Emma said, looking into Lilith's dark eyes. The other girl's eyebrows furrowed. "I'll tell you another time…right now I just need to forget." Lilith nodded and then smiled. Emma knew that smile well; it meant trouble.

"Shall we go to the Outsider's Village? They said a sorcerer is there. Magic, Goldie. You can finally see magic up close." Lilith was raised around magic, having a mother like hers. She herself had some magic of her own. Magic her mother didn't allow her to use yet as she had not become of age.

Emma had always admired the quality, but she never wished it upon herself.

"I don't know, Lilith…Mama and Papa forbade me to go over there. That village is full of evil sorcerers…Papa says the most terrible Dark One lives there too." Emma said matter-of-factly.

"Oh come on, you! Don't tell me the brave knight Swan is afraid," Lilith teased Emma, bumping her shoulder with the other girl's. Emma rolled her eyes, trying not to smile.

"I'm not afraid!" Lilith laughed, earning Emma's death glare. This only made the raven haired girl laugh harder.

"Come on, you ugly duckling." Lilith taunted, bumping Emma's shoulder again. Emma glared with real anger now.

"Don't call me that." She warned Lilith, who shrugged.

"And what do you suppose you will do about it, huh? Emma Swan, the ugly duckling." Lilith noticed Emma's face redden with anger and just as she expected, Emma went to attack her.

Lilith laughed, running in the direction to the Outsider's Village. Emma ran after the other girl, her mind on getting to her and not on Lilith's true intentions.

Lilith disappeared in cloud of smoke with a chuckle. Emma stopped running and cursed the girl. As much as Maleficent had put strict rules on Lilith's magic, she still used it once in a while.

It was then that Emma realized where she was: just outside of the forbidden village. She cursed again before taking a breath and walking inside. She knew Lilith would not come out unless she was found. She looked down at herself and her white dress and blue hood were ruined from all of the running through the woods.

Oh, gods no. Mama will kill me, she thought to herself, uselessly patting the dirt. It did not come off.

She had to get home before her mama and papa and have them cleaned. She would be in so much trouble if they knew where she was…

Emma walked around the village looking for Lilith. This place may have had a terrible name, but it sure was beautiful. Dark and mysterious. The place was full of magical creatures for sure.

Emma was so taken by the enchanted land that she did not see who she painfully bumped into.

"Oh, m'lady." The handsome young man, said, catching her shoulders. Emma looked up, humiliated.

"I must apologize," He shook his head, silencing her and smiled. He had very kind brown eyes and brown shaggy hair that almost covered them. His skin was darker than she was used to seeing around her village and he looked about her age.

"You are not from here, are you?" He asked, releasing her shoulders. Emma shook her head.

"Actually I'm quite lost." She admitted and noticed he had a wheelbarrow full of firewood. "I'm so sorry for interrupting your duties, but could you give me directions? Maybe show me around? I'm looking for a friend." Emma asked and looked down feeling herself blush with embarrassment.

"Oh, no worries, m'lady. I was just taking these to a few shops and cabins. You can either follow me or I shall help you find the way out of here. A gentleman would not let a lady walk alone in a land such as this. Bad things happen here at the Forbidden Village." He said, waiting for her to look at him. She did and found a reassuring smile rather than the judging scowl she expected.

"That's so very kind of you…I'm Emma, by the way, but everyone calls me Swan or Goldie Locks." Emma said, finding a little more confidence.

"Beautiful names, they suit you." He stated, taking in her face that she had no doubt was as dirty as her clothes. And her hair, gods…it had to be all over the place. It had gotten extremely long and curly throughout the years. "Oh, pardon me. My name is Baelfire." He said, bowing down to Emma, making Emma laugh.

"Nice to meet you, Baelfire." He smiled a boyish smile and picked up his wheelbarrow.

"Then you must follow me, m'lady. Let's find your friend." He said invitingly. They walked, shop to shop, cabin to cabin and still no Lilith. They talked about everything and anything and Emma felt happy. She had made another friend. This was more magical than any being or land she had ever encountered

Baelfire also enjoyed Emma's company; he was stricken by her. He had never seen a being that possessed such raw beauty. He knew that she was just a peasant girl, but he knew royal blood. He also knew about the missing child and most importantly, he had seen the Queen of the Light Kingdom. Snow White and this girl shared an uncanny resemblance, but it was not his place to investigate further and so he did not.

"M'lady, do not be alarmed, but I really must take these remaining logs to my cabin. You do not have to come in or anything if you don't wish to. It would be terrible to have your honor questioned…" Emma shrugged and smiled.

"It's okay. I just wish I could find Lilith…I really have to go home. My mama and papa will be furious." Baelfire's eyes saddened at the mention of Emma's parents and he nodded, and kept walking silently.

As they got close to his house they heard screaming. An earsplitting cry that frightened them both.

"Oh no," He said, releasing the wheelbarrow and looking at the alarmed girl. "Emma, run as fast as you can. Do not think, do not stop. Run!" Emma's eyes widened and she shook her hear,

"No, but I can't just leave you here. I won't," Emma argued and as another cry was heard.

Emma could feel the magic in the air. The raw, dark energy being released. Her heart was beating so hard she felt the pulse inside her skull.

With a curse and a deep breath, Baelfire grabbed her shoulder and began to run. She struggled to keep up and was frozen when she saw a figure a dark figure walking calmly towards them.

"Emma, please. Come on!" Baelfire yelled, but her body was buzzing. It was like ants were running up her arms and legs, except those ants felt like energy.

She didn't know what came over her and got herself in front of Baelfire and put her hands up. Her fingertips began to glow and she felt great power, something she had never felt before. She closed her eyes and her eyebrows furrowed as she concentrated. On what? She did not know.

When she opened her eyes, the figure had disappeared. She looked at Baelfire, whose mouth gaped in shock.

He stared at her hands, as did she.

"Did I—Did I do that?" Emma whispered. Emma looked at Baelfire for an answer and he hugged her to his chest, instead. "What was that and what did I do? What do we do now?"

"Now we run" He said before pulling away and taking her hand. They both ran, on their way out of the village, but a dark cloud of smoke appeared before then and so did the figure they had seen before

Her papa had talked to her about this. They say he wears dark, dirty robes. That you can only see a hint of his hair and his skin is green and gold.

"The Dark One," Emma gasped and tried to run, but with a flick of his wrist stop her.

"Ah, ah, ah! Oh, no dearie. Just where did you think you were going?" His voice was nothing like Emma expected. Instead of deep and grave, it was a sinister mix of high and haunting. He took his hood off and Emma tried hard to not be afraid.

He only takes his hood off when he wished pain upon another being, Emma. You must never go, you must never see him

I am so sorry, Papa, Emma thought.

The Dark One had a sarcastic smile playing on his dark lips. His skin was a disgusting mix of green and gold, as were his eyes. His hair was dark and curled around his face.

"Where were you taking my son?" The demon asked the girl. Emma looked at Baelfire.

"Father, please let her go. She has nothing to do with this." Baelfire said worried about Emma's safety. From the Dark One came a high and chilling laugh.

"Oh no, my dear son. All magic comes with a price and I do believe she used magic against me, the Dark One. She has a price to pay and I will collect." The Dark One held up two fingers and gestured Emma closer. She magically appeared right in front of him. He smelled like dirt, straw and magic,

"Listen to me, Em-ma." He said, slowly pronouncing her name. "Your worst nightmare is about to begin." She took a deep breath and moved her head, looking away from his eyes. How did he know about her nightmares?

She waited to be sentenced, but instead he took a deep breath. He smelled her. Another laugh erupted from him and this one she felt in her bones.

"My, my, but isn't this the lost little princess." He whispered. Emma had no idea what he spoke of. She tried to conjure up more of that magic she had used before. "What shall I do to you, dearie?" He asked, with another laugh.

She looked at him and glared, deciding to be breave. He smirked and winked, his hands coming up in front of him comically.

"Aaahhh, yes, yes, yes! A swan! A beautiful Swan princess." He said, looking into her eyes. "Into a swan." The Dark One said, as if it were an order and with a flick of his wrist, Emma was engulfed in dark smoke.

She screamed out in pain as her magic delved inside her and her body painfully modified itself.

"No! No, Emma! Undo this!" Baelfire yelled, trying to help her, to fight his father, but it was too late. He could hear the screams of the girl that had enchanted his heart no more; there was just black clouds in front of him, which he could not reach into.

"Please, father!" Baelfire yelled loud enough that he was sure all the kingdoms heard it.

"What is done is done, Bae." Said the Dark One as the smoke faded. Emma was no longer there, well not as Baelfire knew her.

On the ground laid a beautiful swan with feathers as white and as pure as freshly fallen snow.

"Mark my words, princess." The Dark One said, bending on one knee, making sure the recovering swan would hear. The beautiful animal tried to stand, and its attention went to the Dark One. "If day light shall come, a white swan shall too. The only thing worthy of killing those wings will be the grace of the moon." He looked at the swan in the eyes. "This is what a real nightmare feels like, dearie and I'm afraid you…has just begun."